February Favourites

End of February already! February for me was interesting. In the beginning of February I went to Dublin, Ireland with my friend for 3 days and then I also had a lot of holiday to use up so spent a lot of time away from work. Here are my favourite make up items for this month:

• Inglot Freedom System Eyeshadow Rainbow Sparkle 126- When I went to Dublin I knew I wanted to check out Inglot from seeing a Irish YouTuber use them. I decided to get this rainbow one with 3 shades of blue as I love blue and quite frankly this is beautiful. I haven't actually used this yet but I am excited to have an occasion to use it! 

• Rimmel The Only 1 'One-of-a-Kind' Lipstick- I got this lipstick for Christmas from my sister. It is a deep red/berry shade which is my favourite colour to wear on my lips right now. I like how it matches my hair and it is a lovely smooth formula.

• MAC 'Sin' Lipstick- When I was in Dublin I swatched Sin and knew I wanted it so when I got home I purchased it from the MAC nearest to me. It is a matte shade and is a very dark, bold lip. It is shades of brown and red and although I would wear this all year round it screams Autumn/Winter at me. I do love a good dark lip!

• BarryM Flawless Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit- I've had this for a year now but would go through phases of using it or not using it. I am sharing this specifically for the bronzer shade as I have been really enjoying using it this month to the point where I have just hit pan a little bit. I am not usually one for bronzer or contour so I am slowly easing myself into it.

What were your favourites this month?

Kiko Milano Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow

Hello!


Kiko have been making quite the number of appearances on my blog recently! These are the Kiko Milano Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows. I have 3, one of which I bought in Spain and then 2 I bought back in the UK. 


These eyeshadow sticks are described on the website as having a creamy formula, vibrant colour, water resistant and extreme blendability. It is a cream eyeshadow that can essentially be applied straight on to the eyelid without necessarily being neat which you can then blend out. Cream eyeshadows are usually a great base for powder eyeshadows but are also good on their own. 


The colours I own are number 36 'Golden Mauve', number 31 'Iris Blue' and number 16 'Purple'. 36 is a stunning golden pinky shade. I didn't realise how pink it was until I bought it (I don't like wearing pink make up personally) but the gold shimmer makes up for it! I find this is an easy colour to wear to work. 31 on the other hand is a bright, solid blue colour which works wonderful as a pop of colour or good for a base for my other blue eyeshadows. Finally, 16 is a slightly deep purple, perfect for a bold eye make up look.

What I really like about these eyeshadows is how easy they are to apply. Because it is a crayon type eyeshadow you can easily draw it on to your eye without trying to be particularly careful and then blend it out. With the Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eyeshadows which are also cream, I find them not so easy to apply because they are in a pot. The crayon form is so much better. I do find that I need to apply another layer after blending to keep the intensity of the colour but I like not having to be neat! I like to draw it across my eyelid, slightly into my crease and then an angled line where I would draw an eyeliner flick. Then, using a blending brush I like to blend it inwards. For some reason I find the blue one slightly more difficult to blend but it is still possible.

Another likeable feature of these eyeshadows is the lasting power. The cream formula really does last all day and doesn't transfer which is a relief for my hooded eyes. Despite the lasting power it doesn't mean it is difficult to wipe off at the end of the day and it comes off with ease with my Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water.

What also surprised me is how water resistant it is. I don't think I've ever worn it in the rain or cried with it on, but when I went to wash away the swatches it didn't budge or fade whatsoever! I was running the tap on the swatches and nothing happened, even when I tried rubbing at it. A course of soap, water and a make up wipe was necessary!

I managed to find 2 photos from a while ago where I am wearing the blue one and the purple one. Sorry they aren't the best of quality but I hadn't taken them with the blog in mind!

So I really do like these eyeshadow sticks. To summarise, I like them because they're easy to apply because you don't have to be neat, they last a long while, they make a good base for powder eyeshadow and you wouldn't have to worry about it in the rain. Furthermore, they're only £6.90 with over 30 colours to choose from so they're an excellent price! My only slight criticism is that they don't have 'extreme blendability' like the website describes which I found mostly with the blue eyeshadow.

