Kensington, Chelsea and CLARINS!

A while ago, I told you about a shoot I was taking part in for the Kensington and Chelsea Review. I had the pleasure of being able to get some goodies from Clarins. The wonderful Press Department gave me quite the extensive make up bag which was put to fabulous use!

More pictures to come very soon!x

( Pictures Copyright Kylie McMichael 2011 All Rights Reserved. All Beauty and Skincare Clarins. Clothing and Accessories: East, Helly Hansen, Buba London, Toms)

Clinique Foundation:::

Clinique Redness Solutions Foundation Make Up in 03 Calming Ivory was my first ever Clinique tester. I had my hopes as of those of you who read my blog and know me, know, I have VERY red splotchy skin. I was therefore, really excited to try this out!

So after CTM'ing in the morning I used this for one week, with powder and without and each day with different amounts of layers on.


Day One: I tried a thin layer, mainly on my cheeks ( that's where the redness on my face is), bearing in mind I really wanted to try this to CALM DOWN the redness on my cheeks, if not to make it disappear completely without the need to use my Shu Uemura Colour Corrector. So I tried this out with a small amount of matt powder ( Bobbi Brown Loose Powder in 01 Translucent) but by midday ( four hours after applying)my skin had sucked all the goodness out of the stuff. Bad Times. My redness had died down but my skin looked cakey and dehydrated. ( I think the fact I am not using the Kiehl's Skin Tone Corrector or the Clarins Hydra Quench doesn't really help. Bad Times number 2.)


Day Two: I tried a thin layer once again but this time WITHOUT my powder. It did let my skin breathe a bit more without the powder but most of the foundation had rubbed off again by midday. I really think the lack of moisturiser loving from my faithful Kiehl's and Clarins goodies definitely doesn't help.


Day Three: I put the foundation on in thin layers today again with a little loose powder to set it. Same result as day one but it kind of looked worse as I now had a think caked dehydrated crispy layer of make up on my cheeks either side of my top lip- ATTRACTIVE!


Day Four: I put the foundation on in thin layers once again but NO loose powder. This had a much better effect than any of the previous, my cheeks were still slightly covered by midday, it had bought down the redness considerably.


I will be trying this product again in my skin tone once I am able to get my hands on some hydration goodies for my skin. I don't think my usual work environment helps, a very dry, dusty and old building doesn't exactly do wonders for your skin. If you're skin isn't as dry and chafy as bit of old sandpaper I would definitely try this product. BUY HERE

LOOKING.....

For a guest blogger! I need a lady or lord to try out a product for me! I have a Kiehl's Deep Pore Daily Cleanser sample and I need it TESTING! As you all may know I have dry/sensitive skin and so the product is not suitable for me to try at all....

Here's where you come in, I would like you to try out the product: Start by cleansing and toning as normal, note down all important info such as: how much you're using, how long you've been using it for/ are using it for- as in until the sample runs out, if you had to stop using it and why. Before and After pics would be great but not essential, being good with descriptions and words would be enough!

IF any of my followers or fellow bloggers know anyone that can help let me know!

why things should have an adherent timetable... and come in order

Lots of things going on at once in KylieLand- [ I should have that coined ]; I have had the priviledge of joining the team at The Kensington and Chelsea Review, my article based on the Royal Wedding and what to do about your own is out in July and I have had my first meeting with the Assistant Editor, Laura Steele. I am so excited about joining I thought I should let you all know! Our first collaborative shoot is in the planning stages and we should be ready to shoot in two weeks! I am so excited about this project as it is a PROPER collaboration, real team work is involved and everyone is encouraged to take initiative rather than it being led by one person. So I shall be having lots of fun this weekend and next creating mood boards for the project. FUN TIMES!!! I should also be reviewing more Chanel products this week. MORE FUN TIMES!!!

IT'S CHANEL DARRRRRLING

CHANEL: Hydramax+Active Nutrition Nourishing Cream for Dry Skin: REVIEWED!


So to remind you, I tried out CHANEL: Hydramax+Active Nutrition Nourishing Cream for Dry Skin, as seen below:

Ok, so for what I WANTED it to do, it was amazing. I shall now explain what I wanted it to do and tell you . Applying a broad bean I assumed it would be a fab day cream. Until I put my make up on top of it. Now I do not wear a lot of make up, I wear a light weight light coverage foundation, a generous dash of colour corrector and the usual mattifying and shimmery powders... and it got dry, really rather dry, at midday! I have a few mirrors where I work and I check my skin when I am testing every time I was past them, which is maybe every half hour ( ok maybe a bit more than that) and my skin had sucked everything out of the poor Chanel Hydramax by midday. So, maybe I just have dry skin? Maybe it was the product? SO, I tested it purely as a night moisturiser, and to my surprise it worked really beautifully. My skin was very hydrated throughout the night and when I woke after about 8 hours, my skin was still very nicely hydrated! Whilst it's not the best day cream I think it works fabulously as a night cream. Priced at £47.00 for 50g Buy Here: BOOTS

Kiehl's Toner

Next up, over a couple of days I tried Kiehl's Cucumber  Herbal Alcohol- Free Toner.

You get a 250ml bottle and pay £16.50 for it, I think that's pretty good value. It also earns it's brownie points by not being tested on animals and its veggie-vegan friendly ( as far as I could tell.) As for using while CTM ( technique described ) it was nice to use. It had a neutral smell and is emerald/ moss green in colour. To be honest I have used better, but it was still very gentle with my skin and didn't dry it out, which is always useful when your face resembles sandpaper on some days. I prefer the Clarins one from before, nevertheless a very pleasing product to use. Buy HERE

Who thought moss green goo would make my skin so happy?

Yes! I am back reviewing this week... FABULOUS :) whilst I have been away writing for the Kensington and Chelsea Review I have also wrapped a film- 'The Russian Elephant', and assisted the AMAZING Naomi Selig at the Jermyn Street Theatre!


I now finally have the time to sit down a review a couple of little bits from last weeks list.


First up is Kiehl's Highly Efficient Skin Tone Corrector with Emblica, Glycolic Acid and HEPES. And Oh my Gaaaad, it's truly amazing. 

So yes, it looks like this and comes in a 30ml tube, is a beautiful shade of moss green and smells, well quite bad really ( sort of 'Trojan' like if you catch my drift ). HOWEVER I decided to still give it a shot. I applied after CTM and using the Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi- Phase for Dehydrated Skin( Yes, I am STILL on the tester). I used an amount about the size of my index finger nail and using my usual method of rubbing gently along my fingers and applying finger by finger onto my cheeks- where my beautiful redness is. I have to say that this is probably the best form of moisturiser I have EVER used, and that's a lot of products to compare to. I only used it on my cheeks and really quite sparingly as it's £41.00 for the 30ml tube- GASPS from the audience! But when I get paid I am seriously re arranging my coffee habits and lunch time treats to make way for my new skin care. It blends really beautifully and the slightly whiffy smell disappears once you've gently massaged it into your skin. I used my Neutrogena® Visibly Clear® Oil- Free Moisturiser after it on the areas left over. A true must have for any beautician/ make up artist's kit as it does exactly what it says on the tin, it did slightly improve my blemished splotchy red Celtic skin, which considering given the sample size I was only able to use for around a week. Buy HERE