Dior Diorskin Forever Foundation and Primer Review

I recently purchased Dior's Diorskin Forever Foundation and their Diorskin Forever Primer Base along with it (what a mouthful!). I'd been wanting to try a new high end foundation for a while as I know what drugstore ones I like but I've never really found a firm favourite in terms of luxury brands. I'd heard multiple bloggers express there love for Dior Forever so I thought I'd give it a go.

Firstly, the counter assistant matched me up perfectly! She used one of those colour match machines a lot of brands use these days, which got my shade (020 Light Beige) spot on, I hate it when you get home and realise the shade isn't quite right.

Forever foundation is medium-full coverage I would say, but it definitely lasts all day. It has a peach undertone which I love as because I'm quite pale in the winter some foundations can look a bit grey almost when applied, but this one really brightens up my skin, and the feel of it is amazing, its very liquid and feels like satin, as in it feels light but gives a good coverage still. It doesn't dry out my skin at all like some heavy foundations tend to do.

I should also mention I have combination skin with a very oily t-zone, so I tend to steer well clear of anything labelled as "dewy" but I feel this foundation does give my skin a healthy, almost dewy look but without making me look like a disco ball! Another plus is its SPF 35 which is the highest I've come across in a foundation, so I'll definitely be reaching for this on sunny days.

I did pick up the Forever Primer Base too though as the assistant recommended it when I explained my skin type. I have definitely noticed a difference when using it, it seems to glide on a lot easier (it puts my Benefit Porefessional Primer to shame!) and I also find my skin staying matte a lot longer throughout the day, so I'm not constantly reaching for my powder. I try not to use the Forever Primer every day though as to replace them both regularly would be pricey!

 The downside to this foundation for me would be the price (£33) so I'm using it sparingly, but on the plus side you don't need to apply much for a good coverage. Also it does have SPF and I have noticed in photos with the flash on it does tend to have a pretty bad flashback and I end up looking very white! I love the packaging too, it's in a sturdy bottle and the pump is good and doesn't dispense too much at a time so there is no wastage.

What's your favourite high end foundation? 

I would love to hear your recommendations.

The Best Beauty Advent Calendars of 2015

I think beauty advent calendars are definitely the new Christmas must have. I think these advent calendars are a great way to challenge yourself to try a new product every day. However many have already sold out or are selling out very quickly so I'd get a move on if you want one! There are many more calendars floating around this year, unfortunately I couldn't post about them all or I would have been up all night! So in no particular order, here are my favourites...

The 25 Days of Beauty Wonders Advent Calendar - Boots

This calendar is a steal as for £38 you get £148 worth of products! Plus there are 25 to look forward to opening. It includes 6 full sized products which are a mixture of skincare and beauty products. The full list of products is available on the website, but why spoil the surprise?!

Tanya Burr Deck the Hauls Christmas Beauty Calendar - Superdrug 

Now this one is a bit hit and miss, as the calendar includes 12 products, including two pairs of lashes, all full size I believe. So when I watched Tanya's video (the day it went up) it sounded great and I went straight to buy it online as it is currently on offer from £25 down to £15. However it was sold out already and is still sold out now. I checked in a couple of stores too but her stand had been ransacked! So if you can actually get hold of it this one does sound great. More stock next time maybe?!

Charlotte Tilbury The Book of Magic

This is definitely a luxury calendar; retailing at £150. The Book of Magic contains 12 products, which are a mixture of full size and miniatures, many of which are Charlotte Tilbury best sellers. I was sorely tempted by this advent calendar but I just couldn't justify the price! But you no doubt get your moneys worth.

Selfridges Beauty Workshop Calendar

This is the second of Selfridge's advent calendars released this year, the first one was the Cosmo calendar which was contains the same number of products only more luxury and retails at £95. However it is currently out of stock but is selling for a whopping £140 on Ebay! I opted for the £60 Beauty Workshop Calendar myself, as I thought that was pretty steep for a calendar really.. But every year I always say "I'd really like a beauty calendar this year.." but never get one, so this year I took the plunge! Plus I'm single so I thought why not spend the money I would otherwise spend on a partner on myself?! Single life perks! Anyway going off topic.. The Beauty Workshop Calendar retails at £60 and contains 24 miniatures worth £226! I thought this was a great way to try some new products and I'm excited about the challenge of using which ever one I get each day! 
One thing I should add about this product though, I had to pay £5 postage which I think is pretty steep considering its £60, this was a couple of weeks ago and I was told it would arrive on the 12th but it still hasn't arrived. I know I don't need it until the 1st but some correspondence would be nice! 

The Bodyshop Beauty Advent Calendar

The Bodyshop released two advent calendars this year, their premium one which was £80 and this standard one which is £60. I can't see the premium one on their website anymore but it is probably available in some stores. The standard one is still a good buy in my eyes, as the products are worth £93.50 and you get the full 24 days worth! It features a range of their best sellers in miniature form.

Benefit Part Poppers Advent Calendar - Debenhams

Retailing at £34.50 this calendar is quite a steal. It's currently sold out but I think that's because Debenhams has just finished Mega Week where all beauty was 10% off. This calendar only has 12 doors, however it sings!! And although the products are all minis, I know from experience that Benefit minis last a long time! I would have purchased this calendar but being a Benefit lover I already own a lot of the products it contains so there wasn't much point. 

Lush Advent Calendar

If you're into your baths this is definitely the calendar for you. I love a good bath but don't really have time for them that often so I couldn't really justify this one! However retailing at £49.95 this calendar features 12 of their best sellers most of which are from their Christmas range. I honestly don't think you'd save an awful lot with this calendar, but then again all of their products are vegan and handmade so I think they would struggle to slash their prices. 

Ciate Mini Mani Month Advent Calendar

This is currently down from £49 to £39.50 on Look Fantastic. This is one for the nail varnish lovers! I rarely paint my nails as I can't be doing with the upkeep and they take so long to dry! Lazy I know, but they chip so easily at my job. So this one isn't the one for me, but if you're a nail varnish lover it's definitely worth getting with its 24 products.

M&S Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar

This calendar is a steal at £25 (if you spend over £25 on M&S beauty products) with the products inside worth over £200! I was very tempted to buy this calendar, there are some well known brands in there too such as Burts Bees, Stila and Rituals. It's a full 24 door calendar too. 

Do you have a beauty advent calendar this year?

Magnitone Lucid Review*

Last week I was fortunate enough to be sent a Magnitone Lucid to review. I have seen a good number of cleansing brushes on the market recently, they definitely seem to be the new thing, so I was excited to try the Magnitone one.

Magnitone claim that you will see a difference in your skin in just 7 days. I was actually breaking out when I started using Magnitone so I thought that was a good time to try it out. 

Magnitone Lucid is really simple to use. It came already charged, you simply screw the head on and switch it on, choosing between the first setting or the second setting which is for more sensitive skin. I put some cleanser on my face first and wet the head so it really cleans my skin. But I'll warn you to close your eyes unless you want cleanser running into them when you do your forehead! Magnitone Lucid also has a built in zonal timer and it beeps when it's time to move onto the next area of your face and turns off automatically after a minute, so easy! It's waterproof too so you can easily use it in the shower. It also comes with a wireless charger so it's great for travelling.

I am actually really impressed with this product! I honestly didn't think it would do that much, but it buffs off any dead skin so there's no need to even exfoliate now, it's also brightened and cleared up my skin, evened my skin tone and I've noticed that my moisturiser sinks in a lot better now too. I would 100% buy this again and it's now a core product in my skincare routine, I used it once a day as recommended, for a minute each time. My skin honestly hasn't looked this good without makeup in ages!

Magnitone Lucid is available in four different colours, I requested the Plush Pink of course! Magnitone Lucid retails at £69.99, but until July 31st you can get 20% off with BLOVE20 discount code!You can redeem it here.

*I was sent this product but all views are my own. 

