That was so last year...

Make-up trends and blogger lust haves rarely last any longer than celebrity whirl wind romances; yet, we all still buy into them (and buy all them) as soon as we can, because how else are we meant to prove that we're cool and a true blogger, right?

Throwback Thursday: MAC's A Perfect Cheek Blush

Even when I was in my 'must own every make-up item on the planet' stage of buying make-up, I never really got the whole MAC collections thing. Then I found the Marilyn Monroe collection and something took a hold of me. All I knew was that I wanted this blush, and I wanted it then.

What I really like about the blush is that it really is A Perfect Cheek for my complexion. It's not too pink, too red, or too orange. It just blends onto the skin for a nice natural bit of definition. It's the kind of blush you'd use if you want to sculpt but not contour, if you get what I mean.

Do you have this? What do you think?

Laura

Review: Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Pinched

I picked up this blush in a 3 for 2 offer Revlon were having. I love a peachy colour, and cream blushes seem to be my thing of the moment.

Now, let me get the negatives out of the way first. The pigmentation of this product sucks. The right hand swatch is a couple of swirls, and the left is a good ol' dig. I feel like if it had a sheen to it, then maybe it would be ok, but for a cream blush, it's actually quite matte.

However, when you've made your arm ache getting enough product on the brush, it does give such a natural colour to the cheeks.

So whilst not the best formula, and I probably won't be re-purchasing, it is a lovely colour, that gives a subtle summer look to your cheeks,

What do you think? Have you tried this?

Laura xoxo

Cream of the Crop

I seem to have a thing for cream blushers at the moment. I don't know why, the powder ones haven't done anything wrong, I just seem to be reaching past them for something with a more blend-able formula. I also think that cream blushers give your skin a glow that powders can not achieve. So this post is focused on my favourite three.

I'm not very adventurous with colours am I?

Max Factor Miracle Touch Blush - This is such a good little blush, it should be having its own post soon, but it applies so effortlessly and gives a lovely pop of colour to the cheeks. The formula is brilliant, spot on for a cream blush.

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush - I've recently featured this in a Throwback Thursday. I bought it ages ago, before I was properly into make-up, and it's so good. It is really pigmented and blends so well.

Nars Multiple - I love these multiples. I think I may have mentioned them once or twice on this old blog! They are just the best. Shame they're so bloomin' expensive.

What are your favourite cream blushers?

Laura xoxo

Throwback Thursday: Maybelline Dream Touch Blush

The other week I was having a little sort through of my collection and came across this little guy. I've had it for so long that the writing has worn off and I don't even know the name of it. But alas, I thought I'd see why I've held onto it for so long.

When heavily swatched it leans toward a brown toned pink, but when blended out it goes toward the more peachier side of life. Either is fine with me to be honest.

On my cheeks, it kind of mimics the natural rosy redness that I have myself. I like to apply it with my fingers and blend it out with a RT's Contour Brush.

I have found it is very easy to over do this product, so a light hand is a must, but overall I can see why I held onto it. A gorgeous pink blush, that doesn't break the bank.

Have you tried this?

Laura xoxo

Throwback Thursday: Benefit Hervana Blush

This blush holds a little place in my heart as it was the first high end piece of make-up I bought. I used it constantly when I first got it, but then I got bitten by the beauty bug and it got cast aside for newer products. The other week however, I decided to bring this out and give it a wear.

The first thing that I always forget is how fabulous this smells. It is so gorgeous. I love all the light colours that swirl together to give the perfect light flush to your cheeks.

It blends and applies so effortlessly, and gives such a subtle look to your face.

Do you like/use this blusher?

Laura xoxo

Laura Mercier Coral Red Quad

So, my student loan had just come through, I had to walk through Selfridges to get to my car, and I felt like I needed more Laura Mercier products in my collection, you know, support the name and all that. This is how I acquired this product.

I did my usual stand and swatch every product available trying to decide, then this just caught my eye. I love that it is four individual colours, as with a small brush (like the Real Techniques Contour Brush) you can get each individual colour, so really it's four blushes, yes?

Here I have swirled all of the colours together, and the effect is like you've just been walking out in the cold, nice flush to the cheek. I actually think it is perfect for Autumn/Winter, even though I was skeptical with the name Coral Red.

So as something I picked up on a whim, I am really impressed with it, and really like it.

What do you think? What else should I pick up from Laura Mercier?

Laura xoxo

Top Products - Top 5 Blushes

So I've seen a lot of people doing Top Ten or Top Five posts, so I thought why not give it a go. I was going to do a top five of everything, but I don't actually have that much make-up for all the categories haha, so some may be five and the other maybe three! I hope you like see what my favourite products are.

L-R Clockwise: Rimmel London Winter Glow//MAC Dainty//The Balm Cabana Boy// Benefit Hervana// MAC Lovejoy

Now at the moment I'm a bit blush crazy. So these are my favourites at the moment. They're pretty much the same, but slightly different.

Order, same as above!

Rimmel, Winter Glow: This is one of the first blushes I got and it's just a nice red toned almost plum blush. I also love the whole concept of mixing colours to get a new one, that is my favourite type of blush. 

MAC Dainty: This is a gorgeous pinky peachy shimmery colour that I find perfect for a light summer look. It is just a nice light, dainty (I had to do it, I'm sorry! My inner Chandler Bing made me!)

The Balm, Cabana Boy: This is a nice plummy raspberry colour which is super pigmented with a tiny bit of shimmer. It looks so pretty on, and I really love it. Plus, how amazing is the packaging?

Benefit Hervana: I love this pale pink colour, and it smells amazing! Another swirl all the colours together blusher. 

MAC Lovejoy: I've banged on about this product so many times. But is such a good all rounder colour, and a firm favourite. A lovely warm brown colour that is just so easy to wear!

What's your favourite blush?

Laura xoxo

P.S If you want to see these blushes on, the title is a link :)

MAC Mineralize Blush - Dainty

So I've had this post sitting in my drafts for quite a while now. I bought this blusher from Buyapowa at the start of the month/end of April, just before the 'Buyapowa scandal' happened. If you are unaware of this, check out this post. Anyway, as the post describes there is a lot of questioning on how Buyapowa sourced their MAC, and to be honest, I am questioning if this is real. However, I'v been reaching for this blush, almost daily, it hasn't done anything bad to my skin, and it cost me a tenner, so ya know what, fake or real, I like it and want to blog about it. End of!

This blush still contains the highlight effect like Lovejoy, but it is a gorgeous soft pink, barely there colour. It is perfect if you want a nice soft, yet dewy-esque look. So pretty.

Heavy Swatch//Blended

What do you think? Do you like the mineralizes blushes too?

Laura xoxo

The Balm - Cabana Boy

Firstly how pretty is the packaging. I'm a sucker for pretty packaging, well to be honest I'm a sucker for make-up, but The Balm have done a pretty good job. Very Benefit-esque I think.

I appear to be really drawn to blushes at the moment, and had been after Frat Boy for a while, but was swayed more by this one instead. I really loved the plummy pink colour that this had to offer.

It is a pretty matte colour with the teeny tiniest hint of glitter in it. I really love the richness of the colour as I don't really have any like it.

Heavy Swatch//Blended

Overall it is super pigmented, lasts ages and I think, looks lovely! Overall winner. So happy I got it!

What do you think? Do you have anything by The Balm?

Laura xoxo

MAC - Frankly Scarlett

This is a blush that I see Tanya Burr mention quite a lot in videos and it has always intrigued me, so when I went shopping with Rachel (I bought a few things as you can see!) I decided to pick it up and see what the fuss was about, and I'm so glad I did.

In the pan this looks like the scariest colour ever, I was so scared I was going to end up looking like a clown, and the first time I used it, I really did. I was determined not to give up, I would get the just pinched look of Tanya, and I think I've got the hang of it now, and I love the colour it gives.

I just lightly dab my brush in it, tap it off, rub it on my hand, then gently sweep onto my cheeks, and voila! Just pinched cheeks!

So what do you think? Will you be trying this blush?

Laura xoxo

MAC Mineralize Blush - Love Joy

Another BuyaPowa purchase, if you haven't checked them out before, you definitely should. I've wanted a MAC product, since about November time, but never felt I could fork out the money for one, plus I'd have to get on a train and the people behind the counter scare me! But lo and behold, this little gem came on BuyaPowa for a mere £10 p&p inc! So I jumped at the chance, and boy am I glad I did.

Now in the picture I saw on BuyaPowa, which is the same as on the MAC website, it looked a lot pinker than this, which lets face it is an orangey peach colour, and I was slightly disappointed, but not for long!

I soon realised, I don't need another pink-esque blusher, I have 'em. I did buy a peach blush not to long ago, but this isn't any ordinary peach blush, oh no, this is something special. This is a blush, contour and highlight all in one little (gorgeously packaged!) pot. 

I just dab my big blush brush (random one from Boots) just so the middle of the brush has colour on in, and then swirl it where I would contour, and bring it onto my cheeks like blush, and the effect? I love it. It's dark enough to give me a slight contour, light enough to give colour to my cheeks AND (as if it doesn't do enough) it also highlights.

This my lovely chums, is an all in one item! And I've got to say I think it might be love! If find myself applying it throughout the day if my other make-up has worn off, because I just love it! I don't care how sad that sounds!

