I recently had the opportunity to sample a few of the additions to the spring line of 17 make-up for the beauty blogger challenge which you can check out here. Here’s a run through of my favourite items from the range:
Miracle Matte Foundation
I was sooo sceptical about this foundation as I’m used to very high expectations due to only really using fairly expensive brands, so I was really impressed when I tried this as the coverage is not only very natural, but very buildable too. It has a completely matte finish so no shine shows through for a good few hours (I have determinedly greasy skin) but it isn’t that chalky matte that usually makes me avoid anything with a matte finish. It covers redness perfectly and is quite a thick consistency so it works really well as a concealer if you prefer less of a full cover finish. For £5.99 this is an absolute steal and can be purchased here.
BB Blemish Balm
This is a light coverage foundation that works just as well as the more expensive brands and leaves skin looking fresh and dewy without looking shiny or greasy. If you’re like me and prefer to use a light all over coverage and then touch up with a concealer then this works as a great base that’s easy to apply and very natural. It’s £6.99 and available here.
Perfect Definition Eye Liner
I like as natural a line as possible when it comes to eyelining and this pencil has hit the right balance between being soft enough to not drag along the eye line, but firm enough to create a neat and natural line without smudging all over the place. If you have a look at my FOTD post here you can see just how easy it was to create a natural and neat line, but what’s also great about this is that it can be smudged effectively for a smoky eye as it doesn’t set immediately. It lasts well, doesn’t bleed out and again is incredibly cost-effective at £2.89 here.
Peep Show Mascara
I’ve raved about this in a few other posts as it gives such a beautiful finish. It’s a little tricky to describe what I like about this mascara, but I’ll try! The finish is kind of “naturally dramatic” meaning that it really does boost both the volume and length of my lashes, but it doesn’t look overdone and it feathers the ends of the lashes so they look fluttery rather than spiky. I also absolutely love the pink, fishnet-style packaging and it costs £6.29 here.
Berry Crush Lip Stain
This is my absolute favourite product from the range as it ticks all my lip colour boxes. It’s a really flattering colour, it applies beautifully and with ease, it works both as a stain or as more of a lipstick when topped up with the included lipbalm and it lasts really well. The lipbalm works as a perfect base if you’re prone to dry lips like me, so I tend to apply the lipbalm, let that sink in, then apply the stain and then if I fancy a glossier finish I apply the balm again. It’s soooo pretty on the lips and if I’ve overslept (which is a regular event) then I can go with minimal make-up and apply this to make me look like I’ve made much more effort than I have. I CANNOT WAIT to see the other shades in the range which are arriving soon. I can’t find it on the Boots site so it might not have arrived yet, but when it does, if you’re a fan of popping brights that are easy to wear then I strongly recommend checking these out.
So there you have it, these are my picks of the spring line from 17. It has been such an eye opener getting to know 17 make-up as the range has really come a long way since I last used it…back in the day….when I was a young whippersnapper…..*sigh*
Anyway! The lovely people at Boots have offered me a couple of goody bags to giveaway to my fabulous readers which will include some of the best bits from the spring range. Included in the goody bag:
Blush and Glow in Peachy and Bloom
Spring Fling Eye Palettes in Spring Bright and Hazy Days
Berry Kiss Lip Stains in Cherry Berry
Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Spring Petal
I have two to giveaway and to be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is follow me on here, Twitter or Facebook and post a comment below letting me know what your first ever make-up item was. My mum bought me a trio of Mary Quant goodies that I fell in love with instantly, so I look forward to reading about what you first tried as well. Don’t forget to leave your Twitter ID or e-mail address so I can let you know you’ve won.
Normal comp rules apply and this will close at midnight 1st April 2012. Good luck everyone!
*All products mentioned were PR samples
wow would love to win these goodies! following you on gfc as Hayley and my first ever make up item was a baby pink lipgloss from Bourjois. I think i wanted to look like a doll!
email: icklehc@gmail.com
thankyou! x
Following via GFC as Bex Smith 🙂
My first makeup item was a little Avon eyeshadow that my Nan and Mum decided to give me when neither of them wanted it aha. Started off my love affair with shadows, I now have far too many!
rebeccajlsk@gmail.com
xo
My first item was a lip gloss that smelled like cherry!
My email can be found on my profile if needed 🙂
Thanks for this!
x
It wasn’t proper makeup, but when I was very young I got a Cindy toy dressing table which included a bright pink lipstick…much to my parents amusement when I smeared it all around my mouth like a clown!
chocolateeclaire441@hotmail.com
My first make-up was the coloured sunblock sticks that you can paint your face blue with. I had style.
I think my first was eyelash curlers and some mascara – but clear rather than black… Not sure why I bothered really!!
I’m following you on Twitter: beauty__bird
Or my email is beauty__bird@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks 🙂
Ramblingsofabeautybird.blogspot.com
My brother bought me three big boxes of makeup for christmas when I was about 9. They had literally hundreds of eyeshadows in, a few lipsticks and a few blushers. I absolutely loved it and was soon asking my mum to let me have some bits and pieces from the Avon brochure!
I am following via GFC and my username is Louise x
http://confessionsofasecretshopper.blogspot.com
The Peep show mascara bottle is so lovely. And I’ve heard about BB creams for a while but haven’t actually tried one. Have you used any others?
Hi Rachel, I’ve used loads! There’s the Boots No7 one which is really great for coverage and Ginvera which is ideal for giving a lovely, natural glow. If you search “BB” on my blog then a few posts should come up xx
I just discovered your blog and look forward to reading your posts. My first makeup item that I actually bought was Maybelline mascara. ….but in all honesty, it was “borrowing” anything I could find in my mother’s make up drawer!
