My Top 5 Highlighters

Okay, this is a tough one. There were so many candidates for this list I could barely make myself decide which ones to go for. Highlighting has got to be one of my favourite steps when doing make-up because I feel it brings light to the face, and adds a polished finish to the skin. The best thing is, with so many amazing formulations on the market these days that you can easily opt out from looking like a disco ball if you wish and go for a really natural glow with no sparkle whatsoever. I usually gravitate towards the liquid and cream formulations with hardly any sparkle - they do tend to look more natural on the skin but I occasionally reach for the powders too.

 
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate

The Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate palette is a long time favourite of mine though it is not mentioned too often these days since Charlotte Tilbury, Becca and Hourglass have taken over most of the social media recently. It does still deserve a place in my top 5. 

The lightweight cream gives a very sheer, soft glow and it is easy to blend it into a subtle, chic highlight without shimmer or sparkle. Dab it along the cheekbones with fingers or use a buffing brush to apply, make sure you blend the edges really well. Bonus feature: as I mentioned in my Top 5 Bronzers post, I'm a sucker for nice packaging and this one is luxurious through and through so is the price, unfortunately. 

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate is available for £56.00 here.


Mac Cream Colour Base

 
Why don't people talk about the Cream Colour Base more? It is the highlighting product that I've used the longest and to this day I always have more than one colour on the go both in my pro and private make-up kit. It is basically a multitasking product and with a bit of creativity, you can use it many ways. CCB can be an eyeshadow, an eye base, a brow or cheek highlighter,  blusher or even bronzer. The concentrated solid cream melts with the warmth of your hands so it is easy to blend and buff it over the required area. There are 18 shades available on the Mac website from white to the brightest of magenta and red. The ones I tend to use most is Pearl(champaign colour), Luna(white) and Hush (salmon colour).

CCB is very affordable and lasts a long time. 

Mac Cream Colour Base is available for £17.00 here.


Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector

I cannot rave about this enough! The Shimmering Skin Perfector has been around for years but really only took off when the whole blogging/Youtube-ing world exploded. Now it exists in liquid, cream and powder form but I still prefer the classic liquid in a pump bottle just because it is more hygienic in a makeup kit. It comes in 5 shades, but the one I use the most is Pearl. 

As you buff this into the skin you get the sheerest, most natural looking and juiciest highlight of them all. The effect is very refined and polished. It also has a prismatic effect, that allows the product to adjust to lighting so your highlight is nice and visible all the time so it photographs beautifully too. For £34.00 you get 30ml which is a huge amount.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector is available here.

Rimmel Sculpting palette

This is one of my recent discoveries, it also features on my Top 5 Bronzers list. It is a very handy little compact, excellent on the go. The golden toned highlighting powder has a very light texture, sheer coverage and it works really well with the other colours in the palette. 

This is a quick and easy option, you can even use only one brush to apply all the colours starting with the lightest. Bonus feature: the price. This is an excellent option for the ones on a budget.

Rimmel Sculping palette available for £6.99 here


Ben Nye Lumiere Lux powder

This is a really fun product and had this sitting at the bottom of my pro kit for a long time.  This super fine powder filled with sparkle diffused over the cheeks with a fan brush you can achieve an extreme high shine effect. 

I would probably use this for editorial or fun fantasy looks (Halloween, anyone?)rather than a daytime look for the office. It shows up in photographs beautifully, so why not using it for your next Instagram make-up selfie too?  The loose powder can be mixed into sealers to make it more durable or use makeup mixer to turn it into an eye gloss. This product is pure fun and for £15.99 (8g), it's an absolute steal.

Ben Nye Lumiere Lux Powder is available here.

New in: Mac Liptensity Lipsticks

Finally, yesterday Mac released the long-awaited Liptensity Lipstick range. I love a good backstory when it comes to cosmetics ranges and this one is quite something: the cosmetic giant collaborated with a tetrachromat called Maureen Seaberg, an artist, who has a rare vision condition the allows her to see a multitude of colours, 100 times more than a regular person.
The result is a range of 24  vibrant new shades from the lightest pink to dark blue, even black. This range is part of a new generation of lipstick formulation within the Mac portfolio. Long are the days gone of choosing either a lipstick that is 'moisturising but disappears quickly'  or 'matte, stays on, but is drying'. The Liptensity Lipsticks are soft, creamy in texture, comfortable to wear, super pigmented, rich, vibrant in colour AND long-lasting. Who wouldn't be pleased with that?

