My Current Favourite Foundations

When it comes to foundations and base products, I love to mix it up! I reckon it is the one product I change most frequently in my beauty routine and I love nothing more than sliding open my muji foundation drawer and deciding which liquid, cream or powder to go for that day. I am fortunate that my skin is quite forgiving so I am able to chop and change my base products freely, without any problems with my skin reacting, and without fail I pretty much wear something on my skin everyday even if it is just a simple BB cream and a coating of mascara.

I have had the pleasure of testing out a selection of new base products recently and I'm really excited to share my thoughts on them with you all. We have a BB-type cream from Clarins, a new silky foundation from Clinique, a super-coverage option from Vichy, a concealer and foundation-in-one from Revlon as well as Lancome's new cushion compact foundation.

First up is Clarins' new BB Skin Detox Fluid with SPF25 with bridges that lovely gap between makeup and skincare. It gives you a base whilst giving your skin some love! What more could you want?! It comes in four shades and provides a really nice sheer-medium coverage. It won't conceal those spots and blemishes completely but what it will do is give you an even base and a luminous complexion so is perfect for days when you don't want a heavy coverage but want to feel and look awake and perky? I love the fact it is also packed full of great ingredients that will nourish and care for your skin as you go about your day looking fab. There is aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to aid hydration, meadowsweet extract to help maintain skin's balance and white tea extracts to protect skin from environmental stressors. If you have previously loved Clarins' BB creams and their range of skincare then this is a match made in heaven!

When it comes to a brand that offers high coverage and superbly corrective foundations and concealers, you can't go far wrong with Vichy and their latest foundation is no different. Dermablend 3D Correction Foundation is a corrective foundation that is suppose to smooth the skin to minimise the appearance of 3D imperfections. Despite being quite a high coverage base product, the feeling of this foundation is still quite light and comfortable on the skin and gives a long-lasting matte effect. I personally don't mind using quite high coverage foundation providing the formula is loose enough to apply only a little and buff it lightly all over my face. This foundation does this and gives an absolutely flawless finish to your makeup, concealing redness and blemishes easily. I love it especially as I find I don't then need to go in with a concealer or powder afterwards and can skip straight to the rest of my makeup.

Next up is one of my favourites from this line up, the new Clinique Superbalanced Silk Makeup. I have always enjoyed Clinique's base products and their newest release is just beautiful on the skin. The glass bottle without a pump is a little annoying, as I do like to moderate how much foundation I dispense at one time, but once you start buffing this onto your skin all is forgotten! It is really lightweight with quite a fluid texture that honestly feels like silk to apply. It has SPF 15 and leaves your complexion with a natural, matte base with a medium coverage. It would be great for oily or combination skin I reckon and I just love how it feels and sits on my skin. You don't need to powder much after applying it and it covers any redness or blemishes really well. Just lovely!

Sometimes it can be tricky matching and choosing your concealer to suit you foundation so Revlon have made that dilemma a little bit simpler with their new ColorStay 2-in-1 Compact Makeup & Concealer. It includes a creamy foundation along with a complementary concealer, one shade lighter. The product also includes a mirror and a sponge, making it a super easy compact to sling in your handbag when you are on the go, but find it best applied with a flat foundation brush. I envisaged the foundation and concealer would be quite thick and heavy to apply but it actually is quite lightweight and is easily transferred from the compact onto the brush and onto your face. It blends really well with lots of little strokes of a foundation brush and it gives you a semi-matte finish with a medium to high coverage. The concealer is great and will literally erase any imperfections or dark circles, so you will feel fresh faced and ready to fake a 12 hour sleep!

Finally I have been really enjoying Lancome's new Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Foundation which is a compact that includes a liquid foundation under a mesh layer that is easily transferred by the little cushion. At first I was a bit apprehensive about the cushion application, wondering if it was just a gimmick, but it applies the foundation beautifully. The texture, coverage and feel of this foundation is very similar to the Clinique Superbalanced as they both offer a superbly silky formula with great coverage and matte finish. It really brightens up your skin, giving it a radiance without being shiny or dewy. The finish is pretty flawless, especially if you build it up a bit, and it feels velvety soft on the skin. I love the fact you can also just buy refills once your foundation has run low, which simply click in and out of the golden compact, so you don't need to buy a whole new product each time. A very luxurious foundation but definitely worth the price tag.

