How To Apply Cream Blusher

Topshop Cream Blush in SneakPeek (Magazine photo from Elle)

Cream Blush is a trend that's always growing, with every brand from Bourjois to YSL bringing their own offering into the mix. There's everything from a powder finish, to a creamy glow, but how do you actually apply it?

Cream Blush in Pot Form -  Such as Bourjois Cream Blushes, Max Factor Cream Blush.

This kind of cheek colour can be applied with a brush, but for blushes in a small pot or tub, fingers are best. Dab an peach, baby pink or even fuchsia onto your cheek, and blend in. You can use your foundation or base brush to blend if you've gone for a brighter shade to avoid harsh edges.

Cream Blush in Stick Form - For Example, Topshop Cream Blush

Lightly stripe on your chosen shade, and blend in with a face brush. I chose Topshop's Cream Blush In Sneak Peek, a very glowy, and radiance blush.

El

How To Use Clear Mascara Properly

(Picture Credit: Elle Magazine) 

When you usually think of clear mascara, the words 'pointless' and 'useless' are often at the forefront of your mind. It was the same with me, until I read Anna from VDM's post on the stuff, and my perspective was changed...

Lashes - This is an obvious one (duh, it's called mascara!), but if you aren't allowed much make up at school, or prefer natural over dramatic, then it's worth giving Miss Sporty's offering a go as it will only set you back about £3. Just wack it on bare clean lashes for volume. Or, alternatively, layer it over your existing mascara for touch-ups during the day.

Brows -  Gel any unruly brows down with same product. Fill in your brows as normal, with pencil or powder, and pop a slick of clear mascara over. Wipe the excess off on the back of your hand, and brush through brows. Although I haven't used it, MUA do another mascara option for a quid!

It's A Great Dupe For - MAC's Brow Gel, the Clear Anastasia Brow Gel, and other overpriced products of a similar nature.

El

Real Techniques

Probably a few months ago now, I was stuck on which brushes to by. I walked round and round the aisles of Boots in the hope that I would find a set of brushes that were affordably priced yet good quality. I came back empty handed. A more recent update, and I've now found the gem I was looking for- the Real Techniques Brushes. I found out about them via Sam Chapman of Pixiwoo, who created the line of brushes with the same criteria as me. 

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - £9.99 - I am yet to purchase the full set of Face Brushes from RT (The Core Collection) so when I saw this single brush, I picked it up. Although a tenner may initially seem pricey for it, the quality is great, and in MAC for example, you'd easily pay double that. None of the brushes are at all scratchy, and they are all synthetic which means they are ideal for use with cream shadows, blushes, and more. 

Real Techniques Shading Brush - £7.99 - This was another single brush, and again, well worth the money. It blends, shades, and softens harsh edges. In general, its great, and can be used for eyes or even concealer. The brushes all have a colour scheme with the Face Brushes being Yellow, the Powder/Stippling/Setting brushes being Pink and the eye brushes being Purple. 

El

The Perfect Pair

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze, No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in Truffle

 Ever since I purchased the popular cream eyeshadow, my Maybelline Colour Tattoo has been a go-to product. No mess, no fuss- just a quick smooth-over-the-lid and you're done. So finding a powder eyeshadow of the same/similar colour that could be used to set in it place was quite a challenge, until I came across this baby.

No7 has never really been a brand of interest to me. Yes, I'd pass the counters in Boots, perhaps take a little look, but then dismiss the product, mainly because of the price, forgetting that I had all those money-off vouchers stored away. I have a small, mainly pharmaceutical Boots on my high street that houses a small No7 stand, so after finally getting my Boots Advantage Card, I thought I'd have a look...

One particular eyeshadow caught my eye, and for one particular reason- it's likeness to the infamous Colour Tattoo. I swatched it and a 'hmm...not bad' expression appeared. And with the vouchers, it was less than a fiver. Good spot I think! 

El
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Mini Shopping Trip to Boots...

As I was down on eye makeup remover, a trip to Boots was in due, which meant that I came home with a small bag of goodies! I didn't go crazy however, and only bought 3 things, but I thought I should show you them all the same.

left to right: Real Techniques Shading Brush, L'oreal Eyeshadow, Boots Eye-makeup Remover

My first purchase was what brought me to Boots in the first place! As eye makeup is the main feature in my everyday makeup look, I needed to buy something to remove it! As mentioned in an earlier post, I like Boots own gel one. It is very inexpensive, and is very good considering the price (£1.50).

Being the eyeshadow lover that I am, I figured it would be time to get a proper eyeshadow brush! Sam Chapman (from Pixiwoo) has a line of brushes, so I thought I'd pick up one of her highly praised Real Techniques brushes. I bought the shading brush, as all of the other eye ones are in a set, and for £8, I think it was worth it! I'm definitely interested in having a look at the other brushes in the range...

And in the spur of the moment, I picked up another whim product. L'Oreal eyeshadows (or any other product really!) have never caught my eye, but when I saw this little baby-165 Golden Rose- I couldn't resist picking it up. Do I really need any more eyeshadows?! At £6, I think it is fairly affordable.

This month's spendings have definitely stocked me up on eye products!

El
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