Review | Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot

Setting liquid foundation will help to lock product into place and if you find the right powder, it can also keep oily skin at bay for a lot longer than without. I recently picked up Soap & Glory's 'One Heck of a Blot' after seeing it in my local Boots. I have never really explored the S&G makeup range but have heard only good things. My usual powder preference is MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, which serves its purpose just fine, but with an affinity for beauty products, I'm always looking for the game changer. 

One Heck of a Blot is a blotting powder by nature - it's main purpose is to absorb excess oil, control shine and mattify skin. The powder comes in a handy compact with mirror and a puff for on the go touch ups and is translucent making it suitable for all skin tones. I like a natural luminosity to my base, so I usually sweep this powder on with my Real Techniques Duo-Fibre Face Brush (available in the Nic's Picks brush set), which picks up just enough product to hold everything into place, without things getting too cakey. The wear time of my makeup is definitely increased when I use this product, only needing to touch up once during the day, usually just in my t-zone. 

Overall it's a nice powder that gets the job done in all the right places. Game changing? No, but it will definitely be in rotation with my MAC powder. 

Have you tried any of the Soap & Glory makeup range?

The Combination | Dynamic Duo

There's something harmonious about a blush and lip combo that just works. This week I discovered the perfect everyday combo - Bobbi Brown Blush in Desert Rose and MAC Satin Lipstick in Brave. Together they compliment one another without making you look overly 'done'. 

Bobbi Brown's Blush in Desert Pink is a soft pink with a slight brown undertone, giving it a really natural tone that looks great on paler skin. It's a blush that I've had for a few years now and find myself leaning towards during the autumn and winter months, favouring the matte finish over my dewy creams in the warmer season. The powder blush is described as having a silky formula that glides onto skin easily, offering a long-lasting matte finish. The product is highly pigmented, needing only a slight tap of a blusher brush to pick up just enough product to sweep across cheek bones for a natural complexion boost. 

Hauled in my previous post is MAC's Satin Lipstick in Brave. It was love at first swipe with this pinky-mauve lipstick and since purchasing it's been the only product to grace my lips. The pigmented satin finish compliments the matte counterpart of the Bobbi Brown blusher - the formula leans more on the long-lasting matte side, with an added somethin' somethin' that stops lips from looking flat. 

I usually pair these two with a simple base, brows and mascara for a put together, office appropriate look, but it could also enhance a smokier eye look without looking too over the top. 

What's your favourite blush and lip combo?

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?

Beauty Wishlist | The High End Edit

Although I've been loving what high street brands have to offer lately, I can't help but be sucked in to Space NK and other high end concessions wishing for something more luxurious.  I wandered around my local Space NK a few weeks ago and picked up the Living Proof Prime Style Extender, which had been on my wishlist for a while, but if my debit card had, had its evil way, I would have been walking out with a lot more besides.  I write down my wishings in a notepad and adding another product to the list I noticed a high end trend going on.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

1. Origins GinZing Moisturiser; £23 - There's no denying that Origins is one of my favourite skincare brands and they've since launched the moisturising sister of their popular GinZing Eye Cream.  I'm currently on the look out for a daily moisturiser that keeps the oil at bay and this sounds right up my street.

2. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation; £33 - I picked up a sample of this from House of Fraser the other day and have used it everyday since and I love the finish.  It's got great coverage but it also has a glow to it, something often lacking from higher coverage foundations. Do I really need another foundation? No, but that wont stop me lusting.

3. Bioderma Sebium Micelle Solution; £9.99 - I love the original Bioderma, so I want to try the Micelle Solution formulated for oily skin, Sebium.  I've still got some of the original left to finish up first, before jumping into an impulse purchase.

4. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder; £38 - Hourglass is a brand in general I want to try but the Ambient Lighting Powder has really caught my eye of late, and not just because of all the blogger hype.

5. MAC Brushes in 217, 219 and 266; from £17 - I've been really getting into eyeshadows of late and want to update my brushes.  The 217 is the infamous blending brush which is great for blending shadows into the crease, 219 is a pencil brush, great for smudging colour along the lower lash line and 266 is a small angled brush perfect for applying eyeshadow as eyeliner.

