Kiko Modern Tribes Collection - Review

Yet another gorgeous range from Kiko Cosmetics to show you today, in my eyes they can do no wrong - Kiko Modern Tribes Collection - This collection is sun kissed, glowy with a pretty pop of colour...

What I adore about the bits that I was sent was just how wearable and Summer lovely they are. Wooden cases with gold decoration reaffirming its tribal foundations. This is Urban Modern Tribal at its finest.

I was sent -

Tri-Bal Baked Blush in Mysterious Earth £14.90

A perfect all-in-one product to bronze, blush and highlight with, this is definitely one of my top picks from the collection.

Graphic Ritual Kajal Eyeliner £5.90

These eyeliners are soft and creamy to apply and are suitable for the inner and outer eye, making them perfect for tightlining if that is your thing. 

I was sent two shades - Talisman Gold which a stunning gold and a deep and rich earthy dark blue in the shade of Masai Blue. 

Once applied these do not budge. 

Finally another multi use product - Free Spirit Lips & Cheeks £8.90 

As the name suggests these creamy chunky pencils are suitable for use on your lips and cheeks. They are described as giving a radiant matte finish. I was sent Hearty Peach which I love, love, love! and a pretty in pink Unique Camellia. Both items are fully pigmented so you only need to apply once to get the full punch of colour. Personally I prefer the pink just on my lips as it is a bit too deeply pink as a blush on my skin. Hearty Peach gives a subtle peachy glow to the cheeks which I like but personally I think I would keep both matte shades for my lips only...

The price also includes a sharpener for your chunky pencil.

Swatches of the Kiko Modern Tribes Collection 

*PR Samples

Kiko Spring Collection - Generation Next - Review

I have said before that Kiko is one of my favourite makeup brands and their new wearable Spring Collection - Generation Next is no exception.

The stunning geometric packaging is  inspired by the famous Italian Murano glassware and channels the theme of  the future with its shiny and colourful range.

I was sent a few items to try out.

Masterpiece Bronzer in 01 Forward Sienna £14.90

Gorgeous and sturdy packing house this three shade bronzer - either use the shades separately to sculpt the face or swirl together for an allover glow. This is the perfect matte bronzer shade for warmth and the lighter shades brighten. Texture wise this powder is buttery soft and blends beautifully.

Cool Touch Eyeshadow in 01 Original Cream £8.90

The eyeshadows are described as intense and giving a long lasting, metallic and glossy finish. I was sent Original Cream to review and it is a wonderfully rich golden shade that will really brighten the eye area this Spring/Summer. I think it imparts a slight wet look which I love and application is smooth and even. Available in 8 shades, this eyeshadow is housed in a flip top pot.

Crystal Eyeliner £6.90 

I love these eyeliners, they have already found their way into my everyday makeup bag. I was sent two shades - 03 a metallic brown and 06 metallic grey which are both really complimentary to my green eyes. They are super soft to apply just gliding over the eyelid but imparting a strong colour. Once set these do not budge, at all. Love, love, love. Available in 6 shades.

Frosted Look Lipstick £7.50 

Although these are described as giving a frosted look to lips ,the shade I have - 02 - which is a nude pinky shade is surprisingly matte in swatches and on my lips. This was the most disappointing product in terms of its description. That said I have been wearing this as it is a nice nude shade. This is a soft and creamy chubby pencil style product but the nib is like a lipstick which is a little different from the usual crayon lipsticks. Available in 6 shades.

Glassy Lipgloss £7.90

For the lips this is far more exciting! I really like the mirror packaging with a huge window so you can see the colour of the shade inside. The doe foot applicator is excellent too. The bright coral shade is the perfect Spring/Summer shade and one that really lifts my complexion and brightens my face and eyes. Ultra glossy, wet look finish this is a lipstick/lipgloss hybrid with vivid colour the water based formula coats lips whilst moisturising. This gives a beautiful colour but is not at all heavy on the lips. Another winner for me. Available in 6 shades.

