Estee Lauder

Estée Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator

- Vicki 1 Comment
Estée Lauder Idealist Range

Recently there has been a new serum in my routine & I’ve been quietly declaring my love for it. I thought it was about time I shared it with you. I have been using the Estée Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator* from the Idealist range, this range targets dull, uneven skintones and focuses on giving the skin a fresh illuminating glow whilst evening out pigmentation, redness and smoothing pores. Just what my skin needs, especially with Spring just around the corner.

Estée Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator

In a nutshell – This serum features exclusive CorrecTone Technology, a comprehensive triple-action complex compromised of highly effective, anti-spot ingredients, powerful antioxidants and soothing anti-irritants to address the signs of an uneven skintone.

This is an oil free serum and has an illuminating pearlescent colour which gives the skin a lovely fresh glow and it does have a slight citrus scent too but noting overpowering and once the serum has been absorbed the scent fades. The serum feels very lightweight and is quickly absorbed without leaving the skin feeling tacky or greasy. You apply this on to clean skin and then follow with the rest of your skincare regime (SPF, moisturiser). I don’t find this serum to be particularly hydrating but it leaves my skin feeling smooth, soft and noticably brighter.

Estée Lauder Idealist Range

I have quite a few old dark acne scars, redness around my nose and quite a few areas where the pigmentation in uneven. This serum not only helps cover them and has an instant brightening effect but also over a period of time help reduce them. I’ve been using this serum for a little over 5 weeks now & have noticed these areas looking brighter, more even and my complexion looks a lot more fresh and bright. I am excited to see if these areas continue to improve over the coming months.

I like how this sits well under my moisturiser, its a non greasy, oil free serum and once applied has a smooth velvety finish. It adds luminosity to the skin but is in no way sparkly or glittery so don’t worry you won’t look like a disco ball (no one needs that).

This Even Skintone Illuminator comes in a distinctive light blue and gold bottle which has a handy pump, its very pretty and the pump dispenses just enough product without wasting any. Unlike the ANR this is a hard robust plastic which I like a lot more. Glass packaging tends to make me nervous & it is near impossible to travel with. This packaging is much more travel friendly.

Estee Lauder Illuminating Serum Swatch

So far I’m impressed with this & would recommend it, if like me you want to brighten your complexion and address any dark spots or redness. As with most Estée Lauder skincare it is quite pricey but one pump of this gives you enough product to use on your face & I like to use it once a day in the morning & 5 weeks on I still have a lot of product left. So a little goes a long way. What I am trying to say is it is worth the price tag!

You can purchase Estee Lauder makeup from Harrods, they have quite an extensive selection. Oh & the best part is it comes beautifully packaged. Let me know if you have any Estee Lauder product suggestions, I am already a fan of the ANR range but would love to try some makeup from them too. So send your suggestions this way.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

My Holiday Skincare – Amsterdam Edit

- Vicki 8 Comments

At the end of August I spent a week in Amsterdam, its a city I have visited a couple of times before & I just love it there. Its such a beautiful and vibrant city. I thought I would share with you my travel skincare. I must say I was very pleased with myself as I normally over pack & this time I was determined to pack light & take samples and sachets which I had been hoarding for a while now.

First up is my blue and white polka dot Dirty Works wash bag, this was so handy as I was able to hang it up in my hotel bathroom & have easy access to all of my toiletries. It has two small compartments & a much larger one at the bottom with a zip.
Travel Skincare

Skincare for Amsterdam

My Amsterdam Skincare

Travel Skincare

In the top compartment I had:-

Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitiser in Vanilla Berry Sorbet. I never leave home without one of these bottles & once in Amsterdam I transferred it to my handbag.

Essence Makeup Wipes* – I used these as hand wipes & found them very useful. I used all 15 wipes throughout the week

Razor / Tweezers / Hair Bobble & Earbuds – All necessities.

Amsterdam Skincare sample s

In the middle compartment are my sachets & I had been hoarding so many. They’re perfect for holiday.

I took 7 Kleenex Face Cloths instead of my normal muslin cloths as they took up less space and I didn’t have to bring them back in my suitcase. These Kleenex Face Cloths have been discontinued

Estee Lauder Stress Relief Eye Mask – I love using eye masks & these ones are so hydrating and calming. I also took a set of the DHC Revitalising Moisture Strips Eyes – Another pack of eye masks. I like to sleep in these ones, so when I wake up my under eyes look fresh and my concealer doesn’t sink into my fine lines.

Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Sheet Mask – These are so nice after a long day sight seeing and just keep your skin looking plump and hydrated. It’s cooling on the skin and once you take the mask off you can pat in the remaining Hydraluron (don’t want to waste that).

Bio Beaute NUXE – I didn’t need to use this Moisturiser so I have it saved for my next trip

Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream – This was a very lightweight moisturiser and it had a velvet finish. It wore very well under my foundation. I’m tempted to purchase the full size of this.

Garnier Ultra Lift Moisturiser – I like how smoothing and hydrating this Garnier cream is. It always makes my skin feel instantly soft.

Amsterdam Skincare Essentials

Garnier Mineral Invisible Deodorant – I normally use a natural deodorant which is in a glass bottle & didn’t want to take that away so bought this Garnier one. It was good but I do prefer to use a natural one & didn’t bring this back home with me.

Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Gradual Tanner – LOVE the sun kissed glow this gives. It looks so even and natural. Its one of my favourite discoveries of 2014. I couldn’t go away without it. It helps my legs look 100% better than they usually do.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion – This smells lovely & grown up. It was the perfect size for 7 days & I used it all up in that time.

Skincare Samples

Batiste Dry Shampoo – No one wants greasy hair! I always have a mini can for when I travel. It’s not my favourite dry shampoo but it does a good job.

Tresemme Heat Defence – Just a good lightweight heat protector. Since having my haircut short I do use heat a more often than I used to so I had to bring this with me to stop my hair drying out & I will purchase the full size.

Elemis Revitalise Me Shampoo & Conditioner – These were really nice and hydrating and left my hair feeling nourished and glossy.

Moroccanoil Treatment Oil – This is very nourishing and helps keep frizz at bay. I like how smooth and silky my hair feels after using this.

Travel Skincare

Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth  Face Balm – This is a lovely gentle balm cleanser with tiny granules in so it exfoliates away all the dead skin and leaves your skin feeling very smooth. It also removes every last scrap of makeup so you’re skin feels very clean and fresh. I loved using this each night and will purchase the full size.

Radical Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum* – I love this serum & it keeps my skin looking glowing and healthy. I save it for special occasions & holiday.

Bioderma – Can we just have a moment for how cute this mini bottle is. I like using this to remove my eye makeup as its gentle and you don’t have to rub at your eye.

Merumaya Treatment Toner* – After a long day sight seeing and being in the elements this helped to keep my skin hydrated, bright and feeling soft. It feels very fresh on the skin and has that recognisable Merumaya scent (which I love).

ESPA Optimal Skin Pro Serum – The only product I used on my face over night & I LOVE this serum so much. If you need to wake up with skin that looks well rested and very healthy then this is the serum for that job. It is like great skin in a bottle. I don’t think I have used a serum / oil that is this nourishing. I only have good things to say about it & could go on all day. I have spoke about it many times on my blog.

Murad Essential C Eye Cream – This wasn’t very gentle & stung my eyes. I have used a couple of other products from this range & really liked them but this eye cream wasn’t a hit for me & after 2 days I stopped using it.

Apivita Face Cream SPF50 – This didn’t break me out & wasn’t too greasy. It was quite thick when I first applied it but after It was massaged in it felt nice on my skin & I like to wear SPF50 on my face. Even though we had mostly rain you can never be too careful.

Let me know if you think I managed to pack light for a weeks holiday. Also let me know what you take away with you.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own

5 Favourite Skincare Products from 2013

- Vicki 36 Comments

2013 Skincare favourites

Skincare is my one true love and I am becoming quite the product hoarder. I rummaged through my stash and thought long and hard about my 2013 skincare favourites and I narrowed it down to these 5 products. These are what I’ve not only used the most but that I’ve also gone back to after trying other products.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Nourishing Lip Balm

I’ve been using this lip balm since August and found I can’t live without it. Dramatic but true. This is a pot of very hydrating peach coloured lip balm (its colourless on the lips). I put this on the last thing at night and wake up with what I would describe as soft kissable lips, I also have to have it on my desk whilst working so I can apply it when I feel the need. In fact, thinking about it, this little pot never leaves my side. The one negative is that it is in a pot and not the most hygienic, I do use hand sanitiser before sticking my finger in (germaphobe). The packaging is glass and feels weighty and quite luxurious but I do prefer tubes. £20 for 15ml

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

This is the mask I have used the most often in 2013, I keep it on my bedside table and apply it over my serum and pat it in. It is quite a thick consistency and only needs a small amount, as I find it can be too tacky on my face if I apply too much. It gives me a boost of hydration and makes my skin look plump by morning. It also gives the skin a barrier to help it prevent dehydration. Perfect whilst I have the central heating on full blast. I adore this mask, its results and not forgetting its fruity scent. £22 for 100ml.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Recovery Complex II

I saved for quite a while to treat myself to this wonderful serum and I am so happy I did. This serum makes my skin so happy – that translates to looking younger, fresher, brighter and all importantly well rested. I love the process of using the pipet to dispense the serum, warming it up between my hands and then patting it on my face and neck. It feels cooling on the skin and instantly hydrated. I convinced my mum to invest in this and she is converted and her skin is looking fabulous. This is an investment but one I’m thrilled I made. £65 for 50ml.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm*

I’m not going to preach too hard about this wonder product because I have blogged about this Balm so many times. I will say that this almost single-handedly cleared up my blemishes and kept them at bay. This balm as the name suggests melts away makeup and really gives your skin a deep clean. You don’t get that tight skin feeling afterwards, in fact, your skin feels soft and supple. I just love it. It’s a complete bargain too – £14.50 for 100ml.

The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Makeup Remover

This has taken the place of my much repurchased Garnier 2 in 1 makeup remover I’d describe this as a very gentle non-greasy eye makeup remover. I haven’t removed my lip product with it so can’t say how well it performs in that department but as an eye makeup remover it’s very effective. It even removes my Waterproof Covergirl Lash Blast 24 hour Mascara and that’s no mean feat. I want to try more from this Camomile range. £8 for 100ml

So they’re my 5 favourite skincare products of 2013 and apart from the Origins Mask the other 4 products are new discoveries for me in 2013.

Products that are marked with a * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.