A beauty transition...

Over the summer traveling has been my pastime, carrying just a rucksack. Wearing minimal

make-up has been so refreshing! My skin has also been behaving which likely is down to not wearing war paint on a day to day basis. Having just the hint of a tan can help cover a multitude of sins making going fresh faced less scary. Not hauling all the latest beauty buys over the last few months I wanted to share with you my staples which have been in my minimal make-up bag and haven't let me down. So while non of the products are sparkling and new with most having seen better days I thought a mini review of all was due seen as they have traveled the world  Europe with me.

MaxFactors False Lash Effect Mascara has to be the most repurchased item in my beauty stash. It builds up nicely giving a dramatic look, isn't clumpy, it's too wet so when you sneeze it doesn't transfer (why is it when putting on mascara you feel the need to sneeze even with no cold in sight!). The best thing about this mascara is that it does all of that with the added wonderfulness of washing right off when in the shower. I have previously raved about Benefit There Real mascara but it isn't half hard to remove plus its almost double the price of this little gem.

I have babbled about this Neutrogena beauty time and time again. What I like most is the pump as it makes it easy to work with in the morning without dipping fingers in and out of pots and trying to screw the lid back on while balancing the blob of moisturiser on a finger, where it is a race against time before it drips down the black jeans you have just put on. It sinks in straight away and has a fab SPF level which is one of the things that draws me to purchasing a moisturiser as we all know we should be doing it!

So in such a minimal make-up routine the last thing you might expect to see is a Make-up ForEver HD  Primer. I have quite rosey cheeks which is the main flaw that I am trying to cover up. This yellow toned primer is good enough at it's job that with a hint of a tan I could almost get away with just wearing this. That is why it has secured a place in my minimal make-up bag.

Two foundations were needed to switch up my shade as I got what must have been the first glimpse of a tan in years. I could wear a  foundation shade reserved for fake tanned skin without needing to have gone thought that laborious process (Maybe i'm doing it wrong).

First is Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation - I brought this on a whim, I asked the girl at the counter to colour match me and let me try it on, With that she slapped it on over my normal foundation. I spluttered out that I already had make-up on which she simple replied that's not an issue and carried on. Well I have never had a face so caked in make-up and when I got home and promptly removed it for the first time I though wow I look so much better without foundation on! For some reason even after the foundation looking horrid I still purchased (Probably because after years I have yet to try a Benefit product which actually looked Halloween style when applied correctly)

When applied in a normal quantity this foundation is so light and creates a fresh faced natural finish with that added glow of health we all look for. It is super blendable as even when transitioning from ghost to human during the summer the one shade almost took me all the way though, perfect to create a look of no make up make up. The staying power is pretty darn good considering it's lightweight feel.  

MaXfactor Smooth Effects Foundation is one I had in my draw purley due to it once being £3 in Boots and I needed a foundation for the fake tanned days and for that price is was worth a shot. As far as I can tell it also had no SPF in which I like as this was a foundation intended for wear at night so you don't look see-though in photos. The texture when applying is unique, imagine smoothing baby powder into your skin and this is what applying this feels like. It certainly does give you a smooth effect (always nice when it does what it says it does) a little gives a nice even finish but I wouldn't say it was buildable  coverage as then it can start to look a little matte which isn't the look I go for at the moment. You can still pick is up in Boots for £7.99 which is a pretty nice looking price for a higher end of the self selection market. 

Benefit  Hoola, I hoard few bronzers which I could probably pin point to the fact that this one works perfectly. It is matte making it great for everyday use and the colour doesn't come out too strong at first sweep but you can build until you get the depth of colour you like so is perfect for lighter skin tones. 

I have included a Maybelline 24hr Super Stay lip laquire for night where I need to glam it up a notch. It really does last even when having many a cocktail. I have also been braving wearing it in the day just patting it into lips like a lip stain to give a pop  wash of colour on the lips. Which has been what I consider rather daring! 

