Pixi Correction Concentrate Quick Review

As you know the battle with the dark circles is constant and this is my latest favourite product to deal with them. Not unreasonably priced, great consistency and from a great cruelty free brand.

You can read my review of the Pixi Correction Concentrate here

Pixi Correction Concentrate

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Still, bizarrely, one of the only 'bottom' lash mascara's on the market - there are a few with small brushes which would be suitable but not necessarily specific for this purpose. 

For years I've been using the Eyeko Fat Brush mascara on my lower lashes. It's smudge-proof and would bump just enough at the root of the lash onto the skin to mean that on most days I rarely had to use liner on the bottom lashes. But am I someone who will settle when they find a product that they like? No I'm not. If I was there would be no blog and probably a lot more money in my bank account. As Clinique Bottom Lash mascara is the the famed lower lash mascara it was the obvious one to try*.

March News

Photo from the Benefit UK website

So. I thought I'd start doing a sort of round-up post at the end of the month. I get a lot of emails from PR's about new trends and releases that, for whatever reason, never make it onto the blog but may be worth a mention here. There are also lots of new launches that I love the look of but, obviously can't buy everything. So they'll be listed here too. Let me know if it's useful/interesting.

New Releases

Benefit have released a new blusher, Gal'ifornia which looks beautiful and the Cheek Parade which is a lovely mix of some of their most famous bronzers and blushers and their new one Galifornia. This isn't cheap but all of these are wearable and would suit most skin types so if you are someone who loves a bit of blush this is a great treat. I know the Hula Light is a new shade but I'm not sure that both are necessary - my favourite (Sugarbomb) is not included.

Face of the Day - 11th March 2017

This is a really simple face of the day. I've tried to use affordable products and where I haven't I hopefully explain why not and offer a High St alternative. As always I've listed everything below and if I've mentioned other products I've listed them too.

I'm not entirely happy with lip here - it is very pale but the other Burt's Bees balm I had to hand (Hibiscus) was too dark - the one I was after has disappeared!

I should mention that when I say High St quite often I mean affordable. So for me the Lola eye base is an ok price considering how long it lasts but I'm not sure you'd necessarily call M&S High St.

Let me know you affordable/High St foundation favourites and if you haven't already then subscribe to my channel and come and say hi on social media where I'm @corinnaharrod.

Lola Eye Base
Bourjois Smokey Stories in Over Rose
Louise Young LY19 Brush
Real Techniques Brushes
MAC Smoulder Eye Pencil
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light
Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara
Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara
Chanel Vitalumier Aqua
Pixi Correction Concentrate in Brightening Peach
Maybelline Better Skin Concealer
Collection Lasting Perfection concealer
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Ilia Multistick in Tenderly
Louise Young Blusher in Maudie
Sleek Make-up Luminous Powder
Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm
L'Oreal Infallible Lip liner in 701

Pixi Correction Concentrate

I've tried a lot of under eye correctors. A lot. Luckily for me, correctors, concealers, brighteners, are all kinds of popular at the moment so they are a lot easier to to get hold of than they once were. But, although they may be easier to get hold of they are often not great for the job they were created for. The colour range is much, much better and now all skin tones are catered for but the textures often leave a lot to be desired. Chalky, thick and hard to blend - the last thing you want for an under-eye product is something that is going to sit in your wrinkles.

This Works In Transit Camera Close-up - Quick Review

As you can probably tell I'm a bit undecided on this product. It has made the dramatic difference to my skin that I was hoping for but it's a really good all-rounder moisturiser and works well under make-up.Would I re-buy? Maybe

If you haven't already then please subscribe to my channel and follow me on Twitter and Instagram @corinnaharrod


You can read my full review here

You can get This Works In Transit Camera Close-up from:

Feel Unique
Look Fantastic
This Works 
Space NK 

Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner

As much as I love wearing a bright lipstick, most days I want something that is going to be minimal effort, maximum comfort and will pull the rest of my make-up together without me having to think about it. A tinted lip conditioner is just the thing for this and the one from Ilia is my current favourite. And for so many reasons.

Firstly, and without wanting to go into too much detail as I want to do a whole piece on the Ilia as a brand separately, it's so nice to find a cruelty free, ethical, green brand that makes good products. The packaging is lovely, doesn't feel cheap and is in fact very similar to another high end brand, but it uses recycled aluminium. And the products that I've tried are genuinely great to the extent that I'd recommend the brand to anyone even the products I haven't tried out yet. But more on those to follow over the next couple of months. I believe that the tinted lip conditioners were the first product launched by Ilia so it feels right that  these my first product review from the brand.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

God, gift idea posts are so tricky. The PR emails start coming in before Christmas and to come up with suggestions that are going to be right for everyone is an impossibility. I know Mother's Day like Valentine's Day, Father's Day and any other day may not be everyone's cup of tea.

But some people like it and struggle with what to do so here are my suggestions. As always I've decided to basically go with things that I would like, or that my mum would like, and hope that there is something here that either fits the bill or inspires you.

Some links are to specific websites that you should definitely have a proper look at... Blue Bowl being one of them. I just picked some of my favourite things but you'll no doubt find the perfect present somewhere on there.

