Amazing Drugstore Foundation! Bourjois Healthy Mix Review

Two foundation posts in a row? I must be going crazy. I suppose that's what happens when you're stuck at home due to flooding.

Anyway, a few days ago, I was browsing my local boots store when the Bourjois stand caught my eye. It's not a brand I usually go for, but I remembered hearing great things about Healthy Mix Serum Foundation and that's it's comparable to Mac Studio Sculpt. I had enough Boots points to have it for free, and the offer of the corresponding concealer proved too tempting.

The foundation supposedly contains all sorts of magic miracle ingredients, but it seems likely that these exist in such tiny quantities that they'd make little difference to the health of your skin. I have my doubts about the "vitamin-rich fruit therapy" containing lychee, goji berries and pomegranate acting like some kind of wonder drug, but my god- it smells amazing. It's a fresh, fruity smell, without being artificial or overly sweet. All I'm saying is, if Bourjois came out with this fragrance in perfume form; I'd probably bath in it.

So, according to the bottle, Healthy Mix is a gel-based foundation providing 16-hour wear whilst being hypo-allergenic. For the RRP of £10.99 you get 30ml- not bad for something that won "product of the year 2011".

I'm a big fan of gel based foundations as the need for a primer is reduced (although in the pictures below I have a little tough of Bare Escentuals Prime Time) and they seem to last the longest. It also makes them somewhat water resistant. That's the first similarity to the Mac product.

The other similarity comes in the form of the coverage and the finish. It's a medium coverage product with a semi-satin finish. In that respect, I find Healthy Mix to be identical to Studio Sculpt for less that half the price. If anything, I even prefer the finish of the cheaper product, as I find it requires less setting, and dries somewhat smoother. It's also a little less streaky to apply, and I do so with the Elf powder brush. It dries fairly fast, but doesn't cling to dryness and lets you blend it to your heart's content. In all honesty, I think this product really does last. I haven't tested it for the full 16 hours, but it was still going strong after 12, so it beats Mac in that respect.

For me, the only negative aspect of this foundation is the shade range. I'm an NW15, so I went for the lightest shade in Healthy Mix- 51. It works fine, but in an ideal world it would be a little less yellow. Admittedly, my local Boots store is small, but there were only 4 shades of this foundation on display, and there are only 5 available in the website! Certainly, none of this would be suitable for anyone much darker than NW30. Shocking!

So yes, I think that if you match the colour range and you like a medium satin finish foundation, this is the best example out there. It doesn't feel heavy or greasy but makes my skin feel all moisturised and lovely- even if the hype about magical super fruit seems a little too good to be true.

I have the concealer too, which is just as good as the foundation. Just watch out for the slight variance in the shade range. A 51 (vanille clair) in the foundation is not the same as a 51 in the concealer. Oh, and this product is apparently contains apricot and raspberry. Whether that's true or not, it smells yummy. In the picture, the concealer is the top swatch, and the foundation is below.

In the pictures I haven't set the foundation with powder so you can see the true finish. I couldn't resist a little bit of Nars blush in "Sin" though, and I have Mac Cremesheen Glass in "Just Superb" on my lips.

That's all for now!

Rach

xx

Best and Worst Foundation- Drugstore and High-end

I am a foundation junkie. Cream, gel, liquid, mineral, BB cream- you name it, I've tried it. Of course, there are a whole load of great products out there (as well as a fair few terrible ones) so here are my thoughts on just a few of the best and worst on the market.

I'm hoping to keep this post short and sweet in comparison to my last one, so today I'll only be covering liquid products. Powder will have to wait its turn!

THE BEST

Mac Face and Body (my shade is N1)

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/158/393/Products/Face/Foundation/Face-And-Body-Foundation/index.tmpl

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Totally. Spending £26 on a foundation might not seem a lot to some people, but for me it's a substantial amount of money. The great thing about this product is its size. It's a huge bottle (120ml) meaning that it lasts a really long time. I've had one bottle for about a year, even though I use it about 4 times a week. It's really sheer with a buildable coverage, so it's not to everyone's taste, but it works well for my skin- especially in the summer when I don't need anything too heavy. It's a little bit dark for me, but Mac don't make a lighter version, so if you're an NW15 like me, be careful. Oh, and you'll have to set this foundation really well with a good powder if you want it to last as it tends to slide off the skin a bit.