So these are my current five favourite foundations, concealers and base products of the minute - something for all occasions I feel. I would love to know if you have tried, and are loving, any of these products and if not, what is your favourite foundation right now?

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*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick

NEW Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick* (£23) | available online in 10 shades

 & the Clinique Buff Brush* (£23) 

First came the chubby stick for the lips, followed by the cheek tint chubby stick and the shadow tint chubby stick...so it was only a matter before Clinique turned their thoughts to our completion and created the Chubby (in the Nude) Foundation Stick. The latest edition to the Chubby family, this on-the-go portable foundation stick delivers instant buildable, long wearing and natural looking skin with a quick swipe and blend of the cream formula.

I love the convenience and travel-friendly, mess-free premise of this latest twist-up product from Clinique and is easily applied with a few strokes across your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, across your cheeks and along your chin. The creamy texture gives a very natural, satin finish on the skin with a medium level of coverage and fairly decent staying power. It could be used as an all-over foundation or simply popped in your makeup bag for quick touch-ups on the go when you are out and about. The formulation is oil-free and contains moisturising ingredients such as vitamin E and coconut-fatty-acid to help provide a comfortable wear and seamless application. I really like this product for when I am after a natural-looking base with a fairly matte, satin finish. If you are not a fan of liquid foundations and prefer the finish and texture of cream base products then this is definitely one for you.

The new buff brush works perfectly alongside the new Chubby in the Nude Foundation Sticks and is designed to create a beautiful, buffed finish for a super-smooth canvas. The bristles are compact and soft on the skin and really work well to evenly distribute and blend in your base, with the tapered shape fitting any face angles for a flawless finish. Another winning addition to my makeup brush collection!

Do you like the idea of foundation in a stick?

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New In: Clinique Quickliners and Pop Lip Colours

For so long lip liners were regarded as fairly 'uncool' in the beauty world but over the past few years they have become the must-have item in everyone's makeup collection. Clinique have already brought us the Quickliners for the eyes so it was only a matter of time before we would be relishing a liner for the lips that gives us the perfectly contoured shape we desire - welcome the Quickliners for Lips Intense (£14.50).

Available in twelve gorgeous shades, these twist-up lip liners are an ideal and convenient choice to get wonderfully defined lips with an intense colour payoff. The new formula creates a creamy texture that makes lining your lips a breeze and also means you can wear the colour all over without fear of it drying your lips out. They are water-resistant so really lock in your lip colour and prevent any feathering or bleeding over time. I love these new lip liners and they tick all the right boxes - silky feel, glides on easily and no need for sharpening with the handy twist-up applicator, they are brilliant to pop in your bag to top up your lip colour throughout the day. Above swatches are 04. Intense Cayenne and 07. Intense Blush.

Alongside the release of this new range of lip liners, Clinique have also extended their incredibly popular Pop Lip Colour + Primer (£16) collection with eight new shades to complement a matching lip liner perfectly. These cute-sized lipsticks are a rich colour lipstick and smoothing primer in one giving you a velvety texture and long-wearing finish on the lips. The feel so luxurious and I love the soft sheen yet intense colour payoff they give you whilst moisturising and soothing the skin. Above swatches are 20. Sugar Pop and 19. Party Pop.

Do you like the look of these new additions to the Clinique lip range?

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Clinique Days of the Week Lipstick Christmas Gift Set

Pick a new lipstick every day of the week with this Christmas Gift Set* from Clinique | available online

Clinique are seriously treating us this Christmas time with a stocking-full collection of gorgeous gift sets to place under the tree and delight friends and family on Christmas Day. From skincare, body care essentials, makeup, fragrances and even a little treat for the guy in your life, there is something for everyone.

One of my favourite festive gift sets from this season is the Days of the Week Lipstick set which houses seven of Clinique's Long Last Soft Shine lipsticks, perfectly sized for slipping in your clutch bag before heading off for your work's Christmas party! The lipsticks feel lightweight, soft and moisturising on the lips leaving you with a subtle sheen that lasts into the night. Each lipstick has been assigned an adorable name giving you a reason to smile every day of the week; so will you be reaching for Monday Mojo, Finally Friday or Sweet Sunday?

The shades available are Sweet Sunday (a rose pink/nude), Monday Mojo (a bright fuchsia with blue shimmer), Take-on Tuesday (a warm coral/nude), Welcome Wednesday (a warm caramel-brown), Throwback Thursday (a baby pink), Finally Friday (a deep rosy pink), Sassy Saturday (a berry red). Will you be placing this little treat under the tree this year?

