MAC Face & Body Foundation Review

I have been using MAC Face & Body foundation on and off for about 2 years and thought it was about time to write a review on this stuff!

This was one of my first ever foundations from MAC and it’s one i steer away from but then when i go back to using it, i remember why i love this foundation so much! 

I tend to use this on my ‘good skin’ days because it is such sheer coverage and almost looks as if you have nothing on! This foundation really looks like natural, luminous skin and no one can tell if you’re wearing foundation or not!

MAC Face & Body looks like my skin but even better! That is one of the reasons why i love using this on shoots too.

I have never come across any foundation like this apart from the Makeup Forever Face & Body Liquid Makeup.

It can be built up for more coverage and can also be used on the body. I find this foundation isn’t great for people who want a matte finish because this one leaves the skin with a dewy finish.

One of the reasons why i love this foundation is because it ‘sets’, which helps the foundation last much longer on the skin. It is transfer and water resistant, making it a fab foundation to use in the warmer months or if you’re on holiday!

It is a water based foundation and makes it suitable for most skins but especially combination and oily skins. This puts hydration back into the skin without any oil, so you don’t need to worry about looking like a slick mess!

The consistency is very runny and light and is the complete opposite of MAC Studio Fix Fluid. If you are wanting to build this foundation up for more coverage, i suggest you apply one layer and let it set (takes about 10 seconds) and then apply another layer until you get the desired coverage.

This is one of my favourite foundations for flash photography, as there is no flashback! Hoorah!!! Looks amazing in natural light too!

There is a huge colour range from MAC and i believe they now offer 2 sizes of the Face & Body Foundation. I have the 120ml at home and i personally think it is such great value for money.

What do i think overall?!! I think my whole blog post implies that i love this stuff!

 

Have you tried MAC Face & Body?

 

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Bobbi Brown Event Spring/Summer 2013

I was invited to attend the Bobbi Brown event to view the new products being launched for spring and summer 2013. Many of you know that i love Bobbi Brown products and was eager to see what exciting products would be coming soon!

I was kindly given a beautiful cosmetics bag* with some lovely goodies, as well as the limited edition 24 karat shimmer brick *happy face*!

Retouching Powders

Retouching powders* are big products this year and was inspired by the corrective pigments that have been used in the makeup industry for years. The powder instantly enhances and perfects your look but is undetectable. Depending on your skin tone, the correcting colour can add warmth, tone down redness or brighten dullness. These powders are meant to be used at the very end of your makeup and is not a powder that 'sets' your foundation. I received two retouching powders in yellow and rose and luckily was used as the demo model for the powders. Rose was used on me around my mouth area, as many people with darker skin tones tend to have different skin tone around the mouth area. The rose added warmth to my mouth area and evened out my skin tone.

Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick

Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks* is designed for busy women on the move. These shadow sticks glide over the lids without tugging and gives you a minute of playtime before setting. It lasts up to 8 hours without creasing and you can create a clean, fresh look or smokey, smudgy look depending on the shade you choose.

Lilac Rose Collection + Extras

This collection is meant to be fresh, pretty and wearable. I received the lipgloss* in lilac rose and i have always used Bobbi Brown Lip glosses because i love the texture and how long they last on the lips.

In my goodie bag was also a Black Ink Gel Eyeliner* and two lipglosses* in Pink Chandelier and Black Pearl, as well as a Limited Edition Nail Polish* in Pink Valentine.

24 Karat Shimmer Brick

I am so pleased i received the 24 karat shimmer brick* because it is stunning! It's one of those shimmer bricks that compliments all skin tones and highlights the skin from within.

Is there anything that you will be picking up from Bobbi Brown?

 

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My Winter Skincare Saviours

I thought with this cold weather, it would be the perfect time to talk about my winter skincare essentials. My skin goes through a pretty rough time throughout the winter and i have to ensure it’s taken care of, otherwise it’s just a mess!

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm £34 

This cleansing balm* has been one of my favourite products to use at the end of the day. I love the smell of it and the balm feels nourishing and moisturising on my skin.  It turns into an emulsion when mixed with water and the feeling of the hot cloth on your face is just perfect end to a busy day!

Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer £35

This is my day to day moisturizer. It keeps my skin soft, hydrated and most importantly protected. It has an SPF 20 and absorbs well into my skin. I have seen such an improvement since using this and my skin appears much more even and clarified.

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré

BLOG POST HERE

This cream has saved my skin on so many occasions! It feels a tad bit greasy to apply (on my skin anyway) but absorbs in straight away. It gets rid of any flakiness and put the hydration back into your skin. It also doubles up as makeup remover, it is super gentle to use around the eyes.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Radiance Capsules £15

These capsules are bursting with vitamin c, smoothing out your skin and giving it a natural glow. They smell like oranges and have a silky, velvety feeling when you have applied it. It doesn’t give a lot of moisture, so i tend to use it under a night cream for added benefits.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair £44

One of my favourite skin products! This is a Holy Grail product for me and i wake up with super soft, supple skin.  This is amazing to use in the winter, as it is a moisture magnet and helps protect and defend the skin.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye £37

BLOG POST HERE

My one and only eye cream! You wouldn’t think this light weight eye cream would make such a difference but believe me it does! Helps combat dry, tired, puffy eyes!

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream

BLOG POST HERE

Perfect for dry, chapped skin and lips! This is my go to product when my skin is super dry but still oily! Weird i know! Most of my face is quite oily, but my nose is oily and flaky at the same time. Before i go to bed, i put some of the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream onto my nose and when i wake up, all the flakiness is gone!

Origins Clear Improvement Mask £20

During the winter months, my face goes through a breakouts fiesta. The origins charcoal mask is fab to use after a bath or shower and the charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out any impurities. Love this stuff!

L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream £18.50 

One of my winter skin saviours has to be the L’Occitane hand cream! It’s thick, nourishing, and moisturising! This is everything that you need for your winter hands.

What are your winter skin essentials?

 

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Mezmadeup Top 5 Lipsticks For WOC/Darker Skin

Hi ladies

I should start off by introducing myself - I'm Mez and I blog over at All Made Up. I blog about all things beauty and when Selina kindly invited me to guest post here; I jumped at the chance as I've been following her on YouTube for a long time (in a non stalkerish way of course). I thought it would be nice to do something for us medium to darker skinned women during my short stay here and decided to share my Top 5 Lipsticks. Although there are no steadfast rules I find some shades suit certain skin tones more than others and here are the 5 I'd recommend.

As you can see I have a variety of brands here and as you'll soon discover it ranges from natural shades to full on red.

MAC - Russian Red (£14)

This is my go-to red lipstick. Despite being a Matte formula, provided I have a bit of balm underneath I'm good to go. If I'm not feeling brave enough, I sometimes dot it on my lips to give more of a subtle stain.

Benefit - No Competition (£14)

This was a great discovery last year. It's a very deep plummy shade that you can apply sheerly for a sophisticated bit of colour or build it up for the vampy look that tends to be quite on trend in Winter (not that I'm one to follow these trends). The Full Finish lipsticks are creamy and pigmented.

MAC - Plumful (£14)

This lipstick has been neglected in recent times but it was the first ever lipstick I fell in love with. It is a plum (as the name suggests) and due to the Lustre formula it is sheer and not drying at all. It seems to be in the spotlight recently after EssieButton raved about it and to be honest after years of recommending it, I couldn't be happier.

Clinique - Blushing Nude

I think this colour epitomises what I'd describe as the perfect nude for medium to darker skinned women. It is that dusky rose I'm always on the lookout for. It has hints of brown undertone and gives me that 'my lips but better' result. The formula is creamy and pigmented.

MyFace Cosmetics - Gigabyte Get Ready

Lastly, we have a fairly recent discovery. I picked it up when a local Boots store was discontinuing this brand and everything was reduced by 75%. MyFace divides it's products by skintone which is perfect if you want a nudge in the right direction. Not only do they have a Fair, Medium and Dark collection, they further split these into 01, 02 & 03. Instead of a brown undertone, I found this veers almost towards an orange undertone but don't be alarmed by that, it is very natural.

Top to Bottom:
MyFace, Clinique, Plumful, Benefit & Russian Red

I hope you enjoyed this round up of my favourite lipsticks and I've given you something to pop onto the wishlist. Thank you to Selina for inviting me over. If you liked what you saw, then please be sure to swing by my little blog over at All Made Up and say hi.

Till then...Toodles! :)

Blog - http://www.mezmadeup.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter - @Mezmadeup

Thank you Mez for a great post!! I hope you all enjoyed it!

 

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Are We Becoming Makeup Hoarders?

The other day I was thinking about how ridiculous my makeup collection is and thought about a hoarding program that I had watched on Chanel 4 a while back.

With the huge number of beauty bloggers and youtubers, it makes me wonder if we’re all just becoming makeup/beauty hoarders. Over the years, my makeup collection has grown significantly and yes, there are products that go straight into my professional makeup kit and then, there are those naughty little purchases for myself.

Do many bloggers/youtubers use this as an excuse to purchase more beauty related items? I know that sometimes I try to justify that it’s for my channel or my blog!

I have seen numerous videos on people’s makeup collection and I always wonder if they will be using up all those products or just sitting around in their makeup bags?

One thing that you have to remember is that makeup does have an expiry date, some things last longer than others. For example mascaras are meant to be thrown away after 3 months from when it has been opened, but how many of us have a few mascaras on the go? Do you throw yours out when the 3 months have passed or once you have finished the product?

Sometimes I find it difficult to throw away products because I have barely used it and it has gone past its use by date! It hurts, because you are practically throwing money away and in this economic climate, it isn’t the best time to be doing that!

In addition, many of us are receiving samples from PR companies, which is fair enough but are we becoming gluttonous with the amounts that we are getting sent? I have to admit that it can get a bit overwhelming, especially when it comes to a variety of skin care, hair care, appliances, makeup, and then trying to incorporate it into your daily routine. I find the products that aren’t suitable for my skin tone, skin type etc, I am more than happy to giveaway to a close friend or family member and get the feedback off them.

The term ‘cherry picking’ perfectly describes what many of us do, particularly when it comes to beauty products. I think there is such an enormous variety of products, brands etc, that we are just flooded with choices.

Don’t get me wrong, I love having the choices of products that I have, but occasionally I wish it was smaller and simpler! I find myself sifting through my makeup collection every morning because I am looking for a particular shade of lipstick! It’s kinda frustrating when you are running late for work!

For 2013, I have decided not to buy unnecessary makeup or beauty items unless I have completely finished the product and need a new one. However, I will also be using up the dupes of the products too! For my kit though, I will still purchase the bits that I need.

There is a great initiative in the UK called Give and Makeup. This company takes the donations of cosmetics and beauty products and gets them to women who have suffered at the hands of domestic violence. I think this is a great way to pass on any makeup that you no longer want, as you are helping someone who genuinely needs it.

I have also been selling the makeup that i am no longer using or have never used. I don’t see the point in having products sitting there and looking at me expecting to be used!

I know this seems like a random blog post but it had been on my mind for a while and i needed to get it written down! I hope it wasn't boring for you guys!

I would love to hear your thoughts on hoarding?

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Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eye Pencil Jet Review

I am always on the look out for the perfect, long lasting eye pencil. I have always used the Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliners and came across their Long Wear Eye Pencils.

I purchased the shade ‘Jet’, which is a dark black. The pencil is very creamy and the eyeliner glides on smoothly. Jet is very deeply pigmented and is great for using on the upper lash line and waterline.

I have been using this non-stop since i got it and the one thing that i found was that it gets blunt super quickly and i think it’s due to the pencil being so creamy and soft. I was using MAC Smolder previously, and didn’t find myself having to sharpen it a lot.

Now, let’s talk about how long it lasts! On my upper lash line, it lasted all day without any smudging or transferring to my lid. However, when i used the eye pencil on my waterline, it didn’t last very long at all. It had worn off within a couple of hours and smudged slightly under my bottom lash line. Now, that’s great when I’m going for a smokey look but for work i just wanted some definition.

In the picture above, i tried rubbing the eyeliner and you can see that it barely smudged. Another bonus is that with Bobbi Brown, you receive a pencil sharpener, as other brands don’t tend to provide them and make you purchase a separate one!

