Hand creams | Clarins, Caudalie and Butter London

I like reading/watching these types of product comparisons. Battles, almost. Though, let's not call it that...

Most people in my life find skincare boring, like a chore. Usually, I notice that the ones who love make-up recommendations (to the point of purchasing that particular product immediately) don't really welcome skincare recommendations with open arms. It's almost like I'm telling them to clean up their room when they're watching TV. Of course, this usually happens with facial products. Deliciously scented body items are a whole other story...

So, let's start comparing these hand creams. First up, Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, which isn't deliciously scented by any means, but I guess that's a good thing — you don't get sick of it!
I'd recommend this for sensitive, dry or mature skins. It forms a protective barrier around the skin, but absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy. With an added benefit of protecting against spots.
I chose a pack with 3 mini sizes (30ml each), to take up less space in my beauty bag. Well, I just love minis.
This cream really delivers a good dose of nourishment to the cuticles, thanks to the sesame oil in the formula and the packaging fits into a more sophisticated category.

The next product really surprised me, in a good way. After I finished my Soap & Glory Hand Food (review here), I thought no other hand cream could match it's level of performance. Or fragrance... Until I purchased Caudalie Hand & Nail Cream, by chance, because I had forgetten to bring a hand cream. Madness!
To start off, the scent is absolutely delicious. I was expecting it to be similar to Beauty Elixir, but it actually has a sweet orange scent. And I'm usually not a fan of fruity scents in beauty products, but this is gorgeous.
Besides it's anti-oxidant properties, it makes my hands feel protected — ideal when the skin feels really dry and tight, due to exposure to AC or more extreme weather conditions.
The formula with grape seed polyphenols, shea butter, grape oil and avocado extract (besides the obvious, sweet orange), has the perfect texture — not too thick nor too fluid — and absorbs rapidly. Truly softens the cuticles and its nourishing power lasts for a long time. Plus, being a Caudalie product, it has no parabens, mineral oils and so forth.

To finish this category, I chose a product that was sitting in my drawer for ages, waiting to be used. In fact, I think it's been discontinued... But I was able to find it in Harvey Nichols, here.
Butter London Mistress Luxury Lotion, a very fluid lotion with a champagne fragrance, which is supposed to be very subtle, like a mistress. Well, I don't think it's that subtle. It's kind of an old-school "grandma" scent — you either like it or you really don't.
The packaging is very pretty, as are all Butter London products, with a vintage feel and very feminine colours.
The formula contains vitamins A, C, and E, chamomile and lemon balm. It is vegan and paraben free.
Being very fluid, feels like you're pouring foundation on the back of your hand and gets used up far more quickly. Absorbs almost immediately and it's not the most nourishing formula, but feels nice and hydrating upon application. I tend to use it very often so it ran out pretty fast.
Now, on the hunt for a new cream...

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The beauty bag | Summer heat update

Current location? Lisbon, Portugal. Temperature? Very warm. So, naturally, the contents of my beauty bag have changed.

First of all, I've decided to edit and simplify this group of products. Meaning, I'm not carrying around 10 lippies anymore. Whether you're going to a festival or just commuting in a crowded bus with broken air conditioner (lovely), you'll want to make an effort so that your make-up don't melt off your face.

The key to choosing the right products is testing their longevity. Usually, spotting the expression waterproof or long lasting on the label is a good sign. Some ranges I really like, especially for this type of hot and humid weather, are Urban Decay 24/7 and Make Up For Ever Aqua. They stay in place all day (and night), so you can just apply them in the morning and forget you have make-up on.

The current face division consists of Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in NSA, to conceal dark circles and redness around the nose, and Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder in 30 Naturel, to mattify the T-zone. If I feel like wearing any sort of base, I'll go for MAC Face and Body Foundation in C5 — entitled as the perfect base for warmer months, thanks to its water-resistant quality. A teeny tiny dab of Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Cream Blush (in the shade 4 Walk of Shame) on the cheeks, provides a healthy glow. It doesn't contain shimmer, but gives a soft-focus effect.

To frame the face, I apply a bit of M.U.F.E. Aqua Brow in 25 Ash, using a slanted tip brush (like MAC 208). It is unbelievably good at filling in sparse areas or even drawing in full brows, when they fit in the very fair category or, even when they are virtually non-existent. Naturally, an essential part of my kit.

In the eye department, a swipe of Rimmel Scandaleyes Stick in Bad Girl Bronze on the lid, blended in with fingers or a fluffy brush, makes a good base. To define the lashline, a quick application of Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes does the trick. The shade Pearly Brown 2L gives a softer look, but you can just go for Matte Black 0L to intensely define the eye. For mascara, choose a formula that doesn't smudge on you. Usually, I don't have an issue with this, so I rarely wear waterproof formulas. Having said that, I really like Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash.

