My Top 5 Favourite High End Foundations

L-R: Givenchy Teint Couture, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, MAC Studi Fix Fluid, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, NARS Sheer Glow.

 

Hi Ladies! This is actually my first post of the year! Everything in my life has been so full on and hectic recently that regrettably, blogging has had to take a back seat. Today I'm sharing with you my top 5 high end foundations. Over the years I've tried load of foundations and I've found that it's usually worth paying the extra for overall better quality. Here are some that I recommend, especially if, like me, you suffer with oily skin and are looking for something that will last all day...

 

1. Givenchy Teint Couture Fluid Foundation- Until working in a department store, Givenchy was never a brand I thought about trying. My lovely friend Beth, who is the stores Givenchy representative is so passionate about her products, and rightly so. She matched me to a foundation and I have used it so much it's nearly all gone. It has a light weight feel, but still has plenty of coverage. I do have to touch up with powder throughout the day when I wear it, but I have grown to expect that. It is really natural and a great foundation for everyday wear.

Givenchy Teint Couture Fluid Foundation- £32.50

 

2. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation- This is such a raved about foundation on the internet and I'm so glad I jumped on the bandwagon! My whole Giorgio Armani has been amazing, from the customer service to the product itself. It makes the skin look so perfect and lit from within. It has a beautiful glow, yet doesn't look shiny at all. If you're searching for a new foundation definitely look into this one. (If you're in London, go to the Selfridges counter, the staff there are SO helpful!

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation- £35.50

 

3. MAC Studio Fix Foundation- An absolute cult product and possibly my favourite foundation ever. It has everything I look for in a foundation and I've already bought a new bottle. I wear it to college everyday, it stays put all day and doesn't look cakey (when paired with the right concealer and powder. I use YSL Touche Eclat, Collection Lasting Perfect Concealer and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural). MAC do many different foundations, but this is 100% my favourite.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation- £21.50

 

4. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation- This is the foundation I reach for when I'm having a good skincare. As you can probably tell from the use of 'aqua' in the name, it is water based and therefore very light weight; therefore amazing for the summer. You need the tiniest amount too so it lasts for absolutely ages. I've loved this for a very long time and will repurchase it when (if!) the sun starts to come out!

Chanel Vitalumier Aqua Foundation- £33

 

5. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation- Last but certainly not least is NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. I haven't been wearing it as much recently as I bought it in the summer for my prom when I had a spray tan but I know I need to buy a new bottle that is a better match for my skin. This is the perfect foundation if you are going to an event as not only does it make your skin look absolutely flawless, but there is not SPF, meaning you get no flashback on photos!

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation- £31

 

Thank you for reading, let me know what you're favourite foundation is as I love trying new ones!

Lots of love,











Review | NARS Deep Throat Blush

Hi Ladies. Let's get the name of this product out of the way first. Nars do like naughty names for their products. Deep Throat and Orgasm are favourites among bloggers. I think the names of Nars products in a way show the outrageousness of the brand itself. Whilst a lot of Nars colours are lovely and wearable, they are some crazy colours out there! But on to the review. Until this year, I had never tried any Nars products, but 2014 has seen the arrival of two Nars products to my collection. (And its only the end of February, oops!) For me, blushers are what Nars are most well known for. Orgasm is raved about by so many and Deep Throat is the same. I was nearly reduced to tears last year when I found out that the Guy Bourdin for Nars Blush Palette had sold out on the Space NK website. When I couldn't get my hands on the palette, I promised myself that I could buy myself a blush to make up for it. I decided that Deep Throat was the one for me. It is quite natural and will be perfect for S/S.

This is a peachy pink shade, leaning more towards pink. It is laced with the most beautiful subtle gold shimmer. Thank god no glitter as that is something that I had in face products. Who wants to look like a disco ball? Whilst it clearly is a shimmery blush, it is very natural and perfect for every day wear. Although it can be build up for a more dramatic look for the night time. Which leads me onto the pigmentation. Nars blushes are incredibly pigmented. I barely need to tap my blusher brush into the pan, and already there is enough for the apples of both of my cheeks. The just goes to show what amazing quality they are and proves that sometimes you do get what you pay for. Also, they will last such a long time, because you need so little product each time you use it.

It looks lovely on my pale complexion, but I can see it looking equally as nice when I (hopefully) have a bit of colour in my face when the summer months role around. But it is perfect for all year round and a really versatile blush.

Overall, I am so please with this blush. I have worn it every day since I got it, and have barely used my once beloved Benefit Rockateur blush! I know I will get a lot of use out of this and I'm sure I will try more Nars blushes in the future. At £22.50 they aren't cheap, but its only a pound less than Benefits Box Blushers. Nars is quite readily available. I bought mine in the Selfridges Beauty Hall, but you can also buy them from Space NK and Asos.

