5ive favourites II

Hey saweetieeeeee. This is a series where I test, review and recommend some of the most raved about products, and some of the most underrated products you might be missing out on.

1. Laura Mercier - Translucent Loose Setting Powder, £28.65 – lookfantastic.com.

Imagine a world where dark circles and creases cease to exist. Well now you don’t have to, because this baby is a game changer. This product bestows the holy trinity: 16hr wear, no flashback and it’s blurring effects, if filters were make-up, this would be it. It patterns all kinds of skin types, from oily to dry.

If my house was on fire, this would be the product I’d risk it all for, because it will glide onto your skin, with either a beauty blender or a fluffy brush and guarantee a luminous finish every time. Although a good quality concealer would amplify its effects, it’s not entirely necessary, this will work wonders with any concealer.

Because the way it just glides onto your skin and so seamlessly and effortlessly melts into, your concealer, feels illegal. No crease or dark circle to be seen. You’ll be impressed by how finely milled the powder is- it lets you set or bake without the cake. And without leaving a white, chalky cast over your skin.

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2. Real Techniques - Expert Concealer Brush, £8- boots.com or boohoo.com

Real techniques understood the assignment with this beauty. If you love the RT Expert Face Brush, meet its little sister. Like the Laura Mercier, this brush takes any average concealer to a higher calibre, in the way it blends and buffs the product right into your skin. You will never even look at a beauty blender after using this. The fibres are the perfectly density, with how it firmly smooths out the product.

Most concealer brushes or beauty blenders have a nasty habit of absorbing and wasting product, but not this one. Somehow, it’s magical, plush bristles deliver high coverage evenly- no streaks attached. You’re really doing it wrong if this doesn’t go everywhere with you.

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3. Nyx - Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Concealer, £8- boots.com.

Nyx really snapped with this one. Those pesky spots and unignorable pores will fear this product because of its high coverage. This rich, highly pigmented solution is the cure to hyper-pigmentation and dark circles, because it’s literally a blanket for blemishes. It’s super buildable and blend-able, without looking cakey or streaky and instead gives you that porcelain doll complexion for 24 hrs.

I was actually a huge fan of the Kat Von D’s ‘Lock it!’ concealer, but you will be gobsmacked when you realise this is a more affordable dupe, mimicking all the wonderful qualities of the ‘Lock it!’, illuminating your face with little to none transferring. I jumped on this and haven’t looked back since. And it’s vegan! Tick and tick.

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4. Rimmel London - Scandaleyes Wow wings mascara, £8.49- superdrug.com.

I was really about to be selfish and gatekeep this one, because it’s such an underrated, elite mascara! But that would be too great of a betrayal. I have been using this for years, even during the Maybelline Sky High frenzy everyone was on. There’s nothing like it. The formula is so opaque, with the right amount of thickness. Without fail, I am drowned in questions like, ‘which falsies do you use?’ and the look on their face is honestly priceless, when I tell them it’s just mascara. It really does give you the false lashes effect. The brush is everything, each bristle designed to separate and evenly coat each lash with product.

For the best results, I’d recommend lightly coating your lashes, separating them, waiting a few seconds for the product to stick. And then going back in with a few more layers, focussing more on the lash line and the tip of your lashes to build up the intensity and length. Now I’m not sure what kind of voodoo they’ve done with this one, but it’s actually flake-proof. I know. You’ll thank me when you try it for yourself.

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5. Nyx - Butter gloss, £5.50- boots.com

The name doesn’t lie. It is indeed, buttery and glossy. It literally immerses into any lipstick or lipliner and gives it that va-va-voom you didn’t know you needed. The formula is so silky and decadent upon application, without being overly sticky. This bad boy is refreshingly rich in pigmentation, where you can build it up or leave it at a sheer coat for a more subtle, natural look. It practically sinks into your lips rejuvenating them, giving you a juicy, kissable Bratz-like pout.

This one is definitely one for my baddies on a budget, wanting a Fenty Gloss Bomb finish without the price. There are 34 yummy shades, with a variety of undertones everyone can identify with, to find their nude. There’s literally a shade for every mood. A small amount smooths over the lips, without feathering your lipliner or lipstick and actually maintains the colour you’ve built up. This is definitely an essential you can’t leave the house without. I am a certified gloss girl and I approve this message.

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Enjoy hunniesssss!

Lots of love, ☾ Pooja ☽ xx