June Wishlist #01

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

(1) My oh my, has any noticed my love for rose gold recently? It started with my Ted Baker Harpel and it's just, well, escalated. When I came across these I just knew I had to have them, they have my name written all over them. They are stunning, aren't they? (2) I've never been a huge ran of rings, but since getting used to wearing a ring full time on my left hand they feel comfortable and normal now. I am literally in awe of this Tiffany heart ring and will be putting it on a future birthday/Christmas wishlist. (3) Stationary Junkies Anonymous, check. Does anyone else get excited about buying new stationary for the year that you know you'll never use half of. I'm loving Paperchase big time lately and their pens are so gorgeous and practical. (4) I have a Clinique addiction, it's literally written all over my blog. It'd be obscene for me not to want to try their new Lash Power Feathering Mascara, fluttery feather lashes will be mine soon! (5) I'm all over this top heavy layering in dresses and playsuits recently, being larger on my bottom half and skinny on my top leaves me looking out of proportion and these just flatter my figure in every way. Top trumps Miss Selfridge, I'm loving the floral trend this SS14! (6) Ted Baker just tick all the boxes for me when it comes to handbags; stylish, roomy and sophisticated. I'm desperate for this monochrome beauty that has been screaming out for me to buy it every time I see it. One day my precious, I promise.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam vs. Cleansing Bar

I've been using Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions skincare for a few months now and their cleanser is an absolute staple in my skincare routine. However, it never occurred to me before that there is another option. Clinique will generally recommend you the cleansing foam but there is a cleansing bar too. They both do pretty much the same job obviously, they just come in different forms. I haven't found a blog post which compares the two of them. I've used both for quite a while now so I thought I'd share my views on the pros and cons to each and which one is better.

Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam Clinique £15.50

The cleansing foam is a liquid solution in a bottle with a pump, it comes out directly as a foam when pumped. two to three pumps of this is enough to cleanse the whole face. The smell does smell quite strong and clinical like an acne treatment but I actually love the smell of this. It feels strange cleansing with such a fluffy foam and it does disappear quickly when worked into the skin. It cleansing well and removes make-up, it doesn't leave my face feeling dry, irritated or tight afterwards. The only problem I have with the product is that the bottle doesn't seem to go very far. Within a month or sometimes sooner it's completely gone.

Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Bar Clinique £14.50

The cleansing bar is a solid soap which when used with water and massaged with hands, creates a soapy lather in your hands. It comes with it's own soap tray which stores it and allows for convenience whilst traveling. It doesn't smell as strong as the foam, it has a slight scent but nothing more unusual as other mild soaps. I tend to use the product quite generously and work into my skin thoroughly. When worked into the skin it doesn't disappear like the foam and a little goes a long way. I feel like I've cleansed better using the bar as I've had more product to work with, mainly due to the formation of the bar. It cleanses deeply, however like other soaps, it can make your face feel squeaky when washing off but not tight or uncomfortable when dried. You can also use this for other areas of your body where you experience acne such as your chest and back. The bar just goes on and on forever, I've been using mine for a month now and it hardly shrunk in size. The only downside if that the bar is a lot messier and soggy than the foam for storage as the bar has the dry but nothing inconvenient.

So which ones the winner? Overall, I think they are both great cleansers. I like them both for different reasons. I like the packaging and smell of the cleansing foam. But I like the deeper cleanse and longevity of the bar. I would probably say the bar is a better option as it is multipurpose and is better value for money. They both are great for blemish prone skin no matter what your skin type is and I highly recommend the whole Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions range.

Clinique Cheek Pop Blush: 03 Berry Pop

Clinique Cheek Pop in 03 Berry Pop Boots £16.50

You've most likely heard of these new additions to Clinique, who might I say have absolutely stepped up their skincare and make-up recently, bravo. I have to admit, I don't wear blush, it's something that doesn't really appeal to me. I love bronzer but having seen too many tragic blusher applications on girls, it's steered me away from giving them a real chance. However, when I saw these little beauties, I couldn't resist shelling out for one and giving it a go.

