Technic lipsticks: go-to lip product!

I was dubious about these lipsticks, with it being a cheaper brand, but I am quite impressed!! £1.99 and under, I picked up this one in my local bodycare store in the colour fuschia rose and it was well worth the small amount paid! The formula is quite creamy, and the colour payoff is decent! It is quite a pale ish pink, as far as pinks go, but it doesn't wash me out - result! I have been on the lookout for a wearable pink shade, and as my creme cup from mac doesn't work for me unless I'm slightly tanned, this one is great for my pale skin!! Really impressed with this and I would definitely buy more if I could find more shades without shimmer (all I can find are shimmer ones now!) It can definitely be hit and miss with cheaper brands but for me this was a hit!!
Thanks for reading! Luce xx

foundation routine & mini product review. The Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua hype.......

Hi guys, long-time no-posts! I've been bogged down with Uni work, and I'm hoping to get back up and running with more exciting posts when I'm all done & graduated (scary!!!) 

If you'd like to watch a video review of the Chanel foundation then click HERE :) 
here you can take a look at my YouTube Channel!

For now, seeing as my foundation review was such a hit with you guys (it continues to get views even a year later..) I thought it might be fun to review a few face products that I've been using recently. My skin has changed a lot over the past year, going from very dry, to oily, and back to combination/dry again. That's British weather for you! 

www.chanel.com

The massively hyped 'Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua' foundation caught my attention late in 2012.. and I was looking for something that would be lighter for my skin, and perhaps not be so clogging or 'mask' like. 

www.cafemakeup.com

This product is water based, and must be shaken before application. You can use a brush or fingers, and looking at the reviews in the blogging world it seems like most people prefer fingers. I use my real techniques buffing brush, and this is my favourite brush of the moment, so I generally use this with all of my face products as I feel it gives the best coverage (and is sooo easy to use!) I'm colour B10, the lightest shade for reference!

Using this product on its own turned out to be the worst way for me to wear it. It went on lovely, and gave a nice natural coverage which could be built up. The staying power of this on my skin was shocking.... within around an hour, even with a primer and setting powder it was sliding all over my face, and I could visibly see it separating...not a good look! I was quite worried by this, as it's so expensive (not a price I would normally pay) so I had to try and make this work.................

www.polywore.com

The best way I find is to layer the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua with my Garnier BB cream for oily/combination skin. I purchased this BB cream after the disastrous time I had with the original one (horrible... greasy... just no!) So I was excited to use it. I adore this BB cream, and it's the only one I've tried (amongst other brands such as DR Jart...) that actually evens out my skin tone and makes it look half decent, like I have no make up on at all, result! 

Anyway, I was browsing YouTube and saw that Midnight Violets had done a post about her foundation routine for a flawless finish, and she used a BB cream underneath her foundation... so I thought why not try it? 

This seems to work for me
++ Thin layer of Garnier BB cream oily/combo using fingertips
++ 5p sized amount of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10... really work it in to the skin, buff it in really well. This foundation looks great if not a lot is left 'sitting' on the skin. And this will also reduce it sliding over your face.
++ set with a powder if you have oily skin (I've been using MAC skinfinish natural in light, however I think this might be breaking me out so I may have to reconsider this powder. Miss Sporty blemish powder and Collection lasting perfection are great alternatives (and cheap!)

Overall, it's quite annoying that the only way I can get my Chanel foundation to work for me is with another product, but I do love the finish it gives! I think that the BB cream makes an excellent base for evening out the skin, and also to prevent the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua from sliding. I probably won't repurchase the foundation as it's not been a 100% success for me.. please feel free to leave any comments on your thoughts on either of the products mentioned! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my posts :) xxx Lucy 

Diorshow Iconic Mascara 090 Review!

Hey guys, just a quick review on a mascara I've been trying....it's the Diorshow Iconic mascara in 090 Black.

So I don't usually want to pay a lot for a mascara, but recently I've been wanting something that would give a false lash effect without the false lashes (I like wearing them, but generally only on nights out and not during the day time). Where I work, we sell Dior products, and I recently helped someone with a mascara, and after looking at reviews online, I wanted to try it for myself :)

The brush is exactly what I like about a mascara brush, it's plastic (not bristles, however my previous post concluded that I like the bristles on the Benefit Bad Gal!) 

The actual parts which apply the mascara are evenly spaced, so that when you're applying it, no lash is left out (much like the effect you would get when using a four or 5 blade razor.....weird comparison I know... haha but it really does create a nice even look!

