Products I can't live without #1 - Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Afternoon lovelies! I've decided to try and do a series of reviews based on products I rely on daily to make my face presentable (It's a hard job, I know!). First up is a relatively new addition to my daily make-up routine...

Yup, it's the fabled, ever-lauded Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. I know this has probably been reviewed to death over the years, but I thought I'd share my reasons for loving it and the way in which I use it.

Clarins describes its famous Beauty Flash Balm as follows:

"The ultimate pick-me-up for tired, stressed skin—Clarins best-selling radiance booster helps eliminate signs of fatigue in a flash! Instantly moisturises, brightens and tightens facial contours so skin looks rested and relaxed. Olive and Witch Hazel extracts help smooth the skin’s surface, diffusing the look of lines and wrinkles. Soothing Bisabolol helps restore skin’s youthful glow. Preps skin for perfect make-up application and hours of luminous wear."

We all know what olive and witch-hazel are and what they do, but what is Bisabolol? Well apparently it is a compound derived from camomile, and it is used in cosmetics for its anti-inflammatory, skin healing properties. It's also what gives the Beauty Flash Balm (and I'm guessing quite a few other Clarins products) its light floral scent.

Essentially, Beauty Flash Balm attempts (and succeeds!) to moisturise, reduce redness, irritation and soothe the skin, as well as brightening the skin and acting as a primer to give your foundation a smooth base to rest on.

Most people recommend using this like a primer before applying foundation or as a moisture mask overnight. However, I like to mix this in with my foundation/base of my choice in order to give my bases a more dewy finish.

This mixes really well with all my bases; even the thickest matte foundations I own become more luminous with this, and although it doesn't claim to, I believe this does make a difference to the appearance of my pores also, minimising their appearance. I generally love the finish this gives my skin, it leaves it dewy, glowing but without making my terminally oily skin any worse. Bonus!

I have no idea how I existed without this in my routine. This has even changed my view on the kind of finish I like from my bases. Prior to trying this, I felt like I had to use matte bases because my skin produced so much oil. After using this, I'm beginning to embrace luminous glows and dewy finishes. Yaaaay!

Have you ever tried Clarins Beauty Flash Balm? And what kind of finish do you prefer for your skin?

Christina xo

Clarins Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour - Miami Pink

If you read my spending ban update this week, you'll know I was a bit naughty and bought lots of clothes and I also used my Debenhams gift card on this little beauty that I'm going to share with you today: the Clarins Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour in Miami Pink.

It looks extremely pretty no? The shade Miami Pink, as you would expect by the name, is a bright, beachy coral-pink and it comes in this rather gold (plastic) compact within a red velvet pouch.

I don't know if you can see the swatch, but it swatches more pink that coral, but with warm undertones so it gives a really nice flush to the cheeks. I first fell in love with this when I had my make-up applied at my local Clarins counter, and even my mum remarked how lovely this looked on my cheeks. When the MUA showed me the colour in the pan for the first time, I will admit, it did look a bit too bright. However, deftly applied to the cheeks, it doesn't appear too bright and overpowering, and offers a soft pink glow.

You can see it slightly better in the picture with flash, but these pictures still don't quite do this colour justice. I really like this blush, it's bright and perky but without being too over-powering.

You can buy Clarins Blush Prodige from most Clarins counters, and from Debenhams, House of Frasers, Boots and more, generally retailing for around £25 and comes in six shades including Miami  Pink.



Let me know what you think if you've tried this blush. Also, what other Clarins products would you recommend? Just... y'know... for when my ban finishes... :P

Christina xo

Top 12 of 2012 - My favourites

As the year draws to a close, I'm going to jump on the blogging bandwagon and share the products I've loved in 2012. Hope you don't mind, but have a gander and see if you see anything you like!

SKINCARE

Clarins - Water Purify One-Step Cleanser. This is a relatively late entry into my favourites (only bought it at the weekend.) but already really enjoying using this. It has mint so it really freshens the skin as it removes make-up and cleanses.

Superdrug - Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot-Cloth Cleanser. I bought this to see if I could get along with a hot-cloth cleanser without paying out too much for either No.7 or Liz Earle. I never will now because I love this offering from Superdrug too much! My skin feels squeaky clean and I've noticed an improvement in my skin's clarity since I started using this.

Benefit - It's Potent Eye Cream. I got a sample of this a few months back, and have just received the full size at Christmas. This is the only eye-cream (bar Body Shop's Elderflower Eye Gel) that has made a difference to my eyes, and the Benefit is the only one to make a difference to my dark circles, which are sizeable. I'm very impressed with this.

Lush - Cupcake Face Mask. This is another product which has made such a big difference to my skin. This had significantly reduced the oiliness of my skin, and has made my skin look less blotchy too. Plus it's chocolate. This is always awesome!

MAKE-UP

No.7 - Summer of Dreams Bronzer. This was the bronzer that made me realise that even ivory beauties like me can pull off a little bronze. This is light and buildable enough that I never look like I've gone overboard.

Guerlain - Sun in the City Compact. I am so glad I paid for this on holiday. This is a highlighter, body shimmer, eyeshadow all rolled into one beautiful, pearly compact. I love using this, it's so pigmented and full of mother of pearl and the gold shade looks so luxurious. Love love love!

Max Factor - False Lash Effect Mascara - My favourite mascara. Ever. That's pretty much all I can say!

MUA - Lipstick in Shade 12. I love all the MUA lipsticks, but this shimmery pink is the perfect perk-up colour for me. It has the slightest hint of glitter to it, so it's good for day-time glamour.

Estelle and Thild - Raspberry Lip Balm. This has really helped with my chapped lips this year. It has lasted ages, has the lightest hint of raspberry and is very moisturising for the lips.

Chanel - Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in L'Exuberante. This is my holy grail of lipsticks. Its rich colour, creamy texture and matte look means it is unlike any other lipstick I own. I always feel so classy and glamorous wearing it.

Benefit - Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation in Believe in Me Ivory. I thought, until I spoke to my local Bene-babe, that my skin was purely oily, and that I should only use matte bases. After seeing the difference this makes to my skin when I wear it, I wonder how I lived without this. I look glowy and healthy wearing this, and I've never had such a good skin tone match from any base I've ever used. Win!

Urban Decay - Smoked Palette. Another late entry to my top 12, as this was a Christmas present from my lovely boyfriend. So far I haven't used all the shades yet, but they all look divine, and the ones I have used shimmer and accentuate my eyes so well. It's hard to imagine life without this palette now!

So those are my favourites of 2012. I'd love to know your thoughts on my favourites, and what your favourites are too. Have a brilliant and successful 2013 when it arrives! :)

Christina xo