Marks and Spencer Limited Collection

Marks and Spencer is the first place I go to for luxurious food but to be totally honest I never really stop by their cosmetics for a look.
We were recently kindly sent some products from their new Limited collection range and we were pleasantly suprised.

The packaging is refreshingly simple and clean with no gimmicks.Transparent casing allows you to see the colour easily but it is also sturdy plastic so it wont smash on first drop!
 The product line up consists of all your basics without tons of different finishes and coverages to get confused by.

The base make-up  shades I would say cater for a porcelain skin colour up to a mid toned olive.Not much in the way for deeper skin tones in afraid.
The foundation gives a medium moisturised coverage that is quite matte once dry and the moisture tint is very sheer and lightweight.
 I find the colours come up slightly pinky.

Eyeshadows are available in trios or singles and have some really pretty fresh colours for summer.
 They glide on smoothly and have a nice texture but be careful to not over blend as they do sheer out a lot when blended rather than gripping the skin.

The star product from this line for me is the liquid liner.Available in an amazing turquoise which is identical to MAC Aqualine, a metallic gunmetal and jet black.The brush is a nice tapered firm brush and the texture is thick, not too watery and dries super fast.Colour pay off is excellent.
I love a plum mascara on blue or green eyes and this volumising mascara in purple make this colour eye pop!!Also comes in black and brown.

18 colours in lipstick ranging from a clear through to a deep magenta plum with a satin finish are complemented with some truly beautiful lipglosses.
I absolutely love the gloss in Nude and Soft Apricot, really gorgeous while being glossy but not sticky.

Nail varnish come in a huge range of 25 colours that sit nicely in the rends of the summer.The nail varnish is thick and creamy and wears well on the nail.

Prices are so reasonable with foundation at £6.00, eyeshadows at £4.00 and lipsticks and glosses at £5.00

limited collection is available from Marks and Spencer stores and online at www.marksandspencer.com
For stockist enquiries call 0845 302 1234

Concealer Review

We get asked a lot what are the best concealers on the market and which ones are best for different areas or concerns.
 Concealers are designed to cover imperfections, scarring, blemishes, and pigmentation and they do this by colour correcting the area and creating a layer over the area to be disguised.
 The general concealer will not however hide wrinkles, raised scarring or skin that has pitting or uneven texture. There are more specialist products available for this.
There are so many to choose from but I will tackle this by concerns.

Dark Circles
The skin around the eye is very thin and fragile. Think of it as an onion skin where its almost transparent and everything underneath can be reflected above onto the skin.
Depending on your skin tone these dark circles can appear in many different tones so you need to choose the correct colour to counteract the colour of your dark circle.The best way to do this is to get the consultant where you purchase to test the colour on you first.

Check out this colour wheel. Colours that are opposite each other will help correct each other so for example if your dark circles have a blue undertone then a peach based concealer will knock back the blue, if they have a purple undertone then go for a brighter yellow based concealer and so on.
Depending on the coverage you like here are some good under eye concealers;

*MAC Moisture Cover is a lightweight, light reflecting liquid concealer that will provide moisture to dry skin and provide medium coverage. Great for all skins but especially good on mature skins.

*Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer is similar to moisture cover however it provides a much fuller coverage. Also contains SPF 10 which is good for sensitive skins but watch out for flashback from this product in photographs.

*Bourjois Healthy mix concealer is a liquid that provides great radiance around the eye with a medium coverage. Good if your skin is looking dull.

Cream/cake concealers can also be used around the eye but be careful of a cakey finish that can sometimes settle into fine lines.

Blemishes/Discolouration

As I said concealer will correct the colour but if a blemish is raised from the skin it will not make the blemish appear flat to the skin.You will just have to wait it out for the area to heal.
Depending on the coverage needed you can go for a liquid concealer if you need light cover but for a fuller, flawless cover you need to invest in a cream concealer.

*MAC Studio Finish is a great little pot that will last you months.Its creamy texture allows you to blend it in nicely.If your skin is oily you may need to powder over the top to matte it down but this a make-up artists key concealer.

*Bobbi Brown Creamy concealer which also comes in a duo kit or in a large palette is similar to studio finish but slightly more of a moisturised finish.Better for a dryer skin I would say.