Kiko Milano Next Generation Spring Collection is available now from Kiko stores and online at its website. 

*PR Samples

Kiko Cosmetics Daring Game Collection - A/W 2014

One of the most exciting makeup collections of the year was delivered a few weeks ago. Now I have spoken many times about how great Kiko Milano Cosmetics are for price and quality and this launch is no exception.

The Limited Edition Daring Game Collection has been brought out for this Autumn/Winter and what a treat it is. The card style outer packaging is so smart and alluring, I would be instantly attracted to it if I saw it in the shops. However the products inside do not disappoint either.

Kiko say - 

Daring Game is here, the new limited edition collection from KIKO MILANO.
The exciting game of seduction begins. Luxurious and sophisticated atmospheres reflect the style of those who have the courage to gamble on their own beauty: an elegant queen of hearts who is sure of herself. The colours are vivid and full-bodied, the trump card for bold make-up.

Light and shadow alternate to enhance the features, correct shapes and give maximum emphasis to femininity and character. The facial skin has a base perfecter with moisturizing properties that makes it smooth and radiant. Bronzer and highlighter create a sculpted effect that accentuates strengths and hides flaws. The eye make-up frames the look of pure colour, making it penetrating and sensual. The lips are full and defined. The nails are embellished by the glossy reflections of the polish.

The shades and design of the packaging interpret the Daring Game mood, expressing beauty with an unmistakable style.

Swatches 

From top to bottom - 

Ace of Diamond Lip Pencil - Piquant Fire Red £5.90

Ace of Diamond Demi-Mat Lipstick - Piquant Fire Red £7.90

Color-Up Long Lasting Eye Shadow - Charming Champagne £7.90

Mystery Smoky Eye Pencil - Heady Rock Brown £6.90

All In Marker and Kajal £9.90

My thoughts 

Inside there are some exquisite pieces, I love how rich the red lipstick looks in its gold mirrored casing, with the words ACE OF DIAMOND and it is a stroke of genius whoever designed the POKER nail lacquers with the numbered dice lids. Fun and yet so classy and this is what sets Kiko apart from others. 

There are some real gems in this collection.

First up are the POKER nail lacquers - rich in pigmentation and incredibly glossy.

POKER Nail Lacquers £6.90 each - Shown here are Suggestive Red & Exclusive Blue

I also adore the chunky gold crayon eye shadow stick - it is a beautiful gold and only needs one application to achieve a solid base, once set it does not budge, brilliant for a night out and party season. If you only pick up one item I would suggest it be this. My top pick. 

Color-Up Long Lasting Eye Shadow £7.90 - Colour Shown Charming Champagne (available in 10 shades)

I love the Mystery Smoky Eye Pencil it has tiny sparkly flecks that lifts it from being just another eye liner - It is also buttery soft to apply so there is no drag but stays in place with a precise or smoky line if you wish. I wore it with the champagne eye shadow and red lipstick and it looked great. I have worn both since many times. 

Mystery Smoky Eye Pencil comes in 6 colours.

Also in the collection is a double ended black eyeliner - the pen side is a true black and it is really easy to line the eyes with precision with the pen style, the kajal is great for the inner eye.

Completing the look are the red liner and lipstick which make a bold statement - watch this space for a red lips of the day post :)

A very, very nice collection and every single item reviewed here is under £10.

Also in the Daring Game collection are a beautiful bronzer/highlighter duo, blusher duos and eye shadow quads.

*PR Samples

2 Holiday Lipsticks Are All You Need

That's right, you only need to take two lipsticks away with you. On my recent Summer Holiday to Turkey I took just two Summer Brights for the seven days that we were away.

I HAD to take the recently acquired Mandarina from Bellapierre Cosmetics , the fabulous matte orange shade that was included in July's Glossybox.

I also took a red toned pink, again this was another matte shade so very wearable indeed and bright enough to make an impact  - Kiko Rock Idol Lipstick Rossetto 05. The only downside is that Kiko do so many ltd editions, items don't stick around for long!

That was it, all I needed as lippies go...