What's on your beauty wishlist?

May Favourites

Another month down, another favourites post.  May has been a busy month, I've finished university and have been working up in London but it's also been a month for rediscovering old favourites, or perhaps products I once discarded.  

As with April, there's only one skincare product, as I've found a skincare routine I'm pretty happy with and I didn't want to bore you by banging on about the same products.  The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo is another one of those crazily hyped products that almost everyone has heard of and tried.  This product is supposed to correct and unclog pores to eventually leave you with clearer looking skin.  It's also quite mattifying and makes for a great base under foundation.  I use this in the mornings before moisturiser and my skin has definitely been a lot better lately (*touches wood*).  I've had this since the beginning of the year and I'm yet to run out, but if you're looking to buy it, it's currently on 3 for 2 at Boots.  Speaking of Boots, I dug out No7's Essentially Natural Foundation in Calico from my stash and have been setting it with MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural this month for the perfect luminous complexion.  Essentially Natural is a buildable light coverage foundation which leaves a natural finish to the skin. 

Cream products have definitely had a moment in May.  First of all, my new love in the form of the Bourjois Cream Blushers. I have shades Nude Velvet and Rose Tender and they are both beautiful.  I reviewed them earlier this week so I won't bore you with the same details but they are pigmented, smooth to apply and give a gorgeous colour to the skin.  The next cream product is one I have a love hate relationship with.  I've had the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze for a while now and whilst I love the colour (anyone know of a similar powder shade?), I find it always slides off my eyelids too quickly and up until this month I just threw it to the back of my drawer.  Whilst for me it's not the most long lasting colour, I still use it and in conjunction with the NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, I find it lasts a little bit longer.  This with a slick of mascara and a nude lip is a quick and easy, good to go look, which is something I've needed whilst working in London.  Another look I've been enjoying comes in the form of the Naked Basics palette.  For an easy everyday look, I've been applying Walk of Shame over the entire lid, whilst using Naked 2 for added definition in the crease.  

So those are my May favourites, but what have you been loving this month?

Summer 2013 | The Bold Edit

With summer nearly upon us (ha ha) it's time to whack out those lipsticks that really pack a punch. The season cries out for fuchsia, coral and orange shades a like and I've ploughed through my overflowing collection of lipsticks and picked my eight most summer worthy shades (most of them coral...).  Starting from the top and working round clockwise we have:

Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Hydrating Glosstick in Hibiscus; £13.00 - I've had this product for almost a year and I use it time and time again during the spring and summer months.  It does what it says on the tin with a creamy, highly pigmented, moisturising formulation that leaves a gloss like finish on the lips without any of the stickiness.  You can use this as a sheer wash of colour or pile it on for a real pop of coral, plus it has a gorgeous vanilla scent.  As it's a glossy product, touch ups throughout the day are required, but for such a beautiful product its no chore. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in 17; £7.99 - More true to form when it comes to lipstick formulations, the latest lip products from Bourjois are easy to apply with a creamy and highly pigmented finish. Number 17 is a gorgeous coral which is slightly darker than Jemma Kidd and less glossy. These last a while on the lips but touch ups are needed after food and drink or perhaps after a few hours.  

MAC Viva Glam Nicki; £14.00 - Another gorgeous coral shade (are you noticing a pattern?) that leans towards the barbie pink rather than blood orange of the previous products.  Viva Glam Nicki is thick and highly pigmented and really adds a pop of vibrant colour to any look.  I like to describe this as "highlighter for your lips" as it really is very bright.  The thick formulation makes for long lasting colour, and a great colour to have on you to take a look from day to night.  

Maybelline Colour Sensation The Vivids in Shocking Coral; £7.19 - I only bought this last week but it's a definite must for any who love a bold pinky coral lip.  The product is cream, extremely pigmented and applies like a treat, with a slightly sheeny finish.  Use sparingly and rub into the lips for a more toned down look or go all the way to give your pout a lil something, something.  