Just one to two coats of this mascara can create a really nice look, and a few more and you're set for a more dramatic look It only starts to clump after about 4 coats, but if I wanted that much of a dramatic look then I would probably use false lashes too to prevent the clumping look! Here's a pic of what it can look like, this is with about 2 coats on...... (apologies for the crappy quality!)

Overall I really like this mascara, I don't know whether I will definitely repurchase because it is expensive, it retails at around £20-£25 depending where you buy it (luckily I got staff discount so that helped). But yeah, it's just really easy to create a nice semi-dramatic look for the day with minimal effort really, you don't have to stand there for ages trying to build it up, it's pretty instant, and as I said, with a few more coats you can create a dramatic look too.

Hope this review has been helpful to you, feel free to leave me a comment below :) Lucy xxx

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Dual Fibre Stippling Brush REVIEW

So... I've heard great things about this range of make up brushes, and especially the Dual Fibre Stippling brush! I'm not a person who will spend tonnes of money on make up brushes, as to be quite frank I just won't use them. However, the stippling brush is something I've been wanting to try for a while. I've tried regular 'foundation' brushes (the ones that look like a paint brush....) and I find they just cake on the make up and are pretty rubbish at blending. My flatmate decided to take the plunge and buy this brush, and I managed to get the very last one in Boots (lucky!). Here's the brush:

Real Techniques Dual Fibre Stippling Brush.

First of all, the price is really very reasonable, £11.99 for a multi-purpose make up brush is pretty good going. (the main reason I don't buy make up brushes is because brands lure you in with all of their different brushes which you have to buy individually for extortionate prices) but I really think that this is worth it, you can use it however you like! Obviously the Real Techniques range do a whole host of different brushes, but one like this is great for someone like me, who doesn't necessarily want lots of different brushes. The brush is really easy to hold, and the end has a black bit which is easy to grip! The brush itself is a nice size, and you could use it for wet or dry products, I choose to use mine with foundation! 

How I use my Real Techniques Dual Fibre Stippling Brush:

I love this brush for my foundation (I've been using it for a few days now). I'm not actually using a 'proper' foundation at the moment, as I've been loving my Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 (shade 02). This brush is absolutely brilliant to apply this tinted moisturiser, and you wouldn't know that I didn't have a 'full' foundation on. I use about a 20p sized amount on the back of my hand and dab the brush in to it. I then apply to the apples of my cheeks and forehead, nose & chin. Then I can start stippling and blending. It does an excellent job of getting in to all the nooks and crannies to ensure that it's a flawless finish! This is great, because even though I'm not using a heavy foundation, it still creates the coverage that I'm after!

 I use a few other products to finish my make up, and recently I've been loving my Maybelline 24hr Superstay Concealer in Light Beige 02. To set I've been using Bourjois Mineral Radiance powder in 02 Vanilla!

The brush here is actually really good too, it's an ecotools one and I picked it up from Fragrance Direct (.co.uk) and it was really cheap too! Not sure if they still do them, but I know you can get Ecotools brushes in Boots! 

Overall I'm really impressed with this Stippling Brush & would recommend it to anyone! I'll also try using it with different foundations and let you guys know the verdict! So far though I'm loving it with my Clinique Tinted Moisturiser (which to be fair is more like a foundation than a moisturiser...) :) With regards to washing my brush.... I have to say I'm quite lazy when it comes to washing make up brushes, but for now I've been wiping it with a baby wipe and leaving it to air dry by the window each time I use it (so far so good!) I'm reluctant to buy in to the 'brush cleansers' that some brands do.. as they're quite expensive for what they are. I've also seen people washing their brushes with baby shampoo etc, so baby wipes and baby shampoo are cheap alternatives! 

You can follow Real Techniques on Twitter:  @realtechniques 

Thanks for reading! Any questions then just leave me a comment, thanks! Lucy xxx

Rimmel volume flash scandal eyes mascara review

Rimmel Volume Flash Scandal Eyes Mascara 001

'no lash can escape - Scandalous volume - no clumps!'

I was in need of a new mascara, and I had previously been using 17 Falsifeye mascara and found it to be really good! I originally bought it because it came with a free Gel Eyeliner (which is really good!) but the brush it comes with is pretty awful, so I had to use one out of my E.L.F Professional Brush Set (£5 - and well worth it!) which worked really well!

 Anyway I looked for the 17 mascara again but it had gone up in price, so I looked at the Rimmel stand and saw this beauty! It's very in your face, but I love the packaging! 




So I wanted something to thicken up my lashes, they're already naturally long, so I wanted a fuller 'black' look which I can build up especially for nights out (don't really like wearing fake lashes). 
Plenty of product comes out on the brush, so I don't have to 'pump' it which you're not supposed to do as it created are pockets in the mascara (therefore drying it out).




