Perfect Skin Foundation

Whenever anyone asks my advice on which higher-end foundation to buy, the first one that pops in to my head for many reasons is Illamasqua’s Skin Base foundation. It gives great coverage without feeling heavy, it looks amazing in photographs as it doesn’t contain SPF, and for me it’s long wearing.

For more than a year now this has become my favourite “weekend” foundation. At £27 for 30ml it isn’t cheap, so that’s why the old Rimmel favourite is my weekday foundation and I keep the Skin Base for special occasions/weekends.

Illamasquas skin base paired with the Real Techniques Expert Face brush is my ultimate, perfect skin combo. If I need a foundation that will stay put all day this is the one I always reach for and I’m always happy with the results. Illamasquas products are all highly pigmented so you don’t need to use much foundation to get a good coverage, but if you prefer a fuller coverage it is buildable. Great if you need both a day and evening foundation!

It gives my skin quite a normal look, not too matte and not too glowy. At first it can look a little flat and ghost like but I find that after a few minutes it warms up and looks beautiful. The application with this foundation is something you need to master. It isn’t a foundation that you can slap on with your hands and expect an amazing result; buffing a small amount in circular motions and working into the skin works best, giving you that smooth, even finish.

One point I would stress is that your skin needs to be in tip top condition before using it, as the foundation will stick to any dry patches you have. Their Hydra Veil primer works brilliantly if you have dryer, normal skin. This is a hydrating primer that smoothes any fine, dry lines by giving the skin base a better canvas on which to sit. I’ve read so many mixed reviews about the Skin Base with some people commenting how it settles into fine lines. But as with any foundation, if you don’t have a good skincare routine, this will probably happen. Think of it as trying to paint over flaking wood!? Regular exfoliating and a day and night moisturiser will help to avoid it settling (this may sound like a lot of hard work but I promise it’s worth it).

The skin base comes in a huge range of colours. I really wouldn’t risk buying online without being colour-matched instore, as you have the confusion of pink or yellow skin tone and even within both of those the choice is overwhelming. I find that SB06 and SB07 are both good medium colours, whilst SB02 is very light.

The only annoyance with the skin base is the packaging. It comes in a hard plastic tube where it’s impossible to squeeze the last of it out; if I’m paying £27 for a foundation I want every last drop.

All in all I love this foundation. I have recommended it to so many people with brilliant feedback, but if you do have oilier skin it may be a case of getting a tester for Illamasqua’s matte primer and skin base to try before splashing out.

L'Oréal Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara

There aren’t many mascaras that I like enough to write a blog post about them, but when someone recently thought I was wearing false lashes when I was only wearing the L’Oreal Miss Manga mascara, I thought it was definitely worth sharing with you.

I never stick to one mascara for long, as any advert that promises full, thick, long lashes get’s me dumping an unfinished mascara in no time and on to the next. This is especially true when the likes of Cheryl Cole or Penelope Cruz flutter their lashes on any advert or in any magazine.

When I saw the advert for the L’Oreal Mega Volume Miss Manga mascara, to be honest, I thought the lashes looked awful! Think Twiggy, 60’s, clumped lashes. That was not a look I was especially after for a day time mascara, so why did I even buy it!?

But it’s safe to say I’m so glad I did and it is definitely now in my top 5 of favourite mascaras. You can build brilliant length and really thicken the lashes up within a couple o coats. I can see how you could easily get carried away and get that clump effect, but literally two good coats and a whole lotta’ wiggling at the root of the lash and your done. (Just be careful not to overdo the bottom lashes).

It’s very similar to the Benefit ‘They’re Real’ mascara. If you touch your lashes you can really feel the product on and it’s still there until you take it off at night. It doesn’t smudge or flake and gives a super wide eye effect - everything I love about the Benefit mascara but half the price. This photo is just with one really good coat.

The packaging isn’t L’Oreal’s normal classy, sophisticated look but it’s nice to see them do something different that appeals to the younger market with its sleek, shiny hot pink and black packaging.

