Makeup Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick Review

So recently I’ve seen a lot of rave about the new Makeup Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick. I was a bit apprehensive because I’ve never used a non-liquid foundation before and didn’t really know what to expect but i thought it was worth a try because with problematic skin, I’m always looking for a new full coverage foundation.

So firstly, i looked at what colour would suit me most and because i am extremely pale, i went with shade 2 which had pink undertones. When i put it on i was really surprised at how well the colour matched, normally i am terrible when trying to pick colours and i usually forget that i am really pale and pick a colour a few shades too dark so i was quite happy to begin with. I used a beauty blender because i feel that it usually gives the best finish and helps my skin look flawless (which it is definitely not) and in this case i quite liked how easy it blended into my skin, i didn’t expect that from a stick foundation. However, these were the only good points i found with the product.

Once i had actually finished blending i wanted to take it all off straight away. The makeup sunk into my skin and you could see every pore and every bit of dry skin i had, it almost highlighted my flaws. It also made my skin look really oily, i know a lot of people go for the dewy look and normally i don’t but i can appreciate it, however this wasn’t dewy, this was greasy. Furthermore, the redness around my nose area was not covered in the slightest and for a full coverage foundation, this was disappointing.

Despite all this, i decided i would leave it on all day to see how it would last which was another downfall. It oxidized after being on my skin for a few minutes and it sunk into lines on my forehead (wrinkles i never knew i had as no other foundation had done this before) and did the same on my eyelids meaning my eye shadow disappeared. When i got home from town there was barely any makeup left on my nose and the rest of my face was an oily mess.

Maybe my experience wasn’t as great as everyone else’s because i have combination skin as well as redness and spots, however, i did not expect to be this disappointed when so many people praised this product. Honestly, i would not buy again and i would rate this product 4/10. Despite this, i do really rate the brand for bringing out 18 shades as it means everyone can try it, not only a select few.

Review: L’Oreal Pure Clay face mask

L’Oreal recently introduced three new pure clay face masks which all come with a different purpose and colour. I bought the detox mask which contains 3 pure clays and charcoal simply because I think there is something satisfying in putting black clay all over my face, the detox was just an extra. Other masks include a glow mask which contains the 3 clays and algae and a purity mask which contains the 3 clays and Eucalyptus, both of which I will definitely try. The 3 pure clays are the same in all these masks and they are Kaolin which absorbs impurities, Montmorillonite which eliminates imperfections and Ghassoul which helps clarify complexion (well, that’s what the box said anyway).

I was really impressed with the detox mask and how clean and fresh it made my face feel. As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I have quite problematic skin, especially with regard to black heads and pores. This mask really helps with that and I’ve noticed a huge improvement in the amount of oil my skin produces now as it was super oily. When this mask dries, you can actually see how it sinks into every single pore which is very aesthetically pleasing in my opinion (others may think this is a bit gross).

Another thing I really liked was how fast this mask dries, it literally takes 5 minutes, which is great when you can’t be bothered or you’re in a rush. Normally I tell myself I will do a mask at least once a week but when it takes so long to dry, I just get too lazy. This is actually the first mask that I’ve continually used and I actually do use it once, maybe even twice a week.

It is also a perk that it smells sooo good and it leaves my skin feeling really soft and properly clean. It isn’t like other masks as it doesn’t dry out your skin or leave it feeling uncomfortably tight, it leaves skin looking healthy with a natural glow. I really rate this mask and will definitely be trying out the other two masks. So, pick up your favourite of the three masks and get the cucumber slices ready for a fabulous pamper night.

Little ways to change your life

This year I have really put to practice new ways that I can change my life on a daily basis by changing small things that I do. I found that each of these ways helped me have a better day, be more productive and remind me that we can be whatever we want if we put our minds to it.

1. Sleep

I’ve been trying to get more sleep and to wake up earlier and go to bed earlier and for me this means getting up at 8.30/9am instead of 11am and going to bed at 11pm instead of 1am. However this doesn’t have to be the same for you, just try get up an hour earlier than usual if you tend to struggle getting up (which let’s be honest most of us do!) I find that a good sleep and early rise puts me in a better mood for the day and means I’m more productive.

2. Make a morning and night routine

as unnecessary as this sounds, a routine in the morning and night means you actually do what you’re supposed to instead of sitting and watching Netflix or YouTube. It also allows your body to wake up in the morning and start to settle at night, personally I’m a night time shower kind of person and this relaxes me before bed.

