St Ives Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub

RRP: £3.99/150ml

--What does the promo say?--

"Goodbye Blemishes. Fight blemishes and breakouts with the power of nature. St. Ives Blemish Fighting scrub gently helps prevent and treat breakouts with ingredients from nature – and give you the confidence that comes along with having naturally clear skin."

--Packaging--

While St Ives has always capitalised on its image of apricots, this has typically been accompanied by very pale colours (apricot, baby blue...) in the past. Not anymore: this squeezy plastic flip-top tube is now decorated with a bright orange strapline and a hot pink tab ringing in the changes. Orange and black text keeps things short and sweet and the St Ives logo is still recognisable and unchanged. The tube itself is very easy to use and doesn't leak at all.

--Application--

Rub a 5p-10p sized amount between wet hands and massage gently onto damp skin. Wipe off using a damp flannel. Use 3-4 times a week.

--Appearance--

A pale brown-peach coloured cream with dark brown flecks in it (that's the walnut shell and corn kernels that help exfoliate). Some of the exfoliating grains are left on the skin even after rinsing, which is a bit annoying.

--Scent--

Does smell like apricot, but I have the impression from the ingredients list that this is a synthetic scent (or at least the natural smell is pimped using synthetic products) due to the presence of the eternally vague 'Parfum (Fragrance)' that appears there. Smells nice nonetheless!

--Texture and consistency--

Satisfyingly scrubby without being at all irritating. You really feel like it's working as the walnut shell and corn kernels get to work.

--Effects on the skin--

Skin definitely feels smoother immediately after use, and longer term, blackheads and whiteheads cleared up. Blackheads that did reappear were much easier to extract and I definitely noticed a difference in the stubbornness of spots, redness of skin and general recurrence of acne when I stopped using the product. No going back for me now!

--Value for money--

This is an excellent product which manages to be simultaneously functional and luxurious. At £3.99 it's also bargainous, and while it's always been a classic, I can now see why. Without having tried any products from St Ives before, I now wonder where on earth I've been. Definitely a top quality product.

perfect partner

Deep Cleansing Body Scrub, £3.50/300ml

Net-A-Porter Faces of Fashion

SPONSORED CONTENT

One of my favourite games when the weekend paper comes into the letterbox is to get out the magazine and drool over all of the fancy clothes and accessories - specifically through the "If I Could Have Anything" game. I look at a page of products, without looking at brands or prices, and decide which item I would have were money no object. The best part of the game is the rare occasion when you find that the item you've just been lusting over is under £100.

Viral video by ebuzzing

Now you can play the same game via Net-A-Porter's spring ad campaign (entitled Faces of Fashion): watch the video, and enjoy the exclusive peek into the luscious wardrobes of four of fashion's most stylish women (including Theodora Richards and Elin Kling), deciding just exactly what you would purchase too in an ideal world. Lamentably my fave item (this skirt by Miu Miu) is £720. Doh.

Further information can be found at http://www.net-a-porter.com/Content/facesoffashion#1/

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup

RRP: £26.50/30ml

# of shades available: 24

--What does the promo say?--

"Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup. 15-hour staying power. Flawless all day. This worry-free, long-wearing foundation makeup stays fresh and looks natural through heat, humidity, nonstop activity. Won't change colour, smudge or come off on clothes. Feels lightweight and comfortable. Now the flawless look you see in the morning is the look you keep all day. Oil-free. Dermatologist-teste. Non-acnegenic. Fragrance-free."

--Packaging--

Possibly the most impractical packaging in the world ever. It's a glass bottle, which maximises the luxury factor but has minimal practicality: I feel forever freaked out that I'll drop it against the sink in the bathroom and there certainly won't be any cutting it open to get out the last dregs towards the end. This, combined with the fact that you have to POUR the foundation out (there's no pump, dropper or anything to make dispensation easier) means that travelling with this foundation is out of the question. It looks glamorous, though, with its subtle gold and white detailing.

--Application--

Pour out a small amount of the foundation (something between the size of a 5p and 10p coin is sufficient) onto the back of your hand. Use your fingers or a foundation brush to blend foundation onto a clean dry face. Finish with concealer and powder.

--Appearance--

I was sold shade 2N2 (Fresco), which I was assured strongly by the saleswoman was the palest shade available in the line. I was a little sceptical, but bought it (I was buying it on a special offer basis - more details of which below). Silly, silly me. From what I can see on the website, 1C1 Shell, 1N1 Ecru or 1W1 Bone would have been more appropriate. I'd say Fresco is about borderline appropriate for me; better in summer than in winter, but easily fixed up with a) not being too heavy-handed in application and b) tarting it up by using a slightly lighter concealer and powder with the product. Still, I am not happy AT ALL to have been fobbed off in this way, so there's definitely a lesson here - if planning on buying a product like this, print out the shades first from the website and take it with you to avoid being sold a near-totally unsuitable shade. In terms of other visual qualities, coverage is good (see below) and the finish is the right combination of matte and sheer (perhaps erring a little more on the dewy side).

--Coverage--

I've suffered with terrible acne for years, but even though it's finally beginning to clear up, I still need decent coverage. This foundation certainly provides that, taking away a lot of the redness and general 'obviousness' of the spots. Minimal amounts of concealer are needed as top-up.

--Scent--

A slightly chemical, nail-varnishy type smell which may put some people off.

--Texture and consistency--

I prefer Double Wear Light over this by quite a long way. While Double Wear Light is smooth and creamy, this is simultaneously runny and sticky. EW. On the flip side, though, it's not actually difficult to blend, even though it doesn't feel nice on the skin at all during application. Once dry it gives a smooth, slightly sheer finish.

--Longevity--

Definitely does as promised - once this is on, it does not budge, which may allow some people to overlook the generally unpleasant consistency.

--Effects on the skin--

The thickness of this stuff would probably stop a speeding bullet, so it's hardly surprising that it seems to protect pretty well against sun, pollution, and general day to day activity. While it doesn't actively improve acne, it never promised to do this and it definitely doesn't make it any worse.

--Removal--
I had no difficulty using this, but then again I'm using a Dr Hauschka oil at the moment to remove makeup. You may find you have more difficulty using traditional lotions or wipes. I'd recommend an oil or gel makeup remover to get this off.

--Value for money--

As mentioned above, part of the reason for my impulsiveness and lack of research into the product was due to me buying it on a special offer basis just before Christmas. If you bought Double Wear, you got the matching Double Wear concealer with it for free. Knowing a good deal when I see one, I went for it the moment I saw it advertised in a magazine. This saved me £19 (or the equivalent thereof in euros), and as in all French parfumeries, I got a load of samples chucked in for free as well. Would I buy it again, though? £26.50 is still a fairly hefty price tag and I don't think I would buy it outside of a special offer. Certainly there's a lot to be said for having the right shade, so I'd probably be able to give a better verdict if I actually had this. However, the texture does NOT work well in its favour and for me is a major turn-off. I'll certainly use the bottle I have, but think harder before buying another. It's more likely that I'll stick to Double Wear Light in the future for its more pleasing texture and equally high quality delivery in other terms.

perfect partners

Foundation Brush, £28

Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer SPF 10, £19

Lacoste L!ve

SPONSORED CONTENT

Viral video by ebuzzing

Having just got back from a holiday in New York (more beauty-related features on this trip to come, so sit tight!), I know just what a vibrant place the city is. It therefore doesn't surprise me that Lacoste has chosen the city for its latest campaign, Lacoste L!ve, this spring.

Hosting a range of unconventional talents and colour, this Spring/Summer season Lacoste introduces you to real New York talents, including electro duo MNDR, punk hip hop group HeartsChallenger and street tape artist Aakash Nihalini.

All of these colours and beats can translated to makeup and accessories with bright neons, blocks of colour, and original details (not to mention the classic Lacoste crocodile), so that you can join in too. The Lacoste L!ve campaign certainly doesn't stop in New York, with celebrations going on as far afield as London, Istanbul and Shanghai.