My Makeup Brushes - Powder, Bronze & Blush

Now there was a time when I just used the brush that came with my blusher ..However, the old pictures are testimony to the fact that that was clearly the wrong thing to do.  I have seen the error of my ways and seen the results of what great brushes can do and now I have quite a few brushes in my kit. Not a huge amount I will say but these do me just fine.

I have already told you about the fabulous 6 piece eye brush set from EcoTools and today I turn to the four trusty brushes that I use over and over again to powder, bronze, blush and highlight my face.

Clinique Bronzer Brush £23.50 

I bought this brush as part of my makeup kit when I was getting married and have used it pretty much daily ever since (7 years and it is still going strong). It is an all over face brush and it is incredibly soft. Perfect for applying my bronzer.

EcoTools Bamboo Blush Brush £7.99

I adore this blusher brush that I picked up in Boots about 3 years ago. It is made from sythnetic taklon and has a fabulous tapered shape and is so, so soft. It picks up product perfectly and evenly for flawless application. I love it.

*Cover FX Powder Brush £34

I use this brush to apply my contour blush. It is a fully rounded powder brush. I have used it to apply pressed and loose powder equally effectively but for now (and for the last year) I have used it just for contouring with a pressed powder. Can be used for all powder applications. Synthetic.

*Kiko Cosmetics Dark Heroine Face Brush (ltd edit) £15.90 

Annoyingly this is a ltd edit product that is no longer on sale which is a real pity as it is pretty damn perfect. This double sided brush contains on one side a kabuki style short and round/flat brush that is ideal for powders, I use it for my loose setting powder. The other side is a longer, thinner flatter, slanted style brush that is good for powder blushers and personally what I like to use it for.. is highlighting. This works a dream with my Laura Mercier Shimmer Mosaic Powder highlighter. Once again this is a synthetic brush and is beautifully soft.

*PR Samples

BB Creams and Foundations That Were Not For Me

For me my base, whether it be a Tinted Moisturiser, BB Cream, CC Cream or Foundation is the most important part of my makeup look. If my base is right, everything else follows. Of course skincare is key, but some things cannot be helped and I like to enhance the great bits and hide the less so great things...

So what do I look for in a base -

Personally I tend to look for bases that hide pores, smooths lines, masks the redness of rosacea on the cheeks and a product that lasts a good 6+ hours without the need for a retouch. Naturally I want something that is not mask like and looks as natural as possible..

For various reasons which I am going to outline below, the BB Creams and Foundations pictured above were not right for me ...

From L-R

Kiko Sunproof BB Cream SPF 30 in Light £9.90 for 30ml

Kiko say 

Radiant finish foundation-treatment with light coverage and SPF 30.

A perfect combination of make-up and skin protection. A veritable multibenefit treatment that guarantees even colour and protection from the sun. The light coverage colour takes on a natural second skin effect to perfectly match the tones of your complexion. Imperfections are covered and signs of fatigue are minimized.

The light, smoothing formula ensures an even, long lasting finish.

My thoughts 

I love most products from Kiko so I had high hopes for this BB Cream. It has a high SPF which is a huge bonus in the Summer months. Unfortunately the shade (Light) is just too dark for me (it comes in 4 shades, with the lightest being called Very Light). I love the thin tube that dispenses the BB Cream as it is easy to control the amount that comes out. It does provide a lovely glow but for me the coverage is far too light which means all my flaws are visible and not all are able to be hidden with a concealer!

Simple Kind To Skin+ Perfecting BB Beauty Balm Universal Shade SPF15 £8.99 for 50ml

Simple say 

For natural flawless looking skin...

You are craving picture-perfect, flawless skin in a instant. Discover our Perfecting Beauty Balm: it moisturises, evens out skin tone, blurs imperfections & fine lines, and even protects your skin from UVA and UVB (SPF-15), all in one go!

