A "Naked" Face With W7*

The good folks at Aqua PR and W7 sent me a few goodies to review this week. I've tested them all week and I'm here to report back. I was sent the Pore-fection Primer, Naked Nude shadow palette, Nude Kiss lipstick in Naughty Nude, and the Style Eyes clear brow gel.

The Pore-fection primer is a very close dupe for Benefit and their Porefessional.  The colour of the product, the consistency, the finish on the skin, even the long wearing nature of it stands up to Benefit. I've worn this under my foundation for days now and it's beautifully suited to even the most sensitive skin! You can wear this alone, wear it under BB Cream or under foundation, it's fab. As for longevity, I tested it at Zumba twice (Tuesday and Wednesday) and my foundation never moved. That's proof, this primer is a real winner! 

The Naked Nudes shadow palette has four very generously sized pans of light wearable shades. I blended all four together on the first day to see what kind of range I was working with, as you can see in the picture at the bottom. Mid-range pigment saturation mean the shades in this palette are buildable and blendable. If you want a contoured eye or a very light wash of colour, you're in safe hands. This palette is wonderful for neutral, simple and quick eye looks. If you work in a job where you need simple, quick, natural make-up, this is the palette for you. A perfect look for this would be for a very soft neutral eye, a 50's wing and red lips. 

Enter stage left, the Style Eyes Brow and Lash Shaping Gel. I wouldn't be inclined to use this on my lashes, but it's perfect for fixing your brows into place after pencilling them in or using brow powder. I'm really impressed with this Brow Gel because it fixes the brow hairs in place but not for one second does it make your brows all stiff and crunchy. I don't think those words are even in the collective vocabulary of the people at W7. 

The only product that didn't impress me, not for formulation or anything (it's well formulated, don't get me wrong) but for the shade, is the Nude Kiss lipstick in Naughty Nude. It's just a little too concealer-y in tone than I care for. With that said, it's creamy, moisturising and has a beautiful sheen. Perhaps if you have a warmer skin-tone than I do, this would suit you. As you can see in the picture below, it makes me look a bit washed out and frankly, a bit sickly looking. I tried everything to like it, I did! Maybe if I was tanned, it would go better!!

Finally, here's a look from the last few days, brows, base, shadow and lips all courtesy of W7! 

What do you think of these products?

Let me know! 

Amy 

xx

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**All products contained herein were sent to me by W7 and Aqua PR for consideration.**

**All opinions are my own**

17 WOW! Skin 3 Way Highlighter

You know how they say that the more you build something up, the greater the chance of being disappointed? That's one of these times. 

I passed over this 17 WOW! Skin 3 Way Highlighter in Boots the length and breadth of the country. Every time I was tempted, I decided to get something else. It's probably why I have a mountain of powder highlighters. Eventually, I decided to pick it up, when I went birthday shopping with Kayliegh a couple of weeks back. I've tried it in all its uses and I've some things to say. 

As A Primer:
This claims to be an illuminating primer, and I was hoping it would be a cheaper alternative to Loreal Lumi Magique, but it did not even vaguely come up to it. The illumination that it gives on the face when you apply it is all but overwhelmed by your foundation. 

It doesn't lengthen the time my foundation lasts, in fact I've found it shortened the life of it. I felt my base slipped and moved and eventually, I had to just strip it off. I set it, I tried different foundations and nothing seemed to help.


As A Highligher:
Worn alone, with no foundation, or as a liquid highlight on your base, this is lovely. It gives a dewy finish without being too overpowering. When it's on its own it gives your skin a radiant glow that looks beautiful. 

For a pared back, natural look, just use this over your moisturiser, do your brows, add a swipe of mascara and a slick of a tinted lipbalm and you're gorgeous!! 

Mixed With Foundation:
If you mix this with your foundation, it gives a dewy finish. However I found that some foundations work better than others. It didn't bode well with my Loreal Infallible, but it was nice with Revlon Nearly Naked, sheer and glowy... 

