Shopping My Stash October 2015

Shopping My Makeup Stash

INIKA Mineral Foundation*

I’m not someone that uses mineral makeup, I am so clumsy and often I get more on the floor or my vanity than I do my face. In a nutshell loose mineral products scare me & the potential for mess is huge! I saw this INIKA powder foundation in my stash & I thought it was high time I used it again, I used it a little when I first got it but over time it was pushed to the back of my stash. I have been using this over my liquid base, which is usually my bareMinerals Complexion Rescue and it adds a little more colour and coverage but not full coverage by any means, so still quite natural but it looks so flawless and smoothing.

I am in love. I don’t think my base has ever looked as good and I use very little powder so it never looks overdone or like I have on a lot of makeup. I can’t believe I have never tried this before. I also like that this is 100% vegan and cruelty free. The powder also contains Titanium and Zinc Oxides provide natural sun protection with SPF15.

Lord & Berry Twistick in Shut Up 

I absolutely love lip crayons and think they’re such a no fuss quite effortless lip option and this Lord & Berry one is a gorgeous Autumnal shade. Its a deep berry and is very pigmented on the lips. Its quite a creamy formula so it won’t dry out your lips but it also means you will have to reapply throughout the day but the colour is just gorgeous. So pleased to have re discovered this and I have been keeping it in my handbag and using it most days.

Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium Deep

LOVE this product, its all I have been using in my brows. Its natural but gives them enough colour so they looked filled in but not too dramatic and I like that it also holds my brow hairs in place so they look neat and tidy on my face! The brush is just the perfect size its small enough that you won’t get product all over your forehead and you will be able to tame those brows with precision. I have repurchased this on many an occasion and & I can’t believe I had forgotten about it. I blame the house move, I am only now getting my makeup stash in order and rediscovering products. If you haven’t tried Gimme Brow you need to, its a must have in my opinion.

etos Smokey Eyes Eyeshadow 

I don’t use this to create a smokey eye but I like how pretty the shadows are and think they look natural on the lid and are ideal for a fresh daytime eye look. I bought this a while ago in a chemist in Amsterdam and I have hardly used it (eyeshadow hoarder) but this pink tones in this trio are pretty and not the colours I would normally use so I have been enjoying experimenting with those and creating a very pretty mauve pink eye look.

Shopping My Makeup Stash November

Maybelline Dream Flawless Nude Foundation

I do have a lot of foundations (too many) so I need to have them on rotation, that way I use them instead of gravitating towards just one. This month I have looked out my Maybelline Dream Flawless Nude Foundation this gives a beautiful satin finish to the skin and I am always shocked with how little product you need because it blends out so well. I would say that if you are prone to dry skin this foundation does cling to any dryness so use a primer or just make sure you moisturise well. I love the bottle too but I do wish it had a pump, as I said before I am clumsy and this is just a disaster waiting too happen.

The Body Shop All in One Instablur Primer

This has quite a thick gel formula and I find it takes a little time to work it in to the skin. I don’t often use a primer but I have had this one open for almost a year and I didn’t want it to go off and have to throw it away before I had the chance to really put it to the test. I use this to smooth my skin and give it that blurred effect, you don’t need a lot of product otherwise it can feel quite greasy on the skin, I apply it to my forehead, chin and a little down the sides of my nose. I do think my makeup applies well over the top and makes it look smooth, I wouldn’t say this was good for smoothing over blemishes but it is good as a primer if you want to achieve a flawless look with your foundation. I won’t repurchase because I like the Laura Mercier Primer better

Bath & Body Works Pocketbac in Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin

I am on the fence about the new B&BW packaging but I couldn’t resist a Autumn scent & this is sweet but not in a sickly sugary way. These are just a fun product, I know they contain alcohol before you all say how drying they are for your hands. I just love the range of scents and they’re a good way of keeping hands sanitised. Let me know what your favourite scents are.

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.

My Foundation Drawer Part 1

Foundations Part 1

This is the 2nd part in my Muji Drawers series, click to see the Lip Crayon Drawer. In this drawer I have my most used bases & a few primers. I don’t always wear foundation on a daily basis or any base for that matter, so often this drawer gets a little neglected. Let me know if you use any of the products mentioned in this post, or have any foundation recomendations.

