Boots and Superdrug haul! Some old favourites and some new things I've been wanting to try out!

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I've been a bit quiet in the blogging world over the summer, this is down to working quite a bit and also trying to restrain myself from buying any more products before I've used up the ones I've got (an impossible task let me tell you...) I've got quite a big haul here and the reason is that it's getting colder here in the UK and I'm finding that my 'summer' products, especially skincare products, just aren't nourishing my skin! So I thought I'd go ahead and try some new products in preparation for winter :)

Superdrug Naturally Radiant skincare range
Hot cloth cleansers are raved about in the blogging world, in particular the Liz Earle brand. With that one being out of my price range, I came across this Superdrug one and at only £2.99 it was a must have! Recently I've been slacking when it comes to removing my make up, which is a bad idea as I have problem skin as it is...... so this gentle approach I'm really looking forward to trying! I went and bought the night and day creams from the range too, so I'll do an update if anyone would be interested just leave a comment below :)

Essie Rock Solid base coat
my nails have been a nightmare recently, peeling and breaking... so I took advantage of the 3 for 2 offer in  boots and got myself the Essie base coat and the collection 2000 essentials which I always go back to. The Lasting perfection powder in Fair, and the lasting perfection concealer in 2 Fair. 

Laidbare pore mask
OHDEUXFOIS recommended this face mask as a great way to minimise pores and generally make your skin really really soft! She reviewed it and first of all commented on the smell... I completely agree, it's an amazing smell! The notes that come through the strongest are liquorice and its really a treat to use. I'll do an in depth review on this if you're wondering how I'm getting on with it, I've only used it once so far so can't really offer any real views in terms of the effects!

Dove products (their stuff always smells SO good!) & toothpaste!
I always seem to go back to this deoderant, smells insane and does the job! perfect! The dove leave in treatment for hair is a risky product for me.... I have fine hair, but due to dying, it's been quite brittle at the ends and generally looks a bit of a haystack so I'm looking forward to using this at night and hopefully (fingers crossed) it won't leave my hair greasy for days... I've stayed away from all the hair oils out at the moment because of the grease factor, but I thought I'd give this a try seeing as it was only £1.99!
Toothpaste is a slight obsession at the moment, my teeth are quite white anyway, but I want them to have that wow factor, so I've been intrigued by the colgate 1 week whitening one :) I'll let you know how I get on!

Quite a big haul for me.... although I did pick up some bargains along the way! I really think that the Superdrug range is a good deal, as I can end up spending a fortune on skincare (Philosophy etc) so it's nice to try cheaper alternatives! And from the reviews I've seen, the hot cloth cleanser is very comparable to the Liz Earle cleanse and polish!

Thanks for reading, I appreciate your comments and will reply to them asap :)
~Lucy~

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

Product of the moment....

Clinique Moisture Surge 'extended thirst relief' 

I've recently gone back to this product, as I was finding regular moisturisers too heavy and I was breaking out loads. I sampled the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel and found that it gave my skin the moisture it needed, without being greasy. I usually think that my skin is really dry, so I need heavier lotions, but I really do think that Gel is the way forward as within about two days of sampling this I noticed a difference in the condition of my skin and my break outs. 


I'm currently ordering some Clinique products from work, and while waiting, I've been using the Moisture surge in place of the DDM Gel and it's working really well! My skin is super smooth and hydrated, make up goes on really well and doesn't get as greasy throughout the day. 


I used to think that this could only be used on my skin after a different moisturiser, for added hydration, but my skin has been more combination dry, with a tendency to get oily, so this moisturiser is great on its own before make up and also before bed.


This product retails at £30 on the highstreet, which is pretty pricey! I got mine in a set with the face spray and eye cream and it was under £30 from Duty Free at Manchester Airport. I would say though, that the only product I actually use from this set is the Moisture Surge itself, the others are just extras that I don't really need\remember to use. The eye gel might come in handy after heavy nights though, but we'll see.


Really recommend this product for all skin types, it's an excellent primer for the face and all round hydrator.

Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue
refreshing gel cream

I've seen that Garnier have come out with a gel moisturiser which looks interesting, so I might try that on pay day :)




Thanks for reading! :D Lucy x

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser spf15

High hopes......


After trying the free sample in Glamour Magazine a few months back, I really liked the result of using this tinted moisturiser. I felt that it gave great coverage for a moisturiser, and having acne scars and some current blemishes, this was an essential thing for me. However.....having gone out and bought this product, I have completely changed my mind! I really regret buying this product (£21), and feel that the tester somehow didn't provide me with an accurate feel for the product.

