Oily skin girls, you MUST try this!

I have discovered something AMAZING thanks to YouTube Goss...and it really works!

I find that it doesn't matter how much or how little foundation I apply, whether it be sheer or full coverage, it still breaks up on my skin within a few hours of wear...so this simple step has made my make up routine last all day with not one touch up!!

The key...apply powder before your foundation!

I know, I know this goes against everything we've ever been told, but trust me it will change your life.

Start off by doing your normal morning skin care routine. Recently I have been using Avon's Clear Skin Professional Deep Pore Cleansing Scrub and I LOVE IT! It contains both salicylic & glycolic acid which has transformed my skin.

I follow this with a few spritz of Boots Botanics 100% Organic Rosewater Toner which is amazing at removing the last traces of dirt & tighten pores. I suffer with quite enlarged pores & i find this diminishes the appearance of the fantastically!

Lastly, I apply a oil free moisturiser or mattifying lotion to help keep my oil at bay.

NOW FOR THE MAGIC...

I have been using the ELF Tone Correcting Powder as my base, however, and pressed or loose powder will do. 
Apply a very fine dusting, just enough to lightly cover the skin and allow to rest for a few seconds.





The simply buff & blend in your foundation as you would do normally.  Set again with a setting powder or the same powder you used previously and you are ready for a full days make up.

I have tried this technique with all types of foundation, coverage and consistencies and it has never failed me.  It never looks cakey or heavy & just creates a long wearing base.

I hope you oily skin gals give it a try and even if you if you have other skin types, this will work too!

Hannah xxx

Drugstore haul!

I had a splurge on high end products, so I decided to hit my local drugstore and stock up on some new products.

My first purchase was my holy grail foundation...Revlon Colorstay.  I got this in the shade Early Tan, in the Combination/Oily formula, as I still seem to have a bit of colour from my holiday & the 'better late than never' Summer we had in the UK.  This seems a lot thicker in consistency than my usual 'Sandy Beige' shade, however, this doesn't bother me as I know the product works well with my skin & lasts for ages!!

While I was there I was drawn to the Revlon 'Nearly Naked' powder'.  I got this in 'Medium', again because of my slight tan, but I must say I LOVE this! I'm not a huge fan of the liquid foundation purely because of the longevity on my skin, the finish is gorgeous though so I thought I would try it again with this powder & see if I have any luck because I really want to make it work.  The powder is almost creamy & has the consistency of a real high end product...definitely a must have powder!

I finally try out the Revlon Lip Butters.  I have always been reluctant to purchasing these purely because of the price....£7.99 for a glorified tinted lip balm always seemed steep, but I gave in as these 2 shades really stood out to me.  The first is 'Wild Watermelon' which is a newly released shade.  It's a sheer red/coral with just the right amount of colour pay off for it to be extremely wearable. The second is 'Juicy Papaya' which is a coral and a good dupe to Benefit's Hydra-Smooth Lipcolor in 'Lip Service'.  These are gorgeous!! The colour pay off is amazing & really pigmented.  They are so moisturising & it literally feels like your rubbing butter onto your lips.  I love the packaging as I do all of Revlon lip products.

I have been after a new translucent setting powder for a while.  I have always gravitated towards my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte which I love but I just felt like I wanted to try more which available on the market.  I done a bit of research and 'One Heck of a Blot' by Soap & Glory came out top. This pressed powder is completely translucent with no colour to it at all, just a finely milled & pressed white powder.  It comes with a powder puff, however, I use my Real Techniques Powder Brush to apply this to my T-Zone to set my foundation.  It's phenomenal.  Whether or not it replaces my Rimmel Stay Matte is yet to tell, but this product is well worth the hype.

Lastly is a skin care item...'L'Oreal Skin Perfection Advanced Correcting Serum'.  This is perfection in a bottle, literally! I apply this pink serum to my face morning & night and it has made my skin tone more even, reduced the appearance of my pores & has left my skin so soft! Its also a great base for make up if you don't need or don't like primers.  This is definitely a favourite in my skin care routine & I will definitely be re-purchasing this!

High end make up haul!!

I decided to have a splurge on some products I have been after for a while.  Debenhams had 10% off every item so I took full advantage!

I firstly hit MAC for two products which have been on my wish list for far too long...a loose pigment & a foundation.

