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, 

                                                       

Bloglovin' | Twitter | Instagram

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, 

     

Bloglovin' | Twitter | Instagram

Summer haul time!

I'm really loving the current weather we're having at the moment! I'm usually much more of a winter person but I grew so sick and tired of having to layer up every time I left the house that I'm fully embracing the heat and sunshine this week. I've even ventured out in shorts for the first time in about ten years, and I must say it felt quite liberating! Up until now I've always felt way too shy to get my legs out, even though I do actually like my legs a lot... Just in the comfort of my own home when in little PJ shorts. But I sucked it up, bought some £5 denim short shorts from Primark and now you can't get me out of them! 

As I was lounging in the garden this afternoon I thought it would be nice to write up a beauty haul post featuring some of the products I've been enjoying using recently. The sunshine provided some good lighting for photos and who doesn't love a haul post? 

L-R: I Love... Coconut & Cream bubble bath & shower creme, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze,
Ultra Dry anti-perspirant, The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil. 

As soon as summer hits I crave coconut scented goodies, and I found this giant bottle of I Love... Coconut & Cream bubble bath & shower creme in Superdrug for only £2.05. My obsession with coconut is partly due to the discovery of an absolutely amazing hair treatment sold in Sardegna. It comes in a HUGE (and I mean HUGE) white tub with a big yellow/green lid depending on whether you go for the coconut version or the herb version. It smells absolutely delicious and makes your hair feel super soft, a real treat after spending all day at the beach. My fiance's mum is from Cagliari and she introduced me to it when I first went to Sardegna five or six summers ago. The scent of coconut instantly reminds me of Cagliari and happy memories, so purchasing this I Love... Coconut & Cream cream product was a no-brainer. It smells scrummy and should last a while. 

Last summer I became ever so slightly obsessed with Palmer's Natural Bronze Body Lotion and as it was on sale for half price in Boots (£2.67), and as the sun is shining, I thought I'd stock up. Out of all the gradual tans I've used this one gives the deepest colour in just one application. It's also very moisturising and has the famous Palmer's chocolaty cocoa butter scent- delicious! I've noticed that with the recent re-branded bottle there also seems to be much less of a fake tan scent which is brilliant, as after a few hours I used to be able to detect a subtle fake tan smell. Good work Palmer's! I usually apply this on alternate days, exfoliating and using a rich body cream on the 'off' days. You do have to be a bit careful around the ankles, knees and elbows though, or it can gather slightly and become darker than everywhere else. I'm really pale, as in 'mozzarella' pale as my Italian step-family like to remind me, and this is by far the best gradual tan to use when I want to go from milk bottle to tanned in record time. 

Everyone needs a good deodorant to see them through the summer, and this Sure Ultra Dry anti-perspirant spray (£2.10 at Boots) is really good at keeping me fresh and dry on sticky summer days. I absolutely hate deodorants that claim to keep you dry all day and do anything but (Garnier, I'm looking at you!) Sure's range not only smell lovely but also deliver great protection against sweat. Not the most exciting beauty item, granted, but an essential non the less! Sure and Dove have recently repackaged their cans, releasing 75ml 'compressed' bottles that claim to provide the same amount of sprays as their old 150ml cans, meaning less packaging, which is not only environmentally friendly but also handbag friendly!

I've been reaching for my little glass bottle of The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil to soothe my summer skin woes, as unfortunately the heat has caused my skin to break out even more than usual over the past week or so. This feels so cooling on spots and it really helps reduce redness without drying out the skin. As it's an oil it feels soothing and moisturising yet at the same time it works wonders at reducing spot size overnight when applied in the evening after cleansing. I love the 'clean' smell of tea tree, although it is quite strong and it does linger after applying. This little bottle (10ml) lasts ages and costs £7. 

L-R: Sleek Face Form 'Fair', MUA Blusher 'Cupcake', Seventeen Stay Time Concealer 'Extra Fair'

I've read so many positive reviews of Sleek's Face Form palette ('Fair', £9.99 at Superdrug) that I decided to give it a go and see what all the fuss is about. I haven't really experimented much at contouring as such, but I have used the matt powder as a bronzer to add a sun kissed glow to my cheeks, nose, temples and jawline. It works well and has a nice matt finish which I tend to prefer in a bronzer. I've also used the shimmer highlighter on my cheekbones and brow bone, and the coral blush on my cheeks. To be fair I've only been using this for the past two or three days, so I'm still new to it... But I'm not overly impressed as of yet. I usually love Sleek blushers as they're generally so pigmented and have an excellent colour payoff, but this coral colour seems to take a while to build up properly on my cheeks. As mentioned above, I'm naturally very pale, so usually blushers show up instantly, but this one takes some time to get going. I love the shimmery orange coral colour and it swatches very vibrantly on my hand when using my fingers, but I haven't yet mastered how best to make it work on my face. I'm going to keep using it though as I love the trio of colours and it's such a summery collection. Perhaps practice makes perfect?

Speaking of blushers, I picked up one of the new shades from MUA (£1 at Superdrug) and I'm really loving it. I chose 'Cupcake', a peachy pink matt, and as the formula is so pigmented it only takes one sweep with my blusher brush to add a wash of colour to my cheeks.  I've been using it in conjunction with my Natural Collection SunTint powder (reviewed here) and together they give a lovely subtle sun kissed look.  

Seventeen's Stay Time 18 Hour Concealer is another product I've heard good things about. I've been using Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer which is my all time favourite when it comes to covering spots and blemishes, but I'm looking forward to giving this a go and seeing how it compares. I chose 'Extra Fair' and it's a perfect match for my skin tone. I snapped it up for £4.49 at Boots. 

L-R: Maybelline Super Stay 14 HR Lipstick 'Ultimate Blush', Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick '16'

Top: Maybelline Super Stay 'Ultimate Blush', Bottom: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate '16'

I love a good lippie and the latest additions to my collection are Maybelline's Super Stay 14 HR Lipstick in 'Ultimate Blush' (£6.99 at Boots) and Rimmel's Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in '16' (£5.49 at Boots) I'm not normally a fan of lipsticks with a pearlescent finish but I was drawn to the berry pink tone of 'Ultimate Blush' when having a swatch in Boots. It's a berry pink colour with a hint of silver, which sounds a bit weird, but it looks really nice with a bit of a tan! I'm not sure about 14 hours but it lasts for at least four or five without disappearing completely, although it does leave a bit of a predominately silver shimmer after the main pink colour wears off. I don't mind reapplying as it feels comfortable to wear and isn't at all drying, and it smells like berries which is nice! Rimmel's '16' is a pink toned coral with a matt finish, and the colour pay off is pretty intense when applied straight from the tube. I smudge it in slightly with my fingertip when I want a more subtle effect. For a long lasting lipstick it feels very moisturising and creamy, and although the initial creamy feeling wears off after a while the colour stays put for a good few hours. I'm loving vibrant colours this summer and these two beauties are currently sitting at the top of my lipstick list. 

That's all for now folks, the sun is still shining and the garden is calling! I'd love to hear what products you've been using recently and if you've used any of the above. Feel free to comment below with your top picks for summer! 

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)