Estee Laude Bronze Goddess Fragrance, not a perfume, a 'skinscent'
£45
It's sweet and rich, it reminds me of the beach and it's unique....
It's Bronze Goddess which is limited to spring and summer every year so by the time I have finished my bottle I am literally counting the days until it get's released again in April here in the UK.
I remember last year running out whilst I was back in South Africa and oh my goodness, it was £80 a bottle there...I tried to act all cool when the shop assistant told me the price in Edgars and I was thinking no way am I paying double and it's not even a EDP!...however I knew I had a month to wait until it got released in the UK again. I wasn't crazy that day but what I am saying is, this fragrance is so beautiful and brings back so many happy memories of long summer holidays that it is worth every penny.
You just know summer is here when Bronze Goddess is out.
If like me you adore the beach, hot days and exotics scents....well coconut sunlotions and oils then you my friend will just love this perfume. It's a really sexy scent and it can me wild!
Give it a spray next time you are in Debenhams or Boots, it will be at the Estee Lauder counter. It's simply devine.
For acne, oily prone skin and for men and women, men don't be afraid to try this!
5 years later...I am still a massive fan
I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts on this product, I really do love it and recommend it to anyone who has problematic acne oily prone skin, I would definitely say that in my time using this oil, my skin has improved and I now no longer need to use any other product to combat my acne or oily skin, it helps regulate my skin and so now I just use the oil irregularly.
I had very bad acne in my late teens and I discovered this beautiful oil which has honestly been a saviour for me, it has given me so much confidence to have clearer skin and I have to say thank you to Clarins for creating this god send of a product.
Please do try it and let me know what you think, it is worth every penny.
Thank you for reading xxx
Pros?
It controls my oily tzone
Spots? It heals them faster, is non drying and stops any itches and ensures less acne scarring.
It reduces redness/inflammation.
I have used it successfully on burns, sunburn (I mix it with a gentle body lotion to help spread it all over affected areas, so relieving!), mosquito bites (It's a dream and I never get any itchy skin because of it and they heal so much faster!)
It smells beautiful
A bottle can even stretch to last me up to 2 years and for £30, amazing value. I just use it when needed, a little goes a very long way.
It seems to help get rid of any black heads! Wonderful stuff
I apply it at night and I could swear the essential oils help not only calm my face but also my mind, helps me sleep and massive plus is that it does not stain any clothes or bedding in my experience as it is fast absorbing (I sleep on my face so I know what I am talking about).
I find it hard to get at any of the Clarins counters when I run out as I keep being told it is so popular.
Cons?
Honestly, I have found it very hard to pick anything.
It does not only the job but so much more, it's good quality, it feels good to use and it's a beautiful scent but perhaps 1 thing...in winter when my skin has got very dry (no where near as dry as some people experience) , around the edges of my nose I have found that this Lotus Oil doesn't particularly help the dry situation perhaps as the skin on the cheeks is rather sensitive. Now I am not expecting it too help everything and it seems like a product to help oily skin and well I should rather use the Clarins Blue Orchid oil, but it's a tiny issue and something that has not come up anywhere else on the face when dry
Carried by Marks and Spencer, £22.50 for 100ml EDP
Distinctive vanilla with a honey-scented heart and an intense aroma of chocolate for an exhilarating sensation. Top: Honey, Middle: Chocolate patchouli, Bottom: Vanilla tobacco.
Unusual I must say and not something I would have thought to try had it not been for it being on sale and it was rather a bargain at around only £10 for a gift set which included a 50ml EDP and also a body lotion.
It's strong, it's fierce and layered with other perfumes I find it pretty sexy. It's not a scent I would wear in the day time because it is so rich and it also definitely has a unisex vibe to it, I definitely wouldn't hesitate in recommending this for men to use also. The usual price is £22.50 for 100ml EDP so it is really a fabulous price for what is a strong, sexy and long lasting scent.
Upon first spraying it, it can be rather strong but as the hours tick by it actually changes, the next morning you can still smell it on clothes and I think it can definitely be one of those signature scents. I think at times you can almost be reminded of Thierry Mugler's Angel, a scent I have previously used and for the price, this is a great if a little different alternative.
There is a whole range of them at Marks and Spencers so please do go check them out. I look forward to buying more in the range in the future.