Tinted Moisturiser spf15

"Smooth on an instant moisture boost with SPF protection and a hint of skin-perfecting colour. Refreshingly lightweight formula provides a no-makeup look and feel, yet covers imperfections with a natural, hydrating touch. Oil-free."  - Clinique


This product leaves my skin feeling greasy and my pores feel clogged. I am aware that the point of this product is that it would give you a burst of moisturiser, but the feeling never goes away. My face feels wet to the touch, even after using a mattifying powder. This product claims to be oil free, but it doesn't seem that way to me, as it makes my face super oily! I would have thought this would have been perfect for dry & oily skin, but my friend has tried this product (she has oily skin) and it is no good for her either.


This is a real shame for me, as I absolutely love the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief and was hoping to find a lightweight foundation perfect for the summer.  


Recommend to a friend?
No!

Vital Vitamin Night Cream....Simple!

My search for a nourishing night cream has begun.......

Vital Vitamin Night Cream

I have started using Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in place of my liquid foundations, as I have changed jobs recently and have found that the liquid ones tend to just melt off under the harsh lights of the shop floor, leaving my skin looking greasy, and I have spots by the end of the day. (I'll be reviewing the Dream Matte Mousse foundation & powder in another post, so keep checking back!)




My search basically started when I started to use the mousse foundation, as I have found that it is essential to keep my face moisturised all day (& night) long to prevent this foundation from going flaky or patchy. Regular exfoliating (I have been using Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream, about two or three times a week) and twice daily moisturising should be enough to keep your skin ready for this quite drying foundation. I have started to look in to night creams, not only to help my skin at present, but also to perhaps delay any signs of ageing in the future (I'm only 21, but it's better to start sooner than later!). As we all know, moisturising is an essential part of any daily skincare routine, and shouldn't be missed! I feel that investing in some night creams to try out will help my skin in the long run with hydration and general condition of my skin. An added bonus to this Night Cream is that it is affordable with the general retail price being less than £5! (Boots, Superdrug, Bodycare......) See below for my thoughts on this product!


What Simple claim: 


"When your skin's happy and fresh faced, you feel healthier and happier too!

Our Vital Vitamin Night Cream is a perfect blend of active ingredients and multi-vitamin goodness to restore and replenish skin throughout the night. Perfect for even sensitive skin,

VITAL VITAMINS
Pro-Vitamin B5 actively restores, softens and smoothes
Vitamin E moisturises to improve skin condition
Vitamin F renews and regenerates

SKIN LOVING NUTRIENTS
Glycerin hydrates and nourishes
Allantoin softens and protects
Bisabolol soothes and calms

NO PERFUME, NO COLOUR
No unnecessary or harsh chemicals so it won't upset your skin

Dermatologically tested and approved"


My thoughts....


I'm really impressed with this product. I have bought it so that my skin could have added hydration during the night, ready for the day ahead. I love that there are 3 vital vitamins in such a relatively low end product (retails at <£5) and I really do feel the difference in the morning. It feels velvety smooth applying it after gentle cleansing with Cetaphil cleanser. I have FINALLY found a moisturiser that is good for my skin, nourishing and moisturising without breaking me out. I can say that my skin has never been better :)


Recommend to a friend?
Yes!

Clinique review

How good is Clinique? Do their products actually work?

I have been using Clinique on and off for about three years now, and I have to say their products really do work for me. The trick is, to be persistent with your Clinique products, and give them at least a few weeks (perhaps 2) to start working properly! The main thing you should notice straight away using Clinique products is the really clean feeling your skin will have, even from the first time you use them!

I have acne prone skin. In terms of Clinique products, I have combination-dry skin which needs acne fighting products, whilst giving me the moisture I need! This can be problematic with other products, as they either give me too much oil for the moisture, leading to acne.... or strip my skin of all the oils to fight the acne, leading to drier skin! Luckily Clinique seem to have found that balance so that I can have the best of both worlds! :)


I have to admit, I get nervous going to any cosmetics counter, as I just know the sales assistants are going to pressure me, and in the end I'll end up buying nothing or the entire shop. This frustrates me! I took a trip to Boots in Manchester, and my aim was to get some Clarifying Lotion and some Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion. Success! I came out with these two products, regardless of the sales assistant's attempt to try and get me to buy the Anti-Blemish moisturiser & Moisture surge!


