Just as I was starting to feel a bit disillusioned by the whole CC cream craze, Pur Minerals’ new release arrived on my desk - and suddenly I get it. It’s creamy; it applies smoothly and with ease. It’s not as moisturising as a BB cream, but that’s not its job. It evens out my skintone, reduces redness, provides me with an impressive SPF of 40 and gives enough coverage to be worn alone.
The packaging is excellent - the ease and hygiene of a pump combined with the lightweight portability of a tube - tick, tick, tick!
Cheeks: Make-up Atelier HD Blush in Natural Rose (AIRRN1) is a liquid silicone based crème in the most exquisite shade of pink; so little is required it will probably last me a lifetime. If you’ve ever used red food colouring to turn white icing pink, you’ll know that the tip of a wooden cocktail stick dipped in the colour is all that’s need to pinkify a full batch of cupcakes. Similar precision is required with this blush: the teensiest dot imaginable is all that’s needed to colour up two cheeks and I advise experimenting in advance of wearing this in public to get used to the formula. Totally worth the effort as it’s just beautiful and is the longest lasting blush I’ve tried... also adorable on lips.
Lips: Susan Posnick lipsticks have the kind of texture that makes me want to reapply continually throughout the day as it’s super creamy and feels sooo good! Packed with natural ingredients this is gorgeously moisturising and I love the little chunky magnetised tube. Impossible to overdo, Shanghai Pink (one of six new Color Essential shades) remains a lovely everyday mid pink no matter how much you layer up; great for those with Lipstick Fear (yep, it exists).
Eyes: All that remained was to conceal dark circles with Make-up Atelier Correcting Concealing palette (full post here), add a peachy sheen to lids with Aveda Petal Essence eye-shadow in Bare Bellis and subtle definition with Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sandglow (review). I curled my lashes with Shu Uemura curlers I picked up for a song in Singapore airport (lash curling = not my forte, but I’m learning!) and added a slick of Sheer Cover Extra Length Mascara, the blackest I’ve tried.
The finished look… lightly covered skin with a natural flush to cheeks and lips and naturally defined eyes: my everyday face. I really ought to have included some swatches of the CC cream and if you’d like me to, please just leave a comment below; at least this allows you to see it on my face.
So how does Pur Minerals CC cream compare to the other two I’ve tried: Nip’n’Fab and Clinique? (links to full reviews). Less dry in texture, more even coverage, feels more comfortable on my skin, is easier to apply and performs better as a make-up base (over moisturiser).
Pur Minerals CC Cream launches in late May 2013 priced at £25, available exclusively at M&S.
