Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eye Primer - Game Changer

I hadn't read anything about this product when I picked it up about a month ago - so it was a little bit of a whim. It cost £13 from Cult Beauty for 7ml which when I recieved it seemed a little steep however the little pippet dispenser cleverly dispenses just the one drop you need to coat both eyelids. 

It claims: Stila’s Stay All Day Liquid Eye Primer is a miracle elixir that works to extend the life and vibrancy of your eye make-up – particularly those metallic and shimmery shadows which quickly migrate into fine lines and creases. The unique formula helps to counteract greasy lids and create a smooth, even base that ‘grips’ powder to minimise fallout and prolong perfection… so you look as immaculate at the end of the evening as you did at the beginning.

All of that up there - it does it! I can put on the shimmeriest (even a word??) shadows I own and the lightest shades - they're still there when I go to take my make-up off in the evening. It also intensifies the colour and finish of any shadows you use - it particularly makes light shimmers pop. It's magical and if you're continually searching for the products that will ensure your make-up lasts all day or want a little more confidence that it hasn't slid off during an important event or meeting then you need this. It's a product I didn't even know I needed before I owned it but is a complete game changer and I can't imagine it not being in my collection from now on. It's been used every single day since I bought it which is pretty rare for someone as fickle as me. 

Georgina x.

Make Up Clear Out: Cheeks & Lips

Last month I posted my Make Up Clear out - Eyes & Nails collection so this is the second part of that massive clear out focusing on cheek and lip products. The cheek products consist of some ELF sticks that don't work for me - they're not very pigmented and they don't apply without either taking off whatever makeup is underneath or without looking incredibly cakey and built up. I've also thrown out some random bronzers that are way too orange for me one by a brand called W7 (not sure where I even got this one) and also the St Tropez shimmer brick which is way too shimmery for me. Lip products include an old gloopy Maybelline super stay - I did used to love this but it is way old and definitely needs to be confined to the bin. I've also thrown out a glossybox lipstick that I will never choose over other shades I have so it's gone. Also some random gloopy lipgloss, an M&S lipstick that is a very weird goldy orange shade (I was obviously having a moment that day) and again just some old shades that are way past there sell by date. 

I've loved getting rid of all this and making some room for some more products (oops) I've made a vow to avoid going mad in online sales & just in Boots in general and spend 2015 only buying stuff I really really want. I find spending £30 on one high end product I really want and have researched is much more enjoyable than spending £30 on ten things that I just stumble across in a rush and go mad for because they're so damn cheap. 

Georgina x. 

Make Up Clear Out: Eyes & Nails

 A few months ago me and Steve decided to move home back to our parents respectively in order to save the pennies for a little house of our own. Moving home has meant going from having a whole room just for me to get dressed and do my make-up in too having a little cabinet next to my bed so a huge clear out had to happen. I have to admit I'm kind of glad I did this - there was some OLD very unused stuff in the depths of my dresser. I had to throw A LOT out so I've split the posts into sections -

I seem to have had a habit of buying lots of cheapy eye products for a while - mainly ELF (a company I've now given up) the products from ELF that I bought and maybe used once or twice were a few cheap liners, mascara's and a primer - all very bluh and nothing to write home about hence why they were probably only used once or twice to begin with. I also had a huge mascara cull as I had amassed a crazy amount during the 'beauty box' phase of my life. The only one I loved was the nouveau lashes which was a lovely day wear mascara that had just dried up. The bright pink models own eyeshadow was ashamadley from my 18th birthday night out (7 years old ewwww - I disgust myself). How it had managed to remain at the back of a drawer is amazing but it obviously had to go. Finally a few bourjois eye shadows that again are very old and shouldn't still be in my collection I doubt they even still sell them. I think I had held onto them for nostalgic reasons as my 19 year old self would simply rock a dark eye using only that black eyeshadow and a bit of eyebrow highlight using just that cream shadow - haha brilliant look!

I couldn't part with many nail varnishes but did get ready of some freebies that I've never used and know I never will. The Barry M textured polish which is horrible horrible I hate the little gritty texture o it and the finish is foul it just feels like you have dirty nails. Finally a gelly polish that I do love but I have a million coral polishes and this one leaked so it had to go as it was all icky. 

I'm surprised at how much I managed to throw out and I think I'll schedule in a huge clear out every 6 months at least to stop hoarding of products I know I'll never use and that are way past their sell by date. 

Georgina x.

Maybelline Better Skin: Foundation & Concealer Review

Foundation on left and concealer on right 

I'm always looking to improve my skin and what better way to do so than through a foundation with such qualities. I think we always look to clogged skin stemming from the makeup we put on our skin so the idea of a product going against this immediately caught my eye. I picked up shade ivory which was a good match for my skintone and concealer shade light which again was a good match and a nice partnership of shades.

