Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

I've heard raves about products from the Nars range but never actually got to try anything out for myself. When this foundation launched and everyone and their mums were talking about it I knew I had to try it. The claims are everything that I'd look for in a foundation. Ever since using this foundation I haven't put it down yet. I love a good high coverage foundation and I'll only really wear foundation that has a high coverage but most of them can feel incredibly heavy on the skin, not with this one though, making it suitable for everyday wear. It doesn't have SPF so its great for events; giving you full coverage with no flashbacks. I love the consistency of this foundation. It's super lightweight and 'liquidy' making it easy to blend onto the skin. I really didn't think I'd find a lightweight foundation that'd give me amazing coverage whilst also leaving a beautiful dewy finish to the skin. The foundation actaully looks like skin and leaves a satin/matte finish to the skin. Most high coverage foundations require a Beauty Blender to be used to sheer down the product and make it look a bit more like skin. However, this foundation works best with a dense brush and a little goes a long way.

Hallelujah! This foundation comes with a pump. People are always complaining about how the Sheer Glow doesn't come with a pump which I think is ridiculous. We're paying so much for the foundation, the least they could do is provide the pump, no? Well looks like they've listened to their customers, always a good idea. It has been packaged in a frosted bottle with NARS imprinted across the front which gives it a somewhat luxurious feel.

Yes I agree its 'luminous' and 'weightless' but I really don't think it sticks to its claims of being an 'all day' foundation. I don't find this foundation to be long wearing at all and thats my main issue. I'm not used to touching up my makeup throughout the day. During winter I have the driest of dry skin and in summer I tend to get oily throughout the day which could be the main reason for my foundation not looking the same after a few hours. A little primer and setting spray usually does the trick for me though. Talking of skin types, if you have oily skin then you'll love this as it's oil-free however, if you have dry skin you'll hate this foundation as it it'll cling onto the dry patches.

Unlike many other high coverage foundations, this one lets your skin breath and doesn't feel like your wearing a mask nor does it look cakey. I absolutely love how versatile the shade range is. I usually struggle to find a shade that matches me perfectly but now I have!

This foundation is £32 and can be purchased from Space NK or Selfridges

I hope I've covered everything, if not feel free to ask in the comments section xx

£20 Makeup Challenge

Do you remember those days when someone gifted you a £20 note and it almost seemed like it would last you a lifetime? Not the case anymore right? It's always intriguing to see how many amazing products people purchase for only just £20 especially when these days we often purchase one item itself for more than that. I will attempt to include as many items for a full faced look in this post.

Foundation:
Here's where a chunk of the budget will be eaten up, but that's okay. A flawless base for me is essential. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation is a great one for this purpose and fits in well with our budget. The consistency is beautiful and runny, making it easy to blend. The foundation has medium coverage and gives a natural glowy finish to the skin. It comes with SPF 18 so is great for the summer days. This foundation is currently on sale for £4.99 (bargain!).

Concealer:
Of course how could I not include the infamous Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. Retails for £4.19, this product gives amazing coverage and works well both under the eyes and on blemishes.

Eyeshadow:
Palettes are great as they come with a range of colours that compliment each other and allow you to create an eyeshadow look using just one palette. It also gives you an idea of what colours to use rather than scattering through your makeup stash. Bronzey shades work well with most skin tones, outfits and generally tend to go well for an everyday makeup look. The Collection Eyes Uncovered in Nude has a great selection of colours and for £3.99 you just can't go wrong.

Eyeliner:
Adding eyeliner to a makeup look takes it from a natural look to a glammed up look for me. I always wear eyeliner unless I'm in a super rush that day. The NYC Liquid Liner is super inexpensive as it retails for just £2.49 and allows a perfect matte winged liner to be achieved.

Lashes:
Okay mascara just wouldn't fit in to our tight budget so a pair of falsies for £1 will do the trick. Lashes will help to really open up the eyes, curl your lashes beforehand to help the lashes blend together with the false lashes (mascara would've really helped with this step).

Cheeks:
When using one product on the cheeks, bronzer is a good option to opt for. It warms up the skin and can give a slight contour to the face. For this I've chosen the NYC Bronzer which is available for £1.99 at Superdrugs.

