Full review of NARS Sheerglow Foundation

After many beauty bloggers raving about this product, I finally decided to purchase it about 1 month ago. I didn't have any trouble finding my perfect colour shade as I went to my nearest Space NK store and the assistant matched me to perfection. I bought the shade Deauville. It gives me a little colour as we are heading into summer so I didn't want to gain a tan and have a pale foundation. I would say in the winter I would go a shade lighter. I apply this foundation with a Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Stippling Brush or Buffing Brush. My preference would be the buffing brush as I think it gives such a natural finish and really blends the product into the skin without looking too heavy.  

Left - Buffing Brush, Right - Stippling Brush (both from Real Technique by Samantha Chapman)

It gives a beautiful radiant glow, but not shiny or oily. I was very hesitate about buying this product as I have semi-oily skin so I didn't want enhance that and feel self-concious. Instead it gives me a healthy glow so I feel confident. If you set this foundation with a powder it will last all day and won't rub off etc. However......

Nars Sheer Glow - Deauville, Real Techniques Buffing Brush (orange) & Real Techniques Stippling Brush (pink)

The biggest disappointment of all - the packaging and product design! Firstly the matte black NARS packaging shows fingerprints within the first use which makes it look dirty - but its the same with most NARS products so I overlook that. However, why is there no pump?! Its extremely hard to pour out the correct amount of foundation which leads to loads of wasted product. But generally just annoying to use having to pour it out every time you use it. Despite having already paid £30.50 for the product, I thought it was a little unacceptable to charge more to purchase a pump?! - which the cap/top doesn't even fit over. Although not having a cap and the packaging looking dirty and messy, I think I would still re-purchase as it's a great foundation. 

Link to NARS website

Let me know in the comments below what you think of this foundation & whether you feel the same about the packaging! Thank you for reading. :-) Rosie xx

Review of my favourite make-up brushes

Hey guys! This blog post is going to be a review about the brushes I use when I do my day-to-day makeup. I don't have that many, compared to most make-up obsessed people, however, my collection is growing and for now I love all the brushes I use!

I usually like to do my foundation first, before I start with the eye makeup. However, when I do a more dramatic eye I will do foundation last so I don't have any fall down. My favourite foundation at the moment is Nars - Sheerglow (Deauville). I will apply this with either the Real Techniques buffing or stippling brush. They're both just as good as each other. The shape of the stippling brush is perfect for applying foundation or blusher. It blends well into the skin giving a flawless look, and also when applying a blush it blends well with no noticeable colour line between your cheeks and rest of your face. It doesn't remove the foundation either, which some brushes can do. The buffing brush is perfect when using a liquid brush, I usually apply moisturiser before hand so they blend well.

I recently bought the Mac 239 & 217 brush - both highly rated. I now use them all the time, they're amazing! The 239 packs on so much colour giving a strong eye look. The 217 blends so nicely giving a soft edge. I love creating a smoky eye with these brushes especially as they blend out so nicely and softly. Now I've bought them I would defiantly say the price is worth it, however, they were VERY expensive and I was very hesitate about spending nearly £20 per brush.

Lastly I apply blush, bronzer and powder! I use Benefit Coralista, NARS Laguna Bronzer & Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - all amazing products that are day-to-day essentials. I love a contoured cheek and I feel I achieve this best by use Real Techniques Contour Brush. After bronzer, I will apply a little blush for some colour - I usually use the buffing brush by Real Techniques. As the summer is coming, a dewy, highlighted look is in. But I like to powder just the T-zone and where I feel I need it. I use a smaller powder brush rather than a massive one!

What I bought when I went to London

So I travelled two & a half hours to get to London on Thursday. I stayed in a beautiful apartment overlooking the River Thames. The night of the 4th April I was lucky enough to have front row seats to One Direction - it was amazing! The following day I was up bright and early to head to Oxford Street for some retail therapy. I thought I would share with you what I bought and where from.

