Friday 13 May 2016

KIKO Cosmetics | Recent Purchases & Review

Hello Everybody!

So as you can tell by the title, I thought it would be nice to share with you what I brought from KIKO Cosmetics, the last time I went make-up shopping. I did pick up a few new items as their WANDERLUST collection had not long been released and it looked fab!

 So, first things first, is this gorgeous face/ powder brush which is super fluffy and feels so soft against the skin. I do occasionally have dry patches on my face as I have quite sensitive skin, so i needed something which wouldn't be too harsh against my skin. The coral pink is a beautiful colour, making it a unique brush to add to your collection. It is definitely a product I would recommend. I do however believe it is a limited edition product, from the ARTIST collection, so I am not 100% how long you will be able to get your hands on this for!

 I like to use this brush for bronzer as I find that it applies it well, as a little goes a long way. It blends products out lovely and its size is great for a less chiseled and more sun touched look.


I was literally so so excited to try this product when I brought it. I was after a big bronzer which I could just lightly run a large brush over rather than a small one which I would have to use a blusher brush or a contour brush for. It's called 'Desert Dunes' and it looks like this:


I cannot get over how gorgeous this bronzer is! It is one of the more expensive products from KIKO as it is from their new summer collection. However the for the size and the fact that it smells like chocolate! *resists a nibble* It is a bronzer which definitely caught my eye. As for the product itself, you really only need a little as it's pigmentation is really good. Too much of this however, starts to look a tad orange, hence why I only use a little, to literally add a bit of colour to my face. 

On a more disheartened note, I also brought this, it is the 'Sunshine' powder foundation in the shade 203. After my amazing experience with the bronzer I had high hopes for this, but it didn't live up to my expectations. 


Firstly, it is far too dark for me! after sampling on my hand it looked alright, and after blending and concealer I figured it would be worth the try as I haven't used a powder foundation before. Application isn't great either, it is really pigmented but it takes to my face in patches, causing a rather uneven and again patchy finish. Rather than waste it though, I have taken to using it as a matt bronzer, using it below my cheekbones.


Another item I brought from the ARTIST collection was this face serum. Admittedly I'm not really a serum user, in fact I dont think I had ever used one prior to this! I had no real idea on what they did or why or when I was to start using one.

 So when I spotted this I was intrigued. I'm not big on asking for help at beauty counters, I would rather drift around myself and figure out what my skin likes/dislikes. Its called 'Blooming Glow' and is a face serum which contains vitamins which help boost your skins complexion. Yes, the pretty pearled beads did sway me to buy it! but I was more drawn to it due to its appearance. Because I find that the word serum, is more typically associated with anti-aging products which admittedly frighten me a little bit... (I'm only 20!)

I decided to use the serum before I put on my moisturiser in the morning and occasionally on its own at night. I absolutely love this product! It really refreshes the skin, I feel more awake - sometimes lattes dont cut it!- and it makes my skin super soft, which makes putting my foundation on less of a chore!


This gorgeous nude lip liner is in the shade 700. Again, I had never owned a lip liner until this one, so KIKO have transformed me! I was however, looking for one. The colour is so pigmented and doesn't wash me out unlike other variations of nude, it has a creamy consistency and goes beautifully with my Rimmel Kate nude lipstick in 45.

Final purchase from KIKO came in the form of a mascara, which promised to lengthen and curl lashes. Its packaging gave off a MAC vibe which I liked. I do love a good packaging! but I would rather be wowed by the product itself!

I am a huge lover of Roller Lash by Benefit but I do think that it isn't a mascara I can continuously buy because of the price. So whilst in KIKO I searched for a similar sounding product and came across this. Although it is much cheaper it is a brilliant mascara. It lengthens, curls and really makes my eyes stand out, however I feel like its drying out much more quickly than I had anticipated! I am so excited to try more variations in mascara because they are fab for the price! 



Have you got any KIKO cosmetics? Have you tried any of the ones I have? Let me know if there are any great products I am missing out on! 

Loves 

Sam xo

Sunday 27 March 2016

How To Stay Motivated


I have to admit, motivation is something which I struggle with (I know you who are reading this will be nodding your heads thinking "she never blooming posts!") so yeah. It is literally next to non existent, and whilst I blame my depression for most of it, I know that the other segment is me just being, well, me!

It frustrates me incredibly when I leave my blog for so long because I genuinely love writing on it, but there is a gap, between what I want to do and actually doing it... so that's where this post comes in! I've decided to write a post (as the title states) on how to stay motivated, which even I will refer to when I lack energy. Staying motivated is mostly about how you perceive something, if its challenging we may just be tempted to leave it until another day. If its easy, we may just be tempted to do the same thing, its difficult really. My example would be this blog, I enjoy every aspect of it, but because I wasn't receiving the subscribers, I thought my readers didn't enjoy or like my content which made me less enthusiastic about posting often. Additionally, finding something fun and new to write about challenged me, I don't want to be like every other beauty blogger out there, I want to be unique, as does everyone, so finding my niche contributes to my motivation. I thought I would throw in a few things I like to do if I have assignments due in, which encourage me to sit and at least write parts of my assignment gradually to make it less stressful. 

1)  Music - Personally, listening to the sound of rain, really relaxes me, its a continuous sound (until it stops) which allows me to work, without me wanting to sing along to it, like I would Beyonce or Taylor Swift. I found an app called 'Defonic' which I am totally in love with, I believe it is just for android users but its fab! If you can access it, check it out, and let me know what you think. 

2) Nibbles - I am a nibbler at heart. Snacks and nibbles are the way forward in my eyes! I am a fan of the 'share' bags of crisps (especially Kettle Chips) being solely for me, and claiming the pot of hummus to keep dipping my bread sticks in to. These things keep my mind from being totally fixated on my laptop and allow me to drift away from the screen once in a while. It also lets me think whilst I nibble, and the large quantities of food prevent me from creeping back downstairs to the fridge every 10 minutes. 

3) Water and Fruit - Although fruit could be a nibble, I like to think of it as separate, as I see nibbles as 'indulgent food' and although I like fruit, I dont think of it like that! Blueberries and pineapple are my favourites and I consider myself being healthy and eating brain food when I eat them. Water is just a must have when working, although I like my indulgent snacks when it comes to beverages, water is kind of my go-to. I dont feel thoroughly hydrated unless I've drank water, which makes it perfect for when I'm studying. 

4) Exercise - Those of you who know me personally know that I want to be a health and exercise guru but i'm just not. I do like to go on walks as the weather doesn't really bother me, and It gives me time to clear my head if i'm stressed out or tired. Its quite nice as a break as well, taking in your surroundings and being thankful for what you have, its a lovely feeling. 

5) Being Social - Having assignment after assignment can be hard when trying to be a social butterfly. I wouldn't consider myself anti-social but I would rather stay in and watch a film than go out partying. I have learnt that its important to make time for loved ones, including your friends. Its ok to let your hair down if you want to, or have a catch up over a coffee. I always thought I was ok with being cooped up in my own little world, and I am, but you start to dwell on problems more than you need to and begin to forget what's important in life. So try to have a balance, taking an hour out for a coffee might motivate you more than if you were sat staring at your computer screen for an hour ay? 

So there you have it, ways I try and stay motivated. Do you have any ideas on how to stay motivated? Let me know in the comments! 


Sam xo