Fluoro Trend

A big trend this summer is fluorescent colours. If you don't feel like a neon yellow dress ifs for you, try some fluoro accessories to give your outfit a summer update. Try adding some neon bracelets to a casual look or a bright statement necklace to a more dressy look. I like this idea because neon clothes tend to fade with washing whereas accessories are more durable. I love this neon pink satchel bag from Penney's. I really like more structured bags lately.

• Neon pink, also available in yellow
• 11euro
• Structured, easier to find things in your bag
• Medium sized
• Concealed front fastening
• Shoulder strap 
• Top handle
• Silver hardware accents

How will you incorporate neon in your wardrobe?

Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss

These are the perfect lipglosses for people who don't like the sticky lipgloss feeling. They feel silky and creamy, not the usual superglue effect at all. I think these colors are perfect for summer, bright and vibrant. The pink can have a slight teeth yellowing effect but that's no fault of the product. I think they add a nice pop of color to casual makeup and bring a nice glow to the face. Exactly what we need for summer! They contain light reflecting glitter particles for an extra shine boost. The coral color is called 006 Strawberry Fraise, unfortunately I don't know the name of the pink one.

Left; strawberry Fraise, right Pink 

The low down;

• non-sticky texture
• glitter particles for high shine
• good color payoff
• available in 15 shades
• around 8 euro

Definitely a thumbs up from me! will you be trying them?

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr in On and On Bronze

This is a lightweight gel cream shadow and as it is a gel cream it blends very easily. It can be used as an eye shadow base to really make powder eye shadows stick, last all day and not crease, or, as an eyeshadow all by itself. If i'm using it as a base I put on a light layer and blend out just below where my powder eyeshadow will stop. Worn on its own it gives a nice sweep of color quickly and easily.

On and On Bronze Swatch, left applied thickly, not blended, right blended  out.

The jist;

• gel cream formula
• highly pigmented
• dual usage
• easy to work with
• works great as a quick fix
• between 7 and 9 euro
• 9 shades available

I'll be adding to my collection with Tempting Taupe next! 

Has anyone else tried this? What did you think?

Clinique Anti Blemish Foundation

I bought this foundation in the hope it would conceal my blemishes and not irritate them, and it does both. It contains Salicylic acid to work on your problem areas all day long. Salicylic acid seems to work well for me, especially if its in a product form Clinique! I wear the shade 01 Fresh Alabaster which is the lightest shade but it is still a bit too dark for me. Its also a very pink foundation which is the only thing I don't love about it. With some good blending down the neck and concentrating the majority of the product in the center of the face, lessening the density approaching the hairline it looks pretty natural.

Here's the jist;

• medium to full coverage
• oil free
• contains salicylic acid
• 30e for 30 ml
• available in 12 shades
• no SPF 

All in all I really like it because i know i can put it on and not worry that its making my skin worse. It feels really nice on the skin too! 

Have you tried this foundation?

Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions 3 Step System Review

Since I wrote my last post about La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo I have fallen for something else. It started when the Effaclar just seemed to stop improving the state of my skin. It worked so well for the first two months, but then it was like my skin became immune to it, and the there was no sign of further improvement. Needless to say I was disappointed because I was so close yet so far away. I thought I had found the holy grail acne cure! So after some soul searching (jk) and a tear or two, I began my search for a new product to rid me of my acne.

This is where my obsession with all things Clinique comes in. I love everything about them, from the packaging to the products themselves (those I have tried anyway). While browsing their site and adding a million things to my wishlist I saw the '3 step anti blemish solutions kit'. The site says 'If it doesn't require a dermatologist, all you need is Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions' which sounded good to me. I then consulted YouTube (obvs) where various vloggers informed me that the 3 step products had rid them of their acne. I was sold.

Step number one is a cleansing foam which you apply to a damp face and rub in gently, it is light and easily applied. It is designed to prep the skin for the next step.

Step one: cleansing foam

Step two is what Clinique call exfoliating but what I have always known as toning. This bottle has powder at the bottom which you must shake quite vigorously to mix with the liquid, apply this step with a cotton pad sweeping all over the face and concentrating on the most troublesome areas. I usually give my face a good rub using an exfoliating cotton pad.

Step two: exfoliate

Step three is an oil -free moisturizer which you apply all over. The moisturizer feels luxurious, this is the most high end moisturizer I have tried so I don't have much to compare it to but compared to cheaper drugstore brands it is lovely. 

Step three: moisturize

One of my favorite things about these products is they cause very minimal dryness if any at all which most other serious acne treatments tend to. i have been using these for nearly a month and things are going well so far. My skin is more even and brighter looking. The exfoliating step really works hard to remove all the dead skin etc. from your face revealing the brand new skin beneath. 

The sales assistant told me that you have be religious about using the system morning and evening every day for the best results, she also said the products should last around three months. I bought the bigger sized individual bottles not the smaller sized bottles i.e. the starter kit. They cost around €70 altogether which is fairly pricey but I'll give my left arm if something works at this stage.

I am definitely not there yet, but I really like this system and I have seen more of an improvement than I ever had with Effaclar duo so I am persisting and hoping for the best!

Have you ever tried the three step system? Leave me and comment and let me know your the thoughts on the range xx

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Review

I have uncovered a skincare holy grail in the form of La Roche Posay's Effaclar Duo. Having suffered with breakouts for years now I have tried many if not all over the counter products vaguely related to 'spot clearing' or 'skin purifying'. The list includes the old reliable tea tree oil used as dab, which in the end turned out to be more of a hindrance than a help. Of course that was back in the days when a localized treatment did the trick and blemishes were few and far(ish) between. Fast forward to now, (or at least two months ago) and my face was a red mess. 

Being the YouTube addict I am, and having been introduced to the YouTube wonder of all wonders, the beauty guru, by my sister, I wondered whether there might be a guru who held a secret weapon that I might poach to rid me of my plight. it was at this point that i stumbled upon a Ruth Crilly video, a.k.a Amodelrecommends, in which she highly recommended Effaclar Duo. Ruth said that it had made a huge difference to her skin so I obviously had to try it. So just before Christmas I purchased my very own tube (for just under 17 euro) and got to work with it.

The Effaclar range specializes in oily skin. The full title of Duo states that it is 'Corrective and unclogging anti-imperfection care'. It also claims to 'unclog sebum blocked pores'. Its been two months since I began using this both morning and evening after cleansing as a moisturizer and the tube is pretty much gone, and so (nearly) are my breakouts. They are definitely alot more controllable now, I hardly ever get a really awful blemish and when I do, the time from conception to its DEATH  rolls around a lot quicker. They just don't seem as angry, and I have seen a real improvement in my skin overall.

I would definitely recommend this product to anyone with persistent breakouts as it has worked well for me in only two months, and we all know how slow acting these treatments can be. I can't wait to see the difference after six months!