Author: Vicki

Three Clinique Eye Products

- Vicki 9 Comments
Clinique Eye Products

Clinique Eye Products

I have tried quite a few Clinique products from their Take The Day Off Balm to their Chubby Sticks but I haven’t tried many of their eye products so I was excited to put these three to the test. I have heard positive things about their High Impact Mascara but haven’t heard too much about this Extreme Volume version.

Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara* £19

This comes in a really nice chunky metallic silver tube and it has a really long chunky plastic wand. The bristles are quite short but close together so they coat each lash effortlessly without applying too much product at once. I like that the brush doesn’t hold a lot of product because I like dramatic lashes but I don’t like the spidery / clumpy lash look, so you can apply a few coats of this mascara without building up too much product, making your lashes look long, thick and fluttery. Its not heavy and doesn’t weigh down my lashes so its damn good at holding a curl.

The formula is JET black and doesn’t flake or transfer throughout the day. I do think the brush could have a slight curve or have a tapered end, just to help get at those smaller harder to reach lashes right in the corner of your eye. I think the High Impact Mascara wand looks a little better & would prefer to see that in this mascara.Clinique High Impact Mascara

Clinique Eye Makeup

Clinique Eye Pencils

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes in Smoky Brown* £15

This is a pencil eyeliner on one end which twists up, (no sharpening needed) and at the other end you get a smudger sponge that is a really good shape. I have a lovely brown shade which is an easy shade to wear and a nice alternative to black. The formula wasn’t as smooth and creamy as the skinny stick liner but it did last well throughout the day. It is also water resistant so if you are like me & get watery eyes then that will please you. I really want to try this in the grape shade, its looks so pretty. This liner comes in 10 shades – as you would expect from Clinique they’re all quite neutral apart from a really bold blue & a purple shade.

Clinique Skinny Stick in Skinny Jeans* £15

I love Clinique’s Chubby range and now I’m a fan of the skinny liners too. This is a twist up pencil so again no need to sharpen and I have a pretty blue shade called Skinny Jeans. Its a really pigmented colour and the formula is my favourite out of the two, its creamy and applies evenly and effortlessly to your eyelid. The nib is so precise and slim so ideal for getting that sleek slim eyeliner look. I wear liner most days & even though this is a blue it didn’t look 80’s or too bright for everyday wear.

I like the shade I have and I’m going to get a black one too, as black is the shade I wear the most. I loved this product and recommend it if you’re in the market for a new pencil eyeliner. This liner comes in 8 shades & they include a white and a bright yellow.

Clinique Eyeliner Swatches

What are your favourite eyeliners & do you think you’d prefer the skinny stick or quickliner?

*PR Sample

 

Aldi Lacura Caviar Skincare

- Vicki 5 Comments
Aldi Caviar Skincare

Aldi Lacura Caviar Skincare

When Aldi first released its eagerly awaited Caviar skincare range it sold out almost immediately which isn’t surprising after all the rave reviews it received, from the likes of Good Housekeeping to the Guardian. I have tried a few skincare products from budget-friendly supermarket Aldi and I have to say they have always impressed me. I love to find purse friendly alternatives that work.

So the Lacura Caviar range has ingredients that you expect to find in more expensive brands but Aldi are known for bringing affordable alternatives to the masses and they hit the headlines with this range. The key ingredients that everyone’s talking about are

Caviar – This ingredient is known to revitalise and promote regeneration and collagen production. As well as protecting skin from environmental aggressors.

Snow Algae – This ingredient is known to help restore your skins natural glow and increase hydration

Affordable Aldi Caviar Skincare

Lacura Caviar Illumination Day Cream SPF15* £6.99

This moisturiser isn’t lightweight as I hoped but it doesn’t feel greasy on the skin, I like to take a minute to massage it into my skin and I don’t use too much product. It has a generic cream scent which isn’t unpleasant or overpowering. The cream feels very hydrating and leaves my skin soft. I like that it contains SPF15 UVA & UVB protection as well as Hyaluronic Acid which has become such a popular and sought-after ingredient in skincare because of it ability to help skin retain moisture, it’s also good at protecting skin from environmental aggressors. It contains the two ingredients mentioned above, Caviar & Snow Algae so for a very affordable price you’re getting an ingredient rich moisturiser. I can see why this flies off the shelves and has become so popular.

Alsi Caviar Moisturising Day Cream

Lacura Caviar Illumination Night Cream* £6.99

This has a similar texture and scent to the day cream, it’s slightly creamier in colour. This has been a really lovely night cream and it leaves your skin feeling supple, hydrated and smooth by morning. It contains mostly the same key ingredients as the Caviar day cream but it also has Pro-Vitamin B5 which helps soothe and repair skin, so by morning your skin is looking and feeling a little better. Again this night cream contains that sought-after Caviar, Snow Algae and Hyaluronic Acid so if you use both the day & night cream in your routine you’re giving your skin a real boost of hydration and nourish your skin so it looks more radiant.

Aldi Lacura Caviar Night Cream

The packaging of both products feel luxurious, the pots are glass which is quite weighty with silver plastic lids. The design looks simple and a lot more expensive than they are. Yes, I’m very impressed with this range, I wasn’t expecting much but they’re as good as many of my more expensive products. I will be recommending it to my mum, I think she will really like the night cream especially.

