Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover

I feel like I haven't tested out or reviewed a new eye makeup remover in the past few months, I have been using the same formula from the Clinique and have been quite happy with it.  I originally bought that product a few years ago and I have been repurchasing it ever since.  I am a person that likes to switch up my skincare and try new products and this was one area that I wasn't really reviewing many items from.  It seemed like fate when Sephora was offering a small bottle of the award-winning eye makeup remover from Lancôme as a 100 Point Perk when I was ordering some of the Bobbi Brown products that I spotlighted this month.  I decided to stop hoarding my points to grab this sample and try it out.

I have put my half-empty bottle of the Clinique to the side for the past two weeks and I have been trying out the Lancôme formula every night.  The Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover is a product that consistently has won the Allure Best of Beauty Awards and has been listed as a best seller as Sephora for as long as I can remember.  This is one of the more expensive eye makeup removers that I have seen and I do believe that the price was the main reason that I have not tried it before but I have decided that it is worth every penny...

The Sephora website provides the following description of this best-selling eye makeup remover, "An award-winning, gentle, liquid eye makeup remover.  This formula activates when shaken to gently whisk away even waterproof eye makeup while conditioning and refreshing the skin.  Ideal for sensitive and contact lenses, it leaves eyes feeling cool and relaxed without an oily residue."

This product contains a liquid layer and an oily layer and the formula needs be shaken before use and the two layers need to be completely mixed.  The oily layer is designed to break down stubborn eye makeup or waterproof products.  I tend to have the hardest issues getting mascara off without leaving traces under my eyes but this product does get the job done (when used correctly).  I have been using it to remove the Bobbi Brown Smokey Mascara formula, this isn't the hardest formula to remove and I will need to continue to test this product as I try more mascara formulas.  I have been using the Urban Decay Primer Potion under all of my eye shadows and this formula is able to remove all traces of these products.

I saturate a cotton pad with this formula and then press it up against my eye for 30 seconds before wiping it away.  This gives the product time to break the makeup down and helps it to wipe cleanly away.

My 100 Point Perk size will not last much longer and I will then finish up my current bottle of Clinique remover.  I have already decided that my next purchase will be of this product and I will continue to use and test this product out to see if there are any formulas that it cannot remove.  I don't know that there is too much more to say about this product, it does what it is supposed to and doesn't bother my sensitive eyes.  I would probably go back and forth in between purchasing this product and the Clinique formula, it is nice to have two products that I know will work well.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Sephora Collection Express Cleansing Face Wipes

The latest addition to my gym bag is a new kind of facial cleansing wipes, I had been using the Korres wipes and then these new ones were recommended to me during my last Sephora visit.  I have been visiting the gym more than three times a weeks since the end of last semester and I have been burning through my makeup remover wipes (and post workout shakes!).  I was considering just stocking up on my favorite Korres wipes but I decided that this might be a good opportunity to try and review a new product.  The associate at Sephora recommended the Sephora brand wipes as a great option and I have used them after my past few workouts.

Obviously I will be pulling all of my information from the Sephora website as this is only place that I can purchase these wipes.  "A collection of biodegradable, pre-moistened wipes for cleansing, exfoliating, and purifying the face, eyes, and lips.  Perfect for travel, these handy wipes cleanse and tone the skin.  They remove all types of makeup, even long-wearing formulas, without leaving behind an oily residue.", states the company's website.  There are several kinds of wipes from Sephora Collection and I chose the ones that are just for cleansing.  Other formulas help to exfoliate and purify however I didn't want to use anything like that on my dry skin.

The Cleansing Wipes are designed to "Cleanse and tone with a formula that includes HydroSenn+, a natural ingredient proven to deliver immediate and long lasting hydration more effectively than hyaluronic acid".  I was only looking for wipes that would remove my makeup without drying out my skin, the other formulas would have been better for use on oily skin.

The Sephora associate recommended that I give these a try, I decided to pick up a pack of these plus a pack of the Korres ones (in case I didn't like these).  I have used these a few times and can give my review of them now.  I can't say that I would be able to tell the difference in texture between these two formulas and they both feel quite nice when used on the skin.  I don't experience any tugging or dryness during application and neither formula dries out my skin.

