How the West Gets BB Creams So Wrong!

I'm a massive fan of BB Creams and you'd have to have been living under a rock to not have noticed the mass influx of 'western' bb creams for sale in the UK. No.7, 17, Estee Lauder and Too Faced are just some of the brands who've released BB Creams recently but they all get it WRONG.

First of all let's explore exactly what BB Cream is and where it originated. BB Cream stands for Blemish or Beblesh Balm and it originated in Germany. It was created to regenerate the skin of laser surgery patients. Korean cosmetics companies heard about it and adapted the formula and started selling it in the Korean beauty market. It became popular thanks to a host of Korean actresses who attributed their flawless skin to their use of BB Cream. Korean BB Creams are a mix of skin care and makeup.

The original (Korean) BB Creams do the following:

Gives the wearer perfect coverage without clogging the pores on the face
Hides pigmentation, acne, discolourisation of the face and other facial blemishes
Heals the skin.
Soften, refines & smooths the skin on the face.
Aids skin regeneration
Has anti-ageing properties
Protects against sun damage

To put things simply a genuine BB Cream is a foundation, concealer and anti-ageing moisturiser all rolled into one. It should provide full coverage while allowing your skin to breathe and regenerate itself. Western BB creams hardly fulfil any of the functions of the original. I've tried the 17, No.7, Garnier, Estee Lauder & the Too Faced BB Creams and to put it simply they are nothing like the genuine article. These brands jump on the BB bandwagon without it seems any idea of what a BB Cream actually is. These brands use the popularity of BB Creams to sell a product that isn't even a BB Cream. These below par imitations aren't much more than a tinted moisturiser with primer added. It really makes my blood boil and since when are there only two or three skin tones? Despite Korean's light skin tones I find it easier finding a shade that suits me from Korean brands.

Yes most Western versions contain SPF but that is about all they get right and while I'm ranting let me say this. BB does not stand for Beauty Balm!

Come on Western brands get with the program and please someone develop a genuine BB Cream. One that is equal or better to your Korean counterparts. I'm not holding my breath though. It seems for the time being I'll be sticking to my favourite Missha and Skin Food BB Creams!

S

Illamasqua Skin Base - Review, Photos & Swatches

Anyone who knows me or follows me on Twitter will have heard of my battle to find a good Western BB cream. Most western versions are nothing more than tinted moisturiser with primer added and this is in stark contrast to the Korean version which provides full coverage while letting your skin breathe and leaves me with flawless looking skin.

I recently tried out Estee Lauder's version but like the rest it was disappointing. So when someone on Twitter suggested to me that Illamasqua's skin base was the nearest you'll get to a proper BB cream I rushed to the Carnaby Street store to pick one up. I love the staff at the Illamasqua store, they are all super friendly and immensely helpful. I wasn't sure which shade I'd need so the lovely girl there swatched it on my skin to find a good match.

Skin Base isn't actually a BB Cream but it is pretty damn close to one. It is inspired by BB Cream's but those lovely folk at Illamasqua tell me they made some changes to accomodate the huge spectrum of shades they offer. Most western BB creams come in 3 shades only which isn't ideal for those of us whose skin is a different shade to any of the colours offered. The Illamasqua offering comes in a whopping 19 shades! Wow that is quite a selection. It also smoothes, softens and conditions the skin just like their Korean counterpart.

So what did I think of it?

I LOVED IT! I seriously can't convey quite how much I love this product. It is exactly the product I've spent 6 months looking for. Being mixed race I have areas of my face that are lighter than other areas. This product evened out my skin tone brilliantly. I also have acne on my right cheek and it did a brilliant job of disguising them. The colour match was perfect - no tide lines here!

It lasted all day long without fading and I couldn't be happier. It is superior in so many ways to my MAC foundation and provided much better coverage. I could gush all day about how much of a miracle product Skin Base is but I don't want to bore you to death. The only negative is the price. At £25 it isn't cheap but I'd say it is well worth the price tag. A little goes a long way with this product so it will last for ages.

Have any of you tried Skin Base? What are your thoughts?

Available from Illamasqua Online or Instore.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Disco Ball

I'm a sucker for a glitter filled polish and this one is a beauty. A clear polish filled with different sized flecks of silver, lilac, blue and gold glitter. I'm wearing it on its own here but it would look just as pretty worn over another colour. It dries super fast and only one coat is needed. I'll be wearing this polish alot. I've been wearing it for two days now and it still hasn't chipped. Not bad for a £2.99 nail polish!

