Review: Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

I spent the last weekend in Edinburgh belatedly celebrating my 21st birthday. Whilst there, I was (yet again) seduced by a Clinique counter and their amazing 'bonus time' offer, roughly translated as a range of free gifts when you buy two or more products. The Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector was £39.99 and as I also bought an eyeshadow duo, with the two together I received a free goody bag with lots of skin products worth £60 AND a free quickliner for eyes in black. While I'm not normally one for a rash impulse buy, I thought what better occasion to treat yourself at than a 21st birthday weekend!

The Clinical Dark Spot Corrector is a light and creamy serum made to correct skin tone and noticeably lessen the presence of dark spots age spots and traces of past blemishes, resulting in healthy looking and evenly toned skin. It claims to be great for all skin types and tones and is dermatologist-tested. Since buying it I've been using the serum twice a day, after washing my face and before the applying the Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion as the lady said this was the best time to use it.

Evening the skin...
After using it for a few days I'm pretty happy with how it has enhanced my complexion already. It is definitely more even in general and while my skin isn't particularly uneven, the impact of any discolouration I did have has lessened considerably. The product does a great job at evening out my skin tone generally; it immediately makes the skin feel very velvety and soft.

Dark Spots...
This one's a little trickier as being 21 I don't actually have that many dark spots or other age-related marks. The lady at the counter assured me that this would still be beneficial to my skin; she uses it and her younger sister and she said they were both more than impressed with the results. The counter lady also said said it would take 4 to 6 weeks before I would notice a difference so the fact I have noticed a change already is very promising.


All in all I would really recommend the Corrector, although I think older ladies or ladies with facial scarring from acne or something similar would really benefit from using it perhaps much more than me. Being a bit of a sun-worshiper however, I think it will benefit me in the long run and maybe even prevent dark spots from developing.

So definitely one to invest in and spoil the Mum's with!

Review: Hawaiian Sky Moroccan Argan Oil

After reading tons of fantastic reviews on Morrocan Oil in the last 3 or 4 months I have been desperate to get my hands on a bottle. I'd heard it literally performs miracles on dry hair, transforming it from ill and damaged to soft, healthy and beautiful. Sounding too good to be true and knowing full well my hair was in desperate need of some TLC, I took to the streets of Leeds in search of some for myself.

I managed to find a rather large bottle of 'Hawaiin Sky Morrocan Argan Oil' from on offer from a place called 'Hair City', near Leeds Corn Exchange, costing me £7.99. This I thought was very good considering a similar size bottle sells for about £20-£30 online.For some reason I couln't find an image of this product's brand name on the internet, or even a link to buy it online! I presume it's pretty much the same formula as the likes of the Moroccanoil Series (comes in the blue-labelled bottle), Organix, Hollywood Beauty, Lee Stafford etc, so hopefully my review won't be too dissimilar to any of the other brands that sell this stuff.

At the first use, I distributed a healthy amount at the roots and ends of my hair when it was wet and then dried it off with a hairdryer. It has a strong (but nice) smell and the consistency is exactly what you would expect from an oil. Straight away I could tell it had added moisture, shine and gave my hair a silky soft feel that lasted until I next washed it. It really did feel great and almost like a completely new head of hair - all the reviews I'd read were right!

It has numerous benefits along with making the hair soft and shiny, I've heard from some sources that it protects hair from flat irons and other heat-styling tools (which is very good for a ghd addict like me).

I can't find many faults with the oil but I wouldn't say it 'doesn't give an oily feel' like it claims; I could definitely tell that it had had product in and was a little stickier than usual, making it look more greasy. Saying that it's totally worth it for the good it does to your hair, I really was amazed. Since the first use, I've found it's also very good on dry hair if it's feeling a little weak. Putting it on wet hair definitely has the best results though.
I have oily/combination skin so I don't quite dare to try it on my skin just yet. I have heard that it can do great things for the skin too though!

If you're 'umming and 'arring like I was and considering getting some Morrocan Oil from any brand I would definitely say go for it! Worth every penny in my opinion.

Amy x

Review: Philip Kingsley Elasticizer

Before trying this product from Philip Kingsley it's safe to say I was a little dubious. I was more than sceptical that it could just be yet another unnecessary product for women to fall into the trap of buying into. Not a shampoo, not a conditioner, not a blow drying treatment but a pre-shampoo intensive moisturizing treatment, promising to deliver elasticity, bounce and shine to hair. It is also said to provide UV protection even after washing, to help prolong the life of colour treated hair.

The elasticizer is not short of healthy ingredients; a balance of oils, humectants and elastin (protein), with a small amount of silicone. I'd heard good things about the Philip Kingsley hair range so I decided to curb my doubts and give this treatment a chance.

Thankfully I was really blown away by the product, even after the first use. Following the instructions, I applied a good amount through the mid-lengths and ends, left for 10 minutes and rinsed before following my normal hair-washing routine. It had no real immediate effect or amazing smell but once my hair had completely dried I was more than impressed! It really does volumize and liven up the hair and left mine feeling particularly bouncy and definitely much healthier. It left my very dry, over-highlighted hair feeling incredibly thick and silky, particularly at the ends which are unfortunately very damaged.

If I'm looking for fault it did perhaps make my hair go a little greasier more quickly than normal. I also can't say it really did wonders for the actual colour, however I think I may just be being overly picky with that one. I am definitely going to use it once or twice a week from now on to improve the general condition and maintenance of my hair. So all in all not so much of a fad product like I first thought!

It's definitely got me interested in the other products from the PK range; I've got my eye on a silver shampoo that could be gracing the shelves of my bathroom very soon!

Amy x

Nicki Minaj for OPI Nail Polish Duo: 'Save me' and 'Metallic 4 Life'

My current website addiction is 'Buyapowa', a fairly new site that lets you get high end beauty products for a discounted price. It works on the idea of 'co-buying' with other cosmetics junkies, so that the more people that use the site to 'buy' the product, the better Buyapowa's wholesale price is; anyone buying can get the product much cheaper than they would if they were buying it individually on the highstreet.

The set of 4 miniture Nicki Minaj OPI polishes sold like absolute hotcakes on the site, literally within a few hours. I was quite gutted to have missed out so when this duo-set went live as a co-buy I had to snap them up!

I got the two for £12, saving £10 off the RRP. An amazing deal, especially considering the fact that one OPI polish normally sells for about £10. The two colours are 'Save me', a silver glitter with holographic bar glitter in clear base nail polish color, and 'Metallic 4 Life', a sheer black with small silver square glitter as well as small hexagonal and larger hexagonal sequins. They both dry quite smoothly and although a little bumpy, not gritty or rough as such.

Here are the colours up-close:



'Save Me'


'Save Me' can be beautifully understated, just one layer gives a tiny bit of sparkle but not too much. For a night out, a few layers like on the picture above really makes the tiny rectangular flecks of colour shine and the glitter stand out. With it being transparent it means it will probably last a bit longer, its heard to spot chips like it would be with an opaque colour. I've been wearing this over a nude, pinky colour and it looks really cute with the added bonus of having no danger of outfit-clashes.

'Metallic 4 Life'

'Metallic 4 Life' was my polish of preference before I recieved the duo in the post and I don't think my feelings have changed, I really love it! Perhaps not quit as easy to wear everyday as 'Save Me' but this colour really stands out. Perfect for nights out and making a statement, the colour is very rocky with a glamorous touch. For application, three coats is probably best as the black is very sheer.

As they are both OPI polishes, there is no question about the quality of the product. OPI always produce long-lasting and durable polishes in beautiful colours!

So all in all I'm very happy with this duo! Make sure you check out 'Buyapowa' if you haven't already!

Amy x

Clinique Strawberry Fudge Eye Shadow Duo

I don't own a great amount of high-end eye shadows because I love to experiment with lots of different colours all the time and this (unfortunately) is not a very cheap hobby to have! When I do dare to part with the pennies however, I know Clinique won't leave me worrying about whether it was quite worth the money spent. Clinique eyeshadows are always soft, versatile and natural and this duo is no different. I've had this product in my make-up bag for quite a while now and I always use it when in need of a fail-safe colour, be it for a daytime or nightime look.

Strawberry Fudge is a golden pink and golden brown duo. The pink is shimmery and light and goes great as a base lid-colour while the brown is a little more sheen and dull and it really sets off the pink when brushed over and into the eye crease. The colours are very classy and feminine and so would really go with most looks, as well as any time of year. As the colours are pale, frosty and not overly harsh I think they would suit most people's skin tones, be it pale or warm skin.

The quality of the product is also very good; it is well pigmented and with a little bit of primer it's sure to stay on all day - it definitely does me anyway.

The packaging, although sleek, is quite fussy which I'm not really wild about - I'd rather just a standard flip-lid than a pull-out tray but that could just be me being lazy. The casing is mirrored which for me is also a negative. Although it's strikingly bright and shiny at first, it does tend to attract LOTS if fingerprints and general smears after even a week or so.

So all in all the packaging is not great but definitely a beautiful, natural colour duo and high quality product, I hope you agree!

Pink on the lid here

P.S. I've had a peek on ebay and these are selling very cheap!

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Foundation

I've made no secret of the fact I adore Clinique. Their counter at my local branch of Boots is almost always my first point of call when I'm looking to buy something new -  I think I'm yet to find a product that I'm not head over heels in love with!

Anyway I've been looking to find a new foundation for a while as unfortunately I think my MAC Studio Fix is causing me to have spot break outs after wearing. A real shame because I love the coverage, I just think the formula is perhaps a little too oily for my already quite greasy skin.

So me being me I hopped, skipped  and practically sprinted down to my nearest Clinique counter to discover the goods they had to offer me. I know they pride themselves on hypo-allergenic, completely fragrance-free products which I really like. They gave me a fabulous consultation and one I would really recommend having even if you're not prepared to buy a foundation - I found out more about my skin than I've known for 20 years! The Foundation Finder on their website is also a great tool for those who don't fancy a trip to the counter.

The lovely lady matched my skin type to a perfect colour and the best foundation for me, which was  the Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Foundation  in the colour Fresh Neutral. It was a close tie between that and the Superbalanced, I decided on the anti-blemish as I'm quite prone to spots!

The foundation is fantastic, it hasn't affected my skin after wearing it and it feels light and fresh on the skin. It does a fantastic job at covering blemishes too, I've found tapping over the area with a foundation brush covers it no problem. The product seems to work well with any primer and is completely satisfactory without. Basically I'm struggling to find any negatives for this product!

If you're looking for something for more everyday use, I would recommend going for the Tinted Moisturizer which is perhaps better as an everyday, light base. However this one is amazing for wearing a couple of times a week. I think that if you want a makeup to even your skin , cover spots and also help to heal them, this is the perfect foundation for you!

Me on the right - not the best shot but as you can see good coverage, no visible spots and not too shiny!

Feel Unique January Beauty Box: 1 Week On

So this time last week I received my first Feel Unique Beauty Box much to my personal excitement, my bank balances detriment and my skin's delight.

You can read about my initial reaction here.

The box promised to refresh and revive with the note inside reading:

‘New Year New You. Now the festive frivolities are over its time to get back to basics with our specially selected products, designed to put you back on the straight and narrow.'

I thought this was a great concept for January and for that reason I fully forgive them for not including any make-up. Although I'd love some next month please!

Here are my thoughts on the products after a weeks use:

1) Lierac creme Mesolift anti-aging radiance cream 15ml 

This was my favourite product of the box; it smells lovely, almost like orange Starburst sweets! It's fairly thick but applied last thing at night after cleansing for the past week had really enhanced my natural complexion and daily glow. Out of everything I would probably be most likely to buy this product. I would rate it 8/10

2. Dead Sea Spa Majik Salt Brushing - 2 Sachets

The predominant downside for me with the sachets was that I have heard they have appeared in a number of similar beauty boxes in recent months, which is fine, but sort of takes the excitement out of getting something new on the scene and perhaps unknown.

The scrub was brilliant at exfoliating and left my skin feeling clean, smooth and silky. Unfortunately however the salt pieces were quite large and I usually like a much finer scrub. Also any future users should be careful when scrubbing over any cuts or flesh wounds as the salt can really sting. I learnt this the hard way after scrubbing over a cut I had gained after trying to open my Beauty Box with a knife much too enthusiastically and cutting my hand - oh the irony! I liked this product but wouldn't buy it; there are many other  skin scrubs out there I much prefer. 5/10

 3) Caudalie Vinotherapie Nourishing Body Lotion 30ml

I really liked this lotion. It was light, seemingly long-lasting and left my skin feeling fairly soft. One downside to the product was it's smell which was quite strong, floral and a little bit old fashioned if I'm being completely honest. Despite this, it was a nice product and one that I'm sure I'll get future use out of. 6/10

4) Phyto PhytoBaume Color Protect Express Conditioner 20ml

This wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination but it was probably my least favourite product. I wasn't 'wowed' by it in any sense; I  tend to spend quite a lot of money on good hair conditioners and this one didn't really compare to some of my favourites like Catwalk, Aussie and Tigi. I didn't find it boosted the colour of my highlighted hair particularly. Maybe I will give this another try and see if a second verdict improves my thoughts. 5.5/10

5) This works Clean Skin for the Face 30ml

Last but by no means least, the thisworks facial wash which again I really liked. If you hadn't guessed already I'm a big fan good-smelling products and this smelt sufficiently fresh albeit quite strong. I found it took off every once of my make up and provided a completely clean base for moisturising. I would probably buy this product if the price was right. 7/10

I hope I haven't been too harsh, all just my honest opinion for those who are interested. I liked every item in the box, just some a little more than others.

I can't wait for Febuary's box and look forward to sharing my views on it.

Review: AVON Nailware Pro - G111 'Dynamo'

I've always been a big fan of AVON nail varnishes; I find them to be reasonably priced, rich in colour and (perhaps most importantly) sufficiently long-lasting.

This shade, ‘Dynamo’, is a deep maroon colour with an intense glittery shine. The glitter is contained in the polish, which makes it silky smooth to touch - unlike a certain OPI glitter polish I have that leaves the nail very rough and uneven.

Admittedly very festive, but I do think this high-impact colour could last through January, potentially up until spring, and still be perfectly acceptable! Light-reflecting and eye-catching, this colour would look gorgeous teamed with a black dress and dark lips and makes a welcome, fashion-forward alternative to the more common pillar box red.

After 2 days it’s begun to very slightly chip towards the end of the nail but I do blame myself entirely as I didn’t apply a transparent top coat (naughty!).

The shade is £6 and from Avon, available here