I will start by saying that I like the Sephora Collection wipes but I do prefer the Korres version.  The Korres wipes are infused with milk proteins and help to hydrate my skin while removing my face makeup.  I do like that the Korres version is soothing to my skin and I haven't experienced this from the Sephora version.  There are quite a few aspects of these wipes that are very similar, both formulas remove my face and eye makeup and do not dry out my skin.  The Korres formula is better for me in that it helps to soothe the redness and I will continue to purchase the Korres once I have used up the Sephora version.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Philosophy Just Release Me Dual-Phase Oil-Free Makeup Remover

Philosophy skin care products have been among my top purchases in skin care since the beginning of the spring months, I can't remember the last time that I bought body products or fragrances from this company but the current and newer skincare products from this company have been top quality.  I just finished up the last drops of my eye makeup remover from MAC and then I decided to try one from this company since I have had such great results from their face washes and creams.  I love their new night cream formula and will be ordering another one as soon the winter comes and my current pot runs out. 

The newest product that I purchased from this company is the Just Release Me Dual-Phase Oil-Free Makeup Remover, many of the cleansers from this company are top rated at Sephora and have won Allure awards for many years running.  I have used both the cream and foam face washes from Philosophy and have gotten great results from both versions of the formula.  I was sure that an eye makeup remover from this company would give me good results while not irritating my skin and I have not been disappointed by this formula.

The Sephora states the following as a product description, "A dual-phase, extremely mild, oil-free eye makeup remover.  Philosophy Just Release Me™ Dual-Phase Oil-Free Makeup Remover gently yet effectively breaks down and removes the toughest eye makeup, even waterproof makeup, without irritating the eyes. Formulated with natural aloe, and chamomile and cucumber extracts, this soothing essential works to calm, clean, cool, and refresh the eye area.  This opthalmologist-tested must-have does not contain propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol. It is safe for contact lens wearers."

The following ingredients are found in this formula...

- Aloe Barbadenis Leaf Extract - Moisturizes soothes and calms the skin.
- Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract - Calms and soothes the skin.
- Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract - Refreshes softens and moisturizes the skin.
- Echinacea Purpurea Extract - Calms and soothes the skin.

This formula is considered oil-free and is a large change from the oil-based formula that I had been using for the past few months. The oil-based formula from MAC worked very well to get all of my eye makeup off (minus a few last traces of mascara some days) but would leave oily traces on my lids that I then had to wash off in the shower.  This formula cleans the eye makeup off completely (of course minus a few traces of mascara here and there - I will never find a formula that will get all of my mascara off) and doesn't leave the oily residue on the skin.  I have not had any problems with irritation on my eye area after using this formula and this is one of my most important reasons to choose any type of eye makeup formula.

My only complaint with this product is the bottle, the neck and mouth of the bottle are much larger than any other formula that I have used.  Typically, the product will have a very small opening in the bottle and only several drops will be allowed out at one time.  I can quickly saturate an entire cotton ball if I am not careful when using this product and I think that I am wasting product and letting too much out at once.  This is the worst aspect of this product and I am experimenting with tipping the bottle in different ways to allow the least amount of product possible to  come out at any given time.

This is another solid face care product from Philosophy, I really feel that their face care is becoming much better than any of their body products or recent fragrances.  I wish that we would see some great new 3 in 1 fragrances from this company, every season in the mid 2000's saw a release of some great new scents and I had a huge collection of them.  With the exception of Senorita Margarita, I have not been using any products from them lately and I miss buying new scents each season...

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover

Eye makeup remover is one of those necessary evils for me, I cannot get all of my eye makeup off without the use of a separate product.  Any type of traditional face wash will not get my eye makeup off, between mascara and primers, trying to use a face wash will only result in a big mess on my eyelids and under my eyes.  I have raised the white flag and just given up trying to use one product and know that I must use a separate eye makeup remover if I want to correctly get all of my makeup off.  I liked the Sephora Collection product that I had been using for the past few months but I decided that I wanted to try a new product and wanted to find one that is made to get all kinds of professional makeup looks off my face.