A picture I look from the concert

The first shop I headed to was Topshop. It's massive! I purchased two nail varnishes as they had a deal on, 2 for £8 - which I thought was a good price considering the quality of them and how long I find they last. I also got a new purse, which I love. It's pale pink, I thought for the spring/summer (when it arrives!) will be a really pretty colour, rather than a black or tan colour. Finally from Topshop, I bought a little black floaty cami top. I already had one of these in white and I think they are so useful and comfy - as when as being reasonably priced. Other shops that I went too included Zara, H&M, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21 etc. Although, my favourite was Victoria Secret, located just off New Bond Street. It was like walking into heaven! The perfumes, underwear and bras were beautiful and the staff were so helpful. A lovely experience.

Nail varnishes; War Paint & Flamingo Coral

M&M world was so much fun! I got a massive bag of Pick 'n' mix with a huge variety of flavours. It was an experience looking round, however, it was so hot in there as it was absolutely packed with tourists.

M&M World, London

The last shop I went was the extremely famous Harrods in Knightsbridge. As soon as I walked in I was faced with a huge Mac - it would have been rude not to look around! For a long time I had really wanted some purple eye shadows as it brings out the colour of my eyes (blue). Luckily, it wasn't too busy so I asked the Make-up Artist to try out some colours on me, she was lovely & very helpful. I bought the Limited Edition Archie's Girl in Spoiled Rich . I've worn it every day since. Purple eye shadow is a must-have if you have blue eyes! I also bought a Mac 239 brush as I had wanted one for ages but been put of how expensive the brushes are. However, it was totally worth it and I'm sure it will last me ages.

Then, to finish the day off, I had a yummy Frozen Yoghurt from Snog. Natural flavour with raspberries and Oreo biscuits! By the end, my feet were throbbing and I was so tired. It was nice just to sit in the car for a few hours home and listen to my iPod.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post :) Leave any comments/questions! xx

New products

I recently went shopping and bought a few new things! Most of the products bought were from Space NK and I am already in love with them. 

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (Shade - Deauville) £30.50;
Nars Bronzer (Shade - Laguna) £26

So the first thing I originally went in Space NK for was the Nars Sheer Glow foundation. Something I had read great reviews about and seen lots of my favourite YouTube make-up artists use in their tutorials with flawless results. As my previous foundation had run out (Mac - Studio Finish) and become a shade too dark, I knew it was time to invest into the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation. I must have only used this foundation two or three times since I got it but I already love it! I do have a slight oily finish to my skin, which I was a little worried about when purchasing this foundation, however, the shop assistant reassured me that it won't make me look oily/shiny. It gives a lovely radiant finish, which I love. Especially as we are heading into Spring/Summer and you need a nice bronzed/radiant finish to look healthy and glowing. When the make-up artist was testing out the colours on my skin she used the Nars Laguna Bronzer to add definition and sculpt the face. Of which, I instantly fell in love with and purchased at the same time! I have used this every day since I got it, and is my make-up bad essential. 

Tangle Teezer £10;
Eyeko Brow Gel £18;
Eyeko Black Magic Mascara £18

Whilst looking round the store, I also picked up some more goodies. I have always wanted a Tangle Teezer as my friends use them and always said how good they were, but strangely I didn't have one myself. I have medium/long hair which is quite thick therefore gets knotty and tangled quickly.  Any normal hairbrush is  painful to use and leaves my scalp feeling sore as its pulls and rips through my hair. This brush is nothing like that - it's like a miracle and pain free! Now I know why my friends rave about it, I should have bought it sooner!  I love trying out new things. The two Eyeko products are just as good as each other. For me, I love a strong, structured brown but nothing too harsh and drawn on. This gives the most perfect effect working with my Mac Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering too. I use the Lancome Hypnose Star mascara currently, but wanted to try this new mascara from a not so well-known brand that the staff at Space NK were pleased with from using it themselves. I am yet to use it as I like to use my previous products before I open new ones, but I will review it in a different blog post once I've made good use of it. 

I went to my local fashion week yesterday, in Bristol and this is the make-up I used. (sorry for bad quality - it was taken on my phone!)

