Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Foundation

It's been five months since my last blog post on my everyday Summer glow. We're now well into October, I'm in Manchester and Summer has most definitely gone away for another year.

It's safe to say that Fenty Beauty was hands down the biggest beauty launch of the year and it came out with the loudest and largest bang. The collection debuted with an impressive 40 foundation shades, a primer housed in a pretty pink bottle, blotting paper, translucent powder, intense highlighters, contour sticks and a lipgloss which I'm desperate to try. 

Now here's the thing - I love new product and I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm extremely guilty for buying into the hype. However, I draw the line when buying that product means standing in a two hour queue outside of Harvey Nichols. Although I do really love what I purchased, I still stand by my word. If you live in Manchester and get caught in the rain a lot then you'll understand where I'm coming from. But four weeks after the launch date, the queue finally vanished and me being my 'I need, I want' self decided to indulge.

Whenever I buy into a brand for the first time I always beeline towards the foundation. And Fenty Beauty was no exception.

Colour - I wear the shade 300 and it seems to be the perfect match. There has been a lot of talk of the foundation oxidising after application but I haven't noticed that happening on my skin. My advise would be to go in store and give it a day trial before buying.


Application - The application of this can be deceiving. It drys down quickly and you need to work with it rapidly. The first time that I applied it there was a short moment where I thought to myself 'sh*t this isn't going to work for me' - I know, I know... first world problems - but once it's blended in it doesn't feel or look drying at all. It looks pretty much perfect. If you however have a dry skin type then I can see this product being a bit like Marmite. My recommendation would be to moisturise well and use a priming spray to give the product a bit of slip. I've been moisturising with the Origins GinZing Gel Moisturiser and giving myself a quick spritz of the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water all over the face ahead of application.

Coverage and Finish - Medium / Buildable coverage with a velvet matte finish. The foundation wears really comfortably and it lasts for as long as you would want it to. What I like the most about the product is that it doesn't create an oily residue in the t-zone throughout the day - a problem I seem to have with most foundations. Overall, it's good skin in a bottle and I'm obsessed!


Price - £26.00. In the grand scheme of things I would say that it's a pretty good price point.

If you would like to shop the foundation and discover more about Fenty Beauty then click here - https://www.harveynichols.com/brand/fenty-beauty/


What are your must haves from the Fenty Beauty range?

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The Everyday Summer Glow

Dubai is sweltering and I'm on a quest to stay as far away from foundation as possible. My skin's feeling positive and I'm having a 'there's no need' approach when it comes to everyday make-up application.

Here are my current step-by-step Beauty loves for comfortable, glowing and most importantly - sweat proof everyday make-up:

1. NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer - Yes, that product that everyone is raving about is now sitting comfortably in my make-up bag. It's a game changer and I'm over the moon to have finally indulged! Where foundation covers everything and often too much, this concealer can be used to cover only what you need/want it to. It distributes as an easily moveable, full coverage cream and blends seamlessly into the skin - making it the perfect concealer to wear on its own. Nice one NARS!

2. LA Girl PRO Conceal in Beautiful Bronze - Bronzing and Contouring has never felt so good or been so easy to achieve. I find creams much easier to work with than powders and this product never fails to create a fresh and natural result. Be warned though, the lighter formulas' are a flaky nightmare.

3. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Dark Deep - We have all either owned or heard of the famous MAC Mineralize Skinfinish powders. There is no explanation needed here.

4. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid in Opal - If I could bathe in this I would. Lit from within in a bottle. An expensive bottle, but much worth the hype and much worth the pennies. Pop it on the high points of your face as every make-up guru would tell you and you have yourself a subtle healthy glow.

5. L'Oreal False Lash Sculpt Mascara - Say hello to long, separated and fluttery lashes for a great price!

6. NYX Butter Gloss in Madeleine - The Butter Gloss range is a go to favourite of mine. They're super affordable, offered in a wide range of shades to suit all skin colours and extremely moisturising and comfortable on the lips. We don't like sticky glosses here. Madeleine is a sheer nude.

