Review: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

I definitely prefer foundations to BB creams (that IS because I've tried so many and I haven't found one that lives up to my kind of coverage "standard") and for the longest time, I was looking for a good everyday foundation. I'm glad to say that I've found it! I even feel like I've burned through this bottle but I'll definitely buy another, it's a really great foundation. The RRP is £10.99 which is on the more expensive side of the drugstore but for a foundation, it's pretty standard.

I really do believe that there are real gems in your humble drugstore. I have never agreed with the mentality that as long as everything is expensive, high-end and luxurious, it's good. (If you think that way, you probably don't really love makeup, you love showing off!) But that's another post for another day...

This is from the Boots website with details of this foundation:

"Give your skin a boost of radiance with Bourjois’ Healthy Mix Serum Gel foundation with a vitamin-rich fruit therapy formula for an even complexion and an instant anti-fatigue result!

Its fresh and instant blending gel texture blends and glides onto the skin for an even, natural finish with no mask effect. Imperfections are erased, signs of fatigue are smoothed and the skin’s radiance is boosted for up to 16 hours*.

Its instant anti-fatigue vitamin-rich fruit therapy formula is made from a fruity blend of litchi, goji berries and pomegranates. Available in 6 radiance-boosting shades."

I do agree with the anti-fatigue result, but it doesn't cover my acne scarring unfortunately and to be honest I haven't really found any foundation that will 100% cover my scarring, except for my MAC pro-longwear concealer. I usually dislike dewy finish foundations because I have super oily skin, but with my trusty Milk of Magnesia primer (I will definitely do a post on that!) I love the finish that it gives- it looks as if your skin is glowing. Shade wise it's an almost perfect match to mine, I'm shade 53 Light Beige and it matches me better than my Bobbi Brown skin foundation does. I use this as my every day foundation when I'm going out or going to work and it usually lasts me about 6 hours no touch ups which is a big deal for me because my skin is quite oily. My only wish for this foundation is that they possibly come up with a formula for oiler skin and more choices colourwise as there were only lighter shades available.

Before and after application. Notice the red scar on my hand on the left and how it has decent coverage?

The Verdict:

Price: 4/5 - Packaging: 5/5 - Longevity: 4/5 - Pigmentation: 4/5

Review: Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser Review!

Let me start off by saying, I do NOT like to spend a lot on skincare. I hate it. Honestly, I don't see the point in spending over £10 for face lotion, or body lotion or any kind of lotion. I have yet to be swayed but in saying that, I don't think I ever will. So this cleanser being £14.25 (for a starter kit) did bug me. Even with the 25% discount for being a John Lewis partner, I found myself rolling my eyes at the counter. My current face wash is an Amie one that smells lovely and does the job just right, right? Don't listen to anything I just said. This cleanser is an absolute Godsend and I will definitely keep repurchasing this.

The blurb on the Liz Earle website: 

"Ideal for your morning or evening cleanse, this formulation works on every age and skin type, offering concentrated yet gentle cleansing power.

Our plant-based cleanser has a two-phase action. Phase one is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, it has a rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make up, even stubborn mascara.

Phase two is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin cloth to gently dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin.

Naturally active ingredients include eucalyptus and cocoa butter for smoother, cleaner skin."

From the first use, I fell in love... The smell was a very clean, not soapy but almost minty fragrance which wasn't harsh at all and it didn't sting my eyes. As I massaged my face I could see the foundation coming off so easily and even stubborn eyelash glue came off! The cloth, after being wrung, was soothing yet I could feel it exfoliating my skin and I was left with polished and smooth skin.

The verdict? I love it! Definitely recommend it and you should try it! It is a bit pricey but for what it does, it's definitely worth it. Two weeks on and my skin feels ten times healthier.

What the product looks like on the skin.

One of two muslin cloths given in the starter kit

So what about you? Do you share my hesitancy in buying expensive skin care products? Are they really worth it? Let me know!

Make Off: Benefit Watt's Up VS. The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer!

