The new additions

I've been using a few new things in my everyday routine over the past week so I thought I'd do a mini 'first impressions' post of them.

Elemental Herbology Cool and Clear facial cleanser

I've been using this low foaming gel cleanser in the shower in the mornings and it's really nice.  I've been using an Elemental Herbology moisturiser in the mornings for a couple of months so this seems nice compliment. 

I don't think this would be heavy duty enough as an evening cleanser to remove all my make-up but as a light cleanse in the morning it's perfect. 

It contains lavender and tea tree oil to purify and bisamol to soothe.  It also contains green tea to protect against environmental damage.  Aimed more towards acne prone/combination skin this cleanser is easy to use, washes off easily with no residue and isn't drying.  I just follow up with spritz of my Elemis hydrating toner.

Trish McEvoy Thickening Mascara

When I first started using this I didn't rate it at all but it is growing on my slowly!!  This mascara was really pushed on me by the sales girl at Trish McEvoy in Bloomingdales in NYC and sounded right up my street-I like thick, black, dramatic lashes and she said this would do exactly that.

This mascara doesn't deliver that result to be honest.  It delivers nice fluttery separated lashes as you can see above.  It has an unusual 'goldfish' shaped brush (do you see what I mean??) that is really easy to apply and get to the smaller lashes in the corners.  It's a very very dry formula, especially compared to the last mascara I used which was Chanel Le Volume De Chanel which I reviewed here.  It doesn't flake or smudge AT ALL during the day-I haven't had to use my Anastasia Lash Genius waterproof top coat.  It doesn't clump and you can build it up but to get the effect above that is a good 3-4 coats so it's no YSL Faux Cils.  But it's ok for work everyday.  For evening I'll probably put something more dramatic on.  I probably wouldn't repurchase this though.

Mac Studio Sculpt foundation

I'll be honest I am really struggling with this foundation!  When I first apply it it looks great.  I love the finish (it's medium heavy coverage) and it feels so light on the skin.  I find I have to apply it with a foundation brush then blend any excess lightly with fingers to get the best finish.  It dries really quickly to a semi matte finish which I love.  I then set with a light dusting of powder.  When I first started using it I was using the Nars pore refining primer underneath which is oil free (as is I think the foundation) and within a couple of hours the foundation was settling into tiny tiny pores on my forehead and my nose.  It looks awful and nothing can be done to correct it without making it even worse.  I had the same problem with Laura Mercier Silk Creme.  My friend Jamie suggested I try the Smashbox Photofinish primer (which luckily I had a sample of) and it's better but still not perfect.  If I try to touch up during the day the powder just settles into pores and looks absolutely cakey.  What am I doing wrong?  Any suggestions?

Smashbox Photo Finish

As mentioned above I had a sample of the Smashbox Photo Finish primer and I tried it to see if the Studio Sculpt foundation would sit better on it.  I have used this before-I love the feel of this on the skin even though I know its full of silicon and that's why my skin feels so silky!  But it does a fab job at mattifying and blurring the skin before applying foundation.  I am really enjoying using it-your skin really does feel like velvet.  This is also an oil free primer but Smashbox do a whole range of primers to suit everyone.  It's definitely one of their best products.

Hydraluron

I have finally jumped on this bandwagon!!  The Mac foundation was making my skin look like it was dry and dehydrated so I decided to try this apparent miracle worker in my skincare routine to see if it would plump out the skin.  I apply it directly before my moisturisor-you only need a pea sized amount of this clear gel/serum, don't use too much or it goes tacky on the skin and can cause your foundation to pill or bobble.

Hydraluron is a moisture boosting product and it's the moisture levels in the skin that make it look smooth, plumped and youthful.  Over time our natural moisture levels decrease and dehydration leads to aging.

Hyaluronic acid is the super moisture booster-it can hold 1000 times it's own weight in water and is found in abundance in young skin.

I have to say I am really liking it!  Both this and the Smashbox primer has improved the finish of the foundation and I think I am a Hydraluron convert!!  In the US I bought a much more expensive version of this from Trish McEvoy so am expecting even better results from that one.  I can see this being a permanent addition to my routine and is perfect for anyone with dehydrated skin, who lives in a hot and humid climate or is in and out of air conditioning.  This would be great for men too-especially after shaving which dries out the skin.

Have you used any of my recent additions?  What do you think??

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