Make-Up

Review: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50+in Shades Medium Tan & Medium

According to various recent sales reports, the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream is the number 1 CC cream in the US. Its popularity comes as no surprise when you consider the array of delectable ingredients it boasts: Hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid and vitamins. One ingredient that has been a talking point for all the wrong reasons is snail secretion filtrate, yes that is what you are probably hoping it is not…snail slime. Although this will ward off many, I am content to try any ingredient to give me the elusive glowing skin that I am in pursuit of.

In a nutshell, this is a colour-correcting cream which promises to brighten and protect skin from ageing and the sun. It is marketed as full coverage and as a moisturiser, primer, serum and foundation all in one. Talk about killing multiple birds with one stone.

Description

It is available in 7 shades, ranging from Fair to Deep.
The CC cream provides SPF 50+ UVA/UVB broad-spectrum physical sunscreen.
It minimizes pores and provides a radiant, hydrated finish.
It retails for a reasonable £30 for 32ml; and is available here on Selfridges website.

Ingredients

An extremely long list…

Active: Titanium Dioxide 9.0%, Zinc Oxide 6.3%. Inactive: Water, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hexyl Laurate, Stearic Acid, Calcium Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Niacinamide, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Cholesterol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Lactobacillus/Honeysuckle Flower/Licorice Root/Morus Alba Root/Pueraria Lobata Root/Schizandra Chinensis Fruit/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root/Sophora Japonica Flower Extract Ferment Filtrate, Perfluorohexane, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Perfluorodecalin, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sprout Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Pentafluoropropane, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Steareth-20, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Colloidal Oatmeal, Hydrolyzed Silk, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Niacin, Folic Acid, Chrysin, Carnitine HCl, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chlorhexidine Digluconate. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499).

How I Use

I use this as I would a foundation—applying it over my usual prepped face of serums, moisturiser, SPF and sunscreen. I then dust over it lightly with a setting powder. It works well directly applied onto a clean face too.

I use the Medium shade for my NC25-30 complexion and can get away with Medium Tan. Pav (pictured below) is NC 35 and wears Medium Tan, with the Medium a little too light.

**Top to bottom: Medium Tan, Medium.** There is quite a discrepancy between the two shades, the Medium Tan could even be described as a tad orange.

Flashback

Pav wearing Medium Tan; photo with flash

As to be expected given the high SPF, this CC cream is not good for flash photography. It photographs a lot better in natural lighting without the flash. Flash photography does not do this foundation any justice for how it actually appears in real life; a natural and radiant finish. Therefore, although this CC cream is an impressive option for every day, it is not recommended for special occasions where flash photography will be rife.

Verdict

I am a real fan of this product. Face base products tend to either fall into the ‘meh’ category or are noticeably extraordinary. This product falls into the latter category. It does not live up to its claims of being full coverage in my opinion; it is not a substitute for a full coverage foundation. But it does offer impressive coverage alongside a host of skin-improving ingredients. Moreover, it really does smooth the skin and blur out the pores; that claim is in no way exaggerated. I used it on my inflamed, spotty skin which was healing in the aftermath of a reaction and it made that skin look presentable which is a huge testimony to this product. It did not highlight any texture or bumps, which would have been easy with such an uneven surface. I have tried the illuminating version of this CC cream which was not as forgiving on textured skin and if anything, seemed to exacerbate texture.

It offers a dewy, glowy finish on my oily skin and it lasted well throughout the day. It does not seem to crack and separate throughout the day.

At £30, for a product which combines an effective serum with a beautiful daily foundation, it is an undeniable steal and no wonder that it is so sought after across the pond.

