Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

 

 

I found this little beauty whilst shopping in Liverpool last year. I'd heard about Nars as a brand but not had the chance to trial any of their products. After having the foundation applied to my skin, i wouldn't believe i hadn't found this sooner. First of all the colour is great for pale skin. The sheer glow foundation shades all have a slight yellowy hint, which is refreshing to use a foundation that doesn't make my pale skin look orange. Secondly the coverage is unbelievable. I'd never seen my skin look so flawless! Every blemish and scar was covered without looking prominent. The consistency is fairly thick but very easy to blend in comparison to many other full coverage foundations. The finish is matte with a slight glow that doesn't fade hour after hour. I've worn this on many nights out it's the only foundation that still looks just as immaculate at the end of the night as when i first applied it. I've been so addicted to this foundation and I've been spreading the word like crazy. Over the last year I've tried and tested mountains of competing brands but I'm yet to find another foundation that comes anywhere close to this one.

 

Nars Sheer Glow retails in at £31.00 which might sound a lot but this will last you a long time as you use such a small amount. There are a few places you can buy sheer glow, but i usually buy mine off of the Nars Official website here.

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

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Highstreet Foundation Must Haves

Ive never been persuaded enough by anyone to try high street branded foundation until i became a beauty blogger. Acne, being the biggest part of my life, Specialists have always told me never go for a cheaper option. The more expensive the better and make sure its oil-free.

Now your thinking...So why have you changed your mind? Well after reading up on plenty of reviews and recommendations i thought hell why not!

So a few weeks ago i invested in two high street foundations that have proved extremely popular on the bloggers feed this month. Well done Loreal!

 

Loreal True Match Foundation

 

 

So first foundation i tested was Loreal True Match. Loreal Claims to be 'super blend-able, matches skin colour and texture'. During application i was pleasantly surprised. The Liquid foundation blended instantly with a silky satin feel. A little product went a very long way! At first i thought it might be slightly too dark for me, but it blended into my skin tone within a matter of seconds. I would recommend to use a decent quality foundation brush as you definitely need a tool of some sort to get a flawless blendable texture. Overall i was very happy with the results. I wouldn't however recommend this to anyone with oily skin texture, as this reflects the light and gives a very dewy effect. I don't think it would be a great combination. The only negative feedback i would have with this foundation would be the length of wear. The product slips of very easily and needs a good quality setting powder over the top otherwise you'll loose the look within no time.

Loreal True Match is available in a variety of places. I purchased mine from Boots retailing in at £9.99 here.



 

Loreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint

 

 

Loreal's claim: 'Lighter than water: L'Oréal Paris revolution in foundation for zero make up feel.'

This has been Compared to the likes of Georgio Armarni 's Luminous Silk Foundation which is a massive compliment for Loreal. I wouldn't really label this as a 'foundation' as it has such a silky feel its similar to applying a Primer. However i was so impressed with this! if your looking for a product to wear that's lightweight, and doesn't really feel like your wearing anything this is the product for you. The coverage is surprisingly high for a product that's described to be 'like water'. Smoothing over imperfections for a flawless finish. I was surprised about the long lasting effect as well. The foundation kept my skin smooth and fresh all day, no touch ups needed. This is perfect for any skin type, as it dries with a slight powdery finish, not too oily or too dry. Give it a go girls!

Nude Magique retails in also at £9.99,

you can buy Nude Magique here also at Boots.

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

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Spring Lips

Dior Fluid Lipstick & Clarins Lip Perfector Combination

 

 

Whilst shopping with some friends earlier this week i came across the new Dior Fluid Lipstick range. Why hadn't i discovered these little gems before? The Range delivers some beautiful spring colours ultimately causing me to do a quick purchase buy. I chose the Colour 386 in the shade 'Kiss Me' as its similar to the Clarins Lip Perfector i had purchased a few weeks before. When i brought the Clarins shade 01 i loved the natural translucency for an everyday look but at the weekends i strive for something a little different so had been looking for a base colour to compliment this. The Dior Fluid Lipstick is exactly what it sounds like; a liquid form, almost like a gloss but with a denser colour. The Lipstick Comes with a gloss like applicator which enables a flawless application in a single sweep. The high-impact colour and long wear of a classic lipstick, combines with the shine of a gloss. Colour and shine come together as one for maximum impact with intense, long-wearing lip stain pigments which remain after hours of wear. The pigments look natural and subtle. After the gloss has disappeared i apply the Clarins Lip Perfector to re-ignite the colour and look. Overall, I love this combination!

