Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

There was a time when a well performing and budget friendly foundation was but a dream. Drugstore (or pharmacy, here in the UK) brands have seriously upped their game when it comes to base products. With most brands having at least one 'good' foundation that you can go for. My love for Bourjois products is well documented on the blog, so I'll save on just how much I love the brand and get straight into the foundation.

Healthy Mix Serum is, for me, the perfect lazy foundation. What I mean is that on the days where I have zero energy for standing at my bathroom mirror and applying my makeup I can even out my skin and make myself look more alive in a few seconds. I prefer this foundation when applied with fingers, one pump smoothed over my skin and I'm good to go. It leaves the skin very plump and glowing, making it perfect for days when you are feeling tired and your complexion looks a little dull as a result. In terms of longevity, I find that it lasts all day without touch ups and wears well. My skin is fairly normal, with a little oiliness across my nose and I don't find that it wears unevenly across that area.

This is a blogger cult favourite as far as foundations go, but with good reason. This is bottle number 4 (I think) for me and I think I will always have it in my drawer for days when I feel that I need a little boost.

Have you tried this foundation yet? What do you use on lazy days, if anything?

Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer

Concealer is a tricky one to get right. Too thick and you look caked and draw even more attention to what you are trying to hide. Too thin and it doesn't cover anything. I personally like a concealer with a touch of light reflection in it to brighten my skin. That being said, there are plenty which have too much in the way of light reflectors making them more suited to the job of a highlighter rather than a concealer. 

A favourite of mine right now is Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer. This concealer is a liquid form and has a little doe foot applicator. It has the perfect balance between thick and thin as well as illuminating and flat. I particularly love this when used under my eyes, I like to apply it using the applicator by dotting it 3 or 4 times along the contour of my orbital bone and then use my fingers to pat it in.  

It pairs beautifully with the Bourjois City Radiance foundation which I wrote about here. I have also used it with more full coverage foundations and thought that it looked great. It is my go to concealer when I am not wearing foundation, though. The shade 'light' which I wear conceals my dark circles and any imperfections and blends seamlessly into my skin. It looks so fresh and natural and I can't recommend it enough for those days where you just want a little bit of help and don't want to wear lots of heavy product. 

Have you tried this concealer yet? What did you think? 

July 2016 Favourites

My favourites are looking pretty in pink this month! I promise that it wasn't intentional! I have decided to add a monthly favourites feature to the blog. As I am sharing things which I love and recommend I thought that this would be a worthwhile addition as I don't review everything that I use on a daily basis. I wouldn't have enough time to write and use everything! So in the favourites you may see some products which I have already mentioned or you might see full reviews creeping up at a later date. This is the quick fire round of what I have been reaching for this month. 

Soap and Glory Rich & Foamous Body Wash
As far as cheap bath and body products go, I think that good old Soap and Glory are hard to beat. This body wash smells amazing. It is the same, nutty, sweet and utterly edible fragrance as my favourite ever body scrub (Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub). Very moisturising, lathers beautifully and makes me want to eat Nature Valley Oats and Honey granola bars. Yum. 

Nuxe Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals

I have been using this as my first cleanse and my morning cleanse. It removes my makeup well and leaves my skin feeling very refreshed. This has a very potent rose fragrance, which I love but if you are not big on the scent of roses then it might pose a problem for you. It smells quite old fashioned in a way in which I find to be quite charming. 

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer

I rediscovered this product when clearing out my beauty drawer a few weeks ago. I had a supersize which I used up completely at around Christmastime and I forgot that I had a couple of 75ml tubes lurking about. I use this as a once weekly treatment, pre-shampoo on dry hair. It gives the hair a great shine and helps to combat split ends and breakage. If it was good enough for Audrey Hepburn, then it's good enough for me. 

L'Oreal True Match Blush 120 Rose Santal

A beautiful dusty pink blusher which looks very natural on blonde, fair skin. A very slight iridescence which gives the skin a subtle glow as well as colour. Formula-wise this is a very smooth, velvety powder which applies evenly and builds up with ease. 

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Correcting Serum 

This is a lightweight, non-sticky serum which is designed to, over time, improve the skin texture, tone and pore size. While I haven't noticed a dramatic difference, I do like the instant blurring effect that this has on the skin. It leaves the skin feeling very comfortable and smooth before moisturiser. 

Dior Lip Glow 001

This is a very comforting tinted lip balm which reacts with your own lips to give a natural pink flush. It's perfect for 'no makeup, makeup' days as it gives you the polish of a colour without looking overdone. It has an SPF10 which I think is lacking in a lot of lip products so it is one that I like to use in the sun too. 

