Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow

I probably buy and try more foundation than any other makeup product. While I find ones that I love at the time, I often get a bit fed up with them. My skin changes which means that a foundation that I absolutely loved two weeks ago doesn't sit quite right now. So, I have quite the collection. A foundation which I found myself returning to this summer was Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow.

I first used this foundation a few years ago and fell away from it with my ever changing skin. Remembering that this gave a similar effect to Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation but lasted a bit better on my skin I decided to buy another bottle to keep in my makeup drawer again. This gives the skin a lovely dewy yet not shiny finish. The skin looks plump and well hydrated with a medium coverage which is most definitely build able on the skin.

I find that this lasts well on the skin for a dewy foundation. If the skin is a bit oily I do find that it splits slightly across the t zone which is why I fell away from it in the past, but with an oil-controlling primer over any areas which become oily keeps that at bay.

For the beautiful natural finish that this foundation gives, I am considering it as my wedding foundation for next year. I have a few different products on rotation which I have as considerations but we will see! I will of course keep you updated with wedding makeup and skincare products as and when they are settled!

Have you tried this foundation yet? What foundation would you recommend as a bridal foundation? 

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine - Boy

The most perfect neutral lip. Something which even a lover of a bright red lip needs in their makeup bag. While I often sport a red, I have been dabbling in more neutral tones. Opting to define either lips or eyes rather than both for a less 'made-up' look.

I have quite the lipstick collection but as happens with my bolder lip colours, I have found myself reaching for a select few products in the neutral category that I have grown very fond of. Chanel Rogue Coco Shine in Boy is most definitely one of them. This lipstick feels so lightweight on the lips you barely know it is on and it gives the most subtle tint of a pinkish yet slightly brown hue. Just enough to enhance your own lip colour.

This is a staple of mine for my 'no-makeup' days as it gives the tiniest bit of definition yet makes you look beautifully 'undone'. Alternatively it works fabulous with a deeper toned liner underneath to provide a bit more depth and colour.

Have you tried this shade 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?

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner

I love a liquid exfoliator. I have collected quite a few in my skincare drawer and there are a few fail-safe ones that I know will do their job. No matter what. Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner is one of those fail-safe options. 

This is similar to Alpha-H Liquid Gold but is much more gentle on the skin. I find that I use this every 2 or 3 nights (the recommendation from Clarins is once a week) as a part of my regular maintenance routine and will use Liquid Gold when I need something stronger as a treatment.

This product leaves the skin feeling very clean and refreshed after your cleansing routine and works with tamarind and gentle fruit acids to melt away the dead skin cells contributing to a dull complexion. To apply, just soak a cotton pad in the product and sweep over the face and neck, avoiding the eye area, and then follow with your usual routine. As always, make sure that you use SPF after using any exfoliating products as your skin becomes much more sensitive. 

I find that my skin looks much brighter and clearer after using this product which is why I like to include it in my normal routine. I like to use this in the evening, it is my personal preference but I would rather use an exfoliator before bed so that my skin is not exposed to UV rays immediately afterwards. On a side note, however, if you are going to be applying makeup for an event, using this before your moisturiser will smooth the skin and have it looking in top condition. Just be sure to apply SPF - Please! 

Chanel No5 Eau Première Twist and Spray

Some women have a 'signature' scent. I have what I like to call my 'wardrobe' of scent. While the idea of having that one fragrance is very romantic in that people smell it and automatically think of you, I get bored. I can't imagine wearing the same dress or lipstick every day and I like to match my fragrance to my mood. 

Ironically enough, Chanel No5 is probably the fragrance in which the largest number of women wear as their signature (no evidence, purely speculation and hearsay on my part). I go through phases with my fragrance collection and right now I am most definitely in a No5 phase. 

No5 Eau Première is my preferred interpretation of the classic and, at least until September, is the most recent interpretation. While the mood may take me to classic No5 Parfum every so often, it is a very instinctual interpretation. What I mean by that is on the days in which I wear it I know that I will be wearing it. I don't stand and select a fragrance. I just reach for the parfum without thinking. 

