Inside my Center Parcs Make Up Bag

If you have read my review of Center Parcs Elveden Forest you might rightly assume the need for a fully stock make up bag wasn't necessary. That said a skincare regime is always in place and the knowledge that there would be one or two selfies take in the beautiful surroundings one needs to ensure make up is in place so I thought I'd share with you today which made the cut - including a mini Dyson hairdryer review thanks to borrowing my friends over the weekend. 

Starting with the skincare and I took along the DHC Cleansing Oil* and Mild Soap* both of which came in the DHC Bento Box for am and pm cleansing duties. As I said in my initial review it's the Mild Soap which I favour and enjoy using most although the Cleansing Oil is needed for mascara and make up removal, especially in this instance where I didn't take along extra micellar waters or eye make up removes. 

For toner or facial spritzing was the Monuspa Rosewood Reviving Mist* which has now reached the end of its life having lived in my make up bag for some time and used as a refresher after a day at work (yes, yes, which was a couple of months ago now!) followed by serum.

Serums are often the product I forgo for a one or two night stay as I don't have many in travel size or their standard bottles can be glass, bulky and not suitable for travelling, that is apart from Nip+Fab Viper Venom Frown Fix* which is perfect to be slipped into a make up bag and is quite easily brushed onto skins. Containing ingredients to 'freeze' expression lines and wrinkles. How well it goes to 'freeze' them I wouldn't like to say but they can appear less noticeable and the hylauronic acid is great for hydrating after the booze consumed during our evenings. 

The InstaNatural Eye Gel*, a product received for Amazon review purposes is a nice hydrating eye cream which I'm a little indifferent about at the moment and perhaps as it's my eyes that are the area I like to pay most attention to I need something with a little much punch. That said it does keep the eye area hydrated, isn't drying and make up applies on top. It's gel nature would make it a great product for those who suffer sensitive eyes, especially in the Summer. 

I settled for using the ALGENIST Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream* as both a day and night cream. It's a lovely cream that is quite mousse like in texture which I enjoyed. As often with skincare travel sizes beyond texture and initial application I cannot tell you much about it's various properties and claims but it was certainly a nice product to use for my trip.

This is about as 'capsule' as I get with my make up and you will spot some of my 2016 Favourites making a reappearing, starting with primer and setting from Dermalogica and Mac. If you're looking for a non silicone primer and price isn't a factor the Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer* is a good place to start. I'm nearing the end of my tube so it's the product I continue to reach for. Mac Prep + Prim Fix+ remains a go to product, and whilst I haven't published any monthly favourites recently this would have been the one making multiple appears if I were. 

The base was covered by L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation and Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer and an application method from Primark. I picked up the Primark Beauty Blender dupes on a recent shopping trip in full and mini sizes thinking for a few pound I could give them a go, and even if not great I could make them work between Beauty Blender cleaning days. The smaller sizes are amazing for concealer and if you buy one or the other gets these although the full size is still worth the few pounds and I'm finding it's a major contender and working well for application.

I have something of a love/hate relationship with the L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation and took that along to try and form a decision. Its pretty obvious that with the matte version being a top favourite that a version giving some glow would not be and that is where my love falters. Coverage is flawless as one would expect but I'm just not a fan of the all over dewy look but if you have dry skin or indeed favour the glow then try this out. That said it's a US only product so difficult to get hold of for us in the UK.

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer was thrown into the bag along with a recent favourite Wet n Wild MegaGlo All-In-One Highlighting Stick in Light Up My High-Biscus which is such an easy swipe, blend and go product. It gives a pink flush to the cheeks which is perfect paired with a red lip, which indeed was my choice for Center Parcs. Another product I was trying to decide on, and I'm sad to say has made it into the 'products that don't work for me' pile was Maybelline Master Strobing Stick in Nude Glow. As I said in my initial post featuring the Strobing Stick I talked about not knowing how to use this especially when more often than not reaching for a powder blush. As in this instance I was using cream blush I thought I'd give it a try. Is it a 'nice' product? Yes but sadly not one for me. With a preference for powder products and an abundance of highlighters in powder form I know I do not love this enough to reach for it so it'll be passed on to the pile to share with friends and family. 

I usually forgo eye make up and rely on my red lip when in a 'relaxed state' but I still threw in my handy Chanel Eyeshadow Palette in case I wanted a little something to pair with my new DHC Gel Eyeliner Pencil*. I'm in no way skilled with eyeliner, my lids don't lend themselves well to a wing even if I were adept at doing so but I still like to have some liner and often use a powder and angle brush for definition but I wanted to give this a try and I've found it's a far easier product for on the go. and perfect for tight lining. When in a hurry I find myself reaching for this as it's easier to line and go with ease.

Brows are filled in quickly with the Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Mascara, the brush of which is the right size for my thick brows and enough product is added to the brow without overloading and lashes from By Terry Terrybly Growth Booster Mascara* which I forgot to photograph but you can find on Instagram. This is a lovely mascara from brush, to application and finish but the price tag is just a little too much for me to justify spending. Of course it's 'futuristic serum mascara' which explains the price tag and if you have the money to spare I'd say go for it. The red lip was care of Maybelline Color Jolt/Lip Paint, I'm sure you recognising the pattern, a quick and easy to apply product.

