KIKO SMART LIPSTICKS

KIKO is a brand I don't own very much from, as I don't live in London, and I often don't want to make a full on order online, so KIKO products are very few and far between my ever growing makeup collection. I do own three of the Smart Lipsticks though, and I do love them.

The formula is quite creamy, and by no means matte on the lips, so not majorly long lasting, although for a slightly sheen-y product they do have pretty good staying power. I seem to have accumulated colours across the spectrum, and I'm fairly sure they are cheap (I'm talking around the £3 mark from what I remember).

908 is the true red, and surprisingly one of the only reds I have ever found to suit me. It's so so pigmented, and one coat has the lips ready to go almost, and I think the fact that it's slightly more glossy than a matte means I find it a little less 'bold' if you will.

912 is a medium pink, that has a slight red tone to it, so it isn't anything fuchsia here, and is one of the first bold lip colours I actually felt comfortable wearing. I'll also add, these smell pretty good, as I find a lot of lipsticks to smell too plasticy, whereas these are slightly sweet.

Finally 901, that I'd describe as a brown nude that is slightly peachy (quite a throwback shade I guess) and I really enjoy wearing this one on a daily basis, as the consistency and the colour is so wearable.

I hope to grow my collection of the KIKO Smart Lipsticks, but I don't know where to start! Do you have any colours from the collection?

CREAM SHADOWS THAT ROCK

Cream shadows are my go-to for quick morning eye makeup, especially for school when I am running late on time. I always like to have something on my eyes, so a wash of cream shadow and a bit of definition of liner generally does it for me. I have 5 in my collection at the moment and I love them all, so here we go...

MAC BARE STUDY PAINT POT: This is the cult classic from Mac, and I bought it on a whim a while ago. Although I don't really like this alone as it is quite pale, as a champagne base for eye looks this is the bomb dot com. The formula is great and it seems to set after a short while.

MAYBELLINE 24HR COLOR TATTOO: I have three from this collection, all of which I like, but one that I love so much I have hit the bottom of the pan, and if I run out, a new one will 100% be repurchased. That is On and On Bronze as it's known in the UK, and is the perfect sheeny/shimmer bronze-brown shade which I love.
I also have Pink Gold, which I was quite a fan of in the Autumn when doing red/purple eye looks, but alone with my green eyes it doesn't look so great.
Finally is Timeless Black, which I tend to use as a liner and set down with black shadow just in case, but it is pretty longwearing. I am on the hunt for Permanent Taupe at the moment, and I have also seen 'Punk Nude' spaces in my local Boots so I hope to see them soon.

SMASHBOX LIMITLESS 15HR WEAR CREAM SHADOW 'GEMSTONE': This is the most recent addition to my collection; I bought it less than a month ago but I really do like this. It isn't a shade I would normally opt for, but I have grown to love the mauve/bronze/taupe shade. It has quite a bit of shimmer too, but with careful application things aren't overly glittery, and boy this lasts a long time on the eye.

What are your favourite cream shadows?

MY CREAM BLUSH/CHEEK TRIO

Cream blush...? If you asked me a year ago, cream 'anything for your face'  bar eyeshadows were my 'steer clear' product. I don't really know why, I guess I just had a bad application once and decided they were planning to attack me or something, I don't know. 
The bond has been built and my adoration for cream blush has grown, not that I don't have enough cheek products as it is, I want more. 
 I'll give you a quick tour of my cream products and 'the low down' on what I like... or not.

My collection of cream products, judging by the picture, is looking somewhat feeble, but I plan to change that, no matter how much my purse doesn't feel the same.

One of the favourites from them all is the Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in the shade Coral Reef. If you want a blush that is easy to blend, not too noticeable (it goes against what it looks like in the pan), and something for quick, everyday wear, this is one to go for - especially if you are a little bit afraid of cream blush.

The Topshop Cream Blush Duo in Up in the Air - This is one of the first cream blushes I can recall buying, after Christmas in the sale season - about 6 months after I really got into beauty... 6 months it took me to buy a cream blush!? This one is the most pigmented of the bunch, and has a very creamy texture. I wore this one religiously in the summer.

Then we have the Dainty Doll Cream Blush in Paper Roses - this is a perfect blush for those 'no makeup, makeup days'. It is so natural but can also be built up if you want to look a little more pinched. The fine silver shimmer through this compliments the pale pink so well and prevents you looking overly Barbie.

Up next is the ELF  HD Blush in the shade Superstar. This is a weird one, it is very, very dark and hard to control how much you apply. This requires some shaking as well, otherwise you end up with a separated product and an oily mess all over your face/hands. It is a good product when you use it properly, but for me, I find it a bit too much, I will have to look at the other colours instead.

Last but not least - or maybe least - we have the Rimmel Wake Me Up Shimmer Touch in Shimmering Sand. It isn't a blush, I know, I know, but I'm not sure what it is. A highlight/radiance esque product, but far too dark to do any sort of highlight work. I have mixed this in with foundation one or two times, and it works a little better, but otherwise it is a bit naff.

Cream blush... A product I would never go near, and now one of my favourite cheek products to use. I think a trip to Boots is due for me (I went yesterday, but shhh), and I can stock up.

Lauren x

                                              

Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in Coral Reef

Hi guys!
First of all, this is my 100th Post! Yaaay! 

So, I never really used to be a fan of cream blush, as sometimes the texture doesn't work on my skin, but throughout the time I have been obsessed with makeup and blogging, I have found a few gems.

This blush from Revlon was on my wishlist for a long time after Alix from ICovetThee mentioned it in a video of hers. I got the one in Coral Reef about 2 months ago, and I think it is time for a review.

I like the packaging, as it is small and compact, but still holds a lot of product. I also like that you can see the product through clear packaging, as if you have the other 2 shades (which I hope to get soon!), you can know what's what.

I love the colour, as it is a vibrant red coral in the pan, but then on the cheek, it becomes a muted version of that, and it is just gorgeous! I love the texture too, as it isn't too creamy, it has a slightly satin feel to it, and doesn't make me look too glowy on the face. This is probably the best cream blush I have tried, and I think a purchase of a different colour is in order! I find them so easy to sweep on a blend, with just my fingertips! I would recommend this for anyone on the go, well, to be honest, it is just a makeup bag essesntial!

Since trying this cream blush, I am really in the mood to buy some more! I am thinking that the Bourjois ones look nice, as my local Superdrug refilled the testers today so they weren't all dried out and they look lovely! Let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading,

Lauren x

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