beauty blog

Ciate Cookies and Cream Paint Pot

2012-02-22T17:31:00.000Z

If you love having your nails painted in nude or neutral colours then look no further. Ciate's Cookies and Cream nail polish represents effortless chic.
It's a light taupe/grey shade that will go with anything and everything. Perfect for daytime, nighttime, work or going out...it's one of those safe and fuss free shades that you can't go wrong with.

My nails aren't exactly in the best shape to be modelling a polish colour but here it goes anyway:

Have you tried it yet?

MAC Mineralise and Face & Body Foundation

2012-02-21T22:14:00.000Z

MAC Mineralise SPF 15 Foundation

I purchased this foundation on a whim, having read absolutely no reviews on it beforehand. I guess that what drew me to it was the fact that it is a cream based product, hence my favourite texture for a foundation.

The texture is indeed one to die for - smooth, creamy and incredibly buttery - thus resulting in effortless blending. It gives medium to buildable coverage, offering a natural looking finish similar to what you'd be able to achieve if using a tinted moisturiser.
It feels moisturising on the skin so it would be ideal for drier skin types.

Although I can't really fault it in terms of it's compatibility with my normal (and at times dehydrated) skin type, I probably wouldn't repurchase this one in the future. It's one of those products that I've been happy to try, do not regret buying but it also hasn't managed to wow me in any way or form. I think that it's purely down to the fact that I have tried other cream based foundations at a fraction of the cost and they have worked just as well if not better.

MAC Face and Body Foundation

MAC's Face and Body Foundation on the other hand was a well researched purchase...and a very overdue one at that. Lured in by promises of a foundation that provides a dewy, moist finish, I knew that it had to be mine. Yes this was indeed an overdue purchase...however I shall from now on ensure that this foundation always remains within my reach.

Face and Body foundation has, as you can tell, made quite an impression on me. I purchased it online and thus hadn't a clue as to what shade to go for. I'm an NC30 and when I e-mailed an artist to help me out with the shade, she had suggested C4. I guess that it wouldn't really matter if you had gone for a shade lighter or darker due to the consistency of this product being so thin, but nonetheless my instinct seemed to be telling me to opt for shade C3 and so I did. C3 seems to be an ideal match and I'll probably opt for C4 in the summer time once I start intensifying my fake tan.
The coverage is sheer but buildable without becoming cakey. Application feels a little weird at first as the product seems to slide around a lot but once it sets it stays put.

This foundation is now officially a staple for me. Perfect for everyday wear due to it's sheer coverage, leaving the skin looking like skin, only better. Being a fan of creamy textures it seems rather weird that a foundation of such a runny consistency could impress me so very much.
However it's all about the finish for me - natural and moist.
So if you're a fan of heavier coverage and a matte finish, I'd suggest you give this one a miss.

Have you tried any of these? Thoughts...

Handy Palettes for your kit!

2012-02-15T17:02:00.002Z

If you're a make-up artist then these very sleek, lightweight and versatile palettes from Maq Pro are sure to come in handy.

Foundation Palette

The palette is flat packed and features six wax based colours that provide a very natural make-up finish which doesn't sit on the surface of the skin. The formula has light-reflecting qualities and leaves a nice glowy sheen to the skin.
Four of the shades work well as all over foundation bases, with the darkest colour coming in handy for the purpose of shading. The lightest shade is great for highlighting or mixing into the darker colours for a lighter effect.
There is also a green corrector colour which is absolutely brilliant at neutralising any red tones in the skin as well as blemishes.

Swatches:

Concealer/Lip/Cheek Petite Multi-Use Palette:

Starting from the top we have a dark neutral brown shade that is great for contouring.
Next is a very pale pink/apricot tone that is used under the eyes to correct dark circles.
In the middle we have the same green corrector (red tone neutraliser) that features in the larger foundation palette.
This is followed by a lilac shade that can be used to counteract a sallow looking complexion.
The last colour is a shimmery golden tone.

The bottom row features tones that make for great lip and cheek colours.

I'm really excited about having come across these handy palettes as there really is so much that you can use them for and they always come in handy at every job. An additional bonus is that they take up so little space!

I believe that these Maq Pro palettes are exclusively available from PAM LONDON and they happen to stock many more varieties...happy days!

P.S. Hope you're all well and it's good to be back blogging!

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector

2011-09-21T21:39:00.000+01:00

B.B. Creams or Blemish Balms are all the rage in Asia. I'd say that they must be doing something right if the perfect looking complexions of Asian ladies are anything to go by.
Hence, I was quite excited to learn that Garnier had released their own version and it was easily accessible, being sold both in Boots as well as Superdrug.

Unfortunately I have yet to try the Asian version of a B.B. cream so I won't be able to compare Garnier's offering to the cult cream - however, those of you whom have tried both, please oh please leave a comment below and let me know what the differences are.

I find Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector to be the perfect no fuss, time-saving multi-tasker. You simply wash your face in the morning and spread this all over your face (just like you would a moisturiser) with your fingers...though I have tried it with a buffing brush and liked that as well. No need for moisturiser beforehand.
The consistency is thick but it spreads very easily.

