Make-up bits that shocked the Peach.....

Don't you just love it when you buy a product not expecting much from it and BAM!, it knocks you for six with its fab-ness?

Well that's just what happened to me with the following bits of make up goodness. Some were sent to me for review. Some I purchased. All have impressed me big time and have won the coveted title of, 'savage bit o' stuff' in my make up stash.

Here's what the line up looks like..........

Nothing too fancy here folks. The dominant beauts are from the La Roche Posay and Vichy line, which I now cant seem to live without. The rest were just bought on a whim on the days when I needed a beauty fix. You know how it is. You don't NEED to buy anything in Boots but you just HAVE to. Just as well they were worth the two-second-high of purchase then, wasn't it!

La Roche Posay Pinceau Correcteur Cernes - in other words -Dark Circle Corrector Pen Brush

The pros say that best concealers are those with yellow undertones as this shade works best to disguise dark circles, eye bags and redness. They're not wrong. I never had dark circles under my eyes until recently and now that they've arrived, my days of leaving the house without under eye concealer are well and truly a thing of the past. This offering from La Roche Posay does the job just as good, if not better, than the leading beauty giants. The packaging is sleek and almost clinical. It has a brush for application and of course, is yellow in colour - although the image above doesn't show just how yellow it is. A few dots blended around the inner corners of my eyes and I look some what rested. I'm actually on my second pen so that really does say a lot. It completely camouflages the dark circles and brightens up the whole area. The shelf life on this is  six months but I think it should really say three as I find after three months, the product doesn't perform as good and it starts to cake under the eyes by lunch time. That minor blimp aside, this is a fantastic find.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation & Healthy Mix Concealer

I only bought these because there was an offer on a few months back on the Bourjois stand in Boots, buy one, get another half price. Sure go on so! I read rave reviews online about the foundation (makeupalley.com gives it a 4.1 out of 5!)  and have a friend that swears by it, but I still didn't think I'd be impressed as much as I have been. The foundation boasts 16hr radiance-boosting power which evens skin tone and revives the complexion...."PAH!!!", I thought. But they ain't lying folks. This works a gem on my skin. Its light but covers just enough with a semi-matte finish. I follow with my Mac Mineralize Powder and this stays put all day. The concealer is a keeper too, super creamy, moisturising, oil free and best of all, effective. Only the tiniest amount is needed. Too much and you run the risk of Casper eyes. In the above image the concealer is on top - shade 51light radiance and the foundation is below it - shade 53 light beige.

Vichy Derma Blend Ultra-Corrective Foundation Cream Stick

One word. UNREAL! I  thought a few things when I received this in the post. I thought it reminded me of the Panstick from back in the day. I thought I'd give it a whirl once and it would never see the light of day again. That it was only useful on hiding severe skin flaws and tattoo's. That it was going to be like chalk on my skin and make me look plastered. WRONG! This is the best I've ever used for covering blemishes and general blotchiness on the skin. I warm a little on my finger tips and dab onto the area, then repeat and set it with some powder. The results are just fantastic and I seriously don't use any other concealer for spots. It doest melt off towards the end of the day either like most I've tried and the shade, Opal, suits my skin tone and I assume most Irish skin tones to a T. 

Vichy Derma Blend Fluid Corrective Foundation in No. 25 Nude

This one shocked me the most. Seriously, I wasn't even going to put this near my face when I received it to try. Again, I thought it was a product for camouflaging serious skin problems only. I never looked twice at it when I saw it on any of my previous beauty ventures. I thought anybody with normal skin need not apply. Wrong again. I've been using this for months now and although I'm still in love with my trusty Clarins Skin Illusion, this has made me put it to one side for a while. I literally use the smallest amount and the result is just perfect. I have skin that can be great one day but blotchy and un-even, with an occasional spot or two the next. But this foundation makes my skin look flawless. And I mean truly flawless. Anytime I wear it I always get asked what foundation I'm using. I've switched my mum to it, who has switched my aunts to it, who have switched their friends. The fact that such a little amount is needed to make such a gorgeous difference completely sold it for me. And the lasting effect? I put it on first thing in the morning and by evening its still looking fresh. Not caked, not flaky, just fresh. And any ladies with acne prone skin? This gem is non-pore blocking. Result. 

La Roche Posay Toleriane Compact Cream Complexion Corrector with SPF 35

Another corrective foundation, another surprise and a saviour during the winter months. As with all La Roche Posay products, this is geared towards sensitive souls but this time with more emphasis on dry, sensitive souls. Never before have I used a foundation that doesn't cling for dear life on to dry patches. Instead this creamy bit of magic happens to smooth over, yet sink in at the same time. The sponge that's included and lives under the compact in its own little compartment is the only drawback. I hate using sponges. Filthy. But a few washes here and there and it does the job well. The colour I was sent is a little on the dark side for me (no. 13 Beige Sand), but I use it very lightly on my skin and the results are yet again, flawless.

Boots No. 7 Trio Concealer

I cant say I've ever been overly excited by the No. 7 brand. But I thought this dinky contraption was a great idea. All the concealers you need in one handy little pot. In the top left-hand corner we have the pinky-fleshy toned concealer - great for highlighting under the brow and for dabbing on the inner corners of the eyes for a brightening effect. In the top right-hand corner we have the yellow toned concealer - great for hiding dark circles and bags. And then, at the bottom we have the tanned colour concealer......which I'll admit I don't really use. Its a bit dark and I'm not sure exactly where it fits in. But that aside, the top two are shockers in their own right. Both creamy, both easily applied and blended, both effective.

Have you tried anything lately you though would be 'Meh', but turned out to be great??