NARS Mekong

NARS - Mekong  - £17.00 (space NK)

I was after a NARS eyeshadow to wear to my christmas party and I really wanted a deep, shimmery brown that I could layer on top of a dark smokey eye to add extra depth. I actually only paid £2 for this eyeshadow (MASSIVE WIN) because I had £15 of NDuldge points on my card to spend!

Its a deep, shimmery brown with gold bits and it is so nice on! I tried to do some swatches but they didn't justfiy the colour so have a little look on google image search to find some nice ones!

I'm slowly adding to my NARS eyeshadow collection, and they do not disappoint!

My only grumble with NARS is the packaging, my laguna bronzer looks filthy after a few months in my make up bag! I think my next purchases will be Night Clubbing  and Galapagos! 

(For all you fact geeks, apparently "Mekong" is a river in South East Asia!)

FOTW #2 - Skin Care

 Origins Super Spot Remover,  Lancome Galatéis Douceur, Clarisonic Gel, Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm, Origins VitaZing, Clarisonic Mia 2, Origins GinZing, Hydraluron, Eve Lom Cleanser, Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask

This week I've been trying to focus a lot more on skincare, as my skin is so dull at the moment, which I hate! I've been trying lots of new products, and I've disappointed by so many which just again makes me realise that just because the whole bloody blogosphere is raving about it does NOT mean that I will like it! Serves me right for being a sheep!

Super spot remover I've reviewed in a previous post, but I do think I was too harsh about it, and it is better than I think. 

Lancome Galateis Douceur I LOVE LOVE LOVE and it is such a nice cleanser and I love using it, so would 100% recommend!

Clarisonic Gel Not a fan of this, its too foamy and again I'm not keen on the smell, and I don't think it does anything.

Emma Hardie cleansing balm STINKS and I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, but a review will follow in due course.

Origins VitaZing I really like, and I'm sure I'll be purchasing the full size when this sample size runs out.

Clarisonic Mia 2 - I've only been using this for 2 weeks so far so can't give a full insight into what I think yet, but again I will do an update in a couple of months! But so far, the dreaded "purging" phase hasn't been as bad as expected, I've had a few spots in places I would never get them, such as my cheeks, but nothing too horrible thank god!

Origins GinZing I've also reviewed previously, but it is nice but I will look for a more cooling one next time.

Hydraluron is an interesting one. Considering it is supposed to increase the moisturizing properties of your face and make your skin much more moisturised, I've found that it has had the opposite effect on my skin. I've noticed that my dry patches have actually got worse, and I can't use this straight after using my Clarisonic as I find it really painful on my skin! I also didn't like wearing it before foundation, and I've been using it at night time instead. 

Eve Lom Cleanser I had a free sample of this from Space NK when I bought my clarisonic, and I was really intrigued to see what it would be like, as its one of those "cult" products. OH. MY. GOD. I just could not get past the smell, it was so strong and I actually had to breathe through my mouth when using it so I didn't have to inhale the fumes anymore! Very dramatic I know, but I also hated the texture which felt like rubbing sandpaper against my skin! I've tried to show what the texture is like in these photos below, but it was just awful and I would never use it again!

Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask I had a sample size of this, and I really love it. I can see what the fuss is about with this product, as it really does make a different to my skin and I usually use it overnight and I can really see a difference in the morning! I love the smell of this too. Will definitely buy full size when I run out.

Origins Super Spot Remover

Super Spot Remover - £12 

I was really excited to receive this, as I'd read great reviews and I've had some awful breakouts lately which are just disgusting. I know its because of a lack of fruit & veg in my diet but I love to eat junk, so its entirely my fault, but some spots were sticking around and so I decided they needed the extra kick to get rid of.

I had high hopes, but I think they were too high and I was expecting a miracle product. Nothing is going to make my spots magically disappear, but I thought this would do a little more than it did. It is a tiny TINY bottle but a little goes a long way and I can see it lasting me a while.

My spots definitely go down after using this, but only in a small way. I sometimes apply this three times a day if I'm by myself at home (desperate times, desperate measures) and I am slightly disappointed with it. After the rave reviews, I did expect more, but its just average. It helps, but only moderately, probably in the same way that toothpaste does? I'm not sure if I'd repurchase, but I think its worth trying out as its obviously worked wonders for some people.

Laura Mercier Radiance Primer

 On the hand;

 Rubbed in;

 Laura Mercier Radiance Primer - £28

I am constantly searching for the "luminous" look at the moment, so when I saw this on the SpaceNK website, I thought I would give it a go as I love a primer, so a highlighter and primer in one seems like a win!

