What's new?! - La Roche Posay, Benefit, Nivea & treaclemoon

I have not been blogging lately as I have been so busy preparing for my piano exam! I am a late starter to this instrument so I should be on grade 8 by the time I'm 60,  haha. No, seriously I love it and do intend on continuing with it. I sat my grade 2 exam today so I'm delighted. The past few weeks piano has been top of my list of priorities and other things like gym and blogging fell by the wayside. Now that I have more time, I will be able to blog more often!

Here are a few new things I have bought recently or started trying out. I had been refraining from testing products as my skin had reacted badly a few months ago but recently I have started trying out a few, more gentle ones.

La Roche Posay's Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel for Oily Sensitive Skin

-Soothing and Anti-Irritating

-pH 5.5

-Soap free

-Colorant free

-Alcohol free

-Paraben free ( I still do not know what a paraben is, haha)

-Tested on imperfection prone skin

I had not intended to buy this but it came with the Effaclar Duo + as a special offer. I am not quite so sure that this suits my skin type but the brand is gentle and for sensitive skin so I knew it would not do any harm. I have used it a good few times now. It is quite a thick gel so you need to wet your hands or face to build up a lather. I find it removes make up very well. A little goes a long way so it's very good value. 

Nivea's Pure & Natural Soothing Day Cream

- 95% of natural origin
-Chamomile - naturally soothing
-Argan Oil - source of vit E

I had been using Avene's Skin Recovery Cream and while it has not caused a bad reaction, it has not helped or improved my skin either. I think a good moisturiser should make a difference and that one wasn't. So ... when I spotted this in Tesco (oh how I love to browse the beauty aisles of Tesco!) the words 'Gentle' and 'Soothing' jumped out at me, even 'Natural' was in green! I had to get it. I have used it twice so far and I find it very moisturising and I have not reacted badly to it. It has quite a thick consistency but absorbs well.

La Roche Posay's Rosaliac CC Creme

-SPF 30

-for all types of redness

-a universal tone for fair to medium skin

I received a few samples of this colour correcting cream. I have yet to use it but will let you know how it goes as soon as I try it a few times.

Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup

-Oil-free

-SPF 25

I forgot I had a little sample of this and used it yesterday and today. While it is not too dark ( shade Honey), it gives a very healthy look which I like as I am on the pale side. It has a very light feel and for me it is more a tinted moisturiser than a foundation. I had to build it up a bit to cover some blemishes. Without a setting powder, its staying/lasting power is not so good so I would not rely on this for a night out or special occasion.

treaclemoon My Coconut Island Body Butter

-smells divine

-smooths and softens

I can't wait to slap this all over me, haha. When I opened it to do the sniff test, I went to lick it, it is just so delicious. It reminds me of those coconut gooey things - yum!! I love their simple packaging and website - such a humble company. 

More soon!!

BOURJOIS 123 Perfect Foundation

Although I do not have many of their products, I always love looking at the Bourjois stand. Anyway today I decided I would buy one of their newer foundations - 123 Perfect which has 3 correcting pigments: yellow for darkness (under the eyes); mauve for dullness and green for redness. After the harsh winter, I guess I could do with lashings of all 3 pigments!! I have yet to test it but I am hoping for the flawless, close to perfect complexion it claims to create.
There were about 5 shades and I chose the second one (I think), No 52 Vanilla. I am quite pale and I like my makeup to match my neck without too much effort put into blending. I am very excited as I will be trying this out with my new Real Techniques brushes, which I will blog about tomorrow! :)

L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream - Anti Redness

I came across these CC creams and tested out all three: the anti-fatigue, anti-dullness and anti-redness and I bought the latter. Although I loved the anti-dullness one, I was very curious to see how good the anti-redness would be. 

It is a green cream which transforms into a foundation on application. Not all green creams seem to work for me but this one does the trick!! Although very light, it is buildable and covers redness completely, giving good coverage. You don't even need a moisturiser - very handy if in a hurry! It boasts 5 benefitss: flawless coverage, perfectly even skin texture, fresh dewy glow, 24 hour hydration and SPF 12. I love the packaging too - sleek and shiny.

CATRICE Ultimate Moisture Fresh Skin Make Up - Oil Free

Catrice is a very affordable brand; this tinted moisturiser was only 3 euro! I got it in the colour light beige, which is very light indeed. It provided a very light coverage but I was able to build it up to cover blemishes. I did not need any other foundation for touch ups. As someone who has blemishes to cover, it is very handy to rely on one product to do the job! It has quite a moist, dewy feel to it.

Laying the foundations!!!

Here are 4 liquid foundations which would really suit anyone with redness they wish to cover up. 

I am a big fan of the L'Oreal True Match! I remember when I first read the label I was persuaded immediately. 'Matches Skin Colour and Texture', 'Super Blendable', 'True to Skin Shade' convinced me anyway. I started out with W3 Golden Beige, which was a teeny bit to dark but still I made it work I think, by blending properly. This completely covered any blemishes or redness. Recently, I got the W2 Golden Vanilla which is a good bit paler, maybe too pale, but again I make it work. Actually the paleness of  it works well on the redness. If I was going out at night or had a special occasion I would go for the darker W3. They are so reliable in terms of coverage and there are so many shades, you will definitely find the one for you! It also has SPF 17.

