Showing posts with label KIKO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KIKO. Show all posts

Saturday, 22 November 2014

Top five Christmas nail polishes


The Christmas party season is just around the corner, so it's time to don a figure-flattering dress, a smoky eye, a red lip and of course, a festive nail polish. I scoured through my collection and found five different nail polishes that I think are perfect for your talons at this time of year. A couple of them are sparkly (so a bit annoying to remove) but they're that stunning I think it can be overlooked.

From left to right:
Models Own Diamond Luxe in Carat Coral* - £5.00: a beautiful deep glossy coral
Models Own Hed Kandi! in Bora Bora* - £5.00: Packed full of golden shimmer
Models Own Disco Pants in Studio 54* - £5.00: A metallic bright pink
Rimmel London Space Dust Nail Polish in Aurora - £3.99: A glittery rose gold shade
KIKO Cosmetics Satin Nail Lacquer in 447* - £5.90: A deep burgundy colour

What's your favourite festive nail polish shade?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 9:15 am
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Thursday, 23 October 2014

KIKO Luxurious Make Up Collection


Hello! Me again. I hope you're all not forgetting who I am. As you already know, KIKO Cosmetics is without a doubt my favourite make up brand. Not only are their products fantastic quality and their range is extensive, the entire brand is extremely affordable. What's not to love?! The Italian make up brand is back with a new collection, and this time it looks even more luxe than the last one.

Luxurious has been inspired by the glory of a wealthy kingdom. The packaging is not only gold and elegant, it's sophisticated and the products come in desirable cases to collect. There range comes with six products in a total of 13 different shades. All of which are classy and absolutely perfect for autumn and the party season.

KIKO Precious Illuminating Bronzer* - £18.00
This illuminating bronzer helps to soften and smooth the skin, giving off an airbrushed - but natural - look. The powder captures and reflects the light to leave the skin looking radiant and bright. It comes with a mixture of four shades which complement each other beautifully for an all over glow. This isn't a bronzer to contour the skin - it's one to be used across the entire face.

KIKO Magnificent Highlighter in Royal Gold* - £10.00
I originally thought this was a concealer and starting applying it underneath my eye area, only to be left with glittering under eyes - not the best look. However as a highlighter - the product's intended use - it's bloody brilliant. The water-based formula blends into the skin beautifully and leaves being a fresh and radiant look. The twist-up stylo makes the product a complete breeze to use too.

KIKO Luxurious Face Brush* - £16.00
I do love a good kabuki! This one is great for blending foundation into the skin as the fluffy, dense bristles ensures an even and smooth finish. I also love blending powder formulas into the skin with this brush as it gives a precise finish and blends very well. The packaging of this brush is stunning. It comes with a golden handle and a matching case - perfect for travelling and touch-ups.

What do you think of the new collection?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 6:37 pm
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Thursday, 16 October 2014

A London haul with my two best friends



Phew, what a hectic week it's been. Since starting work full time, I feel like I never get a minute to myself - not that I'm complaining, I adore my job - I just miss blogging a lot. Last weekend I visited London with my two best friends. It was lovely as we hadn't seen each other since May. Keeping up with friends is a nightmare when you leave uni but I think it really shows you who your true friends are. And Anna and Lauren are definitely the best a girl could wish for. During my break up, even though they couldn't physically be there, they were always on the end of the phone and I can't thank them enough for that. 

Anyway, enough of the sobby stuff. A bit about London. We had a lot of fun! The biggest event of the weekend was going to see The Lion King. It's without a doubt my favourite animated film and I'd been wanted to watch the stage show for as long as I can remember. The show was a spectacle and completely breathtaking. It's definitely one of those "you need to see it to believe it" shows and I couldn't stop crying; it was that unreal. Before the Lion King, we went out for food and cocktails (although I had a glass of a Coke because I'm a non-drinker) which of course, was lovely. 

