Expert Trial Team: instant beauty fixers

Many of us are pretty impatient. We want instant gratification; results that we can see within minutes. And sometimes, it’s okay to expect the same from your beauty products.

Read on to find out which beauty products delivered impressive results in both the short and long term for the bh team…

MAYBELLINE FIT ME! SHINE FREE FOUNDATION STICK

bh’s Carli says…

“I, not unlike a gazillion other women out there, tend to get an oily T-zone during the day. It drives me insane, so I’m always looking for mattifying solutions. This foundation stick worked really well to instantly control my shine and continued to do so for a few hours and leave my skin looking naturally matte (so no cakey effect). I found that the application was pretty simple – just glide the stick and blend with your fingers. I usually use a foundation brush, so it took me a while to get used to using my fingers (and a few dirty smudges on my clothes to remember to wash my hands after application!). The foundation blended easily and almost felt like a powder once in contact with my skin. I really loved (especially in this warm weather) that the foundation felt really lightweight – almost like I wasn’t wearing anything at all.”

AHAVA TIME TO HYDRATE GENTLE EYE CREAM

bh’s Cherie says…

 
“I’m not old enough to suffer from deep wrinkles around the eye area, but I certainly do suffer from dehydration, which leads to crepey skin. I adored the way this eye cream nipped dryness and skin fatigue in the bud instantly, leaving my eye area looking fresher and more wide-awake. After a few weeks of use, I’m noticed my fine lines have lessened, and my eye area is less puffy upon waking (this is a huge feat for me as I’m very prone to puffiness). I’d recommend this to anyone who needs an eye cream that’ll deeply nourish this delicate area, while also combatting the telltale signs of tiredness.”

CRABTREE & EVELYN ENGLISH HONEY & PEACH BLOSSOM HAND THERAPY

bh’s Sam says…

 
“Already a big fan of Crabtree & Evelyn’s hand creams, I couldn’t wait to try the new limited-edition scent. The notes of the cream are quite floral, with a hint of citrus from the peach. The smell is strong but not overpowering, just the right amount for those who enjoy scented hand creams. The cream itself is very nourishing and absorbs quite well. My hands feel instantly softer without any greasy residue. The packaging is the traditional Crabtree & Evelyn tube with screw cap lip, so application is easy and it comes in a very generous 100g size. My only gripe is that it doesn’t contain SPF so I probably won’t use it during the day, but it has earned a permanent place on my bedside table for night.”

VO5 GIVE ME TEXTURE INSTANT OOMPH POWDER

bh’s Olivia says…

“Ooh… even the name makes me feel, well… a bit vampish. That’s exactly what the product did, too. I must admit – I never used to have much trouble with flatness. When my hair was balayaged, I think the fact that it was a little drier meant that it never fell as softly and cleanly as it does now that it’s dark all over and healthy. The downside of having incredibly healthy hair is definitely lack of volume, for me anyway. That doesn’t mean you should go out and bleach your hair into oblivion, mind you! Simply that you need to add a new styling product to your line-up, one that will add volume and texture without much effort, especially if you’re a little lazy in the styling department (like me!). I found that this powder absorbed the oil from my scalp and then promptly disappeared, leaving my hair feeling fresh, kind of like how a dry shampoo works. A wriggle of my fingers through the top of my scalp assisted in helping the powder to ‘lift’ my strands and give my hair some height. When I put my hair up into a ponytail, the crown didn’t sink down as I suspected it might, in fact it stayed high and volumised. At under a tenner, you can’t really go wrong with this.”

Have you tried any of the Expert Trial Team products? Which one sounds like your instant beauty solution?