Bobbi Brown Skincare Review & Swatches

Bobbi Brown says "Beauty starts with smooth,glowing skin" and she is absoloutley correct! I find when I pamper my skin and look after it with the right products,my make up looks better and lasts 10 times longer. I was recently out shopping for new skincare products and decided to try the Bobbi Brown range as I had heard good things. I settled on the Vitamin Enriched Face Base,Cleansing Oil (for daily cleansing),EXTRA Balm Rinse (for deep cleansing 2-3 times a week) & Buffing Grains.I think it's safe to say,the condition of my skin has dramatically improved since using some of these products.

The Cleansing Oil,

"A 2-in-1 formula that gently removes all traces of makeup & cleanses skin while maintaining natural moisture levels. Olive and Jojoba Oils condition skin and leave it feeling soft and supple while Ginger Root Extract soothes and calms the skin" bobbibrown.com

I use this daily,once in the morning to cleanse the skin and then in the evening when I talk my make up off. It is ultra gentle and doesn't irritate my skin at all,I have combination skin type, however I am a firm believer that using a Cleansing Oil really does help to balance out the skin and I do find that I have less excess oil when using the Cleansing Oil. I love the fact that this can be used in different ways,you can apply with a cotton wool bud or you can apply with your hands and rinse it off with water and it turns into a really milky cleanser (exciting!). After 4 weeks of using the Cleansing Oil daily,my skin felt softer,more calm and very fresh! I would recommend this for all skin types.

Ingredients: Isopropyl Palmitate, Triethylhexanoin, Isodecyl Isononanoate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polybutene, Triisostearin, Peg-8 Diisostearate, (Peg-12) Diisostearate, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bisabolol, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Glyceryl Laurate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water

Vitamin Enriched Face Base,

"Bobbi recommends this as the first step to prepare skin for the smoothest makeup application. Rich in feel, but never greasy, this advanced oil-free, face formula, with Shea Butter, instantly hydrates, softens, and cushions skin. Carrot Extract and Vitamin A Complex help minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamins C and E help protect against environmental damage. Grapefruit and Geranium fragrances leave a light, uplifting scent on skin. With daily use, skin looks and feels its best" bobbibrown.com

I must begin by saying, this smells amazing! It's has a really fresh sweet citrus scent and is a great "wake me up" when you apply first thing in the morning. It has to be one of the most unique moisturizer in terms of texture that I have ever tried,,it's very buttery and creamy yet lightweight and is completely oil free. My skin pretty much drinks it up and it always leaves it looking and feeling soft and smooth,however I feel that this is due to one of the main ingredients whiich is Cyclopentasiloxane (silicon!) which gives the illusion that your skin is soft,perfect and smooth but doesn't actually improve the overall condition of your skin,therefore I would not recommend this for acne/blemish prone skin types as it will very easily clog pores. I find this works best on normal skintypes and provides a flawless base for foundation application. Unfortunately,I do have a blemish prone skin and am reluctant to use frequently for fear of breaking out. I have since given this to my mother how has a normal/dry skin type and she LOVES it. I must also stress that this is not afoundation primer,it is a MOISTURIZER with priming ingredients one of those being the Cyclopentasiloxane (as mentioned above). I would recommend for some,not all!

Ingredients:Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butylene Glycol, Ppg-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Cetyl Alcohol, Peg-40 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Yeast Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Beta-Carotene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit California), Tocopheryl Acetate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, C12-15 Alkyl Octanoate, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Carbomer, Tetrasodium Edta, Limonene, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Methylparaben

Extra Balm Rinse,

"This conditioning cleanser removes all traces of makeup and impurities quickly and completely. Leaves skin with a smooth, cushiony finish, and feeling instantly refreshed. Use daily for dry skin, or as a nighttime treatment when skin needs more hydration" bobbibrown.com

This is one of my favourite cleansers ever,it is too rich to use everyday (on combination skin) but when I want an ultra deep cleanse (2-3 times per week) I grab this. It has a very strong citrus scent which I found bearable however some friends who tried it,hated the smell and were sneezing a lot!
In terms of appearance and texture this looks like yellow vaseline and feels like it! Very thick and gloopy,it comes in a huge jar and a little goes a long wear,so it will last you forever. My favourite thing about this cleanser is that it is amazing when mixed with the Bobbi Buffing Grains (which I will review below) these two mixed together are seriously a match made in heaven! A really deep gritty cleanser that improves my skin tone and texture noticeably. I would recommend everyone to have a jar of this!

Ingredients:Glycerin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Limonene, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Peg-10 Sunflower Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Polydecene, Beta Carotene, Potassium Stearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Anise Alcohol, Citronellol, Aminomethyl Propanediol

Buffing Grains,

"A true skincare innovation. These luxurious grains can be mixed with any Bobbi Brown Cleanser or water to create a fully customised, gentle exfoliator for the face. Comes in a glass bottle with pour top for easy use. Formulated with Japanese Adzuki Bean Powder to help remove dry surface patches and encourage skin cell turnover,Leaves face soft, smooth and glowing.Can be mixed in with your favourite cleanser for a customised 2-in-1 face wash" bobbibrown.com

That pretty much sums up the Buffing Grains,they are sensational! I love that I control,how little or much I use,should I wish to do a light exfoiliation,I mix a tiny amount,if I want a gritty,deep cleanse exfoliation I use a lot! The packaging is very sleek and elegant,however I would recommend being extra careful when dispensing the grains as they will just go everywhere. I have made photo demo below of how I mix the Extra Balm Rinse & the Buffing Grains together,I hope that it is useful!

Extra Balm Rinse,Extra Balm Rinse & Buffing Grains,Extra Balm Rinse & Buffing Grains mixed.

Ingredients: Polyethylene, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Powder, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Polyethylene

Barry M Dazzle Dust ,Review & Swatches

What they say:

"A spectacular collection of breath taking loose, highly pearlised powder available in a profusion of colours to enhance your eyes, cheeks or lips.Each little pot contains multiple facets of intensive reflective colour that glides on smoothly adding sparkle and sheen.These luscious shades can be applied bright and bold or shimmering and subtle, with over 60 original colours to choose from everyone can find a favourite pot or two or three."

Barry M Dazzle Dust in shades Lilac & Peony

These really are just little pots of magic,there is such a huge choice of shades available it's impossible not find a shade that you like. I was in a very girly mood and when for Lilac (a gorgeous lilac shimmer) & Peony (a hot pink). The thing I love about these is that the are so reasonably priced you feel you can be a little more experimental. The texture of these is so lightweight, a light dusting on the eye lid goes a long way. Shade Lilac is an ultra soft lilac shimmer and probably my most favourite lilac eye shadow ever,I can wear it in the daytime without looking overdone and it catches the light so beautifully.

Barry M Dazzle Dust Opened,Lilac Swatch & Peony Swatch

As you can see from the swatches they are quite pigmented,shade Peony looks like a gorgeous hot pink in the pot however when applied it is a really light pink with lots of silver shimmer. I don't find the Peony to be as wearable as the Lilac but it works great when mixed with clear lip gloss for a pretty doll lip. I would really recommend these as they so purse friendly and versatile,I can't wait to head out and buy some more!

INGREDIENTS: MICA [+/- CI77891, CI77861, CI77742, CI77499, CI77492, CI77491, CI77510, CI77288, CI45410:2, CI42090:2, CI19140:1, CI15985:1, CI15850:2, CI15850:1]

Guerlain Lingerie De Peau Liquid Foundation in Beige Clair 02 swatches & review.

What they say:

"Lingerie de Peau is a foundation in such perfect osmosis with the skin that it glides on like an extremely fine silk stocking. As invisible to the eye as to the touch, it fuses with the skin like an imperceptible second skin. Impalpable and secret, this shapely, silken veil renders the complexion sublime without artifice Its texture is so supple, so soft that it melts deliciously into the skin. Uniquely comfortable, its formulation is so light it becomes transparent. Lingerie de Peau acts in absolute, weightless affinity with the skin to infuse it with light and freshness. Sublimely transparent, the complexion becomes as soft and radiant as silk. A range of 9 natural shades, seeming to fuse so perfectly with the skin, it feels as though it were made just for you. The skin is coloured and evened out with total transparency. No colour is visible on the face; the complexion is simply fresh, radiant and disarmingly natural."

