REVIEW: GARNIER MIRACLE SKIN PERFECTOR BB CREAM

I've been wanting to find a BB cream for a while but I am very picky with what I want it to do for my skin. I have said numerous times that I like a matte finish to my make up, I want the B cream to obviously be a good match to my skin colour and I want a decent coverage.
When BB creams first got hyped up over here a year or two back, I tried a different Garnier one but the coverage was very light and I just didn't get on with it at all.
I've been after finding a different one for those days when I'm being a bit more lazy and can't be bothered putting a load of make up on but I still want to look like I've tried to make an effort.

I saw a review of the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector which said that the BB cream dried with a matte finish, which is what initially pricked my ears up, so I looked more into it.
This BB cream is for combination to oily skin, as it's oil free. My skin is usually quite normal but recently I have been getting some oily patches, annoyingly. It also has an SPF of 20 and some people don't like foundations with SPF in them but I prefer that because (although we get very little in England) weirdly, sun damage is something that quite frightens me. Probably because I turn into a lobster at even the smallest ray of light.
When I bought this a few weeks ago it was on offer in Superdrug and it still appears to be according to the website (it's at £7.49).

I've been using it every few days and it does give just the matte finish I like, it gives the amount of coverage I like and it's just about right for my skin colour. It may be a teeny bit too dark but, as the majority of the drugstore brand BB creams are, the colour range is as simple as light, medium, dark. So, a bit vague to say the least. I, obviously, wear light and once I have my powder over the top it looks no different to the way my usual foundation looks but it feels so light on my face. I really like it.
My main problem with it is that the formula is very runny and so it comes out of the tube quite fast and gets pretty messy around the nozzle. Just a minor problem though!


(Excuse my serious face. My face was being more un-photogenic than usual and I was getting fed up of constant bad photos!)

Nivea Express Hydration Primer
GOSH Velvet Touch Primer
Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream 'Light'
Sleek Conceal and Correct 'Palette 2'
Garnier Roll On
ELF Maximum Coverage Concealer 'Porcelain'
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer 'Fair'
MAC Mineralised Skin Finish Natural 'Light'
Benefit Brow-zings 'Dark'
Maybelline Colour Tattoo 'Permanent Taupe'
Bourjois Liner Clubbing 'Ultra Black'
L'Oréal Telescopic Mascara 'Black'
Topshop Lipstick 'All About Me'

I realise I said that I use the BB cream for lazier make up days but now I've listed all that it doesn't seem that lazy!
BUT... When I use foundation I spend a lot longer with blending and I only put the Colour Tattoo on my eyes rather than spending ages blending different shadows together. Also, no contour, blush or highlighting going on.
I think what I mean by "lazy make up" is spending 15 minutes rather than 40..!

SEPTEMBER FAVOURITES

I really love reading monthly favourites posts so here's mine for this month. There's not an awful lot and the majority is beauty related items.

Space tee; Topshop

Disco Pants; Glamorous

ELF Stipple Brush

Argan Oil

FAME by Lady Gaga

No.7 Stay Perfect Foundation

Garnier Anti-Blackhead Deep Pore Wash

ELF Matte Finisher Nail Polish

MUA Lipstick (shade 1)

I don't really own that many casual tops but I saw this and just loved it. It's a good, comfy fit and I wear it all the time when I'm having lazy days. As for the disco pant dupes... I keep seeing people wearing them and I'm not a leggings person at all but I was intrigued. Then a little shop near me starting selling the Glamorous ones (that I've seen loads of bloggers rave) so I had to try them on. IN LOVE. I wear them all the time. Comfy and go with everything! I actually went back and bought the grey ones last week, I like them that much.

I posted recently my first ELF haul. After doing that post I made a second order and in it I got the Stippling Brush. It's fantastic! I use it for foundation and I feel like I don't use as much product when I use this brush and my make up does seem to be staying on a lot longer. Very impressed!

Jumped on the Argan oil bandwagon quite a bit after everyone else but it does serious wonders to my hair, and it smells amazing!

For the last few years my go-to perfume has always been the original Kate Moss fragrance. Then I found out a bit ago it's been discontinued and I only have a tiny bit left. Absolutely gutted. I heard about the Lady Gaga perfume, and I love her anyway, so I had to try it out. I really love it! It takes a minute or so for the smell to really come out and it literally last all day.

