Bobbi Brown Universal Foundation and Concealer Palette

As a working Makeup Artist, there are some products in my kit that need to be replenished on a fairly regular basis. Mascara is usually every couple of months but cream products, and in particular, foundation need to be done every 12 months.

Personally, I don't think anyone's face will fall off if you use a foundation that's over a year old (within reason!) but when it comes to products that I am responsible for putting on other people's skin, I need to be, well, responsible!

My replenishment is always in January and for the last couple of years, my base kit has predominantly featured Face Atelier (adore) and a mix of specialist matte foundations, MAC Face & Body and Bobbi Brown sticks (excellent for travelling). In 2010, on the Pixiwoo training course, I was able to use the Bobbi Brown Universal foundation palette and loved it. I tried to get hold of it for ages, but it was always a limited edition, not available on concession counters and eventually I just kind of forgot about it.

Bobbi Brown Universal Palette

 

I just happened to spot a tweet on Twitter in December from a fellow MUA, from which it transpired that these bad boys were (and still are) available as an online exclusive on the BB UK website! Hurrah!  I didn't want to wait & see if it was possible to get a pro discount, so it set me back the full cost of £185.

Obviously this is not a purchase for the average makeup bag, or even the most die-hard makeup junkies - the shade range in it would mean it's a complete waste of money for a person who would be just using it for themselves. But for those who know how awful it is to lug their kit up 13 flights of stairs at a hotel, only to find their liquid foundations have somehow, inexplicably exploded everywhere, this will be an absolute godsend.

The quality of the actual product contained is undoubtable - I've used BB stick foundations for years, both on clients and myself and I find they are so versatile. BB concealers are also lovely, very creamy with a good amount of coverage. To be honest - if you're considering purchasing this, you'll already be familiar with their products!

The layout is great and the actual palette itself is secure, feels weighty and good quality. I have a Bobbi Brown MUA lip palette also and the quality of the actual palette is very similar. It seals up very well, so there's little risk of it drying your palette out. It clicks together properly, so you don't need to worry about it popping open.

There's only 2 irritating things about it:

• the concealers are not specified, so unless you know exactly which is which, you'll have to sit & work our what's foundation and what's a concealer. It doesn't seem to be as simple as assuming the smaller squares are concealers and the long ones are foundation...
• there's an empty square on both sides! Why?? I can't find any explanation for this. I wouldn't depot anything else into them, so I don't know why they didn't just give a bit more product of a couple of the ones that are smaller squares. Makes no sense!!

Other than that though, I have nothing negative to say!

 

   

   

 

Back... again!

Oh hai!

On the 30th June 2012 I wrote this post all about what I'd been up to, plans for blogging etc. But it kind of never happened. I'm not sure exactly why; I was busy at work, I wasn't sure where my blog was going blah blah

Since my last post I have knee surgery, had my gall bladder out & joined Weight Watchers. These were things I really needed time to do in private, so my little break has been really good for me!

So after a few months of being switched off (I even went for weeks without logging into twitter!), around the start of December, I started to feel refreshed and ready to get back into it! And what better time to write my first post; today is my blog's 3rd birthday!

So, starting tonight, there will be new blogs up 2 or 3 times a week, but if I don't do that many, I wont have a breakdown! Trying to find a balance and chill the f out is one of my resolutions this year!

A x

The Quest for The Perfect Macaron

So, whilst I have been hiding from the law on my blogging sabbatical, I have developed some new interests. One of them includes trying to lose weight whilst avoiding the gym as much as possible (I'm waiting on a knee op and going to the gym when you can't go on any of the machines is frustrating as hell). 

The rest seem to centre around making 'homely' things - baking, knitting etc. I'm loathe to say 'crafting' but that's probably what it is. I should really have a loyalty card for Hobby Craft. My mum prefers the term 'nesting' but she is definitely barking up the wrong tree!

Every couple of years, my colleagues and I run a 'bake off' competition, during which I usually submit a half-hearted sponge cake. This year however, there are a good few of us who are keen bakers and I can feel the competition heating up. Each competitor must enter 2 categories and one of the ones I'm in is 'Biscuits & Cookies'. In a bid to do something a little different and as a challenge to myself, I have finally undertaken to master the perfect macaron (not to be confused to with coconut macaroons).

my first successful batch (after about 9 failed attempts)

 

As I had absolutely no idea where to start with this recipe, I started reading blogs a couple of weeks ago and gradually realised what I was letting myself in for. The words 'impossible', 'tempermental' and 'will drive you insane' featured heavily but I was not prepared to let it put me off. How hard can they be?!

To be honest, after the first 2 or 3 failed batches, I was ready to throw in the towel. But after discovering Not So Humble Pie, I began with renewed energy. I picked up an oven thermometer, sieved my almonds properly and took the time to bake them properly; slowly but surely the last 3 days have seen my macarons improve a lot.

At the moment, I am less concerned with flavours & fillings and only concerned with trying to practise my shell making skills. I'm probably developing an unhealthy obsession with them and have had the worst indigestion over the last few day from all the sampling, but I think once I have these mastered, it will be a life-long skill!

'Resting' Macarons

Macaron cross-section

I would LOVE to hear your experiences making these and if you have any tips or favourite flavours! 

x

Return of the (Mrs) Mac

Hello... How are you?

Well, after 3 months, I have finally pulled my shizz together and worked out what I'm doing with the blog. Well done if you're even still a follower!

After lots of in-my-head-blog thoughts and a very short debate on Twitter, I have decided to take the blog in a more 'general' direction and lose the makeup specialism. That's not to say there won't be makeup posts, but they will be interspersed with others. Mostly cupcake posts I imagine. Baking is about the only other thing I'm good at!

Anyway, here's some pics of what I've been up to recently and a taster of what's to come... Nice to see you again! x

Kenwood kMix. This purchase has changed my life. For rizzle.

I grew some garlic in my vegetable patch

I have baked a lot of cupcakes

I have purchased a pink Pashley Poppy. It arrives 25th July and I am beyond excited

Finally got a bit of a stamp on our house. It was all cream before. even the floors

am in full wedding season swing

At various points, have consumed red, delicious cider

Have begun my quest for the perfect french macaron. 

M.I.A

so, you may have been wondering where I've been for the last 6 weeks... well, unfortunately I haven't won the lottery or been away in Miami (*sigh*). My lovely old Granda passed away at the start of March and I've been keeping my head down since. 

Although I haven't been online much, I will be back soon. I'm going to take some time to re-evaluate what the blog is about and the direction it's going before I launch back. If you have any favourite type posts then let me know.