I recently switched form liquid to pencil as it just gives a softer effect than a harsh black line. My particular favorites are the Urban Decay 24/7 Pencils as they are just so creamy but have a good staying power. I also love the colour range that they come in, it has to be one of the most expansive! I'm currently using Oil Slick and even thought it has the glitter in I still use it in the day as it can create a softer smokey look rather than a solid black line. I have included a picture bellow oh how thick of faint you can make it which is why pencil has become in vogue due to a softer look needed in summer.

While being rather boring and minimal over the summer months i'm looking forward to seeing the new pallets and kits launching for Christmas!

p.s Congratulation if you stayed with me this far!

Have a good weekend 

Revlon Nearly Naked 130 shell Review ...

I was really excited when I heard about the launch of  Revlons Nearly Naked foundation . While I used to be a big fan of high coverage foundations and still am to an extent I have become a lot more willing to try a more dewey finish. I like to wear a full coverage foundation as I have very rosy cheeks which I hate. I picked this up in the shade shell 130. For reference in Mac I am NC15 in winter and NC20 in summer. So with excitement I have been putting this on for the lat two mornings. 

Now I feel like I am going against the grain on the first thing which is that I didn't get the lovely dewey finish others have had. Honestly I was really disappointed about that. Although I have come to the conclusion  that it may be because my skin is really dry at the moment and that's why. I have attempted to mix it with a moisturiser this morning which did give a better result.

 Left to right : Cheek in direct daylight, Cheek in direct daylight with Revlon Nearly Naked, Cheek in indoor light with Revlon Nearly Naked

On a more positive note I think the coverage is rather good considering it is supposed to be a light foundation. The photo of me wearing the foundation in daylight doesn't quite do it justice, it actually covers more than it lets on in the photo.  I do feel it was slightly less detectable than other foundation that I have. The coverage I would say is quite buildable and I was able to apply more where needed which I always like to be able to do. In terms of the wear of this foundation I didn't find that it wore off throughout the day. I don't have oily skin so I'm not sure how this would fair for those of you who do. The price of this is really reasonable and most definitely a really decent foundation for the price. For many I am sure it will become a firm favorite. There has been a lot of talk about there being no pump I personally don't mind this as am used to my double wear foundation not having one but can see how for some people this would be annoying.  

Overall score 

Coverage 4/5

Dewey finish 3/5

Longevity 3/5

Packaging 4/5

Price 5/5

Has anyone else tried this yes?

Cover FX foundation review

Morning all

This is a brand which I hadn’t heard of until recently it was only when I read an article about it in PureBeauty magazine which is one that sent out to beauty retailers although you can find it online here.

This brand was originally on prescription for people with birthmarks and other thing’s you may wish to cover but has now been made available to all.  At the moment it is only stocked in Harvey Nichols but I have also subsequently found it online at House of Fraser. I happened to be browsing in Harvey Nichols due to my hospital appointment being cancelled after traveling all the way to London!

The Make up artist for Cover FX was really helpful and friendly and really listened to my concerns and what I wanted. She tried on several different forms of foundation from their line as well as several different shades without making it seem a hassle.

The first product I purchased was the Cover FX Natural FX water based liquid foundation in E20 (I am NC20 in mac) which provides very full coverage, lasts all day on my skin even better than Estee Lauder Double wear and by some feat does not look cakey. The price is £37 which did make me wince however, I reasoned it that this is something I will used every day on my face  which also helps me to feel more confident about my skin I have even been skipping concealer with this product as it does such a good job. The foundation is made my top dermatologist so it non clogging on the skin and even contains some skin benefits. The only thing that lets this product down is the packaging is not very attractive at all and defiantly does not look like a premium brand. However, the squeeze tube will allow you to get every last drop and for £37 that is defiantly going to be a good thing. 

Part two of this review will be about the Cover FX Pressed Mineral foundation. 

Boujois Health Mix Foundation review...

I am writing this post while sitting in the library supposedly revising for my European Union law exam and fancied talking about something a little less demanding on the brain.

I seem to have a collection of half empty Boujois Health Mix foundations. There are three reasons for this;

 a) I  travel from home to uni a lot and therefore find it reassuring to have one at each house.

b) I change between shade 51 and 52 depending on the time of year and also fake tan. ( I am NC20 for   reference)

c) I like to buy another before I run out, in order never to experience the horror when you run out of foundation before a big night out or have to brave the high street without your war paint on. 