Mac Studio Sculpt (My shade is NW15)

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/158/4386/Products/Face/Foundation/Studio-Sculpt-SPF-15-Foundation/index.tmpl

This is the newest foundation in my collection, and so far, my favourite. It's gel based, so lasts all day even without a primer, and leaves a beautifully smooth medium satin coverage. It matches my skin colour perfectly (as ever with Mac, there's a huge range of shades), and I love the tube style packaging. It's not a cheap foundation so I want to be able to squeeze out every little bit and get my money's worth! I also love the fact it's got an SPF in it as it's good to know you've got a little extra protection on top of your moisturizer/sun block.

Revlon ColourStay (My shade is 150- buff)

No link I'm afraid, the Boots website didn't want to cooperate. (RRP £8.99)

Bit of a controversial one- people seem to either love of hate this product. You have to blend it really fast, because it sets quickly and tends to cling to patches of dry skin if you're not careful. However, with a liberal application of primer and a good brush (come to me, Real Techniques buffer!) it's gorgeous. Revlon ColourStay provides a fairly heavy coverage with a matte finish- covering all manner of skin-based disasters, and it gives you a total confidence boost, so I like to see it as a "push-up bra for the face". It's my go-to foundation for when my complexion won't behave itself, and I like the fact I don't have to touch it up in the middle of the day. My one tip is to make sure you moisturize properly if you get slightly dry skin. If your skin is really dry, stay away entirely. It won't flatter you.

THE WORST

Benefit You Rebel Lite Tinted Moisturizer

http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/product/view/you-rebel-lite

Yes, yes. I know it's not officially a foundation, but I want to scream from the rooftops about how bad this is. I dislike benefit as a brand in general as I find it overpriced and bad quality (although they have produced some corkers- Hula Bronzer, High Beam, Lemon Aid), but I thought I'd give this product the benefit (Ha) of the doubt and try it out with an open mind. Biggest waste of £23.50 I could imagine. I bought the "lite" version because I have the complexion of a dead person, but it's so yellow. I don't know of anyone who possesses skin with such a repulsively neon hue, but they need to see a doctor. Even if you do persevere and  put the stuff on your face, it melts off in seconds leaving a sticky, greasy residue as if you've cleansed with the contents of a deep fat fryer. However, I never like to waste a product- especially not one so expensive- so I've been known to apply a conservative amount to act as an SPF under my foundation or to tackle unusually dry skin around my eyes. Benefit describe this product as "defiantly different"- probably because it's more awful than any other tinted moisturizer on the market.

Rant over.

Maybelline SuperStay 24hr (my shade is ivory)

http://www.boots.com/en/Maybelline-Superstay-24hr-Foundation_1042352/

Mayebelline is probably my favourite brand for a small budget, but this foundation is truly awful. It's thick, sticky, and way too orange- even in a light shade. I bought this online, and "ivory" seemed to be the lightest, but it looks horrendous on my skin, and I'll have to give it away to someone with a bit more of a tan. Not that anyone will want it though as it's a nightmare to apply and look totally uneven if you attempt to blend it over even the slightest of imperfections. I found it really patchy as well, and it gives you a horrible sensation of having something very heavy on your skin all day. It melts so much in the heat that when I take my glasses off, the inside of the frame is covered in orange goop. I'd stay away from this one, but do try out Maybelline's other products... their smokey eye pencil is amazing!


That's all for today, but I've got my eye on Chantecaille's "Just Skin" (I won't let go of that £57 without a fight!)

Rach
xx

Real Techiques Brushes- First Impressions

I've been toying with the idea of getting some new make up brushes for a little while, but deciding on what brand to go for hasn't been easy! I settled on Real Techniques because I've heard they're comparable to Sigma, but lower in price and more easily available. Oh, and being the cheapskate I am, they were on offer on boots.co.uk (buy one get one half price) which made my choice a bit simpler...

