Stacking necklaces, bracelets and watches, earrings and rings – jewellery layering is a trend that isn’t going anywhere, that’s for sure. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. What necklaces work well? Which rings look best stacked together? In truth, there’s no definite way to mix and match your jewellery – it’s definitely not one size fits all. But if you’ve no idea where to start or need a nudge in the right direction, we’ve got some tips to guarantee a stylish jewellery stack every time. And just a note – its perfectly fine (more than fine!) to layer more than one type of jewellery in the same look. Just follow our tips for each separate part (earrings, rings, necklaces etc), and then use our last tip to ensure they look great both separately, and together too. Choose your base A simplistic foundation should always be on your list. This could be a couple of pieces or just one. Think a delicate chain, a classic watch like this one from Diamonique by Tova, or band ring. Something fairly minimal or simple. This helps to ground your stack, making it look more effortless and not too OTT. We think this flat herringbone bracelet from Diamonique is the perfect place to start. Think about a focal point This is a centerpiece for your stack. Whether you have a delicate pendant (we love the star cut of this Diamonique one) or a chunky chain to draw the eye, large hoops to set your stack scene, or a sparkling rock to center your rings around, you can build your look around a piece just like you would an outfit. If you’re feeling bold, a piece like this Lola Rose Kreena necklace or these Dannii Minogue Megastar Earrings are perfect. Size matters A crucial part of jewellery layering is allowing your pieces to shine through and not crowd each other out. Finer pieces sit well together in most scenarios, but for example when it comes to necklaces, different lengths and shapes are crucial to getting the layering look spot-on. Fine rings and earrings always look incredibly chic together. This Diamonique set of round studs in different sizes can be worn  up your ear stack for a very cohesive, minimalistic look. Or, if you’ve chosen a large pair of earrings or a statement ring for your earring and ring stack, think about graduating away from that focal piece with smaller, finer additions. Bracelets lend themselves particularly well to this, especially if you’re pairing with a watch. For your wrists, try this dazzling Diamonique watch, or bracelet, paired with another smaller sparkling piece like this Diamonique pave link bracelet, and then complete with a couple more delicate pieces such as these Kings Road bracelets by Lola Rose. Make some shapes Again, there’s no hard and fast rule, but a good way to think about this is to either match or contrast your shapes. If you’re wearing chains or rings that are a similar size and colour, different shapes can create a cool-looking contrast. A simple way to do this is to team round stud earrings like this set from Diamonique, and pair with these Diamonique Star studs – same gemstone, same style – just contrasting shapes. You can choose to deviate a little too – your shapes don’t have to completely mirror each other. So with a necklace like this round locket, you could pair with a fine chain with round stations like this one from Diamonique to help to echo your focal piece. Add an element of colour We love a monochrome jewellery look, and stacks look gorgeously chic in the same metal colour. But if you feel like there’s something missing, you could try adding in a different hue to the mix. Whether it’s mixing your metals (always an on-trend look in our opinion), adding in colourful gemstones like the ones in this Diamonique bracelet or some coloured beads like the Eversham bracelet or the Oscy necklace from Lola Rose, it can lift your layering look to the next level. Contrast textures Textures are a great way to add a different element of interest to your layering effort. It’s very understated, and if you want to keep all your jewellery the same colour, its an alternative way to create a multi-dimensional look. Different chains can be a good way to try this, for example, pair our base herringbone chain bracelet with a twisted rope chain, and complete the look with a smooth rope chain like this vintage-style friendship bracelet. Think holistically Most importantly, whatever jewellery you’re layering, it’s a good idea for have an element of  synergy to your pieces. Whether that’s the same metal colour, stone colours or shapes, try to keep one part the same for a theme to (metaphorically) tie them all together. Visit our jewellery department for more inspiration, and to start building your stack!

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For the one who can’t wait for Christmas

Who says you have to wait until Christmas Day to treat someone? If they adore counting down the festive season, a delicious Advent calendar is the perfect early gift. If you really want to spoil someone special, this Hotel Chocolat Grand Advent Calendar is super-luxe, or if they love popcorn, Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar has an amazing variety of flavours to try, and comes in a vegan option too. Or if they don’t have a sweet tooth, The Snaffling Pig’s Pork Crackling Advent Calendar is a super-tasty alternative to the traditional options.

For the special sweet tooth

Foodies with a sweet tooth are always a pretty easy one, but if you want to make them feel like their present was given extra thought this year, how about giving it a special touch with the presentation? We love Hotel Chocolat’s The Elf’s Christmas Stocking – it gives that extra luxe and festive feel to an already brilliant gift.

