Another week, another delve into the sample drawer and another primer review. I'd wanted to try Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer ever since it was released but at £28 I didn't want to purchase it and not like it (like I did with their Photo Finish Primer) and low and behold with a recent ASOS order there was a sample. So how did it fare?

The texture of this primer is quite like Benefit's Porefessional, in that it's quite like a balm. I was amazed at how well it smoothed pores and mattified my skin, initially it was love at first use. My foundation sat perfectly over the top and the primer managed to keep oil at bay from my t-zone practically all day. My skin looked flawless, that was until I checked my face after around 8 hours of wear, my foundation had gone all patchy and separated on my chin and around my nose. Huge disappointment! I've never used a primer that had actually separated and gone blotchy, I hear others talking about that issue all the time but this is the first primer I have actually experienced that with.

So initial finish is amazing but it just didn't stand the test of time with me, I tried the primer for a further 2 days and unfortunately found the same problem again. I'm just glad I didn't part with my cash for the full-size product.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot | Soft Ochre | Swatch & Review

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot £15.50

After reading what feels like a thousand posts on MAC's paint pots and almost daily donning a barely-there-eye I decided to purchase Soft Ochre last week and it really is one of those products that has left me wondering why the hell I didn't buy it before!

I wear MAC's Studio Fix Fluid foundation in the shade NC15 and Soft Ochre matches my base perfectly, covering any darkness on my eyelids and leaving the perfect nude base. 

MAC claim their Paint Pots to be 'a highly pigmented colour that goes on creamy and dries to a vibrant, intense finish' and I'll second that! Soft Ochre has a completely matte finish which lasts and lasts, I have quite oily eyelids and this cream eyeshadow doesn't crease or fade, it also works as a great base for eyeshadows to help longevity and intenseness.

I've definitely got the bug for MAC's Paint Pots, which are your favourites?

My Top 4 Masks For Problem Skin

Unless you're one of those absolutely blessed people (which I envy/hate for it) who rarely get spots then we're all from time-to-time going to experience congested skin leading to an outbreak. I only ever get the occasional hormonal break-out on my chin and jawline (thanks to PCOS) but I do struggle from quite oily skin which I have to keep in check, so here's the once-a-week treatments I use to keep congested skin at bay.

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask £15.75

This is my favourite mask for helping to balance my skin and regulate oiliness. I tend to smooth this over my t-zone only as I don't suffer from oiliness all over my face and my skin really feels as though all the excess oils and impurities have been drawn out, leaving my skin smooth and mattified. This mask isn't advised to be used on sensitive skin so I don't tend to use this on a breakout.

Yes To Tomatoes Clearing Face Mask £11.99

Over the last couple of years this mask is the one I've reached for when I'm having a particularly troublesome breakout as it does an amazing job of getting those nasty inflamed spots down. As well as treating existing spots it help balance skin and absorb excess sebum, leaving skin feeling deeply cleansed and calmer.

Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Clay Mask £9.99

This one is fairly new to my collection but I can say after only three or four uses that it works, for me at least. As its name indicates it contains spot fighting Salicylic Acid to help clear out congested pores and Dead Sea Mud to absorb oil. I used this mask over the weekend as I had a corker of a spot on my chin and the next morning after using this mask it had shrunken in size quite considerably. The only thing I don't like about this mask is the scent, to me it smells quite overwhelmingly of burnt plastic, this will have to be the price to pay for something that works so efficiently.

Quick Fix Facials Exfoliating Scrub Mask £4.99

This little gem has quickly become my favourite mask. Aimed to treat stubborn blackheads and blocked pores and balance skin. Its recommended to massage the mask into skin to exfoliate and then leave it for 5-10 minutes before removing but I have found the best results doing the opposite. I leave the mask for 10 minutes and then with damp fingertips spend a couple of minutes massaging the scrub into my skin and then remove with a damp muslin cloth and all I can say is wow! My skin feels super clean, smooth and rid of any excess oil. You'll get 10+ masks from each 100ml tube, at less than 49p per mask and incredible results this is one I am sure to repurchase.

