Bedtime Beauty Review: Optrex Warming Eye Mask

I get very dry eyes so the words 'microsteam technology' on the packet of these Optrex self-heating eye masks called out to me. I thought the lavender scented ones would be great to use before bed. I saw the advert on TV but avoided reading the back of the packaging so I could test it and see if it actually did anything without me just thinking it did.

These are single use masks, individually wrapped. They start heating up within a couple of minutes of opening the packet.

I was expecting it to stick on to my face but it's got little ear holes and so you just fit it around your head. The problem is that you then can't see anything so I advise setting a timer to go off after 10-20 minutes as this is the amount of time recommended to leave it on.

At first it was a bit underwhelming because I didn't feel like it was sitting close enough to the eyes to do anything and wasn't sticking to my face like I'd hoped. But soon there started to be this weird sensation around my eyes, like a very gentle pulsing. It wasn't painful but I'm not sure it was totally pleasant either. I thought one of my eyes was tearing up slightly but couldn't be sure.

I removed the mask after ten minutes and my eyes were surprisingly damp. I don't really know how it works but they definitely felt steamed, and they had felt pretty dry before I had put the mask on so I feel like it worked! 

The effect doesn't last that long but equally my eyes don't feel too dry either so overall I would say it's worth using just to get your eyes back to a normal level of comfort, and take a little down time, maybe to listen to some music while you can't see anything!

Deep Steep - organic bubble bath

After watching The Human Experiment, I decided I didn't really want to bathe in chemicals. So I looked online to find an organic bubble that still sounded like something I'd buy in the shops.

Enter Deep Steep. This was an experiment that really paid off - I picked it by chance, and now I don't think I'd buy anything else.

Not only does it smell nice, it feels nice, (moisturising rather than sticky) AND as a bonus you get lots of bubbles if you add it in as you start to run your bath. Win win win.

Knowing I'm not surrounded by lots of pesky chemicals is also super relaxing. Another win!

Bedtime Beauty Shout Out

I have bought so many of these lip balms by Burts Bees. They are just the right amount of tint, and feel super nourishing. My shade of choice is Tiger Lily but I've tried others and they're all lovely!

Bedtime Beauty tip

Sometimes when you're out and about its good to keep an emergency supply of perfume on you. Personally, I don't want to lug around a bottle, big or small, because it adds weight to my handbag and I worry about leaks!

So inside, I save those little sample sizes that come in magazines or that you occasionally get free with other products - they're small but if you only use them occasionally they last a long time. I like to keep them in my make up case, and they weigh next to nothing at all! 

My Favourite Nail Polishes...

Shout out to Sally Hansen nail polishes!

I'm basically only using these now. I've previously posted on my elegant nails routine, which uses the Sall Hansen nail repair as well. But even without a base or top cost these nail polishes look amazing and seem to last longer than others.

The other major advantage of these is the wide brush - since I've been using them I now hate using the skimpy brushes in other nail polishes. It's so much easier to be neat with these! 

It's also much quicker to apply with the wide brush, and the polish often looks good enough after the first coat if you prefer a subtle look. 

Love them!

Reading Under the Covers

All The Rage by Courtney Summers was slightly reminiscent of Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson (1999). However, there's an extra element of mystery and intrigue that I won't spoil, but it sets this book apart from similar reads.

One of the things I liked about this book were the detailed descriptions - from running on a road, to putting on nail polish. They're very perceptive and well written. 

The book kept me gripped and I was definitely hooked a quarter of the way in. I've yet to read Asking For It by Louise O'Neil but it will be interesting to see how that compares.

Bedtime Beauty Shout Out

I had a manicure done and wow, this precision corrector by Leighton Denny impressed me so much, I had to have one!

Apply your nail polish, and tidy up any mistakes using this applicator - and ta dah! Mistakes vanished!