the POREfessional Pearl Primer

I am sure everyone has head of and tried POREfessional from Benefit Cosmetics and some of you might like it, loathe it or love it. For me, it was the first primer I ever tried that actually made my makeup last longer and it will therefore always hold fond memories for me, a sort of discovery if you as to how amazing a primer can be. Then came POREfessional Matte Rescue, Agent Zero Shine and now a new member of the POREfessional family with Pearl Primer.

Sitting pretty in Pink, Pearl Primer works to tackle those pores just like the original but as the description states:

The power of the POREfessional…PLUS brightening! This soft brightening face primer instantly minimises the look of pores, locks on makeup and helps skin look bright, boosted & awake. 

Like the original POREfessional, Pearl Primer has the same oil-free, lightweight, silky-smooth texture and it gives a soft matte finish. I love that it makes the complexion much brighter and this is due to the pink colour of the primer which works as a colour corrector to combat dark and sallow areas of your complexion. It is also a product that you can wear alone or under your makeup and I have actually worn it a few times on its own on my 'no makeup' days and ive been complimented on how glowy my skin looks and literally it has just been Pearl, some mascara and a lip balm.  Powdery soft to the touch, it applies like an absolute dream and creates a lovely base for applying make up.

One question I am asked a lot about primers is which one do you need? Ultimately it depends on what your main concern is and Benefit do have some options.  If you want to minimise imperfections as well as control shine then the original POREfessional is probably the best option, whereas if you want absorb excess oil and rid yourself of that excess sheen and shine the one you want is Matte Rescue and if you want to have the minimising pores but stay looking a little glowy, but without the oiliness - the new Porefessional Pearl Primer is worthy of a try and all three primers come in travel size options which are worthy trying before buying a full size.

You can find Pearl Primer on all Benefit Counters and online priced at £10 for the travel size and £27.50 for a full sized tube.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

REN Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic #GlowClean

Everywhere you look right now brands have their own 'Acid' product to aid exfoliation and when I was invited to the launch of Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic  by REN, I was quite excited.  If you read my blog regularly, REN have featured a lot over the years because I love the brand and their products, especially the magnesium range (reviewed here).

Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic is a gentle one that focuses mainly on Lactic Acid and it is suitable for even sensitive skins. Described by REN as being a toner that provides a daily dose of clean bio-active extracts to help your skin get glowing, formulated with the pH of 3.5; the optimum pH at which your skin naturally exfoliates. To do this REN use and harness the power of three sustainable, natural bio-actives - Lactic Acid, Salicin and Azelaic Acid Precursor and each one of these ingredients work together and each one is quite incredible:

• Lactic Acid. This is sourced from the fermentation of yeast and is used to dissolve the bonds holding dull, dead skin cells on the surface. It has renewing abilities, helping skin to appear firmer and plumper by encouraging new cell turnover. 
• Salicin. This is sustainably sourced from Willow Bark Extract and it works on the skin’s surface and can more effectively help cleanse your pores. It also helps to balance the production of the skin’s natural sebum levels and reduces imperfections 
• Azelaic Acid Precursor. Sourced from Wheat, Rye and Barley, REN state that this is the bio-active that’s going to give you the brightening. It works with the skin to boost radiance, hydration and even elasticity.

Bringing them together and putting them into one product, not only does your skin get look amazing, it also feels amazing too.  I have been using this Tonic for well over a month now and whilst there is a very slight tingle when I used it the first time, it doesn't make my skin go red, it doesn't make my skin feel dry and it doesn't sting. It also doesn't have a horrid scent to it, infact I rather like the scent of this, orange

We all know that exfoliation is good for the skin because the process of removing dead and dull skin cells reveals a much healthier, brighter looking skin but over-exfoliation is not good, so finding the right balance is important.  REN make everything much simpler with Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic because it is gentle enough to be used daily.

I love that it comes in a pump dispensing bottle known as a well-pump and you simply push down with cotton pads until it is saturated and then swipe onto clean skin over the face and neck, day and night, avoiding the eye area before following with your regular skincare routine.

The REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic has launched as of 1st February 2018 and a 250ml bottle retails for £25 here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

TOUCH IN SOL Metallist Shadow Liquid Foil & Glitter Duo + Giveaway

I don't think I need to mention how much of a fan I have become of the brand Touch In Sol by now but just incase you have no idea who or what I am talking about you can find reviews here, here and here on products I have been using from the brand. 

Today is a product that will appeal to just about everyone and it is a product I just cannot rave about enough and that is the Metallist Shadow Liquid Foil & Glitter Duo.

Combining foil and glitter shadows, this dazzling duo imparts rich, metallic pigment and stunning sparkle for truly show-stopping eye looks. In five gorgeously gleaming molten metal shades – from pale gold ‘Talia’ to burnt copper-bronze ‘Eldora’ – this is an effortless way to flatter and enhance your eyes, channelling some South Korean cool in the process.

Eye shadow is a product you can never have too much of but throw into the mix something which also combines the use of foil and glitter, well now you're talking. There are some brands who have some very good glitter shadows and then there is Touch In Sol and it is these ones which literally are the best I have tried. A dual ended product means that you have one end which is a super metallic creamy shadow and the other end is a glitter, that compliments the creamy side perfectly. Once on the eyes and the liquid has set this stuff does not budge, it doesn't fade and it doesn't crease. I also use a primer on my lids and having spent an entire day moving around London from meeting to meeting starting at 8.30am and getting home at 9pm, the last thing standing was my eye shadow.  It doesn't scratch, it doesn't itch, there is no chunky flakes of glitter which set awkwardly, everything about Metallist is easy to wear and comfortable.

I have five incredible shades which I have been trying out over the last few months and I am struggling to decide which one is my favourite:

• Margaret - Burnt Rose-Orange
• Eldora - Copper Bronze
• Adelio - Bronze Ruby
• Lottie - Dusky Mauve Rose
• Talia - Pale Champagne Gold

From the five above, Talia is the one I have worn the most during the daytime, but if you have seen me at events of an evening, then I have either worn Eldora or Lottie, it really depends on my mood but depending on yours you can mix and match them too.

The application of Metallist is really easy, ive seen a few people apply theirs slightly differently to have I do it, but it has to be what works for you.  Using the doe footed brush, I apply the creamy eyeshadow to my lids first (after priming) and then allow the shadow to almost dry, but not quite before adding the glitter.  When you add the glitter you can again use the spatula shaped applicator or depending on your preference your finger or a brush.  I always tap some of the glitter onto the back of my hand before applying, this then allows me to control where I want it to go, set and how I want it to look.  I can, then at any point apply more if I need too.

If I have managed to tempt you into trying Touch In Sol Metallist Shadows, then hold it right there because I have a giveaway for you over on my Instagram HERE and it is quite straight forward.

There is a whole host of Touch In Sol makeup and skin to be discovered over at Cult Beauty, ASOS and recently launched at Feelunique and honestly, it is a brand which continues to surprise me.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here