Talkin' About Toners - For Problem Skin

Firstly let me start off with an apology for the poor quality photo, the weather is pretty gloomy and it's really overcast here today *sad face.  I thought I'd do a little post on my favourite toners as I use these three regularly but for different purposes.

So we'll start from the left shall we? La Roche-Posay Serozinc Spray is my morning toner, I use it straight after cleansing and it's designed to mattify skin and leave it less shiny and greasy. I love the fact this toner comes in a spray bottle, it's really cooling and wakes your skin up. I've been Serozinc for about 3 weeks now and I'm really enjoying it, I find my skin is less oily throughout the day.  

Next up is one you must have seen before, Pixi Glow Tonic. I use this toner pretty much every morning (before Serozinc) and again in the evening. It's one of those products where you don't see the gradual change in your skin but all of a sudden you'll start getting compliments from other people. I think I've mentioned before that I'm addicted to anything that contains Glycol and that's what drew me to this toner. If you have skin that's a little lacklustre and you want something that will exfoliate whilst toning then this is for you.

Last but certainly not least is Caudalie Beauty Elixir. This is the toner I like to use after having my twice-weekly face mask or when I'm having a break-out. Imagine someone with a mouth full of mint blowing on your face, that's how refreshing this stuff is. It's cooling, soothing and instantly tightens my pores after cleansing. Although I use this as a toner you can use it to prime skin and set makeup, it's truly a marvel.

Do yo see any of your favourites here?

Bourjois Aqua Blush | Review & Swatches

Bourjois Aqua Blush £8.99

Bourjois are my favourite 'drugstore brand' and I always get excited when they have new releases, especially something as special as their new Aqua Blush. These gel blushers are the most fresh and fun product I have used on my face in a while, the formula is silky and blends impeccably to a natural sheer finish and the product itself smells fruity and feels cooling on your cheeks. One pump was more than enough for both cheeks for me, I dotted on to cheeks and buffed with my Real Techniques buffing brush and the result is just what I look for in a blusher...

I chose the two shades which I knew would get the most wear from, heres Cocoricorail a complexion lifting coral and Ingè-Nude a brightening nude peach.

Left | Cocoricorail
Right | Ingè-Nude

What's blown me away most about these blushers is the longevity, despite having a sheer finish they do not fade, in fact they are a bit of a pain to remove from your fingers after applying! 

Have you picked up any of Bourjois new releases?

Trial-Sized Tuesday's | Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer

It's that time of the week again, where I have a did around in my ever growing stash of samples for something new that will hopefully blow me a way. So my MAC primer ran out a few weeks ago and I've been trying to work my way through some others before I repurchase it, unfortunately none of them compare so I figured I'd give this one a shot.

Pixi's Flawless and Poreless Primer claims to be 'a miracle in a tube' which is a bold claim to make and I had high expectations after reading this. So before I give you my verdict on the product after using it for a few days lets delve further in to what's in it. So, the primer claims to smooth lines and create a no-shine silky canvas for foundation. As well as smoothing pores and prepping skin the primer has active ingredients beneficial to skin which over time will improve skin texture and clarity - Willow Bark to control shine, Salicylic Acid to clear and unblock pores, Shea Butter to nourish skin and something I've never heard of before - Enantia Chlorantha which is medicinal and anti-viral.

So how did it perform? Well, there was enough in the sample for 3 uses so I can't comment on the long term benefits of using this primer but I can tell you that for me it didn't control shine very well nor did it make my pores appear smaller. If i had applied this primer blind I would have said the intended result was for a dewy finish as this is how it left my skin. This primer certainly isn't the worst I've tried how ever it is a way away from being the best I've tried. I'm interested in trying more Pixi products as I have been enjoying their infamous Glow Tonic for the last few weeks.

Do you have any Pixi favourites? 

Nail Of The Week | Nails Inc St Johns Wood Garden NailKale

Nails Inc St Johns Wood Gardens £14

Whilst browsing one my favourite sites for a new nail polish last week I stumbled across the prettiest shade which left me having to resist the urge to look at my nails every ten minutes. St Johns Wood Gardens is the loveliest peachy pink shade that looks just perfect against a tan. 

Although I own more Nails Inc polishes than I care to admit this is my first from their NailKale range and I have to say that despite all of the nail loving ingredients (Zinc, Calcium and Kale to strengthen and protect) the formula isn't any less impressive than their regular polishes. For complete opaqueness I applied 3 thin coats and finished with Seche Vite Quick Dry, my surefire way to guarantee no chips all week. One thing that never fails to impress me is the brushes Nails Inc use for their polishes, the perfect size and shape to ensure a neat finish and even coverage.

I really love this shade, it's the perfect transitional spring to summer shade which I promise you won't be able to stop looking at!

Clinique SS15 New Releases Cheek Pop | Nude Pop Review

Clinique Cheek Pop £16.50

Ok so this post may come as a bit of a teaser to anyone that reads my posts outside of the U.S as the shade I'm featuring in today's post isn't actually available in the UK, a very kind friend managed to get one sent over to me here, I can't be the only person who finds it mega frustrating that cosmetic companies will only bring extensions to their current lines out in certain parts of the world, almost as if they can determine what one lady from one country will love more than another!

I already have a couple of Clinique's Cheek Pop's in brighter shades but when I saw this one, Nude Pop, I knew I just had to have it as it's the perfect everyday shade. Like the other Cheek Pop's the formula is incredibly smooth and has a very slight amount of shimmer to it leaving cheeks looking dewy and fresh. What I love about these blushers is that despite the formula being light you don't need a lot of product for a good result and it keeps the prettiness of the flower in the pan in tact for longer!

It's such a shame that Clinique only decided to bring out another 4 shades over here in the UK, there are 12 beautiful shades available in the U.S including a gorgeous looking berry shade called Cola Pop that I may need to add to my collection for the autumn. 

Stila Field Of Florals Convertible Colour Dual Lip & Cheek Palette

Stila Field Of Florals Convertible Colour Palette £30

You know when makeup companies bring out a product in the U.S and annoyingly either don't make it available here in the UK for ages or sometimes not at all and you have to bitterly read others blog posts on it until you can get your hands on it? This was that product. I spotted this palette was released in the U.S back in February and after emailing/tweeting/posting on Facebook asking Stila when/if it would be available in the UK and not receiving a reply I had given up all hope of owning it. Much to my delight I got my hands on it a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you it was so worth the wait!

Field Of Florals Convertible Colour Dual Lip & Cheek Palette is (apart from being a mouthful!) the most beautiful palette of both muted shades and brights that as the title indicates can be used on either your cheeks or lips. I do already own four of the full size dual lip and cheek colours and they are ranked amongst the highest in my cream blush collection. If you haven't tried Stila's Convertible Colour's then you really are missing out as these aren't your traditional cream blush, although the shades can seem a little intimidating in the pan when applied to your cheeks/lips they offer a sheer wash of colour and a dewy finish. 

The shades included in this aptly named palette (from top left) are- Lillium, Magnolia, Tulip, Camellia, Peony, Rose, Gladiola, Peach Blossom, Hibiscus, Gerbera, Petunia and Fuchsia. Tulip was one of my most worn shades over the winter and Hibiscus is one of my all time favourites. 

If you're looking for a multi use palette that gives a fresh wash of colour then this one comes highly recommended by me.

Trial-Sized Tuesday's | Bumble & Bumble Invisible Oil Shampoo & Conditioner Review

Whilst rooting around in my drawer literally bursting with samples on the weekend I came across this little duo, I often just give away hair products as I'm pretty strict with my hair routine but as I've been seeing more and more of their legendary salt spray everywhere lately I thought I'd give the samples a shot and see what all the fuss was about.