Lips:
I only have £1.35 left to select a lip colour. Lip liners can often be used on their own to line the lips and add colour which can't often be achieved by itself with some lipsticks (some lipsticks require a lipliner to be used). Makeup Revolution have some great shades in their lip liner range for £1 and so do MUA. MUA have a beautiful red shade called Red Drama which I think would go well with this bronzey look. I'm also drawn to Rebel and Vamp from the Makeup Revolution range which I think would tie in well with this makeup look.

I've opted for products that I actually think are worth it and would actually use myself. Have you tried any of these products and what do you think? Are there any other affordable products that you would've replaced with the ones I've selected or any steps you wouldn't have missed? Bearing in mind that it is incredibly humid here in the UK at the moment, if there was more to my budget I'd have opted for a powder to set my makeup in place. The Rimmel Stay Matte is a perfect one for this whilst being super inexpensive (I really could've missed out the eyeshadow palette and included a powder but since I included lashes I really wanted to add a bit of glam to this look, you could swap the eyeshadow for the powder if you prefer). For mascara I would've opted for the Collection Does It All Mascara which is a fab drugstore affordable mascara that lengthens and separates the lashes beautifully.

Dior Star Foundation

Everybody and their mums have been raving about this foundation so of course I had to have it in my hands since I'm a right sucker for trying out new foundations. I purchased the Dior Star foundation back in September/October and then ran out and repurchased my beloved MAC Studio Fix Fluid the very next day. The Studio Fix Fluid is one that you either love or hate and I definitely have my love/hate relationship with it. I love a full coverage foundation and don't see the point of wearing foundation with lower coverage (for me personally anyway) and with the Studio Fix Fluid it literally covers everything and I don't need to use concealer for blemishes/scarring. I know it seems like I'm going a little off topic but it's so you can see why I didn't get on that well in the beginning with the Dior Star. From the beginning I always thought I'd like the foundation a lot more if it had a bit more coverage and if my skin had improved.

There has been several "barely there" bases introduced to the market and unless you have 'perfect' skin then most of them are pretty much pointless. This foundation however gives a bit more coverage than others on the market. It does a good job at evening out the skin and concealing small imperfections. If like me you have problematic skin then this may not float your boat since this foundation gives a medium coverage with an almost matte finish finish.

The foundation diffuses light and as a result photographs beautifully. It gives the skin a radiant look without it being shimmery. This helps it to give off a beautiful natural glow. However, I found that this light reflecting property often extenuated the pigmentation on my skin.

It says to shake well and I found that this definitely helped with the application. The foundation`comes with SPF 30 which is great for people like me who neglect sunscreen. I will invest in one soon. I need to. One of the claims of this foundations is that it is "weightless". I disagree, it isn't exactly weightless but incredibly lightweight on the skin.

After updating my skincare routine and noticing a dramatic difference in the appearance of my skin, I definitely enjoyed this foundation a lot more. I would recommend this foundation for both everyday wear or for special occasions. It is slightly expensive though for everyday use as it retails for £32. However, if like me you don't necessarily mind splashing out on high end foundations then definitely give this one a try. I purchased mine from Boots, the generous advantage card gives you a total of £1.28 in points. If you're looking for coverage then you might want to stay away as the Dior Star will probably do you no good. Have you used the Dior Star & what are your thoughts? Is there any foundation that you think I'd like? Let me know in the comments below :)

A battle between the sponges

Recently I wrote a review on the fool proof Beauty Blender and in that post I mentioned that I wanted to try out the much discussed dupe, the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, to see if it compared. I've had my battered Beauty Blender for a while now and it was definitely time to buy a replacement so I thought it would be the perfect time to make a purchase. I went on a shopping trip to Boots to stack up on some makeup items that I was running low on and thought I could pick up the Real Techniques sponge then, but the stores near me were all out of stock of the sponge. The great thing about Boots is that if you order before 6pm you can collect your item from in store the very next day. I was on a budget buying spree so was glad that this was a fraction of the price of the Beauty Blender.

The Beauty Blender is slightly bigger in size in comparison to the Real Techniques sponge. However, the size isn't of a big issue and I don't find it to make any difference to the application. The Beauty Blender is moulded to a dome shape whereas the RT sponge has a similar shape but with a flat edge at the bottom which claims to be designed to target the contours of the face. In my opinion, I think this was done to differentiate it in design and isn't of much use. The bottom half of my RT sponge is pretty much squeaky clean and the pointed tip is effective in targeting hard to reach areas such as around the eyes and nose.

