drugstore – sarah fynn

Nip Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask Review

It’s no secret I have been loving the Glycolic Fix range from NipFab skincare. I have reviewed their products here, here and here too. I recently shared my haul of their products on my insta even. But why do I like the products so much? 1 because its Glycolic acids and my skin loves that, 2 because it’s affordable. Today I have a full review of the Nip Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask which is part of their ever popular Glycolic Fix range

What is it?

A 5% glycolic acid mask with evermat technology that promises to smooth skin, reduce the look of enlarged pores and reduce shine. It also has glycerin for moisture

Experience

I have had the mask in my collection for a while now. It’s one of those masks I forget I have but when I use it I am impressed and remember why I love it so much. The Instant fix mask is a gel-like texture, and has a 5% glycolic acid content. I reach for this mask when I am having texture issues or clogged pores and when I want smooth skin.

Although my skin is used to higher aha content, this mask stings, just a little bit but only for 1 min or so when I put it on. I can imagine it been worst for 1st-time users so please please patch test before you put this on your whole face! Anyway, I apply a thinish layer wit my mask brush after cleansing my face and leave it on for 10 mins. It’s a little tricky to wash off but I find that with a lot of other gel textured masks. Results? My skin is visibly smoother and my pores look reduced. I do feel like the results get better the next day. My tzone doesn’t get oily and the overall appearance of my skin looks more refined

The Nip Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask is my 1^st ever glycolic acid mask ( I have now picked up the 30% AHA and 2% BHS from the Ordinary, you know the red one!) and I really love it. For me, it leaves my skin smoother and subsequent application of serums etc sinks in like a dream! Will I repurchase? Yes!

Verdict

It was a good addition to my collection, I have now run out of it :(. It’s reasonably priced (and currently on sale on the Nip Fab website) so if you love glycolic acids and have wondered by this one, please pick it up! If you are a hard-core glycolic acid user, I think you will like this. Caution- please do a patch test if you are unsure PLUS USE SPF IN THE MORNINGS IF YOU USE THIS MASK OR ANY OTHER ACID PRODUCT. I mean you should be using SPF anyway and yes that includes winter and fall seasons!

Who can’t wait for my February Ultimate Empties Challenge post? Seriously counting down the days! It doesn’t look like I will hit my target but I still got some time to go! See Jan’s post here

Check out this mask on the Nip Fab website. But also in stores in Boots & Superdrug

Top Skincare under £5

A good skincare regime will help you put your best face forward- healthy, radiant and well moisturised! Prepping your skin before makeup does a lot to ensure your makeup looks its best, no matter how many high end products you use!

Don’t fall for the hype! Your skin care products do not have to cost an arm or a leg. I have found as long as you have a good routine (cleanse, treat, protect and moisturise) you can get away with using drugstore stores which can give you the same or dare I say better results! Research is key when trying out skincare products, whether it’s a well-known brand or not, make sure you read as many reviews as possible or speak to a professional. For optimal results, make sure you are buying products for your skin type e.g. only buying products for normal/combo skin types if that’s your type.

I have for you 16 great skincare products under £5! That’s 16 products covering a lot of categories like creams, makeup removers and treatments. I have included all the products I have used and you will have reviews in my review index, so much sure you check them out!

Face Wash

A staple in your skincare routine to wash away make up residue, dirt etc. a good one will gently cleanse your face without stripping it of its oils. I have tried loads but my top 3 are:

Garnier Pure Active Anti Black Head Deep Pre Wash, £4.28

Simple Refreshing facial Wash £3.39

Simple Triple Action Face Wash, £3.75

Day cream

After your morning cleansing, it’s a good idea to follow with a light day cream with SPF to help protect from the sun and provide moisture and hydration underneath your makeup. Try these budget friendly picks

Simple Vital Vitamin Day Cream SPF 15, £4.99 Waitrose

Superdrug Vitamin E SPF 15, £2.99

Night cream

They say night time is when your skin renews itself. A rich night cream is perfect for providing optimal moisture and aiding in that process. Make your beauty sleep go further with these night creams

Simple Vital Vitamin Night Cream, £4.99, Waitrose

Nivea Rich Regenerating Night Cream, £4.35 Superdrug

Toners

Essential to balancing skin pH and removing any makeup residue. My picks are

Simple Pore Minimising Toner, £4.79

Formula Daily Care Toner, £3.50 M&S

Makeup removers

This is probably one of the most important steps in your skincare regime. I have included wipes in this post but feel free to check out my micellar water post for great drugstore alternative and under £5

B.Pure Micellar Water Cleansing Wipes, £1. Superdrug

Garnier Simply Essentials, £2.99 Superdrug

Face masks

Perfect pampering treats. There are face masks for a wide range of problems: dry skin, blemish prone, detox etc

Garnier Pure Self Heating Sauna Mask, £1.29 Superdrug

Simple Deep Cleansing Face Mask, £3.99 Superdrug

Masker Aide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask, £5. M&S

Exfoliators/scrubs

Deep cleansing for brighter clearer skin. These are perfect and within budget too

St Ives Apricot Scrub, £4.19 Boots

Garnier Pure Active Exfoliating Scrub, 2.33 Amazon

Phew! That was a lot. The drugstore has tons of effective skincare products. Don’t knock it off till you try.

