Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit

I was sent this product by the lovely people at Bobbi Brown PR, it's the Creamy Concealer Kit (Sand) which I have wanted to try for a long time now.

The Bobbi Brown webite describes this product as "a yellow-based Creamy Concealer that instantly camouflages dark circles. The creamy formula goes on smoothly with skin conditioning ingredients to help minimise the look of fine dry lines. This kit includes Creamy Concealer on top and Sheer Finish Loose Powder on bottom to set concealer for long-lasting wear".I really like the idea of combining the setting powder with the concealer however, as many people have commented before, the powder compartment does get very messy after a while as there's no way of controlling how much product comes out. So the design of that could be improved on. The powder is super finely milled and creates a really natural finish but as I said, the packaging makes it awkward to dispense the product without ending up getting it everywhere.

As for the concealer, I was very impressed by the consistency and long lasting effect it gave. It brightened up my whole eye area and the consistency is, as the name suggests, creamy but it's not one of those concealers that take forever to sink into the skin. It blends in really well and doesn't sit on top of the delicate skin surrounding the eye, it doesn't have that 'tacky' feel that some concealers have. The most important thing about undereye concealers has to be that they don't sit in the fine lines or look heavy/cakey. This product really delivers on that score as it feels light to wear, a little goes a LONG way. As long as you don't overdo with the application, you will be left with a natural looking, brightened eye area. Because I have under eye dark circles that are hereditory (which means they never completely go away), a product like this is fantastic for dealing with that problem. It doesn't dry the skin or irritate my eyes.

Although the concealer is yellow based and a pink based concealer would normally camouflage dark circles more effectively, this product works really well. If you have more problematic dark circles, then you can always apply a salmon pink colour corrector before applying a concealer over the top. Keep in mind though, that you should always apply product sparingly under the eye as you don't want to heap a load of product on there or it will just highlight the area rather than disguise it.

The other great thing about this concealer is that there's a wide range of shades available so you can get an exact match to your skintone. The shades can be viewed here http://www.bobbibrown.co.uk/templates/products/sp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT6087&PRODUCT_ID=PROD72642. The website also offers a Face Shade Guide so you can match what concealer you should be wearing in relation to your foundation shade. These kind of additions to cosmetic websites are so much more helpful than just providing a 'light', 'medium' and 'dark' concealer shade.

FOTD

I was getting into a bit of a rut in that I was using the same kind of colours everyday without really putting any thought into it. Sometimes it's just easier to go into autopilot. So I decided to switch it up and go for a bit of colour and blue was the colour of choice.

Face: Virgin Vie Skin Dew, Revlon Colorstay Foundation in True Beige mixed with Korres Wild Rose Foundation in WRF4, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer under eyes, MUFE Full Cover around nose/blemishes, Korres Wild Rose Powder in WRP3 to set, Giorgio Armani Sheer Bronzer in No.1, ELF Blush/Bronzer Compact, Rouge Bunny Rouge Highlighting Liquid in Sea of Showers on cheekbones, down bridge of nose and on browbones.

Eyes: Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Tattle Tale as a base, Rouge Bunny Rouge e/s in Unforgettable Oriole (Metallic white gold) all over lid and inner corner of eye, Korres Shimmering e/s in Sky Blue (a gorgeous iridescent shade) in crease and outer half of lid, Sleek Graphite palette (used dark blue shade on outer corners of eyelid, I have marked the shade on the palette below), Annabelle Smoothliner in Meteorite (slightly metallic navy blue) along upper lashline, Rimmel eyeliner in white on waterline, Rouge Bunny Rouge Amplitude Mascara in Pure Obsidian (Black).Here's a closer look at the eyelid...

Lips: ELF Mineral Lipstick in Natural Nymph, Bourjois Les Nudes gloss in no.33.

I think this is such a wearable look and a great way to add a bit of colour into your everyday makeup. I'm loving the blue liner at the moment, especially since it has a hint of metallic to it! I'm still a big fan of the RBR mascara. I'm hoping to do a haul soon because I really think their product are worth a splurge.

ELF Haul

After seeing Holly's ,(The Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog) vid on YouTube about some products she picked up from ELF recently, I couldn't help but do a little haul of my own. I mean, at £3.50 a piece, it'd be rude not to, wouldn't it!