I think this duo is pretty fantastic and the price point just makes it all the more incredible. People with oil-prone skin may find the day cream a little heavy but I would recommend trying these out and for the price, I think you will be surprised at the positive results.

Let me know what your favourite affordable skincare products are.

Lacura Caviar Skincare is available in Aldi stores nationwide.

*PR Sample

Merumaya Gentle Exfoliating Toner

- Vicki 8 Comments
Merumaya Gentle Exfoliating Toner

Merumaya Gentle Exfoliating Toner

As most of you are aware British skincare brand Merumaya have been a favourite of mine for a while now, they’re always expanding their range with innovative and affordable products. The Gentle Exfoliating Toner is their latest offering and once again they have produced an affordable product that rivals even the more expensive brands.

Merumaya Gentle Exfoliating Toner* £17.50

I always like to use a toner as part of my skincare regime so I was very excited to start using this new Exfoliating Toner and see what the results were. The packaging is much like the rest of the Merumaya range which is simple and user-friendly The product itself is packed full of active ingredients some of which give immediate results and others that are more effective when used over a period of time, I have learned that skincare isn’t always about those instant gains but often about looking after your skin every day in order to see long-term positive results.

I will let Merumaya explain the most scientific stuff,

  • Natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) to gently yet effectively peel away dead skin, detoxify, cleanse and refine pores to reveal fresh smooth skin. It contains a complex of moisturising active ingredients to prevent skin drying out after the exfoliation.
  • Natural AHA’s Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) are proven to act as exfoliants, loosening and removing the top layer of dead cells by decreasing corneocyte adhesion. This reveals the new skin cells below. Natural AHA Complex provides a superficial peel action resulting in an improved surface appearance for a fresher, smoother look to the skin. AHAs help to remove dry skin and can be useful in treating blemished or problem skin, unblocking and cleansing pores.
  • Hyaluronic Acid is highly prized for excellent hydration which helps provide plumpness and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Natural Betaine is an osmoregulator manages water balance in skin cells. It can hold 1.6 times its own weight in water. It hydrates and softens the surface of the skin resulting in a soft and even finish.

I found this toner to be very gentle despite their being acid in this product, so don’t be put off by that. The acid is great for gently removing the dead skin, dirt and stubborn makeup you may have missed when cleansing. Removing this build up on a regular basis keeps your skin clean, evens out skin tone and helps your skin look more radiant.

Reducing the build-up of dirt also stops your pores getting clogged up which helps reduce blemishes and blackheads. I have noticed my skin feels softer, smoother and fresher.

This 128ml bottle will last a good amount of time because you only need a small amount each time and the dispenser is good at only allowing a little product out at a time.

Once again Merumaya has made a product that will work on all skin types and that you can afford to repurchase time and time again. Let me know if you have any favourites from the Merumaya range, I would also recommend trying their Melting Cleansing Balm and the Iconic Youth Serum.

What I also love about Merumaya is their focus on promoting #BeautyHasNoAge – so their products are not focused or targeted at Anti Aging but feeling positive about our age and embracing the changes that happen as we grow older. I love this positive message and Maleka, the incredible lady behind the brand has made a video all about it which I encourage you to watch.

*PR Sample

Marc Jacobs Beauty Exclusively at Harrods

- Vicki 4 Comments
Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty

I only ever hear positive reviews of the Marc Jacobs Beauty range and since its launch 3 years ago it’s been near impossible to get your hands on it in the UK, but a little birdie tells me that Harrods are now exclusively stocking Marc Jacobs Beauty in store and online. So we can finally see if the hype is justified, I have a wish list as long as my arm.

I think the first thing that strikes me about Marc Jacobs Beauty is the attention to detail right from the sales counter to the packaging down to the actual products, everything has been well-thought-out. It’s luxurious makeup which makes you feel like you have invested in a lifestyle. The sleek black packaging looks minimal and beautiful, and the products are just as beautiful and very hard to resist!

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara

I have been trying out the new Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Volume Mascara* which is inspired by Marc Jacobs’s first beauty memory, of his mother carefully shaving fibres from a velvet ribbon to create her own couture faux lashes. This mascara gives your lashes a coating of jet black mascara, the formula is quite wet but once it dries down it leaves your lashes looking extremely full and long.

This mascara can look pretty good after just one coat for more of a daytime look, or if you want to go for that epic false lash effect then 2–3 coats will make your lashes really stand out. The jet black pigment is smudge proof and won’t transfer throughout the day. This is a mascara that will keep up with you and still look great at the end of the night. No panda eyes here.

New Marc Jacobs Volumising Mascara

The packaging is everything you’d expect from this brand, it’s simple, classic and very sleek. Its jet black tube is very weighty and feels luxurious. The hexagonal shaped tube is very different, but it’s a nice shape to hold, and it feels comfortable in your hand when applying the mascara. The brush is an hourglass shape and quite big, which makes it easy to get into the little lashes in the inner corner and right down to the lash line for that full, dramatic lash effect.

I thought this would be a lot more expensive than it is, for a high-end luxurious brand it’s priced very well. At £20 this is well worth trying out, and I guarantee you will love the volumising effect.  To say I like this mascara wouldn’t do it justice, I am very impressed and think it’s going to become a favourite very quickly indeed.

What Marc Jacobs products are you excited to try? I have always wanted the Lolita Palette, it’s become such a cult product and the neutral shades look gorgeous.

Marc Jacobs Beauty is available in the UK exclusively at Harrods.

*PR Sample