Seriously affordable bronzer from Boots Natural Collection.
Like everything else in the Natural Collection range, this fantastic bronzer costs £1.99. (Yes, really!) I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned this on my blog before? I don't actually think I have, despite the fact I've used this for ages. The one in the photo is a re-purchase, because I'm pretty smitten with this gem as my daily bronzer.
Half price makeup brushes!
These lovely brushes are currently half price at Boots. They're £10 instead of the usual £20.
The set contains five brushes, which are:
Directional Powder Brush,
Foundation Brush,
Eyeshadow Blend & Contour,
Eyeliner Brush,
Lip Brush,
Makeup Bag.
I particularly love the Eyeshadow blend & contour brush because it really allows you to get right into the crease of your eyelid with ease. If you're quite bad at applying eyeshadow, as am I, then it makes it really easy! And the bristles are white, which allows you to see how much product you've actually got on the brush. (Handy!)
I must admit that they look more expensive than they are. The handles are made of plastic, but initially looking at them, I thought they'd be metal. It does mean that they're quite light to hold though.
The brushes are quite a lot more expensive if you buy them individually. They range from around £7-14 each! So this set is an absolute bargain!
They're limited edition, so if you want to get your hands on them, be quick! Sadly, I can't find this set on the Boots website, but you might still be in luck if you pop down to your local Boots store!
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How gorgeous are these shoe boots? I just had to show them off.
They're from George at Asda and I managed to pick them up for £10!! They're normally £18, which isn't a bad price anyway, but I'm quite smug that I've bagged such a bargain.
They only had them in size six when I bought them, which is thankfully my size! Unfortunately, they're not in stock online anymore, but they do still have some lovely boots available!
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This week, I've been on a work placement (with the BBC) so I thought I'd take you through the skincare and makeup products that I've used whilst being a busy BBC bee. Ha.
I've opted for a fairly natural, light look that's absolutely ideal for work or school. Working 40 hours this week has meant that everything's been a bit of a rush, so I've spent less time on my makeup than normal. All of the skincare and makeup products that I've used are high street/drugstore brands, so this look won't be expensive to recreate. Obviously it's catered for my exceptionally needy skin and pale skin tone; so alter it accordingly to suit your skin.
♥ Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser with Muslin Cloth,
♥ Olay Day Fluid for Sensitive Skin,
♥ Carmex Cherry flavour lip balm,
♥ Boots Simply Sensitive Eye Cream (Optional).
Base:
♥ Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer (Optional),
♥ Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 001 Light Porcelain,
♥ Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 1 Fair,
♥ Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent,
♥ Real Techniques Expert Face Sponge (Optional).
Contouring:
♥ Boots Natural Collection Bronzer,
♥ Rimmel Mono Blusher in 010 Live Pink,
Eyes:
♥ Max Factor Wild Shadow eyeshadow pencil,
♥ Rimmel brown kohl eyeliner,
♥ Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara in Brown/Black.
Firstly, I start by cleansing my face with the hot cloth cleanser, using the warm muslin cloth to gently exfoliate my skin and then rinse with cold water. If you're in a hurry, skip toner and go straight to moisturiser; I'm currently using the Olay one pictured above. If you've got time dab a little eye cream under your eyes.
If you want your makeup to have extra staying power throughout the day, add some primer. The best high street one I've stumbled across is Rimmel's Fix and Perfect.
I then dampen my Real Techniques sponge slightly and add about one pump of Wake Me Up foundation over my face; add a little more if you want a heavier coverage. If you're after a really light coverage, swap the foundation for a BB Cream or CC cream instead. Pop some concealer under your eyes and over any blemishes and then seal in place with a light dusting of powder.
To simply do a little bit of contouring, suck your cheeks in and add some bronzer into the part where your cheeks are indented. Apply in a 'three' motion around your face (forehead, under cheeks and jawline. Apply some blusher onto the apples of your cheeks too.
Finally, for your eyes, add some of the Max Factor pencil over your lids. I'm using this lovely pink colour, but if you fancy being a bit more Autumnal, use a brown shade instead. Line your upper lash line with a little bit of kohl eyeliner and apply a couple of coats of mascara... And you're done!