Lacoste L!ve's collection includes accessories as diverse as leopard print socks, shawls with exclusive designs, commemorative keyrings, and vintage-style handbags, so anyone can get in on the act and still look individual by mixing and matching to suit their style.

Fans of Lacoste L!ve can also like, watch and follow using the following links, so as not to miss a thing. I personally love their perfumes, so will be keeping my eyes and ears open for sure.

Facebook.com/LacosteLive

Youtube.com/LacosteLive

Flickr.com/LacosteLive

Twitter.com/LacosteLive

Google+: http://tiny.cc/v2dyk

Celebrity 'steppers' go crazy during Fairtrade Fortnight

SPONSORED CONTENT

Viral video by ebuzzing

It can be hard at times to truly stick to the Fairtrade philosophy all the time; no matter how smug you feel when you buy something off People Tree, there's always going to be that time when you can't resist that bargain lipstick from Maybelline. Celebrities are going to even greater lengths this Fairtrade Fortnight (27 February to 11 March 2012) to raise awareness, with luminaries including Louisa Lytton, Alistair McGowan and Simon Webb all starring in Youtube videos to encourage others to take steps to go Fairtrade.

Through the ‘Take A Step for Fairtrade’ campaign, the Fairtrade Foundation wants to see more individuals and businesses buying and selling Fairtrade products in the UK, The public are being asked to think about what they can do every day, every week or every month throughout 2012 and take a step to make a difference to the lives of farmers in the developing world who produce the products they buy.

With Fairtrade every step counts. In celebration of International Women's Day (March 8th), for example, L'Occitane have released a fund-raising, Fairtrade soap as part of a development partnership with a factory in Burkina Faso. The factory has been run entirely by women since 2010 and supports their emancipation - and for just $8 (or £5, or €4.50, depending on where you live!) the shea butter soap can help you feel good, smell good, and help others at the same time.

The more people that support Fairtrade, the more farmers and workers will be able to improve their lives through the better terms of trade it offers. And there's really no excuse on the beauty front: you can buy Fairtrade makeup from sites such as Big Green Smile, Fairtrade clothes from high street retailers such as Oxfam, and Fairtrade jewellery and accessories from sites such as Traidcraft. We all talk the talk, but how many of us actually walk the walk? I know I don't always.

The Fairtrade Foundation encourages everyone to start their journey at www.fairtrade.org.uk/step, and to check out the rest of the mini-series on the Fairtrade YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/Fairtradefoundation. You won't regret it!

Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream

RRP: £9.50/10ml

--What does the promo say?--

"This Soothing Eye Contour Cream has been specially formulated to gently protect the most delicate part of the face. Rich in Avene Thermal Spring Water and soothing alpha-bisabolol, this light emulsion calms skin irritation, tightness and redness. Dextran sulfate also acts by relieving hypersensitive eyelids. Thanks to its formula enriched with moisturising and anti-free radical actives, this soothing care promotes hydration and protection of the eye contour area and eyelids. Paraben-free."

--Packaging--

Combines white with coral to create a soothing yet unusual colour scheme. The tube is tiny and the tapered screw-top lid is well designed - not too difficult to undo, but stays on securely when you need it to.

--Application--

On a cleansed, make-up free face, blend a tiny amount around the eye contour area. Nothing difficult about that.

--Appearance--

The pure white cream takes on an opaque appearance as soon as you start to rub and quickly disappears into nothing at all. No visible residue left on skin.

--Scent--

Just a very clean, mineral-water type scent. Nothing soapy or artificial-smelling here and definitely not a strong scent.

--Texture and consistency--

Smooth, soft and absorbs quickly. Not at all runny.

