My Most Used Make-up Brushes

Contrary to what you might think, I actually don't have a lot of make-up brushes. I use very few on a daily basis, so I thought i'd share with you my all-time favourites:

Foundation Brush

I use a Real Technique's Expert Face Brush as I love the way it works the foundation into my skin. It buffs product into the skin instead of painting it on and allowing it to sit on top. The brush itself is quite dense so it does distributes a lot of product but without losing control. I also use this brush to gently tap concealer under my eyes and on blemishes, blending in seamlessly with the rest of my base.

Contour Brush

I know loads of people use huge brushes, whack bronzer all over their face and end up effortlessly sun-kissed, but I need something a bit more precise so I don't end up looking like i've rolled in mud. Real Technique's Contour Brush (Taken from their Core Collection) distributes enough product to create a soft, chiselled finish. It does take a lot longer if you want to bronze all over the face, but great if you want something subtle or have a paler complexion and want to ease yourself into contouring.

Powder Brush

I've been using the Real Technique's Buffing Brush (Also from their Core Collection) for about three years now and it's still going strong today. It's great for setting my make-up with powder and I also use it to ensure everything's nicely blended together once I add my contour, blush and highlight. It doesn't pick up too much product and I just find it really easy to use!

Angled Brow Brush

If you're a fan of strong brows, an angled brush is essential. I use the MAC 266 Small Angle brush - it's really precise and the bristles retain their shape really well, even after loads of washes. It picks up just the right amount of product and distributes really evenly. It's quite a stiff brush so it's great when you want to achieve a statement brow, but soft enough to keep it natural if you keep your hand light. It can also be used to apply gel eyeliner - I find it's the only brush that gets the wing just right!

Base Shadow Brush

I don't like to fuss when it comes to eye make-up, usually two colours will do it. Therefore, a brush that applies a quick wash of colour is great for when you've got no time. I use one by EcoTools - however, as it's so old I can't seem to find it, but there's a similar one here. It's simple and nothing special if i'm completely honest. It's just massive and makes applying a base colour really quick and easy. If i'm precise enough I do use it in the crease, but it's not really designed for detailed make-up.

Fluffy Blending Brush

If it's one brush that I regret not buying when I started getting into make-up, it was this one. I cannot emphasise enough how much it transforms an eye look. It makes creating a smokey eye really easy to achieve and makes it a lot to easier to rectify mistakes. The Zoeva Luxe Soft Definer Brush has become my favourite brush out of all of these, as it makes blending out eyeshadow an absolute dream. There are bigger blending brushes out there, but i've found this suits my eye shape perfectly. I'm thinking of buying a few more of these so I don't have to be constantly washing it, and at only £6.50, it won't break the bank to treat myself to a few more! 

What are your most-used make-up brushes? Are there some that I should be using? Let me know! :)

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

(Cheeky cameo from Rob!)

I'm a bit of a foundation hoarder. I think I use my skin tone as a bit of an excuse, as not all brands stock foundations in my shade, so when I do find a brand that does I feel the need to buy. Right that second. But that doesn't mean i'm not picky when it comes to what I use daily. I'm ashamed to admit that 75% of the foundations that I buy are rarely used. See, I tend to have unrealistic expectations when it comes to what I use as a base. I want it to look natural, but provide enough coverage to cover blemishes; hide the redness of my skin, nose and cheeks, but allow my freckles to show through; give me that 'glow from within', but only shine in the right places. Tall order, right? Not for Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk.

I'd heard about this foundation through YouTube (naturally), and resisting it due to the hefty £36.50 price tag. However, one day I was in a particularly good mood and thought i'd take the plunge as I walked past the counter - the 10% John Lewis Price Match was also quite a good incentive so i'd hold out for those!

I've had this foundation for about a month now, and it's safe to say i've used it practically every day. It applies like a dream - it's lightweight, medium coverage that's equally buildable and an excellent colour match. It comes in 21 different shades (Obviously I was the lightest one!) and comes in a beautiful glass bottle with a handy pump for ease. I've found that, over the top of a primer, that it lasts for ages. I tend to spend a lot of time with my hand resting on my chin at work, resulting in practically no product there by lunchtime, but with this foundation it simply stays put. I love the way my skin glows without looking oily, and that I can go without concealer if i'm feeling brave. The only downside it obviously the price. It's not something i'd buy full price, but that's just because I think paying £36.50 for an everyday foundation is a bit much for me right now, but it certainly is worth the money. I'm not saying it's the one, as i'm sure my love affair with foundation hoarding will be ongoing, but it's definitely close enough.

You can purchase Armani Luminous Silk Foundation for £36.50 from your nearest Armani counter or online.

L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint in 100 Porcelain

The idea behind makeup is that it's supposed to be like a second skin. To blend in so well that it enhances what you already have, not mask it. That's why when I saw an advertisement for a foundation that claims to be lighter than water, I couldn't wait to test out its 'Zero make up feel".

The airy texture comes from the addition of volatile oils that evaporate as you apply to the skin - to be honest, I don't quite know what that means or achieves, but it sure sounds fancy!

Along with a new formula comes a new application process. Not only does it look like a bottle of a perfume with its frosted glass packaging, but it's supposed to apply like one too.

Like my lovely green carpet?

As it is made with water, its advised to shake rigorously then tip onto the finger to apply. 

I quite like this new application process as it allows you to apply just enough which minimises wastage. I found that it applies just as while with your fingers than it does with a stippling brush, and provides a gorgeously even coverage.

 Excuse my evil smirk, i'm not much of a smiler in photos!

My skin feels moisturised as opposed to having actual foundation on, which ties in with the 'perfectly invisible, invisibly perfect' description. 

When you hear the words 'water based' your immediate reaction is that it would be runny, greasy and slide off of your face within the first ten minutes. However, that simply wasn't the case. I'll admit it distributed quite watery, but it stiffened slightly whilst blending. As you can see from the photo, you can still see my blemishes slightly, so it isn't something I would recommend for someone who isn't prepared to go basically bare-faced. I found that the lightest shade (100 Porcelain) was a perfect match for my skin tone, but it does only come in 6 shades which isn't ideal for people with darker skin tones.

This is now my go-to foundation when I want that 'no make up' look. It's originally £9.99, which may seem quite steep for 20ml, but its thin consistency means only a few drops are needed. I love the idea behind this, and now feel like i'm hiding my face whenever I apply anything slightly thicker.

You can purchase a bottle of L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint for £9.99 at your local Boots, Superdrug or drug store.

My Foundation Collection

It's been a while since i've done a collections post, so I thought there is no time like the present to write a post containing one of my favourite beauty staples - foundation. I go through lots of different phases with my skin so i've catagorised them to make it slightly easier to navigate.. enjoy!

 Natural/Low Coverage Foundations

Bourjois Paris BB Bronzing 8 In 1 Cream - Full review here. - £9.99
I've never really jumped on the BB Cream bandwagon, so I bought this through sheer curiosity. As much as it is a terrible bronzer, this has just enough coverage to cover up any unnecessary blemishes - but nothing more. I must admit I don't use this often because my skin has never been great enough to get away with it, but its ideal if you're blessed with perfect skin.

Benefit You Rebel Lite Tinted Moisturiser - £24.50
The packaging looks pretty shabby because this is the foundation I used throughout summer. I always like to switch to a tinted moisturiser in the warmer months so my skin doesn't feel so heavy. Packed with SPF 15, its perfect for those who don't like going completely bare-faced in the sun. I would say the lighter version of the two (This product is designed to adapt to your skin-tone) has a yellow tinge to it, so if you're pale skinned try not to be too liberal with the application.

Revlon Nearly Naked in 180 Shell - £8.99
This is a beautifully designed product that gives an airbrush feel with added SPF20. However, as much as I enjoy using it its not something i'd pick up when I need to be up and out in a hurry. It doesn't come with a pump, almost as if its designed to be put onto the hand and mixed with another shade. It's light in consistency and blends well, but I did find I needed to touch up around areas prone to redness.

Matte Foundations

Rimmel Stay Matte in Ivory - £5.99
This has to be the worst foundation out of the collection. It has a strange perfume smell and it makes me look orange however sparingly I apply it. It has a runny consistency, and I found it didn't provide any coverage unless I built it up, making my face shiny as opposed to matte. The shine control element is practically non-existent, but the inclusion of cotton, chamomile and cucumber did make my skin feel slightly softer.
 
