Pixi by Petra Skincare

- Vicki 4 Comments

Pixi Skincare Treats

I have used Pixi products for almost a decade and have watched them go from strength to strength. They’re a brand that always deliver not only wonderful makeup but their skincare is just as good. I am excited that Pixi is becoming easier to get hold of, gone are the days of having to call their London store for mail order (who remembers having to doing that?) You can now get hold of Pixi on HQ Hair and they carry a really good selection.

Pixi Glow Tonic*

This is such a cult product and was one of the first affordable, effective acid exfoliating toners. I have tried this and repurchased it on many an occasion. Glow Tonic is a toner which is so good for your complexion because it contains these great ingredients

  • 5% Glycolic Acid – Accelerates skin renewal and helps remove dulling skin dead
  • Aloe & Ginseng – Soothes skin
  • Witch Hazel – Will help firm and tone
  • Horse Chestnut – Boots blood flow for that radiant complexion

So this toner will remove dead skin leaving your complexion looking fresh and radiant whilst also soothing, firming and toning. This is quite the toner power house, I have already said how much I like this product in a few previous posts and I still feel the same. I usually use this in the evening and I think its also very good at helping to reduce scars and even out skin tone. This is a bargain and a bottle lasts me ages. Oh and if you’re worried about it being abrasive I’ve never had irritation after using it.

Pixi Glow Tonic and Cleansing Balm

Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm*

This is a luxurious feeling balm to oil cleanser and this type of balm cleanser has become really popular over the past couple of years. This is a gentle but effective way of removing your makeup and the grime that builds up on our skin throughout the day, it even removes stubborn eye makeup. You honestly need the tinniest amount of this, i’d say a 10p sized amount is perfect, make sure you take time to work this into your skin and really let the lovely ingredients work their magic,

  • Sweet Almond Oil – gently helps breakdown dirt and makeup and impurities so they don’t clog pores and cause skin to become dull.
  • Shea Butter – leaves skin soft, hydrated and feeling supple
  • Vitamin E – protects skin from environmental aggressors and helps reduce inflammation

You will need to remove this with a hot cloth, or the oil will leave a residue on your face. I love using a hot cloth cleanser, it means I remove all my makeup and my skin feels like I have had a mini facial. This Pixi Cleansing Balm really is nourishing on the skin and its great to see brands brining out such high quality skincare for affordable prices!

I have used the Glow Tonic for a few years now and think its a great product but if you made me pick my favourite I would recommend the Nourishing Cleansing Balm – there is nothing quite like removing your makeup and your skin feeling so clean and soft and this product was a complete pleasure to use. I Highly recommend adding it to your daily routine and a tub will last you months!

*PR Sample

Garnier Ultimate Blends Restoring Lotion

- Vicki 2 Comments
Garnier Body products

Garnier Ultimate Blends Restoring Body Lotion

After the success of their Ultimate Blends Haircare range, Garnier has released the new Ultimate Blends Body, which caters for targeted skin concerns. There are four blends to pick from, including

  • Marvellous Oils
  • Mythic Olive
  • Delicate Oat
  • Honey Treasures

I have been using two products from the Honey Treasures range, which is the range targeted at restoring very dry skin. So if your skin is suffering in this cold dry weather, and you want to get your legs Spring ready, then I think you will love the results of this blend. It is blended with what Garnier call 3 treasures from the Beehive, which are

  • Royal Jelly – A revitalising elixir renowned for its restoring properties
  • Propolis – A remarkable ingredient which acts as a protective barrier
  • Honey – A nourishing and smoothing nectar

Garnier Ultimate Blends Restoring Lotion Honey Treasures*

This comes with a pump, always handy when applying body lotion, and the texture is lovely and creamy. It feels rich and instantly smoothing on the skin. I like to use this one in the morning as out of the two it is more lightweight and leaves my skin smooth, soft and gives just enough hydration so it doesn’t feel greasy under my clothes. I hate that feeling.

Garnier Honey Treasures Body Lotions

Garnier Ultimate Blends Restoring Body Butter Honey Treasures*

This, as you would guess, has a much thicker texture than the lotion, so I like to use this at night when I have more time to let it sink in. If I put it on before bed, my skin feels supple, smooth and nourished. This is a great product if you suffer from dry skin, it’s extremely hydrating. It is a little more tacky on the skin than the lotion, but after it has been on for 10 minutes or so, it feels lovely.

Also, the scent of this range is rich, and I think smells quite like caramel. It’s lovely sweet, and I can smell it on myself for hours after applying it. I am a big fan of these new additions to the Garnier range, and they are helping me get my skin ready for the warmer months, Spring is on its way.

Garnier Ultimate Blends

*PR Sample

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