Side note, for all you sensitive skin sufferers out there, I have sensitive eyelids and they do not have a reaction to these eyeshadow sticks.

Kiko Milano is fast becoming one of my favourite brands to buy from at the moment and I am loving trying all of their stuff. I love the fact that we have a store in my local mall!

Superdrug Flirty Exotic Fruits and White Chocolate Body Spray

For Christmas I had asked for body sprays and perfumes because I was running seriously low on them and needed to stock up. I don't know about you, but I feel anxious going out without any on! One of the sprays I received was the Superdrug 'Flirty Exotic Fruits & White Chocolate' body spray. Quite frankly I don't know what is so flirty about spray but I gave it ago nevertheless.


There are pros and cons to this body spray. One pro is that it does smell really nice! I'm not so sure about the 'exotic fruits' but the white chocolate really comes through in the smell which even my boyfriend noticed. I certainly don't mind smelling of chocolate! Another pro is the price: £1.29, but currently at sale price of 63p! So if you are someone who is on a budget this is definitely handy.


However, a big con is that the smell doesn't last very long. It probably lasts about an hour if that, which certainly doesn't make it a long lasting body spray. To keep up the smell you would have to reapply regularly throughout the day which won't help it last a long time. It lasted about a month for me but would have lasted a much less amount of time had I taken it out with me and reapplied throughout the day. 


For the cheap price tag and the fact that it is Superdrug's own brand and not a company specified in the field of body sprays, to be honest I wasn't expecting amazing results anyway. If you're looking for something that'll last you'll most likely have to go for a slightly higher price point. But overall if you're on a budget and need something to just carry around with you then this would be an option to consider. 


What body sprays do you use?

Books | Face Paint: The Story of Makeup by Lisa Eldridge

This is Face Paint: The Story of Makeup by Lisa Eldridge. If you haven't heard of Lisa (why not?) she is an amazing professional make up artist who works with the likes of Kate Winslet, Emma Watson and other major celebrities and magazines. She also works with Lancome and produces the most incredible and informative make up tutorials on YouTube. If you love your make up tutorials, I promise you that you will love Lisa Eldridge. 


Aside from doing make up, one of Lisa's other passions is the history of make up. She has so many classic pieces and knows so much about the history of make up that she decided to turn it into a book! As soon as I knew she was releasing this I wanted it and finally I got it from my boyfriend at Christmas.


The book is a beautiful hardback with such a vibrant cover, illustrating the colours of make up. The first page and back of the book show various antique pieces from brands such as Max Factor and Chanel. The contents is split up into 2 sections: 1) 'The Ancient Palette' which covers the colours red, white and black, their history and how they've been produced. 2) 'The Business of Beauty' shows us how media has influenced make up and advertisements, the beauty pioneers of the years and how folk remedies have turned into global brands. Lisa also gives us an insight into the future of make up and certain ingredients. 


What I love about the book is that you learn so much that you never knew before about make up. It's one thing knowing how to apply foundation or how to blend eyeshadow, but to actually see how over the centuries how make up has been viewed and made is incredible. It is so interesting to read how make up has changed from being frowned upon to loved, to be applied discreetly all the way to being applied in its masses. 


Another thing I love about the book is that Lisa has included pages in between different paragraphs which names someone in history, shows a photo of them and how they somehow influenced make up in their time. There are some real names of the past such as Marie Antoinette, all the way to Marilyn Monroe and Amy Winehouse. We also see women from different cultures so it isn't just a singular Western view on make up. 


My favourite part in the book was reading about the history of well-known make up brands, particularly Max Factor. I never knew that Max Factor was a man and influenced the make up industry so much! I also really enjoyed seeing how the first ladies of beauty Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden fought each other within the industry to be on top. As well as being super interested in the brands, I also really liked seeing what kind of ingredients were in make up in various centuries. Some of the recipes sound like a witch's spell for her cauldron!


If you watch Lisa Eldridge's videos then you will see how her personality shines through the book. The way she writes actually sounds like her and you can hear the words being read in her voice as if she's reading it to you herself. I enjoy this as it gives the book her personality and you can really hear her passion for make up throughout. Furthermore I love seeing the photos of what she has in her collection or what others have in their collection so we can see how make up packaging has evolved.


