Review | Collection Shimmer Shades 'Blushalicious'

I have a confession to make. I noticed that all Collection products were under £4 in Superdrug yesterday and I may have accidentally picked up a few bargain bits and bobs... I didn't go too crazy, thankfully, and I only bought items that I knew I'd use lots! Including this pretty Collection Shimmer Shades pink blusher quad in 'Blushalicious' (£3.99 on sale, usually £4.19). 

I used to own another Shimmer Shades quad in a different selection of colours which I loved, so I knew I was on to a good thing with this one. I was drawn to how versatile the four colours are: hot pink, berry pink, deep peach and light pearlescent pink. Although I bought this with the intention of using it as a summer blush, it could equally be used in any other season, making it even more of a bargain! The packaging is also very easy on the eye, with the blushers housed in a sturdy plastic case. I like being able to see the colours through the lid as they're all so beautiful! 

Collection describe Shimmer Shades as being '4 complimentary, shimmering shades for a subtle, radiant glow' which seems pretty spot on, although I'd say that the light pink and deep peach have a little more shimmer than the mauve pink and hot pink. None of the colours are heavily loaded with shimmer, which is great for my shine-prone skin; I'm 'shimmery' enough as it is in this heat! 

From top left: hot pink, berry pink, deep peach, light pink

Top to bottom: berry pink, hot pink, deep peach, light pink 

For only £3.99 you really can't go wrong with this quad. All four colours are strongly pigmented, requiring only a sweep or two of a blusher brush to give a good glow. The shades look quite bright in the pan and perhaps a little daunting, but they appear very natural once on and are super easy to blend. I've been swirling my big Estee Lauder blusher brush across all four colours before sweeping on to my cheeks, and I then tend to pick out the light pink for highlighting and the peach for bronzing. You can easily access each colour separately and there is minimal fall out of product with each sweep of the brush. 

The lasting power of all Shimmer Shades is very impressive. I applied my makeup at around 8am this morning and at 2.50pm it's still going strong. The pan contains 12g of product which seems very reasonable for such a bargain price. Whether you're on a makeup budget or not, Collection Shimmer Shades quads are well worth giving a go. The only *teeny tiny* downside is that the powder has a slightly synthetic scent, but it isn't strong enough to notice unless you lean right in and take a good sniff (all in the purposes of research, obvs!) and it doesn't transfer on to the skin at all. I really don't like it when cheaper blushers smell funny, but compared to some I've used in the past this one is fine!

In fact, having rediscovered my love for all things Collection I may have to pop along to Superdrug and pick up the other Shimmer Shades quad available... But I'll be good and wait until next month!

Browse Collection here

Imogen x 

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Review | Maybelline Dream Pure BB 8-in-1 BB Cream for oily skin

Recently I came to the conclusion that BB creams just don't seem to suit my skin type. Most aim to moisturise and hydrate the skin, but as my skin is combination/oily and therefore prone to shine, I've often found that moisturising drugstore BB creams turn to a not-so-hot greasy mess a few hours after applying. Additionally most drugstore BB creams offer lighter coverage than a foundation, whereas I'm a fan of high coverage formulas due to regular break-outs and blemishes that I'm always desperate to hide. So, while BB creams seem like a great option for many, I came to the conclusion that my skin type just isn't suited to drugstore BB creams, based on ones I've tried in the past (including Garnier, Revlon and Rimmel) *sad face*

However! I've been desperate to find something that feels light and comfortable on my skin during this heat wave we're currently experiencing, as my usual high coverage foundation is feeling a little uncomfortable, and while in Boots I stumbled upon Maybelline Dream Pure BB 8-in-1 BB Cream containing 2% spot fighting Salicylic Acid, designed for oily skin. Maybelline also have a Dream Fresh BB Cream available, which seems more like other drugstore BB cream formulas, and which a few of my friends have raved about in the past. When I spotted Dream Pure, aimed at oily skin, I had to give the little tube a go... Could this be the BB cream I've been waiting for?

