Dior Airflash Foundation - Hero Product.

Over the last 7 to 8 years this is a foundation ive kept hidden away in my arsenal saving for the most formal of days or glitziest of nights.

I brought this foundation when it was first released and fell in love as instantly as it could be applied to the skin. (I also got a beech towel at the time as two purchases gave a free gift of which i still have the towel to this day!) 

The formula has not changed at all in the time I have used it. A fine mist that can be sprayed directly onto the face for an airbrushed look. The foundation as a semi matte finish and or though Im sure would suit most skin types I feel for my oily skin works a dream on covering redness, blemishes and pores. Even without a primer.

There are two down sides to this fabulous offering. The shade range has only four different colours and secondly the cost £33. 
Now with the cost Ive "kind of" justified the purchase you do get 70ml for your money. The average foundation only has 30mls and this is more than double that. 

To use I simply spray directly onto my face then buff in the product with the RT stippling brush. I find if I spray directly and flinch I have a really wrinkly looking face until I smooth out the edges. The formulation also likes to cling to those wonderfully fine hairs we all hate to admit we have on our faces. I find adding the buffing motion removes this also.

Why does this foundation get the hero title? Over the hundreds that I have tried out. Its the way I feel when I have it on my skin. It covers my flaws on a level I never have achieved with any other formulation and there is also something slightly luminous about my skin. It also does not leave me with a sticky or tacky feel throughout the day. 

If this foundation never entered my world Id have to say the second best would be cliniques Anti Blemish solutions but hey! Thats a whole other post to be written!!! 

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Hero Product. Urban Decay De-Slick Spray Review.

Setting Sprays, they have been around for quite some time now, I've used both Mac Studio Fix + and the infamous Model In A Bottle. (imported from America) 
Mac is best for just taking the cakey look out of your makeup, ive never found it does any more than freshen the face but model in a bottle is quite literally like hair spray for you face. I first brought this for my wedding day.

Urban Decay do a couple of setting sprays there is this one and All Nighter which Im yet to try but have heard good things about. 
This setting spray has a more dedicated skin type its devoted to, oily skin.

I as unsure as to whether this would have any affect on controlling my oil as it is applied last, not like a mattifer that is applied before anything else.
I was pleasantly surprised. I have been dedicated to this spray for around three months now and Im so happy I found it before the heat kicked in as it has made a difference to my face.

The only maybe disappointing aspect to this product is it does not "hold" makeup in place as say model in a bottle does but honestly dont let that put you off!
I find with my oily skin my makeup can slip away, transfer onto anything and everything and my blusher just vanishes by noon. By controlling the oil my makeup does last the day much better than before.

Final note, Im very happy with this product just ensure to follow the directions and you will be oil free all day!
This is a firm favourite in my makeup bag, I really hope Urban Decay never EVER think of taking this away from me EVER!!!! 

Uban Decay De-Slick can be found on Beauty Bay HERE.

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Hero Product....... Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Review.

This little bad boy has been in my makeup arsenal for at least 8 years now, it is to me the creme de la creme of concealer and for a nasty blemish there is nothing that covers and stays putto this level.

I remember the reason I decided to by this at a partially bad breakout stage towards the end of my teens. I had seen it was an item Sarah Jessica Parker could not live without in a magazine and thought this could be a live changer, as I did with anything I would by back then!

When it came to paying out for this a product, the first purchase back then was a REAL TREAT. Every purchase of it (and there has not been many with how long it lasts) have been a necessity! At £25 your purse it quite a bit lighter however this concealer outlasts the best of them! I think ive only had to by 1 per year or maybe even less than that! 

Usage of this product I do tend to stick to applying over blemishes but when I caught out on a partially bad day I do sometimes use this mixing the right side with some eye cream as the formula can cake and sit a little to heavily on the eye area for my liking. (I would like to think i was the one who originally invented BB concealer many years before it came out!) 

There are two shades one is to mimic the undertone of your skin, the other to create the depth of the colour you want to create. 

I apply directly to blemishes with the brush made for this product. I could use another its not anything amazing but does the job well and is very on the ball. 

Using this brush I take pigment from either side of the pan and mix together on the back of my hand until the colour is well blended. I do this for two reasons, first being the product is quite dry using my hand helps heat the product ensuring it applies well on the skin. The second is to help create the right shade and using my hand helps me create the right colour which in turn makes it alot less detectable on the eye. 

With some good blending this can really help to create flawless looking skin and as a final note the plastic packaging with a mirror helps make this product very portable for on the go! 

A product I hope I will never, ever, ever (and one more for good measure) EVER! be without! 

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Hero Products.......... Naked Basics Palette

The hype of this MUST HAVE palette appears to now be over and for many of its original lovers there is now dust settling on its small, simple, understated casing.

This has to be by far the most used eyeshadow palette I own. I love matte every day looks that are more low key and natural for my day to day life.
This is the go to for a few different looks and I find I can get more than just the use of layering my eye lids with this.

To begin with it would not be a review without the low down on the shades.....

(left to right) Venus, is the only shade with a hint of shimmer most suited for highlighting under your brows or the inner corner of your eyes to open them up. I do also tend to put this shade on the centre of my lid to give a pop to my finalised look.

Foxy is a neutral yellow undertone shade. This colour is great for neutralising any redness on the lid it brightens without any shimmer, is highly pigmented and blends amazingly well.

WOS or "Walk Of Shame" again is a neutral shade but has more of a pink undertone. Again has great brightening properties whilst maintaining a matte finish. 

Naked 2, a very light brown, I have also used this as a general contour when traveling with small amounts of space. It has a tan colour with ever  slight grey undertone I find perfect for detailing my crease. This blends so well like all the shade in this palette to give a soft line free finish.

Faint Again has double use for me. I can use this as a brow colour also. This is a mid brown excellent for taking deep into the eye socket for a more striking look compared with Naked 2 or of the edges of the eye lid for extra definition to the over all look.

Crave, very highly pigmented compared with the already well pigmented shades included in this set. a nearly black heading towards a carbon colour.
I find is great for lining the eye for a softer look compared with using an eyeliner. This shade also packs a great smoky eye when teamed with venus, perfect for office to bar!  

So to conclude this review, I have to say for a palette that looks so simple, flat and maybe even boring to some. It really knows how to give some great looks with quality pigmentation and clever shade choices to suit.
For a mummy like myself surviving on bed at sunrise and back up to start the day within the hour shimmer shades can really add to that had no sleep look! (which im praying is going to be "in" this Autumn/Winter)  The palette correct, defines and softens your look for the day.

 If I had a hall of fame (maybe post lottery win im planning on any day now) this would take a proud place for me!

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