5 Minute Reviews | Stila One Step Correct Serum

As a beauty lover, I don't always get around to or sometimes feel the need to review every product that I purchase in depth. Sometimes, they just don't stand out that much to me or I don't feel as if they require a detailed review. Sometimes even, I wont get the chance to photograph them and before I 

know it, I've used them up. So, with that, I've decided to start a series of quick, "5 minute" reviews on products I've used - telling you my opinions and overall thoughts on them in a quick, easy to digest way. 

The product I'm going to be reviewing is the Stila One Step Correct Serum** which is supposed to be a colour correcting serum that is meant to brighten and even out the skin tone due it's triple-swirled formula. This formula is targeted to counteract redness using the colour green, dark circles using peach and sallowness using lavender. Usually, I like to use this as a sort of "pre" primer or even a primer on its own prior to application of my makeup. I pump out a small, pea sized amount and apply it over the skin, letting it sink in for a while before the next step of my routine.

This product retails at £24.00 and can be purchased from BeautyBay. 

Upon dispensing the product from the bottle, it becomes obvious that the triple swirled formula isn't going to say separate and is going to mix together - for this reason, it's difficult for me to see how this would be able to affectively colour correct the skin when you may need certain colours only in specific areas. 

I didn't find a real difference made to my complexion other than a slight restriction in the redness of my overall face. My skin did however feel hydrated and plumped after applying this serum so for that reason, I do think it has really effective hydrating properties which would be very effective for dryer skin types. When my skin was particularly dry on a given day, this is a primer I would use and reach for in order to give me skin a soft, glowy and hydrated base for makeup so for that reason, I did really enjoy it.

From a colour correction standpoint, I didn't really find this serum to deliver anything over than the slight dulling of my complexions redness. I would and do much prefer to target my pigmentation utilising seperate colour correcting products so that I can specifically target my areas of concern. 

Whilst I did find this serum to be hydrating, this isn't the main purpose of the product and so from this perspective, I can't say that I would recommend this product if you're looking for something to colour correct your skin before makeup application. If however you're looking for a hydrating, plumping serum / makeup primer, Stila's One Step Correct Serum is actually a good choice! 




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Review: L'oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream

Hi! Today I've got a review for you on L'oreal's Nude Magique Blur Cream. On the L'oreal site, the product is described as 'a lightweight balm, instantly blurring away away pores and fine lines for beautiful nude looking skin'. Interesting, right? After trying this product for a weeks now, I thought I'd share my views...

The product itself is quite thick in consistency and on first look appears to have some pigment to it as it a skin tone colour. The Blur Cream comes in two colour variations; Light to Medium and Medium to Dark. With shade options like this, I was unsurprised to find that the product doesn't really offer any pigmentation or coverage once applied to the skin. 

Due to this fact, I wouldn't say there was therefore any major difference to the appearance of blemishes or redness on my skin which slightly disappointed me as I did hope for a little coverage from this product. I did however feel that my discolouration did look a little more subdued and not so obvious which I think would be the 'blurring' affect the product describes.  

My skin also felt quite soft and smooth after application - it had that kind of feel that silicone primers give the skin. In terms of pores and fine lines, I did feel that they were slightly less obvious but I definitely wasn't blown away. After using this product, I applied my makeup as usual and found that this made a really nice base for foundation, giving a smooth and flawless finish to the face and helping to even out application. You do need to use more than other similar products but you do get quite a bit in the tube and this may just be because the product is thicker. 

Overall, I do like this product but not really for the reasons the L'Oreal wants me to. Though it has not been directly advertised as one, I think this makes a really great primer and this is how I have been using it for the past few weeks and I feel that it's very effective. As a 'blur cream' however, I'm not really convinced and if this is what you were looking for only, I don't think I'd recommend this. If however you are looking for a good new primer, I'd definitely tell you to give this a go.

Thank you for reading this review! Have you tried L'oreals Nude Magique Blur Cream? What did you think of it?

 

REVIEW: Maybelline Baby Skin Primer.

Hey guys! Today I have a review for you all on Maybelline's Baby Skin primer. I'm not really into primers all that much, I do notice a difference when I use them but they don't really interest or excited me. However, this one did catch my eye for some reason and for the past few weeks I've been trying it out and so I thought I'd share with you my thoughts on it.

Maybelline's Baby Skin is a lightweight primer that promises to instantly erase your pores and to make your face look 'poreless'. The product itself has cute packaging as you can see like all the 'Baby' range does, bright colours reminiscent of the Summer.

The product is transparent and fairly thick in consistency, there's no tint to it on the skin and there's also no fragrance. A little bit of this goes a long way so you don't really need a lot at all. It spreads evenly and nicely - there's no difficulty in applying this across your face with your fingers and it doesn't gather in any particular area.

It also doesn't cause any irritation or breakouts in my skin. My skin is very sensitive and can be quite dry or oily at times but I've had no problems with the condition of my skin with this product. This may be because this primer - like many others, is silicone based. Though opinions on silicone varies, it sits on top of the skin and therefore protects the layer of skin and locks in any moisture whilst filling it uneven textures. Due to this, it doesn't clog up your pores which would cause breakouts to occur. Because of this though, it also locks in any sebum or dirt you have may have on your skin so of course it's important your face is as clean as possible when using any silicone based product. It doesn't really do anything for oily skin in terms of oil control - it doesn't make it worse, but it doesn't really mattify either so this may be something you want to consider if you have very oily skin.

I think it does definitely minimise the appearance of my pores and I do see a differencein how my foundation looks when I have applied this. I also feel it helps my foundation to apply more smoothly and look more flawless. For that reason, I do like this primer but I wouldn't say it will make your skin look completely poreless. It does exactly what you need a primer to do and for that reason I think it's a good product and one that I would buy again. While it's not amazing or a miracle product, it does make a difference to how your makeup looks and I would therefore recommend it. Of course, it all depends on what exactly you want your primer to do, but I think Maybelline's Baby Skin is overall a good option.

You can grab yourself this primer here for £7.99. 

Have you tried Maybelline's Baby Skin? Let me know what you think!

My Top 10 Makeup Products Under £5.

Hey! So, as you may or may not know, I'm somewhat of a bargain hunter. I'm an avid believer that you don't always have to pay large sums of money to get yourself some amazing, quality products. With that in mind, I thought I'd share with you my current favourite beauty bargains under £5 - these are all products that I have tried, tested and use frequently - they are products I would definitely recommend. Without further ado, let's get started:

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19:

This is probably one of the best concealers I've ever tried. It's great for under eyes and highlighting but still has a thick enough coverage to conceal spots and other more intense blemishes. At the same time, it doesn't feel heavy on your skin either. There's not a great selection of shade ranges for those with darker skin tones but if you're fair to medium skinned, this is a really great buy for you.

Collection Cream Puff Lip Creams - £2.99:

There are many high end versions of these matte lip creams out there, but I'd say these are just as good. The Collection Cream Puff's are basically like liquid lipstick in lip gloss-style packaging. They dry matte and last for a really long time. They still have that creamy finish without looking glossy and so they don't leave your lips looking dry and cracked like some matte products can. Again, not the widest of shade ranges but all the colours are nonetheless very natural and perfect for the everyday. The one shade I would not recommend is the nude as I don't find it stays on very well.

Makeup Revolution Lipsticks - £1:

Just like MUA, Makeup Revoltion have lipsticks for just £1. The thing for me that I prefer over the MUA lipsticks (though I still love them) is their range of shades. They have some really beautiful, bold lipstick colours in a range of different finishes. I'm a fan of the bold and bright so this is something I really love about the brand. If you're not that into bright lipsticks however, there's no need to worry - they have some lovely natural, everyday shades to offer as well. Makeup Revolution are a fairly new brand and you can find them at Superdrug - definitely check them out!

Maybelline 24HR Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadows - £4.99:

I absolute love this product and it's definitely one of my all time favourite finds. As you know from the name, it is a cream eye shadow - you may think therefore that they will crease or lack in pigment. Wrong! They're actually really nicely pigmented and they do not crease. They make perfect bases for other colours and can act like a primer but honestly, I love using them on their own. The shimmery shades especially have this multi-tonal finish to them and so they look like you've put a lot more work into your eye look than you can actually have. You can apply them easily enough with your finger onto the lid and you're all set! A definite must-have from me.

Maybelline Baby Lips - £2.99:

Incase you weren't apart of the hype of this lip product, I'll explain what it is. Baby Lip's are basically like like chopsticks that are supposed to be mega moisturising and softening. Some of them however come in colours and they are the ones I'm talking about. You have a peach, a pink and a soft rosy red. Whilst I don't really rate the product too much for really making a difference to the condition of my lips, they do make them feel quite soft and they also make them look really moisturised. The shades are actually impressively pigmented as well for a chapstick / lip balm formulation. Because of this, it makes them great for a natural look or an occasion when you don't really want to wear any makeup.

MUA Blushes - £1:

For £1, I wasn't really expect much from the MUA blushes but I was pleasantly suprised. I don't rate the cream blushes much (but then again, I'm not a fan of any cream blush), but their powder blushes are amazing. They are so highly pigmented and at the same time very blend able. There's also a nice shade range - from light pinks, deep pinks to corals and peachy tones.

MUA Bronzing Powder - £1:

I have shade 1 in the MUA bronzing powder's and I'd say it's very comparable to Benefits Hoola on me personally. Both of them provide a natural but still defined look and the MUA bronzer blends really well, too. It's build-able but still natural and for £1 pound, you get a great amount of product.

MUA Mascara - £2:

I am so impressed by this mascara. I have very long lashes that unfortunately do not hold curl very well and instead droop downwards. This mascara is one of very few that actually curl my lashes without them looking clumpy. I've ever tried Benefit's They're Real (which I reviewed here) and I can safely say I prefer this product completely. For that price, you really can't go wrong and I'd urge you to try this mascara!

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - £2.99:

This is a product raved about by many and in my opinion, rightly so. For me, powder's don't need to be complicated and I don't think they should be pricey. All I need them to do is to keep me matte without looking too powdery and / or cakey. This product does that and it's a bargain of a price, too! Simply put, it's a perfect staple item that I think everyone should try!

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Nude Eyeliner - £3.99:

For me, white eyeliner in the waterline does work for emphasising the eyes and making them look bigger but it's a little to obvious and fake. A nude eyeliner however is a lot less noticeable and really keeps all the focus on what you actually want it to do. It has multiple uses as well as you can use it concealer areas and it can be more of a natural highlight for your brows, too. I really like this particular eyeliner because it's nicely pigmented and actually applies nicely to the waterline despite being an area that can sometimes be wet.

ELF Eyelid Primer - £1.50:

Elf's eyelid primer is widely talked about in the makeup community. It's even compared to Urban Decay's primer potion and I'd say that's a fair comparison. Honestly, I think this primer is as good as any and having tried UD's, I don't see a massive difference at all. For a fraction of the price, I'd say for ELF.

And there you have it; my top 10 favourite makeup products under £5. As I said, I'd strongly recommend all of these products and I really think they are worth giving a go. If you try or have tried any of these products leave me a comment, I'd love to know what you think of them! And if you have any recommendations for a makeup product under £5, let me know below as well! 

Thanks for reading.