Finally a mini review of the Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer which I was able to try out care of my friend Lavinia who picked this up on a recent shopping trip. The Dyson Hairdryer was doing the blogger rounds last year and received rave reviews despite a whopping £300 price tag. Yes for a hairdryer. Now I have a Dyson vacuum which I'm sure I paid a tidy sum for and can vouch it is still going some four or five years later, but £300 for a hairdryer. Really?

My friend Lavinia purchased this as she has gorgeous, long, thick hair that makes me green with envy takes some time to dry and with a little one to take care of she needed some help which indeed the Dyson has provided. I have short hair and not a lot of it so drying my hair is quick to do, and something Lavinia is envious of so we're never happy are we, and in the Summer I can easily wash and go without even have to worry as I know that by the time I reach the office my hair will be dry but that didn't stop me wanting to try out the Dyson.

My first impression is I don't particularly like the style and it feels very alien to hold after so many years of your traditional style of hairdryer but it is ideal for travelling and so so light to hold. I switched on and I was, pardon the pun, blown away by how quickly this dried my hair. I wasn't doing anything spectacular, nor attempting styling just simply head tipped over and a blast from the Dyson. In a matter of minutes my hair was dry. Unlike other hairdryers which I find can become too hot or you indeed have to blast up the heat to dry hair quickly the temperature from the Dyson Hairdryer was comfortable and the air was certainly distributed differently and less 'blasting' than I'm used to. Would I like a Dyson Hairdryer? Yes most definitely and if I had a spare £300 laying around I would pick one up immediately. For me is it worth the price tag, not really but it's definitely something I would like to think about treating myself in the future - it could take a while but maybe it's something to save those Boots Advantage Card points up for.

Have you tried or been tempted by the Dyson Hair Dryer?

*this post contains press sample and / or affiliate links

2016 Favourite Favourites | Part 1

Happy New Year! I appreciate we're halfway through January so missed the boat on such greetings but as this is my first post of 2017 I think I can be forgiven - let me tell you if you think returning to work after the holidays is a struggle its even harder to become motivated when you don't have a job!

Like my opening greeting I may well also be late posting my 2016 Favourites and as such you are somewhat bored with them but as Favourites posts are those I enjoy writing, particularly when I need to get back into the swing of things here they are.

I am only focusing on make up for my 2016 Favourites as I have found products that I have loved throughout the year, am still reaching for and are those that I can reach for without thinking when I want to put my face on in a hurry. With skincare and other such products I hold my hands up and say I'm something of a floozy, not particularly brand loyal and through the nature of beauty blogging am lucky to have a lot of skincare come through my door for testing that whilst I can could pinpoint 'favourites' there is nothing that I stopped myself from moving onto the next product through my door.

Enough of my ramblings lets start with Dermalogica Hydra Blur Primer* which first made an impact appearing in my February Favourites and has been my go to primer throughout the year. Prior to this introduction I was reaching for Benefit Porefessional which is hit and miss depending on whether you're a fan of silicone primers. Dermalogica Hydra Blur Primer has a similar yet less silicone feel to its application and will offer moisturisation to your skin rather drying it out as some primers are prone to. During Winter when my skin is dryer this has been the right product to create the perfect base for my foundations. As I mentioned in its initial review my only complaint is the price tag which would prevent my repurchasing in the immediate future. 

I would hand over every foundation I own to keep L'Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation, the US version, as it really has been my stand out product of 2016. My friend Rose, who resides in the USA, gave this to me in place of the L'Oreal Infallible Glow Foundation I'd asked for that she couldn't find and I'm so glad she did. I have reached for this foundation on so many occasions, taken on holiday and without a doubt whenever I've admired my flawless appearance in selfies it's been when I've worn this foundation. My current tube was showing signs of finishing soon and I was starting to panic, not a feeling I often have usually happy to skip onto the next product. I was also concerned that I'd read posts from Emmys Beauty Cave about how the UK version just didn't compare. Luckily a friend headed to the US over Christmas and was instructed to buy a back up for me so I will not run out any time soon.

As for my reasons for such declarations of love, this is a foundation that will give you a medium coverage that will last all day and from what I see the finish is flawless. My other August Favourite that I pair with this foundation is the Primark PS Pro Oval Brushes, such was my love I brought the Rose Gold set before Christmas. I've found I'm reaching for these and my Beauty Blender over any other foundation brushes in my collection. 

Final base favourites is a duo you'll always find in my handbag, Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder and the Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder is a beautiful product inside and out. Whether I'm setting my concealer for a full face of make up or in a pinch using only the powder and aforementioned concealer I feel more alive. I'm always conscious of finding a concealer that doesn't crease under my 30+ eyes and Bourjois Radiance Reveal does not. When I initially reviewed I wasn't so sure but that was simply due to lack of eye cream so I do find I need to ensure my eye area isn't dry before application but it made such an impact last year that it appeared in April and May's favourites posts. 

Bronzing and contouring is definitely not something I'd call myself skilled at but two product that help me look like I have something of an idea are the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick in the Shade 330 Toffee Caramel and Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer. Since rediscovering and appearing in my February Favourites I've found the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick to be a firm staple in my make up. Hailed as a dupe for the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick (I find that to be a less greasy formula) I picked this up in its darker shade in the US and find it makes contouring a breeze. It also pairs wonderfully with one of the Primark brushes I've already mentioned. I don't reach for this on a daily basis as who has time for that but when I'm giving myself a 'serious' full face this is a given and so easy to use.

