Weekly Wishlist | 003

Thank God it's Friday (and payday)! Am I right?! Over the last couple of weeks the summer sales have started in earnest, and loads of gorgeous beauty products and fashion lines have been launched in stores - or so it feels like. Somehow I've managed to narrow this weeks list down to just five items, otherwise the post would have gone forever. This week I've lusting products that will give me healthy, glowing skin and summer nail polishes

Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation

I hope you all had a great pancake day yesterday! I was by myself this year, but I still whipped up a stack of pancakes which I ate while watching When Harry Met Sally - not as fun as last years pancake day, but still a nice evening. Today I'm sharing my thought's on Max Factor's Whipped Creme Foundation, a product which I have been using for a couple of months now.

Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation

Swatch: Light Ivory (40)

This foundation reminds me of the first time I bought my first proper "grown-up" foundation, the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse. I think I must have been about 15, shopping with my mum and swatching loads of foundations to try and find the right shade for my skin tone. I remember being so excited to be allowed to wear actual make up for the first time - the truth is I was so nervous putting it on that it probably looked like I was wearing nothing anyway!
Unfortunately I did my usual blogging thing with this product: bought it and got so excited about using it that I forgot to take any pictures! So I'm doing more a look-back review, and seeing as I use it everyday I feel I know everything about this foundation.
I've always loved mousse foundations, they're light, easy to apply and really blendable. The only downside is sometimes they can get a bit cakey if you try and layer it on. Although the website recommends applying it with a foundation brush, I prefer to blend it with my fingertips because otherwise the coverage is far too heavy for me. The hydrating formula means it's perfect during the winter when your skin can start to dry out (unsightly dry patches? Anyone else?) but it's light and dewy enough to keep using right throughout spring/summer. As an added extra bonus it's also oil and fragrance-free, so suitable for even those sensitive types. I loved this foundation so much that I've already picked up my third pot - my sister pinched the second one for her make up stash, so it must be good!
You can pick up a pot from Superdrug or Boots stores or online here and here.

What's your favourite type of foundation? Have you tried the Whipped Creme Foundation from Max Factor yet?

Beth xx 

Benefit creaseless cream shadow

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow - My Two Cents *

I love Benefit products but unfortunately they're often out of my price range, that's why I was so pleased to find this eye shadow in my work experience goodie bag.
The creaseless cream shadows are part of the new Colour... by Benefit range, which also includes longwear powder shadow, ultra plush lipgloss and hydra-smooth lip colour.

My Two Cents is a soft, bronze colour which is perfect for everyday wear. I've worn it a few times now and find that although for a cream shadow it has good staying power, it lasts much longer when paired with an eye primer - I like to use Urban Decay's eyeshadow primer potion. The cream shadow is also great for creating a smoky eye I also like to layer the cream shadow with other neutral and dark brown shades from Sleeks' palette. I always think brown and bronze smoky eyes are much easier to pull than a harsh black and white. Plus a brown smoky eye is much more casual, taking you from work to bar without looking over or under done.

Prehaps my favourite thing about the Colour... By Benefit range though is the beautiful packaging. I love the little round box that my eyeshadow came in with it's green, blue and chocolate brown pattern. The eyeshadow itself comes in a lovely round pot, with a glass top which makes the eyeshadow look suspended in the middle and a ridged, plastic bottom.
There are ten shades n the creaseless cream shadow range, all of which are very wearable for any skin tone. Next on my wish list are Birthday Suit - a light creamy pink which would look great dabbed into the inner corner for a wide eyed look - and Bronze Have More Fun - a dark burnished bronze which would work well in the crease of the eye.

You can buy My Two Cents online here or at any Benefit counter for £15.50 

Beth xx

Ecotools fresh and flawless 5 piece complexion set

We all know the importance of keeping our make-up brushes clean. Or do we? I'll admit, I'm awful with mine. I don't mean to be, I look at my brushes sat on the shelf and think "I really should give those a clean" but then the day goes by and I forget again.
Dirty make-up brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to blocked pores, bad breakouts and even infections. It's amazing - and quite disgusting really - when you actually do run your brushes under the tap how much make-up comes out of them. I had to wash my powder brush twice yesterday because it turned the water such a questionable shade of brown.

