New In | New Years Beauty Buys

CHANEL VITALUMIERE AQUA FOUNDATION | MAC LIPSTICK IN BRAVE | JO MALONE WOOD SAGE & SEA SALT COLOGNE

I'm not sure what it is about the festive period, but after Christmas and into the New Year I always get this overwhelming urge to splurge. I went sales shopping over the weekend and typically, my beauty haul consisted of full price only items. 

First up was an essential repurchase, of which I knew would never be in sale. Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in 10 Beige is my go to everyday foundation and my current bottle is putting up a serious fight to give me product. At an eye-watering £33, this isn't the most purse-friendly option but I simply cannot be without - a light to medium coverage that looks, feels and glows like skin should. 

Like most girls, I've been sucked into the Kylie Jenner mauve lip craze thanks to her incessant Instagram postings and research showed that MAC was the brand I needed. Amongst the few products the interweb threw out at me, Brave Lipstick (£15.50) seemed a common theme and so to the MAC counter I went. I asked to try on the lipstick first to ensure the colour suited my skin tone and it was love at first swipe. Brave is a satin finish, packed with pigment, a comfortable wear and has become a fast favourite in my makeup bag already. 

On a previous shopping excursion (told you I've been #feelingspendy) I popped into Jo Malone. I have been lusting over the Wood Sage & Sea Salt fragrance since I happened upon a sample in a magazine. Unfortunately, they were out of the cologne but the consultant kindly gave me a generous sample of the Body Creme so I could at least try the fragrance on my skin. I cannot even begin to explain the commotion this fragrance has caused at home - I smothered my hands in it the minute I got through the door and my mum became obsessed with it too (Mother's Day present sorted). I went back in over the weekend and alas, they had restocked the Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne - destiny some (me) might say. Lets be real, I'm crap at describing scents but the JM website tells me this 'woody' fragrance it has notes of Ambrette Seeds, Sea Salt and Sage, but I also detect a hint of fig. Love. I will most definitely be adding the Body Creme to my birthday wishlist. 

Have you treated yourself to anything since Christmas?

July Favourites

What a beautiful month July turned out to be, we had several heat waves, one of our own won Wimbledon and a new Prince was born (didn't Kate look amazing?!). I've been a busy bee this month, I began a trial/training period at a new job as a Junior Account Executive at a small beauty PR agency in Wimbledon. I'm about to start my 6th week and I'm really enjoying myself and thriving off the new challenges being thrown my way. With the sunshine and early mornings this month has been all about light coverage foundations and bronzed skin. 

I've been constantly reaching for my NARS The Happening Eyes and Cheek palette, which was a limited edition product from the beginning of the year. I've been using Gstaad, the bronze shade as a wash of colour over my lids to give my eyes a little something extra and using the dark matte brown Coconut Grove to smoke out Gstaad for a nighttime appropriate look. To warm up my complexion I've been switching between Laguna and Chanel's Bronze Universal to give me that summertime glow, perfect in the weather we've been having recently. 

I've been a complete floozie when it comes to foundation this month, there has been no rhyme or reason, I've just been using different products in hope of finding "the one". The results? Well I'm not sure I've found the love of my foundation life but I've really been enjoying MACs Matchmaster. It gives a good amount of coverage with a tiny amount, meaning your not caking up your pores in the heat and it's the only base from my collection that seems to last longest on my skin in the heat (damn you oily skin). To take off all my make up in the evenings, I've been using a new to me brand, Tri-Dosha. Tri-Dosha is an ayurvedic brand which sources natural ingredients. The Tri-Dosha Cleanser from the Essentials collection features palmarosa and grapefruit so as you can imagine - it smells amazing. A creamy gel like consistency, this glides onto the skin and rids of the make up and grime from the day. As always I double cleanse to make sure I get rid of everything. 

The Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File has been a favourite for months, I've just failed to mention it on the blog. It's pricey but oh so worth it, if like me you rake at your nails with a file back and forth - with any other nail file thats a no no, but with LD you can rake away. It leaves the nail smooth and perfectly shaped in a few swipes. My go to everyday fragrance is Stella McCartney Stella. It's an easy to wear scent that is suitable year round and I often get comments on my scent in the office, which is an added bonus. 

