Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash

It is hardly news that most of us rarely get the sleep that we need. I’m no different, in fact I struggle to get a few hours each night and have various relaxation routines I follow to try and drift me off to the land of nod. However, when these don’t work I look like I have been punched in the face by Mike Tyson, yes, two black eyes - I believe women refer to this look as Panda eyes, but I may be wrong. Step forward Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash.

I have never thought about how I look around the eyes in the past, the only reason I’ve taken an interest recently is the fact that I look a bit old around that area and the bags under my eyes are to be frank horrific. The years of abusing my body have caught up with me - smoking and drinking are not friends with your skin (in addition to your heart, lungs, liver etc).

As my manly credibility died on the day that I posted a review of Lip Scrub I am standing tall and not admitting in the slightest that I bought this. It was given to me as a sample in a perfume shop in Mallorca in August. A nice 3ml tester that has finally seen the light of day.

If you want to buy some of this you can from here. A 20ml bottle costs an eye watering (pun intended) £29.

This is what the marketing blurb on the website says about the product:

‘Clarins’ quick ‘lift” for tired eyes — with refreshing Rose Petals, Lily and White Tea extracts—releases toxins to minimise dark circles, tighten eye contours, decongest and de-puff. Hydrates and protects the delicate skin around eyes, while chasing-away fine lines. Keep it in your emergency kit.’

And just to remind you, they mention that this was Winner of Best Eye Mask - Harper's Bazaar Hot 100 2011.

So, after three days of rubbish sleep I looked a bit rough around the eyes. The before and after shots are below so you can check out the results yourself. 

The rough look before application

30 minutes after applying

Personally, I noticed a difference within about ten minutes of dabbing a minute amount under each eye. First of all the colour took on a much more natural skin tone rather than looking like a bruise. Within half an hour the bags had visibly shrunk and within an hour they had gone completely. Nothing short of a hallelujah moment. 

This my readers is the fountain of youth, within minutes of applying this under my eyes my black bags had gone, the eye area returned to a natural colour and my eyes looked radiant. It’s a miracle - a miracle I tell you. After using for a few days I’ve used very little of the actual product, so a little goes a long way, which is a good thing when it sells at the same price as liquid gold!  

I am so pleased with the results - no longer do I rival Death in the eye department, in fact, in the right light, with the wind blowing in the right direction and the stars aligned I think it has knocked years off me, a mini-face lift so to speak.

FORGET THE REST, TRY THE BEST

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Wild by DSquared2

I never thought it possible but after receiving a bottle of Wild by DSquared2 I’m starting to believe that it is possible to completely fuse fashion and fragrance. But before I go all aftershave serious in my usual manner, a light interlude….

My wife said to me the other night, “why does your skin always look so glowing and radiant when I look at it?”, I replied deadpan “it’s the drugs I slip into your tea”, boom, boom! No, she wasn’t amused either.

DSquared2 is not a brand I have been familiar with over a period of time, indeed I only first heard of them in August of this year as I stood in a perfume shop on holiday in Mallorca. “try me, you’ll like me” - no it wasn’t the shop assistant, it was coming from a strange, weird looking bottle of aftershave. It was Intense Wood by DSquared2.

After trying Intense Wood (of which I will write when I can compose my thoughts) I had to try more. Instead of testers I was sent whole bottles of not just Intense Wood, but also Wild, their new fragrance released on 1 October. Ear to ear smile for days, only improved upon once I got my nostrils around this baby.

Firstly, I thought I had seen it all with a wooden box for aftershave but taking Wild out of the box made me think WTF - the bottle comes in a leather harness. Now at first it seemed strange but actually when it comes to functionality it is simply superb and there is little danger of slippage as the straps allow for an amazing grip.

This is what they say about the release of Wild over at the DSquared2 website:

‘Wild is an evolution of Dsquared2’s olfactory journey inspired by and founded in the elements of nature. 

Building on a pathway forged by debut scent He Wood and follow up Potion, Wild is a new fragrance chapter for Dsquared2 that explores man’s desires and his connection to the natural and urban world that surrounds him. This enigmatic and covetable concept is also at the heart of Dsquared2’s DNA: the freedom for a man to express his sensuality and his deepest desires. Wild materializes Dsquared2’s passion for the avant-garde and unorthodox approach to fashion.

