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!

Origins Out of Trouble Mask

When my skin is feeling rather on the spotty side and needs a bit of extra care, I like to add another product into my skincare routine to clear it up. I've never been a believer in face masks, I always used to see them as something people use for more of a cosmetic purposes and not thought they did much good from previous use. That was before I invested in my first 'high end' one in the form of a sample first.

Origins is a brand known for their natural products, the mask contains; Zinc Oxide and Sulfur which absorbs all the build up under your skin and Camphor which is super calming for the skin. The mask does three things, gets rid of oiliness, removes of dead skin cells and eliminates excess debris on the skin. The mask removes any rough texture to the skin and tackles potential outbreaks during/before they occur. The mask is targeted to those of us with problem skin prone to acne, and because of Origin's natural products, it's perfect for those of us with super sensitive skin too.

I apply the mask to a cleansed face once a week of an evening after removing my make-up. I used a index fingers length and then apply to the skin evenly avoiding the eye and mouth area. I then leave the mask on my face for 10 minutes (or usually more as I'm very forgetful). It cools the face down instantly and smells very fresh and natural like plant extracts. When it's time to remove the product, I like to use damp cotton pads or a wet muslin cloth and gently wipe away the product. I also like to splash my face with cool water once it is all removed and pat the skin dry with a clean towel.

I fell in love with this product from the first use, it's so refreshing and doesn't dry the skin out at all. Straight away my the surface of my skin had reduced in redness and irritation and overnight my blemishes have slightly reduced in size. It's quite a miracle product for me and I absolutely swear by this and recommend it to those of you with a similar skin type to me. Although it is quite pricey at £22, the bottle lasts a good time as you only need to use it once a week and it's always worth investing in good quality products that good the job properly.