Make-Up Faves (aka bigging up the Nars Laguna bronzer)

I have been a beauty product junkie since my very early teens when my best friend and I would go into town on a Saturday morning and spend a huge chunk of our allowance on spot cream, Rimmel 'pink shimmer' lipstick, Exclamation! perfume and Fenjal bubble bath.  A quick mooch around Boots is always a tonic on a 'blah' day but one of my favourite Saturday afternoon activities is to wander around the beauty hall of a big department store, sniffing bottles, spritzing perfumes and swatching blushers.

Some of my favourite beauty supplies, many in travel-sized containers which I always buy despite them being rubbish value for money.  The Bioderma 100ml crealine water is so cute!

When I was packing for my little spa trip with Andrew for his birthday last week I laid out all of my make-up and beauty products so that I wouldn't forget anything.  It made me think about my 'make-up journey'.  (Feel free to make a derisive snort at that term... I did.  The thing is, it really has been a bit of a journey).  

Until about a year ago I had a huge box full of make-up that I never used.  It mostly contained brightly coloured lipstick.  It also held a large number of false eyelash sets and quite a lot of glittery eyeliners and eyeshadows.  I had to hit my 30s to learn that no matter how much I aspired to be one of those perfectly made-up women with four shades of beautifully blended eyeshadow, sculpted cheeks and juicy pink lips, it was never going to happen. That look just doesn't suit me.  I have come to realise that the make-up products that really float my boat are the ones that make me look like a fresher, healthier version of myself.  I have quite pigmented skin from a contraceptive pill and Spanish holiday that didn't mix well in my late 20s and although I'm using products to reduce the pigmentation (and will have a mild facial peel in the autumn) I like to use make-up that evens out my skin tone, gives me a healthy flush and highlights my cheekbones.  The below photo is practically my entire make-up collection now.  I have a few more blushers and highlighters, the same foundation in a slightly darker shade for the summer and a few eyeliner pencils, all Mac, but different colours.  I'm quite proud of myself that I've managed to whittle it down to so few products.

Mac, Nars and Laura Mercier are my favourite brands.  I'm generally not a bronzer fan but since discovering Nars bronzer in Laguna it's a staple product in my make-up bag - I'm on my third pan now.  It's a brown shade, rather than orange, and has no shimmer at all so gives a nice natural colour that helps to even up my skin tone when I've been out in the sun.  I definitely recommend it. 

I've recently discovered Soap & Glory make-up following a 3 for 2 deal in Boots - I love the body products in the range but had never tried the make-up.  (Foam Call shower gel smells so good!)  Cheekmate is an amazing gel blusher that you can also use on your lips.  You need a teeny tiny amount (about the size of a pinhead) as it's a really strong colour but, applied sparingly, it is the exact tone of my cheeks after a zumba class so it suits me perfectly.  It also has staying power and lasts all day.  The Supercat eyeliner pen is a Soap & Glory product too.  I rarely use gel eyeliners (I usually end up looking more like a drunk drag queen than beauty queen) but this one is idiot-proof.  It gives a nice even line with minimal pressure.  I like it a lot!  

I use Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation in Bone and always apply it with the stippling brush (two-toned in the picture) it gives a much more natural finish than using your fingertips or a regular foundation brush.  Laura Mercier shimmer blocks are to die for and my favourite Mac eyeliners are Phone Number and Tarnish.  I also like the dark plum, dark navy and forest green for a bit of a change. That's as exciting as it gets! 

Has anyone else got any amazing make-up finds they'd like to share?  I'm all ears.

Nicki 

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