Face of the Day - 28/05/13

Hello all!
The 28th was my last day off after a lovely and long Bank Holiday weekend. I went to see one of my best friends Michaela as it was her Birthday which was really nice and chilled. She has a lovely blog which you can visit here! My make-up was simple and features my new favourite blush Estée Lauder Pure Color Blush in Electric Pink - it's gorgeous!

I'm still in love with my Double Wear foundation - you can read my ode to it here. He's been faithful so far and I think it might be getting serious....

What I wore:

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 3W2 Cashew

Estée Lauder Double Wear Flawless Wear Concealer in Warm Medium

Estée Lauder Ideal Light Brush-On Illuminator in Medium

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder in Translucent

Estée Lauder Pure Color Blush in Electric Pink

Estée Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow in Tempting Mocha

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara in Black

Estée Lauder Automatic Brow Pencil in Soft Brown

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 02 Apricot Shimmer


So there you go! I hope you are enjoying my FOTD posts, I always enjoy looking at other people's!


What make-up are you wearing today?

'The Estée Lauder Face'

Just a quick snap of the make-up I did for my first day on Estée Lauder. I didn't have any Lauder blushes when I started, but have bought one since which will feature in one of my next posts! So the make-up here is pretty clean and simple and I applied blush once I got there before the store opened.

I was going for a clean and flawless look rather than a smokey eye or anything, as I think Lauder's image is quite sophisticated and understated. The eyeshadow I wore, Pure Color Eyeshadow in Tempting Mocha completely stole the show and I got so many compliments on it!

Double Wear Flawless Wear Concealer in
Warm Medium and Ideal Light Brush-On
Illuminator in Medium

For concealer I went for Double Wear Flawless Wear Concealer in Warm Medium to help conceal any redness. I then mixed this concealer with Advanced Night Repair Eye to create something hydrating enough for under the eye as the DW Concealer on it's own is quite drying for that area. At Lauder we call this the 'Fatigue Fighter' and it's used to help hydrate and conceal the eye to give a more flawless and awake look, hiding bags and dark circles.

I then used Ideal Light in Medium as it is a brush-on illuminator that reflects light and helps to brighten under the eye further. It's a correcting salmon type shade which is perfect for dark circles. The texture is great for the under-eye area as it is light and not drying. 

For brows I used my Automatic Brow Pencil in Soft Brown which has a dry/waxy texture which is great for natural looking brows that stay all day. I have used this non-stop since I got it - a great product.

Pure Color Eyeshadow in Tempting Mocha

Now for the hero - Pure Color Eyeshadow in Tempting Mocha, a shade that sometimes looks Taupe, sometimes looks Purple and sometimes looks Blue. Underwhelming in the pan, this shadow looks amazing on, and can be worn lightly swept on or more heavily with other darker shadows depending on what look you are going for. 

A slick of mascara and gloss and I was done. I used Sumptuous Extreme mascara and Pure Color Gloss in Rock Candy. 

Pure Color Gloss in Rock Candy

It's going really well at Lauder, I have a lot to learn still but I am really enjoying it and getting to grips with it all as quick as I can :-) My favourite part has been doing the iMatch (foundation matching) and getting to grips with all the foundation shades and the application.

I am really missing my other make-up as it feels like I am only using my Lauder products *cries*, but it's nice to explore the brand and see what make-up they have to offer, as everything I've tried has been of amazing quality and I've really been enjoying using them. 

I will update again on how I'm getting on soon - feel free to ask me any questions that you may have, I'd love to read them!

Ta ta for now!

Face of the Day - 14/04/13 & 15/04/13

So heres what my face has been looking like the past two days - interesting, huh? All jokes aside, I love knowing what products people are wearing and how they achieve each look. Both looks are pretty natural, the second being pretty fuss free but good for everyday.

Ignore the fact that I wear this necklace in 99.9% of my photos - I like it, okay?

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer

Estee Lauder Double Wear in 3W2 Cashew

Benefit Erase Paste in Medium No.2

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25

Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Thunder

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in Nude

MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel 

MAC Cremeblend Blush in Something Special

MAC Cream Colour Base in Shell

Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipgloss in Rock Candy

Yesterday I only had to pop out for a bit so I thought I'd just do something natural. I'd been watching Made in Chelsea (MIC, don'tcha know) most of the day, and was loving the make-up that a lot of the girls sport on that programme. A flawless base, often dewy looking, neat and tidy brows, a smudge of black liner on the top lash line, super super curled eyelashes and lashings of mascara - top lashes only - bronzed cheekbones and a bit of gloss - done!

