Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation: Oily Skin's Best Friend?

I may have an addiction when it comes to foundations as I am always looking for the next one to purchase even though I have bottles upon bottles of the stuff from various brands sitting on my dressing table. But one foundation that is widely hyped in the blogging world and one I had yet to try is the Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation, best know for its lasting power and amazing coverage. I've had this on my radar for months but its hefty price tag and lack of pump were amongst the things that were always putting me off. However, I recently realised I had over £30 in Boots points so I finally took the plunge and splurged them all on this beauty and I am so glad I did. In short, it has become my go-to foundation when I want great coverage and longevity.

For years, my favourite premium foundation has been the Urban Decay Naked Skin and quite frankly I never thought another would top it. But ,when the nice counter assistant matched me to shade 1N2 Ecru and showed me how well only a few drops covered my entire face, I was in love. 1N2 has neutral undertones, despite my skin always being matched to warm toned foundations, and I can honestly say I've never experienced such a perfect match before. I am so glad I got my skin matched before purchasing it because if I had chosen the shade by myself I would have gone for something warmer and that would have been a big mistake and waste of money. There are almost 30 shades to choose from, from cool tones, to warm and neutral shades so make sure you get matched up.

I mentioned how little product it takes to give me full coverage, and I really mean it. With this, less is definitely more; it even covers my dark circles well which in turn makes me use less of my expensive concealer...massive win! And even though coverage is full from the first application, I don't feel like it cakes nor looks too unnatural. I like applying it with a damp sponge, finishing off with my trusty RT buffing brush for that natural look ideal for daytime.

And whilst coverage is great, my favourite part has to be how long it lasts on my combination/oily skin. Admittedly, I haven't worn it for 15 hours (the claimed lasting power) but I can honestly say that unlike other foundations I have, this does not leave behind a horrible oily t-zone and a patchy finish after 10 hours of work. In fact, it does not oxidise on my skin throughout the day, doesn't sit on fine lines around my lips nor does it transfer onto my clothes.Yes, it is a somewhat heavy finish foundation but it feels incredibly lightweight on my skin.

Now I wish my review would end there but sadly this does have a few negatives too. Firstly, it has no pump and that is really annoying especially for the price you pay for it. High end make-up brands (yes I am looking at you too MAC) really need to stop being stingy and just provide us with pumps already instead of getting us to purchase it separately. Pumps save time and product, and doesn't leave the bottle looking like a hot mess after a few uses; refer to picture above.

Additionally, despite having combination skin I do suffer from dry patches around my chin and I am afraid this highlights them quite a bit. With this in mind, I have to remind myself that if I want to use this I need to exfoliate, moisturise and prime well before application. 

All in all, I am glad I finally got my hands on this foundation. At first I wasn't sure if I should have blown all my points on it, but the more I use it the more I fall for it. It is not a perfect foundation but it comes pretty close to that. The longevity for oily skin and coverage outweigh its lack of pump and non-matte finish and I can honestly say that I would happily repurchase this making it very much worth the hype in my opinion.

The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation retails for £30, has SPF 10 and comes in 30 or so shades so you are definitely bound to find your match.

Have you tried this? Let me know what your thoughts are below!

Thanks for reading beauties and wishing you a nice week ahead!

xoxo

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Matte Foundation: Best Drugstore Foundation Of The Moment?

The new L'Oreal matte foundation has hit the stores and it has already gained popularity amongst many beauty gurus so I was super excited when picked mine up at Boots and here is what I think of it.

Being a foundation "junkie", I have tried many different ones always going back to my all time favourites because the newer stuff never seemed to be able to compete. I have different foundations ranging from drugstore to premium stuff, from liquid to powder, and yet this is one of the best foundation I have come across. Even the fairest of shades can look dark on me so finding the right shade can be a pain. Luckily, this foundation offers shades light enough for my fair skin and my shade is Vanilla 11 (I found Porcelain 10 too light for me believe it or not), it matched my skin perfectly.

As you all know by now (due to my constant complaining) I suffer from pretty dark pigmentation under my eyes so perfection isn't something easily achievable. But I find this foundation to even out my skin tone really well.

This does give a matte finish (after it dries completely) but I find that the longevity (24h) is misleading. It stays put for a long time but certainly not 24h, besides who would wear it for that long?! I do not notice shine until well into my day, and even then it's minor so it doesn't bother me too much.

