Avene Cleanance Range Review - Triacneal, Cleansing Gel, Mask, Emulsion and Micellar Water

You might have seen Avene on my blog before. I wrote up a post on a few of their Cleanance products, you can see my expression of love for them here. Avene's PR company kindly sent me some more items from the range so here are my thoughts!

Avene Micellar Water
I have been reluctant to try micellar water, as I thought it was just expensive water, so I didn't have high hopes for this one. Well it proved me wrong, it was so refreshing on the skin and really left my face feeling clean. I just splashed a few drops onto cotton pads and wiped off my make-up, I do wear heavy make-up so it took about 5 cotton rounds to get the most of it off.
It has that typical Avene scent, which means it is fragranced and it stang my eyes when I tried to remove mascara. I would not recommend it to anyone with sensitive skin. For me the benefits and cleaning feeling out way the down side of it being fragranced.
It's a little more expensive than Garnier and Nivea versions but you get so much more liquid wise.

Avene Triacneal
This has been highly recommended in magazines and by acne sufferers. I wish this product had been introduced to me when I was suffering from aggressive acne as a teen. It's a smooth, thin cream which you apply to your troubled areas. It helped shrink existing spots and kept new ones from forming. I've only been using it for a month but this product boasts: 'After 2 months of use, the number of spots is reduced and scars are visibly smoother.' I agree with the spots reduced but I will report back on scarring.
I feel the aim of this product is very similar to La Roche Posay's Effaclar Duo. They are very similar with results but the texture is thicker in the Trianceal formula. I don't think you need both, so it's up to your budget which one you choose.

Avene Emulsion
Again, this product has a close rival in La Roche Posay's range. The emulsion is a mattifying product which is designed to keep the skin matte but adding balanced amount of moisture. I find acne skincare can sometimes dry my skin out, so this is a nice boost of moisture without the risk of excess oils. I look matte for longer with the Avene version than the La Roche Posay one but the LRP one is scent free, unlike the Avene.

Avene Foaming Face Wash
This bright blue/green liquid is aimed at cleansing the skin thoroughly to avoid clogged pores and has ingredients to help fight spots. Sadly again, this product has too many similar rivals, La Roche Posay, Clearsil, Quinoderm and the list goes on. It doesn't have any defining features which are different to it's competitors but I do like the product, it gives me super clean skin. I would advise using the emulsion to replenish the moisture in your skin, as this is a little drying.

Avene Face Mask
This mask is white, which means it looks like you have rubbed toothpaste all over your face! It's a nice thick texture, which I slap on when I'm getting those hormonal breakouts once a month. It has tiny beads in the mask which exfoliate the skin as you remove the mask. I feel like this masks knocks lurking spots back into check. It's relatively cheap, so great for acne prone teens.

Overall I've enjoyed using the range and will be continuing to use the products. If I was to recommend two as the best products to try, I would go for the Micellar Water and TriAcneal, both are excellent for oily skin. I would avoid this range if you have dry skin, they do some lovely soothing creams and lotions for that skin type so gives those a try instead.

My only criticisms are that they have fragrance in the products, which can cause irritation for some people. I also think that there are very similar products on the market. You don't need both the Avene and La Roche Posay versions of the products, just invest in one.

Shop the Post

Have you followed Cherries in the Snow on Bloglovin?

Follow

*This is post contains PR samples.

Alex Monroe Rose Gold Bee Necklace

The Alex Monroe Rose Gold Bee Necklace had been on my wishlist for a number of years. The only thing that was holding me back was the price tag. I have plenty of costume jewellery and one precious Vivienne Westwood necklace, so I wasn't sure if I should splash out.

I was caught at a weak moment, Liberty of London sent me a discount code for £30 off, that was it, it was in my basket within seconds.

Before buying I had searched for dupes on Etsy and independent jewellery websites to find an alternative but nothing could quite live up to the quality which the Alex Monroe.

I'm so glad I did finally purchase it. I just keep starring at it, it's so stunning and beautifully delicate. The reverse also has tiny folded in legs of the bee, which I thought was a lovely touch. I love that isn't too brassy in colour like some rose gold items, it's just perfect.

