L'Oreal Lumi Magique Light Infusing Foundation Review

L'Oreal foundations are definitely my favourite. I love their True Match and now after trying the Lumi Magique it has also become another holy grail foundation of mine.

Compared to the True Match, the Lumi Magique is basically the opposite in finish. True Match gives an almost matte finish whilst Lumi Magique gives a satin, and more dewy, finish. And I love it.

Now that the weather is getting colder which results in dry, sallow skin, I prefer wearing foundations with a much lighter formulation that provides a more dewy, fresh appearance. Lumi Magique provides medium, yet very easily buildable, coverage that looks fresh and alive. I definitely agree with the "as if lit-from-within" statement on the bottle. It looks really pretty. It's super blendable, really lightweight and you can easily build it up for more coverage.

This foundation wears really well throughout the day, better than True Match - I apply it at 7am and it's still going strong by the time I finish college at 3pm which is impressive. I sometimes do powder midday but other times I just leave it to wear through - it looks just as good, if not better, by the time I get back home. It's still dewy, but not oily looking and definitely not at all cakey.

However, one thing I don't like is their shade range. It's bad. The Lumi Magique offers 7 shades (compared to 22 in the True Match range, can I mention!) which are really bizarrely labelled - I have shade W3 which is the lightest "warm" undertone shade they offer. Luckily, it's my regular shade in the True Match, yet this could be a problem for others with different undertones. Hopefully they'll expand their range as the product gets more press.

I genuinally think this has become a new favourite foundation of mine. I've been wearing it non stop and it has replaced my True Match in my everyday makeup routine for a few weeks now...

My Love For American Drugstore Mascaras

There are two reasons why I'm writing this post:

1) To state my jealously for all you guys who have access to these in stores where you live.

2) Hopefully encourage you buy them when you next visit the States.

I've been using these mascaras for the past few weeks now and it's safe to say I love them. I first use the Covergirl Lash Blast Volume mascara which creates insane length and volume and then follow it with the Maybelline Full 'n Soft. This adds even more volume without making it clumpy. I think one of the main reasons why these two work well together is that the Covergirl one has a plastic brush whereas the Maybelline mascara has soft bristles. It doesn't take long to get perfect looking lashes.

These two mascaras need to go on your list of things to buy when you're next in America. I can't recommend them enough! When I go to New York in the new year, I'll be seriously picking up several tubes of each to ensure they last me until the next time.

Hope you have a great weekend :)

theBalm Frat Boy Blush Review

When buying the Mary Lou Manizer highlighting powder, which you can read me raving about here, I also added the Frat Boy blush to my basket. I read a Temptalia review which gave it a really high "glossover" (her rating system, if you didn't know) so thought why not. I like blush. The more the merrier.

First impressions of the product was that I like the packaging. It's super thin and is made of a thick cardboard making it fairly lightweight and easy to transport around.

I couldn't actually find any "official" description by theBalm of this colour so I'll give you my own: it's a muted coral/light pink with a satin finish. There isn't any glitter or shimmer specs in the actual pan yet when you apply it to the checks, it does reflect nicely in the sun. The colour does appear much lighter when you apply it - it's more pink toned rather than coral. But you can layer it up to create that intense coral shade which you see in the pan. 

The blush has a really nice consistency - it's easy to blend and, like I said, can be layered for different intensities. It's also surprisingly pigmented for a light shade. The swatch below was just one swipe.

I am really impressed with this blush. As the pigmented is so good, I do think this blush is one of those that can suit practically all skin tones from fair to dark. On lighter skin tones, a light sweep of the product can create a light, doll pink colour whilst on more tan to darker skin tones, a more intense build up of colour can create a lovely coral shade that is still visible yet natural looking. It do think it is worth the £16 and it has definitely, along with the highlighter, got me interested in theBalm products. It's annoying you can only get it online, though!