The packaging looks great too: it is sleek, the matte metal lids look elegant (slightly heavier than the plastic ones) and they are signifying the colour that's in the bullet. The colour coded lipstick packaging is new to Mac, but it works really well.

I picked four colours of the range: Smoked Almond (a rosy nude - perfect everyday colour), Dionysus (a brownie red, very autumn), Claretcast (deep magenta) and Blue Beat ('Cause who doesn't need a blue lipstick, right?)

From top to bottom: Claretcast, Smoked Almond, Dionysus, Blue Beat

I have instantly put Smoked Almond and Claretcast into my daily makeup bag, I love to wear them so much and I will definitely add some more to my collection. Which ones will you get?




Mac Liptensity Lipsticks are available for £17.50 here

Top 5 bronzers I used in the summer

Now that summer has drawn to a close I offer you a whiff of nostalgia with looking back on  my favourite bronzers I used this summer. I use bronzers on clients often, nearly every time, but I've never really been a bronzer user myself. This year they started to grow on me and now I really have fun using them. Some of these are new favourites, some of them have been firm staples of my kit for years. So here they are in no particular order.

1. Soleil Tan De Chanel, formerly known as Bronze Universel

This is a real classic, years ago it was all over on beauty blogs. I've found this sitting in my personal makeup kit and I thought this is the time to re-discover it. I'm glad I've done it because it is such a beautiful product - it's creamy, soft, easy to blend, has a gentle sheen to it. Buffing this cream into the skin is a perfect way to warm up the skin tone. Not just that, but it's also incredibly economical, it is a huge amount, and it lasts for ages. The only thing you have to watch, and this is for the lighter skin toned girls out there, it is a bit on the yellow side, so make sure you put on a little bit at a time and blend it really thoroughly. This is a luxury product so you would have to part with quite a bit of cash to get this, but it is all worth it. 

Soleil Tan De Chanel is Available here

2. Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate (Intensity one)

Technically this is a sculpting/highlighting duo, not a bronzer, but  I like to use this to warm up my skin tone. It is a soft cream, similar to Soleil Tan De Chanel, but it is a  lot less yellow. It is sheer, blends into the skin like a dream, and has a subtle glowy finish, so it's great if your skin is on the dry side.  This is my second luxury buy on this list, it can do serious damage in your budget, but then...you get the quality...and look at the packaging...it is so beautiful and chic! How can you resist  this?

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate is available here

3. Becca Multi-Tasking Perfecting Powder (Tan)

I am absolutely in love with Becca and I am so glad to see the success they've achieved over the years. Their highlighters are on every beauty blogger's lips, and quite rightly so. The Shimmering Skin Perfector has been a staple of my kit for years and everything else they do is just perfection to me. The Multi-Tasking Perfecting Powder is, again, not technically a bronzer as such,it is a water resistant mineral foundation, but the less yellow colour and matte finish makes it a perfect everyday bronzer for lighter skin tones. The powder is light and easy to blend. I really appreciate the small, compact packaging with the mirror, which makes it an excellent travel companion and is great for touch-ups on the go.

Becca Multi-Tasking Perfecting powder is available here.

4. Mac Mineralize Skin Finish (Medium Dark)
This is another classic and my third choice that is not actually a bronzer. This setting powder has an amazingly light texture and a satin finish. When I want to achieve a real seamless, natural, warm effect, this is my go to compact. It is available in quite a few shades, so I'm sure there is a one out there for you too. Please note, that the one I own above is an old compact, they have changed the packaging since the last time I bought this.

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish is available here.

