Kiko Skin Glow: Review

Kiko Skin Glow moisturizing cream with SPF 10, £6.40 comes in really nice packaging and is a big size so you feel like you're getting something which is value for money. The product reminds me of Olay Complete Care Everyday Sunshine Moisturiser because it is tinted and gives your skin a very similar glow. The moisturiser has very small particles of glitter in it which comes out on your skin. But it is not so glitterly that you feel that you have been to a child's party!

I found that the applicator was hard to use as sometimes I pressed it and nothing came out, so this product requires a bit of perseverance! I needed two layers of this moisturiser as I did not feel that one layer made my skin glow enough to make a noticable difference. Nonetheless my skin did look healthier. The cream absorbed into my skin very quickly, making me feel like I wanted to apply a generous amount on my face. 

I did not find this product as moistursing as a day cream such as Nivea creme, nevertheless I think that it will make a good base for makeup because it absorbs well and gives skin a very subtle glow. One problem that I found with using this product is that once I had used it my hands were all glitterly and even after washing my hands once it did not come off, so as a contact lenses wearer this was not great for me. So if you wear contact lenses I advise you to put them in before you apply this moisturiser and the same goes for any other tinted creams / foundations.

I think that all skin types can use this day cream as it does not make skin too shiny. Also this product contains SPF 10 in it, so its good to use for this time of year. Will I be buying this product again? I am not so sure because it does not give me the overall look of radiance that I want and I think that you are much better faking radiance with an illuminator such as Nars Copacabana. However, I think that this product is great for someone that likes a subtle sheen or radiance.

Mavala Eye-Lite Double Lash

 

Image from feelunique.com

I am not a fan of fake lashes ever since I went through a panic of trying to put them on once when I was in a rush and the lashes would not position in the right place and glue went all over my top lashes, which meant I had to ditch the falsies and re-apply some of my makeup. So I was looking for a fools proof solution that generally meant less fuss but still boosted my eyelashes. 

This came in the form of eyelash serums, not to be confused with clear mascara. There are a few out there and the majority are quite expensive, about triple the price of your favourite high street mascara. So I went for the cheapest one as it was the smallest bottle, which meant that if I didn't like it there was less regret. I have been using Mavala Eye-Lite Double Lash Night Treatment £11.00 for a few weeks, which promises to strengthen lashes and have already noticed results. I was going to wait until 30 days, which is the recommend time that the product will take effect, but because I have already noticed results I wanted to blog about it now.

Mavala recommend that you apply the serum on bare, makeup free lashes before bed time. This is exactly what I did, except I applied the serum maybe an hour or so before bed time so that the product did not go all over my pillow. When I applied mascara the morning after using the serum I noticed that my eyelashes have appeared fuller, with more volume and definition. This treatment has prevented loss of eyelashes when I remove my makeup at night.

I used the same mascara before I started using the eyelash serum, so I know what my lashes were like before I started using the serum and can recognise the difference. I love that my lashes still look very natural, as fake eyelashes are sometimes too overpowering, especially for someone like me with deep set eyes.

I think this product is a great quick fix beauty treatment for anyone that either does not have time to curl their lashes or apply fake lashes. The serum does not give the same dramatic effect of fake eyelashes but it gives your lashes enough of a lift to make a difference. One which I think is more natural and involves an effortless application. Mavala Double-Lash was awarded 'Best Eyelash Serum' winner by Prima in February 2011, so it obviously works for a lot of people.

I think the product gives you a very similar volume to Natalie Portman's lashes.

Natalie Portman. Image from Google Images

Beauty spoon

(From left to right): A dessert spoon and Miranda Kerr. Images from Google Images

I have read before of how some women have used the back of a cold spoon to reduce puffiness and the feeling of tiredness around the eyes and decided to try this for myself. Miranda Kerr has declared that she uses a spoon as part of her beauty regime, finding it useful for curling her lashes. However in the beauty world the spoon is more commonly associated with helping to reduce the appearance of tired eyes.

Having just recently come off a flight, there is no better time to try out this DIY treatment. Placing the back of a tablespoon on my eye (over the eyelid and under-eye area) I held it on each eye for roughly 10 seconds each. It felt quite soothing having a cold spoon on my eye area.

After doing this my eyes instantly felt less tired and less heavy when I closed my eyes. However I did not notice a dramatic difference and do not believe that there is a cure for tired eyes other than sleep!

Although this treatment does not cure you of tiredness it does help to make you feel more revived. However it did not appear to reduce the puffiness around my eyes. This is something I will definitely be doing again within the confines of my home!