InstaNatural Youth Express Vitamin C Moisturizer Review*

I was recently sent Youth Express Vitamin C Moisturizer Advanced Restorative Blend by InstaNatural to try out. 

This InstaNatural moisturizer contains a 20% concentration of Vitamin C, which they claim acts as a powerful antioxidant and helps protect skin from the sun, helping prevent and diminish wrinkles and restores healthier skin. Youth Express also claims to brighten your complexion and create a more even skin tone. This moisturizer is also meant to work for all skin tones and is a light moisturizer than you can use in the day and night.

I used this moisturizer alongside the InstaNatural 100% Moroccan Rose Water Toner (review here) and I think the products work beautifully together. I am usually very skeptical of light moisturisers (especially at night) because I have some dry patches on my face and those areas sometimes still feel very tight with a light moisturiser. I found that this Vitamin C Moisturizer made my face feel so soft and silky, after I had used the Rose Water Toner and the Vitamin C Moisturizer I couldn't stop stroking my face! It just felt so hydrated, but not oily. The packaging is great too, simple and easy to pump out.

I think my skin has definitely improved since using this product, I was suffering with some breakouts before (which was a bit unusual for me) but now my skin seems to be a lot better with just the odd spot occurring which I can live with! My complexion has actually improved too, it looks more even and brighter, even with only a few uses. And the texture of my skin is much better too. I would definitely recommend Youth Express Vitamin C Moisturizer, and I have very high standards for my moisturisers! This one ticks all the boxes.

You can buy InstaNatural Youth Express Vitamin C Moisturizer from Amazon for £19.47 (usually £49.95) Personally I wouldn't pay more than £30 for a moisturiser but I think £20 for this one isn't bad as it's a good product.

Packaging: 5

Value For Money: 4

Product: 5

Overall: 4.5

What's your favourite moisturiser?

InstaNatural Moroccan Rose Water Toner Review*

I was recently sent this 100% Pure Natural Moroccan Rose Water Ultimate Facial Toner (and breathe!) to try out by the brand InstaNatural. This rose water toner is actually 100% rose water and that's it! I was amazed actually that there's nothing else in it. 

I think the thing I like most about this product is the smell, it makes my face smell like roses! I'm not going to lie I never really know what toners actually do for my skin, I know they are supposed to tighten your pores but it's hard to tell if they work! My skin has improved since using this toner, but I should mention that I have been using it alongside an InstaNatural moisturiser (review coming soon) so it may have been that which improved my skin. I do love how my skin feels after using this Moroccan Rose Water though, it doesn't feel dry at all and the product doesn't feel too harsh on my skin as some toners often do.

InstaNatural claim that their Moroccan Rose Water Toner is suitable for all skin types and helps soothe skin irritations and sunburn. You can also use it on your hair to make it soft and shiny! I haven't tried this yet because I don't want to use a large amount of the product on my hair because I like it so much on my face.. In terms of how the product is designed I like the little bottle, it sits nicely on my dressing table and the bottle doesn't feel cheap and flimsy at all. The only thing I would be careful of is that the top is a screw off so you have to be careful you don't knock it over! 

InstaNatural Moroccan Rose Water Toner is available on Amazon for currently £14.95 (usually £43.99). I would say it's definitely worth £14.95 as it is a great product, not sure I would pay the normal price for it though! 

Packaging: 4

Value For Money: 4

Product: 5

Overall: 4.5

What's your favourite toner?

Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics Review

I recently won the Naked 2 Basics Palette from a giveaway held by the lovely All That Shimmers. The naked basics palettes were never something I considered buying because I have all three of the Naked full sized palettes already so it seemed a bit unnecessary buying any Basic ones. But now I wish I had because I really like this one!

The palette contains 6 shades, none of which are in the normal Naked 2 palette. The shades are all matte, which the full size Naked palettes usually contain a couple of. I think my favourite shade is Skimp in this palette as it is a lovely colour to use on the brow bone but also to dust all over the lid. I also use Primal and Undone a lot. As you can see on these photos, my favourite look to do is this nice brown smokey eye, starting with the lighter colours on the inside of the eye and gradually building up the darker colours towards the outer corners. 

The colours in Naked 2 Basics all blend perfectly and last all day, as Urban Decay shadows always do! I really do love this palette and it's great if your going away and need to save on space. It's super light and will easily fit in your bag. I think it was meant to come with a brush too? But mine didn't for some reason! The only things I would change about this palette are Cover and Primal as they are very similar shades, so maybe they could have added a shimmer in there instead. This palette is great if you are a matte shade lover though! Also I really struggle to undo this palette! I have to dig my nails under which usually ends up in me breaking one or accidentally scraping the shadows.. But overall it's a great palette and fun to use!

Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics Palette is available at Debenhams for £23.

Packaging: 3 (size is great but the clasp is an issue)

Product: 4

Value for Money: 3

Overall: 3.5

P.S. if anyone wants a tutorial for this look, I'd be happy to do one!

Have you tried any of the Naked Basics palettes?

Urban Decay Vice 3 Review

"Ahh isn't it beautiful?" My first thoughts! I actually got this palette back in December for Christmas, but I wanted to have a really good play around with it before I reviewed it. I feel like I really know this palette now, and as Urban Decay never disappoint in the eyeshadow department, I have a lot of good things to say about Vice 3.

How gorgeous is the packaging to start with? It's typical Urban Decay, bright and beautiful! I love how it comes with the zip-up case too, too protect all those beautiful shadows. The only thing I dislike about the packaging is that the shiny case gets my fingerprints all over it whenever I touch it!

Here are all the shades, I'm not going to list them all because you can clearly see the names. Vice 3 features a mixture of mattes and shimmers. The first vertical row are very similar to the shades you'll find in the Naked Basics palettes, and they are great for either blending the other colours in the palette or wearing alone for a natural look. I think what's great about the palette is that each vertical or horizontal row can be worn together really. It's a good challenge to wear all of the shades in a row and see what look you can make! I think a lot of these shades can be worn together, the only ones you wouldn't be able to wear as easy are Dragon and Freeze. But I have worn Freeze a few times now. 

I think my favourite shades are Truth, Heroine, Sonic and Last Sin (which I hope isn't the last Sin!) Sonic might seem like a difficult colour to wear, but it looks great blended into the crease on a brown smoky eye. I will have to do a tutorial for it :).

Vice 3 also features a large mirror which is very helpful. I haven't actually used the brush much and don't like it as much as the Naked palette brushes, but Urban Decay's brushes are always good quality and I appreciate that they don't include those useless foam ones that I always throw away!

In terms of how the colours go on, they are very pigmented and if worn over a primer go on even better. They last all day and blend so easily. I swear by Urban Decay eyeshadows though and have all three Nakeds so I wouldn't have expected any less. Although this palette is quite big, it is a lot less bulky than my Book of Shadows Volume II which I got years ago, so Urban decay have improved their designs through the years. It's definitely worth buying if you want some new colours to play with, with which you can create a range of diverse looks, from natural to very colourful. I honestly think I will use all of these shades at one time or another, I can't get enough of it! I usually tend to have my favourites for a while and then swap to new favourites as I continue to experiment.

Here are a couple of my favourite looks that I have created using Urban Decay's Vice 3. The top one is a simple brown smokey eye using Last Sin, Angel, Defy and Bobby Dazzle. The second look (my current favourite!) was created using Last Sin, Heroine, Revolver, and a light touch of Lucky on the middle of my eyelid. 

Urban Decay Vice 3 is available at Debenhams for £42.

Just incase you wondered:

Revlon Colorstay Foundation

Mac Pro Longwear Concealer

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

MAC Powder Blush in Springsheen

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Centre of Attention

Max Factor Powder (review here)

Barry M Bold Waterproof Eyeliner (first photo)

L'Oreal Superliner Black (second photo)

Benefit Browzings

MAC Creme Cup Lipstick

Packaging: 4

Product: 5

Value for Money: 4

Overall: 4.5

Have you tried Urban Decay Vice 3? If so what did you think?!

