Make Up For Ever haul reviews

Recently I purchased a few Make Up For Ever products and thought I'd review. 

First off: aqua brow waterproof eyebrow corrector in number 20 (210aed)

This is incredible stuff! First time I used it I was blown away! The little bag comes with a small spooly and angled brush and a tube of product that has a gel like consistency.  First I brush my brows with the spooly, then squeeze a small blob of product onto the back of my hand and use the brush to apply.

The brush has a rough texture to the bristles which really pushes the product into the brows. It goes on wet and then dries to a matte, powder like finish. You have to be speedy (which I like as stops me faffing first thing in the morning!) as it does dry quite quickly but it's easy to remove if you go wrong. 

It lasts all day, doesn't smudge or look anything but perfect and is sweat proof as I've been to the gym and hot yoga and it hasn't budged! Am dubious that it is fully waterproof though as have noticed some slippage when wet (after a dip in the sea). 

It is the perfect colour for me- nearly identical to the MAC lingering eyebrow pencil that I've used for years. 

Simply put, I am obsessed! I will definitely be repurchasing!

Lipstick: rouge artist intense in 32 (110aed)

This is my second MUFE lippie and I'm def impressed. The colour is a subtle pale pink that lasts for ages, doesn't gather in lip lines, wears off evenly and smells lovely. A perfect workday shade. 

Blush: high definition blush second skin cream blush in 335 (135aed)

I never ever buy cream blushes, but this one was tried on me and I liked the look. It really is a second skin, I apply with my fingertip and dab a few spots and then blend in and it kinda sinks into the skin leaving a dewy, subtle, matte colour behind. (Swatch below shows top the blended colour, middle unblended and bottom lippie).

This shade is very natural, although it looks like a bronzer and could definitely be used to contour. Great buy too! 

Angled brush 172 straight (110aed). I used this brush the other day to apply gel liner and it was the most perfect winged application I have ever done! Love it. 

Instant brush cleanser, purifying brush cleanser (100aed) - love this stuff too! Spritz onto a cotton pad, clean off your brushes and wipe off any excess with tissue and leave to dry. So far I've tried this on my concealer brush and it cleaned it with zero effort! And I was left was a lovely fluffy brush once again. It has a nice minty fragrance and seems to do the job!

So overall, massively impressed with my Make Up For Ever purchases. I think this could be my new favourite brand!! 

Herra Protect review

I have been using Herra Protect Hair Perfume on and off since February to give it a good try out and have to say am impressed! 

It was a bit of a random purchase (who goes out to buy hair perfume!) as the Harvey Nichols MOE staff convinced me it was amazing so I thought why not?

The packaging is lovely, the bird motif, black and gold and glass bottle immediate give this product a luxurious feel. It's a perfect sized bottle to fit in your bag and it looks lovely on my bathroom shelf.

It spritzes on easily, it's not sticky, greasy or oily and it doesn't feel like it weighs your hair down. It's light, refreshing and long lasting. The scent is quite fruity and floral but nothing too heavy. 

Normally I spritz perfume on my hair after a night out to try and alleviate the smokey smell or in between washes when I've used dry shampoo on the roots to freshen it up a bit, but apparently that's not so great for the hair as the alcohol in perfume dries it out (tsk naughty me!). Although Herra does have alcohol in it.... But apparently only minimal....

Anyway, in addition to the perfume there is the 'protect' side of things. This product includes ingredients rich in antioxidants and also to help protect against UV damage- very prevalent living in Dubai! Read all the info from the back of the label below. It also moisturises hair with glycerine too. 

Genuinely I like this stuff but I do find the scent in my hair a little overwhelming (and I hate that it competes with my usual beloved perfume) so I only use one or two spritzes when my hair is up in a pony tail or bun so away from my face. It certainly masks smokey whiffs! I also use it when I head out in the sun to the pool or beach as I like that it has protective uv filters in it. 

A little goes a long way and I'll likely be using this for the next year or so! Would I buy it again? Probably not, but if you love the smell then this could easily replace your usual perfume! 

Latest make up trend: 'raw' beauty

'Nearly natural', 'no make up make up' - we are no strangers to the barely there look but this time round 'raw' beauty has an undone edginess to it. 

