LA Girl Cruelty Free BB Cream

As the weather gets warmer I like to go lighter on the base. I put aside heavier coverage products and pull out something that makes my skin look a little bit more even but still able to breath. I don't mind my imperfections peeking through. My all time favourite base that fits these criteria is the Armani Luminescence CC Bright Moisturiser SPF 35. However, I wanted to find a more reasonably priced alternative. That is when I bumped into LA Girl Pro BB Cream and I have been using it religiously ever since.

La Girl Pro BB Creams

La Girl is an affordable US based brand that offers a variety of makeup products. I have previously raved about their concealers. If you are curious you can give it a read here. These Pro BB Creams are cruelty free, paraben free and fragrance free. They come in a variety of shades ranging from fair to dark. I am sure you can find one suitable for yourself. I initially picked up the Natural one but it ended up being slightly too dark, so I placed another order for the Light version. Now that I have a little bit more colour I like to mix the two together. They have one variant in between Light and Natural which is the Light Medium and I am guessing that one is probably an ideal match for me. I am an NC25-30 in MAC for reference. 

L-R: La Girl Pro BB Cream in Light and Natural

The consistency of these BB Creams is very pleasant. It is not too thick nor runny. It blends in easily and you can apply it with your fingers or a buffing brush. If I am in a hurry I just slap it on with my fingers and I am out of the door. It offers a light coverage but it is buildable. It will not cover imperfections, scaring or discolouration. I would suggest using a concealer for those areas. This BB cream provides a satin finish. I like to set it with a powder in any case, just because I have combination skin.  It wears beautifully through the day and you don't feel like you have anything on your face. In about 5 hours I would need to touch up with powder or blotting papers since I do get oily, but that happens with any foundation, bb cream or cc cream. 

The best part about this product besides everything else I mentioned is that it's affordable. It retails for 5,50$ and you get 30ml of product. I purchased mine from BeautyJoint. The only downside and a big bummer is that it does not have an SPF factor. I always apply a separate SPF or a moisturiser with an SPF regardless, so it is not really a deal breaker for me. But I can understand how it can be for some people. Although, if you are going somewhere where you will be photographed it is a good choice. The flash will not reflect off you as bad and cause a stark white face, which usually happens when you wear a base with high SPF. 

Overall I think this is a great product. It is moisturising, evens out skin tone and is good for those days when you can't be arsed to do the whole makeup shebang. If it is crucial for your base to have an SPF protection, I would naturally suggest skipping this one. 

Do you have any suggestions for an affordable light weight BB or CC creams with SPF? I would love to know!

Cheers,
Muffy

My Go-to Summer Makeup Bits and Pieces

Today I would like to share with you the bits and pieces I use to achieve an everyday summer look. During warmer months I try to narrow down the products I pile on my face and stick with simple and effortless makeup choices. Usually I gravitate towards warmer tones and go light on the base. But let's get right into it.

Summer Makeup Picks

I have switched from foundations to BB creams approximately a year ago. I reach for a foundation if I am getting ready for a special occasion, otherwise I prefer BB creams. The BB cream I have been loving lately is La Girl Pro BB Cream in Natural. This colour is a good match for me now but I would imagine it being a tad too dark for the rest of the year. I will be having a separate review for this product coming up, so keep an eye out for that! To cover my dark circles I have been using Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector SPF 30. This is the second sample I picked up from the Kiehl's counter and so far I have been really liking it. I highly appreciate the spf 30 factor and the lightweight consistency. Rest assured when I am done with the sample I will be getting the full size. For my eyebrows I use my trusty Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown. I have a separate review for it, so check it out here. It is waterproof and long-lasting regardless of how humid or hot the weather gets.

La Girl Pro BB Cream, Anastasia Brow Wiz, Kiehl's Dark Circle Perfector

Moving on to an eyeshadow primer, which is an essential for me. If I don't use an eyeshadow primer my eyeshadows will crease and fade away within minutes. To prevent that I have been using NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and I honestly prefer it to the Urban Decay Primer Potion. It gets the job done and I had this little guy for six months and been using it every single time I wear makeup. I have a deluxe sample but I will be picking up a full size as soon as I run out. Staying on the topic of eyes, I have been going for Catrice Papaya don't Preach single eyeshadow a lot. It is such a nice light peach colour that it's perfect for the summer. You can build the colour up for a more intense payoff but I prefer to just use it as a light wash just to give some nice glow for my lids.

Catrice Eyeshadow Papaya Don't Preach, Makeup Geek Blush in Bliss

NARS Eye Primer and Sleek Matte Me Liquid Lipstick in Birthday Suit

Makeup Geek blush in Bliss is my most worn blush, period. It is such a flattering colour. If you like a peachy blush, I highly suggest checking this one out. It stays on all day and you can't beat the price. Last but not least, during the summer I don't want my lipstick to melt off my face (or in my bag for that matter), therefore I stick with liquid lipsticks. Sleek's Matte Me Liquid Lipstick in Birthday Suit is a great nude. I think it would look good on anyone. If you fancy a bold lip, I would recommend going for the Sleek's Matte Me Liquid Lipstick in Rioja Red, but it is not for the faint-hearted!

This is it for now. If you want me to do more of this type of posts, let me know!

What are your summer staples?

Cheers,
Muffy