So that's it for my favourites for July 2016! What have you been loving this last month?

Revolution Flawless Palette

Revolution have been mentioned on the blog before here. Since then, they have continued to grow. Admittedly, as they grew I fell by the wayside for a time. As happens with makeup, my products rotated and for some reason Revolution was somewhat forgotten. That was, until, I stepped in the very shiny Superdrug on Argyle Street one (very expensive) lunch hour. 

For a start, when did that store get so pretty? I may have missed the memo but it has had a complete over-haul and the makeup aisle in particular is so clean, tidy and beautiful. Of course my purse was going to end up a lot lighter. So, upon perusing the makeup stands I came to face Revolution, at which point I remembered how much I liked the products that I had used before and decided to grab a few more items to use. My favourite being the Flawless Eye Palette. If you know me, you know that I find it very difficult to resist a neutral eye palette. I love that they suit any eye colour, skin colour, hair colour and outfit. It is such an easy and pretty much fail-safe option. You never look back at old photographs and say 'What was I thinking with that NATURAL eye makeup?!'.

To the palette. Priced at £8 for 32 shades it is a steal. The colours are well pigmented and not too chalky as you find with some budget eye shadows. What I really love about this palette is the spectrum of colours that you get. With a great mix of cool-tones, warm-tones, shimmer and matte shades you have everything that you need to create endless looks. I have also dampened an eyeliner brush and used the black shade as a liner. You do have a small selection of more daring colours, such as a navy blue and burgundy which make this a perfect travel palette. It is slim and compact considering the number of shadows that you have in the palette and there is a huge mirror. You could easily carry this in your hand luggage and not have to pack any more eye shadow. For a holiday, this has everything that you would need.  

Have you tried this palette yet? What do you think?

B. Powder Brush

Makeup only looks as good as the tools it is applied with. As a general rule, I tend to stick to 'you get what you pay for' with regards to brushes. While there are some exceptions on either end of the price spectrum, this find is definitely a worthwhile budget purchase. 

Sueprdrug's B. Powder Brush comes in at £9.99 and is often on a 3 for 2 or buy one get one half price deal. So even better value for money if you have a few things to pick up! 

The brush itself feels well made and sturdy. It is lighter in weight than higher priced alternatives but the brush head itself is actually better than some premium brands that I have tried in the past. The 100% Synthetic hair (the brand is cruelty free) feels so soft on the skin. It picks up just the right amount of powder and when you gently roll the brush and product across the face to set you get an even deposit of product and no hair fallout. I have had this brush for about 3 months now and have had no hair fallout at all. Top marks from me, Superdrug. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar 3 Step Anti-Blemish System

Generally, I have good skin. The odd spot here and there and the usual cluster of blackheads across the nose. Nothing major. My skin seemed to rebel against me as I left the beauty industry. I am still clueless as to the trigger, but a few weeks ago my skin went haywire. 

At one point I had 8 spots across my chin alone and I had hard lumps where the pores across my cheeks had blocked. I initially thought that I would ride it out, my skin was obviously not happy with something and it would clear up on it's own. When I found myself picking at the blocked pores on my cheeks while watching Will & Grace (how great is that show?) I knew that I had to do something. 

French Pharmacie brands seem to have the answer to just about everything. I knew exactly what I wanted - non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and something to sooth. After a dig around online I opted to order the La Roche-Posay Effaclar 3 Step Anti-Blemish System to try and treat the issue. It ticked all of my boxes and was well recommended. 

In the box, you have your 'cleanse, tone, moisturise' regime which all work together to combat oily and blemish prone skin. Now, I purchased this knowing that is was made for oily skin. My skin is normal, I can sometimes have a little oil across my t-zone but never enough to make me reach for 'oily/combination' skincare products in the past. I took a gamble on this as it is for oily and sensitive skin. 

As the cleanser is soap-free it stops the drying effect that you often get from foaming facial wash. It works to purify the skin of excess oil. Note - excess. This does not strip skin. It also has a pH of 5.5 which is the ideal pH of skin. So while it purifies, it most certainly does not strip. The clarifying toner works similarly to the facial wash, I have had no dryness or tightness after using the cleansing system. I will note that my skin does feel very clean and fresh after using both products. 