Flawless skin teamed with either bare eyes or tonal shades on the lower lid of subtle pinky red wash or even grey tones and zero mascara. 

This look involves a lot of skin prep and focuses attention on the base: concealer, foundation, light powder. Skin is meant to look natural so no bronzer, shimmery highlighter or heavy blush. Brows are left natural and bushy. 

Here's how I fake a perfect flaw-free face: Cleanse, tone and moisturise your skin and leave to sink in for ten mins. Then prep with a small amount of Daniel Sandler retexturising face primer all over, apply Revlon photoready liquid foundation with a stippling brush paying attention to any problem areas. Then apply Laura Mercier secret concealer to undereyes and gradually build coverage. Use Benefit Boiing concealer on any red or dark areas and on any blemishes. I tend to apply using a clean ring finger. If I have a bad spot then I'll use a MAC 217 brush to really pack on and layer up the concealer. Then dust all over the face with Chanel natural finish loose powder using MAC 150 brush and finish with a must of MAC fix+ spray. 

For a natural hint of blush use a colour close to your natural skin tone, I currently like Make Up For Ever second skin creme blush in 335. Use your ring finger to put a few dots on the apples of the cheeks and blend in for a subtle look. 

If you are brave enough to try this look without mascara then I salute you! Otherwise a more achievable and wearable option for those of us not blessed with supermodel looks is to try this with mascara (I like Benefit They're Real) - perfect for work as quick, simple and flawless skin makes you look fresh, healthy and ready to face the day. Embrace your rawness :-) 

Chanel natural finish loose powder review

Or to call it by its French name: Chanel poudre universelle libre fini naturel! 

For years and years I have been loyal to my MAC select sheer pressed powder in nc25, easy to apply, never too heavy, just enough coverage and long lasting. The compact is easy to carry in your bag, is sturdy and (touch wood!) has never broken or opened and spilled its powdery contents. 

Recently however I read that mua Kathy Jeung had used this Chanel loose powder in 30 naturel translucent on Rita Ora's stunning Grammys 2014 make up so I thought I'd give it a try...

It's an incredibly fine powder that is matte and perfectly sets foundation or gives just enough coverage to wear on it's own. It minimises shine and is more sheer than my MAC powder.  

I tap a small amount onto the lid and then use the MAC 150 big powder brush to dust on my face, using a soft dabbing motion for my undereyes to avoid that crinkled look when powder is dragged across undereye concealer. A little goes a long way. It also has a delightful, subtle, classic 'my grandma's powder' kind of fragrance. 

The packaging is gorgeous- who doesn't love those two Chanel Cs poking out of their make up case! It is a large jar container and the powder is kept in check with a plastic cover dotted with small holes and a soft, velvety puff applicator. 

I love this powder and will definitely buy again- although there is a generous amount that I imagine will last me the year... This won't however replace my MAC powder. 

The key difference is that this Chanel powder doesn't travel well- the tub is big and the powder would likely get everywhere. It is a product you apply with care at home and keep at home. It's not for touch ups on the go like the MAC compact. 

I love to use it over foundation as it is so sheer and perfectly sets your face for the entire day (or night! Or day and night if you're out for brunch lol). I definitely recommend it, c'est tres bien! 

Make up forever makeup bag remix

Right in the middle of Dubai Mall near the Zara is an awesome Make Up Forever stand! You take your make up bag and talk through what products you have issues with or techniques you fail at and a Make Up Forever mua then teaches you!

My biggest fail is always liquid or gel eyeliner- I can never get a perfect line or flick and my mua told me to use gel liner with an angled brush rather than a pen- more precise, easier to manage and gel is thicker so easier to apply. He told me to start with a line out from the corner of the eye and to make sure both sides match up before filling in. And then he demonstrated and within seconds I had the most perfect feline flick!

He also used the second skin creme blush in 335 to contour my face- my second make up woe. This creamy blush turns to a powder finish and is a matte shade. It was applied using a foundation stripling brush and looked incredible! 

Then when you leave you are given an awesome free make up bag and needless to say, I also purchased a few products... Instant brush cleanser, aqua brow kit, rouge intense lipstick in shade 32, the angled brush 172 and the incredible creme blush. Reviews coming soon :-)