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

No7 Intelligent Colour Bronzer

No7 say

A healthy glow to flatter all skin colours. Add natural warmth to all complexions with this light, super-blendable mousse.

Sheer coverage and super blendable mousse formula; with Vitamins A & E moisturise and condition the skin.Light diffusing particle- bounce light away from the skin and help soften the appearance of blemishes providing a smooth finish.

How to Use

Apply to your cheeks, temples and bridge of your nose for the most natural look, or all over your face to add warmth to your complexion.

My thoughts

The first thing I should mention is that you need to shake the product really well otherwise it will come out really watery. However, it is really easy to use, squeeze out and then apply and blend. The results are a hint of warm, natural looking colour. I say hint but I had to apply bronzer on my neck to match it! I really like it in place of a powder bronzer, results are instant and not shimmery, a nice matte but healthy glow.

No7 Intelligent Colour Bronzer 30ml £11.50 

*PR Sample

Beauty Look - How to do Sultry

I love playing with and trying out make up and of course creating different beauty looks. I love seeing just how different my face can look with the help of a few colours and tricks!

The look above is one that I particularly adore - A bit sultry, a bit sex kitten. This is a look where the focus is predominantly on the Kohl eyes but the rest of the makeup has to be soft but sculpted for real impact. I think this is great date night make up.

The products I used 

Foundation - Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation in Champagne 
Bronzer - Little Mix by Collection Bronze It Jesy Bronzer
Contour Blush - Smashbox Blush Silhouette in Rush - Create fabulous cheek bones
Blusher - Cargo Cosmetics Blush in Tonga - A neutral blush
Highlighter - Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc Pink Tourmaline - I love this shimmer bloc as a radiance enhancer.
Lip Gloss - Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Nude Lip Gloss - The perfect peachy pink nude gloss allowing the eyes to shine.
Mascara - Benefit They're Real Mascara
Eyeliner - Maybelline New York Master Kajal Kohl Liner in Pitch Black - For added interest I have drawn two flicks coming out at the corner of my eyes.

Instant Radiance With Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder

I do love glowing, radiant skin and although I do have a strict beauty routine that I rarely skip on there are of course times when my skin can do with a quick fix/boost of radiance. The fastest way to cheat your way to radiant skin that positively glows is with a highlighting product. I have many liquids, sticks and powders exactly for this purpose and I tend to use them mostly on my cheekbones...

However, right now I am absolutely loving this pretty heart beads from Too Faced. Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder is a pretty, vintage style tin that looks like it should contain sweeties.. what it does contain however is cute radiance imparting hearts of varying shades of pinks, golds, bronzes and browns.

Too Faced say

- Blendable multi-coloured heart pearls for a natural glow
- Can be used for buildable colour or a hint of shimmer
- To illuminate and brighten the skin

My thoughts

Swirling your brush around in the pot, you can apply all over the face for the most beautiful subtle sheen of radiance, or just apply as you would as a highlighter. It is completely buildable for more depth and warmth if required. I personally love the pretty gleam it provides, my face looks fantastically healthy and glowing without leaving an oily or greasy appearance.

Illuminate, brighten, shimmer and glow. The Radiant Glow Face Powder does it all.

Very, very nice product.

Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder £26

*PR Sample

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 

Bronze & Glow - Benefit Hoola & Sunbeam

Ah Summer you have well and truly arrived in Style!

To help me with that all important 'Summer glow 'I have been rotating between using 3 of my favourite bronzers and applying a highlighter as I do love the radiance that it provides across my cheek bones and how it lights up my face when the sun hits it.

A recent discovery of my mine is Benefit's Hoola Bronzer - This is a fabulous matte powder bronzer that is exceptionally smooth and silky to apply. It is easy to blend, looks natural and is buildable depending on how brown/sunkissed you want to appear and gives a lovely warmth to the skin that is ideal in Summer.

Swatch of Hoola 

I have reviewed Sunbeam before but needless to say I am using this as it has a wonderful golden/bronze tinge to it that just complements bronzers so well for that authentic golden glow.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer £23.50

Benefit Sunbeam Highlighter £19.50 

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

Face Of The Day - YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation

Make up used

YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation - BD20
Burberry Warm Glow Natural Bronzer  - Summer Glow 04
MAC Semi Precious Rose Quartz Mineralize Skinfinish - outer shade as blush, inner as a highlighter

Eye Shadow - Cult GD Lazy Days, 17 Trio in Enraged (darkest shade in the crease)

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense - Intense Chocolate
Benefit They're Real Mascara
Clinique Long Last Lipstick - All Heart Soft Shine

This was my make up yesterday. We were off to London to celebrate our wedding anniversary and as the sun was shining and the sky blue, I opted for a bright lip and defined eyes to take me from afternoon to evening. 

