NYX Matte Bronzer - MBB03 Medium Review

For the majority of 2013 I have really loved contouring. It's a religious everyday routine that I cannot live without now. 

When you have a oval face shape, tying up your hair for work everyday is very unflattering so contouring is a must!!

Along my contour journey the NYX Matte Bronzer wandered into my path and said "oh hello, I'm completely Matte, and I'm affordable! Try me!"

The Bronzer comes in 5 shades - MBB01-05, Light, Deep, Medium, Dark Tan & Deep Tan.
My skin ranges from NW20 to NC/W30 throughout the year and this shade Medium has served me well.
I can't remember why I didn't go for Deep and went straight for Medium, I believe that some of the bronzers have more of a pink tone to them.

There sis 9.5g of product for GBP8.00 (but I got mine at IMATS London for around £5/6 I think?) which really I couldn't pass!

The colour is a little too warm for me in the winter when I have lighter skin. It comes off a little orange if you apply too much. So you can use a softer bronzer and then this on top if you want more definition. Otherwise its great when my skin is a little warmer.

The texture can be a little chalky and heavy but with a good blending/blush/contour brush it does the trick. Just make sure you don't apply this straight onto liquid foundation! It's so hard to blend out afterwards! Make sure you set your liquid foundation with a setting powder first and this blends beautifully.

I can also use this for a soft contour when I have false tan on for a night out. It doesn't show much but the intensity is buildable.

Below are pictures of before and after in daylight. I am currently Mac NW20 skintone.

*Skin with just foundation*

*With NYX Bronzer to contour cheekbones*

It actually looks harsher close up in pictures from the side than it does face forward. After using this I feel like my face is so much slimmer!

I love this bronzer for the price but the ONLY downfall it being that sometimes it's the minutest bit orange but then I guess I need the lighter shade for those lighter skin days.

For £8 a pop you can't really go wrong with this. I am hitting pan now which doesn't happen often with me. I would give it a try but find the right shade for you!

Have you tried this? Can you recommend any other drugstore matte bronzers? x

NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder

Helloooo there my beauts!
My recent thoughts for blogging have constantly been skincare as I have really been getting into more skincare products this year. There's no point putting makeup on nasty skin right? It'll just look worse! HOWEVER, I already did a skincare post last so without trying to bore you all here's a makeup review for you todayy =)

When you have a long and hard week at work without leaving yourself much time to look in the mirror AT ALL through the day you need your makeup to last flawlessly. Sound like you? Well if so you will know that setting powder is an essential in a makeup routine to make your makeup last all day!
It's certainly within my EVERYDAY routine!

My current HG is the Laura Mercier Universal Loose Setting Powder, but recently I have been using the NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder.

(I have new makeup brush storage in the background, aren't they prety :D:D:D. (I did have the old clear rectangular muji ones)) Needed a change...

anyway back on the subject!

The packaging is very basic. It did have a removable plastic sticky sheet that you peel off initially and when that's gone you get this basic round hard plastic container with little holes inside. With the amount of setting powders I've used I don't rate this at all. Everytime I twist this thing open there's too much powder out so when I dip my brush into it, half of it flies away. Bleh, messy.

The actual product itself however is very nice.
It's 6g for arond £10 (prices vary online) compared to 11.34g for £29 (Laura Mercier setting powder).
It's less than half the price for around half the amount.
I wouldn't say it's quite as finely milled as the higher end finishing powders but  when blended on the face it's exactly the same. It mattifies the face and makes my makeup last just as long as higher end powders have. It's also completely translucent and doesn't give a cakey white or dry layer over my face. I've used it in targeted areas, under my eyes, my slightly oily t-zone, and all over the face and never any problems.

Overall if you don't want to splurge your money on a high end setting powder, this will do the same job for a fraction of the price. Yes you get less product but you can buy 2 of these and it would still be cheaper than Laura Mercier or Makeup Forever.

I purchased mine from IMATS this year. In the UK I believe this is only available online.

Have you tried this? What are your thoughts? x