Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream

Eye cream has always felt a little unnecessary to me. There’s no rule anywhere that says that you can’t just use a face cream if suitable, if like me though you suffer with sensitive peepers, you may find yourself searching the endless brands and formulations of eye creams that are currently available on the high street.

I’m not one to fall into the hype or marketing campaigns for that matter, but when I received a sample of new Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream with my recent order I made a note in my diary to purchase a tube on its release date – it was love at first application. The Pep-start Eye Cream in all honesty is the only eye cream I’ve ever used where I can visibly see a difference to the texture and overall appearance of my under eye area. For application I’ve found that the use of my ring finger works best, the applicator that’s provided does feel a little bulky/unnecessary which I guess is my only drawback with this product.

This eye cream feels super hydrating, it has done an amazing job at improving the texture around my eyes. Similar to most eye creams, this feels incredibly refreshing to use and has a lightweight, silky texture that doesn’t feel at all heavy or greasy on my skin. I don’t believe any eye cream can improve dark circles or wrinkles, if I’m totally honest I think that’s mainly down to good genes, diet, lifestyle and sleep (something I’m lacking!) In terms of hydration and making me look bright eyed and bushy tailed this eye creams a winner!  

Over the winter I have been unable to use my cream concealers (eg. Bobbi Brown Corrector) they have gone a little solid and are harder to warm up and apply, with the addition of the Pep-Start eye cream I’ve found concealer glides onto my under eye area, it doesn’t ball up or appear flaky (I suffer with super dry under eyes) Pep-Start creates an amazing base for concealer and I’m even willing to say extends longevity of my concealer.

If you suffer with dehydrated under eyes, or are looking for a nice base for concealer the Clinique Pep-Start Eye cream will be for you! What are your favourite eye creams?

Two Foundation Fails

I don’t write about the products that didn't work well for me on my blog much, but when I have done in the past the response always seems to be fairly positive. Today I wanted to write about two hyped foundations that left me feeling underwhelmed, foundation is such a personal thing but, I still wanted to share my thoughts and hopefully help some of you who might have been considering purchasing -

NARS Luminous All Day Weightless Foundation – Described as a weightless foundation that offers full coverage. Coming from someone who absolutely loves most NARS bases (the Radiant Tinted Moisturiser and Sheer Glow are firm favourites) I was left feeling a little underwhelmed with this foundation. If you are a fan of Sheer Glow and have found your perfect shade be weary when approaching this foundation as I found the darker shades definitely didn’t match the shade names in Sheer Glow. I’m normally ‘Syracuse’ in Sheer Glow, but in this foundation I wear the shade ‘Tahoe.’ In terms of coverage I would agree with the product description this does offer full coverage, my pigmentation, scarring and redness was covered well however, I did feel like this foundation made my skin look blotchy and left a tacky layer that I couldn’t wait to wash off at the end of the day. Longevity wasn’t all that great either, I found that my shade oxidised throughout the day became slightly orange. A few weeks after purchasing this I found myself reaching for Sheer Glow and as result this has been left to gather dust at the bottom of my makeup bag. If you like or are a fan of Sheer Glow don’t assume you’ll be as smitten with this foundation – I’d definitely recommend getting a sample if possible before purchasing as it might not meet your expectations.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation – This foundation created quite a buzz last year on its release. Right before we even saw what this foundation had to offer, we were bombarded with huge claims, amazing transformation videos and a lot of press. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can certainly see the appeal, any foundation that claims to cover all imperfections, glide on like a breeze and provide you with perfect skin seems well pardon the pun like magic. But, as we all know magic isn’t real, and similar to the NARS foundation I’ve found myself reaching for this less and less since purchasing. The shade range in this foundation seems a little off, I ended up with shade 10 which is slightly too warm toned for my skin but the shade up was too ashy. The finish was not great on my skin, if anything I felt like this looked a little flat and lacked any sort of radiance. I definitely felt like I was wearing heavy makeup, which I really dislike with any foundation, plus despite that heavy feeling I didn’t find that the coverage was all that great, redness appeared on my nose and pigmentation was still visible after applying a few layers of this foundation. Throughout the day my skin didn’t get oily, but my skin definitely ate up this foundation even with the addition of primer. I just felt a bit meh about this foundation, I expected a full coverage foundation, with amazing longevity but for me this definitely falls short.

Well, that was a negative one, I actually feel pretty deflated after writing this, but at the same time I really wanted to share my thoughts. In total both foundations cost just over £60 so it’s definitely money wasted on my part. I know that a lot of people love both of these foundations but for anyone who's on the fence definitely head to a counter get shade matched and ask for a sample. Better safe than sorry. Maybe now I should do a roundup of my favourite bases to help balance this out and spread some positivity? Let me know if this is something you might be interested in.

