Saturday, March 31, 2012

What's New: Nars, Real Techniques, MAC, Organix, etc.

What's New: Nars, Real Techniques, MAC, Body Shop, Organix and L'Oreal Products..




I felt like I hadn't made any purchases in a while so last week I decided to go into town and I guess treat myself to a few things. Uni is very stressful at the moment and like most of us, shopping never fails to make me happy. As always, I thought I'd show you the beauty products that I came back with.


The Body Shop Tea Tree Range 

For some reason, my skin has been acting up a little recently and I had previously gone into The Body Shop with my friend the week before last as she had heard good things about their Tea Tree range; the 'Blemish Fade Night Lotion' in particular. Initially I was going to wait until she had tried it out for a while and then get her feedback on it but I was feeling impatient and decided to head back and purchase them for myself. At the time they were doing a deal along the lines of "Buy 3 skincare items and get £5 off". I can't remember the exact offer to be honest but I ended up going for 'Blackhead Exfoliating Wash', 'Skin Clearing Toner' and of course the 'Blemish Fade Night Lotion'.


Blackhead Exfoliating Wash - £5.50
Skin Clearing Toner - £7.00
Blemish Fade Night Lotion - £8.00 


Organix

At the moment, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration is just not doing it for me so I wanted to try out something else. I love argan oil so I picked up the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner and also their Coconut Milk Conditioner as Boots were doing a 3 for 2 offer. After purchasing these, I came home to read a lot of negative reviews on these so I have been reluctant to try them out =/ . If you use these, please let me know what you think!


Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo - £1.99
Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner - £1.99
Coconut Milk Conditioner - £1.99


Nars Casino Bronzer
Okay so if you're like me and you were excited about the good weather we've been having recently, you would agree that it's time to get glowing! I actually ordered this from ASOS whilst they were doing their 25% off discount for students. I had never seen this bronzer in person so I bought this based on images floating on Google hoping that it would be dark enough to show up on my skin tone. Unfortunately not! It doesn't show up how I would like it to but you can see some of the subtle shimmer. I wouldn't advise anyone of my skin tone or darker to go for this shade (which I think is the darkest NARS goes).


Casino Bronzer - £24.00


MAC Sweet As Cocoa Blush



I've wanted this blush for a long time but avoided buying because I thought it was very similar to MAC Format Blush which I own. I still think it is actually but I would say 'Sweet as Cocoa' has more red tones. This blush really complements women of colour and is a great everyday blush or for those who are just starting to wear blush. 


Sweet as Cocoa Blush - £17.50


L'Oreal Super Liner - Black Lacquer

So I've used L'Oreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss, Super Liner Perfect Slim and now I have purchased the Super Liner Black Lacquer. Aimlessly walking around Superdrug as I usually do, I decided to buy the Super Liner in Black Lacquer. No reason in particular, just wanted to try something new! 


Super Liner Black Lacquer - £6.49


Real Techniques



Core Collection
Blush Brush


Stippling Brush


Last but not least, I wanted to show you the Real Techniques brushes that I purchased after so many weeks of deliberation. With them on a 3 for 2 offer, how could I resist?!
I've heard and read nothing but great reviews on these brushes by makeup artist Samantha Chapman from Pixiwoo on YouTube, so I just had to take advantage of the offer that Boots had on. I'm not sure if they've still got their 3 for 2 offer on but if they do, make sure you definitely think about getting these brushes. I paid 30-something pounds for 6 decent quality brushes! I chose to get the Core Collection, Blush Brush and Stippling Brush. They are all very soft, especially the blush brush! There are other brushes/sets to choose from though. If you haven't heard about the Real Techniques brushes make sure you Google or YouTube them!


Core Collection - £21.99
Blush Brush - £9.99
Stippling Brush - £11.99


Do you own any of these products? If so, let me know what you think of them




What's New: Nars, Real Techniques, MAC, Organix, etc.

What's New: Nars, Real Techniques, MAC, Body Shop, Organix and L'Oreal Products..




I felt like I hadn't made any purchases in a while so last week I decided to go into town and I guess treat myself to a few things. Uni is very stressful at the moment and like most of us, shopping never fails to make me happy. As always, I thought I'd show you the beauty products that I came back with.


