MILANI EYE TECH PERFECTION LINER

Whilst doing some beauty shopping in America, it came to my attention that I've been using my usual liner for far too long, and could do with trying out another. I spotted this Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner for a mere $7.99 with a free eyeshadow in Beach Sand too, and I couldn't resist. 

These curved liners have interested me for a while now after seeing the NYX Curve one but that was a little more pricey and I thought I'd give this one a go instead as I bought a few other NYX products. It does take some getting used to with how to hold the actual packaging, but my liner still looks good when I use this so I wouldn't say it caused much difficulty. You can actually take the pen out that just slides to reveal a tiny little pen but I think it's too short to actually get enough control. 

One thing I will say, is this is black. Like, intense black, and I love it. No layering it like you sometimes do with a greyish liner, oh no. This is a one coat and you have a gel-looking line going on. It is bloody brilliant. Also, I didn't find it to smudge, it lasted all day until I at one point in the evening (in the midst of coursework) began to manically rub my eye, but I gave it a rub in the day and it didn't smudge at all so it's rather long wearing. 

To be honest, I'm a little sad that I only have one of these now; I could do with another, or perhaps for Milani to come to the UK so I can keep my stock of this replenished...

A PERFECTED COMPLEXION

I talk about my bad skin quite frequently on my blog, but all seems to be getting a little better, and hopefully after a recent prescription of some antibiotic treatments, things are looking good, which I thought was the perfect time to be showing what I use when my skin is looking better and how I achieve the perfect base.

Starting on the skincare front, I have started to branch out to more expensive brands because I feel like if your skin looks good, your makeup is almost guaranteed to look good as well. The Origins Clear Improvement Mask gets a use almost every Sunday, and although some people find it tight and drying, I love the effect it gives the next day when I wake up. The La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] has been getting a lot of use from me as a corrective serum product and I have been seeing improvements.

A new love for me is the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation, and although the colour is a touch too dark for me, I think with blending it looks pretty good because of its natural finish. Blended with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush, it gives such a lovely finish - somewhat dewy without the shine.

I have indeed rekindled my love with the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. In the winter this is a little drying but now the weather is slightly improving I am in love all over again. I think I could do with repurchasing this again, I'm struggling to get any product out. A slightly less heavy offering (but one that still brings coverage to the table) is the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer, which has a satin finish and looks really natural on the skin.

For powder, I'm sure most of us hate the stuff because no-one likes a cake face, but I have discovered that using a light dusting of the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder with a the Contour Brush in precise areas just banishes the shine without looking flat.

What are your secrets to the perfect complexion?

MY PERFECT LIP COLOUR

If there's one product in my collection that I was so excited about on the day of purchase, but never actually posted about it until now, make it MAC's Faux Lipstick. I think I put off posting this as it is one I have never heard bloggers talking about, and because I didn't choose one of the most coveted offering out there, I didn't believe anyone would want to see a post about it. But, I'm not one for following all the crowds and I have decided to give it some internet-loving.

Faux is a satin finish, so it is matte, but not drying. It seems a touch more matte than the other satin finish lipsticks I swatched in the store, but I have no problem with that. I was going to go for one of the more popular nudes that they sell, but they all looked to pale, whereas this is a 'my lips but better' shade if you will.

The colour is a plummy, pinky brown natural colour which personally, I think is one of the colours that suits me best. I was going to go for Impasssioned at first, but then decided against that as if I am going to splurge on a lipstick, I want to make it something I can wear every day, even for school.

This purchase, and writing this post has given me an urge for buying some more MAC Lipsticks. What are your favourites?