Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Review...Less than impressed!

Hey everyone,

Today I decided I would post my thoughts on one of Smashbox's most well known products,their Photo Finish Primer.I believe that Smashbox also do a similar oil free version of this primer which had I known about prior to picking up the regular version I would have chosen to purchase instead as I have normal-oily skin which is prone to break outs and blocked pores.

Whilst browsing Sephora on holiday in Vegas I decided I would give this primer a go,I have only ever tried out 3 primers in the past and had heard that Kim Kardashian swears by PF so from that alone I was basically sold!I decided to purchased the 'to go' version of the primer which contains 0.5 oz and sells for around $16 as the full sized version was pretty expensive and I wanted it to be something I knew I loved before shelling out any more cash.

For those of you that don`t know PF is a clear,gel formula which Smashbox claim will provide a perfect matte canvas for foundation.According to the Sephora website the formula contains vitamins and antioxidants and even promises to prevent the destruction or collagen and fill in fine lines.Sounds amazing right?

Wrong!Well for me at least anyway.

I began using PF regularly around 3 weeks ago but decided to wait until I had chance to try it under a range of foundations,with moisturiser and without and also in different temperatures.

Full of hope and promises of a shine free,flawless face I whipped out my PF for the first time and applied it over my moisturiser which I had let settle into my sin for at least 15 minutes.I then applied Chanel Mat Lumiere and powdered with Mac blot powder,I applied the rest of my makeup as usual and off to work I went.Immediately after application I did not notice any dramatic difference in how my foundation looked and I was little disappointed,I was expecting at least something,a smoother finish,hidden pores,maybe I was expecting too much?

Around an hour into my work shift I noticed I was looking oilier than usual,I found this strange as I don`t usually get oily so quickly and I had to go blot my face-something I hardly ever do.As the day went on my foundation became gradually worse and by the end of my working day (6 hours later) my face was a total mess.My nose had virtually no foundation left on it and my forehead was a patchy oil slick,not good.

The next day I decided to test out PF with my trusty Studio fix fluid,Mat lumiere doesn`t hold up as well on me as some of my other foundations so I pretty much blamed it for the previous disaster.Once again I headed to work feeling sure that I would remain oil free all day as I always do when I wear sff however the same thing happened again.After a few hours the make up on my nose was gone and I was an oil slick everywhere else,I was amazed and horrified.Normally I can wear sff when set with either sf powder or blot powder and remain shine free for hours on end but not only was I shiny my foundation had literally melted off my face.

Not being one to give up I decided that I would persevere with my PF and decided that maybe it was just the increase in temperature or some sort of random hormonal imbalance that was the cause of my makeup disasters over the past couple of days.Over the next fortnight I tried various ways of wearing PF,with and without my moisturiser,under a variety of foundations and powders all to end up with the same disastrous outcome.Even more disastrous was that I began to break out after a couple of days of using PF but had been trying out a new cleanser at the same time and had not realised that PF was the cause until I had stopped using my new cleanser after blaming that for the outbreak of acne.

3 weeks on and I have finally given up on PF and will be giving it away to whoever I can palm it off on!I have read so many mixed reviews on this product since buying it so obviously it works for some,unfortunately just not me.In the mean time I have been left with a face full of acne and blocked pores to tackle.I hate to give a product a totally negative review but I honestly have nothing good to say about PF,its expensive,it made me break out,it increased oil production and made my makeup melt of 10x quicker than usual.If your thinking of purchasing then I definitely recommend trying out the smaller,travel sized version first-I`m glad I did!

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque Review

Hi again,I'm back with the first of a few product reviews I have planned,coming up soon I will be giving my thoughts on

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  James Brown Photo fabulous intensive treatment



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  Chanel Mat lumiere



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  Make up Forever-Smokey lash mascara,Hd foundation and concealer palette

But for now I`m kicking things off with my review of the popular Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque.Now I`ve never personally seen this available in any UK stores although I am aware it is much more easy to find in the US and I have also heard it can be found in Sally's.I purhcased my tube from Ebay just by typing the name into the search box and buying from the cheapest and most reliable seller.I think I paid about £7-8 including postage although from what I have read on other reviews it is much cheaper to buy in the US costing about $5-or so I have read.So far I have used this product 5 times which I think is a decent amount of time to wait before voicing my opinion however I will of course update if my views change.

The mask claims to 'dry up acne pimples,rinse away black heads and shrink enlarged pores'

Pro's:

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  Cheap-ish,I paid more than the average person but even so the price was very reasonable



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  Left skin feeling smoother and softer immediately after use



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  Noticeable shrinkage of pores



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  Improved skin tone



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  Easy to apply



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  None offensive smell

Con's:

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  Had to be purchased online



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  Made my face feel tight,moisturising afterwards is deffinetly required and may not be suitable for dry skin



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  Seemed to bring under the skin spots to the surface

I start with a clean,dry face and apply a thin layer of the mask all over my face and neck,the mask is very thick so little product is needed for a full coverage.At first I can feel a tingling sensation especially in the areas where my pores are largest for example my cheeks.After a few minutes the tingling stops and the mask begins to dry,I usually leave it on about ten minutes as I`m very impatient.I find the mask easy to remove and after a few rinses all of the product is gone.Straight away I can feel my face is much smoother and softer,I then tend to look in the mirror and notice my skin looks more matte and my pores appear tighter.I like to apply moisturiser straight after removing the mask as in the past I have noticed after an hour or so my skin feels slightly tight and uncomfortable,ensuring I apply moisturiser means this is never a problem however I`m not sure how well very dry skin types would get along with this drying effect.I would say this product is more suited to those with normal,combination skin and those will oily skin will love it for its drying properties and the decrease in pore visibility.

