Illamasqua Skin Base

Hey all

Today I'm feeling sorry for myself. I'm so hungover after an impromptu pint last night turned into a bit of drinking. Work today wasn't fun!

For me flawless skin is something I always want and being oily skinned, pale and freckly and having quite spotty skin lately it's not been easy to achieve. A fair few months back I picked up skin base on a whim. I'd heard good things and wanted to try a new foundation.

At first I didn't get on with it. I'm used to applying foundation with my expert face brush or buffing brush but couldn't get on with it. It was just looking streaky and not blending in. I asked on Twitter for advice and was recommended to try a beauty blender. That change it all for me. It gave such a flawless finish!

I picked up the shade 3.5. I did originally buy 4 and have been using it but I find it is a bit to yellow toned on my skin. 3.5 works better on my skin tone. I like that they just shrink wrap them now so you know it's not been used. It did come in a box and while I do like box make up I do think it's just a waste.

I like that the applicator is a squeezy tube so that you can control how much comes out, the tube is quite stiff so it's not easy to over squeeze and waste it.

Here my skin is quite red tones and spotty.

With just foundation all the redness has gone and the spots are well covered. I love the natural finish of skin base. It really does look like skin and flawless. I apply it with a beauty blender type sponge or a traditional foundation brush. It surprises me I like a traditional foundation brush but it really works with this. 

With full make up. I love the way it feels on the skin. It's not cakey, looks and feels natural and comfortable to wear. It's also buildable for nights out and photographs really well. Whenever I want flawless skin now I straight away reach for it and have already repurchased it which says a lot for me.

It's not the cheapest coming in at £27 for 30ml but it does last reasonably well. It's a firm favourite of mine now. I love the natural finish on it and the way it makes my skin look.

What's your go to foundation?

Love M

xxx

Ebay Beauty Blender Dupes

I'd seen so many reviews on the beauty blender and so many people saying it was amazing I just had to get one. Especially after I was having issues applying my Illamasqua skin base and a beauty blender sponge was recommended.

I'm someone who's always after a bargain and spending £10+ on what is essentially a sponge is something I couldn't do, especially after I'd heard they do need throwing away regularly as they don't wash well.

After being suggested ebay dupes I straight away ordered one. I have heard that the pink one's work the best and some of the others don't swell up in the same one so that's something to consider (sorry if it was you who suggested this on twitter I can't remember who it was now).

Dry and wet of the sponge I don't like. As you can see from comparing the leaf it's next too it's barely changed size.

I've since ordered two sponges from eBay and was disappointed to find one was amazing and one wasn't! Apparently all the ones from china aren't the same. Lesson learnt there.

The first one I got was amazing, super soft, swelled up well when wet, and was light and spongey. The second one didn't seem to swell when wet and feel tougher and stiffer. It makes it harder to apply to the skin and doesn't give quite an amazing finish.

Original sponge dry and the sponge I don't like wet

I love the shape of the sponge as it has a pointed end which is great for getting in around the nose and under the eye area.

The beauty blenders work when wet. Under the tap they should swell to almost double in size then you need to squeeze out all the water so it's just damp. Using the beauty blenders does mean that you use more product but for the flawless finish it gives I can forgive it.

Original sponge wet. You can see how much this one has grown when it's wet.

The big downside to using this type of sponge is the fact you can't really clean it. From the first time you use it, it will be stained. I've tried various different soaps and was it immediately after use and just can't get it clean. If you have any tips I'd love to know.

Though I have been using it for a month and I am yet to break out. Some people have found they have broken out using them but I always wash it after use with anti bacterial soap to help prevent this. It's still in good condition but I probably will throw it soon.

I'm so converted to these sponges and I don't mind that it uses more product as the finish it leaves is amazing. As they cost just over £1 delivered I don't mind if I have to throw it away every 6-8 weeks.

This is seller I bought the amazing one from in pink and was £1.03 (now reduced to 99p). This is the seller I bought the one from that didn't swell as well and wasn't as soft!. Both images look the same so beware if you switch sellers as the sponges may not always be the same. I'm hoping my first one wasn't a fluke.