I'm not sure I'll be wearing it to work every day but it's a piece I plan to wear quite a bit as it will go with everything!

The Alex Monroe Rose Gold Bee Necklace is £165 and available from Liberty here.

Do like Alex Monroe jewellery? Do you prefer costume jewellery or splashing out on designer items?

Have you followed Cherries in the Snow on Bloglovin?

Follow

L'Oreal True Match vs Infallible 24 Hour Matte Foundation - Comparison and Review

Both of the foundations I want to talk about have been highly recommended throughout the blogging community.
True Match and Infallible 24 Hour Matte foundations are both by L'Oreal, very similar in price but different in formulation. I'll be comparing the two and making pros and cons on the formulas based on how it reacts with my oily, acne prone skin. Of course, if you have dry skin these foundations may act differently, so bear that in mind. I'm also an NW10 in MAC and Ivory in Revlon Colour Stay for your reference.

Colour Range
Drugstore foundations are notorious for having shoddy colour ranges, neither catering for pale or dark skins. I wouldn't say L'Oreal have the worst range, but it's not ideal for everyone.
True Match has Cool, Warm and Neutral version of each colour. This could be a little daunting when making a selection though. I went for a neutral shade as I didn't want to be too pink or yellow, it was just a save bet.
As for Infallible 24 Hour Matte, the shade range is quite bad. The lightest shade is probably about an NW/C 15, which is too dark for me. I do work my magic on it and blend well and bronze my neck to make it less obvious. They don't have Cool, Warm or Neutral in this range but they do have a version for drier skin.

Winner: True Match


Coverage
True Match and Infallible have a completely different coverage and are aimed at different concerns. True Match's aim is to colour match and provide light to medium coverage, but Infallible is aimed at creating a matte base but without the cakiness.
Infallible has a medium coverage, I normally apply one layer and then a second on my problem areas, then a touch of concealer to finish. With True Match, I feel the layers are thinner, as it does have more of a watery consistency. I'll choose this foundation when I want a lighter finish, say if I'm just popping to the shops for a few hours or visiting a friend.

Winner: Infallible

Longevity
I compare every foundation to Estee Lauder's Double Wear, the Holy Grail of foundations for oily skinned girls. Of course, these high street foundations aren't as intense as they are targeting the wider market, but I still like to test how they fare on my oily skin.
True Match is a lighter foundation anyway, so of course it doesn't hold up as long. I use a good primer and powder and I'm still oily by lunch time with this foundation. I now reserve it for relaxed days, where the foundation doesn't have to battle with heat, sweat and air conditioning.
Infillable is a heavier coverage and has a longer matte look before you start to get oily. With this foundation I will only notice a patch of oil on my nose, where as with True Match, it's all of my T-zone.

Winner: Infallible


Packaging
I prefer the Infallible packaging as it has a squeeze tube, I think it will be easier for me to use up all of the product. Where as True Match has a glass bottle, which means you have to shake the product out when it's running low. Travelling would be easier with the Infallible as True Match could smash.

Winner: Infallible

So it looks like the L'Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Matte Foundation is the winner. Of course, my skin is different to other people's so as a rule of thumb, I would say oily skins opt for Infallible and True Match is best for those with drier skin.


Have you tried these foundations? Which one is your favourite?

Have you followed Cherries in the Snow on Bloglovin yet?

Follow

The Welsh Adventures: Betws-y-Coed

If you've been following my blog for a little while, you may have spotted my Welsh adventures. Last weekend, it was time for another ramble in the countryside. My mum, my aunty and I travelled to Betws-y-Coed on our way to our caravan in Harlech.

I've visited Betws-y-Coed a number of times, it's a charming small village built around a stunning river between lush green hills and mountains. Travellers flock to the pretty family run cafes and ramblers strap on their walking boots to explore the nearby hill tops and trek routes.

I paused every few seconds to take some snaps, I'm really enjoying using my new Nikon D3200. I mean I'm not a photography expert but I really enjoy capturing scenery and moments with the click of shutter.

