Products I'm loving

I have wanted to do a post like this for a while but never got round to it, but I finally took some pictures and I have the results here.  Most of these items are not involved enough to do a blog on their own so I have combined a bunch of products for this one.

First up skincare.  If you have read my blog before you will know I have dry, sensitive skin.  This means that for the longest time I have not been able to wear powder products on my face. I had to use cream blush, and wasn't able to set any foundation or concealer, because they would just cling to the dry patches.  I have found my saving grace (or saving face, if you will allow).

Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-oil

This is part of the Vitamin E range at The Body Shop and has absolutely transformed my skin.  So much so that I have gone out and bought powder products.  I put this on at night after I have cleansed and before my moisturiser (if your skin isn't as dry as mine you probably won't need the moisturiser). It is £16 which is up there in price if you compare it to drugstore, however most serums these days will cost you around that. Needless to say I will not be trying any other serums or moisturisers anytime soon because I just love this.

Still with The Body Shop is a new line that is wonderful.

The Almond Milk and Honey Range

I first bought this in the small trial sizes because I didn't want to shell out a crazy amount of money for something that made me breakout.  I was hooked from the first time I used it.  It smells great, I am fairly picky when it comes to The Body Shop fragrances because I find most of them too overpowering. I would normally go for the nut based fragrances rather than the fruit so this range was not too out of my wheelhouse.  The shower creme is lovely, it feels moisturising as it goes on and doesn't foam up too much which is good for dry skin.  The exfoliater is good, it isn't too scratchy which if you have sensitive skin can be an issue and the body butter is divine, probably my favourite.  I tend to use it before bed and I can still smell it on my skin in the morning.  It is silky without being greasy and the dry patches on my arms are gone, as well as my dry knees and elbows are like new.  Love it!

Recently I have started a new job and I wanted an everyday makeup look that I didn't need to think about.  I wanted a small, matte palette with neutral brown shades that would be quick and easy to apply.  I found it...

The Makeup Revolution Renaissance Palette Day

As you can see I have dipped into this already.  My routine is as follows:  
1. Prime the eye with Maybelline's Colortattoo in Creme De Rose
2. Set with the second shade from the left
3. Sweep the middle shade over the lid
4. The second shade from the right goes in the crease
5. The far right goes on the outer corners to deepen
It probably took me longer to type this than it does to apply.  This little palette blends like a dream, the shades are not to dissimilar to the Urban Decay Naked Basic Palette but the Makeup Revolution one retails for £8.  I will eventually run out of this but I will definitely repurchase. 

The next three products I have been searching for, for a long time.  I wanted a concealer that brightened under my eye but didn't sit in my wrinkles, a mascara that added volume but didn't flake and a powder to set the concealer.  It has taken me a while but I got there in the end.
Up first...

Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer 

I have tried other concealers, some came highly recommended, some I bought under my own steam but none of them seemed to be able to cover my dark circles, brighten and not sit in my wrinkles.  Now there are concealers that do two out of the three but I found the thick concealers that cover, sat in my wrinkles and the brightening concealers that didn't make me look 20 years older, didn't really cover, until I stumbled upon this beauty. It doesn't come in many shades unfortunately, in fact my Superdrug only stocks two, but I have the shade 01 Ivory and it is wonderful. It covers, brightens and doesn't make me look old. Woo hoo!

The next one of the searched for products is a translucent/setting powder. Since I sorted out my dry skin I wanted to try out some powders. I already had one from Clinique, No 7 and Revlon but they were all too powdery, I found that they would gather in my lines and around my nose and would look cakey.  Enter stage right...

MUA Translucent Pressed Powder

This is by far the best value for money of all the products I am writing about today.  This costs a massive £1, yes you read that right. £1. It is finely milled and works fantastically at setting my concealer.  No more slipping or wearing away.  This with the Bourjois Radiance Reveal is the dream team, it truly is.

The final product of the power three is a mascara.  I had been using the same mascara for a while and had never really been happy with it. I got some mascara over Christmas in gift boxes and they all seemed to flake or be too clumpy.  Eventually I found Makeup Revolution's Amazing Volume Mascara which went on okay and didn't flake but the brush was big and it was awkward to apply, so I used that one until I found the 3 for 2 offer at Superdrug.  I was buying the Bourjois concealer and another of the Rouge Velvet lip paints and I thought that I would give the mascara a go. 

When I opened the bottle I found the wand to be medium in size, not too big that it's a struggle to do the lower lashes and not to small that it takes forever to do the top lashes.  The formula is great, no clumps and I chose the Ultra Black which looks amazing. Primarily I look for volume in a mascara because I am blessed with long lashes (not at all smug) and this does not disappoint.  In fact the first time I wore it a colleague asked if I was wearing falsies.  The best thing about this is that there is no flaking. I wear this every day at work and when I get home there is no sign of it anywhere on my cheeks. 

This next product is not drugstore and is pricey.  I bought this as a gift to myself for getting the new job.  I had been investigating powders since my skin got better and I finally decided that I would go ahead and treat myself.

Benefit Cheek Parade

This comes with two bronzers and three blushes, all of which are beautiful in their own way.  There is the Hoola bronzer in the top left hand corner and the Hoola Lite in the bottom left.  Now I am pale so I use the Hoola Lite as a bronzer and the Hoola to contour. All of these powders are so finely milled that they go on like a dream and stay there.  The blushes are all different. Dandelion on the bottom is like an everyday blush, it is pink and matte and blends wonderfully.  Galifornia on the top in the middle is more peach toned with a hint of a gold shine.  My favourite though is Rockateur, this is still pink but has a little more of a mauve shade, it has a little bit of shine but not too much that it makes you look crazy just enough to give you a glow.  This retails at £49.50, which I know, is expensive, however if you spread the cost over the five colours it works out at £10 a pop.  Which while still on the pricey side for blusher compared with the drugstore, it is well worth the money.  It will make a fabulous gift and will absolutely make whoever has it smile, well it does for me each morning when I use it.

The final product in my run down is a setting spray. I will be the first to admit that I was sceptical about setting spray, I didn't really believe it would work and I held off buying one for a long while. Then I popped in to Superdrug... a 3 for 2 offer and a full basket later and I had bought it.  

L'oreal Infallible Fixing Mist

My primary concern with this was would it break my sensitive skin out.  I need not have worried it didn't, and it really does work. I do a job that involves a 15 minute walk to the station, lifting, carrying, sorting stuff, on my feet all day and then the train ride home and another 15 minute walk.  Through all of this when I get home my makeup still looks great.  I haven't tried it on a night out yet because I am not really an out kind of person. Out involves people and I like to hang out at my friends house, eat pizza and relax rather that stand in a sweaty club next to people I have nothing in common with, anyway I digress, this fixing spray works and doesn't break me out, what more is there to say?

Remember these are my opinions and if they differ from yours that's okay - that's why they have plenty of products on the market.

If you have any favourite products or recommendations feel free to post them below.

XOXO