Here's a pic of my Bank Holiday make-up wearing this foundation (+ concealer and eye make-up) but no powder. I wanted to test this baby out in the sun and I think it did pretty well!

Pros:

✓ Plastic packaging: It's not glass! Perfect for travelling and having in your handbag without needing to worry about breakage, especially when you are as clumsy as I am.

✓ Good amount of product: You don't need much of it to get a good coverage so this will last me a few months.

✓ Full coverage: I find that to be very true and it evens out my skin tone perfectly.

✓ Matte result: Even though it takes a few minutes to dry off, the result is a beautiful matte finish.

✓ No cakey effect: I like how this product allows build-able coverage without looking like I overdid it.

✓ Enriched with perlite technology: I have no idea what that means, but sounds fancy so there you go!

✓ Kind to skin: Does not dry my skin or highlights my dry spots which is great and feels really lightweight, like you aren't even wearing foundation.

✓ Waterproof and steamproof: good for rainy days in London and the upcoming Summer.

Cons:

✖ 24 hours matte effect: Whilst it does reduce the appearance of shine for a long time, 24 hours is pushing your luck.

✖ Price: Even though I got it for £7.99, this is only an introductory price and it will go up in a few weeks (to £10.99 I believe which is steep in my opinion). 

✖ Fragrance: Nothing too unpleasant but there's something there for sure, so not fragrance free. 

✖ Shades: Whilst I found my perfect shade, it certainly isn't going to be a hit like Revlon ColorStay. That has 20 shades and this only has 8 and most of them are warm toned (which is great for me) but no neutral or yellow tones so it may suck for you. 

✖ True colour: You can't really see the true colour of the foundation through the packaging, so buying online may be tricky. 

All in all, this is definitely a foundation I will repurchase again and again. I really hope Boots (or anywhere else really) starts stocking up the matching Infallible Matte Powder and Setting Spray over here in the UK. For now, we have to content ourselves with the Infallible Lipsticks, the non-matte version of this foundation and the Mattifying Primer (which are all already on my wishlist!).

Have you guys tried this foundation yet? Let me know what you think.

 Thank you beauties for reading!

xoxo

March Favourites 2015

I cannot believe how fast the time is passing by! I know March has not ended just yet, but it's almost April and I wanted to write a list and tell you all about the best products I bought/received this month. It was definitely a big month for me and my make-up collection, I received some awesome goodies and got my bonus at work which meant SHOPPING! I spent way more than I intended to, but that's ok, all in the name of beauty (is what I tell myself to make me feel better and less guilty!). Plus I get to write these awesome little posts and tell you all about it. Alright, get ready for quickie reviews of the products I am in love with and maybe you will like a few! In no particular order, here we go:

1. No.7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream

I talked about this product in my Skincare and Make-up Routine post a couple of weeks back (read here), and this is by far the best night cream I have ever used. It smells really good, leaves my dry skin feeling great and it dries in no time! I have been using this for a month or so now, not long at all, but I can already see results. It feels light on my skin and in the morning my face is not at all greasy, plus a little goes a long way. I bought this on sale at Boots (3 for 2 on N.7 products) which is still on I believe and I super recommend it if you have normal/dry skin like I do. It only costs £13.50, so I'd rather buy this than spend a ridiculous amount of money on a product that will give me the same result. 

2. Profile Nail Polish Thinner 

Ever used nail polish remover to revive old nail polish? I did! many many manyyyy times. The end result was always the same: ruined varnishes thrown in the bin. Using it for this purpose it's a big no-no! It makes the colour and finish very dull and we definitely don't want that. Don't judge me, but only recently did I find out that there was something called Nail Polish Thinner. I know it's been around for a long time, but I finally got me one of these and now all my polishes have a second chance at life (how poetic). This products works so well and I have been able to use my favourite colours again and again, a big yes-yes! I got mine on Amazon for like 5 bucks, so check it out here.

3. Essie Nail Varnish Duo 

Speaking of nail polish, I got this super cute Limited Edition Gift set by Essie. The theme is "Royal Baby" and the set features 2 gorgeous colours, a baby pink:"Lovie Dovie"and of course, a baby blue: "Lapiz of Luxury". Check out my mani below: 

The pink polish is like a perfect flamingo pink, very romantic and bright (a bit too bright for some people, but not me!) and the blue is like a dreamy ocean blue. Both super perfect for spring and I have literally been wearing them non-stop!