It doesn't separate the lashes much so it might be a good idea to comb the lashes through before hand with an eyelash brush (you get one in the E.L.F brush kit) however it does create a fuller look which I was after! (apologies its a crap picture, I can't get the hang of my front facing camera on the iPhone!) but it gives you some idea of the effect it gives :)

Thanks for reading!

Lucy xx

MAC dupe? And blusher collection

I think that the MUA blush £1 at Superdrug is a great dupe for MAC Pink Swoon, and a fraction of the price! I've only just started to take notice of this range in Superdrug but the stuff seems really good for the price! 


I know a lot of people find that you have to be careful with Pink Swoon when applying it, but I really do have to apply a lot to get a result! Also I think it's slightly too light for my pale skin, as I prefer a deeper pink (the MUA shade 2 is slightly deeper) I should also say that MUA does a lighter shade of the blush 'shade 1' which could be even more like Pink Swoon... worth trying for only £1! 

The only thing about MUA is that it's very powdery, so you have to be careful using your brush.One swipe of the brush should be enough to do one cheek, and the excess powder from the first swipe for the second cheek :) I was finding with the pink swoon that I had to run the brush around the pan for a while before getting a suitable colour.... the upside is that it's not powdery so I don't feel like I'm wasting the product!

On the right is a pic of my blush collection. Various makes and shades, and the MAC Mineralised blush and Clinique (came with two eyeshadows) are my favourite! here's a list of the blushes going clockwise from the MAC Mineralised....

- MAC mineralize blush 'conjour up'
- Accessorize baked blush '6 scandal'
- MAC Sheertone blush 'pink swoon'
- Clinique blushing blush 'iced lotus'
- Boots natural collection 'blushed cheeks'
- MUA blusher 'shade 2'
- 17 blusher 'plum puff' (love this one!!)
- No7 Natural blush '20 honey'


Really good collection of blushers I think, although I'd like to get a few more 'honey' toned ones, as I tend to go for the same sort of colours! I really want to try MAC mineralised skin finishes as an overall colour and bronzer so I'll do a review once I've tested a few of those out :) It's all about finding cheaper version too as MAC etc can be very expensive, the 17 blush is really good for every day, I've used it a lot and had it for ages!

If there's any blush you can recommend for me then please leave a message! 


Thanks for reading! Lucy xx 









                                                                                       

Max Factor Smooth Effect Foundation REVIEW

Max Factor Smooth Effect Foundation in:
'Natural 50' and Creme Puff in:
'81 truly fair'

So if you've read my posts before, you'll know that I have combination skin that can be oily, dry and is prone to blemishes. I was just browsing for a new foundation, and a powder that might stop my skin from becoming oily throughout the day. My friend (who has oily skin) swears by Max Factor 'Creme Puff' powder to keep her skin matte all day, so I thought I'd give it a try! I also picked up Max Factor 'Smooth effect foundation' I was intrigued to see the 'smooth' effect that it would apparently give me!

The first thing to say is that I LOVE the creme puff. It sets any foundation really well, and gives some coverage which other powders don't. It's good enough to use with BB cream alone, which is great for  days where I don't want full coverage. It keeps my foundation from sliding off the face, which I've been having trouble with recently, especially at work! I love it, I really can't recommend it enough and will definitely be re-purchasing! 

The foundation is good for my 'normal' areas, it really does smooth out any imperfections. It's not so good on dry areas such as my chin.... it really exaggerates the dry skin/blemishes. The only way around it is to make sure I exfoliate & use a heavy moisturiser on these areas, but I love to use my Clinique Moisturizing Gel under make up to keep the oil at bay. The creme puff and foundation are a pretty good price for max factor products, as I'd usually expect to pay anything over £10 for a foundation. I'll probably give the foundation a miss next time as it's not amazing.... but the creme puff is great!!!

Max Factor 'smooth effect' foundation available at  £7.99

Max Factor 'creme puff' £5.99

Available at Boots & Superdrug 

(click the links to go straight to the Max Factor pages!) :)

Thanks for reading! Feel free to follow my blog to keep up to date with my posts :)

Lucy xx

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Lightening Spray

I use this in-between dying my hair (which is usually quite a long time!) I try to avoid dying my hair as I don't want the condition to go downhill. My hair is in pretty good condition all the time which is great! I usually only dye my hair to brighten it up, and tend to go for shades quite similar to my natural one (perhaps a bit lighter).

