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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Review | Bourjois Blush Exclusif

I had to write up my review of Bourjois Blush Exclusif (£7.99) ASAP as I'm head over heels in love with it! Although initially a little afraid of its self-adjusting 'technology' and promise of a 'unique, personalised pink' I'm relieved to report that it's a bit of a magical miracle worker! 

My first memories of Bourjois revolve around their clear and nude coloured Effet 3D lipglosses, which I applied regularly and liberally throughout my secondary school years. I've been a fan of Bourjois ever since, and I'm so impressed with their string of latest high quality releases. They've really hit the ball out of the park with products such as Rouge Edition lipsticks, Shine Edition balm sticks, Bronzing Primer and their 150th anniversary Poudre de Riz. When I spied the new Blush Exclusif in Superdrug I had to give it a go and see how it would work on my ultra pale skin. 

The idea behind Blush Exclusif is that it's a suits-all pink cream blush that self-adjusts according to your skin... type? Tone? To be honest I wasn't too sure at first as the little pot doesn't give much away, although I have my suspicions that the shade of pink might depend on the temperature of your skin as it looks a lot brighter and deeper on my warm fingertips than on my cooler wrist, for example. 

According to Superdrug's description of Blush Exclusif, 'its formula contains pH reactive pigments to transform your cheeks into a customised pink shade'. Now, I'm no science buff so I'm still a *little* uncertain about what this means... perhaps it's best I leave the science to one side and crack on with my review! *Ahem* (cries inwardly at memories of high school science education).

You can see in the photo above that on first appearance, Blush Exclusif is a very pale cream-pink shade, which in itself is really rather pretty. On my fingertips it immediately transforms into a darker fuchsia pink, whereas on my wrist and cheeks it's a medium toned baby pink with hints of lilac that looks absolutely beautiful. I loved watching it transform as I dabbed it on my cheeks... The surprise factor really reeled me in!

Swatches of Bourjois Blush Exclusif

You can see in the middle pic a few faint fuchsia flushes of colour from where my fingers touched the product directly. I was hesitant to use a brush as I wasn't sure if doing so would affect the result on my skin, what with the colour being adjustable. However I'm keen to give it a try with a blusher brush to see if there is much of a difference... Like I said, my grasp on science is somewhat slack so forgive me if I'm wrong in my hypothesis here! 

I applied it using dabbing motions with my fingertips, which I found blended the product well without accidentally rubbing at my foundation beneath, a problem I've had when applying cream blush in the past. In terms of lasting power, I've been wearing it for four hours so far today and I wore it for around six hours yesterday without the colour fading, which is pretty darn good for a cream blusher I'd say. 

'Where's the photo of your face?', I hear you cry! Unfortunately, try as I might, I couldn't snap a good enough shot and to be honest I'm having a seriously bad skin day (week? Month? Year? Gah! It's never ending!) so I don't feel very comfortable posting close-ups of my face at the moment. Never fear, though, as the colour swatched on my pale wrist is identical to how the colour shows up on my pale cheeks; a light pink flush with hints of lilac that really brightens my skin and makes me look well rested! The demi matte finish retains a touch of shine that reflects the light beautifully, acting as a blusher and highlighter combined. 

I'm thinking that Blush Exclusif will be a great winter blush to compliment my ultra fair skin; I tend to suit pinker shades of blusher as opposed to berry shades, so this little gem is perfect. I'd love to know how it appears on different skin tones and skin types, so if you've given it a go do let me know! I might not be totally sure about how it works, but thankfully it does work and I'm hooked! 

Browse Bourjois here

Baci e abbracci, 

         

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Autumn haul | Makeup

I have a theory that Superdrug pumps out some sort of pheromone throughout the store that attracts me to new releases and makes me buy things. Lots and lots of wonderful, beautiful things. What other explanation can there be?! I am so excited about every single one of these gorgeous makeup goodies! I felt it was time for a makeup bag overhaul now that we're transitioning into Autumn, and there are some truly fabulous makeup releases on Superdrug shelves at the moment. 