Have you followed Cherries in the Snow on Bloglovin?

Follow

Babyliss Diamond Waves Curling Styler Review & Summer Hair Styles

I normally use my straighteners to curl my hair, I twist and pull to create curls, but they soon drop out. So I was very keen to try out the Babyliss Diamond Waves Curling Styler.

The concept of the Diamond Waves is to create an 'un-done' look for your curls. The woman on the box has lovely 1950's glamour waves, but mine didn't quite turn out like that.

On first impressions, I hated this styler. I was so used to my straighteners that I wasn't sure how to wrap the hair and how to hold the styler. The instructions didn't have any diagrams so I had to have a look on Youtube for a tutorial to make things a little clearer.

Image from my Instagram - Follow me here.

I found my hair slipped over the nobbles and it felt like I was doing it wrong, it was quite frustrating to be honest.
I'm glad I gave it another go after having bad first impressions, once I got the knack I found it curled my hair so easily and quickly. What I was most impressed about was how long the curls lasted in my hair, I went shopping all day and returned and it still looked pretty much the same as it did that morning. I have been reaching for this over my straighteners at the moment.

How I'll Be Styling My Hair This Summer

I like to try different hair styles out but as I don't have the skills of a hairdresser, I just add small details to freshen up my look.

Plaits

With festival season just around the corner, boho inspired plaits are perfect to disguise second day hair. I just add a few in the under layers of my hair and then one a centimetre or two behind my fringe. You can add coloured ribbon to your plaits for a festival inspired look.

Twist and Pin

This is the easiest way to keep your hair out of your face, perfect for summer, when your face is sticky from SPF. I just grab my long fringe bits and twist them slightly, then grab a bobby pin and secure the piece to the sides of my hair on each side. If I want a bit more volume on top, I grab larger sections and back comb underneath then twist the hair and secure.

Texturising Spray

Sometimes I just want to be Alexa Chung, with her beautiful dishevelled waves, so I turn to texturising sprays to create this look. I would use the Diamond Waves styler to create the waves, then use a brush to smooth out the curls and make them look more relaxed. Lastly, adding the texturising spray to create texture and volume, for that rock and roll 'un-done' look.

I'd love to try out some more hairstyles to team with my new tousled waves. Can someone help me learn a fish tail braid or a French braid please? I just can't get the knack of it!

Interested in trying the Babyliss Diamond Waves styler? Debenhams always have amazing offers on, so check the curler out here.

Have you followed Cherries in the Snow on Bloglovin?

Tanya Burr Nail Polish in Riding Hood Review

There has been an overwhelming amount of bloggers bringing out product lines, along with beauty and fashion books. Admittedly I have bought some blogging/beauty/fashion books, Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes, Love Tanya by Tanya Burr and The Glam Guide by Fleur de Force, but I haven't been tempted to try the beauty products.

Product Testing UK asked if they could send me an item over, it was a complete surprise what it was when it came, guess that's so you don't gather first impressions before trying the product. Inside the parcel was Tanya Burr's Nail Polish in Riding Hood.

It's a standard mid tone red, which I already own so many of, this was a positive though, as I had plenty other options to compare it too.

The bottle is very Chanel inspired with the chunky square design but, it does look and feel cheaper. I'm not really a fan of the design of the packaging, it's aimed at teens, so seems a little childish to me. I mean, Tanya did you really need to stick a crap heart sticker on the top?

As for application and formula, I wasn't overly impressed. It was neither disappointing or amazing, it took two coats to become opaque, which is standard for most nail polishes. It's not too runny or gloopy and the brush makes for easy application. I wasn't impressed by the long drying time and actually smudged a few of my nails while waiting for it to dry.

I much prefer my Seche Vite version of this shade, it just dries quicker and lasts longer. I'd say the Tanya Burr polish is on par with the Rimmel shade I have and Rimmel is easier to get your hands.

Overall, this polish is just average!

You can sign up to Product Testing here.

*This post contains a PR sample

Have you followed Cherries in the Snow on Bloglovin?