New Skin: First Look at Baby Quasar Plus

I was sooo excited to receive the Baby Quasar Plus*, having spent the last week or so lusting after it online (considering the weather I've had plenty of time to do so), so I'm happy to report that it finally arrived this morning.  I say "finally", but it actually only took five days to get here from America which I thought was pretty impressive!

The Baby Quasar Plus (which I'm going to refer to as Baby Q for an easy life) is designed to combat signs of age around the eye area, often referred to as Crows Feet.  However, many online users have used it all over the face and reported positive results for skin clarity, pore size and reduction of all signs of ageing, so I'm going to be trying it out with that in mind.  To be honest, I did think it was a tool designed specifically for all over the face but the instructions dictate otherwise, so I'll double check that with the manufacturer and update on my next Baby Q post.

The Baby Q arrives in a really well packaged carrier which I'm a big fan of for gadgets, as I hate having them just sitting around waiting to be broken.  Inside you get the Baby Q, the adaptor, the instruction manual and the quick start guide. It's very easy to use; you simply plug it in, place it on your face, push the button and off you go.  Each treatment cycle lasts for 3 minutes, so technically it should only take 6 minutes a day if you're just treating the eye area.

You have to be careful with your placement as you DO NOT want to be shining this directly into the eyes as the lights are extremely bright.  The treatment itself was extremely easy and not half as awkward as I expected it to be.  The device is comfortable to hold (I can happily waffle away on the phone whilst still holding it in place) and I ended up doing 7 treatments in total; 1 on each eye, 1 on each cheek, 1 on each jaw line and 1 on the forehead.

There was no real sensation other than a bit of warmth and the skin felt warm afterwards for a couple of minutes.  Rather horrifyingly, my crows feet looked much more pronounced after use but this settled down after 10 minutes or so.  Other reviewers have mentioned that they noticed a firmer, glowier look to their skin immediately afterwards.  I didn't notice that, but one thing I did see was quite a reduction in the depth of my eye bag: you know that line you get from the inner eye that goes all the way out towards the temples, and the skin within this is usually quite puffy? I'm struggling to see any puffiness at all which is great, but could be temporary (and could just be me flattening it with the head of the device!) so we shall see.

So far so good; the device is easy to use, easy to set up, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens and I'll update as I go along.  The recommended treatment programme is 5 times a week which I think will be quite easy to integrate into daily life i.e. in front of the telly.

The Baby Quasar Plus is currently on special for £249.99 and comes with a 5 year warranty and a 60 day money back guarantee.

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Ole Henriksen Truth is in the Eyes Eye Peel

Ole Henriksen is one of those brands that I'm fairly certain I would be addicted to if I wasn't on a strict regime for another company, as all his products not only sound amazing, but they're beautifully formulated with some cutting edge ideas, and nothing encompasses these elements more than the Truth is in the Eyes Eye Peel*.

I've always thought that the beauty market was crying out for a product that would effectively yet gently rejuvenate the eye area (Olay made an attempt at this a few years back, but their efforts weren't great), as since it's an area that quickly starts to show signs of wear and tear, surely it would make sense that it would benefit from some very gentle peeling.  Ole's Eye Peel fills that gap perfectly and does all these things and more.

It's an eye treatment that you apply before your moisturiser; you apply it to the outer orbital which works on the main areas that show lines, i.e. the crows feet.  You need the teeniest, tiniest amount which you tap in and leave to dry, before applying your usual eye cream.  

Not the most helpful image, but this should give you an idea of the consistency; this is enough for one eye. 

I was using this last night when I realised I hadn't actually reviewed it on here and thought this was something that should be rectified immediately as it's a product I will most definitely repurchase, although I'm limiting using it to only my "facial days" which equates to three to four times a week.  You can use it daily and when I purchase the larger size I will definitely move up to daily treatments.  It's just brilliant at smoothing the area and I can definitely tell the days where I've used it the night before as it really does make a difference.  Tread really carefully during application as you DO NOT want to get this in your eyes, but other than that it's just wonderful; it slotted straight into my skincare routine and will no doubt remain there for quite some time.  It's available now from Feel Unique for £39.  