The following day we visited Regent Street for a spot of shopping. One of the best things about being in the capital was the fact that we all have really good jobs, so money wasn't a worry. It was wonderful to be able to do as we please. We went for breakfast and had cake, spent too much money in KIKO (eeeeek my first time in the store of my favourite brand) and Ted Baker and had lots of fun in H&M's in store photobooth. Needless to say, the weekend was perfect and we had a lot of gossip and laughs to exchange. I was sad to leave the pair of them but I'm looking forward to our next adventure. 

The main items I bought:
I couldn't resist this purse when I saw it. It's the perfect shade of pink and I adore rose gold. I'm currently saving for the matching bag which is even more beautiful.

I saw these nifty wipes and immediately put them into my basket. I barely get time to exfoliate any more so hopefully these will come in handy.

As soon as I saw these, I knew I had to pick a couple up. They're incredibly long lasting and beautifully pigmented.

I didn't originally set out to get a lipstick but the moment I saw this nude, I knew it'd suit me wonderfully. And I was right. It's nice and pigmented and super creamy.

I LOVE the Kiss Balms so I desperately wanted to add another to my collection. I chose Pineapple because it's a gorgeous wearable nude that's perfect for the day time.

I'm obsessed with anything honey-scented and this smells delicious. I've used it in a couple of baths since and I adore it. I need more from the Honeymania range.

Did I need a new bronzer? Nope. But I couldn't resist this as it's the most perfect shade for my fair skin. It blends beautifully onto the skin and the packaging is to die for.

What products have you been buying recently?
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Written By Unknown at 7:48 pm
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Thursday, 9 October 2014

Top 10 autumn nail polish shades for under £10



With yesterday's rain, it's safe to say that autumn is well and truly here. Gone are the days of sunglasses and shorts, and out comes to brollies and breeze. With that comes the more muted fall-inspired nails polish shades. I've delved into my collection and dug out my top ten shades for the colder months - and best of all, they're all below a tenner! 

From left to right in the picture of the swatches:

What's your favourite autumn nail polish shade?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 6:31 pm
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Monday, 1 September 2014

August Favourites



I woke up this morning glad to see the back of August. It hasn't been the greatest, and I was ready to face September head on. I have a few things to look forward to this month, mainly my graduation. But today I've had my MOT and my car has failed badly. Needless to say, I'm in a bad mood and I hope September disappears as quickly as August did. Anyway one good thing that came out of the past month is some beautiful products that I'm excited to share with you.

I basically bought these because they're cheap. I haven't chemically exfoliated in a while and now it's getting to winter and the sun isn't out in full force, I decided it was about time I started again. These pads smell delicious and exfoliate the skin gently but effectively. The pads are completely soaked so you don't have to worry about them drying up over time. I do thing they're soaked a bit too much though as I do have to leave my skin to dry for a few minutes.

I'm addicted to this stuff. Elemis' Frangipani Monoi range has been around for ten years and to celebrate the anniversary, the brand has released a new addition to the range. The body cream is extremely indulgent and allows you to get a spa treatment daily. The fragrance itself is warm and exotic and I hope to god they release a perfume one day. It leaves the skin feeling incredibly smooth and locks in moisture throughout the day. The scent is also very powerful and I find it lingers on my skin nicely. I've received countless amounts of compliments. 

I took this small sample on holiday with me and at the time, I thought it was the foundation that wasn't breaking down, even in the heat. But when I came home I used this with a different base and it's incredible. I think it's pricey for a primer but it's what I'm going to be using on graduation day. My foundation tends to break up throughout the day and disappear, but this hold it in place.

Another primer and I've had this a while. I use this around my nose and cheek area as I have quite enlarged pores. I tap this into my skin and it instantly fills my pores in and gives me a flawless looking complexion. It leaves the skin feeling velvety and allows make up to apply much easier. It also gives a nice matte finish to the skin so it's perfect for those with oily skin. It doesn't, however, dry my skin out. I don't find it makes make up last any longer - it's just great for concealing pores.

I do love Good Things as a brand and when I saw that this was on such a wonderful offer, I rushed to Boots to pick it up. The first time I used this cleanser I tweeted about how glowing and young my skin looked it and felt. Since then, it's continued to get better. This cleanser feels luxurious to uses and smells good enough to eat. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and and looking radiant. I definitely need to try out the rest of the range.

When I first got this brush, I had no idea what to do with it. I love my Real Techniques Expert Face Brushes too much. Recently, I've been using this to apply cream and powder blusher. It gives a light diffused look that's almost airbrushed. Since using this I've found that the overall finish to my blush and make up in general is much better. I love it. It also washes really well without any shedding.

Joan Collins Brow & Eye Definition Kit* - £25.00 (available October/November)
Before recently trying out a few things from the brand, I'd never heard of Joans Collins. I got my eyebrows threaded a couple of weeks ago (after growing them out) and this palette has made my eyebrows look even better. It comes with a black powder, a brown powder, a pink champagne highlight powder and a brow wax. As well as this, there's a decent sized mirror, mini tweezers, mini comb and mini brush all housed inside a beautiful compact. 

What products have you been loving this month?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 3:45 pm
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Friday, 29 August 2014

MAKE UP | KIKO Daring Game Collection










Bronzer, Highlighter, Lipstick, Lip Liner

Kajal, Marker Liner, Color-Up in 11, Color-Up in 20, Eye Pencil in 2, Eye Pencil in 6
KIKO have outdone themselves, AGAIN. It seems like this make up brand can do no wrong. Their new collection, Daring Game, has been inspired by the smart, quick-witted Bond girls. The collection is strong, sophisticated, elegant, confident and absolutely perfect for autumn. The packaging, for starters, is exceptionally clever and reflects the Roulette table, card decks and dice.

This multi-tasking palette hasn't left my side since I received it. It comes with a two-toned matte bronzer and a pearly highlight. For me, this is the collection's stand out product. The packaging is stunning (it includes a large mirror) and the formula is exceptional. The three shades are buttery soft and of the right pigment - no muddy look. I use the bronzers to sculpt my cheekbones and the highlight to add an all over glow. I'm addicted.

These creamy jumbo shadow sticks are incredibly soft and blend like a dream. The pigment is outstanding and the pencils don't drag on the eyelids. They create a beautiful smoky eye but I find that I definitely need to use a good primer with them. They're very creamy which means that they don't last as long as they claim, sadly.

I was extremely confused about these when I first received them but after reading the press release, I realised that they're actually hidden. Underneath the outer packaging is an eyeliner pencil that glides onto the eyelids and waterline. These can be smudged with the brush encased in the packaging or left to set for dramatic, stunning eyes.

This eyeliner is a two-in-one product. It comes with a marker tip and a kajal tip - both great for creating a smoky eye. The marker isn't the best that I've tried. It's perfectly shaped but it isn't quite as intense and black as I'd like. The kajal, on the other hand, is wonderful. It's long-lasting, dramatic and easy to use.

I think I'm addicted to this lipstick. It's a stunning grown-up shade and it's definitely going to be my most worn autumn lip. The lipstick itself is long-lasting and easy to apply thanks to its ultra-gliding formula. The finish is demi-matte which for me is perfect for a lipstick.

I've never really used a lip pencil before but I think this one might convert me. It matches the lipstick perfectly and really ensures the lipstick stays put throughout the day. This lip pencil doesn't drag on the lips and leaves behind a strong pigment. It's great for making my thin lips fuller.

How adorable are these nail polishes?! From the top they look like dice. Incredible. The blue shade is one that I'm most definitely going to be wearing on my graduation as it matches my dress perfectly. The plum shade is a gorgeous colour for autumn. I'm yet to try these out on my nails (nail polish ban) but KIKO claim that they give a gel-effect on the nails.

I adore this two-toned face brush. It has been designed to follow the natural lines of the cheekbone. The two levels allow for bronzer and highlighter to applied at the same time and this is what I've been using with the bronzer I mentioned earlier. Both products work in complete harmony with each other and create such a gorgeous sculpted cheekbone. 