As for my non beauty favourits of the month, I'm still loving Grey's Anatomy - I'm currently on season 7 and it never fails to make me laugh so hard one minute to balling my eyes out the next. My favourite character is Lexi and I love Meredith and Christina's relationship. I've also really gotten back into my Kindle. I've always been a bookworm and now my commute gives me an excuse to get nose deep into a good book. I'm currently reading The Game Changer by Jenn Sterling, a ridiculously addictive romantic novel about a couple adjusting to a new life in the spotlight (it's the second in a series, I'm hoping there will be a third).

There you have it, my monthly round up. What are your favourites this month?

June Favourites

It's time for this months beauty favourites post, with a random chucked in for good measure.  June 2013 has been one of those months I wont forget for a long time to come.  Just this past week I graduated from university with a 2:1 in Fashion Journalism, which I am beyond proud of and I'm now on to the next chapter of my life  - one that doesn't involve education for the first time in 16 years.  More of that in an upcoming post, now let's get onto my favourites for the month of June.  

I've begun running out of some of my favourite skincare products and as I don't have the cash to splurge on repurchases just yet, I've been pulling out products that have started to gather dust.  I've had the Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean Cleanser since January, but have only really gotten into it this month. It smells like peaches and has a peppermint twist which is cooling on the skin.  It's great at getting make up off and leaving your skin feeling clean and refreshed.  I've also been using Origins Drink Up Intensive in place of a moisturiser two times a week to give my skin a moisture boost.  This is a popular face mask in the bloggersphere - it's one you pop on and leave overnight.  It can be quite tacky so it's definitely one to put on 30 minutes or so before you get into bed, but by morning you're left with soft, plumped up skin that's ready for make up.  I also rediscovered an old favourite in the form of perfume this month.  I've had CK IN 2 U for a few years now and I love the smell around this time of year.  It has notes of Amber, Vanilla and Cedar.  

As I mentioned earlier, I graduated this week and so wanted to give myself a summer glow to take the edge of my extremely pale skin.  I've tried out a couple of different mousse tans but St Tropez is by far the best. If you're afraid of tanning, like I once was, the guide colour really helps to blend out any streaks and leave you with a flawless finish.  The product dries quickly and takes up to four hours to develop, so I usually pop this one before bed and let it do it's thing overnight.  I've also been enjoying Essie's Tart Deco, which turned out to be a great match for my graduation dress.  The formula is creamy and opaque, needed only two coats for maximum colour.  A lip product I've been reaching for all month is Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in 'Boy', for a quick and easy swipe of colour that's easy to reapply during the day.  These lipsticks are extremely moisturising and have that iconic Chanel scent to them.   

A non-beauty related favourite this month is in the form of a TV series.  I've been bitten by the Grey's Anatomy bug, after my sister-in-law insisted I would love it.  I love American drama's, my favourite being One Tree Hill and I've fallen head over heels for Grey's.  If you've never watched it, it's set in a hospital and follows Meredith Grey who begins life as a surgical intern.  It features the likes of Katherine Heigl, Eric Dane and my newest crush Patrick Dempsey.  

So that's it, another month of 2013 done and dusted.  

What are you're favourites this month?

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in #54 Boy

I'm having a lip moment right now, what with Rimmel launching their fantastic Apocalips line but I wanted something moisturising and nude for those days when I don't have time to perfect a bright lip.  Enter Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in shade #54 Boy.  I'd been eyeing this lipstick up for a while, having heard good things about the products formula.  Boy is a brown-pink shade perfect for day wear.  It comes in the classic Chanel packaging, with black and gold hardware and those all important double C's.  

The formula is somewhat like a lip balm, you're even able to pick up a clear version of this product.  It's moisturising on the lips, leaves a gorgeous shine and a subtle tint, which finishes off any make up look nicely.  For a tinted lip balm, it lasts a reasonable amount of time, depending on what you're doing - if you're eating, you will definitely need to top up after.  One of the best things about this product is that it's so easy to apply, because the colour isn't so strong, you can get away with no mirror if you have to.  

