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
Monday, 21 September 2015
Wednesday, 8 July 2015
The appearance of large pores is a common problem amongst people from all ages. It can cause the skin to look dull and lifeless. Large pores can also affect the way foundation applies and looks on the skin therefore it is no surprise that we are always on the search for products that will help minimise these pores. Often people ask how pores can be closed. Well in theory pores cannot actually be 'closed' as they are tiny hair follicles, which can tend to look enlarged when they are clogged. When dirt, impurities or oil build up on the skin, it causes the pores to get clogged. This then causes dead skin cells to gather at the base of the pore, making them look enlarged. Steps can be taken to ensure that the skin is clean from any dirt that will essentially help the pores to be minimised and give an even complexion.
Prime:
Skincare miracles don't often happen overnight therefore for the time being there are temporary fixes that can help to give a flawless base. Using a primer before applying foundation will help to 'fill' in those pores hence give the illusion of even skin. Priming the skin helps to conceal enlarged pores and provides a smooth canvas for foundation. This helps to avoid foundation sitting on the surface of the skin and drawing attention to the pores. The Porefessional Primer by Benefit is a great one for this and a drugstore dupe would be the Maybelline Pore Eraser.
Steam:
If you've ever been to a spa you'll notice that during the luxurious experience they'll often use a steamer. The heat helps to open up the pores so that the skin can be deep cleansed from within and impurities can be extracted. Making use of this cheap and effective step will also help products to penetrate into the skin better. Sometimes in the morning I wash my face with hot water then cleanse my face with my morning cleanser and rinse it off with cold water to close the pores. This also makes me feel awake and refreshed in the mornings. You don't need to go out and splash money on a facial steamer if you don't wish to. Just simple boil some water and pour it into a bowl, put your head above the bowl - using a towel on top of your head will help to make the most out of this experience. You'll notice a massive difference after steaming your face.
Exfoliate:
Exfoliating the skin helps remove dead skin cells. Removing this barrier of dead skin cells will enable the regeneration of new skin cells. If used too often however it can strip the natural oils from the face so a couple of times a week is fine. Exfoliates help to also improve the overall texture of the skin. There are gentle exfoliants available for those suffering with sensitive skin. Suffering from sensitive skin myself, I've always found it difficult to find an exfoliator that works well with my skin. Recently I've come across drugstore and high-end exfoliators that were super gentle and left my skin feeling smooth in texture. The drugstore option which I'm sure many of you may have heard raved about in the blogging community is the one by St Ives and the latter which I haven't heard about prior to using it is the Doctor's Scrub. I've also written a review on the Clarisonic which can be used as a gentle everyday exfoliant.
Tone:
In my post on how I cleared up my blemish prone skin I mentioned that I incorporated a toner into my skincare routine which I have found to make a huge difference to my skin. Clogged pores will lead to blemishes and be the cause of acne. Toners will help to remove the dirt and impurities from the skin that essentially make the pores look enlarged. After removing makeup there is often traces of makeup left on the skin. If left on the skin, it can also cause the pores to be clogged - using a toner helps remove any last traces of makeup that may have been left on the skin. Some products available on the market incorporate this step with the previous one. Examples include Clarins Exfoliating Toner and the Pixi Glow Tonic.
Prime:
Skincare miracles don't often happen overnight therefore for the time being there are temporary fixes that can help to give a flawless base. Using a primer before applying foundation will help to 'fill' in those pores hence give the illusion of even skin. Priming the skin helps to conceal enlarged pores and provides a smooth canvas for foundation. This helps to avoid foundation sitting on the surface of the skin and drawing attention to the pores. The Porefessional Primer by Benefit is a great one for this and a drugstore dupe would be the Maybelline Pore Eraser.
Steam:
If you've ever been to a spa you'll notice that during the luxurious experience they'll often use a steamer. The heat helps to open up the pores so that the skin can be deep cleansed from within and impurities can be extracted. Making use of this cheap and effective step will also help products to penetrate into the skin better. Sometimes in the morning I wash my face with hot water then cleanse my face with my morning cleanser and rinse it off with cold water to close the pores. This also makes me feel awake and refreshed in the mornings. You don't need to go out and splash money on a facial steamer if you don't wish to. Just simple boil some water and pour it into a bowl, put your head above the bowl - using a towel on top of your head will help to make the most out of this experience. You'll notice a massive difference after steaming your face.
Exfoliate:
Exfoliating the skin helps remove dead skin cells. Removing this barrier of dead skin cells will enable the regeneration of new skin cells. If used too often however it can strip the natural oils from the face so a couple of times a week is fine. Exfoliates help to also improve the overall texture of the skin. There are gentle exfoliants available for those suffering with sensitive skin. Suffering from sensitive skin myself, I've always found it difficult to find an exfoliator that works well with my skin. Recently I've come across drugstore and high-end exfoliators that were super gentle and left my skin feeling smooth in texture. The drugstore option which I'm sure many of you may have heard raved about in the blogging community is the one by St Ives and the latter which I haven't heard about prior to using it is the Doctor's Scrub. I've also written a review on the Clarisonic which can be used as a gentle everyday exfoliant.
Tone:
In my post on how I cleared up my blemish prone skin I mentioned that I incorporated a toner into my skincare routine which I have found to make a huge difference to my skin. Clogged pores will lead to blemishes and be the cause of acne. Toners will help to remove the dirt and impurities from the skin that essentially make the pores look enlarged. After removing makeup there is often traces of makeup left on the skin. If left on the skin, it can also cause the pores to be clogged - using a toner helps remove any last traces of makeup that may have been left on the skin. Some products available on the market incorporate this step with the previous one. Examples include Clarins Exfoliating Toner and the Pixi Glow Tonic.
Wednesday, 1 July 2015
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.
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.