Becca Beach Tint

Last week I posted about Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector which I picked up at my local Space NK, and truth be told, true to form I didn't buy just the one item. I also treated myself to Becca's Beach Tint in Guava. This may be a strange item to purchase in February in London where there is absolutely no chance of me seeing a beach but anyhoo .....

Beach Tint is a water-resistant blush and it comes in 8 glorious shades, each one as lovely as the next one. Choosing one colour was difficult, each shade is named after a fruit and even smells like its namesake. I came home with Guava which is a bright pink shade which blends out to give the cheeks a very natural flush. I have been known to hit the blush a little hard so being quite a sheer tint, this is a good product for someone like me.

I was a little shocked at the teeny tiny size of the tube once I got it out of the box (7ml), but as you only need a small amount I think this will last me a decent amount of time.Texture-wise, the closest product I can compare it to is the Pixi Sheer Cheek Gels (which you can read about here).  I love the fact that these are oil-free, streak free and water proof making them ideal for warm climates, it is just a shame I no longer live in one!  The price is £20.00 / $42.00.

After not being around for a while, Becca has been relaunched recently at Space NK (UK) and David Jones stores (Aus). They also have a good online store which you can see here, as well as some of the most beautiful advertising campaigns I have ever seen .... sigh.

Transitioning from Sydney to London, Summer to Winter

Last Friday I flew back to London after my month long holiday in Sydney. These are the ways I transition my makeup from the highest high's of Summer to the deepest depths of Winter, so if you are Sydney based and planning a trip far north - i've got you covered!

It's amazing how everything changes as soon as you step off the plane. The first thing that is noticeably different is the light. The light in Sydney is just so damn bright. London in Winter has a certain, may I say bleakness to it. This means that colours read differently and even something as simple as the shade of foundation you wear may need a rethink as you travel between the hemispheres. After totally living in tinted moisturiser, I am now reaching for something with more coverage, and i'm switching for a more dewy finish to something a little more matt.

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser - £57.00 / $94

By Terry Terrybly Densiliss  Wrinkle Control Serum Foundation - £75.00 

After spending the past month using a nude lipstick shade, this suddenly looks way too insipid and I find myself reaching for berry shades to give my face some life. 

Paul and Joe Lipstick on Shade 207 - £19.50 (similar shades here)

Kiko Velvet Matt Lipstick in Cherry Red (609) - £6.90

I also tend to shelve the moral coral and neutral blush shades and go for something rosie.

Bourjois Cream Blush in 02 - £7.99

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Rose - £19.00 / $44.00

While you may feel like a goose wearing eyeliner and mascara on the beach, in London it is definitely the way to go so i'm going to go crazy. Lately I have switched it up and have been using a dark brown eyeliner rather than a black which still defines the eye nicely, but looks a little less severe. I am also upping the intensity, moving from a light wash of colour over the lid to something with a little more punch.

Clinique Chubby Stick for Shadown Tint for eyes in Lavish Lilac - £17.00 / $35.00

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Velvet Orchid - £28.00 / $62.00

There are a few things that stay the same no matter my location. I always use a broad spectrum sunscreen, even when it's 4 degrees and raining. My trusty black mascara is also a key product that I am never without. 

Lip & Cheek Stains

This month I received two samples of lip & cheek stains in my Glossybox and Birchbox. I am a firm believer in cream blushes so I was curious to see if I preferred this stain type format.

For those of you who don't know how the Glossybox and Birchboxes work, I will be explaining all in a post very soon. I am just waiting for this month's boxes to arrive to photograph and review for you! 

In my Glossybox I received a full size (12ml) of Me Me Me's Cherub's Blush.  It is a cheek and lip tint which comes in a bottle with a brush in the cap, like a bottle of nail polish. The aim of this product is to give a long-lasting hint of colour. I first tried it on my lips and while the colour was pretty, I found the texture quite drying and I couldn't wait to put lip balm over the top. It was very subtle and pretty on the cheeks though and the smell was amazing. I am a sucker for anything with a rose scent. This costs £5.50 which I think is pretty good value and you can buy it here.

In my Birchbox I received a sample size of Stainiac from The Balm in colour Beauty Queen. This one is a gel formula, which comes with an applicator like a lip gloss. I felt a bit more in my comfort zone as I do love this texture. Colour-wise it was more subtle than the Cherub's Blush.  I didn't like it on my lips, even though it was a gel it still felt dry to me. It was quite pretty on the cheeks - it reminded me of  'Oh Glow' by Smashbox which I found to be a bit too sheer for my liking. This costs £10 to buy the full size through Birchbox but it it currently unavailable ?? They obviously need to sort that out. If you are in Australia, it costs $17 and you can buy it here.

Top swatch - Me Me Me's Cherub's Blush

Bottom swatch - The Balm's Stainiac

I think these lip and cheek stains could be your thing if you are very pale and only like a suggestion of colour. For me, i'm sticking to my beloved cream blushes and hydrating lipsticks.