Beauty and Bentley

Today I'm reviewing the Illamasqua Gleam Highlighter in Aurora, this is a cream highlighting product in a beautiful champagne shade. This is something I have owned for a while now and rarely hear people talk about or review.....so why not do it myself. The Aurora highlighter costs £25 and contains 6.5g of product.

Claims

Gleam in Aurora is a lightweight, iridescent cream texture is the ideal go-to for easy, instant highlighting. The sheer, pearlescent pigments contain skin boosting Vitamin E and Mica Mineral, which provides the translucent silky quality of this cream compact. For an alluring, natural glow that lifts and highlights both face and body.

Review

This highlighter comes in the standard Illamasqua packaging which is an unusual shape and a little bulkier than it needs to be but I don't mind. It's a black compact with a clear top to allow you to see the product inside which is good if you have a lot of Illamasqua products or more than one shade, this does mean you don't get a mirror but again I don't mind. The highlighter is a soft cream that applies nicely to the skin in a beautiful champagne shade. This gives a soft glowy sheen to the skin that looks natural and pretty, it does contain tiny sparkly particles but they don't show up in an obvious way or give an overly glittery look. If you are looking for a blinding highlight that can be seen from space then this isn't the one for you, this is for creating those subtle bronzy glowing skin days. This can be used in different ways, either alone to brighten and give more life to the skin or under foundation to give a very subtle glow from within, or the most obvious way, applied after foundation to the high points of the face. Overall this is a quality highlighter that looks great on the skin, I would recommend this to anyone who likes a cream highlight that's not too over the top.

Week 2 of my more healthy lifestyle started off well......things got a little off track at the weekend I must admit. My last post left off last Tuesday so for the purpose of this post the week began on Wednesday. This was my most healthy and active day, I began with some scrambled egg on wholegrain toast before doing a 3-mile walk to the beach and back. For dinner, I had 2 baguettes filled with spicy chicken salad and dairy-free cheese, later that night I went to work and had some popcorn and a Nakd bar for my break. I managed almost 20,000 steps that day making it my most active for the week. Thursday and Friday I continued to be good and ate well before it all went downhill at the weekend. This weekend I wasn't working and I went out on Saturday......I drank.....quite a lot...and spent Sunday feeling a little 'under the weather' so I ate more junk food and wasn't very active. Monday came back around and I'm back on track (yaay), again I started my day with a 3-mile walk before returning home and having some wholegrain toast. For dinner, I had pasta before heading to work and by the time the day was done I had hit 17,854 steps!


 Today to keep this post interesting I thought I would share a recipe I found on Pinterest (I love Pinterest) for a simple chicken curry. This is one of my favourite meals to cook at the moment, I think I cook it at least once a fortnight. I am quite a fussy eater and when I first decided to give this a try I figured Steven would love it and I wouldn't be keen. Usually, I hate anything with onions, it's something about the texture, when you crunch down on a little bit of onion it freaks me out (I'm weird I know). So when I saw spring onions in the recipe I was convinced I wouldn't like this but the first time I tried this recipe I fell in love! This is a delicious curry with just the right amount of spice that I now cook often.
I found this recipe on Pinterest but it originates from the BBC click here to see the original recipe.


Ingredients
6 Spring Onions
2-3 Garlic Cloves
2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1/2 Tin (400g) of Chopped Tomatoes (I usually use 3/4 of a tin)
2 tbsp Curry Powder (I buy hot curry powder)
1 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Turmeric (This isn't in the recipe)
400g Chicken (I buy diced chicken breast)
100ml Greek Style Natural Yoghurt (I try to buy a dairy free alternative)
Salt and Pepper
Rice (I buy wholegrain rice and I just get the microwave bag for quickness)

Method
Thinly slice spring onions, peel and mince garlic before adding both to a pot (with oil) over a medium heat for a few minutes.
Add chopped tomatoes and spices and cook for 3-4 mins.
Add chicken and cook for a further 5 mins.
Once chicken has begun to brown add 250ml of water and leave to cook for 20 mins (You could add less when I use the full 250ml I need to add an extra 10 mins to cooking time to burn off excess water)
Prepare rice and heat naan bread.
When the curry is done add salt, pepper and yoghurt.
Serve and enjoy!

