FOTD - I think it's my first!

Hi peeps! 

So I think this is my first face of the day!

Not very good at taking pics of myself but I hope you get the idea!

Close up! 

The stash!

Base

Body Shop Retractable blush brush.

Laura Geller Balance and Brighten in Porcelain

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden

Cheeks

Benefit Sugarbomb as blusher

MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlight

Eyes

Wet n Wild Trio in Walking on Eggshells - I used all three colours.

MAC Mystery Eyeshadow for contour.

Estee Lauder Double Wear eyeliner in Onyx.

Ojon  Restorative lash treatment and mascara.

Your Best Friend transforming eye brow pencil in universal brown.

Tweezerman Brow Mousse.

Lips

The Body Shop Lip exfoliator.

Mineral Flowers Juicy Lips Lip Balm in Mango

MAC Snob

Hope this was okay for my first FOTD!

Thanks!

Empties

It is that time again. I am on a mission for finish some products ready for a new year! Here is what I have finished so far.

Sure Women Crystal - Clear Aqua (£2.09 150ml) - So I have already repurchased this because it simply does what it says on the tin. Keeps away white marks, protects from odour and doesn't irritate. I have bought the bigger size as this didn't last a super long time. Buying them on 3 for 2 always makes them a great deal!

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil (£16.50 250ml) - I have resisted buying another one of these as I loved it so much! The only reason I haven't is that I have a box full of shower gels I need to get through before I can justify £16.50 on another bottle of this! Just a gorgeous subtle smelling shower oil which doesn't foam a lot but cleanses so gently and leaves the skin feeling so soft and smooth. After a long shift, having a shower with this was put luxurious bliss! A great present I think too.

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner (£19.40 - 200ml) - This is part of my staple skin care routine. I just love it. The smell and the soothing, moisturising effects. I already have 2 more in stock and I will probably look out for it in gift sets in the January sales!

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara (£7.99 11ml) - 

I bought this on a whim as I find my staple Estee Lauder Double wear mascara to be a bit lacking on the volume front when heading off on a night out. This certainly does give you volume but can be a little clumpy. I would probably buy this again but I have 6 mascaras unopened in my make up draw that I should probably try first!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Volume + Lift Mascara (£20.00 6ml) - 

So if you have read my blog you know I love my Double Wear mascara! This one I wont buy again because I don't think it is quite as good as the original which I am using at the moment. These mascaras last about 6 months using them every day so I don't think it is bad value for the quality you get.

Ultrasun 30SPF Face (£19.95 50ml) - Great moisturising SPF I wear every day under my make up. Creates a great base and I never get caught out when the sun is shining! It is really protecting for this time of year too. I finished off a sample size too, I wish they did these sizes all the time as they are great for travel.

Garnier Simple Essentials Soothing 2 in 1 make-up remover (£2.99 200ml) -

 At first I loved this and this is my second bottle of it. I use it on the Kleenex facial tissues and use them the same way you use a face wipe. Now I have noticed that even though it is a dry oil remover it leaves my skin rather dry and flaky. I am on the look out for a similar liquid make up remover that doesn't cost a bomb. I wont be repurchasing this.

DR. Bronners Magic All-One Soaps (£5.48 236ml) - I got these samples in a JolieBox a while ago and was less than impressed but they make amazing make up brush cleaners. The make up just runs out of them and the brushes are soft and clean afterwards. I am thinking of buying a bottle just for this purpose.

Melvita Fresh Micellar Water for Face and Eyes (£15.00 200ml) -

 I got this sample form Latest in Beauty as I have said before I am looking foe a liquid to remove my make up. I did like this one however, it has a really floral scent. I didn't mind it but the product its self irritated my skin. It did remove make up well but I wont be splashing out on a full size. 

Dead Sea Spa Magik Delicate Boosting Mask (£7.70 75ml) - I can't remember where I got this sample from but I decided to use it when my skin was drying out and flaking as it says it is for dry sensitive skin. I loved it's effect as it left my skin feeling hydrated and soft unlike most masks which leave my skin tight. I really want to buy a full size of these as they are so cheap for the results it gives but I think I will hold off for now.

