Covering All Bases

After a fair few years searching for the perfect base, which I believe is pretty much as easy to find as a unicorn in a field of rainbows, I have developed quite the collection which means I'm covered for all different occasions.

The Barely There - If you just want to whack something on that's lightweight, evens out the skin and keeps your skin feeling hydrated and cared for, I highly recommend the Dr Jart + BB Cream. It won't cover many sins, but it will get you through a day at work or out shopping.

The Night Out/Special Occasion  - When a special occasion comes calling, or a night out occurs (which is rare as I like to be tucked up in bed by 9pm) I'll crack out my Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation. I definite medium to full coverage foundation that covers pretty much everything and stays put for most of the night. The lack of SPF means photos are left without a white cast.

The I Need Some Covering - Most days for me I go make-up free or chose a BB but if I'm heading out and my skin is mis-behaving the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation is my foundation of choice. It's a nice medium coverage that feels quite light weight. The shimmer particles can't be seen on the skin, but it does give a lovely healthy dewy effect.

The Powder Foundation - Sometimes you just want a bit of a powder foundation, and for that my favourite is the Bare Minerals Original. I quick brush swirl in this bad boy and I'm good to go. Nice and light weight, and perfect if you know things are going to get a bit hot and sweaty.

The I Couldn't Be Without It - Nine times out of ten you will find me wearing the Dior Nude BB Cream on my face. Not wearing make-up daily means I can still call this my regular base right? Plus it makes it more cost effective. I just love how my skin looks after application and the way it wears throughout the day. Not much coverage but enough for me with concealer, and I feel my skin just looks so healthy when I'm wearing it.

What are your top bases?

Laura

Battle of the Gel Liners: Benefit VS Maybelline

I'm sure by now you've all heard and read about the gel liner counter part to Benefit's They're Real Range, the They're Real Push Up Liner*. I was super lucky to be sent this for review, however I'd also previously purchased the Maybelline Lasting Drama Black Shock Gel Liner. So, I thought I'd do a little comparison post for you.

Appearance: Let's get the superficial thing out of the way first. For me, the Benefit liner just looks that little better, you can see that more time has been taken to craft the product, but you wouldn't expect anything less from Benefit!

Maybelline//Benefit

Application: As I had the Maybelline one first I realised that the best way to work with these liners is to put the product on the back of your hand first and then work it into the lash line with the applicator.  The nib on each of the product is pretty much the same, rubber and slightly pointed. I found the Benefit one easier to use, I think it may be slightly thinner, but the Maybelline one ended up looking better.

 Maybelline

 Benefit

Longevity - Unfortunately, this is where the Maybelline one falls a bit short. I only had it applied for about 15 mins and it had managed to smudge on me. I do have oily lids, but it really doesn't boast good staying power, whilst the Benefit one lasted me through an evening meal without a single smudge. 

For me, the Benefit one just tops the Maybelline one. Just due to the longevity and formula of the product. Whilst there is a £10 price difference, I do think for the knowledge of it not smudging the Benefit has to be the winner. However, if you're on a budget and don't have oily lids, definitely check out the Maybelline one.

What do you think?

Laura

*Whilst this product has been sent to me for free my opinion is completely honest. I do feel that it is the better product, and I'm not being paid to say that.

Conceal Don't Feel

Sorry for the little Frozen mention in the title, but needs must and all that. For me concealer is more important than foundation, and I'd rather have a trusty concealer on hand than an industrial foundation. Since I love to ditch the foundation for a concealer I've found I've collected quite the little collection and thought I'd share with you the best concealers I've tried.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch - The bee's knees of concealers in my humble opinion. I find it really covers my under eye bags whilst adding luminosity and awakening my face. I really notice it transforming my face which I love. I've mentioned it many a time in this small space on the interwebs and I reckon it will crop up for many a more post too.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer - To be honest with you this is pretty much a slightly less lumious fuller coverage of the Maybelline version I've just mentioned. I tend to use this on less important occasions as it's easier to get my hands on than the Maybelline one and in the correct shade.