At £24.00 a pop, these are arguably overpriced lip balms, but if you're looking to treat yourself to a no muss, no fuss luxury lip product then this could be the product for you.  

Do you own any Chanel lipsticks?

Year in Review | Best of 2012

Happy New Year! 

This is part two of my 'Year in Review' series.  Yesterday I wrote about my Top 12 Beauty Products of 2012 and today I'll be talking you through each month and all the things that happened to me.  So without further adieu...

JANUARY

While for many, January is a horrible month, for my family it was a really happy one.  On Wednesday 25th January my Sister-in-law gave birth to William Alexander and he's brought so much love and happiness into the family (and quite a few sleepless nights for his Mum and Dad). Without sounding too soppy, it was the best possible start to the new year.

FEBRUARY

My birthday month always brings good memories.  This year was no exception and on my birthday we went out on the town.  The club was packed thanks to Joey Essex and Diags from The Only Way is Essex making an appearance but I can't really remember much else from the night.

MARCH

A busy month at university.  We were creating a magazine in a group as part of our course and it was a lot of hard work which would eventually pay off.

APRIL

April was both a good and a bad month.  Tuesday 4th April brought the end of my favourite TV show in the entire world - One Tree Hill.  On the plus side, I have all the box sets and will continue to watch them for years to come! At the end of the month, I started a social media internship at Phoenix, a designer reseller which meant I was surrounded by Chanel, Louboutin, Mulberry and many more for a whole month.  At lunch time, I often found myself in a small shop called 'At Home' where they sold delicious but humongous  sandwiches.  The shop was also situated about two minutes from Space NK and inevitably, I got the bug.

MAY

With the end of my internship also came the end of second year at university.  I continued freelancing for Phoenix whilst they were between interns.  May is also a big month for birthdays in my family with my brother on the 7th and my youngest niece Alice on the 25th (are you noticing a pattern with birthdays?)

JUNE

On Tuesday 5th June, myself and two of my best friends went on holiday to Spain.  It was the best 10 days of my life, we laughed, tanned, shopped and just had an amazing time.  Definitely what we needed after a stressful few months at university.  Sophia Bush, aka Brooke Davis from One Tree Hill also tweeted me on the 20th June - a pretty cool highlight.

JULY

My second internship of the year was in June at More! Magazine. I spent two weeks working with the fashion team as well as contributing to the magazine which was fun, as I read More! on a weekly basis. It was a lot of hard work, more so the commute than anything else but it was also great experience for my CV.  July also saw the arrival of another baby in the family.  My auntie gave birth to a baby girl who is absolutely adorable.

AUGUST

While I didn't get to go to the actual Olympic park (still kicking myself), I definitely got the Olympic bug.  Luckily, the cycle race came through my hometown so I got to feel the atmosphere without paying a pretty penny for it.  We saw Wiggins, Cavendish and the boys for all of about two seconds as they whizzed past.  

SEPTEMBER

I made an Apple investment in September and bought my iPad, which I've found difficult to put down since.  The first thing I did when I got it was buy Allure magazine, my favourite magazine and one any beauty junkie should read!

OCTOBER

After what felt like a year off, it was time to go back to university for my third and final year (eek).  Of course, October also means Halloween and I celebrated with the girls at a house party. I decided to go as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter because I don't think I could have passed as Hermione with my bleach blonde hair.  

NOVEMBER

I popped my spa virginity in November as we celebrated one of my best friends 21st birthday by getting pampered. Although I didn't have any money to get a treatment, we had access to a relaxation room with herbal tea and fruit, both steam and sauna rooms as well as a jacuzzi, where we spent the majority of the day.  We finished the day with Mexican food and cocktails.  

DECEMBER

Gossip Girl ended but Christmas softened the blow.  December is one of my favourite months and the lead up to the big day was made more magical now that Alice is old enough to understand and really believes in Santa Claus. On the 10th, the girls and I got together for our very own Christmas day, complete with Secret Santa, Turkey and all the trimmings. 

