A Little Tint

For a long time to me foundation has meant completely getting rid of flaws, imperfections and creating a new base.  I have a lot of dark areas on my face which is something I developed from adult acne.  So normally I would reach for a foundation that gives me a medium/full coverage and then cover-up with concealer and touch-up with powder.  Over the past nine months I have really invested my time (and money) on a skincare routine and feel my skin has really improved and lately have been thinking that I could get away with wearing a lighter foundation and just touching up on my imperfections with concealer. 

 

I mentioned in a previous post that I visited the Laura Mercier counter, where I was originally looking for their Silk Crème foundation, but was kindly introduced to their Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20 Oil Free in Walnut. Its described as "...the perfect blend of skincare and makeup...", this give my skin a really light coverage, almost even coverage and any imperfections I cover up with concealer.  Throughout the day my skin looks normal and stays oil-free for at least 8 hours, which is great cause this means my face doesn't start to slide off and I don't feel like I am wearing a mask towards the end of the day.  And a new plus + its got an SPF20 which helps protect my skin form the sun, this is something I have never really been to concerned with, but in my old age any anti-ageing benefits are good to me. 

 

But seriously I really like this, I love the way skin still feels like my skin and I still look really natural.  I think this is going to become a staple in my make-up bag and I would definitely recommend.

 

Are there any Laura Mercier Foundations you like or is there another tinted moisturiser you would recommend.

Little Beauty Haul #1

 

There was a day lady week where I was footloose and child free. I took full advantage of this a trip into Colchester, which is about 20 mins from where I live. I am an only child so I really enjoy my own company and love, love, love shopping on my own and I kinda knew what I wanted so knew what shops to hit. First was William & Griffin, is a department store (part of the Fenwick Group) and I have been wanting to get my hands on Laura Mercier Silk Creme so I headed straight for that counter. I was served by the best sales women who I had the best time with. She advised me that the didn't make the Silk Creme in my colour range (boo!!) but colour matches me to their Tinted Moisturiser SPF20. I was with here for quite a while but she was fab and I was able to try a few other products too. Then I popped into Topshop, there is a small TS where I live but they don't have makeup and I have heard so much about their range but viewing online is different to what you actually see, so I invested in one of their crayons. My final stop was Boots where they had such a big range of the Real Technique Brushes. I got the blush brush with my points, I have been want this for ages and I must say points well spent. Then I took advantage of their 3 for 2 promotion and got the Real Technique Shading brush, Revlon Girly polish and Barry M Gelly polish in Plum. I was there for just a short time but feel I spent my time wisely and was very happy with my purchases. I am sure full reviews will be up as soon as...

I am going to enjoy the rest of my Easter now, I hope you guys are making the most of you long weekend. Until next time xo

No.7 Foundation Match Made Service... Ta Dah... Oh?!

Source

Long time, no blog...

Sorry I have been abit MIA but, I have been really busy at work, then I was ill and then everyone else in my house hold was ill, so I had to play nurse.

Anyway I am back and I want to share with you my thoughts on some of my new purchases. 

Here in the UK there has been a little buzz with the new No.7 Foundation Match Made Service.  I was desperate to see how this worked and would pop into Boots in my lunch break to get my foundation match but, would always be met by a long ques of women waiting to take their turn in the chair.  Finally on my day off I got my chance to sit down with one of there lovely assistants who placed their machine on my jaw line on each side of my cheek to discover my perfect foundation and colour matched me with Walnut.  We discussed what my skin type was like and what I was really looking for in a foundation and she suggested the Stay Perfect Liquid.  When applied it gave me medium coverage and a semi matte finish, its long lasting (up to 16 hours) and left my skin feeling nice when touched... Sold! 

When I got home it was a different story, when applied to my whole face my skin looked lifeless, dull and ashy.  I think the problem is that there are only two shades for darker skin tones and the machine and the assistant just worked with what they had and this just wasn't right for me.  Which is a shame because my experience good, I really liked the glass frosted packaging and was really happy with the aftercare service when I told them of my complaint. 

Technology is great but you cant beat the old fashioned way of going int a store, blending there foundation into your jaw line, stepping outside into natural daylight with a mirror and seeing if you have got a good colour match... For me anyway I am part of that 8% who was not satisfied.

Have you tried the new No.7 Foundation colour Match Made Service?  What did You think?

This or That Tag

I was recently tagged in a 'This or That' post by misslaceyloves and thought why not join in as it a fun way for you to get to know me a little bit more.  I was given 13 'This or That' questions about makeup and I also threw in a couple more in the mix.

Makeup

1.   Blusher or Bronzer

I have to admit that I have a thing for blushers, I am usually drawn to bright pinks but I recently discovered Flushed by Sleek Makeup which is more of a plumb colour.  I use my blush brush to sweep this powder formulation over my cheeks, which give me a warm look and I think it suits m skin tone perfectly. 

2.   Lipgloss or Lipstick

Mmmm this is a tricky one as I prefer coloured lip balms because I have got dry lips I find the more hydrating, so I am not sure what category they fall into?? My coloured lipbalm/stain of choice is Revlon Just Bitten in Lovesick review.  I love it as it is a lush colour, hydrates my lips and stains my lips all day long.

3.   Chapstick or Lipbutter

I do always have something hanging around but I am going to have to choose lipbutter(ish).  I cant tell you enough how much I like Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm (actually I can review).  I apply this matte lip treatment at night and wake up with lovely feeling lips.

4.   Matte or Sparkle Eye Shadow

At the moment I use a little bit of both, I put Barry M Dazzle Dust in Bronze all over the lid and No7 Stay Perfect Matte Mocha is blended into the crease of my eye.

5.   Eyeliner or Mascara

This one is easy... Once upon a time my bf told me that I have got little eyelashes like a pig (romantic, eh), anyway this has stayed with me so I pile on the mascara.  At the moment I am using Bad Gal Lash by Benefit in Black and am tempted to try their They're Real! Beyond Mascara in Black.

6.   Gel, Liquid, Cream Pencil Eyeliner

I have them all but I always use pencil in black and I just use one from Collections that seem to do the trick, it precise and smudges well. I apply this to my top lid the smudge/blend for a more natural line. 

7.   Foundation or Concealer

Foundation gives me a good, all over, even coverage.  I have a few foundations but the one I like using at the moment is Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat in B90 review.  Excellent coverage leaving me with a even skin tone. 

8.   Liquid or Powder Foundation 

See Above.

9.   Neutral or Statement Eyes 

Neutral eye during the day and smokey statement eyes for the evening.

10.   Pressed or Loose powder

I use pressed for that finished look as I always drop some powder on my light carpets. 

11.   Waterproof or Non-Waterproof

Waterproof all the way as there is no movement and I have a fantastic makeup remover. 

12.   Brushes, Sponges or Fingers

I have a (OCD) thing about makeup being on my hands so I use brushes as I think sponges are a little unhygienic.

13.  Powder, Cream or Liquid Highlighter

I don't really use highlighter, I do own the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat in Dark but it doesn't really do anything for me as I think I got a shade that was too dark for me and I after that Kim Kardashian look. 

14.   Eyebrow Pencil or Powder

When I am in the mood I try to go for the 'Scouse Brow' and I try to achieve this by using Mac Eye Brow in Stud.  I flick it through the brow and then brush my brows for a natural look.  Its great cause there is no need for a sharpener as you just twist the end. 

15.  Fake Eye Lashes or Eyelash Curlers

I do use eyelash curlers more often but as I have 'little piggy' eyelashes I am going to go with fake, fake, fake... There is a girl at work with amazing eyes lashes and after grilling her about them she recommended a really cheap pair for just £1.99 from Just Eessentials and they are 100% human hair.  They look amazing on I got them in short, I will review soon.

