Love at first blush...

Can we just take a moment to appreciate this gorgeous blush from Soap & Glory? I adore the cute girly packaging and the vintage pic on the case is right up my street. The compact itself contains 10 bars of delicate pearls and pinks, which when swirled together create a light dusty rose colour. I really like the amount of shimmer it gives and the lightest pearl colour looks wonderful as a highlight. It's an instant pick me up that gives a really youthful glow.

Dust once over the cheeks to give a subtle, warm flush or build up the colour to create a bespoke blusher. Either way this is one really lovely product from Soap & Glory and is wonderfully versatile for all skin tones. It looks just as gorgeous on the skin as it does in the packaging and I will definitely be picking something else up from the Soap & Glory range.

Thanks for reading guys, Becca...X

Autumn inspired smokey eye...

Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge...

I absolutely love Real Techniques brushes, I have nearly every brush and I can't fault a single one. They are so affordable and give such a great finish to any look. One of my favourite brushes to apply foundation with is the expert face brush, I use it all the time with any foundation and I love it. However I have never used a sponge to apply foundation before so I was intrigued to see what a difference this would make.

This sponge hit the shops early September & it has already been featured on a lot of other beauty blogs. Nic from Pixiwoo also featured it in her recent Autumn favourites video on YouTube. 

So the sponge itself is quite unique, it has 3 different surfaces for different areas of the face. A flat surface to apply the makeup, a precision tip to concentrate on any problem areas and rounded sides for rolling, patting and blending the foundation perfectly into the skin. What I love about this sponge is that is really keeps it shape and is so gentle around the eyes, it's also fantastic at reducing the size of pores so you really get a flawless complexion.

The surface area of the sponge makes it easy and effortless to apply my foundation. I love patting it onto my skin around my nose to really hide my pores and the precision tip is perfect for covering any imperfections with a concealer. You can also use it to apply cream blushers as well.

Just like all the other brushes from Real Techniques this one doesn't disappoint. Sam Chapman really knows how to create the perfect base with this sponge and I am really glad I managed to get my hands on one. At only £5.99 it's definitely worth popping one into your makeup bag.

Autograph Wild Geranium Lipstick...

I have never bought any makeup from the Marks & Spencer's Autograph range but this pretty lipstick caught my eye. Everyone loves a red lip and this one has a hint of coral undertones. It's really pigmented (more so than in the pics above) and is quite moisturising as well. The packaging is really sleek, you just press the underneath of the lipstick to release it.  I'm not too keen on the smell of the lipstick or the taste but it's not too strong so I still enjoy using it.

It gives a pretty glossy finish and staying power is not too bad. You will definitely have to keep it on you for touch ups throughout the day or evening. It's a nice lipstick to add to my collection so I am glad I purchased it. It also contains SPF 30 and is on sale for £6.50 on Marks & Spencer's website, there are 24 colours to choose from.

Thanks for reading guys, Becca...X

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation...

Since watching makeup tutorials on YouTube, Nars Sheer Glow Foundation has been a staple amongst beauty gurus. I have been searching for the perfect foundation for dry skin for ages and I thought this could be the one. Pixiwoo in particular say it's great for dry skin and they seem to both use it a lot in their makeup tutorials.

This foundation is extremely pricey (£30.50) but I thought at that price and the praise it gets it must be worth it right? It must be some miracle foundation that works wonders! The first time I applied it I hated it! I applied it on clean, moisturised skin and I used a buffing brush to apply. You have to work quickly at buffing it in as it seems to cling to the skin. It was quite hard work to blend it all seamlessly and I wasn't particularly happy with the end result. My skin looked really matte, not glowing at all and I could see brush marks on my face. I then had to use my hands to blend it a second time. The colour match was great and the coverage was good, I was just really disappointed with the finish as NARS state the following: A glowing, natural radiant finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage that immaculately evens skin tone. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, it leaves skin hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother. Used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves the skin's brightness and texture.

My skin certainly didn't look radiant and I also noticed that the product just sat in my pores, making them look bigger, it was especially noticeable on my cheeks. Another downfall is that it has no pump! You have to pour it either directly onto the back of your hand or onto a brush. This is kind of annoying as you have to be super careful not to pour too much and waste the product. For £30.50 you would think a pump would be included.

The second time I used it I tried a different moisturiser, a slightly creamier one so I could blend the foundation better. It seemed to help, the foundation was easier to buff into the skin but I still wasn't getting a glowing, natural radiant finish that NARS were promising.

So today was the third time I tried it, again I used the creamier moisturiser and the same buffing brush as before.  I was slightly happier with the result, my skin didn't look as matte as before. Weirdly enough I think this is a product your skin has to get used to before you start liking it. It's like antibiotics or something, it takes a few days for the body to accept them before they work. I know that sounds crazy but NARS say if used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves the skin's brightness and texture, so my theory kind of makes sense!?

I'm going to continue using it hoping that each day gets better but either way I will report back. If you have tried this foundation I would love to hear what your thoughts are. Am I the only one who doesn't really like this product so far!?

Thanks for reading guys, love Becca...X

YSL Volupte Sheer Candy...

I love YSL lipsticks and this one from the Volupte Sheer Candy range is becoming one of my favorites. It's not a colour I would initially go for but I really wanted to go for something that I don't normally wear.

First of all the packaging is just so pretty, can a lipstick look any better than this? I love the band around the middle which is embossed with the iconic YSL logo. The colour of the band also indicates the colour of the lipstick, great if you quickly want to pick up a shade you are after. This one is number 13, Griotte Mocha.

So as you can guess by the name, the colour is actually really sheer, it looks gorgeously glossy on the lips and really moisturising, my lips feel instantly hydrated. I love the subtle colour pay off as well, it's an everyday colour that you could wear to school or work or you could easily pair this up with a smokey bold eye for a night out.

YSL state that it's a lipstick that thinks it's a lip balm! It's full of rich vitamins and antioxidants and smells like an exotic fruit bowl. They are quite pricey (£23.50) but then again it is YSL and who could resist popping this gorgeous product into their handbag to make them feel extra glamorous!

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters...

So I know I am really late jumping on the bandwagon here but I just wanted to a write a post on the Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters. These have been out in the UK since March but I have only just got my hands on these now and I am so pleased I finally did!

To start the packaging is really cute (reminds me of the Chanel quilted bags) plus they are really moisturising on the lips and the colour pay off is great. There are 20 shades to choose from ranging from pale lilacs & pinks, to bright reds & corals to darker browns & berry tones. I have 4 shades, Lollipop, Peach Parfait, Sweet Tart & Strawberry Shortcake. I think the latter being my favourite one, followed by Lollipop which has fantastic staying power.

Revlon state that they contain mango, Shea & coconut butter but unfortunately they don't have a particular taste or smell. Some of you may prefer not to have a scent or taste but I like my lip balms to taste of something, mango would have been lovely!

So overall I give these a 10/10 and would like to add Candy Apple and Raspberry Pie to my collection. Let me know what colours are your favourites below...X