Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat in 1 Luminious Radiance

 If you have spent about half your life watching beauty tutorials on YouTube -aka me- you know what products are holy grails and which ones are not. NARS Laguna Bronzer, Collection Lasting Perfection concealer or the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone. They are all products that are known to blow you away and to be honest they really do.

One of those products that has been on my beauty wish list but never got around to try before is the Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat in 1 Luminous Radiance*. An illumination highlighter that brightens up the skin and makes it look bright and smooth. I always thought it was a concealer, and although it does give a slight hint of coverage it's really more suitable for highlighting the face. I’m actually part of Glamour Magazines Beauty Lover squad, so many more YSL products will be featured the next few months. So exciting!

The packaging is absolutely gorgeous and for €40,75 it kind of should. The shining gold makes it look so stunning and luxurious. With a few clicks at the back of the pen the product comes out. You just swipe the product across any of the features that you want to brighten up, blend it in with your fingers, brush or sponge and you got one brightened complexion. I personally like to use it underneath my eyes and on the places where I normally put my highlighter. It leaves a beautiful light shimmery glow.

Although it's a lovely product and a lot of people use it on a daily basis, it's not the product for me. For starters, I kind of got the wrong colour. Number 1 has a pink undertone and I kind of prefer a yellow undertone. Especially since my skin is already quite pink. Second is that I prefer a more full coverage look. I don't have the best skin so light glowy coverage is not that great for covering up acne scars and current break-outs. I would probably love this if I had skin like Gigi Hadid. I would put a bit on my face and head out the door, but truth is that I'm not that kind of gal.

If you have perfect skin you will probably love this product. It gives you that natural dewy glow without having too many products on your face. If you are more on the oily/acne side of things this might not be for you. Doesn't mean that it isn't a gorgeous product though.

Have you tried the Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat before?

*The items with a * were kindly sent to me. My opinion and fabulous brows are completely my own.

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Vichy Dermablend

As someone who isn't gifted with perfect skin a good foundation and concealer is essential for me. Although my skin has it's good and bad days it's nice to know that there is always a product that can make me look like I am one of the very few that has no idea what acne, scarring and redness means.

I have always wanted to try out Vichy Dermablend. When I first started getting into the YouTube beauty community it was one of those foundations that people with acne loved. It would cover it all and not look cakey at the same time. Fast forward to five years later and here I am trying out Vichy Dermablend for the first time in all those years.

I am trying out two Dermablend products today: the Covermatte Powder Foundation and the SOS Cover Stick. They are the newest additions to the Dermablend family and I tried them both in the lightest colour 'Opal'.

The Covermatte Foundation* (€23,95) is a high coverage compact powder that camouflages imperfections, absorbs oil and keeps the skin matte and flawless all day. I have never really tried a powder foundation. I always feel like powder foundations don't give that much coverage, but I was pleasantly surprised. It gives enough coverage to even out my skin and it feels so light as well, such a difference in comparison to the heavy way liquid foundations can make me feel. The powder comes in sleek, black packaging with a sponge and a mirror. Personally I'm not a fan of sponges -the Beauty Blender trend is not for me- so I stick to a powder brush and dust it over my face. The coverage is very buildable and looks really natural. I do need a bit more coverage whenever I have a pimple and that's where the SOS Cover Stick comes in.

The SOS Cover Stick* (€14,95) is a creamy concealer that gives full coverage to cover the things that you wish where not on your face. It applies very smooth and blends in nicely as well. When I have a pimple I put a bit on the back of my hand and dip my concealer brush in the product to make sure not to get bacteria all over the coverstick. I do prefer liquid concealers, but that’s maybe because I am used to them. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the colour selection. There are only five colours and even the colour Opal is too dark for me. It's also winter which means that my summer tan is officially gone, so maybe these Vichy products will be a better use once the sun is shining and I am back to my darker shade. Both products contain SPF as well, which makes them even better for the summer time.

