Clinique Smart Treatment Oil and Chubby stick - review

Recently I have found two new favourites from Clinique. The Smart Treatment Oil is just amazing and gives a more dewy skin and overall feeling. When applied it goes straight in, and I even use it a little bit up under the eye area. I have always been dry on the surface under the eye, but this actually does help, a lot. In the morning I definitely see that the skin is more hydrated and e.g my concealer smooths in better. The other new friend is the Chubby Stick as portable foundation. Very smart on the go. Glides on easily and perfect for a quick touch up during day or when going out after work. 

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Hello glow!

Let me start with telling you; this actually works. I mean works in the sense that you get noticeable results, immediately. I have several masks that I do regularly and this is definitely my new favourite. I was at first a bit sceptical and questioning if this was for my skin, being 40+. I remember back in the days when mud masks was important for spot treatments. Now I kind of don't have that problem. I am more focused on getting enough hydration and aim for glow and a clean skin, preferably with no visual pores. This Glam Glow Supermud  clearing treatment really surprised me with delivering just that; super clear skin and glow with noticeable smaller pores. I love a good product that actually does what it says. This you need to try for yourself at home, I for sure will continue using it. 

Loving it! New cleansing procedure

A while ago I finally got around to try a new cleansing for the face, something that was much needed in my case. I have read so much lately about the brand BABOR, but actually never tried it. My criteria for new cleansing products was that is has to be all-in-one, face and eyes. I know, this is not preferable, but knowing myself I´m all about time saving strategies. Although I would like to have all the benefits...I also have been experiencing dryness under my eyes, which was another reason to search for a cleanser that does not dry out that delicate are. I do think I have found bliss in these two combined products...And it is a super simple procedure. You take four drops of the oil HY-ÖL, rub it all over the face, then add two drops of the Photoactive Reactivating, rub gently together and then splash it off with water. I was sceptical to the oil, especially for the eyes, and then to actually feel clean afterwards. Let me tell you, this takes it all off, even heavy mascara. So easy to use and the look and feel afterwards is pure, clean healthy skin. This just works, so well that I don´t really need to look into the details so much, you know when you know. 

Best barely-there-pink blushes

Estée Lauder in "Lovers Blush"

Estée Lauder in "Brazen Bronze"

Estée Lauder in "Alluring Rose"

Chanel Contraste Powder Blush Joues Contraste in "Jersey"

Chanel Contraste Powder Blush Joues Contraste in "Innocence"

If you´re pale like me and like to build up a blush instead of getting it too heavy from the start, these blushes from Estée Lauder and Chanel are all excellent choices that are lightly pigmented in beautiful colours. I actually want them all. However, I got my self the "Innocence" from Chanel, although I do need to buy some of the others as well...There is nothing to brighten the face like a good blush, in the exact right shade...

Multitasking avocado

I don´t know if it´s that I am obsessed with avocados in general, but that may definitely have something to do with it that I love the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado from Kiehl's. It just feels very right under my eyes and the benefits of avocado seems to be endless. This is a formula that stays where you put it, so it doesn't migrate into the eyes. Having used this for two months now, I can state that this is definitely one of the better and effective hydrating eye creams I have tried, since I tend to get dry under the eyes. Will continue with the avocado...

Go for radiance

TESTING

For the last few months I´ve been trying out and testing the newly relaunched Turnaround product range from Clinique. I remember trying "Turnaround" many years ago but I didn't think it suited me that well then, being too active for my skin. Now, 40+ and eager for radiance and a healthy glow this actually sounded perfect. First of all, the new series is nothing like its predecessor but the name according to my experience. Today the Turnaround products fit me and my skins need much better and I´m guessing there have been a lot of product development from the Clinique team on this range. Today my favourites from the Turnaround series are the more special and unique products, like Revitalising Treatment, an oil making the skin dewy and really moisturising well, before applying your regular moisturiser, or even under the foundation, if you want to look extra dewy. I also like the Revitalising lotion being used as a tonic lotion after cleansing. The Revitalising instant facial is another favourite doing its job in five minutes as a masque and at the end becomes a mild scrub. These products I have used on a frequent basis and I definitely feel they have done a good job hydrating, revitalising and getting more dewy skin. The daytime and overnight moisturisers are also good products as complements in the range, although not as unique as the earlier mentioned products. However the daytime moisturiser do have a tiny, tiny spark of glitter in it, actually looking more radiant on the skin when applied...