Back to Eau Première. This is my fragrance when I am feeling undecided. It has a mixture of freshness and floral which appeals to my nose when I'm unsure of what I want. When I wear this fragrance it turns light and powdery on my skin which leaves a very 'natural' smell. You would be forgiven for thinking that I wasn't even wearing fragrance as it smells as though it could just be my skin. I suppose that was the goal when the initial interpretation was being created 'a woman's perfume, with a woman's scent' as Chanel herself requested. I like the twist and spray bottles in particular as they are great for carrying in your handbag or for travelling. As you can see in the photographs you have the atomiser and 3 vials of 20ml each fragrance. Meaning that you can swap the vial when you run out.  

I have always loved this video, so I thought that this was an appropriate time to share it with you!

Do you have a favourite interpretation of No5? 

 

Alpha-H Liquid Gold

We always need products in our stash that are 'in case of emergency' products. You know the drill - it's a week before your friends wedding and your skin decides to misbehave. Perhaps you are a bit stressed and your skin is looking really dull and someone asks you to dinner tomorrow night. We all have those situations and we need a quick fix to make us look and feel better. Alpha-H Liquid Gold will sort your skin issues out. It will reduce blackheads, smooth and resurface the skin texture and will help to prevent breakouts.

With a toner-like consistency it is easy to be skeptical as to whether this would work or not. How could something so thin have such an impact on the skin when used alone? The answer - glycolic acid. There are a select few ingredients that I get excited about in skincare, glycolic acid is most certainly one of them. Working to weaken to bonds between the lipids (oils) and dead skin cells on the skins surface it helps to resurface and give better texture to the skin. In doing this it can also reduce the appearance of blackheads by working to eliminate the dead skin cells and oxidized oils resting in the pores. While there is not a product which will totally clear blackheads (I wish!) a good glycolic acid product will reduce the appearance when used properly. It really packs a punch, which is why it is my preferred way to exfoliate as I find it a lot more comfortable than a physical scrub on my face and neck.

So, what makes Alpha-H Liquid Gold different to any other glycolic acid exfoliator? Well, the other ingredients. The stand out ingredients to me are glycerin and hydrolyzed silk. Glycerin is widely known for having smoothing and hydrating properties while hydrolyzed silk does a similar job. Hydrolyzed silk has a very minimal molecular weight and so penetrates deeper into the skin to work on hydration from there. The addition of these hydrating ingredients allow for Liquid Gold to be used alone as an intense treatment. While you can layer a hydrating night cream over the top that will slow the process of the exfoliation. I was a bit concerned at first that my skin would be too dry without a cream and so the first few times I used the product I applied my normal night cream. I did see a difference the following morning but nothing like the difference when I plucked up the courage to use it alone.

To use the product you simply soak a cotton pad with Liquid Gold and then apply it to a cleansed skin  (avoid the eye area) before bed as this is a night time treatment. Allow it to soak in, you may feel your skin tighten slightly as it absorbs but after a few minutes my skin feels comfortable. You know your skin better than anyone, so if it feels too uncomfortable at first then apply a little cream. You will find what works for you. The following morning just go about your usual skincare routine. As with all exfoliating products make sure that you use appropriate SPF after use (if you don'y use them daily, that is!) as your skin is much more susceptible to damage.

This is perfect when you know that you have an event coming up and want to get your skin in top condition, or as mentioned at the top of the post when your skin misbehaves. I certainly plan on keeping a bottle of this in my skincare drawer in case of emergency and to use more frequently in the lead up to my wedding next year.

I have the Try Me 50ml size.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder

Powder is a tricky one. It can enhance or ruin your foundation. If it is really good, it works to blur and adds a velvet like quality to the skin but without leaving that telltale powdery look that you are left when using a poor one.

My absolute favourite is Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in No10. I am on my third compact of this powder and I haven't come across anything which has come close to competing with it.

So, when you purchase this powder, you get the beautiful beige Chanel compact with the iconic double C logo, the half moon brush which fits over the powder itself and works great as a travel brush or to top up while you are out and about. The compact also has a mirror which takes the entire size of the inside lid so if you carry this, you don't need a separate mirror for your bag. All encased in the black velvet pouch to protect the compact. If Chanel do one thing right, it is always the packaging. 