3. Keep a diary

Now I’m not saying to write all your secrets into a journal or anything, just a diary of your daily plans or what you need to prioritise for the day so you can be organised. This is especially essential if you have a busy day ahead and can get stuck into the most important tasks first as it keeps you focused. Plus nothing is more satisfactory than seeing you have ticked off everything you were supposed to do.

4. Walking

This is especially important if you not someone who loves sport or going to the gym to get daily exercise done, so instead I like to walk to the shops of uni. It doesn’t have to be long, it can just be a 15/20 minute walk to work, school or uni but it makes all the difference to your day. For a start it means you aren’t stuck inside all day and it gives you time to think and just relax, exercise releases endorphins that make you happy, therefore walking is a must.

5. Meditation.

This only takes up 10 minutes of your day and helps you feel ten times better, especially if it’s an extra stressful day ahead. Some people only meditate when they are stressed, other feel that it helps to do it every morning or night to settle your mind, just do whatever works for you.

6. Diet

The food you eat makes a huge impact on your mood, more than most people actually know, this is why I try to eat a well balanced diet. I am by no means a healthy person, I have too much love for chocolate, but I do try to have meals that have protein, vegetables and carbs so that my body is getting all that it needs. Then if I want something sweet (which most of the time I do), I’ll just eat it in moderation.

7. BE POSITIVE!

This is definitely the most important one of all. Try to be positive and look for the good in things and surround yourself with likewise people. Don’t let a bad situation bring your day down and instead thing of the best way you can resolve things because nothing is ever as bad as we think it is. You might not know it but being positive and kind towards other people can make their day a little better as well.

“It Matters Not What Someone Is Born But Who They Grow To Be”

Foundation Reviews

So recently I’ve been sorting out all my make up and realised I’ve way too many foundations that I’ve tried out and not used again for no reason. So I decided to re-try them and sort out the good from the bad.

Rimmel Lasting Finish

I have 4 bottles of this foundation that I have collected over time and for obvious reasons I keep going back to it, its like my default foundation. Its really affordable, stays put throughout the day and gives good coverage which was something I took very seriously when I had bad skin and that is still a struggle from time to time. The only reason I don’t use this foundation more often is because I cant find the perfect colour for me, I’ve tried so many and just cant seem to find it, and we all know there is nothing worse than an orange line on your neck when the foundation doesn’t blend. Plus, I have quite an oily T-zone and although this foundation is better than most, its not made for oily skin. However, I still highly recommend. (£7.99)   7/10

L’Oreal Infallible 24Hr-Matte

This foundation is my new love. Its matte without looking cakey which is so common with matte foundations and it actually does stay put on oily skin meaning I actually have foundation left on my T-Zone after a long day. the colour is perfect for me and blends seamlessly into my face and neck. The main reason I love this foundation is because it’s so lightweight that I forget I’m wearing makeup, my skin just feels great regardless. The foundation says it’s high coverage however I’d say its medium but very buildable if necessary. This is definitely a favourite! (£7.99)   9/10

Revlon Colourstay (Combination/oily)

This foundation has relatively good coverage which I would say is medium to full and is great for a bad skin day. Again, the colour is great for me and works with oily skin by making it glow instead of looking flat which so many other foundations do.  The only thing I could fault this foundation on is that it takes a bit more blending than usual and that a little does not go a long way. But the positives definitely outweigh the negatives here. (£12.99)   8.5/10

Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Foundation

I loved the Lasting Perfection concealer so I thought it was only fair that I try the foundation, but I wasn’t as pleased by the results. This is the cheapest out of all the foundations I tried and it definitely shows in the product. To start, I was pleased that it was oil free, that was what caught my eye and it worked well with my skin in that sense. it also had better coverage than I expected. What really out me off though was the colour, maybe it’s just my skin, but the colour seemed to have orange undertones which looked quite bad next to my pale skin, bearing in mind that I picked up the lightest colour. There were very few colour to chose fro and all seemed to have the same orangey colour, therefore this was a no from me. (£5.99)   4/10

Seventeen Stay Time Foundation

for the price of this foundation the coverage was great. I’ve not used a high street foundation that had coverage that full so I would highly recommend to anyone who has problematic skin. Plus, it definitely lives up the the ‘stay time’ label because it does not budge all day which is great if youre having a long day at work or school. For once, I found a foundation that does what it says on the bottle. The only problem I had with this was that it can look cakey if you put too much on or try to build it up, it’s very matte so putting on liquid concealer etc after it has dried makes it smuge and go cakey so avoid that. (£6.49)   7/10