This must be my favourite recipe I've ever tried from Pinterest and I will continue to make this regularly, I must say it's best enjoyed with an ice cold beer or if like me you don't like beer, cider! 😉

Today I'm giving a review of the NYX Lip Lingerie, I started with two shades as this was a product I had never tried before and I wanted to form some opinions on it before deciding if I would purchase more shades from the collection. The Lip Lingeries are a liquid lipstick that dries down to a matte finish, they cost £7.00 and contain 4ml of product.

Claims
These covetable liquid mattes boast a creamy, non-drying and lightweight formula which not only feels oh-so-comfortable to wear but is also extremely flattering thanks to the gorgeous array of nudes and earthy hues to choose from.

Satin Ribbon

This is a beautiful nude shade with pinky peachy undertones. The applicator on this liquid lipstick isn't my favourite, I prefer the traditional doe foot applicator as I find those easier to apply colour. The application was slightly tricky, this was not as pigmented as it could be so you need to take a few minutes to blend the colour into the lips and make sure it doesn't look streaky. Once applied this really did look very pretty, the colour was nice and it looked even. This didn't dry down 100%, it felt a little sticky/tacky. I noticed a small amount of transfer when drinking water but nothing bad when you do want to remove this product it is best done using an oil. This is a really pretty pale nude liquid lipstick that is perfect for anyone on a budget.

Embellishment
This is a deep lilac colour with a grey undertone. Like the other shade, you want to take a little time to work the lipstick into the lips and build the colour. This shade feels a little more drying but that could be because I just removed Satin Ribbon then immediately applied this shade after. It also has the same slightly sticky feel when dry but the colour is fun and looks really pretty on the lips, I think this could be really nice for Autumn/Winter.

Final Thoughts 

I have had these in my collection for a while now and for some reason, I don't reach for them, the very first time I tried them I felt they were dry and wasn't keen on the formula and I think that initial impression stuck with me and subconsciously stopped me from using these. I really need to give these another shot as I do think I would like them much more than I first thought but I don't think these will ever be my favourite liquid lipstick formula. I won't rush out to buy more of these but if I find a shade I fall in love with then I will definitely pick it up. I love NYX as a brand, this isn't my favourite product from them but there are lots I love and I will continue to buy other products in the future.

What is your favourite NYX product?
Please subscribe to see my latest content it would mean the world to me. ❤

Okay so it's been about a week since I decided to make more of an effort to be more healthy and I thought I would give an update on how it's going. The good news is I have actually stuck to it pretty well I've been out walking a lot more and cooking proper dinners and healthier foods.

17/08/17 - On Thursday I started the day with some wholegrain toast and walked to my local Asda to get my food shop for the week and get some exercise for the day. I cooked my favourite simple chicken curry for dinner.

18/08/17 - Today I wanted to mix things up so I tried making some dairy-free pancakes which didn't work perfectly (I will try them again and work on perfecting the recipe) but they still tasted good and I topped them with Nutella (not dairy free I know) and strawberries...yum! I didn't go a walk this day as I was working that night but I still managed to hit 13,825 steps. For dinner, I created a sandwich of sorts using two slices of naan bread, chicken, avocado and a dairy-free cheese alternative. I was bad and had some crisps and a small amount of chocolate on my break at work.

19/08/17 - On Saturday I started the day with some cereal, I also didn't go a walk on this day as I was working so was able to hit my step target anyway. For dinner, I had some sweet potato roasted in the oven with some spicy chicken and carrots. After work for an evening snack I had some naan bread with dairy free cheese grated on top (yes, I'm slightly obsessed with naan bread at the moment) it may not be the most healthy option but much better than my usual option which would have been a takeaway pizza.

20/08/17 - For breakfast and dinner I had the same as the previous day and for my snack during work, I had some Vibe popcorn with honey and strawberry and a dark chocolate biscuit.


