Wonders of Beauty: October 2014

Yes I'm always rocking a full face but I'm all about simplicity when it comes to makeup looks regardless of the season. Initially I was going to base my Autumn look post on a dark vamp lip look but to be honest I realised that I just don't feel that comfortable in it.

Anyway I decided that I wanted to create a glowy look that was still appropriate for the season. Although the weather may be on the dull side, there's no reason why our skin should be! Creating a radiant look helps brighten your skin and maybe even help lift your mood in the colder months. To achieve the look I was going for, I decided to go for a flawless base and a deep-ish bold lip. The lip colour is sort of a wine shade and I think it's perfect for those who don't like wearing really deep tones. My intention was to make my lips the main focus as we all know deep reds, rose tones and purples are associated with this season. To add more of an Autumn feel to the look, I used a sepia toned eyeshadow. For some reason, the colour reminds me of fallen leaves (OK maybe I took it too far lol).

F A C E

Moisturiser: Melalueca Renew Intensive Skin Therapy

Foundation: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24hr - #11

Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Dark/Deep Dark

Under Eye Concealer: Keyvn Aucoin Skin Enhancer - SX11

Under Eye Setting Powder: Ben Nye Banana

Contour (cheeks) : Mary Kay Creme-to-Powder Bronze 2 and Sleek Contour Kit Medium

Bronzer (temples): NARS Casino Bronzer

Bronzer (Cheeks): MAC Pro Longwear Eyeshadow Uninterrupted

Highlighter: MAC Whisper of Guilt Extra Dimension Skinfinish

B R O W S

Eyebrow Filler: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade - Ebony

Concealer: MAC Studio Finish NC45 (bottom) and MAC Studio Finish NW45 (top)

E Y E S

Top/Bottom Lids: MAC Uninterrupted Eyeshadow

Mascara: Lancome Hypnose

Lashes: Bella Minx Lashes - #52

L I P S

Lip Balm/Sunscreen: Soft&Precious Nursery Jelly and Mary Kay Lip Protector Sunscreen SPF 15

Lipstick: MAC Dubonnet Lipstick

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"This specific gel formula, made up of 97% natural ingredients and enriched with sebum-absorbing vegetable active ingredients, instantly matifies the skin, minimizing the effect of dilated pores.

Light and quickly absorbed, Mat Base Corrector Primer prepares your skin for make up, guaranteeing total comfort all day long." - www.kikocosmetics.co.uk

I am one of those people who believe in primers, although I don't always use one. The ones I've used so far may not work as well as this KIKO primer but I am open to giving other products a try, especially if there is a buzz within the beauty community about one in particular. Over the past few months, I've seen nothing but positivity around this product and I wasn't actually expecting it to be as good as people made it out to be (you can't always fall for the hype). I wouldn't say that the range of primers I have dabbled in is extensive but this one is by far the best I've used to date!

Like I said in one of my previous posts, I got fed up of ordering a 3-pack of the primer I used to use. Besides, I wanted to try something new anyway so I decided to go for the KIKO Mat Base Corrector Primer. So far, this primer is living up to the hype! It keeps my face matte for the whole duration of my makeup wear (let's say 8 hrs +). A couple of weeks back, I had used this primer, had my makeup on for 12 hrs, fallen asleep within that time, woke up and my makeup still looked fresh. No shine whatsoever in sight. I didn't even want to take it off.

As I don't live in London, getting to a KIKO store was effort for me and there was a minimum order for purchasing on their site which I was skeptical about as I had never tried their products. My friend was on a hunt for a new primer and I had recommended she'd give this one a try based on what I'd heard so I'd asked her to get me a tube as well since she works in Westfield (there's a KIKO store there). Obviously as she'd bought it, she had a chance to put it to the test before I did and her advice to me was not to use too much because you will struggle with blending.

I definitely would not recommend this primer to those with dry skin as it is suited to those with combination/oily skin and combats shine. When it is applied to the skin, it makes your face very matte and can tend to make your skin feel tight so it will only accentuate your dryness and possibly feel uncomfortable for those with a drier skin type. If you do have dry skin and you're after a primer by KIKO, you could try their 'Perfect Base Corrector' which focuses on creating a smooth base. I haven't tried this primer so I'm not able to tell you how well it works in achieving this.

Just some advice to those looking to purchase this primer:

During your first application, you may be tempted to apply a lot of product maybe because of other primers you've used which have allowed you to do so with no problems. If you apply too much, you will have the hardest time blending your makeup. If you're already someone who isn't great at blending, be careful!

As this product sets quickly, if you do not blend this product onto your skin properly and on time, it will dry in that spot and the area that hasn't been blended will be visible when you apply your powder. It may look slightly patchy.

Be sure to pat it into your skin as it may start to flake if rubbed in, especially if you've applied too much product.

This primer is available from KIKO stores and also on their website (bear in mind there's a minimum order of £25). There's currently 30% off their primers and other products so I suggest you grab it soon if you plan on doing so.

Original Price: £8.90

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