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New Skin: I don't want normal skin, I want great skin!

It's a few weeks in since my last update and my skin is still acting normally.  I'm not completely clear, but I'm down to one teeny tiny spot most days (I'd say all days but I had a day last week where I had two) and these are the type of spots that acne-sufferers dream of; they're barely visible, easy to conceal and disappear within a couple of days.  No pain, no bleeding, no infection, no manky scabbing and no month-long heal time...it's all looking very promising!

Therefore, with the new year comes a new skincare focus.  Instead of only taking into account my spots and little else, I can now start work on my other skin issues which I've narrowed down to mainly scarring, slightly enlarged pores, skin tone and clarity and, sadly first signs of ageing.  Therefore there are a few things I'll be starting work on shortly and I thought I'd give you a heads-up so you can get an idea of firstly, what I hope will work with these skin issues and secondly, what reviews will be appearing soon!

Jan Marini Glycolic Peels*

Now the lovely peeps at Jan Marini have decided it's time for me to start the next phase of my new skin plan and crank it up a notch with some Glycolic acid peels.  My mum used to administer these when I was a teenager so I've already tried them (a long, long, long time ago, back in the day when I was a Goth with a secret Spice Girls obsession) and they were fantastic for my skin, so I can't wait to start on these again.  Glycolic acid is one of the best things for acne scarring and skin clarity and it's most suitable for people who are no longer suffering from acne (if you are and you want a peel then consider trying either Lactic acid which is great for sensitive skins or Salicylic acid which cuts through the glue-like oiliness that most acne sufferers have on their skin) and as I'm tentatively regarding myself as this, I'm hoping these will reduce my scarring considerably.

Baby Quasar Plus*

Man am I excitedly and anxiously awaiting the arrival of this bad boy as firstly, I do love me a beauty gadget and secondly, I've spent days and days reading reviews and apparently it's really amazing! It's a red-light device that promotes cellular renewal as well as healing which is perfect for me at the moment as these are both things that will benefit my skin type immensely.  I'm hoping that it'll speed up my scarring recovery (by stimulating collagen thus forcing my skin to renew at a quicker rate), improve my overall skin tone and also work on my early signs of ageing which are mostly faint lines on my forehead and around my eyes.  A lot of users have reported that this gives skin the most unbelievable glow after the first few uses, so I cannot wait to get my mitts on this!

Slendertone Face*

Another beauty gadget! I must confess, I've had this sitting around for absolutely ages but I didn't see much point in using it since my skin was so chock full of infected spots that I figured I probably wouldn't notice any results as whenever I looked at my face, all I saw were spots.  This facial exercising tool is mostly aimed at tightening and lifting any sagging.  Thankfully I'm a little too young to show any major signs of sagging, but since I have a long and rather angular face, I'll be much more susceptible to sagging so the earlier I start trying to combat it, the better! The other reason I'm keen to introduce this into my regular skin maintenance is due to the fact that I'm hoping the stimulation (the tool sends what I'd describe as little electric shocks which force the muscles to contract) will also stimulate cellular renewal and ensure my skin is repairing as quickly and efficiently as possible.  I'll update with a more thorough post on this device when I've played with it a little longer.

So there we have it! Note that I'm avoiding anything too brutal (yes, microdermabrasion, I'm looking at you) as one of the main things the Jan Marini skincare regime has taught me is that my skin doesn't need to be scratched away with nasty manual exfoliators and can instead be aided in exfoliation with chemicals such as Glycolic acid.  I really do think that chemical exfoliation is much, much better for all skin types and if you're like me and miss that buffed feeling you get with manual exfoliation then you can get it from a Washi cloth, muslin cloth or flannel.  Fingers crossed for me everyone and I'll keep you regularly updated on what's working and what isn't.

read more "New Skin: I don't want normal skin, I want great skin!"

