Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream Review

I've been on a hunt for the perfect BB cream for my oily skin and I have finally found it. Maybelline have recently released their new BB cream with a new formula.

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream - £6.99

The new formula contains 2% Salicylic Acid which helps fight against breakouts for clearer skin. I'm not really bothered about makeup containing spot fighting ingredients as that is what skincare is for, however it is a good bonus. The oily skin formula only contains SPF 15 whereas the original one has SPF 30, I'm not sure why it has less SPF but it could be to do with suncream usually causing clogged pores and breakouts. I quite like that it has less SPF as it means it is more photo friendly. 

It has a light buildable coverage which evens out my skin. It doesn't cover up spots and hyperpigmentation so I use my Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer on areas that need more coverage. I actually really enjoy using a lighter coverage and then concealing other areas because it gives a less heavy and natural look. This BB cream gives more of a natural finish rather than dewy which I love because all other BB creams that I have tried feel so greasy on my skin and slide around like crazy. I've tried the Garnier BB cream before and it is incredibly greasy and if I swipe my finger across my face it leaves a really unattractive streak, that's how greasy it is. I set it with a powder and throughout the day my skin does still become oily but it is nothing compared to other BB creams and some foundations out there. My skin becomes slightly dewy which I can handle because it gives more of a healthy glow than greasy. 

Usually foundations tend to slide around the side of my nose and upper lip but this doesn't slide around or move at all, and I am super impressed with it. I've worn this out on really hot days where my face because really oily and it is still in the exact same place it was when I applied it. Another bonus about this product is that is doesn't sink into fine lines. My foundation always enhances my left smile line and it is so annoying having to blend it back out all the time, with this BB cream it has not done that at all.

There are only two shades available; light and medium which isn't the best range but they do blend really easily into the skin and sort of adjust to your skin tone. I bought medium as summer is approaching, which at the moment is slightly darker than my skintone and it doesn't leave any horrible lines on the side of my face. It works great applied with fingers and brushes, but my personal favourite is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush as it helps it blend seamlessly into the skin.

Have you tried any of the Maybelline BB creams? What is your favourite BB cream?

February Makeup Haul

Hey Everyone! During February I went to Finland and Estonia and I picked up a few beauty products at Duty Free and department stores.

Here's some close ups of all the products that I have bought:

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit - £24

Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector - £18

I picked up the Bobbi Brown concealer and corrector in the shade Ivory and Porcelain Peach. I've been wanting to get these products for a while now but I haven't been able to justify the price, so as soon as I went to London Gatwick I couldn't resist the duty free prices!

BareMinerals Matte Foundation SPF 15 - £25

I also got the BareMinerals Matte powder foundation at duty free in the shade Fairly Medium. The BareMinerals lady wasn't at the counter so I asked the one at Clinique to help me and she thought I was Fairly Medium which I've never had any foundation in medium so it kind of worried me because I didn't want to look orange, but since it's a loose powder you wouldn't be able to tell anyway.

L'Oreal Paris GlamShine Stain Splash - £7.99

Left to right: 102 Romy, 101 Lolita

I passed the L'Oreal section and couldn't help but pick up two of the L'Oreal Paris GlamShine Stain Splash which are a perfect dupe for the YSL Glossy Stains. I got the colours 101 Lolita and 102 Romy. The best thing was that these were buy one get one free which was a total bargain!

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Concealer - $7.99

When I saw that they had the Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Concealer I just had to get it because it hasn't been released in the UK yet and many people have raved about it.

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadows - £24

From left to right: Apparence, Abstraction

 At the Estonian duty free I decided to pick up the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadows in Apparence and Abstraction. 

Make Up Store Microshadow

From left to right: Savanna, Old Gold

 I noticed in both Finland and Estonia that Make Up Store is a popular brand so I thought I should try a couple of eyeshadows. I got the shades Savanna and Old Gold.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light - £25

 On the ferry to Estonia from Finland I picked up the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light which I have been wanting to get for a while. The light formula is 60% water based so it's great for people with oily, acne prone or sensitive skin.

Lancome Star Bronzer Minéral Mat - £32.50

I also picked up this Lancome Star Bronzer Minéral Mat at duty free in shade 03. It has a gorgeous design on the bronzer and outer case and smells of the signature Lancome rose scent.

My Everyday Makeup Products

Recently my everyday makeup routine has consisted of mainly these products however I do tend to switch things up once in a while depending on how I feel.

