Sunday Chat | My face powder story

I have never been a huge face powder fan; I've had far too many horrific cake-face incidents as a teen to make me trust the stuff. But recently, especially since working in a hot office, I have realised that my skin can get a tad, erm, oily.
I love a bit of dewy-ness regardless of season, but what I mean by oily is a world away from a healthy glow, so, I started hunting for a powder.
One of my friends almost convinced me to buy one of the Hourglass powders over the summer. But, after wearing it for a few hours, I found that I wasn't as impressed as I had hoped to be for forty quid, so I gave that a pass.
For a while, I dabbled in Rimmel Stay Matte - a classic - which I found, repeatedly, was just way, way too heavy on my skin. I also have experience with the Soup&Glory One Heck of a Blot which is fairly good, but still quite matte.
It wasn't until I watched some random KatheleenLights video recently and she mentioned the Maybelline Fit Me, that I scooped this beauty out of my collection and started to use it again.
I don't know why I ever stopped using this powder, but I definitely owned it for around a year during Uni, and my compact was fairly busted, but this is hands-down the best powder I have used to date.
It isn't matte, it  definitely doesn't have sheen, it just looks how you want it to look - like your face.

If you're hunting for a new powder I would absolutely recommend giving this one a go- especially if you're on a budget. I haven't had enough experience dabbling with higher end powders, but when I do, I'll be sure to report back!

Thanks for reading :)
Lou xxx

First Impressions | L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream

A while ago, when I purchased the L'Oreal Infallible Foundation and Brow Plumper, it was 3 for 2- so I picked up this- the L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream in 'Light Skin Tone'.
It's been sitting in my drawer for a while, because...well mainly because I was a little bit scared of it.
The squeezy tube is very handy and sleek looking, but the product comes out a strange shade of grey/white. The idea is that it blends to match your skin tone once you rub it into your skin.

I tried the concept on my hand first...and I'm not sure about matching my skin tone, but at least it didn't stay white.

Here's my face with nothing but the BB cream on. First of all- application = Nightmare. Because it's white/clear until its spread onto your skin, you really can't see where you've been and where you haven't. Very annoying. I applied it with a buffing brush, and added more to my chin area to build up coverage- which it actually did pretty well.
The finish is so strange, and completely not what I expected. I would say it is a fairly natural finish, much more matte than I expected- but if it had actually been the right colour for me, it would just look like I had fairly even skin. So- obviously- the main problem is the colour. I'm going to have to bronze the heck out of my neck to make it match, because at the moment, my face is tangoed.

Overall- my first impression is that the application is easy and blendable, but flawed because of the nature of the product which doesn't allow you to see what you're doing. This colour, which was the lightest, is definitely too dark for me, and probably a lot of fairer skinned people. The coverage is a pretty solid medium- which is surprising for a 'nude bb cream'.
I'm not sure about this product, because of the colour, I don't think I'll be reaching for it that often- unless it wears amazingly. I'll keep you updated!

Thanks for reading!
Lou x

That Summer Base

I have long been embracing the natural colour of my skin. But, what I do not embrace, is the fact that I literally have not experienced the sun for months. As a student, I spend (spent- I have just finished) most days in my room/in the library, and therefore my skin has reached levels far beyond 'pale'. I mean, it was almost blue.
So, I've decided its ok to do a little bit of faking, as I have always felt better in the summer when my skin looks more healthy and glowy, and just more skin-like.
It's also very hard, in my experience, to look good with very pale skin, especially because I have never had perfect skin. I feel that the scars and the blemishes looked extra harsh on the white canvas of my face, whereas, in the summer, when my freckles are out in force, everything seems to look just a bit softer, ya know?
Anyway! After that rambly justification, I thought I'd share two splurge- purchases I made recently which have really made my skin feel and look naturally a lot better.

