My favourite beauty products in 2014: Bourjois, Paco Rabanne, Estee Lauder

L-R Peach Club, Nude-ist, Happy Nude Year

Hello! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas? I certainly did. I decided to pick out three of my favourite beauty products from this year. In terms of beauty, the past 12 months have been good to me. I've experimented, invested and discovered lots of brands (my favourite being KIKO). The biggest 'thing' for me has to be my skin care routine. I'm comfortable with it and it's doing me a lot of good. I'll be uploading a post on that soon. But for now, enjoy! 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup - £29.50

No matter how many foundations I try I always end up going back to this one. It provides buildable medium to full coverage, lasts all day, balances the skin nicely and applies evenly. It's very dreamy and I doubt I'll move on to another foundation any time soon.

Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau de Parfum 50ml - £49.50

My sister bought me this perfume for my graduation and I'm very thankful. It's without a doubt my favourite scent but because it's pricey it's something I've never purchased myself. Now I don't think I'll be able to be without it. Paco Rabanne knows how to do fragrance - they're all delicious. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick - £8.99

These lipsticks have changed the game. I've always found lipsticks tricky because they tend to cling to dry patches and be high maintenance, but these ones are a dream. They're pigmented, long lasting, creamy and the most beautiful finish. I have four in my collection (I didn't photograph the red one, but you can see a swatch here) and I know I'll soon own the entire range.

What products have you loved this year?

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The high street foundation face-off #2

My "foundation face-offs" are without a doubt my favourite posts to write. Having bad skin means that I adore foundation and if I could only purchase one make up item for the rest of my life, it would be foundation. I'm constantly on the lookout for the "perfect one" which means that often, I find myself perusing make up counters trying to source out a new love. If you have any recommendations, please do let me know and link me to your reviews. You can view the first high street foundation face-off here which includes Bourjois Healthy mix, Rimmel Wake Me Up, Maybelline Fit Me, MaxFactor XPerience and more. And you view the first high end foundation face-off here which includes Estee Lauder Double Wear, Laura Mercier Silk Creme, Vichy Dermablend, MAC Studio Sculpt and more.

SEVENTEEN On the Spot Foundation - £6.99

Coverage: Medium to full coverage that can be built up. This foundation works best when it's applied in light layers.
Longevity: It's not bad. Standard wear.
Finish: It's quite masking and doesn't let your natural skin shine through.
Formula: Lightweight and easy to blend.
Overall: I like this foundation. I don't use it much but it's one that I can always trust to "work" on my skin.
Would I recommend it? Yes.

Rimmel Match Perfect Foundation - £6.99

Coverage: Light to medium. It can be built up but it only really covers redness.

Longevity: I've not had any issues with it breaking down throughout the day when a primer and powder has been used.

Finish: A lovely natural finish that's perfect for summer.

Formula: Really easy to blend and almost melts into the skin.

Overall: When I'm having a good skin day, this foundation is lovely. It looks natural on the skin and lasts well.

Would I recommend it? Yes.

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation - £5.99

Coverage: Full coverage but not in a nice way. It cakes.

Longevity: As I mentioned above, this foundation cakes and breaks down throughout the day. 

Finish: Full on matte. Almost too matte as it clings to any dry patches.

Formula: It's a shame that I don't like this formula because the coverage is wonderful and it feels lightweight on the skin. But it's drying.

Overall: Aside from the coverage, I can't find one good trait in this foundation. It might be wonderful for those with incredibly oily skin though.

Would I recommend it? Not for combination/dry skin.

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation - £8.99

Coverage: Medium. It doesn't feel extremely lightweight on the skin but it's barely noticeable.

Longevity: With a primer and powder it lasts throughout the day nicely.

Finish: The finish is beautiful. It doesn't cake at all and looks natural.

Formula: I find this a complete doddle to blend. It's seamless.

Overall: I sort of forgot about this foundation when I discovered MaxFactor's FaceFinity but it truly is wonderful and definitely worth checking out.

Would I recommend it? Definitely. When I was using this foundation, I didn't have one breakout. Might not be a coincidence! 

MaxFactor FaceFinity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation - £11.99

Coverage: Full. It's on par with Estee Lauder's Double Wear however it can't be built up without looking cakey. Although one layer is all you'd need.

Longevity: Lasts all day incredibly well. It still looks as flawless in the evening as it does when it's first applied.

Finish: In the middle of dewy and matte. It's not dead matte but it doesn't leave the skin looking dewy either.

Formula: I originally thought it'd be a nightmare to apply but I find it very easy to blend and apply.

Overall: 10/10. I can't fault it.

Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely. It's the high street version of Estee Lauder's Double Wear.