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Balmy for these Balms

Along with umpteen lipsticks, numerous handcreams, a few rogue hairbands and a trusty tangle-teezer, there is something I will always have with me in my handbag or makeup case for when I am on the go, or stocked up next to me in my bedside table - a good, multi-purpose balm! I love balms and I'm not just talking about lip balms but those little tubs of magic that soothe and relieve a plethora of ailments. Here are my two current faves.

First up is the new Clinique Moisture Surge Melting Mask Balm* (£26) which is an incredible multi-tasking product that can be used as a soothing balm for problematic dry skin anywhere, a quick ten minute face mask or an intensive overnight treatment. Since being pregnant I have suffered from stubborn dry patches along my jawline that no amount of scrubbing or moisturiser will seem to soothe. This balm however has really improved my skin around this area and instantly relieves any dryness and is easy to pop on under your night cream as your head to bed. Not only is it great for your face but can also be used on dry cuticles, chapped lips, scaly elbows, unruly brows...literally anywhere! The formula feels luxe and lightweight and easily, as the name suggests, melts into your skin without leaving a greasy residue. It is silky-smooth and nourishing and a little goes a long way so this little tub should last me for quite some time. The Moisture Surge Melting Mask Balm is a solid oil balm that melts on contact with the skin. It contains a triple blend of Apricot Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil and Macadamia Oil so offers you a heavenly helping of goodness that will soothe and relieve dehydrated and dry skin in an instant.

The second tub of wonders I have been using comes from a brand that I wasn't aware of before, Moa, and is aptly named The Green Balm* (£12.50). This is another life-saving, multi-tasking product that is an essential for when I am on the go, travelling or just in need of some TLC for my skin as I climb into bed. Crammed full of good things such as organic yarrow, tea tree oil (nature's great antiseptic), beeswax, coconut, sweet almond and soya bean oil, it is such a handy little pot to have on standby to soothe a whole host of problems. Being 100% natural it is kind on even the most sensitive skin and can be used to treat cold sores and chapped lips, calm weathered skin, used as an aftershave balm, a facial cleanser or heal cut and grazes. The list is pretty impressive and I have found The Green Balm a real treat to use - the tea tree properties are great at combating and relieving spots and pimples and the nourishing oils work wonders at soothing and moisturising dry hands, nails and cuticles. Rumour has it that this balm is also pretty useful at helping stretch marks fade after pregnancy and can be used as an overnight hair treatment on dry ends as well as a gentle, effective eye makeup remover. The possibilities are endless and I am hooked on it!

Are you balmy about balms like me? Which ones do you always have nearby for when you need some skin TLC?

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Three Pamper-Perfect Products

There is nothing I enjoy more than getting home on a Friday night after a long week at work and beginning my pamper routine. I know, I know, so rock and roll! I'm talking a long LUSH bubble bar, a full body exfoliation, coconut oil hair mask, fresh gel nails and of course, a good ol' face mask to prep my skin for the weekend ahead!

Three lovely new products that have been joining me in the bathroom recently for my weekly pamper sessions are the Clinique Charcoal Mask and the Brightening Moisture Mask along with another charcoal-based addition, the Detoxifying Charcoal Body Scrub from Origins. Clearly charcoal is the new 'it' word when it comes to skincare and if you stay tuned you will see exactly why!

Firstly the Clinique Charcoal Mask* (£23). This is a wonderful solution if you are after a deeper clean to instantly mattify and detox the skin, drawing out all that dirt and those stubborn impurities. Despite its deep cleansing formula this mask is still fairly gentle and doesn't leave your face feeling raw or stripped of moisture. The balance of oil-absorbing clays and charcoal powder with hyaluronic acid prevents dryness whilst giving the skin a fresh, clean feel. The charcoal powder acts like a magnet and draws out all those nasties whereas the Kaolin and Montmorillonite purifies the skin and minimising the appearance of pores. Simply apply liberally all over your face or just over problem areas, leave for 10 minutes then rinse off with warm water. Your complexion afterwards will be glowing and feel incredibly fresh, soft and smooth.