Available from Boots priced £2.99

Illamasqua Lipstick - Scandal

 

 

I'm noticing a trend in my choice of lip colours. All my recent choices have been very pink! I can't help it i'm a sucker for barbie like lips.  The latest addition to my aresenal of pink lippies is Illamasqua's Scandal. I was lucky that when I went into the store they were having a 20% off everything sale (except the human fundamentalism range - dammit!). this colour instantly caught my eye. I have never tried Illamasqua lipsticks before so I figured what the heck let's give it a try.

MAC is usually my lipstick of choice but after trying out Illamasqua that is likely to change. Now I know matte lipsticks aren't everyone's cup of tea but I love them and this lipstick is very matte. I find that matte lippies wear better and last longer (at least on my full lips). I also love how pigmented this lipstick is. Sheer ones aren't my thing because they don't look bright enough as my lips are quite dark. I managed to wear this lipstick for quite a few hours without it fading and this time also included a trip to KFC where I gorged on the Big Daddy meal (yes I'm a pig) so it lasted through eating and drinking. It applies easily and evenly. Uneven application is a problem I often come across with cheaper lipsticks. I'm super impressed with Illamasqua lipsticks and I don't really have any complaints. some may find the colour too pigmented and I would avoid it if subtle colour is your thing. The packaging isn't anything special but it does the job and doesn't look cheap.MAC you've been replaced. I'm in love. This lippie is likely to be my go to lipstick.

What do you think. Would you wear this colour. Are you a fan of matte lipsticks?

Dejavu Fiberwig Lash Knockout Mascara Review

I've been waiting to review this product for ages after seeing such good things about it online. Dejavu Fiberwig Lash Knockout is part of the fiberwig line. Fiberwig is basically a mascara that adds fibers to your lashes to make them look longer. It is regularly touted as 'paint on false lashes'. This one is one of their newer products in the line. So is it worth all the hype?

Let's take a look!

Without Fiberwig

With Fiberwig

As you can see from these photos my lashes look considerably thicker AND more importantly longer. This result is after just a single coat. If I'd applied more coats the result would be even more amazing. The mascara dries pretty quickly and is a deep black shade. So what are the negatives? It left a small trace of black mascara on my upper eyelid but that may be because I opened my eyes too quickly. It also tends to make eyelashes stick together a little but that is easily solved with the help of an eyelash comb.

For once the hype surrounding a product is actually worth it. So many mascaras claim to lengthen your lashes but this one actually does. This is sure to be a permanent fixture in my makeup kit. What do you think?

Price $16.10 from Sasa

L'Oreal Color Infallible in Purple Obsession

I know I'm late to the party but I'm really loving Loreal Color Infallible eyeshadows at the moment. So far I've only tried purple obsession but I found it so easy to work with unlike a lot of shadows. The color infallible eyeshadows are loose powders that apply and feel like a cream. They actually look like pressed shadows in the pot and I managed to apply them without any fallout under my eyes. I found it easiest to apply the product with my fingers. It lasts really well too. It is billed as a 24hour eyeshadow and I wore it for 12 hours without any problem. This colour looked a vivid purple in the tub but on my skintone it turned into a delightful smoky purple. ut this is probably because of my skintone. This shadow is also waterproof and smudgeproof. Not bad going for an eyeshadow that retails at £6.99. It is available in a wide variety of colours but the purple is my favorite with the navy blue a close second. This shadow has an almost pearl like finish to it which I like. So these eyeshadows get a big thumbs up from me?

Have you guys tried any eyeshadows from this range? Which have you tried and did you like it?

£6.99 from Boots.

Gold Leopard Print Nails Featuring Topshop Nail Art Pens

I recently ordered myself a pretty iphone case from Ebay and it arrived this morning. It is so 'me' and I love it to pieces. Isn't it pretty? 

Now its design got me thinking and decided I needed to create some nail art to match it. 

Now leopard print nails are so easy to do and luckily I bought some black and gold nail art pens from Topshop yesterday. They are super duper easy to use and at £7.50 for two they are pretty good value. They even include matching gemstones in the base of the pen. Unlike a lot of nail art pens the varnish actually dries very quickly.

For the base I used my Dollywink glitter polish. I've posted about Dollywink before here and it is a great Japanese beauty brand. The polish is quite pigmented and my nails only required two coats.

So have you tried the Topshop nail art pens? What do you think of my gold leopard print nails?