What are your thoughts on Nars Blushes? Have you tried Deep Throat?

Love,

Review | NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Fiji

 

Me wearing the foundation (with flash)

Hi Ladies, today I am going to review for you my current favourite foundation! Nars Sheer Glow Foundation is one of the most talked about 'high end' foundations in the blogging community. I have read countless rave reviews of this foundation and now I am beginning to appreciate the hype! I didn't purchase it for a very long time- 'do you really need another foundation Eleanor?' The answer to that question is yes. I have no idea why I put off buying it for so long as it has quickly become my holy grail foundation. I put a lot of research into buying this foundation. The reviews that I found most helpful were by my two favourite bloggers: Beth and Kayleigh. I bought the foundation online, so I also used the girls' reviews to help me decide the correct shade for my skin tone. I am relatively pale, and both Beth and Kayleigh wear 'Fiji' so I figured that was the one for me too- and I was right!

 

I mentioned this foundation in a previous haul, which you can find here. On Boxing Day, Space NK had an amazing sale and I picked up some Laura Mercier goodies. If you spent over £60 on the website, you were eligible for free delivery. I ummed and ahhed about what else to get, but then decided on the Sheer Glow Foundation. It was a bit of a wildcard purchase- in the back of my mind I was worried about whether I had chosen the right shade, but I am so glad I did as it has taken foundation appliance to a whole new level! My main reasoning for wanting this foundation was for my prom in June. (Just about the only thing I talk/ think about). The SPF (or lack of it) was what swayed me. I was planning on wearing my trusty Chanel Vitalumier Aqua Foundation, but I really do not want flashback from the SPF in the foundation, so Nars seemed a winner! This could also be viewed as a negative point as without SPF underneath, this foundation isn't really suitable in the (hopefully) hotter months.

 

Because this foundation has very strong yellow undertones, when I first applied it, I looked a little odd to say the least and went through the 'Oh my god, what have I done?!' stage. But if you let it settle in to your skin and apply the rest  of your makeup, it looks flawless. And that is not an exaggeration. Having oily skin and quite bad hyperpigmentation and scarring on my cheeks had left me thinking that I will always have to wear concealer- but this foundation has such amazing coverage, that concealer is a thing of the past! Back to my oily skin. The idea of having a 'glowing' foundation does not seem a good idea. The last thing you want is a foundation that makes you look shiny when that's what you are trying to avoid. Unlike foundations such as Rimmel Wake Me Up, which has a subtle glitter in it, Sheer Glow has an almost matte finish and adds a hint of 'glow' to the skin but still looks natural. It is perfect for oily/ combination skin and a little goes a long way. The only problem is that if you have any dry patches, it will cling to them like crazy. So make sure you have exfoliated and moisturised if dry patches are something you suffer from regularly.

 

I apply this foundation over a primer with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush, and it works really well for me. I put a small amount on each region of my face- (each cheek, forehead, nose and chin) stipple it in slightly and the blend, blend, blend! It instantly covers any blemishes or discolouration in the skin, leaving you with an absolutely flawless base. I then add some powder and I'm ready to go for the day. Wear time is great on me- and my skin is especially oily. Whilst I may feel like I need to top up my powder from time to time, I never have the feeling that the foundation is slipping off my face, which is something that I have struggled with in foundations in the past. It also photographs really well because there is no SPF. (As I mentioned above).

 

Everything from the packaging (who doesn't love a glass bottle?) to the foundation itself are amazing. The only negative thing I will mention is that it doesn't come with a pump. I bought a Nars pump for £3 when I bought the foundation, so I haven't encountered any messy applications, but for some people this may be a problem. I'm not sure why Nars don't just add a pump to the foundation as it is a bit of a faff to have to buy a pump as well as the foundation.

 

Overall, this has to be one of my favourite foundations. It's great for day and night wear, medium coverage hides a multitude of sins but it is not in the least bit cakey. I find it works well with my skin type and I really like the colour. If you haven't tried it already, you should definitely have a look at some reviews if you like the sound of it or are in the market for a new foundation.

 

A few places where it is available are Space NK and ASOS. It retails for £30.50 and the pump is £3.

 

I hope you found my review helpful!

 

Love,

Eleanor

xxx

Huge Fashion and Beauty Haul

Hello my lovelies! Today I have a massive haul to share with you! These are things that I have picked up over the past three months on various trips to London. The majority of items are beauty related, although there are a few clothing garments and random bits! This will be quite a lengthy post but I hope you enjoy it!

