Beauty Bandwagon

So I wrote an essay of a blog post, off my usual track I should add, before I went to Barcelona reviewing two of the latest ‘hyped’ products in the blogging world. Naturally blogger, with the help of the useless ipad wiped my ENTIRE blog feature. Grr. So anyway this is round two of my blog post and I really hope I make it as detailed and useful as I think the first one was. I guess the good news is, I have had a week of additional product usage to help make this post all the more informing.

Here we go … So the one thing I’ve noticed since blogging is how much the community ‘hypes’ about certain products. As someone that is utterly clueless beauty bloggers tips, reviews and application videos genuinely help me and I’ve learnt a lot about my makeup over the last few months especially.

Sometimes i’m a tad skeptical when everyone’s talking about the same thing and other times super intrigued. Both these products I am going to talk about today are products I’ve discovered through other bloggers talking about them, as well as my friends giving me a little more information. May I introduce, the much talked about Real Techniques Stippling Brush & Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation.

First up, Real Techniques. This brand has been utterly raved about on the bloggersphere, mainly for it’s fab quality but shockingly reasonable price. I’ve never really been at one with foundation, as a teenager I never needed to use it as I had annoyingly perfect skin, as a 24 year old my skin has decided to rock the boat a little and I’m often trying to hide red blemishes and pill induced spots on my chin and around my mouth. Nightmare right? As I never needed to use foundation when I was younger and ‘learning’ about makeup, i’ve never been taught or really known how to properly apply or even choose a foundation. Over time i’ve gathered a little selection of foundations including Clinique, Bourjois and Mac. I think they’re all great for various reasons but the problem is I’ve never really known how to effectively apply them. So I stuck to the finger application routine …. which in hind sight really doesn’t work for me.

When I heard about Real Techniques I was super tempted to test out the range, mainly because of the lower price barrier. I was a bit anxious about spending £30 on a Mac one without knowing they really work for me. A couple of friends had tried Real Techniques too and after reading the rave blog reviews I decided to invest. When I went to Boots I wasn’t able to find the Stippling brush that i’d been recommended, so bought their standard foundation brush instead, which I think is great but I was still after something a little more ‘chunky’ that would help me blend my foundation more evenly and also just create a more natural look (sometimes I end up with more ‘covered’ patches etc).

For my birthday my sister bought me the Stippling Brush, and oh my, impressed much. This brush has actually revolutionised my foundation application – extreme statement I know, but it is true. At roughly £12 (i think) it’s really good value and genuinely helps you achieve a really light all over coverage. I’m a fairly (VERY) inpatient person and the great thing about this brush is that it allows you to very quickly and easily apply your foundation. I have started to apply my foundation with the foundation brush and then blend and spread my coverage with this brush. It helps eliminate any obvious foundation lines and really helps the foundation go further on your face. It’s also super soft, so feels so nice on your skin.

Secondly, the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation. As mentioned, I’m no pro at all, and so really am learning as I go when I try new products, I’ve used a few brands previously but one thing I’ve never fully been able to achieve is the ‘natural’ look and also a foundation that is a) light enough to not look awful, but b) strong enough to cover my blemishes. This foundation miraculously does both for me. With the help of my trusty ‘new’ Stippling brush, this foundation gives me a full facial coverage without looking at all fake or obvious, it also completely covers my blemishes and creates an all over even skin tone.

The foundation itself is very light (in comparison to say my Bourjois one) and spreads on very easily. It’s more liquid based (?) than other products i’ve tried which I actually like as it helps avoid the ‘heavy’ feel some foundations create. I suppose one of the main things I’ve been impressed with about this product is it’s longevity, i’ve never used a foundation that lasts so perfectly. There is no slipping or blotches by the end of the day which I have found with other products I’ve tried, it really does last the long haul and keep you looking fresh and not like a total mess. This is perfect for me what with working fairly long hours, I need something that will last me the day.

If I had to pick some draw backs of this foundation they’d be this: 1) I think I’ve picked a colour to light for my skin (my fault, I chose ‘Bone’), 2) It’s price, although in the context of it’s performance I think it’s worth it, it is in general a fairly expensive foundation (£26). Luckily for me, I managed to pick this up at an outlet for £18, this is largely the reason I took the leap and invested.

A final little thing i’ve noticed is that it doesn’t hydrate my skin very much, I’ve found that it looks a little more powdery on my face than other products like the Clinique foundation range, which means I have to be more vigilant than usual with my moisturising routine (if you can call it that). The plus of this is, it helps cover / reduce any oily patches I get on my chin & forehead so actually I don’t mind at all.

So there you go, an absolute essay of a blog feature but hopefully one that’s useful. Overall I’m really glad I’ve invested in both these products, they’re both seriously good and well worth the money if you can save up. I actually think that both products enhance the other’s performance, the stippling brush is super for applying the foundation and creating the look I’m after.

Also, for everyone’s reference I think my skin is a combination – I have elements of dry and oily patches on my chin and forehead, but overall I’m probably pretty average :)

So on a completely separate note, I also have 2 exciting things I wanted to show you. Number Uno, I am on the home page of Chictopia today HELL YEAH (my profile is here) & additionally, I have fallen in LOVE with my new Marni H&M heels – best investment ever I say.

. Dream Marni H&M Heels .

. A sneak peak at today’s casual Friday outfit .

Also, and I promise this really is it, ha, I’ve done an interview on Miss Drifted Snow White’s fashion & beauty blog today :) You can have a look here if you’re interested!