Shopping My Stash January 2017

Shopping My Makeup Stash Jan 17

Shopping My Makeup Stash Jan 17

As I said in a previous post 2017 is the year I’m going to only keep products that I 100% love. So I thought shopping my stash would be a great way of rotating my makeup and either rediscovering old favourites or realising there is a reason you’ve not reached for something in a while and thats when it’s time to pass it on.

Vichy Dermablend 3D Correction Foundation

This foundation has such a creamy formula, although don’t be scared into thinking that it is going to be too heavy or greasy on the skin. It is lovely to blend and gives a medium coverage but you are able to build up to more of a full coverage. It covers all those blemish scars, redness and dark patches that you might otherwise use concealer on. This takes care of them all with ease. I’m pretty happy to have rediscovered this. I have the shade 25 Nude and that is a great match for my skin over the Winter months.

Shopping My Makeup Stash-17

The Body Shop All in One Concealer in 00

This is meant as a concealer but I have quite a peachy shade which I find  works really well to brighten my under eye area. It’s not the best colour match to use on blemishes but it can be good to brighten dark, old blemish scars and the coverage is very good. I like how creamy the formula is and because its so creamy it blends nicely. I always over look stick foundations / concealers but this one has made me think twice. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends these past few weeks so I am loving having this in my makeup bag to help me appear more awake and bright eyed. The formula also contains Vitamin E and Community Trade Marula Oil, so it is lovely and hydrating

Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil

2016 saw Benefit do a massive overhaul of their brow range and add so many exciting new additions to the collection & I have been using the Goof Proof pencil on and off for a couple of months. I do like the angled tip so you can easily sweep it across your brows filling in any sparse patches and It lays down a good amount of colour without feeling too overdone. I have started to get my brows waxed again as they were looking a little unkempt and so I’m excited to use this more in 2017. I might get a lighter shade too just for more of a subtle daytime brow

Rimmel Magnif'Eye Palette

Rimmel Magnif’Eye Palette in London Nudes Calling*

OK so this isn’t old but I haven’t used it since it was sent to me back in December. I haven’t been wearing too much makeup over the festive holidays but I have dug this out and I fully intend to use it a lot. This is full of rich neutral colours that are 100% me, you get 8 wearable shades and a mix of shimmer and matte shades. They apply with a little fall out but nothing that can’t be tidied up after.

Rimmel Magnif'Eye Palette

Shopping My Stash Makeup Swatches

Lacura Concealer Pen

This is part of Aldi’s makeup collection and it has almost run out, I have had it for quite a few months though. Its a click pen with a brush applicator (much like the cult beauty favourite YSL Touche Le Clait) I like to use it on my eyelids as a corrector and a primer and also under my eyes to brighten dark circles. I use a beauty blender as I find it gives a nice even finish and for a budget option the coverage is pretty good. I will be repurchasing it when it runs out.

Lord & Berry Crayon Lipstick in Prelude

I mostly wear lip crayons as I just find them so convenient and easy to apply. Lord & Berry do some beautiful lip products and I used this quite a lot during last summer, I am pleased to have rediscovered it. Its a gorgeous rosy brown shade, a perfect everyday colour. It has a soft, creamy matte finish and I love how long it wears. I have put this straight into my handbag and it will be my Jan / Feb lip option.

Rimmel The Kate Sculpting Palette

Rimmel The Kate Sculpting Palette in Coral Glow*

How pretty does this trio of face powders look? I love the touch of rose gold they’ve included around the edge of the lid. The highlight shade is a champagne shade but its a little on the light side, I think this could have been more radiant. However the contour and blush shade are more pigmented and although the contour is a little on the warm side all is not lost because I have been using it more as a bronzer and I its perfect for that. The blush shade is a gorgeous matte coral pink, very flattering colour. I am looking forward to using this a little more, I think this trio is idea for travel or your on the go makeup bag as the packaging is compact and sturdy.

  • PR Sample

My Face Powder Collection

My Most Used Face Powders

Favourite Face Powders

OK so these aren’t all of my powder face products but I try & rotate them so they all get used and these are the ones I want to use more during May. I just have them in two cardboard boxes and I keep them on my vanity so they’re easy to reach.

I have a couple of the Benefit Boxed Powers but Dallas is the one I seem to use the least, although I actually like it a lot. I think its because I need to be more tanned to use it as it can show up quite dark on my skin. It gives the skin a pretty radiance and healthy glow. So now is the perfect time of year to use it more.

Urban Decay The After Glow Highlighter in Sin* is a gorgeous long wearing luminous highlighter. You need so little product and it makes you look radiant. I adore it and think it looks especially pretty when you add a little down the bridge of your nose just to catch the light. Very pretty indeed.

Glo & Ray make some of my favourite blushers, this one in Star Dust is a beautiful peachy pink with an iridescent finish. It gives you a peach flush and that iridescent finish adds a little highlight to your cheeks too. These are great quality and I find them long wearing and easy to blend.

