Packing for Summer - Week 5 Summer Blogger Challenge

Hi Girls!

Welcome to another week of the Summer Blogger Challenge, week 5 to be exact!

Cannot believe we are 5 weeks into Summer! It`s flying by!

Again Amy has set another great challenge, "Packing for Summer".

As it is still the time for people heading away on there Holidays, it can be hard to decide what to bring. The dilemma of will I pack this, will I take this, will I need this?, is commonly going around in our heads.  I know for me I make a mental list in my head late at night , in bed, which can stress you out before you head off. 

So to make that list a little easier, here are my TOP 5 items/products that are a must have when "Packing for Summer".

Packing for Summer Top 5:

1. Dry Shampoo, Batiste Dry Shampoo, €3.80. 

I cannot leave without this. I wash my hair every 3rd day, so for that 2nd and 3rd day its great to freshen up. I use the dark one, because the other ones leave a white residue in my hair, and when I am away or on holiday, I just want to make doing my hair simple and easy. Dry shampoo is great for that hot weather also, when your hair will not hold volume, due to the HOT weather, so spray a little into the roots when hair is fresh clean or day old, it doesn't matter, it will give you the volume you need, for that night out. 

There are so many dry shampoos and scents and colours out now, so there is one for everyone. 

*Image from Google search*

2. Sudocrem, Sudocrem €3.50

This is something I always have either at home or when away. It is not just useful when you have a baby, but is great for a whole other things. Sudocrem is an antiseptic cream, which works wonders, especially if you are away. Wheather its a bite from a insect, a cut or a spot that is coming up, applying Sudocrem will disinfect that area and keep the area clean and protect it so it can do its work and allow the area to heal or go down. If i have a bad break out, I apply  it to the spots before bed and the next day I do see a huge difference. Its one of those one product wonders and one I always have. 

*Image from Google search*

3. Body Spray, Boots Natural Collection Wild Strawberry Body Spray €3.00

We all love to smell good, when on holiday. For me I do find perfume to be a special product to use when on a date or in an intimate area, weather with friends or that special person. But during the day you still want to smell amazing, so a body spray is a great one to pack. I love the Strawberry scent, as its fruity and sweet, perfect for the day. It is not heavy and is lightweight. Its as though you always smelt like strawberries and is no unoffensive. I would wear this everyday and is a great way to freshen up. If you dont want to waste your GOOD perfume, get a sweet scent for the day and a deep scent like Vanilla for the evening. These are so simple to pop in your bag and are great on the go. There are loads to choose from from all different brands, so have fun choosing!

*image from Google search*

4. SPF, Riemann P20 Once a day prtctSpf 15,  30 or 50+,€32.99

This is a popular SPF in my opinion and a great one. SPF is so so so important in sunny weather, even if it doesn't seem hot or sunny, you can still burn. SPF is used to protect you from the harmful UVA/UVB rays. This one is suitable for the face aswell. But as long as it is waterproof , suitable for the face aswell as the body and has a high spf, you will be protected for your holiday.

*images from Google search*

5. BB Cream, Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream €11.99

I have probably mentioned BB Creams in so many of my posts, but to me its the perfect go to product for the summer. If you dont know what a BB cream is HERE is my post. I will always pack a foundation, but I love to wear a BB Cream during the day it is lightweight and has still more coverage than a tinted moisturiser. I like combine it with a liquid concealer if I find my skin breaking out. When I am in the sun, my face loves to break out in more and more Freckles, (haha) so I dont want to hide them and because i have an uneven tone a BB cream is light enough for me to feel natural. I love the Maybelline one especially as it isnt orange toned and suits my skin. Comes in Light , Medium and Dark and they suit alot of skin tones. It has a SPF of 30-35 and if you cannot get a spf for the face or if an spf breaks you out an BB is the best option! BUT DO NOT layer SPF, as it will cancel each other out and you will lose all the protection. 

*Image from Google search*

So that was my WEEK 5 "Packing for the Summer" post. I hope I may have helped you in some way. It was a random product list, but one that I stick to always. 

Any questions, please get in contact and let me know what you thought, have any other post ideas, want to collab with me or have a question on a product etc. 

WHERE CAN YOU FIND ME??

Email: nataliekeanemua@gmail.com

Facebook: Natalie Keane MUA

Twitter: @Natke05

Instagram: nataliekeanemua

Would love to hear from you, chat with you and follow you back, so get in touch!

Till Thursday!

Natalie xx

You & Your Foundation

Hey Girls...

For years it took me to find my foundation type, never tested it, just picked it up and lashed it on my face. More than likely looking TANGOED! Not a good look. (cringe)
As I got older and did my research in foundation I learned there where a few factors to take into choosing the right foundation. Now bear in mind, not every foundation will match you identically, you will either have to mix two or if like me you are pale, you will have to go with the closest one to your colour. 

So what are the Factors you have to look at while choosing your foundation...well......

1. Whats your Undertone??

Your undertone is not your skin tone like most people presume, your undertone lies underneath your skin and never changes unlike your skin tone which can. There are 3 types of undertones, WARM ( yellow/golden), COOL ( pink, red or bluish) and NEUTRAL (mix of warm and cool). 
Now your thinking, how the hell do I know which undertone I am?? Well heres some ways to check: 

- Do you tan easily and dont burn? Well your natural pigment, melanin level is higher, so generally you will have a yellow/olive tone, so you will have a Warm Undertone.

- Do you burn, and barely tan at all, if at all? Well you have less melanin in your skin. You may flush easily (p.s some neutral undertones may flush easy too).Have a pinkish, reddish look to the skin. Well then you will be Cool Undertoned.  

Olive Skin? Your skin may look a little ashen or gray, have a yellow complexion with a suttle green hue, which is unique to olive skin. You will be a Neutral Undertone.

Quickie Check: Look at you veins in your wrists. If they are Blue/Purple then you care Cool Tones (blue end of spectrum), Green veins - Warm Tones (yellow spectrum) and if you cant make out which colour it is green or blue then you have a Neutral Tone. 

Top is Warm toned

Bottom is Cool toned

2. What is your shade?

Are you Light, Medium or Dark? Well the best way to check this is on your Jawline or your neck. The one that blends completely or close to your skin is your shade. Bear in mind most companies have a limited selection of shades. Testing on your wrist or hand will not give you a true reading of shade on your hand, as they are totally different. 

                                                                

                                         Which one is the right shade in this picture 1, 2, 3, or 4?

3. What Formula will suit my skin type?

Like my skin care guides, I shared what products where beneficial for your skins, well it falls the same in foundation. There are so many formulas out there, gel, cream, all in one, liquid,mousse, tinted..the list can go on and on. So its important to match your skin type with a foundation that will work with your skin.

Once you know your undertone you can choose your formula.

So for a lady that has oily skin (see Skin Guide to Oily Skin) you want something that is oil-free and is mattifying. 

Top two foundations:

                                    

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Finish                           Revlon ColourStay Oil/Combination Skin

(Note* most bobbi brown foundations are

cool tones-yellow based)

If you have Dry skin,(see Skin Guide to Dry Skin) you want something hydrating and moisturising. Stay away from alcohol and anything mattifying you want to add oil to your skin as that is what is lacking. 

Top 2 Dry skin foundations:

                                        

Revlon Colour Stay Normal/Dry Skin                     Bourjois 10hr Sleep Effect

So if like me you have a normal skin (Skin Guide to Normal Skin), you kinda have the pick of the bunch. Depending on choice you can have a sheer look with a BB cream or Tinted moisturiser, a dewy finish or matte finish, really is up to you. I like a glow with a bb cream in the day, a dewy finish for evening and a matte finish for nights out. Really is totally up to you. 

My Top 2 Normal Skin Foundations:

                        

MAC Face & Body                                         Bourjois Healthy Mix (not the serum)

*Secret: I personally love the Bourjois healthy mix and is my go to!*

4. What Coverage do you want?

Depending what you want to hide or cover, coverage is another factor. If you have a clear complexion and just want something to even out you skin then a sheer to light coverage is what you need. If you have some breakouts, nothing major that concealer cant fix but want a little more coverage than a medium coverage is ideal. And if you suffer from acne or more of a heavy breakout or pigmentation then a heavy coverage is ideal.

5. SPF or No SPF?

What is SPF, well not going into too much detail yet (i will do a post on it soon). It stands for Sun Protection Factor. This will help protect you from the suns harmful rays. And yes, even if it is cloudy and IRELAND, its still an important daily factor. You can only wear one layer of SPF, so decide weather its your moisturiser, your primer or your foundation you want to wear it, as laying SPFs will cancel them out. Example A primer with a SPF of 15 and a Foundation with an SPF of 20 doesnt add to 35 and more coverage it goes to -5, giving you no coverage. So only wear one layer. You dont have to wear SPF at night as there is no Sun and can Flash back in photos giving you have "Moon Face" or "Casper Face" 

SPF is important but its how and wear you wear it. 

(NOTE: SPF will be stated on the front of the product, if it doesnt it has none)

I hope this will give you some help on how to get the right foundation for you.

If you have sensitive, combination or mature skin and are unsure of foundations and maybe skincare, then message me and i will get a post up for you. 

Any questions or help email me: nataliekeanemua@gmail.com or facebook Natalie Keane MUA

Love 

Natalie 

xxx