Max Factor Creme Puff Blush | Beauty

Ok, Max Factor Creme Puff Blush is nothing new, in fact I even wrote a little review on the Lovely Pink Blush which I am still a huge fan of! However, I was looking for a new product that would actually work as more of a powder and not just a blush. 

I was obsessed with my Hourglass Ambient Light powder in Dim Light, I got the mini size and I even bought the big version, I just adored the light it brought to my face but unfortunately I hit the pan a couple of weeks ago and I can't bear to buy it again because let's face it they are bloody expensive. This leaves a great big hourglass sized shape hole in my heart I must admit, so I had a little look in my local Superdrug to see whether there was anything similar on the highstreet. The problem is the Hourglass powder is just so beautiful and not glittery at all it makes it so easy to use as a setting powder and the high st just offers highlighters and that's kind of it. 

Just as I was leaving the store I spotted the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Nude Mauve and thought...could this work? I gave it a quick swatch and the thing about this particular shade, is when all blended together it's not THAT different, it's certainly not to sparkly but it is a bit darker than my actual skin tone. In my pictures Nude Mauve definitely looks more pinkier than it actually is, anyway I thought it's worth giving it a go. 

The results, it's a bit of a tricky one because I have used it like I would my beloved Hourglass powder but you definitely can't use it in the same way! It does add a bit of depth to my face but because it is darker than my skin it's kind of like a bronzer, so I have to treat it as such. This being said, I do really like the product, it's not sparkly or glittery like many of the highstreet blushers/highlighters.  It's a really good purchase and I will definitely continue to use it, but I'm still on a hunt! 

What are your favourite highstreet dupes? 

Monthly Faves | Beauty

It's been a while since I have done one of these posts, I don't like to do them too frequently as my fave products don't change that often. I have found this month I have tried to improve the appearance of my skin and the overall texture of it. I'm really starting to see an improvement with and I think it's definitely down to some of these products. 

Starting with Garnier Micellar water, oh my god. This is stuff is so good and completely changed my evening routine, I don't know what I did without it but this product removed dirt and make up perfectly for me. I have also been drinking these amazing Wassen Collagen Drinks which I honestly cannot get enough of, I have seen such an improvement with my skin It's amazing. 

Moving onto Max Factor Creme Puff Blush, this blusher is just so easy to wear. I love that it has the shimmery highlights in it so for me it works as both a blusher and a highlighter which is pretty handy.I always use this on the weekend when I don't want to go too heavy with my make up. It adds a really lovely flush of colour to my cheeks. I am considering trying out some more shades but we'll see. 

And finally we have the Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Serum which I haven't actually reviewed on my blog (yet, maybe) but I've started using it in the evening just after I have used my Micellar water and I'm have noticed a difference in the pores around my nose and the smoothness of my skin. I have reviewed Gylcolic Fix  Exfoliating Pads and they are amazing, I still use them but I'm liking the addition of the serum too. 

What are your monthly favourites?

Max Factor Creme Puff Blush | Beauty

I finally caved and bought the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush, I have seen just so many pictures and reviews, I needed this blusher. I will admit, I really struggled to narrow down which shade I wanted, some were just too dark for my skin tone as I'm quite pale with a fair complexion. 

But I was really torn between Lovely Pink and Seductive Pink, it was a very tough decision, I was standing in the make up isle of Boots for a good 5 mins just thinking about it. I finally settled on Lovely Pink, it's just a softer shade that I would get more wear from. 

I must admit that I don't always wear blusher because I find it really hard to get a good shade for me, I don't want massively bright pink cheeks. What I like about these Max Factor blushers is that there are a mix of multi tonal pigments, so this has a lovely amount of shimmer and I think could almost be doubled as a highlighter if you use it very lightly. The pictures simply do not do it justice, it's so pretty!

This is a very easy blusher to blend because of the light pigments which is great for me because I can be a little heavy handed with blushers and contour shades which means I have to spend ages trying to blend it out. Where as the Creme Puff Blush just sweeps onto the face so nicely.  

Have your tried the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush?

Max factor Lipstick | Beauty

One thing I love about working in London is that the train stations actually hand out freebies, I've had all sorts over the years but this little gem from Max Factor is definitely one of my faves. 

