Review: AKA Cosmetics Lipgloss in Sumptuous

I’m a gloss girl to be fair.

A minimum of 4 glosses can be found on me at any time . . . and occasionally more if I remember to put my things in my makeup bag instead of my bags and pockets.

I have wanted to share this lipgloss with you a while ago but the original lipgloss pictures where among those I lost when I broke my 16gb sd card . . . and after managing to take backups . . . managed to lose my 8gb sd card as well so this is a third time lucky shot at this post.

 AKA cosmetics is a new cosmetics brand in the UK with the concept of helping you create a smokey, demure or carnival look with getting yourself in a confusing pickle.  Sumptuous is a beautiful berry shade that is non sticky or weighs down the lips, I find that it’s glossy and shiny at first but does stain (and looks great as a stain). Personally I think it’s a great going out shade as it has a lot of personality to it that would make it a great wear.

This gloss has a little sponge applicator that I love (I have a vendetta against those little brush applicators) so you are getting a great amount of product with just one swatch (as you can see in my picture).

Although Sumptous is not a colour I would pick up as I’m not the biggest fan of extreme pinks or purples. The colour payoff is still amazing with flash or without flash.

There are 6 lipgloss shades to choose from and priced at £7 a pop, don’t you think you should order one?

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Review: L’oreal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing & Resurfacing Primer

I can’t believe I’m saying this but after complaining about how bad the weather has been in London recently and wanting the sun to come out, I am so happy to see the sun go.

I just couldn’t deal with the heat wave that hit London for the best part of this week. I was just hot, sweaty, uncomfortable and frankly a bit nauseated from the stink of sweat and body odor radiating off some people on the underground. So with the choices of having my foundation melt off my face *cue in creams of ‘I’m meelllltttiiinnngggg’* or powder my face til I look airbrushed, my makeup for the last few days has been minimal to none-existent as the thought of weighing down my skin with anything was just not comprehendible.

I have quite good skin so leaving my house without any makeup is not really that big of a deal, but I really hate how huge my pores look when I don’t wear any foundation; It’s like I’ve got an advanced level minesweeper minefield all over my nose, so I’ve just been using a primer to try and even out my pores.

 L’oreal Paris Studio Secrets Resurfacing Primer is my choice for a primer to use in the hot weather mainly because it is not a liquid or gel, and comes in a baby pink, air -whipped, matte mousse formula; which as you can imagine is quite light.

Right on cue, this primer does what it says it would do and seems to ‘fill in’ my pores and makes them less obvious to the eye. It lasts roughly all day and I find that if I use it on specific target areas, I do not look as hot & sweaty as I did sans primer.

For a drugstore/highstreet product this is very expensive. You only get 15ml of product in a teeny pot, which could probably be used up in less that a month if used regularly. My only negative points are that I find that it can make me look quite pale (but this might be more me using a heavy hand than the primer itself) and that it takes absolutely ages to blend foundation over this without getting a weird streaky look.

Have you tried this primer before? Did you think its a summer essential? Leave a comment and let me know what you think of this tiny product.

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Review:- Sleek 2012 London Olympic Collection Blush in Honour

I heard about the new Sleek Makeup Collection inspired by the London 2012 Olympics a few weeks backs and while I was excited (and a feeling a mild bit patriotic) about the new cosmetics collection . . . all my focus went on the blush, Honour.

I have a growing obsession with the pigmentation and great-quality of Sleek blushes and own quite a few (10 & counting, baby). In the stock pictures, Honour looked like a peachy-coral colour which I wasn't too sure about but after great reviews for Laa laa from Dolce Vanity, I thought why not just give it a try.

Honour swatches beautifully on very dark skin. A pretty deep rose-gold that warms up the skin without feeling like you are drowning in shimmer. On my skin it comes off as a beautiful wine/plum infused with beautiful gold specks so I can definitely see why it is sold out in a few stores. Honour follows Sleek Make-Up blush formula, so is soft, (but not annoyingly so) easy to apply and blend and has a good wear time. For me, it tends to last a good 6/8 hours depending on if my skin is primed or not.

While I do love this shade . . . .I can't help but feel like I've seen it before.