MAC 'Tan' Pigment

I brought the loose pigment in 'Tan'.  This as I've said before has so many uses.  I love to sweep this all over the lid and use a soft/light brown in the crease as a transition color.  I will then add a small amount of pigment under the lower lash line and a light shimmery colour in the tear duct for a gorgeous subtle but glamourous eye look.  Another use for this pigment is to add a tiny amount to a few pumps of foundation to give a luminous look to your skin.  This wont change or alter the shade of the foundation, it simply adds a dewy effect which is perfect for the summer months.

The foundation I purchased was Studio Fix+ powder foundation.  I was undecided which to go for, the liquid form or the powder.  I went for the powder purely because of my oily skin & thought this could double up as a foundation on days where I don't want or need much coverage or use it over a liquid foundation to either add extra coverage or to set my foundation.  I got this in the shade NC35 as I still have a slight tan from the summer, however, I think I will go back and purchase this in the shade NC20 as so far I love it!!

The next concession I visited was Benefit. I absolutely LOVE this brand and it's the packaging that draws me in every time.

Benefit 'Rockateur'

I love the bronzer 'One Hot Minute' and couldn't believe it when a employee told me it was being discontinued! However, rather than stocking up on that I decided to try the new blush, 'Rockateur'.  This is simply beautiful.  It has the look of the perfect rose gold with lots of shimmer, however, the shimmer transfers onto the skin beautifully without making you look like a disco ball! I love applying this on the apples of my cheeks and slightly up along my cheek bones once I've applied bronzer, it looks amazing!  This blush, as always, comes with a mini brush which I usually dispose of, however, this one is slightly thicker & domed shaped which applies the product perfectly.

Benefit 'Lip Service'

The lipsticks have never caught my eye but while we were there my Mum picked up a 'Hydra-Smooth Lipcolor' in the shade 'Lip Service' which I just had to have! Was slightly in my comfort zone, and still in the summer trend, but it was a gorgeous wearable coral. The colour pay off is fabulous, but the finish is sheer & extremely moisturising, comparable to Revlon Lip Butters.  What is a little different though as like a foundation this can be built up to a medium-full lip coverage.  Again the packaging was spot on. It's a 'twist-up' bullet, like that of the Clinique Chubby Sticks.  The longevity isn't great and if you are on a budget then Juicy Papaya in the Revlon Lip Butter range is the one for you.

I have to use primers to keep my make up from slipping as the day goes on.  There are a few I like such as Garnier's 5 Second Miracle Blur, however, I don't find this minimises my large pores as much as I would like.  So, i purchased the UK's No.1 primer 'Porefessional'.  This silicone product is a flesh coloured formula which glides on beautifully and leaves the skin feeling smooth.  I am very impressed with is product & it's fast becoming a product I can no longer live without. 

Bare Minerals.  I have such a love hate relationship with this product.  I've tried both the original & matte formulas and always preferred the original.  However, since having the children & my oily complexion becoming so much worse, I decided to give the matte formula another go.  I got it in the shade 'Fairy Medium' which I always felt was too pink for my skin tone, however, this is the colour I have been matched too on various occasions.
The coverage is medium to full, but I find that a lot has to be applied if you are after a full coverage look.  With it being a mineral powder I don't find that it goes cakey on the skin or blotchy as the day goes on, but I do feel like it fades after a few hours.  I'm going to try using a new brush with it & see if my experience improves but right now I can still say that it's not a foundation I reach for as my 'go to' product.

Summer proof makeup

This heat is my worst nightmare for my makeup.  Having oily skin & with the weather being so hot in the UK at the moment, it's a recipe for disaster for the staying power of my makeup.  If you have oily skin then you'll know my frustration that no sooner have I applied my makeup, the humidity has caused me to sweat, produce excess oils resulting in my blush ending up near my lips & foundation turning blotchy!!

I have decided to produce a quick checklist for all you oily skin gals or just anyone who wants to ensure their makeup lasts all day in this summer heat.

1.  After cleansing & toning, use an oil free moisturiser or mattifying lotion.  If you have dry skin don't be afraid to use these, just be sure to use one which doesn't dry out the skin even more.  Boots do an amazing mattifying lotion.

2.  Apply a primer.  Concentrate mainly on the T-zone area (forehead, nose & chin)  I find that during the day my make up starts to break up between my eyebrows, around my nose, around my mouth & on my chin so these are the areas I tend to concentrate on.  A primer will not only prolong the makeup, but it will also act as a barrier between the makeup & the skin & therefore will help protect the skin from breaking out if you have oily acne prone skin.

