Good Bye Happy Light

I knew it was coming... I had that feeling that I was coming to the end of my Bourjois Happy Light  foundation bottle. This morning I unscrewed the pump, peered into the bottle and cried boohoo.  There, an entire face application that I couldn't reach at the bottom of the bottle. I scrapped and pumped away but it was no use.  She was gone.

Happy Light is the first foundation in a while that I have really loved, even though in all honesty I hated it to begin with.  She sat in a draw for quite some time ... unloved.  Then I took her out and we became friends.

She gives you luminous flawless skin.  A light natural look where you can still see your freckles peeking through.  I like to wear the shade porcelain which is the lightest shade.  I find it best to apply with my beauty blenders, as it helps the product just melt into the skin.

It's a great buildable foundation, you can layer it up to become a medium coverage.  It doesn't come across too matte or too dewy, it just looks natural like your skin - just slightly better.  I like to pop a light dusting of powder down my t-zone to help control my oily skin.  But on some days I just go with the flow.

I'm counting down the days till pay day when I can pop a new bottle in my shopping basket.

Happy Light retails for around £11.99 at Boots ... link HERE.

Ax

Get ready with me!

Want to see today's makeup?  This is the makeup I have been loving right now and I wore it today.  The products are listed below.

Products used (in order of use)

Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
MAC Nubile Paint Pot
Maybelline Fit Me foundation shade 120
Real Techniques stippling brush
Maybelline Fit Me Concealor shade 10
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder Shade 1
MAC 217 brush
Bourjois Blush shade Love Struck Rose
Sigma angled blush brush
Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Bone
Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Fawn
MAC 275 brush
Inglot eyeshadow number Double Sparkle 502
Sigma small tapered brush
Scandal Eyes Liner in Black
Shu Uemura Lash Curler
Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara in Very Black
Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Rendezvous 

Hope you enjoyed
Angela xox

September Favourites

Yes I'm slightly late but hey, you don't mind do you?  I'm always fashionably late.  Looking back on my blog I feel like it's been forever since I did a favourites post.  I've been all about the empties - which I do have a post on route for you.  Go me!

Practically every item I mention here does have an individual review on, with the exception of some.

Clarins Ever Matte ~ I had to mention this really, it was a must.  Ever since I bought this I have felt the urge to ditch all my other foundations.  I think this is the best foundation I have ever come across.  It has become my new and only bestest friend.  I have a full review here.

TopShop Nail Polish in Pool Party ~ A fun, bright colour I don't think this is a just for summer colour.  For a £5 polish the application is amazing.  You could easily get away with my coat.  And the lasting power is exceptional too!  Swatches here!

Stila Eyeshadow in Sun ~  I've had this lurking around for sometime but never tend to reach for it.  But I felt like I needed an eye catching shadow and opposed to usually reaching for Kitten I opted for this instead. Very neutral ...it's perfect for an all over the lid look, especially on a lazy makeup day.

MeMeMe Boho Balm in Pink Rouge ~ I took to Jersey with me and used it everyday.  As you can see from the below picture it is getting a lot of attention as it's a bit yucky looking.  I love the pink for the cheeks.  It gives a beautiful flush almost like a natural glow.  I have used the red/coral on my lips too which looks stunning.  See my review and swatches here.

TopShop Cheek Duo Dessert Sun ~  Soon to become a favourite blush this is a subtle colour.  It looks big and bold in the pan but trust me when I say it's much more delicate than it looks. If you want to see swatches see my review here.

MeMeMe Pink Rouge, TopShop Dessert Sun and Stila's Sun 

I have a few more favourites which I like to call tools...

Caudalie Beauty Elixir ~ A cult favourite and I can see why.  This just makes me feel good when I spritz it on my face.  It refreshes and makes pores smaller and it's a small bottle which you can take anywhere!

