Wonders of Beauty: December 2011

Lips - 15:29

Mary Kay Liquid Lip Colour

Mary Kay Liquid Lip Colour - Sherbet.. ♥ " A cool treat for lips in a mouthwatering shade. Mary Kay® Liquid Lip Color in Sherbet combi...

Review: Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder..♥

Click image to enlarge

Hello beauts I hope you all had a Merry Christmas yesterday and received all that you had hoped for!

Remember a while back in one of my "What's New" posts I mentioned buying the Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder? Well I've been using it for long enough now to be able to tell you all about it and the miracles that this product performs.

"From the creator of the Flawless Face comes a breakthrough in setting powder. Laura Mercier introduces one invisible formula that works for all skin tones, from light to deep. Her new powder contains unique light-reflecting, micro-refined spherical silica powders that help create a soft-focus appearance, diminishing the look of fine lines and imperfections while visibly smoothing skin."

I had been looking for a translucent/invisible setting powder and initially I was going to purchase the MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Powder but somehow I got convinced to buy the Laura Mercier powder even though there's a huge price difference between them. But saying that, I actually do not regret buying the Laura Mercier one because it did prove to be well worth the price.

I usually use a small amount of this to set my foundation focusing mainly on my t-zone to avoid any shine whatsoever from coming through and under-eye to prevent my concealer from creasing.

Finish:

This product leaves you with a very professional finish. It softens and blurs imperfections to give you a flawless face. It is far from powdery or cakey so it doesn't look like you've just coated your face with powder.

Shades:

This powder comes in one shade for all. It is a universal shade that can be worn by the palest or darkest skin tone because it is invisible.

Packaging:

Because this is a loose powder, it is bound to be messy so you have to be very careful if not you can waste a lot of product from accidental spillages. Besides that you get 11.3g of product which in my opinion should last a very long time as you only need to use a small amount.

Price and Availability:

It costs £29! I know this is expensive for a powder but believe me it is of great quality. You can purchase it from any of the Laura Mercier counters (Selfridges, Fenwick, House of Fraser, John Lewis) or alternatively from the websites of these stores.

Overall thoughts:

All in all though the price of this product can be off-putting, I think that it is worth the price. I absolutely love the finish of it because it gives your face a very smooth appearance. It is a great product to set your foundation with and I have noticed that my makeup looks much more fresh for longer. When using this product I do not get any shine at all and my makeup does not require any touch ups throughout the day. I really do believe that this is a miracle powder! I never have to worry about my makeup once I've used it.

I normally apply it with a sponge as I feel that this method works best for me but it's down to you to play around with it and see which application method you favour most.

Do you own or will you be purchasing this powder?

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Laura Mercier - 21:36

Review: Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder

Review: Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder.. ♥ Click image to enlarge Hello beauts I hope you all had a Merry Christmas yest...

Review: MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage..♥

Since we're on the topic of primers, I thought this would be a good opportunity to review the primer that I'm currently using.

"An ultra-fluid lotion formulated with special-effect silicones. Calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil and evens out skin redness. Improves the laydown and application of foundation or powder"

I can honestly say that I agree with every claim (apart from "evens out skin redness" as I do not suffer from this) that MAC has made about this primer.

I use this primer after moisturising but before my foundation application and I must say that it is a crucial step in my foundation routine as it leaves me with a flawless finish when my makeup is complete. As soon as it is applied, my skin instant looks smooth and it most definitely makes me glow. The primer has small light reflecting particles in it which makes your skin look very radiant and healthy.

Once you've put this on, you'll want to keep touching your face because of how smooth is feels!

When I've run out, it doesn't feel right and I don't feel comfortable when I don't use this primer because it really does makes that much of a difference.

Packaging:

The only thing I find annoying is the packaging. It comes in a black opaque bottle and you can never tell when you're about to run out until it does.

It has a pump which dispenses a good amount of product so you are never actually wasting any.

I normally use two pumps for my whole face.

Price:
The retail price for this product is £18 for 30ml/1.0 us fl oz. At first it seems quite expensive but it is actually good value for money because it lasts about 6months; well for me anyway.

Availability:
This primer can be purchased from anywhere that sells MAC products. Click here to check it out on the MAC website.

Overall Thoughts:
Overall I think this product is great to have if you're looking to achieve that flawless look. You will benefit from this a lot especially if you have visible pores, fine lines or uneven skin texture because it really does help the skin to appear much smoother. Not only can it be worn under your makeup but for those who do not wear foundation, this product can also be used alone making your natural skin look very healthy, smooth and radiant.

As it is a primer and is silicone based, blending of makeup is much easier and it helps your makeup last much longer than it usually would if you were not to use a primer. It also helps control oil so your face stays shine-free for much longer.

I will say that not everyone will like this primer due to the light reflecting particles even though they are very small and not that noticeable once your foundation is on but it does make you look radiant. I guess it's a matter of preference really.

Has anyone else tried this primer? If so what are your thoughts?

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MAC - 18:39

Review: MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage

Review: MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage.. ♥ Since we're on the topic of primers, I thought this would be a good opportunity to rev...

Back To Basics - 01:16

Back to Basics | Face Primers

Image Source: Google Using a primer is very important when wearing makeup. I would say it was a must to use one for that perfect finis...

Image Source: Google

Knowing your skin type is very important not only because it determines the type of makeup you use but also aids in deciding which skin care products you need to either improve or maintain your skin. Some say there are mainly 5 different skin types but personally I believe there's only 4 because in my opinion anyone with any of the 4 skin types can also suffer from sensitivity.