Don't you just love product descriptions from the brand? They really do promise everything but the moon & stars and I fall for it everytime (what can I say,I am sucker for beauty!). Not forgetting the gorgeous Natalia Vodianova in the advertisement,she is just so pretty! I purchased Lingerie De Peau in shade Beige Clair 02 which from past experience I know is a tiny little bit too dark for me but it is the lightest shade available out of Asia.

 The texture and feel of this foundation is weightless,I could use up the whole bottle in one application and I still probably wouldn't feel a thing on my face,which is amazing. In many ways this is my dream foundation because it's so light and creamy yet it offers an excellent buildable coverage. As it is quite "liquidy" I prefer to apply with a brush rather than fingers,my brush of choice for the most flawless finish is the MAC 187,it just buffs the product into the skin like nothing else. My only issue with this formula is that after a few hours wear I can be quite shiny (due to my combination skin type) it's not a huge deal it just means I either need to wear more powder (which can make it look and feel heavier than it is) or blot more (which I hate doing in public!). I would recommend this for all skin types apart from very oily. As mentioned before,the shade is not perfect for my fair NC15-20 skintone,I would say this would be perfect for a NW25 as it has quite a warm tone. I am going to purchase shade Beige Pale from Asia and see how that compares and will review here.

I must also say as with all Guerlain products,the packaging on this is pretty luxurious,a thick glass bottle,which looks great when displayed on your dressing table but not so great for travel. I have also found that as I near the end of using the bottle there is around 20% product that gets kind of stuck at the bottom,as the tube that pumps out the foundation doesn't reach that. The bottle doesn't look too easy to take apart either and I don't want to resort to smashing it as it looks so pretty! If you have had any success getting the last ml's of your Guerlain foundation out. please share your secrets with me!

Overall I would give this a 4 our of 5 stars.

Ingredients:ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: TITANIUM DIOXIDE 3.16 % - OCTINOXATE (ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE) 3.00 %. OTHER INGREDIENTS: AQUA (WATER) - METHYLTRIMETHICONE - DIMETHICONE - ALCOHOL - PEG-9 POLYDIMETHYLSILOXYETHYL DIMETHICONE - PENTYLENE GLYCOL - MICA - PHENYLTRIMETHICONE - SILICA - ACRYLATES/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER - ACRYLATES COPOLYMER - ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE - BUTYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE - STEARIC ACID - SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE - PHENOXYETHANOL - ALUMINA - SODIUM MYRISTOYL GLUTAMATE - HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE - LECITHIN - TETRASODIUM EDTA - PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) - HEXYL CINNAMAL - SERICIN - HYDROXYCITRONELLAL - BHT - CITRONELLOL - ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE - HYDROLYZED LINSEED EXTRACT - SORBIC ACID - [ /- CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) - CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES)] 051280

Ale xo

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Review & Swatches

After falling in love with the YSL Rouge Volupte Perle in shade 108 Celestial Mauve I had to try out the orginal Rouge Volupte. There was a huge range of shades to choose from (ranging from nudes to dark berry shades) but I settled for the two prettiest pinks I could find (every Euro Doll has to have a fail proof pink lipstick!). I chose number 7, Lingerie Pink(a blue toned soft natural pink) and number 19,Frivilous Pink (a warmer medium toned pink).

Left to Right,Frivilous Pink & Lingerie Pink

The formula is not too different to the Rouge Perle however it is a lot more creamier in terms of texture and gives a more denser colour pay off. One swipe gives good colour coverage,they also have the same fruity scent and beautiful packaging as the Perle. I have found my holy grail of lipsticks in shade number 7 Lingerie Pink,it is the kind of pink I dreamt about for so long but could never find. It is the perfect blue toned natural pink that when applied, instantly completes and lifts my look without being too garish. I cannot begin to tell you how gorgeous it is,my perfect girly doll pink that compliments just about every make up look. Frivilous Pink is a medium toned pink,that sometimes reads rose in certain lights,I would say that Frivilous Pink will be the perfect pink for olive,medium skin tone dolls, where as Lingerie Pink would be better suited to fair skinned dolls. The wear time is not great (2-3 hours) however when they look and feel the way they do,it's worth it!