--Effects on the skin--

I bought this product because I'd had totally unexplained layers of dry skin over one eyelid for more than a week and none of the other eye creams I had in the house were able to shift it. We therefore took a trip to the pharmacy, where the pharmacist recommended this. She said that if the dry skin didn't clear up in a week I was to see a doctor. Sceptical due to the dry skin's apparently bullet-like resistance to every other eye cream under the sun, I used it without hope or agenda, but was amazed to find that a visible difference was apparent in just a day or two days of morning and night use, and that it had cleared up completely well short of the week's usage prescribed. Amazing!

--Value for money--

After my disappointment with Avene's almost completely ineffectual exfoliator, I cannot say I had had much hope in another Avène product. However, my faith in this brand has now been restored, and I would be much more willing now to try another of their products. Now it's much clearer to me why this affordable yet (at times) effective brand is so much beloved by the French.

perfect partners

Eau Thermale Ystheal + Eye Contour Cream, £17
Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, £9.50
Cicalfate Repair Cream, £7.50
Extremely Gentle Cleanser, £8
Soothing Hydrating Serum, £17

I Love...Juiced Up Blackcurrant Shower Gel

RRP: £2.05/500ml

--What does the promo say?--

"Take a whopping big bite out of life! My delicious aroma is bursting with super juicy blackcurrants all ready to explode into action, leaving you with your very own bite size portion of happiness!"

--Packaging--

Rocks the funky look with black and white basics contrasting with the purple gel, which can be seen through the plastic flip-top bottle. The bottle is also extremely sizeable (so not great for travel purposes perhaps) but carries lively and easily understandable text which engages you while telling you all you need to know, making you feel really excited about using it.

--Application--

Just lather up over wet skin while in the shower, then rinse off when ready. Easy peasy lemon squeezy (or should that be blackcurrant squeezy?).

--Appearance--

Exactly the colour of the dark purple throat tablets that you can get, matching up well with the blackcurrant idea. Doesn't leave any visible residue on the skin, frothing up instead into an off-white lather that's easy to rinse. You can also use it as a bubble bath, although not having a bath at home means that opportunities to test the product's credentials on this score have been limited.

--Scent--

While perhaps slightly artificial-smelling, it's definitely intense and not at all unpleasant. Plus, you can tell it's a blackcurrant scent straight away - no second-guessing required here, as is true of all the I Love...products (although unfortunately the packaging doesn't tell us anything about how this rich scent is achieved - just putting 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not helpful!).

--Texture and consistency--

This was definitely my least favourite part of the product. Rather than being creamy and luxurious, it was viscous and gel-like - even to the point of slipping back INSIDE the bottle if you didn't squeeze hard enough. All fine on the skin once you get lathering - the foam generated is fine yet spreads well. But still. EW to the first bit.

--Longevity--

I can't say I experienced long-lasting scent or softness on the skin with this product as compared to the other gel I'm using at present (Caudalie Pêche de Vigne). But at £2 for a massive bottle, what do you expect?

--Value for money--

It's possible that they would need to sort out the texture of this before I would purchase again - even though the smell is great, I didn't have *as* positive an experience with this product as I did with I Love...'s Lemons & Limes lip gloss and body cream. But that definitely hasn't put me off the range completely: it's a vibrant budget option without a doubt, and with scents in the range such as Strawberries & Milkshake, Vanilla & Ice Cream, and Raspberry & Blackberry still left to try, who could resist?!

*set to be exclusive to Superdrug, you'll have to keep your eyes peeled; no sign in store or online of it yet...*

Andrex Washlets

RRP: from £1 for 42 wipes

--What does the promo say?--

"These moist toilet tissues can be used for all manner of tasks from removing make-up to changing nappies and may even substitute normal toilet tissue. Each pack contains cotton fresh 42 sheets, which are skin pH neutral and dermatologically tested. Also, since they re biodegradable tese washlets can be flushed away after use."

--Packaging--

The blue and white colour scheme is appropriate for bathroom use and fits in well with the Andrex brand in general. While I don't really see the point of the display tub (as surely the plastic shield constantly being open on the main pack would cause the wipes to dry out more quickly?), I think the lightweight basic pack is great for bathroom display or for travel purposes.