 

Beauty

The first thing I picked up was in the Space NK sale. This Laura Mercier Crème Brulee bath set was reduced from £30 to £15. I adore Laura Mercier bath and body products. A few years ago I received the Coconut and Almond set and the hand cream quartet for Christmas. Crème Brulee is definitely my favourite scent as it is so sweet and delicious!

Also ordered from Space NK is the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. Mine is in the shade Fiji. I have lusted after this foundation for longest time, but have always put off buying it for reasons that I can't even remember! This foundation is absolutely gorgeous and I love how flawless it makes my skin look without being cakey. I am going to wear this foundation to my prom not only because of how it makes my skin look but it has no SPF (this is a positive and a negative point) but that means no flashback- yay!

I was in the market for a new black eyeliner and after hearing many rave reviews about this Topshop Magic Liner I decided to buy it. Whilst it is not the blackest eye liner out there, I love the consistency and how easy it is to achieve a perfect wing with the thin nib.

This is my second foundation purchase- bought to be worn on an every day basis. As much as I love my NARS foundation, it is so expensive that I cannot justify wearing it every day. I have read a lot of mixed reviews on this foundation, but I really like it. It wears really well, and the coverage is excellent. For a drugstore foundation, its pretty good!

Boots were holding an offer when if you bought a Rimmel Foundation (above) then you received a Fix and Perfect Pro Primer Free. I am always up for trying a new primer as I can't not wear one because of my oily skin. I really like this primer, it makes my skin feel nice and my foundation lasts relatively well with it on.

Just like everyone else, I am always on the look out for products that will help me achieve perfect skin. Whilst I am still on the hunt for it, some products have come pretty close! Again, I've heard amazing things about the Origins Clear Improvement mask. I've only used it once, so I can't comment to in depth about it, but so far so good!

My second NARS product of the haul. This is my first ever NARS blush and it is just gorgeous. Deep Throat is the most perfect peachy pink colour and I can see it looking lovely on more tanned skin in the summer. As always with the brand, the packaging is very sleek and high quality.

It is so difficult to capture how stunning this product is on camera. For two years I have wanted this beauty and after only payer £6 in the end for it, (I had a £25 voucher)! I am so excited that its finally mine. It is, of course, Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel (Bronze Universal). Probably the most gorgeous makeup item in my collection and I just can't wait to use it!

This is simply a repurchase of my favourite eye brow pencil- MAC's Lingering.

Another prom related product. My actual dress is a champagne/ nude colour, but all of my accessories are going to be rose gold (as you will see in a minute). The colour of Sally Hansen Pennies for Heaven is coming up much more bronze than it is in real life. In reality it is a beautiful shimmery, perfect rose gold shade.

This is the final instalment of the beauty part of my haul. I have tried the Bubblegum Lip Scrub from Lush in the past, and wanted a change, so I repurchased it in the Popcorn flavour.

Accessories

As a regular concert goer, a small bag is essential. I even get tired of my standard small across body bag, so before Christmas, my Mum showed me a picture of a Michael Kors Wristlet. I love Michael Kors as a brand and really feel that you get what you pay for. I have had my rose gold watch for nearly 2 years, and still love it. Inside the wristlet is a compartment especially for an iphone, room for cash and cards. It was pricy at £85 but a worthy investment in my opinion as I will always use it.

Just before Christmas, when I was shopping in Cardiff with my best friend, I spotted this Ted Baker clutch. I instantly fell in love- anything rose gold is pretty much a winner for me! The only downside was the £129 price tag. Whilst on South Molten Street (next to Bond Street tube station on Oxford Street and one of my favourite shopping spots) in the new years sales I saw it again in the Ted Baker store. Much to my utter delight, it was in the sale! I immediately knew it had to be mine and bought it for £77, which if you ask me, is a brilliant save! I have worn it once already and am planning to wear it to my prom in June.

Fashion

One of the main things I set out to buy, was another pair of Zara Leggings. I have one other pair and I seriously wear them all the time, and that's not an over statement! So much so, that a tiny hole has begun on one of the legs- hence I needed a new pair. These leggings cost £19.99, and are amazing quality.

Also from Zara are these dark indigo wash jeggins. I wore them yesterday and they incredibly comfortable. Again, they were very reasonable at £22.99 and excellent quality.

This is my final Zara purchase and possibly my favourite. I found this in the sale for the bargain price of £7.99. It is a really pretty and flattering sheer crop top. I wear it over a black cami with my jeggins above.

Last summer I had the same Primark dress in red and I wore it ALL the time! Parties, in Paris, my birthday, I got a lot of wear out of it. When I saw the same dress in pink I had to have it. It doesn't look very flattering in this picture, but it looks nice on.

