The Best Base.

Now, the title to this post makes some serious claims, but I'd hold true to that! The combo in question is the L'oreal Lumi Magique Highlighting Base Primer and the True Match Foundation.

Sweet Moses! How have I only just discovered these?! I think there's a common misconception that high street/drugstore foundations just never compare to higher end, but when a brand like L'Oreal is centre stage, you can't help ponder that if these products are made in the same place as Giorgio Armani, Lancome, YSL... there's GOT to be formulation cross-over!

This Lumi Magique base is stunning! And it has replaced MAC's Strobe Cream that I was using before. I dot onto the high points of my face before applying foundation and the after effect is a beautiful, ethereal glow. You only get about 20ml and it retails for about £9.99, but the quality is so fantastic that I think it well worth it!

Onto the real star: L'Oreal True Match Foundation. My, oh my. This is just a dream to work with! I mix N4 Beige and W3 Golden Beige to achieve my perfect match, and that's my only fault with the colour range - though large none of the individual colours match me . It is a very liquid-y formula, and glides over the skin beautifully. I have quite dry skin and although this isn't the usual super-dewy type of formula I normally go for, I am really enjoying the finished effect. The product doesn't cling to any dry patches, doesn't oxidise on me and wears better as the day goes on and some of my natural oils are released onto the skin.

I have heard this compared to the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and whilst I don't own that one, I must say that Amelia makes a pretty good arguement for it!

Boots have buy one get one half price at the moment on L'Oreal, so I'd recommend picking up this little duo!

Chic Cream Cheeks

What a gorgeous Sunday morning here in Bristol! It is absolutely freezing, but the sun is shining and there's a nice hustle and bustle in the city.

On days like today, I automatically reach for cream blushes. They just add a delectable dewiness to the skin that powder almost certainly can't achieve. My top three of the moment are right beauties, if I do say so myself and I thought I'd share them with you today...

 (Left to right in above, and bottom to top in below: Maxfactor Soft Pink, Illamasqua Rude and Illamasqua Dixie)

I think out of the three, the Maxfactor little pot has the best texture. It is butter-soft without being at all tacky and the colour suits every skin tone. As the name suggests, it is a neutral soft pink that does a fantastic job at imitating a natural flush. At £6.99, you can't really go wrong either!

The Illamasqua shades are brighter and bolder, but can be worn very sheer if desired. Rude I would describe as a 1950's apricot/coral, which I envision would look STUNNING on a fair blonde and Dixie is similar, but with a red tone to it that I think would look stunning on most people.

What are your favourite cream blushes of the moment?