My Summer Face 2012

So I thought I'd create a post of the products I've been using the most this Summer and just a little bit about them. I hate any sort of warm weather so when it's a cold day I'm perfectly happy! The problem with the 'Great British Summer' is that when it's rubbish it's rubbish and when it's hot... it's really hot. These products have generally catered for both of these situations... so what's your Summer face??

1. Maybelline pure cover mineral Concealer in Nude Beige

I don't generally use concealer but in the Summer I prefer to use this under around my eyes rather than a foundation. I also don't use this dark a colour normally but in Summer I go for something darker to reflect the season.

2. Collection 2000 colour match foundation in Ivory
This Summer I've been using two foundations. This first one has a sheen that makes my face look moisturised without being greasy and is quite a light formula. This is also perfect for if I catch any colour because it adapts to whatever colour my skin is.

3. Avon Eyebrow pencil in dark brown

Shamefully I've only been pencilling my eyebrows in for the past 6 months or so and now I'd be lost without them. My face looks so much more 'finished' with this on. I use a dark brown because I like my brows to stand out. There's a blonde option but it just washes me out completely.

4. Avon Colour Trend mascara

Although this is from an old line this mascara is perfect. It's subtle but has enough oomph to make my lashes stand out without feeling like they're going to melt in the heat.

5. Natural Collection Blusher in dusky pink

I very rarely wear blusher in the Summer but when I do I go for this pink that comes out very light and again is subtle which I think is key for a daytime Summer look. 

6. Rose Otto Lip Salve

I got this free in a magazine near the beginning of Summer and initially I hated it but I got used to the scent/taste and can say it's a gloss that isn't sticky or shiny and my hair doesn't get stuck in it at all which is good when you're walking along and a gust of wind gets you.

7. Maybelline Falsies mascara

This is one of my favourite mascaras of all time. It makes my lashes look great and long and adds extra volume. There's not much left of this so I use this as a 'top up' to my Colour Trend mascara.

8. Avon SuperShock Eyeliner in Black

I'm a big fan of eyeliner and find this one of the easiest to put on compared to eyeliner pencils or liquid eyeliners. It's easy to distribute and isn't too bold a colour (it comes out as a light glitter-black rather than strong) which is good for a more natural take.

9. MUA Matte Foundation in Soft Sand
I've spent most of my Summer at work or out when it's quite hot and I hate the feeling of a sticky foundation some times which is where this foundation is perfect as it keeps my skin dry and stops me looking too greasy/shiny. 

10. Natural Collection pressed powder in Cool

This is my saviour! One swipe of this around my cheeks/nose and I'm good for the day without having to worry about looking shiny. My ultimate make-up fave!

11. Maybelline Eye Studio Mono in Gold Sands

I love a bronze/gold eyeshadow under eyeliner and I think it completes a look by making eyes pop without being too much.

Natural Collection Shine Away Disaster!!

(£1.99 from Boots)

I purchased this whilst in my local Boots on a whim. A foundation this cheap was worth giving it a go and, as Summer is coming forth fast and steadily, I'm very welcoming to a foundation that claims to 'reduce shiny looking skin'. Perfect, right? Wrong! I can't find much that's good about this foundation and it echoes some people's thoughts that cheaper products are not worth it. This is a shame as I do think there are a lot of 'bargain' cosmetics that do a great job. Unfortunately this foundation goes completely against my thoughts.

The packaging itself is lovely - it's subtle and pretty and doesn't look overly budgeted. It's simple and plain but that really reflects the brand and fits well with the rest of their theme. 'Medium cover' also really attracted me as this implies that it would cover my skin well but not be too heavy for Summer. 

Now, to the dreadful part. I applied this to my skin and it comes out slightly like clotted cream. It feels very sticky without even being on my face. Application itself is one of the worst I've ever seen in a foundation. It is very 'stodgy' which would be acceptable if I could thin the formula out by blending but it just doesn't blend. I've tried with my fingers, a foundation brush and blending sponges but nothing works. It just drags on my skin appalling leaving a thick and heavy mess. I purchased the lightest colour, porcelain, yet it leaves orange lines on my skin. I had to take every scrap off as I couldn't go out with it on. I've tried it with moisturiser to thin the formula slightly but, even then, it dries far too quickly and clings on to my skin too much to be able to blend.

