KIKO Eye Base Primer Review

Everyday beauty companies seem to be bringing out new primers, creams, gels etc. I'm slowly but surely catching up with completing my skin prepping products. As you all know this can become very expensive so here I have found an amazing priced eye primer.  

For only £6.90 you can get Kiko's Eye Base Primer. I think this is a great price as some eye primers cost over £20 ! So when I saw this I just had to give it a try.

The primer is a good size at 10ml. You only have to use a very small amount at a time, so I can see this product lasting me a long time.  

The design and packaging looks very sleek and professional. With a little nozzle applicator its perfect to get out the exact amount you need.  Also I like that without a wand applicator you don't have to worry as much about spreading and collecting germs. The lid also screws on so do need to worry about the lid falling of in your makeup bag and leaking ! ( Don't you hate it when that happens )  

The primer is a mattifying mouse like texture. Its lovely and fluffy and applies perfectly. Its very easy to blend across the eyelid leaving a smooth and concealed finish. As you can see in the image the primer is a nude colour. This creates a lovely nude base on the eye lid removing any redness or imperfections you do not want to see. You could even use this on its own for a lovely natural look. The primer works like magic and adapts to your own skin colour so you don't need to worry if the shade will not suit you. 

The primer compliments all eye shadows making them look there best and helps eye shadows to last longer without creasing. As it leaves the eyes so smooth it makes blending eye shadows a dream.

 I will definitely be repurchasing this product.

 It really is a great quality product for the price and a great alternative to all the expensive eye primers.

If you would like to try out the eye primer visit www.KikoCosmetics.co.uk. 

Thanks for reading !

MAC Eye-Shadow Duo

At the moment this is my absolute favourite makeup product. I bought this eye-shadow duo at Bicester Village in Oxford. I just liked the colours compared to the others that were available and wanted to purchase my first ever MAC eye-shadow. I have to say I am very pleased that I did pick this duo as I didn't realise how much I was actually going to love and use it ! I now understand why everyone says how great MAC eye-shadows really are. You get lovely strong bold colour without all the crumbly lose powder that falls and smudges. And the colours blend so easily with a beautiful professional finish.



So lets start with the gorgeous colour Radial Pink. The Radial Pink is a very light shade of white with a soft pink hint and a beautiful shimmery finish. This is a great colour to run across the eyelids leaving your eyes looking bigger and fresh. I never usually wear pinks for eye-shadows as I feel they can make your eyes look sore and irritated. However this shade is so light and frosty there is no chance of that happening. You really could pair this eye-shadow with any colour you wanted and the quality lets you blend the with such ease.
 

Next we have Shadowy Lady. This is a MAC classic. Im sure most MAC lovers will have this colour so you will all know how amazing it is. Shadowy Lady is a smokey blackened plum colour. I have noticed in other reviews people have found this shade hard to blend. I honestly haven't had this problem and the shadow has always blended nicely for me giving a gorgeous smokey effect. This colour is great to work into the socket giving a smokey contouring effect. Shadowy Lady has a stunning matte finish so works so well with the shimmery Radial Pink. This is also perfect to run along the lash line using an angled brush for a soft liner look. 

    

I have to admit at the moment I use this everyday! I just love how the colours blend together so well. It does help that I have green eyes so these two colours really help to enhance and bring out the green however I would still recommend this duo for any eye colour. You can play with the intensity of the colours and use the Radial Pink for a softer day time look. Then come night you can add more Shadowy Lady for a sexy smokey look.
 
Hope you enjoyed this review :D
Whats your favourtie MAC duo ?

Starting Off: Blusher

Blusher is one of the hardest things to get right. There are so many shades to choose from. When I first started using blusher I did not have a clue were to start ! I remember buying the brightest pink I could find and smothering my cheeks with it ! Its safe to say I looked awful. I then moved on to the brightest orange I could find as you can see it just gets worse and worse. So here I shall give you a little guide to blusher and help you make sure it doesn't ruin the beautiful makeup you want to achieve.

First of all choose what type of blusher you would like to use.

There are more available but these I personally think are best for beginners.  

