MAC X RICK BAKER - HALLOWEEN 2013

Who? Oh, only award-winning special effects wizard Rick Baker of American Werewolf in London fame...

I do enjoy a MAC limited edition seasonal collection, and this one is particularly amaze. Check out the awesome face charts and final looks...

I can't decide which one I love best...

Bride is pretty cool, love that vampy lippy shade and yellow n black eyeshadow. But I think my favourite is this Day of the Dead look:

I see a LOT of rubbish attempts at Day of the Dead every year - please all take note of the above. Beaut.

Oh, the actual collection...

A couple of limited editions there but thankfully not too many. I will HAVE to pick up that first eyeshadow palatte and the lippy too though, obviously.

Are any of you guys actually dressing up for Halloween this year? I feel WAY past it now, which is so rubbish as I used to love it, but genuinely think it would just be tragic. I do fancy having a go at that Day of the dead or Bride look though, so we'll see...



RECENT PURCHASES: AUGUST

Another Recent Purchases post to remind me why I need to go on a spending ban QUICK SMART.

It'ss something I've been SERIOUSLY considering, because, quite frankly, my spending is out of control. Honestly. And bear in mind I haven't even included the Motel or Evil Twin dresses...

I need help...

Sheer floral open-backed tunic - Topshop £38

This was a totally unnecessary purchase, but I'd been eyeing it up online and when I tried it on in the shop it just sat so nicely with it's wee three-quarter sleeves and open back and pretty print that I caved. I'm weak.

High-low floral tea dress with open back - Topshop - £48

I went to Edinburgh for the festival this weekend (photos to come) and I knew I wanted something floaty and pretty to wear for a day boozing in the capital. It's been so muggy and warm recently that I didn't want to wear tights if I could absolutely help it, and when I spotted this wee number it ticked all the boxes! The high-low detail makes it really comfortable, especially if you're like me and don't love getting your pins out, plus the open back adds an interesting touch that stops it from being too granny-ish. One thing I'll say though is that it's cut quite low at the front and it's always falling forward. More than once I found myself  having to HOICK it up for fear of flashing a boob or two, and Carlin nicknamed me Tits McGhee for the day - so make of that what you will!

MAC sheen supreme lipstick in Blossom Culture

Y'all will probably be aware of my obsession with Cut a Caper by now, and how it's FRUSTRATINGLY permanently out of stock - sob! Well I think I've found the next best thing in Blossom Culture - a sheen supreme lippy which has all the pigment of a traditional lipstick but the high-shine finish of a gloss. It's ALMOST VIRTUALLY the same colour, maybe slightly more muted, but feels very moisturising on the lips and comes in a much more attractive bullet than the normal MAC lippies, no? It's just so CLASSY looking! Only thing is because of the finish it doesn't last very long and it WILL melt in the heat. Trust me!

MAC mineralise blush in Dainty

This is maybe the most pointless purchase of the lot considering I am still loving my Accessorise blushers and I just recently found my Sleek blush in Pixie Pink - which I adore - hiding in my underwear drawer... But LOOK HOW PRETTY! I always thought Dainty was a very pale pink, but actually in real life it's a little warmer in tone and goes with both Blossom Culture and Cut a Caper a dream. It's finely milled and very pigmented with a slight sheen, but not as much as I was expecting from a mineralise blush. Beautiful, but yes, totally unnecessary. Someone stop me.

MAC select cover up in NC20

This is actually a total fail of a purchase. Number one it's in the wrong shade - WAY too pale and yellow - despite the fact I was actually matched at the new MAC counter in Debenhams Silverburn. I'll be honest and say I'm not convinced the sales assistant had any clue what she was doing but I bought it anyway cos I needed a new concealer and I kind of felt like I had to after she'd slathered it on my face.

Also, I'm pretty disappointed with that MAC concession in general. When I went in last week they didn't have ANY of the Heavenly Creatures collection and couldn't tell me when they would, they'd never even HEARD of cut a Caper let along got it in stock, and no-one knew where anything was. Everything just seemed a bit haphazardly placed and unprofessional. BUT, at least a sales assistant actually approached me and asked if I was being served which makes a massive change from the MAC in Frasers where I've lost count of the times the sales assistants have actually full on IGNORED ME or continued to gossip and chat at the till making everyone wait. That MAC needs to seriously sort out its customer service issues.