As for the actual powder, it is superfine and feels very silky smooth when you touch the product and keeps that silky texture once it has been applied to the skin. As I mentioned earlier, I use this in shade No10 which is the palest shade offered. I use this as an all over setting powder however I have used shade No30 in the past as a light bronzer and I intend on buying that shade again soon. This doesn't leave the skin looking matte, the skin keeps a radiant glow (without shimmer) after application of this powder which keeps the skin looking natural. 

As far as powder goes, this is a splurge item at £39 but it is definitely a worthwhile splurge if you are looking for a radiant finishing powder. I love it. 

Instant Light Lip Perfectors #showusyourclarins

If you follow Clarins on any social media platform you will probably have come across their #showusyourclarins campaign. Aimed to get us lot to tweet, Instagram or blog our Clarins products to show the world that we are Clarins addicts.

While I haven't photographed my entire collection (I have way too much to even mention) I thought I would blog about some of my favourite Clarins products and mix them in with my regular content every so often.

Today, it is the turn of the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors. These gloss-balm hybrids are an essential in many makeup bags. Perfect for minimal makeup days you get a gentle wash of colour and packs in hydration. Perfect for minimal makeup days and for the summertime!

Have you tried these yet?

Dior Star Foundation and Concealer

I recently was sampled with Dior Star foundation - I tried on it the following morning and went about my day, at the end of my shift I took a look in the mirror and was seriously impressed. I didn't get home before purchasing the foundation. A week later, the Dior Star concealer was also added to my collection. 

You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out that I obviously love this foundation. It is so lightweight on the skin. I mean it genuinely does not feel as though you have foundation on at all. But it still gives you amazing, buildable coverage. It does give the skin a gorgeous glow while doing this doesn't look at all glittery or shiny, just glow-y and radiant. It makes my skin look, and feel, like velvet. It is really quite incredible. Don't get me wrong, I still have other foundations which I wear day to day that give a different effect and finish (Clarins Everlasting, for example) but for when you need a completely flawless complexion this is the run away winner. 

I had high hopes for the concealer after using the foundation and while this is a decent concealer, it didn't blow me away. I have others which work better at brightening the under eye area. I have found that this is a better concealer for blemishes and redness. The main problem that I have with this concealer, however? The smell. It smells like Tip-Ex and it is really unpleasant when you are applying it to your face. 

It really does seem to be two totally different stories. I feel that Dior could have done more with the concealer when they have a total run-away winner of a foundation in the same range. I guess you can't win them all!

Have you tried either of these products? What do you think?  

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

Being pale and living in Glasgow go hand in hand. The fact that I am extremely cautious in the sun means that any prospect of an actual suntan is non-existent for me. I don't have any desire to be seriously bronzed or to have the coveted 'summer skin' that we are bombarded with on the television and in magazines. I've always been quite happy to plod along being pale.

When I came across what is described as a 'made-to-measure self-tan' I was initially intrigued. In the past when I dabbled in self tanning products I looked utterly ridiculous as it was so far flung from my natural colour. The 'made-to-measure' aspect made me wonder if there could be something out there which gave me a natural looking glow and made me a darker shade of pale (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist that horrendous joke). 

Allow me to introduce you to the self-tanner which I actually get along with and use. Regularly. Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster. 

How it works - 3 drops of this into your regular night cream. mix it in the palms of your hands and apply the cream as normal, working from the middle of the face, out and down the neck and décolleté.WASH YOUR HANDS! Go to sleep, wake up with a gentle, natural looking colour. 

You can add as little or as many drops as you like in order to deepen your tan if you wish. I personally use 3 drops, every second night. That keeps me from going too dark (for me!) yet still allows me to have a bit of colour. 

Clarins have also just released a version of this for the body too which I have yet to try but goes by the same concept of mixing it into your regular body moisturiser and having the control of how much or how little you add in for your desired colour. Pretty clever, isn't it?

Have you tried this yet? Or have you tried the body version? I'd love to hear what you think too! 

Clarins Everlasting Foundation+

I am not a fan of heavy, cakey foundation. Even just the thought of Double Wear gives me shivers. I hate the way that it looks and feels. I normally use medium coverage foundation and accept that fact that it might start to wear off by the end of the day. When Clarins relaunched a reformulated version of Everlasting foundation I didn't expect to like it. I was by no means a fan of the old formula, I found it to be quite chalky and cakey, I decided to give the new version a go anyway.