What are your favourite foundations?

A Month in Fitness - January

Ah January, let’s not deny we are all a little bit relieved that months over. I always feel like there’s so much pressure put on us at the start of the year to suddenly transform into a fitness guru who munches on kale crisps and workouts 5 times a week. The reality is a whole lot of leftover Christmas chocolate and a quite a few evenings wrapped in a blanket with Netflix…and chill if you are into that kind of thing. How did your goals go? Did you achieve them? If so pat on the back for you, you go Glen coco. If January didn’t quite work out how you expected pick yourself up and start afresh don’t write the year off and wait until the next New Year, start now. Which is exactly what I’m going to do right now. I’ll be honest January didn’t quite work out how I planned due to illness, lack of motivation and pure laziness. None the less today I wanted to share my monthly fitness round up to write about all the things that went well, and the things that didn't - 

Workout – I’ll be honest three workout sessions per week definitely did NOT happen. At the beginning of the month I started out like everyone else pumped up and ready to go. I started the 30 Blogilates ab challenge and Yoga Camp on the Yoga with Adriene channel. Everything was going so well until I got quite ill (long story) and didn’t have the energy to lift a finger let alone workout. As a result I fell behind with Yoga Camp, and only managed up to day 20 of ab challenge. The majority of my workouts throughout January consisted of Yoga and running. For the month of February I’d like to make the most of my gym membership and attend the gym or a class at least three times per week. February is the month where I'd like to focus on strength training. Weights and HIIT are going to be my thing for the month.

Wear- Nike Tank Tops – If you have weeny arms like me and feel a little conscious in those strappy gym tops you’ll love the Nike Tank Tops. The shape is really flattering on my figure and somehow they make my arms seem less weeny and more muscly. The tops cover my shoulder area, but have a key hole design so you can show off a pretty sports bra underneath.

Food – January was the month I received my first Sourced Box and got all motivated with healthy snacking read more about that here – I discovered some great brands from my first box. As I mentioned above, I actually managed to get ill for the majority of January which resulted in me eating very little and in return losing a lot of weight…I completely lost my appetite. When I did get my appetite back towards the end of the month I found myself eating the wrong foods, cookies, take away and lots of bread. February is the month where I want to start eating more (six small meals a day ideally) healthy, wholesome meals are on the menu this month. Baby steps.   

I would love to know what your goals are for February fitness or not fitness related and I’d also love to know how your NY resolutions are going?

A New Snack Box Service Delivered to You!

Snacking is my weakness, I just love snacks and normally the unhealthy kind, working in an office job full of tempting sweet treats really does not do me any favours when trying to eat healthy. Healthy eating isn't always easy, it requires a lot of prep, research and in all honesty sometimes I just can't be bothered. Healthy snacks aren't always assessable in my local supermarkets either, so having someone else do all the leg work, research, source healthy snacks and deliver them to me once a month is ideal for someone like me and SourcedBox does exactly that.

SourcedBox is a new snack service box created by the lovely Niomi Smart and Marcus Butler. The box contains around ten healthy, natural snacks that are free of refined sugars, artificial flavourings, preservatives, additives and chemicals! You can choose to order a one off box or a monthly subscription (which can be cancelled at any point.) I decided to order the first ever box using an exclusive 25% voucher which did considerably reduce the cost, but more on prices later. Today I thought I'd write a review of some of the snacks I enjoyed from the first ever SourcedBox, I've discovered so many new brands that I didn't know about prior to receiving my box. Here's what I thought of the snacks, it's probably important that I mention I'm a seriously picky eater, so I definitely knew I wouldn't love every single snack, but I did enjoy the majority of snacks included in this box which is saying something for a picky eater like me haha -

The Snacks I Loved...

MYLK Chocolate Buttons OMBAR - Now, they were never going to top a bag of Cadbury's Buttons but I tell you what they make a bloody good substitute. Naturally the product I was most drawn to (hello it's chocolate) the OMBAR chocolate buttons are so tasty, made with coconut milk, coconut sugar and raw chocolate the ingredients list is super natural. I think that the size of the bag was perfect too, it didn't feel like I was overindulging just the perfect portion for a midweek pick me up - when I'm really craving some chocolate!

Fruit Jerky - Snact - I love fruit jerky, especially mango, so it's no wonder this was one of my favourite snacks in the box. I particularly like that Snact use wonky pieces of fruit that would otherwise be wasted to make their fruit jerky!

