Your Skin But Better CC Cream by IT Cosmetics

Whenever I get together with my lovely friend Ruth, you can guarantee, if you were listening into our conversation it will be about skincare or makeup!  We just adore recommending to each other which latest product to try.

 

With regards to makeup, I’d always wanted to try out the IT Cosmetics CC cream.   Well of course, Ruth came to my rescue!  She was one step ahead of me!  Ruth had been unsure about it & kindly let me have some of hers to try out.  Fortunately, she has a similar skintone to me so thought the shade ‘fair’ would be a good match.  Well, my friend wasn’t wrong - it was a perfect match!

 

 

 

 

I found it blended in well.  It does say it is a full coverage, but as I wanted a lighter result, I took less of the product & it gave a good finish.  It is quite buildable & doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin.  It also blended in really well into my jawline & neck - I mention this as my neck is always so much paler than my face.  I sometimes wonder if my chin is so big it blocks out the sun?!?

 

So, yes the shade ‘fair’ was perfect for me & gave me a healthy brighter look without looking ghostly pale which I can do sometimes! (& of course the clue is in the name ‘CC’ which means colour correcting - giving you good coverage & also concealing any inperfections)

 

 

 

The CC cream also contains an SPF50 uva & uvb - so you will be fully covered.  I wish more makeup had a broader spectrum of sun protection.  Skin damage from the sun is not a good look (in recent years I am noticing sun damage spots on my skin. Wish my teenage/early twenties self had worn sun cream on their face!!) & skin cancer should be taken seriously.

 

And I also find in really fascinating that IT Cosmetics are in association with plastic surgeons & dermatologists, so a lot of research has gone into creating their products.  

 

Back to my skin.  It is basically combination.  I'm slightly oily - the odd breakout & slightly dry.  I didn’t feel that the cream ‘clung’ to any drier areas or crease.  It is infused with anti-aging ingredients (hyaluronic acid, niacin, hydroized collagen to name a few), so it really gives you a healthy, younger looking complexion.  It’s makeup but helping your skin too!  

 

I will say too, that it also didn’t seem to wear off throughout the day like some bases can do.

 

My friend Ruth asked me how I got on with her little sample she had given me.  I said I had been so pleased with the results.  To my surprise, she generously gave me the rest of her tube!  I soon got through that & purchased more myself - my only problem is my local ‘Boots’ only sells the smaller size, so I’m going to get online to buy a larger tube too!

 

So, a little thank you is needed to my friend.  Thanks for introducing me to this star product.  It definitely does make my skin look better as it says on the packaging… now, what else have you got for me to try?!

 

Bee x 

On Test: Primark Mascaras

Sometimes, you fancy a change or in desperation, need that specific makeup item!  I was in need of mascara...

 

Now, the old saying goes, ‘you get what you pay for!’ & I wanted to see if that was indeed true when I decided to purchase my new mascara from Primark - a store known for it’s bargain prices.  My only problem was, I didn’t know which one to go for, as they had quite a bit of a range.

 

So…I went for 3!

 

I purchased -

 

False Lash Queen

3D Lash Effect

Fake It

 

 

 

Now, I’ve used all 3 for a while & I keep changing my mind on which was the one I really liked…so, today, this is my current thoughts on each one! 

 

False Lash Queen...

 

 

I’ll start with this one, as I think personally, this one is the worst of the 3.  

It has the biggest brush head, which is fine, but to me, the formula doesn’t do much.  It’s ok, but its supposed to give you ‘dramatic volume’ & I don’t think it really does & the majority of the product (unless I really wipe over the brush with a tissue) goes on my eyelids!  It does the job as being a mascara but doesnt really give amazing results.

 

Next up is...

 

3D Lash Effect...

 

 

Firstly, this looks different to the other 2, as they are in pink packaging & this is a more expensive looking gold.  

The formula is very wet, so go careful when applying.  You do get used to this though - & this is why I keep changing my mind as to whether I really liked it or not! I must admit, I do now!

It really does give you a quite dramatic spikey look to your lashes, while lengthening them too.  It has a tapered brush which is neat & slim to give you that longer length & a bit of a curl.

 

And finally...

 

Fake It

 

 

Now, some people say all these mascaras are dupes for other more expensive brands - I’m not entirely sure which ones (do you know?) - but this ‘Fake It’ mascara is the closest I think to Benefit ‘Roller Lash’.  It’s not quite as good, however, if you are being careful with the pennies then this is a pretty good dupe.

It curls your lashes well with it’s hourglass shaped applicator & it is buildable to make your lashes look thicker & more dramatic.  And like the others it is a bargain price - only £2.50!

I’ll let you into a secret too - I loved the ‘Fake It’ mascara so much, that I’m on my second one already! 

(Although I’m alternating with the ‘3D Lash Effect’ at the moment…see, I’m still undecided on my fave!  I guess you can’t ever have too much makeup in life!)

 

So, in answer to the saying ‘you get what you pay for!’ - that’s not always true!  Primark makeup pleasantly surprised me with their mascaras.  

 

What’s your favourite bargain makeup?  Let me know!

 

Bee x 

 

My New Favourite Bronzer by The Body Shop

Are you enjoying the heatwave we have been having in the UK lately?  I do feel that I should be making the most of it & sunbathing in my garden but I just can't.  I'm not going away on a summer holiday this year, so I should be getting a British tan but as I don't have a swimming pool nearby to stop myself combusting in the heat, I'm retreating inside & grabbing my Palmers Natural Bronze body lotion (see post here) & my new bronzing powder to give me a summer glow!

I've been very faithful to the Bourjois chocolate scented bronzer for a few years now, but I decided to branch out recently & I tried out the Body Shop's Honey Bronzing Powder.  Having heard good things about this bronzer, I was keen to try it out.

I went for the 01 light matte shade, as I'm naturally pretty fair.

On first glance the product looks great.  The packaging has a honeycomb pattern on the lid (a great mirror inside too!), with this pattern continuing on the actual bronzer.  The bronzer comes in 5 shades & contains community trade honey.  In fact, The Body Shop have a whole 'honey bronze' range.  Must check it out.

I was really pleased straight away with the colour payoff - the shade was perfect for me & gave a really nice matte glow.  Not at all glittery.  Perfect for either contouring or an all over bronze-y look! (Great if you are in a rush & want to look 'put together' quick!)

It costs £14, which is more than my Bourjois bronzer but I must say....I think I slightly prefer this Body Shop one!  Sorry Bourjois! It's very close.  I love both!  

So, I definitely think that once I come to the end of this product, I will be repurchasing.  

A great glow without having to sweat it out in the sun!  

(Although, if anyone does want me to come on holiday with them, I won't say no!!)

Bee x 

The Contents of my Face: My Everyday Makeup Routine

I thought I would share with you from 'The Contents of my Face' series an everyday makeup look.  Very similar to a post here but a bit more updated with a few different products...

Primer...

First up, after my morning skincare routine, I apply a primer.  I'm currently using Laura Mercier's radiance primer (an apparent favourite of the new Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle & I can see why!).  It really gives you a glowy radiant base.  You could possibly wear it on it's own.
I always feel you need a primer if you want your makeup to last all day & with this one it definitely does.

Base...

Next up, I apply a bit of peach colour corrector under my eyes from the Revolution colour corrector palette with a small concealer brush & blend with a mini real techniques eraser sponge.
Then it's foundation time!  I'm currently using L'Oreal's True Match foundation in the shade Linen. (My shades tend to vary throughout the year)  I use a Real Technique's expert face brush to buff this in.
After this, I pop some concealer under my eyes, around my nose & anywhere that needs a bit of concealing!   I tend to use my favourite Maybelline eraser eye concealer in either 'light' or 'brightener'.  I then of course blend this all in with my Real Technique's blending sponge.
Once my concealer is done, I set it with my Rimmel Insta Fix & Matte powder with a small Real Techniques setting brush.

Adding a bit of colour...

Now my base is set, it's time to brighten up my face a bit more with some bronzer, blush & highlighter. 
My current bronzer to contour my face is by Bourjois which I apply with a bronzing blusher brush by, of course, Real Techniques.
For blusher & highlighter I use a variety but my current fave is from Sleek.  It's their Face Form Contouring & Blush palette in the shade Fair.  I use a Spectrum brush for my blusher & a small Real Techniques brush for my highlighter.
I pop my highlighter on the high points of my cheekbones, a little bit on my nose, chin & cupids bow.

Brows...

For my brows, I use my favourite Hi-Impact Brows brow powder & set them with any brow gel.  My current one is by Browcote.

For everyday I tend to not use eyeshadow.  Just some black eyeliner on my waterline (I really look odd without it!).  I really love the Smokey Eye pencil by Rodial.
Then a few coats of mascara.  A real fave is by Givenchy in the colour Black Taffeta (I also love Roller Lash by Benefit!).  It is brilliant for giving both volume & length.

Lips...

Finally, a bit of lippie!  So many to choose from, but a current newbie I've been reaching for is Half n' Half by MAC.  A lovely nude.


So, that's my everyday makeup routine.  What's yours?

Bee x 

Healthy & Natural Lips with Burt's Bees

I've always been a fan of Burt's Bees lip balms.  They are just fabulous & really help my ultra dry lips.

Well, when I heard they did actual lipsticks too, I was pretty keen to try them! 

So I did! 

More on that later....

Now, a little bit about Burt's Bees.  They have been around for about 30 years when Burt the beekeeper met a lovely lady named Roxanne.  And the rest as they say is....history!  Their products are 99% natural - in fact, it says on their website that over half of their products are actually 100% natural!

They are also proud to sponsor the British Beekeepers Association.  You can find out more about the scheme here - www.burtsbees.co.uk

So, as I said before, I love their balms; I have a lot of different flavours! And, my blog is called 'Mabel's Beauty Bee' & my name is Debbie which means Bee, so it makes sense to try some Burt's Bees products, right?! (Any excuse!!)

Ok, first up....

The lipsticks....

I have two - 

First shade - number 501 Blush Basin.

And what a beautiful colour!  My kind of natural pinky corally shade - your lips but better! 

Second shade - number 523 Sunset Cruise.  

Another beautiful colour.  Very similar to the previous colour but slightly deeper.

Both colours are so easy to wear & will go with most makeup as they are so natural.  These are both said to be a satin finish with 100% natural ingredients.  Both are so comfortable to wear, leaving my lips feeling really hydrated.

I love the packaging too with the 'hive' detailing on the sides of the lid & its interesting to know that it is made with 60% recycled materials.

Finally.... 

The lip gloss....

Shade number 239 Spring Splendor.

Such a gorgeous pink shade which looks fairly dark & a sparkly mauve colour in the bottle but on application is not as intense & looks really natural on your lips.  Again, so comfortable (the gloss is enriched with nourishing oils) & easy to wear, with a high shine finish.  And of course, made with 100% natural ingredients.

I'm really impressed with these products.  I'd be really interested to know what their other lipsticks & lip products are like.  I may just try them!

Do you like Burt's Bees?  What products by them have you tried?  I'd love to know!

Bee x 

Primers on test from Primark

I've never been that bothered about primers if I'm honest.  I always thought, surely my makeup will stay on all day?  It's meant to, right?

Well, I hadn't used a primer in ages so I thought, as I didn't want to spend too much money on a primer, I'd risk it & buy one from Primark.  I wasn't expecting much at all as it was so cheap.

Well, I was wrong!

From Primark's PS...Pro range was their mattifying primer.  I have combination skin, (part oily, part dry) so this was perfect for me. 

On application, it had a silicone type texture but felt nice on the skin.  And yes, it did work.  I didn't become shiny throughout the day & it did help to make my makeup last.  In fact, my makeup looked as fresh at the end of the day as when I first applied it.  I was shocked! 

On to my more recent purchase; their colour corrector primer with SPF30.    

I'm quite into colour correcting at the moment especially for under my eyes; I'm always wanting to look fresher & brighter! (Yes, I've mentioned it before!)  So, for brightening my complexion, I went for their yellow primer.

I will say, this primer has a more creamy texture (not as silicone like as the other one) & it does make my base last all day, but even though it says it's for brightening, it doesn't seem to have as much of an effect as I thought it would.  However, considering it only cost me £5.00 I can't complain! 

Do you use a primer?  What would you recommend?  Comment below!  Thanks!

Bee x   

New Concealer to try from Maybelline!

If you read my blog regularly, you will know my love for concealers (see a post here) & hiding my under eye circles!  Yes, I seem to mention them rather a lot! (Sorry!)

Anyway, I don't know where I heard about it first, but I noticed somewhere that Maybelline Eraser Eye, which I adore, had a few different colours out & of course, I had to try it!  

So, I purchased their 'brightener' shade.   And yes, it does what it says on the tin! 

Other colours are - 
Nude
Light (my regular shade)
Honey
Neutralizer (may try that next!)

I made the mistake of putting on far too much on my first attempt to use it!  It is a pinky shade & looked very bright.

However, having applied it properly since, the product does give really good coverage & makes you look rather refreshed.  It blends in really well with my blending sponge & feels smooth on your skin & not at all drying like some concealers can.  And because it is a 'brightener' shade, you can use it as a highlighter wherever you want to highlight! (Great on cheekbones & nose!)

Priced at £8.99, I feel this is a pretty competitive price for a quality concealer!

This 'eraser eye' does of course have a drawback like my regular shade does....you get through it way too quickly!!  It's just fab!


Bee x 



Side note: Currently on Boots website all Maybelline products are on 3 for 2. Go, go, go! 



   

A Bargain Highlighter by Essence

People always say that you get what you pay for & that of course can be very true, but sometimes some products can surprise you.  And I've definitely been surprised by a new highlighting palette by Essence.

I received this in a beauty box but the Essence brand can be purchased in Wilkinsons.  It is the bargain price of only £3.00!  Amazing!   It is called 'Light Up Your Face' Luminizer palette.

It has 3 different shades - 
The first is a nude highlighter, which is very sheer with a slight glow.
The second is a rose shimmery shade.
The third is a beige/bronze pearly highlighter.

On the back of the palette is a guide to where best to apply each shade, which is very handy! 

The colour pay off is actually really quite good & gives a subtle sheen & shimmer in all the right places! 

Have you ever tried any Essence makeup?  What do you think?

Bee x 

The Contents of my Face: My Summer Look

I've recently come back from a lovely holiday on the Greek island of Rhodes & I'm loving having a bit of a tan.  So, I thought I'd share with you how I changed up my makeup on holiday & how I've kept up this look while I still have my tan! 

Having a more sunkissed look means you need to change your base & make the most of that 'glow'.  So, I went for a gorgeous radiant primer by Studio 10 called 'Glow2Go'.  

It says it's a 'youth lift glow-plexion', which gives such a boost to your skin.  It can be worn on it's own or as a highlighter, but it can also be mixed with your foundation.  It has such a lovely light bronzy colour - not at all glittery - & the texture is creamy & feels really comfortable on your skin.  It contains anti-aging properties (that's always great!), hyaluronic acid & vitamins C & E.  It is a really great product. I definitely recommend you try it!

Now, as I say, 'Glow2Go' can be mixed with a foundation & as it's summer, I wanted a lighter base, so I used Rimmel's 'Instaflawless'. 

 I used this product last summer too & find it great to even out my skintone.  It isn't too heavy either, so no chance of covering up your tan.  Rather, it adds to it, giving you a natural glow - yes, I'm all about that 'glow'!!

'Instaflawless' contains SPF 15, provides 24hr moisturisation & really brightens your skin.  I played it safe & chose the shade light-medium & at only £6.99, it really is a bargain! (And a little goes a long way too!) 

Finally, to give my summer face a really bronzed look, I went for another product by Rimmel.  It's their 'Radiance Brick'. 

 As you can probably tell by the photos, this bronzing powder is getting a lot of love right now! 

It's a multi-tone powder graduating from a light highlighter shade down to a deep bronze.  It is so easy to use, without going overboard.  The colours are so lovely that you definitely don't look orange, just gorgeously tanned! 

It comes in 2 shades, but as I'm quite fair naturally, I went again for 001 light.  That way, once my tan has faded, I will still be able to use it without looking 'false'.  Perfect! 

How do you change up your makeup for the summer? 

Right, anyone fancy taking me on holiday?  My tan is fading!

Bee x 

For more 'Contents of my Face', see here & here   

Fresher Skin with Rimmel

I always love trying out foundations and so I thought I would give you my thoughts on my latest one! 

When I was a teenager I didn't have the greatest skin and the faint scars that I still have all these years later are a reminder of those days when I would try any product that, a) I could use to hide those horrid spots & b) could afford!  And one brand that was always guaranteed to be the most affordable at the time was...Rimmel!

And here we have come full circle.  Again, I am trying a foundation by Rimmel.  It's called 'Fresher Skin' & I must admit, while it brings back memories of when I first got into makeup, at least I don't need quite as much coverage! 

I have seen a review on this foundation on YouTube saying it gives patchy results but I personally think that the lady had very dry skin, so maybe it wasn't the best for her.  However, I have combination skin, so was interested to see if it would make a difference on me.  I will get into that in a moment, but firstly here's the lowdown on this foundation....

It apparently comes in six shades (I think there was only about four in my local store), it contains aloe vera, chamomile and sea algae and also has an SPF of 15.  The size of the product is 25ml and comes in a little cute glass pot, which is very different for Rimmel as they normally have their foundations in tubes.  It says on the front that this foundation is breathable, with a natural finish, shine free and doesn't clog pores.  It also comes in at a reasonable price of £7.49. (current offer is 2 selected Rimmel products for £10 at Boots)

Now, here's what I think!

On first opening it smells very fresh and clean which must be from the natural ingredients.  I've never had that sort of smell from a foundation before (it's more like skincare) and it really is lovely! 

After applying the product on the skin it feels as fresh as it smells, it's very lightweight but also buildable if you want a bit more coverage.

It does seem to wear well (it didn't go patchy on me) but if I want it to be extra perfect and not move at all in any natural lines then I just apply a primer underneath.