The Body Shop Tea Tree Range 

For some reason, my skin has been acting up a little recently and I had previously gone into The Body Shop with my friend the week before last as she had heard good things about their Tea Tree range; the 'Blemish Fade Night Lotion' in particular. Initially I was going to wait until she had tried it out for a while and then get her feedback on it but I was feeling impatient and decided to head back and purchase them for myself. At the time they were doing a deal along the lines of "Buy 3 skincare items and get £5 off". I can't remember the exact offer to be honest but I ended up going for 'Blackhead Exfoliating Wash', 'Skin Clearing Toner' and of course the 'Blemish Fade Night Lotion'.


Blackhead Exfoliating Wash - £5.50
Skin Clearing Toner - £7.00
Blemish Fade Night Lotion - £8.00 


Organix

At the moment, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration is just not doing it for me so I wanted to try out something else. I love argan oil so I picked up the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner and also their Coconut Milk Conditioner as Boots were doing a 3 for 2 offer. After purchasing these, I came home to read a lot of negative reviews on these so I have been reluctant to try them out =/ . If you use these, please let me know what you think!


Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo - £1.99
Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner - £1.99
Coconut Milk Conditioner - £1.99


Nars Casino Bronzer
Okay so if you're like me and you were excited about the good weather we've been having recently, you would agree that it's time to get glowing! I actually ordered this from ASOS whilst they were doing their 25% off discount for students. I had never seen this bronzer in person so I bought this based on images floating on Google hoping that it would be dark enough to show up on my skin tone. Unfortunately not! It doesn't show up how I would like it to but you can see some of the subtle shimmer. I wouldn't advise anyone of my skin tone or darker to go for this shade (which I think is the darkest NARS goes).


Casino Bronzer - £24.00


MAC Sweet As Cocoa Blush



I've wanted this blush for a long time but avoided buying because I thought it was very similar to MAC Format Blush which I own. I still think it is actually but I would say 'Sweet as Cocoa' has more red tones. This blush really complements women of colour and is a great everyday blush or for those who are just starting to wear blush. 


Sweet as Cocoa Blush - £17.50


L'Oreal Super Liner - Black Lacquer

So I've used L'Oreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss, Super Liner Perfect Slim and now I have purchased the Super Liner Black Lacquer. Aimlessly walking around Superdrug as I usually do, I decided to buy the Super Liner in Black Lacquer. No reason in particular, just wanted to try something new! 


Super Liner Black Lacquer - £6.49


Real Techniques



Core Collection
Blush Brush


Stippling Brush


Last but not least, I wanted to show you the Real Techniques brushes that I purchased after so many weeks of deliberation. With them on a 3 for 2 offer, how could I resist?!
I've heard and read nothing but great reviews on these brushes by makeup artist Samantha Chapman from Pixiwoo on YouTube, so I just had to take advantage of the offer that Boots had on. I'm not sure if they've still got their 3 for 2 offer on but if they do, make sure you definitely think about getting these brushes. I paid 30-something pounds for 6 decent quality brushes! I chose to get the Core Collection, Blush Brush and Stippling Brush. They are all very soft, especially the blush brush! There are other brushes/sets to choose from though. If you haven't heard about the Real Techniques brushes make sure you Google or YouTube them!


Core Collection - £21.99
Blush Brush - £9.99
Stippling Brush - £11.99


Do you own any of these products? If so, let me know what you think of them




Saturday, March 24, 2012

Review: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24hr Foundation

Review: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation..


"24h long-wear for endless perfection 
Following 8 years of research, Lancôme unveils its first 24h** wear foundation for lasting perfection. Teint Idole Ultra 24H remains retouch-free, providing a flawless looking, even complexion with a velvety-smooth, shine-free finish. 

24h of divine comfort
In perfect affinity with the skin, Teint Idole Ultra 24h is irresistibly comfortable. Its new, blendable and fresh texture is divine and leaves the complexion feeling smooth, velvety and matte with no powdery effect."


A lot of you have probably been waiting for my review on the Lancôme Teint Ultra Idole 24H foundation. I know it's been a little while since I showed you the samples that I got from the Lancôme counter. Believe it or not but I am still using my sample! After much deliberation, I did decide to buy it but obviously it hasn't been used yet as I'm waiting for my sample to finish completely. Those who got a sample will know that the sample lasts a long time as you get quite a lot. It's good that Lancôme provides enough product in the sample bottle for you to make a concrete opinion on.  


