June Favourites

• MaxFactor Second Skin Foundation - For days when I want slightly more coverage than a tinted moisturiser this does the job perfectly.  It evens my skin out with a dewy finish but my freckles are still visible - perfect for when I don't want to look too made up.

• Elf mineral foundation - Perfect for setting my make up in this weather and giving some coverage at the same time.  Be warned though - even the lightest shade is still pretty dark..

• The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Blusher Kabuki - I bought this last Summer and have literally used it every day since.  I use it for powder and honestly don't know what I'd do without it.  It is probably the softest brush I own and it just buffs in powder beautifully.  The best part?  I got it for a steal off eBay..

• Barry M 147 Lipstick - I am honestly in love with this colour!  I was so distraught that I lost it last weekend after one too many vodkas that I rushed out and bought two...as you do!  It is a perfect peachy-corally-pink and looks as good on the cheeks as it does on the lips.  It is however, like it's 101 sister, extremely drying and always needs a lip balm under.

• MAC Hush CCB & Sonia Kashuk Flat Top Brush  - These two work so well together - the brush picks up the perfect amount of product and allows it to be buffed all the way along the cheekbone for a gorgeous dewy finish.

• BB Creamy Concealer - Heavy duty enough to cover my dark circles but doesn't cake or collect in fine lines.  When set with the powder provided it stays put all day and makes my eye area look bright and awake even when all I want to do is crawl back into bed!

• Bourjois Liner Effect Mascara - If you've followed my blog for a while you'll know I gave this a pretty negative review a while ago.  However, I have to say sorry to Bourjois and admit I now love it.  I guess it has dried up a little and it is now the perfect consistency to work with.  Yes, the brush is still fiddly but when I have the time and patience, it can result in the most amazingly lengthy lashes.  Its not perfect, but pretty damned near :)  

And finally...

Decorated coral toe nails - I refuse to leave the house in Summer without my feet looking their bestest!  And this has been my design of choice so far this year.... simple but effective!  

The shoes?? KG and beautiful but they are the DEVIL - no pain, no gain I guess?!!

Out and about this week - Clothes, Make up, Hair & Nails

Dress: Camden Market

Belt: ASOS

It has been so beautifully hot this week that I have spent most of my time in the garden but when needs must and I've had to pop out, I've chosen this dress a fair few times.  It's far too hot to be faffing about with multiple items of clothing so I've just thrown this on, belted up and gone about my business!  The make up has been super-natural - Nivea young tinted moisturiser; any mascara and a clear gloss.

Nivea Young Tinted Moisturiser

L'oreal Studio Secrets HD Smoothing Foundation

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer

ELF Mineral Foundation - to set

No 7 Mosaic Bronzer - to contour

MAC Hush Cream Colour Base - highlight

No 7 Pink Petal Blush

MAC Bare Canvas Paint - all over lid

Zara black eyeshadow - in crease & outer third

No 7 grey/silver - blended into black 

ELF Medium Eyebrow Kit

Prestige Silk Lipliner

Barry M 147 Lip paint

Jemma Kidd Shell Lipgloss

Earrings: Accessorize

Hair: Styled as in my hair routine

A bit more glam for a night on the town!  I did nearly die from the heat when getting ready though - 28 degree weather + hair dryer + curling tongs = a melted George ...!

Nails of the week: OPI - Got a date to-knight

I really cannot fault this polish - gorgeous wearable pink, applies very smoothly and this photo is after 5 days of wear.  One of my faves for sure!!

Foundation Ramble & Favourites

This post started life as the 2nd of my '5 Favourites' series... However, I soon realised that I actually don't LOVE any of the foundations I own or have tried.  I am still very much on the quest to find that one foundation that does everything I want it to....

• Even out my skin tone
• Help to conceal redness around my nose and on my cheeks (to be then topped up with concealer if needed)
• Leave me with dewy, healthy, fresh looking skin (My skin is pretty much 'normal' but slightly on the dry side)
• Look fresh all day - with only the occasional sweep of powder needed

Not too much to ask for is it?! 

The reality is that my skin is OK and in the last few months I have wanted to use this to my advantage.  I therefore now look for a more natural, dewy looking foundation whereas before I aspired to a matte look.  It is this change of heart which means I am now lemming Bobbi Brown Skin, NARS Sheer Glow and Chanel Pro or Vital Lumiere.  I have always been a bit wary of buying high end foundations as the few times I have, I have always been colour matched wrongly or hated the product after a day.  However now I feel more comfortable in my product knowledge and colouring I think I need to take the plunge.  I am hoping to get a few samples next time I am in Selfridges to see how they wear on my skin - I really do not want to throw £30 down the drain!

