The Lost Ones

At the bottom of my many makeup bags lie beautiful products long forgotten, neglected, forsaken. In my defense I don't necessarily relegate items on purpose... They just sort of end up lost among the many other products I purchase as the weeks roll by. Alas, no more! When rooting around for products to take to my fiance's this week (we're living together, alone, just the two of us for the next three weeks. No, we're not that traditional, we just both happen to live at home still, together really as we see each other every day, but I digress!) I stumbled upon some forgotten gems that I couldn't believe I'd abandoned over the past year or so. These babies are all amazing! I'm taking them out of retirement and giving them another hoorah. 

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation ~ £33

How I love this foundation! I think it ended up archived because there's only a teeny bit left in the tube and it's really quite expensive so I must have been saving it for a 'special occasion'. I wore this every day last Autumn and Winter after receiving a tube for my birthday, and it's just brilliant. It gives fantastic full coverage without looking at all heavy or cakey, and it feels so smooth and luxurious. If I recall correctly it does require quite a lot of blending as the palest shade ('Cream Ivory') is a little too yellow toned for me, but I can live with that. It also requires powder to set it, or you run the risk of mid morning shine, but again I can live with that, as the coverage and finish is incredible! I've now got my eye on a Laura Mercier primer and Laura Mercier Oil Free foundation as I reckon these might be a brilliant tag team for keeping me matte all day long. If you're looking for more of a luminous finish, you can't go wrong with Silk Creme. 

Revlon Photoready BB Cream ~ £9.99

This is definitely more of a Winter base for me, as it can make me a little shiny when worn during the summer months. It gives quite light coverage but is creamy enough to look and feel satisfyingly 'thorough', and when teamed with a good concealer this is a great option for when you want a healthy 'glow'. The colour ('Light') is perfect and not at all orange or too yellow, and it lasts well throughout the day when set with a light dusting of powder. I really like this for when I don't want to wear as heavy a base as usual, and after watching Lisa Eldridge's video on covering acne prone skin, I'm convinced that a lighter foundation paired with a targeted heavier concealer might be the way to go for faking flawless skin!

Seventeen 'Damson Wine' Blush Powder ~ £3.49

I'm usually a light pink or peach blusher kind of gal but this caught my eye after seeing it mentioned on a blog post (bad blogger here, I can't remember which blog... Sorry!) I've wanted to experiment with a darker blush for a while but didn't want to spend lots, so went with this Seventeen bargain. It's only now it's Autumn that I can see myself reaching for this more, and I was pleasantly surprised to test it out again recently. It adds a nice depth of colour without being too 'plummy' or chalky and it's been fun to discover that I can actually pull off colours other than your standard pinks and peaches! I find Seventeen makeup to be great quality considering the purse friendly prices and I may just have to have a peek at the other shades on offer. 

B. Glowing Shimmer Block Blush 196 ~ £8.99

Now, there is absolutely no excuse for letting this blusher brick slip through the net as it's super gorgeous and works like a dream at brightening up my tired, pale morning face. I haven't seen many reviews of Superdrug's B. makeup and skincare line but I've made quite a few purchases and the quality of every product has been brilliant. I love all of the five shades contained in this blusher compact, from the deepest pink for adding a pop of colour to the white shimmer strip for highlighting. Not at all overly shimmery, this gives a really healthy glow and works in every season. I can't wait to use this throughout Autumn/Winter, it really is a hidden gem and it's also so pretty to look at! The handy mirror is a nice touch, too. 

Sleek 'Storm' I Divine Eyeshadow Palette ~ £7.99

I went through a serious eyeshadow palette phase last year and one of the beauties I picked up, and then swiftly discarded, was Sleek's 'Storm' palette. Until recently I've been all about the neutral eye and never ventured into the world of colour, so I just didn't really get much use out of this beautiful selection. However! When I cracked this open a few days ago and saw the cranberry and pink shadows I was hooked! I'm absolutely obsessed with all things pink, pomegranate, cranberry and plum when it comes to eyes at the moment and I'm so glad to have rediscovered this. To be fair there are also quite a few nude colours in this and they're all shimmery which is my weakness! I'm loving the forest green shade as well. A successful palette all around!

