Favourite Products - October '10

So I thought I'd do a little post today on my favourite products at the moment as well as a FOTD with them.

I'm starting off with my naked face (scary!). You can see that although my skin is quite good it's a little uneven in colour with redness around my nose and mouth and I have a couple of spots. Apologies for all the squinting in this post by the way, the sun was just hitting my eyes. 

For the last 3 years I've been using Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect foundation and I really like it. It covers up any blemishes without covering my freckles too much or being masklike. Also in the lightest colour (71) it's exactly the right colour for me. 

The Healthy Mix foundation came out here quite recently, maybe a year ago or so. I ran out of foundation a few weeks ago and when I went to buy a new bottle Boots didn't have 10 Hour Sleep Effect in my colour so I bought Healthy Mix instead. So far they seem similar, Healthy Mix gives slightly better coverage and lasts longer on your face. It also seems a little less oily, it's not essential for me to set it with powder like it is with the 10 Hour Sleep Effect. 

As you can see in this picture, the redness in my skin is gone after a light application of Healthy Mix and all my face is the same colour. I just used my fingers to apply it and moisturised beforehand. (Note: I changed the settings on my camera inbetween the first photo and this one, so the foundation doesn't really make me look that much paler than normal.)

I've been using Bourjois Apricot Complexion Enhancer for almost as long as I've used their foundations. It's very handy in the summer because it warms and darkens up your foundation just a little and saves you having to buy a new foundation if you tan just a little in the summer. 

If you have warm toned skin like I do you may have trouble finding foundation with that yellow tint you need. If your foundation is a little grey on you, add a little of this to warm it up. I've been using it like this for the last few weeks. I was waiting to get paid so I could buy new foundation and while I was waiting I was using a foundation which was too pale and cool toned for me.

The Complexion Enhancer can also be used as a gel blusher. I use it as a blusher when I'm in a hurry and just want to wear foundation and blush.

I look much less dead with it on.

MAC Hipness blusher came out in the FAFI collection in Spring 2008 I think. It was then repromoted this Summer with To The Beach. It's a pinky coral with a little gold pearl and is my favourite blush ever. In fact I love it so much that I haven't bought a new blush since. I was going to buy a backup when To The Beach came out but I haven't even hit the pan yet so I doubt (hope) I won't run out any time soon. 

I apply it with a MAC 187

Another Bourjois product next, this time their Highlighting Powder, which is my go-to face highlighter. I sometimes use MAC Vanilla pigment but this is just less messy to apply. I rarely use this as an eyeshadow highlighter, I prefer to use MAC Shore Leave e/s for that. 

I apply this to my cheeks, nose, cupid's bow, chin and a little on my forehead using a flat foundation brush- a Ruby and Millie one.

It was hard to pick my favourite eyeshadows but I went with two Fyrinnae ones- Newcastle and Platinum. I've had these for quite a while and they get a lot of wear. I could actually do with ordering a new pot of Newcastle, mine is nearly empty. Platinum is a silvery champagne colour, it reminds me of UD's Midnight Cowboy without the glitterbomb. Newcastle is a burnished old gold and looks good on everybody. I ordered some Pixie Epoxy yesterday and I can't wait til it arrives to see how these look over it.

I applied Platinum to the inner half of my eyelid, over some UDPP. 

 

Then applied Newcastle to the rest of the lid and the crease. 

And then used a No.7 blending brush with a little of the Bourjois Highlighter on it to blend it out (slightly unevenly, oops). 

Urban Decay's 24/7 liners are, along with GOSH Velvet Touch liners, my favourite pencil eyeliners. The apply so smoothly and colour range is perfect. Yeyo is great for using as an inner eye highlight or as a base for eyeshadow. 

I placed a bit of it in the inner corner of my eye and blended it out with my ring finger.

1999 is one of my favourite colours from the 24/7 liner range. It's a lovely dark purple with a little sparkle, similar to MAC's Deep Chestnut eyeshadow. 

I applied it to my upper lid and winged it out slightly. 

I bought the Essence Asia navy liner from a clearance bin in a chemist and I'm impressed with it. It's a beautiful navy blue with a tiny bit of shimmer, it applies easily and wears well. 

I applied this to my lower lid and blended slightly with my ring finger.

