Tom Ford Fire Lust Illuminator

Summer, hot weather, sun cream and limited edition beauty releases, what could be better?

This summer sees Tom Ford re-promoting his Fire Lust Illuminator from last summers collection. This flew off the shelves last year and was sold out before I had even realised it was in stock! In some ways, I was relieved because at £46 this is a ridiculously expensive product, and I told myself that it simply couldn't be that good... Then I started reading the reviews on blogs, and the more I read, the more I realised that this was an amazing product that I really wanted to try. I was gutted. :(

Fast forward one year, a lucky browse on the Harrod's website, (they had a 10% off weekend recently), and imagine my joy when I stumbled across Fire Lust, in stock AND with 10% off! I couldn't click my mouse fast enough, and now I am the proud owner of this beautiful amber elixir.

Fire Lust is a delicate highlighter, a pale bronze/amber colour, shot through with the finest shimmer that catches the light and gives the most amazing sheen to the cheekbones. It isn't too obvious or too glittery, and the colour would suit almost all skin tones.

It's a gel texture, which is light weight and easily absorbed, blending over foundation or even powder effortlessly without caking. The smallest amount is enough to highlight the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupids bow. The formula is amazing, and the packaging is very luxe, a heavy glass bottle with a white cap, (the usual TF logo on the top in gold). It's retro Tom Ford and it looks gorgeous! The pump dispenses exactly the right amount of product, and if you wanted slightly less than a full pump, it's really easy to control. I can imagine that this will last me years, so I think of it as an investment!

I absolutely love Fire Lust and I'm so happy to finally get my hands on it. If you get the chance, and funds permit, this really is worth every penny! :)

Tracy x

Estée Lauder Disappear Smoothing Creme Concealer Review

Finding a concealer that covers my dark, (almost black), circles without creasing or settling into my fine (and not so fine), lines is a challenge. I've often asked myself, how difficult can it be to find a concealer that delivers good coverage, a natural look, and no creasing? (Apparently, it's mission impossible!)

I must have tried 30 concealers, both drug store and high end. Some I've liked a lot, (MAC Pro Longwear, MUFE, Charlotte Tilbury), and some were just awful, (I'm looking at you Laura Mercier and Kat Von D).

My most recent concealer purchase was the Estée Lauder Disappear Smoothing Creme Concealer, in the colour 02 Light. This concealer promises a lot, but what does it actually deliver?

The formula is light but creamy with a good amount of coverage, (medium to full), but is extremely blendable. It doesn't cake or settle into the lines around my eyes, and it wears well throughout the day and doesn't breakdown or separate.The colour is very close to my skintone so I don't use this as a highlighting concealer, but a swipe of the MAC's Prep & Prime highlighter in Radiant Rose soon takes care of that! :) 

I always set my undereye concealer with a light powder, in this case Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder, but you may not need to do this if you have drier skin or less wrinkly undereyes!

The packaging is excellent, a simple tube which allows you to control the amount of product dispensed. It's hygenic, travel-friendly, and you can get every last bit of concealer out = no waste! (Yay, I hate wasting product!)

Overall this is a brilliant concealer - easy to use and very natural, with a good amount of coverage. I would really recommend checking this out the next time you're passing an Estee Lauder counter. If you've already tried it, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Tracy x

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick Review

Bobbi Brown recently reformulated her stick foundation (yay!) and after watching the Wayne Goss makeup Artist Review on Youtube I was itching to try it! According to the lovely Mr. Goss this foundation stick looked so natural, it just looked like skin yet it provided a good amount of coverage. Your skin but better, in a stick? Err... Yes please!

It took me a while to get my mitts on this stick of wonder. I wanted to visit a BB counter and do a proper colour match, as I've never worn a BB foundation before and I wanted to be sure of my shade. I ended up purchasing 3.25 Cool Beige which is a perfect match for my skin. (Just for reference, I am an NW20 in MAC).

3.25 Cool Beige

Heavy Swatch

Blended

Application is easy, a few tiger stripes on the face - cheeks, forehead, nose and chin, blend with a dense round top kabuki brush, (Crown Brush), and I had that "my skin but better" look!

It was a dream to blend, really quick with minimal effort to achieve a natural finish. Even up close in my magnifying mirror, (always a shocking experience), I couldn't detect the foundation stick on my skin.

It held up well throughout the day. I always wear a mattifying primer, (Illamasqua's Matte Veil), and powder lightly, (ByTerry Hydralonic Hydra Powder). I still needed to blot twice during the day but the foundation didn't break down anywhere. That's quite a feat on my skin, which seems to make short work of destroying foundation, especially on my chin and around my mouth. I didn't find it particularly oil controlling, but it doesn't claim to be - I found it quite balancing, (I have some pesky dry patches as well as an oil slick - joy!). It didn't stick to the flaky bits or emphasise them, nor did it make me oilier. It didn't settle into fine lines or pores. It's buildable, doesn't cake and is also great for spot concealing or touch-ups on the go.

Here's what the BB website says about it:

"Bobbi's iconic Foundation Stick gets an update with a unique transparent base plus skin tone correct pigments for an incredibly natural look. Its creamy yet weightless texture blends seamlessly so it perfectly mimics the look of healthy skin. Apply this long-wearing foundation all over or just where you need it. In 24 skin tone correct shades." 

Overall, I love this BB skin foundation stick and I would thoroughly recommend it for all skin types. It's quick, convenient and so easy to use.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have tried this foundation.

Tracy x

Illamasqua Matte Veil Review

I have oily skin. It drives me insane, especially in summer, and with that insanity comes desperation and the purchase of yet another mattifying primer! :/

Enter Illamasqua's latest release, the Matte Veil, the mattifying sister of their popular Hydra veil, (as the name suggests, a hydrator for the dry-skinned among us!). The sleek, black pot is the same size and shape but has been given a matte make-over rather than being shiny like the Hydra. 

Matte Veil is a gel/cream hybrid which has a texture not unlike the blancmange my mum put on her trifles at Christmas! It also smells a little like custard... Don't let that put you off though! It's not a thick cream, rather it has a thinner, gel-like consistency without a slimy feeling. It's light, easily absorbed and a little really does go a long way. The spatula/scoop looks tiny, (and so cute!), but it really does scoop out enough product for your entire face!

Here's what it says on the box:

"Create a long-lasting, shine-free base with this intensely mattifying formula. Matte Veil primes the skin whilst producing a matte finish. Apply before primer and foundation with fingers or an Illamasqua Brush."

30ml / 1 FL OZ
price per 10g £36.00

I have been using this since its release last week, (ordered it on the release date from here), and this is what I've found so far:

• It absorbs quickly and easily, and doesn't pile or ball up before or during foundation application.
• It doesn't interfere with your foundation, and I've tried several different brands, (Chanel, Bobbi Brown, By Terry, Max Factor, Armani).
• It instantly mattifies the skin without over-mattifying where the skin is left feeling tight and uncomfortable, or foundation doesn't apply evenly.
• It keeps me matte for a good amount of time. 1st blot needed at around the 4 - 4.5 hour mark, which for me is very good. I haven't found a primer (so far...) that keeps me matte all day, or even the majority of the day. The oil just keeps on coming! It's like trying to dry your hair with a Kleenex... not pretty!

Overall, I love the formula and I think this will be amazing to use in the hotter (#optimism) summer months. I thoroughly recommend it.

Let me know if you try the Matte Veil and what you think of it. I'd love to hear your feedback!

Tracy x