Like many people, Clinique was my first foray into 'higher end' make up and skincare. It all started when I was in Boots just wandering around aimlessly and I was approached by one of the women who worked on their counter, asking if I would like a makeover.

Normally I just politely said no when asked, but I had nothing better to do and I had always been curious about the counters of expensive things. So off I went and had my skincare and make up done. I left with some trial size products and a new interest in make up and skincare.

Over the years I've tried a lot of the products in their range. Some I didn't get on with, some have ingredients that I never use on my skin (SLS and mineral oil) but others have remained firm favourites.

Clinique have always been a brand that is better known for their skincare than their make up and I personally think while there are hits and misses in both, there are definitely some stand out products.

1. Take the day off balm - £24.00

The one you now hear every beauty blogger talk about. I have been using this for years and I have only just finished my first tub. I don't use it exclusively and switch it up with other products but I know I can rely on this to remove the most hardcore of waterproof make up.

It's extremely gentle on the eyes and leaves skin beautifully soft without stripping it. A little goes a long way, so it lasts a long time.

Basically if you can only buy one thing from Clinique, make it this. You need this in your life!

2. Moisture surge moisturiser - £36.00

Another staple and I have gone through multiple pots of this. I've never met anyone who doesn't get on with this product.

The reason I love it is it's an oil free gel type mosituriser which is suitable for all skin types. Gel type formulas are my favourite for my combination skin as they keep it hydrated without making it greasy.

3. Lip pop lipsticks - £17.00

These got loads of hype when they first came out and I think they're still some of my favoutite lipsticks of all time. I have 7 of these but my most worn colours are Cherry Pop, Plum Pop and Sugar Pop.

You only need one application for maximum pigmentation and they stay put for a surprisingly long time, with minimal touch ups needed.

There's a huge range of colours so there's something for everyone.At £17 they're not exactly cheap but I think these compare to far more expensive lipsticks (Chanel, NARS, Charlotte Tilbury etc).

4. Colour pop blush - £17.00

These have to be some of the prettiest blushes available. Who doesn't love their adorable little flower design? But more importantly they're actually really good.

These apply really smoothly and give a soft, natural glow. I have the shade Heather Pop and it's a really pretty pink that blends beautifully.

5. Chubby sticks intense - £18.50

I like the original chubby sticks, but personally find them a little underwhelming and overpriced for essentially a tinted lip balm.

The intense versions though are far more unique. These are lipsticks in a twist up crayon and the pigmentation and staying power is remarkable. These are so perfect for popping in your handbag as they can be applied in an instant.

Curviest Caramel is easily my most worn lip product ever but the whole range of colours is lovely and there is definitely a colour in the range that you would like.

6. Fresh bloom blush - £26.00

One of my very fist Clinique purchases that I never once seen anyone else talk about.

The peony pattern on this blush is stunning. Can there be anything more classically beauty blogger than pretty make up combined with peonies?

More importantly this blush is actually really good. It does have a slight shimmer and very subtle shimmer which personally I like. But it blends nicely and is easy to apply. 

Do you have any favourites from Clinique? Let me know as I'm always looking for new things to try. 

The ten minute make up routine for busy mornings

If you're anything like me, you don't do mornings.

I struggle with motivating myself to get ready at the best of times but getting ready to go at 6am on a weekday does not equal a happy Amber. 

Sadly though we all have to make ourselves look presentable for work and that usually requires putting on a bit of make up to hide my under eye bags make myself look and feel better.

As much as I love make up most of the time I don't have the energy to create something spectacular on your average week day. 

Particularly because it's cold, dark and nobody will notice what my amazing eye make up looks like once I'm sat behind my partition at my desk. 

So I have whittled my morning make up routine to such a peak of efficiency that it now takes me less than 10 minutes to achieve.

Base

I always start with my bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted  Gel. This stuff is fab and great if you like to wear a bit of a base but don't want anything too heavy. 

I find this gives a 'soft focus' effect (similar to Charlotte Tilbury's Wonderglow) and blurs imperfections rather than hiding them. This foundation is light and it will not cover a blemish or hide redness. But it does give a smoothed appearance without hiding what your face actually looks like.

It's long wearing and I find it works well on my combination skin. It is best applied with your fingers and less is DEFINITELY more with this (which is good because it lasts a long time). You need a pea size and that is it. Any more and you will not get it to blend evenly. I love that it can be applied with fingers because it means less brushes to wash and its quick and easy.

