Bases for Spring

Somehow I never have enough foundation or bases. I have two new finds to report.

First up, Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.

I've wanted to try this for ages. People rave about it. Armani is not in every department shop I discovered as I hiked from Liberty all the way up to Selfridges trying to find it. Excellent shop assistants who gave me two generous samples because I wan't sure what colour I was. I used it all week (it was a big sample) and decided to buy it. I love this, it's very easy to blend and looks completely natural.

Then I decided I simply had to try the new BIY (Blend it Yourself) Pigment Drops from Clinique.

You mix this with your moisturiser, 1, 2 or 3 drops depending on how much coverage you want. I bought some at the airport earlier this week and used it in Dallas. It was hot in Dallas, I didn't want anything too heavy. I like this very much. It's perfect for days when you want a little coverage but not much (one drop). I've not tried three drops yet!

While I was at the Clinique counter, I picked up this Pep-Start moisturiser.

A trusted friend told me this made her look instantly younger. Obviously I had to check it out. It is great for summer as it mattifies and does somehow smooth your skin. It doesn't feel terribly moisturising to me. I put some on and then 10 mins later mixed it with the BIY and put another layer on. If you have less dry skin, you will love this.

Both of these are really good. I gave up on the Hourglass Foundation Stick. I simply found it too drying so I sold it. It goes to show I can't agree with Sali Hughes on everything.

Armani Eye Tint

Did I need this? No. Did I want it badly? Yes. Especially after testing all of them on my hand at Terminal 5 and deciding I needed a treat.

You can use these as a wash or you can build up to dense colour. The colours are gorgeous. It's like eye make-up nirvana. They are not the easiest to put on but I am not exactly dextrous when it comes to anything other than a pencil when it comes to eyes. I need to experiment more with it but I honestly wanted all the colours. Check them out.

Selfridges beauty hall

And so to Selfridges with a friend who needed foundation advice. I took her to the Armani counter and all was well as she fell in love with the Maestro foundation. She also bought a lipstick which I was very impressed with. In fact, I love all the Armani make-up, it's beautifully packaged and very classy. The lady did her eyes too and the colours were superb, the range is called Eyes To Kill and they are so pretty:

I was tempted I must say. We looked at Tom Ford make-up which, as always, breaks my heart in its perfection. However, it's ruinously expensive and there is nothing I feel I must have.

In case you think I am sickening for something, I will say I did spend and it was at Bobbi Brown. The Skin Perfecting Retouching powders have intrigued me and a lovely girl put some on me. They come in about 5 or 6 colours but if you are white then you're down to two - yellow or pink. She thought pink would be the one for me but it was the yellow that worked like magic. It was the end of a long day and I was looking pretty weary. She put this powder on and it simply revives you like magic. The site says it works like magic and I really cannot disagree.

It's £25 and I think that's reasonable however unfortunately I fell in love with the brush she used and had to have that.

And naturally I could not resist the lure of the long wear eye gels.

I got Ivy Shimmer Ink and it's fabulous. I am sporting it today and I am convinced with my magic powder I am ready to take on the world!

We then retired for cocktails with our loot (and free mascara from Bobbi Brown) feeling very happy with life.

I resisted for days

However, after occupying my mind for too long, I had to get the Armani Maestro. And then I had to get the Antique Gold Bobbi Brown eye shadow, it had sold out in Liberty which made me want it more so I ordered it online.

Am very excited to try both and report back.

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup

I was in New York this week and had a precious afternoon of shopping at the end of a very long three days at work. Naturally I headed for Sephora where I encountered this little beauty. I have never seen such a lightweight foundation, it literally glides on like silk. I didn't buy any because I just couldn't bring myself to get yet more foundation but I have my beady eye on it. It was very impressive. There is also an under eye concealer that I was sorely tempted by but again, I resisted.

Don't worry, I did buy lots of other things that I shall tell you about soon but this is what I keep thinking about. Therefore, as we all know, it's only a matter of time before it's mine.