Chantecaille Just Skin

[Affiliate Links] I've already shared my review of Chantecaille Just Skin* on my Instagram but figured it's time I write a whole blog post about it, so here it is!

Firstly, a little bit of a background on my makeup habits or lack thereof; I'm not excellent with makeup and I'm pretty open about that, which is honestly probably why I'm so into my skincare.
I've watched countless smoky eye tutorials and contouring videos but at the end of the day I like makeup products that are easy to apply, require minimal time and the least amount of effort possible. I don't have a steady hand so I've accepted that the perfect winged eyeliner probably won't ever happen for me and as for my blending technique? Well, I don't really have one. It's a good thing then that I've finally found what might just be the best makeup product a low-maintenance girl like me could hope for, in the form of Chantecaille Just Skin.
I'm aware that this is not a new product and many bloggers and beauty writers have been singing it's praises for years but now that I actually own it, I can finally add my own two cents!

Chantecaille Just Skin Review

Just Skin is a tinted moisturiser but it's also so much more than that. It's a skin perfector that leaves a virtually seamless finish and offers some sun protection with its SPF of 15. I find that my shade-aptly named 'glow'- blends with my skin easily (I just use my fingers most of the time to buff and pat it in) and evens things out, covers any tired looking bits (ie my entire face) and just generally creates a nice base for a touch of blush and/or highlighter.
It gives my skin a dewy sort of look, perks up my complexion and makes me feel a bit better and more presentable in general. That's what easy every day make up should be about really.
The tinted moisturiser contains honeysuckle, algae and green tea extracts as well as thyme, damask rose, edelweiss and 'butterfly bush extract' which offers antioxidant benefits. I have generally dry skin at the moment and find this to be absolutely what my face needs in terms of a base; something that won't cling to dry bits, won't sink into and accentuate fine lines but will give me a hit of hydration and protection while it makes me look generally better. Just Skin contains titanium dioxide for the sun protection, which is a physical SPF rather than chemical and is advertised as suitable for sensitive skin.
I find that it lasts well on the skin (though I purchased when summer was on it's way out so I'll have to see how well it stays on if this summer is as sweaty as the last) and feels virtually weightless - just like a light face cream really and definitely not greasy or uncomfortable in the slightest. It really is a pleasure to use in pretty much every aspect.
I love that Chantecaille Just Skin was specifically designed for both women and men,too. That's obviously not to say that men can't or shouldn't wear regular foundation or other tinted moisturisers but I like that the brand has been deliberately inclusive in this instance.
I bought my tube of Just Skin from Space NK* but it's also available at Look Fantastic* at an rrp of £64.

Favourite non-foundation bases

As much as I am both thrilled and intrigued by the plethora of foundations on the market, the truth is I don't really wear foundation that often.

I generally like my skin to look natural (except red lips, obviously) and glowing, so most of the time when I go out in public I reach for a base that offers some coverage, but isn't quite a foundation. BB Creams, Tinted Moisturisers and pigment-blurring potions are my friends and I use them all year round. They are just nice, low maintenance alternatives to full-blown foundations and every single one that I'm about to talk about blends away easily using just fingertips, so they're handbag-perfect and especially handy when you're in a rush.

BareMinerals Complexion Rescue*

I love pretty much everything about Complexion Rescue. From the mousse like texture through to the cooling effect on the skin, this is one seriously good skincare/makeup hybrid. The coverage of Complexion Rescue is definitely sheer- it just adds a bit of a tint to the skin and evens out skin tone for a nice natural finish. I wear shade Buttercream which is slightly yellow toned and gives my face a lovely glow throughout all four seasons- I just add a bit of bronzer in summer and it does the trick nicely. SPF 30.