*Rimmel hide the blemish concealer is a product that has been around for years but is an all time staple product to have.It is quite a dry formula so good on an oily skin but is nice and creamy and easy to blend.

*Avon Ideal flawless concealer is an oil free concealer that is quite lightweight but still buildable.A good all rounder.

Body Blemishes

  In the summer or for when you may want to wear more revealing clothes there are products you can use to hide bruising, veins, discolouration or blemishes.

You need to go for a product which is transfer proof so it won't rub off on your clothes.

We love MAC Face and Body foundation for this.Its used back stage at all the big fashion events to cover models bruised legs or dodgy fake tan marks!
Its lightweight but when buffed in transforms into a paste that gives a heavier cover.It won't rub off on your clothes and can be teamed with a concealer for more specific coverage.

 
 Specialist concealers

Always check with your doctor first before trying out cosmetic solutions on skin that requires medical consultation first.
Often you may even be offered camouflage creams by your GP.

There are some really great brands out there that specialise in camouflage concealers.
We have worked with the following brands and found them effective.

*Keromask is an amazing brand recognised by the British Medical Association and can be used to disguises acne, vitiligo, rosacea, scars, birth-marks, veins, moles, broken capillaries, dark circles under the eyes, post operative bruising and unwanted tattoos.
 They come in 24 different shades to suit all skin colours.

*Dermaflage is a little more complicated but is basically camouflage for skin that has a recessed scar such as pitting or indentation.
It is a silicone based product that safely fills the indentation to provide a second skin.It comes in a one month starter kit and has all colours to meet your skin tone needs.
Applied in three steps including a primer, colour application and then a texture pad that sits over the top.

For more information on all the products please visit their websites listed below.
We would love to hear your feedback on your favourite concealers.

www.maccosmetics.co.uk
www.esteelauder.co.uk
www.bourjois.co.uk
www.bobbibrown.co.uk
www.rimmellondon.com
www.avon.co.uk
www.keromask.com
www.dermaflage.com

Oil Control Powders

I am always envious of dry skin, how it looks amazing in photographs and never really has too many breakouts. I want it all, a matte looking skin that still has a radiant finish.
If I apply a powder to matte down my skin I often find by 3pm I have a build up of product that appears not only to have a powdery cakey finish but that also appears a darker colour to the rest of my face.
The solution is a colourless powder that will absorb oil and matte me down without any colour build up.
I have tested some out for you like minded wrinkle free oily skinned beauties!


Daniel Sandler Invisible blotting powder
www.danielsandler.com
£19.50

This is a talc based powder that gave a good matte finish and kept shine at bay for around 3-4 hours.

Available in the one colour it was really easy to touch up with using the included pad and mirror.

 No chalky feel but I think this is more suitable for a fair skin tone. My skin tone is quite pinky and if I have self tan on then this can look a little ashy. Therefore I would say for an olive to dark skin colour you may find this unsuitable.

Merle Norman Flawless effect oil control pressed powder
www.merlenorman.com
 

This powder comes in five colours but as I am reviewing colourless powders I have used the translucent powder.

 Although this is meant to be translucent it does have a peach based colour to it. On application though this peach tone is not as obvious.

The particles are really finely ground and it definitely gives a smoother soft focus to the skin.

 After touching up throughout the day I did find that this powder caked a little and looked patchy in places. 

MAC Prep and Prime finishing powder
www.maccosmetics.co.uk 
£18.50

   This is my favourite blotting powder, even more so than MAC's Blot powder.

I find it absorbs oil and keeps me matte for longer. I only use this very lightly so I find that it doesn't have a chalky build up but I think if you wear it heavy it may start to look lighter in places.

Probably not good for dark skin tones. If you do have a dark skin tone then I would suggest MAC Blot powder in medium/dark, dark or deep dark.

The only downside to this powder is that it has no powder puff included. Not the end of the world but it is required!

This also comes in loose powder.

Make-up Forever High Definition Powder

www.makeupforever.com

£12.50

I wish this came in a pressed form as I find it less messy and more transportable this way.