My first make-up item was a dark grey avon eyeliner and berry lipstick pencil given to me by my mum when I was about 15. Thats whem my interest in make-up began…
following you on twitter – Beautydiary_
My first make up item was a set i got for xmas. One of the ones that has the little slide out bits with the lipgloss and eyeshadows i had loads of fun with it although am sure the colours didnt look that great at the time lol i was 13.
@adelleg3 twitter
adelle gow fb 🙂
My 1st make up item was a Rimmel foundation that was about 3 shades to dark it was a total disaster i looked like a ompalumpa im glad to say i have learnt from my mistakes lol
My 1st beauty item was a Rimmel Foundation that was about 3 shades too dark it was a total disaster i looked like a ompalumpa, im glad to say i have learned from my beauty mistakes lol
Love reading these replies! I honestly can’t remember what my first make up item was but I do remember my sister had a drawer full of 17 stuff that i used to love messing about with! the lipsticks used to come in a a naff cream coloured plastic tube and she had loads of 80’s frosted colours!
Follow on FB xx
Hmmmmmm…..I think my first make-up items were a mascara and eyeliner of some sort along with my first lippie being Heather Shimmer. They would have been on my dresser along with my Exclamation and Charlie Red perfume. Oh dear.
I’m currently using the BB cream and Peep Show and I think they’re great. I got a sample of the No 7 BB cream, but it went patchy on my eyelids so opted for this one instead, and I fine it does the job perfectly well. I need to get Peep Show again, as I didn’t realise I got it in brown so it’s day use only for it at the mo.
mollance@yahoo.co.uk
Mollance, those products bring some memories back, Heather Shimmer, Exclamation and Charlie. Did you use So? like me too? Everyone was obsessed by Impulse at school too. Ax
Yes! I had So as well. My friends used Tribe, but it was a bit much for me. Sure there was plenty of Impulse floating about as well, and the Coffee Shimmer lippie. I almost bought Heather Shimmer a little while ago for nostalgia, but then thought better of it.
mine was black rimmell eyeliner, i follow with gfc as mummy24
@ashlallan
Hi hun,
Great blog, just found you on the Latest in Beauty Facebook page talking about that Ginvera Green Tea Nude sample so I clicked on your link and might have to give that sample a go.
I’m following GFC Thrifty Girl Loves
Email gallivan4@hotmail.com
I’m following on Twitter agallo39
First makeup item, gosh it’s hard to remember, I have to say it must have been a cheap cover up concealer because I had terrible skin and then would layer tons of foundation on top! I don’t do that quite much these days and thankfully my skin changed as I grew older but now I have grey hairs instead great!
Would love to give those 17 items a go 🙂
Thanks xxx
My first make-up items were a few bits I was bought by a family friend for my birthday in a pretty little purple make-up bag. Can’t remember the brands but the item I loved the most was a little lilac eyeshadow. I’d forgotten all about the Mary Quant make-up, I used to love that, especially the powder compacts. I carried one everywhere in my teens and even had a Mary Quant long sleeved t-shirt with the flower design printed in silver on it! 🙂
This makeup prize would certainly boost my make up collection, have had a sort out recently and most of mine needed throwing out ! the first ever make up item i bought was a black kohl eye pencil that i wore everyday without fail. I have changed to brown as i`ve got older as black is a tad harsh )
griffin.sharon@ymail.com
Following on Twitter as butterfly494_
My first beauty item was also a gift from my mother! She got me a black mascara from Estee Lauder just for me to start experimenting with. I wore it every day of high school!
i cant remember when i first brought makeup, my teenage years was ages ago 🙁 but i remember having clear mascara for school, as it wasnt it didnt really look like you wearing it, so then didnt get told off. @emmajlowe
lol mine was a max factor panstick…. im old 🙁
Two coloured mascaras, one in blue and one in green 🙂
Hi!
My first ever make-up item was Revlon’s Coffee Bean lipstick. What was I thinking?!!?
I’m following via GFC and Twitter (@KookyKaty) xx
when me and my friends were in boots we saw the new lipstick stain and have to say am really impressed fab idea we had to buy some since all were on 3 for 2 as well 🙂
Hmmm… I think the first makeup I bought myself was a Natural Collection lipgloss in Raspberry Ripple… The only lipgloss I’ve ever bought ever! Clearly I wasn’t impressed
itwouldbemine@gmail.com
Hiya i remember buying Iron lady lipstick from miss selfridge! i loved it! and then all my friends decided to have the same so we all had same pink lips lol.
GFC:Tara Duncan
Email:Tara6671@hotmail.co.uk
Fab giveaway 🙂 xoxo
My mums hand me downs!! The first item I remember buying was a Mary Quant eye shadow set from the local market!! I practiced for hours trying to get it right!! Our market was great for items like this not sure if they were seconds or last seasons stock etc, but thats where I got my items and loved them all!! Love the blog!
Twitter is theyoungone77
I begged for make-up from about the age of 4, think Strawberry Shortcake lip gloss was the first thing I got and then quite a few Avon shimmer eye shadows, I was hooked forever!
krystlefield@hotmail.com
My first makeup item was a foundation powder compact from Avon. I loved it as I hated my shiny nose lol.
Following via GFC, and subscribed via email – theonlybonster@hotmail.co.uk
Already following via twitter @theonlybonster
and FB theonlybonster
Hi
My first makeup was a lipstick by max factor, felt really grown up wearing this and feeling like a adult lol
follow you via google friends username is yasminec9
follow you on twitter username is yasminec9
thank you