So it's been a while since I last dyed it, and I've been using a range of different blonde products, such as 'touch of silver' which is a purple shampoo designed to get rid of any brassiness in blonde hair, and stop the 'ginger' tinge that it can sometimes get. That shampoo is great, smells quite weird... but in a nice way? ;) The only thing is that my scalp is quite sensitive, and I find that it aggravates this leading to an itchy and flaky scalp... so I use this not very often. My hair never has very noticeable roots, as my natural colour isn't dark, but you can definitely tell sometimes that it's due for a bit of colour!

No roots :)

Roots?!    

As you can see on the first picture (me: right) I have my fringe pinned back and the underneath of my hair, and roots are looking considerably darker than the rest of my hair! Nightmare! I assure you that I've only been using the John Frieda Go Blonder Lightening Spray & have not been dying it! Result! As you can see, it really does work! I can't speak for every shade of hair, as I know that many people have extremely dark roots, but it can certainly tone them down a bit in-between dying! Also excuse the second picture, no idea what I'm up to! haha....

Hair routine when using Lightening Spray:

- Wash hair with Aussie Mega Shampoo & Conditioner
(light conditioner leaves no residue and therefore doesn't weigh hair down) I like to use this combination of products as I'm spraying my hair after washing it, so I don't want too much greasy stuff on there to make it oily!
- Towel dry hair & spray evenly Go Blonder Lightening Spray on to roots. I also spray some on my brush and then work it through my hair for a more even finish.
- Dry hair
- Straighten or curl hair (the spray works off heat, so ideally both DRY & STYLE with heat)

It does take a few times to see a significant difference, but if you're a bit more impatient, then you can also use Superdrug Colour effects wash in wash out hair colour! (really cheap, £1.19 or 2 for £2) to boost your colour!



Hope this review has been helpful :) feel free to leave me a comment or anything and I'll get back to you!

Lucy xx

Hairspray can be so expensive.....

Not if you look past the brands and try some supermarket 'own brand' value products! :)

I can honestly say I'll probably never buy a branded hairspray again.... unless there's a really good sale on it! I've tried supermarket Hairsprays in the past like Asda etc, and they've been really good. The one I'm using at the moment however is better than all the others. It's Tesco's own value hairspray 'no fancy formula, still great hold and control'. I agree with this. With some cheap hairspray's they can be really crap, and feel like nothing is coming out of the can, or they can feel too wet & make your hair look greasy. This is a happy medium, it holds pretty much all day which is great news!





I currently have a fringe, sometimes I wear it as a full fringe and sometimes I sweep it to the side. However I have it, this hairspray is great at holding the fringe in place. There's nothing more annoying than a fringe that's blowing all over the show!

The best news of all is that it's only 37p! And in my flat, we go through hairspray quickly, especially if we're using each other's whilst getting ready for nights out (lots of hairspray required!) so it's good to have a few cans of this in case we run out!

It really is cheap and cheerful! I've used tresemme and Garnier hair sprays before now, and I find them far too wet and hard to manage. This one is great though, you can spray it however much you like and your hair isn't going to look like a greasy mess. Definitely worth a try & you're going to save £££!

Hope this has been useful and will help you save some pennies :)
Lucyx

Maybelline dream satin liquid *review*

'Air whipped foundation, air-brush finish'

I love this foundation! If you've read some of my other foundation posts then you'll know that I go for a medium/full coverage most of the time as I have blemishes and scarring from previous acne. I've had this foundation before and it's great! I tend to use a more 'matte' foundation for work, as I want my skin to stay shine free for most of the day, so I use Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse or 24hr Superstay. This one however, is great for general use like going out with friends in the day time and stuff like that. I feel it gives a natural look, doesn't look cakey and gives my skin coverage and really makes my skin have an overall 'fresh' look. 


This product retails at around £8 and I feel that this product is worth it!

Features of this product: 


I have this one in Ivory 010 and feel it's a pretty good match for my skin, it doesn't look orangey which most foundations look on me (even the lightest ones!) I have the 24h Superstay in 021 Nude and this definitely looks orangey unless I blend it really well! 
- good packaging, like the pump which makes it easy to dispense right amount
- good consistency, not too thick, glides on and easy to blend
- like the colour match of Ivory... I usually stay away from the very lightest shades, but this has worked well! 