5. Rimmel Sculpting Palette (Coral Glow)

Last but not least, my most recent favourite from Rimmel. The make-up snob in me was I bit surprised how good this was (rude, I know, sorry), but I'm so glad I discovered this. This face palette will definitely be a re-purchase. The colour of the bronze/sculpt shade is perfect for light skin tones, not too yellow, it has a bit of a sheen to it but nothing too over the top. It works for during the day but building it up gives you a really nice glow for a night out too. Top marks from me for this little gem! The handy compact of three colours is perfect for touch ups on the go or on holidays. And for this price? It's a steal!

Rimmel Sculpting Palette is available here.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup review

First things first, I do have to apologise for my absence on Instagram but I had a bit of a 'faux pas' with my beloved HTC. In a not so rare 'doing 10 things at one time' moment I stupidly/accidentally deleted all my pictures and videos from my phone, so I had to leave it in a shop for data recovery. However, instead of lamenting over the surreal feeling of not having my phone with me 24/7, and having lost every image I planned on posting for the next 3-4 days, I luckily saved a pic of the Estee Lauder Nude Cushion Stick Foundation on my computer, so at least I can go ahead with my weekly post here.

Estee Lauder foundations have always been in my top 5 of best foundations, and when they came out with the Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup (Gosh, isn't that a mouthful?) I couldn't wait to try it.  They didn't disappoint this time around either.

The packaging itself looks elegant, clean, sophisticated, easy to carry around in handbags. It has a sponge head and the product itself is dispersed through a small hole when twisting the bottom of the container to the sponge ready to be applied. How clever! Little goes a long way, you can add more by twisting just a tiny bit of the foundation to the sponge. Now, you and I would think:  'Hm...a sponge head? But wouldn't that go  incredibly dirty and full of bacteria very quickly?' Not this one! You can unscrew the head and give it a good clean whenever you feel like it! I almost feel I need to give a good hug to the person who came up with the idea!

The texture and finish of the foundation are divine! The oil-free formula glides on like a dream, has a decent medium, buildable coverage and a satin to slightly glowy finish. I'd say this is a great formulation for normal/combination, dry, maybe slightly oily skin types, but probably it is not for you if you are super oily (you can always opt for the classic Double Wear formulation, which is equally great but has longer wear and a matte finish).
 
Key facts about the Cushion Stick: the formulation contains a so-called  SkinSync Complex, which is a  blend of highly emollient lipids and butters (like Brazilian Muru-Muru butter and Linoleic Acid that melt on contact with skin creating a natural look and a comfortable, soft feel), a Quench Complex - Sodium Hyaluronate and naturally derived plant and fruit extracts to help skin attract and hold on to moisture for a long period of time, Glow Enhancing Optics - a luxurious mineral that includes Gold and South Sea Pearl that helps to give the skin an energized, radiant look, and finally a hint of Jasmine and Rose to give the foundation a fresh, clean scent. All this sounds fabulous and I have to say, it feels as delicious and luxurious as it sounds.

I've been testing this for a while and works really well on my combination skin. It seems, it has the durability of the classic Double Wear and stays on steadily during long working days. It is very easy to touch up your makeup with it and I felt I'm less inclined to powder it down during the day than usual, which is great news for me. This is certainly a foundation for the modern woman on the go and I am an absolute convert already!


Double Wear Cushion Stick Radiance Makeup is available in wide range of  20 shades here.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel review

A great hydrating formula that actually does what it claims might be a bit difficult to find on a budget but it's not impossible. I always encourage my clients to do their research before jumping into buying the newest, brightest, shiniest toy of a skincare that doesn't actually perform well on their skin or is not for their skin type and needs. Some might appear very effective but taking a closer look they're not what they might say they are.

The new Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel promises to work on all skin types and to "renew skin's hydration levels by replenishing water and strengthening skin's moisture barrier, resulting in hydrated, smooth, supple skin". The ingredients, they say, that make the difference: purified Hyaluronic Acid (for hydration) and olive extract (for giving and locking in moisture). 

