Sk:n Laser Hair Removal

Yesterday I visited my local Sk:n clinic for a patch test as I've been offered the chance to experience the clinic's laser hair removal treatment.  I'll be having six treatments in total and the area I'm treating is my underarms.

I know everyone probably says this, but I really hate having to shave my underarm area.  It isn't because I suffer from a particularly excessive level of hair growth, nor is it difficult to shave by being tough or unruly, but for me the main issue is the following few days post shave.  No matter what I do, I always end up with a bit of a shaving rash that itches like crazy and having to scratch away at my armpits monkey-style is not a good look!

I've found ways to minimise the post-shave sensitivity by exfoliating and using several layers of baby oil to build up a smooth area for the razor to glide across, but not only does this involve quite a bit of faffing around, it also doesn't work 100% and as the summer is approaching I'll be needing hair-free underarms so I can wear summer clothes.

I was a little worried about starting the laser treatment as I remember a while ago watching  an episode of 10 Years Younger and witnessing a man have laser hair removal who said that it was far too painful and he'd never do it again! I'm usually a bit of a wimp when it comes to anything even remotely painful (you should hear the words that come out of my mouth during leg waxing; that Exorcist chick has nothing on me) so my adrenaline well and truly kicked in when I was asked to lay on the couch and position my arm above my head, plus the strong smell of burnt hair didn't help!

However, I'm relieved pleased to report that it really isn't anything to complain about and is much more tolerable (and quicker) than the feeling of waxing.  The sensation is often described as like having a rubber band flicked at your skin, but to be honest even that's probably making it sound worse than it is.  I quickly went from feeling slightly freaked out by the burnt hair smell to welcoming it as I knew this was a sign that it was working; I'll explain this further in my first treatment post, but for the time-being I'm now excited to see what the results are like from my first and subsequent laser treatments.  I'll be having six treatments in total every six weeks, so I'll update as I go along.

Have you ever tried laser hair removal?  If so, how would you describe the way it felt?

*Treatments are being provided for the purpose of this review but this will not impact my opinion and everything you read is exactly as I see it.  

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L'Oreal Rouge Caresse Swatches - The Pinks!

L'Oreal's Rouge Caresse have arrived with a fair bit of fanfare due to the general conclusion that they're hear to rival Revlon's uber-fabulous Lip Butters (more info about them here) so yesterday I made my usual weekly pilgrimage to Boots to find out what the fuss is about.  I decided to purchase one which I'll be reviewing fully soon, but in the meantime, here's the main pink shades from the range swatched.  There are 10 shades in total including a couple of deeper pinks that looked rather lovely, but unfortunately by the time I arrived they'd already been swatched to within an inch of their lives, so for the time being, check out the lovely payoff you get from the main 4 pinks which are:

L-R:   

Cheeky Magenta

Fashionista Pink

Lovely Rose

Tempting Lilac 

I purchased Lovely Rose but I'm thinking that it's only a matter of time before I go for Cheeky Magenta too.  It's safe to say I'm quite annoyed with myself for not picking it up yesterday actually....More info can be found at the L'Oreal site here and you can purchase them from Boots here for £7.99, although it's worth mentioning that they're in a 3for2 deal so if you fancy stocking up, now's the time.

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Renee Rouleau Night Time Spot Lotion

I first came across this American brand when I was researching treatments for spots over a year ago.  I liked the philosophy behind the brand as they believe that there are nine different skin types with various factors that need to be taken into account.  This means that if you're spot-prone, you'll likely fit into one of the four skin types that covers the usual problems that come with spot-prone skin like excessive oiliness, enlarged pores and post acne marks.  As a consequence of breaking down skin types in to so many variants, there are quite a few products available at Renee Rouleau that you wouldn't normally come across on the general market like treatments for different types of spots including cystic ones.  Therefore I decided to order a couple of products and hope that the evil people at Customs didn't hold them up during delivery.

