I was mega-hungover yesterday and had a few hours to kill so I wandered over to the MAC store at the Met Quarter.
A hungover Joei + Cashcard + MAC = HAUL!
I went in with a bit of an agenda...namely a bronzer and possibly an eye-shadow, maybe Naked Lunch. Hmmmm...I achieved ONE of my objectives!!!
Changed my mind so many times about the choice between a MSF Soft and Gentle and MSF Natural in Medium Deep. I asked the MA who said that the MSF would just give a gentle shimmer and the colour given by the MSF Natural might be a bit too obvious.
She recommended the Bronzing Powder in Golden which I had never considered before. I thought it looked a bit too dark in the pan but its not too bad so far.
What else did I get? I got the Oil-Control Moisture Lotion and also the Matte gel. Not really tried either yet so I'll do another post soon.
I also popped into Boots to get the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in Fawn. I have the Mineral Power Liquid Foundation already in the same shade which matches perfectly. I've got it on today. It's nice but definitely moisturise and stick a little bit of moisturiser on the sponge before applying.
I NEED TO STOP SPENDING although I still have a couple of things on my wishlist ------->
Going to start my revision...February will be a BUSY month!! xx
Showing posts with label foundation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foundation. Show all posts
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
New Year Treats...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I love this time of year...it's the time when the festive spirit has truly disappeared and then this little gem pops up! Also a time when funds are sufficiently low and you get a little cash injection via Red Pockets!! Just wish I was round more of my relatives at this time of year!! hehe.
College has been hectic and it probably will be until 20th Feb when my exams all finish. I'm planning lots of visits to friends after this so it's something to look forward to. And me being a hermit for the next few weeks might save me some pennies as well!
Laura blogged a while back about swaps...and I have a few items which is being relegated and would love a new home :D !!
All the products are Clinique - it's not that these products aren't good but I've found better ones suited to my skin! So if you like the look of them, let me know and we'll see if we can arrange a swap of some kind. I'm particularly looking for BB creams, MAC eyeshadows (paintpots, shadesticks, powder...I'm not fussy!) and MAC MSF!! That's my wishlist!!
xx
College has been hectic and it probably will be until 20th Feb when my exams all finish. I'm planning lots of visits to friends after this so it's something to look forward to. And me being a hermit for the next few weeks might save me some pennies as well!
Laura blogged a while back about swaps...and I have a few items which is being relegated and would love a new home :D !!
All the products are Clinique - it's not that these products aren't good but I've found better ones suited to my skin! So if you like the look of them, let me know and we'll see if we can arrange a swap of some kind. I'm particularly looking for BB creams, MAC eyeshadows (paintpots, shadesticks, powder...I'm not fussy!) and MAC MSF!! That's my wishlist!!
- Clinique Take the Day Cleansing Milk - it's just too creamy for my oily / combo skin!
- Clinique Stay True Make-Up in Stay Nude - medium coverage foundation
- Clinique Superfit Foundation in Honey - this used to be my HG foundation but the tone's a little too pink and dark for me
- Clinique Moisture Sher Tint in Beige - I know I was talking about this a couple of posts ago but I've decided that the coverage just isn't enough for my flawed skin and someone else will probably benefit from this a lot more than me!
xx
Thursday, 8 January 2009
My New Love...
I still love my Revlon Colorstay because of its staying power and everything but have found in the last week that it can feel a bit heavy so as I'm trying to let my skin breathe a little more, I wanted to try something new. I went to Boots on Monday after my exam and had a look round.
I've bought the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation which I haven't tried yet but I like the fact that it's quite compact so it's in my bag most days for touch-ups (which I haven't had to resort to yet!). I also went to the Lancome counter...I always associated Lancome with Mum's makeup etc but I've had a few surprises there recently (see Skincare post - I promise to do that in a minute!!). The lady recommended the Adaptive foundation - the texture feels really nice but I wasn't sure so I've taken away a sample to try out. I tried it earlier this week and the staying power wasn't as good (obviously) but no major complaints. I rooted out my mum's makeup bag and found a slightly bigger sample so I'll finish those before making a decision. Maybe even use up some of my other stuff.