What's your favourite item from the collection?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 7:38 pm
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Friday, 25 July 2014

The best bronzers


Fake Bake Beauty Bronzer, glo-minerals Bronze, Sleek Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette, KIKO Essential Bronzer, KIKO Rock Attraction Bronzer, Liz Earle Natural Glow Bronzer, KIKO Colour Splash Multi-tone Bronzer, KIKO Loud Night Bronzer




Being naturally pale - even a week in the Mediterranean didn't touch me - means that in general, I find wearing bronzer a challenge. Last year, I was a complete novice. I watched countless amounts of YouTube videos in the hope that I'd perfect the sought after "contouring technique." But I had no luck. More recently though, particularly this summer, I haven't been able to step away from the stuff. Whether it's contouring, adding a glow or dusting all over my skin, I'm constantly using the product. Here are my favourites.    

Best brand:
When it comes to choosing a bronzer, the brand I always look to first is KIKO. Half the bronzers chosen for this post are from the Italian brand and it's easy to see why. The KIKO Rock Attraction Bronzer in Loud Tan* (currently on offer for £6.00) is the bronzer that I tend to use on a day-to-day basis. Despite being a powder formula, it's creamy to the touch and exceptionally easy to blend. It's completely matte so is perfect for contouring, and it's very hard to overdo this bronzer. Next up is the KIKO Essential Bronzer in Warm Melange* (currently on offer for £11.80) which is a two-tone bronzer. The pan is absolutely huge so I use this with a big fluffy brush and dust it all over my skin. The KIKO Loud Night Bronzer in Supple Satin Honey is up there in my top three. It's perfect for my pale skin tone and can be used matte to contour, or with subtle shimmer to add a glow. And finally the KIKO Colour Splash Multi-tone Bronzer in Jovial Tan comes with three different shades that are perfect for bronzing up the complexion.

Best highlight:
As a brand, I find glo-minerals underrated. Their products are of such an exceptional quality yet they're rarely raved about on blogs. The glo-minerals Bronze in Sunkiss* (£31.50) is an absolute gem. One side contains a matte bronzer and the other a beautiful golden highlight. The two shades can be swirled together or used separately and I constantly find myself reaching for the highlight side. It's stunning and makes the complexion glow. 

Best glow:
The Fake Bake Beauty Bronzer is wonderful for adding an all over glow to the skin. It's quite dark and pigmented so I tend to use this when I've tanned my skin. A light hand a big brush works best when applying this bronzer. Sadly, I can't seem to find this online anywhere. Does anyone know what's happened to Fake Bake's make up range?

Best all-rounder:
The Sleek Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette in Medium* (£9.99) comes with everything you need to truly bronze up your skin. The contour, highlight and blush-shade work together to create the most beautiful golden goddess look. Of course, the three shades can be used separately but I find them stunning when used altogether to create a bronzed look. 

Best natural:  
As you can tell from the image above, this bronzer is exceptionally well loved. It has a hint of shimmer running through it but it's not over the top and still manages to look natural. There isn't a lot of pigment in this bronzer so it's perfect for pale skins to contour or use all over the skin.

I'm always on the look out to try out and find new bronzers. Let me know your favourites in the comments below.
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 8:01 pm
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Wednesday, 2 July 2014

Holiday packing: body care



On Tuesday, I'll be going on my first cruise. I'm incredibly excited as I haven't been on holiday for a while and also there are eight other family members going. For me, the best part about going on holiday is picking up miniature beauty products. They look adorable, and you get the chance to try out new things. So although I have another week before I go away, I have already packed my beauty bits (minus fragrance and make up) so I thought I would show you.

Sunscreen
Soltan Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 and SPF 50 - currently £5 each
For me, sun protection is very important and was the first thing I bought for my holiday. I haven't tried Soltan before but the 5* UVA rating really drew me into the product. I also love that it has protection against insects too as apparently, I'm attractive to insects. Nice.