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in Ivory - £7.69
This is the newest addition to my collection, as I was searching for a mattifying foundation that provided great coverage without feeling cakey. Using a mousse makes application a breeze - i'm not usually a fan of applying with my fingers but i've found its the best way with this product. It's inexpensive and I don't need to reapply throughout the day.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid with SPF15 in NC15 - £21.50
As many of you will probably already know,  MAC provide heavy coverage. I use this foundation for nights out because it provides little shine that will come from that dreaded flash photography (Although any foundation with SPF in it will provide shine to a certain extent!) . However, it is quite orange (I have the lightest shade too!) so I need to mix it with my lightest foundation to create a suitable blend.

Brightening Foundations

No 7 Instant Radiance in Calico - £12.50
This inexpensive foundation is great when my skin needs a little pick-me-up. It's still reasonably lightweight so I like to use it when i've had a late night and my skin looks tired in the morning. Overall i'm a massive fan of No7 due to their unique foundation matching service and their wide selection of foundations.

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup - £25.50
What first drew me to this foundation was its added SPF25, along with its oil-free formula and hydrating benefits. Although I love the overall look of this foundation (It doesn't really cover blemishes but gives your skin a great glow!), i've found that even the lightest shade makes my skin look bright yellow! I've had to mix it with a bit of my No7 foundation, which sort of defeats the object.

Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat- £29.00
This is my dream foundation. Coming in 16 different shades, it eliminates blemishes and brightens shadowy areas. This is my second bottle of this, but i've chosen to use it more sparingly as it is the priciest product I own. My skin looks flawless when teamed with the YSL Touche Eclat Touch Highlighting Pen. It has a light consistency, allow my skin to breathe and giving just enough coverage to even out your skin tone. Love this!

Aswell as this, i've also started using my tester pot of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (£28.50) - which is certainly the most heavy coverage foundation i've used. So far I haven't found it very breathable, but a tiny amount lasts all day so is ideal for a special occasion when there isn't much time to touch-up.

I'm always on the look-out for the 'perfect' foundation, so let me know what your favourite foundation is below! :)

Need help matching a foundation? Try Findation!

Ever wanted to buy a foundation online but didn't want to take the plunge without testing first?
Yeah, me too. As addicted I am to online shopping I don't trust the swatch pictures and I certainly don't trust the airbrush faces modelling the products. But when a sale is on and there's only limited stock left, wouldn't like to be assured that the product will match my skin?

Findation is a website that allows you to see what shade of foundation you're matched to by simply inputting your existing foundation shades. By adding all of your current foundations it uses an algorithm (Don't ask me what it is, I have no idea!) to reveal your shade in hundreds of both high-street and designer brands.

You start by searching for the existing brands out of the hundreds listed, followed by selecting the right product and shade - the more products you register the more accurate the search will be.

With the added advantage of thumbnail images it makes the search easier, and even includes some discontinued products if it's been a while since you've updated your foundation.

From there you're presented with a lists of 'recommended matches', which you can filter if there are certain brands you aren't keen on buying. Each product comes with a detailed description of its finish, ingredients and stockist. There's also an option to share your list with friends on Facebook or Twitter, and save your matches to look back on later.

It's incredibly detailed and includes every brand I can possibly think of and more! When testing it with my existing foundations, I found that the majority of the matches were correct - though some made me out to be a darker shade than I know I am (I always need the palest foundation shade in everything!) .. but overall it produced good matches. There are some tips in order to produce the best results - such as not relying on an accurate result for a heavy foundation if you only input BB Cream shades - so be sure to use them to make sure you get the right shade. This is perfect if you want to speed up the process of testing the products in store, or if you just can't be bothered to visit the counter at all!

Findation is an informative catalogue of brands that makes shopping for foundation online so much easier and i'm now definitely more inclined to try out new brands without the added fear of it being too dark on my pastey skin.

Click here to visit Findation and find your matches today!