Here's a picture of all the foundations I'm currently in the midst of trying.... I'm overall impressed with all of my Maybelline foundations for different reasons. I reckon I have one for every occasion! The Rimmel one is far too thick and greasy... so I might get rid of that one. Max Factor second skin I'm finding to be too thin at the moment, it's not enough coverage and tends to feel like it's sliding off my face an hour or so in to wearing it, so I don't find myself reaching for this one much. Dream Matte Mousse.... kind of a love hate thing going on with this one at the moment. I love the finish it gives to my skin, but it definitely grabs on to any patches of dry skin I might have, and any blemishes that I'm trying to 'dry up'. Still love it though..... and then one I've not really tried enough to make a fair comment on is the Pure Mineral Foundation by Maybelline in 04 Vanilla Rose. I've used this foundation once, and the result I thought was pretty good. It definitely made my skin look flawless, but it takes quite a long time to apply (I guess I'd get used to it and speed up the process...) I definitely need to try this one a bit more and I'll write a review on that :)
From left:
Maybelline 24h Superstay in 021 Nude
Max Factor Second Skin in 070 Natural
Maybelline Pure Mineral in 04 Vanilla Rose
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in 021 Nude
Rimmel Lasting Finish 25h in 100 Ivory


That's it for now.... I have a little stash of foundations, so I really do have a few to pick and choose from. I usually wear a few different ones each week, depending on the state of my skin and where I'm going that day.


Hope this has been somewhat useful to you.... and if you've got any comments I'd love to hear from you 
Lucyx

My 2011 products for dry skin

Johnson's 24hr Moisture Relaxing Body Wash 

Picked this up at my local B&M Homestore whilst on the lookout for bargains! As the weather is getting drier and colder, I've found that the skin on my body is much more irritated and prone to dryness and just a general feeling of discomfort. I don't like using all over body moisturisers EVERY day, so I was on the lookout for a body wash that might help with my dry skin. This product is amazing, it feels silky smooth as you shower (this is probably why it feels relaxing...) and definitely leaves a feeling of moisture after the shower! Good stuff!

- smooth white cream wash that lathers & moisturises
- 400ml bottle, lasts longer!
- Around £1 from B&M! absolute bargain! (currently on offer in Boots for £2.06 for 250ml)


Escenti Cool Feet 'Cracked heel cream'

Another bargain I picked up from B&M (if you're a bargain lover, you really should find out where your nearest B&M is... you can pick up loads of skincare stuff for next to nothing!) 


I don't really have 'cracked' heels as such, but I do get dry skin on my feet pretty much all year round. This is great as it cools your feet, especially after a long day on your feet. I could feel the moisturising effects straight away, and I can see a real difference in the condition of my feet after using this cream! 


- Vitamin E, Urea & added moisturisers
- Menthol & peppermint helps to cool and refresh
- Again a bargain at around £1 :)






Dove essential nourishment hand cream 'deep care complex'

What I'm sure most of us are looking for in a hand cream... is that it would effectively moisturise leaving the hands feeling soft but NOT greasy. This stuff does just that! Been using this for a few days now and I'm always reaching for it whenever I feel my hands getting a little tight or uncomfortable. Also when I wash my hands they tend to get dry if I don't apply a hand cream afterwards. Got mine really cheap at B&M (starting to see a trend here.....) but you could get it at any chemist or supermarket really.

- 24hr long lasting softness
- for normal to dry hands (not too thick or greasy)


For now, these products are doing the trick! 
:)
Lucyx

Product of the moment....

Clinique Moisture Surge 'extended thirst relief' 

I've recently gone back to this product, as I was finding regular moisturisers too heavy and I was breaking out loads. I sampled the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel and found that it gave my skin the moisture it needed, without being greasy. I usually think that my skin is really dry, so I need heavier lotions, but I really do think that Gel is the way forward as within about two days of sampling this I noticed a difference in the condition of my skin and my break outs. 


I'm currently ordering some Clinique products from work, and while waiting, I've been using the Moisture surge in place of the DDM Gel and it's working really well! My skin is super smooth and hydrated, make up goes on really well and doesn't get as greasy throughout the day. 


I used to think that this could only be used on my skin after a different moisturiser, for added hydration, but my skin has been more combination dry, with a tendency to get oily, so this moisturiser is great on its own before make up and also before bed.


This product retails at £30 on the highstreet, which is pretty pricey! I got mine in a set with the face spray and eye cream and it was under £30 from Duty Free at Manchester Airport. I would say though, that the only product I actually use from this set is the Moisture Surge itself, the others are just extras that I don't really need\remember to use. The eye gel might come in handy after heavy nights though, but we'll see.


Really recommend this product for all skin types, it's an excellent primer for the face and all round hydrator.

Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue
refreshing gel cream

I've seen that Garnier have come out with a gel moisturiser which looks interesting, so I might try that on pay day :)




Thanks for reading! :D Lucy x

Foundation Review

I judge foundations by a couple of things.....

- staying power
- coverage
-hydration
-colour match

These are the main things I go for in a foundation as I am combination skin, prone to acne. I need the full coverage for this, but also have to be careful about clogging pores. I did a review a while back on Rimmel 25 hour foundation. I loved this foundation at the time, but now it's getting warmer, I'm finding that it gets far too greasy throughout the day. 