BURBERRY Warm Glow Natural Bronzer in Summer Glow 04 - Review

BURBERRY Warm Glow Natural Bronzer in Summer Glow 04. 

From the packaging to the product this bronzer just oozes quality and luxury. The bronzer comes in a BURBERRY print black wallet, the actual product is contained in a BURBERRY print mirrored case that feels nice and solid. With magnetic closure it stays firmly shut.

Applying warm glow is like a dream. Using a bronzer brush,  the finely milled powder blends into the skin beautifully to give a gorgeous and incredibly natural looking glow that makes the skin look flawless and radiant. The shade is ideal for a sun-kissed appearance. I honestly cannot rave about it enough. The colour is perfect for me but it is easily buildable to be layered to look darker.  If you look closely you can see the tiniest of shimmer particles that are in the product. The shimmer is so fine, it is just an incredibly natural addition to the bronzer which adds to the overall 'glow' and gives a healthy sheen to the skin, avoiding that flat matte look.

Swatch of BURBERRY Warm Glow in Summer Glow 04

Summer Glow really does provide me with the most beautiful warmth to my skin, a wonderful yellow based glow as opposed to an orange or dirty brown darkness that some bronzers leave you with. I have to say I am in the process of giving away all my other bronzers as this is by far my favourite. It is pricey but in my opinion worth it.

BURBERRY Warm Glow Natural Bronzer in Summer Glow 04 costs £31


*Provided in a press goody bag

17 Instant Glow Shimmer Brick - Gold Bronze - Review

Product rave and bargain alert!

17 Instant Glow Shimmer Brick in Gold Bronze forms part of the Instant Glow collection and the minute I laid eyes on it I knew I had to buy it. As it happened I was handed one at the Boots Summer Press Show but I would have quite frankly bought one if I hadn't as it is such a steal for a great product.

17 say

The Instant Glow Shimmer Brick is described as 'a shimmering powder that creates a beautiful golden bronzed glow. Sweep a brush through all 4 shades then lightly dust onto cheekbones'.

My thoughts


Shimmer Brick in Gold Bronze consists of 4 shimmery shades ranging from light to dark - silver/white, taupe, golden bronze and dark bronze. They are super smooth and soft to apply, not gritty at all. Individually the shades work just as well as eye shadows but my preferred use of the Shimmer Brick is as a highlighter on my cheeks.

I have become a little addicted to the glow and radiance I can achieve by using a highlighter and just love the instant lift effect that it gives to my face. I have quite a few highlighting products in my collection and still I keep getting drawn to more!  I love watching the sun catch the shimmer.

Swatches of Gold Bronze Shimmer Brick

Shimmer Brick in Gold Bronze Blended

Yesterday I applied this on top of Benefit's Cha Cha Tint and it gave me a beautiful and naturally radiant coral glow which lasted all day.

Drawing comparisons with the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick (the BB version has 5 strips and costs £30.50) the 17 Instant Glow Shimmer Brick is a beautiful product at an extremely affordable price. Snap it up.

17 Instant Glow Shimmer Brick is available in Gold Bronze and Pink Bronze and cost just £4.99 each

Boots No7 Summer Of Dreams Collection 2012 - Sneak Preview

Yesterday I went to the Boots Summer 2012 show for a preview of the No7 Limited Edition 'Summer of Dreams' Collection.

This Summer the collection from No7 is all about being laid back and effortlessly elegant, I think the collection is very pretty.

Summer of Dreams Bronzer  - £13 

This is a delicate bronzing powder with a gorgeous gold and coral shimmer coating. Love the case it comes in too.

No7 Summer of Dreams Nourishing Lip Shine in Peach and Pink - £10.50 each

Lips with a hint of colour are all the rage this summer and these provide subtle colour and plenty of gloss on a soft sponge applicator.

No7 Summer of Dreams Eye Crayons - £13 for a set of four

These jumbo crayons were so soft to apply, coming in four shades; Metallic Bronze, Hazy Green, Cornflour Blue and Metallic Grey. All four are pretty, shimmery and wearable. Perfect for lining the eyes with colour or using all over the lid.

No7 Summer of Dreams Glitter Top Coats in Gold and Silver - £8 each

These sparkly numbers really caught my eye and will appeal to the magpie in you, the glitter polish feature fine glitter and larger 'discs' that creates a random effect. Can be worn alone or over nail polish. One girl yesterday wore both together, the effect was stunning.

