Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation - Review

I have been using Estée Lauder Double Wear for a while now and I like it. I love the coverage and how long lasting it is but I also find a few problems in it and I'm not sure that it is worth the hefty price tag. Before repurchasing I have decided to try a few alternatives starting with this one.

 

The first positive for this foundation is the price tag. At £12 this is less than half the price of Double Wear. I also much prefer the packaging which has a pump for easy application. 

The colour I have is Beige and is a great match to my skin tone. Rarely for a drugstore foundation, it is actually a better match than Double Wear which was slightly too yellowy for my complexion. 

This product applies well. I only need a small amount, less than two pumps to cover my face. I blend this with my fingers and it applies smoothly and doesn't cling to any areas. The foundation is really build-able and doesn't go cakey if you need more coverage. The coverage is good, I would say medium. The foundation is long lasting and doesn't shift all day.

This product claims to be 3 in 1: primer, concealer and foundation. Personally I use a concealer with this but it does a great job of covering blemishes due to how well it builds. Although this does apply well, I have been using a primer to help the foundation last longer; which I think it needs.

So far I am enjoying using this but I am not blown away. It leaves my skin smooth but I'm not sure that is how as much coverage or lasts as long as Double Wear.

Can you recommend a foundation for me? 

 

 

Bourjois Paris Bronzing Primer

I have loads of bronzers but I rarely use them. I get a bit scared of the dark colour against my fairly pale complexion and worry that I look slightly dirty when it is applied! I had originally popped into Boots to buy the chocolate block bronzer but saw this primer and decided to give it a go. A fellow blogger had told me this was super and I watched her use it in tutorials and decided it was for me!

This is a primer so it is designed to be applied as a base for foundation. It can also be used in its own. I dabbed a small amount around my face and blended it out with my finger tip. This primer smells amazing! It has a gorgeous, chocolatey fragrance and smells good enough to eat! It's blends easily and left my face with a lovely glow. Personally I wouldn't have worn that look on its own as it was too dark for my skin. I then applied my foundation over the top and was left with a smooth base and a lovely glow.

If you use fake tan like I do then this is definitely a product for you. I have used it under my foundation and mixed it with my foundation to change the shade when I have a tanned face. It works perfectly and means you don't have to purchase another shade of foundation. 

This primer is slightly more expensive than I would normally buy at £9.99 but a little goes a long way and I can see this product lasting me a long time. 

Have you tried this? 

 

Beyond Organic Skincare

Recently I have been getting really into natural skincare. The need to put artificial and possibly harmful products on our skin is becoming less and less as natural products are far more common on the market. Beyond make products that are 100% natural, vegetarian and not tested on animals. They are made in Cornwall in small batches which gives the company a really personal feel.

Ultra Radiance Age Defying Cleanser* £60 for 50ml

This cleanser is packed full of natural products including sweet blue lupin peptides with skin repairing properties that enhance wrinkle reduction. The cleanser uses gel to milk technology that washes off with water without containing any harsh chemicals. What I love about this cleanser is that it can be used in three ways. 

1. Massage on to dry skin using dry hands then rinse off with wet hands or a damp cloth.

2. Apply to wet face with wet hands and massage onto skin as the product instantly turns milky. Rinse face to remove.

3. Dispense one pump of gel onto a damp cotton pad and wipe over the face to freshen up on the go.

As you can see, this product is really versatile and just needs to be played with to see what works well for you. I have been using this on a dry face with dry hands and then rinsing off in the shower. I find the scent slightly overpowering but this product feels lovely on the skin and leaves a clear complexion and gorgeous smooth skin.

Ultra Radiance Age Defying Day Cream* £68 for 40ml

This 100% natural cream contains 91% certified organic ingredients. It boasts an impressive array of natural products including alpine rose which restores the skins resilience. The cream protects against harmful UV damage and can decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

The cream is dissimilar to any I have used before. It dispenses from an airless pump as a very buttery substance. The product appears slightly separated but this can be targeted by blending together with a finger tip. On first use I totally overused this product; applying 2 pumps to my face. 1 pump of this is plenty for your face and neck. The cream has a rather overpowering smell, like the cleanser and feels oily on the skin. When massaged into the skin it leaves a lovely, hydrated feel. Although this is marketed as a day cream I personally don't use this under makeup as I find its too oily for a base for my foundation. Instead I apply this in the evening and allow it to work over night, soaking into my skin and leaving a gorgeous smooth feeling. 

At 25 I don't have any wrinkles so I can't speak for those claims of the cream. However what I can say is that these products give a luxury feel, leaving smooth skin without using any harmful ingredients.

For more information or to purchase these products see the website http://www.beyondorganicskincare.com/

 

 *PR sample  

 

Peppy Galore Face Moisturiser and Body Mousse - Review

Natural cosmetics for ladies who don't take crap.

Peppy Galore is created by Jessi Fray, a former singer of a rock band who understands creativity and self-expression. The products are made from natural ingredients and don't include any nasties such as parabens or silicones. The packaging has a fun, cute feel to it and the products have gorgeous natural fragrances.

