*NEW* Superdrug Naturally Radiant skincare range mini review!

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This range is extremely new to the market, launching at the beginning of October 2012 and I just happened to stumble across it as I was searching for a new 'winter' moisturiser as the weather is getting harsher and my skin is getting drier. Since buying three items from the range; Hot cloth cleanser (with muslin cloth), day cream SPF15 & renewing night cream, I haven't actually seen much written about it in terms of reviews etc.... apart from a little hype around the Brightening radiance balm (which I didn't purchase this time). This range is all half price until 4th December in Superdrug stores (and online) so it's definitely worth a try while they're at this great price! Everything is around £2.99 (was £5.99)

Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser 150ml with muslin cloth.
"Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser is formulated with a unique energising complex and infused with Kiwi Fruit and Mulberry extracts to help revive skin’s radiance and even out skin tone.Enriched with nourishing Cocoa Butter, this rich and creamy formulation melts into the skin and cleanses away make-up and impurities, whilst also providing gentle exfoliation, leaving skin feeling renewed, soft and ultra clean."

I was really excited to see this in the range, as I have heard a lot of great reviews on other hot cloth cleansers (most of which being out of my price range, for example the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish). 

First thing you'll notice is the smell of the product, as it has a few quite potent ingredients including Kiwi and Mulberry, the smell is very strong but one that I like, it reminds me of something from my childhood but I can't quite figure out what! To use, I apply the product all over a dry face (not a wet one as it suggests, as I think that the cream sinks in more and helps to moisturise better) I then wet the muslin cloth in hot-ish water and work in circular motions to remove the cleanser from the face. 

This product feels incredible when you're using it, it really feels like it's cleansing the pores and nourishing the skin, it really feels like a treat to use! Because it's so gentle, I can use it every day (sometimes twice!). I really agree with it's claim that it evens out skin tone! I suffer with large acne scars and they are quite pigmented (I never go out without foundation nowadays) but I have really noticed a difference in my skintone since using the product, I am now looking at my skin in the mirror and I'm not as horrified as usual, so it must be working!! Really really impressed with this, and the size of the bottle means it's value for money, even when it goes back up to £5.99! Worth a try definitely if you have sensitive skin or uneven skintone!

Naturally Radiant Brightening day cream 75ml SPF15 Normal/combi 
"Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Day Cream SPF15 is formulated with a unique energising complex and infused with Kiwi Fruit and Mulberry extracts to help revive skin’s radiance and even out skin tone.
Enriched with nourishing Sugar Beet extract, this lightweight formulation provides all day moisturisation, helping to smooth and soften skin’s texture, whilst also protecting against UV rays to keep skin looking youthful."

Seeing as I was buying the cleanser and night cream (below) I thought it would be worthwhile getting the basic range so I went for the day cream as well! I usually stay away from moisturisers with SPF in because I can find them greasy,  but this version was for Normal/combination, so while it's going to moisturise and protect from UV rays, it's not going to be greasy for anyone with oily skin (there is also a normal/dry version which I guess would be a thicker consistency for people with extremely dry skin. This one is great too!

 I love the smell again, and it goes on a treat after the hot cloth cleanser and the face just feels so clean and moisturised it's really a nice feeling. This also makes a great base for makeup (I don't really bother with primers as I don't like the feeling of putting too much product on my face, so I generally just use moisturisers - although I have been trying a sample of Clarins beauty balm which is essentially a primer.... I can do a review if anyone would like). Overall a really nice day cream so far, I'm looking forward to it working with the cleanser to even out my skintone even more! :)

Naturally Radiant renewing night cream 75ml
"Superdrug Naturally Radiant Renewing Night Cream is formulated with a unique energising complex and infused with Kiwi Fruit and Mulberry extracts to help revive skin’s radiance and even out skin tone.
Enriched with nourishing Sugar Beet extract and skin renewing Fruit Acids, this intensive formulation delivers rich and long-lasting moisturisation, whilst helping to refine skin’s texture as you sleep, leaving skin feeling smoother and looking more youthful."

