Real Techniques Stippling Brush Review

If there is one brand in the beauty industry that has gained a huge following in such a short amount of time and made an impact, then it is definitely Real Techniques.

Until recently I was really concerned about the tools I was using to apply my make-up, I would always buy cheap and then just replace it when it became a bit ropey. But, after stumbling across the pixiwoo channel on YouTube I took the advice of beauty guru Samantha Chapman and invested in a good quality make-up brush.

I purchased the Real Techniques Stippling Brush, created by Samantha. Her aim was to create a professional set of make-up brushes that were easy to use. And, if I may say so, Samantha did a very good job of it!

For my first purchase I decided to go for a brush that would be a good all-rounder, which is why I purchased the stippling brush. The duo-fibre brush has short bristles meaning it is good for applying foundation, powder, blusher and highlighter. The brush also contains longer bristles, this is to ensure that the product does not clump, which also means the brush will be easier to clean.

My first impressions were that this brush would not blend my foundation in properly because the bristles are so soft, but I was wrong, I can now apply my foundation in record time. The brush is quite small in size, which I like, as it means that it is good for travelling with and is easy to hold. The shortness of the brush means that you can be more accurate with your blending.

A lot of thought has been put into this product which is why I am impressed with the little details, such as the shape of the handle. The end of the handle is a lot wider, it's almost an hourglass shape, which means you can stand the brush up on its end rather than having to chuck it into your make-up bag because it would leave product on your dressing table.

I've been using the stippling brush for just over a week now and it has not shed one bristle yet, this includes being washed.

If there is one downfall then it is definitely not related to this brush but perhaps the company. The products from Real Techniques are not readily available throughout the UK and will mean you will most probably have to buy them online. I purchased mine online from Boots, other stockists include Love-Makeup, Cocktail Cosmetics, Beauty Chamber and Cloud10Beauty.

The Real Techniques Stippling Brush is a good investment, although it is £10.99, it will definitely last you a long time and give you the perfect base to your make-up, mine looked flawless!

Is there a brush you would recommend from Real Techniques?

xox

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer

This is the first Collection 2000 product that I have owned since I was secondary school. We've all been there in our teenage years looking for make-up at the cheapest possible price.

In all fairness I had forgotten how brilliant this product is, but after reading several reviews I gave into temptation and purchased this concealer. I don't regret buying the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer at all!

It claims to be an ultimate wear concealer which conceals flaws, imperfections and blemishes for up to 16 hours. It aims to provide full and long-lasting coverage, be transfer proof and leave your skin shine free.

The concealer comes in a clear slim tube, with a wand applicator which resembles that of a lip gloss applicator. The way the product is packaged allows you to see which shade matches your skin tone. The shades available include Fair, Light, Medium and Dark. Fair suited my pale skin perfectly, plus it added some luminosity to my skin.

Swatched

Blended

I can't praise this concealer enough; it is easy to blend, is natural looking and does not go cakey. I haven't had any spots to try this product on, but it covered my acne scars up perfectly and covers my dark circles. Importantly, it lasted all day without any touch-ups. The formula is quite thick and creamy but leaves a natural matte finish.

This concealer is a complete steal at £4.19 a tube. It provides excellent quality for the price, so I will definitely be repurchasing.

The Collection 2000 range is available in Boots, Superdrug, Tesco and Asda.

Would you put this concealer in your top 5 like me?

xox

Lipsy's Bargain

Summer is fast approaching, or at least we hope it is,  so I thought it would be the perfect time to splash out on a new bag that would be perfect for those hot, bright days.

So, what says summer better than a bit of sunshine? Pastel colours!

I purchased this gorgeous Lipsy Raffia Dome Bag, for just £22.00! Originally it was £45.00, what a bargain.

(Picture from Lipsy)

This is a chic everyday bag that will go with so many outfits, especially as I wear a lot of neutral colours.

