Lets talk acne: My favourite foundation!

*Sorry for the messy eyebrows guys.. growing-out-my-eyebrows-to reshape-them problems*

Why Estee Lauder?

I’ve always had a thing for Estee Lauder. I don’t know whether it’s because I’ve seen my mum use the products religiously since I was a dot, or because Kendall Jenner is the face of the brand - either way, it’s a brand I’ve dabbled in here and there. I even worked on counter for some weeks before my hectic university timetable wouldn’t allow me to carry on. So, it’s fair to say I’ve got a little soft spot for the products that I spent much of my time learning about.

My skin

I have oily to combination skin, which at times can be a little unruly. It goes through stages – mainly for hormonal reasons – and sometimes it’s clear whilst other times I have crazy breakouts. I wish I was one of those people who only gets a spot or two but no, when I break out, I really break out. And it was on one of those bad skin days that I decided to go on the hunt for a foundation that doesn’t feel like an oily layer on my skin or clog pores, whilst lasting a long time.

The down low on Double Wear Light

Double Wear Light is pretty self-explanatory for already avid users of the original Double Wear. It’s a much lighter formula for people looking for sheer-to-medium coverage; it still carries elements of the original formula that so many women love, and it lasts all day!

I’ve used Double Wear before, but full cover in a foundation isn’t a desirable quality for me anymore. A lot of the time my face feels cakey and uncomfortable – I hate it! However, Double Wear Light allows me to start off with sheer everyday coverage that can be built up without feeling thick and oily on the skin; it’s perfect for those looking for a fuss-free foundation that gives a beautiful finish.

But most importantly, for those who suffer with acne like myself this lightweight foundation is non-acnegenic (products that are formulated to not clog the pores) and oil-free just like the original Double Wear, which is so useful for oily skin types that are prone to breakouts.

The lightweight formula is perfect for summer, and along with SPF 10, it really takes care of your skin all year round.

Why have I chosen Double Wear Light instead of the original?

I’ve recently taken a different approach to my skincare and makeup and I think this is important for all acne sufferers who are conscious of their skin. It’s so important to be patient with yourself and your skin during a breakout and I’ve come to realise that no amount of makeup caked on my face will make me feel any more comfortable with my spots. So instead, I think it’s time we embrace the lumps and bumps. Our skin goes through so many changes throughout our lives and the naturally ‘airbrushed’ look is almost impossible without Photoshop.

Instead, I’ve been using lighter products to cover up redness and just accepting that today, this is how my skin has decided to be and I think we all should. After all, I can guarantee that the only person looking at your spots is you – give people a pretty smile to look at instead!

What makeup or skincare products are you loving for acne-prone skin this Summer? : - )

Get the hottest skincare trend with Clinique!

Spring is on the way and it's time to get this seasons hottest catwalk trend, the fresh faced, no makeup look. With a little prep of course, it's possible to achieve naturally clear and even looking skin with a full coverage but lightweight foundation - something that drugstore brands haven't quite achieved yet.

Clinique have recently launched their 'beyond coverage' two in one foundation that combines the colour correction of a foundation and the coverage of a concealer into one product. The formula is really creamy and lightweight which is surprising for a foundation combined with a heavy duty concealer, and is perfect for coverage as well as comfort. When applied, it doesn't sit on the skin - which can sometimes make it obvious that you're wearing makeup - instead, it LOOKS LIKE SKIN! This is something I've been looking for a while now. I used to be obsessed with Loreal True Match but after looking in a mirror that was a little too honest, I could see every little pore in my face which did not look attractive at all.

With Benefits Porefessional for prep, this foundation stayed on my face all day without any patchiness or slippage which is great for anyone with oily skin. Clinique also do a foundation in their anti-blemish range to target these problems but I find the formula harder to blend which can make my makeup look a bit unnatural. The 'beyond coverage' foundation is easily bendable with my Real Techniques expert face brush and keeps some of the dewiness, perfect for the healthy no-makeup glow.

Also, the doe foot applicator really deserves a mention. Hats off to whoever decided to incorporate this into the packaging because I haven't seen anything like it and it makes application soooo much easier. It prevents wastage, which I hate when you've spent a bit of money on the product, and it's loyal to the concealer aspect of the formula. Simply dot a little around the eyes or on any spots for coverage where you need it!

