MARC JACOBS REMARCABLE FOUNDATION

Marc Jacobs Remarcable Foundation - £37

When the Marc Jacobs Remarcable Foundation first came out last year, it was everywhere in the Blogosphere being both hyped up and criticised. It was majorly praised for its high coverage whilst having a really light weight feel on the skin, however it was bashed for the poor shade range for deeper skin tones. Having had this foundation for a good 6 months now, I think it's time to give my verdict on this cult classic.
Marc Jacob says,

"All day weightless finish. Beyond full coverage"

Retailing at £37 you would certainly expect this foundation to live up to this claim. In terms of coverage and texture I completely agree - it's such full coverage as it contains twice as much pigment as a regular foundation. It also has a surprisingly thin consistency considering the coverage it gives. It terms of a "weightless finish", I'm not sure I agree. Yes, it is very light on the skin, but does it look weightless? No, I don't think so. It certainly doesn't look overly heavy, but you can certainly tell you have got foundation on - which for me isn't a problem at all. In terms of "all day" I also disagree, it melts off my nose by the end of my day at uni which I do sort of expect. It also transfers onto clothes and other people, as well as masks (not ideal when you were a surgical mask for a good few hours a day). I also can find it to go a little cakey during the day - sorry Marc.

I find this foundation a little difficult to apply on my nose, granted it is one of my problem areas. I suffer from large pores/blackheads and so it can often cake up in that area. I usually apply this with my RT Miracle Complexion Sponge but on my nose I find I have to use a little brush and really swirl it into my pores (yum). I also find it can cling to dry patches when using a brush.

The shade range is great if you're from light to medium skin tone, if you're any darker then unfortunately you might struggle. I would consider myself very pale and ordered myself the lightest shade which is Ivory 10. To my surprise, this was actually far too light for me, but I rolled with it anyway, mixing in a little bit of a darker foundation to actually match me. For this reason, I would definitely try to get matched in a store if you're looking to buy this foundation as it can be very difficult to tell.

The packaging. Oh, the packaging. It comes in a glass bottle with a little screw on lid and dropper. It looks gorgeous and so luxurious but it's actually very impractical. A lot of product gathers where the lid screws on so you actually waste a ton of foundation and it's a bugger to clean.

Despite wearing this foundation everyday for the past 6 months, I doubt I will be repurchasing this foundation again. For just short of forty quid, I expected it to last a little longer and to not go cakey during the day.

So, I'm still on my quest to find the perfect foundation, have you got any favourites?

Olivia x

THE ORDINARY SKINCARE: LACTIC ACID 5%, HA 2%

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5%. HA 2% - £5.50

I stumbled across The Ordinary brand whilst doing my routine browse of ASOS and I couldn't believe the range of products they were selling - and for the price tag too! I quickly did a little bit of research and settled on the Lactic Acid 5% and HA 2% serum.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and Hyaluronic Acids (HAs) are all the rage in skin care products at the moment. Lactic acid is an AHA and is said to exfoliate your skin which over time should improve texture, fade pigmentation and reduce fine lines, Whereas HAs hydrate your skin and also has anti ageing properties. Having dull, dry and congested skin myself, I always wanted to try Hydraluron however I couldn't justify splashing the cash knowing there was a (pretty high) chance it could lead to my eczema flaring up. So I was so excited to bag a bargain at only £4.95 (10% student discount holla).

With this particular product, it says to apply once a day and preferably at night. The product is dispensed through a little dropper, helping you to get the correct amount you need - which isn't much!
I apply this after I've washed my face and follow up with moisturiser. I was a little concerned this might make my face feel tight/dry but it hasn't so far!

I have been using this for about a week now and I feel as though I've noticed improvements mainly in my skin texture; I don't have half as many little bumps as I used to! I haven't noticed too much of an improvement in terms of hydration yet. I've been make up free for the past week due to revision so I think I will notice more when I start wearing it again (next fri!!!).

My only issue with this product is that I have noticed a few little spots on my face recently. I don't tend to get little ones, only huge horrible ones so this is a change for me! I don't know if its due to this product or stress from exams, but I'll be sure to keep you updated!

Overall I have been really enjoying this product and will definitely carry on using it! I really want to try a few others from their range too.

Have you tried any acid based skin care?

Love, Liv x

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DEALING WITH EXAM STRESS

Yes, my tea really is that milky.

Exam season has reared it's ugly head once again. No one enjoys it, no matter how much you love the subject you're studying. The library's full. Your room's a mess as you don't have time to tidy it. Your mind says hummus and pitta but your summer bod says salad with no dressing. Overall it's just a very, very stressful time. Whether you're doing GCSEs, A-levels or Finals, everyone can benefit from these top tips to de-stress whilst studying.

Take a break
Revision breaks are an absolute must. You can't sit there and concentrate on one subject for hours on end, it's just not physically possible. Scientists say you should adopt the Pomodoro technique - 20 minutes of work and 5 minutes of rest. Although I don't use this technique religiously, I do make sure I have plenty of breaks and switch up the subjects I'm studying as to not get bored.

Exercise
Now I'm not asking you to run a marathon or do an intense session in the gym (but if you're up for that then GO YOU, BOO!) but I find getting up off my arse really helps motivate me.. even if that is just to walk to the fridge. Jokes aside, walking in the fresh air on a nice day can really help to clear your mind and help you to feel refreshed. I like to walk around the local park on my revision break - kill 2 birds with one stone!

Don't burn yourself out
You don't want to burn the candle at both ends during the exam period. If you work better in the mornings, perhaps go to bed a little earlier to ensure you get enough sleep. Similarly if you work better in the evenings, there's no point finishing your work at 3am then trying to wake up at 7am! You'll just be exhausted for the rest of the day and end up getting less done that if you'd woken up at 11am.

Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is really important for brain function, and being dehydrated can give you headaches which are not fun when you're studying! Keep a bottle of water by your desk (preferably a big one so you don't have to fill it up) and remember to just sip on it every now and then. Your whole body will thank you for it.

Have something to look forward to
This can be in the short term or the long term, but it will make you feel more motivated to get your work done sharpish! For example, maybe have your favourite meal for dinner after a long day of studying. Or even plan a night out with your besties after your last exam! I've got a holiday planned at the end of June with my friends to Malaga and I can't wait. Remember, exam period is only temporary but the results are permanent...

So there we have my top five tips on how to make exam season a little bit less stressful. Of course, it's nothing groundbreaking but I think we all need reminding every now and then! 

I've got my end of first year exams in a few weeks and I'm so nervy, praying the Dentistry Gods will help me.

Have you got any studying tips?

Love, Liv x