Physicians Formula - Happy Booster

Since our Vegas Vacation I just haven't quite got back in to my blogging swing, I don't know why but it's left me with a giant back log of product reviews and this is one of them. I picked up a few items from CVS/Walgreens while I was over there and having heard so much about Physicians Formula and the Happy Booster specifically it was top of my shopping list. I must say I was a little taken a back at the price, $15 is expensive for the drugstore but I had it on good authority that this was a must have soI bit the bullet and bought it. There were 4 shades to choose from but there may be more out there, the ones I saw were rose, pink, warm and the one I went for, natural.

I chose natural as the other shades all seemed too bold and having seen them swatched online I think I made the right choice. This gives a lovely glowy, almost coral sweep of colour but I did have one problem.. shimmer! I haven't heard anyone mention glitter in this product so didn't think twice when I applied it. It wasn't until I got out to the car I saw the glitter ball that was my face and to say i was disappointed was an understatement. After only one use I wrote it off as a bad job and relegated it to my blush drawer to be forever admired but never used again. 

I was so shocked by the shimmery finish I decided to make a video a couple of weeks later to warn fellow shoppers that this may not be for them and ask if anyone else had experienced the same issue.. but when I came to show the finish on film I just couldn't capture it and I've used the blush since and found very little shimmer in any light. I didn't understand it but all I can assume is that there's a hefty layer on top of the product to make it look sparkly and nice on the shelf and after the first application it's gone. I edited the original video to say I'd changed my mind but I still wanted my first impressions out there as if it hadn't been for filming that video I'd never have given this a second chance and wasted the $15! (video linked at end)

All in all this wasn't cheap but the packaging feels substantial, it has a cute hidden mirror and brush compartment and upon further testing.. I really like it. It's supposed to make you happy, something between the scent and probably the glitter, I don't know. I like it and I'm glad I gave it another go but I don't consider it a must have by any means. I actually liken in to the Miners Bronzer/Blush which I really do love and is a fraction of the price for us in the UK. You can purchase The Happy Booster Blush on eBay here and read my Miners review to compare here

 

You can see here how awful my skin was after our vacation. Happily it's now much improved but I took the pictures as soon as we got back, I just never got around to posting them. I have a few other US makeup reviews coming up so keep you eyes peeled and if you had the same shimmer problem with this product I'd be really interested to see it's not just me!

 

Miss BB

Something Special from Sleek

This is my FIRST sleek palette... can you believe it? Despite the hype surrounding them and the glowing reviews EVERYWHERE I was always put off by the cheap looking packaging. Ok, I know they are cheap but they don't have to look it, right? When it's closed it looks okay but once you open it up I think it looks like something I'd buy for my 6 year old. Maybe I'm alone here but that's definitely why it's taken me so long to make a purchase. I popped in to Superdrug at the weekend with some lovely beauty card points burning a hole in my wallet and decided to give Sleek a go. There are so many palettes it was near impossible to pick, I was going for the Storm because it seems so popular but then this one caught my eye. I'd never heard of the "oh so special" palette and more importantly there was only ONE left so I HAD to have it! 

I love the colour range, it's got a real day to night feel. The quality of the shadows are similar to MUA in that the metallic shades are great and the mattes.. not so much. I have to give them kudos for including mattes at all though because a lot of drugstore brands don't even attempt them because they're so hard to get right and these are not TERRIBLE.. they're just not as good as the others. With a primer underneath they are a lot better. The one thing I was bowled over by was the matte black. Even high end brands struggle with a matte black but sleek have it dead on, it's SO pigmented, I did get a lot of fallout as a result but you can't have it all, can you? I'd seriously recommend Sleek now if only for that one shadow. So many palettes miss the black and I think it's an essential addition. Overall it's a really great palette and I will absolutely be purchasing more from Sleek. 