4. Dailus PRO Matte Liquid Lipsticks

These are by far THE best lipsticks I have ever tried and here's why:

1. The colours are highly pigmented, they give amazing coverage and are so versatile. 

2. They really are matte (I hate when a product claims to be something it is not). 

3. They are cheap (approx 5 quid).

4. These have such a good durability. I find that even after I've eaten something, the colour is still intact. Here are a few swatches so you can totally see what I am talking about when I say these are perfection:

Only problem is, they are only sold in Brazil and every month new shades seem to be coming out which is a bummer because no store does overseas delivery, so thank you Flávia for bringing these for me! BUT not all hope is lost yet! The lipsticks that in my opinion can compete with Dailus are these one here by Anastasia Beverly Hills. The colours are pretty awesome too and they are available online in the UK. 

5. Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara

What it claims to do: "Our 1st Layer-Reveal Brush captures even the tiniest lashes and volumises the look of longer lashes for a layered, multiplied lash look". My verdict: I have had a few high end mascaras, yet this one manages to achieve the same great results at a fraction of the price! Here's a swatch of it:

The brush is amazing and separates every lash. The formula curls and lengthens my lashes in only 2 coats and I have people asking me if these are my real lashes! It doesn't flake, clump, fade or run down my face and the result are long, fluttery yet natural lashes. A great all rounder and definitely the best I have used in a long time. 

6. Max Factor Colour Corrector Sticks

Or as my mother likes to call it, the "magic stick". This one comes in a variety of shades, but I purchased the yellow one and I have been loving it. The yellow one aims to to correct and perfect any tonal imperfections in your skin such as dark under eye circles, but if you have redness or blemishes that you wish to cover, check my guide for choosing the right colour here. There are some mixed reviews on this one, some people love it, some hate it. 

I personally think this is a great product and even though the product is somewhat chalky this works well on me because I have oily under eyes. I blend it on before applying foundation and concealer. It's lightweight and comfortable, and invisible under the rest of my make up. Even though it's not the cheapest out there, I couldn't be happier, and I'll definitely be looking into trying the other shades too! 

7. Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Not the cheapest and for a £11.99 brush I thought, this better be good. Guess what? It is. This is the best brush I have amongst the many (many, many) brushes I own. It blends foundation in really well and gives a lovely finish. The bristles are soft and easy to clean. It totally transforms the appearance of my foundation giving it a flawless finish. My face looks somewhat airbrushed as it blends perfectly, leaving no streaks behind (something I hate) so it's well worth the money! I personally use this for foundation as I said, but there are multiple different ways you can use it too, check out the original video by Real Techniques teaching us what we can do with it here.

8. Rimmel BB Cream 9 in 1

I have had no luck with BB creams in the past. They all just felt too creamy/watery and not at all covering. It doesn't help that I feel like BB creams should give me coverage like foundation does, so when I saw this at the supermarket for like £3, I didn't think much. I thought 9 properties was asking for too much: "primes, moisturises, minimizes pores, conceals, covers, smoothes, mattifies, brightens, and helps protect", yeah right!!!. But this stuff is amazing and I am in love. I use the light shade and it added just the right amount of colour to my skin without making me look orange. For the price it was an absolute bargain and I don't have to use loads to get a good coverage. Blends in easily, skin looks smooth and soft, and lightweight. I stand corrected, BB creams can be great! Do try it for yourself!

9. Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll-On 

When I see products like this, I usually don't bother, but when I saw it on sale at Boots I thought I'd give it a try. I now love this eye roll-on and is definitely something I will be purchasing again and again! I use this after removing my make up and it instantly cools my under eye area. It's not magic but it does reduce redness. It is really easy to apply and feels really light on my skin. I particularly like how it dries quickly and how much more awake I look after putting it on. I have been using this for a few weeks now and people have noticed how diminished my dark circles appear. Everything by Simple that I have tried in the past has won me over, this is not any different.

So these are the products I am in love with at the moment. Now I feel like I should write a post about the bad products I have come across too ( I have way too many of these!). What do you think? Wanna share a few of your favourites? Leave a comment below! 

