Cosmetic Cupcake

This post is sponsored by Nuffnang and Clearasil.

It’s finally spring here in Australia! I LOVE this time of year as it means I can break out the pretty colours I put away for winter, dewy skin and enjoy a fresh-faced look. One of the biggest beauty trends this spring is the no-makeup look and a twist is the barely there makeup look as I prefer a bit of colour in Spring. To achieve this look it doesn’t actually mean one doesn’t wear makeup though! For me it’s about enhancing your features for a fresh faced look by working with colours that suit your skintone. We want to enhance rather than conceal our natural beauty! Because I’m quite fair I love using peach and pink tones and this look is often my go to for spring.


Great skin is always the perfect canvas to start any makeup look but especially for the barely there makeup look! It’s a huge confidence boost when you can leave the house wearing minimal makeup or having only used just a few products. The Clearasil PerfectaWash can help you put your best face forward every day without makeup with the Super Fruit Extract and Soothing Plant Extract formulas to help soothe and protect against blemishes for visibly clearer skin. Something I think all of us ladies covet! The Clearasil PerfectaWash dispenses just the right amount of cleanser using the unique automated face wash dispenser that delivers exactly 1.5mls of product each time.


The automated dosage system prevents drying out the skin using too much product and active ingredients can irritate the skin and cause further problems. My skin is still a little on the dry side from winter and the formulas contain Vitamin E and antioxidants which are known for their soothing properties so are gentle enough for daily use. They’re dermatologist tested and with the combination of pimple fighting and beneficial ingredients it’s perfect for all young adult skin types to help attain clear skin.



I love a dewy finish in spring so I used the Clinique Even Better Foundation in 01 for a slightly heavier coverage than I would normally use as I find can get away with not having to use concealer when my skin is behaving well. It evens out my skintone and covers any blemishes or acne scarring well. I set it with Face of Australia Translucent Powder and I lightly swept MAC powder blush in Hipness on the apples of my cheeks for a just pinched look. I couldn’t resist a bit of highlighter so I used Benefit Watts Up highlighter on my cheekbones!

For the eyes, I primed my lids using Too Faced Shadow Insurance and applied a very soft wash of pink using MAC eyeshadow in Ego and highlighted my brow bone using MAC eyeshadow in Shroom. I used a teeny bit of the dark brown shade from the Stila eyeshadow trio in gold glow in my outer corner and added Illamasqua Powder eye shadow in Synth to the centre of my lid. I lined my eyes lightly using Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in Juju and 2 coats of Dolly Wink Volume mascara and one coat of Clinique Bottom Lash mascara in black.


For the lips I used Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Flirt for a sheer peach lip. I prefer using these lipstick-balm hybrids in the warmer months for a more natural look.


Fancy trying out the Clearasil PerfectaWash yourself? I'm giving away a Clearasil PerfectaWash Automatic Facewash Dispenser & Refill to ONE lucky reader! All you have to do is answer the following question:

Have you tried the new Clearasil PerfectaWash, what were your thoughts?
Leave me a comment with your answer below for your chance to win! The competition is open to Australian residents only and ends at 5pm AEST on October 28th 2012. The winner will be chosen by Nuffnang. See Terms & Conditions here.

Good luck!

Hi ladies! Today I have for you the second product that Adore Beauty very kindly sent over for me to try a little while ago - Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Orange Blossom. I haven't tried Laura Mercier products before so I very excited as I've heard many good things about the face products. Plus it's blush - I love blush! As it's getting warm here, I decided to choose a peachy colour to try out.


What they say:

"Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour is a sheer light blush that easily glides on your cheeks to create a flawless naturally blushing look. Infused with natural botanicals, this product will soften and nourish your skin. With light-diffusing properties the Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour ensures easy and even application every time."


The blush is packaged in a sturdy dark brown case and includes a mirror which is always extremely handy in my opinion.


Orange Blossom is a light pinky peach shade with fine golden shimmer through it. It reminds me of a lighter and less glittery version of the popular NARS Orgasm - think of it as the daytime version of Orgasm! I didn't swatch it heavily in the pic below so it appears quite light on me (I'm NC20) so you can probably just make out my swatch. Don't be fooled by the "Orange" in the name though as it's not orangey at all but a peachy pink.

Swatch:


When applied:


A recent FOTD using Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Orange Blossom:


Products I used:

Face:
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in 06
YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch in 1
Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Orange Blossom*

Eyes:
elf eyelid primer
MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study
Stila eye shadow trio in gold glow
Face of Australia liquid eyeliner in black*
Fiberwig Paint-On False Lashes Extra Long mascara

Lips:
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Evasion


Overall: Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Orange Blossom is a gorgeous blush that's perfect for the warmer months! It's a very flattering shade and I think it would look great on all skintones. I really like that Orange Blossom is light giving me a lovely natural flush of colour - it gives a nice healthy glow. Alternatively, you can build up the colour very easily too if you want a stronger cheek colour. In spring and summer I prefer a more natural look but I don't want to look like a ghost either so this is perfect. Orange Blossom applies nicely and blends well.

The downside is the size of the product. It's actually a lot smaller in size to what I expected and also in comparison to other blushes containing only 3.6g of product. However it should last you a while! Because Orange Blossom is so light, I found a sheer application will start to fade after a few hours unfortunately.

Details: Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colors are available in 8 shades and can be purchased online from Adore Beauty and Myer and David Jones stores nationally for $48.

For US ladies, Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colors are available in 14 shades and can be purchased from the Laura Mercier online store for $24US.

Have you tried Laura Mercier products before? Let me know in the comments below what you'd recommend me to try next! Thanks for looking as always ladies =)

*Product(s) sent to me for consideration but this in no way influenced my review in any way. As always, my reviews are my 100% honest opinion. My Disclosure Policy can be viewed here.