Chocolate Mylk - REBEL KITCHN  - So, soooooo yummy! Like a chocolate milkshake only with less sugar and dairy free. I really enjoyed this, even though coconut milk was used this still had the same creamy taste that you would expect from a conventional milkshake. I've already bought some more, definitely something I'll reserve for treat days.

Mini Rice Thins - Rude Health - These mini rice crackers replaced my crips, I particularly enjoyed them dipped into my homemade salsa or humous. They were also super yummy paired with the Pip and Nut snack that's next on my list...

Coconut and Almond Butter - Pip and Nut - A first for me, the Pip and Nut Coconut and Almond butter was delicious. I paired this with some sliced apple, with my Rude Health crackers and added the remains of the satchet to my porridge in the morning (I made it stretch!) I really enjoyed this added to my crackers and porridge a great way to make a small breakfast or snack feel way more filling. I definitely want to try more of the Pip and Nut varieties the Honey Cinnamon and Cashew Butter sounds lovely.

Dozy Girl Tea - Bluebird Tea - I love tea, and I love discovering new brands of tea. With lavender, chamomile and rose I found this particular tea to be incredibly soothing before bedtime.

Organic Persian Mulberry Promix - Wyldsson - A mixture of fruit, seeds and nuts all in a handy tube for on the go! I used this in my porridge and also took this to work for when I fancied a snack. The tube really helps with portion control - I didn't find I was overindulging too much, it also makes it super convenient to add to porridges or baking.

The snacks that I kind of liked...

Pecan, Cinnamon & Lucuma Flapjack by Naturally Sassy - Full of superfoods and antioxidants, I really did enjoy this flapjack. I'm not normally one for a seedy flapjack (more the gooey golden syrupy kind) but I did find that this made a nice substitute and satisfied my sweet tooth.

Rosehip and Lemon Bar - LOVE RAW - A handmade bar that bursting with vitamin C, I found that this bar tasted super zingy I love anything with lemon.

Pizza Seed Toasts - Science Kitchen - Loved the idea of mini Pizza Seed Toast more for the novelty if anything! For me the taste was slightly strange, almost spicy ...I did enjoy snacking on these though, and similar to all of the other products in this box I found them to be quite filling. Science Kitchen offers a range of flavours in the Seed Toast range the chocolate orange and Berry Fusion look super yum.

The snacks I disliked...

Broccoli Crisps - The Giving Tree - I can definitely see the Giving Tree Broccoli crips being a bit like marmite, judging from the hashtag on Twitter it looks as though the majority of people loved these. I actually found myself gipping a little as I ate them - I really did not enjoy the taste whatsoever, and this is coming from someone who actually quite likes Broccoli! The taste stayed in mouth for the rest of the day, definitely not for me at all.. with that being said this brand has a variety of crips such as peach, mango, apple and strawberry which I'm sure I would love!

Maca Bliss Raw Choc Brownie - Pulsin' - A post run snack for me, I'll be honest I do struggle to eat brownies that are made with raw chocolate I find them quite stodgy and feel like I'm chewing for days (I guess that's the point?) Despite not being my favourite snack in the box this did make for a filling snack after my run, not something I would not repurchase though.

So, ten out of 12 snacks isn't bad at all. I found that unlike other similar boxes I did receive full size snacks which is definitely reflected in the monthly price of £18.99. At first I did feel like the price was a little steep, but considering the types of food featured in this box, and the quantity/ size of the snacks I don't think it's that bad of value for money. Comparing this box to something like graze which costs £3.99 for four snacks, this box is almost six times the price but does contain 7-8 more snacks and is likely to last a lot longer. My box lasted me a couple of weeks as I mostly had one snack a day at work alongside my usual carrot sticks and fresh fruit.

What do you think of snack boxes? Does SourcedBox look like something you would be interested in?

2015 Makeup Favourites

Following on from my previous post all about my 2015 Skincare Favourites, I wanted to share some love to all the makeup products that floated my boat throughout the year. I've tried to pick one product from every category to keep it varied, let's talk makeup!

Primer - The Body Shop Vitamin C Instant Glow Enchancer - This primer was released alongside a matching moisturiser back in the summer- I instantly fell in love with both products. This has a peachy tint that leaves my sallow skin looking visibly brighter. Foundation applies more evenly and looks fresher for longer. Unlike other primers this doesn't have a silicone feeling, it doesn't feel tacky on my skin or cause me to breakout - it's a keeper.