Le Teint Touche Eclat New Foundation

This foundation is Yves Saint Laurent latest edition to their Touche Eclat range.  I have been hearing the buzz about this foundation for a few weeks now, so I went to my local department store and picked up a sample.   There are 22 shades available and I got shade B90, the shade is a little darker that I would usually wear but my skin is a little darker with it being summer. during the winter months I think I could probably get away with wearing B80 or even BD70.  The light of Touche claims to:

'... target shadowy areas and highlights the contours of the face. With no opaque powders, its perfecting texture evens the complexion and helps conceal your imperfections, while enhancing your skin’s natural beauty. Illuminating foundation. Dimensional radiance. Weightless perfection.'

This is a light formula with medium coverage, I have pigmented areas of my skin and this really did even it out giving me an even skin tone. I blended this into my skin using my finger, I didn't get that heavy feeling you sometime get, almost like you are wearing a mask.  My skin felt flawless for most of the day, I did get that congested feeling towards the end of the day, but I think that maybe due to my skin being really oily at the moment.  The first day of wearing this foundation a women approached me to tell me that show thought I had flawless skin and how lucky I was, so I had to let let her in on the YSL foundation (should be a rep'), and was left feeling fantastic for the rest of the day.  This is something I will definitely be purchasing the full size of.

This is avaliable in all good department store link and online RRP £28.

What are your thoughts on the YSL range?  Have you tried Le Teint Touche Eclat New Foundation?

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable - Lovesick

Hi Guys,

I wanted to share a little beauty buy I made the other day before work.  You may or may not know that Revlon, Just Bitten Kissable has finally arrived in the UK.  I don't want to say it, but they are the high street dupe of Clinques, Chubby Stick Lip Balm and in my opinion they are much better.  I picked up Lovesick to describe the colour it is like a fuchsia pink, which is very adventurous for me.  It was that or Crush which I felt I already had a few variations of this colour already and felt like a change. 

This is really easy to apply, I apply it to one lip and then rub my lips together and then apply to the other and then repeat as I feel this give me even coverage.  I am left with hydrated, smooth, tingling, fuchsia tinted lips.  I think the tingle comes from the smell of soft mint which I quite like and think that this also encourages me to pout more too.  The colour on my lips is exactly the same as the stick and this is amazing to me because I have dark lips so expected the colour to change once on, but it didn't so I am happy.  This is a stain so once the balm has worn a little my lips still have that hint of pink on them. I love the packaging, but the content doesn't really reflect the size of the pencil, which is abit of a shame.  This currently available to buy in the UK from Superdrug and Boots at an introductory price of of £5.99 (RRP £7.99).  Grab them while you can they are a steal. 

Have you tried the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable? Or any other lip stain?

My Week #1

Hi Guys,

First I would like to say a big THANK YOU for coming over to look at my blog!  I get so excited when I see how many of you have had a look and I have had views from all over the world so I know that they haven't all been just me (tehe).

What have I been up to so far this week?  Well...

1.  I worked my notice of my job  and I am now enjoying a week off, so I am currently 'inbetween jobs' as I start my new one on Sunday.  That job has to be the shortest on record I lasted 8 weeks, which I am not very proud of cause I usually stick at things no matter what but, I just could shake the feeling that things were not right.  So I got out quick!  I am trying to look at everything positively and believe that I learned a massive lesson about that short lived experience and that's I would have realised my worth and that I can do great things. 

2.   I bought some goodies... well actually I traded in some of my tatty old silver jewellery for a second-hand ring which I saw on Cherry Healey while watching her programme How to Get a Life (I know copycat).  I also got a silver stags head broach that I have had my eye on since January, I love it and will pinit to my beloved fur coat I got as a Xmas present a few years ago from River Island.  

3.   I had some money left over from my sale and popped into Boots and picked up a Collections 2000 eye liner in black because I had seen this and wanted to try a recreate the look with shades that suited my skin tone.  I will let you know how I get on with this as I think that its gonna be fun.    Also I picked up a  pot of Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm I saw this on Megs blog but I will post my own review and let you know what I think of the balm after using it a couple of times, my views are positive at the moment.

4.  Finally the bf has jetted off to France for a few days so as punishment I have given him a list of things to bring back with him so I will let you know if he comes good. 

I am learning so much from my short time of blogging and reading up loads trying to improve the look and hope to learn more.  I hope you guys have had a good week to!!  Let me know what you have been up to.