After cleaning it is on to using the award-winner of the trio. Effaclar Duo [+] works outstandingly. The combination of ingredients used in this product work to boost the skins renewal process by speeding up natural exfoliation and also work as an anti-inflammatory meaning that any blemishes will be soothed and calmed down. It is a very smooth formula which can be used alone before makeup. I like to apply a non-comedogenic moisturiser on top just to keep my skin well hydrated and it still works perfectly.  

While I have only been using the system for 3 weeks, I have noticed a difference in my skin. The purple-tinged scars on my chin from the 8 spots are healing massively quicker than normal. I have also noticed a difference in the appearance of blackheads around my nose and the little blocked pores that I used to get on my chin. Cleansers and toners are something which I tend to use and then float to something else, but the Effaclar Duo [+] is going to be in my skincare drawer from now on. 

Bourjois City Radiance Foundation - The Anti-Pollution Foundation

The buzz in the beauty industry at the moment is all about protection. Protection from the sun and from pollutants caused by 'city living'. Anti-pollution products are popping up everywhere. Most brands across the beauty hall have been developing products to combat those free-radicals and external aggressors that cause skin dullness, dryness and even accelerated aging. As with all trends in the industry, once the premium brands have explored and developed the necessary technology, the budget brands follow suit and start to produce more affordable options.

Bourjois City Radiance Foundation boasts an SPF30 and promises to deliver a fresh and luminous complexion with a light to medium coverage. All of this as well as 24 hour moisture and an anti-pollution screen (which I'm guessing the Bourjois version of the Clarins Anti-Pollution Complex?). So, with me loving a good budget foundation and getting on with pretty much every Bourjois one that I have tried in the past, I decided to pick up shade 1 - Ivoire Rose and give it a whirl. 

The product certainly feels moisturising, it has quite a thick and creamy texture which leaves the skin feeling very comfortable. I like to apply with either my fingers or a damp beauty blender. Fingers give a lighter coverage and the beauty blender makes it easy to build the coverage where you may need it. It provides a very even base and does help to disguise discolouration on the skin (for me around the nose and chin). 

If you don't like a dewy finish then this is not the product for you. It is a very dewy look that you get with this which helps to make skin look very radiant and full of moisture. While I do not live in a city environment I can imagine that maintaining radiance would be a challenge when spending prolonged periods of time in highly polluted areas. After spending a week in London my skin feels dry and lackluster, even with my arsenal of skincare products. I really think that this foundation would be a great way to fake luminous skin if you live in a highly polluted environment. With that in mind, the foundation doesn't feel at all tacky or sticky once it is on the skin. I do recommend using a light weight powder to set the foundation but even without the foundation does somewhat set itself, leaving it very smooth. 

If you are like me and don't live in a city environment but do like a fresh, dewy complexion then I would definitely pick this up and give it a try. Even if the anti-pollution screen doesn't do much for you, you still have the benefits of a beautifully luminous and moisturising foundation with an SPF30. And it's £9.99. I'd say it's worth a try. 

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm

I don't even want to think about how many lip balms I own. For some reason whenever I set foot in a chemist or place an online beauty order at least one makes it into my basket. Most I can happily use and then leave in handbags, coat pockets and sometimes they even find their way down the back of the couch and while I enjoy using them - I don't miss them. 

Upon a look around the Nuxe stand in M&S I came to find Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm and I recalled seeing it in a Lisa Eldridge video (French Pharmacie Skincare Favourites). I stuck it into my basket and thought I'd give it a go, I always tend to get along with French pharmacy brands. 

Why hadn't I used this sooner? I didn't think that there was much of a difference between lip balm products. This, however, is like no other balm I have used. It is intensely hydrating and yet doesn't have any 'slip' or sheen to it, making it perfect for use before (and on top of) lipstick. It smells totally delectable, with honey and grapefruit oils that help to repair and sooth the lips and the lip contour area. Nuxe even state that this can be used on skin sores and light burns.  

At £9.50 a tub this is a pricey high street lip balm - especially if you have a track record like me for leaving them everywhere. I can say, however, that since I purchased this back in March I have always known exactly where I have left it. Escentual currently have an offer on their French pharmacy brands, so you can pick it up for £6.33 at the moment here. (I discovered that by accident - keep and eye out for some French pharmacy brands over the coming weeks!)

Kiko Long Lasting Shadow Sticks

The last time I was down in London I ventured down Oxford Street one night. I will say it just now - I much prefer Glasgow. Oxford Street on a Wednesday night at 7pm was busier than Buchanan Street at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon. I like it when you can shop with plenty space and not have elbows in your ribs when you try and walk through a door. Anyway, enough of my moaning. I knew that Kiko Milano had a shop on the corner of Oxford Street and Regent Street. Having read so much about their products I wanted to stop by and pay their shop a visit. Elbows at the ready, I ventured into the packed shop and tried to ignore the fact that it was so busy and got playing with some products. 