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer

Estee Lauder Double Wear in 3W2 Cashew

Benefit Erase Paste in Medium No.2

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25

Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Thunder

Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Black

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Deep 4

Jouer Tinted Lip Conditioner in Cosmo

Still loving my Double Wear, and my MAC CCB in Shell copious amounts - I'll do a review soon!

What make-up have you been reaching for lately?

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in 190 True Beige - Review

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in 190 True Beige - £8.99 here.

Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation is something I've read about and watched people talk about for a good while now, so I popped into Boots to pick up one and try it for myself. Having just written my rave review on Estee Lauders Double Wear (post here), I wasn't looking for anything to top it, because frankly at the moment that one ticks all my boxes. I don't tend to go for drugstore foundations, simply because I like a really good base and the ones I've tried haven't really cut it. I wanted to try this one as I know not everyone can afford/want to spend loads of money on high-end foundations and it's something different on the blog! 

This foundation has ten shades, and out of those ten I managed to find a really good match which is '190 True Beige'. I was impressed by the shade range and it's a nice change to see a drugstore foundation with pretty much a shade for everyone. Even one of their darkest looked like it would suit my Mum who is an NC50 in MAC and can never find foundations dark enough in Boots, Superdrug etc. (That's a whole other issue for another day, I will definitely do a post on discrimination of fair and dark skin tones in the make-up industry.) I'm not sure about the lightest shade as certain people are lighter than some brands lightest shade, but just pop into Boots and try some instore.

As for the packaging, it's actually really nice, much nicer than most drugstore foundation bottles. It's a nice, slim glass bottle with a white lid and the design looks very minimal - fitting with the concept of the foundation itself. The foundation has no pump (is this a new trend?!) which means you have to pour the foundation out, so be careful! Not realising that this was a water-based foundation, I decided to use it with my Beauty Blender - big mistake! Because this foundation is water-based, my sponge just soaked up a lot of the product, which is obviously a waste and required me to use more than I normally would have. The sponge does release product when you squish it down against your face, but a brush would be much more ideal! Keep this in mind when you are applying foundation - water-based ones work better with fingers or brushes and silicone or oil based foundations can work with either a damp, sponge, brushes or fingers. Sponge drama aside, I applied one layer and then just went over any other areas of redness that needed a bit extra.

Me wearing just the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation and nothing else.

As you can see the coverage is light, but the foundation itself is actually undetectable in the close-up photo. You can still see my freckles which is nice, and you can't feel it on your skin at all. So if you like your foundation to look like your not wearing any, then you may really love this. I have pretty good, clear skin, and no breakouts at the time that I tried this, so my face looks flawless and natural with this. As you can see, it hasn't tackled my under-eye darkness at all, but I wasn't expecting it to as it such a light coverage. The coverage is almost like a tinted moisturiser, but the consistency is very light and fluid, easily blendable too.

Here I added some MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC42 to my t-zone to set and mattify slightly.

I used my Studio Fix powder to add a touch more coverage in the t-zone, which you could do with any opaque powder. 

Rest of make-up done!

As you can see, the foundation looks really nice on and when the rest of my make-up is done. The beauty of this foundation is that it's perfect for down days when you just want a bit of coverage, a lick of mascara and thats it. If i were to do that with Double Wear, I get so much coverage from it that my face looks all one colour and the planes of my face need to be put back in with blush and bronzer - if that makes sense? Basically, this foundation makes you look like you, just a tad better. So if you have good skin, not many imperfections and just want to even everything out and look naturally flawless - this is for you! If you have more redness, lots of breakouts, pores etc then this won't really do much for your skin. 

Overall, I like it. I wouldn't wear it if I was going out, but on days if I am just popping to the shops or don't need to look made-up, a quick layer of this will do. The SPF 20 is great too if you're going to be outside during the day and want to protect your skin while still wearing a bit of coverage. 

Revlon's Nearly Naked foundation is available in Boots and Superdrug.

Have you tried this foundation?

(If you want to know what other products I used in this post, they are listed at the bottom of my previous one here!)

