Airbrush Away.

No7 -

Airbrush Away Pore Minimising Primer

“Instantly achieve smooth poreless skin that appears flawless, as if airbrushed. The primer creates an effective barrier to shield your complexion from shine breakthrough, leaving your skin perfectly smooth and even all day long. Instantly achieve smooth poreless skin that appears flawless, as if airbrushed.”

I have been testing this product out now daily for quite a while and wanted to share my thoughts with you of what I thought about it.

The primer is white and creamy, much like my moisturizers but that’s where the similarities end. It is like silk on my face, I can’t express how soft it makes my skin! You only need a pea-sized amount and this will cover your whole face. So the tube should last you a while. I find it is best to leave it a good few minutes (If not 5) before applying anything on top of the primer (I often put it on and get dressed or do my hair).

It doesn’t look to make that much of a difference on your skin at first, however I have used this under both bb cream and foundation and I cant rave about it enough. Now I’m not saying it makes my pores disappear because we all know that’s never going to happen, no matter how many primers claim to do so. However what it does do is allow my base to glide over my skin, not sinking into my pores and creates a beautiful finish. You can see a few pores; however you have to look really close to see them.

Lasting wise its really great, my t-zone does become slightly oily after 4/5 hours, maybe longer however this is no big issue as I always have power on hand.

It does retail for £16.50 from boots, however with the usual £5 off voucher you seem to receive all the time it makes it £11.50 which I think is great price, and a great price if your wanting to test it. I hate when you pay £20+ for a all amazing pore disappearing primer and it doesn’t work!

Perfectly Shine Free.

No7 -

Stay Perfect Shine Free Primer

+ a mini No7 Airbrush Away Primer update

Not long ago I did a review of the No7 Airbrush Away Primer. As I have used it up, I thought I would give you an update first, before reviewing the next Primer from No7. So for those of you who didn’t read that post, No7 Airbrush Away Primer claimed to be an innovative primer is the first of its kind, reducing the appearance of all the signs of ageing instantly. The unique complex combines filling properties with light-diffusing particles to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and put uneven skin tone and pores into soft focus. Proven results can be seen in just ten minutes and last for up to eight hours. Now that I have used the whole tube up, and seen how it lasts for a range of different times, weather, skin condition etc. I have to say; I don’t think I would by this primer again (as you can no doubt tell as I'm about to review another primer). Anyway…first of all texture wise it feels like a nice light cream and it absorbs well into the skin drying to a matte finish and it does have a pleasant scent. I have tied this primer many ways, with a BB on top then my foundation, just my foundation on top and also waiting 10+ minutes before applying my foundation or BB cream. Even though when I wrote my first review I was pleasantly surprised I have to say, compared to other primers it didn’t really do anything for my pores, which is the main concern I have. In terms of lasting power, it does keep foundation on quite a while, however its not a put on in the morning and look just as good when you get home primer, you do have to powder ever few hours (if you have combination skin like me). Overall, it provides an OK base for makeup but then so do other primers I have tried and I wasn't convinced that it made applying foundation any easier. It was a real shame as I was looking forward to seeing a real difference. I wonder if this primer is better suited to people with more pronounced lines and wrinkles?

Anyway. Onto the new, shiny and fantastic primer! I have tried this for a few weeks, as I didn’t want to be like OMG ITS AMAZING, and then in a week’s time be like OMG ITS JUST OK.

So...“No7 Stay Perfect Shine Free Primer keeps shiny skin under control all day long, with its mattifying oil-free base. Light reflecting particles help disguise fine lines and flaws, while oil absorbing Biopol helps minimise blemishes and blot away shine without blocking pores. Contains watermelon and cucumber extracts to help soothe and cool your skin. Formulated to be non pore blocking and hypo-allergenic.”