New Beauty and Skincare Purchases

As I've just started college, I've been spending most of my money on new clothes. I've just realised how easier it was in high school when we had to wear a set uniform everyday. Deciding what to wear each morning has proven to be a struggle! Nevertheless, I still treat myself to some new beauty products now and then - mostly when I run out of things, though. I went to Boots the other day and picked up three new things and a repurchase.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique light infusing foundation
Now that the weather is becoming increasingly colder, I've been looking for the perfect dewy finish foundation. I thought I'd start my search with the "sister" of my favourite ever foundation L'Oreal True Match. It's meant to provide flawless coverage whilst still looking fresh and skin-like.

Collection Cream Puffs in "cotton candy" and "powder puff"
These just looked too pretty to pass up. I love the NYX soft matte lip creams but you can't get them in stores here, and these looked fairly similar. I picked up a light nude and a gorgeous rose shade. Apparently they smell like sugar frosting so I'm excited to try these out.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch concealer
This is my repurchase of the four - I love using this over my under eye concealer. It just brightens the area up without making it look cakey. It's definitely worth the money.

I also picked up two new skincare bits. Both are repurchases, and both I use on a daily basis.

REN Clearcalm3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser
My favourite cleanser ever! It removes all traces of makeup, freshens up the skin, moisturises, deep cleans and just is a wonderful product. It's targeted at blemish prone skin but I think this will work for anyone, regardless of skin type. On average, it lasts me around five months which, for £18, isn't bad.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution
I've repurchased this five times now - it's getting a bit ridiculous. Thank goodness it isn't expensive otherwise I'd be in trouble. I use this to remove all makeup - eyes and face - before going in with my cleanser. It's refreshing, lightweight and does what it says on the bottle. You can't go wrong, really...

Brand Focus: MAC Cosmetics

MAC are just one of those brands that offer everything makeup wise and everything is up to a really great standard. Except for their foundations (which I haven't actually even tried), I love everything they offer. Some more than others, obviously, so today I thought I'd run through my favourite products MAC sell.

Face
Like I said, I haven't ventured into their foundations as of yet as I heard they break some people out. But their concealers, on the other hand, I have tried and really do like. My favourite is the Studio Finish concealer that comes in a small, black pot. I have mine in NC20 which, as you can see from the photo, is very yellow based which is great for covering blemishes. Some use it under the eyes and opt for an NW shade as it's pink based and counteracts any redness.

Cheeks
The blushes I've tried have all been such great quality that it makes me want to depot them all and create a palette. "Too much money", I keep thinking to myself. However, in particular I love Harmony Blush as it makes the perfect contour shade for virtually everyone. You can also use this as a crease colour and for warming up the lower lash line, did you know.

Eyes
Probably my favourite area that MAC offer as their selection is insane. For a base, the Paint Pots are wonderful. Pictured is one of my most used, Rubenesque, which is a gorgeous coral/bronze. They last forever, keep the shadows in place and exemplify the intensity of colour. Obviously the eyeshadows have got to have a mention. They offer hundreds of shades each with different formulations - I could spend ages umming and erring over which colour to pick next. And I do. Another great product MAC offer in the eye spectrum are their eyeliners. My favourite has to be the Powerpoint Eye Pencil as they are waterproof, long-wearing, easy to apply and come in some great, practical colours. I love Stubborn Brown (deep brown) and Fascinating (off-white).

Lips
What made MAC famous. Their lipsticks are great. They come in so many colours, formulations and finishes that it makes choosing the next one to add to your collection so very difficult. My favourite MAC lipsticks are Saint Germain (pictured), Creme Cup, Sunny Seoul and Myth. I also think their tinted lipglass range don't get enough recognition as, despite the majority being extremely sticky, they smell amazing (like vanilla) and last a long time. Plus come in so many wearable shades. Fun fact: the lipglass in Underage was my first ever MAC purchase :)

Brushes
Yes, they are expensive but they truly are worth the splash. I've had the 129 (pictured top) for over two years and it's in perfect condition. It's definitely my favourite brush as it's so versatile; I use it for bronzer, blush, setting under eye powder, contouring, highlighting - it's the perfect size. My other two most used are the 217 for crease work and the 266 for my eyebrows.

Hope this was useful :) PS, have you heard Birdy's new song titled Wings? It's beautifully amazing. Listen here.