--Usage instructions--

Just lift up the plastic shield and remove a wipe, closing the pack afterwards to prevent wipes from drying out. As the promotional material states, you can use it for all manner of purposes including makeup removal, general face and body cleaning, and as a substitute for normal toilet tissue. Use the wipe as you deem fit and then throw it away - either in a bin or by flushing it. All very simple, practical and hygienic.

--Appearance--

The wipes are white, and while a slight 'sheen' can be detected, they certainly don't leave any visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--

Clean and fresh-smelling without seeming artificial, although annoyingly I can't work out what the scent is due to ('Parfum' in the ingredients list tells us nothing, Andrex!).

--Texture and consistency--

Smooth, soft and non-irritating to use, even when you're substituting them for regular toilet paper. Even though they are wet wipes, I didn't find the idea of using the wipes in this way as some of the users in the Dawn Porter/Andrex promotional videos, as I have used similar products before (such as these Avon ones, which are similarly priced). The wipes leave a fresh and clean feeling during and after use.

--Effects on the body--

I found these to be great especially during my period - at the time when you're feeling at your messiest and gunkiest, they're excellent in helping you to feel normal! However, I can see how they could help people freshen up in a variety of other situations, from camping to long aeroplane flights, and sleepovers to working days. Equally, while I haven't yet used them as a makeup remover or for general cleanup (even though I am possibly the world champion of hand-to-mouth coordination failure when it comes to eating food), I would consider using them for this.

--Value for money--

There are lots of promotional offers on at the moment, with some retailers selling them for £1, and others selling them at the full price of £1.95 but on a buy-one-get-one-free scheme. You get a lot more wipes for your money than many Andrex competitors, the wipes are definitely effective, and I love that they're multi-purpose. While they're perhaps a little pricey to make a permanent substitute for toilet tissue (not to mention that my husband refused to use them; I reckon they're definitely more of a girl thing), I'll definitely be taking them on our trip to New York later this month (because aeroplane toilets are generally disgusting) and keeping them on standby for the time of the month. A fantastic buy that should be in every girl's handbag and on display in every bathroom. In fact, I reckon they could even bring out shower washes (as Avon has done) to extend even further into the beauty market, tallying perfectly with this reach into everyday hygiene.

perfect partners

On The Go Coreless Roll (55 sheets), £1.05

On The Go Antibacterial Spray, £1.99

Vani-T Mineral Lip Colour

RRP: £23.25

Purchase online from www.nuusuite.com or www.sotanned.co.uk

UK stockists: Gemini Beauty Supplies (0774 3879 336), Beauty Revolution (07731950627)

# of shades available: 12 (Babydoll, Bare, Bombshell, Earth Angel, French Kiss, Frisky Business, Glamarazzi, Goddess, Negligée, Screen Siren, Sugar Sugar, Viva La Glam)

--What does the promo say?--

"Infused with Vitamin E, Coconut Oil and Aloe Extract for hydration, Vani-T's diamanté-encrusted lipsticks are the ultimate in creamy, long lasting, colour-rich mineral lip colour. The latest in organic and natural beauty, these luscious lipsticks don't contain any nasty chemicals! Available in an array of 12 colours, you can choose from nudes to apricots, to dusty roses, pinks and reds. A shade for every dance floor, desk, and dinner date!"

--Packaging--

Large chunks of diamanté-style plastic (it is hardly fair to call them actual diamanté) adorn these lipstick canisters to give a bling effect that differentiates entirely from products that are currently available. You'd definitely have no trouble picking these out on the shelf, especially thanks to the metallic peach cardboard boxes they arrive in too. The box has a handy cutout circle on the base so you can see the shade of lipstick clearly, and there's a vintage look to the thing overall thanks to the swirly black script on the box. It's very different, too, to other mineral beauty brands, which tend to go for pale pastels and often shy from anything bolder. The tube twists up normally like a regular lipstick.

--Application--

Slap it on straight from the tube or use a lip brush for extra contouring.