These Churchill’s Biscuits come in cute minature tins in the shape of baubles and stockings, while this Joe & Seph’s Salted Caramel Popcorn is presented in an incredible-looking cracker-style box.

For your festive hosts

To be the best holiday-gathering guests, it’s always welcome to bring a bottle of wine or some after-dinner chocolates. But how about going one step further and making a more festive offering? This Hotel Chocolat Chocolate Cream Liquer would be delicious to enjoy as an after dinner digestif, or to elevate coffees and certain desserts.

If you’d prefer to give an after dinner taster, why not try something a little more unexpected and bring a cheese course? Godminster’s Four Cheese Signature Gift Box includes four delicious cheeses, and looks so inviting that even if there wasn’t a cheese board on the menu, there soon would be! Or for a sweet but festive-themed offering, these amazingly cute Christmas cakes from The Original Cake Company are a lovely offering, and perfect for your host to offer with coffee.

For the old-school snack lover

These Gourmet Pork Crackling Gift Jars from The Snaffling Pig are wonderful for the pub-grub enthusiast. Or if they love traditional-style sweet treats, Churchill’s Confectionery Toffee & Fudge in British Souvenir Tins would be a great gift, combing delicious fudge and toffee with classic souvenir tins that they can keep.

For more Christmas food gifts, check out our full range right here.

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It’s also a lovely way to send someone far away a big snuggly hug, so why not wrap one of these up or even send it straight to someone’s door this holiday season…

Hibernation time

For the person that loves nothing more that hunkering down in front of the TV or with a good book, these super-stylish Cozee Home throws are just the thing. In a set of three, there is one for every wintery mood. With a velvety-soft finish, the different prints mean they’ll suit a variety of decor too. Or if they love nothing more than giving their home a complete Christmas overhaul come December, what about a Snowflake, Tartan or Winterberry throw to really finish it off?

Lounging around

Cuddly loungewear is always needed. This Cuddl Duds Comfortwear Relaxed Pyjama Set is a cute halfway between loungewear and pyjamas with the block colour top and printed bottoms, and this amazingly snuggly Cozee Home Velvetsoft Robe cannot fail to warm them up even on the coldest of evenings! You can also help them put a festive spin on their loungewear with these Muk Luks 12 Days of Socks in a Box. A great gift for someone who adores the holiday season, and who always gets cold toes!

Cosy nights in

If they love their hot drinks of a cold evening, the Hotel Chocolate Velvetiser is the most amazing gift to make silky scrumptious drinks at home. It features a whisk that froths up your hot chocolate to barista-style standards, and this one comes with two pods and two delicious flavours to try.

You could also get them an array of snacks to accompany their cosy night on the sofa. This Joe & Seph’s Set of 12 Assorted Flavour Gourmet Popcorn Snack Bags come in three flavour options – a set of cocktail flavours, a mix of award-winning sweet and savoury, or a delcious savoury mix. OR for the super-sweet toothed, nothing would make a night in feel more decadent than these Luxe Boxed Selections from Hotel Chocolat.

Set the scene

If its a super-cosy setting they love, why not add some beautiful lighting to their decor? These Home Reflections light strands can be turned on with the touch of a remote, so they don’t even need to move from under their throw to create a wonderfully inviting scene. Or if they’d love a warming fireside feel, this Festive Pre-lit Fireplace Technology Lantern will do just that! It’s perfect for create that country cottage feeling at the touch of a button.

Warm up

Blankets and throws are always welcome for winter, but for those extra-cold people, you could go the extra mile with one of these inventive options to keep them extra-toasty. They can keep this Oversize Snuggle Hoody Blanket by Cozee Home on while they get up to make a cup of tea (or fetch a glass of wine). Or, they can enlist some extra help from a heated blanket. This Cozee Home Heated Plush & Sherpa Bedspread comes in a few colours to match any decor, and will be their most-used present, whether on the sofa of an evening or for warming their bed at night! Plus there’s always the traditional hot water bottle made better by being bigger – this Vagabond Long Hot Water Bottle is perfect for keeping more of them warm at once, or warming up more of the bed!

If someone you know has been working from home and feeling the cold, they can keep their feet warm under their desk with one of these Heated Foot Warmers from Cozee Home.

