Charlotte's Magic Cream

Charlotte's Magic Cream

 

After purchasing Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream for a third time I pondered on how I am long over due a blog post on this magical wonder.

Lets set the scene, I've never really liked face creams, yes I know they are supposed to be good for your skin and loads of other amazing benefits but because of my oily t-zone and super sensitive skin, one way or another I never found one that didn't develop a weird bumpy rash or made my make-up slide off my face.

So as I'm not getting an younger I thought I had better start addressing this lack of moisturiser in my life. I first got the mini Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream moisturiser when it first launched.

Now when I first started using it I thought with its thick consistency it was either going to make me an oil slip or develop some funky rash on my face but I was pleasantly surprised when neither happened.

My skin loves it!! It just soaks it all up and makes me look radiant, with my skin being hydrated and loved.

I use it once a day, in the morning before I apply my make-up. I let it settle into my skin before I start my make-up routine and I have just been so impressed with it. My under eye area loves it and it makes such a difference when I apply concealer to a lovely moisturised base. 

I am now onto my second big tub of this Magic Cream and I am still loving it! Although it is on the pricey side, a large tub does last me nearly over a year using it once a day and I am looking forward to trying out her new creams she has launching soon!

Do you guys have a favourite moisturiser that you cannot live without?

Matte Revolution

When Charlotte Tilbury launched her make-up line I was pretty, ok VERY, excited and went overboard and purchased lots and lots of goodies but one goodie I feel like I completely overlooked was her Matte Revolution lipsticks.

Charlotte Tilbury, Matte Revolution Lipsticks
Left- Sexy Sienna, Right- Lost Cherry

They are gorgeous.

Unlike any other matte lipstick I've tried, they don't actually feel matte when they are on the lips. They actually feel, dare I say it, moisturising.

Swatches, Left- Sexy Sienna, Right- Lost Cherry 

They wear beautifully, like an absolute dream. No dodgy ring left around the outside of your lip after you've eaten or had a drink.

They are buttery, yes seemingly a matte can be buttery, and doesn't show up any dry skin that you might have on your lips. Very forgiving.

Wearing Sexy Sienna

Whilst being long lasting they are not completely indestructible but you can easily top it up without your lips becoming thick and cakey. Don't get me wrong they are long lasting, a good few hours of gorgeous wear.

Wearing Lost Cherry

I personally don't even wear them with a lip pencil. With no bleeding out from your lip line.

I find the formula and level of matte-ness very wearable. Day or night. And of course, like everyone I, love the packaging, kind of reminds me of original gold Estee Lauder lipstick packaging, from way back. Love. And the unusual shape of the bullet, makes for easy application.

Her colour selection is pretty amazing and will definitely be adding more to my collection soon.

My Favourite Concealers

I feel like concealers and I have had a love/love relationship since my first (juicy) spot at the start of puberty, and although I have long grown out of my pubescent stage, my spots decided they loved me soo much they would stick around for the long haul- gee thanks!

From Top Left Clockwise, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-3, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Honey and Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-1

I am in love with these concealers, yes ok I am in love with most make-up but these just about save me nearly every single day!

So I have two favourites, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage and NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.  In the above photo I have two of each and this is so I have concealers for my summer tanned skin and my winter pale skin. 

I mix between them as the months progress and my tan either fades or deepens. 

I generally use them for different things, I use the Secret Camouflage to diffuse the big red angry spots, the ones I haven't picked yet, or haven't come to anything, so where the skin is still smooth, it works like a dream and the thick oil based texture of it makes it stay put as long as you set it with a powder.

Now when I first got this product I really couldn't understand it, it was hard I couldn't get it on to my brush or finger and it really just didn't work.. but.. as soon as I moved to a warmer climate oh me, oh my, so easy to use.

So I suggest if you live in a cooler climate you will really need to warm it up with your fingers before application and if like me you have the coldest fingers in the world and that doesn't work try scooping a small amount out and warming it out on the back of your hand.

 

I also use the Secret Camouflage as the first stage of a concealer for my dark under eyes and then I top it off with the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.