It blends out really sheer and simply evens out the skin tone. If you've got blemishes or dark under eye circles then you'll need to cover those with your concealer as this cream will not deal with those issues.
It is very hydrating, contains an SPF of 15 and has a bit of a dewy finish.

It's definitely not a substitute for foundation and although I haven't noticed any miracles as of yet, I do enjoy this product and prefer it to that of tinted moisturisers due to its thicker texture.

Will I repurchase in the future? I'd say yes as it's perfect for those days where you're in a hurry and can't be bothered with moisturisers, primers, foundations and your UV protection. Also great for when you just need to nip out to the shops or have nothing else planned than to run a few errands and don't want to spend time getting all glammed up but still want to look a little perfected:)

Yaby Foundations

2011-09-16T14:31:00.000+01:00

My make-up kit was in need of a little revamping within the foundation department so I'd decided that it was time to try out something new. Taking my kit with me on jobs can sometimes be a little too heavy and bad on the back. I've decided that from now on I'll be looking into items that are compact and light.

Yaby, founded by make-up artist Liz Yu, was designed with the working make-up artist in mind. The products are all about providing great quality and taking up minimal space.

Yaby Liquid Foundation

Ivory, Vanilla, Buff, Peach Cream, Honey, Pecan

As you can see these come in little 8ml squeezy tubes. The tip of the tube is removable, allowing you to fill the tube up to 12ml, meaning that you can add in another shade to create your desired colour.
This foundation has a very thin consistency and once applied it mimics the skin's natural texture - seriously - you will not be able to detect it on the skin. The foundation is very layerable without there being any caking in sight. It doesn't sit on top of the skin but melts right in. This is an ideal product for those who love a very light and natural feel to their foundation and have a generally good complexion that only needs a little evening out. Blemished skin types will definitely still need to avail of concealers for more heavy duty coverage.

Yaby Cream Foundation

Ivory, Buff, Honey, Cream

Apricot (corrector), Custard, Ginger Snap, Caramel

The cream foundations come in 30mm refill pans and are actually meant to be placed in a palette. Initially I had purchased four colours to begin with but I was so blown away by this foundation that I'd decided to get four more. Whenever I saw the pan my first thoughts were that I'd use this product up very quickly. However, once you master the application you'll really be surprised as to how little of this product you actually need to use.
Correct application of this foundation is key! Master the application and you'll be delighted with the results.
The key is to scrape a tiny bit out of the pan with a spatula and then to work it on the back of your hand so that it becomes more smooth. Then using a foundation brush (my preferred choice for this product) or a sponge, you take a tiny amount from the edge of the product and start applying using a buffing motion, working a small area of the face at a time. Application takes a little longer than when using your standard foundation, but the results are totally worth it. Just be patient and practice getting it right - I was a little disappointed in the beginning whenever I was applying it the wrong way but now I'm just amazed at how great this product performs. It just makes your skin look perfected.
This cream foundation is incredibly pigmented and although it is a full coverage product, it allows you to achieve either sheer or full cover.

Have you tried any of these?

Sleek Make-up

2011-08-31T00:09:00.000+01:00

I've had quite a hard time getting my hands on this brand. My local Superdrug doesn't stock it and whenever I'd head into a bigger town, all they seemed to have were empty Sleek displays with a few testers and nothing else...very infuriating...and bloody pointless.

There were two items that I was really curious to try out so I just bought them online and couldn't wait to blog about them...

Sleek Pout Paint & Blush

Sleek Pout Paints are dupes for OCC's Lip Tars, although OCC's colour range is way more extensive than Sleek's.
Saturated in colour and intensely pigmented, these need to be applied with caution as very little goes a very long way. I'd also suggest applying them to well moisturised lips as they can feel a little drying and emphasise any dryness.

I got three shades -

Peachy Keen, Milkshake, Minx

Pout Paints can be mixed together to create your own unique shade. They also sell a blue one (Peek-a-bloo) which can be used to add depth and warmth to other colours or white (Cloud 9) which is used to lighten your chosen shade.

Sleek's Peachy Keen is also almost an exact dupe for OCC's Cha Cha:

Left: Sleek Pout Paint in Peachy Keen Right: OCC Lip Tar in Cha Cha

I'm also finding the packaging of the Pout Paint's to be a lot more practical as the lip tar ends get quite messy and result in product wastage.

Pout Paints retail for £5 whereas the Lip Tars are £9 - both contain 8ml of product.

Now onto the blush...

I did of course feed my obsession for peach and got the shade Life's a Peach.

Life's a Peach is a gorgeous, matte pure peach shade and when I first used it, I was delighted to discover that it was almost identical to MAC's Peaches blush - which just happens to be my ultimate favourite blush ever.

In the pan they don't look very similar:

...but when swatched:

Left: MAC's Peaches Right: Sleek's Life's a Peach

I'm delighted with my purchases and can't wait to try some other goodies from this brand. Any suggestions?

Mattes for your lips

2011-08-17T22:25:00.000+01:00

If you're a fan of matte textures then I suggest you check out these little gems from Collection 2000.