There's nothing worse than feeling like your make-up is wearing you and with my current beauty choices I simply feel like a better version of myself.

What are your current favourites for an everyday look?

Lush Love Lettuce

Lush will always be my go to brand when my skin is feeling a little worse for wear and in need of a quick pick me up. 

The masks are fresh, affordable and with such a vast variety of them to choose from - the brand caters to pretty much everyone and any problem.

I've been dealt a good hand with my skin in terms of never having suffered from break outs or acne. But what I do have trouble with is an extremely oily T-zone. The base of Love Lettuce consists of ground almond that assists in digging up 'dirt, oil and debris'. In addition to this, the combination of Honey, French Lavender Oil and Seaweed is nourishing, softening and does a great job of reducing the oiliness from your complexion. 

As with all of the fresh face masks, they have a short lifespan and must be kept in the fridge making them super cooling to apply. 

To get the best results, apply an even layer to the skin and leave to dry for 15-20 minutes before rinsing. I like to massage the product into the skin as I wash it off to give a gentle exfoliation. Masks can sometimes feel drying upon removal but I haven't yet suffered any tightness with this product.

Out of the masks that I've tried from Lush - Cranberry, Rosy Cheeks and Oatifix to be precise - Love Lettuce is definitely my favourite one so far.

I have to get through two more products before I can redeem a free mask. What's your favourite Lush product?

Origins GinZing Peel Off Mask

You can never go wrong with an Origins Face Mask. The Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask is a cult favourite of mine and will be a constant repurchase for years to come. 

A couple of months ago, I came across the Origins GinZing Peel Off mask online and instantly Googled to catch up on recent reviews. Although the main purpose of this was to read the benefits of the product, I was instantly intrigued by the amazing pearlised finish that it gave following application. This of course led to a purchase - it could have been pants, but it's copper in colour and peels off = my favourite type of mask.

But all coppery joys aside, what it actually does is quite lovely:

Amongst application it gives off quite a tangy scent. This is something that is to be expected of a product that contains a gentle Orange and Lemon fruit acid complex! An element that assists with energising and renewing, ridding the skin of fatigue. 

The mask also provides a refreshed and uplifted complexion - a benefit driven by Coffee Beans and Panax Ginseng. It practically does all of the things that we crave in a product when we're in the midst of Christmas parties! 

Without forgetting the beneficial properties of this product, it's also a joy to apply. Cooling, relaxing and complements a night in with a Christmas film and your favourite Bath and Body Work's candle. 

The mechanics of the mask are simple:

1. Apply an even layer across the skin while avoiding eyebrows, eyes and hairline. 

2. Leave it to dry for around 5-10 minutes

3. Smile and Peel

I don't know what it is about the peeling off feature but the immediate sense of renewal is so satisfying.

This would make a great stocking filler - pick one up here for £24.00.

What other Origin's face masks do I have to try?

Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream

As I've stopped wearing make up everyday, I have started to use a less is more approach to my skincare:

1. Cleanser, 2. Serum, 3. Moisturiser - with the application of the odd toner or face mask a couple of nights in the week. That routine works for me and I like to add and remove as per what my skin needs at the time.

Kiehls is a brand that I've heard many great things about but I've never had the chance to indulge. I've started this new thing where I don't buy new skincare until I finish the product that I already have in my possession. And as hard as that may be for a skincare hoarder like myself, I simply don't have the space for all of the things that I have on my wish list. But it was time to buy a new moisturiser and Kiehls has always been appealing to me.  Their Ultra Facial Cream £24 - has rave reviews and is one of the brands bestsellers, making it a good first product to buy as a way of introducing myself to the brand.

Side note - I also buy into things really easily and if you slap a 'bestseller' stamp on something then I'm more than likely to make a purchase!

