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Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Summer Glow Illuminator*

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Illuminating Drops

Ok, so it’s not exactly news that I am just loving glowy skin at the moment. It’s just so pretty and fresh, and of course, perfect for summer! Estee Lauder obviously agrees, and they have just released their annual Bronze Goddess Collection, which is designed to keep you looking beautiful all season long!

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Packaged in a dinky little bottle, complete with drop applicator, the Summer Glow Illuminator might just be my favourite product out of the whole collection. When I first saw the Illuminator, I was worried it would leave too warm a cast on my skin (I have quite pink skin which I’m always toning down), but happily, I needn’t have worried. It’s the most glorious little product – after applying a light base and a little concealer, I simply dot a little of the illuminator over my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, my eyelids and my cupid’s bow. Then, just using my fingers, I blend it in and add a dusting of bronzer. Unlike may highlighter that leave a sparkling or frosted sheen, the Illuminating Drops give the skin a beautiful natural looking sheen. The drops make skin look so healthy and fresh, they really are just perfect for sunny weather. I can’t wait for warm evenings to add a little to my collar bones for an extra little sheen.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Illuminating Drops are priced at £27.00 and are available here (UK) and here (US)

Maybelline Master Sculpt Contour Kit*

Maybelline Master Sculpt

For me, summer skin is all about really beautiful natural looking skin that’s got a golden glow. Basically I like to look like I haven’t really tried too hard, but, as usual, it’s looks like this that require a little extra attention to appear really effortless!

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So, in the hopes of looking naturally bronzed and defined, I’ve added Maybelline’s Master Sculpt contour kit into my everyday kit. Packaged in a dinky little compact, it contains everything you need to sculpt modelesque cheekbones – a pan of colour containing both a defining and highlighting shade, a mirror, and a little half moon brush.

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Using the kit itself really couldn’t be simpler. After applying my usual base and concealer, I sweep a light dusting on the contour shade in the hollows of my cheekbones, around my temples and around my chin, then blend. I’m after a super natural finish, so I only use a touch of the colour, but it’s so easily to build up if you’re looking for something a little more dramatic.

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I then add my bronzer like normal, then get to grips with the highlighting shade. It’s perfect if you’re after a natural, believable glow that looks like you’ve been on the green juice all weekend. Again, I use a light touch of it, focusing on the tops of my cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of my nose and cupid’s bow. If I want to build up my highlight, I then go in with a different formula to add some sheen – although I keep this just to my upper cheekbones. Maybelline’s kit makes contouring feel so easy and effortless, and the formula is beautifully silky soft. It’s perfect for most skin tones too, as there are two colour ways to choose from!

Maybelline’s Master Sculpt Contour Kit is priced at £6.99 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

 

 

YSL Touche Eclat – Slogan Edition*

YSL Touche Eclat

I think one of the first high-end purchases I ever made was one of YSL’s iconic Touche Eclats. It might be odd for a 14 year old to lust after a concealer, but there was just something so special about the golden pen, I just had to have one of my own. Since then I’ve kept at lease one kicking about my makeup collection, and it remains as one of my favourite under eye concealers.

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Every so often, YSL offer limited edition versions of the Touche Eclat, and I always make sure to pick up a couple. Over the past few years, there have been leopard ones (review here), lip ones (review here) and even lace ones, so when I saw the new slogan edition, I obviously had to treat myself! Even better, that the day after picking one up myself, YSL very kindly sent one over, so now I can show you two out of the available three!

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Everything about the new Slogan edition is the same as the original, apart from the fun slogans which are painted on the side. You can choose from ‘all lights on me,’ ‘no need to sleep’ or ‘I am not a morning person …’. They’re such a fun update on such a staple product, and I just love the fact that it feels like YSL aren’t taking themselves too seriously!

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If you’ve not tried the Touche Eclat yet, one of these limited editions is such a fun way to gal in love with them! I usually apply mine after foundation to create a super flawless looking base, and I just love the way that it completely erases any signs of tiredness or puffiness!

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To use, I just use two clicks, and paint the formula under my eyes in a rough triangle. Then using my ring finger, Although the formula is usually available in eight shades, the limited edition only comes in the original shade 01, so it is something to consider if you have a darker skin tone. I’m just obsessed with my Touche Eclats though, if I want to look particularly glowy, I dot and blend a little of the formula across my cheekbones, brow bones and nose too! It’s such an easy way to look wide awake, and fresh faced!

Have you ever tried Touche Eclat?

YSL Touche Eclat Slogan edition is priced at £25.00 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Glossybox UK March 2016*

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I’m not sure about you, but the increasingly good weather has me rather excited for spring and summer to finally arrive. Thankfully Glossybox seem to agree, as their latest box is all about getting your glow on. A nicely balanced mix of skincare, makeup and tools, if you’re not already subscribed, I’m sure you won’t be able to resist!

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First up is a shampoo and conditioner duo from -417 Catharsis Vitamin Mineral range. It’s a brand I’ve never heard of before, so getting to try out both the shampoo and conditioner is a real treat! I love the glamorous packaging, and the duo promises to draw out impurities from the scalp, as well as be packed full of vitamins thanks to the Dead Sea Mud in the formula. I can’t wait to try these out this weekend!

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The dinkiest member of this month’s box is the little tube of Olay’s Skin Tone Perfecting Cream. Considering I like to wear as little makeup as possible in good weather, this is a little gem of a cream which promises to even out skin, improve skin tone and give some much needed glow.

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The tube of Hey Honey Honey Silk Facial Serum is the perfect size for slipping into my everyday makeup bag, meaning my skin can already feel the benefit of it. The formula contains an absolute tonne of great-for-skin ingredients like honey, silk amino acid, sea buckthorn oil and vitamin e, and it’s a super easy way to inject a little extra moisture into your skincare routine.

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Possibly my favourite part of this month’s box is the Luxie 504 Large Angled face brush. Before I even got to try it out, I fell in love the the pretty pink handle and rose gold accents, but I’m pleased to say that it’s a really great brush.

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Larger than my regular angled face brush, Luxie’s offering is a real multitasker! If you’re after an easy way to sculpt cheekbones with some subtle contouring, this really does the job! Not only that, but I’ve been using it to apply my highlighter every morning (recently it’s been this one). The larger head means that it diffuses powder evenly, leaving a sheer glow behind.

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Last but not least is the adorable little Speedy Highlighter from Collection. Looking awfully like a dupe for Clinique’s Chubby Stick Highligher. The light pink colour also kind of reminds me of Benefit’s High Beam. Since it is so light, I don’t think that darker skinned girls will get much use out of it, but it’s such a pretty colour. The formula deposits a gentle gleam quickly and easily, and I’ve been swiping it over my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose and my cupids bow for a little extra sheen. In very bight light, it does tend to glitter a little, so I’m keeping mine for evening use.

This month is such a great little box of real work-horse products which I can really see myself reaching for. If you want to subscribe to Glossybox, you can do it here.

 

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette*

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So I think that it would be fair to say that I was pretty excited about all of the pieces included in the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani collection, but the thing that I needed to try out had to be the blush palette.

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It’s such a genius product which includes six blushes, so pretty much every colour you could want! Like all of the Gwen Stefani range, the packaging is to die for. The white and gold circles are so fun, and the generous sized compact fits neatly into my everyday makeup box.

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Inside are six perfect shades, all curated by Gwen herself. I just love the attention to detail – the names have all been picked out especially, and I think there is a great balance of colours. The shades range from a light baby pink (Cherry) through warm bronzes (Hush), there’s even a perfect ivory highlighter (Angel) which leaves skin looking glowy rather than glittery.

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At the moment I tend to rotate between Cherry, Easy and top off with Angel, as my skin feels super pale at the moment, but I can’t wait to get a little natural colour, so I can enjoy the bronzier shades more regularly.

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Cherry was the shade I think I was most excited about trying. In the pan, it looks like a bright, light, blue toned baby pink, and on the skin it’s just the most flattering shade. The texture of the blush is silky soft, and leaves a sheer wash of colour. Thanks to how pigmented Urban Decay’s blushes are, you only need a touch of the powder to achieve a natural, healthy glow.

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Easy (loving the name) is a really beautiful, warm-toned rose which is flecked with golden shimmer. Despite looking a little dark in the pan, this blush is a stunning natural-looking pink on the skin which is perfectly understated. It’s a perfect update if you love wearing Nars’ Orgasm, and even though it looks quite shimmery, when it’s on you’re left looking health rather than shiny.

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I feel like I’ve really gotten into highlighters recently, so seeing a shade like Angel in the palette was a bit of a god send. It’s a neutral champagne shimmer which lights up skin with a believable looking gleam. I do think this is a shade best suited to lighter skin tones, as it isn’t too gold or frosty. After completing my makeup, I’ve been sweeping a little Angel down my nose, across my cheekbones and adding a touch to my cupids’ bow. Basically this highlighter is a good night’s sleep in a pan!

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Lo-Fi is a soft bronze which is wonderful if you’re after a subtle contouring shade, or if you want to add a little warmth to your complexion. The texture of the blush was a touch firmer than the others in the palette, but it still blended out easily lending my skin a believable touch of colour.

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Hush is a medium pink, shimmer highlighter, which is a few shades deeper than Angel. If you have a medium or darker skin tone, this is the highlighter for you! I can’t wait for a bit of a tan, so I can wear this more regularly. It’s a tad deep for me to wear all over that the moment, but I’ve been using it on my eyes for a subtle touch of definition.

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OC is the final shade in the line up, and it’s a glorious pink-toned peach which has a super subtle glimmer running through it. I love a touch of OC on days when I feel my complexion needs a little refreshing. The texture of the blush is wonderfully soft and pigmented, and it blends effortlessly.

The Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette is priced at £35.00 (which works out at a teeny £5.00 per blush) and is available here.

 

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