(Heavy swatch/Blended swatch.)

(Trying to catch the highlight/glimmer effect.)

And, not only does it look great on the cheeks (if I do say so myself,) I also placed it in the crease of my eye, along with my On and On Bronze Maybelline color tattoo, and I must say, I think they work beautifully together.

And here is how it looked all together.

I've gotta say, I really like it, and think it will be great for the up coming summer months. Just throw it on, quick, simple and may I say, effective.

My one gripe is that it doesn't last very long, around 2-3 hours so touch ups will be needed, but I love it that much, it doesn't bother me.

Do you own any mineralize blushes? What do you recommend I get next/look out for from MAC?

Laura xoxo

March Favourites

I can't believe that it is already the end of March. I'm currently on my Easter break now, and can't believe that I only have a month left of my second year of uni, it's crazy! (And can't come quick enough!)
Anyway, I thought I'd show you what I've been loving this month.

Benefit Hervana Blusher:  I think I bought this at the very end of Feburary or the very start of this month and have pretty much used it daily. I did a review on it here, but I honestly love everything about it, starting with the colours and ending with the smell. It gives the perfect girly flush to your cheeks.

Vo5 Give Me Texture Tousled Style Spray: I use this pretty much daily. I think I got it in December and I really love it. It gives a nice messy style to my hair, perfect when I want to wear a bit of a bed-head look or mess up some curls which are my everyday looks at the moment, I don't like how my hair looks straight, and the lack of heat can only do it good. This product takes it from looking just plain messy, to put together messy if that makes sense? Lotta love for it though. I used it in this post if you want to check it out.

No7 Vital Brights Highlighting Powder: I love this product soo much. I only got it a couple of weeks ago but I think it is the perfect highlighter for me. I use it underneath blush, on the cheekbones, anywhere I want a glow really. It isn't too pink or too golden, it has a lovely creamy yet powder feel, and goes on my skin perfectly. I honestly couldn't recommend this enough. You can see me wear it in this post. I wear it constantly now, and it is such a love item for me.

Lush Lemon Flutter: This product is amazing. It really softens up my cuticles, and is also great for elbows and knees, and it smells delicous! I think it's just a great product to have. Perfect for those dry knees when the fake tan comes out to stop it all collecting. I mentioned it in this post here, and it really helped my nails, as well as softened up my elbows. Win win!

Loreal Perfect Clean: I did a full review on this product here, but for the smell alone I love this product. I love the applicator, and I love how soft my skin feels after using it. It's fantastic. Not much else to say really, than I like it.




Five Favourite Youtuber's:

Essiebutton - I can't believe I only found Estee's channel this month! She is hilarious, and I think her videos are so easy to watch, she is so honest and refreshing to watch and laugh out loud funny.

Pixi2woo: Tanya's videos were the first I ever watched. I found her channel in November, and before then I had no idea that the youtube/blogging community existed. I've learnt, and continue to learn so much from her videos, and if I hadn't of found her I probably wouldn't be writing this post now!

Miss Glamorazzi - Ingrid seems like such a lovely person. Her tutorials are so helpful, and one of the first I came across, so I have definitely learnt a lot from her. Plus her new kitten nugget is so funny to watch in her newest videos.

Amarixe - I love Alison's video. She honestly seems like she has such an interest in make-up and is so passionate in every video. Her enthusiasm and sparkling personality is so catchy and her videos are always a great watch.

Lisa Eldridge: If you don't already know Ms Eldridge is a massive name in the beauty industry. An extremely talented make-up artist, Lisa shows you how to re-create looks she has created, whilst also sharing all the tips and hints she has collected. A few favourite videos are her Marilyn Monroe video and Cheryl Cole magazine make-up.

I hope you enjoy these favourites, and I would love to know what yours are too, so let me know, please?

Laura xoxo

No.7 Natural Blush in Honey

Those pesky No.7 vouchers sit in my purse and beg, beg, me to spend them and who am I to decline?

Although I do own quite a few blushers (yes, I have a make-up addiction) I found myself not really owning a peachy coloured one, so this seemed perfect for me.

This is quite a heavy swatch, but as you can see it is a lovely, natural honey colour. It is a very powdery blush, but is not chalky at all, and feels quite creamy/slik like. 

Just the blusher on top of No.17 BB cream and Loreal Powder

As you can see it give a nice subtle colour to my cheeks and think it's going to be great for a natural look during the summer. It doesn't have the longest lasting power, around 4 hours, so it will have to be touched up, but I don't mind that.

Been as though it only cost be four pound, and is quite a big blusher, I have no complaints, but really should steer clear of Boots when they have vouchers floating around. Or gain some will power!

Have you tried any of the No.7 Blushes? What have you used your vouchers on?

Laura xoxo