Face of the Day #05

I used to hardly ever wear lipstick, especially any loud, bright shades. They're just such high maintenance and not only do I end up with lipstick marks everywhere, the constant reapplication needed to keep bright lipstick looking good is just too much of a faff. However, my recent purchase of the bright orange L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire has changed everything (at least for now). I've never had so many compliments on my make-up as when I wear this lipstick. So I thought, sod it, if I have to deal with orange marks on my straws and more frequent trips to the bathroom to reapply, that's just a sacrifice I'm going to have to make. To balance out the bright lips I've kept it a bit more plain on the eyes with another new purchase, the much hyped up Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint in Rich Russet.

FACE/BASE

As you can see by the severely squished tube of Laura Mercier oil-free Tinted Moisturizer, there really wasn't much left when I did this look and by the time I'm typing up this post, it's sadly served its purpose and there's not another drop that I can squeeze out. For concealer I stuck with my trusted Seventeen phwoarr Paint - I don't think I'll ever buy any other concealer again (yes, that's a big, big statement right there). For cheeks I stippled on some Bourjois Cream Blush in 03 Rose Tendre - for a drugstore formula, this blush is pretty much unbeatable, even though the packaging does get a bit manky with time and almost all the writing wore off on mine already. For setting, I stuck with another old faithful, the Rimmel Stay Matte powder, dusted just along the T-Zone.

EYES

As my lips were pretty bright with this look, I kept the eye make-up a bit more simple with a slick of the Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint in Rich Russet. I just applied it straight to the lids with the wand, then waited for it to dry for a few seconds and eventually just smudged out the edges with my finger. You can use a brush for that if you want, but I find that fingers work just as well, if not better, as they don't absorb any product. While the Shadow Paint sets, I topped up my brows a little with my recent re-discovery, the Benefit Brow Zings in Medium. To top it all off, I applied one coat of the Bourjois Elastic Mascara on top and bottom lashes. I really love this mascara, but sadly it's starting to run a little low now, so it's going to be time to move on to a different one, soon.

LIPS

On to the star of the show, the L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire by Color Riche in Tangerine Sonate. The main reason I don't mind faffing about with topping up my lip colour all the time is because this gloss/balm/lipstick hybrid does it all in one go for you. One slick and you've got colour and shine right on your lips - no need for two or three different products. At the same time it somehow manages not to be sticky at all, so no awkward hair in mouth situations there.

Monthly Favourites: April 2014

1) Simple Kind To Skin+ Illuminating Radiance Cream

I've literally just published a full review on this moisturiser here, so I don't want to go into too much detail, as I'd only be repeating myself. To sum things up, this is a great moisturiser which is light but nourishing and works great under make-up for the day time. It is rather on the shimmery side, but underneath foundation it gives the skin a gorgeous bit of lift and radiance.

2) L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire by Color Riche in Tangerine Sonate

I bought this less than a week ago, so it's a bit of a bold move to put it on my list of favourites already, but this lipstick/gloss/tint/balm hybrid is simply amazing. It's got the pigmentation of a lipstick and the shine of a gloss, but it's not at all sticky or tacky and feels light like a balm on the lips. The orange shade is surprisingly flattering and I've already had a lot of compliments while wearing it. It seems like this is a cult product for a very good reason.

3) Bourjois Elastic Mascara

I didn't have very high hopes for this mascara originally and to be honest I'm not even sure why I bought it anymore - but no matter, I'm glad I did! This does everything I look for in a mascara. It separates the lashes, it lengthens and the plastic wand makes sure that even the tiny little corner lashes get a nice even coating. It's not the greatest at giving volume, but I don't really care about that. What I'm looking for are long, fluttery lashes and that's exactly what I get from this mascara. It's not quite as good as my all-time favourite "They're Real!" mascara by Benefit, but it comes pretty darn close at a fraction of the price!

4) Benefit Browzings in Medium

You can probably see in the picture above that the packaging of this brow kit is pretty battered. In fact, it's the first brow product I've ever purchased, but at the time it was just too bold for me and got relegated in favour of the Suqqu eyebrow pencil and the HD Brows kit. I dug it out a few weeks ago just to mix things up a little and I've been really loving it again. I guess I kind of got used to filling in my brows and making them a bit bolder, so the high pigmentation is now a bonus rather than something that puts me off. The powder in this kit has slightly red undertones which I find work well in balancing out my yellow skin tone which can look a bit flat with ashy brow products.

Review: Benefit They're Real! Mascara

As much as I love trying out new and lesser-known brands and products, sometimes you've just got to give in to hype. And there are few products that have been more hyped up than the infamous They're Real! mascara. It seems that the whole beauty community seemed to be divided into those who love it and those who hate it. I actually thought about purchasing it for a while, but couldn't shake this feeling of unease in investing almost £20 into a product that I'm only going to have to replace and/or throw away in 3 months' time. But eventually I just couldn't resist and had to splurge a little bit.

At the time Boots were doing a deal where you could boxes of two They're Real! mascaras (one full size, one sample size) for the price of one, so instantly the money spent seemed a lot more justifiable. At least if I loved it, I'd still have a little mini tube to keep me going for a bit after the big mascara had run out. It was also great for travelling, where every last bit of space saving is very much appreciated.

I'll come straight out with the fact that I absolutely, truly adore this mascara. In a way I was hoping that I wouldn't, as it's quite pricey, especially seeing as I chuck my mascaras after 3 months' time. And sadly, no other mascara I've tried since has compared to the beauty of this one.

I think that the thing to bear in mind with this one is that if you like really fat, voluminous lashes, it won't be for you. It does layer really well, but you'd have to apply several coats to get the same effect you get from some other ones. For me, that's not an issue. I don't like plumping mascaras anyway, as they tend to just make my lashes clumpy and I much prefer length and separation in a mascara. I also can't really comment on how it holds a curl, as my lashes are naturally rather curly, so a mascara doesn't really make much of a difference either way.

The brush of the mascara is made of synthetic, rubber bristles that are almost comb-like and a little spiky bit at the tip of the wand. The short spikes are really great at gripping the lashes and the spiky tip allows you to really get into the corner of the eye and also grab bottom lashes to make sure that each and every lash is generously coated. The result is a wide awake look with what seems like a gazillion of fluttery lashes.

Top: No mascara / Bottom: 1 coat of Benefit They're Real! mascara

What I do need to mention is that the full sized mascara is far superior to the small travel sized version. As the brush on the mini mascara sits so close to the lid it becomes very difficult to control and achieve precise results. I used the mini version in the swatch picture above and you can see quite a few smudge marks both at the top and the bottom lashes. I did not get theses with the big one, so if you've tried the sample size and not got on with it, the full size might still work for you.

Benefit They're Real! mascara retails at £19.50 per tube.

Monthly Favourites: August 2013

1) Laura Mercier Oil-free Tinted Moisturiser

I've seen people rave and go on about these for so long that eventually I just caved and had to give it a go for myself - and I have to admit, it's a pretty awesome product! My skin is behaving pretty well at the moment, so I don't need anything with massive amounts of coverage and this tinted moisturiser just fits the bill perfectly. It just seems to smooth things out a little bit, while feeling light as a feather and leaving a natural, healthy glow. My one bug bear (aside from the price!) is that seeing as it's oil free it could do with being a little more mattifying - it seems to leave my face extremely shiny, but that could just be down to the hot weather in all fairness.

2) Models Own nail polish in Luis Lemon

Another Models Own polish in my monthly favourites! I'm seriously obsessed with them - the formula never fails me and the shade selection is just amazing. During the last month of summer I've particularly been loving this neon yellow to put a spring in my step. It's phenomenal for a night out as well, as it literally glows in black light! You can read a post I wrote about this nail polish here.

3) Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl in Nude

I'd been hunting for a nude eye liner for months about a year ago, until I finally gave up and forgot all about it. Then I went out to do some beauty shopping with a friend when we stumbled across these and though I wasn't that fussed anymore I thought I'd give it a go. Great decision! The formula of this pencil is just amazing - soft, creamy, pigmented and stays on the waterline for at least 5 hours. The nude shade is perfect for a wide-eyed, healthy look, but without being quite as harsh and obvious as a white pencil.

4) Artdeco Clear Lash & Brow Gel

Apologies about the tube looking a little manky - unfortunately that's what tends to happen with clear brow mascaras when you apply them over brow pencil or powder. Aesthetics aside, however, this does an amazing job of keeping my brows in place ALL DAY LONG. Literally, they won't budge until I give them a swipe with make-up remover. For somebody whose brows always seem to have a mind of their own this is an absolute god send - it just makes me look so much more groomed than brows that are all over the place. Bear in mind, that it does make them a bit crispy and glossy, but to me that's not necessarily a downside.

5) Benefit They're Real Mascara

I'll admit that I was anything but blown away by this mascara when I first tried it and I'd even go as far as saying that I felt that I'd wasted my money a little. Yes, it makes lashes look really long and it's not too bad for curling, but somehow it was just missing a little bit of oomph. However, slowly but surely, this is really growing on me. There's just something about the brush that makes it grip literally every single one of your eyelashes. Nowadays, when I want a little more impact I just apply two or three layers and it works brilliantly, without a single clump in sight.

Look what I found! Benefit Lipstick in Lady's Choice

I have actually owned this lipstick for years - it was bought on a whim on the way home from one of my first days of uni and after a couple of wears I just kept it hidden somewhere in my stash never to see the daylight again. I rediscovered it about a month ago and it's been getting some well-deserved wear again.

Dieser Lippenstift ist schon jahrelang in meinem Besitz - es handelt sich hier um einen Spontankauf auf dem Nachhauseweg von einem meiner ersten Tage an der Uni. Ich benutzte ihn ein paarmal und schmiss ihn dann auf den Grund meines Haufens, wo er lange nicht mehr das Sonnenlicht erblickte. Etwa vor einem Monat habe ich ihn wiederentdeckt und seitdem wird er brav wieder getragen.

Benefit Lady's Choice is now a full-finish lipstick, so the packaging in the UK looks a bit different now, whereas in Germany they still sell it the way I bought it years ago. It comes in a sturdy weighted bullet with a shiny black exterior, which unfortunately (as you may see in the picture) is great at attracting dirt and fingerprints. The white swirly bits at the bottom prevent it from looking too plain and boring.

Benefit Lady's Choice sieht in Großbritannien, wo die Lippenstifte mittlerweile in zwei verschiedenen Formulierungen erhältlich sind, mittlerweile etwas anders aus. In Deutschland hingegen kriegt man ihn immer noch so wie er auf dem Foto aussieht. Er ist in einem stabilen, schweren schwarzen Gehäuse verpackt, dass leider (wie oben sichtbar) Schmutz und Fingerabdrücke nur so anzieht. Die weißen Streifen am unteren Ende verhindern, dass er allzu langweilig aussieht.

Lady's Choice hand swatch in natural light

Lady's Choice hand swatch with flash

Both in bullet and on my hand it looks very brown, so what on earth posessed me to buy that shade will never know. Benefit describe this shade as "naturally nude", which makes much more sense once it's on the lips.

Sowohl unaufgetragen, als auch auf meiner Hand geswatcht sieht diese Farbe sehr braun aus. Was mich also veranleitet hat, diesen Farbton zu kaufen, bleibt wohl für immer ein Geheimnis. Benefit beschreibt ihn als "naturally nude" und das macht erst Sinn, wenn man den Lippenstift auf den Lippen aufgetragen sieht.