Una Brennan Superfacialist Rose Products: At Home Facial

Anybody who follows me on Twitter will have had to put-up with my somewhat irrational excitement over the news that I'm now allowed to introduce certain products into my skincare routine thanks to the fact that my spots are considerably reduced and I no longer suffer from infected spots.  I still have to be very selective about products I introduce and they can only be complimentary treatment type products, so nothing that needs to be used daily.

Therefore, this means I'm allowed to use masks again and I can't tell you just how much I have missed the indulgence of a bit of at home pampering.  The Jan Marini products are absolutely wonderful and very effective, but they're also very clinical and don't pander to that pampering element that I love so much in skincare, so to find out that I can use masks again was extremely pleasing and I immediately started working out what masks I would use.  Within minutes I had decided the first one I wanted to try was one from Una Brennan as I've been lusting after her products for a while, and coincidentally, a couple of days after I purchased her Rose Intense Moisture Mask, the oil and cleanser from the same range landed on my doorstep, so I took this as a sign that I needed a night of good ol' fashioned, indulgent pampering.

I would say my skin is leaning towards normal at the moment with the occasional breakout.  However, it has been showing signs of pretty severe dehydration; no flakiness or dryness, but it just feels a little tight and looks a tad crepey if I play around with it, as you do.  The Superfacialist Rose collection is designed to rehydrate skin so I figured it was a perfect starting block for my new skincare freedom.

Miracle Makeover Facial Oil*

The Rose range contains two products for cleansing to allow and encourage double-cleansing which is one of the things I've missed doing as I'm a firm believer in thoroughly cleansed skin.  I absolutely love oil cleansers so it was almost impossible to explain just how happy I was to start using an oil cleanser again, albeit only as a pampering treat.  This is a beautiful, rich, gentle and clarifying oil with a delicate rose scent that you warm in your hands and work over your face.  If you've never oil-cleansed then this is a great product to start with, as it's a really rich oil but it doesn't feel greasy and washes away without leaving a film. I implore you to spend a couple of minutes massaging your skin with this as you'll wonder why you didn't delve into oil cleansing sooner.

Hydrate Cleanser*

This is another rich product that doesn't feel like it's chocked full of pore-clogging grease and instead feels gentle and soothing.  I've mentioned many times that I'm not one to get particularly excited about facial washes (although I will say that the Jan Marini one is exceptional; however it contains a pretty strong dose of Glycolic Acid so inevitably it's going to pack a punch) and this one is no exception, but it is a good-quality and well formulated cleanser that will leave skin feeling hydrated, cleansed and clean without that horrid stripped feeling that a lot of wash-off cleansers leave.  I used this after the oil and with the Clarisonic to give my skin a really deep clean before applying the mask.

Intense Moisture Mask 

I've always been a big fan of moisture masks as regardless of your skin type, every skin needs a moisture boost now and then (especially spot-prone types as we're the ones using all the drying ingredients) so I've amassed quite a collection over the years.  This one feels very indulgent and cooling and again doesn't swamp your skin, so you end up feeling like your skin is free to take what it wants from the mask.  This is also one you only need to leave on for five minutes and it does seem to perform quickly, as I wouldn't say there was any difference between how much was left on the skin surface after 5 minutes to how much remained after 10 minutes.  This is a really good choice for those who have dehydrated rather than dry skin as it left skin feeling very smooth and softened, although I'm not sure if it would be rich enough for dryer skin types.

If I had to pick one product to recommend from the above three then I'd say go for the facial oil as it's the sort of product that will easily integrate into any existing skincare routine you may already have in place, and I would imagine would suit most skin types.  These three products combined made for beautifully smooth, plump and moisturised skin that felt pampered and taken care of.  I have to be strict with myself and not go overboard on new skincare, but I'm really craving the indulgence and simplicity of this routine again, so it's safe to say this mini-facial will be my go-to whenever my skin is feeling in need of a moisture boost.

