High End Beauty Haul! 2014

First of all I apologise for not posting since the start of the year - back to college has been a little stressful to say the least and I also have my mock exams coming up next week. Instead of a review I thought I would share some of my recent high end beauty purchases, especially as I haven't hauled in a while. I bought everything from a House of Fraser store in one trip last week, yes, I know, it is a lot for one trip but I haven't splurged on any high end makeup since last year. Here's what I picked up.

When I reviewed the Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation I mentioned how I wasn't completely happy with it and how I was debating whether to purchase the other foundation I had on my wish list. Evidently, I decided to pick up the cult favourite NARS Sheer Glow in the shade "Punjab" and I am super excited to try it out.

Another base product I picked up was the Laura Mercier oil-free tinted moisturiser. This is a repurchase of mine as I absolutely adore this stuff. If I am having a bad skin day I love to apply this under my foundation for extra coverage and it doesn't look at all cakey. It is super lightweight, the shade matches perfectly (I have mine in "Nude") and just works wonders all year round. In the summer, it is my favourite base to use as it has a good coverage, looks natural and also has a decent SPF rate. Check my review for more details.

I picked up two Benefit products. The first, yet another repurchase, in the form of They're Real mascara - an absolute holy grail of mine and one I am sure I will never be without. It lengths the lashes, creates huge volume, doesn't clump and one tube seems to last a really long time. For a mascara it is expensive, but I think it is 100% worth it. The other Benefit product is Hervana blush pox powder. As soon as I swatched it I knew I had to have it and I can't wait to try it out!

Lastly I wandered over to the MAC counter, a place where you either have an amazing experience or a complete confidence-shattering one. Thankfully, mine was the first and I ended up walking away with what I wanted...and more. I originally went to get the Pure Zen lipstick because I saw a tutorial by Lauren Curtis who used it on a night out and, being a sucker for a nude lipstick, I immediately added it to my wish list. I also picked up a blush called Desert Rose which is a gorgeous deep rose/pink shade. MAC blushes are one of my favourites (Bobbi Brown's may be slightly better imo) and seem to last forever. I also ended up getting a Studio Fix Powder + Foundation in the shade C3. Looking back I honestly don't know why I bought this - MAC face products break me out like crazy and I have heard the Studio Fix line can look cakey on the skin. And it wasn't the cheapest of products! I will probably do a separate review on this when I try it out - I have to admit I am a little sceptical about trying it!

So they are the products I picked up and overall I am happy with my purchases. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will try my best to get up some more reviews. Lots of love!

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Bamboo Beige Review

I was in the market for a new high end foundation; one for those special occasions and one that I can always count on to make my skin look amazing. As I do before buying any new product (high end or drugstore for that matter) I took to Google and began searching for the best high end foundations that fit my ideal criteria of having high coverage that is not matte. I narrowed it down to two popular choices - NARS Sheer Glow and Laura Mercier Silk Creme. I went with the latter for the reason that the Laura Mercier offering has a much higher coverage. Sold!

After getting colour matched I happily walked out of Space NK desperate to go home and try it. I picked up the shade "Bamboo Beige" which is described as a warm golden beige for light to medium skin tones and it matches perfectly. For reference, I typically wear Mac NC25 or Esteé Lauder Double Wear in Desert Beige. I looked online and saw that it is the fourth darkest shade. For a high end foundation they only offer ten shades which isn't that impressive.

I have been trialing this foundation over the past two weeks and I really am mixed about what I think of it. The coverage is great - near enough full coverage that literally creates a flawless canvas - and you only need a little to cover the entire face. As it is a cream formula, hence the name, it does make the texture extremely thick and, in a way, uncomfortable. I would say that is it slightly heavier that Double Wear by Esteé Lauder (...and that is saying something!) Fuller coverage foundations have more pigments than lower coverage foundations so I can understand the reason why it feels heavier on the skin. So let's dismiss the thickness of the foundation and move onto finish.

One of the USP's that encouraged me to choose this foundation over the Sheer Glow offering was for the luminous finish it apparently gives. And it is really pretty and for a high coverage foundation it is impressive how much light it gives to the complexion. Unfortunately, it clings to dry skin like crazy. Like I said before, I research into new products and read the foundation suits people with combination to oily skin. I have combination skin and, despite moisturising and using Hydraluron before application, I still found this foundation so drying on areas where I suffer from blemishes. Around the blemishes it was extremely drying - almost flakey! - and just did not look pretty. I was a little confused as full coverage foundations are *primarily* targeted towards those who want to cover up imperfections and, in my experience, the extreme thick texture of this foundation, highlighted any dry areas on the face, thus making any blemishes more obvious.