It's Time For A Make Off!

L to R: Watt's Up, Mary-Lou Manizer

(without flash and with flash)

~~~

Benefit Watt's Up!

PROS: I do like this product. I really do. It's great and creamy and a great pink undertone so if you're not keen on blush, it certainly adds a faint rosy glow so you don't look too washed out. Sponge blender somewhat came in handy. Fairly easy to blend and it's great if you have dry/normal skin as it doesn't highlight any dry areas whatsoever and it's quite buildable too. You get 9.4g of product which is a LOT, especially as it comes in cream form so you don't really need to use too much either.

CONS: As it's a cream based product, if you wear powder, it does have a slight tendency to move your powder and appear slightly cakey, which prevents it you from building it up as you'd just end up moving your base around. Better if you don't wear foundation but you still want a slight glow. I found the sponge tip blender alright to use but it's not very hygienic now is it? 

The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer

PROS: This highlighter has a more yellow undertone as opposed to a pink undertone, both are basically champagne but I find that this one is truer to the kind of color I'd want to use for my cheeks as it suits my undertone. This product is very easily buildable, regardless of whether you use a powder as a base or you don't have anything at all, it's easy to layer on and if you put too much? No worries, just powder on top of it! Whereas if you do that with Watt's Up, you risk caking it on and ruining your base. You get 8.5g of product which is not much less than Watt's Up and it's a powder base that also comes in a very handy compact (with a mirror too).

CONS: It is very shimmery. Sometimes, almost too shimmery. That obviously does depend on how much you layer it and how you apply it but it can be a bit too much. The undertone is more yellow too, so if you're not keen on blush, you may have to apply some to get some color on your face.

My overall winner is...

The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer!

It's just a better product in my opinion, especially because there is zero risk of caking it (because I obviously powder set my makeup) and the color is flawless with every skin tone!

Are there any similar products you'd like me to battle it out? Just post a comment and let me know!

Urban Decay NAKED 2 Palette - Review and Swatches!

Urban Decay NAKED 2 Palette

Price: 3/5 - Product: 5/5 - Longevity: 4/5 - Pigmentation: 4.5/5

I thought I'd do my first review on something very simple and well-known. This product is so popular, and it's definitely for a reason! I would say that it is my go-to, "default" palette when I don't really know what kind of makeup I want to do (that's probably because this is a more neutral palette and I'd normally go for a nude look when I don't know where to start).

I bought this palette last summer for £42 which, in comparison to MAC eyeshadows being a whopping £10 EACH - and that's the price for a pan refill - it is fairly cheap. It is expensive if you're a teenager or not that willing to splurge out a bit on makeup, but I would definitely recommend it as it'll last you quite a long time and the color payoff is amazing! It's worth having if you're a beginner, the selection of colours is perfect. The case is nice and solid, not plastic but not heavy and clunky either, I'll even admit I've dropped it about 3 times and I've had it sit still in the pan and it hasn't budged. With a decent primer it will last you the whole day, I've worn a look for 12 hours with no problem by the end of the night and even without a primer I haven't had a huge problem with creasing (unless you have oily skin of course) or fading. Here are the swatches of the palette - all swatches are left to right.

Foxy, Half-Baked, Bootycall, Chopper
(with flash)

Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol
(with and without flash)

Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout
(with and without flash) 

Welcome, I guess?!

I don't know.

Perhaps it's because I've been stuck at home with the flu for the past week.

I did this on a whim.

I don't even think this will get insanely popular, but hey!
Welcome to my blog, one of MILLIONS... I hope that someone out there finds the mind-vomit and make-up reviews etc. that I post in here useful.

:)

Current favorite?!

Thrift Shop - Macklemore

I've been so addicted to this song... I've been a fan of his since 'The Language Of My World', I really like this song, it's different to the stuff I've always heard him do but it's a nice feel good song.

Also, if you're interested in more of his music, listen to 'Inhale Deep' and 'Otherside' (they're my favorite songs of his!)

Some makeup looks I've done...