That's my year in review, thanks for reading my blog this year and here's to another good year! I've got lots to look forward to in 2013 including (hopefully) graduation, seeing Girls Aloud, Williams 1st birthday, my 21st birthday and hopefully I'll be able to leave Tesco for a big girl job (fingers crossed).

How has 2012 been for you?

Christmas Beauty Checklist

It's finally Christmas Eve and whilst today is mostly about cleaning the house from head to toe and some festive baking, I'll also be completing my beauty checklist, Christmas style.  Every year I seem to do exactly the same routine, in preparation for the big day. I usually leave washing my hair for Christmas morning, so I can enjoy a bath with some Lush goodies but before that I like to take care of my skin, brows and nails.  

When it comes to skin, I go all out.  Firstly, to get rid of any dirt, I cleanse with my favourite cleanser right now, REN's Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay cleanser. It says to use around one to two pumps and wash off with warm water, but for an extra exfoliation I use a muslin cloth.  Now that my pores are open, I find it best to tweeze my eyebrows.  Once my face is clean and my brows are groomed I then move on to a proper exfoliation, using Liz Earle's Gentle Face exfoliator. I like this product as it uses jojoba beads rather than a more abrasive exfoliant, which can sometimes leave my skin completely stripped. Next comes a face mask, I told you I go all out.  My skins playing up at the minute so I'll be using my trusty Origins Out of Trouble mask.  This product smells odd but really does the trick when it comes to pesky blemishes.  By now, my skin could do with a good douse of Embryolisse moisturiser for rehydration, after a quick spritz of my Liz Earle Skin Tonic.  

After working on my skin, I like to relax a little and paint my nails. I'm currently undecided whether to go for Chanel's Rouge Noir or Particuliere (let me know your choice in the comments!).  I file and shape my nails using a nail file before moving on to polish.  As I'm currently trying to grow my nails, I've been using OPI's Nail Envy as a base coat. I have mixed feelings on this product.  Some of my nails have really taken to it and have never been so long, but my thumbnails are quite different. They have been splitting at the sides, which they never did before I started using Nail Envy.  I'll persevere for a little while longer in the hope for long and strong talons. After the base coat, I apply two coats of the chosen colour and follow up with a top coat.  

Once my nails are dry, I usually just relax for the rest of the evening.  
Do you have a pre-Christmas beauty routine?

Today's Face #1

I had an early lecture this morning all about my dissertation (don't even get me started) so I opted for a slightly more minimal make up look with a sheer red lip to pull it all together.  

Benefit The POREfessional - This is my go to primer as of late as it does what it says on the tin as well as mattifies my skin. I'm currently using up a sample as I ran out of the full size product.  For full review, click here.

No7 Essentially Natural Foundation - This is such a great foundation that I picked up at the No7 counter after having my Match Made Service. It's lightweight and have the right amount of coverage and is a great match for my skin. I'll be posting a more in depth review within the next week!

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - My holy grail high street concealer which gets rid of any blemish or stubborn redness.  

Collection 2000 Illuminating Touch Concealer - I've been trying this out for the past week and I really like it so far.  It's a dupe of the infamous YSL Touche Eclat but I think it's slightly thicker in consistency.  

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronze Universel - I've really been into cream products lately and today I opted for bronzer rather than blush.  This is such a luxurious product and it lasts all day on the skin.  

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - My powder of choice at the moment to set my T-zone.  

Benefit They're Real! Mascara - I LOVE this mascara, it's just so good.  If you want length and volume then this is definitely the mascara for you.  If you haven't got the budget for Benefit, have no fear there will be a blogpost coming soon about a cheaper alternative.  

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick in Rebel Red - I got given this in my goody bag when I left More! magazine and I've never worn it. It's a sheer red balmy lipstick (not dissimilar to Revlon's Lip Butters) which is great for any of you who are scared to try a bold, matte red.  It's not that long wearing but it's really comfortable on the lips.  I also think it really brings out the blue in my eyes.  