TOP ROW
Bow, Organza, Ribbon, Gift Basket, Glitz, Celebrate
BOTTOM ROW
Pamper, Gateau, The Mail, Boxed, Wrapped Up, Noir

Miss BB

Best Budget Brushes

After my Drugstore Starter Kit video the other day lots of people expressed an interest in a similar post/video about my favourite budget brushes.. well here it is!

The video will be up on my YouTube channel on Monday (I'm trying to schedule so I don't have weeks of dead air time when Milo arrives) so to get that as soon as it's live go SUBSCRIBE!

It was difficult to whittle it down and I rambled on about a lot of brushes in the video but here I will show you the absolute essentials of my collection that i would recommend as a good basic starter kit.

First up are the face brushes..

Sigma Duo Fibre F50 Stippling Brush (£12.99 here)
I now use this soley for powder as it dusts just the right amount over my face and doesn't leave me feeling over-made up and cakey but it is also suitable for applying liquid foundation.

ELF Powder Brush (£3.50 here)
Could be used for liquid or powder foundation, buffs in easily for an airbrushed finish and covers a large surface area.. It would be my number one for liquid foundation if I was to apply with a brush.

Benefit Slant Powder Brush (£4.85 here)
I actually purchased this from eBay a year or so ago.. I have no idea if it's genuine but it's lasted well and doesn't shed. It's the perfect shape to sculpt my cheeks with Blush/Bronzer.

Eyeshadow...

Sigma E40 Blending Brush (£7.95 here)
This is my absolute holy grail brush. If I had to pick only one eye brush it would be this! You can use it to put a wash of shadow across the lid, lightly define your crease and above all... blend blend blend!

Samantha Chapman Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush (part of the starter set £20.99 here)
This is a close second to the E40. It will lay down shadow and blend if you're in a pinch. It's the best  multitasker in the Sam Chapman starter set.

ELF Crease Brush (£1.50 here)
This is possibly my favourite crease brush and one I reach for often. For £1.50 you need this! It's just a great shaped brush that's easy to use.

Eye Definition...

Angled Eyeliner Brush (£3.50 here)
The only liner brush I've ever liked. You can use it wet to line with shadows or with gel or cream formulas. It's fine enough to get a precise line and thick enough to line quickly.

Samantha Chapman Real Techniques Brow Brush (part of the starter set £20.99 here)
This replaced my angled brush from QVS I used to use for my brows. It's short but thick so will hold a good amount of powder if you favour bold brows or quickly fill in lighter ones.

Samantha Chapman Real Techniques Accent Brush (part of the starter set £20.99 here)
Last but not least. I love this. Another great multitasker from the Sam Chapman starter set. I generally use this to define my eyes with a darker shadow or smudge my eyeliner for a smokey look.

There are so many more brushes I have and would recommend but these are my must-have-can't-live-without ones. You could definitely live with a smaller selection at first though. I'd say you need a good powder brush (this could double up as a blush brush if it's not too large), Something like the Sam Chapman Base Shadow Brush (that you can shade, define and blend with) and an brow brush (if shading in your brows is your thing). If you choose wisely you could live with a few hard working brushes.

I hope this post helps some of you looking to bulk out your collection on a budget or those of you just starting out. If you have any great budget brush recommendations please leave me a comment.

Miss BB

Drugstore Starter Kit

After SO many requests I finally filmed my "drugstore starter kit" video.. As it was so highly requested I thought I'd put it up on my blog too.. easier than blogging the whole thing again but I did make a LONG list of all my basic drugstore recommendations for you below if you don't feel like sitting through a ridiculously long, rambly video!

Face

Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector

Maybelline Superstay 24 Concealer

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Cheeks

Bourjois Bronzing Powder

Miners Bronzer & Blusher Blend

Bourjois Eyeshadow in 08

Gosh Natural Blush in Rose Whisper

MeMeMe Blush in Coral

Eyes

MUA Pro Heaven & Earth Palette

Fashionista Custom Palette

Rimmel Colour Mousse in Get Fresh

Gosh Brow Kit in 001

Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Liner

2True Easyglide Khol Liner

Maybelline One By One Mascara

Lips

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Birthday Suit

Gosh Intense Lip Colour in 301

MUA Lip Gloss Shade 4

Would you be interested in a basic brushes starter kit?