L’Oreal True Match Face Powder in Rose Beige – I haven’t used this a whole lot, but I do like the colour match and it looks and feels lightweight on my skin. It gives a little added coverage which is nice and you get a mirror so that’s a bonus. I’m looking forward to using this more and will update you as to how it holds up in the warmer weather.

Rimmel Stay Matte in Transparent – this used to be my go-to powder for years until I discovered the bareMinerals Mineral Veil and it didn’t get as much love. I know I love this powder and it’s an incredible budget-friendly face powder. It never lets me down & I am happy to be reunited with it.

L’Oreal Glam Bronze Duo – This has been another rediscovery from my collection and I have to say I really like it. You get a light cream shade and a matte bronzer shade. I just use them together and swirl my brush around and use it as a bronzer. Its very pigmented but it gives a natural warmth to my skin. This will be getting lots of love as the weather heats up.

Face Powder Collection

Topshop Highlighter in Sunbeam – One of my favourite products, I love the packaging and this is also massive. You get so much product, it looks like I have hardly used it but over the years its had a lot of use. It’s a golden highlighter, which needs a very light hand. So a little product goes a very very long way. Great for achieving that summer goddess beach look & I have even used it as eyeshadow. Works well for both.

Urban Decay Bronzer in Bronzed* – Another beautiful matte bronzer, this looks great on my skin and blends well too. It never looks muddy or orange and I like that its matte. Also, the palm tree packaging just screams Summer

bareMinerals Perfecting Veil – if you like your face powder to give you that soft focus look then I think this is one of the best products I have found for that. It always makes my skin look flawless and radiant. Its lightweight and never looks powdery. It’s also really good to dust on throughout the day to keep shine at bay.

bareMinerals Bronzer in Skinny Dip – gorgeous mineral bronzer that gives your skin that beachy sun-kissed look. It’s a lovely warm bronzer and its matte so that’s always a plus. I can’t wait to use this more and really put it to the test.

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Swish & Pop in Ecstasy – This has to be one of the most beautiful products I own & that makes it hard to use (it’s just too beautiful). I was sad that it was sat in a drawer never being used so I have looked it out and have vowed to use it. You get two beautiful peachy pink colours that add a healthy flushed look to your cheeks & the packaging is stunning.

Face Powder Makeup Storage

Physicians Formula Happy Booster in Rose – I haven’t used this much at all since I got it & thought if I didn’t reach for it over the next few weeks I am going to pass it on. It is a pretty pink shade but for some reason, I never go out of my way to use it. So its make or break for this. Watch this space.

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle – Always a classic and I do love it but I have been using it more as an eyeshadow and think it looks beautiful all over the lid. Its brightening and gives a beautiful almost metallic finish.

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot – I have hit pan on this face powder which is almost unheard of for me. I used this so much last year and it was a really great powder. It was good at keeping my t zone oil-free and giving my skin a matte finish without being too dramatic or heavy.

My Most Used Face Powders

Soap & Glory Love at First Blush & Wonderbronze – these are two of my favourite products from Soap & Glory. I like that both products are multi-shade, it means that you get a lovely mix of colours and it never looks quite the same.They’re beautiful quality and add a touch of colour & glow to your cheeks.

Soap & Glory Solar Powder – I have also hit pan on this too & can’t wait to repurchase because the packaging has since been updated to a more robust plastic compact, whereas mine is a flimsy cardboard and has fallen apart. I use this so often and love the natural bronze glow it gives. It’s subtle but very pretty.

Soap & Glory Glow All Out – I’m still at a loss as to how to use this, I find its too shimmery as a face powder and not quite the right colour as a highlighter. Let me know if you use it & ow you make it work.

Favourite Face Powders

Mac Select Sheer Pressed Powder – This is a bit meh and I am just trying to use it up. I have since discovered much better powders and this has been relegated to the won’t repurchase list.

Essence Sun Club Bronzing Highlighter – This is beautiful & it smells of coconut. It’s a wonderful affordable highlighting bronzer. I love the mix of shades. This bronzer gives a subtle warmth to your skin and is the perfect way to pretend you have been on a Summer holiday without leaving the country. Wilko in the UK sells a great range of Essence products.

What powder products have you been loving this month or have any been a little on the disappointing side? let me know in the comments.

*PR Sample

Two Beautiful Cheek Palettes

Zoeva Pink Spectrum Blush Palette

Favourite Blush Palettes

I have really been getting into wearing blusher a lot more this year. I used to shy away from wearing them as I have quite naturally rosy cheeks & a little rosacea too so I felt that blusher often made me feel self conscious of that & made it look worse. I have learnt that I can wear blush if I apply it subtly and not on the apples of my cheeks, even if that is where you are meant to wear it.

