I’ve Got A Fav New Foundation— And It’s only £5.99!

December 16 2012

I wasn’t even really on the look out for a foundation, despite every single one I currently own having some kind of flaw: Revlon ColorStay has great staying power but I find it hard to blend & it clings to the odd dry patch; I love the consistency of Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation, but it’s just that bit too shimmery and slightly orange-toned; and MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid is nice and buildable, if not a little overpriced and the shade I’ve been matched to, slightly too dark.

I’m a complete sucker for special offers and Boots ‘Buy One Get One Half Price’ deal reeled me in, hook, line & sinker! I needed something inexpensive and the Boots 17 stand was next to the Maybelline one I was lingering around. Perhaps it was the pink packaging, the price or the fact I’d just tried the new Maybelline ‘Fit Me’ foundation on the back of my hand and it was crap, but Boots 17 Miracle Matte Foundation jumped right into my basket.

(It was most definitely the pink packaging.)

It has everything I look for in a foundation— buildable, blendable, nice thick formula that doesn’t leave your skin feeling ‘sticky’, full coverage and great staying power, not to mention the fact it matches my skin-tone better than foundations I own that are nearly four times the price! It comes in a plastic bottle with a pump, which is not only handy and hygienic, but I actually prefer the plastic bottle too, as it’s lighter and less likely to smash in my overcrowded make-up bag!

I’m always on the lookout for a bargain and this foundation fits the bill. I’ll definitely be repurchasing!

Dove Spa Mattifying Gel Cream

December 15 2012

We all know that getting your moisturiser right, is the key to a fantastic base when it comes to applying foundation. You can buy the most expensive, highly-rated make-up out there, but if your skin is dry, your foundation will cling to it. If it’s too oily, it will slide right off.

Over the years, our favourite beauty brands have cultivated a world where there are just a four main skin-types: dry; oily; combination; and normal— and I, like many others, have battled with which category I fall under— my skin is tight after being in the shower, but shiny shortly after applying my make-up; so does that means I have combination skin? Or perhaps, ‘normal’? However, as I’ve grown older and wiser, I just use what works for me, regardless of the skin-type it’s aimed at— for example, I still love my Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream and apply it every night, for skin that’s so soft the next day, even though it is super rich and pre-moisturiser, my skin is closer to being an oil slick, than as dry as a husk.

Sexy.

Dove Spa Mattifying Gel Cream* (£17)

This is one of the best moisturisers I’ve tried in a long time.

I can’t praise this enough; it’s light and easily-absorbed, prevents shine and a little goes a long way, not to mention it’s also a great base for my make-up. I think it’s a common myth that if your skin is oily, it doesn’t get dehdryated and therefore doesn’t need moisturising— but you couldn’t be more wrong! Many moisturisers actually balance the oil in your skin and this mattifying gel cream from Dove Spa, is no exception. It has tiny, micro-sponges to absorb excess sebum and combat shine! It also has a great smell to it, which may not be to everyone’s taste, but I personally love it.

Why Do You Wear Make-Up?

October 29 2012

No make-up

This tag started doing the rounds on Youtube (and blogs) a few months ago, since Louise and Sammi started it at the beginning of September— so why I’m only getting ’round to responding at the end of October, is anyone’s guess!

When did you start wearing make-up?
I can remember the first time I wore lipstick of my own accord; I was only about 10! My mum had dropped me off for school and I was sporting a dark shade of red that had come free with Shout! Magazine. She asked me if I was wearing lipstick and I denied it of course— I don’t know how I thought she wouldn’t notice! I used to raid my older sister’s make-up collection too, much to her joy. I used to have a lot of fun with her No7 Eyeshadow Set, silver glitter lipstick (that felt more like a scrub when you applied it!) and blue hair mascara. I can remember when Miss Selfridge did make-up too and testing red and green mascara in store. My sister had a green, lilac and silver nail polish by them too and they were the toughest things to open! And she had an amazing ‘lipstick’ from The Body Shop, that you could use on your eyes and cheeks too. It was so drying!

