Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette

Can we take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the shades in this palette.

Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette

With three matte bronzers and three highlight shades this palette has quickly become a beauty cult favourite. One highlight shade is even yellow based, excellent for brightening under the eyes. Kat baby you have created something amazing. The texture of the powders are lovely soft and buttery that blend effortlessly on the skin. I have even used an eyeshadow brush to see if I could blend out a harsh line of contour and it didn't do a bad job. I seriously cannot express my love for this palette. It is beautiful and has quickly become one of my top 5 products ever! WOW I just went there.

The only downside is the packaging itself. Cardboard. Why oh why am I being charged $45 for cardboard packaging. However the massive mirror is one big plus in my book so I guess we can forgive. I also wish you could buy the individual shades, just in case one day I run out and by coincidence I am in America I might want to repurchase just one shade. Chances of it happening? Zero to none!

My personal two favourite shades have to be the two in the center Lyric and Shadowplay.  With this palette I find it so easy to create an effortless, defined base, wearable for day or night. I am so impressed with the quality of this palette that I have been eyeing up the eyeshadow palette as the colours look perfect for me and I want to get my hands on some other products from this range.

Have you tried any Kat Von D products - do you have any recommendations?

Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer

So let's make a bold statement... I think I've found a better drugstore concealer than the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. Yes, I just did that.

Seventeen have released some right crackers recently so I thought I would share my views on the Phwoarr Paint concealer. I am not a fan of the name to be honest but I can deal with that. As the word paint suggests this is a heavy duty concealer, Seventeen have aimed this at combating those pesky undereye bags but I actually use this for covering blemishes and creating my perfect base. 

I have been meaning to talk about this in a post since I stumbled upon it all the way back in September.  I love the creamy texture and how it blends beautifully into the skin.  I find that it covers anything I need it to quickly but it can be built up for those extra annoying spots.  I find this concealer to last well as part of the perfect base, though I do set it with powder.  With a compact little mirror I think this is the perfect concealer to pop in your handbag and know you are good to go.

As I mentioned before, I would not recommend using this under the eyes, as I think the consistency is slightly too thick which can be drying and not last as long.  I find with any thick concealers they tend to crease in the fine lines under my eyes, but I generally think this is so much better to be used on blemishes rather than to hide bags under the eyes.  My main issue I have with this concealer is the colour range, or may I say the lack of.  As far as I am aware there are only two shades, Fair which is the one I have and medium which is slightly darker. 

For £5.49 I think this is right little steal and with Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer being discontinued I think Seventeen have eased the pain some what.  Boots is currently doing 3 for 2 on Beauty, Hair and Skincare so I would hurry down there.

L'Oreal Base Primers - Lumi Magique and Anti-Redness

I have been getting into primers recently, but not just any primers, ones that help illuminate the skin or correct pigmentation.  Both of these I use under my foundation but can be used in other ways.  I would just like to add for me neither of these make my makeup last any longer like a regular primer would so I think of them more as base products rather than primers.

I really like the packaging.  I think these are good for travel as they aren't bulky and I love that they each have a pump.  Not messy and you don't have to try and put product back into the bottle because you've poured too much out.  I particularly like the Lumi Magique packaging colours as I like a bit of rose gold.

As you can see the primers spread so easily and only a little bit is needed to cover the entire face.  Both are lightweight so you can barely feel them on the skin and they don't leave a greasy residue.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique

I use this is various ways, under my foundation, on top of foundation on my cheek bones like a normal highlighter and mixed in with matte foundations to add some glow.

I find my skin looks radiant after using this product and haven't found that I get flashback on photograph or anything.  It can be a bit runny so I shake mine to make sure it is all mixed together before I pump any onto my hand.

L'Oreal Studio Secrets No.2 Anti-Redness

The other primer in this collection is the anti-shine mattifying No.1 that is in a white bottle.  I only tend to get red patches so I use this to correct areas around my nose or cheeks before applying my foundation. I find that I use less foundation and concealer when using this product and so find my makeup looks more natural as it doesn't look as heavy.  I don't use this every time I do my makeup as I do forget about it. 

Each primer retails for around £10 for 20ml which I think is really good as they will last a very long time.  Neither I think are essential products but if you are looking for something like this I would definitely say for you to pop into Boots/Superdrug and check out the L'Oreal stand. When I bought the illuminating primer the girl at the counter applied some to my hand so I could see the difference it made.