I managed to keep my cool and left with a selection of goodies to try. The thing that has stuck out the most for me though it the Long Lasting Shadow Sticks. 

I picked up the shades 05 - Rosy Brown and 28 - Bright Ivory. These sticks glide on really easily and blend beautifully. You can create a pretty, soft smokey eye with these two shades together but the are just as flattering when used as a solid colour across the lid. The Bright Ivory in particular is great to perk up tired eyes when teamed with a lick of mascara. Aside from being great shadows themselves, I have found that they make amazing shadow primers for powder eyeshadows as well. They really help to intensify the colour of your shadow and the 8 hour hold that these have means that it holds onto what you apply over the top too! 

Being that the brand is rather inexpensive I will happily grow my collection of these shadow sticks (I'm currently eyeing up shade 36 Golden Mauve). However, I think that I will order them online as I don't plan on hitting Oxford Street again when I'm next visiting London!

Have you tried anything from Kiko yet? What other products are worth trying?

Vanilla Scents

I love a sweet scented perfume. While my ultimate favourite is Jimmy Choo EDP I don't like to wear it as an everyday fragrance. Daft this may sound to you, but I don't really like wearing a 'good' perfume for mundane things, much like days where your hair looks amazing and you have no plans, it seems like a bit of a waste to me. So rather than wearing my more expensive perfume, I look for similarly sweet scents for days where I am working or popping to the shops. 

I first tried The Body Shop's Madagascan Vanilla Flower  about 3 (I think!) years ago and this is now my 5th bottle. Yeah, I quite like this one! This one is my favourite for everyday wear. It is very sweet and smells very warm and welcoming. It is kind of like coming in out of the cold to a warm duvet and a cupcake. It just makes you relax and feel calm. This is a very sweet scent so if you are the type of person who struggles with overly sweet fragrances then I would definitely steer clear of this one. 

I picked up the solid version of Lush's Vanillary before going on holiday to take as my perfume while travelling as I could throw it in my hand luggage and not worry about it using up liquid allowance and I didn't spend the entire flight worrying that glass bottles had exploded in my case in the hold (yes, I am that person). The addition of jasmine to this fragrance does make it quite different from The Body Shop's scent. It gives it a little more complexity which is nice, however I find that I don't get the same satisfaction from this scent. After coming home from holiday this has, I am afraid to say, been demoted to a hair butter. Yes, a hair butter. If you warm some of the product up between your finger tips and rub it into the ends of your hair is works brilliantly at smoothing the ends and does give your hair a nice scent too. It just isn't as nice as Madagascan Vanilla Flower.

All in all, as far as my budget vanilla scents go, The Body Shop are the outright winners. While Vanillary is a good contender for Lush it just doesn't have that same comforting effect on me. 

Which of these two is your favourite?  

Bourjois Chocolate Bronzers

Bourjois Délice de Poudre (i.e. the Chocolate Bronzing Powders) are quite possibly the best cheats way to feeding your chocolate fix. I have always had one of the originals (here) in my collection for years now, the best matte bronzer for contouring and for bringing a subtle glow to my somewhat pale complexion when it was required. When I heard that Bourjois were planning to release a few variations of the products I was very excited. 

Probably my favourite of the trio is the Délice de Poudre Bronzing Powder and Highlighter, half of this is the classic formula bronzer which as I have already mentioned is brilliant for contouring and making you look that little bit more alive (when you are as pale as me, that is a genuine concern!) while the other half of this product is a gorgeous pale highligher which works wonders on the cheekbones and the brow bone. This is also a perfect companion for a travelling makeup bag (use both as eye colours too! Naked palette who?!).

The other addition is more for the more 'done' look. The Délice de Poudre Gold Bronzing Powder is quite shimmery. So looks great on your décolletage for a night out and when used lightly as a highlighter on your cheeks and brow bone. This does have quite a gold tinge to it so it is best to apply it lightly and build it up. It does look very pretty when you have blended it all in and have the rest of your look done. Maybe not the best option to pop to the shops or for going to work though!

Of course both of the additions have the super-soft formula which applies like a dream and have that beautiful chocolate scent that curbs your craving for a little while.

Have you tried any of these bronzing powders? What do you think?    

