An unexpected 'great' review - Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil Free Moisturiser

The weather and ones hormones can play havoc with your skin, and especially the face, a more sensitive and needy area. On this particular occasion, I had tried my normal face moisturiser and even my 'when all else fails' Original Nivea cream, but nothing seemed to be working. My skin continued to feel tight and looked dull and lackluster. I apologise that this reads like those cringe worthy adverts that appear on the TV, however this really was how it happened.

In comes my new skin saviour, a product that my husband of all people bought for him. It was just sitting there, so I decided to try it and I must say it is a really nice product. The smell of the cream is just edible, zingy grapefruit (I have likened it to a Starburst sweet)! The texture is lightweight, a white cream that rubs in very easily with no sticky residue. An unexpected sensation follows shortly after applying, which can only be described as a cooling effect, which normally disappears very quickly. Try to avoid rubbing it in around the sensitive eye area as the cooling can be a little much there. 

I was very skeptical, and especially as it contained grapefruit, I imagined my skin feeling drier and it acting like an astringent. After a couple of days, my skin was soothed and looking brighter and those irritating dry patches had gone. I am in no doubt that the state of my skin at that time is due to many factors, but I can genuinely say this cream helped a lot.

It is very strange that your skin can change from one month to the next and your usual products can suddenly become ineffective for that period of time. This experience has highlighted to me that I have become a bit of a facial care 'snob' and the idea of buying a standard drugstore product such as this didn't even flash onto my radar. It's not always the cost of the product but the ingredients contained that can help with your skin issues at that time. I have some Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish cleanser to use up, but after that I have now got the corresponding facial wash to try. Review to follow!

Thanks for reading, if you have any questions then please drop me a line.

Thanks Ally 

Twitter @clarity_beauty 


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Can a perfume really change your mood?

Interesting title right? Can a smell that you spritz onto your neck and wrist really leave you feeling happier, fun, sexy, confident or whatever mood you want to be in? I think yes. I have so many perfumes, ranging from Boss to Chloe and I love all of them. There is nothing nicer than smelling great everyday, it's gives oneself an inner confidence and if you know you are wearing an expensive scent you feel a million dollars too! I have a variety of categories for my perfumes, day to day, sporty, evening and that perfume you bought that you wish you hadn't, but can't throw away! I have picked four of my favourites, all for different reasons and all smell equally beautiful.
Emporio Armani Diamonds

Firstly, this is one of my day perfumes and I find it to be very elegant and classy. It is fresh, but with a sweet muskiness that takes over once it has been on the skin for some time. Longevity of the scent is excellent, and I love the way it smells after hours on the skin. I didn't realise, but this perfume was released in 2007, yet it seems a very new fragrance to me. I use this perfume if I am going out for a shopping day or if I have client meetings, as it oozes a confidence, a self assured scent making it a winner for me. The bottle is very simple in design, looks nice on the dresser and has the emblem almost floating through the fragrance. 
Giorgio Armani Code for Women
Okay, so this is one of my favourite perfumes. It was bought for me as a gift some time ago now and I love it. It has a wonderful deep and sophisticated scent, not too heavy but leaves a heady aroma that stays with you. This perfume suits a black dress while out to dinner and cocktails, perfect combo! This week however, I have been wearing it in the day, just because it is so addictive, and I haven't found it to be overpowering. The scent almost wraps around you and if you don't get a compliment whilst wearing this perfume I'll be very surprised. The bottle is very sleek, and the only downside is that it is easily knocked over as it is a little top heavy, but that is because I have too many in one place!
Chloe Eau de Parfum
As you can see from the bottle, this is not a brand new bottle of perfume. I have had this for quite a long time and the smell has remained just as perfect as when I first opened it. I do tend to store my perfumes in a cupboard, out of sunlight and any extreme temperatures, it really does help to preserve your perfumes. Moving on, this perfume is just gorgeous and iconic in my book. It is just feminine to a 't', and this is my ultimate 'out for the evening' perfume, I feel fabulous wearing it, leaving a lingering waft wherever I walk, the perfect finishing touch to your outfit and makeup. I know that once I have sprayed Chloe, I can expect to have a pillow and duvet scented with top, heart and base notes of heaven. Even the bottle (in its newer form) is very elegant and timeless, attributes that you will find in this beautiful perfume.

