MAC Studio Fix Foundation!

MAC Studio Fix Fluid - available from store/counter/online - £19.50

MAC says: 'A modern foundation that combines a natural matte finish and medium-buildable coverage with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15. Comfortable and long-wearing: lasts for up to eight hours. Applies smoothly, builds coverage quickly and easily. Contains specially treated micronized pigments and soft-focus powders for a super-smooth look that helps minimize the appearance of imperfections. Absorbs and disperses oil. Contains special skin-conditioning ingredients.'

You can see how well it covers that burn!

This was the first ever MAC foundation i ever bought and for a long while i completely fell out of love with it and abondaned it in my 'unused makeup box'. But recently i have seen a few bloggers wearing this foundation and looking completely flawless (jelous!) so i thought i'd give it another shot..

This foundation covers up imperfections with ease but the problem with this is it can look a bit cakey - not a good look. But with the right application i think this is great for nights out or days when you want to look flawless! I used my Sigma F80 (flat top kabuki) to apply this with a few spritz of MAC Fix+ on the brush. With this method i find i can apply less and buff it in to a nice, medium coverage for the day time or build it up to a full coverage for nights out. There really isn't much need for concealer with this foundation which is definitely a time saver. 

In terms of how long it lasts; i found it coped with my (very) oily skin for around 3/4 hours which isn't great but my t-zone is extremely oily so this is expected really! I think with a good primer and setting powder this could last a few more hours easily and people with normal/combination will find it last longer also. Even though my nose was really oily and shiny the foundation did not slide or disappear - i just patted away the excess with oil with a tissue and it still looked great after 7/8 hours - not bad!

I have this is an NC45 which is slightly to dark for me which means i can't use it daily! But i do think it blends into my skin quite naturally and i don't look like i have an orange mask on (at least i hope i don't) so it's more than great for nights out! My only problem with most MAC foundations is the yellow undertone is very strong and well, yellow so it doesn't look as natural as it could otherwise. 

There is not really much more i can say about this foundation - the coverage is great, with the right application it doesn't look 'fake'. It lasts a decent amount of time considering how oily my skin is - people with normal/combination skin will probably find it lasts slightly longer! I don't recommend it for people with dry skin as it is quite thick so will more than likely cling to any dry patches. It does dry to matte finish, but its more of a natural matte as MAC rightly claims. 

Would i re-purchase this? Probably not - Revlon Colorstay lasts just as long, the coverage is about the same and it's around £7 cheaper too! The only plus is MAC's huge colour range so you will get a perfect match, whereas with Revlon it may be slightly harder! 

Do i recommend it? For normal/combination skin it does make a good full coverage foundation and for £19.50 its cheaper than other MAC foundations.

Oh and i have heard this can dry skin out and makes people break out so try to test this out before committing to a full bottle. I have a got a foundation tester from MAC in the past when i have purchased another item - so just ask! 

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation Review!

Mac Pro Longwear Spf10 Foundation - 30ml - Available from MAC store/counter/online - £22.50

Claims to last 15 hours and control oily skin whilst being natural and lightweight!

excuse the dirty cap ahaa, it wouldn't clean (n).

Packaging: Like always the MAC packaging is a sleek rounded bottle made of clear glass (so you can see the colour) with a black cap - or in this case a handy pump! The pump is lockable to you can carry it around with you and not worry about making a mess and accidentally pumping it everywhere. 

Colour: As i have found with most MAC foundations i have tried - nc's tend to be very yellow toned. When first applied this does have a pretty unbearable yellow/orange tint but once it has oxidised it does look miles better - more natural! I find this is also slightly darker than other nc42's. So make sure you try a few different shades out and check what it looks like after about 15minutes to see if it is a good match. But overall, you will most likely find a shade that suits you!

I covered the burn so you can see the coverage!

Flash

No flash.