Lancôme Hypnôse Star Eyes Palette by Alber Elbaz

I have just invested in Lancôme Hypnôse Star Eyes Palette by Alber Elbaz, £38. Firstly I love the Alber Elbaz designs which are fun and playful and I love the blue tones and intense black which will create a sizzling smokey eye for night.

Alber Elbaz, designer of Lanvin created this limited edition makeup in colloboration with Lancôme. The collection is all about drawing attention to the eyes, Elbaz got inspiration for these designs just by looking at models eyes. He was also fascinated by the curvature of the Lancôme mascara bottles, in particular the cult classic, Hypnôse which he compared to a women's figure.

This palette is a bit different in that you can apply the eyeshadow wet or dry. For those that want long lasting colour it is recommended that you apply the shadow wet. The shadows look like fabric and do not look overally powdery.

The eyeshadow feels quite lightweight and is relatively easy to apply with the brushes in the set. Included is a brush for blending which is important to do when applying the eyeshadow. For the complete smoked look I think I would wear this shadow with a touch of black gel liner on the upper lash line with lashings of mascara. If you want bold lashes like Heidi Klum (below) then apply fake lashes.

I am overall quite happy with this palette as it is the perfect go to palette for a dramatic night time look, but that's not to say that you can't wear one of the lighter shades in the daytime. Please note that this Star Eyes Palette is limited edition so if you want to purchase it then it is advisable to get it soon.

Here are some celebrity blue eyes makeup look which you can emulate with this palette:

Daria Werbowy in a Lancôme campaign. Image from Google Images

Heidi Klum. Image from Google Images

.

Michelle Keegan. Image from Google Images

TO WATCH the Alber Elbaz video for the Lancôme collection click here: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xICwT85Ov7c&feature=youtu.be

Let me know what you think of this product in the comments box below.

Birthday beauty gifts

Here are some snaps of what I got for my birthday this year - my list was basically made up of makeup so its no surprise that I mainly got makeup. 

Ted Baker makeup bag

For all these years I have managed with flimsy little canvas makeup bags which I have got as freebies. I have never owned anything sturdy or that fill fit more than a couple of mascaras and small eyeshadow palettes in. So I am excited to use this one and love the bright pink colour.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner

I have been having problems with my liquid eyeliner (Max Factor's Glide and Define), namely that I complete one lined eye and I go to do the over one and not much liquid comes out. So I wanted something that would come out of a jar so you can control the intensity of the colour.

Nars Orgasm Blush

This is a firm favourite of mine, its such a gorgeous pink, shimmery blusher and makes you look healthy and radiant. I think its one of those products that once you've tried you can't ever go back to using anything else. Also Kourtney Kardashian is a fan of this blusher!

Urban Decay NAKED palette 

This is a firm favourite with beauty bloggers and I can see why, with a mixture of natural and bold shades this palette can take you from day to night. It is loved by celebrities such as Millie Mackintosh from Made in Chelsea and acclaimed beauty blogger Tanya Burr.

If there are any beauty products that YOU can recommend me that please drop me a comment below or tweet me @Fearon91. What are your favourites? 

The SPF we need but forget about

From left to right: Nivea Lip Care Sun Protect SPF30 £3.25, Soap & Glory Feel Good Factor SPF25 £12.00.

When people tell you to protect yourself from the sun, what they normally mean is to just simply wear suncream. But there are two parts of our anatomy which are overlooked and that is our face and lips. The lips are more commonly ignored, but they can also get sun damaged as I have realised when holidaying before.

Whilst there are a lot of day creams which contain SPF in it, a lot do not. The two moisturisers which I have been alternately using for the last few weeks, do not have a trace of SPF in them. It is advisable that for summer you invest in a moisturiser that has it in, especially now we're having this heat wave. There are so many great moisturisers with SPF's in them, some tinted, some plain and some mixed with a BB cream. So SPF does not have to be boring.

I have been trying out Soap & Glory Feel Good Factor SPF25 Fast Absorbing BB Moisturising Cream. This product used to be a moisturiser, but has now been changed into a BB cream. So if you go to your're local Boots and see a Tester in its old packaging and wonder why the Tester is not the same as the product on the shelves, then that is why! (See below for the new packaging).

Soap & Glory Feel Good Factor SPF25 Fast Absorbing BB Moisturising Cream.