Miss BB

Pretty "First Date" Drugstore Makeup

I've had several requests for a full face of drugstore makeup and a couple for "first date" looks so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone. I'm uploading my tutorial to YouTube now but it's a bit blurry (I've had it with trying to film using my SLR) so here are some photos of the look and a run down of the products I used. Hope it's helpful.

I used mostly MUA, their new pro range has some fab stuff. I threw in my new 2true liner as an alternate as I don't have a basic black from MUA and I must say I was impressed. I'll be using that again! I love the overall look but the standout discovery for me has to the mosaic blush. When I first bought it I didn't think much of it, it didn't seem to have an colour pay off when I swatched it and I don't think it ever even made it on to my face. Well... I'm very glad I used it in this tutorial 'cause it's awesome! It gives a really sheer wash of colour and a beautiful sheen, not sparkly at all just glowy, I wish they did a neutral highlight powder in this formula because for £2.50 that would be my number one drugstore product. I have a mosaic bronzer too so I'll be trying that out tomorrow. Just goes to show you should give things another go.. I am often too quick to judge and once something is put away in my collection it could be lost forever.. I would have been seriously missing out.

I also want to point out I used a tiny bit of lipstick with the gloss to create a more tinted lip.. this lipstick is a really bold pink when used normally.

Mosaic Blush in English Rose £2.50

Dusk Til Dawn Palette £4

2True Khol Liner £1.99

Extreme Curl Mascara £2

Lipstick Shade 3 £1

Lipgloss Shade 4 £1

Here's the tutorial video...

What are your favourites from MUA?

The ULTIMATE Foundation Review

Natural Collection

Shine Away

Medium

£1.99

What does it claim to do?

Smooths out small imperfections, while keeping the shine away from your skin.

What type of coverage?
Heavy

How well does it blend?

Terribly, dries to quickly to blend whether using brush/sponge/fingers

Finish?

Hard to say as I never managed more than a patchy finish

How long does it last?

Again, I haven't managed one good coverage so never haven't worn for long enough to judge

Shade range?

3 shades available, not everyone will be able to find their colour match.

Would I repurchase?

No

Bourjois

Bio Detox

Beige Clair

£10.99

What does it claim to do?

perfectly evens out the complexion, minimizing pores' appearance and concealing imperfections.

What type of coverage?
Medium
How well does it blend?
Again I had trouble with how quickly it soaked into the skin. Not enough time to blend for me
Finish?
I did manage to wear this out of the house because it wasn't so heavy I thought I'd managed to make it work with a little moisturiser but soon realised how patchy it was. I believe it's supposed to be a no makeup look.
How long does it last?
Although it didn't apply well the foundation did seem to last past lunchtime but not much longer
Shade range?
9 Shades available. You have a good chance of finding your colour if you like this formula
Would I repurchase?
No

Miss Sporty

So Matte

Medium

£3.49

What does it claim to do?

8Hour Matte Finish and 8Hour Shine Control with smoothing minerals for smooth, flawless and perfectly matte finish throughout the day.

What type of coverage?
Sheer
How well does it blend?
Although it's mattifying it allows just enough time to blend to an even finish
Finish?
Not totally matte but I never expect that. Gives a nice dewy (not shiny) look
How long does it last?
Unfortunately this doesn't last past lunchtime
Shade range?
Just the old Light Medium and Dark to be found here
Would I repurchase? 

 Possibly

NYC

Natural Matte

Soft Beige

£2.49

What does it claim to do?

This clever formulation ensures your makeup will last for up to eight hours, along with an anti-shine formula to help keep your skin matte, flawless and healthy looking

What type of coverage?
Medium/Heavy
How well does it blend?
Again this is mattifying so does dry but leaves time to blend
Finish?
On first application dried to a flawless matte finish
How long does it last?
Over the course of the day this left me patchy and sank in to my pores. A good primer may fix this
Shade range?
I'm not sure they still sell this in the usual stores so I'm unable to find a definite shade range
Would I repurchase?
Probably Not

MAC

Studio Fix Fluid

NC20

£19.50

What does it claim to do?

