Review: Clinique 3 Step Skincare for Combination Skin...

So I know that Clinique's 3 Step Skincare routine isn't particularly 'new' on the beauty scene. In fact, the 3 Step System is possibly one of the most world-renowned cleansing routines on the market at the moment, and hundreds of thousands of women world-wide label it as their go-to for gorgeous skin. However, at £20 for just the introduction kit I wanted to try out the range before committing to an expensive cleansing routine which I might not like. Luckily, Clinique are very generous and offer two weeks worth of samples for free to every new customer. Knowing how much I love free stuff, I rocked up to my local Clinique counter in Boots and had a twenty minute-long consultation where the lady who helped me was absolutely fantastic. I left with three miniatures of Clinque's most popular products for combination skin and it was as easy as that! Huge apologies in advance for the terrible quality of my Crapberry photos :)

So first up is the Clinique Mild Liquid Facial Soap. This gel based formula lathers to create what feels like a very moisturizing cleanser which I don't usually expect from a gel for combination skin. Whilst I was using it, I thought it was so lush and because of the suds it felt like a proper luxury experience. After rubbing the foam in circular motions over my face and splashing my face with water a couple of times to get nice and clean I was happy. For about five minutes. After five minutes, my skin felt a little tight (although not unbearably so) and looked a bit shiny, almost like I'd polished my face with wax, which I know sounds really weird.

Next up was step two, Clinique's Clarifying Lotion. This is a toner type product which you're supposed to dampen a cotton wool pad with and sweep it across your face. The idea is that this product removes any final dregs of makeup or oils which have been left on your skin so that you're not locking them in when you smooth over the moisturizer. I've always been a bit scared of toners because I've often found them to be quite harsh and drying. Unfortunately, I found this to be exactly the case with this product. It smelt a bit like I was wiping nail polish remover across my face, to the extent where I couldn't even come within an inch of my eyes because they stung when I did. Sure, it felt refreshing enough, but about two minutes after the toner had dried my skin felt even more tight than after the cleanser. Also, my face was ever-so-slightly red and clearly irritated by the assault which Clinique had unleashed on it. This clarifying lotion did undoubtedly remove the last bits of makeup which is visible from the UsedCottonPad photo I took. However, I was shocked that the cleanser had left this much makeup on my face in the first place! Not good.

Finally, is step three, Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. Only once before have I used a gel-based moisturizer (that time it was from Clarins and I loved it although never repurchased because I found it too expensive...) and this time I found the same fantastic results. This moisturizer is perfect for combination skin as it isn't so heavy that it suffocates your pores but is creamy enough to take care of any dry patches. I also found that this product can be used really sparingly, making it more cost effective. With this moisturizer, the drying effects of the cleanser and toner were reversed and my skin felt better than it had before I'd started the three step system.

As you can see, my Clinique 3 Step System journey has been a rollercoaster ride which I've taking morning and night for two weeks. I always try to use a new skincare routine for at least two weeks in order to give it chance to properly get to work on me. In this case, after just three days I found I started to get breakouts around my nose and between my eyebrows and those which I already had on my chin were further aggravated. However, I understand that when using a new brand or new products, skin can go through a 'purging' experience where it gets worse before it gets better as all of the impurities are being lifted to the surface before being flushed out. But still, I don't believe I will be purchasing the three step system sadly. Part of the blame must lie with myself, as I told the Clinique consultant that I have combination skin when really in hindsight I think I probably have dry skin. This confusion arose from the occasional spot that I get on my chin which I assumed meant I am oily in some areas, but upon further research I've since realized that they are menstrual breakouts and are in fact nothing really to do with the skin itself. Having said that, I won't purchase the whole line, although I would definitely consider investing in the moisturizer as I must admit its quite possibly the best I've ever used! 