Night creams can really be hit and miss when it comes to my skin.... if they're quite thick they usually give me breakouts during the night etc, which is always annoying to wake up to! This one however, goes on like a dream, feels thick enough but also doesn't leave the skin sticky or greasy. I have woken up every morning since starting with it feeling nourished and fresh. My skin almost has a dewy finish to it (without make up might I add!) which is brilliant!

Overall:

I am really glad I stumbled upon this range! The differences in my skin that I've noticed after just a week using it have been incredible! I feel really comfortable in my own skin at the moment, and I really do think it's down to the 'brightening' and tone correcting qualities in this range! Head over to SUPERDRUG and try it for yourself! I'm hoping that the products will continue to work for my skin, and I'll do an updated review in a few weeks! :)

Thanks for reading, any questions just leave a comment below <3 lucy xo

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Dual Fibre Stippling Brush REVIEW

So... I've heard great things about this range of make up brushes, and especially the Dual Fibre Stippling brush! I'm not a person who will spend tonnes of money on make up brushes, as to be quite frank I just won't use them. However, the stippling brush is something I've been wanting to try for a while. I've tried regular 'foundation' brushes (the ones that look like a paint brush....) and I find they just cake on the make up and are pretty rubbish at blending. My flatmate decided to take the plunge and buy this brush, and I managed to get the very last one in Boots (lucky!). Here's the brush:

Real Techniques Dual Fibre Stippling Brush.

First of all, the price is really very reasonable, £11.99 for a multi-purpose make up brush is pretty good going. (the main reason I don't buy make up brushes is because brands lure you in with all of their different brushes which you have to buy individually for extortionate prices) but I really think that this is worth it, you can use it however you like! Obviously the Real Techniques range do a whole host of different brushes, but one like this is great for someone like me, who doesn't necessarily want lots of different brushes. The brush is really easy to hold, and the end has a black bit which is easy to grip! The brush itself is a nice size, and you could use it for wet or dry products, I choose to use mine with foundation! 

How I use my Real Techniques Dual Fibre Stippling Brush:

I love this brush for my foundation (I've been using it for a few days now). I'm not actually using a 'proper' foundation at the moment, as I've been loving my Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 (shade 02). This brush is absolutely brilliant to apply this tinted moisturiser, and you wouldn't know that I didn't have a 'full' foundation on. I use about a 20p sized amount on the back of my hand and dab the brush in to it. I then apply to the apples of my cheeks and forehead, nose & chin. Then I can start stippling and blending. It does an excellent job of getting in to all the nooks and crannies to ensure that it's a flawless finish! This is great, because even though I'm not using a heavy foundation, it still creates the coverage that I'm after!

 I use a few other products to finish my make up, and recently I've been loving my Maybelline 24hr Superstay Concealer in Light Beige 02. To set I've been using Bourjois Mineral Radiance powder in 02 Vanilla!

The brush here is actually really good too, it's an ecotools one and I picked it up from Fragrance Direct (.co.uk) and it was really cheap too! Not sure if they still do them, but I know you can get Ecotools brushes in Boots! 

Overall I'm really impressed with this Stippling Brush & would recommend it to anyone! I'll also try using it with different foundations and let you guys know the verdict! So far though I'm loving it with my Clinique Tinted Moisturiser (which to be fair is more like a foundation than a moisturiser...) :) With regards to washing my brush.... I have to say I'm quite lazy when it comes to washing make up brushes, but for now I've been wiping it with a baby wipe and leaving it to air dry by the window each time I use it (so far so good!) I'm reluctant to buy in to the 'brush cleansers' that some brands do.. as they're quite expensive for what they are. I've also seen people washing their brushes with baby shampoo etc, so baby wipes and baby shampoo are cheap alternatives! 

You can follow Real Techniques on Twitter:  @realtechniques 

Thanks for reading! Any questions then just leave me a comment, thanks! Lucy xxx

My 2011 products for dry skin

Johnson's 24hr Moisture Relaxing Body Wash 

Picked this up at my local B&M Homestore whilst on the lookout for bargains! As the weather is getting drier and colder, I've found that the skin on my body is much more irritated and prone to dryness and just a general feeling of discomfort. I don't like using all over body moisturisers EVERY day, so I was on the lookout for a body wash that might help with my dry skin. This product is amazing, it feels silky smooth as you shower (this is probably why it feels relaxing...) and definitely leaves a feeling of moisture after the shower! Good stuff!

