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

Fashion blog! Recent buys!

Fashion blog: my recent purchases!


I thought I'd share with you some of the clothes I've bought recently! (some really good bargains!)


I'm really liking all the paler neutral colours at the moment, such as beige and dark pink. After christmas I splashed out on some stuff from Topshop and managed to pull a nice outfit together! It was a bit pricey but hey, we have to treat ourselves sometimes! Here's the outfit:

PUTTY ROSE SHRUNKEN 3/4 SLEEVE BLAZER

I bought this blazer for £55 with a voucher I got for christmas. Quite pricey I know, but so cute! I really like it because you can dress it up or dress it down. Recently I went for drinks and a meal and it looked really good teamed with a peach ruffled top and black skinny jeans! I could also dress it down with brogues & skinny jeans for Uni!

  TALL RED STRIPE TANK TOP

I wear this under my blazer as it adds some colour as the blazer is quite plain. This top was £14 and I would try this on before you buy it, as the arm holes are quite big and if it's slightly big on you then you'll end up showing your bra! (I know this from experience...haha)

 KAMILLE SOFT LEATHER BROGUES

 I got these brogues in the sale (actually in cream not black...) and they were reduced from £52 to £30! They are fully leather which makes it a great price! I wear this whole outfit during the day with some blue skinny jeans & a brown leather belt and it goes really nicely :)

Today's bargains! (28/1/2011)

I don't usually shop in H&M too often... as I never seem to see anything I like! However, I went in today and seemed to love the entire shop!

Blazer

£24.99 H&M

I'm loving blazer's at the moment and this one caught my eye as soon as I stepped in to H&M! Really good price too, half the price of my Topshop one!

I can't find pictures of the other things I bought, but here's a list:

Black leggings                            £5.99

Black bodycon skirt                  £3.99

Flower hair slides                     £1.99

Suede style dolly shoes            £14.99

Floral scarf/shawl                     £6.99

I was really impressed with today's shopping, and if you think that you can sometimes spend £60 on one item, such as a pair of shoes, then this shopping was a bargain!!

Just wanted to share with you my bargains, hopefully you'll like some and go and check them out :)

You can see most of these items online at;

www.topshop.com

www.hm.com

I hope you found this post vaguely interesting! It's nice to find bargains :D

feel free to leave a comment below this post, and do tell me if you've found a blazer that's worth checking out! Really loving them at the minute!

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