Foundation: I'll start with the less favorable review which is the foundation. I like the formula and finish of this foundation it left a nice natural look to the skin that wasn't too dewy but had a nice glowing boost to it. Unfortunately this foundation just doesn't last on me I found it literally slipped off the skin by midday. It's such a shame and I've tried all my primers to try and find a match but it just didn't work out for me. In terms of the 'clear skin' claims it's not a heavy foundation at all so didn't cause my any blemishes however I'm not sure it did anything favourable either. There's a lot of barriers between my skin and my foundation now - serum, moisturiser, primer that I can't really comment if it could directly 'better' my skin. It is however super light and natural in its application so goes give the look of 'better skin.'

Concealer: I really do like this concealer! For me this is the perfect touch up concealer it blends effortlessly into any makeup I have on and can be quickly dabbed over red marks or blemishes and then blends out really quickly. I found this gave good coverage and a small amount covered the reddest blemishes I have. It's firmly staying in my handbag makeup bag as the shade is perfect for my right now. I don't think this has many 'better skin' qualities at all as again it doesn't make any noticeable differences to blemishes or pigmentation of the skin but it is a nice little concealer. Again it does however give you the illusion of better skin after application.

The foundation comes in 8 shades and is £8.99 - The concealer comes in 2 shades and is £5.99.

Bourjois Bronzing Powder - Review

The Bourjois bronzing powder has been on the market for ages I've always looked at it as being a little gimmicky with it's chocolate shaped packaging but I needed a new bronzer and had heard good things about this so thought it was worth picking up. It cost £6.99 from Boots. I wanted a matte bronzer really so was a little concerned as you can see small specks of shimmer when it's in it's packaging however applied to the skin you can't tell that they're there at all. I think the shimmer might just help with the warm glow the product gives the skin. The packaging is cardboard with a magnetic strip ensuring it stays shut in your handbag. It has a gorgeous scent to it which isn't actually chocolate I think it's more vanilla than anything. 

I've used this product everyday since picking it up a few weeks ago - I've been applying it with my real techniques contour brush and then blending out with my real techniques powder brush. My favourite bit about this bronzer is that it has not a hint of orange in it and when applied and buffed out gives the nicest natural glow to the skin. I'm glad I finally picked this up as I can see this being in my collection for a long long time to come. 

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.

Korres Ginger & Vitamins Foundation - Review

I'm a big fan of everything I've tried by Korres (lipbutter and showergel) so I couldn't resist throwing a few bargainous make-up items in my recent fragrance direct haul. I picked up shade LF1 for only £3.99 and didn't really have any expectations as I haven't read much at all about this foundation. 

I normally pick up medium to high coverage foundations so this is very different for me. Firstly I love the packaging of this foundation nothing better than a light plastic tube in my opinion. I apply this with either my real techniques buffing brush or just my fingers. This is super light coverage and really just evens out skintone. I find it gives a gorgeous glow to my skin and makes my complexion look really healthy. As I continue to perfect my skincare routine in time for a much lighter make-up look in the summer I know this will definitely be my foundation of choice. Highly recommend giving this a go if you like light coverage foundation especially as it's currently so cheap on Fragrance Direct. 

Fragrance Direct Haul - Korres & Becca

My fragrance direct order came this morning and I couldn't wait to share it so thought I'd do a little haul before thoroughly testing all these out. I also wanted to note how darn cheap the site is compared to RRP's. So this is what I picked up: 

Becca Nail Polish in Dancing Barefoot - £2.99 RRP £12

Becca Eye Tint in shade Lapis - £4.99 RRP £20

Korres Wild Rose Foundation - £3.50 RRP £18.45 

Korres Ginger and Vitamin Foundation - £3.99 RRP £18.45

Korres Essential Oils Diffuser - £3.50 RRP £14.99 

W7 Double Act Bronzer/ Blusher - £2.75 RRP £3.99 

I paid £21.72 for this little bundle and it would normally retail for £87.88. Quite an amazing discount really - the shades are limited on the site but if you can find the shades you're after then it's an absolute steal. I think it's also a cheap way to try new brands and products that you wouldn't want to risk spending the full amount on. My parcel came in just a few days even though I picked the cheapest delivery option so overall I'm very happy - I'm a bit of a foundation whore at the moment so I'm going to give these a good test run and then do individual posts. 

Winter to Spring Make Up Look

Face: Rimmel Wake Me Up (review)
Concealer: ELF Maximum Coverage Concealer
Eyes & Brows: HD Brow Kit & Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp Mascara (review)
Cheeks: ELF Contour Kit & MAC Cream Blush in So Sweet, So Easy (review)
Lipstick: MAC Please Me (review)

The sun is finally shining! I've bought out the pinks and fell back in love with Rimmel Wake Me Up again! It's the perfect drugstore summer foundation for me - brilliant coverage to take you out of the cold season and gives the skin the loveliest glow. I'm really in love with the HD brows palette in Foxy too right now - this is my second palette and has everything I need for a basic eye and brow look - I love this quad!