Exclusive: New No7 Beautiful Skin Dark Circle Corrector

Exclusive: New No7 Beautiful Skin Dark Circle Corrector


If you suffer from tired eyes and dark circles, you’ll love the new release from No7 later this month (19 Feb). No7 Beautiful Skin Dark Circle Corrector has been developed to help reduce dark circles in two weeks and instantly de-puff and illuminate tired eyes. The product combines light reflective technology in pearlescent particles for instant brightening with longer acting ingredients to reduce dark circles over time.

The formula includes active ingredients such as Vitamin C, caffeine and Pro Vitamin B5 to:

improve firmness and tone around the eye contour
drain excess fluid to reduce puffiness
reduce dark circles
moisturise the skin.


Product is dispensed through 3 little metal balls, which provide an instantly cooling effect on the skin which I find super soothing on tired eyes. Pearl extract helps reflect light while the yellow-gold liquid counteracts the blue tone of under eye shadows.



Squeezing the tube very gently releases the sheer golden fluid, which comes in one universal anti-dark shadow shade. NB this is not a concealer and although it adds an instant subtle radiance to the eye area, is not designed to completely disguise shadows. Don’t be tempted to overdo it to try and cover up as this is primarily a skincare product, which works well either alone or under make-up. I find that light application of a small amount works best to avoid pilling… I use my ring finger to make sure the product is completely blended into my skin after enjoying a few moments of the cooling applicator!

If you do wish to conceal dark shadows, you’ll need to apply a separate under eye concealer over this, or after foundation.


Top, straight from the tube and below, blended and left to dry, you can hopefully see the colour correcting golden sheen.

“In consumer trials more than 80% of (97) women agreed that their dark circles and puffiness were reduced after just 2 weeks and they felt more confident as a result.”I’ve only been using this product for a few days and enjoy the instant cooling and brightening effect… I look forward to seeing how it affects my dark circles after two weeks. NB no beauty product alone will achieve this: sufficient sleep, drinking lots of water and eating a healthy diet all contribute to reducing dark circles, so while it’s great to have a product that helps boost the process, it’s important to take a holistic approach.

NEW No7 Beautiful Skin Dark Circle Corrector, 15 ml, £13.50, will be available from 19 February in most Boots UK stores nationwide and online at boots.com

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush: Radiant Magenta - review & swatches

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush: Radiant Magenta - review & swatches




The arrival of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush has caused a lot of ooh-ing and ahh-ing in the beautysphere in recent weeks. Having fallen head over heels with the Ambient Lighting Palette (review here) I just knew one of these would have to be mine. I lost patience and pre-ordered Radiant Magenta from Space NK, though held off on posting about it until this week’s official launch (for reasons I’ll explain below). These blushers are a thing of beauty - that’s a cert. Are they for everyone? Possibly…



The sleek, slim metallic palette is in itself a thing of beauty. Full size mirror: check; closes securely: check; feels sturdy: check; no unnecessary brushes: check.



Gasp… isn’t it gorgeous?! Each blush is unique, which is what makes these a. extra special and b. a challenge. The reason for this is that the pigmented blush is marbled with original Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. This gives them a magical sense of dimension, softening and blurring the pigment for a beyond-blush, lit from within glow. If you get the right ratio of pigment:marbling. I’ve been told that this is an issue for many and while it’s not a huge one for me, I’d kinda like a little more marbling in mine. Radiant Magenta is bright. The strongest, brightest colour of the bunch, it packs quite a lot of punch, and while I do like a bright pink flush, I have to be a bit more careful with this than I’d like. I’m pretty sure this would be less of an issue for deeper skin tones and won’t bother me at all come Summer, but for now, it’s the one element that prevents a 100% perfect status.

I want to blend the blush with the Ambient powder to soften it, but the more I blend, the more product ends up on my brush - and therefore my cheeks, so to avoid being too Aunt Sally, I really need to go gently with this. I photographed the brush above after lightly swirling it in the powder - and you can see both the depth of colour and how much product is picked up. I’ve since switched to the Real Techniques Duo Fibre brush, which allows for a much more subtle application - tapping some off on the back of my hand pre-cheeks is still essential. I realise this is partly my own issue… when I have a new makeup product I like to keep playing with it - reapplying, touching up throughout the day -it’s a weakness. And with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush, there is no excuse/need to do this. Hardly a fault really…



Left - finger swatch, right - brush swatch. The colour is quite exquisite really. The cool pink magenta base takes on a slightly warmer, coral tone when blended with the powder.



Apologies for the rubbish quality phone pic, but hopefully this will give you some idea of how it looks applied on my colouring. I actually think Radiant Magenta would look amazing on darker skin tones. I paired it with my still much loved Sisley Phyto Lip Twist in Pinky (& yes I did plan my Summer-in-February outfit around a blusher!).


So in a nutshell, these rock. I want another one that I’ll get more wear out of in Winter. If you opt for the Radiant Magenta and have the chance to check them out in person, I’d probably do so to ensure that you’re happy with the amount of marbling. I’m hovering over Dim Infusion at the moment…

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush costs £28 at Space NK or Liberty

Do you like the sound of these - and if so, which one?!

