April Favourites 2015

Maybelline Superstay Foundations

If, like me, you have a rosy but (very) pale complexion you probably have a pretty hard time finding colour matches for your skin. Of course then, occasionally, you will find a good match but the formula is off... Having picked up this foundation on a whim, I've been pleasantly surprised with how well is tackles both colour match and durability!

Weirdly, the colour for me is 'light beige'... but it's definitely got a pinky undertone and is better suited to what is usually referred to as 'porcelain' or 'light ivory'. I would say the coverage on this is pretty high, but this can be easily buffed away to a slightly lower coverage or even mixed in with moisturiser.

With regards to it's staying power... I don't know about 24 hour (who wears foundation for 24 hours?) but it certainly lasts all day on my skin without going dry or slipping about which is good enough for me!

I picked up both formula's and can't really tell if the 'better skin' formula is doing anything for me. They're both pretty similar, but I think I prefer the original formula... and if you're using your foundation for skincare then you're probably doing something wrong.

I'm really impressed with this foundation and it's great for long days where I'm lacking in the sleep department!

Have any of you guys tried this foundation?

Lyd

xxx

November Wishlist

This month my wishlist is a bit of a pricey one.... But all this miserable weather is making me want to indulge in lovely things! 

1. GHD Curve

I love my GHD straighteners, but I seem to be one of the only people on the planet who sucks at using them to make waves. I'm really intrigued to try out the GHD curve!

2. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks

SWOON, these are so beautiful. I literally think all of the shades are lovely and they look amazing. I really love the square top as well - doesn't this just look so much classier?

3. Elie Saab Le Parfum

This is such a lovely delicate, floral scent. I'm no perfumier and I can't describe scents but apparently this one is of mandarin blossom, rose honey, gardenia and orange blossom..MMM. 

4. Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer
Here is one I actually will be picking up. I've bene sticking to the faithful collection concealer, but after hearing SO much about this guy I need to give it a try! Fingers crossed it comes in mega-pale for my whiter than white skin!

5. Laura Mercier Ambré Vanille
This is on the sweeter side, which is unusual for me as I don't usually like sweet smells, but this is INCREDIBLE. Go and give it a whiff if you get a chance, you won't be disappointed.

6. Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado
My eyes are so dry and sore due to the cold and the constant lack of sleep I get so I've been on the hunt for a good eye cream to put on overnight. This little guy has caught my eye recently and if I found myself near a Kiehl's counter soon I may have to pick one up...

7. Tarte Lights Camera Flashes
I've never tried anything from Tarte but I love the look of their mascaras. As far as I'm aware you can't get this in the UK (please correct me if I'm wrong!) but I'd love to get my hands on the stuff!

What are you guys lusting after this month?

Lyd

xxx

A few things I just can't get on with...

I didn't particularly want to start on a negative note... but a few purchases I made recently have let me down. These are products that, generally, get great reviews and are probably fantastic to use - just not on me!

Rimmel Apocalips - 'Big Bang'
When Rimmel released the Apocalips lip lacquers earlier this year, there was a LOT (and I mean a lot...) of hype around these. I was pretty excited to get my hands on a few and decided to pick up the iconic, red 'Big Bang' shade first.  As soon as I got home it was on my lips in probably less than 10 minutes and I was really disappointed with the results. I'm lazy when it comes to lippy anyway, so applying this was just a nightmare! A lot of precision is required to apply with no liner and although I've heard reviews that this last for hours with no touch ups necessary, this had almost completely vanished (apart from some serious staining around the edges) from my lips within an hour. I think I've attempted to wear this just once since and having experienced the same results, it was banished to the back of a drawer somewhere for the time being. Safe to say I'm gutted I didn't feel differently about these as they look great, they're affordable and generally an awesome idea.

Maybelline Baby Lips - 'Cherry Me' and 'Pink Punch'

Top 'Pink Punch', Bottom 'Cherry Me'

In similar style to the above, when Maybelline Baby Lips hit the UK market there was an uproar of excitement from beauty addicts alike. It actually took a while for me to get my hands on these as they were always sold out. I was in the market for a lip balm that would provide a sheer wash of colour  since the colder months were getting ever closer, so thought these would be the ideal candidate. i picked up the shades 'Cherry Me', pictured left, a pinky tone deep red and 'Pink Punch' a vibrant Barbie pink. Whilst both provide a lovely sheer wash of colour, smell amazing and are super adorable, they just felt to me like I'd put a film over my lips. They didn't seem to do much in the moisturising department and the colours fade pretty quickly. They seem like something I would have loved to have when I was about 11, but really don't do it for me now!

Biore - Deep Cleansing Pore Strips
Oh how I wish these would work for me. I don't have a nose pore 'problem' per say, and these are a little... gross... but I know people have had wonderful experiences with these completely ridding their pores of any grime and leaving them with beautiful airbrushed noses. Unfortunately, I cannot share the same results. It's nothing again this brand, I've never really had a successful nose pore strip. I've tried many different levels of nose temperature and water content but just can't seem to get it right. Sigh.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

Again, a product massively praised by beauty boff's. This foundation smells nice, but that's about the only box it ticks for me, unfortunately. It won't settle on my skin whichever way I apply it. It will clump together in awkward places, cling to dryness and display any oiliness. The shade is the lightest, and I could just about get away with this in summer (I'm white as a ghost) but is generally too orangey toned for my skin. As a natural redhead, I have pinky toned, freckly, pale skin and the slightest hint of orange in my foundation will just looks damn wrong on me! I am still yet to discover my 'go-to' foundation, I was really hoping this would work for me but, alas, I do have the most difficult skin to please. 

La Roche-Posay - Effaclar Duo

When I picked this up, I had very high expectations. I've had horrible break outs on my chin and forehead recently and was pretty confident this was the key to success in outlawing them. This product is lovely, it feels fabulous and silky on the skin and the bottle is nice and big considering I rarely masked my whole face in this. It doesn't really feel like something intended to draw out grime and oil as it feels so moisturising. Unfortunately for me, after much use I didn't notice any difference with my skin. I'm back on the hunt again for a remedy!

Nails Inc. Nail Polish

I honestly can't get my head around these. I rarely buy these, but when they're a freebie in a mag I will often pick them up. Now it's not that they're awful, they're definitely not the best polish I've used though and I often experience some peeling which is, sometimes, forgivable (I don't have the patience to file my talons as well as I should) but there is nothing about these that warrants the £10+ price tag for me. They are something average in terms of formula, drying time, wear etc. They have an awesome colour range but it's nothing you couldn't pick up for a couple of quid from Barry M or Sinful Colors. All in all, not impressed. Waiting to be proved wrong! 

Sure Compressed Deodorant

A nice sensible one to finish of my products I will never love... Deodorant is a pretty mundane purchase but as a relatively busy person I like to be safe in the knowledge I can remain dry and free of horrible white stains all day. This seemed like the perfect handbag accessory and I will sometimes take this out and about with me but, again, I really struggle to get a nice use out of this. As it's compressed, the spray that comes out of it is pretty powerful but from whatever distance it just seems to appear powdery, crumbly and most definitely staining to clothes. The particles seem to go everywhere and I can taste deodorant in the room for the next few minutes - it certainly isn't discrete. Again, a huge shame as it would be super handy if we got on! 

I will post something more positive next - glad to have vented in some shape or form about my disappointment though!

Lyd 

xxx