All products are available now from Boots, and they've got various specials on meaning you can save anything from £2 to £5 depending on the product.

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Lucris Washi Cloths

So rarely does a product come along that you know is immediately going to become a staple and leaves you wondering how you didn't know about it sooner!  Lucris Washi Cloths* are a range of essential cleansing basics which include the key product - the Washi Cloths - as well as two further products; the Skin Polishing Towel and the Spiral Cotton Buds.  This review will focus on the Washi Cloths.

The Washi Cloths are small, cotton cloths that are used to remove cleanser and very gently buff skin; both incredibly basic functions that I'm sure most people do regularly.  One of the many differences these cloths offer is that they are brilliantly produced; so they hold water and heat well, are soft and very kind to skin and are so easy to use.

The buffing element is perfect for my skin type as I've really tried to avoid anything too exfoliating ever since I started my new skin regime, yet I still love that 'buffed skin' feel that you can only really get from manual exfoliation.  Washi Cloths are far more gentle than a flannel or even a muslin cloth (the latter of which I always find a little too tough on spots; especially if they're infected) so the result is that skin is left feeling well polished without feeling overly exfoliated.  The balance is absolutely perfect.

Another great thing about these cloths is that they're so incredibly cheap, so you can buy a pack of 10 for £7.95 and I'd say each cloth can be used 4-7 times before it needs a wash...it's worth pointing out that up until writing this review I thought they were disposable, but having read through the site they're actually washable.  I've been using mine and chucking them away so I'm now really pleased (and slightly miffed that I've thrown a few away) that they can be reused!

They come in a multitude of designs (although this relates to the packaging and not the product; all the cloths are pure white) and can be purchased in various amounts, for example you can pick a selection of individual designs or packs in different quantities and they arrive in lovely pink packaging that's oh-so-pretty and would make a gorgeous gift.

These are total bargain wash clothes that I recommend if you do any kind of water-based cleansing (they're great around the eye area too) and if you use any AHA or BHA products then these are ideal due to how gentle they are.  Have a look at the Washi Cloth site here where you can check out the various designs available.

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New Skin: N-Lite Review and Picture Update

I'll start by apologising for the gory close-ups of my horrid skin but I thought it was necessary!!  The pictures well all taken about 4-6 weeks apart to give you an idea of the changes occurring.

I've now completed my course of N-Lite and I'm still using the Jan Marini products as mentioned here.  As a blogger, I believe it's my job to try and give my readers as much information as possible so they can assess the product/treatment themselves and decide accordingly whether it's something they'd be interested in pursuing, so that's what I'm going to try and do today.

I'll start with the N-Lite review.  Firstly I'll say that after months of moaning about my spots, I've *finally* reached a point where I'm not really getting many any more which is great.  I had three treatments in total and pain wise they were quite uncomfortable; the first one I had wasn't too bad, but the following two were done using a stronger level on the laser and boy did they smart.  However, it's not unbearable and definitely worth tolerating to get the final outcome which appears to currently be clearer skin.  Thankfully the treatments are quick - 10 to 15 minutes tops - and there's no real downtime so you can get on with your plans straight afterwards.

Now on to the results.  I've really thought long and hard about what's been going on with my skin lately so I could try and make an informed conclusion on the results provided by both the Jan Marini products and the N-Lite.  I'm definitely at a point where I'm getting virtually no spots; certainly none of those horrid, cystic types that form to a giant infection - I haven't had for I'd say probably about 4 weeks now - and the spots I do get are tiny - either on the surface or just beneath - and disappear quickly without causing any drama, but this has all come at a price.

When I watched my original video talking about my bad skin, I was quite surprised to see the texture and finish of my skin.  Yes I had some pretty nasty breakouts, but they were mostly confined to my jawline and chin and the scarring was pretty minimal.  I was diagnosed with mild to moderate acne, yet once I started treatments this progressed to what I would deem moderate to severe acne as there were lots of angry, infected spots (including on my holiday where there appeared to be one growing on top of two which is as lovely as it sounds) and this lasted for quite some time; a good 4-5 months I'd say.  So whilst my skin is now virtually clear, I'm left with pretty severe scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Now, there are a few arguments to be made here; firstly, am I better off with PIH than spots?  In a way, yes.  It's a hell of a lot easier to cover, doesn't hurt and in theory should fade, and of course I could be just being a big drama queen moaning about them as they may all have faded within a few months.  If that's the case then I will be shouting from the rooftops as this really will be the perfect treatment plan for skin like mine.  I would be MORE than happy to recommend this treatment if it was a case of a few months with terrible skin, followed by a few months with terrible scarring before skin started looking half normal, so I really hope that's the case with me and obviously I'll definitely keep you updated as to what happens.  It is worth pointing out though that the scarring does appear to be easing up and fading quite rapidly, so I'm hoping this will continue.  I will also be starting a course of peels soon to speed up the process even further.

I'm very lucky to have had an amazing rep at Jan Marini who appears to be on a one-woman mission to give me perfect skin (partly because she's lovely and incredibly sympathetic and partly because she had skin exactly like mine for a really long time before she started using Jan Marini products) and the next phase will be focussed on repairing my scars (which thankfully are mostly surface scars) so as soon as any progress has been made with that, I shall let you know.

So in conclusion, if it isn't obvious, I'm still very undecided about it all and I don't think I can form a confident conclusion until a few months from now, where I'll be able to assess how the scarring is fairing and, more importantly, if my skin has stayed clear.  In the meantime I'd say I'm probably leaning towards saying that it is worth it as it's certainly great to have so few spots, but again I'll have to wait a little longer to give a definite yes or no on my treatments.  One thing I will say at this point is that my overall skin tone and finish has definitely improved and I really enjoy using the Jan Marini products.  Therefore, I'll shortly be writing up a post designated to my thoughts on the Jan Marini products I'm using to give you an idea of what's worked so far.

More info about N-Lite at The Private Clinic can be found here and more info about Jan Marini can be found here.  

So what do you think; can you see the improvement? 

Do you think the pros outweigh the cons so far? 

Disclosure: treatments and products provided for the purpose of this review.  

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Online Sales Still Worth Checking Out

I don't know about you, but it already feels like the Christmas season ended ages ago...or maybe that's just my wishful thinking?  Thankfully there are still ways to carry on the Christmas spirit and fight away the New Year blues by having a little splurge and grabbing a bargain.

A lot of people tend to visit the sale pages of sites when the sales first launch, but it's worth remembering that not all sale stock is put on the site immediately, plus as time goes on, further reductions are made.

Therefore, I thought I'd put a quick list together of some of the sales that still have plenty of bargains remaining, and later on I'll be showing you what I picked up.

All links will take you directly to the beauty-related sales page:

Nails Inc

SpaceNK

Harrods - Make-up Sale

Harrods - Skincare Sale

John Lewis 

In the image above, 1 and 3 are from the Harrods sale, 2 and 4 are from the John Lewis sale, 5 is from the Nails Inc sale and 6,7 and 8 are from the Space NK sale.  

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Top 12 of 2012

It's finally 2013! I hope everyone's year has started well and you're happy to be back to normality.  If not, it won't be too long before the snow starts and we'll all be stuck at home again so just hold on for that!

I've spent the last couple of hours going through all the products I've used throughout the past year and working out which I think deserve to be in my best of 2012 list.  The ones I've included are things that have really impressed me, become firm favourites and are all things I'll replace when I run out.  So without further ado, here are my top 12 of 2012.

Clarisonic

I've had the Clarisonic for quite a while now and I keep stopping using it, then start again and wonder why I stopped! This is such a great product for me as I love to deep cleanse, yet as my skin is no longer young enough for deep exfoliation, I'm trying to avoid anything too stripping or scrubby.  Since I purchased the new acne brush head, I've been really enjoying using the Clarisonic again so I'm definitely going to try and keep at it from now on.

