Review: Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base

I was recently sent the new Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base*, which is part of the Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer Make-up collection. I am not usually a huge fan of primers as I like a medium coverage foundation and use full coverage concealers to hide blemishes, or too many late nights, so often find adding a primer can be a little too much product on my skin. However, this one promised to be lightweight so I was excited to try it out.

This base is designed to give you a perfect complexion everyday by naturally illuminating and correcting your skin tone for a flawless finish. It also offers hydrating and soothing skin care benefits due to katafray bark extract. It is available in three shades - rose (brightens all complexions), champagne (corrects redness) and peach (restores lustre to medium and matte skin) - leaving a veil of light radiance that evens skin tone, boosts luminosity and restores skin's vitality. As part of the Summer collection two new shades have been added - 04 Apricot (which is what I tried) and 05 Golden Bronze.

Being super pale this shade was too dark for me, but it was great when mixed with my moisturiser to add a little extra colour, especially after I had used some gradual tanner on my body. Used alone on the skin it gave a lovely, luminescent finish. Even though it has a slight glow it sinks into the skin quickly and sets/ dries so it doesn't feel at all sticky. It definitely made my skin look smoother and more even toned while covering minor imperfections. For me this is perfect for the Summer months used alone instead of foundation or mixed in with moisturiser or sunscreen to give a little coverage and a healthy boost of glow!

The Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base is £26.50 here. Have you tried it? What are your thoughts on the formulation and how do you wear it?

Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse

With the Summer sun finally peeking through the clouds I thought this would be a good time to talk about sun protection. It is so important to protect your skin all year round, but particularly in the summer months. One of the products I have been relying on this season to shield my skin from sun exposure is Shu Uemura's UV Under Base Mousse SPF 30.

This mousse was developed based on Mr. Shu Uemura’s idea to create a product which performs as a veil between skincare and make-up for a better make-up canvas. A little goes a long way with this product. The recommended quantity is a walnut size.

 

The mousse is easy to spread and unlike most sun protection products it is super light weight. It doesn't feel sticky, creamy or thick and sinks into the skin instantly.

Although the mousse doesn't provide much coverage it mattifies the skin blurring pores and imperfections.

I have found it a great base to use after moisturiser before foundation as it sets matt and ensures liquid foundation stays put. As my skin does get more oily in the summer it's great to have a base that doesn't shift and provides SPF 30.


Shue Uemura UV Under Base mousse is £29 and available to purchase online here in the original beige shade.

Do you use a primer with SPF? Which are your favourites? Have you tried the Shu Uemura Under base? xxx

Lily Cole Cruelty Free Collection for The Body Shop

The Body Shop's latest collaboration with Lily Cole has evolved into a limited edition cruelty free make up range celebrating their against animal testing ethos. The range is full of bright, springtime colours that make a statement, while being vegetarian and 100% cruelty free!

The collection includes a fantastic mix of face and skin products, as well as a mini brush set for cheeks, eyes and lips in a mirrored wallet.

Lily's favourite products are also my top pick from this collection. These cute little domes can be applied directly onto the skin to give an effortless subtle tint or flush to lips and cheeks.

Crazy for Coral is perfect to use on tanned skin, while Pinch Me Pink is flattering on any complexion. The colour is very subtle and easily blendable, perfect for on the go application over/ under makeup or on its own.

These Mini Hi-shine glosses are super sparkly and easy to throw in a bag. The colours are fairly sheer, so they can easily be used on their own or add a wet look to any bright lipstick.

The liquid liner in this collection is a rich violet with a hint of gold shimmer. As far as liquids go  this one is pretty simple to use as its felt tip applicator makes it easy to create a solid line. The purple is not as deep as others I have tried, but it's definitely a fun alternative to black, which is flattering on any eye colour.

I have always loved TBS's shimmer cubes and this combination of colours is absolutely gorgeous. 

I especially love pairing the deep, warm purple with the shimmery copper for an intense, yet radiant eye look.

The Pearl Radiance Primer in this collection is a great base to create a glowing complexion. Since this product has quite a bit of shimmer it does need to be used sparingly, especially on oily skin. Just one pump distributes the perfect amount of light-diffusing pearls!

Have you tried The Body Shop's strictly limited edition cruelty free makeup collection? What are your favourite products from the range? xxx

Witch Anti-blemish Cosmetics

Recently I took part in the ultimate skincare challenge - a fun filled week of activities designed to test Witch's new anti-blemish cosmetic range. I am a long time fan of Witch products, having used their witch hazel oil control foaming face wash religiously throughout my teens, so I was excited to see what their new cosmetics had in store!

As someone who has oily skin will tell you - makeup and oils do not mix too well. I have always had oily/combination sensitive skin, and despite now peeking into my mid twenties (I'm 24.. gasp!) I still have the skin of a spotty teenager - unpredictable! Witch hazel is a fantastic ingredient that has always worked well for me as it is astringent (tightens the skin), hemostatic (reduces blood loss/ inflammation) and contains a range of antioxidants.

The cosmetic range aims to still deliver all the benefits of witch hazel skincare in makeup. I think this is a brilliant idea, especially as there is growing concern over the various ingredients used in cosmetics. If you put effort into your skincare routine, why not extend it into your beauty regime and make sure that all the products you use not only make your skin look good by covering imperfections, but also targeting the problems?

So to thoroughly test the new range we embarked on a week of challenges. On day one we met up for some drinks, nibbles and introductions to our fellow bloggers, the Witch team and of course the range.  We were also colour matched - no surprises there, tinted moisturiser in No.1 light for me! However, I was impressed to see that the translucent pressed powder worked well on all skin tones without casting a white veil.

On the second night the girlies had a shopping experience, to test how the makeup would stand up under bright lights and the pressure of Oxford street's Primark. As I was in Paris for work I wasn't able to witness the madness for myself ;).

On Wednesday night we embarked on the biggest challenge of all - a dance class at Pineapple studios! If our makeup could last an hour of (perfectly) synchronized Gilrs Aloud routines it wouldn't fail us on a night out.

I chose to wear the Skin Clearing Primer under my usual foundation and was happy to see that after more than a little perspiration it was holding up well as the curtain fell ;). Those wearing the tinted moisturiser were impressed how well it had lasted too.

On Thursday we had a jazz filled night at Ronnie Scott’s, in the heart of Soho. The lights were low, the music was loud, but we still managed to fill the room with our makeup chit-chatter.

Friday came all too quickly, and while I was attending my best friend's 25th the girlies were feasting on Byron burgers - I was more than a little jealous! Our pick of the top Witch products in this new line were the primer and the concealer (which is currently residing in my bag).

Of course it wouldn't be much of a challenge if my lovely readers were not able to take part and test the cosmetics for themselves, so in my next post I will be giving away 20 sets (!!!) of products from the new anti-blemish range!

To learn more about Witch's new cosmetic range you can visit their website here. Do have a look at the 'witch challenge' section to see more photos and information about our escapades!

Have you ever tried Witch products? What are your thoughts on anti-blemish makeup? xxx

Foundation and Primer Ramble