Top 5 Series - Blusher

Hello again, 

Time for the second installation of my new top five series, and next up is my second favourite product which is blusher. I can already tell how this series is going to go, I'm subconsciously doing it in order of how much I like the product so by the end of the series I may not be as enthuasiastic to do posts on say... hand cream? I don't know lol but bear with me and I will probably just do posts on products that I enjoy using otherwise I guess there is no point.

Anyway, ramble over. Onto todays topic which is blusher, again none of the products I have chosen are really expensive in fact I think the most expensive are the Topshop cream blushers at £6.

L-P: Pink Cloud, Head Over Heels and Pinch, Suede, Pink Rose

Clockwise from bottom left: Topshop 'Head Over Heels', Topshop 'Pinch', Sleek 'Suede', Rimmel 'Pink Rose', Natural Collection 'Pink Cloud'

Again, scroll to the bottom for swatches of all five blushers and I'm going to discuss each product in the order I've swatched them on the picture, starting with the pinkest on the left to the most neutral on the right.

So first up, is a blush that is absolutely not a neutral colour and that is Topshop's cream blusher in 'Pinch'. A bright, scary looking hot pink in the pan which actually blends out really nicely to leave a pretty flush to the cheek. You do have to apply this with a light hand as it can leave you looking a bit doll-esque.

Next is another Topshop cream blusher, which is 'Head Over Heels' - a much more wearable colour on the cheek. A really pretty peachey/coral shade, which is a lovely light cream which blends to a powder finish. I've been applying both of the Topshop blushers with an ELF stipple brush, as I find it picks up and distributes the right amount of product and allows you to blend in your own time - rather than a mad rush to get it exactly how you want it before it dries to a dodgy line giving you rather strange looking cheek bones. I also think it leaves a really natural finish, and because it dries to a powder finish it has really great staying power. I really cannot say enough good things about these blushes, and at £6 a real bargain.

Number three is Natural Collection's 'Pink Cloud'. This is a matte blush, which is a gorgeous light pink which I think suits a pale complexion really nicely. These blushes are so affordable at £1.99, they have four in the range and I would definitely recommend picking any one of them up. 'Pink Cloud' is really pigmented and only requires a light dusting on the cheek to pick up the gorgeous rosy pink colour.

Next up is Rimmel's Powder Blush in 'Pink Rose', which I have to say I have had for longer than I should like to admit. I think it could possibly be the first blush I ever owned, but I reach for it every now and again and I just really like it. It's a really natural colour on the cheek - unlike 'Pinch' which I would find really concerning if somebody turned that shade of hot pink. 'Pink Rose' is a deeper pink, with a really subtle shimmer that photographs really beautifully. It could have been discontinued for all I know, but I hope not cause it's definitely a product I would repurchase - if i ever get to the end of it!!

Last but not least, is a new purchase of mine and a new offering from Sleek MakeUp's Nude Collection - which is the Suede Blush. It's not something I would buy off my own back I don't think, but I'd seen swatches and reviews of the product online so thought I would give it a try. It's quite a deep brown shade really, and could actually be used more like a bronzer or contour product but I've used this a few times on the cheeks, and I really love it. It's another really natural colour, so great for everyday make-up looks. Sleek's blushes are around £4, and as expected from Sleek they are super pigmented.

L-R: Pinch, Head Over Heels, Pink Cloud, Pink Rose, Suede

So there we have it, part two is done and dusted. Hope you enjoyed reading it and let me what you think of the blushes I've mentioned or any blushes you think I might like!

Next up... eyeshadows. See you next time :)

xxx

Mid-Month Favourites

Hello again :) 

Sorry I've not blogged in so long and then have uploaded two posts in one day, but I thought whilst I was on a bit of a roll I'd do my favourites.

First up is the new 17 Falsifeye mascara, which promises to give 'voluptuously thick, curvy lashes' and I've got to say that for me, it absolutely delivers! It's got a really over sized brush which helps to coat every lash and prevent clumping, the only down side to this is that I really struggle to apply this mascara on my lower lashes as it tends to just go all over my eye! The formula is quite dry really which suggests I won't have this mascara for too long =\ but I guess it helps to prevent clumpiness.

The next product is my Heaven and Earth MUA Professional palette. I've done a full review which you can find here. I just wanted to add that I've used this palette nearly everyday since purchasing it and I'm still really happy with it :)

The next product is another one that I have mentioned before, its the Natural Collection Colour Foundation in Porcelain. I just think for £1.99 it's absolutely brilliant, it's the perfect colour match for my skin tone and it blends really nicely with my new ELF Powder Brush or with a traditional foundation brush. It doesn't last all day and does need touching up at times, but for a day to day foundation to wear to work, college or out to the shops I think its really good. However... I think they have a very limited variety of shades so I think a lot of people will struggle to get the perfect match for their skin tone.

