Lancome Gel Eclat Clarifying Cleanser Pearly Foam Review

Hi My Lovelies,
It has been a minute! how have you all been? I have definitely missed you guys and I hope everyone had a smashing weekend. I recently acquired the Lancome Gel Eclat Clarifying Pearly Foam Cleanser (what a mouthful!) as a freebie when i recently purchased some nail varnishes from the Lancome in Debenhams which i would be showing later. I am sure you all know how much i love Lancome and how generous they usually are with their freebies. I usually only purchase when they have amazing gifts and freebies with purchase because it is always double the delight....i digress again.. Back on track, I was really pleased it was a full size product and i could not wait to try it out because i had read a lot of good reviews online....*P.S. Apologies for the poor quality of pictures..the weather was not even helping matters at all but I would be back with better pictures pretty soon*..so bear with me!! :-)











What does Lancome say about the Gel Eclat Clarifying Cleanser?
According to the Lancome website, the Lancome Gel Eclat Clarifying Cleanser is one so fine and voluminous that it glides smoothly on the skin to gently liberate it from impurities and toxins which it may have been exposed to during the day. It is suitable for normal and combination skin types which is great news as I have combination-oily skin. *On the packaging of the tube, it actually states that it is suitable for all skin types..oh well!!*

Packaging
Like many other Lancome products in lovely classy packaging, the Lancome Gel Eclat Cleanser comes in a white silky tube packaging which i really love. Its lid is easy to open and close and it feels sturdy so you know there is no chance the lid would flip off and break which has been my experience with some skin care products that come with tubes with lids. On opening the lid, you would discover, it has a nice decent opening which lets out the right amount of packaging. Again, i struggle with packaging which lets either too little or too much product out so I am super pleased this cleanser allows an adequate amount of cleanser out and it is very un-messy.

Ingredients
The Lancome Gel Eclat contains ingredients of naturally derived origin which include White Lotus, Rose de France and Japanese Cedar Bud which i think lends it its luxurious feel and fragrance. I really love the way it smells when i use it. I know not all the ingredients are natural or anything close but it has not irritated my skin which is quite sensitive so i guess that's a plus and hopefully it will be for anyone who has sensitive skin and wants to try it out.

Texture
If there is anything i really love about this product, it would be its texture. Just as the name implies, it feels very pearly both to touch and on application. It feels so beautifully luxurious that you may feel like you are in a somewhat expensive spa, if you close your eyes long enough...i jest, i jest...But, honestly, it has to be one of the most luxurious products i have used based on how smooth and pearly its texture feels both on my hands and when i apply it on my face.

Application
It is really straight forward to apply. I simply wipe my make up off with a cotton pad and my favourite makeup remover which may be Bioderma or L'Oreal Skin perfection depending on how my skin is feeling at the moment. Then, I dampen my face lightly and squeeze out a pea size amount of the Lancome Gel Eclat Cleanser to my fingers and gently massage in a circular motion on my face. A pea size is really meant to be a pea size as a little goes a long way so far as your face is damp enough. I let it sink in for a little while, sometimes long enough to take my bath or wander around the house, then, I gently rinse off and that's it for my cleansing. It leaves my skin feeling really clean and it does not dry it out at all which is a massive plus for me.

Cost
I got this as part of a freebie/gift on a Lancome purchase a little while ago as stated earlier in the post so i did not buy this one. It retails on the Lancome website for £22 and I checked around other websites and saw it for about £18.50 and £20. If you are thinking of buying this, i would suggest buying from a Lancome Counter in either House of Fraser, John Lewis or Debenhams (they have 10% off beauty and fragrance now) as they are having some really fantastic offers with any purchase so it is a good way to stock up on Lancome goodies and freebies. I think the price is a fair one judging the quality and the amount you get with the product.

Verdict
Now back to Lancome's claim on the Gel Eclat Clarifying Cleanser, I totally agree to most of their claims. It does a good job of cleansing my face although I don't think using it alone can rid your skin of all toxins or impurities as you need to live a healthier lifestyle including diet and exercise and other skin care products. However, i think it can contribute to achieving in combination with a healthy lifestyle and a good skin care routine. As a cleanser, i feel it is really good especially if you like that squeaky clean feeling after you wash your face. In terms of breaking out, I have not broken out at all which means my skin loves it and that's good news. It does not do anything for my acne or blemishes as it is not designed to do so and it does not claim to do so. However, i think its gentle but effective cleansing actions has put any acne at bay which is a really good thing for my skin. I can't really say anything bad about this product. I really like it and it looks like one I would be repurchasing. 