--Appearance--

Quality-wise, the strength of colour competes well with major commercial brands. Unfortunately, though, I didn't especially like either of the two shades I was sent for testing: the bright red Screen Siren proved too brash against my pale skin, while Frisky Business, a pale beige, blended almost too well, making my entire face seem almost the same colour all over. Clever use of bolder cheek and eye colours is needed to compete with it. However, as these are just two out of 12 available shades, it proves that there's almost surely a shade for everyone (I'd be surprised if none of the remaining 10 fit my needs).

--Scent--

Just a very light hint of beeswax: no overwhelming wax crayon or Playdoh-type smells here.

--Texture and consistency--

Super-smooth and soft both to apply and to wear; not at all slippery, greasy or drying. In short: perfect! The coconut oil is probably responsible for that along with the beeswax.

--Longevity--

Sadly I didn't find that the colour lasted any longer than a conventional lipstick. Still, you can't have it all I suppose.

--Value for money--

For some people the mineral concept is extremely valuable, and avoiding putting parabens, mineral oils, preservatives, petrochemicals, artificial colours and so on into their bodies is very important to them. Sometimes this can be achieved cheaply (Green People's organic lipsticks go for around £11, with other mineral brands like Bellapierre and Inika also pitching their prices here), but it seems from a quick sweep of Google Shopping that the £20-£25 price bracket is about standard for mineral lipsticks, so Vani-T certainly aren't out to fleece the concerned consumer. Garden Pharmacy and Tender Loving Skincare's lipsticks go for this price, too. But all depends on people's budgets, and the point is that proper mineral makeup (unlike the highly dubious 'mineral' makeup peddled by brands like L'Oreal and Maybelline) is widely accessible to all from about £10 per lipstick. So even if you can't afford Vani-T, it can at least serve as an impetus for you to support the mineral makeup industry, whose products can be just as good, rather than running to the big brands every time. I know it's changed my attitude.

perfect partners

Pure White Tooth Whitening Gloss, £22.05

Mineral Lip Glaze, £14.85

Mineral Lip Crayon, £16

Mineral Lip Definer, £13.75

Lip Brush, £17.15

Spend Vouchers, Get Beauty Rewards!

Sponsored Post

Tesco is probably the UK's most popular supermarket, or at least the country's most talked-about. Whether you find their Florence and Fred range is to die for, love their Tesco Finest cheese crackers, or just enjoy spending your Clubcard points, it certainly has something for everyone. 

While there are Clubcard rewards for just about everything from dining out one evening to a few weeks away on holiday, even beginning beauty fanatics can benefit from the scheme. By collecting points on almost everything you can buy in store or online from Tesco (as well as by spending on your Clubcard credit card), you can convert 150 points for Clubcard vouchers worth £1.50, which are sent out to you automatically and can be spent on all kinds of treats, including major beauty brands stocked by Tesco, such as Barbara Daly and All For Eve.

Furthermore, Clubcard vouchers can be exchanged for even more extravagant Clubcard rewards for die-hard cosmetics aficionados - including special limited edition Clubcard Deals, such as the offer for Brandalley gift tokens that's available at present (if you order by March 19th, you can exchange £10-£20 of Clubcard vouchers for double their value in Brandalley tokens). Tokens are also available on a more permanent basis for beauty-based retailers such as sk:n (the UK's #1 skin clinic), ManKind.co.uk (for beauty and skincare gifts the man in your life will love) and FloatWorks (for flotation experiences in a spa environment). So whether you want to pimp up your lipstick collection, encourage your bloke to start taking care of his skin, or just get a break from the kids, you can be sure you'll find something to suit.

Getting a Tesco clubcard also couldn't be easier: you just have to go to the Clubcard section of Tesco's website and fill out the online form. The BeautyExpert tokens really stand out for me (sadly, Florence and Fred don't currently have a makeup range of their own!), and I'm sure there's something there that you'll love too. You can soon be saving on food shopping, fashion accessories, flotation treatments and foundation in no time at all.