Maybelline Dream, Pure BB 8-in-1 BB Cream, 30ml, £6.99 at Boots

Maybelline Dream Pure BB 'Light'

'Light' slightly blended

'Light' fully blended

Dream Pure boasts eight promising claims, as detailed on the back of the packaging:

1. Conceals imperfections
2. Helps protect against the appearance of blemishes
3. Oil-free, non-greasy 
4. Minimizes the appearance of pores 
5. Clarifies the skin's look
6. Conceals redness
7. Hydrates and smooths
8. Complements skin tone

Arguably numbers 1, 5 and 6 are very similar... But as I really like this product, I'll let that slide ;)

I went for 'Light', the palest shade available, and it matches my skin tone perfectly (8). I've found that BB creams often tend to have pinker undertones but this has a good balance in that it isn't too pink or too yellow. It's just right! It creates a nice healthy glow, as if I've caught a hint of sun, yet it isn't at all orange. It has a lovely non-greasy consistency and dries to a comfortable matte finish without emphasising dry patches or clogging around the nose/eyebrows. My skin feels smooth, soft and hydrated without feeling at all overloaded or greasy (3, 7). Pores are definitely minimised and the level of coverage is light to medium, verging more on the medium side which is perfect for my blemish prone skin (4, 1). It really helps even out my skin tone, covering past acne scars and small pigmentation patches as well as blackheads (1, 6), although I do still need to use concealer on current spots and blemishes to give full coverage. 

In terms of protecting against the appearance of blemishes (2) I have noticed that existing spots are healing quite quickly and I haven't had any major break-outs while using this. I like that it contains Salicylic Acid as it feels as if it might be helping to clear my skin throughout the day rather than clogging my pores, and it also contains SPF 15 which is great for all year round sun protection. I've found this makes a lovely base for concealer and blusher, and I tend to set it with loose powder to anchor it in place for as long as possible. 

Unfortunately it isn't quite as long lasting as I would like; after three hours or so I need to use blotting paper and pressed powder to tame emerging shine, which is a little disappointing. Yet it does feel so light and fresh on the skin, and not at all heavy like some of the full coverage foundations I prefer wearing in colder weather when I'm less likely to feel as if my skin is suffocating beneath layers of make-up in the heat! 

I will definitely be repurchasing this when it runs out as it feels lovely on the skin, helps even out my skin tone and blur blemishes, and it has a great matte finish. It works really well with my Collection Lasting Perfection liquid concealer applied on top over more stubborn blemishes, and it matches my skin tone so well. I think I'll try to find a good primer to help anchor it to my skin for longer, as it would be a shame to give up on a product that feels and looks so good overall.

To answer my previous question, it appears Maybelline Dream Pure is the BB cream I've been waiting for... I am now a true BB convert!

Maybelline Pure BB 8-in-1 BB Cream is available at Boots

Do you have a favourite summer base? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Review | Natural Collection SunTint Bronzing Powder 'Sun Shine'

I've had a bit of a hard time with bronzers in the past. As a pale faced gal I have to be careful to avoid appearing orange, sallow or just plain muddy looking. I've found it quite hard to find a powder with pink undertones rather than heavy orange or brown tones, but I recently stumbled upon this lovely pressed bronzing powder from Natural Collection and thought I'd give it a go. At only £1.99 I didn't have much to lose and it has since become my go-to bronzer for adding a natural hint of colour.

Natural Collection SunTint Bronzing Powder 'Sun Shine'

'Sun Shine' is very soft and not at all chalky, and it's easy to pick up on a bronzing brush without any fallout. There is a slight shimmer to it but it appears mostly matte and subtle, rather than super shimmery or glittery. I find it works really well as an everyday bronzer to add a flush of colour, and can be worn with blusher and an additional highlighter if desired. The colour is a lovely pinky peach with slight gold tones, making a welcome change to the heavily brown and orange bronzers on the market. I know from that The Body Shop's Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in 'Light Matte' also has lovely pink undertones, having swatched it a few times in store, and this Natural Collection pressed bronzer seems similar. 

