Hey Sweeties,
I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve featured a beauty haul, albeit a small one but as so many of us beauty lovers know full well, from time and again we find ourselves (not accidentally) in our local drugstore. Need I say more? Here’s the damage –
Hey Sweeties,
I don’t know about you guys but has anyone noticed how Tesco has suddenly appeared on the beauty radar? I have and although it would take a lot for me to abandon Boots (which let’s be honest, will never happen) Tesco can’t be ignored here. The store that does everything has firmly pushed its way into the beauty market as a stockist so I thought… let’s give them a go.
Beauty Haul
I am fortunate, down the road from me is a mahoosive Tesco with an equally impressive beauty section, conveniently located off of home ware. Before we get excited here, I haven’t done a massive beauty haul as my stocks at the minute are kind of ok but the beauty blogosphere and Instagram has got me all excited to try out the new Bourjois Delice de Poudre Duo (bronzing powder and highlighter). I was already on the verge of seeking out the bronzing powder alone but it seemed more worth while to buy the highlighter as well in a bid to become the queen of contouring not to mention being able to try this product while it is still relatively new and not do my typical late-to-the-party product discovery.
Of course though, there would have to be a 3-for-2 offer on all Bourjois products… how could I refuse when in front of me is an array of pretty things? So, along with picking up the Delice de Poudre Duo, I also picked up a new blusher in 95 Rose de Jaspe (Jasper Rose) and the Healthy Mix foundation in no. 53 light beige.
Let’s get one thing straight, I love the blusher! The packaging alone makes this a gorgeous little product to have in one’s collection and it comes a little brush which to be honest I am unlikely to use, but the colour is a lovely rosey pink with a touch of shimmer that really adds a delicate flush to the cheeks. I am totally in love with this product and be assured it won’t be leaving my blush collection in a long time, maybe even never.
Regular readers will be aware that recently I swapped foundations and although I have enjoyed wearing Rimmel’s Wake Me Up foundation, now that the weather is changing I don’t need something so dewy and I really don’t think it suits oily skin which I do have a little bit. Rather than reverting back to my honest L’Oreal True Match, I have continued with my efforts to really explore new things. My skin at the minute is enjoying products that apply lightly and I am more than happy to satisfy its demands as until we move firmly into winter so I believe I can get away with this for a little while yet. Although I haven’t heard hundreds of people rave about Bourjois’ Healthy mix, I have heard enough for me think it is worth a punt and I am pleased to report I am not disappointed. How long I continue with it is still too premature to say but it is light on the skin, provides relatively good coverage and generally seems to cope with an oily t-zone. I don’t find I need to layer it with lots of powder but a light dusting sets it well and allows it to last for most of the day. As for shades, there didn’t seem to be a wide selection which ultimately makes me think that in time I will go back to the True Match collection as the shades really are so hard to beat. Healthy Mix’s light beige is still maybe a fraction darker than I need but it suits for now and I can always adjust with powder and/or bronzer as necessary going forward as my skin tone changes with the weather.
So, the Delice de Poudre Duo… ok, I’ll be honest, I am not blown away by it but in defence of the product before I cause uproar with Beauty Bloggers, it could easily be how I am applying it but I am not really sure you can get this so wrong you make the product look crap. But for now maybe we’ll say its me and wait for others to comment/review further. I do like the bronzer though, I think for an all over touch of colour I think it works fine… I just have a little bit of a problem achieving a good contour look with it along with the highlighter. For me it’s too fine. For contouring I like something a little darker to really chisel out my cheekbones and I am not someone that is going to spend time layering a product extensively until it’s right. I haven’t got the patience and rarely the time. But like any blogger, my opinion is mine alone and I have no doubt you guys may have experienced something different and far more successful with it. On a positive note however, I love the packaging, I love how it appears like a block of chocolate and I love the smell. I am sure in time application will also be something I master and love… just not right now.
Finally, while in Tesco I happened to notice a small bottle of Argan oil which for a mere £1 seemed ridiculous to ignore so in my basket it went. You guys will also be aware that I am starting to treat my hair with the respect it deserves and I have heard lots about this and similar oils therefore I thought it would be sensible to follow suit. My first use of the product didn’t go well, on the packaging it instructs 4-5 drops for long hair but as its a bottle, pouring exact drops is difficult so naturally I put too much in. However, aware of this initial mistake I have since learnt to pour the right amount out and apply throughout my long locks with very good results. I have noticed that my hair now feels cleaner for a tad longer and looks more glossy which can only be a good thing.