The first product that I apply is the Mac Pro Longwear concealer to the areas which need extra coverage, such as any breakouts or scars. However I don't always use this product depending on which foundation I am using, but in conjunction with Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua I mostly use it because Vitalumiere Aqua is a light coverage foundation. I swear the shade NC15 and it’s a liquid concealer which a little goes a long way and leaves a natural finish to the skin. I'd say that it has a medium buildable coverage, however something I feel that if I use too much it can go a bit cakey. The downside to this product is that the pump is hard to control and when I just need a little bit, a whole pump ends up coming out which then I don't use all the product and have to wipe the excess away. It is a good concealer, however I wouldn't say that it is the best concealer out there and I am still on a hunt to find my perfect concealer.

I then apply Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in shade B10 all over my face, but more concentrated in the areas that need most coverage. I strongly recommend this foundation for people who have a good complexion because it has a light coverage and give a really natural finish. It’s also really good for people who do need a bit more coverage because you can just use it with a concealer and still get the added benefits of the natural effect. This foundation has a really nice light scent which isn't too overpowering. I have really oily skin and this foundation works really well for me and I have also heard people with normal and dry skin who really love this product as well, so it’s great for all skin types.

If there are any areas which need to be covered up which after applying foundation kind of wiped off some of the coverage then I'll go in with my Benefit Boi-ing concealer in the shade 01 which I think is a bit too light for my skin but it works alright when blended in. This concealer has good coverage, but sometimes I find that it can look dry, so I wouldn't recommend it for dry skin.

I use the No.7 Perfect Light powder in translucent to set my makeup, it’s just an ordinary powder and doesn't have anything special about it but it does the job at setting my oily skin. Throughout the day my skin does become oily so it doesn't keep the skin looking matte for a long period of time, but you can just reapply powder or use blotting sheets to control it. I also use the Urban Decay De-slick setting spray to set my makeup which makes it last longer and kind of blends in the makeup too. I use 4 squirts on my face; on my forehead, nose and mouth area and both sides of my cheeks.

Recently my go-to blush has been Lancome Blush Subtil in the shade Rose Sable. It’s a lovely natural shade with a hint of shimmer which looks great on all skin tones and stays on my cheeks all day. I do switch up my blush depending on how I feel and the look that I am wearing, but the main two would have to be Lancome Rose Sable and Benefit Coralista. I must admit that I am kind of blush-obsessed, for some reason I just always have an urge to buy them.

For a quick and easy eye look I use my Maybelline Colour Tattoo in the shade On and On Bronze which is a gorgeous natural eyeshadow with shimmer. It looks amazing and as if you have spend a long time on your eyeshadow when actually you just stuck your finger in a pot and rubbed it on your lid. I get oily eyelids and at the end of the day this tends to crease which is annoying, however if you don't have oily eyelids then this won't be a problem for you.

For eyeliner I use the Rimmel Glam Eyes liquid eyeliner which is really easy to control and is great for thin and thick lines. Another plus is that it is affordable and can be found is all drugstores. For mascara I use Benefit They're Real which is absolutely amazing at lengthening and thickening lashes. It has a plastic wand which separates the lashes and doesn't make them clump but it also has a spiky ball on the tip, quite like a medieval weapon, which is great for getting the inner, outer and lower lashes.

Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoyed this post! Feel free to leave feedback and tell me what products do you use in your everyday routine?

Cupcake Nail Tutorial

Hey everyone! I thought I could share this cupcake nail design that I did. I think that is it really cute and you can switch up the colours to your preference, and great for all the cupcake lovers out there! 

I'd say that this design is quite hard if your a beginner and you need a steady hand, but even if you don't it will look great from a distance! As you can tell mine aren't perfect. Here's a step by step guide to getting these nails:

1. Apply a base coat of your choice evenly onto all your nails
2. Apply two coats of a light pink nail polish onto all your nails except the middle fingers
3. Using a long thin nail art brush and a dark pink polish (or a dark pink nail art pen) carefully paint three strips on top of the light pink nail polish
4. For the middle fingers, apply the same light pink nail polish onto a third/half of the nail
5. With a white nail polish, paint three small strokes creating a cloud-like shape and create a curve for the top of the cupcake, and fill in the gaps
6. Using a dotting nail tool or a tooth pick apply some sprinkles onto the cupcake
7. Use a glittery dark pink colour, put a cherry on top of your cupcake
8. Finally, seal in your design with a top coat and add a beautiful shine!

Products Used:

OPI Base Coat

Barry M Baby Pink

Next (Doesn't say the shade)

Maybelline White

Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle

OPI Top Coat

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, please leave feedback and any requests that you have!