La Roche Posay. Effaclar Duo: Review ♥

Hey guys,

Another product I've used on the quest to have perfect skin. A couple of months back my skin went through a stage of having breakouts and as my Liz Earle had ran out whilst I was waiting for christmas for some more, my cleansing routine wasn't having the great effects it would normally have. Although I was cleaning my face properly and haven't gone back to using face wipes (they do nothing for my skin, apart from move the make up around and clean about 5% of it off) the Hot Cloth Cleanser I bought from Superdrug just wasn't as good as my Liz Earle and my skin wasn't clearing up as fast as I'd have liked. My skin type is mainly dry/sensitive as opposed to being oily but I think with all the products I use on it, it does have the tendency to develop imperfections, so I need these remedies in my life.

I've heard about La Roche Posay on numerous blogs and youtube videos, but it wasn't until I watched one of Tanya Burr's haul videos and she was talking about using Effaclar Duo to clear a breakout on her face that I thought about getting it. I bought it a few days later and I have to say I saw results from day one.

The consistency of this cream is more like a serum, and isn't thick so it doesn't feel like it's clogging up the pores, it just smooths over the skin and gives it enough moisture whilst doing it's thing on any spots. It has a cooling effect when it's applied to the skin which is nice and just what you need to sooth any redness.  I used it morning and night after cleansing, sometimes after using my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair if I wanted to give my skin that little extra push to clear up. A little goes quite a long way too, I used about two or three blobs (the size on the picture) all over my face and that was enough, and after just a few days my skin had cleared up considerably. You have to hand it to the French, they do produce some fantastic skin care!

The cream claims to be 'corrective and unclogging anti-imperfection care' and has lots of magic scienc-y ingredients to do just that and I definitely agree that it works. The scent is quite hard to describe, it smells a little like a cleaning product if I'm completely honest but at the same time, it smells like it would work? A weird concept I know but sometimes some spot products just smell like they are thoroughly cleansing out your skin...hard to explain, but trust me on this one. It's not unpleasant anyway, that's all that matters.

For £13 it's not the cheapest skincare product of it's type on the market but it does what it says and as a little goes a long way I think it's worth the price and if you buy it in Boots you could use your points if you have enough saved anyway :).

Have you ever tried this cream? What did you think? Will you be purchasing it any time soon?

Love 

x

Estée Lauder Day Wear: Review

Hellooo,

I recently gave in to temptation and bought the Estée Lauder Idealist Pore minimizing Skin Refinisher, I bought it online and chose the set, so that I could get a pot of the Day Wear moisturiser as well. I've been using my Liz Earle skin repair religiously since I took the leap and started using the Cleanse and Polish in April as I find it works amazingly on my skin. I have normal/combination skin and sometimes feel that the areas around my chin and nose get a bit dry so I like a product which is deeply nourishing and moisturising but not oily.

I've loved Estée Lauder since I bought my Double Wear Light and the mega-hyped-about Advanced Night Repair is amazing, so I thought I'd expand my collection and add a couple more beauties to the box. The Day Wear cream is just as lovely as I expected! It claims to diminish and prevent against early signs of ageing, which is always a bonus, even though I am only 21 it's never too early to protect against fine lines and dullness. It also contains SPF 15 which is perfect for the summer months and means I don't have to smother my skin in oily sun creams before applying my make up.

The moisturiser, although being super moisturising and hydrating, is really light, which again, is perfect for the summer months where my skin benefits from something a bit more lightweight rather than being slathered in a thick moisturiser which takes a while to soak in. It instantly hydrates the skin and leaves the skin looking fresh and glowing without it feeling oily on the surface, so make up can be applied pretty much straight after. It also has a refreshing cucumber scent so is lovely as a wake up in the morning, which is when I tend to use this cream. It can also be used in the evening, however, I still stick to my Liz Earle cleanse and polish routine at the moment because it really works for me.

I would recommend this moisturiser to anyone who wants a lightweight moisturiser which is still deeply nourishing and hydrating, and I think it's perfect for the summer months.

This retails at £37.00 for 50ml, but I got mine in a set with the Idealist Serum and also the ANR eye serum for £38.00 - well worth it!

