PORE fessional

POREfessional, worth the hype? Absolutely.

Now, I don't think I have particularly large pores to begin with, but when one of my friends popped this in the post for me I thought what the heck, I'll give it a go, see what all the fuss is about.
I'm usually not fussed about Benefit products, I find them very overpriced and disappointing (please don't hate me, Benefit fans).

I apply this as my primer after I've moisturized, with my fingertips, starting with my T-zone and then to the rest of my face.
Benefit say you can apply it over the top of your make-up as well, I haven't tried that yet, it seems a little strange to me! I suppose that's more if you want to reduce the look of your pores?!

This makes my make up stay put throughout a whole working day and into the evening, it's great to stop it sliding, and means I have to touch up less.
I think my favourite thing about this product is the silky consistency, makes your skin feel super duper soft. I just want to stroke my face everytime I've finished applying it (weirdo...)
It is slightly scented, but nothing overpowering, I hate using highly scented products on my face.

I would have shown you what it looks like on, but it literally just disappears into your skin, creating a smooth base for your foundation.

It's quite pricey at £23.50, but I've used it every day for a couple of months now, so it's lasted fairly well. I know lots of people don’t really see primers as an essential in their make-up bag, but this really does help your make up stay put.

Have you tried POREfessional? What's your favourite primer?

New In: Benefit Go TropiCORAL Set

Benefit Go TropiCORAL Set £24.50 Boots

Benefit sets always seem to be cuter and more handy than the next, their latest release Go TropiCoral is no exception. Their latest Instant Beauty collection includes three sets to choose from Sugalicious, Feelin' Dandy and Go Tropicoral. Being a coral lover myself, it’s peachy pinks through and through the set Tropicoral was right up my street!

First up in the set are two mini bottles of, Cha Cha Tint and High Beam. Cha Cha Tint adds a lovely peachy glow to the skin that’s extremely subtle. When paired with Benefit high beam it’s natural cheek perfection.  My favourite item of the set has got to be Benefit Coralista, which I absolutely adore it’s a peach shade with gorgeous golden shimmer running through it and has a lovely blendable texture. Last but not least is the Benefit Coralista gloss, which I've spoken about before here, for having an amazingly balmy texture, beautiful finish but not extremely long lasting.

A fantastic set and amazing gift idea!

Beauty On Location: Formal Lunch

Formal lunches can be a two to three hour affair, iPhones are left unattended, emails get disguarded and running to the bathroom for a touch up isn't an option. In terms of makeup, of course lunch means little lip action going on, there's nothing worse than a ring of pink lipstick on your glass. I kept my makeup pretty simple, my routine when-in-doubt face with nothing too fancy going on. Same goes for my hair, no poofy volume or ringlet curls, just good old simple blow-dry.

Skin

- I wanted my skin to look as natural as possible so started of with Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer as a base to ensure shine stayed at bay. I then followed with Dior DiorSkin Airflash Foundation for a luminous finish that provides coverage.
- Under my eyes I used a combination of L'Oreal Lumi Magique with Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
- To define my cheeks I used the Une Healthy Glow Mineral Powder and a touch of Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Lush Nectarine

Eyes

- The shade Pale Barley by Burberry is the perfect all over the lid shade that doesn't crease, is really pigmented and lasts throughout the day. I added a little colour to my socket with Mac Cork and smudged some of the darker shade Mac Carbon along my lash line.

- Pixi Lash Line Ink added some extra definition as I lined my eyes and finished off with Origins Ginesing Brightening Mascara

Lips

- I left my lips pretty nude throughout the lunch but before I arrived swept a coat of Benefit Ultra Plush Gloss in Dandelion as it doesnt last long on the lips and isn't sticky at all

What's your routine face?

Beauty On Location: The Office

Most offices have different dress codes but where I'm working at the moment it's pretty formal. Most days I either find myself wearing dresses or skirts, which is great as tight jeans can be so uncomfortable after a long day! 

I've got a bit of a Kooples ensemble going on here, both the skirt and the top are something I picked up a couple of weeks ago in the sale - which I do recommend checking out if you're interested in some formal work wear with a neutral colour theme.

Makeup gets applied half asleep at around 7am and gets touched up with the contents from my 'at work' makeup bag (link to post here) throughout the day. I've been switching it up a little bit and been wearing two new purchases, the Estee Lauder Matt Perfecting Primer and the YSL Touche Eclat foundation. Both of which seem to be doing pretty well so far! I'll definitely be reviewing them after a more thorough test drive. 

Skin

- Estee Lauder Matt Perfecting Primer - that has taken over from my beloved Givenchy Mister Matt for the past couple of weeks, I don't want to speak too son but I think I may just prefer it!

- I'm not one for a dewy finish but the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation, is really making me change my mind! Lasts well throughout the day, doesn't separate or clump!

- Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel in 917 Sable Rose on my cheeks (as always)

Eyes

- Mac Painterly Paint Pot all over the lids (link to post) followed by the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette shade Half Baked all over the lid

- I went on to apply my Avon SuperShock Gel Liner in Blackberry and blended the line out with a fluffy brush dipped in the shade Snakebite, also from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. 