Giveaway: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush

Giveaway: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush


Time for a little thank you from me to you… I’d like to treat a reader to one of this season’s most desirable beauty launches, an Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in the colour of your choice (subject to availability).

Not sure which you fancy? See the range & reviews at Space NK HERE! 

Please enter via the Rafflecopter below & remember to leave a comment on this post with your first and second choice of shade and a contact email. Open internationally, closes Sunday 24 February 2014, midnight GMT. Winner will be selected at random & prize purchased by me. Good luck everyone!




THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

CONGRATS TO THE WINNER, LAUREN, SELECTED AT RANDOM FROM 3000+ ENTRIES! DIM INFUSION IS ON ITS WAY TO YOU LAUREN - HOPE YOU LOVE IT! XX

Clarins Extra Comfort Anti Pollution Cleansing Cream

Clarins Extra Comfort Anti Pollution Cleansing Cream

Some days the effort of using cleansing balms and oils seems a bit too much like hard work… and when this happens, I reach for a creamy cleanser. I find the former works best on full make-up, while the no-residue-easy-rinse texture of cream cleansers are perfect for a morning cleanse or when I’m wearing lighter make-up.


I suspected I’d love Clarins’ new cleanser before I even tried it, as I’m already a fan of the Extra Comfort foundation - and let’s face it, who’s skin wouldn’t benefit from a little extra comfort? This comfort factor comes from extracts of nourishing shea butter, mango, and jojoba oil with anti-pollution moringa seed. I massage it in, then remove with a flannel and warm water. The formula is rich, creamy and an absolute pleasure to use… it leaves my skin feeling completely clean, yet not at all squeaky or tight, just soft and soothed to the extent that I could almost skip moisturiser (though never do). The consistency feels luxurious and you get a lot for your money with 200ml packed into the flip-top tube.

Clarins Extra Comfort Anti Pollution Cleansing Cream rrp £25. though you can currently get it for £20 at Escentual.

Wet n Wild Cosmetics in Belfast & Walking on Eggshells Swatches

Wet n Wild Cosmetics in Belfast & Walking on Eggshells Swatches




No I’m not talking about the weather... Wet n Wild is a US cosmetics brand that repeatedly pops up in beauty bloggers’ US hauls, amid raves of amazing quality at drugstore prices. So I thought local readers would be pleased to hear I’d tracked it down in a wee chemist in Belfast and the rest of you might like to hear about what I bought there!



Not the best pics as the stand was right next to the till and I was a bit self conscious about snapping away, but as you can see there is shedload of stock! I was just popping in with the kids so didn’t have time for much of a play - and lots of the testers were still unopened, requiring fiddly seals to be broken before exploring.

Walking on Eggshells





I did of course manage to make one purchase, the Walking on Eggshells eye shadow palette (£4.99 if I remember correctly). As anticipated, the quality is super buttery and pigmented - these are all single swipe swatches. The shimmery peach eyelid shade has the most payoff and intensity, a tad too pale and shimmery for me to be honest as I don’t normally wear pale colours on my lid. Obviously the guidelines are useful, but don’t have to be adhered to, so wear each shade where you like! The crease shade is a deep bronze and my favourite of the three. I love this all over my lid, or on top of the peach for a bit more pop and added sheen (discovered by fluke while trying to cover up a peach lid!). I was pleased to find that the browbone cream champagne tone is the sheerest of the three, as I don’t like too much light or shimmer here (can look a bit OTT). This adds just enough highlight and works well on the inner corner too. No reason why the browbone and eyelid colours couldn’t be used as a cheek highlight too.

I’m heading back soon for a proper look with blogger & MUA, Rebecca Bryson, so keep an eye on her YouTube Channelto see if Wet n Wild features in any upcoming tutorials! Wet n Wild is available at MediCare Pharmacy, 11 Kings Square (off the Kings Road) in Belfast (thanks for the heads up Arlene - aka dressjunkie). I’ve no idea if it’s sold at their other branches - or in Dunnes, where it’s been spotted by Dublin bloggers. This chemist previously stocked Essence, which sadly appears to have disappeared to make way for Wet n Wild.

I’d love to know if you have any Wet n Wild recs, particularly of the non eye shadow variety, as I’ve heard nothing about the rest of the range?

Soap & Glory The Ultimelt

Soap & Glory The Ultimelt



Soap & Glory The Ultimelt

If you don’t wish to part with quite so much cash, Soap & Glory The Ultimelt hot cloth cleanser is a great option - notactually much cheaper at £10 for 100ml (half the size of Clarins) - but a smaller initial outlay. I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t expect to be so impressed with this. I’d only used Soap & Glory body products before and while I liked them, the skincare snob in me (yes I admit it) assumed this would be an average product; in fact it’s just as good as many high end cleansers I’ve tried and I really enjoy using it. Described as ‘a detox spa for your skin’, the concentrated formula contains essential oils and vitamins for deep cleansing without stripping the skin. You can see how dense the texture is in the pic above and the muslin cloth provided is a goodun’, though I do remain faithful to my Washi Cloths.

Soap & Glory the Ultimelt rrp £10 at Boots (on 3 for 2)