My Powder Foundation Routine

Back in February, I posted about my foundation routine. I planned on showing you my powder foundation routine soon, but... "soon" has a different meaning here on Miss Diorista than in the rest of the world, so you're getting my powder foundation routine now :)

I really like powder foundation, since it's quick and simple. Also, I'm young and I don't always need the heavier coverage that a liquid foundation gives me, but I still want something. So give it powder foundation a try if you haven't already!

1. First, I conceal my under-eye circles and any dark spots that have to be concealed. I really like the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, since I can use it both under my eyes and on my skin, because it doesn't have a pink undertone to it.
2. I set the concealer with a setting powder, very often my Dior Diorskin Powder. Sometimes, I also sweep a bit of this over my forehead, nose and chin to control any shine, before I put on the actual foundation.
3. Time for the foundation! I really like Hello Flawless! by Benefit, but I also have one by Dior which I really like. For both of these, I use a sponge (you can get them at the drugstore) for sweeping and patting them on. I also bring the powder down to my neck.
4. If I'm looking too powdery, I really like to buff the foundation in with a Sigma F80, which is a flat top kabuki. It makes everything look more natural and blended.

That's it! Finally, a nice tip to remember when wearing powder foundation, is that it never hurts to use an illuminator with it. You can either apply a luminizing primer underneath, or sweep on luminizing powder afterwards. Either way, you will look more glowy, younger and always fresh.

Love,

Miss Diorista

Benefit - Hello Flawless!

I... am in love with this. You all know that I love powder foundation, and this (as well as the Diorskin Nude Compacte one) has to be my favourite so far. For reference, mine is in the colour "Gee, I'm swell - shell" (and don't you just love that name?!)

The compact is made out of plastic and is not very sturdy, so I wouldn't travel loads with it. It has two "floors", the upper one is the powder itself, and the lower one keeps a brush (pictured above) and a sponge (which I've already thrown away and replaced).

Frankly, the brush is really not good, I think. It is scratchy and thin, and simply scrapes up powder... don't like it. The sponge was good, though, and when it got too dirty I just bought new ones at a drugstore. I like to use a sponge with this powder, since that gives me better coverage than a brush could. 

As you can see, I´ve already hit pan on this, I use this so much! The coverage is really nice, light to medium, but buildable.

I honestly don't know what more to tell you, all I can think about right now is how much I love this product :) Ask in the comments if I didn't cover some of your questions about this product, I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

Product (65%) - 9.5/10

Value (10%) - 8/10

Would I repurchase? (15%) - 9.5/10

Packaging (10%) - 7/10

Overall - 9/10 (because of the flimsy packaging...)

Love,

Miss Diorista

September Hits!

Yes, I know that it's the tenth of October... but I still really want to do my September favourites, so I decided to just forget the calendar for a few minutes! Please turn all forgetful with me, will ya?

First of all, you see Sprinsheen blush by MAC. Do I love this. I wore nothing else the first two weeks after I got this. I absolutely love this. Did I tell you how much I love this blush?

The little pink pot is a concealer, the Erase Paste by Benefit. I'm in the lightest shade, nr. 1. This is a really creamy concealer, stays on all day and covers really well. Yes, it does crease a little bit, but I can live with that :)

And the powder you see is also by Benefit, the Hello Flawless! It is a powder which is supposed to cover like a foundation. I really love this. It covers up pretty decently, and feels good. I'm in the shade "Gee, I'm swell, SHELL". Only downfall is that I am going through this pretty quickly... on the other hand, I have been using it almost every day for about two months now, so maybe that's why I'm seeing pan already!

Here, you see the... long things. Yeah. Good explanation of my behalf, wasn't it? Okay then, Miss Diorista. Let´s see your long things!

First up is my favourite mascara so far, the Voluminous by L'Oréal. This is just beyond words, makes my lashes long and lush, doesn't clump and is very black. I don't like it when mascaras say "black", but come out looking all gray. This one says black, and is black.

The brush is an e/s blender by The Body Shop. Sure, it's a good blender, but the reason it's here, is that it is a great brush for creating subtle shadows for an everyday look. If you just want that extra depth/emphasize on your eyes, without it looking like you have any eyeshadow on, then this is your brush. Love it, have been using it constantly.

Yes, I've been on an eye-lining rush lately... the first one is by Clinique, a Cream Shaper for Eyes in 103, called Egyptian. It is a beautiful kind of khaki green colour. Really dark though, and looks black once on. Just not quite as harsh, which I why I love it. Also really creamy, so to prevent smudging, I would set it with some dark e/s.

The white eyeliner is by Sisley, it is a Kohl eyeliner, in Snow. Has some subtle shimmer to it, and is just a dream. Creamy enough to be used on your waterline, yet doesn't smudge. However, it is also creamy enough to be used under your brow as a highlight... so this is a wonderproduct, I'm telling you! Creamy when it has to be and non-creamy when it is supposed to be exactly that! Lol!

The last long thing I've got to show you is a Velvet Eyeliner from GOSH, in 01 Blue Moon. It is a beautiful blue colour. Not a bright blue, just... the perfect blue. I love it! Adds some bling to your eyes without being too overpowering!

Here are some swatches for you guys. On top is the Springsheen blush, then the eyeliners. First is Egyptian, then Sisley Snow, finally the GOSH one.

So, what have you been loving for the month of September? Please tell me, I'd love to know!

And leave any requests for product reviews in the comments ;)

Yours,

Miss Diorista

Haul from Germany (part 8) - Benefit

At last. The final part of the haul from Germany. Can you believe it? Part eight. The final part... I don´t believe it.
So this last part is probably the one that I am most excited about. This is all about Benefit products, which you can't buy here in Iceland, so I kind of might have gone slightly crazy at the Benefit counter... but I don't mind! Let's get started!

I got three boxed powders, and frankly, I love all of them.
First, you see Hoola bronzer to the left. A really nice, matte bronzer which still gives a sunkissed look. Perfect for contouring.
In the middle is one of their latest boxed powders, a blush called Sugarbomb. As you can see, it has four colours. This blush really gives a lot of sheen, but less colour, so if you're looking for some pretty flush with glow, this will be your thing.
I also got the duo 10. One side is a highlighter, the other one is a bronzer. Both are very shimmery. I love this for some quick contouring, just make sure to blend well so that you don't look too streaky!
For the Hoola I use a contouring brush, but for the other two, I find that the brushes that came with them, actually work best.

Below the powders, you see, from the left:
That Gal face primer. This is a pinkish primer, with a bit of shimmer. I don't like this under my makeup, as I can't really see any difference when wearing it. However, I do like it over my makeup, as a slight highlight, or as a base for a powder highlighter.
Next up is a gorgeous powder highlighter, Miss Popularity. It is one of the most sparkling highlighters I've ever seen, not for every day use, but for some extravaganza, I love this.
Ooh la lift was kind of a disappointment for me. It is supposed to brighten up your under eye area (not conceal, just brighten). However, I can hardly see any difference. It is milky pink, yes, slightly shimmery, but I won't repurchase. I sometimes use it on my cheekbones, though, for just a hint of glow.
Finally (on this picture), you see High Beam, another highlighter (yes, I am really into highlighters!). It is a liquid one, and I love it. Period.

First up is Hello Flawless! powder "foundation". I really, really love this, have been using it almost every day. I am in the colour "Gee, I'm swell, SHELL". Comes with a brush and a sponge.

Next to that one, is the Stay don't stray! e/s and concealer primer. It gives me some coverage, actually, and does reduce under eye creasing. See some further review here.

The little pink pot is probably a new love of mine, a concealer called Erase Paste. I'm in the lightest shade (they have three). This covers really well, doesn't crease a whole lot, and lasts well.

Finally, I got myself a concealing and brightening kit, the Confessions of a Concealaholic. How fun is that name! And the packaging is just supercute - looks like a book! It comes with Boi-ing concealer in shades 1 and 2, Erase Paste in shade 2, That Gal face primer, Eye Bright and Lemon-Aid. You also get two double-ended brushes, and each end is marked, so that you don't get things mixed up. I will probably do a full review of this kit, so I'm not going to ramble on about it here :)

Whew. That's it. The haul is over!

I really hope that you liked this part, and the whole haul, of course!

As usually, leave any requests for reviews in the comment, and please do comment, I love reading your comments!

Yours,

Miss Diorista.