Beauty Product Reviews

Excellent coverage but not enough shades to choose from

I fancied a change from my usual liquid foundations and though I'd give this a whirl. This isn't the best foundation for oily skin so a good primer is essential but a small amount of product provides very good coverage. It also smells really nice; a bit like lavender and fresh tea leaves. The biggest downside is that there are only four shades. Spin the Bottle is slightly pinker than my natural complexion but I use so little of it that it can be easily corrected by a bit of concealer. Some people shy away from stick foundations because they have a reputation for being cakey, and this is true if you apply it directly onto the skin, but if you apply a couple of light strokes onto a flat-top brush and buff it into the skin the result is much more natural and flattering. Overall, this foundation is a great choice for most skin types but oily and combination types will need a primer. It's also ideal for on-the-go touch ups and for travelling.

Sumptuous colour with excellent payoff

Never before have I spent so much on one lipstick (£23 to be exact), but they were pennies well spent. I was in search of a very specific shade of red and after visiting over twenty different counters in a plethora of department stores I was awestruck when I stumbled across Rouge 403.

403 is probably the closest you can get to the colour of real blood without having to create a custom shade by layering a bright red lipstick on top of a dark lip liner. Unlike most other reds which have a pink or purplish undertone, 403 has a distinct hue of warm, rusty brown. It is rich, deep and autumnal without being too dark or too brownish, and I find it doesn't compete or clash with my fair complexion. Because it's not as bright and vivid as a true red lipstick, it can be paired with heavier eye make up without looking overdone. I like to wear 403 with neutral smoky eyes and plenty of mascara for a vintage vampy look.

The saving grace of this expensive lipstick is that a little goes a long way so you don't need to worry about applying layer after layer to achieve maximum colour payoff. One stroke is all it takes, although I do recommend using a lip liner in a similar shade to ensure it stays put for longer.

The only downside is that it does feel a little bit drying once blotted, but for me this is something I can happily cope with because the shade is so lovely.