The Origins Detoxifying Charcoal Body Scrub* (£25) acts very similarly to the Clinique Charcoal face mask but has been super-sized and highly-powered to take on your whole body. Again this formula seeks to de-clog your pores whilst sloughing away any dead skin for a thorough deep cleanse. The activated bamboo charcoal helps draw out the dirt and debris from your skin and the rough particles of seas salts and brown sugar exfoliate and smooth your body for a super-soft feeling when you step out the shower. You might think that this body scrub would leave you smelling slightly 'earthy' but the addition of clove and wintergreen leaves means this scrub will give you an invigorated, fresh and clean feeling afterwards.

And finally the Brightening Moisture Mask from Clinique* (£35) is another indulgent option from the brand's Even Better, best-selling franchise. This luxurious mask is great if you are after an injection of hydration, moisture and radiance for your skin. This mask revitalises and hydrates to help restore luminosity and radiance to a lacklustre, dull complexion. It includes Glucosamine which helps reveal smoother, brighter skin and Citrus Unshiu Orange Peel Extract which helps minimise irritation that can lead to darkening. Finally the addition of Licorice extract helps brighten and counteracts dullness. A perfect combination to give your skin a boost at the end of a long week!

Have you tried any of these pamper treats? What face mask are you currently loving?

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New Cheek Pops from Clinique

NEW Clinique Cheek Pop shades out for Spring (£16.50) - available from 26th June 2015 from Boots

With Summer literally just around the corner, Clinique are taking the opportunity to add to their Summer makeup essentials to ensure skin is kept pretty, easy and fun. Along with some new skin saviours to get you holiday-ready such as Take the Day Off Oil (very exciting!) and a Moisture Surge Face Spray, Clinique have created three new Cheek Pop blush shades which I am really really happy about!

The Cheek Pops from Clinique are some of my favourite blushers and you can read all about my love for these blossoming blushers right here from when the original range was launched last March. I find myself reaching for these pretty powders time and time again and I think it is down to the natural flush they provide without any trace of powder or build up on your cheeks. The formula is lavishly silky and blends beautifully onto the apple of your cheeks for a subtle blush or a more vibrant finish, depending on how you are feeling. There is not a hint of glitter or sparkle in these blushers yet they have a wonderful ability to kiss your cheeks with a gorgeous sheen that stops the powder being flat or dull on your complexion.

So it was very exciting when I heard that three new Clinique blusher shades will be joining this cheeky collection - Melon Pop and Pink Pop (pictured left to right) and finally Rosy Pop. Melon Pop is by far my favourite Pop of colour from these new additions - it is a beautiful blend of pink, peach and coral tones and is going to be top of my blusher picks this Summer!

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Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer

Clinique 2 in 1 Foundation & Concealer (£25) | available from Boots 

As the weather gets warmer our makeup tends to get lighter as we reach for the BB creams, tinted moisturisers, cream blushers and sheer glosses. There is nothing worse than a heavy base on a sunny day and around this sort of time the beauty market is often saturated with the release of those light, barely-there bases. So you may consider it a brave move for Clinique to take this moment to launch a new foundation that promises full coverage, perfected complexion with the ability to cover and conceal all in one. Wishing for a flawless face? Then just wave this magic wand.

The Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer from Clinique is a liquid consistency that comes with an unique doe foot applicator that can be used in a variety of different ways by altering the angle. Use the end to dot the foundation all over your face, turn it sideways to spread across the cheeks or just use the tip to cover tiny imperfections - three easy ways to get the level of coverage you want. Even though this is a full coverage foundation it does feel incredibly light and breathable on the skin which is down to the formula that adapts to the skin's needs. It hydrates and absorbs excess oil, zapping away any shiny areas and glides on  and blends out easily with a buffing brush. I did find it does dry quite quickly though once swiped onto your skin so it is best to work in small areas, gently buffing in as you go. This foundation has a lovely natural-matte satin-like finish and lasts on the skin all day without budging, creasing or needing any powdering on top.

Yes this is a heavy duty foundation but used in the right way, either just as a concealer to cover imperfections, lightly dotted on your skin to even up your complexion or maybe in conjunction with a tinted moisturiser to give you that little extra coverage, it is a great product to have in your collection. I have been using it mainly as a concealer and it could possibly even rival my beloved NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer...so it must be pretty good!

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Contour & Highlight with Clinique Chubby Sticks and Sculptionary Cheek Palettes

Chiselled cheekbones and contoured cheeks are the things of makeup dreams and something that most people can only admire from their sofa whilst catching up on the Kardashians. It is one of those coveted makeup secrets - how to enhance your natural bone structure in an effortless, natural way and something that I try to achieve, and sometimes succeed with, on a daily basis. Well Clinique has risen to the challenge and are launching a selection of new products to help us girls shape and sculpt with ease and say hello to those cheekbones!