A word of warning though, this product does NOT get on with any sort of silicone primer. I once tried it with The Ordinary's High Adherence Silicone primer. Big mistake. They did not mesh well together and it peeled off my face in huge strings of gloop. I had to wash it all off and start again.

In all honesty this product doesn't need a primer as it stays put well by itself. 

I wear this in shade 06 Ginger but it comes in a large shade range which should suit a lot of people. 

It also contains SPF 30 which is perfect for me in the winter when I'm inside an office all day. 

To hide my tiredness I use my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser which twists up and you apply it directly to your under eye area using the sponge applicator. I wish this came in more shades as it doesn't give you many options. 

I blend this using my Primark Beautyblender (these are amazing btw) and that's my make up base done.

Brows

I probably spend the most time on my eyebrows and use three different products ( I know, I'm high maintenance). 

I like a soft natural look so I use an angled brush to apply my Mac eyeshadow in Cork in small feathery strokes. I define the underside of my brow first and work upwards.

I have a bald patch in both my eyebrows where the arch is (one is worse than the other) so I use my NYX eyebrow pencil to fill in any sparse areas and then the spooley on the other end to tidy things up.

I set my brows using my Benefit Gimme Brow eyebrow gel, which keeps everything in place throughout the day.

Eyes

On mornings where I am getting ready this quickly I only bother with mascara. At the moment I am using the Lancome Grandiose mascara which has it's very unusual swan neck wand. I actually really like this mascara and find that the different shape of the wand does help you to evenly reach all of the awkward bits. 

This mascara stays put all day and doesn't flake off. It's only annoying thing is I struggle to apply this without getting some of it on my upper eyelid. I just dip a cotton bud in micellar water and do a two second clean up.

This does give quite a bold, thick look to lashes, which might not be to everyone's liking but I quite like a dramatic look. 

Cheeks

This is the part of the look I switch up the most but lately I've been exclusively using my NARS blusher in Orgasm. I've recently seen a lot of people saying they don't like the cult favourite but I personally love it.

It's a soft pink with a gold shimmer running through it. I find it gives a natural flush to the cheeks and the shimmer means I don't need to use a highlighter which saves me time.

NARS blushes are legendary for their staying power and this stays put all day. 

Lips

I also like to mix up my lip colour but my Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel never leaves my handbag.

I usually apply this in the rear view mirror of my car as I'm about to get out and go to work and I love how easy and fuss free it is.

The twist up pencil doesn't require sharpening and it has good staying power. The formula is more lipstick like than the other chubby sticks and as a result it only needs reapplying a few times throughout the day.

The colour is incredibly flattering and is a warm nude with just enough brown. It's my favourite nude shade and easily my most worn lip product. It's perfect for any time that you want to 'play it safe' like a job interview but also when you're in a hurry like me in the morning and don't have time to be worrying about your lipstick. 

So that is how I get myself out of the door in time without scaring my co workers. Do you have any favourite products for when you're in a hurry? Let me know in the comments as I'm always looking for new products to speed up my routine even more.

A Christmas Gift Guide with Uncommongoods

I don't know about you but these darker, colder nights only mean one thing... It's nearly Christmas! 

Now yes I am aware it's only October but a girl needs to be organised about these things or it can very quickly become stressful and expensive instead of fun. I always start my Christmas shopping early because I can't deal with the crush of people in every shop from mid November and I always try to do as much as I can online to save time and effort.

So in this post I've got a few ideas to share with you as part of a collaboration with Uncommongoods. 

I was really excited about this post because I absolutely love buying people gifts, but I can struggle to find them unique and exciting things that they actually want. But one of the things that immediately caught by eye about Uncommongoods is that their products actually do offer something different. On top of that they are committed to doing good business. By that I mean focusing on sustainable products and packaging, supporting their designers by celebrating what makes their creativity unique and making sure all their staff have a great place to work. 

I always try to get my boyfriend Jared cool little stocking fillers but he can be incredibly hard to buy for. He has very particular tastes and interests and I don't want to get him anything too generic. 

I think he would absolutely love these beer jellies as he is a real foodie who loves to try new things. He really likes chutneys and savory foods like that and as these have beer in them I think they would go down well. I got him a tomato and red pepper chutney last year and he loved it, so I think these would be a winner.

Even though I try really hard with buying presents for Jared, he's not always the best at buying gifts for me. I have sometimes ended up buying things for myself for him to give to me. Such romance in my life *inserts eye roll emoji*. 

