Nars Laguna Bronzer | Review & Swatch + Bronzer Recommendations and Tips (#TheSoProject)

Phew, these past few weeks have been pretty manic in my world and I don't see things slowing down anytime soon. Unfortunately, due to that blogging has been taking a bit of a back seat. I am making my best efforts, but I do wish I could post more often. At the moment- twice a week is about the maximum I can manage. Anyway, today I am bringing you a review of my current favourite bronzer which is none other than the infamous Laguna bronzer by Nars (€33.83). This is also my fourth instalment of the The Starting Off Project (click here to find out more).

This bronzer comes neatly packaged in a sleek, matte, black compact. It is the typical, non-exciting Nars packaging here. I think it looks classy and expensive but by golly do these get grubby looking quickly. It is near impossible to not have your fingerprints all over this due to the finish of the packaging. There is a great sized mirror housed inside the compact, which makes it perfect for on the go application

Finish wise, this is an almost-matte (there is a teeny tiny bit of shimmer that isn't noticeable on but is faint in pan) brown that should suit most light-medium skin tones. It is not very dark so if you are on the darker side of the skin tone spectrum, this may not show up on you very well. It is very easy to build up and is a perfect contour and all-round bronzer. It's very natural looking which I love and lasts the entire day.

Overall I love this bronzer and it has become apart of my daily makeup routine during the past few weeks. I finally know what all of the fuss is about! However, if Nars is a bit out of your budget there are plenty of other great bronzers on the market. 'Bourjois Delice de Poudre' (€8.99) is a great highstreet alternative. It also smells faintly of chocolate which is always a bonus in my books! Another favourite of mine is Hoola by Benefit (€34). Definitely not exactly pocket friendly but it's a great one to try if you're on the hunt for a new bronzer. 

The Bronzing Basics

If you're new to the bronzing world, here are a few tips to get you on your way. If you're like me, you'll never look back!

• Bronzer can be used for a number of reasons. The most obvious reason would be to bronze your face, and make you look more tanned. Another major reason is to contour your face. This means that you would use the product to accentuate certain features or hide others. The best place to use bronzer is under your cheekbones. Make a fishy face and apply product from the edge of your face until you reach the outside of your eye in a downwards motion. You can also apply the product along your temples and down the sides of your nose (this creates the illusion of a smaller nose). 
• Make sure to blend! Nobody wants a VCL (that's visible contour line, don't you know!). Harsh lines are a no no.
• Don't apply bronzer onto your inner cheeks, this will just make your makeup look patchy and muddy. Never a desired look.
• Use a contour brush to apply bronzer. This makes contouring a lot easier than using a big powder brush.
• If you're afraid of using bronzer- don't be! It's the perfect product to create a natural, sun-kissed look and really helps highlight your best features.

They're my tips and recommendations for bronzers. I hope you enjoyed this and let me know of any tricks or product recommendations in the comments! 

Review + Swatches | L'Oréal Magic Nude Liquid Powder

Do you ever come across a product where you wonder how it was never invented before this, yet the idea never even entered your mind? Well the new Magic Nude Liquid Powder by L'Oréal is one of those products!

I picked up this baby on holiday in Florida (read all about it here). Since then I have been absolutely loving this product. It's a bit of a new concept in the beauty world so I'll give you low-down on it before letting you know my thoughts. Basically this looks like a light liquid foundation-type product at first glance. However, once applied you begin to see the magic of the product. It glides on to a powder-finish - no greasy looking faces here! It is described as a 'skin perfecting base' and I cannot argue with that. It provides great coverage for such a light base and creates a flawless complexion. Of course, for major blemishes and under-eye circles you may need some extra coverage with a concealer but otherwise it does a great job of perfecting any minor imperfections. 

The packaging is also very sleek and looks much more expensive than it is. It comes in a glass bottle that has an ombre effect. The dispenser isn't the most convenient as you basically have to pour out the product onto your fingers, which isn't the easiest to control. Besides that and the fact that it isn't very travel-friendly, the packaging is pretty and will look lovely on your makeup stand!

My favourite part about this product is the way it feels. It really feels like you haven't got any makeup on at all, yet it makes my skin look so much better than many heavier foundations do. Plus it has built-in SPF 18. Lasting power is good, about the same as any typical foundation and usually lasts about eight hours with wear signs around the 5 hour mark. Another bonus is that there is a range of twelve shades which is quite impressive for a lower-end brand.

Now on to the downside. Unfortunately there has to be one. This product is quite difficult to get your hands on. If you live State-side it's easy, it's available anywhere L'Oréal is sold. If you live in Ireland/UK/Europe or anywhere else for that matter, you're gonna have some difficulties. I will link some sites where you can purchase the product below but I'm really hoping L'Oréal release this product here soon because I really don't know what I'll do when I run out! The main message here is if you can, I 100% recommend picking up this product as it's quickly becoming a firm favourite of mine.



L'Oréal Magic Nude Liquid Powder- $12.95 here

Review + Swatches | Topshop Lipstick in 'Saint'

Hey Everyone.

Topshop makeup line is loved by the beauty world, and is one of the best highstreet makeup brands, in my opinion anyway! I've reviewed a few of their makeup items before, including a lipstick and a few of their gorgeous nail polishes. I've been recently longing for a nude-pink lipstick but didn't fancy forking out close to €20 for a MAC lipstick so I decided to try one of Topshop's offerings.

 The shade I went for is entitled 'Saint' and is the perfect peachy nude-pink. It is nude enough without looking like you just slapped foundation on your lips! I love Topshop's makeup packaging. The lipstick comes in a sturdy cylindrical tube. The details of the packaging are the stripes in the lower half of the tube and the writing 'Lips' in a pencil-written style. The sticker at the bottom of the tube is very handy as it is the same colour as the shade encased.

The formula of the shade took me a bit longer than usual to get used to, as it does tend to stick to any dry patches on the lips, so make sure to apply a lip balm prior to applying the product. Besides that slight glitch, it glides on smoothly but does need to be layered if you desire a more prominent nude lip. It gives a natural, yet pretty colour. 

Above: lip swatch Below: hand swatch

Overall, I think this is a great product and very pretty colour. If you're on the hunt for a new nude lipstick, this one is a great high street offering.

Available from selected Topshop stores and their website for €12