Your Tea Tiny Tea 14 Day TEAtox Review

When I attended the Blogger Secret Santa Meet Up 2014 I received a goodie bag of free samples courtesy of The Blogger Programme. Your Tea Tiny Tea 14 Day TEAtox was one of the products included. I have heard of detox teas before and have considered trying one, but they are all on the pricey side and I didn't want to buy into a fad that wasn't going to work!

So about the brand: Your Tea is a brand that specialises in a range of different teas, each designed to help with different problems. For example, they have Her Tea, Skin Magic Tea, Fertility Tea, Hangover Tea, Sleep Tea and even Sex Tea! Now let's just put it out there, although I do love tea, I don't believe it can solve all of life's problems! Your Tea states that all of their teas' are based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Principles (TCMP). Your tea also claims that these teas "heal" your body through the consumption of these herbs. The website also states a lot of other bold claims, and as a customer I would probably take all of this with a pinch of salt. As health and "miracle cures" are a great selling point. So just remember that before buying anything.

Your Tea Tiny Tea is meant to assist with bloating, indigestion, problematic skin, cellulite, increase energy and the reduction of excess weight. 

It claims to do this through nourishing the digestive system through TCMP.

I drank Tiny Tea every day, three times a day for two weeks as it specified. However the guide did say to try and drink on an empty stomach, but let me tell you when you are working full-time that's virtually impossible! As it would have meant not eating on my breaks. When I first smelt the tea I was quite nervous, as it smells like dirt! The taste however I quite liked, I can't explain the taste as it didn't taste of much, but I missed it when the two weeks were up!

Also I loved the packaging! How cute is the box? It folds out too and has all the tea neatly lined up. In pink sachets!

What effects did I see?

I did notice I was less bloated, but I think similar results could be achieved by drinking peppermint tea. I don't really get indigestion, so I can't really comment on this one. My skin staid the same however (although it's not really bad anyway) my cellulite definitely didn't magically disappear. Also after my break at work I would usually experience a slump, but I seemed to have more energy when drinking this tea. I don't think it reduced my weight either!

I was quite happy with the results the tea produced, and I did enjoy drinking it and it generally made me feel better. However for £20 for two weeks worth of tea, I'm not sure I'm prepared to pay that! Also I am now following the Tiny Tea Instagram, which I think is what put me off the brand a little as they regram a lot of "before and afters" which fair enough, they haven't created, but they seem to be showing very unrealistic results from just drinking a tea! These results may have been achieved by people healthy eating and exercising for two weeks as well as drinking the tea, but it's doubtful by drinking tea alone. 

Although I do like Your Tea's mantra, of caring about health and aiding each of us to achieve our optimum health, I would just remember that a tea can't produce miracles! Health and weight loss is best achieved by eating well and regularly exercising. In my eyes there is no permanent solution.

Tiny Tea is available here on the Your Tea website, and they ship worldwide.

Ratings

Packaging: 5

Product: 3

Value For Money: 2

Overall: 3.5

Have any of you tried Your Tea or any other health tea brand? What did you think?  

The Bodyshop Vitamin E Face Mist Review

I had heard a lot of good thinks about The Bodyshop Vitamin E Face Mist, and I thought it would be perfect for when I went away last summer in America, so I bought it during this Bodyshop Haul when I bought a lot of products on offer. 

I love The Bodyshop's Vitamin E range, so I had high expectations. The product claims that it provides an instantly refreshing moisture boost, is a quick pick-me up that also provides moisture and protection whilst setting makeup. The product also has a rosewater scent.