Both products are perfect for when you have imperfections on your skin. I really want to try the Dermablend foundation, because I think I will like that a bit more. It just feels weird wearing powder as a foundation. I guess it's something I have to get used to. I do love the light feel of it. I hope that in a few years my skin turns back to normal and a bit of concealer and powder is all I need.

Have you ever tried Vichy Dermablend? What do you think?

*The items with a * were kindly sent to me. My opinion and flawless skin are completely my own.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB

I first spotted the Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB in a video of Lily Melrose. It looked interesting but I wasn’t planning on buying it. I always wanted to try the YSL Touche Éclat and the Estée Lauder concealer looked very similar to the YSL one. When I received a few gift cards for my birthday I was like why not give the one from Estée Lauder a go?

The gold packaging gives it a very luxury feel and for €29.95 I expect nothing less. With a few twists you release the concealer that comes out of the brush.
I have the colour 1C Light and it's a bit lighter than my skin tone which is what you always want. I apply it after my foundation and draw a V underneath my eyes to really get the highlighting going. After that, I blend it in with my foundation brush and set it with a powder so that it stays in place. For me this is really necessary because my mascara tends to go underneath my eyes and gives the illusion of a panda. Not really the look I was going for!

It doesn't give the best coverage so if you have very dark circles I would apply it on top of your full coverage concealer or maybe skip this one altogether. Of course it's not meant to give the best coverage but to give you the most amazing glow instead. I do think it really lifts your face and makes it appear brighter and more awake. Like you always have plenty of sleep and have absolutely nothing to stress about. Don’t we all want that? It's not as sparkly as I thought it would be, but I don't like to have that underneath my eyes anyways. I reserve that sparkle for my cheekbones!

Overall a lovely glowy concealer to give you a fresh-faced look. It blends nicely, stays in place and the colour is a very good match for me. The price tag is maybe one of the reasons not to purchase it, but sometimes you got to spoil yourself a little!

Have you tried the Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB already?

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My love for the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

When I was in London a couple of weeks ago I was there with a mission: buying lots of Collection concealers. Last time I was there I visited six Boots stores and a Superdrug too, but it turned out that they all ran out of this magical product. 

As you can see I picked up five concealers and I hear you asking ''Why would you buy so many?''. Well it turns out this concealer is the best one I have ever tried and I basically can't live without it. Then there is also the fact that they don't sell Collection in the Netherlands, so whenever I am across the pond I pick up as many as I can. And it's also a great excuse to visit London from time to time, because when is a trip to London not a great idea, right?

This concealer is very popular amongst every person that is into beauty and sometimes these products are a bit too hyped up. With this one I find that’s not the case at all. I have been using this concealer for about three years now and it has never disappointed me one single bit. Instead it amazes me every single time I use it.

It’s available in four colours and ‘1 Fair’ matches my skin tone perfectly. I find that a lot of drugstore concealers are too dark and orange for me, but this one just seamlessly blends into my skin. The consistency is very creamy and the high coverage is so good. It also stays on all day which for an oily t-zone gal like me is really great news.

After trying it in my London hotel room I immediately fell in love again and ran back to the drugstore for more. This little tube costs £4.19 and for that price you can’t really go wrong. Definitely a product that you should try at least once in your life!

What is your favourite concealer?

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Catrice Even Skin Tone Beautifying Foundation + Catrice Liquid Camouflage Concealer

Finding a good foundation and concealer for my skin tone has always been a struggle. Even the lightest drugstore foundations make me look like an oompa loompa and then I'm not even talking about the concealers. When I spotted these two products in the Catrice make-up aisle I was immediately intrigued. High coverage, a good price and what seems the right colour? I'm in!

Let's start with the concealer. The Catrice Liquid Camouflage High Coverage Concealer in 010 Porcelain is meant to give a flawless, long lasting finish that even claims to be waterproof. Not that I go swimming with my make-up, but oh well.