Monu Soothing Touch Recovery Balm (£16.25 50ml) - 

This is a great product for stressed, dry or irritated skin. It is on my wish list for Christmas. My skin seems to just drink it up and looks great the day after I have put this on at night. It is a little on the expensive side but I think it is worth it.

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (£28.60 50ml) - Now don't get me wrong, I like this. In fact I have a full one open and a spare in my skincare supplies. However, I don't think it is worth the price tag. Yes it is nice, yes it is a little luxury but I don't think it does a lot. I think if you want it to do what it says you are better off buying Alpha H Liquid Gold. I wouldn't put anyone off trying it as I love Elemis and think because skin is so personal it could work wonders on someone else. I wont be buying this again when my others run out unless it is part of a set (which the full ones I have were!).

L'Oreal Youth Code Day Cream (£15.31 50ml) - Now this was a sample that I just didn't like. I found it did nothing. It did sink into my skin well but apart from that I noticed no other benefits. It wasn't moisturising at all for my skin.

TIGI Bead Head Hard Head Hairspray (£7.80 385ml) - If you are looking for an extreme hold hairspray I recommend this! It gives a gorgeous shine and a really strong hold. It does go crunchy but will brush out easily. It is a little pricey for hairspray but it is currently on Cheap Smells! I don't know if that means they are discontinuing it but it still appears to be on TIGI's website.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (£12.75 100ml pump) - So this has taken me a while to use. My first tube took me a a few months to use but this has taken me about 8 months! Simply because it stopped working for me and I moved on to other things. But as the weather has started to dry my skin out I turned to this for a moisturising cleanse. It did certainly help. I haven't rushed out to buy a replacement as I had a different brands cream cleanser I wanted to try. If I find I don't get on with it I will certainly be buying some more!

Hopefully I can use a few more products up soon and resist temptation to buy hundreds more!

Barry M Foundation Creme No.1 - Lighten your foundations

If you know me or have read some of my previous posts you will know I am VERY pale.

However, when I am colour matched for foundations they always get it wrong but I can't tell until I get out in natural light and have already fallen for their sales tricks!

So when I was in Superdrug and saw this Barry M Creme Foundation 1 which is a white foundation I breathed a sigh of relief.

I snapped it up so quick as I have been on the look out for a white foundation for a long time. I decided to first try it mixing it with the badly matched Estee Lauder Double Wear in the shade Bone. As you can see below, this is way too dark for my skin tone.

I just put a small amount of the white on the back of my hand and rather a lot of the Double Wear (by accident!) and mixed it together with a foundation brush.

This then resulted in LOTS of foundation on my hand, enough to cover my face for 3 days I think (nice waste of product there Clare!). However, the colour was perfect.

This made me like the Double Wear (and the money spent on it!) that bit more as it didn't make me look like an orange. I think that I will be trying this with a few MAC foundations I own too to try and use them up. I also wont be frightened to pick up cheaper brands now which never do a shade light enough. 

I am now thinking that I should actually buy a few more of these in case they decided to stop making it or something!

Do you have a problem being matched for foundations too?

Barry M Foundation Creme No.1 - £6.99 Superdrug

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - £27.50 Boots

Estee Lauder Treats!

I have already raved about how much I love Estee Lauder's Double Wear mascaras so I wont bang on about that but the other day I walked passed my local counter in Boots and totally got sucked in my their recent free gift promotion!

As I am coming to the end of Double Wear Mascara and have always wanted to try their Double Wear Foundation I thought this was a perfect time to try it out.

In order to be eligible for the free gift you had to make 2 purchases, one being either skincare or foundation.

I opted for the original Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara as having tried all the variations I find this the best for me and the Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup in the shade 1W1 Bone.

I then got to choose between a gift containing either Brown or Pink shades of make up.

I went for the pinks as I have recently bough a lot of brown, gold, bronze coloured palettes.

The gift included a palette of 4 Pure Colour Eyeshadows, Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara in Extreme Black, Pure Gloss lip gloss in Berry Lush and a lipstick which I gave to my mum as I wouldn't really wear the shade.

However, it was the skincare which really got me excited in this gift! I have never tired Estee Lauder skincare because it is quite pricey for my budget so I though this was a good way of trying it out.

It included Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator, Take It Away Total Makeup Remover and DayWear Advanced Multi Protection Anti Oxidant Creme SPF 15.