Yes, i do like using the pencil on my upper lash line, but for my waterline it just didn’t last as long as i had hoped. The creaminess of the pencil is fabulous and doesn’t drag the skin around the eye but I think for my waterline i will be sticking to MAC Smolder.

I personally think £17.50 is very expensive for the liner, as it just doesn't have the staying power on my waterline. Also, due to pencil being very creamy, it seems as though you will finish the pencil quite quickly, therefore having to repurchase it more frequently.

Bobbi Brown products can be purchased from your nearest counter and online HERE.

Have you tried the Bobbi Brown Pencils?

 

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Budget Buy | VIVO Baked Bronze Healthy Glow Review

I came across the VIVO range whist shopping at Tesco, and I had heard of VIVO cosmetics but never had the chance to try out the products, until now. VIVO is exclusive to Tesco and is also available online HERE.

I ended up purchasing this beautiful highlighter and guess how much it cost? Only £5! Yes, £5!! You get 12g of product, which is fab for the price and because it is dome shaped, it means you get extra product.

I have been wearing this highlighter to work, for the last few weeks and i have been loving it. It is a subtle highlighter that can be worn on a daily basis.

In my opinion, this is more of a highlighter, even though the name is Baked Bronze and i wouldn't really consider this a bronzer. On fairer skins, it will appear quite sheer, so you would need to build it up. It is more prominent on darker skin tones and you don't need much product. I like applying it to my cheekbones, bridge of my nose and cupids bow.

I have to admit that it is very similar to MAC MSF in Soft & Gentle but less shimmery. It has a 'veining' effect through the product but it doesn't change on how it looks on the skin.

Overall, i am super impressed with the Baked Bronze and it only costing £5 is another bonus! I think this is a wonderful product, that leaves your complexion glowing and healthy. I will certainly be popping into Tesco soon for another browse!

Have you tried anything from VIVO Cosmetics?

 

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Feelunique.com Discount Codes

Feelunique have just informed me that there are more reductions on their sale items and have issued a couple of discount vouchers! More shopping! *cough cough*

Save £4 Off any order + free delivery - CLICK HERE

Use 4JAN2013 at the checkout to Save £4 off any order when you spend £40 or more at feelunique.com.*

Save £1 Off any order + free delivery - CLICK HERE

Use 1JAN2013 at the checkout to Save £1 off any order when you spend £20 or more at feelunique.com.**

Here is a couple of suggestions:

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat 'Le Smoking' Tuxedo Collector Edition 2.5ml

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat 'Le Smoking' Tuxedo Collector Edition is in Shade 1 - Radiant Touch - RRP £25.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat is the UK's No.1 Luxury Face Make-Up Product.
NPD UK: unit & value sales for 13 months ending Sept 2012, excl eyes and lips.
RRP £25

With code £19 + FREE Delivery - CLICK HERE TO VIEW

20% Off Selected Benefit Sets

(Featured) Benefit Let There Be Bright! Gift Set is worth over £55.00 and contains:

Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream 14.2g
Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion 50.3ml
Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream 8.9g
Benefit the POREfessional 7.5g

(Value £55)
RRP £39

With code £30.20 + FREE Delivery - CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Up To 45% Off Tigi...

(Featured) This great value TIGI Bed Head Resurrection Gift Set is worth £21.75 & contains:

TIGI Bed Head Urban Antidotes Resurrection Shampoo 250ml
TIGI Bed Head Resurrection Conditioner 200ml

(Worth £21.75)
RRP £17.50

£11.37 + FREE Delivery - CLICK HERE
  

 
bareMinerals Bright & Beautiful

bareMinerals Bright & Beautiful - Collection available in 3 Shades & worth over £120 and contains:

SPF15 Original Foundation 8g
Blush 0.85g
Eyecolour 0.57g
Prime Time Brightening Eyelid Primer 8ml
Prime Time Brightening Foundation Primer 30ml
Natural Lipgloss 4.2ml
Big and Beautiful Eyeliner 0.35g
Double-Ended Precising Eye Brush

(Value: £127.90)
RRP £39
With code £30.20 + FREE Delivery - CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Will you be purchasing anything from Feelunique?

