Weekly Worship: Bieber, Smashbox and Stila

I always struggle choosing one product to worship each week as, fortunately, I try a lot of great beauty products throughout each month. So this week I've switched things up and will show you not one, but three  things I've been loving this week...

Price: £24.00 / $36.00 30ml

Stockist: Boots / Sephora

I have wanted to try the Stila One Step Correct for a while as I suffer from dark circles and slight redness. So a few weeks ago I bit the bullet and gave it a try...thank God I did.

This triple swirl helix primer combines lavender, peach and green tones that neutralise redness, conceal spots and pigmentation, counteract sallow undertones and brighten the skin. Not only does this beauty wonder do an amazing job at hiding imperfections, reducing redness and brightening the skin, it also doubles as the perfect primer. It reduces fine lines, wrinkles and pores, creating a super smooth base for makeup application, and it also gives makeup some serious lasting power - which is an added bonus!

Price: £24.00 30ml

Stockist: Boots

Justin Bieber Collector's Edition launched this week and I'm surprised to say that I really love it! The eau de parfum contains top notes of bergamot, pear and passionfruit, mid notes of honeysuckle, freesia and heliotrope and base notes of golden amber, white musk, sandalwood and apricot nectar. The result of this medley is a fresh, floral and fruity daytime scent that has real staying power. Nice work Biebs!

Price: £39.00 / $ 39.00

Stockist: smashbox.co.uk / ULTA

Smashbox's latest beauty tool, the Telephoto 3-in-1 Face Brush, is a dual-fiber, multi-tasking brush that expands out to provide three different coverage levels - full, medium and sheer. No matter what foundation you use, this brush lives up to its promise - you'll get a light, natural coverage with the 'sheer' brush and a maximum flawless coverage with the 'full'. All you have to do is rotate the base until you click into the brush you need, very simple.

I always work to achieve a full coverage foundation look, so this brush rarely rotates! The full brush is dense and firm, yet soft enough to access those harder-to-reach areas of the face. It blends foundation seamlessly and provides a gorgeous even finish. This little guy is now an essential part of my makeup routine and when he is not in my makeup bag, he's travelling with me in my handbag. I'm obsessed!

God Bless America(n Beauty)!

Us Brits may not celebrate Independence Day but it's the perfect excuse to celebrate the best of American beauty. Some of the world's best beauty beauty brands and products were born in the US of A, so it's only right we put them in the spotlight!

Now, no American beauty round-up would be complete without mentioning Elizabeth Arden's famous Eight Hour Cream 50ml (£26.00 Boots / $21.00 ULTA). This true beauty hero is loved by women all over the world because it calms, protects and hydrates skin for up to eight hours. It was created back in 1930 by Miss Elizabeth Arden herself and, although it was originally made to soothe skin, it has a crazy number of other benefits. This handbag essential can be used to treat dry skin, chapped lips, dry cuticles, rough elbows and calluses, in-flight dehydration, sunburn and a million other skin problems. Eight Hour Cream = The American Dream.

It would also be impossible to talk American beauty and not mention Stila, one of America's favourite cult beauty brands. Stila's One Step Colour Corrector 30ml (£24.00 stila.co.uk / $36.00 Sephora) alone deserves a spot in the American beauty hall of fame. This award-winning primer instantly colour-corrects, brightens and covers skin imperfections for a flawless face or perfect base. It combines lavender, peach and green tones that neutralise redness, conceal spots and pigmentation, counteract sallow undertones and brighten the skin. The One Step Colour Corrector is a makeup bag must!

The next product I have to mention isn't just loved by Americans, it's loved by freakin Oprah! It goes by the name of Hope In A Jar 60ml (£34.50 philosophyskincare.co.uk / $42.00 Nordstrom) - Philosophy's award-winning moisturiser. It is the perfect all-rounder, helping to hydrate and gently exfoliate skin, making it smoother, healthier and more radiant. It is also packed with powerful antioxidants, which help to protect skin against environmental damage!

Kiehl's Creme de Corps 250ml (£27.00 John Lewis / $29.50 kiehls.com) is another American classic that is arguably the best body moisturiser in the world. This ultra-nourishing cream is formulated with Beta-Carotene (an antioxidant found in red vegetables), Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Squalane, Vitamins A and E and Vegetable Oils to soothe, hydrate and moisturise the skin. It has a rich, creamy texture that applies easily and absorbs quickly. Creme de Corps is an absolute must for those who suffer with very dry skin!

Now, if you are completely lacking American beauty experience, Glossybox is currently selling the perfect solution - a Stars and Stripes themed box (£10.00 glossybox.com). This special, limited edition beauty box contains amazing products from the likes of Tarte, Mary Kay and Carmex, so it would make the perfect start to your American beauty journey!

The Beauty Myth: Concealer Should Be A Shade Lighter Than Foundation

Verdict: False

Contrary to popular belief, this really is a myth. Concealer should closely match your skin tone or foundation in order to effectively conceal imperfections. Using a concealer lighter than your skin tone or foundation will only draw attention to what you are trying to cover up - more importantly, it will look ridiculous.

Now, if you are reaching for a lighter concealer because you have a bad case of dark circles, you may want to add a colour corrector into your makeup routine. Applying a colour corrector underneath your concealer will help to neutralise discolouration and improve your complexion. Peachy or orangey colour correctors are the best shades to use as they counteract that nasty blue/purple tinge. However it is important to know that different colour correctors suit different skin tones, so you'll need to make sure you find the right one for you. Very fair skins should pick a salmon colour. Those with olive skin should pick a peachy colour and those with dark skin should pick an orange colour.

If you don't feel comfortable venturing into the world of colour correctors just yet, I would recommend using an illuminating concealer - it will cover your dark circles and brighten the eye area. If all else fails, get your hands on the Stila Brighten & Correct Concealer 30ml (£18.00 beautybay.com / $28.00 amazon.com). It is a foolproof, multipurpose must-have that conceals, corrects and  brightens.

Faithful Four: Illuminating Foundations

YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation

Promise: “The light of Touche Éclat foundation targets shadowy areas and highlights the contours of the face. With no opaque powders, its perfecting texture evens the complexion and helps conceal your imperfections, while enhancing your skin’s natural beauty”

Price: £29.00/$55.00 30ml 

Purchase: www.yslbeauty.co.uk, www.yslbeautyus.com, Saks Fifth Avenue

YSL's Touche Éclat foundation is the latest addition to the Touche Éclat family and, for this reason, it was one of the most anticipated beauty products of 2012. Available in a wide number of shades, this medium coverage foundation has a runny, gel-like texture that helps it glide onto the skin. However, what makes this foundation exceptional is the beautiful finish. Unlike some illuminating foundations, the Touche Éclat is able to brighten the skin and promote a natural glow without leaving skin looking greasy or too shiny. In addition, this foundation is long lasting, has a SPF19 and smells amazing. The only downside is the pump - it is almost impossible to control exactly how much comes out when you use it.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Promise: “A glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage that immaculately evens skin tone. Used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves the skin's brightness and texture”
Price: £30.50/$44.00 30ml
Purchase: House of Fraser, narscosmetics.co.uk, narscosmetics.com

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation is a much-hyped foundation for good reason. It provides a beautiful satin finish that helps to even-out skin tone and brighten skin. Although the foundation is named 'Sheer Glow', the coverage is medium and is easily buildable. It is non-comedogenic and fragrance free, however it is lacking in a SPF. This foundation's greatest strength is that it is incredibly hydrating - a real plus for those with dry skin. The only downside is that this foundation has no pump, which is surprising when you consider how much it costs.

Chanel Vitalumiére

Promise: “The light texture of Vitalumière gives a slightly satin finish, for a radiant, natural, youthful–looking make–up”
Price: £34.00/$55.00 30ml

Purchase: House of Fraser, The Garden, Nordstrom

Vitalumiére is a real hero in the foundation world. It has won numerous beauty awards and is one the best illuminating foundations on the market. Though on the pricey side, this easy-to-apply foundation provides medium coverage and builds incredibly well without caking. It leaves a beautiful dewy finish to the skin, helping to reflect imperfections and give a youthful, fresh appearance. It is the perfect foundation for dry skin and also has a SPF15. The only downside to this foundation? It has to be set with loose powder as it can often make skin appear too shiny in photos. 

Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation

Promise: “Never heavy, chalky, or dull, Illuminating Liquid Foundation glides on weightlessly for sheer-to-medium coverage and a silky semi-matte finish that evens out flaws while letting your skin's natural luminescence shine through”

Price: £25.00/$38.00 30ml 

Purchase: Boots, Sephora, BeautyBay.com

Stila's Illuminating Liquid foundation, unlike other illuminating foundations, actually contains tiny particles of glitter. Some people love this aspect, whilst others see it is as a huge downside. I personally think its a benefit, however it does mean that I only wear this foundation during the evening. Although described as having a semi-matte finish, I would consider the finish to be quite dewy. The coverage is sheer to medium and is buildable and easy to apply. This foundation's greatest strength is that it does not aggravate the skin, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin. Even when heavily built-up, this foundation feels lightweight and soothing on the skin. The downside to this foundation is that it is lacking a SPF.