Bourjois Little Round Pot Cream Blush in 01 Nude Velvet vs. Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera

A peachy blush has become a go to favourite of mine, it gives you a healthy flush of colour, helps your skin to look brighter and looks great during the summer (haha) months.  Cream blush formulations have also become a strong favourite, giving more of a dewy and glowy appearance and they seem to be everywhere at the moment.  One in particular thats been talked about a lot is Stila's Convertible Color in the covetable 'Gerbera'.  Described as a non-greasy, creamy blush that gives a sheer wash of colour, Gerbera actually packs quite the punch, only needing the smallest amount and the lightest of hands to get the perfect peachy glow. The Convertible Color's come in a sleek compact packaging, with shades easily distinguishable by the colour of the compact, but at £16 these are not always the most accessible to those counting the pennies.  

If you're feeling the pinch but not on your cheeks, Bourjois have recently launched their take on the cream blush trend.  Their are currently four different shades in the Little Round Pot Cream Blush range, including Nude Velvet, which is very similar to that of Gerbera.  The formula, although creamy, is slightly dryer than that of Stila's Convertible Color because of its cream to powder formula, which gives it a matte finish, rather than dewy making it a great match for those who have oily skin and are wanting to dry out cream blushers.  Again, the similarities continue through to the packaging, which has used the shade colour to make the product easily identifiable in your collection.  The Convertible Color's are multi-tasking products, meaning they can be used on both cheeks and lips, whereas Bourjois is marketed soley as a cream blush.  After a little experiement, I found that the Bourjois can be worn on the lips, although you should put a clear gloss or balm over the top to stop your lips from drying out. The most significant and difference between the two products is the price.  The Bourjois Little Round Pot Cream Blushers are £7.99 (currently £6.99 at Boots), whilst Stila is £16.  

If you're looking for a peachy blush that eliminates the need for two products, has a dewy long lasting finish and you can afford the splurge, I really recommend the Stila Covertable Color in Gerbera, but if you're looking for a purse friendly option and that brightens the skin with a peachy glow, then Bourjois' Little Round Pot Cream Blush in Nude Velvet is the one for you.  

What's your favourite cream blusher?

Bourjois Little Round Pot Cream Blush

It seems like cream blushers are having a moment in the beauty blogger world and I've definitely embraced them with open arms.  The latest to hit the market are from Bourjois, famous for their Little Round Pot blushers, they've reinvented them, giving them a creamy twist.  There are four colours in total, including the two pictured above, Nude Velvet and Rose Tender.  Nude Velvet (01) is a true peach shade, not dissimilar to the infamous Stila Covertible Color in Gerbera (comparison post coming soon), whilst Rose Tender (03) is a gorgeous rosy colour with a slight shimmer.  

These are supposed to be a cream to powder formulation, which normally I steer clear from as they usually come off quite cakey, but that's not the case with these products.  They pick up on the brush easily and buff out into a gorgeous satin finish on the cheeks.  The colour pay off is great, only needing the tiniest amount for a natural flush and as for lasting power, on my skin at least, these don't budge for a good six hours.  Thinner than the original Little Round Pot compact, these blushers come with a nifty magnetic closure and a mirror, perfect for on the go touch ups.  They also have the same rosey scent as their sister product - I know some aren't a huge fan of this scent but I'm not bothered by it.  At £7.99, these are definitely a steal and I hope that Bourjois will introduce more shades in the coming future.  

Have you jumped on the cream blush bandwagon?

P.S. Happy Bank Holiday - hope you're all enjoying your extra day off!

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?  

Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera

As Spring is slowly creeping up on us, it's time for a make up change over.  I've been opting for more 'dewy' looking products that make me look fresh faced and feel more in touch with the changing season.  A multi-tasking product that has swept over the blogosphere is the Stila Convertible Color.  There are eight different shades in the collection, including the gorgeous Gerbera who now lives in my stash, usually in my trusty travel make up bag.  

Gerbera is a beautiful coral colour and the product is multi-purpose, so you can use it both on your lips and on your cheeks as a stain.  Although I sometimes use it on my lips, I find it works best as a blush, as on the lips it can be a tad drying.  Firstly, it packs serious punch. The product is extremely pigmented, you only need to dip your brush (or fingers if you prefer) once to get the right amount of colour.  I've hardly touched the product, although I've used it countless times already.  As it's a cream formula, it gives off a slightly dewy look and really helps to brighten up your complexion. Oily skins need not steer away from this, I don't find it makes me any more oily during the day.  Secondly, the colour doesn't budge until you take it off in the evening. The product comes in a compact packaging, which includes a mirror, making it the perfect travel companion.  The colour of the packaging also reflects the shade of the product inside, so you know exactly what colour you're getting when searching through your stash. 

This is my first Stila product and I am really impressed with the brand thus far, I'm definitely tempted by a few more of the Convertible Colors (I'm looking at you Fuschia and Gladiola).  At £16.00, it's not the cheapest product out there but the fact that you need only the smallest amount of product, I feel you would more than get your moneys worth with it. I've also noticed that you can buy them in a three pan palette for a limited period for £23.00 (tempting little bargain).    

Have you tried the Stila Convertible Colors?

Christmas Gift Guide | £25 and Under

It's that time of the year once again and some of you might be wondering what on earth you're going to buy for your loved ones.  While some may argue that it's easier to buy for girls than boys, all that choice can sometimes be overwhelming.  I've compiled the best gifts for her for £25 and under.  

1. Benefit Sexy Little Stowaway Gift Set - £25; Boots: Benefit is one of my favourite brands but can be a bit pricey when it comes to buying individual products. Incidentally, they always bring out some of the best gift sets and this is no exception. In this set you get 10 of their best selling products, perfect for the make up obsessed girl.

  

2. Ciate Caviar Mini Bar - £20; ASOS: Nail lovers rejoice, Ciate have released a Caviar mini bar which includes some of their caviar beads, as well as polishes that you can wear alone or with the beads.  A great gift for those who like nail art or just enjoy giving themselves a manicure.  

3. iPhone 5 Cases - £24.95; Cath Kidston and Joules: I for one have been waiting for brands to release their iPhone 5 cases since I got mine back in September.  Finally Cath Kidston have released their range just in time for Christmas. If you fancy something different to Cath Kidston, try Joules floral offering. They also have cases with a dog and striped print if she's not so keen on floral prints.  

4. Stila Limited Edition Long Wear Liquid Lip Set - £25; ASOS: Stila always bring out some great sets for Christmas.  This quartet gives you a mixture of nude and bright lip colours to fit any mood.  They also have eyeliner and lip glaze offerings for £25 and under.  

5. Coffee Table Reads: The Lady who was Beautiful Inside (£6) and 50 Shoes that Changed the World (£9); Amazon: I would never say no to a pretty coffee table book. 50 Shoes that Changed the World  is perfect if you can't quite afford Louboutins or Jimmy Choo's.  The Lady who was Beautiful Inside is described as a charming portrait of an amazing woman who turned Winter into Spring. These would also make good stocking fillers.  

6. Lindt Lindor Maxi Ball - £14.99; Ocado: Heaven in a Lindor shaped ball for chocolate lovers, need I say more?  I bought one of these for my Sister-in-law last year and it went down a treat (literally).  

What was your favourite gift you received at Christmas?