Real Techniques: Expert Face brush vs Buffing brush

When Sam Chapman of Pixiwoo fame joined forces with Real Techniques to create a brush line, it instantly took the beauty world by storm. They're good quality, accessible, cruelty free and most importantly, affordable. During the past couple of years I've tried out the majority of brushes from the line and until very recently was of the opinion that the Buffing brush was my absolute favourite. Then I discovered the Expert Face brush and the battle for my brush-loving heart was well and truly on.

Real Techniques brush comparison

The Buffing brush has a lot going for it. It has a nice lightweight handle and soft bristles which are fairly densely packed. The top of the brush is slightly domed. I use this for blending in concealer on large areas, foundation and cream blushes. When applying foundation it can be used in a stippling fashion to get a bit more coverage or in a buffing motion to blend the foundation seamlessly into the skin. The main downside to the Buffing brush is that it's only available in the Core Collection of brushes which costs £21.99. I wasn't a huge fan of the other three brushes in the set. Had I found a use for the other three brushes, this would be a great value set but unfortunately that wasn't the case.

The Expert Face brush has a more ergonomic shaped handle, which I like. Initially I thought it looked a little small but I haven't found that to be an issue. The brush head is smaller and the bristles are more densely packed. I use this brush slightly differently to the Buffing brush; I tend to almost 'paint' my foundation on and then buff it in rather than using a stippling motion.I find that I get more coverage from my foundations when using this brush. I use the Expert Face brush exclusively for foundation but I suppose it could be used for cream blush, contour and highlight products too. It's certainly a good size to deal with the more precise placement of contour and highlight. Aside from being a brilliant brush, the Expert Face brush is also available on its own, priced at £9.99.

The Winner?

I think it's quite clear that for me the Expert Face brush wins in terms of performance and value. That doesn't mean I'll be dismissing my Buffing brush, however. I will continue to use this for foundation and I do prefer it for concealer under my eyes as it's softer on the delicate skin. I'll also continue using it for cream blushes. If it was possible to buy both brushes separately, I'd still want to own both.

Just a heads up; Love Make Up is running a limited offer for a free Expert Face brush if you pick up the Sam's Picks kit. 

Are you a fan of Real Techniques brushes? What's your favourite brush for foundation?

Stace xx

MAC Creme in Your Coffee Lipstick

The Lipstick

MAC Creme in Your Coffee is described as a 'creamy mid-tone pink brown' with a cremesheen finish. The shade is a tiny bit more brown than pink in my opinion which puts it firmly in the 'nude' category for me. It's darker than most of my other nudes and is a bit more cool-toned than my preferred peachy or tan nudes. It's a refreshing change, though and I think it will work well with a variety of eye and cheek colours. It reminds me a little bit of MAC Viva Glam V but without the shimmer.

The pigmentation is great and the product applies fairly easily. It's one of those lipsticks you don't (really) need a mirror to apply. I usually like cremesheen finishes but my main gripe with them has always been that they can be a bit too creamy; lipstick ending up half way down your chin is not a good look. Creme in Your Coffee is different, it seems. The texture is a little less creamy so more difficult to over-do. It wears much longer too; I get about 3-4 hours of wear which is pretty good for me as I'm constantly talking...

The packaging is the standard MAC lipstick bullet and the scent is the delicious (but somewhat sickening, I suppose) vanilla cake batter scent that we all associate with a MAC lipstick. 

Who will like it?

Creme in Your Coffee is such a neutral shade; it pulls more pink on cooler skintones and more nude-brown on warmer skintones. For that reason I'd say it would suit anyone in the light to medium spectrum. On medium skintones it will be one of those 'my lips but better' type shades whereas on lighter skinned ladies it will look like a nice darker nude. It's a safe bet for anyone who's concerned about nude lipsticks giving them the dead-concealer-lips effect.

As this has a glossy finish, matte-lovers won't be a fan. On the plus side, if you have quite thin lips, this lipstick will make them look a little fuller. 

Anyone who's willing to spend £15 on a MAC lipstick. I just had to mention this; I remember when MAC lipsticks were around £11.50! Whilst I don't think the price is completely outrageous, it does make me a bit more cautious about which lipsticks I purchase from MAC. The drugstore has really upped its game in recent years so there is likely to be a cheaper alternative of this lipstick out there if you're willing to look around. 

Do you have a favourite MAC lipstick?

Stace xx

PS - if you wanted to see the lipstick on my face, see below! Excuse the eye bags.

Review: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold

The Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold was one of those products I picked up as part of a 3 for 2 deal on a complete whim. The idea of a pink eyeshadow on paper is something which would usually fill me with dread but this pale pearlised golden pink is surprisingly flattering on my brown eyes. I suppose it fits in quite nicely with the rose gold trend which has emerged over the past couple of years however I think it's subtle enough to fall into the 'eternally chic' shade category.

I apply this product over my NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base either with my finger or a Real Techniques domed eyeshadow brush. I prefer using the brush as it deposits just the right amount of product more precisely. If I use my finger I tend to require a couple of layers to get the same amount of colour. Even without a base I find these don't crease until they reach the 7-8 hour mark - I have pretty oily lids so this is a decent wear time for me. 

All in all, I really enjoy using the Maybelline Color Tattoo shadows I've tried and Pink Gold has become my most used shade over the past six months. I wish we in the UK had access to the same colour range as the US because I've seen some gorgeous neutral shades I'd love to get my hands on.

The Maybelline Colour Tattoo cream shadows are available from Boots and other stockists priced at £4.99. 

Tell me about your favourite throw-on eyeshadows!

Stace xx

Review: Aveda Pure Abundance Shampoo

I'm an absolute sucker for any hair products claiming to make my hair look more voluminous. I tend to be fairly low maintenance with my hair; shampoo, either a hair oil or leave in conditioner spray, dry shampoo and hairspray are the only products I really reach for. I find that mousses and cream products weigh my hair down too much so even if they claim to add volume, I end up with greasy flat hair. On that basis, volumising shampoos tend to be what I opt for most. I've tried a few across a range of high street brands which I've enjoyed but whilst perusing the Aveda counter in Debenhams I was drawn in by the Pure Abundance line and decided to give the shampoo a go.

The packaging is plain and functional although I did have to store it upside down to get the remaining product out when it was running low. The product itself is a honey coloured gel with a normal 'shampoo' texture - it's not too runny or exceptionally thick. The scent is quite herbal and overpowering; I didn't pick up the jasmine in the scent (I love jasmine!)

Aveda state that the shampoo:

Lifts fine hair up and fills it out. Hair looks fuller, feels thicker, stays more abundant. 

•	plant-based formula boosted by certified organic acacia gum
•	Aroma with jasmine, certified organic peppermint, palmarosa and ylang ylang

I used the shampoo as normal and spritzed a little leave in conditioner on the ends of my hair. When it was 80% dry, I blow dried it. I did find that my hair felt lighter and had a nice amount of volume once I'd dried it and my hair did feel cleaner for a little longer when I used this shampoo. However, I have quite a sensitive scalp and this shampoo would sometimes be a little irritating so I couldn't use it on a daily basis. 

The bottom line is that I liked the product, I just didn't love it. It did give my hair a bit of extra volume without that product build up feeling so if you've not got a sensitive scalp and you fancy trying a higher end volumisng shampoo, I'd say that this is worth a try. I won't be repurchasing it as I've found the volumising shampoos from Herbal Essences and Aussie are fairly similar in terms of performance, are a fraction of the price and they smell nicer.

A 250ml bottle of Pure Abundance shampoo retails for £17.00 from Aveda stockists and online.

Have you tried any good volumising shampoos recently?

