Faking a Bone Structure | Sleek Makeup Face Form Contouring Palette

I blame my lack of bone structure for the fact I am asked for ID when I am buying paracetamol or alcohol. I have quite a round baby face, which many say I will appreciate when I am older, but for now it is annoying. I am a 25 year old woman with the face of a teenager. So in my hunt to chisel my features I asked fellow bloggers on Twitter (@pixipicks) to recommend a contouring pallete to help. There was one product that stood out and was the top of all of their lists, Sleek Makeup Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette. I popped off to Superdrug to see what all the fuss was about.

Blusher

Highlighter 

Contour Powder

Contour Powder / Highlighter / Blusher

No Contouring

What they say: With multi-tasking elements such a contour powder, highlighter and blusher in one neat compact designed to suit all skin tones.

What I say: The idea of having all three products in one neat compact is genius. The matte brown powder is perfect for creating shadow in the hollows of the cheeks. The best way to find the hollows of the cheeks is to make a fish face and suck them in.

Run the contour powder from the ear down to the hollow of the cheek and blend. I like to use the Real Techniques Contour Brush. The blush is a nice shade, but it isn’t very heavily pigmented so you need to build colour. I’m not keen on the shimmer in the blush; I think it would have been better to have a matte colour as there is the highlighter that can be added afterwards. It is a little too much shimmer to add them both. I use the highlighter down the ridge of my nose, chin and forehead. 

Before Blending

After Contouring (This photo looks edited but it's really not)

I really like that it is s easy to use and is small enough to carry around. Also the price is pretty damn good!

Sleek Makeup Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette, RRP £9.99

Rant or Rave?

RAVE

Stay Beautiful

xoxo

(Purchased product)

Review: Real Techniques Stippling Brush

I love using brushes to apply my make up, there is something about applying make up with my fingers that just doesn't work for me. Friends often pointed that my foundation was not blended properly, so In desperation I invested in some brushes and haven't looked back. There has been so much hype in the blogosphere regarding the Real Techniques brush sets. As a disciple of the MAC brush cult I was fairly dubious that anything could break my love, especially one's so reasonably priced.

Real Techniques is the brain child of make up artist and blogger Samantha Chapman and a lot of bloggers have really raved about two of the brushes in particular, Expert Face Brush and the Stippling Brush. I am going to review these separately as well as the brush collection in later posts.

What they say:This dual fiber stippling brush is our trade secret for creating air brushed high definition coverage with all make up types

What I say: I pop a little of my favourite tinted moisturiser onto the back of my hand and gently press the fibres into the liquid. The fibers are super soft and the handle is a great length making it really easy to buff the foundation into the skin using small, circular strokes. The surface of the brush is very small, so my arm started to ache after a while, but the result is worth it. I wouldn't recommend the using the brush if you are short of time but it is perfect if you want to look airbrushed for a night out. The Stippling Brush is better for light coverage, so I prefer to use it on good skin days. I finish the skin with powder using another Real Techniques brush, a review to follow.

I loved this brush while I was in America and it was too hot to wear foundation. It is the perfect brush for tinted moisturisers, BB or CC creams.

Tip: make sure your skin is well moisturised; the brush really pushes the makeup into all the cracks and flakey skin really shows up.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush, RRP £11.99, available in Boots and Superdrug

Stay beautiful
xoxo

Buff Me Beautiful: Clarisonic Mia 2 Review

As Ariel Would Say.....
'I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty

I've got whozits and whatzits galore

You want thingamabobs?

I've got twenty!

But who cares?

No big deal

I want more'

I have a lot of beauty gadgets, but on my Christmas list this year was a very special tool! Something I lusted after but could never justify spending that kind of money on a tooth brush for my face. Santa was kind, he obviously agreed my skin needs a good scrubbing. 

What they say: The Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing System uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth skin. In just 60 seconds, the action removes more makeup and more dirt and sebum than cleansing with your hands alone. Removing more dirt and sebum from your pores also helps prepare for a better skin care regime.

Clarasonic Mia 2

Clarisonic Mia 2

My skin is extremely oily, having suffered from acne since the tender age of fourteen I suffer from scarring and painful spots. I was worried that after using the Clarisonic and once my skin was squeaky clean, my skin would over compensate and create more oil and in turn spots. However, I was pleasantly surprised. For those of you who suffer the same you need to read this review.

On first impression the gizmo looks as I said, like a face toothbrush. After wetting the bristles and my face I put a pea size amount of Lancome Gel Eclat, a fantastic foaming cleanser, onto the bush and turn it on.

Clarisonic recommend rubbing the bristles over each part of your face for twenty seconds, but I use it for a bit longer. Once the brush has automatically finished I rinse my face with clean water and pat dry. 

One negative is the noise it makes, it is quite a lot louder than an electric toothbrush but on the other hand my skin feels smooth, fresh and super clean! I like to use it in the shower to save time and it is fully waterproof!! I have noticed an incredible difference in my skin. The scaring has started to fade and I am definitely suffering from less breakouts. I tend to only use it once a day, or if it is making my skin feel really dry I do it on alternative days. 

Clarisonic Mia 2, £125 HERE

Lancome Gel Eclat Clarifying Cleanser Pearly Foam, £22 HERE

Has anyone else been using a Clarisonic? Have you seen a difference?

Stay beautiful

xoxo

Sun, Sea and Tinted Moisturiser: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Oil Free

When make up guru's used the term 'tinted moisturiser' I would instantly start back tracking, friend, foe or make up counter - I want no part in it.  Firstly, I have acne prone skin with red scar marks that are too difficult to hide without a heavy-duty foundation. Tinted moisturiser leaves my skin feeling oily, patchy and without any coverage. This is not to say I haven't dipped my toe into the tinted pool and tested the water. I have just never found one I got on with.

This Christmas I had a Barbie on the beach and wearing factor 50 in Australia, it was heavenly. But before I left I had the agonising task of what make up to take with me. Foundation is too heavy for hot countries and it has been known to slide down the face.  Someone at work suggested I have another go with a tinted moisturiser.

Tinted moisturisers seem to come in and out of fashion, usually around summer time when we all would love to go out make up free but feel naked if we do. There are so many different types out there and each brand has its own variety claiming to do different things. 

So I tried it. Warning: This post contains a very unattractive photo of me without makeup and without the use of filters. 

The tube that the product comes in is fairly large, which is good because you feel you are getting more for your money. There are also twelve shades to choose from and that makes it slightly easier to match it to the skin, especially if you have pale skin like mine. It also comes with added spf 20 and that is great for sensitive complexions. I didn’t use any added spf in Australia and I escaped any painful sun burn for the whole trip.

The best thing about Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser is that it has a relatively thick consistency. I could easily apply it with my fingers, but I like using brushes for even application and to buff the cream into the skin. Unlike a lot of tinted moisturisers it has a thick creamy texture meaning the coverage is great and it really hid my blemishes.

I love this product so much that this is a photo of my skin without anything on it and without any filters. As you can see it is blotchy and uneven. Apologies I look so awful and grumpy, it was very early!

The next photo is me with only one layer of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser and without any concealer.

You may wonder why I have exposed such an unattractive photo of myself to you all. The reason is that I LOVE this product and I want my readers to see just how good it is. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturise Oil Free is available from stores such as John Lewis and House of Fraser and is £33.

Stay beautiful,

XOXO