The look is anything from fancy but it certainly does the job.  I think without the red lip it would work nicely as a very minimal, no make up, make up look.  

What's your go to 'easy' make up look?

August 2012 Favourites

It's that time again and without sounding cliched - just where has this year gone?! Not long to go until I start my third and final (eek) year of university but that's a whole other post.  I don't religiously blog about my favourite products as some months I can't come up with an amount I deem suitable.  This month, as the weather got warmer, I kept tabs on just what I was using so much.  The majority of products I have reviewed in depth and I will leave links for those at the end of the post.  

When I've worn make up this month, I've kept it fairly simple and natural.  I've re-discovered my love for Bourjois' Healthy Mix Serum foundation, which is my cheaper equivalent of Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua.  Under the eyes and along the bridge of my nose, I've been loving YSL's infamous Touche Eclat.  Another Bourjois favourite is my Little Round Pot blusher in #16 which both smells and looks amazing on my cheeks.  When it comes to lips it's either been Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream and a lip balm or one of the two pictured above.  Topshop's Innocent is a lovely rose colour which looks good both straight on or patted into the lip - if I fancied an injection of colour I reached for Jemma Kidd's Hi-Shine Hydrating Glosstick in #4 Hibiscus (bit of a mouthful).  On my nails, I've been loving Essie's Watermelon - a gorgeous hot pinky red shade which looks equally amazing on toes.  

My two skincare standouts have both been from Origins. After having a horrible time with my skin at the beginning of the month I started using the Out of Trouble face mask which has helped clear up active breakouts and reduce the amount of oil, especially around my T-Zone.  When I bought the face mask I was also given two samples.  I've really been enjoying using Modern Friction (which I keep calling Micro Friction - #fail) which has helped get rid of any redness or scarring that breakouts have left behind. Definitely thinking about a full size purchase! 

L'Oreal's Ever Pure hair care range has really stuck out for me, for at least six weeks now.  I use the Colour Care and Moisture system which leaves my hair feeling like silk - plus they smell heavenly.  Once a week I will slather on the Reinforcing Intense Mask and leave in my locks for about an hour before washing out.  As I have bleach blonde hair, it can be quite porous and it's important to give it a good soak to help better its condition.  I've come back to my Moroccan Oil Light, which is nearly all gone (sob).  I prefer the light formulation as it doesn't weight my hair down but still does the job.  

What have been your favourite products this month?

Full product reviews: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation; Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush; Essie Nail Polish; Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Hydrating Glosstick in #4 Hibiscus; L'Oreal Ever Pure Colour Care and Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner; L'Oreal Ever Pure Reinforcing Intense Mask; Origins Out of Trouble Face Mask

Sephora Classic Mineral Powder Brush vs. Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki

A little while ago I posted a 'vs' blog on foundations (read here) and it went down really well.  This time I'm comparing two of my face brushes, the Sephora Classic Mineral Powder Brush and the Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki.  

Sephora Classic Mineral Powder Brush #45

I picked up this brush whilst in Spain in June. I'd heard a few great reviews and wondered if I'd like it more than the Sigma F80.  It was around €16 (£13) when I bought it which I thought was reasonable. Although the name suggests this is for use with mineral products, I use this with liquid foundations.  The brush is soft to touch but I find that when I apply product it can feel a little scratchy but not to the point where you can't stand it.  It's great at buffing in base products for a flawless finish - my favourite foundation in conjunction with the brush being MUFE's HD foundation.  Unlike the Sigma F80, this is a rounded kabuki and is far fluffier and a little less dense.  The bristles are synthetic meaning that they clean easier and because this brush isn't so dense, I find it dries within a couple of hours.  

Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush

I've had this brush for around 10 months now and I love it.  It was £14.99 from Love Makeup, who stock a lot of the Sigma brushes.  This is a great liquid foundation brush, the bristles are extremely soft and glide over the face nicely, creating a flawless finish.  I really like using Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua with this brush as it gives the perfect finish and helps to achieve a higher coverage.  As you can see, the bristles on the F80 are more tightly packed, making the brush far denser in comparison to the Sephora.  As well as foundation, I also find I can use this brush with my concealer and also it's great at getting under my eye area with my YSL Touche Eclat.  The synthetic bristles mean that again, it cleans fairly easily, although as I've used it quite a bit, it's stained now. Might be time to get a replacement! This brush takes a long time to dry, I washed all my make up brushes yesterday morning and when I took this photo's a day later, the middle bristles were still a little damp.  