To finish off the look, a long-lasting lipstick does the job. My most reached for have been Burberry Lip Velvet in Rose Azalea No. 308 (love that shade) and Aqua Rouge liquid lipstick (in 2 Rosewood).
On dry lip occasions, I reach for Clinique Chubby Stick (in Two Ton Tomato), of course.

Some other essentials that jumped into my beauty bag are Caudalie Beauty Elixir (gotta have a refreshing mist on hand), Japonesque Blotting Paper Pouch (does what it says on the tin), Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream and a mini perfume atomizer or rollerball, in this case, Burberry Body.

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Wishlist #3 | Recently added products

That's right, I've added even more products to my wishlist. It's only a meter long, so obviously needs more items... The real danger of having a wishlist, especially one that is so large, is that everywhere you go you see something you think you need. So you end up buying it... Trust me, I can justify anything.

First up: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder, as the name says, it's a compact powder that provides a natural healthy glow. I won't even talk about the super chic cream and black compact or the half-moon brush, but I'll say this: I'm always on the hunt for a natural looking powder and Chanel makes my favourite one. So, obviously I'm intrigued. Still, when I saw the ad for the first time I thought "I just got a compact powder from Chanel and I really like it, why do I need another one?". My excuse? This one gives a healthy glow, so I really, really need it! Also, Lisa Eldridge's video was really convincing. You can choose your regular shade, or, a shade darker if you want a bronzed look. Oh, and did I mention that this antioxidant powder protects the skin from environmental stress and sunlight? 

The second item is this Clarins Pro Palette Eyebrow Kit, which surprisingly I haven't seen much around in the blogosphere. The usual Clarins-style gold case carries three eyeshadows to shape and fill-in brows, a wax to hold them in place, a luminous shadow to highlight the brow bone, a little double-sided brush, a small spooly and mini tweezers. And a huge mirror. How amazing is that?

Finally, a very important skincare bit: Alpha-H Liquid Gold Rejuvenating Cream. This is like one of those things that I needed before it existed, you know? Basically this nourishing moisturizer takes care of dull, uneven or dehydrated skins, by stimulating cell turnover, courtesy of my favourite exfoliant, Glycolic Acid, of course. Antioxidant-rich Argan stem cells and Vitamin C, help the skin to repair itself and protect from free radicals, whilst Lipo-peptide Matrixyl-6 stimulate the production of Hyaluronic Acid, for a plumping effect. More suppleness and less redness, wrinkles, dark spots and pores. Well, they appear smaller. FYI, this product is on top of my list.

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Current evening routine

I always loved skincare products, especially the ones designed for nighttime. But, ever since I discovered balm cleansers, I really came to enjoy it even more. Mainly because if you cleanse properly, the products applied afterwards work more efficiently. Just for reference, my skin fits into the combination category — mostly normal, with very dry, flaky patches here and there and an oily nose.

Depending on the amount of make-up I'm wearing, I start off by removing the upper layer with Bioderma Sensibio/Créaline H2O on a cotton pad (or two). Not being too fussy about it, since I'm going to cleanse with a balm anyway. The balm in question is Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm. As the name states, it is amazing. It removes every little trace of dirt and clingy mascara, leaving the skin perfectly clean, without being squeaky clean, which I appreciate. I take a small amount, work it between my hands until it turns into an oil. Then, I apply it on dry skin, on my face and neck, massaging well — but gently around the eyes — and remove it with a warm (tepid) cloth. Next, I apply a toner, and this could be either my all time favourite Caudalie Beauty Elixir or, one I've been enjoying lately, Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, which is very soothing and ideal for normal to combination skin types. Oh, and it smells like rose water, which I love. The only thing I'd change is the mist, it's not as fine as the Caudalie one, but it's not the worst I've tried.

Continuing the process, for the eye area I start with the Ole Henriksen Truth Is In The Eyes peel, which I talked about here. After it gets absorbed, I pop on some Clarins Special Eye Contour Balm. On the rest of the face, I usually apply the Clinique Turnaround Radiance Moisturizer or Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair. Sometimes, if I feel like I need some extra balancing, I layer a drop of Clarins Lotus Oil. I warm it up between my hands and pat it on the T-zone. You really need one drop of this, so a bottle will last a long, long time. 

That's pretty much it, with a few changes here and there, when testing out new products. But for now, this is my nighttime beauty arsenal. Right, I'm off to doing just that.

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