Until next time x
Hey Sweeties,
In my efforts to try new things and also to try and tackle that little problem I mentioned in an earlier post about suffering with puffy sore eyes after using some eye shadows (mostly from the 17 range), I have recently invested in two Sleek products!
Why Sleek? Well I have heard the name be mentioned from time to time within the Beauty Blogger sphere but until I actually saw the products for myself in Superdrug, I had never made much opportunity to pursue them further thinking them a range that were mostly available online or in very select stores. FYI I have no qualms about purchasing online but with new things, particularly beauty, I find it preferable to actually see and feel the products first hand before then later being comfortable with ordering them again (online).
Another factor in my purchase is that last weekend I had my Godson’s christening to attend and I had a peach coloured dress to wear but no make-up to match. The Sleek range in my investigation came up as one of the best for peach coloured products so when I was up in London last week for the Elle event, I nipped into the large Boots store on Oxford Street and located the Sleek stand!
The two Sleek products I bought were the ‘blush By 3’ blush palette in CALIFORN.I.A 370 and the ‘i-Divine Oh So Special’ eye shadow palette. I actually went into Boots thinking I would get the new Del-Mar Vol.1 palette as it has some beautiful coloured shades within it but when in the store, I just wondered how much of the colours I would actually use hence why I went for ‘Oh so special’ instead.
Inside, the actual product works really well within the black casing and the two Sleek items are colourful so contrast well. The eye palette comes with a clear acetate cover which I guess acts as both a protector as well as listing the names of each of the colours. Upon purchasing I couldn’t wait to try the products out as the whole thing considered makes for very appealing items.
i-Divine Oh So Special palette
blush By 3 CALIFORN.I.A
Ok, let’s get down to basics. The packaging for both products is the same but the size is of course different with the eye palette being slightly longer and wider understandably. On the inside of the lid each palette contains a mirror and the product contents sit comfortably and cleanly within. On the whole I feel they are both robust compacts that although may in time get a little grubby, will actually hold out really well and would suit being travelled around in a handbag/purse.
Sleek blush By 3
Sleek i-Divine Palette
On application, the blushes have a really creamy silky texture. I am used to powder blushes so this was quite new for me and I am sure I still lack the appropriate application technique but on this occasion I used my fingers to apply and blend the product into my cheeks. Being peach coloured I didn’t have the same pop as I would using a more pink colour but I wanted a light, summery fresh look on the day and I felt these did the trick perfectly.
The eyeshadow’s are well pigmented and blend together beautifully. On the day of the christening I used 3 of the colours –Bow, Ribbon and Pamper (in the palette: top left/1, top 3rd and bottom left/7th), using Bow as the base and blending Ribbon and Pamper across and into the crease. They also most importantly didn’t irritate my eyes at all which is the best outcome really as I love creating a fuller eye make-up look.
Finished look
Overall, I am pleased to report that both the blush and the eye make-up lasted all day and I will certainly invest further in this range particularly as you get quality products at very reasonable purse friendly prices!
Me at the christening
Until next time x
Hey Sweeties,
It seems routine that all beauty bloggers, aspiring beauty bloggers and people that are just generally interested in beauty, on a monthly or at least regular basis post about their beauty favourites of that past month or of recent times. So why not join in eh?
This past month one of my favourite beauty products has been Maybelline’s Super Stay 24H Waterproof Powder (40 Fawn) which isn’t as exciting as some mascara’s and lip products I have been using, but from having quite low expectations when I bought it, I have been thoroughly impressed with the powder of which I am keen to rave.
For years I have been using Mac’s Mineralize Skin Finish (medium) and until recently never thought to try anything else. I was looking to replace my Mac powder with something lighter on the skin, less matte looking and more purse friendly. Also just for the sake of exploring a bit of what’s out there and not just sticking to what I know, I needed change! On my new face powder mission I expected to leave the shop with a product from the Rimmel collection after hearing so much about them but actually, just by doing a quick in store test I wasn’t convinced it was the product for me which is how I stumbled upon Maybelline’s Super Stay 24h powder.
The packaging doesn’t scream “buy me” but for £6.99 it was worth a punt and I am so pleased I did. It’s light and smooth on the skin and although I debated shades ‘nude’ or ‘fawn’ (I eventually settled with fawn), it works fantastically with my skin tone and lasts all day. It’s one of my favourite beauty products at the moment on the basis that it was such a surprise to so love using it and actually, because I found it by myself without direction or influence from another blogger/ beauty review assuming that because they like it I would.