A free full sized Max Factor Lipstick, I love it but of course when I saw that it was rather red, I thought what a shame. You know me, I don't like bold colours on my lips, I'm a nude kinda gal but still it's a great way to try out these types of shades because I haven't actually spent any money on them.

I've used Max Factor products in the past, I actually use their foundation and mix it with my Rimmel foudation but I haven't actually used any lip products from this brand before. 

The thing that confuses me a little is that this product looks like a very bold, almost tomato shade of red however when I swatched it you can see it's more of a pinky berry which I found a very nice surprise because I feel like this shade is actually something I can work with and at least try out. Though if I really wanted the shade that is advertised I'd be a little annoyed but it works for me. 

It swipes on really nice and has quite a soft texture, I wouldn't say that this was a matte product this lipstick is kind of in between it doesn't have any shimmer nor does it have a sheen to it but it's not as drying and some matte shades I have seen in the past. 

Have you tried any Max Factor lipsticks?

My Makeup Essentials

I thought I would show you what makeup essentials I couldn't be without. I'm a bit of a creature of habit as in, when I find a product that I love I pretty much use it until it becomes extinct aka discontinued which is my biggest heartbreak. 

Most of the makeup tools are new because I've only just discovered my love for makeup brushes but I am on a strict spending ban now and some of the products are a new edition. I thought I would start with what I put on my face before I put my makeup on...

Olay Essentials double action cream is by far my favourite face moisturiser, honestly this stuff is a God send! In fact I did write a review out it and you can read it here. 

I also use the Garnier UltraLift anti wrinkle cream, yeah I know, I'm paranoid about wrinkles already. This product I actually only use on my forehead as I have quite deep frown lines between my eyebrows. I do think it has helped to lessen the appearance of these wrinkles in particular but lets face it, it isn't magic. I only use the smallest amount so it's lasted me ages.  

I got this Balance Me wonder eye cream in July's Birchbox and was quite pleased when I saw it. Does it get rid of fine lines? No. Do I still love the product? Yes. It's so refreshing to put on under the eye and reduces puffiness I shall definitely be purchasing this one. 

Once all my lotions and potions have absorbed into my skin I move onto my lovely skin primer.

This is a tiny sample of the Porefessional by Benefit. I bloody love this stuff! I only use a small amount and the sample size has lasted me ages and the best bit is I have another sample size one unopened for when this runs out so I won't have to buy the actual size for ages yet. 

Moving onto the face...

Foundation :- I'm currently using a combination of two, Rimmel Wake Me Up in Ivory, this was on a recommendation from another blog and I've fallen in love. I also use Max Factor Lasting Performance in Natural Beige, this one is actually a little dark for me but when I blend the Rimmel and the Max Factor together it makes for a really nice base. 

Powder :- Of course it has to be the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Silky Beige. I think everyone uses this, it's a good all rounder, nothing fancy, it does the job - well. 

Contour and Blush :- The much talked about Sleek Makeup Face Form Palette in Light. I love having all three things in one little palette, you can actually read my review on this one here. 

Onto my favoruite thing, my eyes...

Eyeliner :- L'oreal Superliner I love this liquid eyeliner it's perfect and always shapes my eyes so nicely. I also use a pencil eyeliner along the lower waterline but it isn't in the picture as I don't actually use a huge amount it's all about the drama up top for me. 

Mascara :- It has to be L'oreal Volume Million Lashes right? I don't even need to say more just read my post where I gush about this product here.

Eyeshadow :- Lately I have been loving Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint in Rich Russet, the stuff is just so easy to wear. I also have been wearing from the Barry M Natural Glow palette the last to shades on the right hand side (not the blush) this is a cheap and easy palette for beginners, colours are super blendable but aren't exactly ground breaking they do a good job you can read my review here. 

Not to forget...

Eyebrows :- I have incredibly fair eyebrows and get them threaded every month or so. To be honest, I'm not very good at doing my eyebrows and like to keep them fairly natural, I'm blonde it's highly unlikely that my eyebrows are going to be brown or black so I'm not going to draw them on like that. I use the Max Factor Eyebrow pencil in Hazel because it just defines them nicely and they don't look over done. 

And that's about it! Sorry that turned into a massively long post, just look at the pictures. 

What are your makeup essentials?