 Consistency - I don't know if it's just me but this foundation seems to be quite thick and sometimes hard to blend. I find the best way to blend this is to use a foundation brush with  MAC Fix+ spray (review here) - this creates a nice, even coverage. When blended with my fingers i find it looks streaky and  nowhere near as flawless. 1 and a half pump of this gives a perfect medium coverage but you can definitely build it up to a full coverage without it being overly cakey. I find this foundation has a pretty much matte finish with maybe a slight bit of dewiness so it is natural looking!

Length of wear: Now, when i first bought this, i thought this foundation was amazing, lasted forever and controlled my oily t-zone amazingly. But, after a while i realised it wasn't that amazing! And since using Estee Lauder Double Wear i have come to realise it's really good, but not as good unfortunately. This is my everyday foundation when i'm not really going anywhere special and i'm not going out for a long, full day! I look pretty shiny after about 4hours (not unbearable though) and after about 6 hours my t-zone is an oily mess. I think if you have normal skin it will last much longer but if you have dry skin you'll need a good moisture before using this! 

Overall, this is a good everyday foundation and i will use this bottle up, but i do think Estee Lauder Double Wear is more long lasting and has better coverage! Will i repurchase this? No, probably not. It's good but Revlon Colourstay is just as good for half the price! 

If any of you have tried Pro Longwear what do you think?

p.s. sorry for such a long post - but maybe it will be helpful?

Revlon Colourstay - here to stay?

A foundation that until not long ago was buried deep in my stash but... has now been uncovered, re-tried, tested and is now firmly planted on my dressing table.

I bought this a long while ago, used it for a short amount of time then brushed it away when a new foundation came along. I have a box of all my 'stashed/unused' makeup (as we all probably do) and recently decided i would give it another go. See if my thoughts have changed and i'm quite convinced they have..

Packaging: As you can see above the foundation is bottled in a rounded, sturdy, glass bottle. Not exactly pretty but it's good enough. The bottle is taller and more slim which i prefer as it can easily be put it in your makeup bag to take out and as long as the lid is on tight i am confident it will not leak. One problem i have with this is: NO PUMP! You just have to pour it on your hand and hope for the best. It contains an average amount of liquid (30ml -same as Mac or Estee Lauder) so it is good value for money!

Colour: I have 'Natural Tan' second darkest from the normal/dry shades. The colour is slightly too dark for me in the winter (oops) as i am definitely a lot paler - but i love the fact it blends into my skin and kind of works with my skin to not look dark or fake. It still looks natural and makes me look like i have a healthy tan! Too me this foundation looks as if it has small (tiny) particles of like shimmer - not obvious atall, this just makes your skin look 'glowy' and dewy and looks gorgeous where the light hits. Cannot fault the colour atall. So natural. Oh so make sure you swatch this foundation before to get the right undertone (some are pink and some are more yellow).

Foundation poured on arm (next to my burn scar)

Blended and spread across my whole arm.

Consistency: It is quite a thick foundation which means it does need a lot of blending and you can definitely feel it on the skin (it is not super heavy but not light either). But once you have mastered the application for this foundation you will find it quick and easy to apply. 

I apply it with my Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki with a spray of Mac Fix+. A spray of water or fix+ etc. just helps it blend so much easier and i wouldn't use this foundation with a spritz of something 'watery'. As i say it does need lots of blending but the results i'd say are worth it. You don't need a lot so be careful, i have accidentally applied too much and looked like i'm wearing a thick mask (not good) so build it up in small, thin layers and you can achieve a nice medium-full coverage.

Picture of me wearing it!

Length of wear: I've heard lots about this being good for combination/oily skin and lasting ages which i  didn't find the first time i used it. Now, i do find it lasts a good 5hours with no primer or powder and it does last longer set with powder.  Also it does depend on which moisturiser i use (sounds silly) but when i use a more thicker,moisturising cream this foundation (and others) tend to slip off my t-zone! So oily skinned girls - lay off the moisturiser a bit when using this!

Now you're probably wondering why i bought the normal/dry skin formula when my skin is far from it! After reading copious amounts of reviews most people seemed to agree this formula was better for oiler skin - i don't know why but apparently it was! So i listened to the beauty community and went for this formula - pretty glad i did too.