Random

 As a huge fan of Made in Chelsea, and Jamie Laing; these were a must. My Mum and I have watched and loved the show since day 1, and I've actually met Jamie. I visited the Candy Kittens pop up store in 2012 and because they didn't do sweets then, I picked up a t-shirt. Now, finally, Candy Kittens have released a line of sweets and they are amazing! They are available in Selfridges at the moment. There are four flavours: Peaches and Cream, Eton Mess, Apple and Elderflower & Fizzy Watermelon (which I didn't choose). The sweets themselves are simply delicious!

I hope you enjoyed this haul!

Lots of love

Eleanor
xxx



My Christmas Wishlist

1. Rose Gold Star Necklace, 2. Mac Pigment in Tan, 3. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Perfume, 4. Origins Gin Zing Moisturiser, 5. Pandora Camera Charm, 6. Alpha H Liquid Gold, 7. Nars Guy Bourdin One Night Stand Palette, 8. American Apparel Easy Jean

 

Hi Ladies!

 

Recently I have had so little time for blogging, but I thought I would put together a Christmas Wishlist as I did one last year. The bits above are things I have had my eyes on for a while and Christmas is the perfect excuse to ask for them!

 

1. This was mentioned by FleurDeForce in her Christmas Gift Guide. She is selling these beautiful rose gold star necklaces on her online store. Unfortunately, I have just found out that they are out of stock, I doubt she will be stocking any more before Christmas, but as soon as she does, I will get my mitts on  one!

 

2. I have never tried any MAC Pigments before but I have heard wonderful things about them. Tan is a lovely rose gold shade (can you see a theme here) that I think will be very festive and work well with my complexion.

 

3. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle is a perfume that I have lusted after for God knows how long. I have my prom coming up next year, and I really want to wear this perfume for the occasion.

 

4.  I have tried quite a few Origins products and have loved most of them. There is so much hype surrounding the Gin Zing Moisturiser at the moment, and I am almost certain that it will work well with my skin type. It is an oil free gel moisturiser which is great if you have oily skin like me!

 

5. For my birthday my friends bought me a Pandora Bracelet. I have a few charms and I would really like to continue adding them. I think this charm is adorable, but I really am not fussy: I love them all!

 

6.  Alpha H Liquid Gold is another product that I have wanted for ages. Everyone raves about it and  I am really hoping this product will transform my skin for next year.

 

7. Oh my. If you haven't seen this palette where have you been?! I really regret not buying one when they first came out because this palette is now out of stock (is exclusive to Space NK). I am praying that they come back in stock before Christmas!

 

8. I could really do with a new pair of jeans. American Apparel are well known for their Easy Jeans. I suppose I will need to try them on, so maybe this will need to be a present I buy for myself...

 

Have a lovely December.

 

Eleanor

xxx



All I Want For Christmas... (Beauty)

So Christmas is officially upon us, and I have put together a Christmas Wishlist. These are all things I have had my eye on for a while and would love to find them under the tree! The first product is NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Kalahari. I've read countless reviews of Isolde Duo, but I think the undertones will be to orange for me. But this one looks perfect for me! Also from NARS is Super Orgasm Lipgloss. This colour will compliment Kalahari perfectly, and is a lovely simple colour to wear. Number 3 on my list is Lush With Love From Santa gift box. I love all the scents in this box and it is a lovely Christmas present to receive. I have wanted MAC Cranberry Eyeshadow for ages. I am really intrigued to create some Christmas eye makeup looks with it. It is such a beautiful, festive colour. I have a few of them, but I really want to try the Real Techniques Core Collection mainly because of the Buffing Brush that is included, as every beauty blogger/ vlogger raves about it! My Mum has a few Laura Mercier Creme Brulee products, and they smell simply devine. I don't own any really luxurious bath and body products, and these just smell so gorgeous! You can buy them separately, but this Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Trio is available online at Laura Mercier, and in John Lewis. Lastly is Bath and Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel Fine Body Mist. I adore my Honey Autumn Apple Body Mist from B&BW, but they are not easy to get hold of in the UK. Luckily I found an online store here where you can purchase brands like B&BW, EOS, NYX and Victoria's Secret!

 

 

This is another something I wanted to add on, its the MAC Guilty Passions: 4 Lavish Rose Lip Gloss set. They all look like such beautiful colours and easy to wear, and its quite a bargain at £25.50 for 4 MAC Lipglasses!

 

Whats on your Christmas List?