MAC Prep + Prime Beauty Balm

I bought the Prep + Prime Beauty balm after using the Prep + Prime BB compact  and, whilst being impressed overall, felt the need for a little more hydration. Designed to be used as a primer or on its own, Prep + Prime creates a nice, even base that covers blemishes, pigmentation and dark circles without making you look too 'made up'. The coverage is heavier than Complexion Rescue and can leave me looking a tiny bit ghostly so I rarely use it completely on its own- for me, a pop of blush or bronzer is best. It's a thick, creamy texture that blends seamlessly and is a perfect foundation replacement on days when you don't feel like wearing a full face or simply can't be arsed. SPF 35. 

Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturising Balm

This citrus-scented pot of tinted hydration is my absolute favourite when the weather is really, really cold. I think I initially became interested in it because I'm irrationally drawn to any beauty product with the word 'balm' in the title. It's ridiculous, I know. The Tinted Moisturising Balm is one of my 'precious' products, which is probably due to the £35.50 price tag as well as the fact that it just feels so darn luxurious. Ultra rich, the emollient formula of the tinted moisturiser makes it very good for dry skins and not so great for oily complexions, which is why I only really use it when it's cold. In terms of coverage, this is in a similar league to complexion rescue- it just enhances and evens out the complexion rather than masks anything. If you live in a super freezing climate, have dry skin, or spend a lot of time in the alps, you need this in your makeup bag, stat. SPF 25.

Dermalogica Sheer Tint*

This one is extra special to me- it's the only base I took with me to Sardinia for my 30th last September. Not only did the Dermalogica Sheer Tint preserve my skin and stop me from getting horribly sunburnt, it made my skin look pretty good at the same time. I'm not a fan of wearing traditional sun cream on my face so this was a very good alternative that also gave my face a nice tint. I have the Sheer Tint in both Light and Medium shades so I can wear it all year round. The blend-ability of this one is particularly impressive, to the point that I could put it on while sitting on the beach using my phone camera as a mirror without looking weirdly patchy and not a tell tale tideline in sight. Success. SPF 20

What's your go-to non-foundation base? Let me know!

Urban Decay Naked Skin Bronzing Beauty Balm Review

Spring seems to have arrived on time this year so I've got my mind firmly on bronzing beauty products. I do occasionally use fake tan on my face but I'm such an acid exfoliator fanatic that it's almost pointless applying something designed to last a few days when it's just going to come off the next time I exfoliate. That's where Urban Decay Naked Skin Bronzing Beauty Balm comes in - I can just slap this on and my face matches my neck in no time. The bronzing BB is a fairly recent addition to my beauty arsenal but I can definitely see myself getting a lot of use of it in the coming months, provided the weather behaves itself.

Encased in a squeezable bronze tube, the Beauty Balm behaves like any other BB really and provides a sheer finish with a wash of bronze tint that is buildable. That said, I find that just one application does the trick and anything more than that can look a little on the orange side and as the kids say, aint nobody got time for that.

The Bronzing Beauty Balm contains watermelon extract which is said to protect the skin and 'high tech' ingredients Vitasource and dGlyage that are designed to firm and improve elasticity.
The balm has a 'menthol' type cooling sensation when applied, which is a nice touch since it's most likely to be used when it's hot outside.

The balm can be used instead of or on top of moisturiser - I prefer the latter as I find it gives a dewier finish when applied after moisturiser, but if your skin is oily I'd say you could use it instead of moisturiser and achieve a nice finish.
In terms of staying power, the balm seems to actually last really well, which I wasn't expecting for some reason.
In the image below on the left side I have applied the Bronzing Beauty Balm, the right side is bare.

All in all, I really like this product and the fact that it's on special at Beauty Bay for £16.45 instead of £23.50 makes it even more appealing! If you're a fake tanner or just want to add a bit of a summery glow to your complexion, pick up a tube of Urban Decay Naked Skin Bronzing Beauty Balm for sure.

Rodial BB Venom Skin Tint Review

That awkward moment when you find something expensive that you would definitely repurchase? Yeah that happened. I went to the Space NK Beauty Anthology shopping event on Wednesday evening and spent a bit of time with a particularly lovely Rodial rep who introduced me to some fabulous bits and pieces including this - the Rodial BB Venom Skin Tint.

Touted as a flawless complexion beauty balm with active peptides, and packaged in a slightly sinister looking black tube, the skin tint is just like any other BB cream at first glance, but look a little closer and you'll see it's got a playful little twist. The ingredient that makes it a little difference is the presence of SYN-AKE- a potent dipeptide designed to smooth fine lines and plump up skin. Truth be told, the concept of SYN-AKE kind of freaked me out a bit, as did the claim that it gives a freeze like effect. This just conjured up images of me walking around with what looks like a bad Botox job, though if it had been potent enough to actually make such a huge difference I would have been both impressed and terrified.

I needn't have worried though because no such black magic occurred when I tried it out.

The first thing I noticed is that this seems to be a 'proper' BB cream, not one of those BBs that's so heavy that it's pretty much foundation in disguise. You know the ones. In fact, the BB Venom Skin Tint blends out easily and becomes one with the skin, giving a light to medium finish with zero oxidization. It feels sufficiently moisturizing when applied and has a slightly matte finish which, despite me having generally dehydrated skin, does not attach itself to dry bits.

I'm enjoying using the BB and acquired a few more Rodial products on Wednesday which I'm also loving. The Rodial BB Venom Skin Tint is available in 3 shades for £35. I got mine at Space NK as part of a gift with purchase promo.

MAC Prep + Prime BB Compact Review

I have been absolutely loving the MAC Prep and Prime BB Compact this summer. From what I've read, this little compact has been subject to fairly mixed reviews so I was initially a little sceptical - I needn't have worried though because it now lives happily in my handbag and gets a lot of use.

The compact is a solid cream formula that 'illuminates' and evens the skin and leaves a semi-translucent finish - perfect for sunnier days when you just can't face a full on base. I ordered the MAC BB Compact online which is always a gamble when it comes to coloured bases, but I found a pretty decent match in the shade Light Plus. Though I should mention that I bought this a few months ago before my face caught the sun, so now a bit of bronzer is needed to warm things up.

MAC Prep + Prime BB Compact. The joys of photographing reflective surfaces are endless

I purchased the compact for a number of reasons. Firstly, I detest wearing foundation when it's hot outside so a light cover was exactly what I wanted. Secondly, I craved the convenience of a compact and thirdly, the BB cream is SPF 30 so my face is protected while it's made up.
I've got a couple of before and after pics below to give you an idea of the finish.

As you can (hopefully) tell from the pictures, the coverage is very sheer but it does kind of perk things up a bit. You can also see that the delightful spot on my forehead is slightly less noticeable in the second image. I also have to mention that I have no bronzer or blush on, just the BB, so this is a somewhat more ghostly look than what I would usually go for!
In terms of staying power, the MAC BB Compact makes no bold claims but I find that it lasts a good few hours in the humid heat we've been getting and I'd imagine it would perform pretty well as a primer too if you wanted to wear foundation over the top.

The compact is available in 12 shades from Dark Deep to Extra Light so most people should be able to find a pretty close match.
RRP £24.

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream

L'Oreal released this BB Cream a few months ago now but this is a handbag staple for me, so I say it deserves a few kind words.

The 'magic' aspect of this BB Cream is the incorporation of 'Smart Pigment Capsules', which burst and self adjust to your personal pigmentation upon contact with the skin.

To me, this concept is a little far fetched (and the fact that the BB Cream comes in different shades is testament in itself that it's not going to match your skin as perfectly as it claims) but I think it's a great product all the same.



The liquid formula is quite runny, so I wouldn't recommend wearing your best whites while applying it, and I've found that a small amount goes a very long way, so don't go to crazy with it!

To give you as much evidence of the results as possible, here are some freakishly close up photos of my bare face, spots and all.

After applying a small amount of L'Oreal Magique, these are the results:

This BB Cream is available in 2 shades: Fair and Medium, though I picked up Fair and it's still quite dark, so if you're very pale this might not be your best match.

Have you tried L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream? I'd love to hear you thoughts :)

I purchased mine months ago at Boots for £9.99.

Thanks for reading!