Have you ever tried this moisturiser? What's your favourite?

x

Weekend Wishlist ♥

Hey beauts,

So since I've been introduced to Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and my skin is looking as good as ever, I thought I'd have a little nose around at some other products to maintain it while it's looking good at the moment. Here are some products I've got my eye on to snap up in the next month or so, whenever my bank account will allow it really!

 a) Elemis Balancing Lavender Oil - £19.40 (feelunique). b) Origins Ginzing Eye cream - £21.00. c) Decleor   Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution Moisturising Mask - £22.25 (feelunique). d) Elemis SOS Emergency Cream - £49.10 (feelunique) e) Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion- £10.25

I've heard such great things about the Elemis toner so that's high up on my list for when my skin needs a change from my C&P and now that my Clinique eye cream is all gone, I need something to brighten my eyes and make me look alive in the mornings after a late night and this looks like the perfect product for that! The Liz Earle is for the same purpose, and I've heard such great reviews of it from Millie at Lolainthelounge, so that definitely needs trying out! The other two products are really for days when my skin isn't great and needs a boost, and I always find a mask good for extra cleansing and hydration, so the Decleor one will be perfect, as it was recently used on me during a facial and my skin felt amazing! The Elemis emergency cream will probably have to wait the longest until it's in my collection as it's the most expensive and the others are more priorities but it promises such good things so hopefully I'll find some pennies somewhere and treat myself eventually!

Have you ever tried any of these products and which do you think are the ones I really need to buy first?

x

Liz Earle Energising Hip and Thigh Gel ♥

Hey girls, I'm finally back in business, as my dissertation has been handed in :D, I feel so relieved, I actually might have a life again soon (after my exams anyway, which I should be revising for at the moment). So I quickly just wanted to write a little something about my new Liz Earle product.

After hearing lots of amazing things about the C&P I took the plunge and got a try-me kit, which I loved (I can definitely see what all the hype is about) so I then went on to buy the full sized kit. I got the April deal which was all the C&P goodies but with this lovely hip and thigh gel thrown in - full size as well, might I add - amazing for a freebie! This gel is supposed to tone, firm and soften skin when massaged into skin daily. Naturally as soon as I got it tried a bit out on my hand to see what it felt like, and the smell hit me before anything, it's smells SO fresh and reminded me a little bit of that spa smell and all their natural products, first brownie point scored right there!

I then tried it on my body after showering and used it on my thighs, hips and also my tummy and upper arms as it says it's recommended for those areas, and  I'm always looking for a bit of toning and firming on my arms. I loved it as soon as I tried it! It left my skin feeling so refreshed and smelling great. As I'm a serious moisturiser addict, I was a bit cautious about it at first, worrying that it would dry my skin out, but it hasn't and has left my skin feeling supple and smooth. The only thing is, I wouldn't use this if I was in a hurry to get dressed as, being a gel it leaves the skin feeling a bit sticky if you put quite a lot on and don't have time to massage it in properly, but after just a few uses, I've really noticed my skin feeling more supple and definitely feeling a lot softer. All in all, a lovely product, which I'd certainly buy again after this it's ran out and would recommend it to anyone who needs a bit of skin lovin' before getting into a bikini for summer!

Hip and Thigh gel - £17.75 for 150ml 

Have you ever tried this? What did you think?

x

Avon Update ♥

So recently I purchased some Avon goodies and as they were my first ever Avon supplies and I'd obviously never tried them before, I thought I'd do an update of how I've got on with them!

The Blemish Mark Treatment - The roll on makes it so easy to apply and it is isn't too drying on the skin when it's rubbed in, but I haven't really been able to see a difference. To be honest, I don't have too many marks on my skin anyway, I just thought this would be good for when I have a breakout and want it to disappear quickly but I've found that the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair is really good for my skin and I really prefer that! As a cheap alternative though I will definitely reach for the Avon when I fancy a little break from the ANR.

Japanese Sake and Rice Refreshing Eye Smoother - Lovely and refreshing but as I said it's more like a serum so I don't feel it soaks in as much as a good moisturiser would do. It does make your eyes feel nice and cool though and less heavy and tired which is a great in the mornings when I need something to wake me up! I would buy this again but it probably won't stop me repurchasing my Clinique 'All about eyes' as well.

