Beauty Rehab

Hey all!

Autumn is my absolute favourite month, the leaves changing colour and falling off the trees plus the cold crisp weather, I love it!

It's also a great time to get rid of the old stuff in your own life, so I've been using up as fast as I can. I might start Project Ten Pan soon to try and use some other products up, but I feel like it will take too long!

Maybelline Dream Satin Foundation

Hey All

This has been another hectic weekend for me. I was away in Bath for a friends hen do. It was a really good weekend but I was left disappointed by Bath Spa. I've wanted to go for such a long time but it was definitely very expensive for what you got. Scarily I've also now been taken off cake duty to be on official bridal and bridesmaid hair and make up. As someone who is totally self taught and only ever does my own face I'm nervous ha!

Anyway onto today's review. Just before I went to Iceland we went back to my parents for a weekend. Annoyingly I got home and realised that in trying to pack light for Iceland I'd only grabbed one foundation and it was a foundation that was currently about two shades too dark for me. This meant a rush into my local town (which is small ) to try and find a foundation. If I'd been in Cardiff I'd have just grabbed my old faithful Illamasqua skin base but as I was home this wasn't an option so grabbed two Maybelline ones and hoped they were ok.

If your around my age I'm sure you'll have tried dream matte mouse. When I was in school that was the bees knees of foundation. Add a thick layer of that bad boy and you had a 'perfect' skin! I was curious to see what the liquid was like. 

I picked up the dream satin liquid hoping it was different to it's mouse type sister. It comes in 8 shades with light porcelain being the lightest. I do feel like they could do with a shade lighter as it is border line for me. It comes in simple glass packaging with a pump. A pump always makes a foundation a winner for me.

The dream satin liquid felt nice and the hand and blended in easily to give a light coverage.Unless I'm on a night out now I prefer light coverage. I don't like my face to feel masked and if I have a spot I sort of think oh well I'm probably not covering that without a very heavy layer of make up, and to be honest I'm too lazy for that in the mornings (this comes from the girl who usually does her make up on the bus as that means I get 10 extra minutes in bed.

Bare skin

Just foundation

Finished and set with powder

The dream satin liquid claims to have an air whipped texture to give an airbrushed 100% pore less skin. I definitely don't agree with that. It doesn't emphasise my pores but it definitely doesn't make them disappear. It does give a nice medium natural coverage and the satin finish as promised. It was also a thicker than I expected but it does blend into the skin effortlessly I find it needs a few minutes to sit in the skin before you powder. It will cover the redness in my skin and spots if they aren't too bad.

Definitely not covering pores and does take a few minutes to settle or it looks shiny! 

I find it lasts enough to get me through a work day but would need topping up if I was out after work and wanted to look good.

For me it's a good everyday foundation but I do prefer bourjois to this if I was picking high street.

Have you tried either of these?

Do you have a preference?

Love M

xxx

My Everyday Make up Routine FOTD using Naked 3

Hey All

As you read this L and I will hopefully have arrived at Glastonbury and be in the queue. We will stop speaking about it soon but we are just sooooo excited to go to our first festival!

Today I wanted to share with you my everyday go to make up look. This is one I do if I have enough time to tackle the dreaded cat eye in the morning. I tend to go for the liner if I'm meeting someone or doing something after work. Please ignore my brows they were being grown out pre wax!

Since I got naked 3 I use it almost everyday. I wasn't sure about the pinky tones to it at first but I really love the way they look on my skin tone and think they'd suit many tones. They also have some amazing matte neutrals that are so easy to use everyday.

I tend to go with a matte crease colour then shimmer colours over the lid and deeper colour through my outer v. For this look I used limit and nooner mixed and blended out through the crease with a bit of dust and liar on the lid and the used factory and blackheart and add some darkness to the corner.

As always for me the gel liner is maybeline. I'm on my third little pot of it. I just can't find another to compare. For mascara it's my ever faithful maybeline colossal volume. Another old faithful! And on the brows is my eylure brow pencil. 

For skin I'm loving using Illamasqua skin base. It gives such a light flawless finish and lasts all day.     

The cheek combination is one I've not been able to find a better mix of. My Liz Earle healthy glow bronzer and Benefit dandelion blush. For highlighter I'm loving the one from the naked flushed palette as it's a bit better for day time than Mac MSF as it's less sparkly.                

For concealer I'm still loving my Nars Radient Creamy Concealer. It offers amazing coverage, lasts all day and my little tube is still going since before Christmas. I think it's running low now but seen as it gets used a lot I'm impressed it's last so long.

On the lips is Mac Brick o la. This is one of my favourite all time lipsticks. It's an amazing soft red and not so in your face if you don't want to wear a bright red to work (personally I love bright reds but I know some people find them OTT for work!). It is an amplifed formula so lasts really well and is opaque in one coat.

