Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque review

For years I steered well clear of face masks that weren't hydrating or for sensitive skin after a few face mask mishaps when I was younger (burning skin, rash, breakouts etc) but I was given a sample of this at the Dermalogica counter and braved it. 

And, boy, I'm pleased I did! I've used the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque four times now (roughly once a month) and each time I've been delighted with the results. 

The charcoal in it is meant to absorb impurities and it also contains sulfur to promote cell turnover for brighter skin.

It is thick like mud to apply with a slight green tinge. It goes on smoothly but there are tiny grains in the product. I'm assuming this is the 'sea silt' listed in the ingredients?! 

Once on, the mask dries very quickly and starts to tighten. I leave it on for ten minutes and then wash off with warm water.  It takes quite a bit of water to loosen the product and then whilst washing it all off the grains exfoliate your skin. 

My face feels taut immediately after and I then use a toner to remove any final traces.

This mask leaves my skin smooth, glowing and feeling really clean. It doesn't aggravate my spots.  My pores are smaller and wrinkles less prominent. Wonder product!

It has quite a strong smell, quite medical and with a hint of tea tree oil (another ingredient).  It also contains witch hazel and both ingredients are meant to help with spots. 

I've nearly finished this sample and I will definitely go and buy a full size at £38. I think it's worth the price. 

Scary face mask selfie below 😆

Mac Pro Longwear Concealer review

This is meant to be one of the best concealers out there. According to blogger after influencer after celebrity after make up artist so I had high, high hopes. But boy, did they come crashing down! 

Purchased for £18, MAC claims this concealer lasts 15 hours, is water and transfer resistant, is for all skin types and offers medium to full coverage. 

I was advised by a lovely MAC person that I needed shade nw20 and the shade is perfect. However! This concealer is simply *not great* on my skin (combination, spot-prone, dry and sensitive all at once, with a few wrinkles thrown in for good measure). 

I've now tried it under foundation, over foundation, on its own, under power, applied with fingers, applied with brush, applied with damp sponge and it always seems to do the same thing: cake. Urgh. 

I tried it on my undereyes and it found and clung to every teeny fine line going and settled in them making my skin look cracked, papery, wrinkled, puffy, ugly. Here are some weird coloured, weird faced pics so you get the gist... 

Horrible!! So I removed it all and started again. Here's what my undereye usually looks like using Laura Mercier secret concealer in shade 2, applied in exactly the same way a few moments later... 

Phew. The MAC Pro Longwear concealer aged me by about 30years! So, that was a fail.

I also used it on my spots. These are always quite red and generally always in an area of dryness (weird I know!) so a concealer needs to have excellent coverage and sit well on dry skin. So how did the MAC concealer do? 

Yup, you guessed it, not well! Sob. The coverage is great, hiding the redness and it does last a long time. But it is not good on dry skin. It seemed to migrate into every pore and shrink to leave a streaky line around the area covered, exaggerating all the uneven texture and patchiness. Believe me I blended this product in very carefully. I applied it in the morning and went out for the day and looked in the mirror when I got home and was mortified that it looked so caked on and obvious (sorry, more hideous pics coming up)...

Reluctant to give up on this product I have used it since over foundation, applied with sponge, ONLY if I'm going out to a dark bar/club and want full, heavy coverage as it is excellent at covering red spots.  My skin is also a little less dry at the moment so it stays smoother on the skin. 

I'm also not impressed at all with the packaging- the pump dispenser is meant to be convenient I'm sure but it pumps out waaaay too much product! I end up using about a third of a pump and the rest is binned. A lot of wastage on an expensive product. 

Verdict- would I buy again? No. Will I use again? In very specific circumstances. Would I recommend? Perhaps suit normal to oily skin better than dry. 

I LOVE 😍😍 MAC select sheer powder, lipsticks and lip pencils, eyebrow pencil in fling, 217 small fluffy brush and the Fix+ finishing mist but I don't get on with the brand's foundations or eyeshadow and now I can add concealer to the MAC-products-that-aren't-for-me list. 

Copper & rust eyes with plum lips

I created this copper and rust eyes with plum lips look using the following products... 

Face

On my face I used (in order of application):

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer 

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water foundation in light

Mac Pro Longwear concealer in nw20

Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer in 040 soft beige (under eye) 

Smashbox Halo Hydrating perfecting powder in light / neutral 

Benefit Hoola bronzer 

Smashbox LA Lights blush & highlight palette in Pacific coast pink (used shade rich pink)

Laura Mercier radiance baked powder in highlight 01 

Mac Fix+ finishing mist

Eyes

On my eyes I used (in order of application):

Smashbox 24 hour photo finish shadow primer 

Sleek Makeup divine eyeshadow palette Sunset 568 (various shades)

MUA eyeshadow in shade 17 

Barry M liquid eyeliner in black

Benefit They're Real mascara in black

Eylure lengthening lashes in no 116

Mac eyebrow pencil in fling 

Lips

On my lips I used:

Mac lip pencil in vino

Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in cutting edge 120

Tools

I used the following makeup application tools: 

*Top row left to right 

Real Techniques blush brush

Real Techniques powder brush

Bare Escentuals powder brush (use for bronzer) 

? Cannot remember the brand of this fan brush and doesn't say it! 

Make Up For Ever spoolie 

Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge, used damp (in depth review coming soon)

*Bottom row left to right 

Real Techniques base shadow brush 

Bare Escentuals 'light stroke' brush 

Model's Own angled brush

Real Techniques deluxe crease brush 

Real Techniques accent brush 

Mac 217 brush 

Eylure lash applicator (in depth review coming soon)

Tweezerman eyelash curlers 

I also braided my hair, apologies for the fat roots, getting them fixed at the weekend ;-)

And there you have it! What do you think? 

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence review

Whilst I was waiting for a delayed flight out of Tokyo last summer I splurged on the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence after seeing it on the gorgeous model Jourdan Dunn's Instagram and also raved about by the equally gorgeous actress Cate Blanchett. Both have glowing, clear, smooth skin and I always want a piece of that action! 

I got the 75ml glass bottle and I'm not sure how much I paid but it retails in UK for around £40-£50. 

It is a clear liquid, like water, that you splash a few drops onto your palm, rub together with other palm and then pat onto your face- don't rub. It is super gentle and I can use it around my eyes with no stinging.  I use after cleansing and toning and before moisturiser and SPF. 

It's formulated with a 'magic' ingredient called Pitera which is basically a naturally derived liquid that comes from the sake fermentation process. Sake is an alcoholic drink made out of rice, so this is basically fancy rice water! The Facial Treatment Essence contains vitamins, amino acids, minerals as well as organic acids apparently that work together to rejuvenate the skin's outer layer. 

It says to use twice a day but I love sploshing this on my face in the morning as it is so refreshing and instantly perks up my dull, tired skin. I prefer to use heavier facial oils and creams at night. 

The liquid absorbs quickly with zero stickiness and leaves skin hydrated, smooth and dewy. My Olay Total Effects moisturiser goes on top perfectly and provides a perfect base for make up. 

The only downside is the smell (like the smell of water that you've boiled your rice for dinner in) which is strong at first but disappears after the liquid has absorbed into your skin.  I've read some reviews where people hated the smell so much they stopped using the product but I really don't find it too bad and it doesn't linger at all. 

It's pricey but lasts a long time as you only need a few drops per application. My 75ml bottle is about half full after six months of near daily use. 

Would I buy again? TBC. I'm not wholly convinced of its value for money, but I'm enjoying using it whilst it lasts!