 Provides medium buildable coverage and flawless natural-matte finish

What type of coverage?
Medium/Heavy
How well does it blend?
Really, really nicely. A pleasure to apply
Finish?
Flawless! I wouldn't say it was matte but the finish is lovely
How long does it last?
All day
Shade range?
I'm sure you know how extensive MAC's shade range is
Would I repurchase?
Unfortunately this broke me out but if I could fix that problem I'd repurchase in a heartbeat

Revlon

Colorstay

Medium Beige

£12.49

What does it claim to do?

provides lightweight comfort, so you feel like you’re not wearing makeup. Looks fresh for up to 16 hours.

What type of coverage?
Heavy
How well does it blend?
Lots of people have complained this is difficult to blend but it's perfect as far as I'm concerned I don't have to do my face in sections as I've heard some have, I can do my whole face in one go and it blends fine.
Finish?
Flawless and matte. This is a heavy duty foundation, it doesn't feel like you're wearing a mask of makeup but it can look like you are. This will cover any imperfections, I don't need any extra concealer when I wear it but it's not going to be for everyone. Perfect coverage and finish for a night out.
How long does it last?
Until you take it off... best long lasting foundation I've ever tried
Shade range?
20 shades in two different formulas - normal/dry and oily/combination
Would I repurchase?
I already have and would again

 Nars

Sheer Glow

Mont Blanc/Light 2

£29.50

What does it claim to do?

A glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage

What type of coverage?
Sheer
How well does it blend?
Beautifully, it applys like a serum or a moisturiser, really lovely.
Finish?
It evens out my skin and leaves me dewy, definitely need to powder my T-Zone
How long does it last?
It leaves me shiny quickly so I have to reapply powder frequently. The coverage doesn't last all day
Shade range?
20 shades. Nars is the only brand where I've found my perfect colour match
Would I repurchase?
Only for the colour match, it's not really worth the money for the formula

Maybelline

Dream Matte Mousse

Nude

£7.69

What does it claim to do?

revolutionary whipped formula, providing an air-soft, perfect matte finish coverage, with a weightless feel

What type of coverage?
Medium
How well does it blend?
Depends on your skin type, if you have oily/combination skin it will blend nicely, if your skin it anything drier than "normal" this may not be the one for you
Finish?
On the right skin it really will leave you with a perfect, smooth, matte coverage. If your skin is on the dry side it will cling to dry patches and leave you with a not so amazing finish
How long does it last?
I found this to be relatively well lasting.. near enough the whole day
Shade range?
13, you should be able to get a close match
Would I repurchase?
I have and I would consider doing so again however my skin is drier now than it used to be so it won't be as perfect as it once was for me

Maybelline

Dream Creamy

Sand

£8.19

What does it claim to do?

Maybelline's unique cream-whipped process has combined rich hydration with a lightweight formula to create the most perfectly moisturising coverage. Blends seamlessly, feels fresh all day and creates visibly hydrated skin.

What type of coverage?
Medium
How well does it blend?
Really nicely. Comes with a sponge to apply if that's your thing. Doesn't really "set" so you can blend all day
Finish?
You can build the coverage but the finish remains silky smooth. Definitely not matte though, if you're oily you'd still need to powder over top.
How long does it last?
It lasted nicely but the beauty of this product is that it's handbag handy with the built in sponge for touch ups throughout the day
Shade range?
Only 5 which is disappointing for Maybelline.
Would I repurchase?
 Yes

Rimmel

Stay Matte Mousse

Soft Beige

£3.99

What does it claim to do?

Containing a natural shine-control complex the Stay Matte Mousse Foundation will keep skin feeling flawlessly fresh and matte for up to 12 hours!