What are your everyday favourites? Do you get stuck in a make up rut? I'm definitely in one at the moment! I think I need to take my naked palettes off myself for a bit!

Love M

xxx

My Morning Routine

Morning All

For me the first thing I need in the morning is a cuppa! Boiling the kettle is the first thing I do before jumping in the shower! Nothing beats a cuppa, for me on the weekends getting a cuppa and going back to bed to drink it is the best thing! If I get up early enough during the week I do like to sit under the duvet drink my tea and catch up on twitter! Whilst in the shower I prep my face. At the moment I'm using my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. As soon as I get out of the shower I pop on my Balance Me Rich Moisturiser* and Bobbi Brown eye cream.

At the moment I'm enjoying less is more make up and not using foundation everyday. I prefer my skin to have a chance to breath if I'm not looking to red. I tend to chose extra time in bed over make up for work!! Beauty sleep/looking good for work! For me it's a simple choice.

If I do use foundation at the moment I'm loving the Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam. It feels so light on the skin and doesn't masque my skin but just evens the skin tone. I then finish with Liz Earle bronzer to contour and Dandelion Blush (seriously still loving this combination 18 months since I first got it!)

For the eyes it's usually a quick sweep of YDK over the lid and then I like to use a purple, brown or green liner to adfd some definition without it being as bold as black. Then onto a quick sweep of mascara. I love Lancome Hypnose Drama as it's done in one coat!

Brows are all about gimme brow at the moment! I love how quick it is. I thought it would run out quickly but it's still going strong at the moment with everyday use!

Time for a quick sip of tea and get dressed before making lunch for work then I'm running out the door as I'm usually late by this point. No matter what time I get up the last 5 minutes are always a rush!

Are you a take your time in the morning gal or rush, grab and go?

Love M

xxx

Wish List

Morning All

I feel like it's been a while since I've done a wishlist so I thought I'd share a few things I'm eyeing up! I'm loving H and M at the moment but rather disappointingly it seems the stuff I want is all online and not in store!

I love these wedges. I love the black against the dark wood and when on the model they look like they really lengthen the legs!

These skirts come in at a bargain £3.99 and come in three colours but aren't in store annoyingly. When things are cheap I like to try them on and see them in person! 

I'm currently obsessed with patterns and really want to find a pattern trouser that looks good on pear shapes! I love the monochrome pattern on these! 

When L and I were shopping on Sunday I had these on for about 5 minutes! It pained me to put them back on the shelf. They are the perfect court and seemed so comfy! New look is usually my go to for shoes! 

I really want a kimono! I think they are great for over bikinis and look cute with jeans and a tee! I'm obsessed with this blue colour and the print is amazing! 

I've recently lost my favourite sunglasses and I need to replace them. I love the slightly pointed edge to these and the cream colour isn't something I'd normally pick! 

Ooops more pattern, you can see a theme here! I really want these for holidays. I think they'd be so comfy for the plain and then look great with wedges and a crop top! I love the blue, red and grey together! 

I'm obsessed with this Pandora ring. I've wanted it for about 2 years now. I love how it's hearts but not obvious at first. I will buy myself this one day! 

I love the look of this, something to make eye liner quicker in the morning is always wanted! AT £8.99 it's cheaper than the benefit one! 

So that's a few bits I'm lusting over! What's on your wishlist?

Love M

xxx

Beauty Rehab

Good morning!

Another Beauty rehab update for you today. I've been ploughing through my stash and moving it around a lot to try and make space and encourage me to use more. It's a long and slow process but I've got into a sort of routine now and clearing things out regularly is a must do as there are always things you can give away and make more space,which is something I could definitely do with!

Origins Ginzing Eye Cream: Loved this and the pinky tone which is lovely, sad to finish it but have a sample one to use.
China Glaze Pool Party: One of my faves which was unfortunately not closed after its last use...its hard as a rock! Gutted, will repurchase in future.
Origins Drink Up Intensive mask: Love this, still have sample sizes from Christmas sets to keep me going.

Bourjois Happy Light Matte Primer: This wasn't bad but for the price and size totally not worth it. I'd easily use one in a few small weeks and i find Revlon to be better
Vichy Dermablend: Super fave foundation, already repurchased 100% recommend.
MAC Studio Fix Fluid: Love this though I hate the smell, good coverage and thick enough to cover serious blemishes.
Benefit Hello Flawless: I can't make up my mind on this one, I love the brightening dewy effect it gives but it doesn't last long enough for me whatever primer i use.

NSpa Hot Cloth Polish: This was a great alternative to Liz Earle's original one and I'd definitely purchase this as it is very similar for a much smaller price.
Liz Earle Skin Tonic: This surprised me how much I liked the routine and the smell of the toner but to be honest I don't feel like it did a lot for me, but I'm not a toner lover anyway,
St Tropez Bronzing Mousse: Love this, hate the price but you get what you pay for! Love the colour and it lasts, already repurchased.