With vibrant photography and intriguing facts one right after another, this is a book to read. If you have a passion for make up I cannot recommend this book enough. Lisa is such an expert in her field that she is certainly one to listen to and she really has chosen the most gripping and thought-provoking topics to talk about. Her expertise really shines through and I can certainly assure you that you will come away knowing way more about make up than you did before and you will see it in a completely different light. I constantly had facts to tell the people around me! Additionally I really think this makes a good gift to give someone you know is enthusiastic about make up and it looks beautiful in the bookcase. I do hope Lisa Eldridge writes another book because I will buy that without a single doubt!


I would love to know if you have read this book and what you think about it. 

Make Up Haul | Inglot, MAC & more

Hey all!

Over the past couple of weeks I have somehow managed to buy more make up than I usually tend to. But I'm not complaining! I absolutely love make up and it makes me happy purchasing a new product. But anyway, I thought I would show you guys what I've got:

• Urban Decay All Nighter Make Up Setting Spray- I accidentally bought this on FeelUnique as I had just finished my first bottle of the De-Slick Setting Spray and wanted to order another...but I accidentally ordered this one! However, this didn't bother me as I've heard so many bloggers rave about the All Nighter one. I have high hopes!

• L'Oreal Infallible 24hr-Matte Foundation- This is my second bottle of the stuff. It lasts for ages! I bought my first one in the beginning of September and it seems to be quite low now so I thought I'd buy another before it runs out. I do like this foundation and you can read my review on it here.

• Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama- This is a new product released by Maybelline so I thought I would give it a go. I am on the look out for the perfect mascara for my super straight and sparse eyelashes, so I'll have to let you know how this goes.

• Inglot Cosmetics Rainbow Eyeshadow '126'- I went to Dublin last week with my friend and knew beforehand that I wanted to find Inglot. I have seen LetzMakeUp on YouTube use Inglot a lot in her kit so she is the one to blame! I went for this beautiful rainbow blue one with glitter. I love the colours so much and can't wait to use them.

• Kiko Milano Endless Love Lipstick '05 Soft Marsala'- I've got a new found love for Kiko lipsticks so when this limited edition range was released before Valentine's Day I quickly snapped this lipstick up. It's so cute as it is in the shape of a heat! To read my review on it, click here.

• Kiko Milano Endless Love Lip Liner '05 Soft Marsala'- The lip liner match for the lipstick above which I find really helps my lips to look fuller. There is also a review on the lip liner with the lipstick.

• MAC 'Sin' Lipstick- After seeing people use this colour before and as a dark lip lover I always found myself attracted to this lipstick. When I went to Dublin we went into MAC and I swatched it and knew I definitely wanted it. On Monday I went to town (in my own city) with my brother and straight away went to buy it.

Have you bought any make up recently? I find it so hard to resist! I'll be sure to review the products that I haven't already reviewed soon. 

February | My Playlist #3

• Eskimo Kiss by The Kooks- This is a song that my boyfriend introduced me to in the beginning of our relationship that I have liked ever since. I have been listening to it a lot recently because it is actually on the CD my work use in their store! It is a cutesy song and is one you will pick up the lyrics off.

• Love Is An Open Door from Frozen- This is a totally random one, but my 2 year old niece loves songs from Frozen and she likes this one because it is one of my favourites. Every time I see her I put this song on so we can have a dance and a sing song to it. It's so adorable her pointing at me singing "with you!"

• Me and Mrs You by Michael Buble- This song is on an album I got for Christmas and I love singing along to it. I love a bit of Buble and his swingin' style. 

• Sunday Morning by Maroon 5- Another song my boyfriend introduced to me in the beginning of our relationship. It is another sing-a-long for me and it is definitely the song that I listen to on a Sunday! The only annoying thing is that in the music video it takes about 23 seconds to start the song because they have a part at the start where people are singing karaoke of the song and it makes me cringe.

• Nicotine and Alcohol Saved My Life by Deaf Havana- When I was about 13/14, this was my absolute favourite song and I listened to it on repeat. I've recently started listening to it again and somehow I still remember all the words. Wikipedia describe Deaf Havana as an 'alternative rock' band and it won't be to everyone's taste if you don't like screaming vocals.

