REVIEW || ESTEÉ LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR MAXIMUM COVER FOUNDATION IN CREAMY VANILLA

Who's still struggling with finding the perfect foundation? Me Me Me!! But not any more. Now that I've found my long lost best friend I am forever happy. This miracle foundation is what everyone with any skin concerns needs. It does its job better than any other foundation I have ever tried - and trust me, there have been many.

I have heard so many good things about Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundations and have decided to try out both of them. I went to my local Estee Lauder counter at Boots and asked for a sample of the normal Double Wear and one of the Maximum Cover. I got given the shades 'Cool Bone' for Double Wear and  'Creamy Vanilla' for Maximum Cover. What I can tell you is that the colours did NOT match my skin tone at all. I am usually NW10 or NC15 in MAC foundations, depending on the type and consistency so I would expect to be similar colours in Estee Lauder but I guess it's just the personal opinion of the staff that work there, as well as the store's lighting.

After long consideration, I decided to purchase the Maximum Cover foundation in the shade 'Creamy Vanilla' as it is the lightest shade in the collection - not very impressed with the shade range, I'm hoping that the brand will consider expanding their shade range for lighter and darker skin tones in the future. And I am very impressed with the coverage it offers. It makes my skin look flawless, slightly orange (yikes) but flawless. Okay, I am exaggerating a little bit, it doesn't make me look orange but it is a lot darker than my natural skin tone so I have to blend it very well which can be time-consuming, or I would apply some fake tan to match this shade. However, you do not need a lot of product for full coverage which I like about this foundation as it is expensive and will probably last me for a year. A little goes a long way!

You can see here how dark it actually is and I only put the smallest amount on the back of my hand! I would say a pea-sized amount would be enough to conceal acne and scarring on my face (not saying that you need to do this). The consistency is very different from all the foundations I have ever tried. It is very velvety and smooth and almost like a cloud?? I cannot explain the texture of this foundation but it doesn't feel like you have any on your face after application so it's very good for people who wear heavy make-up and dislike the feel of it. I forget I'm wearing a full face of make-up when I use this foundation! 

Overall, I am very pleased with this product as it truly is a lightweight and very full coverage. A little goes a long way, meaning that one tube should last around 6-12 months even with daily use. Sadly, the shade range isn't great but hopefully, you'll be able to find the closest match to your skin tone. Sometimes I mix it with my NW10 studio fix foundation as it's too light for me at the moment. A girl can never win... but it's a definite 9/10!! YAY! - Estee Lauder has since updated their colour range and has added a few new undertones too.

If you are looking for a foundation that's similar to this one without breaking the bank, then have a look at the comparison between these two foundations.

Have you tried any of the Estee Lauder foundations? What did you think?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2015 || March Favourites

Hey beauties!

How are you all? I'm still recovering from my recent surgery so I've had a lot of time to take photographs of some products I've been loving this month, so keep on reading and stay tuned for more posts!

So, as you can see all of the products I've been obsessing are skin care related and are all very affordable so any of you can go and buy them. I'm not entirely sure about the availability in other countries, but nearly every shop in the UK stocks these products. Okay so let's get to it!

Sure Maximum Protection Compressed Deodorant has been introduced earlier on last year I think, and this is the only one from the entire range that I've actually liked for its long lasting effects and the scent. It is aloe vera scented and infused so not only does it smell good - it does good to your skin too. It leaves my underarms feeling smooth and hydrated while it works wonders on keeping the odour away.

Garnier Fresh Eye Make-up Remover has been my holy grail this month as I suffer from dry and sensitive skin and I never take my make-up off before going in the shower which I need to start doing!! This product has made my life a lot easier as it removes waterproof make-up and the mascara that I'm using at the moment is so hard to take off, and also the eyelash glue I'm using is permanently on my eyelids!! I highly recommend this product to people with sensitive skin and those who wear fake eyelashes on a daily basis because it does get rid of the glue and keeps your eyes tear-free!

Dove Go Fresh roll-on Deodorant smells a-m-a-z-i-n-g!! It leaves a cooling feel when you apply it, it's great for when you've just had a shower after a nice work out. It keeps you feeling fresh and ready to start your day and the scent is delicious!

Sure Invisible roll-on Deodorant is one that I use in the evenings or for when I go out as it doesn't leave any marks after using it and dries really quickly, so if you want to wear that LBD, you do so girl! It offers maximum protection for 24 hours (obviously nobody will need it for that long) but it's great for nights out especially as clubs do tend to get you hot and sweaty!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - now this is something every blogger has been raging about for the past few months. This is the first time I've repurchased a cleansing water and what can I say other than that I'm very impressed with this product and with what it does to my skin. It smells great, leaves my skin feeling clean and healthy and it's also hydrating so it's perfect for this kind of weather we've been having. If you use it before applying your make-up make sure you use a moisturiser with a subtle glow or a primer such as Prep&Prime from MAC as it gives a great glow to your face and you're instantly Spring photo ready!

