June Favourites 2014

MUA limited edition Kiss You lipstick

MUA limited edition Kiss You lipstick

This is such a beautiful coral-red colour. The formulation is lovely and it has incredible staying power. 

One thing that bothers me about wearing a vibrant lip colour is that feeling you get when it’s been on for a while and you start to get paranoid that you’ve got  patches of colour (especially if you’ve been eating and drinking) and a nasty outline on your lips. What I love most about this lipstick is how well it lasts and how it wears off so evenly. When I wear this to work I apply it in the morning (blot it with a tissue and then add a light second layer) and then reapply after lunch. 

For such a impressively performing lipstick, the packaging leaves a lot to be desired. But for such a inexpensively product (it was only £3) I’m happy to overlook that. After using this for a few weeks I realised that this is part of a limited edition One Direction collection (hence the Kiss You title and poor packaging) by MUA. But this hasn’t stopped me loving it. 

It’s not available in Superdrug anymore but can be found on Ebay. I am planning on repurchasing this colour (which I think is Liam’s) as well as Harry’s which is a deep red colour.

Maybelline 24hour colour tattoo eyeshadow 

Maybelline 24 hour colour tattoo eyeshadows

I’ve heard lots of good things about these shadows but was always reluctant to try them because of the cream element. I have quite oily and hooded lids and so cream shadows don’t seem to set for me and crease almost instantly before they slide down my face! 

I did a bit of research online and found that they are a cream-gel based formula so can actually be used a primer, shadow based or on their own. Some high profile make-up artists have recommended them as an alternative to the MAC paint pots. 

I apply it with a stiff brush and blend the edges quickly because it sets in no time. I’m so happy with how it lasts and how quick and easy it is to apply. My eyes are now a crease-free zone! 

I picked up 55 Immortal Charcoal, 35 On-and-On Bronze, 65 Pink Gold, and 40 Permanent Taupe. I’ve been using them on their own during the day and with shadow on top at night. My favourite combination is the colour 56-Immortal Charcoal with a pop of Sleek shimmer blush in rose gold across the centre of the lid. They come in 11 shades and are £4.99 in Superdrug (they’re on offer at the moment - buy one get the second half price). 

I am going to try some of the darker, and more vibrant shades that I would normally be too afraid to wear because of recurring powder shadow fall down experiences (due to my very clumsy amateur application techniques). I think the dark colours will be great for a controlled smokey eye attempt - watch this space!  

Sleek shimmer blush - Rose Gold

Sleek shimmer blush in Rose Gold

I’ve been loving this blush recently. It’s a coral-pink base and I’ve been wearing it with the MUA coral lipstick.

I’m really impressed by the pigmentation of Sleek blushes and this one’s no exception. This product also has good staying power and buildable intensity. I’m naturally very pale and so I wear it lightly. But I find I can add a bit more oomph when I’m wearing tan and a darker foundation. 

I’ve also used it as an eyeshadow, which is nice day-time shadow on blue eyes, and on top of Maybelline paint pots to add some depth and drama. I think this is a great versatile blush for any skin tone. It’s  £4.49 in Superdrug and comes in ten other shades in both shimmer and matte formulations.

Vaseline Spray & Go body moisturiser

Vaseline Spray & Go body moisturiser

This is such a great time-saving product. Dry off after a shower, spray on, lightly rub and you’re good to go! 

This dries in so fast that you have to to be quick to rub it in. It’s not greasy so you can get dressed straight away. It’s lovely on the skin and you can feel the softness retained all day. 

I chose the pure oat extra version which smells nice but you can also get it in cocoa butter and aloe vera. I paid £4.99 for this in Boots but it does seem be on offer in various stores and online. It’s £4 in Asda at the moment. 

I think I will try the cocoa butter one next and the aloe vera would be great for a sun holiday. Because the product comes as an aerosol spray it doesn't last as long as you might expect so I save it for days when I’m in a hurry.

Diprobase - my hero primer that’s cheaper than a glass of wine!

 

What is it?

It’s called Diprobase. Ok so technically it’s not branded as a primer, but it does the job better than anything else I’ve tried.

Why I started to use it

I usually have normal/dry skin but a few months ago it became so dry that applying make-up was challenging. So after trying a few heavy duty moisturisers (which didn’t seem to be doing the trick) I asked a pharmacist and she recommended Diprobase.

What does it do?

It’s a moisturising and protective cream usually given to people who suffer from eczema and dermatitis. It is an ‘occlusive emollient’, which apparently means that it restores the layer of oil on the surface of the skin to slow water loss. After using it for a few days my skin felt so much better and I’ve been able to go back to my Clinique 'Dramatically Different' moisturiser.

How I’m using it

Because my skin is usually dry my make-up pretty much soaks into my skin by lunchtime. I know when my make-up is gone becuase people in the office start to ask if I'm not feeling well (I'm very pale). I was thinking about the fact that the Diprobase cream creates a protective barrier and I wondered if I applied my make-up on top of the cream would it stay ON my face instead of IN my face! The answer is YES! 

 

For the past few weeks I’ve been using it as a make-up primer on top of my moisturiser (allowing a couple of minutes drying time between the moisturiser, Diprobase and foundation) and I have been so pleased with the results. The cream is quite rich but if you just apply a small amount and let it dry it holds make-up in place like its existence depends on it. My make-up is now genuinely lasting about 8 hours. Since I've been using it no one at work has asked me if I'm hungover/tired/have a headache - which is my benchmark for success!

Why I love it

·         It’s fragrance free (good for my sensitive eyes)

·         It’s sooo cheap (about £2.50 for 50g from the pharmacy counter in Boots – ask for the cream and not the ointment)

·         It’s a rich cream and the small tube lasts for ages

·         When you put it on at night your skin still feels freshly moisturised in the morning

·         It’s not oily like a traditional primer and it’s easy to apply foundation over it (once you leave it a minute to soak in and just use a small amount)

·         It doesn’t contain anything that’s harmful to your skin

·         You can use it on any other dry skin areas on your body

My advice

I’ve not tried every primer in the world but this is miles better than anything else I’ve used and a fraction of the cost. I don’t know how well this would work for someone who has oily skin but for my normal/dry skin it’s worked wonders. Try it and let me know what you think!

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