CURRENT OBSESSIONS: Laura Mercier - Instyle's Best Voted Primer and Tinted Moisturiser

Instyle magazine is my favourite mag, I get a few of my outfit ideas from there. I do love Vogue and all the other high end fashion magazines but I can't afford £5,000 shoes and I can't wear the glossy pages! Instyle published "100 Best Beauty Buys 2012" and Laura Mercier Primer and Tinted Moisturiser got voted the winners so that encouraged me to take the plunge and invest in some make-up which comes from good recommendation.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser colour - Almond

Yes they are slightly pricey, the Primer was £28 and the Tinted Moisturiser was £33. However, you can't get flawless skin for free! I decided to get the oil-free tinted moisturiser as my skin is a bit greasy. 

The Primer is a light gel, it feels like you are applying moisturiser. It provides me with a good base for my face and after using this product for a week I have noticed that my make-up lasts longer. It also means that my skin isn't eating up the Tinted Moisturiser. I also have worn this underneath my other foundations and on it's own.

Top Tip: Put your Primer in the fridge, when you apply it in the morning it feels lovely and refreshing.

The Tinted Moisturiser is similar to Liz Earle's Sheer Tint, it doesn't have excellent coverage but you can't really expect that from just a tinted moisturiser. I decided to switch to this from Mac's foundation because I wanted something lighter and I've gone off the 'matt' look. I wanted something with a bit of a natural sheen without clogging up my pores, and this definitely delivers! I now have a natural glow and my skin stays hydrated throughout the day and because the primer doesn't budge. 

Ta dah! The final result (please excuse the rubbish picture of me) as you can see the look is very natural and provides me with the right amount of coverage for everyday use. I can now see why the Tinted Moisturiser have been voted Number 1 for the past 8 years running. In my opinion both products deserve a 10 out of 10! 

Love

Jess

xxx

Dior Make-Up Brushes

Hello lovelies!

I've never been one to spend a lot of money on make-up brushes until I watch a YouTube make-up tutorial. Pixiwoo  make-up tutorials persuaded me to take the plunge and invest in some expensive but essential brushes. And luckily I managed to get this Dior brush set in the Debenhams Christmas sale. 

Make-up tools are just as important as the make-up itself, it needs to be applied properly, so I thought I'd buy this mini Dior set with the most essential brushes I need for everyday use. I don't actually wear a great deal of make-up, so it seemed silly me buying a set with loads of brushes in that I'll never use. 

As soon as my brushes were delivered I ripped them open and first impressions were good. I love the black patent case, it's only small so it snuggles perfectly in my make-up bag along with everything else. The Dior set has four compact size brushes -a blush, powder foundation, eye shadow and lipstick brush.

Dior Blush Brush

This is so soft on my skin! My skin is SO sensitive and gets irritated easily, I've found these brushes super soft on my skin and it distributes my blusher evenly and gives me a natural finish.

Dior Powder Foundation Brush

I used to apply liquid foundation with my fingertips and although this brush is for powder foundation I have been using it with my MAC liquid foundation. Again it is very soft and evenly distributes my foundation lightly and gives you a natural soft finish to your face.

Dior Eye Shadow Brush 

The bristles are very flexible allowing you to experiment with your eye shadow, the brush is pretty thick so I do have to use another eye shadow brush to define my eyes.

Dior Lipstick Brush 

 This brush is precision cut, it's perfect to give you a defined lip shape and colour. 

I am totally impressed with these brushes, I love the metal cover which makes them feel like good quality. They're just what you need for everyday make-up application. I'm a strong believer in 'you get what you pay for' and after originally using No 7 brushes, I have completely converted to investing in make-up tools that are more expensive and more practical! They give you a flawless cover, they are super soft and the bristles don't fall out - 5* recommendation from me!

Jess 

xxx