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup in Cashew 3W2 (New Shade) - Review

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup SPF 10 in 3W2 Cashew - £27.50

I usually like to try out my foundations for at least a month or two to test them properly and work out if I do really like them or not and if they work for my skin. It's been just under two weeks and I am itching to write this review! So here it is, possibly the most surprising foundation I've ever tried.

I've heard so many great things about Estee Lauder Double Wear for absolutely years, and I don't know why but I had lots of negative preconceptions before I'd even tried it. I've always liked a medium or even light coverage foundation, being a lover of Mac Face and Body and Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat as well as other lighter options. I always thought that Double Wear was a heavy, cakey foundation that I didn't need as I don't have bad skin and don't like foundations feeling heavy. I couldn't have been more wrong. I also thought this foundation would be really full coverage, which it can be, but only if you build it. 

To me, Double Wear is a medium to full coverage foundation depending on how many layers you want, which is why it's so versatile. You can use more or less depending on how much you need and in which areas as it layers so well - I always work thinly to keep things natural and just build. I couldn't have been more wrong about the cakey-ness or heavy-ness. I personally can't feel it on my skin and the texture doesn't feel thick at all, it's quite liquid-y actually which means it blends like a dream (I use my Beauty Blender). I did do some research regarding the new shades and the formula (there are now a whopping 30 shades!) as a very popular shade 'Shell 1C1' has been discontinued, but is apparently being brought back after much uproar. I can't comment on the old formula as I have only tried this new one, but it doesn't seem like there is anything wrong with it at all, and lives up to it's 'Double Wear' title incredibly. As for my shade match, it's perfect. I use 'Cashew 3W2' and it's very much yellow enough for my skin which I love. It looks quite orange when poured out and when I was first applying I thought 'yikes!', but it's a really great match for me - probably the best match I own as I can even slap it on in a hurry and it blends with my own skin colour. 

'Cashew 3W2' swatched on my hand

I have always found it really hard to get a foundation to stay put on my skin, which is something that is really important to me, especially if I know I'll be having a long day or want to look flawless without having to worry about touching up or powdering. My other foundations do okay, by the end of the day they are still there but not like Double Wear, no where near. I mentioned in my review of the Dior Skin Nude Foundation (here) that it lasted well and looked pretty much the same when I got home depending on what my skin was doing that day, but that was with having set my whole face with powder and touching up during the day. After using this foundation, I've realised how much foundations change throughout the day, they wear in certain places, oxidise, disintegrate from oil production, but Double Wear doesn't seem to do any of those things.

The above photos were taken after a LONG day at work. I applied Estee Lauder Double Wear just before 9am and took these photos after 7pm that evening. A dusting of powder through my t-zone and for my concealer on application and thats it. No powdering during the day, no touch ups or re-application - nothing. You can see a slight breakthrough of shine from the flash, but after 10+ hours of wearing this foundation, I am so impressed. I've never had a foundation stay this perfect on my skin, I looked close up in the mirror numerous times that day and my skin was still matte, no redness had broken through (something I have a real problem with), no shine or fading and no patchiness.

Heres me wearing the foundation on it's own, no powder or anything else. Surprisingly, when applied in layers, this is the most natural looking foundation I own. I expected the finish to be super matte but it's not. It's more of a semi-matte finish, it definitely mattifies but just looks like natural, perfect skin. I asked my boyfriend if he thought I was wearing make-up in this photo and he said no (result!) - I can't help but agree as it looks so natural. Not mask like and not cakey.

Me with just Double Wear on 

Rest of make-up done!

As for the famous Double Wear 'ghost face' due to the SPF, it can slightly look lighter in the occasional photo like the one above, but in the other photos my face looks true to life. I wouldn't go as far as saying that I wouldn't wear this foundation if I knew I was being photographed, as it hasn't proven to be a problem yet and sometimes the flash can just wash you out anyway. I like that it has an SPF of 10 as it's great for everyday protection. This foundation doesn't accentuate pores and one of the most important qualities of this foundation is that it looks great close-up. I can shove my nose up against the mirror (not literally) and it looks just as flawless as it does from far away - this is a big thing for me as I'm quite fanatical about how make-up looks close up. It's all well and good being nicely made up, but it needs to look natural, not like you've applied bags of foundation that's just sitting on the surface - gross!

I use a dusting of Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder through my t-zone and under my eyes for my concealer but it's not essential as the foundation lasts amazingly on it's own. I've always had to set every foundation I've tried for fear of looking like an oil slick by lunchtime, but this one stays put without. 

As for the packaging, I think the bottle is beautiful, it looks and feels very expensive. It's quite weighty to hold because of the frosted glass, but it's nice and small so it's fine to travel with. The lack of pump doesn't bother me too much as it encourages me to be careful with how much I pour out. I rarely ever finish foundations as I buy so many, but I have a feeling that this may be the first one to be re-purchased. I'll keep you all updated on how I go with this and if my opinion of it changes, but as of now it is up there as my favourite foundation so far. It's just flawless. It seems I am an Estee Lauder girl at heart, and I am excited to be working on the counter in just over a months time, so I'll definitely be posting about my experience and the products I will discover!

You can get iMatched at any Estee Lauder counter (which I highly recommend) and Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup is available at any Lauder counter and online here. With 30 shades, I'm sure you'll find your perfect match!

Have you tried this foundation?

The Classic Beauty Blender Review

Beautyblender Classic Duo Set - £24.00 here.

The Beautyblender is something I have been wanting to try for so long and I have no idea why I waited because I think it is the best thing I have ever applied my foundation with - ever.

A lot of foundations I like are quite lightweight and dewy - meaning that sometimes because they are light and fluid they can look streaky if applied with a brush. A brush also doesn't allow much coverage to be built up with these more lightweight foundations, but this is where the Beautyblender really succeeded for me.

I start by running the blender under cold water and squeezing repetitively so it soaks up water and doubles in size, becoming spongey and more springy. I then squeeze out the excess with my hands until it doesn't release any more water, followed by gently blotting excess moisture with a towel. I now have a fluffy and slightly damp blender to begin my make-up application with!

The sponge allows you to press and blot the foundation into your skin, taking away any chance of streaks or un-even application. Pressing it into the skin also keeps it lasting so much longer than applying it with a brush - for me anyway. Because you are pressing rather than 'painting' it on, it allows you to work in layers, pressing the foundation into the skin on the areas you need more coverage until you have the amount you need. Squeezing and pressing with the blender also seems to release more product which is great also - the sponge doesn't just absorb it all up and waste product.

The slight dampness of the sponge when you use it makes the foundation apply better, as if you were using MAC Fix+ to help it blend better. The application is so even and so easy to apply.

I use the pointed tip with my MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25 to again work in layers and build up coverage under my eyes and around my nose and mouth (the areas I need it most). The blender applies this liquid concealer like a dream and working in thin layers, I can press the product in rather than blending it out with a brush. By pressing it in I can get such a higher amount of coverage for the product I'm using as it's not just being blended away. The thin layers along with the concealers quick setting time means that I can build up coverage quickly but without it looking cakey or creasing.

This sponge has made my make-up in the mornings so quick and easy to apply - I can do it quickly and evenly with long lasting results - whats not to love??

-

I really really really recommend the Beautyblender for foundation, concealer, cream blush, liquid highlighter, cream highlighter.......the list goes on. 

Have you ever tried the Beautyblender?

YSL Touche Éclat Foundation in BD50 Review

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Foundation in BD50 - £29

I have been meaning to do this review for a few months now as I have been really enjoying using this foundation. The YSL Touche Eclat Foundation is a light to medium coverage very dewy foundation which brightens the complexion and gives your skin a lovely glow.

The packaging is really something too - the glass bottle with gold top looks gorgeous on any dressing table and despite being glass is fine for travelling with (for me).

No make-up (Christ!)

Wearing nothing but YSL Touche Eclat Foundation in BD50

The shade is perfect for me, not too dark and not too light, pretty spot on.  You can see from the above photo that the foundation is very dewy and I always like to set it with powder to make sure it lasts longer. I do this with all my foundations as it can wear off on me without. 

Full face done and set with powder!

Despite setting it lightly with powder my skin still looks radiant and the coverage is enough just to even out skin tone and minor blemishes - it did a great job at tackling a scar from a blemish on my cheek which I didn't go over with concealer!

If you like a light to medium foundation with a dewy finish then this one could be for you! It feels really lightweight when I have it on and lasts quite nicely throughout the day.

Have you tried the Touch Eclat foundation?

(P.S I'm wearing:

Blazer - Primark

Shirt- Sparke & Fade

Necklace - H&M)