ATOUT: BEAUTY

13:41

MAC WISHLIST / MAY EIGHTH

When I first came to France about a month ago, my first stop was Paris and everywhere I looked there seemed to be a MAC store. You know how they say you're never more than fifty feet away from a rat in inner cities? Well, while in Paris, I felt like I was never more than fifty feet away from a MAC store (and a rat, for that matter, because I saw about five). Naively, I assumed that MAC stores were all the rage up and down France; so when I moved to a little town near Bergerac I was shocked to discover my nearest MAC was a 25 euro and hour and half train journey away. Quelle horreure, as my new French pals would say (or not say, because I don't currently have any French pals). As I'm not made of money, I've made a little wish list so that when I next go to Bordeaux, the home of my local MAC, I can buy everything in one go, and live in a little MAC heaven until the next time I decide I new a lipstick. And I thought I'd share it with you! Aren't you lucky!

MATTE LIPSTICK IN YASH -Inspired by fashioninflux's Lydia, this orangey toned nude is as close to a coral as I'll wear as a nod to Spring which is definitely well underway here. Bright colours just don't suit me, and while I definitely don't need another MAC matte nude, I may as well complete my collection!

PREP + PRIME FIX + -Powders just aren't cutting it for me anymore; they're no match for my oily skin and the warmer climate and my face ends up looking cakey and patchy. Having been impressed with the results of Urban Decay's SETTING SPRAY, I thought I'd give MAC's offering a go.

EYESHADOW IN MOTIF -A lovely rose gold shade without all the shimmer, making it perfect for everyday wear. It has a tasteful frost finish, which was so complimentary on my skin when I swatched it instore and once I have a bit of a tan going it'll become my go-to shade.

IN EXTREME DIMENSION LASH MASCARA -Perhaps the purchase I'm most excited about is this mascara. The Internet is awash with songs of praise for it, and I desperately want to get my hands on it and put my two cents in. Who knows, maybe it'll replace my Lancôme Holy Grail!

STUDIO NAIL LACQUER IN MEAN AND GREEN -This isn't the most fitting shade for Spring / Summer, but I've had my eye on it for ages, its such a unique colour and has a nice holographic-y finish.

FLUIDLINE BROW GELCREME IN DEEP DARK BRUNETTE -I've been on the hunt for a new brow product for a long time and this one certainly seems to fit the bill.

STUDO SCULPT DEFINING POWDER IN MEDIUM DARK -The perfect contouring powder to define those cheekbones and it comes in a wide variety of shades so theres one to suit every skin tone.

LIP PENCIL IN WHIRL -Although Kylie Jenner has admitted to having had temporary lip fillers, I'm still in love with this nineties, your-lips-but-better mauve to exaggerate the lips or pair with my staple favourite, Velvet Teddy (also Jenner-infleunced- she must've made millions for MAC!). That being said, everything I've bought from MAC that she claims to wear has been aaa-mazing.

I hope you liked my selection from MAC- would you buy any of these products? If you follow me on INSTAGRAM you'll know that I had to buy a replacement MacBook charger, but now my laptops ready and raring to go, keep your eyes peeled for more posts soon! What have you been lusting over from MAC?

12:32

THE DUPE EDIT / MAY TWENTY-FIRST

Who doesn't love a good dupe? Being the bargain fiend that I am, I'm always on the hunt for drugstore equivalents to high-end products and I've acquired a fair few dupes over my years of stinginess. However we all know that sometimes dupes can't match up to their pricier counterparts- and sometimes, as good as your dupe may be, you'll still splurge on the real deal come payday! After a good rummage through my makeup stash I thought I'd share some products that boast suspiciously similar results; and I'll advise you if you should blow the money on the real thing or save it and, you know, invest it or something.

SMASHBOX PHOTO FINISH FOUNDATION PRIMER vs. W7 CAMERA READY PRIMER I popped W7's Camera Ready Primer into my basket at Fragrance Direct because the packaging and the name was just so similar to Smashbox's cult favourite that I had to try it out (it seems to be sold out at Fragrance Direct currently). Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer is slightly more watery than W7's Camera Ready and feels more velvety and soft- is that the right word?- when worked in. Both products leave a lovely, smooth canvas for foundation and neither break you out, as many silicone primers tend to. I don't generally have a problem with foundations wearing off particularly, but both of these impressed me by keeping my high level of coverage and contouring and whatnot in place all day. The only qualm I have with W7's primer, is the packaging; although I said the packaging was similar its actually quite cheap-looking and tacky, particularly compared to the minimalist look of Smashbox.
The Verdict: For less than a third of a price I can overlook the crappy packaging- (or CRAPAGING ha ha ) of W7's Camera Ready Primer, which I overall prefer in terms of the formula, which is a bit thicker and not so wet. SAVE
MAC VELVET TEDDY vs. MAYBELLINE COLOR DRAMA IN NUDE PERFECTION Last year, MAC's highly coveted lipstick supposedly favoured by Kylie Jenner had so many dupes floating around the blogosphere that I shouldn't really be proud of having found this Maybelline copy. But I am proud, even though the Kylie Jenner lip has phased out recently and everyones all over light coral lip butters as opposed to thick matte lipsticks and Maybelline's Color Drama is a jumbo pencil rather than a tube lipstick; the colour match between these two is just so spot on that I'm doing a lil happy dance. The swatches below speak for themselves; on the left is MAC's Velvet Teddy and on the right is Nude Perfection. I tend to apply the Color Drama with a brush for maximum opacity and if the shade isn't quite matte enough for you, its nothing a little translucent powder and blotting paper won't fix.
The Verdict: Sorry MAC, you've been trumped by Maybelline's Color Drama and props to Maybelline for an equally rich and buttery formula. SAVE

MAC Velvet Teddy Dupe: Left MAC Velvet Teddy and right Maybelline Color Drama in Nude Perfection

DIOR LIP MAXIMISER vs. SALLY HENSEN LIP INFLATION Sally Hensen's take on a lip plumping gloss is a very thick, gloopy formula that isn't entirely comfortable on the lips. However, it does certainly inflate the lips if only for half an hour or so, before it wears off leaving a slightly dry crust. Dior's version provides about the same amount of fullness but with longer-lasting effects and a more moisturised feel. Both are packaged in square tubes with metallic lids and have doe-foot applicators, and despite the noticeable differences in colour in the photo, they are both clear glosses, best used as a topcoat. The Verdict: With the effects of Sally Hensen's lipgloss lasting for such a short time, I can't even get by using a trusty tin of Vaseline and reapplying, so I'm going with Dior's Lip Maximiser. SPLURGE
YVES SAINT LE TEINT LAURENT TOUCHE ECLAT FOUNDATION vs. RIMMEL WAKE ME UP FOUNDATION Radiance is the name of the game here, with both foundations claiming to provide a healthy, illuminated glow. They both offer light, but fairly buildable coverage and a natural, weightless feel. For me, these foundations do exactly what they say on the tin- or glass bottle. They even out the complexion, targeting dark circles and reawaken and brighten the skin; in the words of YSL they both 'enhance your skins natural beauty'. The Verdict: This is a tricky one- for the gold lid and embossed logo alone, I would pump for Touche Eclat as Rimmels duplicate packaging is quite, y'know- high street- but if you don't really care about the aesthetics of your makeup bag then Wake Me Up gives the same results for a fraction of the price. SAVE

BENEFIT SUN BEAM vs. SEVENTEEN INSTANT GLOW SKIN WOW This type of fake tanning is so low maintenance, you can just slap some of this on in the morning for a really nice healthy flush of colour. Benefit really ticks all the boxes with the brush application and non-orange hue, but for me its too liquidy and doesn't blend as nicely into the skin as Seventeen's Skin Wow does. Skin Wow has a much more serum-like consistency which makes it considerably easier to massage into the whole face. They're both quite shimmery and are best applied before makeup, but I've also used both of them on my arms and collarbones for a sun-kissed boost.
The Verdict: Seventeen is the winner for me. SAVE
LANCÔME HYPNOSE MASCARA vs. MAYBELLINE FALSIES MASCARA Lancôme's Hypnose mascara is my Holy Grail mascara! I will probably be repurchasing this mascara well into my seventies- but it comes with a hefty price tag compared to the drugstore's offerings. In a moment of desperation (and poorness) I took to the Internet to find a good dupe and found THIS ARTICLE. With such a similar ingredients list, and Buzzfeed's Peggy Wang claiming the same results from both mascaras i decided to give the Falsies a go. Big mistake! Maybellines mascara was clumpy and spidery on the lashes and gave none of the definition, length and curl that Hypnose does. The brushes are quite similar, the main difference being that Maybellines brush is curved, but they have the same long bristles with some littler bristles interspersed, however Lancôme's brush is less flimsy, meaning it can really pull up the lashes as you coat them and hold the curl better.
The Verdict: Ain't nothing like Lancôme's classic Hypnose mascara for long, fluttery lashes. SPLURGE

I hope you enjoyed reading about my finds! Let me know if you agree/disagree with my potential dupes and tell me if you have any drugstore products that match up to more expensive pieces. You can catch up with me on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM or comment below.

13:44

HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHT POWDER | MARCH TWENTY-SECOND

You know those products you buy, fall in love with and then wonder what you did before this product was in your life? Thats how I feel about Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Powder in 'Luminous Light'. I'm quite late to the party on Hourglass' innovative powders, but I was instantly intrigued when I spotted the range of Ambient Lighting products doing a spot of light (ha) online shopping at Urban Retreat. The pressed powders come in a variety of shades, each one designed to mimic the effects of different types of light on your skin. I know what you're thinking- sounds like a crafty marketing ploy, right? Wrong. At least not for my pick of the bunch, which was the 'Luminous Light' shade, a powder that would supposedly make me look like I was bathed in a soft candlelit glow when applied all over my face.

Since Hourglass claims that using these powders are not dissimilar to 'having a personal lighting technician at your disposal' I was sold on Luminous Light, as my skin seems to look so much lovelier in soft, dim lighting. I was a bit worried that this powder would act more like a bronzer, as it looks quite dark online but as you can see below, its a very cool, natural colour and its so finely milled that it doesn't look like I'm wearing any powder at all. I apply using a big fluffy brush (the REAL TECHNIQUES POWDER BRUSH to be precise, perfect as the bristles aren't too densely packed), and I don't bother stamping it on as I do with setting powders, I just sweep it all over. It's not sparkly or too much like an illuminator in the least, something else I was concerned about, given that its marketed as a 'luminous champagne pearl powder'.

This stuff is worth every penny. Whether it diffuses and captures surrounding light to achieve the desired effect I'm not sure entirely, but my skin looks instantly blemish-free, with fine lines ironed out and pores erased. The powder seems to magically recognise which areas I want mattified, so harsh light isn't bouncing off unsightly spots, but maintains a radiant, airbrushed glow. I'm an Esteé Lauder Double Wear kinda gal so I don't have a lot of trouble with foundation going slick and melting down my T-Zone, but this powder definitely adds an extra few hours of held-in-place flawlessness. My complexion has been getting so many compliments! I feel so much more confident, particularly as someone who suffers with acne, I actually don't like being outdoors in bright light if I can help it, but with a layer of this powder my skin looks crystal clear and healthy. Its also worth noting the design of the packaging, which is very sleek and elegant, and I like the off-centre clasp. Unfortunately its quite prone to fingerprint smudge marks but that really is one of the only faults with this product as a whole. I will definitely be repurchasing and I'm keen to try out some of the other products in the Ambient Lighting range- maybe Dim Light will be next on my list! Which one would you buy?

You can buy Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light HERE. Hope you enjoyed reading and let me know if you've tried out anything by Hourglass!

15:36

Fourteenth of March 2015

RECENT ADDITIONS MARCH
I was planning on entitling this post 'Accessory Additions', but when I was reviewing all the bits and pieces I'd picked up over the past few weeks, most of it was more beauty-related. It would've made a much snappier title but I felt it was a bit fraudulent. Although my bank balance might not too happy about my recent spending, I'm really excited about all my new goodies, and I thought I'd share them with you guys.

Unfortunately a lot of these items don't seem to be available online which is odd, but I picked them all up in store not long ago and I'm sure you'll be able to find them there.

HANDM FLAT BRITISH BULLDOG KEYRING MINT JULIPS LIP SCRUB YES TO CUCUMBERS CALMING MOISTURISER I love this stuff for calming and cooling inflamed spots and as its formulated for sensitive skin its very gentle and hydrating, perfect for daily use. MAC MATTE LIPSTICK IN TAUPE This is quite an Autumnal shade, it reminds me of a darker and browner, more sophisticated version of Velvet Teddy. It reminds me of nineties movies when theres an office Christmas party. MAC LIP PENCIL IN SUBCULTURE URBAN OUTFITTERS FRONT FASTENING MESH BRA H AND M LIP PRINT HEART SHAPED BRUSH Perhaps the most useless, but also one of my favourites of the bunch, I couldn't resist the kitsch lip print. What is it with me and heart shaped things? I'm obsessed! DEAD SEA NATURAL BLACK MUD MASK SOAP I've been using this in the shower to help clear up a few spots I've noticed cropping up on my chest. I also experimented with this as a face mask and my skin felt very soft and clean afterwards. TIGER GREY PILLAR CANDLES H AND M MATTE TOP COAT SILVER STARFISH NECKLACE My mums necklace actually, I'm loving the simple design and paired with a tan and a brush of illuminator on the collarbones it looks so pretty. TIGER GLASS MUG WITH HANDLE AND LID TIGER LILY BLOSSOM Just a quick post for all you lovelies! Hope you enjoyed reading it, let me know if you've tried any of these products, or want to try them out.

