Choosing the right foundation.

That noticed that it's been a while since I did a beauty related post, and when it comes to make up, one of the biggest problems I face (scuse the pun) is getting the right foundation. It's either too thick/too dark/too pale/not enough coverage/doesn't last/too oily..... There are a lot of factors in choosing one that's right for you.

So I thought i'd just write some quick reviews on foundations I have tried in the past in case it helps any of you guys out!

1. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

When I was in high school I wore Maybelline's Matte Mousse every single day. I loved the stuff. I found a shade that matched my skin perfectly and as this was the period where I had only just started to wear make up, it didn't feel too heavy on my skin or make me look too 'caked up'. If you're after a light foundation just to even out your skin tone then this is perfect.

2. MAC Studio Fix Fluid
If this foundation was a person, I would worship the ground it walked on. I seriously can not rave about this foundation enough. Depending on how much you put on, you can choose the amount of coverage you'd like, for instance through the day i put on a small amount to just even out my skin, then when I go out I like a bit more coverage. I love this when I go out because if you're like me and dance a lot when you go out, this doesn't show up how shiny you are - and you don't need powder on top!

3. No7 Stay Perfect Foundation

I didn't use this one for that long, so as you can guess it didn't make a lasting impression. It pretty much just had the same problem most foundations do - didn't last very long. I went for the colour match service that they were doing in Boots as I was really struggling to find a foundation that matched my skin. Fortunately, the one they picked out for me (Calico, and also the palest), matched quite well. I was just disappointed with how long it lasted on my face.

(Photo unavailable - I stupidly binned this one a few weeks ago!)

4. Rimmel Wake Me Up Anti-Fatigue Foundation
I like to use this foundation as an emergency one when I run out of my MAC. It gives perfectly good coverage and applies fairly evenly. There are only 2 things that make me reach for my MAC foundation more than this one. The first being that this one doesn't last very long. I'd find that after a few hours most of the foundation will have worn off. The second is due to it being quite a shiny and oily foundation, powder is needed on top.

5. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Honestly, I was pretty disappointed with this foundation. It could have been a case of not being suited for my skin type, but I really didn't like anything about it, which is annoying - especially for the price you pay! I've heard a lot of people rave on about this one but I seriously couldn't attach to it. The shade I chose was too pale and I found it started to wear off my face after less than an hour. Honestly for this one i'd advise you not to waste your money!

I feel your pain ladies (or men!). Choosing the right foundation can be a nightmare until you find 'the one', so I hope this has helped!
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June favourites

I can't believe it's July already! Where is the year going?! Here's a quick look at some of my favourite cosmetic buys this month, each one i've been using pretty regularly and I would recommend every single one of them.

Maybelline 24 Hour Superstay Lip Colour Lipstick in Timeless Rose £8.99 Boots

I'm in love with this colour. The conditioning balm plumps my lips and makes a nice base for the colour, making it easy to clean off at the end of the day but also keeps it in place when you need it!

Sleek Contour Palette in Light £6.49 Boots

I'm obsessed with make up videos - especially contouring. I've been using bronzer for a while and it can look too shimmery and orange. I love the Sleek eyeshadow palettes and when I saw this in a store in town, I needed to give it a go, and I wasn't disappointed!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water £2.79 Boots 

I've only recently started to use Micellar Water. Up until now it's just been facewipes and facewash until a friend nearly had a breakdown when she found out what I was using. "Facewipes strip your skin of their natural oils!", "They're so bad for you!", "You NEED to use Micellar Water!".

So here I am giving it a go. It takes my make up off so easy and my skin hasn't been this clear in so long! I am loving it!

Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream £29.50 Boots

This has become a pretty regular participant of my evening skin routine. After i've cleaned my face I put a small dollop on my cheeks and massage it around my face, then in the morning my face feels as soft as a baby's bottom!

Toni & Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray 200ml £4.99 Superdrug

This is brilliant if you're having one of those 'you want to look good but you're too tired and lazy to do anything about it' days. All it takes it a couple sprays onto my hair, a quick brush through and i'm good to go. This is one of my favourite looks at the moment. I've always been a fan of sea salt waves - they make me feel like i'm on holiday! With this one, I feel that the best results come when you've used it on wet hair.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 30ml Foundation £21.50 Harvey Nichols

Once you go MAC, you never go back. It took a while to find the perfect shade (they have a lot to choose from!), but after I used it for the first time, I was amazed! Only a small dollop (1 pump) was needed for enough coverage on my face, and it looks flawless! My favourite thing about it is the fact that it feels like i'm not wearing any foundation at all.

(I'm pretty surprised there's no Soap & Glory in here, doesn't mean I love them any less!)

Little Lipstick Collection.

Recently I have become somewhat an avid collector of lipsticks. I just can't help myself.
MAC and Soap and Glory have become personal favourites, with a couple of Rimmel's on the side.
Let's start with the eau naturals.
MAC in 'Pink Plaid' and Soap and Glory's 'The Missing Pink' are both very similar shades and are perfect if you're going for that natural/pinkish look. I tend to use these for casual days out.
For a natural beige I can not rave enough about Super Nude by Soap and Glory. I wear this nearly every day, it's lovely and smooth on my lips and smells like vanilla. When I use heavy eyeshadow (usually with my Naked Palette by Urban Decay) I like to use quite a calm lipstick so I don't over do it, which Super Nude is perfect for. And to top it off, it's a perfect natural look too.
Next we have the lovely reds. MAC's Ruby Woo is a brilliant and rich crimson red colour. Because it's matte, it can be quite dry when applying to my lips so i'd recommend using a lip liner with this one, and maybe topping it off with a bit of lipgloss for a bit of moisture. As a nice dark red I really like 'Wine' in Rimmel's Kate Moss collection, and it smells really nice! At the moment, i'm on a bit of a purpley hype. My newest and most favourite is 'Rebel' by MAC. So far it's my only purple lipstick and I absolutely love the colour. Another close favourite is another MAC gem, 'Flat Out Fabulous' which I am wearing in the picture below (the filter makes it look pink).

With most of MAC's dark shaded lipsticks, Flat Out Fabulous, Rebel and Ruby Woo are nearly impossible to completely wash off your lips. I often find myself with a scourer and soap scrubbing my lips! If anyone has any remedies that helps them with this, I would be very thankful. Most of the lipsticks I wear are because they have been recommended to me by friends and family. I'm always willing to try out a new shade!

𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕓𝕖𝕝