Benefit's 'How To Look The Best At Everything'

This is just going to be a quick one, as its been sat in my 'To review' folder for a while now and I just really want to get it out there! Although I love buying individual products and creating my own makeup 'style', the inner lazy girl in me cannot resist a complete kit of essentials and an idiot-proof instruction manual to go with it. How To Look The Best At Everything* is one of the newest beauty kits from Benefit, and contains everything you need to maintain a flawless complexion.

Packaged as an old-fashioned how-to book, the kit comes in three different shades - light, medium and dark. I was given the medium, therefore some of the shades are a tad too dark, so i'm not going to an in-depth review on the products themselves - just a general overview:

The kit contains the following products:

•  The POREfessional - Primer
• Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow - Liquid Foundation
• Boi-ing x2 (A lighter and then slightly darker shade) - Concealer
• "Hello Flawless!" - Powder

This is such a great little kit, containing both full-sized and travel products. As i've said before, I really enjoy being basically spoon-fed products that guarantee results (Not too much to ask, right?), and this collection of products is everything you need. I wear POREfessional practically every day, even when i'm not wearing makeup at all. I love that Boi-ing is described as 'industrial strength' concealer, as it easily conceals under-eye shadows or any blemishes with ease without creasing. I enjoy the light coverage of the liquid foundation, and the complimenting powder really does make your skin look flawless and healthy. The only fault I have with this kit is the quality of the powder brush as I have found it doesn't distribute powder very evenly and I find that because it's flat its very fiddly to use. However, due to size constraints, it's understandable and overall a really handy kit .

Be sure to get matched for your individual Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow shade, as each of these kits comes with one specific shade (The foundation actually comes in 9 shades!), and I would hate for you to be disappointed. For £24.50 you can get your hands on four of Benefit's most popular products, achieving a flawless complexion with ease, using the 'Tips and Tricks' fold-out instruction booklet on the inside of the box. Enjoy!

You can purchase 'How To Look The Best At Everything' at your local Benefit counter for £24.50, or online here.

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation in 'Calico' and Foundation Match Made Experience!

Finding the right shade of a new foundation can be a daunting task. As we are all aware, no skin colour is the same, making it sometimes extremely difficult just to simply point at a shade and say: "That's me!". Sometimes you can be surprised at how your foundation matches up - it can seem too light, dark or even have pink or yellow undertones that you hadn't noticed before. Like I said, it can be a challenge (A bit like venturing out to find the right pair of jeans!), so No7 have taken it upon themselves to do the job for you.

I'd wanted to try this service out for sometime, purely because I was fascinated by the little gadget they use to match your skin up with one of their 17 newly developed shades. I didn't manage to get a picture, but it is essentially a small machine that's held up to your skin and with one click takes 27 photographs of your skintone. It then matches you up to one of their foundations - simple! The whole process took less than a minute, and within 5 I had walked away with one of their 8 liquid foundations.

I was matched to Calico, which in the bottle looks quite dark, but when swatched both online and on my hand is pretty much EXACTLY my skin tone. I don't think i've ever had a closer match. I ended up with the Stay Perfect foundation, as I wanted to achieve long-lasting oil-free coverage with minimal shine, and that's definitely what I got with this product. I've always thought of No7 as a drug-store brand, but I now choose this foundation over my designer foundations such as D&G and MAC. I've found that you can build up coverage quite well (I use a pump and a half if I want serious coverage, otherwise one pump is quite enough!) and after 12 hours the foundation hasn't budged. With such a close match i'm no longer worried about it not blending into my neck, the foundation simply looks like a layer of skin - it's so precisely matched. It also has added SPF 15 in it, which is always a bonus for skin protection. I also love the glass bottle, it gives a designer feel so a more inexpensive product (This beauty is just £14 - an absolute BARGAIN!)

It's advised to just be dotted onto the most neccessary areas with either your fingers or a sponge as it could just balance out your blemished areas, so really I use it as a concealer and foundation in one. Such a brilliant, unique service achieving excellent results. I now know my colour, so I can explore their other foundations and if they're anything like this one, my make-up bag's about to get a whole lot bigger.

You can purchase the Stay Perfect Foundation in your local Boots for £14, and be sure to check here whether or not your local Boots has a Match Made Service!