Stace xx

E.L.F. Angled Blush Brush

Say hello to one of my new favourite brushes! This is the Angled Blush Brush from E.L.F.'s Studio range and I've been using it for about three months now. Its name would suggest that I've been using it for blush but the densely packed bristles and thinner shape mean it's a rubbish blush brush. However, it's excellent for foundation. 

As with all E.L.F. Studio brushes this one has a matte black handle and a black metal ferule with black bristles. Pretty sleek looking for £3.75, I reckon. I was expecting something similar to my beloved MAC 168 in terms of shape and density so was a tiny bit disappointed when I first got my hand on this. It languished in my brush collection for about a month until I realised that it might be great for foundation. 

It turns out that I was right; it's totally a foundation brush. It's similar to one of those traditional foundation brushes which make me feel like I'm painting my face but it's a bit fatter and the angle makes it great for getting into areas under the eyes and around the nose. I use it to blend concealer in under my eyes and on any other blemishes before dotting some foundation on my skin and blending it in. Right now I'll happily reach for this in place of my Real Techniques Buffing brush or Illamasqua Highlight brush which have both been long-time favourites of mine. 

My only issue with this brush is the fact that after about two uses I could tell that the ferule was getting loose. It hasn't fallen apart yet but every time I use it I think it's going to! I don't mind so much because it was so inexpensive but the inconsistency in quality of E.L.F. products is very frustrating. Thankfully it doesn't shed! 

Available from eyeslipsface.co.uk 

What's your favourite brush for foundation?

Stace xx

LUSH Love Lettuce Fresh Face Mask

I can always rely on LUSH for a pick-me-up when my skin is feeling a bit 'blah'. I meant to review this fresh face mask about two months ago but since I plan on picking up a new tub of the stuff this week, I thought it'd still be okay to rave about it today!

Love Lettuce is a face mask that I've avoided because I preferred less abrasive options such as BB Seaweed and Catastrophe Cosmetic. I liked using my own microdermabrastion exfoliator and then a mask but this one changed my mind because the ground almond shells aren't too harsh. Love Lettuce left my skin feeling clean, smooth, refreshed and soothed all at once! No mean feat for one little pot of gritty green goo, really. It's got something to do with seaweed, honey, almond oil and lavender, apparently. 

This and BB Seaweed are the two best 'all rounder' masks that I'd recommend to almost anyone. If you've got very sensitive skin I'd tell you to opt for BB Seaweed instead, though. 

I get six or seven uses out of these pots so I tend to use them twice a week before they go past their best before date. Make sure you remember to keep these in your fridge to keep them fresh!

Available from LUSH stores and online priced at £5.95

Do you like LUSH's fresh face masks? Have you got a favourite?

Stace xx

Illamasqua S.O.P.H.I.E. blush

Say hello to my new favourite blush! This is S.O.P.H.I.E. and it's a powder blush from Illamasqua. I used it for the first time about three weeks ago and have struggled to put it down since. The brightening effect it provides is helping me through this dull and dreary January.

I don't know if you can tell from the photos but this blush looks like an absolute glitter bomb in the pan; that's usually a huge no-no for me. However, you can see in the swatch that it's only slightly shimmery and on the cheeks I think it looks almost matte. Illamasqua describe it as a 'golden coral shimmer' which I suppose is fairly accurate. 

Texture-wise S.O.P.H.I.E. is easy to apply and blend. I've been using a duo-fibre style brush to avoid applying too much colour, which works pretty well. I get a good 6-8 hours of wear out of this blush; that's longer than average for me!

All in all, this is a nice product from a lovely brand. I think the colour will work for most people too so it's definitely worth checking out the next time you're at a counter. It's also a bit of a feel-good purchase because the proceeds go to a charity. If you're not familiar with Illamasqua's involvement with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, go and read about it!

S.O.P.H.I.E. blush is priced at £18 online and at counters.

Stace xx

NOTD: Maybelline Forever Strong - Extreme Blackcurrant

This Maybelline Forever Strong polish in Extreme Blackcurrant has very quickly become one of my favourite polishes. It's a deep blackcurrant colour which looks almost black in most lights. It reminds me of OPI Lincoln Park After Dark but I find that Extreme Blackcurrant is a bit more red toned. I love these shades; especially during the winter months. 

The formula is easy to use but as with most dark shades, I needed three coats to achieve a completely opaque finish. The brushes on these polishes are wide and quite flat so they distribute the polish nice and evenly on the nail. The finish is quite shiny but I always apply a generous layer of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat which adds more shine.

The best thing about this polish for me is the fact that it almost lives up to the outrageous claim that you can get up to seven days' wear out of your manicure. In the photos I've had this polish on for FIVE days. The fact there's only minor tip wear is pretty much a miracle as far as I'm concerned. I usually manage to chip my manicures after a day or so. I've tried another polish from this range (Rosy Sand) and had similar results so I think Maybelline have done a good job and I'll probably need to pick up a few more shades...

Maybelline Forever Strong polishes are available from Boots and other stockists priced at £4.09.

Have you tried any polishes from this range? Thoughts?

Stace xx

Dolce & Gabbana The One: A Signature Scent?

This fragrance could not be more aptly named. It's definitely 'The One' for me and has been for about four years now. I don't post about perfumes a lot partly because I'm rubbish at describing them and partly because I don't try many new ones. This bottle was a gift from a lovely friend and is my fourth, but almost certainly not my last. 

You already know this is going to be a sappy post about a perfume, don't you? 

Well, it all started after Christmas four years ago. I was flying back to Glasgow and picked up a bottle of The One at the airport because I kind of liked the scent. I don't typically buy expensive perfumes for myself; I tend to ask for them as Christmas/birthday gifts, so it was an impulse buy. An excellent impulse buy. 

According to D&G: 'The fragrance features top notes of mandarin and peach that leads into a heart of jasmine and ends with a base of vanilla, amber and musk. The One for Her is a warm, oriental floral with modern sensuality. It's a fragrance with a strong personality and a contrasting golden sweetness. Created for the ultimate diva, The One is at once tempting, modern and glamorous, embracing a touch of classicism.'

To me it just smells good. I associate the scent with so many happy memories; it never fails to make me smile. 

The One EDP retails for between £38 and £63.

Do you have a signature scent you just can't be without? Tell me about it!

Stace xx

Worth The Hype? Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream is one of those cult beauty products that everyone seems to have. I held off on trying it for a long time because it sounded like over-priced vaseline but after receiving a small tube of it in a gift set, I was hooked. 

Okay, so a 'skin protectant' is never going to be the most glamorous product considering the price but I'm willing to pay £25 for a tube of it because it works wonders on chapped lips, burns, acne, dry skin, irritated skin and a whole host of other minor skin problems. The only other downside to Eight Hour Cream is the smell; it can be a bit overpowering and unpleasant. I'm notorious for avoiding products with a scent I don't like (sickeningly sweet lip balms: bleurgh!) but I managed to handle this orange balm because the benefits outweighed the initial suffering. I'm so used to the scent now that it doesn't bother me at all.

I use my Eight Hour Cream most often as a lip balm but I've also used it recently all over my face before bed after a bad skin day and around my nose when I had a cold. It's become a staple of mine and I've yet to come across a similar cheaper product which works as well. 

Do I think Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream is worth the hype?

You bet I do!

You can pick up a tube online or at Elizabeth Arden stockists. 

Stace xx

NOTD: Essie - Fiji

I realise that an almost white baby pink shade probably isn't appropriate in November but after wearing dark shades for the past few weeks I fancied a change. I've had Essie Fiji since the summer and have to admit that I don't reach for it all that often. 