- smooth white cream wash that lathers & moisturises
- 400ml bottle, lasts longer!
- Around £1 from B&M! absolute bargain! (currently on offer in Boots for £2.06 for 250ml)


Escenti Cool Feet 'Cracked heel cream'

Another bargain I picked up from B&M (if you're a bargain lover, you really should find out where your nearest B&M is... you can pick up loads of skincare stuff for next to nothing!) 


I don't really have 'cracked' heels as such, but I do get dry skin on my feet pretty much all year round. This is great as it cools your feet, especially after a long day on your feet. I could feel the moisturising effects straight away, and I can see a real difference in the condition of my feet after using this cream! 


- Vitamin E, Urea & added moisturisers
- Menthol & peppermint helps to cool and refresh
- Again a bargain at around £1 :)






Dove essential nourishment hand cream 'deep care complex'

What I'm sure most of us are looking for in a hand cream... is that it would effectively moisturise leaving the hands feeling soft but NOT greasy. This stuff does just that! Been using this for a few days now and I'm always reaching for it whenever I feel my hands getting a little tight or uncomfortable. Also when I wash my hands they tend to get dry if I don't apply a hand cream afterwards. Got mine really cheap at B&M (starting to see a trend here.....) but you could get it at any chemist or supermarket really.

- 24hr long lasting softness
- for normal to dry hands (not too thick or greasy)


For now, these products are doing the trick! 
:)
Lucyx

Nail design :)

I've been really in to painting my nails over the past year or so.... it's gotten to the point where I can't have my nails bare otherwise it just feels and looks weird to me....  :D


Thought I'd try doing a little polka dot design, and it's worked out well I think! 


- I used No7 Stay Perfect in 'Totally Teal 330'
for the main colour. The stay perfect range I usually find really annoying as they take ages to dry.... but if you put a thin enough coat on (not so thin so you can see through it...) then it dries pretty fast! It's a really dark teal colour, and I'm really in to dark burgundy, purple and navy's at the moment so I think this fits in quite well.


- To lighten the mood a bit I decided to go for some polka dots. I think it makes it look really fun and girly, but also like you've made an effort with your nails. Just something a bit different! I used Rimmel Lasting Finish in '045 Misty Jade' which is a pale mint colour which compliments the darkness of the Teal polish!


- The polka dots were relatively easy to do, you just have to have a steady hand..... you just get a small amount on the brush, and blob it on to the nail, being careful not to 'blob' too harshly or you'll get a flatter shape than a 'dot' (as you might be able to see on my pinky finger....)


- To finish off I used Barry M top-coat (basecoat, topcoat and nail hardener in one, great stuff!!) I used a top coat, not only because I usually use one to set my nail polish, but also because the polka dots are sort of raised from the nail, as they are 'blobs' of colour, so I wanted to make sure that they weren't going to chip off easily or anything! Plus it felt a bit rough to touch! 


Thanks for reading and hope you liked this little review/tutorial type thing! 
Lucy xx

Favourite Fragrances

My top Fragrances

I have a varied selection of fragrances and I find that I reach for each one depending on my mood, the weather that day, where I'm going....and all sorts of factors like this! It may seem unusual, but I actually prefer to use a flirty smell in the evening, and a more 'mature' smell during the day.... I really don't know why, but I always seem to do it this way round! :)

Smells like teen spirit

Let's start with the fragrances of my teenage years, only one has made it in to my permanent collection of about three. I started with Versace Pink Jeans, Amor Amor by Cacharel and 'M' by Mariah Carey. I wouldn't usually go for a 'celebrity' scent but I tried 'M' in Boots and LOVED it! It's a really sweet fragrance with a hint of marshmallow and it reminds me of my first few times out on the town when I turned 18! This one has made it in to my permanent collection and I always get it given to me on birthdays and Christmas etc :) I always have a bottle on the go!

my current daily fragrances

- Dior Addict by Christian Dior (100ml edp). Quite a heavy fragrance but I like to wear this during the day. I really like this one and my 100ml bottle has lasted me well over two years! It's best when applied sparingly as it can be overpowering. A lighter version that I have is Dior Addict Eau Fraiche.

