Whats in my Box!?! Birchbox July 2013

So its that time of the month again- when the beauty boxes start making their appearances- all those little goodies to keep me busy. 

BirchBox July 2013

 The first thing I pulled out was RMK Creamy Foundation (RRP £35.00 for full size). Although a sample size- this is a very generous size compared to usual foundation samples- always a bonus. The foundation claims to have a high water retention formula meaning its super hydrating for our thirsty skin this summer.  

 RMK foundation RRP £35.00

I have only tried this once so far and I liked what I tried- it went on smoothly, blended well and had a lovely dewy finish. I will need to give it a few days before I can give a proper full review on this one. But so far so good.










Next we have The Balm Cosmetics InStain Longwearing Blush (Swiss Dot) RRP £21.50 for full size.

The Balm blush RRp £21.50

This is such an adorable little trial size blush- when I first pulled this out the box I wandered what in the name of beauty it actually was- then I opened what appeared to be a mini magazine to find this cute little blush. Its described as 'fresh tangerine' in color, and be warned it is very pigmented- a little really does go a long way. Not a color I would usually go for but even so I'm sure it will get some usage.







Chia Shots (£4.79 for 10 sachets) are something I had never heard of before, and I did think in all honestly this is a slightly random item to include. All Chia Co products are all made from 100% natural Australian grown Chia seed. 

£4.79 for 10 sachets

 Birchbox claim they are ''Super versatile, these little seeds can be sprinkled on salads, smoothies and soups.''



Not too sure  what these will taste like and im a little reluctant to sprinkle them anywhere without giving them a little taste first- but we shall see... 







Next we have Dead Sea Spa Magik Gentle Cleansing Face Wash (RRP £8.80) It claims to have natural ingredients to help cleanse the skin and fight bacteria to help reduce blemishes. I always find it difficult to review samples such as face wash/cleansers as for me I need to be using a product for some time to see any true affects, if it turns out to be a miracle cleanser I promise ill let you know!!

RRP £8.80

Vita Bella Hand Cream (RRP £17.00) was the next out the box. 

 

RRP 17.00 for full size

This hand cream is said to be natural, gentle and non greasy and contains ingredients such as rosehip oil, soothing aloe vera and super-hydrating hyaluronic acid. 

The photo is deceiving, this sample is a teeny size. Its not a bad hand cream but it does not even come close to my all time favorite- Rituals Ginko Hand Balm (scroll back for a full review of this little gem).  It will be ideal to pop in my pocket at work- although im sure it wont last very long...








And I was thrilled to find a 6th product this month- making this box great value for money. The last product is Blanc Cachmire Day cream (RRP £54.75 for the full size)

Birchbox say this product is ''100% natural ingredients are used in a high-tech way to provide a gentle approach to anti-ageing''

I have tried this a couple of times and I was pleasantly surprised- my face felt super soft and slightly 'tight' after application - I guess that's those natural ingredients working on my pre-wrinkles!! ;)

All in all I was impressed with this months Birchbox, the extra item is always a bonus too! If you would like to subscribe please click on the link below

http://birchbox.co.uk/

Hollywood Lashes

I developed my Hollywood Lash addiction about 8 months ago, I thought I would get a one off set done for my holiday- but how wrong I was to think I would stop at one set- I have been in love with them ever since! 

Hollywood Lashes- Picture from the Official Website

Hollywood lashes are semi-permanent lash extensions, where each individual lash is carefully glued to each of your own individual lashes, creating a beautiful full set.

The procedure

On my first appointment I arrived with little knowledge of what to expect- but I was pleasantly surprised it was quite a relaxing experience. To start with I was asked how long I would like them- On average a natural looking set would consist of mostly 'size 12' lashes (with varying sizes in the inner corner to create a more natural look) .... but as the months have progressed- so has the size of my lashes, I now have a set of size 16's!! Hollywood lashes give a more dramatic look than normal mascara does- but a more natural look than the DIY  'strips' of lash extensions you can purchase from the shops. 

