Thursday 19 December 2013

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation

I've said before, on several occasions, that my favourite foundation is Rimmel's Match Perfection Foundation. However, that said last week, December 9th, I had a week off from sixth form, due to my A2 mock examinations and was therefore only in Wednesday and Thursday for 2 hours (result!). Meaning I had Friday completely free and conveniently so did my friends. So we decided to go down to Fremlin Walk in Maidstone for something to eat and a little shop. 
We soon discovered that House of Fraser had up to 50% of everything and benefit, specifically, had 10% off and so having wanted to see what all the fuss was about around the Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation I decided that now was as good a time as any to purchase a bottle and see if it was really worth the hype.

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation in 'Honey'
I've always been shade '103-True Ivory' in Rimmel's Match Perfection Foundation and so just assumed I would be 'Ivory' in this as well. However, after testing it on the back of my hand, I soon discovered that I was definitely not an 'Ivory' and so went seeking assistant from one of the Benefit Associates. She tested two other shades just behind my ear and decided that I was in fact 'Honey'.
I've had this foundation just under a week now and have already fallen in love. It's such a light foundation with a good coverage that blends so well with my skin. It's just a shame about the price. I know once I have finished this bottle I will instantly want to go out and buy a new one, however my wages from work probably won't stretch that far :( That said, I would highly recommend this foundation and with any luck it'll be discounted again come boxing day and I'll therefore have to take full advantage of this.
Have you tried this foundation? Is it on your list of products to try?


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Monday 9 December 2013

Everyday Make-Up

I didn't grow up 'around make-up' my mum has never worn it, and says that as if she deserves a medal, and I don't have any older sisters that may have used me as a practice doll. Because of this I didn't start wearing make-up properly until about 15, which is year 10 in England and was also when we were allowed to start wearing make-up to school. All my friends would wear and I felt as though I was missing out, so I started off using the classic 'Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse' and that would be it, however since then my make-up collection has grown significantly and with it, so has the amount of make-up I wear on a daily basis (which I know isn't great for my skin).
Rimmel London Match Perfection in 103 'True Ivory'
This is now my got to foundation, it took me forever to find a foundation that I really got on with and worked well on my face and with my skin and I believe this is the one. The coverage is great, not much needs to be decanted/pumped out to cover your entire face meaning this 30ml bottle goes a long way. I also believe it's easily blended to perfectly match your skin tone and although I prefer to use my hands to apply it to my face, there is next to no difference when using a brush. This foundation retails at £6.99 and is available at Boots.
Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder in 'Light Plus' and Real Techniques Powder Brush
Only recently have I discovered my love for this powder, and since I've worn it near on everyday. I feel that it really sets my foundation and bends great with the natural colour of my skin, leaving me with no visible lines around/under my chin. It is quite pricey, however a little does go a long way and therefore I believe that it's well worth the money. I have also just done a full blog post on this powder here. This powder retails at £22.50 and is available from most big department stores and this brush retails at £12.99 and is available at Boots.
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara in Black
I've been a massive fan of Maybelline The Falsies for a couple of years now, never straying for the product even to try another to see if I preferred it. However I received this from a friend for my birthday back in October and have fallen in love with it. It coats my lashes and elongates them amazingly, my eyes look a lot wider (this is a big deal to me, as my distant Chinese roots mean I've never been able to do the classic Puss in Boots wide-eyed face :-( ) It's even tempted me to re-purchase this tube when the need next arises instead of my beloved Maybelline tube. This mascara retails at £6.99 and is available at Boots.
Sleek Blush in Sweet Cheeks
Okay so this isn't part of my everyday make-up, however it is my go-to blush palette for parties and special occasions. None of the colours, once applied, are too 'in your face' and this is why I like it. I prefer to have a quite subtle blush look, as my face doesn't really suit a rosy cheek. The colours also blend really well to give a nice, natural looking cheek. This blush palette retails at £9.99 and is available at Superdrug.
What's your everyday make-up? Do any of these products feature on yours?

Thursday 5 December 2013

Review: Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Powder

It's only recently that I've started using Mac products. I always felt (and still do most of the time) think they are far too over priced for what they are, especially when you can buy a decent equivalent on the high street for a fraction of the money. However, not having used a few of the products I can tell that there is a significant difference in quality. 
The first time I ever used from Mac was their Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder. As one of my best friends raved about this powder and I felt I needed to know what all her fuss was about. I did originally buy this in 'Medium Plus' as this is the shade she wears and I couldn't see much of a difference in our skin tones and the stall in Selfridges on Oxford Street, London was so packed I wanted nothing more than to get in and get out. I have since discovered that there is in fact a massive difference in our skin tones and my shade is in fact 'Light Plus'. 


Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder in 'Light Plus'
Since I first purchased this powder it has become my number one favourite and is part of my everyday make-up. I do still like to wear my transparent powder from Rimmel every now and then as I feel that gives my face a little more depth. But 9 times out of 10 I am wearing this.
I feel that this powder really sets my foundation and concealer and it's titled very correctly because once you have the correct shade it is a very natural looking powder on the face. I also feel that a little of this powder goes a long way on my face this is also enhanced by using the Real Techniques Powder Brush which I use to apply this powder as it has good coverage of my face, as the brush head is so large.
It does leave me with a little shine on my nose towards the end of the day if I don't re-apply, however I've began to accept that this is just my face as this happens what ever powder I wear and besides what better excuse to use that famous phrase 'I'm just going to powder my nose'.
This powder retails at £22.50 and is available from most big department stores.
Have you tried this powder? What were your thoughts?


(I'm sorry, my photography skills aren't the best (I will get better I promise) which means the flash on my camera has washed out the colour of the powder)
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Sunday 1 December 2013

Victoria Secret Haul




Victoria Secret Eau De Toilette and Body Mist in 'Such A Flirt'
Personally I've never owned a Victoria Secret scent before, but many of my friends have. I've wanted to purchase Victoria Secret's Heartbreaker Mini Mist for so long, but live no where near a store and so by the time I actually came to buy it, the scent has been discontinued and no longer available in the UK. 
I then smelt nearly everything inside the Westfield Stratford City store, that by the end everything began to smell the same. I found this body mist and perfume in 'Such A Flirt' and instantly loved it. It's such a gorgeous smell, that's both sweet and fruity. There is currently a deal on 3 fragrances for £22, or 5 for £30 (I imagine this is nationwide). I was unaware of this offer before I got to the till, so decided just to go for a second of the Body Mists and give the second as a Christmas present to my younger sister, as I know she will love it as much as I do.
The Eau De Toilette is perfect size for the handbag and so therefore is extremely portable making re-sprays so much easier.
I thoroughly recommend you take a visit to a Victoria Secret store as the range of fragrances in there is enormous and with the exception of a few, they all smell delicious! For those of you in the Kent area, there is a Victoria Secret opening at Bluewater in Dartford, Spring 2014.
Do you own any Victoria Secret fragrances? If so, what's your favourite?