My Current Foundation Routine

Some of my favourite posts to read are all kinds of routines - foundation routines, skincare routines, blush/bronzer routine... you get the idea :)

So I thought I'd share my own foundation routine with you. This is my liquid foundation, I'll post my powder foundation one later (which is quite simple, though...). But let's get into it, hope you enjoy it ;)

1. First off, I prime my face with the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, using clean fingers. Now I love this stuff, but I've been hearing from people who break out from it, so be careful... try before you buy :) 
2. I like to put on foundation before concealer, so next up is my current go-to foundation, Dior's Nude Foundation. I prefer using my fingers for this foundation, I just make sure they're clean. I can't say enough about this foundation!
3. Now my foundation is in place, I can see where I need some extra coverage. I'm currently using Bobbi Brown's Creamy Concealer under my eyes, but I also use Benefit's Erase Paste. If I have anything else than has to be concealed (for example redness on my nose and/or chin), I generally use the "green" side of Make Up Store's Cover All Mix. This stuff really hides redness. Again, I use my clean fingers for both concealers.
4. For a setting powder, I've been using Dior's Diorskin Poudre Compacte in "Transparent Light" for quite some time now. I use the included sponge for this powder, and I feel it actually does a great job.

That's it! Really quick and simple, and I've been using this same routine for a little over a month now... ever since I got the Dior Nude Foundation actually :)

What is your fave foundation routine? Please tell me in the comments! Oh, and don't forget to include your favourite foundation, I'm always on the hunt for new ones to try out.

And finally: Have you tried Sigma brushes? What did you think of them? I'm looking into buying a brush kit from there...

Yours,

Miss Diorista

Bobbi Brown - Denim and Rose Palette

I'm kind of late with this, aren't I? Well, I do have an excuse. I just got it about a week ago (it does have its benefits living here, because LE makeup doesn't sell out really quickly!) and I wanted to give it a bit of a try before reviewing it. So sorry for how late this is coming, but please enjoy!

This is what the palette looks like on the inside. You have one blush, four eyeshadows, two lipsticks and two lipglosses. It has a mirror of nice quality.

Here you can see the palette when it is closed. It is a really neat design, the denim is real and the zipper is pretty nice, too. Also, this is small enough to be taken on a trip, or to throw in your purse. Bonus: It won't open when it's not supposed to open, because of the zipper!

Now on to swatches and product reviews!

First up is the dark eyeshadow, which looks blue in the pan, but comes out black with blue glitter. Hum. Kind of disappointing. However, I do like it for some reason. Really pigmented, though slightly patchy sometimes.

Next to the dark one is the pink, granite, glittery one. It is really beautiful, though there is quite a bit of fallouts to it. Can be layered over other colours for some 'bling'!

Yep, that strange swatch there is the grey one. It gave me a really hard time when I was swatching, and is really, really patchy. However, it is a true grey and is good for some basic shading. Not very pigmented, as you can probably see.

I tried to swatch the lightest e/s, and it is there. It just doesn't show up on my very fair skin... so just know that it is a very light colour. I can use it for highlights, though, and for matting out my eyelids when not using any e/s.

Finally, you should be able to see the blush below the e/s swatches. Sorry how faint the swatch is, no matter how much I piled on there, it wouldn't show up any better than this! But that put aside, the blush is my favourite from this palette. It is a matte blush, but still gives me such a beautiful... glow. Really. And I'm not even a real fan of matte blushes! I would definetely buy this one if it was to be released as a single.

On those two pictures, you see the lip products. They are all very nice, stay on for a decent amount of time, and are rather pigmented.

First, you should see the icy gloss on the bottom. It can be worn alone, though I prefer it over lipstick.

Above that is the lighter lipstick, which feels more like tinted lipbalm to me. Not a very pigmented lippie, but the colour is pretty and a bit shimmery.

See that pink lipgloss? I love it. Just have to say it. I love it. It is a perfect pink, not too bright, but still adds a bit of pop to things!