Velvet feeling, matte looking and moisturising lip creams - and let me just add that they smell delicious.
These come in four shades: Cotton Candy (pink), Angel Delight (beige), Fairy Cake (coral), Powder Puff (nude).
Cotton Candy and Fairy Cake are bold, bright and perfect for summer. Angel Delight is proving to be my absolute favourite. It's a great neutral shade that's perfect for every day wear and neutral looks...I need to stock up on it! Powder Puff is a true nude and the perfect accompaniment for an intense smoky eye.

These lip creams glide on easily, feel soft on the lips and once they set they create a stain like effect. They're also incredibly long lasting - you'll only need to touch up after eating or drinking - other than that you may rest assured that they won't be going anywhere.
Overall, I truly adore them!

Another bargain that I came across in Superdrug was this lipstick from Beauty UK, retailing at £2.99 (same as the Cream Puffs).

I've walked past this brand countless of times and it's never really intrigued me until I spotted this shade.

It's called "Snob" and my first impression was that it bared a rather uncanny similarity to Revlon's Pink Pout Matte Lipstick (which I love), but when compared with Pink Pout, Snob seems to have a bit more of a lilac hue to it.
The textue is completely matte and the lipstick has a minty scent to it.
This colour is perhaps a little bit too "brave and daring " for my usual look but I seem to be liking it anyway.

Latex Free Make-Up Blending Sponge

2011-08-06T22:18:00.000+01:00

I have never tried out the Beauty Blender as I've always fared well with foundation brushes and couldn't quite justify spending £20 on a make-up sponge. These make-up sponges however retail for £3.99 and are available here in the U.K. from www.love-makeup.co.uk as well as www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk.

The principle for using these is the same as with the Beauty Blender - you need to dampen them, they expand in size and then you work liquid and cream make-up products into the skin by using a bouncing motion. The pointed end is used to apply foundation or concealer around the nose or eyes.

Left: dry sponge Right: dampened sponge

Initially I only purchased one sponge, just out of curiosity and to do a trial run, but after using it only once I knew that I needed more. These are incredibly easy to use and apply liquid and cream foundations like a dream, leaving you with a truly (yes I'll throw in the cliche) flawless finish!

I wholeheartedly recommend these. This might sound dramatic but they will transform the way in which you apply your foundation, helping you achieve a truly natural and well blended finish.

If you've tried the Beauty Blender as well as these then please leave a comment below and let me know how they compare.

Nude Cleansing Facial Oil

2011-07-27T22:12:00.000+01:00

This past while I've been trying out some new cleansers, most of which I've been rather impressed with. I'm not going to mention them all in one post, I'll do a separate one on each...

So to start off...as the post title states...it's Nude Cleansing Facial Oil.

Now I'm sure that you've heard loads and loads about this one - it has after all been labelled as a "miraculous" cleanser. Having read all the wonderful reviews, I'd finally decided to check for myself what all the fuss was about. I do have to say that the fact that it is an oil was the biggest selling point for me. As I have mentioned before - I absolutely freaking LOVE oils - be it facial oils or body oils - I just love smothering myself in them.
I do also keep a little bottle of olive oil in the bathroom that I occasionally like to use as a facial cleanser...works a treat.

Now onto my thoughts regarding Nude's cleansing oil...

The oil should be warmed between the hands and massaged onto a dry face, then a small amount of water is applied in order to form a light milk. As you're massaging the oil into the face you can actually see all the make-up becoming dislodged and melting away. I love the fact that it is completely gentle on the eyes; any cleansers that start irritating and stinging my eyes are a complete no no for me.
It did take me a little while to get used to the scent which is rather difficult to describe...it's not that it's unpleasant...but you do immediately feel that you are using a natural product.

So does it do a great job of cleansing? Hell yeah! This surely is a magnificent cleanser, but I find that I need to use more than the suggested 1 to 2 pumps of oil. I use 3 pumps for the first cleanse and then follow up with 2 more...but I do tend to go rather heavy on the mascara. So around 5 pumps in total me...leaving my face squeaky clean.

Will I continue to repurchase and make this cleansing oil a regular within my bathroom cabinet? Probably not.

Although it is an excellent cleanser that I really can not fault in any way or form, for some reason it has failed to really "wow" or excite me. I feel that there a lot of cheaper cleansers out there that do just as good of a job as this one and cost a lot less. In fact, I feel that I got the same sort of results by using regular olive oil as a cleanser.

Have you been "wowed" by this cleansing oil?

Random Boots stuff...

2011-07-19T23:13:00.000+01:00

I popped into Boots the other day just for a quick nosy and as usual I didn't leave empty handed...no major shopping just three items that captured my attention:

Revlon Nail Enamel in Sunshine Sparkle

This is a very justifiable purchase as I don't own any other yellow nail polish so I'm sort of discovering new territories here:) A great shade for the summer, don't you think?! No sunshine here in Northern Ireland at present so this should brighten up my days. Please excuse the scruffy paint job but I took this pic after about 3 days of wear...

