Today I used Clinique Superprimer (Universal)

Morning all! I hope all of your weeks are off to a good start.

Me? I want to delve into a subject which often divides the beauty community: primer. Speak to any professional make up artist and they will tell you that these magical potions are vital. Speak to any regular Jo(sephine) on the street and they’ll say they can’t see the point.

Up until two years ago I would have agreed with the latter. Never occurred to me. My skin was calm, well behaved and generally no bother. Then I entered my twenties and my hormones seemed to go absolutely cray. Cray. My skin has been a work in progress ever since, making foundations and now primers an ever-consuming topic.

As my foundation experiment continues, with Estèe Lauder’s Double wear coming out top so far, primers have inevitably entered the arena of scope. In particular, Clinique happened to be giving out samples of their universal superprimer, the (supposed) all-rounder of its newly launched range of primers which claim to individually tackle specific problem areas.

On first use, I have to say, I noticed little difference. The good thing however, is that it didn’t break me out unlike the Garnier blurring product I covered a couple of posts ago which I think ultimately, did. This one is oil free and claims to colour correct. I don’t know if its psychosomatic but I definitely think my complexion looks smoother and brighter on application. AND after a couple of days of solid use I have to say my foundation’s lasting power IS improved. Not massively but I can see it. There is a difference.

This is the closest competitor I’ve come across to Mac’s radiance primer and at £20, it’s a full £8 saving on the Mac version. Bonus. That said, I’m inclined to try others to see if I can find cheaper alternatives – it still feels like a lot to spend on a product I’m not convinced about.

If anyone’s got any suggestions leave them in the comments below. My first route of temptation is the Nivea primer for normal/combination skin at £4.99. Has anyone tried it?

Today I used Mac ‘Soiree’ Nail Lacquer

Hi everyone!

I hope everyone’s not too down during this soggy spell – not quite the glorious start to Autumn we all hoped for! On that note I have to say my make up trends are so confused, the weather is so unpredictable I’m not sure what to go for most days. That said, I have been trying to go for more ‘transitional’ items – dark metallics, dark reds and oranges and peachy blushes. I can’t quite find it in myself to reach for the real dark tones yet but summery pastels and neons are starting to look out of place. Enter today’s product, a totally transitional rose gold nail polish to see you through September.

I had been lusting after this nail polish after seeing popular beauty guru missglamorazzi on youtube feature it in a haul video not too long ago. I had been under the impression it was hard to find with several Mac counters sold out. This turned out to be true but I think it is still available online and at some counters.

It’s an absolutely stunning and moderately textured rose gold. I love the packaging of Mac nail polishes as the brush is really wide and easy to use while the lid looks so sleek and professional. At £11 they’re really not out of this world expensive either.

To buy today’s product click here.

Today I used Mac Kohl Power Eye Pencil – Feline

Morning all – well done for getting to the end of another busy week! I’m so excited for all the fashion weeks that are kicking off with New York leading the way from tonight.

As the weather also takes a turn for the worse here in London it is clear the Autumn/Winter season is upon us and so to celebrate I have been using less of my Summer make up and venturing into the darker depths again. Enter: my smokey Mac kohl pencil!

I love this pencil so much. The texture is very creamy and doesn’t pull on the eye at all. The only warning I would have to attach is that it tends to blunt quite quickly and while this could be could for more smudgy looks, to keep the eye looking sleek requires regular sharpening of tools!

The colour is, I think, the blackest black that Mac currently offers in its Kohl collection. I know people used to rave about Smoulder but from what I’ve read they changed the formula and it now has more green undertones.

Other Mac pencils I currently love are Lord It Up – a thick brown with flecks of gold (stunning) and an electric Petrol Blue (again with a bit of shimmer).

To buy today’s product click here.