Category Archives: beauty look

I’m back with another Beauty Reviews video; this time it’s Dior’s new Diorskin Star Foundation that takes centre stage, along with a brilliant primer from Smashbox and an old makeup favourite, Pixi’s Natural Brow Duo. I’ll be talking about the Smashbox primer in another post and the Brow Duo has been mentioned here on the site about sixty-five million times, so it’s the Star foundation that I want to concentrate on today. This is Dior’s newest launch; a foundation that’s incredibly lightweight but that still manages to have very good coverage. A base that has a true radiance but that doesn’t contain any shimmer or glitter. I think that it’s just beautiful. Here’s my skin without foundation, for purposes of demonstrating coverage:

and here it is after I’ve applied Diorskin Star:

I’ve done some close-ups, too. Without foundation:

and then with:

I like that there’s enough coverage to properly even out skintone and cover small blemishes, but that the finish looks very real and natural. I don’t want to look as though I’m wearing foundation when I wear foundation, so all of these new-fangled barely-there bases that keep launching are ideal for me. The problem with many of them, though, is that unless you have flawless skin to start with, you’re only going to be putting a kind of “tinted blurring veil” over the top; you can still see imperfections, though they are made less obvious. With Star, I feel as though you get a proper coverage but the formula is still lightweight. Not “weightless”, but very, very light. 

Take a look at the video and my sponge application method; I’ve never been big on sponges, but it actually works very well with this base. I tried it with a dampened sponge too (I used the Beauty Blender from Dior, but I’m guessing that many of you will already own a makeup sponge!) which gave the sheerest coverage, a very healthy and ethereal kind of sheen. I’d highly recommend trying out Star when you pass a counter – it has launched this week exclusively at Debenhams, so easy enough to locate. It has definitely usurped Dior’s Nude foundation, for me – much lighter, but with the same (or better) coverage and an extra whack of natural glow. The foundation seems to diffuse light rather than “reflecting” it away from the skin, so it’s a really soft, overall glow with an almost matte finish, rather than anything too shiny or – haven’t heard this phrase in a while – dewy. Very modern, very chic. Tres bien. You can find Star at Debenhams.com

Smashbox Blemish Free Primer: http://tidd.ly/3cc1d068
Dior Star Foundation in shade 30: http://tidd.ly/23e2e2b1
Pixi Brow Duo in Medium Brown: http://tidd.ly/886cac8

Continue reading →

Right. I’ve been testing out this little smokey eye technique over and over again to make sure that it is absolutely fool-proof. And I’m pretty sure that it is – quick, easy and doesn’t require a load of different products. All you need is some soft eyeliner and one little makeup brush and the perfect smokey eye look from your wildest dreams will be yours. There may be similar brushes to the Real Techniques one that I use, but the quality of this is great and it doesn’t cost the earth. It’s just the perfect size and shape for getting right up to the lashline and smudging things out – it’s not all flippy-flappy so that you don’t get a good blending action, and it’s just about soft enough to not give you sore eyes if you need to blend, blend and blend again. Which you do.

Here’s the brush: it’s the Real Techniques “Smudge Brush” which comes as part of the Eyelining Set. (The whole set is currently £9.99 on Amazon here, I think it’s about £20 usually.)

And here’s what I do with it. (It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, this look, but I like it for its sultry-but-not-too-over-the-top appeal. I focus on smouldering around the bottom lashline rather than smudging all of the way around, and use a softer shadow on the eyelid to balance things out. I find that a lot of kohl or eyeliner on my upper lashline makes my eyes look old, but maybe that’s just me..)

Continue reading →

Daring Game

There is some absolutely stellar packaging with the Kiko Daring Game collection. Inspired by Bond Girls, it’s all about quick wits and confidence, and the casino theme runs through the entire collection. Personally, I think it’s their best so far.

Daring Game Palettes

Inside the playing card themed packaging are white palettes – they’re really good quality and weighty in the hand.

Two Pairs Blush

First up, Two Pairs Blush – a slightly mauve based pink and a bubblegum pink.

Golden Game Sculptng Bronzer

Inside Golden Game Sculptng Bronzer is a two tone bronze and a highlighter.

Swatches

These are the swatches of Two Tone Blush (£14.90) and the Bronzer (15.90). I have to point out that these textures are a little bit chalky for my taste – you have to work quite hard for the pigment, but they do diffuse well.

Queen of Hearts Shadow

This is one of three Queen of Hearts Shadow Palettes (£14.90) – mine is in Essential Brown (not very Bond, just saying); a quad of brown/beige tones.

Swatch

The eyeshadows are more pigmented and softer than the blush and the bronzer.. the texture is quite different… and better. There are several elements to the Kiko Daring Game Collection so I’ll post more products and swatches tomorrow. The collection is live on-line already HERE.

The post Kiko Daring Game Collection appeared first on British Beauty Blogger.

Continue reading →

It’s all about the legs, today, because I’ve been getting mine out a bit recently (look Mum! I wore a skirt!) and I’ve had to do a bit of emergency summer prepping. I also wanted an excuse to post about the brilliant  bookmarks that @AMR_Rach found on Etsy – little dangly legs and feet that stick out from between the pages to remind you of your place.

Almost worth abandoning my Kindle for…

Let’s start with leg prep and the best (and most affordable) first step for getting your skin soft and smooth. I’m all for a nice-smelling body scrub, if you have the time and inclination to rinse out the bath or shower afterwards, but a pair of exfoliating gloves is always the simplest option – use them with whatever shower gel you have lying about and after a minute or so of brisk leg-rubbing you’ll have achieved exactly the same thing.

No mess, no extra products hanging about in the shower and the gloves are so cost-effective – they last for years and years. I like the pink ones from Soap & Glory, which seem to have a coarser knit than some of the cheaper ones. They are £4

Next in the leg overhaul line-up: Legology and the Air-Lite Leg Lift Cream.

I used this at the end of my pregnancy when my legs and ankles were hot and puffy and it worked a treat. There are (much) cheaper options, but this one is a joy to massage in and smells amazing. Also (on an unbelievably shallow note) Legology has the best logo ever, and the tub looks good in my picture.

 Two skin-sorters, now, for the “silk stocking” effect – a finish that makes you legs look more even-toned, slightly tanned and properly glowing. The first is Caudalie’s Divine Legs, £23.40

This is a scented, tinted body lotion that adds a bit of glow and tan to your legs. I apply it with a mitt, to keep my hands clean and to make sure that I apply the tint evenly. Despite this being really moisturising, it sets well and doesn’t seem to transfer to clothes. Though I’d be wary if you’re in very light trousers or skirt…

Vita Liberata’s Capture the Light Illuminating Skin Finish in Latte is one of my all-time favourite skin finishing products. It really is like putting on the world’s best tights – skin looks smoother, imperfections are blurred and there’s a low-key radiance that looks chic rather than try-hard. Again, I apply with a mitt, but only because I’m so scared of accidentally getting it all over my going out outfit! This one is £30 from Space NK. Continue reading →