21/08/17 - On Monday I started the day with a walk to the beach with Steven and Bentley before returning home and having poached eggs on wholegrain toast. For dinner, I had baked potatoes and dairy free cheese. I went to work at night and had some popcorn again for my snack.


22/08/17 - Today I had some cereal for breakfast then walked to my local Asda once more to pick up this weeks food shop, for dinner I had a baguette with spicy chicken, salad and dairy free cheese. I will be a little cheeky tonight and have some crisps and maybe some fizzy juice but it's good to have a little treat every now and again.......everything in moderation people!!!

This is my weekly progress report from Fitbit.

  I'd love to continue with these kinds of posts and show you some of the recipes I'm using, how I'm staying motivated and any other ideas or tips I have.
If you enjoy this kind of post let me know and please subscribe for all my latest content!

Today I'm reviewing the Cocoa Blend palette from Zoeva that I've had for quite some time and use often, you will see from the pictures that it is well loved.

This palette is inspired by a box of beautiful chocolates with lots of warm tones and a combination of matte and shimmering shades. This palette is priced at £18 and contains 10 shades which I think is a very reasonable price and one of the reasons I love this palette.

Claims

Easy to blend with an ultra-micronised formula which is free from Parabens, Mineral Oil and Fragrance, Cocoa Blend Palette is enriched with Vitamin E and offers an array of matte, satin, duo-chrome, pearlescent and glitter finishes.

 I have really enjoyed this palette, it has beautiful shades that can be used every day or to create deep dark looks that can be worn for nights out and special occasions. These shadows always blend easily together and are nicely pigmented. The claims I have included above state that the shades come in many different finishes but I would categorize them just as matte and shimmer shades.....there is one shade that has a glitter finish and a few may feel slightly duo chrome but they don't have dramatically different finishes.

Shades

Bitter Start - This is the palest matte shade in the palette, it's a bone colour that's nice for setting the lid before applying the rest of your eyeshadow.

Sweeter End - This is a slightly duo-chrome champagne shade that's very pretty and can be made more intense when applied with a wet brush.

Warm Notes - This a beautiful shimmering cranberry colour, it feels very creamy and soft and is great for creating warm autumnal looks.

Subtle Blend - This is a very deep bronze shade that I really don't use often enough, this would be good for applying on the lid and creating a nice smokey eye.

Beans are White - This shade looks almost black in the pan but it's a very deep brown shade that's good for darkening the outer corner and giving more depth.

Pure Ganache - This is an almost metallic gold that's very pigmented and looks really pretty on the eyes.

Substitute for Love - This is my most loved shade that claims to have a very subtle shimmer but I don't even notice it. I use this like a matte in my crease as a transition shade.

Freshly Toasted - This is a rich warm brown with a red undertone that's beautiful in the crease and outer corner, this is another well-loved shade from the palette.

Infusion - This is a very dark brown with flecks of glitter, I find the glitter tends not to show as most of it disappears when you tap off excess shadow from the brush.

Delicate Acidity - This is an unusual shade that looks like a grey with a purple/lilac undertone. I don't tend to use this shade as the pretty purple shimmer only shows when the light hits.

Overall I really enjoy this palette and will repurchase in the future, sure you can get more pigmented shadows that might even blend easier but this is lovely quality for a very reasonable price and is one of my most-used eyeshadow palettes.

What are your favourite eyeshadow palettes?

Okay, so this post won't be for everyone as I know there are still a lot of people who don't agree with tattoos.....soooo if you don't like them this is the point to stop reading.

I thought I would create a post all about tattoos, how many I have, what I have, what I plan to get and how painful they are. This is always going to be a very personal topic, you may not like my tattoos or agree with them but it's something I love and will continue to have done. I should also mention that I'm not one of those people that need really meaningful tattoos, I get things that I like and that I feel look beautiful, I love anything creative and tattoos are just an extension of that.

What do I have?

