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?

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?

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?

Inika Pure Primer

The trend for natural and organic beauty seems to be gaining momentum. More and more niche brands are appearing and are trying to compete with the mainstream beauty industry. While I tend to admire the notion, I do feel that sometimes this type of brand don't quite compete. I decided to buy a starter kit from the brand Inika to give some of their products a try (I bought this kit). After using the trial sizes I ended up purchasing a few full sizes.

The Pure Primer was a product which I was pleasantly surprised with. The presumptuous side of me was expecting something with the texture and consistency of aloe vera gel. In fact, this primer is a velvety smooth balm which leaves the the perfect canvas for your foundation. It blends into the skin beautifully and I felt that my skin texture looked more refined and even before application of any other product. 

This primer is also enriched with hyaluronic acid which  helps the skin to retain moisture and drip feeds the skin throughout the day. I do notice when using this primer that my skin looks more plump and hydrated, so the hyaluronic acid is obviously doing it's job well. Also in the mix are a variety of different essential oils all designed to calm irritated skin and provide nourishment and protection.

All in, this is a very effective primer, I can't say I see a difference in wear when compared to other primers, however it is very hydrating and soothes the skin. If you are wanting to branch out into more natural makeup then this is a great primer to add to your makeup bag!

Have you tried Inika products yet? Is there anything that you would recommend? 

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?

Targeted Spot Concealing

Every woman (and man) needs to have a few tricks up their sleeve when it comes to looking their best. When working on cosmetic counters even though neither role I held focused on makeup artistry, I still dealt regularly with people who just didn't know what to do when it came to concealing blemishes. 

I thought that I would share with you my favourite concealer for spots and blemishes, the tools that I like to apply and my tips for application. 

As for concealer, my fail safe spot corrector is Benefit Boi-ing. I use this in shade 01-Light and find it is a good match for my skin, not to pink, not too yellow. I would recommend getting matched for a shade if you are unsure on the colour. This is a very creamy concealer which makes it pretty malleable and easy to blend. The real selling point for me though is that it is industrial strength. Seriously, this stuff does not budge all day. I know that I can use this on a blemish and not need to worry about it as I go about my day.  

To apply, I use two brushes from my Real Techniques Eye Kit. The liner brush is used to pick up the concealer and then used to 'pinpoint' the blemish. You do not need as much concealer as you think for spots. Using a fine brush to apply the product in a small area concentrates the colour-correcting pigments where they are needed so refrain from covering your entire chin in concealer to hide that single spot. Once you have 'pinpointed' your blemish, use a fluffy blending brush to lightly buff the product seamlessly into the complexion. Use light, circular movements for a flawless finish. Apply a light dusting of your face powder and voila. Blemish concealed! 

Lush Oxford Street Exclusive - Lovely Blusher

I have written about my love for Lush makeup products in the past (see here). While I love Lush skincare and body products I have always thought that their makeup range was pretty under-rated. With a great liquid lipstick formula with a large colour choice, skin tints and great cream eyeshadows. Yet, I have always willed them to extend their range into non liquid/cream products. Enter Oxford Street. 

For those of you who don't know, while Lush always has that fun, sweetie-shop vibe to it, their Oxford Street flagship store is most definitely the chocolate factory to the sweetie-shop. Admittedly, if you are not a 'Lushie' the store may be overwhelming, but if you know your way around a Lush store then you'll want to pay them (and their 3 floors) a visit. 

With a large number of products which are exclusive to the Oxford Street store mixed in with the longstanding favourites it is difficult to go in and not fill a basket. I knew exactly what I was heading in for because Lush have a whole makeup range exclusive to the store and it is all in either solid or powdered form! 

One of my favourite purchases was the powder blusher in the shade 'Lovely'. You get 15g of product (I don't remember the price, I think it was around £10?) which is suitable for vegans as Lush are trying to create more vegan-friendly options across their product range.

The colour is a great rose-toned pink for paler or cooler skin tones. To use it, I like to tip a little product into the inside of the lid (where it states that the packaging is 100% recycled) and swirl a blusher brush to pick up product. Before applying to the cheeks I tap off the excess as the product is quite strong in pigment so I like to start small and build to my desired colour. You can always add more, but removing too much is difficult!

I so hope that the extended makeup range does well in the Oxford Street store for them to then roll it out across the UK. I love the blusher and the solid lipsticks are spot on (keep an eye, I'll be posting those soon!).

Have you tried Lush makeup? What did you think? 

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. 

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. 

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?  

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?

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?   

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?