Over the last year I have noticed a few fine lines beginning to appear under my eyes and the corners of my mouth (laughter and smile lines if you please) and although they don't really bother me I decided to try an instant filler to see if I could smooth them away albeit temporarily.
The Clarins Instant Smooth Correcter has had a lot of good reviews. It is a silicon based product that doesn't claim to improve wrinkles, just cover them and Claris say the effects are long-lasting and will ensure flawless makeup.
Unfortunately when I bought it I was in a rush and the Clarins consultants were busy with other customers so I didn't have time to let them show me how to use it.
Big mistake! I really cannot understand why this product is so hyped.
It comes in a pen style dispenser and when you click the base the product is dispensed through the top thorough a flexible plastic applicator. This method isn't at all precise despite claims to the contrary and I found it easier to dispense a little on to the back of my hand and apply with my fingertips.
When I applied it straight onto my clean face I didn't notice any difference at all except for a greasy film where the product sat on top my skin. And when I put foundation over it rubbed off in little bobbles. Over foundation it was no better - it simply sat on top making my complexion look uneven and actually drawing attention to my wrinkles.
I tried applying loose powder but again this made things even worse with the powder and silicon mixing together and leaving even bigger lumps on my face.
Having read some other reviews it seems that it may work better on drier skin. So I will try again in the winter when cold wind and central heating start to take their toll and see if I get better results.
However, for now I am not impressed and at £25.00 the Clarins Instant Smooth Correcter was also an expensive mistake.
Saturday 22 September 2012
Tuesday 18 September 2012
Thursday 13 September 2012
Romance By Ralph Lauren
In my late 20s and early 30s I used to wear Ralph Lauren's Romance almost exclusively. Prior to that I had worn John Paul Gaultier's Classique, again virtually exclusively and before that Calvin Klein's Eternity. I wore those two so much that I eventually fell out of love with them.
However, I never fell out of love with Romance. I stopped wearing it because for a while I stopped wearing perfumes and I can't remember why. In the last couple of years I have rekindled my love of fragrance and now own a number of different scents that I wear depending on my mood or the occasion.
So when I saw that Debenhams had a great offer on the 50ml bottle of Ralph Lauren Romance something nostalgic swept over me and I just had to have it.
With the first spray it brought back so many memories and I remembered why I loved it so much. Initially the scent is quite strong and chemical smelling but don't let that put you off. It's a big rush of flowers which settles after about half an hour to something much lighter with a little spice.
It's a very feminine scent with roses and freesia and I would describe it as a daytime, summery fragrance rather than a romantic fragrance. Although there is a touch of musk in there it's not really a sexy scent. The pale pink box and clean lines of the glass bottle suit its understated elegance perfectly.
I'm so glad I own it again. I will wear it during these last warm days of summer and when I'm feeling frivolous and girly. And one of the best things about it is its staying power. So many beautiful perfumes just don't last on me but this one lingers on my skin until the end of the day.
However, I never fell out of love with Romance. I stopped wearing it because for a while I stopped wearing perfumes and I can't remember why. In the last couple of years I have rekindled my love of fragrance and now own a number of different scents that I wear depending on my mood or the occasion.
So when I saw that Debenhams had a great offer on the 50ml bottle of Ralph Lauren Romance something nostalgic swept over me and I just had to have it.
With the first spray it brought back so many memories and I remembered why I loved it so much. Initially the scent is quite strong and chemical smelling but don't let that put you off. It's a big rush of flowers which settles after about half an hour to something much lighter with a little spice.
It's a very feminine scent with roses and freesia and I would describe it as a daytime, summery fragrance rather than a romantic fragrance. Although there is a touch of musk in there it's not really a sexy scent. The pale pink box and clean lines of the glass bottle suit its understated elegance perfectly.
I'm so glad I own it again. I will wear it during these last warm days of summer and when I'm feeling frivolous and girly. And one of the best things about it is its staying power. So many beautiful perfumes just don't last on me but this one lingers on my skin until the end of the day.
Wednesday 12 September 2012
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Time Repair
Debenhams are holding one of their regular Beauty Events this week which means you can save 10% on all their beauty products. You can also collect 500 bonus points (worth £5.00) on your Beauty Club card when you spend over £40.00 - what more excuse does a girl need to go shopping?
I have heard many great things about Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair serum so decided to treat myself. I've tried many, many nighttime skincare products but unfortunately have never found one that I am totally happy with. I tend to find that the ones that promise rehydration, although they may make my skin less dry and reduce fine lines, give me blocked pores and breakouts.
As with all Estée Lauder products the packaging is functional but glamorous which fits perfectly with the brand. The brown bottle and stopper makes me think of those lotions and potions you find in old-fashioned chemists.
I'm a sucker for Beauty marketing copy and Estée Lauder describe this Synchronized Recovery Complex as a "comprehensive, high-performance anti-aging serum - 30 years of innovation. Inspired by groundbreaking DNA research - brings your skin a dramatic reduction in the visible signs of aging". It sounds pretty scientific yeah? So it must work!
Well if the reviews are anything to go by it will. Women rave about this product claiming it can not only rehydrate the skin and reduce wrinkles but also unblock pores, fade acne scars, tighten skin and get rid of blemishes and redness.
The actual serum felt very light on my skin and the dropper dispenses exactly how much you need which is only 3 or 4 drops for my entire face and neck.
