YSL Fusion Ink Foundation Review

The YSL Fusion Ink foundation was released over the summer and I was right there, front and centre to get my hand on a little sample. Since then I've been scraping away at that little plastic bottle, trying to get every last drop. 

I've never been one to splash out on foundations but this was one I knew I needed in my collection at all times, despite the hefty £30.50 price tag. Not only is the packaging beautiful to look at, but it's a nice size and weight, not too bulky and easy to hold. 

It doesn't come with a pump, instead it comes with a little spatula, similar to that given to you with the sample but much, much bigger. Some people will really hate the spatula application but I love it! I always find that I can never get the right amount when I use a pump, it's either too much or not enough. Then when they don't have a pump you always get too much or you slip and it goes everywhere. The little spatula allows me to apply just the right amount, however it could be argued that it isn't the most hygienic method of application. 

The finish is a satin finish, it's not completely matte but also isn't a glowy foundation. It adds a sense of luminosity without being too shiny and is thin enough to let your natural skin shine through. It melts away as you blend it out and feels a lot like water on the skin without being overly runny. It also gives amazing coverage (light/medium), manages to cover all of my discolouration and blemishes and lasts all day.

I can rave about this product until the cows come home, but at the end of the day it all comes down to what your skin likes. I've known a fair amount of people who, like me, are completely in love with this product, but I also know people who didn't get on with it. I have combination/oily skin, my dry patches are very dry and my oily areas are very oily and this product seems to balance them out perfectly. For me, this is definitely one of my holy grail foundations (high praise indeed!).

Have you tried the YSL Fusion Ink foundation? What are your thoughts on it? Love it or hate it?

You can see the YSL Fusion Ink in action, in my GRWM: Work Makeup video or you can purchase it right here (UK) or here (US)

I Never Knew I Needed You

Have you ever bought something on a whim? How often have you fallen completely in love with a product you never thought you needed? Well, that's what happened to me and these lovely products. At the time, I didn't really need any of these products, I just wanted them and luckily for me, they are amazing!

The Naked Basics palette was always something I felt like I needed, only because I had the previous 2 Naked palettes. So many times I looked at this little palette and thought 'I really don't need another neutral palette'. Then one day the temptation got the better of me and I added it to my shopping basket. I am so glad I did, it has quickly become one of, if not my all time favourite palette. It is so perfect for everyday makeup and perfect for work. Even the size makes it handbag friendly and it holds every shade you need for the perfect neutral eye. 

Benefit Hoola was another product that I didn't really need, I already have more than enough bronzers, but the hype surrounding this just made my curiosity too much to bare. After using this for the first time I fell in love, it really is as amazing as everyone says. Not only does it blend like butter, but it's also a great shade if you are of the more fair skinned variety. 

When it came to purchasing the MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation however, I did think up an excuse for buying it. Summer was fast approaching and I always turn into an oil slick in the warmer months. I bought this to mattify my foundation and also give me a bit of extra coverage for the mass amount of breakouts I was having at the time. I wouldn't recommend using this to set foundation as it can make you look a little cakey, but on it's own it is amazing. This will forever be a summer makeup staple for me. 

Finally there is the TIGI Totally Baked Volumising Hair Meringue. I saw HeyClaire using this in a tutorial and the packaging drew me in immediately. I have very fine hair so getting volume into it is a task and a half. This is the first and only product I have ever found that really gives me the volume I need without making my hair greasy and it smells just like lemon meringue! 

It just goes to show that sometimes it's a good idea to give into impulse buying. Maybe not on every little product you see, but sometimes you could find your holy grail product by just taking that chance. 

What products have you bought on a whim that you now couldn't bare to be without? 

Key Items of July

Every month I have products sneak into my makeup bag and make a nice cozy little home, these products also like to outshine all the other products inside the bag and this month I have a good handful that have really come through.