Daily makeup saviors

Some of my favourites in my makeup bag that I´m currently using, these all from Clinique;

Loving the newly launched sculpting blush in the perfect for Spring colour Defining Nectars. This is a really good blush since it can be built up in an easy way and has this perky peach colour we want after a dull Winter. On a daily basis, e.g. getting ready for the office, I normally don´t use a highlighter, much because I don´t have the time for it and it just feels like too much effort in the week. With the new genius Chubby stick in Sculpting Highlight there are no excuses, since this is super duper easy to get some highlighting glow in one simple step. I have the long last glosswear in several different colours, much because it´s actually one of the best and longest staying glosses on the market, and I tend to buy this over and over again. And finally, the Chubby stick eyeshadow in the rare colour Lots o´latte, mainly online exclusive. This is one of the best brownish colours available for blue eyes (I´ve tried a few, to say the least..), since it has no trace of reddish in it, just a plain shimmery light brown that is actually pretty perfect. I tend to have oily eyelids so I always wear this over a primer. I love having reliable products in my makeup bag, and these were a few of them that save the day. 

Tint of rose [AERIN]

View image | gettyimages.com

Aerin Lauder 

Two years ago heiress Aerin Lauder chose to step down from her work at Estée Lauder to create her own brand of beauty and lifestyle. One of the best products from AERIN is the Rose Lip Conditioner I think. If you want to read more about Aerin and her life Net-a-Porter covers her in the latest Edit here.

Rehydrating Neroli Water [Kerstin Florian]

Working in front of the computer all day dehydrates skin. This is my latest find for rehydrating in front of the computer, having a spray once and then over the day. And I absolutely adore the uplifting and addictive scent from this Rehydrating Neroli Water from Kerstin Florian.

By Terry Concealer Touche Veloutée [review]

Colours 1, 2 and 3

I´m still on the hunt for the perfect under eye concealer, and recently I think I´m getting pretty close to a top candidate. It´s the By Terry Touche Veloutée (colour #2 Cream for me who has fair skin and blond-ish hair). Created by Terry de Gunzburg, the woman who originally created Touche Eclat for YSL where she then worked, has created an even better version of her first success for her own brand By Terry.

The verdict: I think By Terry Touche Veloutée provides better coverage than YSL Touche Eclat. Also the brush at By Terry is a dream, being broader. By Terry Touche Veloutée also has this illuminating effect that most of us want. Maybe one of the most important criterias for me is a concealer not settling into my fine lines. If that happens, the concealer for me has counterproductive effect, instead enhancing the wrinkles and age. By Terry Touche Veloutée does a pretty good job of not settling into fine lines. This will get 4,5/5 points from me. Perhaps even more, still need to do some more testing for that though (since this is serious stuff:), but this is definitely one of the best I have ever tried. And I knew it the moment I tried it on at the counter.

Beauty sleep

OUTER BEAUTY

Being over 40 means going to sleep with a night cream. Every night. This is my new cream on the shelf. Just the name; Repairwear sculpting night cream got me. Even though I find it hard to believe some of the promises beauty creams in general seem to deliver, I do believe in making the most out of the night sleep for the skin, since it´s the best time for the skin to absorb active ingredients. This Clinique cream has a luxurious feel of richness but still being light, and is said to contour, lift and firm every night (that I believe:) This together with a night mask provides for a full night of beauty sleep. 

So long dryness (with Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum]

OUTER BEAUTY
I´ve always been a huge fan of Advanced Night Repair from Estée Lauder, having used the face serum daily for the past seven years now. The other day I bought the new Advanced Night Repair serum for the eye area. Lately I´ve been battling with a dryness under my eyes (maybe due to the fact that I wear a lot of concealer) and no eye cream has been enough. After just a few days of use, I already feel softer under the eyes and the dryness on the surface is getting much better. This serum is supposed to work before you apply the regular eye creme. I have also been using the Advanced Night Repair eye gel, but since that one is supposed to work on its own it hasn´t been enough for me after turning 40. This new serum fits perfectly instead, together with an eye creme. A real keeper.

Ombre Matte

OUTER BEAUTY
I´ve been spending a considerate amount of time in the malls beauty department lately. That has lead me to try on endless many eyeshadows. I´m seriously thinking of Clarins newest edition, Ombre Matte. Not so much glitter, more a classy look, perfect for work. Not only are there several gorgeous colours to choose from, the texture is also great in staying power, being a cream-to-powder-eyeshadow. I´ve tried on several colours (can´t stop myself) and my top favourites are 04 Rosewood and 02 Nude Pink. Well, the 03 Taupe is actually really nice as well...let´s go to the mall again...

Tom Ford at the Mothership [NK]

#RegramNK Instagram

Loving this eye colour quad from Tom Ford in "Golden Mink"

OUTER BEAUTY
Today Tom Ford Cosmetics launches at one of my favourite stores, Nordiska Kompaniet in Stockholm. Being the perfectionist he is, Tom Ford promises great makeup. Has yet to be tested and looking forward to it.