Bourjois

Every so often, high street makeup brands go on somewhat of a winning streak. I think it is safe to say that at the moment, Bourjois on one of those winning streaks. Pretty much every release that Bourjois have made in the last 12-18 months has been an instant hit not only in my makeup bag but across the beauty world. Everyone is going a little bit crazy over them at the moment and it is understandable why.

I have done a few dedicated review posts on my blog before, my post on Java Rice Powder is still the most popular post on Bonjour Emily. I know that I go on about this product every second post I make, but it is absolutely brilliant and I never want a makeup bag without it. Ever. Another staple which I have come to love which I have posted about before is the Rouge Edition Liquid Lipstick which is just the best lip product that I have tried, hands down. 

Of course Bourjois are known for creating brilliant base products with Healthy Mix Foundation often cropping up on blogger's favourite base lists. Which creates a lovely, healthy (funnily enough) looking base for the rest of your makeup. It is a nice medium coverage that still allows my freckles to show through not leaving me looking caked in foundation (there is nothing worse). With the addition of new foundation and base products which are also brilliant (Happy Light and 123 Colour Correcting Cream) the brand just keep upping their game with every launch.

Even harking back to some of the longer standing products, like The Little Round Pot which was initially release in 1863 - that is not a typo, 1863! This is probably the most iconic of the Bourjois products, I'm not sure if there are any makeup junkies in the country who don't own at least 1 of these. They apply like a dream, last forever and have that glorious dusky rose scent. Not to mention they are very compact and travel very easily.

I think it is probably safe to say that Bourjois are currently one of my favourite budget brands. They aren't showing munch in the way of signs of slowing down either so here is hoping that they continue to product more stand out products. I have another Bourjois post lined up later this week in the shape of Chocolate Bronzers, so watch out for that one too.

Do you love Bourjois?

Radiant Skin

Radiance is something which I think it is safe to say every woman wants. It makes you look like you just have amazing skin which requires no work to maintain. Now we all know that this is not the case, amazing skin requires work and let's face it, not many people can achieve the totally flawless, radiant skin. Most of us require help from a few clever products. 

After applying my moisturiser (with an SPF, remember, I lecture on sun protection....evidence) I apply Clarins Beauty Flash Balm to use as a brightening primer and then immediately apply a thin layer of Rimmel Wake Me Up, if my skin is looking pretty clear then I will mix in a splodge of Revlon Skinlights in Bare Light to lighten the coverage and give an extra hint of luminescence to the skin. If my dark circles are out to play (who am I kidding, they always are!) I take a few dots of Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer  under my eyes to bounce the light off the darker tones of my skin.  Then to set my base I take my holy grail Bourjois Java Rice Powder, mentioned on Bonjour Emily too many times to mention, this is the ultimate in powders. I take a fluffy brush and give it a quick sweep across my face to set my makeup and give a little extra hint of radiance. Finally when I am going for a light, radiant looking base I like to use a cream blush as it looks lighter on the skin and generally looks more natural than a powder. I like Bourjois Cream Blush Sun in 05 Pink Sunwear, it is the perfect hybrid of bronze, pink and coral for my pale skin. 

The key to radiant looking skin is having a light base with light-reflecting particles in. This combination doesn't make you look like Edward Cullen in the sunshine, so you're safe, don't worry. Each product is light on the skin and allows your own skin to shine through but gives it a little extra help. Of course, the two best secrets to radiant skin are to drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep. Both of which I can be a bit guilty of neglecting, however I do try my best!

What are your radiance boosting tips?

The Body Shop Primers

I have to say, The Body Shop have kind of nailed is as far as primer is concerned. Dependent on the condition of my skin dictates which of these two primers I find myself reaching for every day. These two products do come under the skincare range as opposed to makeup and while they do help to create a base for foundation and other makeup, they still have added benefits to help perfect your skin. 

The Tea Tree Pore Minimiser (£7.50) featured in my holiday makeup bag because it is a good all-rounder. It does create the appearance of smaller pores and the addition of tea tree makes this feel so refreshing on the skin. It doesn't feel like it is clogging your pores at all and helps to create a matte base for the rest of your makeup. Of course, the tea tree makes this product great if you are prone to breakouts or oily skin - with that in mind it is not at all drying on the skin so it won't leave your face feeling crispy! Brilliant for your travel makeup bag in case of any breakouts while you are away but is also a brilliant all rounder in the primer world. Tea Tree,  I love ya.