I used a small powder brush to dust this over and instantly my skin is matter and softer looking.

The powder is super fine and feels really silky. Rather than a total matte finish it has a slight radiance to it which is nice if you still like a slight glow to your skin.

Although beware, it can flash back in photographs if used too heavily.

Which powders do you use and love?

Retro Sweet Heaven

Here at Pixiwoo we LOVE sweets so when Emma from Sweet Emporium got in contact and kindly offered us a sample of some of their amazing old school sweets we were so excited!
The package arrived on the third day of the Pixiwoo course, exactly when the students needed a bit of an energy boost.
The two tier hamper style box was packed full of all our old time favourites including, giant Parma Violets (Sam say's these are vile), Love Hearts, Popping Candy, Black Jacks, Fruit Salads, Refreshers, Sherbet Dib Dabs and Flying Sherbet Saucers. We honestly felt like kids tearing open the package.

If you love sweets then check out the Sweet Emporium Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SweetEmporium
 
We have devoured our hamper but will definitely be investing in these again for a special treat or to give the students a sugar rush when they are flagging!

These hampers are £14.99 (bargain) but if order one through the email listed on their Facebook page and quote PIXIWOO you can receive a free jar of chocolate eggs too!

Make Up Forever Rouge Artist Lipsticks

 I know it's all about the product but we love the MAKE UP FOREVER lipstick cases.
 You need to make sure you get at least four so you can re create the brand name though!












These new lipsticks are sheer fruity colours with a moisturised glossy finish. Containing a high percentage of fatty acids and castor oil they glide on effortlessly with a pearl finish.
Available in 50 different shades, there's a colour for everyone.

£16.50 and available now from
www.makeupforever.com & www.gurumakeupemporium.com



You can see me swatch and use some of these in the MAKE-UP FOR PALE GIRLS video (below)

Tips for Redheads

Red hair comes in such a variety of shades that it can be confusing to know which tints and tones to go for when picking your make-up.
Often the skin is fairer for red heads and it can be a struggle to find a foundation match or eye shadows that are not to warm on a paler skin.

There are no rules in make up and it can be a matter of trial and error to find the right colours for you.

Check out our recent tutorial on Christina Hendricks to get some inspiration on how to tackle a look for red heads.

I have compiled a list of some brands that have some good colour selections suitable for very pale skin.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation has a superb range of light colours in a medium but buildable coverage.
Their lightest colour in 01 is practically white!

M.A.C offer Face and Body in White which can be added to regular Face and Body foundation to lighten the colour up.
This foundation is very sheer and can be also used on the rest of the body to help conceal bruises or to tone down uneven skin tone.

Dainty doll is a brand by Nicola Roberts from UK girl band Girls Aloud who herself is a fair skinned red head.
Her line of products include everything from foundations to blushers to false lashes using mixed red hair.

Anastasia Beverly Hills has catered for the brows of a red head with her vast line in brow products to suit.
We think Anastasia brow pencil in Strawburn is a really good versatile colour and the Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel is gorgeous.

We believe there are no rules in make up and as we are all individual I never like to specify that people need to wear certain colours but there are colours that will enhance each other.
Red heads look awesome with a strong pop of colour on the lips. Go for warm toned reds and oranges or if your feeling mega daring then a deep plum looks beautiful.

Warm the cheeks with a soft blush in taupe, peach or coral.
Depending on the eye colour you can pretty much get away with most colours although I would steer clear of icy pinks and baby baby blues.

What do all you fabulous red haired beauties like to wear?

Make Up Forever Aqua Shadow

Many people love the ease of a cream eyeshadow but hate that they move and crease on the lid.
In May, Make Up Forever will launch their range of Aqua Shadow Sticks which are easy to use shadow pencils that won't crease, smudge or transfer and are waterproof.

Tested under extremes of heat these fat nibbed pencils are made up of wax, oils and polymers which create a film that locks water out.
They still blend really easily and have a good amount of play time to move around to where you want them.
Many cream shadows have a pearly, shimmery finish and while 7 of these 12 shades also have this finish there are also 5 that are totally matte, a huge added bonus for those that find the iridescent texture unflattering.