Thanks again for reading beauties and have a beautiful weekend ahead!

xoxox

My (Very Extensive) Make-Up Wishlist

If my dad saw me writing this, he would be very confused as to why I want more make-up. To him, the "collection" I have now is more than enough to last me my whole life. BUT I am girl and you simply can never have too much (sorry daddy). There are TOO many new products coming out every year, too many shades and texture to choose from...AHHH it just becomes hard to resist and I can't even keep up. Don't get me wrong, I am not a compulsive buyer. Before I buy something, I make sure I do thorough research and probably read over 100 different reviews. When I am convinced it's worth my money, I add it to this list and here a few things I have been dying to get my hands on. 

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade £15

This! This, in my opinion, is by far the best eyebrow product in the market and the first on this list I intend to buy. I have tried multiple pencils and eyebrow filling kits and they are good......ish. But to up my brow game, I NEED this! It comes in a few different colours and mine is Medium Brown. Sadly, this product is only available online so you need to be 100% certain of your colour. If you click on the price above, you will see where this is available.

2. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Pore Minimizing £28

I got a sample of this primer and let me tell you something, 2 words: A-MAZING! It left my skin feeling great, no visible pores and just so so smooth. My makeup was intact for 12 hours but I have a feeling it lasts a lot longer. It is a bit pricey, but well worth the investment.

3.Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Mat £34.99

I don't know about you, but washing my brushes takes so much time and it's so boring, my least favourite thing about make-up. I wash them every week (hygiene is very important you guys!) and this would make my life a lot easier. The price though....yikes! I love the idea so I will be on the look out for a cheaper dupe.

4. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner £18

Been after a good gel eyeliner for some time now. I'm not very confident with liquid liners nor pencil ones, so gel works best for me. Plus, I have oily eye lids and have considered many brands such as Mac, Kiko, L'oreall, Urban Decay but this award winning product has won me over! Come to mama!

5. Too Faced Melted Lipstick - Violet £19

The colour is so beautiful and very "in" right now. It's all about purple lipstick nowadays! I have a cheapy dupe from LA Girl, the colour is great but it does not even come close to the real thing in terms of quality. Spring is coming up and this colour is a must have!

6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Series Contour Kit Medium £39

I know the price is scary and I do have 2 contouring kits already BUT we will all agree that this is on a different level completely! Anything Anastasia does is perfect after all.

7. Nars Cosmetics Sheer Glow Foundation £31

Bought a pretty similar foundation from No 7; gives me a nice glow and makes me look fresh all day. But when it finishes this is the one I will be getting. My shade is Siberia (the lightest).

8.Mac Glitter Reflects in Pearl, Stepmother and Pretty It Up, each £18.50

Can we pause for a second? Mac + Cinderella! I was very tempted to put the entire MAC Cinderella collection on this list, but must.control.myself. These pigments are so beautiful I may cry. I really should start saving now for this collection because I don't want it, I NEED it! (comes out March in the UK).

9. Sigma Beauty Essential Kit Set of 12 Brushes CK001 £102.94

I confess, I have way too many brushes already but this is Sigma we are talking about. The price isn't pretty but the quality is amazing and a must have for every beauty lover out there.

10. Nars Blush Deep Throat £23 

I am completely obsessed with Nars products at the moment! This blush is so highly pigmented and this shade is gorgeous. Will definitely be my go-to blush for this spring. 

11. Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream Prague £6.50

The cheapest on this list, yet the hardest to find; always "Sold out". I have heard great things about this lip cream and every swatch I see is more beautiful than the next. Will keep checking until it's back in stock. Fingers crossed!

12. Benefit High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer £19.50

I recently started using a highlighter on my cheek bones and if applied correctly, it can give you a beautiful glowing look. I purchased a few (Chanel, Bourjois and Sleek) and they are very nice but this product is liquid and provides a more natural finish than powder; perfect for daylight make-up! 

13.Mac Lip Pencil Soar £12.50

To recreate Kylie Jenner's famous lips, why else! This and some lip balm=Job done! And Marsala is the colour of the year so this is perfect to create very much "in" lips!

In short, I need more monies! I hope you like this wishlist and if you buy any of this stuff, do tell me what you think, I would love to hear your opinion.

Thanks for reading beauties and see you soon!

xoxo