Sleek Make-up’s limited edition I-divine in Arabian Nights

Here's a post I wrote for brownbeautytalk.com; I've added swatches, the palette is still available on sleekmakeup.com, enjoy.

Sleek cosmetics is probably one of my favourite drugstore brands, they cater to a wide variety of skin tones, affordable items that do what they say on the tin. I mean an eyeshadow palette of 12 shades that are pigmented and blend beautifully at £7.99, there isn’t a shade I do not like in this palette and it can serve for a variety of occasions from day to night. It comes housed in a gorgeously sleek black compact, with a double ended applicator.
Sleek state that this I-divine eyeshadow palette is inspired by Arabian fantasy, seduction and warm rich colours. The deep tones of green, blue and gold melt together, forming beautiful smoky effects, suited to all skin tones. I couldn’t agree more, if you are looking for an eyeshadow palette with some none neutral colours, I couldn’t recommend this highly enough. If you have oily eyelids, you may require a primer to increase longevity, but I find eyeshadows last well on me without one.

 

The palette contains a mixture of shimmer and metallic shades, with only one matte shade, which is stallion a dark brown burgundy colour. The stand out shades for me are; scheherazade’s tale a light medium golden beige with a metallic finish that’s great as an inner corner highlight. Genie a rich medium dark bronzy brown with a metallic finish, which is great if you want an all over wash of colour for a quick daytime look. Black magic a blackened navy blue with a satin finish, hocus pocus a gorgeous light emerald green with a metallic finish, Simbad’s Seas a navy blue with a satin finish and valley of diamonds a dark wine colour with gold shimmer shot through it. But to be honest, there isn’t a shade I wouldn’t wear in this palette, it’s bold but can be worn subtle at the same time and would be gorgeous to create a smokey eye.

As it’s limited edition I would grab this ASAP!!!

This post appeared first on brownbeautytalk.com.

black|Up Paris CC Cream; Multi-Action Complexion Correcting Foundation!!!

I have heard of the brand black|Up Paris for a while, but this is the first product I've actually tried and I love it. I don't have many CC or BB creams, as there are not many that cater to darker skintones, as some can have quite a grey cast to them or just not run dark enough. I was actually in the market for a tinted moisturiser, a light weight base I could use daily, so popped into Debenhams on my lunch break and came across this.

The black|Up Paris CC cream claims to hydrate, mattify, reduce excess sebum, rebalance skin, minimise pores, boost radiance, unify skin tone and have a lightweight finish. My initial thought was how can something hydrate and mattify, but as you apply this CC cream it feels like a drink of water to the skin, without leaving skin shiny or greasy. It lasts well during the day with or withour primer, even on my combination skin in these warm sunny days we've been having I can go all day without touching up, with only minimal shine coming through. Usually around my nose, which is typical for me.

This gives light to light medium coverage, you won't be able to build it up much more than that, so perfect for what I was looking for. It's a great colour match for me, it has a great amount of orange in the undertone that is very flaterring on darker skin tones. CC04 runs more red in the undertone, so this maybe more suitable if that describes your skin tone.

The black|Up Paris CC cream comes in 5 shades, I have CC03 and it cost £27. It's paraben, oil and fragrance free.

Have you tried anything from this brand before?

Thanks for visiting the blog today.

Alex

LatestinBeauty...Beauty Bible Loves Box (Giveaway)!!!

Latest in Beauty have brought out another great beauty box, collaborating with the authors of the award winning Beauty Bible Books, Jo Fairly and Sarah Stacey. You get a mixture of makeup, natural skincare and organic haircare, in total 9 products with a total value of over £70 for £19.95 plus P&P.

Firstly is the Bellapiere Volumising Mascara in black, which is full size, I've got so many tubes of mascara open at themoment that I will not be using it till I get through them. But I'm looking forward to trying it out and it's paraben free.

Next is the Crabtree and Evelyn Verbana and Lavender Hand cream (25g), it contain shea butter, macadamia nut oil and antioxidant rich vitamins C and E and smells gorgeous.

I love a good face mask so I was super excited (sad I know) to try the Dr Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mud Mask (100ml). An oil regulating, detoxifying, pore cleansing and anti-ageing bio-plasma face treatment. This is a lovely mud mask that is comfortable on the skin and not too drying.

The award winning Essential Care Creamy Coconut cleanser (30ml), is an 88% organic cream cleanser that blends plant oils to cleanse and remove makeup. This feels like you're applying a lotion to the skin, it cleanses without sripping the skin and is great for those with sensitive skin.

John Masters shampoo and conditioner (30ml each), provide you with your organic haircare treats. The shampoo is lavendar and rosemary, using natural ingredients and oils to leave hair healthy and shiny. The citrus and neroli detangling conditioner is a light weight that can either be rinsed out or left in, it contains 17 certified organic ingredients that won't weigh hair down.

