Save, Spend, Splurge Night Creams featuring Avon, Lush and Clinique

So a few weeks ago I did Save, Spend, Splurge on day creams, you can see that and my eye make up remover one by clicking here. I'm liking writing these as it's making me compare things to make sure I'm not just liking something more because I think I should. I have a few more of these planned including clear primers, cream based primers, hot cloth cleansers, volumising mascara, lengthening mascara and some foundation ones but I need to pick up a good save one for oily skin to test so any recommedations let me know or any other products you particularly like compared. I will try to do them regularly but most likely they will be fortnightly so I can test new things as I seem to have two things for most categories.

So on my day creams last month Splurge won (save only lost out due to lack of anti aging properites) and Spend won the Eye Make Up remover battle. Will Save win this to even up?

Let's see what I've picked as my night creams. I'd say it's only really the last year (since blogging really) that I've really paid attention to my skincare and made sure I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily. 

SAVE

Avon Complete Balance Night - Oil Free Gel

This is a super light weight oil free gel that just sinks into the skin. It has the most amazing fresh, clean smell that doesn't smell fake. It skins into the skin quickly and provides a good level of moisture for oily skin types. It can feel a touch tacky sometimes. Annoyingly this is in the current Avon brochure but it is in there regularly and I have checked with Mummy M (my mum's an Avon lady) and she has reassured me she hasn't seen that it is going out. This one tends to come and go from the catelogues. The Avon Solutions skin care range is great for those on a budget and Avon does some truely amazing deals.

I think this normal retail price of this is aroun £7.00 which for 50ml is very reasonable. But it regularly is in deals such as half price or even lower. I know when I picked it up it was £2.50-£3.00 so it's definitely worth looking at. I find it harder to find cheap skin care for oily skin, especially moisturisers. This doesn't have anti aging products which I have started to look for but is perfect for oily skin. If you have oily combination I don't think this will help any dry patches. I will re visit this and add links when it's in the next Avon Campaign. It's standard packaging for your moisturiser. Glass tub with a screw on lid. Not great for travelling but it does mean it's unlikely to get stood on and broke if you live in a messy environment like me. (I favour the floordobe, I'm trying to improve) Also glass is recyclable for you green ladies :)

Spend

Lush Vanishing Cream

I loved this cream from the moment I first started using it. This was one of the first moisturisers I spent a lot of money on. This technically isn't aimed as a night cream and can be used as both day and night. Which is handy if you are someone who travels a lot or doesn't like to have too many products. Vanishing cream is advertised as a Low fat moisturiser meaning it contains little fat/ oils and is great for us oilier skinned ladies. Vanishing cream sinks into the skin straight away. It feels light and fresh on the skin but provides a good level of moisturisation as well. It helps with any dry patches I get left from where spots have been without leaving greasy patches on my skin. It smells nice and fresh and contain lavender (which gives this a very subtle smell not at all over powering) and also witch hazel to help control any oil and help with blemishes.

This isn't going to do anything for anti aging as I use this when I have more breakouts. It's £17.50 for 45g which is more expensive than I remember but a little goes a long way and it does last. It also comes in one of Lush's black pots so save these little ones up and you get a free face mask which is always good. You can purchase here.

Splurge

Clinique Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturiser

The day cream partner for this won the battle of the day creams and I have to say this wins the night creams too but mainly because I'm paranoid about anti ageing and I'm hoping prevention really is going to help may skin staying looking better for longer. I find it really hard to find a high street cream with a cheaper price tag that is lightweight, oil free, won't break me out and helps prevent ageing. This really is a great all rounder. Mine is running out and I'm literally heart broken that I can't afford to replace these at the moment. (I'm moving in the New Year and have to save every penny going) This cream is slightly thicker but still dissolves into the skin without a greasy feeling. I like something that feels a bit heavier at night as I think my skin can do with that extra boost. Again there are no heavy fragrances with this cream. Skin is just left feeling soft, non greasy, moisturised and clean. 

The downside of course to the Clinique is it's rather pricey price tag. £37 for 50ml. It's expensive. It will last around 3 months though when used every night so it's not to extortionate. Another bonus is it comes in 3 slightly different formulations so even if you don't have oily skin there is still a good chance this cream will work for you. You can purchase it and read about other variations here

So Splurge did it again. I think I'm just getting expensive tastes. I love that it's a great all round cream and it offers it all that none of my other options do. I'm still on the hunt for a slightly cheaper one that is just as good but without a doubt when I have the money a sneaky purchase to Clinique will happen. For now I have others to use up. I haven't included my current night time cream in here as it's one I'm using but I don't like. 

