Clarins HydraQuench Tinted Moisturizer

I guess the problem using a type of product you have never tried before is that you have nothing to compare it to.  I have never used a tinted moisturiser before.  I have used tints (as in concealers and foundations) and I have used moisturisers, but never the combination.  And I did not like it the first time

I would have written a very different review of the Clarins HydraQuench Tinted Moisturizer after a single use.  I would have said:  I hate it.  I felt like it was neither a good moisturizer, nor a good foundation.  It did not feel as if it penetrated my skin and moisturised it at all.  Definitely no hydra quench.  It felt like it sat on top and functioned like a foundation.  It was a little ‘stretchy’ like a foundation.  But it was a really light, almost see through foundation, so it did not cover everything I would want a foundation to cover.  On the plus side, I did not look heavily made up and very natural and I liked the colour.  It blended very well with my skin tone.  Since the tint is so light, I do not think it would matter much if the shade did not match your skin tone perfectly.   It also had an SPF of 6. 

However, I continued using the product all week.  And my skin was soft and smooth at the end of the day.  It was almost as if the moisturiser kept moisturising during the day.  And I used a normal foundation later in the week and found that it also did not cover up everything I hoped a foundation would hide.  So maybe I was a bit harsh with the poor tinted moisturiser the first time I used it.

According to Clarins:  Skin-smoothing pigments deliver radiant translucennt colour and reflect light perfectly for a beautiful natural looking complexion.  They optically minimize fine lines, imperfections and signs of fatigue to deliver an instantly fresh and luminous complexion.

Some reviews can be found here, here and here.  I am not the only one who did not like it.

Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel

I love nail polish.  I like wearing it not only because I like it, but because it can hide many sins.  I often have paint or ink or grout (I tiled a large part of my house in the evenings over a few months – trust me tiling is hell on hands and nails) under my nails.  I can either paint them or struggle to get them perfectly clean.  I often choose to paint them.

I have never used Revlon nail polish before.  I wished I did.  I will definitely buy it again.  This product is amazing.  It goes on smoothly and lasts and lasts.  If you do not garden or tile, you almost get a week out of it. 

The colour I tried is a bit odd.  It is called lingerie pink, is very visible and I am not sure that it goes with my skin tone.  It felt a bit Barbie-ish for me.  Maybe if you are very pale it would look better than on my slightly tanned hands.   The colour is also very light and needed 3 coats to give an even cover.  And I think the polish got a bit thick with 3 coats, thus scratching more easily. 

Summary – Lingerie Pink :  No

Revlon Top Speed – A resounding YES !

After a week of wear

Saving on cosmetics

There is no need to pay full price for skin care products.  I like using Clinique. For its price it offers good value.  I used to live in New York for a short while and started using it there because it was so much cheaper than anything else.  It is an American product and outside of America it is a bit more expensive relative to other brands than it was in America.  Lucky readers who travel can pick it up there.

Clinique runs specials from time to time where you need to purchase one or two products and then get a free gift.  I only ever buy my Clinique when these specials are on.  Just keep your eyes open when your bottle is less than half full and buy the next time the special comes around.

The last time I bought a special they had this offer.  The gift was claimed to be worth R1000.  It included: 

• A large cosmetic bag (one I actually use daily),
• Key ring change purse (which I also use in my handbag)
• 7 Day Scrub Cream
• Dramatically Different Moisturiser (30 ml)
• Youth Surge SPF 15 Decelerating Moisturiser
• Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector
• Eyes 1 2 3 Colour Compact
• High Impact Mascara
• Superbalm Moisturising Gloss (7 ml)
• Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream

 I liked all these products and have reviewed some on my blog; just click on the product above for the reviews on my blog. 

This boils down to half price cosmetics, since I paid about R 900 for the two products I had to buy to get this gift.

Someone else also thinks these gifts are cool.

I know this Clinique gift does not help the reader, since it is an old offer.
Currently Clarins has similar offers of free gifts of travel sized products when you buy two products.  These are worth checking out.

A powdery girl

I recently discovered that there is something perfumes I instantly like have in common.  They have a powdery undertone.  Examples are Prada’s Infusion D’Iris (my current favourite perfume), Kelso Flower and recently discovered Chloe Love. 

I am not a powdery kind of girl.  I am also sure that if you asked the people in my life to associate me with a fragrance, it would not be powder.  I am not subtle or quiet or particularly feminine, all things I would associate with someone who is powdery!  

Are there any other powdery perfumes out there I should investigate?  Is powder even an accepted way to describe perfumes?

Poker Straight Flat Iron Protection shine mist from Lee Stafford

A product I discovered through Rubybox is Poker Straight Flat Iron Protection shine mist from Lee Stafford.  I am not much of a hair care girl.  My hair care buys consist of shampoo and conditioner (and I believe a good conditioner is key).  I buy Rubybox as a cheap way to get cosmetics I would never buy, but also to expose me to new things I would never think of trying.  This was definitely one of those.  I loved it so much that I went out and bought myself a full size one, thereby defeating the aim of saving money.  In effect I am spending more, because I used to blow dry my hair just fine without this product.  And now I believe I need it. 

It is a watery mist you spray on your hair.  I have no idea how much you are supposed to use.  I just give one or two spritzes per bunch of hair.  It is supposed to protect your hair against the heat.  But it does so much more. 

Why I like it: 

• It smells nice
• It makes your hair feel soft and shiny
• Your hair shines more
• Your hair is easier to style.  It straightens more easily and stays straight a bit better.

If I blow dry my hair I spritz a bit on the wet hair before I start.  If I use a hot iron I spritz a bit on the dry hair just before I iron it. 

It costs about R100 for a bottle.  It can only be found in Clicks.   

Where has a hair straightener been all my life?  I am not sure whether this is just one really, really good brand or whether I would like them all.  It is on my list to try another brand as well.

Here is a review of the entire range, and a review of the spray.  Here is an interview with Lee Stafford. 

Questions on Monday

I have so many questions about beauty products.  If you read this, please leave a comment and answer this question:

  Is there anything that really really works for dark circles under your eyes? 

This is my biggest beauty problem.

Prevage hydrating fluid

I was very excited to use the Prevage Hydrating Fluid.  I live in Durban, where things are very moist and humid, and it was marketed as a light hydrating fluid, perfect for this kind of weather.  I thought it was just so-so.  I would use this lotion if I had it, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it, but I am sure you can buy better lotions for the price.  It is not cheap, and comes at R850 for 50 ml.  My skin did not feel super soft or super hydrated.  It felt like I needed a little bit more.  It was very non-oily, exactly as claimed.  The greatest advantage lies in the fact that this lotion moisturises without adding oiliness.  If that is very important for you, give this lotion a chance. 

The entire Prevage range is supposed to be anti-aging.  I have no idea how to evaluate whether I look younger after a few weeks of use.  I have fine lines, not really bad, but there.  And they only seem to get worse over time, regardless of what I use.  This was no exception.  Maybe with longer use one would see something.  I only used it for two weeks by the time I wrote this review.

Another pro for this product is the bottle.  It has a pump action and locks securely.  You therefore do not need to put your dirty fingers in a tub of lotion and there is no mess if you throw it in a bag.

A con is that there is no SPF in the lotion.

The manufacturer claims:  This sheer oily hydrator infuses skin with viral moisturiser.  It helps to correct the appearance of visible signs of damage left behind - fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and discolouration.  Skin feels smooth, refreshed and beautiful. 

Some reviews can be found here, here, here and here.