Bourjois 123 CC Perfect Eye Cream - Aah a CC cream for the eyes, whatever next. I've recently done a full review of this so I won't bore you too much, but for me this is great if you're a pale person in need of a lighter colour for contour this is the best. Someone did point out in a comment (thank you) that the amount of product in this pen isn't very much so aren't really getting much bang for your buck so to speak; however I find it cheap enough, and like it enough to not let that bother me.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage - Whilst the other concealers I've mentioned have tended to focus on the eye area, this is the only concealer I've found that's really great at concealing the nasty spots that appear. A mixture of these two colours is enough to conceal anything you want to hide like no concealer I've tried before. The thick consistency means blemishes are hidden in an instant, however it doesn't feel heavy or look cakey on your face. If you had some serious bags or wanted extra flawless skin you could use this under your eyes, with some eye cream and go on top with one of the above concealers for some serious flawlessness.

What's your favourite concealer?

Laura xoxo

Back to Bronze

Spring and summer definitely send a signal to my make-up caves and call upon the bronze heroes to stand to attention. Winter's a great time to give the berry coloured items some loving, but if there is one thing that works throughout summer it is definitely the bronze!

For a nice simple bronze cheek offering I definitely suggest you pick up the Nars Multiple in South Beach. The perfect consistency to just blob onto your face and gently blend it. It has a slight shimmer running through it which means it catches the sun perfectly and leaves you feeling ever so glowy and bronzed. However, if matte is more your thing thang than I definitely suggest Benefit's Hoola. It isn't too orange, but definitely has a darkness too it that many other bronzers don't have. It's the perfect contour or all over 'I've tanned' colour. Finally for cheeks, if you're a pale person who just wants a bit of colour, without looking like they've rolled in Wotsits I highly recommend the Clarins Bronzing Duo in Light. I've harped on about this product plenty but seriously, I love it. 

For eyes cream bases seem to be the way forward for me, simple and fuss free which means you have more time to enjoy the limited sunshine. A quick wash of bronze that isn't too dark and really compliments a tan has to the Bad to the Bronze from Maybelline Colour Tattoo. It gives a lovely wash to your eye that isn't overpowering but still compliments any tan perfectly. If you want something a little darker, this pencil from Rimmel Scandaleyes is your guy. The perfect rusty bronze colour in my opinion. I prefer it a little blended as it can look a bit OTT on me, but if you like warm colours I think you'll love it. Finally, for a bit of liner Powersurge by MAC is your guy. I seriously love this liner, it works as a shadow too. What more could you want?

What are your favourite bronze products?

Laura xoxo

Everyday Items

Ever since blogging my eyes have been opened to a whole array of products that I never would've found if it wasn't for this hobby of mine. Due to that I have collated a rather large amount of products. Whilst I like to chop and change what I use on a daily basis, there are somethings I find myself using everyday without fail. 

As I don't wear make-up daily most of this list is skincare. Although my skin does get oily I try really hard to keep my hydration levels up so I use Hydraluron to keep all my moisturising products locked in. A product I use either as a day moisturiser or as an evening treatment is the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. It smells amazing and really does mean your skin is fully hydrated after use. When I'm not using the mask I like to use the Origins Make A Difference Plus Rejuvenating Treatment under what ever other moisturiser I'm using. It really has helped clear my skin up. At least once a day I like using the Origins Make A Difference Cleansing Milk as it is soft enough to sooth my skin whilst also harsh enough to rid blemishes too.

The final two products I reach for daily are the Batiste Dry Shampoo which helps me eek out the number of washes I have to take part in, and my deodorant of choice from Mitchum. 

So that completes my daily products. What do you use daily?

Laura xoxo

Spring Fling: Lips

The final instalment in my Spring Fling trilogy is ending with lips. I love me some good lip products and these are what I intend to be using over the next few months.

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipgloss in Glorious Grapefruit - This is a gorgeous lipgloss that has a hint of tint to it that means your lips look shiny with some nice colour to it, but not too OTT. It also means you can eat a good old 99 without having it smeared around your face (can't say the same for the ice cream though!)