The second beauty item I am really enjoying at the moment is the Bourjois Beauty’ Full volume black khôl mascara which I got as part of a gift set with my Company magazine subscription.
I was a bit unsure before using it as the applicator didn’t fill me with confidence that it would apply all that nicely but actually, really rather impressed! My usual mascara of choice (as you have no doubt seen) is Maybelline’s the Falsies volum’ Express, black drama and/or Benefit’s They’re Real. I like thick, black lashes and it has been a real mission finding the mascara’s to achieve this on the high street but I think between these three I am pretty much there!
I was a bit fearful that the Bourjois mascara would be a bit pricey (by ‘pricey’ I mean over £10) but when I was last in Boots I had a quick look and was pleased to see it can be purchased for the purse friendly amount of £7.99! Of course for the right item I will spend more but while I am on such a tight spending limit with anything right now, price really does play a large part in my product selection, especially if I am trying something new. I also feel that the high-street has so much to offer that unless the product really is truly and utterly fantastic, quality products can be purchased for under a tenner each and there’s no need to spend more.
Until next time x
Hey Sweeties,
How are we all? Good weekend?
A problem I have today my lovelies and I am sure fellow bloggers have been in my exact predicament, you go to the effort of documenting the getting ready process to then walk out the door without capturing the finished look! Doh! *Slaps head*
On Saturday night it was the end of season hockey dinner dance and it was a cracker of a night, really thoroughly enjoyable! Aside from being surrounded by fantastic company, between courses awards were handed out and I was delighted to be called up to accept the trophy for Ladies 4’s Player of the Year! Amazing considering this is my first season back playing since secondary school and with the club. Really bloody chuffed!
So, with a night such as this, planning and preparation was essential beginning of course with a face mask…
This is my first mask from Lush, I got bored with those crappy ones from packets -you never get all of the stuff out and they don’t feel that satisfying- so when I was last in the Lush shop, as well as picking out a couple of bath bombs I ventured over to the masks and got encouraged to pick ‘Brazened Honey’ by one of the staff.
It all begins with a face mask!
“Exfoliating, stimulating and nourishing mask for tired skins. Fresh fruits are blended with warming Ayurvedic herbs and spices, ground almonds to polish and moisturising honey. Leaves your skin vibrant and revitalised”
I really liked it and I am definately encouraged to try more Lush masks in the future!
…Then make up!
Some of the products you’ll have seen before in an earlier post of mine but here is what I used to create my make-up look that night:
1. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, no.2 (medium) 2. Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation SPF 15 3. Mac Mineralize Shin Finish, Medium 4. Rimmel Bronzer, 022 Sun Bronze 5. BeautyBox Highlighter 6. Rimmel Blusher, 050 Soft Pink 7. Get Real Benefit Mascara 8. NYC eyeshadow 907 (used on brows) 9 & 10. Bourjois Color Edition 24H, 6802 (metalic silver) 6902 (metalic purple) 11. Burt’s Bees lip balm, pomegranate 12. Bourjois Lip Stick, Rouge Edition, 02 Beige Trench 13. Clarins Eau des Jardins perfume
This is a closer look of the Bourjois Color Edition 24H (cream to powder texture).
They are really good and lasted all night. Lately I haven’t been wearing eye shadow as much, if at all really as my lids started to get a bit itchy with the eye shadows I used to wear from the 17 range which is a shame as I loved them but perhaps I need to find something a bit more suiting to sensitive skin? (suggestions?). Anyway, along with the lipstick these 2 items came with my Bourjois gift set that I mentioned a while back as part of taking out a subscription with Company Magazine. I am really impressed with them! I applied the silver across my lids as a base colour then I blended in the purple into my crease and corners, it looked really effective!
Initially I thought I would be wearing a darker, more reddy colour lipstick but having tried this one earlier in the day just to see how it felt, I really liked it. It lasted well and was relatively moisturising so my lips never felt dried out which some lipsticks I have found do after a while.
I was hoping to also do something a bit more exciting with my hair but in spending too long faffing about, I ran out of time. I really fancied trying to create one of those hair bows but trying to create it for the first time and in a rush was obviously never going to succeed! However, I will endeavor to still give it a go and I will post the results…
Instead I spritzed L’Oreal Txt hair spray into it which gave my hair an amazing volumising look, I love big hair and the spray really helped achieve this. Of course by the end of the night though my hair was tied up out of my face while I partied away. Man, I love a good disco!
Ta Da! Using the wall to prop me up as standard!