Real Technique Buffing and Contour Brushes ~ Part of the Core set I don't think I've really put these down lately.  The buffing brush is perfect for applying my Clarins, it buffs it in perfectly with no streaking.  For flawless foundation application I'd buy the set just for the buffing brush.  Now the contour brush is what I've been using to apply my MeMeMe cream blush,  it's the perfect size and so soft it makes applying cream blush effortless.  I totally recommend the Core Set.

Shu Uemera Eye Lash Curlers ~  I never used to be that fussed about curling my lashes but now I own the cult favourite eye lash curler I just cannot stop myself from curling every morning.  My curl does fall out slightly but that's probably my lashes or maybe my mascara not helping.... I'm not sure.  I think I need some eye lash curling tips.

I hope you enjoyed my favourites.  Also I hope you're having a good October so far!

Angela xox

Clarins Ever Matte Foundation Review

I believe I have a problem, I think the diagnosis should be called a foundation-aholic.  My motto about foundations at the moment is you have to kiss a few ‘frogs’ to find the perfect one.  After kissing some ugly frogs I think I may have found my prince!


I have popped my Clarins cherry as this is my first ever purchase from the brand and I feel like I have struck gold.  The non-pushy sales girl was so helpful when it came to trying out the Clarins foundation line up.  We talked and discussed my skin and found out its wants and needs and I was suited with the Ever Matte in the shade Ivory 103.  As she said to me this is perfect for you oily skinned girls and the shade matched me perfectly.  Almost so perfect you couldn’t actually see where she’d applied it, something which I love.

The bottle

The packaging is lovely, very sleek and I love the fact the tube isn't at all heavy.  It is a thin tube, unlike the big bulky bottles of MUFE HD and Benefit Hello Flawless.   It's very 
inconspicuous and handy to travel with.  I regularly put my makeup on whilst travelling, so a light bottle is perfect!  


The foundation itself is amazing.  It's very light in texture and when you apply it to the skin it gives you a beautiful flawless coverage.  It is matte from the moment you apply until you remove it.  The coverage is light to medium and you don't need much at all to cover the whole face.  What is great about this foundation is you feel like your skin can breathe.  It doesn't clog pores, it just feels like your own skin.  Exactly how a foundation should be!

Swatches

It is oil free which is great, as I don't want add oils to my already oily skin.  It contains SPF 15, which protects the skin from the harmful sun rays.  This foundation is know for its 'skin balancing' properties - helping with regulating oil production and purifying the skin.  It tightens the pores and absorbs oils on the skin like a sponge.  It also has a noticeable scent - which i like but some people may not.  You only notice it when you first apply it, then it disappears.

So have I found a new holy grail?  Would I repurchase this once I’ve finished the tube?  Definitely!  I will admit I am thinking this has replaced my beloved Make Up For Ever HD as holy grail foundation.  I recently dusted off my HD and used it and it felt thick on my skin.  I’m so used to this light feeling foundation now, it is something I really want to stick to.  Also the bonus is I can walk into a store and pick up Clarins in the UK unlike MUFE HD :-(


Have you ever tried the Clarins range?  What is your favourite foundation?


Angela xox

So long, farewell - Empties #2

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been working hard to use up half finished products.  A lot of my things be it bathroom or makeup products get used to a point then I have a tendency to move on to something else without finishing.  So its been a project called ‘sort it out Angela and de-clutter’.  So I thought I’d show you my recent empties as opposed to my monthly favourites . . .

 
I’ve managed to finished two of my favourite foundations,  there is no doubt in my mind that I will be repurchasing these two at some stage.  I think these are both great foundations especially my Bobbi Brown - Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation.  I wore this foundation for my wedding back in 2010 -  this is how much faith I have in this product.   This gives a medium to full coverage, lasts all day and is oil free with an SPF25.  This is the second bottle of this and I do love it.  I will repurchase this as I think it's fabulously long lasting foundation.


The NARS Sheer Glow is favourite again, it suits my skin perfect when it comes to the colour.  It gives you this dewy 'glow' which makes you look healthy.  My only annoyance with this is the lack of a pump.  Is it really that difficult to provide a pump?