Batiste Dry Shampoo: Love this, have a stock ALWAYS
Ojon Revitalizing Mist: Helps to condition hair and detangle it but I don't think its worth the price tag, there are cheaper alternatives in my opinion.
S&G Clean On Me: Absolute mammoth size shower gel, gorgeous smell and lasts a lifetime. I always feel like its an accomplishment to finish it! And I always seem to have another in the sidelines...

Collection Illuminating Concealer: Wasn't a huge fan, much prefer the Lasting Perfection one as its a lot thicker and I prefer the wand.
S&G Thick and Fast Mascara: Massive brush that reaches every lash, good for the price and even better when you get it in the Christmas set every year!
Revlon PhotoReady concealer: Loved how easy this was to apply, just draw onto your face! Blends easily and covers everything.

Powders are a it of a thing for me obviously!

Bourjois Mineral Powder: Contains a sponge for portable travel but i wasn't a fan and the smell was a little off putting (very powdery and old woman like!)
Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder: Loved this, first time I've used a loose powder and I'd definitely repurchase.
Maybelline Dream Matte Powder: Didn't finish this as it became coated after use and to be honest it wasn't good enough for me to try and scrape the top off and try again.

So there you have, this was what I managed to use up and get rid of this month.

What have you been using up? Do you agree with my views on some of these products?

L xxx

Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express Mascara 100% Black

Morning All

I'm currently very tired post gig last night. I'm regretting changing my day off but I'm sure a 5 day weekend is better than having today off.

This is a review I've been meaning to write for a while. I've mentioned this mascara in numerous posts on the blog and it's been a firm high street favourite of mine for almost 6 years!

It's the Maybelline Colossal Volume in 100% black. I'm a mascara junkie. I love the stuff and I'm always after the next amazing mascara for full volume lashes and love trying new ones. I always come back to Colossal Volume though.

I love the bright yellow packaging. It means it stands out easily in my ridiculously large stash of make up. The big bristle brush is my favourite type of brush. I prefer these as I find they grab onto the lashes and sseparate better. I find I love this mascara from the get go. It's not one of those you need to leave open for a week. It also doesn't dry up and the brush doesn't get overloaded with product so you aren't left with clumpy lashes. It lasts all day and doesn't flake off leaving panda eyes!

My bare lashes

With one coat my lashes have natural volume, good separation and look black.

With two coats the volume starts to build up without clumping so my lashes look thicker. It adds some length and curl but on my lashes this mascara is best for volume. I do normally curl my lashes but for mascara reviews I don't so you can see the full effect.

With three coats the lashes get thicker and still stay clump free.

I personally find four coats is the maximum my lashes can have. It leaves them with full volume and clump free. It's quite a dramatic look but I love my mascara like this. I find anymore coats and the separation is lost.

I've recommended this mascara to so many people and most have fallen in love too. It really will always be a firm favourite for me. Have you tried it?

Love M

xxx

Maybelline The Eraser Eye Perfect and Cover Concealer

Evening All

It's hump day finally! It's feeling like a long week for me. I'm just chilling out post gym and very achy already. I dread waking up in the morning for the pain.

A while back when boots had 3 for 2 on I needed to pick up a few bits. The third thing I wasn't sure what to get so when I saw the Eraser Eye Perfect and Cover concealer I decided to give it a try. I'd heard a few good reviews

I was intrigued by the instant anti-age claim as I was hoping this would help prevent under eye creasing. The concealer comes in 6 shades with different tones. Annoyingly my store only had 3 so I settled for the shade light which to be honest is too dark for me for a concealer and too yellow toned.

The applicator is a soft sponge. Which although it's not the most hygienic it is aimed for the aims so isn't going to be getting as much bacteria as concealer used on spots. I do find product is wasted a little though. 

One thing I really love about this concealer is how light it feels on the skin and how easy it is to blend in. It feels almost air whipped on the skin and not at all cakey but still provides great coverage.

bare skin

where I apply the concealer

fully blended

with full make up

I do think even though I prefer concealer to be a bit lighter (I should probably try fair) it does blend really well under the eyes and doesn't settle.

I can't put my finger on it but there is something I don't like about it. I think it's the yellow tone. As something that is targeted for under eyes to have yellow tone doesn't seem right as peach or pink is usually used for dark circles and to brighten but maybe that's my personal opinion.

I like this concealer but it won't be a repurchase for me. I find the applicator a little pointless, it's soft but I still have to use my finger to blend and it's just not as good as other concealers I have. It does crease on me after a few hours. I find most concealers do but as this is aimed to be instant anti-age it disappointed me.

If you are after a lightweight feeling concealer this may be one for you to try.

Love M

xxx