I think I have more lip products than any other beauty item and I was thrilled to find these bad boys hidden away in my stash. From the top we've got RevlonSuper Lustrous Lipstick 'Cherry Blossom' (£7.49), MUA Lip Colour Tint 'Crazy In Love' (£3) and Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Colour 'Pick Peony' (£19). 

Don't let the red bullet deceive you, as 'Cherry Blossom' is actually more of a fuchsia pink when applied. I like to blot this after applying to create more of a stain effect and it's going to be one I reach for frequently throughout Autumn. 

I picked up a couple of MUA's Colour Tint lip crayons a while back and forgot all about 'Crazy in Love' but I'm now head over heels for it. Again, I like to blot this one to give more of a stain, although it can be layered for stronger intensity. Colour wise it's a lovely raspberry red colour with touches of pink, and it makes my teeth look whiter which is a plus! 

I received 'Pink Peony' as a birthday present almost a year ago and it's so different to all of the other pinks in my collection. Bobbi Brown describe it as a 'medium toned pink' and it's a lot brighter and stronger when on than in the bullet, so I tend to prefer it to for evenings. It makes a welcome change to my current reds and berries obsession! 

I've spilled my stash, let me know what hidden gems you've found in yours! 

Baci e abbracci, 

                                                       

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Autumn lips

I know what you're thinking. Where the hell is the picture of the lipsticks?! Gah! Well, having to take all my photos with an IPhone 5 means I'm constantly struggling to find good enough lighting and I cannot for the life of me get a clear, crisp image of the lipsticks themselves lined neatly in the row I carefully positioned them in *shakes fist at the iphone gods* If I do happen to take a blog worthy picture this arvo i'll be sure to pop it on the blog asap!

It's September! Autumn is finally on its way and I for one am welcoming it with open arms! I love everything about Autumn and Winter, from the colder weather, candlelit evenings and numerous opportunities for celebrating (my birthday, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Yule, Christmas, New Year) to the snug jim jams and warm winter coats. I'm an Autumn gal through and through and am actually very happy to wave goodbye to summer, as lovely as it was! 

My love for all things Autumnal extends to makeup and beauty, of course, and yesterday I had a rummage through my makeup collection and gathered together my favourite Autumnal lip products. Reds, berries and grapes... I can't resist a strong lip during the colder months! Here are my faves, left to right.

1 ~ Bourjois Rouge Edition 04 Rose Tweed (£7.99)

This is my current favourite nude, as it's not too brown nor too pink and it has a depth to it that other nudes sometimes lack. The formula is super creamy and comfortable on the lips, and the lasting power is pretty good too at around three-four hours minus eating/drinking. The only slight bug bear I have is the shape of the lipstick bullet, as it's quite large and 'flat' on one side, making it difficult to apply neatly to my small-ish lips! I tend to turn it upside down and use the underside to line my lips before slicking it on that way, which works really well. 

2 ~ Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate 05 (£5.49)

I really like Kate's capsule collection, although the scent of these lippies is really, REALLY strong. Sort of a sweet herbal smell, I find it a little overwhelming but don't notice it too much once applied, thankfully. 05 is a gorgeous light berry colour with pink tones and it makes a brilliant transitional shade as the weather starts to get colder. Easy to apply and long lasting, I've been reaching for this throughout the summer and know I'll continue to do so as an everyday lipstick now it's September. 

3 ~ Revlon Lip Butter Berry Smoothie (£7.99)

I'm a bit of a Lip Butter fanatic, it has to be said. I love the smooth texture and glossy finish of Berry Smoothie and the slight silver toned shimmer running throughout. This instantly brightens up my face and completes my look, and it works for both daytime and nighttime. As you can see, this bullet has been well used! A firm favourite. 

4 ~ Soap & Glory Lipstick Man Trap (£9)

I find shopping for red lipstick quite tricky as I'm very pale and some shades can look really stark and strange on me! But this little beauty is a wearable muted red with slight yellow undertones that looks very polished and neat when applied. It smells exactly like MAC lipstick. As in, EXACTLY the same, which is brilliant as I love MAC's sweet vanilla scent! The formula feels very high quality. Moisturising and not all drying, this is one I reach for as an evening lippie, although it would be perfectly suited to daytime as well. 