The first is my MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in NC15, I bought this a couple of months ago to set my makeup, but I actually find it way too heavy for a setting powder. These days I use it as a powder foundation. When the weather heats up I get an extremely oily face so this has been saving my bacon for the last few weeks. If you are more of an oily person I would definitely recommend investing in this, the coverage is amazing, the shade range is huge and the lasting power is excellent. 

Another product I've fished out from the back of the makeup draw is the Rituals Perfection Volume Mascara. I got this as a sample a while ago now and I always forget just how much I love it. Not only does it not move an inch all day, it is also amazingly lengthening and separating. This is now pretty difficult to get hold of in a full size, but after a bit of internet digging, I found a few sites that sell it. 

On the eyeliner front I have the Bourjois Liner Feutre Eyeliner Pen. I did both a written and video review for this so I won't blab on about it too much, but as someone who hates eyeliner pens, this one has definitely made an impression.  

Finally, we have the L'Oreal Brow Artist Superliner Pencil in Brunette. I'm not usually one for pencils when it comes to brows, but after using shadow for so long I wanted to try something a bit different. There's nothing overly special about this, pencil wise, it's nicely pigmented and soft enough to blend out etc. The main thing I like about this is that it does everything I would need to do with my brows in one handy pencil. The brush attached to the lid is great for grooming the brows and the best thing is the wax pencil on the opposite end to set everything into place. 

I've been hectically rushing around this month and that has meant that makeup application time has been extremely short. All of these products are super quick to use and have amazing staying power, something that myself, working two jobs (sometimes on the same day) definitely needs in their makeup bag. 

What products have you been loving in June? Does your makeup bag evolve according to your daily routine? 

Keep On Using Me, Until You Use Me Up

I'm one of those people that buy products purely because they are new or have pretty shiny packaging. I'm extremely shallow when it comes to anything beauty product related, that means that some of my most loved and used products can get banished to the back of the draw. Recently I had a makeup bag over haul and chose some products that I'm determined to use up.

Foundation is one of my biggest problems, I'm always on the look out for the best and this means I tend to buy a lot, even when I have more than enough to get through sitting at home. My NARS Sheer Glow is one of my most expensive and yet most neglected foundations. I have made it my mission to get through it by the end of this year and so far I'm doing fairly well. It's a great summer foundation so hopefully I'll get more than enough use out of it in the upcoming months. 

Another problem area of my collection is mascaras. I really don't know what it is about mascaras but I can't stop buying them. I have so many that just sit in their acrylic storage waiting to be used but never get picked up. The Maxfactor False Lash Effect mascara is one of my all time favourites so this has been thrown back into my makeup bag and get's used pretty much every single day. 

Then finally we have a product that I bought purely because of blogger hype. The NARS Orgasm blush is a cult favourite but I wasn't too impressed when I first got it. I have to be really careful when I use this because of how pigmented it is, I'm extremely pale so it can be a bit over powering at times. However I have been using it religiously these last few weeks and I haven't even made a dent in it! I can see myself being buried with it when I'm 90 and have finally kicked the bucket. 

I forget sometimes how hard it is to get through makeup, I don't wear makeup everyday, in fact I'm hardly wearing it all these past couple of weeks. I have put myself on a little makeup ban but I can hear the Boots 3 for 2 offer calling my name, especially with all the spring releases coming soon. I have faith though, I will use up the products that I have, even if it means I wear the same makeup look ever day. 

Do you have a bad makeup buying habit? Are there any products you feel you could get a bit more use out of? 

Covering All My Bases

I remember a time when I had one foundation in my collection, I had more money then. Now the poorer future me likes to make sure I have a foundation for every eventuality. 

Laura Mericer Silk Creme

This is my oil free foundation for when my skin is particularly oily. I tend to use this during the summer months, but I do crack it out in the winter every now and again. The coverage of this is flawless; a little splodge of this will cover your entire face and pretty much cover anything. It is pretty thick so it does take a lot of working in to get it smooth and even. 

L'Oreal True Match 

This is the one foundation in my collection that closely matches my natural skin tone. If you are of the paler members of the world population, then give this a try. Not only does it have an amazing range of shades, the actual product gives a really nice finish. I wouldn't recommend this on very dry or flaky skin though. 

Rimmel Wake Me Up 

This is my least favourite of my foundations, but it does have its uses. As you may be able to tell from the above image, it is my darkest foundation. The shade range for this doesn't really go pale enough for me so sometimes I have to mix it with other foundations. I can use it during the summer though, when I've been out in the lovely summer sun for a bit and have a bit more colour. It is a very sheer foundation so I have to have a good skin day to use this, but it does give your complexion a brightness boost. 

Nars Sheer Glow

This is a bit of a love hate product for me, sometimes it looks flawless and I fall in love, other times it clings to every dry patch and I want to throw it out of the window. It is a little bit on the yellow side so I think I would have been better getting the shade down from Gobi. With a face primer though this looks amazing and really gives good coverage. 

Revlon Colorstay Combination/Oily Skin

This is my bad skin day foundation; the medium to full coverage of this makes sure all my blemishes are hidden from the world. It does dry super quick, so you have to work it in fairly quickly to get an even finish. I love the fact that this product comes in different formulas for different skin types but the shade range is a bit hit and miss. I'm very fair skinned and I have this in Ivory, which is a tiny bit too pale for me, but the next shade up is too dark. I usually just warm this up with a bronzer to make sure I don't look ill. 

What foundations do you have in your collection? Do you have one for every occasion? 

November Favourites ♥

It is time to share with you all, the many things I have been loving throughout this merry month of November! As per usual I have a few beauty bits and also a few random bits to share with you all, so let's start with the beauty bits shall we? 

Beauty

Batiste Fruity and Cheeky Cherry Dry Shampoo

Why, as a lazy student, I have only just started using dry shampoo I will never know. This stuff smells so delicious and cherry-like that I can't stop sniffing it. I love to use this on days where I have n0 time and don't want to look like I haven't showered in a few months. This works really well for me, but I do have a few friends with very thick hair who have said it pretty much does nothing, so it definitely depends on your hair type.

Tresseme Platinum Strength Shampoo & Conditioner

I am in love with this shampoo and conditioner, it makes my hair super soft and feel so healthy and strong. It has also helped control my frizz and makes my hair lovely and shiny!

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Gobi

I think for me, this is one of those 'love hate' products. Sometimes I'll use this and it looks flawless and other times it clings to dry patches and looks a bit on the yellow side. I have found that this works 10x better with a primer though and so lately, in conjunction with my Revlon Photo Ready Primer, it has been treating me well.

MAC Eye Shadow Quad - Grain, Cranberry, Embark & Sketch

I have two 15x MAC palettes that are full of beautiful shades that tend to get overlooked, so having a small quad that fits easily into a makeup bag allows me to rotate all my shadows, and make sure they all get a bit of loving. As it's winter, I thought I would show some of my more berry shades some love. These four shades are perfect for creating day and night looks and I do love a good smokey eye, so Sketch is a must. 

Random 

Film - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Catching Fire is my favourite book out of the three, so I was extremely worried that the film was going to screw it up, especially with that stupid handheld camera work that was over used in the first film. But alas, it was amazing and definitely did the book proud, not to mention Jennifer Lawrence did an amazing job as per usual. 

Music - Lorde, Pure Heroine

I wasn't too sure about this album at first, I'm not a massive fan of the song 'Royals' so I was a bit put off. But I have to say, there are some even better songs on the album. For instance, the song Buzzcut Season may be one of my favourite songs ever, yes I said it, EVER!

TV - Dr Who: 50th Anniversary Special

I only watched this because I'm completely in love with David Tennant. I'm also an old school Dr Who fan, my dad used to force me to watch it when I was a kid. It was definitely enjoyable and it was fun to see some of the older Doctors back, I'm looking at you Tom Baker! It was however written by Steven Moffat and was therefore completely over complicated.