3.  Use an oil free, gel or waxed based foundation. Using an oil free foundation will have mattifying properties which will help to keep your skin shine free.  Using a wax or gel foundation will mean that as the day goes on & the makeup starts to move & separate on the skin, you can simply blend the product back into place for a longer staying power.  Alternatively, use a BB cream for a lighter, less heavy finish but again ensure its oil free for best results.

4.  Use a powder bronzer and/or blusher.  Adding cream products to the skin run the risk of making your skin look shiny & oily.  Also they won't hold up on the skin as long as a powder product.  For a sunkissed glow, apply bronzer to the highest points of the face where the sun would naturally hit.  This would be the perimeter of the face (forehead, temples & jawline) and on the cheeks either on the cheekbone up towards the temples for an all over glow or under the cheekbone to contour the face.  Simply add a blusher that compliments your skin tone to the apples of your cheeks.

5.  If you want to add dimension to the skin or add a dewy effect, simply add a powder highlight down the bridge of the nose, on top of the cheekbones, on the cupids bow (upper lip) & even on the brow bone (under the eyebrow).  Just be aware that if you have extremely oily skin this can make the skin look shiny & oily so just on the cheekbones & brow bone would be recommended.

6.  Finally you need to set the makeup to ensure it lasts all day.  This can be done with a powder either just on the T-zone, or all over for a matte finish and you can use a fixing spray.  A few squirts of this product and its holds the makeup in place...like a hairspray for the face!  This can be used in conjunction with a setting powder or can be used individually.

Touch ups may still be required throughout the day just to maintain a flawless finish.  Blotting papers are amazing & handy just to pop in your handbag when you're on the go.  Simply dab these over the face when you start to feel oily & they will remove any excess oils while keeping the makeup intact & in place.  MAC do an incredible blotting powder, along with Soap & Glory, which is a translucent compact, again ideal for travel, which can be used to blot on any oily patches throughout the day.  This may lead to the makeup becoming cakey looking.  A great product for that is MAC's Fix+ spray.  Although this doesn't prolong the makeup in terms of staying power, in my opinion, it does transform the skin back to a natural finish if it starts to become cakey.

I hope this has helped

Hannah xxx

Drugstore make up tutorial - Arabian Nights...bronzed & glowing

This look I think is perfect for a night out on a hot Summer's day or as an evening holiday look.

The bronzed sunkissed look can be a staple, and then you can experiement depending on how dramatic you want the look to be.

I have gone for a gold , black & brown smokey eye, however, you can easily tone this down if you want a flawless, bronzed, everyday look.

Firstly, I moisturised and added a primer to ensure the make up lasts all day & also the primer acts as a barrier between my skin & the make up to help prevent any break outs occuring.

I then went ahead and started with my eyes.  I added a touch of concealer to the lids as a base for the shadow to stick too. Alternatively, you could use a cream shadow base such as a MAC Paintpot. If you have oily lids you may want use a primer to ensure it stays in place.

I used an Astor palette for the eyes which I brought from 'Fragrance Direct' in 'Smokey'.  I took the gold shadow and applied this all over the lid in a patting motion to pack the colour on.  I also put this under the lower lash line along the nearest half to the inner eye.  I then applied the dark brown, slightly less shimmery, shadow in a 'V' shape on the outer section of the lid and whatever was left over I applied in the crease to add dimension.

I used a clean fluffy blending brush to blend out the colours so there were no obvious lines as to where the colours started & finished & to create a seamless smokey eye.  I took the darker shadow again on the outer half of the lower lash line.  Using Maybelline's gel liner in 'Black Gold' i created a fine line along the upper lash line with a flick to emphasise the eye & to make it more 'feline' looking.  This is optional & you can still achieve an amazing look if you prefer not to use liner.  I also applied this to the top & bottom water line for a more dramatic look.  Again, this is optional.

I next moved onto my base.  Using L'oreal True Match foundation in 'W3 Golden Beige', I buffed this into the skin using circular motions with the Real Techniques 'Buffing Brush' which I love for a flawless finish.  I then applied Collection's 'Lasting Perfection' concealer in 'Light' to cover any redness or blemishes and blended out with my finger tip.  Due to my oily skin I have to set my foundation with a powder.  For extra coverage I used Maybelline's 'Fit Me' powder in 'Sandy beige'.


I filled in my brows using the Real Techniques Eyebrow Brush and my MUA 'Brow Kit' palette and mixed the dark & the medium browns for the perfect shade.
This palette is amazing and at under £5 it includes 2 brow shades, a brow highlight shade and a setting gel.  It also includes a travel pair of tweezers & a double ended broush one for brow filling & the other to set.

