We all love makeup. And we need (ok, we do love it too) skincare.
When 49% of men and women in the UK suffer from spots, blackheads and oily skin*, and 21% of those look for some blemish coverage, how great it is to have products that work towards beautifying skin long and short term?
Many brands now are investing in innovative products that not only prettify, but also care for the skin.
Plus, if a brand caters for problematic skin, you can guarantee I’m already half way being a fan.
And when they work… that’s how love comes about.
La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar range covers all acneic skin needs and recently they started branching out into tinted products.
I raved about the Effaclar BB Blur, which I use quite a lot still, and now they are pulling more out of the bag.The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (+) Unifiant tinted moisturiser carries the same formula as the best selling La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo + cream, but has mineral pigments to make it a tinted moisturiser.
It delivers a very sheer and glowy coverage; used alone, for my skin, only in extremely good skin days. However, I find it’s a fabulous base for makeup. It is light applies very well.
I put it on after my primer, before foundation. Of course, I’m resting assured I have treatment on my face, as well as a sheer base that surfaces a bit of glow.
It contains anti-inflammatory niacinamide, bacterial infection-fighting piroctone olamine, healing/skin renewal agent LHA, sebum-combating linoleic acid and the ceramid procerad, which fights inflammation and helps minimise hyper-pigmentation scars.
Since getting it, I’ve been using everyday.
The new La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (+) Unifiant comes in two shades: Fair/Light and Light/Medium, costs £16.50 and can be purchased from retailers nationwide.
*Influencers and path to purchase study, 2014.
My brow obsession is never ending. Being one of the lucky ones to get their brows back after the over plucking disaster of the 90s, I now cultivate them in their natural fullness and just love it.
From the folks that blessed us with the amazing Lipcote (
I shall not be seen without my flick! True story. Eyeliners are a huge love of mine, up there with lipstick and Lancôme just did it pretty!
The formula is good, although maybe slightly dry so needs picking up several times from the bottle for a flick.
Now, let’s talk about the bendable wand. I think the brush is lovely and extremely precise. The fact it bends can help; it is more ergonomic and intuitive when bent; you can get the brush closer to the roots and corners.
On this is always sure: you can always count on Sleek to produce the goods.
Enter Sleek Power Plump Lip Crayons, a brand new product launched on the 29 June, which delivers all that plus a stinging plump to the lips.
The Sleek Power Plum lip crayons comes in six mega wearable colours – red, pinks, coral, nudes: there’s something for everyone.
Now, the plumping divided the audience. The sting operation is real and lasts. While I didn’t mind, Alice, my blonde in residence, testing pinks, wasn’t super comfortable with the sensation.
Seventeen is one of those brands I’ve been familiar with for a while, but never actually tried anything from.
Their Define & Conquer count our kit is super slim and fits well in any makeup bag. The highlighter is light and matte, which makes a huge change from all the powder highlighters I use, which have some shimmer in. It does work well to lift the highlighted points very subtly, which I really liked.
The kit also comes with an easy-to-follow, straight forward guide for application.
The Skin WOW! Concealer is clearly a dupe for the YSL Touché Eclat, and works in the same way, to highlight and conceal.
The formula is less rich than the more expensive cousin, and that reflects a bit on the pigmentation and overall effect, but means it blends easier.
Wait. Is that a nude-ish lipstick. Ok. You got me.
I feel nude-ish lipsticks are just easy to wear and uncomplicated. This might not be the “classic” nude, but we know the definition of nude is a bit skewed; it should be what comes close to your natural shade.
Every season I can count on Sleek to bring my makeup up to date.
The iDivine eyeshadow palette in All the Fun in the Fair (£8.99) comes in deliciously pastel shades with a few neutral shades thrown in.
A new product pops in, which is very exciting. The Sweet Cheeks Blushers (£5.50 each) will give you a fresh flush of colour.
There are three shades: Likety Split (orange), Hullaballoo (violet) and Tomfoolery (berry). They might seem a bit out there, but they actually work very well.
Finally, the lipsticks. You know how much I love their 
Overall, a great addition to their expansive – and gorgeous collection.
Anyone who knows me in person will know I wear eyeshadow and eyeliner pretty much every day.
I’ll start with Urban Decay Naked 2. Now, I have 3 and Smokey, but they don’t quite measure up. The mix of earthy and gold tones, in shimmer and matte, are perfect for any occasion. Add a matte black and voilá: you cannot go wrong.
The 
Sleek has a couple that really work for me. The iDivine eyeshadow palette in ‘A New Day’ mixes beautiful golds and browns in shimmer and matte, as well as a bit of pinkish earthy tones, for an all-round look. The browns are dark enough for a lovely smokey that is not too heavy.
The 
This 
And they are all quite affordable, ranging from £6.99 (Makeup Revolution) to £38.50 (Naked 2).
Summer usually asks for a lighter foundation, which for me is s problem as they tend to have less coverage.
Durability wise, I’d say it stands a full work day with some wear; in warmer climates, it looks great for at least six hours.
What if you could have all your cheek makeup needs solved by one fabulous, great value palette?
In this palette, you get five full-sized – you read it right: FULL SIZED – blushers and bronzers, including their most loved and best-sellers.
What do I get, Dani, you ask. Well…. Apart from the super pretty box (come on!), you get dandelion, the prettiest of ballerina pinks, hoola matte bronzing powder, great for contouring, rockateur rose gold for extra, slightly shimmery glow, dallas, another bronzer, warmer than hoola and CORALista, a pink-coral blusher, my favourite from the lot.
And it has a brow bar at the boutique to top it off. I had mine shaped, and OMG. No one is ever touching my brows again, I’ll be back soon, maybe his time I get a tint too.
So Many Lovely Things 