SEVENTEEN Stay Time Foundation - £6.49

Coverage: Full but it can't be built up without looking cakey.
Longevity: Lasts throughout the day. It doesn't budge.
Finish: Very mattifying.
Formula: This foundation is hard to blend and I'm left with streaks.
Overall: It's a shame that this foundation is hard to blend because the coverage for me is perfect.
Would I recommend it? No. It's too hard to blend. It's a nightmare to work with.

Also just a quick warning that I'm now in my final two weeks of my degree (scary!) so sadly, I won't be blogging much because I'm guessing it's going to be hectic. I will try my hardest as I love a good break from work, but I can't guarantee it. Just thought I'd give you a little heads up. Oh and wish me luck, I think I need it!

What's your favourite high street foundation? Any recommendations?

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Save vs. Splurge | Long wearing foundations

Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation is a classic and certainly one of the best. It's full coverage at its finest and once it's been applied and buffed into the skin, it isn't budging. It also feels lightweight on the skin. SEVENTEEN'S new offering is extremely similar to Double Wear (except £21 cheaper). Stay Time is a fabulous bargain foundation that, like Double Wear, isn't going anywhere once set on the face. With it being full coverage it also hides a multitude of sins.

Aside from the price, the biggest difference is the packaging. Estee Lauder's version is extremely luxurious - the glass bottle looks beautiful on a dressing table - but it isn't very practical. You have to pour the foundation out which means that you end up with a lot of wasted product. SEVENTEEN's on the other hand isn't the best looking but it's very practical as it comes with a pump.

The only issue with both of these foundations is that they come with SPF inside of them. Useful in the summer but a nightmare for flash photography. I personally haven't had any issues with the dreaded "white-cast-face" but it's something to take note of. Another problem is how fast you have to work. As they're long wearing, they set quickly on the skin so it's better to apply section by section.

If you're after a long wearing foundation and you are on a budget then SEVENTEEN's Stay Time is definitly worth picking up. It's basically Double Wear in more practical packaging. However, if you love luxury and a good ol' classic, Estee Lauder's offering is most definitely for you. You can buy Estee Lauder's Double Wear here where it retails for £27.50. And you can buy SEVENTEEN's Stay Time here where it retails for £6.49.

I wrote this article for The Linc where I'm the deputy style editor however, as I'm a bit behind on blogging at the moment because of deadlines, I thought I'd publish it here too. Hope you don't mind!

What's your favourite long wearing foundation? Leave me recommendations below!

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MAKE UP | VICHY's Idealia BB Cream

L-R Bare skin, with VICHY's Idealia BB Creme, with VICHY's Idealia BB Creme + concealer.

I've never been a fan of the Western BB creams. You're probably sick of me saying that so in short I'll just say that I believe they're a waste of time. I am however, a VICHY fan so when I heard that they were releasing their own BB cream, despite my hatred of the dreaded double B's, I had to get my hands on them. And I'm bloody glad that I did. I mentioned the VICHY Idealia BB Cream* in my June Favourites post and I didn't go into much detail as I do believe they deserve their own post.

This is the BB cream that changed my mind. It contains pink mineral pigments which help to instantly extinguish grey tones, conceal imperfections and even out and illuminate the complexion. The comparison pictures above do the talking on coverage and as you can see, it's pretty damn good. I wouldn't say it's full coverage at all which for me, is a little bit scary. But it's definitely medium coverage that feels light on the skin. That's the reason why I love this product so much. It covers the majority of my imperfections without making my skin feel heavy - perfect in this current weather.

The fine, light texture melts into the skin beautifully and gives a soft finish with natural looking coverage and the true feeling of bare skin. When it comes to foundation, I tend to find that they settle into my dry areas around my blemishes but this BB cream doesn't as it provides 24 hour hydration. It leaves the skin looking like skin - glowing, beautiful and natural. I've even been complimented on my the condition of my skin when I've been wearing this which never, ever happens to me.

This has helped me get through the hot weather we've been having recently without breaking down and making me look like an oil slick. Unfortunately, there are only two shades available and as you can see from the swatches above, they're quite similar in colour so those with darker skins probably won't get away with it. It's suitable for sensitive skins and comes with SPF 25 and UVA and UVB protection.

What's your favourite BB cream? Have you tried the VICHY one?
*PR Sample
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Personalised Foundation Finder by PS Beauty

You know one thing that is really hard when it comes to the world of beauty? Finding the foundation. There are so many out there on the market and when it comes to searching for a new one, you can often be left feeling overwhelmed. I know I've been there before. You see, foundation is my number one beauty love - I just can't get enough of them - and even though I have many in my collection, there are only a few I would highly recommend to people. But even then, my recommendations are useless. I love full coverage foundation but you might prefer low coverage. I like a satin finish but you might prefer a matte finish. There are so many things to look for when it comes to finding your perfect foundation and luckily for us, PS Beauty have come up with a tool to make it that little bit easier. I've been playing around on their personalised foundation finder for about a week or so now and because of it, I have a couple of foundations on my wishlist to try out.