One minor problem I have with this mask is that each time I use it a spot seems to surface over night.It seems as if this mask is pushing all of the rubbish from under my skin to the surface so I`m not complaining as my skin will probably benefit in the long run although I would rather it stopped spots forming althogether rather than bringing them to the surface.

Overall I would highly reccomend this mask to those with combination/oily skin and those with enlarged pores as this is fabulous at drying up oil and tightening pores.Its also great for those who want to even out there skin tone.If you are hoping for an acne cure however then I wouldn't expect any miracles when it comes to getting rid of spots and those with dry skin may find this makes the condition worse. Personally I will continue using the mask and see how my skin reacts further as the pore minimsing effect is just to good to pass up and the mattifying effect provides a great base for makeup.Based on my use of the product so far I would give it a very healthy 3/5

Benefit Hoola Bronzer Review/Rave/Holy Grailness!

Today I thought I would write about one of my all time favourite makeup products,as you can tell from the title it is the rather popular bronzer Hoola from the brand Benefit.Now holy grail is not a term I just throw around I can actually only think of a handful of beauty products that would come under that category,Hoola however is definetly one of them.

I first purchased this bronzer about 3 years ago and yesterday I repurchased for the 3rd time,I am someone who likes to wear a lot of bronzer almost every day.From Dior to Bourjois,cream to powder Hoola is by far my fave and here`s why

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  Matte-Typically I do not like shimmer on my face,I have combination skin and extra sparkle in the T zone is the last thing I need thank you very much.


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  No orange or red tones-I can not bare bronzers with an orange or red undertone,Hoola has an olive undertone,and looks natural on the skin not obvious like some bronzers.


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  Texture-I find it to have a smooth texture that is easy to blend,as with all products you should apply with a light hand and build up.Some people say this bronzer looks muddy on them,I say maybe they are applying it incorrectly or perhaps it doesn`t work for extremely fair skinned ladies.


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  Perfect for contouring-I find that Hoola is the perfect contouring product due to the fact it is matte and is exactly the right shade for my skintone,I am typically an NC35 although sometimes I can be quite a bit darker and considerably lighter in the Winter time If I not wearing fake tan.I find that altering the application enables me to use Hoola all year round.I simply use a heavier or lighter hand depending on how tanned I am at the time.


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  Value for money-Although it is a pricey product,currently £23.50 (I believe when I first purchased it was around the £22 mark) you get a decent amount of product for your pound,11grams to be exact.Like I said earlier I have repurchased 3 times and each box has given me about 10 months of continual use.If I find a product that works for me then I don`t mind paying for it whatever the cost,what sucks is when you spend a fortune on something and end up hating it.I would suggest applying it at the counter before you buy if you think it might not work for you and reading the reviews at makeupalley as I always find them helpful when I`m reseraching a product thats new to me.

The only negative thing I have to say about Hoola (and to be honest it doesn`t bother me that much) is the packaging.As I use the product alot and it lasts me for some time I find that the cardboard box gets worn quite easily and looks tatty.I also find it quite hard to get my brush into,I use a mac 129?,I think.Anyway its a large fluffy powder brush from Mac and although I love the effect it gives its quite hard/impossible to swirl it around the box.I do however occasionaly use the 109 to contour and that fits in no problem.A plus for packaging would be that I don`t think it is as likely to break if you dropped it compared to a plastic cased product.If you travel alot this might be something you want to bear n mind as although the box does get tatty and the edges a little worn,overall it seems pretty durable.

If you are familiar with Hoola or other Benefit boxed powders you will know that they all come with a little square shaped brush (as pictured)I haven`t used the brushes myself as I prefer a much larger fluffier brush to apply my bronzer.They seem like they would apply the product a little streaky/stripey but I wouldn`t like to comment for definate as I normally just throw them away after a while.They are a nice touch however I would much rather Benefit just stopped including them and put the price down about £2.

For anyone who hasn`t tried Hoola I really do reccomend it, especially if you are interested in a product that can be used for both an all over face bronzer and contour product.I think its excellent value for money and a real staple in my collection,perhaps it will become one in yours too.

Nail Polish collection-collective review...

Today I thought I would post a collective review on my nail polish collection.I don`t know how my collection compares to other people but I think I own a decent amount,probably too much but I have to admit nail polish is a bit of a weakness of mine.From left to right starting on the top row we have some Mac in blissed out and baby goth girl,YSL in pink gold,various OPI,Essie,a ton of Barry M,some Models Own,Boots no7,a few Rimmel and Boots 17,several china glaze,Nails Inc,Revlon and then finally a few randoms from brands such as Ciate and Colour Club.

My favourite brand is probably OPI,I think overall they average out as having the best colours and application.I really love the colours by Essie but their formula takes alot more work.My favourites by OPI are Mod about you,My private Jet and Done out in deco.My favourite from Essie is Van d'go which is perfect on both hands and toes-its rare when I like a nail polish on both my hands and feet.I only own 2 at the moment but I absolutely love Deborah Lippmann nail poishes,I would go as far as to say If I owned more they would take over from OPI as my favoruite brand.The application is AMAZING and the colour range is beautiful.I only wish they were cheaper,I will however be picking up more when I can.As you can see I also own a YSL nail polish,now this was actually bought due to the beauty youtuber/guru/blogger Lorraine or TheCurrentCustom,she mentioned how this polish was the exact same colour as the Michael Kors rose gold watch which I happen to own and love.I went to check this out for myself and they are a pretty good match and really compliment each other.The application of this is a little tricky and it can easily look streaky as it is a metalic finish but its such a pretty and unique colour its worth the extra hassle.

When it comes to Mac even though I only own 2 polishes I am a big fan,I`ve heard some people say negative things about mac nail polish but I personally find the application to be fine,The brush is a little thin but its no big deal to me,my favourite is Blissed out,its from the warm and cozy collection and is the perfect nude for my skin tone.If you ever see it at a CCO or blog sale I highly reccomend you try it.

A brand I am very familiar with is Barry M,I own alot of nail paints,I actually have more but my mam has them in her room somewhere at the moment.I think for the cheap price,easy availability,unique colours and decent forumla you can`t go wrong.My particular favourite is Pink Flamingo,I also like Mushroom and Raspberry.

Another favourite of mine is China Glaze,I am not keen on their brush as it doesn`t hold as much polish as the OPI brush and therefore isn`t as easily to apply but the finish is great and they have so many colours you can`t not try at least one.If you like OPI`s Mod about you I suggest you check out Something Sweet by China Glaze,its not a total dupe,Mod about you is still nicer and more unique but its a gorgeous colour in itself and pretty similar.Mod about you is a little more in your face.

I own 4 polishes from the brand Models Own,in particular I like Purple Mystique,its one of the few colours I like for both hands and feet,I particularly like it on the toes.Models Own have a brilliant formula and a brilliant range of colours.I think they are about £5 which isn`t bad at all.I always find there are too many colours that stand out to me when I look at their stand in Boots which can`t be a bad thing!

Some other drugstore brands I have experience with are Revlon,Collection 200,Rimmel and two Boots brands,17 and no7.Revlon are the best of the bunch although I don`t find them amazing.I don`t tend to buy them often as the colours don`t scream wow to me and I find them over priced,I can get Essie or OPI at the same price if I buy on Ebay so I don`t like spending too much on a drugstore nail polish.The aplication is ok,and the colours are ok but thats it.I think I have tried two colours from the Collection 2000 range (I only have one pictured as I gave the other one away),I really hate these nail polishes!They are actually probably the worst fomula I ahve ever come across,yes there cheap but really whats the point paying anything for something so rubbish?I`d say pay another 50p or so and buy a Barry M nail paint.Revlon is another brand I`m not overy impressed with,I only own 2 nail polishes and one applies better than the other but once again unless you see a colour you really love,go with a Barry M nail paint if you want an affordable nail polish.From Boots I own some of their no 7 and 17 polishes,I don`t have a great deal to say about these other than 17 applies streaky but has some lovely shades available and no7 is a tad better in application but I find there colour range so boring.

If you have any questions about any of the nail polishes feel free to ask away,I would love to know what everyones favourite polish is as I`m always on the look out for new ones.Also I am desperate for new storage for my collection,I`m thinking or purchasing an acrylic rack from ebay-how do you store your collection?

Review:Too Faced 'Papa don`t peach' Blush

I want to start by saying Too Faced is not a brand I am especially familiar with,infact this is the only item from the company that I actually own.For some reason I seem to overlook the brand in general and favour other companies such as Mac,YSL and Benefit.However after purchasing this blush named 'Papa don't peach' I will deffinetly be checking out what the brand have to offer in future and I already have my eye on their matte bronzer which I have heard excellent things about.

The blush is obviously peach toned hence the name but it is actually more of a peachy,light pink.Although I don`t think it translates to the pan the colour is incredibley natural looking and has a light shimmer,it is not at all glittery as I first thought this may be the case but infact is so finely milled even a matte blush fan like myself can get away with it.

I think this shade would work well on any skin tone which is hard to come by with peach blush in my opinion.I find that some can look totally orange on fair skinned ladies and others can have the opposite for darker skin tones.

I think I paid around £16 for this blush which isn't what I`d call cheap but not ott either.As you can see it comes with a mirror which is a nice bonus and has cardboard packaging which I am usually not a fan of but the retro feel of the packaging does appeal to me.I purchased my blush from a larger Boots store but I believe Too Faced can be found in Debenhams and House of Fraser stores also.