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - Deauville
Nars Bronzer - Laguna
Mac Studio Finish Concealer - NW20
The Body Shop Blush - 02 Coral nuance
Benefit  - Girl meets pearl
Mac Eye Brow Pencil - Lingering
Eyeko - Brow Gel
Mac Eyeshadow - Kid, Copperplate, Print & Carbon
Lancome Mascara - Hypnose Star
Mac Lipstick - Rebel
Necklace -  Accessorize

Next weekend I am travelling to London to go and see One Direction with my friends, which I'm very excited about! The following day we are going shopping on Oxford Street - so hopefully I will pick up some new things that I can share with you and write up a review. 

Mascara Reviews

1. Lancome - Hypnose Star

A high end mascara brilliant for volume and extension of lashes. The cute packaging makes it pretty to view and makes the prices worth while. This mascara is great for day-to-day looks, but, can also be built up to create much fuller looking lashes by applying more coats - all without the build up of clumps. Hypnose Star is such great value when purchased in the Value Set. The set includes the Hypnose Star Mascara, Lancome Khol Mini Eyeliner and Bi-Facil 30ml - all for £21. A purchase worth while. The only disappointing factor about this product is how quickly it dries out, common with most Lancome Mascaras. I was given mine for Christmas 2012, and today, (February 16th 2013) when reviewing the product I had noticed how dried out it had become.

2. Clinique - Bottom Lash Mascara

The reviews about this mascara are constantly positive, and I can see why. It's defiently our favourite mascara! The small wand enables you to separate the lashes to perfection. The need to apply only 2 coats, it is a very effective way of applying an ample amount of mascara. This product is one of our best buys, the fact there is no fall down during the day which can be common amongst some mascaras. It is easy and neat to apply, not fiddly as you may assume by how petite the wand is. Another great thing about it is that it lasts all day, no need to re-apply or worry about smudging under the eye. No lumps, smudges, or clumps make this a mascara must-have! The price is reasonable (£11), and indeed a beauty essential. We truly recommend the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara!

3. Benefit - They're Real Mascara

Benefit They're Real is amazing if you're looking for long, thick lashes with added volume. It is the best mascara for all three of those qualities. It stays on all day and dries fairly quickly on the lashes so you do have to apply it quickly. The brush is great because on the end of it, it has shorter spikes which allows you tog get into the corners of your lashes and make the lashes even thicker whilst separating the lashes individually too. The downside to this mascara is the fact that during the day it smudges onto skin below your eyes leaving black marks which is not pleasant! Also, it is extremely hard to get off. It is fairly expensive at £18.50, however, I feel is is worth it if you want your lashes to look full and thick. Also, if you're patient enough to keep checking if it smudges below your eyes throughout the day!

4. MaxFactor - False Lash Effect

My all time favourite everyday mascara. This fairly-priced mascara has lasted me ages, and I am about to re-purchase for a 2nd time. It describes it in the name. The big wand gives the longest lashes and a lovely look for both day and night without actually having to apply false lashes. The reasonable price of £10.99 is a great alternative to be constantly applying false lashes. The only negative factor is that it can fade during the day, although not through fall-down or smudging. Apart from that, a make-up bag essential!

We hope you enjoyed our reviews of these mascaras. Please feel free to leave a comment or ask a question!

Rosie & Lizzie


Links to find the reviewed products above are listed below;
Lancome Value Set
Lancome - Hypnose Star
Clinique - Bottom Lash Mascara
Benefit - They're Real
MaxFactor - False Lash Effect

Top 5 Nail Varnishes for the new year!

1) Skyscraper - O.P.I

This nail varnish is a sparkly yellow-gold nail polish. This colour is perfect for parties, and dresses up a darker outfit perfectly, so it goes really well with black, for example. You can also use this colour on your ring finger with a different colour nail varnish too for something different. This costs £10.50, which is fairly expensive, however, it will last you for ages. 