I hope you enjoyed this post and see you in my next post...toodles...xx.. What gets you through gloomy Monday Mornings? Mine is a nice cup of coffee with a lot of milk..what's yours?

Clinique Long Lasting Lipstick in All Heart Review

Hi My Lovelies,
I hope you had a fab weekend. I have somewhat been on a roll with lipsticks lately. If you have not checked out my previous post on my latest freebie from MAC which is the MAC Vegas Volt, I suggest you head on over to read it. So, I was having this really intense and somewhat stressful day when I received an email from Clinique in John Lewis telling me i was entitled to a Free Long Lasting Lipstick in shade All Heart plus a makeover/skin care consultation.  I was super pleased and there could not have been a better time for that email to hit my phone. Truly, God watches over me always. If you remember my previous post on the Clinique Anti-Blemish Range where i purchased from John Lewis, I mentioned that I had a skin consultation and they took down my details which was why they sent me the email for another free consultation and lipstick. I think it was a very different personal touch and excellent customer service. I was very impressed.  To be honest, I was not interested in any consultation, i just wanted the lipstick, lol.


My Clinique Lipstick History
This is my second lipstick from Clinique; my first being a gift from my lovely mum a really long time ago(like 13 years ago) and can you believe I still have that lipstick (it was my first lipstick ever!)...don't believe me? Check out this picture above (the lipstick has long been finished) but I kept the packaging and that's how much I love nice packaging and i appreciate receiving gifts especially from my Mum. :-))

Packaging
I can see their packaging has not really changed too much from the old one i had before. It comes in their signature light green packaging which also has their signature "C" at the top of the lid. It's a really clean and pretty packaging and I am not sure i have another lipstick with green packaging.

Shade
This shade is called All Heart and I think it is such a different name which kind of sticks to my memory for no apparent reason. For those, who are not really ready to try red lipsticks, I think this is a gorgeous shade to try out as it is not a perfect red but one you can get away with. I would describe it as a Reddish Plum shade which has some rich Pink undertones that look very flattering on the lips. I absolutely love this shade because it is very wearable.

Application
It glides on really easily like a dream and it has a creamy finish with some shine when you are done so you can skip the lip gloss application. I think it is a brilliant lipstick because it does not matter if your lips are in a bad condition, especially in the current climate, it still makes your puckers look delicious. I believe it has some moisturising powers because my lips do not feel dry at all even when it has been wiped off.

Long Lasting?
Oh yeah, it is fairly long lasting but not in the same way as MAC Lipsticks especially from the MAC Amplified Range. I noticed while wearing it that it applies like a lip stain, don't get excited, it's not. I have heard many good things about the Clinique Chubby Sticks for the Lips and I may actually consider buying one especially because i am very impressed with this lipstick. I believe this has a very good wear time even when you eat or drink, it still is visible which is lovely but you need to reapply for its full on effect which i do not mind.




Cost
I got this as a freebie during a Clinique Consultation as mentioned in the beginning of the post. The packaging of mine says "not for sale" so i almost wondered if it was not a shade they sold. Be rest assured, it is actually for sale. This baby would set you back for £17. But it looks different to this one as Clinique have revamped their packaging from their signature pristine green packaging to a classy silver packaging which I now wish I got  instead.(I know, we women can never be satisfied). A freebie is a freebie so I am glad still.



Verdict
I think it is a nice lipstick especially for the Fall/Autumn season and the Christmas season that is upon us sooner than we thought. I would definitely repurchase another shade from the Long Lasting Range or perhaps try one of the Clinique Chubby Sticks seeing that this lipstick impressed me. I hope you have enjoyed this post and i would catch you soon in my next post...xx

Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35 (Dark) Review

Hey Lovelies,
I hope your week has been lovely so far. I still can't wait for the weekend; judge me all you can because it's just Tuesday...Hahahaha. So, I am a bit on a roll this week so I thought I'd do a little review on the Bobbi Brown BB cream in Dark. If you are African/Black American or just have darker skin, you would realise that it is a bit difficult to get a good BB cream for your skin tone/complexion. It has been the same for me, in fact, I have totally given up on the idea of using a BB cream ever until Bobbi Brown launched additional shades to her already thriving BB Cream Range.

