Blush: Powder, Loose, Cream or Liquid?

Nowadays you can find blush in pretty much any form, from liquid to mineral powder, the beauty brands have got you covered. This post is going to go through the main types of blush, where and how to wear them, with some recommendations thrown into the mix. 

bareMinerals Blush in Promise

Loose Powder Blush

This is the riskiest one of them all, but the finish is beautiful. Any skin type would suit this blush, as this product tends to be very finely milled and avoids the cakey look. So you won't find this clinging onto dry skin patches. I would recommend using a sparse brush for this type of blush product, you want to make sure that minimal product is picked up on the brush when you are applying. Remember you can always add product but it gets a little tricky taking it away! My favourite brush to use for this is the Real Techniques Blush Brush, the tapered end is great for applying product to the apples of the cheeks and the sparse bristles only pick up the amount needed. 

Topshop Cream Blush in Head Over Heels

Cream Blush

The perfect one for that natural wash of colour. If you have dry or mature skin this is the blush to go for, its moisturising and will give that youthful glow. I find the best brush to use is a stippling brush, my favourite being the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. After I apply the product with the brush I use my fingers to blend it into the skin a bit more and you end up with a muted wash of colour and a lovely dewy glow.  

Benefit's benetint lip and cheek stain

Liquid Blush

The product I go for when I want that 'pinched cheeks' kind of look. If you have oily skin, liquid blush would be perfect for you as a stain will stay on you cheeks all day and not budge. This one is safest applied with your fingers, but you have to act quick with blending. Just put a drop or two on your fingers, apply on the apples of the cheeks and blend. If you need to eliminate that clownesque look then grab your foundation brush and lightly go over the blush to soften the colour.

MAC Powder Blush in Melba

Powder Blush

Last but definitely not least is the trusty powder blush. Powder blush is good for any skin type dry, oily or combination. This one gives a simple but sophisticated look with a matte finish on the skin. These blushes tend to be quite pigmented depending on what brand you go for so I use a sparse tapered brush for this product, typically the Real Techniques Blush Brush (you can never go wrong with Real Techniques Brushes).  

The Subtle Bronze Eye

I love a good subtle, bronze eye. It's quick, easy and brightens those babies up to make you look awake and ready for the day (even if you have stayed up till 2am watching Netflix).

This tends to be my everyday eye look throughout the summer, basically anything bronze in those warm months - I'm all for! I use all shimmer shades for this look which could sound a bit too much but with these products you get a lovely subtle glow wash over those lids. 

After applying my base I will put a small dot of Urban Decay Primer Potion onto my ring finger and dab that on my lids. This creates a perfect base for the shadow and prevents any creasing throughout the day. I will then use the Real Techniques 'Deluxe Crease Brush' to apply a light wash of Urban Decay 'Venus' from the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, all over the lid for a bright base. I then take my Real Techniques 'Base Shadow Brush' and apply MAC 'Naked Lunch' - a beautiful light champagne colour. If you wanted more of a smoky look I sometimes add MAC 'All That Glitters' in the crease with the Real Techniques 'Deluxe Crease Brush'. To highlight, I take the Real Techniques 'Base Shadow Brush' to add Urban Decay 'Venus' to the brow bone. I take the same colour on the lower lash line and inner corner with the Real Techniques 'Accent Brush'. 

To enhance the lashes I use the Max Factor False Lash Effect on the top and bottom lashes - this lengthens and holds a curl wonderfully! And the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler (which really is as good as they say!). 

xoxo 

The Review // Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation // £34

I thought I would jump on the Laura Mercier bandwagon and try out the Silk Creme Foundation. Kate from ghostparties also had a lot to do with this purchase when she raved about this foundation in her review. She was right, this foundation is amazing. It's long wearing, dewy but not too dewy and great coverage while looking natural and never cakey. In my opinion, this could work with any skin type. I have an oily t-zone and occasionally dry areas around my chin and this works wonders.

Coverage wise this covers any redness on my face so on a good skin day I can wear this by itself. When I'm sporting a few more blemishes, I add a bit of concealer and I'm good to go. I apply this with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush and I found that this is the way to get the best coverage and finish. 

I have worn this all day and with most foundations by the end of the day it tends to look a bit worn and the foundation isn't really at it's prime. With the Silk Creme Foundation the finish looks the same at the end of the day from when I applied it. 

Massive recommendation from me and wish I found this foundation sooner.    

xoxo

The Daily Makeup Routine

The Face

I have been more into BB creams lately instead of foundation, foundation just makes my skin look a bit of a 'nothingness' and 'dull'. This Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream gives a nice dewy, natural finish. BB creams don't tend to be very high coverage, hence the natural finish so I go over any blemishes and dark circles with the Make up For Ever Full Cover Concealer. This concealer is one of the best in the market, it's waterproof so it literally doesn't budge one bit... not to mention neither does it crease under the eyes which is a big bonus. When my face is looking a bit colourless I like to bronze it up with the Bourjois Chocolate Bronzing Powder, yes you heard right... chocolate. Basically imagine putting hot chocolate powder on your face, it smells like a dream. Don't worry though you don't go around smelling like a bakery all day though (however, not necessarily a bad thing), the smell doesn't linger. Then for a rosy glow to the cheeks I add a bit of Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Rose Petal. 

The Eyes and Lips

For days when I have enough time for eyeshadow, I like to keep it pretty natural. I always reach for my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette with my Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (which is amazing, my eyeshadow stays on all day). I put 'Bootycall' from the palette all over the lid with 'Tease' in the crease and 'Busted' as eyeliner. Then I curl my lashes with my eyelash curler (from boots but not too sure on the brand) and apply a few coats of Maybelline The Rocket Volume Mascara. This mascara looks like you have false eyelashes but in a nice, natural way (I am not aspiring to rock the look of a Geordie Shore girl, don't worry). For the lips I keep it really natural with the Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss, this just adds a neutral peach sheen to the look.  

The Tools
I use these brushes everyday so as you can see, I am a big fan. From left to right, I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for blending in the BB cream and any concealer I don't blend with my finger. This brush gives a natural, airbrushed look to your foundation/BB cream. For the bronzer I use the Real Techniques Blush Brush as it has a tapered end, it's easy to work into the cheekbones and down the side of the face. I will also use this brush for blush as well but the Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush I apply with my fingers. Next I use the spooly to comb through my eyebrows (makeup tip: spray hairspray on the spooly before you comb to set the eyebrows), I can't remember where I got this but probably just a cheap basic Boots Drugstore one. In the crease for my eyeshadow I use my favourite eyeshadow brush which is the the MAC 217 Blending Brush, a little on the pricey side but it has lasted forever and its still in amazing condition. All over the lid eyeshadow colour I use the MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush. Last but not least, I use the Bobbie Brown Eye Liner Brush on my top and bottom lash line to apply the eyeshadow for a natural, blended out eyeliner look.

xoxo