I’m already looking forward for my Miss Manga mascara to finish so that I can re-purchase. (Nothing quite like a fresh mascara!)

Top tips for brides to be

Here are my top tips for brides in the lead up to the big day:

                                                              

1)      Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You wouldn’t believe the difference it makes when you are hydrated. Reduced fine lines around the eye area and generally healthier, glowing skin.

2)      Increase fresh fruit and vegetable intake in the weeks leading up to the wedding to give your body the best chance of coping with the additional stress.

3)      Good skin care routine. Invest in both an eye and night cream and gentle exfoliater. They don’t have to be anything particularly expensive. I find Nivea’s range to be one of my favourites on the high street, and for under £10.

4)      Consider preparing for the big day (when you want to look your best) as an excellent opportunity to stop smoking. This will not only make you feel better, but will also quickly improve blood circulation and therefore the appearance of your skin.

5)      Exercise. This does not necessarily mean gym time. A brisk walk, enough to get your heart rate up and blood pumping, will also help you relax and sleep better. Make a date with a friend or family member, and make it an excuse to catch up!

6)      Last, but definitely not least, is sleep. We all need different amounts, but if you consistently wake up tired, you need more. Avoid caffeine three-four hours before sleep, switch off all electronic devices, and relax by picking up a book (best to maybe steer clear from bridal magazines at this time of the day!).

An affordable Spring Make up look

Spring is right around the corner, so what better way to welcome the new season than a spring clean of your everyday make up look.

Here are a few high street make up brands that I have been discovering and rediscovering over the last month.

Starting with an oldie but a goodie, the Rimmel Wake Me up foundation (I’m currently wearing the shade ivory). Having a flawless looking base will make the rest of your make up look beautiful and healthy. Apply with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for an even, buffed finish.

Next up is concealer - a must in my opinion. Disguise under eye circles with a light reflecting one. By coincidence, once again Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer is in there, followed by Collection’s Lasting perfection for any redness or blemishes not already covered by the foundation.

At this point I like to powder down the T zone and set my under eye concealer with, another Rimmel product, the Stay matte powder in transparent. I find this never cakes on me, and I generally don’t have to reapply during the day (bearing in mind I don’t have particularly oily skin). I would suggest the oil free products in Rimmel’s range as alternatives if you have oily skin.

My favourite part is blush! This instantly gives an awake look to any complexion. Recently I’ve really got into NYX products since finding them randomly at Next! Rose Garden is one of my favourite shades. Just the right amount of pink to give your skin a young, fresh pop of colour.

To finish off the skin, sweep over some Bourjois bronzer where the sun would naturally hit. Top of the forehead, temples, down the nose, top of the cheeks and chin. Do not go crazy with it - remember this is a spring look, not a two weeks in Barbados look! Delice de Soleil is one I have used throughout winter and will be continuing to use throughout summer, that’s how much I love it.

If you’re in a huge hurry, patting on some Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr in the shade ‘On and on Bronze’ is a great way to add a bit of shimmer that will last all day without going the whole hog with powder eyeshadow. Follow with a slick of your favourite mascara.

The final touch is some lipgloss. NYX’s Megashine lipgloss in the shade ‘la la la’ is a really pretty pink but not too overpowering or bright.

There you go - an affordable, fuss free everyday spring make up look.

*If you have an extra bit of time why not try a coat of Barry M’s Gelly nail varnish in Prickley pear, a beautiful pale lilac, followed by Seche Vite quick drying top coat.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil

I don’t know how everyone else’s skin is holding up with the winter weather but until a few weeks ago mine had become dry, tight and looked a bit dull. It needed some oomph when it came to the moisturising part of my routine.

With me being an obsessive blog reader I had read that the Body Shop was soon to launch a Vitamin E overnight serum and oil combo that claimed to “replenish and recharge moisture”.  

On a weekend away in York, I popped into the Body Shop looking for their Honey Bronzer and body butter, but by pot luck that was the day the Vitamin E overnight serum in oil was released. Having spent over £18 between the Vitamin E oil, body butter and Honey Bronzer I also got a free goody bag worth £22!