So that's what I've been listening to lately. What about you? You can see what was on my playlist last time here.

Kiko Milano Endless Love Lipstick & Lip Liner 05 'Soft Marsala'

Hello all!

So you want to buy yourself, your best friend or partner a lovely treat for Valentine's Day? Then look no further.


Kiko recently brought out a limited edition range called their 'Best Friends Forever' range. A part of this range were 'Endless Love' lipstick and lip liners. The 'Intensely Lavish' lipsticks and lip liners in their previous limited edition 'Rebel Romantic' range were a big hit with me so when I saw this range I knew I wanted more. 


What drawn me to the lipsticks and connects it to Valentine's Day is the packaging and lipstick shape. The lipstick lid has a heart shape on it which shows the colour of the lipstick (which does seem true to actual colour). This idea instantly reminded me of the YSL lipsticks where it has an open space to show the lipstick colour. But the best part about the lipstick was the actual lipstick. The product is in the shape of a heart! This certainly makes it a photogenic item and makes it different to anything else I have in my collection. It stands out and really fits the Valentine's theme. 


The lipstick has a click on lid as opposed to a magnetic lid like the other Kiko lipstick I have. I prefer the magnetic lid as it makes it seem more luxurious and makes a satisfying clicking noise, however I am glad the lid has a mechanism to ensure that the lid won't come off. That means it is safe in your handbag!


The formula is described as pigmented and creamy with extracts of bixa orellena seed (whatever that is?). I picked up the colour 05 'Soft Marsala'. It is a deep plum colour with a slight sheen to it and red tones, very similar to that of the Kiko lipstick I already own. I was gutted when I realised mine was limited edition so I made sure I picked up a similar colour! I certainly agree that it is pigmented and creamy as it is a bold lip that slides on with such ease and is so creamy that you can rub your lips together like you would a lip balm. I would say this slightly more creamy than my other Kiko lipstick which is also described as creamy.

The lasting power is fair. If I weren't to eat or drink anything it would last all day without fading. If I were to eat carefully, the colour would mostly stay there with the colour being taken off mostly at the sides of my mouth. When I drink some of the product does come off, but not necessarily enough to be reapplied. However, if it does need to be reapplied that is okay as it layers nicely and doesn't go funny like some lipsticks do. 

I've only got 2 issues with the lipstick. Although it being in the shape of a heart is very pretty, it does make applying it slightly harder. I prefer to apply straight from the bullet rather than using a lip liner, which does kind of prove a problem. Because of the shape it makes it hard to precisely follow the shape of your lips and cover all over. I have to make sure I am using one of the rounder edges of the heart and not press the whole bullet over my lips. If I do that it misses parts of lips and goes over the line which does not make it easy to clean up. My other problem is that because of the shape there isn't as much product. To compare, in this lipstick there are 3g of product whilst my other Kiko lipstick has 3.5g, all for the same price. It is pretty thin so I don't see this lasting very long if I use it very frequently!


As for the lip liner, I do prefer it paired up with the lipstick as opposed to using the lipstick on its own. It helps me to follow the lines (which I said can be hard with the heart shape) and helps the colour to last. The lip liner packaging is in the shade of the colour which I like and is a twist up lip liner as opposed to a pencil that needs to be sharpened. On one hand I prefer this as I always end up with sharp bits on the pencil when sharpening, but on the other hand this means I do find it slightly harder to control. Occasionally I find I accidentally go off my lips and end up drawing on my face! So this does need a bit of practice. The lip liner is a good idea to use with creamy lipsticks as I think if I didn't use one, this lipstick would be in danger of smudging.


Overall I really like the duo and they meet the standards I now expect with Kiko. I'm so glad I found a similar colour to the one I love and it looks very nice in my collection and in photos. If I had been given this for Valentine's Day I would have been smitten with it so it will make a nice gift for your fellow lipstick lover. However, this lipstick is transferable so won't be perfect for Valentine's Day kisses!