First of all, if you're like me, and the words 'fake' and 'tan' put images of blotchy hand creases and knees into your mind, fear not! This little gem works a treat for a boost of colour.
The Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster is a concentrated oil which you mix into your moisturiser (I use the Body Shop Vitamin E moisturiser) at night, and let it gently tan your skin over night. I use two or three drops every other night, and have found that the results are amazing.
It is more of a yellow- tan than an olive tan if you get me- not in a bad way at all, but because my skin is quite yellow toned anyway, it works well for me.
The one caution with this is the blending. Always make sure you have blended in all of your moisturiser all over your face (and neck- that's where I went wrong) to make sure it doesn't leave any marks (which are quite subtle, but still noticeable).
But, if you use this right, your skin will have just that little tint of summer- skin- ness. Amazing. I love this, it's a new beauty must-have for me.

Secondly, the perfect summer base. And I mean perfect.
If you're a loyal beauty- blog reader or YouTube video watcher, you will know that this product has had a considerable amount of buzz about it since Day 1.
Its the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue.
This is essentially a really fantastic tinted moisturiser with SPF 30- perfect for Summer holidays and warmer weather in general.

I have mine in shade 02 Vanilla, which isn't the lightest shade, but is more yellow- toned than 01 Opal, which is more pink.
The texture is described as gel-like, and it is a bit. Really light and quick to blend into the skin. What I like most about this is how moisturising it is. With most bases, I find my forehead lines get pretty pronounced as my skin dries up throughout the day, and foundation tends to settle in the creases. With this, I don't get that at all. There's a glow on my skin all day long, and my skin feels nourished and plump.

You're thinking- 'I thought you said your skin is more tanned than usual?' Believe me, it is...plus the light is making everything more white- washed than it would normally be, but I hope you can see how natural my skin looks with the Complexion Rescue on. I have a dab of concealer under my eyes but nothing else, and I think the coverage isn't bad, considering I have my fair share of 'imperfections'.

So, if you're looking for a light SPF'd summer base which is glowy and just generally amazing, look absolutely no further. And, if you want that tint of summer sun before the sun even gets here, the Clarins Glow Booster is worth a look too. They're both pretty premium but I think they are totally worth the money, and I would buy both again.
Thanks for reading!
Lou x

My New Favourite Nude Lipstick for Summer

I bought a Kiko lipstick at the weekend, which I did talk about in my weekend post about my cheeky kiko purchases, but I needed to share an update. 

The lipstick is A-mazing.

Peachy pinky nude, moisturising, a natural sheen, a hint of glitter...

What's not to love? I think peachy nudes are the most flattering on my skin tone, but Kiko do tonnes of colours in these 'Smart Lipsticks' (this shade is 906), and they are £5, reduced to £2.50 most of the time.

Those of you who don't have a Kiko near you, I would seriously consider doing an order online, 99% of Kiko stuff is amazing and really worth the money.

What is your favourite summer nude lipstick?

Thanks for reading!

Lou x

Budget Bronzers

Even ghost white girls like me want to bronze up a bit, and I've found its quite hard to find bronzers in general,  let alone cheap ones.

These four are my four favourites, all really affordable and really really good.

Firstly, here's the Body Shop Matte Bronzer in 01 light matte, and if you are pale and you need a bronzer or a contour powder, go and buy this right now. I think it's £12 but the Body Shop often do 40% off so its easy to pick it up for seven or eight pounds. To me, this is fairly expensive, but I can assure you, its worth the money. So silky, such a nice colour, pigmented but not too harsh so you can built it for a more cheek-bone-y (?) look. The packaging is also really nice, sturdy with a nice mirror which makes it really good for travel

This is a slightly darker matte bronzer, its from MUA and its Bronzer Shade 3. I think it's fairly universal as a bronzer shade, but I can get away with this even with my pale skin, so good for all skin tones. Really pigmented, and I'd use this for contour in the summer when I'm hopefully slightly more tanned. The picture above shows the body shop bronzer on the right and the MUA version on the left. It is slightly darker but if you're looking for a more budget option than the Body Shop bronzer, this MUA one is really good, and i think it's one or two pounds- amazing.