Contemporary and self-sufficient, this man works and plays within the paradigms of modern life and urban society. Yet his daily existence is attuned to a faintly audible thrum of rebellion that comes from deep within. Driving him to seek his own liberty, he is drawn to its magnetic pull, taking him to a place where, finally, he is free.’

The notes to Wild include, Santolina, St. John’s wort, resin accord, cypress, neo-labdanum, opoponax, vegetable amber and humus accord.

Exactly, means nothing to me either, but this is what I can detect when I liberally apply with four to five squirts of the atomiser.

You can immediately detect the earthy tones of the Santolina - it has a fresh herb fragrance that warms on contact with the skin. Within seconds of applying it changes to become warm and spicy, you can really start to pull out the warmth of the resin accord and amber blending with the cypress adding a woody edge.

To say it seems strong is an understatement - it is really powerful, so much so that three squirts are actually all that is needed. After around five minutes the strength of the aftershave seems to subside significantly and while I can detect the warmth in my nostrils I can’t actually smell this on me. Before looking at the notes I wrongly assumed that this contained either pepper or tobacco to give it that warmth.

This lasts on the skin and is still noticeable a good 14 hours after applying and you can’t grumble at that.

Wild was put through the office smell test - the ladies loved and were equally puzzled when I said what is was. They were hooked though. 

At £59 for a 100ml bottle this delivers its bang for its buck - only a little is needed to leave a lingering earthy and masculine fragrance that lasts throughout the day and well into the evening. Perfect for every occasion you will not, I repeat, simply will not go wrong with a bottle of Wild by DSquared2. The notes are subtle yet blend beautifully to hit every last memory in your mind.

Like me in the perfume shop in Mallorca, if you try this I promise you’ll be strangely drawn back to it time and time again. 

A fantastic addition to the market and a stunning and fashionable fragrance for the autumn and winter months.

FORGET THE REST, TRY THE BEST

Currently only available exclusively at Harvey Nichols, you will be able to find this readily available in stores across the country from March of next year. Go on, treat yourself.

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Scaramouche & Fandago ‘FS’ Face Scrub

Scaramouche, Scaramouche will you do the fandango……well, erm yes I will as I’m going to be taking Scaramouche & Fandago ‘FS’ Face Scrub through its paces.

I’ve been meaning to write this up for a loooooooong time……so long in fact that this tube came in the male beauty box from Selfridges&Co back before Fathers Day in June.



I’ve already reviewed the Scaramouche & Fandago ‘Hy’ Hydrator and to be frank I loved it, but this baby had the unenviable task of coming on holiday with me to Majorca and being my exfoliator not just after spending my entire days in the sun with little sun protection, but also while immersed in salt water as I fished in the river to the side of our hotel.

Normally I take a very gentle exfoliator on holiday with me to ensure I don’t aggravate any potential burn after first day overexposure or indeed rub any tan off (yes, I do still believe what my parents told me as a kid).

In this case it was a toss up between Ted Baker and Scaramouche & Fandago. Scaramouche & Fandago ‘FS’ Face Scrub  won.

Needless to say I baked, and baked and baked (mainly out of tan envy with my beautiful sisters) and was a touch sore.

Scaramouche & Fandago ‘FS’ Face Scrub while it has the texture of sandpaper, looks, erm……white-ish in colour and to be blunt did the trick as part of a wider facial regime.

After three days of baking and moisturising at least three times I day my skin was becoming slightly flaky around the top of my forehead. As everything else browned and tanned, this bit stubbornly kept peeling for the few week. 

The aroma is so fresh and clean, and as soon as it is applied to the fingers you can feel the micro-beads and boy they are abrasive. It’s like miniature there are tiny little rough balls that scrub away at your skin. 

While the beads are abrasive, they are also so very much and isn’t irritate my face even though I was doing my best to impersonate a lobster. After rubbing it around my face it spread brilliantly and on rinsing I was slightly appalled by the dark residue in the bowl. Either it was removing lots of muck, grime and general filth from my face or it was rubbing off my tan - panic.

The panic was unfounded - this complimented by facial regime over my holidays and has become a firm favourite in my books when it comes to a cost effective exfoliator.

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