You may be surprised to find the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in my 2016 Favourites as when I first purchased it I was most underwhelmed. Firstly I hated, and still do hate the scent which months later hasn't waned although it's not something that I notice unless, as I did just now, stick my nose into it. 

The Glow-Booster from Physicians Formula was my favourite bronzer prior to this purchase but interestingly over recent months I've bypassed that and instead reached for the Butter Bronzer so much so that it came on my holidays and to date I am still using. 

As I talked about in my initial review one of my gripes was that it is a subtle bronzer and only available in the one shade. Paler skin tones will surely love this and perhaps my love for it has stemmed from just looking for a dusting of warmth and glow during the Winter months than too much bronzing. You can purchase in the UK from The Vitamin Shop and I'm currently waiting to see if the Butter Blushes hit the site as I'm keen to try them out. 

Like the L'Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation the Make Up Revolution Rose Gold Lights Blush would be the blusher I saved in a fire. I love love love this and have recommended to everyone and anyone insisting they need it in their collections. Technically referred to as a highlighter this is perfect for me as a blush which I don't have to worry about layering with another product. It's literally sweep and go and looks fantastic whatever make up look you're going for. For £3 this is positively a steal and despite my frequent use it looks like I've barely touched it.

Highlighters are something I'm still finding my way with. My favourite highlighter has to be Charlotte Tibury's Bar of Gold which usually only makes an appearance in stores seasonly, I joined the Becca Champagne Pop bandwagon and am still undecided how I feel about it and others have come and gone throughout the year but one that has been reached for often is Wet n Wild Boozy Brunch, or in my case its original incantation, Hollywood Lights. Interestingly Boozy Brunch has been hailed a dupe for Champagne Pop but I certainly prefer this golden highlight which is more in keeping with my favoured Bar of Gold.

This was another gift from my friend Rose and it sat for some time in the draw as I was a little scared of using it but now nothing can stop me. Again this is a product, albeit only available in the US, that is only $5.99 for a whopping 11g of product. Admittedly the side does make it somewhat cumbersome to travel with but I can forgive that for the highlight it gives to my cheeks.

Well if you made it this far well done and needless to say my musings have required this post to be in two parts so come back tomorrow for my favourite eye and lip products from 2016. Don't forget to let me know what your favourite products have been.

*this post contains press samples and / or affiliate links

May 2016 | Beauty Favourites

Another month passes and it seems to have gone by so quickly that my favourites have been more of a case of products I could reach for without thinking about them. So much so that in my hungover state yesterday I have picked out two products that featured in last month's favourites post! You'll also see an empties post later this week that shows how I'm still working my through my stash to streamline it rather than add to it.

I am dreadful at dragging out mascara's far long than necessary and as I try to whittle them down I've rediscovered Essence's I Love Extreme Mascara. I forgot how much I love this, long, thick and voluminous lashes appear after a few coats of this high street favourite. I know Essence have an extensive range of mascara's so I think I need to visit a counter and investigate some more of their offerings. And stock up on another of these.

During one of my spring clean sessions last year I put aside a make up bag of 'Summer' nail polishes which I rediscovered hunting through a cupboard. Straight away I reached for Barry M nail polish in Greenberry and my toe nails were painted. I've been relying on my nudes and reds on nails a lot lately so it was nice to find something a little more fun to play with.

Revlon lip products have have been my go to of late, similar colours but very different formula. The Revlon Lip Lacquer in Rose Quartz compliments any outfit when I want a glossy finish. For days when I want to play things down a little it's Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Colour in Devotion. Once an almost every day red lip wearer I'm enjoying changing things up a little with these two favourites.

Blogging allows me to test a lot of skincare so I love it when I can settle with a product long enough that it's used in it's entirety. F.O.Y Moisturising Day Cream* has been a surprise hit with me. Initially judging the packaging and thinking it was 'nothing special' I can only say that my skin has loved this moisturiser and I feel like my skin is really good shape at the moment. I find that my make up applies evenly and skin isn't crying out for hydration. If further prove that I was a fan of this product is need, often I'll rotate products as I get bored but it wasn't the case here.

Finally the two base products I've been reaching for on a daily basis, a second appearance for Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer and Natural Collection Tinted Moisturiser*. Really I should've included the Natural Collection Bronzer* too as its those three products and the aforementioned mascara and lipsticks that allow me to get out of the door in the mornings, quickly and with minimal effort.

You can read a full review of the Natural Collection range but in short this is a product that once again proved my preconceived ideas wrong. I cannot believe for £1.99 I have found a product that rivals my 'holy grail' Chanel Healthy Glow Fluid and again, the fact that I haven't immediately swapped out after testing and am reaching for it daily shows that it's a product I'll be using again and again.

What have you been loving this month?

*this post contains press samples

April 2016 | Beauty Favourites

It's a very make up heavy favourites post today as I  reverted to something of a lazy make up routine the past month and all these items tick the box for that. First up I'll start with some products you may recognise from my Superdrug Haul.

Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer is making waves in the beauty community and I jumped straight on that bandwagon and can say that for me the hype is deserved. I've never been one to just conceal and go but on weekends when I'm even less inclined to wear make up but want to make something of an event I've been sweeping this on, adding some Chanel Les Beiges Powder and I'm good to go. It doesn't crease under the eyes, far outweighing others I've tried and lasts all day. Another plus is it looks far more higher end and is less messy than other offerings in my collection.

The Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipstick in Devotion has been a big hit, as has the formula of this product. I did return to Superdrug to look at other shades but none sparked any excitement as Devotion did so I left empty handed and stuck with this favourite. A subtle shade of pink but not too subtle that it looks like I haven't bothered at all it goes with almost every outfit. The slightly chalky feeling texture goes on like silk and dries down without drying lips out so I'm crying for lip balm later. I can reapply throughout the day without fear of cracked lips although this is certainly a longer lasting product compared to others. It's definitely worth checking out if there's a shade that you like.

Next is L'Oreal's Brow Artist Plumper which has quickly replaced my former love of the Maybelline BrowDrama. With a much more sensible, smaller brush this is far easier to brush my brows out and fill in any gaps very quickly. It dries quickly and is far hardier against my annoying habit of stroking my eyebrows and definitely requires more effort to displace and ruin my efforts.

Carrying on my lazy make up theme I've been reaching for the Seventeen Mono Eyeshadow in Rose Quartz on a daily basis with my Zoeva 227 Definer Brush* for a quick eye make up look. Again I've never been a one lid colour and go kind of girl, even with my simple eye make up routines I'd always add something into the crease, outer corners and some sort of liner, until now. The Zoeva 227 is a worthy contender for Mac's famous 217 of which I have many but it's the 227 I've reached for. Blending out Rose Quartz on my lids and some mascara I'm happy enough with my make up to be seen in the office. The Mono Eyeshadows are compact, pigmented and last a day in the office which often is all I'm looking for.

As I continue my make up declutter I've pulled out Covergirl Blush in Pretty Peach that has been sitting in the draw for ages following a US Beauty Haul.  Hailed as a dupe for Mac Melba Blush it's become a firm favourite if not for the cheap and unpleasant packaging. I've been reaching for this a lot as the sun shines and it gives a nice soft glow.

Painting my nails is a chore I don't enjoy and I'm always torn between painting with normal polish multiple times or wearing gels and having the chore of removing to reapply. First world problems of course but I've settled on painting for nails as it feels like an easier process at times. Another Covergirl product and this is the red polish they brought out in their Star Wars range. It's your standard shade of red but applies nicely, if the brush is a little small for my liking. I get a good few days out of this before any wear starts to show.

Finally I'm throwing a skincare item in which has become a big hit as we hit hayfever season. I've recently been testing some products from F.O.Y and the stand out for me at the moment is the Revitalising Eye Gel*. This is very much a gel and I think I need to start keeping in the fridge for some extra cooling properties to soothe my itchy eyes. The packging is rather luxe for an eye cream and whilst it's not the ideal travel companion it's nice sitting atop my dressing table.

What have you been loving this month?

*this post contains press samples

Spring Cleaning My Make Up #1

Blogging is very much extremes these days, one minute we're craving huge make up collection videos and in the next breath it's decluttering our stashes that gets the hits. For me even as a minor league beauty blogger I can't deny that the large amount of products I own can be a little overwhelming and it was time to have a little clear out.

I've named this post #1 as I suspect this might be a series of sorts that I sporadically share on my blog as I continue wading through my products and decide rather than have multiple variations of the same shades or products I instead pass them on to friends and family. Hands up if you have friends like mine that like nothing better than going through the bags of products you have at your disposal.

In some instance it might be products that don't necessarily work for me or just simply those that I have another similar product that I use more frequently.

First are two Wet n Wild Eyeshadows in Brass and Brulee. The later is something of a dupe for Mac Brule and was one of those products that appears on Pinterest that I added to my US Shopping Lists. Whilst I love Wet n Wild Eyeshadows I have similar colours to Wet n Wild Brulee in my extensive palette collections, rarely reach for single eyeshadows these days and it just didn't do enough for me to warrant keeping.

Wet n Wild Glitter in Brass was a disappointment but perhaps not surprisingly so. As you can tell from the pan this is very chunky looking and when I had a play around with it I had more glitter on my face than my eyes. Whilst it's one of those fun shadows to play with I think if I were to brave such an eye make up look I'd need something a little more sophisticated.

Oh I tried to make the L'Oreal Infallible Pro Contour Palette work for me and was really excited when I picked it up in the US hoping for it to be a dupe for Charlotte Tilbury's Filmstar Bronze and Glow (read my post here) but alas it was not to be. I found the size of the powders too small for me to work with (although I have more success using the brush enclosed with the palette) and when I own the aforementioned high end palette it seemed pointless to keep one I didn't like nor reach for.

Maybelline's Eyeshadow Bases were another two products that didn't work out for me. I'm yet to find a drugstore eyeshadow base that works for me and with Lorac and Urban Decay knocking these out of the park, again there was no point keeping them. I did consider keeping the illuminating version for use as a highlighter as it's applicator made for running down the nose quick and easy but I just was not reaching for it.

Finally is a product I didn't want to part with, Bourjois Quad in Over Rose* but it's time to stop the excessive indulgence. The Bourjois Quads are fantastic and I'd highly recommend to anyone looking for highly pigmented, long lasting eyeshadows. So why part with them? Well I don't wear pinks very often and once again my palettes have the shades covered and this was sadly neglected in a draw. I'd much rather someone else was able to love and use it rather than it gather dust.

So there are some products I've managed to part with, not a great deal but it's a start.

