TOP FIVE BLUSHERS

The finishing touch to my make-up is a flash of blusher. It brings it all together and adds some colour to my face! Here are my top five blushers...

Dainty Doll Blusher in Hippy Shake, £13
Harrods

Best for pale & interesting sorts

Now, you may have seen my top five foundations post recently, where Dainty Doll featured, but my absolute favourite product in the Dainty Doll range (created by Girls Aloud's Nicola Roberts) is the blusher. I just love the lilacy beauty of the Hippy Shake powder cheek tint. It's the perfect product to give pale skin a glow - and it will sculpt your cheekbones so they look razor sharp! The compact is gorgeous and slimline, complete with a mirror for on-the-go touch-ups. Hooray for the ginger Girls Aloud gal!

Touch of Blush, £10
http://www.hqhair.com/

Best for Dannii Mingogue wannabes

Dannii Minogue - she knows how to look amazing, doesn't she! How does she get her cheeks looking so rosy? Touch of Blush, that's how! I'm not surprised she selected this product either, rushing between her Project D empire, looking after little Ethan and X-Factor, she needs an easy-to-apply blusher like this... It's a great, summery colour and can be applied in one sweep - a great handbag essential (as the powder comes out on a brush for ease of application). 

New CID i – glow in Coral Crush, £24
http://www.newcidcosmetics.com/

Best for those who like their blush with a shim-shim-shimmer

I'm a big fan of new CID products - the white packaging makes them look a little space age. They have a new compact shimmer powder that contains a magical marble blusher inside - filled with a swirl of cheek-tinting colours containing light reflective pigments that mimic your skins natural radiance. This blusher is great for a night out - giving a dramatic look with a subtle shimmer! 



No7 Blusher in Soft Damson, £9
http://www.boots.com/



Best for a classic look

This powder blush from No7 creates a really natural colour on the cheeks - the shade I love from the range is Soft Damson. It's so easy to apply, and it would need a lot for you to look 'overdone'. It's a real bargain to - less than £10. My only gripe with No7 products is I find that the clear bit on the lids of its products come loose/fall out, which can make transporting them tricky... but I do love this blusher, so I guess 'lid issues' aren't a big deal!



Airbase blusher, £32.95
www.airbasemakeup.com/blush

Best for a pro finish

Silicone feels really smooth on skin; doesn't clog pores, allows skin to breathe and is the reason why Airbase make-up has amazing durability. Silicone products are preferred by many make-up artists, as they last particularly well at high temperatures (great for being under strong lights on stages and film sets). This makes this blusher great on nights out - as it will stay on no matter how hot you get. It's almost water-like in texture - so you can put a teeny, tiny bit on with a foundation-type brush, and then work-up until you achieve the desired amount of rouge.

What blusher could you not live without?

TOP FIVE FOUNDATIONS

My make-up table is a little out of control. For starters, I own about ten foundations. Apart from loving trying out new make-up, my skin has different needs at different times. From camouflage on a breakout day to a barely-there foundation for days when my skin is clear. Below are five of my favourite foundations.

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation, £23
www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Best for problem skin

When you've had an outbreak of spots or when your skin's gone blotchy, you may think you need a heavy foundation. I've tried a few, and the problem? You look like you're wearing really thick foundation. The real key for problem skin is a great concealer (the best for problem skin, in my opinion, is Virgin Vie Correct & Perfect) and a buildable foundation, so you can layer it up on the problem areas. MAC Studio Sculpt is a great foundation for this. The foundation leaves skin hydrated, so it won't dry our and 'crack'  - the giveaway that you're wearing too much foundation.

Aibase Foundation, £32.95
www.airbasemakeup.com

 Best for good skin days
Airbase foundation is so light, that it will keep people guessing as to whether you're wearing foundation or not. The consistency is almost water-like. It can be applied with an airbrush system or with your foundation brush/fingers. This foundation is long-lasting, and doesn't clog pores, so if you use it on a 'good skin day', you're skin is likely to stay clear for longer (the vitamin A&E ingredients will help with this too). Make-up artists love using this foundation, as it gives a great finish. Love it.  



New CID Cosmetics i-Perfect Foundation, £24.75
Debenhams

Best for girls on the go

I keep a make-up bag at work, for quick make-overs before nights out. My foundation of choice for said bag? New CID i-Perfect. The reason for this is that it comes with a brush, has great coverage and is really easy to apply. I think the designer of new CID make-up must have had a busy life, as all there make-up is ideal for getting glammed up in double-quick time. The finish on this foundation is lovely - really dewy and beautiful!

Dainty Doll Loose Mineral Foundation, £19
http://www.asos.com/

Best for pale maidens
Nicola Roberts' range of make-up was designed for us pale & interesting gals. I use the Dainty Doll Concealer Click Pen - and I have genuinely never found one paler - to get rid of dark circles and blemishes, and then a dusting of the Dainty Doll Loose Mineral Powder Foundation. You'll be left looking like an ice queen! What's more, this foundation has SPF18 to keep your skin protected from harmful rays (because who wants a tan when you can look so good pale?!)

Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation, £8.19
http://www.boots.com/

Best value

I first tried out the Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation when I bought it as part of a 3 for 2 deal at Boots (I'm a succer for these 'offers'). But, OMG, this foundation was amazing  It way exceeded my expectations. It glides on, leaves a dewy finsh, great coverage... I wish I'd bought three at once, as it would have worked out about £5 a bottle. As it happens, I went back and it was out of stock, so I purchased the Maybelline Super Stay 24hour foundation. This had to be the worst foundation I ever used - it felt like sandpaper. How one brand can get it so right and so wrong and the same time baffles me! If you see the Dream Satin foudation - stock up!

These are my top five. What are your faves?

TOP FIVE LIQUID EYELINERS

I was a late adopter when it came to liquid eyeliner. I used to be a kohl kinda gal, but now I'm settled. Liquid all the way. You'll never get a smoother liner or a more awesome kick at the end of your lash line. So, here are my top five liquid eyeliners...

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye Liner, £5.29
http://www.boots.com/

Best for beginners

This liner was recommended to me by a few different friends, and I can see why. It's really easy to apply, the colour goes on really dark and lasts all day/night. It is also a real bargain. If you're trying out liquid liner for the first time, this is a dream. My only negative about this liner, is that the fibres in the applicator starts to flake after a while - so it's necessary to pull these loose threads away before you use (or you'll end up with messy eyelids!)

Colorsport 24hour Eyeliner, £7.49
www.boots.com

Best for waterproof lines
The Colorsport eyeliner is pretty thick, a bit like a felt tip pen - perfect if you like thick lines. The great thing about this liner is that it's waterproof and long lasting. Perfect for holidays or weddings... as there's nothing worse that eyeliner running down your face!


New CID I-flick, £18.50
Debenhams

Best multi-purpose liner

There are two things I love about this liner. The first is that the liquid eyeliner brush is really small, allowing for really precise lines to be drawn (even right into the inner eye lash line). The second is that it has a retractable kohl liner... ideal for the inner lash line - as I've never been able to master painting the inner lash line with liquid liner, at least not without turning my eyeball black! Basically this is the handbag must-have for a night out!

No7 Smoky Eyeliner
http://www.boots.com/

Best for Smoky Eyes

I feel a bit naughty mentioning this eyeliner as a) it's technically not liquid and b) it's limited edition and no longer available to buy (unless you get lucky on Ebay). BUT, this really is a fab little find. It's a powder eyeliner, that with one stoke, creates a fabulous smoky line. Great for those of us that love the sexy, smouldering look. Keep your eyes peeled for any similar products... Particularly in other colours. I'd love to try it in navy!

YSL Eyeliner Moire £22
http://www.boots.com/

Best blow-out buy

Hands up who likes pretty things in their make-up bag? Me me me! But not fashion over function, the YSL Moire liner is silky smooth and it's delicate brush enables you to swipe on a fashion show perfect line in an instant. Did I mention it's really pretty too?

What liners do you love? I'm going to do a top five gel liner review soon, so would be great to hear if there are any great gel liners I should look out for XX