La Roche Posay| Effaclar Duo And Effaclar K

Once again, I have fallen for the hype and bought some products that have been everywhere lately. I did debate about if I should actually write this post because there have been so many around that is would pretty much be the same information that everyone else has put but then I just thought screw it! I like these and I wanted to share my views. 

Firstly, I thought it would be a good idea just to explain the difference between these two products:

Effaclar K- is a renewal fluid which gradually exfoliates the skin, reducing pore size and helping regain a soft smooth complexion 

Effaclar Duo- is a corrective fluid that unclogs pores and reduces the appearance of imperfections and purifies pores. 

Now, I haven't been using this long, well in terms of skin care. I usually like to give products at least a good 3 months to see if they do really work with my skin. I have been using these products for 5 weeks now and I can honestly say I have noticed a difference. I wouldn't go as far as saying these are 'holy grail' products but I can say they have made a huge difference but definitely enough for me to see and I am happy with the results. 

I have noticed a lot of people being put off my the back that is does make you break out at first (some people have and some people haven't) and I won't lie- it did break me out at first but I think thats both of the products just getting all the crap out of your skin. The second thing I have notice people saying is it's really drying. My skin becomes dry really quickly so to stop this, I used both of the products as a treatment rather that a moisturiser so I put these on clean skin at then moisturiser over the top. 

I have been using the Effaclar K at night as our skin does most of its regeneration over night and as this is kind of what this product does I thought it would be more suited for night time use and then, you guessed it, the Effaclar Duo during the day. 

This is just how I do it personally but you can use either both day and night or even just one of them, depending on what you feel your skin needs.

Like I said this hasn't completely cleared my skin and made everything perfect but I have noticed a reduction in the number/size of blackheads on my nose (something I have struggled with for years) and the rest of my skin is a lot smoother and more refined.

I know there has been a lot of mixed reviews but I think you need to remember, with skincare, nothing works over night - you have to give products a chance to work. It's not like make up you can pretty much test once and tell if you like it. I don't know if this is the case but it seemed a lot of people rushed out to buy these products (especially the Duo) and had a review up after a couple uses. Just something to remember 

What are your thoughts on these products?

Geradium Lipstick| Lime Crime

So I was pretty excited by this...my first ever Lime Crime product! Its one of those brands, again, that I have admired for a long time but just never got round to actually buying anything from them. I've lusted after the Valentines lip lacquers for so long but they always seem to be sold out in any stores that are UK based and I refuse to pay £10 for shipping from US. When I saw the new lipstick shade Geraduim, I jumped at the chance before it sold out and I really haven't been disappointed! 

I have fallen head of heals in love with this lipstick. It's formulation is to die for- it's so soft and creamy, glides on the lips, doesn't dry out, has great staying power and is so pigmented you only need one swipe over the lips and you are done. Lime Crime describes this lipstick as a 'Coral-pink that is so intense, it might be radioactive'. Now I am not going to lie, after seeing the promo shots, I thought it would be a lot brighter but part of me is actually thankful it's not. It's bright, don't get me wrong but I had seen people call it neon, which is a little scary. 

Also can we take a second to just appreciate how gorgeous the packaging is? I mean it has a bloody Unicorn! Plus I like the fact that is is sturdy, as I am so clumsy! 

So there we have, my first Lime Crime product! First of many I imagine. I know for certain that in the summer when I go to Imats, this will be the first stall I will be visiting!

You can Geradium and other Lime Crime products at Cocktail Cosmetics

Are there any Lime Crime products you love?

Frat Boy Blush| theBalm

I don't think there is a blush that I have lusted after more than this Frat Boy Blush*. I actually saw this blush before I started blogging but it was one that I just never got round to getting. I don' know why but I just kept putting it off. That was until Sophia, who runs Tattooed Tea Lady bought this beauty for me for Christmas. I may have done a little dance when I opened this- I was just so excited! ha ha. 

I really haven't been disappointed by this either, so much that I now have a lot of the Balm products on my wish list. 

My bad, I used the product before I took photos- sue me! I wanted to use it. Like I said I really haven't been disappointed by this product.  The pigmentation is great and you really don't need a lot to give you that lovely flushed look. This is my first coral-ish/pink blush and I frigging love the colour. I always stayed away from corals as I was worried they would look really orange on my seriously pale skin but I have had no such issues with this. The blush also contains tiny specks of glitter but these are so tiny it just gives you a bit more glow. It's not chalky, it's so fine and soft and it lasts all day- you can't ask for much more in a blush. This has become a firm favourite of mine and one that I have been reaching for so much, even more than my beloved Mac Pink Swoon blush and that really is saying something. 

For £16 it is a little on the pricey side but this seems to be theBalm's most expensive. I am assuming this is because this seems to be the most popular so they can get away with it. Apart for that, this is, hands down, an amazing blush and I am head over heals in love!

Have you tired any of theBalm products?

Rimmel| Apocalips

When I first saw pre-relase blog posts popping up of these, I'm not going to lie, I got pretty excited. There wasn't one colour I didn't want. I went into Boots the other day and was just having a wander when I came across them! I could of died of excitement. Although at the same time I was out right confused. My Boots isn't a big one so why where these out already?! I was positive they weren't due out for a little while longer. 

After making David stand for ages while I swatched and then taking an age to decide which colours I was going to get (this was a really hard decision! I would of got them all if I could of) I eventually decided to get Celestial and Stellar. 

Stella was actually the colour I was least excited about when I first saw swatches of them online but after seeing it in real life, I fell in love. It's a colour that I don't really have in my collection. It's a hard colour to describe as it's basically a pinky coral but I personally think it's a slight red as well. It's an odd one in my opinion but it's absolutely gorgeous and one that can be worn just to add a pop of colour and just finishes a face/outfit. 

Celestial is pretty much a my lips but better colour, that leans towards the pink side. The colour reminds me of the Collection 2000 Cream Puff Lip Cream in Cotton Candy. Again, I think this is the kind of colour that everyone should have in their collection. 

I wore Stella to London yesterday to give it a little test drive it passed but it's not perfect! The Pigmentation is great. The wear time, it isn't fantastic but it's not bad either. I'd say it lasted a couple hours (without eating) but eating it came straight off. It does however leave a stain. I'm not sure if the lighter colours would but Stella did. 

The doe foot applicator I'm not sold on. It has a hole in the centre which means there is enough product to do your whole lips in one go, I however found this was far to much and ended up having to scrape it off on the tube, which I can see getting quite messy. Apart from that I like the applicator it's big enough to just sweep over the lips and leave nice clean lines. 

Although these are a lip lacquer they have a glossy finish but they are not sticky like a tradition lip gloss. The gloss does wear off though to leave you with a matt shade and then eventually a stain. 

I wouldn't say I am blown away by these but I do like them and will definitely be picking up some more of the colours from the collection. If you want to see the full collection and some lovely swatches check out Katie Snooks post here

What colours are you lusting after?