Monday, December 2, 2013

November empties-the make up


This is part two of my November empties-you can read my skincare empties here.  I finished up a considerable amount of make up this month which is pretty unusual!!


First up, two Jo Malone fragrances I have been layering up.  First was Blackberry and Bay from the permanent range-this was the perfect fragrance to see me through the autumn months.  It doesn't really have any sweetness to it, more crisp and green.  Layering this with the limited edition Osmanthus Blossom added that little bit of sweetness I love and is so complimentary.  Osmanthus Blossom is juicy and light and reminded me of the scent of the apricot Ribena you used to be able to get (don't know if they still make it!).  I found these two worked perfectly together and whilst I probably won't repurchased the Blackberry and Bay immediately, if the Osmanthus Blossom was still available I would snap it up.   I definitely found I needed about 10 squirts of Blackberry and Bay to smell it on me and I found layering these two definitely prolonged the longevity on my skin.


I finished up the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation in Bone this month as well.   I was looking for a heavier coverage foundation and Bone is a great colour match for me.  This foundation offers medium to heavy coverage with a more or less satin/leaning towards matte finish.  I would still powder my skin as it can be rather oily on the T-Zone.  It's really long lasting and I found best applied with a brush like the Real Techniques Expert Face brush.  Two small downsides-no pump which I think in this day and age is unacceptable for a premium foundation and it did produce some flashback if photographed at night as it contains SPF10.  But for me, this is a very good foundation for work days, giving excellent coverage.

Repurchase?  Not 100% sure

Replaced with?  Nars Sheer Glow in Mont Blanc


I also finished up my beloved Clarins Instant Light Complexion Perfector in Bronze Shimmer which I have discovered has been discontinued!!!!!  I cannot speak highly enough of this product!  It is something I have bought 4 or 5 times over.  I stumbled on it by accident about 3 years ago when I was looking for something to add to my foundation to make it a bit darker for when I had a tan (a rare occurrence even though I live in Dubai!).  I was looking for something not too dark and with no shimmer at all.  The lady on the Clarins counter asked me to try this and I refused thinking it would be shimmery (as its called 03 Bronze Shimmer) but I was wrong.  Its a light liquid that mixes perfectly with foundation.  It's not too dark and you can add more or less according to how tanned you are.  I absolutely love it-it lasts forever and I love the fact that the packaging has a vacuum effect-so as you're using it, it sucks in on itself so not one drop gets wasted.  I have managed to find an online pharmacy selling it on eBay so I have one winging it's way to me but I have never found a product like it so the hunt begins for a replacement.

Repurchase?  Yes

Replaced with?  The same

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light

Mac Blot Powder

I finished not one but two powders this month.  First up the amazing Hourglass Diffused Light Ambient Lighting Powder.  I've never spoken about this on my blog because the hype around these powders was unreal-deservedly so-but I just didn't feel I needed to write another review about them.  I have 5 of the 6 powders in the range but Diffused Light was the one I used first-and it's magnificent.  I have used it every single day for over 6 months, I know it's expensive but you get a lot of product for your money.  Diffused Light has a pale yellow undertone but that does not translate onto the skin.  What it does give is a sheen.  A brightened face, smoothed features-whilst being undetectable on the skin you definitely have 'something' different about you when you apply it.   It doesn't add any colour (I find the Guerlain Les Meteorites Finishing Powder pulls a little pink on me), just a sort of radiance.

Repurchase?  I still own 4 of the 6 powders in the range so will try some of those first but on principle yes this is my preferred finishing powder

Replaced with?  Currently using the Guerlain Holiday 2013 Les Meteorites pressed finishing powder.

I also finished up another MAC Blot Powder which is pretty much a staple item in my every day, carry in my handbag make up bag.  I guess it does exactly as it says on the tin-it blots shine.  I don't love it but it does the job well as long as you frequently change the application sponge that comes with it.

Repurchase?  Yes I suspect so

Replaced with?  Am not sure whether to try the Chanel Les Beiges from my stash or another get another Blot Powder


Ahh Chanel.  When you launched the new Le Blush Créme de Chanel this year you knocked it out of the park in terms of texture.  I did a full review of this velvety, cream to powder blush on my blog here.  I was obsessed with it, using it every day.  A gorgeous formula that can be dabbed on for a little flush of colour or built up for a more dramatic look.  Revelation was the perfect coral.


Top-Mac Lipglass in Gaze, Bottom Mac Lustre lipstick in Naked Paris
Finally I finished up two of my most oft used lip products from Mac.  Naked Paris is a lipstick I have repurchased about four times-probably the only Mac lipstick I have bought again.  It's just the perfect reddy plum with a shot of very subtle silver sparkle through it.  It's a lustre finish so not the most pigmented but incredibly easy to wear.  I have discovered whilst writing this post it's been discontinued (sob) so no more Naked Paris for me.

Gaze is a really lovely pigmented lipglass from Mac.  I don't wear lip gloss much these days but this one gives the pigmentation of a lipstick with the look of a gloss.  But it's also discontinued now, I think this was maybe part of a limited edition collection.  I like the formula of the Lipglass, yes it's quite sticky but the finish is really full and glossy.

Finally that's all of my empties for November-I can't believe how many there were!!

Don't forget,  the international giveaway on my blog to say thank you/Happy Holidays and celebrate my blogs first anniversary is still running.  You can enter here


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