I know I’m really late with this blog post being as we’re over half way through June. There’s been a lot of new launches and I have a whole heap of products to get through, so let’s crack on!
BASE
First up, a new primer in the shape of NYX Professional Makeup’s Hydra Touch. I’m a bit of creature of habit as far as primers go, I find one I like then stick with it, and it’s rare for me to change. However, Hydra Touch has been a game changer, it doesn’t have that slippery silicone feel to it, in fact it absorbs quickly into the skin and hydrates without any residue. It contains a whole host of skin loving ingredients including extracts of liquorice, mushroom, rosemary and ginger ginseng root. I have combination skin and I use it everywhere except my nose (that grease slick doesn’t need hydrating!), and it gives a lovely base to apply your foundation. Did I mention it smells fabulous too? £11 for 30ml.
Two new loose powders this month, the Marc Jacobs Finish Line Perfecting Coconut Setting Powder and the Hourglass Veil Powder.
If you follow my insta you’ll know I adore Marc Jacobs, so when this came out with the new Coconut summer collection, I knew I had to have it. The packaging is white, smooth and sleek like the rest of the coconut collection, inside the pot it has a mesh powder dispenser, which works really well. I tend to apply loose powder with my damp beauty blender (weird I know), l lightly press the sponge in to the mesh and a good amount of powder is left on the sponge, I’m not sure how it works, but it does. The powder itself is very lightweight and good coverage for powder, it has a slightly heavier texture than some, and you don’t get a poof of powder when you open it for instance, like some of the very lightweight ones. I really like this powder it’s a lovely product, it contains Coconut Polysaccharides to condition and has a Coconut derived scent. £32 for 8g.
On to the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. When I saw they were launching a loose powder, I wanted to try it as I really like the brand, I have two of the highlighter palettes but I do think it’s all a bit on the expensive side. The powder has a unique sifter to dispense the powder, the idea is that it gives you just the right amount, but I like to use a lot of powder and as I don’t use a brush to apply it the golden sifter is a bit annoying. The actual powder is lovely, it doesn’t contain Talc, it’s infused with diamond powder to give light refraction without flashback, and blurs pores and fine lines. This powder costs £36 for 10.5g so you get slightly more product than the Marc Jacobs one, again it’s a lovely powder but I’m not sure I would repurchase it, I still think the best loose powder is the Makeup Forever one.
BRONZER, CONTOUR AND HIGHLIGHTER
I a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to bronzer, I use a Michael Kors Bronzer, which has sadly been discontinued or the Makeup Forever Probronze Fusion, but I decided to try a new one. Urban Decays Beached Bronzer in the shade Bronzed was my product of choice, I love the packaging, the palm tree compact! The product itself applied smoothly and streak-free as it is very finely milled, and it does give a sunkissed glow although I only really use bronzer to warm up my contour and soften it a little. I’m really impressed with this bronzer, it’s a good shade if you want more of a bronze colour than a terracotta, if that makes sense. £23 for 9g.
This month I bought some mini size products from brands I haven’t tried before. Firstly, from Natasha Denona, a little Blush & Glow duo. I’m not really into blush but I think this is because I’ve never really found a shade I like (apart from The Balm’s Hot Mama, I actually panned that blusher!). This blush is a sort of coral-pink, it’s very pretty on and has a ever so slight shimmer to it. The Glow shade, is a fairly tame highlighter, it gives a subtle sheen but it’s probably not one for those looking for a hardcore light beam! This product is exclusive to Selfridges, £16.50.
I also bought a Kevyn Aucoin Contour Duo, again this is another mini size product. I love that Selfridges are stocking all these brands, finally making them more accessible! The contour shade in this duo was a bit on the grey side for my liking, I know contour is supposed to be cool toned, but this shade looked really strange on my skin tone. The powder applied well and blended nicely, it was just the wrong shade. The highlighter is the Candlelight Celestial Powder, which as with Natasha Denona highlighter, is going to give you a nice healthy glow but not set the world on fire. I got this from Selfridges website too, but I can’t find it on there anymore, I think it was from when they were trialling some different brands.
The Kat Von D 10th Anniversary Metal Crush Extreme Highlighter was really the only part of that collection which appealed to me. Obviously because I love highlighters and also because it’s very beautiful. Now this is a highlighter which will give you that beam of light! This one really isn’t for the faint hearted, it’s a full on ‘visible from space’ type of glow, it is quite a glittery formula, so if you prefer more of a sheen or a metallic finish this might not be for you. 4.8g for £25 from Debenhams.
EYES
A few new palettes this month, although they’re all on a similar theme I feel. If like me, you’re obsessed with warm tones, oranges, reds and yellows for summertime, then the Huda Beauty Coral Obsession’s Palette will be right up your street! This collection of nine eyeshadows is perfect for sunset eye looks! The eyeshadows are very pigmented, creamy and blend beautifully. There’s some stunning metallic pop shades as well,in fact it’s everything you’d expect from Huda! This is probably my star product of the month because I’ve used it so much, perfection in a palette! £25 from Cult Beauty.
I’m not really sure why I bought Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat Palette as I already have the full size version, although the Petite one has different shades in it. The palette is all matte, and the shades are all good quality, and probably if I hadn’t got her Huda palette, it would be my new favourite! As it doesn’t have any metallic ‘pop’ shades I always have to get another palette out to finish my looks, which is a minor gripe, but for me, a valid one. I guess what I’m saying is that it’s a decent palette but slightly underwhelming. £26 Urban Decay.
I had been waiting for the L’Oreal Cherry My Cheri palette to launch after seeing it so much on social media, again this is a very ‘me’ palette, full of warmth and a very pretty Coral! This palette has everything you need for a complete eye look, base, transition, crease, pop and smoke shades. It’s a good alrounder, with some gorgeous metallic shades! A more purse friendly palette, if you’re looking for a summer update. I think the drugstore has been producing some awesome products recently! £14.99 from Boots.
The Marc Jacobs Eye-conic Palette in the shade Fantascene, is stunning, and as I’ve already reviewed this in a previous post I won’t say too much more about it. I will say however, that all of the palettes I’ve mentioned above are pretty similar, and to be honest, you really don’t need all of them, if I had to pick one it would still be the Huda Coral Obsessions purely because it has all my favourite colours in it, but if you are just looking to update your makeup bag I’d go for the Cherry My Cheri Palette.
The Barry M Glitter Bomb is a liquid eyeshadow with a lot of glitter! I have two shades, Bling Bling which is pretty much just glitter, similar to the Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter and Glow, so you can apply it on top of your eyeshadow, I love this shade and I’ve used it a lot! The other shade I got is Girl Bye, which is a dark pink shimmer eyeshadow with silver glitter, it’s still pretty but I much prefer the gold. £4.99 from Superdrug, 5 shades.
LIPS
I’m going to start with a product which has blown me away, Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick. This stuff stays put no matter what you do, it literally doesn’t move! I have three shades, Driver which is a proper nude, Seductress a much deeper, more punk toned nude and Poet which is a deeper more orange toned nude. If you want your lipstick to last all day then try these, they have a slightly tacky texture as they dry down but once they’re on, THEY ARE ON! £9.99 from Superdrug and Boots, but they’re usually on offer.
Thank for reading this very late blogpost, Mo x