I started out when I was just 17......I know, I know....I would NOT recommend this! If a tattoo artist doesn't ask for ID they are probably not going to be very reputable. Anyway, it was very silly but I got 2 small stars on my right wrist which I have now had covered. As the years went by I fell out of love with this tattoo, I actually don't think I ever 'loved' it but I also never hated it. I think the only reason I got this tattoo was that it was small, cute and the only thing I could afford but we'll get to the cover-up later.
Next, I got a large rose and vine design down the left-hand side of my torso when I was around 18 years old. This tattoo I do still like even though it's not something I would pick now, I would still have gone for roses because I really like floral tattoos.


The third tattoo I got was a tiny Sagittarius symbol on the inside of my lip, this is the one that most people just don't understand. People don't know why I would get a tattoo on the inside of my mouth that I never see but if you get tattoos you know how addictive they can be so this was something small to stop me randomly going out and getting something stupid. This was just something fun that I never need to regret as nobody (other than my dentist) needs to know I have it but I still really like it anyway.
My fourth tattoo was done a few years back and it's an anchor on my rib cage, my boyfriend has the 'boy' version on the inside of his arm. I would never have a boyfriends name tattooed on me because it's usually the kiss of death to relationships. We chose to do this instead because even if we split it wouldn't matter because the tattoos are not the same so nobody would need to know it was done for each other.


The next few tattoos are all on my right arm and are the start of a sleeve so they slightly blend/merge together. I started with a mandala style half cuff which I had planned to wrap all the way around and cover my stars but we couldn't make it work that day so I returned a few months later and got two large peonies on the inside of my arm. This was the point I realised I would most likely end up with a half sleeve/sleeve, I'm still not sure how far I plan to go up my arm but I know I want to be tattooed up to my elbow then take a break for a while before deciding on what to do with the rest of my arm. After the peonies I had my last session to date, I got a bee just under the ditch on the inside of my arm and some black lines and additional floral pieces lower down on my arm.


Pain
I will give you a rundown of how painful each tattoo was but remember pain is different for everyone so some areas of the body I found particularly painful you might find very easy to sit through.
Stars (Wrist) - These were done in probably about a minute so it's difficult to rate them in terms of pain, they hurt, all tattoos hurt but these were done so quickly and so long ago that I would probably put them around a 6/10.
Rose (Left-hand Side of Torso) - This was quite painful and I did sit for a while plus it was at an awkward angle but this wasn't my most painful tattoo. I would probably rate this tattoo an 8/10.
Sagittarius Symbol (Inside Lip) - This was an odd one, it definitely made your eyes water but again it was done pretty quickly. The pain almost had a delayed reaction, he would begin tattooing and the pain would hit a second later. This tattoo would be a 7/10.
Anchor (Rib Cage) - Hands down this tattoo was the most painful one yet I remember wishing it would hurry up and be over, it's the only tattoo that I ever got that I wouldn't have redone pain-wise, luckily I already had my roses on the other side lower down so I don't have the space anyway. This was 10/10 on the pain scale
Peonies/Bee etc. (Lower Arm) - This was painful but bearable, around my wrist on the bone was pretty nippy and at the highest point on the inside of my arm was really bad but overall this was probably an 8/10


The next time I get tattooed I will create an update post and give a breakdown of the healing process. I hope you enjoyed this little post and please subscribe to see future posts!

Recently I have been trying to be a little healthier by eating better, drinking more water and being more active. Today I decided to get up nice and early and take my pup, Bentley, a walk down to the beach. I struggle to get up early but I'm trying to do it more often and make it a habit because I love how much more I can get done in a day when I start that little bit earlier. I woke up around 7:30 am and sleepily washed my face and pulled on my clothes before going downstairs to collect my companion who started the day far more excitedly than me. 

Today I wore a simple oversized grey t-shirt with rolled sleeves that I picked up in a Topshop sale a few years back. I threw on some Adidas leggings and my Adidas Originals and I was ready to go.

I love living so close to the beach, it's only about a 15minute walk from my house and by the time I got back it was around 9 am and I had already hit 8,000 steps. I wear a Fitbit (Charge 2) which helps me track my activity and give me some extra motivation (Let me know if a Fitbit review is something you would be interested in)

This little health kick is not so much about losing weight for me but being more healthy and fit but I figured I should weigh myself anyway so right now I'm 9st 3lbs which is pretty typical for me I usually go between 9st to 9st 5lbs.


I've been pretty good today considering I need to go get a food shop. I had a cereal bar in the morning after my walk, a coffee (made with coconut milk) and soft roll and crisps for lunch and a baked potato and beans for dinner with plenty of water in between. Tomorrow I need to go out and get some ingredients and hopefully start trying new recipes if you want to see daily updates I will try to add to my Instagram story daily so be sure to check that out.

I hope to keep up this slightly healthier lifestyle over the next few weeks and track what I'm doing through blogging, I think this would be a good way to hold me accountable and keep me motivated. What I would like to try is having a weekly post about my progress, meals and exercise over the next few months.


If these kinds of posts are something you would be interested in, leave a comment and let me know!
If you want to be kept up to date with all my latest posts please subscribe!

Today I was out shopping for a few things and I stopped into Superdrug for another bottle of micellar water and before I knew it I was in the make-up isle....of course! So I ended up picking up some new L'Oreal bits as they had a 3 for 2 offer, so when I got back home I thought why not write up a post and let you know what my first impressions are.

L'Oreal Paris Paradise Mascara

Claims

Take your lashes to paradise with intense volume and spectacular length. The Ultra-Soft brush coats lashes with a silky smooth formula, enriched with lash-loving castor oil. Lashes feel feather-soft, without any flaking.

First Impressions

I had heard a lot of good things about this mascara and this was the first thing I picked up. This has a nice big traditional mascara wand and the consistency is perfect, not too liquidy or too thick. My initial impression is very good, this applied evenly and made my lashes look beautifully long and full. I would say this is more of a lengthening formula than thickening but I loved how it looked and I think this may become a new favourite!

(I would say the mascara looks even better in person than in this photograph)

L'Oreal Paris Brow Artist Xpert (Cool Brunette) 

Claims

Introducing Brow Artist Xpert, our 1st retractable brow pencil for perfectly defined, fuller-looking brows. Available in our largest shade range, so you can find your perfect match for natural-looking brows. 
- Triangular shape tip for precise application 
- Soft styling brush to groom brows into place and blend for a natural finish

First Impressions

I had used up my NYX brow pencil so decided why not give this one a try, this has slanted triangular tip which I had never tried before. This brow pencil is a really nice colour, it looked very natural. Once I warmed up the product on the back of my hand this applied nicely and gave a good everyday brow look. The shape of this pencil was different to the usual fine tip pencils I use so it took a little bit of getting used to. I think with a little more practice I should be able to get a more precise look. This took a minute to remove so I think this would be pretty long lasting and it also came with a spoolie which was a nice extra.

L'Oreal Infallible Nudist Lip Paint (Nude-ist)

Claims

Introducing Nudist Matte Lip Paints, a collection of trending nude liquid lip colours in a velvety, matte finish. Now you can nail the nude trend, with 5 shades containing ultra-saturated pigments that last up to 8 hours. 
No flaking, no caking, no drying out. Our slanted teardrop shaped applicator allows for precise application for a flawless matte pout

First Impressions

Okay so originally I thought this looked like such a pretty, quirky and autumnal colour. When I tried this on the lips it had a balmy mousse texture which I don't mind.....but....unfortunately the colour didn't live up to expectations. The lip colour wasn't very pigmented and although it could be built up I think it would need a lip liner to look its best. Applied on its own and built up it just felt a little messy and the colour wasn't even, the lighter shades might work better but I will need to play around with this more to make my mind up on whether it's any good

So I hope you enjoyed having a read about my first impressions of some new products if you've tried any of these let me know if you enjoyed them.

I have been very kindly nominated for the Liebster Award by Araceli who has an amazing blog named Thrill of the Luxe. She creates a combination of style, beauty and thrifting posts that give you inspiration and advice on how to save cash and still look stylish.

