PETITE DECEMBER

TWO NEW CONCEALERS

Tuesday, 4 February 2014

I'm a slight concealer junkie, and although I will always be loyal to the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, I like to try new ones now and again, and I have recently found two which I do really like.

I have been using the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer for around a month now, and I am really enjoying it. It has the typical Healthy Mix smell, which makes using it 10x better. Scents aside, the actual product is great too. It is quite yellow, but I find that once blended it looks fine, and offers a good coverage. It sets to a satin finish and I have never found it to look cakey whatsoever, which is a big winner. I tend not to use this one under my eyes, purely because I much prefer the next offering for that.

So, they Kiko Natural Concealer in 01 has been getting daily wear under my eyes. It is slightly pink so helps to cancel out darkness. I have ridiculous under-eye puffy bags that runs in my family so I have learnt to live with them but whatever I can do to take the harshness away I will do. I really like the way this wears, as it has never creased on me at all, and I find it to look so natural.

Two new concealers in my collection which I am getting on with so well. I can guess that at some point, I would repurchase these once again if they run out before I find anything even better.

NANSHY MAKEUP BRUSHES

Sunday, 2 February 2014

As you know, I am a huge fan of the Real Techniques makeup brushes, but sometimes, I am on the hunt to find new brands that are just as high quality. When some Nanshy Brushes* dropped through my letter box, I realised a new love could be kindled.

Face: The star of the show for me is most certainly the Round Buffer Brush*, which seems to me like it could be a very close match for the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I'll make it short. I love this. Like, love. It blends and buffs liquid foundation like a dream, pats in concealer beautifully, and even does a pretty darn good job with blush. Dare I say, this might become my new favourite brush.

Eyes: To begin with, the have the Blending Eyeshadow Brush*, which I find is a touch too stiff to fully blend out any crease colour, but does a brilliant job at applying it to the lid neatly, and feathering out the edges. The Eye Crease Brush* is a good'un for (as the name suggests), putting colour in the crease. Now, this does a tiny bit of the blending for you as you sweep it through the crease, but more so focuses on putting the product in place - and must I say, it does it well. Finally, is the Tapered Crease Brush*, which is a little smaller than I anticipated, but even so, works really well for taking the eyeshadow along the lower lashline, and slightly feathering the edges too. Although it isn't originally what I thought it to be, I have found a well-fitted use to it.

Nanshy, I am impressed.

A BELATED AUTUMNAL SMOKEY

Friday, 31 January 2014

There are a number of bandwagons in the blogging world - most of which I jump onto a good few months late, including the red/burgundy autumnal smokey eye, but I thought it deserves a post anyway.

You are probably all screaming at your screens waiting for me to quit the rambling and get on with explaining what products I used, so I'll do it now. I began by priming the lid with the Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer, which is my new favourite primer, and I followed that up with MAC Bare Study Paint Pot all over the lid. I used my trusty MUA Undressed Palette and used Shade 2 all over the lid, followed by Shade 9 on the outer half and along the lower lashline. I then took the Kiko Eyeshadow in 137 through the crease and blended it thoroughly and then went in with 133 to deepen it up slightly.
Finally, I finished off with Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Mascara and the look was complete.

I may be late on this, but I will continue to go for the winter looks until I see a ray of sunshine through the clouds and I personally declare it Spring.

SMASHBOX IT'S YOUR PRIME

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Since the day I started watching Youtube videos, someone has always been talking about the Smashbox Primers, and I got my fair share of the cute minis from the It's Your Prime set this Christmas. It contains 3 of their primers, 2 well-loved staples, and one new release. I'll give you the low down on the trio.

Photo Finish Foundation Primer: This is the one that everyone talks about, but also the one which some people don't like. I'm fairly sure it is silicon based, which breaks out a handful of people, but I am yet to experience that *touches wooden desk*. For me, I wouldn't say this dramatically increases the longevity of my makeup, just more so helps it wear off more evenly, so I don't have any weird marks where it settles.

Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer: This was the exciting newly released one, which isn't like many others on the market. This primes the under eye area, in order to prevent concealer creasing or drying out too much. I do really like this, and I find that concealer does apply and wear much better on top.

Photo Finish Lid Primer: For some reason, I am a lover of eye primers and I always want to buy more. This one though, makes me want to buy the full size (maybe my purse wouldn't agree). This is a lid primer which mattifies the surface, smooths, and blanks any colour out, and creates the perfect base for shadows. I definitely find that this guy makes my eye makeup wear for so much longer, without any signs of creasing. I am using this sparingly, because the pot is so diddy, and I love this stuff. Maybe I will fork out the £15 for a repurchase one day.

So, I am sitting on the fence with some, and totally smitten by others, but who would say no to cute little minis like these?

ORIGINS DRINK-UP INTENSIVE MASKS

Monday, 27 January 2014

Ah, Origins. Their masks have intrigued me for such a long time, and I never thought I would own any. That was until I got 3 in a set for Christmas, and I think the love will last for a long time.

Even with some oily areas on my skin (we'll say combination), I still want that plumped, nourished skin and these masks seemed like the perfect duo to give me that. Must I say too, the apricot scent gets me weak at the knees every time I slather this on my face.

Overnight Mask: So, this is my favourite out of the two. It is a thick, creamy consistency, which you basically put on after cleansing before bedtime as a really intensive moisturiser, and by the morning it has entirely sunken in and your skin thanks you oh-so-much for the fruity hydration.

10 Minute Mask: This is the same sort of consistency, but slightly thinner and more leaning towards a thick moisturiser texture. I put this on and I find that after the 10 minutes some has sunken into my skin and there is a bit less that I put on to wash off, which is nice to know - especially if you are really looking for hydration reassurance. It washes off like a milk, and leaves my skin looking radiant almost immediately.

I think there is some sort of love going on here. I dread the days when my 3 Origins masks run out (in the set you got 3 75ml masks for £25), because I sense some repurchases going on...

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