These are soft enough to blend using your fingers but I would recommend a fluffy blending brush to buff the colour over the eye without dragging the skin.

To remove these products you will need an oil based eye make-up remover and gently press and then  sweep a cotton pad over the eye taking care not to drag the skin.

The Aqua Shadows are £15.95 available from www.gurumakeupemporium.com or view www.makeupforever.com for product info.

Tom Ford Eye Quad

Tom Ford is well established in the fashion world but in the autumn of 2011 he launched his complete cosmetic line.
They have 10 varieties of eyeshadow quads available, each set in a weighty chocolate and gold palette with  two application brushes.
 We have been testing out some of the eyeshadow quads here in colours 'Burnished Amber' and 'Cognac Sable'.

Burnished Amber are warm plums that have a gold base pigment running through them.
Wear them individually or blend together for a statement plum smoky eye.
 These types of colours can look a little scary in the palette but if you have blue or green eyes these colours will look amazing.
 Layer the gold base colour on and then get blending in the darker colours.Due to the gold satin finish running through all the colours they are not as red/pink looking as they seem in the palette.
 On darker skin tones these are actually really beautiful colours to use on the cheeks too as a blusher and highlighter.


Cognac Sable palette is a mixture of gold base shadows that also have underlying gold pigments.
This palette has an amazing copper shadow that is so sparkly it looks wet on the skin.
 Containing a mixture of reddy browns and a grey tone brown these colours would be perfect for blue or brown eyes.
May look a little warm on a fair skin but would be amazing on an olive or darker skin tone.
Palettes are £62.00 each.
Check out www.tomford.com to view the full range of cosmetics and stockist information.

The Perfect Duplicate

Omorovicza Sunkiss SPF15

We see a lot of summer liquid bronzers that have a high shimmer, great if you like this finish but if you have an oily skin, mature skin or just generally hate shimmer then this could be the bronzer for you.

Omorovicza is a Hungarian brand that uses natural mineral ingredients inspired by Hungary's thermal baths.

 They claim the benefits of their mineral based products are that they help to encourage collagen and elastin production and boost skin cell regeneration.

This is a real multi use product as it helps to prolong an existing tan whilst providing a sun protection of factor 15.

It is almost like a tinted moisturiser in the way that it smoothes out the skin colour and tone and provides a really minimal coverage. The soft golden tone tints the skin ever so slightly but the big plus for us here at Pixiwoo is that it looks matte on the skin.

When you think of a sunkissed glow you may think shimmery but sometimes all this shimmer distracts from the actual product and can look really obvious and fake.

We prefer the look where people assume you have had a week in the south of France not applied half a pot of shimmering bronze pearls to your cheeks.

You can use this in place of a tinted moisturiser, mix it with your foundation or apply just on the higher planes of the face where you would naturally tan.

It's not really that buildable, the colour you see is what you get but it is easily paled down by mixing with your moisturiser if you have a fair skin.
A really good product for holidays as a one stop product or if you are getting married in a hot climate and want a natural product that photographs well.

This is quite a pricey product but as soon as you apply it you can feel why it is this expensive.

50ml is £74 and available from

 www.omorovicza.com

Glam Republic Eyeliner Appliqués

One of the trickiest make-up looks to achieve is the strong liner look.

 Struggle no more with the help of these liner appliqués.

These black fabric strips are available in three sizes (thick, medium and thin) and come with the option of two finishes, either matte or sparkly. I adore both, but the matte ones have a velvety texture that looks incredible on the eyes.

 Apply them in the same way as you would false lashes.

When you remove the liner from the box make sure you peel off the backing card, I didn't and couldn't work out why it wouldn't lay flat against my eye!

Then add a thin line of the included adhesive and apply as close to the natural lashes as possible.

 The glue allows you a little play time to move the liner around before it dries, it does dry clear so don't panic if you make a little mess.

 I have taken a photo of the thin liner on a bare eye so you can see clearly how it sits.

I would recommend doing all of your eye makeup first, except your mascara.

 If you apply eyeshadow after you have applied them then the fabric liner tends to get a little dusty and wont look as great.

