March Faves...

So Spring hasn't quite sprung just yet but the clocks have gone forward and the sunshine is out for longer, even if it is joined by freezing wind and the odd bit of snow! Here were my favourite products in the month of March, note that one of them is fake tan (well if the sun isn't being kind to us we can at least fake it, right?)

 Eyes:

Sleek Palette (Storm) - The selection of shades is so versatile for day or night! Been packing this alone for my weekends down in Notts when I stay with friends!

MAC Eyeshadow (Mulch) - This slight shimmery brown shade is amazing on its own or incorporated into a smokey look over the lid. It can be used to create definition or a sultry soft shimmer. Love.

L'Oreal False Lash Flutter (Black) - I reviewed this mascara (here) and fell in love! It separates the lashes perfectly and adds length with no clumps or running! Can't ask for much more in a mascara.

Foundation 

No7 Beautifully Matte (Porcelain) - This foundation is perfect for oily skin. I use it more along the centre of the face to mattify my t-zone and leave the rest bare or with some mixed with a moisuriser.

Brows

Benefit Browzings (Light) - I have had this for nearly a year now and it barely has a dent in it! The combination of the sturdy wax and soft blending powder is perfect for defining brows without the dreaded "scouse brow" effect. I also love the handy tools it comes with; perfect for travelling.

Countouring

NARS Laguna Bronzer - Perfect matte bronzer which is definitely worth its cult status. Beautiful blendable shade for contouring under the cheek bones, temples and sides of the nose (for that extra oomf). Only downside is it is easily smashable (cry).

Illamasqua Highlighter (Gleam) - Again, a popular product, especially amongst bloggers but this cream highlighter blends like a dream and has the perfect shades of sparkle to look gorgeous in any light! Want glowy skin? This is for you!

Illamasqua Under Eye Concealer (White) - I use this under eye concealer for down my nose (so it appears smaller) I only do this really on nights out or for photographs but this product is perfect for this.

Collection Under Eye Concealer (Lightest) - If you don't want to spend half a days wages on a YSL Touche Eclat but still want the effects of it this is your perfect dupe product. At a quarter of the price it is just as good for concealing dark circles.

 Lips

Topshop Lipstick (Innocent) - The creamist texture and prettiest nude pinky shade (reviewed here). I couldn't love Topshop lipstick more if I tried. I have worn this so much either for a natural day look or for a nude lip with a smokey eye at night.

MUA Lipstick (Shade 3) - For £1 this pink shade can do no wrong! Long lasting and beautifully pigmented. Products like this make me wonder why some brands can charge SO much for their products!

Brush

Real Techniques Buffing Brush (Part of a set also) - I am SUCH a fan of Real Techniques but this has to be my favourite foundation brush recently! It buffs and blends amazingly and feels so soft!

Fragrance

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb - Never mind a March favourite, this perfume is my all time favourite. Try it. I promise you you'll wear nothing but forever.

Tan

XEN Tan Gradual Moisturiser Tan (Light/Medium) - A little pricey but smells amazing (vanilla) and gives an amazing colour after just one application even though it is classed as gradual tan.

Tool

Style IQ Nipple Daisies - I had to include this little helpers. They have saved me from many embarrassing moments with some bra-less clothing in the past chilly month! Try them they are fab!

There you go... my March favourites! A lot of them are my all-year favourites to be honest, I've tried not to ramble too much but hope you enjoy!

Do any of these fall into your March favourites List? Would love to see your thoughts!

PS. My Instagram name is @fionabarbs_mua for up to date beauty and lifestyle pics :)

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation Review

So it's 3 for 2 across all cosmetics in Boots!! Uh-oh! Bye pay cheque! One of my purchases was this foundation that I have been intrigued by and have seen many a blog post about....

This is a gel foundation which promises to give a "flawless complexion and undetectable coverage". I am going to be honest in my review as always and I'm afraid my verdict is a negative one (unlike most blog reviews I have read).

For me, the coverage wasn't very good, and I found it mostly wore off on my commute to work (albeit it's harsh weather conditions at the minute I still think this foundation falls short especially as it promises to stay on for 16 hours!). As the day progressed the coverage became patchy and quite oily in texture.

I think this foundation is definitely more suited to dryer skin, as I think the gel/serum base just enhances the pre-existing moisture in the skin.

 Swatch rubbed in to the skin above.

What are your thoughts on this foundation? I'd love to know your thoughts!

New Nude Lips from Maybelline

I've been hunting a new nude lippy for a while now and I've just come across this beauty from Maybelline. This shade of lippy and lip liner (Color Sensational - Sweet Pink 132) are a perfect shade of pinky nude. Like all Maybelline lipsticks it is lovely to wear as it's moisturising and sheer. The liner and lipstick match together perfectly and I love to use a liner as it helps it last and stops the colour from bleeding. Good one Maybelline, see you again soon for another lippy purchase!

What do you think? Have you got a fave nude lippy?

PS Check out my Instagram for up to the minute beauty and lifestyle snaps - @fionabarbs!

L'Oreal False Lash Flutter

I was excited about this mascara after I saw the new TV advertisement and I wasn't disappointed. The wand is a wing shape which tapers into a fine tip and has fine plastic bristles. It is great at separating and defining the lashes as well as lengthening them. The thinner top of the wand really helps to get in the inner corner of the lashes which great and the wider base ensures the full length of the lash is coated.
I only applied one layer to my lashes (pictured above) but you can build up the coats to add thickness and drama.
This is the first mascara by L'Oreal I have ever purchased but I would definitely buy it again as I can't see anything wrong with it.

Have you guys tried it yet? What do you think?

Rimmel 3 for 2

I swung by Boots yesterday and noticed it was 3 for 2 on Rimmel (you know whats coming). Here's what I got...

I decided to try out two foundations (I needed a new one anyway so why not get two?) and a BB cream as I've been looking to try one of these hyped up little 'miracle products' since they first hit back on the market.

 BB cream (Light), Wake me up foundation (100 Ivory), Match Perfection (100 Ivory)

I was really eager to try this BB cream as it promises to do so much (9 in 1) but I won't be repurchasing it. It is a very thick consistency and takes a lot of effort to work in to the skin. When it is on the skin it feels rather sticky (I think it is the primer element that does this).

It does make you look more natural but in my opinion a BB cream is full of disappointments as you can get beautiful light coverage from a number of foundations on the market now. It also seems to clog to pores and doesn't mattify as promised (I don't know if you can tell from the above swatch on my hand).

Although this foundation is the same shade as the Match Perfection (Ivory) it looks a lot darker in the bottle. Once it is on the skin however it blends beautifully. It is medium thickness for a foundation and the light reflecting particles give a lovely finish.

Here it is rubbed into my hand you can even see from this how it makes the skins surface look even and bright.

Match Perfection promises to blend perfectly and to merge to your skin tone. When squeezed on my hand it was a very runny consistency which worried me as I thought the coverage wouldn't be very good.

When I rubbed it into my hand it did exactly what I had hoped. It matched to my skin perfectly (I guess in this instance you should trust the name) and also gave a lovely soft finish.

Overall I am really pleased with my purchases. Although the BB cream is not for me I would be open to suggestions of ones that you all like (put any suggestions in a comment below :)) I am really looking forward to using my new foundations more and I'll try to use them in some future posts so you can see them on the face.

Is Rimmel your go- to drugstore brand for foundation? Let me know!