So for the moment, I can't really say I have five foundations that I really love or would highly recommend.  I have however used a few in the past that if push came to shove, I would happily use...

In no particular order:

MaxFactor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation

This is the foundation that I am currently using and it has featured in my FOTD posts.  I did really like and I have purchased it a few times but I have recently changed my mind and I'm not so crazy about it anymore.

It is a solid foundation which turns to a liquid on contact with your skin and dries matte.  I apply this with a sponge and I would say it gives a light to medium buildable coverage which is what I like.

I am however finding it now slightly too matte for me and it also works out very expensive at £11.99 for only  11.5g which with every day use, only lasts a month or so..

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup

This was the first high end foundation I purchased and I still remember the thrill of sitting on the stool getting myself colour matched!  However, back then I didn't know to check in natural light first and was pretty upset when I got home, tried it out and realised how orange I looked.  I should, with hindsight, have taken it back but I decided to stick with it.  After a little fake tannage it looked OK and I actually really liked the finish.  It keeps you matte in your t-zone and hydrated in any dry areas.  I would repurchase this I think but get in the right colour..!

Ruby & Millie Sheer Base

I first really started experimenting with make up when I had about 20 of the Boots £5 No 7 and Ruby & Millie vouchers a few years ago.  I picked this up one day and used it for months.  It is a pump action brush-on foundation and gives a very light coverage, perfect for day time.  It does need a slight setting with powder on the t-zone but gives the cheeks a lovely glow.

L'oreal Studio Secrets HD Smoothing Foundation

Perhaps my favourite of this selection.  Another brush on foundation which provides a medium coverage.  It does leave me looking dewy but perhaps TOO dewy?  If my skin was slightly drier this would be HG material.  However, as it is, I still need to powder over the top.

Honourable Mentions

• Revlon Colorstay - Of course, a somewhat cult product.  I don't mind this for evenings when I want a serious heavy duty foundation but for the most part I have to mix this with tinted moisturiser as I really am not a fan of the heavy matte look it provides.  It is OK, but I don't love it.

• ELF Mineral Powder Foundation - I like this to set my foundation on nights out or over tinted moisturiser in the day for no-make-up-make-up-days.  I'm not sure it really gives any coverage though and the lightest colour only looks right on me when I have serious fake tan on.  I like it though for my first try of mineral make up.

I really feel like no matter how great your eye make up is or how pretty your lipstick is, your base needs to be as flawless as possible.  Foundation is therefore the one product I would spend the most on and invest the most time researching.  I am very fickle though and get bored and like choice.  Even if I found a HG product, I'd still probably search for a better one...!  I also hate shopping for it - the potential of getting the wrong colour and also needing one for when tanned; pale; in between - arrrggghh the drama ..!

I love how my skin looks here but I can't for the life of me remember what I had on - always the way!

What are your HG foundations and have you tried the NARS, Chanel or BB?

xxx

Yesterday

The Outfit

Top: River Island

Belt: ASOS

Jeans: Crafted at Republic

The Hair

Curled the same as in my hair routine.  I decided to go sans hair extensions - this warm weather makes me want to embrace the natural side of things!

The make up

MaxFactor Miracle Touch Foundation - 45 Warm Almond

GOSH Touch Up Concealer - 2

No 7 Creme Touch Face Powder - Translucent - Lightly on t-zone

Prestige Glam Tan 

MAC Paint - Bare Canvas - All over the lip

MAC Eyeshadow - Tempting - Outer third of lid; Lower lash line

Bourjois Clubbing Mascara

ELF Eyebrow Kit - Medium

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss - Peach Petal

Click on photos for a more detailed view xxx

Quick FOTD

Hola bloggers!

Just a very quick FOTD for you, using a new foundation which I purchased on a whim from Boots the other day from Collection 2000 for a mere £3.99 (details below).  I have to say, it performs very well and has put my faith back into drugstore foundations after falling out of love with Colorstay.

Collection 2000 Naturally Radiant Foundation (Natural Beige) mixed 50/50 with Olay Complete Care Multi-radiance moisturiser

GOSH Touch Up concealer (2) under eyes

No 7 Mosaic Bronzer to contour

Revlon Skinlights to highlight

L'oreal True Match (Rose Beige) to set t-zone

ELF Eyebrow Kit (Medium)

MAC Next to Nothing all over eye lid

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Waterproof Mascara

GOSH Darling

Sleek navy eyeshadow (Storm palette) smudged along lower lash line

MOR Lip Delight - Passionflower

Any questions about the products I used?  Let me know in the comments!

xxx