Face of the Day - 9th March 2017

I love wearing a bright lip in the spring and recently found one of my all time favourites, Dangerous Retro Matte from MAC. This will be too dry for some but I love the fact that this is a very wearable colour that lasts all day - I only reapplied it once and that was with eating a millionaire's shortbread, having a coffee and eating lunch!

If you haven't already then please subscribe to my channel and check out the blog www.londonmakeupblog.com.

I've linked to all the products used below (some are affiliate links so if you don't feel comfortable using them then do google the products yourself). Below that are links to any full reviews, from me, of products featured.

Products Shown:
This Works In Transit Camera Close-up
Lola Eye Base
Louise Young Essential Eye Palette
Louise Young LY19 Brush
Soap & Glory Supercat Fat Eyeliner 
Lancome Artliner
Benefit Rollerlash mascara
Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation
Clinique Bottom Lash mascara
Clarins Instant Concealer
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush (Rose Glow)
Daniel Sandler Waterbrush
Maybelline Brow Drama (in Dark Blonde)
Rimmel Exaggerate lip liner (in discontinued Passionate)
MAC Retro Matte lipstick in Dangerous
Real Techniques Brushes
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit (which was a limited edition - you can buy the powders separately. I used Dim Light and Diffused Light Ambient Lighting Powders and Iridescent light highlighter).

Product Reviews:
My current morning skincare routine
Soap & Glory Supercat Fat Eyeliner
Lancome Artliner
MAC Retro Matte Lipsticks 
Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation 

Soap & Glory Supercat Fat Eyeliner

When I review something and say it's a great product (like Perversion from Urban Decay) but I don't really know why I don't like it I always feel wishy-washy. Like I should make a decision either way - I should love a good product and not like ones that are a bit rubbish. Well the Supercat Fat Eyeliner from Soap & Glory is deeply flawed but for some reason I keep using, and liking it. Bear with me.

I love a felt-tip liner and nowadays there's lots to choose from. They seem to be something that high street brands do quite well. This one has an incredible shaped tip - rounded on one edge and flat on the other - so you can be as thick or precisely thin as you like. This makes it really easy to use and the angle of it makes a flick in a matter of seconds. Seriously, seconds. It's great.

Blogging

God, I fell out of love with blogging in a big way at the end of last year. It's been coming for a while and came to head in October(ish) when writing any blog post became a real struggle. I've never written about it for fear of sounding resentful or hard done by but then thought maybe you are feeling the same way?

Eleven years ago I was 22, just out of uni, working in publishing, living with my bestie and obsessed with make-up, beauty, skincare and writing. Clever bestie suggested I started a blog, they were reasonably new and exciting and a great way for wannabe writers to... well write. So I set up Little Miss B and write I did. I ranted and raved and enthused and eventually built up relationships with PRs and added a few affiliate accounts. Then mid-20s hit and I was having fun and blogging took a back seat and during that time beauty blogging really took off - completely unnoticed by me. Instagram happened, brands became more blogger savvy - no more having to sound apologetic on the phone there were actual 'portals' for bloggers and I blissfully missed it. By the time I got my teeth back into it I had a lot to learn.

Morning Skincare Routine - March 2017

As you can probably tell I am in the middle of a horrendous cold while filming this. It makes me a bit vague. This is my morning skincare routine - basic, gentle products that will soften the skin, prep it for the day and not irritate. Everything is listed below.

If you haven't already then please subscribe and I'd love to hear if any of you have an alternative to the sadly discontinued Body Shop cleanser. All my full reviews of the products are below and links to buy the products are below that.

My reviews:
The Body Shop Nutriganics cleanser -
This Works Gentle Skin Cleanser
Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser
Pixi Glow Tonic
Face Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads
Origins Gin Zing Eye Cream
Origins Spot Remover -
This Works In Transit Camera Close Up
Origins Make a Difference plus

The Products:
The Body Shop Nutriganics Cleanser
This Works Clean Skin Gentle Cleanser
Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser
Pixi Glow Tonic
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance pads
Medik8 C Tetra
Origins Gin Zing Eye Cream
Origins Spot remover
This Works In Transit Camera Close-up
Embryolisse Lait Cream concentre
Origins Make a Difference + 

Lush Ultrabland Cleanser

Always on the quest for my next favourite cleanser that won't irritate my skin I requested, and received, the Ultrabland Cleanser from Lush in my stocking. One of the appealing things about this product is it comes in four sizes the smallest being 45g (£7.95) so you can try it before you commit to buying a larger size.

What I was looking for was a good, reliable cleanser for when my skin was really acting up - something to take it back to basics, without spending a fortune. The nice, soothing cleanser to remove your make-up after a day of testing products. This was recommended to me and it does just what I want it too.

I generally use it at the end of the day on those days when I need something kind and gentle on my skin. It's great as a first cleanse if you want to add a more beneficial cleanser after or as an only cleanse if that's your jam. If my skins needing TLC this will often be what I cleanse with as soon as I can at the end of the day before doing a second cleanse later on in the evening. If you are someone who wants one product for AM and PM this would be a good one to try.