That said, I'm sure finding special gifts for your girlfriend can be a bit of a minefield because we can be just a little bit picky. But that is because we usually have a firm idea of what we want. Personally I would love to receive this for Christmas. What is not to love about a cute little tin full of pampering goodness? I can see myself relaxing with this on a lazy Sunday afternoon when I need a little bit of zen time. 

Even shopping for those who have similar tastes to your own can be tricky. I try to get my friends unique and useful Christmas gifts. We've all got enough stuff cluttering up our lives without well meaning friends adding to it.

I think this is the perfect example of the kind of thing you never knew you needed but is fantastically handy. Some of my friends spend a lot of their lives on the road due to their job and after four years living out of a suitcase traveling back between home and uni I think this would be helpful for someone who travels a lot. One of the frustrating things about traveling is no matter how neatly you've packed you can't find the thing you're looking for. By keeping things separated it should also make it easier to unpack once you've arrived. 

Hopefully this was some inspiration to get you started on your Christmas shopping. If you've spotted anything that you've simply had to get someone recently let me know!

*This post is sponsored by Uncommongifts but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Top 3 Budget Face Masks

Can you even call yourself a blogger if you don't love a good face mask? Life is all about enjoying the little things and there are few things more relaxing than a mini weekend pamper at home on a Saturday morning. 

Saving to buy a house has meant that I've been really watching my money for the last 18 months or so, which has meant I can't really afford to indulge my love of high end skin care. 

Luckily these three are actually my favourite face masks that I reach for over all of my others and they're all very affordable too!

1. Quick Fix Facials Purifying Charcoal Mask - £5.29

This is described as being for congested and lifeless skin and I think that is a very fair description. It is definitely the one I reach for when my skin is playing up as it does exactly what it says. This is a charcoal mask so comes out a very dark colour so I find it is best to remove it with a dark flannel or it can make your white ones look a little grey. It also has a pleasant tingling sensation when its on so you can actually feel it doing something. I can sometimes find charcoal masks to be too drying but this one leaves my skin feeling soft, without that uncomfortable tight feeling. 

This range is super affordable too and there is a mask for every skin concern. However, if you have combination skin like myself and sometimes have a break out you should definitely try this one!

2. Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Mask - £5.99

I bought this after seeing Jasmine Talks Beauty rave about it in a post and I am so glad I did. This is a super soft clay mask with ingredients that include honey (obviously), beeswax and various fruit extracts such as papaya. The result is skin that looks brand new after use. This is actually my favourite mask out of the three and although I haven't had it as long I've used quite a bit of it! It really does improve the radiance of your skin which can be something I struggle with. This product smells like honey as well which is another part of it that I love.

I now really want to try other things from this range so if you have any recommendations, let me know!

3. L'Oreal Pure Clay Glow Mask - £7.99

Everyone and their dog has been raving about these masks and I picked this one up in Tesco when they were on offer.This one is slightly different to the other masks in that it contains a physical exfoliant so it is a mask that is combined with a scrub.

The red algae and three clays it contains are meant to help with brightening and they definitely do. I apply this in a thin layer and leave it to sit for 5 minutes before massaging it into the skin to make use of the scrub action and then rinsing away. For the price, this product certainly feels and smells like a far more expensive product. It has a gentle, almost spa like scent to it which I really like. The packaging is fantastic, with a solid glass pot that means you can get every last bit of the product out. It also looks great on my bathroom shelf! The quality of the product itself is lovely and it has a really smooth, creamy texture. 

I think I'll be looking to try more from this range!

The best part is all of these masks are under £10 so they are an affordable way to treat yourself! Do you have any bargain skin care favourites? Let me know in the comments as I'm always looking for good quality skincare that won't break the bank!

Clinique Take the Day off Range

I've spoken about it a lot on this blog but Clinique have to be one of my favourite brands. I like that their products are a mid price point and that they do what they say on the tin with no fuss.

While I don't love all of their products, my favourite range of theirs has to be the least glamorous: the Take the Day off range.

Let's face it, taking your make up off isn't exciting and is at a best a mildly annoying chore. But for those of us that are lazy when it comes to face washing, then the Take the Day off products are life changing.

There is a product for every need, they don't contain any fragrance, don't irritate my eyes and most importantly? They work. 