Superdrug Beauty Haul and First Impressions

Last week I had an impromptu sleepover at a friends which would be all well and good but I was without my make up bag. My drawer at work was stashed with many things, including the change of clothing required, toothbrush and deodorant but alas I'd recently taken home my make up bag so that I could update it a little. Bad timing.

Whilst I'll happily pop to Tesco at the weekend make up free there was no way I'd be doing so in the office so off to Superdrug I took myself to take advantage and stock up on a full face and try some products, new and that were on my radar but I'd been unable to justify purchasing until now.

I must start by saying this was not a cheap endeavour at £60 despite taking advantage of the 3 for 2 offers but I did include some make up brushes due to my product choices; of course I could've kept things really pair down and picked things I could apply with my fingers but that wasn't what this shopping trip was about. I'm also writing this post the evening I purchased the items so as the title reveals it's a first impression rather than after subsequent use and further testing.

My first stop was the Bourjois counter as I knew I wanted to try the Bourjois City Radiance Foundation in the shade Vanilla and matching Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer in shade Medium. Without having applied any moisturiser and forgoing  primer on this occasion I thought the claims of hydrating formula would assist as well as needing the fresh and luminous complexion it promised.

At first I went in using the Eco Tools Foundation Brush (more on my brush choice in a moment) which I didn't like at all although it was a push as I haven't used this style in years. Instead I found that working in with my fingers worked best. I never know what I'm doing when choosing shades of foundation and at first I feared it was a little light and difficult to work in but actually the reality was that I was able to blend in quickly and easily. It felt comfortable but I  feel I can't really gauge a foundation on it's own as I look so strange without the 'added extras'.

My office toilets (and lifts) are often the place I look to see how my make up appears because if I'm pleased with what I see in those harsh lights then I must be doing something right and indeed even by end of the day I took a once over and there was little wear and things did have a glow about them which was great as already mentioned there was no skincare regime that morning to give a helping hand.

Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer I liked immediately. I'm not especially into the stark light under eyes look hence my choice of medium, it also meant I could build up areas I felt needed it from the light to medium coverage foundation without things looking out of place. It hasn't held up too well as the day has gone on and there is some creasing and I'm more aware of the lines under my eyes today but again this could be in part to lack of eye creams in the past 24 hours. Despite this it doesn't feel dry and I'm not against trying this out a little more to see how it fairs.

With a 3 for 2 offer on Boots I decided to pick up the old favourite of many a blogger, Bourjois Delice De Poudre. Another product I'd always wanted to try but could find no justification due to a healthy stash of bronzers and highlighters. In this instance there was no other justification than it was two products in one. I would prefer to use use with a stiffer, smaller brush than the EcoTools Powder Brush as I found the pigmentation quite light, that said using all over the face rather than 'contouring' has given some added colour needed from my perhaps too light foundation choice.

I did want a specific blusher from L'Oreal which I'd seen at the weekend but this was not available so instead I went for the new L'Oreal Infallible Blush Trio in Soft Rosy. Using the aforementioned powder brush I swirled in all three colours and swept on cheeks. This was another hit and I loved the sheen it gave, maybe I didn't need that highlighter after all. In fact I can see me getting a lot of wear out of this. It's not as heavily pigmented as say my favoured Peaches and Cream blush from Mac but it'll be nice for lighter make up days or those where I'm wearing a red lip.

L'Oreal also had 3 for 2 as part of their offers and another product I was keen to try was the L'Oreal Eyebrow Artiste Plumper in Medium/Dark. Regular readers will know I love Maybelline BrowDrama and it's a frequent repurchase and lazy day eyebrow choice for me but there is always the desire to try something different. On first use I was happy with the results. There is a slightly smaller brush than Rimmel's version and less product is dispensed, an issue I had with that one. The wand is certainly a more normal shape than Maybelline's quirky offering which whilst I have no particularly issues with L'Oreal's is probably more natural to use. I'm in the middle, well in desperate need of having my eyebrows threaded so I'm not working with good brows at the moment so it's difficult to speak too highly of L'Oreal Artiste Plumper but it did the job and I would be inclined to cast aside my Browdrama for this in future. Stay tuned.

To make up my offer I picked up an eyeshadow quad from L'Oreal in Smoky. It's fairly typical of it's type and pleasing to use with the appropriate EcoTools brushes but I wasn't wowed. I perhaps should have brought a single shade and been done with it.

Next I moved to the Revlon counter which was buy one, second half price to purchase one of their new mascaras. Revlon recently revamped their range, colour coding them by type. I choose Revlon Ultimate All in One Mascara in Black. After battling with the packaging (we all know how cumbersome Superdrug security stickers are) a rather unusual small wand. This is another product that will require more usage to form an opinion especially as I was so bemused by the teeny tiny wand. That said it lengthened and curled my lashes although there was some clumping that took some work to separate. The smaller wand did make it, not so much easier but more precise in coating the lashes.

My favourite purchase was the Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipstick in what I believe is Passion (I can't find a name on the tube). Again this was picked up to make up the offer and as a new product I was happy to try. I went for a pink lip to balance out what could've been bad base and eye products without going gung-ho and a red lip. It smells amazing, glides on like a cream and dries down to a matte which has not left my lips a mess. And even better, it lasts. Numerous cigarettes, cups of tea and even lunch I popped to the toilet and saw it still in place. Admittedly it was now more of a stain than earlier but there was still something there, and not just around the edges like badly applied lip liner. I'll definitely be trying out some more colours from the range.