Our unique blend of multi-vitamins, skin-loving ingredients with naturally derived minerals and illuminating particles instantly give you natural flawless looking skin. Perfect even for sensitive skin.
Simple goodness...
3 vitamins Pro-vitamins B3, Vitamin E, Vitamin A Palmitate,4 skin loving ingredients -

Bisabolol, Ginger Root Extract, Sweet Almond Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, no artificial perfume or colour and no harsh chemicals so it won't upset your skin.

My thoughts 

Unfortunately I could barely give this a review as the Universal shade is just so dark and I am not that pale! It really did make me look far too orange and Oompa Loompa like which is a great shame as I really liked its texture. It is soft and creamy and easy to blend.

SEVENTEEN On The Spot Foundation SPF15 in Natural £6.99 for 30ml

SEVENTEEN say

Flawless full coverage AND clearer skin in 4 weeks!

All day flawless foundation which covers and helps treat for healthier looking skin. Containing our unique Skin Clear Complex with blemish fighting salicylic acid , the foundation gives your clearer skin in 4 weeks.

My thoughts 

First of all I should mention that I love the pump dispenser and packaging of this foundation, especially at the price level that it is at. Natural is also a good match for my skin but unfortunately that is where it ends. I confess that I don't particularly suffer from spots so I am reviewing this from the end of it being a foundation to provide flawless coverage... 

Now I don't know what happened with this foundation but I just could not make it work for me. No matter which moisturiser or primer variation I used, the product would not apply smooth at all, it was really patchy and to this end I could not wear it out. Texture wise as would be expected from a full coverage foundation this was reasonably thick.

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Flawless Finish Foundation SPF20 010 Ivory £8.99 for 30ml 

Maybelline say

Energising vitamin formula flawless finish foundation. Evens skin tone instantly. Better looking skin in 3 weeks. All day wear. Non transfer.

My thoughts 

*I was sent this sample for a magazine trial

In the same vein as the SEVENTEEN version but it promises better skin a week faster.. One of the newer generation of makeup/skincare fusion lines.

Ivory was a shade or so too dark for me but for the purposes of the trial I persisted with wearing this foundation.

Once again I should stress that my skin is not really prone to spots so I was looking at it from the angle of the coverage and appearance of my skin. 

I quite liked the coverage of this foundation,( particularly on my pores) and if it had been the right shade I would have probably liked it more.. however the major downside to it is that it clung to and highlighted dry patches I never even knew I had. At the same time that I was trialling this product I was suffering from psoriasis on my face and it really showed it up when other foundations I wore hid it perfectly. For that reason the foundation was not for me.

Have you tried these foundations/BB Creams? Would love to know what you thought of them.

*All products were PR Samples unless otherwise stated.

Kiko Make Up Milano Sun Show Nail Lacquer 43 - Nails Of The Day

This delightful nail polish is from the Limited Edition Life In Rio Collection - The Sun Show Nail Lacquer contains a gold pearl that gives it an iridescent quality, the result is quite simply shimmer-tastic, the polish glistens and gleams in the sunshine with an almost wet look to it. No43 is a gold shade that in certain lights looks rose gold or pinky. It will certainly keep people guessing!

Kiko Make Up Milano Sun Show Nail Lacquer is available in 10 shades and costs £5.90

*PR Sample

Kiko Boulevard Rock Spring Collection Denim Nail Lacquer

If you like your nail polish matte then you will love the new Spring Collection Nail Lacquer from Kiko - From the Boulevard Rock Collection, the new Denim Nail Lacquers are a satin polish with a matte effect finish.

I am wearing 462 Tribal Purple and 463 Evasion Lawn Green. As with previous Kiko nail lacquers the brushes are fabulous for applying smooth and drying quickly, pigment wise I only needed to use one coat for opacity and the colours are bright, vibrant and eye-catching. They also lasted well.

Kiko Denim Lacquers are available in eight shades and cost £5.90

*PR Samples

Kiko Overblown Volume Mascara Review - With Before & After Pics

Kiko Overblown Volume mascara is the latest mascara from the Italian brand and this one has one of the messiest wands I have ever seen.