They last for ages and although they aren't the cheapest in the world, I've found them to perform either as well or better than more expensive alternatives.

On top of all of this, I love the packaging. While it is most importantly functional and practical I really like the purple and silver theme, which makes it seem a lot more luxurious than the price suggests.

Even the make up wipes from this range are pretty good. I haven't included them in this post because I don't use make up wipes as part of my usual routine, but as far as make up wipes go, they are the best I've ever tried.

As a disclaimer, this post is not in anyway sponsored, I just really love this range!

1. Take the Day off Cleansing Balm

If you buy one thing from this range, make sure it is this. I've had my tub of it for YEARS and use it frequently. I've just purchased my first replacement, so that should give you some idea as to how cost effective this product is. You only need a small amount but it is always my weapon of choice for dealing with the thickest of make up. Particularly gel eyeliner and waterproof mascara as it just melts these away.

Like most cleansing balms this has a solid texture that melts into an oil when you massage it into the skin and then remove with a damp flannel. As with all Clinique products this does not contain any fragrance and I find that this makes it exceptionally gentle, particularly on the eyes. I always use this as a first cleanse to remove makeup and it's so simple and fuss free I even manage to use it after a night out.

If my skin isn't looking so great, I revert to using this daily because I know it will remove every last scrap of make up. Just try it, you won't regret it. 

2. Take the Day off Cleansing Oil

This is my most recent addition to my collection but it is already a firm favourite. I prefer to use oil based cleansers to remove my make up and like the cleansing balm, I only ever use this as a first cleanse to remove makeup. It is actually remarkably similar to the melted texture of the balm, which is probably why I like it so much. It removes make up easily and doesn't sting my very sensitive eyes. You only need a small amount for it to do an effective job.

Do you need this and the cleansing balm? Probably not, one or the other would be fine. I just wanted to give it a try mostly and I am as equally impressed with it as I am with my beloved cleansing balm.

The only downside to this product (as opposed to the cleansing balm) is that a liquid oil is messier to apply and riskier to travel with. Although the pump has a locking feature, I would make sure to pack it very carefully as I once had a very big mess (and a lot of product wasted) with the cream version of this product which has an identical pump.

3. Take the Day off Cleansing Lotion

This is the cream cleanser in the collection and was the first part of the range that I had ever tried. It's also by far the most versatile product in the range. I use this as  a first, second  and morning cleanse depending on my mood, how my skin feels and how much make up I am wearing. You can also take this product off using cotton wool instead of a damp flannel. While I always prefer to wash my face with actual water there are times when this isn't practical and this can be a good alternative to the dreaded make up wipe.

While this does remove make up well, it doesn't melt make up off like the balm and the oil do, so I tend to use this as a first cleanse on lighter makeup. It will take eye make up off but it isn't as effective as the other products so I tend to use a separate eye make up remover if I'm going to use this as a first cleanse. The lotion texture is extremely soothing so I often use this as a second cleanse after using the oil or balm if I've been wearing a lot of make up.I also reach for it a lot if my skin is being problematic or feeling irritated.

Will I repurchase this when I finally use it up? Probably. I do love it, but I also have a lot of other cream or lotion style cleansers that cost less but none of them are as effective at actually removing make up. I tend to use other ones for strictly second or morning cleaners whereas this is a jack of all trades.

As mentioned above, though, I am super careful when I travel with it now after it exploded all over my bag despite having the pump locked. Just something to bear in mind.

4. Take the Day off Eye Make Up Remover

I bought this after receiving so many samples of this during bonus times and loving them. I always try to save the sample size ones for traveling so having the full size is great. I've tried many of the two phase style eye make up removers that need to be shaken and this is one of the few that I actually like.

The oil part of this actually does melt eye make up off just like the cleansing balm/oil does which makes it perfect for traveling or situations where removing make up properly is difficult.

Like all the other products in the range, a little goes a long way and I find it cuts through even my Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner (by far my hardest eye make up to remove) with ease. It also does not irritate my eyes which many dedicated eye make up removers do.

It is also excellent for removing lipstick. Particularly matte red lipstick which always stains every little crevice of your lips so you look like an extra in a low budget vampire film the next day. This product though melts it off without you having to resort to scrubbing your lips.

The good thing is if you time your Clinique purchases right you can almost always pick things up during bonus time and chances are a little bottle of this will likely be in there, so you can try it for free. 

Have you tried any of the Take the Day off Range? Which one is your favourite?