13:06

Tenth of March 2015

15:04

29.02.15

FEBRUARY FAVOURITES

FEBRUARY

Hello lovelies! With February is wrapping itself up, I thought I'd share a few drugstore bits I've really been liking this month (props to me for most unoriginal post title 2015). I've been finding myself reaching for these products almost every bleak, chilly day recently and I'm quite impressed with all of them- starting with one my one of my favourite finds, the SEVENTEEN DEFINE AND CONQUER CONTOUR KIT. Two highly-pigmented powders in a pale, matte champagne shade and a cool-toned bronze. I've been on the hunt for an everyday, natural-looking bronzer for a while now and Seventeen really ticks all the boxes here; I normally dust excess powder from my brush and apply gently in the hollows of my cheeks for lightly-chiseled daily wear and build it up for a more sculpted nighttime look.

I've read excellent things about Murad, so I thought I'd have to give their CLARIFYING CLEANSER a go. I really like this stuff, despite a vaguely unpleasant fragrance and the fact the lid needs to 'click' closed otherwise the product leaks everywhere (learnt this the hard way, hence the handwritten note to myself on the bottle). My skin has been so much better since using this cleanser, I will definitely be repurchasing. PANTENE YOUTH PROTECT 7 BB CREME is on offer at Boots at the moment, so you should get yo shop awn, if silky, frizz-free flawless-looking hair is the name of your game. Honestly, two pumps of this through damp (ish) hair and you won't have strand out of place. I've been using this since January and I'm not even close to finishing the bottle!

Next up, a product thats definitely not a recent release, is CLARINS EAU DES JARDINS PERFUME. Perhaps a little too summery for these cold dark days but I'm wearing it nonetheless- it literally smells like an Italian garden overflowing with velvety flowers. I bought ELF STUDIO HIGH DEFINITION POWDER in sheer, in the hopes it would replace the NARS Light Reflecting Setting Loose Powder which I dropped and spilt everywhere after about 5 uses (sob, sob). As far as staying power is concerned Elf's creation is pretty good, but not out of this world, however I do like the soft-focus glow it gives me. Blurring blemishes that shine through my concealer and giving my skin an airbrushed edge, this powder is like being in flattering lighting all the time. Another Seventeen product! I think they've really upped their game recently and I find myself at their counter (/stand??) more often, inspecting and swatching. Their CHEEK STAMP BLUSH is an innovative product, designed to literally be stamped onto the apples of cheeks for precise application that can then be blended out with a brush. The range of shades are so lovely and wearable, I've gone for 'Bashful'. An absolute favourite of the selection is OPI SHEERLY OPAL, a lovely, subtle shade from the OPI Hard as Nails range that comes as a set of two. I love this colour because its totally clear on the nails until it catches the light, and then becomes an iridescent, almost holographic blend of lilac, powder blue and canary yellow, and becomes pearly pink the more you build it up. I've been wearing this polish every day its just so gorgeous, I can't comment on if its made my nails harder as of yet but I have trust in OPI!

Although I did a post dedicated entirely to my favourite brow looks which you can read HERE, I had to try MAYBELLINE BROW SATIN which I'm really impressed with it because its so quick and easy to use. One swipe over each brow and they appear instantly shaped, defined and fuller. Next is another Maybelline goodie, and another age-battling product! I've been using MAYBELLINE ERASER EYE CONCEALER under my eyes for the past week or so, and my friends and co-workers have all been telling me that I look refreshed and glowing. Either I'm pregnant, or this concealer, with its unique built-in sponge applicator is doing the trick. If, like me, bitter winds and ramped-up central heating is taking its toll on your skin, you can't go wrong with E45 CREAM. This stuff is a super hydrating, instantly moisturising, non-greasy, non-perfumed, non-comedonegic, cheap as chips miracle in a tube and I'm never without it in my handbag. To round off my Februarys Favourites post I won't spend ages going on about GARNIER CLEANSING MICELLAR WATER because everyone and their nan is raving about this stuff. I've been using it for dissolving thick layers of foundation, eradicating all traces of waterproof mascara and wiping out stubborn lipsticks, AND its worth saying that this is by far the best brush cleaner I've ever come across. SO, there you have it, everything I've been loving throughout February. You have to let me know what your February Favourites are, I'm always on the hunt for new products to try out