KIKO After Sun Milk* - currently £11.10
I've never tried this before but I was sent it last year and considering I steered clear of the sun last summer, I had no reason to use it. As a brand, I love KIKO so I have high hopes for this aftersun. KIKO claim that this is fast-absorbing, moisturising and that it prevents peeling and prolongs suntan.

Soltan Baby Hypoallergenic Sunscreen SPF 50 - currently £2
I bought this to pop in my everyday bag for touch-ups throughout the day. In case you didn't know, I'm going on a cruise so I won't be sat around the pool all day, I'll be out and about. Because of this, I don't want to be carrying around the full-size sunscreens.

Mouth
Dentyl Active Plaque Fighter Mouthwash* - £1.20 and Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste - £1.25
Of course, the essentials. I had the Dentyl mouthwash laying around and I'd enjoyed using it in the past. The toothpaste is one that I randomly picked up as I thought it was cute in the tube. I'm hoping that it has a nice taste.

Wisdom Travel Toothbrush - £1.49
I did originally want to take my electric toothbrush with me but it's heavy and bulky and it meant I would also have had to have packed my charger. So instead, I bought a classic travel toothbrush. It's nothing special but it is really cute.

Others
Mitchum Advanced Control Deodorant - £2.99
I have no idea why I bought such a big deodorant. But seeing as Mitchum is a great brand, I decided to stick to it. This deodorant is unscented so it doesn't interfere with any fragrances and it's also the most hardcore deodorant I've ever used. Perfect for the sun.

Gillette Satin Care with Olay Shaving Gel - full size currently £2.74
I don't like showcasing my legs very often, but summer is one time when my pins are constantly out. So because of this, I need to make sure they're fuzz-free. I did want to take my RazorPit Bump Foam with me as I'm prone to ingrown hairs but it's too big so this one will have to do.

Kiehl's Creme de Corps* - full size £45
I haven't tried this body lotion before but I've heard good things about it. In fact, I've never tried anything from Kiehl's before so hopefully this product will set off a love affair. It's supposed to have a dramatic effect on skin texture whilst providing intense hydration.

Butter London Scrubbers* - £6 for ten
I'll be painting my nails the day before I go away but in case of chips, I'll be taking the bottle along with me. I've popped one of these Scrubbers in my case as they're perfect for travelling. It's basically a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover.

Shower Gel
For shower gel, I could either have taken one decent sized shower gel or three minis. And considering I love having a variety of body washes in different fragrances on offer, I decided to take three smaller ones. The first is the Korres Basil Lemon Showergel* - full size £8 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67) which smells absolutely delicious. I then have two from Weleda. The Citrus Creamy Body Wash* - £1.95 and the Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash* - £1.95 which once again smell incredible. 

#1 Holiday Packing: Skin Care
#2 Holiday Packing: Body Care
#3 Holiday Packing: Hair Care

Are you going on holiday this year? What beauty products will you be packing?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 11:45 am
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Saturday, 28 June 2014

MAKE UP | KIKO Unlimited Stylo Lipstick



L-R 04 and 06
I used to be someone who hated lipsticks. I'd buy them, and love the colours and pretty packaging, but never actually wear them. I used to find the formulas awful; they'd accentuate any dry patches, and I really just couldn't be bothered with reapplying them constantly. But recently, I've fallen in love with lipsticks. There are lots of hydrating, easy to wear lipsticks on the market and one brand that you all know I'm obsessed with is KIKO. The KIKO Unlimited Stylos* are fabulous. You can tell how glossy, pigmented and stunning they are from the swatches above. 

KIKO claim that these lipsticks last up to eight hours and although I don't quite agree with the eight hour claim, they're quite long lasting for such moisturising lipsticks. The texture is what I'm besotted with though; creamy and soft. They're a dream to apply and comfortable to wear. These lipsticks are available in 14 shades, ranging from natural nudes to full bodied shades. And at £6.90 each, they're an absolute bargain. I just need to get myself down to a KIKO store...