Let's start with the design. Being a spring launch they've made the packaging super cute with the blush itself being in the shape of a flower (I guessed a daisy, I may be wrong?) It's in a clear plastic compact case with a satisfying click clasp and the usual silver Clinique logo. The case itself is super sturdy and easy to travel with so you don't have to worry about the product smashing. Nice and simple, just what I adore from Clinique.

Colour-wise, I am speaking solely for 03 Berry Pop, although there are 3 other shades in the collection; 01 Ginger Pop, 02 Peach Pop and 04 Plum Pop. I chose Berry Pop as it looked the most wearable to me, but there are shades to suit every skin-tone which are all gorgeous. Berry Pop itself is a vibrant cool toned pink, it's a matte blush and doesn't have any shimmer in it. I find this blush is best applied with a stippling brush such as the Real Techniques Stippling Brush, when swirled in the blush there isn't any fall out and the daisy embossed is fully intact showing a little goes a long way. The texture is like no other, the only way to explain it is a mix between a powder and a cream blush. It has a velvety feel and isn't sticky like a cream blush but not as chalky as a powder blush.

It applies effortlessly and the finish is beautiful, it looks very natural and doesn't sit in the pores and enhance them. The blush is very pigmented meaning it can be applied lightly for a just there pinch of colour or built up to the full colour in the pan for a more statement colour. The longevity of the blush is excellent, I wear it sheer/moderate and it lasts around 6-8 hours without the need for touch ups without losing their colour throughout the day. Although they are a little pricey, I reckon these will last a pretty long time so that justifies the price tag for me. Overall, these are excellent little blushes and I am completely besotted by them, it won't be long before I'm back at the Clinique counter picking up the rest of them.

Clinique Take The Day Off Make-Up Remover

I'm a massive fan of Clinique's Take The Day Off Cleansing balm, in fact, it's my favourite skincare product ever. Therefore, it was only right I try out their eye make-up remover too. I love to use separate eye make up remover to my cleansers as I have sensitive eyes and they are easily irritated by products. I've heard several good things about this product such as winning the SHE Magazine Beauty Awards 2011 for best eye make-up remover, so I thought it had to be a good investment. I've used the whole bottle to make sure my review is as informative as possible.

 

Clinique's Take The Day Off Make-Up Remover for lids, lashes & lips claims to be a two-way formula that loosens the grip, then speeds up the departure of the most persistent, eye make ups, mascara and lipsticks. Even waterproof mascaras. It is also suitable contact lens wearers. It's ophthalmologist tested and perfume so it's suitable for those of you with sensitive eyes like me! Sounds pretty good eh? It comes in a lilac plastic bottle, so any clumsy moments won't leave you with a broken bottle and a floor covered in expensive solution. The cap has a lock on it similar to a medicine bottle, you push down and twist, very simple but effective at making sure your product doesn't leak if you're travelling.

 

The bottle consists of a half water based, half oil based solution. You shake the bottle up for a few seconds so that they mix together to create a cloudy consistency. You the remove the cap and apply to a cotton pad and hold over the area you want to remove make-up from. I personally found it really hard to work with, it was great for removing eye shadows and lip products in seconds. However, I have a battle trying to remover mascara, this goes for all brands of mascara and I don't even wear waterproof either. I soak the cotton pad generously and hold over my eyes for around a minute, it just removes the odd trace of mascara and it comes off all flaky; I have to use loads of product and really work with it and rub and tug to actually remove the majority of it, not good for the eye area at all!

 

I also found the product quite greasy too, I would definitely cleanse after even though it claims to be suitable for before and after, I can't see having that much oil sitting on your skin to be good for your pores. I do wear quite a few coats of mascara which could impact on why my review is so negative compared to others, however, I've not had a problem with a variety of eye make-up removers before and for the price tag of £17 for 125ml, I expected this to be better than my drugstore equivalents, not worse. I don't recommend this product at all, you can get much better for a fraction of the price. I was left really unimpressed from one of my favourite skincare brands, I'm hoping this is just a one off.