Two concealers for under the eyes, drastic I hear you say? I have extremely blue under eye circles and this is what it takes for me to look like I haven't lost a boxing match. Now they are both quite heavy so I go in with a light hand and powder straight away to have minimal creasing under the eyes. But I love the combination of them both on my blue eye bags.

The best coverage I have found.

 

Now for those dry scabby not quite gone spots I use the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer to deal with those bad boys, I also use the remainder on a Beauty Blender on any redness I have on my face that I want gone, round the nose and cheek area. Its just a little top up for anything my foundation didn't quite cover. It is exactly what the name suggests a -radiant, creamy, concealer. Great coverage and lasts all day.

If I am in a super rush or just heading the gym I just use a dap of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer on my troublesome areas, mascara, blusher and run out the door. Super quick and easy and gives you that little bit of extra confidence. 

Now I would advise going and trying this on, if you can, to get the correct colour match as if a concealer (anyone) doesn't match your skin tone it's not going to do anything for you.

These concealers are definitely the ones I reach for every day and they are definitely worth trying out if like me you suffer from either gorgeous dark circles or sensational spots.

It's everything but Vanilla..

 

I'd heard about the Vanilla pigment from MAC Cosmetics for such a long time but I'd never actually purchased it until about six months ago, and boy oh boy... What was I waiting for?

This is pigment can used for nearly everything, nails to eyes to lips and so much more! The colour is beautiful, it's like a pearly white with a gorgeous shimmer. You can use it wet or dry for different looks, using it wet makes the colour much more intense, it looks like a completely different eye shadow. Super long lasting and doesn't cake up or crease, it's beautiful, a great all round product.

Vanilla Pigment intense dry swatch

My favourite places to use it is; in my tear ducts to open up my eyes, on the tops of my cheek bones as a highlighter, down the centre of my nose and just a touch on the top of my cupids bow. And when my décolletage is on show I dust a small amount over there just to give a nice healthy glow.A little goes a long way with this one, and its easy to make yourself look like an 80's Barbie or a techno robot if you use too much, although it this is what your looking for go for it!

I have heard that you can use pigments on top of wet nail polish, I've yet to try it with this pigment but I will totally be giving it a go. I think it would make a lovely gradient colour on top of any colour nail polish. A MAC pigment definitely worth investing in, my most used by far. 

The Perfect Red

I have written about this brand (Melt Cosmetics) before but I thought their red lipstick deserved a post dedicated all to itself, actually all their lipsticks probably deserve their own post, but for now lets concentrate on Belladonna 2. 

The formula is perfect, as I've said before Melt Cosmetics lipsticks are indestructible, they last all day and if and when you need a little touch up, no cakeyness, no rough bobbly bits appearing when reapplying, minimal/no smudging and well lets talk about the colour..

It is to die for.

MAC Cherry on the left and Belladonna 2 on the right

It looks sooo delicious it makes me want to eat it! And for a red it is an extremely versatile colour, just change the lip liner your using and you can adapt it to be more orange or more pink if that's your thing. Dab a little on for a less full on look or mix it up with plums or pinks and create the most beautiful ombré lip ever. My go to lip liners for Belladonna 2 are MAC's Cherry or Dynamo. 

Every single time I wear it people always stop me and ask where its from, guaranteed. It is such a pretty red that looks great on everyone. These lipsticks give you the confidence to wear a bright bold lip, and its down to the lipsticks formulation.

I have every faith that it wont be smudged down my face or half rubbed off after I've eaten or had a drink because like I said Melt Cosmetics lipsticks are indestructible and amazing!


Kissy kissy- Belladonna 2 with MAC's Cherry lip liner

After I've taken it off, or should I say tried to take it off, the stain it leaves on my lips is super pretty as well, I just go with it. A little bit of Lucas' Papaw Ointment on top and off I go. I am always pleasantly surprised at the amount of compliments I get with that lip combination, even after its off. Not quite as many as the full blown red colour but who doesn't love a compliment.

I just love this brand and dare I say it, I love their trusty lipsticks even more!

Bye-Bye Dry Eyes

This stuff is amazing! I genuinely want to tell everyone about it, it's the best thing ever! What is it? I hear you ask, well, it's lubricating eye drops, that are suitable for use with all contact lenses!! Aahhh *angels sing* Honestly I love this stuff!! 

