Hey guys,

It has been absolutely ages since I last did a favourites post so I thought it was about time as I have been using a few new products recently. The products are a mixture of skincare and make-up and are all amazing so that's why they made the post. 

First up we have a few make-up products I picked up from Pat McGrath Labs when I was in London a few week ago. Selfridges London currently have a pop-up which I'm hoping will become permanent across Selfridges stores as the make-up is beautiful. I have been waiting quite a while since PML was released online in the UK as I wanted to go and swatch products in store. If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen my arm full of swatches and I spent a good hour in the store going through all the products and picking what I wanted carefully. 

I purchased the Fetish Eyes Mascara (£26), which is amazing and building length, volumizing and curling lashes. It literally does all three. You can also achieve different looks with it depending on how many coats you put on so I'm currently obsessed. I also purchased the Lust Gloss in Future Femme (£25) which is a lovely pink shade and highly moisturising. It has little flecks of glitter and I'm partial to a bit of glitter so it was definitely coming home with me. My favourite purchase has to be the Highlighter & Balm duo in Golden (£37). On one side you are given a transparent balm which is packed full of aloe, argan oil and hyaluronic acid. This gives such a natural healthy glow to the skin. I love wearing it on those no make-up days where I just want my skin to look extra dewy. The fact it has so much skincare packed in too make me love it even more. I apply to my lips and they are instantly hydrated. Similarly the gold side is also a balmy texture which makes it perfect for blending into the skin seamlessly. It literally melts into the skin to leave a glow from within. I am so happy with my purchases and love the branding on the packaging too. Pat has nailed it when it comes to her makeup collection.

Next up we have a make-up item I have been using regularly which is the Eye Majic Eyeshadow pads ** (£19.99). These are fantastic little sponge pads which have eyeshadow already applied. You simply apply directly to the lid and drag and the eyeshadow is then transferred to your eyes. Once applied I then run over with a eyeshadow blending blush just to soften some of the lines and it's as simple as that. It saves me so much time and the finished look is really effective. I have a whole tutorial over on my Instagram highlights so feel free to pop over and have a look! You get four different colours in a pack and there are 20 pairs so a great way to try a range of products.

With my skincare I have found my skin becoming more and more sensitive recently and I have even been breaking out in spots. Some are so painful I have never had spots like it before. Overall my skin has been lacking lustre and I tend to blame it on my hormones and they are a bit all over the place at the moment. Whenever my skin is feeling really bad I know I can rely on the Image Skincare Biomolecular Hydrating Recovery Mask ** (£41.95, 5 pack). This is the one sheet mask I know works and have mentioned it on the blog before. It contains volcanic water, red algae, amino acids and gives you brighter skin in one application. I was also recently sent the Image skincare Ormedic Balancing Gel Masque* (£28) which has been really helping with my sensitivity. I can see the redness in my spots calm down and it is very cooling on the skin so perfect for aggravated skin or even skin that may have been treated for example with laser or waxing. The combination of both of these products is great.

Now could I have a favourites post without including a Pixi product? the answer is no. One of my favourite skincare brands which your probably already know! I was so happy to recently find out the Glow range had been extended to include a cleanser, moisturising gel, and serum to name a few. I have spoken about the Glow Tonic many times on my blog and raved about how it is my favourite toner. So when I was sent the rest of the range I was ecstatic. I have been loving the Glow Tonic Serum* (£26) as it literally just continues to add that radiance and glow in a more potent formula. It is full of Glycolic acid which is the holy grail for exfoliating skin and regenerating new skin cells. It has particularly been good for my scarring that I have been getting from these dreadful hormonal spots.

Finally what I can't live without is my Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30 Moisturiser* (£58, 50ml) I actually have been using this every day come rain or shine however especially now with summer coming up SPF is so important! The prism protect is perfect because it is mixed in with a moisturiser so need for separate products. And I don't know about you but I am struggling for shelf space in my beauty cabinet so that's a bonus right there. It leaves no sticky residue and absorbs straight into the skin. A great product.

So this completes my recent favourites. I hope you enjoy and please let me know some of your favourites in the comments below.

Amina xx

*PR Gift. Al opinions are my own.

** PR gift with affiliate link.

Hey guys,

Recently I have been loving my base and thought I would share with you what I have been using to create it. (Cue "All about that base" by Meghan Trainor). I am all about the flawless finish to my skin when applying make-up and love for it to look it's best all of the time. I think that might be where my  skin care obsession comes from and, needless to say flawless skin leads to flawless make-up application. I was recently sent a few products by Image Skincare, a brand that was new to me, but I am so glad to have been introduced to them, as their products have upped my skin game. More about them in a little while.

So, to start with, I would recommend a good skincare routine prior to foundation application (see my post here for details).  I cleanse my skin with DHC Cleansing Oil, apply Pixi Glow Tonic as my toner, and have then been using a trio of Bio-essence products. I start with their 24k Gold Water, followed by the 24K moisturiser and then finish off with the 24k Miracle Finisher, I have a whole blog post about this miracle primer here.

If you are looking for that extra glow to your skin I recommend using a sheet mask either the night before or a few hours before make-up application. If you watch my Instagram stories (@aminaali_mua) you will have seen I was blown away by the Image Skincare Bio-molecular Anti-ageing Radiance Mask (£9). It rejuvenated my skin. It contains volcanic water, red algae and anti-oxidants, all of which help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and also work to brighten the skin. I felt like it had literally reset my skin and left it feeling brighter, plumper and even.

Image skincare are the 'fastest growing skincare company in the world'. From what I can see so far this is totally understandable, as I saw results after one use of their mask. I was also sent their foundation, which is another stand out product. The I-conceal Flawless Foundation SPF 30 (£50) is a medium-to-high coverage foundation with a dewy finish. Perfect for the likes of me, who likes to glow! If you have oily skin I would recommend a matte primer. The smoothness of the foundation is lovely and leaves your skin looking silky - almost like a second skin, and the texture is just how I like it. It is more than just a foundation and has a whole host of skincare inside which continues to work on your skin all day. The only down side to the foundation is the lack of shade range. It comes in six colours, however I found the shade I'm wearing (Beige) slightly too light on me and the next shade up would have been too dark. I would love to see some more added to the range, as it grows in popularity, as I could see it as a staple in my kit. The great thing is, I feel like I've finally found that medium-to-high coverage foundation that doesn't leave my face looking cakey. 

I applied it using the Image Skincare 101 Flawless Foundation Brush (£38). This was a brush I knew I would like a soon as I set eyes on it. The perfect density, softness and fantastic shape makes it ideal for foundation application. The brush is angled so meets the skin at exactly the right angle and is so comfortable to hold. I started off by dabbing the product evenly across the skin and smoothing it out and then finally used a patting motion to really set it into the skin. I didn't use powder, as I wanted to demonstrate the true effect of the foundation (see below), however I would usually set with MAC Mineralise Skin Finish and then a fix spray like MAC Prep & Prime.






So that's it guys. I am totally obsessed with my base at the moment and this is how I achieve the perfect one. You can purchase the Bio-essence products  from Superdrug and they currently have 1/3 off! Image Skincare is a professional skincare brand, so you can only buy from stockists. To find your nearest stockist call 0345 504 0461 or email info_uk@imageskincare.com. What are your base must haves?

Amina xx


*PR gifts. All opinions are my own.