Using the Real Techniques Blush Brush, I contoured my cheek bones using Maybelline's Terra Sun in 'Tiger'. This is a lovely, almost matte bronzer, so ideal for contouring.  I sweeped this up my temples, down the sides of my nose, on my forehead & my jaw line.  Basically, everywhere where the sun would naturally hit & therefore to ensure a natural look.

I curled my eyelashes & added a few coats of Maybelline 'The Falsies Flare' mascara in black which is my favourite lengthening masacra & also adds a suble flare & helps the lashes keep a natural curl.

For an inner tear duct highlight, I used the white shade from the eueshadow palette I used on the lids.  This is very comparable to MAC's 'Nylon'.  I applied this to my brow bone, down the bridge of my nose, on the cupids bow & above the cheek bone.

For the lips I used 2 products.  I firstly applied Bourjois Rouge Edition lipstick in 'Beige Trench' then to add a sultry look and topped with Revlon's 'Sunset Peach' lipgloss.

The look is then complete!

All these steps can obviously be modified to suit your taste and products can be altered depending on what you have in your make up collection.

Hope you love the look :-)

Hannah xxx

Summer Shade lipsticks

Winter is my favourite time of the year.  Snuggled on the sofa under a furry blanket, warming your hands on a hot mug of tea with candles as the only source of light...however, Summer allows us to experiment with colour & I love to wear natural, nude tone make up with a pop of colour by wearing a bold, out there lip product!
I think this trend is quickly catching on with the likes of Nicki Minaj & Rhianna developing bright, statement lipsticks for MAC.

Lipsticks can really change a persons mood, make an outfit more current or simply just a way to express your personality, tastes & just experiment.

Over the years, I have really started to drift away from the safe nude lips & venture into a whole new world of colorful lips & once our summer in the UK arrives, I cant wait to start rocking these lip colours :-)

Firstly is an MUA product which are cheap as chips! This lipstick will set you back a whole pound, yes, 100p! Its in shade 61, Nectar and it's a gorgeous sheen, orange, coral with a slight wet look.  The colour pay off is good, although the longevity of the product is not the best so this is definitely one you would need to pop into your handbag to top up during the day.


The second is a Clinique Chubby Stick in Mega Melon.  This is a sample size which is why it's so stumpy! The colour is a very muted berry colour, with a hint of brown & would look amazing on mature ladies who wanted a pop of colour but for it also to be subtle.  This is so moisturising on the lips & tastes good too! It comes in a range of amazing colours, many of which are ideal for the spring/summer seasons.

The next is by my favourite lipstick brand, Barry M.  This colour I think is one of there most popular due to it's likeness to MACS's Candy Yum Yum and has been branded it's best dupe and its the shade Shocking Pink. Read my review on on this lipstick using the following link: http://allthingsbeautyxxx.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/sleek-lipstick-shade-52-shocking-pink.html)
This is a matte lipstick but not drying on the lips & it doesn't flake either.  The pigmentation is amazing & the staying power is also very good for a £4.99 lipstick.  This would look amazing with a slick of BB cream, bronzer, a few strokes of mascara, worn with a summer dress...summer perfection!

Lastly is a nude shade for you who want to add something to the lip but nothing to dramatic.  This shade is called Beige Trench.  The lipstick has slight blue undertones so it's not going to make your lips look dead or concealed.  Instead it's going to add a sheen of nude, lip colours just better!  This is great as an everyday lipstick & can be made to look more dramatic by lining the lips with a corresponding lip pencil to add definition for a night out.

I think this is a good range as there's something for everyone!

Let me know your favourite summer lip products :-)

Hannah xxx

Boots haul!!

I thought I would do a haul as there are so many amazing products in drugstores at the moment.  What was meant to be a mini haul soon turned into a BIG haul!!

I'm looking to do a high end haul soon so look out for that one on my blog!

Firstly, there were a few products which had caught my eye from Garnier.  Since trying there new formula BB cream & being very impressed, I have been desperate to try more of their skincare/cosmetic range, so I picked up 3 products.

Firstly was the new '5 Second Perfect Blur Primer'. It costs £12.99 for 30ml of product but currently has £3.00 off (making it £9.99).  It has a moose/foam texture so a little goes a long way.  Its pink in colour & instantly evens out my skin tone.  It also helps 'blur' the appearance of shine, wrinkles, fine lines & pores.  This primer is amazing! Literally within 5 seconds my skin looks flawless.  On good days I apply this, a touch of concealer where needed & I'm good to go which is ideal for lazy, on the go days where you don't want to wear foundation but want your skin to look polished.  With it being oil free, its perfect for all skin types.