Another favourite from L'Oreal is Infallible. I don't know what shade this is but it is a really nice, sandy shade. It looks very nice on pale skin and has good coverage. It is a little less effective at covering redness. 

Finally Estee Lauder Double Wear. I got this in 1C1 Shell which is way too light for me and makes me look like a ghost but it does have amazing coverage so I need to get it in the right shade! I sometimes use it to cover some blemishes and they vanish completely. 

I posted about Rimmel's Wake Me Up and Bare Minerals in July.

A mini haul!

I am just back from visiting a friend and we treated ourselves to some goodies!! 

Here is what I got ...

-Benefit Triple performing Facial Emulsion Oil-free SPF 15 ... I think the packaging is so cute, I have never used it so looking forward to doing so. It came in a little mini size set with the eye cream and the Porefessional Pro Balm.

-Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup in Honey ... a few weeks ago I got this in Ivory and was very happy with it, I think this is a darker shade so it will be interesting to compare the two. I like that this sample is of course bigger than the last but comes with a pump - very cute! Thank you Benefit!

- Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie ... it sounds yummy. I have been hearing about lip butters and how buttery they are so am dying to try it. It sounds like it will be moisturising but we will see.

-Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion ... I have heard a lot about this too but have never tried it. I am curious to see how the shade Fair to Medium will come up! I only want a hint of a colour just to look healthy.

-Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream ... this came in the little set and looks so cute. Benefit's packaging is my favourite!! As I have only one other eye cream it will be interesting to compare their texture and effectiveness.

- Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder ... I have had my eye on this for so long and have bought it at last! I have heard it is amazing but will see for myself once I get ready very soon!!

-Artdeco Blusher ... This brand caught my eye as I had never heard of them and they are reasonably priced. I like to try new brands. They are numbered not named, I got 44, a peachy shade.

-Benefit Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer ... I was kindly given this sample. I am not the biggest fan of primers at the moment but of course will try it out.

Rimmel "Wake Me Up" Foundation

This is one of my favourite foundations as it actually does make one look very awake and healthy with its anti-fatigue effect and radiant glow. It has an SPF 15 and I got mine in the shade True Nude 303 (I am pale). I apply mine with my fingers or a brush and it blends very easily, giving quite good coverage. It is probably the one I most frequently opt for when I have not slept well or am feeling under the weather as it "wakes me up" right away!

BENEFIT Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Oil Free Brightening Makeup

I was given this sample of Benefit's liquid foundation and tried it the other day. I loved the very healthy look it gave, I had the shade ivory and it comes in 8 other shades. It didn't cover all perfections, but I liked that I could still see face!! It has an SPF 25. I would definitely buy the full size product.

Today's Face - Bare Minerals, Catrice and Benefit

A few months ago I stocked up on Bare Minerals while in Boston. At the time, I tried it once or twice and it just wasn't going on right for me. The other day I said I would try it again and it went on amazingly, giving a very healthy, natural look and completely covering all my blemishes!! Today I woke to a beautiful, sunny sky and went for this healthy look again.

The products I used are: bareMinerals Original Foundation - fairly light

                                      bareMinerals All-Over Face Colour - warmth

                                      bareMinerals Mineral Veil Original

                                      Catrice Blush - Toffee Fairy

                                      Benefit They're real Mascara

Because the fairly light is too light for me I add in some of the face colour warmth. The warmth is very dark so I am careful just to add a little as I want my face to still be the same colour as my neck. I tap a little of each into a lid and swirl my brush around, mixing the two. I then tap off any excess into the lid. With the brush, I work in circular motions, blending and buffing it onto the skin. If I need more coverage I repeat this step. I am amazed at how well it covers redness - my skin looks practically flawless wearing mineral foundation.

Next I tapped a little mineral veil into a lid, swirled the brush around and tapped off the excess. Using the same brush I pressed this into the skin, especially in the t-zone. 

As I thought the mineral veil might affect my blush I put the blush on after it. I knew I would love this shade by Catrice, you only need a little so this little container which was so cheap will last for ages! It gives a very healthy glow. Yesterday I tried and tested Prime and Fine by Catrice - it says it evens out imperfections, which I guess it did to an extent. It minimised the appearance of a few blemishes I have and gave a slightly luminous finish. 

On my lashes I used this new mascara by Benefit which is probably the best mascara I have ever used. I love it. It actually does look like you have false lashes on. 

These are from Next and both have a vanilla scent/flavour. Yum!!

Catrice Cosmetics

Last Christmas I was first introduced to this brand when I was given an Eye and Cheek palette which I love. Yesterday I was pleasantly surprised when I found their stand in my local pharmacy. As if they weren't very affordable already but there was a half price sale on many of their products. I got these four products for under 10 euro. I tested them on my hand and they seemed lovely but will let you know when I try them on my face.

Ultimate Moisture Fresh Skin Make-Up in Light Beige 

Defining Blush in Toffee Fairy

Colour Infusion Longlasting Lipstain

Prime and Fine Illuminating Base