Boots 17 Falsifeye Mascara

Falsifeye claims to create a "false lash effect" look...haven't we heard that one before?...Anyway, believe it or not I did not fall for the promising claims - I just fell for the uber cool, thick, bright pink packaging!!!
What a great looking mascara tube this is:)
The mascara itself ain't too bad either. I wouldn't say that it makes my lashes look like I'm wearing fakes but it doesn't disappoint either.
What the heck, I'll just insert a picture of my eye here so you can see the mascara in action -

As you can see it's nothing mind blowing but I have very short eyelashes anyway so I wasn't expecting a miracle. Overall I'm pleased with this mascara's performance.
At the minute Boots is offering a free gift to go along with the mascara in the form of a gel eyeliner.

Aren't freebies just great?! I didn't actually notice the free gift until the lady at the till informed me about it so that was a pleasant surprise.

Revlon ColourBurst Lipgloss

I got it in the shade Crystal Lilac - Love this gloss, it's absolutely gorgeous!

Super glossy with a natural hint of pink...and here's me wearing it -

Yeah I thought it would be a good idea to take a picture of my reflection in the mirror:)

Have you made any random purchases lately?

Grimas Cream Foundation

2011-07-16T19:27:00.000+01:00

Grimas is a Dutch make-up company that creates cosmetics for professional use and is favoured by face painters, theatres and professional make-up artists around the world. The brand seems to be rather uncommercial and difficult to come across. I discovered Grimas about two years ago, quite by accident actually during one of my many Internet make-up researches:)

My first ever Grimas purchase was an eyeshadow palette - absolutely brilliant - and I'll do a separate post on Grimas eyeshadows pretty soon...

I love cream foundation and it just so happens that Grimas makes a handy palette of 12 flesh tone shades that have been specifically chosen for photographic and beauty make-up. You can also purchase individual pots of the foundation.

This is what the palette looks like:

...and you can also unclasp the little pots from your palette if you wish...

Here are some swatches:

Top row: 1004, W5, B6, B4, B2, B1

Bottom row: J7, J5, J3, J1, G4, G0

So as you can see - no fancy packaging - it's all about the product.

Anyway onto my verdict regarding this cream foundation - I love it!!!

The foundation is unperfumed and an absolute dream to work with due to the ease of application. In fact, I'd say that the application process of this foundation is absolutely foolproof as it is incredibly creamy and thus very easy to blend.

You only need a little to cover the whole face and the results are fantastic. This foundation literally melts into the skin and is virtually undetectable on the skin.

I will most definitely be repurchasing this palette in the future and will probably get a bigger sized pot of my shade for personal use.

If you'd like to learn more about the brand you can check out their product range on www.grimas.com.

I purchase my products from 1st Night either by phone or through www.grimasmakeup.co.uk.

I'm absolutely ecstatic with their great customer service and super fast delivery time - in fact I ordered an eyeshadow palette yesterday and received it this morning!

Have you tried any products from Grimas?

Kryolan Glamour Glow Palette

2011-06-13T23:17:00.000+01:00

Meet the new gem within my make-up kit - Kryolan's Glamour Glow Palette.

Glamour Glow contains an array of eight very practical colours and as the name suggests these serve to create glowing effects on the skin. The palette is however very versatile and can be used as highlighters, bronzers, eyeshadow and blush.

The colours are - top row, left to right: Glamour Tan, Natural Tan, Pale Tan, Blush Mauve

Bottom row, left to right: Blush Peach, Bronzing Summer, Bronzing Sun, Bronzing Agais

The powders have a pearly, satin texture without very obvious shimmer particles. You can achieve either delicate or stronger glow effects depending on the method of application. It's best to apply these delicately, building on the layers as some of these shades can make you look "dirty" or like a disco ball if applied too liberally. When applied carefully, these give the skin a gorgeous, ethereal glow. The fact that the powders are quite hard gives you control over the layers being applied.

Here are a couple of swatches -

top row

bottom row

Have you discovered any great palettes lately?

Bargain Hunting & New Blush Discovery

2011-05-07T12:32:00.001+01:00

Don't you just love bargain hunting at TK Maxx? Now I have to admit that I'm no good at shopping for clothes at TK Maxx as I find it too difficult to find stuff and can't be bothered to ravage my way through all the clothing racks. I do however always make my way towards the
cosmetics section in search of some good deals.

I usually manage to find some stuff that makes me all giddy with excitement like for example -
Nails Inc nail polish at a fraction of the usual price, St. Tropez self-tanning lotion for a tenner instead of the usual and depressing £20.

During my last visit at TK Maxx I came across quite a few Model Co products. Although I'm not at all familiar with their make-up range, which by the way is tested on models and not animals, I do happen to use as well as love their make-up setting spray. Needles to say I picked up another bottle for £7.99 (BARGAIN) instead of the £23 that I'd normally pay for it online - and that is excluding postage and packaging!

Anyway, there was one item that caught my attention big time - a blush in the shade Joie De Vivre 02.

The Model Co Colourbox Blush comes in a cute pink and white two tiered box compact - on top you get the blush and a handy mirror while at the bottom you'll find a brush for applying your blush with.
I however like to use my regular blush brush for application.

So what is it that drew my attention to this particular blush? The fantabulous colour of course!

Joie De Vivre does indeed fill me with joy! The moment I swatched it I knew without any doubt that I was going to buy it. It is a lovely peach shade (and you know how I love my peachy blush) that is very close in tone to Peaches by MAC. I'd say that Joie De Vivre is a little bit more on the orange side.

