Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Foundation

After being a dedicated devotee of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation for a couple of years now, I decided it was time for a change. I don't know about you, but no matter how good I find a type of make up, after using it for a long period of time I just don't see the same results any more. I know I'll go back to Double Wear one day though, and I'll probably fall in love with it all over again.

Anyway, I took a wee wander in Debenhams to see what I could find. The Flawless Finish compact on the Elizabeth Arden counter caught my eye. I remember my mum used it years ago and really liked it. And I quite fancied the idea of a compact foundation for a change - so much easier for quick fixes when you're out and about!

The girl on the counter tried the make up on me and I really liked it. She explained that by using the included sponge dry or wet you can vary the coverage of the foundation depending on the look you're going for. Personally I quite like a lot of coverage from my foundation, not that I have particularly bad skin or much uneven skin tone...I just like to feel like I'm wearing make up. I know that sounds bizarre!

I've been really pleased with this foundation. I've not used the sponge that comes in the compact very often, only when I'm out and about, as I've found that I get the best coverage when I apply the foundation using a foundation brush. Mine is a MAC 190 brush. I have used sponges a couple of times when we had warmer weather and I was just looking for a light covering, but I'm yet to try it with a wet sponge so I can't report on how that goes. My colour is Porcelain Beige, to be honest the colour names are the only negative I have about the product, each colour is named a different type of beige...I just know that when I go to replace this I'm going to get confused about which beige I am. Oh well, good job I've written it here so I can remember!

What foundation are you using now? Have you tried this Elizabeth Arden one?

National no make up day

So apparently today is national no make up day. Have you taken part??

To be honest I didn't know the day existed until about lunchtime today, but even if the day had been marked in my diary and highlighted on my outlook calendar I still wouldn't have been partaking in this particular celebration.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to sound vain but I love a bit of make up...in fact I pretty much won't leave the house without some on. I know, I know so much for not sounding vain.

You see the thing is, I'm a natural red head. And although I don't have what we like to call "ginger skin" (aka really pale and scattered with freckles) I do have the palest of pale eyelashes and eyebrows. Therefore without my trusty 3 coats of black mascara I look like I'm about 6 years old. I can skip the rest of my make up routine, but without the mascara I'm not going anywhere!

Of course the problem is that once I've got the mascara out I'm as well just putting on a bit of foundation to even up my skin tone, then a bit of bronzer to brighten me up, some blusher for a bit of life...ach just give me the liquid eyeliner and the red lippy!

Ok ok I'll admit it "my name is Paula and I'm a make-up-aholic".

Did you go make up free today??