No7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush

Blusher is one item in everyone's makeup bag that they struggle to get right in every aspect: colour, pigment and type. Especially coming into Spring, I find that not just myself, but my customers are looking for something to help brighten their overall look, not just with their base/foundation, but with blusher too, as it is a great way of adding colour and complementing the full face. (I know I can't go a day without wearing blusher, I think with my ghostly colouring, I look ill without it!)

No7 already have a full range of blushers, but with the launch of the new Pop & Glow Cream Blush sticks they are bringing something entirely new to the table: three shades that are bang on trend for Sping/Summer 2014, with a creamy texture..but wait, they dry to a powder-soft, matte finish?! I usually steer right clear of cream blushers due to my oily/combination skin, but I was intrigued with the cream-to-powder technology, that we've only seen before in some foundations, lipsticks and eyeshadows. It was such a hard decision, but I decided to go for the lighter cool pink shade from the range: Rose Blossom. It is also available in a peachy-coral tone, Mango Sorbet, and a deeper pink-red shade, Classic Rose, so there really is a colour for everyone.

On the packaging of the product, there is no explanation of what it is, just how it can be applied: "Sweep gently onto cheek bones and blend with your fingertips. To create a more intense look, build another layer of colour and blend." After trying this method of application, I must say that this a no-go! The good news is that this product is so highly pigmented that you don't need a lot of it, so the bad news is that you can't just draw it onto your face if you want a subtle hint of colour; if you want a really flushed effect, then go ahead and draw on! I apply the Pop & Glow once I have completed the rest of my makeup, as this gives me a good idea of how much blusher I need to apply to complement the look.

     (Pop & Glow Cream Blush drawn straight onto the hand)

    (Pop & Glow Cream Blush blended in with fingertips)

Instead of applying it straight from the stick, there are two other options for applying this blusher:
1. Using your fingertips
2. Blusher brush
I prefer using my fingertips, as I find the warmth of my fingers on the cheeks helps to apply this product smoothly and allows the highly pigmented formula to be blended in to the strength that is desired. (Saying that, when I first started wearing this product for work, I would go in thinking that I'd blended it in enough..then for one of my lovely colleagues to come over and blend it in a little bit more!)

     (One layer of Pop & Glow Cream Blush on each cheek)

     (Left side - using fingertips; Right side - using blusher brush)

As you can see from this image, even with just one layer of the product, it is that pigmented you do not need a lot of it! I find I get better control with using my fingertips and seem to be able to work it to more of an overall flushed look, whereas using the blusher brush gives more of a subtle flush. I would stop at just the one layer with this colour for an everyday look.

     (Two layers of Pop & Glow Cream Blush on each cheek)

     (Left side - using fingertips; Right side - using blusher brush)

I wouldn't usually go this strong, but it just shows you how a build-up of this product can change the entire look. (However, I have just dyed my hair back to its nice dark state, so I actually think it doesn't look too bad!) As you can see, it dries to a completely matte finish, and even with two layers, it feels so lightweight it isn't weighing me down. And even with my oily/combination skin, the brilliant news is that I get a full day's wear out of this blusher without the colour payoff fading, and even with the matte finish, yes it keeps my shine at bay, but neither does it cling to or highlight any dry patches. I've been using this product for just under two months now, yet you barely tell I've been using it for that long! (Saying that, the same can be said for the rest of my No7 blushers, some I've had for years..oops..). With a price of £9.95 each, the Pop & Glow Cream Blush Sticks are most definitely value for money, and I would recommend this product to anyone, literally anyone! With a choice of colours to suit anyone, an easy application and a long-wearing formula, this product ticks all the boxes when it comes to what to look for in a blusher.

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!**