Topshop Lipstick in Legend; £10.00 - Unfortunately, this was a limited edition shade but I just had to include it. Legend is a true blue-toned fuchsia in the typical Topshop formulation.  Pigmented, smooth to apply and with that gorgeous berry smell, this is one of my favourite summer shades.  It lasts a while, but touch ups are needed throughout the day.  It feels comfortable on the lips and the blue tones help to make teeth look whiter.  A good alternative would be something like Sleek's True Colour lippy in Fuchsia.  

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse in Rebel Red; £8.19 - Something for the faint hearted.  If you're not confident going (p)out and proud with a bold lip, these balm type lipsticks are great for a slick wash of glossy, moisturising colour.  Rebel Red is great for lazy days as you can apply and go, without having to use a lip brush or faffing about.  Needless to say, the staying power is minimal but its so easy to use that touch ups are not  a problem.  

Rimmel Apocalips in Stella; £4.99 - These need no introduction as they swept the beauty blogosphere back at the beginning of the year but they are fab for blod lip days. Stella in particular is for the brave. A bright red-pink colour that leaves a gorgeous glossy lacquer to the lips, I absolutely love these products. These are beyond super pigmented, the colour pay off is incredible and they sit comfortably on the lips.  The only problem is they don't as long as I'd like and they are a nightmare in the wind (hair + lip lacquer = no go). Apply one coat, blot and apply a second for maximum impact and staying power.  

L'Oreal GlamShine Stain Splash; £7.99 - This is a lip lacquer and stain in one.  It applies like a lacquer, creamy and pigmented and sticks like a stain.  If you're going on holiday, these are great as once in place, they just don't budge.  They can be slightly sticky to begin with but once they dry, they leave behind a gorgeous glossy (almost wet looking) stain to the lips.  These do have great lasting power but I find I need a touch up around 4-5 hours into the day/night.  Like the Apocalips, apply one coat, blog and apply a second to make the most out of this product.  

So those are my favourite lip products for summer, but what are yours? 

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?

April Favourites

So let's begin the post with a cliche.  I can't believe it's May already, it feels like it was Christmas only yesterday, but alas summer is slowly creeping up on us and it's time for a monthly favourites post.  As you may know, I've been a busy bee with university work this month, but that could never stop a girl from indulging in a little beauty every now and again.  Needless to say, my make up has been very minimal this month, needing the extra minutes in bed over a perfect eyeliner flick.  

Lets start with my only skincare item to make the cut.  The Emma Hardie Amazing Face became a saviour this month after I began running low on my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish.  I had thrown this to the back of my stash but after pulling it out, it has reigned supreme as my go to cleanser this month. The product is a balm that requires a little water to make it slightly less thick, before massaging into the skin.  It melts away every trace of make up whilst thoroughly cleansing the skin and leaving it feeling fresh and hydrated.  

Moving onto make up and onto the blushers, you know I've been loving the Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera, which I talked about earlier this week.  It's the perfect spring/summer shade and is so easy to apply.  When I'm not feeling the dewy look as much, I've been turning to NARS Douceur blush.  Douceur is perfect for fair skinned girls, it's a gorgeous peachy brown shade which gives off a subtle flush of colour and can even be used as a soft contour. I'm definitely finding myself falling more and more in love with the NARS blushers every time I use them. They are soft and pigmented and apply seamlessly onto the skin, without leaving you looking like you've been running around in the cold.  

For the eyes, again I've been keeping it simple.  If I chose to wear eyeshadow, I just dusted the darker, purple-taupe shade from the NARS Tokyo duo across my lids for a soft wash of colour.  Other days I've gone straight in with the mascara.  A recent discovery is the Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara which I got free in Superdrug when it was on offer.  Admittedly, I hadn't had high hopes for this mascara but yet again Rimmel pulled it out of the bag.  The formula gives volume without leaving clumped up spider legs behind and the wand is tappered, allowing you to really get hold of every single lash. Another Rimmel product that's got the seal of approval is the Kate for Salon Pro nail colour in Soul Session. I spoke more in depth yesterday about the range and mentioned that this particular shade has taken the top spot in my nail colour preference (sorry Models Own Pink Beige, you're still number 2).  

