Primark PS Pro oval brushes

I am a huge fan of Primark and it isnt something I am afraid to say and I can spend many hours in the Tottenham Court Road store just browsing (I just wish they would sort the changing room queues out) and it is rare that I leave with nothing. More recently, I have found that Primark have really upped their game in the beauty department, more so with the release of their new PS PRO range of oval shaped makeup brushes, which on the face of it appear to be the perfect dupe for high-end Artis oval brushes which I have seen all over Instagram and Twitter, but the prices differ massively as you might expect.

I have been itching to try Oval brushes for quite some time now and did have some in a basket on eBay to try until I saw these quite accidentally and instead purchased the lot. Oval brushes seemed to become a must-have item when Kylie Jenner shared her love for them and here are mine.

As you can see, the P.S Pro Oval Brushes come in three sizes: small, medium and large, simple as that with no fancy names or numbering system to remember. The small blending brush (£2.50) is the brush that I use for a variety of different tasks such as blending eyeshadow, applying my concealer around the sides of my nose and under my eyes. The medium brush (£3) is one of the brushes I use the most and it is perfect for liquid foundations, bronzers, blushers and you can use it for contouring, highlighting, strobing and even non makeup tasks such as applying your moisturiser (If it is good enough for Kylie Jenner). The final brush, the large blending brush (£4) can again be used for the tasks mentioned above and especially great for applying foundations. 

I absolutely love these brushes and think they are more than amazing value for money. The bristles are synthetic and really nice and dense, really soft on the skin and haven't shredded a single hair in the months that I have had them. They work really well with both liquids and powders, though you might need to use a little more liquid than you would normally use with traditional makeup brushes until you get to grips with how much they suck in when using. The end result is seamless, no hairs stuck to your face and no visible shading and blending lines. 

Washing them is also no issue. I use my Real Techniques gel cleaner and haven't found they need much more attention than any other makeup brushes that I own to clean, but I do run them through water until it runs clear. Once I am happy they are clean, I leave then bristles facing down, usually hanging over the sink, to air dry. Once dried, the bristles are back to their original softness. 

I absolutely love these brushes and as ive said, think they are an absolute bargain. If like me you had been wanting to give an oval brush a try but wasnt quite ready to splash the cash, Primark is worth visiting to grab these to try because if you don't like them, then you haven't wasted a lot of money.

Have you tried oval brushes yet?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Let Lyst Do the Hard Work For You

When I am shopping online or looking online, I like to bookmark items ive seen and use quite a few sites to do this. Lyst is one of those sites that fits all needs. They partner with the world’s greatest designers and stores to bring the world of fashion to you in one place. So whether you shop at ASOS, Coast and House of Fraser to the designer labels of Valentino, Stella McCartney and Dolce and Gabanna, here you will find everything you need and then some.

Wedding season has almost arrived and I have three invitations to attend three weddings in the space of 10 weeks, so ive been scouring the internet looking for something to wear to each one, the chances of me seeing the same guests at any of them are slim to not likely to happen, but I am still undecided whether I need one dress or three!

It is through Lyst that I actually found a dress I really liked and have since been to try on and it is shown below. From Coast this Flower Icon Dress. It features a sheer embroidered overlay and beautifully constructed bodice. The contrasting waist tie cinches you in whilst the underneath tulle creates a sensational full silhouette. I really like fit and flare dresses because I find them to be quite flattering.

When I do find a dress that I like, I always try to find everything I need to go with it. One of the weddings I am attending is quite a formal affair, so whilst black is my favurite colour, I thought it would make sense to team a black dress with lighter accessories.  So these Nina Vesta Open-Toe Pumps by Lord and Taylor are the perfect height and I really like that they are peep toe with a padded insole to ensure they are comfortable. Add to that this stunning Hobbs Mayfair Clutch which is a pale neutral pearlescent Italian leather and it features an interior zip pocket and invisible magnetic fastening, this evening purse is ready to be clasped in the hand, or worn on the shoulder with the leather-and-link strap. The Larue Mini Fascinator is an extra that I quite like but usually forgot to wear when I am ready to leave. It features a stunning structured woven shape adorned with delicate feathers and is designed to be clipped into your hair rather than worn on your head n a headband like design.

Jewellery is something I adore, I don't really wear much on a day to day basis, but when it comes to a wedding, I think some nice jewellery, real or costume, can really finish off an outfit. For me, pearls are really underrated and I am lucky enough to have a pearl bracelet that was gifted to me as an heirloom, but for this outfit there is the Nadri Knotted Faux Pearl Necklace which features a crystal clasp closing and it is really pretty. Add to that the Charter Club White Imitation Pearl Stretch bracelet and Talbots Women's Pearl Stud Earrings which are both simple in design yet really elegant looking.

So using a site like Lyst I have managed to find everything I need and it took me less than 2 hours of scrolling, saving and bookmarking to find something I am happy with.  How do you shop?

*Collaboration post, all words my own.

Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart SPF50 Hydrating Shield

Living in London, it is no surprise to find that pollution takes it toll on my skin and brands are now making it part of their attire as new and exciting products hit the shelves. Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart has really made a name for itself across social media this week and it is a product I absolutely love, have done so since it arrived a good few weeks ago and it is something I have worn every single day. With five years of hard work going into making a product, I have no doubt that it is every bit as good as it claims to be. 

I think we all know that sun protection is something we must all protect our skin against and I am hoping it is something we all do on a daily basis! Prevage isn't just about sun protection, it is a whole lot more than that, it is about protecting your skin all year round from pollutants which play havoc on our skin and age it. There is a lot of science to read surrounding this product which you can find here but for me, it is a must read. 

So Prevage City Smart has is referred to as a Triple Action Protection technology and it delivers younger, healthier and more resilient skin in three phases:

Protect - Anti-pollution Shield Technology forms an invisible protective barrier to help prevent harmful toxins and pollution particles from penetrating the skin. So it essentially captures those nasty little toxins and prevents them from getting into your pores, so when you come home and double cleanse, those nasty germs, dirt and grime are washed off your skin. It also protects with 100% Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen, which I love. It doesn't make your skin feel clogged up on application and nor does it have the thickness, greasiness and general horrible feeling of a sunscreen on your face.

Prevent - A potent patent-pending Anti-Pollution Complex alongside Green Tea, Thiotaine, Ferulic Acid and L-Carnosine come together to neutralise free radical damage which is caused by UV Exposure and pollution. City Smart also helps to prevent the appearance of future signs of skin ageing, including lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.

Strengthen - A DNA Enzyme Complex works to strengthens skin’s natural defenses using purified enzymes which helps protect against free radical damage and supports skin's natural repair process against oxidative stress. So City Smart helps protect the skins elastin and collagen matrix therefore ensuring the natural recovery process is strengthened resulting in healthier and more resilient looking skin.

To use City Smart you simply apply it as the last step of your skincare regime. It has a slight tint to it which I really really like.  It gives a really light coverage and as someone with slight redness to my cheeks, it actually does a pretty amazing job at covering it up.  You can wear this alone or under makeup and because the texture is so light, it doesn't cake on the skin and to be honest you do forget it is there.

Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart is available now and is priced at £55, which in my opinium is great value for money considering how amazing it is.

 

  *this post contains PR samples and affiliates unless indicated otherwise