Samantha's Secret | Beauty Box Competition Win!

I have been lucky enough recently to win 2 beauty blogger giveaways! This handmade 'beauty box' was courtesy of the lovely Sarirah from pretty.not.included!! Thankyou so much for my goodies!

Here's what I won:

Complete with a cute note from the sender:

A little package of goodies and samples - to add to my mountainous task that is Project Sample! But I look forward to trying them all out and giving mini reviews in the future.

Thanks Sarirah!!

You can look at pretty.not.included here!

Samantha's Secret | Chanel Perfection Lumiere

Since Chanel discontinued their infamous Matt Lumiere and Pro Lumiere, this foundation 'Perfection Lumiere' was brought out as the replacement to both. It was met with slight indifference, with some indignant that it could ever replace their favourite Chanel foundations.

I have been trying this foundation for about a week. I had a sample and since I am getting on with Project Sample I thought I would trial it until it runs out. Now I'm really sad that it has as I will of course have to now go out and buy the full size!!

At first I was unimpressed, I found it hard to blend, a little too matte for my liking and the smell is quite overpowering. When I switched from a foundation brush to a Real Techniques stippling brush, I started to enjoy it a lot more. It does set quickly so you need to blend it quickly to avoid streaks and then it will set to  a medium coverage, lightly powdered finish.

I have combination/normal skin and generally go for a 'dewy' foundation such as Rimmel Wake Me Up (review here). A couple of weeks ago though, the weather here in Britain was rather hot and I felt I looked less 'dewy' and more 'oily'. I have been really loving having a more matte finish, I think that it lasts longer on my skin and can look a lot more polished. While it sounds odd, it does brighten your complexion even while semi-matte, hence the 'Lumiere' title. It also claims to be 'long-wear' which is definitely the case - for me anyway since it is matte- having moved onto this from more luminous foundations.

 I can suffer from dry patches around my nose, but this foundation did not cling to them or show them up. I do always moisturise before foundation though, and have been using a heavy-duty Oilatum moisturiser prior, as a mask to combat dryness - so if you do suffer from dryness I'm unsure if this foundation would dry your skin out too much. Some days I love the fresh scent, sometimes I find it really irritating, but it only lasts for as long as you are blending, you won't smell it all day! (It's a bit like bubble bath?! Not unlike the scent of Chanel skincare products.)

Photo from: Chanel.com

In general I think it's a great foundation, perhaps even better than Vitalumiere Aqua, though I would say it is more suited to the winter months than Aqua for the summer. It is also one of those foundations that I would say it requires good skin, as the coverage is not full and it sets to a powderish finish which I can't imagine would look great on blemishes. Perfection Lumiere sells for £36 and you can find it on the Debenhams website here.

Samantha's Secret | Project Samples

Spurred on by the gorgeous Leanne Marie, who has ventured on a mission to use up all her samples, I am starting on Project Sample!
I too am guilty of hoarding samples, I have soo many, mini-sized bottles, sachet samples, foundation testers ...

I'm hoping that during this mission I will find some new things I love, save money on splurging on other things to try (hardly likely) and create some space on my dresser! I will probably be sad to see them go, but I will always collect more :)

If you wonder where I manage to collect all these samples from - here are a few tips:

1. Keep an eye out for magazine promo's that offer free samples of high-end cosmetics, recent examples are Glamour and Benefit, InStyle and Nails Inc, some other magazines were offering Rituals bodycare, Leighton Denny and Ciate nail polishes, Body Shop Make-up ... there is always something. With most mags priced under £3, even if you never read it the product will be bargainous!! But don't be sucked into thinking that you have to buy something just because there is something free on offer - if you wont use it then shake off the advertising that is slooowly sucking you in ... buy me.. buy me. (As if I am trying to give that piece of advice, hypocrite.)

2. If you buy something from a high-end counter, e.g Chanel, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Mac etc etc, ALWAYS ask for some samples! They are happy to give them out it's their job to promote the brand's product!

3. If you want to try out new foundations, do some research into one that you might like, then pop up to their counter and sound like you know what you are talking about. Give them some spiel about how you usually struggle to get on with foundation, or you are really excited to try out a particular one but you would like to see how it works on your skin. They will match you up, squirt a little into a bottle and you will have a 10-day sample!

4. Some of my samples are from beauty boxes. Personally I wouldn't overly recommend them unless you are overflowing with spare cash. If you are, the most well-known are Glossybox or Joliebox. If you're not, I've found a great site called Latest in Beauty, where you can purchase small samples or beauty boxes for great prices - and know what you are getting first.

Hope any of these are helpful, I'm looking forward to getting stuck into my sample trialling!! Is anyone else on Project Sample??!

Samantha's Secret | Accessorize Highlighter

So as many of you will know, Accessorize have forayed into the make-up world and have produced a line of prettily-packaged, fairy-like cosmetics. This is my first try of the line, although their baked eyeshadows and powders look incredible, reminiscent of Mac MSF's. (Also loving the look of the infamous Lovely Day palette which is sold out EVERYWHERE... argh, I want!!

I was in London this week and managed to find an Accessorize stand in a large Superdrug, which had been totally raided as it had reductions, but managed to get this highlighter.

I love the packaging, its not exactly high-end, but its pretty and girly and I payed under £5 for this which I think is great for 50ml of product!!

The product itself comes out quite salmon-toned, it has a strange water-based consistency not really a cream and has a bit of a plasticky smell (not really a problem once its on your cheekbones though)

The result when blended is an iridescent mermaid-like glow that looks different in all lights and angles!
I can't wait to try out more Accessorize things as I'm so impressed by this at the price it was at, and it's one of those rare brands that you can get excited about as the packaging is so fun and exciting.

Have you anything to recommend next time I'm faced with a stand in Superdrug?!