- Nina by Nina Ricci (30ml edp). Fruity and light, perfect for the summer!

- Coco Madamoiselle by Chanel (30ml edp) The most recent addition to my collection, I LOVE this perfume! I got it for my 21st birthday and I feel really glam wearing it. It's a mature scent, but perhaps with a younger twist. I tried Coco Chanel but I guess I'm not ready for it yet :)

Others in my collection: Yves Saint Laurent Elle, Sarah Jessica Parker NYC and my cheap and cheerful favourite is So?...Sinful edt (I carry this with me everywhere just in case I've forgotten to put any on!)

My wish list - Miss Dior Cherie, Flowerbomb, D&G The One!

These are just some of my faves! Feel free to leave me a comment, let me know what your faves are or any you recommend! Thanks, Lucy x

Clinique 3-Step Anti-Blemish Solutions Product Review

Product Review for Clinique's 3-Step Anti-Blemish Solutions

I'll start of first of all by telling you that I have dry-combination skin. My skin is acne-prone (I have suffered with acne since the age of 12, and I still get the occasional flare ups almost ten years later! Sucks eh?) My flare ups are pretty much confined to the chin area and forehead. My face tends to get greasy around the chin/nose and dry on the cheeks/forehead, nightmare if like me you like wearing everything when it comes to make up (foundation, powder, bronzer, blusher!)

Trying Clinique for the first time:

I have been through all the standard 'drug store' skin care ranges, and found myself getting frustrated at my skin, make up just never applied smoothly, and I'd end up greasy and spotty by the end of the day. Luckily, I was in my local Department Store, and browsing the Clinique counter, when a helpful assistant offered me trial sizes of the Anti-Blemish Range, this included: Cleansing Bar for Face and Body, Clarifying Lotion (15ml) and Clearing Moisturiser (15ml). I had never considered Clinique before, as it was quite out of my price range, being a student with no part-time job!

The Clinique Anti-Blemish 3-Step skincare system actually works! (well, for me it does!) It dries up those greasy areas, and horrible spots! I have to say though, with having dry areas, I find that the Clearing Moisturiser does not nourish my skin as I would like (because of its spot fighting ingredients which inevitably dry up the spots/skin) I use in its place Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion (not gel). This moisturiser works really well for me, as part of my Anti-Blemish system, as now I have the best of both worlds, spot fighting treatment & moisture in those dry areas, perfect! I also prefer the Cleansing Foam rather than the bar (for convenience really!)

How do I use my 3-Step Skincare System?

I find that I get the best results when I use my 3-Step Anti-Blemish solutions twice a day, every day! It prepares my skin in the morning for make-up, which then glides on and stays on longer! At night I can see and feel my skin looking more refreshed and moisturised, with no traces of make up left (essential to keep that skin free of clogged pores which can lead to a flare up of acne!) This is my routine morning and night:

1. wet the face and neck

2. one pump of cleansing foam, lather in the hands

3. smooth over face gently (avoiding eyes) and rinse with warm water

4. pat face dry

5. apply Clarifying Lotion to cotton pad and wipe over face and neck

6. follow with Dramatically Different Moisturising lotion, face and neck 

Alternatives?

I've found that a cheaper alternative to the Anti-Blemish system is the Superdrug Tea Tree range, but again, if you have dry skin, I would suggest using a richer moisturiser, as the blemish ones can be quite drying. Another alternative, from Clinique, is the 3-Step skin type 2. They currently do starter kits (smaller products in a set) for £20. I bought this set, because they unfortunately do not do an Anti-Blemish starter kit! Skin type 2 caters for dry-combination skin, so I thought I'd give this a try! If you don't mind the slight tingling sensation that the Clarifying Lotion gives, then this is certainly worth a try! I have found that it works just as well as the Anti-Blemish, but the lower price gives it the edge! 

I hope you found this review helpful and please ask any questions you might have and I'll try to answer them! Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment about your own experiences with Clinique!