What I'm Loving: L'Oreal True Match Foundation

I've used the same foundation for a long time now; Rimmel's Match Perfect Foundation, and after watching Tanya Burr's Drugstore Back to School Makeup Tutorial I decided it was time for a change.

I bought the L'Oreal True Match Foundation two weeks ago and have loved it ever since. I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to apply to my skin and I find it makes my skin look great, much better than the Rimmel Foundation I had been using. I also found it stays on my skin for far longer than the Rimmel Foundation, occasionally seeing foundation on my face at the end of the day when I am taking my make up off. 

Review: Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

I’ve bought a lot of new foundations recently, and since Rimmel have just released another new product, I thought I would add it to my collection.

The Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse foundation comes in a tube, unlike most foundations which come in glass bottles or jars, however it does make it easy to get the product out. As the name suggests, the foundation is a liquid mousse, thicker than most liquid foundations yet thin enough to easily apply to the skin with fingers or a make up brush. The coverage is surprisingly good, most of my blemishes disappear after one application of the foundation, however it did not stay on for as long as I would have liked, even when coupled with the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. After just 3 hours, there were visible blemishes and redness of my skin, not something I particularly want in a foundation. I would recommend this product, but only if you have time to keep reapplying it throughout the day!

Review: Max Factor Whipped Crème Foundation

There has been an empty space on the Max Factor shelve in my Boots store for a long time now, and yesterday we finally filled it with a new product, the Max Factor Whipped Crème Foundation and I decided to buy one to try out for myself. 
The product comes in a small glass jar with a little black lid, not the most convenient, but it looks nice. I would much prefer it came in a tube or pump so I could squeeze it out onto the back of my hand, rather than having to dip my brush into the pot.

The texture of the product is different from most foundations, it’s thick yet airy and light to touch, much like whipped cream I suppose.

The foundation only gives a medium coverage, not the heavy coverage many people look for in a foundation, but it sinks into the skin nicely and ends up looking natural. However it does not cover blemishes so I would recommend using a concealer with it if you have blemishes you wish to cover.

Overall it lasts quite a long time when combined with a face powder, but the shades are limited for paler people, I bought light ivory but I feel it is slightly too pale for my skin, but the next shade up was too dark. It is a great foundation altogether and I can’t wait to try it again!

Back to School: Beauty Bag Must Haves

This week I will begin my final year of college, and after years of experimenting, I finally have the perfect beauty bag to take with me every day for those little emergencies.

I carry all my beauty bag must haves in the Boots Rose Cosmetics Purse; it’s the ideal size for my bag and fits all my beauty things in with room to spare.

The main thing I like to carry with me is a hair brush, my hair knots easily and I tend to brush it quite often whilst at college. The brush I use is a mini brush from TRESemme and I also like to tie a couple of hair bands around it just in case! I also like to have a perfume with me, I have the CK One Shock 30ml bottle at the moment because of its size, it’s easy to fit in tiny places.

For makeup I carry Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara, my trusty L’Oreal Super Liner Black Laquer Liquid Eyeliner is a must have, even though I rarely have to reapply it, I may want to add to it or change it slightly throughout the day. I also have another Rimmel eyeliner, the Rimmel Precision Eye Liner in black, for if I want to put something on my waterline. Finally I have two concealers for any face problems such as blemishes or under eye bags! I carry Rimmel Match Perfection Illuminating concealer and Collection Lasting Perfection concealer. I also carry a Vaseline Lip Balm, the limited edition Pink Bubbly is my favourite because of how it tastes and smells!

My last two items are Soap and Glory Hand Maid for the days where everyone has a cold but you and Bach’s Rescue Remedy for the days when I am feeling stressed.

I may add more to my school beauty bag and take them away again, but these ten items will always be in my emergency kit ready at any moment!

Back to School: Make Up Recommendations

September has arrived, and for us in the UK that means back to school, college or university. Being in my last year of college, I choose to wear a full face of make up every day, as do many other people, and these are my recommendations for which beauty products will be long lasting and natural looking.

Face

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation – This foundation is cheap as chips, and works well for many people, it is a popular foundation amongst beauty bloggers and I find it easy to apply evenly, leaving my skin looking natural yet covered to perfection.

Rimmel Match Perfection Illuminating Concealer – I use this concealer under the eyes, it’s brightening and awakening and after late nights trying to finish work, I definitely need it!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – this is the concealer I use for blemishes and it definitely does the job. It blends in well and covers blemishes better than any other concealer I've ever used.

Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder – This is the luxury splurge of the recommendations, but it is the best! It contours your face like no other bronzer I’ve ever tried and is so highly pigmented that one brush stroke through the powder is enough for one cheek.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder – This is possibly the best drugstore face powder, and it does what it says on the tin. With one application my face stays matte all day and makes me feel like I’m not wearing any make up at all!

Eye Brows

Maybelline Master Sleep Brow  Mascara – This is the new brow mascara from Maybelline, and it’s great, it keeps my brows looking great all day and I’ve used it every day since I bought it! I couple this with a Revlon eye shadow to make my brows look more defined, but it looks just as great on its own.

Eyes

L'Oreal Super Liner Black Lacquer – This is the king of all liquid liners, it literally stays on all day, I've even worn it swimming once by accident and it came out looking the same as when I went in! it is so easy to apply and needs no topping up during the day, ideal for busy school days.

Soap and Glory Lid Stuff Flawless Finish Eyeshadow – These four shades are perfect for school, three of the eye shadows are matte and look very natural, and the fourth has only the slightest shimmer meaning it still looks very natural. I recommend ‘what’s nude’ as these are the neutral shades, but there is also a smokey eyes palette and a colourful palette which includes blue and purple.

Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara -  This mascara makes lashes look natural rather than clumpy and coated in mascara, yet they make lashes look long and defined, the perfect mascara for a natural look!

Lips

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm – Of course it would be these lip balms; they’re everyone’s favourite at the moment! I own all six, but the two I would recommend for school are Intense Care and Cherry Me, intense care is great for people with dry lips, like me, and Cherry Me gives a beautiful natural tint to lips without looking to intense.

Keep your eyes open for a ‘what’s in my school make up bag’ post later on today!