My Top Products of 2014

Everyone is doing one of these posts so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon! I try out a lot of different products throughout the year but I have chosen a selection of products/brands which have really impressed me more than any other.

La Roche Posay skincare! Ever since I took a bad reaction to a Clarins cleanser, I switched up my skincare routine (actually it was more of a complete overhaul). I went and bought everything La Roche Posay and the condition of my skin has improved dramatically. I love each and every single product I have bought, and I will continue to repurchase. The prices are kinder to my wallet too. I seem to have amassed quite a collection of La Roche Posay products over Christmas! Honestly it will now take a lot for me to stop using this brand.

This year I started using Mane 'n Tail products on my hair this year, and am so impressed. I am just mad that after several years of paying big bucks for the likes of Kerastase shampoos, I could have been using this. Mane 'n Tail just really agrees with my hair. I have found that my hair gets less greasy, and the detangling spray is a godsend for my tatty hair. Wonderful range of products and reasonably priced too.

I tried a lot of makeup throughout the year too, but only one new foundation which was the Clarins Extra Comfort. I am so, so impressed with the coverage of this product and how comfortable (as the name would suggest) this foundation is to wear. It is extremely beneficial to dry skins and contains a lot of skincare and anti-ageing properties. It was quite a spendy foundation, and the packaging isn't at all practical but it is the only make uppy product that really overwhelmed me in 2014.

Another skin care product! Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover is the one and only eye make up remover which really works for me. It is kinda expensive (£18) but I have tried drugstore alternatives and they are just not a patch on this stuff. A bottle of this usually lasts me about 2 months so I have gone through quite a number of bottles in 2014! And I shall continue to purchase this in 2015. It is the best make up remover and is really gentle on my eyes too.

It is interesting that this year my favourite products are mostly skincare. I had to include some make up too. I wanted to include something that I reach for every single day, so I cannot choose between the Clarins Lip Balm Crayons and Tanya Burr Lip Glosses! I reach for one of these every day. I love the colour selection and pigmentation of the Tanya Burr glosses (and they smell lovely) and Clarins Lip Balm Crayons really were my holy grail products especially during summer. Especially the shade "Creamy Pink".  I have worn them down quite  a lot and they are nearly done - sad times! At the moment I am wearing Tanya Burr lipgloss in "Aurora" which is a lovely sparkly, pinky-nude. I wore it a lot over Christmas too. Beautiful!

Since I really got into the habit of fake tanning in 2013, 2014 was the year when I kinda laid off the tan and went for something a little lighter. Cocoa Brown Gentle Bronze is in fact my holy grail gradual tanning product! It's the total opposite to the hideous gradual tanners I used many years ago. It has a lovely light consistency, it absorbs really quickly and has a nice scent. I am left with a beautiful colour the next morning, no streaks or patches either! Just one application of Gentle Bronze has been perfect for me, when I want a little hint of tan but not too much. I have really particularly taken to this product in the Winter months. For me, this is the best gradual tan out there. I will have to stock up on a few more tubes for the new year! 

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think? Oh and of course, Happy New Year to everyone! :) 

Clarins Extra Comfort Foundation Review

So a couple of weeks ago I was browsing the Clarins counter. I was looking at the new True Radiance foundation, which I thought looked really beautiful however I had been dying to try Extra Comfort ever since it came out last year. The wonderful sales assistant let me see how the Extra Comfort looked actually on my face, and well, it was love at first sight for me!

I kind of wanted a new foundation for Autumn/Winter so when I saw how Extra Comfort looked on me, I realised it was exactly what I was after and I bought it straight away! I bought shade 103 Ivory, which is I believe the lightest shade available.

I think the packaging is absolutely beautiful. It is in a very heavy glass jar with the signature Clarins gold lid. I know many people would agree with me that it is quite impractical and at times a bit messy. For me though, my make up never leaves my dressing table so it works fine for me. However, if I were travelling I don't think I'd be taking this foundation with me!

As you can see this shade is not for the super pale despite being the lightest shade available. It is extremely creamy, so blendable. I have applied it with a couple of different foundation brushes but I think the best way to apply it is just using your fingers. You really don't need a lot of product, and this foundation can do marvellous things, you will see!

Before: No foundation…. my skin isn't great at the moment. I am experiencing some redness & hormonal breakouts.

After: much better! This foundation is amazing in my opinion. It has a great level of coverage, and I think it makes your skin look absolutely flawless.

The finish of this foundation is demi-matte, it feels really smooth and silky. Although it has a high level of coverage I don't feel caked in makeup.

It has quite  a lot of skincare and anti-aging properties, which I suppose are not of too much benefit to me right now but it smooths fine lines and wrinkles and moisturises and plumps the skin at the same time as creating this flawless base. I think that it just incredible.

I have been so, so impressed with this foundation. It lasts really well on me all day and has just generally performed better than anything I have ever tried. My other favourite foundation, Lancome Teint Idole, I feel does not provide this level of coverage or the same flawless finish.

Clarins Extra Comfort is a little on the expensive side at £36.00 due to the fact that it is basically makeup and skincare combined. I think that it is worth it though!

I hope this review was of help if you are thinking of trying this foundation!

Autumn Weekend Makeup (and playing with new products)

 I love weekends because I have a lot more time to sit and do a proper face of makeup. During the week for work I only really wear foundation, mascara and blush. So it's nice to really play around, especially with eyeshadows!

Yesterday I treated myself to 2 new Clarins products - Extra Comfort Foundation and Blush Prodige (02 Soft Peach). I absolutely adore them both and thought they would be great products for Autumn and Winter especially.

So for the base I used Clarins Extra Comfort  (103 Ivory), I contoured a tiny bit with the Chanel Soleil de Tan, and used the Clarins blush on the apples of my cheeks. I also used a bit of Touche Eclat under my eyes.

For the eyes, I started by using the new Clarins Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base with my old reliable Naked palette eyeshadows of course! A flick of Lancome Grandiose mascara, and I brushed this Maybelline Brow Drama through my brows (I still don't know what to make of this product!)

And to finish off I used my favourite lip product from the summer which is the Clarins Lip Balm Crayon in Creamy Pink.

 I shall do a full review of both my new Clarins foundation and blush once I have used and worn them for a good couple of weeks, but so far so good I love them!