 

Spend vs Save: Nars Audacious Lipstick or Rimmel Dupe

Who doesn't love a good bargain? I'm always on the hunt to save money so I love a good dupe. But like most people, I like what I like. I find myself drawn to similar shades over and over again.

So it's not that surprising that I've found two very similar lipsticks within my collection. These two nudes are alike in every way except the price. One costs a massive £25 and the other costs £5.49. A difference of £19.51.

Spend: The NARS Audacious lipstick in Barbara is such an amazing lipstick. Everything about it feels premium. The packaging has the NARS logo all around the edge of the bullet and the lid snaps shut with a very satisfying magnetic click. The lipstick itself has the NARS logo embossed into the bullet. It's almost too pretty to use. NARS describe the colour as a 'tan rose' which is certainly true. It's definitely a  nude that would suit a lot of people as it's not too pink or too brown but somewhere in the middle. The velvet finish is neither a true matte nor a glossy texture and stays on all day with minimal need to touch up after eating and drinking. Overall I get a lot of wear out of this as it is ideal for work.

Top: Rimmel London Kate Lasting Finish 003. Bottom: NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara.

Save: The Rimmel London Kate Lasting Finish in shade 003 does pretty much all of the above but for a fraction of the price. The packaging is the classic black Rimmel bullet with Kate's name on the lid in red. While not as glamorous as the NARS one I really like the packaging for the price; it's nice to look at and keeps the lid on securely. The lipstick is also scented, but quickly fades after application. The colour is ever so slightly lighter than the NARS one as you can see from the swatch but when actually applied the colour difference is negligible. The finish is incredibly similar and while not quite as long lasting, it does stay put for several hours and is equally suitable for even the strictest of office environments. 

Overall Verdict: Save

I do love the NARS version and there is no denying that it feels premium enough to justify the price. However, if I had known how similar the Rimmel one I already had was, I wouldn't have bought it. The two lipsticks are so similar once applied, that for the sake of touching up my lipstick up occasionally, I think it's worth saving yourself nearly £20 and going for the Rimmel one. 

Review of Waitrose Pure Shampoo & Conditioner

Having curly hair means that you are forever searching for the miracle product that will give you the perfect princess ringlets. I’ve tried countless products over the years and have found the best approach is to try and stop my hair from getting dry in the first place. 

On of the biggest changes I’ve made is to stop using shampoo with sulphates in as they can strip the hair of moisture. I made the switch about 3 years ago and have tried various different brands. 

While there are now quite a few brands on the market a lot of them tend to be quite expensive. Even the cheaper options can cost around £5-7 for a pretty small bottle. When you have as much hair as me you can get through them at an alarmingly rapid pace and the cost soon starts to add up. 

I’ve been looking for a more budget friendly option for a long time when I spotted these in Waitrose the other day. Honestly who knew Waitrose was such a treasure trove of own brand beauty products?

The shampoo costs £1 for 250ml which is pretty excellent value. 

I’ve spotted a lot of negative reviews complaining that this doesn’t lather well but this is often the case with sulphate free shampoos (and it even states this on the back) so I don’t think these reviews are very fair. The whole POINT is they don’t contain sodium laureth sulphate which is the ingredient that causes products to lather.
 

I found that this left my hair feeling clean and soft, without feeling stripped. It does produce a gentle lather but if you’re not accustomed to SLS free shampoos it might seem like a lot less than you’re used to. It rinses out well easily and hasn’t irritated my scalp.

Before I purchased this shampoo I had to make do with some normal shampoo that Jared was using for a couple of washes as I had run out. I noticed I had an incredibly itchy scalp with a lot of dandruff. I even had a few scabs in some places. The Waitrose shampoo has cleared this up in a couple of washes and my scalp is now back to normal. I can only assume that I was irritated by something in Jared’s shampoo. 

I picked the Dry & Damaged conditioner as I’m always trying to moisturise to prevent frizz. This is £3 for 250ml which is still excellent value.  This is a no frills conditioner that left my hair easy to brush and feeling soft. When my hair dried the curls were nicely defined with minimal frizz. In short this performed as well as some more expensive products I was using.

Both the shampoo and conditioner are free from fragrance, sulphates and parabens so they are ideal for those with sensitive skin. They are also suitable for vegans and are cruelty free so should appeal to a wide range of people. 

If you are looking for a good value shampoo and conditioner that is also kind to your hair I would highly recommend this one!