I really liked the colour when I first put it onto my hand, and although I'd read some reviews that called it pinky toned, I would call it more peach, as you can (sort-of) see from the photo above. I used it like I would use any other primer, after my serum and moisturizer, yet before my foundation. I think you could also use this product on the cheekbone area and the cupid's bow, as it is similar to Benefit's High Beam, but in a thicker consistency. After applying it to my face, I loved the way it looked. My skin was instantly brighter and looked glowing, but in a nice way. It made a small difference underneath my foundation, but I wouldn't say that it was a major change. It definitely made me feel better about my skin after use, and gave me a little boost for that day.

In terms of its highlighting properties, I'd give it a massive thumbs up. But in terms of being a primer and improving the longevity of my make-up, I'm really not impressed at all. I LOVE the smashbox primer, and the MAC one, and this really did not make any different to the wear and tear of my make up. In comparison to my normal primers, in short, it is terrible. Benefit's the Porefessional is a lot better. It highlighted, yes, and made me look more glowy, but seeing as it was designed as a primer, I am disappointed. You get a massive tube, 50ml, and I know it will last me quite a long time, as again you only need a pea sized amount, but in terms of being a good primer, it was, to quote my teenager brother; "a massive fail". Its basically a highlighter, and I think I will try it over my normal primer next time, as a highlighting step.

I actually only own two LM products at the moment, and if I'm honest, I've been disappointed by both! I've heard really good things about the secret camouflage concealer, so I'm hoping to try that after Christmas and hoping that it changes my opinion of the brand, as I feel so let down!

Sorry for the two consectutive negative reviews, but I hate it when people lie about products and I'd rather read an honest review personally! I would probably purchase this again as a highlighter, but as a primer, in short, its pants.

xoxo

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - £33 

I live nowhere near anywhere that does Laura Mercier so I had to rely on the make-up alley reviews and make up swatches on google to determine my shade, by Medium Ivory is a good match for my NC25 skin.

I really wanted to love this foundation after reading so many rave reviews about it, and to some extent, I agree with what is said. It is definitely highly pigmented, and a little does go a long way.

For me however, using a pea-sized amount just didn't feel right and I used to whack more on, but this was a massive mistake! If I used more than that, it really sunk into the lines around my mouth, and as a 23-year old I don't exactly have noticeable lines! This actually really put me off the foundation, as I noticed that during the day it was settling in to the lines on my face, either underneath my eyes or around the sides of my mouth, and all day long I was constantly rubbing it in.

I wasn't too keen of the finish on my skin; immediately after application it looked lovely, but then 6-7 hours later it just aged my skin and made me look so much older! It really clung to the dry patches on my face (I have combination skin), and I'd never noticed they were there until I started using this foundation. After using it for two weeks, I was concerned. I really wanted to love it and I just wasn't sure.

It didn't seem to work well with my MAC 187 brush either, but I bought the Real Techniques core collection the other day, and it was much better with the buffing brush.

Despite this, I have had loads of compliments on my skin since I've started to use it, so I will use it until it runs out, but I doubt I will repurchase. Wearing the LM Radiance Primer underneath definitely made a difference to the dry patches on my face, they were not as noticeable, but I just wasn't keen on the finish it left on my face.  I would definitely avoid this if you have dry skin, and I realised that after reading a lot of reviews, the people that love it are on the oilier side.

Thumbs down from me!

Origins GinZing Eye Cream

Origins GinZing Eye Cream - £21

I suffer from really sensitive eyes and if I rub them at all I wake up the next day with puffy eyes with loads of gunk in (sick, I know, sorry!). I bought this cream due to the fact that I'd never tried an eye cream before and I was intrigued by its claims of  being a "refreshing eye cream to brighten and depuff", which were basically what I was looking for.

I do like this cream, and I do think it does help on those days where I wake up and my eyes are red and sore. I don't think it is particularly brightening, but I do have unusually dark circles so maybe I'm not the best person to judge.

I find it soothing, refreshing and nice to use, but I think I would go for a more cooling cream next time, as I need something a bit stronger to help my eyes calm down. Its a smaller pot than I was imagining, but you only need a small amount and a little goes a long way. However, this is the first eye cream I've used and I don't have anything to compare it to. I would recommend it if you're new to eye creams like me, and just want a basic one to start. It does help, and does sooth them a small amount, but I'm not blown away by this.