 Honour seems to be a very, VERY close dupe to two other shades that Sleek has previously released. As you can tell from the picture above, Honour, Sunrise and Muscovado seem to be uncomfortably similar in shade and swatches. Though Honour does seem to be darker in the pan when seen in natural day light this does not translate when swatched, making these 3 blushes barely distinguishable from each other.

As much as I like this blush shade (I obviously must like it a lot as I seem to own 3 (¬_¬) ) . . . Is Sleek trying to pull a fast one on its customers??

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Recent Purchases:- MAC Eyeshadows in Embark, Club, Pink Venus, Fig.1 and Twinks

Having my office located 2 minutes away from a MAC store is slowly turning my blog into a one-brand swatches website, but as they are one of the only stores that stock my skin shade in a 15 minute walking radius, you guys are going to be getting a lot of MAC reviews.

Yesterday, I encouraged everyone to guess the eyeshadows I’m going to review today and despite me giving a HUGE hit . . . not that many people guessed any of the shades right.

Club is the most intriguing eyeshadow of the bunch as it’s a bit like a multi-dimensional chameleon. The purple, grey and green mixture of this shade gives it a flexibility that you really don’t expect so it works great as a lid colour for a smokey eye.

Pink Venus was a bit of an impulse buy. I will admit this right now as I’m not sure what was going through my head at the time when I bought this. Not normally a fan on Barbie pink or colours with a white-silver undertone but this shade was just tooo pretty.

I’m not entirely sure how I will use it as I find that when swatched it fails to show up very strongly on my dark skin. I think it would have to be relegated to a tear duct colour until I find a good use for it. 

Embark is a warm, dark brown that I would highly recommend anyone with dark skin like mine stocking in their MAC neutral palettes. 2 shades darker than my natural skintone, this shade works wonderfully as a crease and contour eyeshadow shade and I have sometimes even used this as a cheek contour as it is warm enough not to give my skin a dirty, ashy-brown effect.

This is the only shade that is a repurchase and this is actually my 3^rd time buying this eyeshadow colour, so just know that when I recommend it, I’m doing so because I believe in it

As I’m always expanding my purple and blue MAC eyeshadow palettes, Fig.1 was recommended to me by one of my favourite local MAC artist, who thankfully seems to be keeping tabs on what shades I buy.

I was looking for a dark purple but similar to Vibrant grape which I already had but was not quite right for the makeup look I was going for (had to create a specific look models face – will put up link later) and she recommended Fig.1 and omg can I just say it was perfect!!! 

Last but not least. Twinks – a beautiful dark bronze perfect for a black girl eyelid. This shade is so much better than MAC’s eyeshadow in Bronze (which I normally swear by) as it is one shade darker than bronze so looks more like my eyelid shade but with a little bit of a shimmer to it. I can’t wait to recreate a daytime smokey eye look with this because this just screams out for me to play with it.

 So Ladies (and gentlemen) that is it for the recent eyeshadows swatches, sorry I was a bit late posting this but my post schedule ran amok and this didn’t go up 10 hours ago like it was meant to.

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Review:- Revlon Colorburst in Sizzle, Crystal Lilac & Strawberry

As summer decided to skip the UK this year, I'm using my funds that would normally go into sprucing  up my summer wardrobe on makeup (typical me), I popped into my local Boots and stocked up on my favourite drugstore lip glosses . . . Revlon's Colorburst!!!!!

I am a huge fan of the Colorburst lip glosses as the sleek Chanel-like packaging contains some of the most pigmented shades & moisturising formulas around. For those that have not tired Revlon's Colorburst lip glosses I would definitely recommend then as the formula is smooth, lightweight and non-sticky, plus right now Boots are having a 3 for 2 offer on the Revlon products which as good an excuse as any to pick up a few shades.

Sizzle (046, £7.99) is an eye-popping, orange lipgloss with red undertones in its tube but comes out as a semi-opaque orange that adds a lot of warmth to my lip, visualise an instant warm glow.  I normally do not reach for orange shades but there really is no denying that wonderful effect an orange-toned lipgloss has on dark skin.

Strawberry (006, £7.99) is a soft-pinky red lipgloss with specks of silver glitter in its tube that thankfully (as silver undertones can make dark skin look as chalky as talcum powder) doesn't not stand out when swatched on skin . . . well at least not on my lips anyway. Would love to team this up with a paler pink lipstick (maybe MAC's Creme in Your Coffee/Viva Glam 4) with Strawberry on the middle portion of my lip to give it a little pop.

