A Little Tan

Today was one of those days that LM tinted moisturiser didn't cut it, I just felt like slapping it on. So today I whacked our my Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Punjab. 

You probably already know since it's been popular so long, but it's really not sheer, nor does it 'glow', intact it's medium-full coverage with a pretty matte finish.

 I have definitely had a real love-hate relationship with this, I bought it around Christmas when I was travelling and despite initially loving it, I found that it just seemed to do nothing special.

I was all set to write an 'it's ok, but it's really not all that review' but I've had a 16hour day and my skin is still looking surprisingly good - definitely more 'glowy' but coverage has stayed. And looking at how beautifully it's photographed I'm resigned to accepting it's just going to be one of those love-hate products. Some days it just seems to work out better than others.

I just threw on Maybelline's Fit Concealer and master precise liner, Benefit Hoola Bronzer and They're Real mascara, L'Oreal Brow Artist, Lancome's Oche Doree for a touch more colour, and ELF Runway

Whenever I wear something fuller coverage during the day I tend to keep my eyes light, today I went for my current signature look, Sleek's light gold from the Storm palette and Urban Decay Smog in the outer corner. And of course lashings of mascara and slightly flicked eyeliner

 Punjab is definitely my summer shade, so I decided to go along with the summery theme and whip out ELF's runway pink lipstick. It's a really pretty pink, and it's as close to nude as I can ever bring myself to go. I feel it just washes me out completely when I'm my usual skin tone, but with a little bit of a tan I understand why so many people love it. Creamy, opaque, somewhat matte, and just such a flattering shade if you have a little colour

I obviously reached for benefit hoola to contour those hamster cheeks, and then I dabbed on Lancome's ochre doree as something in between a blush and bronzer.

Seeing these photos I am definitely in no rush to go back to my old pale skin (prior to New Zealand I was mac NC15 to give you an idea - or in other terms, I was always lighter than the lightest foundation shade) having a little tan definitely suits this hair colour anyway!

Colder Weather

While all you lucky people in the northern hemisphere are embracing the warmer weather, winter is steady creeping in down under. So I'm doing the only logical thing, and piling on the layers - clothes and make up! I just use the changing seasons as an excuse to mix up my make up

I've loved experimenting with Collection's Lasting Perfection Foundation, it reminds me a lot of revlon colorstay as it dries pretty quickly leaving a relatively matte finish but with 100% better packaging, a thicker consistency and minus the smell.

 L'Oreal Brow Artist, Mac Woodwinked Eyeshadow, Bobbi Brown Eyeliner, Benefit They're Real, Benefit Hoola, Collection Concealer, Mac Painterly Paint Pot, Mac Craving Lipstick

The packaging is great - it's literally all you can ask for a foundation container, glass bottle, simple design, and a pump! I don't ask for much in my foundation packaging - looking at you Mac and Nars and every other brand that still sells plastic bottles bottles without pumps!

As far as shades go, it's a little hard. There's only a handful of shades, and they all look the exact same in the frosted glass bottles. The names are also a bit misleading. Mine is 'cool beige' but I'm not entirely sure what's meant be 'cool' since it's definitely got a warm undertone… Anyway I just picked up the number that corresponded to the concealer shade that suits me and I got a pretty good match

I should also say it definitely oxidises a fair bit once it's fully dried, for my shade that works quite well, however it's something you should be aware of when trying to find your shade in store.

 I'm still clinging to the idea of summer and resisting swapping my bronzer for blush - although I have toned down the amount of shimmery bronzers - sadly. I adore Mac Craving Lipstick - although I'm probably going to feature this in another post as I can't wait to ramble about it

Along the theme of transitioning to winter - I always know when winter has come when my breakfasts turn warm. I just can't stand starting the day with something cold when it's freezing outside. My absolute favourite at the moment is this delicious, filling and oh so easy Apple Cinnamon Oats.

It's just some oats, popped into the microwave with water for a few minutes and some yummy slightly cooked apples! I just chop up half an apple, liberally sprinkled it with cinnamon, add a splash of water and cook. I've cooked the apples in the microwave (when I was in a crazy rush) and also in the oven, honestly they taste about the same but using the microwave means less washing up! Oh and I also throw in some extra cinnamon into the oats, but that's just because I love cinnamon

Let me know if you like these posts with a jumble of things in them, I personally love reading longer posts with lots of different elements!

