GOSH foundation drops brief first impressions...

Hey everyone, so I'm currently fighting to keep my eyes open, but I really wanted to upload a blog post for you all today, as my last blog post was on Friday, so I kinda feel like I'm slacking a little.

I thought I'd give you all my first impressions of the new GOSH foundation drops, as I recently bought these from my local Superdrug and I was eager to try it out.

Admittedly I was immediately disappointed by the product when I realised it was just a normal foundation, because when I saw that they were foundation drops I presumed they'd be similar to the Cover FX stuff that I've seen so many people rave about recently. Cover FX is super highly pigmented foundation that you can add to other foundations to make it more of a full coverage or to moisturisers to turn them into a light coverage tinted moisturiser. But as this product is high end I thought that this was the drugstores first attempt at copying it. But no, it's just a normal foundation with a dropper type application (sorry, I have no idea what you call it, haha).

But I still remained hopeful that the foundation itself was half decent.

It is a medium to full coverage foundation, which I love! And it feels so smooth to apply, it almost feels like a primer and foundation in one, it's beautiful! The shade is good for me also. I like the applicator because I don't tend to pour out too much product then. It is a little more watery than most foundations I am used to, so putting it on the back of you hand to then put on the brush might be a little more difficult. But I do find this foundation to be VERY, VERY shiny. It definitely needs setting with a powder, and even still, in my opinion, when I've set it, it is STILL shiny. It also doesn't feel too comfortable to wear either. I think it feels very cakey, which I wouldn't expect from such a watery foundation.

Over all, I do like the coverage and the dropper like applicator, but I don't like how it feels/sits on my skin and how shiny it is.

I would rate his product a 4/10. I definitely won't be reaching for it that often, but I will still use it none the less, as I hate wasting makeup, how ever cheap it is.

You can buy it here: http://www.superdrug.com/search?searchDisabled=&text=Foundation+drops+

It retails at £12.99.

That's all then folks, I hope you liked this brief first impressions post, and if there are any other first impressions you want to know, especially from my most recent haul, then let me know. :)

Thanks for reading,

Love, Abbie

<3 

My Makeup Starter Kit Essentials...

Hey everyone, today I am giving you a blog post on what I think are makeup starter kit essentials.

I would still consider myself as a starter in the makeup world, so I do not think I am a professional at all, but I just thought, if you're on a budget and you want to start buying more makeup, or have a kit that enables you to do a whole full face of makeup, or even an everyday look, then these would be the products AND brushes I'd recommend.

I have tired to keep it to products that you can buy in shops rather than online, as I know some people would prefer to buy makeup in a store. I also didn't want to suggest mostly stuff that can be bought in a shop and then a couple of things from different online shops, so then you'd need to spend money on postage, which can be annoying if you only want to buy one or two things.

I genuinely love all of these products too and I'd never recommend products that I don't like, or I don't think are worth the money, no matter how cheap they are. 

 Firstly, the best primer that I'd recommend is the L'Oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream. It probably won't be much of a surprise to some of you either, as I have raved about this product before. You can buy it here: http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Nude-Magique-Blur-Cream_1432493/
Then for foundation I would recommend the L'Oreal True Match. It is a great all rounder, and it seems to match a lot of different peoples needs. It has gorgeous coverage, an amazing shade range and it blends flawlessly with you skin.
You can buy it here: http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Paris-True-Match-Foundation_16049/
I'd then recommend applying the foundation using the Stippling Brush from Primark's PS Love range. I have spoke about this brush before, I really do love it. It is only £1.50, and leaves your foundation looking nothing less than flawless.

Next is concealers, and I couldn't pick just one, as I think they are both amazing. I'd use the concealer on my under eyes, any other blemishes or redness you want to cover after foundation, and on the bridge of the nose and the chin.
The concealers are, the Maybelline Anti-Age The Eraser Concealer, which you can buy here, http://www.boots.com/en/Maybelline-Eraser-Eye-Concealer_1321843/ and the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, which you can buy here, http://www.boots.com/en/Collection-Lasting-Perfection-Concealer_1693350/.
I'd then recommend blending these into the skin using either my finger, or a makeup sponge, the one pictured is part of a set of two from the brand Models Own, and I love them! I have had mine for a while now and I think I need to purchase some more really as they look a little old. I couldn't find them on the Boots website, but here are some similar alternatives, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bocideal-Arrivisl-Flawless-Blender-Foundation/dp/B00N7IF8H2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1438959709&sr=8-4&keywords=makeup+sponge.

 Next, you will need to have something to set the concealer. This is a recent purchase but I love it, it is the Gosh Prime and Set powder. I have not used it to prime my skin yet, but I have used it to set my concealer and foundation and I love it. It comes close to the MAC Prep and Prime Finishing Powder! You can buy it here, http://www.superdrug.com/GOSH/-GOSH-Velvet-Touch-Primer-%26-Setting-Powder---Transparent/p/879457#.VcTJGkIQK0s.
I use a normal foundation brush to apply the powder to my under eyes, any one will do, mine was part of a set that was a gift to me so I have no idea where it was from, but here is a similar one, http://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Make-Up-Accessories/Make-Up-Brushes/Makeup-Revolution-Pro-F101-Foundation-Brush/p/444004#.VcTJZUIQK0s.
You can also use this powder to set the rest of your face, so that your foundation lasts longer and I also think it helps your contour blend more easily. The powder brush I'd recommend and I absolutely love is my Wilkinsons and it is a bargain at £4! You can buy it here, http://www.wilko.com/accessories-and-tools/wilko-premium-powder-brush/invt/0348250.

Right, now onto contour kits. I have one my Freedom Makeup that I love, but like I said, you'd have to order it online which can be annoying, so instead I would recommend this Contour Kit by Barry M. The contour shade on the far right is amazing, not at all orange, very cool toned so it mimics a shadow more, and the shade in the middle is a little warmed which can be used as a bronzer. You can buy it here, http://www.boots.com/en/Barry-M-Chisel-Cheeks-Contour-Kit-7-5g_1655085/.
The brush I'd highly recommend to apply the contour with is the Real Techniques Contour Brush. You can buy it here, it is sold as a set, but the whole set is amazing! I'd highly recommend the set, http://www.boots.com/en/Real-Techniques-Core-Collection-1403_1252038/.
The highlighter I would recommend is the highlighter shade in the MUA Sculpt and Bronze Contour Kit, which can be bought here, http://www.superdrug.com/MUA/MUA-Luxe-Contour-Kit-Fair-Medium-735/p/471303#.VcTLGkIQK0s. I apply this with what resembles a blusher brush, again this was a gift, but here is an alternative, http://www.wilko.com/accessories-and-tools/wilko-blusher-brush/invt/0348253.

In terms of blusher I would recommend, for a starter kit especially, are those from the pounds shops makeup range called Makeup Gallery. They offer a range of about 6 different shades, the packaging is nice and they are very subtle and leave a nice finish.
You can use any fluffy blusher brush for this, mine was part of a gift again, but here is a similar one, http://www.wilko.com/accessories-and-tools/wilko-premium-blusher-brush/invt/0350151.

In terms of eyeshadow, the palette I own that I would recommend the most for someone just starting out with makeup, is the Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 1 palette. The pigmentation is gorgeous, the colour range is beautiful, and it can create subtle everyday looks, as well as dramatic looks. You can buy it here, http://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Eyes/Eye-Shadow-Palettes/Makeup-Revolution-Salvation-palette-Iconic-Pro-1/p/446600#.VcTM0kIQK0s.
The eye shadow brushes I use are off amazon, an online shop I know, but the shipping is free. These come in a set of five, I just couldn't find all 5 of mine, but the fluffy ones are my favourites and they make blending eyeshadow so easy! Here is the link for them, http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MHLD1X8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00, they really are a bargain at £2.59.

