Brows: Tarte's Answer To The Anastasia Brow Wiz?

Now, I love the Anastasia Brow Wiz but I've ditched the full-on bleach for more broken up, highlighted roots. So! I wanted to try a darker brow option (I used to use the shade Taupe) because I can get away with it again. I bought the Anastasia Brow Wiz in Soft Brown ($21) (ahem, correction: my mom bought me the Anastasia Brow Wiz in Soft Brown) and although the color is fine, it's not perfect. I find it a little bit too warm (not overly so, but a bit) so I randomly picked up the Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Pencil in Medium Brown ($20) at Sephora (oh oops, forgot to mention I'm in New York). Anyway, turns out I love it.

It is quite similar to the Anastasia Brow Wiz, in that it has a small, wind up pencil with a thin nib on one end and a spooley on the other end. The formula is seemingly fairly similar to the Anastasia too as it is quite waxy and it also doesn't smudge. Nothing worse than a soft, smudgey eyebrow pencil. NOTHING. The color is more what I was hoping the Brow Wiz in Soft Brown would be, it's more of a true, neutral/slightly ashy brown rather than a warmer, chocolatey brown. I'm trying to go for a more natural looking brow by filling them in a little bit less and so using a brow pencil that matches my natural brow color better helps achieve a more natural lewk. It says this is a waterproof and I have gotten caught in the rain before wearing a different brow product which smudged onto my forehead (cute look!). Other reviews that I have come across state that this doesn't smudge in the rain or in hot, sticky weather so that's a bonus but I can't say I have really tested the waterproofness of this myself. The only downside with these kind of brow products is that they don't tend to last too long...

All-in-all, this gets a big thumbs up from me!

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KIKO Universal Fit Hydrating Fluid Foundation

I feel like I said I would write a post about this foundation so here it is friends and foes! I am in New York right now and the flight totally dried my skin out so I'm having to resort to BB creams (poor, poor me, I know). When I was back in England however, this was one of my most used foundations and I think it will be a favorite in the summer. I am talking about the KIKO Universal Fit Hydrating Fluid Foundation which is not something I would've picked up on a whim. My friend was wearing this foundation and it looked amazing and I had also read positive reviews about it.

So why do I like it? First of all it is a hydrating foundation so it doesn't emphasize any of my areas that can be a little dry. It doesn't visibly sit in any fine lines or pores and it blends seamlessly. The texture of the foundation is really smooth so it creates a nice blurring illusion. It provides good coverage with one layer and full coverage with two layers. However I have the shade 5 which is a little dark for me so I can only really get away with one layer and with blending it down the neck. I think I picked up shade 5 because the lighter shades seemed a little pink for my liking but I sometimes mix in a paler foundation to get a better shade. I feel like this shade will be perfect for me in the summer when I have a little bit more color. I like to apply this with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush if I want a slightly sheerer coverage to make the color work better for me in my super pale state.

You get a decent amount of product for the £6.90 price tag and the packaging is light, compact and great for traveling. It also comes in 20 shades which is a great range for such an affordable product.

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Origins Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Moisturizer

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I feel like I don't often mention skincare products because I rarely switch up my skincare and I don't often try out new products. Now I'm closer to my mid-twenties my skin has gotten more temperamental and I can't just throw any old nonsense on it without a reaction. I have been using this moisturizer for just under a year now so I feel happy to tell y'all that I'm a big fan.

I have heard mixed things about the Origins Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Moisturizer, but for my skin it is great. I have read that this has irritants in it but I actually like to use this when my skin is irritated as I find it really soothing. It goes without saying that what will work on my skin might not work on yours. My skin is prone to dryness as well hormonal cystic acne (which I have found this tends to soothe rather than aggravate). I do also use the Origins GinZing Moisturizer just because I am trying to use that one up - I don't dislike it per say, but I'm definitely not a fan. I find that the Make A Difference Plus + is a lot more hydrating and it helps to plump up really dry, dehydrated skin. I like to use this one in the mornings, especially because it has what I would consider as the typical awakening, citrusy smell that Origins products tend to have (from what I have tried). In terms of the texture of this moisturizer, I would say that it is light and absorbs fairly quickly so it's a great one to apply before foundation. It also doesn't leave any kind of film, which is great because I often find moisturizers that leave films then come off with foundation application and it all gets a bit messy. 

All-in-all, I really rate this moisturizer because whenever my skin needs that extra boost of hydration or the texture of my skin just isn't at its best, this tends to calm everything down and provide the hydration my skin is craving.

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