Foundation - Choosing just one foundation was always going to be difficult, but for me the Clinique Even Better foundation was hands down one of my most reached for foundations towards the end of the year. Despite being a relatively new purchase I've worn this almost everyday and will probably continue to do so. The shade Butterscotch matches my skin tone perfectly, it isn't too warm or cool toned it's my perfect match. This foundation makes my skin more radiant, wears beautifully throughout the day and never makes my skin look oily.  I've never been the biggest fan of Clinique foundations, quite frankly, some of them are just plain awful, but, the Even Better foundation is just beautiful, I really can't imagine myself ever being without it!

Nars Creamy Concealer - This concealer is making it's second appearance in a yearly favourites post, and with good reason. I haven't tried any other concealers that even come close to giving the same flawless finish that the Nars Creamy concealer does. This concealer hides dark circles and makes my eye area appear brighter. On 'no makeup days' this covers scarring and just makes my skin look clear and radiant. I'm in love with this concealer and have repurchased it on numerous occasions. Who knows, maybe 2016 is the year I find a new favourite?

Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Cheek Palette in Berry - The pallet contains two blush shades and a highlight shade that are all so complimentary on my skin tone. The shades are appropriate all year round, the pink blush is perfect for Spring/Summer it adds a natural looking flush to my cheeks whilst the berry shade is lovely through winter when my makeup is generally more vampy. What really makes this pallet a standout for me though is the beautiful highlight shade which is so unique, it's unlike anything I've ever seen and I'll be gutted when I hit pan. This rose gold highlighter adds some mega glow to my skin, it works beautifully with the berry blush shades too - it's just so pretty. I've gotten so much use out of this pallet through 2015 and I'm sure I'll continue to throughout this year!

Clinique High Impact Mascara - Serious volume and length, this mascara coats all my lashes giving a dramatic look that suits both daytime and evening looks. This mascara doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes, but despite the gentle formula it still manages to add some serious va-va voom to my lashes. Definitely my favourite mascara.

Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows - A lot of Clinique makeup favourites this year! The Clinique Superfine Liner replaced my Brow Wiz mid way through the year and I haven't looked back. Something about the Superfine Liner adds a lot more thickness to my brows than I could ever achieve with Brow Wiz. This still looks incredibly natural in my brows, and the colour matches my brow hair well. The longevity with this is a lot better than other brow products I have tried, my eyebrows are still flawless in the evening after a long day at work. Despite the lack of a brow brush the Clinique Liner for Brows definitely stood out to me this year.

Lips - The Bourjois Velvet Matte Lipstick in Ole Flamingo was definitely my bold lip favourite, something about this shade completely lifts my complexion, it's so flattering against my skin tone. My nude lipstick favourite was the Revlon Lip Crayon in Ingenue. This matches my natural lip colour perfectly, and feels super moisturising on my lips. This hasn't left my bag for most of the year so definitely deserved a spot in my yearly favourites.

If you made it this far, you go glen coco! Considering I didn't feel as though I used many products throughout the year I clearly still had quite a few favourites and standout products that will continue to be repurchased. I would love to know what your makeup favourites are?

2015 Skincare Favourites

I'm a little late to the party with my 2015 favourites, better late than never though right? 2015 was the year I remained loyal to certain products, I actually found myself repurchasing the same products again and again throughout the year. That being said I do still have a handful of products to share with you, I've split my favourites into skincare and makeup, today I will share my skincare favourites -

Antipodes Manuka Honey Mask 

The Antipodes Manuka Honey mask is unique, it manages to cleanse my skin and hydrates - for that alone it's a total winner in my eyes. In all honesty face masks are a step in my skincare routine that often gets neglected, but for the times where I do use a mask I opt for this one. My skin looks visibly brighter and feels smoother. For me no other masks perk up my skin like this one, it's great to use before a big event or as a quick fix when my skin looks a bit crappy.

Oskia Micro Exfoliating Balm

Not a product that gets a whole lot of hype in the beauty world, but one I love nonetheless. Facial scrubs seem to have been replaced over the past year with AHA's/liquid exfoliants, for me though nothing beats the drastic difference a manual scrub can make to the texture of my skin. Scrubs have come a long way from the St Ives Apricot scrub days (haha anyone remember that?) The Oskia Exfoliating balm has such a unique texture that works beautifully on my combination skin. The balm has a gritty texture that doesn't feel at all harsh on the skin, having the smooth texture of the balm combined with the tiny grains creates the perfect balance to buff away dead skin cells. This balm levels my skin looking plump, smooth and a lot brighter. Used once or twice per week this tiny pot of gorgeousness gives my skin similar results to that of a facial, it's such a luxurious product to use - it really does deliver for me.