As you know, when I went to get colour matched, I was given #11 Muscade but my flatmate also gave me #13 Sienne to try out. Just like I thought it would be, #13 Sienne was way too dark. At first, I couldn't help think #11 Muscade was a bit on the orange side and also dark but once I've completed my full face, it's not as noticeable. Because #11 was dark, I did try out #10 Beige Praline but it looked a bit pinky for my skintone. Apparently their odd shades tend to be warm tones and their even shades tend to be cool (I'm not sure how true this is). With me being neutral, obviously it makes it harder to find a shade that's spot on. 


 Oil and transfer free
 Sweat and friction resistant
 Without mask effect
• Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive
 Dermatologically tested
 Non-comedogenic


Coverage

Though the Lancôme website does not state this, the assistant at the Lancôme counter said that this is a full coverage foundation. Personally I would describe the coverage as medium-buildable as you can definitely layer it up to full coverage without looking mask-like. Even though I do feel that this has medium coverage, the foundation is so natural looking and skin-like! It covers imperfections without looking like you're wearing so many layers of foundation and is very comfortable to wear. 





Staying Power

From the name of this foundation, it is obviously meant to last 24hrs. I don't wear foundation for this long so I can't say if it lives up to the claims. The longest I've worn this foundation for to test it out is 18hrs. I don't usually have a problem with foundation sliding off or anything like that and all my foundations tend to last very long on my face. After 18hrs, the foundation was still there though I was shiny around my t-zone and obviously it didn't look freshly applied. 

With this foundation, I get the slightest shine (which really isn't worth noting) after 8hrs and shine becomes a bit more visible after 12hrs. 



Texture

This is a liquid foundation. It is neither too thick or runny. I would say it has a lighter consistency than MAC Matchmaster and definitely Estee Lauder Double Wear. The texture makes the foundation very blend-able and adds to the natural finish that it gives. 



Colour Range

The Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H is available in 18 shades in the UK. I think the shades in America differ to the ones in the UK so make sure you check that out!

The lightest shade in the UK is #005 Beige Ivoire and the darkest is #15 Acajou so there should be a shade to suit everyone. 

The 6 shades for women of colour have SPF 5 whilst the other 12 shades have SPF 15. This is because darker shades can tend to look ashy if the SPF is high. 


Finish

Like I said previously, this foundation has a natural finish that looks and feels like skin! Even though the finish is natural, it still manages to cover imperfections on the face and create a flawless canvas. It can also be worn alone without powder.



Size and Price

As like most foundations, the bottle contains 30ml of product and is priced at £27



Availablity

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H is available to buy from all Lancôme counters; Fenwick, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Boots, etc.



Overall Thoughts

I really do love this foundation! Believe it or not but I haven't touched my Estee Lauder Double Wear since getting a sample of the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H. The fact that this is a medium-full coverage foundation and it feels so light on the skin just makes me love it even more. I remember when I first got my sample, I kept touching my skin because it felt as though I wasn't wearing anything. With a lot of other foundations, you know they are there and that you are wearing makeup. With this foundation, it's easy to forget you've got foundation on. 





One thing that used to bug me about this foundation is that it is fragranced. Initially I hated it because I thought it was very strong but as time went on, I got used to it. It doesn't linger for the whole day but when your makeup is initially applied, you will definitely smell it. If you're not a fan of fragranced foundations then this may not be for you! 





My only problem with this foundation is the undertone range they have for women of colour. For darker skin, they only have warm and cool tones whereas neutral shades are available for lighter skin tones which is a bit annoying. Why not make neutral shades available for everyone? =/





In comparison to my Estee Lauder Double Wear, this foundation looks more natural and feels lighter on the skin but I will say that the Estee Lauder foundation is more resistant to sweat than this one is; in my opinion anyway.





Lancome have done very well in making this foundation suitable for all skin types which means absolutely anyone can use it whether your skin is dry or oily. 

Apparently there is some sort of technology in it that helps combat oil if you have oily skin and also makes the foundation retouch free which I'm sure is a plus for those out there with oily skin. 





Even though I said this foundation is a bit dark, I'm still going to carry on using this shade because once my MAC Mineralize Skin Finish has been applied on top, it looks better (and my neck is also darker than my face and chest so it helps with the transition). This is much easier than having to mix foundations like I did with my Estee Lauder Double Wear. 

Fingers crossed in the near future, Lancome will provide more shades for us darker ladies!





Wearing Lancome Teint Idole Ultra #11 Muscade

 





#11 Muscade Swatch


Did anyone buy the Lancome Teint Ultra 24H Foundation? If so, what are your views?