My Hollywood Lashes- Full set, Size 16

 After lying down on the couch, a sticky strip is applied under each of your bottom lashes (to hold them out the way I assume and give a working surface for the lash application). A full set took about an hour to apply- but it can be much longer depending on the skills and experience of the beautician. A set of infills takes about 30mins to apply. At the end the beautician brushes them applys a puff of air to dry them and your ready to rock your new lash look!! 

I was advised not to get them wet until the following day and to only use oil-free products near my eyes to prevent breakdown of the glue.The next morning I half expected to find a few fall outs on my pillow (like the individual 'DIY' ones I had tried in the past) but to my joy- not a single one had budged! 

My Hollywood Lashes- with no other eye make up.

Over the next 2-3 weeks you do find some shed- my lashes are infilled every 2-3 weeks for a new fresh look. I  believe how they last depends on how you care for them- initially I was constantly touching them and picking at them, but over the months as I have become used to them I tend not to fiddle as much- and they last much longer!!

Prices do vary quite alot- In salons they tend to average £65 for a full set. The beautician who does mine has years of experience and charges £35 for a full set and £18-£22 for infills and works from a home studio. If anyone lives in the Birmingham area and would like more details please feel free to drop me an email.

The Pros

• Your lashes continuously look full and beautifully glam!
• They save so much time- before I used to spend 15 mins applying a thousand coats of mascara- but now they are ready to go as soon as you wake up!
• No smears or smudges
• The compliments you will receive!! :p

The Cons

• Fairly costly if you go to a salon
• Approaching 'infill time' they can look like they have seen better days- and as your natural lashes grow, they Hollywood extensions can grow at less than desirable angles (although with the use of a mini lash brush this can usually be corrected)
• You need them infilled 2-3 weekly
•  You can never wear an eye mask to sleep- I found this one out the hard way. Not a pretty look with lashes sticking out in all directions.
• I cant really comment on the effect they have on your natural lashes underneath as I have not seen my own since the day I started having the Hollywoods. 

Overall I would recommend Hollywood lashes, I love mine and they have saved my hours of time applying coat after coat of mascara!! Give them a try and let me know what you think!! 

Lancome Vernis in love Nail Varnish giveaway...

All you have to do is enter (to the right of this page) and leave a comment below with your email address so that I can contact the winner. 

Good Luck, Lots of Love xx

My MAC Lippies!

MAC have such a fabulous range of lippies in all colors and shades to suit pretty much anyone. Here are the ones I own- as you can see i'm not the most adventurous with colors and tend to stick to pinks.(and do excuse the ones that are a little messy- there are certain ones that do not like the heat and tend to melt pretty easily)

First up we have Hue (glaze) this is the very first Mac lipstick I ever purchased, it is raved out alot on you-tube and seemed to be one of Macs best selling lippies. Hue is a 'glaze' finish and is a very pale neutral light pink. It wasn't quite what I expected- I had expected it to be a little more pink than it actually is and although it is a lovely wearable color- I just don't seem to find I wear it very often.

Next up we have Angel (Frost) This is very  similar to Hue, but a little more sheer. It is a 'Frost' finish and has slightly more lilac undertones than Hue. Another very wearable color that suits most people.

Bombshell (Frost)  is a lovely shimmery pink, a perfect every day color. Looks fab with a lick of pink gloss over the top. 

  
My all-time favorite is Pink Pearl Pop (cremesheen). This lipstick is a beautiful beautiful color. It is a vibrant girly pink that looks super flattering with smokey eyes. This is a perfect summer shade. Its smooth and creamy on the lips and there is no need for any gloss- its perfect on its own. 


Viva Glam Niki (Satin) is a yellow toned bright bold pink. All profits made from Macs VIVA glam lipsticks go to MAC Aids Fund (registered UK charity number 1147222). I love this idea- celebrity inspired lipsticks for charity. The lipstick is stunning- not the most wearable for the less adventurous but certainly one to try out!

Costa Chic (creamsheen) is an other shade that's very flattering in the summer whilst we all have our tans. (or even in the winter when we all have our spray tans) :p Its a pinky coral and has an opaque finish and brightens up any look. 