This foundation has been in my make-up bag for around 2yrs, I talked about it recently on my most loved  post Here . So it is only right that I give it review all of its own due to the 2yrs of testing it has been given.

I was always a high coverage girl think Esstee Lauder double-wear,  Mac studio fix and Benefit stick  foundation. I was always looking for one that gave more and more coverage. On a whim when this foundation was doing the rounds on the blogs I tried it and this is when my transition into not so intensely matte and full coverage foundations happened. In fact I am now on the hunt for the perfect coverage with a perfect glow. Link Here  to my post on dewy foundations on my wish list.

I find that this foundation provides enough coverage to hide my red cheeks while also not looking matte and covered in make-up. I even find that it last a good 6hr on its own  and around 8hr with powder (as always not the 16hr it claims). However, if on a windy rainy day like the last few days here in the UK I tend to opt for something with a bit more staying power. I also opt for a different foundation on a night out which is going to last longer in a hot club.

However,  as far as I can see on the packaging it contains no SPF which means that in photos you do not look ghostly white or a different colour to the rest of your body. For a day to day foundation I have no qualms at all and it has inspired me to go back and try other drug store foundations as I believe they have improved considerably in the last 4 years.

The fact I have been coming back to this foundation for such a long time surely means there must be something that keeps drawing me back?

What is your favorite foundation high-end or drug store?

Never Ending Love....

Some products just seem to be in your make-up bag for longer then you realise and yet you never identify them as being one of your must have products. These four products have not only been in my make-up bag for ages some of them seem to go on and on and on.

Urban Decay Naked Pallet- Ever since I purchased the naked pallet over a year ago,  I have never felt a need to buy any other eyeshadow pallet. Every other pallet I see in the shops I compare to this. Not only are the colours brilliant but the quality of the eyeshadow is second to none.

Benefit Get Even powder- This powder at first glance is just your average powder however, it completely cancels out redness more so than any other setting powder I have used. This comes with me in my make-up bag, on a night out and in my handbag. I have used  it on and off almost daily for over two years and yet still I am not finished with it..


Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation- I blogged about this foundation right when I started blogging it was only when I was looking through my previous posts I realised how long this relationship has lasted.  There has been flirting with other foundations in-between but I always come back to this. I  must have repurchased at least 5 times.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer- I have had this for about three years using it on a very frequent basis and yet it is still going. Now I know Benefit products are not cheap, but I've used cheaper products like Rimmel and I seem to go through their bronzer within a month therefore the extra money initially is worth it.

What products of yous seem to go on for ever?

Laying good foundations..

I never seem to be completely happy with my foundation.I feel I am not alone on this. Many a time have I looked at other peoples skin wondering how they get such a flawless dewey glow. One person who also has it sport on is Milly from Made in Chelsea, whom my British followers will know. For me coverage is still highly important yet I want it to look natural and dewey. Maybe this is just something that is not achievable? Here are the latest offerings from three different brands which have been circling the blogs and catching my eye. what they claim to do;

Rimmel wake me up- " instantly reawakens skin with a healthy, radiant glow. The light, smooth texture glides on easily to give a 100% pore-less and flawless complexion. Staying put for up to 10 hours and giving you a natural, medium to full coverage." (Rimmel website) £8.99

Benefit Hello Flawless - " Our new oil-free brightening liquid foundation builds from light to medium coverage for a natural complexion you can believe in. It’s you…just more luminous & healthy looking. " (Benefit website) £24.50

L'oreal Lumi Magique-Lumi Magique helps give instant skin radiance. You will be glowing inside and out.
Light texture, let's skin breathe with 24 hours of hydration" (L'oreal website) £10.99 

From comparing the claims made my next purchase will be defiantly Rimmel wake me up foundation. It seems to offer good coverage with a dewey finish and good staying power. That's without looking at the price which is also unbelievably good if it delivers!


Have any of you tired any of these foundations what did you think?

Hyped up products that I'm glad I brought into and a few regrets!!