I've been using this moisturiser for a month now and I feel like I've given it a sufficient trial period to give you an honest opinion.

The packaging is nothing too special, but again, it works! Simple, clean and easy to transport from A to B.

The cream doesn't have a scent which I quite like as I usually prefer skincare with a subtle fragrance. With that in mind, it lessens the chances of the product irritating my skin.

Kiehls advertise this product as an all day moisturiser, for all skin types that provides ultimate hydration throughout the day. That is literally all I need at my age and I'm really enjoying using it. The product is light, absorbs well into the skin and doesn't produce an oily residue throughout the day. It's also cooling and refreshing - attributes that I crave in skincare - and leaves the skin looking plump, smooth and hydrated after application.

It's not the cheapest neither is it the most expensive moisturiser on the market, but it works and a little goes a very long way.

Have you tried the Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser? The Midnight Recovery Concentrate may well be my next skincare purchase.

A Fresh Glow For Fall

Beauty in the Photo: Burberry Fresh Glow Foundation, Urban Decay Naked Weightless Concealer, Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette, Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit (Original), MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Global Glow, MAC Cherry Lip Liner and MAC Ruby Woo

Summer has come to an end in the West but the beach season is kicking off in Dubai!

The Sun can seriously dry out my skin and I've been on the hunt for a glowy, natural and easy-to-wear foundation for a while now.

Burberry is a brand that I have never invested in before. Fashion or Beauty. The Burberry Beauty counters didn't seem overly accessible when I was living in Manchester and so I was never tempted to swatch or buy.

On my way to Bahrain for a mini break, I stumbled across a counter that was well stocked and it was 20% off Duty Free. It would have been rude not to buy anything. A single Eyeshadow or Lipstick is always my go to when I'm new to a brand, but as I was looking for a new base to trial and test - I decided to pick up the Fresh Glow - Luminous Fluid Foundation in Camel No.42 - for 100AED (£22) cheaper than the Retail Price may I add!

The packaging is heavy and luxurious. The lid can get quite grubby when it rolls around in your make up bag but such is the case for all product regardless of packaging.

Burberry describes this foundation as a buildable medium coverage that provides a flawless and dewy glow whilst also giving a natural-looking finish without hiding the skin... I agree!

After almost two months of wearing it, I really really love this product. I love foundation's that are easy to wear and this bottle of joy allows you to wear the formula as opposed to the formula wearing you. It feels moisturising and is anything but distressing on the skin.

I admire how it doesn't cover absolutely everything. You can still see your beauty spots or freckles through the base however it provides you with an even tone and adds a beautiful luminosity to the skin. And one thing it hasn't done on me this far is cling on to any dry patches which is something that I really struggle with in a lot of foundations.

The heat is still in the air and I've found my perfect base companion to see me through the rest of the year, day and night.

What are your thoughts on the Burberry Fresh Glow Foundation and what do I need to try next?

My Top 10 Beauty Tools

I remember the days when I used to attempt to use my finger to accomplish a smokey eye. Or use those little plastic sponge contraptions that you get in quads to blend my eyeshadows together. Even if those contraptions come in a Dior palette, they're still dreadful! At the time I probably thought that I was winning at life but that all changed when I purchased my first ever make-up brush - the MAC 217. 

I'm a little obsessed with make-up tools. Anyone that comes into my bedroom and notices the IKEA pots full of brushes never fail to ask - 'Do you really need that many brushes? What do you use them all for?'. To answer your question - Yes, yes I do!

Brushes can be expensive things but if you don't want to spend a fortune on beauty tools then there are also some amazing and cheaper alternatives on the market that won't break the bank. Additionally, brushes don't always have to be used for what they are specifically designed for.