Products I've been using recently:

                                                  Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in CAMEO.


As long as I prep my skin the night and morning before using this foundation, then it is a great one for acne/oily skin which I've been experiencing recently. By prepping I mean exfoliate, use a night moisturiser and another good moisturiser before applying in the morning. You can definitely build this foundation up for a full coverage, just make sure that you blend it in to the skin well otherwise it can appear flaky and patchy. This is another reason why a good moisturiser (or primer) before application is a good idea, so that you can blend easily! You can set this foundation with any powder, but I have been using the Dream Matte Powder from Maybelline and it's really good at setting the foundation, and you can stay shine free for hours! I just take the Dream Matte Powder with me during the day to touch up on any oily parts (such as the T-zone). I'm really loving this at the moment as I said, I've been experiencing oily skin (I think it's due to working in an air conditioned environment with no natural air). 

Maybelline Superstay 24H Foundation in 021 NUDE


I have used this foundation before, liked it, but I think I had the wrong shade, as I found it too pale for my skin (even though I am fair!) I like to have a warming colour, not orangey or obvious, just not porcelain white! I've gone back to this foundation as I remembered how it stayed put even through a day of work (approx 8 hours). The texture is quite thick, very creamy, and it blends well. I find that if I don't use very much though, it is hard to blend, so I make sure I have enough on the skin to blend out evenly (one to one and a half pumps should do the whole face). I really love this foundation, it's super thick, so it covers most of my bumps, blemishes and scars, but it's not at all oily so it doesn't clog my pores and make things worse! I find that if I use it with the dream matte powder and Collection 2000 concealer, this can give a really airbrushed look!


I've found this really helpful swatch of the 24h foundation on Google. It's from sasquatchswatch.blogspot.com and could really help you decide which colour you should go for! 

Max Factor Second Skin Foundation in 070 Natural


I've been looking for something similar to the Clinique Moisture Surge tinted moisturiser as it's getting hotter. A heavy foundation can clog the skin during the summer for me so I wanted something lighter. If you read my review of the Clinique Tinted Moisturiser then you will know that I found it to be okay, but as you might think from a tinted moisturiser, it didn't give me the coverage that I need. It's great if you use a really good concealer and lots of powder, but it's still on the sheer side for me.


I decided to try this Max Factor foundation as it looked promising in giving me the light foundation, with a good coverage. I've used it today 1/8/2011 and it stood my test of work. Surprisingly it didn't make my skin as oily as it has been recently, which was what I expected. The coverage is good, I put one layer on, and then applied some more to my problem areas. It gave quite a dewy finish, which is nice but I prefer a matte look for work (to stop the oil really...) but perhaps this dewy finish would be good for a summers day away from work! :) I used Rimmel Stay Matte concealer in 040 Soft beige, and this concealer is great after this foundation, as it's mattifying, and as the max factor foundation isn't too heavy, it's needed to cover those blemishes. I will keep trying this foundation for a week or two more, and let you know how I'm getting on :)


If there are any foundations you think I should try, for combination dry/oily skin, then please feel free to let me know by commenting below or tweeting me @xbeautybee 


Thanks! Lucy 

Favourite Fragrances

My top Fragrances

I have a varied selection of fragrances and I find that I reach for each one depending on my mood, the weather that day, where I'm going....and all sorts of factors like this! It may seem unusual, but I actually prefer to use a flirty smell in the evening, and a more 'mature' smell during the day.... I really don't know why, but I always seem to do it this way round! :)

Smells like teen spirit

Let's start with the fragrances of my teenage years, only one has made it in to my permanent collection of about three. I started with Versace Pink Jeans, Amor Amor by Cacharel and 'M' by Mariah Carey. I wouldn't usually go for a 'celebrity' scent but I tried 'M' in Boots and LOVED it! It's a really sweet fragrance with a hint of marshmallow and it reminds me of my first few times out on the town when I turned 18! This one has made it in to my permanent collection and I always get it given to me on birthdays and Christmas etc :) I always have a bottle on the go!

my current daily fragrances

- Dior Addict by Christian Dior (100ml edp). Quite a heavy fragrance but I like to wear this during the day. I really like this one and my 100ml bottle has lasted me well over two years! It's best when applied sparingly as it can be overpowering. A lighter version that I have is Dior Addict Eau Fraiche.

- Nina by Nina Ricci (30ml edp). Fruity and light, perfect for the summer!