Journal

And my final favourite of the month is my journal. I saw a blog post about keeping a journal to store all the quotes, stories, poems and song lyrics that make you happy and I instantly went out to Paperchase. I've been enjoying doodling and writing positive messages to myself and it has definitely given me the pick me up I needed. 

So that's all from me and my favourites this month, but let me know what things you've been loving down in the comments!

Revlon Photoready BB Cream Review

I've been having a few good skin days recently and I wanted something that would even out my skin tone without being too full on. I did a fair bit of swatching before I decided to purchase the Revlon Photoready BB cream. I find that a lot of BB creams can be too dark for my fair skin, and because they don't have a wide shade range (usually only having fair, medium and dark shades) it takes a lot of searching to be able to find one to match me. 

The Revlon Photoready BB cream comes in the usual Light, Medium and Dark shades. I found that the light shade is perfect for me and I have very fair skin. I was really surprised by how good the coverage was, I expected it to be really light and sheer and instead I would say it's light to medium coverage. It evens out the skin tone amazingly and helps to disguise all those annoying little blemishes. 

Before

After

It comes in a handy little squeeze style bottle which is really easy to use. The product itself isn't too runny or too thick so you don't end up squeezing out too much or too little when using it. The tube itself is a good size for chucking in your bag, it's light and thin so it fits nicely. 

I have oily/combination skin and this works really well. I don't find my face getting any oilier throughout the day when wearing this, and my dry cheeks stay hydrated and flake free.

I love this, it's super easy to apply when you just want a little bit of light coverage and lasts really well throughout the day. It's on the slightly higher end of the price scale where drugstore foundations are concerned, but in my opinion it is definitely worth it. 

RRP: £9.99

Have you tried the Revlon Photoready BB Cream? What's your favourite BB Cream?  

Not A Morning Person? | Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

  I always swatch this foundation whenever I'm in Superdrug or Boots but never buy it. Mostly because I always thought it was a bit too dark for me (Which I still do). However, recently my skin has been really really dry due to acne cream and I needed a more moisturising foundation to perk my skin up.

I'm a big fan of Rimmel so decided that it was worth the risk, even if the lightest shade was a tad dark. The Rimmel foundations always come with a pump, which is fantastic! So many foundations these days don't come with pumps and it is highly annoying. The glass jar is an unusual hourglass shape and the bright orange lid really makes it stand out on the shelves. 

The coverage is definitely light-medium, not overly buildable but just enough on a good skin day. I usually go for a medium to heavy coverage, so it took me a while to really get used to how light this is. It does have an SPF of 15 which is very handy in this warmer weather, and it even lasts pretty well in heat, which I was surprised about. I also haven't noticed any issues with caking, probably because of how light it is.

I've read and watched many reviews on this and most people talk about the shimmer, I haven't noticed any glittery bits when applying it, so if there are flakes of glitter, they are very very fine. It's quite moisturising and has a glowy finish, not so much that your face looks greasy, but it could be a problem for oilier skins. I have this in the shade 100 Ivory, which is the lightest shade. As you can see from the swatch, it's a little dark. I think I'll definitely keep this as a summer foundation, I don't really tan, but my face does get a smidge more colour in the summer. If I blend this out well it isn't a problem.

(Before)

(After)

I can't say I'm in love with this, but it is a huge leap from my usual medium coverage, semi-matte foundations that my combination/oily skin tends to favor. It has pretty good staying power for a light coverage foundation, still looking good after a 7 hour shift in heat. It has a nice smooth finish, doesn't cling to dry patches (Which is a problem I have frequently) but as someone with combination skin 90% of the time and preferring much more coverage from my foundation, I can't see myself using it all to often. 

Have you tried the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation? Love it or hate it? 

Dissappointing Products Vol.2

So I'm out of the Best In Beauty Competition guys :( sad but it had to end sometime. Thank you to everyone who voted for me throughout the competition!

This week I decided to do a second disappointing products video, it's been a few months since I did my first one, so I thought I'd do another! People seem to like watching them anyway. Like all of my videos, you have this sparkly new post to go with it (If you don't like watching videos). So let me talk you through some of the products I have purchased that just didn't live up to my expectations (or what they claimed to do on the tin/tub/jar etc...)