 Once in place, apply your mascara and then for a seamless finish use a pencil liner (Avon Supershock works well) inside the upper lid waterline to fill in any fleshy pink area.

Depending on the length of your eye or the look you are going for you may also need to fill in the inside gap with a black liner.

Now in all honesty these are good for people with quite a bit of patience. I have bad eyesight and got
frustrated, which Sam and Nic found quite amusing!
It's easy enough to get the thicker flick end down and positioned but the inner corner is tricky, so be sure to have some tweezers handy as it makes the whole process easier. Also be careful not to get the glue in the eyelash root as this will make the lashes look gunky!

Once you manage to get them on neatly they do look amazing and stay put all day.

 They come off with the help of an oily eye make-up remover and can be re-used several times.
Sam thinks that these may work well for those with hooded eyes that struggle with liner application.

Have you tried them?

A single pack is £4.99 and a duo pack £8.99

They are available from Superdrug

www.superdrug.co.uk

Written by Stacey Oakes - Pixiwoo Co-ordinator/blogger/make-up artist/model/guinea pig

Smilepod and Invisalign

Statistics show that 75% of adults suffer from some form of dental phobia or anxiety from that looming dental appointment written in red on the calendar.
If your one of these people and live in the UK then check out Smilepod.
They are a walk in dental hygienist with 24 hour online booking. They pride themselves on taking the anxiety out of a dental appointments and putting your tooth demons to rest.
I have major dentist phobia, up until a few years ago I had avoided the dentist for six years!

The four walk-in Smilepods are in London and located at Bank, Covent Garden, Soho and Canary
Wharf and feel more like a trendy spa rather than a sterile dentist.
Services and prices are listed on the walls so there are no nasty shocks at the end of the appointment.
Consultations for most treatments are also free. Their website is very informative and also breaks down the costs and treatments to put your mind at rest.

I went to Smilepod for teeth whitening but while there I noticed that they also offer Invisalign teeth straightening, something I have been interested in for some time.
I am very conscious of my smile as my teeth are quite pointed. When I look at a photograph of myself smiling I see:-

I know that vampires are popular these days but that hasn't alleviated my insecurities.
Here is a close up of my spiky nashers (before whitening). Pretty gross huh!

I will be keeping you updated on my Invisalign Journey on the blog and also on our second channel PixiwooMadness
If you would like to hear about my teeth whitening experiences watch this video. If you are interested in trying teeth whitening at the Smilepod studios check out Buyapowa

Facial Skin Mists

After working long hours, often make-up appears dull, drained and in need of a pick me up.
This is where the face mist comes in handy. I often have one on my desk and in my bag to freshen up during the day.
There are lots of different brands available but they pretty much all do a similar job.
The main ingredients in these products are generally a mixture of spring water and natural nitrogen. Some brands have other skin soothers in them such as Chamomile, and Vitamin E.

Some people claim that these mists will fix your make-up and make it stay longer. I am personally not convinced they will improve the longevity but they are perfect to revive a tired make-up look.
If you find your skin looks cakey by 3pm then spritz this over and re-buff in the foundation.
Also really handy to use as a mixing medium when wanting to turn a powder product into a creamy texture, some eyeshadows when mixed with a mist will give a more metallic finish.

Also good for people who suffer from Rosacea, Excema or dry dehydrated skin as many contain calming ingredients (although check with your G.P before spritzing on a sensitive skin!)

Grab a bottle in under 100ml and refresh your skin during a flight to ensure celeb refreshed skin on landing. (obviously not pressurised canister)

We have all been testing various face mists and here are a few of our favorites,  check them out just in time for summer.




Avene Eau Thermal Spring Water
£6.50 150ml
The best one for a very sensitive skin, sunburn and razor burn.
Very gentle and contains only Spring water and nitrogen so safe enough to use for children too. www.avene.co.uk








MAC Fix+

£12.50 100ml
Packed full of skin nourishing vitamins Chamomile and cucumber to soothe this is a familiar backstage  product.
Often used to freshen models skin or to turn a pigment into a cream this is a versatile product.
www.maccosmetics.co.uk










The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist
100ml £7.00
Good for a dry dull skin although I generally dislike any products that smell too much of rose which this does.
Also I prefer the nozzle style of the can spritzers as I find when you come to the end of this style of spray it just spits the product at your face rather than a gentle spray!
www.bodyshop.co.uk

La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water*
150ml $12.90
Recommended by dermatologists this spray is slightly more medicinal in the fact that it's suggested it can be used on sensitive skin pre or post surgery.
Contains nothing but spring water and selenium which is an anti-oxidant.
Good for inflamed skin. Pop it in the fridge so its cool when you spray it on. Heavenly
www.la roche-posay.us




Have you tried any of these?

