Product Review: Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation

Before we say anything.. please take a moment to admire the photo for this article as I think it turned out quite cool. Okay egotistical moment over.. I picked up this foundation just over 2 months ago (yes.. the depths of winter were around me) on a complete whim whilst looking to buy the Bobbi Brown corrector.

It was cold, I couldn't be bothered with laying on fake-tan or bronzer and I wanted something a bit paler to match my skin so asked for my ghostly pale skin to be matched up one Saturday afternoon. The shade range seemed incredible and I walked away with 'Pale Ivory'.

All the Bobbi Brown products have quite stylish sexy packaging and this foundation is in keeping with that. A little glass bottle with a neat pump top is really helpful when ensuring you don't get product overload on your hand, which is a particular god send considering how thin the formula. After much experimentation I found it was better to apply with my fingers than a brush.

When first applied it has a lovely dewy effect on the skin giving a very light coverage that blends really naturally. I'd say it has quite a moisturising, dewy finish which worked well with my dry skin but not sure it would be too suitable if you're an oily gal. When I had my mid-month cold things had a tendency to turn a bit 'slick'.

Overall, I do enjoy this but to be honest I think I'll prefer it more in the summer when I want something lighter.. it's a shame I have the palest shade though! Sigh..

How To: Scarlett Johansson - YouTube

Rather excitingly I was asked by SheSaidBeauty recently to film a video tutorial for Scarlett Johansson's look in the film Hitchcock. The still photo for the video is an ickle bit cringe (my skin looks yellow?!) but I actually made the effort to wear rollers whilst I filmed which actually looked quite cool in the end - should I do it more regularly I wonder? Hmmm...

Please let me know what you all think and I hope you enjoy! To see all the products I used, check out the SheSaidBeauty article here. 

The Urban Decay Basics Palette

Over Christmas, this had to be one of the most wished for beauty items out there. If it wasn't being reviewed then it was pinned onto someones wish list. Famous for their Naked 1 and 2 Palettes, Urban Decay's new mini offering - 'The Basics Palette'* features 6 muted shades of nude, brown and a jet black.

I am certainly in love with the packing, it's compact (just larger than the palm of my hand) with a very useful large mirror and a durable clip that won't see it opening up in your purse. In typical Urban Decay form the shadows are incredibly pigmented, but I thought they looked a bit murky when applied - is this just my skin tone?

Although handy and of a good quality, I wouldn't say the palette lights my soul on fire - this is my second month owning it and in all honesty I forgot that I had it more often than not!

Has anyone else given this little product a whirl?

Getting Back Into Blogging

Okay, so I might have disappeared from the blogging community for a little bit! I balance blogging with working in London, and 2 weeks ago I survived my 6 month probation period. My hard work is meaning more responsibility, which has led to longer hours and a heightened state of stress. I do enjoy my job, but training to become a consultant means I don't think of much else during the week and by the time Friday roles round all I want to do is sleep, eat bad food and see my friends.

Before I know it, Sunday is here and I'm starting to prepare myself for the week ahead. I've managed to squeeze in a lie-in, hopefully seen Jack (my boyfriend) and catch up on whatever TV show I'm enjoying at the moment (Girls and Mad Men). I used to spend a couple of hours during my precious weekend sat on my bedroom floor surrounded by a ridiculous amount of make up and my camera thinking of a weeks playlist of blog posts for people to read.

One weekend, I realised that instead of being a fun activity that I looked forward to, writing my blog was a chore I felt I had to 'tick off' my 'to do' list. So I stopped, I took a time out and have spent those spare hours on the weekend doing things like visiting the Natural History Museum, recovering from flu and reading my kindle.

This weekend, I've done just that.. I didn't go out and instead spent my Friday night reading my book, made dinner and walked around London. Did a spot of shopping and ummed over if I should buy a new coat or not (I did). I've honestly missed blogging and hopefully will have a bit more time to get some posts out to you all! It might not be as regular as I used to, but it will be there!

What has everyone else been up to?

The Nioxin Hair System *

*this is a sponsored post

First of all, this was the first ever Beauty Blogging event I have been to, so it was jolly exciting just to receive an invite let alone attending a venue where I was provided with a glass of champagne and the opportunity to sample some new beauty products. I arrived at the trendy London based salon and left an hour later suitably educated around hair thinning and the benefits of Nioxin.

I'll admit, before the invite came through from Handpicked Media, I had never heard of the range or their products - even after looking at their website I was unconvinced they would provide me with anything that I needed in my day to day hair routine.

Certainly for me, the event made me aware of how difficult it must be to face or discuss problems around hair loss, particularly as a woman. Knowing where to go, who to approach or what to do must be hugely challenging. Although I've always had fine hair - usually died to within an inch of its life - I wouldn't say I specifically have problems with hair loss or thinning, but it is becoming a growing concern for men and women across the UK and Ireland, which is one of the reasons why Nioxin is sponsoring a 'Thinning Hair Awareness' week - to gain support and drawn attention to the issue.

I received a sample pack which contained a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment designed for fine, chemically treated hair. A bit apprehensive to try them as someone mentioned that they can be quite stimulating the products are certainly 'minty fresh' - which I love. The shampoo tingles slightly on my scalp but not in an unpleasant way and I find it quite refreshing in the morning when I'm trying to drag myself into the land of the conscious.

The range doesn't promise to restore hair growth instead they provide the right steps to give a healthy head of hair - even if thinning isn't a problem. I havn't been using them long enough to say if they're helping my hair's growth, but I have found they've boosted the overall condition of my hair (think swishy goodness).

Has anyone else heard about the range?