Quick Reviews #23

Processed with VSCO with f2 presetElizabeth Arden PREVAGE Anti-Aging Foundation SPF 30 PA++

I was a huge fan of the Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude foundation, so I was really excited when their latest offering landed on our desk. This anti-aging skincare-foundation hybrid is enriched with a powerful antioxidant which, when used daily, repairs the skin’s appearance and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains hydra-pigments to instantly blur imperfections, while helping to seal in moisture for a radiant look. Elizabeth Arden even goes so far to claim that you can sleep with it on to reap added skincare benefits, with studies showing that “the foundation lasts 24 hours and upon waking up skin was clear and felt fresh, hydrated and comfortable with a healthy glow.” As much as I love you, dear reader, I am not going to sleep with this foundation on in order to test whether or not that claim is legitimate, and I would encourage you to follow my lead. Your evening skincare routine will be providing all the skincare benefits you need, please don’t incorporate any foundation into the mix.

Anyway, moving swiftly along to the actual review…in short, I love it. It is best suited to normal to dry skins, as the texture is very liquid and the finish is luminous – it is very dewy on application, but it does dry down to leave a more subtle finish. It’s not the most long wearing (despite its 24 hour claims), but if you pop a primer on underneath, you will get a solid 10 hours’ wear out of it. I would say that it is ideal for those with minimal discolouration/blemishes, as the coverage is light, borderline sheer – it won’t cover heavy pigmentation or acne, but it does a lovely job of evening out the skin tone. With that being said though, it is moderately buildable, so if you prefer slightly heavier coverage, just keep applying until you’re satisfied. The most delightful thing about this foundation (for me, anyway), is that it is the closest locally available dupe that I have found for my beloved Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Youth Boosting Perfect Skin Foundation – hurrah!

We were also very kindly sent the Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE Anti-Aging + Intensive Repair Daily Serum and Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE Anti-Aging Moisture Lotion SPF 30 PA++, but I have not had sufficient time to test them, so that review will only be up next year (yikes).

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Redken High Rise Volume Range

When I first heard that the Redken Body Full Range had been discontinued, I felt genuine devastation – Jules and I were both huge fans of the range, and we used the shampoo, conditioner and volumising mousses/sprays religiously. I was apprehensive that the replacement range, High Rise, wouldn’t cut the mustard, but I needn’t have been because it is bloody fantastic. So fantastic, in fact, that it blows Body Full right out of the water.

The Lifting Shampoo is the first volumsing shampoo I’ve used that leaves proper texture in the hair. Whereas the Body Full shampoo left the hair feeling soft and bouncy, High Rise leaves a bit of grit which helps to create the lift you need to achieve bigger hair. It smells expensive too (my favourite kind of scent), so it feels like a proper treat every time you use it. The Lifting Conditioner’s lightweight consistency ensures that the hair isn’t weighed down, but it’s still moisturising enough to keep the ends nice and soft. Perfect.

The star of the show, however, is the Duo Volumiser. You guys. From the Retailbox website: “A 2-in-1 gel-cream treatment that works to add weightless volume and height to hair. The unique formula combines a volumising hair cream with a high lift gel to promote fuller-looking, volumised hair. Its dose of body-boosting Filloxane ensures fine hair’s appearance is lifted and enhanced.” I have tried a lot of products in my time, and none of them come close to this – it’s the most effective volumiser I’ve ever used. I have tried it three separate ways so far, each with incredible results:

  • barrel brush brow dry = rich-girl-hair deluxe;
  • a rough blow dry with a paddle brush = volume like you’ve never seen before;
  • rough blow dry dry + curling iron = Victoria’s Secret hair.

I literally couldn’t ask for anything more.

This trio of products has rendered all of my other volumising products obsolete (boy, bye). If you’re after serious volume, get yourself over to Retailbox and make the investment – you won’t regret it.

All products were kindly supplied by Elizabeth Arden and Redken for review purposes.