MAKE UP | Top 5 powders

As someone who never used to bother with powder, I've built my collection up quite a bit over the past couple of weeks. I have combination skin - basically, my forehead and nose get very oily while the rest of my skin is normal and whenever I have a spot/blemish, the skin around that area gets extremely dry. It's a nightmare and powders tend to cling to the dry patches. However with my skin being oily in areas, powder is something that I do need. I've been loving powders recently - as you can probably see from this post - so I thought I'd share my top 5 with you.

CARGO Cosmetics HD Picture Perfect Translucent Powder* - £21.00

I would say that this powder is my favourite. The translucent powder feels weightless on the skin and creates a soft focus, naturally matte finish. It immediately blurs pores and imperfections giving you an even coverage. It contains micro encapsulated pigments which self-adjust to every skin tone meaning that one shade suits all. The packaging of this makes the loose powder extremely easy to use and it's a pleasure dusting this over my skin. My skin looks perfected, natural and semi-matte in an instant. I'm addicted.

Bourjois Java Rice Loose Powder - £9.99

For Boujois' 150th birthday they have re-released and reinvented their best selling cult classic from 1879. This powder is delicately scented and it feels feather-light on the skin. It aims to boost skin radiance and it does have fine shimmer particles contained within it. On first glance you do think you're going to look Twilight-esque but once dusted over the skin, the powder smooths the complexion and sets make up nicely.

bareMinerals ORIGINAL SPF 15 Foundation* - £25.00

Although technically this is a foundation, my skin is serverly blemished so I can only use this as a foundation on good skin days. I will be doing a full review of this because the coverage is decent and can be built up. However for this post, I'll be talking about this as a powder. My skin has been very bad recently so I've been buffing this on top of foundation to provide extra coverage. It gives me a naturally luminous finish that doesn't clump, cake or dry the skin out. It's silky soft to touch and leaves the skin looking flawless. As it's a mineral foundation, it's clinically proven to improve the appearance of your skin over time - I can't find fault with this.

Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Make Up Compact* - £24.00

I have done a full review with before/after comparison pictures of this foundation and you can find that here. The coverage of this is outstanding and it can be built up to almost medium/full. Like the bareMinerals one, this one is clinically proven to correct, prevent and interrupt your skin concerns. As this is a pressed mineral powder, it's very easy to use and this is the powder that I carry around with me on a day-to-day basis. It mops up oil without drying to skin out and when used lightly, adds a bit of extra coverage to the skin.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - £3.99

And finally, this powder has definitely done the blogger/YouTuber rounds and for the price, it's a lovely powder. It's lightweight, free of fragrance, oils, parabens and talc and leaves the skin completely matte. It doesn't add any coverage at all but it's nice to blot the skin down with. For the price, it's a bargain and something that everyone should have in their make up bags.

What are your favourite face powders? Have you tried any of the above before?
*PR Sample

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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.

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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

Favourite Drug Store Brand.. 17

When I was sorting out my make up collection, I couldn't help but notice that I have quite a lot of 17 make up products. And it got me thinking, I do actually love this brand! Whenever I'm in need of something new, I'll always check out 17 first to see what they have on offer. Also, I must apologise for the first picture, for some reason some 17 products don't like being photographed. And click on the links to see a post that I've wrote about the said product or to find out more information.

17 Va Va Voom Mascara - I'm a big, big fan of this mascara. You can see how volumising it is in my comparison post. It's really lovely and even adds a tiny bit of length. Oh and it doesn't clump up either.

17 Wild Curls Mascara - This mascara is now pretty much gone as I've had it a while but I still keep it because I love the brush for combing through the lashes after I've applied mascara. I remember this mascara being lovely when I used to use it as well, very volumising and curling.

17 Liquid Liner - You only have to see my post and blog posts to know how much I love this eye liner. It's literally changed everything for me and now because of it, I know how to apply eye liner. I cannot recommend it enough. It's easy to work with and lasts throughout the day without the need for a primer.

17 Ultimate Volume Lip Gloss - This is a nice lip gloss that isn't too sticky and lasts pretty well on the lips. It's very glowy and although I'm not a fan of this colour, I definitely want to try some other shades out.

17 Miracle Matte Foundation - My perfect every day foundation. I bought this because I realised that when it comes to every day, I can't keep using expensive high end foundations. And I'm really glad I did. It's medium-buildable coverage that lasts well on the skin and keeps my skin matte all day long.

17 Photo Flawless Skin Primer - The consistency reminds me of GOSH's primer which is lovely and velvety soft. It fills in pores and helps make up to last longer as well. Plus it's one of the cheapest on the market. 

17 Glam Rock Eye Palette - This isn't available any more as it was a limited edition product but it's very nice. The colours work well together and they're easily blendable and pigmented.

17 Pressed Powder - I love this powder! It helps to control shine and it also adds a little bit of extra coverage to the skin. I really want to try out the shine-control one as well but it never seems to be in stock.

17 Falsifeye Gel Eye Liner - This gel eye liner is what I use to fill in any gaps that I may have missed with my liquid liner as it's easy to control and use. The only problem is, the colour is an off-black colour and not very pigmented so you have to go over it a few times.