Here is a close up of the brush

Kiko say

Mascara with an extreme volume effect to give fullness and definition to the lashes together with an elegant, feminine curl.

The elastomeric maxi-applicator increases the volume of eyelashes, dressing them in intense black with a shiny finish.

The fluid formula, together with the special shape of the brush, separates the lashes and gives them an attractive curl. The brush allows the mascara to be evenly distributed and can even reach the smallest lashes in the eye corners. The flexible bristles are in two lengths, the longer for combing the lashes from root to end and the shorter ones at the tip for making up the lower lashes, giving maximum definition to the eyes. During the easy and buildable application, the supple texture envelops and emphasizes the eyelashes without leaving any residue.

My thoughts

I am all for volume mascaras and this one doesn't disappoint, providing nice curl and thick, well defined lashes that stand out. You really only need to apply one coat to make impact, two coats starts to get messy and a bit too thick looking. I like the intense black shade and for the price (under a tenner) this is an incredibly decent mascara.

You can see the results for yourself below. What do you think?

Before 

After

Kiko Overblown Volume Mascara costs £9.90 

*PR Sample

A Spring Makeup Look

This was my make-up look on Saturday. I saw a glimmer of Sun and fancied something a little brighter than my usual taupe/neutral go to on the eyes.. I opted for a splash of Spring with this gorgeous Kiko Loose Pigment in Sunny Coral. 

I kept it very simple.

I prepped the area with Kiko Pearly Eye Base £6.90, a gorgeous and light eye brightening base that can be worn alone or under eye shadow.. it also keeps eye make-up in place all day. I followed by applying the Kiki Loose Pigment in Sunny Coral £5.90 all over the eyelid. I used the really rather brilliant Kiko Eyes 203 Flat Base Brush to apply the loose pigment and it kept all the product on the brush so I experienced no fall out and it blended nicely. I completed the look by lining my eyes with Clinique Quickliner Intense in Intense Plum £15. I love the Quickliner as it really is so quick to apply a strong line and it stays put. Finally I used Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara £9.99 for pretty, soft defined lashes. The wand coats all my lashes creating more volume. Fabulous.

What do you think?

BeautySwot Beauty Products Of The Year 2013

As 2013 is drawing to a close, I felt it was time to share my 5 favourite beauty
products of the year. These awards are not taken lightly. All of these products have been selected for the following reasons

They live up to their claims
I reached for them the most
I would be happy to purchase them over and over again

So without further ado... the BeautySwot Products of the Year 2013 are -

1. Optrex Actimist 2in1 Spray for itchy, watery eyes

This product wins hands down for changing my life, literally. Although technically not a beauty product it was a product that was indispensable for me last Spring/Summer. I was hugely sceptical of its claims but one or two sprays per eye and I got instant relief from itchy, watery hay fever eyes. It meant that hay fever season wasn't miserable for me and it was so easy to use I could pop it in my bag and use it on the go. Magical

You can read my original review here... http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/04/instant-relief-optrex-actimist-2in1-eye.html

2. GINVERA Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream 

This BB Cream was my go to product over Summer and even now I still use it often instead of a standard foundation as it provides good coverage for even skintone whilst remaining light and natural looking and giving a nice glow to the skin. It has an SPF30 and it smells wonderful. I absolutely love this skin base, and although it came to the UK in 2012 it was in 2013 that I thankfully discovered it. A fantastic BB Cream that I rave to all and sundry about.

You can read my original review here..http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/04/ginvera-green-tea-nude-cover-bb-cream.html

3. Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer SPF30 

A primer with a hint of colour, SPF30 and a base so good at smoothing and covering the skin that I could go out with nothing else on. This is why I gave it the accolade of the Rolls Royce of primers. Excellent on its own or under foundation. I give it 10/10.

You can read my original review here... http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/08/dermalogica-skinperfect-primer-spf30.html

4. Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow 

This salt scrub is like heaven in a jar, it smells amazing. Elemis have excelled with this launch, it smells good and the scrub is gentle yet smoothing. A beautiful spa experience in your home, this is guaranteed to transport you to sunnier climes... (I wish it could, but for now I will settle for this!) Best bodycare product launch of the year.