I don’t think I wore a full face of make-up until I was about 12 or 13 and even then, myself and my peers didn’t have much of a clue about what we were doing. We had no knowledge of different skintypes and there was obviously no YouTube— we just had to follow tutorials from magazines like J17 and Mizz! There were lots of tide lines and over-bronzed faces, I can tell you. And Victoria Beckham lips, circa 1993; dark lipliner and clear gloss. Mmm.

Me and my friends used to buy our make-up from the chemist as it was on the way home from school. They did every single shade of nail polish that Stargazer had ever made and stocked Collection 2000 too. I can remember a particularly bad foundation I once bought that was like a pan concealer and came with a sponge applicator. It was disgusting. Even worse than that, I used Maxfactor’s Panstik all over my face a few times. It’s nice, if you want to look greasy.

How do you feel without make-up?
I used to wear make-up all the time and wouldn’t dream of leaving the house without at least a bit of foundation and eyeliner, but there have been two periods in my life where make-up has been less of a priority and I’ve not worn it at all; 1. When I was promoted at work and was up at 4am 5 days a week and 2. When I was pregnant and having morning sickness— so my colleagues have seen me make-up-less, but that said, I’ll be wearing make-up when I return to work next month! I would prefer to be wearing make-up when I leave the house, but I feel absolutely fine without it, now. I don’t need to wear anything to pop to the shop, or go into town and I often don’t, but if I was meeting someone I knew, I’d be more inclined to apply make-up. (It can be a hassle finding the time to put it on, only to take it off again a few hours later though!)

What do you like about make-up?
It’s so creative and fun, not to mention if I’ve had a rough, late, sleepless night, I can cover up the fact I look like the Grand High Witch.

3 “Holy Grail” items
1. Concealer • My current favourite has to be Collection Lasting Perfection. Such good value for money!
2. Foundation • Currently using MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW20
3. Blusher • I love the MaxFactor Miracle Touch Creamy Blushes. So easy to blend!

Wishlist • #004 | Lush!

October 26 2012

Some people find the smell of Lush overpowering— those people are weird. If you struggle to walk into a branch of Lush, then yes; I’m afraid you too a weirdo, my friend— but I on the other hand, would happily frolic among the soaps, jellies and scrubs, if it were possible. And not frowned upon. It smells heavenly! It’s one of my favourite places for skincare throughout the year, but Christmas is the best time to pick up an extra special treat or two (or three, or four… or as many as your budget will allow!)

Magic Wand Bubble Bar; Party Popper; Sandy Santa Sugar Scrub; Snow Fairy; I Love Juicy; Crackersnap; Coalface; Butterball; Honey I Washed The Kids.

Lush is probably the only shop that someone could buy me anything from and I would like it, although my ultimate fav’s would have to be Coalface (cleanser), I Love Juicy (shampoo) and— even though I don’t always have time for a soak in the tub these days— the Butterball (bath ballistic.) I hope they don’t go the same way as the Babyface cleanser, anytime soon. RIP Babyface, you luscious, oily, amazing-at-removing-waterproof-eye-make-up lump of loveliness.

Crystal Nail Files

October 17 2012

My nails are the bane of my life.

I don’t desire long talons like some; no. I’d just like nails that don’t chip or flake, when I… do nothing! Yeah, they’re that rubbish. They look absolutely fine when I cover them in pretty nail polish, but it tends to chip so easily. Am I the only one with this problem?

Faddy nail-strengthening polishes just don’t seem to work, so I think the solution is in maintenance. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! I’m a bit lazy with them as it is, so add a baby to the picture who needs care and attention for the majority of the day and my nails have no chance of redemption from this flaky hell.

Or so I thought!

This is only 5€!

I have nail files— a piece of foam that is essentially covered in sandpaper. But I’ve never had a crystal nail file. CRYSTAL. I don’t know much about glass nail files but I’d like to try one— not just because of my magpie-like tendancy to be attracted to shiny objects (although obviously that helps— crystal = shiny = good!) but because they’re durable and more hygenic too.

And some are covered in Swarovski crystals. Shiny.

You can buy crystal/glass nail files from Mont Bleu, here. Pretty, no? And Christmas isn’t far away…

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. You can read more about my policy on sponsored posts, here.