Recent Purchases - Thank The Lord For Student Loans.

Sorry for the absence, I've been settling into my new house and getting back into the swing of Uni. We've immediately been hit with an abundance of work so that hasn't exactly helped the lack of posts but hopefully i'll get into a nice little routine and be able to get at least a post up a week again!

Thank the lord for student loans! EVERYTHING has run out at once, I had to buy new concealer, new mascara, new micellar water, more of my clinique skincare so along with these I decided to pick up a few items that it'd been lusting over for a while now - why not....I've been working hard all summer and it's okay to treat yourself now and then...right?!

Lets start with the beyond gorgeous YSL lipstick - it is from the 'Rouge Pur Couture' collection and in the colour 01. Now this is in my opinion a gorgeous universally sexy red that will look beautiful on a range of skin colours. It is also that type of red that makes your teeth look nice and white - winner. I have only used this product once but the longevity is amazing, I reapplied once after I had eaten and that is it! It doesn't have that horrid tacky feeling that some semi-matte lipsticks have, but it is scented, I can't quite put my finger on the notes but there is definitely a floral scent to it.  

Whilst at the YSL counter I tried the new fusion foundation, and oh my it was something else. I was matched to being in between shades B40 and B50 but as my summer tan fades I will probably end up as a B40. Unfortunately, they didn't have any testers in that day so I couldn't take it home for a play but this foundation is definitely on my hit list for a future purchase. 

Next is the Laura Mercier oil free tinted moisturiser in the shade sand. I have been eyeing this product up for months, seen endless reviews about it but just couldn't decide because of the price. ( It retails at £34 Link here ) I'd popped into John Lewis, and luckily for me they had a student event on so I bought it for £27, which still isn't exactly cheap but I felt happier purchasing it at that price. So far so good, the coverage is light-medium, but is definitely buildable it matches fab against my Pro-longwear concealer in NC30. When wearing it with a primer I have no problems, but if I forget this step I have found that it does oxidise slightly, and comes off to the touch. I have just ordered the EX1 Cosmetics Liquid Foundation in F200, as I have heard great things about it and I do want a foundation with a slightly bit more coverage than the tinted moisturiser for those bad skin days. 

Can we please just have a moment for these badboys....Topshop and their shoes never EVER fail to amaze me for all the right reasons. I saw these and immediately fell in love! All my heels are very similar so I had wanted something that looked slightly different for some time. Now if you shop at Topshop regularly you know they're not the cheapest, but you are buying quality and craftsmanship within their designs. For £55 I think these shoes are a bit of a steal really, they are called The Roxy Heel. I just love the studded detail and the over the foot design - they reminded me very much of Kim K. 

Have you tried any of these products? Has anyone tried anything from the EX1 range, I would love to know your views?

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?

Caught Out By Boots 3 for 2!

Last week whilst having a nose around town, I popped into Boots for an ever so innocent browse, as we all know too well these so called 'browsings' can very easily be turned into a full blown shop and with the extra lure of the '3for2' deal it was hook-line-and-sinker. Now I didn't go too overboard and actually came out with some goodies I've been eyeing up for a while now too - win! 

Revlon - Colourburst MatteBalm - Audacious 

Maybelline - Colossal Go Extreme

Sinful Colors - Easy Going

Clinique - Moisture Surge - Shade 4

Clinique - Anti-Blemish Solutions - Cleansing Foam

Clinique - Anti-Blemish Solutions - Clarifying Lotion

Sinful Colors is a new brand to me, and with the price of £1.99, I'd without a doubt say that they're a better deal for your money that Barry M. Although it does take an abnormally long time to dry, once it does it's staying put. After 5 days wear now - Not a chip in sight unlike Barry M which in my experience chips after a day if that, so 100% gonna have to explore their range a little further.  I've also been wanting to try the MatteBalm for ages now, its a rich coral colour that glides well onto the lip and is super moisturising, so I'm rather happy with that buy. 

Revlon MatteBalm - Audacious Swatch

I've also repurchased a couple of items from the Clinique Anti-Blemish range as written about a few posts ago, but I'll go into a full review of that in a upcoming post so keep a lookout! :)

Chloe xx

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