Index finger: Joie De Vivre Middle finger: MAC Peaches

Left: Joie De Vivre Right: MAC Peaches

Although I can see very minimal and very few tiny sparkles here and there, the blush applies to a matte finish which happens to be yet another plus for me.

The price - while the regular retail price of this blush is £16.00, the TK Maxx price was £6.99 (happy grin).

Have you found any great bargains lately?

The Body Shop Almond Body Butter

2011-05-04T11:25:00.000+01:00

The first time I ever tried a body butter from The Body Shop was a couple of years ago and at the time I remember thinking that it was one of the most amazing body moisturisers around.
A couple of years later my views haven't changed one bit.
The difficulty is however, deciding which butter to purchase as there's so many of them to choose from - Coconut, Vitamin E, Moringa (one of my faves), Mango, Strawberry, Olive...to name but just a few.
I must have stood at the shop for at least 20 minutes just trying to decide which butter to purchase for smothering myself with. At the end I allowed the price to be a deciding factor and opted for the Almond version as it was on sale for half price...oh and I do love almonds.

Almond body butter also contains cocoa and shea butter, making it extra moisturising and perfect for normal and dry skin types. The consistency is as with all body butters - creamy, soft and buttery - very easy to blend into the skin, easily absorbed and super hydrating. You can definitely sniff out the almonds in there but overall the scent is kind of sweet and reminds me of cake icing.

These body butters are great during the winter months and when making the transition from winter to spring as they really help to clear up and soften any dry and rough bits.

Do you have a favourite body butter from The Body Shop?

...on a different note - how do you like this bright pink from China Glaze? It has tiny particles of shimmer in it.

Oddly the shade is called Naked - don't know why...oh well who cares - it's quite a nice shade for the summer.

No fuss nail art

2011-04-25T21:39:00.000+01:00

I finally managed to get my hands on Barry M's Instant Nail Effects some weeks ago.

Initially I wasn't sold on the idea (reminded me too much of chipped polish) but after trying out OPI's Shatter in a salon, the "crackled" effect kind of started to grow on me. OPI's Shatter had flown off the shelves very quickly and became impossible to get hold of, and Barry M's version had also been continuously sold out at my local chemists. When it finally returned to the shelves I didn't hesitate to get it.

Here it is applied over a light pastel pink polish:

Once your base polish has dried you only need to apply one thin coat of this and watch it produce the crackled effect. It looks great on the toes as well - I think that I actually prefer it on the toes as it looks more like a design rather that polish that has started chipping. I'd also recommend applying a top coat over it for a more intense and glossier finish.
As you can see I'm keeping my nails incredibly short as I'm almost finished with the first year of my nail tech course - over the past year I have continuously either had on gel or acrylic nail extentions. I'm giving my nails a bit of a break now and keeping them really short...typing is so much more fun at the minute...:)

While I was sporting some acrylics, I tried out some of the Professional Cut Trendy Nail Wraps for the tips - the set I used was Curly Q.

Can't really explain it but I wasn't too keen on these - I guess the biggest issue was that they didn't suit everything that I was wearing - I'll have to try out another set in the future and see how I feel.

Instant Nail Effects and Trendy Nail Wraps are great options for those keen on nail art but lacking artistic ability, time and patience.

Are you into nail art or are you more keen on a regular one polish manicure or the traditional french?

Face Atelier Ultra Foundation

2011-04-20T19:26:00.001+01:00

Firstly I'd like to start off by mentioning that I'm still here and haven't given up blogging!
Over the last couple of weeks there have been days when I just simply didn't have the time nor the energy to post something or days when I was just too lazy to do so (feeling ashamed). Then having had such a long break from posting, every time I sat down to actually write something I'd just end up getting distracted and figured that another day's delay wouldn't do much harm...and so it led to such a significant time gap...

Anyway, onto the topic at hand -

There's been a bit of a buzz going on regarding Face Atelier's Ultra Foundation - and in my humble opinion, the buzz is very justifiable indeed.

If you haven't yet heard here's what it's all about:

"Ultra Foundation is the heart and soul of FACE atelier – an innovative approach to foundation that allows you to be in control. With a growing cult-following, Ultra Foundation is a silicone-based emulsion that floats on top of the skin, doesn’t crease or flake, and lasts all day long. Hydrating yet oil-free, it obscures tiny lines and pores to ensure a smooth finish. No primer needed! It's built into Ultra Foundation, thanks to the super sophisticated, silicone-based formula. Another bonus - it sets without powder, preserving the youthful, dewy finish.

If you can never find the right shade for you, FACE atelier allows you to infinitely adjust your foundation shade. Add a drop of Zero Plus to go a shade darker, or a little Zero Plus Plus to go deeper still. A splash of Zero Minus will lighten, and Heat adds warmth, creating the shade that’s perfectly right for you."

So a couple of weeks back I ordered samples of all 12 shades from Coco Beau to check and see which would be the most popular ones for my kit.