What is your go to night cream? Would you spend £37 on a night cream? Although it's expensive I think it's worth it as what's the point in spending loads on make up if you aren't looking after the skin you put it on. Me and L were also once told to think about how much you're willing to spend on a dress for a few nights out ;)!! Skin is for life hehe!!

Love M

xxx

NOTD MUA Constellations Libra and Ciate Cupcake Queen

I was lucky enough to talk my boyfriend into getting me the Ciate Advent calender and boy was I excited for the 1st of the month to come. I love Ciate polishes. They have such cute bottles with the ribbons on. 

On the First day it was a gorgeous pink with a blue shimmer in that I couldn't wait to get on my nails. I'm really annoyed at myself as since getting acrylics on for my holiday all I've done is bite my nails. I'd stopped the habit and they were starting to look nice so in the new year I have to really work hard to stop again.

I have to say the first day left me a little disapointed as Cupcake Queen looks very very very very similar to Jelly Bean that came free in a magazine a few months ago. You can see the post on Jelly Bean here.

Here is the Jelly Bean polish from Marie Claire a few months back.

Look how long my nails are :-( well long for me. Below is the Cupcake Queen with MUA Libra Nail Constellations. L picked them up for us a while ago and I have been meaning to try them for ages. Strangley enough the night L and I started this blog I was round hers and a wheel of mixed beads I got from eBay split in my bag and I did a DIY Cavier manicure before it was even named a Cavier Manicure!!

Apologises for my unfiled false nails. I did file them before I went out. As you can see the colour is very similar. Cupcake Queen may be a fraction lighter but they both have the blue shimmer. I will probably give my mum or L one of these as if L doesn't want it my mum loves bright pinks as there isn't any point having two.

After the first day I have loved almost all the colours in my calender and it's fun opening each day and having a nail polish, I just with I hadn't bit my nails so I could play with them more.

Now onto the MUA Constellations. I'm loving these. For me it will always be a feature nail manicure and not all over. The MUA version stuck on well. I just added top coat to the tip of my nail as I've heard it's good to do this.

I really like that Libra is black beads with a few blue ones. I think this makes it easy to wear with most colours. My only problem with it is I hate the lid. I find the rubber funnel like top a pain to be honest. It's stiff to get off so the first time I flung a load of beads everywhere and when trying to get the beads back in I found it was easier to use a piece of folded paper. Maybe that's just me.

These lasted a good two days but I don't know if it helped that they were on false nails. They'd have probably lasted longer but they annoyed me and I picked them off.

I really like these nails for nights out as they are a bit special and I can't wait to try the Cavier polishes from my Calender as I've got a gorgeous colour in there.

Have you tried Constellations or Cavier? What's your thoughts?

Love M

xxx

A quick trip to town

As I had £15 on my Debenhams Beauty club that was burning a hole in my pocket I popped into town with the intention of picking up one of their Setting Sprays. After yesterday's post and realising it actually worked out cheaper than the Collection one and being the last day to get the 15% off I thought I'd pick it up. I'd planned to pick up De-Slick Oil control (link here) but the MUA said I'd probably be better with Up all night as she'd only recommend De-Slick for people with very oily skin and I think mine is oily but not completely. I was so disappointed when I got to the counter and she told me they'd run out and probably won't get them in till after Christmas. 

I really want to try the Naked Foundation as well. I should have asked her to put it on me as 15% off that takes quite a bit off. Due to my oily/combination skins I try to get a tester of foundations so I can check how they last. Have any of you tried it? Would love to know your thoughts?

I had a back up as there were a few Mac items I've got my eye on. I wanted a YSL glossy stain but with my pink hair I didn't want to get a shade that doesn't go with it and the one I want is the red. I've seen so many gorgeous eye looks using Mac Cranberry. It's the prettiest berry red shimmer shade and I can't wait to create some amazing eye looks with it.

It's also completely unlike anything I own so I couldn't resist. With the 10% off (which ended yesterday I believe) it came to £10.80. It's my first Mac eyeshadow so I can't wait to play around with it.

with flash

After watching some of Estee from essiebutton.com videos and seeing how gorgeous Plumful looked on her it went straight on my wishlist. I really love how she does her make up and want most of the lip colours she has. 

without flash

The colour is a rosey pink better than lip colour shade on me. I was hoping it would be a little darker as it appears in her video but it's probably better for me it isn't. It's unlike any colour I own, goes with my hair and is perfect for everyday. So I can't ask for much more from a lipstick.