Facetheory Deeply Nourishing Jojoba Cleansing Oil Review

Cleansing oils have really shaken up the skincare industry…we are moving away from harsh cleansers which irritate and strip the skin and instead are being drawn to the array of alternatives on offer. I am sure we are all guilty of turning to those pesky make-up wipes, which although quite convenient, prove to be an abrasive choice for our delicate skin. I am ashamed to admit that this was my staple make-up remover for a good while…

I have been using cleansing oils for several months now and I can say I am a fan. They are nourishing and feel a much more pampering option. It is the Facetheory Deeply Nourishing Jojoba Cleansing Oil that has introduced me to this form of make-up remover; an affordable oil with some formidable powerhouse ingredients including the anti-aging hero rosehip oil and the vitamin E-rich cranberry seed oil.

Description

It retails at £24.99 for a 100ml bottle; but is currently on offer at just £13.99.
It combines some of the most effective face oils, to create a luxury cleanser for the skin.
It is suitable for all skin types.
It contains a small amount of a natural emulsifier which means it is an oil that can actually be washed off effectively.

Face theory cleansing oil — This products boasts such an impressive array of organic oils, it really is a steal.

The consistency is like that of a regular oil or serum.

Ingredients

Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil (organic), argania spinsosa (argan) oil (organic), rosa canina (rosehip) fruit oil (organic), vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil, polyglyceryl-4 oleate, tocopherol (1% naturally derived).

The 100ml bottle should last a while as it is only a few drops that are required each time.

How I Use It

I use this as my second cleanse after I have removed my make-up. It helps to remove any last trace of residue while leaving my skin nourished and clean, without that tight feeling. I massage a few drops onto my skin and use my warm wet facial cloth to wash it off. I have oily skin and this product does not exacerbate it. I can also attest to it being extremely gentle; I used this on my angry, inflamed skin when I was suffering from an allergic reaction and found it soothing and nourishing.

Verdict

I must say I have become a real fan of this upcoming British brand. I wholeheartedly recommend this cleanser; and it will definitely be something that I will continue to purchase, that is not something I say about a lot of products. It is regularly on offer on the Facetheory website, and I honestly cannot think of another product boasting such superb ingredients at such a reasonable price.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder

The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless powder is highly-acclaimed and to be honest I can see what the hype is about. It is expensive, at £34 the price is comparable to a high end foundation. I bought this more as a portable finishing powder to keep with me on long days to touch up and conveniently mattify my make-up.

Description

Use it to set your foundation base or under-eye concealer, as a finishing powder or for touch-ups during the day.
Finely-milled so helps to blur imperfections.
Available in 3 shades: 1, 2 & 3 for fair, medium and dark skin tones. I use shade 2.
It is non-drying, rose wax and almond oil nourish the skin.

Ingredients

Talc, Mica, Polymethyl Methacrlate, Dimethicone, Silica, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Zinc Stearate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEI-10, Propylene Glycol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Rosa Multiflora Flower Wax, Tetrasodium Edta, Water/Aqua/Eau, Dimethiconol, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract (Tilia Cordata Extract), Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben.

In terms of these ingredients, I am a bit weary of the parabens. Also, I do prefer cleaner beauty products and in that respect, these ingredients are probably not those that I would want to put on my face daily.

How I Use It

I like using this when I feel my face getting shiny throughout the day (perhaps once or twice during the day.) I blot away the excess oils from my face and then very lightly dust my face with this powder with a large fluffy brush. I find this step revitalises my make-up and just makes it look fresh once again. It is so finely milled that it provides a flawless, perfecting veil. To fully freshen up, a light spritz of a hydrating mist over this does the job.

This is Shade 2 against a NC 35-40 complexion. As it imparts just a very sheer veil…this colour works for a range of skin colours.

Verdict

This is a product that I only use when I am sporting full coverage foundation and make-up looks; and when I want my full face of make-up to last me throughout the day. And it does definitely improve my make-up when it begins to fail me by the middle of the day….I have oily skin and this works effectively to mattify the excess oils. This product does not cake up or emphasize my pores, the latter being one of my biggest bugbears. I have NC 25-30 skin and this shade works perfectly for me.

I love it when a product just works for me and can be added to my permanent cosmetic arsenal; this is one such product.

