FOTD: Playing With The Newbies #2

Before I forge ahead with Greek Week, I wanted to chuck a little make-up missile up; I’ve been a bit into the below products of late and thought it might be useful to know more about them in case you’d been tempted by them in the shops.

You’ll see in the below pictures that I’ve not gone for a big make-up look – this is a ‘me, tidied up’ sort of face. That’s not to say that these can’t give more – a little extra bronzer, liner and mascara and hey presto! Made up you’d be. Over to the products… //

Products Used //

Primer / Urban Decay Naked Skin Bronzing Beauty Balm SPF 30 / Brilliant because it: a) protects the skin from sun, b) adds a believable bronze tint, c) blurs imperfections slightly. This could also double up as a bronzing fluid and be worn without any foundation if you’ve exceptionally clear skin.

Base / Vichy Dermablend 3D Correction in 35 / Innovative because it offers both a serious dose of coverage while helping skin look more smooth, padding out the dips and furrows spots and wrinkles leave on the skin’s surface. The finish leans towards matte so it’s pretty much an acne-sufferer’s dream base. N.B. Buff this one in with a kabuki brush or it’ll sit in pores.

Concealer / Charlotte Tilbury Mini Miracle Eye Wand in shade 1 and Nars Concealer in Medium Custard / The Nars is an old favourite (I use it in this video) and the Tilbury a new discovery that I’ve decided is ideal for handbag top ups thanks to the dual ends – one to moisturise away dehydration wrinkles, one to conceal. The darkest of bags will need a corrector prior to use.

Powder / Sensai Cellular Performance Pressed Powder / A non-powdery pressed powder that adds the slightest blur and softness to the skin, this is the kind of product you want to crack out on special occasions.

Bronzer / Yves Saint Laurent Les Saharienne Bronzing Stones (due here by the end of the month) / YSL’s newest bronzing offering, this is matte and warms skin up realistically. I like to use a fluffy brush and dance this over my whole face, adding a little extra to cheeks.

Highlighter / Nude by Nature Glow Highlighter Stick (due here by the end of the month) / The best highlighter stick I’ve ever used bar none, this is firm so doesn’t dispense too much product and requires only a swipe across cheekbones followed by a little tap at the edges to blend to enhance facial structure. Whack a little on your cupid’s bow and bridge of the nose for extra glow.

Brows / Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil and Benefit Ready, Set, Brow! / These two are my current brow staples. For a full review – and video of me using them – click here.

Eyes / Clarins Ombre Waterproof Eyeshadow Shimmering Cream Colour (due here by the end of the month) + Suqqu Eye & Cheek Color Compact EX-02 (due here on the 25th) / I’m all over that Clarins creamy eyeshadow – if you look at the photo of me looking down you’ll see how it dances light off the surface beautifully. The Suqqu palette is part of the summer drop – I’ve used the sea green for a tight line that’s a little less harsh than black.

Mascara / Yves Saint Laurent Vinyl Couture Mascara / This new range of mascaras are all about the colour – while usually pigment is added to a milky base, YSL have come up with a way of mixing colour with a see-through one instead. Using this will give you blacker than black lashes.

Lip Gloss / Smith & Cult The Tainted Lip Stained in Linger Sigh / My current lip go-to, this non-sticky gloss feels like an oil and leaves a hint of juicy pink on the lips after the shine has worn off.