Alterna Caviar CC Cream: the do-it-all hair product

CC Cream for hair? Yep, for real. From any other brand I may have scoffed at such an idea, but Alterna hasn’t disappointed me to date and I knew this was worth a go. The CC in this case stands for Complete Correction aka do-it-all and I’m happy to report that I found this claim to be absolutely fair: low maintenance hair care fans, listen up! Suitable for use on wet or dry hair as a treatment, primer or polisher I’ve used this as an intense leave-in hair mask for an hour before shampooing, a styling cream and a finishing product.

Free of sulphates and parabens and enriched with conditioning vitamins, caviar, natural oils and antioxidants, the 10-in-1 benefits are:

• Moisture	• Heat Protection
• Shine	• Light Hold
• Smoothness	• UV Protection
• Softness	• Manageability
• Anti-Breakage	• Strength

I can’t really measure anti-breakage or UV protection, but am nodding along to the others. This is the styling and finishing product I reach for more than any other, especially when I need my hair to look good and don’t want to take any chances. It’s lightweight, smells beautiful and leaves my hair soft, smooth and non-sticky… I can’t ask for much more than that.

Alterna Caviar CC Cream rrp £24.95 here

Barry M Hi Shine Gelly Lips & Pastel Gelly Nails

Until this week, nail polish was the only Barry M product I’d tried. The Spring line up from this on trend budget brand includes some great make-up launches and my favourites are the Hi Shine lip pencils: Gelly Lips. Five well pigmented colours that glide onto lips comfortably in shades including neutrals, brights and a vampy dark.

 

Swatches

#1 Vega - a dark vampy wine

#2 Alpha - bright orange red

#4 Sirius - deep reddish pink

#3 Electra - bright fuchsia (brighter than it looks here & my fave!)

#5 Capella - soft rose pink

I didn’t swatch these in numerical order (though coincidentally was pretty close!) but have included the numbers as shades aren’t printed on the actual pencils once you remove the outer seal. The market is flooded with these kind of pencils and my favourite is the Kiko Wet Look Creamy Lip Gloss, but these are a really impressive budget option at just £4.99 each. The finish is quite balmy at first before setting slightly and has a subtle shine (not gloss).

Barry M Gelly Lips are £4.99 each with free delivery here.

 

Spring Pastel Gelly Nails

While Summer tends to makes me reach for the brightest polishes I can get my mitts on, Spring is all about the pastels: meet new Barry M Gelly Hi Shine polishes in pretty pastel tones. I defy anyone not to fall for at least one of the three new shades: Sugar Apple (mint green), Huckleberry (baby blue) and Rose Hip (baby pink). Huckleberry and Rose Hip are very pale, delicate tones while Sugar Apple is a little brighter on the nails. I used 3 coats of the pink and 2 of the other shades, which I found applied the most smoothly and evenly.  While these don’t make heart race like the Aquarium Collection, I do think they’re really pretty and as good as any other pastels I’ve tried. My favourite is the pale blue Huckleberry.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint pastels are £3.99 each with free delivery here.

Barry M Aquarium Nail Polish Collection: review & swatches

I’ve always had a bit of a thing for mermaids and anything mermaidesque, so there may have been an audible gasp when I opened the new Barry M Aquarium Collection. Four duo-chrome metallics and two glitters make up the set… Beach Babe mani & pedi, sorted!

    

Duo Chrome Colours

• Caspian - gold with a pink sheen
• Arabian - green with gold & purple sheen
• Mediterranean - Copper with pink & gold sheen
• Pacific - blue with green sheen

Duo chrome (two tone) polishes are notoriously difficult to photograph and you can see the effect better above on the bottles than the nail swatches. On the nails it shows up best in the gold/copper tones: Caspian and Mediterranean. It’s much more subtle in the green and blue Pacific and Arabian, though is enhanced by the addition of Mermaid glitter.

The Glitters

   

The glitters are chunky and full-on with large gritty shards of foil set in a clear base - and of course, complement the other colours beautifully.  Mermaid is green, blue and gold; Treasure Chest is gold and pink. The top swatches show two layers, so as you can see, it’s easy to create a dense effect with these. I’ve applied different amounts over the metallics to show how they can be worn: gradient tips, fine layer and double layers.