It has a very creamy consistency and blends in very nicely. The colour is a complete match to my skin, which is new for a change. It doesn't highlight my skin, since I'm too pale for that, but I love that it covers my dark circles, hyper pigmentation and spots. It's a great all-round concealer that works for everything and for €3,59 you can't really go wrong.

The Catrice Even Skin Tone Beautifying Foundation in 005 Even Ivory is meant to have a medium to high coverage and will make your hyper pigmentation less visible, even without foundation. It also has SPF25 which is a nice addition.

I think it's a good foundation, but nothing can top my love for the Revlon Colorstay Foundation. I find that this Catrice foundation gives me a very shiny face at the end of the day. However, it does blend in nicely and the colour match is spot on.

For a drugstore foundation I think it's very good. Especially for people with fair, acne-prone skin. It covers my spots and acne scars really well and the price (€7,59) is amazing. I don't know about the claims of making my skin more even, but for me it's all about the coverage and colour anyway.

I think they are very good drugstore products. I will definitely repurchase the concealer over and over again, the foundation is good, but I think I will stick to my Revlon foundation for now. If you have fair skin definitely have a look at the Catrice make-up aisle!

Have you tried any of these Catrice products?

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Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer

As I have watched YouTube videos for a long time, I made a list with musthave products that I really want to buy whenever I have the opportunity to go to the US. The Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer is on that list and I was very happy to spot it in the Boots make-up aisle in London, since I had no idea that it was available in the UK.

I picked up the lightest colour, already knowing that it would be a bit too dark for me. Since I really wanted to see what all the fuzz was about, I popped it in my basket next to the billion other things that I was going to buy. Queue my London Haul right HERE.

When I got home it took me a while to use it, but when I opened it and applied it on my face I was pleasantly surprised and finally understood why everyone loves it so much.

I forgive the fact that it's not as brightening, because of the colour, but if it was a bit lighter this concealer would be absolutely PERFECT!

You just twist and apply the concealer right on those dark circles. I had to get used to the dove applicator, but it's very easy to do. I then blend it in with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush or my fingers and it completely melts into the skin. Sometimes you could really see the concealer underneath my eyes, but this blends in so seamlessly and stays in place all day long. And the coverage OH MY, my dark circles disappeared like that *clicks fingers*. It's just like magic!

If I had to say something bad about it, it would be the colour selection, because even though it covers up everything, a lighter colour would bright up my entire face and make it even more lovely and glowy!

Have you tried the Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer before?

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Review | MAC Pro Long Wear Concealer in NC15

On my hunt for the perfect concealer I came across the Pro Long Wear Concealer from MAC. A friend of mine used it and really liked it. I was lucky enough to get it for my birthday so there I went.. Is this going to be the one?

This is the second concealer from MAC that I am trying. I already have the MAC Studio Finish Concealer in my stash and I think that concealer is pretty good. I only get a very oily finish after a while. This one, on the other hand, is definitely different!

MAC Pro Long Wear Concealer 9 ml / 0.30 US fl oz €18.00

According to MAC:

‘‘A lightweight fluid concealer that provides medium to full coverage with a comfortable, natural matte finish. Colour-true formula lasts up to 15 hours. Helps conceal and correct the look of under-eye circles, and discolorations. Comes in a clear glass vial with a matte black pump.’’

Apart from the colour, this is NC15, it has a completely different formula. It comes in a glass bottle with a pump. Nice and hygienic, but you easily squeeze out to much. That is just a waste of product, so not very convenient. It has a scent, but is not to overpowering in any way.

This concealer has a creamy, liquid consistency. It blends very nicely into the skin, leaving a matte finish. It pretty much covers up anything!

In a lot of acne coverage videos on YouTube, girls used this as a foundation to cover up there blemishes and scarring. I agree with this. It definitely gives a good amount of coverage for all kinds of imperfections. Although as a foundation you would have to purchase it a lot throughout the year! This will not be very nice for your bank account..