Right, so that's all of them- eleven in total. Each set retails at £21.99 (although I got one of them half price), the stippling brush was £11.99, and the blush brush retails at £9.99 (on offer for £5). My rusty maths skills tell me that I spent a total of £49.98 with free delivery. At full price the brushes would have cost £65.98, so I saved a grand total of £15.98. I think the Real Techniques brushes are great value. Although parting with £50 is a little bit painful, you've got to remember that high-end brushes like Mac cost between £20 and £40 each, and I don't think their quality is one bit superior to these little gems.

For a bit of background info, this line of brushes was created by Samantha Chapman who is a YouTube vlogger and a fantastic make up artist. Her YouTube channel (Pixiwoo) is well worth a look if you're not familiar with it, as she uses the Real Techniques brushes in all her tutorials.

I've got so many good things to say about these brushes, even though they've only been in my collection for two days. However, I HATE the design. The brush handles are made with aluminium with a black grip so they're light weight and tactile. Yeah, I get where Sam was coming from on this, but I just think they're a bit ugly. Each type of brush has a corresponding handle colour: the yellow brushes are from the "flawless base" range, the purple are "enhanced eyes", and the pink are used for a "perfect finish. Clever idea, but not well executed. Besides, the website maintains that each brush is multipurpose (which is definitely true) so why limit then with colour coding?! Sexy sleek black ones would be preferable, but I'm over it when the brushes are so damn good!

Oh, I should probably mention that all the brushes are made of the same Taklon duo fibre bristles. This means that they're super soft, fast drying and 100% cruelty free- ideal for a vegetarian with a guilty conscience like me!

That's enough rambling- let's get onto the first set of brushes: "The Core Collection."

Presented in a clever case-come-stand, this range is comprised of "flawless base" brushes and I absolutely love it. From left to right, we have the contour brush, pointed foundation brush, detailer brush and buffing brush.

• The contour brush is perfect! It's small, but an ideal size for getting into the hollows of my cheeks. It's dense enough to pack on colour, yet still being really good for blending.
• As for the foundation brush, I like it, but I would never use it to apply foundation. It's tiny! It would take about six months to do my whole face using that thing. However, anyone who read my previous post about the Superdrug concealer brush will know that I like big brushes for that purpose; and this is ideal. It's a little bit scratchy, but works really well to flawlessly hide dark circles. 
• The brush intended for concealer- the detailer brush- is a bit too small for my taste, but I really like it as a lip brush. 
• The buffing brush is absolutely gorgeous! it's the perfect size and creates and amazing HD finish when used with a bit of powder (Mac MSFN all the way!) 

Next up: "The Starter Set"...

I don't think this set is quite as wonderful as the core collection, but I'm still really glad I bought it. From left to right we have: the deluxe crease brush, the base shadow brush, the accent brush, the pixel-point eyeliner brush, and the brow brush.

• The deluxe crease brush is lovely and dense with a domed shape. It's really soft and fluffy, but quite big so not ideal for detail work. Fantastic for diffuse, subtle looks though.
• The base shadow brush is fairly self explanatory. Perfect size, nice and soft. What more could you want?
• I was skeptical when I first received the accent brush. It's sooo small! What use could it possibly be? Turns out, it's great for smudging powder along the lash line for a really smokey look. Love it.
• The eyeliner brush is the only brush from this range I really do not like. It's too thick for liner, and I prefer an angled brush like the Mac 263, or the even the cheaper Eco Tools version.
• The brow brush is lovely, but a little bit thick. I don't have very big eyebrows so it tend to apply more heavily than I want. It's so soft and high quality that I'm sure I'll find another use for it.

I am aware that Real Techniques also makes a brush set called "Travel Essentials", but I didn't buy that one because it contains three brushes, two of which come in the other sets. However, I bought two of the individual brushes (not available in sets).

Unlike the other brushes, these have flat bases so they stand up. I don't understand this at all! It's not conducive to good storage because they're so easy to knock over when left standing, and too thick to put comfortably in a brush jar with limited space. Saying this, they're fantastic brushes, and probably my favourite out of everything I purchased.

