NARS Pure Radiance Tinted Moisturiser Review

                                                                                                                                                                      I've had this NARS tinted moisturiser for about a month now, you might have seen I featured it in my May favourites so I thought it was about time I did a review for you.

I picked up the lightest shade Finland from ASOS during a 20% off beauty promotion they had on. I was initially reluctant to spend £27 on a tinted moisturiser but at 20% off I couldn't resist, and I'm so glad I did. Its also worth noting that although it doesn't look very big you do get 50ml which is at least 10 or 20ml then your average high street foundations.

What NARS say - Your skin – almost bare, but better. This advanced, oil-free formula provides a translucent veil of color and sun protection while helping to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots in just four weeks.Infused with lush, naturally derived botanicals and ingredients to immediately helps thirsty skin feel hydrated. Kopara from French Polynesia and mineral rich seawater revive and re-mineralize skin for a softer, smoother, and brighter natural glow. Skin is transported.

• Advanced sun protection
• Hydrates and helps reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots for a brighter natural glow
• Oil-free. Paraben free. Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Synthetic fragrance free.
  
  

    Pros - 

• I love the texture of this, it has a lovely lightweight formula and skins into the skin quickly, leaving my skin feeling soft and throughly moisturised. My skin felt hydrated and soft all day, without feeling like there is any product on my face at all. 
• I also think considering it's a tinted moisturiser it has great coverage - more than I expected. It evened out my skin well and covered some redness, although it won't cover any blemishes at all. 
• Throughout the day I found it wore really well and at around 5.30pm when I look in the mirror I don't feel horrified, my skin still looks even and bright. 
• As I will be mostly using this in Summer the fact it has SPF 30 is a huge huge plus, I was wearing this on holiday in Morocco and my face didn't burn in the slightest and it didn't slide off my face at all in the heat!

     Cons - 

• You can see in the photos above Finland has slight yellow undertones and isn't actually all that light considering this is the lightest shade in the range. I don't personally find the shade a con as I think its pretty perfect for me but I know it will be too dark and yellow toned for a lot of pale ladies. I do however think its great that although they may not have the lightest shade spot on there are 8 or 9 shades, which is a great range for a tinted moisturiser.    
• I do love the classic NARS packaging (apart from the fingerprints all over) however I would personally prefer a pump and I like to be able to see how much product I have left. Saying that I'd rather have the product for cheaper than pay extra for pump packaging.
• Also again not a con for me but when Elaine tried it, it really didn't flatter her skin at all it looked too dewy and oily on her  - even though it is oil free, so I wouldn't advise this at all for oily skin. 
• Finally it is £27 which for a tinted moisturiser I do feel is on the pricy side - although it is 50ml and the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser is £33 for 40ml

Will I repurchase - 
DEFINITELY although I would also like to see how this compares to Liz Earl Skin Tint and the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser. Overall I am really impressed with this, as I have very dry skin, this is perfect for summer as it keeps me moisturised all day and gives me the health dewy glow I've been after without compromising on its lasting ability. I also think the colour is a great match for me and all the cons I could think of with this product weren't personally cons for me. Finally although I LOVE this product I'm not too sure on the claim that it will 'reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots', as I haven't noticed any difference - but I always take claims like these on foundations with a huge pinch of salt.

Have you tried this, what did you think? 

Rachel

NOTD Essie It's Delicate

As previously mentioned I bought this in a set of three Essie polishes for the bargain price of £9.99 from TK Maxx. It's a delicate and lovely sheer light pink, In the photo above I have applied 3 coats however if its a sheer look your going for this was beautiful in just one coat. The colour is really close to the well blogged about Fiji - however that's a far more opaque and slight more pinkish in colour, it's delicate is well more delicate looking. On top of this I've been using Barry M top coat and I've found it lasts really, really well. 

So far I'm extremely impressed with Essie polishes and its clear to see why everyone raves about them.

Rachel

MUA New Limited Edition Going for Gold Palette

MUA are releasing a new limited edition palette to celebrate the Olympics this summer!

Image from MUA 

MUA have been releasing clues on facebook over the past few days about the new palette by releasing pictures of one shade at a time and have just revealed the full palette, which has a new design of square shadows instead of their normal circle shadows, which I really like as it sets it apart from their normal palettes.

MUA say on their blog... This is a great way to celebrate the Olympics with your own going for gold eye shadows in nude warm gold’s, to bright yellows mixed with stunning matte slate greys!

I really like the look of this palette, and can't wait to try it, MUA say there is a good mix of shimmer and matte shadows, they have all the swatches available on their blog (here), all the shadows look amazing and I can't wait to try the silver and grey shadows. 

