April Favourites

April Favourites already?!

I can't believe we are already coming to the end of April, Its May next week. Holy moly! 

Additionally, I'm officially on my summer break, I know I have a VERY early summer but I'm certainly not complaining - so technically speaking that is my first favourite - YAY! 

But now onto my actual April favourites...These are the products that I have been loving during the month of April!

Lets start with the bloggers favourite, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Now obviously there has been a lot of hype over this product over the last few years, with people saying that it really is everything you need in a concealer..and then some. It certainly doesn't disappoint! Not only does it provide excellent dark circle coverage, (cancelling out my deep purple bags) its also adds a highlighting effect that when paired with a matte - semi matte foundation it looks beyond beautiful! I'm in the shade Honey, but as we get further into summer I imagine I will need a darker shade, so I will certainly not hesitate in purchasing this again! 

My second is another make-up item, this time its from MAC. This past month or so, i've been cutting out foundation. I feel like i'm at a point in my life where  finally i'm comfortable with my skin, its been a long journey but i'm finally there. I still get blemishes, but no where near as bad as I used to. So I think why wear foundation everyday, when really I don't need to be using it on a daily basis. I want to let my skin breathe. So i've been heading towards this Mineralize Skinfinish power in the colour Medium just to sweep over my face to help set my concealer, and also to help with any shine throughout the day *oily gal here* Unlike other powders i've tried this doesn't look cakey on this skin and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth! 

As I said, I feel happy about my skin at the moment. I had acne, and now it has left me with a scarring. I find my skin, scars very easily and a spot can take up to 8-10 weeks for it to fade completely. Which can be a right pain in the bum. When it was first suggested that I try Bio-Oil, I had a mini panic.."I already have oily skin, why would I put more oil onto my face." Boy was I wrong, not only does this provide moisture it's doing wonderful things to my scars! I'm not completely happy with them yet but I feel that this is 100% making a difference to my acne scars.

Multi-Vitamins + Iron, a little unconventional for a favourites..Perhaps..But something I'd recommend to anyone without question.  I have never reaaally been a tablet kinda girl, I kinda just ate what I wanted, didn't really think too much about the consequences. Since taking these I have found an improvement in a number of aspects of my life. I wake up refreshed rather than STILL tired, my skin has more of a glow, my under eye circles are less prominent, and my hair is growing a lot faster too! I don't know why I didn't start taking these earlier!

Dr Paw Paw is the balm of all balms! It's multifunctional, it doesn't leave a slimy feeling, soaking in to leave silky smooth feeling. I only really tend to use this of an evening, focusing on my lips and on any dry patches. It can be used on nails and cuticles too. 

Finally, is this Zara perfume in Oriental. I've kinda always turned a blind eye to the Zara perfume range, I guess I always just assumed they'd smell a bit cheap and overpowering but I was very wrong! This one is the perfect light spring/summer scent. I have been using the My Burberry perfume but I found it to be a too heavy scent with the warmer months rolling in. This has a light and fruity scent which is exactly what I was looking for so, needless to say this has fast become my statement smell and for only £5.99 - bargain!!

What are your April favourites!?

Bargain Of The Day - Re-Gen Cream

So, First of all, I'd just like to apologise for the severe lack of posts over the past few weeks, I was super poorly for a good week , then i've been busy busy with work, catching up with friends, and booking a holiday ( yaaaas ) but business as usual from now on! 

So back to the post, as I'm sure many of you know by know my problematic skin is the bane of my life, now that i'm just about on top of the breakout situation thanks to Clinique's 3-step System. ( See post here ) My new problem - acne scarring. My scarring isn't the worst and isn't all over my face, but in the areas I do have scarring the marks are quite prominent. After a quick goog' I came across Home Bargains equivalent to bio-oil, but theirs was in a moisturiser formula. Home Bargains + Skin care..Really?! I hear you say, but genuinely for £3 this product is amazing!

 I had low expectations for this as I genuinely took the approach of, 'Oh its from Home Bargains so realistically its not gonna be that great' but how wrong I was. After the first use, my scarring began to fade, and with continual use, slowly but surely, they are disappearing. It does leave a rather greasy feeling on the skin post-use but thats to be expected as it does have the Re-Gen Oil product within the moisturiser. As I do have oily skin, using this morning and night is a bit of a no go for me, but using it of an evening cream gives me exactly the right amount of moisture I need. Now, If you have dry skin I probably wouldn't recommend it as it wouldn't be moisturising enough, and I have heard it can even further dry out skin even more. 

As you can see from the image it has a medium to thick consistency, it soaks in the skin with an average 5-7 minutes as to be expected from a thicker moisteriser, but other than that nothing but positives to say about this product. I have had this in my collection for about 9 months now, and i'm only just now getting to the bottom of the pot. Perfect!

Have you ever tried any skincare products from Home Bargains? Have they worked for you?