Natural Collection 'Sun Shine' swatch 

Applied on top of foundation and pressed powder 'Sun Shine' lasts throughout the day without budging and it gives a lovely healthy glow. I don't have to worry about being heavy handed as the colour is quite gentle and doesn't streak or appear chalky when applied. It's extremely easy to blend; I usually sweep it gently on my cheekbones, temples, nose and jawline and I'm good to go. I'd really recommend it as an affordable, good quality pressed bronzing powder, and there is also a darker more golden shade available called 'Golden Glow' for those who prefer a deeper colour. Natural Collection also have a range of bronzing pearl pots which I'm keen to try out, and as they're all under £2 I think I'll be able to give them a go soon! 

Find Natural Collection SunTint Bronzing Powder at Boots

Review | Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks blushers

There are some products I return to again and again, and often it's the random bargain discovered during a bit of an eclectic shopping spree that stands the test of time. Natural Collection is arguably a rather neglected brand in the beauty world, the bargain bucket of Boots with plain white plastic packaging and super cheap prices. I'm certainly guilty of having overlooked the Natural Collection stand on many occasions in the past, but having discovered their Blushed Cheeks powder blusher pots Natural Collection has come to hold a special place in my beauty loving heart. 

Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks in 'Peach Melba' and 'Pink Cloud'

Each Blushed Cheek blusher delivers a beautiful matte flush of colour, has a soft powdery consistency that makes blending a doddle and lasts well throughout the day without disappearing by mid morning. For only £1.99 each these blushers are both a bargain and a staple essential in my make-up bag. I'm on my second pots of both shades pictured and my love for them is still going strong. 

I favour these little blusher pots when I want a natural look with minimal sparkle or shimmer. As much as I love shimmery blushers and bronzers sometimes I want something that will add a subtle hint of colour, and these are absolutely perfect for that. They're fairly highly pigmented and you only need one swipe of a blusher brush to catch a good amount of colour. 

'Peach Melba' is my favourite during spring and summer as it works on my pale skin as a gentle matte bronzer. I look much healthier with a little peach on my cheeks! I tend to pair it with nude lips and bronze-brown eyes. 

'Peach Melba' swatch 

'Pink Cloud' is perfect during autumn and winter if my skin is seeming dull and lifeless, although I also use this during summer for a pretty pink flush. I love the matte finish and the pure pink of the colour; there are no lilac undertones, which I've found in lots of other powder blushers. 

'Pink Cloud' swatch 

The only teeny tiny fault I can find with these is that the pans are quite shallow and they don't last as long as some other high street blushers. But I reckon they'd last a good few months if used every day and they're so cheap that I really don't mind having to restock every so often. It's worth it for the matte finish and natural colours available in the range. I'm faithful to these little beauties and have a new found respect for Natural Collection! 

Click here to view  Natural Collection's full range of Blushed Cheeks blushers 

Weekly Roundup feat. Soap & Glory, Revlon and Maybelline

Another week, another roundup and once again I've found it tough choosing just three products to shine the spotlight on! I've actually cheated a little this week as although *technically* I've chosen three product types, I've thrown in an extra product from one of the same product lines just to add a little something special. I've settled on featuring Soap & Glory's new One Heck of a Blot mattifying face powder, two of Revlon's newest Lip Butter shades, and a Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Color double ended lip colour. All three (well, four) products have featured prominently in my make-up bag over the past seven days and I'm excited to have a bit of a ramble about what makes each one so special. 

Let's start with Soap & Glory's newest offering, the brilliantly titled One Heck of a Blot Super-Translucent Mattifying Powder, cleverly developed to suit all skin tones. I've loved Soap & Glory toiletries and cosmetics from the very beginning and I've never been disappointed in any of my Soap & Glory purchases... and there have been quite a few! Fresh from my joy at their new Peach Party blush brick (which I reviewed here) I spotted One Heck of a Blot and had to try it out. I remember ages and ages ago reading a thread on their facebook page asking fans to suggest products they'd like to see and I remember thinking 'a pressed powder!' Et voila, my prayers were answered with this little beauty. 