The Real Techniques expert face brush is perfect for blending and buffing foundation into the skin. It's the best brush I've ever used for foundation application and it has to be my favourite part of doing my makeup! It's also super soft and easy to clean which is an added bonus! There's nothing worse than a bristly brush that can be itchy and malts like no tomorrow!

Finally, the fresh faced catwalk look can only be achieved with clear skin. Like many people I'm sure, there is never a time when I don't have blemishes. This is when I reach for my anti-blemish solutions clinical clearing gel, something that I've been using on and off over the years as the beauty blogger inside always wants to try new products. It's a light gel with salicylic acid in the formula, that can be applied twice a day over cleansed skin and spot-applied for leave-on blemish treatment. It's perfect for those 'oops I left my makeup on' mornings when those blighters make an appearance!

FOTD: Get festive with Kiko - a warm eye look

Seen in photograph: 

- Foundation: Bourjois healthy mix (Vanilla)
- Concealer: Collection 2000 Lasting perfection concealer ( 01 Fair)
- Benefit Hoola Bronzer
- Lipstick: MAC Kinda Sexy
- Eyes (my staple product!): Kiko long lasting eyeshadow stick (37 Burgundy)


Not seen in photograph (because packaging is too grubby):

-Powder: Max Factor creme puff pressed powder (41 medium beige)
-Mascara: Bourjois volume 1 second mascara (ultra black)
-Brows: Hi impact brows palette

I LOVE this look. The warm burgundy eye is perfect for winter and the up-coming festive season! Team with a nude lip for a casual day look or with a dark berry lip for a mysterious, sexy evening do. Heavy contouring will always be in - from Cheryl to Kim Kardashian, effortlessly get the look with Benefits famous bronzer, Hoola! I never leave the house without my ol'faithful Hoola... even though it's getting a little bit grubby. It also has no shimmer and appears completely matte which doesn't make it too overpowering for everyday use - holy grail right there!

Kiko's burgundy eyeshadow stick also makes blue eyes really stand out and is soooo flattering, so blue eyed beauties... get to Kiko! I also love how easy it is to apply as eyeshadow can be a little daunting. It's a quick fix product that can completely transform a look in seconds; simply sweep and blend for a flawless finish!

I really hope you enjoyed this post because I haven't done a FOTD or MOTD in a loooooooong time. Be sure to let me know what products you're loving for the upcoming festive season and any eye products that make blue eyes pop!

Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation

Hello girls! This is just a quick post to share with you my holy grail foundation which is just flawless! Since coming back from holiday my skin has been a little oily, spot prone and all round temperamental; finding a foundation that fits my skin type can be quite the challenge. My Mum has always sworn by 

Estée Lauder's best seller Double Wear foundation.

It's suitable for any skin type, because although it's oil-free for those with oily skin, I find it quite moisturising, not drying my skin but maintaining and balancing the essential oils.  

NEW: Benefit Big Easy: multi-balancing complexion perfector

I FINALLY found the time to spend my Debenhams gift card on this beauty! Newly launched, Benefits Big Easy multi-balancing complexion perfector had me slightly puzzled at first; now it's made it onto my very much sought after professional favourites list (more like a piece of scrap paper with scribbles of my best buys) but even so, in all of its glorious packaging, it's fabulous.

At first, I was curious to try out a new product with such bold promises- can a liquid really turn into powder? But after trying it I was pleasantly surprised. It seems like it was sent from the heavens specially for my skin type because I have annoying clogged up, oily skin. So whenever I buy a foundation I have to buy its best buddy, a powder, to fight the pesky shine here and there.

Big Easy, once applied, leaves a soft warm complexion that once rubbed in creates a matte finish; no longer do I have to waste so much money on powders- Just what I need!

*Quick Tip*  It also transforms to the correct shade of your skin if you warm up the product by rubbing a little between your fingers before application. I have a relatively light skin tone- so I thought until I had a beauty consolation- but light/medium is perfect for me because I like to alternate between my natural ghostly white skin tone to a light tan.

This product is fabulouso for everyday use, with a light weight finish and light coverage (I only use heavy foundations when I go out) although you can build up the product if you want higher coverage. It also has SPF 35 so it should be handy when the good old British summer makes an appearance!

Thumbs up to ya Benefit, you've created a gooden!