Clinique Take the Day Off Balm 

It may seem slightly odd that two cleansing balms have made it into my 2015 favourites, what can I say I'm balmy about balms! This is my third tub of the Clinique Take the Day Off balm - I just can't get enough. As far as cleansing balms go, this isn't the most exciting, its texture resembles coconut oil, this melts into the skin creating an oil texture that helps to break down makeup, once water is applied the oil transforms to a milky texture that wipes away easily. In terms of makeup removal nothing removes all my makeup as quickly or as fuss free as the Clinique Take the Day Off Balm. This works really well with my skin, as it never feels stripped or irritated. Although this is nothing groundbreaking or particularly exciting I'm yet to find a product that removes my makeup as effectively as this one - my skin seems to love it too!

Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Defense SPF45 

Long story short, 2015 was the year I made the link between my pigmentation and sunscreen, in order to prevent future pigmentation I need to wear sunscreen everyday. Luckily 2015 was also the year I found my first sunscreen that I can actually bear to wear daily. The Clinique Even Better SPF45 is a daily SPF that's actually designed for people like myself who suffer with hyper pigmentation caused from exposure to the sun. You have to shake it well before applying, this has a salmon like colour that blends in well and provides a great base for makeup. This doesn't leave my skin feeling oily or tacky, it doesn't make my skin ashy - it's literally translucent on my skin. This is the first SPF that I've ever used that doesn't feel heavy, make me spotty or cause my makeup to slip off and for that it's a keeper. I apply this every morning without doubt, I find that a combination of the Clinique Moisturising Gel followed by this SPF provides my skin with just the right amount of hydration. I have noticed that my pigmentation has improved so much since using this daily, my skin appears a lot more even and my old scars seem to have lightened slightly too.

What are your skincare favourites? What were your favourites products for 2015?

Finding Fitness - My January Fitness Goals

So, it's reached that time of year where everyone starts to reflect on the year ahead and writes down some unrealistic New Year resolutions that will most likely be forgotten about by the end of January. I personally prefer to set myself small goals throughout the year, it's more achievable and also allows you to reflect and review mid year, rather than looking back at the end of the year and thinking dam...I achieved bugger all! Most of my goals always seem to be geared towards fitness, and although I do have a few personal goals (e.g. mainly finances & saving) I thought I'd share them with you today, as I know the majority of people do tend to focus on fitness/health. I'm starting the year in pretty good health, 2015 was a great year in terms of achieving some of my fitness goals, although I did find that due to illness my exercise routine became none existent towards the end of the year. I'm ready to give myself a kick up the butt, and get my immune system back in gear, here are my goals -

• Complete four weeks of the Bupa 10k Training Plan 

My running pattern seems to be a bit sporadic lately, mainly down to my lack of wanting to step out of my footsie blanket and go outside! For Christmas I received quite a lot of running related gifts, so I really don't have any excuses now. Last year I found my stamina and technique improved when I completed a few training plans, so on the 4th of January i'll be starting the Bupa 10k training plan. I'm hoping to sign up for few races this year, so hopefully this will prepare me. I've also joined the Running Bug #runyourselfnew challenge - Running Bug send through a weekly mile goal (it's tailored to you using the data you upload.) If you enjoy running or are a complete beginner definitely check out The Running Bug website it's the hub for anyone who enjoys running - that website has everything! 

• Complete 30 Day Waist Trainer Challenge 

I love the Blogilates 30 day challenges I find that they are easy to follow, doesn't require a ridiculous amount of time to complete and I notice results too! I usually love the Blogilates branding/cute names for challenges, but I'm not so keen on this one. I definitely don't think the look a waist trainer gives is one to idolise over it's an unrealistic body image. But in terms of shredding some of my Christmas fuelled flab I'll definitely be giving this a go. 

• Complete 30 Day Yoga Camp 

The Yoga with Adriene challenge is the reason that I fell in love with Yoga last year, I loved completing the 30 day Yoga challenge so I'm excited to see that Adriene is back for another challenge in the form of Yoga camp. Yoga camp seems like it will be focusing more on your overall well being/ mental health as well as physical. 

• 5:2 Food Balance 

I would love to say I improved with my diet in 2015 but unfortunately this is still an area I really need to work on. I'm not necessarily unhealthy with my meal choices, but portion control and a bad habit to skip the odd meal definitely affects my body. I've found that this way of eating helps me to maintain my weight but in return my immune system is low and my mood is definitely affected. I found that my diet worked a lot better when I had a 5:2 balance, five days of healthy food/ lots of meal planning and two days more relaxed with my eating habits. I'm hoping by the end of January I can be back on track with the concept, then hopefully I can focus more on educating myself, finding out what food my body needs to fuel my workouts. 

What are your goals for 2016?