Joan Collins - Timeless beauty collection

When an Icon such as Joan collins releases a makeup line, you sit up and take notice. This iconic woman has seen hollywood through the golden era, plus know what wonder's makeup can achieve. So i jumped at the given the opportunity to review her new foundation and compact's.

About : 

Joan Collins Timeless Beauty is a new international luxury beauty brand, created by one of the most glamorous icons of our time.  It aims not just to inspire women, but to provide them with the tools to feel and be beautiful at any age.

Now finally, she has delved into her treasure trove of beauty knowledge to create a new line of beauty products with the aim of sharing her experience with us all and allow each woman to obtain what she dreams of: Timeless Beauty.

First base - Foundation 

Is skin care in a foundation. It creates a smooth, flawless complexion with a radiant, natural finish, whilst Re-AgeTM Complex charges the skin with youthful energy, to help increase collagen levels. Light on the skin with excellent adhesion. Includes Hyaluronic Acid & UV filters. Paraben free.

My thoughts :

First base is a light weight buildable coverage foundation. Application is easy (even when using your fingers), plus leaves good distribution of product. On my face my t-zone is my problem area and I deliberately did not apply primer to see how it fared on dry area's. Whilst it was most noticeable on the bridge of my nose, it did not cake or flake anywhere else. So with a primer and my usual exfoliator this foundation would be a good wearing, reliable addition. I had a bare face to see the areas that need building up. I would just need my usual a brightening around my tired eyes. I Also felt the foundation dries down to give a matte finish. Overall I really like this foundation for light to medium coverage and will be using this in the summer when my skin is normal with no dry areas.  

Powder & Lipstick duo

Pressed Powder and a Divine Lipstick together in a glamorous mirror compact. The perfect quick fix combination of skin responsive powder and a hydrating lipstick. Any Divine Lips lipstick will fit in the compact so the lipstick can be changed as needed.

"I love this duo. I can easily find 2 of my most important cosmetics without having to rummage at the bottom of my bag. I can touch up my face quickly with a pat of powder and sweep of lipstick. Perfect!"

My thought's:

I did give a light brush of the compact powder. The addition of powder did not make my skin look cakey nor cling to my dry areas. Its a light and finely milled powder that only is required for touch ups, i found using it once was sufficent. The divine lipstick was creamy and felt moisturising. The pigment was fantastic and even when drink and eating the colour was still left, it became's matte upon wearing and can be easily touched up. Its a beautiful colour and lovely lipstick, I really am in love with this formula. 

Have you tried any of the range ?What  would you try ? 

W7 - New flawless foundation and In the nude palette

I have loved W7 products and found there face and eyeshadow palettes to be fantastic quality. So I'm really excited to try the new addition to the foundation family and the "In the nude" palette.  So I'm hoping that "In the Nude" really matches the quality of its sister palette "In the buff". 

They say : 

W7 Make Up is the inspiration of 2 entrepreneurial men, created in 2002. Their aim "that every woman should have access, to an extensive range of cosmetics at an affordable price".

The company has grown year on year and now boasts a collection of over 500 products. Including nail polish, lipsticks, eyeshadows and more mascara's than you could dream off. Plus with new products bring added, the W7 family keeps on growing. 

"She's flawless foundation" Shade 1

Includes sponge for better application, simply soak the sponge in makeup and apply directly on the face. Includes mirror for convenient application. Three shades available.

Initial use - Press firmly several times onto the sponge to release the foundation to the surface. Then dab the air puff cushion lightly and apply to the face in a patting motion as required for a smooth even finish.

This compact is taking the front running in bringing the Korean beauty regimes to the UK shores. It is called a "Cushion compact" in Korea and what it does is encourage you to pat your foundation on to the face, which should give a flawless airy finish. It will give a light coverage of foundation with a full coverage finish. Now i have shade 1 and i will admit that it runs quite dark on the sponge. I used a light powder to balance this out but i could use this alone in summer. So for pale ladies i would say this is a foundation you may need to await more shades to become available. W7 need to open up the shades on this compact as 3 shades is quite small for a new release. Also being the first I've seen using this technique and front runners to bring it to the UK market, they need to have more shades available to the public. 

It was easy to apply and i have used many cushion foundation's from Korea to make a comparison. If you find the sponge quite firm, then i would recommend using a powder sponge if you want a softer application. It will give the same results and also pick up more product so you can pat on quicker. So overall the compact works as well as the Korean versions. The only downside is the shades available to purchase. It applies well and evenly with the foundation being easy to apply with a few pats to the skin and a seamless blend-ability into the skin. 

"In the Nude" palette

An eye shadow palette containing 12 inspired shades for a softly smokey look.

A beautiful palette with a mix of matte and shimmer shades, giving the perfect amount of variation to create smokey eye looks. Now you can use the more chocolate shades to have a soft smokey creation with a golden shimmer, Or use the more darker shades on the right hand side to have the intense smokey look we have become accustomed too. Its such a versatile palette for any amount of looks and so affordable. The darker shades are so soft and they have so much pigment its really impressive. I found the shades easy to blend and they aren't too powdery as most eyeshadows can be. However they can feel dry to the touch.

Below is the look i created with the palette using mostly the second row of swatches in the palette, then using the darkest shade to just define the outer crease. This blended in beautifully to the chocolatey shades and didn't over power the look. 

Look created with "She's flawless" and "In the Nude" palette

W7 is still bringing out quality products with affordability. Brilliantly in touch with the beauty world, bringing out the cushion foundation "she's flawless". Also giving affordable alternative, to anyone on a budget with the "In the Nude" palette. 

Essence - Products review

Essence Website

 Affordable products that are high quality are what Essence are known for, a German beauty brand that is finally making its way over to us. I'm glad they are becoming more widely available. I have been kindly sent some items to try, plus I also have a few products myself. I'm so grateful to Essence for allowing me to review there line. 

Essence products I recieved :

BB cream/16hr All day foundation

 lightly tinted BB cream ensures a smooth, radiant and flawless complexion. it makes small skin imperfections disappear without blocking your pores and provides intensive moisture with spf 30. 

This BB cream is very light and you only need a small amount. As BB creams give lighter coverage with moisturising qualities. Great for dry skin types as it is so light, plus easy to blend. The shade is leaning towards the yellow side of the spectrum. I found combining with the match 2 concealer (peachy side), under the eyes then balanced out the dark circles. Lovely BB cream for summer and  nice light feeling makeup.

16 hr All day foundation : this long-lasting foundation ensures a smooth and silky complexion all. Its delicate texture allows a simple and even application. 

This is a lovely foundation in application and how it buffed in easily. It's like the BB cream does pull to the yellow side of the spectrum. However I felt that balanced out my red areas. It doesn't last the full 16 hrs, I would say that 8 would be a realistic number. With the spot powder, this prevented it being so noticeable during touch-ups. It's a pump dispenser and I would say, 2 pumps was sufficent for my coverage. So I'm really impressed with the offerings from essence, I would like to see if more pinkish tones are available.

Pure skin anti-spot compact powder 

They say : Radiant, fresh and healthy complexion. Anti-bacterial compact powder covers-up irregularities. Clearderm complex to specially target spots and blackheads. Ensures a smooth, radiant complexion. dermatologically tested.

This powder compliments the BB cream/ foundation amazingly well. It's not chalky or powdery when applied. Finely milled and smells fresh (Non perfumed) with a creamy texture almost. I advise to make sure your foundation is dry, to the touch before applying this powder. As the powder has a creamy feel to it, then any additional cream could cause hard pan to the compact.

Silky touch Blush & Eyeshadows

Silky touch blush : Fresh complexion is essential for perfect style. Natural looking soft as well as brighter shades on your cheeks with this silky-soft blush. 

The most stunning find in my makeup collection. I had seen the swatches and was bowled over, my friend had sold this to me. It's stunning deep berry/pink/rose tones with slight shimmers. Its so pigmented and needs a light hand on application. It's finely milled and the micro shimmers are stunning when they catch the light. 