Maxfactor Whipped Creme Foundation 'Light Ivory', on offer for £7.99 (usually £9.99)

This smells suspiciously like Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse and the packaging is identical to CoverGirl's Whipped Clean foundation (which isn't really a surprise as CoverGirl and Maxfactor are owned by the same company!) I thought I'd give a mousse foundation a go as I love a matte base and it has a lovely velvet texture that melted easily on my wrist when I swatched a sample. Whipped Creme delivers a 'demi matte finish' which sounds promising for Autumn/Winter. I can't wait to give this a go and see how it fares.

Bourjois Pourdre de Riz (Java Rice Powder), £9.99

How absolutely adorable is this little lime green powder pot?! The vintage detailing sold it to me on appearance (I know, I know, shallow!) I couldn't resist, it just looks so pretty. Re-released to commemorate Bourjois' 150th anniversary, their original best-selling 1879 Poudre de Riz provides 'an ultra fine, velvety texture, for a smooth, and radiant complexion'. It comes in a suits-all translucent shade. I can't get enough of how wonderful the design is, and I'm hoping the powder is just as good! I will be reporting back soon!

Bourjois Blush Exclusif, £7.99

Another Bourjouis product that caught my eye, Blush Exclusif cream blush promises to adapt to your individual skin tone, creating a personalised foolproof flush of colour. Admittedly I'm a little wary of these types of products, as the lip ones in particular always seem to develop into really strange shades on me! But I was intrigued by the idea of a colour adapting cream blush and I'm looking forward to giving this a go. Appearance wise, it's very much like Bourjois' line of cream blushers released earlier this year, and in the pot it's a very pale baby pink colour. 

Sleek Matte Me Ultra Smooth Matte Lip Cream 'Petal' £4.99

Sleek have released two new lip collections, Gloss Me and Matte Me. I only spied Matte Me in Superdrug and went for 'Petal' as I am obsessed with matte pink lips! This feels very light on the lips and dries almost instantly to a budge-proof matte finish. I'd love to get my paws on a Gloss Me shimmer gloss and give that a go as well, to have all my lip needs covered!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer 'Fair' on offer for £3.69 (usually £4.19)

This is my absolute favourite concealer. It beats Benefit, MAC and every drugstore concealer I've used in the past. I love the liquid-cream texture which makes it quite thick and easy to blend on problem areas without it slipping or sliding. 'Fair' is the perfect super pale shade for my skin tone and this wonder concealer wand covers EVERYTHING. Spots, scars, redness; you name it, this miracle worker covers it. I know Collection Lasting Perfection is raved about by many a blogger, and I'm sure it also has it's haters, but for me it's absolutely perfect in terms of formula and finish. The only slight downside is that the writing on the packaging wears off within days, and I have found that the tube starts to dry out a little after a month or so, making it harder to scoop out the last few dregs of concealer. But for under a fiver I really don't care!

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr 'Metallic Pomegranate' £4.99

I'm determined to break out of my neutral eyeshadow rut this Autumn, and this pomegranate cream shadow is just what I've been looking for. I've seen a few bloggers rocking cranberry shades and figured this slightly darker, smokier pomegranate colour would be a great way to introduce a little colour to my eye makeup routine. I love how easy the Color Tattoo shadows are to use; they blend well and are perfect for someone like me who hasn't quite got to grips with using eye makeup tools! I can't wait to give this a go, and I'll be sure to report back with my thoughts!

Maybelline Browdrama Sculpting Brow Mascara 'Medium Brown' £4.99

My beloved Benefit Brow Zings kit is coming to an end, and I'm reluctant to use it all up before I can afford to replace it. It has lasted me a good two years and I'm so attached to it that I doubt any other brow product will satisfy me! However, when I spotted Maybelline Browdrama Brow Mascara I thought I'd give it a go and see if it was any good. I like the thought of using this when I'm having a 'casual' (aka 'lazy') day! 'Medium Brown' seemed like the best fit for me, although it's also available in a blonde shade and in a darker brown shade. I'm very fair skinned with naturally dark blonde hair, but I've found blonde eyebrow products look really, really strange on me, hence going for a medium shade! I like a bit of noticeable definition; not quite a Scouse brow but definitely some colour and shape! 

Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express 'Black' £7.99

For the life of me I cannot seem to find a mascara I'm happy with, and it's starting to really grate on my nerves! Recent tries have included Revlon Lash Potion (too wet and clumpy), Makeup Academy Every Lash (too dry and stumpy) and Seventeen Doll'd Up (it's supposed to curl but really doesn't, although it does lengthen!). The Rocket was the tube that caught my eye on Superdrug's Maybelline stand, so I chucked it in my basket and bought it without giving it too much thought. The best way to figure out the perfect mascara, right?! Chuck it in the basket and cross your fingers! When I opened it at home I immediately noticed it's got teeny tiny bristles rather than big bristles... I'm not sure how I feel about this! I've loved big bristles in the past but then Revlon Lash Potion had big bristles and I near blinded myself with it, so maybe smaller is a good thing?! I'm dying to try this out and see if it delivers. Fingers and toes crossed!

Real Techniques Shading Brush £6.99

My obsession with Real Techniques continues! I've been using the Expert Face Brush and Blusher Brush daily since purchasing a few weeks ago and I am completely obsessed! Brilliant quality and excellent results. I picked up the eye Shading Brush as I really want to practice defining my eyes properly with eyeshadow, and I've got a gorgeous new Revlon palette that I'd like to create some looks with (take a peek here). I can't wait to report back and tell of my eyeshadow application tales. Hopefully there will be a success story! 

Et voila, the first installment of my Autumn haul. Next up will be a skincare/bodycare haul, having recently popped into Lush and treated myself to a few beautiful smelling bits and bobs. Be sure to find me on Bloglovin' so you don't miss it! And feel free to comment below with your Autumn makeup faves and must haves. A girl can never chit chat about beauty too much!

Baci e abbracci, 

     

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Disappointing Products | Makeup

The suspects...

*Taking cover from die hard Apocalips lovers* I kid of course, as obviously different products suit and agree with different people, and where would we be without variety in the world? I thought I'd round up some of the makeup items I've purchased over the past few months that have unfortunately failed to impress for various reasons. I'm quite fussy with texture and colour, and so I'm sure some readers will absolutely love some of the products featured, but alas what suits some of us might not suit others and vice versa. 

MUA Undress Me Too eyeshadow palette £4

Generally I'm a huge fan of MUA palettes and I was so excited to give this one a go as I'm a sucker for neutrals and this collection looked promising. Unfortunately, having experimented with it a fair few times I've decided it just isn't for me. There seems to be quite strong silver/pale blue undertones to a lot of the shades in the palette which doesn't appeal to me and unfortunately some of the shades look a little bit odd with my complexion. I've also found that unlike other MUA shadows these ones don't seem as pigmented and I need to apply quite a few layers to achieve a strong amount of colour. Ah well, you win some, you lose some. 

Seventeen Brow Scultping Pencil 'Natural Brown' £2.89 & Eye Kohl Soft Smudge Pencil 'Mocha' £2.89

Oh man, was I disappointed in these pencils. I only bought them as emergency items when staying at my fiance's sans makeup bag one weekend, but I figured as Seventeen have lots of great quality products these would be OK to use. I was wrong. Firstly, the eyebrow pencil. I found this has a very stiff, dry consistency making it difficult to use, and it also has an ashy finish which is off putting. The colour looked extremely strange on my brows, with very strong grey tones and I hated it as soon as I put it on. It was near impossible to blend properly and it dragged and tugged like crazy. Not a fan. As for the eye liner, as soon as I opened this the tip fell clean off which immediately irritated me. What if I couldn't find a sharpener?! It does an alright job of lining the upper lid but it's also quite stiff and therefore drags along the eyelid. Not impressed at all. 

Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara £7.99

This mascara seems to divide opinion and I'm firmly in the 'I hate it' camp. I found the 'flexor-brush' to be a complete gimmick and a nuisance when applying to my lashes. The idea is that it 'flexes' and bends as you apply, to help you grip the lashes, but I found it did the opposite and made it extremely difficult to get a good grip. The formula was lumpy and flaked like crazy throughout the day, and it failed to really define or do anything that noticeable to my lashes. It smells good though. So that's a plus. I guess. 