Let's just say I'm pretty glad that I gave the new one a shot. It lasts the claimed 18 hours and then some. It's finish is so beautiful, demi-matte with a hint of radiance so you don't look flat in the slightest. It covers a multitude of sins - late nights, dehydration, dull skin without looking like a mask has been placed over your skin. Even though this is a high coverage foundation I can wear it in a thin layer which still allows my freckles to shine through ever so slightly which aids in the 'my skin, but better' illusion that I look for in foundation.

Clarins are masters in skincare and are known to work their skincare genius through their makeup products as well. Everlasting is no exception to this rule. It contains a plant micropatch which offers the skin continuous hydration throughout the day, bamboo powder for a smooth, flawless finish as well as having the SPF15 to offer some extra protection to the skin.

As for the packaging? This is a beautiful frosted glass bottle with a frosted gold lid which looks so elegant and feels very high quality. The product is also a pump dispenser which is great to measure out the exact amount you need (one pump is perfect for the amount of coverage that I like to wear!).


As someone who is always on the lookout for new foundation this one has really impressed me. Nopt only does it do a great job as a foundation but I love that it has those added benefits for the skin as well!

Have you tried it yet? What did you think?

Laura Geller Spackle

If you cast your mind back earlier this year, you may recall reading this post about Laura Geller's Balance'n'Brighten. In short, I love the stuff. I have a growing collection of products from the Laura Geller range and it is also available on FeelUnique.com as well as QVC now, hurrah!

A favourite of mine from the range is Spackle (the American name for Polyfiller!). This under makeup primer comes in different varieties, as you can see I have a selection of three. Two tinted and one protective. With the name, I expected this primer to be thick and quite heavy of the skin - I was so wrong. It is a lightweight liquid which blends into the skin so easily leaving a lovely, smooth base for the rest of your makeup.

The tinted Spackle is lovely, 'Bronze' is perfect for when you need a lift under your makeup. It doesn't make you look like you have a load of fake tan under your foundation but helps to give you a slight sun-kissed glow. I'm thinking that this shade teamed with some Bronze'n'Brighten will be a brilliant duo in the summer months when you don't want to wear much in the way of makeup.
'Champagne' gives you more of an 'inner-glow' effect, making the skin look more radiant than sun-kissed. I have mixed this one into liquid foundations to give more of a dewy finish which works brilliantly and of course using it under Balance'n'Brighten makes for beautiful looking skin.
The third variation of Spackle in my collection is the protective broad spectrum SPF 30. I actually got this one while I was in Florida and used it as my primer when I was wearing makeup during the day (the more SPF the better in my book) this one has no tint to it, however it works the same to even out the skin and holds makeup in place all day with that added benefit of protecting you from the sun.

Have you tried Spackle yet? Which one do you love?

NARS - And God Created The Woman

There aren't many beauty fanatics in the world who would say 'no because I already have enough neutral palettes' and I am no exception. While in London last week I had to pass the door to Space NK on the way to and on the way back from where my training course was. I am surprised myself that I managed to hold off for 3 days before going in. And when I did go in, well, you will have probably guessed what happened. 

I wouldn't like to count how many neutral eye palettes I own. In saying that I don't tend to wear much in the way of colour on my eyes, so having more neutral tones makes sense, right? Anyway, I have a new favourite of those palettes. NARS And God Created The Woman is a small compact with six beautiful shades of smooth as silk eyeshadow. I have been playing around with different shade combinations and due to the shade selection they all go with one and other which means that you can make quite a verity of looks, from a subtle day time to a full on evening smokey eye. As this palette is so small and thin it makes it absolutely perfect for travel or for popping into your work bag to go from day to night time in a few minutes. 

Have you tried this palette yet?   

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?

Gatineau Aquamemory

Every so often you find a product that just makes you smile. It does what it says it is going to do, it smells great and it just makes you happy. I'm not the only one that feels this way toward beauty products, am I? 

I have a few Gatineau products and on the whole they always deliver. This Aquamemory Moisture Replenish Mask is fab, I use this 2 or 3 times a week to give my skin a surge of moisture. It is a thick gel texture which feels cool when applied on the skin which I find really relaxing after a long day staring at a computer screen and under air-con units. Also, can I just mention the smell? It smells so clean and so refreshing it instantly picks up my mood and does my skin a great treat at the same time. Bonus!