This BB cream feels really moisturising and left my skin with a very dewy look. If you have oily skin then I would advise you not to use this due to how glistening my skin looked. But as a BB cream this product provides an excellent base for makeup, as well as moisturising your skin and protecting it from the sun. I was out in the sun for an hour or so and my face did not burn, so it seems to do what is says on the tin. But for those with paler skin it is advisable that you top up your moisturiser throughout the day.

There are also many lip balm's that have SPF in them. But it's very important that you check the packaging before you buy it. Quite simply if there is SPF in it, it WILL say somewhere on the product. For my lip protection I have chosen Nivea Lip Care Sun Protect SPF30, which is a lip balm especially formulated for sun protection. This is not quite as moisturising as my regular pot of Vaseline, but you can not go wrong with such a high amount of sun protection. I felt like this lip balm wore off every time I had a drink or ate something, so I would advise regular application of it after eating and drinking.

So what are you waiting for? Now that you are armed with an SPF BB cream and SPF lip balm there is no excuse not to enjoy the sun. Just remember to apply some suncream as well!

Champneys Citrus Blush Body Scrub: a spa in a jar

I have just tried Champneys Spa Treatments Citrus Blush Body Scrub and it is literally incredible. After using it once it left my skin the smoothest and silkiest it has ever been. The citrus smell is lovely and refreshing for summer and the scrub feels really hard on your skin, like wet sand rubbing into your skin. But this is a good feeling because it means the skin is being intensely exfoliated.

This product is also great for those women on the go, as its quick to do as part of your morning routine. Putting it on damp skin and washing it off in the shower is ideal. To lock in moisture I put on Johnson's Baby Light Oil Spray after showering. The result is nourished and glowing skin. At just £8.00 this is great value for money and much cheaper than going to a spa. I could not recommend it enough!

GOSSIP EXCLUSIVE: Louise Thompson and Lucy Watson row esculates

(From left to righ)t: Lucy Watson and Louise Thompson. Images from Google Images

Made in Chelsea may be taking a break after series 5, but the bitch fights are yet to be put on the shelf. It would seem that Louise Thompson and Lucy Watson are still at loggerheads. Not content with shooting insults at each other on screen the co-stars are exchanging insults on the favoured medium of celeb spats - Twitter. The pair originally fell out after Louise split up with her cheating boyfriend Spencer Matthews, and Lucy Watson got together with him soon after. However, before that the pair had never got on as Lucy had never made it a secret that she fancied Spencer. 

When a Twitter user accused Louise Thompson's private life of revolving over 'crying over Spencer', Louise hit back, causing the the user to state that she was now Team Lucy. Louise then responded with 'obviously chavs support chavs'. Of course Lucy was never going to sit back and take the high road, as she replied to Louise saying 'your insults are boring now get a new hobby'. Perhaps fearing a back lash Louise has since deleted her tweet. 

So if we were not already excited enough for series 6 of MIC, this spat gives us a clear indication that the drama and tension between the two ladies will most definitely continue. I do not see an olive branch being offered any time soon!

Tweets All / No replies

1. Lucy Watson ‏@imLucyWatson34m

   @LouiseAThompson @chl0erome @lilyhopee @charleyelogan your insults are boring now. Get a new hobby

    View conversation

Live life the Melissa Forde way

(From left to right): Rihanna and Melissa Forde. Image from Google Images

Melissa Forde, Rihanna’s BFF aka bosom buddy is best known as her sidekick. She describes herself as Rihanna's assistant on her official Facebook and is also a photographer. Melissa is often papped alongside her best friend, as her PPP – perfect party pal. RiRi constantly tweets to her BFF making sure that the world knows who her companion is. One of her latest tweets featuring Forde states ‘me and my main’ accompanied by a photo of the two. Forde is the equivalent of a backing dancer, she follows Rihanna on tour, assists her and experiences the buzz of it without being centre stage.

The two ladies also mirror each others style like six year old twins. From rocking black leather to short shorts and floral fashion, their styles could not be more in sync.

If you follow RiRi on Instagram you will see that Forde pops up in many of her photos, from attending Paris Couture Week to partying with Cara Delevingne, she is there immersed in the crazy world of RiRi. So if you have to be someone be Melissa Forde. She gets to live the pop star lifestyle, without being the star. Therefore she gets all the perks of fame without the same amount of media attention that her famous best friend gets.

(From left to right): Rihanna and Melissa Forde. Image from Google Images

(From left to right): Melissa Forde, and Rhianna. Image from Google Images

(From left to right): Melissa Forde and Rihanna. Image from Google Images