The gel texture is light, smells nice and it wears nicely on my combination skin in warm weather during the day. It contains silicone oil, so it is light and smooth on application, it is also a good primer for makeup and it won't break the bank.  However, all in all, it didn't do much for my skin over time, unfortunately.  At the age of 39 (seriously, where has the time gone?) my skin feels as if it's craving more nutrition and boost. This gel looks inviting but didn't perform that well on me. I think there are better, more efficient and sophisticated formulations on the market that you can pick from when my skin feels thirsty. Shame about this one, because there are some Neutrogena products that I absolutely love (the T/Gel is an old favourite in our home or the Visibly Clear 2 in 1 Wash and Mask is a firm favourite of my boyfriend's). Maybe it would work better on a younger skin.

Potential concerns:

It contains silicones: Dimethicone - silicone oil that provides smooth application, skin conditioning agent, could be an irritant but fine if used the right way.

It is tested on animals.

It contains parabens and fragrance - possible irritants.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel is available for £12.99 at Boots, you can order it here.

I think I'll get back to my old favourites:  the Hylamide Low Molecular HA booster (see review here) and the Hydraluron Moisture Booster from Indeed Labs. Both are affordable, fragrance-free, not tested on animals and you get really quick positive results using them.









   

Going Zoella crazy

Zoella is one of the huge vlogger/blogger sensations who quickly became one of the most popular YouTubers. She has millions of followers worldwide and is a prominent social media influencer/businesswoman. She's seen the opportunity that lies within making videos on Youtube and she used it well. Her beauty range has become an instant sell-out and a twitter sensation...and I just bought into the hype. Why? The answer is very simple: the selfish reason of wanting to please my niece.

It's a rare treat when my niece is around, so I was really happy when I got to see her this week. Especially that she got to an age where she and I can spend some quality time together and bond over many things: her mum, the weather, the beach, seagulls,  drawing, walking and yes...wandering around Superdrug and look at all the treasures they sell. I told her she can have a choice of 3 products and we will review them together online. Goodness knows if she understood what a 'review' was or 'online' for that matter, but it didn't matter. The proud auntie that I am was chuffed seeing her enthusiasm. She instantly gravitated towards the pinks, the fluffy, the fun.

I spotted Zoella's range first and that fun little cosmetics bag...you can put trinkets in it...good. It's easy to clean...good. It's pink...even better! Lily has done the rest - she chose the Kissy Missy Lip Balm and the Foam, Sweet Foam Shower Gel. What more a 5-year-old can wish for when it comes to cosmetics? They look adequately girly and pink with a vintage feel, they have a sweet, but not too overwhelming scent, they are (okay, this is for the mum)reasonably priced  and they are just pure fun. 

The whole range is what it is and doesn't want to be more. I like that. And this is pretty much what there is to say about it. 
We had fun with them and that's all that matters.

You can get Zoella's range here

New In -The Body Shop Superfood Face Masks

A while ago I mentioned how the high street is upping its game in masks. It was high time to, and it was worth a wait. Finally, The Body Shop's delightful range of Superfood Masks are out, so there are loads of goodies to try. The launch has 5 masks for different skin concerns, each packed with potent, natural ingredients from all around the world. Here's the full range:

Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask (detoxifies and is 100% vegan)

British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask 
(hydrates and is 100% vegan)  
  
Ethiopian Honey Deep Nourishing Mask 
(nourishes and is 100% vegetarian)

Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask 
(brightens and is 100% vegetarian)

Amazonian Acai Energising Radiance Mask – (energises and is 100% vegan)

It's interesting to see how The Body Shop is changing over time, especially since they joined L'oreal. There are definitely more and more launches that look and feel high end, and the brand itself is evolving into a real grown-up beauty industry player. While I don't mind the odd chemical help when it comes to skin care, it is aways nice to return to tried and tested natural remedies. These masks are just the ticket.

I opted for two for now,  the British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask and the Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask, but I definitely will try the other three too. They all look so delicious, inviting and good enough to eat after all.

The gorgeous British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask is full of the hydrating goodness of the rose. It's a gel texture that looks appetising as a nice, home-made conserve and smells of a rose garden full of fresh, blooming buds.  The consistency is light, it feels refreshing so it's excellent for morning use  if you want  your makeup to glide on like a dream. While your skin is getting the essential hydration that it needs, you also get the calming, soothing effect of Aloe Vera and the brightening of Rosehip too. On top of that, it is 100% vegan! What's not to love?

The Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask is lovely exfoliating mask perks up dull, uneven skin in no time. The grains are not too harsh, is smells divine and feels refreshing on the skin. The  ginseng promises to tone and revitalise, the rice extract to stimulate the skin while the sesame seed oil to soften and it does exactly that. This is a perfect way to add radiance, to clarify and polish the skin in dire need of a pick me up.  This mask is 100% vegetarian. Be a bit cautious with this if you are sensitive, there's a bit of a tingling sensation while the mask is on so either leave it on for 2-3 minutes only instead of the recommended 5-10 minutes or go with one of the nourishing masks just in case.

Once you collected all 5 masks, you can mix and match to multitask which is very much on trend right now. Catering for the skin care savvy, offering different ways of clarifying and nourishing on demand is a smart move and will get a lot of attention. In the world of the beauty blogger/vlogger and a saturated market, this is a much-needed breath of fresh air that keeps the industry alive with good buzz and quality that is behind the hype.  Job well-done The Body Shop, this range is British beauty  at their finest, can't wait to see what else is in store in the next few seasons!

The full range is available here, £16.00 for each pot.

The Body Shop - Pinita Colada

I am a tad bit late with this, I know, but I couldn't resist anymore and got the shower gel and the body butter from The Body Shop's Pinita Colada range. I am a big fan of The Body Shop ever since my sister bought me a bottle of White Musk in the '90s. Back then in Hungary that was a huge deal. The Body Shop is a big part of the collective  beauty consciousness in the UK, and it seems everyone has nostalic story about the brand.  The soaps, the shower gels and body butters have always had a constant presence in my bathroom too ever since I moved to the UK. The Body Shop Pinita Colada (note it's Pinita, not Pina, so no rum involved ;)) range launched at the beginning of the summer. Bloggers everywhere went crazy for it. It took a bit of time, but finally I gave in to the catchy positive publicity.

First things first, I have to admit, the scent makes me smile every single time I open the bottle or the pot and I'm not the only one. I cannot believe how much this smells like a good Pina Colada cocktail.  Every sniff of the products  sends a tiny whiff of summer holiday happiness (preferably at to the Carrebbiean) to your brain. It's all about the coconut, and the pineapple, it is fresh, fruity, tropical, delicious. This range has quicly become a coveted item for this summer and I am not surprised. It looks fun and IS fun to use. The fragrance is quite strong, so if you don't want it to interfere with your perfume, use them in the evening. The textures are great, silky, smooth. The body butter is a bit on the sticky side for me, but I can easily overlook that tiny detail because it smells so good.

Please note: the shower gel is soap free, but contains Sodium Laureth Sulphate, actually, that is the second intgredient, so if you are concerned about chemical foaming agents, this one is not for you.

The whole Pinita Colada range is available here

The Alex Box of Cards

Alex Box is a make-up artist whose work I've admired for a long time. She really does put the artist into 'make-up artist'. She is most known for her unconventional style that most people got to see during her time being the creative director of Illamasqua. She is an artist who never stops looking for challenges, creative renewal. She is an unstoppable force of energy that is nothing but inspiring to me.
 
I saw her performing at IMATS in London this year and it was so much fun to watch her work. 'I am you' said her oversized t-shirt, sending a message to artists out there that we are made of the same mould. She is a make-up artist's make-up artist.   And the best thing about her, apart from being incredibly down to earth? She's not taking herself seriously and not afraid to have fun. 

When she announced at IMATS that she will do a project called 'The Alex Box of Cards', I thought, this is just what I need: a bit of creative boost, a source of inspiration for my work. And what could be better than getting it from one of your favourite artists?