Lips

- One of Benefits new Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Dandelion - review here

What's your work attire? Do you keep a makeup bag at work?

New In: Benefit Dandelion Ultra Plush Lip Gloss

Honestly, six years after buying my first Benefit product, Dr Feelgood primer, I'm still on the fence if I'm mainly paying for packaging or product. I'm a total sucker for anything beautifully packaged but there's always that bit that thinks is the actual product worth it? 

My second Benefit product was one of their box powders, Hoola. Which was followed by Georgia and  Dandelion. They have recently released 6 new Lip Glosses to match their Box O' Blushers, and Dandelion, a peach shade with gold flecks was the shade that caught my eye.

I love the effect gloss has on my lips but hate the sticky, heavy feeling it can give. Which is where I fell in love with Dandelion. The texture is very very sheer feeling absolutely weightless on the lips but looks really glossy. Not being drying at all with a typical Benefit fruity scent.

Of course being a lovely weightless gloss means one thing, a lack of staying power. I would say these last around 45 minutes on my lips at the most, which is of course not the best but that's to be expected from a light textured gloss. 

Like I mentioned there are 6 available shades for £13.50 I really do recommend going to test out the texture of these if you're passing a Benefit counter!


What was your first Benefit product?

Deal Alert! Benefit, Ciate Nails, Jemma Kidd & Body Shop with July Magazines!

July magazines have come out today with some amazing beauty freebies! I can't wait to try these... 

Marie-Claire July - Choice of three Ciate Nail Polishes, pink, lilac and taupe. I love the Ciate polishes so I ran to get these!

Glamour July - Choice of mini Benefit Porefessional Primer, That Gal Primer or Bad Gal Mascara. I've heard many great things about the Porefessional primer so I look forward to trying this - I love how they are the perfect size for travelling too!

Red July - Choice of Jemma Kidd Eyeliner or Mascara both in black. I love the Jemma Kidd eyeliners - very soft and creamy and blendable so I was very happy to receive this with Red!

InStyle July - Two Body Shop Eyeliners, blue & black

What will you be picking up?

My Makeup: Everyday

When it comes to everyday makeup I don't normally have time to experiment and try new things, I want something that I know will last on my skin and doesn't take away too much from laying in bed! For eyes this consists of my two current favourite eyeshadows, Burberry Pale Barley - link to post *here*, and Burberry Midnight Brown - link to post *here*, as well as the other usual suspects, foundation, concealer etc. Here's how I do my eye makeup on a daily basis and the other products I use :)

 To ensure my eyeshadow lasts all day and doesn't crease I prep my lids with a light layer of Mac Paint Pot in Painterly - link to full post about it *here*

1. With a flat brush I pack Burberry Sheer eyeshadow in Pale Barley onto my lids, making sure to stay below the crease

2. Taking a big fluffy blending brush, such as a Mac 217, and the shade Midnight Brown and apply just in the crease to give some definition

3. Using my favourite highlighter pencil, Benefit High Brow Glow, *link*,  I line just below my brows to add a bit of shimmer and make my brows appear more lifted and my eyes more awake

4. With my Chanel Automatic Liquid Eyeliner in 20 Brown I line my upper lash line
5. Taking a small short brush like the Real Techniques Accent Brush and the Midnight Brown I lightly line the lower lash line. This will subtly make my lashes look thicker!
6. With my Pixi Bright Eye Liner I line the inner water line, this is the perfect shade of cream that will counteract any redness in the eye area...great for faking a couple hours of sleep!

Skin
- As a primer I use Shu Uemura Under Base Mousse *link* all over my face, this contains SPF 30 and UVA and UVB protection while also helping to keep makeup in place and skin matt
- Followed by Dior DiorSkin Nude Foundation, a simple mineral foundation and Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer under my eyes
- To warm up my cheeks a little I apply Mac Blush in Harmony paired with Dior Rosy Glow Awakening Blush *link*

Lips
- My latest favourite combination is the Dior Lip Glow *link* followed by Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Lucky *link*

The Big Benefit Experience- Part 3 First Base, a review of That Gal Primer

Good evening beauties, I hope you've all had a fab weekend! 

Firstly, sorry for the lack of posts over the past couple of weeks.

Now, every beauty junkie knows that gorgeous skin is the key for barely there make-up. 

So if you have an uneven skin tone and blemishes then Benefit's That Gal primer will be your skin saviour! 

I know most of you beauties probably don't use a face primer, but That Gal is a great way to prep your skin before applying make-up for a flawless finish.

It's £21.50 comes in quite a generous tube, but I must be honest and I do think it's a little overpriced. 

You just need to squeeze a couple of blobs out and rub them in evenly all over your face, the same way you would do with a moisturiser. 

The light pink pigments tone down the redness of any blemishes.

That Gal  creates the perfect smooth base for your foundation, and will stop it sliding throughout the day, meaning less touch ups for us beauties!

I like this primer because it isn't to thick and doesn't feel heavy on my skin, and it smells scrummy too. 

Another great Primer to try and a slightly cheaper alternative to That Gal is by Too Faced and called Primed and Poreless £18.50. It doesn't have a lovely scent like That Gal, but is quite a lot thicker, so perfect if you have uneven skin.

Why not give it a try beauties?! Xx