This is what the sample pots look like and swatches of all 12 shades -

From left to right: porcelain, ivory, wheat, sand, sepia, honey, tan, caramel, toffee, cocoa, mink, sable

A sample pot will last you a couple of applications as a little goes a long way with this foundation and you only need the tiniest bit.

My overall impression - I'm pretty hooked on this formula and really can not fault it, meaning that I'll definitely be committing to a full sized bottle.
Face Atelier has a very silky texture that applies smoothly and easily. It's easy to blend with no streaks and smears. The coverage is medium to high and the great thing about it is that you can build up the coverage in certain areas without it starting to cake.
It feels very light on the skin and the finish is a dream come true for me as it's the sort of thing that I'm always after in a foundation - dewy and luminous.

When wearing this foundation my skin still looks fresh and made up even at the end of the day - please bare in mind that I do have a normal skin type.

So far I'm impressed enough to say that this could very well become a staple in my make-up bag.

I think that this is a great foundation for those -

with normal, dry or mature skin types
who like a multi-tasker and aren't bothered with incorporating a primer into their make-up routine
who don't like powdering or can't be bothered to do it
who like the dewy, luminous look

Have you tried this foundation yet - what are your thoughts?

Revlon Photoready and ColourStay

2011-03-23T20:01:00.000Z

Over the last couple of weeks I've taken advantage of some of the 3 for 2 offers from Boots and decided to continue experimenting with liquid foundations, which wouldn't normally be my foundation texture of choice as I prefer cream based ones.

I picked up 2 foundations from Revlon - Photoready and ColourStay - I know that these are probably old news to most but what can I say...I'm just a slow coach:)

Revlon PhotoReady

I had read a lot about this one and very often the reviews haven't been all too positive. The issue that most people seem to have with it is that it contains shimmer particles. You won't really be able to see the shimmer when swatching the foundation in the store so it can be quite baffling and leave you thinking "what on earth is everyone complaining about"? Once the foundation has been applied to the face you'll only be able to detect the shimmer if you have a close up look in the mirror especially on a sunny day - so no biggie if you live in a place with gloomy weather...:)

I think that I was drawn to trying out this foundation for two reasons - first was the fact that it has an SPF of 20 and second were the shimmer particles which everyone seems to detest but that's because I have normal skin and like making it look shiny...

The foundation itself has great packaging due to it's very easy to use pump. It dries to a satin matte finish and provides medium coverage. Bare in mind that the sparkles are apparent in the sun so if you don't like that sort of thing then stay away from it. It does help however if you keep the foundation standing upright all the time thus allowing the shimmer to settle more towards the bottom of the bottle.

Revlon ColourStay

Revlon's ColourStay foundation is available in two formulations to suit Normal/Dry and Oily/Combination skin types. It is a long lasting foundation which seems to have gained a lot of fans around the world and has been compared to quite a few high end foundations out there but happens to be a bit more purse friendly.

ColourStay smells a bit funny - a lot of people compare the scent to that of paint - I however don't seem to mind the smell and actually quite like it. However the smell is not very long lasting and disappears soon after application.
The big downside to this foundation is most probably the packaging which is just a simple glass bottle with no pump.

You need to be quite careful when pouring it out and I assume that it's also going to be difficult getting the last bits out once it nears the end.

The foundation has a thick texture and provides matte coverage. It dries pretty quickly and can thus be a tad too difficult to blend so fast application is required. I like to apply it either with my fingers or a foundation brush.

ColourStay seems to stay on all day on my skin but then again I don't seem to have much problems with the lasting power of other foundations either as my skin doesn't really have any oily zones.

Have you tried PhotoReady or ColourStay - which do you prefer as I can't seem to decide?

Bourjois Round Pots of Eyeshadow

2011-03-09T21:41:00.000Z

I know, I know! I haven't posted in ages (guilty face) so it's great to finally get around to it...things have just been quite hectic but in a positive sort of way...I really need to start blogging more often!

If you've been visiting my blog during my absence then thank you very much for your patience!
Anyway, to get back into the swing of things, here are my thoughts on two lovely eyeshadows that I've been reaching for quite a lot lately.

Although Bourjois Round Pots have been around for ages, I purchased my very first two pots of Bourjois eyeshadow about two weeks ago as I've always found them to be a bit of a "hit and miss" sort of product.
When swatching them at the drugstore I've found a lot of these eyeshadows to either be poorly pigmented, too glittery or gritty in texture. There have been some exceptions though - and I purchased two colours that I would gladly recommend from this brand.

Shade 08 - a creamy beige, champagne sort of colour and Shade 74 - a rich plummy brown.

swatch of nr 08

I find shade 08 to be such a great bridal sort of colour. It works great on its own all over the lid or as a highlight colour. I love, love, love it!

swatch of nr 74

I use shade 74 all over the lid and up to the crease. It's just a really modern and chic plummy brown.

Both of these have a very creamy, soft and smooth texture as well as great pigmentation. I'll probably get another pot of 08 just in case cause I've been using it daily and I wouldn't wanna run out...

Let me know which round pots are your faves?

