Clinique 3-Step Skincare

Posted in Writing.

It’s not often I write beauty features for Little Bird – mostly because I’m pretty cynical about ‘innovative’ new products, and prefer to keep it simple. I am, however, very serious about skincare. My mission for perfect skin has been ongoing for 12 years (and counting).

I won’t bore you with my teenage horror stories – this is no place for pustules. There’ll be no talk of excess oil, blocked pores or (shudder) sebum. I will tell you about the range that’s working for me, right now – the Clinique 3-Step system.

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The Clinique 3-Step skincare regime

Summer is when my skin struggles most. A combination of heat, humidity and sun cream (factor 30 or above, folks!) means I’m shining like a beacon by 11am. No amount of powder or blotting paper (so 90s!) will reduce the oiliness. The thought of suffering through another summer with a highly reflective forehead was too much to bear, so I marched to my local Debenhams and demanded a solution. Well, okay… I went to the Clinique counter and meekly asked for assistance.

I’ve heard mixed reviews of the famous 3-Step system, but Clinique appeals to me as a brand because it’s so, well, clinical. There’s no fluff, no celebrity, no so-called ‘innovation’. The staff wear white coats like doctors, rather than short skirts like models (I’m looking at you, Benefit). The brand says ‘trust me, I know what I’m doing.’ And the staff really do – I had a skin consultation which highlighted my main areas of concern (oiliness and blemishes) and my products were chosen based on my individual needs. Each product was explained in full and I was given a demonstration of how the three work together. I paid £45 for the set (original RRP £57, special price £50, and an in-store £5 off promo made it £45) and have stuck to the 3-Step system for four weeks. The results?

I’m delighted. The difference is clear (literally) – my skin is almost completely matt, make-up stays put and blemishes have been few and far between. It also looks brighter, fresher and healthier. The results are fantastic and well worth the £45 investment – it’s not as cheap as a bottle of Clearasil on 3 for 2 in Boots, but definitely more effective.

It’s make or break time for the Clinique 3-Step system now though – I usually find after a month of use, my skin gets accustomed to the product and it gradually stops working. If I can get to the end of these bottles and still see such amazing results, I’ll know I’ve found a skincare regime for life. Fingers crossed that this marks the end of my 12 year mission…

Do you suffer with your skin? Do you swear by one single product or flirt with a few? Share your skincare tips in the comments below.

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The Essential Summer Skirt

Posted in Daily Outfits.

For me, summer is all about comfort, keeping cool and looking relaxed. I love that beachy, I-don’t-care-if-my-hair’s-a-mess style. When the sun starts shining, I want something I can throw on while I pretend I’m in an early episode of The OC.

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Zara jersey skirt, £9.99 in polka dot, floral and plain.

I picked up the blue polka dot version of this Zara jersey skirt at the weekend, and it’s seen me through a BBQ, a night out dancing and day hanging out in the garden. It’s comfortable, easy to wear and goes with everything. I mean it – EVERYTHING. Here’s how I wore it for a lazy Bank Holiday Monday wandering around our local area…

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Zara skirt, H&M tee and sandals, Primark belt and ring, leather satchel via car boot sale (just seen), Ray Bans

I want to try it with a crisp white shirt and blazer for work, and over a bikini as a quick beach cover-up. I love it and know I’ll be wearing it all summer long.

Do you have any summer essentials?

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Thrift Finds of the Month – April

Posted in Second Hand Shopping.

I went to my first car boot sales of the year today – one on Swillington Sports Field just off Wakefield Road in Leeds and the other on Wetherby Race Course (here’s a partial list of car boot sales in Leeds. There are more – look out for signs when you’re out and about!).

I hauled ass out of bed at 7.15am to be first in line for the best bargains – it really does pay to go to car boot sales as early as you can bear. All of today’s treasures were found at Swillington (my first stop) before 8.30am, and after that only Primark cast-offs and ill-advised kitchen purchases (quick thaw plate, anyone?) remained. 6-8 are the golden hours… you can always nap in the afternoon!