Japanese Beauty Review - Melliesh Lipgloss in Nudy Beige

I recently reviewed a product from a brand called Dollywink headed by gyaru model Tsubasa Masuwaka and now I bring you another brand fronted by a gyaru model. This time the model in question is super cute Yui Kanno. Yui has her own blog which you can see here. Of course the blog is in Japanese so you'll need to use Google Translate to read it.

I'd heard and read so many good things about her makeup line Melliesh that I had to try it out myself so I ordered the lipgloss in Nudy Beige. Like most Japanese beauty products the packaging is super cute. It features the model's image. Western lipglosses are almost always sold without any packaging except for the tube itself but this isn't the case with Japanese products and although i adore the packaging I tend to think it is just a waste to create packaging that isn't needed. So here are some images of the lipgloss.

I had high expectations of this lipgloss but I was left hugely disappointed. The formula is very thick maybe due to the fact it is a gloss and concealer combined. Applying it was a nightmare as it is hard to work with. It applies unevenly and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get it to even out. It feels very sticky too. Gloss tended to settle on the inside parts of my lips and gather there.

On the plus side I love the colour and it is long lasting compared to most of the glosses I've tried in the past. Would I buy it again? No. I really find it hard to see why this lipgloss is so popular as I found it a nightmare to apply. I would still like to try other Melliesh products but I will be shying away from their lipglosses. I'll be sticking with Dollywink glosses instead as they apply like a dream and are still long lasting.

What Japanese brands do you guys love? Have you tried any Melliesh products?

Steamcream Launch 'Love for Japan' Tin

We are quickly approaching the 1st anniversary of the Japanese Tsunami. I've blogged before about some of the events going on to mark this anniversary and to show the country that they are in our thoughts. The disaster may be over but people are still suffering and trying to rebuild their lives. Today I'm highlighting a brand who are raising money for those still affected. Beauty brand Steamcream are launching their Love for Japan tins. But unlike some companies they're not just donating a portion of profits they are donating the whole 100% retail price of the tins to efforts in Japan. They're even adding this tin as a permanent part of their line. Good on Steamcream - other brands take note!

Price £12.95 from Steamcream

Models Own Nail Art Pens - New Colours

Anyone who has been reading this blog for a while will know all about my love of nail art. The difference it can make to your nails is astounding and it is rapidly growing in popularity partly thanks to Wah Nails. Their collaboration with Models Own has introduced it to the masses. But the choice was limited as they only did two colours - black and white. So I was overjoyed to discover that they are no available in pink, blue and yellow too. I'd still like them to introduce more colours but it is a step in the right direction. With the introduction of these colours your nail art choices are endless.

Price £6 from Models Own

Beauty - MyFace Blingtone Eyeshadow in Limelight

I'm a sucker for glitter. Whether it be glittery shoes, glittery clothes or glittery makeup. So I was excited to try out MyFace cosmetics Blingtone eyeshadow. With a name like Blingtone I figured it would be glittery. When you look at the shadow in the pan it looks a lovely emerald green but it doesn't look glittery. It has an unusual texture, it isn't your usual eyeshadow texture it is almost slippery. The beauty of this eyeshadow is that it applies lightly. So you can choose whether to have a wash of colour or apply a few layers to achieve full on green. It is insanely glittery though. This is fine for me but maybe not so great for those of you who don't like full on glitter. It wears really well. I forgot to take it off before bed (ooops!) and there was still a wash of green on my lids the next morning. All in all I loved this shadow but I think whether you like it will depend on your preferences and tastes. If you love glitter like me then you'll love it.

MyFace Blingtone Eyeshadow in Limelight retails for £9.99 but I found this great offer on Amazon. they are selling it for £3.69. Bargain!

Beauty - MAC Viva Glam Nicki Swatch & Review

No lipstick has been hyped quite as much as this lipstick from MAC. But is it worth the hype? Yes and No.

First let me say that I love the colour. I am a massive fan of bright lippies and this one fits the bill. It is the kind of pink that would suit multiple skin tones. It is quite pigmented which is a positive for me. My lips are quite naturally dark so good pigmentation is key. I haven't seen a shade like this before. I have MAC's Impassioned and it is a similar shade but this one is closer to bubblegum pink. This colour won't be everyone's cup of tea but I loved it.

So what are the negatives? It seriously lacks in the staying power department. Being quite bright it is quite noticeable as the lipstick starts to fade. But saying that - wearing it with my beloved lipcote really boosted its staying power.

All in all it is a rather fab lipstick and I will certainly get a lot of wear out of it. I love how you can totally see Nicki wearing this shade herself and it is raising money for a great cause.

£13.50 from MAC