The eyeshadows are a Mono and a limited edition offering. They are both very pigmented, offering a beautiful shimmery effect. I think the shades are perfect for a inner corner highlight. I personally would use the marbelled shade, to do a smokey nighttime look. These are both pigmented and I would happily purchase more colours to use. 

Eye sorbet - Illuminating Plum

They say : Innovative, long-lasting, gel-texture is easy to apply with your finger. Beautiful shades and lots of shimmer to make your eyes shine as bright as the stars. Also ideal for use as a highlighter.

The eye sorbet surprised me the most. It went onto the lid fine and didn't leave patchy areas. However it wasn't opaque with the base colour but a lid shimmer. So I would apply my eyeshadow first then dab on some of the eye sorbet. This will give a beautiful shimmer. 

Match 2 concealer :

They say : Creamy texture of the concealer, offers high coverage. Conceal impurities, dark circles under your eyes. One kit contains two shades in light and medium beige, can also be mixed. 

The concealer is a creamy and really easy to apply. The light shade is radiant and can be applied, as a concealer or as a highlight. I could use this with a brush or my fingers. I would use my fingers as it warms the concealer nicely. However I would for hygiene purposes, when using over spots switch to a brush. I would also sterilise my concealers just due to the nature of the product. This concealer is very creamy so you will need a setting powder to just set it. 

2 in 1 Eyeliner pen - Black

They say : Do you want a fine line for a classic look or an extravagant line for a dramatic look. The essence 2in1 eyeliner pen, with a fine tip one end and a broad, slanted tip on the other.

This pen is very easy to use. I used the thin side to do my cat flick. I wanted to see how easy it was to achieve a quick look. So in my opinion the thicker side is a little less intense in colour payoff. The pen does not drag and dispenses the liner easily. However it's very wet and you need to be careful that you don't cause transfer. Also I did find when it dried it was intense in colour and had a sheen. I wouldn't advise this to be used on skin that wrinkled, as it could bleed. So it's a liquid eyeliner that's easy to use, be slow with it and it will give great looking results. Above is my first attempt at a cat eye with no paper tape used. The liner is also very easily removed,using a wet towelette or makeup remover. It comes away so easily, I would not advise this to anyone needing waterproof products. 

So that's my review on Essence products one by one. I'm so impressed that I can't wait to purchase more items to review. The quality is second to none and it's so affordable is really surprising. I can't rave enought about essence. If you have any requests to products I should trial, then feel free to leave a comment

Illamasqua - Rich liquid foundation review

Illamasqua Website

Now I saw the VIP sale on and well I had too, 3 rich skin foundations for the price of what one would cost. Yes I may have overdone it but hey Christmas is coming and I can gift some too. Plus illamasqua is one of the brands i love for great pigmented makeup. 

They say :

Lock away your inhibitions and bring your confidence to the fore. Loved by professional make-up artists, Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation provides maximum, long-lasting coverage without feeling or looking heavy. It blends easily and hides problem areas perfectly. Create your canvas, then paint your work of art.

So I use the Rich skin foundation under Hydra veil by illamasqua. It's my holy grail primer and use it under any foundation. I found it made this full coverage foundation smooth out better and leave a even layer. The Rich liquid is very thick and you need to shake it well before applying as it can have a tiny amount of liquid separate. However I didn't find this a problem as most foundations require a shake. I chose the colour 133 as it was in the sale and most near my skin colour, I was surprised to find that it wasn't far off. Bar being a little light I managed to warm my complexion with some bronzer. 

Now I used this foundation in my District 3 look and this is what It looks like with no bronzer so you can see it was a little pale. I used a tiny amount on my beauty blender and this gave such a lovely finish. 

It didn't cake up but I would say to leave this to fully dry before adding a powder as it may clog your brush or leave the powder uneven. So I would not rush or apply another layer until its touch dry. Once it is then setting it in place with a powder is very easy, it does not show pores nor cake up and I found it left me looking flawless. It covered my skin blemishes and did not settle into my areas that dry in winter. So I'm very impressed with this as a full coverage plus I felt more confident. 

