Marc Jacobs Decadence

My love affair with BonBon came to an end and rather than replacing it, I decided to make a big purchase on the other fragrance I'd had my eye on, Decadence. Marc Jacobs are known for their sweet, fruity and floral scents so when this hit the fragrance stands last year, it was a little unexpected. Gone were the girly, light scents and floral designed rounded bottles and in was this grown up game changer.

The changes are apparently even from design of the bottle. Known for their classic handbag designs, Marc Jacobs have brought this icon through onto the design of the Decadence bottle. Although I went for the 100ml bottle, this is by far one of the largest bottles of perfume I've ever owned. Half is a hunter green glass bottle, the other is a snakeskin pattern lid which has a gold chain and black tassel accent attached to it. Although very beautiful and sits ascetically pleasing on my perfume shelf, it isn't the most travel friendly design. I usually ditch the lid or fill up my Travalo.

For the scent itself, it's very sultry, sexy and feminine. It comes across as quite woody and crisp with a few light floral tones. Top notes include Italian Plum, Iris and Saffron. Heart notes are Jasmine and Bulgarian Rose and to round it off, base notes compliment with Papyrus, Vetiver and Liquid Amber. I don't think I've ever smelt another fragrance quite like this so I can't really compare it to another but it is incredible. It sticks around a long time too and I can still smell it on my hair in the morning after a night out. It's rich scent and longevity makes it all worth the large price tag.

Marc Jacobs Decadence Eau de Parfum from £48.50 - £86.00 via Boots - link.

REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll remember back year ago when I suffered horribly from acne. No matter how much I spent, what I ate, what I did; it just wouldn't shift. Over the couple of years it's really cleared up a treat, but I still have to be careful what products I use. I've finally knuckled down a regime which I'll do a post on soon, but for now I want to have a little rave about this product; the REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser.

 

 

Having tried Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and not seeing any noticeable results, I was a little sceptical about this. With it's £18 a bottle price tag, it isn't the cheapest of cleansers. The 150ml bottle tends to last me around a month which can become costly. Also the packaging has it's pros and cons. First of all, the product is inside clear squeezy bag inside a plastic bottle. When you pump the product the bag itself inside becomes tighter to move the product upwards. This means at the end of it's life, there is always some product inside which you just can't get out which seems wasteful. However it does allow you to see when you are running out which is a massive bonus to you can stock up beforehand.

 

I apply one pump of the cleanser and massage it into dry skin; I always use a make-up remover before cleansing to double cleanse so I can't comment on how well it measures up in terms of that. I tend to leave it on my face for a minute before washing away with a warm, damp flannel. It has a very creamy consistency and a little goes a long way. It smells very natural, you can definitely pick up on the clay scent. It also contains camomile water, sage and lactic acid. These ingredients kill surface bacteria, absorb oil and help tone the pores. It is targeted towards those of us with problem skin, having oily skin I have definitely noticed a slow down in the oil production of my skin too which is a massive bonus.

 

 

I'm currently on my third bottle of the cleanser. Every time I run out I try and switch to a cheaper alternative and my skin just goes crazy and breaks out again. It really does calm the skin down in a completely natural manner which is great for people with sensitive skin like myself. It leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated, not tight and stripped like most cleansers targeted to my skin type. The only downside is how quickly I get through it, but it's definitely worth every penny; I wouldn't dare switch to anything else now, my skin adores this stuff.

 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

I could not live without powder. Being an oily skin gal, even after putting my foundation on I look like an over dewy mess. I'm all about the matte look with my face. However, I always struggle to find the right balance between cakey mess and too light of a dusting. I've tried everything from high end powders to the drug store offerings and I think I've found my perfect balance for the price, quality and look on the skin.

 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder has been super popular for years, I've used it on and off myself since I was about 14. I always lean towards pressed powders as opposed to loose powders as they're far less messy for on the go application and you don't waste much product when applying. At just £3.99 it's super affordable and lasts a long time too making it less of a heart attack to replace. There are 6 shades with one being transparent which is suitable for all skin colours.

I use a huge fluffy powder brush, giving it a swirl in the pan then knocking off any excess before applying. A light dusting on the face usually keep my super oily face matte for a few hours but it's compact enough to keep in your handbag to top up throughout the day. The only downside to this powder is how prone it is to breaking in the pan if it's dropped. Overall this is a fab powder and will always make it's way back into my collection when one runs out.
 

OUTFIT | Checkered Shirt & Knee High Boots

Outfit Details:

T Shirt | H&M

Shirt | Topshop Petite

Jeans | Topshop Petite

Boots | River Island

Jacket | River Island

Bag | Ted Baker
Gloves | Topshop

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concerntrate

Since facial oils became a big thing on the beauty market, I've always stayed well away from them. Having skin that produces ridiculous amounts of excess oil leading to clogged pores and pesky blemishes, adding more oil to my skin was the last thing I wanted to do. However, on my quest to try different products lately, I decided to give Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate a whirl. It claims to replenish the skin with moisture and help recover radiance by the morning. I've never really trusted the hype around 'overnight difference' products but after reading so many positive reviews I had high hopes for the little blue bottle.

Housed in a teeny blue glass bottle with a pipette inside the lid. You push down on the lid which in turn contracts the product into the pipette, and another push releases the product; pretty nifty. Although it's £36 price tag can seem a little scary, you only need to use the smallest amount. I find 2-3 drops is enough for my whole face. I'm on my first bottle so I can't estimate how long this will last, but with everyday use over the past month it's hardly gone down at all, fab. The oil contains ingredients such as squalane, omega-6 fatty acids, evening primrose oil and lavender. Kiehl's are well known for their use of natural ingredients in their products making them suitable for even the most sensitive of skin.

I apply mine every evening after make-up removal and a thorough cleanse. I dispense the product onto my finger tips and then press it into the skin. The oil is extremely runny and thin which makes it great for all skin types as it won't sit too heavy on your skin and clog your pores. It appears super shiny and oily when first applied but shortly after it skins into the skin well and by the morning it's pretty much invisible. Using a moisturiser after is completely optional, I find I don't need to use one as I already have very oily skin so the product alone is hydrating enough for me.

I've noticed a huge difference in my skin over the past month. In the mornings, my skin appears more even, less oily and I wake up with less break outs. I love it when I find a product that actually works. It's made my night time routine a lot more quicker too and this is always a massive bonus when I come back after a night shift and just want to take my make-up off and hop into bed. My skin overall has become more radiant and calmer, it tends to react less to harsh weather conditions, stressful periods and lazy times when I just don't keep my skincare regime up to scratch. I swear by this stuff, really is a miracle worker, If you're new to the facial oils, give this one a try first, you won't be disappointed!