Lauren's Way Darker Than Dark Lotion Review, Before and After

Now that summer is over and my tan has officially faded I thought I'd get back into the self tanning routine. Instead of going back to my old favourites, I thought I'd try something new. The Lauren's Way range has been created by Lauren Goodger from Towie. Immediately I thought of "orange" and I know you *probably* are too. I thought I'd give it a go anyway and instead of ordering the full size lotion, I opted for the starter set. 

The kit comes with the self tanning bronzing lotion in darker than dark, a tan enhancing moisturiser, glam tan, body polish and a tanning mitt.

I done the pre-tanning routine as I'm sure you know if you're reading this. I put a little moisturiser on the dry areas and also on my hands and then applied the tan using the provided mitt in circular motions on my body. The initial colour guard is scary looking - it looks black/green but it's what you want to apply it evenly. It dries really nicely - not too fast yet not slow that it leaves a sticky feeling meaning you have to wait ages before getting dressed. I applied three layers and then went to bed.

In the morning I woke up with the best deep bronze colour. No streaks and perfectly even, despite three layers which I did at 12.30am when I was half asleep. After I washed it off in the morning I was left with the colour below. It a deep brown with olive undertones which makes it really natural looking compared to others with a neutral undertone. And so much darker than I was before. Muy bien!

So far, I've worn it for five days without adding any more layers and it's faded really nicely. I've still got  colour - not as intense as the first few days, obviously - yet still looking like I've been on holiday. 

Any negatives? Yes it does smell like fake tan. Burnt cookies, you know the scent. Yet it's not as strong as any other tans I've tried which is a plus and the smell fades after a day. I don't recommend putting this on your face. It doesn't say you can't but as it's a quite thick lotion, it could possibly clog your pores up. I've fake tanned my face and it wasn't pretty - just use a darker foundation or add lots of bronzer.

I'm really impressed with this product. Definitely don't discard trying it because of the Towie branding, Lauren definitely knows how to create the perfect tan. I've just checked the website and their are so many other variations such as mousses, sprays and different shades to suit everyone.

I think this has become my new favourite self tanner and I have just placed my order for the full size :)

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream Review

Was there any point of me trying yet another BB cream? Nothing will compare to my favourite one by Garnier so, theoretically, I'm just waisting time (and money) trying new ones.

But. I was in America and saw this and thought, "oh, Olay are a good skincare brand" and somewhere on the lines of "maybe it's better than the Garnier one!" So I bought it. What a mistake.

I really don't understand what the purpose of this product is. Does it provide any coverage? No, not even remotely. Does it perfect the skin? To be fair, nothing will perfect the skin realistically but still, no. Does it even feel lightweight and actually bearable to wear? No, it felt sticky and irritable. There's no point, except for the "SPF 15" aspect for which I have a proper sunscreen for that.

So are there any positives. Well, the bottle itself is bloody massive (we're taking 20cm here people) which is great for the price. And if you actually like the product. Which I don't, so...

Other than that, I shall be either giving it to my mother who doesn't even care for makeup who will probably love it, or it shall sit nicely in the bin. Final conclusion: nothing beats Garnier!

Current Beauty Favourites

I have discovered some amazing products recently that I have been using religiously. It's too late in the month to call them August favourites so I'll just call them my current beauty favourites. I recommend everything :)

theBalm Mary Lou Manizer
I've been really into highlighters at the moment and this is probably the most talked about and I can see why. It's a beautiful golden-champagne shade that is super shimmery. And very pigmented. A little goes a long way but it's so lovely. I've also been loving this as an inner corner highlight on my eyes and on the cupids bow. Just saying.

My everyday MAC eyeshadow quad
I've created the perfect quad here people. It contains Shroom, another great inner corner highlight, All That Glitters, shimmery peach champagne perfectness, Quarry, a muted purple crease colour and Charcoal Brown, for smudging eyeliner out and for them brows.

Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer
I finished up my Maybelline The Eraser and instead of repurchasing I opted for this and I love it. It's great for under the eyes as it has a reflective, anti-fatigue finish. Definitely not for use on blemishes as it will enhance them, but for dark circles under the eyes, it's a gem.

