Budget Beauty #2

Once again, I'm back with a handful of drugstore products that are really floating my boat right now. The drugstore is doing a lot of things right at the moment, and despite being a high end girl at heart, I'm increasingly starting to feel like I can rely on the drugstore a little more.

I've used pore strips before but never been that impressed (read: they've never done anything). A couple of weeks ago Boots had the Biore Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips on offer for half price, and since I've heard a lot of people talk about them, they ended up in my basket. I'm so impressed with them, I actually went back and got an extra pack while they were on offer. I've been popping these on once a week in the mornings post shower, leave it on while I dry my hair, and rip it off (yes, it hurts), and bobs your uncle. I kinda enjoy seeing everything that comes out on these, is that gross? Probably, sorry. 

I promised a more detailed account of my thoughts on the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Waterproof Mascara so here goes nothing! I really don't like waterproof mascaras, I've tried a lot but I have never found one that doesn't make me want to rip my eyelashes out. I don't really know why I picked this up since I had kinda given up on finding a good waterproof mascara, but I'm totally obsessed with this! It's got a seriously bizarre plastic wand, it's thick and chunky and it's got a mix of little spikey bristles and little balls. I'm not sure why it works but it just does. It really gets all up in and around your lashes, grabbing every single one and coating them individually, so you're left with long fluttery volumised lashes. As far as formula goes, it's intensely black and totally waterproof (I've worn this in the shower with my head under the water and it's not even flaked a smidgen), but it doesn't feel thick or heavy. It still looks perfect at the end of the day, and it comes off pretty easy with a good balm cleanser. I'm hooked. 

I'm not normally much of a lip liner gal, but I'm currently hooked on the Max Factor Colour Elixir Lip Liner in Pink Princess. It's a really creamy formula but it sets on your lips and won't budge (even after six cups of coffee and a burger). I've been using it all over my lips on it's own for a pretty matte pink look, or layering the Maybelline Colour Sensational High Shine Gloss in Fuchsia Flash over the top for the perfect glossy pink pout. Very Summer appropriate.

Have you tried any of these products? What are you loving from the drugstore right now?

The Review: Max Factor Face Finity Primer

As you guys know, the Max Factor Face Finity Foundation is one of my absolute favourites, so when they released a primer under the same name I couldn't wait to get my makeup maven mitts on it. 

I've been using this primer for around six weeks now, so it's fair to say I've given it a bit of a run for it's money. Also I should point out, I've barely made a dent in it. Impressive.

This primer is housed in the same packaging as the foundation of the same name, which, if I'm being honest, I don't like. It's big and clunky and kinda old lady looking. The glass is unnecessarily thick and the lid is huge, it's definitely not travel appropriate, which is a shame. It does however hold a whopping 30ml of product, which is more than any other primer currently in my stash. I generally find that one pump will do my whole face too, so no wastage issues, even though I generally prefer my primers to be in some kinda squeezy tube. 

The primer itself is white, although it is completely clear on the skin. It blends in well and a little goes a long way. I love that with this you can apply your foundation immediately after, I don't have time to wait around for primers to set. It leaves your skin feeling smooth but almost slightly tacky, so when you apply your foundation it pretty much adheres directly to the primer. This is what makes it such a fantastic primer, it just really holds onto your foundation throughout the day so it doesn't budge at all. I don't find that it effects the look of your foundation either, unlike some others I've tried, you wouldn't know you applied it. 

For me, this primer is up there with the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, which I have waxed lyrical on previously, in terms of staying power this is by far the best drugstore option I have tried (and I've tried a lot).

Definitely worth picking this one up! 

What is your favourite budget primer?

Lip and Cheek Pairings

A few weeks back I wrote a post on Lip and Nail Combinations, and a lot of you requested a post all about the blushes I wear with lipsticks. Well, your wish is my command, today I've picked out some of my favourite combinations for you. Now, these aren't necessarily colours that match, but they just go together really well. 

One of my favourite blushes is the Creme Blush de Chanel in Revelation, which is a gorgeous dusky pink with an almost mousse like texture. This is a really neutral blush, it's very natural looking on the skin, making it great to pair with a smokey eye. When I wear this I tend to go for a neutral lip to go with it, and right now I've been loving pairing it with the L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire in Rose Melody, a really pretty nude pink gloss. In a similar nude theme, the Benefit Rockateur Blush is kinda halfway between a blush and a bronzer, with a hint of natural shimmer. Whilst this is the perfect blush to pair with a red lip (since it defines without being too much), I also love pairing this with the Urban Decay Lipstick in Fiend, I don't know why this pairing works, but it just does.