I've been into my MAC lipsticks again this month, in particular Myth and Hue.  Both nude shades, I usually wear them together as I find Myth gives too much of a concealer lip look.  Together they create the perfect nude but sometimes I will just pop Hue on.  Myth is a matte formula, whilst Hue is a glaze. 

These are my monthly favourites, but what are yours?  

Beauty Roundup | NYFW

Happy LFW everyone! We're already a week into the Fashion Week period, with New York taking to the catwalks already.  My favourite thing to do over the Fashion Week period is to scour Style.com and peruse over the beauty write ups and images. There are already some great make up trends forming, here's my top three from NYFW.  

Diane Von Furstenburg

Jason Wu

Marc by Marc Jacobs and Thakoon

1.  The Colour Pop - This A/W is set to be brighter with designers favouring brighter colours, rather than the deep, berry tones we've come so accustomed too.  At Diane Von Furstenburg, MAC make up artist Karliados kept the eyes and base neutral and added a hit of neon pink to the lips using the MAC Chromographic Pencil in Process Magenta, mixed with a lip conditioner for a semi matte finish.  At Jason Wu, the colour inspiration came from the finale dress.  The base and lips were kept bare with a sweep of cobalt over the eyes.  Wu's make up artist, Diane Kendal used an inky blue pigment to begin, blending it out into the crease before adding a purple pigment to the centre of the lid for extra dimension.  Wu has created a make up line with Lancome, due out next season, and was off course featured in the make up look.  His Le Crayon Khol in Purple Dust was used on the lash line.  Other designers such as Marc by Marc Jacobs and Thakoon also sported the trend.  

Victoria Beckham

Alexander Wang

Calvin Klein Collection and Narciso Rodriguez

2.  Barely There - The 'no make up, make up' look has been around for a while, and next season is no exception.  At Victoria Beckham, make up was kept extremely stripped back; a soft base, nude lips, a no fuss eye and naked lashes.  There is a slight darkening around the crease, giving the eye more depth.  At Alexander Wang, Diane Kendal worked her magic to create a clean and polished look.  Colour was kept from the face, only using a NARS eyeshadow in Lhasa, a steel grey shade, across the lids.  With a light hand, the eyeshadow has a barely there look but finishes the look completely.  In contrast to Beckham's washed out look, gel eyeliner and mascara was used at Wang to create a thicker lash.  Calvin Klein Collection and Narciso Rodriguez also used a barely there look.  

3.1 Phillip Lim

Vera Wang

3.  Chocolate Chops and Black Forest Gateau - Dark lips are an A/W staple.  Some make up artists have been favouring the classic berry tones, whilst others have been mixing it up, creating chocolatey lips.  At 3.1 Phillip Lim, make up artist Francelle Daly created a blank canvas with the base, focussing the look on the lips.  NARS lip liner pencil in Kenya was used to line and fill the lips before applying a NARS eyeliner in Mambo on top creating a matte milk chocolate look.  Vera Wang kept it classic with a berry toned matte lip, fresh base and naked lashes.  

Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone and Anna Sui

Jason Wu, DVF and Alexander Wang

If you're a fan of a smokey eye or a cat eye, look to Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui and Donna Karan for intense inspiration.  If Twiggy is more your thing, take a leaf out of Rag & Bone's book and use eyeliner in the crease for the ultimate 60s look.  Natural, soft waves reigned supreme over Diane Von Furstenburg, Vera Wang and 3.1 Phillip Lim's catwalks, whilst slicked back up do's featured in Alexander Wang and Jason Wu's shows.  

Have you got a favourite look from NYFW?

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Peach Satin

I was really excited when my order of American goodies arrived on my doorstep and since then I've used the majority of them everyday.  One of the products I picked up was the Maybelline Dream Bouncy blusher in shade Peach Satin.  It's a gorgeous peachy coral colour, which brightens the skin and gives a healthy looking flush of colour.  These blushers were released in America last year and caused quite a storm but they've yet to surface on Maybelline stands in the UK.  