The Liebster Award is given to bloggers by other bloggers, once nominated you thank and give recognition to the blogger that nominated you and answer the 10 questions they ask. Once this is done you can pick 5-10 new bloggers to receive the award and create 10 new questions for these nominees.

So here are the questions I was asked!

Out of all the countries you have visited, which one did you like the most?

I really haven't visited many countries mostly due to money and circumstances (I do hopefully want to change this over the next few years when my income improves/I get a full-time job. Until I'm in a position to travel more I want to explore more of my own country, Scotland. Sometimes I take for granted just how beautiful a place it is.

This is a difficult one, I'm not really an 'extreme' person. I've always been quite shy and have a lot of anxiety so what feels extreme for me probably wouldn't be too many others. Something that felt quite big for me was actually taking the plunge and starting this blog.

What is currently your favourite book?

I have recently got back into reading more and I recently read The Girl Before which was good, my favourite type of books is psychological thrillers! I have also started reading Blood Sisters but I haven't made my mind up about that one yet so I will need to report back when I'm finished.

Who is your style icon?

I wouldn't say I have a style icon, I go through phases of loving different peoples style but it changes over time. I don't currently have any one person's style that I'm obsessed with.

Apple or Samsung?

Samsung! I've always had a Samsung since I bought the S3 a few years ago and I've stuck with this line. I've never owned an iPhone and sometimes I think they are a little overrated. 

Why did you start your blog?

I had wanted to start a blog for years, I've studied make-up artistry and I love being creative so I wanted to find a way to have that creativity and share with people my opinions. I love watching YouTube videos but it's not for me, I'm not 'brave' enough to put myself out there in that way so blogging allows me to control how much of myself I put out to the world whilst still talking about all the things I want to.

What's the hardest thing you've encountered while blogging?

I think the most difficult thing is to stay motivated even if you feel like you're not getting anywhere and trying not to compare yourself and your blog to anyone else's. It's easy to look at others and think about how much better their pictures look or how well they write but you need to stay focused on yourself and do your own thing. Everyone's blog being different is what makes things so interesting!

So, now it's time for my nominations!

The Sophia Diaries

Black & White & Wise

Not Actually a Blogger

Beauty by Aphrodite

Pinklogs

And my questions for everyone I've nominated!

What is your favourite ever blog post and why?
What was the inspiration behind your blog name?
What was the last book you read?
Where is the next place you want to travel to?
How do you stay motivated and organised when blogging?
Cats or dogs?
What is your favourite item of clothing/fashion staple?
Would you rather explore the deep ocean or outer space?
Favourite food?
What is your favourite way to spend the day?

A few years back make-up primers were almost unheard of and definitely not available on the high street, ahh how thing change these days most people see primers as a staple in their make-up routine. I've tried a selection of primers and although they sometimes feel nice on the skin they don't always do anything special but my favourite type of primer is pore filling/minimising. I have some fairly visible pores at either side of my nose and I wanted to find a budget-friendly primer to take care of this skin concern. I decided to try out the Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser which costs £7.99 and contains 22ml of product.

Claims

For a perfected finish, with or without foundation. This clear formula's first benefit is to instantly transform the look of your skin. Skin feels smoother, softer and appears more refined.

Review

This primer comes in super cute packaging, I love the colour! It's not very luxurious looking but for £7.99 what do you expect, it's a basic squeeze tube which allows you to control how much product you use. This is a clear gel formula that glides onto the skin and feels lightweight, it really does visibly reduce the look of pores and gives a nice base for foundation. This also works well applied to dry areas of the face as it stops foundation sticking to patches of dry skin. I only apply a small amount to the areas of my face that need it, this really isn't an all over primer. Foundation glides over the primer seamlessly and makes everything look more smooth and perfected. I have seen some reviews that say this doesn't work well for those with oily skin, I have combination skin and have had no issues. You can also use this on bare skin to blur imperfections, it is a clear gel so it won't cover any darkness or spots but it gives your skin a lovely smooth look. Overall I think this is a really good product that does what it claims to do and won't break the bank, I will definitely repurchase this product, a little goes a long way and one tube will last me a very long time!

