A Solid Base

Whilst I love to chop and change things on the regular when it comes to make-up, I've found that when it comes to base, I rarely step away from these products. That alone made me think, I need to make these a blog post.

First up I like to prime with the Bourjous Happy Light primer. This stuff is great as it has a hydrating quality and brightens the skin without making you look like you've shoved your face in glitter. It has luminous particles which blur imperfections and get your face ready for your base of choice. Which, for me is the Dior BB Creme. Holy moly I love this stuff. This product and I just click. It is the right colour, it blends into the skin nicely, it lasts a good amount of time and it just makes my skin look healthy and glowing, which is what I want for my face really.

Next it's up to concealer. I like to start under my eyes as I found I need less cover up concealer after I've done my eyes (if that makes sense?) I like to begin with the Bourjois CC Eye Cream as it really brightens underneath my eyes and begins to cover up my bags. Then, depending what I'm doing, I like to go in with either the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer or the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch concealer as they're both great at covering and highlighting eye bags.

If any blemishes are still on show after this I like to use my Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage as it's a really heavy duty cover all concealer. Then to finish I like to dust my face in the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, which again has a nice fine glitter in it which makes skin look glowy and not Edward Culleny.

So there are my base favourites, what are yours?

Laura

Review: Soap & Glory Glow Job

Whilst I do love a good scrub or body wash, Soap and Glory make-up has never really called to me for some reason. One weekend I was reading a post by Vivianna Does Makeup (which I'm usually doing to be fair,) and saw her mention this product. From the description she gave it sounded a little like the Origins Vita-zing moisturiser so I decided to pick it up, as I'm always looking for a cheaper alternative. 

The Soap and Glory Glow Job describes itself as a 'sunkissed tinted morning moisture flash'. Basically it's a moisturiser with a bronze tint to it.

When testing it out on my hand I noticed that the pigments in it where quite orange, but after a bit of blending seemed to smooth themselves out.

You can see my first impressions and application of this product in this video as this was the first time I'd used it on my face. Oh boy, did it not really go right. As I said in the video I definitely looked like I'd escaped from Wonka's chocolate factory, it was not good.

I have tried it since and definitely believe that less is more. The second time I used it underneath a foundation and think that it's definitely the way forward with this product.

If you're lucky enough to have foundations too light for you, or once summer approaches want to add a bit of tanned glow to your skin I definitely suggest giving this a go, but in the winter on your face, I'm going to have to give it a miss.

Have you tried this? What did you think?

Laura xoxo

Review: Origins CC Cream

So a couple of weeks ago I found myself at an Origins stand whilst they were having a 10% discount going on, so OFCOURSE I had to take advantage and decided to try out the CC cream as I'd heard lots of people going on about it. 

I was hoping that this product would be similar to that of Vita-zing but with a bit more coverage, and it kind of is, but it doesn't do the best job at covering up any blemishes.

It's a thick consistency but blends well, however I find it to feel too heavy on my skin.

What I do like about it is the fact it has tea-tree in it which I feel helps improve my skin as I wear it.

It doesn't have the longest time, and I do find it a bit drying, however it is still a nice product.

I don't think I'd repurchase it, and would definitely recommend Vita-zing over this CC.

Have you tried this? What do you think?

Laura xoxo

Review: Origins Vita Zing

I'm sure most of you are aware of this product. It definitely carries a beauty blogger buzz and something that has always intrigued me. I first picked this up last November in a box of Origins I got in their Christmas boxsets. At the time, I was definitely left disappointed with this product; but now things have a changed.

For those of you who don't know, Vita Zing is a moisturiser with a 'sheer tint release.' Not quite a tinted moisturiser, but not a normal moisturiser, it's some kind of in between product. Now, when I'm doing an extremely good caspar look, this makes me go from the friendly ghost to being carted back to the chocolate factory. Orange overload. This put me off greatly. However, I persevered, tried different ways of working with it, and now me and Vita Zing are getting on rather well.

As you can see, I think I've managed to work it without looking tangoed, and you can also see that it really holds no coverage, which is why it isn't a tinted moisturiser. What I do hope you can notice is, however, how it evens out my skin tone, and adds a slightly 'healthy' look to my skin.

I use this moisturiser on days where my skin is behaving, I'm not doing a lot, but still want to look presentable. This with a bit of concealer is the perfect combination.

So here it is in action. No foundation, just Vita Zing and concealer. 

So whilst me and Vita Zing and having a bit of a fling at the moment (it also increases the coverage of my Bare Minerals foundation on those, 'bleugh' days) my final quarm with it, is the price. £27!!! I don't know if I can part with that much cash for this product. I suppose only time will tell. For now, I'm rationing. 

What do you think of this product? Do you like it?

Laura xoxo