Finally I needed brushes. As I mentioned I could've left it as products that were all easily applied with fingers but I'd rather pick products I wanted and add a set of brushes in than otherwise. I went for the Lovely Looks set by EcoTools, similar to this one. Having a glance over the offering it was cheaper at £11.99 to buy this than individual brushes or being more specific, it had everything I needed and the packaging is nice that it'll store nicely in my desk drawer. It even has instructions. They're not the best brushes I've ever used, nor will they replace favourites but when I'm in a pinch they're perfect and I can't complain about how my make up looked.

Its quite possible as you read this post I have been continuing to use these products and form stronger opinions on them so stayed tuned on that. I hope you enjoyed this unexpected haul, more make up was the last thing I needed to buy!

Magic Minerals Powder Review

Magic Minerals Foundation Powder*

When I hit 30 I decided that it was time for a little more coverage and began exploring foundations. Scared of liquid foundations I picked up a Bare Minerals Complexion Start Kit and that was my first foray into mineral or powder products. Times have since changed and my foundation favourites are now all of the liquid variety so it was great to return to 'my roots' and try the Magic Minerals Foundation Powder* from Jerome Alexander.

I'm going to start with the packaging both inner and outer as I think both will have an impact on peoples first impressions, my own included. I must confess if I saw this hanging in Boots on one of those JML stands I would likely not give it a second thought and write it off. Whilst our American friends are used to seeing their mascaras and the like in this sort of packaging we are not. It's crazy really that the snob in me would write this off when essentially this packaging is more hygienic than how other beauty products are displayed.

 

The packaging of the powder itself is fairly unexciting but in a postive way - who can be offended by this compact? It's large and maybe unnecessarily so but I did enjoy the large mirror which enable me to see what I was doing when applying on the train during my commute.

 

Let's move onto the product itself. What you have is a Magic Minerals Foundation Powder that works to conceal all skin tones covering blemishes, age spots, fine lines and the like. Colour Pigments work with the powder to reveal a 'brighter, fresher and more radiant you'

 

The first day I went in with my Magic Minerals powder I was not impressed. Any of my post-Dubai glow had been knocked out and my skin looked flat. This is definitely a powder for the fairer skin tones. The coverage was good, did it feel like a cream to apply as claimed? No, but it was certainly smooth to apply and didn't leave a powdery finish.

 

Never one to give up on day two I decided to make use of some products in my stash that had been unloved. Before applying the Magic Minerals powder I started with the Bourjois Bronzing Powder to warm up my face and then using my current favourite product, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal and a little concealer under my eyes.

 

This certainly made a difference to the flatness I experience in day one and subsequently was how I used the product throughout the rest of the week with happy results.

 

The compact supplies you with a 'professional style stubby brush' which was easy to use and helped aid applying too much product so you could build as needed. They also included a round sponge pad which I cast aside without a second glance as they're not for me.  

 

 

 

For those that take note of ingredients on their products Magic Minerals has them listed on the back

of the compact. As you can see there is mineral oil in this product so dependent on the side of the fence you sit on this may make a difference as to whether this product is for you.

My overall opionion of this product is firstly never judge a book product by it's cover packaging. This is a great powder which provided good coverage on my skin. I must make the note that my skin is particularly free from blemishes and the like so I can't comment on the more severe cases for coverage. As mentioned any of my suntan was knocked out from using this powder which should speak positively of the coverage it provides if you're concerned about redness and the like.

I did need additional coverage for my dark circles but that is my personal bug bear so I could be being extra critical on myself. If you have oily skin and/or prefer a more matte coverage this is definitely one to consider trying, likewise if you're not a fan of liquid foundations. Another thing to be mindful of is whilst the claims are that it works for all skintones even I with a slight tan from my recent holiday found it was more on the pale side.

Have you used mineral foundations before?

*PR Sample

Haul for holidays

I was quite proud there had been minimum pre-holiday purchasing and then it seemed like the weekend before I had a very blogger/YouTube led purchasing spree as well as one or two regular essentials. 

Wilkinson Sword Quattro Bikini Razor* link
Many of you may switch to a leg and bikini wax before holiday but after my recent waxing disasters you will know I'm sticking to shaving. As I would need to keep up the maintenance on holiday I turned to my Wilkinson Sword Quattro Bikini Razor knowing that it would perform in 'both areas'. You can read my original Wilkinson Sword Quattro Bikini Razor review here.

OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner link
OGX is a brand I knew little of but had seen often. Through the powers of YouTube seeing this shampoo brand spoke highly by the likes of Caroline Hirons it was very much on my radar. When I popped into Superdrug for my toothpaste (see below) and it was three for two I decided that despite not needing any more shampoo's and conditioners these would travel with me to Dubai.

I have used during my trip and it's a thumbs up. So much so I will be buying more, in larger sizes on my return.

Colgate Max White Toothpaste link
Regular readers will know I'm not a 'toothpaste fan' and since discovering The Breath Co have been far happier with teeth brushing duties. I considered decanting but realised that was ridiculous and didn't really want to bring the full sized tube. Instead I picked up the small tube of Colgate thinking I'm sure I can manage for a 10 days with some intense mint tasting toothpaste. In the spirit of first world problems I can't stand it and cannot wait to return home to my favoured brand.

