Kiko Haul

Hey there, today I have a haul from Kiko Cosmetics to share with you. This is the first time I have purchased from them but having seen good reviews of a number of their products online I thought I would bite the bullet and place an order. One thing to keep in mind when ordering on the Kiko website is that the minimum order value is £25, slightly annoying especially considering they have so few stores in the UK but on the plus side if you register on the website you receive free delivery for 15 days. 

First of all we have the Invisible Lip Liner (£5.90) which I thought was a great idea for me as I never usually bother with lip liner as I only have a couple that don't match half of my lipsticks! This 'one shade suits all' approach is much more practical and I may be more inclined to wear some of my brighter shades as I won't be as worried about colour bleeding, smudging etc.

 

I also purchased three of the eyeshadows (£1.90 each) which were in the sale as Kiko are changing their eyeshadow packaging so that they can be put into palettes that you build yourself, similar to MAC. Kiko have a lovely colour selection, very broad and varied so I'm sure there will be something to suit everyone. I thought these were great value and bought three pearly, neutral shades 139 Pearly Salmon, 141 Pearly Light Pink and 132 Pearly Bronze. The pigmentation is not the best but is still good and I was really pleased with the colours I chose. The packaging does feel a little cheap but for the price and considering the eyeshadows are good, I really don't mind that. and I can see myself getting a lot of use out of these. 

 L-R: 132 Pearly Bronze, 139 Pearly Salmon and 141 Pearly Light Pink

Next up are the three Nail Laquers (£3.90 each) in shades 339 Cornflower, 361 Raspberry Pink and 389 Mint Milk. I haven't yet tried these out so can't comment on what they're like but I'm sure you'll see them in a monthly nails post soon!

Finally, I bought the 201 Eye Brush (£4.90 currently 50% off) which is an angled eyeshadow brush made of natural bristles. This is very soft and quite thick, with a lovely pencil thick handle with soft grip and a plastic dust cover to keep it clean which can be put on from the bottom so that no bristles are caught and bent. This is lovely for applying a quick wash of colour over your lids or for detailing the outer corners and crease as the shape works well.

After a quick play with the Pearly Salmon and Pearly Bronze eyeshadows applied with the 201 brush this was the end result, a relaxed, neutral daytime look. Primer underneath the eyeshadow increased their intensity and helped them to wear longer too, overall I was impressed with them for the price and would still buy them full price.

Have you tried anything from Kiko yet? What would you recommend?

Thanks for reading!

Lilybet

July Nails- Color Club for BirchBox Wanderlust Collection

There was only one set of nail polishes I wore throughout July and these were the Color Club Wanderlust Collection polishes exclusively from BirchBox. I first heard about these through FleurDeForce and Zoella and as soon as I saw their pictures I knew I had to have them! These were included in the June BirchBox but in case you missed it or want to complete your collection, the set is £10 here. This collection consists of four gorgeous pastel neon shades named Reign in Spain (orange), London Calling (green), Pardon My French (lilac) and Mod in Manhattan (off-white).

 I first wore just two of the shades (Reign in Spain and Pardon My French) and loved them so much that I wanted to try out the others straight after I finished wearing this combo! I was really impressed with how long these lasted without chipping, about 5 days using Seche Vite top coat. The finish was really glossy even without Seche Vite and the photos don't quite capture the intensity of these colours, they're beautiful!

The next time I used these polishes I couldn't resist including every colour! I love how Mod in Manhattan sets off the other 3 colours, I'd love to do some nail art with this as a base and some kind of neon splatter using the other three shades, hmm...

As you can probably tell, I'm a huge fan of these polishes and would definitely be interested to try out more from Color Club in the future.

Make-Up Storage

I recently had a storage over haul and thought I would share it with you! Previously I used a big drawer with a divider (you can't even see it in the picture as it's buried!) to separate eye products from lip products from face products etc. but things started to get full and jumbled up and I found myself avoiding the drawer and everything in it!

Obviously it's a bit of a waste to have a drawer full of make-up that never gets used and I found myself buying duplicate items because I couldn't see (or remember!) what I already had, so I decided something needed to be done. I'd been looking for ideas when I stumbled upon this drawer set in WHSmith which was £14.99 and on a BOGOF offer, so I purchased it along with a set of 3 storage boxes (for office stuff) and a pen holder (for make-up brushes).

It took me a while to decide which drawers were best for which products and how to organise everything but I'm pleased with how it turned out. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much the drawers hold as I thought I would have things left over that wouldn't fit but, apart from things that I keep in my everyday make-up bag, everything is in the drawers. I did throw a few items away whilst I was organising the drawers but that was also an overdue task! Since swapping to my new set I have been using more of my make-up as it is easily accessible and I can see and remember what I have more easily, it's great! This will also (hopefully!) save me money as I won't be tempted to buy things the same or similar to what I already have.

So, let's have a look at each drawer and what I've used it for. First up are the three smallest drawers on the top row which I have used for (L-R) eyeliners, mascaras and lip glosses.

In the next row we have two wider draws, one I have used for face products and the other for lipsticks (front) and lip balms (back).

Finally, there is one large drawer on the bottom row which I have used for eye shadows, with palettes at the back and singles at the front. I have since put neutral shades on one side and colours on the other side grouped by formula (cream, loose, pressed etc.) for ease of use too.

So there we have it, my new and improved make-up storage! I am planning to do a nail polish collection/storage post too as again I've recently upgraded to something more practical and I'll probably do a 'what's in my make-up bag' post for my everyday favourites.

I ♥ Spring Tag!

First of all, thank you to Miss Budget Beauty for listing the questions! I've enjoyed watching and reading my favourite bloggers and YouTubers versions of this tag so decided to give it a go myself!

1. Favourite spring nail polish?

This has to be Jade Stone by Models Own, it's lovely pastel green and was the first nail polish I reached for at the first hint of spring! This shade of green is a favourite of mine and my bedroom is a similar colour so I am slightly biased but I find it both relaxing and uplifting at the same time. Rather appropriately (and by coincidence!) I have on my nails here Jade Stone with Snowflake on my ring finger nail, this picture was taken last Thursday while the sun was shining and before the snow hit us!

2. Must have spring lip colour?

I'm not very confident wearing lip colour so I usually stick with a safe option like the Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait. However, I have recently purchased something rather more daring for me, the Bourjois Rouge Edition lipstick in shade 17 Rose Millesime. This is a lovely raspberry pink which is still very wearable, although it doesn't go with every outfit like my Peach Parfait Lip Butter does, it's still pretty versatile and is nice to have a change sometimes.  I have also purchased the Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya, a new shade for spring/summer and love it! (as well as a couple of Rimmel Apocalips but I'll do a separate blog post on those!).

3. Show us your favourite spring dress!

Sadly, I don't really have a spring dress so I decided to show you this top instead which is probably the most springy item of clothing I have. Once again it's my favourite shade of green, but also has splashes of purple, pinks and yellows. The design is so pretty with flowers, butterflies and dragonflies, which is what makes it a lovely top to wear in spring. I bought this from Dorothy Perkins last year and have worn it loads, it's lovely soft cotton, really comfy and very flattering.

4. Favourite flower

For me, daffodils epitomise spring, my dad loves them and has always filled the house and garden with them during the spring months. However, I can't resist a daisy so I'll go with that! I love sitting out in the sun reading a book or making daisy chains. I love their simplicity and think they look so cute in the grass and love it when they have those little purple bits on! Here are some pictures I took a few years ago on a May bank holiday weekend...

5. Favourite spring scarf/accessory?

My favourite scarf is this pink one which was a total bargain from Forever 21. I bought it in the sale after Christmas and spent a couple of months waiting for the weather to warm up so that I could wear it. The colour is a gorgeous, light, salmon pink with silver sparkle running through it. It's so soft and lightweight and a good length so that it can be worn in different ways and the colour looks great with lots of things in my wardrobe. It also matches my Ted Baker handbag and purse perfectly, all I need is a pair of shoes this colour to finish off  *wink*! 

6. What spring trends are you most looking forward to?

I don't tend to follow trends but I am looking forward to ditching my Ugg boots in favour of something more feminine. I love my Uggs and wear them literally all winter but there comes a time when I just want my feet to have a little more freedom and look a bit prettier!

7. Favourite spring candle

I have been loving this Very Berry candle from Bomb Cosmetics. It's a lovely fruity fragrance without being too sweet and the scent lingers for hours after you stop burning the candle. I like tin/jar candles in general as I can put a lid on when they're not in use as I find that dust can gather in open candles and make them smoky when burning. I recently bought some gift sets from Bomb Cosmetics for friends birthday presents as I received some for my own birthday last year and was so impressed and whilst I was there I couldn't resist trying one of their delicious candles. This was my first candle from Bomb Cosmetics and I'm looking forward to trying more, the only problem is deciding which one!

Photo from http://bombcosmetics.co.uk/very-berry-candle

8. Favourite perfume/body spray
10. What is your favourite thing about spring?

My favourite is the same all year round and that is Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy! I first bought this in 2009 on a trip to New York and haven't been without it since.

9. What is spring like where you live?

Well, right now it's still pretty wintery but spring is one of the best seasons in England, I think. We've put the clocks forward so we now have longer daylight hours, it's not getting dark until about 8pm which is so refreshing after months of darkness from about 4pm! It's lovely when the trees start blossoming and everything just looks more colourful in spring. I also love seeing lambs in the fields jumping around, they're so cute! My boyfriend and I went to feed some lambs a couple of years ago and I think we'll go back this year as it's great fun! Everyone sits in the barn on a hay bale and gets handed a bottle and then they open the gates and let the lambs loose! You just hold out your bottle and a lamb will come running up to get it.

