MAKE UP | ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR

ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR, £27.50 (x)

Having extremely oily skin I can't seem to find a nice dewy foundation that doesn't leave me looking shinier than a disco ball 5 seconds after I've applied it. I dabbled in primers, but nothing has seemed to work, and my beloved Illamasqua Rich Liquid, no matter how amazing it is, leaves me greasy if I don't set it well with a powder. Powder isn't something I love, and so I always strive to look for a foundation that I can just put on and leave as it is. That's where Estee Lauder comes in handy!

They've recently added to their shade range which confused me a little at first and I'm worried I may of purchased the wrong shade, but the nice lady at the counter in Boots told me if it was wrong I could bring it back, which is definitely news to me! Back when I was 16 I used to wear this all the time, it was my holy grail, and then I'm not really sure what happened but I think I just ran out and never bought it again. Now 5 years later (5 years, oh Jesus!) I have returned. I used to be shade 1C1 'Shell', and now 1C1 is called 'Cool Bone' I assumed the colour would be the same and the name had just changed but it seems a little more yellow than I remember, but blended well it looks fine on my skin.

The foundation itself is a liquid, and many reviews I've seen seem to compare it to 'wearing a mask'. It's true, it's high coverage stuff, but you only need a small amount of this product and I think that's wear people go wrong. I usually buff this into my face with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, or use my hands. Yes, my hands. It can get a little messy, but the overally effect is very seamless and blended. I'd compare it to how you warm Studio Fix concealer with your fingers - if you use your hands with this it warms into the skin much more and that helps with making it not look mask-like.

Now for the best part - in my opinion. Doublewear is the only foundation I've ever used that I don't have to powder, or touch up during the day. I've also maybe slept in this (Once upon a time! Don't kill me) and woken up to a nearly flawless face... Now if that's not long wearing, I don't know what is.

For me this is the perfect everyday foundation when just used minimally, build it up it is perfect for a night out.

Have you tried Doublewear? Are you a fellow lover, or a hater? 

MAKE UP | URBAN DECAY NAKED BASICS PALETTE

NAKED BASICS PALETTE, £20 (x)

My poor old Sleek palette was getting worn out, and as always Debenhams.com was open on my laptop... I can only blame myself! Having my eye on this little baby for a while, I managed to swipe it and a bottle of De-Slick when they had 10% off, and I'm so glad I did.

Knowing that I didn't really need the extent of shadows that the full Naked and Naked 2 palettes have, I thought this little wonder would be perfect for me and I was right. It comes in a little cardboard box, and the palette itself is sturdy and durable, a real travel size kit that I can see myself taking to my boyfriends or to work for touch ups if needed.

As you can see here the box states it features both matte and satins, when really it's just one. I've seen people saying that foxy is slightly satin-y too, but in my palette it's most definitely matte. This isn't a problem for me as Venus is the perfect champagne highlight for inner corners and brows, I don't need another.

L-R: VENUS, FOXY, WALK OF SHAME, NAKED 2, FAINT, CRAVE

Venus is a light champagne highlight which is perfect for the inner corner, brow and even a bit dusted on the cheekbone. Foxy is a yellowy-nude and W.O.S is a pinky-nude, both which suit my very pale complexion as a lid colour. Naked 2 is a light taupe brown, which looks lighter in the pan than it is on the brush so be careful! Faint is a dark cool tone brown, and Crave is a nearly-black brown.

I've been using Venus to highlight, and then eitther Foxy or W.O.S on the lid, Naked 2 in the crease and then deepening the crease if needed with Faint. Crave has only been used to smudge along the lashes so far but I could definitely see myself taking an eye look from day to night with it. I also use a mix of Naked 2 and Faint as an eyebrow colour occasionally and it works perfect! All shadows are buttery soft and easy to blend.

All in all I think this is a wonderful palette, and if you were thinking of buying it for an easy day-to-night eye, it will do the trick amazingly. If you've got this palette what are your thoughts?