Thankfully they didn't and the first product I'll review is the Night Time Spot Lotion.  I'm a big fan of Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion which is quite similar to this treatment.  They're both in a thin liquid form and both are applied by dipping a cotton bud into the liquid and then applying it to the spot.  However, the Drying Lotion is in 2 parts and you need to ensure the cotton bud passes through both before applying, whereas the Night Time Spot Lotion needs to be shaken first before you apply it.

It's difficult not to compare these two as they're such similar treatments and I've only ever come across one other brand that has done something like this (I think it was called Bye Bye Blemish; it used to be available at Boots years ago but I haven't seen it for a while) and I do believe that this is a really good approach to treating spots.  Whilst the ingredients are all spot-fighting high-achievers, what I believe works best in these kind of treatments is that the fact that it's like applying a blanket over the spot (I wanted to say suffocation but I think that sounds a bit too extreme!) so nothing can get in to help the bacteria thrive.  Therefore, the spot only has itself and the spot-fighting ingredients to deal with and this works really well at shortening it's life span.

How it looks when first applied. 

When applied, this dries very quickly and forms a matte, white mark on the skin that stays until you're ready to remove it.  The idea is that you apply it to each individual spot, but as I usually get small clusters of the little horrors, I tend to apply it fairly liberally to the patch of spots and then go over the main 'biggies' with one more layer.  This may well be overkill for most skins but as I have pretty resilient skin it's never caused any problems.

After drying it turns slightly more sheer.

I was hoping this would prove a rival for my beloved Drying Lotion, and whilst it's a good treatment, I think the Mario Badescu is just a little bit more me.  By this I mean that the Drying Lotion packs more of a punch, feels stronger on the skin and, for me, dries the spots with more speed.  However, if you don't get on with Mario Badescu's offering or prefer something a little more gentle that still packs a good punch, this is definitely a worthy product to try.  I do like the fact that it dries quickly (much more quickly than the Drying Lotion) and it's good for times when I'm trying to be gentle with my skin but still need to treat spots.  A little bottle goes a long way and whilst this has been slightly pipped by the Drying Lotion, it's still in my list of top spot treatments.

I'll be reviewing the Day Time Spot Lotion soon and you can purchase this from the Renee Rouleau site here for $28.50 which, at time of writing, converts to just under £18.

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Retardex Toothpaste and Oral Rinse

I'm someone who really loves that Hollywood smile.  I think there's nothing more appealing than brilliant white teeth and as a consequence I'm always on a hunt for things that'll help me achieve this.  However, I drink lots of coffee, lots of coke and I'm also a filthy smoker, so I don't make my quest for brilliant white teeth any easier on myself.

Having said that, I don't think my teeth show particularly bad signs of staining.  I certainly don't have anywhere near brilliant white teeth, but I wouldn't say they're terrible either.  I'm a real pedant when it comes to oral hygiene and it's something I'm happy to spend money on.  I use a Sonicare three times a day and I always follow up with a mouth wash.  I also do my best to floss with flossing sticks, although I'll happily admit to being a bit rubbish at flossing regularly.  I've tried so many different types of whitening products and I've only come across a few that work.

I've been using Retardex for several months and have been meaning to review it for a while.  I was originally sent a sample to try, but by the time I was ready to review it it looked like this:

I've since purchased a new tube and thought I'd share my thoughts on it.  The first thing I'll say about this toothpaste is that it is by no means a quick fix; it's non-abrasive and very gentle, so the results are very gradual. If I'm honest, I struggled to notice any difference until recently and it was only other people who kept asking me if I'd had my teeth whitened that made me think this was doing a better job than I initially assessed.

It's worth noting that the dominant selling point of this toothpaste isn't it's whitening ability, but more specifically it's formulated to break down the molecules in your mouth that cause bad breath.  It's also aimed to strengthen teeth and is suitable for sensitive teeth.

What's really interesting about this is the fact that it doesn't foam.  I actually much prefer this as I feel like overly foamy toothpastes get in the way of the brushing.  Certainly when I'm using this with my Sonicare I can feel the toothpaste moving through the gaps in my teeth which feels very similar to the cleaning process administered by a hygienist.

Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of the Oral Rinse, but it comes unflavoured with a sachet of mint that you can add yourself.  I like being given this choice as I really don't like strong tasting mouthwashes and not everyone likes synthetic fruit or mint tasting breath!  Therefore I used this without the added mint flavouring as I prefer it to taste this way.  It's difficult to assess whether it's made any difference to my oral health or not, but it's a good mouthwash and I'll continue to use it.

Speaking of flavour, the toothpaste is mint flavoured but it's very gentle so you're left with a very subtle taste of mint rather than anything overpowering.  As a good, daily toothpaste this is something I'm sticking with as my teeth always feel clean after use, it's kept my teeth looking whiter and the lack of foam really appeals to me.  I'll leave you to judge whether you think it's whitened my teeth or not, but one thing I think the pictures do demonstrate is that my teeth definitely look a lot brighter; in the before pictures my teeth have a slight grey tinge that appears to be gone in the after pictures.

This isn't the cheapest toothpaste around, but Boots often run deals on it and I'm a fan of toothpaste that seems to gently and effectively keep my teeth bright and clean, so I'm sticking with it.

Retardex toothpaste costs £8.12 here at Boots and the Oral Rinse is £6.12 also from Boots here.

*PR Sample

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Models Own and Hed Kandi Collaboration

From L-R: Beach Party, Balearic Cool, Disco Heaven, Ibiza Mix, Hedonist.

Proving that the more cost-effective nail brands can come up with immensely pretty collaborations just as effectively as their more expensive counterparts, here's a very summery set of varnishes as a result of Models Own joining forces with Ibiza favourites, Hed Kandi.  The five new shades in strong, sunshine colours launch thins month and are priced at £5 a pop.

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Leticia Haute Coiffure Salon Review

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the Marylebone based salon, Leticia Haute Coiffure which is run by stylist to the stars, Pierre Doumit.  Having visited the website of the salon before my visit, I was a little worried that it would be a bit too 'fashion' for my tastes (I don't play well with fashion types....) but thankfully all worries were calmed on arrival.

The salon itself has struck the perfect balance between appearing trendy and upmarket without overdoing the decor or flamboyance so you're left with a comfortable, relaxed yet professional environment that's warm and welcoming whilst still maintaining that luxury feel.

The man himself; Pierre. 

As soon as I arrived I was settled down with a drink (if you have any chocoholic inclinations then I INSIST you try their Choco-Milk which is a milkier version of their Hot Chocolate) which comes with a couple of those caramel biscuit things that I can never remember the name of but I'm always happy to see and even happier to munch on.  Pierre then joined me for a chat to discuss my hair requirements.  It's worth noting a couple of things at this point; firstly, I'm incredibly fussy and hard to please regarding my hair and secondly, there is nothing I hate more than being told (read: barked at) what will look good on me.  Having lived with my hair for 28 years, I'm open to suggestion, but I detest being bullied into things and I've come across this again and again at salons which I find incredibly frustrating.  Thankfully, Pierre is my idea of the perfect stylist as he first asked me what it was I wanted to achieve and then mentioned a couple of subtle changes that he felt would enhance the look I was going for.  I always feel that changing a hair look should be a team effort that includes involvement from both the stylist and the person being styled and whilst Pierre had ideas, he didn't give me the impression that he would take it personally if I didn't like them.

The Before Pics:

We agreed to change both the colour and the length of my hair.  I prefer my hair to be above my shoulders and as I have a long face (Pierre tactfully referred to it as "oval") it can't be too severe and needs to be a style that will give the illusion of a slightly wider face to balance out the length of my face.  I always like to go lighter when the sun starts appearing, however, I had very red hair last year that's been a bit of a pain to remove, so Pierre and I agreed that we should lift the whole colour a couple of shades and make it slightly warmer so that we ended up with a warm blonde to counteract the red.  Pierre also felt that a few subtle highlights around the face and crown would ensure it looked multi-tonal and natural.

During the highlight application. 

Pierre got to work on mixing my colour and applying it and whilst talking to him it became very apparent just how much thought he'd put into creating the right atmosphere for the salon.  He's very experienced in the hair industry and knows what people like; they want to feel comfortable and feel as though they can say and do exactly as they please (within reason....!) and for this to occur, stylists need to create that comfortable vibe that puts clients at ease.  Considering the clientele he's used to working with (not only celebrities but royalty too) there's no trace of arrogance and conversation flows as much or as little as you'd like.  It's also absolutely essential that I now mention Jack, who is Pierre's King Charles Spaniel puppy who was my solid companion for the visit and took immense pleasure in nibbling on my fingers whilst my colour was applied.  If there's anything truly high fashion in the salon, it's Jack's outfit as you can see in the pictures.

Jack making himself comfortable.  

I don't know how Pierre gets anything done with that little face following him around...

For me, there are two markers for a good salon that I really take into account when deciding whether to revisit.  Firstly, the massage you get during the conditioner application.  As with facialists who apply a mask and then leave the room (when my thoughts are that they could be giving me a massage during the treatment!) I'm also not a fan of salons that apply a conditioner and then leave you with your head dipped awkwardly into the sink for ten minutes.  I actually had the best head massage to date thanks to Alex (Pierre's assistant) who spent I'm guessing at least 15 minutes (could be less, could be an hour....) doing an excellent job at massaging my head whilst the conditioner did it's thing.

The second marker I use is how my hair is towel-dried.  This might sound like a weird one, but I am so careful when towel-drying my hair as the only reason I'm doing it is to remove excess moisture so I carefully squeeze and stroke it out.  Whereas at every salon I've ever attended, for some inexplicable reason, they insist on using a towel to ravage my hair with such ferocity that all I think about is the split ends I now have that I didn't have previously to the towel-drying.  So, as Alex came at me with the towel, I held my breath and waited for the ravage to ensue, but I'm (rather weirdly, I'm sure many of you are thinking....) thrilled to report that he dealt with my hair with the exact gentle care that I do myself.  This alone has converted me to a LHC fan.

So it's all very well talking about the bits and bobs that culminate to ensure a pleasant visit to a salon, but the most important thing is how the hair looks when completed.  Pierre also mentioned earlier in my visit that my hair was very typically European, meaning that there's plenty of it, but it's very fine and much heavier at the ends so he suggested thinning the ends with a razor (yes, I wasn't sure on this idea either...) to release the heaviness.  It worked perfectly and now my hair is lighter and much easier to handle.  It falls where I want it to, doesn't lay flat and hangs beautifully.  I had the hair makeover last week and since then I've been trying various different approaches to styling it, all of which have proved easy and manageable, which are also two great ways to describe the hair itself.  The colour has really warmed my face and looks natural yet bright and summery.  All together I'd say this is exactly what my hair needed; it's lighter, brighter and easy to dress up or down with minimum effort.

So in conclusion, I really enjoyed my visit to Letitia Haute Coiffure (I'll quickly mention that Letitia is Pierre's wife's name; everybody say "awwww") and couldn't have asked for a better experience.  I felt comfortable with both the salon atmosphere and the way my hair makeover was put together, so whether you're in a hair slump and don't know what to do to brighten up your look, or you know exactly what you like and just want someone who will LISTEN to what you have to say then it's definitely worth visiting Letitia Haute Coiffure for a cup of Choco-Milk, a play with Jack and maybe even a hair treatment.

