...Urban Decay - Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush

This is a beauty!

I asked for a new foundation brush for Christmas out of sheer necessity. My poor Lancome Flat Brush was shedding bristles like a Persian cat sheds fur.

I was secretly hoping for the Real Techniques Stippling Brush, since I've heard so many good reviews, but when I unwrapped this sexy little thing I was just as thrilled!

The bristles are beautifully soft and the brush is nice and chunky. It requires no expertise to get lovely results when blending in foundation and powder.

I've tried it with a few different foundations and the results have been just as good with each. I've yet to try it with blusher, but the powder application is nice and easy - best if you apply quite liberally, there isn't much room for subtlety with this.

There is only one bad thing that I have to say about this brush: It eats foundation!

I have to use twice as much liquid foundation on this brush to get enough of it buffed into my face. With cream foundations this isn't as big an issue, but with any kind of liquid the brush sucks it away into oblivion.

Other than that little niggle - I'm in love! No more flat foundation brushes for me!

Xxxx

...Degree Really Comes in Handy Sometimes

Sometimes I read the descriptions on beauty products and think: "What are they talking about?"

It seems common place now to use long scientific jargon to describe products, simply because the makers know that the average-Joe won't know what the words really mean. Most people never really bother to find out either I suppose... If something sounds sciency and impressive, then it must work, right?

I read the label of a product today that said; "Arnica and Madecassoside, suspended in liposomes with powerful peptides and biodynes to initiate a uniquely soothing and collagen boosting process." 

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure that's true or they wouldn't be able to put it on the bottle. What I have a problem with, is that rubbing liposomes on your face is pretty much guaranteed to do nothing. Liposomes are like little hollow balls, and they have a phospholipid membrane meaning that they act like oil droplets in water. Their membranes are made up of little phospholipids that have hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic heads and they look a bit like lollipops. These things line up together and create a water-resistant bubble that things can be suspended within. 

The cells on your face won't be able to do anything with these little balls, they're too delicate and break up the minute they hit your skin. Your skin's whole purpose in life is to keep things out! To be a strong barrier against anything foreign, so no matter what's in those liposomes; it's not getting through. This cream costs £48 too. 

I'm not trying to come off as pretentious, it's just because I come across these kinds of words all the time in my lectures that I'm very skeptical about what face creams claim to do. 

CoEnzyme Q10, that's another one that doesn't work. But that's a rant for another time.

Xxxx 

...Winter Makeup Look... Super-Berry

Instagram has just been made available on Windows phones! I've been dying to try it out, so I thought I'd use it to take pictures of a makeup look I've been living in recently...

My orange towel looking casual there...

I think this look is not too much over the top but still quite glamorous. This is what I used for it...

My Benefit Sugarbomb blusher is really ready to die now, but I can still scrape the remnants from the bottom before I have to get a new one. The poor thing has worked hard for me these last two years, it's earn't it's retirement. 

Powder: Rimmel London Stay Matte - Translucent, cheap and cheerful powder. Great at keeping oily skin at bay.

Mascara: No.7 Intense Volume - A water-based mascara with a very thin formula, perfect for when you want to give your lashes a very natural boost. I never feel like I'm wearing heavy mascara with this and it doesn't make my eyes sore after a long day.

Primer: E.L.F. Mineral Infused Primer - Reviewed here.

Eyeshadow: Benefit World Famous Neutrals - Eyenessa's Most Glamorous Nudes Ever (colours used: It's Complicated all over lids and on inner corners, and Call my Buff on the brow bone.) Reviewed here.

Natural Collection Solo Eyeshadow in Crushed Walnut - A nice matte brown, great for contouring.

Eyebrows: Topshop Brows Pencil in Brown - A great brunette match, at least for me. This pencil is HUGE, I'd be sharpening this for days before it ran out.

Lips: Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 107 - A matte berry/purple... lovelovelove! 

I also forgot to put the foundation I used in the picture; it was Estee Lauder Double Wear.

Xxxx

P.S. For anyone interested... I GOT THE JOB!!! (See two posts below...)

Winter Lips

I own a lot of lip products, I hate to admit it, but probably too many...

What am I talking about?! There's no such thing as too many lip products!

Here are a few that I've been reaching for most since it's gotten colder. Bolder lips are always a winner in the winter, they make a great contrast against paler, sun-less skin.

From left to right...

Mac Satin Lipstick in Film Noir - A very dark berry colour.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate in 107 - I think nearly everyone and their mother owns this, but for very good reason. A matte berry/purple; the photo does not do it justice.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate in 01 - A glossy, dark blue-red.

Diorific Haute Couture Long Wearing Lipstick in Dolce Vita - A matte orange-red.

MaxFactor Lipfinity Lasting Lip Tint in 03 - Another berry shade, more sheer than a lipstick but builds like a dream.

But what would winter be without some gorgeous lip balms to beat chapped lips away?!

Burt's Bees Lip Balm with Pink Grapefruit - Grapefruit is the best scent in the world; it's so cheerful and refreshing!

Clinique Chubby Stick in Two Ton Tomato - A sheer but fairly bright red. If I could buy one of these in every colour I would *sigh*.

Also... Isn't the fake snow in Plymouth so pretty? It hasn't snowed here in over 150 years, how depressing!

Xxxx