Like any beauty queen I am forever in pursuit of finding the perfect foundation, perfect eyeline, perfect lipstick shade, perfect mascara la la la plus I just love trying new make up!
Many times I have thought I have found what I thought was good enough, maybe not perfect but at the time it was great. Sometimes I think it is selective memory or just a desire and enjoyment of trying new products, I will try new products then go back to that hardy product that seems to be a constant in my life.
With foundation, it's a constant battle to find one with the right shade to match my skin. If it matches in colour (rare!!) then the downside will be that it does not react well with my combination skin and just does not have the staying power that I expect. Also I am bearing in mind that my skin is changing as I get older which is an obvious natural progression and even between seasons I need a different foundation to meet my many needs!
Often I have to mix two shades of foundation to get a good match, I am pale in winter and I am fed up of pale foundations being orange or pink or even grey in shade (yes Revlon Colorstay I am looking at you!).
Now my constant is actually Revlon Colorstay, there shade 180 is perfect for me in summer when I have a tan. In winter 150 is too grey and washes me out, however I mix in a warmer foundation and sometimes get a good shade and strangely I like a bit of a yellow undertone to my foundation. The most natural shade I ever had was from a Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long lasting foundation, except it wasn't very long lasting, it was very natural when first applied. Sadly it also made me break out!
I was tempted this week to try the cheaper and often pushed Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation which last upto 25 hours. I was in Superdrug during my lunch break and thought hey lets try a new foundation, it was only £6.99 so as with most cheap foundations, cheap enough for you to not feel so crap that you wasted your money when they turn out to be an absolute let down.
RIMMEL LASTING FINISH 25 HOUR FOUNDATION Shade 100 Ivory
So here is the stock photo! Sorry I couldn't upload a picture of the bottle I had...cheers gmail on my phone;)
What's the deal Rimmel?
*30ml
*Pump (Revlon Colorstay sort it out please)
*Transfer proof
*Hydrating and lightweight feel
*Sweat, heat, humidity for upto 25 hours.
*Enriches with a revitalising mineral complex and moisturising Aqua primer
*Skin feels energised and hydrated all day
What is the reality?
Using a True Technique stipling brush:
*The pump is handy and well a necessity I think.
*Price is cheap and cheerful and makes it worth a try
*It's the first Rimmel foundation I have ever tried and it isn't too bad
*The coverage for those with blemishes is fairly good, I did need to use concealer however but I do with most foundations, as my skin is good at the moment this foundation is satisfactory.
*I am not a fan of 100 Ivory being fairly dark for my 150 Revlon shade skin so I had to mix in a lighter foundation in to get a good match.
*When powdered, even around 3 hours my skin is shiny, however I usually need to powder with most foundations.
*There is a bit of a sparkle to it, very fine but still is there and this is nice if you want a vibrancy to your skin.
*My blush and bronzer do not blend well over this foundation which is a great shame.
*It blends well on its own so that is a plus.
Overall verdict?
Sadly I don't think I will be buying this foundation again, I will use it up and mix with other foundations however I just don't think it is for me. I prefer a more flawless look.
Worth a try though and might just work for you.
I hope you have found this useful!
Loving the carefree sing along vibe of Taylor Swift's 22...summer where art thou?
Khloe Kardashian looking gorgeous/Depech Mode UK Tour tickets/Bluegrass music
First of all, how gorgeous does Khloe look in this recent picture at an event? Her make up and hair look so natural and effortless beautiful. Love it all. Gorgeous lady!
Check out their epic tune Strange Love below, feautured in the Gucci's Guilty For Him advert since 2011...Hot!!
The past few days I have been listening to lots of bluegrass music, music has no barriers and really if a song touches you then I say go with it and do not feel ashamed to say yes I actually like a particular artist or genre, that is truly the beauty of being a music fan, the world is your oyster!
Check out the fabulous Bluegrass music internet radio station http://www.bluegrassmix.com/. For anyone who is a Hart of Dixie fan you will instantly feel like you are in that happy place which is the little coastal town of Bluebell. If you haven't seen it yet, go check it out, it's a delightful beautiful show set in Alabama starring Rachel Bilson as a Family doctor and features lots of gorgeous men, fashion and funny storylines).
I bought a few goodies from Superdrug today so a post is on the way about them.
A parting quote
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles" - Christopher Reeve-