Did I miss your favourite drugstore brand? Let me know below

Garnier PureActive Review

Garnier Pure Active Antiblackhead deep pore wash and pore purifying toner

Garnier has some of the best drugstore products! They are always effective and budget friendly plus it’s almost always on offer in Superdrug.

I never had an issue with breakouts or spots up until this year (a bit late seeing that I am 22?!) where I have breakouts a bit more than usual. Since then I have been on the hunt to try some skincare products tailored to this issue and of course I had to pick up some Garnier stuff! Their Pure Active range has been formulated for oily skin which is prone to imperfections. Now I don’t have the oiliest skin of them all, infact I have normal to combo skin with slightly oily t-zones (who doesn’t) but I wanted to buy these products because 1. I trust and love Garnier products 2. I needed something with salicylic acid as from my research, it can help to reduce breakouts.

I got the

PureActive Anti-Blackhead Deep Pore Wash 150ml

PureActive Pore Purifying Toner 200ml

Both enriched with salicylic acid and zinc to help unclog and tighten pores and fight blemishes

I have been using these two for a couple of weeks now- I would say 6 weeks or so and here will be my honest review

I love the wash. It had tiny exfoliating beads which feels like a mild scrub when you are using it. A little suds up quite easily and it really does make difference in your pores. It cleans and unclogs pores so well especially when paired with a face pad. It also reduces whiteheads which I get a lot very well. It can leave your skin a tad bit dry but I guess it’s because it’s for oily skin.

Garnier PureActive micro exfoilating beads — Micro exfoliating beads

The toner is excellent too, however it has a very strong smell (the one thing I don’t like) and it’s very strong. It’s not drying on my skin and it tastes bitter lol.

Both these products have really improved my skin. I rarely breakout now and my pores have dramatically reduced- now I wished I took a before and after picture! I recommend both these products very effective and really good value for money!

PureActive Anti-Blackhead Deep Pore Wash 150ml, £2.65

PureActive Pore Purifying Toner 200ml, £3.69

Both are available on Superdrug

What are your clear skin secrets?

Water, water and more water!

SLEEK LIPSTICK SWATCHES

Hey guys hope everyone is doing well! HAPPY NEW MONTH!

I wanted to take a break from constant uni work (countdown 2 more months to finish!) and hair posts (not everydayhairpostsometimesmakeup LOL) and do something different (looks around my room for inspiration) so I decided to do a sleek lipstick collection and swatches. I did a post previous (link here to view it>>http://wp.me/p1uQOd-nV ) and it was my sleek make up collection not a big one and it’s a start. This is a kind of updated version but with lipsticks only.

I had fun doing this post but my lips are killing me! (Softly) I am also using descriptions from the sleek makeup site because honestly I can’t describe the shades (LOL) to save my life!. I didn’t use any lipliners so you can see the true colour.

If you’re from instagram hey guurl! (Make sure you followed me and like my little flipgram as a little preview to this post. If you’re just reading this, please check out my instagram page- @sarahfynn. I will keep you updated with my blog, hair/beauty products and other shenanigans

Let’s get started.

First here is what SleekMakeup have to say about their lipsticks:

‘Get high impact lips with True Colour Lipstick in a gorgeous matte and sheen finishes in a variety of shades that are highly pigmented, and conditioning to keep lips soft and supple. Enriched with vitamin E helping to hydrate and protect the lips. Comfortable to wear and glides on with ease this is the must have to awaken your makeup look.’

What I LOVE about Sleek Makeup is the price- everything from foundations to lipsticks are so affordable and very good quality. The matte black packaging makes it look really expensive. Their lipsticks are highly pigmented with a huge variety of shades to suit every skin tone. The price? £4.99

Tip- sign up to their newsletter. From time to time they offer discounts e.g. 20% off or 2 for 1 deals and that’s how I got all my stuff from them! (I am yet to try their eye shadow pallets, I have heard great reviews about them but since I’m not a great fan of eye shadows… hmmm)

Beware there is a lot of me feeling myself pictures (lol), bangs over one eye and general neekiness lol. And this is going to be a long post

SMOULDER – a sheen deep berry red

CHERRY- a sheen dark red

SMOTHER – a sheen deep purple

DARE- a matte dark burgundy

MYSTIC -a matte bright purple-pink

RIOJA RED- a true bright red (This is now my fav red lipstick. Ruby Woo I’m sorry)

FANDAGO PURPLE – a bright fuchsia purple (THIS GIVES ME LIFE EVERYTIME!)

BIRTHDAY SUIT- a classic wearable nude. Clearly this needs a lipliner when i wear it

If you want to see more shades, check out these videos. I found these helpful when I was thinking bout getting mine (Sometimes the shops don’t have all the shades)

Sleek Lipstick review. 14 shades – http://youtu.be/R-2Imw9HG10

Sleek true colour lipstick swatches – http://youtu.be/85FXSbzU-U0

Sleek matte me full collection and swatches- http://youtu.be/KED3CM7AnS4

That’s all folks! I don’t have the biggest collection but I am planning on getting more lipsticks in the future. Let me know if you have any of these and which was your favorite! I been getting a lot of emails about my Biotin hair journey- it’s going great so far- cant wait for the one month up date! Also the hair am wearing is the RhoVirgin Relaxed yaki unit. Click here for more info >> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-qT ( one month review coming up)

Follow me on twitter- @slimtings1 and instagram- sarahfynn