I'm not going to lie I love a bit of hype on blogger to me I find it exciting to hear about it, then to see it creeping into peoples hauls and finally reviews start popping up on my reading list. I then enjoy a trip into town to take advantage of introductory offers. So yes I'm a sucker for a bit of hype but hey its not doing anybody any harm, well only to my bank balance :)

Here are the products that were hyped on blogger and I'm thankful for as I would have probably over looked them....

I actually like Bourjois healthy mix foundation for when I don't feel like wearing such a heavy foundation and it covers pretty well. I like that it does not have a totally matt finish as I have been into the more dewy look lately. The concealer works really well under the eyes as it is a light liquid unlike more solid concealers which can look cakaey under the eye area. No so good for hiding spots though.


This is my first and only MSF its in "by candlelight" and I only purchased this due to the rave reviews it had on blogger. I can tell you know I am in love with this product i wear it nearly every day since I got it back in January so that is £19 well spent.

I would probably have picked up Maybellines falsies mascara anyway just souly on the packaging but I have really liked it so far there may even be a repurchase in the pip line.


I never looked at Revlon products before I starting reading blogs I always over looked it in Boots and Superdrug but my opinion about the brand has truly changed. I have worn this foundation three times so far and like its natural finish it gives, while concealing fairly well. As of yet I have not had any problems with the much talked about "glitter".

I use this Sleek "storm" pallet on a regular basis and I wouldn't have picked this up in Superdrug had it not been for blogger due to the fact that for the price I would have assumed that the quality of the product was rubbish.

I never wore lipstick before blogger but GOSH darling and Mac's cerem d'nude changed all that for the better.

As well as all the good products I have discovered there a been a few hyped up products I have had a short fling with but the relationship sizzled out fast. Here they are...

mac fix + = Just don't get it

Barry M 101= very dry, makes lips look chapped and also not flattering (on me)

Mac's lipglasses= These glosses sit in the lines on my lips and don't look nice at all

Haul 9 and NOTD

If you read my last post you know that I was going into town to do a bit of shopping to pick me up. Here is what I got half planed half unplanned.

The blushers is NO.17 in "Bramble frost" it is more of a pale pink highlight than a blush and this is the reason I brought it as I am not a huge fan of blush. I then picked up the Hyped up Revelon photo finish foundation in "002 vanilla" possibly a bit light for my NC20 skin but nothing a dusting of Bronzer won't fix. I then picked up L'oreals lash serum as I wish to strengthen my eyelashes as I feel always rubbing them at night to get my mascara off must batter them a bit.

on to the polishes....

Revlons "031 lilac pastelle" , NO.17 "fairy cake", NO.17 "sherbet lemon" and finally Beauty UK "neon pink".

Hear are the swatches for the polishes.........

neon pink, lilac pastelle, sherbet lemon and fairy cake.

and here is what i decided on for my nails today, I wish I had kept them short though.

March favourties part 2 ....finaly

1. I have been using Bourjois healthy mix concealer as my under eye concealer and i actually really like it. It is quite light and blends easily. I is to light to use when you need to cover up a brake out.
   


2. I have been reaching for Bourjois healthy mix foundation on days that i don't need my foundation to last 16hr because frankly this foundation does not do that. however i like the coverage and is lighter coverage than i usually go for but in fact i think it is working for more i feel less caked in make up and at the moment i am really in love with the dewy look and am so over the matt look. ( for this month anyway).
   


3. I have been laying of the eye shadow this month and just been using a light brown all over the lid and then using an urban decay 24/7 eye liner pencil with lashing of mascara. The colours i have been loving and using daily are stash which is an olive green with flecks of gold, rockstar which is a deep eggplant colour I will defiantly be buying the full size and corrupt which is a true dark brown. swatches bellow :) flash has been used!

haul 7 bargain!!

Bourjois healthy mix foundation and concealer have been all over the beauty blogging world, which of course made me intrigued to try it, however i decided against it. But then i was in Loyds the pharmacy the other day and they had it on offer which was buy the foundation and get the concealer free!!!! where as all the other drug stores had just been offering £2 off. I thought that this offer was way to good to miss so i went for it :) xXx

Max Factor goodies

Boots are doing an offer at the moment were you spend £15 on Max factor and get a free gift. I fancied a change from liquid foundation and having to apply it so wanted to try their miracle touch compact foundation. I also herd really good things about their facefinity compact powder and as i had run out of my benefit one and this was half the price i thought i would give it a go.