5 ~ MAC Matte Lipstick Russian Red (£15)

My holy grail red! This is hands down the greatest red I have ever used. It has blue undertones, meaning my teeth look instantly three shades whiter, and it really suits my pale skin tone. Even though it's quite a bright, daring shade it doesn't look at all overwhelming once on, and the matte finish ensures it looks classic and timeless. Plus, it doesn't budge once applied, which is what I always worry about when wearing a strong lip! I pair this with MAC lipliner in Brick and they're a great team. Russian Red is my partner in crime for various winter festivities; I predict it will be making a regular appearance over the next few months!

6 ~ Estee Lauder Pure Color 36 Cherry Fever (Shimmer) (£18 full size, not sure if this shade was limited edition)

I got this last Christmas as part of an amazing Estee Lauder Christmas gift set and it's a lovely berry with gold shimmer running throughout. Perfect for the festive season! Texture wise it's extremely moisturising and not too sticky (come on, all lipglosses are sort of sticky! But this one is a smooth sort of sticky rather than glue-y sticky!) It has a lovely fruity scent and gives a gorgeous wash of berry colour. 

7 ~ Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick 'Plum Jam' (£8)

Soap & Glory's Gloss Sticks are the best lip crayons on the market, in my humble opinion! They have a really glossy finish and feel so moisturising and comfortable, and the colour range is impressive. Plum Jam is my favourite for Autumn as it's a beautiful plum red gloss that's actually a little brighter than how it appears in the bullet. It smells so vanilla-y which I love and for a gloss it has really good lasting power. I put it through a burger and chips lunch yesterday and while it did fade it didn't disappear completely! This is another product that really helps brighten my complexion and sets off my pale skin perfectly. 

8 ~ Topshop Lips Beguiled (£8)

This is the only really dark, 'vampy' lipstick in my collection. Beguiled is a beautiful and very striking red wine colour. I'm a little shy with my makeup; it took me until last year to finally rock a strong red lip! So I've been quite cautious about wearing Beguiled, and yet when I do I always really like how intense it looks. I'm definitely going to make an effort to wear deeper shades like this throughout Autumn and Winter, and I've got my eye on MAC's Rebel as my next purchase! 

What are your favourite lip products for Autumn/Winter? Do you switch up your makeup depending on season or do you rock the same shades all year around? I'd love to hear what you think!

Baci e abbracci,

                                                        

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First impressions haul

Hey dolls! I've purchased quite a few beauty bits recently that I'm currently testing before reviewing thoroughly, and thought it might be fun to write a haul post covering first impressions. I always enjoy reading about peoples' first impressions of new products, especially if those initial thoughts change over time, so here are mine. Enjoy!

Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash £3.99

I picked this up because I'm in need of a gentle yet effective face wash to use in the mornings and in the evenings as part of my nightly double cleanse. Botanics products are currently on sale in store at Boots, so I was able to get this for about £2. My skin can often appear quite dull so I'm hoping this gel, packed with brightening hibiscus, will lift my complexion a little as well as provide a gentle, soothing cleanse/pre-cleanse. I've used this once so far and immediately warmed to it. It has a subtle floral scent, foams well and leaves my skin soft and not at all tight or dry. So far, so good!

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Advanced Correcting Serum £13.33

L'Oreal's new Skin Perfection range is also on sale at Boots with 1/3 off the usual price (£13.33 as opposed to £19.99) I've been wanting to incorporate a serum into my skincare routine for a long time now but have never been able to find one gentle enough or one targeted specifically towards younger skin on the high street. I can't quite afford a more expensive brand so when I saw this I decided to give it a go. It's aimed at those in their twenties/thirties and claims to 'transform the appearance of skin quality', evening out skin tone and texture while minimising pores, which is exactly what I'm looking for. I've used it twice so far (morning and night) and it has a lovely texture, sinking into skin quickly and making a good base for makeup. I'm looking forward to seeing whether it makes a visible difference to the condition of my skin over time. 

Real Techniques brushes 'Expert Face Brush' & 'Blusher Brush'  £9.99 each

Real Techniques are currently buy one get one half price at Boots (I'm loving all these offers!) so I thought I'd venture into the makeup brush world, starting with perfecting my base. I am so excited about these! I don't have a big makeup brush collection by any means, and I've always relied on my fingers to apply pretty much any type of product, but having bought and used these two brushes I'm a complete convert. I didn't realise just how much of a difference using professional tools makes to how your makeup looks. The Expert Face Brush is incredible; the bristles are dense enough to offer high coverage when applying foundation and when blending concealer. Rather than liquid products sliding around my face, this ensures they settle where I want them to go. Spots and scars are covered so much more effectively than when I simply use my fingers. As for the shaped Blusher Brush, this is a miracle worker for flawless blusher application. One or two sweeps and I look instantly glowing. I can't wait to purchase some more Real Techniques brushes and build my collection!

