FOTD - New Mum 5 Minute Face

 

I need to go out of the house, Beth is distracted enough where I can get dressed, washed and comtiplate putting make up on. This is what is in the make up bag, seperate from my main collection in it's own bag ready ready to be used.

Base - Gineva BB Cream (from £18)

I have previously harped on about how much I love this base, it's basically my skin but better - smoother, lightly covered, neutralised and refreshed. Previous review here

Concealer - Estee Lauder Dissappear in Light (£18)

Have used this for years since I worked for them, it was my unsung hero on the counter and still is to this day . It is a creamy consistancy so it can be used everywhere including the eye area, gently pat it on where extra cover is needed. A tiny amount goes a long way, a tube can easily last me longer than it should do before you are suppose to throw it away.

Powder - GOSH BB powder in 04 Beige

This has extra coverage than a normal finishing powder as it can be used alone (for those special people who have amazing skin, not for us hagged new mums). I swirl a brush over and use it on the oiler areas - forehead, nose and chin. A great powder, will be repurchasing when it runs out.

Mascara - Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express

I am not usually a fan of the big volume mascaras, I find the fibres fall onto my skin or I ended up with black smudge under the eyes. This I got in the previous British Beauty Blog Box at the end of last year and as my previous had run out needed to grab one quickly as I was about to go out. The brush is large with small brush spikes, this gives the the final result as advertised (without the lash inserts)

Blush - 003 Money Talks by Dainty Doll (Now discontinued)

I love this blusher, it is the perfect one of flushed for me and has the tinest bit of shimmer. I need to find a dupe for this, all suggestions in comments please.

Eyebrows - Avon Glimmerstick Brow Definer in Soft Black

I need to be featherlight with this, too dark and I look like an extra from (Insert reality show here). I use small flicks where needed, quick blended as well as regualy threading sessions to keep the shape. I do prefer the bigger brow look so if time is tight I can skip this part.

Thrown in changing bag: Lip - Lanolip colour in Rubarb

Another British Beauty Blogger find, and what a find it is. I suffer with dry flakey lips all year long (Winter - the cold. Summer - hayfever allergies), and find little that gives me the flake free lip that I want. This is a thick semi glossy lip balm hybred that is non sticky and gives the moisture I need to keep my lips in really good condition. If you are not allergic to lanolin (the main ingredient) then this is worth the investment.

Right I'm ready to go but what's that smell?

Bourjois Cream Blusher - Healthy Glow

 

I said I would own one when I first saw they were coming out here, but I got the colour that out of al them I liked but didn't love. I got this as a PR sample after that rave, so the colour was random. It's not a colour I head towards, I more the pinky type because to me they show up better on my skin. I do, however like to be wrong.

 

It is tiny compared to the pressed powder blushers, I'm sure the spin on that is that it is "Compact" or "Slimline". It is a mixture of peach and coral, but the little hidden gem that reveals itself after a few uses is that it has the tiniest flecks of gold in it, I didn't notice this until the Summer arrived and I was applying it in the sun.

 

It isn't as strong as it looks in the compact, I know when I saw it I thought it would go on bright peach and I would have to buff it down. This is not the case I find that I can build it up in fine layers (either with clean fingers or a buffing brush) and, as the name suggests, have a glow rather than a huge coral blob.

 

It has now become an everyday make up essential - I've even mentioned it in a previous post, Early Pregnancy Beauty because it has genuinely given me some glow back when glowing was the last thing on my mind. This also the reason why the skin above is not looking at it's best, the effect of hayfever allergies and the fact that I cannot take my allergy medication because of my pregnancy.

 RRP £7.99 (from the usual suspects - Boots, Superdrug etc.), price wise it is a little bargain. It has a wonderful texture and blends into the skin better than expected. This has now started a new interest in cream blushers, and the Diors are calling my name, just not the price tag at £24.