Dullness is something which you find me complaining about a lot. I find that my skin can look flat and looking like it needs some extra 'oomph' to give radiance, enter Vitamin C Skin Reviver (£15.00). I love the Vitamin C range from The Body Shop, the products always smell uplifting (this is no exception) and they do work to give the skin a boost. This product has light reflecting particles which add a bit of luminosity to the skin and help to create some radiance to otherwise lack-luster skin. This is something which I put on alone after my moisturiser before running to the shops because it gives you a bit of a glow without looking as though you started to put makeup on and then got bored and decided to go out as you are. 

I can confidently say that if I were only allowed two primers in my makeup collection it would be these two. I know that there are other brands that make great primers, Benefit for one. But The Body Shop have nailed the hybrid between skincare and makeup with both of these products so well that I can't see much else competing with them. 

Have you tied either of these primers? Which was your favourite?    

Under Eye Concealer For All Budgets

I have always had problems with dark circles under my eyes, those lovely blueish/purplish crescent moons give me such a headache in the mornings while I try my hardest to cover them while still looking natural. I can tell you that this is not an easy task by any stretch of the matter, however thanks to a few products I manage to pull it off (most days). My collection of under eye concealers is pretty large and pretty varied, they stretch across all price ranges and are in different formulas. 

High End

Both Clinique All About Eyes Concealer (£16) and Laura Geller The Real Deal Concealer (£16) are very similar to each other. They are both liquid formulas and you only need a minuscule amount to conceal under your eyes. The Clinique concealer is very lightweight and despite being a high coverage concealer it goes on very fine and blends very well. It is very hydrating and doesn't leave the eye area looking at all dry eve after a days wear. When it comes to Laura Geller, this stuff is serious. Really, I haven't come across another concealer with this industrial strength. It is not specific for under eyes which is why it was the only concealer to make it into my travel makeup bag. You do need to be a little more careful when it comes to blending it out to make sure it is undetectable but once you have done that you are laughing - this is the one I reach for on days where I need serious help.  

Middle Range

Sometimes a cream concealer is called for which is where Bourjois Happy Light Concealer (£8.99) and Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer (£10) step in. These can be applied by using your ring finger and gently patting the concealer over the dark circles, or by a using a concealer brush to lightly apply it around the eye area. I have found that these aren't the best to go for if you need exceptionally high coverage as these are a little more difficult to build up as they quickly crease if there is too much product around the eye area. They are good for days where you need a medium coverage and you can apply a thin layer to help disguise those dark circles. 

Budget 

Both of these budget concealers have been mentioned on Bonjour, Emily before Seventeen Phwoarr Paint (£5.49) is my hero budget concealer - a total dupe for Benefit Boi-ing and I, in fact, prefer it to it's much more expensive cousin. e.l.f. Maximum Coverage Concealer (£3.95) is a more budget friendly version of Laura Geller's concealer mentioned earlier. It doesn't quite give the same industrial strength, however it gives great coverage without looking too cakey and does last well through the day. It can be used all over the face as well rather than just for the under eye area making it a good option for a smaller makeup bag. 

Which products are your secret weapons when it comes to disguising dark circles? 

Lush Toner Water

I love Lush. I spoke about their amazing makeup range last week here but my product collection does not stop there. I have been using both the Tea Tree Water and Eau Roma Water for a couple of months and love them both. I'll reach for one or the other after cleansing my skin before applying moisturiser in the morning or evening and which one I choose is purely dependent on how my skin is, or my mood. 

The Tea Tree Water is so refreshing, this was the one which I chose to take on holiday with me as I used it to spritz my face on the flight and it was so calming and soothing at the end of a long and hot day spent at theme parks. Aside from the refreshment this product is great for the fact it is highly anti-bacterial making it great for fighting and preventing breakouts. 

As for Eau Roma Water, I reach for this when my mood needs lifted or calmed. This has such a comforting scent and helps me to relax. To be fair, this does mean that the product is doing it's job as it is described as an aromatherapy water as well as a toner water. The rose water and lavender in this water work together to combat redness, soften and hydrate the skin. This product is so gentle on the skin, unlike some other toners that sting as you apply them. You know that your skin is loving this toner.

I like to have the choice after cleansing as to whether I need Tee Tree or Eau Roma, they both work so well at what they are designed for and having the choice means that you can combat whatever your skin worries are day by day. 

Do you prefer one of these products over the other?    

The Best Highstreet Dupes

I do love a good dupe product. Who wouldn't love a product that worked just as well (sometimes even better) than a high-end product that costs a great deal more?