Travel Containers link
I picked up three of the round tubes from Superdrug, again on offer but only ended up using one for my body scrub. As I reach my last day in Dubai I would have benefited more from using two of the tubs so I will make a note for my trip to Ibiza next month.

Seventeen Eyeshadow Monos link
More eyeshadows than necessary and in hindsight many shades to compare to Rose Quartz I still couldn't resist purchasing after watching one of Fleur De Force's videos. I had the full intention of taking advantage of the 'buy one get one half price' and sending one to Rose in America. Then I saw Viva Diva and decided to treat myself instead. Despite also being armed with my two Lorac Pro Palettes and a few Mac Eyeshadows which accompanied I have used both of these shades. Rose Quartz was a disappointment. Not as pigmented nor sparkly as I would like, especially when I have Mac Rose Pigment but Viva Diva. That was possibly my favourite make up look of my trip.

Bourjois Contour Clubbing Eyeliner link
Hoping to get a little experimental on holiday and add some colour I decided to pick up three of the Contour Clubbing Eyeliners from Bourjois. I chose Purple Night, Loving Green and Blue Neon and have used all three since away. I think I still need a little practice to get the wear right but they certainly added a little something to my eye make up looks of an evening.

Finally the most unexciting but the one thing I do every holiday is buy a new toothbrush. I don't take that one on holiday with me. That's the one I will leave at home, taking the old one and leaving it behind. That way I return home to a nice toothbrush that hasn't tackled the 'rigours' of travel .

What have been your last minute holiday purchases?

*PR Sample

February 2015 Beauty Favourites

It wasn't difficult to highlight favourite products this month. Everything list below has been in regular use, relied upon and/or made a major impact on my regimes so let's dive in.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara link
I only posted about the latest Benefit release last week - read the post here - and it's become a favourite. Especially when I took it out of my make up bag and tried others in my stash and they just didn't occur. I mentioned in my review post how I had never jumped on the They're Real bandwagon (although I own it and am going to be giving it a fair crack of the whip shortly) so my expectations of this mascara were not high. I was proved wrong by a fantastic formula this curling mascara provides - especially to someone who doesn't often bother to manually curl lashes. Have you tried it yet?

Bourjois Smokey Stories Eyeshadow Quad in Good Nude* link
The Good Nude eyeshadow quad from Bourjois is something of a perpetual favourite for me. If I'm ever in doubt of what eyeshadow to wear or need to ensure I have something to rely on in my make up bag this is what I reach for. Yes above and beyond many of my high end options. The eyeshadows are wonderful pigmented, apply and blend like a dream and their lasting power is long. I have to consciously remove this quad from my make up bag to ensure others have their chance to shine as I could happily make do with this on a day to day basis. If you like to see my original post and swatches, you can do so here.

eyeCandy Gel Top Coat* link
You may have already read my rave review of the eyeCandy Gel Top Coat here but the love keeps going. Last week I wanted a specific shade of pink which I had in my old Chanel collection I had cast aside to sell (due to chipping; read about that here). I decided to give them another try using the eyeCandy top coat - was it good enough to give more life to my Chanel nail polish? Other than a nail I used when picking a label off of something all others are chip free - I cannot believe it. Whilst I wouldn't necessarily buy a Chanel nail polish in the future at least I can now use and enjoy those I already own.

007 Fragrance for Women* link
The 007 fragrance for women has now earned its place alongside my bottles of Chanel and rightly so. As I mentioned in my original post here I fully expected to turn my nose up at this affordable and 'gimmicky' scent. I was proved very wrong and am reaching for this scent above my Chanel's on a regular basis.

Braun Facial Epilator* link
The Braun epilator received a glowing review last week - read it here - and I claimed it had changed my life. Over dramatics aside I am still using with great frequency and there was major panic one night last week when the batteries ran out and I feared I had none spare. Rarely a day goes by when I do not give some area of my face a once over with this fantastic product. I know some commented they find epilation on the face too painful so I hope to have a review of an alternative coming up in the next couple of weeks - stay tuned.

A-derma Nutrialba Rich Nourishing Cream* link
In January I reviewed this cream in a post about how I'd switched to a heavier moisturiser during Winter to treat skin that was on the drier side. You can read that post here. Since then I had switched it out for other products but then I was struck by a cold and the associated sore nose from constant blowing. I reached for the A-derma cream knowing that in a matter of day any evident soreness and dry patches would have disappeared - a real saviour.

What have been your favourites the past month?

*PR Sample

Don't forget to enter my US  drugstore beauty giveaway here

Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Polish - Enchanting Nightbird Collection

Bourjois 1 Second Nail Polish* link

Bourjois 1 Seconde nail polishes may have changed my life and yes I'm well aware that's rather a big claim for a nail polish. I have mentioned before how I hate waiting for nail polish to dry and that is often why I will postpone painting my nails which leads to whatever is on my nails (if anything at all!) looking in a dreadful state and that of course leads to breakage.

A couple of weeks ago rather than head home for the pamper I had planned I decided to join a friend for an indian takeaway and bottle of red and on arriving home at some ridiculously late hour with full knowledge of an event the next evening I couldn't risk the state of my nails so I reached for shade 11 Rouge* and decided in my wisdom I would paint my nails in bed. 