First up is a variation on Clinique's classic Chubby Stick with these two new chunky crayons designed specifically to sculpt, contour and highlight the cheek area. Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight* (£19) and Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour* (£19) are a perfect pairing to help you achieve flawless cheekbones in a few simple strokes. The Sculpting Contour is a warm, rich brown which may look a little scary on first application but is so smooth and creamy it can be effortlessly blended into the skin. Just start lightly handed and build it up if necessary. This contour stick can be applied wherever shadows would naturally fall so just under your cheekbone, either side of your nose, along the jawline or around the temples - wherever you desire. You know the drill, suck your cheeks in and apply! You can use a brush or your fingers to blend this colour in but I find it best to gently blend and fade the contour colour in with my fingertips. Once the depth and definition has been applied it is time to add the highlight and the Sculpting Highlight crayon is wonderful at giving your skin a beautiful pearly sheen without any clumsy glitter or shimmer. It contains pearlised, light-reflecting pigments which helps you achieve a luminous look to contrast again the matte, darkened contours on your face. Again this stick can be easily swiped or dabbed along your cheekbones, down the middle of your nose or in the middle of your forehead. This cream highlight is so pretty and subtle but is slightly frosty which I like, but I know some people would prefer something warmer with golden tones.

But if cream formulas are not your thing when it comes to contouring and highlighting those cheekbones then do not fear as Clinique are also releasing their new Sculptionary Cheek Contouring Palettes* (£28) in four defining shades to deliver a rich, long-lasting fresh flush to beautifully emphasise bone structure. Each powder palette contains a tri-toned compact - a colour, a contour and a highlight colour, which can be used separate or simply swirled together for a pretty, all over natural glow. For blush in a rush you can easily just use one, two or all of the three shades swirled together but for super-sculpted cheeks then you can use the darkest powder colour to contour, the lightest shade to highlight and then the medium shade to sweep onto the apples of your cheeks. These are beautiful blushers but they do contain a slight shimmer, even the darker contour shades, so I would much prefer to use the Chubby Stick to contour and then use these cheek palettes to highlight and add a flush of colour to my cheeks. I have shades 02. Defining Berries and 04. Defining Nudes and I think the latter one is definitely my favourite, The pretty cream, apricot and nude shades are lovely and it works best as a contour and highlight kit or just as a normal blush to add a sweet sweep of shimmer and colour.

What do you think of these new products from Clinique (available on counters nationwide from 6th February 2015)? What are your favourite products to contour and highlight those cheekbones?

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Clinique Nutcracker Suite Collection

There is nothing that will get you in the festive spirit more than a trip to see The Nutcracker - a beautiful ballet that encapsulates all the magic of Christmas with so much grace, elegance and prettiness in every step, leap and mesmerising spin. Inspired by this classic performance Clinique has released their new The Nutcracker Suite Collection which has been perfectly choreographed and draws inspiration from the characters, costumes and scenery from this much loved ballet.

The Nutcracker Suite Collection* from Clinique offers us two delightful, limited edition palettes which encapsulate the lightness and glittering whites of the ballerinas' tulles mixed with the vivid vibrancy of the velvet fabrics. Each palette, inspired by the two acts of the ballet, include an eyeshadow quad along with a coordinating blush powder shade making them almost as pretty as the sugar plum fairy herself! The Nutcracker Act I palette (£35) is inspired by the 'Waltz of the Snowflakes' and includes a snowflake suite eyeshadow quad made up of soft, delicate pinks and sultry tones along with a sweet Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Plié Pink, all of which I am wearing in the above photo. The Nutracker Act II palette (£35) is exclusively available online and is inspired by the Sugar Plum Fairy. It features four complimentary shades including that lavish plum shadow along with a Blushing blush Powder Blush in Tutu Pink.

I think these palettes are just beautiful and have really captured the essence of this timeless ballet perfectly. For those who don't want to go for a heavy, glitter-ladened eye look this holiday season, these are a sweet alternative for a softer, shimmery look and a pretty, rosy cheek. The addition of the darker shades in each palette though means you can add a bit of definition and sultriness to your look which is great if you want to take your makeup from day to night in an instant.

Are you twirling with joy over these new palettes from Clinique?

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