Glamglow Glowstarter Illuminating Moisturizer in Sun Glow

Glamglow Glowstarter Sun Glow — I was so excited to use this product…

I usually research a product extensively before parting with my cash…there is only that odd moment that warrants an impulse buy. One such moment is a 50% off sale. A time when logic and sensible planning go out of the window as you attempt to get your hands on the last remaining bargains.

In the last Christmas sales, I managed to bag the Glamglow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in Sun Glow for only £18 (half price). Bargain. Or, so I thought. In fact, it turned out to be an utter waste of money.

Description

It is available in 3 shades: Pearl Glow, Nude Glow and Sun Glow. It promises to both illuminate and moisturise the skin & includes hyaluronic acid, vitamins and botanicals; blurring the line between skincare and make-up.

This is the darkest shade…although sheer, I found it imparted a tad too much colour on my NC30 skin. Perhaps, Nude Glow would have been a better match.

My Thoughts

I was excited to use this product. I was planning on using it in lots of different ways – eager to try it mixed in with my liquid foundation and also as a moisturiser under liquid/powder foundations. Frustratingly, it did not work in any of the above methods for me. It just seems to horribly accentuate my large pores/texture and make my foundation patchy. I tried it with MAC Studio Fix Fluid and also under Bare Minerals powder foundation with zero success.

I even tried to offload this onto my sister. She was also excited by the description; however massively disappointed by the performance. Neither of us felt like our make-up looked glowy with this product. Despite my skin being oily and my sister’s being dry it did not work on either of us.

I am now going to try my best to persuade my other sister to take this product off my hands…

Jas x

Skin reference: NC30, Oily, Textured, Large Pores

Topshop Highlighter in Crescent Moon

Highlighters for me always tend to be champagne- or golden-hued. So when I saw this affordable, pinky-toned, Topshop offering in the shade Crescent Moon, I was interested…would it work on my warm skintone? At £12, I thought it was at least worth experimenting with.

topshop crescent moon highlighter — A beautiful peachy-pink colour…

A heavy swatch of the highlighter…it is intensely pigmented with no glitter but more of a pearlescent appearance.

Verdict

It is beautifully soft and silky to apply (creamy – even though it is powder?!)…and the colour is very strongly pigmented. In fact, it is so pigmented that it can look a bit ott with my heavy-handed application. The fact that it is so vivid in pigment, coupled with the colour being far from subtle on my warm skintone, makes this highlighter look quite unnatural on me. However, I must admit, I actually like that look sometimes…Let’s be honest, this was never going to be natural-looking on skin that has yellow undertones…but if you want to go for a pearly make-up look with fresh peachy/pink nude lips it offers a nice alternative to the typical golden sunkissed make-up look. Money well spent in my opinion.

Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow―Shade 06―Golden Brown

Kiko Long Lasting Stick 06 – A beautiful bronze/brown colour

I am in love with this shadow stick…no exaggeration. It was love at first sight; I knew I had to have this product in my life from that point forward. And trust me, I do not repurchase many things. When I finally finish existing products, I like experimenting and trying new things (I almost look forward to finishing an item just so that I can search for a replacement…). But when you find something that just works for you and is cheap…that is when you stick with it (no pun intended). And this shadow stick does just that, for me.

I am not good with drawing on the perfect eyeliner: It is time-consuming and somewhat difficult to get correct for an impatient person like myself. Moreover, with eyeshadow, I end up overdoing it; it never qualifies as that subtle everyday look. So this product is perfect. I just draw along the upper and lower lashline and voilà, eye make-up is done (with just a little mascara of course). It does not matter if the line is not perfect, as the colour is very forgiving on my NC30 skintone―so it can be applied in a rush. Also, this stays put all day.

Other reviewers online have reported that these shadow sticks in different colours are dupes for similar products by Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier and By Terry to name a few. I can attest to this product being very similar to the Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Pencils which retail at £19 on the Charlotte Tilbury website.