Admittedly, I am not Lipsy's biggest fan as in the past they have sold items for a large sum even though they look quite cheap. However, Lipsy have come a long way in the last few seasons and the majority of their items look trendy without looking tacky.

I was drawn to this bag initially because of the pastel mint green colour contrasted with the neutral, but I find that this bag does look quite sophisticated (once the charm has been taken off).

If you like the tote style of this bag but not the colour, it is also available in pink and black.

This bag is definitely like marmite; you'll either love it or hate it.

I think it's pretty, what do you think?

xox

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

Being a nail varnish addict unfortunately does have its disadvantages. For example, when the time comes to take the varnish off I usually find myself searching the house looking for cotton pads. Then, once I've found the cotton pads, it is more than like I've forgotten to buy some more nail polish remover and so the chipped nails have to stay till I venture to the shops.

When I heard about the new launch from Bourjois I was left feeling excited, maybe my frequent nuisances were about to disappear. The Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover is a little gem!

The little pink pot contains a black sponge with a hole in the middle; the pot is filled with an acetone and paraben free nail varnish remover. You simply stick your finger in the hole and twist it a few times for a few seconds; your nail varnish will have then disappeared. It's quick and easy to do!

Usually, nail polish removers have a very strong and overpowering smell to them. However, this one smells fruity; this leaves your fingers smelling sweet.

The one thing that attracted me to the product was that you don't need to use cotton pads; this is a major plus for me. This removes nail polish a lot quicker than most nail polish removers do, plus I find that with dark colours it can get a little messy. With this product it doesn't!

Obviously glitter polishes are hard to get off anyway, but just spending a few extra seconds removing and the nail is clear of all polish.

This magic product is available from Boots and Superdrug for just £3.99 - an affordable price! This product looks set to last me around three months, not bad for the price.

Will you be purchasing this magic product? Can you recommend any other good nail polish removers?

xox

Nail Jewellery From Nails Inc.

Have you ever wanted to adorn your nails with varnish that looks just like jewels?

Now you can, thanks to the invention of 'nail jewellery'. 

This revolutionary formula comes from the brand Nails Inc, internationally known for creating the hottest colours every season.

Nail jewellery is a nail varnish created with hand cut particles which create faceted fragments, creating an effect reminiscent of little jewels.

I purchased the Burlington Arcade Nail Jewellery, which is the silver version from the nail jewellery range. The other shades available include Royal Arcade (bright blue), Princes Arcade (hot pink) and Piccadilly Arcade (emerald green).

As far as I aware, this product is unique. Although, I'm sure cheaper versions will begin to appear on the market soon.

This product is simple to use and has the ability to create an interesting finish to any plain nail varnish. For a striking and dramatic effect apply a coat of the Burlington Arcade Nail Jewellery to dark colours, as I did. Or, for a more muted design apply to neutral colours. The key to this product is experimenting and finding what works best for you.

Similar to any nail polish, this will begin to chip after a few days. Admittedly, the staying power is better than a normal nail varnish but not as long-lasting as glitter.

Burlington Arcade Nail Jewellery is available online and in selected department stores for £11, which I believe is a small price to pay for a  product that is so versatile, creates an impression and is able to change the look of any outfit.

Do you like this look?

xox

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

The majority of the time I like to try a product before I buy, however, this isn't always achievable. So, if I am unable to get my hands on a sample of a product I will do a fair bit of research, to get honest opinions of the product.

The Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation has been blogged about many times before, by people with a variety of skin types and skin problems.

I purchased this foundation after hearing about the excellent range of shades available, as I'm sure you're well aware of from my whinging in previous posts, I am very pale.

So, did it live up to my expectations?

This latest foundation from Illamasqua is marketed as being inspired by the Asian BB Cream market, promising to 'smooth, soften and condition your skin whilst providing natural, buildable coverage'. Unfortunately, this product failed to do that for me.

