Makeup is, and has been, from a young age, a staple is my life. When I was younger, I got many comments saying I was “not natural” , was “hiding” or whatever.
The good news is that makeup has evolved and it is easier to find products that will give you coverage that is natural, accentuating your beauty and skin.
I was very excited to try EX1 as they are the first makeup brand developed exclusively for olive skin tones, which is mine.
That might explain that, so long ago, when foundation shades were very limited, why I may have looked a bit off – friendly ghost or a bit pink.
The EX1 Invisiwear Liquid Foundation (£12.50) is light in texture with a medium coverage, which is relatively buildable.
Their colour matching tool on the site is amazing – I used to find my shade, based on known brands colours, and it matches perfectly. Finish is very natural, not matte or with a sheen.
I finish it with their loose powder, which is in fact a foundation, in the oilier areas. The Pure Crushed Mineral Foundation (£13) powder is also great to use over SPF or a good day moisturiser, offering a very decent and even light coverage.
Finally, the Blusher in Peach (£9.50) is just my shade: super pigmented and blendable, with minimal dropping, it sits pretty on the cheeks for that healthy colour flush.
EX1 Cosmetics products feature a completely unique blend of olive tones ranging from very fair to deep tan, and are designed to seamlessly micro match olive skin tones or for those who just want to make their skin glow.
It’s parabens and cruelty free and was awarded the Best Breakthrough Brand 2019 by Superdrug at the Annual Superdrug Conference 2019.
And how great value for money is it? You can get EX1 products on their website and at Supedrug – online and in selected stores country wide.
You know the drill, but I’ll say anyway: this post contains PR samples as products were GIFTED, with no obligation to post. This review, however, is based on my experience and reflects my honest opinion.
A little while ago I was introduced to INIKA, an Australian brand that is certified vegan, cruelty free and halal.
Really highly pigmented, naturally water resistant, with light reflecting pigments, it delivers a natural glowy flush to the cheeks. And I know, it is loose but it is not messy as it has a turnable sifter.
The Lip Serum (RRP £17) is certified organic and contains orange essential oils, mandarin extract, vitamin E, jojoba, sunflower and rosehip oils plus sea buckthorn, which is a great healer.
Finally, the Liquid Eyeliner (RRP £19), also certified organic. It is well pigmented, and has a decent durability. I have the black one and for better performance, apply again once the first application has dried.
Oh, Sleek. I’ve been a fan for a while but now you just stole a piece of my heart for good with the launch of the #MyFaceMyRules campaign, together with the charity Ditch the Label, which fights bullying worldwide.
It is sweat proof, oil free and has soft focus elements for a great finish which is not dewy or matte – it feels super natural, a little goes a long way and it certainly lives up to its “life proof” name.
I’ve also been using the Hydrating Primer, which is super lightweight with a moisture-rich formula. The foundation glides well and fells great! It costs £7.99 (20ml) and is the perfect base for the Lifeproof foundation!
Pretty much everything Urban Decay does is quite amazing. Proof is that not a days goes by without at least one UD item on my everyday makeup.
And let’s talk about the packaging? I freaking love it. The steel-look cracked effect is NOT how your skin will look – or your mirror in terror of your reflection, for that matter.
Imagine a gorgeous place where your favourite beauty brands come together. That would be enough, right?
Then, top it off with a real shop full of friendly and approachable professionals in the counters.
I was about to place my order at 
Now to the order. The site is clean, well categorised, so it is easy to use and find what you’re looking for. You can also look for specific brands, skin concerns, the Marie Claire edit and specific filtering within categories.
At 
Yet another product on my new favourite skincare/makeup hybrid category, anything that promises me exceptional coverage, as well as care for problem skin deserves at least a good go, given my skin history.
It’s oil free, suitable for sensitive skin and has salicylic acid and eperulin to help combat acne, fight irritation and pigmentation scars.
And what’s more, there’s a whole 
Mentioned many times before, but always worth reiterating: every season, GOSH launches something that stays it me until the next season. Fact.
I’ll start with my favourite product in the collection, the Overnight Primer Oil Essence. It won my heart just for being an oil. However, it is an addition to the massive selection of primers that GOSH offers.
Still on the makeup/skincare territory, comes the Foundation Plus+. With a dewy coverage, this foundation and concealer in one also provide nourishment from liquid sea minerals, hyaluronic acid and bladderwrack seaweed.
Also for the face, there is the super practical Contour’n Strobe Kit. A massive disc with a pretty highlighter, a soft blusher, a pretty bronzer and a great contour shade, for only 12.99.
Moving on from skin, I have to talk about the Giant Pro Liner. This chubby eyeliner might seem impractical, but it’s a blessing for thicker lines – the way I like mine. The tip is just thin enough o produce a decent flick.
More on eyes, the Lash Sculpting Fibre Mascara contains fibres in its formula that attach to the lashes, offering super volume and length.
What about brows? Covered! Also with fibres, the Brow sculpting Fibre Gel is a all-in-one brow product, offering colour, filling, setting and boosting.
Of course, their superb Velvet Touch lipstick range gets some autumnal matt additions: Cinnamon, Cranberry, Grape and Purple.
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.
2015. What a fabulous year for the blog. I never expected all the amazing things that happened, brands, products and, above all, people I met.
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Love bite lipstick: usually a finish I don’t go for, a kind of lustre, but oh, boy, this is pretty. An orange red, with a fab sheen, but not too much, and great durability.
And a special mention to my favourite budget highlighter: 
So Many Lovely Things 