FOTD: Bronzed & YSL Touche Eclat Foundation

sorry, I'm lacking a plain wall with good enough lighting!

Despite my ridiculously bad hair day, I decided today I would stop hiding from the camera and do a FOTD. This has pretty much been my go to look during the day, I do like changing up my bronzer, but I've not parted way with my bronzed lids. Please excuse my tired eyes, I'm still getting used to getting up at 7.30 every morning! I'm also testing out the new YSL Foundation, which I am really enjoying, but as you can probably tell it's not quite warm enough for me. I should really learn to be more forceful when getting samples, neutral undertones don't work for me!

What's On My Face

Base

Bare Minerals Prime Time Primer

YSL Touche Eclat Foundation (B50)

applied with Sigma F80

Bare Minerals Original (Golden Medium)

not pictured, applied lightly with MAC 188

Chanel Loose Powder (Poudre Universelle Libre)

I did find the foundation left me a little too shiney for my liking, so a light dusting was needed.

Undereyes

Laura Mercier Undereye Rerfector (review here)

Dior Diorskin Sculpt Concealor (002)

YSL Touche Eclate (1)

Eyes

Maybelline Colour Tattoo On & On Bronze

Empro Felt Liner

Lancome Hypnose (waterproof)

Cheeks

NARS Luster

Lips

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Pinky Beige

which I layered over:

MAC Creme d'Nude 

Let's hope taking photos of myself becomes easier, and a little less awkward!

Any of your favourites amongst the products I used?

Nic xxx

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What I've been loving lately #2

Hello all! (See there's a few new followers, so a special welcome to you, and don't be shy feel free to say hi!)

I know I've been a bit quiet on the blogging front, been back at home and we're packing up the house, looking for furniture, trying to earning some money and I'm attempting to do uni work inbetween that all, so blogging's taking a back seat. Really wanted to get a post out tonight, no matter how late it is! So without further ado, here are some products I've been loving lately.

Nars Orgasm Blush

Really been enjoying this when I want a bit of sheen in the cheeks during the day, for nights out I just build it up a bit more. Great shade with a big following and it really hasn't disappointed! You can see me wearing it on an older post here.

Chanel Pourdre Universelle Libre (Loose Powder) 30 Naturel

I've had this for a while now, and don't know why I haven't mentioned yet, I guess because wear mostly matte foundations I don't wear this all the time. Things have changed since picking up Healthy Mix I needed something to set it and remove the slightly dewy finish. This product is amazing, helps me stay matte, doesn't feel heavy or go cakey, has light reflecting properties that help to blur pores and give a smooth appearance. I also use it with my Illamasqua Rich Liquid for nights out, and I find it photographs quite well.

Bourjois Healthy Mix 53

A great, light weight foundation for days I'm not doing too much. It doesn't last as well as the claims, but it's nice enough and smells amazing. Find it leans a little pink for me, but I dust some Bare Minerals over it just to warm it up a bit.

LUSH Ocean Salt Facial Scrub

This stuff is amazing! It looks really scary in the pot, but once you add a bit of water the salt crystals dissolve as you exfoliate leaving you with quite a creamy scrub, and oooh my days, the way your skin feels afterwards is insane. I've never felt my face feel so soft before. I use it a couple times a week, it's really great. Definitely pick up a sample if you can.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Like so many others, I have totally fallen for this brush. Really makes applying foundation a breeze, and I find it works really well for a variety of foundations, I do find if I want a bit heavier coverage I still opt for my F80.

Laura Mercier Under Eye Perfector Orange/Yellow

See my full review here. Really loving this, and it really does work great when I mix it in with my foundation. 

MAC Pinch O Peach Blush (Sheertone)

Picked this up from Seanna's blog sale towards the end of Feb (she's still got a few bits left so check it out! Quite a few MAC eyeshadows. link), and have really been loving it! The name is really misleading, as I don't detect any peach at all, not even a pinch, but it's a great pink shade that adds dimension and colour to my face. It's really buildable, and despite being a sheertone it's got great pigmentation.