Mac lipsticks are priced at £15.00 each and you can purchase any of the above from this link http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/ 

And let me know what you think!! xx

Hair Extensions

Hair extensions are such a great way to add length and volume to you hair- they have been a part of my life for many years and they are just so versatile- you can have clip ins, sew ins, glue'ins- and a whole variety of other ways to attatch'em 'in!

For hair extension virgins what hair to buy can be very confusing and potentially disastrous if you haven't done your research. (I talk from experience) I remember my first set of hair extensions as if it were yesterday- getting the bus into town after school with a purse full of coins I had saved up with an entire months lunch money- walking into the hair shop... and wow it was hair heaven! I had never seen so much hair in my life- rows upon rows on the stuff- curly blonde weaves, black bob wigs, and then the extensions- hundreds of them.... 

I walked nervously to the counter and asked if the young man could kindly help match my hair, he pulled down a set of platinum blonde ones, held them up to my golden blonde hair and said 'yes yes these are the ones, the match is perfect'. There was no mirror, but I could easily see that the mane that he was holding was about 9 shades lighter than my actual color- but being 14 and not the most confident of girlies at the time- I politely agreed and purchased them, along with a few clips I could sew on myself. 

 
 After getting them  home, watching a few 'how to' you-tube vids and trying my hand at sewing I was ready for the big moment. I clipped them in, tried my best to blend them, cut them a little with the food scissors out of the kitchen and waltzed into the lounge to show off my new locks- well- I will never forget my family's face until this day- pure shock and horror.



I have 11 years of extension experience since that day (to my family's pure relief) and I would like to share with you what I believe are the main things to achieving a great look with hair extensions.

The hair

The hair you buy is the most important thing. There are so many types out there is can be very bewildering- so here is the basics...

Human or synthetic? 
 In my experience Human hair is the best by far, it is longer lasting, more natural looking, easier to style and more durable. Synthetic hair however has come along leaps and bounds over the years and some people would choose it over human hair every time- but my personal opinion is go for human!!

Types of human hair
Next is what type of human hair- don't be fooled by the fact that just because something claims to be human hair- it will be great quality- this just is not the case. Human hair has many different qualities- and unfortunately- you do get what you pay for, and if you can afford to scrape a few extra pounds together the hair will be worth it and last much longer- I promise :)

The very best type of human hair is 100% Virgin Remy hair- 

European virgin remy hair

 This hair is very very rare-(going for a bit of rhyming there to keep you all entertained).. it is hair that has literally just been cut from one persons head of hair and is ready to go- its not chemically treated in any way.  For those out there with very dark/black hair it is easier to get hold of (as it primarily Indian Remy hair) Those of us with lighter hair would have to go for the European Virgin Remy hair  and this costs hundreds upon hundreds of pounds... believe me I have scoured the internet trying to find this gold dust hair and its just so rare I have given up.... so I have been using what I believe to be the next best thing.....


Remy hair... Remy hair is different to normal human hair in that the cuticles of the hair are all aligned and are facing the same way (normal non-remy hair have cuticles facing in different directions meaning it tangles a lot easier). I used to buy non- Remy hair (for approx £35 a set) and I promise you the Remy hair I buy now (approx £85 a set) is well well worth the extra money and lasts me about 5 times longer. There are many types of Remy hair out there also- but  the very best in my experience is Remy Couture by Sleek. (I have the silky weave) I pay approx £85 for a 16 inch set.

For years I used to sew on the clips and use them as clip-ins but for the past 8 months I have had them sewn in professionally. To get them sewn in costs only £60 at the salon- which is a bargain compared to the price of having the micro beads or the glue option. Every 2-3 weeks I have the sew-ins tightened and that costs me £30 (£10 a row). They make a little plat and sew the hair to the plat- easy and effective!!