Leticia Haute Coiffure can be found at 61 Chiltern Street, W1U 6NG.  The nearest Underground station is Baker Street, but there's also a gigantic car park 2 minutes down the road.  Prices start at £35 for a cut and finish with a graduate stylist and £25 for a natural glossing colour.  More info can be found at the LHC website here where you can browse the huge array of beauty and hair services available.

*Treatment was received complimentary for the purpose of this review.  Everything discussed in this review is my honest opinion.  

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Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper and Hair Touch-Up in Blonde

Regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of Bobbi Brown as most of the products I've used from the range (which covers pretty much all of what's available!) have become staples in my daily make-up routine.  I was really excited to see the new Brow Collection additions which includes two shades of Brow Kits and this Natural Brow Shaper alongside the already existing Brow Pencil, all of which make-up the full Brow Collection.  

The Brow Shaper is pretty much a small mascara that you use to shape and define eyebrows.  There's a clear option available if you're after something to hold your brows in place, but if you want the added convenience of definition then there are four coloured shades available.

The shade I use is Blonde as I'm very fair.  I'd say that this is almost a neutral, light brown, although having swatched it on my hand it looks like it leans a tiny bit red.  However, I have very mousy coloured brows and this doesn't redden them at all.

Application is easy, I like to brush my brows into place then use this over the top to add a bit of definition and to keep them in place.  However, what's really useful about this is and what I feel makes it a bit different from other brow wands is the fact that it really does make a difference to the definition of my brows, so I've started skipping filling them in all together for day wear, although I still would when I'm going for a fuller make-up look.  For natural "no make-up" days this is perfect.  

Brows aren't left feeling sticky or like they've been glued in place, they just look neat and very naturally defined.  The most important plus for me is that I can skip filling my brows in as I prefer to do as little as possible in the mornings so this is a real time saver.

A word of warning, you need a very gentle hand when applying this if you like natural definition.  However, if you like your brows to look heavily defined then this can be built-up to a surprisingly high level of definition considering it's just a brow wand.

I'm really happy with my purchase (even more so as there was a John Lewis 10% off promotion at the time I purchased it) and I'll absolutely replace when I finish it.  I really like the fact that there are several shades available and if you're looking for a quick and easy way to naturally neaten your brows then this is definitely a product I recommend.  It costs £14.50 and can be found here.

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Five Things That I Love (March 2012)

It's been a very busy couple of weeks with lots of exciting beauty launches so I've spent the last few days catching up on things rather than blogging: bad beauty blogger! However, I've definitely got a lot to write about, which I intend to do this week.  In the meantime, here are my favourite products for March:

Etat Pur Citric Acid 

I very recently reviewed this fully here and obviously it's going to be in my love list as it's done some amazing things for my skin.  I can't stress enough just how impressive this new to the UK brand is, so if you haven't had a chance to check it out already, I strong recommend heading over to the Etat Pur site and absorbing yourself in their huge range of products.  I've now cut down this to every other day (up until a couple of days ago I was using it every day) and I'm also using their Salicylic Acid on the days I'm not using this.  At the Erno Laszlo event last week I bumped into Jane from British Beauty Blogger who mentioned that my skin was looking very good, and considering the only time I've ever been told that is during ReAura treatments, I think that's quite a credit to this active!  The only thing I do recommend if you start using this is a good night cream to go over the top, which leads me nicely to......

Erno Laszlo Velvet Night Cream

.....which I've been using every night since the event last Thursday.  Obviously I need to continue using it to ensure it doesn't have any funny impact on my skin (as soooo many other products do) but it's safe to say that, assuming my skin continues to stay happy, that this is one 'ell of a night cream.  It pretty much does exactly what it says on the tin and leaves my skin feeling like velvet right up until I apply it again the following night.  It's a very rich cream that I initially thought my skin wouldn't have a hope of working with, but so far so good and I'll definitely report back with the full review as soon as I've used it for long enough.

Illamasqua Freak

I raved about this scent when I received a sample in a previous beauty box.  My lovely (but sadly ex) boyfriend bought this for me for Valentines day and I'm still loving it.  It's definitely a Marmite sent and not for the faint hearted, but if you're a fan of strong yet feminine scents then this is definitely worth checking out.  The bottle is also gorgeous and incredibly unusual, so it looks pretty on my dressing table.

Max Factor Xperience Boutique Sheer Gloss Balm in Coral

If you can ignore the annoying name, this is a really great and cheap lip gloss that leaves lips with a hint of colour and a teeny, tiny bit of sparkle that's OK for day wear.  I initially mentioned this last summer as I wore this day and night throughout my holiday, so now the sun is starting to appear again, it's time to add some dewy, gentle sparkle to my lips.  This is a seriously pretty pink that can be built up to quite a good bit of colour whilst still staying light and summery.  This is pretty much my perfect pink and it ticks all the boxes - moisturising, subtle, baby pink inclinations - so if you're a fan of subtle colour then this is definitely a product worth checking out.  I believe it comes in 3 shades and the shade I use is Coral which I think is a bit misleading as it's definitely more pink than coral in colour.

Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Cuticle Pen

Regular readers will know how much I struggle with my cuticles, but since my last manicure I've been on a mission to get control of my own cuticles so I don't have to keep forking out for the help of a pro.  However, the flaw in that plan is that I can only really be bothered to do something quick (rather than soak and push them back every couple of days) and thankfully I appear to not be alone in my laziness as this treatment pen allows me to brush on the treatment as regularly as I like.  I tend to do it a couple of times a day - mainly when I'm watching telly - and it soaks in within about 5 minutes.  As you can be very specific with your application, it also means that there's never any greasy fingertips left in my wake.  I've been using this both on the cuticles themselves and on the slightly dry area on the outside of my fingers (from playing guitar) and it's had a great impact on both.

As usual with my love list, there were quite a few products that didn't make the list but I'm still loving, so no doubt they'll make an appearance on next month's list instead.

*Etat Pur Citric Acid and Erno Laszlo Velvet Night Cream were press samples.

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Etat Pur Citric Acid AHA

So I'm breaking my usual rule about trialling skincare products for a certain amount of time before reviewing them by posting this, but it needs to be done!  I recently blogged about how excited I was about the Etat Pur range landing over here and I'm pleased to report that, having tried the majority of the products I had in my goody bag, there isn't one that disappointed.  However, the one that's really got me excited is the Citric Acid from their actives range.

The idea of the actives is that they're concentrated doses of treatment that deal with your specific concerns.  There are actives for everything so it's definitely worth having a mooch through their range.  The citric acid is aimed at dull skin and can be used for evening out skin tone.  The guide on the website is very comprehensive and suggests various different ways you can use this (as with all the products, there's a lot of info so you know what you're getting before you order) and I've been using it every night after cleansing but before moisturising.  You're supposed to do this for a week then drop it down to 1-3 times a week, but I've been using it nightly for ten days, purely because it's been keeping my spots at bay without drying my skin out.  It's worth noting that this is a pretty strong treatment, so if you're prone to sensitive skin then tread carefully with this.

I have said on several other posts that I really believe that anything citric is amazing for spot prone skin like mine, and this has been proved again by using this product.  From the first day after I used this I could tell a real difference in my skin as the spots I had had shrunk drastically and I didn't have the 'new morning spots' that I usually get.  I've had 2 spots since I started using this, but not in the usual chin/jawline area; instead they're around where my sunglasses sit which means I need to clean my sunglasses I think!  My skin is more even, my spots aren't a major issue any more and the hyperpigmentation has started to fade.  I do also have an active aimed at hyperpigmentation so I'll be using that soon, mainly as I don't want to keep using the citric acid every night as I'm worried my skin will build up a tolerance.  So my plan is to use the citric every other night and the one for hyperpigmentation every other night too.