Ginvera Green Tea BB Cream*

I was sent this back in February and fell in love with it's amazing coverage and flatteringly dewy finish.  There are soooo many BB Creams on the market now but Ginvera's offering, in my mind, is still one of the best, especially for my type of skin.

17 Mirror Shine Lipsticks*

I've converted several people on to these - including my mum who really isn't someone who gets excited about make-up, yet she visited Boots on three separate occasions to replace her shade when she ran out - and I keep the Belle shade on me at all times.  They're the perfect lip product; the finish is glossy, the texture is balm-like, the colour range is brilliant, the price is extremely affordable and the packaging is both functional and attractive, so they really do tick all the boxes.

Illamasqua Freak EDP

I've worked my way through quite a few fragrances over the past year, but I keep going back to Freak because it's the most perfect balance of pretty girliness with modern, sophisticated strength.  I love the bottle too!

Nails Inc Victoria*

This is the first of two nail shades I'm including in this list.  This one is one of those shades that you really have to have on to fully appreciate; it's Nails Inc's take on the always popular Rouge Noir which leaves nails with a glossy, deep, dark, blackened red.  Absolutely beautiful and suits both long and short nails.

L'Oreal INOA Hair Care range*

I've had these three (shampoo, conditioner and deep conditioner) for quite a few months now and I'm still using them religiously.  They keep my hair happy by ensuring it's well-conditioned without weighing it down.  It maintains my colour and the deep conditioner is especially fabulous.  I've tried a few different things on my hair since I started on these products and nothing comes close.

Laura Mercier Colour Luxe Palette

I think I've banged on about this palette enough, but I couldn't leave it out of the 2012 list because I've used it so many times! I've become a real Laura Mercier convert over the past year (I purchased a couple of goodies in the SpaceNK sale which I'll show you soon) and it all started with my love for this palette.  I usually end up using about 50% of a palette but everything in this has been used, from the blushes to the eyeshadows to the brushes and liners cakes; total love!

The Chapel Haircut*

Not technically a product, but it needed to be featured nonetheless as it was such a drastic change that has completely revolutionised the way I see my hair (I know a few other bloggers who feel the same about The Chapel!) and has allowed me a lot more freedom with styling and gave me a fringe that I actually love! I've had a few fringes in the past and I've always got fed up with them; I found them hard work and they always swamped my face, but I love this fringe, along with the colour and the cut. My hair has grown a bit since the initial chop, so I'm undecided whether to get it cut to the original length or grow it long as I've always wanted long hair with a fringe...so we'll see!

Jan Marini Factor-A Plus Face Mask*

This is one of my favourites from the Jan Marini line and I use it 3-4 times a week.  It's a bit of a Goldilocks mask as it's not too drying, not too moisturising, doesn't cake but still sets and is very comfortable and easy to use.  The packaging is a bit of a pain as the opening is tiny and gets clogged, but it's a small price to pay for such a great treatment that leaves skin feeling thoroughly cleansed, firm, clear and just brilliant.

Popup Paris Candles*

I'm still loving this brilliant candle company which places a diamond in one of every fifty candles they create.  The packaging is oh-so-pretty, the fragrance is lovely (my Grenadine-scented reminds me of Strawberry Hubba Bubba) and the minute I use mine up (which, alas, appears to contain no diamond) I'll be replacing.

Maybelline Forever Strong in Lilac Charm

I have a real thing for pastel shades on the nails; sometimes I like to experiment with other shades (that I equally love) but I always end up craving a good pastel.  I think it's because they can easily make hands look pretty, feminine and delicate, none of which my hands naturally are, sadly! This is a particularly good shade as I love pastel purple shades and this one is a rich, creamy lilac that is incredibly flattering.  I've just purchased a Models Own lilac so I'll be reviewing that soon too.