There's also a 2ml satchet sample of the Merumaya melting cleansing balm. I used this up in one go, if you love cleansing balms, then this will be no exception, it cleanses and removes make-up well. Only wish it was a larger sample size to get more use out of it.

I'd never heard of the PitROK deodorant wipes (20 wipes), based on pure natural mineral salts, I'll be throwing these in my handbag should the heatwave weather return.

Last, but by no means least is the Rituals Miracle Scrub Ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba ultra softening Hand scrub, which is fab. Hands are one of the first places to show your age, and this is fab, it's oil based so exfoliating and moisturising at the same time.

If you would like to get your hands on this beauty box, I am giving one away on my instagram (Aallexxy), scroll through my timeline, make sure you're following me on both instagram and twitter, like and comment below the picture. Giveaway closes on the 21st August, good luck (UK only).

Revitalash and RevitaBrow Advanced Lash and Brow Conditioner!!!

I have been eyeing up these products for a while, but the price always put me off, so when I saw QVC had a TSV (todays special value) I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try them. I got the revitalash 2 piece Lash and brow conditioner for £76.98, usually £94 and I get a 60 day money back guarantee.

Revitalash & RevitaBrow

Starting with RevitaBrow advanced, an award winning brow conditioner, that is said to enhance the look of your eyebrows for a dramatic natural beauty. It delivers a proprietary blend of scientifically advanced peptides, revitalising extracts and nutritive vitamins to help beautify and enhance the look of bold defined brows. Ingredients include Bio tin complex, Calendula (natural humectant), Swertia, Japonica, Panax and Ginseng. It's housed in a mascara style tube, with a doe foot applicator and needs to be applied once daily, this 3ml size is said to last 4 months. It's great those who have overplucked brows over the years or brows that are thinning due to the ageing process, to buy this individually on QVC it will set you back £71.28.

Revitalash advanced is also said to enhance eyelashes for a dramatic natural look, which to me seems contradictory. It's said to be a breakthrough cosmetic formula that addresses the visual signs of eyelash ageing and stress, it protects against breakage, brittleness and improve flexibility, moisture and shine for more dramatic looking lashes. It contains a proprietary blend of scientifically advance technology along with natural botanicals, once a day application is required using the slim wand applicator at the base of the lashes without touching the skin on the eyelid. A 2ml size is said to last 3 months, so this 3.5ml supersize should last almost 6 months and will set you back about £80 if bought individually. It contains BioPeptin complex (biotin, green tea extract and peptides), Ginseng, swertia and Japonica (high in anti-oxidants and vitamin B), Saw and Palmetto (high in fatty acids and plant sterols) and wheat and protein.

I've been using these about 3 days now, so too early to comment on results, they are easy to apply and I will be updating this post once I start noticing result. I will be taking QVC up on the 60 day money back guarantee, so if I'm not happy they will be going back.

Have you tried either of these before?

Update: Absolutely love the RevitaBrow, definitely saw growth and thickness to my brows, not so much with Revitalash unfortunately.

Thanks for visiting the blog today.

Alex

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser

So I've had this cleanser for a while, I originally purchased it from spacenk.com back in September for £35, but it didn't suit my combination skin at the time, which can get quite dry in the colder months. I instantly regreted forking out that amount of money for a cleanser and as my first foray into Sunday Riley skincare products I was quite disappointed. It's a lightly foaming gel based clay cleanser, with vitamin C and essential oils that is geared towards normal to combination skin, that is in pursuit of ceramic smooth skin and minimises the appearance of pores. The refined french clay (montmorillonite) purifies skin, vitamin C ester boosts radiance, black pepper fruit oil stimulates circulation, sandalwood oil helps with skin irritation, is anti-inflammatory and promotes radiance, jasmine oil soothes and restores, frankincense tones. This all aids in balancing the skin and is paraben free.

Had to steal pic from cultbeauty.co.uk as my bottle looks manky now lol.

I recently decided to try and use up some products I've had lying around and this was one of them, and I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised. It makes my skin feel very smooth and clean, I use it in the morning as I prefer balms and oils at night, and massage it into my face. You have to shake up the bottle at each use as the clay and oils have a tendency to separate, especially if left for a while. I started by wanting to use the product up and now I'm dreading it running out. if you have dry skin don't go anywhere near this or use very sparingly, and obviously if essential oils don't sit well with you, then avoid this cleanser. But for my combination and oily skin girls and guys, if this is in your budget I'd say give it a go.

Have you tried this cleanser or any other Sunday Riley products?

Thanks for visiting the blog today.