There's a no-makeup picture for you. Its funny really because with the Clinique 3 Step System my skin looks and feels so clean and fresh after I've completed the whole thing, but the discomfort after the cleanser through the toner and until the moisturizer just isn't worth it for me. That said, I need to make clear that Clinique are a fab company and I'm sure they'll be happy to help me adjust my samples in order to try out a line more suited to my skin as the lady in Boots was so helpful. Furthermore, please everyone keep in mind that this is JUST MY EXPERIENCE with the system. Everyone's skin is different and whilst some people may call this line their 'Holy Grail of Cleansing Systems' I would have to disagree on a personal level. Please don't let this deter you from trying out the range though. Finally, although I did not purchase the products for this review they are provided in sample sizes which are available to anyone interested in the Clinique 3 Step Program. Also, I was not paid in any way for this review.

Have you tried Clinique's 3 Step System before? Do you have any toner recommendations for me? Have you experienced gel moisturizers before?

The Clinique 3 Step System introduction kit can be bought from Boots online for £20, however, I would advise anyone and everyone to make the most of the consultation service which the brand offer in store, in order to give you an expert opinion of what should work best.

Love and snuggles

gabriellasofia

x

Guest Feature: Fighting Acne Together by Sophie Nightingale...

Hello beauties!

So I'm sure some of you are aware of the very difficult blog break I'm taking at the moment in order to focus on completing my degree... If you didn't, go check out this post where I get all sentimental about how 'I love you guys' and 'my blog is my life' :) Anyways, I wasn't going to leave all of you lovely readers in the lurch with NO material on how to obtain your very own HauteFuture was I? So whilst I'm still vlogging a little bit (it is less time consuming than blogging), and doing guest posts on some other blogs, I also decided to hunt for all the other fab bloggers out there and invite them all to get involved and post some great guest features for me. If you're interesting in writing a guest feature read this and send me an email, I welcome anyone even non-bloggers and the more the merrier!

I've had a fantastic response so far and it's really shown to me how supporting my friends, family and the blogging community really can be when you need their help. So thank you guys :) I'm currently working on different ideas with about ten guests, but without further ado let me introduce my first guest...

The beautiful Sophie Nightingale from Simple Sophie contacted me about a week ago with two awesome ideas. I'm not going to tell you about one of them as she may write that one up too because I was so in love with both of her pitches! However, we both felt like her idea about how to conquer acne would make the perfect first guest post because having experienced bad skin in the past when Sophie said that there isn't enough blog coverage on this 'embarrassing' topic, I realized that she was so right! And isn't that outrageous? Hundreds of thousands of people world-wide suffer with acne and yet it's almost treated like a dirty word in the beauty community. So this post is all about the journey Sophie has personally experienced and the tips she's picked up along the way....

***

I’ve had acne for almost all of my secondary school life. It started at the end of year seven and I still have it now at almost 18. That makes it just over 5 years. I find acne is very rarely, if at all, spoken about in the blogging world. It’s considered a taboo subject, an embarrassment, something related to dirt and being unhealthy. But it shouldn’t be.

Over the past few years I’ve been on numerous different types of medication from antibiotics to contraceptive pills. I’ve used high-street cleansers and prescribed creams, all promising to reduce the effects of acne and to stop it completely. But here I am, 5 years on, still going to the doctor every few months for more medication.

Anyway I’m not here to have a rant! I’ve learnt a few tricks of the trade over time and I’m here to share them with you.

I think it’s important to use a variety of products. I find that if I stick to one cleanser, like the No7 gentle cleanser I use, then it stops working after a while, so I alternate every couple of days. I also use a variety of strength products, for example the Vita Derm products are designed to target blemishes so have specific agents, whereas my Clarins cleansing gel is designed to improve your skin all round. In the past I have been prescribed some very strong cleansers to fight my spots. They were very harsh on my skin and some even bleached my towels!? I don’t use these anymore as they were more trouble than they were worth making my skin very dry and irritable.

This Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel promises to improve your skin in a few different ways. I try to use at least once a day and I apply it over make-up so it takes that off as well as cleansing my skin. After a few weeks my skin was noticeably healthier and brighter and a lot softer to touch. It’s really easy to apply, and rinsing off with warm water means all the dirt in my pores is washed away leaving my skin feeling smooth and clean.

I use No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Cleanser when I’m in a rush or staying with friends. It’s really easy to take off make-up with, but it can leave a greasy feel on my skin so I don’t use it that often.

I only bought this product recently as I had a No7 £5 off voucher and thought I’d give it a try. I have a lot of visible pores in the centre of my face by my nose and cheeks. After using this Pore Refining Serum every day for a couple of weeks, I can definitely see an improvement as my pores are not as visible and my skin looks healthier and smoother.

I bought these Vita Derm products after a facial I had in South Africa last year. I use the exfoliator every time I wash my hair so I can leave it on whilst I put my conditioner on, and I use the AHA Active Gel on my blemishes every evening. All of these are very gentle on my skin and do what they say on the bottle. However you don’t see an automatic improvement, it’s developed over the last 8 months I’ve been using them.

I know Sudacrem is something you would associate with baby’s bums, but trust me you can use it on spots too! It tends to dry blemishes out and reduce their appearance, without drying out your skin. I don’t use this regularly as it can make my skin quite slimey so difficult to apply make-up, but if I have a patch of spots then I tend to rub this on and they reduce in appearance overnight.

All of these products combined have improved my skin so much over the past year. I would also recommend Tea-Tree products as I swore by these in my early years of acne, before realising my skin had become immune to them! Using acne fighting products helps a lot, but a few simple lifestyle changes can improve your skin immensely and help prevent brake outs.

• Eat healthy. Literally every time I eat a McDonalds or pizza or some other food full of fats, I can almost see the result on my face. My skin gets noticeably worse whenever I eat badly. I try to eat at least my ‘5-a-day’ if not more, and combine dried fruits and nuts into my diet. It’s important to eat a variety of food types as they are all nutritious in different ways. I have a 75cl water bottle that I fill every morning so I can hydrate myself throughout the day. I finish it every day to make sure my skin is kept hydrated. When I drink lots of water I find my skin looks a lot brighter and less greasy.

• Clean bed sheets. This may sound weird, but I did an experiment a few months ago where I left my bed sheets on for more than two weeks. I gradually noticed a cluster of spots near each ear on my cheeks where I had been lying on my pillow in the night. This may sound OTT but little changes like this can make a big improvement and prevent breakouts. I have bed sheets on for 2 weeks until I change them – I love the feel of crisp clean bed sheets too!

• Exercise and fresh air. When I spend a day inside without going out for fresh air or exercise, I can see the result on my skin. I also get quite grouchy and the skin around my eyes darkens. Exercising also releases endorphins which are proven to lift your mood and improve circulation which is an extra bonus!

• Make-up. I know a lot of people recommend you don’t wear make-up if you have acne as it makes your skin worse. To be honest when I have long breaks without make-up, for example on holiday, my skin gets considerably better. Unfortunately it never stays like that! There’s no way I would feel comfortable being in public without make-up on. I try to only buy hypoallergenic products as these are spot-friendly, but at the end of it, I just want to cover my skin up and feel comfortable!

I really don’t think that acne is something people should be embarrassed about. Obviously I was seriously self-conscious in my second year of high school as I was the only one of my friends with spots. I gradually got used to it though and I’ve preserved with lifestyle changes and taking medication every day. I hope my honesty has inspired spot-sufferers to open up about their secrets to battling acne and share their tricks of the trade to overcome this condition.

***

Sophie has been absolutely fabulous to work with. She came to me with two great ideas which were just the sort of things I was looking for, and managed to get a first draft to me within a week which is commendable when I know that everyone has busy lives of their own. Not to mention the piece was so well written that there were virtually no notes, and I was really impressed by the personal touch when she candidly confesses to a world which might not take to it kindly, 'I’ve had acne for almost all of my secondary school life'. I really hope that you'll all head over to her blog Simple Sophie and click 'Follow'. My favorite thing about her blog has to be her photographs, they almost look professional! This blog is really going places in my opinion. 