Barry M Nail Paint in Red Glitter

2011-02-20T21:30:00.000Z

I popped into Boots and Superdrug yesterday with the intention of getting myself a bottle of Barry M's Instant Nail Effects only to find out that it was out of stock. For some reason whenever Instant Nail Effects was released I had no interest in it whatsoever but now I really want to get my hands on a bottle...well either the Barry M one or OPI's Shatter which from what I've heard is selling like hot cakes and proving to be rather impossible to get.

Anyway, I didn't leave empty handed as Barry M's Red Glitter polish caught my attention.

For some reason I don't really tend to wear red nail polish but this one was just too hard to resist and I'm really loving it.

I needed two coats to achieve an opaque coverage. The polish dries to a sort of lightly gritty texture.

Those of you whom have tried both Barry M's Instant Nail Effects and OPI's Shatter - is there much of a difference between them apart from the price?

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre

2011-02-19T22:14:00.000Z

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre, also known as the 24 hr miracle cream, has achieved a bit of a cult status and is to be found in many make-up artists' kits.
The cream is a multi-purpose product as in addition to being used as a moisturiser it can also be used as a cleanser, make-up remover, beauty mask and as an after-sun care product. It's moisturising and nourishing formulation is ideal for all ages, skin types, for women, children, babies and for men as a soothing after shave cream.

Lately this has become my day time moisturiser of choice. I use Egyptian Magic as a night time moisturiser for it needs a good few minutes to sink into the skin but Embryolisse sinks right in and is a great base for applying foundation.

When it comes to skin care I like to keep things simple and love a traditional product.

The packaging is simple and nothing out of the ordinary - a metal tube with a screw cap - sort of like a tooth paste...

The texture is very smooth, light, fluffy and great for really massaging into the skin. It absorbs very quickly leaving a non-greasy finish. This is probably why I love using it as a day time moisturiser as there's no need to wait until it's absorbed prior to applying your foundation.
It has a light, subtle flowery scent to it which I find very pleasant - smells rather fresh like a baby product.

Lait-Cream Concentre leaves my skin feeling well moisturised, feeling soft, supple and manages to add a bit of plumpness. I'm seriously hooked on this simple yet effective moisturiser.
Have you given it a go yet?

No7 Skin Illuminator in Peach

2011-02-13T20:58:00.000Z

No7's Skin Illuminator comes in two shades - Peach and Pink. I opted for the peach because as you already know I love all things peach.

This illuminator has been a constant part of my daily make-up routine these past two weeks and I won't be growing tired of it any time soon as it's great at achieving that dewy look without going overboard.

Here's a swatch of the colour:

...and blended out:

I've been wearing it in a couple of ways -

mixed into my moisturiser or foundation
applied all over the face after my moisturiser and before application of foundation
dabbed over the cupid's bow, brow bone, cheek bones and bridge of the nose

Whatever way I happen to apply this illuminator, I just LOVE the results.
It's great for putting some luminosity into my skin and giving a really nice subtle glow.

I do however HATE the packaging! It comes in a tube with a brush at the end that the product comes out of.
To use you need to turn the nozzle to the ON position and gently squeeze the product out.

The only problem is that once you gently squeeze the tube, the product still squirts out like crazy so it's best to press the brush against your hand to prevent too much of the illuminator from coming out.
It's also essential to remember to turn the nozzle back to the OFF position once you've finished using it.
This is something I forgot to do during the first use - I won't be making that mistake again!
The next time when trying to get the lid off I wasted a lot of product cause when opening it you're holding the tube and squeezing it which results in a messy lid, brush and a lot of product which you'll need to scoop out from the lid.

...and this is how messy it ends up looking:

Overall this is a great product which could really benefit from better packaging. I will however continue to put up the inconvenient packaging for the sake of achieving a lovely, healthy looking glow.

What are your favourite illuminators?

Maybelline The Eraser Foundation

2011-02-05T20:16:00.000Z

When it comes to foundation I like using cream based textures and something that is going to give my skin a bit of a glow or sheen as well as keep it moisturised. I get this sort of result from one of my favourite foundations which I use on a daily basis - Leichner's Camera Clear Tinted Foundation. Due to the fact that Leichner's offering ticks all the boxes for me, I don't tend to be on the lookout for other foundations out there.

I did however grab myself a bottle of Maybelline's Eraser Foundation - and no it's not because of the soft and cuddly looking applicator head - but simply because it contains an SPF of 18 and my current day time moisturiser of choice hasn't got an spf in it.
So on those days when I know that I'm going to be out and about, I alternate Leichner with Maybelline's Eraser to keep myself protected from the scorching rays of Northern Ireland's sun...hope you're sensing the sarcasm here:)

Here's what Maybelline has to say about The Eraser:

Go beyond covering lines – instantly erase the look of creases, crow’s feet and fine lines. With an applicator exclusively designed to apply the super-concentrated formula, The Eraser instantly fills and smoothes the look of imperfections.

The Eraser Secret:

Exclusive Micro-corrector applicator fills and smoothes the look of imperfections.
Super-concentrated formula enriched with Goji Berry & Collagen helps tighten & improve skin elasticity.
Instantly erases the look of crow's feet, fine lines and dark circles.

Directions for use:
•Slowly turn the red neck of the bottle in direction of arrows until foundation begins to appear.

•Apply foundation directly to face, blending with the applicator in an outward motion as needed.

•For best results, apply sparingly.

•To apply more, twist neck of applicator 1-2 clicks at a time.

•Directions for cleaning: The Eraser formula is protected with an anti-microbial system.

•Do not wet applicator. Wipe off excess foundation with dry tissue only.
I personally don't use the fluffy applicator head for working the foundation into my skin but tend to apply several swipes across my face and then either blend out with my fingers of buff in with my e.l.f. powder brush.
Initially I couldn't really make up my mind as to whether or not I liked this foundation much but gradually it started to grow on me.

The key is, as stated by Maybelline, to apply sparingly. This foundation has a light texture and it can be tempting to reapply more to certain areas which only makes it sit on top of the skin.
When you first start to blend this foundation it feels a little slippy and seems to slide all over the face but once blended in it stays in place.

The Eraser has a light, sheer texture and coverage with the formula being somewhat brightening - it seems to lift my complexion making it look less dull which is what I love about it as I can really see the difference throughout the day when wearing it...can't really put my finger on it but my face seems to look sort of fresh...if that makes sense.

As for erasing crows feet and fine lines - can't vouch for that as luckily I haven't got those yet.

Have you tried The Eraser?

EcoTools

2011-01-30T21:11:00.000Z

EcoTools - the tools for earth friendly beauty...I've been eyeing these for ages and don't quite know why I never gave into making a purchase sooner...

The brushes feature:

a highly sustainable bamboo handle
100% cruelty-free, soft taklon bristles
recycled aluminium ferrule
reusable storage pouch

I've got three eco brushes but I'm really keen on trying out more. The ones I have are:

eye shading brush -

The bristles are flat and firmly packed. I use this one for packing eyeshadow colour onto the lid and it's also great for concealing and highlighting the under eye area.

eye shadow brush -

I think that this brush is meant to be an improved version of the eye shading brush (above) - at least that's what it says on the pouch - "Improved Cut & Application".
The bristles are a bit more fluffy making it easier to blend with. It works great for highlighting the brow bone or adding an all over colour to the lid.

Here are the two eye brushes side by side:

Left: eye shading brush Right: the improved eye shadow brush

bronzer brush -

Oh my eco bronzer brush, how do I LOVE thee...!!! I'll definitely be getting another one of these as it is just amazing. The bristles are densely packed and so so incredibly SOFT! It's such a pleasure to use. You need to use with a light hand though as it's all too easy to get too much product on. I've been using it with both cream and powder bronzers and I couldn't be happier.

All three of my eco brushes are very soft and great quality so I'm really looking forward to trying other ones from the series.
If you've tried them then I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Colour Blend Foam

2011-01-26T22:26:00.000Z

Clairol's Nice 'n Easy Colour Blend Foam promises to make colouring an experience to look forward to due to its foamy consistency and non drip formula.

Personally I detest permanent hair dyes as I can't stand the stink that comes with the territory. However I was keen on trying out this one as it promised a clean and effortless application.

So fully prepared to embrace the unpleasant smell I got all set up and followed the instructions:

...and so I mixed and shook the hell out of the bottle...gave it a squeeze and out came a stinky, rather beer-like smelling blob of runny foam. I applied it to my hair only to have it drip down my forehead and also onto the floor...no drip formula huh?

In order to get a foamy consistency you need to shake the bottle intensely before each and every squeeze which is rather annoying and quite messy as the dye goes all over the place.

Overall I'm not impressed and in the future will pass on this latest offering from Clairol. It's only saving grace has been the conditioning gloss (you get two sachets) that accompanies this product as it smells divine and leaves the hair looking shiny and feeling soft.

Have you tried this foam formula and how did you find it?

Bloggywood Awards - Vote for your Favourites!

2011-01-23T12:27:00.001Z

One of my blog followers Olivia informed me the other day that she'd nominated me for a blog award. I was over the moon and in complete and utter shock that anyone would actually consider my blog for such a thing.

I'd like to thank all of my followers and readers for checking out my blog and commenting - I'm still finding it hard to believe that people actually read the stuff I write...and I get really happy and excited whenever I see any sort of comments - so thx for your support!

Anyway, if you'd like to nominate any blogs then here are the rules:

Post about this award and copy the rules. Link the person that had tagged you.

Choose 3 - 5 Blogs you would like to tag and link them too. Leave them a comment on their blog that you've linked them.

Important: This award is for unknown blogs or the ones that are starting out.

This is a great idea as it helps to promote the newer or less popular blogs that really need more traffic. There are no prizes to be won - just good old recognition.

My award goes to:

Into the Palette - this is Olivia's blog, I'm nominating her cause she introduced me to this great idea. Check out her blog as she puts a lot of work into it and shares very in-depth make-up how to's and step by step demonstrations.

Kranberrie's Juices - another lovely girl who's very dedicated to her blog. She shares her life, dreams, ideas, recipes and whatever else grabs her fancy...

Skyla Arts - a very talented make-up artist and photographer. Be sure to check out her fabulous work!

D.A.D.M - a very interesting blog that provides a lot of posts detailing researched info regarding beauty products. I loved his "beauty myths debunked" posts.

Hope you guys will get involved as well and have fun giving out those awards!