Saturday 19 December 2015

Rimmel 'Kate' Lipstick

Recently I've been attempting to feed my insatiable makeup addiction in a less costly way, and have been trying out more and more inexpensive 'drugstore' products. Rimmel is by far one of my favourite affordable brands, weirdly though I've never actually tried any of their lipsticks. So last month I picked up a few lipsticks from the much raved about Rimmel 'Kate' collections and have been testing each of them out ever since. Here's what I thought...
From L to R: 45, 03, 107, 08, 48
First things first, each of these lipsticks has a sweet fruity scent, nothing too overpowering, which I absolutely love!

The Nudes: (cream casing)
45 A delicate rose nude which comes off as very sheer on my lips, almost balm like though sadly not quite as moisturising. Perhaps it is formulated in such a way to make it more universally flattering. Due to its balmy consistency it only lasted an hour or two on the lips. 

48 A deep dark chocolatey burgundy nude, I think this is probably aimed at darker skintones than mine but I love it all the same. Once applied it is not completely opaque but more so than 45, giving it a longer staying power of around three to four hours.

Lasting finish: (Black casing)
03  A soft pink nude which very much an everyday lippy for me and my skintone. Rimmel promises 8 hours of wear with this collection but if I'm honest its more like 4.

08 My personal favourite out of all the lippies I picked up. A soft dusty rose shade with a hint of mauve the perfect nude for my skintone, for me its a gorgeous your lips but better shade. (Also its a great dupe for MAC Faux, at just a fraction of the price!) When applied it has a demi-matte almost frosty finish. 

Matte Collection: (Red casing)
107 A sophisticated red mulberry wine colour. I have never been one to wear a red lipstick as I don't think they suit me very much. This however isn't a bright bright red and doesn't look too harsh with pale skin as some reds seem to. It's incredibly pigmented once applied with as the name of the collection suggests a Matte finish. This lipstick wears quite heavily, and if your lips are dry clings to the dry patches, this however can easily be avoided by prepping and priming your lips. For me this lipstick is definitely a new favourite for the festive period!
Swatches From L to R: 45, 03, 107, 08, 48

These lovely lipsticks are priced at a very reasonable £5.49, I think at this price they really can't be faulted! You can find them online here. For anyone else trying to save a bit of money, when I bought these they were on a 3 for 2 offer in Boots (they're pretty much always on offer in either Boots or Superdrug.) Amazing!

Have you tried any of the Rimmel Kate lippies? If so what did you think? Let me know!

Love,
Katie x
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Friday 4 December 2015

H&M Eye Shadow Sticks

After seeing the recent hype concerning H&Ms newly revamped beauty section I just KNEW I had to give at least one of their products a try. I thought I'd just try out something small as being a student and it being close to the end of term, I'm sadly running on quite a low budget. Sigh. 
Eventually, after ohhing and ahhing over their vast selection of products for quite a while I decided on two of their Eyeshadow pencils in the shades 'Chantilly' and 'Sun on sand.' 'Chantilly' being a delicate shimmering white , perfect for the inner corners of the eye and 'Sun on sand' a gorgeous golden goddess-like shade, which I thought would be stunning for all over the lid. I went for these as I thought they looked like good dupes for the Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencils which I have been dying to try for months. But at only £3.99 each the H&M versions are far more budget friendly. 
When I got them home and tested them out I loved how convenient and easy to use the pencil formulas were. The product itself was fairly creamy and glides onto the skin, however one negative that I found was, thanks to the oily formulation they were a tad sticky and quite hard to blend with a brush, I found fingers worked better as the heat from them helped to melt the product into the skin more. 

Although not the most pigmented shadows in the world, they add a subtle amount of shimmer perfect for a soft daytime eyeshadow look. It took a while to build up the product to my chosen pigmentation, totally frustrating when in a rush. 

Despite promising to be water resistant, by the end of a day at uni they had rubbed off quite a bit, despite my using a primer underneath. (see below pictures)

At £3.99 I'm in two minds about this product, on one hand they're a buttery, easy to apply to the eyelid (all you have to do is scribble) but on the other hand I found blending and building the colour up to be a bit tedious. 

They're a fun experimental product- having never tried out pencil eyeshadows, they're also inexpensive so you don't really need too much extra cash on hand. Especially perfect for beginners and people who aren't very confident with eyeshadow, those who just want a nice all over colour on the lid, as well as those who have a soft spot for all things shimmery. Available online here.

Have you tried any of the new H&M makeup products, if so what did you think?

Love Katie x

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Sunday 22 November 2015

Nars Glossybox | GIVEAWAY! |

The arrival of this month meant for all of the beauty obsessed, the arrival of the long awaited and much talked about NARS Glossybox.
Everything about this gorgeous little box of wonders has been seriously thought out. From the packaging itself a silky, soft matte black, perfectly mirroring NARS' own iconic packaging, to the careful selection of the products within including both much loved and newly released beauty bits.



So what exactly do you get in the box...?
A Miniature NARS blush in the cult shade Orgasm (Naughty I know) I already own this in the the full size, but I'm pretty sure either of my sisters will be happy to receive this as part of their christmas gift! Its a gorgeous pink blusher with a gold shimmer running through it, I am sure it will complement any skin tone beautifully! 
Next up is the again cult Larger than Life Longwear Eyeliner in Via Venito (black). I'm an absolute slave to my MAC Fluidline gel eyeliner, but having tried this I'm not so sure anymore. It has a creamy, easy to use formula perfect for lining both the waterline and the lashline. It is velvetly smooth and almost glides onto the skin whist giving rich pigmented colour. Definitely a keeper.
The NARS Multiple in Orgasm was the next thing I got. It's the equivalent of getting four products in one. The Multiple can be used on eye, cheeks, lips and body, its creamy formula allows it to blend effortlessly into the skin with your fingers giving the perfect sheer, shimmery finish. A must have for any contour queens out there!
I have been dying to try the new NARS Audacious mascara for a while now but alas I already had about four mascaras on the go so have been waiting for these to run out before I went and purchased one of these, so when I got my hands on this box I was super excited to test it out. The brush itself is a bit scary, when the product itself is cleaned off it is a bright red, rubbery claw like thing. The formulation of the product is a bit clumpy and I found it difficult to build with it, but it gave my lashes lovely length. After a full day at uni though it had smudged a bit and begun to flake. Not my favourite mascara in the world but gives good wear for short periods of time. I did love the packaging though, very Louboutin- esque!
And last but by no means least, I received a Satin Lip Pencil in the shade Rikugien, which can only be described as a seriously stunning, very wearable, dusky rose shade. I'm ashamed to say hadn't previously tried any of the satin lip pencils before this one. The formulation is so creamy and the colour long lasting. Again I feel this will be complementary to most skin tones.

In my eyes this box is an absolute 10/10 and would suit anyone from a hardcore beauty lover (especially those partial to anything limited edition) or a beginner to the beauty world. Its seriously luxurious.


Here is the exciting part!

As the Glossybox website was so busy the page froze after I had put all of my bank details in... I stupidly refreshed the page as a result, instead of receiving just one box I had two arrive in the post. Well done Katie.

So, being the lovely person I am (haha) I thought why not turn my stupid mistake into something fun and make this my first EVER giveaway! (Hopefully the first of many!) You could win the above box filled with all of these lovely beauty bits. 

Could this sold out, limited edition box RRP £35 be any more perfect for Christmas- either for yourself or for a loved one?

How to win: Simply use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter as many times as it will let you. If you do have any trouble working it, please let me know. The only mandatory entries are following me on Twitter and Bloglovin, doing the additional entries is entirely up to you. As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog, whether you’ve visited it once or read every post, it means a lot to me.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

***The giveaway starts Monday 23rd November 2015 and runs until the Sunday 6th December 2015. (So I can post it to you by Christmas!) The winner will be chosen at random. Only open to entrants from the UK please! ***

  • You must be a Bloglovin and a Twitter follower in order to enter! 
  • All entries will be checked and any false entries will be removed
  • If you are under 18 please ask your parent or guardian permission to provide me with your address 
  • This prize cannot be exchanged, swapped or refunded.
  • The prize will be sent directly to the winner from me, should the item get lost/damaged or stolen in transit, the responsibility is with the courier. I am under no obligation to provide replacements.
  • The winner would be randomly selected via Rafflecopter and notified via email and twitter. If no reply has been received within 3 days from the initial contact, another winner will be randomly selected.


Good Luck!
Love Katie x
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Wednesday 18 November 2015

The Only Drugstore Foundation You Need

As I previously said in another post I absolutely ADORE my Magic Foundation from Charlotte Tilbury, however, as I am a student, I'm on a budget and sadly as a result can't afford to wear it every day (sob!). As a result I went on the hunt for a cheaper alternative.
I tried out quite a few, but the one I really fell in love with was the much hyped about L'Oreal Infallible 24H-Matte. This foundation promises long lasting, full coverage with a demi matte finish. Which I have to say I completely agree with. I have worn this foundation pretty much everyday for the last fortnight and it ticks all the boxes for me and my skin type.
I just want to briefly look at the packaging, which I'm a big fan of. L'Oreal has clearly outlined exactly what we can expect from this product making it super easy to identify if this will suit you and your skin type. It is also in a plastic tube making it perfectly portable for handbags.

This foundation is oil free and unscented too, how brilliant? Making it suitable for all skin types and less likely to cause sebum induced breakouts, especially useful for oily teenage skin. 

Even after the first use I was really impressed with the finish of this product, it is matte but definitely not "flat" and the fact it is not fully matte means its isn't at all drying on the skin. It is very buildable, but as is with most foundations, too much of this can lead to that inevitable cakey, mask like finish which isn't a good look on anyone. This product has an impressively high coverage but at the same time feels strangely lightweight on the skin, meaning I only have to conceal very prominent blemishes. Formulation wise it is very creamy, with a gel like consistency making it very easy to work with, blending easily into the skin. 

After a full days wear my skin is still matte however I usually tend wear primer underneath and a small amount of powder around my T zone, so this may have helped with the staying power of the matte effect. Though I can't vouch for it lasting 24 hours because come on, lets be honest, who really wears foundation that long? Not me.
Unblended in shade 12 'Natural Rose'
I have applied this with my fingers, both my Real Techniques stippling and foundation brushes and a beauty blender, each giving me a seamless application. 

Annoyingly as with all products this does have a few slightly less favourable features. I find it has a tendency to sink into some of my larger pores making them more noticeable. Which we all know is not cute. At all. It also clings to drier patches of skin. Yuck. But FEAR NOT these can be easily avoided if you make sure you moisturise and use a decent primer underneath, if done correctly it gives a smooth, flawless, almost airbrushed finish. 

My favourite primers to use with this being Mac Prep and Prime Skin Smoother for nights out. Or alternatively NARS Pore Refining Primer for the day time, an added bonus to the latter is that this too is oil free, perfect for the breakout prone!  
Shade 12 'Natural Rose' Blended with my Real Techniques stippling brush
For £7.99 (for 35ml) I don't think you can really go wrong with this foundation so long as you colour match correctly. You can find it online here. All I can say is believe the hype everyone. Its real.

Have you tried this foundation, if so what did you think?