Both brushes have pro's and con's but are great at general base make up application.  For a smoother feeling, all around product brush the Sigma F80 is great but if you'd rather one brush for one job then the Sephora is equally as great.  The only downside to the Sigma brush is the time it takes to dry whereas the Sephora brush takes a lot less.  Right now I'm reaching for the F80 as I feel I can do it all - foundation, concealer and under eye concealer in one but I do fluctuate from time to time to the Sephora brush.  

Unfortunately the Sephora brush is extremely difficult to get hold of in the UK - it's time they came back to the UK and opened up some stores!

Have you tried either brushes? 

Beauty Lust List #3

The September issues are out which means one thing - the turn of the new season.  I love the autumn and winter seasons for beauty because you can go a bit darker and more dramatic with your make up.  On the catwalks designers such as Christopher Kane, Erdem and Roberto Cavalli replaced summer's pastel lilac shades, in favour for plummier and more vibrant, electric tones.  Lips no longer reign supreme, it's all about the eyes (or eyebrows if you're Chanel) and how bold you dare to go.  After flicking through the September issues and perusing the new collections on the web, I've definitely created a large lust list when it comes to A/W - apologies debit card!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

1. NARS Eyeliner Stylo; £18.50 - NARS have finally launched their first eyeliner pen in four shades.  I've always found applying eyeliner with a felt tip nib easiest so I'm excited to see if the 'stylo' will live up to the success of L'Oreal's Super Liner Perfect Slim.   

2. Le Prisme Yeux Quatuor in #72 Midnight; £34 - There have been some gorgeous eyeshadow palettes and colours released for the new season. Givenchy have added some new quads into their collection, although I'm still lusting after their #72 Midnight palette.  

3. Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Hydrating Glosstick in #06 Turtle Bay; £13 - As lips are taking a backseat it's time to invest in some new nude colours.  In my last post I reviewed the Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Hydrating Glosstick in #04 Hibiscus (read here) and I've been wanting to add more to my collection since.  I'll also be using my beloved MAC lipsticks in Hue and Myth.  

4. NARS Eyeshadow Trio in High Society; £33 - NARS released some great colours this year, including the rather outrageous New Wave palette.  I'm not quite so brave to wear such bold colours, so the muted tones in the High Society trio are right up my street.  I wish this came in a duo with the green and purple shades! 

5. Louise Gray for Topshop Make Up - I'm excited for the Louise Gray collaboration with Topshop to launch. Although the seasons focus will be more on eyes, there are some really beautiful lipstick shades being launched with the collection.  

Have any of the new collections caught your eye? I'm looking forward to seeing what the high street brands have to offer! 

Beauty Review: CHANEL Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronze Universal

It's quite a mouthful but this is possibly the most illusive bronzer on the market.  After receiving rave reviews from the beauty community, this product was no where to be seen.  I'd constantly be at my local Chanel counter asking after it to no avail.  Four months later I finally got my hands on the beauty (literally). I must admit, I was slightly dubious after the MUA at the Chanel counter tried it on me.  I think she had a heavy hand, or was in fact trying to make me look like an Oompa Loompa.  After further research I decided that I still wanted it.  

A month later and I've really been enjoying using the bronzer.  Like every other Chanel product I've tried, it has a gorgeous scent to it, which smells to me like holiday.  It's creamy in consistency and glides easily from brush to skin.  I use this with a buffing brush and a light hand, although a kabuki brush would also work well.  The key to using this product without looking like you're fresh from a night out at the Sugarhut is to completely blend it into the skin.  I find that even on my pale skin it gives a really subtle glow.  

