Allocation Haul

With my position as a No7 advisor, of course we're expected to use and wear No7 products, hence we get a set allocation every three months so we can choose the products we want. My allocation has just come up, and, as usual, I'm spoilt for choice! Luckily, my decision was made easier as I have a few favourites that need replacing, not to mention some new goodies to try..

(L-R: Beautifully Matte Foundation; Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum; Exfoliating Sponge; Shine and Tint; Instant Radiance Under-Eye Concealer; Lovely Lashes Mascara; Pop and Glow Cream Blushes.)

Beautifully Matte Foundation, in the shade Cool Vanilla: One of my all-time favourite foundations..I'm actually comparing this to another foundation in an upcoming post, so I'll hold off on the detail for now.

Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum: An improved formula based on the original Protect and Perfect serum. Yet again, this product is worthy of a standalone post, but trust me, it will be worth the wait!

Exfoliating Sponge: A new product to me, as I'm used to having exfoliatiors in the form of a liquid, or even a cleansing brush, so I'll be interested to try this out..although I've now got visions of using a Brillo pad on my face, eek! (FYI: if you don't know what a Brillo pad is, it's like a metal scourer that you use when washing up to remove tough grime and dirt)

Shine and Tint, in the shade Posy: A brand new No7 product, that has just launched this week. There are five colours to choose from, and they vary from reds and berries to this more nude shade. As mentioned in my No7 Match Made Lipstick Service post I have struggled to find more nude/natural colours, so thought I'd give this one a go to add to the collection. 

Instant Radiance Under-Eye Concealer, in the shade 10: Yet another new product launch from No7 this week, and this is a much-improved formula from its predecessor; more coverage, thicker texture, light diffusion technology and a wider range of colour choices..so far, so good! 

Lovely Lashes Mascara, in the shade Black: Now my favourite mascara, both for natural volume and a more intense look, I actually reviewed this earlier in the year if you want to take a look.

Pop and Glow Cream Blushes, in the shades Mango Sorbet and Classic Rose: I already have a Pop and Glow Cream Blush in the shade Rose Blossom, I actually use it most days as it's a fabulous formulation. In actual fact, I also reviewed this earlier in the year. Because I use this one so much, I felt I needed more colours, especially as the seasons change and my make-up look changes, a pastel pink isn't always suitable hence the nod towards a more peachy and deeper pink tone.

So a couple more reviews to come to keep me busy I'm sure! What are your favourite No7 products?

No7 Dark Circle Corrector Review

No matter what the age of a customer, one of their main concerns has always been dark circles and puffiness underneath the eyes. Usually, I would refer them straight to our under-eye Instant Radiance concealer. But now with No7 we don't just have a concealer for the job, there's a treatment that goes hand-in-hand for dealing with the problem.

No7's Dark Circle Corrector "instantly de-puffs, revitalises and brightens. Visibly reduces dark circles in just 2 weeks." The formula itself is made up of a yellow colour pigment which instantly counteracts against any darkness underneath the eyes, whereas a Vitamin C and Caffeine blend helps to stimulate the under-eye area to reduce and prevent the appearance of dark shadows, and peptides are present to stimulate collagen production to help improve the firmness of the skin around the eyes.

The packaging of this product allows for simple application to the eye area: I find the tri-ball applicator much easier to massage the product into the skin, rather than just a single ball (or none at all in the case of similar products on the market..), and has a lovely cooling sensation, great for first thing in the morning to instantly reduce any signs of puffiness, and to make you feel more alive! However, you do have to be careful with how much product you actually squeeze from the tube; the yellow pigment doesn't have a thick consistency like a traditional eye cream, neither is it completely runny like water - a little certainly goes a long way, otherwise you'll end up with yellow rings around your eyes instead(!) Not a great look..

I apply this product after going through my morning routine: cleanse, eye cream, moisturise. This is because this treatment is not in replacement for an eye cream, as it has little moisturising properties to it, and is rather an add-on to what your eye cream can do. As mentioned previously, the tri-ball allows for a smooth application onto the eye area; however, it does not fully massage the product into the skin, so I do go in with my ring finger to finish the job. I think this is due to the consistency of the product, and I don't find it a hassle because it is now a ground-in part of my routine. 

   (My under-eye area, before any Dark Circle Corrector is applied)

      (My under-eye area, after Dark Circle Corrector is applied)

I must say before we go any further, although it doesn't seem like there's much difference between the before and after pictures: 
1. I don't think the pictures quite do the product justice, I can instantly see a difference once I've applied it; 
2. The product, I find, is more of a colour calming primer for the eye area, so you can build on top of it, just like in the next photos.. 
I used my No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream for Normal/Oily skin in the shade Fair, then Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer in the shade 1 - Fair, followed by Natural Collection's Pressed Powder in the shade Neutral, so you can see how minimal coverage has an effect on the finished look.

         (After Dark Circle Corrector plus BB Cream applied)

 (After Dark Circle Corrector plus BB Cream and concealer applied)

(After Dark Circle Corrector plus BB Cream, concealer and powder applied)

Overall, I am very happy with this product, both as an instant fix and a continuing treatment. Straight away, the Dark Circle Corrector neutralises any darkness around the eye area, reduces puffiness and creates a smooth, even base to build on top of. I must say, the results are even better when I use a heavier coverage foundation; the dark circles are barely visible, perfect for when I need to be most confident! I've been using this product now for just under two months and it took a while, but I have noticed a difference in the appearance of my darkness before anything is applied; because my skin is so fair, they really used to stand out with a harsh deep purple tinge, even when using a full coverage foundation. Whereas now, they are very well concealed once I've gone through my routine. With a price of £13.50, I would recommend this product to anyone who suffers with darkness and puffiness around the eye area, and wants not just a concealer to hide the problem, but an ongoing treatment to help ease the problem, especially as it is considerably cheaper than the next-best alternative on the market: Clinique's Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector at the astonishing price of £29.00!

**Tomorrow, I'll be rounding off my mid-week No7 reviews with the new Pop & Glow Blush..I'm so excited, as the quality of No7 products just seems to be getting better and better!**