All items are available from 16th May - 10th July 2012 

Boxing Day Make Up - Face Of The Day

My Boxing Day make-up

Primer - Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
Eye Primer - Urban Decay EyeShadow Primer Potion Eden
Foundation - Airbase High Definition Airbrush Make-up Shade Medium 03
Concealer - Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light
Bronzer - Accessorize Baked Bronzer Duo - Bali Shade 2
Blusher - Accessorize Merged Baked Blusher 6 - Scandal
Eye Shadow - 17 Trio Eye Shadows in Enraged
Eye Liner - Clinique Quickliner for Eyes in Intense Plum (Ltd Edition)
Mascara - Flawless You Forever Luscious Mascara in Black
Lip gloss - Laura Mercier Nude Lip Glace in Champagne

Soap & Glory Make Up! - Review

It is here!

Popular skincare brand Soap & Glory have not just dipped their toes in launching a cosmetics collection but positively taken the plunge with a whole range of fabulous make up products to choose from. I was sent a few items from the collection for review.

The brand hasn't strayed from its fun, gloriously retro style packaging and names which undoubtedly is one of the appeals of Soap and Glory.

Products sent for review -

SHOW GOOD FACE - 2-in-1 Foundation and Primer in shade Honey - £11 for 30ml
SOLAR POWDER - Powder Bronzer/Highlighter in Bronzo- £11 
THE DAILY DOUBLE - Lidshadow and Liner Stick Pencil in Ultra Violet/Plum Plum - £8.50
LID STUFF - Flawless Finish Eyeshadow in Smokey Dokey - £10
SUPER - COLOUR FABULIPSTICK in Red My Lips - £9


SHOW GOOD FACE - 2-in-1 Foundation and Primer in shade Honey

Show Good Face is a 2-in-1 skin energising foundation and primer which promises to give a dewy, bright flawless finish. Available in 6 shades, I was sent the second down from the darkest (Honey)  which is unfortunately most definitely not suitable for my skin tone.

Texture wise it is quite runny and its scent is quite pleasant. I personally found it to be more like a tinted moisturiser as opposed to a foundation as the coverage is quite light, sadly I didn't find it made me look flawless, whilst I looked nice in the flesh, in photos my pores still showed through. My skin was nice and bright looking though

As the shade was so wrong, I wasn't able to really test the product as I would have liked (ie layer it on a bit thicker..) and therefore I do not feel I can give it a proper review.

SOLAR POWDER - Powder Bronzer/Highlighter in Bronzo

This was my favourite product from all the bits sent.

I like the packaging, it is not going to smash if you drop it . Bronzer on one side, mirror on other. Solar Powder is available in one shade Bronzo. Blendable, buildable colour, this is a really nice matte bronzer that gives a lovely warm tone to the skin. I really liked it, very very nice!

The two shades, I like to just swirl my brush on them together

THE DAILY DOUBLE - Lidshadow and Liner Stick Pencil in Ultra Violet/Plum Plum

I quite like the concept of eye shadow pencils and this is nice and soft, very easy to get a nice colour fast but you do need to blend it quickly! It is long lasting. I don't think I would have chosen this colour myself but it does complement my green eyes. My only reservation is that as I am not all that great at thin lines I do find it hard to make the liner look thin as it has a wide nib..I need to be a bit lighter handed I guess

Swatch of The Daily Double in Ultra Violet and Plum Plum

LID STUFF - Flawless Finish Eyeshadow in Smokey Dokey - £10

SMOKEY DOKEY contains 4 shades for a perfect smokey eye. DiamonDust, Chine, Black Gold and Smokin'

Chine is a good highlighting shade, Diamondust is a glittery and shimmery silver, Smokin' is a flat smokey grey and Black Gold is a bit of strange one as I cannot detect any gold in it but it does have tiny flecks of smooth silver to provide a slight shimmer

SUPER - COLOUR FABULIPSTICK in Red My Lips - £9

Fabulipstick features ULTIMELT™ lip shine & shaping technology, 3-D PLUMP™ peptide complex, Shea Butter, Monoi Butter & Vitamin E.  The lipstick is supposed to soft, smooth dewy pout....


When I saw the package said 'RED MY LIPS' I assumed this was going to be a red shade but as you can see it quite clearly isn't ..perhaps not the best name for this shade which actually is a really gorgeous pinky brown. It is nice to apply, going on smooth and feels moisturising, it certainly didn't dry out my lips. Another winner, I would certainly try out the other shades from the range.

The two products that I find myself reaching for the most are the bronzer and lipstick - I leave you with a picture that uses the bronzer, eye shadow pencil and lipstick.

Have you tried Soap & Glory make up?