The scent, I agree with, it smells nice. However as for the product itself, well I found it a bit useless. I never really needed to use it once I'd moisturised and when I had my makeup on if I sprayed it, it tended to make my skin look dewy which I didn't like. However, one time I did find the Face Mist very useful was when *story time* I spent a bit too long sunbathing on Panama City Beach in Florida and my Kiehl's Factor 50 let me down! My face ended up super burnt and my skin was just so red and uncomfortable for the next couple of days and was just drinking up layer after layer of moisturiser! So I would sprits the face mist on throughout the day, to give it a bit of extra moisture when I couldn't really moisturise because I had a bit of makeup on. So for that time it did come in handy and refreshing! But it's not a product I really need or rely on, but it came in handy. Maybe if your skin is going through a really dry spell it would come in handy as you can just top up your skin's moisture throughout the day.

The product does last a while though and at £8.50 it's not that expensive. Although at The Bodyshop I tend to live by the rule of never pay the full price for anything, as there are always offers about! Overall I'd say this product is good, just not really necessary. The Vitamin E range is available here on The Bodyshop Website. I'd rate the Vitamin E Face Mist with:

Packaging: 4

Product: 3

Value For Money: 4

Overall: 3.5

Have you tried any face mists?

Revlon Colorstay Concealer Review

When I was in America I couldn't find my go to Collection 2000 concealer (not sure if they stock the brand there) but Revlon's Colorstay Concealer was available and it looked pretty similar and I do love their Colorstay Foundation, so I though I'd give it a go! 

When I put on the concealer all seemed well, the colour matched my skin perfectly, it blended easily and concealed my shadows under my eyes and any redness. However this product does not wear nearly as well as the Collection 2000 concealer. Throughout the day it seemed to smear and crease easily under my eyes. The product didn't stay put very well and seemed quite oily. I decided quite quickly that I didn't get on with it well. I had to apply a lot of powder on top to get it to set, but it still seemed to move throughout the day. The product claims to provide a flawless look for up to 24 hours, I disagree with that statement! 

Revlon Colorstay is available for £6.99 at  Boots, but Collection 2000's Lasting Perfection is available  at only £3.99. I know which I'm going to go for next time! I've already repurchased Collection 2000 favourite. I will write a full review on it soon! I've given Revlon Colorstay Concealer the following ratings:

Product: 2

Lasting Ability: 2

Packaging: 4

Value For Money: 2

Overall: 2.5

What's your favourite drugstore concealer?

Max Factor Crème Puff Powder Review

I know a lot of people don't like powders, but personally I swear by them. I have a really oily t-zone so setting my foundation with a good powder is essential! I also like to reapply throughout the day to keep my skin looking matte. The dewy look is not for me! I bought Max Factor's Crème Puff Pressed Powder over Christmas as there was an offer where if you spent so much on Max Factor you got a free gift set, so I thought I may as well try their powder as my usual Maybelline had run out!

The Powder comes in a pressed form. The packaging is neat and slim (easy to fit in my bag) which I like. However I am missing the mirror you often get in compact style powders, as it means I have to carry around a separate mirror in my bag if I just want to check my lippy! Also the sponge isn't great, I prefer the typical powder puff. Of course at home I would use a large brush to apply, but I try not to carry around much makeup with me as it weighs my bag down. 

Max Factor Claims that the product gives a medium to high coverage and can be used for all skin types and gives a flawless matte finish. I would agree with this.

In terms of the powder its self, I went for Medium Beige which is perfect for my skin tone. It applies flawlessly and sets my makeup really well and lasts a good few hours before I have to reapply (and this is only because my skin is so oily!) But as you can tell from the photo above, it provides a lovely matte finish, and if you like that look as I do, that's perfect. No oil in site on this face!! The only thing I dislike about the product is that it does have a very strong powdery smell, and whilst I know some people love this smell, I can't help but think it reminds me of old ladies! It's a little overpowering. 

I rate Max Factor's Pressed Powder with:

Packaging: 2

Product: 4

Value for money: 5

Overall: 3.5

I would buy this product again, it's good value for money but you can tell that Max Factor have cut costs with the packaging, but for £5.99 for a good powder I guess you can't argue. This powder is available from Boots here.

Do you use powder? If so which is your favourite?