L'Oreal Skin Perfection Serum

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Serum £16.99

I've had this serum for a while (it's actually nearly an empty) and have been using it nearly everyday. I went to write this post about 2 weeks after using it and just didn't have any words to put against it. I kind of still feel like that but wants to put my blah feelings out there. This serum is nice, it is nice under moisturiser, a little hydrating and a nice consistency. But I hate the word nice - I've been waiting for this to amaze me and it just hasn't. I want something more from a serum to be honest I want better skintone, better texture or just an altogether better base. It doesn't do those things sadly - it is in no way offensive it's never broken me out and the pink pump packaging suits me just fine. I just wouldn't buy this again - to me it's not worth the money I'd rather spend a little more on a serum that improves my skin tone or offers a serious amount of hydration. I'm sure this works amazingly for some people and I have enjoyed using it but I've never thought damn this is amazing which is what I look for in skincare. Sorry for my blah review but I wish I'd read this before buying it so I could head for something else so I hope this manages to maybe do the same to someone in the same position.

Georgina x.

L'Oreal Infallible 24h Matte Foundation

First things first - this stuff is amazing. I have the shade 11 vanilla and it costs £7. This little tube of goodness is an amazing drugstore base. It's a good Double Wear dupe but in my opinion has a little less coverage and just a little less longevity but for 1/5 of the price who's complaining?! I love the packaging - no fuss and perfect for traveling. I apply this with my Real Techniques buffing brush and it goes on like a dream. Not really sure what else to say without sounding like I want to marry it. I'm a foundation whore so I know I'll be purchasing all the other new releases (I won't deny it anymore) and still know that Double Wear & Silk Creme are my ultimate's but this is just a dream for work when sitting at a desk all day doesn't deserve a £30 product covering your face.

Georgina x.

L'Oreal Lipstick Haul

VIP 228, Greige Amoureux 632, Cliche 229, Erotique 640, Flamingo Elegance 136, Magnolia Irreverence 132

 

I have a lot of time for the L'Oreal color riche lipsticks I picked up in a recent Superdrug haul. They're a mixture of matte and satin finishes and come in a gorgeous gold bullet. Greige amoureux is my favourite day lip colour at the moment it's so easy to wear and is one of those 'can apply without a mirror' kind of shades that are perfect for work. For night time I'm in love with VIP its a matte pink toned red that is the perfect summer shade as it brightens up so many looks. Erotique is my least favorite it's brown tone as I think it just doesn't suit me but would be perfect with a more tanned complexion.

Georgina x.

Make Up Clear Out: Face & Base

My Ikea Helmer has been going strong since July in 2012 - I still love it ever so much but it has somehow become far less organised and a lot less easy to close. I realised there was a lot of product in there that was too old to use - a lot that I'd never used and probably never will and shamefully alot of products that were empty. I have three of these posts altogether splitting my entire make-up collection up.

Empties: 

I've used up L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint and it's time to just let go. I keep trying to shake one more application out of this but it's definitely empty and I need to just admit it. I will be repurchasing this when the weather warms up a bit as I really loved using it. 

Too old to use: 

Shamefully I found this No7 High Lights illuminating lotion at the back of a drawer - this huge bottle of highlighter is so so old. They don't even sell it anymore and I think it was one of the first beauty products I ever bought years and years ago. I knew it wasn't a good thing to be putting on my skin anymore and threw it away but to be fair you would never had told how old it was on application it's held up ever so well over the years. It's a massive Benefit High Beam dupe and cost something like £8 when I bought it which for such a huge amount of product was an absolute bargain. 

I'll never use again: 

There's lots of cheap products in here that I've been lured into buying over the years. I've really learnt buying cheap foundation does not work out so knew it was time to just through this lot out. MUA 'BB cream' is horribly thick for and just didn't blend into my skin. The Technic foundation oxidized quite badly on my skin and again just didn't have a nice finish or texture. The Nivea tinted moisturiser is ok for what it is but has never found it's place within my make-up routine so it was time for it to go. The technic concealer palette and primer again never found their place - I have so many more products that will always take priority over these that they just never get used. The ELF pressed powder was just orange and has never been used apart from for testing then washing straight off. Finally the maybelline and natural collection concealers just don't suit my skin tone anymore I bought these when I loved a facial fake tan but they are way to dark for my paler complexion.

It was so therapeutic going through my collection and my drawers are so much neater now it also made me rediscover some little gems that I'd forgotten about that will feature in an upcoming post.

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Powder - Medium

I've had this product for a few months and I've been a bit reluctant to write about this as my first impressions were so positive but the more I've used it the less I love it. Now I've given it a proper testing I thought it was worth sharing my thoughts. I've loved all the products in the Nude Magique range especially the BB cream and foundation. I picked up the powder from Superdrug (£6.99) as part of some kind of offer at the time with high hopes as I hoped it would leave my skin as flawless as the rest of the range. 

The application of this is lovely - its silky smooth to the touch and applies evenly to a powder brush (not a fan of the sponge included). However the wear of this was awful for my skin type. I have combination skin that often falls closer to oily so a powder is a good way of resolving this. I found this didn't agree with me at all, it bought out dry bits I didn't even know I had and made the normally even wear of my foundation really patchy. I also found it to have near to no pigment so it was just ruining my base rather than adding anything to it. Sadly it didn't work for me I've read some reviews of people that really like it but it's a definite no for me.

Avoiding Boots Wishlist

I've made a promise not to go crazy in Boots this year as I really need to save up & use up so many of the products I already own. However it doesn't hurt to put together a little wishlist basket does it ...?! I really want to give the Maybelline baby skin pore eraser a go and see how it compares with benefit porefessional. It will definitely be purchased when I'm in the need of a new primer. I also want to try out the Maybelline better skin foundation and concealer - my skin isn't the best at moment so I'd love to see what these can do. 

I really don't need any more nail varnish but this Essie twinkle belle duo kit looks too pretty to pass up for Spring time. I've read so much about the Revlon matte lip balms and as it ticks all my lip wishes so I can't wait to get my hands on it. For the exact same reasons I'd love to try the L'Oreal Paris glam shine balmy gloss. I'm coming to the end of my L'Oreal CC creams so the Bourjois CC cream looks like the perfect new addition along with it's matching CC eye concealer. Even though my skin is getting better I wouldn't mind seeing the Nude Magique Blur Cream lives up to all of its claims. 

Finally as sleek is now available in Boots I will most definitely be picking up the contour kit sometime soon. I've wanted it for ages but now it's in Boots there's no avoiding this purchase. I've done pretty well at avoiding Boots for all of 2014 so far. I might still avoid it and do a calculated online shop once over the next few months to make sure I don't get that crazy shock at the till. 

Spring Nail Picks

The rain definitely hasn't stopped but every now and then the sun is coming up so surely spring is on it's way. Pastel colours are out - finally! My favourite nail polishes for this season are: Essie - Bikini so Teeny, Barry M Gelly - Papaya, Models Own - Utopia, L'Oreal - Wasabi Hint & Models Own - Lemon Meringue. 

Everyday Make-Up February - 2014

Base: L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint (review) Brows: Maybelline Brow Drama (review) Eyes: Origins Ginzing Eyeshadow (review) & Smashbox Waterproof Gel Liner & L'Oreal Super Liner (review) Bronzer: ELF Bronzer Quad Highlighter: Topshop in Sunbeam (review) Lipstick: Kate Moss for Rimmel Shade 110 (review) 

I'm trying to save my pennies at the moment so doing things that cost nothing at the weekend is my new hobby. However walks with the boy and prepping the weeks food isn't all that glamorous so a bright lip is adding that to my life. I'm so fed up of the constant rain and cold weather but a slick of this lipstick brightens up any day. Having a movie night in is much more fun when you've paired your PJ's with a bright red lip. I'm not sure why but it is.

January Empties - 2014

I really love the L'Oreal Micellar Solution and always have a back up. I've been using it non-stop since I first purchased and reviewed it back in June last year and it's a firm favorite still. After using the micellar water as a pre-cleanse I love wiping the clean and clear deep cleansing lotion over my skin. It's a really strong lotion that really gets rid of all the dirt and grime the day's left on your skin. I use a variety of the clean and clear cleansing lotion but this one for sensitive skin is a staple in my skincare collection. I only seem to buy original source shower gels now - I adore the scents and the bottles are super easy to open and use. I love coconut so much and this nourishing creme shower gel has been gorgeous throughout the winter months. My favorite scent is raspberry and vanilla which is now sitting happily in my shower caddy. 

I tend to wash my hair with an anti-drandruff shampoo before using my everyday shampoo and conditioner. I really loved using this Yves Rocher shampoo. It's a lovely shampoo that really cleans the hair whilst smelling super lovely. I love adding little extra's to my Yves Rocher orders these little finds are brilliant. I also finished my superdrug dry shampoo - I didn't not like this product but it's definitely no batiste. I find it takes a lot of effort not to end up with white roots with this version - it smells cute though and is a good budget buy if you need something quickly I won't be repurchasing though .

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Concealer

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Concealer £5.99 Boots

I have a little concealer habit at the moment and naturally couldn't resist picking up the concealer L'Oreal have bought out to go with their BB collection. It comes in one shade that blends out to suit all skin tones and apply's with the roller ball built into the tube. It has a really thin consistency a little like it's BB cream counterpart however it is pretty pigmented and really brightens up the under eye area. It says it has caffeine in too which I'm not sure really does anything noticeable but the cool metal ball does really wake up your eyes in the morning just from it's temperature. L'Oreal have marketed this for eye bags and imperfections - I personally find it too light and thin for any blemishes but it is a lovely concealer for the under eyes. I think I'll get lots more use from this when the weather starts to warm up and my skin is naturally more glowing. It fits really nicely next to the BB cream by the brand and is a nice extra to the range.

L'Oreal Collection Privee By Cheryl

 

 L'Oreal Collection Privee Lipsticks £8.19 Boots

The last thing I need in my collection is another nude lipstick but there I am surrounded by 3 for 2 signs in Boots swatching everything in site. The L'Oreal Collection Privee lipstick range is made up of 6 shades all chosen by the 6 L'Oreal spokeswomen the 6 shades are described as:

Doutzen Kroes: Barely Pink. A combination of freshness and femininity with a sprinkling of softness. The way this barely pink nuance melts into any type of complexion gives it indispensable elegance.

Julianne Moore: Barely Peach. Sensual and delicate to the extreme, enhances the radiance of pale complexions and endows them with elegance  and sophistication.

Eva Longoria: Barely Golden. With a hint of gold added, the best to capture the radiance of matte skin and sublimate the complexion, the sun‑kissed effect is worthy of the influential woman!

Freida Pinto: Barely Parma. Perfect for emphasizing the delicacy and elegance of the amber complexion. The ultimate in refinement, this shade evokes a freshness as well as sheer sophistication.

Cheryl: Barely Greige. Ultra-chic and rich in iridescence, barely greige offers a discreet contrast to the skin, thereby enhancing the natural beauty of the complexion.

Liya Kebede: Barely Moka. A barely brown nuance that adds a charming shade to the lips for a contrast to dark skin that comes up trumps.

I naturally picked up Cheryl's shade in barely greige. I really loved Julianne Moore's barely peach but I think I just love Cheryl a little more so that's why it ended up in my basket. I adore the packaging of this range it feels super luxe and the hint of gold against black makes it a gorgeous addition to my lipstick collection. The lipstick has a good pigmentation and a lovely creamy finish. I've been after a less pinky nude to my favourite MAC in hue so this fills that spot perfectly.