Have you tried the beauty blender or the dupes? I'd love to compare the RT one to these.

Love M

xxx

Bourjois Radiance Reveal Healthy Mix Foundation

This is one foundation I've been wanting to try for ages. Due to having oily skin I didn't think it would suit my skin type even though it had received positive reviews from people with all different skin types. This was another of the prizes I won from Bourjois. I was so lucky and winning this prize has definitely made me want to try more Boujois products as I've loved all I've tried so far.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum and Foundation were both hugely popular foundation. Bourjois have now released the popular foundation as Radiance Reveal Healthy mix. As I've not used the others I can't comment on how it's different. 

Being someone with oily skin I usually find foundations that offer radiance too glittery or slide off my face really quickly. I found this foundation blended into my skin easily and left a flawless finish. The photo above shows no make up, just foundation and then a full face of make up. I have the shade 51 Light Vanilla.

The packaging is my favourite type. Glass bottle and a pump. I like glass bottles as I find they fill more luxurious and the pump means no messy top. 

What they say

16 hour radiance booster** Instant anti-fatigue result! Give your skin a boost of radiance with Bourjois’ Healthy Mix Serum Gel foundation with a vitamin-rich fruit therapy formula for an even complexion and an instant anti-fatigue result!

Give your skin a radiance boost and leave it looking flawless for up to 16 hours! Enriched with a fruit therapy formula; Apricot for radiance, Melon for hydration and Apple to protect your youth. It also contains crystalline pigments for an even complexion and healthy glow. Soft and easy to blend.

This foundation does really brighten my skin up and it looking so healthy. The fruit extracts also mean it has a really fresh scent.

This foundation gives a healthy glow to the skin without it appearing shiny or glittery. It has a really natural finish to it. I find it lasts all day on me. By the end of the day my spots need more concealer if I was going out but I find all my foundations do this.

I love the texture of this foundation. It's light on the skin but blends well and is is still pigmented. It doesn't go cakey on the skin either.

It's good for all skin types as it contains fruit extracts for hydration if you have dry skin. It's great to have a foundation that doesn't cling to the dry spots of my skin.

I'm so impressed with this foundation and I wish I had tried it sooner. It really deserves all the positive reviews it gets.

I'll definitely be repurchasing this one.

Love M

xxx

you can pick it up for £9.99 from boots!

My First Trip to MAC

This may be a little surprising for some but until last Wednesday I'd never tried any MAC make up, only the odd pigment borrowed from L for a night out. I'd been wanting a lipstick for ages, I've lusted over there colour range from afar for a while. You may have seen me wanting one in my February Wishlist.

My purchases, I couldn't resist

As we were going out for L's birthday on Saturday night we decided it would be a great excuse to have our make up done in MAC and for me to try products.

I've been very naughty with buying products! I'm addicted already, on Wednesday we popped to MAC to get colour matched as we knew we'd be tanned on Saturday so wanted to get colour matched to our natural colour. After having Pro Longwear foundation applied I just had to purchase it there and then. It felt so pretty on my skin and I was so impressed. I had to pick up the brush she applied it with as well. Probably a more unusual foundation brush as she applied it with 168. I will be doing a full review on this soon. I was matched with shade NW20 the palest they did NW. 

brush £26.00 pro longwear £22.50

On Saturday we both decided we didn't want smokey eyes and were going to do a dramatic lip. I decided to go for a bright pink. As flamingo was a limited addition I went with Chatterbox. A bright pink amplified creme lipstick. I also couldn't resist picking up Angel a nude pink frost lipstick. I love both these shades, the staying power of Chatterbox is impressive and it leaves a slight stain to the lips. There are already lots more lipsticks I want.

Lipsticks £13.50 each

I've been searching for a highlighter for a while, after seeing mineralize skin finish in soft and gentle I knew it would be a product I'd use a lot. I use it as an eyeshadow, to hightlight and it looks great over blush to add a pretty shimmer.

Skinfinish £21.50

I also picked up some eyelashes. I love them. I think I'm getting a pricey addiction. What do you think of my first buys? Any products you'd recommend?

Love M

xxx