- Coco Madamoiselle by Chanel (30ml edp) The most recent addition to my collection, I LOVE this perfume! I got it for my 21st birthday and I feel really glam wearing it. It's a mature scent, but perhaps with a younger twist. I tried Coco Chanel but I guess I'm not ready for it yet :)

Others in my collection: Yves Saint Laurent Elle, Sarah Jessica Parker NYC and my cheap and cheerful favourite is So?...Sinful edt (I carry this with me everywhere just in case I've forgotten to put any on!)

My wish list - Miss Dior Cherie, Flowerbomb, D&G The One!

These are just some of my faves! Feel free to leave me a comment, let me know what your faves are or any you recommend! Thanks, Lucy x

Rimmel Lasting finish 25 hour foundation review

Rimmel Lasting finish 25 hour foundation review

I have acne prone, dry combination skin which can get oily throughout the day. My skin is mostly dry though, especially on the t-zone area. I love trying new foundations but have to be careful that they don't dry out my skin! There's nothing worse than your make up going flaky!

Because of my problem skin, I like to have medium to full coverage! This foundation is great stuff! 

I got the rimmel lasting finish in Ivory and its great because I can build it up without looking orange or mask-like! I use a good moisturiser before applying any   make up to prevent flaky skin, and foundation just tends to look better if I've got hydrated skin.

This foundation really does give good coverage, not so good that I don't have to use concealer under the eyes and on blemishes (some reviews I read claimed that the foundation alone was good enough...) but it just depends what kind of coverage you're after! I set my foundation with Rimmel's stay matte powder (careful to avoid too much around the nose area as it can be drying). Another powder I like is Rimmel clear complexion.

Another thing about this foundation is that even though it is long lasting, and can be built up to a full coverage, I feel that it gives my skin a glow, rather than a totally matte look, which can make the skin look dull even before you've applied your matte powder! This foundation is super long lasting, like it suggests '25 hours' and although I've not tried it for 25 hours, it certainly stays on all day pretty much perfect! Good stuff! :)

Short reviews on other foundations I'm in the midst of trying!

Maybelline 24 hour

I use this foundation when I need my make up to last. For example when I'm at work, I'm usually running round and up and down stairs, so I need it to resist sweat etc. I have to make sure I'm super moisturised beforehand as this foundation is quite drying (but it lasts and has good coverage!)

Revlon photo ready 

This foundation doesn't have as good coverage as I'd like! Also I find it's got an orangey tinge to it. I'm not sure wether I've bought the wrong colour for my skin, but there's something just not satisfying about it. Plus, it's quite expensive at £13 so in my eyes it's not worth it.

Max Factor lasting performance

I'm liking Max Factor products at the minute! I actually bought a blusher, eyeshadow and nail varnish and got a free make up bag with some trial sized products in. Eyeliner, mascara (love it!), lasting performance foundation. The foundation is only a trial size but it's lasting quite well as I only wear it on nights out as it is very much full coverage and perhaps more than I'd like during the day! It's great for the night as it covers everything and there's little need for extra concealer! I set this make up with 17 (Boots) powder and I end up with a healthy colour on my face, no need for bronzer! I'll definitely be buying this foundation when my tester size runs out! 

I hope this review has been helpful and has given you some insight in to some of the 'full coverage' foundations out there! They're really the only foundations I go for, as I need the coverage due to acne scars and current blemishes! Feel free to leave a comment or ask me any questions regarding foundations, skin types etc :) Lucy x

Clinique review

How good is Clinique? Do their products actually work?

I have been using Clinique on and off for about three years now, and I have to say their products really do work for me. The trick is, to be persistent with your Clinique products, and give them at least a few weeks (perhaps 2) to start working properly! The main thing you should notice straight away using Clinique products is the really clean feeling your skin will have, even from the first time you use them!

I have acne prone skin. In terms of Clinique products, I have combination-dry skin which needs acne fighting products, whilst giving me the moisture I need! This can be problematic with other products, as they either give me too much oil for the moisture, leading to acne.... or strip my skin of all the oils to fight the acne, leading to drier skin! Luckily Clinique seem to have found that balance so that I can have the best of both worlds! :)


I have to admit, I get nervous going to any cosmetics counter, as I just know the sales assistants are going to pressure me, and in the end I'll end up buying nothing or the entire shop. This frustrates me! I took a trip to Boots in Manchester, and my aim was to get some Clarifying Lotion and some Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion. Success! I came out with these two products, regardless of the sales assistant's attempt to try and get me to buy the Anti-Blemish moisturiser & Moisture surge!