The best eyeliner I have found so far, and the cheapest, is definitely the liquid eyeliner from Makeup Gallery.
The mascara I would always recommend to a professional in makeup or a starter, is the PS Love Lift and Curl Mascara, it is by far worth more than £2.

Now for brows, for a starter eyebrows can be so tricky to master, but I found the easiest thing to use was a pencil, personally. The one I first loved the most and I still love is the Soap and Glory Archery Pencil, you can buy it here, http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory-ARCHERY-2-in-1-Brow-Filling-Pencil-Brush_1524204/.

Finally, for lipsticks, for a starter I would recommend any of the MUA and Make Up Revolution lipsticks, especially as the majority are only £1 each! AMAZING! They are so good for the price, you'll won't believe it until you test them yourself. But yes you may need to reapply a couple of times in the day but for £1 you still can not complain, as they are so pigmented.
You can buy them at Superdrug, www.superdrug.com.

So there it is guys, my Makeup Starter Kit Essentials. I hope this was useful for some of you, and I'd love to know if you go out and buy any of these and let me know what you think :)

Do you guys like my new logo at the top of the blog page? I'd love to know your opinions.

Thanks for reading,

Love, Abbie

<3

Dermatique Recuperating Cream Review...

I was lucky enough to be sent to me a tub of the recuperating cream from Dermatique. This brand prides itself on treating various skin conditions, such as dry skin, psoriasis, itchy skin, dermatitis, eczema, acne etc. I wanted to use this on my dry skin on my face and as a possibly of reducing the amount of spots I got, but I wasn't building my hopes up for that.

I have been using this product every night for at least a week now and I am AMAZED at the results so far. 

It makes my skin feel so silky soft, hydrated and smooth, it feels like brand new skin.

Not only that but I also haven't gotten one spot since using the product, which may be a coincidence but I usually get spots on a daily basis so the fact I haven't gotten any for at least a week is brilliant.

But upon reading that it can be used to treat itchy skin, I have also realised that it has in fact reduced my itchy skin. I constantly get an itchy nose, which it so irritating but occasionally it flares up and my whole nose is incredibly itchy. This too usually happens daily but since using this I haven't actually noticed that it's been itchy! So this stuff really is amazing and does exactly what it says. 

This retails at just under £30, which is pricey, yes. But it is basically the only thing I need to use at night on my face now, where usually I'd use loads of different products that didn't do half as much as this. So it ends up being good value for money, especially as you don't need much product at all as a little goes a long way. 

You can also buy a smaller 15ml tub for £4.99, which is a good idea if you want to try it but you don't want to spend £30 on the full sized product in case it doesn't work for you. 

The only downside to this product is the smell. The smell is very unpleasant but it soon disappears once the product is applied so it isn't too off putting. 

Overall I'd rate this product a 9/10, the only reason it isn't a 10 is because of the smell. Once I run out of this, which will take a while I'm sure, I will definitely buy more.

You can buy it here http://t.co/jb9B6UHyIl

Thank you Dermatique! :)

Love, Abbie

<3

   

Boots and TKMaxx Haul...

Sooooo, I might have gone to Boots today! Oops, but here is what I bought:

Disclaimer: This blog post was lot more detailed, but the website crashed as I went to publish it and I lost the whole post! Annoying. So this is the second time I am typing it up so it is going to be quick, as it took me over an hour last time, and I don't have the patience to spend that long on it again, haha.

I got an Elizabeth Arden Mascara from TKMaxx, this retails at £22, but I got this for £7.99, which is amazing. I also wanted to get the Revlon Photo Ready 3D Volume Mascara from Boots for £10.99, but managed to get a kit with two of the mascaras and an eyeliner for £7.99, which is AMAZING, so I definitely couldn't say no to it, haha.

I also got the new Benefit Operation Pore-Proof kit, which looks AMAZING. I have wanted it since I saw the preview, so I picked this up without even a second thought, haha.