You can read my original review here...http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/06/elemis-frangipani-monoi-salt-glow.html

5. Makeup Brand Of The Year - Kiko Cosmetics Milano 

Finally no year would be complete without mentioning Kiko. This was undoubtedly their year. A huge range of products, consistently good quality and on trend shades. I have reached for many of their products over and over again this year. If you are looking for good quality makeup and tools at a great purse friendly price you cannot go wrong with Kiko.

Excitingly they have just opened a huge store on Regent Street in London. A must visit for beauty lovers.

Well that's it, my five products of the year..what products have stood out for you this year?

Beauty Look - Purple Lips & Eyes - Purple Haze

Having eyeshadow palettes with berries and and purples I thought it would be a nice idea to try and bring some more colour to my face. Now it just so happens that various hues of purple shades are fab for making my green eyes pop and the whites of my eyes even whiter. I used two palettes - this brilliant one from Kiko Lounge Warm Tones and one that is US only - Pur Minerals Beautiful Creatures Eyeshadow Palette.

As I have small eyes I concentrated the darker shades in the sockets and corners of my eyes and finished with lashings of black mascara. I used the Berry Lip Shine from No7 on my lips as it is an easy way to wear darker lipstick. For the warmth in my cheeks I contoured with Smashbox Blush Silhouette in Rush and then applied a pinker toned blush Liz Earle Healthy Glow Blush in Rose.

* I am not a makeup artist, just enjoy playing with makeup

Kiko Cosmetics 01 Lounge Warm Tones - Colour Impact Eyeshadow Palette

Ah Kiko Cosmetics... If ever there was an eye shadow palette where I will use every shade this is it. 01 Lounge Warm Tones contains six shades that are completely me. This palette has been my go to for a few weeks now as it is such a wearable day to evening palette.

Featuring three mattes and three shimmer shades from light to dark, it has everything I need. A neutral yet brightening base shade, bronze, gold and brown shimmers. A rich dark brown matte and a deep berry shade (perfect for this winter).

Creamy and blendable texture wise these are a dream and even the shimmers are wonderfully soft and not gritty. The staying power of these shadows does not disappoint either, yesterday I applied three of the shadows at 7.30am and they were still there at 6pm and still going strong. 

Love.

Swatches of 01 Lounge Warm Tones 

Kiko Cosmetics 01 Lounge Warm Tones Colour Impact Eyeshadow Palette costs £16.90 and is limited edition 

*PR sample

Kiko City Filter Sunscreen Primer & Skin Glow Light Effect Day Cream

On my recent four day trip to Rome I included a few products from the Kiko range. I had been using these prior to going and liked them enough to treat them to a trip ;-)

Kiko Makeup Milano Skin Glow Light Effect Day Cream SPF10

This cream is from the "colours in the world" collection.

Kiko say

Ideal for all skin types, it reawakens the complexion from its winter pallor and restores a healthy, radiant look. Thanks to the presence of sophisticated brightening particles, Skin Glow melts onto skin, evening the complexion and giving an immediate sublime light effect.

The selected active ingredients stimulate cellular renewal and contribute to the increase in collagen production, giving moisture and suppleness to the skin.

Protected from the sun's rays and from the formation of free radicals, the face regains a youthful, vital look. Ideal for applying before make up to give smoothness to the face, neck, shoulders and décolletage.

My thoughts 

I love the pump dispenser packaging. The cream is really light in consistency like a lotion. I find the level of moisturisation is adequate for my needs and the scent is nice and fresh. The product provides a lovely radiant finish which makes my skin look really bright. 

Swatches of the City Filter Sunscreen Primer SPF50 & Skin Glow Light Effect Day Cream SPF10

Kiko Makeup Milano City Filter Sunscreen Primer SPF50

Kiko say

SPF 50 Face Primer. City Filter Sunscreen creates an invisible shield on the skin, protecting it against the first signs of aging such as fine lines, dark spots and dullness. Its smooth and silky texture softens and brightens the complexion.