 

Be warned though- it does become a slight addiction, I couldn't be without my false hair now and when trying to budget each month its now sneakily made its way up into my 'essentials' list!!! (don't tell the other half :p)

Once you have your locks- maintenance is the next step... and this is just as essential as buying good quality hair!! (even the very best virgin hair can look less than glam if not cared for correctly) 
 

• Number one in maintenance is try not to wash it too regularly- They do recommend once every two weeks but for me personally this is just...urgh... way too long my fine hair would be like one big grease ball by then. I do full wash about every 4-5 days and do the little trick I like to call a 'top wash' daily.... a 'top wash??' its perfect- just as it says- I section the top of my hair above the extensions and wash only that part- its much easier than it sounds I promise!! the top of you hair is fresh and squeaky clean- dry shampoo the bottom section- and your ready to go!!

• Always use a Gentle shampoo- I stick to something like Johnsons baby shampoo!!

• And lastly- condition, condition, condition! (and leave in condition) (and spray condition) (...and any other type of condition you can think of) Im sure you get where im headin' here!! Because your extensions don't get the oils from you roots than your natural hair does- they are likely to become dry alot quicker- there are 2 holy grail products I have found to keep you extensions in luxurious condition....

• Number 1- Maroccon Oil (I apply this after washing and before blow drying- it really is worth the hype and makes a noticeable difference to the condition of your hair- its actually pretty amazing!!

• Number 2- Macedemia hair mask (I saw so many reviews on you tube about this baby and I'm so glad I tried it, I leave it in overnight and the next day your hair will feel softer than ever!!)

Oh and make sure you get it cut/trimmed professionally- if you don't have your locks cut and shaped I guarantee they will look fake and 'straggly' (is that even a real word??) Having them cut will leave you with a more natural finish- why not add a few layers in there too! If you follow these steps I guarantee you will be impressed with the results and have gorgeous looking long luscious hair!! 

Let me know how you get on :) xxx

Rituals Ginko's secret Handcream! A true Holy Grail Product!

Rituals Ginko's Secret Hand cream/balm really is a little gem of a product that I have purchased time and time again, if there is any one product I own that deserves a mention- this is it!! 

At £10 a tube this is such a bargain- I would honestly pay double for this tube of luxury. I have about 4 million hand creams, and im a sucker for trying new ones out- I have tried high end, drugstore Au-natural, hand made and pretty much every kind of hand cream going- but never has one even come close to this beauty. It quite literally melts into your hands- its not sticky at all- very light, extremely moisturizing and literally makes your hands feel like silk. This is a must have product in my opinion. Try it and let me know what you think. 

Rituals claim the product is ''Enriched with Ginseng (the symbol for immortality) and Ginkgo Biloba which is known to strengthen the blood vessel'.

If you really fancy giving your hands a treat, try the Hand therapy Ginkgo scrub before applying the handcream/balm- words really cant describe how soft even the dryest of hands will be after using the both of these together!

Click here to be directed to the Rituals website

Birch Box- June 2013 Review

As usual I was super excited when opening my little montly box of cosmetic wonders known as BirchBox...

Birchbox is the second monthly Beauty Box I subscribe too (after trying out a few I have now decided on keeping this subscription going along with my GlossyBox subscription).  The Cost of this Box is £10 (+P&P) and can be ordered from http://www.birchbox.com/.

Each month you are sent a selection of 4-5 products, either sample/trial size or when lucky- full size products! They are a great way to try out new cosmetic items without paying through the nose!

So whats in Junes BirchBox...

Full Size RRP £15.00

 Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle Leave in conditioner- This is my favorite item out of this months box- it smells lovely and does exactly what it says on the bottle... It de-tangles, it conditions and it leaves my extensions feeling pretty luxurious and soft!  A nice little travel size bottle- ill be taking this on holiday for sure! The full size of this retails at £15.00.

RRP £14.00

MODEL co Eye define Pencil in Black- The only full size product in this months box is this black eye liner (RRP £14.00) Not too much to say about this one- In all honestly I have only used it once as have become a little more fond of using brown liners in recent weeks- but still a nice little full size addition to this months box.