 

 

 

Clinique 3 Step Skincare Type #3 Combination Oily

As most of you will know I'm an absolute skincare junkie. However Clinique isn't unfamiliar to me and we've encountered before. Back in my early teen days when my acne first started flaring up, I was recommended Clinique's Anti-Blemish Solutions and had a really bad experience. Now my skin has matured and settled down a lot, I decided to give their ordinary range a go. I've been using the range for a few months now and wanted to share my thoughts.

I took the online consultation which matched me to mainly Anti-Blemish Solution products, obviously I wanted to steer clear of these. On the list also popped up the Type 3 Clarifying Lotion so I decided to give the equivalent products a go and hope they suited my skin type. I'd recommend getting a start kit for £20 first before you commit to buying the full size products. Mine lasted around a month but I can be quite wasteful, this should be enough time for you to test if they suit you.

What Clinique say: 'Just 3 products, 3 minutes, twice a day—it’s that easy. Cleanse. Exfoliate. Moisturise. Three simple actions, morning and night. Yet when custom-fit to your specific needs, this dermatologist-developed system reveals your skin’s best version of itself: clear, radiant, glowing. At Clinique, we believe any skin can be great skin.'

Overall opinion: I liked the range, some things more than others. I've found my skin to break out slightly initially but they do inform you of this. It leaves my skin slightly redder than my La-Roche Posay which was expected as it isn't targeted to sensitive skin. I have found my skin to produce excess oil after a few hours which is a pain but I can cope with. After a 2 months of using these products I made a decision to cut the Clarifying Lotion out of my routine and saw an improvement in redness and breakouts improvement. I recently went back to Clinique and have altered my 3 step type, but I still use the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel and love it.

Step 1: Liquid Facial Soap (Oily Skin Formula)

The first step can comes in 2 forms - a liquid soap and a bar soap. I opted for the liquid soap version. I use one pump of these and massage it in wet hands to a lather and then gently rub onto a wet face in circular motions. When applied it instantly cools the face and causes it to tingle slightly, I think this may be just the oily version as it contains harsher ingredients to combat sebum. The wash leaves my skin well cleansed but doesn't strip it completely and leave it feeling uncomfortable and tight. I really love this product and a bottle of this has lasted me 2 months used twice a day. However I wouldn't recommended to those of you with spot prone skin as it doesn't have any spot fighting ingredients. (RRP £15.50 200ml)

Step 2: Clarifying Lotion #3

The second step is the clarifying lotion, see this as your exfoliating toner. They come in a 200ml bottle and a large 400ml bottle, I opted for the 200ml as the 400ml looks huge and I already lack space in my en-suite. You use this by applying it to a cotton pad and then gently wiping it over your face avoiding delicate areas like the eyes and mouth. This chemically exfoliates the skin and gets rid of any dead skin cells and excess dirt that the cleanser may not have caught. The product contains a lot of alcohol and if you have sensitive skin like mine, it irritates so much that is burns my skin and leaves it feeling raw and itchy. I personally wouldn't recommend this step and I'd say just go for 1 and 3 but if you think you have pretty tough skin then go for it, I like the idea behind it though, it just doesn't agree with my skin. (RRP £15.50 200ml)

Step 3: Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

The last and best step, moisturising. For types 3 & 4 you are recommended this product, the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. This is a lighter version of the + which is quite heavy and targeted at those whom have drier skin types. This is the biggest size they do and I'd highly recommend you get this one, with the pump, 2 pumps is enough for the entire face and neck, I've had mine for 3 months and I'm only about 2/3 through. The gel is really refreshing and although it says gel, it has the same consistency a moisturiser and isn't sticky and sinks into the skin nicely. It doesn't leave you looking too matte either but controls oil well. The formula doesn't irritate my skin at all and is super gentle and refreshing. (RRP £29.50 125ml)

Clinique Superprimer: Dullness

Another Clinique review, I know, I know! However I couldn't resist popping this in my basket with a recent online order when I ran empty on my cleanser. If you haven't heard of Clinique's Superprimers, you must have been living under a rock; heavily advertised everywhere following their launch last year. Clinique created a collection of 6 primers, all to suit different colour correction needs. The collection hosts a Dullness, Sallowness, Redness, Discolourations, Dullness in Deeper Skins and a Universal primer. I'm going to be reviewing the Dullness Superprimer.