 

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*Conditions: Use 4JAN2013 in the promotional code box at the checkout to redeem savings site wide at feelunique.com when you spend £40. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other feelunique.com voucher code promotion or VIP discount. This voucher code excludes Stila, Gatineau, Phytomer, Mary Cohr, ghd, Ole Henriksen, Moroccanoil & Lily Lolo. 4JAN2013 is valid until 14th Jan 2013. Can be used once per customer.
**Conditions: Use 1JAN2013 in the promotional code box at the checkout to redeem savings site wide at feelunique.com when you spend £20 or more. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other feelunique.com voucher code promotion or VIP discount. This voucher code excludes Stila, Gatineau, Phytomer, Mary Cohr, ghd, Ole Henriksen, Moroccanoil & Lily Lolo.1JAN2013 is valid until 14th Jan 2013. Can be used once per customer.

My Birthday Wishlist | Avenue 32

My birthday is coming up and as i get older it gets difficult for loved ones to buy gifts for me, so i decided to create a wishlist of some things i would love to receive!

I stumbled across this website called Avenue 32 (VIEW HERE), which features new and upcoming designs. A few items caught my eye, so here's my wishlist!

Mother Of Pearl 

Bug Drop Crepe Themis Dress

Doesn't this dress look beautiful? Perfect for wearing on a special occasion or when the sun's out! I love the cut of the dress and how it would look incredible with heeled boots.

Barbara Casasola

Petrol Blue Silk Halterneck Jumpsuit

This jumpsuit screams glam! One of my favourite colours is green and compliments olive/tanned skin tones beautifully.

Chalayan

Teal Block Merino Polo Neck

OK, i know another teal item but this jumper just looks so comfortable and sexy at the same time! I have so many jumpers, which are kinda plain and simple but i think this can be dressed up or down.

Myla
Champagne Elsa Kimono Silk Robe

Oh my, my, my! This oozes sensuality and is at the height of luxury. I would feel like a million dollars wearing this!

Mawi

Hematite Spike Pearl Earrings

Many of you know how much i am obsessed with wearing glitzy earrings and these earrings still look elegant but with a bit of pizzaz!

 Have you shopped from Avenue 32?

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Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder Review

I have been trying to track this Ben Nye Powder for so long and finally i found it in the UK! I am so pleased i have purchased this because it certainly does live up to all the hype! This is the powder that is used on Kim Kardashian by her makeup artist.

It comes in a sifter jar, but i find it very messy and the powder just gets everywhere! Ben Nye Banana Powder is perfect for setting your makeup and and the yellowness of the powder compliments my skin tone and doesn't make it look ashy. I like to use this to set my makeup for my entire face, however, it can just be used to set your under eye concealer.

I have tried and tested this and it was mentioned in one of my YouTube videos and used a lot in tutorials. For those who have combination skin, this is perfect! I didn't need to touch up my face throughout the day because it doesn't look shiny! It controls shine very well and brightens up your complexion. The yellow powder suits many skin tones and you get a lot of powder for the price!

The only downside is that it is very hard to get hold of in the UK! Overall, i love this product and it is something i will be happy to have in my professional makeup kit.

I purchased this from Wigs Up North and received the item within two days of ordering. It cost £13.46 for 3 oz and can be purchased HERE

Have any of you tried this powder?

 

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Exotic Silver & Blue Arabic Makeup

Products Used:

Face:

MAC Studio Fix Fluid (NC44)

Bobbi Brown Corrector (Dark Bisque)

Ben Nye Banana Powder

Brows:

Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows (Black/Brown)

MAC Brow Gel

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

KIKO Long Lasting Stick Shadow (01)

NYX I Dream of Antigua Palette

KIKO Eyeshadow (180)

Victoria Secrets Hyper Gloss Eye Shimmer (Night Lights)

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Eyeliner Pencil (Jet)

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner (Black Ink)

NYX Jumbo Pencil (Milk)

Urban Decay Lush Lash Mascara*

MAC Lashes (44)

Cheeks:

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish (Sun Power)

NARS Blush (Amour)

KIKO Highlighter (Peach)

Lips:

MAC Lipstick (Viva Glam V)

MAC Lipgloss (Pink Lemonade)

Hope you liked the tutorial!

x