Shut out the world

If they need a little encouragement to take it easy and embrace some ‘me’ time, help them create a cosy ambiance with a few self-care essentials. This Yankee Candle Limited Edition 40-Piece Festive Wax Assortment can help to create a calming yet seasonal feel, while this this chic set from Neom featuring chic candles and room scent diffusers would make a gorgeous gift.

If they love a relaxing bath, this Philosophy Bubble Bath collection features twelve amazing fragrances for them to choose from for whatever kind of mood they’re in.

Sleep is also super important to self-care, so this soft, Weighted Eye Mask by Cozee Home would be a lovely gift if they need complete peace and quiet for their slumber. We also adore the Homedics Deep Sleep Mini Soundspa, which delivers natural sounds and guided meditation, plus it’s travel size so great for taking anywhere (and perfect stocking size too)!

For plenty more gift ideas, check out our full range here.

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Cica is the name for centella asiatica, also known as Asiatic pennywort or tiger grass. It’s a leafy swamp-dwelling herb native to Asian wetlands and although it’s the latest buzz in modern beauty, this skin-soothing ingredient has a rich heritage. Often referred to as “tiger grass” or “tiger herb” because tigers would roll around on the plant to help heal their wounds, it’s been used for centuries in Asia as a medicinal herb to treat cuts, injuries and irritated skin.

What does it do for the skin?

Naturally rich in active compounds such as madecassoside, known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-scaling effects, cica works to reduce itching, calm troubled skin, reduce redness and promote smooth-feeling skin. Fiona Brackenbury, Global Education Director for Decleor elaborates: “when your skin is tired, stressed, hormonal and out of sorts and you’re not in control, cica instantly restores your skin leaving it clear, balanced, hydrated and a flawless complexion.”

In addition, cica also contains antioxidant-rich saponins and chlorophyll (the green pigment found in plants) that help to send the skin into repair mode and enhance the skin’s protective barrier, perfect for dealing with every day pollutants.

What skin types benefit from cica?

Gentle and soothing, cica is especially beneficial for sensitive skin, but whatever your skin type or concerns it will likely help you in some way. We love Decleor’s multi-purpose Cica Botanic Balm, which also has a blend of natural essential and botanical oils. Fiona recommends it for all skin types as “the essential and botanical oils allows even sensitive skin to be soothed and strengthened”. Cica is even known to help acne-prone skin by reducing redness and inflammation; “if you have angry inflamed breakouts the incredible formula takes away the redness from the spot”. Dry and dehydrated skin types will also feel the benefits Fiona adds, as “dry patches on the face and body are nourished and replenished”.

How can cica be integrated into your skincare regime?

Products containing cica can be used in various ways, as a daily morning or evening moisturiser, or to target certain skin concerns. Liz Earle’s Cica Restore Skin Paste works overnight to flood skin with hydration and soothe stressed skin. The unique paste texture feels super soft and mask-like, giving you instant results. You can also use the Decleor Cica Balm to topically treat dry areas, or apply it all over for a serious radiance boost.

Whether you’re new to cica or looking for more ways to introduce it into your beauty regime, there are a number of options to try, and with its impressive heritage and the current hype – we’re expecting plenty more on the horizon.

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Preempt the breakouts

If you’re prone to breakouts, or have sensitive, oily or congested skin, it’s important that your every day skincare is working with your skin type to keep flare-ups to a minimum.

For congested skin (you get blackheads, those irritating ‘under the skin’ bumps or even cysts), its important to keep your skin cell turnover healthy and exfoliate regularly with a skincare regime such as Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Complexion Renewal Collection which includes a face wash, a day cream and exfoliating pads. Pixi’s Milky Skincare range is perfect for sensitive skin – it’s alcohol-free, has both hydrating ingredients and antioxidant properties. Oily skin types should opt for The Ordinary Simple Skin Collection, a balancing regime which hydrates skin without leaving it greasy.

Treat the spot directly

Tempting though it may be to immediately reach for a concealer, the first thing you should do is treat the blemish as soon as it appears. It always pays to have a spot-fighting solution such as the Tula Pro Glycolic 10% pH Resurfacing Gel in your bathroom cabinet. While you can use it all over, if you have a stubborn spot that’s taken root the morning of a big date, job interview or other such important occasion, you can always apply it with a cotton bud directly to the spot. Gatineau’s Clear & Perfect SOS Stick is also an amazing spot treatment that instantly calms and stops a spot in its tracks.