The foundation finder is basically that. It does the hard work for you, whittling down thousands of different foundations until it can recommend you a few that it thinks would be perfect. It takes you through a few different steps such as choosing your skin tone, your undertone, your skin type, the coverage and finish you'd prefer and then it asks you to rate the different foundations that you've tried. For example, if I was rating Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation it would ask me the shade I've used and then how I feel about the consistency, the longevity and the value for money of the product. It then asks if I'd buy the product again. After you've selected as many foundations as you've tried (the more the better) the little computer works its magic and comes up with recommendations for you based on what you like. How bloody clever is that?! I'm absolutely addicted to this little lifesaver and if you'd like to try it out for yourself then just click here.

What are your thoughts on the foundation finder? Have you found your perfect foundation because of it?

xxx
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The high street foundation face-off

I will hold my hands up and admit it: I am a foundation junkie. I've been addicted to foundation since I walked into Debenhams, glared at the Clinique counter and purchased my first ever high-end foundation. I was 15 back then and from that moment on, I haven't been able to stop buying foundations. I will also admit to being a foundation snob. I believe that you get what you pay for when it comes to foundations and if you're going to splash out, you will get an amazing one at that. However, since discovering the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation, this opinion of mine has changed and there are some wonderful high street gems out there. So I decided to round up a few of my high street foundations and put them to the test on the four key areas that I look for in a foundation: the coverage, the longevity, the finish and the formula. I will pre-warn you... this is going to be quite a long post so grab a cup of tea and take a seat.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB £7.99:

Coverage: What coverage? There isn't any. I blend this into my skin and it literally does nothing. It doesn't eliminate any redness and it certainly doesn't cover my spots or scarring. When it comes to coverage, this is absolutely useless.

Longevity: I guess it's hard to judge the longevity of this foundation when there's nothing on your skin.

Finish: Like I said, there's no coverage so there's no finish.

Formula: The formula is lovely. It feels really nice, fresh and cooling on the skin. It'd make a great moisturiser if Maybelline rebranded the product.

Overall: 1/10. I would give it zero if it wasn't for the silky feeling it leaves on the skin.
Would I recommend it? Not at all. If you have perfect skin though, this would be great for you.

17 Miracle Matte £5.99:

Coverage: The coverage on this foundation is pretty good. It covers my redness and spots but it doesn't cover my scarring. I'd say it's medium coverage but it doesn't build up at all. If you apply any more than one layer of this, it will cake.

Longevity: This doesn't last very long on the skin at all. It starts to crack, crease and cling to my dry patches after about 30 minutes and after that, it just dissolves on the skin - even with a primer.

Finish: The finish is completely matte. So matte that it clings to the few dry patches I have on my skin. If you have extremely oily skin, this would be pretty good for you. Although the fact that it slides off your skin almost instantly would be a nightmare.

Formula: It's quite hard to blend and sometimes this foundation leaves tide marks. It applies well with a buffing brush though.

Overall: 2/10.
Would I recommend it? No. It gives really nice coverage but it just doesn't last at all. And the fact that it's hard to blend just makes this problem even worse.

Rimmel Stay Matte £5.99:

Coverage: This gives the same amount of coverage as 17's Miracle Matte foundation. They're pretty similar to be honest.

Longevity: This doesn't last long on the skin but if you use a primer beforehand, you get around four hours to wear out of it which isn't too bad. It's good for if you're nipping to the shops.

Finish: Completely matte finish but sometimes it does cling to dry patches. It's great at controlling oil though.

Formula: Easy to blend but sometimes does leave tide marks and can end up looking a little bit cakey if you apply too much.

Overall: 4/10.
Would I recommend it? Yes, I would recommend it if you have oily skin and are after a quick fix.

Maybelline Fit Me £7.99:

Coverage: The coverage of this is okay. I would say that it's pretty low though because it didn't cover my scarring at all. I think I was disappointed by the coverage of this foundation because I was expecting more.

Longevity: It lasts well on the skin. It does need to be powdered though to ensure it lasts and stays shine-free as it tends to look a little bit greasy on me after a few hours.

Finish: It has a nice finish. It's not dead matte but it's not overly shiny until a couple of hours wear.

Formula: I found this foundation to be like a gel formula as it glided over the skin and blended nicely.

Overall: 4/10.
Would I recommend it? For me, I didn't like it as I needed more coverage. But if you only require low/medium coverage, it will be perfect for you.

UNE Skin-matt Foundation £12.49:

Coverage: This foundation provides medium coverage that can be built up nicely if required. I wouldn't say it reaches full-on coverage though.

Longevity: This lasts nicely on the skin without the need for powdering because of the finish. I would recommend using a primer though just to ensure it doesn't slip off of the skin.

Finish: This is full on matte and is perfect if you have completely oily skin. For me, this clings to my dry patches after a couple of hours which isn't a pretty sight at all.