Thankfully, the product did not break me out which tends to happen when I switch up my foundations. I do think this is one of those products I will completely adore in a few months and one that needs a little more persevering and trial and error. Perhaps due to the weather I am not a fan and in the summer it may be a joy to use. I'll probably do a follow up post in a few months! Currently I am browsing the Space NK website, hovering over the "add to basket" on the NARS Sheer Glow...

PS. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and successfully braved the Boxing Day sales if you did go. Have a great new year!

October favourites: Beauty, fashion, music

Happy first of the month!

It's favourites time yet again! October is definitely of one of my favourite months and I'm sad to see it ending, but it also signifies and brings into realisation that christmas is just around the corner (8 weeks, precisely). I have a wide array of favourite this month in all categories; beauty, fashion, music and, of course, randoms.

Starting with beauty favourites, I've been using Laura Mercier's oil free tinted moisturiser on a near enough everyday basis. I love how lightweight the product feels on the skin and yet still covers the majority of imperfections. I would class it as medium coverage with definitely the power to create fuller coverage. It's super easy to apply and helps to keep oils at bay for the whole day. Laura Mercier definitely know how to create perfect bases and this tinted moisturiser is one of my all time favourites in general.

Near enough all the rest of my beauty faves fit in the eye category. For my most used eyeshadow combo this month I have been loving applying Mac eyeshadow All That Glitters on the lid with Quarry quite heavily packed through the crease using a 217 brush. The 217 is the perfect tool for effortlessly applying colour to the crease and I can't live without it; I'm almost contemplating purchasing another. I have found myself reaching for L'Oreal's False Lash Telescopic more than my favourite American duo.  It lengthens the lashes like you would not believe and looks exceptionally amazing on the bottom lashes.

I've been wearing this Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade Tokyo and I really like it. The colour is a gorgeous rose pink and looks super pretty on. My only criticism is that, as they are so creamy, they don't have the best staying power and I find myself reapplying every hour or so. Annoying, but the colour is great.

- Urban Outfitters ecote motocross drape jacket, £68
- Zara checked shirt with contrasting collar, £25.99
- American Apparel corduroy circle skirt, £44
- Miss Selfridge gold trim faux leather biker jacket, £52
- American Apparel disco pants, £74

Autumn fashion basically involves layers. Now that we are transitioning into winter however I've been wearing tights with pretty much every outfit - yes, even with jeans. I get that cold. I love wearing tights with high waisted skirts, especially the American Apparel circle skirts (my favourites are burgundy and navy blue) - they come in very autumnal appropriate colours and go with almost anything. Collared shirts, in particular, look so cute tucked into skirts and very put together. This one by Zara, a tartan inspired checked shirt with contrasting white collar, is my absolute favourite. It can be simply dressed down by pairing it with dark skinny jeans or dressed up by adding leather shorts, black heels and statement jewellery.

Another go-to piece for autumn/winter has to be disco pants. For the best quality and colour range check out American Apparel (loving the cranberry colour)! Jackets are also a autumn into winter staple - not as warm as a fully lined coat, but still something for the cold weather. I love this Urban Outfitters ecote motocross drape jacket, it just looks amazing. For more warmth, faux leather jackets are a must. Pictured is a gorgeous biker jacket by Miss Selfridge which will go with almost every outfit and looks super stylish.

Music favourites!

I have been loving Miley Cyrus' album Bangerz which came out at the start of the month and especially the songs Maybe Your Right and Adore You. She has certainly received a negative reputation over the past few weeks, namely for her two recent music videos (you know the ones), but nevertheless the songs on her album are really well produced and executed. Definitely check my two favourites out, even if you're not particularly a fan of her. Haim's The Wire has been on repeat for this month. It's way too catchy and will get in your head and stay there for the whole day. I still love it regardless!

One of my closest friends has an obsession with the band Fall Out Boy. I never understood their obsession and wasn't a fan of their rock-esque music. Now after listening to their new album Save Rock and Roll I've completely my opinion. My favourite songs on the album are Young Volancoes and Just One Yesterday. Check out the full album here! Now it cannot be a proper music favourites without a One Direction song. Just yesterday they released Story Of My Life on iTunes and I have already played it over ten times. I'm so excited for their new album out at the end of November - hurry up!

