Wednesday 13 May 2015

My Currently Coveted: Foundation

Hello Again,

Most of us have a holy grail product somewhere within our collection, Bases are my favourite product to read about, to apply and generally ask people what foundation/similar product are they wearing. To cut a long story short, I am obsessed!

The coveted foundation that I am reaching for at the moment is Estee Lauder Double Wear, especially within the winter months. I am aware there are some true die hard Double Wear fans and some people who are not so impressed.

The foundation comes in a jaw dropping 31 shades (I hope this is correct, please do not lynch me if it isn't.) Estee Lauder cater to the palest of skin tones right up to my gorgeous dark beauties, this is really important to me because although I am pale a lot of my friends are darker than I. One friend in particular is of Kenyan origin and has the most beautiful clear skin, but complains that it is difficult to find a match that doesn't make her skin look ashen and sallow.

EL claim that it has 15 hours wear time, so I thought I was the best person to test drive this. As you may know I work 12 hour shifts, and my foundation normally slides off my face during the day. Double Wear did not disappoint me, I applied it before going to work with the rest of my makeup typically applying a setting powder and off I went. At Midday is when I normally see my foundation starting to fail on me, but I was surprised to see DW had not budged. By the end of my shift, my blusher had started to wear off but the foundation was still where it needed to be.

So it does not budge, it does not transfer or smudge. Delivers a medium but buildable coverage and has SPF 10. In consistency it is surprisingly runny, but do not let this put you off its coverage is medium - full with a semi matte finish, although I felt it was fully matte.



The biggest problem I have/had with this foundation is that it does not come with a pump, now I have searched everywhere online to see if it ever had a pump, it appears not. EL do not seem to even sell a pump separately which is a nuisance, but I got one on Ebay for approx. £3.

I got colour matched at the EL counter who colour matched me to two shades, when I am not tanned I was matched to 1C1 Cool Bone and with a small coating of fake tan I am 1N2 Ecru.


Please excuse the swatch I am not tanned at the moment.

If you want a medium - full coverage foundation, that feels super light on the skin then Double Wear could be for you. Retailing at approx. £28.50, its not the cheapest foundation but I feel it is worth it if like me in the cooler months you feel you require some extra coverage.

Let me know what your coveted foundation/base products are, I would love to know your feelings.

Thanks again for reading.

Natalie x

Saturday 2 May 2015

MIA

Where have I been?

Hello again my friends, I have again been MIA. I do not want to give any excuses but I have been extremely busy with my full time job. I have been jumping through appropriate hoops to prove myself and worth in my job, and have succeeded in gaining a course which will help me in my career.

I hope you have all been well, stay tuned for reviews, hauls and chit chat.

Natalie xx

Sunday 16 November 2014

Where have I been

I have been away again, I know my attendance has been poor. I have been poorly, had a small spell in hospital and then at home.

So I felt I had no energy to even think, but now I am fighting fit again so I thought lets get back to business!

So being under the weather I managed to do some reading, I like to switch between my kindle and paperbacks. Because I like to feel the books I am enjoy the most, so classic literature I like to buy in paperback/hardback, and if its a read I don't rate so highly that's when I will use my kindle.



When I go to my uni sessions I always get there a bit early, I always like to see what I can find. I have read on other blogs about Makeup Revolution as being a great budget brand, offering products that contend with higher priced highstreet products.



I picked up two products from Makeup Revolution in Superdrug. Ultra bronze, shimmer and highlight is the first, I initially saw this and thought this would be a run of the mill budget bronzer. I then thought the highlighter third of powder was not glittery, and more shimmery, In the basket it goes and a £4 its a bargain!!

The beautiful blush palette is just what I needed. The blush and contour palette in sugar and spice hue is 8 different blush colours and x2 being a baked blush and a baked highlight. £6 is an absolute steal, and they are highly pigmented........you may need a delicate hand with some of the darker shades!! Take this from someone who made the heavy handed mistake......I really did have a giggle!!

Thank you again for reading x

Monday 6 October 2014

Whats on My Lips - Everyday #1

I am obsessed with lipstick, which is like most beauty bloggers. So I thought I would start a little mini series on my blog, about my most used lip products for each occasion.

Today I am going to be covering what I wear day to day, whether I am working or I am just having a casual kind of day these are my top picks.

This is going to be a picture heavy post so I apologize now.


These are the 6 which grace my lips most days depending on which bag they are hiding in.




Introducing Lasting Finish by Kate Moss for Rimmel in shade 28, so this year during July I was in Belfast. I thought I had packed a nude day to day lip shade, panicked ran to boots and purchased this little gem. Its not nude it's a sugary pink which is fine by me, it saw me right in my need of a casual lipstick, Hurrah!




I was annoyed with myself when I bought this!! I went into Boots (I am addicted to boots if you couldn't tell!) to purchase a lip product that was a bit more daring, to get me out of my comfort zone! And I walked out with this, I could have kicked my own ass. I went for my generic cutesy pink lipstick generic cutesy pink is my comfort blanket. But saying that I use this everyday at work as it is so moisturising and sheer, meaning I don't need a mirror to reapply. WIN.





There had to be a Mac Lipstick in here somewhere, Crème Cup is my favourite nude/pink lipstick ever! Until I get a gorgeous Chanel maybe. Described by Mac as a blue toned pink, I don't disagree but I think that Snob is a bright blue toned pink, Crème Cup is in my opinion a pastel blue tone pink. Wearable, subtle and classic.