Formula: I find this foundation really hard to blend. It sets very quickly so it means you have to work it into the skin and attempt to blend it extremely fast which sometimes leaves tide marks and can look uneven on the skin.

Overall: 5/10.
Would I recommend it? The coverage and longevity is perfect. However, the finish and formula really do let it down. This foundation would be perfect for those of you with oily skin though.

Maxfactor Xperience £9.99:

Coverage: The coverage of this foundation is medium and extremely lightweight. It feels virtually invisible on the skin and looks like you're wearing nothing.

Longevity: With a primer and powder, this lasts beautifully on the skin. I do need to powder throughout the day after around four hours wear though to ensure a shine-free finish. 

Finish: This makes skin look like skin whilst improving flaws. So it doesn't give you a completely matte finish but it controls oil where it needs controlling whilst moisturising dry patches.

Formula: Like I said in the coverage, this is very lightweight and blends like a dream.

Overall: 9/10.
Would I recommend it? Yes. I really like this foundation.

Rimmel Wake Me Up £8.99:

Coverage: This foundation gives light/medium coverage but if needs be, you can build it up in certain areas.

Longevity: For a high street foundation this lasts quite well on the skin however, I do use a primer with it at all times because sometimes it can slide.

Finish: The finish is flawless, glowing and dewy. So if you have oily skin, stay away or powder.

Formula: I find this a little bit hard to blend sometimes and it can leave tide marks as it dries quite quickly.

Overall: 8/10.
Would I recommend it? Yes. If they improved the formula a tiny bit, this would be lovely.

Bourjois Healthy Mix £9.99:

Coverage: Medium, buildable. You can easily get full coverage with this foundation if you need to.

Longevity: With a primer, it lasts all day on the skin without looking cakey or sliding off of the face.

Finish: The finish of this is beautiful. It makes you skin look glowing, radiant and as the name suggests, healthy. It does sometimes look a bit greasy on my combination skin after a few hours but this foundation is so perfect that it doesn't bother me.

Formula: Beautiful, really beautiful. Blends like a dream and with a buffing brush you can really work it into the skin for a flawless finish.

Overall: 10/10. I really can't fault this foundation and it's even better than some of my high-end foundations.
Would I recommend it? YES YES YES!

The winner of this foundation face off has to be the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation. The only word to describe this foundation would to be perfect. It has incredible coverage, lasts all day long on the skin - and it's even suitable to wear on nights out, the finish is beautiful and the formula is outstanding. What is your favourite high street foundation? Have you tried any of the ones mentioned above or would you recommend different ones?

 xxx

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REVIEW: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation with comparison pictures

After what seems like a lifestyle, I finally took the plunge and invested in Bourjois' Healthy Mix Foundation. In the past, I'd tried their concealer and I did like it - I thought it was great for under the eyes but not so great on blemishes - so that's probably why I'd been put off of the foundation for a while. However, after reading many spectacular reviews on this foundation - and having a spare tenner - I just couldn't resist not having it in my possession any more. I'm definitely a foundation snob - the majority of my foundations in my collection are high end and the ones that aren't, don't get used very often. But this one? Well this one is my everyday go-to foundation. Since buying this, I've worn it every single day - and even on one night out. It covers very well, this is medium/full coverage and it can be built it. I do need a little bit of concealer but during the day - unless I'm having an awful skin day - I don't like wearing proper full coverage. It smells amazing and it lasts on the skin all day long with a primer. I do need to powder throughout the day as this is a "radiance reveal" foundation which is all well and good but I do get an oily t-zone. I absolutely love the formula, the finish, the coverage, the bottle, the way it blends and well, the price.

Have you tried this foundation before? You can buy it here where it retails for £9.99.

 xxx

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REVIEW: Veil Cover Cream with Comparison Photos

This isn't the first time that I've blogged about Veil's Cover Cream*, I mentioned it in my "Skin Saviours" post earlier this month. Back then, I promised I would do a full review on it and today, that's exactly what I'm going to be doing. I've been using this for over a month now and I've fallen in love with it. Full coverage, cover creams are some of my favourite "foundations" as they cover absolutely everything. I also find that they don't cake on the skin. I've tried a few before (both of which I continue to use); Keromask, Dermablend and I love them both equally. Just like I love this one. I was sent the Demonstration Kit* which contains 20 colours and a sample of Veil's Finishing Powder. This kit is recommended for make up artists as it teaches you how to blend and work with colours to create the perfect shade. Obviously I'm not a make up artist but this kit has been wonderful for me to try out the shades available and get a feel for the texture. This Cover Cream blends flawlessly into the skin - I use my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to get a beautiful finish - and once it's set, it doesn't budge throughout the rest of the day until you remove it. It feels light on the skin; it doesn't cake the skin in make up or make it look like you're wearing make up either. It is as full coverage as coverage gets and it completely covers up my scarring. As always, I've included a before/after comparison photo as for me, there's no better way for me to tell you how good a foundation is than showing you.

