Clinique anti-blemish solutions 3 step system. Everyone's heard of this by now, it's infamous. Clinique's 3 step program for problem skin. Mine was a little freebie from when my mum bought a load of makeup from there a few months ago. I think the only difference between this one and the one that the sell in store is that I got a little bar of soap, instead of a foaming cleanser. But the steps are the same. 1. Cleanse your face with the cleanser. 2. Exfoliate with the clarifying lotion (feels more like a toner but I'm guessing there are miniscule beads in there). 3. Moisturise with the all-over clearing treatment. Honestly, this stuff has rescued my skin. I think it really does work to help clear and clarify everything and I'd say that it works best for those in their early to mid twenties who maybe have a few blemishes here and there. I notice a difference when I stop using this and then start again. I will definitely be repurchasing these items and keeping them in my skincare routine
I'm afraid I can't find the mini set that I have ( but I think you can get it from airports) so here's the separate products:
Cleansing Bar
Clarifying Lotion
Clearing Moisturiser
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. Oh my god, this stuff s incredible and I'm so glad I found it. Whilst in Paris (if you didn't know I was check this out) I walked into Sephora on the Champs Elysee, whilst I was mesmorised by the fact it was a Sephora. I was a tad underwhelmed, at first I thought it was just like the one in Prague where pretty much everything was available in the UK. But not in Paris. I found the Too Faced counter. And as Ben was getting a tad bored, I chose just one thing from there. And oh my am I glad I chose this. . It volumises, it lengthens, it blackens, it does everything. I would say it's just as good if not better than Benefit's They're Real. I am considering writing a blogpost comparing the two with pros and cons, if you want to see it, let me know! I previously thought you couldn't get Too Faced makeup in the UK, HOWEVER, Debenhams have recently launched it. So beware, there will be a Too Faced haul coming this way.
Link here
MAC 129 Powder Brush. I have needed a new powder brush for so long and this really does the trick. It has the perfect consistency in bristles and is really soft, it's easy to apply powder with. The brush itself isn't too big or too small and it doesn't hold an insane amount of powder after its use. It also washes really well.
Link here
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus. After a good few months without my favourite powder when I went back to it I fell in love all over again. And EVERYONE commented on how good my base looked once I had this back in my life. It's so good, applied in the right areas it gives perfect coverage to your skin, and mattifies but also doesn't take away the dewiness. Just apply in T-zone, chin, upper lip and apples of the cheeks instead of all over. I also think MAC powders have a really good colour variety
MAC Lipstick in Brave. This was an impromptu purchase when I was out getting my other MAC stuff. I hadn't bought myself a lipstick since September and the last one I got was for Christmas! Sooooo I thought I needed a treat. This is a satin finish and I would consider it to be in the same family as Velvet Teddy, Honeylove, Kinda Sexy and you get me. Such a nice nude/pink colour
MAC Lipstick in Plumful. Unlike Brave, this wasn't an impromptu purchase, in fact, I've been after it for ages. It is such a nice May colour! It's a pinky purple colour, a lustre finish so it just glides on. It doesn't have the staying power of Rebel or anything like that, but that's not what you need in Spring. Just a lovely wash of colour. If you want me to do an updated MAC lipstick collection let me know. I'm currently on 16 so just comment below if you're interested.
Essie Nail Polish in Cute as a Button. Oh Essie nail polish, you have my heart. My collection is growing fast and I couldn't resist this one. It reminds me of a slightly watermelon pink (albeit not the actual watermelon colour from Essie). It's a reddish pink but not too bright. Just beautiful for May and June.
Link here (there's a free gift when you buy 3 Essie products from boots!)
Maybelline Superstay 7 Day Nail Polish in Uptown Blue. I realised my obsession with Essie was a bit much (and also a bit expensive) so I purchased a drugstore polish on a whim. I have to say, I was so impressed with this Maybelline one! One coat gave enough colour and a good consistency, although it didn't last 7 days (I wasn't expecting it to), it did last a good 3 without chipping
Link here
Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Oil. This is the Sleek Restorer one. I am a real sucker for a good hair oil, I love how soft and nourished this one makes my hair feel. It smells amazing, it feels great on the hair and you can use it in 3 different ways. I think you can use it on wet hair before drying, dry hair before styling and after styling too.
Link here
The Body Shop Illuminating Moisturiser. I was using the Garnier Moisture Match illuminating moisturiser but purchased this one when the Body Shop was doing a 3 for 2 and I couldn't decide what to get as my third item! I do love this, it leaves your skin with a subtle pink glow (different from the Garnier one which leaves a yellow glow). Still haven't decided which one I prefer but I might compare and contrast them in a future blogpost.