Firstly, lets talk texture.  Although it's in the name, I still found myself surprised at the fact that the blush   is a bit like memory foam when you apply pressure.  Play time over, the bouncy texture helps give a great colour pay off.  The blush is pretty pigmented after a few swipes and applies to the skin well.  It's comparable to a cream blush in touch, as it's not a milled powder but it still applies like a regular powder blush.  I've been wearing it everyday since it arrived and I think it goes well with a peachy lip colour, like Rimmel's Apocalips in Luna or a nude such as MAC's Hue.  It's definitely more of a spring/summer blush and one I'll get more wear out of in the warmer months.  

The packaging is simple and does the job.  If I were to drop the product, I can't see it smashing (although I wont try to guarantee) thanks to it's memory foam like texture.  At £6.99 it doesn't break the bank, it's just a shame that Maybelline haven't launched these in the UK yet - luckily, they are available with shipping to the UK here.  If you're looking for a high street or drugstore blush that is highly pigmented and has good staying power, this could be the one for you.  

Have you tried the Dream Bouncy blush?

Liz Earle Natural Finish Pressed Powder

Liz Earle Natural Finish Pressed Powder in #01 Sheer Porcelain*

I always set my base with a powder as my skin can become quite oily during the day.  I've tried many different ones including MAC's Mineralize Skin Finish Natural and L'Oreal's True Match but both the shade ranges seemed to miss my pale skintone off the list.  Liz Earle's make up range caters to all with an extensive shade range, so I was intrigued to see if their powder would be a good choice for me.  I chose their Natural Finish Pressed Powder in #01 Sheer Porcelain, described as an "extra-fair shade that suits extra-fair skin".  

The powder comes packaged in a compact, complete with a powder puff underneath the product.  The powder is extremely soft and silky to the touch allowing it to blend into the skin easily.  The shade match is great, it's slightly darker than my skintone but it's not that noticeable.  I usually apply this with the Real Techniques contour brush, which is the perfect size to brush powder on where you need it, rather than all over the face.  I found the powder to be quite high in coverage, which I'm not used to, but with a light hand it works lovely.  

The included powder puff makes this the perfect portable product as I don't have to carry around a brush with me.  I find that the puff can make application a bit heavy, so I would dab the product on with one side and then use a clean side to blend the powder into the skin.  I find that when I use this product, I'm less likely to need a touch up as it controls shine really well and unlike some powders I've tried, it doesn't cake up during the day. 

At £19.50, the Natural Finish Pressed Powder sits in the middle between high street and high end prices.  If you're looking for a powder which controls shine throughout the day and is great for on the go touch ups, then I really recommend this product. 

What's your go to powder?

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?

Benefit's The POREfessional

I love a product that claims to pro-long the length of time make up stays on your face.  After all the effort us girls put in, in the morning to look acceptable, a long wearing primer is a blessing.  I used to use MAC's Prep and Prime everyday and loved the silky smooth texture and how it kept my make up in place, but I have large pores on my cheeks and so when Benefit first launched The POREfessional, I wanted to give it a go.  I love Benefit cosmetics and I find myself using at least one or more of their products everyday. There's been a lot of hit and miss reviews on this product, but so far for me, it's been a hit. 

 Just like my MAC favourite, this primer is silky on the skin, leaving it feeling smooth and ready for my base.  It is a browny colour when you first squeeze it out of the bottle, which was daunting to begin with but it sinks into the skin clear.  I tend to use a pea size amount, which is more than enough to cover my face generously.  It does help with my pores, it doesn't completely eradicate them, but then again the product doesn't claim to do so.  

As for make up staying power, I definitely see a difference when I use this primer.  My foundation is less likely to oxidise or become patchy when I have this layer between my skin and base.  It hasn't broken me out and the formula isn't at all oily which makes it a great product for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin. Although the tube looks small, you get 30ml of product which is the standard amount for foundations.  I've been using the product since January and I've got about one or two applications left.  At £23.50, this is an expensive primer but for me it works.  

Have you tried Benefit's The POREfessional or do you have an alternative that you love?