If you are on the market for a moisturising mask then definitely give this one a look. It is a little bit pricey but by doing a bit of searching between Very and QVC you can normally get a good deal with some travel minis or with some money off which makes it a better deal. This one is a brilliant buy and has this mask as a mini!

Have you tried this mask? Which masks do you love? 

Best of Premium Mascara

I posted about whether I thought that paying for premium beauty was worth it or not last week (read about it here). As I mentioned there are just some products that premium brands do better and as much as I love a budget friendly mascara, there isn't much competition when it comes to a select few premium ones. 

Mally is a makeup brand which you can only purchase from QVC here in the UK (lucky readers stateside have Ulta to shop from too!). The brand is by the all round super woman MUA Mally Roncal (famous as Beyonce's MUA). I've tried quite a few bits from her range which have all been impressive, but this mascara takes it to a whole other level. Mally Volumizing Mascara (slightly different packaging but as far as I can see it is the same product) is incredible. One coat of this and it looks like you have some lash inserts in, two coats and you look like you have full on false lashes because of the amount of volume that it gives. It lasts incredibly well and does not crumble or flake off of the lashes.

bareMinerals Lash Domination is brilliant for getting outstanding length to your lashes without them looking too spidery or thin as it provides a volume boost at the same time (not quite the same boost as Mally gives, though). This is brilliant for day time if you apply one coat to your lashes as it gives just enough to look glamorous and ladylike without looking as though you are ready for a night out at 8am while you are on your way to work. It doesn't dry the lashes out and stays put all day long without making me look like Alice Cooper toward the end of the day which is always a bonus.

I have just rediscovered this beauty as it was in the bonus time gift, for some reason I had forgotten how much of a gem this mascara is. Clinique High Impact is amazing for giving lift and volume to the lashes without making you look too 'done'. You can still get a very glamorous look by applying two coats of this but it is similar to Lash Domination in the sense that it still looks quite ladylike and avoids that 'night out' look. It doesn't cause the lashes to break or dry out and much like the others doesn't crumble or travel down your face as the day goes on. This might just be my favourite at the moment.

What are your favourite mascaras? 

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? 

bareMinerals Bareskin

I picked up bareMinerals Bareskin and the Perfecting Face Brush while in Florida. Having used it a few times over there and having tried it at home as well I am still a tad undecided. I loved the idea of a liquid foundation from bareMinerals because no matter how hard I try, I can never get the mineral powder foundation to work properly on my skin. I buff and buff but it just doesn't work well on my skin. So when I heard about this product I was eager to give it a go.

Firstly, what can only be described as the gimmick with this product is the brush - all in for the foundation and the 'special' brush you are set back a whopping £50 and in all honesty you do not need this brush. It is a bit of a con if you ask me because you can easily use any other brush in your collection to apply this. Yes, you drop 3 drops of the foundation into the well at the top but you can just as easily drop those three drops on to the back of you hand and buff it on with your well loved Real Techniques brush. While we are on the subject of dropping the foundation - it's messy. It is a nib similar to the Makeup Revolution 'The One' Foundation but the lid is not as secure and when you open the lid on this foundation 9 times out of 10 there is product all over the inside of the lid and running down the nib - not cool when you've parted with so much money for it. 

This product does have some plus points. I love that it has an SPF20, as you may know, I can be a bit full on when it comes to sun protection (see here) and any product which has added sun protection always goes down well with me. There is also a tremendous shade range so you will find a great match for your skintone - although the girl in the bareMinerals Boutique was useless at matching me and looked at me like a deer caught in the headlights when I asked her what shade I needed. So I took to the testers myself and matched my own shade. Once applied (whether this be done with the special brush or with another) this product does look great on, it is the 'your skin, but better' look which I think everyone want from a foundation. The coverage light/medium and is buildable, however too much makes you look very shiny so beware if you need full-coverage. 

All in all, if you are looking for a foundation with reasonable coverage and an SPF, this will probably tick the right boxes for you - just don't fall into the trap because you seriously do not need that brush.

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

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!