I love my Natural Collection Blush in the shade Peach Melba, so I got another one in the shade Rosey Glow. I also got a bronzer in the shade Golden Glow.

I picked up one of the Lash Sensational Mascaras as I have only heard good things. I am also running out of my Collection Lasting Perfection concealer so I had to get another one.
Shaaanxo (youtuber) goes on about the L'Oreal Brow Plumper all the time, so when I saw it I had to pick it up as if she raves about it, it must be good! I also got the new L'Oreal Superliner, as it looks so good, and again, I have heard really good things.

I also got a No7 liquid eye liner too, I want to start buying more so that I can find the perfect liner or so I can find one that I find easier to use as I am terrible at applying liquid eyeliner. I also got a No7 brow pencil as my Soap and Glory one will have run out soon, so I wanted to try a new one.
I also got one of the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB creams, as the only one I own is way, way too orange for me, and this one looks light enough so I really wanted to give it a go.
I have also heard people rave about the Wake Me Up Rimmel Concealer, so, again, I thought I'd give it a go.

I picked up a Vichy DermaBlend Full Coverage Foundation, as I have heard quite good things. I am so excited to try it. I have very high expectations especially as it was £18!
I also got the No7 brush cleaner, and I have just tried it and OMG I love it! My brushes were clean so quickly and effortlessly.
I picked up a L'Oreal BB powder too, as part of a 3 for 2 offer, as I needed to pick a third thing and decided to give this powder a go.
I am also super excited to try the new Maybelline Master Sculpt Conour Kit too, and I must say the highlighter looks beautiful.

I got a free gift with my two No7 purchases, which included a Skin Illuminator Primer, a single eyeshadow in a shimmering deep purple shade, and an Intense Volume Mascara.

But the best part of the free gift was the free lipstick voucher for up to £9.95! I had a hard time choosing a shade, mainly because they were all so similar. They all seemed to be pink shades that all seemed the same, there was not one purple or nude shade in the offer, which was annoying as I don't often wear pink shades, but I picked up this one in the end, and it is pretty but I don't know how much wear I will get out of it to be honest.

So, it is safe to say I spent way too much money in Boots today, but I was treating myself because yesterday I found out that I got the job for the interviews I had been too, YAYAY :D! I have just under three weeks until I start so until then I will be buying work clothes mainly now, and possibly a little more makeup. I will update you all when I have bought a load of work clothes and show you all. :)

Again, this was a rushed post as it was the second time I had typed it up. Fingers crossed it works this time, as I doubt I will have the patience to try for a third time today! haha. 

Anyway, tomorrow I will be uploading a 'my makeup starter kit essentials' post, so keep an eye out for that :)

Thanks for reading everyone,

Love Abbie 

<3

'Like' my Facebook page...

Quick update post for you all, but I have made my own Facebook page for my blog.

I would love for every single one of you to go ahead and 'like' it :)

This will be where you can comment on what you'd like to see me review, possible blog post ideas, suggestions, thoughts, etc, and where I will keep you updated on new blog posts, as well as when I buy new products!

The link is, https://www.facebook.com/oxmakeupaddict

The more of you that like, the more of you that can suggest future blog posts, and therefore you should enjoy my blog posts more as it will be what YOU have asked for :)

MUA Luxe Bronze & Sculpt Contour Kit Review...

Hey everyone, now, I wanted to do this quick blog post about a new favourite product of mine! I have been searching for a new highlighter for ages, as all of the highlighters I have, despite the fact that they are nice, they don't highlight as much as I would like them to. I love the look of the Balm's Mary Lou-manizer, but I didn't want to fork out the money for it. I was determined to find an affordable highlighter that I love! I did't think it was ever going to happen until I found this product.

Look at that highlight on my high point of my cheekbone!!

That was exactly the look I wanted to achieve from a highlighter powder, and until now I hadn't found anything that gave my this look! 