*May be tested on animals

Charlize Theron W Magazine Tutorial

Following on from Nics' Queen Ravenna Charlize tutorial, I have attempted the make-up that she wore on the cover of W Magazine, the make-up artist was Shane Paish from Jed Root Agency

The products that I used can be seen at 105 Looks.
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Compact 40
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Natural
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Ash Blonde
Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow gel in Espresso
Laura Mercier Metallic Creme in Alloy
Neals Yard Eyeshadow in Truffle
Revlon Grow Lucious Mascara
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Chanel Soleil de Tan
AVON Earthen Rose
Chanel Lip Pencil in Peche

What on earth is a BB Cream?

Everyday I hear about BB creams and I see the beautiful images in the glossy magazines and they look great. I like to think I am pretty up to date with the latest in cosmetics but I was still a little confused by these mystery products that I feel arrived out of nowhere!

If you're a BB Cream expert then skip to the end but if you're a little confused then read on!

 

BB stands for Blemish Balm, they became popular in the Asian market for women who had undergone laser treatment or surgery and wanted to still use cosmetics on their skin that were gentle but still gave coverage.

 Due to the heavy Asian celebrity endorsement the western market picked up on these products and all the major brands now seem to have a line in BB's.

 In a nutshell they are a moisturiser, primer, foundation and sunblock in one product. Perfect for those on the go or people who don't really want tons of products in their make up bag.

 Really similar to the good old tinted moisturiser but with a little more staying power due to the priming ingredients, a higher SPF and lots of lovely skin boosting ingredients slung in for good measure!

I have had a little look into some of the best ones available.

 

MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm SPF35

Wow that's a tongue twister!

This BB is very lightweight and sheer with a subtle tint that will even you out but not provide too much coverage.

It comes in one shade and think of it as more of a tinted primer that smooths the skin naturally.

Good as a base to then layer on blusher, bronzer or powder.

Not great for people who require coverage but perfect for those who like to look like they are not wearing make-up.

30ml at £21 www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream*

This BB gives a fresh radiant finish to a dulling skin.

Again a sheer coverage that gives a more luminous finish, therefore more suitable for dry skin. Contains a lower SPF at factor 15.

Available in two shades and due to the optical blurring ingredients this would be good for those whose concerns are fine lines.

50ml at £9.99 and available from Boots and Superdrug

www.boots.co.uk

www.superdrug.co.uk

No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream

No7 have excelled in their range of BB creams as they have brought one out for all skin types dry, normal and oily.

Containing SPF15 this BB gives a light/medium coverage whilst still having the luminous finish we all crave.

 I have oily skin and I found all though initially creamy the product dried and left my skin feeling matte.

 A great product for people who require the coverage but also have a certain skin type that they wish to correct.

40ml £12.95 from Boots

www.boots.co.uk

Clinique Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30

This BB is perfect for an older or more sensitive skin. The high SPF gives great environment protection and its packed full of skin soothing ingredients that tone down redness.

Medium coverage, available in three shades with a demi-matte finish. Great for slightly oily skin due to the oil controlling properties.

40ml at £25.00

www.clinique.co.uk

Estee Lauder Daywear BB Cream SPF35
High in SPF and anti-oxidant ingredients this medium coverage is lovely on uneven skin tones to even it out and tone down redness.
It has a surprising amount of coverage and hydration for dry skin and oil balancing ingredients for oily skin.
Available in two colours that melt into the skin with ease.
30ml at £32 from www.esteelauder.co.uk




Written by Stacey Oakes - Queen of Pixiwoo Towers :)
Photograph - Philip Waterman, Makeup - Sam Chapman
* May be tested on animals

Guide to Summer Tinted Moisturisers

For the summer months tinted moisturisers give the skin a welcome break from heavier foundations used through the winter.