Covergirl Last Blast Volume mascara in very black
When will the UK start stocking Covergirl?! This mascara provides volume (finally, a product that lives up to its name) and crazy length and thickness and just everything you would want in a mascara. When it runs out I will book a flight to America. No joke.

Milani Baked Blush in luminoso
Another USA only product that I'm in love. This one probably won't run out as fast as the mascara but still. It's such a beautiful shade that will compliment literally anyone. Check my in depth review for swatches and stuff.

Barry M lip gloss in toffee
Ok, there are three amazing things about this lipgloss. 1) It actually smells like toffee, 2) it's under five quid and 3) it's pigmented and lasts ages. It's a nude/pink mix, just think of the lipgloss version of MAC Creme Cup lipstick.

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow Pigment in perpetual purple
I am loving the infallible eyeshadows at the moment, but my favourite has to be this dark purple with silver reflects. If you have brown eyes, it looks amazing on the lower lash line. I really hope this isn't one of their US-only shades as I know some are.

I hope you're having a great weekend!

MAC Creme Cup Lipstick

MAC lipsticks are definitely one of my favourites. I think the different formulas are a great idea and, despite the price tag creeping up every damn year, they are worth the £15 in my opinion. Out of all the ones I own (which let's be honest, are all nude and pink hues), the "cremesheen" formula is by far my favourite. Granted, they don't last as long but the colour pay off is still exceptional and they feel so moisturising compared to say the matte formula. They also give such a lovely glossy finish.

The newest edition to my cremesheen lipsticks is probably the most popular shade (second to Hue, of course). It's the one you're advised to buy when you're just getting into MAC lipsticks - Creme Cup.

It's described as a light, blue tone pink - a hybrid of a muted pink with a nude undertone. Not being a pale, life-less shade makes it suitable for virtually all skin colours. It has a really nice glossy finish, hence why it's a cremesheen formula. I really do like it.

It the perfect everyday lipstick as it's a mix of the popular hues which also makes it perfect all ages and all skin types.

Just looking at my other lipsticks I can definitely see a few drugstore dupes including Wet n Wild Think Pink (click link for swatches) and Maybelline Pink Please. Getting started into MAC lipsticks? Yeah, it's a great colour. Wanting a similar shade and perhaps are looking for a cheaper alternative? Look in the drugstore.

I can't complain though. The quality is great and it's a lovely hue. Have a great day :)

Daisy by Marc Jacobs

Perfumes are so hard to review which is why I've never done one before. But I thought I'd do a review of this as it's my favourite and is just one of the nicest scents.

I have mine in a cute rollerball form which I got on holiday in New York and I believe is only available in Sephora's, however there are many sizes available in the UK.

As a whole this fragrance is very floral. The little flowers on the bottle give a hint. But it is a subtle floral as there are top notes of wild strawberries and base notes of white woods accord. It's marketed as a "carefree, flirty, natural" scent which does make it perfect for summer which, I know has ended, but it's just too lovely not to wear.

Scents are just one of those things that you've got to try for yourself. Yet if you enjoy both the Jimmy Choo perfumes or perhaps even CK1, definitely give it a test as you may like it.

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso Review

This was the product I was most keen to buy as it has literally been raved by everyone and I am partialy known to go with the hype. This Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso can be described as a light coral with peach undertones. It has a little shimmer that reflects in the light and aims to create a fresh, healthy glow.

The texture of this blush is extremely lightweight and smooth which makes for an easy apply and blending process. And also means you don't need much to create a subtle glow. Layering it up however deepens the peach undertone to flatter almost all skin tones. This shade in particular is very luminous and brightens up the complexion instantly creating a healthy glow.

I'm super impressed with this shade and is perfect to compliment a tan. I've found that this blush is a pretty close dupe for both NARS Orgasm and MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural in Stereo Rose (limited edition). Just 10x cheaper!

Whilst away I also picked up another Milani blush which I'll probably review in the near future. Have a great day :)

Wet n Wild Mega Last Lipsticks Review

Ages ago I was read a blogpost by Fleur where she raved about these so called lipsticks only available the states. Thankfully I rediscovered said post before going on holiday and noted down the name.

They are the Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Colors. They come in an array of colours and I'm really happy with the four I chose.