The 4 that I would classify as general skin types are:

1. Dry Skin

People with dry skin usually suffer from flakiness and dehydration. Your skin will lack moisture, oil and also elasticity. The skin may also appear dull as a result. Those with dry skin are more prone to fine lines or wrinkles. Dry skin will feel tight especially after you've washed and dried your face so moisturising with a hydrating cream is very important.
Try to avoid alcohol based products because this may dry your skin out even more which you certainly do not want!

2. Oily Skin

With oily skin, the skin produces oil excessively which results in a shiny face majority of the time. Those with this skin type often tend to have enlarged pores as well. You may suffer from blemishes more often than any other skin type due to the over production of oil. It is very common to suffer from acne with this skin type. Oily skin can be controlled by using the right products. Just because you have oily skin doesn't mean you shouldn't moisturise because this could potentially worsen the situation. Just look for a light or oil-free moisturiser.
Your aim is to also keep your pores clean so be sure to cleanse twice a day!

3. Combination Skin

Apparently most people have combination skin. Combination skin is when your t-zone (forehead, nose area and chin) is oily and the rest of your face is dry. You may suffer from spots on your t-zone as a result. This can be seen as a tricky skin type to work with because you are dealing with two different skin types on one face therefore you will need to use different products in different areas to treat this. You will need to treat the dry area of your skin as you would treat dry skin and control the oily parts of your skin as you would with someone who solely has oily skin.

4. Normal Skin

Though this skin type is seen as normal that doesn't mean that it doesn't require effort to maintain the skin type because it does! Normal skin isn't too oily nor is it too dry; it tends to be a balance where oil or dryness is not in excess. It is important that you keep the balance in your skin. This can be achieved through using certain products which have been designed and developed to aid in maintaining the pH balance in skin. Those with normal skin also have smooth, well hydrated skin and very rarely suffer from spots.

I hope these brief descriptions of skin types have helped you or maybe taken you that one step further to determining your skin type. It's important so you know how to care for and treat your skin in order to achieve beautiful results and that its fullest potential is reached.

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Back To Basics - 23:08

Back To Basics | Do You Know Your Skin Type?

Image Source: Google Knowing your skin type is very important not only because it determines the type of makeup you use but also aids i...

Entry for giveaway - 22:10

Entry For Melissa's Wardrobe Christmas Giveaway

Entry For Melissa's Wardrobe Christmas Giveaway.. ♥ Melissa from http://melissaswardrobe.blogspot.com is holding an internation Chris...

Gone are the days where I would buy every product which had a good review on YouTube or Blogger. I've realised that less is more with facial products (well for my skin anyway).

Obviously this post is just about products I use daily that work for me and what works for me may not necessarily work for you.

About My Skin

• In order to determine my skin type I visited Clinique for a quick consultation as I wasn't 100% sure of what skin type I had and I wanted to make sure I was using the right type of products for it. She asked me a few questions and felt my skin, then came to a conclusion that I had normal skin. She did mention that Clinique do not make products specifically for normal skin and that if I do decide to buy their 3-step kit, I should purchase dry combination (type 2). Normal skin requires good maintenance of pH balance in the skin but I haven't really started looking into that yet.

• I've suffered from dry skin in the past as I used to have Eczema but over the years after prescribed creams and lotions I do not suffer from Eczema on my face.

• I would say though I have normal skin, my skin is also sensitive and I develop rashes and irritations on my face mainly when I've had an allergy to either food or a facial product.

• I also very rarely suffer from spots and I don't have the most even complexion.

My Current Routine

1. If I am wearing makeup, I start off by using my Nivea Visage Facial Cleansing Wipes For Normal/Combination Skin to remove as much makeup as I can from my face. (Night)

2. I then splash hot water on my face to open my pores and apply two pumps of No.7 Hot Cloth Cleanser in a circular motion. I let this cleanser sit for about 10mins before washing it off. Initially I was using this with a muslin cloth but I couldn't be bothered to buy a new cloth (lazy I know) so now I just use my hands or sometimes my sponge to wash it off. I remove this cleanser using circular upwards motions and rinse using lukewarm water. I feel this cleanser really helps remove the traces of makeup that couldn't be removed by wipes. (Night)

3. After using the hot cloth cleanser, I wash my face using Grisi Seaweed Soap. I have used this soap for years and even after trying new soaps, I will always run back to this as it is my favourite. It really makes my skin feel lovely and hydrated and I feel weird if it is not used. (Morning/Night)

4. Once my face is clean and all traces of foundation has been removed, I pat my face dry with a towel and use Clinique Take Off The Day Eyes, Lids and Lips Remover just to make sure all traces of eyeliner/mascara which was not removed by the above products is removed. I know I use the remover in a funny order and it should be one of the first things but I guess I've made it a habit of using it at this point. (Click here for a review). (Night)

5. I wipe my face in circular motions using Clearasil Pore Cleansing Pads just to guarantee a spot free face. I love this product! (Click here for a review). (Morning/Night)

6. And finally, I moisturise my face using Renew Intensive Skin Therapy. I recommend this moisturising lotion to those with skin on the drier side as it is very soothing and helps your skin retain moisture. I use it daily and it is very good for when I suffer from irritations. (Morning/Night)

Although I don't have a picture, I moisturise my lips with MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner for soft lips when I wake up.

As requested by one of my readers, this is my current skincare routine. This is what works for me and keeps my skin hydrated, smooth and free from blemishes. I do not skip my routine regardless of whether I am tired or not because I care a lot about it.

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Skin care - 01:36