You may not like this if full coverage and the feeling of makeup makes you uncomfortable. Also I would say to use a fine milled powder to set it and not a heavy powder as you may risk a caking effect. Other wise as you can see its perfect for covering all imperfections that like me leave you feeling a little overwhelmed. I am glad I bought more then I needed as I will happily gift these to friends and family. Plus I have also purchased other products to review and I have on my face to review. 

I'm also wearing glisten- eyeliner (I'm hoping to purchase scribe and a pale blue plus black next), Succumb eyeshadow, Debonair medium pencil and the rest are Christmas presents I cannot divulge in names. However I will do more looks with the illamasqua fundemental palette I have and metal pigments. 

Did you purchase anything in the sale ? Have you tried the Rich liquid foundation ? 

Fashionista - Foundation, Compact, Kohl and Lipstick

Fashionista a brand affordable and now in twined with MUA to give the biggest range of makeup on one site with so many options to purchase.  It was during the sale I bought some essentials to try and see if the quality was as good as what I expected. It's a little more expensive then MUA but it does show a bit more of a polished packaging.

As you can see the foundation, compact powder, eyeliner and lipstick are of a more classy packaging with a hint of red and just simple look. I especially love the compacts look with the black swivel case and fashionista reflecting logo and massive mirror. 

So with the foundation it is a luminous of nature to give a lovely glow to the skin and does need a primer if you are of a dry skin like me. However this does not cling to dry patches like I expected it too but offers a medium coverage. It's easy to blend and also it does build up, I used it to conceal a little more of my problem areas. However this is not a foundation I could use when my skin is at its driest in winter. 

The powder is a lovely creamy and fine milled powder that comes with a soft and lovely puff like the loose kinds. However I do prefer to buff in my powders with my kabuki brush to make sure all is blended in and also to buff in my blush,bronze. To ensure that there is no lines or unnatural looking cakey look to my makeup. I'm not as young as I was.  I need the powder as a second layer to cover all the blemishes I have. 

Now with the white kohl I wished to use this as a multi use item in my collection. I would use this to blend a little on my eye lid to make my bright shadows pop in colour. The white underneath is a well known way in which to make the shadows show on the lid more and give a better base, also shade a small amount in the tearduct to brighten the eye. Also the white in the waterline will make the eye brighter. Just a few tricks I use and I think this creamy liner fashionista made will serve as a welcome addition to do all these tasks.

If you did not wish this but wanted a smokey look, then a more beige colour to cover veins and discolouring to aid this look. In this you could find a primer of beige colour, which would be easier to apply. 

Then finally the lipstick which was the most surprising of the selection of products I purchased and I will be again when another sale is on. It's a pigmented, creamy, hydrating lipstick which is amazing quality. The tube is of a pinky red casing and of a high quality appearance. I was highly impressed and you won't be disappointed in purchasing them. I will say that I would only purchase these products especially the foundation and powder at a slightly lower cost then the one advertised at all time. The pencils and lipsticks are worth the money which is reasonable considering the quality. However the shade ranges for the foundation and powders are very small and for the money you could get one to suit your skin better if this is something that worries you. Especially if you are of sensitive skin type, then I would try to visit superdrug where it is stocked and then swatch them. 

Other wise this is an impressive collection and adds to an already impressive alliance with MUA, whom already are known for there high quality and amazingly priced makeup. 

Fashionista Website

Liz Earle - Flawless makeup and how to achieve it

So Liz Earle is probably one of my favourite brands when it comes to skincare and her cleanse and polish is probably an essential in every woman's skincare routine. 

However now branching to makeup and seeing what this range has to offer is an exciting time for me as who doesnt love a new find, especially with a brand that makes  wonderful skincare products.

So the philosophy behind Liz Earle is 

 We are passionate about all we do and always keep in mind our 'precious recipe', a combination of carefully selected ingredients that make us who we are:

• products that really work on every skin type by harnessing the potent powers of the finest quality ingredients
• a simple, no fuss and dependable routine, which is also a pampering daily treat
• an affordable choice with everything beautifully packaged
• a commitment to first class service
• our caring, award-winning team who make it all possible
We hope you enjoy the difference that is Liz Earle.

 Liz Earle - Signature Foundation 

The signature foundation comes in 9 shades and has information on the site to help pick your shade and match up your tones. I am 03-Nude and when you find your foundation shade you can go to the complexion  chart to see what pressed powders etc will fit with this shade perfectly. (I leave the links below) 

So the coverage is build-able and i found the consistency to be runny but silky and easily workable, it sits on the skin well and blends in very easy. I didn't have to wait long for it to dry and this helps if your building coverage. I needed to build a heavier coverage as i always do with my cheeks, as they have redness and some blemishes plus dryness. I found this to be a hydrating and nourishing foundation with no cakey-ness forming or even showing any sign of a flaw. It has a pump dispenser too so no loss of product.

My skin was still able to breathe and did not feel heavy, i can appreciate a foundation that can cover my blemishes and dryness plus leave me secure in the feeling that my pores are not being clogged up completely. So im really impressed with this foundation on all the levels i look for.

Pressed Powder in 03 - Sheer Beige

I really love the Pressed powder compact, Its a lovely sleek Black compact with the Liz Earle name in white across the front, so professional looking and just first impressions with packaging make owning the product just a joy and something you will want to repurchase. I love having classy packaging as you get to an age where simple gives an air of elegance.

It is a light, soft powder which goes on so easily and sets this foundation so well. Not alot is needed plus the powder is enriched with vitamin E. Its not heavy so therefore your skin can breathe. 

This powder however only comes in 7 shades, so thats a bit of a shame as if you only want a dust of powder and not a foundation base as you prefer that then there is a little less choice but hopefully there is enough there to cater.

I love my pressed powders but i have a thing for it being fine milled and my skin is not left feeling clogged, my dry patches are not highlighted and no cakiness what so-ever. So again the powder has met and passed all the criteria i look for when picking a powder plus it feels luxurious. 

Powder blushes in  Nectar 06 - Peony 07 

These Blushes are so pigmented and the colour payoff is so high, this was literally a swirl of my finger lightly. So you would not need to do anything more then dab your brush in the powder to achieve a lovely flushed glow. The Nectar has a lovely shimmer to it, that is not over the top but will be a lovely colour for the spring as its this amazing coral shade. I really love this as a day blush to add just a little flush of colour plus the subtle shimmer meant i didn't need any highlight. 

The Peony is a lovely plummy colour with hints of a dusky pink. I love these kinds of colours for my blush as they are so versatile, for the evening and colder days they can give a real great flush of colour but also add to your contouring and make the look striking. Its not got any shimmer and is a matte blush.

It comes in 7 shades and they are all such wonderful shades that can cater to all skin tones and looks your looking to achieve.

They again are a buttery texture with a lovely feel to them, I've even used them on my finger and just rubbed them they blend so well and are so versatile. If your on the run these blushes are that creamy that one dab, blend and all you will need. Im so impressed its really been lovely to see this range be such great quality.

Cream Blushes in Camellia 01 and Nectar 06 

So these blushes and formulas are probably the only ones i have not much experience in as i wouldn't normally buy a cream blush and tend to stick to powders. But there is always a new experience around the corner and I'm open to new makeup looks so why not a different formula ?

Now I've noticed these are creamy and again the pigment was very good, the colour payoff was brilliant in nectar but the camellia is a creamy looking colour then when you blend it in it comes off like a bubblegum pink but a subtle version. It took me a couple of dips to achieve that colour with Camellia.

However the nectar was one dip of my finger and it was a highly pigmented and easily blend able blush, it was very creamy texture and no sediment feeling or grittiness. So i must admit these cream blushes are something i should maybe use if I'm needing a quick boost of colour and i think these are better for travel as if you spend a lot on a powder blush the last thing you want is it breaking in transit and then potentially ruining your clothes plus a waste of a whole pan of blush. So having one or two of these to hand in your travel bag is not a bad idea. These will last a fair while too as when you have such high pigmentation the product goes a lot further.

So in conclusion im really impressed with the Liz Earle brand, the makeup is high quality plus professional and chic packaging gives it the feeling of the high end market. I would re purchase these items as the signature foundation is wonderful coverage and build-able without showing any flaws. The powder is the same in that it leaves the skin feeling amazing and light to the touch without clogging. The Blushes both the cream and powder versions have wonderful pigmentation and colour payoff on application plus they feel buttery, light and blend amazingly well.