Rimmel says that it leaves you shine free; well, I never think any foundations are totally perfect.  However, I will say I didn't look totally shiny by the end of the day, just maybe a tiny bit on my nose - but nothing that a bit of powder won't fix!

All in all, I think this foundation is really good and good value for money.  I think the shade I chose (I went for 103 True Ivory) is pretty close to what I would currently use.  And if I did need to adjust I could mix it with another in the range.  So, yep, well done Rimmel!  A really good product and if I could bottle the fragrance that's in the foundation I would!  It definitely does what it says on the 'tin' - it gives you 'Fresher Skin'!

Have you got a foundation that I should try?  Let me know! 

Bee x     

The Contents of my Face: My Look for Autumn

It's that time of year when I start to look a bit pale - yes, I know, paler than usual!  If I haven't been tanning in the summer, I still do have a bit of a glow in those months.  But, as soon as the colder weather hits, I start to lose a bit of that 'glow'.  As regular readers will know, I posted earlier in the year 'The Contents of my Face: My Daily Makeup Routine'.  So, for this time of year I thought I'd let you know about a couple of additions to this.  ('The Contents of my Face' will be a regular feature in this blog I think!) 

And here they are - 

First up, on my recent trip to America, I was practically surrounded by Walgreens & Duane Reade's - America's version of Boots or Superdrug here in the UK.  I made the odd trip here & there while in New York for various bits & pieces.  When I headed to Memphis, I spied another huge Walgreens & decided I needed a bit of 'Milani' makeup in my life!  I've heard a bit about this brand so I wanted to try it.

Now, as I say, in the cooler months, we need (or I need!) a bit of colour in our cheeks!  So, the Milani Baked Blush does not disappoint.  I went for the shade 05 Luminoso.

  A stunning peach with a bit of shimmer.  It has an amazing colour payoff, so I dare say this product will last me ages as you only need a tiny amount. 

 The gold packaging has an expensive look about it, is neat & compact, & also contains a cute little mirror & brush inside.  

It really does give the right amount of warmth to your face for this time of year. 

Onto the other favourite for Autumn & actually all year round, is the Sleek Face Form Contouring & Blush Palette.

I purchased this kit in the shade Fair.  In this set you get 20g of product, a matte contour shade, an illuminating highlighter & a shimmery blusher.

The contour shade is perfect for sculpting your cheekbones & giving your face a general definition.
The highlighter is just stunning & so beautiful.  It certainly gives the highlighters by Becca a run for their money! 
And finally the shimmery blusher.  A definite dupe for the famous Nars blush, but a lot cheaper!  A lovely warm pink with flecks of gold.  A perfect natural shade which goes with practically any makeup look.  And of course, wearable for Autumn! 

If you haven't tried Sleek makeup before, you should.  Great value for money & this little set is really great for travelling too. 

Do you change up your look in Autumn?
What products do you think I should try?  
I'd love to know! 

Bee x   

A Tattoo I Can Change Every 24 Hours! - Maybelline New York Color Tattoos

Why has it taken me so long to try out these?  I don't really know, but I'm glad I did! 

I can tell you straight away that the 24hr Color Tattoos by Maybelline are AMAZING!  

I try not to make life too difficult for myself (I don't always accomplish this, by the way!) & this includes makeup.  And these eyeshadows definitely do make it easy.  Would you like a wash of colour that looks stunning & takes zero effort?  I think so! 

They are so easy to apply as they are a gel-cream formula.  You can pop some on with your finger & blend or use your regular eyeshadow brush.  And believe me they do not budge! Hence the name Tattoo!  (It took me a while to remove the swatches off my hand for this blog post - they don't move!)

There are a mixture of matte & shimmer colours in the collection & I'm definitely partial to a bit of shimmer!  So, the colours I currently have are -
35 - On and On Bronze
65 - Pink Gold
15 - Endless Purple

The colour pay off is wonderful & once on the lid, the effect is stunning (you could use as a base for other colours too - they are very like MAC Paint Pots) - no one will ever know it only took you a few seconds to apply!  Definitely a good 'on the go' shadow!

The price point is not bad too, as the amount of product you get for your money will last you quite a while. 

So, have I convinced you yet to buy these?  I think so! 

On a side note, I'm late to the party yet again - I finally purchased Maybelline's Lash Sensational Mascara.  A lovely brush & easy to apply, but I'm still undecided if it is as amazing as everyone says.  It has been good but not sure if it is really outstanding....
Hmm...the jury is still out! 

So, that is it from me for now...till next time!

Bee x