I read on MUA about Revlon Colorstay Light which sounded fantastic but it's not on sale in the UK which absolutely SUCKS as that would have been perfect!! On my scout around another beauty blogger mentioned using a Tinted Moisturiser under a light powder foundation...which is exactly what I tried today!! So here's what I used:
So what about you lot?? Any current routines you're loving and feel like sharing??
I've bought the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation which I haven't tried yet but I like the fact that it's quite compact so it's in my bag most days for touch-ups (which I haven't had to resort to yet!). I also went to the Lancome counter...I always associated Lancome with Mum's makeup etc but I've had a few surprises there recently (see Skincare post - I promise to do that in a minute!!). The lady recommended the Adaptive foundation - the texture feels really nice but I wasn't sure so I've taken away a sample to try out. I tried it earlier this week and the staying power wasn't as good (obviously) but no major complaints. I rooted out my mum's makeup bag and found a slightly bigger sample so I'll finish those before making a decision. Maybe even use up some of my other stuff.
I read on MUA about Revlon Colorstay Light which sounded fantastic but it's not on sale in the UK which absolutely SUCKS as that would have been perfect!! On my scout around another beauty blogger mentioned using a Tinted Moisturiser under a light powder foundation...which is exactly what I tried today!! So here's what I used:
- Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint
- MAC MSF Natural - applied with sponge (Thanks lollipop26!)
- Normal Concealer routine!
So what about you lot?? Any current routines you're loving and feel like sharing??
Friday, 19 December 2008
Mini-Haul and a Nice Little Discovery
So I had my last exam of 2008 today and despite being completely broke, I still made time and room in my pocket for a couple of things I picked up at Cheshire Oaks
If you live up in the North West, it's DEFINITELY worth checking out Cheshire Oaks. You'd be surprised at what you could pick up at The Cosmetics Company and also at the Revlon store!!
From the Cosmetics Company I picked up the Clinique Superdefence Triple Action Moisturiser for Combination / Oily Skin. I was looking out for a slightly richer moisturiser to use at night. My Dramatically Different Gel is great but felt that in these winter months I should use something a bit richer. Trying out a sustained new skin-care routine...I'll give you an update in a couple of weeks' time!!
Despite only picking up one thing, I love going in there. They have a lot of Clinique (skin care and cosmetics), Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Prescriptives and MAC stuff. Especially stuff that might have suffered the dreaded mini triangle curse on the MAC website. I found a couple of nice Beauty Powders that I might consider investing in. I also spied some FAFI palettes and other bits and pieces I've not seen in a while. Same goes for Bobbi Brown...it can be a bit hit and miss in there though. But it's worth having a nosey! Can't wait for the post-xmas sales...it'll be a regular haunt on the way home from college!! :D
Revlon...why didn't I consider going here when I decided to try the ColourStay Foundation. It was about 40% cheaper than Boots. I picked another one up in True Beige. It is an AWESOME foundation...usually use it for Nights out or if I'm out all day. It truly stays. If I use it with the Lancome Matt Base, I hardly need to use Blot Powder. Bought the Colourstay Eyeliner and see if that stays as well!! Picked up Bare it All that Lollipop26 talked about there as well for under £2!! Amazing.
Was watching Michelle Phan on Youtube the other day and wanted to see if I could get a colour corrector. Wish I could get a wheel of cream concealers..do MAC do something similar? But anyways, I bought a cheapo one from Natural Collection so I'll see how I get on with that!
Does anyone else have a fabulous hidden haunt??
If you live up in the North West, it's DEFINITELY worth checking out Cheshire Oaks. You'd be surprised at what you could pick up at The Cosmetics Company and also at the Revlon store!!
From the Cosmetics Company I picked up the Clinique Superdefence Triple Action Moisturiser for Combination / Oily Skin. I was looking out for a slightly richer moisturiser to use at night. My Dramatically Different Gel is great but felt that in these winter months I should use something a bit richer. Trying out a sustained new skin-care routine...I'll give you an update in a couple of weeks' time!!