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot, £12 at Boots

I love Soap & Glory's kitsch packaging, from the use of fun puns in the product titles to the retro photos and bold pink font. The powder comes with a little embossed powder puff and a handy mirror in the lid, and it clicks shut easily, keeping it nice and secure in my ever expanding make-up bag. The powder truly is translucent  translating from a super pale looking shade in the pan to an invisible wash once applied. It's extremely light texture-wise and doesn't chalk or cake at all. I apply it with a big fluffy powder brush to set my foundation and concealer and it doesn't dull my base or make my skin look sallow, unlike some pressed powders I've tried in the past. 

The embossed 'POWder' logo is a nice touch, no?

Unblended swatch 

Blended swatch- invisible!

Does it work? It sure does! My face, notorious for turning into an oil slick come midday, has needed a lot less touching up during the day and One Heck of a Blot really helps keep my complexion matte and fresh. I'm not surprised at the great quality as Soap & Glory always release fantastic products at reasonable prices. I love that this powder doesn't leave any hint of a chalky finish and doesn't cling to patches of dry skin at all. It's invisible and super light weight yet so, so effective and I'd say £12 is a brilliant price to pay for a shine free face. This has worked much harder at keeping my make-up intact than any primer or powder I've tried previously!

Revlon recently introduced some new summery shades to their ColorStay Lip Butter collection and I immediately had my eye on sheer tomato red 'Wild Watermelon' and sheer fuchsia pink 'Sorbet'. While some of the Lip Butters give a shimmery, more opaque finish these two give sheer washes of shimmer-free colour. Although they have the consistency of a mosturising balm they're actually very pigmented and it's easy to build up a stronger lip look with a few swipes straight from the tube. 

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in 'Sorbet' and 'Wild Watermelon', £7.99 each at Boots

I love the texture of Revlon's Lip Butters and find they manage to keep my lips moisturised while delivering quite a long lasting dose of colour. My usual favourite is 'Berry Smoothie', a review of which you can find here, a shade which goes with everything and feels so comfortable to wear. I'm loving the sheer glossiness of 'Sorbet' and 'Wild Watermelon' (and I'm a sucker for the juicy names) and count these are my two new favourite fresh summer colours. 

L-R: 'Sorbet' and 'Wild Watermelon'

Again, 'Sorbet' and 'Wild Watermelon'

final purchase was a bit of a random one, and I didn't even swatch it in store. As I'm currently being a little more adventurous with my lip colours I felt drawn to trying one of Maybelline's Color Stay 24 Hour dual ended lip colour shades and although I worried it might be a little too purple it's actually a really beautiful red berry shade once applied. 

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Color in 'Raspberry'

The idea behind Maybelline's Super Stay dual ended lip colour is that you apply the long lasting liquid lipstick first, allowing it to dry fully before slicking on a coating of the clear balm to keep your lips moisturised and to prevent them from drying out, a common problem with long lasting lipsticks. Now, when Maybelline recommend letting the liquid colour dry, really do let it dry! I didn't on my first go and ended up with a horrible mess of patchy colour... But only because I didn't read the instructions given on the side of the tube! My second attempt was much more successful. The raspberry colour is highly pigmented and delivers a good even colour, although I did end up with a bit of a stronger lip line as I lined my lips with the tip of the foam applicator first. I did find that pressing my lips together too often before the colour dried made it a little patchy, so I'd recommend resisting the temptation to do so until it's fully dry or until you've applied a layer of balm on top. I would definitely recommend being extra careful when tracing your lip line as the colour really does stick immediately, and it's near impossible to dab away at mistakes without resorting to a make-up remover soaked cotton wool pad. It really does have super staying power!