As the name says it stays on your face for a long time. Of course I never wear my face make-up for 15 hours, but I think it would last all those hours. I also find my t-zone stays more matte than when I use the MAC Studio Finish Concealer. So I would definitely recommend this concealer for people with combination/oily skin.

I like to use my Zoeva Concealer Buffer to blend it in. It makes it easier and more hygienic than using my fingers.

I am pleasantly surprised by this concealer. It covers up all my imperfections and gives my skin a matte and flawless finish. If you are looking for a concealer that stays on for ages and covers up your scarring and blemishes, than this is the one to go for!

I am still on the hunt for good concealers, though. If you have found the one, please let me know. I would love to try it!

Review | Mac Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer in NW20

After I finished my well-loved Collection Lasting Perfection concealer I had no idea what I had to do without it. That concealer is amazing and so cheap. Unfortunately it’s only available in the UK, so I had to look for something else. I tried the NYX HD Concealer Wand  but I wasn't fully satisfied, with the Collection one in the back of my mind. This concealer from MAC is a YouTube classic and overall well-loved in the beauty community. It has been on my wishlist forever!

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer in NW20. 7 g / 0.24 US oz. €18,-

According to MAC Cosmetics:

‘‘A lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. Provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-blemishgenic. This emollient-based, lightweight concealer is so concentrated that a tiny amount can provide opaque coverage of the skin's imperfections and discolourations. It effectively covers dark circles, blemishes, moles, tattoos and birthmarks. Enriched with antioxidants (derivatives of Vitamin A and Vitamin E), it also contains Silica to help adsorb the skin's oils. Concealer has an SPF of 35 and is available in a wide range of colours.’’

I got matched with the colour NW20 which, for me, is the same as number 51 from the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation. With the summer coming up, and a tan hopefully, this suits me very well. It has a creamy consistency that blends into the skin perfectly.

Before buying it I heard that it’s exactly the same as the Full Coverage foundation from MAC. I was a big fan of that foundation two years ago and if you ask me, they are exactly the same. The only difference is the price, the amount and the SPF. A thing that you could do, if you love this concealer, is buy the Full Coverage foundation to use at home and the tiny Studio Finish concealer for touch-ups during the day.

The reason why I stopped using the Full Coverage foundation was because it looked cakey on me, from time to time. It also made me very oily during the day, so I switched to something else. This concealer does that as well. Of course you only place it on skin that needs more coverage, but still it’s not a nice look. If I don't powder it during the day I look like a shining disco bal. It lasts well, but after 8-9 hours some skin becomes more visible.

I placed a dot with an eyeliner and covered it with the concealer. If you look close you see a dark dot there.

All blended in. The dot is more visible now, but you can put more layers of concealer on top.

It gives really good coverage. if you have acne or scarring on your face, this will definitely cover it all up. I like to apply it with a concealer brush. For me this is more hygienic than putting your finger in the jar, every single day.

A little bit goes a long way and I think it will take a long time before I ran out. I also like that there is an SPF 35 in this creamy concealer. Blemishes and scars need more protection anyway, so this is a nice addition.

I do really like this concealer. As is said it gives good coverage, but can look a bit cakey and shiny at the end of the day. Bring a good powder and a setting spray and you are good to go!

What is your favourite concealer?

Beauty Talk | Five Beauty Products I Can't Live Without

Recently I have been thinking. What if I can only keep five beauty products? What would I choose? I came to the conclusion that these five lifesavers really are my favourite products. I use them every day and as the title says: I can't live without them. 

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

This is the most used product out of everything I own. I have to admit I am quite the lip balm junkie. Some people carry ten lipsticks around, for me its lip balm (I also carry a lot of lipsticks around in my bag, don't judge me!). My two favourites out all of them are the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and a Dutch wonder called 'Purol'. These two make my lips so soft and moisturized. I have plenty of Eight Hour Creams around, so at the moment this is my absolute favourite!

MAC Pro Long Wear Concealer

Concealer is my BEST friend when it comes to make-up. I like to wear foundation, but it doesn't cover up everything. This concealer on the other hand has no problem with giving good coverage and a natural finish that last all day. I have the colour NC15 which matches me perfectly! Absolutely love it!

Catrice Matt Powder

A lifesaving product for girls with combination/oily skin, like me. During the day my t-zone gets oily and let’s just say that it doesn't look good. With the help of this powder I can keep my shine to a minimum. A few touch ups during the day and I am good to go!

Pixi Glow Tonic

After rediscovering this last month I cannot live without it anymore. I absolutely love the way this makes my skin feel and look! I don't get a lot of break outs anymore and it gives you a wonderful glow. Yep, the name of this beauty does what it says. I also saw that they sell it online. Hopefully they do ship to The Netherlands. Although a city trip to London does sound good right?

Catrice Eyebrow powder + Eyebrow Gel

I know that there are two of them, but I couldn’t choose. I love the way the brow powder makes my brows look fuller and thicker. The brow gel just keeps them in place and lifts them up. A perfect combo if you ask me. 

What are your favourite products?

Review | NYX HD Concealer Wand in Porcelain

A make-up routine is not completed without a concealer. I use it to cover up blemishes, scarring and dark circles. Since my other concealers, sadly, ran out I was on the hunt for a new one.

My eyes fell on a concealer from NYX. I have never really tried anything from NYX, so it seemed fun to explore this brand. I was contemplating between the HD Concealer Wand and the Concealer in a Jar. In the end I went with the HD Concealer Wand, since it's more hygienic and it's mend to give good coverage as well.

NYX HD Concealer Wand in CW01 Porcelain via Douglas.nl        €6,99 for 3g

I ordered mine online so I had no idea if the colour was right for me. I went with the lightest colour they had, since I am very pale. The packaging is really nice and looks more expensive than it actually is. Now on to the product inside, since that is the most important part.

The concealer is a little bit lighter than my own skin. NC15 from MAC is also a bit too light, so I think the colour is most comparable to MAC NC15. When I blend it with my foundation the colour difference isn’t noticeable. For under the eyes it's perfect because you want to highlight your under eye area. So colour wise, it's a good match.

It has a super creamy consistency and it blends very well. The finish is semi-matte to satin. Since I have combination/oily skin I prefer a concealer that has more of a matte finish.

Coverage wise I have to say I am not very impressed. Yes, it does cover well, but I know other concealers that do a better job. I had to apply more than I normally do, which means it has almost ran out. I have been using this concealer for about six weeks and normally they last longer. I do really like the applicator of this concealer. 

Will I buy this concealer again? Probably not. It was nice to try it out and it does work well, but I want something with a bit more coverage. I am hoping that Collection will finally come to The Netherlands. I need to stock up on there Lasting Perfection Concealer ASAP. My hunt for the perfect concealer goes on and I will inform you every step of the way.

What is your favourite concealer?

London Drugstore Beauty Wishlist: What Did I Ended Up Buying?

Before I went to London I made this wishlist. I've been to London two times before. The first time I was there I just fell in love with the city. The atmosphere there is just amazing!

Since not all brands are available in The Netherlands (Revlon, Collection, NARS) I went a little bit crazy in the shops. Here are the beauty products that I wanted and what I ended up buying in the end:

1. Sleek - i Divine eyeshadow pallet in Au Natural
I did not get this one. The colours were not as pretty as I thought they would be. 

2. Sleek -  Face Contour Kit
I did not get this ons either, Instead I got the Sleek Face Form which is just the same only that one has a blush.

3. Barry M - Nail Polish
Everyone seems to love these nailpolishes. They are really hyped up but the hype hasn't got to me yet. That's why I didn't get any. Maybe next time :).