I must confess, this was a mistake purchase, I actually meant to opt for the Redness superprimer but accidentally chose Dullness. I thought I'd give it ago anyway not expecting much seeing as it is pretty much opposite on the colour spectrum from what my skin requires. The Dullness superprimer is aimed at those who's skin lacks radiance and glow. My skin personally doesn't suffer too much from this as I have very oily skin, however, it can be quite dull and lack colour as I am very fair.

The primer comes in a 30ml plastic tube, you all know how much I love Clinique's packaging so I won't ramble on. The lightweight, oil-free formula is suitable for all skin types too. The formula is a pastel pink colour with a thick creamy consistency which is applied with either a brush or fingers (I prefer fingers) pre-foundation. I used a large pea size amount the cover my whole face. It glides onto the skin effortlessly, it leaves a very velvet-like finish and is very matte.

I didn't find too much colour pay off, I hardly noticed a difference from using the sample of the colourless Universal. Considering it is aimed at dull skin, the super matte finish doesn't help too much in this respect, although it could be argued it is a primer and it's main purpose is to create a good base and prolong foundation wear. Overall I like the primer, it applied nicely, gave my skin a very slight tint (although you don't see this through foundation anyway) and I noticed a huge difference in how long my foundation lasted on my skin. It retails for £20 which is a decent price for a high end primer. I would recommend going for a colour corrector primer from the range despite the them not making much difference, I've used the Universal before and the formula wasn't as thick and my foundation didn't last as long.

Clinique All About Eyes

Eye creams were a product that didn't generally interest me in my teens, but as I'm getting older and my skin is changing, I've notice I tend to get some slight dry patches in my eye area. I've used cheaper eye creams in the past such as Simple but thought I should invest in something a little more high end and tailored to my specific needs. As you all know, I'm a massive Clinique junkie, and when I read up on the All About Eyes it sounded perfect for what I needed.

As always the packaging is beautiful, simple and elegant; very clean cut and clinical, something I really love about Clinique. The little glass jar is home to a a silicone-based formula which is somewhere between a cream and a primer. I dab my ring finger lightly into the jar to take a small amount and then pat it around the the eye area, concentrating on the under eyes. The formula is super silky and applies effortlessly and sets without leaving any greasy residue behind. It leaves the area feeling hydrated and soothed. Because of the consistency of the formula, it works amazing as a primer for eye shadow too!

It isn't the cheapest of eye creams considering it doesn't have any anti-wrinkle benefits. At £25 for 15ml it can be a little hit or miss, however my little jar has been going strong since December and is still not finished. One thing I dislike about this product is the format of the packaging; I would much prefer it to be in a tube as it would make it a lot easier to control the amount you're dispensing and not expose it to air as often which can weaken the effect of some of the eye creams ingredients. However, it is still a lovely eye cream and it's dual purpose make it's super useful to have in my make-up bag.

Clinque Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

So the newest product to grace Clinique's skincare comes in the form of it's Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel. I'd seen several adverts for this product but it never really entered my want/need list. I haven't had much good experience with these kinds of products and assumed it'd be a waste of money. On my recent trip to Clinique I was informed that this was taking place of the Clarifying Lotion step which I have never been the biggest fan of. I thought I'd give it a try and see if it helped control my breakouts.