RRP £20.00 for full size

Next up is Noble Isle Bath & Shower Gel in Willow song- Its nice. Thats it. Nothing wow. Personally I think its only the snob in me knowing the full size version costs £20.00 that makes me feel luxurious when using this- Ill save it for the hols!! 

£10.00 for 4 mini's

Color Club Nail Polish in 'Mod In Manhatten'-
Im a little gutted after having a nose at the colors others received in their boxes- Iv seen limes and corals and stunning summery pastels! I seem to have pulled the short straw this month with not one- but two bottles of the same color- (thumbs down for the lack of variety here) ...its white, thick, slightly on the gloopy side, and its a color that highlights every little imperfection if not applied like a semi pro nail technician! 

RRP £26.00 (for full size)

And Lastly we have a 7ml sample tube of Coola Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber- I haven't used this yet, in all honestly i'm just not that excited by it. It went straight to the back of my skincare drawer and may possibly get forgotten about. I will try to remember to dig it out come my holiday in September and if by any chance it turns out to be anything spectacular I promise I will let you guys know!! :D

Overall not a bad box this month- but by far certainly not one of my favorites- I will use most of these but I don't think any of them will be re-purchases... but for a tenner I cant really complain! :p 

x x x

  

 

YSL Teint Touche Eclat Foundation Review

Packaging and Price

For £29.50 you get 30mls of product presented in this gorgeous, simple yet classic glass bottle with a pump dispenser.

What the company claims-

• The light of Touche Éclat foundation targets shadowy areas and highlights the contours of the face. 
• With no opaque powders, its perfecting texture evens the complexion and helps conceal your imperfections, while enhancing your skin’s natural beauty 
• Illuminating foundation. Dimensional radiance. 
• Weightless perfection
•  Available in 22 shades.   

 My experience with the foundation

This is the newest addition to my foundation collection. For as long as I have worn make up I have always gone for a matte finish without question. Whenever anyone at a make up counter has ever suggested I go for a more 'dewy' finish I would immediately explain that it does not suit me. Where I got this idea from I am not sure- because this 'dewy' finish foundation has now jumped up to being  my favourite foundation of the moment! I had a sample given to me and reluctantly thought I would give the 'dewy' look a try- and I am so glad I pushed the boat out because its perfect, the finish is absolutely glowing! 


 The foundation has a fairly light and watery consistency, it glides onto the skin and blends beautifully. I find this foundation very hydrating and moisturising- it will be perfect for the coming warmer months. 

Mac Studio Fix Foundation

Packaging and Price

Mac studio fix is a pretty popular foundation and I have been using it for about 3 months (along with the many other foundations I like to switch between) This is one of the cheaper 'high end' or department store foundations at £20.50 and you get the standard 30mls in the glass bottle. When you buy this foundation it does not come with a pump dispenser (as you all know this is a must have feature for messy and clumsy people like myself) but a pump can be purchased for an extra £3.50 (ish...I could be telling a slight lie, it may have been £2.50)... either way it kind of irritated me to have to pay additional money for something I feel is essential, but perhaps that it just me? Another annoyance is that once you fit the pump the lid then doesn't fit over the top so I find its not very attractive to have out on display.

What the company claims- 

• A modern foundation that combines a natural matte finish and medium-buildable coverage with broad spectrum 
•  comfortable and long wearing
•  Absorbs and disperses oil
• contains specially treated micronized pigments and soft focus powders for a super smooth look that helps minimize the appearance of imperfections 

Formula facts

• UVA/UVB SPF 15. 
• Absorbs and disperses oil
• Contains special skin conditioning ingredients
• Oil free

My experience with the Foundation

Firstly it smells fairly strongly, and has been compared by many bloggers as the smell of 'paint'. For some people this may be a slight issue- but as you know- I am a little strange in that I tend to like the foundations that have an 'unusual' scent- so for me this isn't an issue. 