The next product is an old one that I go through phases with, I tend to fall back in love with it after I've given it a good wash and a bit of TLC, and that would be my ELF Total Face Brush. It just seems to get better with age, it never sheds any hairs and it's still really fluffy. Love this brush.

And last but not least are two products from Boots Botanics Range, a Skin Brightening Toner and also the Organic Cleansing Balm, which is on the same lines as the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. I haven't used toner for years it's just been a step that I've completely bypassed in my skin care routine, however I thought this one looked quite nice and I was picking up the Cleansing Balm anyway so thought I'd try it out. So far so good with this product, its got a lovely scent - as all of this range do - and feels really natural and just a nice product.

The Cleansing Balm is so so nice, I've not tried the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish yet, but I aim to do so when this one runs out. It comes with a little Muslin cloth to buff the product onto the skin which helps to remove make up and give your skin a really deep cleanse. I've noticed improvements to my blemish prone skin after just a week or so, so I would definitely recommend this product.

That rounds up my favourites for the past few weeks, its not quite on time for July favourites but didn't want to wait till the end of August so its a middle of the month job I'm afraid! 

Hope everyone is well and let me know  any products that you're enjoying in August!

Hannah Elizabeth xx

Haul

Hello again! Just thought I'd do a quick post on some new purchases I've made lately and a quick review perhaps on some of the cosmetics I have picked up. I've recently started a new job in the centre of Manchester which has done really terrible things for my bank account! I just go shopping on my breaks and dinner, so my first months wage won't stretch very far when I actually receive it! Never mind... on with the haul!

I saw these bags recently in Primark and thought they were so cute, they had three different prints and I picked up the floral one and the Aztec style one as well - which by the way I'm really not one of those girls who needs the same bag/shoes/dress in one of each colour but these bags were £3! They're a super pretty summer clutch which will brighten up any outfit, they're also really spacious which is great for me because I carry so much junk around!

  

 

The next items are all from Boots, I've heard some really great things about Natural Collection recently - in particular the tinted moisturiser and the lipsticks! They were out of stock on the lightest moisturiser so I picked up the Colour Foundation in Porcelain instead, and I am so surprised at how much I love this product. Its the perfect shade for my skin tone, I would actually go far as to say it is the best matched foundation I have ever tried. It has great coverage, blends really nicely and it is an absolute bargain at £1.99! I think they do six shades in this foundation, so it might be hard to match it up to your skin tone but for me it really is just perfect!

 

The next two products are lipsticks, and I actually picked these up after watching The Persian Babe's favourite lip products over on YouTube, they are 17 Mirror Shine in Beehive and Natural Collection in Rose Petal. I love both of them so much - so thank you Barbara for bringing them to my life lol!

Left: Beehive, Right: Rose Petal

Left: Beehive, Right: Rose Petal

As you can see from the swatches above, Beehive is a really glossy and moisturising formula in a really pretty nude colour! Rose Petal is more matte, but still has a slightly glossy finish when applied.

The next product I picked up was a 17 powder blush in China Doll, this is a really bright pink colour and I've swatched it quite heavily in the photo above, but once blended out it adds a nice shimmery pink flush to the cheeks! It's really pigmented and a great colour - perfect for summer!

The final products are skin care and tanning bits and pieces! I've really wanted to try St Moriz self tanning mousse for so long, and I saw it recently in a local shop so I picked it up for a very reasonable £2.99! I've just tried this out today, and already I'm a fan! I really like how it is instant and the product itself is a quite dark brown colour - which frightened me at first - but blends out to a lovely even tan. I think its so much easier to apply when you can see how it looks straight away, I dont like the non-instant type where you can wait hours for it to develop and then realise how streaky it looks - eek!

I also picked up the Soap and Glory fragrance mist, its the classic scent of all the products in their range, and its just really nice as its quite hydrating as well once you rub into your skin! The smell lasts all day so yeah, very happy with this product!

The final product is the Jergens Skin Firming Moisturiser, which I actually won from Fluerdeforce, so I was really happy to receive this yesterday! I haven't actually tested it out too much yet, but Jergens claim that skin will feel firmer after two applications of this product so i'm very excited to try this out properly!

Thanks for reading and hope everyone is doing well! Let me know any recommendations or if you've tried any of the products i've mentioned because I'd love to hear what you think!

Hannah Elizabeth xx