Love, Katie x
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Monday 16 November 2015

Mary-Lou Manizer | The Balm

I just love a good highlighter, I practically bathe in the stuff till I emit a near radioactive glow. I don't know why I'm so obsessed, they're just so sparkly and pretty and add that extra bit of depth and oomph to your makeup look

Initially I ignored the hype about The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer, this went on for months as I was pretty content with my Film Star Bronze and Glow. Recently however I gave into the hype, and boy oh boy am I glad I did!
The packaging itself is super cute, with a vintage style picture on top of the lid. The powder is contained in a sturdy but sleek, flip lid, plastic case. It also contains an internal mirror, perfect for quick on the go application. Another plus is that the lid fits tight, I carry this around in my handbag all the time and it has yet to open by itself - making it totally-travel friendly!
The highlighting powder itself is a gorgeous shimmery champagne shade. It is so pigmented, a little bit of this goes an incredibly long way. Use with caution: you only need tiniest bit for a nice amount of shimmer, but it is easily buildable for a Beyonce-esque diva like shine, if thats what you prefer. 

The formulation, despite it being a powder is so soft and creamy (almost buttery), it is so finely milled it blends like a dream into the skin giving an instant healthy glow. The shimmer in the product is very fine and dense giving the over all glowy appearance rather than obvious lumps of glitter as is with some other highlighters. In addition I find it does not cling to or emphasise my pores. Fabulous! 
For me this is the perfect highlighter for nights out, it leaves a stunning golden goddess like sheen to areas of the face where applied once the light hits it. I generally use this on the tops of my cheekbones, the inner corners of my eye, my cupids bow and just under my brow bone. This is a multi-use product and could also be used as an opulent shimmery eyeshadow, to brighten up and lift the eye area.

I still reach for my Film Star Bronze and Glow during the day as I prefer a more subtle, natural makeup look during the day. If I was to wear this for the day however, I would have to be incredibly sparing with it so as not to overdo it.

In my opinion those with oily skin may want to test this product out first, as they may well find it only exacerbates their oily skin, making them appear more shiny- which is no ones favourite look.
I am totally besotted with this product. If you are looking to add to the highlighter department of your makeup collection this is a must! I think this would complement most skin tones, from the lightest to the darkest. It is priced at a reasonable £17.50 (between drugstore and high end prices) here. The balm also have a Manizer Sisters Palette if you want to try out all three shades in the range! Stunning stuff 

*If you're a student don't forget your 10% discount code for ASOS (Thank me later)*

Let me know what highlighter you use, or if you've tried this product!

Love, Katie X
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Monday 9 November 2015

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blusher | Review

Being super pale I rely hugely on blusher to add a bit of life to my cheeks, I find its hard to find one which just adds a bit of glow rather than just adding a huge amount of colour. And then then Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic blusher came into my life. How could I say no to a product which promises to "Enliven dull skin with a swish and a pop" I chose the blush in the shade Ecstasy.  
The Packaging, like the rest of Charlotte's Products follows the gorgeous art deco style. Each blush comes in a lightweight mirrored compact and is made up of two complementary colours. An outer ring comprised of a lighter shade and in the middle a bolder centre colour. Charlotte advises to "Swirl" your brush into the outer shade and "swish" onto the cheekbones to add a delicate shimmer and subtle colour and the dab the brush into the stronger centre colour, applying to the apples of your cheeks to add a vibrant "pop" of colour to them. One can also 'wash' the two shades together for another blush effect. Gorgeous
Each of the six blushes in the collection has a very slight shimmer to it, perfect for adding another dimension to your makeup. However those who prefer a matte look to their skin may want to avoid this blush and just stick to their shimmery highlight instead. If Applied as directed, the product gives a healthy looking, radiant flush to the skin.

Ecstasy consists of an external "swish" shade which is a warm, orangey coral with an almost frosted finish, and the internal "pop" shade which is a pink-coral with faint gold shimmer. This shade is incredibly versatile in my view due to the pigmentation which is pretty impressive, one can create a sheer, delicate wash of colour when I'm my natural pale self or alternatively layer it up to give a more intense strong wash of colour when tanned in the summer. Perfect!



Moving onto the formulation of the product. The powder is so finely milled it is almost buttery and blends instantly into the skin, giving a deliciously even glow, if it didn't the two step application could be problematic. I think the texture of this product was my favourite thing about it, and other blushes I have used since have been too drying and patchy... This product is the one! The blushes are also fragrance free and therefore unlikely to cause reactions with sensitive skin. As I said previously there are only six shades in the range, which doesn't sound like much, surprisingly there is one to suit every skin tone, from pretty, pale peach shades to beautiful, bold, bronzy tones.