I talked about the foundation on this post and I do feel so much happier with my make up since getting this but I will be buying the Matte one next time because my skin does tend to get a bit shiny later into the day.

I've only been using this face wash for just over a week but my skin is SO soft after using it. I will definitely be re-purchasing.

Also, in the previously mentioned ELF haul post, I bought the Matte Finisher polish. I didn't expect to love it as much as I do. I've used it every time I've put a different colour on my nails.

And lastly, the MUA lipstick. I've got quite a few lipsticks but they're all various shades of pink so I decided it was time to branch out. Though a little scary, I just went in at the deep end and bought a bold red. I think I've definitely wore it this month more than any of the pinks. Though, this only means I'm going to get more obsessed with lipstick...

What have you been loving this month?

BEAUTY ESSENTIALS

Earlier this year I realised my hair was in shocking condition. I'd been dyeing it for a good 5 years, straightened it daily for 8 or so years, blow drying everyday and rarely having a hair cut. My hair felt horrible and it was split-end central.
At present I've not dyed my hair since April, I've not used a hair dryer since around June time and the same for fully straightening my hair. When I leave it to dry naturally, it dries so lovely and I'm angry at myself for ruining my hair. I do have to admit that I still use the straighteners just for fly away bits that stick out when I wake up! I had all the split ends cut out too and 4 or so months later I can totally tell the difference. Then I went on a hair product scout to find something to keep my hair in good condition and make it softer.
As well as bad hair, my skin isn't all the great either. (Aren't I lucky?!) So I'm always looking out for new skin care products and looking at what other people are using.
So here are the few bits that I use daily..!

1. E45 moisturiser - Pretty basic essential! You can use it everywhere and it's all hypoallergenic and it's good for sensitive skin so that is all I need. I use this in a morning before I put primer and my make up on and generally after a shower.
2. Batiste dry shampoo - The holy grail of dry shampoo and a total life saver! I used to wash my hair every day but I've managed to cut it down to every other day now (of which I can tell has also really helped my hair.) so this stuff is brilliant for a quick refresh in the mornings. I use the 'dark and deep brown' one because my roots are quite dark brown and I'm too paranoid of having white patches that I've not rubbed in properly!
3. Nivea Visage Pure & Natural cleansing lotion - I've only had this for a few weeks but I love it! I use it at night after washing my face and it makes my skin feel so nice and soft.
4. Simple Soothing Facial Toner - Another relatively new product which I'm also loving. I literally tell after the first use that my skin looked better; it's definitely clearing up my pores. I use this twice a day, generally. I think it's only new out, too, because when I bought it a couple weeks ago it seemed to be on offer everywhere. Definitely worth checking out, only cost me £2!
5. Tresemmé Split Remedy - I've not actually used this much recently. I bought it whilst I was still straightening my hair. I don't think it really worked all that much but I like the smell of it and if I put i on the ends before I leave the house it makes my hair look shiny.
6. Nivea Double Effective Eye Makeup Remover - I've only been using this for a week or so. I needed eye make up remover, this was on offer and I was curious about the 2 liquids in the bottle. You have to shake it really quite a lot for them to mix. It obviously has oil in it to remove the make up but then the other half protects eyelashes and doesn't leave oily residue. It says that you don't need to rub to get the make up off but you do to an extent (maybe that's because of how much mascara I pile on..!) but I will probably buy it again.
7. Argan Oil - I've been so curious about this for a long time. I've googled and blog searched for months trying to get as many reviews as possible. Always get nervous buying new products in case I don't like them and then I've spent money I didn't need to. SO glad I bought this though. My hair is so soft! When my hair is wet is put quite a bit all through it then on some morning I put a tiny bit through my hair (avoiding roots or it'll make you look greasy!). Definitely recommend buying this too.
8. Tea Tree cleansing pads & spot stick - These are Superdrug own brand and I've been using them as part of my night time skin care routine. I use the pads all over my face first, then the spot stick. (Then  use the facial toner and then cleansing lotion!) Obviously being tea tree I knew it would sting a little but... wow! No pain, no gain though, right? My spots did shrink down though so clearly works.

I took these photos a few days ago but since then I also added a new skincare product to my routine. I bought Garnier's Skin Naturals Anti-blackhead Deep Pore Wash. I've not used it enough yet to really have an opinion on it but having used Garnier products in the past I don't think I'll have any complaints.
Has anyone else used it?