Hey guys, sorry for the terribly long break, things have still been hectic but that's really no excuse! I will be updating this far more frequently going forward as things have calmed down a bit, but anyway – let's kick off with this article!
So, this is all about make up and products I have used over the past couple of months, and basically a wee review of them. There are constantly new make up products and brands being added to the UK high street, some of them quite exciting. Not all of these products are necessarily new, but they are new to me, and possibly new to you, so I hope you find this useful and it gives you some ideas for what to buy on your next shopping trip!
So in no particular order, let's kick off!
Shu Uemura eyelash curlers
Ok, so doubtless a lot of you will have heard of these, but let me introduce them for those of you who haven't. These eyelash curlers are CONSTANTLY raved about by magazines, make up artists, celebs, etc etc...so, they have a lot of hype to live up to. The unique selling point is the shape of the eyelash curlers; instead of the usual, incredibly curved curler, these are much flatter, therefore allowing you to access ALL your eyelashes, and not just those in the middle. Also, they are handmade and apparently the hinge is designed to exert the exact amount of pressure to give you the perfect curl – quickly.
I really hadn't planned on buying these, but I popped into Frasers' to buy some MAC stuff, and they had a new Shu Uemura counter, and I just had to buy them because of the hype. Plus the sales guy was lovely...I'm such an easy target for sales people! Anyhoo, he told me that if I had any problems or I wasn't impressed with the results to come back and ask about their own mascara which apparently works like a hairspray to 'set' the curl. So, my review is based upon using these curlers in conjunction with Max Factor's Masterpiece Max mascara.
The first time I used these curlers, I used them as I do any other curlers – hold them for AGES at the base, and 'squeeze' the curler quickly to kind of pump up the volume, then move from the base to tips to create a curl. Well, this technique did not work with the Shu. When I held it at the base (probably for about 20 seconds), I moved the curlers to see what effect it had had so far...I had ended up with the dreaded 'L' shape, that looked like I had had a run in with an eyelash crimper. Eek.
So, not discouraged, I turned to YouTube for some reliable advice and guidance. I watched a few videos which demonstrated that with the Shu, you really don't need to use the 'squeeze and pump' technique, and it should only take about 10-15 seconds to do each eye; the trick is to flatten the curler against your lid as that is why it is designed that way! I tried this way, starting again from the roots, no squeezing, and moving up to the tips, in total for about 15 seconds. WOW. My lashes were long, perfectly curled and it was so easy compared to everything else I've used. But of course...would it last?
I used only a few coats of Max Factor, using the zig-zag wobble technique (I may post a tutorial on this, as it is a worthwhile one!), concentrating all the mascara at the base of the eyelash, and only when the base is properly seen to do I move through the tips. Basically – about 85% of your mascara should be concentrated at the base – if you put too much on the tips, your lashes will be too heavy, clump, and your curl will fall.
Using this technique and the Shu, my lashes now have the perfect curl, length and separation all day. Yay!!
The Shu Uemura retails for £20, and in my opinion, bloody worth it. Only thing I would say is that they suggest the silicone pads run out every 3 months (you get two with the curler), and they don't sell replacements, so their suggestion is to get a new curler every 6 months...I don't really believe this if you keep your curler clean, don't 'squeeze' it when curling and don't chuck it about in your make up bag!
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation
Oh this foundation. Oh my god, this foundation. I mean, I have had EVERY type of foundation. Mattifying, dewy, expensive, colour-matching, powder, cheap, liquid, cream, mineral, HD, and so on and so forth. Without exception, there is always something, something that just stops it from being my Holy Grail of foundation, usually falling under one of the 'Three C's': Colour, Coverage or Consistency. Not any longer. This, my dear friends, has after many years of searching, ended my quest for the perfect foundation. It has the best coverage, it covers blemishes but doesn't have that awful tell-tale 'mask' look; my skin just looks its very best. The colour for me is perfect for my pale and pasty Scottish skin, though of course Bourgeois does not have the range offered by brands such as Mac or Nars, but this comes with the territory of drug-store/high-street brands. The consistency is perfection. It is light, incredibly easy to blend (not blend away, which is a big difference!) and after a month of usage, no breakouts. This is taking into account that it does have silica, an ingredient which it is important to be careful with as it can cause breakouts for some skin types, so be careful.
Girls, finding the right foundation is kind of like looking for the perfect man. Tricky, a fun search at times but you can be led astray by those bad guys masquerading as nice guys, and it can leave you looking a bit of a mess. I can't recommend any men for you, however I cannot rate this product highly enough. With a teeny weeny price tag (I bought mine in Boots for £6.99 on offer!), you must give this a whirl.
La Brasiliana leave in treatment
This spray on conditioner is basically LOADED with keratin, which is the same thing used in Brazilian blow dries (La Brasiliana are one of the companies who do the Brazilian blow dry). So easy to use – spritz on damp hair, brush through, and blow dry as normal (works best when used in conjunction with straighteners). I have noticed such a difference in the way my hair looks – healthier, bouncier, and it is SO much easier to style, and I have thick, curly (not wavy – curly) hair that requires a lot of styling. I picked it up from my hairdresser but you can also buy it online, think mine was £11, I bought it in January and still have over half the bottle left. Pick it up!
Boots Facial Wash
I bought this after I heard gossmakeupartist (look him up on YouTube, he is excellent) mention it. I think we girls tend to sometimes use too much product, whether it be cleanser, moisturiser, toner, foundation, primer etc, and so I wanted to get back to basics in my skincare. This is gentle, effective, and when used twice (I tend to do one rinse to take off my make up, then another to really cleanse the skin), this really cleans your face without stripping it of its natural oils – so you are left feeling clean and cleansed, but you can still actually move your face, as it doesn't leave that horrible tight feeling. With this I don't really need a moisturiser anywhere but my (sometimes dry) nose and chin. This is something I would recommend; when trying out a new wash, or toner etc, always see what your skin is like for a few days after it. If your skin doesn't feel like it needs moisturiser...don't use one! If it does then fine, but see WHERE it requires it. Overly moisturising your skin just makes your skin produce more oil, thereby clogging pores and causing more spots. So, use wisely!
Soap and Glory Hocus Focus
I picked this up recently, and it has quickly became a staple. I was looking for something to perk up my rather tired looking winter skin as we move into spring, and this was it. A lot of illuminators have far too much pearl in them, looking (to me) like someone has dunked themselves in a disco ball one time too many. This lotion, when mixed in with foundation and applied with a stipple brush or fingers, just makes your skin GLOW, and I don't mean sparkle, I do mean GLOW! You look healthier, radiant and dewy – which I try to minimise with a brushing of matte powder because the line between dewy and sweaty is a fine line to tread, but it does suit those who are at no risk of getting sweaty during the day! I usually mix in a pea sized amount with my foundation, and once I have done that, I take a tiny bit and reapply to my cheekbone, just to make that stand out a bit more. Lovely product – for me, far better than 'That Gal' by Benefit which they promote as a primer, but for me it is too greasy to use as a primer. I would give this a go, using a primer underneath your foundation and see how you go :)
Thanks for reading as always, please leave comments and let others know about this blog if you think they would enjoy it! And if you have any suggestions on things you would like me to write about or review, please drop me a line :)
Stay gorgeous xxx