For the last few years MAC Blacktrack fluidline has been my HG black liner. I ran out of it a while ago and my sister lent me her ELF black gel liner (which I think she's forgotten about!). I'm super-impressed by it, it's actually less dry than the MAC one and so is easier to apply and it wears just as well. 

 I applied this to my upper and lower waterlines using a MAC 208 and then blended it with a little more of the Essence liner. For some reason I didn't take a picture with both eyes done, but here you can see my right eye is lined and my left is not. 

For the last few months I've been using Maybelline The Colossal Mascara. It's quite good, one of the better mascara's I've used. It's time I bought a new mascara actually so if anyone has any recommendations on good volumising and curling mascaras that are relatively cheap then please let me know.

Naked lashes 

With the Maybelline mascara

My favourite lip colour to wear is dark red and in the last few weeks I've been mixing up my own. I use MAC's Russian Red which is probably my favourite lipstick. It's a beautiful colour and lasts for hours, even through eating and drinking. I bought Revlon Black Cherry a few weeks ago on Clearance in Boots for €3. I love the colour but unfortunately the staying power is pretty crap. However when you mix the two together you get decent wear time and a colour which is easier to wear than the Black Cherry alone. 

I mixed them on my lips with my Ruby and Millie lip brush. 

I use MAC Spiced Chocolate for my brows, which is the second colour on the bottom row here

And that's it, all done! 

So what are your favourite products at the moment? 

Banana & Chocolate muffins anyone?

Using this recipe I made muffins yesterday and they're so good that I haven't been able to stop eating them since. I made 18 and I think I'm around halfway through the batch already... eek! I swirled a little homemade caramel into the tops of the muffins before I baked them, it's so yummy! 

In other news my Topshop order arrived today and I'm so not impressed. The lovely jumper I ordered wont go over my head. The neck is so tiny that even with my tiny head there's no chance of gettting it on. I assume it's faulty so it's going back. I'm returning the shorts too, they make my bum look funny. But I ordered some Black Milk Galaxy leggings instead (!!!). I've wanted them for ages and I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull them off but I decided to just go for it. Although if I keep eating these muffins I'll never fit into them! 

I've bought some new lipsticks and cleansing products in the last week too, so expect a review or two in the next few days.

i want the world to stop

Couple of FOTD pics, and a bit of shopping! 

I've found a temporary job in a cafe, covering for someone who's on holidays. It's handy, I'm getting paid and getting cafe experience to put on my CV. So I decided to treat myself to some new clothes in anticipation of my next paycheque! It's been so long since I've bought clothes that aren't secondhand/on sale/from Penneys so it's quite exciting. So I bought this jumper, which is super comfy and these shorts which are surprisingly flattering and comfortable. I've always shied away from anything leather (or fake leather) other than shoes and jackets just because leather pants, shorts and skirts seem a little tricky to pull off if you've not got a great figure. I guess it's because these are quite baggy that I like them. I tried them on in the shop (wait for the quite awful changing room picture) and then ordered them online as they were €30 cheaper that way. 

I bought a new ring and dress in Penneys too that were total bargains. I'll post pictures tomorrow if I get time.

Now onto the makeup 

Face: 

17 Mousse foundation in Ivory (it's discontinued, pity as it's the only mousse foundation I've ever liked)

Bourjois Apricot Embellisseur de teint

17 Translucent Loose Powder

MAC MSFN Medium (for contouring)

MAC Hipness blush

MAC Vanilla Pigment 

Eyes: 

UDPP

E.L.F. black gel liner 

UD Zero 24/7 liner

UD Heavy Metal Liner in Spandex

Maybelline The Colossal mascara

MAC Spiced Chocolate e/s (brows)

Lips: 

MAC Russian Red lipstick

Revlon Black Cherry lipstick

Face: 

As Above but with Sephora Pro Primer

Eyes: 

UDPP

UD Shag e/s

UD Ransom e/s

UD Zero e/s

UD X e/s

UD Peace e/s

MAC Orb e/s

MAC Shore Leave e/s

UD Yeyo 24/7 liner

UD Flipside 24/7 liner

Maybelline The Colossal mascara

MAC Spiced Chocolate e/s (brows) 

Lips:

17 Balmy Beige

my mind runs, I could never catch it even if I got a head start

I saw Grown Ups last night, it wasn't great. Sure there were plenty of really funny bits, but lots of the jokes fell flat. It was far too cheerful and feel-good too, I'm too much of a grump for all that. 