Early Pregnancy Beauty

More know as "Before you get the glow"

I need to put a little disclaimer here before I start, this is what has worked for me, I cannot guarantee that it work for other women. Early pregnancy is really tough, whatever people have told you - treble it. I've been sick, signed off from work two weeks with an infection that I had to have rest for (which I also fainted in a shop with), and could challenge a dormouse to a sleep off and win. To everyone who is suffering in silence until the 3 months is over, hang on in there and you're doing great. It shall pass.

I noticed the first thing to suffer was my skin - it looked pale apart from the break out of spots that the hormones were causing. I also found my skin had also become more sensitive to products, and I had to throw out most of the pre-pregnancy skin care (apart from Antipodes Divine Oil, which survived. I have reviewed it here previously).

After raiding my sample bag I found Avene's Cleaning Gel (£11.50 Boots) delicate clean/powder scent, that cleans everything off including eye make up. I like this because I found a didn't need a large amount, the sample bottle has lasted well at over a week, but most of it didn't inflame my skin. I also been reaching for Dermlogica Microexfoliant (£40 for 200ml), it's gentle that it leaves the skin softer by using Rice-based enzyme powder that you mix with water to the consistency you would like.

To then brighten and smooth out I used Estee Lauder Idealist (Starts at £40 for 30ml) resurfaces the skin and illuminates. It's worn under moisturser during the day (I've been using Estee Lauder Daywear plus) and I have noticed that any make up I've been wearing has been wearing longer and smoother.

A quick note about dental care (as in my other work I am a dentist receptionist) - I found my breath smelt even worse than normal because your mouth waters more. It is more important to look after your oral hygiene as your gums will bleed more which can lead to infection. I switched to a softer brush, sanative mouthwash (no drying alcohol which can make bad breath worse) and flossing more. I noticed an improvement after a few days. You are also entitled to free dental care when pregnant (and 12 months after the child is born).

Preparation done, time to cover and conceal - I converted over to my slightly higher coverage foundation just because it made my skin tone even out and covered blemishes better. For this I went back to my old faithful Estee Lauder Double Wear in Ivory (£27.50). I used YSL's Touche Eclait (£25)  to brighten my dark circles around my eyes (you will be getting up in the middle of the night for bathroom breaks) and MeMeMe Beat The Blues (£5.50 Superdrug), a neutral illuminator that you can put on the areas you would like or mix it in with foundation for an all over glow.

I did keep most of my look simple, a slick of mascara and the new Bourjois cream blush in Healthy Glow (£6.99), a peach toned blush that goes on creamy but then goes to powder. It an also be built up so tailor how much glow you want.

Money Talks by Dainty Doll

I am pale and being a pale woman I wanted to try the Dainty Doll range created by Girl's Aloud Nicola Roberts. She was inspired by her own struggle to get cosmetics that will suit her skin that wouldn't look orange or make her look like Coco the Clown. This echoed my sentiments exactly.

Like the whole entire female population that has access to the Internet, I ordered my Dainty Doll items from Fragrance Direct. I spotted them annouching it on their twitter that they've just started stocking it. I ended up investing in the palest foundation, concealer, wonderbalm and this blusher. I still have to try the others as I am still using the last of  what I'm currently using now.

The blusher I had previously just wasn't looking right on me and decided one day to dig this out and see if I could find a new improvement.

I like the colour in the pan, it's a mixture of bronze and plum with shimmer. The compact is the size of a small mug, so it fits snugly in my small palm (I do have very small hands). The mirror in the back is the size of the lid and clear. I actually use the mirror from this a lot because it's the perfect size.

The pigment of the blush provides a good cover of colour with one layer, I find this is prefect for me as I do have high colour on my cheeks. It's lasts the whole of my 8 hour shift which is the key thing for me, I have a busy day job and don't have time to top up really.

Please excuse the spots this is when my skin broke out - Grr

This has now made it into my everyday make up bag, I whole heartily recommend this. It normally retails for £13.50 while I got mine for £1.99 (P&P starts at £1.99 with Fragrance Direct). I would however pay the full price for this because it is so rare to find a blusher that makes me lot health and suits my skin tone. I cannot wait to try the rest of the items I have from the range.

Any other Dainty Doll love out there?