As you can see from the picture (especially towards the bottom of my hand) it clings to certain areas and does not budge. I can't blend it at all and it leaves a horrific orange glow on my skin. Does it live up to its claims to get rid of shine? I honestly could not tell you! It stayed on my skin for 5 minutes before I had to scrub it off. Although, seemingly it would last for quite a few hours as, after using make-up remover, it was hard to wipe off and some traces still remained.

Obviously for £1.99 I cannot expect an amazing quality product but this is a complete let down. I find Natural Collection is very 'hit and miss'. Their lipsticks and pressed powders are beautiful but their foundations and eyeshadows leave much to be desired. Comparing this to the budget of MUA leaves nothing to be desired - I'm sure one day I'll do a direct comparison between these two brands.

Has anyone else tried Natural Collection? Other reviews love the foundation! What do you think?

Natural Collection Pressed Powder

(Boots, £1.99/10g)

I picked this up from the Natural Collection as an alternative to my Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder which I found wasn't working. They differ very much in price and I must say this is definite value for money. I picked this up in neutral although it's also available in cool and warm.

It claims that it reduces shine on your skin's serface, sets foundation and finishes faces without adding colour or texture. This is perfect for me - although I have combination/shiny skin I do lean more towards the oily side and suffer from shine across my T-zone and lower cheeks. Of course this is a massive pain. My Rimmel powder used to stay clear of this but recently hasn't been as affective and kept breaking in the pot - very annoying!

The formula itself is powdery but not too chalky and does exactly as it says. One sweep over the areas that get shiny and I'm set to go. It doesn't look too obvious and leaves my skin feeling nice and soft without feeling dry. The only downside in fact is that it does make my foundation look a bit plain, disappointing considering its statements that it doesn't add colour. However - I blame this on the fact my foundation is relatively darker than my skin but I've chosen a pale pressed powder. It does blend in well though which is a saviour.

This is a very impressive product considering the price tag and how little product is needed so it has longevity as well. I'm really happy with this and it's in tact still several months after buying it!

Natural Collection blusher in Dusky Pink

(RRP £1.99)

Natural Collection blusher is described as a long lasting, fine, soft powder that gives a hint of colour to cheeks. It's both fragrance free and dermatologically tested hence the name 'natural collection' of the brand. I purchased this in dusky pink a while ago after seeing someone posting it in another shade.

The outside is very plain. Something which is a theme running through the Natural Collection range - it focuses on the simplicity and low cost of the product rather than attempting to look expert or out there in order to sell the product. I chose this colour as my skin is quite pale and I wanted a very natural looking pink that gave me an 'English Rose' type look.

The colour itself comes out as a very soft pink that shows up on cheeks in, as described, a 'dusty' way without looking too over the top or really bright, meaning it's perfect for day time to give a subtle lift to my look. It's not overly pigmented but given the price range and it's need for use this is perfect for me. Perhaps for those who prefer a brighter colour it's not quite right. It's seems to last for around 3 hours which isn't too bad although it could be better.

Natural Collection Lipstick - Pink Mallow

(£1.99 from Boots)

Natural Collection is a brand I've tried before. Their eyeshadows come out so pale that I've been put off the brand itself which is a shame. I've found a lot of their products are more subtle than bright which was a problem for my younger self who enjoyed experimenting with bright blues and greens. Now, slightly older, I appreciate the brand a lot more and the subtleness.

I purchased this in Pink Mallow which is a nice rosy pink without looking too bright or too pale. It's my perfect choice of colour. The packaging itself is simple which can look slightly tacky in a make-up bag but it does the job at a cheap price.

It claims it has 'moisture shine' which I can't say I agree - it glides on but after a while clings to dry areas on my lips. I can't fault the colour though as it's so gorgeous and a lovely dusty pink. I bought this after my £7 Avon lipstick was running out and it's a lot cheaper but very close in colour. It lasts for around 3 or so hours, which is impressive for me at the price. Plus, a lot of people have said MAC lipsticks last around this amount of time and obviously their price tag is a lot more extreme.

This is a soft 'day time' look for me and it's subtle without drawing away from eye make-up etc. I'm really impressed with this lipstick although I wish Natural Collection lipsticks were available online which is a real shame.