This little pot is my Corrector from Bobbi Brown.  Who knew such a small product could make such a difference and save me from my under eye circles (I have a under eye video here if you wish to see how I apply it)  If you have trouble with dark circles I urge you to pop to a Bobbi Brown counter asap to get a colour match.  In reality the Bobbi Brown corrector is a relativity new investment for me and I only started using in 2010.  Wedding day again.  I do think to myself how did I live without you??  Would I repurchase?  I already have! Hehe

Before I ever discovered Estee Lauder Double Wear eyeliners, this Dior Waterproof Eyeliner in the shade Trinidad Black was my go to liner.  Lasts really well and is great on my upper water line.  Would I repurchase it?  Probably no, but if ever Estee Lauder were to discontinue their eyeliners I would then consider repurchasing.

I am a fan of Liz Earle when it comes to the award winning cleanse and polish.  But sadly when I comes to Gentle Face Exfoliator this doesn’t float my boat.  Don’t get me wrong I like this but I’m not in LOVE.  I feel like it only scratches the surface,  it doesn’t give me a deep enough exfoliation.  I just need something more abrasive.  Now if you have sensitive or delicate skin then I would recommend this as it is gentle enough.  Would I repurchase?  Sorry but no.

And finally my bubble bath/shower gel from The Body Shop in the scent Japanese Cherry Blossom.  I'm a big  floral fan and I bought this along with the fragrance and the body puree.  It turns out in my house hold I'm not the only floral lover . . . it turns out the hubby likes floral fragrances too!!  It’s a nice product but I much prefer the Rituals shower gel.  A no to repurchasing :-(

Hope you enjoyed, night night everyone!

Angela xox

MUFE HD Foundation Review

As promised.....I thought I'd start of the foundation reviews by talking about my most favourite.  Now if you haven't heard of it I'd be very surprised by that declaration, Make Up For Ever (or MUFE for short) HD foundation is quite a celebrity in the foundation world.

The bottle

I first bought mine in the Sephora they have at the Cite of Europe, France in 2010. I knew I wanted to buy it as I'd heard so many positive remarks about it - especially that it is rather good if you have oily skin.  I am the perfect candidate for that as I have oily combination skin which just has a tendency to get oily towards the end of the day in the T-zone area.

At around €32.00 (which is the same in £'s to as the Euro and the Pound are basically the same) it is not on the cheap side by far.  To me it is more in the category of high end department store than the high street. MUFE have a wide range of shades which is excellent. Whatever colour you want MUFE are more than likely going to have it. I currently use the shade #115 (about a MAC NW15 for reference) this shade for me is simply amazing. It matches my skin as though it was my skin colour in a foundation pot. I just love it and it is exactly as a foundation should be....your skin colour but better!

The foundation comes with a pump which is included in the price unlike some other brands. As for the packaging itself, it's simple. Black and clear plastic, it doesn't look high end but I think it looks sleek.

I recorded a video which is on my YouTube channel.  Basically shows me applying the foundation and what it looks like on my skin.  It also shows the consistency of the liquid on the back of my hand.  So if you want to have a peek here it is.

I'm going to review the Bobbi Brown perhaps as that is my number two.  Have you tried MUFE HD what are your thoughts???

Angela Xox

Foundation Collection...drum roll....

So I have a problem as you can see by the evidence provided....I do have some powdered and mineral foundations which I didn't picture....this lot is had enough!!! *pulls embarrassed face*

While most of these gather dust in my vanity draws not fulfilling their foundation purposes some of these are used to death and then some.

So I was thinking I had a worthy collection to actually do posts on each of them.  Probably starting from the most favourites which I use the most to the ones which are my least reached for items. 

I also dug these out as I'm going to try the whole 'shopping my stash' craze which is all the rage in the blogging and YouTube world.

Now which one should I start with.....? ;-D

Bye for now....
Angela xox