While terribly sorry to be so slow at uploading new posts on the one hand, on the other I’m actually rather glad of the longer breaks between writing as it means I’ve had a chance to do a lot of testing!
The two new launches that are the subject of today’s post have been part of my routine of late despite my being ever so slightly unsure about what I think of them – they are almost perfect additions to my skincare and make-up wardrobe but… meh.
Let me walk you through. First – Perricone MD Blue Plasma Cleansing Treatment. This cleanser is designed not to be rinsed off (much like cleansing milks mums used to wipe over their faces with cotton pads) and claims to remove make-up and cleanse skin simultaneously. Perricone also says that it helps to unclog impurities and nourish the skin.
Let’s get this out the way before I say anything negative: I love Perricone (excepting his Chloro Plasma mask, which I still don’t feel merits the price tag – review here). I really, really love him. His edicts on the food/skin/beauty relationship – bravo. His entire Cold Plasma range is knock your socks off brilliant. And his Photo Plasma? Definitely one of my top products ever.
So why the lack of enthusiasm over his Blue Plasma Cleansing Treatment? Twofold: 1) The price. Yes, this is a one-stop shop for cleansing (I’ll come to my thoughts on that later), but it still doesn’t seem quite right to charge anything north of £20 for a cleansing fluid that’ll last a month tops if you wear make-up. I know, I know – I regularly recommend balms that are more costly than this, but I am of the belief that they are somehow different and more… substantial, for want of a better word.
But, then, what do I know compared to the mighty Perricone, eh? My second disparaging thought is that I just felt this didn’t leave me quite as clean as a balm does. This is possibly definitely psychological, but given that a sense of being clean is one of the most appealing things about the process of cleansing, that put me off. Now if they both don’t put you off, rush out and buy this by all means. If, however, you’re looking for a gentle – though expensive – way to take off make-up before cleansing (or a way to cleanse with cotton pads when you’re so very tired that you simply can’t bring yourself to do your proper routine), this might just be the ticket.
The second product is Clinique’s new Sculpting Contour and Highlight Chubby Sticks (£16 each, available here from the 6th of February). The good first: the size of the Sculpting Contour head is perfect and it therefore just nestles with ease in the hollow under cheekbones. The highlighter is just right on the shimmer front – reflective without any glitter particles and very easy to whip out of a handbag to just add a little lustre to skin. The formula is also winning – long-wearing with just enough creaminess to blend. I also like that these simplify contouring (of which frequent readers may know I have said scathing things).
Where these leave me a little cold is on the colour front – the dark is a bit too dark to look convincing on my skin, while the highlighter only comes in a pale pink. If Clinique were to come out with a few different colours, as they did with the brilliant Cheek Chubby Sticks, I’d be all over these. But until they do, I’m afraid these just don’t do it for me. But if they match your skin tone, crack on and contour. Until next time…