 

♥

Wednesday Wishlist #5

Hi guys, sorry my posts have been lacking a bit recently, but whilst on a day out at Ystradfellte Waterfalls, I managed to fall over and break my camera; being the clumsy person that I am! So until I get a new one, I'll have to use a not so good quality camera, but I haven't got round to sorting that out yet!

Anyway, here's my Wednesday Wishlist!

1. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft N Gentle- I love highlighting, but have always used liquid highlighters. (i.e Benefit High Beam). I'm looking to transfer to powder highlighter, and have heard countless amazing reviews of MAC Soft N Gentle. MAC currently have the Heavenly Creatures Collection out, and there is a few other Mineralize Skin Finishes out with it, but I prefer this one to the highlighting shades in the collection.

RRP: £21.50

2. Forever 21 Sheer Ditsy Bow Top- This weekend I am going to London to watch Volleyball at the Olympics, and when that's finished, I'm planning on nipping down Oxford Street as I want to go to Selfridges. Watching one of MacBarbie07 videos, I saw here wearing this shirt, and loved it! So Forever 21 is on the list of shops to go to when I'm down Oxford Street!

RRP: £16.75

3. NARS Laguna Bronzer- I have never been a big user of bronzer, but as of late, with it getting hotter, I'm finding I want to add a little colour to my face. Laguna is possibly the most talked about bronzer, and its one that I defiantly want to add to my collection!

RRP: £22

4. Marc Jacobs Dot- Yesterday me and my Mum were out and smelt Marc Jacobs new perfume for the first time, and fell utterly in love! At one point or another, we have owned quite a few of his perfumes (Daisy, Lola and Oh Lola) and our love for his fragrances has carried on. The scent of this one is completely different to all of the others, and is defiantly my favourite out of the lot!

RRP: £37

E

xox



Every Little Helps!

Being a beauty obsessive, leads me to browsing a lot of websites, looking for new products and great deals.

Whilst looking on websites, I found that many brands do gift sets, which is an amazing way to save money, as well as find fabulous presents for people!

So whilst looking at them, I've made a list of some gift sets, which I defiantly am going to be purchasing!

1.

Benefit POREfessionally Pretty Kit

I've had my eye on Benefit's the POREfessional for a while now, and this set has been around for a bit, but I still haven't got round to buying it! It comes with a full size the POREfessional (an oil, and pore controlling primer) and two generous samples of Girl Meets Pearl and Erase Paste. All for the same price as just the POREfessional!

Kit: £23.50

POREfessional- £23.50

Girl Meets Pearl- £24.50

Erase Paste- £19.50

£67.50

Saving: £44

2.

NARS Wicked Attraction Set

I've never tried NARS products, and this gift set is the perfect way to try them! It comes with a duo containing Orgasm Blush and Laguna Bronzer. A generous sample size of the Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (which I was going to buy on its own before I found this set)! and the Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Springbreak. And there is a full sized eyeshadow in Fathom.

Kit: £35

Orgasm Blush- £20.50

Laguna Bronzer- £24

Fathom Eyeshadow- £16.50

Smudge Proof Eye Base- £18

Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Springbreak- £19

£98

Saving: £63

3.

Models Own Nail Polish Box Sets

Models Own have 9 box sets, containing 6 nail polishes. I am absolutely in love with them all, but my favourite, (and the one I will be buying first) is the Beetlejuice Collection.

You have probably heard lots about the Beetlejuice, but they are duo crome nail polishes- perfect for spring and summer.

L-R: Indian Ocean, Copper Pot, Tropical Sun, Aqua Violet, Pinky Brown & 3 in 1 Base Coat + Top Coat and Gloss.

The other sets you can get are:

'Hed Kandi', 'Kaleidoscope', 'Tropical Collection', 'Champagne Collection', 'Neon Brights', ('Beetlejuice Collection'), 'Glitter Collection', 'Ice Cream Sundae' & 'Smash Up'.

Kit: £20

All Nail Polishes- £5 each

£30

Saving: £10

4.

Deborah Lippmann Get This Party Started Set

Again, Deborah Lippmann Nail Polishes are never something I've tried before, but this set is a great chance to do so. It has full sized bottles of 3 of the most popular glitter polishes.

L-R: Happy Birthday, Candy Shop & Forget You.

I think its so cute that all the polishes are named after songs!

Kit: £28

All Nail Polishes- £16 each

£48

Saving: £20

5.

Real Techniques Core Collection 1403

This set contains detailer brush, pointed foundation brush, buffing brush and contour brush.

I do have my eye on the Stippling Brush too!

On the Boots website, I cant find all the brushes, but the face ones are about £11.99.

Kit: £21.99

What do you think? I will defiantly be buying some of these? Will you? Or have you already got some of them?

E

xox