                                                  
Before I ramble on, let's dwell a little on what a BB cream is. BB Cream stands for a Blemish Balm which originated from Asia and I still think it is optimised for the beautiful delicate Asian skin especially Japanese and Chinese. In the Western World, it is referred to as a Beauty Balm which is simply a glorified tinted moisturiser (that's my own silly definition, so don't quote me). The beauty dictionaries describe a BB Cream as an all-in-one facial cosmetic product designed to replace serum, moisturiser, primer, foundation and sun block. It can be worn alone as a tinted moisturiser (there...I was right after all); over serum and moistriser as a regular foundation; and under powder, depending on the desired amount of coverage needed. BB creams are often mineral based which are made to cover and treat blemishes such as acne, age spots and sun spots also acting as anti-wrinkle, anti-inflammatory and usually have a soothing effect on the skin.



So, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that Bobbi Brown had launched additional shades to their BB cream range to cater for women of color and other skin tones- Dark, Deep and Rich. I already have a rare love for all Bobbi Brown products although they are pricey. I have tried their Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation in Warm Almond 6.5 reviewed here and I love it which was why I was eager to try this. Of course, I did not just trot along to a Bobbi Brown Counter to purchase it...Nah..I went to pick up a sample because I got an email from Bobbi Brown Newsletter (Sign up here if you like) saying I was entitled to some freebies/beauty sample.. Read my post on how to get these kind of freebies here. So, I went to pick up a free sample of the Bobbi Brown BB cream (Dark) and Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Moisturiser (review coming up soon).




Packaging
Although, this is not the proper package for the actual size, I kinda like this little tub as it is really cute and I can foresee myself using it for other products when this runs out. I was really bad and got one extra sample just because I liked the little tub...Hahahaha... 

Sorry for an unclear pic.. :-)

Match to my Skin
Looking at the BB cream from the tub does not look anywhere near my complexion; it looks way darker. However, on application, I would say it is a close match but it is not my exact shade and this was the lightest of the dark shades. The Medium-Dark just did nothing for me; I looked way too ashy for my own good. The Bobbi Brown BB cream in Dark makes me look like I have got a slight tan which I do not mind but it means I can't wear this during winter when I get a little lighter. It also has a slight glow which is quite flattering in summer.



Coverage
You obviously should not expect to be getting full coverage from a BB cream as it is meant to give sheer to light coverage. I would say this is build-able but you need to be careful as you may get into the oily zone so a light hand is the best as always with both BB creams and foundation. This does nothing for the dark spots/blemishes on my face so I always use a dab of concealer which kind of defeats the purpose of using a BB cream, innit?



Application
This is one of those occasions where i toss all my brushes and use my God-given natural brushes- my trusty fingers to apply this BB cream and I think it helps a lot. It blends in really nicely on application. With my fingers, it is easier to spread and I don't even pay much attention to its previous dark colour anymore as it is well blended.

Formula
Just like all other Bobbi Brown Face Makeup, it has a good formula although you tend to get shiny towards the end of the day which is why the very nice Sales Lady advised me to always set it with a powder and retouch if necessary and I have never worn this without a powder. Remember the glow it gives you on application? It can dramatically turn to a shiny face so it is very important to set it with any setting powder of your choice to reduce any unwanted shine.  I use my Maybelline Fit Me foundation powder to set it and they both go very well because the powder helps counteract the initial darker/tan match to my skin tone.

                                                                     

Overall Verdict
To be honest, I am not sure if i would purchase a full size given that it is £28-29 pounds. I feel that is rather expensive for a BB cream although I know Bobbi Brown has top quality makeup products. The main reason why I won't purchase this ,apart from the cost, is the fact that it takes me three steps to achieve the look I want which may not be entirely the fault of the BB cream but may be due to the dark blemishes on my face. My normal foundation is the Bella Pierre Mineral Foundation reviewed here which is solely adequate as a one step foundation, concealer, powder, etc. I just put on my moisturiser, Kabuki brush on my Bellapierre Mineral Foundation, Blend...I'm outta the door. So, I am bit spoilt with using one step and reverting back to concealer, foundation/BB cream and Powder 3-step technique in this case and that does not float my boat. However, if you do not have noticeable blemishes, I dare say you can purchase this if it matches your skin tone as it feels really light on the skin and perfect for summer. I rate it 6.5/10 mostly because it is not my exact match and the many steps involved to get the look I desire. I hope you enjoyed this post and I would be reviewing the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Moisturiser which I think is fantastic so watch out for the sequel to this post...toodles...xxx