My new Christmas handbag beauties: Benefit and bareMinerals

Hello everybody! I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones, and you received everything you wished for...oh and don't forget eaten a sinful amount of food!  I haven't blogged in a week or two because I've been a busy bee with the run up to Christmas and ridiculous amounts of uni work- but I'm back and determined to give you all the best beauty experience and introduce you to the newest additions to my fast-growing beauty collection!

The 'How to look the best at everything' set has the cutest packaged set of miniature Benefit products and it's perfect to slip into your bag for a day out- what a fab way to test a handful of products for £25!

1) the POREfessional

I have never really used a primer or balm before applying my makeup and being quite speedy when putting makeup on in the mornings, a primer doesn't fit into my routine, but after trying this product i think squeezing it in can only be beneficial for the quality of my look. I was put off using primers and balms after using one a while ago and it made my skin so oily and gave me that 'cakey' appearance, not a good look in the summer or a night out. But Benefits POREfessional balm is so light and leaves my skin feeling very soft; a tiny weeeeeny bit can go a long way and instantly minimises the appearance of pores and skin imperfections. After applying foundation my skin felt silky smooth it was like it had been crafted by angels… not bad ay!

2) Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow 

It's light, it's flawless, it's fabulous- i love it. It gives me light coverage which, trust me, is hard to find. I swear most brands assume that us consumers want strong, heavy coverage to cover up those almost unnoticeable skin imperfections but i can't stand caking on the foundation, simply brushing past your face and leaving a massive foundation stain- not pretty girls! Since my skin has been spot free i need light coverage that gives me an even, flawless skin tone, and this product delivers that beautifully. As it insists in its ingenious title, it literally breathes life into your skin- flawless but natural beauty!

3) BOI-ING  

Similar to Oxygen Wow, Benefits famous under eye concealer delivers just as fabulously. It's quite light which doesn't really help when I naturally have under eye circles, but unlike other concealers, it's LONG-LASTING. Also, like not many other under eye concealers, it provides two shades to blend and create a natural finish, technologically genius if you ask me! Perfect for long days out when mirrors may be scarce, you know you'll always be covered. The miniature sample can be removed and placed in handbags in case of emergencies or when your face needs a 'boing'!

4) Hello Flawless powder

I'm a big big fan of powders, especially around the t-zone when oil likes to make an appearance. But this powder is the perfect finish to create a flawless complexion- simply sweep over areas that need a little extra coverage and BAM… Hello flawless! Also, the tiny weeny brush is so adorable, I'm such a typical girl when it comes to cute, miniature things.

This set has to be my favourite Christmas buy, you get so much for a little price. Even better, being inexperienced when it comes to using Benefit products, the set comes with a little 'Tip and Tricks' fold out booklet with tips on how to apply the products to achieve instant beauty- LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Search for your ideal miniature Benefit set here - hurry up they're selling out fast! 

bareMinerals Brush With Splendor: 4-piece mini brush collection with travel bag 

My second new addition to my miniature bag beauties is from bareMinerals. I of course was drawn to the product because of how cutely small it was- another one of my girly obsessions- and how handy it is when making my makeup routine a little less of a chore. The kit provides all the gear needed to apply your war paint ready for the day and I'm not going to lie i have taken it out my bag a couple of times just so people can see how adorable it is (just between me and you). However, not only are they so handy to carry around when a little top up is needed, but the quality of the brushes are even better. I hate it when I'm sweeping on my powder and then look in the mirror to find hair all over my face- one of my pet hates if I'm honest, but i haven't had that problem since switching to these brushes. They are silky smooth and soft, a luxurious treat for my skin. Cute and a worthy buy!

The 4-piece mini brush collection contains:

1) Mini flawless coverage face brush: for medium to sheer coverage

2) Mini soft sweep cheek brush: lightly blends and contours

3) Mini tapered blending brush: lightly applies eye colour, blends and corrects mistakes

4) Mini flat edged liner brush: designed to follow the curvature of your eyes, for precise, one stroke application

5) Travel brush bag: a sleek, silver case bag to protect your brushes- bang on trend!

Search for your perfect bareMinerals brushes here - there's currently an online sale so hurry! 

Thank you for reading! Comment and let me know your handbag beauties, what can you not leave the house without?