After wearing contact lenses for over a decade I know the troubles of finding eye drops suitable to use with contact lenses. You either have to chuck them out after four weeks of opening or you can buy those individual sachets, which you can never find when you need them, scratchy to use and impossible to get open. 

So you can imagine my absolute delight when I discovered HYLO-FORTE^®  (also know as HYLO^® -GEL)  This my friends, is the answer to all your dry eye nightmares!

What makes it different to all the rest? It has the super cool (patented) pump thing at the bottom, which you press and it releases the perfect amount of drop right into your eye, so no tears running down your face or that horrible anticipation, waiting for the drop to eventually reach your eyeball.

The nifty container keeps the solution completely sealed, so no bacteria can get in there, making it preservative free and suitable for all contact lenses, hurra!!! As it's normally the preservatives in eye drops that react with most contact lenses, damaging the contact lenses.

You can keep it for up to 6 months after opening after that it is recommended to be discarded.  Although it normally lasts me around 4-5 months, so perfect timing. There is said to be around 300 drops in each packet.

When I put this in my eyes, I have immediate and long lasting relief, no more burning or dryness, it is aaamaazing! You can't actually feel it go in, it doesn't sting, burn or make your eyes cloudy.  It just kind of soothes your eyes, making them all happy, I guess once again living up to its name and lubricating your eyes!

I have definitely noticed a reduction in the little red veins in my eyes, thank goodness!  And of course I also use it on my beloved puggies if their eyes are looking a little dry or if they have something in them, and it is really easy to get in their eyes with the cool pump dispenser thing it has.

Now we have established that they are amazing and if you suffer from dry eyes and wear contact lenses, you have to get this, but here is a fun fact!  The ingredient that's in it to make it all silky and delicious on your eye ball is sodium hyaluronate also referred to as hyaluronic acid and is one of the most abundant components of your skin and is proven to help reverse and counteract the signs of aging caused by UVB. Ooo interesting.

If you look closely you'll find this ingredient in a lot of the expensive eye and face creams. So after using it in my eyes during the day, at night I pop a bit around my eyes, in-between my eyebrows and round my mouth, basically where I can see those lovely fine lines starting to appear. Funny thing is it actually feels lovely on my face as well!! Multi tasking product or what! 

Now it is expensive for an eye drop, around $32 (NZD) or £15 (GBP) but oh so worth it! I just get it from my local pharmacy and I have never regretted any money I've spent on this and you never know you might have even found yourself a less expensive anti-wrinkle cream! Bonus!! 

My Loyal Friend

When I was first introduced to Aveeno Active Naturals, by my Mum, oh at least 6 years ago if not more, I totally pooh-hoo'ed it. The packaging isn't pretty, it's got oatmeal in it, has no smell and was just kind of boring. Why would I get this when I could get soo many other prettier smelling/packaged moisturisers?

Well to answer the question of my vain self all those years ago, you'll get it and use it for years because it is simply AMAZING!  Time and time again, I've tried a different moisturisers, something else that has been advertised that will be amazing, smell better or that will promise me and my skin the best 'moisturisation' of it's life and I always feel slightly cheated.

So recently I have vowed to stay loyal to my dear friend Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion that has always been there to keep my skin moisturised, loving it, treating it kindly and actually doing what is says with the whole 'moisturises for 24 hours' spiel.

My super sensitive skin always feels softer, definitely smoother and genuinely more moisturised, it doesn't sit on top my skin, it sinks in and my skin kind of just drinks it up. Best thing ever in a  moisturiser! 

Ben attacking the sponge!

And more recently I've purchased it's friend Aveeno Daily Moisturising Body Wash and I'm in love with that as well!  It actually feels like it moisturises my skin in the shower, which is weird but extremely handy as when I'm in a rush and don't have time to moisturise my whole body, I at least feel that it's had something on it to keep it happy in the meantime. 

I just love the Aveeno products and I am embarrassed at my younger self for dismissing them in the first instance, but thanks Mum for the persistence and introduction, my skin and I still absolutely love it! 