Fiji is so pale against my skin and sometimes I think it looks a bit too stark. In saying that, if you're looking for a pale pink shade this is one I'd definitely recommend because the formula is great. I used four thin coats which might sound excessive but I've tried other similar shades that still looked streaky after six coats. If you're like me and you're not a fan of sheer polishes you'll probably be pleasantly surprised by Fiji. I get a decent amount of wear out of this polish too; usually about four days without chipping. 

In general I'm a big fan of Essie polishes, especially the diffusion line from Boots. The polishes in that range have nice wide brushes which make application that little bit easier. They are priced at £7.99 each. 

Are you a fan of Fiji?

Stace xx

PS - I was going to apologise again for my absence but that's starting to get boring! I'm spending this weekend working on a few new posts and I'm hoping to be posting every second day from now on. Thanks for sticking with me :)

Lancome Le Crayon Sourcils

Until quite recently I was terrified of brow pencils. I was more than happy with my Smashbox Brow Tech powder because it was so easy to achieve a softly defined brow with that product. I always thought pencilled in brows looked really obvious and considering mine are already so dark, I was afraid they'd look harsh if I used a pencil.

I lost my favourite brow brush so my Brow Tech was out of action for a while. I lasted about a week before breaking down and heading out to buy something for my brows. I'd heard some good things about the Lancome Le Crayon Sourcils so I went to a counter to try it out. When the assistant used it on my brows I was surprised at how soft they looked so I picked up a pencil in the shade 030 Brun.

The shade is pretty much perfect for my dark brown brows; it's quite ashy which I appreciate. My favourite thing about the Lancome pencil is how easy it is to use. I use it really lightly but can apply more pressure if I want a bit more definition. Unless I press really hard they never look overdone. I like the little spoolie on the end too, it's handy.

I think I'm going to have this pencil forever because despite two months of constant use I've still not had to sharpen it! It is priced at £16.00 which I think is reasonable. If you've been considering this pencil I'd say it's worth it.

What's your favourite brow product?

Stace xx

Illamasqua Highlighter Brush

I'm blaming Cami for directing me to the Illamasqua counter to purchase the Highlighter brush. She said it was fabulous and brilliant for pretty much everything and you know what? She was spot on. So, if anyone reading this post hasn't heard about this wonderful brush before, you should be heading to Illamasqua's website to buy it in approximately three minutes, I reckon. 

I was a little hesitant to spend £24 on a brush from a brand that isn't especially famous for them but my doubts were put to rest when I got my Highlighter brush home. The quality is excellent; in fact, this brush and the other I have from Illamasqua are probably the best quality brushes I own. They feel more sleek than MAC or Sigma brushes and are much easier on the eye than my beloved Real Techniques brushes. I've washed my Highlighter brush countless times and not experienced any shedding or colour bleeding. It still looks and feels almost exactly like it did when I purchased it almost a year ago. Illamasqua brushes are also cruelty free and made from synthetic fibres if that's important to you.

It's all well and good if a brush looks and feels lovely but what you all need to know is how it performs when applying make up, right? I think Illamasqua are missing a trick by labelling this brush as a highlighter brush because it can be used for so much more than that. I have used it with cream or liquid products such as concealers, foundations, cream and liquid blushes and liquid highlighters. I've also used it with powder blushes, face powder, powder highlight and contouring products. Basically if you had a stash of these brushes you'd never need to use another face brush again. Well, perhaps you'd want a big fluffy powder brush (I'm currently coveting this one from Illamasqua.) My favourite way of using the Highlighter brush is with cream or liquid products because I find that it works them into the skin beautifully. Because the brush is on the small side it's good if you're trying to be precise. That does mean that it takes a bit longer if you're using it for foundation but I like the finish I get when using it for that purpose so I don't mind taking an extra few minutes. It's a nice size for applying face powder to specific areas if you're not wanting to cover your entire face. I like to focus mine on my T-zone and under eye area. 

I honestly don't think I've ever felt this way about a brush. And I feel like a bit of an idiot for just typing that but it's true. I honestly think that any beauty addict worth her salt needs to own at least one of these brushes. For me, it's the absolute epitome of a 'multi-tasking' brush and I love that.

With special thanks to Cami and her enabling abilities!

Are you tempted yet?

Stace xx

Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Lotion

This Almond Soothing Facial Lotion from Weleda has been my night time moisturiser of choice for the past month to six weeks. I picked it up from FeelUnique the last time I placed an order. It was £11.95 which I thought was reasonable until I received the product and noticed that it only contained 30ml of product. It's my own fault for not checking!

The Almond range from Weleda is targeted towards dry and sensitive skin so I thought it would be a safe bet. My skin is normal/combination but I like something a bit more hydrating at night and I prefer using products for sensitive skin because I don't worry about my skin reacting badly to them. Weleda also make a cream version of this product which is much thicker in texture. 

When I think of a lotion I expect it to be quite runny but texture-wise this product is rather thick. If you've tried the infamous Embroylisse Lait Creme Concentre it's quite similar to that. As you can imagine, the lotion smells strongly of almonds so if you're not a fan of that scent, I'd avoid this product. I only need a little (about half the size of a 5p coin) to cover my face; I concentrate it on the drier areas of my face. 

I'm happy to report that it leaves my skin feeling nicely hydrated and hasn't caused any reactions. I've used this in the mornings under make up and haven't noticed any excess oil on my face. I'd recommend it to anyone with dry/normal skin looking for a nice no-frills moisturiser. I'm not convinced by the £12 for 30ml price tag  but I will definitely enjoy using this until it runs out.

What's your favourite night cream? 

Stace xx

Ps - starting a new job tomorrow; wish me luck!

John Frieda Full Repair Range

I was recently given the opportunity to try out John Frieda's relatively new Full Repair* range. I have the shampoo, conditioner and deep infusion. The range is designed to 'revive overworked hair' with Inca Inchi extract. As I don't use heat on my hair very often and I never colour it I wouldn't describe my hair as 'overworked' so I enlisted the help of my friend to help me with this review.

The shampoo was my favourite product of the three; I've used it all up! The description of this shampoo sounds quite similar to the Osmo Berber Oil and Macadamia Natural Oil shampoos which are both favourites of mine so that might explain why I liked this product. It's a fairly standard shampoo; it smells inoffensive and lathers up nicely. I sometimes struggle with shampoos irritating my scalp and this one didn't which is a huge plus for me. It didn't leave my hair looking limp so I'd say that it somewhat delivers on its 'full body' claim but it's not a miracle product in that sense. Emma, my reviewing friend, also thought that the shampoo wasn't really anything special but that it worked nicely.

Before I even tried the conditioner I knew I probably wouldn't like it because I never use a traditional conditioner like this. Like the shampoo it's what you'd expect from a standard high street conditioner. I found it to be far too conditioning for my hair so only used it a few times. Again, Emma didn't think this product was anything special. 

I've been trying out is the Perfect Ends Deep Infusion which is the interesting product in the range. Its purpose is similar to a hair oil or serum but the consistency is really odd. It looks like water or a light oil but it comes in a pump bottle so it's quite tricky to use. I'm not sure why they didn't package it in a spray bottle because that would have been much more convenient. You only need to use a really small amount of this product; I overdid it the first time and my hair was horribly greasy within a few hours. I used this before blow drying my hair and did find that it made the ends look smoother. I don't think it'll be replacing my hair oils or my beloved Aussie leave in conditioner spray, though. Emma didn't particularly rate this product either.

This review probably sounds quite negative but on the whole the products aren't bad, they just don't work particularly well on my hair type. If I were to repurchase anything from the range it would be the shampoo. With prices starting at £5.89 the products are worth a try if you have colour treated hair or heat styled hair.

Have you tried anything from this range?

Stace xx

*PR Samples

YSL Touche Eclat Foundation

I mentioned the YSL Touche Eclat foundation in my most recent favourites post but I wanted to write a separate review about my new base of choice. I resisted picking this up for a long time because a lot of the reviews I had read said that the coverage was incredibly sheer. Whilst I do tend to prefer a light coverage foundation I got the impression that YSL's offering would be more like a tinted moisturiser. I'm pleased to say that after trying a sample my preconceptions were dismissed and once I ran out of my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua I finally purchased the YSL Touch Eclat foundation.

The packaging is nice; it feels heavy and whilst the glass bottle isn't especially travel friendly I do like being able to see how much product I've used. It also comes with a pump which dispenses just the right amount of product for one layer of foundation. I felt quite guilty for parting with £31 for the little plastic bottle of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua but the £28 price tag for the Touche Eclat foundation was a little easier to swallow, in part due to the packaging. 

We all know that it's what's on the inside that counts, right? In that respect this product doesn't disappoint either. It is a light coverage foundation but it offers slightly more than I expected. It's also very buildable; I like to add a second layer to the areas of my face which I feel need a little more coverage. I should point out that this foundation is definitely not for anyone who swears by Estee Lauder Double Wear or something similar. If you have a lot of blemishes, scarring or redness to cover you're probably not going to like this but if you just have a slightly uneven skintone and only get blemishes occasionally I'd definitely recommend giving this a try. The finish is less dewy than I expected and that's a positive for me as I do get a little oily in my t-zone. It's definitely not a matte finish either, though. If you have very oily skin and love a matte finish, I'd steer clear.

I've tried applying this with my fingers and that works nicely but I prefer to use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush as I find I get a bit more coverage that way. The product melts into the skin quickly so application is a breeze. I get a decent amount of wear from this foundation; around 6-8 hours. I usually powder through my t-zone but find that if I want to add another layer of foundation later in the day I can easily do that without making my skin look caked in foundation. 

The YSL Touche Eclat foundation is available in twenty two shades across a spectrum of undertones. I have B50 which is from the neutral range. I believe there should be a shade to suit almost everyone. 

Have  you tried YSL's latest foundation? 

Stace xx

LUSH Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask

Hello!

I just wanted to quickly say that I'm sorry I've been posting quite a lot of reviews recently. I have lots of ideas for more interesting posts but my boyfriend and I broke up last week and I'm currently trying to find a new place to live. It's all getting a bit crazy but thank you for bearing with me; normal service will resume sometime very soon, hopefully.

On a lighter note, Brazened Honey is the second Fresh Face Mask from LUSH that I'd been trying this month. I was given Brazened Honey instead of Love Lettuce by mistake and I was a bit miffed because I'd tried Brazened Honey a long time ago and not liked it too much. I decided to give it another try anyway to see what if my opinion would change. 

The mask itself is very, very exfoliating which puts me off because I like using my own microdermabrasion scrub before using a face mask and I find the ground almonds to be a bit too harsh on my skin. In saying that, it did leave my face feeling incredibly smooth. Despite taking this mask from the fridge before applying it to my skin my face felt hot when it was on due to the spices in the product. It reminded me a bit of a few thermal masks I've tried before; it wasn't irritating at all on my skin but I wouldn't rush to recommend it to someone with sensitive skin. When I'd tried this mask previously I found that it left my skin feeling quite dry and since my skin has been becoming less and less oily I was concerned that I'd find it even more drying this time around. Thankfully I didn't really notice any dryness. In saying that, I don't find Brazened Honey to be particularly moisturizing either. 

Overall the mask is just okay. I probably won't be repurchasing it but I would recommend it to anyone with normal-oily skin who likes a lot of exfoliation. It smells quite nice and is pleasant to use. All LUSH Fresh Face Masks are priced at £5.95 and are available in store. 

What's your favourite face mask?

Stace xx

PS - Please don't forget to keep these in the fridge; they last around three to four weeks and I can get about five uses out of each pot.