06 Kiko shadow stick — A twisty mechanism saves you the hassle of faffing around with a pencil sharpener…

A highly-pigmented colour which effortlessly glides onto the skin

This is a light, cool-toned gold/bronze metallic colour which would flatter a range of skintones. If you are thinking of trying this type of product, definitely start with a wearable, neutral colour like this. This stick comes in both metallic and matte colours. I definitely prefer metallic for the use that I have stated above, they are a lot more forgiving; a thick matte roughly drawn line just would not work. The lightly coloured matte sticks would work well applied as an all-over eye colour, maybe as a base for a smokey eye. There are a few gorgeous metallic neutrals in this offering. Shade 05 is similar to 06 but with a more pink hue (thus the name Rosy Brown…)―making it perfect for those with pink undertones to their skin.

Verdict

Buy it. You cannot go wrong, trust me. The sticks are £6.90 at full price (and they can be bought for even cheaper in the sale, I got my replacement one at the bargain price of £4.80!). A definite make-up bag staple for me.

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Liquid Blush in Angel

I stumbled across these watercolour blushes recently…to be honest, I cannot remember how or why (yes, I research that much make-up!), but I just did okay. I was instantly intrigued. A liquid blush that stays put all day, even on oily skin…I am sold. At this point I have convinced myself that this is a product I need, and am hell-bent on finding the perfect colour for me. In my justification, when you wear full make-up; by the end of the day, other than the base, eyes and lips, everything else will have melted off. So, if there IS a blusher that will stay put all day to retain that healthy facial glow, of course I need it. There was a massive watercolour blush-shaped hole in my make-up kit that needed filling…asap.

A beautiful shimmery pink-peach wash of colour…

Picking a Colour

First thing to bear in mind is what will suit your skin-tone…

I got the following rough guide directly from the Daniel Sandler website:

Light skin with blonde, brown or red hair, freckles, burn easily:
Cherub, Chelsea, Icing, Angel.

Fair skin with blonde or brown hair, no freckles:
Cherub, Chelsea, Flush, Gentle, Icing, So Pretty, Joy, Angel.

Light Golden skin , Light Mixed Race and Light Asian skins:
Cherub, Spicey, Glamour, Gentle, Icing, So Pretty, Joy, Passion, Angel.

Dark/ Dark Asian skin/ Dark Mixed Race:
Hot Totty, Acid, Trip, So Pretty, Spicey, Glamour, Passion.

Black:
Hot Totty, Acid, Trip

I only wanted to buy one at first, and in the end, I opted for Angel. I did not want a shade that was too pink or peach and this seemed to be in the middle of those two colours. The exact description from the Daniel Sandler website, for the colour Angel is: ‘Delicate, shimmery, medium-pink shade that suits all skin tones as a universal cheek highlighter. You can’t go wrong dabbing this pretty shade on top of cheekbones.’

Passion, Flush and the beautiful Rose Glow also caught my eye…

Verdict

IMG-20170810-WA0008 — This is Pav wearing the blusher…it is subtle and provides a healthy-looking glow on her NC35 skintone.

This is a very subtle blusher on my NC30 skin and I think on skin much darker it would probably be best used as a highlighter on cheekbones. Layering is not an issue with this product (as long as it is not used over powders) and the coverage is buildable. The consistency of this blusher is extremely watery (surprise, surprise) and the colour imparts quite sheer; it needs to be shook quite well before use. I use fingers to apply this (squirt a small bit onto my index fingertip and work into my cheeks); it is extremely runny so you do have to work quite quickly with it. It lasts better than powder blushers but would be even longer-lasting if set with powder blush over the top. Personally, I do not find myself reaching for this; but I would recommend this for people who wear minimal make-up and prefer a natural and dewy look. I imagine it is the perfect thing to spruce up your BB cream.

Overall, I do like this product but I would say choose your colour very carefully, make sure it is one that will actually show up on your skin-tone!

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