I thought I’d follow on from yesterday’s review with a light foundation that I actually love.

MAC Face & Body Foundation.

Now no one is as shocked about this than I. MAC and I have never really seen eye to eye when it comes to bases. Studio Fix breaks me out, Select didn’t last the day and Studio Sculpt stank. I’d all but given up until I saw numerous raves for Face & Body. I was particularly interested as I knew it could be used successfully on legs (hence the product name…) too.

I ordered blind off their website, N2, and as luck would have it it’s an excellent match for me.

Now this is a light foundation, and I mean light. It’s extremely runny and you won’t want to overload your brush/ or fingers as I’ve had a few drip accidents already and this stains.

When I first applied it I wasn’t convinced that it would offer enough coverage, and let’s be honest here, it doesn’t but what it DOES do is even skin tone beautifully with the tiniest amount of product. So if you hate that heavy foundation feeling and want a “my skin but better look” then this is going to be for you.

Application on bare face. Zero eyebrows, mascara, concealer. Just the foundation. Photos are taken in direct natural sunlight.

Before

Note the areas of uneven tone. Nose, sides of mouth, under eyes.

One light layer of MAC Face & Body later….

After

I hope you’ll agree that for VERY little product there is a substantial improvement in skin tone. Especially considering I haven’t even went in with concealer here.

Up close.

It takes the look off my blemishes without caking and the overall finish is youthful with a subtle glow. It’s my daily go to foundation these days which I find astounding, considering it was previously Estee Lauder Double Wear! I think my skin is relieved that I’ve found something I love right at the other end of the spectrum!

If you fancy it yourself it’ll set you back £22 for a 120ml bottle. Not cheap but I feel you’re getting quantity as well as quality for those pounds.

What do you think? Tried this one yourself yet?

xo

We all know it makes sense don’t we? Yet for some reason when we see that new MAC Collection pop up online we can’t help ordering somewhat blind.

Recently I’ve really wised up and put the foot down. I dread to think of the hundreds (maybe thousands eeek) I’ve wasted on make-up that I thought looked gorgeous on a computer monitor/ in a bottle/ on a sticker!?!  but of course is actually completely different IRL.

I’ve no one to blame but myself. Testers are everywhere. Granted some of the high end counters can be “funny” (and no, not in the haha way) about giving them out. However I’ve come to the conclusion that if a sales assistant truly believes the product is as good as she is claiming, then she won’t blink twice at giving you a sample. After all, logically you’ll be back to purchase the full size bottle/ shadow/ cream etc.

This has worked really well for me recently. Estee Lauder in particular displayed excellent customer service by refusing to foundation match me on a dull day under artificial lights in Debenhams, Belfast. Instead she gave me generous samples of both the shades she felt I would fall into and told me to “try them, and see how they wear for you in the next few days”I did exactly that, and went back just under a week later and bought the full size from her. Now that’s smart business.

The other place where you can perhaps “try before you buy” a little more freely is of course your local Boots/ Superdrug. Not all of them provide wipes to remove said testers from the back of your hands tho, so my advice is to carry a travel size pack in your handbag.

I can spend over an hour in my local Superdrug and I don’t have any pushy MA looking over my shoulder, trying to force a sale. I swatch and wipe, swatch and wipe. If I try something I like, I leave the store, go do something else (….shopping!!) and then re-evaluate an hour or so later. Does the colour still look good? Has it worn off? Is it creasing? A lot of the times it will look rubbish and I’ll have saved myself £5 – £12 ish. Not to be sniffed at in the current economic climate!

The most recent example of victory for the “try before you buy” thinking was yesterday. GOSH cosmetics have a whole new smokey collection in Superdrug. Part of which is the stunning “Night Passion” Nail Polish you see below. Look how sumptiously gothic and rich it is in the bottle…..

Now look at my thumb nail…. not so beautifully black and beautiful looking is it? Granted the glitter shavings are lovely, and they really do catch the light. However the polish formulation is like dish water. I applied a second coat and it was little better. Needless to say I walked out without purchasing and £6 better off.

How utterly crap it actually is was confirmed again later that evening when I glanced down to see it all but chipped off! How disgusting is that colour? Yuck! Narrow escape.

So the moral of the story is “try before you buy” and if they refuse to let you try, chances are it’s probably a bit rubbish anyway! xox

I’m all out of Estee Lauder Double Wear and I need it for a wedding this weekend. Bang goes £24

However I’ve learned a lot about my skin, hair and make-up over the past few years. One of those things being that I need to pay high end prices for the kind of flawless finish I’ve come to love from a foundation. On the flipside though I also now know that drugstore brands offer comparable if not superior lipsticks and eyeshadows for a lot less ker-ching.

Recently I came across a fine example of this. Boots Natural Collection “Pink Mallow Moisture Shine Lippy at £1.95 and their “Turkish Delight” Juicy Lips Gloss £1.95.

Cheap as chips.

I’ve looked at these many times but never purchased, convinced that the product quality would be in line with the price. However while out in Belfast on Sunday I had a lip emergency. I had left the house wearing YSL Rouge Volupte in Lingerie Pink, but neglected to put it in my handbag for touch ups. After around half an hour in town it was all but worn off. I adore YSL lippys but their staying power is monumentally rubbish.

So I hot footed my naked little lip smackers to the nearest Boots for a cheap rescue remedy. Pink Mallow looked pretty, Turkish Delight smelt yummy, and they weren’t about to break the bank… Sold!

As I holed up in a corner of Castlecourt to apply I was immediately struck by how moisturising the lipstick felt, I was able to apply a few generous swipes without caking or creasing (a problem I face with many MAC & Illamasqua lipsticks). I applied Turkish Delight over the top and felt it had just the right amount of stickiness, without being overly wet or sloppy. There is a fruity taste/ scent but its certainly not over-powering or sickening.

Fast forward THREE HOURS of heavy weight shopping later and this little lip combo was holding fast. I actually only needed to reapply after four hours, and that was because I had eaten. I’ve been wearing this combo daily since, and I am beyond impressed. If you like MAC Angel but find it just that little bit too cool toned against your skin, then I urge you to give Pink Mallow a go.

It’s a winner!

xox

When was the last time you gave your blusher brush a wash? What about your compact sponge? A week ago? A month ago? Never…..?

Washing make-up brushes is a pretty monotonous task. However once you get into the habit, it becomes second nature, and there is a certain satisfaction once they’re all clean.

Great…. but why should you wash your brushes regularly?

• At it’s most basic level it’s the clean and sanitary thing to do. Dirty brushes carry bacteria, and bacteria multiple rapidly. So to avoid spreading that pesky spot or skin condition you need to keep everything fresh and clean.
• The other perhaps less obvious reason is to get maximum results during application. A foundation brush that is slick with over a fortnights worth of product and skin oils isn’t going to give you that flawless finish, you’ll have to work harder to spread the foundation and blend brush marks. You’ll also find you waste product as a lot of it will be retained by the saturated fibres.
• To get the true colour from your products. A dirty brush can affect the colours of your eyeshadows and foundations because as you lift and apply fresh product you’re mixing in the old oxidised colours clinging to the dirty brush. This will make blending messy and uneven.
• To extend the life of your brushes. A regularly cleaned shadow brush can easily last you up to five years. A dirty brush, sodden with makeup can mildew and even rot. The fibres can fall out and lose shape. Ultimately you will have to replace it a lot sooner if you don’t look after it.

My kit is washed after every use and I normally spot clean (not a substitute for proper washing) during as well…. but what about my own brushes, the ones I use personally on a daily basis?

As a general rule I give everything a good deep clean every week. I own all manner of branded brush cleansers (Estee Lauder’s is a favourite) however these don’t come cheap and there are definitely more affordable options out there.

White soaps are an excellent alternative, Dove & Simple are two favourites. I prefer the Simple though as it’s completely unperfumed and doesn’t leave a soapy scent on the brush fibres. Mixed with some luke warm water these are also mild enough to use on natural hair, without damaging it or shortening the life span of the brush.

Always remember to swirl the brush downwards either directly into the bar or into a lather in the palm of your hand. Take care not to immerse the ferrule (the metal bit just beyond the brush head) as this area contains the glue holding the brush head together. Water will break down the glue, even in the most expensive of brushes, resulting in hair loss or worse, a broken brush.

Once your brush is rinsed clean, take it between your thumb and fore finger and gently squeeze the excess water out. Now is a good time to smooth problem brushes into shape (like the MAC 168 & 217). Never be tempted to rub your brushes on a towel to dry the excess off or even worse a hairdryer, this might be quicker but it will damage the fibres and encourage splaying.

Now place the brush on it’s side to dry, ideally with the brush part hanging off the edge of something. You’re doing this to allow the air to circulate the head 360 degrees, resulting in an even drying process which is better for retaining the original brush shape. Don’t be tempted to leave them drying on a towel, this will encourage mildew growth and bacteria, defeating the purpose of cleaning them in the first place.

On the odd ocassion white soap can have problems lifting strong shadow colours from brushes (most recently MAC’s Bright Future dyed my 239 yellow…), in this instance I simply use a little drop of olive oil, swirling the brush in a few drops of if this is normally enough to shift the most stubborn of stains. You’ll want to rinse the olive oil out with another little bit of mild soap after.

Make sure your brushes are 100% dry before putting them away (I normally leave mine overnight) in either a brush roll or upright in a pen pot/ cup.

