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Kiko Cosmetics Makeup Haul

This is definitely a bit repetitive. My last blogpost here was a makeup haul from Brown Thomas. Forgive me. I had a voucher for BT. And we are just back from a couple of days away in Brussels where we had the best time. Belgium also have Kiko Cosmetics though, so I couldn’t resist picking up a few bits in store.

Kiko have a pretty decent sale on at the minute online and in store. A lot of their stock have 30% off. Also, they are selling off a lot of their limited edition collections aswell.

The first thing I got was the Smart Cult Eyeshadow Palette in Matte Revolution.

I would have picked up the Shocking Sparkle Shades one also, only they didn’t have it in stock in store. These are pretty new palettes, but they are currently 30% off here.

I had actually shared a pic of these on my social media a couple of weeks ago eyeing them up so I was delighted to get at least one and with the 30% off it only set me back €11.85, which I thought was pretty damn decent.

Like any brand, Kiko Cosmetics for me, can be great and not so great. I’ve picked up some things over the years and they’ve ended up in the bin. I think that happens with most brands though, not everything is going to suit. Not everything is going to be good. One thing they do very well though is cream eyeshadow sticks.

I already have a fair few of these. They come in an abundance of colours. I was restrained, mostly because I’m poor, and just picked up two shades 🙂

They are €6.95 a pop in store or online here.

I got 36 which is Golden Mauve.

And also 38 Golden Taupe.

Both of these are actually quite cool toned. That wasn’t on purpose but I am definitely venturing into the more cool toned shadow world again at the moment.

Another pencil buy was their Ever Lasting Colour Precision Lip Liner in 402.

I’ve never tried these before, they were on sale, (again 30% off here), and I thought 402 looked like a good everyday lip colour.

These are retractable and have a sharpener built in which is always super handy too.

My last two Kiko Cosmetics purchases were of the shimmery variety. I definitely do not need another highlighter but sure look, do I really NEED any of this?

I swatched their Glow Fusion Highlighters and decided on 02 rather than getting the lightest shade 01.

It’s a little more golden (it is called Heavenly Golden after all), and all three shades are currently 30% off in store and online here.

The packaging is also very swish, so I thought it was well worth €6.95 just for the magnetic closure 🙂

My very last buy was a Metal Eyeshadow from their Arctic Holiday Collection.

These are currently 50% off here.

I bought this completely based off swatching it just before I got to the till.

I liked the reflective shimmer in it and it was €5.45 and limited edition, so need I say more really? Looking at it now, it’s super similar to the highlighter it just has a bit more chunkier shimmer running through it, but sure look 🙂

And that is my Kiko Cosmetics haul done. Now I’m excited to get stuck in and play with these bad boys! Anything tickle your fancy?

xxx

January 29, 2018/1 Comment/by Gem

Fashion

H&M Autumn/Winter 2015

Last night I was lucky enough to go to the preview of H&M’s Autumn and Winter Collection.

The stock is in store from tomorrow the 10th of September so you don’t have long to wait, thank god 🙂

H&M is one of my favourite stores to shop in, and the Autumn/Winter collection this year does not disappoint. There is pieces for every budget and all styles, shapes and sizes. There is some fab key pieces for your wardrobe too, that will take you through the entirety of the colder months…yep winter is a-coming’ time to get your woollens out of hibernation 🙁

The lovelies from Stellar Magazine were there greeting everyone coming into H&M College Green and the gorgeous gazelle Vogue Williams was on the decks pumping out the tunes.

I snapped some pictures last night of what I thought would be wardrobe staples and thought I would put them together in a little blogpost, so you could get a jist of what will be in your local H&M store. Some of the pieces are even in store already.

There was lots of lovely accessories in store, but the shoes and boots particularly stood out to me. H&M wouldn’t be a place I buy alot of my shoes in, but I think I’ve been converted 🙂

I know I know they’re all black choices, but sure it is for Autumn and Winter…right 🙂

Next up coats and jackets. H&M have them in ambundance and for really good price points. the majority are under €100.

I think this one was my fave, love the collar and the length.

They have a cool vest option too if you’re not really a coat or jacket girl.

Loved this 70’s inspired look on one of the mannequinns.

The jeans look like they would be really flattering.

And this cute bow top.

It would be a great transitional piece for wearing to work during the days then would still work jazzed up with accessories and heels for night.

I think it would work great with this faux leather skirt.

I was very restrained and only picked up one thing.

This little sweater was only €14.99. I love the colour and of course the slogan is really cute too right?

I just wanted to add one more thing in because this item was getting more attention, than probably anything else in the store.

This is a handbag from the kids collection ha!!