17 Instant Glow Bronzing Powder - One of the very few matte contour shades on the high street and it works very well. It isn't that pigmented which is great for me as I have light skin so it doesn't apply too much product to the skin. It's also free of any orange tones too.

17 Glitter Eye Shadow & 17 Solo Eye Shadow - Lovely eye shadows that are very pigmented; possibly the most pigmented on the high street. They're also very easy to blend and last well without a primer.

17 Hide Away Concealer - I bought this because Collection 2000 didn't have my shade in their Lasting Perfection concealer. It's not as full coverage as the Collection 2000 one but it is lovely. It's very creamy and doesn't dry up on the skin and it's great for underneath the eyes as well.

17 Hide & Chic Eye Brightening Concealer Pen - This concealer is pinky toned which means it's great for underneath the eyes to brighten the eye area up. I also love using it to counteract the redness around my nose.

17 Lasting Fix Nail Polish - The formula of these isn't that great. You do need about 3-4 coats and sometimes, it can apply streaky but the colours are absolutely beautiful.

I also took to the 17 stand when buying my mum's birthday present! What's your favourite high street make up brand? Do you love 17 as much as me?

xxx

Helping Blemished Skin: Part Four - Covering Up

If you have blemished skin you're going to want to cover your blemishes up. Below, I've explained the three most important products for doing this and also gave mini reviews of my favourites!

Foundation - Foundation is great for evening out your skin tone and making your skin appear flawless. If you have blemished skin you should choose a foundation that has medium/full coverage and one that is buildable and lasts all day. You also want a foundation that doesn't irritate the skin or break the skin out.
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H
I've only just recently bought this foundation but it's now my all-time favourite foundation. It's medium/full coverage that's easily buildable, blends well, lasts all day and provides hydration to the skin whilst keeping the skin shine-free.
Estee Lauder Double Wear
I've used this pretty much all my blemished skin life. It's full coverage and once it's on the skin and blended, it will not move. The only problem is that it takes a while to get used to and sometimes if applied wrong, can look cakey. But once you've gotten used to it, this foundation will become your best friend.
Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint*
This is actually a tinted moisturiser and not a foundation which may seem strange seeing as this is blemished skin series. But I do recommend this tinted moisturiser for blemished skin because it's very gentle on the skin and won't block your pores up. Wearing make up can sometimes irritate the skin and cause further breakouts but this doesn't. It may not give the best coverage but it gives a decent amount of coverage that can be built up to medium. And if you add concealer, everything will be covered!
Keromask Camouflage Cream*
The fullest coverage you can get. This 'foundation' is for people who have tattoos that they want to cover so it's ideal for people with blemished skin. I have scarring on my face and I can say that this foundation completely covers them and makes them magically disappear. It can be quite heavy and sometimes appear cakey but when used correctly and sparingly, it's a life saver.
MAC Studio Sculpt
I recently bought this on a blog sale and I've fell in love. It's a lovely foundation that's easy to blend and covers really well. I'd say it's medium coverage and definitely has to be used with a concealer. This is because it's hard to build the coverage up without it looking cakey on the skin. But one layer of this foundation is more than enough to cover spots.

Concealer - Concealer is used to add extra coverage to those nasty problem areas. I use concealer on my scars, spots and underneath my eyes. Most concealers are full coverage and ideally, people with blemished skin should be looking for one that lasts all day and doesn't highlight the problem areas.
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer
You've probably heard a lot about this concealer in the blogosphere; it's very well known and highly commended. And there's a good reason for that. It's cheap, full coverage and doesn't move once blended into the skin. I've tried a lot of concealers but this one is the best that I've used. It covers up everything - scars, spots, under eye circles. You name it, this will cover it.
No7 Quick Cover Concealer
This is a good concealer for those of you with very oily skin. It's a cream formula that dries to a powder and provides very good coverage. Although I do have it, I don't use it very often because I have combination skin and sometimes, it clings to my dry patches. But if you do have oily skin, I'd recommend it.
Sheer Cover Duo Concealer*
A very good mineral concealer that provides flawless coverage, is creamy and easy to blend. It's also from the brand Sheer Cover which is a mineral make up brand so it won't irritate the skin or block the pores and cause further breakouts.

Powder - Powder can be used to add extra coverage to the skin when needed, blot away shine and help make up last.
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
My favourite powder! I have this in the colour translucent as it adds no extra coverage. It doesn't make the skin look powedery or cakey and it blends into the skin like a dream. A light dusting of this ensures make up lasts all day and keeps shine at bay for around 6 hours. A true life saver that isn't expensive!
Sheer Cover Mineral Foundation*
This is a mineral foundation but I've put it in the powder category as for me, mineral foundation doesn't provide enough coverage. Mineral foundation is generally aimed at blemished skin and the coverage can be built up but for me, it's just not enough. This foundation is very good and I'd say it gives medium coverage once fully built up. It's easy to blend and it's great because it doesn't irritate the skin and it's even good for the skin. So good that you can actually sleep in it. But I personally use it to powder the skin after I've applied my foundation and concealer. I'll use this powder instead of the Rimmel one if I need further coverage as this provides it.

Part One - Introduction
Part Two - Getting into Routine
Part Three - Finding What Works

I hope this helps and if you have any further questions, please just ask me :)
xxx
*PR Sample