Herbal Essences Bee Strong Intensive Strengthening Hair Mask - £2.09

Oooof I was so excited to use this after I fell head over heels in love with the shampoo and conditioner. It smells exactly the same and has a lovely thick and creamy texture to the product. Just what I love in a hair mask. However it does nothing. Literally nothing. I may as well just put yogurt on my hair. I use this after a shampoo and instead of conditioner, it doesn't specifically tell you how to use it, the directions are pretty vague. I was expecting it to make my hair super duper shiny and silky soft. Nope, I actually prefer to just use the normal conditioner, I think it's more moisturising! Really let the Bee Strong collection down majorly!

Maybelline Fit Me Powder - £5.99

I got this because I wanted to stray away from my much loved Rimmel Stay Matte powder and try something new. It wasn't a wise decision. I'm pretty sure this shade is a tad dark for me and it is the lightest shade they do. My main issues with this are the fact that it just dissapears! You powder your face and poof! 10 minutes later it's gone! It also doesn't control shine at all. I wore this in a video once and I couldn't believe how shiny my face was. I haven't tried the Fit Me foundation, but I'm intrigued to know if that is any good. 

MaxFactor Facefinity All Day Flawless Foundation - £11.99

I'm not going to rant on about why I don't like this foundation because I've already done a full review of it here. But I will say this, It is drying, sticks to dry patches and oxidises like a cray mo fo! 

MaxFactor Max Colour Effects Mini Nail Polish - £3.99

The mini MaxFactor nail polishes have some gorgeous shades, my favourite being 'Fantasy Fire' a beautiful iridescent purple. However the formula is just... ughhhhhh! It is extremely watery and thin which means it takes about 100 coats to get your nails the same colour as the bottle. These aren't expensive by any means, but from a brand like MaxFactor, I expected a lot better.

I'm going to be doing full reviews on the MaxFactor nail polishes, the Bee Strong hair mask and the Fit Me powder if you want to read a more detailed rant and have a look at some snazzy pictures. 

Have you tried any of these products? Do you have any products you've bought recently that have majorly let you down? 

   

  

Perfect Match | L'Oreal True Match Foundation Review

I got this to replace my Maxfactor All Day Flawless foundation, which you can read my review on here. I've pretty much stayed away from L'Oreal cosmetics because I've had reactions to their makeup in the past, however I thought it was time to jump back into the L'Oreal pool seeing as it has been a good few years. 

The first thing I noticed about this product was the amazing shade range when I walked into the store. When it comes to drugstore foundations, I usually grab the fairest shade and have done with it. With this foundation I actually had to do a fair bit of swatching, there was so much to choose from!

My shade is N1 Ivory; the more yellow toned fair shade. It's an excellent match but it is also a medium coverage, which is my favourite of all the coverage's!

Not only is it a fantastic medium coverage, but it also gives a really nice even smooth finish. It's not too matte and not too glowy, so if you're looking for a more natural finish, this is your guy. I will point out that on very dry skin this has a tendency to go a little patchy but works nicely on oily and combination skin. It isn't terrible on dry skin; it just needs a little extra moisture as a base, maybe a good moisturiser or primer. 

I do like the size and packaging of this. It's a really nice handbag size, not too chunky but not so tiny you barely get any product. It has a pump (thank the lords) and is really easy to get just the right amount; only half a pump will do the whole face. The clear lid is a pain however, why oh why do they insist on having clear lids?! It just makes everything look so messy! But because I love it I'll let it off, just this once though.

RRP: £9.99 (this is always on some sort of offer so keep an eye out) 

Have you tried the True Match foundation? What do you think?

 

MaxFactor FaceFinity 3 in 1 Foundation Review

I recently ran out of my beloved Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation, and so decided to try a foundation I’ve wanted to test out for a while. I chose the Maxfactor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation. Bit of a long-winded name but there you go.