Or maybe you are planning on trying it out? Let me know!



Twitter  Bloglovin 

Review: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24hr Foundation

Review: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation..


"24h long-wear for endless perfection 
Following 8 years of research, Lancôme unveils its first 24h** wear foundation for lasting perfection. Teint Idole Ultra 24H remains retouch-free, providing a flawless looking, even complexion with a velvety-smooth, shine-free finish. 

24h of divine comfort
In perfect affinity with the skin, Teint Idole Ultra 24h is irresistibly comfortable. Its new, blendable and fresh texture is divine and leaves the complexion feeling smooth, velvety and matte with no powdery effect."


A lot of you have probably been waiting for my review on the Lancôme Teint Ultra Idole 24H foundation. I know it's been a little while since I showed you the samples that I got from the Lancôme counter. Believe it or not but I am still using my sample! After much deliberation, I did decide to buy it but obviously it hasn't been used yet as I'm waiting for my sample to finish completely. Those who got a sample will know that the sample lasts a long time as you get quite a lot. It's good that Lancôme provides enough product in the sample bottle for you to make a concrete opinion on.  


As you know, when I went to get colour matched, I was given #11 Muscade but my flatmate also gave me #13 Sienne to try out. Just like I thought it would be, #13 Sienne was way too dark. At first, I couldn't help think #11 Muscade was a bit on the orange side and also dark but once I've completed my full face, it's not as noticeable. Because #11 was dark, I did try out #10 Beige Praline but it looked a bit pinky for my skintone. Apparently their odd shades tend to be warm tones and their even shades tend to be cool (I'm not sure how true this is). With me being neutral, obviously it makes it harder to find a shade that's spot on. 


 Oil and transfer free
 Sweat and friction resistant
 Without mask effect
• Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive
 Dermatologically tested
 Non-comedogenic


Coverage

Though the Lancôme website does not state this, the assistant at the Lancôme counter said that this is a full coverage foundation. Personally I would describe the coverage as medium-buildable as you can definitely layer it up to full coverage without looking mask-like. Even though I do feel that this has medium coverage, the foundation is so natural looking and skin-like! It covers imperfections without looking like you're wearing so many layers of foundation and is very comfortable to wear. 





Staying Power

From the name of this foundation, it is obviously meant to last 24hrs. I don't wear foundation for this long so I can't say if it lives up to the claims. The longest I've worn this foundation for to test it out is 18hrs. I don't usually have a problem with foundation sliding off or anything like that and all my foundations tend to last very long on my face. After 18hrs, the foundation was still there though I was shiny around my t-zone and obviously it didn't look freshly applied. 

With this foundation, I get the slightest shine (which really isn't worth noting) after 8hrs and shine becomes a bit more visible after 12hrs. 



Texture

This is a liquid foundation. It is neither too thick or runny. I would say it has a lighter consistency than MAC Matchmaster and definitely Estee Lauder Double Wear. The texture makes the foundation very blend-able and adds to the natural finish that it gives. 



Colour Range

The Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H is available in 18 shades in the UK. I think the shades in America differ to the ones in the UK so make sure you check that out!

The lightest shade in the UK is #005 Beige Ivoire and the darkest is #15 Acajou so there should be a shade to suit everyone. 

The 6 shades for women of colour have SPF 5 whilst the other 12 shades have SPF 15. This is because darker shades can tend to look ashy if the SPF is high. 


Finish

Like I said previously, this foundation has a natural finish that looks and feels like skin! Even though the finish is natural, it still manages to cover imperfections on the face and create a flawless canvas. It can also be worn alone without powder.



Size and Price

As like most foundations, the bottle contains 30ml of product and is priced at £27



Availablity

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H is available to buy from all Lancôme counters; Fenwick, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Boots, etc.



Overall Thoughts

I really do love this foundation! Believe it or not but I haven't touched my Estee Lauder Double Wear since getting a sample of the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H. The fact that this is a medium-full coverage foundation and it feels so light on the skin just makes me love it even more. I remember when I first got my sample, I kept touching my skin because it felt as though I wasn't wearing anything. With a lot of other foundations, you know they are there and that you are wearing makeup. With this foundation, it's easy to forget you've got foundation on. 





One thing that used to bug me about this foundation is that it is fragranced. Initially I hated it because I thought it was very strong but as time went on, I got used to it. It doesn't linger for the whole day but when your makeup is initially applied, you will definitely smell it. If you're not a fan of fragranced foundations then this may not be for you! 