They are all pretty good sample sizes as well so I should be able to get a good trial of all the products and no doubt end up spending a lot of money on the full sizes!

The gifts came in the cute makeup bag which is just the right size for travel.

I would advise anyone who loves Estee Lauder or who wants to try any of their products to look out for their free gift offers as they usually run a few over the festive period. After all we all need a present for ourselves every now and again!

2011 Favorites

So another year is nearly down (cries!) and many products have been used. Here are the ones I have discovered, rediscovered and adored!

Make Up

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC15 - This lives in my handbag. Perfect for touch ups!

MAC Powder Blush in Coygirl - In my make up bag all year. Perfect subtle pink for day and night.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation (Combination/Oily) in Ivory - The foundation I have been searching for all my life! Perfect colour match.

ELF Studio Powder Brush - Used for applying my foundation leaving a flawless finish.

Rimmel Matte White eyeshadow - Everyone needs a matte white eyeshadow and this is as good as any I have used.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara in Black - Claims it lasts 15hrs without smudging...it does last 15hrs and I love it!

Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus - Improved my lashes no end and adds mucho volume!

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup - Glides on and looks so pretty. My 'Go to' MAC lipstick.

ELF Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink - MAC Creme Cup dupe if you ask me! This usually finds itself in my handbag in case I forget my Creme Cup!

Skin Care

Liz Earle Smoothing Line Serum - As I am in my late 20's now I am thinking of lines! I'm not sure if this is helping but it feels nice!

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser in Dry/Sensitive - I use this as a night cream after my serum. Skin soaks it in and feels super smooth in the morning.

Elemis Sensitive Cleansing Wash - Replaced my Cleanse and Polish and I love it so!

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner - Replaced my Liz Earle Skin Tonic...Sorry Liz! But Elemis seems to suit me so well.

The Body Shop Coconut Milk Body Lotion - I hate thick greasy mosturisers for my body. I have dry itchy legs and cannot stand emollients. I have fallen for this product so hard! It is light, milky and soaks in so quickly. Smooth, silky, gorgeous smelling legs!

Ultrasun Face SPF 30 - Just to reassure me I am doing everything I can not to go wrinkly! Great base for my everyday make up too!

Liz Earle Muslin Cloths - Now Liz says they don't work well with other products...I use them with my Elemis and they work better with that! I couldn't live without them!

 Hair

Umberto Giannini Backcomb In A Bottle - Some people really don't like this but when you get it right...its fabulous!

Umberto Giannini Volumising Blow Drying Spray - Not sure they still sell this now or they have repackaged it but it gives an extra lift and protection.

Bed Head Hard Head Hairspray - Shine and hold...perfect :)

VO5 Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Powder - Gives my hair a sexy oomph indeed! Seeing these powders a lot in salons now too.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - A Classic!

Goody Cushion Brush - I got a Tangle Teezer for Christmas and must admit I love it but this is a pretty good brush. I use it every time I blow dry and since I'v started using it haven't had to use straighteners which is very impressive if you ask me!

Nails

OPI Nail Varnish Remover - Super fast acting and has helped me keep my nails somewhat healthier this year.

Nails inc. Polish in Victoria - I have had this for a number of years but this year I got A LOT of use!

Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File - I wouldn't ever think of using a bog standard file ever again.

Leighton Denny Precision Corrector Liquid and Brush - You know those corrector pens you get? Well this is 10x better than those!

OPI Original Nail Envy - Has saved my nails in 2011 without a doubt. On it's own, base coat and top... definitely worth the price.

Randoms!

H&M brown across the body bag - I bought this in August and have worn it every day since (well nearly every day!).

DAB Radio Alarm Clock - Great alarm! It is usually tuned into BBC Radio 5 Live...Yeah I like my talk radio!

Filofax Personal Organiser - This was a Christmas present in 2010 and it has my life in it!

ASOS Silver retro digital watch - Got this for £7 in an ASOS sale. Love it for casual outfits and it was a bargain!

Look Magazine - Bought every week in 2011, my bf is sick of seeing them laying around!

Well that's it...

HAPPY 2011 AND BRING ON A HAPPY 2012!


Loves xxx