The weather getting warmer is definitely a plus, although we're not quite there yet! Spring always makes me feel more energetic and motivated about doing things, I think if the year started in April rather than January then more new years resolutions would be kept! I also love the first time you can go out without wearing a coat and as I mentioned, the time when I can put my Uggs away until winter!

11. Are you a spring cleaner?

Haha! Um, no... I'm ashamed to say that I'm a bit of a hoarder and no matter how hard I try I can never seem to have a good clear out.

12. Any plans for spring break or upcoming vacations?

Not really, although I'm finished with lectures at uni and don't have any exams this year (yes!) I still have assignments due for a few weeks so am not really finished just yet. I am, however, going to dog sit for my Granma's dog Poppy for a few days in May while my Granma is on holiday, so that will be fun!

L'Oreal Double Extension Waterproof Mascara

I actually bought this mascara for the primer as I had run out of my previous one and couldn't find an affordable one to replace it with. However, I also needed a new waterproof mascara, I decided this product would do double duty and it didn't disappoint!

L'Oreal have developed a good reputation for mascaras and this is no exception, the primer lengthened my lashes whilst the mascara volumised.

This is the primer alone on my lashes...

The formula was a really nice consistency, thick enough to add some length and volume but not so thick that it causes clumping when you apply the mascara. The brush is very easy to use as it is a manageable size and combs through the lashes evenly so you achieve an even coat and can reach the corners.

The second step is the mascara, again the brush was very manageable, (although as you'll see from the photo I still managed to get some on my face when coating my bottom lashes!) and I was able to get to the lashes right on the outer corners of my eyes. The formula coated my lashes nicely, although I did find that I needed to ensure the tops of my lashes were covered too as the primer was visible at first.

This is the effect I achieved...

Finally, the ultimate test... how waterproof is waterproof? This mascara survived the swimming pool! I have tried other waterproof mascaras for swimming in the past and whilst they may not have run or smudged, they have crumbled and my lashes have lost their lift. Not with this one! My lashes looked as good as new even after swimming my lengths, getting splashed in the face a few times and the post-swim shower. The only downside was that I did pay for this when trying to remove it later on as it took a fair scrub with my make up remover, but it was totally worth it for a mascara that fulfills it's claims as well as this. I would definitely recommend this for a hardcore waterproof mascara that doesn't compromise on lift, length and volume!

Maybelline Rocket Volum' Express Mascara

I bought this mascara despite reading some rather negative reviews of it and will admit that I too was a little disappointed when I first tried it. I was initially attracted to the brush as I quite like the chunkier, plastic design and have got on well with the Avon Supershock mascara in the past which has a similar brush. The first couple of times I tried this it came out really thick and clumpy, and the more I tried to work it through and comb my lashes out, the worse the got! I ended up looking like I had only 5 eyelashes, not a good look! I have since practised with this and have seen a vast improvement in the results!

I tried this both over eyelash primer and on bare lashes and I have to say that I prefer the effect on bare lashes! I also think that it works better with just one coat as the formula is already quite thick to achieve the volume it promises. The picture below demonstrates this as the one on the left is with primer and the right is without. The picture underneath shows my rather straight and short naked lashes (apologies for the lighting!), so you can see it makes a real difference to both length and volume! 

The only criticism I have now is that the brush can be a little clumsy if you're used to something smaller (and, like me, tend to get it on your eyelids!) but a little practise soon solves this issue. Also, the mascara is quite difficult to remove as it is so thick, however the results are worth the effort and the staying power is brilliant. This mascara did not crumble or flake at all during the day and my eyelashes didn't drop as they sometimes do! Overall, I was impressed with this and am glad I persevered to overcome my own (and others!) disappointing first impressions!

L'Oreal Infallible Foundation

This is currently one of my favourite foundations, I usually use Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (shade 52) but found that my skin needs a bit more coverage at this time of year. Having previously tried and liked the L'Oreal True Match foundation I decided to give this a try. The first thing that struck me was the texture, it's much less watery than the True Match and was easier to apply evenly and blend. I was also surprised by the scent but it smells really nice which is a bonus in my opinion! The colour match was good (I chose 120 Vanilla, which is much lighter than it looks in the photo below) for my pale winter skin, although not perfect, with my powder on top it looks very natural. 

This foundation provided the medium coverage that I wanted and does have good staying power, which is great as once my make up is on in the morning I don't touch it again! I have quite an oily t-zone and am pleased to say that I haven't experienced any problems with oxidation, nor does it start to slide. Overall, a great product providing long wear as promised and a good level of coverage.