Overall, i do like this foundation for daily use (college, shopping, errands) and save my Estee Lauder Double Wear for more special occasions. For £12.49 it is a 'medium' priced foundation and for everyday use or a cheaper 'back up' foundation it will be well worth those pennies!

So yes - it is here to stay!! What do you think of this foundation?

'Clubbing' Outfit!

Outift (simple really)

Dress - Primark - £10

Wedges - Varanni Shoes - £22.95

Makeup

Foundation - Estee Lauder Double Wear in ' 4W1Shell Beige' 

Powder - MAC Blot Powder 'Dark'

Contour - AVON Loose Powder

Bronze - Illamasqua Powdered Metal in 'Ezrule'

Eyebrows - Rimmell Eyebrow Pencil in 'Black Brown'

Lipstick - Look cosmetics 'Toffee Cup'

False Eyelashes - Rimmell 

Hair
Extensions from Jolin (link to website here)
Curlers used to curl hair - Babyliss Proffesional 210 Curling Tong (available from argos)

Outfit - Day in Manchester!

Last week i went on a Philosophy trip to the art galleries in Manchester (and lunch in chinese buffet - yummy) as our module is 'Why do we value art?' so it was supposed to be very helpful. It such a fun day but the weather was SO crap and horrid. So i had to wrap up warm. This is what i wore (along with my trust khaki green parka):

Jumper - Primark

Black Shirt - Topshop

Leather Panel Leggins - New look

Ugg Boots (Classic Short - Chesnut) - Uggaustralia.co.uk

Necklace's - Topshop

Rings (left to right) - H Samuel, my Mums Ring, Primark and my Mums Ring

Nail Varnish - Barry M 'Spring Green'

Makeup:

Foundation - Estee Lauder Double Wear

Concealer - MAC Studio Fix 

Powder - MAC Mineralise Skin finish

Contour - MAC Studio Fix Powder

Blush - Avon True Colour Blusher 'Russet'
Mascara - Avon Super Shock

Lips - Lancome Juicy Tube 'Lychee'

Snowy England & OOTD

Outside Selfridges at The Trafford Centre - getting a few snaps of my outfit in the snow!

Rihanna top - Primark (mens section)

Denim Shirt - Topshop

Parka Coat - New Look

Leather panel leggins - New Look

Bag (underneath Selfridges one) - Miss Selfridge

Ugg Boots - Ugg store or online

Necklace - Bohoboho.com

My boyfriend, Mark, in front of the Manchester wheel (a smaller, not-as-good version of the London Eye).

Yes, Trafford Centre and Manchester in one day - small haul to come!

Also got treated to a Nando's - lucky me! It was delicious and nice to be warm and away from the harsh, snowy weather enjoying a Double chicken pitta and chips (my favourite).

Enjoying some 'fun' in the snow (big cheesy grin on my face). My Ugg boots got slightly wet but luckily my feet were nice and warm! :D

Makeup

Foundation - Estee Lauder Double Wear in '05 Shell Beige'

Concealer - Mac Studio Fix in 'Nw35'

Bronze/contour - Illamasqua Powdered Metal in 'Ezrule'

Blush - Avon True Colour Blusher in 'Russet' 

Mascara (lots of it) - Avon Supershock Mascara in 'Black' 

Overall it was a lovely day out, did not expect it to snow atall (glad i had my camera with me)! I hate the snow most of the time but this time i thought it was quite nice for some reason - i don't know why. Bought a few things, not much but, expect to be seeing them soon! 

Nadia xox

Everyday Makeup Routine!

When your up at the crack of dawn and you need to be ready for education or work in half an hour, the last thing you want is to have to spend ages on your makeup. I think every girl should have a fast routine that she can rely on. This is mine:

Nothing fancy - just a simple daytime look that i can do in 5-10minutes at home or on the bus! 