YSL Touche Eclat Foundation

I don't want to speak too soon, but I think i've found my holy grail foundation. Most of my reviews on here tend to be quite positive because i'm really selective with what I buy, but this will probably be the most positive yet.
After 20 years after the launch of the iconic Touche Eclat highlighter pen (Review will be coming very soon!) YSL have released a foundation that encapsulates all that's great about the legendary beauty staple - with added extras!

Every time I look for a foundation, i'm always hestitant due to the lack of choices - 'light', 'medium' etc. - every one's skintone is slightly different and YSL have taken this on board and released Le Teint Touche Eclat in a staggering 22 different shades, making it impossible for you to find a colour that won't suit you! Before the purchase I was colour matched to two different shades that had slightly different undertones which has never happened before! After coming to the conclusion that my skin more of a pink undertone instead of yellow (How precise!) I settled for BR10 - Beige Rouge 10.

The foundation comes in a generous 30ml, with a removable lid and a simple push-pump that distributes the perfect amount of product for application.

You can definitely see that the foundation has a slight pink 'tinge' to it, which I find odd that my skin is that colour! But once blended, you can hardly tell that i've applied anything at all! I hate when people swatch foundation and you can clearly see where it is 'blended', but with this foundation it is designed to enhance, not create a mask. It's unique formula targets shadow areas, evening out the skin and giving you a natural glow. Touche Eclat foundation has been used on shoots and catwalks by countless professionals, and it's easy to see why! The foundation allows my skin to breathe, it's light and non-greasy so it's great for oily skin sufferers like myself. I'm not going to go on and list everything I like about it as we'll be here forever, but this is by far the best i've had and refuse to be without it now. I love that it has good coverage but doesn't come across like a 'mask' as many do, as it's easy to blend so you aren't left with dreaded lines along your cheekbones where it hasn't blended in properly with your neck.

It retails for £28 which is quite reasonable for a high-end foundation, but generally is quite pricey. However, it is definitely worth it. It's a product that you can tell has been worked on profusely for so long, ensuring that is perfect. It's completely unique, and can only be enhanced further when accompanied by the Touche Eclat highlighter! If you're not convinced yet, I urge you to go and at least get matched at your local YSL counter - you'll fall in love with it, I promise.

You can purchase YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat for £28 at your local YSL counter or on the official YSL website here.

*Click here to enter my giveaway to win a MAC lipstick in a shade of your choice!*

Be sure to vote for Sophie Says for the NEXT Newcomer Blog Award at this years Cosmopolitan Blog Awards HERE!

Review: MAC's 190 Foundation Brush!

Hello! So i'm back at University, getting back into the swing of things and preparing for a law essay that I need to write another 700 words for by next Friday so really I shouldn't have really gone into town and bought a new makeup brush, but I did.
I have previously used an Ecotools brush that I got part of a set, but it was actually a concealer brush and it was quite low quality. Even by cleaning the brushes regularly it would still leave my foundation actually clumping on my face and leaving streaks. So after watching some makeup tutorials on Youtube and noticing that everyone seemed to be using Mac brushes I decided to invest in this one:

Mac says: "A professional-class foundation brush designed to create an even finish and a flawless look."

I cannot get enough of this brush. The soft fibre bristles allow you to pick up the right amount of foundation and it just glides onto your face and it is so easy to blend. The rounded tip allows the foundation to be applied into hard to reach areas such as round the eyes etc, and the application time took a matter of seconds! I cannot wait to invest in other MAC brushes, if they are half as good as this one they will be in my grasp as soon as possible! It's almost as if I have a brand new foundation aswell. With this brush my MAC Studio Fix Fluid looks light and natural, leaving my skin feeling smooth and flawless, where as my previous brush left my skin feeling blocked and the foundation felt quite thick as it wasn't even distributed.

To apply, put a small amount of foundation on the back of your hand and gently dip the brush in (You do not need alot!), and blend the foundation down your cheek and just below your jaw line by using outward circular motions, followed by around the eye. Work your way to the other side of your face, leaving a small amount of foundation for the nose and chin. Ensure the foundation is blended properly below the jaw line to ensure that your face isn't a different colour to your neck!
I seriously recommend this brush, I simply cannot fault it.

MAC's 190 Foundation Brush retails at £26, and can be purchased here on at your nearest MAC counter.