GETTING THE GLOW

It's safe to the the glow, THE glow, is something of popular culture nowadays. It seems that throughout an Instagram feed there is always mention of highlight and the absolute beauty of it. I've tried my fair share of highlighters, and I've finally found the glow getters that work for me. 

I've realised, it starts from the base. I use the Collection Reviving and Anti-Fatigue Illuminating Primer; which cost me something short of a fiver. I wasn't expecting much, but this really brightens my complexion and creates the perfect base for my foundation and concealer. This surprised me, and I'll definitely be purchasing again. Another option is to mix an illuminating product into your base, which I find really effective if you want to look naturally glowy. The Rimmel Wake Me Up one in Shimmering Sands, or the Dr Lewinns Skin Perfect Illuminiser both work really well at this instead of pinpoint highlighting because I find them slightly too intense alone, but really nice mixed. 

Sometimes it isn't just the highlight that can be glowing. Although I prefer matte bronzer and of course contour, a sheen for blush is sometimes rather pretty. A cream blush can do this pretty well, or if you want extra glow the Rimmel Wake Me Up Illuminator in Radiant Rose is a good bet. Not too sparkly, but just the right level of glow to add something extra to the cheeks. 

In terms of actual highlighting, I do love the one in the Sleek Contour Kit (not pictured, because I have literally used every single bit of mine), but I've also recently discovered two other options. The Benefit High Beam is a cult classic - and I have definitely understood why this is the case. The other is another recent release from Collection - the Speedy Highlighter. This one requires a little more blending because it is a 'stick' form, but the champagne glow it gives after the effort is completely worth it.

Although it seems my collection is already extensive enough, I desperately want to add more pretty highlight shades to my collection. Any recommendations?

MINIMALIST BLUSH PART 2

You may remember a while back I did a post on 'Minimalist Blush', where I featured two of my natural blush picks that I can sweep on, on a daily basis. Today it's time for part two, focusing on the extremely natural, almost nude shades which are both relatively new to my routine (well, the L'Oreal offering actually belongs to my mum, but I'll be borrowing it rather frequently).

Both blushes are actually designed for pale skin which is a huge plus for me as it doesn't seem I will be tanning all that much this year. The same as last time, there is a cream, and a powder offering to suit either end of the spectrum blush-wise.

For a cream, it's Billion Dollar Babies by Dainty Doll, a heavily brown toned pink which I can almost get away with as a blush/contour in one by applying it a little lower than usual and blending a little, which makes it even more minimalist for the rushed mornings I generally face.

For powder, the offering is in the form of the L'Oreal Le Blush in 125 Rose Nude/Nude Pink and although the texture isn't the best I've tried of cream blushes it is a stunning natural nude pink colour that stays put for hours - I went out in the morning and when I came home early afternoon my foundation was starting to fade and go patchy around the nose etc., but this blush was still standing strong on my cheeks, making it an instant winner.

I think I will be making this 'Minimalist Blush' thing more regular if I manage to seek out some more offerings from the high street, as everyone loves budget - leave suggestions below if you have any...

FAKING THE CHEEKBONES

Cheekbones. Something I wish I had, but am far from getting, although makeup makes everything a little easier when pretending that I do, and in particular, the Sleek Face Form does a pretty good job. I have already reviewed this before I believe, but my rediscovered love makes it worthy of a revisit.

You can tell by the severe pan-hitting going on here that I adore the highlight and contour, not so much the blush and although it is a stunning colour I haven't been able to make it work for me yet, but it definitely is growing on me.

The real winner here is the contour powder, matte, not too red and gives the effect of natural chiseled cheeks. I stopped using this for a while, but once my Real Techniques Contour Brush made its way back into the powder, I haven't stopped using it.

I do love the slightly pink toned champagne sheeny highlight, but after a new love to the Soap & Glory Glow All Out Powder, it may be getting a little less use from now on, but it certainly won't go forgotten about.

On a side note though, how stunning is that model's skin? *cries in the corner*, I'll be buying whatever she is wearing...

BRONZING UP

It would seem that we are all getting tired of the horrendous British weather now, and most of us are hoping for spring and summer to hurry up (I am more excited about the clothes shopping to be fair), and as a result of this I have been craving the bronzed look more often.

Before, I used to be a bit scared of bronzers, purely because I am so pale, but I have found some products that have been working for me without any orange tinge.

For a bronzing base, (I do want to get my hands on Bourjois' offering), the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Bronzing Primer has been doing pretty well for me. This adds a hint of tint, and makes your skin look healthy, while also smoothing out the skin.

