Blush Beauty: May 2015

May Favourites

9:00:00 am

I'm sure I say this every single month without fail but I cannot believe that May is over. That means that my birthday is next month, that my exams are almost over, that I finish college for this year and that it's time for another favourites post. Last month I decided not to post a monthly favourites as there were not a lot of products that really jumped out to me though I have definitely made up for that this month.

Mac Mineralise Blush in 'Dainty' - This is a product that I have had in my collection for such a long time now and have especially been loving it this month. It gives off such a peachy glow to the cheeks which is spot on for Spring!

Mac Paint Pot in 'Painterly' - This is probably my favourite cream shadow for acting as a base. It works to cover any discolouration on the lids and prolongs the wear of your other shadows.

Topshop Glow Highlighter - I always seem to gravitate towards cream highlighters at this time of year, and this one is just lovely. I have recently written a review on this if you'd like to read about it in more detail (here), but have been applying a small amount onto the tops of my cheekbones and cupids bow lately.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara - Since I got my hands on this sample I have been using it non-stop! I have never used a high end mascara before but this one has made me want to rush to my nearest Boots and stock up, it's that good.

Soap and Glory Butter Yourself Moisture Lotion - I've never really been one for religiously using moisturiser (apart from on my face and neck) but this has totally gotten me hooked! It smells amazing, as do most of the products from Soap and Glory and I apply it whilst my skin is still damp and am left feeling silky smooth.

Soap and Glory Heel Genius - As summer is fast approaching I've been trying all sorts of creams in a bid to get my feet looking good in order to wear sandals. I apply this all over my feet, rub it in then pop on a pair of cotton socks and leave to do its magic.

What's been your favourite thing this month?

33 Comments

Beauty

Review: Loreal Nude Magique BB Cream

9:30:00 am

12 Comments

Beauty

Makeup Starter Kit - The Base

9:30:00 am

Some of you may have read my 'Makeup Starter Kit' post that I'd written a month or so ago, and may be wondering why I have another, but I thought that it would be a good idea to break my ideal starter kit down further into different categories (bases, cheeks, lips, etc.) to make it even easier for those starting out to build a makeup collection that they will get a lot of se out of. Today I'm going to focus on bases - primers, foundations, concealors and powder and let you know which ones I would have loved to have known about when I started out with makeup.

I know that people starting out with makeup may not want to splurge and tend to stick to drugstore products but there are so many great products that are slightly pricier that are definitely worth trying out if you don't mind spending that bit extra on. I also think that if your going to buy any high end products, then a good base products is a great place to start so have included a few that I love.

Primers:

Of course, primers aren't an absolute essential when applying makeup, and definitely weren't a product that I used when starting out with makeup, but if you do want to try out a primer here are a few that I'd recommend.

Maybelline 'Baby Skin' - I have actually heard of a lot of people who don't seem to get on with this primer, but I for one love it! If you don't mind a silicone, and almost gel-like texture, then this is a great one for minimising pores. Just apply this to the areas of your face which have larger, and more visible pores and wait a few minutes before applying foundation, and your good to go!

The Body Shop Instablur Primer - This is another primer that's great for minimising your pores. The texture is very strange though, thick and clumpy. Despite this, it does it's job very well and is easy to use.

Nivea Express Hydration Primer - This is a great primer for those with dry skin, and even though I have oily/combination skin I still use this on those days when my skin is looking a bit dull. I apply this all over the face and blend in using my fingers. It sits very well under makeup and doesn't leave me feeling oily at all throughout the day.

Foundations:

Revlon Colourstay Foundation - This is a great foundation to start out with as it comes in two different formulas - one for dry/normal skin and one for combination/oily skin. This foundation has 22 shades in the range so hopefully there is something for you! This gives off a medium coverage but can be built up if needed and is great for anyone with acne/acne scarring as it covers them really well. This is a long lasting foundation so a primer isn't necessary. (You can read my review on this here)

Loreal True Match Foundation - Unlike the Revlon Colourstay foundation, this is avery lightweight foundation but can still be built up to give off a medium-heavy coverage. This however is only made in one formula and is best suited for those with oily/combination skin as it leaves you with a semi-matte finish. I feel like this foundation is great for the summer time as it is just so comfortable to wear and doesn't feel the slightest bit heavy on the skin. (You can read my review on this here)

Loreal Nude Magique BB Cream - If your looking for a lighter base, but that has buildable coverage this is the one I'd recommend. This doesn't look cakey when built up and feels very weightless on the skin.

Concealors:

I do love a good concealor as I tend to get blemishes often and also use a concealor to brighten the under-eye area.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealor - This is my go-to concealor for under the eyes as it goes on very creamy and works to cover any dark circles (You can read my review on this here). It is easy to blend and lasts all day.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealor - This is a very affordable concealor and one that is perfect for concealing blemishes. It stays put through out the day which is something that is very important for me when it comes to concealor as there is nothing worse than having to reapply throughout the day.

