What's On My Face: The Office Edition

Max Factor’s Instant Complexion Enhancer CC Cream (£9.99) | Paul & Joe’s Limited Edition Pressed Powder UV (£28) | MAC Powder Blush in Supercontinental | Maybelline’s Mega Plush Volum’ Expess mascara (£7.99) | Benefit Browzings Brow Shaping Kit (£23.50) | Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant (£25)

Every morning I’m faced with the same old predicament: get up and apply some makeup or have an extra ten minutes in bed.  You can guarantee I choose my bed every time.  However, I’m not brave enough to go to work barefaced so have to try to make myself look presentable with a limited amount of time and a few products.

When I don’t have time to sit and blend in my foundation, the Max Factor’s Instant Complexion Enhancer CC Cream comes in really handy.  It’s more like a tinted moisturiser than a foundation so doesn’t need as much work.  It’s light and refreshing yet gives me good coverage.  If needs be I top up with a little concealer.  I forgot to photograph it but no prizes for guessing which one I use (Collection’s  Lasting Perfection concealer - review here).

I have to add powder when I need my makeup to last all day and my current dusting of choice comes from Paul & Joe’s Limited Edition Pressed Powder UV.  It contains finely milled glitter which adds a sheen to my face - the perfect pick me up for when I’m at work.  Onto blush and my usual office choice is MAC Powder Blush in Supercontinental, a bright yet natural coral shade.  It’s perfect for giving me a bit of a flush whilst not being too OTT or girly.  Unfortunately it was a limited edition from a collection last year so you will find it hard to hunt it down.  I’m using it sparingly!

Now for the eye area.  I tend to keep my eyes really simple whilst at work because as you nine-to-five girls know, too much tired eye-rubbing will leave you looking like an office zombie.  I apply a good few lashings of Maybelline’s Mega Plush Volum’ Expess mascara to keep my peepers looking wide awake.  I didn’t get on with this mascara at first as I found the formula rather runny and hard to work with but I persevered and glad I did.  I fill in my browns using the amazing Browzings duo from Benefit.  As you can see, the wax (left) is my favourite but I stick to the powder (right) during the day for a subtle look.

Finally, the lips.  Whenever I wear bright lipstick during the day at work I’m often asked if I’m going out afterwards and I get sick of saying “no I just like fancy a change!”  Can’t a girl wear a bit of bright lippy if she pleases?  Jeez!  Most days I opt for a touch of lip balm to keep my lips soft but glossy.  I make sure I keep it on my desk and top up during the day, especially in the colder weather.  My all time favourite lip balm is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant.  If you don’t have this in your makeup bag then why not?  It cures an array of ailments and I love how soft it makes my lips feel.

And there you have it.  This whole routine takes around 10 minutes and is so fool proof it can be done when half asleep.  I plan on doing a few more What’s On My Face posts so let me know other ‘faces’ you would like to see.

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Maybelline The Falsies Volum’ Express Flared mascara

Maybelline The Falsies Volum’ Express Flared mascara (£7.99)

After succumbing to the charms of an amazing but expensive mascara (yes Benefit They’re Real!, I am looking at you), I started to think I’d never be able to love a drug store mascara again.  I was wrong!  Cue Maybelline’s The Falsies Volum’ Express mascara, the flared version.  I can’t explain how good this mascara is.  To say I’m really impressed is an understatement!

I’ll start by saying that it doesn’t do exactly what it says on the tin.  It doesn’t have the same effect on your eyes as wearing false lashes and any mascara that says it does is lying.  You just can’t achieve the same length, volume and thickness that fake lashes give unless you have Disney Princess style lashes to start with, which I don’t :( 

But when fake lashes aren’t appropriate and I still want to make the most of my lashes, this is the product I turn to.  Initially I was a little put off because Maybelline seem to have released so many different mascaras which all look and claim to do the same thing but just come in different coloured tubes.  I find it really confusing when I’m in Boots and I’m trying to work out which one will be best but I’m so glad I took a chance with this mascara.  

Personally, I think this is just as good as They’re Real! by Benefit.  It adds both length and volume to my lashes without making them clumpy or too heavy.  The brush is spoon shaped so I use the inside of it to curl my lashes and the back of it to fan them out at the ends.  It’s not a plastic brush which I know puts a lot of people off They’re Real!  So if you’re not a fan of Benefit’s wonder mascara then this may be the product for you.  This mascara is half the price and does the same job therefore it’s no competition for me.  Maybelline Falsies wins every time!

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