The product is effectively a spot fighting gel that can be spot-applied to spots as a treatment or all over the face as a preventative measure to prevent breakouts from occurring. The gel is to be used after cleansing the face, I recommend you use a light moisturiser after also as it's very drying. It has a fairly strong scent of alcohol, I find I have to work quickly when applying as it dries very quickly which means I probably use more than the suggested thin layer. The product is 100% allergy tested and fragrance free meaning it is suitable for sensitive and irritable skin. It controls oil well and I've seen a vast improvement in the amount of excess oil that my face produces since using this product. It also claims to reduce the appearance of pores, I find it tightens the skin quite a lot when applied but this effect isn't long lasting.

The 30ml bottle retails for £20 which is fairly pricey for this type of treatment. I also find because of the tube of the bottle which you have to squeeze to get the product out, I've gotten through my bottle in a matter of weeks which is disappointing. However, the product does an amazing job at clearing up my skin and controlling oil better than anything I've used before. It also doesn't dry your face out and leave flakiness like other stop treatments do. Therefore on that basis I would say it is well worth the money and has quickly became a permanent addition to my skincare routine.

Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder

I'm a massive fan of using a sheer brush of powder over foundation to set it nicely for the day, it completes my make-up and I rely on it for some extra oil control. After my love affair with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural I was looking for something a little finer on my skin that didn't allow pesky oil to make it's way through my foundation shortly after I'd applied it. During my trip to the Clinique counter, they recommended me this.

The packaging is simple yet unique; a plastic square shaped box with a green marble effect and a silver opening with the Clinique logo. I feel it's suited to a more mature taste but I do like it. It also has a square mirror inside and a applicator sponge which are nice little touch for on the go application. The shade I was recommended was 01 stay buff which is the fairest shade they do. The powder is suited to those of you with combination/oily skin and need a powder to set your foundation/something to touch your face up with throughout the day should it get oily. The powder controls oil fantastically and used in combination with my Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Make-Up may face is oil free all day, I rarely ever need to touch up throughout the day which is a miracle. It also give a extra layer of slight coverage and I feel it really completes my base and evens out any uneven skin tone.

Although on the pricey side retailing at £23, I really do love this powder and will most likely repurchase when it runs out. In my experience I don't mind spending that little extra on powder as they tend to last for months and are an essential product to the finish of your base. The product control oil well and the packaging is practical and durable. Thumbs up to Clinique for yet another fantastic product!

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Make-Up

I've been wearing MAC foundations for the past 2 years and as it was my first high-end foundation, the vast improvement led me to believe I'd found everything I needed, but I hadn't. I'd been having terrible trouble getting any base to stay on my face for more than a few hours and it would oxidise terribly. As I used Clinique skincare, I thought I'd visit a counter and try something from their instead. They sat me down and assessed what I wanted from a foundation and my skin type and then recommended me a few products. As I have blemish prone skin and oily skin I decided the Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Make-Up was perfect for me and was colour matched properly and came away with my very own bottle.

It is targeted towards those who would require their Anti-Blemish Solutions 3 step. Although this is targeted for all skin types with blemish prone skin, the foundation itself sets very matte and would suit those with oily/combination to very oily skin. I was colour matched to shade 01 fresh alabaster which is their palest shade. I am fairly pale myself but there are people with much fairer skin than me so I wouldn't say the colour range is fantastic.

The product comes in a plastic bottle with a squeeze tube nozzle. I personally prefer a high end foundation to come in a glass bottle with a pump, as you're paying more money you expect better quality from the packaging too. However, I don't mind too much as I travel a lot and therefore the bottle is more durable and the nozzle allows to fully control the amount you squeeze out so you don't waste product. The foundation is targeted at blemish prone skin as it contains 0.5% salicylic which is the active ingredient that fights spots and also prevents new ones from appearing.

without foundation

with foundation

The foundation applies very nicely, it isn't very thick and therefore blends lovely with either a flat foundation brush or a buffing brush. I use a large pea size amount to cover my whole face, I can't comment on how long the bottle lasts as it's a relatively new purchase. I would say the coverage is moderate, it is marketed at moderate/full coverage and build-able, however I've used two layers before and it doesn't cover as well as other foundation I have used. It has a very matte finish to it, almost powder like and controls oil incredibly well. It lasts on the skin a good 8 hours although I do powder every few hours too. The finish looks very natural and not too heavy unlike other foundations of its kind.

