It's all makeup I've been lusting over all week, particually base products. I'm always swatching the Illamasqua Naked Rose blush at work, and I've cracked and its going to be a pay day buy! I'm also lusting over my beloved UD setting spray, I'm gonna bring this little gem back into my life when I'm over in Barcelona! I've heard great things about the Nivea Men Post Shave Balm, it's super cheap too!

Products Mentioned:

Sleek Highlighter Palette

Illamasqua Powder Blush: Naked Rose

Mac Lipstick: Mehr

Nivea Men Post Shave Balm

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

This is the beginning photo in my starting up portfolio..I'd love to re-create it step by step for you..and if you would like me to do so, please let me know!

  

As far as I'm aware this is a tester size of the product that I am using at the moment because I have ran out of my regular size tube and I haven't had the chance to get out and buy some more with exams and what not :( boohoo! This is a 'pore minimizer' refining lotion, from the well known English brand, Clinique. I suffer from enlarged pores due to my oily/combination skin, as does my mum and we swear by this for a smooth, even foundation application! The one thing I would change about this product however is the smell, in my opinion its quite strong. It doesn't linger on the face, however when applying the product, you can slightly smell it, but that might be just me! 

The formula is a creamy, white sort of cream and blends instantly. I would say there is little, if any colour pay off to the product, however I have it in 'Invisible Bright' which is probably why! The product is also available in 'Invisible Light' and 'Invisible deep'- I found the best one to go for, for me personally is the 'Invisible Bright'- as the colour range is lacking and I think this is the safest option 

On my skin, the lotion is quite brightening, and really does conceal enlarged pores if used regularly and blended well. The forumla is non-drying a light, so can be worn alone, under a primer/foundation-without any 'discomfort' or annoyance. With regards to allergeries, all Clinique products state they are allergy tested, and so far I can vouch for their claim as neither my mum or I have had any problems with the products on our skin.

As you can see from the blended swatch on my hand, the finish is seemingly invisiable and non cakey. I find this refiner really works for my skin and after a long period of use, I struggle much less with my foundation staying on my skin in oily areas and the very well known problem of blocked and visible pores! 

 MUA is an affordable English Makeup Brand sold in Superdrug and on their online store http://www.muastore.co.uk

This is my 'go to' palette at the moment as I find myself reaching for it on a daily basis, the wide range of neutral colours include matt and shimmers, so the look can go from a day to night in the matter of a brush stroke!
The golden shimmers are rich and warm, and the browns are deep enough to create a dramatic cut crease or corner eye contour with little effort and a big pay out! For the amazing, mind boggling price of £4.00 (Superdrug) ?!?! This palette is a must have! The colour pay out and pigmentation is way over what you pay for, and I personally love the brand MUA, and this palette is one of their many successes! 

Shade 1 is a matte, pearly white, perfect for the inner corner

Shade 2 is beautiful, its a much more pinky, shimmering pearl

Shade 3 is a mattte, more golden colour, a great base

Shade 4 is where the beautiful golds begin, again with a hint of shimmer

Shade 5 is a simular tone to shade 4, but the colour is more intense through the matte finish that it gives

Shade 6 is my favourite in the palette! Its a beautiful rich gold, perfect for adding a hint of glamrous gorgeous shimmer that I tend to put in the centre of my lid

Shade 7 is a darker Shade 6, equally as beautiful, and if worn together it creates a fab and glam cut crease

Shade 8 is where all the fun begins! This semi-matte colour sits perfectly against these colours in the crease or outer corner of the eye

Shade 10 goes back to the darker tones of shades 7 and 8, this colour too looks beautiful worked with with shimmery gold tones in the palette, this colour too is semi-matte

 Shade 11 appears slightly blue in the palette, and it does blend out onto the skin to a beautifully blue-toned grey with a subtle shimmer! Perfect for that sultry smokey look!

And shade 12! Sadly my swatch picture doesn't look quite the same as the colour in the palette, but hey ho! This palette seems to be a full of suprises once the colours are on skin! Again Shade 12 too is perfect for a more dramatic smokey eye look, or could be blended out for a subtle cut crease or eye corner counter to create a 50's pin up girl look teamed with a flawless matte face and your favourite red lipstick!

1. Sleek: True Colour Lipstick in 'Mystic'

2. Garnier Summer Body Lotion (I use Light/Medium)

3. Garnier Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer (Again, I use Light/Medium)

5. You can buy these from anywhere and everywhere at the moment, but this sea blue coloured wooden skull bracelet is from Ebay. I typed 'wooden skull bracelet' 

6. Barry M- Gelly Hi Shine Nail paint- Coral

7. Bodyshop Body Butter-Strawberry (nice enough to eat!)

8. River Island- Neon Yellow Skater Skirt- Check out my post on the black and yellow trend for more lovely buys simular to this 

! http://the-fairest-of-them.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/yellow-and-black-springsummer-trend.html

I so far have all these products/items and I highly recommenced them to look gorgeous and smell even yummier with your new sweet strawberry smell and purple polished pout!