Rimmel Appocalips in Stellar - If you want to make a statement this Spring, this is your guy. Perfectly pigmented, and fully opaque this gloss/lipstick hybrid really packs a punch on your lips. Application can be a little tricky, and it can end up on your teeth if you're not careful, but bold lip lovers, this is the one for you.

Bourjois ColourBurst in Red Sunrise - I love a good lip crayon and this Bourjois on in Red Sunrise just screams Spring to me. It's on the red side of coral which means it's great transitional colour from Winter to Spring. I used it in my Spring tutorial on Tuesday.

Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 110 - If you're looking for a coral colour that's going to stick around all day, look no further. Due to it's matte texture it stays put for a rather long time, perfect for BBQ season. The colour is the perfect colour and I love bring this out in the Spring.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire in Rose Melody - My favourite lip product of the moment. The same consistency as the Rimmel Appocalips, but a bit more moisturising on the lips. This nude colour is perfect all year round, but the slight orange tinge to it means it looks great with a bronze look, meaning perfect for Spring.

What are your spring lip choices?

Laura xoxo

Spring Fling: Eyes

When it comes to spring/summer I feel that bronze is the only way to go. Gold is a distant Christmas memory and I'm ready to go all bronze and goddess like (a girl can dream)! For me a bronze smokey eye is the perfect spring/summer smokey eye combo.

The Grab and Go -Ah the Rimmel Scandaleyes pencil is just so great for a quick wash of colour over the eye. The pencil application means it's easy to use and the cream texture makes it easy to blend out too.

The Base-  Maybellines Colour Tattoos are still something I love to use and this one is great for creating a bronzy base that holds and intensifies colour. Of course it looks nice on its own too, which is always a bonus.

The 'keeping it simple' - MAC All That Glitters is as gold as I go for summer, but it has a bronze tint to it that makes it perfect for subtle simple eye that still says 'I'm ready for you summer'!

The Summer Shade - Sometimes products have to take a back seat until it is their time to shine in a new season, and MAC's Mulch is definitely a spring/summer item to me. It is the perfect warm bronze colour that looks great in the crease or just all over the lid.

The Liner - Ah MAC Powersurge, my love for this is still going strong, and there is no better time to use this than summer. It's perfect to bronze up the water line whilst also working well as an all over lid colour too. Oh how I love this product.

What are your spring eye products?

Laura xoxo

Spring Fling: Cheeks

I decided I wanted to do a little spring series here on the old blog. I do love me a little series every now and again and the changing of the seasons allows the perfect opportunity. I'm going to start my series focusing on cheek products, tomorrow eyes and then Thursday will finish with cheeks.

The Bronzer - Okay, so this isn't necessarily a 'spring fling' as I love this product all year round, however everyone needs a bronze glow and there is no better product for it than this. There's a load of different intensities in the Clarins Bronzing Duo so you should find a shade that suits your skin tone perfectly. The shimmer in it is simple and subtle and can rarely be seen.

The Bronze Glow - Ah Nars South Beach is what started my multiple craze. I love this product, plus it's Millie Mackintosh approved. I love using this as a bronzer, highlighter and contour. It really is a multi use product and this is the perfect spring/summer shade.

The Cream Cheek - This Bourjois Cream Blush in 03 is a great spring shade as it is has just the right amount of pink to coral ratio to make it a great transitional colour. The cream formula is makes the whole dewy sunkissed look great and means it applies seamlessly. 

The Powder Blush - MAC Dainty blush is a mineralise finish which means it has a hell'uva lota glitter in it, but it's milled enough to not make it look like you've face planted a vat of glitter. For me spring says pink, and you can't get a prettier pink colour, that truly comes off pink, in a good way!

The Luxury Item- Everybody loves a bit of luxury in their life. This Chanel Blush is the perfect peachy pink colour that blends in well to your skin and gives you that perfect springs day flush. Plus, it's Chanel, beautiful enough just to look at.

What are your spring fling blushes?

