If I Were To Pick One... Sunscreen

It would be...

Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 30

Product

- Light yellowish cream that when blended does not feel heavy at all

- SPF 30

- Antioxidant

- Hydrating

- No white cast

- Does not feel oily or greasy
- Smells amazing

- Claims to "absorb oil over time, giving continued oil control with a matte finish".. But I don't think it does give a matte finish.. For me it's more like a semi-dewy/satin finish which I prefer anyway

- Contains ingredients that provide anti-aging benefits such as Hyaluronic Acid which is a great hydrating ingredient that claims to help prevent premature ageing

My Final Thoughts: I love this sunscreen as I don't feel the need to apply a moisturizer on my combination skin.. I love that it's an antioxidant and it just smells so good! I feel that it also works as a good primer for me as it leaves my skin feeling smooth.. Only problem I have with this is that I have to order it online.. They do sell this product at a spa in Dubai but for a lot more than what I can get it online.. But it's definitely worth it..

Peace

xoxo

If I Were To Pick One... Tinted Moisturizer

It would be...

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Tinted Moisturizer SPF15

Product

- Hydrating
- Semi-Dewy finish.. Not completely matte but not overly dewy
- Light to medium coverage.. The best coverage I've come across in a tinted moisturizer
- Applies and blends so nicely
- Comes in 3 colours only.. I wear the colour Medium (I'm NC/NW25-30)
- The bottle will last you forever as you only need a little bit for the whole face
- Two issues I have with this: a) Oxidization (just a little bit) b) It transfers even if it's set with powder


My Final Thoughts: I have been using this tinted moisturizer for over a year and it is a keeper.. I have to always have this lying around in my collection somewhere.. It's a good product for when you don't wanna think about your foundation.. It's the only tinted moisturizer I've come across that actually hydrates AND provides good coverage.. The oxidization issue is not horrible.. But it does happen.. And the fact that it transfers is the only thing that really bugs me about this but overall, it's a really good tinted moisturizer..

Peace

xoxo

If I Were To Pick One... Eyeshadow Palette

It would be...

Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette - 754 Rosy Tan

The creamiest, the smoothest, the most pigmented eye shadow palette I have come across.. Truly amazing.. the colours in this palette are sooo me.. I love neutrals and bronzy eye shadows.. This is perfect for the day time and you can easily transform your look to a more evening one using this palette..

Product

- These eye shadows I find are long lasting

- Glide on and blend together so beautifully

- A great mixture of Matte & Shimmery shades that are not overly shimmery which I prefer

- The pink may seem too pink, but on the eyelids, it's surprisingly stunning.. A very subtle pink that adds lovely brightness to the eyes

- The only colour I don't use all that much is the taupey matte one on the bottom right.. It's nice for under your lash line but nothing too great

Never in a million years did I think that a Dior product would make it into my "If I Were To Pick One... " series.. But I feel that Dior has really stepped up their game with their amazing Summer 2011 collection.. So well done Dior coz now you got me more intrigued than MAC..

Peace

xoxo

If I Were To Pick One... Bronzer

It would be...

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel

This product took me by surprise.. Before I purchased it, I have heard and read so many raves about it.. But I thought, how great could it really be? For the longest time I ignored this when I passed a Chanel counter as I regarded it as one of the many overhyped products out there..

That's until I decided to get a sample of this product to try out myself  (Thank you Mall of the Emirates Sephora.. They are truly so generous with giving out samples unlike other sephoras here)

And that's when the love story began...

This product not only melted my heart.. But it also melted so beautifully on my skin.. The texture is so buttery smooth that when applied, it honestly looks FLAWLESS! It does not look like you're wearing an obvious bronzer.. It looks like your skin is naturally tanned..

Pros:

- Very easy to work with

- Blends like a dream 

- Looks very natural

- A great base for powder blushes

- Can be mixed with your foundation if your foundation has become too light on you without ruining the original texture of the foundaiton itself

- Matte but adds the loveliest subtle glow to your face

- The pot is huge so you get a lot of product that will last you forever

Cons:

- Comes in one shade only (Darker skin tones might have a bit of a problem with this product showing on their skin)

- Pricey

I love applying this with my favourite brush from Illamasqua...

Blusher Brush 1

This brush does NOT shed.. It's so soft and works perfectly with the Soleil Tan De Chanel.. For more information about this brush, read my mini review on it here

So next time you're near Sephora ask them for a sample of this bronzer and try it out before you purchase it and see if it works for you..

Have you tried the Soleil Tan De Chanel? What are you favourite bronzers?

If I Were To Pick One... Lip Liner

It would be...

Bourjois Levre Contour Crayon Lip Liner - #18 Framboise exquise

I have been looking for a lip liner that gives me that natural tint.. "My lips but better" as they say so I can make my nude lipsticks work better on me..

I haven't tried Bourjois Lip Liners before but I thought I'd give this one a go as the colour was nice and soft.. Not biege, not too pink and not overally corally...

This colour turned out to be perfect! Nude lip liners do not work for me.. Every time I ask a SA in any brand for a natural looking lip liner, they show me all the beiges they have.. And to me, that's just not natural..

But this.. Now this, believe it or not, looks so natural on my lips.. The colour shown in the photo above may seem too corally but on the lips it's beautiful.. When worn alone, it gives my lips that sort of bitten look which I love as it works with every look.. And it has made my nude lippies finally work sooo nicely on me.. I pair this with my MAC Creme Cup & Please Me Lipsticks and my YSL Rouge Pur Couture in #06 and this crayon lip liner gives them that extra hint of colour that doesn't wash you out..

Seriously a great lip liner in terms of colour, formula, longevity and price..

Do you wear lip liners at all? What are some of your favourite lip liners?

If I Were To Pick One... Mascara

It would be...

Kanebo Sensai 38C Seperating & Lengthening

I purchased this for the first time maybe a year and a bit ago.. And when I was done with it, I went and tried other mascaras just coz I'm always curious about what is out there.. But I always seem to find myself coming back to this one.. I have just bought my 3rd tube and that NEVER happens with me! So that does say a lot about this product..

This fiber mascara seperates my lashes without clumping.. And lengthens them like there's no tomorrow.. When I wear this it looks like I have false lashes on.. No joke..

I'll tell you what.. Why don't you see for yourself..

Huge huge difference right?

And one more thing that makes me come back to this mascara is the way it washes off.. No panda eyes with this.. Never.. Because it's a fiber mascara so I just wet my fingers and eyes then I gently pull the mascara off.. And that's it! Super easy.. Super clean..

I really love this mascara.. And I know that it's hard to find Kanebo Sensai in some countries.. It's a high-end Japanese brand that carries so many great products.. The closest dupe I have found for this mascara in terms of the effect it gives, is the Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara..

What's your favourite Mascara?



If I Were To Pick One... Eye Shadow

So I decided to do a series called...

If I Were To Pick One...

Now this is a challenge for alllll makeup lovers out there.. Basically what I'm going to do is if I had to pick ONE make up item from each category (Foundation, Blush, Bronzer, Eye Shadow etc.) which one would it be.. And I'll talk about why of course..

So starting with Eye Shadow..

If I Were To Pick One Eye Shadow... It would be:

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow - #4 Taupe

This colour is soooo boring in the pan.. Nothing special at all.. It's a matte colour.. A mixture of brown and a tiny bit of grey.. But it is the PERFECT colour for contouring the eyes and adding a bit of a shadow along the lower lashline for a subtle smokey look.. It's really stunning and I can see it working for all skin tones..

Now I know that even in the swatch it looks like nothing special.. But for those who want a subtle definition for their crease for an everyday natural look.. This is the one shadow for you.. 

I really do like Bobbi Brown eye shadows more than MAC ones as they are way more pigmented and easier to blend.. Yah they're more on the pricey side but for what you're getting, they are worth it.. 

What would your One Eye Shadow pick be?