Be reminded by the bracelet

 

OUTER BEAUTY
Loving these wonderful bracelets created by my ever inspiring friend Monica Oien, who has designed a beautiful bracelet collection with focus on "spirituality, sport and psychology". All the bracelets have been blessed and donations go to charity.

Monica says about the bracelets; "Who are you when you are in contact with nature and inmotion? Do you feel a vibrating bliss while you are in the mountains skiing or hiking? Do you experience a silent mindfulness while doing Pilates, yoga or while swimming? Or can you sense a peaceful surrender and love to nature, to heaven and sky when sailing out there on the big blue ocean? Are you a person who is in touch with your inner life? Do you believe in faith and that there is guidance out there on your way? Are you close to mother earth and to the wonders in life? Wearing an Inmotion bracelet you will always be reminded of who you are and what your commitment to yourself, family and to the ones you love are. They will awaken your passion and be a reminder of moving – a little bit every day. The symbology of our bracelets’ charms and threads will inspire you to connect with your deeper self.
The bracelets’ central symbol – the clam – is an emblem of love and carries with it a profound reminder for us to live truthfully, to be in motion and to be grateful for the lives we have been given, focusing on the NOW and never forgetting that every new day is a precious gift."

You can buy the bracelets here: 

inmotionessentials.com

karma.no

Staying power [eyeshadow]

OUTER BEAUTY
I am always on the look for eyeshadows with staying power. Mostly because I have oily eyelids and spend a lot of time in front of my computer, which seems to make all makeup go away during the day...also because while I do like to take time to make myself ready in the morning, I do have three kids to also get ready and hence I´ve got to keep it simple and reliable. I just want the best products that actually do what they say. This is where my latest find comes in. MAC Paint Peintures in colour Bamboom (or if you want just slightly lighter colour the Sublime Nature is so good too). A creamy eyeshadow that actually stays on, and on, and on...it has such great staying power that many tend to use it as a primer, which it´s also perfect for. But this colour is also a perfect beige-brown colour with a hint of golden shimmer, goes with everything to everything. And if you want to bring out blue or green coloured eyes even more for the evening, this works wonders with MAC eyeshadow "Amber lights" as well. So if you want a neutral eyeshadow with one of the best staying powers I´ve experienced, this is a really good one.

Sounds promising...

OUTER BEAUTY
For several years I´ve been debating with myself however I should get a Clarisonic cleansing brush for my face. The Clarisonic, being iconic, is hugely popular, but also from what I´ve heard a bit hard on your skin and therefore not suitable for everyone. So I decided to stick to my regular regime. That is until Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush was launched. The difference is that the latter one is said to be much more gentle for sensitive skin. I haven´t come around to buy it yet but after having read a beauty editor in a British glossy magazine raving over this so much that I had to go back twice to check if it was a sponsored editorial or something (which it wasn´t) this is quickly coming on my must have list. Since I totally believe in facial massage, but never have the time to actually do it, this could be a good match for that too. And the moisturiser is said to sink in like a dream afterwards...

Charlotte Tilbury makeup [FRIDAY]

Image from Charlotte Tilbury

Image from Charlotte Tilbury

Eyeshadows for the Golden Goddess look
Image from Charlotte Tilbury 

OUTER BEAUTY

If you haven´t already tried the makeup range from Charlotte Tilbury I highly recommend it. Also the web site is just fantastic. For a 40+ like me who needs to spend a little more time finding the right products that really work for me (dreaming of a hybrid of the goddess, the uptown girl and the sophisticate, please:) this site is heaven. It´s very pedagogic actually. You just choose who you want to be, get all the products lined up for that look and voilà, just click and shop. Ships to whole Europe and USA. Genius. 

Keep it hydrated

OUTER BEAUTY
These two little helpers, both from Exuviance, are new favourites on my top shelf. Both working excellent on dehydrated skin after a long, hot summer. The Vespera Bionic Serum is an anti oxidant anti wrinkle serum which I use both mornings and evenings all over the face, including the delicate under eye area. The Age reverse eye contour works wonders over it. Both are bestsellers from Exuviance and I definitely understand why.

Tips for long wear [Dior Vernis]

OUTER BEAUTY
The trend with nude colours for nails are still very strong, luckily for me who loves all these colours. I recently fell for the colour "Trianon" from Dior. It was the first time I bought Dior nail polish, and I must say that I think this is great, and one of the better ones. I even tried it on while still in Marbella, meaning a lot of hours spent in water. This is my new favourite for fall. Dior Vernis is said to have a new formula playing up the gel effect and strengthening the nail surface for extra long wear. I tend to agree. All colours here.