Bourjois Cream Blush '01' £7.99

I love cream blush so I was looking forward to trying out this little peach pot from Bourjois. It does seem like a very small pot for £7.99 but I thought I'd give it a go anyhow, especially considering the rather impressive stats given on the Bourjois website. 100% of 33 users found it 'very easy to blend', apparently. Well I must have freaky cheeks because I find the texture quite dry and not as creamy as I'd like, making it quite difficult to blend over foundation without sort of rubbing my foundation off in the process. While I quite like the peachy colour I do find it quite pale and in hindsight I think I prefer a slightly darker peach coral. So, a combination of the wrong colour choice and the wrong formula for me *sad face*

Rimmel BB Cream £6.99 & Match Perfection SPF15 Cream Compact £7.49

Two very simple reasons for disliking these. Rimmel BB Cream turned me into an absolute grease ball half an hour after applying, and I suffered a nasty allergic reaction to the Match Perfection Cream Compact. I actually really liked the texture of the Cream Compact but soon after using it I developed a horrible red rash all over my face that took days to calm down. I found that the BB Cream didn't deliver good coverage and it smells like old sun cream which I don't find all that appealing. I favour a base that keeps me relatively matte, so this isn't the one for me. I am, however, a big fan of Rimmel's Match Perfection liquid foundation which doesn't bring me out in a rash, thankfully. 

Maybelline Cover Stick £4.09

This was another emergency purchase and unfortunately it wasn't the wisest one. I really like Maybelline foundations so figured I'd like this stick concealer, yet it has a bizarre waxy consistency and it has a really greasy finish. It also has a very strong plastic soap smell which lingers after applying. While the coverage is decent it just doesn't feel comfortable and it doesn't have a matte finish, which is crucial for my shine prone skin. 

MAC Studio Finish Concealer £15

'Surely not?!', I hear you cry! There's no denying that the coverage this little pot delivers is superb, as is the initial consistency. I find it perfect for covering dark circles but it's when applied to blemishes that it all starts to go wrong for me. I've noticed that after a few hours the formula begins to break down, separating and leaving a strange film on my skin. If it happens to get wet at all it turns into a gooey texture which isn't very appealing! It also looks very shiny after a few hours and when touched up with powder it turns into a bit of a clumpy mess. While this pot has lasted me well over six months and while it's great for covering dark circles, I won't be repurchasing after it eventually runs out. Back to Benefit Boi-ing for me!

Bottom to top: Bourjois 'Peach on the Beach', Rimmel Apocalips 'Celestial' and 'Stellar'

               Bourjois Color Boost Glossy Finish Lipstick 'Peach on the Beach' £7.99

At first glance and at first swatch I loved 'Peach on the Beach' but I just can't get on board with the texture and finish once applied. It looks like a lovely juicy peach colour in the tube but I've found it too orange on my lips, which sounds silly but it just looks a bit odd with my fair complexion. Plus it really seems to cling to any dry bits and emphasises every crease on my lips which I don't like. I thought I'd love this but alas, once again, it just isn't meant to be. 

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer 'Celestial' & 'Stellar' £5.99 each

It's not so much a colour issue I've got with Apocalips, it's an application and finish issue. I love the idea of the rich, opaque, glossy lacquer and the colour range is really impressive, but I find it difficult to apply these neatly without colour bleeding like crazy beyond my lip line. I find myself constantly checking my lips when I'm out and about for colour control purposes, as I find that these smudge quite easily and never really feel that 'secure'. I've also found that colour constantly gets on to my teeth somehow which makes me feel very self-conscious! I'm constantly licking my teeth which makes me look strange and I worry about smiling properly in case my teeth are smeared with lipgloss. I really, really want to love these as I do like the colours and they have a unique texture but I'm just too nervous to wear them! The smell is also a bit of an issue as they have a very artificial sweet scent that is a little cloying. I'm still tempted to give some more shades a go but I'm worried I'll just end up with lipgloss covered teeth all the time! Waah. 

Have you tried any of the above? What are your thoughts? Let me know what you think!

Review | Bourjois Shine Edition lipstick 'Rose xoxo'

The latest release from Bourjois is a collection of gorgeous Shine Edition lipsticks (£7.99 each), balmy in texture and glossy in finish. Containing 'nourishing mango butter extracts', each balm works to provide lasting comfort. While there's no doubt they're rather similar to Revlon's Lip Butters, that didn't deter me from trying one. The more balms the merrier, I say!