• The blush brush is so damn fluffy! It's a little bit tapered, and something about it makes it amazing at picking up lots of colour and dispersing it evenly over the cheeks. It's quite big, so can double up as an all over powder brush.
• The stippling brush was a lot smaller than I was expecting. It's so so dense though, so really puts the Elf version to shame. It takes a little while to do your foundation with it because of the size, but it's totally worth the effort because it creates the most beautiful finish you could imagine.

Overall, I'm going to give Samantha Chapman's Real Techniques Brushes a solid 7.5/10. Amazing quality, good price, but they're not as pretty as I'd like and I think some of them aren't well considered as far as size goes. If you want a bit more information here's the website:

http://realtechniques.com/

Rach
xx

Mini London Haul and Springsheen vs Orgasm

If you want to save money, don't go make up shopping in Covent Garden.

Having no will power whatsoever, Mac and Space NK proved too bigger a temptation for me, and in total I spent £92. Ouch. I'm struggling to justify that kind of expenditure, but I'm telling myself that they're staple products that have been missing from my collection, and it's birthday money, so I might as well enjoy it.

So here's what I got:

(Ha, just realised "Ricepaper" is upside down)

Nars Blush in the coveted "Orgasm"
God, I've wanted this for so long! Living in the middle of rural Devon, there isn't exactly an abundance of Nars stockists. In fact, the closest is 65 miles away in Bournemouth- somewhere I don't often venture. I was reluctant to buy it online due to the fact I couldn't test it out, which I think is vital when you're spending a lot of money on a product (in this case, £21). Anyway, it's just as gorgeous as I knew it would be. It's really shimmery yet wearable, and the peachy-pink tone is perfect with my skin. It feels as though it would be a really universal colour, so I'd recommend it to anyone. I'm not even going to mention the packaging; everyone knows how sexy it is. My one little grumble is the way I was treated by the staff in Space NK. The girl who served me was really rude and snobby, and it felt like she assumed that as a teenager, I'd know nothing about good quality make up- let alone be able to afford it. Not only this, but she was clearly anxious to serve me as quickly as possible so I'd leave the shop. I guess this isn't the fault of Nars though, but Space NK. Won't be shopping there again.

In my normal style: there's a terrible swatch for your enjoyment below.

This blush got me thinking. I've heard it's pretty similar to Mac's Springsheen, so I thought I'd test this out for myself.

Okay, so they're fairly close. However, "Orgasm" seems to have more of a pink tone, whereas "Springsheen" is more orange/peach based. I think I prefer the colour of the Nars product, but I'd say Springsheen is creamier and more pigmented. Nars blushes also happen to be £3.50 more expensive and 1.2 grams smaller than Mac blushes, but I'm happy to have both as I think they work equally well as everyday colours.

Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NW15
I was shocked to be matched to NW15, as it's so so light. Seems to work really well though, and appeases my "winter skin" perfectly.The general online consensus is that it can make your skin look a bit dark and cake-y, so I think having an abnormally light shade might not be a bad thing. It's a heavy powder, with full coverage, so I'll be wearing it alone; without liquid foundation. I'm lucky to have well-behaved skin, so I don't need massive coverage, but I bought this for those "bad skin days" or when I'm feeling too lazy for proper foundation, and just want to dust on a bit of powder. The powder is presented in a lovely compact, with a large mirror, and a applicator sponge in the bottom compartment.

Mac Paint Pot in Painterly
My first Paint Pot! I've wanted one for a long time just to apply under eyeshadow. Being entirely lazy, I just couldn't be bothered to buy one previously because they're a bit boring. What I mean to say is that I'm a total magpie, and when I go into any make up shop, I head straight to the exciting shiny things and tend to ignore the staples. I'm so glad I bought this though because it's better than any eyeshadow primer I've ever used. "Painterly" is a neutral tone with a pink base, and is the closest Paint Pot to my skin colour.

Just to avoid confusion, "Painterly" is the top swatch. Ignore the eyeshadow below. I couldn't be bothered to wash my arm between swatches (that's dedication for you).