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This is unusual, isn't it?
It's a blusher that you apply by stamping over your cheeks. As simple as this product sounds, I initially found it hard to get to grips with (but that just might be the fact that I'm a bit of a simpleton...)
There are five different shades to choose from and I tried the product in the lightest shade: 'Blushin'', which is quite a pale pink. The other shades were a bit off for my liking. Either too browny or too bright.
This works if you've got big cheeks. If you've got more 'subtle' cheeks, then it's probably going to be quite difficult to use this without looking like an Elf... And even with chubby cheeks, it definitely needs a fair bit of blending in afterwards; either with your fingertips or a blusher brush.
The quality of the blusher is good. It's nicely pigmented, so stands out well and isn't too 'powdery' on your skin. The blush is also matte, rather than offering a shimmery finish. On the negative side; it is quite easy to apply too much of this, but I think that's because the stamp itself sits permanently on top of the powder very tightly when it's not in use.
The packaging isn't too showy. It's a stamp in a box, basically. Who'd have thought? But there is a mirror on the top of the stamp, which is good for applying makeup on the move, or for touch-ups during the day.
You could argue that it's innovative or you could just say it's a little gimmicky. Despite it being a good idea; I'm not sure that I'd buy this again, because it's a bit of a faff. In all honesty, it's worth trying. You might like it and if you don't, you've not wasted too much money!
The Seventeen Cheek Stamp costs £4.99 and you can buy it from Boots by clicking here.
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Here's a teeny review of this ridiculously understated toner:
This is one of those little staple products, which sits there on the shelves on Boots, barely noticed by shoppers; who are more interested in those expensive products that shout about what they have to offer. This doesn't shout out, this doesn't boast about a load of unintelligible science-y stuff and it most certainly doesn't cost the earth.
From a personal viewpoint, it reminds me so much of my childhood, because my Mum used the cleanser, toner and moisturiser from the range when I was little and she used to let me cleanse, tone and moisturise my face at the same time! Ahh, memories...
Anyway... It's quite refreshing! The cucumber scent definitely cools and tones your skin. It gets rid of excess oil and cleanser that you've left behind and ensures that any bits of makeup that you've missed with your cleanser are gone.
A bottle contains 150ml, which isn't loads, but for such a low price you really can't complain.
It's gentle and Boots states that it's suitable for all skin types. Even though I have combination skin, with sensitive patches and eczema, this fantastic toner doesn't aggravate any of that. Good, eh?
This brilliant, but understated, toner costs the reasonable price of £1.50. If you're tempted, you can buy it from Boots by clicking here.
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If you're a fellow zit-face like me, you'll relish the opportunity to try products that boast about their spot-killing capabilities. Does this product live up to my ridiculously high foundation standards? Read on and find out...
I turned to this foundation a few days ago, despite having owned it for a couple of months, because I've had another horrific breakout. The product contains salicylic acid, which is great for fighting spots. As you can see, it claims to clear your skin within four weeks. To me, that's an exciting prospect and I thought it was well worth a try!
I bought the foundation in Soft Ivory and I'm not actually sure whether this is the lightest shade or not. For some reason, it's defined as the second lightest shade... However, comparing this and Porcelain, the so-called lightest shade, Soft Ivory was the one that actually looked a bit lighter. As you can see from the second picture, it still looks terribly orange on my fair skin... I daren't leave the house wearing it again, for fear of people thinking I'm a star of TOWIE.
I like the consistency of this foundation, it's not too watery or too thick and gloopy either. It gives quite a matte finish and it's reassuring to think that it could be helping to eradicate those nasty spots whilst you're wearing it.
The packaging does say that this foundation offers a full coverage. I'm not sure it does for me. I had to use quite a lot of product to reach a finish that I was happy with. I'm not normally one for slapping loads and loads of foundation on, but it took a lot of this to cover blemishes and red patches properly. Even after applying, I wasn't that convinced that it left a particularly full or heavy coverage.
