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 

Video: My favourite cheek products

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nabg_DmglcY

My fave cheek products.

Laura xoxo

Nars The Multiple: South Beach

A few weeks ago, I saw Corrie, tweet Millie Mackintosh to ask what she had worn on her cheeks at a launch of some kind, and Millie actually replied, saying she had used this product, the Nars Multiple in South Beach. So, when wondering through Selfridges the other day I went and looked at the Multiple sticks, and this was the first one I picked up, I think that my friends, is fate.

This is actually the first Nars Product I've ever bought, and I am not disappointed. I love the packaging, however it has gotten dirty rather quickly, but it just looks so sleek and pretty in my little basket.

South Beach is a a peachy bronzey colour with a fair bit of shimmer in it. I've never thought of getting a Multiple before, but I actually really love this. It is so creamy, which makes it a dream to use and blend.

As it is a peachy colour, it works well as a blush/contour and a highlight. I tend to just use it on it's own, and I love that is just so quick to throw on, but looks so gorgeous and put together.

I like to apply it straight from the bullet then blend it in with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

'scuse the Rudolph  nose, I had woman flu.

I also realised, I should've moved my hair, sorry!

I actually wore it whilst browsing some make-up counters, and a MUA actually asked my what I had on my cheeks. That's when I knew I had a keeper.

I really love this product, it is a firm favourite now, and I will definitely be re-purchasing again and again, I can't speak highly enough of it.

Have you tried this? What do you think?

Laura xoxo

Benefit - Tan About Town

***Bargain Alert***

I was in my local Boots, as I usually spend most of my time there apparently, and was at the till to pay, I only had two bottles of Pepsi Max in my hand and an Eat Natural bar (I love those!) and saw this little package for a mere £9, so into my hand it came, and it followed me all the way home. (I did buy it, just to clarify!)

This is how it was lovingly packaged! I love it when things are organised like this, it pleases my OCD mind!

So inside this little kit contains, a Bad Gal Mascara, Hoola, and some foundation which I don't really get. But I think it's still worth it for the Bad Gal and Hoola.

Foundation type thing. I think it's a bit too dark for me, but going to look into in summer.

I think this mascara is really good. I think it's just as good as my favourite mascara (Max Factor High Definition) but the price difference will be having me going back to Max Factor, but if you've got the cash to splash, go for it!

I really, really like this. I think it is a really good contour shade, it's slightly orange in this picture, but it looks so good in real life (if I do say so myself.) I really want to get this now. (Can you hear my purse screaming? Step away from the Benefit counter)

Also I feel like I should say, I love the size of this. I think that high end companies should sell their products for cheaper and this size, as some times, we are never going to finish the big packages they get, and we will be able to buy and try more. Maybe one day?

So this is my face of Benefit, I also have a the new Hello Oxygen foundation (review to come) on and my Hervana blusher.

What do you think of this pack? Bargain, or not bothered? 

Laura xoxo

Spring Trilogy - Cheeks

In case the title didn't give it away, this post is a simple cheek look for summer. Think bronzed and flushed!

I used Collection 2000 Mosaic Glow as a contour, and a bit of colour on my cheeks.

I then placed a tiny swirl of Collection 2000's Shimmer shades on the outer part of my cheeks.

Then applied Benefit's Hervana Blusher as normal.

To give a bit of highlight, I dusted over No.7's Vital Highlights.

And there's the finished look. I also really like this look for spring time too, but got it after I had completed this post!

What will you be putting on your cheeks this Spring time?

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

Bonzer: Contouring

When I first started blogging, I did a post on Bronzers. It wasn't the best, I was new to blogging, and bronzers for that matter, however I've decided to re-do that post with my new Bronzer collection, and show you how I use them for contouring.
With all these looks I have used my Real Techniques Contour Brush from The Core Collection.

Bronzer 1: The Bourjois Delice de Poudre (The one that looks like chocolate)

Excuse the annoying hair!

The first with flash, the second without.

I really like this bronzer. It' quite dark in the plan, but I think it gives quite a complimentary tone. It contains a slight, slight glimmer, which only shows in the pan. I really like using this bronzer. It does contain a slight scent, which I'm unsure is breaking me out, however I'm not 100% sure. Really like this bronzer. 

Bronzer 2: Collection 2000 Shimmering Mosaic Glow

You can't really see this bronzer in the picture without flash, which is good as it means that it gives a subtle contour to my cheek, but not too much. This bronzer gives a lovely colour when all mixed together and looks really lovely. It quite an inexpensive product too so definitely worth looking into.

Bronzer 3: Sleek Contour Palette in Light

Again this bronzer is very subtle, and I didn't really like it at first use, however it has really grown on me recently. I really like the slight bronze/shadow effect it can give, without being overpowering. The highlighter it comes with is also really good.

So these are the bronzers I'm using at the moment. When I lift my spending ban I'm definitely going to look into the infamous Laguna and Hoola bronzer. 

Do you use any of these? Any other recommendations?

Laura xoxo

Side note - This video is really helpful for contouring: http://www.youtube.com/user/MakeupByTiffanyD?feature=g-u-u#p/u/10/fmI98U8OiB8