11:21

22.01.15

UNBEATABLE BROWS

JANUARY

Hey guys! I haven't been posting a lot recently, I do apologise- how were all your Christmas' and New Years? As someone with an extremely thick head of hair and legs that produce stubble within two hours of having been shaved, I find it bitterly unfair that my eyebrows are so sparse and pale. So, I thought I'd share my favourite products for fuller-looking, shaped eyebrows, if like me, you're someone who wasn't blessed with the Cara Delevingne gene (that rhymes). The first thing I use, without fail, is the MAYBELLINE BROW DRAMA SCULPTING MASCARA in the shade Dark Brown. One quick swipe and my brows appear instantly thicker, bushier and darker without looking overpencilled and cartoony. The brush is small and round and works like comb to easily disperse product over your brows. Be warned though, I usually blot away excess otherwise I find I'm working with too much and it doesn't look natural. Once this has dried I brush them with my BARRY M BROW AND LASH COMB. This brush comes as part of a set and has been recently redesigned, and to be honest any kind of brow brush will do. Mines broken slightly and looks a little worse for wear but it does the job just fine- I push up the inner hairs diagonally towards the outside of my face and slick down the lower part of my arch. Using this AMAZING LITTLE TOOL FROM H AND M I shape my brows to get them looking polished and defined with the MUA BROW PRO KIT in dark. I love this brush and use it for eyeliner, eyeshadow, contouring and even lipstick. The angled end is so precise it makes it perfect for dipping into the brow kit and and gently lining the underside of the your brow, and the smudging end is excellent for diffusing the product to make your line look less harsh. On the inner part of the brow I only underline, but I fill in the arch using a blend darkest shade of the kit, which is a powder and the clear brow setting gel. Because they're separate you can choose the consistency yourself and I generally like mine to be more like a gel than a powder. So, this is my tried and tested formula for great brows! What are your treasured eyebrow products? Let me know!

03:21

21.12.14

SKIN SAVIOUR | IN SILVER ARMOUR DECEMBER

Silver Serum, £12.95 at SkinShop.co.uk

Hey guys! Before I start hailing my newfound miracle skincare product I should tell you about my lengthy (and still ongoing) battle with acne. Since the age of fourteen I've been plagued with a variety of spots, from papules (bright red, inflamed and usually puss-free zits) to nodules (painful, enormous under-skin spots). Doctors have prodded me and written me prescriptions, pharmacists have heard me wail and provided recommendations, my mum, who suffered with acne even when I was a child, has offered words of wisdom and the Internet has been scoured for solutions. While some of the gels, creams, pills, lotions and potions worked for a while, my skin can get pretty nasty and I need a product that will hold up even when my skin is having an absolute bitch fit. I found out about silver serum when I stumbled upon THIS ARTICLE. If you're not a Daily Mail fanatic I'll summarise: this poor girl was cursed with some pretty terrible acne, leaving her depressed, boyfriendless and jobless. She discovered the exact product that I'm currently massaging into my face every night and six years on she doesn't have a single zit.

I started using Silver Serum about three weeks ago and so far I'm pretty impressed. Its totally cleared up my angry skin and has kept them at bay ever since. I've had one or two crop up here and there but I'm persevering with it. The premise of this product is that it kills off bad bacteria on the skin but maintains all the good stuff that actually improves and repairs skin. You only need a tiny blob of the serum- trust me a little goes a long way.

Simple, yet effective skincare routine

Apply to dry, cleansed skin and rub in until absorbed. I tend to use it at night, after I've removed my makeup (using a clean makeup sponge and GARNIER SIMPLY ESSENTIALS CLEANSING LOTION ) and used a deep-cleaning cleanser. I like BIORÉ CHARCOAL CLEANSER because its packed with charcoal, a natural extractor thats been used for hundreds of years to dig up dirt, bacteria and excess oil from under the surface of the skin. Being the fake tan lover that I am I almost always apply PALMERS COCOA BUTTER NATURAL BRONZER to build up a sun-kissed glow and when thats all soaked in, I rub on my HOLY GRAIL SPOT-ZAPPING GEL. Massage in circular motions, targeting problem areas. This can always be used under makeup because it doesn't have that nasty crusty effect some gels and creams do. The packaging of this product is simplistic, but I like the lilac and grey theme, and the gel is scentless and easy to squeeze from the tube without making a ginormous mess. The only available postage from SkinShop.com is First Class, which is pricier but worth it, as I ordered mine around 1am one night and received it the next day. I hope this has helped any of you acne sufferers out there! Let me know any of your skincare recommendations in the comments below.