No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation

This has medium to full coverage which I relied heavily on and loved, there are loads of colour to choose from and someone will actually help you get your colour match which makes things a whole lot easier. Again, this foundation did matte without looking flat and I would definitely re-purchase this because it worked really well with my oily skin. the only downfall was again the fact that layering meant the foundation might smudge which did happen me once or twice, however, I usually didn’t have to build this up because the coverage was good. (£14.50)   8/10

Estee Lauder Double Wear

I wore this when my skin was at its worst because this foundation is literally the queen of coverage and will not budge all day or night. NOTHING gets through this barrier, not red marks, not spots, not dark circles, not even oil. Although it was quite expensive, its definitely worth it if your skin is something you’re self-conscious about or worried about. My one tip would be that a little goes a long way so don’t try to use a lot because it will cake and look messy, I’ve had to take off ALL my make-up and re-do it before a night out which was really stressful. Also, because this makeup is really heavy duty, it can feel quite heavy on your face but its a small price to pay.  (£27.90)   9/10

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation

I bought this thinking that despite having oily skin this would last all day, however, I was wrong. This just made my face look shiny and greasy which did not look good at all, not to mention it didn’t last like it said it would. When spending money on an expensive foundation like this, I expected to get good results, however, I preferred some of my high street brand which were a lot cheaer. One good thing about this foundation was that it did have good coverage and didn’t look cakey, plus a little goes a really long way. (£27.00)   6/10

There are so many more that I want to try, I was thinking that my next buy will be the Maybelline Fit me Foundation because ive heard so many good reviews on this. If you’ve any new suggestions on good foundations please let me know x

My Favourite Make-up Brushes

I am constantly trying out new make-up brushes to see which ones are best but also cost effective. I’m a fan of real techniques and eco tools but I’ve recently heard from a make-up artist that Primark make-up brushes are really good and after taking her advice on buying some I was pleasantly surprised. So below are the brushes I use at the moment but I’m open to new suggestions if any one has any..

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

I use this to put on my foundation and concealer and I’ve honestly been using it for years and really like it (of course I’ve bought new ones, not the same brush!). It gives a good even coverage however I feel like this brush does need a little extra work when blending as it can leave brush strokes on my face so it requires a bit more time which is worth it in the end.

Real Techniques Powder Brush

I love this brush because of how soft it is and it distributes the powder evenly on my face to make sure it doesn’t look cakey. This brush is definitely one of my favourites.

Primark Contour Brush

I was so surprised when I first used this, it distributes enough product on my face without over doing it and is the perfect shape for contouring under my cheekbones. this brush itself is super soft but still firm and none of the bristles have fallen out like what normally happens with cheap brushes. I would recommend to anyone on a budget and I’m excited to try what other brushes Primark has to offer.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

Again I’ve been using this for years and can’t seem to find anything better. The shape of it means that the perfect amount of blush in distributed while allowing it to look natural. Out of all the brushes this is my favourite because it gives a flawless look.

Seventeen Cheeks Brush

This brush doesn’t have a proper name as I got it in a set but I actually use this for highlight. its quite a narrow brush so it is the perfect fit for cheekbones, nose etc. It’s also really soft which is good meaning its not too heavy on the product which means that my highlighter still pops without me looking like the tin man.

EcoTools Blend and Smudge Brush

Normally im not a massive fan of dual sided brushes but ive been really impressed with this. Its great at blending out eye shadow evenly and I also like the fact that these brushes are recycled, it makes me feel slightly better about spending money.

EcoTools Shape and Define Brush

I got this in a set with the blend and smudge brush and again I really like this one. I tend to use the thicker side more as it packs on colour really well but the other side is good for doing eyebrows even though that’s not what its for.

French Connection Brush

This brush doesn’t have a name because I got it in a Christmas gift set but its definitely my favourite eye shadow brush. Its so soft but really good quality and I find it puts a lot of product on which makes my eye shadow look really good.

 

Links:

http://www.boots.com/real-techniques-expert-face-brush-10146030 – £9.99 http://www.boots.com/real-techniques-powder-brush-1401-10137225 – £12.99 https://www.primark.com/en/product/double-contour-brush,r35397119190759 – £1.50 http://www.boots.com/real-techniques-blush-brush-1407-10137224 – £9.99 https://ecotools.com/eye-enhancing-set/p/1217 – £5.33