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?

After the Hype's Died Down

By know I'm sure you know how things work in the blogging community. Really well known and well loved bloggers receive some press releases of new and exciting products, wet everyone in the beauty communities palette, and by the time they're released to shops the aisles of Boots are cleared for weeks. Once you find the coveted item you get home and use it constantly for days, maybe even weeks; and then something else comes along.

Sound familiar? I know it's what I do. Today I thought I'd share with you my thoughts on products long after the hypes died down.

Clinique Blush Pops - Aren't these just the prettiest. That's what drew me in. However I must admit I wasn't that blown away once I started using it. It just wasn't what I wanted it to be, if that makes sense. However, it's prettiness keeps it in rotation as I like seeing it in my basket.

Loreal Extrodinare' Gloss - There have been so many liquid lipstick releases over the past year or so, and I think this one is actually my favourite. I reach for this quite a lot as it applies nicely and the colour goes with  everything.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - These original powders have been well and truly been put in their blusher shadows, however I still really like this powder. I don't use it as much as I found a cheaper dupe, so this is just special occasions for me now.

Bourjouis Cream Blush - For some reason me and cream blushers are on a bit of a break. I love how they look, but for someone with oilyish skin, summer is not the time to be whacking out creams. Maybe my love will rekindle in the winter?

Maybelline Colour Tattoos - If I'm honest I don't give these guys the attention they need. I prefer the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Sticks as the application is much easier and the packaging is sleeker. Sorry Maybelline.

Revlon Lip Butters - Right, in the interest of full disclosure, I kind of forgot about the whole lip butter thing. I know! Sacre bleu! I think it's because Revlon have had so many new and exciting lip releases I've just forgotten. I must remember to use them more.

Bourjouis Rouge Edition Velvet - I must admit, I don't wear this often, but I think that's more due to the fact I feel uncomfortable in bright lips atm. I'm having one of those phases.  When the more nude colours are released, maybe it'll be a different story...

Rimmel Appocalips -  I much prefer the Loreal version. I find these get on my teeth too easily and smudge a bit too much.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains - I can't remember the last time I used this. For me, my crayon fave is the Bourjois one. (I guess I'm a bit of a Bourjois whore atm!)

Chanel Cream Blush - This is the only cream blush I've used in the past few months, but I fear that's more cause I feel like I need to use this, rather than I want to. Again, let's wait till winter rolls round.

So what do you think? Remember/use these products?

Laura

It's like looking in a mirror

I've never been that good at spotting dupes. I've always thought that if I have something then why would I try and find something the exact same. That being said, unplanned and unexpected dupes do make me feel all warm and fussy in side. This is what happened with these two products.

I picked up the Loreal Illuminating Powder when Boots where doing one of their three for two offers and presumed it was just a nice highlighter. (I feel the high street are missing a good highlighter!) However, once I'd gotten my new little haul home, I found it actually resembles the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder.

Both are powders that leave the skin looking dewy rather than cakey. The shimmer to them does seem quite scary, no-one wants to look like Edward Cullen do they? But for some reason it's rather undetectable on the skin. It just makes your skin look pretty flawless.

For a fraction of the price, I definitely recommend you try out the Loreal powder.

Have you noticed this similarity? 

Laura

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

FOTD: Let It Glow

Another Frozen reference, I know. Sorry for not being sorry; it just fit so well. For someone who was always scared she looked really shiny and believed a face full of powder was the best way to hide everything and keep things hidden all day, over the last year I've defintiely gravitated toward a glowly look.

To get the base off to the right start I began with the Bourjois Happy Light primer to get my skin all ready for my base which here is the Bourjois CC Cream as I wanted to give it a test, but to be honest, though it's more expensive I much prefer the Dior BB Cream, it lasts better throughout the day and adds an extra glow.

Before powdering with my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, which is the peferfect powder to set make-up but leave you with a glow, I worked in my Jemma Kid Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Cream which is sadly discountined but I say pick up Topshops Glow Cream Highlighter for the same effect. Once that is worked in with the base I like to apply my cream blush, which just so happened to be my Nars Multiple in Portofino.

Eyes and lips I kept quite simple. Eyes was a MAC staple Naked Lunch which deposits a slight colour with a nice shimmer to boot and lips was a your lips but nicer/better colour from No7 BB Lips in Coral Rush.

What are your glowy skin staples?

Laura xoxo