Clinique Anti-Blemish 3-Step System Review - My Skin Savior

About two months ago now I began my journey with Clinique, I was at my wits end with my skin being so temperamental with little to no control over breakouts and when they would occur. I had tried almost every face wash on the high street, doctors creams and nothing seemed to have the desired effect, then I read about the 3-step system. Now, there are a lot of mixed reviews online, but in my mind everyone has different skin, and what may not work for one individual may work for another. So I took the plunge and headed to my local counter in John Lewis. 

After a conversation with the lady we agreed that with my super oily and very blemish prone skin, I needed the anti-blemish range. I began my months trial for the ever so reasonable £25,and in the trial you receive your three steps - Cleansing Foam, Clarifying Lotion, and All Over Clearing Treatment (It's a Moisturiser)

So 2 Months in, my opinion? By far the most amazing acne product out there! But being honest it wasn't all fun and games for some time, the lady did warn me that this product does make you skin worse before it gets better, and my goodness it definitely did! I was getting spots all around my mouth - which is an area I have never before got them. In addition these weren't your average run of the mill spots, they were deep sore spots that take forever to go and are impossible to cover up, but I remember being told this is the product working giving your pores a deep clean! I feel like this is the point where a lot of people give up on the system, as it is really a horrible phase, but I was determined that It was going to work for me and plowed on. Now at about the 3/4 week mark, to my delight, they all of a sudden disappeared. Unfortunately I am still suffering with the scarring from these but they are fading slowly but surely. I am now at a point where I do feel comfortable enough not to wear foundation on a day to day basis, which to be honest was my aim from all this, so I am over the moon!

I've now got my eye on a few more of the Clinique skin care range to explore the benefits of the brand!

Here is a quick in's and outs of the products within the range -

Step 1 - Cleansing Foam 

This removes any make-up your wearing in addition to any oils on the face, with one or two pumps at the most, I am able to do my whole face and neck area. I was a little apprehensive as to if it would actually take my make up off, but it really does with the added affect of leaving a lovely clean feeling to the face. It has no fragrance but does have a slightly medicinal smell to it which I love!

Step 2 - Clarifying Lotion 

With the ingredients of Salicylic acid and alcohol this acts as both a toner and an exfoliater. I've read that some people find that this drys their skin out, but for me with extremely oily skin this dry feeling is what I want. If you do have a spot it does sting a little but that sting lets you know its doing its job! The lady told me to apply it in a downward motion so that the optimum amount of product gets into the pores. Again it has a slightly medicinal smell. In addition, it is very important to give the bottle a good shake before use since the Salicylic acid tends to sit at the bottom. 

Step 3 - All Over Clearing Treatment

I have no idea why they call this a clearing treatment, its a moisturiser! As you may be able to see from the first image, I have no full size third step, no clearing treatment. For me, this was a pointless step, it was nor aiding or hindering the spot clearing process, so I've swapped it out for a bio-oil based moisturiser to help with my scaring. 

Have you tried anything from the anti-blemish range? Has it worked for you?

You can buy your trial here for £25, or buy just take a browse at their full range here.

Clinique 3-Step Anti-Blemish System

Clinique 3-Step Anti-Blemish System

Having Suffered on-and-off with my skin for the last 6/7 years of my life, I was at my wits end. I mean, I don't have the worst skin imaginable but I do suffer constantly with at-least 2 or 3 spots (if I'm lucky), open pores, oily skin and acne scaring which overall has really knocked my confidence, I'm too embarrassed to go out make-up-less, always having to have a full foundation routine slapped on my face. Which with summer fast approaching I really don't want to be doing. The goal is to be able to pop on a bit of tinted moisturiser and mascara and be on my way. 

I Have tried exfoliation, all the face washes under the sun and creams from the Doctors. All seemed to work for a while but after a few weeks maybe more, it was as if my skin 'got used' to the products and they became less effective. 

Now, after endless google-ing, reading blog reviews and watching YouTube videos I finally decided to take the plunge and head to my nearest Clinique counter for a consultation. Within a couple of questions from the Clinique dermatologist I was matched to the Anti-Blemish system, which I kinda guess i'd be matched to anyway. I was offered a 4-Week Trial for £25 which for some may seem a little pricey but for me and the lack of confidence my skin often gives me it was worth a go. 

As the name suggests the system is split into 3 easy steps. 

- Step 1 - Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam. 
This is the deep cleanse, removing make-up (but from what I've noticed only if not heavy make-up)

- Step 2 - Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion. 
Which Unclogs pores that can lead to spots.

-Step 3 - Anti-Blemish Solutions All-Over Clearing Treatment Oil-Free. 
Fancy Name for a moisturiser really!
                                          

I've only been using it a few days now so not really in a position to write my full opinions as of yet, but what i can say is so far so good. The lady did mention that sometimes skin can get worse before it gets better but luckily (so far) that is not something I have come across. 
I Have an appointment after my 4-week trial is up early May so no doubt by then I will have a better insight into this product! :)     

                

Chloe xx