Basically this Stay perfect face primer isn’t anything new from No7, it was first released in 2011 (so I may be a little late to the party…but anyway). It promises all day Perfection. Beautifully soft to apply and easily blendable, this oil-free formula creates a perfect canvas for foundation to keep skin flawless all day. Contains Burdock extract to help prevent blemishes and Vitamins A and E to help condition and revitalise skin. Microsponges help balance oil product to give flawless finish. Texture wise it dispenses looking a bit frothy/foamy but isn’t really sticky like some primers. Applied to the skin it feels very silky and soft, it does sits on top of the skin like a silky film but it is not oily or wet. I saw an instant difference in my skin from the moment of application. The redness in my cheeks was lessened, the pores barely visible and the skin smoothed. Foundation glided over the skin and I had a perfect canvas just like promised and it lasted. I put this on today at 8 o’clock in the morning, worked all day in a shopping centre, haven’t had time to touch up my make up or powder my t-zone (trust me I expected a serious state when I got home), got home at 6 o’clock, looked in the mirror and other then the slightest, tiniest bit of shine on my t-zone, my foundation looked amazing (especially after a full day of work).

Overall, I really love this primer and reach for it on a daily basis. It is priced at a rather reasonable £12.50.

Cleanse, Prime, Strengthen and Grow.

No7 -

Nail Cleanse & Prime and Strength & Grow treatments 

No7 isn't really a brand I have ever tried. My mum uses and loves their skincare, but I have never really been drawn to their counter. Maybe it’s due to the other higher end and shinier counters that tend to surround it! However, not long ago my mum bought me these two brand new nails treatments as part of her 3 for 2 and I was super excited to give them a go. I have to say…there are pretty great!

Mosaic Bronzer.

No7 - 

Perfectly Bronzed Mosaic Bronzer

Ok, I’m not going to lie, this was actually my mums but there was something about it that I really enjoyed using, and as she found it wasn’t enough for her very dark skin tone, she donated it…to me.

The compact is very sleek and with the mirror inside it's perfect for my handbag. I love the multi-tonal colours in this as I like the bronzed look but also favour the pinky reds as well. It's a great mix of colours and gives a highly pigmented colour without looking to over the top.

This product gives off a lovely shimmer, you only need the smallest swatch on your brush and it looks amazing! It is perfect for winter and summer as it gives you a little bit of colour but doesn't tango on pale skin. I really like using this for a quick every day look, as with just one product I can do the whole blush, bronzer and contorting that doesn’t look over the top or muddy. 

It really is a gorgeous bronzer/brusher duo, which looks great on both pale and tanned skin!

Leeds Mini-Haul

I don’t usually do hauls, however I thought it was a good way for you all to see what I’ve bought whilst in Leeds. I didn’t buy much, because my boyfriend wants to buy me things. Therefore, I only buy the things I really need. So here you go:

·      Illamasqua Powder Foundation in shade 150

·     Illamasqua Pure Pigment Eyeshadow in Beguile

·      Illamasqua Freak Eau De Parfum

·      No7 Extreme Length Extend Mascara

·      Simple Kind To Skin Pore Minimising Toning Cleanser

·      Essie Nails Base Coat - Grow Stronger

I will be doing individual reviews on all of these products, once I’ve gave them a thorough trying out…some will take a little longer then others.

High-Street Alternative.

Sometimes I don’t have the money to spend on high-end make up, and when I’m running ridiculously low on something, I sometimes try a highstreet alternative. This either ends with me falling in love (rare) or running for the closest department store (more likely). Never the less, I always like trying high-street products and sometimes you do come across gems that are just incredible. Therefore I thought I would show you a few things I bought in the last couple of months and my thoughts on them.

Garnier Oil-free BB Cream - £9.99

The packaging is quite an elegant slim line squeezy tube with a pointy tip. Scent wise - it is fragrance free so doesn't smell much, which is a massive bonus. The texture of the Garnier Oil-free BB is very runny. Never the less, it is exceptionally easy to spread and doesn't set too quickly so you have time to work it. The finish is surprisingly beautiful. It's a nice soft matte, very skin like. It is light to almost medium coverage and is particularly good at hiding areas of redness. The oil control is good, but not fantastic. I am oily on my nose and I still need to apply a mattifying primer to this area before applying the cream. I love the finish of this. Count me very surprised. It lasts around 8-10 hours and makes my skin feel so silky. I happily wear this when I’m just going to university, work placement or anywhere I don’t think needs me to use my high-end, much more fuller coverage foundation.

