no7 shine free makeup base

no7 shine free - £10.50

 

this product is aimed at us ladies who suffer with combination/oily skin around our tzone area which creates problems for our make up throughout the day, leading to us returning home with a sticky chin and a red nose where our foundation has gradually glided away throughout the day.

 

when i use this product i tend to squeeze a pea size amount onto my index finger, and dab it around my nose where i tend to get the most oily throughout the day. the product is white and fluffy but very drying so you must work with it quickly to get the best effect. i tend to find if you use too much product, it tends to peel away and leave like a 'peeling' effect on the skin, which is never a good look - especially in winter when you cant even blame it on sun burn...

 

personally, i dont know whether i love or hate this product. occasionally i use it and feel like its made a tremendous difference and has definitely controlled my oil production, but then on other occasions i use it and think oh my god, its producing an oiler nose. its not a product i use religiously, therefore to suggest to someone that it is an essential would be wrong.

 

i think you should perhaps ask for a tester of this product and see how it works on your skin, as of course it will produce different results for different people. its not too expensive and it does last bloody ages so it wont be a waste of money if it does work for you, but i wouldnt say its something every girl needs, before it most definitely isnt.

 

(note: sorry the packaging is slightly scratched, this product has been thrown about in my bag for months and this has led to the damage haha)

 

lots of love, elle xo 

mac 187

mac 187 £32.50

 

 

this bad boy is my nearest and dearest foundation brush. i am extremely sorry, its not in perfect condition but i didnt have time to wash it before i took these photos - excuse the messyness. this foundation brush, is just wonderful.

 

at £32.50 it is on the rather expensive side, but if you buy expensive cosmetics you need expensive pieces of equiptment to put it on!!! the bristles on this brush are just divine, and feel like velvet on the skin which makes the application process of foundation a pleasurable experience. it works the foundation into the skin so effortlessly than buffing is no problem for this badboy.

 

if your looking for a foundation brush that applies your foundation perfectly and provides that flawless base for your make up, then this brush is definitely worth investing in! i know it is expensive, but if you wash it once a week it will stay it great condition and will last year a long time which will then mean the price is definitely not a problem!

 

lots of love, elle xo

estee lauder - double wear foundation.

 estee lauder double wear £27.50

 

where to even begin with this review, i absolutely adore adore adore this foundation. i have never come across a beauty product that i could rave about for weeks and weeks, hours upon hours. this foundation will change your life, if like me you've been searching for that perfect product for years and years and years.

 

this foundation is definitely on the medium/heavy coverage side, but for those of you who love flawless looking skin (who definitely do not have it) this product is for you. a small amount tends to go a long way, and this foundation will stay in place on the skin for hours without needing to be retouched or powdered. it blends perfectly into the skin, without too much buffing therefore it is also ideal for those of you who do not have too long in the morning to spend in the mirror, buffing away for that natural but flawless coverage.

 

it is a pricey foundation, and wont be in everyones affordability but i would recommend even if you cant always wear it, definitely ask for it for a birthday/present and wear it on special occasions because you most definitely will notice a difference and your likely to fall in love with it as much as myself.

 

the only downfall with this product, i might just have a little cry while i write this (wah!!!) they have changed their colours as of late, and discontinued the only colour that is suitable for my skin tone (shell 1c1) which means that i am having to look after this bottle of foundation with my life. i have tried ecru and yes it does look ok, but it is definitely not shell. nonetheless, if their colours match your skin tone go go go and buy it now.

 

lots of love, elle xo

benefit porefessional

benefit porefessional £23.50

 

a much talked about, and loved product is the benefit porefessional. i bought this primer in the whim that it would reduce any pores that surround my nose/cheek around and hopefully smooth the areas that foundation is most likely to get clogged/look cakey throughout the day. i must say, i was not dissapointed with the results of this bad boy.

 

the colour of the cream is a light beige/brown colour and it comes out in a smooth line. i tend to dap the little squirt between my two index fingers and smooth both on either side of my face (one cheek, then the other). this makes foundation glide on perfectly and i tend to find it even reduces lines that may appear if you havent blended your foundation properly. it works perfectly at reducing any pores that may have been on show beforehand, which makes your skin look absolutely flawless.

 

this primer is perfect for anyone looking for something that will reduce visible pores on their face and therefore make it seem as if they have perfect, flawless and desirable skin. i dont think this is a primer that needs to be used all over the face, therefore its not something that should just be used as a make up base, it has a specific intention and it does its job perfectly. this product, along with other benefit beauties tend to arise a lot on the front of magazines in miniature versions, so for anyone not sure whether they should or shouldnt buy this, perhaps pick up a miniature version first!

 

lots of love, elle xo 

lush vanishing cream

lush vanishing cream £17.50

 

this moisturiser, is the only and i say only moisturiser that i have ever been able to use on my poor excuse of 'sensitive skin'. i have used moisturisers ranging from clarins to simple and none of them have had any positive effect on my skin whatsoever. moisturisers usually leave my skin feeling wet, oily, and horrible which then leads to an acne breakout and a moody elle. i came across this moisturiser about three years ago, when i was visiting brighton to look around the university (eek!!), i had a chat with the salesperson and told them off my dilemma and they were quite shocked but recommended 'vanishing cream' for me. i was at first pessimistic as nothing before had worked, however i used the sample that was given to me for about a week, and i totally fell head over heels in love. this moisuriser is one of the best, it is au natural as its from lush and it does exactly what it says on the label.

this would best suit someone with combination/oily skin, who is looking for a lightweight moisturiser that will keep their skin soft and moisturised all day, without going too far and leaving your face sticky. it roughly lasts me around 3/4 months and i use this every single day without fail, even if im having a no make up day. i think for the price you pay, your getting a fabulous product which is not tested on animals, is good for the skin, and will if like me you hated moisturisers before hand, will change your opinion.

 

lots of love, elle xo

redken - heat protector syrum.

redken heat protector £14 

 

i thought id do a post on hair syrums seeings as they are last year and more than likely this years craze. i have always been a cosmetic junky/hair fanatic and i am always buying the latest products that are costing me a tremendous amount of money, and not doing what i expected them to do (miracles of course!!!)

 

i got bought this redken heat glide syrum as a gift from my mum, sometime last year. as it says its a protective smoother for very dry/unruly hair and i think this sums up the product perfectly. it is a rather sticky syrum, and you only need 1/2 pumps which you rub together in the palm of your hairs and smooth on. it is wonderful for smoothing down unruly hair and smells absolutely divine. i think it also does a sufficient job at protecting my hair from heat, as i have yet to get any split ends.

 

this product would be perfect for someone who has out of control hair, that is quite knotty as this would work tremendously as smoothing down the hair, and making it easier to manage when styling. one thing i would also say is that because it smooths down, one would expect it to make your hair appear rather 'flat' and blurrgh after, but fortunately as it is a light-weight product, it does not do this in the slightest.

 

lots of love, elle xo



how to create your own princess hair.

 

hey there chuck! i thought i would upload a quick video of me doing what i call 'princess hair' it is very simple, yet elegant. if like myself you suffer with continuous long hair bores, and you want an up-do that is quick and easy to do in a matter of minutes, this look will be just for you!

i have attached two photos, one from the front and one from behind to show what the final look you've created will look like!

i hope this video is helpful and if anyone needs any more tips/advice on how to create it, dont fret to comment :)

lots of love, elle xo