Crystal Lilac (002, £7.99) is a bubble-gum pink which has this weird Northern Light Reflects going on that is absolutely dazzling!! I think the reflects in this lipgloss convinced me to buy this as I would never go for a pink that light if I didn't feel there was something special about it. I think this would go great as a lipstick/gloss come with some of my neutral lipstick though.

I really love what I picked up but I really wanted another shade called Sunbaked which looked absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! Seeing as I just bought 3 Revlon Colorburst, how do i justify buying one more?

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Review: Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara

Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara is the UK’s No1 Best Selling Mascara right now, so please believe that I might just be the last person in the UK beauty blogging community to try out this mascara, but better late than never, right??

With claims of lengthening, curling, volumising, lifting and separating your lashes, all without smudging or drying out . . . I think it’s time for me to but a little spin on things.

Ok, I’m going to be completely honest here and just say what I think. When I read that this mascara lengthens and curls your lashes . . . at the same time . . . I thought isn’t that a contradiction? Wouldn’t curlier lashes makes lashes look shorter as opposed to longer? *shrugs*

While I wouldn’t go as far as labeling this as a lash effect mascara (as I practically live in lashes so I know the difference), I believe this is a very good volumising/lengthening mascara. I didn’t really see that much curling, as my lashes as already pretty curly, They’re real mascara did look longer and more voluminous. The mascara wand easily coated each lash.

True to its word, this Benefit mascara does not smudge or dry out. I can testify that it is very long lasting (as it took me freaking hours to get this off). Overall I think this is a great formula and it does most of what it claims to do, however I do not think it’s the best mascara on the market for £18.50.

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POTW - Becca Cosmetics' Beach Tint

 

Hello lovelies,

I almost thought I wouldn't be able to do this video as the weather was so bad and I've been so ill lately but I didn't want to break my current streak.

Watching this video back, I can't believe how many times I said 'eerrrrrm', I really need to think up a new pause filler.

I choose Becca Cosmetics' Beach Tint  in Strawberry  (RRP. £20), this week as it is something I've been reaching for a lot more this week. I'm loving its compact form (and let's be honest 7ml is very, very compact) and it's warm orangish-red shade.

I don't know why I didn't love the colour back in February when I first received this but can you say 'Makeup bag Staple' 

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Review: MaryKay Botanical Effects Range for Normal Skin

First things, first, I have super sensitive skin and I break out like crazy when my skin comes in contact with naturally derived products; hence why you will probably never see me do a review on any Lush products – The rash I got was unbelievable!!! (Is that too much information?).

I was VERY apprehensive about trying out this product set, even with its guarantees of being sensitive and friendly to skin because let’s face it, a lot of brands claim that and I still end up looking like a pin cushion, but Mary Kay’s Botanical Effects Product Set gets my full recommendation as I haven’t reacted once!!!!

So let’s get on with the review . . .

So I have been using the MaryKay Botanical Effects Products that I received from the Mary Kay Botanical Effects Event as my main skincare products for the last month and I thought that it might finally be time to review it, especially as I’ve used it so much that it is starting to feel CONSIDERABLY lighter that when I first got it.

 Catering to the 4 skin types within their 2 Botanic formulations; Normal to Dry and Combination to Oily, each Botanic Effect Formulation Range includes a cleanser, freshener mask and moisturiser which promises to cleanse, freshen and hydrate your skin. The Normal to Dry line, which I am using is packed with Flaxseed extract and Sea Kelp, as well as an exclusive and special anti-oxidant rich complex that includes Silymarin (milk thistle) and Luo Han Guo, which are both power antioxidants that help to defend environmental damage and promote healthy skin.

*Did I just use the Lotion to wash my face instead of the Cleanser??*

I kid you not! This actually went through my head the first time I put the Mary Kay Botanical Effects Cleanser (rrp.£13) to work. With no exfoliating beads or bits in its formula, it could be quite easy to confuse with the Mary Kay Botanical Effects Lotion when in an early morning daze.