Despite only picking up one thing, I love going in there. They have a lot of Clinique (skin care and cosmetics), Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Prescriptives and MAC stuff. Especially stuff that might have suffered the dreaded mini triangle curse on the MAC website. I found a couple of nice Beauty Powders that I might consider investing in. I also spied some FAFI palettes and other bits and pieces I've not seen in a while. Same goes for Bobbi Brown...it can be a bit hit and miss in there though. But it's worth having a nosey! Can't wait for the post-xmas sales...it'll be a regular haunt on the way home from college!! :D
Revlon...why didn't I consider going here when I decided to try the ColourStay Foundation. It was about 40% cheaper than Boots. I picked another one up in True Beige. It is an AWESOME foundation...usually use it for Nights out or if I'm out all day. It truly stays. If I use it with the Lancome Matt Base, I hardly need to use Blot Powder. Bought the Colourstay Eyeliner and see if that stays as well!! Picked up Bare it All that Lollipop26 talked about there as well for under £2!! Amazing.
Was watching Michelle Phan on Youtube the other day and wanted to see if I could get a colour corrector. Wish I could get a wheel of cream concealers..do MAC do something similar? But anyways, I bought a cheapo one from Natural Collection so I'll see how I get on with that!
Does anyone else have a fabulous hidden haunt??
Thursday, 11 December 2008
My basic collection...
OK so I thought I would start with my collection for the face. These are the items that sit in my drawer at the moment which I may or may not always use. The items which I will go through will be my primers, foundations and also my concealers. Are you sitting comfortably? Good.
Primers
My Primers by ickleangel96
My first encounter with the primer came really because of my skin's tendency to oiliness during the day. So I needed a product which would soak up the oils and provide a matt base to start with.
My first purchase was the Ruby & Millie Pre Base 0 which has a pinky colour to it and applies completely matt. It absorbs the skins' oil very effectively and comes in a tube form so it was quite handy to carry around to re-apply instead of taking powder with me especially in the summer. The consistency is a little clay-like so I really wouldn't recommend it if you have dry skin. I tend to only apply it to my T-zone area to soak up the extra oil as the texture doesn't really allow products like Benetint or creme-based cheek colours to be blended effectively.
The next product I bought was the MAC Prep + Prime. I'd heard a lot about this product and thought it would be a great investment. But on first use, I found the texture a little bit greasy. I also didn't really like the pump as I couldn't control how much I got with each application. It does, however, provide a nice smooth base to work from. But again because of the packaging it's hard to use as a touch-up product during the day.
My latest purchase is the Lancome Pure Focus T-Zone Gel. It has a gel-like consistency and comes in a tube packaging (already a plus!!). It's not as greasy as the Prep + Prime but not as drying as the Ruby & Millie so it's a good middle ground product. I've only used it a couple of times so I'll keep you updated!
Liquid Foundations
My Liquid Foundations by ickleangel96
Over the years I've tried all sorts of foundations and due to my tendency to change my mind every 5 minutes, I've collected a fair few items in this category!! I'll start with the lightest coverage products to the fuller coverage ones.
Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint in Beige - this is essentially a tinted moisturizer but unlike some other products which tend to be overly rich, it's very light and perfect for a summer's day when your skin feels pretty good and you want the lightest of coverage. It's oil-free and gel-based so it's great for combination / oily skin!!
Clinique Almost Makeup in Deep - this is better in the sense that it does give a better coverage when your skin needs a little more help but it still doesn't feel very heavy on your skin. The one thing I don't like is that if it hasn't been used for a while the water elements starts separating so it needs a good shake. It has to be said that its claim to be "Waterproof" doesn't seem to hold up very well - it's staying power isn't great.
MAC Face and Body Foundation C5- I went into MAC with the intention of getting a foundation which gave me a good coverage without looking like it's been caked on and really didn't expect to be getting this but it's better than I expected. It's water based so there's no greasiness to it. The shade's great and it blends pretty well with brush, sponge or fingers. The finish is a little illuminating but a touch of powder deals with that. A great autumn / early spring foundation.