What I found with most of the drugstore dupes is that they can tend to bit a bit too stiff and the RT one is no exception. Once the water has been squeezed out of the Beauty Bledner after it has been dampened, it doubles in size whereas possibly due to the stiffness of the RT sponge, it retains a lot of water and isn't as easy to squeeze out. For this reason, The Beauty Blender is much softer and bouncier which I find makes a difference to the application process. It makes applying products almost satisfying and easy (is that weird? Probably.). This advantage also allows cream products to be blended seamlessly. I've only used the RT ones for foundation and concealer and I find that it can look a little drying, blotchy and not just as well blended as it does when I use the Beauty Blender.

The RT sponge tends to eat up all of my foundation. Luckily I've been using the L'oreal True Match Foundation which has a lightweight buildable consistensy - this avoids it looking cakey. Nevertheless, by saving on a sponge, you're using up more product? Makes no sense right.

Splurge or Save?
If you have the money to spend, then definitely splurge. I know there's a huge price difference to be able to justify it but the downsides of the RT sponge defeat the purpose of using a sponge and you may as well just use a brush. By saving some money on a sponge that soaks up water and foundation and the end result isn't as flawless as the Beauty Blender just isn't convincing me to repurchase so I'll be sticking with the original.

I've heard a lot about the OPV Blending Sponge and people swear by it. It's the same price as the RT dupe so check it out if you are trying to save the pennies!

A cheeky purchase

First of all can we just discuss how gorgeous this palette is. The packaging in itself is enough to convince anyone to buy it. It has such a luxurious feel and is one of those items that you would happily display on your dressing table. We all know how contouring and highlighting has taken the beauty industry by storm & this palette is bound to satisfy your highlighter cravings. It was one of those purchases that I bought home and stared at for a while. Initially I heard a lot of great things about this palette so of course I couldn't resist not picking it up for myself despite its hefty price tag!

I love how this compact comes with three shades. It gave me the chance to try out three shades at a cheaper price. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders are available to buy separately for £38 whereas I bought this kit of three for £56. Incandescent light however is only exclusively available in the trio. These powders are unlike any others that are available in the market as they have a special technology that gives the effect of you appearing different sorts of flattering lights. The powders diffuse light and gives the skin a flattering glow. What I find is that it gives me that natural glow from within look, so is great for a fresh faced makeup look. It really does help to brighten the complexion and blur imperfections. I would say this gives me a real life 'filter' and photographs beautifully. Whats great about this palette is how versatile it is. The powders are universal shades making it suitable for any skin tone.

Incandescent light is what I use to highlight my cheekbones as it is the shimmery one out of the three. It gives me glowy cheeks without looking frosty and has a beautiful natural finish. I like to apply this shade with my Real Techniques Setting Brush. Dim Light is a natural peachy shade that helps to blur imperfections and can be used to set the face. Since I have a deeper complexion, I often mix Dim Light with a bit of Radiant Light  to set my base or will use Dim Light on its own to set my under eye concealer. Radiant Light is a golden beige powder that aims to give you that sun kissed glow. Lets face it, how often do we get to see the sun here in the UK? & holidays aren't cheap, so fake it until you make it ;) I use this shade on a large powder brush and dust it over the high points of my face and it provides a natural and subtle warmth to the skin. You can use these powders in different ways depending on your skin tone, so see what works best for you.

Of course it is a pricey investment but one that you won't regret buying every time you look at it. This palette is bound to last you a lifetime and with exams finishing round the corner, not only is it a great way to treat yourself but will also be a great addition to your collection to achieve that summer glow. This would make an heck of a gift too and will surely put a long-lasting smile on someone's face. I bought my palette from Space NK. Remember to join the loyalty scheme and collect your points :)

Beauty Blender - The best beauty tool?

Now, you must be thinking "that's a bold claim for a sponge" but this isn't just any sponge, no, this sponge will honestly change your life. I've heard nothing but good things about this sponge and to be honest I didn't think that I'd like it. I was quite happy with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush which gave me that full coverage look that I really like whilst effortlessly blending the foundation into my skin. But I think it was around October 2013 when I went makeup shopping for Eid is when I picked up the Beauty Blender from Selfridges. I was gutted to find out that they only had the white one in stock and the pink was obviously a top seller. The thought of ruining a white sponge with foundation everyday was rather daunting but I was keen to try the Beauty Blender out for myself to see if it made a difference in my makeup application. It did, and like many I do not know how I lived without it before. It is my go-to-tool and I reach for it everyday. Applying makeup without a Beauty Blender is currently impossible and has been for a long time. Somedays, I attempt to apply my foundation quickly with a brush but no matter how much I blend, it just looks cakey. The Beauty Blender gives me that flawless look and makes makeup application faultless. After all, who wants to be going out with patchy looking foundation?