 

 

 The only Downside to this look is the price! Dior Addict Fluid Stick retails in at £26 but i have seen this cheaper online. However Clains Lip Perfector ranges from £15-£18 online. This is definitely an investment but if like me you have an addiction to quality and classic makeup looks these are a must have in your spring collection.

Thankyou for reading,

Alys

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Smash Box CC Cream Review

Smashbox

 

Camera Ready CC Cream SPF 30

Dark Spot Correcting

 

Whilst Flicking through my recent edition of Glamour magazine i was shocked to find a sample of Smashbox's new camera ready CC cream. Glamour quite often have samples included but not usually products that I'd get excited about! So i thought I'd give it a go and let you see the results!

 

As you all know i suffer with acne and my main problem is finding something to cover previous and recent scaring. I haven't yet tried many products to fade my scaring as i wanted to concentrate on clearing up my skin before conquering the underneath.  So I'm not quite sure if this will work on my skin. Smashbox CC cream claims to fade post acne scars over time i thought this would be perfect for me. I've tried smashbox camera ready primer before and loved it so was very excited to try this.

 

On first glance the cream looked a little too dark for me, but that's fine as it comes in 5 different shades i can always try a lighter one at a later stage. As i started to apply the cream onto my cheeks i found that a little really did go a long way. The texture is light, non-greasy and definitely more of a cream consistency. In my opinion the finish is semi-matte and buildable which is great if you need a touch up throughout the day.After applying to my problem areas i found that i wasn't quite happy with the coverage. This might be great for summer skin but this time of year i like my skin to have a bit more dewiness as it tends to get dry easily. A matte finish tends to cling on to my dry areas and  for me this product wasn't a high enough coverage to wear just on its own. Below, the picture on the left is my skin with just with the cc cream.  as you can see overall its not a bad evenness but you can still see my most prominent spots. In the right picture I've applied a small amount of Dior Air flash foundation and Chanel 'pink explosion' blush on my cheeks. this now has give n me my desired finish.

As a base i thought it was good, i'd probably try it again in the summer but for me personally i couldn't wear this just on its own. However as you can see with foundation the final look is actually almost flawless. I also don't think the shade was quite light enough for me so I'd love to try the lighter shades of this product before making a final decision.

 I used this product for about a week and a half and it showed little improvement towards fading and redness of marks but as a cc cream and a base to foundation i would definitely purchase this. I'd love to know how you all get on with this!

 

Thanks for reading

 

Alys

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Chanel Perfection Lumiere

Product Review

 

I've tried to be really good recently and only buy products that i know i really need and use on a regular basis. But, along came Valentines, and i felt like i deserved a little treat! I decided I'd have a little splurge and try a Different Chanel foundation for my winter 'pale days'. The truth is, days when i can't be bothered to tan.

So when i got to the Chanel counter i did my normal speech about needing something with a high coverage for acne and combination skin and the Chanel rep recommended Perfection Lumiere . I had already seen a few positive reviews on this particular foundation it so i asked if she could apply it all over (as you can never really tell how well it goes onto your skin otherwise). She advised me on applying with a brush to get better coverage. I have heard mixed reviews on using brushes, and for me personally i have gone off using them. Because i have certain areas that need more attention when applying, i find by using my fingertips i can apply it more evenly and i have more control over how much i use. I also find it gives it a more natural finish when applied skin to skin, but that could just be my personal preference because of my skin type. When i have used brushes in the past I've found that my skin gets worse and worse as it spreads bacteria back and forth every use unless you have time to thoroughly clean them everyday. 