Just look at that! You can see exactly why I love it and why it's given me the confidence I needed again. I will be buying a full pot of this. A full pot of Veil's Cover Cream starts at £23 and you buy one here. If you're not someone who needs full coverage all over your skin then Veil's Cover Cream would be perfect as a concealer for you. A little goes a long way and a tub of this would last you forever. I was also sent their Cleansing Cream* which is a lovely cleanser to use. I apply it to my skin, massage it around and then remove with a flannel and it completely removes all traces of the Cover Cream in an instant. To find out more about the brand, their products and to also buy them, click here. Veil also do their own Colour Matching Kits which retail for £6.50. I love this idea as it lets you match up your skin and try the product before you commit to buying a full sized version. You can also view all of my foundation comparison posts here. 

xxx
*PR Sample

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REVIEW: Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Make Up with comparison pictures

Mineral make up is something that I've never really got on with. I have badly blemished skin so I find that it never gives me enough coverage. However, I was extremely excited to try out the pressed mineral make up from Pur Minerals. Before this, I don't think I'd ever heard of a pressed mineral powder and seeing as mineral foundations tend to be messy, this product is pretty much ground breaking. I'm no good with science and ingredients so I'll let the brand themselves do the talking before I give you my verdict...

"Pur Minerals combine the finest ingredients in nature with the latest in skincare technology, the multi-tasking formulas work with the skin to correct, prevent and interrupt common concerns to radiant results you can see - even after the make up comes off. Pur Minerals contain NO harsh chemical dyes, petroleum-based oils, fragrance or fillers, just pure mineral pigments and nourishing ingredients that ALL skin types can enjoy. With a mix of plant-based and proprietary ingredients - like the breakthrough Ceretin Complex (make up's first proven anti-ageing technology) - Pur offers a full range of clinically proven skincare-enhanced make up and complexion care products to complement any regiment. Made for multi-tasking, the no-stress, no-mess collection, includes the award-winning 4-in-1 products, which are use by professional make up artists and celebrity stylists worldwide."

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I have very blemished skin. Redness, spots, scarring - the lot. So I wasn't expecting miracles from the Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Make Up Compact* - £24.00 as I know that mineral make up tends to be very sheer. To my surprise, I found that when built up, this mineral make up provides medium coverage and if I use a concealer underneath, it's definitely suitable for me to wear during the day. And I have been wearing it pretty much every day for a week or so now. As always, below I've included a picture of the difference in my skin when wearing the mineral make up.

L-R No mineral make up, mineral make up alone, concealer and mineral make up

I like this powder because it comes with SPF15 and skin care ingredients which help to smooth the look of lines and wrinkles and plump, lift and firm the skin's appearance. So overtime, you should notice an improvement in your skin. Which is fabulous as make up normally doesn't agree with your skin. This feels lightweight on the skin and gives a radiant matte finish. It also leaves the skin smooth to the touch. I buff it in with the Pur Minerals Chisel Make Up Brush* - £13.00 which is one of my most reached for brushes at the moment. It's a flat top brush which means it's dense and easy to work with. It's completely natural and it's made from a cruelty-free, blend of goat, sable and pony hair which means the brush is very soft. I was also shocked by the price - cheap for how good the quality is. So overall, I would recommend to you my first mineral make up foundation. I love the coverage, I love the finish and I love how comfortable it is to wear. It's a great day time foundation.

You can view the entire Pur Minerals range here.

xxx
*PR Sample
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REVIEW: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation with before/after comparison pictures

Back in January, before returning to university, I took a trip to the Nottingham Space.NK for the very first time. If it's possible to get starstruck by a store, then I was. It was incredible to see so many brands that I'd heard of but never actually seen and I was loving it. The reason for my visit was to try the ever-so-famous Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation as my mum agreed to buy it me for my birthday.

First of all, the lady in the shop was lovely. I explained to her about my skin condition and how I wanted a fuller coverage foundation that wasn't drying and I'd read so many reviews about this foundation. And as I guessed, she said this foundation would be perfect for me. She removed my make up, applied a primer and went on to put the foundation onto my skin. She then followed with concealer, powder, bronzer and blush and I immediately purchased the foundation. It was one of those love at first sight feelings. I've now been using this foundation for a month and unless I've fake tanned, I've been using it every day. It's medium/full coverage that's easily buildable and it sits so nicely on the skin. Although it's full coverage, it isn't heavy on the skin at all and blends into the skin like a dream - it's barely noticeable. It doesn't sink into pores or fine lines and it hydrates the skin throughout the day. It's extremely easy to blend and the colour (rose ivory) matches my skin tone perfectly. A lot of people think that this foundation is expensive but I don't think it is. I think it's worth every single penny and for me, once you've found the right base, everything else falls into place. I do have some comparison pictures however I am extremely insecure about my skin. I know it's a mess, I know it's badly scarred so no nasty comments please! But this is literally the only way I can show you how amazing this foundation is. Also, on the before picture there are a couple of spots which aren't there in the after picture, that's just because they were taken on different days however, nothing else has changed.

