Elemental Herbology Facial Glow

Nars Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Palette

I seem to have turned into a real eyeshadow palette hoarder, a recent-ish addition to my collection is the Nars Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Palette. To me it's definitely not an everyday palette, it's more something I get out when I want more of a 'statement eye'. In all honesty, I've only worn it a handful of times in the past couple of months that I've owned it and as you can see in the picture above, a few of the shades are still untouched. This always seems to happen when I get two new eyeshadow palettes around the same time! (The other is the Marc Jacobs Palette which I reviewed here, I've been wearing that one constantly!)

All of that said, I'm still glad I got it! It's just such a unique palette. Used dry the shadows are really pretty but nothing massively out of the ordinary, but used wet they really come into their own. They turn into what I can only describe as liquid metal and deposit a level of pigment that I've never achieved with other shadows. The finish really is beautiful too, super high shine that leaves lids with a 'wet look'. Now you know why I haven't been whipping it out everyday! 

Unfortunately I found it really difficult to capture any good wet/dry swatches on camera, it just wasn't doing them any justice so I'm planning on using them in a video soon so keep your eyes peeled if you want to see it in action! 

What do you think of this eyeshadow palette?

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Sunday Skin Prep

I've mentioned many times here on my blog that I love a good at home spa session, most of the time it's about relaxing but today it's all about prepping my skin for the week ahead. I always do some kind of a face mask once or twice a week but today I've decided to go for two in a row as well as a good cleansing balm to get the glow back into my skin.

To start I'll use the Georgia Louise Cleanse + Heal Duo Balm, I take my time massaging it into a dry face for a good 5 to 10 minutes. Not something I have time to do everyday but when I do I really see a difference in my skin. When I'm done massaging I run a flannel under warm water, wring it out and remove the balm while gently buffing the skin to exfoliate it.

Next up is the Clark's Botanicals Intense Radiance Mask which is seriously good, it really deserves a full review here on the blog. It's clay based, so draws impurities out of the skin but still leaves it feeling soft and nourished. You do have to leave this one on for about half an hour but the results are seriously worth it. It's just so brightening. 

I then finish off with the Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Moisturising Cream Mask, which smells lovely and gives my skin an intense hydration boost. I usually use it in place of a night cream and leave it on over night. Whenever I use it I wake up to plump and dewy looking skin, not a dehydration line in sight!

What are your favourite masks?

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Lightweight Summer Base

I've been switching up my base products a lot more recently, with lightweight, tinted moisturisers coming into the rotation a bit more in favour of my usual foundations. It's as a result of two things, the weather, which has finally warmed up properly, meaning the last thing I want is a face caked in foundation. Secondly, my skin has been looking a lot better recently (fingers crossed it stays that way!) I haven't had a breakout in quite a while and the pigmentation I have from old ones are fading rapidly thanks to my arsenal of skincare products.

I mentioned the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer in my Everyday Spring Makeup Video but since then I've switched to their Radiance Bronze version, which is a much better fit for my skintone as well as giving me a sun kissed summery glow. I've been applying it all over with my fingers and then following with the Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Annapurna which gives a decent amount of coverage, enough to even out the skin. It does still leave the darker pigmentation marks and the dark circles under my eyes visible so to conceal those I go in with the MAC Select Cover Up in NC45 which looks very natural and skin-like. Not the highest coverage concealer in town but it definitely packs enough pigment to cover my everyday needs! 

What base products have you been using recently?

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Objects of Desire: Nars x Christopher Kane Collection

I'm not usually one to be drawn in by limited edition collections but this one from Nars and Christopher Kane has well and truly caught my attention. The eye shadows are particularly beautiful, they impart a sheer wash of colour that's filled with iridescent glitter. You have to swatch them to truly appreciate them. The blusher is highlighter pink in the pan and seriously pigmented when swatched, it translates surprisingly well onto the cheeks and seems to look very flattering on a range of skintones. The lip glosses bring the collection together really nicely, the bright pink and orange are the stand outs to me. Usually there's one stand out from a limited edition collection, but all of these products have quickly shot to the top of my wishlist.

What do you think of the collection?

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