The foundation smelt so fresh as she brushed it on and blended it from the middle outwards. The texture was very luxurious and creamy but still so light on the skin. Usually i need to use concealer on my chin area on top of my foundation but this was such high coverage i didn't need anything extra. The finish looked dewy (which is almost impossible to find with high coverage foundation) and at the same time it also felt like i had dusted over the top with a setting powder. The colour was possibly the best match I've ever had as i usually go for something to match my tan and not my natural skin tone. The foundation Lasted a good 6-8 hours which is good for me! The rep also gave me some under eye gel samples to try and persuaded me to get the blusher she had applied afterwards. Lets face it i don't need much persuading! The eye gel felt amazingly refreshing under my eyes, and soaked in so quickly. The little tubes that she gave me have lasted ages and although i don't really suffer with bags under my eyes, they do feel slightly tighter and less puffy in the mornings.

The next day i applied the same look with my fingers and was really happy with the results.  So if your looking for something with a flawless and dewy finish this is definitely the foundation for you. I wouldn't perhaps recommend this to someone without blemishes or uneven skin as it it would be far too heavy for you. The selling point for me wouldn't just be the lasting coverage, but the buildable layers. Throughout the day you can apply thicker layers on precise areas to ideally control your complexion’s perfection.

Perfection Lumiere retails in at £36.00

The Products;

 

PERFECTION LUMIÈRE

Long-wear Flawless Fluid Makeup

12 Beige Rose

 

 

Joues Contraste

Powder Blush

64 Pink Explosion

 

 

The 'Pink Explosion 'blusher comes in a cute little velvet pouch.

Hydra Beauty

Radiance Eye Gel

The Look

For this I also used:

Lancome Hypnose Mascara

Eyeko Liquid Eyeliner

Clinique Eyeshadow- Super Shimmer 35

Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake- Motto

Nars Lipgloss - Paris Follies

Dior Lip Glow

 



Clean Room Clean Mind

...As my Mum tells me often.

Thanks to my lovely Dad, i now have a shelf, double the size of my old one to hold and display all of my products on. Whilst i was sorting through my rediculous collection, i decided to give my bedroom a little makeover. Having such a small room i am constantly trying to find different ways to organise and store everything. This is the end result, let me know what you think!

I've organised all of my products into groups ranging from eyes, brows and lips to tools,moisturiser and hair. In total i used 15 old glossy box's to arrange them in, and then any over spill or larger items I've placed in order of use next to the correctly labelled box. I Don't think I've ever been this structured and disciplined, i wonder how long it will last!

The Large Stopwatch and ribbon (above my mirror) i got from an Accessorize window display a few years ago, still not quite sure what to do with the stopwatch as it so big but i love it so much i cant seem to depart with it! The wicker basket is from a group of three i brought from a Laura Ashley warehouse in Newtown. I use the largest for washing, the middle for hair appliances and the smallest as a bin! They are so useful in a small room, especially as they have lids, you can easily hide away anything messy.

Ive been looking out for some new lights to go around my bed post for a while now. Just before Christmas i was down in Kent visiting family and my auntie kindly gave me this set. they are made to look like glass with a gold layer on one side of the shapes (hearts, diamonds and stars). They give such a pretty effect at nighttime and its so nice to not have to have my main light on all the time!

Anyone that's visited my room will know i have a slight obsession with hearts! I'm not sure what it is about them, i just seem to love them haha. This one in particular i was given to by a friend so i love it even more and the quote written on it is so cute!

My mum recently brought me this new bed collection from Ikea. I love it so much. the material feels silky and theres nothing quite like getting into a freshly made bed! The duvet set comes with four pillow cases, and the spread has little flowers over the middle part. It looks so beautiful on and it goes with the rest of my room. I feel so old getting excited over bed linen! If your reading, Thanks Mum!

I absolutely adore these two paintings, they are my favourite flowers and look gorgeous just sat on either side of my window. I've wanted to put them up for a while but wasn't quite sure where to place them! So delighted that they are now part of my room.