Too Faced are also the brand in which one of my favourite bronzers has come from, which is the Poolside Primping Sun Bunny Bronzer, and this is slightly shimmery, but translates on the skin to something more sheeny. Watch out to not be too heavy handed with this one, as things can get a little overpowering at times.

A new addition to my collection is the Sheer Cover Sun-Kissed Bronzing Minerals in Light*, which is a trio of colours in one pan, starting light, and making its way to something darker. The middle shade is slightly more shimmery than the others, but the outer two still have a touch of sheen as well. This is a really natural looking one and I have been enjoying using this daily just around my cheeks and temples.

The final product is one that I talk about quite a lot here, but one which I am unsure of where it is available from. The Milani Sunset Duos in 01 Sunset City  is a duo that makes its way into my MUJI drawers almost weekly when I change things up. The blush is stunning, as is the bronzer alone, but when you swirl the two, and just put it on the cheeks, we have a gorgeous bronzey blush.

You obviously need a brush to apply your product, and the one in question is the Sheer Cover Bronzer/Blush Brush*, which is an angled brush which isn't too dense so you don't have any issues of your products looking heavy handed. I must also add that I love the 'packaging', a dark wood handle, with dark bristles - an instant 10/10 from me.

My next bronzer on the wishlist, The Body Shop Honey Bronzer... Oh Estée, you are an enabler and a half...

 

BEST 5 OF 2013: FACE

Yep, another set of awards for the top products of 2013. This time, I'm am giving you the low-down on all things face related, so that goes for base, concealer, blush, highlight, etc. etc. And, I will tell you now, base products are my weakness, so are lips, and eyes, and basically makeup in general - oops.

Revlon basically rocks my world when it comes to foundations and bases.The shades match my pale skin perfectly, and the formulas work pretty well where things get quite oily on my face, but don't get cakey on my drier cheeks *claps*. So, for the higher coverage option, Revlon Colorstay in Buff (Oily/Combo) is the bomb dot com, literally. This covers all my blemishes, redness, and scars (with a tiny bit of help from a concealer), but still looks natural, and is pretty flawless. Then, for the lighter offering, Revlon Nearly Naked in Vanilla is perfect. This still covers most things, more so simply blurs the skin, but looks radiant, without being shiny.

Then, onto concealer. Of course, the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair does it for me. Oh, how I wish this was the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer but my purse won't allow it, but for a mere £4.19, this covers everything. Sometimes people complain about it being cakey, and I have had some bad experiences, but on my combination skin, this just does so well at covering, and lasting all day. I have been through a good 3-4 of these in varying colours this year, and after buying the Bourjois offering, I think this one still wins that spot in my heart.

Blush. This was the year that I fell in love with cream blushes, and more so now that I own the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. This Topshop Cream Blush Duo in Up in The Air was purchased in the January sales last year, and I have been loving it all year through. The formula = perfect. The colours = perfect. The lasting power = perfect. What more can I say.

Finally, as you can see by the pan-hitting going on there, the Sleek Face Form in Light was obviously going to gain a spot in this post. The highlight and contour are the best parts of the palette, but the blush is lovey too. The contour is the perfect colour, so I'm getting any orange lines going on all up in my cheekbones, and the highlight adds the nicest pink/champagne glow you ever did see.

What were your favourite products of 2013?

 

Sleek Face Form Review

Hi guys!

Since I purchased this product in January, it has been used every day I have worn makeup in some way or another, and I still have a pretty good amount of it left. This little palette costs £9.99 and you get a blush (I think it is the Rose Gold Blush by Sleek), a highlighting powder, and a bronzer/contour colour. The Sleek blushes and contour kits are much raved about by bloggers, and this is those 2 things, smashed into one palette.
 

L-R: Countour, Highlighter, Rose Gold Blush

You get a pretty decent amount of product in this palette too, it's £3.33 per 'pan' if you think about it, which is such a bargain!

The sleek packaging is sleek. As cheesy as it sounds, it's true. It actually came in a small box/'sleeve' but it got a little battered. It is matte black (which I will admit gets dirty very easily) but with the glossy writing over the top, it looks so nice. Matte black packaging is my weakness, which is strange, but that's the way it is?

Swatched, you can see the incredible pigmentation of these products. The blush is something you have to be very careful with, as it can look too much in a matter of taps with your brush on the pan. But if used correctly, it adds a glowing wash of colour to the cheeks.

The contour colour and the highlight are lovely for adding a stunning sculpted effect to the skin, without looking shiny from the highlight, or muddy from the contour. I really do love this product.

This was a bit more of an in-depth review today, let me know what you think of it! Remember to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY as there is only a few hours left!

Thanks for reading, don't forget to follow, and comment!

Lauren x