I loved using this range so much that I'm including a picture of me using the foundation, Pressed powder and powder blush in nectar. 

Have you tried any Liz Earle ? What would be your first choice to try ?

Liz Earle
Shade Match chart

Paula's Choice - Resist Foundation and Hydrating Lip Gloss

Paulas choice is a well known brand who cater both skincare and cosmetics to many women of the world and make the promise on there website to deliver.

At Paula's Choice, our mission is to take brilliant care of your skin!

Paula's Choice products successfully treat everything from acne to wrinkles, rosacea, sensitive skin, sun damage, dry skin, oily skin, and blackheads. They are 100% guaranteed to work for your skin type and concerns!

Because of our unique combination of research, reviews, and ongoing product development, women all over the world turn to us for objective, balanced, and documented information about what works and doesn't for your skin.

With an opportunity to review there new Resist foundation which not only offers light - medium coverage but the added anti-aging properties we all crave for in our makeup. As with all cosmetics, we have them on our face for such a long period it makes sense to have these boosted with anti-againg components. Many women whom have long and tiring jobs would not have time to invest in a full skin care regime so having these properties in your foundation is an amazing addition.

Resist Foundation , Hydrating Lip Gloss, Paulas choice Soft cream Concealer 

So the foundation comes in a really professional looking packaging which is white, writing is simple and too the point with the essential details. It comes with a pump included which is important i feel to control the product and also helps with gauging how much you need on each application. It says a light to medium coverage but on use i would say this is easily build able to a medium.

It is a thick consistency but does spread well and is instructed that you apply with a brush and not rub the foundation in. So i would say this is worthwhile doing as i will explain further. I have had a few little dry patches on my cheeks and i can cover these but they also help me gauge how a foundation covers and if they can cake or highlight imperfections. 

So i would say that if you have a dry patch or any form of exfoliation needed then i would do this first. I did this and it applied better, plus didn't highlight anything. So with this foundation you will need to invest in your skincare if you suffer dryness.

Now after this had been achieved and i had prepared with a primer and made my skin foundation ready, i followed the instructions to achieve the very best result. With a foundation and stipple brush i first applied in the downward motions they instruct and stippled the sides to blend in with my hairline and jawlines. Now whilst i understand some foundations are just apply and go, this struck me as a very temperamental foundation that needed to be used with practice to achieve that even look.

I would usually need only a 5-10 minute window to apply my daily foundation and i could use this with a blender or my fingers to apply as i saw fit. This is defiantly a foundation for a skilled and very apt foundation user. Or if your looking for this finish then you will need to sit down and take your time with it to achieve a great finish. I personally would invest the extra time as the benefits and the finished look are defiantly worth it as my skin looked flawless.

So after i got and even finish i then used the concealer with a brush and this is defiantly the way i would recommend it be used as it is defiantly a high grade concealer. Its amazing at covering blemishes and any dark spaces or spots. I found it easy to apply and rub in. It really did with the foundation give me a flawless look at the end. It made my blush radiate. 

The Perfect shine Hydrating gloss is in Rose blush, it is a lovely gloss thats more of a stain but it is a hydrating form. Not sticky on the lips or in any way tacky.

Its available in 5 shades and i really loved the feeling of this gloss and to me that is a rarity as i find gloss so sticky and uncomfortable it is a lovely change to find one thats nice to wear and a lovely shade that compliments the whole look of the makeup range. 

So i really did enjoy using this range, even though the foundation did take longer then my usual brand, the finish is second to none and gives an amazing flawless finish, However like with everything its practice and getting comfortable with change. It made my blush give a flushed look and the Lip gloss fitted perfect with my complexion. Plus felt hydrating and nice application. 

Its defiantly a worth while investment if your looking for an anti ageing foundation, as there are few and far between on the market. It defiantly left me feeling flawless and healthy looking.

Paula's Choice

Do you have any Paula's choice makeup ? What would you like to try ?