Rings of the Day- Moonstone & Topaz

It was about two weeks ago that I first tried out this topaz and moonstone ring combo and I've worn it a lot since. I've always liked moonstones as they're so magical to look at, but I've had trouble finding one that wasn't either teeny tiny or so large (and expensive) that it engulfed my hand.
Moonstones (sometimes known as selenite) form part of the feldspar mineral group and are most commonly found in Sri Lanka and India. Not all moonstones are created equal, some are a glowy milky colour while others are more translucently blue and have flashes of blue and spectrum colours when moved under light- known as adularescence.

This 20mm Moonstone and Silver Oval Ring* (£25.99 from TheJewelleryPeople.com) sits on a thick smooth modern silver band, and is adjustable to fit a range of finger sizes which is really handy. Pinched to fit my small-ish middle finger, the band overlaps which I think adds to the design, but with a bit of strength I'm sure you could force the open end underneath the other if you wanted to.
I think the flatness and width of the design contrasts really nicely against the blue topaz ring with its faceted stone and detailing on the thin band. The shade compliments the ethereal flashes of colour in the moonstone while the uniform translucence means it doesn't compete for attention on the finger.
I've been wearing these mainly with a cream coloured wool/alpaca cardigan from Matalan, which apparently has a bit of a dressing gown style but its the warmest thing I own and we all definitely need a bit of warmth at the moment!

TheJewelleryPeople sell some really beautiful modern silver jewellery from charms, to fossil and bone pendants, to gem set earrings. They also have a range of gold, silver and diamond body jewellery which would make a really nice change to the usual surgical steel or titanium and crystal. With First Class delivery starting from just £2.90, it's definitely worth checking out the website if you're looking for something new and beautiful to accessorise your outfits!

February Birchbox

I was really excited to receive the February Birchbox* this month and discover what was inside- this box has a style theme inspired by LFW, and gone are the days of finding your monthly beauty box rattling with tiny useless vials of the newest £100 moon dust infused eye cream! I'm already planning my purchases of a few of the full size products so this one is a bit of a corker- read below to find out my first impressions of what's inside.

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil Mini (Birchbox exclusive, full size £16)

This golden oil works to protect hair from heat and UV rays, and contains argan oil to condition. My hair is in need of a trim so my ends are a bit heat frazzled and dry, but I've been using the oil every day since I received the box and it makes the ends look healthy and shiny without leaving the hair greasy at all. It has a really lovely scent, like cocoa but also quite fresh (if that's possible), and it's quite thick which makes it easy to work with even if it doesn't pour out in drops. I also feel like it helps detangle my hair and gives it a bit of body, a lot of benefits from just one oil! The full size is £16 and (I think) about 100ml, which is likely to last for ages as I've barely made a dent in this vial.

Urban Veda Radiance Exfoliating Facial Polish Mini (full size £8.99)

This contains turmeric and fruit acids to cleanse and brighten the skin. I've only had the chance to try this once so far, but I like how creamy it is while still having the grittiness of an exfoliator and it made a nice first half of a double cleanse. It also smells exactly like a solid perfume I had when I was little which is nice!

Green & Blacks 70% Dark Chocolate Miniature Bar (full size £2.29)

To be honest I was quite excited to see some dark chocolate in my box, everyone loves chocolate right? I only eat dark as I don’t have milk, so I may have ripped the little wrapper off a bit too quickly after photographing my box contents. It reminded me that I've got some Green & Blacks hot chocolate in the cupboard, 5 teaspoons with hot water is the dreamiest thing you can fit in a mug.

Gilchrist & Soames London Shower Gel Mini (full size £13.75)

I haven't given this one a go yet but to me shower gel is shower gel. In the bottle it has a really nice manly scent, but with the full size costing nearly £14 I can't help but think it's a little pricey for something that's just meant to wash off the days dirt!

Leighton Denny Riviera Collection Nail Varnish in Mines A Rosè (£11)

This has pretty swish packaging and is full size. I like that the formula spreads easily and dries quickly but I always find light colours so difficult to apply and this one took about 4 coats until I was happy that it was opaque enough. The light peach colour is lovely and summery, but I think I might've had more luck with one of the darker shades.

Eyeko Skinny Mini Liquid Eyeliner Black (full size £12)

So far this is really one of the best eyeliner pens I've tried- it's dark in one stroke, doesn't need shaking, the nib doesn't splay, and it's really easy to get a thick or thin line. I've used it about 5 times so far and I'm loving it so it'll be interesting to see how long it lasts before drying out. The full size is £12 which I think is pretty reasonable if it's long lasting and I'm already eyeing it up on the Birchbox website's shop!

I was really impressed with this box, in fact probably as impressed as I've ever been with a monthly box, as the brands are affordable and these are all products that I actually will use up. Next month's box looks one to watch as well as its in partnership with designer Lulu Guiness, so it'll be interesting to see what everyone receives!

Each Birchbox contains 5 luxury beauty samples and subscription costs £10 plus £2.95 per month. 

7 Steps To Make The Most Of Your Eyelashes

I received some really lovely comments on here and on twitter when I posted the full face version of the below photo in a post about mascara and, as my lashes are the part of my face that I tend to spend a lot of time on when doing my make up, I like to think that I know a (vague) thing or two about making them look their best. There's a definite reason why the eyes are called the 'windows to the soul' and why we stare into them when having a conversation with someone instead of being transfixed on their lips, so giving them a little helping hand to make them look their best can really transform even a slightly dull make up look.
I love reading girl-to-girl make up tips, rather than makeupartist-to-girl which can sometimes come off as a bit preachy and judgemental, so I hope my steps give you a bit of advice and inspiration. But if you don't agree with the way I do things then I certainly won't judge!

1. REPLACE YOUR CURLERS- like many make up products, not everything works for everyone, and if your curlers don't seem to do anything then try another brand. Unless you have super thick wiry lashes its unlikely that no curler in creation will make a difference to them. I currently use these Ted Baker Eyelash Curlers and love them, but the previous curlers I tried were god awful and by the time I threw them away they were absolutely useless. Another point to remember is to replace your curlers or at least the little rubber cushions regularly; they can become hard over time which makes it more difficult to get a good curl.

2. PUMP FOR 10, HOLD FOR 10- nope we're not at the gym, I'm still talking about curlers! Sky high lashes really do transform your eyes and the way to get those peepers popping is to bend your lashes and keep them bent. Clamp the hairs about two thirds of the way down and keep pumping for 10 counts, then hold for 10 counts and apply mascara straight away before moving on to the other eye. This really injects a kink into the lashes and helps it stay.

3. LINE YOUR TIGHTLINE- now that your lashes are pointing to the ceiling (well, almost) it's a good time to make them look fuller and hide any fleshy tones that might be peeking through between or underneath them. I have trouble making eyeliner last inside my eye, but two I've tried that really do stay all day are the Zoeva Graphic Eyes Pencil and Avon Supershock Pencils, both of which are gel liner in pencil form that sets down and are available in a range of colours.

4. USE THE RIGHT MASCARA- I've noticed that in addition to personal preference, those with a particular type of lash tend to prefer a particular mascara formula- for example those with short or thick lashes seem to like the Benefit They're Real Mascara, but those of us with longer wispier lashes absolutely flipping hate it. Ensuring you use the right mascara for your lash type is imperative for making them look their best and keeping a hold. The one I always return to for brilliant hold is the Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof (review here), which lengthens, curls and defines brilliantly but needs more than one coat to add volume. Don't be afraid to compromise with mascara- if products that provide both length and volume make your lashes look stuck together and spidery, pick one that does just one job and change how you apply it to make it work best for you.

5. APPLY MORE THAN ONE COAT- Experiment with your mascara to find the optimum number of coats, applying more than one doesn't mean that you'll end up with clumps. My favourite mascaras can take up to four coats to look their best (obviously I only use them when I've got enough time), but taking that extra time really does make the product look amazing. If one layer isn't doing it for you, add another at the base or the tip to see how it looks. Lengthening mascaras in particular really benefit from this, and brushing sideways with a vertical wand over the end of the lashes means the product will really catch on those tips.

6. USE YOUR FAVOURITE WAND TO COMB THROUGH- instead of using a little plastic comb for your lashes, keep the wand of an old tube of your favourite mascara and wash it to use dry on your lashes. Because you like what it does when it's wet, you'll like what it does when it's dry even more- especially if you love a defined 'lots of lashes' look. Combing through is an essential step for me as my lash hairs are a bit unruly and tend to poke in different directions or have parties in random little groups unless they're tamed. 

7. DON'T TREAT THEM MEAN- being gentle and not pulling or rubbing at them too hard when taking off your eye make up means that you won't lose more than nature intended. It sounds like an obvious step, but at the end of the day when you just want to get your face clean quickly it's something really worth remembering.

What's your favourite thing to do to make the most of your eyelashes?

Just Singles 3 Dates 3 Months - Challenge One

The thing that puts me off writing about current longterm relationships is what to do when they end- do you go back through your posts and re-draft those with any mention of the person, tweet meaningless drivel until past tweets are pushed off the end of the twittersphere, or remove social media pictures in case they resurface as reminders? Some previous relationships have ended quickly and/or badly but, as they say, when life gives you lemons add some salt and down a bottle of tequila. Ok maybe they don't say that, but it's the lemon option that requires the least skill in the kitchen.
While longterm or recently passed relationships might be off the blog agenda for me, there's no reason why new ones should be, and when I was asked if I wanted to take part in the Just Singles 3 Dates 3 Months Challenge I thought it sounded like a good chance to have a bit of fun, do something with my lemons (and hopefully write some interesting posts!). The challenge is to use unusual ways of securing 3 dates over 3 months (with one of them being JustSingles.com) and to blog about each date-finding method. I've never had an online dating profile before but with over 2 million members across dozens of niched sites, it should hopefully be a doddle!

The ideas for the second and third challenges came to me easily but I had a bit of trouble with the first until my friend told me about a local company that had just launched a 'Green Scheme' and were having difficulty getting people to sign up. I decided to offer them my services for the afternoon, going door to door with their survey questions and trying to drum them up a bit of interest (all with an ulterior motive of my own of course). I'd basically be trying to chat people up in their own homes, and what could be easier than that..!?

Off I trudged on a rainy afternoon last week, armed with a green folder full of information (most of which I forgot almost straight away) and my phone so that I could live tweet my experience on the #3dates3mths hashtag. I had a list of questions to ask each person- some were very useful to know before you on go on a date- what to do you do for a living? Do you own a car? And (most importantly) are you married? Other answers I really could've done without, things like- how many wheelie bins does your house use? What do you recycle? And are your cavity walls insulated?

I had high hopes that meeting a nice sexy guy would be easy, but after I encountered married woman after married woman my confidence became a little dashed. About half way through the afternoon I was invited in by a very nice man called Jerry, who had the house to himself and owned a lovely fluffy ginger cat. Jerry was eighty three. We talked for a while but it was quite clear that Jerry was neither interested in the Green Scheme nor a date with me.

It was about half an hour before home time that a door was opened by a lovely looking tanned guy in a wifebeater, who shot me a bright smile after I asked if I could ask him a few questions in his porch. Josh turned out to be very nice (unmarried, renting, doesn't recycle batteries) and, while I didn't pluck up the courage at that moment to ask him on a date, he did agree to me texting him which I took as practically a yes to the date anyway. I went home feeling pretty chuffed with myself that I was well on the way to completing a successful challenge and decided that two days later would be a suitable time to send the first text. Unfortunately, it all went a bit downhill from there.

After a pretty general "Hi how are you, remember me?" type text came a reply calling me 'Kirsty crazy face', which was... well at least there are worse things to be called. After my Australian Dream Boy (his words) and I had chatted for a bit, I saw an opportunity to secure the date's date. Unluckily I was busy on both of the days suggested and this news was met with a weirdly angry rant- phrases like "Look whatever I don't really buy that", "if not then no problems I won't cry" and "I'll stop wasting my time" came through with a sentiment that's quite hard to capture in a blog post. I responded with a disgruntled message explaining why I was busy and, to be honest not too bothered about seeing him again by this point, I left it at that.

Our final communication came the next day in the form of an unexpectedly over-cheery message asking if I'd found myself a 'new Australian Love Bunny' yet and ending in "Let's not fight in front of the kids again :)". I was pretty baffled- one minute a cold outburst, next minute chirpy over-friendliness and god know where the kids came from! Honestly I couldn't be bothered to reply; I'm not one to bow to men's hormonal tantrums, especially from those I've only known for 5 minutes, so instead I decided to just put this one down to experience.

Unfortunately as you can tell Challenge One was a bit of a failure for me, but I've got much higher hopes for Challenge Two which involves pubs and costumes no less! And at least I've learnt one thing- men who don't recycle batteries just aren't worth my time.

This is a sponsored post in association with JustSingles

Hair Tool Storage With The Polder Style Station

While I'm not the most organised of people I do like everything in its place, and the floor is definitely not the place for storing hair styling tools. The tangled bundle of wires not only offended my eyes but also confuddled me, and I was forever plugging in my laptop and wondering why my straighteners weren't heating up.

After some searching on Pinterest and Google (and dismissing some very overpriced pieces of metal), I found the perfect way to store my hairdryer and brush- a 5 Hook Over-Draw (or door) Hanger that works a treat and was only £2.48 including p&p! It has more hooks than I have things to hang, but it's definitely always better to have too many than too little in my opinion.

When searching for a holder for my other tools I had some trouble, the few products that looked they would do the job weren't available in England, and any of them that were were far too expensive. I finally happened upon the answer to my prayers- the Polder Style Station (£19.99) (they also do a Mini £16.99) available exclusively from Lakeland, with silicone pads and stainless steel mesh that means you can put your hot tools away straight after use.
The Style Station has three round compartments with the largest big enough to store a hairdryer, but I've also found it perfect for my Babyliss Curl Secret. In the other two I keep my Remington straighteners and Braun straighteners (review here). At the back there's a large hook (supposedly for hanging the holder from a towel rail), a hole for wall mounting and a section for storing the cables. I've found this section too small for storing the cables of all three tools and have instead been winding my Braun stylers wire and securing the loop with Velcro for easy access. Luckily though the wire pocket makes a great place for my Yogi Heat Proof Glove!

I keep the holder next to my plugs and I think it looks really attractive and neat as well as actually doing the job of housing my hair styling tools and cables. I knew there were over-door hooks available but I wasn't really sure if anything actually existed that would be suitable for the rest of my tools, so I'm so pleased to have found the Style Station as I've finally put my storage and messy wire woes to rest! 

Body Contouring with No More White Bits Self Tan

THE TAN

No More White Bits is a new self tanning brand from Anatomicals which launches into Asda this month and aims to provide tans for 'active lifestyles' that are quick to apply and easy to maintain. With all its products, which include mousse, cream and gel, priced at £4 or less, the brand has hands down beat other affordable tans for price alone before you've even opened the bottle.

While I'm not the biggest fan of the blue and white packaging it does stand out, and I haven't tried any other tanning products that openly market themselves towards men as well as women. Honestly on first use of the Instant Self Tan Mousse in Dark* the instructions did baffle me a little- it states that it's an instant tanning mousse (which to me means wash-off and non developing) but that it does develop, although it doesn't say how long to leave it on for. The mousse applies very dark and turns into an easily spreadable liquid on the skin with that slightly greenish tinge that we've now come to expect from self tans. It has a strong lotus flower scent that isn't for sensitive noses and I have to make sure I've oiled my knees and elbows well as it tends to grab these areas if theyre dry. I'm so over waiting around for tans to sink in or getting dressed and sticking to my clothes, so I'm really pleased that this formula dries quickly and feels smooth on the skin. On first go I took a guess at the developing time be around 4-6 hours and I think I was right, even though washing off the guide colour leaves me a bit pasty in comparison, the tan gradually gets darker over the next day or two so I actually end up darker than expected (no complaints there as I'm a natural ghost!).

The colour is a nice natural deep brown and the wear time is about 5 days for me before I start to look like I've got a farmer's tan. Thankfully it doesn't leave me scaly or patchy like a lot of dark tans can. I'm really impressed with No More White Bits as it's definitely the best budget tan I've tried, and I'll definitely be picking up the cream formula when I next do my shopping!

THE METHOD

Body contouring definitely isn't something I'd do every time I wear self tan (which is often) but it's great for a special ocassion or if you just need a little body confidence boost. I first came up with the idea when for some reason my chest was a looking a little less than full, and from there it spread through trial and error to the rest of my body. The principle is really the same as contouring the face- to define, create shape and give the illusion of a slimmer form. The effect is subtle once the tan's guide colour is washed off but it definitely makes a difference and once you try it, you'll see for yourself.

This works equally well with mousses or creams and a mitt (which is essential for ensuring everything is buffed out), and can be achieved either by applying one layer of tan, washing off and darkening specific areas with another layer, or by waiting for the first layer to dry and then applying on top straight away, which is much quicker and easier.

As with bronzing the cheeks, the idea is to blend the second layer of tan into the first to ensure there are no harsh lines or obvious streaks. The highlights really aren't as important as the shadows but they do give more contrast, and can be created by simpling buffing away at the first layer of tan with a dry mitt or sponge. My drawing skills haven't really done the poor lady in the image above any justice, so I've run through each area below and the ideas can be modified for other body shapes.  

THE BOOBS-  I was given the bittersweet blessing of small boobs (can't fill out a top properly, but also don't get back ache), so this is the area I focus on. I can't speak for other shapes but deepened shadows underneath and to the sides really make them look fuller and more shapely against my (boney) chest.  A highlight just above the shadow will create the contrast which gives the illusion that the nips are sitting further out from the body.

THE WAIST- As with a bodycon dress that gives the look of a smaller waist by making the edges of the body almost disappear, a darker shadow will draw the eye to the smaller lighter area at the centre of the body (the same idea can be applied to the dreaded 'bingo wings' at the underneath of the arms).

THE STOMACH- A layer of tan will darken all shadows, whether wanted or not, and a shadow below the stomach that shouts 'look at me, I'm a muffin top!' is something no one wants. This can be evened out by blending a darker line along the most projecting part of the stomach, and buffing away the tan underneath where the darkest shadow lies to almost reverse the effect.

THE HIPS- I really like the look of wide hips so if anything I would highlight them, but there is the matter of stretchmarks which I don't really want to show off. My tiger stripes have faded to a point where I don't dislike them as much as I used to, but a good layer of tan helps hide the 'shine' and mackerel effect that they can give to the skin.

Thigh gaps are so last year, but for those of us in the touching thigh crew a little slimming illusion with a second layer of tan doesn't go amiss!  This also helps prevent the tell-tale faded tan patches from hair removal.

THE LEGS- A dark self tan buffed under the bum can make it look perkier but, as I talked about in my Vita Liberata Skinfinish post, a highlight down the centre of the legs can do wonders not only for slimming but for adding a little glamour that makes you look put together for an evening out. If the thought of rubbing off your lovely deep tan doesn't appeal, a liquid highlighter or even a sweep of highlighting powder can work wonders for the pins!

What do you think of body contouring, is it something you've tried, or might try in the future?

Braun Blogger Challenge with the Satin Hair 7 SensoCare Styler

A little while ago I was asked if I would like to take part in the Braun Blogger Challenge to recreate one of three hairstyles created by UK Style Director Peter Beckett with the Braun Satin Hair 7 Sensocare Styler*. These straighteners really are the bees knees and use clever new technology in the plates that detects the moisture levels in every strand of hair 20 times a second, and adjusts their temperature accordingly during every stroke to minimise hair damage. When you first turn it on, the styler asks you to create a 'profile' of information about your hair- the length, thickness and whether it is coloured, in order for it to heat to the right temperature. The heating time for my profile is about 60 seconds which is amazingly quick compared to others I've used! 

In order for the Sensocare technology to work properly your hair needs to be thoroughly dried and you need to move slowly down each section; the stylers let you know whether you're moving at the right speed by showing a graphic after each stroke, ranging from a happy face to a rather grumpy face when you go too fast. I wasn't sure whether I wouldn't notice any difference from this new intelligent styling technology, but after the first use I was actually really impressed- using straighteners on my hair usually leaves the ends looking a little crisp and my splitends very dry and obvious, but with the Satin Hair 7 the effect is really minimal and my hair looks kink-free and healthy. 

As well as the SensoCare technology, these straighteners also have rounded edges for curling, floating plates, and tips that stay cool enough to hold which I've found really handy during styling. You can also set up to three hair profiles, or choose not to use the profile function and decide your own temperature if you need a specific heat.
Of the three hairstyles I was challenged to recreate I chose curls, which in this look are created by wrapping and pinning the hair. Keep scrolling to find out how to recreate the look and how I did with the challenge!

I was quite pleased with my attempt at the pin curls and I really enjoyed trying something new, curls drop quickly out of my hair because of the weight in the length but this style gives them a chance to set and helps them hang on for longer instead of turning straight into waves. Pinning all my hair to my head was a bit tricky (especially at the back!) and a few of the kirby grips didn't want to stay in place, but having the hair cooling out of the way would be really handy when I need to finish off my makeup or get changed for going out.I finished my style off in the photos above with a bit of dry backcombing spray and hair spray to hold the hair and make the look a bit less sleek and defined as I dp like a messy 'do.  

If you're on the hunt for a new pair of straighteners I would really recommend the Braun Satin Hair 7 SensoCare Styler (£89.99), the SensoCare technology really does make a difference to the hair and I don't think you'll find many others with as much intelligence as this one!

Avojo Black Peel Off Mask

I'm a big fan of peel off masks- while they often don't do as much as those that sink into the skin, they do have their uses for skin texture and oil control, and they are so satisfying to peel off! The masks that I usually use are green, so I was really intrigued by these Avojo Black Peel Off Masks* which come in 10ml sachets and are £3 each or £10 for 5.
Avojo is a new Danish brand, the masks have been sold since November in Denmark on madeformen.dk and have only just launched in the UK. These facemasks are designed to remove blackheads, dirt and oil from the T Zone, while leaving skin soft and revived. While these are interesting for being black, the most interesting of the ingredients list are Kaolin and Allantoin, which absorb excess oils and promote smoothness of the skin.

The mask is applied in a thick layer to the T Zone and left for 25-30 minutes, before peeling off and rinsing the skin. On application mask is thick and reminds me of very dark marmite, and it is possible to apply it too thickly and risk runs and drips. It has quite a strong scent, a nondescript skincare smell, and my eyes watered a little as I applied it to my cheeks, but that may have also been from the alcohol content of the mask. 10ml really is plenty for the T Zone- I've applied one sachet to my whole face and still had some left over so I think I would have preferred to see this product in a tube so that there isn't as much wastage. 

After drying it has a smooth rubbery texture and, while it does peel off, it does so in small pieces so it takes quite a while to pick everything from the face, and you need a mirror to make sure that you've taken all the pieces off. I would say this is much more a liquid extraction strip than a peel off mask- it removes debris and blackheads from the skin (especially well on the nose) but it does hurt. It isn't unbearable, but its a pain similar to fabric pore strips when they've dried and the removal made my eyes water a bit more than application, so I don't think these would be suitable for dry or sensitive skin. Spreading the mask thinly on the skin makes it easier to peel off in larger pieces and also creates less pain, but the results aren't’t as good as thick layer.

All told, the masks do give results- while they didn't remove all my blackheads (I suffer from them frequently as my T Zone is so oily), what they did remove was visible on the peeled pieces and it was a lot more than I was expecting. My skin also felt and looked smoother once the redness from the peeling had subsided. If you suffer from occasional blackheads then this may be all you need to keep them at bay!

If you have oily skin and are looking for something new to give your skin a deep clean to remove blackheads and dirt then I would recommend giving the Avojo Black Peel Off Masks a try, as long as you’re not averse to a little pain!

Holy Grail: Witch Anti Blemish Skin Clearing Primer

With a nose that's the oiliest thing south of the North Sea Floor, it isn't difficult to understand why I need a primer to keep my foundation in place. I've tried all sorts from budget and expensive brands, and while some offered specific benefits such as filling in pores or making my skin look more radiant, none of them have been able to combat oil and increase the wear time of my foundation. After a few hours, my makeup starts to separate, look cakey and patchy, and even bases created for oily skin only give me an extra hour or two of wear.

It was on a bit of a whim that I decided to try the Witch Skin Clearing Primer, which contains antibacterial Witch Hazel and promises to hydrate while drawing away excess oils. The 30ml primer is contained in an airless pump bottle and applies to the skin like a thick white moisturiser. It feels hydrating but doesn't give any shine, nor does it have that powdery slip that silicone primers have. I apply half a pump to my face, concentrating on the T Zone and using extra on my nose and centre of my cheeks where I have the most trouble with oil. This primer creates a very cooling feeling while it dries, which is strange but I imagine would be a great feeling for the summer months.

After trying so many primers, I have no doubt that I've now found my holy grail- my foundation stays well in place for 8 hours, and even after 12 hours I'm still looking presentable. I need to blot or re-powder in the afternoons, but my skin just looks dewy and shiny rather than a patchy mess of oil and pores, which to me sometimes seems like a miracle. Even though I have oily skin, primers can often dry other parts of my skin out, but I've had no such problems with the Witch primer, which I'm also very pleased about. The only way in which the product is slightly let down is that it doesn't mask large pores all that well but, in light of how well it works to enhance the longevity of my make up, I'm not really all that bothered. 
The Witch Skin Clearing Primer claims that it prevents blemishes by protecting skin from make up and I haven't seen a huge difference in the amount of new blemishes, but have noticed that my skin is slightly less congested after lots of long days wearing foundation. As long as my primer doesn't actually cause blemishes like silicones ones do for me, then it's not a huge loss for me that it doesn't prevent them from other causes.

The Skin Clearing Primer is £6.99, which is a steal compared to others and I'd be happy to pay twice that for a product that works so well for me. As long as I powder after foundation application, this primer keeps my make up on for hours.