What are your favourite lipsticks? Have you tried these ones from KIKO?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 5:51 pm
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Tuesday, 10 June 2014

What's inside my summer everyday essentials bag?





Ooh isn't the weather lovely today? I've been into town for no reason at all and I had to come back after a couple of hours because I couldn't handle the heat; I'm definitely not a sun-fan at all. But regardless, I can't complain. With the sun showing its face, I've mixed up my everyday essentials bag and in case you're wondering, the bag is an old one from Primark. I'm keeping my eyes pealed for one of the smaller London bags from Primark but I can't spot it anywhere. I have the medium sized one but it's too big for everyday use sadly. Anyway, the keyring is from Clinique and it's one of the first items I ever received as a PR sample. It came with their 3 Step System and it's now four years old. It also doubles up as a small mirror.

Pebble Grey LED Cosmetic Mirror* - £24.99 (currently on offer for £19.99)
I'm not going to go into too much detail about this mirror as I do have a full blog post (+ giveaway!) coming up very soon. But basically, I don't know how I've gone my entire life without one in my handbag. It lights up when opened using LED lights and is just perfect in everyway. It's nice and compact and fits into my everyday bag perfectly.

Orla Kiely Bergamot Hand Cream* - £10.00
The hand cream pictured above is actually a teeny 10ml bottle which sadly, I can't find a link for. The full sized bottle is 50ml which is still a nice size for your handbag. I've been loving using this hand cream. Not only is the bottle beautiful looking, but the scent is gorgeous and the cream itself sinks into the hands almost instantly, leaving behind minimal residue.

Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush - £11.99
This isn't my favourite Real Techniques brush but it's good for keeping in my bag with me for day-to-day touch ups as it nicely blends concealer into the skin. Like the name suggests, it's a retractable kabuki brush and the bristles get covered up by the lid, which is great for stopping bacteria. 

Cuticura Antibacterial Hand Gel in Lemon Sherbet* - £1.00
I always have to carry an antibacterial hand gel around with me. After all, you never quite know what situation you're going to end up getting yourself into. I LOVE these sweet ones from Cuticura as unlike most hand gels, they don't have a nasty chemical smell. Instead they smell absolutely gorgeous and don't dry the hands out.

Piz Buin In Sun Lipstick SPF 30 - £6.00 (currently on offer for £3.00)
The sun's out in the UK, hooray! For me, SPF is my must-have beauty item throughout the year. I have fair skin and I'm without a doubt scared of the sun, so I'm constantly protecting myself. This lip protection isn't that moisturising and it's quite thick and hard to use, but it does smell/taste nice and it's great knowing that my lips are protected throughout the day.

Soltan Baby Hypoallergenic Suncare Cream SPF50+ 50ml - £4.00 (currently on offer for £2.00)
Like above, I always carry SPF around with me. I apply it in the morning and keep a smaller one with my for on the go touch ups. This one is an absolute bargain and it smells nice and provides SPF50+ protection. I also love using Soltan products because they have a 5 star UVA protection rating.

KIKO Kiss Balm in Strawberry* - £5.90
I absolutely adore this lip balm. It adds a hint of colour, sheen and moisture to the lips and also protects them from the sun with an SPF of 15. It tastes delicious and there are seven different flavour/colour combinations to choose from - I need to own them all! Someone take me to the London store?

Benefit The POREfessional: Agent Zero Shine* - £23.50
I have a love/hate relationship with this powder. On the one hand, it's wonderful at eliminating pores and my scarring, but on the other hand, it's ridiculously expensive as you only get a teeny 7g of product for your money. I carry it around in my handbag because of how compact and easy to use it is. It comes with a mini kabuki brush and you pour the powder into the lid, simple! 

John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer* - £10.99
Now my hair is shorter, I don't find myself using this as much. But it's still a handy product to keep in my bag (and I love it because it smells delicious). This Touch-Up Tamer looks like a mascara and applies like a mascara. You simple comb the wand through any flyaways and it instantly sticks them down without weighing your hair down or leaving behind any residue.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19
And of course, the god of all concealers is kept in my handbag. This is without a doubt my favourite concealer as it provides long lasting, full coverage that never looks cakey on the skin. I've gone through tubes of this stuff and it's something I'll definitely continue to repurchase.