This Beautiful Lamp i inherited, I'm not quite sure where it was from when it was first brought but i know that its had a few different lamp shades. I'm in love with the glass and metal stand. The lampshade gives it a classic feel and i know its boring but i love cream! The mix between vintage and modern materials are possibly my favourite mix/design to buy.

Thank you for reading,

Alys

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The King of Beauty

Today i decided to sort out all of my makeup, tools and products that have been cluttering up my shelves, exploding from underneath and around my bed...and anywhere else i can squeeze them! Halfway through i came back into my room to discover my cat George just chilling in the middle of it all :) so cute!

 

Alys

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My Weekend Routine

This is the last thing i ever thought i would be doing, but here goes! I've never quite gone completely naked (without makeup) in front of strangers or anyone for that matter! For people that know me well, will know that this is a huge deal for me!

 

As you can see my chin area is my worst affected part of my face. I suffer with acne mainly around my jawline and chin area. I have a really bad habit (my dermatologist constantly reminds me of) in which i touch my skin when I'm anxious or worrying about something. For me this is probably one of the main reasons my skin hasn't ever really properly cleared up!

During the week while I'm at work i don't tend to wear full coverage makeup, as i feel i need to let my skin breathe. So i usually just apply a small amount of tinted moisturiser. But, By the weekend when I'm out and about i like to use this routine for  my face and lips. 

So first of all in the shower i wash my skin with the Clinique redness solutions, which starts to calm and soothe the affected areas by the time I'm out the shower and dressed. Then, when its started to look less inflamed i apply La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (I will be doing a post on this very soon so keep your eyes peeled). I let this soak into my skin for a few minutes and then i apply a small amount of Benefit Pore Fessional to the worst areas. This Makes my overall skin tone a little more even for when i apply the foundation. Afterwards I use the tips of my fingers to apply about a pea sized amount of Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser.  Then Again i go over the worst affected areas with my Lancome Long Lasting Softening Concealer. I use this as its not too drying but has a good full coverage. I tap on the concealer with my fingers as it gives a more natural finish. Lastly, on the foundation front, i spray a small amount of Dior Air Flash Spray Foundation onto my Flat edged foundation Brush, and dab onto my skin all over. First i concentrate on my chin and jawline, then all over to merge the colours and make the whole look a little more even. This Foundation is a new find of mine  that i fell in love with as it gives such a flawless finish.

In the daytime i like my lips to look subtle and moisturised. So for this look i apply some of my Clinique chubby stick which gives a very natural colour tint then i go over the top of this with the Dior Lip Glow for the moisture and Shine. I realise this isn't my whole makeup look, but i wanted to show you a before and after of my worst affected areas. Please let me know what you think and let me know what you use on your skin:).

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

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A Guide to Luscious Lips

One of my main addictions in life has got to be lip balms. I have a constant need for moisturised luscious lips, and as i cant use anything scented on my skin normally, i try to find something heavenly smelling to make up for it! so here are just a few I've been trying recently.

Crème de Rose

'The must have care for damaged lips. The lip balm allies the expertise of Dior research in nutrition to the delicate smoothness of rose petals. All its nourishing power comes from the rare and precious Damask Rose essential oil extract together with an anti-ageing complex and Shea butter. Lips are instantly soothed, moisturised, beautifully plumped and soft. Totally addictive!' http://www.dior.com/beauty/en_gb/fragrance-and-beauty/make-up-and-cosmetics-by-christian-dior-lipstick-m/lips/lip-balm/pr-lipbalm-Y0026470-smoothing-plumping-lip-balm.html

I purchased this a few months ago when it first came out as a little treat for myself. I was extremely excited to try it as I'd read lots of good reviews on it. The balm comes in a cute little Dior box and the packaging itself is unique and looks luxurious. When first opened you can already smell the balm, it has almost a Turkish delight essence. the balm itself is solid so seems to last a long time. I've had it about 4 months now and i am only about half way through, considering i reapply throughout the day ALOT I'm surprised its not empty yet! So if your looking for something special and luxurious i would definitely recommend this. it has now gone down considerably in price so is worth the buy!