Now, you are probably wondering what this amazing product is that I am raving about and more important how much is it?! Well, to answer the question of cost, it is only £5, AMAZING! But what is even more amazing is that it also comes with a contour shade, which is equally as impressive as the highlighter!

So enough of the suspense now, the product I am talking about it the MUA Luxe Bronze and Sculpt Contour Kit in the fair/medium shade!

Just take a look at how gorgeous, both the product AND the packaging is!

The highlighter, at first glance, didn't look as though it was going to fulfil the highlighting dream drugstore product I had in my head, because I thought it was going to be more of a shimmery bronzer than a highlighting shade, but oh how wrong I was! It is beautiful. The contour shade too is totally matte, and gives the most lovely contour, as pictured below (both the highlighter and the contour). Both powders are very creamy to apply and definitely do not feel chalky at all! The contour shade blends beautifully, and looks great on my pale skin, in my opinion, as my fake tan is fading.

 I literally can not get enough of this highlighter, and just the kit in general, because it is so affordable, yet performs so well, and is of outstanding quality. I personally think that when I use it, it feels like I am using a high end product. The only thing that makes it seem cheaper is because of the plastic packaging, but that doesn't bother me one bit.

Again, this product retails at £5, and you can buy it here: http://www.superdrug.com/MUA/MUA-Luxe-Contour-Kit-Fair-Medium-735/p/471303#.Vb-Ax0IQK0s

I hope you all liked this post :)

If anyone already has this product, or goes out and buys it because of this post, let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from you.

Also, if anyone wants me to do a review on a drugstore product let me know, and I will try my best to do it if I don't already own the product, but if I do own the product I will definitely do a review for you :)

I hope you all have a lovely day, and keep your eyes out for a new blog post either tomorrow or Wednesday

<3

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored in anyway, I bought this product with my own money, and all opinions are my own. I just genuinely love this product more than I would have thought, and it really deserves to be mentioned and raved about!

Makeup Look using some of my Beauty Crowd products...

Okay, so I wanted to do a review blog post today about something I bought recently, but something came up and it means I haven't had the chance to take photos of the product and swatches :( so I will put up that blog post tomorrow. But as I really wanted to have a blog post up today for you all I will post about the products I used for this look:

For foundation I used the sample of the Bell foundation I got from Beauty Crowd. As mentioned in my previous post, I liked this foundation but it didn't wow me enough to go and buy the full sized product. It was very VERY thick, and sort of just sat on my face and felt cakey rather than being comfortable to wear. It was medium to full coverage though which, as you might know, I like. But other than that it wasn't that amazing.









As for primer I used my favourite, L'Oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream. Followed by the natural collection green concealer on any red areas. Then I used the LA Girl Pro Concealer, which I LOVE! I definitely think it's a close dupe for Benefit's Erase Paste, in terms of thickness and coverage. I then set the concealer with my usual, MAC's Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder.

 For bronzer I used Freedom's Bronzer in the shade 110, which again, I love! I contoured my face using the Freedom Pro Contour Kit in fair. I then used my natural collection blusher in Peach Melba. I then used the Milani Highlighting Powder.

 On my eyes I used various pinky and purpley shades from the LA Girl Ultra Palette, but first I primed by eyes with the lightest, almost white, shade from the Freedom Concealer palette! It really is amazing for that! I then used the Freedom liquid liner, which I thought was really nice, it is great if you want to create a really nice thin line! As the brush is so precise and thin. Then I also used the Milani Total Lash Cover Mascara (not pictured), which, again, is amazing! I also lined my lower lash line and water line with my HelenE black eyeliner. I then filled in my brows with the usual, Soap and Glory Archery and Benefit's Gimme Brow.

On the lips, I used MAC's Twig lipstick. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this lipstick.

Overall, I liked most of the products I used, but I wasn't too sure that I liked the way this look.

Did you like this look? Let me know :)

I will hopefully have the review post up tomorrow, but if you follow me on Instagram then you probably already know what I will be talking about.

And if you don't follow me on there then go follow me, my username is oxmakeupaddict

:)