The first thing on my list to have a look at was the Blush and Bronzer Compact which is a brilliant dupe of Nars Orgasm/Laguna Compact. Both pans have a slight shimmer to them but they transfer to the skin without looking glittery or too shimmery. The blush is a flattering peachy shade and the bronzer goes on smoothly without streaking or going patchy. They are really good quality considering the price tag!

The next item on my list was the much talked about Eye Transformer Palette. The ELF website says "Convert your shadows into brand new shades with these four opalescent shadows. Wear alone, under, over or in combination with your other makeup. The opal tones transform your dark color into a new shimmering hue".

As you can see from the swatches below, all four shades are pastel and iridescent. They are finely milled and give SUCH a pretty effect on the skin! I can see how they could transform any existing eyeshadows you already own into something really gorgeous. I can't wait to experiment!

Holly had also been raving about one of the mineral lipstick called Natural Nymph so me being a nude lip fan, I couldn't resist the temptation to add another one to my collection! While I was checking it out, I picked up another shade, Runway Pink which is a really wearable shade with a bit more warmth.

L-R: Natural Nymph Mineral Lipstick and Runway Pink Mineral Lipstick
These are also fantastic quality and they rival some of the higher end lipsticks I own! They are a really nice consistency and don't feel like they will dry your lips. These two shades are so easy to wear and really flattering. Natural Nymph has to be one of the prettiest nudes in my collection.

Since I LOVE my ELF mineral eyeshadow in Natural (I repeat, LOVE!), I wanted to pick up another shade and this time I got 'Girly' which is a pale lilac colour with a bit of gorgeous shimmer. These mineral eyeshadows are just divine, they are so finely milled and great quality, I can see myself picking up more in the future. Here's a swatch of 'Girly':

I much prefer the newer shades that are available and if you haven't already got 'Natural' then you need to get it. I wear it most days...it's an HG every day colour! Here's what it looks like (courtesy of the ELF website):
I also decided to pick up a lip liner and I wanted something very natural and subtle (I hate seeing lip liners that are too dark and really stand out from your lipstick). I picked up the Featherproof Moisturising Lip Liner in Natural Blush...

The lipliner doesn't drag on the skin or feel dry. It's the perfect shade to line your lips when you want a nude or pink lipstick. Here's a swatch of the product:

I am really happy with everything I got and I have to say a huge thank you to Holly for showcasing the products to start with. It's great to get a heads up on what is worth buying and what you have to pass on. I hope the swatches help anyone who has been thinking of buying anything from the ELF website! Have a great weekend everyone!

Updated FTC Disclaimer

Hi everyone,

I was really saddened today when I started to realise what a furore is being created over the new FTC guidelines but in the spirit of being compliant (and avoiding a huge fine according to some sources!), I just wanted to let you all know that I have updated the disclaimer at the bottom of my blog to clarify any uncertainties. The disclaimer reads as follows:

I would like to confirm that this is my personal blogspot and therefore, all the product reviews are based purely and wholly on my own opinion and experience from product usage. I do NOT get paid/work for, nor am I affiliated in any way with any of the brands mentioned in my blog. I do sometimes receive samples from companies to review on my blog however my opinions are always honest and not influenced by the fact that they are 'freebies'. In the interests of avoiding confusion, from now on (04/12/2009), I will state in my posts whether the products featured were bought with my own money or sent to me. All photos that appear on this site are copyrighted by their respective owners. I claim no credit for the media images unless otherwise noted. If you own the rights to any of the images and do not wish for them to appear on this site please contact me and the images will be promptly removed. I reserve the right to delete comments which I deem to be offensive or abusive.

To be honest, this kind of thing and the resulting consequences, are sucking all the fun out of blogging for me. For people to think that because I sometimes receive free samples, my reviews aren't honest or I'm somehow swayed into saying that a product is good when it's not is really annoying. I am a very honest person and if it's what people want, I will state in every single post I do whether I bought the items or not. By disclosing all the information and being totally transparent, you guys can then make up your own minds if you want to take my opinions thoughts on board. For decades magazines have featured beauty products in their publications, they get those products for free, yet people never questioned the beauty editors (unless your reading one of those endorsement 'promotional' features where everything is from the same brand). It just seems hypocritical to me. I read an article recently about how alot of magazine bosses are 'fearful' of bloggers because essentially we are making beauty editors obselete. Apparently people prefer to read reviews written by 'real people'. What do you think?