Retailing at £16, it is quite expensive and there are plenty of cheaper alternatives available however, I didn't want to try a cheap one and not like it and then have to spend £16 in the end on one that has been raved about all over the internet. There are some hit and miss reviews on the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Some either love it whilst others do not believe it compares to the Beauty Blender. I still want to try out the RT one and considering its only £5.99 I might just buy myself one. If the Beauty Blender is out of your budget then definably check out the RT sponge and if it works for you then you'll be saving yourself a few quid there.

Although the Beauty Blender is expensive it is definitely worth the investment. The sponge is great for applying foundation, concealer, powder or for blending in your contour. It seamlessly blends liquid, cream and powder products, giving you that flawless look every time. First, I dampen the sponge and then remove the excess water with a paper towel. I blend out the products in a patting/dabbing motion. It is a versatile product which means that the pennies are well spent.

You can also buy the Beauty Blender here and for £4 more it comes with a cleanser kit. Remember to collect your points. There isn't much more to say really, other than, try it for yourself and fall in love with it too :) xxx

Correcting pigmentation - with makeup

Okay so if you're a women of colour, it is likely that this will be a huge problem for you. You may be wondering why your face tends to look ashy in certain areas when in fact the foundation is the correct shade for your skin. Think of it like this, if there are different shades of colour on your face then how can one foundation shade be sufficient in evening out your skin tone. The biggest mistake people make is they apply lighter shades of concealer under their eyes with the aim of hiding dark circles and brightening at the same time. This is because they follow all the highlighting tutorials/pictorials without FIRST correcting. Once you've corrected the area to be the same colour as the rest of your face then the highlight will show up better and to its true colour (the same technique can be done on the lips).

You will need to apply a dark peachy/orangey shade to the pigmented areas to cancel out the blue/purples and yes this can look ridiculous at first. What I find is that if I apply foundation directly after correcting, it can often move the product and isn't as effective. Instead, I correct under my eyes and around my mouth and then do my eyebrows and eyeshadow, if I'll be wearing any that day. Doing my eyebrow routine before foundation also has also made a signifiant difference to the way that my brows look. It helps the colour to show up better and keeps my brows in place. I never realised that until I was looking for something to do whilst waiting for the corrector shade to set a little. Anyways, I then apply my foundation and go in with the Maybelline eraser in Nude under my eyes, which is a shade close to my skin tone only slightly lighter, gives a nice brightening effect and feels super lightweight. This next step is optional but I love the Kim K highlighted look so I then go in with Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in shade 20. I know you're probably thinking by now, damn thats a lot of product and you're right it is but the key is to blend, blend, blend (most important beauty secret for any makeup application) & the Beauty Blender will be your new best friend. Also, I find that applying a primer often helps to not only even out the skin tone ever so slightly but also allows the products to go on smoother. Make sure to also use a hydrating eye cream under the eyes to ensure that the under eye is hydrated and to avoid any cakeyness.

Now that that's out the way, let's discuss some products that can be used to correct and where they can be purchased from. What I use is the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in shade 13. I was contemplating on whether or not to purchase the shade that matched my skin tone or shade 13 as a corrector shade but because its super pigmented with extremely good coverage I thought I'd try it as a corrector. The dark areas around my mouth were really bothering me especially when I wore red lippy so I thought it was worth the splurge. There are however cheaper and effective alternatives (mind you, the KASSE pot will last you a lifetime).

Can be purchased from:

• Space NK
• Cult Beauty

Dupes:

• Definitely check out MAC to see which one works best for you as they have a few correcting products. MAC Conceal & Correct Duo - I've seen people rave about this, it looks pretty good and is a 2 in 1 is always handy when storing or travelling. Buy here
• Bobbi Brown Peach corrector - I own this and works perfectly fine. Buy here
• Lush Colour Supplement in Dark Yellow - You may be able to get away with using this as a corrector depending on your skin tone. Regardless, it is a great and affordable concealer so defo one worth trying. 
• Nyx Dark Circle Eraser - Super inexpensive so if this suits your budget give it a try. Can be purchased here

But remember makeup is a temporary fix, the key to correcting is prevention.