While I was in town today getting my laptop fixed I decided to pick up a new set of brushes, the only problem I have is that some of them are so expensive. Some of the top brands are £25-£30+ each, or £109 for a Dior set!, which is quite a bit of money. I'm always thinking that with that cash I could buy something lovely from Topshop or several beauty pieces.
That's why I was so pleased to see this lovely set from Ecotools in my local Boots. It specifically designed for your complexion which is really handy for me because I don't wear a lot of eye make-up very often and I'm more concerned about getting a smooth, as-close-to-perfect base that I can.

The brushes in the fresh and flawless complexion set, like all Ecotools products, are made with soft cruelty free bristles and sleek bamboo handles. But what I love about these is the aluminium ferrules around the top of each brush. They're made of recycled materials and designed by an artist, each brush has a different colour so hopefully the longer you use them you'll be able to remember which brush is which! The box even comes with a handy guide so you can apply your make-up properly with each brush.
I can't wait to try out the set tomorrow morning and see if it helps my make-up look better and last longer. There are five brushes in the set: flat concealer, buffing concealer, precision foundation, complexion blending and full powder, a lot more for a girl that usually uses her hands, a powder brush and blusher!

If you like these brushes then you can buy them here for £11.95 or at your local Boots store.

Beth xx

Benefit the Porefessional

Hi guys can you believe it's March already? Where is the year going? Sorry I've kinda been MIA vis a vis blogging for the last week. I've had a super busy week at uni and I've been doing overtime at work so blogging has fallen to the bottom of the to-do-list. It's a shame because I love blogging but it's just what happens sometimes.

Anyway, as I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, I had a free mini makeover at my local Benefit boutique after having my brows shaped - you can read about that here . They let me road test some of their everyday products and needless to say I was hooked, on all of them! Unfortunately I couldn't buy them all then and there, it would've been over £100, but I couldn't leave the store without at least one of them so I picked the POREfessional and I am so glad I did.

The POREfessional by Benefit -£23.50

I think every girl needs a decent primer in their make up bag and this is my go to one. Before I bought the porefessional I was using one from Rimmel, which was great considering it was under a tenner but it just can't compete with the Benefit one, not surprising when it's the UK's best selling primer. Although it comes in a nude shade (sorry I couldn't take a picture, the flash on my camera just kept draining the colour out of it) it blends easily with any skin tone. I've also found the oil free balm to be incredibly long lasting, I work part time in a kitchen which as you can image is busy, stressful and hot, so I often find my make up starting to slip off my face but the Porefessional helps keep it in place just that little bit longer. You can actually apply this one over your make up as well, which is really useful if you just need a quick touch up on your way out.

You can buy the Porefessional at your local benefit counter or online here for £23.50  

What is your favourite Benefit product?

Beth xx

Lush "mint julips" lip scrub

Tis the season for cracked, dry lips! The bitter cold weather mixed with indoor heating is a recipe for disaster where you lips are concerned and I don't know about you but mine have definitely been suffering lately.
I picked up this cute little pot when I was browsing in Lush a couple of weeks ago, my lips were feeling red raw and one sniff of the gorgeous minty chocolate scent was all I needed to convince me to purchase it.

The scrub is incredinly gentle, as it's made from castor sugar, but still effective at stopping your lips from being dry and flaky. The jojoba oil will then keep your lips moisturised and prevent them from immediately drying out again. It's great value for money as well, because you hardly need any scrub to get your lips in tip top condition, I've been using mine everyday and hardly made a dent in tub.

One of the best things about this scrub is the fact that it's made from all natural ingredients - you can actually recognise most of the ones on the label. I know people always wonder when they wear lipgloss or lipstick, "what am I putting into my body everytime I lick my lips" but with Mint Julips there's no need worry. Infact the instructions even say on the back that you can lick off the excess. I've tried it, it's good but I wouldn't recommend eating the entire pot.

