Milani Conceal and Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation and Concealer Review

Posted in Beauty, Reviews by denissesamantha

I can’t believe that I haven’t been blogging again for few months now 😦 I had this post on my drafts for ages but never really got the chance to publish it but finally here it is. I will be sharing my thoughts on Milani Conceal and Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation and Concealer. I feel like Milani is not a brand that we are particularly aware of here in the UK. Therefore, initially I was sceptical about it and did not know what to expect but I ended up loving this foundation! I feel like it is one of the best that I own. I have been using it so much for the past few months and I tend to use this for work too as I am usually on the go and not bothered to do a complete make up look. If you are from the UK, you can purchase Milani products on their website or on beautybay.com.

Pros

Full and flawless coverage with a satin finish

Blends very creamy and feels light on the skin

Buildable and good for hiding blemishes

An excellent cheaper alternative to some high-end foundations

Stays on all day most especially if a primer has been applied before use

Affordable as it is a drugstore brand

Sleek packaging; glass bottle with a pump

Excellent for photography (no SPF)

Cons

Does not offer a wide colour choices especially for pale skin

Thick consistency and could possibly feel uncomfortable to use for some people

Can sometimes enhance pores and set to creases and fine lines

Tips

Set with a powder to avoid being oily after few hours of application

Make sure that the face is hydrated and moisturised

Prime the face for longer staying power

Verdict

For me Milani conceal and perfect foundation is a 4 out of 5. The main reason for this is because of the coverage it gives (medium to full) and its staying power. Obviously, it is not perfect and I still think that concealer is needed but I feel like it does much better than some of the drugstore foundations that I own. I have also mixed this with other products, for instance if I want to have a lighter coverage I would normally mix it with my moisturiser to give a very natural look. I also feel like it is easy to blend and the price is affordable. However, as mentioned the Milani brand is not as accessible for us here in the UK therefore picking shades online can be a problem. Overall, it is worth the price and I would recommend it.

Please comment below and let me know what your current favourite foundation is? I would love to know as I am continuously on a hunt for foundations that will work on my skin!

Lots of love from,

31Aug2017

My Top 5 Concealers of all Time

Posted in Beauty, Reviews by denissesamantha

I feel like concealer is one of the most important item to have in a makeup bag. I personally don’t just use it for under eyes and to conceal blemishes but I also use it as a primer for my eyeshadow. Sometimes, when I’m lazy or if I am restricted with what I can bring in my makeup bag I would use the concealer to clean up my eyebrows, to contour and to prime my lips.

Throughout the years, I have used so many different formulas and brands from drugstore to high end. I did love Dior Skin Nude concealer and Bobbi Brown creamy concealer for a long time. However, these five items that I’m about to mention are my ultimate faves.

Here are my top five in no particular order:

Maybelline Fit Me concealer

MAC Pro Longwear concealer

Maybelline Age Rewind concealer

MAC Select Cover Up concealer

Rimmel Match Perfection concealer

Let me first talk about the MAC ones: In regards to coverage both are fine for me depending on how I would want to use them. MAC Select Cover Up is a light to medium coverage. This is perfect when you do not have much to cover. It feels very light and not sticky when applied. On the other hand, MAC Pro Longwear offers a full coverage and will be perfect if you are going for an airbrushed make up look. Even though, the consistency is a bit thicker I find that it is still comfortable to wear and has a natural matte finish. In terms of packaging, I would choose the MAC Select Cover up tube, as you can make the most out of the product. I sometimes feel scared that the glass packaging of the MAC Pro Longwear might break. Both products can be pricey but literally a tiny amount is needed, so they should last for quite a while.

I have repurchased all these three drugstore concealers numerous times, most especially the two from Maybelline. They are my absolute favourite as of now. Al three products offer a very natural look and goes on smooth on the skin. They are buildable and can be full coverage but for me personally I do not like layering my concealer that much. I hate the thick heavy feeling and from personal experience they tend to crease more and settle into fine lines when layered. The amazing thing is they all retail for a very affordable price. I think these are such a bargain for the work that it does! I would highly recommend them.

What are your top concealer choices?

Please let me know by commenting down below.

Lots of love from,

22Dec2016

Benefit ROCKitude gift set

Posted in Beauty by denissesamantha

Let me start off by saying I love this ROCKitude, rockin’ rose gold lip and cheek tint set. Thank you to my secret santa for gifting me this wonderful present!

