Max Factor CC Sticks

Max Factor CC Sticks in 'Green' and 'Yellow' - £9.99

For me lately my base makeup has been less about concealing by using just flesh coloured foundation and concealer but more about correction. It may seem like a strange concept to use green and yellow coloured things on my face but I promise that with enough blending you wouldn't have been able to tell I had anything on my face - although you might be wondering where my under eye circles/redness has gone…

Enter the Max Factor CC Sticks. After I got over the initial shock of seeing a stand of purple, green and yellow sticks I then decided what concerns I wanted to address - Green for redness, particularly around my nose, as well as Yellow, to correct under eye circles. 

I apply these pre-foundation onto my bare skin and I must admit, it's a little scary at first to see green and yellow streaks on my face. The consistency of the sticks is quite thick which means the preferred application method is to apply a bit then blend - for reference I prefer to use a mixture of my fingers and the Real Techniques Setting Brush - then apply a bit more and blend again, until I've reach the desired level of correction.

Out of the two the green's colour is a lot more prominent and takes some more work to blend into the skin seamlessly and make sure that it's all gone. Without the extra blending I find that my skin can be tinged slightly green so that's definitely something to bear in mind. For that reason I'm more reluctant to use the green stick unless I have time to get ready, it's not really a product to use when you're low on time.

On the other hand the yellow stick is really great on no makeup days where all I want is to get rid of my dark circles. Again it takes a bit of effort to blend it but it's not as obvious as the green stick, since the yellow tinge give it a lovely brightened look. It doesn't crease under my eyes unless I'm heavy handed with the application (which isn't hard to do, given its thick texture).

Overall I'm pretty impressed with the Max Factor CC Sticks however I'd consider them to be pretty pricey, at just under a tenner. If you really wanted to try them I'd recommend the shade Yellow the most but if redness is a problem then Green would probably be the way forward. If you're lucky you might catch them on a 3 for 2 offer and stock up on some other favourites while you're at it!

Less is More: Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm

Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm - £1.65

Let's be honest, how many of us are guilt of spending extortionate amounts on simple necessities on lip balm? Nuxe Reve de Miel is £9, Dior Creme de Rose is £20 and By Terry Baume de Rose is over £30! Ultimately, when looking for a lip balm I just want something that will nourish my lips and keep them in good condition, so why have I spent so much money trying to do this when there are perfectly good ones like Nivea Essential Care in the aisle of Boots?!

It has an intensely thick formula which coats the lips and locks in moisture - this is one for intense hydration. With ingredients like jojoba oil and shea butter this really is perfect to care for your lips and bring them back from even the worst of conditions. Whenever my lips are really dry, and I mean cracked and sore, this is the perfect overnight restorative balm. I use it almost like a lip mask, that's how thick it is, and come morning I can still feel it on my lips. 

While its thickness is a major bonus in moisturising, it does mean that it's not really an 'on-the-go' lip balm, because its presence is really obvious on the lips. That's where some of the more expensive lip balms have the upper hand - having intense hydrating abilities but still being perfect for use during the day.

However, let's be honest, for under £2 (yes really!) this is a great addition to the lip balm stash that won't break the bank. It's become a staple in my nightly routine when things are a little dry and I really recommend it to any of you suffering with perpetually dry lips!

Radical Glow Set

Radical Glow Set* - £68

 Radical Skincare is a luxury skincare brand which I had only heard of and lusted after so, naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to try out a couple of their products. The Radical Glow set contains a full-sized Skin Perfecting Screen (40ml) and a smaller sized Multi Brightening Serum (15ml) which are meant to provide your skin with a beautiful glow when used in conjunction with each other.