Quick Six Product Face

In the mornings when I am going to work, the last thing I want to be doing is spending ages doing fancy make ups. I'd sooner have the extra time in bed! I work in an office so I don't really see anybody, and frankly I just can't be bothered in the mornings. But I still feel like I need to wear something!

Sometimes if I am running late I will bring my make up with me and apply it when I am stuck in traffic on the way to work! So I prefer to use products that I don't have to use make up brushes.

First up, I will put on a bit of foundation. Pictured is MAC Face & Body which honestly I don't really like anymore, but for work I don't like using any of my "good" foundations so I am just trying to use up this big bottle!

Then I need something for under my eyes. I started using the Urban Decay Naked concealer this week and I am still not entirely sure about it. The formula is quite good and I do like the finish of it. But there is just something a little "off" with it. I think it is because I accidentally bought a shade which is a bit too white for me.

I use my NYX Eyebrow Pencil, which is fabulous. It's dead handy for on the go as it is a twist up crayon. It works brilliantly for me!

I am using Lancome Grandiose Mascara, which I really do love. The wand is really quite precise and it just really works well for me. I do love all Lancome mascaras though. This is the one which just happens to be in my make up bag.

I use YSL Babydoll Kiss & Blush for my cheeks. It's really easy to apply with the wand and then I just tap it in with my fingers.

For my lips I am obsessed with Clarins Instant Light Lip Balms! This is the shade Rosewood which is just a really neutral colour and perfect for everyday wear. They are so soft and comfortable and just gift a subtle hint of colour. Just what I want!



What are your every day essential make up products?

Fresh Spring Make Up!

Spring is definitely well on the way and as such, I always  feel the need to change up my make up slightly. Winter is a time for heavier make up and I like to go a bit "lighter" when Spring comes along. I have some new products to play with today, and decided to show you what I am using.
Just yesterday I treated myself to a new foundation, I got Chanel Vitalumiere. I heard it is quite good for dry skin and so far today it looks great and has lasted a good few hours without emphasising any dry patches! MAC Cinderella is also making an appearance, as is the Clarins The Essentials palette which I won in the amazing Make Up Monster's blog giveaway! Thank so you much again!

Here are the products I used with shade names:

Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation - 10 Limpide

Sleek Eyebrow Kit - Light

Clarins Instant Concealer - 01

MAC Paint Pot - Painterly

Clarins The Essentials Eyeshadow Palette

Lancome Grandiose Mascara

YSL Babydoll  Kiss & Blush - 10 Nude Insolent

MAC Cinderella Iridescent Powder - Coup d'Chic

Clarins Jolie Rouge Lipstick - Coral Dahlia

I decided to go quite light on the eyes and I have ditched the eyeliner, instead I am favouring just using a dark eyeshadow and blending it up from my lash line. The Chanel foundation is lovely and so lightweight, I am really happy with it so far. Maybe I will do a full review of the foundation when I get to grips with it.
The MAC Cinderella powder I use as a highlight. It is way too sheer to use as a blush and it just adds a little luminosity to the face. It is lovely to use, perhaps not the best highlighting product out there, but it looks cute!

Hope you all have a great Sunday!

Autumn Weekend Makeup (and playing with new products)

 I love weekends because I have a lot more time to sit and do a proper face of makeup. During the week for work I only really wear foundation, mascara and blush. So it's nice to really play around, especially with eyeshadows!

Yesterday I treated myself to 2 new Clarins products - Extra Comfort Foundation and Blush Prodige (02 Soft Peach). I absolutely adore them both and thought they would be great products for Autumn and Winter especially.

So for the base I used Clarins Extra Comfort  (103 Ivory), I contoured a tiny bit with the Chanel Soleil de Tan, and used the Clarins blush on the apples of my cheeks. I also used a bit of Touche Eclat under my eyes.

For the eyes, I started by using the new Clarins Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base with my old reliable Naked palette eyeshadows of course! A flick of Lancome Grandiose mascara, and I brushed this Maybelline Brow Drama through my brows (I still don't know what to make of this product!)

And to finish off I used my favourite lip product from the summer which is the Clarins Lip Balm Crayon in Creamy Pink.

 I shall do a full review of both my new Clarins foundation and blush once I have used and worn them for a good couple of weeks, but so far so good I love them!

First Impressions of Lancome Grandiose Mascara!

Lancome can do no wrong in my eyes. Every time I try any of their products, I am amazed at the superior quality, especially of their makeup. Lancome mascaras are in fact the best I have ever tried, and I was delighted when their new offering arrived through my letterbox to try out.

Firstly what struck me was the incredible beauty of the packaging. I love the Lancome rose encased in the lid, for some reason it reminds me of Beauty and the Beast! It is certainly a fine looking mascara tube, so glamorous!

 And now, behold the fabulous "swan neck" wand! I must admit I was a little apprehensive about this, I wondered if it was just a gimmick? It claims to reach each lash from top to bottom, and apply to your "other eye" with ease.  After admiring the beauty of this mascara, I was ready to try it out!

I am used to mascara wands with a much bigger brush than this, however I really loved the smaller, more precise brush of Grandiose. It really did reach into the very corners and even the tiniest lashes. As well as the wand itself being bent at a 25 degree angle, the actual brush is flexible too.

In the above photos, I am applying it to my "other eye". I am right handed, and always with my regular mascara the lashes on my left eye never look as good as my right. The Grandiose wand gives exceptional control, and I was astounded how different it was, applying mascara to my left eye with perfect ease! For the outside lashes, as I held the wand I bent my wrist to the right, and as I moved my way to the inner lashes I put the wand across my nose. It was amazing doing this and not getting mascara all over my face!  Lancome have got this spot on! It is a perfect art, the size and shape of this wand for perfect application.

Here is a little before and after comparison…. My lashes are already quite long but I think this mascara does give decent length and fullness.

So, first impressions of this mascara are that I am very impressed with the design of the wand for application. My lashes do look great, I suppose it is a similar effect to Lancome Hypnose which is my regular mascara. The formula is excellent, the perfect consistency.
I did fear that the design of this mascara wand was a gimmick but I couldn't have been more wrong! Never has applying mascara been so easy for me.
Perhaps this will tak over Hypnose as my favourite mascara….