I got the powder in 02 ivory and the foundation in creamy ivory 40. I'm an NC20 in summer and NC15 in winter.

In side the gift was

• kole pencil in black
• nail polish in disco pink
• lipstick in 510 English rose
• marsterpice mascara
• lasting performance foundation
• voucher for £2 off their new mascara
• 2 samples of their new second skin foundation

I think this is such a good gift so just thought i would share it with you as i was so excited :D xXx

Feburary favourites

I can't believe its all most march. The news year resolutions are nearly all but a faint memory though i am still going to the gym at least once a week, last week a manged 3 visits which as you can tell i am proud of an a little shocked. So here follows my products which have brought me joy over the last month :)

1. I have been straighting my hair a lot this month so have been using Tony & guys iron it heat defence spray, which keeps my hair straight all day and also smells like you have been in the hear dressers.
   
2. I have also be back combing my hair alot this month on night out to get big voulmised hair so i have been using Shockwaves ultra strong hair spray which even hold my hair after hrs of dancing and in a really really hot night club!
   
3. Mac minralize skin finish, i have been loving this all month and so glad that i purchased it well worth the money.
   
4. i have been applying this mac skin finish and my bronzers with this slanted powder brush by Benefit which allows for such precises application.
   
5. max factor second skin foundation, gives a natural finish but yer gives a full coverage hence i have been loving it this month.
   
6. maybelline the colossal mascara, gives grate volume without clumping
   
7. soap and glory some like it hot thermal body scrub, i was blown away with this product now only does it heat up really really well but it retains the heat better than any other product i have tried, also it leaves skin so smooth smother than any low end brand body scrub i have ever tried.

so hears to march and another month of new product loves and discovery's!!! xXx

January favourites

Well the end of the first month of 2010 is over and i am quite happy about this :D hello February which is going to be a month of partying for me and also getting in shape. Any how moving on to last months favourites.....
from left to right

Maybelline colossal mascara: I have been putting 3 coats of this on and then putting lash blast over the top and it creates great results. It is this mascara which has intrigued me to try their new false lash mascara.

Max factor second skin foundation: I normally use the likes of Mac studio fix , estee lauder double where and benefit play sticks, i like my foundation to be of high coverage. I picked up the as it said it was virtually undetectable able. It says it is medium coverage but i disagree i think it is just as good as any of the above if not better as it is more light weight and belnds more easily. I am sad as i brought this in the summer and now it is to dark unless I'm wearing fake tan so i am definitely going to go and buy this in the lighter shade it my new favourite foundation!!

Mac mineralize skinfinish in "by candle light": so happy i pick this up been wearing it every day since over my benefit hoola bronzer!

NO.7 sauna mask: wow, i brake out on my chin all the time but after using this one evening i woke up brake out free in the morning, I use this once a week and thinking about upping it to two time a weeks, i have purchased a back up with my NO.7 voucher i had recently.

CHI keratin mist: I picked this up on my holiday to Florida after seeing it on YouTube and not being able to find it in the UK, with the combination of giving up the GHDs apart from on weekends and spraying this in every time i was my hair, my hair has grown so much in the last 4 months.

No.7 part 2..

from left to right we have a concealer, tinted moisturiser, skin illuminator and a colour correcting make up base. I don't like the tinted mostriser as it leaves you skin really shinny and converge is very poor it also does not moisturise. I have been loving the skin Illuminator at the moment and am using it by mixing a big blog of it into my foundation before applying to my face and it makes me look lovely and awake :D

From top to bottom we have the colour calming base, tinted moisturiser, skin illuminator.

With the NO.7 voucher these polishes are only £1.25 such a barging so if you don't know what to spend you voucher on make sure you pick up one of these.

I'm not the impressed with the mascaras max factor is certainly a lot better , the Extravagant lashes mascara with the square brush is certainly in my opinion a gimmick and not very good.

part 3 coming tomorrow :D