The Alex Box of Cards is a little black box, made by an artisan box maker, filled with 50 cards of handwritten notes, 'a collection of creative touchstones' as she calls them.  That is 50 ways to get inspired, 50 times unlocking new ideas when you're stuck, 50 times approaching certain projects in a different way, 50 ways of seeing things from a new perspective,50 valuable fragments of ideas that you can start an artistic journey from, 50 breaths of fresh air when you need energy, 50 nudges out the door when you feel insecure, 50 encouragements when you feel you're just not good enough...or maybe just  50 ways to have fun with makeup...the possibilities  are endless.  All you need to do is pull one card out of the pack and off you go to uncharted territories of your creative  mind.  ‘I want to help people in those moments where they need inspiration or change of direction or even just encouragement from a friendly voice’ says Box and this is exactly what it does.

These cards are definitely an exciting addition to my life as a make-up artist.I have only seen one card, I want to keep the rest a surprise each time I pick one. My first one is:

Hm...where will this one take me I wonder?
If you are interested, you can pre-order the second edition of the Box here, but be prepared that it will take about 4-5 weeks for it to arrive because the box and cards are all handmade, so it takes a bit of time to create them.


Alex Box is a make-up artist whose work I've admired for a long time. She really does put the artist into 'make-up artist'. She is most known for her unconventional style that most people got to see during her time being the creative director of Illamasqua. She is an artist who never stops looking for challenges, creative renewal. She is an unstoppable force of energy that is nothing but inspiring to me.
 
I saw her performing at IMATS in London this year and it was so much fun to watch her work. 'I am you' said her oversized t-shirt, sending a message to artists out there that we are made of the same mould. She is a make-up artist's make-up artist.   And the best thing about her, apart from being incredibly down to earth? She's not taking herself seriously and not afraid to have fun. 

When she announced at IMATS that she will do a project called 'The Alex Box of Cards', I thought, this is just what I need: a bit of creative boost, a source of inspiration for my work. And what could be better than getting it from one of your favourite artists?

The Alex Box of Cards is a little black box, made by an artisan box maker, filled with 50 cards of handwritten notes, 'a collection of creative touchstones' as she calls them.  That is 50 ways to get inspired, 50 times unlocking new ideas when you're stuck, 50 times approaching certain projects in a different way, 50 ways of seeing things from a new perspective,50 valuable fragments of ideas that you can start an artistic journey from, 50 breaths of fresh air when you need energy, 50 nudges out the door when you feel insecure, 50 encouragements when you feel you're just not good enough...or maybe just  50 ways to have fun with makeup...the possibilities  are endless.  All you need to do is pull one card out of the pack and off you go to uncharted territories of your creative  mind.  ‘I want to help people in those moments where they need inspiration or change of direction or even just encouragement from a friendly voice’ says Box and this is exactly what it does.

These cards are definitely an exciting addition to my life as a make-up artist.I have only seen one card, I want to keep the rest a surprise each time I pick one. My first one is:

Hm...where will this one take me I wonder?
If you are interested, you can pre-order the second edition of the Box here, but be prepared that it will take about 4-5 weeks for it to arrive because the box and cards are all handmade, so it takes a bit of time to create them.

 

Benefit brow range re-launch

It was hard not to notice one of the biggest lauches recently from Benefit: they revamped their whole brow range and gosh, they did a cracking job. I've never been a Benefit girl myself, but this I find impressive. The hightstreet is not packed with great selection of brow products so this range is definitely a welcome addition.  Here are my favorites from the collection:

Gimme Brow (shade 2) 
This is a long-wear coloured brow gel with a tiny brush applicator. The texture and shade is great,it goes on like a dream and the brush is very comfortable to use. It is best if you don't need much work on your brows, just a tad bit of grooming. I wish I could get away using only this but my brows are too short and uneven in shape so I always need a bit of a pencil work too just to make them look a bit more finished.

Goof Proof Pencil (shade 2)
I definitely need this to elongate, work on the shape and fill in my brows. Again, the texure and shade is great (quite ashy, not warm), you can brush it through with a spoolie for a natural effect. I am pleased to say it stayed on really well too so it is a definite keeper.

Ready, Set, Brow
If you need to keep your brows in place, this is a nice, strong get formula to use. It has a novel dual-sided spiky brush that helps to achieve a nice groomed effect. 

 
All in all job well done, Benefit!
The full range available here.