Tuesday, May 30, 2017

VICHY DERMABLEND FLUID CORRECTIVE FOUNDATION




I’m one of these bloggers who are really lazy and slow to jump on any sort of hype. I think the fastest I ever bought a ‘cult’ product was the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette, and it still took me about three weeks to hand over the cash. Here’s another example of my lack of urgency when it comes to buying blogger favourites; the Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation 16HR.

If you’re always scrolling through blogs or Instagram, this little black tube of lusciousness will be no stranger to you. I’m a big lover of French products; my fave being La Roche Posay, yet I’ve never tried Vichy until now. It cost £17.99, which seemed a little more expensive than what I’d been expecting. Everyone always says how affordable it is, but eighteen bloody quid is still on the steep side for a penniless sitar player blogger. Luckily I had some points on my Superdrug card to knock some pounds off the total price.

I was sort of hoping they’d have the foundation in the shade Porcelain 05, but I ended up with Opal 15, which is slightly deeper and yellow-er. I’m really quite pale, but I figured since summer is coming and I reeeally wanted to try this foundation I should take it anyway and give it a go. 

I was surprised to find that the foundation is actually a really good match for me, even though I’ve not quite got my summer glow yet. Despite the fact it’s slightly yellow, I can even it out using my MAC Powder + Foundation over the top. It’s got wonderful coverage, too, blends out wonderfully and covers most of my pesky freckles. It feels very light and airy on my oily skin.

I’ve also found that it’s got a fair amount of staying power. I work behind a bar in a hot pub, and my foundation stays (mostly) in place. My face is pretty much an oil-slick at the best of times, but this foundation really holds its own. It’s pretty much crease-proof, too! There are no lines in my under-eye or on my eyelids, which are always the main offending areas for creasing.

I’d say that the coverage is somewhere between matte and natural. For those dewy skin-lovers, this may not be the foundation for you. But, for matte-lovers who crave a full coverage base, this is one for you. I have found that it goes on the best using my Sigma F80 or the ZOEVA 104 Buffer Brush, and it really blends out to look like it’s part of your skin, rather than sitting on top of your skin.

I can see why the bloggers I follow are in love with this foundation; it’s a little tube of loveliness and I’ve been really enjoying using it. Despite the price tag being a liiiiiittle steep, it’s definitely one that I’m thankful to have in my collection. It’s certainly one of the better foundations I’ve spent my money on lately, and I’d quite like to try some of Vichy’s other offerings in the future, too.

Lots of love,
Jasmine x

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Saturday, May 27, 2017

SPRING NUDE LIQUID LIPSTICKS



There comes a time when your blood-red lipsticks just won’t cut it any more. A time when a peachy blush, a coat of mascara and a nude lip is all you need for a day’s full-face. Spring is firmly upon us, and I’m swapping out my blacks, browns and reds for girly nudes instead. These are my top 5 nude liquid lipsticks for spring on every budget.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in London | £5.50
NYX’s liquid lipsticks are second to none, and this soft matte lip cream in London is suuuuper pretty and daytime appropriate. The only thing that irks me is the general slippery-slidiness of the formula; it slides around like a bugger and never really ‘sets’. Other than that, the shade is lovely and really understated.

Sleek Matte Me Liquid Lipstick in Birthday Suit | £4.99
When I saw this online, it looked much more nude than it ended up being. Even though it is much pinker than I expected, I still really like it. The formula, although thin at first, sets really nicely and looks properly matte. As you can see from the swatch, it’s a little bit gloopy, but a steady hand will keep the lipstick looking even, and you’ll have lips looking rosy all day. It's also the most affordable of the bunch, and Sleek never disappoints on the quality of their lip products.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Bow N Arrow | £17
This is definitely my favourite of the bunch. I’ve barely left the house without it since I bought it. It’s definitely the most ‘nude’ out of all of the lineup here, and I’m absolutely in love with the muted, beige undertones. It’s also the most opaque and easy to apply. The wand is a little long, which took me ages to work out, but it’s second nature now and I absolutely adore the finish of this liquid lippie.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Dolce | £16
I’ll be honest and say that I’ve not actually worn this out yet. Maybe because it’s a bit toooo warm; a bit tangeriney. I’m not a peachy girl usually, but I think that this lipstick is perfectly suited for warm days with glowy makeup. Again, it’s on the thin side, but Stila’s makeup is always high quality and I’m confident this can be built up to an even coverage. This one sets really well to a perfect matte, and took me two makeup wipes to scrub off completely!

Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Skinny Dip | £11
I had a love affair with Gerard Cosmetics at the beginning of the year. Their Hydra Matte lipsticks quickly became my Holy Grail lip product, and I bought about 5 of them in the same week. Skinny Dip is a super pretty cool-toned pink/nude. I’d probably wear this on a night out with a smoky eye, but because it’s paler than I’m used to, I think it suits the spring season perfectly. It’s also hellllaaaa opaque, as you can see by the swatch. The great thing about these lippies is that they’re not drying at all, and leave your lips feeling comfortable for hours.

What are your favourite spring-time nudes?

Lots of love,

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Tuesday, May 23, 2017

FOTD | JOB INTERVIEW MAKEUP


Apparently there is a god smiling down upon me! I’ve been miserable lately because job hunting has been sucking my soul out, but a couple of weeks ago I got given the good news that I’d been offered a barmaid job in my new location in London! As I’m a student, working in a pub is exactly what I want to do over the summer. It’s fun, you meet people, you get to stay for drinks afterwards and you work with new friends. I’ve had the best couple of weeks since starting my new job; it’s been getting me out of the flat so I can’t mope about, and it’s giving me an excuse to make myself look pretty and gives me something to keep my mind occupied.

I wanted to show you the makeup I chose for my job interview. I wore this grey knitted TopShop cropped jumper with black high waisted tie waist culottes from New Look, and my old skool black Vans. It’s quite a laid back pub and so I didn’t have to suit-up to go and get grilled by the manager.

My Makeup:
Benefit Cosmetics PoreFessional
NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation in Deauville
Revlon ColourStay Concealer in Light
Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot Powder
Soap & Glory Voluboost Brow Mascara in Talk Of The Brown
MAC Powder Blush in Taupe
MAC Powder Blush in Blushbaby
Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Palette – Shades Garter Belt and French Tickler
Soap & Glory Supercat
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
NYX Cosmetics Lip Lingerie in Embellishment

I was really happy when I found out I was successful. I’d been feeling really low after trying and failing to find work. But I’ve ended up working in the pub I’d really really wanted to work for! My workmates are all really lovely, and I’ve even been out a couple of times with them, and so it’s really helping me to settle in to our new area since moving in March.

If you’re struggling to find a job, don’t give up! I felt like giving up a few times, but I’ve ended up with a fantastic job in a lovely pub, and soon my first pay check will come through, and money will be an incredibly effective stress reliever (a spa day in central London then bottomless brunch, I’m looking at u).

Lots of love,
Jasmine x
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Saturday, May 20, 2017

INCREDIBLY CLEAR PORES FOR £1.29


Is anyone else unhealthily obsessed with Dr. Pimple Popper? If you’ve not seen it yet, head over to YouTube and thank me later (or not, depending on your level of squeamishness). I sat up for a good few hours watching her digging out all sorts of crap from people’s pores, and it got me itching to give my nose pores a good clean-out. It’s really gross, and maybe it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I am SO SATISFIED by pore strips. I’ve tried a fair few in the past; Biore was always my go-to brand, but I recently discovered Superdrug’s super affordable offering. Here’s why I love them…

At just £1.29 for a pack of three pore strips, these incredibly cheap, no-frills little babies are perfect for a quick de-gunge. They come in a fuss-free minty packet with very little plastic bits (less pieces of cardboard and rubbish to fall down the side of the sink forever, amiright?). They contain volcanic ash and charcoal, and basically just want to suck out all the hideousness from beneath your skin’s surface. What’s not to love?

They’re really simple to use – I even managed to give them a good go at 6am whilst hungover last week. I give my face a nice wash using really warm water. I’m currently in love with Liz Earle’s Hot Cloth Polish and Cleanse, because it doesn’t foam up and dry my skin out. Using warmer water will open up the pesky pores, and you’ll be able to drag much more dirt out. You wet your clean face and stick the sticky side of the pore strip down and wait about 15 minutes. This is a good time to watch a YouTube video, go for a wee, or drink the lukewarm tea you’ve forgotten about in one large, unpleasant swig. Then, you just peel off the strip slowly and gently, and you should be able to see the rewards on the underside.

Examining the extracted stuff is gross, unattractive and waaaaay TMI, but we all still do it. These pore strips have really surprised me in their quality, especially when you consider their minuscule price tag. I’d say they’re just as good as Biore’s pore strips. So, you really don’t need to spend a fortune for clear pores. This is the third or fourth product from Superdrug’s own skincare brand that I’ve absolutely flipping adored (their masks are great, micellar water is fab, and I’ve got quite the soft spot for their lipbalms) so I’m alays hella impressed with them. Give these a go!

What are your favourite pore-cleansing treatments? Do your pores get super clogged?

Lots of love,
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