The H&M kids selection would have you feeling totally jealous I have to admit. The items are amazing. Well worth a look if you are kitting out your little one.

Anything take your fancy?

xxx

September 9, 2015/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup, Product Comparison

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk V Rimmel Eastend Snob

I am here today comparing and contrasting the two beauties that are Rimmel’s Exaggerate lipliner in ‘Eastend Snob’ and Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat in ‘Pillow Talk’.

I am sure you have heard of at least one of these bad boys at some stage?

Eastend Snob has been around a long time, I don’t think everyone realised the magic of this lip liner though up until recently.

Eastend Snob by Rimmel is a retractable lip pencil. That can be a con as the pencil is so soft it tends to break regularly. Also, I have found the mechanism can sometimes stop working and you can’t get all of it out. I say con very lightly because the product itself is great. And at €5.49 from Boots it’s not a whole lot to spend. I would rather a soft pencil all day everyday over a hard one!

Eastend Snob is what I would describe as a dusty pink colour. It can even out your lip line, add definition or even be used to over draw the lips, just don’t go nuts and it can look really natural.

You can use it under pretty much any shade of lipstick or it is lovely on it’s own or with a slick of gloss on top.Overall, a really lovely and affordable product.

I wanted to speak about Eastend Snob first because I had this in my possession a few times before I went and made the splurge on Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk. But the splurge I did make and sadly (or happily) whichever way you look at it I can see what all the fuss is about.

Pillow Talk is a darker pink than Rimmel’s Eastend Snob. It has a bit more brown in it. It is a standard pencil, although has the look of decadence that we have become accustomed to with Charlotte Tilbury. Pillow Talk looks more natural on the lips than Eastend Snob, you could probably apply it really lightly and people wouldn’t even know you were wearing it.

It is smooth and creamy, and oh so pigmented, perhaps a bit more so than Eastend Snob but you would kind of hope it would be with it being €22 from Brown Thomas.

It is more of a neutral colour too so would probably bode well for more skin colours than the Rimmel offering. Again it is fab for fixing your lip line, as a neutral colour on it’s own, under any lipstick and of course overdrawing if you wish. In fact calling it a Lip Cheat is making that pretty obvious. 🙂

Rimmel Eastend Snob Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk

In conclusion.

Rimmel’s Eastend Snob is a quarter of the price, if your budget won’t stretch and you are in the market, get the Rimmel one. It does nearly the same thing, not quite as longlasting as Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk but well enough that you won’t feel like you’re missing out if you can’t splurge.

Myself personally, I think I actually prefer the colour of Eastend Snob as I’m more of a pinks girl than a neutrals one. I love Pillow Talk too though 🙂

That’s my two cents. What do you think? 🙂

xxx

June 23, 2015/6 Comments/by Gem

Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit

So this is the brand, Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit. Contouring has taken off so much in the mainstream world. It is not just a makeup artists secret weapon anymore. I have spoken about contouring before, but it is a much more expensive product, have a read here if you are a makeup junkie 🙂

At first glance, this looks very similar to a Nars palette or if you are familar with Elf, they do a product very similar looking too but again mimicking Nars.

The packaging is smooth to the touch and inside it boasts a large mirror..never a bad thing.

It contains two powders. A matte grey toned bronze and a pinkier toned lighter powder. A highlighter and contour duo.

The dark shade is on point for my light skin tone, the highlight shade is pretty much my skin tone so it won’t be doing much highlighting around these parts. As you can see below it’s barely even visible. With tan on and maybe a darker shade of foundation it may work though, I can use it as a setting powder on normal days.

The Seventeeen Define & Conquer is a good damn product. I think I would be so rash and say I like it better than some of it’s highstreet counterparts. The deep shade is the perfect tone for contouring. It’s a soft powder, it blends in really well and does a great job of defining your cheekbones without looking dirty or grubby, as well as your nose or temples depending on how much contouring you like to do.

Before application

After application

I have a round face, so I need more than a bit of powder to give me definition but it does make things look better that’s for sure. I tend to use it under my chin too for a bit of shadow, I need all of the help I can get 🙂

As I am pretty oily, my skin tends to eat up makeup during the day. I found the Seventeen Define & Conquer powders lasted really well on me and I could still notice the contour in the evening when I was washing the day away.

If you are new to contouring and want something to learn with, this palette is perfect for you. It even gives you a little step by step guide to get you started.

This Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit is available in Boots and is €7.59 a bargain or what?

xxx

March 6, 2015/1 Comment/by Gem

Posts

And that is my Kiko Cosmetics haul done. Now I’m excited to get stuck in and play with these bad boys! Anything tickle your fancy?

xxx