This week, Fashion North had two new recruits; Alexandra Craggs and Stephanie Pearce. They’ve tried and tested five of the latest beauty must haves for todays first impression Friday…
Stephanie (left) and Alexandra (right) testing out beauty products at Fashion North.
Marc Jacobs Decadance
Alexandra- I absolutely love the smell of this new Marc Jacobs perfume. It’s very sweet and has a luxurious feel to it. Also from past experiences with Marc Jacob’s perfumes they’re known to be long lasting so I’m guessing this would be the same. The packaging is just a plus; it’s probably one of the best Marc Jacobs has ever released.
Stephanie- As soon as I sprayed the perfume I was a fan. The scent is very mature and sexy. Being totally honest, I think that the packaging for ‘Decadance’ is the best I have ever seen and would look beautiful on display on your dressing table.
No7 Protect and Perfect Instense Day Hand Cream
A- The scent this moisturiser leaves on your hands isn’t for me at all. On the other hand, the packaging of the product looks presentable and the moisturiser itself leaves a smooth, soft feel, which I can tell will be long lasting. I would recommend this product for people with dry skin, but only if you could put up with the scent, which definitely won’t be for everyone.
S- I am not a fan of this moisturiser as it leaves my hands feeling greasy and I don’t like the scent. However, the packaging makes up for it as it looks luxurious, it’s just a shame the product itself doesn’t act the same way.
YSL Top Secrets Instant Moisture Glow
A- I would definitely splurge to buy the 40ml version of this product, which comes at £34. Pretty pricey for a makeup base, however it is incredible. I have quite dry skin and I think that this would be perfect for anyone with the same skin type. It has a very thin texture and a little goes a long way. The scent is amazing and it definitely does what it says; giving an instant glow to the skin. If you have combination skin and would prefer to go for a cheaper yet still a great makeup base, I would recommend MAC Cosmetics Prep and Prime Skin at £21. This is great for excess oil, as well as blots and redness. Perfect before applying foundation and powder.
S- This is a luxurious product and well worth the money as I think it looks beautiful as a base product before your foundation to give you a healthy glow, however I would not recommend this product to people with oily skin as it is a very dewy product.
Clarins Double Serum
A-This definitely isn’t my type of product. The product is very liquefied and watery and I don’t see this doing anything for me. I also like scents in beauty products and this barely has any smell to it; but that is a plus if you prefer un-perfumed products.
S- I would recommend this serum to older women as I can see it being very beneficial to anti-ageing. The product sinks in to the skin fairly quickly and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth. However, I do not think this serum is worth it’s price, at £55.
Rituals TAO Exfoliator and Moisturiser
A- For me, I dislike all sugar scrub exfoliators so it didn’t surprise me that I wasn’t a fan. On the other hand, the moisturiser has quite a thick texture, which leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated. You can tell the moisturiser is brilliant quality and it reminds me a lot of Nivea moisturisers, which I use on a daily basis. The scent isn’t really for me, it is quite fruity which I usually love, but this particular scent just isn’t the best in my opinion.
S- I think this exfoliator and moisturiser is incredible and leaves your skin feeling clean and clear. The exfoliator is brilliant for getting rid of any dead skin cells you may have and using the TAO MEI DAO moisturiser afterwards results in youthful, soft skin. The scent of the moisturiser is fruity and I like it a lot as, usually, moisturisers have quite plain scents. This fruity scent is said to help you ‘find inner peace and tranquillity in your busy life’ and I definitely agree. I highly recommend these two products for all skin types.