When applying this treatment it feels a little strange as your skin feels like it's been tightened for a few minutes afterwards as it's drying.  You also definitely do not want to get this in any open wounds; I got this in a split cuticle and boy did it sting! I did use this on an open spot and it stung too for a few minutes, but the next day the spot was so significantly reduced that I think it's worth the pain...but you may disagree!

I would say that nothing has improved my skin as much as Skinceuticals Blemish and Age Defense Serum apart from this.  I was planning to replace my Skinceuticals serum as I'll be running out soon, but now I have this I won't be bothering and the best part is that the Skinceuticals is around £70, whereas this is £11.60.  I am astounded that something so cheap can rival something so expensive but it definitely has and consequently is now a firm member of my regular skincare.

Etat Pur as a whole have really delivered with their products so if you haven't had a chance to check them out I strongly suggest you do.  There's a sampling service available and the prices are incredibly reasonable, so I'm just so pleased that we've got such a great brand readily available to us that doesn't cost the earth.  I'll definitely be reviewing more Etat Pur products so keep an eye out for them.

The main Etat Pur site is here and the Citric Acid is here.

*PR Sample

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Skin Purging: Necessary Adjustment?

I've been meaning to write about this for a while as it's something I often consider.  Skin purging is when your skin needs time to adjust to a product and therefore, allegedly, forces all the underlying issues (spots under the skin) to the surface within the first couple of weeks of using said product.  I often read blogs that say that after the initial purge, the product turned out to be great, but my belief is that a product should be great from day one.  If I use a product and it breaks me out, as far as I'm concerned, it isn't worth pursuing.  Why would I want to put something on my face that my skin obviously doesn't like, that could risk more post-acne scars and that has some sort of ingredient that is forcing my pores to become infected?

Yet lots of people think that purging is something that is an acceptable part of trying new skincare.  I try a lot of skincare and mix it up a lot of the time.  Sometimes my skin will just freak out in protest and I know that this is the time when I need to cut it all out and give it a break.  However, my skin freakouts are when my skin decides to work it's way through all the various skin types (dry, combi, oily, dehydrated etc) in a very short space of time due to me confusing it with all sorts of different products and treatments.  This is not the same as purging.  If I'm using a product that is specifically aimed at treating spots, then I will not give it the benefit of the doubt if one of the first things it does is give me spots!

Within 24 hours of using a product I can tell whether I'll continue to do so.  A good product will show some signs of immediate impact, albeit often very small.  So if a product appears to have given me under the skin spots that are apparently a sign it's working as it's purging my skin, I will quickly move on to something that bypasses this apparent essential phase.

I realise that people may disagree with me on this point, so I'll just ask this: if I were to give you a hand cream with the instructions that it will make your skin much more dry for a couple of weeks before you start seeing any real difference, would you use it? I definitely wouldn't, so I approach my skincare with the same logic.

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OPI Summer Dreaming Set

Here's another BuyaPowa deal I got involved in, which was for a set of 4 OPI nail varnishes aimed at 'summering-up' toes in time for the arrival of sandal season.

  

The 4 shades of mini varnishes included really are perfect for summer and are all very bright with a cream/gloss finish.

Whilst these are perfect colours for toes, I personally love bright fingers too so I'm happy to wear these on my finger nails.

1 coat. 

The shades included are:

Dim Sum Plum - a true berry colour with strong purple overtones.  
Strawberry Margarita - a lovely bright pink that leans slightly blue.
Cajun Shrimp - a bright orangey/red that's probably easy to call coral, but it's a little too orange (in my opinion) to be a true coral.
La-Paz-Itively Hot - a very similar shade to Strawberry Margarita, just with added bluey/purple shimmer which results in a full fuschia finish.

Swatches are in the same order as above.

2 coats.