AAAANYWAY, yeah, so this is the wrong shade and doesn't offer anywhere near the amount of coverage it claims. Fail.

Real Techniques blush brush

I needed a new tapered face brush and I'd heard this was the perfect one. In reality it's one of the softest brushes I've ever stroked on my face (eew) but it's definitely too big to be used for blusher in my opinion... Unless you have huge cheeks? I dunno. But yeah, the tapered tip makes it perfect for light contouring and adding powder to the t-zone. Before this I'd been using a kabuki brush for powder and bronzer but I found it didn't give much control over placement of product and often made the powder look too cakey. All issues which this brush avoids. Plus it's like a tenner or something. Score!

Caudalie Beaty Elixir

I went without this for AGES but now I'm totally hooked again. For a while I'd forgotten why I loved it so much in the first place and was happy just using my Liz Earle skin tonic, BUT NO MORE. This amazing toner spray smells absolutely gorgeous and really does VISIBLY shrink pores. But also, I feel like after I've used it my other products (serums, moisturisers and primers) sink into my skin better and actually WORK better too. I really honestly feel like whatever's in this makes my skin DRINK UP whatever else I put on it, especially at night, which, when I'm using my beloved Advanced Night Repair, makes me a very happy bunny indeed. 

Garnier Skin Naturals dark spot corrector

What's that, another skin-tone lightening moisturiser designed to fade pigmentation and scarring? SURELY NOT! Y'all probably know by now about my never-ending search for radiant, even skintone and this is just the latest product in that epic quest.

I'm still using a mix of the Caudalie vinoperfect serum and the Origins mega bright serum, both of which I like, but I couldn't resist giving this a go on top. I've been using and LOVING the Lancome Hydra Zen as a daytime moisturiser for ages now, but over the past few weeks with this sweaty and humid weather it's been feeling a tad heavy on my skin. By contrast, this is a light fluid moisturiser that dries quickly with no residue and makes a great base for makeup. I wouldn't recommend it if you have dry skin, but for oily/combo types it's perfect. I'm really liking the consistency of this and the pleasant smell reminds me of a product from donkeys ago that I cant put my finger on... It's too early to tell if it's actually doing anything, and I don't expect particularly dramatic results for the drugstore price, but I'll keep using it anyway until it runs out or until the weather takes a turn for Autumn. Which I for one CANNOT WAIT FOR.

So yeah, that's totally REDONK-A-DONK. Anyone got any good tips for avoiding the shops?

SKINCARE AND MAKEUP LOVES: AUGUST

It's that time again. You know the drill...

REN Clearcalm Clay Cleanser - I ran out of my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish at the beginning of the month and was planning on buying another or maybe even going for the Emma Hardie cleansing balm (still desperate to try that!) but I was in Whole Foods in Giffnock randomly and spotted this. FYI, any of you Glasgow ladies into organic/natural skincare or makeup should DEFINITELY get down to Whole Foods, they have a decent-sized department in store with brands like REN, Dr. Hauschka and Lavera among others, plus the staff are SUPER helpful and friendly. Aaaaaanyway I'd heard Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup raving about this on Youtube and decided to give it a go. 

Although it says it's a clay cleanser, it doesn't dry hard on the skin like a mask but it is kinda thick and gloopy and smells a little weird. It basically works in much the same way as the Liz Earle except I remove most of my makeup with a micellar water first, just cos I'm totes anal about that. I usually leave it on for a few minutes but it doesn't sting, or tingle and I just remove with a muslin cloth as usual. And I LIKE IT. It makes my skin soft, clean and comfortable, with the added benefit of a slight sooking-out-of-oil property that's missing from the Liz Earle. Having said that I'm not convinced it's better than C&P just yet, it's just working as a nice alternative and I haven't had any weird side effects.

REN Hydra Calm Global Protection Day Cream - I've actually had this moisturiser rolling around the bottom of my massive toiletry bag for months but I've been enjoying a kushty love-in with my Lancome Hydra Zen and I'd sorely neglected it. I'm running out of the Hydra Zen now, SOB, and before I pick up a new one I figured I may as well try this out in conjunction with the REN cleanser and see what happened.