Foundations Part 1

Pixi Illuminating Tint & Conceal – This is a great two in one product. You get a light coverage tinted moisturiser which gives your skin a beautiful illuminating glow. Its easy to blend and is the perfect base for the warmer months. Not heavy but makes your skin look fresh, even and healthy. You also get a concealer in the lid, this needs a little blending but if you take your time to work it in to the skin you will get a good coverage and it lasts all day. This is good at covering blemishes & redness too. I like that the two products are in one handy tube – ideal for travel.

Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB* – I like my base to give a light coverage and provide a natural touch of colour so my complexion looks bright & even. This BB Cream gives me exactly that, it has a lovely creamy consistency which I found very easy to blend, I did lightly powder but I don’t think thats 100% necessary. This BB Cream covers all bases it provides a SPF30, protects against free radicals, conceals imperfections & contains hyluronic acid for all day hydration. So you’re getting a lovely BB Cream with the added skincare benefits which Asian brands are renowned for. I am a huge fan of this & the natural fresh finish it gives my skin. If you haven’t already you need to try this out!

The Body Shop InstaBlur – This is one of the only primers I like & my only complaint is that it doesn’t come in a large enough tube! This does it all its 12 hour shine controlling, Pore smoothing, Blemish hiding, Complexion unifying and Makeup Extending. It instantly smooths skin and gives you a lovely base for your foundation. This makes my foundation look flawless and last all day / night. My skin doesn’t go greasy / oily and it doesn’t break down throughout the day. The product is quite an unusual consistency, I like to apply it with my fingers & find this works well for me.  I can’t get enough of this and I even went back & bought the under eye primer too.

Foundation Drawer

Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream – OMG this is the BB Cream of my dreams, It gives my skin an even coverage and It gives you Broad Spectrum SPF50 protection which makes me very happy. If you like a light to medium coverage that looks natural and radiant with excellent sun protection then you will love this BB Cream. Its simple but its all I need in a base and I’m a massive fan. I need the full size of this ASAP!

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser –  I’m not 100% in love with this, I’m not exactly sure what I don’t like about it. It might be that its quite thick compared to other tinted moisturisers & BB Creams. It looks really nice just after I apply it but I don’t think it wears well on my oily skin. I much prefer the Ginvera & the Kiehl’s BB Creams. This needs to be passed along.

My Foundation Collection

GOSH Prime’n Refresh –  This is a great hydrating eye primer, you apply the product straight from the tube to your eye area. It has three metal roller balls that glide the product over the skin, they’re also cooling on the skin and help de-puff your under area too . I do pat the product in with my finger after applying it, as I find it helps it absorb evenly, you can apply this on your eyelids & right up to the brow bone as well as under the eye too. It helps illuminate the area as well as keep makeup in place all day. I love that it has an illuminating quality too it as well as it being a primer, I think thats a great idea & I also find this is hydrating enough to use alone without applying a separate eye cream. I am so pleased I bought this & use it whenever I wear makeup.

Vichy Idealia Eye Cream – This has a really cool applicator, It’s a silicone spatula & the product comes out of a little hole in the centre. It makes applying the eye cream hygienic and really easy. This cream has quite a thick creamy consistency, so if you’re looking for a really nourishing hydrating eye cream then this is for you. It does take a couple of minutes to absorb but once it has you’re left with smooth, hydrated and brighter looking skin. This cream helps reduce the signs of fatigue as it contains caffeine & is enriched with instant illuminators and a combination of DRM-Bright complex and vitaminB3. I think it has helped reduce puffiness and dark circles too. It wears well under concealer & foundation, although the formula is on the heavy side it isn’t greasy. I really like this as part of my morning routine & have used hardly any product even though I have been using it for well over a month now. If you’re on the hunt for a new eye cream give this a go!

Germaine de Capuccini Eternal Wear Foundation  – I love this foundation, I purchased it from my local spa after having a facial. It has a medium coverage and gives my skin the smoothest finish. It’s a great foundation for the summer as it has SPF30 and is really lightweight. It wears all day on without going patchy or oxidising. The only downside is I think it has been discontinued, so I won’t go on about how wonderful it is.

The rest of the foundations in the drawer will be in Part 2 otherwise this post will be too long. So keep an eye of for Part 2 next week. Let me know if you have used any of the products mentioned or if you have any primer / foundation recommendations. I love trying new ones out.

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.