L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint - 110 Warm Ivory

L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint - 110 Warm Ivory - RRP £9.99 (Currently £7 everywhere) Boots

I didn't intend to purchase this a few weeks ago but when I was in Boots the pretty little POS caught my eye and it ended up in my basket - I'm a marketer's dream. Nude Magique Eau De Teint (what a mouthful) claims to be lighter than water, completely non greasy with a zero make up feel. I thought this would be perfect for my holiday as in the Turkish heat I definitely didn't want anything too heavy for my skin. It comes in a glass bottle which is described as 'perfume like' to apply it says you need to tip it onto your finger then blend. I will admit this took me a lot of getting used it and even after 3 or 4 applications I didn't like the method. It's so runny you can't put it onto the back of your hand to apply so I decanted some into a little round pot and then lightly dropped in my Real Techniques buffing brush to apply.

This worked a lot better for me - again took some getting used to as it's so runny a tiny bit will blend all over your face. I found it gave a really light coverage that evened out my skin tone a little but didn't give me the coverage I look for when it comes to blemishes and problem area's. The best part of this for me is that warm ivory is my perfect shade as its so light it blended into my natural skin tone effortlessly. 

Overall I liked this on holiday as I wanted a light foundation to just act as a base and the SPF 18 was perfect for the Turkish sun. However I really couldn't get on with the feel of it - it's just too runny, I don't think I ever wanted a foundation to be as wet as this so it hasn't really ticked any boxes as to it being the revolutionary foundation I needed in my life. I really think they should have bought this out much earlier in the year as it's definitely a summer base - I need something much more substantial to take me through the winter months. 

L'Oreal Super Liner - Blackbuster & Superslim

L'Oreal Super Liner - Blackbuster (£6.99)* Perfect Slim (£6.99)*

I used to love a heavy dose of black eyeliner but recently I've drifted towards building up cream eyeshadows and also using more natural looking cream eyeliners in browns and taupes. I've always loved the cute little cat flicks that girls seem to effortlessly create using liquid eyeliners. I've never managed this - not once. I find liquid liner messy and I just don't have that skill of creating a neat line across my lid. 

The L'Oreal Super Liners have reignited my love for black eyeliner. When I recieved them I thought the thick nib of the blackbuster would make it a firm favourite. It is a lovely eyeliner for a night out as you can achieve a really thick line with very little effort. However the Perfect Slim has won me over it is just like a felt tip but with the lasting power of a really pigmented liquid eyeliner. It's quite hard to mess up your eyeliner using this but if I'm in a rush and do I just sweep my Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner in dark brown over it to blend out any mistakes and give a more natural look. 

What's so good about these eyeliners if they last all day long. Even if you don't want just a black eyeliner its a really good base to frame your eye before placing dark eyeshadows over the top. I have been using these nearly everyday to build up my eye make-up and the perfect slim will definitely be replaced when it runs out. 

I can't praise either of them enough their lasting power and pigmentation mean they are easy to use eyeliners that will be staying in my collection for a long time. I haven't achieved any groundbreaking eye looks with them but that's just because I play it safe a little too much the thin nib of the perfect slim means you could achieve most look very easily. I think I'll give something a little more fun a go in the next month or so. 

August Empties

It's been ages since I've done an empties post but recently I seem to be finishing off lots of little things and trying to use up lots of samples and mini's. This mini moroccan oil has actually lasted ages and at £13.50 I'm kind of happy it did. I do love this product but I can't bring myself to part with over £30 for the full size one. I still have another miniature bottle which came with a gift set and that's being used intermittently as I really don't want to run out altogether. I can't really decide if it's a lot better than the cheaper alternatives I have either so it won't be gracing my dresser in full size anytime soon. 

The Maybelline fit me foundation in 120 is a firm favourite of mine I've already repurchased it and used quite a lot of it up. It's only £7.99  and is the perfect shade for me when I have a little bit of a tan. The Benefit sample of the Total Moisture Facial Cream came in a 6 piece skincare set I received at Christmas. It's a super rich moisturiser that is a little too much for my skin - it's well scented and I think it is more suited to someone with a dryer complexion.

My samples of the Dermalogica Clean Start moisturiser have all finally emptied and my love for it hasn't finished - I love having this in full size it means I can use it every single day without worrying about the little tubes emptying on me. The L'Oreal million lashes mascara has always been a firm favourite of mine and I've been using it for years. However it's recently been overtaken by the Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp mascara which is mascara HG for me now!