Clinique is a brand to me that doesn't get my ear pricked. I was bought this in a gift set, and doesn't get the use it should. I use it most days just because of it balmy consistency. Mighty Mimosa is a sheer inoffensive shade, I neither love it or hate it. I feel quite meeeeh about it.



 


I purchased this because I wanted a go to nude, until last month it actually had not been used. Once I slicked it on I wondered why I had not used it!? Its moisturising, its nude and smells awesome. I think because it was not my usual candy pinks it scared me a little (I know I am a serious wimp!!). In the way of nudes it does lean to the pinker side but hey whats new there!?




Last but not least, is my Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Bashful. I used to own the original Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss which tingle your lips......Whatever happened to that!? If anyone knows please update me on this I NEED IT IN MY LIFE. Anyway I don't think this makes my lips look any fuller, but the formulation is so moisturising I don't mind. You can tell by the grotty state of the packaging that this gets a fair good used, so please don't judge lol. This is what I used when on those "I can't be bothered but want to look fairly respectable days"

That's all today then, if you liked the post let me know. Also if anyone is aware that the original Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipgloss is still available drop me a comment!!


Saturday 4 October 2014

The Boy Did Good

I have been working super long hours this week, as well as training in London, a close friends funeral, and continuing study at university. So have not had a brilliant time, during which I have not seen Chris for more than an hour.

Chris took it upon himself to pick me up a few bits and as the title explains: The Boy Did Good.


He has bought me a makeup bag from Zoella's beauty line, Chris knows how much I love Guinea Pigs and animals for that matter. The bag is big enough to put all my cosmetics and more in. I am a very happy bunny.


While getting me the cutesy cosmetics bag, he noticed that customers had also bought this Urban Decay Makeup Setting Spray because it had some good reviews. 


  
He went to Mac.......MAC! He has never ever gone into Mac unless being caveman dragged by yours truly, so he went replaced my MSF in Medium Deep which I use for my bronzer.

So the boy did good, happy with my little treats he is such a cutey.

My September Favourites

I am writing this and it looks where I live is about to have a huge downpour, so where's better to blog than from my comfy living room!?
 
So maybe this is a little bit late for my September favourites, my most used products etc. You guys are not new to "Favourites Posts" so I do not need to go to much into it.

               *Warning! Picture Heavy* *Sorry*


So first up are this six gorgeous products which have saved my face and hair during September.


I know this lipstick may look a little used and maybe a little gross......But its one of my most favoured lipsticks, Its bright enough to make me look primped and chic, but subtle enough to make me look I haven't tried to hard. It last for approx. 3 - 4 hours on the lips without being too drying.


I love you Snob!! I have pretty much used this every work day this month and have been complimented while wearing it.

I have commented on Benefits Oxygen Wow Foundation before, but I have worn this everyday and I mean EVERYDAY! Its like a second skin I am in love. As well as Oxygen Wow I haven't been able to stop using Benefits Gimme Brow.......I have defined eyebrows, you do not understand how happy I am about this......like ecstatic eeek.


This is a hair tie and I am excited about a hair tie. These are awesome, keeps my hair in place for a full 13 hour shift no having to re-adjust. Doesn't give me a headache because of tying my hair too tight. Not much more I can say really.


Uniq One All in One Hair Treatment is next, this allows me to put a brush through my hair when its wet, if I did not use this it would take me 5-8 minutes to brush it through (I have timed this I am science geek need I say more!!) and some serious pain with some choice words thrown in. Smells like coconuts and transports me to an exotic tropical island.


Last but not least, two nail colours which have made me feel Christmassy, if that's even a word. The gorgeous wine red is aptly name Bordeaux which I picked up in the Ravishingly Rouge Essie Duo, Which I have been pairing with the festive golden Beyond Cozy.....What a duo nearly as great as Meredith Grey and Christina Yang in Grey's Anatomy (sorry I am addicted).

 Before I finish I just wanted to say Thank You to all my new followers on BlogLovin, hope you all have enjoyed reading.

Sunday 28 September 2014

Where It All Began



Mac is where it all began, the obsession with cosmetics and beauty products began in this little shop of variety, colour and endless possibilities.

Truthfully it all began when I was 13 or 14, I spent most weekends with my then current closest friend going into the local towns into shops like Superdrug and Boots. It was at a party her parents were hosting, her cousin was probably 21 at the time and looked flawless. I asked her what makeup she used and could she give me tips, one word came out of her mouth MAC, it has been a downward spiral from here.

Annoyingly I cannot remember what my first product was, although I think it was gloss in pink lemonade. I would save all my money up, to buy other little glorious products.


Even now some years later I still get the excited feeling as I walk into a any Mac store, and also get insanely jealous if one of my friend has a haul from Mac. My favourite products have to be the eyeshadows they are so lovely, velvety and pigmented.

Makeup isn't only what they offer, I got such a thoughtful birthday present this year. Chris decided to buy me a makeup session so I could have a new look but having the money of the session in products eeeeeekkkkkkkkk this was such an awesome gift!!

I know how Mac is so popular, and hoped I haven't bored anyone with my little trip down memory lane.

What was your first cosmetic product and fave brand?

P.S. I Love Mac......if you hadn't noticed