Soooo……what are you waiting for stinkers?? Get washing!!

xox

Rimmel London have released a new collection of Moisture Renew Lipsticks £5.99, Vinyl Glosses & Blushes £4.99 which is currently on 3 for 2 in Superdrug.

The lippy and gloss seems to revolve around the whole “bronze goddess” vibe thats floating about at the minute. Very summery, sexy and metallic.

The blushes are based around the seasons, ie Spring Flower.
Sorry if I’m being a bit vague but the Rimmel London website isn’t actually updated yet (poor show) and the blushes & lipsticks don’t even appear on it. Tsk tsk.

Spring Flower is a cute baby pink with mauve undertone. Although because its got a three toned gradient you can intensify this or play it down.

Out of the Lipsticks I got Rose Bikini 020 and Beach Babe 050.

I didn’t get any of the Vinyl Glosses as they have a sickly orange scent to them which reminds me of my Dove Gradual Tanner. Not something I want to keep reapplying on my lips! Its a pity really as I am a fan of the vinyl consistency, its not overly sticky.

L-R: Spring Flower, Beach Babe, Rose Bikini

The lipsticks are lovely though, I was so glad to see some shimmer! It’s definitely where my heart lies

Beach Babe

Rose Bikini

They feel soft and moisturising on the lips, but nice and light, after all nobody wants to be wearing a heavy lippy in summer.

I’m think they’d look fab with the co-ordinating Vinyl Gloss over the top but even without they have that high shine and shimmer.

A new purse friendly favourite

xoxox

As my twitter friends are aware, @cimota and I attended the Ulster Tatler Style Awards sponsored by Magners Light last night.

We had a brilliant time, I just love getting dressed up and putting on my face for a real swanky occassion. For those of you who have kids you will know what a treat getting out for a bit of adult conversation is!
We were accompanied by another married couple @theronster & @karenquinn. When Quinner is about you’re pretty much guaranteed a fun night.

@theronster @cimota @karenquinn

The event itself took place in Café Vaudeville in Belfast which I just love. The whole place is very Moulin Rouge inspired, huge chandeliers, decadent mirrors, heavy dark red brocade soft furnishings. The hotties kindly supplying us all with free Magners Light were done up in a burlesque fashion, tight corsets with opulent feather bustles and Marie Antoinette curls. Their make-up was courtesy of Paddy McGurgan who works out of Michael Quinn hairdressing, striking snow queen esque eyes and high shimmer skin (a few pics below). There was a real saintly sinners feel to it.

The lovely Zara

I wore an orange dress from Ted Baker with a button back (love little details like that), shoes by Faith and my beloved fur from Previously Loved in Holywood.

In regards to make-up I wore Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Desert Beige & the DW Concealer, MAC So Ceylon MSF, MAC Burning Ambition e/s, L’Oreal Liner, Max Factor 2000 Calories Mascara, NARS Blush in Outlaw (loves it) and Bobbi Brown Nude Lip Gloss. I did tan myself up slightly with a thin layer of St Tropez Lotion the day before, just to take the vampiric look off me

Very smiley here, Magners has taken effect!!

Much thanks to Wendi Kane & Alan Beattie whom we were guests of, most stylish couple in our eyes!!
xox

So I’ve had my Make Up Forever HD Foundation for a month now and in that time I’ve used it about 12 times I would hazard to guess. That’s a lot for me tbh as I tend to mix it up quite a bit as I’m always trialing something!

Kelanjo19 from Youtube was asking what I think of it and I thought maybe others might be considering buying it so I’m doing this little review.

Mine was a Christmas Gift but I know it was bought at Sephora and cost $40, so this is a high end foundation, equivalent UK price to the likes of Chanel Pro Lumiére.

The colour I got was 117 which is perfect for my winter NC15 skin tone. I went by the reviews on Sephora to find my shade and I’m glad I did. Left to my own devices I’d have ordered one of the two lightest shades, they would have been way too light. My advice if buying from the UK is to go a few shades darker than you think you will need!

Colour appears darker here as no flash

Initially I was surprised by the consistency, its not overly runny but certainly not as heavy as something like Estee Lauder Double Wear, and I think in my head because of the claims this foundation was making in regards to HD, I expected it would have to be mask like in its properties. It’s not at all, its much like the consistency of MAC’s Select SPF 15 foundation IMO. Pretty lightweight.

The bottle is a pump action, and I am not sure whether its just a flawed one, but my pump is a bit poo. The action isn’t very smooth and it has its own little mind about how much it will dispence at a time, however I’ve learnt to work with it.

