This is the only high-end primer that I have. By design, primers are meant to prolong the foundation wear on your skin and help you keep it 'all-together'. I reached for this one in particular due to its hydrating properties. I have had plenty of trouble in the past where my skin was dehydrated yet oily, and applying foundation was more and more difficult. And so I was very eager to get as many hydrating face products as possible and knowing that Lancome is considered a good brand I didn't hesitate.



Foolishly though, I didn't really test it nor did I even read what this primer is all about. In fact, my expectations were very different to the results that I got and until now, I didn't even know it was I who were in the wrong.

Primer on bare skin

First, just like with any primer I hoped that my makeup would wear longer, that it would potentially prevent caking of the foundation and with its hydrating particles it would make my face look fresh all day long. What I was not prepared for was the glow.

Primer on bare skin

Although the foundation I am still using is very light it was enough for the last days of summery weather where I didn't want anything heavy. Together with the concealer (2 of them!) and powder my Lancome Miracle Air de Teint Perfecting Fluid Foundation was just enough. After applying my face and under eye cream I quickly applied the primer. Nothing out of ordinary, light pink liquid that was easy to distribute on my face. It was only when I applied my foundation that I noticed any difference.

And... I wasn't impressed.

My face looked like I forgot to put my foundation on. The foundation became very thin and see through, even with the concealers and powder it just didn't look right. It was the pink glow that I had on my face, something that I would normally achieve with a liquid highlight, and a look I would not normally go for. But now, after reading the (very short) description it seems that this is exactly what this primer is meant to do. Let me tell you - this look is not particularly flattering.

Bourjois foundation on top of the primer

It didn't really prolong the life of my makeup but it would be very difficult to judge accurately because I felt there was not much makeup on my face to begin with.

Needless to say, I would not be repurchasing this product again. It does what it says on the tin, but since I had not read the tin before applying it I was bitterly disappointed with the final result. Nevertheless, if pinkish glow is what you desire then perhaps this is exactly what you are looking for. I would, however suggest testing this product (if possible), before purchasing.

Although I do not have many skin problems (oily nose, large pores, occasionally a spot) one of the more persistent features of my complexion is redness. My skin is pale with a pink undertone which usually shows when I use a medium coverage foundation, and especially later in the day when the makeup starts wearing off.



I was quite excited to stumble upon a really bright yellow powder, especially from Clinique who are one of my trusted brands and wanted to see what sort of magic I could expect.



The powder comes with a nice size mirror and a reasonable brush, which means that you do not need any extra accessories to touch up during the day. At £26 it is at least three times as expensive as most drugstore powders but I was hopeful.

And yet in the end I was bitterly disappointed.

It is an OK powder. I wouldn't say it is better than most powders out there, not even comparing to the drugstore ones. In terms of redness, if there is a difference comparing to other powders, it is not significant enough to make this product worth purchasing for this reason alone. It is an overall good product but it will not make that much of a difference if your skin is really red. My skin is pink, especially on the cheeks and around the nose and it was a paler shade of pink after applying the powder.

I would not purchase this product again.

Fresh melon and figs

                       
I am not a big fan on starvation, excessive exercising and making weight loss the centre of your life. In fact I am a huge fan of eating healthy and exercising with pleasure for health rather than weight loss. I know from the past experiences that it is achievable to eat and lose weight. But this time I had a sense that this was not enough. I couldn't stay in control and I need to do something drastic. And I did.

Braised beef and mashed potatoes

Chicken and egg salad

I stopped eating all of the foods that I'd normally crave at once and started from eating regular, low-carb, low-calorie meals and going to the gym every day or almost every day. My gym sessions where structured. I learnt in the past that certain exercises were better for stomach fat than others and I tried to implement these in my routine.

Crumpets with avocado

Overall, I was very good over those 10 days.

I'd go to the gym and burn at first 300kcal, after a few days this increased to 400kcal per session. My workout always consisted of treadmill and cross trainer, recently also bicycle and a bit of weights (hip abductor). I was very tired after every work out and my legs felt as if they were made of wood. And this is how those 10 days went - work-gym, gym-work. I would often even forget that I was meant to have a meal - I was too busy.

Chicken and avocado salad

This did take it's toll. I slept till 1pm on Saturday, something unthinkable to me. I was constantly tired to the point where I wouldn't really want to move. But this is just a small chunk of what needs to be done.

Greek salad

My diet over those 10 days consisted of salads, fruit and eggs. I'd eat as little as possible without feeling hungry. I always had a lot of leafy vegetables and some meat to keep it healthy but full of protein. But during those days I also ate crabsticks, soup, popcorn and custard so my diet was quite varied but still very simple.

Fish filet with beetroot salad

It was a day like any other.

I went to pick up a "few" items from Sueprdrug and seeing all of the beautiful pastel colours in which nail varnishes have been released for the summer I just couldn't help myself but to get a couple (or a few couples). And then I saw the Nicole by OPI stand. I do own a number of OPI polishes, which you cannot get from a drugstore, and I have always been pleased with them eventhough they are defintely on the pricy side. I had no clue though what this "Nicole by OPI" business was all about. But as it was 3 for 2 there was no better time to find out.


One of the more interesting Nicole by OPI polishes that I got is one in beautiful pastel shades with little specks in them. I was intrigued and anxious too not really knowing what to expect. What were the specks for? But I looked at the pink one and though that it looked exactly like strawberry ice cream that I used to have in childhood and so I got 4 colours with specks.

I normally put a clear base and top coat when doing my manicure. But then I do feel that at times this causes the polish to chip quicker and so I skipped those steps on this occasion.



After the first coat I realised that the specks were actually a granules, which you could feel when touched. The texture overall was quite liquidy but you could definitely see the colour. It dried matte and I wasn't sure I actually liked it. I applied the second coat and let it dry, wandering if I should use a shiny top coat. And when the second coat dried I was stunned.

My nails looked gorgeous!


The effect was like nothing I had seen before. It was completely matte with tiny dark granules that felt rough to the touch. My nails looked like the sort of hard boiled candy that was rough on the outside or coloured sugar.

One of the nails chipped on the same day - I have no idea when, but the remaining stayed well for the next few days, which is never the case since I tend to wash my hands or immerse them in water many times in a day.



Overall an amazing product that exceeded my expectations and in amazing colours! Already one of my favourites this summer.

It seems that eyeshadow palettes are the 'it' makeup products of this year. All major cosmetic brands are doing them. While in the past it was hard to find a proper palette in a drugstore it is now hard to not have at least one in your makeup collection.



One of the palettes that I purchased in the last few months is the Barry M Natural Glow Shadow and Primer Palette 2. I can't quite remember the price but I am very much confident it was less than £10, which in the palette world is a bargain. I wasn't expecting too much to quite frank. Barry M is an OK brand, but I would never mention it alongside L'Oreal or Revlon. And even though I got this little palette it was on a whim and I really didn't expect much. I never shopped with Barry M before and so was just a bit curious about it.



When I applied one of the shadows from this palette for the first time I was gobsmacked. It was beautiful! I instantly fell in love and couldn't believe my lack - it had the most beautiful shimmery and matte shades and yet it cost so little. And so I decided to try all of the shadows one by one and see how they work separately.



I could not have been happier with a drugstore palette. The powder is soft and easy to apply with a brush and the shades carry just about enough pigment in them not to mess it up too much when applying. Because the shades are for the most part quite neutral they are perfect for an everyday look. But then if you are looking for a natural yet glamourous look it is enough to add an extra layer and perhaps add a bit of shimmer with the lightest eyeshadow in the palette - it seems that the colours have no names so it is quite challenging to explain them properly.





The shadows are not 'pro' shadows and so they do gather in the crease at the end of the day. My eyelids are very oily and yet I almost never wear a primer, which might have resolved this small inconvenience. But the colours are absolutely beautiful and perfect for those who like a natural, hassle-free look.



Overall, a lovely little palette, well worth the money. Great to travel with since you have 6 natural colours both shimmery and matte, and a primer with a big mirror. The box has a magnet and so it stays properly closed at all times. There were also two applicators that came with it but I soon lost them since I apply my makeup with brushes anyway.

Definitely one of my best buys over the past couple of months.

Bourjois Maxi Delight Bronzer in 02 Olive/Tanned Skin, All-Year Round Sunkissed Bronzing Powder With Glints of Sunshine or Poudre Bronzante Bonne Mine 365 Jours Aux Eclats De Soleil - I have no idea which one of the three is the actual name but all of them appear on the packaging.



Here's one more Bourjois Bronzer. I got it together with my purchase and it is way larger than my other one. In fact it is so big that it can be easily used all over the body. Similarly to the Bourjois Délice de Poudre it has a distinctive smell, not strong but reminds me of the smell of my mum's makeup when I was little. Well, after all Bourjois is one of the oldest brands out there and perhaps they want to emphasise it with a timeless scent.



It is again a very soft powder, easy to apply with a brush and build up if needed. It has tiny glimmers of glitter, which are barely visible to the naked eye in the product, let alone on the cheeks. It can therefore be considered a matte powder, even if it is not entirely true.



Overall a good drugstore bronzer; there is a lot of product here and so it should last a lifetime and it is not too pricy either. If you are looking for a face and body bronzer this might be it. I have had a Guerlain bronzer in the past that cost over double what this one costs and the results were almost identical.

Collection is probably one of the cheapest brands at least here in the UK, if it is even sold anywhere else. I got this bronzer for free when buying some other stuff and wanted to see if it is comparable to other drugstore, yet slightly more expensive brands.



The bronzer is one of the mosaic bronzers where you have loads of different colour on one palette and you combine them with one swoop of a brush. The mosaic bronzers are not as popular as they once were and this one is the only this kind of product I got this summer.



It is quite shiny (or glowy if you prefer) comparing to most products out there. If it wasn't so dark it could easily be a highlighter. It is very subtle when applied with a soft brush but it's easy to build up.

On the skin it seems almost metallic, it is so glowy. Depending at what angle you are looking at it it will change its shade slightly.



As many other shine inducing powders this one has a one major downside.  If you have fine lines (and who above the age of 18 doesn't!) or large pores, or any even slight scars on the face it will make these more prominent and therefore more visible.



When most bronzers nowadays are quite orange, even the good ones, this one is in a slightly more natural burnt beige 'dirty' colour, kind of like the natural tan. Because of its shiny light reflecting properties I would not is it on my forehead though, unlike all other bronzers I have been using lately.


If you have a face like baby's ass then go for it - it is after all a very inexpensive product, simple to use and if you do not mind the metallic shine it might just be the right product for you.

Although I would not repurchase this product it is worth having in my opinion. It reminds me of all of the 'old-school' bronzers that I used when in high-school, something that is now very hard to come by (mainly because it is just not considered a very good bronzer anymore), and merely for sentimental reasons.

One of those oldies but goodies that have been around for a long time and yet year after year it is still one of the most popular products out there, competing with all of the seasonal stars.



Although I have known the Bourjois brand for many years (since I was a kid in fact) I haven't really bought many products from them, somehow always moving on to something else. And so I thought that a decent supply of Bourjois products might be a good idea after passing them up for this long.

And so I started from the Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder.



The powder retails at about £8.00, which is a decent price considering its popularity. It comes in a little cardboard box with a magnet that can be easily open and the powder itself resembles a block of chocolate. Amidst the dark mass of the powder a tiny golden speckles are visible when looked at up-close. The speckles do not show on the skin though, at least I can't see them with the naked eye and the bronzer is famous for being matte.



The texture is lovely! It is very soft, easily transferred on to the skin and blends very well.



The shade is more towards dark ochra, which is a popular colour among bronzers, and which I am not particularly fond of. But I do love this bronzer, one of the best buys this summer. It's easy to apply, soft and delicate but could be easily intensified if another layer is applied. Well worth the money and I believe a true staple of every makeup bag.

Maybelline is one of the least expensive drugstore brands and used to be one of my favourite ones in my teenage years. This summer I got two of their bronzers and was eager to see if for the little money that I paid they were worth purchasing. My previous post was on one of them. This time it's the Maybelline Dream Sun Bronzing Powder in Blonde that we put in the limelight.


Its scent seems quite similar to the Nivea cream, which I find quite strangely satisfying. It has a very smooth and hard surface, too smooth in my opinion. Touching it reminds me of one of the plastic make up kits that I has for my dolls when I was a kid. When swatched with a finger it barely leaves any traces of powder. But it also means that you have to build up the coverage and there is a lesser chance of making a mistake. It is definitely quite light with an orange undertone and would be best for those with a lighter complexion - but not pink! Like most powder products it lasts only a few hours, but considering how inexpensive it is it is still value for money.



It is a very average product but a safe choice if you do not usually wear bronzers. It would be best on a lighter skin as it will not show on a tanned or olive face.



I would not be repurchasing this product as I like my powders softer and with more colour, but it is still a nice product for those who want to stay on the safe side.