Please feel free to leave a comment down below, but also, go interact with Sophie on her own page or on her Twitter account (@sophnightingale) as she's so lovely I'm sure she'd like to chat with you!

Thanks for reading guys and if you like the idea of getting some writing practice in and gaining some extra blog coverage make sure you get in touch with me at hautefuture@gmail.com and I will definitely encourage and support you to write a piece as wonderful as this.

Thanks once again Sophie, can't wait for your next piece :D

Until next time...

Love

gabriellasofia

Review - Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector

Oh my goodness, my life is now worth living! I have found Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector and my life is complete! This product quite literally works miracles.

Let me tell you first the condition that my skin was in a couple of days ago. I've been having unsightly breakouts around my chin and mouth recently which have been causing me a nightmare. I've been using a Clean and Clear foaming face wash in the mornings and a Clearasil overnight wash in the evenings which have kind of done the trick, but then my skin get's really dry... I'll tone down the foaming face washes a little and up the moisturizing but then I get the breakouts again. It really is a vicious cycle and I've been at my wit's end, particularly because every time I apply my foundation and concealer I've been concerned about drying my skin out even more or oiling it up too much. I simply couldn't win.

I was considering giving up skincare for good (why bother when none of my expensive products have been working?) when the lovely people at Garnier sent me three free sachets of Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream and everything changed.

Now for a little background; B.B. Creams (Blemish Balms!) were developed by a German doctor back in the 1950's in order to provide a light-to-medium coverage for problem skin WHILST fighting the problem itself. Made famous by a beautiful Asian actress with a gor

geous silky complexion, this idea spread across Asia and has finally made it to Europe. All of the big cosmetic brands are jumping onto their own version of the BB Cream each promising to make your skin look, and more importantly, feel good.

Let's check out Garnier's product claim:

"It's your latest beauty secret... An all in one, sup

er dooper, anytime, anywhere, skincare solution for perfect skin.

Use it on its own, use it as a primer, when you get up, after the gym, a post-work touch up, pre-date beautifier... the list is endless.

Discover the 2 little letters that are driving beauty editors into a frenzy... B.B. has arrived!

- Feel the sensation of the light texture that ins

tantly melts into your skin.

- The formula with mineral pigments gives an instantly 'perfect' skin. The result? Sheer coverage; imperfections look blurred, lines softened. Your skin look luminous, smoother and more even. See the B.B. difference!

- 24hr hydration. Skin feels more supple, smoother, softer. Feel the B.B. difference!

- UV protection: SPF 15 to help protect the skin

Go B.B! In just one step, even, cover, hydrate, illuminate and help protect your skin."

Let's get down to business. This product currently costs just £8.99 at www.boots.com and if you want to try it before you buy (although take my word for it, you'll LOVE it) then hop on over to http://www.garnier.co.uk and request your free sample.

So how did I fall in love with a beauty product? Well, like I said, I was struggling with my skin when this product arrived for me in the post. I wanted to try it immediately, but I already had make-up on and I was about to settle down for the night, so I decided (begrudgingly) that I would wait until the next morning to try out the Miracle Skin Perfector.

Now, although I had high hopes for the product, my expectations were not so great because basically, this product sounded too good to be true. Usually the words 'miracle', 'skin' and 'perfect' don't go together in my experience, so I figure

d it was all just a gimmick although hoped that it wasn't. I was not disappointed one bit.

BEFORE...

I woke up on Friday morning and my skin was as miserable looking as ever. Dry in patches, spotty in others, and my eyes looked tired and grey. 'Fantastic' I thought as I tore the top off the sachet in my bathroom. Initially when I saw the three sachets I figured I had three days worth of product... When I began applying the product and realized the extent to which 'a little goes a long way' applied to the cream, I was really pleased to see that each sachet could be used for about three days. Of course this depends on the amount of coverage you would like.