Mac Eyeshadow in "Brun" "Cork" and "Ricepaper"
Anyone who read my previous Mac eyeshadow collection post saw that I was desperately lacking basic neutrals. During my splurge in Covent Garden, I decided to rectify this, and purchased three shades: "Brun" "Cork" and "Ricepaper." "Brun" is the darkest of my choices, and is black-brown a satin finish. It's highly pigmented and will be a great crease colour; as well as a perfect match for my eyebrows. "Cork" is a mid tone warm brown. It's also a satin finish and one of those colours that can be quickly thrown on all over the lid for an easy look. The last colour is "Ricepaper" and I have to say I'm absolutely in love. It's a frost, making it very shimmery. It's really close to my skin tone, so doesn't show up terribly well in the swatch, but is a gorgeous highlight colour, without being quite as stark as something like "Nylon" or "Naked Lunch." I'm sure I'm going to be getting a lot of wear out of all of them.

Anyway, that's it for now, and I'll be keeping myself distracted to avoid any more little shopping sprees.

(apart from maybe Elf or Coastal Scents :P)

Rach xx

Top 4 High Street (drugstore) Lipsticks

So, my last post was a little bit high end for my liking! It's not that I don't like expensive make up- I lust after it- but that's not what this blog is all about. Today, like a true penny-pincher, I'm introducing the 4 high street (or drugstore to our friends across the pond) lipsticks I cannot live without. Here they are:

From left to right we have: 17 Shine On in "Flirty", Barry M Lip Paint number 150, Maybelline Colour Sensational in "Midnight Plum", Elf Lipstick in Sociable.

Same order applies to the swatches below.

As you can see, the first two colours are neutral, everyday colours. The second two colours are bright and brave- ideal for parties and nights out while still being wearable.

17 Shine On in "Flirty"

I bought this six months ago, and I don't think they still make it! I wish I'd bought more of these at the time, because it's a really soft and silky formula. It's a muted rose colour- almost nude. I wear it a lot and it matches almost all make up looks. It's not as shiny as the name would have you believe; but I like that as I think it makes it far more wearable. The only problem is that it isn't terribly long lasting, so reapplication throughout the day is necessary. I can't remember what it cost, but I imagine it was under a fiver. 

Oh, apologies for the horrible lighting. I should also mention that all the pictures are without lip liner or gloss so you can see the true colour.

Barry M Lip Paint number 150

Apart from my Mac Mattene Lipstick in "delectable", this is my favourite nude! In fact, they're really similar in both colour and consistency. It's gorgeous and creamy and really long lasting, with slightly browner undertones than the 17 product. It's also more matte than the previous product, which I personal like, but I occasionally mix things up with a layer of gloss. I wouldn't be without this one, and it's available for the very reasonable price of £4.49.

Maybelline Colour Sensational in "Midnight Plum"

With winter on its way, I couldn't resist this lovely dark colour to jazz up my look. It's a little bit daring as it's very dark with a considerably amount of shimmer (doesn't show up in the picture very well). Also very creamy, and super long lasting- making it ideal for parties. It does tend to stain the lips a little, so don't forget a balm underneath. It cost £7.19, and I have another from this range in a nude which is almost identical to the Barry M.

Elf Lipstick in Sociable

This is undoubtedly the cheapest item in my collection. Elf sent it to me by accident when I place a huge order with them a few weeks back (although I'd happily repurchase it for the grand price tag of £1.50). I was skeptical at first- glittery raspberry isn't my colour. But no, I was wrong! It's a really fun, playful colour and if you don't have the guts to wear it full-on, it's easy enough to tone down with a brown gloss. It's kind of a strange one, because the lipstick itself is matte, but it has rather large chunks of glitter in it. Not something I'd normally go for, but it really works! The great thing about this lippy is that it lasts and lasts and lasts, but it takes a little work to make it go on totally smoothly. I absolutely love it though, and I plan on purchasing all of the Elf lipsticks in the future. 

Oo-er, be prepared for the unsightly close-up of my face- complete with huge dark circles from too much coffee and too little sleep.

Right, that should be enough to settle my conscience about banging on about high end products! Although saying that, I'm off to London this weekend and I'm going to irresponsibly squander some of my birthday money in the Mac store and Space NK. Be prepared for a post!

Rach xx