Updated Review - Garnier BB Cream for combination/oily skin

I've had the new Garnier BB Cream for Oily/combination skin for a month now, so thought I would do an updated review so I could let you know if my original thoughts had changed, you can see my first post here.

I have been using this BB Cream everyday since I bought it and I can honestly say that I still love it, I haven't had to reach for my face powder once when I wear it, which is a miracle for me! I'm very impressed. 

In my original review I didn't think that the BB cream gave much of a radiant glow compared to the original but I have definitely changed my mind about this, it really does give your skin a nice healthy glow that doesn't look faked, it wasn't until I used a different BB cream that I realised just how good the Garnier one was, when I use the Garnier cream my skin always looks even and matte with a nice glow. Although I can't say that it minimised the appearance of my pores, but I have quite large pores and I think that I would need polyfiller for my pores to appear smaller!!

Garnier actually claim that after using the BB cream for 4 weeks skin will look less oily, pore appearance is minimised, imperfections are visibly reduced and skin radiance is improved, so did I find this to be the case for me... well... no, but if I'm honest I wasn't expecting it to, it's a pretty big claim for a £7 BB Cream.

I can honestly that I still really like this product, and would recommend it to anyone with oily skin.

Have you tried out the oily/combination Garnier BB cream yet?

Elaine

NOTD: 17 Pink Lemonade... most annoying nail polish ever?

I got this nail polish on a bit of a whim when I was wandering round Boots, I really liked the colour and at only £2.99 I thought why not!

The nail polish is very sheer so you need to apply 3 - 4 coats, but I found after the second coat it was getting quite sticky and not the easiest to apply. It definitely didn't dry within 60 seconds which 17 claim on the back of the bottle and it's called fast finish. So when I finally got a coverage that I was happy with I found that the next day it chipped very quickly, though I say chipped it actually peeled off like it was a gel nail polish! I also found that the polish seemed to have weird bubbles or lumps when it dried.

This is actually the second time I have worn this but the first time I wore it it was pretty awful but I thought that it was the slapdash way I applied it, but now I realise it wasn't me but this extremely annoying polish, I really was expecting more from a polish with such a nice name!

What was your most annoying nail polish?

Elaine

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