MUA 1D Oh My Glow Blush 'Rose Riot' £3

I know, I know... I seem to recall tweeting something along the lines of 'I'd rather scoop my eyeballs out with a spoon then buy 1D merchandise' when I first heard about MUA's One Direction collaboration, but I stumbled across a few reviews and the cheek tints seemed to be received particularly favourably, so I had a little swatch and I'm seriously impressed. The pigmentation of this little twist-up cream blush is brilliant. 'Rose Riot' is a natural rose pink colour (duh!) and a little really does go a long way, unlike the awful Revlon cheek tints available in near identical packaging. The texture is initially creamy before settling into a natural powder finish and the product is seriously easy to blend. You can either dab a little on to your cheeks with your fingers or with a makeup brush to give a natural flush of colour.

Revlon Lip Butter 'Peach Parfait' £7.99

Another offer! Selected Revlon products are currently two for £10 at Superdrug. I wanted to try the new Lash Potion mascara and as that costs £9.99 I figured I'd throw in a Lip Butter pretty much for free. Bargain! I've always liked the look of 'Peach Parfait' and I've been using this constantly since I purchased it. I'm a huge fan of the generous colour payoff and moisturising texture, and this is a gorgeous natural peach shade with a slight shimmer. Along with 'Berry Smoothie', this is one of my favourite Lip Butter shades. 

Revlon Eyeshadow & Primer 'Metropolitan' £8.99

I spotted these palettes in US magazines months ago and had been hoping they would drop in the UK. Et voila! I know I should start branching out from neutrals but I can't help it, they lure me in every time! The 'primer' (the big rectangle) feels just like an ordinary eyeshadow texture-wise so I'm not sure what makes it different, but perhaps I'll understand more once I've experimented with the palette fully. Granted, I'm useless at shading and contouring my eyes, so I'm on the lookout for YouTube videos that might help me! Once I've practiced I'll report back. 

Revlon Lash Potion £9.99

This is another product I'd been lusting after for a long time after spotting it in US mags, and I was so excited to pick this up when I saw it in Superdrug. The packaging is gorgeous! It looks so mystical and pretty. Alas... I haven't had a good time with this so far *sobs* The brush is rather large and tends to catch on my lids a lot, meaning mascara smears everywhere, both under and over my eyes. I've found the formula to be quite clumpy and too 'wet', in that it creates a sort of sticky mess on my lashes and doesn't really volumise or lengthen as claimed by the product description. I am so disappointed. I've tried using it slowly and very carefully to avoid eye poke-age but still no luck. It just doesn't seem to work for my eye shape or lash type *major sad face*

Maybelline Baby Lips 'Minty Fresh', Peach Kiss', 'Cherry Me' £2.99 each

Hmm, it seems a lot of the products I end up buying originally feature on my 'seen in US magazines' list! These little balm sticks have caused lots of controversy since their UK release. Are they really any good? Are they overpriced? Are they just like any other lip balm? 

I saw quite a few comments made by beauty editors in various UK weekly magazines labelling Baby Lips as being 'BB cream for the lips' which immediately caused an eyebrow raise. What does that even mean?! 

Yes, these are just like any other lip balm, in my opinion... But that doesn't mean I don't like them! What were people expecting? It's a lip balm, guys. A lip balm. I'm finding them to be very moisturising and I particularly like 'Cherry Me' for the subtle red tint it gives. At £2.99 each these are certainly reasonable and worth the small expense. Although, I did also buy 'Pink Punch' and had a bit of an odd allergic reaction to it (extremely cracked lips and blister-like sore spots around my mouth) but as soon as I stopped using it, the reaction went away. I haven't experienced this with any of the other flavours available, but it's something to be aware of. I've never reacted to a lip product before so I'm not sure what happened, but, 'Pink Punch' aside, I really like Baby Lips and I've been reaching for them often.

That's about it, lovelies! What have you been hauling recently? Have you used any of the above? 