Ok. I'll be honest. My "random" favourites this month hands down beat my fashion, beauty AND music favourites. And the collage above possibly is one of the most bizzare and unusual group of photos ever.

The first picture is of the cast of my new favourite show The Walking Dead. Quick synopsis: a group of Americans try to survive by killing zombies. Now I personally am not a fan of gore, and yes they didn't rate the show an 18 (or R in America) for no reason, but I thoroughly recommend watching an episode or two. I watched series 1, 2 and 3 in around two weeks, and now that season four has just started, I'm hooked again. I love the storyline, the characters are amazing with a good amount of British actors - Rick, the lead character, was in Love Actually, and it's so gripping. Definitely start from the first series though and I promise you'll be hooked in no time. Season four is on every Friday at 10pm on Fox.

Next is a book, The Fault In Our Stars, that I haven't been able to put down since I started reading it. I have yet to finish, but I am nearing the end, but I still think it deserves a mention in my favourites post. John Green, the author, perfectly depicts the life of a young girl suffering from cancer with heart and emotion yet with small doses of static humour and, of course, a beautiful love story intertwined. I've already cried, laughed and smiled like an absolute idiot at the pages, and I highly suggest you give it a read.

If you don't know who the boy in the third picture is then what is your life. I'm kidding, but still, Luke Friend from the current series of The X Factor is, in my opinion, the best contestant who I sincerely hope will win. He's so unique and has such an amazing voice. I'm no Simon Cowell, but it's a "yes" from me :P

Another favourites post complete, another month finished! I'm not particularly looking forward to November, but at least it means that December is getting closer. And we all love December, adios x x x

May Beauty Favourites

Happy June 1st! I love this day for many reasons: it's a sign that we're already half way through the year and that summer is approaching, school is nearly over (2 weeks left for me) and it's also my parents wedding anniversary! 29 years today which is so crazy! Anyway...

I only ever do monthly beauty favourites when I actually have favourite products to talk about, normally they're just the same as any other month so I rarely do them, but this month I have a lot of top picks!

Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer, Essie #Tart Deco, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch, L'oreal True Match #W3, NYX #Sweetheart, Benefit They're Real, MAC Lip Liner #Saunter, MAC #Creme D'Nude

Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer
Best primer hands down! I've only just recently bought this and I'm already in love. Before I was using the Smashbox Photo Finish which was good as a primer but bad for my skin. It broke my out every time I used it so I stopped using primers for a while. On a whim I picked up the Laura Mercier one, in oil free, and I noticed the difference immediately. It contains no silicone which I think is what broke my out before and is so lightweight and refreshing as it's a cream product. I just love it and 100% recommend it to anyone needing a new primer or in the market to try a new one.

Essie #Tart Deco
One of my favourite summer nail polishes, it's such a nice coral colour which looks uh-may-zing with a tan! Boots normally do these on a 3 for 2 offer or something so check them out! I also love Mint Candy Apple which is a bright mint green.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer
It's the best concealer/highlighter hybrid I've tried. It doesn't crease under the eyes, it covers up dark circles and also acts as a really nice highlighter on the cheekbone. It's super cheap as well (only around £7) and lasts forever. I'm not even half way through mine and I've been using it everyday since I bought it around two months ago. I have shade 2.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation
My favourite foundation of the moment. It's a medium coverage but can be built up for a more full coverage - it's quite thin in consistency meaning it feels lightweight and doesn't cake up. It applies really nicely over the Laura Mercier foundation primer and it's what I've been using everyday - I'm already on my second bottle. They bottle doesn't last that long however but for £10 I don't mind repurchasing. I'm in the shade W3 normally but when I tan I'm a W6, even W7.

NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss #Sweetheart
I love NYX lip glosses - they come in so many shades and are not sticky. Unfortunately they don't have the best staying powder, some are better than others. This month I've been wearing Sweetheart over the top of Creme D'Nude by MAC and it looks so nice. It's a shimmery pink nude shade.

MAC Lipstick #Creme D'Nude
This has been my most used lipstick of the month. Creme D'Nude is a peachy nude shade that is very smooth and has a gloss-like appearance. It's really creamy, hence why it's a cremesheen. For a nude it's really easy to wear, probably the easiest one I have. It's one of my favourite lipsticks ever and I've been particularly using it a lot this month.