Cream: Use sparingly and blend very well. Cream blushers are very well pigmented so can come out very strong. Best applied with fingers. 

Powder: Best for oily skin. Applies well and can be very pigmented depending on the brand or product you choose.  This is the most commonly used out of all the blushers you can get. Apply with a blusher brush.

Tint: Needs to be applied fast as it drys so quickly. This may take a few goes and need some practice. The tint can go a little streaky and once dried will not budge until you take it of so make sure it is perfect !  

What shade is best for you ? 

Here is just a little brief guide on what to pick just to be safe to start with.  

Pale skin - Light Pinks

Medium Skin- Peachy/orangey shades 

Dark skin - Rosie /dark pink shades

once you pick the blusher you want and the shade you want its time to apply !

First apply all your foundation, concealer etc.

Use a small sized blusher brush to apply. Suck in cheeks to make a fish like face and apply blusher to the apples of the cheeks. 

Make sure you apply a tiny amount at a time ! I can not exaggerate this enough due to how bad mine used to look !

You can always add more if needed. 

Make sure you blend it in well almost as if its not there and its just a natural tinge to your skin.

Then your good to go !

Here are a few of my favs at the moment.

  

                                      Rimmel Stay Blushed              Blsuhers from My Makeup Kit                                                    

                                                       Mac Pink Blush                                  Mac Happy Together                                          

Thanks for reading ! 

Starting Off : Bronzer

 Bronzer  is quite simple and easy to use and so easy to apply. The most important thing to choose for Bronzer is which shade you pick.

Bronzer is mainly used to make your face look more tanned. However it can also be used to contour. Contouring can be used to give an illusion for a new face shape  and create shadows to make the face look slimmer.   

Some people even use bronzer instead of a blusher. I have to admit I am guilty of this when going for a natural day look.

So the types of bronzer you can buy are 

Powder: By far the most common! Best suited for oily combination skin. Can also be used for an eye shadow if you even forget to pack any or run out ! Apply easly with a brush. Matt finish

Liquid: Glossy glowing finish. Blends well with foundation. Can be tricky to get this product perfect. Apply with fingertips or sponge.   

Cream: Used more commonly in winter months. Best suited for dry skin as it helps moisterise. Apply with brush, fingertips or sponge.

How to apply 

( Make sure you have applied foundation and concealer first)

I personally like to apply my bronzer with a brush.  Choose a wide. fluffy brush which is slightly rounded at the top. This will help give an even finish as you don't want patchy dots all over your face.  

Apply The bronzer onto areas that the sun will naturally tan the face. So apply to the top of the forehead, across the cheekbones and along the jawline. Also to help stand at a window with a mirror and see were the light hits your face. 

Apply very little at a time !  Bronzer is very easy to build up but if you apply to much you will have to take it all of and start again !!

Make sure the bronzer is blended in with the rest of your makeup for a smooth none patchy finish.

Here are some I use 

                                                         Kiko Trio Blusher                         Calvin Klien Blusher                                            

                                      M&S Cream Shimmer Bronzer                    N0 7 Mosaic Bronzer                                            

Thanks for reading !

    

Starting Off: Concealer

Entering the world of concealers can be very very confusing. There are hundreds of shades and even green and purple shades !
 Also to add to the confusion most of them look like lipsticks. 

So concealers are available in 3 main types liquid, powder and solid. 

So first of all decide which one will suit you better. 

Liquid: Good for large areas. Works well covering acne, dark circles under the eyes and blemishes. This concealer I find is the easiest to blend.  

Powder: This gives the least coverage out if the 3 types. This is good for a little touch up on skin with hardley any blemishes and slight dark circles under the eyes. 

Solid: This is the concealer that usually comes in a lipstick form. It offers the most coverage out if the 3 but is by far the hardest to blend. This concealer works best for scares and large dark blemishes. I wouldn't reccomend putting this under eyes as it can irritate sensitive areas. Also as its hard to blend you will notice the build up.

The next tricky thing to choose is what shade is best for you. Take into consideration what it is you want to cover as it may be best to have different shades for different problem areas.

