Make Up Collection Part 1: Bases

I would say my make up collection is pretty streamlined, for a beauty blogger. My friends and family would disagree but it really is quite small when you compare to most make up collections. If I don't like something I'll pass it on to someone who will get some use from it rather than letting it be a space take-er up-er. First up is bases, something I never had much interest in before I started blogging but now a good base is hard for me to pass by. The older I get, the redder and blotchier my skin gets so for me, a bit of coverage is essential.

Links will be added to any I've reviewed before.

Liz Earle Signature Foundation*: The shade I own is 'Nude 03' which is slightly too dark for me plus it oxidizes quite a bit which could be a bad thing but not for me, it means I'm able to use it on nights out when I've slapped on some tan. It lasts well on the skin and offers medium to full coverage depending on how much you apply.

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat: Excited doesn't cover how I felt when this beauty was released. I've repurchased the Touche Eclat pen since my early teens and lost my mind a wee bit when I heard YSL were coming out with a foundation version.

Laura Geller Balance -N- Brighten: The HG foundation for many but not for me, unfortunately. This has now gone in my Blog Sale.

NEW CID I-Perfection Colour Adjust Foundation*: If you have oily skin and always go for matte finishes but hate the dreaded flat/cakey look that comes with formulas designed to keep shine at bay, try this. The high points of your face glow yet it doesn't feel tacky in the slightest and it lasts all day. The shade I own is 'Vanilla' which is the 3rd lightest in the range. It does look quite dark but the colour adjusts slightly, this is one of the few foundations I'm able to wear with or without tan.

bareMinerals: I've had this mineral foundation in the shade 'Medium Beige' for a few years now. At first I hated, it made me look like one big powdery wrinkle but I held onto it as everyone else seemed to love it and I'm glad I did. It still isn't one I reach for often and I'm not sure I'd repurchase but it works a lot better with my skin now for some reason. Don't think I'll ever prefer a mineral/powder foundation over liquid though.

Daniel Sandler Invisible Radiance Foundation & Concealer*: If you like YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat, chances are you'll like this. It covers redness but still allows freckles to show through. The finish is gorgeous, they weren't joking when they named this foundation. I went for the shade 'Beige' which is a pretty good match for me once blended.

Chanel Pro Lumiere: Pro Lumiere was discontinued and replaced with Perfection Lumiere which didn't go down well with many bloggers. I haven't tried Perfection Lumiere so I'm not sure how they compare but Pro Lumiere has a light to medium coverage which can be built up in areas where you need it.

Estee Lauder Double Wear: If you need full coverage, you can always count on Double Wear. It's full coverage, long lasting and doesn't transfer on to anything. I don't wear this as often as I used to as the shade I own 'Fresco' looks very pink but it's still a great one to have in your collection for days when you feel like covering your face with a paper bag.

Pur Minerals CC Cream*: My most worn base this year! When CC Creams first came out, I yawned and thought 'what next?' but this right here is one of my favourite bases ever. The coverage is brilliant, I'll definitely repurchase.

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint: (not pictured) This is another one I really disliked at first. It feels heavy as if it's just sitting on the skin ready to slip around but when my skin is seriously dry and dull it just adds a bit of life. Can't remember the last time I used this though, it isn't high up on my love list. 

Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation*: Dry skins steer clear, unless you moisturise well first this can look a bit cakey. If you like to stay away from nasty ingredients then Pur Minerals is a brand worth checking out. As far as I know it's only available from M&S if you're in the UK.

Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Liquid Foundation*: The liquid version of the one above and as I'm sure you can guess, I prefer it. It works much better on dry skin and the finish is more flattering on my skin.

Rimmel 9-in-1 BB Cream: If someone asked me to recommend a budget base, this would be it. I don't own any bases you can buy in Boots/Superdrug etc (apart from this) ones I've tried in the past just don't sit well with my skin and the shade ranges are always lacking but what this offering from Rimmel lacks in shade range, it makes up for in formula.

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Shopping My Stash #16

I've just realised I havent done a Shopping My Stash post since June! Really don't know why as I love both reading and writing them, and I've noticed I'm getting stuck in a bit of a rut reaching for the same products day in, day out. So Here's what I'll be making more of an effort to use over the next week or so -

NEW CID I-Perfection Colour Adjust Foundation*: The finish of this foundation is satin which is apparently what skin is all about this Autumn/Winter. It's a happy medium, I find a lot of skin types work well with satin finishes rather than oily skins having to avoid really dewy finish foundations, same with dry skins not working well with matte offerings. I-Perfection Colour Adjust is a really low maintenance foundation, it lasts well on my skin and sets quickly. My review.