The formula is a lot thicker than many foundations on the market, but it still remains blendable. Skin base foundation works well when you warm the product up with your fingertips before spreading over your face. As you would expect with a BB Cream, this foundation is good for lazy day make-up, as there is no need for tools or brushes.

While this foundation promises to be natural looking, this was still a little too heavy for me. However, it will hide imperfections perfectly. The foundation alone, without any concealer, hid my dark circles.

The main reason that drew me to this product was the amount of shades available, there are 18 available. I was shade #02; this is the second lightest shade as was a perfect match from me. The first shade is pretty much white. For the first time ever, I can say I found my perfect shade in foundation! It's an achievement in itself.

Shade 02 in natural light

Shade 02 blended

While I wanted this foundation to be the perfect one for me, unfortunately it isn't. My skin is unbalanced; it is dry in some places while oily in others. Despite moisturising beforehand, this foundation stuck to my dry patches and left my skin flaky, dull and dry looking, it also highlighted my open pores despite using a primer. Although these flakes weren’t apparent before foundation, it did accentuate my dryness.

This foundation also didn't take too well to my oily T-zone either! The centre strip down the bridge of my nose was shiny within a couple of hours and the foundation had slipped from my t-zone by lunchtime. I had only applied this foundation about three hours earlier.

Another disappointment is the lack of SPF, while it means the foundation will photograph well, I have become a bit obsessed with protecting my skin against the sun and so this is a necessary factor to have in any foundation now.

 I would highly recommend trying this foundation before buying, if you can. This product is one that you are either going to love or hate. It's garnered some rave reviews across the internet, and I trust their opinions. I believe that you need a balanced, normal skin type to get the best and natural look from this product.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation is priced at £25 and available in store at many Debenhams stores and online.

Anyone else had the same experience?

xox

Summer Shoe Haul

The sunshine made a brief but lovely visit to my part of the UK; however, when it did arrive I did feel a little flustered at the lack of summer shoes I actually had in my wardrobe.

My pale tootsies needed to desperately see some sun, so I went on a dedicated shopping spree to find my summer sandals, at an affordable price!

So, what better place to start than Primark:

I love these firstly because they are my favourite colour (I'm obsessed with neutral colours), plus they will go with pretty much everything. I also like the plait detail which crosses over at the top of the foot, it is makes the foot appear a lot slimmer. Not bad for the small price of £5! 

Admittedly, these don't look very nice in the picture; however, when wearing them they do look a lot better. When I set out shopping I knew I wanted a white pair of sandals which were very simple and would go with lots of bright colours. They retail at £12, which is a little expensive considering how simplistic they are, however, they are partly made from leather so is a good price in my opinion.

These are my favourite out of all of them. Firstly, I love the navy colour; it is a very true colour. Once again, navy is a very summery colour and will go well with many colours. Obviously the nautical trend is again very big this season, as is the jubilee trend therefore these are a must-have to show off your patriotic spirit. Plus, I love the gold coloured heel on these, very cute. These are also available in red, and retail at £6.

I also visited the best shoe retailer according to the High Street Fashion Awards 2012, of course,  New Look:

Flowers are a big trend this year; I have seen them featured on many summer shoes throughout all the high-street shops. However, these are extremely pretty and look a tad more glamorous because they appear to be made enamel painted. Black is a colour that will go with many outfits and I have a feeling I am going to wear this pair to death. Considering I only paid £15 I won't be worrying if I do!

Wedges are huge this season; therefore it was only right that I went and invested in a pair. I went with my trusty navy colour, just because the navy will contrast lovely with a pair of white jeans that I have recently purchased. These wedges feature a knot on the front of the shoe and a woven wedge heel, something which adds to the nautical feel of the shoe. Wedges allow me to wear height without wrecking my feet, as the wedge doesn't have a drastic incline in height and so is rather comfortable. These simple yet elegant wedges can be yours for just £15.

Have you sorted out your footwear for the summer? Are you sticking to flats or rocking the wedges

xox