I personally try to steer clear of light concealers many people think the lighter the concealer the more likely it will hide dark areas and blemishes. I find when people apply concealer that is too light you then have light patches which can actually look worse!

So here is a little guide to what each shade does.

Orange/warm: The orange within the shade takes away the blue tones from the skin which is what forms the dark grey areas within the skin. This also is the best shade for hiding veins!  Warm tones are the best for hiding dark circles the colour is strong enough to cover the grey and give a fleshy tone. This instantly brightens the darker areas.

Yellow: The yellow shade takes away from the purple tones within the skin. Again this shade is good for reducing dark areas. Also this would be the best shade for covering up bruises.

Green:  This shade takes away redness so is great for blemishes, rosacea and scares.

Purple: This shade takes away the yellow tones in this skin. This shade also makes your complexion appear brighter.

Here is another guide that I personally use when applying concealer

( Remember everyone is different there is no right or wrong way. Do what ever way you are most comfortable with)

1. Apply foundation all over. ( foundation will cover most imperfections !)

2. Then look for imperfections.

3. Apply the correct shade.
4. Use a concealer brush to softly apply. You can use your finger if you do not have one.
5. Pat and Dab onto the area needed do not rub concealer in. (Especially around eyes as the skin is very delicate)
6. Blend around the edges of the concealer to make sure you don't have an obvious color change.

Always apply with a thin layer. You can build up coverage. If you apply to much you don't want to have to take all the concealer and foundation of and start all over again.

Here are a few that I use

Rimmel Hide The Blemish £3.99                    Witch Concelaer £4.99                            Clinique Airbrush £18.00                                                                            

For one last special tip from me I will tell you a makeup artist secret.
When dealing with really dark grey areas on the face under eyes etc and dark skin, Apply a very small amount of bright red lipstick to the area and mix in with the concealer. Make sure it is a warm orange based red to warm the concealer and this will completely remove the grey area !
This is also great to use when covering tattoos.


Hope this post helped you out.

Barry M Touch Of Magic Lip Paint

The first time I ever saw this lipstick was years ago when I was at school ! I thought it was the most amazing thing in the world. Now years later I have finally purchased my own. And its still as amazing as it was all them years ago !

I do have to thank Kammi from beautybookblog.com/ for convincing my to buy this :) 

So you must be wondering why the hell it is green! As you apply the green lipstick it magically turns pink from the alkali on your lips. This does mean everyone shade will be different  depending on your alkaline levels. You could end up with a very pale pink colour or a vibrant cerise pink. 

I love the fact that everyone who uses this lipstick will have their own unique shade! 

So you can buy this Lipstick at most boots and superdrug stores. I cant seem to find this shade online so your best bet would be to look in a local shop. The lipstick's price is £4.49 which I think is great. 

As you an see below the lipstick is in shade TMLP. This stands for Touch Of Magic Lip Paint. 

I actually love that name I think it makes the lipstick sound very cute and girly.   

   

 So if you don't believe me and think i'm trying to fool you into buying a green lipstick, here is a picture of me applying the product.

I just love the shade that the lipstick creates for me. The lipstick feels very smooth and nourishing to your lips. I am quite surprised as I thought the colour changing effect could be very drying but this is not the case at all. Another great thing about this lipstick is how long it lasts on your lips ! I put this on around 6pm and didn't take any of before bed (whoops) When I woke you could still see the product! It had faded a little but was still noticeable. So this lipstick is great for when you only want to apply once or twice a day as it almost stains the lips a lovely pinky tone. If you are worried about the product staining just apply a little lip balm before applying the product and the barrier should stop the staining.    

So here is the complted look. I have applied 2-3 coats to make the shade a little more vibrant. The lipstick texture gives a lovely added shine. But as you can see the product does soak into the skin and stains the lips.  Personally I have no problem with this as I feel it makes the product last longer.

Would you like to try a colour changing lipstick ? Whats your favourite BarryM shade ?

Thanks for reading ! 

Starting Off: Skincare

Everyone will have their very own skincare routine. When your first starting to experiment with skincare products it can be a bit scary as there is soooo many different brands, items, textures, smells  and so much more to take into consideration.