I have collected quite a few product dupes, some are better than others but here is my list of products that are worth skipping at the high end counter and picking up for just a few pounds instead.

I do love Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish but at £14.75 it is pretty pricey for a cleanser. I love using it but find myself being very sparing with the amount I use because I want to savor it and make it last as long as possible. Enter Superdrug Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser not only do you get 50ml more for your money, but you only part with £5.99 for it in the first place - plus, it is on offer for £2.98 right now! They are both similar in consistency in that they are both thick and creamy. Both work well at deeply cleansing the skin and leaving you feeling totally pampered. 

Total Saving - £8.76 (£11.77 right now!)

An oldie, but a goodie. This dupe appears on just about every beauty blogger's list. I adore the Urban Decay Naked Palette. I just adore Urban Decay shadows on the whole. They are packed with pigmentation, buttery soft and long lasting. They are also expensive with this palette ringing in at an eye-watering £37. MUA answered Urban Decay with their Undressed Palette which is a shade by shade dupe. Given, the MUA shadows are a little chalky and don't last just as well as the Urban Decay ones but it is £4. Yes, £4. I can totally forgive the chalkiness.

Total Saving - £33 

Benefit Coralista is one of my favourite summer-time blushers. It is beautifully coral with a hint of shimmer and looks great on my pale skin. But, it does cost £23.50. Here is where e.l.f. Studio Blush in Candid Coral makes a great alternative, this is very close in shade and looks just as brilliant on the skin. Priced at £3.95 it is a lot friendlier on those purse strings too.

Total Saving - £19.55

This is one of the instances where I genuinely prefer the cheaper product. bareMinerals Mineral Veil is something which I have used for years to bring a little extra radiance to my complexion. It is a brilliant product which works well, at £20 it is quite expensive for what is effectively just a loose powder. I have blogged about Bourjois Java Rice Powder before here. I really adore this product. it brightens the complexion a great deal more than the bareMinerals product plus it has that amazing Bourjois rose scent (I'm still gutted I wasn't quick enough to get those candles last year!).

Total Saving - £10.01

It's another Urban Decay and MUA face-off. Urban Decay Primer Potion does dominate the market when it comes to serious eye primer. Understandably so as it works exceptionally well in holding shadow in place all day and night. At £16, I can understand why people are a little reluctant to purchase it. If you are looking for a good eye primer at a fraction of the price then go and check out MUA Pro-Base Eye Primer. You only need to spend £2.50 and it works pretty well at keeping your shadow in place and neutralising the colour on those lids.

Total Saving - £13.50

I love a gel liner, they are so easy to apply and if you make a mistake so easy to correct. Illamasqua Precision Gel Liner at £18 is no exception, it is very smooth on application and is easy to correct if there are any mishaps while doing your cat-eye flick. Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in Black is a brilliant dupe, where you get less product in the Maybelline pot, it still lasts for absolutely ages. The other thing that Maybelline has up on Illamasqua is that it comes with a precision brush which works amazingly well. Oh, and it is £7.99.

Total Saving - £10.01 

Total Accumulated Saving - £94.83

What are your favourite dupes?

Bronzer for Pale Skin

I'm pale, and I like it. I'm not saying that I don't like a lovely bronzed look, I just personally don't like it on myself. The being said, I do have quite a lot of bronzer in my makeup collection. 'Why?' I hear you ask - because it's really quite handy, even for a pale girl.

I use bronzer pretty much every day, but use different products depending on the look that I am going for (or need, in some cases). 

Sculpting and Contouring

Quite possibly the only thing I've taken from the Kardashian overload that we have been getting over the last few years. I've never been much of a fan, however you cannot argue that they use makeup perfectly (or their makeup artists do) to get absolutely amazing cheekbones. 

For basic contouring, take a matte bronzer and a small, dense brush (Real Techniques Contouring brush from The Core Collection is perfect). Next, you suck in your cheeks and apply the bronzer into the hollows. After doing this, apply a bit of blusher and then a little highlighter just above the blusher at the top of your cheekbones. (I remember reading in a magazine years ago that you treat your cheeks like a Neapolitan ice cream - chocolate on the bottom, strawberry in the middle and vanilla on the top.) I then take a clean brush and blend the edges in together so that you don't have any harsh lines and so that it looks beautifully natural.

You might also like to try applying some bronzer under your jaw line and in the shape of the number 3 from your forehead meeting into the line under your cheekbones to give a more sculpted look. 