Japanese Sake and Rice Luminous Face Treatment - I use this more as a primer as I feel it really smooths the skin which is ideal before applying make up. It isn't too heavy either which is good because although I love feeling like my skin is deeply moisturised I hate when I feel like products are clogging my skin! It has a shiny/glimmering sort of look to it too which does mean it makes your skin look luminous, so on a summers day with a tan, where no foundation is required I think I'd probably use this and nothing else, as it does make the skin look healthy and fresh! I love the smell too - it reminds me of after sun and summer holidays! :)

Nail Experts Strong Results Nail Strengthener - Now I really expected this to be a nail polish and apply a shiny coat, but this is completely different and is more like a treatment for the nails as opposed to a polish! It soaks into the nails and I have to say I have really noticed a difference in the strength of my nails and they haven't been breaking at all! This is something I'm definitely going to continue using as I think (dare I say) it beats my Sally Hanson Diamond Strength which I've been reaching for for years! I would really recommend this as it has really worked for me, and because it's just a treatment, it means you can apply a colour straight on top!

I think I'll definitely be re-purchasing these goodies and trying out some new ones soon! Let me know if you've ever tried Avon and what you thought?

x

Bargain buy of the week #3

Hey lovelies,

Firstly, a bit of a cheesy one - thank you to all my new followers it means a lot having people follow my everyday ramblings, you're all lovely, and I'm working my way through your blogs and loving them all too :)

So I know I haven't really kept up the weekly bargain buys but this week I received my Avon goodies that I'd ordered after being peer pressured by my housemates huge list! Her friend off her course is the 'Avon Lady' and constantly sends new magazines and temptations to our house, so I gave in and decided to try some out for myself since my housemate always loves them! We had a sales magazine and also her staff book which is a little naughty but as my housemate is so loyal it was a nice thing to do as everything was reduced in price.

I bought quite a bit and I was amazed how cheap some of the stuff was, I got 5 things for only £5.80 and a free foot scrubber thrown in for good measure, such a bargain for what I got as they're all full size. Here are my little goodies...

Blemish Mark Treatment, to clear any marks on the skin for a clearer complexion £2.80. This little bad boy is a roll on applicator so is so easy to use and feels really refreshing on the skin. My skin has been quite horrible lately so I'll do an update soon to say how this is working.

Japanese Sake and Rice refreshing Eye Smoother - £1. I needed a new eye cream after using  Clinique 'All about Eyes' which I love, because it's nearly all gone so I thought I'd try this, and so far so good, it's like more like a serum and makes my eyes feel so soft and hydrated after removing my make up.

Japanese Sake and Rice Luminous Face Treatment - £1 - again, more like a serum, so it's not as moisturising as I'd like as I feel my skin gets quite dry, but it does make my skin look and feel quite refreshed and it smells lovely which I love in moisturisers and creams! I will do an update on this too in a few weeks to see how I'm getting on with it.

Nail Experts Strong Results nail strengthener £1 - My nails have been so weak lately and my Sally Hanson Diamond Strength is running out so I thought I'd try this out as it's so cheap. It claims to clean nails after use once or twice daily for a week. I have applied it once now and I'm going to do it again later so we'll see how it goes, but it smells lovely on the nails, a really fresh smell so that's one good thing so far!

What can only be described as a foot scrubber I think, it's so compact but has three different features, a 'grater' which I don't know if I'll use because my feet aren't very dry, a 'nail file-type foot scrubber' which might be quite good after being the bath and a Pumice Stone, which again may be used after having a bath just to keep my feet nice and smooth. Not bad for a freebie! 

So that's all my weeks bargains! Quite a hefty post with all the pictures but so far I'm really impressed considering this is my first Avon order and I didn't know what to expect, especially as they're all bargains! I'd definitely use Avon again because I do think you get a lot for such good prices and I have my eye on some new treats.

Have you ever used Avon before or any of these products? What do you think of them?

What I'm LOVING right now.. #2

So, to continue this little series I have a brand new list of everything that I'm loving at the moment and things that have generally made me happy recently:

1. Spending lots of time with the boy before he goes back abroad for University. We've really been inseparable and have had such a lovely time, especially for valentines when he treated me to a night away and booked me in for a gorgeous massage and facial. Not loving the fact that he's leaving again though but that's for another day! ♥
2. The Decleor Hydrating cream, cleanser and toner and hydrating oil that were used on my facial. My skin felt so soft and looked super clean and healthy, which was amazing after my skin has been pretty horrible lately. Definitely going to purchase the lot when I have some pennies spare. ♥
3. The fact that our flights to Paris are now booked for my gorgeous bestie Emily's 21st birthday in March! Seriously counting down the days until I'm reunited with the girls for an amazing weekend of celebrations and cocktails a la gay pariii! ♥
4. I'm trying out Avon for the first time next week as I was lured in by the magazines and my housemates' massive orders and I will have some lovely new products waiting for me at my Uni home when I get back. As I've never used it myself I don't know what to expect, but just having a little stash of products waiting for me is exciting me. ♥
5. My Topshop Ambush boots! I got them last weekend and have literally worn them for the majority of the week already! They're so comfy and I LOVE them probably too much! It makes such a lovely change from wearing my UGGs in the cold weather and have made all my outfits this week look so much prettier. ♥
6. The fact that I finish Uni in a few months. Even though I have had such a great time and have so many amazing memories and will be uber sad to have to leave everything behind, I'm starting to quite look forward to going into the big wide world and starting the next part of my life and being a grown up (maybe).♥
7. My new Kate Spade iPhone case. It's so lovely and even though it's making me really obsessed with wiping it to make sure it's shiny (what a loser) it's great as it covers the whole phone unlike my others which didn't cover the top or bottom and didn't fight off any scratches, and did I mention it's really pretty?♥

So that's what's making me smile at the moment even though all my purchases and more wishlist items are making me very skint indeed! What's are you loving at the moment? 

Wednesday Wishlist ♥

Heyy girls,

I've never done a 'wishlist' on here before even though I'm always spying up my next purchases and making lists of things I need to buy when I get the chance (or some money) so I thought I'd share with you all what I'm really hoping to get in the next couple of weeks...

From left to right: Marc Jacobs iPhone case - £38 , Urban Decay 'All Nighter - £19, Clinique 3 Step Kit - £20 (introduction size), Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum - £41/30ml, Miss Selfridge heels - £58


I've heard such good things about the Estée Lauder Serum so I think I need to try it out for myself, and I know I already use the Clinique 3 step but it's just not been working for me recently so I want to try out a different skin type and see if that works, as I heard you should change them at different times of the year. The shoes and phone case are just lust items and I think anything that keeps your make up perfect on a night is definitely worth trying so Urban Decay really attracted me with that one! I can't wait to spend my money on some of these bad boys, I feel another splurge coming on...

What's on your wishlists at the moment and what do you think of mine?

x

Bargain Buy of the Week ♥

'Bargain Buy of the Week' is a new update that I am going to post at some point during the end of every week to review different beauty products and tell all of you lovely people what great little bargains there are out there, for when the student loan isn't really stretching far enough, that definitely do and don't need to be purchased.

I'm usually someone who really follows the belief that 'you get what you pay for' and that the most expensive products do the best jobs out of any, but after being recommended a moisturiser from Superdrug by one of my lovely housemates, I thought I'd give it a try. I'd got nothing to lose and knowing that my Clinique moisturizing lotion wasn't really giving my skin the hydration it really needs in this cold weather, I thought I'd go for it! When I went into Superdrug to get it I also spotted an Exfoliating Facial Scrub and I thought I'd try that too as I'm going home this weekend to go to a party and I want my skin to look as flawless as possible and good exfoliators always do a nice little job of making your skin look cleansed and soft. My usual bargain go-to exfoliator is from the St. Ives range as they really feel like they're doing the job but I thought I'd be a bit adventurous since being recommended this collection.

The Vitamin E Skin Care range from Superdrug really is purse friendly. The Exfoliator cost only £1.99 down from £2.99 - a proper bargain!! I have to admit, I didn't have sky high expectations with only paying such a small price, but I was so impressed and my housemate even tried a bit and loved it just as much! The exfoliater uses oatmeal to scrub and soften the skin and it really feels like you're washing away all of your impurities, as well as smelling SO good, which is a bonus, as I can't stand products that don't smelly lovely! The scrub is recommended for Normal to Dry Skin and it has a lovely thickness that adds moisture to the skin straight away.

                                              Vitamin E Skin Care Exfoliating Facial Scrub - £1.99!!

                                                  Little bits of oatmeal to exfoliate the skin...

I'm definitely going to keep using this every time my skin needs a little freshening and I would recommend it to anyone with Normal or dry skin that just wants to give their skin a little boost without paying millions for it! For £1.99 it's definitely worth a try. :)

x

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