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Color in 'Raspberry', £8.99 at Boots

Clear balm to be applied on top of colour

'Raspberry' is a gorgeous berry shade with blue/purple undertones. It makes my teeth look whiter which is always a plus! Plus it smells like berries which is a delicious plus in my eyes. I can't stress enough just how long lasting this is; I applied it in the morning to test it out and it was still going strong well into the afternoon without needing a top-up. It did eventually start to get a little patchy but another swipe of the balm helped even it out again. I also swatched it on my hand and the swatch didn't budge for two days. Two days! There's still a faded mark on my hand, and yes, I do wash my hands regularly! To take it off my lips I use a cotton wool pad soaked in make-up remover and have to rub quite firmly to take it all off. It really does lock to your lips, making it perfect for nights out when you want a low maintenance but bold lip look. The colour doesn't bleed or smudge and although you have to be very precise when applying it, it's well worth the effort. 

'Raspberry' without balm 

'Raspberry' with balm on top

Although the swatch looks a little sheer the colour is very much opaque and bold on the lips. It dries to a matte finish, and the balm adds a glossy sheen to it. You could wear it without the balm although it would depend on the condition of your lips. I absolutely love this shade and also picked up a bright coral peach colour as well, which I can't wait to review. At £8.99 each these are a little pricey but I'd say they're definitely worth it as they deliver on their promise of long lasting lip colour (although 24 hours? I can't say I've needed to leave it on for quite that long!) 

There you have it, my Weekly Roundup done and dusted for another week. What have your favourite products been this week? Have you discovered any hidden gems or have you been using your old favourites? Feel free to share below. 

A bad reaction to Superdrug's Cucumber Cooling Clay Mask for sensitive skin

I've always known Superdrug's range of own brand products to be excellent quality. I use their Naturally Radiant products every morning and evening along with their Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser and Pro Vitamin range of shampoos and conditioners. So I figured I'd give their range of face mask sachets a go, especially as they were on offer at four for £3 (although I actually picked up five, as I couldn't decide which one to let go!)

As part of my Saturday morning pampering ritual  I decided to use the Cooling Cucumber Clay Mask, containing soothing cucumber extract and dead sea minerals, and labelled as being 'ideal for sensitive skin'. I used to love clay masks when I was younger for unclogging pores, and the added benefit of cucumber seemed like a gentle approach to tackling my crazy sensitive combination skin. 

Cucumber Cooling Clay Mask, 99p, Superdrug

Interestingly under the 'care and advice' section the instructions state 'do not apply to... sensitive skin', which seems to be something of a contradiction. Unfortunately this is something I didn't see until slathering the mask all over my face, based on the reassuring label on the front! Admittedly it does also say to 'test for irritancy first' but again, I didn't see this until after I'd applied it, and as it's a product targeted towards sensitive skin I wouldn't have thought this would be a major necessity. Oops. 

I went ahead and applied the clay mask to cleansed skin. It smells lovely, very refreshing, slightly floral with hints of cucumber. The consistency is thick and creamy, and there's enough in the sachet to stretch to two applications which is great value for money. I noticed that the mask stung slightly around the nose upon first applying, but as I've experienced this with masks before I wasn't too concerned. Perhaps I should have realised that a clay mask, purifying as it is, while excellent for acne areas might be a little strong for sensitive skin... But as the label determined it to be targeted towards sensitive skin I wasn't too concerned. Again, oops. 

There's something truly satisfying about the sensation of a clay mask hardening and cracking as you contort your face into all sorts of expressions (just me?!) You just know that once you've rinsed it off the tightness of the clay will be gone and you'll be left with super soft, refreshed skin.  I waited the full fifteen minutes as stated on the sachet and then rinsed the mask off with the aid of my regular muslin cloth.

My face suddenly felt oddly hot and looking in the mirror I noticed that little red bumps had started to appear across my cheeks and chin. They felt and looked just like the type of rash I get when my sensitive skin has an allergic reaction to a product. Damnit! I'd used the mask with the intention of rescuing my skin, not making it worse! I tried to take a good photo but could only get a slightly blurry close-up of one of my cheeks. Still, it sort of shows what I'm describing:

Ouch. 