Don’t be tempted to squeeze

Ignore the fact it might be satisfying, disregard the idea your skin will go back to normal more quickly – it won’t – and step away from the magnifying mirror. Squeezing could actually prolong how long the spot sticks around so sit on your hands if you can. If you can’t, we do understand, so place a tissue over your spot and gently rub it. If nothing comes out, leave it and try again later. Don’t put two knuckles either side of it and push until it yields because you might make it worse and actually cause a lump.

Chose your cover up

Now’s the time when you can think about concealer, but find the right texture and shade is just as important as the coverage itself – get it wrong and you could actually draw attention to the blemish. Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer with Quickie Blending Sponge gives full cover in a radiant finish so the effect is coverage that looks like real skin.  If your breakout isn’t too noticeable and dry skin means thicker formulas don’t always sit well on your skin, then the water-rich formula of Bobbi Brown Instant Full Cover Concealer, is ideal for blurring away a blemish. You certainly don’t want your concealer to shift, crease or slip so press a little translucent powder like IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Poreless Powder over the top to ensure your concealer stays in place.

Make it seamless

In the same way you choose your formulas carefully, it’s worth having some tools in your kit so you can conceal with confidence. IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush Concealer Brush, has two ends that allow you brush on your product with the dense bristle end and buff lightly with the fluffier brush to achieve a seamless edge. Whatever formula you are using, it’s better to conceal with fine layers than expecting one heavy blot to do the job. If you’re using a cream, dab a small amount over your spot, dab with a thin layer of tissue and reapply until you get your desired finish.

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With rave reviews from all ages, it has racked up the most five stars out of all 68 concealers currently on the QVC UK site – very impressive alone. It’s vegan-friendly, free of parabens, and promises flawless matte coverage, no flaking or creasing, and to cover redness, blemishes, pores, dark circles and acne scars. Tarte call it their ‘facetune in a bottle’. So we put it to the test.

First impressions

It comes with a blending sponge and applies with an applicator wand – it’s good to have options for how you apply it. The formula has a super-thick, cream consistency and doesn’t seem like it would blend very easily. However, the upside of this is that you’d hope it gives good coverage that doesn’t easily budge. Let’s find out.

How do you apply it?

It blends surprisingly well, especially with the warmth of fingers or the great trick QVC have on their site. They recommend using the blending sponge that comes with the concealer, but to wet it first. This makes sure the product is not absorbed by the sponge and gives a little less coverage, so it’s ideal for the under eye area. For blemishes the coverage is perfect – just dab on with the wand and stipple with the sponge to blend outward.

Does it cover imperfections?

Totally. It hides dark shadows under the eyes and makes you look flawless. We can see why it’s dubbed ‘Facetune in a bottle’!

What if I don’t like heavy make-up?

If you’re not a fan of full coverage, just be sure to use sparingly. It’s a great one to use for events like nights out or weddings when you need your coverage to work a little bit harder. If you’re concerned about the formula settling or caking, we recommend using a gel-textured primer – it helps the concealer glide on and stay put evenly.

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The question I probably get asked the most is “how do you do it all?” And the short answer is, I don’t. I love breaking down this illusion for others because in today’s comparative social media culture, it’s more important than ever to highlight support systems at work and at home.

I want to mentor, guide and give a leg up to women and men who have grit, resourcefulness and passion; I’m never looking for those who have it all together because I don’t expect it from myself. I’m a wife, mother of three and a CEO; the option to “do it all” flew out the window a long time ago. And if I’m being honest, no one has it or does it all, except maybe the Queen, she’s pretty fab. My secret? I prioritise. Big rocks vs little rocks.

The little rocks can range anywhere from the nice-to-haves to the projects that don’t require your immediate attention but can be accomplished over time. Checking off your big rocks ensures you accomplished the must-haves for that day. Because I’m usually sitting on top of 20K emails, the only way I get anything done personally and professionally is to divide my life into four sections and focus daily on the big rocks in each of those areas. These are the big rocks that keep me going:

Physical

I’m a big fan of do what you can when you can in this category. I’m too busy for a gym or regular workout routine because my schedule demands that I’m on a plane every other day. So, a few tips I keep in my back pocket: Every night before I take a shower, I do push-ups until the water is warm enough to hop in; during conference calls, I use resistance bands by fastening one end around a doorknob and doing reps on each arm; lastly, I try to start my day with a green smoothie (as raw as I can find depending on where I am).

Intellectual

I’m always reading a book (usually on a plane before WiFi kicks in) and they’re typically by entrepreneurs, females in business, motivational speakers, and leaders across all industries. I love picking up tidbits from their success stories, but I find there’s even more gold in their mistakes and failures. Success is only achieved because you failed 9 trillion times, no one wakes up and succeeds on their first try.