 Lingerie Pink Swatch (nr 7)

Another aspect of the Rouge Volupte that I love is the glossy finish it has,I am the kind of girl who does lipstick and tops it with lip gloss but with these,there is absoloutely no need! Despite the luxuriously creamy texture,I dont find them to be overly moisturising (which I wish they were sometimes especially when it is cold!).

Frivilous Pink (nr 19)

If your a lipstick lover,and buy a new lipstick just about every week (like I did!),I really do urge you to try the YSL range,they will stop you in your tracks! By far the most superior lip sticks in terms of everything! From the beautiful packaging to amazing formula and the selection of stunning shades to choose from. I am in love and I am sure you will be too!

Ingredients:Octinoxate,Avobenzone,Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate,Hydrogenated polyisobutene,Butyl Stearate, Butyloctyl salicylate,Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2,Polyethylene,Hydrogenated vegetable oil,Dimethicone,Titanium Dioxide,Cera microcristallina,Cera alba,Dimethicone Crosspolymer,Oryza sativa,Silica Dimethyl Silylate,Stearyl stearate,Ethylhexyl Palmitate,Caprylyl Glycol,Tocopheryl Acetate ,Oryzanol,Ammonium glycyrrhizate,Parfum,Behenic acid,Paraffin,Glyceryl Stearate,Lecithin,Tocopherol ,Ascorbyl Palmitate,Butylene,Glycol,Rosemary,PhenoxyethanolHexylene Glycol,Sodium Hyaluronate,Citric Acid, Limonene,CI 77491,CI 15850,CI 45410CI 77499,CI 77492,CI 42090,CI 17200,CI 73360,CI 75470,CI 12085,CI 15985 ,CI 19140,CI 77019,CI 77742,CI 77891,Calcium Sodium Borosilicate,CI 77002,Silica,Synthetic fluorphlogopite
Talc,6YL03-1,6YL03-1

Ale xo

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Perle 108 Celestial Mauve Review & Swatches

What they say: "This creamy and nourishing lipstick is enveloped in a luxurious gold case with the elegant YSL logo. Lips instantly feel soft and supple, drenched in sophisticated color with a satiny-pearl finish. The secret—a exclusive blend of nourishing and soothing ingredients combined with pearls caress lips in sensual shine for irresistible lips. Long-lasting and highly comforting formula, leave lips looking smoother, fuller and more radiant. SPF 15" www.ysl.com

First things first,I cannot begin to tell you how glamourous I feel when I whip this out my bag and glide it on! This lipstick commands attentions! Everything about the packaging of the Rouge Volupte Perle is rich,glamourous and sophisticated and everybody should own one just for that! Now onto the actual product,it smells amazing (a fruity mango like scent),shade 108 Celestial Mauve is probably one of the most unique shades I have come across,it's a soft pretty lilac with lots of sheen when applied,in different lights i can read pink/lilac. The formula is pretty much weightless,when I am wearing it,I cannot feel anything on my lips although the colour is there,in terms of staying power,there is nothing to shout home about,I would say 2-3 hours wear per application however I love reapplying my lipstick for the ultra fresh glossy look (although my purse doesn't!). One swipe gives a sheer pretty colour,however it can be built up. With my fair colouring and naturally light pink lips,this shade works,however I tried it on my mother who has very dark olive colouring and deep rose lips and it looked far too pale,so maybe this is one for the fair skinned Euro Beauty Dolls.

The great thing about the Rouge Volupte Perle is that it is a lipstick and gloss in one so multiple products are not needed. For a pretty daytime look,I wear this with a nude face and a slick of eyeliner, for more special occassions or when I want to make a statement,I do a soft lilac & grey eye shadow with glowing skin for an angelic doll look.

At £23.50,it is not cheap however the quality is far supreme to anything I have ever used before so I would say that it is definately worth the price.

Ale xo