What type of coverage?
Light/Medium
How well does it blend?
Terribly, it dries instantly so it's impossible to move anywhere, I've tried applying this with a brush, a wet makeup sponge.. nothing makes this work, You would have to have the oiliest skin in the world for this to blend and even then I'm not convinced it would.
Finish?
Hard to say as I didn't get one good coverage from it but if you can I'd say it would be perfectly matte, just unfortunate that I couldn't
How long does it last?
Again, I can't really comment
Shade range?
5 shades, you may not find the shade for you but it's probably for the best
Would I repurchase?
No!

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WINNER

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Maybelline

Dream Satin Liquid

Sand

£8.19

What does it claim to do?

Helps skin appear completely poreless with our first liquid mousse foundation. Our lighweight, air-whipped liquid blends on to transform the look of skin. From flawless to impeccable, even coverage. Our new satin perfect finish!

What type of coverage?
Medium
How well does it blend?
Great! It's not mattifying so doesn't dry on the skin leaving plenty of blending time
Finish?
On me this really is an airbrush finish. It's buildable to a heavier coverage but I would still use an additional concealer as the coverage doesn't hold up so well throughout the day.
How long does it last?
As mentioned, Lasts past lunch but not quite to home time.. I find it difficult to chastise it for that though because I spent so much more on the Nars Sheer Glow and this is far superior where longevity is concerned
Shade range?
8, not the best maybelline offers but as it's a blendable liquid formula you could purchase 2 shades to create a custom colour match..I wouldn't rule it out!
Would I repurchase?
Yes

The reason I chose the Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid as the winner is this..
There are others that I love but this one is more universal. I believe this will work on most skin types, the shade range allows a good scope for skin tones and it hasn't broken me out whether I'm dry/oily.
I ask a lot from my perfect foundation, I want a light coverage but I want to look flawless, I want time to blend but I want it to set, I want to look dewy but not shiny. This foundation does not exist! I've learned instead that you find a great base, a great concealer and a great powder and together they give you the finish you want. This is a good all rounder, not too heavy not too light, drugstore prices and their are plenty of shades available. Of all of the foundations I've tried this is the one I could recommend to anyone.

*A note on the winning foundation...
I think that the satin liquid and the creamy compact are pretty much the same product in two different formats. I used them at the same time in the same shade. I applied the liquid at home in the morning and kept the compact in my bag for any touch ups. The compact is a solid to liquid foundation so I believe it's the same formula put into more handy packaging.. for anyone that's interested!

What's your favourite foundation?

MAC Lipstick Drugstore Dupes

First of all please excuse my dry lips.. I have tried everything to treat them but this baby is just sapping the moisture right out of me! These are all the drugstore dupes I found in my current collection for MAC lipsticks I own. I thought I'd share them with you. I made an accompanying video which will be up this week but I thought they would be better presented in a blog post. I hope it's helpful!

In the below swatch table the MAC shades are on the bottom and the dupes are on top. I will link to where you can purchase the drugstore versions with my lip swatches (read on) again the bottom lip is MAC and the top Lip is swatched with the dupe so you can more directly compare the two.

Speak Louder Dupe - MUA Shade 05

Available for £1 here

Vegas Volt Dupe - Coral by Miners

Available for £2.99 here 

Toxic Tale Dupe - Maybelline Colour Sensational in Coral Tonic

Available for £7.19 here

Freckletone Dupe - No 17 Mirror Shine On in Nudist Peach

Available for £4.59 here

Myth Dupe - Miners Barely Buff

Available for £2.99 here

Ravishing Dupe - Revlon Colorburst in Peach

Available for £7.99 here

*unfortunately the lip swatch for this one went missing somewhere, sorry*

I hope you enjoyed this post and it was useful for those of you craving some of these MAC shades but not so enamoured of their prices. I would like to give special mention to my favourite dupe on the list - Toxic Tale. It was a limited edition launched with the Venomous Villains collection so if you don't already have it Coral Tonic is a pretty close second.