I have however had issues with what method of application or what brush to use when applying this foundation- I find that most brushes I have used tend to leave streaky marks, I then need to apply a generous amount of powder to even it out. I have resulted in using either a beauty blender or just my fingers and this seems to be the most effective method of application. Once in place and powered up with Mac mineralize Skin finish Natural, the result is pretty good. The coverage is certainly full coverage in my opinion and it conceals pretty much all blemishes and areas of redness. 

When I first purchased this foundation I adored it, I wore it every day- it had a matte finish, lasted all day at work and didn't smudge or show signs of wear. After a few weeks of wearing it my skin condition seemed to worsen and I was noticing more breakouts than usual- so for this reason it has now been sitting at the back of my collection unused. Again this is a product I'm sure would be fantastic on certain people skin- but for mine its not so great.

Dior Forever Fluid Foundation

Packaging and Price- The price of this little beauty is £32.00 and contains the standard 30ml of product. It comes in a glass bottle, another product that looks lovely and elegant on display. 

What the company claims-

•  ultra-sensorial texture, bursting with made-to-measure perfecting skin care ingredients, melts into the skin for an absolutely perfect complexion that lasts all day long.
•  The foundation blends seamlessly with the skin for a smoother, more even complexion day after day.

 Product facts-

• SPF25
• All skin type
• Medium Coverage
• Satin Finish
• Hydrating
• SPF 25

 My experience with the foundation

This foundation was recommended by me to a friend, and I am very pleased with the results. It has a fairly runny consistency and needs to be layered to achieve good coverage- but it layers well and leaves no 'cakey' areas.

 I would agree with Dior that the foundations melts into the skin and leaves a flawless finish- the finish is similar to that of Lancome Teint Ultra Idole in my opinion. It has a satin finish but can be mattified with the use of a setting powder over the top. The foundation wears well throughout the day and true to Diors claims- it does last all day! I have been very pleased with this foundation but wish i had chosen one shade darker for the coming summer months (I have number 020). Overall this is a great foundation- Still I wouldnt say my holy grail but still one for the collection.

So my search continues for the perfect foundation-  I'm not entirely sure what any of these foundations are missing- but I'm waiting for the one that makes me think WOW, I will never need to use any other foundation ever again! Maybe I'm being a little unrealistic in my expectations, we shall see!!

Lancome Teint Idole ultra 24H and Teint Idole Ultra Compact Powder Reviews

Packaging and price- Lancome Teint idole Ultra 24H retails at £27.50 and the slender glass bottle contains 30mls of product. The bottle has a pump- which for me is a must with any foundation. I love the design of this bottle- one of those I'm proud to have display on my make up cabinet!

What the company claims-

•  A foundation that lasts all day
• Our first 24 hour* liquid foundation gives you an even, flawless looking complexion. 
• No need for touch ups. 
• With a blendable fresh texture and a smooth finish. 
• This long-lasting foundation provides the perfect coverage. 
• Available in 18 shades. 
• Retouch Free

Formula facts

• Oil free
• SPF 15
• - Suitable for all skin types including sensitive.
• Dermatologically tested
• -Non-comedogenic

My experience with the foundation

When first applied this foundation looks absolutly flawless- It applied like a dream, literally melted into my skin and my skin was left looking airbrushed.

 The consistancy is fairly light but as it glides on provides medium coverage- it is easily buidable up to my preferred full coverage look. As soon as this foundation was applied I thought this is it I have found it- my holy grail of all foundations.... but unfortunatly my search continues for the one following reason..... after about 3 hours of wear I noticed that around my nose area the product literally seemed to have 'melted' off leaving it looking cakey and far from the flawless finish after the initial application. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and continued to wear it for the week (wearing the Teint Idole Ultra 24H powder to set it) and to my great disappointment the same thing happened again and again. Im sure that this is not a problem that everyone will experience as it is likely the product just isnt suited to my skin- but for me this is not one I will be repurchasing.

I went back to the Lancome counter and asked for some advice and the consultant told me to 'just keep applying extra layers' -which unfortunately due to the nature of my job- I cant keep popping out leaving the pregnant lady in the delivery room to 'touch up' my foundation! With all of the above said I'm sure most will find this a pleasure to wear- it is very very scented- but I adore the smell and if anything will wear it for just that reason!
 

