• M.A.C Minerlize Skinfinish Natural £20.50 (Medium Plus)

    I didn't know if I believed the hype about this product to begin with, M.A.C has always been a brand I couldn't justify financially. However, their Mineralize Skin Finish Natural is a dream to use. I cheekily picked this up brand new on eBay for a bargain price as it was at a funny time of day and I got in there last minute! I've used it for two days now and, even though I have other powders, I've found myself reaching for this both times. As you can see, it's a finely milled powder in a domed shape and it gives a very natural finish which is quite matt. I guess it could be used alone as a low coverage base but it wouldn't provide me with the coverage I prefer - it's fabulous for keeping the skin under control throughout the day though.

    I've been applying this with a round topped kabuki sort of buffed in all over the face but lightly so it doesn't get caked on (pet hate..) I'm looking to grab myself some M.A.C Fix+ as Lily over at llymlrs suggests it gives a more creamy/luminous finish and not as powdery - which sounds very appealing to me as I prefer a healthy glow. I have oily skin most of the time, so I find I use this again mid afternoon to get my t-zone matt again. I got shade Medium Plus and find this is pretty perfect for me and I'm not particularly dark I'd actually say I'm more light but I think the lighter shades would make me look like a ghost (don't worry, I don't have the neck line going on..it matches!).

    So far, it's given me a good matt finish to my foundation and hasn't made me look cakey like some others that are lurking in my collection somewhere - I think I will be trying that Fix+ though. I really like the glow it seems to give, even without a setting spray, so I look forward to teaming them together!At £20.50 it is expensive, but I think I would pay full price when this one is used up. Compared to other powders I can really see the difference so it's worth the extra if you have it in my opinion.

    My score rating - 5/5
  • Barry M polish in Peach Melba teamed with Models Own Ibiza Mix glitter polish

    I've purchased quite a few new products recently (oops) including this Barry M nail polish in Peach Melba and Models Own Ibiza Mix; the weather perked up and these colours seemed to fit my mood! Barry M formula is actually quite pigmented and I applied two coats to get this finish as I think it gives a fuller finish; it glides on beautifully and is actually pretty much the same on nails as it looks in the bottle. I can never easily vouch for drying time as I apply polish in the evening and go to bed when it's touch dry and allow it to set over night! I really recommend doing this if you're like me and hate waiting around with your hands in the air getting frustrated because you can't do anything! 

    Anyway, I teamed it with Models Own Ibiza Mix as an accent nail but I did just one coat of this - using it alone I'd do two. This is a really pretty glitter polish containing some larger and some smaller glitter particles in sort of aqua, gold, lilac and peachy colours with a clear base. This formula was a pleasure to use, some glitters I find too gloopy and messy but this is so easy and picks up the glitter bits well without feeling rough afterwards too. Super! 
    I finished with Rimmel 60 Second clear polish which has a lavishly large brush!
    Overall I'm definitely pleased with these two polishes both alone and together and I'm sure I will get more use out of these come summer! 


    My score rating - 5/5

    Have you purchased any new polishes lately?

  • Benefit They're Real! Black Mascara

    For my first product review, I've gone with Benefit They're Real! Mascara - simply because it is one of those items that is always in my make-up collection of late and I've recently re-purchased it.

    Priced at £18.50 I never thought I'd give this the time of day, but on a whim one day I picked it up and hoped for the best. I'd read a lot of good things about this and, with gritted teeth, parted with the cash in the hope I'd found a tubed miracle. That's exactly what I found!

    I already have quite long eyelashes, but they aren't terribly voluminous; I find this mascara coats each lash to separate, lengthen and lift with ease due to the comb like wand gives a true black finish. I think it really makes my eyes pop and opens them up to make me look a lot more ready for the day than I feel half of the time! I also find I do not get the spider effect or the rub-off marks below my eyebrows (where my lashes brush against my skin) with this formula. I apply two coats to get the full potential, as I do with any mascara, and I think this really helps to get the most out of your natural lashes and adds the drama I like. 

    (I usually also use Avon SuperShock mascara in black in conjunction with this, but for the purpose of this review I have used They're Real! alone, also for the photographs. I don't know why, because this is great alone I just love both! I will post a review for Avon SuperShock upon repurchase!)

    I wouldn't usually spend this much on a mascara, so the only negative here is the price really, but if you have the spare cash and you're trying to choose a new mascara I'd definitely give this a whirl. 

    My score rating (taking into consideration the cost) - 4/5

    For reference, other products I used here are:
    MaxFactor Face Finity foundation in beige 55
    Collection 2000 Extreme 24 our felt tip pen eyeliner
    The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes - Palette 20
    Avon Ideal Luminous blusher in soft plum
    Rimmel eyebrow pencil
    Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in 101
    Topshop lipgloss in Dash
    MUA pressed powder in shade 1
    Applied with Virgin V and Cosmo brushes.


    What mascara do you swear by?
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