Clean&Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion is very good for oily skin types and those who get a lot of break outs. It cleanses your face completely out of all oils, dirt and blackheads as well as it prevents new ones from growing. You can feel the difference after the first use and this is definitely my favourite product out of the ones I've mentioned above as not only it gives me a cleansed feel/look but also moisturises my skin and leaves it feeling smooth and soft. It's great for using before bedtime.

What have you been loving this month? Have you tried any of the products above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2015 || February Favourites

Hey Guys!

I know I'm a bit late with my February Favourites post, but better late than never, right? So there's only a few things I've been loving last month but I'd say that every single girl needs these in her life!

                 

So to start off I've got the Vaseline essential moisture body lotion which is amazing for dry skin. Not only does it make my body feel soft but it restores broken skin and heals it! It also smells amazing!! I think it retails at £2.99 at Wilko's but I'm not entirely sure as I bought it at a reduced price.
The next product I've been loving is the L'oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint foundation. This product is very similar to MAC's Face and Body foundation but at a fraction of the price. It is £9.99 and I got it when it was on offer at Superdrug for half the price! Bargain!!! It feels great on the skin, almost like velvet and is actually pretty good coverage for a lightweight foundation.
I received the 1D perfume 'You & I' for my 19th birthday in January and actually love the sweet-fruity scent. It makes me feel really girly and it's perfect for the sunny weather we recently had in Nottingham.
17 has always been one of my favourite drugstore make-up brands and it has never disappointed me one bit. This eyeshadow trio is perfect for Spring as it brings out the colour of your eyes and goes with any lipstick whether you opt for a nude brown or a bright pink! I don't know the name of this product but I know that they have discontinued the range a while ago as this eyeshadow has been sitting at the bottom of my make-up case for quite some time now, I am pleased to introduce it back to my life.
Last but not least is the amazing Toasted Marshmallow scented room fragrance I bought from Poundland. It smells amazing of marshmallows and cookies, almost like Snowflake Cookie by Yankee. It's just so perfect for those long days of coursework, revision etc. when you need a little mood boost instead of lighting candles just spray this around the room.

What have you been loving this February? Have you ever tried any of those products?

Lots of Love,

Maya xo

Review || Pet Shop Bowl

Hello my lovelies!

How many of you has got a pet that they love to bits and would do anything to make them happy? Because my doggy is the best dog ever and I love her lots! She's a 3 year old German Shepard who's full of energy and loves to eat good food. Her name is Bella and she recently received a very generous parcel from www.petshop.co.uk.

As you can see, she was more than just eager to open up the goodies we received in the parcel. She was given a massive packet of dog biscuits, three portions of wet food and some dentastix for large breeds.

Can I please try some Maya, pleeeaaase?!

She was born to pose for pictures, what a cute little pumpkin.

She started drooling when she smelt the biscuits once I've opened the packet. She's such a good dog that I had to give her a treat as soon as the parcel arrived.

We received dog treat biscuits by Ovalis, Dentastix, lamb with rice and two portions of Turkey with rice. All of these products are full of protein and nutrients vital for your dogs' health. PetShop.co.uk also provide many more products suitable for all types of pets.

*This post contains gifted items by PetShop.co.uk. I am very grateful and delighted to have collaborated with this company and highly recommend it to all my pet loving readers.

Have you shopped at PetShopBowl before? If so then what products have you tried? If you have any questions about the products I received for my doggy then do not hesitate to write them down in comments below!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

MAC Lipstick Giveaway

Hey lovelies,

I am so sick and tired of college, revising for my A-levels and preparing to go uni this year. I wish I could go on holiday abroad with my younger sister for at least 2 months :/ But I do have one holiday to look forward to! I am going to Crete in August for two weeks with my family eek! I am also planning on going to Barcelona or Turkey with my boyfriend this year. I love to travel, it is my most favourite thing to do in my spare time. All I need to do is put away some pennies and set the date! My other favourite thing to do to lift my mood is buy new make-up, especially when it's MAC. I have 7 MAC lipsticks so far and I won't stop until I have the whole lot. Which one is your favourite? My favourite at the moment is Viva Glam Miley but it changes weekly as I don't like to wear the same colour too often. I do need a new nude lippy so I am looking forward to Cinderella edition to come out this May! So, I have decided to do this giveaway for you guys, no matter if you're sitting your exams soon or are stressed out from uni work etc. But to cheer you up. This giveaway will be for 3 months until May exams and I will reveal the winner on the 1st of May so it can be shipped and delivered to you before your exams begin. You will be able to choose what shade and finish you would like ( if you want to wait for Cinderella's lipstick to come out, let me know and I will send you that one). I am hoping to gain more followers from this and ensure that exams don't stress you out too much!
  
l-r - Viva Glam Lady Gaga, Viva Glam Miley Cyrus, Rebel, Up The Amp, Rose Lily, Flamingo, Brave.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lots of love,

Maya xo