So before I let you know my thoughts on the product let me give you a little background into the condition of my hair and my regular routine. So, my hair is quite thick and naturally curly but 90% of the time I wear it straight which means I use quite a few products to tame the frizz and keep it straight. My routine begins with a moisturising shampoo and conditioner (usually Aussie Moist shampoo & conditioner) and then prior to styling I use a couple of drops of Argan oil and a heat protection spray (usually Toni & Guy). The majority of the time this does it for me, once a week I throw a deep conditioning treatment and a leave-in conditioner into the mix for extra moisture but after all this my hair is feeling a little lank by the end of the week from the build up of product. Queue Bumble & Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil Sulphate Free Shampoo & Conditioner. 

Aimed at dry, coarse and brittle hair this sulphate free shampoo is infused with 6 oils to help soften, tame frizz, detangle and protect. One thing I noticed, even with my hair still being damp in the shower, was how squeaky clean my hair felt after using it. I did use the whole sample but I could have easily used a lot less as it lathered incredibly well and was easy to work in to my hair. I followed with the conditioner, which again I could have used only half of what I did and left for 10 minutes whilst I did my thang in the shower. Drying and styling my hair was a lot easier after using this shampoo and conditioner and I didn't require as many finishing products. The two days after washing my hair it was so smooth and silky and despite having a windy afternoon on Sunday my hair kept tangle free. 

I loved these samples, so much so I took straight to the web to see how much this duo would set me back, at £23 for 250ml of the shampoo and £25 for 200ml of the conditioner I don't think I'll purchase it for my everyday hair routine but I shall definitely be purchasing for my Sunday hair detox.

Do you have any Bumble & Bumble recommendations?

May Skincare Favourites

My monthly favourites posts are usually about makeup so this month I thought I'd share my favourite
skincare products, two of which are old favourites and two of which are great new discoveries.

First up we have Clarins Double Serum which I have been using for around 7 months and have noticed a considerable change in my skins texture and tone. Having oily skin has kept those wrinkles at bay and I bought this more as a preventative measure as I turn 27 this year. I had some fine lines (or laughter lines) around my mouth which have faded a lot and the once large pores on my cheeks have shrunken considerably. I winced a little as I handed over £55 for the 30ml bottle but as it lasts (with daily use) for nearly 6 months I can live with a justifiable £10 per month for an anti-ageing product which works for me.

Next up we have Dr LeWinn's Overnight Exfoliator which after searching for a link to the product I have just discovered has been discontinued *sad face. I have been suing this amazing product 3 nights a week for the last 12 months and my skin has never looked better. I suffered with a terrible bout of acne a couple of years ago and this overnight Glycolic peel has faded my scars and evened out my skin tone. Finding a similar product with the same amazing results will be difficult...leave me a comment if you can recommend something!

I had read quite a few posts on Pai BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Oil Blend and last month decided to take the plunge and add it to my routine. I am a fan of Rosehip Oil, after my acne bout it healed my skin and combined with a couple of other treatments really aided the fading of scars and brimging back the glow to my complexion. This facial oil helps fade acne scars, stretch marks, fine lines and UV damage. I use this 3 nights after cleansing and before my night cream and my skin feels soft and radiant by morning.

Last but by all means least we have my second new skincare product for May, Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. I had been dying to give this cream a try for as long as I can remember but was always put of by the price, luckily this cream came to me via a more affordable alternative to the regular £80 purchase price (via the You Beauty Discovery Box) and I have to say I'm impressed with the results so far. I have noticed a little goes a long way and I do find I have to massage quite well as it doesn't absorb instantly but my skin is guaranteed to be soft and supple in the morning, I'm looking forward to seeing the long term benefits of using this moisturiser.

Which are your current skincare favourites?