Testing Primers - and found a winner!

One thing that I find the most important about Make Up is that I don't have to constantly fuss about it throughout the day. I want to be able to apply my Makeup in the morning and then go about my usual daily routine without having to constantly worry about a shiny nose or foundation melt downs.

The easiest way to ensure my Makeup stays in place is to apply a Primer each morning straight after my usual skin cleansing process. However, not every brand seems to offer a Primer or better said, not every store that sells Foundations actually stocks Primers.

So, here are the ones I have tried, tested against wind and weather and decided are worth possibly investing some money in - sorted by price:

Maybelline - The Smoother (Anti-Age) Primer

Price Range: £9 - £10 (available at Boots, Superdrug and others)

This Primer works well enough if you only apply a pea sized amount and then work it into your face in circular motions. It holds the Make Up in place for a good portion of the day but - and this is a BIG but it doesn't do anything else. It does not actually make your skin appear smoother (despite it's name) and personally I found that I could feel its oily texture on my face all day long.  Subsequently, I looked for something else.







L'Oreal - Studio Secrets Primer

Price Range: £13-£15 (available at Boots, Superdrug and others)

This Primer works absolute wonders but you have to apply a fair bit of it to be able to distribute it evenly, which means you run out quickly if you use it every day. Apart from that, it is good value for money - definitely reduces the appearance of pores. It also seemed particularly good for visibly reducing re-appearance of any shiny patches around the T-Zone. However, I had to touch up with powder about 2-3 times within 10hrs to reduce shine.

No7 - Airbrush Away Primer

Price Range: £19.50 (only available at Boots)

This Primer was only recently released by No7 and promised to allow me to flaunt picture-perfect skin. 

I tested this one last week and have to say, they kept their promise well! Other than its rival products you really only need a minute amount, which does save money in the long run despite having to fork out an initially higher price. Also, it felt really nice on my skin and not at all oily!

Lines and pores appeared reduced and my skin tone evened out. I've only had to touch up once the whole day and it kept a flawless look throughout. 

Definitely a Winner! :D X

xoxo
Kate

Note: All Primers have been tested in combination with the following products:

Double Wear Stay in Place Foundation, Lucidity Pressed Powder and Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer - all by Estee Lauder

My first....

...everything! I have recently read this book about a girl who keeps a form of diary that is titled "My firsts" and she notes down all the things that her and her BFF do for the first time.

Now, of course she notes down things like her first kiss, her first date. However, she also writes down other new things that she's tried for the first time and it encourages her to try new things. I really liked that idea. So, for the last 2 weeks I have been keeping a mental note of all my new "firsts" and decided to blog them today:

14th of July: My first ride on a UK motorbike (as a passenger) at 70mph
24th of July: My first fishing trip
24th of July: My first time of catching a fish (in fact 3)
25th of July: My first marmite and cheese sandwhich
28th of July: My first serious Ice skating attempt (and only 1 fall!)

I am looking to add more firsts each week and have made my friend join me with this crazy idea and I think it will do us both some good in terms of trying new things. Although, it was his motorbike and none of the above was anything new to him but hey, we're working on his list simultaneously.

Apart from my first list, being ridiculously focussed on work, band and the occasional attempt at a social life, I've been on a trip to a Zombie Shopping Mall (yep, that does exist - it's in Reading and absolutely horrifyingly awesome!) and went shopping, shopping, shopping... :)

I'll have to post a few pics soon of some outfits I've styled with all the new clothes and accessories I've bought. In the meantime, here a picture of my current new favourite item in my jewellery box:

This is a watch/pendant. Super cute - found it at Claire's and fell in love with it. And then, because one item isn't enough - have a look at the cushions below:

These were a present of my friend (the one who is working on my first list with me) - very geeky, I know, but also very cool. :) It's those little things that make me happy.

Thanks for reading boys and girls!

xoxo
Kate

My US Trip in Pictures

From New York, San Francisco, St. Cruz, Santa Barbara, Kings View, Lake Nacimiento, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Route 66, Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon in 14 nights

Here some snapshots from my recent US Trip and rating of places we stayed in - very brief and to the point.

Oh and I'll be posting about my New York Shopping Haul in a separate post :o)

Yellow Cabs in NYC

Central Park, Manhatten

View from the Empire State Building

At the New York Library

A Coca Cola truck at a petrol station in LA

Driving on Sunset Boulevard

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams...

Everybody loves Hollywood..

Viva Las Vegas, Welcome to Sin City - Ceasar's Palace

Welcome to Arizona

The Grand Canyon

Still the Grand Canyon

I loved every minute of this trip ...

Here's where we stayed:

Pre-booked stays and my rating from 1(poor) to 10(superb)
New York: Roosevelt Hotel (Standard King) - 6 out of 10
L.A. Bevery Hills Hotel (Standard King) - 8 out of 10
Las Vegas: Ceasars Palace (Queen Suite) - 10 out of 10
Grand Canyon: Plaza Resort (Standard Double)  - 5 out of 10

On the road and my rating from 1(poor) to 10(superb)
Kings View: The Comfort Inn (Standard Double) - 5 out of 10
Santa Barbara: Brisas Del Mar (Penthouse Suite) - 10 out of 10

xoxo
Kate

"Outside" - A book review

Good evening my lovely readers! Hands up if you love reading a good book :D Well, I sure do and one thing that really helps me decide which book to download next (yes, I'm a Kindle addict) is reading the reviews about it. Today, I felt a little inspired to share a book review I wrote about a really awesome book by Shalini Boland. The book is called "Outside" and is set in Britain which is rather refreshing as I mostly read American YA Novels.

ebook - Published July 21st 2011

Written from the perspective of two girls (Elenor and Riley) each representing the "before" and "after" of a fictional civil war in Britain, Outside is a gripping story which will take you on a journey towards and through the aftermath of an apocalyptic anarchy in the UK.

Both stories simultaneously conclude into the shocking truth about the connection between two peoples' lives and decisions made years and worlds apart.

Elenor is leading a truly trouble free life "before". She is in her teens, not overly popular, a little naive and quite easily manipulated by her new found best friend, Abi.

Elenor happily accepts that Abi makes all decisions in their friendship and as they get older even agrees to Abi dicating her love life.

As the events unfold and a series of terrorist attacks change the world forever, Elenor loses almost everything she has ever truly cared about and finds herself in an impossible situation to which there just is no easy way out.
Riley, on the other hand, is leading a fairly sheltered and happy life in the aftermath of the attacks until she finds out that her beloved sister has been brutally murdered by someone from "outside" the compound she lives in.

Failing to accept that the murderer is free to roam the "outside" world because the law enforcements limits are now defined by an oversized fence, she decides to go after the killer herself.
She has his name, his last location and a plan. (More or less) What she doesn't realise is that she has no idea what is behind that fence!

Together with Luc, her neighbour and friend, Riley escapes from the compound and begins the dangerous and explosive mission of finding the man who so gruesomely wrecked her family life.
What she finds however, is nothing like she had ever expected and quickly it becomes obvious that every minute spent outside is putting her own and Luc's life in very great danger. 

There is no turning back, so Luc and her have to fight their way through the chaos and hope they will be able to get into safety before it's too late. Soon they realise, that regardless if your inside or outside the various compounds noone is ever truely safe.

This story is very hard to summarise but it is wonderfully well written and a fantastic read! The story is fresh, it's action packed and full of anything you can possibly want from the genre. Five stars!

To purchase this book from Amazon click here - it's currently only £1.99 to download for your Kindle Device.

xoxo
Kate