Review: Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder

RRP: £6.99

The Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder has become a bit of a hit product in recent years. I totally bought in to the hype and picked it up when I realised I did not have a matte brown bronzer in my collection.

The bronzer is marketed as a chocolate bar delight, which is certainly does look like, but I would describe the sweet scent as more vanilla than our favourite cacao! The product is nicely pigmented, not too much that one would risk the oompa loompa look but just enough so that a perfectly bronzed effect is gained. I purchased shade 51 which I believe is the lightest and you can see the colour it is on my skin above. I like to apply this with my Real Techniques (RT) powder brush to my cheek bones, brow and forehead for a bronzed look, or with the RT contour brush to the hollow of my cheeks and temples for a more defined look. It is very blend-able, easy to work with and perfect for day to day wear as there is no shimmer at all.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good value matte bronzer as it is definitely worth it.

Have you got any other recommendations? Or posts you would like to see? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: Clarins Cleansing Milk and Toning Lotion

Clarins is one of the leading skin care brands but I think it is often forgotten amongst the buzz for the likes of Liz Earle, Ren (of which I am a massive fan!) or other HG products. A few years ago I enjoyed used the cleansing milk and toner for normal to oily skin, however my skin changed and I moved on to other products. On a recent holiday, I was in a pharmacy that had amazing deals on lots of beauty products, including salon sized Clarins products. I was running out of my Cleanse and Polish and decided I would give the normal to dry range a go, the offer was incredible, 400ml for 19 Euros, unfortunately it is a little pricier in the UK, 200ml for £17.50 (double the price) but still cheaper than a lot of high end skin care.

The Cleansing Milk  with alpine herbs is a beautiful lotion which is best applied directly to dry skin. I usually massage it into the skin and then follow the Clarins suction technique, which involves placing the hands flat on the face and pulling away quickly to create a suction effect, this is meant to pull the grime and toxins out of your skin, I then use a warm muslin cloth to buff the lotion off my face. I find it is very effective at giving a glowing, soft finish to my skin and is perfect for my normal to dry skin. The original is also very good but more for combination skin.

The Toning Lotion with camomile is also for normal to dry skin. The pump action of this bottle is not ideal as I end up wasting a lot on a cotton pad, so I have decanted this into a small spray bottle and I spritz my face after I have removed the cleanser. I am not entirely sure if I believe toner works, but this has a beautiful, natural smell and I am sure it has a small moisturising effect so I am happy to keep using it!

All in all, I would highly recommend these products to anyone who wants some luxury skin care, perfectly suited to normal/dry skin. They keep my skin clear and glowing and I can tell they will last for ages, even with my morning cleanse and double evening cleanse routine!

Have you tried these products? Or have any recommendations? Let me know in the comments below!

NOTD: Essie Fiji - Worth The Hype?

Summer seems to have missed us entirely in the UK, I know a few pockets have experienced good weather of late, however Edinburgh has been predominantly sun free and I've just not been feeling the summery nail shades, tending to favour deep reds or a plain french manicure.

However, I was in boots the other day and decided to pick up Essie Fiji having read many rave reviews about it, and the rest of the diffusion line in Boots and Superdrug. Priced at £7.99 they are a mid range polish with high end qualities - you can forget wasting your money on more expensive polishes from now on.

The brush on the new line is amazing! A flat, round tipped brush means Essie is super easy to apply and streaks are non-existent, it also makes application very quick and easy. This particular colour requires 2 coats for that perfectly opaque finish seen above and for extra sheen it is worth popping on your favourite top coat, this will also help prevent chipping!

It really is a beautiful polish and I understand why it has been so popular this summer, so get down to your nearest Essie counter and pick this up, you will not regret it!

If you like Fiji, why not check out my post on Ciate Purple Sherbet, a light lilac colour!

Review: YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres

I will start with a massive apology for being away for so long, I have been rushed off my feet with work and holidays and unfortunately something had to go, and it was blogging. However, I am back!!

So, today I would like to share with you, my new favourite lip product. The YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres. Retailing for £22.50, it is on the pricey side, however I picked both of mine up in duty free for about £15 so it is worth having a look if you're going to be travelling any time soon.

I picked up no. 12 and 15 (15 swatched above) both pinky tones, with the former more orange and the latter more blue, but only slightly. The pigment in these is brilliant. A single coat leaves a wash of colour, visible but subtle. However, put on a second or third layer and there is a vibrant pop of colour.

I would say the product is almost a lipgloss/lipstick hybrid. It is not sticky at all, imagine a creamy formula lipstick, but applied in liquid form. And it lasts too, which is what impressed me the most. I can be eating, drinking and chattering away, and this lasts for a good 6 hours on my lips. It will fade slightly as you might expect, but there is still a full coverage of colour left.

The packaging is also gorgeous, the handy little colour window is particularly good as it means I can tell them apart without having to remember the colour numbers or opening them up. I also love the applicator, it is a pointed doe foot brush which allows for quick and accurate application.

This is definitely a good step in the right direction for lip products, the colour range is wide so you are sure to find a colour to suit and the formula and way it lasts is astounding. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys wearing colour on their lips!

Any questions or comments? Pop them in the box below. Also any suggestions for posts you would like to see me do!