        Bare It All: a medium nude/beige
        Stoplight Red: bright, blue based red
        Think Pink: light, pink toned nude
        Dollhouse Pink: bright (almost neon!), blue based pink

As far as pigmentation they are definitely one of the most pigmented lip products I've tried. Using a lip brush can help create a more sheer finish compared to applying it from the tube. They are easy to apply and work with and, like I just said, a lip brush can also help apply the darker colours (the reds) more precisely. One complaint: they are fairly drying. And the packaging is awful. I won't rant too much about the packaging however as they are under $2, but the texture does feel drying on. A little lip balm before helps and also topping it off with a (clear) lipgloss after.

From the colours I can also see many MAC dupes.

        Bare It All is similar to Honeylove
        Stoplight Red is similar to Red
        Think Pink is similar to Shy Girl
        Dollhouse Pink is similar to Pink Nouveau

My favourite shade has to be Think Pink as it's super wearable and the perfect mix of nude and pink. It paired with Creme D'Nude over the top and this lipgloss in Snow Pink has been my go-to this month.

Next time I'm in the states I'll definitely pick up some more shades as they are just great in everyway. I'm jealous of you Americans, $1.99 is unfair! (Happy September, by the way).

MAC RiRi Hearts Fall Collection 2013

MAC collections seem to come out every month and I can't seem to keep up with them! There have only been a few collections I've been proper excited about and the upcoming RiRi Hearts fall collection is one of them.

The RiRi hearts summer collection was a massive success, selling out in a few hours so I'm glad they are re-promoting the products plus adding to it.

Lipsticks
Talk That Talk: dark plum (retro matte)
RiRi Woo: cool matte red (retro matte)
Who's That Chick: mid-tone orange (frost)
Nude: cool nude cream (matte)

Lipglass
RiRi Woo: cool red

Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
RiRi Woo: cool red
Talk That Talk: dark plum

Smoked Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
Muted mid-tone grey (matte2)
Mid-tone cool champagne (veluxe pearl)
Black with silver pearl pigments (luxtre)
Black charcoal (satin)

Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
Bright bronze gold (lustre)
Soft peach (satin)
Warm antique gold (veluxe pearl)
Chocolate bronze (lustre)

Lustre Drops
Barbados Girl: rose gold bronze

Powder Blush Duo
Hibiscus Kiss: cool coral blush and matte neutral bronze duo

Blush
Bad Girl Gone Good: warm copper (satin)

Cream Colour Base
Diamonds: soft pink beige with gold pearl pigments

Liquid Last Liner
Point Black

Mascara
Gigablack Extended Play

Veluxe Brow Liner
Deep Brunette
Deep Dark Brunette

Lashes
#35
#36

Brushes
187SE
282SE

So...basically, I feel sorry for our banks right now. The release date in America is October 3rd meaning international should be the following week. Photo source: houseofrihanna.

Maybelline Baby Lips

They have arrived! The Maybelline Baby Lips are probably the most hyped up lip balms ever and I couldn't wait to try them. I picked these up when I was in America as they are much easier to find than where I live - plus the excited got to me when I first saw the stand in Rite Aid.

Out of the six available shades I picked up five of them:

          Hydrate: clear with a lemon scent, SPF 20
          Mint Fresh: clear with a mint scent, SPF 20
          Pink Punch: blue-based pink with a passion fruit scent
          Cherry Me: darker warm pink with a cherry scent
          Peach Kiss: sheer nude with a peach scent

The only one I didn't get was Intense (clear with a cherry almond scent, SPF 20) simply because I didn't want yet another clear one. Plus I'm not too keen on cherry scents!

I really do like these - especially the three coloured ones. As you can see from the swatches, all three have great pigmentation and appear as vibrant on the lips as they go when swatched. For a lip balm it's really impressive. All five smell exactly as described and don't smell at all fake.

And surprisingly, I adore the packaging! It's bold, bright and fun to look at :)

For £2.99 I really do recommend these. Cherry Me, Pink Punch and Peach Kiss are hands down the winners as the colours are to die for - yet the clear ones are great for moisturising the lips. Plus the smells are amazing.

PS. Happy September!