You could also mix this with your moisturiser for a more toned down glow. 

Verdict? It's not a primer, but it's not a total write off, just disappointing... Especially when you have such high hopes. It's peddled primarily as a primer but I assure you, there are better ones out there. Save youself the 7.49 or so that it costs in Boots. 

If you want a good primer, you should check out my review of the W7 Prime Magic Camera Ready Primers. 

What do you think of this? 

Have you tried a decent illuminating primer that you think I should try?

Let me know!

Amy 

xx

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W7 Prime Magic Camera Ready Primer

Anti Redness

A while back I was in The Cosmetic Outlet with Kayliegh, and I was not leaving without a primer for under my make-up. I wound up getting two W7 Prime Magic Primers. I picked up the Original clear version and the green tinted Anti-Redness.

The first thing I will say about these is you need to shake them up before you use them! I opened the clear one to try it on the back of my hand and a watery residue ran out of the nozzle of the tube. When you shake them, they mix back together, which I can only assume means they separate when left for a while. 

Original

I've found the Anti-Redness version being used more as I have redness around the nose and on my chin. It slightly tones it down which is good enough for me, because with a good concealer and foundation, it'll all be covered anyway. It does apply well and when you rub it in, the green pigment dissipates, so you don't run the risk of the dreaded Hulk look. 

The Original, clear formula is no different to the green version, it just lacks the colour correction qualities. It's as silky, smoothing and wonderful as its Anti-Redness counterpart. If you have good skin with no redness, then your best bet is the clear one.

Other than that, these primers are silky, they fill in pores and smooth the surface of your skin. The finish is so smoothing and even wearing them alone makes your skin look better. Neither are radiance enhancing but somehow they make your skin look glowy and lovely. If you were inclined, you could smooth some of this on your skin, do your brows and be done!! How much better can you get.

These primers make my make-up last all day and well into the evening, with no breakdown of foundation that I could notice as I gawked at myself in every available shiny surface to check. I will definitely be loving these for a long time to come!! 

These primers are €8 each or two for €15 in The Cosmetic Outlet! 

Let me know if you try these, and tell me what you think!!! 

Amy 

xx

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Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Fatigue Blur Primer

Image Credit: Pretty Chit Chat

Primer is a minefield for my sensitive skin. Since it's the first thing to go on, it's usually the first thing to irritate me. Case in point: I had to wean my skin onto the Rimmel Primer that graced my make-up bag for the last year. It made my skin tingle in a way that was just plainly not pleasant. But I persevered little by little and eventually it became part of my routine, steadfast and immovably etched into my life. 
Not anymo-ore!! 

Enter, stage left, the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Fatigue Blur in Cool Rose. I picked up the anti-fatigue version a couple of weeks back and I'm well and truly converted. The liquid is a happy medium between thick and runny, allowing it to be spread quickly and evenly and worked into the skin well. There is a slight pink pigment in the product itself but it doesn't show on the skin at all. 

The pink tone is actually rather illuminating, serving to take any tired look off the skin. This allows any foundation applied over it to glow ever so slightly, even if the foundation does not specifically state a dewy, glowy finish. It also fills in pores well, though deep lines are more of a challenge... Rather than filling the deep lines, it instead keeps overlying foundation from settling into them. That's alright if you ask me!! 

The packaging for Baby Skin is a lovely peach coloured tube with a thin nozzle for easy application direct to the face if you want to use it that way. This makes it much easier to apply than my Rimmel one ever was. It can also be worn alone due to its light illuminating qualities. This takes that "skip-dwelling hobo" look of me when I decide to rock a bare face... Great stuff!! 

The fact that this primer is water-based is good news for anyone out there with sensitive skin, too!! If like me you find yourself having to build up your resistance to silicone based products, you are going to adore this. It does the job and has not bothered my skin once! 

In any pictures you've seen of me since Halloween, I've been wearing this and loving it!! 

Baby Skin retails in Boots for 11.49 for 22ml. Get it HERE. 

What do you think? 

Are there any other primers you think I should try? 
Don't forget to enter my giveaway HERE where you could win 12 months of Water Wipes!!

Amy

xx

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November Favorites - Beauty Edition

Hidihi, Campers!!

This months favorites is going to take the form of a blog-post, because at the moment, I'm buried under a steadily growing mountain of college work, and I haven't got time to film, never mind edit a video and upload it. I am, however, sitting at the computer and that means that taking a break from assignments mean I can tap out a blog post in double quick time, and in my pajamas to boot!

First on the line up, I have my EOS Lipbalm in Tropical Fruits. This was sent to me when I did a make-up swap with my lovely friend Kayleigh, from all the way over in Florida. During the month of October, I haven't left my house without this little ball of magic! It smells divine and it makes my lips feel so smooth, especially after using my Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub.

Next up, another American gift (does it still count as a gift if you asked for it?) from Kayleigh. The Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation in the shade 801 Ivory. This is the lightest shade, as far as I am aware. This foundation is everything I look for in a foundation. It's great coverage, pretty spot on with my skin tone, and light as a feather. It's got some shine control but I like to be sure of that ability by using my next make-up favorite.

Rimmel London Fix and Perfect Pro Primer. This stuff lay unloved for the longest time in a drawer, because it made my skin feel strange, but I tried it again a few months back, and I haven't regretted it for one moment since. Used alongside my Covergirl foundation, my foundation doesn't crease, slip or wear away in trouble spots. A+

My Maybelline Brow Drama in Medium is my new favorite thing. For a few uses I took um-bridge with the feeling of my brows setting, but now I love it, because it sets my brows tidily but still allows me to raise an eyebrow at people who annoy me!! :D

Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan. This may be my last favorite of the month, but it's definitely not least. I had some trouble with this at first, as my skin didn't seem to react to the DHA after an hour (I was timid). The Cocoa Brown team on Twitter were quick to lend a hand and we figured out that I needed one layer left on for the full time of 3 hours to get a noticeable golden glow. If you are pale like myself, don't worry about leaving it on for the 3 hours maximum time, you wont come out Tangoed, I promise you. I am as pale as the driven snow, and yet, after using Cocoa Brown Tan, I had a natural golden glow.

Those are my beauty favorites for the month of October. What do you think? Is there anything I should try in the month of November?? Let me know! 

Keep an eye out for my Random Favorites!! 

Whats In My Make-Up Bag?

We all have our essentials, girls! Most of our contents will be similar, but I know some of my lovely readers are nosey, so this is for my nosey girls!

Enjoy!

The Bag Itself:

I got this make-up bag in Penney's, for €4.00. It're pretty sizeable, fitting all my bits and bobs perfectly.

While I'm home, I don't keep everything in it, but when I go to Dundalk or anywhere else, it's got all my stuff in it.

I do, however, keep all my brushes in another smaller make-up bag. I want them to be protected and safe from harm.

How motherly of me!

Facial Products:

BB Cream, Moisturiser and at the moment, a primer all get toted around. My BB Cream is Maybelline Dream Pure in Medium.

I'm trialling the Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer, right now, in a bid to shake my hatred for Rimmel face products.

I swear by my Skin Wisdom moisturiser for sensitive skin! It sinks in quickly, is non greasy and leaves my skin feeling like velvet!!

Foundation&Concealer:

Usually, I bring whatever foundation and concealer I'm loving at the time in my make-up bag. I'm a fickle creature, and so that changes frequently. I'm currently loving my Maybelline Super Stay 24hr Foundation and Concealer.

Other times, I will bring my Barbara Daly oil free foundation, or my 17 BB Cream.


Powder and Blush:

I adore my Natural Collection Pressed Powder and Blush. These two gems are super soft, pigmented and fragrance free. Although they come in 3 shades each, they seem to be able to adapt to everybodys skin tone. Both can be found in any Boots, and retail for €3.09 a pop. Bargain, much?!

I must admit though, to all my ebony-skinned ladies out there, they have yet to offer base products in your beautiful shades yet!

Eye-Liners:

I am beyond fickle in the search for a good eyeliner. I literally carry my top 3 at the time everywhere I go. At this moment, its a 3-way tie between my Loreal Superliner, my ELF Liquid liner and my Bourjois Kohl pencil.

Contour:

I use the biggest bronzer in the world to contour under my cheek bones. It's an Essence Sun Club for Blondes, and light skin.

With a light hand, and a small, tapered Eco Tools brush, I use it to contour just under my cheekbones, and lately, down my nose, ever-so lightly!

My highlighter is Physicians Formula Translucent Pearls. This works for all skin types as it just adds a sheen to your natural skin tone, or over your foundation.

Mascara:

Yet another mention for my The Rocket mascara!! I adore this offering from Maybelline, and I would be lost without it!

My lash curlers are just a bog standard Infinity set, from any good chemist!

If anyone has tried the waterproof version of this mascara, please let me know what you thought of it, in the comments.



Lip Care:

I go nowhere without my Lush Lip Scrub and my Carmex. Who knows when a dry, bitty lip is going to strike?!

The lip scrub leaves your lips feeling tingly, and then slathering the Carmex over the top adds to the tingle, healing your lips beautifully, leaving them ready for colour.




Lip Colour:

I wouldn't be Red Lips, Red Hair without a red lip, now would I? I generally opt for my Maybelline Super Stay 24hr Lip Color in Red Passion when I'm going to Dundalk, since Chris likes it because it doesn't transfer onto him when I kiss him.

I do, however bring another red-lip product in case I fancy a change (ELF Matte Lip Crayon is my second in command at the moment), and often, I'll bring something muted in case we have to go anywhere that a red lip wouldn't be appropriate.

Whats in your make-up bag?? You should do a post, and tweet me, so I can be nosey in turn!! :P

Love and stuff,
Amy
xx

June BBC Day 25: Primer

Primer is one of those products some people swear by, but others avoid at all costs! I admit, I'm not taken by face primers, however, I love eye-shadow primers. Maybe its because I'm not a "Daily Face" kind of girl, maybe I just missed the boat on the whole foundation primer thing...

Eye-shadow primer is great. I have been a big fan of the No.7 Eye-shadow Primer since I was about 17, but recently, I've been loving both NYC colour's offering as well as Essence's! I will happily state that I think Essence stands up to the quality of No.7, no problem!!

Essence I<3 Stage- €3.59

As far as face-primer goes... The only one I ever tried was Rimmel and I HATED it! It made my skin feel weird and tingly, and not in the good way! It works for some of you, and that's great, its affordable and readily available, but I cant abide the stuff. If you can recommend a decent one, at a decent price, by all means, be my guest!

What is your opinion on primers? Have you any favorites? Would you try any of the ones I've mentioned?? 

Let me know!!

xoxo

Amy

June BBC Day 24: Alternative Uses for Items

Essence I <3 Stage - €3.59

Usually when I buy a product, its bought because I need it to do its intended job!

With that said, I do have one use for a product that isn't exactly what it's meant for!

Primer! More specifically, eyeshadow primer. You may be wondering what the hell I use primer for, if not to prime my lids for shadow! Well the answer is very simple. I put it under my concealer on days where I know that concealer alone wont do the job.

A dab of this on my ring finger, on to my spots and imperfections, and I'm reassured that my concealer (usually set with a wee bit of powder) will stay put!

What other uses do you have for your make-up products? Do you use lipstick as a blusher, in a pinch?

Drop me a line below in the comments!!

xoxo
Amy