Coverage is marketed as medium – full. I don’t agree with this, it’s more light – medium. Which is normally not enough for me. However this feels really nice on the skin and gives enough coverage that even I (who loves full coverage) feel secure and confident that it is covering well. It really does even out the skin, but most of all what I notice with it is that it gives a lightening/ brightening effect, much like MAC strobe cream (but minus the greasiness). Its the No1 foundation I wear where I receive compliments, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been wearing it at home/ work and people have said how well I look. This foundation makes you look healthy. It does this while letting your own personal warmth come through, such as when I flush. A thumbs up for working with our good bits!

It gets a thumbs down in regards to transfer, it never fully sets, which is why I think it looks so luminous on the skin, however if you have a job where you are on the phone all day this won’t work for you, you’ll have a mucky telephone and a foundation free cheek.

One other problem is that you need to avoid putting this stuff over your eye lids, with most foundations I sweep it all over the face, including lids and it can make a good base, however because HD doesn’t set fully, I have discovered that even with UDPP the residue of the HD WILL cause your eyeshadow to crease within a VERY short space of time. Leave it away from the eyes and this problem is erradicated.

In summary I really really like it, and I will definitely re-purchase it for everyday wear, but I’m afraid its still full coverage for events and going out partying, I’m pretty sure MUFE HD is up to the job for you spring chickens but I just love the super airbrushed look now I’m near 30

I think I’ve covered most aspects of MUFE HD but if you have any other questions just leave it in the comment box and I’d be delighted to see if I can answer it for you!

xox

I’m more than a little late with this post this week, but better late than never
I blame Christmas! It’s much too exciting and fun!

1. Benefit’s High Beam – I’ve been experimenting with winter looks this week and in the process have fallen back in love with this product. I completely forgot how precise you can be with this high lighter, an area where MAC’s MSF’s fall down. I particularly like concentrating it just on the brow bone, gives the most gorgeous frosty shimmer. Beware around the nose/ inner cheek area if you have visible pores like moi, this product just loves to accentuate the bad as well as the good
2. Estee Lauder’s Lash Primer Plus – Love love love this. No gimmicks, packaging is very uninteresting, wand regular and unshaped, but the formula is fab. It conditions, seperates and bulks out my lashes. Can turn a relatively average mascara such as Miss Sporty Studio Lash into a lash sensation. I just apply one coat and let it dry for around 30 seconds, then apply my regular mascara. Brilliant product!
3. Christina Aguilera Eau De Parfum – I have numerous expensive perfumes which I love but I’m quite open minded on the whole scent front. If I like something I will wear it regardless of cost/ brand. This is one of those items. I’ve been wearing it non-stop this week, I really like it and the husband has given it his seal of approval too. It is quite musky but floral too, sexy but feminine. Try it!

What have you been reaching for this week? xox

Not long to wait now….

MAC Cosmetics has teamed up with Sanrio Global Consumer Products to create a Hello Kitty color cosmetics collection. The line will arrive in the UK late February/ March.

“MAC has been mining pop culture since the brand was founded,” said John Demsey, group president of the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. “This is a sexy and innocent fashion line, and a true MAC moment. In these times, everyone can use a little fun — and a little Kitty.”

“The partnership was a no-brainer,” said James Gager, senior vice president and creative director of MAC Worldwide. “We cater to people who love to play with makeup.”

While the 34-year-old Hello Kitty character is usually assumed to be a cat, she is actually a girl, according to Sanrio. And a girl without a mouth, so she “speaks from the heart,” the company said. “She may not have a mouth, but she’s going to sell a lot of lipstick,” cracked Demsey.

“To me, MAC Hello Kitty embodies the ultimate beauty icon,” said Jennifer Balbier, senior vice president of product development for MAC Worldwide. “She’s sweet and sexy, slightly edgy, and appeals to a wide range of customers. We wanted to reflect that through a sweet side, but also something slightly mischievous when it came to the colors. I started out by creating a palette of pinks, since they fit and always trend well in the spring. And this look is so much about the eyes that we did two eye shadow quads.” The Lucky Tom quad has violet blue, brown, gold and pink-coral shades, while the Too Dolly palette has mint, blue-silver, pale pink and magenta shades.

“We incorporated glitter eyeliners because she loves anything that twinkles, and we took the coral and hot pink theme and did pretty, poppy colored blush,” added Balbier.

While this collection is intended to have a sophisticated presentation, MAC hopes to appeal to younger fans with two shades of lip conditioners. There will be 2 different ranges within the collection as “We wanted to have affordable luxury and a high-low aspect, so it made sense to do the Hello Kitty Colour Collection and Hello Kitty Kouture,” said Demsey.

Apparently this will be an ongoing partnership with more Hello Kitty being added quarterly.

So, will you be buying??

I was on the fence with this one, there is a part of me that thinks, you’re approaching 30, married with kids and frankly not the poster child of Hello Kitty, but then I saw the media pictures and caved. I will definitely be purchasing a compact (at the very least), the packaging looks wicked!
Thank god for a birthday in March xox