Skincare Switch-Up

Above are all of my old skincare favourites. My go-to face mask, cleanser, toner and moisturiser. They had been recommended to me and I truly believed they were giving me my best possible skin... not so!
Here's a run down of what I spent on my skin care...

Clinique Pore Minimizer Refining Mask - £16.50
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - £13.75
Botanics Pore Perfecting Toner - £3.05
Clinique Clearing Moisturiser  - £16.50

For the past few months I've been using this combination of products instead and have absolutely found the right regime for me. Happily I discovered them all at drugstore prices...

Avon Clear Pore Thermal Mask - £4.20
Garnier Pure Active Exfo-Brusher Wash - £5.99
Tea Tree Cleanser & Toner - £2.99
Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser - £2.99

Let's not forget my separate daytime moisturiser

L'oreal Triple Active Day - £5.12
Clean & Clear Morning Energy - £3.99

Overall my every day routine used to cost me £54.92. It now costs just £20.16, that's a saving of £34.76!!!

But how do the products compare?

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I'll start with the masks. These are not technically every day skin care items but I do use them two or three times a week so close enough. They don't claim to do the same job so it's hard to compare but I realised that clearing my pores was more important for me than shrinking them so I think the Avon version works better for that reason. I will say the Clinique mask is effective and if you have enlarged pores I'd recommend giving it a go.

On to the cleansers, I do like the hugely hyped Liz Earle Hot Cloth but it's so much effort! At least a couple of times a week you need to wash the cloths which is fine but just another thing to remember. I like to know that everything I need to wash my face, hair etc etc is ready and waiting for me when I get in the shower. I love that the Garnier cleanser has the exfo-brush attachment built in, very effective and a time saver.  

Toners... I thought a toner was a toner, again I like the Botanics one just fine and the idea that it includes oil-absorbing clay really does appeal but I had forgotten the wonders of Tea Tree Oil. When I was pregnant with Ella I was addicted, I carried a bottle of it wherever I went and smothered my face in it every night, in hindsight I probably had my best skin then.. I don't know why I ever stopped. I love the smell and it gives me such a squeaky clean feeling. This is definitely the one product I've switched up that's made the most difference to my blemish problems.

Everyone knows how much I love my Clean and Clear. I don't really know why I ever thought anything would do a better job. I hated the smell and the taste (it migrates to your mouth, I'm not crazy) of the Clinique moisturiser. It seemed to make my skin feel smoother and more moisturised but it did absolutely nothing for my blemishes. The Clean and Clear is miracle lotion that I will never stray from again!

The daytime pre-makeup moisturisers are totally different. The loreal is thick and rich and not ideal to sink in to skin directly before applying makeup/primer. The Clean and Clear is oil free and dries quickly, ideal if you are going to use it to prep your skin before a tinted moisturiser and don't want to be left too oily. 

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So I've found a routine that works for me, don't let that fool you I will never be satisfied and am always on the look out for bigger and better things but now I know what works for me I am looking for variations on what i have already. I will not change my night-time moisturiser unless Clean and Clear release a new, improved version because I just love it so much but everything else.. you never know!

What are your holy grail skincare products?  

Coconutty For This Oil

If you haven't already tried this you MUST run out and buy it today.

I picked this up from my local Superdrug last week and have been so impressed with it. Not only is it a solid oil (perfect for travel) you can use it on your skin AND your hair. I've tried both and I have to say my hair has never been as shiny and healthy looking. It gives directions to use on the ends of wet hair as a leave in moisturiser as well as an overnight mask for very dry hair.. I can vouch for both as being very effective.

And I haven't even got to the best bit yet!

It's only £1.89!!!

You can buy it from superdrug online

It is totally solid in the pot and melts instantly on warm skin.. Such a fab product for such a fab price!

Everyone should have it!

You can see my video review below

Garnier BB Cream - Review

Garnier's BB Cream is finally here. This hugely hyped product dubbed a "Miracle Skin Perfector" was one new launch I couldn't wait to get my hands on and now I have it I just had to share my first thoughts with you. I have seen surprisingly few reviews and posts about this given the buzz surrounding it so I couldn't get a real idea of how well it worked or what it did. Hopefully for those of you looking for just that.. this will help!