The main items to include within a skincare routine I think (as everyone is different) are 

• Cleanser 
• Exfoliator 
• Toner
• Moisturiser 

Another great thing to use is Makeup wipes ! They are so quick and easy to remove make up but I warn you now are so so so drying for your skin ! 

What Does It Do ? 

• Cleanser  : Cleans away dirt,oils and removes makeup leaving your face feeling fresh and clean.
• Exfoliator : Removes dry dead skin, impurities and grease . Helps to unblock pores and can also improve the pigmentation of the skin   
• Toner : Takes away any left over makeup and dirt after cleansing. Prepares the skin for moisturiser. Some Toners can even minimize pore size !  
• Moisturiser :   Moisturises the skin to keep it soft and dewy. Stops the skin from drying out and is also a great base for when applying makeup. 

How Do I Use It ?

• Cleanser :

 You should always look at the directions given with the cleanser you buy as some can be slightly different. I am going to base mine on Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. 
You apply one pump of product into your hand and apply all over face.

Then using the cloth that comes with the cleanser run under warm water.

Then wipe of all cleanser on the face.

Its as simple as that !   

• Exfoliator 

Again make sure you read the directions that come with the product !

you should only use this once a week as if you over exfoliate your face can become red and sore.

Apply a small amount to hand and then place on your troublesome areas for dry skin and blocked pores.

This would usually be Forehead,Nose,Cheeks and Chin . 

Try not to get this product near your eyes

Rub the product into your skin gently with small circular motions. 

If you find that it hurts you are doing it to hard ! 

Then wash of with warm water

• Toner

To tone you should apply a small amount to a cotton wool pad and then apply all over the face. 

Again be careful around the  eyes.

Never apply too much to the cotton wool pad you don't want to waste any product. If you feel you need to add more to the cotton pad that's fine but you cant take it away !  

• Moisturiser

Just apply either from the pot or tube into your hands and straight on to the face.
Again apply a little at a time as you don't want to waste any product.

What do you recommend ?

There are so many different types of skincare products. You can buy a skin care range that is perfect for you and your skin needs. The main skin types are Dry, Oily, Combination and sensitive so look out for the products that suit your skin type best. 

I have very bad dry/sensitive skin so all my skin care products are Liz Earle 

Liz Earl is quite expensive when your young but its a great idea to ask for these products for Christmas and birthday presents. They last along time so you don't need to replace them very often

once you find something that suits your skin you should stick to it. You will have to keep trying products until you find the perfect one for you. 

Here are some cleansers I have tried out

                   Liz Earle £ 14.75                        Soap & Glory £8.00                   Boots Essentials £1.50      

Here are some toners I have tried out 

                  Simple Facial Toner £2.99              Liz Earle Skin Tonic £13.25           

Please click the links under each picture if you would like to buy any products 

                               

If you have any more questions please leave your comments below ! 

Thanks for reading I hope this helps ! 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain

So I have been looking at a lot of blogs at the moment and noticed that orange lipsticks seem to be a must have at the moment !

I have always wanted a orange lipstick but have never felt brave enough to try one out. Now being a makeup artist I have tried out many different products and colours  and thought it was time to try out a orange lipstick. Especially as it is so on trend at the moment. 

I was going to buy a Revlon Lip Butter but decided to go with the Just Bitten range instead. I don't really know why I decided to go with the Just Bitten range it just seemed to appeal to me more. 

The Just Bitten range comes in a retractable crayon which I just love.  

I decided to go with colour Rendezvous. It is a lovely orange colour with a subtle coral tone. Most of the orange colours I tried out have had a red tone and look more red than orange so I was so pleased when I come across this colour.  

Now I know I keep stating that the Revlon Just Bitten is a lipstick but it is actually a Lip Balm Stain. However the colour does apply like a lipstick with a bonus of keeping your lips lovely and soft with the balm.  

The colour is very long lasting and I did recently wear the Revlon Just Bitten to an all day wedding. I only had to reapply twice throughout the day which is amazing as I was there from 1pm to around 10pm.   