Rimmel Nude Delight Lipstick

A personal fav of Yu, and with simliar skin tones, I thought this would suit me. It comes with me everywhere! Perfect nude lip, can slap it on without too much thought.

MAC Fanfare (Creamsheen)

This has been my go to colour when I want something a little brighter on my lips during the day. You can see the swatch here.

LUSH Big Shampoo (not pictured)

I totally forgot to include a photo, but I've actually only got a sample pot so it's a small black one, not much to see. This honestly is the first shampoo that I've used that makes a noticeable difference to the  volume of my hair. I thought I was seeing things, so switched back to another shampoo and low and behold my hair was sitting flat on my scalp. Definitely going to buy a full size! My sample was quite sizeable so it's lasted me a good few weeks!

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Daily Treatment Conditioner (not pictured)
I looooove this conditioner. It really works for me, and the reasoning it's a current favourite is because I actually left my one at home, so when I was at uni I was finishing up some others, so when I was reunited with it for the last 2 weeks of March I remember how I loved it. The ends of my hair look fresher for longer and smells amazing. I only apply it right to the ends- it's really great and I will definitely be purchasing my 4 bottle soon!

I love seeing favourite posts, and I've really enjoyed writing this! I don't do monthly ones because often it's the same things, so it would be incredibly boring to read. So hopefully you'll enjoy this, although they're a bit more scarce. Happy Belated Easter to all :)

Nic xxx

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November Hauling

Hello girlies!

I seem to have picked up a few new things this month, and although I took photos when I bought them but never got around to doing individual haul posts. So, I've decided to throw them all in together.  A few other items are going to be saved for individual reviews so look out for those.

First up is LUSH, until I started reading blogs I had no idea where to start. I'd always go in and smell everything but don't actually recall making a purchase. Now, I can't get enough! 

Calacas £2.95

Part of the Halloween collection. A wobbly shower jelly that smells lie lime, is but sweet at the same time. I love citrus scents, it's really refreshing. It also has a skull imprint on it, which is a nice little touch.

Snow Fairy 250g £5.95

The hype about this candy floss scented shower cream is definitely worth it. I think the smell is divine, but my housemate really doesn't like it. So, if you don't like sweet and sickly smells then I would avoid. As you can tell from the photo I couldn't wait to use it, but the thing that impressed me the most is how soft it leaves my skin feeling all day!

Daddy-O 100ml £4.75

I picked this up after some advise from the SA about what I can do to keep my highlights as bright as they should be. And she immediately recommended this. The shampoo is a deep violet which looks like it has a shimmer running through it. It's really gorgeous. I also read online it's great for anyone with dyed her to help it remain vibrant and shiny!

Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Facemask £5.50

I mentioned this in my first ever post here and so it became my first ever Lush rebuy. The smell of blueberries is so lovely, and it really does help calm and soothe your skin, leaving it really soft after you rinse it off.

I've become an absolute dry shampoo fiend and when I read Tamsin's from little Glitter's post about Girlz Only's offerings I knew I had to try it. You can read her full review here. At only £1.50 for 150ml it was an absolute steal. 

It's available from Tesco, and does come a few scents I believe, although my Tesco only had the pink in stock. So I snapped up two. The smell is really nice, quite sweet and leaves my hair looking so clean. I think it may have taken over from my TRESemme dry shampoo while saving me a few pounds!

I feel in love with Mat Lumiere in the summer, and my interest was mostly sparked by the infamous Anna at viviannadoesmakeup. After trying out a sample I went back to Boots to pick one up, but the previous SA had written down the wrong shade, so I ended up getting shade 20, instead of 40. Which I then slapped on my face before realising it was far too light.

With my £15 worth of Debenham's beauty points, after 2 months I finally picked up the right shade! I was just mixing it before, but that is a bit of faff. It really is a beautiful foundation and I might have to pick up another before it gets discontinued!

If anyone would like any in depth reviews of any of the above products or has any requests at all please get in touch! Either via email or just in the comments below. Also, any Lush recommendations are always appreciated.

Nic xxx

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