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I really love old advertising and packaging, so was pleased to pick up this vintage tin for £1.

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I’ve been looking for a bag for my MacBook for ages and this black leather satchel is the perfect fit, especially for just £1.

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This is why it pays to hang on to seemingly unfashionable items – these sleeveless denim jackets are back in Topshop and selling for £35, but the old (and identical) version can be picked up for 50p.

Not much, but I’ve been bitten by the booting bug once again, so these pages will soon be filled with thrifty finds once more (hopefully, and weather permitting). How did you spend the Bank Holiday Weekend? Did you visit any car boots or charity shops? Tell your tales in the comments below.

PS – You have until 10pm to enter my Boutique Run giveaway!

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What I Wore – From The Brush to 140 Characters

Posted in Blogging, Daily Outfits.

On Wednesday I paid London a flying visit to attend the first Cherry Bites Lunch – a fantastic gathering of likeminded people with interesting things to say and fabulous outfits. Find details of the second event here.

I got the train down and, as I often do when I’m bored and have a computer in close vicinity, tweeted my outfit using the #TodayImWearing hashtag.

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When I arrived in London, I made my way to Drink, Shop & Do, an adorable venue just round the corner from Kings Cross. I found the Cherry Bites Lunch-ers nestled round a table and settled down to join the discussion. Sitting next to me was Danielle, a fashion illustrator from Toronto now living in London. Danielle had a sketch pad in front of her, a portable watercolour pen and a tin of paints, and as we talked blogging, style, work and life she painted. I was her second subject…
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She made my Primark pieces look exceptionally stylish and gave me killer cleavage! I love you, Danielle.

It’s fascinating to look at the way documenting style has developed. From early fashion magazines which were illustrated in their entirety, to the glossy, high-octane photoshoots of the 80s, to the current trend for 140 character tweets which express every last detail of our outfits.

Fashion illustration remains popular, despite the technological advances. I wonder if Twitter will have a similar staying power?

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The Blog Issue – Who Do You Blog For?

Posted in Blogging, Daily Outfits.

As a prolific reader of blogs, it’s a sentence I see regularly – “I blog for me”. I understand the sentiment behind the statement – writing a blog is a cathartic, enjoyable experience – but can it really be an individual experience when you rely on the interaction of others to make it work? A quick outfit before we dive in…

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Vintage skirt, Gap tee, Steve Madden leather jacket, Primark pumps, Zara bag, ASOS necklace and belt (this is my What Katie Wore pose) 


Writing a blog can be very personal. When you’re sitting in front of a screen, bashing out your innermost thoughts and feelings (or even just uploading snapshots of your life), it’s easy to forget that when you click ‘publish’, anyone with an internet connection can share those moments. A blog isn’t like the padlocked diary you hid from your brother aged 14. It’s open to everyone.

You can change the settings on your blog so it is private or accessible by invitation only, but for most, interaction from readers is a big part of blogging. Comment counts, visitor stats and bounce rates are markers of success, but they also reassure us that people are reading our rambles (even if they are a bit wild and untamed). So why completely disregard your readers with those four little words – “I blog for me”?

Writing those words in a post is like telling the people reading it you don’t care about them. You’re doing this for you, and only you. Readers? Who needs ’em. This is a me, myself and I project. Which is absolutely fine, if that’s how you feel. But I think almost every blogger is happy to get a comment on their post. Most of us check our stats, even if it’s just every once in a while. We watch our follower counts like hawks. Our readers are important to us, even if we don’t want to admit it.

I blog for me. But I also blog for you. I write about things I like, but I want you to like them too. And if you don’t, I’ll think twice about featuring them next time.

What do you think? Do you agree that a publicly-available blog should be written with at least some consideration for its readers? Or are blogs completely personal to the writer? Where does your blog fit in? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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