I took these pictures after i had been out from 8am - 3pm so i'd had this makeup on for a good seven hours and i'm happy with how it's stayed with no top-ups (i didn't even have to powder my t-zone which usually ends up an oily mess) 

 This is a fairly new routine which i rely on most mornings when i need to be ready in a short time for college. It includes a new love which i'm going to go purchase!

My new love, is the well praised foundation - Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place foundation. 

I've used it three times since i got the sample and still have some left. I've wore it twice for college (longggg days) and once for a party. Every time i have used it, i have been impressed with the staying power, the oil control and the coverage is amazing too. Beats my other foundations anytime.  I plan to do a full review when i buy the full bottle.   What are anyone else's views of Estee Lauder's double wear?

So anyway, i cleanse and tone my face with Lush's Dark Angel cleanser and Breath of Fresh Air toner. 

Then moisturise with Nivea's Soft Creme (tub). I definitely remember Nivea creams - i've used them all my life through summer and winter. Affordable and effective. 

I then apply either MAC pro-long wear foundation in NC42 or my new favourite Estee Lauder Double Wear in 4W1 Shell Beige. I put 'blobs' around my face with my fingers then blend with Sigma's Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki brush. 

I conceal my under eye circles and redness around my nose with MAC Studio Fix concealer in NW35 with my fingers then blend in some area's with Sigma's Precision Round brush (good for getting in all the little 'nooks and crannies')

Next i set the foundation and concealer  with MAC Blot Powder Pressed over my t-zone (especially my nose) i then dust MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark all over.

I then contour with a paintbrush actually (it is the perfect size) and MAC's Studio Fix powder in NC45. 

My go-to blush is MAC's Fleur Power - can be built up to a bright doll pink or applied lightly for a natural flush of colour. 

Then another new favourite is my Illamasqua's Powdered Metal in Ezrule to highlight my cheekbones and nose.

Last but not least, lashings of Avon Supershock mascara for long lashes. 

Sounds longer and more than it actually is, but this is my simple daytime routine. Sometimes i swap products like blush or mascara etc. But this my basic routine that i tend to stick to for the daytime. 

Wow, so i hope this may have helped you! I definitely recommend all the products i have mentioned. They are all effective and work well or i wouldn't use them myself.

Nadia xox

MAC Studio Tech Foundation Review.

I have MAC studio tech foundation is NC42, which is like the perfect colour for me in the autumn/winter time when i'm a bit paler. I used it all in i'd say about.. 3/4 months. Which is pretty bad considering the MAC bottled foundations last a lot longer. I wrote this review a while ago, had it saved so i've decided to post it on here. I got this when i was experimenting with different foundations. What i didn't realise is it's more for dry skin and i have oily skin - oopsy! But still, here's some pro's and con's:

Pro's:

• I love the consistency it's so creamy and goes on really smooth with either a stippling brush, your fingers or a normal foundation brush or even the sponge that comes with it.
• The colour is a really nice yellow undertone, not too orangey or yellowy. It's a really nice 'skin like' colour?
• It blends really really easily. 
• It gives a flawless but dewy look to the skin, so it still looked natural.
• It actually does look really good on photo's (when you first put it on) - dewy flawless healthy looking skin.
• Buildable Coverage. 
• Packaging. Cute, hard plastic compact with sponge it the bottom. Easy to carry around.

con's:

• It doesn't stay on my skin that well. I would itch or rub my face and it would all come off over my hands and clothes -.- so annoying. Rubs off so easily. So wear it - just don't touch your face!
• So it looked great on pictures at first! Then after a good few hours it would make me look like an oily, greasy mess on pictures. GREAT. Not what you need. I repeatedly had to keep setting it with my Blot Powder. Not ideal when i'm out. 
• My powders, blush etc. didn't seem to stay on top very well. Although they do on top of other foundations. I think 'cause it was so creamy and when it rubbed off my powder rubbed off too.

So obviously, there are more pro's than con's! But i would recommend this foundation for people with drier skin rather than oily like mine. But overall it is definitely a nice foundation with a nice finish. But if your skins really oily - DON'T DO IT!