Depending on your skin type there are some great options available.

Generally, these products are lightweight and will contain an SPF. They can be applied using your fingers but for a more polished look apply with a stippling or buffing brush. Using a brush will also help to build the coverage in the areas you need it.

Here are some of our favourites:-

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30 (£27.00) is great for a combination/oily skin.

This is oil free, paraben free and derived form natural ingredients that still hydrate the skin.

Great for all ages and helps to reduce appearance of pigmentation this provides a light coverage and gives a radiant finish.

Becca Luminous Skin Colour SPF25 (£35.00) is great for people who want the feel and look of a tinted moisturiser but who require a tiny bit more coverage.

 Containing anti-oxidants and antiseptic ingredients this is great for problematic skin types.

Estee Lauder Day Wear SPF15 (£34.00) is amazing for people who don’t have time to fuss over their base. It goes on as a mint coloured cream but through the action of massaging it in it transforms into a subtle tint. Only downside is that it's only available in one shade so if you are very pale you may find this one a little too dark for you.

Great for a dull or dry skin as its packed with anti-oxidant ingredients which help reduce the first signs of aging, dullness and drying effects of everyday life.

Laura Mercier's range of tinted moisturisers each have an SPF 20 and all cost £33.00. They offer an alternative for dry, dull and oily skins.
My favourite is the regular tinted moisturiser, available in 9 colours, it
provides a medium coverage which is easily buildable to give an excellent coverage.

The staying power is also incredible. Huge fan here. 

www.lauramercier.com

www.esteelauder.co.uk

www.beccacosmetics.com

www.narscosmetics.com

no!no! Hair Removal

So when a no! no! arrived in the post and promised pain free and long lasting hair removal, I thought this has to be too good to be true. Right?  Wrong. I heard about no! no! after seeing it advertised on television but I wasn't convinced by the idea and the effectiveness of it, especially considering its rather hefty price tag (ahem just under £200), how could epilation be painless? 

After leaving it in the box for some time, I finally gave it a go and, although I found it took some getting used to, I am now a no!no! convert.  So, how can it be painless I hear you ask? The no!no! uses thermicon technology, or heat to you and me, to get rid of unwanted hair and for long lasting results, which means it doesn't pluck at your skin. It doesn't feel too hot and skin feels comfortably warm. It successfully gets rid of hairs, but I did find the first few times that it can be a quite drawn out process and you have to be firm with it, however when you have mastered the technique you will find it quicker to do every time. It definitely does last, hair regrowth has been much slower and hairs appear finer. It works just like an epilator, but without the pain which is undeniably a great bonus. The major set back for this product is that it smells, you know the smell of burnt hair? Yes, like that - if you can overcome this then the no!no! could be the product for you! 

The no!no! is designed for all hair types and can be used all over the body,  I love how small and compact it is compared to regular epilators so it is really transportable. I have been using it every couple of weeks which is ample for keeping hairs at bay. The price may seem rather expensive, but I managed to justify it by considering the amount of money I spend on razors each year, where as this will (hopefully) last me a lifetime! 

Check the no!no! out, now stocked at Selfridges
I suspect we need a Buyapowa co-buy on this product.

Powder Foundation Guide

People have been using powder on their skin since the ancient Egyptians wore lead and chalk to lighten their complexion, These days we don't have to go to quite that extreme.
Powder foundations are great if you require a light but buildable coverage with a matte finish.
Due to the matte finish these foundations are not so great for dry skins but aimed at a combination/oily skin type.
Matte textures although great with oil control tend to look a little dull and with over application you run the added risk of the dreaded cake face!
To avoid this always give your moisturiser or primer enough time to absorb into the skin.
For a lighter application use a soft brush to apply the powder or if you prefer a heavy coverage then use the sponge provided but remember to change the sponge regularly to prevent the oils from your skin transferring to the product and sealing it.
If you find that you get shiny throughout the day don't apply more layers of this product as it will build up, leaving you looking plastered, rather apply an anti-shine oil absorbing powder where needed.
If you require a really heavy coverage team it up with a liquid foundation underneath.