Baci e abbracci, 

                                                       

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Weekly Roundup feat. Soap & Glory, Revlon and Maybelline

Another week, another roundup and once again I've found it tough choosing just three products to shine the spotlight on! I've actually cheated a little this week as although *technically* I've chosen three product types, I've thrown in an extra product from one of the same product lines just to add a little something special. I've settled on featuring Soap & Glory's new One Heck of a Blot mattifying face powder, two of Revlon's newest Lip Butter shades, and a Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Color double ended lip colour. All three (well, four) products have featured prominently in my make-up bag over the past seven days and I'm excited to have a bit of a ramble about what makes each one so special. 

Let's start with Soap & Glory's newest offering, the brilliantly titled One Heck of a Blot Super-Translucent Mattifying Powder, cleverly developed to suit all skin tones. I've loved Soap & Glory toiletries and cosmetics from the very beginning and I've never been disappointed in any of my Soap & Glory purchases... and there have been quite a few! Fresh from my joy at their new Peach Party blush brick (which I reviewed here) I spotted One Heck of a Blot and had to try it out. I remember ages and ages ago reading a thread on their facebook page asking fans to suggest products they'd like to see and I remember thinking 'a pressed powder!' Et voila, my prayers were answered with this little beauty. 

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot, £12 at Boots

I love Soap & Glory's kitsch packaging, from the use of fun puns in the product titles to the retro photos and bold pink font. The powder comes with a little embossed powder puff and a handy mirror in the lid, and it clicks shut easily, keeping it nice and secure in my ever expanding make-up bag. The powder truly is translucent  translating from a super pale looking shade in the pan to an invisible wash once applied. It's extremely light texture-wise and doesn't chalk or cake at all. I apply it with a big fluffy powder brush to set my foundation and concealer and it doesn't dull my base or make my skin look sallow, unlike some pressed powders I've tried in the past. 

The embossed 'POWder' logo is a nice touch, no?

Unblended swatch 

Blended swatch- invisible!

Does it work? It sure does! My face, notorious for turning into an oil slick come midday, has needed a lot less touching up during the day and One Heck of a Blot really helps keep my complexion matte and fresh. I'm not surprised at the great quality as Soap & Glory always release fantastic products at reasonable prices. I love that this powder doesn't leave any hint of a chalky finish and doesn't cling to patches of dry skin at all. It's invisible and super light weight yet so, so effective and I'd say £12 is a brilliant price to pay for a shine free face. This has worked much harder at keeping my make-up intact than any primer or powder I've tried previously!

Revlon recently introduced some new summery shades to their ColorStay Lip Butter collection and I immediately had my eye on sheer tomato red 'Wild Watermelon' and sheer fuchsia pink 'Sorbet'. While some of the Lip Butters give a shimmery, more opaque finish these two give sheer washes of shimmer-free colour. Although they have the consistency of a mosturising balm they're actually very pigmented and it's easy to build up a stronger lip look with a few swipes straight from the tube. 

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in 'Sorbet' and 'Wild Watermelon', £7.99 each at Boots

I love the texture of Revlon's Lip Butters and find they manage to keep my lips moisturised while delivering quite a long lasting dose of colour. My usual favourite is 'Berry Smoothie', a review of which you can find here, a shade which goes with everything and feels so comfortable to wear. I'm loving the sheer glossiness of 'Sorbet' and 'Wild Watermelon' (and I'm a sucker for the juicy names) and count these are my two new favourite fresh summer colours. 

L-R: 'Sorbet' and 'Wild Watermelon'

Again, 'Sorbet' and 'Wild Watermelon'

final purchase was a bit of a random one, and I didn't even swatch it in store. As I'm currently being a little more adventurous with my lip colours I felt drawn to trying one of Maybelline's Color Stay 24 Hour dual ended lip colour shades and although I worried it might be a little too purple it's actually a really beautiful red berry shade once applied. 

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Color in 'Raspberry'

The idea behind Maybelline's Super Stay dual ended lip colour is that you apply the long lasting liquid lipstick first, allowing it to dry fully before slicking on a coating of the clear balm to keep your lips moisturised and to prevent them from drying out, a common problem with long lasting lipsticks. Now, when Maybelline recommend letting the liquid colour dry, really do let it dry! I didn't on my first go and ended up with a horrible mess of patchy colour... But only because I didn't read the instructions given on the side of the tube! My second attempt was much more successful. The raspberry colour is highly pigmented and delivers a good even colour, although I did end up with a bit of a stronger lip line as I lined my lips with the tip of the foam applicator first. I did find that pressing my lips together too often before the colour dried made it a little patchy, so I'd recommend resisting the temptation to do so until it's fully dry or until you've applied a layer of balm on top. I would definitely recommend being extra careful when tracing your lip line as the colour really does stick immediately, and it's near impossible to dab away at mistakes without resorting to a make-up remover soaked cotton wool pad. It really does have super staying power!

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Color in 'Raspberry', £8.99 at Boots

Clear balm to be applied on top of colour

'Raspberry' is a gorgeous berry shade with blue/purple undertones. It makes my teeth look whiter which is always a plus! Plus it smells like berries which is a delicious plus in my eyes. I can't stress enough just how long lasting this is; I applied it in the morning to test it out and it was still going strong well into the afternoon without needing a top-up. It did eventually start to get a little patchy but another swipe of the balm helped even it out again. I also swatched it on my hand and the swatch didn't budge for two days. Two days! There's still a faded mark on my hand, and yes, I do wash my hands regularly! To take it off my lips I use a cotton wool pad soaked in make-up remover and have to rub quite firmly to take it all off. It really does lock to your lips, making it perfect for nights out when you want a low maintenance but bold lip look. The colour doesn't bleed or smudge and although you have to be very precise when applying it, it's well worth the effort. 

'Raspberry' without balm 

'Raspberry' with balm on top

Although the swatch looks a little sheer the colour is very much opaque and bold on the lips. It dries to a matte finish, and the balm adds a glossy sheen to it. You could wear it without the balm although it would depend on the condition of your lips. I absolutely love this shade and also picked up a bright coral peach colour as well, which I can't wait to review. At £8.99 each these are a little pricey but I'd say they're definitely worth it as they deliver on their promise of long lasting lip colour (although 24 hours? I can't say I've needed to leave it on for quite that long!) 

There you have it, my Weekly Roundup done and dusted for another week. What have your favourite products been this week? Have you discovered any hidden gems or have you been using your old favourites? Feel free to share below. 

Take 5: Pink summer lips

The sky is blue, the sun is shining, the birds are singing... Summer has *finally* arrived! I tend to wear lots of pink shades throughout the summer months and I've rounded up my favourite five lip products for you to have a peek at. As I was snapping away taking photos I realised I really do have a bit of a thing for pink, but surely you can never have too many lipsticks/lipglosses? Of course not! 

First up is Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede in 'Socialite'. I'd wanted to try one of the Suede lipsticks for a while but all of the ones I swatched in-store seemed to be quite pearlescent, which isn't really my thing. Then I found 'Socialite' in Superdrug (£8.99) and instantly liked it. 

It's a mid-pink colour with a slight golden shimmer and it feels so light to wear. It settles to a matte 'suede' finish and doesn't budge for hours. 

Revlon Ultimate Suede 'Socialite'

Next up is MUA Makeup Academy lipstick in '11 Lotus'. Considering this sells for only £1 I'm extremely impressed. 

A darker pink-brown, with a creamy texture and strong pigmentation, this is so easy to wear. Plus it smells like vanilla, which is an added bonus. As it's a darker colour I tend to wear this in the evening and although it needs reapplying every few hours I don't mind considering the overall quality and price. 

MUA Makeup Academy 'Lotus' 

I've been a fan of Revlon Lip Butters since their initial release. With this in mind I recently purchased 'Berry Smoothie' (£7.99) and it's by far my favourite shade. It's a gorgeous juicy raspberry shade and reminds me of raspberry sorbet, due to its glossy finish. Yum! 

'Berry Smoothie' stays put for a good few hours before losing it's glossiness and it feels so comfortable and moisturising. I've been wearing this pretty much every day as it compliments most outfits and helps brighten up my rather pale face!

Revlon Lip Butter 'Berry Smoothie'

While browsing offers in Boots recently I came across a 3 for 2 deal covering Seventeen cosmetics and decided to pick up a few of their Mirror Shine lipsticks. I've included 'Belle' (£4.79) in this post as it's such a pretty tinted mid-pink. 

There's a little mirror hidden in the side of the lid that slides out, meaning you always have a mirror handy which is a nice touch. I really like how sheer this is and how moisturising it feels. 

