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RRP: £6.99
# of shades available: 2
--What does the promo say?--
"Neutrogena Visibly Clear® has developed a CC Cream that instantly covers spots and other imperfections, while helping to correct them – in one easy step. Immediately, your complexion looks more even. Day after day, your skin is clinically proven to become clearer and healthier-looking, even without make-up!"
--Packaging--
The orange and purple banding is distinctive, cheerful and unisex, meaning that it not only stands out on the shelf but also clearly marks this product out as part of Neutrogena's Correct and Perfect range (which also includes a scrub). The flip-top lid is hardy and practical, while the image on the front of the tube, showing a swipe of cream, clearly shows both what the product is and the type of shade you can expect. Equally, the brand logo is clearly visible while being discreet.
--Application--
Apply a thin layer to the skin first, and then wait for this to dry before building up coverage. Adding too thick a layer at the start will cause the product to cake unevenly.
--Appearance--
The 'light' shade of the cream, kindly sent to me by Neutrogena's PR, blends in perfectly with my skin tone, which is always a relief given the fact that there are only two shades available of this product. However, the coverage afforded by the product is rather light, too, and thus not what I would wish.
--Scent--
Nothing discernible.
--Texture and consistency--
While initially smooth, creamy and luxurious without clogging, and blends well, over time this dries in uneven patches, meaning that you need to keep an eye on it.
--Longevity--
Unfortunately again in this respect the product tends to cake and show up the driest areas of your skin (for those of us with combination skin), meaning that reapplications are necessary.
--Effects on the skin--
A small improvement in blemish quantity is definitely notable, which is a positive point for this product and fulfils what they promise.
--Value for money--
At £6.99 this is hardly going to break the bank, and it has moisturising as well as blemish-busting qualities. However, I'm not liking the caking effect much, which suggests that going back to the drawing board in terms of texture would be advisable in the longer term.
perfect partners
Spot Clearing Facial Wash, £4.99
Blackhead Eliminating Cleansing Lotion, £3.25
Rapid Clear Treatment, £3.69
Blackhead Eliminating SOS Cleanser, £4.89
Complexion Scrub, £5.99
Spot Stress Control Daily Scrub, £3.69
Oil-Free Moisturiser, £4.19
Gentle Exfoliating Wash, £3.79
Blackhead Scrub, £3.69
Spot Stress Control Daily Exfoliating Wash, £4.49
2 in 1 Wash and Mask, £3.69
Neutrogena have very kindly sent me one of their brand new Visibly Clear Correct and Perfect CC Creams (in Medium) to give away to one of you lovely people. Yes, you!
I also have one to test for myself, which I'm looking forward to doing, as it promises to cover spots and breakout marks while helping to correct them too. It contains salicylic acid, so it's bound to do something to help.
To enter, email bianca[DOT]dee[AT]gmail[DOT]com with your name and address. And that's all! The competition will close one week from today, on March 30th, 2016, at 18.30 UK time. So get emailing and good luck :)
RRP: £37 for 22ml
# of shades available: 22
--What does the promo say?--
"The weight is over: 24-hour full, flawless coverage is yours in an instant with this ultra-lightweight foundation concentrate by Marc Jacobs. This revolutionary oil-free formula contains twice as much pigment as a leading full-coverage foundation, but it is emulsified with ground-breaking ingredients so the smallest amount completely covers with dot-on perfection."
--Packaging--
The curved shape of the bottle is unusual enough to catch the eye, and yet also practical in that it does stand upright. The silver stopper and glass applicator are both unique and sophisticated - traits accentuated by the opaque glass of the bottle and minimalist approach (with just the Marc Jacobs logo adorning it).
--Application--
You'd think the glass applicator would be tricky to use, but it's not: just dab a dot onto your forehead and then one more onto each cheek, and blend with your fingers, a sponge or a foundation brush. Believe me when I say that this will do your whole face. Very easy to apply - just watch out for tide marks around the jawline and eyes.
--Appearance--
My shade (Ivory 10) is the palest available and perfect for me. It blends seamlessly and provides the excellent coverage promised, with very little touchup from concealer or powder needed. It's matte yet radiant, with the best coverage I've ever experienced.
--Scent--
Nothing discernible. I'm convinced that many more brands are getting increasingly better at this.
--Texture and consistency--
Blends smoothly and flawlessly without feeling oily or greasy. When it dries, it's powder-light and not at all cakey. Brilliant!
--Longevity--
Lasts all day, with no need for reapplication. Does not smudge or fade, and yet is easy enough to remove when required.