Having oily skin I have tried a few different foundation powders so have detailed some here for you from a varying price scale.

Creme De La Mer - The Treatment Powder Foundation

£65.00

www.cremedelamer.co.uk

A pearl coloured plastic compact with mirrored lid containing 10g powder compact with space underneath for a latex sponge. Box also contains a spare sponge.

For £65.00 I expected a slightly more luxurious hard wearing packaging so this product is perfect for people who keep their make-up pristine on their dressing table but probably not for those that need to transport it around in their handbag or kit.

The powder is very lightweight so great for a natural finish. Rather than a totally matte finish it has a slight radiance to it, due to ingredients including gemstones to create a satin finish.

It definitely smoothed out my skin and felt really silky. It also kept the shine at bay for most of the day but I did need to reapply for a bit of coverage on the T-zone half way through the day.

During reapplication the product layered smoothly with no chalky build up.

MAC Studio Fix

£19.50

www.maccosmetics.co.uk 

A cult powder that is a staple of any MUA kit, This powder foundation has a medium buildable coverage.

Standard MAC plastic casing with 15g of powder containing a latex sponge housed in a separate area underneath powder.

Designed to be used dry this powder gives a velvety texture that has oil absorbing ingredients and the added talc has been ground down to a microscopic size so the skin can breath.

This product photographs well and is also great for men.

Perfect for people who want more coverage.

It is really important to keep the sponge in the separate compartment as if you leave it sitting on the powder it will seal the powder due to oil contamination.

If this happens just scratch off the surface lightly and fresh powder will be revealed!

Laura Mercier Foundation powder

£31.00

www.lauramercier.com 

Mirrored 7.4g compact. This foundation is good for those who like to use their product wet or dry. It comes with a puff to use dry for a medium coverage or use wet for a much fuller cover.
This powder feels heavier to the touch and not quite as silky as others but it does provide excellent coverage and the titanium dioxide ingredient gives a soft focus finish however it may flash back when photographed with flash.

                                     

   Clinique Almost Powder Foundation

 £22

www.clinique.co.uk

Packaged in the standard Clinique marbled green compact it contains 13g of product and a sponge.

Just because you like a powder foundation doesn't mean you need to sacrifice wearing an SPF.

Clinique have a really lightweight powder foundation that gives that no make-up make-up look while protecting your skin from damage.

It contains SPF15 which is perfect for the summer although there is a slight flash back in flash photography because of this.

Very silky to the touch and the powder is so finely milled that you hardly feel it's on. Literally zero chalky cakeface whilst keeping you matte.

Which powder foundations have you tried and loved?

Written by Stacey Oakes - Pixiwoo Studio Manager and Oily Skin Specialist :)

Katy Perry Tutorial

We are so used to seeing Katy Perry in her beautiful wide eyed look with a bubblegum pink lip that when we saw the visual of her for March edition of Interview magazine looking uber sexy with a hint of an Amy Winehouse look we couldn't wait to recreate this look.

To re create this look Nic used ;

Becca Luminous Skin Foundation
MAC Moisturecover Concealer
MAC Studio Finish Concealer
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder to give a flawless but radiant skin with a contour of
AVON True Colour Earthen Rose Blusher and Sleek Make Up Face Contour Kit in light.
MAC Lustre drops in Pink Rebel was used over the cheekbones and brow line to highlight.
All the emphasis is on the strong black liquid liner, MAC Blacktrack Fluidline to create this.
MAC Brun Eyeshadow and Bourjois Eyeshadow intense extrait 10 are on the eyes with Anastasia Brow Wizz used to define brow.
Katy Perry lashes in OH MY are added to compliment the look.
No.7 Perfect Lip Pencil 20 Nude & MAC Stone Lipliner with MAC Honeylove Lipstick finish the nude matte lip.

We have been kindly given an amazing gift set of all four styles of Katy Perry lashes by Eylure www.planetbeauty.com which have been signed by Katy Perry herself to give away to one lucky subscriber. To be in with a chance to win them just leave a comment on the video and make sure you are subscribed!