Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation is just superb. I have been using it now for the last few months and just adore it. Firstly it is pump action and therefore easy to use. I tend to prime my face and then, apply this foundation onto my brush and gently buff it onto my skin. I have combination skin which leaves me with an oily t-zone and dry cheeks, so I am careful about which foundations I choose because they either cling to the dryness or almost disappear entirely. 

I usually set my liquid foundation with a powder, but with this, I never feel the need too. Infused with a potent combination of Coconut Water to naturally replenish moisture levels; nature's resilient Alpine Rose to brighten the skin's appearance and promote elasticity plus Hyaluronic Acid for a smoother, more youthful appearance, this foundation is just as much skincare as it is make-up

I have shade Porcelain which is the third lightest shade (Snow and Pearl being lighter), there are 18 in total to choose from, and it works so well with my skin tone. As you can see from the swatch above, it does initially look quite dark, but as soon as you buff it onto the skin, the change is quite incredible and both photos are taken without the use of flash but instead with natural sunshine.

It gives what I would call medium coverage and for me is great at covering and concealing the redness on my cheeks, but it is buildable. I haven't found it to oxidise nor is it tacky on the skin. What it does is give me a full days coverage when I am at work and then I always re-apply if I am going out in an evening, more for my own self-consciousness than for need.  

At £29 for 30ml I find it is good value for money, it applies like a dream, it doesn't leave my skin all shiny and I just love it. it does what it promises to do and lives up to its description "Born This Way is an oil-free foundation that masterfully diffuses the line between makeup and skin. For coverage so undetectable, you can’t see the makeup and you can’t see imperfections—all that’s left is naturally radiant skin that looks like you were Born This Way".

Are you a fan of Too Faced makeup?

L’OCCITANE VIOLETTE & ROSE DE MAI EAU DE TOILETTE

L'Occitane is one of my favourite brands, infact you only need to look through my blog to see just how much of a fan I am. To celebrate their 40th year anniversary, L’Occitane have created a stunning limited edition fragrance which is said to capture of the essence of Provence in a single spritz, so let me introduce you to - L’Occitane Violette & Rose de Mai Eau de Toilette. 

Created by world renowned perfumer Violaine Collas; Violette & Rose de Mai is described as being 'a vibrant and elegant unity of two ravishing flowers from Grasse. This exceptional fragrance tells the romance of Violet and May rose with fruity and zesty notes of bergamot and mandarin that melt into tender and creamy base notes of musks and sandalwood' and within the fragrance you have the following notes:

• Top Notes: Bergamote, Rhubarb, Cassis, Mandarin & Orange.
• Heart Notes: Rose de Mai, Mediterranean Geranium & Violette Leaves.
• Base Notes: Santal & Musk.

Now I am a huge fan of rose scented products, always have been. There is just something about the scent that is divine and mixing it with Violette leaves adds that little something extra and if rose scented perfumes aren't for you, then I would urge you to give this a try, it is so light, refreshing yet incredibly fresh scented and the hint of citrus is simply divine and takes just a few minutes on your skin to come to life.

Again, as this is an eau de toilette, they often dont have great longevity on the skin, but with L'Occitane scents they last absolutely ages and no matter which one I wear, I can always detect the scent some 5-6 hours after the first application on my skin and that little bit longer on my clothes which is really impressive.

For me this is the perfect summer scent, it isn't too heavy or overly sweet, it is as I have mentioned; light, crisp and incredibly refreshing and I just absolutely adore it.  Retailing at £52 for 75ml you more than get what you pay for.

BIOEFFECT EGF Day Serum

BioEffect is one of those brands which excites and intrigues me and to date I have only used two products from the range, the first being the Volcanic Exfoliator and the second being the EGF Day Serum.  BioEffect has an amazing brand story which you can find here and it is one that allows the science to do its magic without being complicated.

BIOEFFECT EGF Day Serum is an advanced anti-ageing serum specially formulated for daytime use and it is one of those products that I have loved using from the very first try.  Designed to restore the skin's moisture balance, it works to smooth the texture of your skin and it works exceptionally well as a makeup base to point that any dry skin you might have on your face doesn't grab your foundation and cling to it.

Also said to promote denser and firmer skin, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and enlarged pores, EGF DAY SERUM delivers multiple anti-ageing benefits. It is enriched with that is referred to as BioEffects innovative key ingredient known as EGF or Epidermal Growth Factor, something I read quite a lot about before using the serum. EGF is a substance which occurs naturally in human skin and it has the ability to increase the rate of cell turnover. However, as we age, the skin slows down its natural production of EGF and begins to lose firmess and elasticity and then when fine lines appear and your skin begins to luck duller. Add to that, again as we age the production of collagen and elastin within the skin's dermal layer also dwindles and as your skin becomes thinner with age, along come the wrinkles. So, using this serum, it is said to be possible to stimulate the natural process of cell renewal and minimise the visible effect of skin ageing.

The serum is suitable for all skin types and it is a really soft gel like formula which you apply after your morning cleanse and before your moisturiser and then it is to be applied to your face and neck. Using the pump action bottle, one pump gives more than enough to complete the task. As soon as it comes into contact with the skin, it immediately absorbs on contact leaving no trace behind, but it does leave your skin feeling so incredibly smooth to the touch. There is no smell to the serum and there is no greasiness or tacky feeling.

What I absolutely love about the serum is how it feels on the skin. I find it to be soothing and smoothing and whilst I am yet to have fine lines and wrinkles, what I do find with this serum is that the hydration and moisturisation levels are amazing not to mention the great makeup base it makes, I almost don't add a primer it is that good. As for my complexion, well I have seen my pores shrink but not disappear and the dryness on one cheek has totally gone for the first time in months and my forehead is a lot less oily mid-afternoon than usual.  So for me, this serum has certainly mad a huge difference to my skin and it causes no irritations or reactions.

Now it is on the pricey side at £110 but it is a magnificent product and one I would definitely consider purchasing.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

FOREO LUNA mini 2 Save the Sea

I love my Foreo skincare devices, not too sure whether there is a name for a group of them, but I have three. I have a big one, a little one and now this super cute Luna Mini Save The Sea. 

FOREO has partnered with GreenWave and SEA LIFE Trust for a second year to launch the LUNA mini 2 Save the Sea Special Edition facial cleansing brush. All of the net proceeds from the sale of this device will go to benefit ocean conservation efforts. This campaign will allow FOREO to continue support for initiatives such as the rehabilitation of endangered sea life and the building of restorative ocean farms to foster wildlife habitats, which I think it just fantastic.

For those who have never seen a Foreo before, they are pretty amazing and the best facial cleansing device I have ever used. The LUNA mini 2 is pretty stylish looking with the little turtles clearly visible in white. Like other Foreo cleansers, this one features 1300 non-abrasive, hygienic, silicone-coated touch-points that are configured into three zones to suit all skin types.  Then there is reverse side for channeling pulsations more directly to cleanse and refresh oilier skin. 

The Foreo cleans impurities from your pores to reduce blemishes and it removes 99.5% of dirt and oil plus makeup residue to leave your skin looking much clearer, brighter and healthier. As you move the device around your face, dead skin cells are cleared away too and this helps with the absorption of your serums, moisturising creams and other skincare products by allowing them to penetrate deep into your skin without having to fight their way through.

What I love about the Foreo is not only how easy it is to use but also how quickly you find it becoming part of your skincare routine without having to think about it and it takes no more than a few minutes of your time.  So to use, you should ideally remove all of your make-up as you would with any other cleansing regime and then, ensuring your face is damp, apply your regular cleansing product (I use the Foreo one) directly to your skin and thennhj turn on your Foreo by pressing the button once and then you will feel the slight vibrations in your hand. Then, if you imagine your face is 4 sections - chin, cheeks, forehead and nose, using gentle upward and outward strokes for at least 15 seconds per area, move the Foreo around your face to cleanse and it is also like a mini facial work-out too. You will know when those 15 seconds come to an end as the vibrations momentarily pause and then after one minute the vibrations will pause 3 times in quick succession to signal the end of your cleanse. Then you simply rinse your face, pat dry and apply your regular skincare products.

If you have never owned or used a Foreo device before, but you like your face cleaning brushes, then the Foreo is a worthy investment as far as I am concerned, I absolutely could not be without mine.

Launching 1st July, £99, available from www.foreo.com, Harvey Nichols and Look Fantastic

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise