What I Got for my Birthday 2016

Birthday cake from my Dad

Hey!


On the 3rd of April it was my 19th birthday. The day before I had a meal with my friends at Las Iguanas and went out down town with my boyfriend. Then on Sunday I went for a meal with my family and boyfriend (at the same place!) and we all hung out in the garden afterwards playing with my niece. For my birthday I mainly asked for money, however I did get a few presents! 

• Lush The Experimenter Bath Bomb- My friend Emily bought me this which I'm excited to use as I did have one before but it turned out to be a faulty one!

• Kiko Milano Water Eyeshadow 229- Another one from Emily. She just knows me too well! This is a beautiful high-shine, glittery silver which can be used dry or wet. Will definitely have to review this.

• Paddle Hairbrush- I forgot to note down the brand of this paddle brush before I took it out of the packaging but I asked for a paddle hairbrush as mine has gone manky! This is from my Mum and I find them best for keeping my hair straight.

• Diesel Loverdose- My boyfriend bought me this. I hadn't asked for it but damn that boy knows me. He knows I like perfumes that look alternative like this and it's beautiful. I can't wait to try it!

• Essential Amethyst Tear Drop Necklace- My boyfriend also got me this necklace and I love it. It's a beautiful tear drop amethyst which are purple and has a kind of vine-type swirl going over it. 

• Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare- My fellow book lover Ruby got me this one! I didn't know Cassandra Clare had brought out another book but now I am pleasantly surprised. It is a big book which I love and the cover is quite artistic. I'm a fan of Cassandra Clare's books so I'm sure I will enjoy this.

• Denman Large Paddle Brush- My sister Kelly got me this. I don't think Mum and Kelly knew they were both getting me one! Not a problem though, as it means I have a spare brush when the first one goes a bit yucky. 

• Schwarzkopf XXL Live 'Ultra Violet' Hair Dye- My sister Lisa bought me these because this is the hair dye I have been using for years. I'm trying to save money at the moment so this is helpful as it saves me buying my next batch of hair dye.

• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer- Lisa also got me this as again, she knows I use it religiously and it saves me from having to buy my next concealer. Very helpful!

• Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub and Buttercream- Kelly bought me these and I love Soap & Glory so I was grateful. Every birthday and Christmas I'm always on the look out for body scrubs, creams and gels to save me from having to buy them through the year. The sugar crush smell is incredible too!

• National Book Tokens Gift Card- I received this from my Mum's ex-boyfriend. Even though he is her ex he was in our lives long enough to still keep in contact with my siblings and I. Anyway, he thought I could use this to buy some books or to help with anything I need for University. 

• Disney Cheshire Cat Cushion- My friend Antonia bought me this. I have an undying love for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I love the films, the books, the video games, merch..the list goes on. I even want a Cheshire Cat tattoo. But anyway, she bought me this cushion and I love it. It goes well on my bed with my Pikachu!

• Cheshire Cat T-Shirt- Another gift from Antonia, a t-shirt with the Cheshire Cat on. I will never get over the artwork. 

• Osprey Sirrus 26 Purple Backpack- My sister Kimberley and brother Jamie bought me this for when I plan to go interrailing around Europe with Antonia. I'm super thankful for this as I hadn't thought much about how I was going to carry everything and it seems super versatile. Nice colour too!

Birthday cake from my Mum

I'm very thankful to everyone for what they got me and I had a nice birthday. 19 seems like a weird age to me as 18 is big, 20 is out of the teen years but 19 is just a random age in between. Do not feel like I'm going to be 20 next year! To see what I got for my 18th birthday you can click here.

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!

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. 

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.

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?

Kiko Milano Intensely Lavish Lipstick & Lip Liner 06 'Melodious Wine'

Hello all!


Over 2015 Kiko was becoming a more and more known brand and bloggers seemed to really be trying out their products. This was the year I also discovered Kiko, first buying items from them in Spain then more so when they brought a Kiko store to my local mall. 


On my first purchase in the the store near me, I purchased these: The Intensely Lavish Lipstick and Lip Liner in 06 'Melodious Wine' from their Rebel Romantic Collection. At first I fell in love with the packaging- it looks so luxurious! The lipstick is in a gold container which clicks together with a magnet. I cannot tell you how satisfying that clicking noise is! The packaging screams luxurious and even the lip liner with the true-to-colour pencil with gold lid is beautiful. 


I then swatched the colours and immediately knew I had to buy them. The colour is an extremely pigmented and rich, creamy wine colour of darker red with purple tones that matches my reddy-purple hair colour. The colour can look slightly different in various lights which I absolutely love. I wouldn't describe it as an extreme matte like the retro mattes from MAC, But it isn't glossy either. The only way I can describe it is that it looks like a creamy matte as opposed to a drying matte; a matte with a sheen that adds texture and dimension.

The ingredients of the product include orchid extract, corn oil and gotu kola. These must be what make the lipstick and lip liner so creamy and not leave you with that super dry feeling. Because of the creaminess of them they feel moisturising on the lips and glide on so easily without any tugging. Bonus!

So what about lasting power? Well, if you're doing a long day without much eating or drinking then it is going to last. The majority of the time I wear these to work and the colour lasts all day and doesn't fade. Most of the time I don't have a break at work so I am not eating or drinking. However, I've found that eating and drinking don't last so well as the colour disappears from the sides of my mouth, leaving that terrible ring around your lips. I've tried this colour on a dinner date and on a night out down town and it doesn't last the food or alcohol well! Despite this, the colour does reapply well over the top of a previous layer without going funny so you can reapply throughout the day if you wish to.

The lip liner goes on smooth and really helps to make your lips look fuller and bigger. I find it so easy to over line my top lip slightly and it it isn't noticeably over drawn. I don't think you necessarily need a lip liner with this lipstick as it applies so well, however it does definitely help to make that sharp line and to over draw. When you sharpen the lip liner it doesn't create sharp edges and seems a long enough pencil that it won't be wasted straight away.

In conclusion I absolutely love and adore this lipstick and lip liner combo from Kiko. I think it would work perfectly for people with slightly drier lips and would also make a good gift, as I found when I gave the same set to my friend for Christmas. They are such a bargain price also with the lipstick being £6.90, however the collection is currently on sale at £3.40! Such a fantastic price and I love it so much that I would want to buy it again and again forever. It really makes a make up look and makes me feel like I am having a confident make up day. The colour is down right intense! It is such a shame it is a limited edition collection! If you're reading Kiko, which you're probably not, make this a permanent part of your collection! I hope I can find the same colour in their permanent collection of lipsticks.

Have you tried any products from Kiko Milano?

November Favourites

Hello!

My monthly favourites come late this month due to the fact that my phone died on me which I use to take photos on, and I couldn't take any blog photos until I got a new phone. Thankfully now I have one! I went for the Samsung Galaxy S6.

My favourites for November start with the InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask. I have been using this mask once a week for the whole of November and I am really noticing the difference in my skin. It has tightened my pores and smoothed out my complexion rather well!

In November I also received my first GlossyBox, and one of the products in it was the Emite Make Up Diamond Heart Base Primer. I like this because it doesn't have a silicone feeling and does well to stop as much oil as normal coming through my make up by the end of the day. It is easy to apply and I will be sure to review it soon. However, as good as it is, it is the most difficult product ever to photograph! So I apologise that you cannot really see the writing on it in the photo.

Lastly we have my ultimate favourites this month, the dream team of all duos: the Intensely Lavish lip pencil and lipstick in '06' by Kiko Milano. This has been the only colour I have been wearing since I bought it and I have been wearing them nearly everyday! It is a beautiful mix of red and purple tones. They work so well together and the packaging is simply gorgeous. I can't wait to review these soon because I have so many great things to say about them! 

So that's it for my November Favourites! I am sure my December Favourites will be a great one. I will probably also do a 2015 ultimate favourites too so watch this space.