Maestro Fusion.

Giorgio Armani - 

Maestro Fusion Compact Foundation

This multipurpose product conceals like a foundation, offers precise touch-ups, and camouflages blemishes. It's the perfect harmony between the lightness of a fluid and the comfort of a compact. Sophisticated and practical, it provides a new made-to-measure application step dedicated to achieving a pure, luminous finish with an unequalled second-skin sensation.

The waxes are able to adapt to different temperatures. This "Intelligent Melting Complex" creates a unique composition that blends seamlessly with the skin, regardless of the application method. The oils were carefully selected for their "skin fusion alchemy and comfort." Five non-greasy dry oils that evaporate at different rates were custom-selected to deliver comfort, protection, and softness. There is a new addition to the blend: argan oil, known for its nourishing and antioxidant properties. The argan oil, along with vitamin E and SPF 29 protection are at the heart of the Maestro Fusion Compact's formula to ensure hydration and continuous skin care.

As soon as the product comes into contact with the skin, thanks to the Intelligent Melting Complex’s transformation properties, Maestro Compact instantly changes into a light cream texture, giving precise and comfortable application. You can apply this cream foundation with your fingertips (I'm not big on that idea).

If you apply it with brush, a fine and comfortable film is left on the skin to immediately correct your complexion, creating a flawless finish. The formula instantly becomes one with the skin. After using it, I found my complexion even, pure, shine-free, and radiant. For really precise, simple, and buildable application, the Giorgio Armani laboratories created an exclusive brush (half synthetic and half natural bristles) that is housed in the compact. Its shape, composition, and travel-friendly size all combine to offer an easy, delicate application. I actually like the brush - rare for me to like brushes provided in compacts.

I have been waiting for the Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup Compact since the murmurings about its creation surfaced last year!  This foundation formula does not disappoint!  From the sleek and compact packaging to the gorgeous buildable coverage, I daresay I prefer this version over the original Maestro, whose coverage and lasting power were dubious on days when I needed both.  At £49, this is a bit of an investment, but overall, I predict that most foundation enthusiasts will likely find that the supreme nature of the product justifies the cost.  

Personally, I believe that my wait for this formula was well worthwhile...highly recommended!

Retexturizing Face Primer.

Daniel Sandler –

Retexturizing Face Primer SPF20

"Maximise your Base by preparing your skin first with Retexturising Face Primer. Colourless, weightless, light reflecting oil-free serum gel. Helps neutralise imperfections while giving foundation a fault-free base. Suitable for all skin types. This product is like having a mini face-lift, smoothes out fine lines and wrinkles giving you a younger complexion. Apply to eyes to stop eyeshadow creasing and to smooth out lips, for longer lasting colour."

The product comes in a compact, black tube with a small nozzle to easily dispense the right amount of product. I love the scent - it's very delicate and reminds me of days spent in the sun (this may be one of the sunscreen ingredients). It has a broad spectrum spf20, UVA/UVB protection against sun damage: personally, I think it's brilliant - definitely, one of the selling points of this base and that set it apart from the others on the market.

It feels silky and velvety on the skin and doesn't have any colour to it. In my opinion doesn’t at all leave a silicone feel on your skin. I've been using it everyday for a couple of weeks and I haven't experienced any clogged pore or blemish. It really does a good job at covering my pores, I wouldn’t say it comes them completely, but it definitely makes them less noticeable. In regards to the finish wouldn't say it's totally matte - but actually let the glow comes through - and doesn't make you greasy after few hours, which I really love.

Overall, this primer really delivers in ironing out imperfections and blurring pores. It really smooths out the complexion, bringing the best out of your foundation. Definitely one of the best primers I’ve tried.

What’s your favourite primer?

Dior Addict Gloss in Petillante.

Dior –

Dior Addict Gloss in Petillante

(Limited Edition) 

The Spring 2014 Dior Trianon Collection brings us four new limited edition Dior Addict Lip Glosses. I was really struggling to decide which one I wanted most. However, this shade I decided was most flattering on me both when I’m at my palest, and also in summer when I have more of a tan.