The formula is really creamy and rich when first squeezed onto your finger. I applied directly to my face with my fingertips and I felt that when I started to stroke it across, it became a lot lighter and more liquid, which made it feel more moisturizing and comfortable to wear. After patting it onto the skin on my forehead, cheeks, chin and nos

e I noticed that it was still a little streaky, but this may well have been because I was using too much product. This was easily remedied though by buffing it into my skin with a standard powder brush.

Now, the finish... was... heavenly. My skin felt silky soft to the touch, my complexion looked milky with no discoloration at all and even my spots we only noticeable upon closer scrutiny. My dry patches vanished and yet my skin felt like it could breathe; the Miracle Skin Perfector was not clogging up my pores or creating a suffocating film trapping the oil into them. In fact, my pores which are usually quite present were virtually invisible. My skin was even and the tone was a sort of natural-looking perfection which I've never seen on my own face before.

Although the coverage was just right (amazing con

sidering the brain-boxes at Garnier only call it 'light to medium') I did dust a little powder over my T-zone as I was looking a little 'dewier' than I usually like. Then again, this could be down to the amount of product I used.

AFTER...

The finish held it's ground all day until I removed it with a make-up wipe in the evening. My skin underneath was already softer than usual.

Now, I've only been using this product for three days, as I said. And yet, I feel like the general condition of my skin has already improved vastly. Even without the product on, my skin feels much more hydrated, the redness around my eyes has faded and even my spots appear less red and the sizes appear reduced. Basically I could not be happier.

For the first time in ages, I feel like I've found a product which lives up to its claim and I can genuinely recommend it to anyone. It is cost-effective is you only need a little bit, a great price for the effect you get, good for your skin, works well alone or as a base and actually stops people as they come out of lectures so they ask you, 'Excuse me... I know this is weird but... what foundation do you use?' (Ok, so that last one only happened once, but still!)

In my next Boots haul I'm definitely buying a full tube... Garnier sent me a £1 off voucher too so I'm an extremely happy bunny!

Have you guys tried out a B.B. cream yet? Will you be purchasing the Miracle Skin Perfector? You're mad if you don't!

gabriellasofia

Review - Clarins Eclat du Jour Range...

When I was wandering through Boots in my hometown the other day, I was delighted when I was approached by a Clarins representative, telling me that I could claim three 'Mini-Treats' from Clarins' Eclat du Jour range and have my skin evaluated for free right then and there. Never one to give up a great freebie, my sister and I both went for it!

The lovely lady took a look at our skin and asked us a few questions; you know the sort, 'Are you prone to breakouts?', 'How would you describe your skin's overall health?' etc. So you know, I would say that I am prone to breakouts, around my chin in particular (she determined that this is hormone-based, and when I admitted that these breakouts arrive about a week before my period it was official). I also said that my T-Zone kind of alternates between being greasy and dry. And so it was decided - I have Combination Skin. Once my sister skin was described as falling into the 'Dry' the lady gave is a mini-catalogue each, circling the skincare routine (and hence items) which would be right for us on a daily basis. She then left us for a couple of minutes, and when she returned she had three mini-products for each of us; a cleanser, toner and moisturizer for me, and a cleanser, exfoliating peel and moisturizer for my sister. She showed us how each of the items work (the peel was particularly interesting... whilst I don't fully understand the science behind it, it basically dissolves and dis-attaches the dry skin from your face allowing it all to be rubbed off... definitely an investment I might make in the future!) It was as easy as that! In ten minutes we got three mini Clarins products that were specifically chosen for our skin to go and try in the comfort of our own home for FREE!!! Result :) The best part? The lady on the counter admitted that most Clarins counters provide this service all year round, even though they may not advertise it, so next time you're in Boots or a department store with a Clarins counter, just run along, say something like, 'I'm interesting in purchasing some Clarins

skincare products for my daily routine, but I'd like some samples to try first, could you please help me?' They should be willing and eager if my Boots-lady is anything to go by!