Firstly There are 2 shades available, Light and Medium. It retails at £9.99 and sold out and can be bought at Superdrug and Boots. The original BB cream was created in Germany but the craze really started in Asia where it was said to be the secret to Korean actresses beautiful skin. It soon became popular here to buy online and there was much talk on YouTube about these mystical creams for months before Garnier launched the first drugstore version. BB stands for Blemish Balm, there have been many variations made, some are said to have skin lightening properties, some are anti-wrinkle, some anti-acne. What Garnier are claiming to offer is a sun block and moisturiser that evens skin tone, boosts glow, blurs imperfections and smooths fine lines all in one wonderful tube. Ok so enough of what it's supposed to do... here you can see the balm in action. Please excuse my early morning makeup free face.

This is JUST the balm on my face, no concealer, nothing! I am really impressed with the coverage. I'm not sure it even is coverage. It's almost like it really is blurring imperfections, evening out skintone and boosting glow. It feels weightless and moisturising when on the skin but it doesn't leave me uber shiny like a tinted moisturiser would. I can explain it but I'm excited.

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side note:

Can anyone else see that one of my eyelids is bigger than the other? It's so rare I can capture it on film so everyone thinks I'm bonkers but seriously... it's really obvious here... what's it all about????

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Here's a swatch of the cream alongside some of my other foundations.

L-R

Natural Collection Tinted Moisturiser in Fair, Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NCW25, Garnier BB Cream in Light, Nars Sheer Glow in MontBlanc/Light2

It's a much thicker consistency than any of the compared products as you can see.. you might think that as a result it's more moisturising and spreads further but I didn't find this to be the case. I used this as an all-in-one so applied it to my clean face, no moisturiser/primer. I found it to be quick drying, it spreads like an oil free moisturiser so I needed more than I'd expected to cover my face and blend in to my neck. This being said I liked the coverage that it gave and it is buildable because of it's thicker formula so it's not all bad. I did get shiny in my t-zone/chin area by lunchtime but no more so than with any other product (except revlon colorstay) But I used a little powder to mattify and the coverage lasted me until I wanted to remove my makeup. I was impressed given that I was expecting little more than a tinted moisturiser.

I will do a more in depth follow-up review when I've used this exclusively for a few weeks so that I can really see whether it's made any improvement on my skin condition. I'd love to think that it will and isn't JUST a cosmetic product. Whether I repurchase this will really depend how long this little tube lasts me. £9.99 is more than I'd like to spend for what is quite a small amount of product (It's just 50ml).. but I'll see how it goes, if it offers real benefits to my skin it would be worth the cash for sure.

Have any of you tried this yet?

What are your thoughts?

Favourite Drugstore Lipsticks

I have just filmed a video on my favourite drugstore lipsticks and thought I'd share the swatches on my blog.

I must say, Rimmel came out very well. I've always loved the smell of their lipsticks, they're not always the same but they always smell good! The only rival they may have once had was the Maybelline Watershine lipsticks that smelled of Watermelon... yum! Do they still make watershines? hmm!?

Anywho.. here are my top 7 ... odd number i know....



Barry M - Instant Nail Effects

Barry M Instant Nail Effects

OMG!

Best product I have bought in SOOO long!

I painted my nails with white pearl from Miners then painted the Barry M topcoat over them and this was the effect!! I hear on the grapevine that a couple of companies have brought out similar products in the past but I've never found any and I'm obsessive so I don't care if they've ripped it off, it's fabulous!

A day on my nails and I must admit one chipped a fairly large chunk off but that could be a coincidence.

I do think it would have looked better over a bright/neon polish.
I wanted to start off white so best show the effect.

Most people on YT came up with the same questions...

can you do any colour underneath? - YES

does it come in any other colours? - NO

Brilliant product £3.95

I got mine from Superdrug

get yours while you can

xoxo

miss bb