Peppy Galore Star Face Moisturiser for Normal Skin* £12.50

What the company say: 

The Star Face Moisturiser was created to nourish and protect your skin against the damaging effect of sun and pollution, so that your skin stays soft, healthy and wrinkle free. This moisturiser is made with olive, avocado and apricot kernel oils, which are natural sunblocks and packed with vitamins and antioxidants.

The delicious scent of Star Face Moisturiser comes from organic lavender and rose geranium essential oils. They also improve circulation as well as balance the skin’s oil production.

I applied this moisturiser after cleansing my face and the oils allow it to be applied really easily, smoothing across the skin. This product has an instantly moisturising feel but without being too greasy or heavy on the skin. I tend to use a matte moisturiser in the morning so have been using this in the evening or after a bath. The product smells gorgeous, really natural and has a lavender scent. If I apply this before bed I can still feel the benefit of it in the morning; a real long lasting hydration. I love the quirky packaging and that the moisturisers all have cute names, Star, Diva and Rebel.

Herbs De Provence Body Mousse* £15.95 for 100g

What the company say: 

Herbs are funny things. They are sharp and delicious at the same time, which is why they can really awaken your senses. Something that comes handy on a Monday morning, for example. Herbs de Provence Body Mousse is infused with rosemary, lavender and peppermint essential oils so its reviving and soothing at the same time. And peppermint gives it just a bit of extra zing.

Herbs de Provence Body Mousse will also put a bit of bounce on your skin. It’s made of butters and oils only, so it’s perfect for dry and dull skin. It contains no water, thickeners, preservatives or additional fragrances, so you’re getting your beauty kicks from 100% natural ingredients. 

This body mousse is unlike any other body lotion I have used in its texture. The mousse is much firmer and stiffer than I imagined and means that a little goes a long way. I took a pea sized amount per leg to work into my knee and ankle and that really was enough. This is really deeply moisturising and smells just as gorgeous as the facial moisturiser. The affects of this are long lasting and the concentrated consistency makes this perfect for extra dry areas.

For more information or to purchase visit http://peppygalore.com

*PR sample 

 

 

The Konjac Sponge Co. - French Pink Clay

The Konjac Sponge Co. Added French Pink Clay for Tired, Damaged or Devitalized* £6.99

The Konjac Sponge Co. make 100% natural vegetable sponges for face and body. They are colour free and biodegradable and claim to be kind to your skin and the environment. The sponges are made with konjac fibre from the root of the Amorphophallus  plant. This plant is naturally moisture rich and alkaline which balances the acidity of the skin. 

To use this sponge you allow sponge to fully absorb water and then gently massage over the skin. The sponge needs to be rinsed after use but not wrung dry, just squeeze the water. The string on the sponge is used to hang it up to dry in a ventilated place. When dry the sponge is hard. 

I have been using this sponge for a few weeks now and put off writing this review because I hadn't fully decided how this was going to fit into my skincare routine. 

This sponge can be used with our without cleanser and can be used on its own to remove makeup. I wear a fair amount of makeup and found this wasn't doing a great job of removing it. I didn't want to use a cleanser on this sponge because I didn't want to taint the natural fibres with product. 

It took me a few days to work out where this product would fit into my routine, but now that I have, I am really happy with it. The netted texture of the sponge makes it a great exfoliator but not harsh like many scrubs. I have been using this every morning after cleansing and it leaves my skin beautifully smooth and soft. When I apply my makeup I find that my face is a really even base and my foundation smoothes on really well. 

This sponge can be purchased from the website at http://www.konjacspongecompany.com

*PR Sample

 
 
 

 

Real Techniques Blush Brush - Review

I have had the Real Techniques Core Collection for a while and I absolutely love it. I use the brushes everyday and I honestly can't fault them. The core collection is great for the basics and now I am going to pad out my collection, starting with the blush brush.

The blush brush is hand-cut to contour and define cheeks for flawlessly blended, high definition results.

Like the core collection, this is a really high quality brush. I have been using it to apply blush to my cheeks and find its excellent at ensuring you don't overload your skin with product. The tapered end means its effect for precise application.

As with all the Real Techniques brushes, the name of the brush is printed on the handle. The head is a great size, much bigger than my other blush brushes. At £9.99 this is slightly more expensive than the core collection works out per brush but definitely worth the money.

Do you have this brush? 

 
 

 
 
 

 

MUA Trio Eyeshadow - Pink Sorbet

As I have moaned about several times before, the Superdrug in my area is useless. One of its biggest downfalls is that it doesn't stock any of the MUA Pro items, just the £1 range. Whenever I am visiting another town I always pick up some MUA items and this eyeshadow trio was purchased on a recent trip to Glasgow. 

I am a big fan of the MUA eye shadows and particularly like how pigmented they are. I have a few of the singles and 2 palettes but this is my first trio. I have read several reviews of this product and find many bloggers think this isn't as pigmented as the other shadows but I have to disagree.

These colours are gorgeous. There is a dark, medium and light meaning its perfecting for smoking out. I find the pigmentation really great and can't see why people would think otherwise. The shades are shimmery so obviously don't give the colour pay-off of a matte shadow but the colours are strongly visible and long lasting.

Overall I am really happy with the product and will definitely purchase another trio shadow in the future!