I decided to see what MAC had available since I was already mascara shopping from this company and wanted to see if I could get everything done at one counter.  MAC makes several eye makeup removers and I looked at each one online and decided that I would ask for recommendations the next time that I go to the counter and see what the makeup artists there use to get their makeup off.  All of the makeup artists at the counter that I go to wear tons of eye makeup and if it will get all of theirs off, then it will be more than able to get all of mine off.  What was recommended to me as the best eye makeup remover from MAC was the Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover and I added a bottle of it to the pile that I already had behind the counter.

This eye makeup remover is a oil-based formula, a type of formulation that I haven't used in years and have very little knowledge of.  I have used oil-based washes in the past and know that they get makeup off like no other kind of cleanser so I was willing to try this type of product out.  "Oil and water do mix, for twice the impact – just shake. A dual-phase, easy-does-it formula that sweeps off even tenacious waterproof mascara and lip colour. Absolutely gentle; suitable for all. Cucumber extract soothes, Damascus Rose flower water refreshes. No need to rinse.", states the MAC website for the description of the product.

The first thing that I learned about this product is that you must shake it and mix the oils for it to be effective, I tried using it without shaking and had eye makeup residue all over my eyes.  After shaking, I tap the top of the bottle unto my cotton balls and shake enough product out to dampen the cotton balls.  Dampening the top of cotton balls releases enough product to get all of my eye makeup off without any issues.  One or two swipes on my each eye will get all the makeup and primer off and I love that my mascara doesn't smear down on my cheeks with the use of this product.  I am very happy with this formula.

My issue with this product is that I do not like the bottle.  It is a traditional squeeze bottle but I have found that I have to tap the bottle several times to get any product out at all and I didn't like the product the first few times that I used it because I wasn't getting enough product out to correctly clean off my eye makeup.  I learned how much was needed within a few uses and I have no problem with it now but I wasn't happy when I first tried it.  This bottle makes it harder than need be to get the product out and could turn off users of it.

This is a great eye makeup remover formula, my only issues are with the bottle.  The formula is a great oil-based formula and gets all of my eye makeup off without fussing.  This is one of my favorite eye makeup removers that I have ever used and I will re-purchase this one again when I run out of it.

photo courtesy of MAC

Kate Somerville True Lash Enhancing Eye Makeup Remover

Eye makeup remover is a product that I tend to focus very little attention on, I usually buy a bottle of something new and then use it until it is finished up.  If I really like the product, I will often repurchase it instead of trying something new out.  One of my favorite eye makeup removers is the Caudalie Cleansing Water and it remains the only eye makeup remover that I have ever repurchased more than once.  My eye makeup remover has to be strong enough to get all of my mascara and other eye makeup products off and do so without giving me red and stinging eyes.  For a product that I really don't think about, I guess I am pretty picky about the formulas that I use.

My newest eye makeup remover was more purchased at random, I was shopping for one in Sephora the other week and decided to ask the sales associate was her favorite formula was.  Her answer was the formula from Kate Somerville, I have liked face creams from this company in the past so I decided to give it a go and see how the product worked.  She liked this formula because it has a lotion texture and not the traditional water texture.  This formula soothed her dry skin while getting off all her eye makeup.  This sounded very close to my product requirements and I got very excited about it from her recommendation.

The Kate Somerville True Lash Enhancing Eye Makeup Remover is a combination of an eye makeup remover and a skincare product.  Kate Somerville is one of the few companies that would even think of spiking an eye makeup remover with ingredients to condition and treat the delicate eye area skin.

"A one-step eye makeup remover and lash replenisher.  This double-action formula gently wipes away makeup, even waterproof types. Its SymLash226 Complex strengthens and promotes lash growth to create stronger, noticeably fuller lashes. This formula also rejuvenates the appearance of the eye area by reducing the appearance of puffiness, smoothing out fine lines, and providing deep hydration that softens the skin.  This product is formulated with luxurious botanicals, like avocado oil, white tea, and fig blossom, to reduce the appearance of puffiness and fine lines. Sodium Hyaluronate conditions the entire eye area."