Powders:

Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder - This is my favourite powder at the moment as it is a lovely match for my pale skin, keeps me looking shine-free all day long and comes in a very sleek compact with a mirror inside.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - I don't tend to use this powder very often nowadays but it is one that I used non-stop when I was starting out with makeup. This is great for anyone who has combination/oily skin as it does exactly what it's title suggests!

Rimmel Silky Loose Powder - If you prefer a loose powder then this is a great one to go with. It feels weightless on the skin and doesn't at all look cakey.

Let me know if you like this kind of post, I'd love to hear what you think! What were the base products that you used when starting out with makeup?

22 Comments

Beauty

My Holygrail Makeup Products

9:30:00 am

19 Comments

Review:Topshop Glow Highlighter

9:30:00 am

19 Comments

Beauty

Tips: Covering an Angry Spot!

9:00:00 am

Lately my skin has been acting out (which I've decided is the downside of falling back in love with Mac's Studio Fix Fluid) and have been frantically looking for the best ways to cover up those angry spots. I've read countless blog posts/articles, from 'how to get rid of spots asap!!' to 'the best skincare products for oily/acne prone skin' and have finally created a routine that works to minimise the look of spots, as well as any scarring that they've left behind.

1. Start by cleansing the skin (and exfoliating only if needed) - It's always best to start with fresh and clean skin so now is the time to use your regular cleanser, whether that be the 'wash off' kind or simply a micellar water.

2. Moisturise, concentrating on the dryer areas of your skin - Apply a moisturiser all over the face and leave to sink in for around ten minutes, even if you have oily skin. This not only leaves your skin feeling healthy and looking awake but works to create a good base for your makeup.

3. Apply a small amount of eye drops to the affected areas - This may sounds pretty bizarre, and, of course is optional but don't kick it until you've tried it. I was watching an old Youtube video from Sali Hughes where she mentioned that using a tiny amount of whatever over the counter eye drops you have lying around the house can reduce the redness of your spots. I was a bit dubious but since I had a bottle of Optrex in my stash I decided to give it a try, and believe it or not, it actually worked!

4. Layer your concealor - Yet another one of Sali Hughes' amazing tips. After applying your foundation, spot conceal then apply a very, very thin layer of powder. I find that a loose powder works best as it doesn't leave the skin looking cakey. I then go in with another layer of concealor, making sure not to apply too much and then powder. I usually do this two/three times or until the spot is nicely covered.

5. Avoid highlighting - This may be pretty obvious but I wanted to include this as a tip due to highlighting being such a popular step in most peoples makeup routines. Highlighting will draw more attention to the areas where it is applied so when having a particularly bad skin day it's best to step away from the highlighter.

Do you have any good tips for covering spots? Have you tried any of these tips?

14 Comments

Beauty

Review: An Affordable Neutral Eyeshadow Palette

9:30:00 am

28 Comments

Beauty

From the Drugstore: Mua Eyeshadow Trio

9:30:00 am

Lately I've been a little more skint that usual due to saving up for my upcoming holiday, so have had to resist the urge of buying high-end makeup for a while, but have definitely been making up for it by buying from the drugstore instead. The thing I love about the drugstore is that you get the chance to experiment with different products, be that formulas, colours, you name it! I've decided to start a series called 'from the drugstore' (I know! Not the most inventive name ever, but it's to the point right?) where I will feature budget products that I've picked up recently in a bid to expand my makeup collection, not only in size but through trying out different things.

To kick off this series I have decided to feature this eyeshadow trio by Mua, if this isn't purse friendly I don't know what is, so at £2.50 I couldn't say no! This particular trio is in the shade 'pink sorbet' and is right up my street, however I'm not usually one for picking up shadows that have a 'baked' formula. With Spring now here I thought these would be perfect for both day or night, depending on how you apply them. The shades in this trio however do not have individual names which is actually one of my pet peeves, but for £2.50 I can definitely get past that!

I have used these a few times since picking them up, and have to admit that I was surprised at how pigmented they actually were. As you can see from the swatches, they go on just as shimmery as they look in the pan and the colour is pretty opaque too. The middle shade in the trio, and the lightest of the three works brilliantly as an highlighter for the inner corner of the eye, although personally, I find that it's that bit too shimmery to use on the brow bone. The slightly darker pink shade works great as an all over the lid colour, and one that I can see myself wearing alone for a subtle wash of colour. The darkest shade is lovely to apply in the outer corner/outer v and could be used in the crease if wanted, however I prefer to wear more of a matte shade in my crease.

Overall I was very, very pleased with this trio by Mua. What more can you ask for, great pigmentation, lovely shades and an extremely affordable price. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for some of the other shades in this range.

Have any of you tried these before? What did you think?