Narciso Rodriguez for Her Eau de Toilette
Hmmmm, if you want a wonderfully sexy and yet quietly powerful fragrance, then this is the one for you. This beauty is the latest edition (from Santa) to my collection and I adore it. I have been hampering after this for months and months, but I couldn't warrant the cost to buy it myself! This perfume is very clever, the smell initially is very different to the end result. The perfume and the scent evolves and creates the most beautiful aroma that radiates from you. The perfume almost embeds into your skin, hair and clothes and it just stays there, on a serious note, great value for money! It is the perfect combination of floral, musky, sensual and plain right sexy! Wow, can you tell I have been exceptionally keen to report my findings about the fragrance? Aesthetically, I love the bottle, a black statement of confidence, I know I'm great I don't need a swirly fancy bottle to prove it! There is also a for her Eau de Parfum which has a slightly different scent, sweeter and a little softer, but equally as beautiful, (next Christmas maybe)? :) 
So to summarise on my post heading, can a perfume really change how you feel? Well yes, I still agree with my original answer. We all wake up in different moods, have different stress and strains to deal with on a daily basis, but if a perfume can make you feel good, and smell good I truly believe it instills an inner confidence and happiness to help us through the day.

I hope that you have enjoyed my selection of perfumes, why not drop me a line to let me know your favourites and why? Bye for now!

Twitter @clarity_beauty 

     
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Bright Eyes

I was listening to the radio this morning, and they were debating when it becomes a little annoying to keep hearing 'Happy New Year'. It was decided that saying it once to the person or audience is more than sufficient, so here is my one time 'Happy New Year to you all'. Briskly moving on.

Today we will be discussing concealers, an area of the beauty market flooded by numerous products. After the 'party season' we are probably feeling a little in need of a helping hand in the 'bright eyes' department! I have highlighted (sorry) two of mine that I am using currently.

No7 Instant Radiance Concealer
I have had this product in my make-up bag for a few months hence the less than pristine condition. I bought it when I was having a bad run of sleepless nights and basically needed a good disguise. The cost is approximately £14 so not the cheapest but not Dior expensive. Overall, this concealer is really good. Good coverage, lovely consistency, blends well and does hide dark circles. I probably wouldn't say that I turn back the hands of time from using it, but it certainly improves the appearance for me. It is easy to use with the handy little button at the end which distributes the product into the bristles, and then apply straight onto the delicate eye area. A few dots and you are ready to face the world.

Barbara Daly Trade Secrets Light Effect Concealer Pen 2
Okay, now this is a first for me, buying makeup from Tesco. It somehow just doesn't sit right that one can buy peppers, teabags and Cheerios and also a great range of beauty products, but I decided to run with it. I read about this product in a magazine, and the writer was raving about how great it was and a steal at only £7.99. I didn't really need it, but I'm afraid that little devil on my shoulder made me do it!  

I must say that it is actually a really lovely concealer. There are a couple of shades to choose from, so I just guesstimated which one. I really like the packaging, and the branding is simple but bold. The dispensing of the concealer is much the same as the No7 pen, apart from a twist base rather than a push button. The consistency is good, perhaps a little more watery than I would have liked, but it soaked in well and did cover the darker circles under my eyes. I found that the longevity was not as good as the No7, but for a concealer at this price, you could reapply throughout the day. 

This range of makeup has recently been re branded, and from what I saw a few weeks ago, I must say for the better. I have witnessed over the last couple of months the transformation of the beauty sections within Tesco and the high end brands they now stock is fantastic. Thank goodness I do online shopping elsewhere, as they are so full of treats for the beauty obsessive I'd never eat!

I hope you have enjoyed my little concealer round up, any comments or questions just let me know:    

Twitter @clarity_beauty 
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