I am so pleased that I have introduced blusher to my everyday makeup routine because I own some gorgeous ones and they just weren’t getting used. I have been using two of my blush palettes religiously this year and I have to say that between the two of them that have every shade I need.

Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot

This was a Christmas limited edition release but the single Box O’Powders are always for sale and they quite often release them as ltd edition palettes – I think atm you can get the Benefit Cheekathon Palette. You get 5 blushers, 1 Bronzer and a Cream Highlighter,

  • Dandelion 4g – Ballerina pink brightening face powder with a hint of shimmer
  • Bella Bamba 5g – Watermelon pink laced with shimmering gold undertones
  • Sugarbomb 8g – 4 beautiful shimmering shades of peach, soft plum, pink and rose that swirl together to create a gorgeous blush
  • Hoola 5g – Matte bronzer perfect for a natural sun kissed look
  • Coralista 5g – Warm coral blush
  • Rockateur 5g – Rose gold highlighting blush
  • Watt’s Up! 1.5g – A delicate champagne glow that will give your cheeks a luminous glow.

So a great mix of shades and finishes. I especially love Dandelion and Rockateur which are two very different shades but they look pretty work together too.

I absolutely adore the Benefit Box Blushes and although they’re quite expensive if you buy them on their own, they last a very long time on my cheeks and the colour pay off and quality is worth every penny. Which are your favourites?

Zoeva Pink Spectrum Blush Palette

Zoeva Pink Spectrum Blush Palette*

This blush palette is very different from the Benefit one, in that the packaging is so slim, sleek and understated – whereas Benefit opt for a more colourful, fun vibe. The Zoeva palette has four gorgeous pink toned blushers, which look as pretty on the cheeks as they do in the pans. The shades are flattering and the ideal for Spring / Summer.

You get a mix of satin and matte shades and as you can see all four shades are beautiful.

  • PK010 – Apricot pink nude
  • PK020 – Soft pink with peachy beige undertones.
  • PK030 – Dusky rose pink with soft mauve undertones.
  • PK040 – Pop of fuchsia pink

These are incredibly pigmented and blend beautifully. I haven’t worn Pop of Fuchsia as much as the others, only because its so bright and I think a little too pink for me. Its a really great palette for travel and I just think Zoeva products are the most incredible quality, I am always so impressed by them. If pink isn’t your shade the Spectrum Blush Palettes are also available in Coral & Nude.

The formulation of the blushes is enriched with vitamin E and is 100% free of parabens, mineral oils, perfume and phthalates.

•PR Sample

Essence Cheek Products

Essence Makeup

I’m quite familiar with Essence makeup as I lived in Germany for a number of years, where it is a very popular affordable brand. It has a huge following in Europe and since they first launched a couple of years ago in the UK they have created quite a buzz. Essence are known for having very on trend collections and as I said a very affordable price point. I have written about their UK launch if you’d like to read about it.

I thought I would share with you 3 of my current favourite products.

Essence Makeup

These three powder cheek products from Essence are all gorgeous, I have two blushers and one bronzer to share with you and they’re all perfect for creating Summer makeup looks. Let me know which one is your favourite of the three.

Essence Blush in HeatwaveEssence Blush in Heat Wave

First up is Blush Up in Heat Wave £3.50 which is just the most gorgeous peachy pink, I love that this blusher has a ombre gradient effect and you get 3 different shades going from a stunning orange to a pretty pink. You can either swirl your brush to pick up all three shades or delicately sweep your brush down one shade to pick up that specific colour. I think the colours are pretty either way they’re pigmented and blend nicely too. Not too powdery or chalky and all three colours are matte so no shimmer in this at all.

Essence Blush in Pinky FlowPinky Flow Blusher

Another of the Blush up Blushers in Pinky Flow £3.50 has the same beautiful ombre gradient effect as Heat Wave but this one is a trio of pink shades from a deep pink to a light soft pink. Pinks blushers are always a favourite of mine and this one doesn’t disappoint, this really brightens up my makeup look and gives my skin a gorgeous healthy flush. This lasts about 6 hours on me, so I think a good amount of time & as with the previous blush its easy to blend and nicely pigmented. I am a huge fan of these two blushers & I like the packaging, its clear & simple and the product looks really pretty too.

There is no shimmer in this blush either but the lightest shade of pink does give a highlighting effect on the cheek, which looks really flattering.

Essence Bronzer in Sun GlowEssence Sun Glow Bronzer

Lastly, the All in One Sun Glow Bronzer* gives you that healthy sun kissed illuminating glow. It has such a lovely mix of shades and it also has some shimmer in it too which I like & its not too OTT just a hint. This bronzer gives a subtle warmth to your skin and is the perfect way to pretend you have been on a Summer holiday without leaving the country. I have also used these individual shades as eyeshadows & they work really well, especially for a bronze smokey eye.

Essence can be found online at www.wilko.com & in a selection of their shops.

Let me know if you have tried anything from Essence and have any recommendations for me.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.