I forgot to post my photos from Electric Picnic. 

Janelle Monae and her amazingly cool guitarist. 

 

 Festival makeup! I was pleased with how this came out. I only brought my cheap Barry M eyeshadows with me because I rarely use them and wasn't too bothered if I lost them. I must use them more often, they're far more bright than I remember! I did have to foil them to get this look, which was a bit of a hassle. 

I don't remember who this was, but I like the photo. 

I got my face painted. 

I Poladroided some of them

 

I'd love to get a real Polaroid camera.

but I'm sure, I'm sure, you've heard it before

 

 

I wore this outfit to the cinema yesterday to see Resident Evil in 3D. I hate those suspenseful movies! I'm not sure how I feel about 3D either, wearing two pairs of glasses at once feels a little weird. 

Topshop Leather Jacket
Topshop Zip-up Hooded Cardi
Dr Denim Jeans

Converse
Primark Dress

Thrifted Leather Belt
Ainé Wade Necklace 

My makeup was nothing special so it doesn't get it's own post. I was wearing my Revlon Black Cherry lipstick which was really nice but it had come off by the time I took these. 

Essence Clear and Matt foundation (it's rubbish!), 17 Translucent Powder, MAC Hipness Blush, MAC MSFN, Bourjois Highlight
UDPP, UD X, MAC Spiced Chocolate, MAC Evening Aura, UD Zero 24/7 liner, E.L.F black Gel liner, Maybelline The Collossal Mascara

I tried to get a nail picture too, but I think I fucked up my camera at e picnic, it got wet and now the it doesn't work so well. 

It's a black sparkly 17 colour (I think it's called tinsel and tiaras) with a pink iridescent colour over it and then another layer of the black.

Essence 'Clear and Matt' Review

Firstly today I want to talk about a foundation. I usually use Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect which I ran out of a few weeks ago. Being a little low on funds I decided to try an Essence foundation. I first swatched the 'Stay All Day' foundation because it came in the same bottle as my Bourjois one and I thought they might be similar. Unfortunately the lightest shade was way to dark for me. I actually meant to buy the 'Soft & Natural' one but somehow ended up with 'Clear & Matt'. 

My first impression of Clear & Matt was that it smelled disgusting, kind of plasticy. The packaging is rubbish, the lid comes loose quite easily so it could be a disaster if you like to keep your foundation in your bag. When I swatched the foundation it looked far too dark on my hand but once I put it on my face and blended it out it looked fine. It did take a lot of blending though to get rid of the tidemarks, my usual Bourjois foundation on the other hand, needs only light blending in and never gives me tidemarks. 

Even though the foundation looks fine when I apply it, as the day wears on I find it turns more orange somehow. It feels horrible on my skin, really drying and it's made my chin breakout. I never, ever get spots so a foundation that causes them is bad! 

I usually like Essence but this product gets a definite thumbs down from me.

this is a cold war, do you know what you're fighting for

So I didn't get the course I wanted but weirdly enough I'm kind of glad. I've been job hunting which is why there hasn't been any posts for a while and why they'll be a bit scarce for the next while. Looking for a job means I'm stuck with boring makeup for a while. 

I'm excited for this year now, it's the first time I've ever not had a plan. I have made a bit of a plan over the last week though. I'm going to look for another job because at the moment I only work one or two nights a week. It would be super handy if I could keep the job I have now and find something else for weekdays. Then if I've saved up enough money by the new year I might go travelling for a couple of months.

It's been a year since I've had my hair cut and I've spent the last few weeks pondering what to do with it. Last year I cut it up quite short and now it's finally gotten quite long again.

This is my hair when it was short and behaving 

And this is my hair long

So which is better? I've spent months growing out my fringe so I won't be getting a fringe again (might get a side fringe though). My hair long is impossible to brush and tends to go into a frizzball if it gets wet/blown about in the wind/touched in any way. My short hair needs blowdrying and straightening but is super easy to wash and brush and I can go days between washes without it turning to frizz. 

Most people tell me my short hair was nicer and I remember it being nice but my camera was on the blink back then so I have very few photos I can check this with. 

Grr sometimes I'm tempted to just shave it all off!!