L - R - Louise Young LY34, MAC Small Contour, Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush, Real Techniques Setting Brush, Beauty Blender

L-R - RT Deluxe Crease Brush, MAC 210, MAC 239, Sigma E40 and MAC 217

Here are my top 10 favourite make-up tools:

Face

1. Louise Young Super Foundation Brush LY34 - £24.00

The most accurate description I can think of for this brush is - the big fluffy blending brush of every busy woman's dreams. It blends your foundation out in a matter of seconds. I like to use it when I'm in a rush and when I have all the time in the world to put my slap on. But for when I am pushed for time, it beats applying my base with my hands!

It can be a pain in the bum to clean but the advantages definitely weigh out the latter.

If you look on the low to high end brush price spectrum, £24.00 really isn't that bad. Especially when you take into consideration the size of this tool.

2. Beauty Blender - £16.00

Yes, I know. This little cute sponge is pricey for a sponge. But it's the most highly impressive and versatile sponge that you will ever come across. If you want to use a powder, cream or liquid the Beauty Blender can work with it. It needs cleaning after every use but that isn't massively time consuming.

Please note - used best when damp.

3. MAC 109 Small Contour Brush - £28.00

In all honesty, this is the first 'contour' brush that I have ever used. And as far as MAC face brushes go, this can mault slightly when you wash it. But the brush itself is a great size for getting into the contours of the face and does a great job of blending powders. 

4. Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush

You can only buy this in the Real Techniques Core Collection. It will cost you £20.99 for four base brushes. I have a slight problem with the name of this tool. I would never apply and 'buff' my foundation in with it because it's so small and fairly stiff. On the contrary, I love it for applying my concealer. Preferably my MAC Pro Longwear concealer. Great size for nooks and crannies but I wouldn't recommend it as a foundation brush.

5. Real Techniques Setting Brush - £6.99

The RT Setting Brush is a fantastic and versatile brush. You can use it to blend in concealer, set your concealer with powder, apply highlighters, contour with powders or blend in cream contour products. I strongly believe that every beauty lover would benefit from having this brush in their collection. And it's so very cheap!

Eyes

6. MAC 239 Eye Shader - £21.00

I'm having a thing for MAC pigments and Make-Up Geek foiled eyeshadows at the moment. And yes, it's not Christmas anymore but I think that it is still acceptable to throw on a little shimmer/glitter once in a while, (I hope).

A flat eyeshadow brush is always your best friend when you want to get as much pigment out of a product as possible.

7. MAC 217 Blending Brush - £20.00

There's no point in rambling on about this brush. I think anyone reading this probably already owns it, or has heard about it or knows somebody that already owns one or five of them.

It is a smokey eyes bestfriend. And works way better than one of those plastic contraptions!

A very similar dupe for this brush is the Zoeva 227 Luxe Soft Definer that retails for £6.95. You can buy three for the price of one 217.

8. Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush - £10.55

Ah! A new addition to my brush family and I'm already getting myself geared up to order another 2, 3 or 4. I'm so thankful that the likes of Feel Unique, Cult Beauty and Beauty Bay are supplying some of the most sought after and unaccessible beauty brands to the UK. My bank account says otherwise but it sparks tons of joy for me.

The Sigma E40 is fabulous. This brush is fantastic for blending out any harsh edges and applying a soft and well blended transition shade to the crease.

9. MAC 210 Eye Liner Brush - £16.50

I'm terrible at eye liner. So much so that I have given up on attempting any kind of wing at all as it always ends in tears. Well, close to tears.

Adding definition when I'm doing a smokey eye is essential though. And this brush is perfect for doing just that. The fine tip gives way for great precision. Even if your hand tends to get the shakes.

10. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush

The RT Deluxe Crease Brush can only been found in the eye brush set for £20.99.

It is another great versatile brush. I personally never use it in the crease because I find it too big for that. However, this brush is brilliant for buffing in concealer or eyeshadow primer, packing shadow onto the lid and even adding a highlight into the inner corners of the eye.

My most recent brush purchase was yesterday when I picked up the MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush. So far I absolutely love it.

What are your favourite beauty tools? I would love to know. :)