Anyways, so naturally we tried the range as soon as we got home and the mini-products have actually lasted me a whole week when I used them once a day. I can honestly say that the condition of my skin has massively improved. Here are the products I was given and a quick review on each:

Product name: Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel

Product claim: 'A refreshing foaming cleanser that leaves your face squeaky clean and super soft. Essential skin care for radiant young skin.'

Personal experience: Despite not usually liking foaming cleansers, I actually got on quite well with this. A pea-sized amount was enough for my entire

face and worked up a very rich lather, feeling really luxurious and creamy. Plus the product smells very refreshing and pleasant, although not usually what I would go for... I prefer menthol, or minty smells in my cleansers. Despite my anticipation during use that my face would feel quite moist following use of the product due entirely to the richness of the lather, I was actually quite disappointed as my face felt really quite tight after I'd rinsed it all off and dried my face. However, upon close inspection of my pores, my face was indeed cleaner than it probably had been for a while. I soon got used to the drying quality and I have had quite a 'clear skin week' since starting use

of the product. Also, my skin was super-soft after I'd used it and it was a great wake-up call in the morning Perhaps I'm onto a winner! 8/10

Price in store: £10.50 at www.boots.com

Product name: Clarins Daily Energizer Wake-Up Booster

Product claim: 'Recharges skin energy and revives a healthy glow. Its moisturizing action

ensure a soft, smooth look while its toning benefits refresh and provides a pleasant feeling of well-being. The complexion is radiant and luminous.'

Personal experience: I don't often use toners, and when I do I only use them in the evening to remove any excess make-up my cleanser may have missed. Again the scent was pleasant and the product did remove the remaining traces from the day. However, I did not feel that the action carried out by the product was 'moisturizing' at all, as again I experience the tight, drying feeling. Then again, maybe that is due to my skin being 'toned' as I assume 'toner' is supposed to do... I did like the product, but wouldn't use it every, perhaps only those when I wear make-up as I'm concerned it might dry me out a little too much and it's not very comfortable once it's been used. Again though, it did revive me when I tried it in the morning one day as it's a nice cool liquid with a refreshing smell. Not bad. 6/10

Price in store: £15.00 at www.boots.com

Product name: Clarins Daily Energizer Cream Gel

Product claim: 'A refreshing and light cream-gel that delivers ideal hydration and a matte finish. Non-oily, it’s also a perfect base for make-up. An innovative combination of plant extracts. An energizing cream-gel that refreshes skin, ensures a matte result and ideal moisture balance all day long.'

Personal experience: I can't quite decided how I feel about this product as I usually prefer a thicker, creamier formula. However in this case, the moisturizer is in fact a gel. This is in order to combat any oiliness that may reside in my skin, and I do understand that... And yet I still felt quite tight all over and didn't quite enjoy that sensation. When I was spreading it across my face I felt it turn powdery and matte almost instantly so I eventually worked out that patting it across my face worked better. That isn't to say I didn't like the mattifying effect - quite the opposite, it worked wonders during my foundation routine and I used way less powder than usual - I just didn't want it to dry before it had reached all areas of my face. I found it really interesting that a gel such as this could have as nice an effect as a thicker cream! Great success on the whole, plus I loved the smell. My face stayed pretty matte all day as the brand claims, so I was really quite impressed! 8/10

Price in store: £19.50 at www.boots.com

Overall I was really happy with Clarins. I love a brand which has enough confidence in itself that they provide product samples for free - they know that you'll come back and buy. I am almost positive that once my Liz Earle products are all run out I will be investing in the Clarins cleansing gel and the cream gel also.

So now you know how great my experience with the brand has been, it's up to you! Take care of your skin and don't stay with the products you already have, just because you're used to them. There may be better for you out there, so request samples whenever you can. Your face is on show every day, don't you think it deserves the right treatment? Make sure you make Clarins your first stop!

Take care and thanks for reading :)

gabriellasofia