I'm not doubting that the moisture surge is good, but on my student budget I'm just not prepared to fork out! She was suggesting these because I told her my skin concerns were dryness but also acne. She suggested using the clearing moisturiser, and then moisture surge on top if my skin is feeling a bit dry. I honestly don't believe you can't mix and match thr 3-step systems. Find something that works for you, and for me that is Anti blemish cleanser/clarifying lotion & dramatically different moisturising lotion (not the anti blemish one). I really find it annoying when you're telling the sales assistants what works for you, and they're just arguing that this isn't how you use their products! They seem very 'by the book'!


My perfect 3-step system is as follows:

Anti-Blemish solutions cleansing foam £13.00 125ml 

Anti-Blemish solutions clarifying lotion £16.50 200ml

Dramatically Different moisturizing lotion (around £15/tube)

I don't see the need to buy an additional moisturiser, the dramatically different moisturising lotion is great! I make sure that I buy the lotion, rather than the gel, as it's better for dry skin.

Clinique products can be pricey, but if you want to invest in some great skincare, which should make your skin feel and look amazing (with continued use) then I would really suggest trying Clinique! Sometimes if I'm away, or I run out of my clinique products, I can really feel my skin getting drier, especially around the nose area, and this makes make up look terrible (& therefore I feel terrible throughout the day!) It is definitely something I've bought, stopped using, tried to find a cheaper alternative, but always gone back to! The price is nothing considering I've battled with my skin since the age of 12, if this expensive stuff works, then why not! :)

Feel free to let me know of your experiences with Clinique! Have you had a bad experience? A good one you'd like to share? Please leave comments below, or tweet me! :) @thebeautylink

Lucy x

Favourite winter must-haves!

My winter must-haves

One word springs to mind, DRY! Whether it's your hands, face, legs, feet or even hair! 

What do I use to keep myself feeling great and moisturised during the winter months?

                                                  All over body moisturiser:
                                                                Palmer's Cocoa butter! 
This stuff is amazing for my skin. You can use it all over (apart from the face as it's quite thick) it's good for moisturising very dry areas such as knees, feet and elbows! It smells really good, but if you don't like a strong smelling lotion then you can get a fragrance free version! It doesn't sink in SO quickly that it fails to provide you with the moisture you need, but it also doesn't linger too long on the skin! Just give it a couple of minutes to dry before putting jeans/any tight clothes on :) I put this on after showering to prevent my skin drying out!

                                             Facial moisturisers/routine

Clinique dramatically different moisturising lotion*
This is one of my daily essentials, I use it as part of my 3-step skincare regime. *I use the lotion because I have dry combination skin, if you have oily skin, then it is recommended that you use the Gel. If I don't moisturise, then my skin becomes flaky and red, and blemishes occur. 

 E45 Cream

I use this in place of my Clinique moisturiser if my skin is extremely flaky and dry during the winter months! It's really handy to carry around, you can also use it as a general lotion for your hands, feet, legs etc :) (plus it's really cheap!)

      

Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream

I've just discovered this product, thanks to recommendations from @sharan23 & @becomingfab (twitter) I've only used it a few times, but the results have been amazing already! It really does buff away the dead skin cells, revealing fresh new skin. Plus, as it's a cream, it leaves you feeling moisturised and not tight like some exfoliators!

(full review coming soon)

                                           Hand & nail lotion

Soap & Glory Hand Food

This product is great to carry in your handbag, so you can use it whenever you feel your hands getting chapped! This product has that great Soap & Glory smell, and I just feel great using it! (sometimes use it on my feet too, if I have no Cocoa Butter to hand!)

So there you are, some of my favourite winter skincare products! I will be doing a Lipcare review soon, as I have a few products in that area to talk about :)

Thank you for reading, and please feel free to leave a comment!

Below, a list of places you can buy these products 

& average prices!

• Palmer's Cocoa Butter (around £3.49) Boots, Superdrug, Bodycare
• Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion (RRP £15-£27 various sizes) Boots, Selfridges, Debenhams, House of Fraser
• E45 Cream (round £2) Boots, Superdrug, Bodycare, most Supermarkets
• Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream (£16.50) Boots, Selfridges, Debenhams, House of Fraser
• Soap & Glory Hand Food (£2.30-£4.75 50/125ml) Boots