Zeus and Ben discussing who is going to get the sponge!

How I curl my lashes

 

Now when people talk about what one make-up/beauty item they'd take with them if they were stranded on a Desert Island, I think mine would be, dare I say it, eyelash curlers..?  I could make mascara from squid ink or charcoal and coconut oil.. you know as you do...

But the point that I'm trying to get across here, is that they are that vital to my make-up routine and I kind of take them for granted. 

Curling my lashes every day is a must, as mine are so straight they actually have the tendency to hang down below my eyes (imagine an elephants eye lashes) and curling them instantly opens my eyes and makes my lashes look longer as more of them can be seen in contrast against my eyelid. 

My current eyelash curlers are by Shu Uemura. I've had them for well over 2 years and their still going strong. They fit my eye socket perfectly which is very important as you do not want to nip and damage any skin on your eyelid, cos that's just darn right painful and unnecessary.

They also don't damage my lashes by cutting them whilst curling and they manage to feather the lashes beautifully. 

How I curl 'em

The way I curl my lashes is to start by taking the lash curler as close to the eye lid (lash root) as possible and curling for around 10 seconds.

The pressure applied to the curler should be quite firm but not painful. 

Then I release and take the eyelash curlers a couple of millimetres out from where we just curled and curl again, for maybe 5-7 seconds and then I take the eyelash curlers out and curl again for 3-5 seconds and then, keep going until your a couple of millimetres from the end of your lashes, decreasing the amount of time you hold for by how far to the end of your lashes you are.  I do not curl the very tip of my lashes, you want to leave them nice and straight.

Sometimes I repeat the whole process if they don't look quite curly enough, as I said mine are pretty darn straight, and stubborn. Then I run my finger over the lashes to separate any that have become entwined whilst curling.

 

By curling them this way you get a lovely bow like curl to your eyelashes instead of a 90° angle, which I think looks unnatural and is impossible for me to get my mascara on without smudging it all over my eyelid, which in general seems to be a task for me. 

Wilber and I love our eyelash curlers!

If you have naturally curly eyelashes (slightly envious) there is no need for you to curl your lashes (think this goes without staying) but if you do have straight lashes, like myself, I would seriously think about investing in an eyelash curler.

It makes a massive improvement to my overall make-up look and I definitely notice the difference, even if I go one day without curling them!

To the beach!

 

These Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks have really surprised me. I have had them for around 7 months and thinking about it, I realise they have become a staple in my make-up bag.

I must admit I was a little miffed about the size of them when I first opening them. Although, after having used them for so long and being nowhere near finishing them, I see my first negative impression may have been too critical.

To be honest they are the perfect size for applying to your face and chucking in your make-up bag.

The price point for these guys is $45 (USD) each or you can purchase two for $85 (USD).  Pretty pricey but in-line with her other blushes.

I have really enjoyed using them, they are so quick and easy to chuck on and gives you a lovely healthy glow! Just like you have been at one of the fabulous beaches in which each stick is named after.

Ibiza on the left and Es Vedra on the right.

They don't go patching on me and they definitely do not sit in my pores. They just glide onto the skin and give a lovely dewy finish.

They just give life back to your face.

During the summer my body gets quite tanned and sometimes my face is left slightly behind with wearing hats and a super high SPF. But this definitely gives me a beautiful sun kissed glow, joining my head back with my body! 

They generally last all day, I say generally because I definitely put them through their pace as I find myself wearing them either, whilst exercising, walking the dogs, at the beach or just generally every day life which has recently been during the summer, and it's been a hot and sticky one.

Actually they last pretty darn well with everything I put them through!

I use Ibiza as a bronzer, which has a beautiful gold sparkle through it, that isn't that noticeable when it's blended in and Es Vedra I use it as a blush, a little goes a long way with this one on my skin tone and I just love its coral red colour, definitely makes me look alive and less monotone.

I don't normally use them on my lips but sometimes I pop a little bit of Lucas' Papaw Ointment over top of Es Vedra but I just generally don't like the feeling of it on my lips alone, I find it quite chalky, but that's just me.


I just blend it in with my fingers and it's as easy as that!

Puggie Wilber and I showing off my blended Beach Sticks.