At £30 it is definitely at the more expensive end of the spectrum, but you get what you pay for with this product. Considering I purchased this product back in February and as it is now my go to blusher I use it most days it looks virtually untouched. I would without question recommend checking this out if you do find yourself at a Charlotte Tilbury counter. It is available online here.


I've got my eye on the shade First Love next! Have you tried any of Charlotte's products, if so did you think they lived up to the hype?

Lots of love,

Katie X


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Monday 2 November 2015

Worth the Hype? | Good Genes, Sunday Riley

Its hard to believe that any 30ml product is worth £85. I mean for that you could have a spending spree in Topshop right? On seeing all the hype surrounding Sunday Riley's Good Genes, I decided it was an investment I was willing to make... Who doesn't want to fool the rest of the world into thinking they have naturally 'Good Genes'?

This is the first product that I tried from the brand. Good Genes is a leave-on serum treatment which is "formulated with key ingredients which will plump fine lines, reveal brighter, newer skin, and improve circulation for a smooth, vibrant complexion. Long term use will help restore damaged skin, reduce hyperpigmentation and scars, reduce the depth and number of line and wrinkles, even out skin tone, and increase epidermal thickness and firmness.”

Once applied I find it tingly, for me this is a plus as I feel like the product is really getting to work (apparently this is the lactic acid doing its thing!) I would suggest testing before you buy though especially if your skin is super sensitive, the acid in it could easily cause a reaction and be a waste of quite a bit of your precious money. However if your skin is hardy enough to tolerate chemical exfoliants go for it. Its seriously like an 'instant facial' in a bottle.

As I'm a student this was an incredibly naughty purchase, and as a result I cant use it all the time as I really cannot afford to. However I wouldn't want to use it every night as it is pretty strong. When I do use it I only need a tiny pea sized amount before bed- once a week. When I wake up my skin feels all glowy and soft. Perfect

Despite no longer being a teenager I still (sadly) have rather spot prone skin. And my skin takes forever to heal, by forever I mean weeks- but this has definitely helped cut down this healing time. I have found it has also drastically helped to decrease my pore size, especially around my nose area. My skin feels altogether brighter and smoother. This product also works fantastically with older skin. My mum, after using my bottle once went out the next day and bought her own as it works fabulously at plumping and giving the appearance of a younger, dewier more radiant skin.

Packaging wise I love how simple and clean all the products in Sunday Riley's range look, perfect for any dressing table. My boyfriend cannot stand the smell of this product, he claims it smells like dried lemons (is that a thing?) I later found out its heavy scent is a result of the Lemongrass oil. Personally I don't mind it as I know how fantastic this product is and what a difference it makes to my skin. But if you aren't one for heavily scented products this might not be for you.
This stuff is amazing, and a HUGE thumbs up from me. I know this is a pretty big investment, but in my opinion, your skin is so important - you need a good base to apply makeup to and good skin can do wonders for your confidence so its okay to spend a bit of money on it... treat yourself! However make sure you do test it out first because its strong stuff, and the smell could definitely put some people off. You'll thank me later though!
It's available here.

Love Katie x

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Sunday 25 October 2015

Current Favourite | Nuxe Crème Fraîche® de Beauté Enrichie

My Holy Grail Moisturiser

In the last year I have really tried to kick up my skincare routine. Last winter, I was constantly suffering with patches of dry skin these were at times sore, and my skin makeup caked up and clung to these patches - Not a good look!

One of the lovely ladies at my local branch of Space NK recommended this for my patchy, dehydrated and sensitive skin. This was back in February, I am so in love with this product I'm still using it now eight months on! It has worked absolute wonders for my skin, and I think this will be forever a part of my skincare routine, I'm OBSESSED!