 Onto Shimmery Bronzers, and this is slightly different because its bronzing pearls, which I feel like aren't really a thing these days. The swatch makes it look quite orange,and I suppose it is, I'd use it if I wanted a shimmery golden bronze look. Really easy to build or use lightly, definitely good on all skin tones because of the buildability. This pot is from Avon and it was around £4- really affordable, and this has lasted me for YEARS.

If you're looking for a shimmery budget bronzer, this three tone 'Bronze, Shimmer, Highlight' from Revolution is definitely one to look at. I love this product so much. It's not glittery, it's a really nice shimmer. On a normal day, I'll sweep the middle tone over my cheeks or under my cheekbones, depending on the look I'm going for. If you had darker skin, the darker bronze colour is amazing too, I can only get away with this shade mixed with the middle shade but it's so lovely. The highlight is amazing, basically a light skin- coloured powder which is really nice mixed with the bronzers just to add glow, or on top of the cheekbones by itself for a really subtle sheen. Lovely. This was £4 and I think this is such a good product. It  feels very similar to the Body Shop bronzer in it's silkiness, and it is beautiful and buildable.

I hope this helped if you're looking for a bronzer to help you into Spring/ Summer!

Thanks for reading :)

Lou x

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 hr Nude | Review & Swatch

 I dedicated an earlier post to the lack of pale foundations on the highstreet. I mentioned in the post that Rimmel had added a 'Porcelain' shade to their Lasting Perfection and Wake me Up lines, and I have purchased one recently (mostly because it was on offer and only £4) hoping it was finally the right colour.

Firstly, this is the 25 hr Nude foundation, and I have to say I prefer this formula to the original Lasting Perfection foundation. They are both really dewy and fresh looking, but this Nude version is a lot lighter and... just thinner and more natural looking. Really really nice, but definitely not a full coverage foundation, so if you want something with a bit more coverage, go for the original Lasting Perfection.

The colour is really really good. It's very pale, as you can see here it's a pretty good match to my skin tone, and blends in so easily. 

Compared to my other foundations, I feel like it is very pink toned (weirdly, it looks very yellow toned in this swatch) , and I've been mixing it with a slightly more yellow- toned base, such as the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 51 (Light Vanilla) or the Clinique Anti Blemish in 01 on bad skin days. 

This is the Bourjois healthy mix serum on the left and  the Rimmel Nude on the right- you can see here how pink toned it is compared to Bourjous. I definitely think I have more neutral undertones so I need to mix them both to get a better colour. 

It's a really nice foundation in general, and I would recommend it for any skin tones because its so light and blendable, and SO long lasting. I don't know about 25 hour, but definitely all day. Also, it almost looks better the longer you wear it which is weird.

The porcelain shade is really nice, if you're pale I would recommend picking it up, or having a look to see if it matches your skin colour.

Lou x

February Beauty Empties

So I finished a few products, all of which I think are really good and I would repurchase, so I wanted to share them. :)

Firstly, this lipgloss from Avon which I have had for YEARS. I am not a lipgloss person, but this was my favourite. It was called 'Plump pout' in a clear shade, and this is something I would never normally pick up (Thank you, fifteen year old me). What made it so great was the smell, which was super fresh...kind of like mint and cinnamon (ew what? Trust me, it was great), and how it made my lips all nice and fresh looking, and plump I suppose. So yeah, this was great, and I will be looking at Avon to see if they still do something like this.

This next thing is a cleanser. And oh my god, its the best cleanser EVER. Its the superdrug Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser. This is such a nice balm cleanser which gets rid of all of your make up, and feels amazing on your skin. It also smells so nice and fresh which is a bonus. I think I actually prefer this to my new Body Shop Camomile Oil Cleanser and I definitely will be repurchasing it.

The last thing is something everyone knows about. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair. BUT. But. This ran out almost two weeks ago now and I'm actually surviving without it. I find that it is a little bit too pink for my skin, and actually not quite pale enough (my face is just white). It is also pretty heavy and can get cakey if I use it under my eyes. I've replaced it with the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 15 which is creamier and lighter, and really good, but STILL not quite fair enough, sadly. It'll do, for now, and I'll continue my search for a pale concealer.

Thanks for reading!

Lou x