This is very very similar to the Cover Girl Outlast 3 in 1 Foundation if you are in the US. It claims to be a concealer, primer and foundation in 1 and also contains an SPF of 20!

So lets start with the packaging. I quite like the packaging, the glass bottle has a good weight and feel to it and it fits nicely in the hand. The gold and black pump feels sturdy and looks classy whilst the lid clips on firmly, so no worries of it popping off in your handbag. I don’t like the clear lid though; I feel this lets the packaging down as it shows just how messy the pump is.

The actual product gives a very matte finish and feels a little bit drying. I definitely would not recommend this if you have dry skin. And if you have combination skin like me, it will stick like a demon to any dry patches you have on your face. 

Saying all that, if you don’t have dry patches then the finish is definitely flawless. It is a medium to full, buildable coverage. It does feel a little heavy on but that’s only really if you have put a little too much on. It requires only ½ a pump to cover the whole face, which I’m very impressed with. One of the down sides for me personally, is that I’ve recently noticed (after filming my review video, linked below) that the shade I’m using is too pink for me. The next shade down however is too dark so they don’t have a shade that matches me exactly. They also don’t do any shades for darker skins.

Overall I’m really on the fence about this product. I want to love it because it gives great coverage, has a flawless finish and comes in a rather attractive packaging. However I am also disappointed with how dry the formula is, how it sticks to dry patches and the poor shade range. So my final verdict? Not great but not bad either.

 

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation Review

Todays post is going to be a detailed review of my Laura Mercier Silk crème Foundation. I have done my usual video review on my Youtube channel, so if you don’t like reading reviews, you can watch it here!

This is the very first high-end foundation I have ever bought. I have had plenty of samples, but I’ve never put blind faith into a product before.

Packaging

The packaging is definitely unique. I don’t think there are many foundations that come in plastic squeezy tubes. At first I was undecided as to whether I liked this style. However with careful thought I’ve decided that it is actually an amazing idea! Especially if you are a makeup artist, this packaging is very easy to keep clean, it’s lightweight and you don’t have to worry about it smashing if you are carrying it around all the time. When squeezing the tube to get the product out, the product didn’t squirt out too quickly and it was very easy to control the amount dispensed. 

Pigmentation and Shade

This has to be the most pigmented foundation I have ever used. A teeny tiny amount is needed to cover the entire face in an even medium coverage. I have the shade soft ivory which is the palest shade offered. One of the things that bugs me about this however, is that it doesn’t cater for deeper skin tones. The darkest shade offered would suit dark olive skins, there is no shade for deep or black skin tones. This surprised me as usually there is at least one or two shades catered for dark skins. 
  

Coverage

Avery small amount of this product is needed for a good medium coverage. The way I use it is to put a tiny, pin drop amount on my face and sheer it out until my full face is covered. The best way, I’ve found to apply this is with a buffing brush.  You could also apply this with a wet sponge to get an absolutely flawless coverage. It can easily be built up for a full coverage if needed, which I love for those bad skin days.  The finish of this is more matte then glow in my opinion, I was expecting a dewy finish from what I heard from other beauty bloggers/vloggers. However I barely need to powder at all.

Longevity and Wear

Another thing I like about this foundation is that, with one coat, it feels very light and comfortable to wear. It lasts all day without moving or wearing in my oilier areas. It says that this is suitable for all skin types. To some degree I agree with this, it isn’t too matte and isn’t to dewy. However like most foundations, it will stick to very dry patches. I would advise people with dry skin to moisturize thoroughly before using or put a good primer underneath.

Overall Verdict

It isn’t my HG foundation product that’s for sure. I like it and feel that it would be perfect for bridal makeup as it photographs beautifully. However I do find it a little bit thick and hard to work with sometimes and the colour is a little yellow for me. The coverage and pigmentation are amazing! At £33 I would expect it to be. I do feel the price is a little steep considering the packaging is only plastic, I would expect this factor to make it a little cheaper. Overall a great product.