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer 002 - £6.99

I bought this because I wanted a cheap matte primer to use under my Garnier BB Cream, instead of using my rather expensive illamasqua primer. It states that the primer will will “smooth, resurface, brighten, mattify and protect” as well as make your foundation last longer (if you choose to wear it under make up). It definitely did the latter – my make up stayed in place and still looked fresh by 8pm – despite putting it on 12 hours earlier! As for the other “5 in 1″ things, I wasn’t too sure. Smooth, yes, brighten, yes, but protect? Protect against what? It has no SPF in it, so I wasn’t too sure what this primer was “protecting” me against. Despite this, the first time I used it I was just amazed. It made my skin so smooth and my BB Cream went on so nicely over the top of it. No patchiness or caking like with other high-street primers I have tried. Overall first impressions…very impressed, never the less I will keep using it and keep you updated if my view of this primer changes in any way.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19

Firstly I apologise about there being no photo, my tube of this gets so much use it looks rather horrific at the minute, it also has no writing on it due to it rubbing off. I'm REALLY impressed with this concealer. For the price it’s an absolute steal for the high quality. It's thick and creamy so provides a good coverage, but isn’t cakey and is easily blended into foundation. It comes in 4 different shades and they are all so very different, currently I have shade 3 which is medium, however next time I might try 2 which is lighter, just to see if it blends that bit better with my false tan wearing off lighter foundation.

I totally recommend this concealer for anyone after a new concealer with staying power and good coverage. Don’t be put off by the cheaper brand (guilty makeup snob right here), it’s most definitely a drugstore product deserving a chance.

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation - £7.99

I received a tester of this foundation when it first came out. The best thing about this foundation for me, and the thing that intrigued me the most, is the fact that it contains no oils or waxes…'no nonsense' being the selling point of the Fit Me range. However, this foundation just wasn’t for me. I have rather sensitive skin with an oily t-zone and it definitely didn’t like this foundation at all. Within about an hour of applying this foundation it began to somewhat disappear and slide off my face, and it just wasn’t a pretty sight. I did try to apply another lighter layer on top but the same seemed to happen again and it was just become cakey and felt heavy on my skin. Another down side was that when I took it off at night my face was ridiculously red and not at all happy. Usually I give foundations another try to see if it works better, however with this I don’t think I will risk it.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - £3.99

This is something so many bloggers rave about, and therefore I thought I would try it. I have it in shade 5, which is a really good match to my skin/foundation. Rimmel claims it contains natural minerals that help control shine for up to 5 hours and it also helps minimise the appearance of pores. For me this just didn’t live up to my hopes. I don’t usually use powder anyway, my past experiences have been that it makes your face really cakey and doesn’t really do much. This was for me no different. At first it looked nice, and gave me a lovely matte look, however soon it began to cling to any dry areas on my face, and also set into my pores. It just wasn’t good at all. I tried just using it throughout the day when I was becoming a little shiny, but it just looked shocking, I found it easier and better just to blot my skin and maybe add a little extra foundation over the area. Its cheap enough to try, and for some people it might work, for me…I wouldn’t use it again.

Rimmel Apocalips - £5.99

The Apocalips range is a type of lip-gloss/lipstick hybrid aka lip lacquer; they have all the pigmentation of a lipstick and the sheen of a gloss without any stickiness. The consistency of these products is what impressed me the most. They are really creamy and opaque. The applicator has a little well in the center that collects product so you can apply it with only one or two dips. However, sometimes it can be a bit of a nightmare when you want to get it exactly perfect, therefore I prefer to just us a brush to apply it. The product has a satiny finish that actually dries quite matte, so it can get a little dry after a few hours, however I just put a bit of balm or lip-gloss over the top to give my lips a bit of hydration then it’s it looks good as new. The staying power is fantastic. The bright colours especially, stay on my lips for hours and hours, even after eating! The 'scent' of these are slightly off putting, it’s very plastic-y and fake smelling. Overall, I think these products are really good, but not fantastic. Lovely packaging, the colours are ok, and the formula is good for the price

No7 Extreme Length Extend Mascara (fibre enriched formula) - £12.95

This mascara is amazing. Personally, I think it can give any high-end mascara a run for its money. I’ve done a much more in-depth review here. Trust me, it’s definitely worth a read.