I'm not doubting that the moisture surge is good, but on my student budget I'm just not prepared to fork out! She was suggesting these because I told her my skin concerns were dryness but also acne. She suggested using the clearing moisturiser, and then moisture surge on top if my skin is feeling a bit dry. I honestly don't believe you can't mix and match thr 3-step systems. Find something that works for you, and for me that is Anti blemish cleanser/clarifying lotion & dramatically different moisturising lotion (not the anti blemish one). I really find it annoying when you're telling the sales assistants what works for you, and they're just arguing that this isn't how you use their products! They seem very 'by the book'!


My perfect 3-step system is as follows:

Anti-Blemish solutions cleansing foam £13.00 125ml 

Anti-Blemish solutions clarifying lotion £16.50 200ml

Dramatically Different moisturizing lotion (around £15/tube)

I don't see the need to buy an additional moisturiser, the dramatically different moisturising lotion is great! I make sure that I buy the lotion, rather than the gel, as it's better for dry skin.

Clinique products can be pricey, but if you want to invest in some great skincare, which should make your skin feel and look amazing (with continued use) then I would really suggest trying Clinique! Sometimes if I'm away, or I run out of my clinique products, I can really feel my skin getting drier, especially around the nose area, and this makes make up look terrible (& therefore I feel terrible throughout the day!) It is definitely something I've bought, stopped using, tried to find a cheaper alternative, but always gone back to! The price is nothing considering I've battled with my skin since the age of 12, if this expensive stuff works, then why not! :)

Feel free to let me know of your experiences with Clinique! Have you had a bad experience? A good one you'd like to share? Please leave comments below, or tweet me! :) @thebeautylink

Lucy x

Clinique 3-Step Anti-Blemish Solutions Product Review

Product Review for Clinique's 3-Step Anti-Blemish Solutions

I'll start of first of all by telling you that I have dry-combination skin. My skin is acne-prone (I have suffered with acne since the age of 12, and I still get the occasional flare ups almost ten years later! Sucks eh?) My flare ups are pretty much confined to the chin area and forehead. My face tends to get greasy around the chin/nose and dry on the cheeks/forehead, nightmare if like me you like wearing everything when it comes to make up (foundation, powder, bronzer, blusher!)

Trying Clinique for the first time:

I have been through all the standard 'drug store' skin care ranges, and found myself getting frustrated at my skin, make up just never applied smoothly, and I'd end up greasy and spotty by the end of the day. Luckily, I was in my local Department Store, and browsing the Clinique counter, when a helpful assistant offered me trial sizes of the Anti-Blemish Range, this included: Cleansing Bar for Face and Body, Clarifying Lotion (15ml) and Clearing Moisturiser (15ml). I had never considered Clinique before, as it was quite out of my price range, being a student with no part-time job!

The Clinique Anti-Blemish 3-Step skincare system actually works! (well, for me it does!) It dries up those greasy areas, and horrible spots! I have to say though, with having dry areas, I find that the Clearing Moisturiser does not nourish my skin as I would like (because of its spot fighting ingredients which inevitably dry up the spots/skin) I use in its place Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion (not gel). This moisturiser works really well for me, as part of my Anti-Blemish system, as now I have the best of both worlds, spot fighting treatment & moisture in those dry areas, perfect! I also prefer the Cleansing Foam rather than the bar (for convenience really!)

How do I use my 3-Step Skincare System?

I find that I get the best results when I use my 3-Step Anti-Blemish solutions twice a day, every day! It prepares my skin in the morning for make-up, which then glides on and stays on longer! At night I can see and feel my skin looking more refreshed and moisturised, with no traces of make up left (essential to keep that skin free of clogged pores which can lead to a flare up of acne!) This is my routine morning and night:

1. wet the face and neck

2. one pump of cleansing foam, lather in the hands

3. smooth over face gently (avoiding eyes) and rinse with warm water

4. pat face dry

5. apply Clarifying Lotion to cotton pad and wipe over face and neck

6. follow with Dramatically Different Moisturising lotion, face and neck 

Alternatives?

I've found that a cheaper alternative to the Anti-Blemish system is the Superdrug Tea Tree range, but again, if you have dry skin, I would suggest using a richer moisturiser, as the blemish ones can be quite drying. Another alternative, from Clinique, is the 3-Step skin type 2. They currently do starter kits (smaller products in a set) for £20. I bought this set, because they unfortunately do not do an Anti-Blemish starter kit! Skin type 2 caters for dry-combination skin, so I thought I'd give this a try! If you don't mind the slight tingling sensation that the Clarifying Lotion gives, then this is certainly worth a try! I have found that it works just as well as the Anti-Blemish, but the lower price gives it the edge! 

I hope you found this review helpful and please ask any questions you might have and I'll try to answer them! Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment about your own experiences with Clinique!