Laura xoxo 

The Almost Tinted Moisturisers

The amount of categories of base products is pretty amusing really isn't it? We have tinted moisturisers, BB creams, CC creams and whatever is developed next. Today I want to talk about those 'almost tinted moisturisers' or moisturisers with a 'hint of tint' as they like to call themselves.

The Underneath/Mixed in Product - When I first used Soap and Glory's Glow Job I tried to use it as a base straight away, which didn't really work out for me. I've since found that it works best applied underneath a foundation (only a tiny amount needed) or mixed in with a pale foundation.

The Original - Ah, Origins VitaZing the product that begun my craze in the almost tinted moisturiser area. I really love this product, from the application all the way down to the smell. It really evens out my skin tone but my skin still has a natural look to it. The only thing wrong with it is the price, some a not quite tinted moisturiser it is £27, a bit pricy in my opinion.

The One with Skincare Qualities - The most recent addition to my almost tinted moisturiser stash is the Garnier Miracle skin Cream which boast skin care qualities alongside the a skin tint. It is really hydrating as well as giving a good boost of colour to the skin too. Alongside this it also aims to reduce signs of ageing and is only £12.99, score.

What are your favourite almost tinted moisturisers?

Laura xoxo

In My Eye-Line

Eyeliner is a funny old thing. It is definitely an after thought in my make-up routine, however for some they feel naked with out.

I must admit I had a tiny dabble with the whole deep black liner all round the lids, upper and lower lashline, and for that reason I find myself very apprehensive to place it anywhere near those areas again. However I do love using it to add definition to my upper lashline, so all is not lost. But for my water line I tend to steer clear; but sometimes you just need a little something there.

The Brightener - If ever I want to look more alert or awake then I always reach for my Rimmel Scandaleyes Pencil in Nude. I just love this product so much. It is really pigmented so eradicates any signs of redness whilst also really opening up my eyes and making them looker bigger and more awake.

The 'I need something there' - Sometimes you just need something on your water line to bring a look together. For that I reach for my other Rimmel Scandaleyes Pencil in Taupe. This is great as it isn't necessarily dark, but it isn't brightening either. It's a natural smokey eyes best friend.

The not quite black- Sometimes you need a dark colour to add the drama to your eye make-up and for that I reach for my Loreal Pencil in Grey. It is a lovely grey with a hint of navy to it and is great for adding the dark drama without being a black. It also is great for working into the upper lashline and smudging out too.

The something special - Ahhh, MAC Powersurge eye pencil, if you've read my blog for a while it will come as no surprise that this has made its way to this list. I love this for a nice bronze look to my eye, it really pulls together a bronze eye perfectly, and is definitely a summer staple.

The all over eye pencil- Finally the Rimmel Scandaleyes in Bronze is more of an all over the lid cream eyeshadow stick, however if you like a heavy liner look, the cream formula works great on the lower lash line to add some deep bronze to your look.

Where do you stand on liner?

Laura xoxo

Manicure Must Haves

I love having freshly painted nails, however hate it when they start to chip after a few days. It got to the point where I just decided I couldn't be bothered with the up-keep and stopped painting them all together. But then I found some pretty awesome items that help keep my main fresh for a good 5-7 days, score! So today I'm sharing them with you.

Mavala Oil Seal Dryer - One of the most annoying things when painting your nails is the waiting time after. The number of times I've thought my nails were dry then ruined them is ridiculous. I did have a long standing relationship with the Sally Hansen Insta-Dry but it got to the point where that wasn't even cutting it for me so I decided to try this one, and boy am I glad I did. It dries my nails in seconds, and as it's an oil is really nourishing too.

Orly Bonder Top Coat - I would marry this little bottle if I could. The difference it's made to my nail lasting days is amazing. I honestly believe this is the reason my polish lasts for as long as it does. I can't sing its praises enough. I think everyone should try it.

Maybelline Super Stay 7 Days Colour in Clear - For me this top coat is the best I've tried. It gives a nice gel-like finish to the nails which I'm fond of and does help nail polish stay in place. It's not as good at keeping polish in place without Orly, but the finish is something I love.