I slathered on some Avene Recovery Cream, my go-to for when my skin is going through a crazy phase, and after a couple of hours my face felt a little less hot and the rash was less inflamed. But it's still there and it feels very rough and bumpy, which isn't really the look I was going for. 

I'm really disappointed as although my skin is sensitive and reacts to products on occasion, I didn't really have any indication that this mask wouldn't be suitable for my skin type, what with the 'ideal for sensitive skin' label on the front. The 'do not apply' on 'sensitive skin' warning on the back of the sachet strikes me as odd, and I feel it needs some sort of clarification. I know, I know, I could have done a little patch test beforehand, but generally when using a product specifically designed for and marketed towards sensitive skin I don't, although I will be doing so from now on. While it hasn't totally put me off using the other Superdrug masks I purchased, I will definitely be doing patch tests before use to avoid any similar skin care nightmares. 

As for the rest of my Saturday, I've spent it hiding away make-up free in the hope that my rash will clear up by this evening. While I generally love Superdrug products I'm feeling a little wary and day I say 'sensitive' after using this cucumber concoction. Soothing it ain't! 

Do you always do a skin test before using a mask, or would a sensitive skin label reassure you enough to apply it straight away? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

The face wants what the face wants... feat. Maxfactor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation

I like this foundation. I like this foundation a lot. So much so that I'm starting to feel awful pangs of guilt every morning when applying it as part of my everyday make-up routine. I'm doing the dirty on my beloved Revlon ColorStay and I just can't seem to stop myself!

When Maxfactor first released their Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation I wrote it off as being a bit of a gimmick, and I assumed it wouldn't suit my skin type (combination that turns into shine central come midday). I'm not sure where I got this idea from, but I recently purchased a bottle and it has totally exceeded my expectations, hence the serious case of make-up adultery I've got going on. 

Maxfactor Face Finity 3 in 1 Foundation, £11.99

The reason I've always loved Revlon ColorStay so much is because it gives full coverage and a matte finish. Maxfactor Face Finity does both these things but in some ways it manages to do them even better than ColorStay. It has a fairly thick, creamy texture, thicker than ColorStay, but it's super easy to blend and doesn't drag on the skin at all when applying. In my opinion it gives a slighly higher level of coverage than ColorStay, in that it seems to cover blemish marks and dark circles even better and makes the skin look more even prior to applying concealer and powder. It gives a very even finish and a very matte finish, which is what I like in a foundation. 

Face Finity lasts a little longer than ColorStay, in terms of not needing a powder top-up for at least five or six hours after first applying. I tested Face Finity's 'All Day Flawless' claim yesterday when it was particularly humid outside; after walking home from the shops my hair was stuck to the back of my neck, my top was clinging to me, but my face was still matte and my make-up hadn't budged. Woohoo! Top marks from me, as I'm usually a slave to the face powder during hot weather. While ColorStay has great lasting power, it can start to tire by the end of a long day, becoming a little patchy in places, unless I set it with the matching face powder. I haven't had this problem with Face Finity so far. Perhaps this is because of the 'primer' included in the foundation, as there is definitely a difference. It does feel like it 'sticks' well to the skin when applied. 

As for the concealer claim, while Face Finity does do a good job of evening out my skin tone, calming down the appearance of blemishes and dark circles, I still need to use a separate concealer to cover problem areas fully. This doesn't really bother me as I like using my MAC concealer pot and I use a concealer brush to target individual spots and blemishes. I reckon if my skin was clearer I could get away with wearing just the foundation, as it does provide great coverage, but for the moment this isn't really an option (my skin is a work in progress!)

