Summer Face Essentials

As the weather is rapidly getting warmer, and the sun is shining, our makeup/beauty routine tends to adjust accordingly. I love my makeup to reflect the weather, and nothing screams summer more than a glowy base!

KIKO Glowing Potion - (linked similar)

I discovered this product around a year ago when it was released in a beautiful summer range that KIKO created. At the time, I was a little dubious about slathering this over my already oily skin, but I've very much embraced my more 'radiant' complexion, (probably a nicer way to word it?), and I adore using this as a makeup base! It's a milky white consistency, and adds a gorgeous subtle glow to my skin. This would be a dream for those with dry skin. As this was a limited edition product, I've linked the updated version for you to check out!

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue

As for getting your complexion in check, I've found I've been reaching for my Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue for those days that I don't want a thick, heavy foundation on my skin. I'm somebody who needs my skin to breathe, and I'm not particularly fond of full coverage foundations, (regardless of whether my skin requires it or not!), so this is my best friend at the moment! It's not actually marketed as a foundation, but instead a 'tinted hydrating gel cream'. It does still provide a nice amount of coverage, so don't be put off by that. I find this to be very dewy, and I can often find myself needing to blot down my t-zone, but as I mentioned before, I don't mind a bit of extra 'glow'. Now, I'm not a girl who likes to apply foundation with my fingers, and I'm always straight in there with a buffing brush or beauty blender, but this really does require finger application. The only other option, which I'll be exploring in the next week is the dual-fibre brush that's designed for it. I applied the complexion rescue with it in the store a couple of days ago, and the result was beautiful!

Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer

I guess concealer is a pretty basic face product, but it's something I definitely avoid skipping! This doesn't necessarily apply to everybody, but I have fairly dark circles, or at least dark enough that when I don't wear concealer, I could easily be mistaken for a convict on the run.. so concealer is a must for me! I have a whole host of concealers that I love and would recommend, but I selected this one as it's the one I find I can wear without having the put the rest of my base on. It's lightweight, blend-able, and offers a natural glow to the skin.

Loreal Glam Bronze Cushion Bronzer

This could possibly be favourite product out of the whole bunch, and I've had it for under a week! Some might say that's too soon to make a judgement on a product, but when you know, you know. Since purchasing this, I've used it every day. I'm confident that most of us had been awaiting the highly coveted 'cushion' products from L'oreal to land in the UK, and the minute I spotted them on the shelf at Boots, it was straight into the basket! I actually hadn't intended on purchasing the bronzer as I'm not really a 'bronzer girl', but when I swatched it on my hand, it was so natural and beautiful, I had to give it a go. I don't use the sponge applicator that comes with it, I use a dual-fibre stippling brush to buff it into the areas I'd usually contour to give some natural definition. I feel like I'm fully converted to this product, the fact that it's a cream/liquid consistency and gives my skin extra glow is a winner! 

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

I first heard of this blusher from Kathleen Lights, who raved about how beautiful this pot of peachy goodness was. Since we can't purchase Milani in the UK, I took to Amazon to pick up this gem for around £5! The price does vary as it's on Amazon, but either way I highly recommend picking this up when you can! It gives the softest peach glow to the cheeks, and I find myself reaching for this all the time in the warmer months.

Topshop Highlighter in Sunbeam

I'm a huge fan of highlighters all year round, but there's something about a golden glow in the summer that really appeals to me! This is such a unique highlighter in my opinion as it has a beautiful sunny yellow undertone to it, it almost looks like the sun is beaming from your skin, (hence the name!). I'd have never thought to pick up a holy grain highlighter from a high street clothing store, but it's a winner for the warmer months. Perhaps this is more suited to those with a yellow undertone, but they do have other shades that might be worth checking out. The formula is buttery soft, and you get so much product for the mere £10 you pay. 

What is your makeup base routine in the summer? Comment below!

Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Highlighters

I recently 'over-indulged', and purchased the majority of the new Urban Decay Summer collection, including all three of the new highlighters! As a self-confessed highlighter junkie, and an Urban Decay fanatic, I obviously had to purchase all three shades. 

First up is 'Sin'. A golden, champagne shade. I believe this is everybody's favourite so far, I guess since it's a classic highlighter shade, it's the easiest to wear. I feel like I can never have 'too many' champagne highlighters.. Anybody else feel the same?? The consistency is super buttery, and quite thick, (if that makes any sense??). I find this to be very long lasting, something which I generally struggle with, with highlighters. 

Next up is 'Aura', a frosty pink shade. Although I don't wear them as frequently as I do other shades, I do love pink toned highlighters, particularly with cool-toned makeup. Like 'Sin', the consistency is a dream. I don't mind wearing very frosty highlighters, even though they may not necessarily flatter my skin-tone, but this would be even more perfect for fair-skinned ladies and gentlemen. I'd say this is slightly more glittery than other highlighters I own, but realistically, who doesn't want to be drenched in glitter??

I actually never intended on purchasing 'Fireball', as it looked a little too unwearable for me, however, after trying it on my skin, I fell in love with it! It's gets better every time I put it on, and it also looks incredible dusted over the top of your blusher too! This one is definitely more of 'glow' finish than the other two. It has a unique blue shift in the light, which would normally not be something I'd want on my cheekbones, but somehow, it works!! (At least in my opinion..).