What products do you carry around with you on a day-to-day basis?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 3:21 pm
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Sunday, 25 May 2014

May Favourites









Oh my lord, can you believe it's almost June?! It seems like just yesterday I was starting my final year at university, and now I'm completely finished. How strange. But oh well, just one month now until my holiday which I'm ridiculously excited for. Beauty wise, this month has been a good 'un. I've discovered quite a few new products and with the sun finally showing its face, it's allowed me to experiment a little bit more.

I've spoken about this blush before, and I doubt that this will be the last you'll hear of it. Let's start with the packaging; it's beautiful and I'm definitely not ashamed to have it in my collection. It also has a lovely vanilla scent (that isn't transferred onto the skin) which adds a nice luxe feel to the blush. Lasting power is outstanding, pigmentation is incredible, price is affordable and the colour instantly perks up my skin.

I've been loving fake tanning my skin recently, I just feel better with a bit of a glow and it also helps to perfect my skin, meaning my make up-less face isn't so terrifying. This tanner by Xen-Tan instantly creates a healthy, natural looking glow that nourishes the skin and develops into a beautiful golden colour. I'm funny with face tanners as I have combination skin, but this one is lightweight yet creamy and easy to apply and blend. 

The swatch of this lipstick is a little bit off as I think it's lighter than the swatch appears. This lipstick feels a lot more expensive than it actually is. The packaging isn't the greatest, but it does the job. The colour is beautiful - think Barbie-pink - and looks stunning with a bit of a tan. Lasting power isn't the best, but the formula itself is incredible. It's creamy and glides onto the lips, leaving behind a gorgeous full-looking pout that's left feeling nourished. 

With the beautiful weather the UK has been blessed with for a few weeks of this month, it was almost inevitable that an SPF was going to feature in this month's favourites. I spoke about Rodial's offering the other day and I stand by everything I said. It's an SPF moisturiser that's also a skin care product. It treats and corrects the skin whilst protecting it and preventing further damage, it's absolute perfection. It's also lightweight on the skin and smells incredible. I can't find a fault!

This month, I rediscovered my all-time favourite foundation. You see, I'd started trying out other foundations so this one got neglected for a while. But now, it's back and the others don't stand a chance. Lightweight yet full on coverage, this foundation is perfect for those who love a flawless base. It's easy to blend and lasts incredibly well throughout the day. What's more, it's extremely affordable and in my opinion, the absolute best foundation out there. I've gone through tubes of the stuff and I have two more back ups.

Dr Organic Virgin Olive Oil Foot & Heel Cream* - £6.49 (currently £4.87)
I have two foot products in this month's favourites and that's because I've recently bought some new sandals. I've ditched the boots and decided to get my tootsies out, and after a dry winter, they've needed a bit of assistance. This foot cream is an absolute gem. It contains Virgin Olive Oil which is deeply moisturising and nourishing. One thing I usually hate about foot creams is how long they take to sink into the skin, but this one is almost instant. After one use, my heels and cracked areas looked immediately better.

With the amount of swatching my nails see, it's no wonder they haven't fallen off yet. I was recommended this by a customer at work who absolutely swore by it. I decided to invest after I realised my nails were starting to look extremely shabby. It promises longer, stronger and harder nails in two weeks and after two weeks, I've definitely seen an improvement. You apply one coat on the first day of the first week and then a second coat the day after. On day seven you remove the product and repeat the steps on the 2nd week.

My second foot care product in this month's favourite is this ergonomically designed heel smoother. I've tried a lot of different electrical feet shavers in my time and this one has wiped them all out. It comes with two different heads to "shave" and buff dead skin away, leaving behind beautifully soft skin. It also comes complete with six replacement buffing discs. I've been absolutely loving this product. It looks incredible on my desk and does a wonderful job at smoothing my feet.