I will do a follow up post in a couple of weeks after I've decided whether this really is the miracle product I've been looking for.
I have heard many great things about Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair serum so decided to treat myself. I've tried many, many nighttime skincare products but unfortunately have never found one that I am totally happy with. I tend to find that the ones that promise rehydration, although they may make my skin less dry and reduce fine lines, give me blocked pores and breakouts.
As with all Estée Lauder products the packaging is functional but glamorous which fits perfectly with the brand. The brown bottle and stopper makes me think of those lotions and potions you find in old-fashioned chemists.
I'm a sucker for Beauty marketing copy and Estée Lauder describe this Synchronized Recovery Complex as a "comprehensive, high-performance anti-aging serum - 30 years of innovation. Inspired by groundbreaking DNA research - brings your skin a dramatic reduction in the visible signs of aging". It sounds pretty scientific yeah? So it must work!
Well if the reviews are anything to go by it will. Women rave about this product claiming it can not only rehydrate the skin and reduce wrinkles but also unblock pores, fade acne scars, tighten skin and get rid of blemishes and redness.
The actual serum felt very light on my skin and the dropper dispenses exactly how much you need which is only 3 or 4 drops for my entire face and neck.
I will do a follow up post in a couple of weeks after I've decided whether this really is the miracle product I've been looking for.
Wednesday 5 September 2012
Les Twin-Sets De Chanel For Vogue's Fashion Night Out
Peter Philip's, Chanel's creative director of makeup has designed a trio of limited edition sets of Rouge Allure lipsticks and Les Vernis nail colours for Vogue's Fashion Night Out.
Provocation is a deep vampy purple that looks as though it will be perfect for autumn, while Infidèle is a pretty pink ideal for everyday wear. The third shade is Délicatesse, a peachy nude.
The sets will be dispensed from matching vending machines located in Chanel's pop-up store in Covent Garden on the night and available at Chanel boutiques from September 6th.
Provocation is a deep vampy purple that looks as though it will be perfect for autumn, while Infidèle is a pretty pink ideal for everyday wear. The third shade is Délicatesse, a peachy nude.
The sets will be dispensed from matching vending machines located in Chanel's pop-up store in Covent Garden on the night and available at Chanel boutiques from September 6th.
Monday 3 September 2012
Night Time Cleansing
I'm not very good at routine and I have procrastination down to a fine art. But there's one thing that I do absolutely religiously every day.
No matter how late I get in or how drunk or tired I am I ALWAYS TAKE MY MAKEUP OFF BEFORE I GO TO BED.
Removing your makeup will help prevent your pores getting clogged and reduce breakouts and give your skin a chance to rest. If you use night creams there is no point in putting them on over a barrier of makeup. But it also means that if you wake up in the morning with a raging hangover at least your skin will look half decent and you won't have to deal with panda eyes staring back at you in the mirror.
I've used everything in the past to remove my makeup at night - facial soap bars, washes with beads, washes with scratchy bits, disposable wipes, cold cream and cotton wool(what was I thinking?), but I've reverted back to where I started from when my mother first gave me a bottle of cleansing milk and a flannel and told me to wash my face.
Of course it's now got a fancy name; hot cloth cleansing, and you can even buy expensive kits of cream and cloth. But women have been cleaning their faces in this way since time immemorial. It's cheap, effective and quick.
I use Simple cleanser which costs about 3 quid but you can use almost any cleansing milk or lotion. Massage the cleanser into your face and wipe off with a hot, wet cloth. That's it.
I still use a flannel which you can pick up in any chemist, department store or supermarket for pennies but you could use muslim cloths or terry cloths. Find what works for you. A slightly rough cloth will also exfoliate, whereas a softer cloth may be better for more sensitive skins. And use a freshly washed cloth every day. A damp, warm cloth is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and you don't want to be wiping bugs and other nasties over your face.
No matter how late I get in or how drunk or tired I am I ALWAYS TAKE MY MAKEUP OFF BEFORE I GO TO BED.
Removing your makeup will help prevent your pores getting clogged and reduce breakouts and give your skin a chance to rest. If you use night creams there is no point in putting them on over a barrier of makeup. But it also means that if you wake up in the morning with a raging hangover at least your skin will look half decent and you won't have to deal with panda eyes staring back at you in the mirror.
I've used everything in the past to remove my makeup at night - facial soap bars, washes with beads, washes with scratchy bits, disposable wipes, cold cream and cotton wool(what was I thinking?), but I've reverted back to where I started from when my mother first gave me a bottle of cleansing milk and a flannel and told me to wash my face.
Of course it's now got a fancy name; hot cloth cleansing, and you can even buy expensive kits of cream and cloth. But women have been cleaning their faces in this way since time immemorial. It's cheap, effective and quick.
I use Simple cleanser which costs about 3 quid but you can use almost any cleansing milk or lotion. Massage the cleanser into your face and wipe off with a hot, wet cloth. That's it.
I still use a flannel which you can pick up in any chemist, department store or supermarket for pennies but you could use muslim cloths or terry cloths. Find what works for you. A slightly rough cloth will also exfoliate, whereas a softer cloth may be better for more sensitive skins. And use a freshly washed cloth every day. A damp, warm cloth is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and you don't want to be wiping bugs and other nasties over your face.
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