So will you be buying from their 'Best Friends Forever' range or do you already have something? The lipsticks are a very reasonable price at £5.90 whilst the matching lip liners are £3.90.


Also, if you want to read the review I wrote on the other Kiko lipstick and lip liner that I keep raving about, click here.

Empties #8

I seem to go through products like nobody's business and it means I always have stuff to show you guys. How often is too often to upload an Empties post?


I've always got an empty can of Batiste Dry Shampoo in my posts, I swear. I use Batiste about twice a week without fail and I absolutely love it. This is the Original scent.


If you've read my posts for a while you might know that I adore the mango scent from The Body Shop. The Mango Body Scrub just looks and smells delicious! To honour my favourite scent, I used up The Mango Body Mist which you can read my review on here. 


Next is the Nivea Oil Free Moisturiser Day Cream. I picked this up in an offer on Nivea moisturisers and I loved it. It is so light weight and doesn't feel heavy or clogged up on the skin. It didn't sting my sensitive skin and soaked in quickly enough that I could apply my make up soon afterwards. Bonus! 


One of my favourite nail polish brands is Models Own. They have such a large range of nail polishes in kind of big bottles and they are always of nice quality. This is their top coat from their HyperGel range, which mimics a gel nail. There is still a little bit in the bottle but I can't reach it with the brush and the formula has gone super gloopy. However, I liked it whilst it lasted even though it was a bit thick!


Last of all is The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil. Again, if you've been reading my blog for a while you might know that I love the tea tree range from The Body Shop for my acne prone skin. Whenever I had a spot coming I would cover it in this stuff! It's probably better to use at night time than before your make up routine because it does take a while to soak in but it really is the best choice for pesky spots. I wrote an ultimate guide to The Body Shop Tea Tree range which you can see here.


Have you used up a lot of products lately? I always find that I seem to finish things in an abundance all at the same time, rather than over time!

Make Up | My Lipstick Collection

Hello!


Over the past year and a half I have become more interested in lipsticks. Lipsticks are probably now my most bought make up item (bar replacing necessities), alongside eyeshadow.


I decided that now I have a little collection that I would share with you what ones I have. If I have written about a product, there will be an asterik (*) next to the name which, when clicked, will bring you to the review. I decided to also include lip liners, lipstick crayons and a liquid lipstick. Enjoy the products and the swatches!

• MAC 'Lady Danger'*- This is an orange-toned red, perfect for spring/summer.

• MAC 'Ruby Woo'*- This was my first MAC lipstick. A matte red lip is my favourite kind of colour and this fits the bill perfectly. 

-(Left to right) MAC Lady Danger, MAC Ruby Woo.

• bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie 'Break Away'*- My first, and only, bareMinerals lipstick. I got the sample size in a goody bag and recently bought the full size. My perfect brown-toned nude lip. Creamy too!

-bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick 'Break Away'.

• Collection Volume Sensation 'Ruby Red'- This was my first ever lipstick! My Mum bought it for me after I mentioned that I wanted to start wearing lipstick. Was hooked ever since.

• Mac Factor 'Cherry Kiss'- I got this in one of those Christmas gifts you get when you spend so much on Max Factor. Another one for the pin-up red lip. It is slightly more sheer than my other ones.

• L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche 461 'Scarlet Rouge'- If you want that pin-up girl red lip with the intensity to look great with black winged eyeliner, this is your go to.

-Collection Volume Sensation 'Ruby Red', Max Factor 'Cherry Kiss', L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche 461 'Scarlet Rouge'.

• Rimmel Moisture Renew 'Dark Night Waterl-oops!'*- This was my first darker lipstick. I call it my blackcurrant lipstick. It doesn't apply as evenly as it used to but it is still a lovely colour nonetheless.

• Rimmel The Only 1 'One-of-a-Kind'- I got this for Christmas 2015 from my sister as it was on my wishlist. It smells dreadful but the colour is another red/purple lipstick that I love.

• Kiko Milano Intensely Lavish 06 'Melodious Wine'*- Similar to the colour above, it is a red/purple one and my first lipstick from Kiko. I am incredibly obsessed with this lipstick as it's creamy, long lasting and matches my hair colour.