 

The colours look so thick and molten in the bottle that I expected them to look instantly opaque - and they aren’t. Don’t be disheartened by the first wishy washy coat as they are opaque in two, though I think three gives greater depth to the duo chrome effect.  I love them all, but think Mediterranean is the most unique and Pacific (blue) is just gorgeous.

Barry M Aquarium nail polishes are just £3.99 each HERE

Bourjois Rouge Velvet: Review & Swatches

 

Bourjois Rouge Velvet liquid lipsticks are one of the most exciting High Street beauty releases I’ve seen in a long time - due to hit shelves in April. Think an intense pop of vibrant, mesmerising colour, lightweight texture and insane lasting power with a matte finish. These will make your lips the main focus of your face and work best with a subtle make-up look that allows them to take centre stage. Bad hair day or tired eyes: pop this on and no-one will notice! 

It’s breaking my heart a little bit that I haven’t been able to capture just how sumptuous these are on camera - all that lovely sunshine disappeared and the sky darkened just as I was photographing them. As I write, I’m not sure if I’ll publish this tonight or re-take the pics tomorrow… I’ve used the best of my (minimal) editing skills to capture the colours as accurately as possible, but believe me, they’re better in real life.

I don’t know how Bourjois have done it, but these do actually look like plush velvet on the lips. Not in a weird way, but they have that rich, intense jewel coloured plush effect of expensive velvet and seem to make lips look fuller and softer.

What are they?

Rouge Velvet are highly pigmented liquid lipsticks, which apply like an opaque gloss and dry almost matte, with a teensy bit of slip, just enough to prevent lips feeling uncomfortable - or like the surface might crack (an unpleasant sensation I’ve experienced with similar formulas). Despite the strong pigment and serious lasting power, they apply as easily as a standard gloss or lipstick and then set slightly: once they do so, they feel so lightweight it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them. Daily use probably would leave lips a little dry - and after two days of constant testing mine could use a bit of balm - but it’s nothing major and I’ve definitely experienced more dryness after just a few hours wearing other liquid lipsticks.

Swatches

The colours are flipping gorgeous, as you can see. There are 8 in total and I’ve been testing four (as pictured left to right above):

• 07 Nude-ist - a deep rosewood in a much deeper tone than I expected. Maybe it’s too close to my own lip colour, but I expected this one to be quite subtle and it’s not. I don’t dislike it; I’d just prefer it to be slightly lighter for a more nude effect.
• 03 Hot Pepper - an orange toned, Marilyn-esque tomato red. Shades + this = the only make-up you need on sunny days.
• 05 Ole Flamingo! - raspberry toned hot pink that nestles between pink and red. This is much more wearable than Pink Pong and probably my favourite.
• 06 Pink Pong - in-your-face, verging on neon magenta, this is not for the faint hearted. I’ve worn it all day and it’s a bit much for daytime - I did get some looks. I do love it though!

Performance

It’s worth pointing out that the colour and boldness of these are slightly buildable. One thin layer will give the most subtle effect. Pat it on over lip balm for an even softer result (though this will reduce lasting power). Most lipsticks have a short wear time on me… I’m impressed if they pass an hour. These survived 4-5 hours of meetings, lunch, coffee and even a quick smooch. They weren’t immaculate after all this, but they were still *there* - and literally stayed until I removed them at bedtime with Bioderma - still leaving a slight stain.

                       

In these pics I’m wearing Hot Pepper (left, way more vibrant in real life) and Pink Pong. My pics of the other shades really didn’t do them justice, so I didn’t feel it was fair to include them.

The packaging is stylish and practical and even the doe foot applicator looks and feels velvety.

Application Tips

• To moisturise your lips without interfering with the formula, use a balm while you apply other makeup, then blot off any excess with a tissue before using Rouge Velvet.
• Use an invisible lip liner to avoid colour smudging over the edges of your lips, especially if you plan to eat.
• Use a regular lip liner in a similar shade pre application for a neat edge. This isn’t essential as the applicator works well on its own, but if you’re not used to such a bright shade it will give you more confidence while applying.
• Because the colour is so strong and hangs around for so long, soften any harsh lines where the colour stops on the inside edges of your lips, by sweeping the clean wand (or a finger) over them before the product sets. This just gives a more natural looking finish.
• If the product is wearing off and you’re not in a situation where you can top it up, apply lip balm and work it into any excess product left on your lips for a more even look.

Four additional shades include a deep peach, burgundy, crimson and deep pink. Bourjois Rouge Velvet are available now at £8.99 each HERE. They look and perform as if they cost at least twice that.

 

SHOP THE POST

Which CC Cream? Soap & Glory, Bourjois, Sleek & Cargo

Tired of BB creams or were never really inspired by them? Time to sit up as brands are releasing a new wave of CC creams which take things up a notch and might just offer what you’re looking for.

So what are CC creams?… what do they do?… and who are they for? The answers to all of these questions vary according to brand. In general terms, where BB stood for Blemish Balm (officially; some labelled it Beauty Balm), CC stands for Colour Corrector - which means addressing redness, sallowness and so on - for a more even toned complexion. To achieve this, most CC creams contain skincare ingredients and SPF with varying degrees of coverage, from tinted moisturiser level to a potential replacement for your foundation.

Here’s the lowdown on four of the latest formulas - and which ones I think are worth trying out. 

Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful CC Superfluid SPF15, £14 HERE

The most sheer, tinted moisturiser-esque formula of the bunch, this contains antioxidants, vitamins and brighteners to illuminate and soften the skin. I’m really impressed by the texture and radiance inducing powers of this and although I’m not brave enough to wear it alone, I’ve been using it as a base - either under foundation or one of the other CC formulas. It seems to give my skin that little extra something that makes me look more glowy and awake.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream SPF15, £9.99 HERE

Bourjois CC Cream contains 3 colour correcting pigments to address tired, red and pigmented skin. It’s oil-free, hydrating and comes in 4 shades. This one offers me enough coverage to wear in place of foundation and I’d describe it as light-medium coverage: it gives me a fresh, even finish without looking overly made up. The creamy liquid texture is a pleasure to apply and feels really comfortable on my skin. You can watch Lisa Eldridge apply it on Sophie Dahl in this video - the one that piqued my initial interest.

Sleek CC Cream SPF29, £8.99 HERE

Sleek CC Cream is described as a complexion correction cream, designed to treat, correct and conceal imperfections. The highest coverage of any CC cream I’ve tried, this is definitely on a par with foundations - and unlike some CC creams, which are designed to be worn under foundation, this one definitely stands up on its own. The texture is a thick cream (reminds me of Laura Mercier Crème Smooth) and applies well with fingers or a brush. I absolutely love this one - Fair is a great colour match for me and I really like the rich, creamy texture and even coverage it gives.

Cargo HD Picture Perfect CC Cream SPF20, £26 HERE (launches 17 March)

Designed to correct redness and pigmentation, Cargo’s offering contains vitamins, antioxidants, hydrators and natural skin calmers, such as Green Tea and Chamomile Extract. The coverage level is similar to a natural look, light coverage foundation - slightly less than the Bourjois. As you’ll see in the swatches below, this is a pearly colour when squeezed from the tube, then blends to skin colour when massaged into the skin. I’ve used this quite a lot over the past month for natural make-up days and find it comfortable and hydrating on my skin.

Cargo is pearlised and blends out to skin colour when massaged in.

Swatches

Swatches straight from the tubes. Soap & Glory and Bourjois are the most liquid in formula. Sleek is a thicker cream texture and Cargo is quite liquid until massaged in, when it becomes creamy (see above). 

Shades swatched:

• Soap & Glory - Good Light, a golden natural tan that’s a touch too deep for me now but will suit me in Summer. Mixes well with other shades.
• Bourjois - Ivory, a slightly yellow/peach toned fair shade which suits my current skin tone, but will be too pale for me in Summer
• Sleek - Fair, a neutral beige and the best colour match for me out of these four
• Cargo - Light, a yellow toned light tan shade

 

I really like the packaging of all four products. The Soap & Glory is the prettiest and most functional with a pump and a clear window to show how much product is left, but all of them are very practical, hygienic, lightweight and easy to use.

While I can find a use for all of these, I know the Bourjois and Sleek will be used up first as they give me enough cover to replace foundation. If you’re blessed with great skin or prefer a very natural/ no make-up look, then Soap & Glory or Cargo are better bets for you. I need a moisturiser under all of them, though could get away without it under glowy Soap & Glory. Bourjois comes second in the glowy stakes while Sleek and Cargo have more of a matte finish.   

Do you need a CC cream in your life? No. This is not a make-up or skincare must-have in addition to your current foundation or tinted moisturiser. What these do offer are great alternatives to your foundation/tinted moisturiser for a make-up base or light wash of skincare-injected colour that’s perfect for Spring/Summer weather.

Do CC Creams turn you on?

3 French Skincare Favourites you can buy in the UK

For years beauty lovers have stalked French pharmacies and returned to the UK with a stash of French skincare in their suitcase - been there, done that. Much to my delight, an increasing number of these highly acclaimed products are now available in the UK. Today I thought I’d share the lowdown on three of my favourites, why I love them and where you can get hold of them without jetting to Paris.

Darphin Intral Toner £18.83 here

This soothing and calming toner with chamomile is specifically targeted at sensitive skins. It smells beautiful - like roses, though it isn’t. It should probably be applied with a cotton wool pad, but not wanting to waste a drop, I just pour it into my palm and splash/press onto my face before moisturising. I find this particularly soothing when my skin feels stressed or during occasional bouts of rosacea, though I really don’t need an excuse to use it every day. It came highly recommended by Caroline Hirons when my rosacea began.  

La Roche Posay Serozinc £8.55 here

La Roche Posay Serozinc has received much love  by beauty bloggers and it’s one of those products that you need to try for yourself to understand its benefits. I bought my first bottle in France last year and was gutted when it ran out, so was over the moon to hear that it now has an official UK stockist, Farmaline. This is a spray toner with zinc sulphate to soothe minor skin irritations. I use this slightly differently than the Darphin Intral, though I guess their roles overlap slightly. It’s antibacterial, so works well on minor breakouts or irritated skin, which for me are often the result of testing too many products (beauty bloggeritus). It just feels lovely and is so quick and easy to use.

Bioderma Sensibio H20 £4.50-£9.99 here

A long term favourite, Bioderma is one of my most repurchased beauty products.  In the past I’ve picked it up on eBay or in bulk while in France, but it’s now quite widely available in the UK. I often use this as a first step cleanser to remove make-up, but it’s also my go-to eye make-up remover. It’s so gentle, yet literally removes make-up in one swipe, with no tugging or rubbing at the skin. It’s a make-up artist and model favourite for good reason. NB I do not recommend using this as your only daily cleanser: it’s great, but does not deep clean pores like a proper cleanser.

I really think every woman could benefit from these products in her skincare stash. We all have days when our skin feels in need of soothing and late nights when a quick and easy cleanse is a godsend.

Let me know your thoughts if you have tried these products - and please leave your French skincare recs below!

 

 

Aerin Essentials: Kaleidolight Palette & Rose Balm Lipstick

The new AERIN Essentials Spring Collection has just launched, featuring the Kaleidolight Palette, Rose Balm, Rose Balm Lipsticks and lots more. I’ve admired this brand from afar since it launched in 2012 and am so pleased to finally get up close and personal with the products. If you’re not familiar with AERIN, created by Estee Lauder’s granddaughter of the same name, it’s all about an edited capsule collection of streamlined beauty products. Glamorous, but not fussy… this is classy, grown-up make-up.

I’m often disappointed with new releases when I meet them face to face - and admittedly would have glossed over the Kaleidolight Palette had I seen it online, but in real life, this is weak-at-the-knees gorgeous and so wearable.  Here’s a closer look…

Swirl a large fluffy brush around the whole palette to add a subtle glow to your complexion: all five shades of bronze, nude, pink and lavender blend beautifully. You can also pick out individual tones for precise application with the colours you like best - and the two lightest sections (in same shade) can be mixed with the other colours to soften them.

My preferred method is to use each colour - or group of colours - individually, and the palette is large enough to allow for this. For example, I’ll sweep a brush across the three bronze/nude tones to the right and use them as bronzer, perfect for this time of year when I want to warm my complexion a little without looking full-on tanned. I then add a little pop of the pink as blush on the apples of my cheeks and a whisper of the dark shade as contour in the hollows of my cheekbones.

Lavender is often used as a corrector to brighten skin and cancel out yellow or sallow tones: don’t be put off by its inclusion - your face will not look lilac! All of these colours can also be used on the eyes - and I’m surprised how much I enjoy wearing a hint of the lilac on my lids with the darkest contour shade in the crease. I’ve strayed out of my comfort zone and I like it.

Swatches

As you can see from the swatches there is quite a variety in the tones, though they do work together - and blended, give a subtle golden wash of colour which will I think will work best on light to medium skins. According to AERIN, the palette will work on all skin tones, but I imagine the effect will be quite different according to the individual. I find Kaleidolight adds warmth, subtle colour and radiance to my pale face - and I use it in place of bronzer and powder. On deeper skin tones, I imagine that it will have more of a skin flattering and evening effect, along the lines of Chanel Les Beiges (minus the coverage). The inclusion of pink, lilac and the deepest bronze give this palette the edge, extending its capabilities and the number of looks that can be created with it. Neither matte nor shimmery, it adds a slight radiance and the texture is super soft and buttery with perfect colour payoff and no fall out.

Rose Balm Lipstick

A semi matte-look lipstick that feels creamy on the lips: utter genius. Rose Balm Lipsticks are formulated with a base of the new AERIN Rose Balm (made with 350+ rose petals, swoon) to add colour while helping smooth and plump lips. I’m on an eternal hunt for The Perfect Nude Lipstick and I think this could be The One. Have you any idea what a huge deal this is?! This shade is even called Perfect Nude - it’s a sign! If you’re into nude tones, there are lots more in this collection.

The chunky, vintage-esque packaging of these lipsticks is divine - and yes, it’s even got that satisfying magnetic clunk closure goin’ on.

On my Face

All products applied on lips, cheeks and eyes, as described above. Man I love this lipstick. I included the palette in this pic as I realised I hadn’t shown the scale of it - and it’s pretty generous as you can see. I adore the vintage packaging, shiny trim and matte no-fingerprints lid (happy dance).

Note the once-in-a-blue-moon nude nails - trying to give them a rest & absolutely craving colour.

     

Check out that blush suede pouch with gold lettering. Every ‘i’ has been dotted and ‘t’ crossed in this collection - and best of all, the quality and performance of the products equate their beauty. These have become instant everyday essentials for me - and that doesn’t happen every day.

ps Dear AERIN, please come to Belfast so we can meet the whole range. Everyone here will love you, promise.

AERIN Kaleidolight Palette (£40), Rose Balm Lipstick and the AERIN Essentials Collection are available now at Harrods. They will also be at Selfridges and selected John Lewis stores, but Harrods is the only place I can find them online.

Have you tried Aerin and do any of these appeal to you?

Models Own Speckled Eggs Collection: Review & Swatches

Anything that makes me look forward to Spring makes me happy right now - and Models Own Speckled Eggs Collection of pretty pastel mini-egg-alike polishes has me ooh-ing and ahh-ing at my fingertips. In addition to the 3 colours above: Magpie, Duck and Dove (yes, really!), the line-up also includes Goose (yellow) and Swan (lilac). Although pastel, the colours are quite distinct and not too wishy washy; all look slightly brighter on application than in the bottle. Some of the black speckles grey out in the milky finish, but aren’t gritty enough to interfere with the texture like some glitters can; these are opaque in two coats.

Swatches

Dove, described as a Cheeky Pink, reminds me of Sugar Mice, a sugary sweet pastel pink.