The formulation of this product is exactly how it sounds in the name, it's a light yet refreshing cream which sinks surprisingly quickly and with ease into the skin. Nuxe has aimed this product towards those with sensitive skin, it contains only natural products as a result it is incredibly soothing and gentle on the skin- perfect for those who often react to heavier, rich, chemically filled products. It is the first moisturiser I have come across which works this well under makeup, and acts as a lovely smooth base- I sometimes use this as a replacement for my primer on days I choose to wear less makeup. It is not greasy, nor heavily scented- it has a subtle orange flower smell which I adore. Nuxe claims this gives 24 hour hydration, I agree it feels long lasting, maybe not 24 hours though, however, throughout the day my skin feels moisturised and soft.

I use this product everyday, twice a day, in the morning after cleansing and as part of my evening routine before bed. In the past few months it has honestly changed the way my skin looks and feels, it is far more supple and luminous. I have almost finished my first pot and already purchased a second for when I do run out!

A 50ml pot costs £25 and is available here.

Have you tried this or any other Nuxe products? If so let me know what you thought of them!

Love Katie x
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Friday 23 October 2015

L'oreal Colour Riche | 'The Perfect Nudes' Review

I'm such a sucker for a nude lipstick, they're like a Little black dress- every girl should own one and I'm always trying to find the perfect your lips but better shade, as a result my collection is larger than I'd like to admit... 

Last week, popping into Superdrug for some toothpaste I got sidetracked (as usual) and ended up looking at the makeup stands. The L'Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Nude's caught my eye. They are a range of six sumptuous nude lippies inspired by L'Oreal's multi ethnic spokeswomen, aiming to give you the perfect nude, natural lip colour to complement any complexion.

They are also incredibly affordable, priced at £6.99 each and were on a 3 for 2 offer, I could hardly say no, could I? 

 My naughty purchase consisted of the shades: Eva, Julianne and J'Lo


The shade Eva 'barely golden' inspired by Actress Eva Longoria is a stunning peach toned nude. This was personally my favourite of the three that I'd chosen.
The shade Julianne 'barely peach' is a delicate rose petal pink colour.
The shade JLo 'barely greige' is a sheer light beige toned nude.
Each of them has the classic Colour Riche vanilla-esque scent which I adore so this is a plus for me, however this may not be a favourite for someone who prefers scentless products.


Before I get onto the lipstick itself let us lust at the luxurious casing. The matte black packaging is sleek, looking almost high end, (I find these are incredibly similar to the Nars Satin lipstick casing, but for only a fraction of the price?) I feel like L'Oreal have really outdone themselves with this. In comparison to other more garish drugstore lipsticks they are both understated and classy. (have no fear the lids are well fitted, no more annoying spillages in your makeup bag!)


Swatches (Top-Bottom) JLo, Eva, Julianne

In the bullet themselves the colours look far bolder and more vibrant than they do on the lip, this can be seen in the above swatches. Formulation wise, they are both fairly sheer, incredibly hydrating, and natural looking. Sadly, the wear time of these lipsticks aren't incredibly long, only maybe 2-3 hours, but as they are so lightweight they can be easily reapplied on the go without a mirror unlike some bolder colours which require mirror usage, so this isn't too much of an issue just a bit annoying if you plan on wearing them all day. My favourite thing about these lipsticks are how incredibly versatile and wearable they are. I feel these shades would work with most skin types and could easily be worn as part of a very natural looking, daytime look, or alternatively these lip colours would look gorgeous paired with a deep smokey eye.

To sum these products up, together they provide a lovely nude tone for every complexion and need, being fairly sheer they are not overly pigmented. So despite not making a bold statement, they are perfect for simply enhancing and adding a subtle flush of colour of your lips making them extremely wearable all year round. If you are someone who prefers a heavier, fuller lip colour, this might not be for you. I can't say these are the favourite lipstick I've ever tried before, however, in my opinion, as they only cost £6.99, for a good quality product, you cannot really go wrong, they are available online here.