All I have on my face is Nars radiant creamy concealer, T-zone set with powder and my beach sticks in Ibiza and Es Vedra.  Mascara, eyebrows, lip gloss and done!

It's one of those products that I didn't think I would love as much as I do but I keep going back to them, as they always give me a fool proof healthy look.

Definitely my go to products when I just want to get out the door! 

Bedroom black

Over the past year I have been steadily growing my collection of Charlotte Tilbury goodies and one of those goodies, as you've probably already guessed, was her Rock'n'Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil in Bedroom Black.

When trying it out for the first time I was actually quite shocked by how good it was, now my expectations were pretty high as her other items have been sooo good but this did not disappoint.  It just glides on the eyes like well a lipstick or liquid (guess the clue is in the name) it just seems to melt into your skin at the point of contact, which means no tugging on the delicate eyelid area.  But at the same point it doesn't transfer, you have a small amount of time to play with the product, blend it out or create a lovely smokey eye but then once it sets that's it.  Perfect!

I also like using this product to tight line my upper eyelid and to use in-between the lashes as it is so soft and creamy.  It has also been a dream to use on my waterline as well, as I normally avoid wearing eyeliners in my waterline due to the fact that my eyes are super sensitive and they are very prone to becoming red, super quickly, if you get those rogue floaty bits in your eye (you know the ones) when using eyeliners in waterline, but my eyes don't seem to react with this eyeliner and there are minimal/no floaty bits when applying this in the waterline.  Yay! 

The consistency of the product very much reminds me of a gel eyeliner but in a pencil format, which I really like.  And the colour pay off it amazing, its bedroom black alright!

It has been my go to product to create a black flick, like above.  And to create the tail of the flick I took some product from the pencil tip on an angled brush, I used a MAC 266, to get that sharp tapered end, like how you would use a gel eyeliner but I find this much easier to work with.  It doesn't transfer onto my eyelid when I open my eyes and it stays put all day long.  This little beauty certainly has been a pleasant surprise. 

 

Copperlicious

Coppers and I have an attraction.. When I see them, I just need them, I have to have them, they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and I have the most strange urge to want to eat them.  Random.  Anyone else?  Mmm ok, moving on. 

So when I saw that Sugarpill Cosmetics had brought out nine new loose eyeshadows and one of them so happened to be the most beautiful copper called Penelope I just had to have it!

While unwrapping it, I felt slightly ashamed of myself, did I really need another copper eyeshadow?  I mean I do already own MAC's Copper Sparkle albeit a vintage one but then I swatched it and my question was answered, yes,I did need this in my life.  

Left- Sugarpill's Penelope, Right-MAC's Copper Sparkle (no filter)

The colour is just delicious and it is different to Copper Sparkle, I find Penelope much easier to wear, either with a more natural look or a fully amped up copper look, it is just lovely or should I say.... yummy. 

The swatches above are straight onto my skin, no primer, the pigmentation on both is amazing!  I find Penelope has a slightly more pink tone compared to Copper Sparkle which is slightly more of a bronze tone.  I personally think that's why I find Penelope easier to wear as it suits my skin tone better, but if you want more of a bronze tone I'd say Copper Sparkle is the one for you. 






Penelope more intense look

To make Sugarpill's Penelope more intense I used MAC's painterly paint pot as a base and wet a flat brush with MAC's Fix+ and packed it onto the lid.  I then lined the eyes with black eyeliner. 

I must admit I thought it was totally going to crease and flake off but it didn't! I was super impressed and it lasted all day!  Maybe it was the painterly base, I will definitely be trying this application with other loose shadows I own and see if I have the same positive outcome.  


Penelope neutral look

For a more neutral look I used Charlotte Tilbury's Champagne Diamonds all over my lid and used Penelope on the outer V corners of my eyes, just packing the loose dry eyeshadow on and blended them together with a large fluffy brush, I lightly lined my lash line with a brown liner and added some more Penelope on top to define the eyes.

I can't wait to try out loads of different looks with this versatile loose eyeshadow, next I think I will be using a dark base, or maybe even mixing it in with a green smokey eye could be cool, oh the possibilities are endless!