This product is used very much like a traditional eye makeup remover even though it is a lotion texture.  I squeeze a dollop out onto a cotton ball and then wipe each of my eyes with it.  The first time that I used it, I managed to get a chunk of it in my eye and the combination of the makeup and the product itself stung like crazy.  I was able to get it all out of my eye with water and a washcloth and I learned that I need to be slightly more gentle with this product than I am normally am with eye makeup removers.  The second time that I used it, I smashed the blob into the cotton ball so that it wouldn't fall out and get into my eye again, this method of application was much better and this is how I recommend to use this product. 

The Sephora website states that this product can either be fully rinsed off the eye or tissued off.  I rinsed it with water and used a washcloth to get the rest of the eye makeup residue off.  If you are like me and use primers and all kinds of other types of eye makeup than I do recommend the method of rinsing as you will have lots of eye makeup to get off, if you do minimal eye makeup you could get away with tissuing the product off. 

This product doesn't irritate my eye area which I love and the delicate skin seems to be more hydrated than when I started using this product about two weeks ago.  But it doesn't perform as I need it to!  It can barely get all of my traditional eye shadows and primers off.  I had to go over each eye several times to get any type of gel or cream eye liner formula off and it left mascara all over my lashes.  This product is really best for someone who uses much less eye makeup than I do, especially someone who is less mascara obsessed.  I will admit that the mascara formula that I am using is a messier one to remove but this formula of remover performs worse than the Sephora Collection formula that I was using before in getting any kind of eye makeup off.

I will finish the tube of this product up but I will not be rebuying this formula of eye makeup remover.  It has some great skincare benefits but I am willing to forsake those benefits (I always use a separate eye cream anyway) and find a formula that does what I want it to...get my eye makeup off!

photo courtesy of Sephora

NARS Makeup Your Mind Set: Express Yourself Through Eyes

So I have now finished up with the holiday makeup collections, many of the companies that traditionally carry new makeup items for every single season didn't really do much of a holiday collection this year so I actually finished up much earlier than I thought that I would!  Which isn't really a bad thing, at this point in this season I already have any makeup that I would buy to dress up and go out and am just gift shopping for others at this point.  Now that the holiday collections are done and the spring collections are not yet out (but will be coming out very soon!), we are going to back to looking at new products for all features.  I have been collecting skincare items like crazy over the past month so a bunch of skincare posts are on the way and I am craving some new color items that will take me into next year!

I was gift shopping the other day on the Sephora website and I came across two new NARS sets.  We all know that I can never resist anything new from this company and I have purchased more items from this beauty company this year so far than from any other.  These two new sets are not gift items, they are sets that are made to create either a strong eye or cheek look.  Today we are going to look at the Makeup Your Mind Set: Express Yourself Through Eyes.  This set contain four products that are perfect to create a strong smoky eye look.  Very few companies can do a strong eye look better than NARS and their Night Series of eye shadows are the first ones that I bought when I finally began to start wearing this look.  And I have purchased many more shades since then...

This set contains four items that are needed to create a great smoky eye: primer, several shades of eye shadow, mascara, and then a makeup remover for getting all of it off.  The primer contained in this set is one of the best eye primers that I have ever used and even if you aren't a fan of this set, i would recommend buying the primer by itself.

This set is exclusive to Sephora at the moment and is only on the website for now (I bet it will hit the stores very soon).  "A four-product set of eye essentials.  Ensure all eyes are on you. Released in conjunction with François Nars' must-have beauty manual, "Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself," this set features all the essentials for a subtle, smoked, or shimmering eye effect."