One of my all time favourite Dior products is, without a doubt, the Dior Addict Glosses, so needless to say, I was excited to see the brand add new, limited-edition shades to their spring collection. Thick, buttery and extremely moisturising (these feel amazing on), the new Addict Glosses are insanely well pigmented, adding a beautiful, high-shine finish to the lips.

Petillante (442) is a sheer soft peach with very fine micro shimmer in pale gold, and iridescent pink with hints of blue and purple.  It doesn’t offer much colour to the lips but rather an absolutely stunning delicate shimmer and high gloss effect. It is lovely worn alone and also works as a great lipstick topper shade.

If you have yet to try one of Dior's Addict Glosses, now might be the time to do it. With great pigmentation and the most amazing feel, these glosses are, in my opinion, well worth the higher price tag.

Seriously, you need one!

Invisible Blotting Powder.

Daniel Sandler –

Invisible Blotting Powder

I haven’t ever tried anything from Daniel Sandler, however I have heard some really great things about the brand so i was really excited to try this.

I have combination/oily skin so tend find myself with an oil slick on my face just a few hours after freshly applying my make up.  In the past I’ve simply applied more powder to hide the shine, but this ends up adding more colour or leaving my skin looking very cakey. However, let me introduce you to Daniel Sandler's Invisible Blotting Powder, this does what it says on the tin. 

The website stats this product gives ‘a shine-free, no-colour finish. Technologically advanced formula won't cake, dry out skin--or alter the shade of foundation.’

This blotting powder is an invisible (translucent) powder, which banishes shine without altering the shade of your foundation. The shine- free, technologically advanced formula doesn’t cake or dry out your skin, it simply leaves you with a gorgeous, matte complexion. I find that it gives a good matte finish and kept shine at bay for around 3-4 hours. I really like to use it to set my make up because I find it really keeps oiliness at bay. I also love that it’s really easy to touch up on the go, using the included pad and mirror. 

Overall, I really like this blotting powder. It’s definitely changed how I feel about using powders and will definitely continue using this everyday.

Have you tried this product?
What’s your favourite Daniel Sandler product?

Fab Pore.

Soap & Glory -

The Fab Pore Mask

I’m always looking for a mask that helps tackle my pores. Anyone with large pores knows they get clogged so easily, and really need a good mask to help unclog them. A few years ago I tried this mask, and I cant really remember what I thought of it. However, I saw it on offer in Boots and as its been recently re-vamped I thought I would give it another go.

Soap & Glory state; ‘Infused with SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU and Soap & Glory’s super-active secret weapon, PORESHRINK-R™, this deep cleansing facial treatment is a must-have for any girl who wants to see less of her large pores. Use once a week for maintenance (unclogging pores, spot prevention, and face detoxing), or twice weekly if you’re battling breakouts. Guaranteed to give exhausted skin its fresh back.’

This product is basically a deep cleansing mask for blackheads, large pores and oily skin that you leave on for 5 minutes as an express treatment, or 15-20 minutes for better results. I personally apply it all over my face once a week (usually Sunday), and then apply to the T-zone/centre of my face (always over my nose and the sides where I have the most noticeable pores) midweek, as these are the areas I find get clogged much easier.

I leave it on for 15 minutes before washing it off with warm water and a flannel. As a face mask to reduce the size of pores and to clear out blackheads I actually think this does a pretty good job! However its important to note this is very much a temporary effect and your pores will go back to how they were the next day... but that is how the cookie crumbles with annoying oily skin and large pores. But for instant results I would always go for this mask over any other product that remove junk from pores such as pores strips. The reason for this is that is gives instant results while not stripping the skin, it just leaves it smooth and refreshed feeling.

The main benefits for me with this mask is that is does visibly tighten pores but it also removes excess oil, which is why I use this before going somewhere I want my skin to look nice (especially as it's doesn't leave the skin red/inflamed). Or I use this when I look at my face in the mirror and gasp at how oily my nose looks and how my head is just one big pore. I'm sure you have been there if you have oily skin, and to stop the temptation of wanting to squeeze my blackheads I pop this on.

If you are looking for an instant temporary fix for blackheads, large pores and oily skin then I highly recommend this. It won't leave your skin red and stripped like using pores strips can do but it will give a very similar shrinking and deep cleansed effect!