-Rimmel Moisture Renew 'Dark Night Waterl-oops!', Rimmel The Only 1 'One-of-a-Kind', Kiko Milano Intensely Lavish 06 'Melodious Wine'.

• Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm 'Striking' Lip Crayon*- My first lip crayon. I asked for Shameless for my birthday but got this one instead. Nevertheless it is a nice formula and is great for when you want to wear lipstick but don't have the time to do it properly. You don't need a lip liner and it applies really quickly.

• Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm 'Shameless' Lip Crayon*- After not getting Shameless for my birthday I bought it myself. It wouldn't be to everyone's taste as it is a purple lip crayon but I personally love a purple lip. Again, it is great for the times when you need something quick and easy to apply.

-Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm 'Striking', Revlon Colourburst Mate Balm 'Break Away'.

• BarryM Cosmetics 37 Black- I love alternative styles and make up and I always wanted a black lipstick. The formula for this lipstick isn't great so I can't wear it outside but it is good for photos. It is too smeary and uneven to wear out. One day I will find the perfect black lipstick!

• Revlon Super Lustrous Matte 001 'Nude Attitude'- I'm not going to lie, I hate this. I got it in a Glossybox and I absolutely hate it. I hate the colour, it looks like foundation lips, and it applies smeary and uneven. I wouldn't even give this to someone else. I am so disappointed with it and will probably end up binning it.

• Essence Liquid Lipstick 'Show Off'- I also got this in a Glossybox. I haven't worn it yet to give an opinion on it but it does seem like it takes a long time to dry just from swatching it. I'm not expecting much from it as Essence is a cheap brand so we will just have to see!

-BarryM Cosmetics 37 Black, Revlon Super Lustrous Matte 001 'Nude Attitude', Essence Liquid Lipstick 'Show Off!'.

• L'Oreal Paris Lip Liner Couture 462 'Scarlet Rouge'- I asked for a red lip liner for Christmas as I wear a lot of red lipsticks and thought they'd look even nicer with a lip liner. My friend heard my request and bought me this one which I didn't realise until making this post that it matches my red lipstick from L'Oreal. Bonus!

• Kiko Milano Intensely Lavish Lip Liner 06 'Melodious Wine'*- I bought this as it matches the Kiko Intensely Lavish Lipstick that I have. It makes it look even nicer than I thought possible on the lips and I love it for over-lining my upper lip. It's creamy too!

-L'Oreal Paris Lip Liner Couture 462 'Scarlet Rouge', Kiko Milano Intensely Lavish Lip Liner 06 'Melodious Wine'.

As you can see, my lip collection has grew quite a bit since my first lipstick collection post. Do you have any of the same lipsticks as me?

January Favourites

Hello all!

So we have officially finished our first month of 2016. How was your January? Mine wasn't anything exciting to be honest. However, I am going to Dublin next week so February will be slightly more interesting!

My first favourite of January (and the first in 2016) is my wonderfully gorgeous Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette. I bought it in the Boxing Day sales and everyday since I find myself staring at it. It's just so beautiful! I definitely will have a review coming up on it so stay tuned.

My next favourite is the bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipstick in 'Break Away'. I've been using this colour since April/May last year and I was absolutely obsessed with it, but then I kind of forgot about it for a while. Lately I have been really in to it again, to the point where my sample size is nearly finished. Because my sample size is nearly finished I quickly purchased the full size on FeelUnique- I don't want to go without it! It is the perfect nude for me and fades evenly after eating/drinking, making it perfect for dinner dates and nights out. I actually reviewed this lipstick here if you would like to check it out.

I've also been loving a new perfume this month which is Lovestruck by Vera Wang. I haven't used it before but after receiving it for Christmas I have been using it every time that I leave the house. The packaging makes it look lovely on my dressing table and I know it is going to last me a while. I reviewed this here recently!

Finally, I've been really loving my black faux fur coat from New Look. It isn't in the photo above but I will show it to you below. I had been eyeing up faux fur coats for a while last year which my Mum noticed, so she bought me one for Christmas. I love it as it adds something quite 'sassy' to your outfit and is super warm if you're walking home in low degrees at night.

Those are  my favourites for January. What were your favourites?