 Teint Idole ultra 24H Compact Powder

 

I have been using this to set the Teint Idole foundation- but this can be used alone as a foundation if desired- although for me this would not give enough coverage to wear alone. This will set you back £34.00- which is more than the Teint Idole foundation itself  (am I alone in wandering why powders are often more costly than foundations??) The packaging is a positive- it has a nicely sized mirror inside and comes with an applicator sponge. 

What the company claims- 

• Teint Idole Ultra Compact Powder glides like a fluid and finishes like a powder, to provide a weightless and flawless looking complexion. 
• Once applied, it holds for up to 18 hours and is transfer-resistant
• The satin matte finish is comfortable all day long.

My experience with the powder-

As I said above I wouldn't wear this alone as a foundation- but it works nicely to set my other foundations. I think for the price I could find an alternative that does a similar job (my Mac mineralize for example) but if you have the money to splash its a nice little powder to add to your collection! 

Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation

I have become officially addicted to my search for a holy grail foundation over the last few months- so my next few posts will be reviews on my recent foundation purchases- starting with the all famous Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation. 

Foundation is one of the all all-time debatable topics in the world of beauty- what one person loves another may hate. What foundation is perfect for you will depend on your skin type have and what finish you require.

My skin type is normal/combination. Until very recently I had very 'normal' skin- or at least I thought I did- but after becoming more educated in skincare I have come to learn that I can have a tendency to getting slightly oily in the T-Zone with mild dryness in the cheek area. My skin went through years of being blemish free (or almost blemish free) but recently has become more prone to some redness and blemishes- I am almost sure I am guilty of causing this myself by the excessive use of many different products. 

So enough about my skin, lets get to the Review...

RRP £27.50

 The packaging and price- The foundation comes in a lovely classy looking glass bottle with luxurious gold writing, the all famous gold Estee Lauder logo and a gold lid. The bottle contains 30ml of products which is the standard amount for most foundations and retails at £27.50. The one thing a hate about the packaging of this product is that there is no pump- I cant understand what in the name of beauty they were thinking when they decided not to include a pump- not only can it get very messy but also I find I end up pouring 3 times more of the product out than I actually needed (perhaps this was the idea they had in mind) If anyone knows of a pump that fits this please let me know in the comments box as It would be much appreciated!

What the company claims- 

• 15 hours of staying power- flawless all day
• Wont change colour, smudge or come off on clothes
• This worry-free, long-wearing foundation makeup stays fresh and looks natural through heat, humidity, nonstop activity.
• Feels lightweight and comfortable   

Formula Facts-

• Oil-free
• Dermatologist-tested
• Non-acnegenic
• Fragrance-free
• SPF10

My experience with the foundation-

As you can see above the foundation is fairly thick in consistency- but it goes onto the skin smoothly/ evenly and blends well. I have been using the Real techniques buffing brush to apply- but it also works well when just applied with the fingers. I agree with the claim that it last for 15 hours- I have been wearing this at work for my 13 hour shifts and it still looks pretty flawless at the end of the shift too! It also doesn't smudge or rub off easily- I am guilty of being one of those people who accidentally rub and touch their face a little too much, especially as I work nights- but this foundation is very resilient against this bad habit of mine! Im not too sure I totally agree with the claim that it feels lightweight- I can certainly tell I have foundation on when I'm wearing this, but its comfortable all the same. And as far as being fragrance free- I'm not too sure about this claim either- if anything I feel this smells a little like paint (but not in an off-putting way, I actually quite like the smell).

The coverage and finish- The finish of this foundation is Matte. Estee Lauder claim that this foundation is medium build able- but In my opinion I would say it is more of a full coverage foundation. My only negative for the product itself is that it doesn't seem to photograph very well- I have found  am fairly ghostly looking in pictures when wearing this- possibly due to the SPF. 

Overall I would recommend this foundation- still not quite my holy grail but certainly one I will continue to repurchase.

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