Review: Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

I am always searching for a good foundation for pale skin and until quite recently drugstore foundations were a no-go, always too yellow or dark. But since Rimmel brought out their new shade "Light porcelain" I have been trying out every kind! My most recent purchase was their Wake Me Up Foundation because I already have and love their Wake Me Up Concealer. Here are my thoughts…

I have to admit that I was put off by the bright orange lid. This is probably because being pale I have a natural dislike of the colour but I got over that pretty quickly. The pump gives a good amount of product and doesn't squirt it too far either.

The consistency of the product is lovely and creamy and it blends into your skin really easily. The colour also blends fantastically well, not too pink or yellow and it doesn't sit heavily on the skin. It gives a medium coverage but it can be built up and it gives your skin a natural healthy glow, which is good for people like me who have dry skin. One thing I would say, is that if you have dry patches it does sit in them and make them a bit obvious, so make sure you put on plenty of moisturiser before applying it.

As for it's staying power I have taken it on a very hilly walk on a sunny day (it is SPF 15, woo hoo!) and it didn't budge! At the end of the day my skin still felt soft and had a nice glow to it, without getting oily, and my blush had stayed in place as well.

Conclusion

Really pleased with this product! It's fantastic for pale skin in terms of colour and that all-important SPF and it wears really well as a foundation too. You can currently pick it up for £8.99 from Boots.

Have you tried this foundation? What is your go-to drugstore foundation?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Friday Favourites #1

So I have decided to start a weekly favourites series on Fridays, partly because I'm so fickle with my favourite products and partly because I felt it would allow me to add a few more fashion/lifestyle pieces.

This week the weather's been pretty rubbish and the one good thing about this is that I can get roll out my standard autumn look with my leather jacket from ZARA paired with a scarf, this one from New Look is my favourite at the moment. 

As I said in my perfume post, I've been absolutely loving Agent Provocateur Fatale perfume. I've even worn it on days I'm not going anywhere because it makes me feel better about myself and the scent stays so well that you only need a little and it'll stay all day!

As for makeup, a friend of mine introduced me to Topshop's Lipstick in Mink a few months ago and it is great if you just want to emphasise your natural shade, or you can build it up to give a darker purpley brown. It has a matte finish but doesn't dry your lips out making it ideal for daywear. It does need topping up occasionally but it has generally pretty good staying powder. Annoyingly it seems to have been discontinued (again) I have also been loving Bobbi Brown's Cream Blusher in Fresh Melon because I was finding that powders were sitting a bit on my skin and not blending well. Plus I've been favouring a more natural look lately and the creaminess of this blush blends so well that it doesn't look like you're wearing anything.

Also pictured: Rimmel Rita Ora Nail Varnish in Pillow Talk, NARS Tinted Moisturiser and Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara. 

What products are you loving at the moment?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Battle of the Drugstore Dry Shampoos

I don't know about you but dry shampoo has been a bit of a lifesaver for me because I insist on having a fringe. I don't wash my hair everyday because I find it makes it less manageable (I have curly/wavy hair) and I have heard that it isn't good for it. Sadly, fringes tend to require maintenance after about a day and a half, thankfully dry shampoo comes to my rescue at that point. I have tried out a few drugstore brands (all bought from Boots) and here are my findings!

Batiste Dry Shampoo XXL Volume - Big and Bouncy 

This was the first dry shampoo I ever tried because Batiste were originally the big dry shampoo brand in drugstores. Back then I had a few issues with it and sadly, it would seem that Batiste haven't done anything about them. I do find that it absorbs any oil but it also leaves a slightly white powder in my hair and makes it look a little dull and grey. Also, after a few hours it gets oddly sticky and stiff… Not attractive in a fringe. I have tried a few varieties of Batiste but I have found none which solve the issues. Then again, it is the cheapest option I have tried, at £3.99, so there is that.

TRESemme Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo 

This is the most expensive dry shampoo I have tried (£5.25) and it is definitely better quality than the Batiste. It doesn't leave my hair feeling sticky and stiff and there is very little (if any) greying of the hair. The only issues are the smell, which is like a cross between talcum powder and hairspray, and that it makes my hair a little flat. If you can get over the smell and you have straight hair then these wouldn't really be issues but if you have curls or waves it might weigh them down.

Dove Style + Care Dry Shampoo 

I had heard a fair bit of hype about this dry shampoo and once again, you guys were right! I have used this a few times now and have had no problems with it at all, I even used it two days in a row and there was no weird stickiness, no white powder, it didn't make my hair all flat and it smells really nice. It's quite a sweet smell but as long as it's not that typical dry shampoo smell I don't really care. Oh and it does absorb any excess oil whilst keeping my fringe cheerfully swishy. You can get it for £4.49 from Boots and they have a 2 for £5 deal on Dove hair products at the moment. Woohoo!

Have you tried any of these?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Products I'm Repurchasing

One of the ways I know if I've really loved a product is if I feel disappointed once it is almost empty (and I try to squeeze every last bit of usage out of it). Those products are the ones I know I will be repurchasing asap. Weirdly, I find that several products often run out at once, so I thought I'd share with you the products I will be buying again pretty shortly.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

I had heard so much hype about this that I was left thinking that there was no way a toner could be that amazing. I had always thought of a toner as being a bit of a pointless part of a skincare routine, except for when Dermalogica had their Soothing Protection Spray, which they sadly discontinued, and I certainly hadn't found any which were as life-changingly great as Beauty Elixir was said to be. Well, I stand corrected! Beauty Elixir is all the things I liked about Dermalogica's toner but without the price tag and a better sprayer (seriously, that's important in a toner!). I've found that since I started using it, any redness has been reduced and my skin seems to better absorb my moisturiser, plus it smells lovely and doesn't feel at all heavy on your skin. Definitely worth trying.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

As you can see, I have hit pan here! I actually picked this product up because I had forgotten to powder my face as I ran out of the house, so nipped into Boots to grab a cheap, temporary solution. To my surprise this has become one of my favourite products! It actually does keep your skin matte, although you may need a top-up after a few hours and it hasn't clogged my pores or irritated my skin. The powder isn't wasted every time you use it because it doesn't break up or clump like some powder products do. Admittedly it does notice a little on the skin but it's perfect for the evening. Link to it here.

bareMinerals Mineral Veil

This is my other powder and is what I would recommend if you wanted a highend product. What I really love about this is how natural it looks when you put it on. Whilst the Rimmel product is a little visible, this one is invisible and manages to mattify areas which need it, whilst not drying up the rest of my skin. It's just perfect for a natural, understated look so I tend to use it during the day more than the Rimmel one. You can get it for £20 here.

Champneys Oriental Opulence Shower Cream

I was given a little gift set of these for Christmas years ago and have been rebuying it ever since. I never thought I could become loyal to a shower product but I was wrong. This stuff smells amazing and has a lovely glittery sheen to it without actually leaving glitter all over you and the shower. Basically, I can't explain why I love this so much but if you are anywhere near a Boots and are looking for a new shower wash, go and smell this! Then let me know if you agree with my obsession.

What products have you emptied? Are you as attached to any of these products as me?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x