Clinique Superfit Make up 07 Honey - this was probably my first high range foundation and I used to use it all the time. It claims to have long-staying power but in my experience it isn't great in that respect. But it doesn't sit heavy in my pores and my skin doesn't feel suffocated with it on. But I probably wouldn't get it again. I would recommend it as a starter foundation for combination skin - but test the shades well in a good light. I was recommended two different shades in the same day by two consultants.
Clinque Stay-True Makeup 27 Stay Nude - still on my quest to find long lasting foundation. A nice surprise actually. I picked this up in a discount store in Chester and thought I'd give it a try. A slightly heavier product but still comfortable to wear though. A nice matte finish and good coverage but doesn't stay as long as I would need it to. But a good half-day foundation.
Benefit Playsticks Paper Dolls - a stick foundation. Not a big fan of this. I bought this with the intention of using it as a touch-up stick. The colour's great but it's too rich for my skin.
Prescriptives Total Protection Makeup and Multi-Purpose Makeup stick (Vellum 03 Y/O) - I had been DYING to try this out because I'd heard how the colour really is PERFECT for every skin tone. The coverage is medium - full so not so good for daytime wear but a good night foundation. You really don't need a lot of product each time. It's quite thick and needs to be blended it well - best with fingers! I bought the with the intention of using it on the stubborn areas like blemishes.
FINALLY Revlon ColorStay Foundation Sand Beige / Natural Tan - I bought this on recommendation from lollipop26 after hearing about its staying power. So far so good...only had it a day or so but it stayed pretty much intact through a whole day of college and a dinner with minimal touching up required!! I'll keep you posted!
Powder Foundations
Powder Foundations by ickleangel96
My first product was The Body Shop All-in-One Foundation which was amazing at the time but now I've come to find that there are better products out there which fit the description.
Diorskin Forever Compact 030 - this is an OK product. With hindsight, I probably wouldn't have spent the money on it. It's a little heavy and doesn't really stay forever! Need to use it up though!
MAC Studio Fix NC35 - this is pretty good. You'd need a couple of touch ups during the day but apart from that, pretty good coverage and good colour.
MAC MSF Natural Medium - I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. I use this either on its own (sponge application for better coverage) or on top of foundation to help with staying power. It's got a gorgeous finish to it and a brilliant texture.
Clinique Almost Makeup 04 Natural - I bought this to complete the liquid version and I prefer the powder. This is my MSF substitute. The finish is very natural and it gives pretty good coverage as well. Very light on the skin and sits very comfortably. A good stand alone product in summer and early autumn.
Clinique Superpowder Double Face Powder 22 Matte Bronze - this was great in the summer as I didn't need bronzer after applying this. After watching lollipop26 use MSF Natural Deep Medium as a bronzer I tried it with this product and it gives a similar effect so trying to use this up so I can get the MSF!
L'Oreal Infalliable Makeup 120 Vanilla - mmm. I'm fairly neutural on this product and to be honest I haven't taken it very seriously. I'll give a better review next time!
Concealers
My Concealers by ickleangel96
I mainly have 2 types of concealers...lighteners and blemish controllers. I've got a few of each (excessive I know!) so I'll run through my thoughts quickly.
YSL Touche Eclat 02 - everyone raves about this but I don't think it's better than the others as it claims to be. It does lighten but for that price, I would go for something like The Body Shop Lightening Touch 03 or Clinque Airbrush Concealer 04.
I swore by Benefit Boi-ing 02 for literally years but I've fallen out of love with it now sadly. It has a more orangy-golden undertone to it which makes it not compatible with my skin tone. It's still a good cover-up but does dry up. My preferred choice is now MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC30 which is similar in consistency but available in more shades so easier to match up. The products I'll usually carry around with me is either Diorskin Sculpt 002 or Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer 03 Medium - they're both handy for middle of the day touch ups but I think I prefer the Dior for its consistency.