Seventeen Mirror Shine 'Belle' 

My final favourite is by MAC. I love so many of their lipsticks and am desperate to get my hands on the hot pink Candy Yum Yum, but for now I'll make do with the following little pale pink beauty, 'Creme Cup' from the Cremesheen range (£14).

This is my perfect pale pink: creamy with a slight gloss finish. MAC lipsticks smell gorgeous and the packaging is sturdy and sleek. I think this may a case of saving the best until last!

MAC Cremesheen 'Creme Cup'

The BEST high coverage High Street foundation

I have tried a LOT of High Street foundations over the past ten years or so, since I started wearing make-up at the ripe old age of fourteen. There are ones I really, really like, such as Bourjois Healthy Mix, Rimmel Match Perfection, L'Oreal True Match and Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse, to name a few. But I've found that most high-street formulas tend to offer light, sheer coverage, whereas I'm after a higher coverage formula to effectively cover spots, blemishes and uneven skin-tone  With this in mind, the absolute best foundation for medium to high coverage has to be  Revlon ColorStay liquid foundation. Nothing else on the High Street comes close. 

ColorStay foundation in 'Ivory' and ColorStay powder in 'Light'

As you can see, it comes with a matching pressed powder which is also fantastic. To give a bit of product information, ColorStay comes in two formulas: one for normal/dry skin and one for combination/oily, which is the formula I use. It claims to last for up to '24hrs' although I've never left it on long enough to test this out! I can confirm, however, that it lasts a good 16 hours  without disappearing or breaking down on the skin. 

I have sort of complicated skin, which makes finding a good foundation quite tricky. I'm predominantly combination/oily yet I also have very sensitive skin and react often to unfamiliar products. Patches of dermatitis tend to flare up when my skin doesn't like a new product, and trying to cover both acne/scarring and dry patches can be difficult! ColorStay is the only High Street foundation I've used that effectively keeps my skin under control throughout the day. The combination/oily formula does require a fully moisturised base to blend in easily but this isn't a problem as I always moisturise after cleansing in the morning. I apply it with my fingertips and find it so easy to blend that way. I'm super pale and 'Ivory' matches my skin-tone perfectly, unlike lots of high-street foundations I've used that have an unmistakable orange tinge even though they claim to be 'ivory' or 'porcelain'.

The formula sinks in easily and blends really well, and it covers literally everything: spots, scarring, uneven skin-tone  dark circles. I love it! At £12.49 (at Boots) it's on the more expensive end of high-street purchases but it is so worth it for the results it delivers. I was getting increasingly tired of having to pile on layers and layers of concealer after using foundations that were too sheer and light (which admittedly seems to be the trend at the moment among High Street brands). This gives a great base and it acts as a perfect anchor for concealer and powder without looking caked on or mask-like. It claims to provide a 'flawless, lightweight feel' and it really does deliver fantastic high coverage without feeling at all heavy. It dries to a matte finish which I like. The glass bottle is a little heavy to carry  but it looks quite expensive and sleek. 

It would be nice if it came with a pump applicator but I quite like being able to control how much I pour out, and it's easy to put any excess liquid back in the bottle once you've finished applying it. Above is a swatch of 'ivory' and below is how it looks once blended. 

I honestly couldn't be without this foundation now that I've discovered it! Paired with the matching pressed powder in 'Light' it doesn't budge during the day, meaning I no longer have to worry about the 'midday shine'. I use the sponge that comes with the powder to set my base before applying blusher, and it gives a really natural, light finish. It doesn't dull the skin or look chalky, unlike some powders I've used in the past, and although I do usually reapply a light touch of powder in the afternoon it isn't totally essential. I just like freshening up! The powder retails at £10.99 and while it may seem a little expensive I really couldn't be without it. I've been using both products everyday for the past two weeks and there is still lots of powder left in the pan, which makes a change from some cheaper High Street powders. I do love some more expensive designer foundations such as Laura Mercier and Mac, but this Revlon duo offer an affordable, high quality alternative that I'm happy to use on a daily basis as my main base products. 

Pros 

• Both foundation and powder are long lasting and offer high coverage
• Foundation effectively covers spots, scars, blemishes and uneven skin-tone
• Provides a matte finish
• Powder sets make-up without looking chalky or dull
• Smart packaging
• Products combined create a flawless base

Cons

• More expensive than some other High Street foundations (but worth it for the results!)
• Foundation bottle could do with a pump applicator to prevent possible spillages

Have you tried Revlon ColorStay before? I'd love to know what you think!