Spiritual

In this category, my big rocks are two-fold: As a family, we sit down and establish goals of what we’d like to work on to grow our individual spirituality and try to hold each other accountable. We also memorize a scripture and a quote together each week and discuss how to incorporate the learnings into our daily lives. And for myself, I read scriptures before going to bed each night. It’s the most grounding part of my day, and some days it’s hard because I haven’t slept for 48 hrs, but I find that 5 minutes of reflection is worth more than 5 minutes of sleep.

Emotional

My family is a big help in this department, I really lean on them for support. With as much as I am required to travel with the growth of our brand globally, my husband has been the most incredible partner helping tag team with our three children. When schedules permit, my husband will fly out and meet me, many times with our little ones as well. He and I decided a long time ago that any time we can spend together as a family, even if only for a day, goes miles in nurturing our bonds, so we’re both willing to endure some pretty grueling travel schedules to keep our family close. To spend time with my mom or my sisters, we’ve made an adventure out of meeting in different cities to explore between work commitments. Life doesn’t have to be compartmentalized. Just make it work where you are!

Discover more inspirational female-founded beauty brands.

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What is it?

This is a vegan, liquid foundation-skincare hybrid that, according to the description, offers medium, customisable coverage. Tarte foundations never disappoint on coverage, so I expect this to be no different. As for the skincare offering – it contains babassu, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, has SPF 20, and claims to hydrate and plump the skin.

First impressions

It’s nice. Very nice… the consistency reminds me of Shape Tape, in that it looks and feels pretty thick when you first come into contact with it, but it melts into the skin beautifully and feels really lightweight. The packaging is lovely; it’s lightweight, and has a lilac and palm print top that twists up into a pump application – very cute.

For the first application I used a primer, which it sat really well on and didn’t sink into any dry patches, or break up around my nose (my usual foundation issues). However as this foundation claims to be a skincare hybrid, the real test will be on bare skin.

As for shades – the foundation comes in thirty shades (not bad), and what’s really great about it is they include shades with different undertones too, so if you’re more pink, neutral or yellow-toned, it’s pretty easy to find a good match.

Who is excited for our NEW babassu foundcealer vegan skincare foundation?!?! Want to be the first to know when this #plantpowered formula drops on tarte.com? TAP the link in bio NOW to sign up! #crueltyfree #veganbeauty

76.6k Likes, 621 Comments – Tarte Cosmetics (@tartecosmetics) on Instagram: “Who is excited for our NEW babassu foundcealer vegan skincare foundation?!?! Want to be the…”

Is it truly customisable?

Tarte advises different application methods depending on the finish you want. They say to smooth over skin with your fingers for light coverage, use the damp blending sponge for light-medium coverage, and use a brush for medium-full coverage.

First I tried using my fingers as instructed for a lightweight finish – it glided on well and gave a light, dewy coverage – exactly what I usually go for in a foundation. I tried building it, using the blender sponge to pat in more product across my T-zone, which gave more coverage and a slightly more matte finish. It felt a bit tacky on the skin at first, but dried down after a few minutes.

The next day, I went in with a brush. The coverage was much, much higher, probably too high for my personal preference, and with a more satin-matte finish. However it is really impressive that one foundation can actually give such a variation of coverage options, so it’s great as a one-option suits all for both day and evening make-up looks.

For those that have used any of the Tarte foundations before, I would put this in the middle of Amazonian Clay Foundation (high coverage, demi-matte finish) and the Rainforest of the Sea Foundation (light coverage, dewy finish) in terms of coverage and finish.

What about the skincare claims?

This is another area this foundation really stands out for me. I have dry skin, and without primer (and sometimes with too), foundation will cling to dry areas and break up. When I tried this foundation without a primer, it did none of this. Because of the moisturising ingredients, it didn’t dry out my skin or draw attention to the dryness, and I haven’t found many foundations that can do this – very impressed.

Does it last?

It has very good staying power. Usually dewier finish foundations don’t last quite as long as a matte or high coverage one, but this one performed really well, both with and without primer. As expected, when applied with a brush to give the higher coverage, it did last longer than when applied with the fingers or sponge, but even with those it lasted a decent 12-hour day.

The verdict

I honestly can’t really fault this foundation. The fact that it is so versatile with its coverage is a huge selling point, and the way you can adjust the finish and coverage you get means it would be a winner for almost anyone. The Tarte Foundcealer Skincare Foundation is a great option to take away with you if you’d usually take a different foundation for day and evening, as it can offer both in one lightweight bottle.