Duck, listed as Cornflower Blue, is more of a china blue to me and the prettiest of the bunch. I look forward to waking up to blue cloudless skies in this hue…

Magpie is mint green with a slight aqua tinge. Although I love Duck, I can see myself reaching for this one the most often.

All of these have a semi-matt finish, which I like as it plays down the pretty, as do the speckles - providing a lovely alternative to standard pastels. You can of course add a top coat if you prefer the glossy look. It’s impossible not to draw comparisons with Illamasqua’s Speckled collection last year, which I personally didn’t try, but can tell you that these are less than half the price and in prettier colours.

Models Own Speckled Eggs Collection launches at modelsownit.com and Superdrug on 12 March and in Boots stores March 19, priced at £5 each. 

Do you fancy mini-egg fingertips? Which one do you like best?

Clinique Cheek Pops: Review & Swatches

As someone with a total weakness for blusher, I’ve been completely spoilt with recent releases.  Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better than these Hourglass numbers, Clinique Cheek Pops landed and knocked me for six with a set of dreamy blushers that perform as beautifully as they look. Not everyday that happens…  Clinique has come up roses (Gerberas actually) with this quartet, which have lured me in with something akin to beauty magic.

Reasons I love Cheek Pops:

1. Just look at them. Make-up doesn’t get much prettier than this. And the Gerbera design is quite deeply cut, so it’s hanging around for a while.

2. The texture. Looks like a cream, feels and behaves like a gel-silk-powder hybrid. These are extremely finely milled. I know they are powder, but they don’t feel powdery to the touch. The reason for this ‘magic’ is that the formula actually began as a liquid, slow baked into a silky, lightweight powder. 

3. The colour. Cool pink, bright pink, peachy coral and terracotta. They look bright in their little compacts, but sweep a brush across them and it will look like there’s almost nothing on the bristles. Applied to cheeks, the same thing happens… a sheer whisper of colour appears. Keep swirling the brush on your skin and the colour builds - yep, you guessed it - like magic. Although subtle, the colour is definitely buildable, just add a little more - and go easy, because they do become bright as you layer them up - though still look almost invisible in texture, as if part of your skin.

4. Consistency. Each one applies evenly, blends easily and lasts well (I may have been spotted wearing a different colour on each cheek as part of this research)

5. The packaging. Sturdy, simple and displays the colour on both sides for easy selection, storage and maximum prettiness (why would you want to hide those flowers away?). If one shade is not enough, you may like to know that they stack really neatly too (see pics below)

 

From top left: Plum, Berry, Peach and Ginger Pops.  Peach looks more coral in real life and Ginger, more brown toned - as you can see in my first pic above.

Swatches

Even on my fingers you can see the sheeny, sheer, buttery is-it-cream-or-powder texture. Magic I tell you.

Plum Pop is not plum, but a pretty pink with blue-verging-on-lilac undertones (that’ll be the plum bit - more obvious in the pic below) and a slight shimmer. I expected this to look overly pastel-y and shimmery on my cheeks, but it really doesn’t - and is in fact my favourite of the bunch.

Berry Pop is a more red toned pink and the brightest of the bunch. I like to add a pop of this on the apples of my cheeks, layered over the Plum Pop, a la Charlotte Tilbury blushes. It brings cheeks to life with a just in from a seaside walk type flush.

Peach Pop is my second favourite, a lovely corally peach that adds warmth to the face and is really easy to wear.

Ginger Pop is the other shade I didn’t expect to like, but I can’t be unfaithful to any of these so far… this colour is more subtle than I expected, works well as a neutral blush with natural or evening looks and has enough brown to add contour and bronze to certain complexions.

Presentation

I do love glamorous packaging, but sometimes simple is best - and with contents as pretty as this, Clinique was right to let them do the talking.

The extent of my enthusiasm for this product emanates from the fact that I seriously didn’t expect to be so impressed. Such a small amount of these pretties is required and they last so long on the skin that I think they are great value for money. And as always with Clinique, they are 100% fragrance free and allergy tested.

Clinique Cheek Pops are due to hit counters from 21st March rrp £16.50 and have been released online early this weekend at Clinique UK or Sephora (which now ships to the UK).