The products contained in this set are as follows:

Smudgeproof Eye Shadow Base - A lightweight primer that creates a seamless canvas that keeps cream and powder eye color looking brilliant, fresh, and just-applied all day.  This smudge-proof eye shadow base uses a unique polymer and mineral powder blend to get a firm grip on color for long-lasting, gorgeous wear. Fortified with a special deep-sea extract and an antioxidant rice extract, it dries on contact and keeps the delicate eye lid smooth and ready for eye shadow application.  This fragrance-free product is ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested.

Single Eye Shadow - Single-color eye shadows in an array of colors and textures.  Mix and match NARS Single Eye Shadows to create great-looking personal combinations for the eyes. Textures range from translucent highlights and subtle mattes to shimmering glitters.
- Abyssinia - delicate pearl sheen
- Fuji - deep rose with shimmer
- Strada - amethyst infused with gold
- Galapagos - rich bronze with gold flecks
- Silk Road II - deep matte olive
- Brumes II - deep matte charcoal

Eye Makeup Remover - A high-performance, extremely mild makeup remover that removes all types of makeup, including waterproof.  This formula removes of all types of makeup, including waterproof formulas. The non-greasy solution glides across skin leaving a silky feel without any residue. Natural ingredients calm irritation. Enriched with aloe and cucumber, it soothes the delicate skin around the eyes.  This formula contains hyaluronic acid known for comforting and hydrating the skin. It’s gentle enough for contact-lens wearers, is non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested, ophthalmologist-tested, and suitable for sensitive eyes.

Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara - A volumizing mascara.  This lush, vitamin-enriched mascara boosts volume and curl with every stroke. The signature "honeycomb" fibers of the brush are designed for maximum product pickup and smooth, even distribution that coats every lash without smudging or flaking. The rich, deep pigment magnifies the effect, creating a thick fringe that's high definition, high drama, and bigger than ever.
- Black - deep black

I must have this set!  I really wish that this set would have came out a bit earlier in the year, I would have been all over this set for the fall months since that is the time of the year that I normally start wearing smoky eyes more often.  Even so, I know that I will use these shades and products all throughout the year.  I think that my favorite aspect of this set is the thought that went into choosing the eye makeup shades.  So many palettes are really ruined for me when a navy or blue is thrown in or the company decides to try and mix a bright hue in with the smoky shades.  A bold hue can look great with smoky eye shades however this is a much harder to look to pull off and is only recommended for someone who is already skilled at creating smoky eyes.  The shades in this set are very well chosen and will work well for any eye color or level of skill with eye makeup.  Galapagos is the only shade from this set that I already own and it is a fantastic bronze shade and the gold flecks really stand out.  This is truly a great choice of eye makeup shades to create all kinds of smoky eye looks.

What else stands out for me?  I have already stated how much I love the eye primer in this line, it kept my makeup in place all day long and has never failed me once.  This is the only eye primer that I consider to be on par with the Urban Decay Primer Potion.  I want to try both the Eye Makeup Remover and the Mascara that is in this set, this is one of those rare sets where I actually really want every single item contained in it! 

We will look at the cheek set in the next few days but I really recommend that you guys check out everything eye makeup-wise that NARS has to offer.  This company hasn't disappointed me yet!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Sephora Collection Instant Eye Makeup Remover

I have never tried any of the new Sephora Collection skincare items, I have looked at them before when I was in the store but have never actually bought or heard very much about this collection.  Many of the products look very interesting and like some products that I would like to try however I tend to stick with many of my same, trusted skincare brands to minimize the risk of product reactions.  I decided to break out of my skincare boundries slowly and buy one of the eye makeup removers instead of buying another bottle of Caudalie Cleansing Water.  I tried out it out for the past two nights and so far this product is pretty nice.

I have often used more natural-based eye makeup removers in the past, I haven't used a traditional formula eye make remover since I last bought one from Clinique.  I have to use eye makeup remover every single night since I pile on the eye primer, eye makeup, and mascara every single day.  I have never been able to get my eye makeup off with just face wash and I now have stopped trying and consider eye makeup remover as essential as a good eye cream.  An eye makeup remover is often a great product to try when deciding on a new skincare brand, if it doesn't work or is irritating, then it is good bet that the rest of the line will not work out either.