The tube, 30ml, isn't that big. Considering that you have to use a fair bit to get good coverage, it might not last all that long. (Surprisingly, it's actually the same size as a bottle of Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation, but looks far smaller).
By the end of the day, I caught sight of my reflection before I was about to wash this off. I genuinely looked terrible... Embarrassingly so. The foundation had descended into various orange patches dotted around my face. It was unbelievably patchy, to the point where I looked a little like I'd applied it in the dark. (Which I hadn't, obviously... I applied it in the light with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush).
Another problem with this foundation is that it did go a bit funny when I applied my setting spray. I wear setting spray pretty much every day and don't normally experience any problems with it. This foundation doesn't seem to get on with it. It's quite hard to explain, but I guess that it just 'unsettles' it a little and takes ages to dry afterwards. Now, I'm not sure if this is what made the foundation look patchy in the end, but I didn't notice patchiness at all initially.
I can't really comment properly on whether this foundation does clear your skin up after 4 weeks, like it says, because it's just so dark, I daren't wear it every day. I can't go out looking like a patchy Wotsit every day for a month, can I?
At £6.99, it's honestly worth a try if you suffer from breakouts and you're not too pale. I just hope others fare better with this foundation than I did...
So, to recap:
Advantages:
I turned to this foundation a few days ago, despite having owned it for a couple of months, because I've had another horrific breakout. The product contains salicylic acid, which is great for fighting spots. As you can see, it claims to clear your skin within four weeks. To me, that's an exciting prospect and I thought it was well worth a try!
I bought the foundation in Soft Ivory and I'm not actually sure whether this is the lightest shade or not. For some reason, it's defined as the second lightest shade... However, comparing this and Porcelain, the so-called lightest shade, Soft Ivory was the one that actually looked a bit lighter. As you can see from the second picture, it still looks terribly orange on my fair skin... I daren't leave the house wearing it again, for fear of people thinking I'm a star of TOWIE.
I like the consistency of this foundation, it's not too watery or too thick and gloopy either. It gives quite a matte finish and it's reassuring to think that it could be helping to eradicate those nasty spots whilst you're wearing it.
The packaging does say that this foundation offers a full coverage. I'm not sure it does for me. I had to use quite a lot of product to reach a finish that I was happy with. I'm not normally one for slapping loads and loads of foundation on, but it took a lot of this to cover blemishes and red patches properly. Even after applying, I wasn't that convinced that it left a particularly full or heavy coverage.
The tube, 30ml, isn't that big. Considering that you have to use a fair bit to get good coverage, it might not last all that long. (Surprisingly, it's actually the same size as a bottle of Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation, but looks far smaller).
By the end of the day, I caught sight of my reflection before I was about to wash this off. I genuinely looked terrible... Embarrassingly so. The foundation had descended into various orange patches dotted around my face. It was unbelievably patchy, to the point where I looked a little like I'd applied it in the dark. (Which I hadn't, obviously... I applied it in the light with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush).
Another problem with this foundation is that it did go a bit funny when I applied my setting spray. I wear setting spray pretty much every day and don't normally experience any problems with it. This foundation doesn't seem to get on with it. It's quite hard to explain, but I guess that it just 'unsettles' it a little and takes ages to dry afterwards. Now, I'm not sure if this is what made the foundation look patchy in the end, but I didn't notice patchiness at all initially.
I can't really comment properly on whether this foundation does clear your skin up after 4 weeks, like it says, because it's just so dark, I daren't wear it every day. I can't go out looking like a patchy Wotsit every day for a month, can I?
At £6.99, it's honestly worth a try if you suffer from breakouts and you're not too pale. I just hope others fare better with this foundation than I did...
So, to recap:
Advantages:
- Spot-fighting ingredients,
- Lovely matte finish,
- Cheap,
- SPF 15.
Disadvantages:
- Potential patchiness,
- Too orangey for me,
- Quite a small tube,
- Need to apply quite a lot for good coverage.
Have you tried this foundation? Did you like it? Comment below and tell me!
Thanks for reading!
Katie
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