4. Sleek - Face Form
This one I did get! I love it. The bronzer and the blush are really pigmented and the highlighter is gorgeous! I also love that you have three products in one kit, so handy!

5. Collection - Lasting Perfection Concealer
OMG! I LOVE this concealer sooooo much! I bought it in the colour 1 fair and it is a little bit light but when you work it in to the skin it looks really nice. It covers up my scars, acne and dark circles really well. I think I need to order some on Ebay because I am already running out and I can't wait to stock up on these in December when I go back!

6. Revlon - Lipbutters
I picked up three of these: Candy Apple, Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya. De colours are beautiful. It is a mix between a lipstick and a lipbalm. Definitely worth the hype. I will definitely pick up more!

7. Revlon - Colorstay foundation for combination/oily skin
I sort of picked this up.. Do any of you have the problem that when you buy tights you sometimes don't even look at the size (this happens to me all the time). That is what happened with me buying the foundation. I have been looking at this foundation all week. When I bought it I just picked up the right colour and thought that I bought the combination/oily formula. Instead I picked up the dry/normal formula. Of course I found out about this when I was back home. I tried it on but I looked really cakey. I will buy the right formula when I go back to London.

8. Topshop - Lipstick
It was so busy at Topshop that I quickly looked at the beauty department. But I decided not to buy anything.

9. Real Technique - Brushes
I picked up the Expert Face Brush. And I love it so much. It works in my foundation really well. Definitely worth the hype. I want the Blush Brush soo bad. So that will definitely be my next buy!

I am really happy with all  the products I ended up buying. 

Did you buy any new make-up products this summer?

My Sephora Haul

Last week I went to Sephora with a friend. The reason: a 3 for €10 sale on all Sephora make-up.

I had been there before and it was crazy. Everybody was digging for the right colour of make-up and my friend was like: ‘Oke.. I will hold your bag and good luck.’ In the end I bought a foundation, compact powder, mascara, blush, nail polish and a primer. All this for just €20!

This time the sale was 3 for €10 on everything, only the foundations and mascara's were 2 for €10. I already made a list in my head of all the products I wanted: a blush, lipstick, primer and highlighting powder.

When we stepped foot in Sephora, it wasn't as crazy as two years ago. Of course I went on a Thursday and not on a Saturday, but they also changed it. There were not a lot of products to choose from, which was really disappointing. I still managed to find some nice products and looked at other brands.

I immediately went to the Benefit counter; I just love their products and packaging. A lady from Benefit tried the They're Real mascara on me. I already wore another layer of mascara, so the result was not that amazing, but you could definitely see more volume!

I was thinking about what I should buy: the They're Real mascara, the Dandelion mini box (the blush, lipgloss, High Beam and Cha Cha Tint) or go to the Benefit Brow Bar, since I always wanted to go there. In the end I decided that my eyebrows needed a serious wax, so Benefit Brow Bar it is!

I never really knew what to do with my brows. They always looked sort of uneven; at least that is what I see. So time to let a professional take care of them!

You will hear all about my Benefit Brow Bar experience in another blog post, but first the products that I bought:

Sephora Blush in N° 06 Corail Rosé/ Coral Flush
A nice coral blush with gold glitter
Sephora Smoothing & Brightening Concealer in N°01 Clair/Light
This concealer is even lighter than my foundation. It is almost white, so I am really happy with it. For me that is hard to find!

From left to right:
Sephora Rouge Lipstick in R20 Honey
A pretty peachy nude color.
Sephora Cream Lipstick in R19 Charmer
A pink peach color.
Sephora Cream Lipstick in R12 Sexy Game
A lovely old pink color.
Sephora Cream Lipstick in R23 Crush
A gorgeous Berry color.

I am really happy with the products I got and I will definitely go again in February/March!

Are you familiar with Sephora make-up?