So there you have it. This foundation covers everything. Scarring, redness, spots, everything. It provides the most perfect coverage ever and you can see how beautiful it sits on the skin too. It fills in my pores (no primer was used in the after picture) which is amazing. This is now my favourite foundation and something that I will always have in my collection. It's just quite frankly, perfect. You can buy this foundation here for £33.

Have you tried this foundation before? What's your favourite foundation?

xxx

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REVIEW: Liz Earle Signature Foundation

Foundations are my obsession. I'm always shopping around for that perfect foundation because I just hate my skin. I must've tried over 50 foundations in the four years that I've been wearing it and the latest edition to my collection is Liz Earle's Signature Foundation* - £21.

 Liz Earle have spent years perfecting this foundation and they believe that it delivers "a flawless yet beautifully natural-looking complexion with a lightweight, blendable and buildable formula that is suitable for all skin types and always comfortable on your skin." If you buy this foundation and you don't love it, you can return it back to Liz Earle for free by post or instore. No questions asked. "Our mission is to make shopping online for the perfect foundation as fuss-free and enjoyable as possible for our customers." The foundation comes in 9 shades and Liz Earle even have a shade selector to help you find your perfect shade.

 Packaging is very important for me when it comes to foundation and this one doesn't disappoint. It is a glass bottle which isn't great for travelling with but if it's something that you're worried about, you can always decant it into another container. It comes with a pump which means that there's little wastage and it's easy to dispense the product. And it fits in with the rest of the Liz Earle make up line. The packaging is simple, beautiful and effective. 

 I've tried out their Sheer Skin Tint before and while I like it because of the finish and the formula, I can't love it because I need coverage on my skin and the Sheer Skin Tint provided more than your typical tinted moisturiser but not enough for me. So I was pretty excited when I heard about this release. As I expected, the formula is beautiful and you can tell a lot of work has gone into this foundation. It blends like a dream and glides over the skin filling in pores and covering up your imperfections. But it doesn't feel that way then it's on the skin. It's virtually undetectable and it doesn't feel heavy and my skin doesn't feel or look caked in make up. It also doesn't cling to any dry patches and it doesn't make my skin look like an oil slick.

As you can see from the picture above, it provides medium coverage but I believe it can be built up and I'd be happy to wear this foundation alone without concealer if I was in a rush. But on nights out, I do use this with concealer because I like my skin to be completely covered and some of my scars do still peek through. My overall opinion on this foundation? I love it. I think it's suitable for everyone because of how good the coverage and formula is. It's not hard to work with and while it covers things up, it doesn't do it in a nasty way. I find myself reaching for this foundation for day and nighttime and it will last me all night and a full work day which is pretty damn good on my combination skin.

Have you tried this foundation before? What's your favourite foundation?

xxx

*PR Sample

REVIEW & COMPARISON IMAGES: No7 Stay Perfect Foundation (reformulated, new version)

No7 are currently having an entire brand overhaul with the release of new skin care lines and new packaging. They're also completely overhauling their cult Stay Perfect foundation and releasing it in lots of new shades with a brand new formula. I was lucky enough to receive a sample of this foundation at work. I wasn't going to write about it, it wasn't something that I'd planned. But after trying it, I knew I had to.

I haven't learnt about this foundation yet so don't take anything I say to be 100% true. But I do know that there are new shades and a new formula. The way that No7 test your shade for this foundation is by a special machine. The No7 counter lady will put this machine to your neck and within a few seconds it will tell you your perfect shade. It does this immediately and it doesn't cause any pain. This foundation (mine is in Deeply Ivory) is the perfect match for me. I apply it to my skin and you pretty much can't see it as it just glides over my skin. 

As you can see, the coverage is incredible. I would describe this as very full coverage. I could happily wear this without any concealer. It doesn't feel heavy and I've had this on all day so far and it hasn't budged on my skin. The before picture is an old one but my skin is the same (minus the spot) so you can see how wonderful is covers. This is very easy to blend. I've tried the old version of this foundation before and I really didn't like it, it was a pain and it's probably the reason why I stayed away from No7 foundation but this one is very lovely. It sits nicely on the skin aswell and isn't dead matte or too oily. 

This foundation is out today and if it is something that you're interested I'd recommend going down to your local No7 counter, getting matched up and getting a sample.

Does this foundation interest you?

xxx

REVIEW & COMPARISON PICTURES: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Foundation

Although this foundation isn't released in Boots yet if you stick your Advantage Card into one of the extras machines then you'll be able to print off a voucher that lets you take home a 7-day free sample of this foundation. So of course, I went and did it!