You only need a small amount of product and after a months use I've barely scratched the surface. This is also a bit of a con, because if you put too much onto the brush it can be difficult to blend in - resulting in the not so desirable streaky look. At £29 it's not the cheapest product on the market either, but the fact that you don't need much means it's going to last you for a long time.  

Were you one of the lucky ones who managed to get hold of this product?

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow vs. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

In my recent monthly favourites post (which you can read here) I mentioned that I had been loving two foundations in particular.  Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow and Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua have had me singing 'eenie meenie miney mo' most mornings, but what is the real difference between the two? 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10 - £31.00

Chanel's make up always seems to have a lovely, fresh scent to it, which makes application all that luxurious. Vitalumiere Aqua's packaging is different to most of the Chanel foundations, in that it has a twist off lid and you need to squeeze the bottle to get the product out.  It's a light coverage foundation which is buildable depending on the look you're going for, or if you're like me, how you're skin looks that day.  It gives the face a healthy glow and a flawless finish.  The foundation only comes in seven shades which is quite limiting and I even find my B10 to be slightly too dark.  This will change in the summer when I tan but isn't ideal during winter.  The shades are yellow in tone, so great if you have red undertones or hyper pigmentation.  I find that, personally, this foundation doesn't have great lasting power and can go patchy during a long day, even with primer. I love the finish too much not to use it.  

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in 'I'm Pure 4 Sure' - £24.50

Benefit's long awaited, first liquid foundation had received a lot of hype and greatly deserved I think.  The packaging embodies Benefit's aesthetic, feminine and fun.  The foundation has a pump which makes life a lot easier when it comes to how much you need.  I usually use between 1-2 pumps, again depending on how much skin is looking that day.  Another light coverage foundation with buildability, HFOW (it's A LOT to type out...) comes in nine shades, catering for both yellow and pink undertones.  It claims to be brightening which I agree with, I feel I get a much more dewy finish with this base, compared to Vitalumiere Aqua.  Compared to the Chanel foundation, I feel this stays on my skin a lot longer and I now find myself reaching for it when I have a long day at work or uni ahead of me.  

Both foundations have pro's and con's and are great for different things.  If you're looking for a foundation for an event or occasion that's lightweight and gives your skin that sought after healthy glow - Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua is perfect.  If you're looking for a light coverage foundation to wear to work that brightens your skin to give you a more awake appearence then Benefit HFOW is the choice for you.  Both products contain 30ml of foundation.  If I had to choose between the two right now I would go for Benefit over Chanel - but that could always change!

Do you have either of these foundations? Let me know in the comments below what you think.  

April 2012 Favourites

Another month gone, where is 2012 going? April was an extremely busy month with the magazine unit due (see the finished product here) and then work experience starting, I haven't really stopped.  When it came to my make up for this month it was quick and simple which is reflected in my favourites.  

For my base I've kept it light and dewy as I haven't really had the time to buff out a heavy duty foundation, plus my skin hasn't really needed that extra coverage. I've switched between my Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in shade 'I'm pure 4 sure' and my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10.  These both give a dewy finish which leaves your skin looking really natural.  My brush of choice is the Sigma F80 flat top kabuki which makes life so much easier! It applies the foundation extremely quickly, leaving a flawless finish. 

To add warmth to my cheeks I've been using the Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronze Universel with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush from the Core Collection.  As I am so fair at the moment, I use the tiniest amount otherwise I might look like an oompa loompa (sorry Roald Dahl, it was never a good look).  I'm looking forward to taking this on holiday and using it when I have a tan! I've also been picking up my Sleek Face Contour Kit and using the highlighter to brighten the inner corners of my eyes as there was a lot of early mornings and late nights through April.  

Keeping with the simple look, I haven't really done anything other than kohl liner on my tight line and mascara.  My mascara of choice is MUFE Smoky Lash in black which I will definitely be stocking up on when I go to Sephora in Spain next month.  For lips I've kept things pretty nude or sheer in colour.  My favourites have been the Clinique Chubby Stick in wooping watermelon and 17 Mirror Shine On Lipstick in Beehive.  

What have been your favourite products of April?