The second was another new product launched recently by Garnier, which is the 'Skin Naturals Moisture Match' range.  All skin needs moisturising, whatever the skin type.  Garnier have consequently created 5 moisturisers to complement your skin type.  I have the green one 'Shine be Gone' which is a mattifying light cream.  These retail at £5.99 for 50ml and are also currently on offer as selected Garnier products are buy 1 get one free. Like the '5 Second Perfect Blur Primer', it has a whipped texture & is cooling on the skin without having a drying effect.  It's not greasy on the skin and is absorbed almost instantly and claims to mattify all day.  I am not convinced it does, but the length of time I need my skin mattified for, this product works perfectly!  The Green Tea extract it has protects the skin too which is always a bonus!


The other 4 in the range are:
- Goodbye Dry for dry skin to very dry skin
- Start Afresh for normal to dry skin
- Wake Me Up for dull skin (oil free)
- Protect & Glow for normal skin (oil free)

Lastly from Garnier was the 'BB Cream Skin Perfector Eye Roll-On' in 'Light' as I like to have a highlighted under eye area to brighten the skin.  This is £9.99 for 7ml of product but again has £3.00 off (making it £6.99).

I was so impressed with the BB cream that this was a must have!  It reduces the appearance of dark circles and bags, conceals signs of fatigue, blurs fine lines, illuminates & hydrates.  Like all under eye concealers, this will crease so you may want to powder over this once applied to help reduce and creasing.  This has great coverage and glides on & blends perfectly.  I have dark circles under my eyes and this does cover them instantly & has a good lasting power once powdered & set.  The product can be hard to get out sometimes so a good shake & squeeze is needed as the roll-on ball can sometimes get stuck.

Next, I brought 2 products from.  This isn't a range I would usually reach for as I tend to use & prefer Simple but I thought these products looked good.  The first was the 'Nivea Visage Tinted Moisturising Creme' which cost £3.65 for 50ml.  This has all the benefits of the standard moisturiser but with a touch of colour to give sheer coverage and to brighten the skin making it look more awake & radiant.  The colour 'Natural' seems to be the only one & is relatively dark & pinky.  If you have really fair skin then I would stay clear unless you mix it with a lighter shade foundation for more coverage or mixed with a regualr moisturiser to tone down the tint.  It states to be suitable for all skin types, however, I do add a bit of translucent powder over the top to set it & keep the shine at bay.

The second product is the 'Daily Essentials Hydration Primer' for normal/combination skin.  There is also a formula for dry/sensitive skin.  This retails at £5.99.  The packaging is a glass container which is the only downside as it's very heavy and not ideal for travelling.  It is a light gel cream which has the benefits of a moisturiser and primer in one. It absorbs instantly, priming your skin ready for make up application so is the perfect base.  I still like to apply and mattifying product over the top of this due to my oily skin.
I like to use this mainly as a moisturiser rather than a primer but if I want a make up free day this is lovely to wear alone to help maintain a shine free complexion.

Next is a product that's been on my wishlist for a while...'Vichy Dermablend Corrective Fluid'.  30ml of product will cost £15.50 and I purchased it in shade '25-Nude'.  There are 5 shades with Nude being the 2nd lightest.

This full coverage, but light foundation gives a gorgeous flawless finish without feeling like a mask.  It specialises in covering redness or scarring & can be sheered out to give a lighter coverage by applying with a dampened beauty blender or sponge.  Due to the pigmentation & coverage potential, this foundation is buildable & can double up as a concealer to cover blemishes & even dark under eye circles.  It offers 12 hours of wear, reaching 16 hours if used in conjunction with the Dermablend Setting Powder.  It blends beautifully and sets to a satin/matte finish giving a natural, flawless complexion.

I love La Roche Posay's skincare range & I've been looking for a natural setting spray suitable for irritable & sensitive skin.  I saw this 'Thermal Spring Water' spray which cost £7.50 for 150ml and saw that it helps to soothe the skin.  I spray this onto my face once my make up has been applied & I find that it diminishes the appearance of the powdery look that I get once I've set my foundation & restores the complexion to a natural finish.  It's fragrance free & leaves the skin feeling refreshed and revived.


Hannah xxx