The top swatch is my favourite lip product from the palette, though. It is a lipstick (the darker one from the palette) and it is just so beautiful. Really the perfect fall colour.

O, and yes. The glosses are slightly sticky. Nothing which bothers me, though.

Another picture, to kind of show you the colours a bit better.

So, what do I think overall? Well, if you like the colours, then this is a pretty good travel palette. Despite being patchy and having fallouts, the eyeshadows are rather good, and you can do beautiful day and night looks with them. The blush is gorgeous, and the lip products have something for everyone, I think. So if you can still find this one anywhere, I would recommend that you go get it!

Yours,

Miss Diorista.

Eyeshadow primers - Comparison

Some days... or weeks (what do I know, time flies!) ago, Hebriden Sprite requested a review for the eyeshadow base by Manhattan, which I hauled in August (check the haul out here).
So I put on my thinking cap and decided that instead of a simple review, I'd do a comparison.

The shadows are a deep purple/plum/wine shimmer one by Dior, and a grey matte one from BB's Denim and Rose Palette.

The primers I compared are the following:

Bobbi Brown - Creamy Concealer (yes, a concealer, I know)
Manhattan - Eyeshadow Base (in nr. 1, only think there is one number, though...)
None, just e/s on skin.
Benefit - Stay don't stray! eyeshadow/concealer primer

Below, you can see those. They are in the same order as above, starting with BB to the left.


Strongest colour
As you can probably see, BB's creamy concealer is the winner when it comes to colour. I really don't like it as a concealer, but here, it works so well! Works wonders on those e/s you regret buying because they look pretty in the pan, but don't give any colour. However, the concealer doesn't stay on for long, so I would recommend using another primer underneath the concealer.

How long did it last?
If "lasting" is your key word when it comes to e/s, then Manhattan's eyeshadow base is your best bet, of those I tried. It really took some tough washing to get the shadow off there! BB's concealer and the e/s on just skin went off very quickly, and Benefit's Stay don't stray! was the runner up.

Best for shimmery e/s
Definetely the Manhattan one, since it has a bit of shimmer to it. It even made the completely matte grey one, shimmery! So take care not to use it when going for a matte look.

Best for matte e/s
Of those, I'd say Benefit's Stay don't Stray! but it really works well for both shimmery and mattes, so it is a very good one to have. Only thing I don't like about it is the pump. It always gives me too much! I do, however, love the skin tone of it. When used as a concealer primer for the under-eye area, then you actually need a bit less concealer because of it.

So, judging from this, for really deep and intense colour that lasts all night, you should prime with Manhattan's base, then sweep on a layer of BB's Creamy Concealer. I haven't tried that yet, but will be doing soon.

Here is a little summary of those:

If you want intense, deep colour, go for... BB's Creamy Concealer in you skin tone.
If you want long lasting colour, go for... Manhattan's Eyeshadow Base
If you want a matte to be shimmery, go for... Manhattan's Eyeshadow Base
If you want a matte to be matte, go for... Benefit's Stay don't Stray!
If you want one product which does it all pretty well, go for... Benefit's Stay don't Stray!

And finally, a few words on Manhattan's Eyeshadow Base, since that is what this review what supposed to be about!

It is a very nice base. I quite like it. It lasts long, gives rather strong colours. I like the packaging, too, which is a pot. The consistency is nice, very creamy, but never greasy. Only downside (also a plus, though, just depends on what you want) could be that it makes all colours appear to be shimmery. So when going for a matte look, it can't be used. Also, it smells a bit weird. However, that cannot be detected once on lids.
Overall, this is a rather good primer and I would definetely repurchase.

Finally, I know this is getting super-long, but can you see the difference when wearing shadow with primer and then without it? Wow!

Hope you enjoyed this!
Yours,
MissDiorista

P.S. What is your fave e/s primer? I know a lot of people like UDPP... haven't tried it, UD isn't sold here... but I'd love to know your faves!