I've been getting a lot of wear out of the Bobbi Brown Apricot Blush recently, it's a gorgeous bright pink, that looks scary in the pan but lovely on the cheeks. My favourite lip pick to pair with it is the Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour in Rosy, which is a beautiful bright pink with a hint of coral. It's slightly sheer so it's not too scary, but it's pretty and summery. 

The NARS Blush in Gilda, is slightly out of my comfort zone, I don't usually go for matte peach blushes, but this is ever so pretty. I love the look of this blush with the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita, a gorgeous matte dark peach shade, that goes perfectly. 

And lastly, a duo practically made for each other, the Estée Lauder Pure Colour Cheek Rush in Pink Patent, a gorgeous cream blush in a blue toned pink shade, and Estee Lauder Pure Shine Lipstick in Plexi Pink, a sheer blue pink that screams Summer. It's worth noting that these are both incredibly long lasting.

What are your favourite pairings?

Easy Peasy Nail Routine

I don't discuss nails much here, because I'm something of a nail-art-noob. However, in the last few months I've been trying to perfect my basic manicure routine and if I do say so myself, it's pretty good these days.

I take all my nail polish off with whatever remover I have to hand. I then shape my nails (by shape, I mean smooth out) with the Stylefile, which is my favourite nail file, the curved shape makes it so easy to make all your nails look the same.

I then coat my cuticles in the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover, which is like a cuticle removing gift from God. I give it a few seconds and then use the red end on the weird stick to basically take off my cuticles which pretty much dissolve. I use a cotton pad to remove any residue, and wash my hands before moving on!

The base coat I'm in love with right now is the Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat, which has made a massive difference to the strength and overall quality of my nails. They're smoother and they snap less! It also makes a great base for colour, really bonds all the layers together and helps chipping. I then go in with two coats of whatever colour I'm using (pictured is Essie Tart Deco). I like to keep a tiny gap between the polish and cuticle, it just looks neater that way, and once that is mostly dry, it's topcoat time. I've tried a lot of topcoats including the wildly hyped Seche Vite, but by far my favourite is Sally Hansen Mega Shine Topcoat. The glossiest topcoat I've ever used and it dries just as fast, if not faster than Seche Vite.

How do you do your nails?

The Makeup Bag

Once again, I'm living out of a suitcase, and the biggest makeup bag I could find to hand. I hate it, because I love having choice, I'm almost tempted to lug back my Muji stash when I pop back to London for supplies this week. But for now, it's a great opportunity to share some of the items that made it into my bag, that are worth a mention.

I am totally obsessed with the Anastasia DipBrow Pomade, it's so easy to apply and it really makes my brows look strong and defined, but still natural looking. I don't know how it works, but it's freaking brilliant and I don't want to be without it! Also in the eye department, I'm so impressed with the Wet and Wild Colour Icon Silent Treatment Palette, it's such an easy, workable trio of colours, you can create a pretty day look or a darker smokey eye. 

I've fallen back in love with my MAC Concealers recently, and I've been using the MAC Mineralize Concealer under my eyes and down my nose, it works well to really lighten the skin. I've been setting my T-Zone with the Chanel Les Beiges Powder in B10, which really diffuses the look of my giant nose pores, and makes my skin look so much nicer. 

I've had this mini Benefit Hoola Bronzer for a long time now and never really used it, so I decided to chuck it in the bag, especially since it was starting to look a little full in there and this is tiny. It's completely matte so it makes a nice contour, but it also works well to just warm up the face. It's a little on the dark side, but a light hand and extreme blending works wonders. I mentioned the Bobbi Brown Apricot Blush, in Sundays post, but I had to mention it again, it's a gorgeous bold pink, and it wears so amazingly well throughout the day.

My favourite lip duo the last week or so has been the MAC Creme Cup Lipstick, which I also mentioned on Sunday, with the Buxom Lip Creme in Mudslide over the top. It just leaves the lips looking pretty and full, and together creates a gorgeous nude shade with just a hint of pink.

What products are you guys loving right now?