Does anyone else feel that this is all becoming a bit much?

A Leeeeetle bit of Lancome

La Base Pro Perfecting Makeup Primer - The website says: "the Lancôme innovative Elasto-Smooth™ technology visibly resurfaces your skin by leaving a non greasy and supple film as an invisible second skin. Enlarged pores, fine lines, signs of tiredness… all imperfections optically fade away by light reflexion. Skin is supple, softer and visibly smoothed. This oil-free texture helps control shine and glides on seamlessly for a true playtime. La Base Pro fixes make-up for a longer lasting wear, giving a more natural and perfected result".
What I say: I think alot of people dismiss silicon based like Smashbox Photo Finish because they don't like the way they 'sit' on top of your skin and have a greasy feel to them. Although La Base Pro is silicon based, it is NOTHING like Smashbox PF. It is a gel consistency and feels completely different when you apply it. It does give the feel of a second skin akin to that of a light serum, giving you a really oil-free smooth base to apply your makeup. I think the mistake alot of people make with this product is they apply way too much. One and a half pumps of the primer is more than enough to cover your whole face. Also, you need to make sure that you are working it into your skin properly, it doesn't take a hug amount of effort to just take 30 seconds longer to make sure you have blended it into the skin properly. You should just be left with silky smooth supple skin afterwards with no greasy feeling at all. I love the frosted glass bottle this primer comes in, although it has a pump applicator and it can be difficult to get the last bit of product out once you come to the end of usage.

The thing I really like about this primer is that it feels so light on your skin, you don't even feel like you're wearing a primer. When I apply my foundation, it goes on smooth and blends so easily without feeling like it's going to slip off my face. I get an oily T-Zone and this product definitely helped to tone that down. I am also convinced that it made my makeup last for longer as at the end of the day, I found I didn't have to touch up my makeup. Overall, it just makes my skin look more polished and fresh and that's what I aim for in my everyday look. I know some people get breakouts from silicon based products but I can only say what works for my skin and I haven't had any problems with this primer in that regard. If you do have this problem, then it would probably be best to get a sample and patch test it on your jawline before buying a full size. I really do rate this product though and it dispells all the bad stuff I have heard about silicon-based primers in the past.Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara - What the website says "Hypnôse Drama creates full body, high-volume lashes in a single stroke. The full contact brush, with its S-shaped curve, grasps and loads lashes for a fanned out, eye-popping, full body fringe. It works magic on tiny lashes. Even dramatizes corner lashes other brushes miss—or worse, mess. The triple coating system with caring Pro-Vitamin B5 delivers a fluid and creamy application to quickly and easily build big, battable lashes.Won't flake or clump".

What I say: I had tried the normal Hypnose mascara a couple of years ago and I remember thinking it was ok but it didn't blow me away. This seems to be the suped up version of that mascara and I love the shape of the wand (alot of brands seem to be experimenting lately with shapes, materials and even vibration in a bid to secure the title of best mascara). This mascara certainly did add volume to my lashes with just one coat, it also added quite a bit of length. I found that the S-shaped wand seemed to grab all my lashes and make the most of them.

Over the day I did notice a little bit of flaking, it was VERY slight but it did bother me slightly as I hate feeling like I have to check my makeup for that kind of thing. I want to be able to get on with my day without such things. That said, I do like the drama it adds to my lashes and with a few coats, it can really add that bambi effect. Because I am a perfectionist, the slight flaking does bother me though and after trying the quite frankly AMAZING YSL Singulier mascara, it's very hard to make room in my heart for another mascara.
Laque Fever Lipshine in 320 (Pink Delight)- What the website says: "Ultra-polished and even colour. Shine and intensity, maximized colour. Enduringly shiny lacquered lipcolour".

What I say: Gimme a pink lipgloss and I'm a happy girl! This lipgloss is well and truly within my comfort zone which consists of nudes and pinks. It has just the right amount of shimmer without making my lips look too 'discoball', it's not too sticky and it has good staying power. The pigmentation isn't that strong but I would normally wear lipglosses over a lipstick so this isn't an issue for me. It's a really pretty shade and very flattering.