Love Katie x

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Thursday 22 October 2015

Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner Review

After reading about this much loved, raved about and completely sold out product many times on various beauty blogs including that of skincare goddess Caroline Hirons, I knew that, being the sheep I am I just HAD to jump on the bandwagon and give it ago! So just over a month ago I finally invested in a bottle and have been testing it out since to answer the question all of us want to know, is it really worth all the hype?


I have always struggled with 'gritty' exfoliators, as I often find my skin is too sensitive and they are too abrasive (maybe I just get too carried away with my scrubbing?), leaving it dry and sore. Either way they don't seem to work for me. On the website the product is described as being "Oxygenating. Exfoliating facial glow tonic. It helps tone, firm and tighten the skin. It removes dead skin cells for healthier looking skin. " In short is is an exfoliating toner, assisting with the removal of dead skin.



I was a bit sceptical about using a chemical cleanser having never used one before, and was worried it potentially could be harsh on the skin. However, after having used the tonic for about a month, most nights before bed. After cleansing, and before moisturising, I find it is not harsh on the skin at all. The toner gives an almost instant tingly freshness to the skin. It has a water-like consistency and when dried leaves no irritating, sticky residue behind on the skin. Over the past few weeks I have also noticed a number of longer term effects on my face, it feels noticeably smoother, brighter, pores are less noticeable, I have fewer dry patches and it seems altogether less blemished. As a result of this my makeup seems to blend into and sits on my skin more nicely than before. As a side note it is both oil and alcohol free which is a massive plus for those who suffer with either oily, dry or combination skin. 


It's a yes from me!


Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner is priced at £18 a bottle and available online here or in the flagship Carnaby Street store. 

For some £18 may seem expensive, but for a product which works so well for most I think its a good deal. I reckon a bottle of this will last me around five/six months despite using it most nights before bed. For those students (like myself) who can't face shelling out this much for a toner its available on asos here and you can use your 10% student discount on it, score!

Lots of Love 
Katie x

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Saturday 17 October 2015

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation Review

Is this foundation really magic? - The answer is yes yes yes and yes!

For the past year since I discovered the wonders of Charlotte Tilbury I have been nothing but impressed with the quality of her products. I was already the proud owner of many of her products, however when an email came into my inbox this August announcing the release of her Magic Foundation I was super excited and could not wait to get my mitts on it!  

When I finally did I immediately fell in love. It promised "full coverage foundation that morphs to your face in a weightless texture, for a perfect looking second skin that lasts all day." And personally having owned and used this foundation for over a month now I have to say that I completely agree, it gives me the "flawless second skin" Charlotte herself promises on her website. It applies so easily, and almost melts into my skin. For me, half a pump goes a long way if you blend it out properly. I apply the foundation with either my Beauty Blender or if I'm in a rush my Real Techniques stippling brush. It works well with both methods. If I'm in a real rush I wont even bother to put on primer or a concealer, as I feel this product alone gives more than enough coverage for a relaxed day to day look. When dried, it gives a soft, glowy,velvety demi-matte finish, meaning if you don't want to you don't have to powder over the top. It covers up both my blemishes as well as my dark under-eye circles and large pores with ease, amazingly it does this without looking heavy or cakey at all. In addition despite containing SPF 15 it photographs well, not leaving you with the 'ghost' like effect some SPF products do when confronted with a flashing camera - MAGIC!
Unblended
Blended with hand

The packaging follows the gorgeous art deco theme all Charlotte's products are packaged in and it looks stunning on my dressing table. In addition the range of fifteen shades with this product means it is accessible to people of all races. I had myself colour matched in the London Selfridges branch, and was matched with shade Medium 4.5 which has a lovely yellow tone perfect for my skin. 

The Dream Team

At £29.50 a pop i'd have to say in my humble opinion, if you, like me like a medium to fuller coverage foundation yet want your skin to be able to breathe this is the one! I know everyone says there is no such thing as one product fits all - but honestly i think I've found it here, this one ticks all the boxes! Thank you Charlotte!

Love Katie x
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