Like the rest of the REN range, it doesn't contain any parabens or preservatives or any other nasties, and relies on natural oils and minerals to provide moisture that's suitable for sensitive skin. I found this works best on me as a night cream rather than a day cream as it does tend to linger on the skin in a kind of shiny, dewy way that makes applying makeup a bit tricky. But as a night cream I really like it. It's light enough that it doesn't break me out, it smells gorgeous, and although it's not as smoothing as the Hyrda Zen, the reason is probably because it doesn't contain sillicones which reassures me that it must be GOOD for my skin. It might be a kind of placebo effect type deal going on, but I think my skin tends to thank me when I use more natural products as opposed to loads of harsh chemicals. We'll see. Not giving up HZ as a day cream though. NEVER!

Dermalogica Clearing Mattifier - I've definitely mentioned this before, if not a few times, but it's an absolute holy grail item for me! At over £30 it's not cheap but, as with all skincare, you get what you pay for. Recently, although we've hardly seen the sun in Glasgow (today seems to be a rare exception, hurrah!), it has been pretty MUGGY and close - basically sweaty beaty weather. This is the best primer I've ever used for helping to minimise oil and help foundation last in humid weather. Seriously, it's AMAZING!

It's sillicone based but it also contains zinc gluconate, caffeine and 2% salicylic acid (the highest concentration you can get without a prescription) to help clear breakouts and minimise pores. It's been something of a lifesaver this month and it's one of those products, just like Advanced Night Repair, that I can really see working. If you're in the market for a new primer and you have oily/combo skin, check it out for sure.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream - Again, something of a re-discovery. Previously I had only ever used this as a lip balm - of which it is the best in the world by the way - but this month I discovered another use.

A few weeks ago I noticed a couple of weird, red dry patches of skin on my legs and arms, around the circumference of a biro. They weren't very noticeable or itchy but they were definitely there, and they kind of freaked me out. I'd seen them crop up once before about 6 months ago and I showed them to a friend who said it looked like the beginnings of Psoriasis, which, if you didn't know, is a hellish auto-immune disease that affects the skin. Naturally I was TOTALLY BUGGIN, but actually the patches disappeared over time of their own accord so I'm guessing that wasn't what it was after all. Phew! This time though there were more of them and they were very slightly bigger...

One night while I was slathering my lips in 8 Hour Cream like I do most nights (when I can remember), I put a bit on the red dry marks just to see what would happen. 8 Hour Cream has a mythical reputation at being able to cure bites, stings, cuts and rashes, and sure enough in the morning they were vastly reduced. I've continued doing this and they are virtually all but gone so I'm pretty sure it's not the beginning of Psoriasis (which is incurable), but whatever it was it wasn't all that pleasant so if you have any weird skin issues (maybe even mild eczema) try out 8 Hour Cream. It might look slightly gross and smell a bit funky but it works. Seriously. Plus, you know, it's the best lip balm IN THE WORLD.

Origins Out of Trouble 10 minute mask - another one I've talked about before, sorry! Like I mentioned, I don't know if its this warm, muggy weather or what but recently my skin has been super oily. I normally have normal to combo skin but in summer it does tend to get a bit more shiny, but these last few weeks have been RIDIC. I've been reaching for this more and more - up to around 3 times a week at the moment - because it really works at reducing oil and closing pores.

It's not clay-based so it doesn't dry which I prefer in a mask, but it does look like ACTUAL toothpaste on your face and it smells strongly of camphor which I don't mind personally but I can see others finding it a bit offensive. Ultimately, though, it does what it says and it's not too expensive.

Nuxe Multi-Purpose oil - This was the standout freebie in my July Glossybox - I've since cancelled my subscription to Glossybox by the way, since I don't think it's worth it any more. I'm sick of crappy perfume samples and sachets, plus SO MUCH wasted packaging! - Anyway, yeah, I LOVED this multi-purpose oil from cult french brand Nuxe. I haven't used it on my face (the thought makes me boke) but as a body oil it works amazingly.

I've been using it mainly on my arms since I've been getting them out a bit more than usual recently, and over a few weeks I feel I can see a difference in the texture of my skin. Plus, I find dry oils in general are excellent for prolonging fake tan and again this really worked at holding onto the St Tropez I applied for my birthday a while ago.

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil - this is KIND OF a cheat since it's actually my Dad's girlfriend's and not mine, but it lives in our shower nonetheless, and I've been using it all the time sneaking the odd use here and there... I LOVE IT! At first it feels a bit weird to use an oil in the shower, but once you pour it into your hand and sort of lather it up a bit it emulsifies into a thick, oily lather that smells AH MAY ZING. It's not for cleansing so much as indulging, but it's also the best thing I've ever found for shaving your legs. Fact. Downside is that it doesn't last very long, especially if you're like me and DRASTICALLY OVERUSE shower products. Seriously, I slather myself in this head to toe - it's just pure greed.

MaxFactor False Lash Effect Mascara (Olympic gold edition) - Although I was loving my Lancome Doll Eyes, I felt I wanted something with a bit more clout for nights out and for when I want to look like I've got falsies on (because I am thtoopid and scared of putting on ACTUAL false lashes for fear they rip my own ones out when I go to remove them. Irrational much?).

There's been loads of talk in the beauty community about some great dramatic mascaras like MUFE's Smoky Lash and Benefit's They're Real but again I was randomly in Boots a while back and remembered I used to love this stuff back in the day, so I picked up the special gold Olympic-themed version. The brush is synthetic and absolutely MASSIVE, so if you have very short or sparse lashes I'm not sure how you'd cope with it to be honest. But after spending ages faffing about with the uber-precise Doll Lashes wand it was nice to just whack this on, so to speak. The formula tends to build volume more than length but you can do a few coats without clumping and it holds the curl well. Really enjoying this for the moment.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - Something else I've been hearing loads about are these Revlon balm stains in a nifty wee twist up crayon. I guess these are meant to be dupes for the Clinique Chubby Sticks (snigger!) and they do look similar but I've never tried the Clinique formulation, but now I don't need to - these are my fave!

I especially love the bright orange colour Rendezvous which goes on fairly sheer but thanks to the natural pinky colour of my lips it turns a gorgeous coral shade which surprisingly lasts most of the day without touchups. Obviously the 'balmy' quality disappears quite quickly but the stain is fairly impressive and they are pretty reasonably priced too, with loads of shades to choose from. If you're the kind of person who wants to try a bright lip but keep it wearable for daytime then these are ideal.

MAC Cut a Caper lipstick (lustre) - I LOVE THIS LIPSTICK! It's my absolute favourite daytime/muted night time lippy but it's limited edition and sold out online and in the MAC concession in Frasers in Glasgow, AND it's going for upwards of £25 on eBay... NIGHTMARE!

As much as I love it, I'm scared to overuse it in case it runs out - I'm not ready to mourn a loss like that yet. If I had an unlimited supply though, I'd be wearing it 24/7 - I'm obsessed with how it warms up my complexion and compliments my slightly sallow undertones. If ANYONE reading this has a Cut a Caper they don't want any more please please PLEASE let me know and I'll buy it off you. Do I sound kind of insane? I'm pretty sure I sound deranged, but you guys don't even know how much I'm in love with this colour!

Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder - Another random Boots buy. I really wanted a replacement MAC MSF natural but this month I found it hard to justify £20+ on just one makeup item (so unlike me to be restrained, right?). My ultimate favourite face powder is Chanel's loose powder but it's at least £30 and I've been really trying hard to reign in my ridiculous spending - these days about 25% of my wage goes on cosmetics, that is MESSED UP y'all!

I have no idea what made me go for this over any other drugstore powder, maybe it's because I'm a fan of the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation, but I've actually been liking it quite a lot. I've completely ignored the lol-worthy claim that it contains "Asian fruit therapy" - huh?! - that aside it's finely milled, mattifies, sets and doesn't look cakey. Unlike the MSF natural there's no additional coverage with this product but that suits me fine at the moment. Only downside is I've hit pan already but I've only had it a few weeks. Not sure if I'd be running out to repurchase but for the moment it's working out well.

So there you go, that's what I've been putting on my face for the past month or so. In terms of skincare I've found I've really had to work hard to keep it balanced and normalised in this muggy, boke-worthy weather. Being stuck inside a sweltering booth at work isn't helping matters much either! More so that at any other time of the year, this is when I'm most prone to oil and breakouts but the products I've mentioned have seriously helped. Do you guys find your skin type changes with the seasons?

Quite a few drugstore/highstreet makeup picks which isn't always like me, and I've also been MASSIVELY enjoying using the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation too... It's changed my mind a bit on the quality of (some of) the make up you can pick up in Superdrug as opposed to just the beauty hall. What do you guys reckon, it's not ALWAYS all about high end, right?

BIRTHDAY BITS

Here's a few snappity snaps from Saturday night - turns out turning 25 IS pretty awesome after all!

Taxi bants

Prosecco'd oot wur nuts

More bants 

Jenna and Nads subtly leaning out the way... NAHT!

Jimmy Choo! Fave perfume EVER!

I found a Spoon!

And a MINDTWIN!

Someone asked me on Facebook about my makeup and in particular the highlighter I was using, and actually, looking back at these pics I AM looking very GLOWY aren't I? I have to say, I do love me a bit of shimmer, although maybe I did go a tad overboard... Anyway, here's what I used in case anyone gives a tiny rats ass...

FACE

Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation - I've mentioned this before and it has now firmly become my new favourite 'going out' base. Blends like a dream with a medium to full coverage and hint of shimmer. Once set it stays put anaw. I opted for this instead of anything too mattifying since I'd decided that glowy and dewy was my makeup THEME for Sat night. Did I really just say that?

Accessorize blush in Sensation - A very pretty coral pink with a considerable amount of finely-milled shimmer. I often use this alone as a highlighter as you really have to sweep on a few layers to build up the colour, but on Saturday I used this primarily as a blush. FYI, these are widely considered dupes for the MAC mineralized blushers, and I've had this for months and months and barely made a dent. Worth the money. 

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle - I'd neglected this baby for a while in favour of a more subtle highlight effect from the Accessorize blush alone, but on Saturday I really wanted to go all out. This gives a gorgeous flesh-toned highlight to the tops of cheekbones and brow bone, but it is definirely not subtle. I think I've said before it can verge on being slightly GLITTERY which isn't a look I'd like to channel since I stopped going to underage discos at my local rugby club THANK YOU VERY MUCH... But on a night out, if shimmer/glow is your thing you can't beat this for impact. A little goes a long way.

EYES

 MAC Woodwinked and Sable eyeshadows - Ahhh, now we come to my makeup Achillies Heel. To be honest I have no idea if these two eyeshadows are even "supposed" to be paired together given that tonally they are quite different (Sable - brown - left, Woodwinked - gold - right) but whatevs, I love them both so slapped em both on, somewhat haphazardly it has to be said. Woodwinked all over and into the inner corner and sable on the outside and in the crease. Again, these are both Frost finishes which means they are uber shimmery and I think it just about worked... Once I applied ten coats of liquid eyeliner and mascara that is.

LIPS

MAC Cut a Caper lipstick - my favourite lipstick, MAYBE EVER! A warm-toned coral, lustre finish which feels smooth and moisturising, that can be worn both sheer or more intense. I believe this was released as a limited edition shade in 2010 but has been released again with MAC's new Heavenly Creatures collection, which btw, is pretty freaking fantastic! It doesn't wear all that long but I kinda love applying and reapplying lipstick (weird) so it doesn't bother me, though it does mean I'm going through it at some rate. Must pick up another ASAP.

Topshop Lip Glaze in Laid Back - on the fence about this to be honest. It's very thick and gloopy, and the wand hardly takes out any product meaning you have to keep poking it back in again and again which makes this really gross THWACKING, sucking sound which kinda bokes me out. Also, it smells strongly like caramel which is more than a little overpowering, but I do like the colour and it stays on a long time. Hmm...

BODY



St Tropez self tan bronzing mousse - that's right peeps, I fake-tanned for the first time THIS WHOLE YEAR! The dress I was wearing was strappy and had a low back, plus I wore it without tights so quite honestly there was no way I was getting that much flesh out without some kind of tan to help mask my wobbly bits (ooh err!). The St Tropez mousse has never once let me down - the tan is green-based instead of orange-based so the result is a brown, olive tan and not that horrible shade of Oompa Loompa you see kicking about. It's easy to use for even a novice like me, develops over night and doesn't stink the house out. I know there are cheaper alternatives to this, but frankly I've had my fair share of tan disasters and just wanted something I could trust.

MAC Strobe Cream - While I don't like putting creams and lotions on my face after I've set my makeup, I still find Strobe Cream the best cream-based highlighter out there and I often use it on my chest and shoulders if I'm getting them out (fur the ladz). The effect is subtle in real life but it gets picked up particularly nicely in photos. I slapped this all over my chest, boobage, shoulders, collarbones and a wee bit on my back too and it just kind of blurred my skin a little and made me look like I was a pillar of glowing health instead of just recovering from a monster cold.

Soap and Glory glow lotion - I've never used this before but on Saturday my pal Marie came to mine first to get ready and I noticed her slathering this stuff all over her legs. It was promptly bumped and I'm definitely heading out to get my own bottle as soon as possible. Just a really lovely shimmering body lotion that smells of that delicious S&G scent and leaves a gorgeous shiny glow to yer pins.

So, aye, thats how I looked all sparkly and that on my birthday. Thanks to y'all who came out, bought me drinks, presents, onion rings, put up with my extreme drunkenness, and made me a mixtape and a collage of lusty lotharios entitled "Kirsty's Dirty Dreamboats." Hilare! Brillo night troops.



RECENT PURCHASES: SKINCARE AND MAKEUP

God, searching for the photos to accompany this post REALLY made me realise what a fully-fledged skincare & makeup junkie I'm fast becoming. Where once I would have seen me spend a cool 60% of my wages on clothes each month without blinking, nowadays I find myself having to be LITERALLY dragged out of Boots for fear of bankruptcy. What's happened to me?

I blame YouTube. I've recently been getting right into beauty channels and can easily spend a spare hour or two clicking my way through tutorials and reviews. I've always been utterly clueless about skincare and makeup in particular, so I'm loving being educated by the super-friendly gurus folks of YouTube rather than scary sales assistants out to make a fast buck. Only problem is my shameful lack of self-control when it comes to wanting to run out and purchase EVER SINGLE PRODUCT I SEE.

So, that said, here's what I've been spending my hard-earned cash on recently...
WARNING long and wordy.

Liz Earle Superskin spring kit

This should really come as no surprise. I've harped on and on about how much I love the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and recently bought a full size Radiant Boost skin tonic too which I've also been loving (totally non-drying toner which smells gorge). So when I discovered Liz Earle were selling the whole three-step programme including a full-size body lotion for only £41 I couldn't resist. I've been really enjoying the moisturiser the past few days - I got the one for combination to oily skin and I find it absorbs easily and doesn't leave any greasy residue. It has quite a strong "botanical" smell though which does tend to linger. Not sure how much I love that aspect, but overall a really nice, light moisturiser. If you love Liz Earle then you NEED this kit. The saving is something like £20 on the RRP of the products individually.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar purifying gel cleanser

I always use a face wash in the morning since I find the Liz Earle a bit of a faff first-thing and I always have a shower anyway so prefer to use something quick and easy. I badly needed a new one that had spot-fighting properties and I swithered for ages about the new Vichy Normaderm foaming cleaner but settled on this instead sine I've already been using the Effaclar A.I cream so figured I'd stay within the LRP family.

At first I found this really drying and a little stingy. I ended up with a wee dry patch on my chin as well so I stopped using it for a while. Then, around that time of the month my skin broke out like a MUTHA so I reached for this again. While I can't say it worked a miracle, the drying aspect really help to sort out the particularly juicy blemishes (nice) but it's still a bit strong for everyday use. I do like that it ACTUALLY has an effect though, and that I can feel and see results. Hmm... I guess I'm a bit on the fence with this...

Bioderma White Objective active day cream

This was a TOTAL random purchase. I was looking around for a good moisturiser because that Aveeno brightening serum I mentioned last time was totally awful! It felt so siliconey on the skin and didn't sink in or moisturise at all. STAY AWAY! Anyway, although I do get oily through the day, it's only on my t-zone - everywhere else stays pretty normal, so I knew I wanted a proper moisturiser this time and not a serum.

I stumbled upon this on the Bioderma website and it promised to lighten skin-tone and fade scarring while moisturising effectively at the same time. BISH BASH BOSH. 

About two years ago just after I split up with my boyfriend, I experienced the worst acne I've ever had which left me with some dark hyperpigmentation and pretty bad scarring on my cheek. Thankfully I rarely get breakouts there now, but the scarring is something I had never been able to shift so I took the plunge and bought this. I have to say, I don't particularly like the feel of it since it does leave a bit of an oily residue on the surface, but I DO like the results! I've been using it solidly for around 3 weeks (and I'm now alternating it with my Liz Earle moisturiser) and I can absolutely say the scarring on my cheek has significantly reduced. I'm sceptical to credit just one product for this since it's more than likely down to my night-time serum too (more on that in a min) but there has to be no doubt that this has really helped. It's really quite noticeable, so for that reason I'm more than happy to put up with the slightly greasy residue. If you have dry to normal skin with scarring/pigmentation issues then YOU HAVE TO GET THIS.

Avene Triacneal treatment cream

Although I've been using the Effaclar A.I cream on individual breakouts, it's really only meant to be used as a topical treatment and not an all-over cream. I plumped for this after perusing the web for AGES for the most affective spot-fighting night creams and this kept cropping up. I've only been using it for around a week or so, so I can't really comment on miraculous results yet but it's definitely another one of those products you can actually FEEL working.

It comes out the tube a weird pearlescent-yellow colour but as soon as you start to rub it in it turns into a SUPER ATTRACTIVE bright neon yellow cream. I'm serious, this stuff will stain your pillowcase if you don't let it dry properly. It also kind of tingles when it goes on and I can still feel the tingling a few minutes after it's all been absorbed which I quite like - makes me believe it's working its magic. Reviews online promise good results after a few months of use so I'm going to persevere whenever my skin is particularly bad and let you know how I get on.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum

Bit of a cheat this, since it's actually a recent RE-purchase but I could not live without this stuff. I was recently in Boots with a friend when we passed the Estee Lauder counter and I started yapping away about how amazing ANR is, and she looked at me totally agog like, "Wait, isn't that for old wrinkly ladies?" Guys, seriously, NO! It's absolutely amazing! Yes it claims to result in younger-looking skin which is why lots of older ladies love it, but there are so many other benefits too. Namely the amazing effect it has on uneven skintone.

I mentioned earlier that my scarring had seriously reduced, which it has, and it's GOT to be at least partly down to this. I've been using it for about 4 or 5 months now and it leaves my skin plump, moisturised, soft, smooth and generally feeling like it's in amazing condition. The results are there in the morning when my skin looks at its most even and glowing. It is quite pricey but the results can be seen from the first use and I will never not use this stuff now that I know about it, I only wish I'd realised how amazing it was sooner.

Lioele Beyond the Solution BB cream

My beloved Skin 79 Intense Classic BB cream is quickly running out so I've been looking for a new one to fill its place. Although I love the coverage and natural finish, I'm not convinced it's the best out there for me since the consistency is pretty thick and it can sometimes end up quite dewy without powder, and powdering it looks cakey. However, I get the most compliments on my skin whenever I wear it as opposed to a regular foundation so I'm definitely going to be sticking to BB creams for a while.

Anyhoo, I searched about and considered all different kinds, especially the new European ones like No 7, Clinique, Garnier etc. but in the end I went with another Asian staple - Lioele.

Reviews online say it's best for oilier skins since it has a matte finish but again I do find it to be a little sticky and dewy. However it doesn't have as much of a grey cast as the Skin 79 one and it also applies smoother and blends easier without the need for a primer. The coverage is medium to full, but I apply a thin layer all over and then conceal when I have to. I'm really liking it so far but I'm still not convinced it's the best one out there. The search continues!

Yves Saint Laurent Teint Resist foundation

Le sigh... I really REALLY wanted to love this! A few weeks ago I ran out of my Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation and had a list as long as my arm for new ones to try (Clinique even better, Clarins ever matte, Estee Lauder double wear light, Avon ideal flawless...) but I spotted an "unused" bottle of this on Ebay for half the RRP and bought it without really knowing too much about it. Number one, it did not come UNUSED thanks very much Ebay liar - the lid was totally smudged and grubby and there was excess product all smeared round the inside of the pump and cap! Kinda gross. At least it had a pump so it was still technically hygienic to use, but still, why lie? I'd probably have bought it as a tester even knowing it had been used, as long as it was still cheap? Pointless. Secondly, it's just not that good.

The consistency of the product is very runny - surprising for a foundation that claims to control oil and shine. It glides on extremely easily but I found that when I used it with my Sigma F80 kabuki it soaked up a lot of the product - something which has NEVER happened before. Because of that it's best used with fingers, but even at that, it's so runny and thin and slippy that it's hard to build any real level of coverage. My (vastly reduced) scarring was still visible afterwards, as were freckles and veins. It also smells very strongly of that classic YSL fruity scent which I normally like, but not so much for slathering on my face. Also, it dries VERY powdery. Great if that's a finish you're looking for but not brilliant when you're trying to add a liquid (Collection 2000) or waxy (MAC Studio Finish) concealer over the top. The lasting power wasn't great either - only about 6 hours without getting shiny. The one plus point was that shade 01 was perfect for my skintone. But even at that, all in all it's a very disappointing foundation - I'm just so relieved I didn't spend £31 on this!

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle

I'd been hearing loads about this on blogs and in YouTube videos and after someone FINALLY bought my Marc Jacobs coat on Ebay I felt in the mood for a wee MAC splurge so I opted for this (among other items, eek!).  As the picture shows it's a really gorgeous marbled pinky/peachy powder highlighter with flecks of gold shimmer. Some of those flecks are actually a little larger than I would have liked so it's definitely something for the cheekbones only - don't go sweeping it all over your face unless you want to look like a disco ball. But really, it's just so beautiful to look at sitting on my dresser or in my makeup bag that I don't really care if it's not as finely-milled as I'd like. I'm sure there are much cheaper alternatives out there so I wouldn't necessarily urge you to run out and buy this immediately, but if, like me, you love to have pretty MAC things to look at and covet then this is certainly one of those products. Plus it'll probably last a bajillion years.

MAC lipstick in Costa Chic

MAC's lack of decent TRUE CORAL lipsticks really bums me out. Apart from the ones they release in nearly every limited edition collection (Liberty's Ever Hip and Iris Apfel's Flamingo, I'm looking at you) Costa Chic seems to be their only permanent, true bright coral shade. I've been having a bit of a love affair with coral recently and I've had this lippy in the back of my mind for a while and it doesn't disappoint in reality!

Because it is a Frost, there's a noticeable white/creamy pearlescent finish to the lips when applied, and I have found it to be ever so slightly drying so a good balm underneath is a must. I'd probably prefer it to be a Lustre or Creamsheen if I'm honest, but that's just down to my preference on the finish and I still really love it. At the moment it's quite bright for my pale skintone but on holiday with a tan and my Minkpink Zulu green maxi dress it'll look fantastic!

MAC Woodwinked eyeshadow

Just an absolutely gorgeous golden bronze shade. I find this really makes the blue in my eyes stand out and recently I've been wearing it all over the lid with just mascara for a more subtle effect than with my usual winged liquid liner. Speaking of which, did anyone get the free sampe of liner with this month's Company magazine? It's AMAZING! 

Anyway, I can see this looking absolutely gorge layered with something like Sable in the crease, but I'm not normally one for a brown smoky eye so I'll need to ease myself into that gently. But yeah, I'm literally wearing this every day at the moment. Love it!

Sleek Blush by 3 in Lace

I took it as a good sign that this was the only palette out of five which was consistently sold out at every Superdrug I went into on my mission to pick this up. After over a week of no luck, I ended up purchasing it online and I'm so glad I did. All three shades are extremely pigmented, finely-milled and soft and creamy to apply, with the shade on the left being my totes fave. I normally always stick to pink blushers but recently I've been loving the effect of a more peachy, orangey coral blush - especially with Soft and Gentle MSF dusted over it. I can't wait to take this to Portugal with me - all three shades will look amazing with a tan! Plus at £9.99 this was such a bargain as you literally need the tiniest amount of product. Score.

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. I don't know about you but I'm exhausted after that, and appalled at the amount of dolla I've spent in the pursuit of beauty! Jings! I'm away to lie in a darkened room for a while and have a serious think about my life.

Congrats if you made it to the end of this, and if you didn't who could blame you man.

Who could blame you?!