Butter London Cuticle Miracle Kit*

I've worked my way through so many cuticle products to try and deal with my severely unruly cuticles, but nothing has ever really worked as quickly or effectively as this kit.  The oil is pretty standard, but the remover is just brilliant; I now try and put aside a couple of hours a week where I really work at my nails and cuticles and I use copious amounts of both these treatments.  I also use a really good kit I picked up by Leighton Denny and I'll be posting about my weekly nail indulgence soon.

So there it is, my top 12 of 2012 and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what 2013 brings is in the exciting world of beauty!

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Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush

I've had it for a few weeks now, so I thought it was about time I reviewed the Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush* which joins the range of excellent skincare products in the Beautiful Skin line.  I was really excited to hear that Boots were releasing a cleansing brush, not just because I'm a big fan of the products in the Beautiful Skin line, but also because I thought it was about blimin' time that a company released a motorised cleansing brush that didn't cost a small fortune.

The Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush is compact, easy to handle and comes with two speed settings.  It's battery operated which makes it quite different to most other motorised cleansing brushes which usually rely on a charger instead.  I personally think a battery-operated device is not such a bad thing (I've said so much with that last sentence...) as it will travel well and when the device runs out of juice, you just pop the new batteries in and off you go.  I'm always letting my brushes run out of charge which then means I have to wait a few hours for it to recharge, which isn't ideal if you're in the habit of brush cleansing daily.

The two speed settings are operated with one button; so you press the button once to turn it on, again to move it up a speed and again to turn it off.  The brush itself contains impressively soft bristles that feel gentle and non-abrasive on the skin and are the right length to move around the skin surface easily without flailing.  The brush fully oscillates, meaning that it goes all the way around as opposed to a lot of other brushes which tend to part oscillate (move slightly right and left) or vibrate, and this is sadly where I believe the design of the brush comes undone.

Regular readers will know that I have pretty tough facial skin that tolerates most things really well. The fact that this brush is firstly fairly powerful, and secondly fully oscillates, means that it's really difficult to control when moving around the face.  The result is that you can't really cleanse effectively without really pressing it into the skin, which then means you're not so much brushing and more scrapping the skin which is something that I can't see any skin type benefiting from.  The fast speed of the brush also results in the skin being buffed rather than cleansed, which again isn't ideal for the delicate facial area.  After using this on the lowest setting, my skin was very red and a little sore because I couldn't control the movement of the brush effectively, so it either went all over the place, or was forced too firmly into the skin.

All is not lost as I have found it a very effective brush for my body skin as there's more surface for it to move around on so the above issues are less problematic, but for facial skin I can honestly see this doing more harm than good in the long run.  It's annoying, as it's pretty much bang on with the design, feel, weight and cost and I feel with just a few tweaks (maybe it could only part oscillate or the speed could be greatly reduced) it could be a really solid and effective cleansing brush, but in my mind it isn't quite there yet.

I believe this will be launching later this month (will double check) for £25.

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Five Things I Love (December 2012)

There was a high chance I wasn't going to get this out in time for December considering how tardy I've been with the last few monthly love lists, but I made it...just!  This month is quite make-up heavy, because I've been enjoying wearing quite toned down make-up recently; mainly because my skin has finally started showing signs of easing up (more of that in an upcoming post) so I haven't felt the need to overcompensate with eye make-up to try and distract from my spottiness, but also because it's the end of year and...well...I just couldn't be arsed really :) So here are my favourite items for December, all of which will get their own review shortly:

Green People Volumising Mascara*

As is usually the case with me, I have several mascaras on the go at any one time, so the one that I keep going back to without thinking about it is the one that is going to stand out.  This mascara is 98% natural and contains skin friendly ingredients that nourish the lashes.  However, that would all mean nothing if the mascara didn't perform well, but this is a fantastic product that delivers both volume and length without a hint of clumping.  I'll upload pictures soon of it on the eyes, but it's definitely a mascara that I'm really enjoying using at the moment, priced at £14.35.

Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat in Pinky Rose*

This arrives in a gorgeous velvet pouch and for the first couple of weeks I was removing it from the pouch, removing the brush and insert (not pictured) and using it before putting it all back together again (and then back into its box) because I was sooo charmed by the packaging.  I've now settled down a bit and have it out on my dressing table, but isn't the packaging gorgeous?  Again, another element that wouldn't matter if the product itself didn't deliver, but this is the perfect 'touch of pink' for wintery days and nights as it adds a soft, warm glow without looking streaky.  It isn't cheap at £43.50, but you get a good sized product plus beautiful packaging to go with it.  I'll be doing a Sisley FOTD soon so you can get an idea of what the blush looks like on.

Clarisonic Acne Brush Head

I had absolutely no idea there was anything more than the standard and sensitive brush heads available for the Clarisonic, but it turns out there's loads! As soon as I found out about the acne version I headed over to eBay to order myself one and see what it was like, and my skin is absolutely loving it.  It's gentle but firm, deeply cleanses without stripping and leaves my skin feeling just right.  There doesn't seem to be a main stockist of it in the UK (that I can find) so I've included a link to the eBay shop I purchased mine from for £20 all in.  It's worth noting that I purchased it "unboxed" (cheaper, innit) which means it comes in sealed plastic wrapping.  I'm mentioning this because I was a bit worried it would come loose which would've been quite unhygienic, but thankfully it doesn't.

Erno Laszlo Absolute Finish in Porcelain* 

I first used this just before I went away and thought it was amazing then, but after I returned from my holidays with a hint of a tan (it really was just a hint, sadly) I figured it would be too pale for me and forgot all about it until a couple of months ago, and I've been using it ever since.  I really love foundations that contain skincare like this one, and to be honest I've been delaying reviewing it because I've had spots and I didn't think the images would do it justice, but that'll (hopefully) change soon so expect a full review shortly.  This is one of those foundations that does it all, it keeps grease at bay, doesn't hug any dry bits, leaves skin looking smooth and radiant and flatters like you would not believe.  I'm really looking forward to showing you it soon, but it would've felt wrong not including it in my monthly love list.  It isn't cheap at £55, but a little goes a really, really long way.

Boots No7 Deco Darling Eye Palette*

Waaaaay back when during the Christmas in July events, I saw this palette and instantly fell in love with the rich, dark shades that I knew would suit me to a tea.  Thankfully, I'm pleased to report that the palette lived up to my expectations and delivers brilliant shades with a great colour payoff, yet they are so blendable that you can achieve a smoky eye quickly and easily just with the one palette.  For me, the star of the palette is the matte black shadow which I've been using as an eyeliner with a dense, angled liner brush which results in striking yet natural definition which can be blended brilliantly.  This is another daily feature in my make-up routine; if I really can't face doing much make-up then a line of the black followed by a coat of mascara is all I need.  The Boots website is down at the time of writing, but I believe this is around a tenner.

I must say, I've really enjoyed the restful few days I've had (lulling around in bed, no MA, no blog) but I'm glad to be back to blogging as I fear I may be addicted to talking about make-up.  In the next few days I'll be listing my favourite 2012 products.  I'm now off to bed to watch more rubbish television...

read more "Five Things I Love (December 2012)"

Clarisonic For £99 - SpaceNK Sale!!

There appear to be quite a few goodies available in the Space NK sale already, including the Clarisonic down from £155 to £99 including post and package plus a free mini Eve Lom cleanser which is a mega saving, especially as Clarisonic is so rarely reduced.

I'm a huge fan of the Clarisonic; I've recently purchased a new brush head for spot-prone skin which I've been really enjoying using, so I'll be reviewing it soon as well as uploading a comparison video of the various cleansing brushes I've amassed recently.

There are so many good sales on at the moment (check out my initial sales post here) so if you're planning a late night then now is a great time to have a good look around online.

Check out the Clarisonic deal here.

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas xx

read more "Clarisonic For £99 - SpaceNK Sale!!"