This wasn't a completely ridiculous plan as I knew that I could happily sit in bed with only tapping away at my iPad for company and therefore allowing significant drying time but I still had the 'danger' of tucking myself under the duvet and the risk of smudging if not completely dry.

Before I tell you whether the Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Polishes were immune to smudging I must comment on the other impressive qualities I discovered. I'm not the most skilled with applying nail colour but the shape and size of the brush is literally perfect. The brush fits my nail shape perfectly and one coat achieves a more than acceptable coverage although I went in for two to be sure.

Come morning I inspected my late night manicure and was overwhelmed that there was not a smudge in place. i was straight on the phone to my friend to recommend the polishes too her as she's often moaned about painting her nails, falling asleep on the sofa and waking up to ruined nails so this is just the thing for her.

Subsequently I've gone in with shade 44 Grey to meet you* which is from the new Enchanting Nightbird Collection for Christmas 2014 and it wasn't a fluke, I happily painted in my usual last minute style and even with a some times hard to work with darker colour I received the same results. It's nice to see a brand launching a new colour for the festive season that doesn't rely on the traditional berry tones and whilst I'm always a sucker for a good red I enjoyed wearing this shade and found it took a different grey hint, whether blue or green depending on the light.

Finally we have shade 45 the Glitterizer (how great a name is that) which reminds me more of confetti you see at New Year than glitter and it's much chunkier which creates a more sophisticated effect and something different to the norm. This is currently available as a free gift in Superdrug.

This range is a great find for me and I'll definitely be adding more colours into my collection. If you're a last minute in a rush girl like me I'd highly recommend them.

*PR Sample

Bourjois Quad Smoky Stories Eyeshadow Palettes Review & Swatches

Bourjois Smoky Stories Quads* link

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend the launch of some festive releases from Bourjois and the stand out product from the range were the Smoky Stories eyeshadow quads. I was particularly excited by these as Bourjois had been my eyeshadow brand of choice back in my clubbing days piling on a dark grey glittery shade from their round potted shadows range. It seems Bourjois is an oldie but a goodie as since getting these new palettes in my hands I have abandoned all other eyeshadow products with Good Nude becoming a firm favourite of mine .

Each quad features a light, medium and dark shade to create a smoky eye along with what they're calling the 'light touch' which is a glittery shade which can be used as either highlight of packed on to give a sparkly look as you transfer your look from day to evening.

L-R: Over Rose, Rock This Khaki, Good Nude and Grey & Night

As mentioned Good Nude has been my favourite but I'm starting to cheat on that with Rock This Khaki which is perfect for this time of year and nice to go outside of the usual comfort zone. Grey and Night is perfect for the traditional grey smoky eyed lovers and I found it easy to work with and no fear of panda eyes. I have since passed it on to a colleague at work who prefers this shades.

The most impressive thing I've found from these palettes is the longevity. I have oily eyelids and always expect some creasing from eye shadow towards the end of the day no matter what primers and such I use but these stick around long after I've left the office which is perfect as we head into party season.

The shades are all well pigmented and blend well together and have me even thinking I'm a master at the smoky eye look. The medium shade is perfect for applying in the crease and I've been using the darker shades as liner by day but can intensify the look in outer corners by night along with the light touch to sparkle under disco lights.

For £7.99 this isn't the cheapest palette nor the most expensive but it's definitely value for money and would be something I could rely on in most eventualities.

If interested you can see photos from the event here.

*PR Sample

#theSOproject // Bronzer

Another week, another #theSOproject post and now things are getting interesting as we start talking about dare I say the fun stuff. We have our fabulous bases thanks to last weeks Foundation post which you can find here and now it's the turn of the products that add colour and life to faces, this week Bronzer.

Bronzer is traditionally used to give our skins a bit of colour . If you want to add a golden or bronze glow to your skin, reach for the bronzer, not your foundation a shade darker.

I've always been a little clueless where Bronzer has been concerned. I'm not sure why, maybe it's my previous inability to apply or at least know how to apply properly or simply picking the wrong shade but there is the fear that I will make myself look less bronzed and more orange.

As you can see from my photo I don't have a heavy stash of bronzers, the first and most used from Clarins which I only brought back in May following my desire to recreate a Tanya Burr tutorial. Since then it is a staple in my make up bag and I tend to apply to the recommended highpoints of my face rather than frantically swirling all over until I resemble an Oompa Loompa. That said sometimes I need a light dusting all over depending on the base I'm using that day.

Of course now we are also using Bronzers for contouring which is when I reach for either the Sleek Contour Kit or my Barry M Natural Dazzle* both being matte and fit for purpose. I won't delve too much into contouring for this post as it's still something I'm getting to grips with and certainly not something I would do on a daily basis.

It's always good to learn from someone else mistakes so here is what I've learnt about Bronzer.

• Your bronzer should only be two shades darker than your natural skin tone which if you choose to go a step further into contouring will help create your blank canvas for contouring.
• Always apply in light coats and build up the colour until you get the look you desire
• Apply to the top of your forehead, your cheekbones and along your jawline forming a 3 shape on either side of the face.
• Choose a matte bronzer rather than one with shimmer if you're masking imperfections

On what Bronzers are on my wishlist because I surely must add to my stash, well of course it goes without saying Nars Laguna (I can't wait to see if this features in numerous posts this evening!) and when I visit the US next month I'm hoping to pick up Tarte Amazonian Clay.

*PR Sample