At first I was a bit upset that it didn’t have an exfoliating beads in its formula because I quite like giving my skin a good scrub in the mornings but as the weeks went on, I realised that I didn’t want any beads near my face. The cleanser feels just like moisturising milk and gives my skin a silky wake-up.

Out of the whole Botanical Effects Collection, the MaryKay Botanical Effects Mask (rrp. £15) is what I would sacrifice half my makeup collection for (and honestly that is saying A LOT!!!). This is the only thing I have that makes my skin happy after a peak time session on the Central and Northern Underground Line.

I love it, I love it, I LOVE it!!!!!!

As a mask, this works excellently. I use this about once or twice a week for 10-15 mins, just before I go to bed and it just makes my skin feel amazing! It feels like it stripped off the gunk off my face and I cant accurately describe the feeling but it felt like my skin was finally allowed to breath. 

*How the flip do I use this??*

Beauty products don’t normally catch me out but I honestly had NO CLUE how to use this properly. The lack of clear directions and the name ‘Freshener’ actually threw me off because I couldn’t work out how exactly it was supposed to freshen my skin.

At first I assumed it was a makeup setting mist . . . word for the wise. . it is NOT! A jet of product almost hit me in the eye!!

So with a little bit of trail and error, lots of Google research and an email to the PR, I worked out that the Mary Kay Botanical Effect's Freshener (rrp. £13) actually works as a toner.

Out of the 4 products in the range, I barely actually used this one mostly in the first few weeks because by the time I had worked out what it was for, I felt the Freshener was a bit unneeded but after reading an article lately about the importance of using a toner, I jumped back on the toner wagon and I found that it actually takes off any makeup that seems to be lurking around after my cleansing and mask.

The Botanical Effects Lotion (rrp. £19) is light, hydrating and unlike many lotions does not leave a waxy residue on my skin. Hands on my heart I could definitely see myself repurchasing this lotion over and over again. At first this got relegated to night-time duty because doing the day it looked like a flipping shiny beacon went off under my foundation. The shine was intergalactic! However it turned out it wasn’t the Botanical Effects Lotion giving me the shine but rather me attempting to put on my foundation with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush . . . so back on Day –duty it went.

This lotion is lightweight but not too lightweight that it vanishes in 5 secs and you find yourself wondering if you put on lotion on in the first place and  it doesn’t leave a waxy finish

So Summary = Light weight + Hydrating 

So that’s my review of Mary Kay’s recently launched Botanical Effects Range. You can buy the whole set or individual products on the Mary Kay website. I can see myself repurchasing at least two products in the set, and if I was pushed to only make one choice. The Mask is definitely the winner.

Do you think brand skincare sets should only work together or you should pick what you like and know you will use it?

*Disclaimer:- I did not purchase this product. It was either given to me to review or given in an event goody bag. This is no way or form affects my review

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POTW: Keracare's Weave & Extensions Gentle Cleansing Shampoo and Nutritive Conditioner

Another week, another product.

This week's product of the week is a shampoo and conditioner combo courtesy of Keracare. With it's pointed nozzle (aka nibby-thing) applicator that allows you to apply shampoo/conditioner directly to your scalp, it helps to remove product build up and protect your scalp.

So no more worrying about how to wash the tracks under sewn in extensions.

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Don't Step on my Ruby+Ed Blue Suede Shoes!

I want you to know that I am in full-blown Elvis Presley mode, right down to humming ‘Blue suede shoes’ in my head very loudly.

These shoes are so cute!!!!

If you are an avid reader of my blog, you probably read my rant one/two weeks ago about an offer with Emerald Street and Ruby+Ed, and my disappointment that the picture used on their site and on the ES letter were quite different and where the heck where the neon laces!!!!

The  PR for Ruby+Ed saw my post and we had a brief chat where she explained a few things about the offer and where I might have gotten confused  . . . honestly I was just happy to hear that the neon laces did come with the shoes after all, so I made my order and my babies arrived at my doorstep.

For  £39.99 (exc. Shipping), I am now the proud owner of a pair of Handmade Holland Blue Lace up shoes and they are just the sweetest finish to any outfit!

I can’t wait to do a look surrounding these lace-ups but as suede is universally known for being highly ‘allergic’ to water, I think I’m going to wait til London is dry for a minimum of a week before these leave my house.

Would you consider rocking a pair of blue suede shoes??

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