You can pick up a lip scrub in store or buy it online here for just £5.25 - also available in Bubblegum and Popcorn scents

Have you tried any other lip scrubs?

Beth xx

Benefit's brow bar

Now waxing and tweezing aren't exactly the most thrilling of subjects but never-the-less they're part of every girl's life. So after work today I decided to stop by the Benefit Boutique, in Bournemouth's Debenhams store and get one of their signature Brow Arch Treatments.

This was the first time I have had my brows waxed but the service I recieved at Benefit was second to none. All the girls working on the counter were really friendly and helpful. My therapist, Sophie, took the time to explain what shape had been chosen for my brow and how this would be achieved. Every brow shape is individual and tailored to suit your face shape and feature, no stencils used here!

While I was there, several other women came in to have their brows shaped and/or tinted, which shows what a popular service this is.

I have to admit I was a bit shocked when I saw the outcome, but only because the waxing and tweezing had made the skin around my brows go bright red! But Sophie soon cleaned it up by applying a calming balm and some super-strong concealer, anyway all the redness and swelling has completely disapearing now (a couple of hours after the treatment). Having the treatment regularly will help your skin get used to the waxing and reduce the amount of redness and/or tenderness you have during and after.

Afterwards the girls at the Benefit counter were happy to show me the range of gorgeous products they have on offer, showing me ones which were perfect for my oily skin and they even gave me makeover using some of the recommended ones.

what a difference!

Now I've had a Signature Brow Arch it's safe to say I'll be another regular customer at the boutique!

What to expect at the Brow Bar

Before

• your therapist will check that you're not using any medication or have any conditions that may (potentially) react badly with wax and you'll be asked to sign a waiver
• then your therapist will talk you through what brow shape they have chosen for you and how they will achieve this

During

•  First your therapist will trim your brows 
• After testing the temperature of the wax on the back of your hand, they will apply the wax between your brows, above and underneath them to achieve the brow shape that will suit you best
• Any stray or loose hairs will then be tweezed to stop them ruining your look

After

• Your therapist will clean any excess wax will be cleaned from around your brow, then they will apply a cooling balm to help reduce any redness. If this is your first wax then the skin will look quite inflamed
• Another balm will be applied to close your pores so the therapist can then apply Boing! - a concealer - to help cover the redness.
• Your brows will be finished and defined with the use of Brow zings 

The signature Brow Arch treatment starts at £11.50, to find your nearest Benefit Boutique or Bar click here. There was no appointment necessary, although waiting time may vary from boutique to boutique depending how busy they are.

Have you had any treatments at a Benefit Boutique? What did you think?

Beth xx

What's in my make up bag?

 

I personally love seeing what other people have stashed away in their make up bags so I thought I would share with you my everyday products I can't leave the house without. I tend not to wear a lot of make up during the day, as I try to give my skin a bit of a breather but if I'm going out for the evening, I'll reapply my make-up and add liquid eyeliner, eye shadow and lipstick.

buy me here..

A good primer is essential for dealing with the perils and pitfalls of oily skin. This one is light and easy to apply, and keeps my make up in place throughout the day.

buy me here..

I was (and still am) a big fan of Maybelline foundations, but this one was recommended to me when I got colour matched at my local No. 7 counter. It provides medium coverage which is just the right amount for university or work and is actually pretty good at staying put. 

buy me here..

Apologies for the bad picture but if can't leave the house without concealer then you need to invest in this one! I was browsing in Superdrug, killing time before my shift started and I picked up the PhotoReady concealer by Revlon and a whim and it's the best one I've used so far. The creamy stick gives excellent coverage without looking hideously obvious that you're trying to hide a spot or dark circles.

buy me here..

This powder has been a staple in my make-up bag for I don't know how long.

buy me here..

 Despite being a lover of all things Soap & Glory I never actually tried out any of their make-up range until I was given this mascara as part of a set for Christmas and I can tell you I'm never looking back! The brush is excellent at seperating and coating each individual lash which is perfect for creating a wide-eyed fanned out look.

What are you "must-have" everyday products?

Beth xx