This set appears to be very popular as a couple of the usual retailers have sold out, but there are still a few floating around on eBay and Amazon.

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17 Spring Picks and Giveaway (NOW CLOSED)

I recently had the opportunity to sample a few of the additions to the spring line of 17 make-up for the beauty blogger challenge which you can check out here.  Here's a run through of my favourite items from the range:

Miracle Matte Foundation

I was sooo sceptical about this foundation as I'm used to very high expectations due to only really using fairly expensive brands, so I was really impressed when I tried this as the coverage is not only very natural, but very buildable too.  It has a completely matte finish so no shine shows through for a good few hours (I have determinedly greasy skin) but it isn't that chalky matte that usually makes me avoid anything with a matte finish.  It covers redness perfectly and is quite a thick consistency so it works really well as a concealer if you prefer less of a full cover finish.  For £5.99 this is an absolute steal and can be purchased here.

BB Blemish Balm

This is a light coverage foundation that works just as well as the more expensive brands and leaves skin looking fresh and dewy without looking shiny or greasy.  If you're like me and prefer to use a light all over coverage and then touch up with a concealer then this works as a great base that's easy to apply and very natural.  It's £6.99 and available here.

Perfect Definition Eye Liner

I like as natural a line as possible when it comes to eyelining and this pencil has hit the right balance between being soft enough to not drag along the eye line, but firm enough to create a neat and natural line without smudging all over the place.  If you have a look at my FOTD post here you can see just how easy it was to create a natural and neat line, but what's also great about this is that it can be smudged effectively for a smoky eye as it doesn't set immediately.  It lasts well, doesn't bleed out and again is incredibly cost-effective at £2.89 here.

Peep Show Mascara

I've raved about this in a few other posts as it gives such a beautiful finish.  It's a little tricky to describe what I like about this mascara, but I'll try! The finish is kind of "naturally dramatic" meaning that it really does boost both the volume and length of my lashes, but it doesn't look overdone and it feathers the ends of the lashes so they look fluttery rather than spiky.  I also absolutely love the pink, fishnet-style packaging and it costs £6.29 here.

Berry Crush Lip Stain

This is my absolute favourite product from the range as it ticks all my lip colour boxes.  It's a really flattering colour, it applies beautifully and with ease, it works both as a stain or as more of a lipstick when topped up with the included lipbalm and it lasts really well.  The lipbalm works as a perfect base if you're prone to dry lips like me, so I tend to apply the lipbalm, let that sink in, then apply the stain and then if I fancy a glossier finish I apply the balm again.  It's soooo pretty on the lips and if I've overslept (which is a regular event) then I can go with minimal make-up and apply this to make me look like I've made much more effort than I have. I CANNOT WAIT to see the other shades in the range which are arriving soon.  I can't find it on the Boots site so it might not have arrived yet, but when it does, if you're a fan of popping brights that are easy to wear then I strongly recommend checking these out.

So there you have it, these are my picks of the spring line from 17.  It has been such an eye opener getting to know 17 make-up as the range has really come a long way since I last used it...back in the day....when I was a young whippersnapper.....*sigh*

Anyway! The lovely people at Boots have offered me a couple of goody bags to giveaway to my fabulous readers which will include some of the best bits from the spring range.  Included in the goody bag:

Blush and Glow in Peachy and Bloom
Spring Fling Eye Palettes in Spring Bright and Hazy Days
Berry Kiss Lip Stains in Cherry Berry
Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Spring Petal

I have two to giveaway and to be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is follow me on here, Twitter or Facebook and post a comment below letting me know what your first ever make-up item was.  My mum bought me a trio of Mary Quant goodies that I fell in love with instantly, so I look forward to reading about what you first tried as well.  Don't forget to leave your Twitter ID or e-mail address so I can let you know you've won.

Normal comp rules apply and this will close at midnight 1st April 2012.  Good luck everyone!

*All products mentioned were PR samples

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