Eos


Recently on a trip to New York, my cousin and i came across these cute little sphere shaped lip balms. we'd both seen them advertised everywhere over instagram but not yet been able to try one. We brought one in nearly every colour in order to try them all and loved the look of them! The balm itself is a very light moisturising balm, so wouldn't be very beneficial to very dry lips. it has a very waxy texture which may not appeal to the majority of people. They all individually smell lovely, but have no real long term effect on your lips. You have to apply quite alot of the balm to create a desired effect. The only other con would be the shape of the packaging. originally i like the uniqueness of it, but its not very practical. I usually keep an emergency lip balm in my pocket but this is almost impossible to keep discreetly. overall i wouldn't recommend this to people looking for a long term solution for dry chapped lips. I wanted to love Eos so badly but unfortunately, the product did not work for me.






Nivea Lip Butter

This has got to be my favourite product I've found so far. At first glance it has a hard waxy look about it, but once applied its almost completely opposite. The texture is luxurious and creamy and everything you need in these dark winter months. In just under a day i could see a huge improvement. The vanilla and macadamia flavour smells divine i almost want to eat it every time i apply it. I found the balm lasts quite a while as you don't need to use alot. The only thing that lets it down is its packaging. I think it cheapens the product and don't show it off to its full extent. overall, i would recommend to anyone! It is extremely moisturising and although its very thick and creamy, its a long term solution to cure those dry peeling lips.




Dior Addict Lip Glow

'A made-to-measure lip balm that beautifies and durably enhances the lips’ natural colour. A customised colour result : thanks to its Colour Reviver technology, Dior Addict Lip Glow reacts directly with the unique chemistry of each woman’s lips before releasing its colour ingredient. Lips seem revived from within, amazingly fresh, full and radiant. In addition, its formula enriched with wild mango and luffa cylindrica continuously protects and moisturises. A universal balm for all lips.'
http://www.dior.com/beauty/en_gb/fragrance-and-beauty/make-up-and-cosmetics-by-christian-dior-lipstick-m/lips/lip-balm/pr-lipbalm-Y0027010-colour-awakening-lip-balm.html


Whilst having my makeup done by a Dior rep recently, she recommended i tried this on top of a lipstick. I absolutely loved it! It kept my lips moisturised for a long period of time and kept the colour looking natural and subtle. even without lipstick underneath it gives your lips a soft pink boost, giving anyone a  natural colour an upgrade. Although i don't believe it has any long term effects and it's not going to solve any chapped lips problems, its a short term solution if your wanting to wear lipstick and have very dry lips.

Body Shop Shea Butter Balm

I brought this recently as an emergency substitute when i ran out whilst out shopping. The product itself smells amazing, which is what had drawn me to begin with. When i first applied the balm i really liked the look on my lips, its shiny smooth and almost as good as a gloss. However, after a few applications my lips started to feel sore and they got even more chapped the more i used it. The butter melted quickly and turned into a liquid making it very greasy. This product is ok on the odd occasion when you need a fix but i wouldn't recommend this as a product you can re apply again and again throughout the day. Its a shame because the body butter pots are completely different!


Lastly;

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream



This multi-functional concentrated yellow cream is a cult product from Japan containing natural ingredients such as glycerine and a variety of vitamins especially formulated to target dry skin. It is perfect for use on knees, elbows, feet, and face etc.  I found that you can also apply to chapped lips during the winter, the results were instant and better than using a lip balm. The cream, itself, is non greasy, sinks into the skin and smells slightly medicated. This moisturiser is gentle, soothing, and ideal for sensitive skin types or even someone that suffers with eczema. I also tend to use this on my hands and feet after i've painted my nails as its great for your cuticles. A little goes a long way and you notice an improvement in the texture of the skin almost instantly. A definite staple for the bathroom cabinet! 


Thankyou for reading girls,

Alys
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