What have been your favourite products to use this month?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 3:05 pm
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Saturday, 10 May 2014

What's in my make up bag?


Oh I must say, it's good to be a "full time blogger" now. Obviously this isn't a viable career as I certainly don't make enough money from blogging to live off, but it's nice to be able to blog whenever I want. I love having nothing to do and I'm definitely making the most while it lasts. Although this post is called, "what's in my make up bag," I actually don't have a make up bag. I suppose these are just my everyday make up products. And although I mix it up often, these are the items that I reach for most often; my favourites, if you like.

I truly love this primer and I find myself reaching for it daily. It feels lightweight on the skin and make up adheres to it like it's glue, nothing that's applied on top of this is budging throughout the day, no matter what. The purple hue counteracts scarring and although it's not incredibly noticeable, I definitely think it helps up the coverage of my foundation, so no complaints with that one. 

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation - £15.50 (currently on offer for £11.62)
I've raved about this many times before and I'll contain to do so as long as I live. As far as foundations go, this is perfection and it doesn't receive enough love. It's full coverage at its finest but is exceptionally lightweight and unnoticeable on the skin. Easy to blend, this foundation glides over the skin and stays put throughout the day. You can see my full review here with before and after photos.

I've tried many different concealers over the years but I always come back to this one. It's fail safe and always serves me well. The coverage is nice and probably the fullest on the high street and it never ends up looking cakey. I also find that I need a fair amount of concealer and go through tubes of the stuff quickly, so the price of this concealer is perfect for me. Why spend £20 when this one's under a fiver?!

This is a new discovery of mine and at the moment, I'm on the lookout for a new brow product. For ages I've been using my Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, but now the shades "Naked 2" and "Faint" are running extremely low. I don't like the Brow Tint half of this but the Pencil is lovely. It's more like a wax and fills in the brows nice and naturally.

I don't know how I've lived so long without this palette. It's an absolute godsend. It has every shade you'd ever need to create the most perfect neutral smoky eye, and it smells like chocolate. As with all of Too Faced's shadows, the pigmentation, blendability and staying power are second to none. You can find my full review here.

NYX The Curve* - £14.00
This eyeliner completely changed my life. No matter how hard I tried, eyeliner was something I couldn't perfect for many years. Then this beauty came along. The handle makes the liner incredibly easy to hold and the nib glides along eyelids meaning you don't need to stretch and tug them. You can find my full review here and since then, I've gone through five tubes of the stuff.

I'm someone who has never remained loyal to mascara. I naturally have long eyelashes so overtime I've found that pretty much all mascaras do the same thing. But the moment I tried Green People's Volumising Mascara, I knew I was a convert. This brush combs through the lashes, coating each one and making them luscious and thick. You can see my full review here.

I have the biggest love/hate relationship with this powder. You see, you only get 7g's worth of product for a whopping £23.50 - I have no idea how Benefit can charge that amount, it's almost crazy. But aside from this, the finishing powder is lovely. And I absolutely love it. It doesn't just fill in pores, it fills in my scars and leaves my skin looking airbrushed. Such a dilemma. I don't know whether I'll repurchase when I've used it all.

The moment I saw this blush I fell in love and since then, I haven't used any other product on my cheek. The packaging is beautiful, the blush is stunning and it takes me from dead to alive in approximately one minute. You can see my full review and swatch of this product here. Although it's limited edition, I hope KIKO never stop selling it. I'd be heartbroken.

And finally, we have something for the lips. I do change my lipstick everyday but I've been loving LUSH's Strong lipstick. It's a beautiful orange/red shade that's incredibly vibrant. However, when a small amount is applied, it's muted down enough for me to wear in the day. The formula sadly, is a little bit off and if I don't properly prep my lips they can end up looking dry. But it's worth it for the stunning colour.

What are your favourite everyday make up items? Have you tried any of the above?
*PR sample
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Written By Unknown at 3:28 pm
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