Recent Beauty Haulin'

It has been a while since I have bought a load of new make-up, skin care or general bath and body products, as I have recently been going through a phase of clothes shopping rather than anything else, whoops! I have lost a little bit of weight since New Year, so I have been enjoying buying new clothes - but fear not, I have still managed to squeeze in a little bit of beauty shopping here and there! Who doesn't love a haul?

I've wanted to try out a new foundation for a few Weeks, so with the aid of another beauty blogger (oh hey Clare) I picked out the Loreal True Match Foundation. I have only tried it once but it seems to be pretty good so far.
I also picked up a Collection lipstick which I definitely didn't need, but I just love a nude lip at the minute, so I couldn't resist!

I'm not hugely into skin care but I had ran out of my micellar water, so I repurchased the Garnier Make-up Remover and Soap and Glory Facial Wash. I have repurchased the Garnier Make-up Remover multiple times and it such a good product.

I also picked up a few other essentials including the Loreal Elvive Dry Shampoo, (which is incredible, definitely recommend) Dove Nourishing Oil Carer Conditioner, Boots Anti - Perspirant, N Spa Fragrance Body Mist in Clementine, Palmolive Strawberry Touch Body Butter Shower Cream, and a Superdrug Semi- Permanent Hair Dye.

What have you bought recently?

Favourite Base Products

Over the past few years I have swapped and switched the base products I use day to day. After a lot of searching, I have finally found a routine I am content with. I don't feel like I have to wear foundation every day, but when I do, I .like a medium coverage. I have a lot of red blemishes which I like to cover, but I also have freckles on my cheeks; they particularly like to show up in the warmer Months, which I don't mind showing off. I find Mac's Mineralize Foundation a perfect coverage for Summer, as it covers and evens out my complexion without looking too cake-y. For the rest of the year I opt for Rimmel's Match Perfection Foundation, which is a medium coverage liquid foundation that is a perfect colour match for my very pale skin. It blends really well, doesn't wear off quickly, and gives my face that healthy glow. The main brush I use to apply both of these foundations to the skin is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I like it how applies both cream and liquid foundation so evenly and gives a flawless finish.
I usually apply concealer both before and after applying foundation, and the two I reach for most are Maybelline's Fit Me Concealer and Mac's Mineralize Concealer. They both work well at covering red blemishes and indents to the skin. I have used both in attempt to hide my dark circles and they do an adequate job. I tend to apply these concealers straight from the wand, and blending into the skin lightly using my fingers. I can't quite pull off a dewy finish, so tend to pop on a little pressed powder, like this Collection Pressed Powder on top of my base to help it hold and give a more matte finish, using the Real Techniques Powder Brush. The brush is thick and large, making it easy to quickly press powder onto the foundation. The powder is very affordable and lasts a good few hours.

What products do you reach for most for a flawless base?

Collection Primed & Ready Make-Up Primer

Collection (2000) Primed & Ready Smoothing Make - Up Primer £5.99

I bought this primer a few months ago when it was first released by Collection (around the same time when they were in one of the beauty boxes) as my favourite L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer had ran out, I wanted to try a cheaper alternative to priming my skin read before applying make - up. 

The packaging to the product is quite nice for a cheaper product, it is in a black tube with bright pink writing. I like that it is is not in a glass tub as it is easier to use from a tube applicator. 

The texture is silicon and is a clear colour, which I much prefer to skin coloured primers. It is smooth and is easy to apply to the face, For me personally I think it is an okay primer, it makes my make - up stay on for a longer time, but I don't think it is the best primer out there, because if you apply too much onto the face it ruins my foundation application. I don't think it helps to hide any blemishes or pores on the face, either.

In conclusion, I think it is a decent primer for the price. It makes make - up apply a little smoother and last longer, but the amount of product you use has to be very little for it to work well (for me anyway) and doesn't really cover an blemishes. It does the job though and is a really good price for a primer, I would probably purchase again but it wouldn't be a 'ust have' holy grail product for me.