My only problem with this foundation is the undertone range they have for women of colour. For darker skin, they only have warm and cool tones whereas neutral shades are available for lighter skin tones which is a bit annoying. Why not make neutral shades available for everyone? =/





In comparison to my Estee Lauder Double Wear, this foundation looks more natural and feels lighter on the skin but I will say that the Estee Lauder foundation is more resistant to sweat than this one is; in my opinion anyway.





Lancome have done very well in making this foundation suitable for all skin types which means absolutely anyone can use it whether your skin is dry or oily. 

Apparently there is some sort of technology in it that helps combat oil if you have oily skin and also makes the foundation retouch free which I'm sure is a plus for those out there with oily skin. 





Even though I said this foundation is a bit dark, I'm still going to carry on using this shade because once my MAC Mineralize Skin Finish has been applied on top, it looks better (and my neck is also darker than my face and chest so it helps with the transition). This is much easier than having to mix foundations like I did with my Estee Lauder Double Wear. 

Fingers crossed in the near future, Lancome will provide more shades for us darker ladies!





Wearing Lancome Teint Idole Ultra #11 Muscade

 





#11 Muscade Swatch


Did anyone buy the Lancome Teint Ultra 24H Foundation? If so, what are your views?

Or maybe you are planning on trying it out? Let me know!



Twitter  Bloglovin 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

FOTD: Mascara On The Bottom!

FOTD: Mascara On The Bottom..




Hey beauts!
I took these pictures a couple of days ago but I didn't get around to posting them up! I feel like I don't really show my face on my blog and I haven't done so in a while. Some of you may not even know what I look like lol. But anyway, those who know me will know that I very rarely wear mascara on my bottom lashes because I don't think it really suits me. I guess the day I took this picture, I was in the mood for change. Don't you think it makes me look different?


Oh yeah! I'm also wearing the MAC Devil blush that I got from MAC Pro at IMATS for those of you who want to know how it looks. I will say, make sure you have a very light hand with this blush. If you're not careful you will look clownish!


Face 


Serum: Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate
Moisturiser: Renew Intensive Skin Therapy
Primer: Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Shine Control  
Foundation: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24hr - #11
Powder: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Dark
Under Eye Concealer: Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer - #12 and Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder
Contour: Sleek Contour Kit - Medium
Blush: MAC Devil (Pro)


Brows


Eyebrows: Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil - Black Brown + NC50 Studio Sculpt Concealer


Eyes


Eyeliner (top): Loreal Super Liner - Carbon Gloss
Eyeliner (bottom): - MAC Technakohl Liner - Graphblack
Mascara: Loreal Voluminous Mascara


Lips


Lip Liner: NYX 840 Rose and NYX 815 Toast
Lipstick: MAC Ever Hip




What type of posts would you like to see? Should I make FOTD posts more frequent?




FOTD: Mascara On The Bottom!

FOTD: Mascara On The Bottom..




Hey beauts!
I took these pictures a couple of days ago but I didn't get around to posting them up! I feel like I don't really show my face on my blog and I haven't done so in a while. Some of you may not even know what I look like lol. But anyway, those who know me will know that I very rarely wear mascara on my bottom lashes because I don't think it really suits me. I guess the day I took this picture, I was in the mood for change. Don't you think it makes me look different?


Oh yeah! I'm also wearing the MAC Devil blush that I got from MAC Pro at IMATS for those of you who want to know how it looks. I will say, make sure you have a very light hand with this blush. If you're not careful you will look clownish!


Face 


Serum: Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate
Moisturiser: Renew Intensive Skin Therapy
Primer: Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Shine Control  
Foundation: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24hr - #11
Powder: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Dark
Under Eye Concealer: Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer - #12 and Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder
Contour: Sleek Contour Kit - Medium
Blush: MAC Devil (Pro)


Brows


Eyebrows: Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil - Black Brown + NC50 Studio Sculpt Concealer


Eyes


Eyeliner (top): Loreal Super Liner - Carbon Gloss
Eyeliner (bottom): - MAC Technakohl Liner - Graphblack
Mascara: Loreal Voluminous Mascara


Lips


Lip Liner: NYX 840 Rose and NYX 815 Toast
Lipstick: MAC Ever Hip




What type of posts would you like to see? Should I make FOTD posts more frequent?