I've always got along well with lancome lipglosses and there always seems to be a shade that's perfect for me. This lipgloss has the usual heart shaped sponge applicator which I really like because it fits perfectly onto your lips without making the process awkward (I sometimes find that brush applicators can make a mess and you have to be that bit more precise, making it difficult when you don't have a mirror to hand). The only downside to the gloss is that I found it quite difficult to get enough product on the wand first time, so I found myself dipping it in a couple more times. I think the neck of the tube may be a little bit too narrow and the product gets squeezed off the applicator as you pull it out. This isn't a huge deal really, just something design-wise that could be improved.
L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick in 250 (Beige Mirage) - What the website says: "For the first time in a lipstick, Pro-Xylane®, a powerful molecule of Lancôme research is introduced into a lipstick. It helps re-shape and replenish the lips. Hydration for 8 hours and perfectly designed lip contour. Indulge your lips with the most luxurious texture available in 36 absolutely rich and voluptuous shades. Precious pigments, a luxurious high-tech case, revealing a new intense sensorial experience".

Pictured above is Beige Mirage on top and Pink Delight underneath.

What I say - Lipsticks should all be moisturising because there's nothing worse than a lip product that turns your lips into a flaky, chalky mess. This lipstick feels very moisturising on the lips and applies very smoothly. I would say that the shade was a little too brown toned for my complexion as peachy toned nudes suit me better (it would possibly suit me more when I have a tan...not much chance of that in Scotland really so I'm referring to FAKE tan!).

The lipstick has good staying power and was still on my lips after 3 hours which I deem to be pretty good since I had two hot drinks in that space of time. I really liked the packaging, the way the lip is magnetised and clicked down into place although I think they could had added a bit more detail to the case to make it a bit more eyecatching. All in all, it's a really nice lip product however, although there are alot of shades, I think I would struggle to find shades that suit me as most of them seem very dark. If you are a fan of bright pink or bright red lipsticks then this would be a good one to check out as they seem to have alot of vibrant colours. However for a nude/pink lip fan like myself, there isn't a whole lot to tickle my fancy.

Magic Make-up Eraser Pen???

I was browsing MSN today and stumbled across this product....Revlon Eraser Pen (£7.33 available from Boots and Superdrug). The Revlon website says the following "For touch ups on the go or during make-up application, our Make Up Eraser Pen quickly removes smudges, smears and mistakes without disturbing the rest of your make-up. Greaseless formula easily lifts away even long-wearing and waterproof make-up, without irritation".

I am forever being cack-handed with my mascara and could do with something to tidy it up, especially on the go. I'm not sure how this would work as you would expect that over time, the nib would become a bit grubby!

Hmmm, this would be interesting to see if this works as well as it claims to....has anyone tried this yet? I can't make up my mind whether it's genius or whether I would just be spending money on something that I could do with a baby wipe or cotton bud/cue tip. What do you think?

Crazy Heels

Whilst tidying out my closet (this happens regularly as I make such a mess of it on a daily basis!)I have come to realise that my shoes can be sorted into two distinct categories...shoes that I can walk in and shoes that just look pretty. I often find that I see an amazing pair of shoes with gorgeous detailing and conveniently ignore the fact that they kill my feet before I've even left the house!

I'm almost just content staring at them neatly tucked away in their box, looking pristine and untouched...yes I think I do have a problem! Often these amazing shoes are not practical or comfortable, they're more a work of art in their own right. They make me happy. However, I am fully aware that I need to start concentrating on shoes that I can actually put on my feet and god forbid, walk in for more than 10 minutes! I have noticed more and more crazy heels on shoes and I keep wondering whether people can actually WALK in them...I mean celebrities wear them on the red carpet but they have chaffeurs to drop them off, they walk about for a couple of hours and then get driven home. Not exactly the same as battling your way home through the mean streets, is it?! I always feel 100% more glamourous when I have high heels on. I tend to feel like I have clown feet when I wear flats and the weird thing is, I kinda walk funny in them...I always find that I walk straighter and taller in heels. Although with the icy weather appearing over the last couple of days I think I will be forced to wear flats or risk a broken limb! So do you guys go for the comfy option or tough it out in in sky scrapers?

Does anyone out there in beauty bloggerland wear those crazy heels that have baubles on them or carved figurines???