Browse Revlon products here

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Honey and Romantic

I seem to be buying a lot of Revlon recently but that's because they have so many gorgeous products out at the moment. I just can't help myself! I picked up two of their new Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Honey, a nude-pink, and Romantic, a post-box red. 

The design of the pens is very similar to Clinique's Chubby Sticks, although I can confirm that the formulas feel very different, from scent to texture to colour (I have yet to review my Chubby Stick, but watch this space). The packaging of the Just Bitten Kissables is sleek, with a twist-up design meaning no need for sharpeners. I like the silver cap at the bottom of each stick and the way the colour of the tube denotes the colour of the product inside.

'Romantic' and 'Honey'

'Honey' and 'Romantic'

The pens smell extremely minty, which is great if you're a fan of mint, but not so great if you're not! One of my friends was immediately put off by this, but I happen to love mint and so am more than happy to use them based on smell! Revlon describe the pens as 'a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain' that lasts 'hour after hour' (click here for Revlon website). Upon application the formula does indeed feel like a balm, and does feel moisturising. Once the balm feeling has worn off after a couple of hours they definitely do leave behind a stain, which does indeed last for hours. I tend to top-up every so often because the immediate balmy texture is so nice. 

The colour of the tubes gives a very accurate indication of the colour of the product when applied. 'Honey' is a nude pink colour, very flattering for everyday wear, and as such I've been using this one a lot. 'Romantic' is a post-box red colour, easy to apply and easy to blend without any wonky-ness or dreaded uneven lip-lining. I like to blend using my finger to give a more gentle effect. 

'Honey'

'Romantic''

I really like these and will continue to use them regularly as part of my make-up routine. I think they're reasonably priced and I reckon they'll last quite a long time before needing to be replaced. 


Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains are on sale for £5.99 each at Boots (usual price stated as £7.99)

Pretty in peach pt 2 with Revlon Photoready cream blush & Sleek Blush powder

In my previous post  I wrote about the wonders of peach lip colours, and on my most recent trip to Superdrug I noticed Revlon's new cream blushers. I chose 'Pinched', a peach shade; there's also a pink one but I thought it looked a bit too bright for me. And, as you know, I'm head over heels in love with peach at the moment, so couldn't resist!

'Pinched'

The packaging is simple and attractive, with a sturdy black lid (although on first opening the lid wasn't screwed on properly, meaning as I went to pry it from the cardboard box it came in, my finger slipped under the lid straight into the blush. Which left an annoying dent on the surface, but oh well, no lasting harm done). It's quite a big pot, making it good value for money. 

I've found in the past that some cream blushers can be tricky to smooth on to the skin, requiring more of a rubbing motion which inevitably wipes away the foundation underneath. Thankfully, the Photoready blush doesn't suffer from this, and smooths on easily. I tend to dab my middle finger in the pot before patting and smoothing onto the apples of my cheeks gently, which seems to do the trick. As you can see, the shade is a light peach, with a very slight shimmer. 

It gives a healthy glow and lasts a good four or five hours after application. But the fun doesn't stop there! I also picked up a Sleek powder blusher in 'Rose Gold', which is a gorgeous peachy-coral with gold shimmer.

'Rose Gold''

The packaging is, well, sleek (sorry) and neatly sized, with a little mirror enclosed for easy application on the go. 

I must admit, I've become a little obsessed with this blush. The colour is so summery and the powder is highly pigmented, making it easy to load on to a blusher brush, and easy to blend. It leaves a lovely shimmery sheen on cheekbones and I also dust a little down my nose and across my forehead (but only a little!) I love the shimmery finish as it makes me look a lot less pale without the need for bronzer or lashings of tinted moisturiser/foundation. 

'Rose Gold' on brush 

'Rose Gold'

The best part is, the two products work extremely well together in delivering a sun-kissed, peachy look. I apply the cream blush first followed by a light sweep of the powder along cheekbones, brightening the face and creating the peachy look I love. Combined with the Revlon lip products detailed in my last blog post, it's peachy perfection (I just can't resist a bit of alliteration..!)

Revlon Photoready cream blusher is on sale for £5.99 at Superdrug (click here)

Sleek powder blusher costs £4.29 at Superdrug (click here)