Nina Ricci, Ricci Ricci: I'm on a mission to downsize my perfume collection. I have way too many that I don't even like and bought mainly because I liked the look of the bottle, this is one of them. I have bottles of the stuff dotted around the house but rather than them collecting dust and going off, I'm going to start getting some use from them. A lot of people love Ricci Ricci but sadly it falls under the migraine category for me most of the time. Notes include Rhubarb, Bergamot, Moonflower, Indian Tuberose, Centilfolia Rose, Patchouli and Sandalwood.

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray: Probably one of the most talked about hair products ever. I remember reading about Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray in a magazine maybe 10/11 years ago and thinking to myself 'what idiot would want to coat their hair in salt' well, fast forward a few years and that idiot is writing this blog post. I do like Surf Spray but it's a long way off from making it into my Holy Grail List.. I wish it had more hold but need to play around with it a bit more before giving my review.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub: This stuff smells incredible! I really wasn't expecting to like the sugar lime scent but it really works. I bought this at same time as The Breakfast Scrub which I prefer so naturally I've been neglecting Sugar Crush. The scrubby bits are less dense but it still leave my skin feeling smooth.

KIKO Long Lasting Lip Marker*: The shade I own is '103 Peach Red' Swatches and review. I know we're now in Autumn and lip colours generally get more vampy but every now and then you just need something a bit brighter and lighter.

Have you been shopping your stash?

Do you own any of these products?

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Review: NEW CID I-Prime

I've tried a few products from NEW CID and each time I've really liked them, even from the first use but with I-Prime, we didn't get off to the best start. 

I'm not the biggest fan of primers, I never notice much difference when using one. My foundation usually lasts all day on it's own so perhaps thats why. If I had problems with bases sliding off my face or disappearing after a few hours then maybe I would swear by them. I do have enlarged pores though and wouldn't say no to my skin looking smoother which is why I decided to give I-Prime a go. As with all NEW CID products, I love the packaging! I think white packaging is a nice change from the usual black, and the silver accents make it stand out from most of my makeup collection. Not only is it pleasing to the eye but it's also very practical. The right amount of product is dispensed each time and there's no lid to lose, the silver part at the bottom twists to release the pump then once twisted again the pump locks down and can't be pressed.

The primer itself is seriously silky, it does contain silicone but feels very light which surprised me as I was expecting something similar to Benefit The POREfessional. It dries down within a few seconds and doesn't feel slimy or tacky so you don't need to faff around before applying foundation. I-Prime is white in colour but applies clear so even very dark skintones can use it without any problems. It contains an ingredient called andenison tri-peptide that helps to strengthen the skins barrier function and add bounce and radiance back to the skin. I have no idea if it actually does strengthen the skins barrier but it blurs any minor imperfections and makes my skin look a lot nicer even before I add any foundation. 

Everything about it sounds great but as I mentioned, we didn't get off to the best start. It doesn't work with every foundation which is a real pain. Pur Minerals CC Cream is my most reached for base at the min but these two don't go well together at all. I-Prime started clumping together as I was buffing the CC Cream in to my skin, it looked as if I was trying to buff foundation into extremely dry skin. It looked so bad that I had to wash it off BUT, it works Brilliantly with the likes of YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat, Liz Earle Signature Foundation and of course, NEW CID's own foundation. Paired with the right foundation the finish looks incredible but it's just a shame that it won't work well under everything. 

Are you a primer junkie?

Have you tried I-Prime?

NEW CID I-Prime Foundation Primer, 30ml, 27 quid from www.hairtrade.com

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The Perfect Foundation For Oily Skin?: NEW CID I-Perfection Colour Adjust Foundation

My skin isn't overly oily anymore but my t-zone still shines like a greased up turkey after a few hours. When I'm testing out any foundation I go without powder and primer just to see how well it lasts on it's own and to give me a better idea which skin type it would work best on. What interested me about this foundation was the lack of bold claims. The claims it does makes are quite realistic and from my experience, very true.

From what I can see there's 8 in shades in total. My shade is 'Vanilla' which is the third lightest and I must admit, I was a bit shocked when I first swatched it on the back of my hand. It looked very dark, almost orange! Once I'd buffed it in with my Sephora Mineral Brush it matched my skintone perfectly. I'm not sure how it manages to do that but it really does. The finish is described as satin and I would agree. It's matte without looking flat and still leaves the high points of your face with a glow. On my skin there was no tacky feeling at all, even when first applied. I-Perfection Colour Adjust Foundation* lasts all day on my skin without going patchy in certain areas or sliding around and best of all, I don't need to powder my skin at all.

I really like the packaging, the pump dispenses the right amount of product and there's a long, thin window at the side so you can see when your foundation is running low.

I would say pretty much any skin type could use this foundation unless your skin is extremely dry. Oily skinned girls are going love this! I've never tried a foundation that has zero tackiness when first applied, it sets immediately, doesn't budge and feels really lightweight on the skin.

What foundation do you find best for oily skin?

Have you tried this one from NEW CID?

NEW CID I-Perfection Colour Adjust Foundation £22.09 from Hair Trade

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