The lady on the counter was lovely and normally, I have bad experiences with those behind the counters as they tend to judge me because I'm young and think that I'm not going to buy anything. But anyway, here are some coverage photos -

As you can probably see the photos are the left are those without foundation and on the right are the photos with foundation on. I'd say the coverage of this foundation is light/medium but it can be built up in areas where you need a bit more coverage without caking on the skin. It's also great at blurring out imperfections. You can see that my scars don't appear as prominent where the light hits the foundation. The coverage was on thing that I was originally worried about as I did have many blemishes on my skin but surprisingly, I'm in love with this. The finish and feel of the foundation is like nothing I've ever felt before. It's very lightweight in texture and literally feels like there is nothing on your skin. Also, the finish is very flawless and luminous. It makes me skin look so glowy and healthy which is something that I'm after right now. If the foundation doesn't cover my scars then I can easily cover those up with a little bit of concealer. But I'm in love with this foundation. I also wore it for work today and it lasted all day with a primer and powder so I can't fault it there. So my final thoughts are that this isn't as full coverage as I'd normally go but I'm so in love with the finish and texture of it that I can't resist it or get enough of it and when it's released, I'll be buying it.

Have you tried this foundation? What are your thoughts on it?

xxx 

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation Review & Comparison Photos

After all the glowing reviews of this foundation popping up on both blogs and in YouTube videos, I couldn't resist making the purchase especially since I've noticed a change in my skin (I'm looking to overhaul my skin care routine) - it's a lot more dull than it used to be. I also noticed that in Boots this foundation is currently on offer for just £6.99 (£6.12 with discount) which is an absolute bargain, so I went out and bought it.

 And I'm so glad that I did. First of all the packaging for a high street foundation is lovely. It's very sturdy, made of glass, comes with a pump for hygiene and also is very pretty - I particularly love the bright orange lid which is something that I love seeing in mornings. The scent of this foundation is very nice; it's fresh and clean which is refreshing for me as my foundations normally smell like paint. The foundation feels very light on the skin even though I'd say it's medium/full coverage. It isn't matte but it isn't completely dewy it just makes your skin look radiant, glowing and awake. It's very easy to apply and blend and also contains SPF15 which is great for summer - but not so good for photographs.

My skin is pretty bad at the moment and as you can see this foundation covers all my imperfections. The scars still kinda show through which isn't a problem for me (unless I'm going on a night out but that's nothing that a concealer can't fix). As I've already mentioned it makes the skin look glowing and you can see this in the picture above.

It's a great foundation and it's the best I've tried from the high street so far. I've only just purchased it yesterday but I'm already in love with it. I even went out earlier and bought another one for my mum. You can buy it from Boots on offer for £6.99 here (normal price £8.99).

Have you tried this foundation? What do you think?

xxx

The Basics of Make Up

One of my friends said to me the other day; 'How do I apply make up? What do I put on first?' So I thought, why not write a post. I sometimes forget that some people are just starting off in make up and may not know the basics - I just assume that everyone does which is bad considering I had to teach myself from scratch as well. So here we go!

First of all start off with your skin care routine which basically should consist of cleansing, toning and moisturising. A good skin care routine is key to good make up and unless you have the right base, your make up is never going to sit right - think of it like a house! Next up, apply your primer. Don't seriously rub it into your skin like you would do moisturiser; I just gently press/pat mine onto the top of my skin so that it sits there nicely and fills in any pores/fine lines that I might have. After primer, I like to apply my eye make up if it's heavy. If you're going out for the night and wearing pretty heavy eye make up that consists of dark colours then it's best to apply it before your foundation. This is because if you apply it afterwards, you may end up with a lot of fall out that could potentially ruin your foundation and therefore make you start again. It's also good to apply foundation afterwards so that you can clean up any messes that you may have created. After this, apply your foundation unless you're using mineral/loose foundation then you should apply concealer first. Start with just one layer of foundation and then build it up as and where you need it so you don't end up caking your skin in make up. Once your foundation has 'set,' apply your concealer where you need it - under the eyes, on any blemishes and redness. I personally use a foundation brush to blend my concealer into the skin and I always use a light hand so it doesn't blend away to nothing. Now, when you apply your powder depends on what face products you're using. If you're going to use a cream bronzer, highlighter or blush then apply these before you apply your powder. But if you're using powder bronzer, highlighter or blush then apply these after you've applied your powder. This is so that the cream products don't interfere with the powder products as it could end up making your make up look horribly patchy which is never a good look! After this, apply your eye make up if it's light. If the make up that you're using is light then there's going to be no need to clean up afterwards and you won't have to worry about fall out so you can apply it after your base. I find that eye make up always looks better when it's been applied after my base. And finally, finish up with your lip products! Start with a balm, liner, lipstick/stain and then a gloss if you're going to use them all.
I hope that this has helped you and if you have any questions, just leave a comment and I'll get back to you!
xxx

How I Fake (Almost) Perfect Skin with Comparison Photos

My skin is one thing that I hate and really lack confidence in however, I've now found the perfect skin care routine for me and the perfect foundation/base routine to cover up my imperfections. Don't get me wrong, it's taken me about 6 years to find this out through a lot of trial and error but in the end, it's so worth it. So after my skin care routine, I thought it'd be nice to show you how I apply my base/face products to create what I can class as flawless skin.