Bit of an odd empty to finish on but wanted to include the Garnier Mineral roll on deodorant as this stuff is so so good and only £1 at the moment in Superdrug! It smells lovely and really does tick every deodorant box I have. I'm determined to get back into blogging properly this month as I have so many post idea's I really want to spend some time writing. There's a lot going on this month including the THCF calendar launch party and I've also got a lovely weekend booked in a lodge with friends at the end of the month. I love the beginning of Autumn and can't wait to get back into cosy knits as well as visiting Turkey for a week next month too - getting the best of both worlds!

True Magique True Match Concealer

I've always liked these little pen concealers but I've always been a little stubborn about them. As a whole I don't think they last very long and are pretty expensive compared to your average concealer sticks which last for ever. This L'Oreal True Match Concealer was £8.19 from Boots. I did get it in the 3 for 2 so it worked out about £6. I picked up shade 'Ivory Beige' which is the lightest yellow toned shade. I really love this for under eye concealing it just completely lifts my eyes and makes even the worst nights sleep look kind of bearable. It has a slight highlighting quality to it for me as it is so light so I can only use this under my eyes as it only exaggerates blemishes rather than conceals. It lasts well and blends out pretty effortlessly. 

I think it's a product I need to just realise is a staple in my makeup and even though it doesn't last a particularly long time it does do the job so is definitely worth the money. I just need to get over myself and keep it in my life as everytime I do repurchase it I remember how much I love it. 

L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream Anti Redness

L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream Anti Redness - Superdrug £9.99 

I'm a sucker for a bit of marketing ... have I ever mentioned that? So when I saw the world be introduced to a new formation on my beloved BB cream I just had to get involved. The CC cream is a more problem specific version of the Nude Magique BB cream I raved about here. This version of the BB cream is one of my all time favourites so I had high hopes for this CC cream formation. 

The creams come in 3 formations Green - anti redness, Purple - transforms tiredness and Apricot - revives tired skin. I get quite a few pimples, spots and have redness around my nose so went with the green anti-redness formation of the cream. It has the same consistency as their BB cream but for me with this particular shade thats where the comparison kind of ends. 

It doesn't blend as well onto my skin tone and leaves me a little green. I thought this might have been just me thinking about it too much as I'd watched the apple green formula try and blend into my skin but after wards my boyfriend did utter the line 'wow is the hulk look in at the moment or something' confirming my suspicions that this does leave a green a tinge to my face. It also doesn't blend out to my skin tone and leaves my face a lot darker than my natural skin tone. I've tried to photograph this above not sure it comes across as well as my real life tinge but I gave it a go. 

However despite all this it is a good base for my foundation right now. I have massive winter skin with lots of pimples and random red splotches this gives a toned down and somewhat even base for my foundation. This however for me could never be worn alone - I adore the Nude Magique BB cream and will happily wear this without foundation over the top but sadly can't say the same about this CC cream. I will easily make my way through this tube as right now it's my go to base but I'm not sure it's right for my light skin tone or everyday wear. It's just a little too green for me - I am tempted to try the purple and apricot versions though through sheer intrigue so please do leave your links if you've reviewed them or tweet me @georginacallen 

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow - £8.49 Boots

I'm such a sucker for a gimmick - hence this purchase. The L'Oreal Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow isn't a particularly new product to the market but it is new to my collection. I was in lipstick mode a few weeks ago and picked this up along with others that featured on the blog. Obviously you can't swatch this on lips in a shop so I picked it up purely through the intrigue of wondering what colour it would appear on my lips.

For those that haven't spotted this product before the lipstick is a see through orange pink and once applied it adapts to the moisture and colour of your lips to create a unique pink shade. I think what it actually does is enhance the natural pigment to the lip and give a lovely moisturised glow to them. I really like this product to be honest despite it's gimmick it's a nice work lipstick that can be applied without a mirror. It keeps lips moisturised and also gives a nice pink tone. I'm glad intrigue won out and made me pick this up.