Link here
St Tropez Tan Booster. Oh my gosh I love this stuff. You can use it on your natural tan or your St Tropez tan and it just prolongs the tan for an extra few days. So if you're like me, and can't be bothered applying fake tan every day or every other day, just use this stuff and it lasts up to 3 days longer!
Link here (currently 1/3 off at boots!)
Not extremely exciting, but there are a good few new purchases on here! I've tried to keep my reviews as unbiased as possible, if you would like to know more about any of these products, just leave a comment below! I'll speak to you in my next one.
CJ x
Hello!
I've been on a little bit of a beauty product splurge recently, there's just so many undiscovered products out there that I just couldn't resist! Furthermore, once I find a brand I like, I really love it and have to have multiple products/colours so there are a few of these on here.
Lush
Firstly, Lush brought out their Valentine's day collection and it was so cute! I didn't get everything, but I picked up these 3 things as they were calling to me. Lonely hearts bubble bar, lonely hearts bubbleroon and unicorn horn bubble bar. Just look at how sparkly they are.
L'Oreal
I've been mooching at the L'Oreal counter for a while now, and every time I find myself drawn to their Color Riche Exclusive Reds Collection. So I took the plunge and went for Blake's red, it's such a lovely red with slight blue undertones, perfect for fair to medium skin with yellow, pink or peach undertones. And it's a really good dupe for MAC red too! It definitely has the staying power.
Buy this lipstick here.
NARS
Just one new purchase from NARS this month, and that is the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine and oh my god I am obsessed. The colour is what's described on the website as an 'Innocent Pink Mauve'. These lipstick pencils are incredible. The pigmentation is great, they are super easy to apply (and make it ridiculously easy to get those desired Kylie Jenner lips) and there is a huge range of colours! I went for the perfect dusty pink in my opinion, just right for Spring! I can't wait to try more of these.
Check this lipstick out here.
Essie
To those of you who have been reading for a while, it's no surprise to you that I have bought yet more colours. I really fancied some brighter, spring/summer colours. I went for lilacism, which is the perfect pale lilac. Lovie Dovie, which honestly, was on my nails throughout the whole of February. It's the most gorgeous bright but muted pink, it just brightens my day. I also went for a lovely coral colour called Tart Deco.
Essie's Full Colour Range (from shops) here.
Kardashian Beauty
I popped in to Liverpool recently and as I was battling my way against the wind, a light at the end of the tunnel appeared. And that light was a Kardashian Beauty pop-up store. Not only that, but as it was closing and moving a few days later, everything was 50% off! Unfortunately, they didn't have the bronzer I was after, so I played it safe and bought 3 lip products. I got their joystick lip lacquer (kind of a mix between a lipstick and a lipgloss) in a name that is so tiny I can't read .... Love something (sorry!). I also bought two lipglosses; the lip plumping shimmer gloss in Revved Up Rose Gold is such a gorgeous colour, and because of the shimmer it definitely makes lips appear fuller, but it's honey flavoured. I do like honey, but the smell and the taste is just a bit too strong for every day wear, it makes me reluctant to reapply it. I also bought their Honey Stick (this one, ironically, is not honey flavoured) in Natural Honey, which is the exact colour that Kim K herself wore to her wedding in Italy, this is a beautiful, slightly dark nude lipgloss. Also, I need to add that the white and rose gold packaging of the Kardashian Beauty collection is to die for!
Joystick Lip Pen.
Lip Plumping Gloss.
Honey Stick Lip Gloss.
Burberry
Aaaaaahhh Burberry, why must you be so beautiful?! On the same trip to Liverpool, I came across the only Burberry beauty concession stand outside of London (or maybe it was the only one in Debenhams outside of London?) Regardless, it was the only one that I had ever seen so I knew I had to visit. I'd heard a lot about Burberry's new wet and dry eyeshadows and how gorgeous and pigmented they were so if I was only going to buy one product, it was this one! These weren't even out on display yet because they were that new and not even advertised in the slightest, if a customer wanted one, they had to request one! I settled for the colour Rosewood, which, as the name suggests, is a slightly Rose taupe colour and once again, I'm in love with an item of makeup.
Rosewood eyeshadow.
There isn't a product here that I regret buying, and I am over the moon with my luck on the purchases, please let me know of any recommendations of products that I haven't mentioned here as I am always looking to try more. And guys, you need to try that burberry eyeshadow! How many people can say their eyeshadow comes with a duster bag? Exactly, point proven
CJ x