L-R

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £11.99

I use all of the following products with this brush as it's so versatile and products full coverage with every single product that I use. I stipple these products onto the skin so that they're really packed on and then I buff them into the skin using a circular motion (except the concealer) to make sure that they look seamless. I absolutely love this brush and cannot recommend it enough. I'm saving up my Boots points for the face set from Real Techniques as I really want the Buffing Brush too!

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19

This is my all time favourite concealer and it's so cheap. It's high coverage and lasts throughout the entire day. I use this on my spots, scars and also underneath my eyes and everything is covered. I use this after my MaxFactor Pan Stix has been applied.

Skin79 Super Beblesh Balm BB Cream - £16.00

This is amazing and you can see how well it covers alone here. I use this after moisturiser and primer as a sort of base to my foundation. It provides very good coverage alone but when it comes to night time and going out and I really want flawless skin, I'll just use this as a base. It's also a skincare product so it doesn't irritate the skin which is always a bonus!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - £26.50

I always, always try out new foundations and I'll always say 'this is my new favourite!' But I will always end up back at this one. It's full coverage and lasts throughout the day. It literally does not budge until you cleanse it away. It isn't heavy even though it's high coverage and it blends in like a dream with the stippling brush. I use this after my BB cream.

17 Shine Control Loose Powder - £5.49

I'll use this after my concealer as an all over face powder. It doesn't cake on the skin and provides a lasting shine-free finish on the skin. It just literally melts away into the skin and I cannot recommend it enough. I don't think I'll ever use another face powder!

MaxFactor Pan Stix Foundation - £6.99

I use this after my foundation but just on my scarring and the areas that need extra coverage. It can be used as an all over foundation but I do find that it can get heavy and budge if it's used like that. So I just use it sparingly and it provides incredible coverage and when powdered, doesn't move.

 As always, this is a nasty picture of my skin after it's just been moisturised. It isn't a pretty sight and I barely ever go out without make up on as I can't stand the sight of it. It has gotten better recently and it did used to be a lot worse. I found a terrible picture of my skin from 2010 on my Twitter account and I literally burst into tears - it was so bad!

And this is a picture of my skin after all of the products above have been used and applied. The change is incredible and the greatest thing about this is that it will last throughout the day. I won't ever do this during the day time though unless I'm going out all day.. During the day, I'll just wear my BB cream alone. But on nights out, I always go through this routine and it's fail safe and my skin will always look incredible in photos!

What products do you use to create flawless skin?

xxx

Collection 2000 Ultimate Fix Foundation Review & Comparison Photos

Whilst looking for and researching into high street foundations to buy for every day use, I came across this one that I was definitely interested in. The concept is that it's full coverage and stays put throughout the day as it is used as a concealer and powder as well as a foundation.

The foundation comes as a compact and it's in solid form but it's very creamy when you touch it. I then dries to a powder finish and leaves skin feeling very smooth, hydrated but matte at the same time. The packaging is good. It's nothing special but it's very good for travel and keeping in your bag for top ups as it comes with both a mirror and a sponge. The sponge is something that I don't use as I never get on with the cheap make up accessories that come with products so I use my Real Techniques Stippling Brush instead.

Once again, I apologise for this nasty image. You might have seen this one before and this is because I did in  fact take both this comparison photo with the BB Cream comparison photo at the same time.

First of all, I must apologise for the nasty brush strokes that are in this picture. It's not the foundations fault it's my fault for being lazy with blending. It does actually blend like a dream and looks very unnoticeable. From this picture, I would say that this foundation is on the high end of medium coverage as there are still some scars peaking through. Of course, if you have near perfect skin or skin that doesn't have scarring, you could easily get away with this one step foundation. But for me, I do use a concealer just because I like my skin to look as flawless as possible.

So what do I think of this foundation overall? I absolutely love it! The thing that I love most about it is the finish. It dries so beautiful on the skin leaving it matte but not powdery and noticeable. It doesn't last throughout the entire day but this is something that I use when going to lectures or doing my shopping so I don't need it to last all day. If I'm going somewhere else though and I do, a primer easily sorts that out. I love the coverage, I love how easy it is to apply and blend and I love the price tag. It's available here for just £4.99!

Have you tried this foundation before?

xxx