Remember those tinted moisturisers Clarins used to make? (Maybe they still do, I haven’t checked recently.) I remember how they used to be a lot more colour than moisturiser, almost more like a super sheer foundation, and that, in a nutshell, is new Avon Bright Start fresh look foundation SPF 15 (R109,90).

Each of the hydrating ‘super foods’ and collagen-infused seven shades is so sheer and gel-like that you could easily apply them to your skin with just your fingers, but a few sweeps of a sponge will do the job best.

I like that, even though they’re moisturising, they don’t send my oily T-panel to crazy town and do a great job of giving my skin a healthy-looking glow. It’s perfect for clear skin days when you don’t want to wear a lot of make-up but don’t want to look like a flesh-eating zombie either.

Next up, NailCandi have launched the cutest little USB-powered mini 3W LED lamp (R119,99).

You can only cure one nail at a time but it’s perfect for touch ups and traveling. I used it the other day with their gel top coat, Candi Coat Nail Art & Manicure Sealer (R79,99) and all it took was 60 seconds to dry completely and it wore like iron for a week until I took it off.

Please note that I had to remove it to apply something else for a piccie. My mani could’ve gone on forever if I’d wanted it to. It’s a pretty impressive, super shiny top coat at a good price and gets a big lipglossy thumbs up.

Last but not least, I was sent a ‘reminder’ drop of Neutrogena’s Visibly Even Daily Moisturiser SPF 30 (R139,95) which was much appreciated as I’m often asked about inexpensive yet good high SPF sunscreens that aren’t going to turn your face into an oil slick and this is one of them. I mean, sure, it’s pitched as a treatment moisturiser, but there’s nothing stopping you from applying it with the sole intent of using it to protect your face when you step out into the sunshine.

Sun protection aside, Visibly Even’s end goal is to help improve the look of pigmentation via antioxidant soy extract that can help inhibit melanin production. Just remember, in the same way you need several anti-aging ingredients to effectively delay the effects of time, you should take a multi-pronged approach to dark spot-busting so, if that’s your aim, add a good retinol serum to your routine as well as anything that uses proven brighteners like vitamin C or kojic acid in a high concentration and consider chatting to your dermatologist about hydroquinone (still the gold standard) and laser treatments.

Love, love

Leigh