So this is what the product looks like on. 

 1 Layer

Built coverage with 3 Layers

The colour is also build-able so you can apply lightly for a nice soft shade or layer up for a more vibrant orange color.

I am surprised how moistersing the product is as lip stains are usually quite drying. However I do not find the lip stain drying at all.  

I bought Lip Stain from boots recently. Luckily there was an offer to buy 2 products for £10 across all Revlon Products !

Its a great idea to look out for offers in the beauty stores. 

The Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain is usually £7.99 but I do think its worth the money.

You get a lot of product too so this should last you a long time. 

To buy this product Click the the Link > Boots 

Have you tried any of the Revlon Just Bitten Lip stains ? Whats your favourite shade ?

Eylure Eye Lashes !

Now if your anything like me you will not be seen on a night out without a pair of eyelashes on !

I love eyelashes I really feel you can do so much more with your eye makeup with a pair of lashes on. 

When I do big dark eyeshadows and liners I feel my natural lashes seem to disappear and blend away so by adding a pair of lashes to the makeup, it makes your lashes stand out and also compliments your makeup. They are also great to glam up natural makeup for the extra oomph when you want to really stand out.

Applying lashes is very very tricky so I will soon do a step by step guide on how to apply them !

So here are a few of my absolute Favourite lashes from the Eylure Brand

083

I love these lashes they are quite minimal and great for applying lots of volume to the lashes without looking too much. They add a subtle volume and still look very natural. These are great to enhance your day make up or can be teamed with glamorous makeup to complete the perfect look for a special occasion.

They are a cute short length compared to some but really do add a lot of volume.

 I really feel these lashes compliment any look and I make sure I stock up on these! 

 107

 These lashes I like to wear for nights out. They have a lovely flare as they start small and get longer as the lash goes along. This is great for a vintage 1940's glamour look. They add great volume even though the start of the lashes are shorter. The lashes are not to long either that they still look flattering and enhance every eye shape. So keep these for the very special occasions for that extra special look !

101

This style has got to be my favorite for a night out. They are full of volume and length so give the extra oomph to complete your look. I think these are more evening lashes and could look a little too much with day wear. They have a lovely curve throughout the lash which is such a great lash shape that will enhance any eye shape nicely. These lashes teamed with a bold liner and smokey eye look amazing ! I would definitely purchase these if you want your eyes to stand out.

Each pack of lashes comes with Adhesive Glue for easy application and range from £5 to £6

You can purchase any of these lashes on www.eylure.co.uk/

If you want to look for any of the lashes in this post just type the lash number into the search box on the Eylure website. 

   

Do you like wearing false lashes ? Whats your favourite Lash brand?

Thanks for reading ! :D

My Favourite Bed Head Styling Products

EGO BOOST

SPLIT END MENDER/ LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

To use Ego Boost apply 1 or 2 pumps of product into your hand and then apply to damp hair. You can use all over but is designed to concentrate on  split ends. 

The texture of this product is very sticky but if you warm it up in your hand it soon smooths out and feels lovely in your hair. It can sometimes make your hair go a little hard but this only happens if you apply too much product. If you find that the product has made your hair a little stiff just use a brush or comb through the hair and it will leave it feeling soft and smooth in no time. 

This isn't my favourite Smelling product out of the ones I have on this post. However it still smells great ! Ego Boost has a Fruity Berry fragrance which leaves your hair smelling fresh and clean. 

So what does Ego Boost actually do ?
 Ego Boost lightly conditions the hair whist mending split ends and protecting dry and damaged hair from environmental elements, chemical treatments and excessive brushing and styling. The hair is left feeling smooth with renewed health and split ends and visible damage are reduced

I feel the product does what it says on the tin. It smells lovely makes your hair feel amazing. I will definitely be re purchasing this when it runs out.  

SPOIL ME

DEFRIZZER, SMOOTHER, AND INSTANT RE-STYLER

To use Spoil Me spray over all over dry or damp hair. I like to spray on damp hair before styling and re apply on dry hair the following day.

