A Flawless Finish from MAC

I think it's pretty easy to see that I'm a budget beauty at heart. I love all of the expensive stuff, but hate spending loads of money on few items, and therefore always end up going for the bargain buys. Don't get me wrong, there are some real gems among the lower end of the drugstore buys, and my makeup bag manages to show this off to the full potential, however I do always lust after the higher end products that I see so many people blogging about. 

But my secret prayers were answered, when all of my favourite gal pals grouped together to buy me a MAC voucher for my birthday amongst an array of sweet smelling Lush things...I'm a little obsessed! It came just in time as well, as my foundation was practically running on empty and it's probably about time I branched out and tried to find one that perhaps doesn't have as much of a glittery sheen to it as my regular Wake Me Up!

After traipsing through pages of reviews and still being unsettle on what I wanted, I decided to just go into the shop and get colour matched, because lets face it - beggars can't be choosers when you have skin as ghostly as mine. 

[Left to Right, All MAC: Pro Longwear Concealer in NW15, Studio Fix Fluid in NW10, Foundation Pump, Pressed Transparent Finishing Powder]

Completely oblivious to the fact that it was half-term, I went into Cardiff only to be greeted by hordes of kids which was a bit of an annoyance, especially as it took me a twenty minute wait to be able to speak to one of the MAC artists properly, but the woman in the Debenhams concession was so lovely that I wasn't even annoyed. She colour matched my face and surprise surprise, I was the palest shade that MAC do, which is NW10 and isn't even available in all of their formulas. 

As I specifically told her that I love a matte finish, we decided on the Studio Fix Fluid, which at £21.50 for a foundation made me cry a little inside. But then I got carried away...

Going in for a foundation only, and ending up spotting things that you've read raving reviews about is actually really quite dangerous. The Pro-Longwear Concealer and the Transparent Finishing Powder were also calling out to me.

The artist tried out the concealer on me before I dived in, especially as the lightest colour in this is NW15, and also the fact that it was £17 for just a concealer - absolutely scandalous! But as I can never ever find one that is light enough to sit on top of my foundation, I just took the plunge and snapped it up anyway. 

The powder was something that I'd talked myself into, purely because it has a reputation for making the light bounce beautifully off of your face, and also making you look like you're slightly airbrushed. I did umm and ahh about whether to get the loose or compact powder, but with a mirror and a handy handbag friendly design it had to be the compact for sheer convenience. 

I have to admit, I wasn't too happy with the fact that I had to spend an extra £4 on a pump for the foundation, particularly when I'd paid that price for it. But as I was already shelling out £39 of my own money on top of the voucher (eeek! £21.50 Foundation, £17 Concealer, £20.50 Finishing Powder), I figured that I may aswell just cave in.

[Not the best picture as the sunlight really was too much, but you can understand how good the base looks under a natural face of makeup!]

After just a few uses, I am IN LOVE! The coverage is so full but not cakey, the concealer blends into it really well, and the powder makes it look flawless and also extremely long wearing. It stays on all day long and doesn't feel like you've got a heavy face on either. 

I'm not normally one to encourage the purchase of super spenny items, which is basically what these are, but if you're looking for a treat these products (or a combination of them at least) are absolutely divine. I'm definitely going to indulge in them while I can!

Do any of you have any of these products? 

I'd especially love to know if you feel differently about them!

Also, i'd just like to sneak in a quick thank you to Laura at Red Lipstick Ramblings who nominated me for the Liebster Award. This is the third time I've been nominated and I find it so amazing and such a great opportunity to link other blogs. Here's my post from a while back with my first nomination if you fancy a look. 

Alice x

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