Benefit has the cutest packaging ever, it has such a girly, colourful and positive vibe. When I was opening my present, I was trying to be careful not to rip the box as I would like to use it for storage/display later on.

Seriously, how cool is their packaging? From opening the first box I obviously already knew it was from Benefit but the additional box made me even more excited to find out what the set contains.

Just in case anyone is interested how much this gift set is, it retails for £25.50. As far as I am aware, they sell it on their main Benefit cosmetics stores and online, Debenhams, Boots and John Lewis.

As you can see from the photo below, the set includes:

Benetint rose tinted lip and cheek stain (4ml)
High beam luminescent complexion enhancer (4ml)
Rockateur famously provocative cheek powder (3g)
Rockateur ultra plush shimmering rose gold lip gloss (6.5ml)

When you open the box there are useful tips and tricks on how you can use the products inside. Behind the paper is actually a mirror, which I am so pleased about.

I am so happy when I saw the benetint and high beam as they are some of the products that I have been using over and over again. It will be my first time to try the rockateur blush as I usually use hoola or dallas bronzers. I also can’t wait to try the lip gloss!

Benefit’s high beam highlighter is one of my all time faves. It is such a perfect satin pink accent that gives a dewy glow.

How is your Christmas shopping going? There are so many gift sets like this one out in the market at the moment, I have purchased quite a few to give away to my girls but of course I bought some for myself too! Take advantage of the gift sets, while they are in stock.

Enjoy shopping and have a lovely Christmas!

Lots of love from,

30Mar2016

March favourites

Posted in Beauty by denissesamantha

Time is definitely going way too quick, I can’t believe that it’s already March and the month is just about to end. It means that spring is here then obviously summer is coming. Both spring and summer are my favourite seasons throughout the year. It feels like life gets better and people get so much happier when the sun is out! Here are most of my March beauty/skincare favourites:

Batiste Dry Shampoo: I absolutely love this stuff, I have been using this product for a few years now. I have also tried other scents such as blush, sweetie and floral essences.

These four products are all re-purchased. They are my most used combination of products as I use them for my everyday make up look. This is the reason why they ran out so fast especially the concealer! With the blushers I tend to not use the cream formula but I hit pan on the two powder forms. Left to right: Sleek Blush by 3 in pink lemonade, Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer and Makeup Revolution Ultra Cover and Conceal Palette.

Left to right: Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Liner in midnight plum and sweet pink, Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Gel Liner in black, Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Liner in black and Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in nude.

Molton Brown Soothing Hand Lotion SPF15: This is super nourishing and lightweight when blended on the skin. I find it so moisturising that I don’t just use it on my hands but sometimes also on my arms and legs too.

NYX Baked Blush + Illuminator + Bronzer: This was given to me by a lovely friend of mine and I’m so thankful for it. I love how pigmented this blush is and it’s not overly shimmery. The good thing about it is that the product is buildable, so if you think that the first swipe is too sheer you could always top it up without it looking cakey. Also, the packaging is so cute especially the bow bit on the side.

Quick FX Eyelift Cream and Pimple Eraser: Unfortunately they do not sell this in the UK and I got it when I was on holiday. At first I was skeptical about it because of its claims but it was so cheap that I thought I should just give it a go. I have been using them for few moths now and they’re okay. However, I can’t speak whether their claims are true as I use these products alternatively with other creams.

Clean&Clear Oil Control Film: I love this one! I own quite a few of this product as I’m scared to run out of it. I have tried other ones that are more expensive (MAC blot film and Shiseido Pureness Oil Control Blotting Paper) but I would still choose this. It is inexpensive and does the job, so I can’t ask for more!

Left to right: ELF Moisturizing Lipstick in ravishing rose, ELF Mineral Infused Mascara and Eyebrow Kit in both shade medium and dark. I can’t even remember how many ELF eyebrow kits I have purchased throughout the years (lost count already, way too many).

Revlon Colorbust Lipstick in blush: I obviously have loads of different nude lipsticks in my collection (which girl doesn’t?) but for some reason I have been using this one quite a lot this month! It goes on creamy, it is very moisturising and I love how this particular shade matches my skin well unlike my other nude lipstick that washes me out in pictures.

Seventeen False Lashes in electronica: I initially only bought this from my local Boots store because it was on 70% off but I ended up loving it. I was so happy that I picked up a few but if I knew earlier that these lashes are so pretty I definitely would have picked up some more! Also, it was such a bargain, they’re just like demi wispies but more crisscrossed.