--Value for money--
Even a pea-sized amount would be too much per application, which shows just how little you need to cover your whole face. Has excellent coverage without clogging your skin, won't budge all night, and looks great in photos. Simply wonderful.
perfect partners
Under(Cover) Perfecting Face Primer, £30
Re(Marc)Able Full Cover Concealer, £20
Conceal Full Cover Correcting Brush, £22
Liquid Foundation Brush, £32
Perfection Powder Featherweight Finish, £32
The Blush Angled Blush Brush, £24
Shameless Bold Blush, £22
RRP: £19
--What does the promo say?--
"Studio-tested. Life-proven. A shadow primer that locks on more vibrant colour for a full 24 hours. No fading, creasing or smudging! Sweat and humidity resistant. Apply a thin layer to bare lids. Wait 30 seconds, then apply shadow."
--Packaging--
The silver and black packaging is sleek, and would stand out among the frequently flesh-coloured primer packages from other brands that you might see on the shelf. The squeezy tube is a convenient size and the screw-top lid is secure. The only area for improvement might be the nozzle, which could be more tapered.
--Application--
Once you have applied your face primer to clean, dry skin, squeeze out a pea-sized amount of eye primer: this will be enough to cover both eyelids and the under-eye area on both sides of the face (there is a separate under-eye primer available too, but I've never found this to be necessary. Multi-use products for the win!). Blend in until invisible.
--Appearance--
Very pale flesh-coloured cream-gel hybrid that blends in invisibly - so don't worry that this single shade available will not match your skin tone, as it has a transparent finish.
--Scent--
Nothing discernible.
--Texture and consistency--
Completely smooth without being runny or waxy, and blends brilliantly. Has the velvetiness of a cream and the lightness of a gel, so the eye area definitely doesn't feel weighed down.
--Effects on the skin--
Eyeshadow stays put without creasing or fading. Definitely stands up to the 24-hour claim and looks great in photos and videos.
--Value for money--
While the outlay may seem initially like a lot, this primer puts in an excellent performance and is one of the best I've ever tried. A little also goes a long way, so one tube lasts a long time. A great addition to any makeup bag!
perfect partners
Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio, £23
Full Exposure Mascara, £19.50
Photo Filter Powder Foundation, £29
Photo Finish Primer Oil, £28
Photo Finish Primer Water, £28
RRP: £25.50
available shades: 3
--What does the promo say?--
"We wrote the book on complexion perfection! Our custom perfectors give you a luminous complexion by blending away imperfections & minimising the appearance of pores. Mix & match our complexion perfectors to customize your coverage. You’ll be the first to finish flawless."
--Packaging--
As always with Benefit products, the packaging is beautiful: the vintage-style book design is lovely (and the removable tray - meaning that you can keep this when you've finished the makeup - is a terrific bonus) and the inside is generally very practical, with virtually all products removable from the tray (very few pans) with the exception of the Hello Flawless face powder (in Ivory). The PoreFessional Pro Balm is a conveniently-sized screwtop tube and the Hello Flawless foundation is a tiny pump-action canister. You also get two shades of Boi-ing concealer in a removable plastic pan - so virtually all of these products can be easily removed and put into your handbag or purse if you just want one or two of them at a given moment. The enclosed 'tips and tricks' pamphlet is equally useful (unfold it for a handy mirror!).
--Application--
Rub the PoreFessional primer all over a clean, dry face before doing the same with 1-2 pumps of the foundation. Dab the concealer over any blemishes or dark spots before finishing with the powder. You could then go on to use another Benefit travel kit for the rest of your face, such as the sadly now defunct Celebutante, or the currently available Life of the Party. (Failing that, there's always the classic Benetint or one of its newer variants.)
--Appearance--
The combination of these products gives a matte appearance with flawless coverage. The fact that this kit is available in 3 shades is a major plus - the products are bound to suit you.
--Scent--
None particularly in any case.
--Texture and consistency--
Just as you would want from any of these products: the primer blends beautifully across the face even if it is a little bit waxy, the foundation is fluid without being runny, the concealer provides maximum coverage without drying the skin, and the powder is light, meaning your skin is fully prepped without being clogged. Perfetto!
--Value for money--
Despite what seems like a steep initial outlay, the products last a long time and the beautiful box makes an excellent keepsake once you have removed the tray. Furthermore, it's so rare to find a box set that will do your whole face like this, too. Brilliant for travel!
perfect partners
They're Real! Lengthening Mascara, £19.50
They're Real! Push-Up Eyeliner, £18.50
BB Cream Eyelid Primer, £21.50
Lemon Aid, £16.50
Benetint, £24.50
Life of the Party, now £19.66 (was £29.50)