3 Mini Revelations

Today was a day of trying some new things - powder foundation, side buns and pale pink lips being three things I disregarded as not being very 'me' but I may, dare i say it, be a bit of a convert!

Sometimes I just can't be bothered to wash my hair, I know you have those days too so don't judge! And my usual coping mechanism is to throw it up in a top knot, and although I think they're pretty I don't think they necessarily suit my face - they always just look a little too harsh. 

So today, having been inspired by a random video from Meghan, I attempted a messy side bun thing - and I really like it! It keeps everything off my face without looking too sloppy, and I feel like its channelling the whole 'effortlessly stylish' look (I wish)

All the stuff I popped on my face: Vie One-Step-Face-Base in ivory, Maybelline master precise liquid liner, Maybelline fit concealer, Benefit they're real mascara, L'Oreal super liner brow artist, Mac viva glam gaga, Mac tempting, Mac brule, Urban Decay twice baked, Lancome tropiques minerale orche doree.

I've been interesting in giving powder foundations a whirl for a while now, and recently there's been a bit of a rise in my favourite bloggers recommending them, namely laura mercier's. But I just couldn't take the plunge since part of me was always convinced they'd just feel and look horrible not he skin, I had this image of dry flaky skin, probably because I've only ever used powder sparingly

 But while I was home I rummaged through some make up I left and rediscovered a powder by Vie which used to be my favourite for dusting over my foundation for nights out. Since I needed a powder for New Zealand I threw it in my suitcase, and yesterday I tried it all over with just a touch of concealer for some extra coverage under my eyes. And oh my gosh - it looks so natural! I don't think the vie powder itself is amazing, although I'll definitely use it up, but my interest in trying another powder foundation is well and truly renewed. It didn't sink into any pores, accentuate dry spots of make my face feel dry, was truly a doddle to apply with my ecotools kabuki, so I simply can't wait to branch into powder foundations

I picked up Mac's GaGa along with the powder while I was home hoping I'd manage to find a use for it. I pick it up when it first came up after hearing endless hype without considering the fact I rarely, if ever wear pink lipsticks. Spurred on by the successful powder foundation venture I gave it a whirl and I can't say I love it but I am definitely more of a fan now my skin is a little darker as it just suits my complexion a lot more.

Ignore the goosebumps, it's getting chilly down here. Tempting and Lancome's Tropiques Minerale.

Throwing in an honorary mention to Mac's tempting eyeshadow, this all over the lid with a little brule to blend it out and a touch of urban decays twice baked in the very outer corner is one of my favourite looks right now, which is surprising as prior to this week I think I'd actually used Tempting twice, possibly three times. I think it's been so neglected as it swatches quite poorly and it's a glittery mess in the crease. Tempting needs to be the centre piece of the look to work for me, the coppery tones and gold reflexes create a beautifully balanced look.

Do you ever have that, where you disregard a product only to use is again months down the line and have no idea why you weren't head over heels in love with it from the start? 

Jet-Lagged Face

I popped back to England or easter and while I was there I couldn't help but pick up a few bits and pieces - make up is damn expensive down under! Along with the obligatory collection lasting perfection concealer - I'm not going to talk about it since you're probably fed up of hearing about it's amazingness, I got the accompanying foundation, Super Liner Brow Artist from L'Oreal and Master Precise liquid liner, all of which I'm wearing today.

 I'm sure I'm not the only one who is completely impatient when it comes to trying out new make up, as soon as I buy it I can't wait to wear it!

 Excuse my terribly battered hoola bronzer - I've had this stuff for absolutely years and I've finally hit pan. But here's everything I was sporting today

I've been opting for the tinted moisturiser&mascara combo most days, with the occasional lick of concealer but today, inspired by collection's lasting perfection foundation I slapped on a full face, including the beautiful Soft and Gentle MSF from mac, I'd completely forgotten how this erases any hint of dull, tired looking skin (long-haul flights just make my skin look dead)

 Relvon's Tutti Frutti, Soft and Gentle, The Balm Bahama Mama, Hoola, Urban Decay Sin and Twice Baked eyeshadows

 I have a distinct love-hate relationship with Tutti Frutti, it's much brighter, and much more orange, than I'm usually comfortable with but sometimes you just need that injection of colour to give your fact a bit of a lift!