Maxfactor Face Finity in 'Light Ivory 40'

The one slight downside of Face Finity is the limited colour range. I picked 'Light Ivory' which is the palest shade available, but it isn't quite a perfect match; I could do with a shade *slightly* lighter, especially come winter. It doesn't look noticeably odd or mismatched, but it's something that bugs me a little. On the plus side, Maxfactor foundations tend to have pink undertones which is in contrast to many of the 'ivory=yellow' high street foundations I've encountered in the past! On the colour front, Revlon ColorStay wins as it really is a perfect match for my fair skin and I know I can apply it without every worrying about having to be extra careful when blending around the hair line and jaw line. 

As far as packaging is concerned, Maxfactor Face Finity comes with a pump which wins out over Revlon ColorStay in terms of ease of use. Things are a lot less messy with a pump! Both foundations are housed in sturdy glass bottles, and although they're a little heavy they look and feel quite expensive, which is a nice little plus.

I still can't quite believe I'm saying this (oh, the guilt!) but Face Finity has become the foundation I reach for every morning, even more so than my bottle of Revlon ColorStay. Which makes my previous review of Revlon ColorStay a little awkward... Check out the title of the post to see why! What can I say? The face wants what the face wants! Aside from the minor colour matching issue, everything about Face Finity is perfect. From the texture to the excellent full coverage to the matte, long lasting finish, I'm totally hooked! Out of all the full coverage high street foundations I've tried so far, this is the clear winner. I just wish it hadn't taken me so long to give it a go!

Visit Maxfactor's official website here

Weekly Roundup feat. Neutrogena, Maybelline and MUA

Wowzers, hasn't this week flown by? I found it quite tricky picking my top 3 products this week as I've been using and loving so many different beauty bits and pieces. I settled on the following as I've been reaching for them every day and I haven't got at all bored of them, which is always a good sign! 

First up is Neutrogena's Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Triple Action Cleanser 7 Day Rescue (what is it with long titles recently?!) It can be used in three ways: as a wash, scrub and mask. 

£4.49 at Superdrug

From what I can tell, this is a more concentrated version of their regular Blackhead Eliminating scrub and it's designed to provide intense, targeted action against blackheads with visible results apparent after only 7 days. On the back of the tube is the very impressive claim that '100% of users showed visible results after 7 days'. 100%?!! Well with a statistic like that I had to try it out! The percentage is based on 30 people using the wash twice a day for 7 days straight, which to be honest I'm not really sure my sensitive face can handle. I'm using it once a day on my t-zone (my chin in particular) and I will be reporting back in a future blog post to let you know if it really does have an impressive effect. 

What I can say so far is that, like all Neutrogena products I've used in the past, the quality of the  wash/scrub/mask is fantastic, from the fresh subtle fragrance to the way it makes your skin feel unbelievably silky soft after rinsing. The wash itself has a sort of very finely ground paste texture; it sort of reminds me of Arm & Hammer's baking soda toothpaste in that the scrub particles are very small and not at all rough. I'd forgotten how much my skin likes Neutrogena, and I've found this gives a lovely deep clean without drying my skin out at all. It's a wonderfully prep for make-up application and it has really been a joy to use so far. As for whether or not it actually eliminates blackheads? I'll let you know! 

My second pick this week is my current favourite lipstick, Maybelline's Colorsensational in '910 Shocking Coral' from the Vivids collection. Until discovering this and its sister colour 'Fuchsia Flash' which I reviewed here, I'd disregarded Maybelline lipsticks as 'not my thing'. This was based on never being able to find a colour to suit me, although in hindsight I think I was just looking at the wrong colour palette. Anyhoo, I picked up this bad boy of a lippie and I'm now a total fan of what Maybelline has to offer pout-wise. 

£7.19 at Boots

'Shocking Coral's is a very pink neon coral, which I really like as it's unusual compared to the more popular orange coral colours around at the moment. Super pigmented, super creamy, super comfortable, super easy to apply and super long-lasting, I haven't a bad word to say about it. Along with Soap & Glory's lipsticks, Maybelline's are now my faves. 

Two coats of Maybelline Colorsensational '910 Shocking Coral'

I had a bit of difficulty trying to get a good shot of me wearing 'Shocking Coral'... Sorry for the slightly bizarre beams of sunshine flooding the photo! It was the end of a loooong day and I didn't want to keep attempting to capture the colour in different locations around my house! I'd say it looks a little brighter in person but it does settle to a pinky coral as shown and I LOVE it. 

My final pick this week is MUA's Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter. I've had this for months and months, and went through a period of using it every day without fail before abandoning it to test out other highlighters. But, as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it; I've rediscovered it and I'm loving it even more than before. 

£3 Makeup Academy online store

The beautiful pearlescent silvery pink colour shows up really well on my pale skin and highlights  my cheekbones, temples, nose and browbones perfectly. It's subtle but can be built up in layers for extra impact, and I also use it as a brightening eye shadow. It's easy to blend and gives a lovely glow. Plus I'm a sucker for pretty packaging and the powder looks lovely in the pan.  

Quite an intense swatch, applied with fingers to show colour clearly

I apply it on top of blusher and it makes for a lovely finishing touch. I also use the matching under eye concealer which I've reviewed here, which is also great quality. I'm a big fan of MUA's Undress Your Skin range and am looking forward to trying the matching foundation at some stage in the future. 

What have been your favourite products this week? Share your Weekly Roundup in the comments below! 

New obsession alert! Soap & Glory Peach Party multi-colour blush brick

I'm a sucker for anything Soap & Glory, especially their high quality cosmetics range. When they first released a selection of make-up items I spent £70 in one go... oops! While I managed to restrain myself from spending quite that much again this morning in Boots, I couldn't walk away without purchasing the new Peach Party multi-colour blush brick made up of  'Apricot Jam' peach, pink, gold and bronze shades. It's a brand new product and isn't on the Boots website yet so I couldn't link to it here, but I bought it for £11 in store and think it's well worth the money. 

Handy click-shut compact with mirror

Drooling! Pretty pretty pretty!

How beautiful?! I have the original Love At First Blush shimmer brick which is a collection of pinks and silver-white shimmers, and now they've brought out Peach Party, a beautiful blend of four shimmer shades: pale gold, pale rose gold pink, apricot gold, and rust-bronze. This is my perfect summer product, ideal for using as a blusher, bronzer and highlighter. Plus the individual shades also work very well as eyeshadows, which I discovered when testing it out earlier on today. I am totally in love! 

Each of the four shades is super pigmented and chocked full of subtle shimmer, and the powder blends so easily on skin. I use them combined with an extra rose dose of rose gold as blusher on the apples of my cheeks, then combined with an extra dose of rust-bronze to add a sun-kissed touch to my cheekbones. I also sweep a little of the lightest pale gold shade under my eyebrows and on my nose to highlight. A little goes a long way, especially with the darker bronze shade, but as the colours are easy to blend it isn't too difficult to rectify mistakes. As I'm quite pale this colour combo works excellently as a bronzer and gives a natural looking sun kissed effect. The lightest shade is fab at magicking up cheekbones! The rust-bronze would also work well for contouring, although I'm still sort of learning how to do that properly... it's a work in progress! I wasn't able to get a good photo of me wearing the blush brick on my face, but I can promise you it adds a really flattering wash of colour that catches the light beautifully. 

Here are some swatches on my arm for a closer look:

L-R: rust-bronze, apricot gold, rose gold, pale gold

All shades blended together (you can kind of see that the bronze is the strongest shade, so go easy when applying!) 

All shades combined on blusher brush

If you like a dose of shimmer in your blusher, bronzer or highlighter you're sure to love Peach Party. I feel so much healthier looking with it on! It lasts for hours once applied and comes with a mirror in the lid for touch-ups. I especially like that it comes in a plastic compact case that snaps shut, unlike Love At First Blush which came in a cardboard case that didn't close securely. This feels a little more expensive and glamorous, although it might be that all Soap & Glory powders are packaged this way now. 

What do you think? Are you a fan of Peach Party? It's definitely my new essential for summer.