2) Piccadilly Circus - Nails Inc

This colour is perfect for winter. The plum/purple/red tones go with any skin tone, and again, this colour is fairly versatile and will go with a lot of different outfits. It costs £11.50, but you only need one coat with this polish. It is definitely an investment as when you apply this polish, it will last for a good 5 days, so its an investment. 

3) Bright Red (262) - Barry M

This is the perfect affordable bright red. For some reason we found this colour to be thicker than your usual Barry M polish, so you only really need one coat with this, or two if you want it to last longer. This colour was perfect for Christmas, but it looks good all year round. It leaves a gorgeous glossy finish and for £2.99 you can't go wrong!

4) Aruba Blue - Essie

This colour is one of our all time favourites. The colour is just to die for. It leaves the most beautiful shimmery finish, and you really can't describe the colour. All Essie nail polishes apply wonderfully with the thick easy brush, and will last you a good few days if you apply a base and top coat. All of the Essie polishes cost £7.99 which is fairly expensive, but this colour you just can't find anywhere else, so it's definitely worth it.

5) Matte About You top coat - Essie over the top of 47 Black - Barry M

We are loving the matte nails at the moment, especially black ones. It is such a lovely change to your usually shimmery/glossy finish which most polishes give. A lot of people don't like matte nails, but we think they are so versatile, as black nails will go with anything, and they give such a lovely effect to the nails. The Essie top coat dries so quickly and applies perfectly. Putting it over the top of the black polish by Barry M gives the most classic look, especially in the winter months.

Top 5 high-end Winter Foundations

 1) Lancome: Tient Miracle. 

This foundation is great for those who are looking for a dewy/radiant finish (so definitely avoid this if you have very oily skin), and is especially good for people with yellow undertones. In winter it picks up your skin giving it a gorgeous finish, especially as the coverage is medium-buildable so it will cover any nasty blemishes making your skin look flawless. This foundation is pricey at £27.50 however we feel it is definitely worth that because it makes your skin look perfect, and you only need to use a small amount so it will last for a long time (Rosie has had hers for 4 months and is still no where near running out). 

2) MAC: studio sculpt foundation.

This foundation is creamy and gel-based, so again, it leaves you with a radiant finish which we felt looks beautiful on dry/normal/combination skin. It covers your skin beautifully being medium buildable to high, and is really easy to blend (we recommend using a stippling brush to apply this). It revitalizes the skin giving it life, also making your skin look so smooth. This is Lizzie's favourite go-to foundation, and at £24 which is expensive, it is definitely an investment for your make up collection! 

3) MAC: studio fix fluid foundation. 

This is Rosie's favourite go-to foundation. We feel that the coverage is really buildable so it's very flexible in the sense that most people can use this foundation. It is fantastic for oily skin because it absorbs and disperses oil, and it is also oil free. It easily minimizes imperfections and generally makes your skin look perfect. Another thing we both love about MAC foundations is the fact that the amount of shades available is fantastic, especially if you go into the counter and get a MUA to match your skin to the perfect shade of foundation for you. 

4) Clinique: Even Better foundation.

If you have uneven skin tone this foundation is definitely for you, as it's designed to combat hyper-pigmentation and delivers brighter skin also. In the winter we all need a little pick-me-up for our skin, and this foundation really does work, making your skin look healthy. It's really long wearing (lasted Lizzie all day) and it's full of minerals which are great for your skin. At £23 this foundation is definitely worth it if you're suffering from uneven skin tone/or just dull skin in general.

5) Benefit: Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow! 

We found in the summer this foundation was really effective making your skin look really healthy and "flawless", however we found in the winter it can make you look slightly shiny if you have oily skin under commercial lighting, so you definitely need to powder when using this foundation. It's really long lasting, Rosie found it lasted all day. It's really moisturising and will sit nicely on the skin even in the winter months where your skin tends to get dry. However, the only downside being that we did need to use concealer after using this foundation on blemishes because it's a low-medium coverage. At £24.50 this foundation is definitely worth a try! Out of all of the foundations, this is definitely the most natural looking one.

We hope you enjoyed this post, feel free to leave a comment/suggest any posts you'd like to see in the future.

Rosie and Lizzie xx