The foundation is retailed at £24 for 30ml which is a little pricey. However, for the quality and the fact its the first foundation I have found which stays on my skin all day, I think its well worth its price tag and would happily repurchase. As for the anti-blemish, I have found my skin has produced less spots since using the foundation.

Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter

I received so many Clinique goodies this Christmas and I've been more than impressed by all of them. Their Deep Comfort Body Butter is no exception. The product came in Clinique's 'Softer, Smoother Skin' gift set. 

 It's a full sized product which is a lovely surprise for a gift set as most only include sample sizes.

The packaging is typical of Clinique, a round plastic tub with a silver lid and the logo along with the name of the product. I'm glad they chose to package it in a plastic tub as opposed to glass as the tub is large and therefore it makes it lighter and more durable. Personally, I'm a fan of Clinique's packaging as it's simple yet sophisticated and sits lovely on your dressing table. The product itself looks very thick and creamy, as expected from a body butter. It appears a off white magnolia colour and is unscented; as with the rest of Clinique's products it is 100% fragrance free and allergy tested so it is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. I would say this is the only downfall, I personally like body butters to have some scent to them.

So, the most important part. The body butter is fabulous. Super thick yet a little goes a longer way, it melts lovely into the skin and doesn't leave behind a sticky residue. Surprisingly, it doesn't take too long to absorb either which means you don't have to sit around for ages in your undies. It intensely moisturises the skin leaving it soft, supple and hydrated. Unlike other moisturisers I've used, my skin is still super soft hours after I've applied the product. It does wonders for my sensitive skin, unlike scented products, it doesn't give me any irritation or redness and soothes the skin after shaving.

Overall I love the product, a lot. However it's £24 price tag leaves it on the 'I really love it but can't afford to use it all the time' list. I do however think it's the best body butter I've ever and I'd highly recommend it.

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

I'm always open to different ways of taking my make-up off. I find it the most important part of my skincare routine as going to bed with make-up left of your face is the worst skincare sin going. Generally I'm very much a face wash kinda gal, having oily skin I don't like to smother it in rich products that will block my pores. To get the majority of my make-up off I'd use face wipes and then wash with a gel wash. This method seems to make my skin even more oily as it strips the skin quite badly.

I did some research and found creamy cleansers to be the best option for skin. However I'm not a fan of cream cleansers as they leave my face feeling still dirty and sticky. Recently I've read a lot about cleansing balms. Very similar but different consistency altogether. Thought I'd pick one up and give it a go.

 Clinique's Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is a hard consistency in it's tub, it's difficult to describe but it's similar to wax. You only need to scrap off a small amount with your finger and then rub it together in your fingers, a little goes a long way. It then turns into an thick oil. You the use your fingers to massage the product all over your face. I like to do this once in the morning with a bare face and double cleanse in the evening with a face full of make-up to make sure my skin is thoroughly cleansed. You then rinse the product off with your hands or use a damp muslin cloth, and then pat dry with a towel.

I was worried it would be too rich for my skin as I have oily/combination skin so I didn't want to add excess oil to my skin. However, it does say it's suitable for all skin types which is true, when rinsed off your skin is completely clean and no oily residue is left behind.  I didn't expect much from this product but it is one of the best cleansers I have ever used. Regardless of what product I use, I usually always still have make-up left on my face when drying my face on a towel, with this stuff I haven't had that problem once. It leaves my skin super soft and not irritated, absolute pleasure for removing make-up of an evening. The formula is super gentle and fragrance free.

I only use mine on evenings although it can be used  in the mornings too. This is one of Clinique's hidden gems, and regardless of it's £21 price tag, I will repurchase over and over again. I've been using mine almost a month now and I'm only about a quarter of my way through so I'd say it's well worth the investment for your skin.