My other concealer is the MAC Select Cover-up NW25. It's quite useful to have this to mix with the Studio Fix Concealer for healing blemishes when a thick concealer would just worsen the situation.
Powders
My life savers - anyone with oily T-zones will be screaming out for these beauties!! I use MAC Blot Powder Pressed Medium Dark, Prescriptives Virtual Matte Level 2 and Revlon ColorSty Pressed Powder Medium. The Revlon is a bit too dark and I sometimes use it as a substitute bronzer. For me, there's not a lot to choose from between the other two..matter of preference I suppose. Both are good for touchups on nights out, etc.
Summary
The thing with the basics is that different products (especially foundations) suit different times. But the essentials are to invest in a good coverage foundation, a powder to set / blot out the shine and a concealer or two to hide those pesky blemishes / dark circles. Hope you find this useful and I'd love to hear from you!
J xx
Primers
My Primers by ickleangel96
My first encounter with the primer came really because of my skin's tendency to oiliness during the day. So I needed a product which would soak up the oils and provide a matt base to start with.
My first purchase was the Ruby & Millie Pre Base 0 which has a pinky colour to it and applies completely matt. It absorbs the skins' oil very effectively and comes in a tube form so it was quite handy to carry around to re-apply instead of taking powder with me especially in the summer. The consistency is a little clay-like so I really wouldn't recommend it if you have dry skin. I tend to only apply it to my T-zone area to soak up the extra oil as the texture doesn't really allow products like Benetint or creme-based cheek colours to be blended effectively.
The next product I bought was the MAC Prep + Prime. I'd heard a lot about this product and thought it would be a great investment. But on first use, I found the texture a little bit greasy. I also didn't really like the pump as I couldn't control how much I got with each application. It does, however, provide a nice smooth base to work from. But again because of the packaging it's hard to use as a touch-up product during the day.
My latest purchase is the Lancome Pure Focus T-Zone Gel. It has a gel-like consistency and comes in a tube packaging (already a plus!!). It's not as greasy as the Prep + Prime but not as drying as the Ruby & Millie so it's a good middle ground product. I've only used it a couple of times so I'll keep you updated!
Liquid Foundations
My Liquid Foundations by ickleangel96
Over the years I've tried all sorts of foundations and due to my tendency to change my mind every 5 minutes, I've collected a fair few items in this category!! I'll start with the lightest coverage products to the fuller coverage ones.
Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint in Beige - this is essentially a tinted moisturizer but unlike some other products which tend to be overly rich, it's very light and perfect for a summer's day when your skin feels pretty good and you want the lightest of coverage. It's oil-free and gel-based so it's great for combination / oily skin!!
Clinique Almost Makeup in Deep - this is better in the sense that it does give a better coverage when your skin needs a little more help but it still doesn't feel very heavy on your skin. The one thing I don't like is that if it hasn't been used for a while the water elements starts separating so it needs a good shake. It has to be said that its claim to be "Waterproof" doesn't seem to hold up very well - it's staying power isn't great.
MAC Face and Body Foundation C5- I went into MAC with the intention of getting a foundation which gave me a good coverage without looking like it's been caked on and really didn't expect to be getting this but it's better than I expected. It's water based so there's no greasiness to it. The shade's great and it blends pretty well with brush, sponge or fingers. The finish is a little illuminating but a touch of powder deals with that. A great autumn / early spring foundation.
Clinique Superfit Make up 07 Honey - this was probably my first high range foundation and I used to use it all the time. It claims to have long-staying power but in my experience it isn't great in that respect. But it doesn't sit heavy in my pores and my skin doesn't feel suffocated with it on. But I probably wouldn't get it again. I would recommend it as a starter foundation for combination skin - but test the shades well in a good light. I was recommended two different shades in the same day by two consultants.
Clinque Stay-True Makeup 27 Stay Nude - still on my quest to find long lasting foundation. A nice surprise actually. I picked this up in a discount store in Chester and thought I'd give it a try. A slightly heavier product but still comfortable to wear though. A nice matte finish and good coverage but doesn't stay as long as I would need it to. But a good half-day foundation.
Benefit Playsticks Paper Dolls - a stick foundation. Not a big fan of this. I bought this with the intention of using it as a touch-up stick. The colour's great but it's too rich for my skin.
Prescriptives Total Protection Makeup and Multi-Purpose Makeup stick (Vellum 03 Y/O) - I had been DYING to try this out because I'd heard how the colour really is PERFECT for every skin tone. The coverage is medium - full so not so good for daytime wear but a good night foundation. You really don't need a lot of product each time. It's quite thick and needs to be blended it well - best with fingers! I bought the with the intention of using it on the stubborn areas like blemishes.
FINALLY Revlon ColorStay Foundation Sand Beige / Natural Tan - I bought this on recommendation from lollipop26 after hearing about its staying power. So far so good...only had it a day or so but it stayed pretty much intact through a whole day of college and a dinner with minimal touching up required!! I'll keep you posted!
Powder Foundations
Powder Foundations by ickleangel96
My first product was The Body Shop All-in-One Foundation which was amazing at the time but now I've come to find that there are better products out there which fit the description.
Diorskin Forever Compact 030 - this is an OK product. With hindsight, I probably wouldn't have spent the money on it. It's a little heavy and doesn't really stay forever! Need to use it up though!
MAC Studio Fix NC35 - this is pretty good. You'd need a couple of touch ups during the day but apart from that, pretty good coverage and good colour.
MAC MSF Natural Medium - I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. I use this either on its own (sponge application for better coverage) or on top of foundation to help with staying power. It's got a gorgeous finish to it and a brilliant texture.
Clinique Almost Makeup 04 Natural - I bought this to complete the liquid version and I prefer the powder. This is my MSF substitute. The finish is very natural and it gives pretty good coverage as well. Very light on the skin and sits very comfortably. A good stand alone product in summer and early autumn.
Clinique Superpowder Double Face Powder 22 Matte Bronze - this was great in the summer as I didn't need bronzer after applying this. After watching lollipop26 use MSF Natural Deep Medium as a bronzer I tried it with this product and it gives a similar effect so trying to use this up so I can get the MSF!
L'Oreal Infalliable Makeup 120 Vanilla - mmm. I'm fairly neutural on this product and to be honest I haven't taken it very seriously. I'll give a better review next time!
Concealers
My Concealers by ickleangel96
I mainly have 2 types of concealers...lighteners and blemish controllers. I've got a few of each (excessive I know!) so I'll run through my thoughts quickly.
YSL Touche Eclat 02 - everyone raves about this but I don't think it's better than the others as it claims to be. It does lighten but for that price, I would go for something like The Body Shop Lightening Touch 03 or Clinque Airbrush Concealer 04.
I swore by Benefit Boi-ing 02 for literally years but I've fallen out of love with it now sadly. It has a more orangy-golden undertone to it which makes it not compatible with my skin tone. It's still a good cover-up but does dry up. My preferred choice is now MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC30 which is similar in consistency but available in more shades so easier to match up. The products I'll usually carry around with me is either Diorskin Sculpt 002 or Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer 03 Medium - they're both handy for middle of the day touch ups but I think I prefer the Dior for its consistency.
My other concealer is the MAC Select Cover-up NW25. It's quite useful to have this to mix with the Studio Fix Concealer for healing blemishes when a thick concealer would just worsen the situation.
Powders
My life savers - anyone with oily T-zones will be screaming out for these beauties!! I use MAC Blot Powder Pressed Medium Dark, Prescriptives Virtual Matte Level 2 and Revlon ColorSty Pressed Powder Medium. The Revlon is a bit too dark and I sometimes use it as a substitute bronzer. For me, there's not a lot to choose from between the other two..matter of preference I suppose. Both are good for touchups on nights out, etc.
Summary
The thing with the basics is that different products (especially foundations) suit different times. But the essentials are to invest in a good coverage foundation, a powder to set / blot out the shine and a concealer or two to hide those pesky blemishes / dark circles. Hope you find this useful and I'd love to hear from you!
J xx
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