My morning begins with me hauling myself out of bed and sleepily heading downstairs to feed my pup and make a coffee. Generally, I will spend my morning watching some TV (usually Jeremy Kyle because what else is going to instantly make you feel better about your own life). I will have a quick breakfast then head back upstairs to begin getting ready. My first step depends on how much effort I have made the night before. If I have been lazy and not got all my make-up off properly then I will use my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (click here for a full review of all my Liz Earle products) to make sure my skin is clean and exfoliated. If I've taken care of my skin the night before I will give it a quick rinse with water and maybe the Clean & Clear Deep Action Cleansing Wash. This is just an inexpensive wash for spot prone skin that makes your face feel cold and tingly when you rinse it off. Next, I have two different sets of steps depending on the length of time I have and how much effort I want to put into my skincare.

Lazy Day Skincare Routine

On these days I'm super quick, I will apply the simple Simple Kind To Eyes Soothing Eye Balm which is lightweight and fast absorbing whilst still being moisturising (it's also super inexpensive). Next, I just pop on one of the Simple moisturisers with either SPF 15 or 30. These are great 'simple' moisturisers that protect your skin from the sun and keep your face hydrated without being overly greasy feeling like a lot of SPF products. I choose between SPF 15 and 30 depending on the weather that day and if I'm going to be wearing make-up. 

Full Skincare Routine

If I have more time to spare in the morning and want to really look after my skin I will start by sweeping Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic over the skin which removes any final traces of make-up and oil whilst refreshing the face. I will also use the Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion if I feel my eyes are particularly puffy or dark (my eyes are always very dark if you have any tips for this let me know). Next, I will use the Superdrug Vitamin E Serum which I have been trying out (I will most likely have a dedicated review on this product range in future). So far this is a nice product that adds some extra hydration but doesn't do anything magical. After this I apply some eye cream, currently, I'm using the Skyn Icelandic Relief Cream which I really enjoy as it feels very cooling on the eyes. It has a very unusual texture, a bit like jelly but it really helps to give my under eye area a boost. Then I will finish off by using one of the Simple moisturizers I already mentioned and a swipe of some Burt's Bees lip balm and I'm ready to start my make-up routine!

Today I'm reviewing the very popular Too Faced Born This Way Foundation and letting you know if I think it's worth the money. I had seen a lot of positive reviews of this foundation and first decided to try it out when I was feeling bored of my Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (click here for a full review). This foundation costs £29 and contains 30ml of product which is typical of most foundations and I picked the shade Nude.

Product Claims

For coverage so undetectable, you can't see the make up and imperfections, all that's left is naturally radiant skin that looks like you were born this way. This revolutionary liquid foundation is infused with a potent combination of coconut water to naturally replenish moisture levels, nature's resilient alpine rose to brighten the skin's appearance and promote elasticity and hyaluronic acid for a smoother, more youthful appearance.

Packaging

The bottle comes in a pretty pink box with a lot of information about the foundation. The bottle itself is a beautiful frosted glass with black and gold details, it's very pretty and feels like good quality. The bottle also has a pump which makes things so much easier and stops air getting into the product.

Review

This foundation has a medium buildable coverage that looks very natural on the skin, it also has a natural glowy finish without being shiny or too dewy. The shade is probably a little dark for me but I can make it work and it's good for those days I fake tan. I like a full coverage foundation so I usually use 1.5-2 pumps which....I don't know is that a lot? I feel like you could use one pump if you like a medium coverage and really work it into the skin, it's all about personal preference. So I have really enjoyed using this foundation, it looks beautiful on the skin and makes you look really healthy. The only thing that I have started to notice is that this foundation doesn't last as long as I would like, I compare everything to the Estee Lauder Double Wear and this didn't quite last as long and stay as perfect looking as that foundation. Overall I think this is a really nice foundation and would be really good for those who want a foundation with good coverage that doesn't look cakey or unnatural. I would definitely consider repurchasing this foundation although right now I do want to try out some other high-end foundations and continue branching out.

What are your favourite high-end foundations?

Please feel free to subscribe to my blog, it would mean the world to me!