 

(From L to R - Sin, Aura & Fireball)

You can purchase these highlighters at www.debenhams.com. 

Zoeva Rose Golden Blush Palette

I'm sure you've all seen, and fallen in love with the 'rose gold' trend that's been circulating the scene for quite a while, and doesn't seem to be shooting off anytime soon, (luckily!). Brands are pulling at our heart-strings, (and purse strings), by launching products coated in rose gold left right and centre. Zoeva is a brand that does the trend particularly well, previously launching brush lines with rose gold finishes and matching metallic pouches. Now they're back with 'Rose Golden Volume 3', which consists of a luxurious rose gold brush set, (with the killer price tag of £75!!), and a more purse-friendly blush palette! 

The palette contains a rose-gold blusher, or blush topper, a stunning white highlighter with gold reflects, and a classic cool-toned taupe contour shade. 

From the swatch, and from the initial look at the pan, the blusher didn't look like something I would use on my cheeks, as glittery cheek products tend to emphasise flaws I'd rather not draw attention to! However, after thinking 'why the hell not!', I tried it out and was absolutely stunned! For something that is incredibly glittery to swatch, it comes off on the cheeks as a gorgeous sheen, and no glitter chunks at all! The shade on my skin tone is a very warm, deep peach shade.

The highlighter is so so pigmented. Literally, I just dab my brush into the pan and sweep it along the top of my cheekbones and I'm good to go! Although it looks a flat white in the pan, it has a stunning iridescence to it, and has warm gold reflects, complimenting the coolness of the white beautifully.

As for the contour shade, in the pan, it looks like my dream shade, and it really is on the skin too! However, it's slightly tougher to grab the product onto your brush. I'm not sure why, but it's very gritty to begin with, and I feel like I have to scrub at the pan to really get it going. Once applied, it does look beautiful, and creates the most natural shadow. Surprisingly, this hasn't put me off and I still adore this palette, contour shade included. 

You can purchase this palette from www.beautybay.com for £13! I personally think that's an amazing price, especially for such a quality product.. (Plus the packaging is pretty fabulous too!). 

New in Beauty: Freedom Makeup Pro Highlight Palette

Hello!

I know I've been knocking out the product reviews recently, but they're my favourite posts to read! I feel like there's never enough out there, and someone else's opinion on a product always helps!

Since I've been trying a bunch of the new Freedom Makeup products, I quickly realised there wasn't enough if not hardly any reviews out there as they're so new! Hopefully I can help anyone looking to try some products from the brand!

This is the new Pro Highlight Palette, containing six cream highlighters, and two powder highlighters. 

Swatched on the top is the three creams on the left of the palette, and on the bottom is the three to the right of the palette. 

These are veeerrry creamy, they glide like butter. On application there is definitely a few that are better than others, but they're all incredibly shimmery and pretty.

The top middle shade is a little patchy as you can see from the swatch, and there's a silver shade next to it which I personally struggle to work as a highlighter, but it definitely makes a stunning cream eyeshadow!

The rest of the shades are beautiful, so intensely pigmented and give the most stunning glow to the face. I particularly love the first peach shade on the bottom row. These can definitely double up as cream eyeshadows, so for those neutral shimmer girls, this palette is a dream!

Here we have the two powder highlighters. You can see from the swatches how smooth they are. The powders aren't soft to touch, but that really makes no difference to how well they work, infact, they're some of the most pigmented highlighters that I own. They also make beautiful inner-corner highlighters!

This palette is only £6, and you can pick it up here!

What do you guys think?! Have you tried any Freedom Makeup products? What's your favourite highlighter?

Rodial Instaglam Illuminating Powder Review

 So, I'm back with a beauty post! My absolute favourite. If you've been keeping up with me via Instagram/YouTube, you'll know that beauty and make-up is my ultimate passion, and whilst I do love fashion and putting together outfits, my body confidence isn't playing ball game, so I've fallen further in love with beauty!

I've given this product a shed load of air time, but I feel like it deserves it's own blog post, a little one on one. All for very good reason, as it's the most incredible beauty product I've ever used. At £52, it's pretty pricey, there's no denying.. but the minute you sweep the powder across your cheekbones, I guarantee you'll be sold. This is marketed as an 'illuminating' powder, so it's not limited to just highlighting your face. This can be used as an all over powder for a beautiful luminous glow. It adds dewiness to any look without looking oily or glittery. As someone with oily skin, I'm always apprehensive when it comes to highlighting more than my cheekbones, but this product 100% does it for me. 

Pictured above, is the result of a single swipe of the product. No additional pressure, no back and forth-ing, just a simple swipe! Super pigmented, right?! Below is the result of finely blending that onto my hand, and similar to what to expect on your face. Of course, you can control the intensity of the product, it's all down to preference. Personally, I add a little extra to my cheekbones, and lightly sweep any additional product to the tip of my nose, chin, and the centre of my forehead.

I have a bunch of tutorials on my channel using this product, so feel free to check those out! (Click here to view my channel).

After trying this product out from Rodial, and finding it near impossible to use anything else, I think I need to get a hold of the contour powder! I'd have a little browse on the Rodial website, (linked below), and scout out some new luxury products to fall in love with!

Instaglam Compact Deluxe Illuminating Powder - c/o Rodial