Skincare trial update

I've been doing the Estee Lauder skincare trial for almost two weeks now so thought I would update you on how it's going. In short - I am hooked! I find that using the Advance Night Repair serum at night on any problem areas means that when I wake up in the morning my skin is, as the name suggests, repaired! I still have the problem of a few (two to be exact) lines on my forehead but they do seem to be slightly less harsh. In my previous post I mentioned that perhaps the product was making my skin look oily by midday - well that seems to have stopped, so no complaints there.
As for the eye cream - again, hooked! It is so light to wear that you forget it's there as soon as it's on and it just quietly works away. I use this morning and night and have noticed a difference in that my under-eye is brighter and any lines are lessened.
I will continue with this and let you know any updates!

Estee Lauder skincare trial

I’ve decided to do an Estee Lauder skincare trial on myself. After receiving a sample pot of the new Advance Night Repair for Eyes product, I was impressed with the results and splashed out on a full-sized version of it. With this, I received a sample of the original Advance Night Repair serum - so now that I have both products in my clutches, I aim to use them as prescribed until I run out of the original serum and see what changes I notice in my skin.

My problem area is my forehead where, at 25, I am beginning to notice lines appearing (kill me now). What I am hoping for is that Estee Lauder’s product lives up to its hype and not only prevents future damage to the skin but also works to repair existing damage.

I began the trial on Tuesday night (it’s now Thursday) and have instantly noticed that my skin feels incredibly smooth and my skin tone looks more even. One other thing I’ve noticed is that areas of my face that weren’t oily before, have started to look oily by midday though I make sure to cleanse my skin the morning after wearing the ANR. This could just be a sign of my skin adjusting to the product – or, as it’s only slightly oily, perhaps it’s just an effect of the product to make the skin appear more “dewy”. Oily... Dewy...Potato... Po-tah-to... who knows? Anyway, I look forward to continuing the trial as despite this, I am noticing significant benefits from using the products in conjunction with my usual skincare routine.

Watch this face space!

Monday Make-Up Must Haves: Blending Brush

A Blending Brush

It wasn’t until I invested in a blending brush that I really found make up started “working” for me. A decent blending brush and the right skills can take a look from novice to pro in seconds. The blending/contour brush of choice for many (myself included, I must admit), is MAC’s 217. This brush has fine, densly packed fibres arranged in an oval shape – meaning the brush fits perfectly in your socket line. As well as blending out harsh edges, this brush can also be used to apply colour to the socket, for example, but be aware that it will easilly pick up a great deal of product.

With a price tag of £14.50, it’s not a cheap brush but it is definately a good investment as with the right care it will last you for years.

ALTERNATIVES TO THE 217:

If you would rather not splash out so much on a make up brush, here are some more affordable alternatives:

This blend and contour brush from No7 (above) is less than half the price of the MAC alternative at just £6.50.

Bargain brush alert! This blend and contour brush from Elf (above) is just £1.50! I have one and it’s great for when my 217 is dirty and I need a back-up blender. It may not be quite as "perfect" as the 217, but for just £1.50 I think it’s a brush worth having.  

For a tutorial on blending, who better to show you than the lovely Pixiwoo / Fashion Face team: