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. 

Comparison: NYX Wonderstick or Freedom Makeup Contour Stick?

Hello!

This is a first for my blog, a comparison post! I recently picked up these two products, and I've been thoroughly putting them to the test so I can share with you all what I think!

NYX Wonder Stick in 'Light'

First up is the NYX Wonder Stick in 'Light' which I picked up on Feel Unique, (yes, they sell NYX!). I've wanted this product for sooooo long, so when it finally became available to us UK lot, I simply couldn't resist. 

I picked mine up in the shade 'Light', as it seemed to be the most 'grey-toned' out of the lot, but of course, you'd choose a shade most suitable to yourself.

This product is absolutely brilliant, from the colour, right down to the blend-ability. It's super creamy upon application, and you can apply it precisely to those areas you want to chisel out. Once blended, it creates a super natural shadow, and I opt for this when I want a more natural contour for daytime wear. 

I don't tend to use matte, cream highlighters, but I have been using this to accentuate the bridge of my nose, chin and centre of my forehead, and for that the colour is spot on. 

Freedom Makeup Pro Contour Shaped Stick in 'Medium 02'

The other contour stick in question is the Freedom Makeup Pro Contour Shaped Stick, and I picked mine up in the shade 'Medium 02'. This seemed to be the most cool-toned out of the bunch, but I could have been wrong as there was no online swatches to work from, and I had to guess purely from the image online. 

As much as I love a cool-toned contour, this is SO pretty. It doesn't look orange in the slightest, it actually just looks like a beautiful warmth on your face, and with it being a cream products, it looks super natural, (if blended properly of course!). This applies beautifully, and blends just as well as any high-end product. 

As far as the highlighter is concerned, I'm not the biggest fan, purely as the shade is a little too peachy for me.

(The top two shades are Freedom, and the bottom two are NYX).
SO! The verdict is in!
The winner goes to..
..
NYX!
Yes, I have chosen the NYX Wonder Stick as my winner, but this was a very tough decision to make! It has absolutely nothing to do with the quality, as both of them are excellent and equal in my opinion, but more to do with shades. I much prefer the cool-toned shade of the NYX Wonder Stick, and the brighter highlighter. However, in the correct shade, I really think I'd struggle to choose! There isn't much of price difference, with the NYX Wonder Stick being £10, and the Freedom Makeup Pro Contour Shaped Stick being £5. I have no regrets with either, and I would re-purchase both of them. 
(You can check them both out using the linked words above!).
SO! What do you guys think? Is there any other products you'd like me to put to the test? Let me know down below, or tweet me at @nicolecourchee!

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?

New In Beauty: Freedom Makeup Strobing Kits

Hello!

I've been so excited to write this post up, but I wanted to give these products a good try before sharing them with you all.

As you all know, contouring/strobing/sculpting has become huge over the past year or so. I appreciate that it's always been around, but I feel like more recently it's been more accessible and has now been incorporated into our every day makeup routines in one way or another. I personally contour whenever I do my makeup, usually opting for a powder for a more subtle look, and when I'm going all out, adding cream products in the mix.

I'm sure you've all had enough of the Anastasia Beverly Hills pricey contour palettes being forced down your throats, so I'm here to introduce you to a couple or budget friendly alternatives!

Freedom Makeup is a relatively new brand on the scene, and is the sister brand to my beloved Makeup Revolution. Freedom Makeup is here to offer us professional quality makeup, at super affordable prices. After trying a bunch of their products, I can definitely agree with this. 

Anyway, enough rambling! Onto the palettes!

First up is the Pro Cream Strobe Palette. Both of these palettes are very compact, and come with six shades. Three for highlighting, and three for contouring. I find this to be the warmer of the two palettes, and as you can see from the swatches, it's super pigmented. I was concerned that this would be very 'waxy' and difficult to blend, but oh my was I wrong! It's super creamy, and just as blendable as my ABH cream contour kit! A winner in my eyes. Nobody likes harsh contour lines! You get a high quality contouring brush, and this is so soft, and is perfect for sculpting those cheekbones. 

This is the Pro Powder Strobe Palette. This one contains very 'traditional' contour shades, very cool-toned with a banana powder to finish it off! Unfortunately with my arm skin tone, I find it hard to show off swatches properly, but don't be fooled, these powders are super pigmented! I've been using this palette in particular everyday, using the middle contour shade to create a natural shadow, and the banana powder to set my under-eye concealer. (Ps, you get the same brush with this palette!).
My verdict is.. YES! You need these palettes. Okay, maybe not everybody needs both of them.. but I personally would recommend picking them both up! I love combining cream and powder contour for an ultra sculpted look. These palettes retail at £10 each, including the amazing brush! 
Have you tried these palettes? What do you think of Freedom Makeup? What's your favourite contour palette?