Review: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (Travel Size) - £20 *

I think I've found my ultimate beauty product (very bold statement), if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know I've been tweeting about this product all week. I recently attended a Space NK event and became aware of the brand Hourglass - they have so many incredible products, wonder products which solve all and make you look and feel amazing, that I'm surprised I've never bought anything from the brand before. 

I played around with the Veil primer on my hand and liked the feel of it, and I discovered a sample size (5ml) at the bottom of my goody bag a few days later. Cue much excitement. 

I've been loyal to Benefits Pore-fessional for some time now, but this has without a doubt superseded that and become my instant favourite. After first use of the Veil primer I was hooked. It smoothed over my skin and created the most flawless base for my makeup. After getting through two tubes of Pore-fessional, I was sure I was faithful but I know now that my heart belongs to Hourglass. 

Veil is a satin-finish, mineral primer which smooths over skin, minimises pores and helps to keep foundation in place for longer while also keeping shine at bay. Nothing new there, as you'll know if you've used a primer before, but this formula is like nothing else. My skin is instantly smoother and naturally flawless and my foundation sits so well, lasting longer and staying shine-free.
I do still have the odd blemish here and there, but it's a massive improvement and I can't believe how well my foundation applies and how flawless my skin looks after I've applied this.  

I can't express my love for this product enough, it's heavenly and has really improved my overall complexion and how I feel about my skin. 

The price isn't so delightful and I'm not sure if I will be able to keep up this habit. I'm definitely going to purchase at least a Travel Size (10ml) and see how I get on, as you only need a small amount of primer so it should go far!

Have you tried anything from Hourglass?

MAC BAFTA Event.

MAC Senior Artist Cher Webb with model Drew; look one complete; model Drew with look one; Cher smudging liner into the eyes for the second look; the completed second look; Drew with look two; Look one; Look two. 

Last night I attended the MAC event, in association with the Arqiva British Academy Television Awards. MAC have been announced as the official Makeup Partner to the BAFTAs for the 9th year running, and MACs Senior Artist Cher Webb showed us two key looks for the evening and how to achieve them.
During the event, a number of MAC products were used to create first a natural look with a simple eye and nude lip and then a second more glamourous look, including a deep orange lip and a darker, smokey eye.

Model Drew is absolutely gorgeous, and she was the perfect beauty to demonstrate the looks on. As soon as Cher used the Prep + Prime Skin Brightening Serum on her clean skin, I knew I was sold. I can't wait to get this product as it looks incredible and made such a difference to her skin.
Cher gave us some simple yet great tips to achieve a flawless, natural look and I can't wait to try so many of the products that she used as she really is amazing.

Cher used MAC Face and Body foundation with Pro Longwear concealer as her base. On Drews eyes she applied Groundwork paint pot with Arena Eyeshadow, before using Lord it Up eye pencil smudged through the top and bottom lash line. On the lashes, which were first curled, MAC False Lash mascara was applied.
Once the eyes were finished, MAC Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel was gently applied to Drews cheekbones and nose, before buffing Cremeblend blush in Something Special lightly into cheeks.
On the lips, Boldly Bare lip pencil was applied as a base, before using Pro Longwear Lip Creme in To The Future over the top.

For the second look, Cher simply added to the first look - she applied Feline Eye Kohl pencil all over the lash line, and then used Pro Longwear Eyeshadow in Make Your Mark all over the lids. MACs #3 Lashes were then used for extra drama.
Finally, Pro Longwear lip pencil in What a Blast! was applied to the lips, before Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Good to Go.

I adore both looks, but I think the first more natural look is my favourite. It's elegant and subtle but makes Drews key features stand out. I love the orange lip in the second look, and although it may be a bit bright for me I actually really want to give it a go.

Overall, this was a really inspiring event - one of those ones where you just want to go home and try out all your makeup and recreate the look. I actually have a lot of the products used at the event already, such as Something Special Cremeblend blush and Mineralize Skinfinish Natural and this has made me want to try them out and use some of Chers tips.
I'm so excited to say we've been given a sample of the Lustre Drops so expect a review on them pretty quickly.

What do you think of Chers looks?

Review: MAC Hello Sailor Collection.

MAC Hello Sailor Highlighter in Crew

MAC Hello Sailor Blush in Fleet Fast

I don't usually buy anything from the MAC collections, but I couldn't resist these cute sailor themed products. As we're all well aware, I love a highlighter so it would be rude not to pick up this beautiful superfine powdered highlighter in Crew. The packaging is so lovely, I love the candy stripes across the product. I do have quite a few highlighters and cheek products, but this is not like anything else I own.
It's a beautiful fine powder which only a slight shimmer, it's completely different from MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle and only leaves a really soft glow to the skin. I find this is a lot easier to wear all over the skin as it doesn't leave so much of a shine, but creates such a flawless finish. 

I really had to stop myself from buying both blushers as my MAC blush collection is getting too much. I picked up Fleet Fast, a Satin finish. I really like MACs Satin blushers as they give just the right amount of sheen, enough to be worn alone or with a highlighter too. They last well on my skin, also.
Fleet Fast is a gorgeous warm coral, with a gold undertone to it. It's quite pink, which is ideal for me and really looks lovely buffed in with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush. 

I can tell this is going to be used a fair amount. These two products go so well together and I love the gentle flush and flawless finish they give my skin. 

What do you think of the Hello Sailor collection?