I kept my eyes pretty simply by digging out my old faithfuls of Urban decay's sin and Twice baked, I'm always surprised at the butteriness of sin and how stunning it looks swept all over the lid

Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation

This has been my foundation of choice for the past six months (since I first bought it) so it’s about time I finally got around to writing a review on it!

Mac describes this as ''a medium coverage foundation with a natural matte finish'' and I think that’s pretty accurate. beacuse it's so pigmented it's really easy to build this up for a full coverage look and you need less than a pea sized amount for medium coverage!
On the downside if you want a sheer coverage you'd have to add some moisturiser.
You can get this for £23 online from the Mac website or from pretty much any department store.

The reason I first picked this up was because I struggled to find a foundation that matched my skin tone, and if you have difficulty finding the perfect colour I'd definately recomend mac as in this foundation they offerMac offer 24 different shades ranging from NW and NC 15 right up to NW55 so you’re found to find one shade which works with your skin.

My skin is pretty normal, verging on dry in winter and oily in summer and I’ve used this throughout winter and it hasn’t dried my skin out, or emphased dry patches while in the recent warm weather it’s kept everything matte and prevented shine :)

Overall this really is a great all purpose foundation which I can imagine suiting a whole range of skin types so I suggest you definitely take a look next time you pass a Mac counter as I know I’m going to be repurchasing this!

Hope this has been helpful!! X

P.S despite the high pigmentation it’s really easy to buff this into your skin to create a ‘no-make-up’ look!

Clinique SuperMoisture Makeup

The lady recommended this for my dry and sensitive skin, it’s super pricey at £20 for 30ml(I think you might be able to get it for £18..) so I was expecting a lot. It's my first clinique foundation so i was really excited about trying it -who hasn't read a rave about a clinique foundation?



I normally have to reach for the lightest shade and hope it’s light enough and with other Clinique foundations I’m a little lighter than 01 but the assistant convinced me 02 Linen was my perfect colour so I rather apprehensively handed over the cash for 02 (I don’t trust store lighting! I swear it makes every colour look great on you until you go outside lol) But she was right! It’s pretty much my exact shade!! There also seems to be a really good colour range for most skin tones.

On the packaging it says – “the look and feel of healthy moisturised skin. Creamy, ultra-smooth texture is surprising refreshing and lightweight. Sheer-to-moderate coverage with continuous hydration – skin looks soft and radiant all day.”

The woman at the Clinique counter told me it was more medium to full coverage personally I agree with the packaging – sheer-to-moderate coverage but it’s definitely buildable!

I know a lot of you aren’t too bothered about how a product smells but it’s a big deal for me :p I don’t want to put something I don’t like the smell of anywhere near my skin (possibly because smelly products nearly always irritate my skin..) but this smells like play-dough or plastic which, you know, isn’t that great and at first really put me off but it’s grown on me a little… It’s not too strong but it’s the first thing I noticed.



It’s a really creamy, thick consistency which I really like! It feels a bit like I’m applying a moisturiser, yet it sinks in and blends super easily. The packaging does mean you end up squeezing a lot out – or maybe it’s just me because I’m so clumsy? Lol

The only problem I have with the packaging (there’s ALWAYS something to be improved on with packaging :p) is it looks kind of cheap… I mean it’s just a squeezy tube and for £20 I want it to look nice!

This is pretty much the only foundation I’ve found that actually makes me skin look moisturised throughout the day! So if you’ve got dry skin I recommend you try it out because nothing keeps my skin moisturised like this is little tube :p

But as always there’s a downside! It glitters on my skin... It’s only really noticeable in bright sunlight (I tried to take a picture... and failed :p) so it’s not that bad, I mean indoors and in pictures you can’t see the glitter..



I’ll let you know if I’ll repurchase after I use this up :p I’m still on the hunt for the perfect foundation to give me the classic ‘dewy’ look but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives :)

(Oh my giveaway will end on the 21st.. hopefully then everyone will get chance to enter :])