A matte finish bronzer is best for contouring, something like Bourjois Delice de Poudre Chocolate Bronzer is brilliant for this. I use the Bourjois bronzer in shade 52 and it doesn't look too dark or too orange on my pale skin, so if you are quite pale like me then it is definitely a good option. Plus it smells divine. If this bronzer isn't for you then Benefit Hoola or Seventeen Instant Glow Bronzing Powder are both good alternatives. The main thing to remember is it needs to be matte - no shimmer. No, not even a little bit.

A Summer Glow

I wrote a post last week about how I achieve glowing summer skin as a pale girl, you can see it here. But you can also achieve this by using a sheer bronzer with a slight shimmer helps to give you more of a 'glow'. I say 'slight' because too much will make you look like you are taking part in a 1990s dancing display and have been attacked by glitter spray. Not a good look. The shimmer gives the skin a halo effect when the light hits making the skin appear to be more, well, glow-y. Something like Seventeen Instant Glow Bronzing Rocks or Laura Geller Bronze'n'Brighten are both good for this and don't have too much in the way of glitter so help to avoid those oh-so-glittery flashbacks.

What are your pale skin bronzer tips? I'd love to hear them!

The Gold Smokey Eye

Smokey eye looks are always so glamorous, however during the summer months a full-on dark smokey eye can look a little too heavy. While getting ready to go out for dinner in Florida I wanted to do a smokey eye, but didn't want anything too dark or heavy looking.

I first of all reached for Lush Cream Eyeshadow in Happiness, mainly to have a play with it as I had only just purchased it that afternoon. After applying a layer over each eye I had the brainwave of using it as a base beneath Urban Decay Naked. As you can see from the picture I have recently repurchased this. Where I do feel £37 is steep for an eyeshadow palette - I love the buttery soft texture of Urban Decay's shadows. So I Applied Virgin on my brow bone and in the inner corners, used Half-Baked over the lid to set the cream shadow and then took Hustle in the crease and outer corner and then buffed and blended it all in so that it was seamless. I have to say, the cream shadow from Lush worked as the perfect base for the Urban Decay shadows and I used this duo several times afterwards to create subtle smokey eye looks. 

Do you like a smokey eye? Do you differ from the grey/black look?

Lush Makeup

I adore Lush. I know so many people who say that the smells gives them a headache but if I am totally honest, I could spend all day, everyday in there inhaling that beautiful smell. I do use a large amount of products from Lush (in fact I have recently switched my skincare to pretty much all Lush products and my skin hasn't looked so good in a long time - keep an eye out for details in a post soon!) but I have particular love for a few of their makeup products.

You may have spied some of these in my What's in My Suitcase? post.

Starting out with the complexion products, I use Jackie Oates and Emotional Brilliance  almost every day now. With Jackie Oates I can build the coverage as high as I need and for days that I don't want or need much I mix it in with my moisturiser. Emotional Brilliance reminds me of Bourjois Java Rice Powder (see my review here). The powder is super-fine and blends into the skin with ease leaving a velvety soft texture with a hint of a glow - what more do you want?

As far as the eyes are concerned, Eyes Right mascara is my go to mascara for quick coverage on days where I am not wearing much makeup. You get good coverage and volume from this mascara, but the best part is the lash loving ingredients which don't cause the mascara to crisp up and cause your lashes to break and in fact boost your lashes growth make this a perfect treat for my eyes.

I recently picked up the Liquid Liner in Control. After reading the Sunday Girl's review here I new I needed to get my hands on it, and boy am I glad I did. As you well know I normally sport black cat liner, but for the days I don't feel like that, I reach for this. It adds a little hint of colour to the eye without being too in your face. The brush is super fine and means that you can get a precise line in a few seconds.

One of my American haul products was the Cream Eyeshadow in Happiness which is so pigmented it can be worn alone and give a very glamorous look but can be used as a base for other shadows to create a more dramatic look. It lasts very well, I first tested this in the 33c degree heat of a very humid Florida and it didn't budge.

Finally, what is a makeup bag without red lipstick? I have two gorgeous shades from the Lush collection, the first in my collection was Ambition which is a blue-toned, power red. You don't wear this shade if you want to fade into the sidelines, you get noticed with this on. Second was another product that I picked up stateside and that is the shade Decisive this is quite a bit darker but looks very glamorous on. Both of these lipsticks are in liquid form and they are extremely pigmented, I have found that applying once, blotting and then applying again makes them stay all day long without needing topped up. Even eating, drinking, talking (as I do all day!) they stay put until you take them off.

Have you tried any Lush makeup? What is your favourite?