Bourjois Shine Edition '24 Rose xoxo', £7.99

What's with the strategically placed flower, you may be wondering? I was having a little bit of trouble picking up on the packaging and colour of the lipstick so thought adding a contrast might help. It might not be the world's most original arrangement... But I think it does the job! As you can see, the packaging is a twist on Bourjois Rouge Edition lipsticks, with a mirrored silver lid and turquoise detailing. Each colour group seems to have different coloured detailing; from what I can gather, pinks and neutrals have summery turquoise. The colour at the bottom of the tube matches the colour of the product perfectly, making it easy to choose your shade. Each lipstick is in the form of a twist-up stick, and there is no noticeable scent which will appeal to those with sensitive noses!

I spotted neutrals, corals, reds and fuchsia pinks among the Shine Edition lipsticks available in my local Superdrug and went for '24 Rose xoxo' because it's a lovely natural lilac pink, perfect for everyday summer wear. I've started to gravitate towards lilac-y colours and this has a gorgeous sheer slightly shimmery finish that makes it super wearable and flattering. The texture is balmy and moisturising, soothing any flakes instantly. It does have quite a slippery feeling which might make wearing some of the brighter colours a little trickier but I haven't noticed any bleeding of colour with 'Rose xoxo'. 

In terms of intensity the finish is sheer yet has quite a strong colour pay off, which I love. It has a slight opaqueness to it, rather than being a transparent tint. The lilac pink shade shows well on the lips, matching the colour of the bullet when applied, although as it's a balm formula it only lasts for a few hours before requiring re-application, as to be expected with a balm product. I think if I was going out somewhere in the evening I'd want to wear a more opaque lip product, but this is perfect for wearing during the day.

'24 Rose xoxo' swatch 

What really appeals to me about 'Rose xoxo' is the unique lilac pink shade and how comfortable it feels once on. I've been wearing it all day, reapplying every couple of hours, and it delivers a great moisture hit while giving a good dose of colour. I'd quite like to try a fuchsia shade and see how long a darker colour lasts on the lips, as perhaps it would leave behind a a bit of a stain once the balm finish wears off. I find balms so comfortable and light to wear during summer, so I'm sure I'll be getting a lot of use out of this! 

Browse Bourjois Shine Edition here

Bourjois spree: healthy mix serum foundation, powder & concealer, and lip treats

I can't resist a bit of Bourjois, and this month's purchases include face products and some lip treats. I picked up the new 'healthy mix serum foundation' in '51 Vanille clair', the palest shade available, as well as the matching 'healthy balance' compact powder in '52 vanille' and the 'Touche healthy mix' concealer brush (I can't find the shade written anywhere; I know it was the palest one!). 

Bourjois healthy mix powder, concealer & gel serum foundation 

The products share a very pleasant apricot scent and colour-wise the powder and concealer match very well. I was intrigued by the gel serum foundation as it sounded like it would have a nice light texture, and the guide on the back of the bottle suggests it gives a 'semi-matte finish' with one square out of three shaded to denote the level of coverage. It certainly does have a nice texture, almost like a moisturiser rather than a foundation, and it's easy to blend in terms of smoothness. The only problem I've had is that the shade is slightly too yellow-toned for my complexion. I tend to need more of a pink-toned base, so it doesn't really blend in perfectly with my skin tone. It does feel moisturising though, and gives good light coverage.


The concealer, on the other hand, matches my skintone and blends in perfectly. It gives great coverage to dark circles and has a light liquid consistency, making it very easy to blend. A little goes a long way, which makes it good value for money. I use the powder to set the rest of my make-up and it also feels nice and light rather than cakey or heavy. 


I also picked up some lip treats:

Bourjois 'Sweet Kiss' lipstick in '11 Rose Innocence' & 'Effet 3D' gloss in '05'

Lipstick on left, gloss on right 

I love pinky lipsticks and glosses, and have been searching for a nude-pink lipstick to wear as an everyday colour. When applied it's got a matte texture and gives a 'blush' of colour which I like (although you can layer it up to make it more intense). The gloss is a darker pink, infused with shimmery bits (I love shimmer!) and comes out slightly lighter than the colour it is in the tube. I'm a big fan of Bourjois lipglosses as they feel very moisturising and have good staying power. 


All products featured came in at under £10 each. 


Until next pay day! :p