"A refreshing eye makeup remover gentle enough for contact wearers and those with senstive eyes.  This multi-tasking eye makeup remover erases all traces of makeup, refreshes the eye contour area, and strengthens lashes.  Its formula includes HydroSenn+, a natural ingredient proven to deliver immediate and long lasting hydration more effectly than hyaluronic acid.  HydroSenn+ is a plant-derived ingredient exclusive to Sephora that leaves skin feeling soft and luxuriously comfortable."

This product effectively removes all traces of eye makeup when used correctly.  The first time that I tried it, I didn't fully saturate my cotton ball and I only got about half of my eye shadow off and had to swipe it a few more times to get all the eye shadow and my mascara off.  The second time that I used this product, I full saturated the cotton ball and this time it worked much better.  The first swipe got all my eye makeup off and I only had to reswipe to get the excess mascara off from underneath my eyes.  I want to note that I am using YSL Faux Cils Mascara and I had problems getting this formula fully cleaned off with The Body Shop's Chamomile Eye Makeup Remover (a favorite product of mine).

This formula didn't irritate my skin at all, effectively removing my eye makeup and not irritating my skin are the only two major requirements that I have from a product of this type.  I don't care about hydration or any special ingredients with my eye makeup remover.  I don't mind that this product contains HydroSenn+ but I would be more interested in how this ingredient functions in a face cream or serum.  If this ingredient is in more products from Sephora Collection then I will be doing more shopping from this skincare line.

The only minor drawback of this product is the color.  The product itself is bright blue, I initally only thought that the bottle was bright blue and the product itself would be clear.  Most other eye makeup removers were clear and I don't feel like they need to have any type of hue to them.  I was very put off by shade, eye makeup doesn't need color added to it and I was afraid that added ingredients would be irritating to my eyes.  It seems like the color was added to make the product stand out on the shelf and plays no other role in the product formulation.  The bottle itself could just have been this color and it would have stood out just as much.  The additional color didn't bother my eyes but it would have ruined the whole product if I would have had a reaction just from the tint to the product and it isn't a necessary ingredient.

I really like this eye makeup remover and now I want to check out the rest of the Sephora Collection skincare products at the store.  I am interested in seeing what is offered with this collection, I have have half a bottle of face cleanser left and I will need to buy a new product very soon.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover

I must confess... I have cheated on my beloved Caudalie Cleansing Water. I have used the Caudalie product for ages and have never even considered trying another makeup remover out. But I received this product in one of the Clinique gifts so I decided to give it a shot and see how it works. I was a bit concerned about trying a new product out since the Caudalie remover is more on the natural side and is great for sensitive skin. However, since this product is from Clinique, I trusted that it would be suitable for sensitive skin and wouldn't irritate my eyes and the skin around them.

The Clinique website states, "Totally tugless, two-way makeup remover speeds the departure of hard-to-remove eye and lip makeups. Dissolves and "lifts away" long-wearing makeup, even waterproof mascara. Non-irritating, non-stinging. Ophthamologist tested. Appropriate for contact lens wearers". This product is suitable for use on both eyes and lips. I have only used it for eye makeup removal and have never tried it for lipstick removal.

Comparing this product to the Caudalie remover, I like both of them and they are both great products but I think that I would use them for different scenerios. The Caudalie product isn't as strong as the Clinique one and I have noticed that it's strongest point is not getting lots of longwearing eye makeup off. The Clinique formula performs much better in this respect. I think that I would rather use the Clinique remover on the days that I use a lot of eye liner or decide to go all out with my eye makeup. I also found that it gets stubborn mascara off very easily. However, I prefer to use the Caudalie formula off over my face and to clean up makeup errors.

In short, these are both great products and I recommend both but at different times. I would use the Clinique one when I go heavy on the eye makeup and mascara. Also, I recommend the Clinique product when using long-wearing products. I would like to test it out with long-wearing lipsticks when I get another bottle of it. The Caudalie one is better all over the face to remove full makeup and when using minimal eye makeup.

photo courtesy of Clinique