This smooth emulsion glides on easily and its texture is light and easily absorbed, leaving the skin silky and pleasant smelling. An easy to apply formula with a velvety touch immediately comforts the face and leaves it with a feeling of weightlessness.

City Filter Sunscreen facial primer provides a base for make-up, improving the appearance of the complexion with incredibly natural results.

My thoughts

The City Filter Sunscreen Primer, once again, has a runny consistency. It is yellow in colour and has a delicate vanilla scent which appeals to me. It blends in easily and provides a nice base for my bb cream/foundation. Smooths pores. If you don't like the feel of silicon based primers this is a good alternative and the high SPF is a real plus point (although Kiko recommend you use separate sun protection)

I didn't use a separate sunscreen but I did use Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream  which contains SPF30 as my base and this was perfectly fine for the time I was out in the sun in Italy. The temp was 34 degrees.

Kiko Makeup Milano Skin Glow Light Effect Day Cream SPF10 40ml is currently on offer at £6.40

Kiko Makeup Milano City Filter Sunscreen Primer SPF50 30ml £12.90

*PR Samples

What's Inside My Makeup Bag - A Summer Look

I thought I would share with you a Summer Makeup Look that I have been wearing quite often in this hot sunny weather, all the products fit nicely into the Sew Lomax Sweet Cheeks Blusher Make Up Pouch which is just adorably cute!

The look I have gone for is fresh, flawless and Summery. It features peachy/orange shades and is perfect for everyday. Fast, taking just seconds to apply and simple, I am loving it.

Inside my makeup bag from left to right -

EcoTools Bamboo Blush Brush - Super soft and great for blending.
Max Factor Clump Defy Mascara in Black - I will do a separate review for this with before and after pics.
Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat in Mango - read my review here - http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/05/sisley-phyto-blush-eclat-in-mango.html

Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream - If you haven't read my rave review (where have you been!), you can read it here -http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/04/ginvera-green-tea-nude-cover-bb-cream.html

Kiko Cosmetics Milano Pearly Eye Base - I like to apply this alone to brighten the eye area but will be testing it out as a primer for shadows in due course.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer - A great matte bronzing powder

Miners Tin o'Tint in Mango - A delicious lip tint in a natural looking orange/coral shade 

Nails Of The Day - Kiko Sun Pearl Nail Lacquer in Chili Pepper Red

Introduce some Summer sparkle to your nails with this pretty Chili Pepper Red from Kiko. The formula is infused with a special golden pearl that makes it shimmer and glisten as the light hits it.

Also pictured and available Blue Spot - a gorgeous blue shade.

Kiko Sun Pearl Nail Lacquer are Limited Edition and available in 4 shades and cost £4.90

*PR Samples

Kiko Sun Bronzing Blush in 101 Crystal Rose

Another gorgeous item from the Kiko Make Up Milano Limited Edition Fierce Spirit Collection. This time it is the Sun Bronzing Blush.

Coming in 4 shades I was sent 101 Crystal Rose 

Kiko say

Blush that combines three shades in a single product for a custom made look. Use the three shades separately or mix them up to sculpt your face and outline facial features with a radiant finish. Silky touch and long-lasting performance. Hypoallergenic formula and paraben free.

Swatches of all 3 shades 

Daylight

Flash

My thoughts 

This is such a pretty blush. It is cased in a sturdy gold compact and comes complete with a mirror. The three shades can be used alone or blended making it a great versatile, mulit-functional product. The brown is a warm matte brown and good as a bronzer and also for contouring. The main blush shade is a delightful raspberry colour and the highlighting shade is a frosted pale pink.

Texture wise this is soft and creamy and blends beautifully on the skin.

I cannot fault this blush at all. I think it is great value.

Kiko Sun Blushing Bronze in 101 Crystal Rose costs £13.90 and is available online from Kiko or from Kiko stores.

*PR Sample