Have You Tried Anything New This Week? | Beauty

Fresh week, fresh start.

As part of this new week, I thought I'd trial run a few new products as part of my beauty regime, to see how they held up. A kinda 'Hot or Not?' 'Fit or Shit?' type test. 

Some of these products you might have seen on my Instagram; I have become like literally obsessed with Insta recently - I can't lie. And some of them - such as the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and my Makeup Revolution Fixing Spray have already made their star appearances in past blog posts [My Favourite Makeup Revolution Products and Birchbox | April Edition] before I'd had a chance to give them a fair trial. 

L-R: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water / MUA Colour Correcting Pro Base Prime and Conceal Powder / Laura Mercier Foundation Primer [sample size] / W7 Cosmetics Chunky Bronzer / Makeup Revolution Pro Fix Oil Control Fixing Spray

The Test Subjects

MUA [Makeup Academy] Pro-Base Prime & Conceal Powder, £4.00

So, this baked, silky-smooth powder promises to transform your complexion; evening out your skin tone and illuminating your face. I first saw this product on another blogger's YouTube channel - and easily swayed as I am, I headed straight online to purchase it. 

I won't lie - I was sceptical of this product at first - I have been loyal to Rimmel's Translucent Pressed Powder for the past four years. But you know what guys - it actually works. It held my make-up in place, kept the dreaded shine at bay and it definitely gave my face added radiance. My under-eye bags were totally less noticeable and hours later, this powder was still holding out against the dreaded fod shine. To apply, just take a big old powder brush and swirl it round to pick up an even amount of each colour, before powdering your face as normal.

I'm very fussy about pressed powder and I didn't hold much hope for this. But I am really impressed - and that's something coming from me! You can pick up this product online, at your local Superdrug or do what I did - and head to the realms of eBay to pick up a bargain. 

W7 Cosmetics Chunky Bronzer, £4.95

After perving on the Clinique Chubby Sticks earlier last month and weeping at how I could never justify spending so much, I headed onto eBay and picked up this W7 Bronzing Stick. FYI, for all you budget beauty babes out there; on eBay I got this brand new [including postage] for approx. £3.95. 

I use this daily as part of my contouring game and it's lovely. It's dead creamy and blends really well; for a subtle effect with no harsh lines. I apply this to my chin, cheekbones, forehead and jawline and blend into my face's natural contours. Taking a small brush, I apply a little of this product to my nose to subtly define and contour that, too. 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, £3.33 (on offer at Boots)

Thanks to my highly influential nature, after seeing photos of this stuff plastered across social media, it was only a matter of time that when I saw it was on offer at Boots - and that my supply of Asda face wipes was looking dangerously low - I'd end up buying some to try. The bottle claims you'll get approx. 200 uses from it; so that's value I like. 

The packaging of this stuff is just fab. But is it worthy of the miracle cleanser title it's been given? 

Well, I'm not 100% sure. It definitely removes your makeup gently and with ease; but I found that it wasn't as deep cleansing as I first imagined. After using this and then using another cleanser [Liz Earle] straight after, my cotton wool was still picking up remainders of make-up. It also wasn't quite as effective in removing my eye make-up as I'd kinda hoped. 

BUT on the flip side; every time I've used this cleanser, my skin feels so hydrated and revived. Normally, when I use a cleanser or a face wipe, my skin cries out for moisturiser straight away. But this left me feeling really fresh-faced. So I would recommend it and will continue to use it - but I'm not sure whether it will do me for 200 uses, as I've had to use a few cotton wool pads of the stuff to feel totally cleansed from make-up. Maybe I just wear too much slap? Who knows.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer [sample size, from April's Birchbox.] 

I was made up to have got my sample of choice with last month's Birchbox. This sample is also quite a decent size; so I'll get a fair bit of use from it before I decide whether I could ever part with like £20.00 for a primer. 

I wasn't sure on how I felt about this stuff at first; it comes out really quite watery. However, when you apply it to the face it melts into the skin and gives you the perfect base to build on. I thought it was a coincidence the first time I used it; that I was just having a good skin-day. But it's no coincidence. This stuff really works. Day after day. I will cry when this runs out; proper genuine tears, cos there's no way in hell I can justify ordering another. But if you can; do it. It's awesome.

Makeup Revolution Pro Fix Oil Control Fixing Spray, £5.00

Unless I routinely powder my face, I get this unsightly shine-thing going on. It's grim. So when I saw this product from my beloved Makeup Revolution; I couldn't not give it a go. Basically, when you're done with applying your face, spritz a little of this spray on it and let it dry. I've definitely noticed that my makeup has lasted for longer whilst wearing this; not quite all day, but considerably longer than pure powder and praying for a miracle alone has ever achieved. I don't have to touch up my face in the loos at lunchtime - it's great!

Have you tried anything new this month? These new experiences don't even have to just be beauty related either; I'm well nosey and would love to chat more about like, anything! Or have you tried any of the above products and had similar / different experiences?

As ever, chat with my using my comments box powered by Disqus below, via Twitter, email or on Instagram :}