No.7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush Stick in Classic Rose | Review

I think I've mentioned before I don't often try cream blushes, I'm not sure why because the ones I do have I really like and I think they're particularly great for Spring and Summer but I always seem to opt for powder. However, I recently tried the new No.7 Pop & Glow Blush Stick in Classic Rose and it's pretty darn good.

Firstly, I really do adore the packaging of this blush, it's in a stick form (much like Nars multiples) so you can just twist it up, dab it onto your check, smudge with your fingers or a brush and you're good to go! The application of this product is really great, it's easy to get a sheer wash of colour when blended or you can build it up to a more intense look if you wish, which still would only take a couple of swipes as the colour payoff is outstanding (swatches above).
The shade I have is Classic Rose which is a gorgeous hot pink, I think this is beautiful for Spring and Summer! I had my doubts that the colour would suit me, but I find it warms up my complexion and gives me a healthy glow - the fact it has a sheen helps with that.
Often cream blushes can be very sticky, but this blush stick is far from it - it almost feels powder like once it's dried. It's creamy, easy to blend and sets into the skin really well. But as it's that cream formula it hasn't got the longest staying power  -  I'd say it lasted about 5 hours maximum before it faded on me, however if you put powder over the top it will make it last longer and you can always carry this around in your bag for touchups during the day!
Overall I would definitely recommend this chubby stick style blush if you're new to cream blushes, or perhaps you're not keen on them because of the stickiness or difficult application but like the look they give, this will ease you in. They do 2 more blush shades and 1 highlighter in the same packaging and formulation which I must pick up! The price (£9.95) is definitely a bit much for a high street brand, I would say it shouldn't be more than £7…but if you'd like to treat yourself it's worth it for a lovely product.

Have you tried this yet?

What is your thoughts on cream blushes?

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Bronzer & Highlighter As Eyeshadow

One of the big makeup trends for Spring is shimmery, golden, warm eyes, one of my favourite eye makeup looks! There are loads of shadows out there that will do an amazing job creating this look, but the easier option is to use your bronzer and highlighter.

I love a multi purpose product, it makes doing your makeup that much quicker, easier and if you're carrying your makeup around with you it means there's less to carry.
To create gorgeous golden eyes first apply your bronzer all over your eyelid, making sure to layer it up so there's less chance of creasing. I'm using the Nars Laguna Bronzer, which is lovely because it's so warm and matte. Bring it down along your lower lash line as well.
After you've applied the bronzer then go in with your powder highlighter over the top, this will create that gorgeous shimmer and sparkle to your eyes. I'm using the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, this is perfect as it's got a beautiful metallic finish.
There you have it, golden shimmery eyes - right on trend for Spring 2014!

Will you be giving this a go?

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MY MAKEUP GIVEAWAY

Real Techniques Role Reversal

The Real Techniques range is my favourite brand of makeup brushes. There are so many to choose from, they're affordable, they look pretty, they're easy to clean, they dry quickly and I love the way they make my makeup look.

Two of the brushes I own are the Brush Blush and the Contour Brush which is part of the Core Collections kit. I adore both of these brushes and use them daily, however I do use them for different things. The blush brush I find is best for contouring, and the contour brush is brilliant for applying blush, so there's a role reversal going on!

The blush brush is practically just a larger version of the contour brush. They both have those tapered bristles which make them great for blending in your product. You apply the powder to the top bristles and then the bristles on the outer part of the brush will help to blend it all in, so you're not left with an awful harsh line.
The reason I prefer to use the blush brush to contour is because it is larger and has more bristles to help blend my bronzer. Although the contour brush is perfectly great at doing it's job I found I was sometimes left with too harsh a line, it was too precise for a daytime look, so I'd always go in afterwards trying to blend it out…but I don't need to do that with the blush brush!
The contour brush is amazing for applying blush though, it's the perfect size! It's also a dream to apply highlighter with and even help to blend in concealer.

If you have both of these brushes I suggest swapping the uses around and seeing how you get on!
If you don't have these brushes I highly recommend them…and any of the others from the Real Techniques range!

Sleek Face Form in Fair Review

I have wanted the sleek face contour kit for quite a while now, and I have also wanted to try their blushes, so when I was in Superdrug the other day and came across the bronzer and highligher from the face contour kit AND a blusher all in 1 palette for £10 I had to get it, and I have to say Sleek really are brilliant!