As you can see the lipstick is really mositurising and has a nice natural glossy finish. It is a lustre finish and was £12.60 with discount.  Cranberry is a little redder than it shows here but you can really see the shimmer in it.

I quickly put them on when I got home as I couldn't wait to try them. I applied Cranberry to my crease and really like the way it looks. Even though it's reddy I think it's actually quite easy to wear.

I also picked up this Green Skater Skirt from Miss Selfridge. It's a jersey material with a black elasticated waist and was only £14.00 I think I will get a lot of wear from this. I wanted more skater skirts as they are easy to wear for day/night and comfy.

I really want this black coated River Island skirt and it's a bargain £20. I'm gutted it's sold out online but I'm hoping I can find it in a store.

The leather trend isn't one I've embraced apart from my jackets but I really love the skater skirts and think they'd look great with thick tights and a cosy jumper.

Seen as I was meant to be Christmas shopping I shouldn't have bought stuff but I just couldn't resist. Have you embraced the leather trend? Are you loving skater skirts like me?

Love M

xxx

Review: Collection Fix Me Up Spray

I was so excited when I opened a She Said Beauty box a few months back and found this little delight in there. Being an Oily/combination skin type a Make up Setting spray has been something that has interested me (and L who was equally eager to try it) for a while. I can't wear foundation without a bit of powder to set it or I'd just look like a shiny mess, but I've never been a fan of the powdered look. So a spray that reduces that was something I'd been meaning to try for a while.

There are so many of these type products around including the ever famous in blogsphere Caudalie Beauty Elixir and the Urban Decay up all night. For me it was just nothing I thought to spend my money on. Other more pretty make up appealed to me. Both these products have rave reviews and I will probably end up purchasing them at some point to compare. Especially as a quick google has bought up some reasonable prices for the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. Escentual have the 30ml bottle for only £9.99 (here). Note to self order that soon!!

The Collection Spray comes in at £5.99 for 18ml which when compared with other sprays seems cheap but is in fact more expensive than the Urban Decay ones which are currently on offer in boots for £16.15 for 118ml. Even when not on offer they are still cheaper than collection ones at £19.00 for 118ml. Urban Decay also do 3 different types for different skin types.

The packaging is a simple black bottle with a black sticker and pink writing. I like the combination of black and pink together and the fact it's plastic means I don't have to worry about throwing my bag around. I'm not the most careful of people. The lid to protect the spray pump stays on securely until you lose it in the pit of lost lids (you know the same one that swallows socks) I lose the lids to all things cosmetics annoyingly.

Ignoring the price of the spray how did I find it. I like the spray and have bought a second bottle since receiving it in my box (prior to comparing prices of others). It says to use three sprays but I usually use four. I absolutely love this product some days. But other days I find you can see where is has been sprayed on my skin and leaves marks in my foundation. It has a fine ish spray to it but I think it could be finer to help leave a more even finish.

The days I've loved it (I switch up my foundation a lot so I think it probably just doesn't agree with some of them) it has removed the powder look. I don't think it makes my make up last better but it definitely gives it a better finish. More smooth and fresh looking. This product is quite scented. It does dry pretty quickly so you don't end up with a wet face.

The big question would I repurchase. Probably to just chuck in my bag and for nights out it's size makes it good, but for a use everyday product I think there is better I just need to test them out and find it. I'd like one that's better value and with a finer mist. I kind of feel like this is one of those products I've made myself think is perfect but I'm not sure it really does too much.

Do you use setting sprays? What are your thoughts on them? Any recommendations on ones to try?

Love M

xxx

Like M I'd never tried a setting spray before this one came along.

I heard it had come in the Beauty Box so was intrigued when M said it was pretty good and so I picked it up on a 3 for 2 deal from Superdrug a little while ago and road tested it when we went out for Halloween.

It has since become an everyday part of my make up routine as I find that it leaves my make up looking dewy and has helped with the lasting power.

I do agree though that when you compare costs with other more widely known setting sprays the difference is minimal and I would be so interested to see how they compare.

I found that the Collection one was a little bit 'dribbly' for want of a better word, it could do with being finer as sometimes I did end up with droplets on my face. They weren't big enough to make my make up run or anything, but a mist would be far better!

This is great for a first try of a setting spray and perfect for throwing in your handbag for touch ups at work as the bottle is handbag sized.

I will be picking up the Urban Decay one though for comparison purposes!

What are your thoughts on setting sprays?

L xxx