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Friday 19 April 2013

Banishing the Blemishes #002 - Ren Clearcalm

Part 2 of my Banishing the Blemishes series comes from a natural skincare company called Ren. Again, having heard amazing things about Ren all over the blogosphere, I was so excited to be able to try out the Clearcalm range. Ren pride theirselves in producing products free from synthetic fragrance/colour, PEGS, parabens and propylene glycol. 




I received the Clearcalm range to try out, best suited to blemish-prone skin. The set compromises of cleanser, mask, moisturiser and night serum. Unfortunatley, the day moisturiser has been discontinued, but the tzone balancing fluid is a fanatstic substitute.




This cleanser is unlike anything I've ever used before, it is clay-based, so has quite a firm consistency, very similar to the mask. It is full of gorgeous natural ingredients such as french clay, salicilin and mayblossom to deep cleanse and detoxify the skin. I really like this cleanser, I feel it really calms down my skin and also any angry blemishes I may have. It is quite hard to remove on its own, due to the clay-base, so I like to use a warm muslin to remove, in the same way you would a hot cloth cleanser. I have already ordered the full size version of this, and would highly recommend it if you currently enjoy using a hot cloth cleanser, but maybe your skin is acting up a little.

This mask is fantastic, the real star of the range. In conjunction with the cleanser, it works wonders. It contains very similar ingredients to the cleanser, and does a wonderful job of clearing up any blemishes you may have. It has a very potent scent, but nothing too awful - I can definitely ignore the scent for the results it gives! I only apply the mask to areas where I have an active breakout, because it is very concentrated and can be a little drying. I think I've hit a winner here! I even apply it to individual under-the-skin spots as it does a great job of drawing them to a head. I am counting down the days until payday, when I can indulge in the full size!

This moisturiser really lives up to its name. This lavender scented gel contains an exotic mix of essential oils to mattify and balance the skin, as well as protecting the skin from free radicals. This would be the perfect moisturiser for combination skin had it contained some SPF. I always use SPF during the day, so was a little disappointed at this. For this reason, I like to apply a moisturiser with SPF after, which also gives me a little more moisture for the colder months. Nevertheless, it is a great mattifying moisturiser and keeps me shine free (almost) all day.

The serum-gel hybrid contains licorice to reduce sebum production and lingonberry extract to correct hyperpigmentation. It feels extremely light and comfortable on the skin, and is absorbed by the skin almost immediately. I can't really comment on hyperpigmentation, because if something drastically improved hyperpigmentation in 2 weeks, it would be a miracle worker. However, when applying this, I wake up with super soft and glowing skin, almost as if I've applied a liquid exfoliator such as Alpha H liquid gold. It's not quite moisturising enough for winter, however, I will definitely be reaching for this gem during the summer months when my skin is an oily mess!


I have thoroughly enjoyed trialing the Ren Clearcalm range, and it definitely contains some gems! As aforementioned, I have already bought the full sized version of the cleanser, and am waiting on payday before I buy the mask! If I had to recommend you one item from the range, it would definitely be the cleanser. I can't see my skincare routine without it, and in the long term, I'm sure it will whip my troublesome skin in to shape.


Have you ever tried anything from Ren?

xxx

Sunday 14 April 2013

500 Follower Giveaway Winner...

A huge thank you to everyone that entered my 500 follower giveaway, the winner was Alex and she has replied to my email and I have arranged for her prizes to be sent to her! Don't worry if you didn't win this time, I have another giveaway planned for you all very very soon!

Thank you for your continued support, and huge congratulations to Alex!

xxx

Friday 5 April 2013

Lust List #007 - My Summer Picks ft. Avenue 32

It seems like just about everyone is jetting off on their holidays at the moment. My twitter and instagram feeds are plastered with gorgeous beaches and bikini-clad bodies, and I'm here in dreary, cold England. Nice. If, like me, you're feeling a little down that the British Summer Time hasn't really kicked off yet, let my summer picks from Avenue 32 inspire you...




For the ideal summer dress, look no further than the Thakoon Addition Blue Floral dress. The floral print is perfect for summer, along with the stylish skater style. I really love the detailing on this dress. From the blue floral print to the cut-out cross back, it is perfect for beach strolls, and can easily be dressed up with a blazer and wedges for the evening.

I would pair the dress with a giant floppy hat, sunglasses and gladiator sandals - my three summer essentials. I found this perfect Pheasant feather rush hat, which will also look great at festivals due to the feather detailing. These Silver cut out sandals are a must for keeping cool and stylish during the warmer months. I love the metallic detailing, which certainly sets them apart from your standard brown gladiators! Sunglasses are another one of my "musts" - I'd be lost if I lost mine! Avenue 32 have an amazing selection of sunglasses,  some of my favourites being the bespoke frames from Cutler and Gross. I have seen cat eye sunglasses all over the SS13 catwalks, but I wasn't too keen. However, these White mondrian cat eye sunglasses are ever-so-slighly cat-eye, making them extremely easy to pull off. I think I've been converted.

During the summer, I keep my jewellery to a bare minimum - it just gets in the way a little! However, I do like to stack up on friendship bracelets for an efforless, urban look. Spikes and studs are huge at the moment, and are featured on the Silver plated chain bracelet. In addition, the Bex rox friendship bracelet in blue provides the perfect complement to my outfit.


Are you longing for summer? Which trends are you dying to experiment with?


xxx