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover - I find it quite soothing to push back my cutilces each time I paint my nails and I think it's great at giving me a good canvas to paint as my nail beds are quite small. You simply pop this on your cuticles and after 15 seconds they've dissolved and easy to push back.

What're your manicure must haves?

Laura xoxo

Friday Focus: Origins

If I could only use one skin care brand I would have to choose Origins. There is just something about the brand that I, and my skin, loves. Whilst it certainly isn't cheap and cheerful it doesn't break the bank either. I was going to do a 'top five products' post but I just love too darn many of them. There are a lot more products from the brand I've tried and liked, but these are the ones that I wouldn't want to be without for too long.

Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask - A mask most bloggers have tried or at least heard of. The aim of this mask is to moisturise your skin overnight, leaving you with plump and soft skin come the morning. Whilst I do love using this overnight when my skin is feeling particularly parched, I also love using it in the day over winter as it keeps my skin more hydrated than any moisturiser does.

Make A Difference Rejuvenating Cleansing Milk - This was a whim purchase but one I will continue to make. This is a great all round cleanser, I like to use it in the morning when I want more moisture in my skin, or in the evening for a gentle second cleanse. It isn't harsh on the skin but it also isn't too heavy to create spots either.

Clean Energy Cleansing Oil - I love using this whenever I'm wearing make-up as I feel it really removes every last scrap of it. I just pour it into my hands (definitely getting a pump next time as it can get messy) massage it on my face (which feels ah-mazing) and then wash it away. It comes off clean and doesn't leave my face feeling greasy.

VitaZing - Ah, the not quite tinted moisturiser that people seem to either love or hate. I began in the hate category but now stand firmly in the love. I think it's a great I'm going out in public, but don't want to make an effort product. This and a bit of concealer and you're away to go. For me it's more of a summer product as it does lean a bit orange in the winter, but one I love using. I also find it great to wear under foundation if my skin is going through a rough patch.

Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Treatment - The latest and probably one of my favourite products, this treatment injects moisture whilst also clearing up blemishes at the same time. For someone with dehydrated but blemish prone skin this product has done wonders for my skin. I can't pin-point exactly how it works or what it does but I never want to be without it. It is one of those products you can really see making a difference to your skin.

High Potency Night-A-Mins - This is hands down the best night time moisturiser I have ever used. It has fruit extracts that aim to exfoliate your skin whilst you sleep, however it also has a thickness to it that hydrates your skin too. I find that I wake up with clearer and plumper looking skin. What more could you want?


Dr Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief - I like using this as my 'hydrating' toner as it has a real soothing quality to it. It soothes angry blemishes and leaves my skin feeling soft to touch. I also found this was really helpful when my skin had a reaction to a product I was using. (Although it's not pictured as I ran out and couldn't get a replacement before this post, I still wanted to include as I really rate it as a product.)


Have you tried Origins? What are your favourite products?

Laura xoxo

Hydration Heroes

Although I'm quite an oily person, I definitely think that a good boost of moisture can do wonders for my skin. What many fail to realise is that their skin is probably dehydrated, and in need of some moisture, so today, I'm sharing with you my faves. (You're welcome!)

The Instant Fix - If you're lacking time and your skin is parched, slap on a layer of the Super Facialist by Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask. You only need to leave it on for about five-ten minutes for an intense moisture boost and a leaving of your face going 'ahhhhhh!'

The Overnight Fix - If you need something a bit more intense and a bit more luxurious, then the Origins Overnight Drink-up Intensive Mask should be your go to. Aside from the fact this spells delicious, it leaves your skin plumped and full of life. (Imagine you just eaten something really salty, you're dying of first, and down a bottle of water. This product is the water!)

The Lock In - Moisture levels, like any level go up and down dependent on many factors, and Hydraluron keeps them maintained. Popped on underneath your moisturiser, it locks in any of the moisture particles and boost your moisture levels in your skin. Definitely a product you don't realise is working till you stop using it.

I just want to leave all you other oily skinned peeps (I'm like a granny using the word 'funky' aren't I) I had to bring the Origins High-Potency Night - A - Mins moisturizer to your attention. Perfectly light, blemish fighting, and smells amazing. 

What are your hydration heroes?

Laura xoxo

Review: Bourjois Powders

Healthy 'radiance' powders seem to be the latest craze at the moment, and I'm not going to lie to you but if there was an hourglass stand near me, and I hadn't heard the rumours of Chanle le beiges breaking people out, I probably would've bought them. Instead I've picked to drugstore offerings, both from Bourjois, and thought I'd share them with you today.

As you can see, neither of them look 'cakey' like some powders do, but they make my skin look more polished and finished. 

Top is healthy balance and the bottom is the mineral powder.

Overall the mineral powder leans toward being that bit more cakey, but there is little in them. I would say that colour wise, healthy balance wins, as does longevity, but there isn't much wrong with the mineral radiance one.

What do you think of radiance powders?

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

Top Three Cleansers

There's nothing I love more than coming home after a long tiring day of being me and taking off my make-up. Because of that I thought I'd share with you my top cleansers.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - sadly, at time of print (hohoho) I'm out of this cleanser. I used to use this as my morning cleanser and it really allowed my skin to wake up and got rid of the dirt and grime from a nights sleep.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm: I love this baby. This is my second pot. It's slightly heavy and rich, but still works well with my oily skin. It leaves my skin smooth and make-up free, and smells lovely. It also comes with rosehip exfoliating seeds which are lovely.

REN No1 Purity Cleansing Balm: This works in pretty much the same vain as the Emma Hardie. It's slightly lighter and has a really strong scent which I find lingers in my bathroom. It doesn't bother me, nor effect my skin, but it is something you may want to keep in miind.

What's your favourite cleanser?

Laura xoxo

Battle of the Bronzers

In this little blogging world we have, there seems to be two stand out bronzers. Benefit's Hoola and NARS Laguna. I have professed my love for Hoola many a time, but when ASOS had a 25% student discount, I caved and got Laguna to see what all the fuss was about, and I thought I'd do a comparison post of the two.

Hoola appears to be a lot more pigmented, and in this picture it looks darker than Laguna but in real life I find it to be the other way round. Laguna does carry a faint shimmer in it, which doesn't transfer to the face, whereas Hoola is straight matte.

So do you need both? In my opinion, yes and no. Yes, if you are a beauty obsessive, as you can tell the subtle differences, but no if you are sane/not a beauty obsessive.

Price difference is 50p!!! With Hoola coming in at £23.50 and Laguna being £24, and you get the same amount of product 8g. So with that in mind, there isn't a lot in it.

When I first used Laguna I wasn't as blown away as with first application with Hoola, maybe because I already own Hoola, but Laguna has a certain charm about it, that just makes it call to you and you can't help but see what everyone else sees in it.

For a contour I would reach for Hoola but for that gorgeous golden glow, I will be reaching for Laguna.

So this 'battle' has kind of failed really, or ended in a tie, shall we say. I think it really does depend on the person and what they want.

Have you got either of these? Which do you prefer?

Laura xoxo

Brush Off

Ever since I watched my first ever Youtube video, a MAC 217 has been high on my list, yet I could never bring myself to part with all the money it cost. So to pacify myself, I bought this 'Blending Brush' from No.17.

Both brushes look very similar, and kind of do the same job, which I was pretty amazed by. Now the No.17 brush is only around £3, so I have a few, which is great, as if I need a clean blending brush, I can just grab it,  whereas I couldn't afford to buy loads of 217's for the same purpose. The No.17 blending brush is slightly more flimsy and cheap compared to the 217 which I would suspect, but not horribly so.

I find that the 217 is great for placing colour in the crease and smoking out a smokey eye look, and have no regrets in buying it, which it may seem like this post is about! I then like using the No.17 brushes for blending out harsh lines.

So overall two very similar brushes for two very different prices. I would recommend starting with the No.17 one until you can feel like you can part your money with for the MAC one, but both are lovely.

Do you have either of these? Which do you prefer?

Laura xoxo