Lady's Choice lip swatch with flash

Lady's Choice lip swatch in natural light

Once on the lips the colour turns into a milky nude with a slight sheen. The light yellow undertones make it surprisingly flattering on my pale skin, though I feel that it would look slightly pink on darker skintones making it universally flattering.

Auf den Lippen verwandelt sich die Farbe in ein sahniges Nude mit leichtem Glanz. Die hellgelben Untertöne sorgen dafür, dass es überraschend gut zu meiner blassen Haut passt, aber ich habe das Gefühl, dass es auf dunklerer Haut mehr ins hellpink stechen würde, was den Ton sehr schmeichelhaft macht.

It's soft and creamy to apply and feels very moisturising on the lips, though it's not particularly long lasting and would require frequent re-application.
Overall I feel this is a lovely nude lipstick shade which deserved a shout-out after being long forgotten in my stash!

Der Lippenstift ist weich und cremig und fühlt sich auf den Lippen sehr feuchtigkeitsspendend an. Leider hält er nicht besonders lange und man muss deshalb öfter nachschminken.
Alles in allem finde ich, dass es sich hier um einen tollen nude Lippenstift handelt, der sich nach so vielen Jahren Vernachlässigung endlich mal ein Shoutout verdient hat!

Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Lady's Choice retails for £14.00.

Benefit Lipstick in Lady's Choice kostet 19.95€.

Weekly Lust List

I thought I'd make a new feature on my blog and make a weekly lust list. This is quite a popular topic in the blogosphere and personally I always like reading what other people would like to buy. Maybe it will also help me stop buying things that I don't really need/want? At the very least it's always fun to do a bit of online window shopping!

1) Asos Belted Dress in Pheasant Print, £35.00

I've got a bit of an obsession going on at the moment with day dresses and this little beauty would be a perfect addition to my wardrobe! It's a beautiful colour for autumn/winter and I just adore the rucheing on the sleeves, which are also a very comfortable length. The belt's included in the price and adds a nice bit of interest and a contrasting colour pop. The only thing is that I'd have to buy some more tights first, seeing as the dog has chewed up two pairs last week!

2) Benefit Watt's up! soft focus highlighter, £24.50

Just as I was starting to brag about how good my skin's been lately, it decides to go all dull and horrible on me. It might just be the winter weather, or it might be my current moisturiser, which I'm starting to eye with a bit of suspicion. Either way, I'm hankering after something that will bring a bit of life back to my complexion and this new highlighter/illuminator by Benefit looks really intriguing. I'm also loving the pretty packaging with the sponge applicator on one end.

3) Topshop Knitted Chunky Zip Cardigan, £60.00

This looks soooo warm and comfortable, I just want to snuggle up in it right now. I'm loving the contrasting stripe down the middle and slightly Navajo-ey pattern on the chest. It's the kind of thing you'd get bullied for when I was at school, but now it's in fashion I can let my inner geek out. It's such a shame about the price, though - £60 for a jumper?? Looks like this isn't happening any time soon for me.

4) Forever21 Sparkling Love Ring, £3.15

I adore Forever21's jewellery section and this ring is just so pretty! I tend to get allergic reactions to cheap jewellery if I have it for too long, so my collection consists of some keep-forever pieces that are made of gold or silver and a few fashion/costume pieces which I rotate regularly. The price is reasonable, so I'd be happy to wear it a few times and then chuck it once it makes my hand turn green.

5) Stila Retractable Powder Brush, £17.00

I really, really need to buy some more make-up brushes, but just can't bring myself to spend any money on them at the moment. This is something I need desperately for powder touch-ups on the go. I refuse to use sponges and powder puffs that come with a face powder, as they're difficult to clean and therefore unhygienic and also pretty rubbish for application. At the moment I just blot my face with tissue/toilet paper if I need to, but obviously that doesn't last for too long, so I really need to get my hands on one of these beauties, so I can powder myself up without getting stuff all over my handbag.