 It comes in the above card packaging/box, which I personally think isn't necessary and a bit of a waste of paper, but hay ho. You open it and inside is the lovely sleek (yes, sleek) rectangular packaging which I LOVE, it reminds me slightly of the Nars packaging, however this one doesn't get anywhere near as messy as the Nars ones do. The box itself is smaller than you'd probably expect but I think a lovely size, especially for travelling or popping in your handbag. It isn't flimsy, and the box doesn't open really easily so it wont get your bag all messy! (MASSIVE BONUS)

You open it up and inside is a beautiful bronzer, highlighter and lovely blush (looks a bit scary in the pan but it's amazing on).

I love the bronzer because it's not at all orangy and it's practically matte, it has the tiniest amount of shimmer in but so do practically all bronzers, if you want to contour with bronzer then the less shimmer the better. It goes so nicely onto the skin, it's easy to blend and because I got the colour 'fair' in this palette it's not too dark for my white as white skin tone, which I find sometimes my Nars Laguna is (but I do adore that bronzer).
The highlighter is a really lovely light pink shade with shimmer running through it, when applied it comes out very light, which is obviously what you want with a highlighter and it's not gold or metallically like my favourite highlighter (Mac MSF, review here) but sometime's it's nice to have a change, and it's not so full on so if you've gone bold with other areas of your make up you don't want an overly shimmer gold toned highlighter.
The blusher is gorgeous, it's a bright corally, goldy peach colour with gold shimmers, like I said before it does look slightly scary and bright in the pan but once applied (gently with a soft hand) it looks gorgeous, it gives such a nice glow to the face and compliments the bronzer and highlighter well. I believe you can get this blush individually as well, it's called Rose Gold and it's a well known dupe for the high end blusher Orgasm by Nars. Rose Gold is less pink than orgasm and less shimmery but apart from that they are extremely similar, especially when applied.

Left to right - Bronzer, highlighter, blusher.

All 3 of these powders are extremely highly pigmented, a little will go a long way and they will last ages. They are so easy to blend, very flattering to my skin tone, I got the fair palette but they also do the colours light, medium and dark to choose from, so there's one to suit everyone!
They last for hours and hours and they're just beautiful. For £10 I think this palette is an absolute bargain, the quality of the packaging and the powders is up there with the high-end brands! I would definitely recommend this Face Form palette from Sleek.

Available from selected Superdrug stores and on the SLEEK WEBSITE.

Do you own this palette or would you like to?

Do you own any other Sleek products?

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Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle Review

Today I thought I would share with you my favourite product at the moment! I know so many people rave about this, and yes, I have jumped on the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish bandwagon! But ohhh it's so lovely.

This product is a highlighter, I use it on my cheek bones, top of my nose and under my eyebrows to highlight my face. I just swirl my contour brush in there, tap off the excess so it's not too overloaded, and sweep it in the desired areas of the face. It makes the face look a lot slimmer and 'highlights' those areas of your face! The texture of this skin finish is beautiful, so velvety soft and light! I feels just amazing to put onto the skin, it doesn't make your skin feel clogged up or heavy, it's just really nice. It gives a wonderful glow to the face and leaves me looking a lot healthier, more awake and brighter.
I think highligher is quite an easy product to get wrong, some have WAY too much glitter or look way too heavy....looking like you've dipped your face in a bowl of glitter glue isn't a good look! But this gives a perfect dewy, soft finish to the skin and I think it would be very hard for someone to go wrong with this.

This looks wonderful in photographs, especially if you're using a flash because the light picks up the shimmer extremely well. The colour looks quite pinky, or even a tad orange in the pan, but it doesn't come across at all like that on the skin. It's quite metallicy, sparkly and a light peachy gold colour....PERFECT for highlighting.

It's so pigmented, you only need such a tiny amount of this product, a little definitely goes a long way! So it's going to last me a while which I'm super happy about; I know people who have had this for years and it still looks brand new!

The packaging is great also, standard Mac packaging. It's very smart looking, easy to keep clean and won't pop open in your makeup bag....I do wish it had a mirror though for on the go touch ups, but luckily it does last ages and ages so I will let them off for that one!

Heavy swatch - MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle

I think this product would suit all skin colours because you can build it up, and all skin types because it is very gentle on the skin (as it's a mineral based product). 

I can't recommend this product more, I can't think of anything negative to say about it really, it would be such a great addition to anyone's make-up bag, would be used all year round and it will last AGES, which makes the high price tag of £21.50 a lot more worth it!

BUY IT HERE

Do you have this Mac MSF in Soft & Gentle? Or will you be trying it?

What's your favourite beauty product at the moment?

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