MAC Lip Liner #Saunter
I hate putting limited edition products in favourites posts but I do believe you can get this on the House of Fraser website still. It's the perfect nude lipliner which can be used as a lip pencil as it's so opaque. It does cling to fine lines and dry areas so make sure you exfoliate and add loads of lip balm before. I like using this with Myth lipstick (practically the same colour) and then adding a pink gloss over the top like Sweetheart by NYX or even a Rimmel Apocalips lip laquer.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara
I got this with a magazine as a sample and I'm in love! It's marketed as the best mascara and the UK's most popular with 10 being sold every minute or something like that, so I always thought it was fake. So when it came with my favourite magazine as a sample I thought I'd give it a go and I'm so glad I did. It lengths the lashes perfectly and makes them look false, it doesn't give much volume which is what I'm normally used to but I can deal with that as it's so good. I'm really tempted to buy the full size even though it's nearly £20 and they run out so quickly! Ugh decisions...

Anyway they're my favourites, I hope you have a great forthcoming month!

xx

Getting that perfect bronzed look...

Couple updates before I start!

• My regular posting schedule will start soon!
• The other day I went to the Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour which was, hands down, one of the best experiences of this year so far. Being a huge Harry Potter fan (despite the fact the series has ended) it was absolutely amazing to visit. I'm thinking of doing a separate post sharing my experience as well as some photos; yay or nay?
• Lastly, wasn't the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations amazing? The highlight for me was at the concert on Monday when Charles called the Queen "mummy" in front of half a million people as well as the millions watching on TV. Ah, the royals.

Right, let's start...

My first ever post on this blog way back in February was a review on the NARS bronzer in Laguna which to this day is still my favourite bronzer. Yet I thought I'd update my thoughts and include some other bronzing tips that I have learnt, as well.

Choosing the right bronzer

There are many different types such as dewy, matte or shimmer and then it comes to what form you want the bronzer to be; gel, cream or powder. It's all personal preference! Here are some of my favourites:

Powder: For a bronzer with slight shimmer, I'd go for NARS Bronzing Powder is available in three shades: Laguna, a bronze shimmer, Casino, a dark brown with golden shimmer and Irrésistiblement, a golden terracotta shade. I used Laguna as it's perfect for adding warmth to the cheekbone without being left with a harsh, brown line. You can purchase the NARS powders here or here for £25. Another great option is Benefit Hoola for those who don't want any shimmer, available here for £23.50!

Cream or gel: Laura Mercier Bronzing Gel is the perfect choice for those with dry to combination skin as it won't look cakey. It's lightweight and you are able to control the amount of product used easily. At £26, it's expensive yet does the job well - get it here. For those who are looking for a cream bronzer, the best one I've tried is the Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel, available here for £30. It can be used as a make-up base, as a bronzer on top of makeup and on it's own. The only issue is that it only comes in one shade, so before investing get a sample from a counter. Other than that, it's great!

Tools you'll need

Obviously you don't apply bronzer with your fingers - imagine that; it would look like Bridget Jones when she steps out of the taxi to go to the posh dinner in the first movie! My favourite brush to use is the MAC 129 (available here for £26) as it deposits the perfect amount of colour and doesn't waste any, which I love. It is also a multi purpose brush described online as a powder/blush brush which I also use to apply a highlight. If you were to get one face brush from MAC, I'd definitely recommend this one!

If for any reason you apply to much bronzer and find it difficult to blend it out using the brush that has the bronzer on already, use a big fluffy powder brush (preferably that has some powder on) to blend around the edges. I love to use the Real Techniques powder brush, here as it practically covers my whole face in a couple seconds! Kabuki's work just as well.

Source: makeupsessed

Getting the perfect bronzed look

Start right below the cheek bone working your way back close to the hair line towards the temples, and then up to the top of the forehead. Repeat this on the other side.

• Remember to use a light hand as you don't want any harsh lines. 
• Start subtle and then gradually build up your desired intensity. It's easier to add bronzer, than remove. 
• With what's left on the brush, blend all the edges and bring it down your neck and onto your chest area.

I hope this was helpful. If you have any requests, let me know! I've just purchased MAC Harmony so I will do a comparison between that with NARS Laguna and Benefit Hoola, if you would find that useful. 

Suzanna xoxo