They also are running a giveaway to win the new palette!

They haven't said how much the palette will cost but I'm assuming £4 the same price as their other palettes, I don't think I will be able to resist buying this palette!

The palette will be available in Superdrug stores from the 4th July, but will be available to buy earlier on the MUA website, they will announce when it's available on their blog and twitter. 

Are you going to buy the Going for Gold palette?

Elaine

Marrakesh Birthday Holiday

I recently went on holiday to Marrakesh, Morocco for both a friends and my birthday (we have exactly the same birthday so we always try to do something special).  I had an absolutely amazing time and thought it would be nice to share my experiences and some of the lovely beauty products I bought with you.

Whilst in Marrakesh I stayed in a lovely traditional riad next to the main square Jamaa el Fna, it was absolutely beautiful, a true oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the streets below. Throughout our stay we didn’t see a single other guest there so felt like we had our very own personal villa with staff – truly amazing.

Whilst on holiday my friend and I took full advantage of our hotels Hammam.  According to about.com a Hammam is - a public steam bath, very popular in North Africa, particularly Morocco and Tunisia. Hammams used to be the only place people could come to bathe and scrub, since a private bathroom in a house or apartment was a luxury few could afford. There are fewer hammams now since modern plumbing means people can bathe in their own homes. But taking a public bath is still very much part of the culture in Tunisia and Morocco.

We didn’t visit any public Hammam’s but our riad had a lovely little one where we both booked a traditional Hammam scrub and a lovely relaxing massage. The Hammam experience for me included laying in a steam room and washed with warm water and rubbed down with essential oils. I was then cleaned with a sponge and thoroughly washed down again.  My face was then covered in a thick covering of Savon Noir (more about this later) and a light amount rubbed on my body. Then the err ‘fun’ started a vigorous scrub down from top to toe with a exfoliating mitt, and when I say vigorous I mean it! I think I lost a good few layers of skin. It wasn't the best feeling on my sunburn but I soon got used to it. I was then washed down again and had a lovely relaxing massage. After the experience my skin felt extremely soft, fresh and thoroughly cleaned from top to toe (and slightly glowing from the extreme exfoliation).

If you're heading to Morocco/Tunisia/Turkey I would thoroughly recommend getting a Hammam, as although it doesn't sound it, it was lovely and relaxing -  its also fantastic for prepping your skin for fake tan!

Spices, Soaps, Potions and Oils on sale in the Souks

Marrakesh is a shoppers paradise I definitely plan on going back someday with more money and at least two empty suitcases. The souks are a vast and amazing labyrinth of windy streets filled with goodies - it's even more colourful and exciting then I could of imagined.


I bought a range of randoms things from bags to rugs, jewellery and a little leather horse (don't ask I got carried away). Anyway in the images below you can see a few of the beauty bits I bought from some lovely boutiques and the souks. Savon Noir, Exfoliating knitted pad (too cute I couldn't resist, even if it has no real use) Body Oil - Argan Oil and Essntial Oils (sorry no image yet), Traditional Kohl and Bottle for the Kohl (gift for Elaine). I will do some in-depth post's on these products so keep a look out.

Have you been to Marakesh? did you love it as much as me? If you have any questions or want any tips, please don't hesitate to ask!

As mentioned more post's to come on the traditional Moroccan beauty products I bought.

Rachel

MUA Undressed Palette Swatches & Review

When we found out that MUA were releasing a new makeup palette called Undressed we were excited to see what it would look like, as I love MUA's Heaven & Earth palette, but when we heard it was going to be a dupe of Urban Decay's Naked palette we knew we had to have it, the palette will be available in Superdrug stores from July but it is available on their website now. Delivery is £2.95 which is reasonable if you buy a couple of things, delivery was also really quick, we bought ours on Sunday night and it had arrived by Tuesday.

(L - R) Shade 1 - 12

The eye shadows don't have names just numbers but here are the swatches.

We would both LOVE to own a Urban Decay Naked palette (although less so much after the China PR fiasco) but I'm not really an eyeshadow person and at £36.00 its juts simply too much, I'd much rather spend that on a amazing foundation. So for me this is the perfect solution. 


The shadows aren't as high quality & pigmented as Urban Decay, but thats obvious due to the £32 difference, but they are great quality for only £4, and are definitely up there with some of the more expensive high street brands. 


MUA have a post on their facebook page (here) which compares the swatches from the Undressed palette to the Urban Decay Naked palette, it's really impressive how similar they are! I also think if you have a NAKED palette its still worth getting this as its a perfect size to throw in your bag for touch ups and well its £4!!


Will you be trying out MUA's Undressed palette?


Elaine & Rachel