New In | Drugstore Edition

 Lately, I've been finding myself pulled towards the likes of Boots and Superdrug and steering away from the high end concessions.  Now, I'm not saying that my love for luxury has died completely, I just think the drugstore is having a moment right now.  Brands have been launching products left, right and centre and some have been too gorgeous to avoid.  I found myself perusing the aisles of Superdrug yesterday, looking to pick up some essentials and also to treat myself after finishing my degree (would you like a post on my university experience?) and found that all cosmetics were on 3 for 2, so I felt I should oblige. 

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover; £4.99 - Another essential I've been meaning to pick up was the Bourjois nail polish remover.  This will be my third pot of the gimmicky goodness and I just love it.  It removes nail polish almost immediately and leaves a gorgeous fruity smell behind - my only hang up is that it's not toe friendly (don't pretend you haven't tried!).  

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer; £4.19 - Unless you were born yesterday, you'll know this product is very much loved and raved about in the UK.  I picked up another tube as I'm currently scraping the edges of my old one.  It provides amazing coverage, it doesn't cling to dry patches or looks cakey on the skin and it's only £4.19 - bargain! 

Sleek Shimmer Blush in Pomegranate; £4.49 - Sleek's a brand I haven't really ventured into much, apart from a lipstick and the infamous contour kit but when I saw this blush I couldn't not get it.  It's slightly more plummy in real life and it's definitely more of an autumn colour but I'm going to try and make it work for the summer - it could even be a great crease colour on the eye.  I've just swatched it and the pigmentation is lovely so I'm excited to try it.  

Maybelline Colour Sensation Vivids in Shocking Coral; £7.19 - I passed the Maybelline concession without a second glance until the word 'Vivids' caught my eye and I remembered seeing some of the lipsticks on YouTube.  I spied Shocking Coral, a true coral shade and popped it into my basket.  I swatched this once I got home and the colour really is vivid, plus it has a really nice smell to it. 

Bourjois Cream Blush in Nude Velvet (#01) and Rose Tender (#03); £7.99 - Bourjois are famous for their Little Round Pot blushers, but they've just launched their new cream blushers, complete with that Bourjois rose scent.  Admittedly, this is the reason I wanted to go into Superdrug and out of the four shades on offer, these two stood out the most.  I've really been enjoying cream blushers lately and I'm excited to try these. 

Have you picked up any goodies from Boots or Superdrug lately?

Inside: Travel Make Up Bag

When I'm out and about, like most girls, I like to have the daily face essentials on hand, ready to combat any oily sheen or lipstick malfunction.  I try not to carry around too much with me, just the bare necessities.  Powder is always the first thing to be thrown into the pouch and right now I'm between two powders, MAC's MSF Natural in Light and Rimmel's Stay Matte in Translucent.  This is to help keep my make up in place for longer, without threat of slipping as the day wears on.  I've been using the Real Techniques Contour Brush for powder, as I like to apply it where it's needed, rather than slather it on all over the place.  The next thing to make the cut is concealer and of course it's Collection Lasting Perfection - I think I'm on my fifth or sixth tube of the stuff but it really is as good as they say.  As it's quite a heavy coverage its great for on the go foundation touch ups as well as concealing.  I bring along the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for this job, it's great at creating a seamless finish no matter the heavy duty product.  

I also carry a rather grubby looking Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude, for times when my peepers need to look more awake.  The gel like formula means that this liner hardly budges but sometimes it's nice to have it with you, for touch up peace of mind.  My mascara of the day also comes along for the ride, as I find that sometimes it can end up under the eyes leaving you looking like a panda - never a good look no matter how cute they are.  I try to keep both a nude and a bright lipstick on me at all times so that I have options for whatever occasion might pop up during the day.  When I'm in a rush however, only the lipstick I'm wearing will get slung into the mix.  With the warmer weather finally arriving, I've been reaching for the Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Hydrating Gloss Stick in Hibiscus, which as the name suggests is moisturising, glossy and pigmented as hell.  The perfect coral lipstick? I think so.  Other necessities that make the cut are a compact mirror - for on the go touch ups, lip balm as well as a hair tie and bobby pin, because you never know in this country whether rain will frazzle your 'do' or not.  

What are your travel essentials?

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?

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer vs. Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer

When it comes to concealers, I expect high coverage.  I wear light to medium coverage foundations and like to dot concealer in places that need the extra coverage.  I'm going to compare the infamous Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer against Make Up For Ever's Full Cover concealer.

  

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer; £4.19

This product has been seen everywhere over the last few months and has been famed for its great coverage and lasting power.  At £4.19 it hardly breaks the bank and is easy to get your hands on as it's available both in Boots and Superdrug.  Unfortunately, there are only four shades to choose from, making it hard to match up your skin tone.  Luckily, I wear Fair 01 which is perfect for my pasty skin.  It's creamy formulation is almost mousse like in texture and a little goes a long way. I find that this concealer can appear cakey on the skin if you use too much, but use the right amount and blemishes, dark circles and redness are hidden well.  The overall finish is matte, which is good for oilier skins.  My one big hang up with this product is that it's a doe foot applicator, which can become unhygienic when used on blemishes.  If you've used the product before, you'll know that eventually the writing on the packaging disappears.  

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer; £21.95

A slightly less 'hyped' product in the bloggosphere is MUFE's Full Cover concealer, which I picked up in Spain.  It's a lot more expensive than the Collection 2000 alternative at £21.95 but it's a great product.  Designed to cover up tattoo's and scarring, you don't get any more coverage than from this product.  Like the Lasting Perfection concealer, it has a creamy formulation which has more of a gel like texture.  Again, a little goes a long way with this product, which is easily managed by the squeezy tube and nozzle. It's great for covering blemishes or redness but I prefer to use my YSL Touche Eclat under my eyes, for a more brightening finish.  The product leaves a dewy finish when blended in, which I prefer as it looks better alongside my foundation.  The only problem with this concealer, as with any MUFE product, is that it's hard to get hold of in the UK with only one stockist.  

Both concealers are great products.  If you're on a budget then Collection 2000 is great to have in your make up bag and a product I've repurchased over and over.  If you can afford the splurge and prefer products that give a dewy finish then MUFE's Full Cover is a great choice.  

What concealer do you use?