The texture of the product is just like a very light hair spray. The Spoil Me spray comes in a aerosol can so the product comes out with ease by simply just pressing the cap down.

Spoil Me has a lovely light citrus smell which leaves your hair looking and smelling fresh and clean. 

So what does Spoil Me actually do ?
Spoil Me protects from heat damage and tames flyaway hair whilst offering natural style movement and shine. This fine styling mist hydrates the hair and leaves your style with a light, static free hold.

I love this spray I think it is great for everyday use. I like that it gives you a light hold without making your hair feel heavy and bulky like some hair sprays can. I wouldnt like to use hair sprays on my hair everyday only usually on nights out so this is a great alternative as it is so light and fresh but still gives a light hold to your style. 

I also find the defrizzer side of the product is amazing it keeps my hair silky smooth and soft to the touch with no frizz. I have extremely curly hair especially when it is hot and humid and this always tames down the frizz. 

Spoil Me also comes in a huge bottle with 300ml so it lasts for ages!  I use quite alot at time when using this spray and it has lasted me a good 4 months and its not even finished yet !

COLOUR GODDESS LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

THERAPY FOR RACY RED HEADS & BODACIOUS BRUNETTES.

Now this is my absolute favourite hair styling product I have ever used ! I cant get enough of this so make sure you take all this information in ;) You will not regret it ! 

To use Colour Goddess Leave In Conditioner spray all over wet/damp hair and comb through to make sure it is evenly spread. 

The texture of the product is very watery and you only need a few spays to have your hair completely covered. A little goes a long way ! 

The most amazing thing about this leave in conditioner has to be the smell ! It has a amazing Vanilla, Toffee, Fudge, Caramel Dessert, Sweet scent to it which is absolutely amazing. I love love love vanilla, toffee kind of smells so this is perfect for me. And the best thing about it is the smell lingers I have been asked many times what have I used in my hair as they can smell the delicious scent.   

So what does Colour Goddess Leave in condioner actually do ?
Colour Combat Colour Goddess Leave In Conditioner smoothes the cuticle to reduce frizz and adds shine and softness to the hair. Essential for colour treated hair, Colour Combat Colour Goddess Leave In Conditioner leaves the hair with renewed strength and an added boost of colour radiance and shine.

I love this product and it is by far my favourite and has also lasted me ages which is another bonus! The colour staying power is also great it has definitely helped improve my hair colour so I don't have to dye it as often. However I do use the shampoo and conditioner with in the same range so this propbably helps. My friend who is blonde also uses this in her hair as she loves the smell so if you are blonde and still want to try this product go ahead! It still keeps both our hair in great condition as it is so moisturising to the hair leaving it so soft to the touch.

And another added bonus which I haven't mentioned so far it is all a great frizz tamer and also heat protector ! This spray really does have so many benefits ! 

SMALL TALK

3-IN-1 THICKIFIER, ENERGIZER, STYLIZER

To use apply desired amount into hands and smooth all over wet hair. 

The texture of the product is very thick but smooth and creamy almost like a moisturiser. Again i use 1 or 2 pumps into my hand and warm the cream up to make it more of a runny substance to place through my hair. 

One of the main reasons again that I bought this is the scent. Small Talk smells amazing ! The scent is a heavenly creamy blueberry fruity smell. I'm guessing the bottle design was based on the blueberry scent!

So what does Small Talk actually do ?   

Small Talk gives life to limp hair and adds body and volume to finer hair types. When used on wet hair, Small Talk defines and separates the hair to offer improved styling control whilst smoothing and eliminating frizz on dry hair.

This product gives my hair plenty of bounce and body. Although my hair is naturally curly once I straighten it it goes very thin and limp so this is great to keep some bounce, shape and volume to my hair.

If you have ever bought any Bed Head products you will be aware that you can only buy these products from salons and websites. unfortunately you cant buy from the official TIGI website I took a risk and bought mine from  http://www.gorgeousshop.co.uk/ Luckily all products were genuine and also slightly cheaper yay

! 

So now you know my Favourite Bed Head products whats yours ?! Are you going to try any of these ? Please leave your comments 

Thanks for reading !