Due to it’s moisturising properties it’s perfect for dry or normal skin types, but oily skin types would still get on with this really well because of its great staying power. A brilliant multi-tasking, multi-appeal foundation!

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The aim of every skincare regime is to encourage healthy, glowing skin. It’s why acids, and we’re talking the gentle kind here, are such an important ingredient to incorporate. They efficiently remove dead skin cells and encourage skin cell renewal, helping you to reveal fresh, vibrant-looking skin.

What is glycolic acid?

Glycolic acid, along with lactic acid, is one of a group of acids called alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which can be found in fruits and milk that buff away dullness without any need for elbow grease or scratchy, gritty exfoliators. These are the most commonly used acids and other AHAs include citric, mandelic, malic and tartaric. They perform a simple function very efficiently; they exfoliate the skin, stimulate collagen and can normalise the skin barrier. They are the most frequently used acids in treating dryness and the signs of ageing.

How should I be use glycolic acid?

The key to using any active ingredient is to start small. Look for a low concentration or pre-measured applications, or just begin by applying weekly. You may want an impressive result, but being heavy-handed in the short-term isn’t as effective as being measured in the long-term. Gycolic acid can cause irritation if your skin is not used to it, so ease your way in, let your skin get used to this extra step and build up from there.

How should my skin feel after using it?

Your skin feels a little bit dry, possibly even slightly sandpapery, but be patient – as it takes effect your skin will look more radiant and will feel smoother.

Wait, I’ve got dry skin and it’ll make my skin drier?

Glycolic acid can have a really positive benefit on skin concerns such as dryness, but before it encourages more collagen and elastin production in the skin, you may experience a dip and perhaps even more dryness, but this won’t last long.

Will I be able to see a difference?

If you use glycolic acid daily as an exfoliator, it can have a really positive effect on the condition of your skin by balancing the acid mantle and given a regular, gentle deep exfoliation. Sloughing the dead skin and increasing cell turnover will all lead you towards fresh, healthy-looking skin.

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So what does it claim to do?

It’s a full coverage colour-correcting cream and anti-ageing serum in one, that also provides broad spectrum UVA, UVB, and SPF 40 protection. The oil-free version of their original CC cream, it claims to feel lightweight and give a matte finish, while disguising pigmentation, pores and blemishes.

First impressions

It’s very thick. A lot thicker than you’d expect a CC cream to be (though to be fair, full coverage is right there in the name). However, it didn’t feel thick when it hit the skin, and (I applied using the paddle brush it comes with) it blended in extremely quickly. Despite the thick consistency, the product goes a long way – two pumps gave the face full, even coverage.

The finish is really natural-looking, and just on the right side of matte – not shiny, yet not thick or powdery-looking. And the coverage is excellent. As someone with a few spots, pigmentation and large pores across my T-zone, it did a great job of concealing all of these – I just needed to add a dab on concealer for a particularly angry-looking spot.

How does it wear?

Pretty damn well, that’s how. When compared to other, fuller-coverage foundations, it fares a lot better than most. Mid-way through the day, it was still in place, and didn’t look at all dry or patchy. By the end of the day (12 hours later), it had worn a little around my eyes and mouth, but it hadn’t completely vanished. For a CC cream, I was impressed.

And to top it off, it’s a total dream to remove. I used my usual Elemis Oil Cleanser, followed by Decleor Micellar Water, and I wasn’t left scrubbing repeatedly.

Who is it for?

Pretty much anyone. While it does have a matte finish, it’s not cakey or powdery, and still has a hydrating feel, so even drier complexions shouldn’t take issue (though you can always opt for the original formula if you prefer a dewier finish). I’d really recommend it for those who like a natural finish but a fair amount of coverage.

With its oil-free formula, it is also excellent for oily complexions, and those who find their make-up is prone to sliding off their face halfway through the day.

What’s the verdict?

Hand on heart, I really can’t fault this product. It feels really light on the skin but gives excellent coverage (I’d say medium-full rather than full). Most impressive though, is how well it lasts, with the coverage surpassing most foundations I’ve tried. It’s the perfect hybrid between CC cream and foundation, and all the extra skincare benefits it comes with makes it so easy for morning application. It would also be ideal for holidays (no heavy bottle in your luggage, just a light tube).

As someone without oily skin, I’m now super keen to try the other formulations – the Original CC Cream and Illuminating CC Cream. Watch this space!

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