Since then, I've been using it every night and really have seen a change in my skin. It is softer, hydrated and fresher looking. I apply it after using a toner and before my night cream.

It comes in a little pink bottle which is handy to travel with as it doesn’t take much space, and has a small pipette which is great as you can dispense a small amount.

I usually squeeze a couple of drops into the palm of my hands, rub them together and gently pat over my face, then use an eye cream and finish with my night cream. It’s a lightweight oil so doesn’t really take much time to absorb, and if you’ve tried anything else in the Body Shop’s Vitamin E range, you’ll be familiar with that comforting fresh, clean smell.

All in all I think this will be a staple in my routine, or at least until the central heating is switched off and summer is well and truly here!

http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/shop-by-range/vitamin-e/vitamin-e-overnight-serum-in-oil-28ml.aspx

Nail painting just got easier!

The Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat has got to be the best top coat I have ever used!

It’s glossy, thick and gives your nails a silky, salon manicure finish. I’ve been searching for a fast drying top coat for a while, and when a review by Lily Pebbles popped up on my Twitter feed I wondered could this be the answer to my nail painting woes!

To be honest, I’ve tried so many other brands only to be disappointed, so I wasn’t feeling too hopeful. However, this turned out to be completely different to any other I’ve purchased.

Pros: it’s relatively cheap, think I paid about £6 for a 14ml sized bottle online but I’m sure it’s £9 at Boots; it dries amazingly fast and doesn’t smudge your nail varnish when applied over wet nail varnish; it leaves your nails super smooth, almost like a gel manicure.

Cons: It has a really strong chemical smell, which I don’t mind too much - just don’t get your nose too close to the vapours! If you don’t seal the tips with the top coat I find they chip much quicker. Also, if you apply a coat too thick it will lift and also peel your nail varnish off.

I must say the pluses do outweigh the negatives. So, if like me you’ve been searching for a quick and fuss free way to dry your nail varnish, this is it.

I apply a base coat, the nail colour that I’m using, wait for that to begin drying for a couple of minutes and then apply the Seche Vite to finish. It’s touch dry in about 5 minutes and completely in about 10. I find that I paint my nails far more often now as it’s taken the hassle and time out of it.

Some people have complained that their nail varnish only lasts for 5 days before chipping with this top coat, but my nails are fairly weak and peel anyway so nothing lasts more than a couple of days on mine before chipping, even when it’s done by a professional. So if you’re feeling the pinch and want to save a few pennies by not booking your next manicure appointment quite so soon, buy this little bottle of magic.

http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=1321809

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush Review

What on earth did I use to apply my foundation before the Make up Artist Sam Chapman (one half of the Pixiwoo sisters) came out with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush!? I honestly can’t remember. All of my friends have received this as either a Christmas or Birthday gift over the last year, which itself will tell you how much I am in love with it.

This brush is what I use to apply my liquid foundation and also what I use in my professional kit. I am never disappointed by the finish it gives which is, in one word, flawless. You can buff right into the little awkward places, such as around your nose, and it makes blending around the jaw line easy giving you a very professional, polished, streak free look to your base.

The Expert Face Brush has synthetic soft and dense bristles that don’t feel scratchy at all. Another bonus with synthetic brushes is that the bristles are easy to clean (I use diluted Fairy or any washing up detergent, Real Techniques HQ may tell me otherwise), and it dries within a couple of hours. Best of all it’s only £10! Or even cheaper on some online retailers - fantastic value for money compared to higher end brand brushes.

I’ve bought cheaper brushes in the past and they’ve usually ended up being coarse bristles which shed a lot (then having to spend a large amount of time trying to flick the bristles off my face…quite annoying!). This brush doesn’t and neither do any of the other brushes in the Real Techniques range.

I cannot sing its praises enough so all I can say is GO GET IT!

Check out Pixiwoos make up channel on Youtube where you’ll find lots of useful make up tutorials that will give you plenty of tips and may inspire you to do different looks (see the Expert Face brush in full swing!). Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo