Some products are favourites because they look pretty or because they are from your favourite brand. Foundation Sticks are one of my favourite products to use because they are so easy and versatile. Over the year I've own them from various places and brands from High End (Hourglass) to Mid Range (Lush) and even Budget Friendly brands too like Revolution Beauty.

The bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Hydrating Foundation Stick is described by the brand as "A clean, water-based liquid foundation in a stick that combines hydrating skincare benefits and SPF with naturally radiant, medium coverage". It applies very similarly to other foundation sticks that I have used in the past and I do agree that the coverage it gives is a medium coverage. Once applied and blended into the skin, the foundation has a light feeling and doesn't appear or feel cakey or blocking on the skin, which has happened previously.

Application for this product is quite simple, you either can apply to a brush and blend in that way or you can do what I do which is to apply straight to the skin and then blend out that way. I prefer applying straight to the skin as that way I get to draw things on my face before making them disappear. My personal preference is to draw cat whiskers on my cheeks as I feel that gets the product where it needs to be PLUS it's fun and that's the real reason we apply make up...for the fun of it.

This foundation comes in 20 shade ranging from 01 Opal for fair skin with cool undertones to 11.5 Mahogany for deep skin with neutral undertones. For reference I bought and use the first shade Opal and it matches perfectly.

Overall I really enjoy this foundation and I have been impressed with it so far but as I said at the beginning for me a stick foundation has to be rather poor for me not to like it. It is also perfect to travel with due to its size and compact shape so I will be definitely be using it again on my next trip.

 There are some things that gain so much popularity that you end up having to see what the hype is. This book, Normal People by Sally Rooney, which also this year was turned into a BBC series gained so much excitement that I had to put this book into my basket and read it.

I am not one to watch something before I've read something so I had no knowledge of what the plot was prior to beginning the book, which was good as I often think that the television programme is different to the original book. Anyway, Normal People centres around two "friends" Connell and Marianne,who we first met when they are in senior school both striving to get into Trinity College in Dublin. Connell is one of the popular guys in school and Marianne is the opposite. Both travel in different circles but a chance conversation takes their relationship in a completely different route.The way this story begins you think you know how it will end but the two main characters like to throw you a few curveballs and forks in their individual and dual lives.

For me, the way it was written was a little jarring. There is no speech marks in so any piece of dialogue is a bit confusing to read through and it actually took me rereading paragraphs to work out who had said what and when. Alongside that, this book also took me a really long time to read. On average a book takes me about a  month to read but this one ended up taking a whole other month on top to read. At times I found I didn't have the interest in the book and it was only the hype surrounding the book pushing me to keep reading.

Upon Finishing the book, I felt like it was sudden and in a way unfinished. Overall after all the hype that the book and tv series had got I was left feeling a little disappointed. I enjoyed the book and plot in places but the hype didn't come to fruition, which was a real shame.

🌟🌟

 Recently I realised that I take so many pictures when I'm out and on my travels but the pictures never see the light of day. I decided to change this by starting this series. Named simply Postcard from it's a look at my travels through my photos.

I visited Chester Zoo on 08/08/2020 as a 30th Birthday. Social distancing measures were in order and most people were following them correctly. Face coverings were required inside the inside enclosures which included the Realm of the Red Ape, The Tropical Zone, Jaguar and Monkey houses, Dragons in Danger and the Giraffe and Butterfly house  and also any of the outside walkthrough enclosures including the Lemur Walkthrough and the various aviary enclosures. This requirement is for the safety of the staff members of the public and also of the animals too.

As well as face masks there were also socially distanced queues in place for some of the most popular animals and areas to aid numbers in certain areas. On the day that I went I queued for the Lemur walkthrough, the Realm of the Red Ape and the Jaguar house and the Giraffe houses as well as to view the penguins from below, where there was marks of where to stand by the glass and limited numbers standing by the glass. 

The final measure in place that I wanted to mention is in regards of handwashing. On top of being able to wash your hands in the bathrooms (socially distanced using stickers on the floors by the sinks) there is also 100 hand sanitising stations all around the zoo grounds, which are available to be used and it is always recommended to wash or sanitise your hands before and after every enclosure or area of the zoo.

With everything going on I have to say that I was a little apprehensive before my visit BUT I have to say I really appreciated everything that Chester Zoo had done and I felt very safe and had an amazing day. All tickets need to be pre-booked right now and they have limited the number they allow in each day but I would definitely recommend a trip to all animal lovers young and old.

Have you visited Chester Zoo before?

A new week and a different foundation to chat about. As I might have said in the last post, I have changed my foundation preferences in recent times. About 5 years ago, I would have batted away anything that was not full coverage. I had and still do have a tendency to have a spotty chin and I would do everything I could to hide that fact. Now as I'm thirty years old, I'm older and wiser and have learnt to love the skin I'm in and the good and bad bits of it.

Last week's foundation was "skin tint" by name alone you could guess it is a light coverage product, only designed to uniform the look and colour of your skin. This week's offering is a little bit different.

Revolution Pro CC Cream Perfecting Foundation is not like any other CC Cream I've ever tried before in that it is a rather thick feeling foundation like product when pumped out of the tube initially. It is definitely more foundation feeling than CC Cream feeling in that respect.Saying this though on the face itself once blended, the product is really light feeling and not at all heavy or cakey and for that I'm glad. I'd definitely say this product is a medium to full buildable coverage.

The selling point for me in this product was that the foundation contained hyaluronic acid and collagen,which means it is designed to protect and even out the skintone. This is very much need for me and my skin in my "later years". I've definitely am looking into skincare and make up which has the more moisturising and hydrating properties so in that respect I was all for this 

This foundation comes in 20 shades ranging from fair tones to dark shades, each with a variety of tones. For reference, I bought and wear F3 which is for fair skin tones with a neutral/ pink undertone and that matches me perfectly.

I have to say that I am very impressed with this foundation. I didn't know what to expect from something that was called both a CC Cream and a foundation but I really enjoy it on days when I want a little bit more coverage but still want something that's light feeling on the skin. 

🌟🌟🌟🌟