Kiko Cosmetics Summer Collection

I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Kiko Milano's Limited Edition Summer Collection, inspired by the passion to travel, I have to say I was awe struck by the gorgeous packaging straight off the bat. The packaging was designed by designer Ross Lovegrove who's known for his futuristic and conceptual work, he was given the brief to design beautiful products you can take with you anywhere. This fits well with Kiko's overall ethos to provide functional and affordable products, that look and perform far better than there actual cost. The result? The collections gorgeous golden lust worthy packaging, that I'd be happy to pull out of my bag for on the go touch-ups absolutely anywhere.

TheFoundationDirectory.blogspot.com; Kiko Summer Collection

This huge collection includes a DD Cream, Cream & Powder Foundation, Bronzer, Eyeliner, Eyeshadow, Mascara, Lipstick, Lip Oils, Highlighters, Makeup brushes, Baked Blushers, Fragrance and another gorgeous make-up bag I'd rather use as a clutch bag (Click here to see what I'm talking about). I haven't managed to try everything I received from this massive collection, partly due the size of the collection, but also because the foundation I got in the goody bag actually doesn't match my skin tone. I'll pick some of my favourites so far from what I have.

TheFoundationDirectory.BlogSpot.com; Kiko Summer Collection

First up is the Endless Sky Volume Effect Mascara £12.90; As the name would imply, this is a volumising mascara, and it's great at doing that, but not so much lengthening. It's a very nice very black mascara that stays put all day, it has a medium sized brush that tapers to a point. I really like this mascara, but I do pair it with a lengthening mascara (which I do a lot with my mascara's) to get the benefits of both volume and length. The Dessert Dunes Bronzer £22.90 is another item I like, not because it actually bronzes my skin tone, even though I have the darker of the 2 shades available. I used this as a finishing powder to add a subtle glow to my face. This bronzer is absolutely huge, a massive 20grams to be precise, very reminiscent of something from Tom Ford. It could also be used as a subtle highlighter depending on your skin tone. Next up is the Mirage Lip Stylo £13.90 (aka Lipstick), I have 2 of the 16 shades and 11 Soul Blackcurrant is my fave, the deep fuchsia shade is right up my street, when I want to opt for bold colour on my lips, see it in action on my instagram (Aallexxy) here. The next item I'm going to touch on is the Lip Oil £10.90, which I feel is a brewing trend in beauty. This is a great glossy textured moisturising lip oil that has no colour, but is available in three scents, hence the different tints I have the vanilla scented option. The scent is not overpowering or sickly, which is nice, it just gives some hydration and sheen to the lips more than anything. It's a nice alternative to applying a balm, while out and about. And finally is the Makeup Pochette £16.90, which as mentioned previously, I'd more likely use as a clutch bag on a night out.

TheFoundationDirectory.blogspot.com; Kiko Summer Collection

What do you think of this new collection? Have you picked up any items yet? See the collection here, prices start from £8.90.

Kiko Cosmetics - The Artist Collection

(Source: Kikocosmetics.com via google)

The Italian brand Kiko bring us The Artist Collection, inspired by the world of art and looks at your face as the canvas and these products are your artist's tools. We can now all be our own artist and create a work of art on our face. I love the idea behind this collection, and the collection itself doesn't disappoint, all at very affordable price points.

The full collection consists of;

• Glacial Light Soft Sifter Foundation £12.90
• Velvet Loose Mineral Beauty Powder £10.90 – 4 shades
• Blending Wave Multi color Blush £10.90 – 4 shades
• Fine Art Eye Pencil £5.90 – 6 shades
• Signature Eye marker £6.90
• Artist Powder Face Brush £13.90
• Artist Foundation Face Brush £13.90
• Artist Eye Duo Brush £11.90
• Artist Pochette £9.90
• Blooming Glow £13.90
• Glowing Pearl Cushion Highlighter £8.90
• Artist Stroke Mineral Loose Eye shadow £6.90 - 6 shades
• Colour Click Lipstick £6.90
• Fine Art Lip Pencil £4.90 - 6 shades
• Artist Pochette - Make-up bag £9.90

TheFoundationDirectory; Kiko Artist Collection

Firstly I love the packaging of this collection, the clean white with splashes of colour, how the lip pencil is literally shaped like an artist's pencil and the push click delivery system of the lipstick. I will be discussing the latter 5 items on the blog today, starting with the Glowing Pearl Cushion Highlighter, that literally has a cushion ball applicator like how an artist may use a sponge to smudge colours into a canvas. You twist the applicator up from the bottom, and the smudge or dab onto areas of your face you would like to highlight. It's a gorgeous pale golden shade, that can either give a subtle lit from within glow or built up for full on look for you highlighter fiends out there. Then the Colour Click Lipstick that's very reminiscent of Chanel's lipstick delivery system, where you push the bottom of the lipstick and it pops out. There are 5 shades in total, I have the shade 03 Clamourous Strawberry, it's a bright pink shade. This lipstick is super creamy and glides on the lips, it has a satin finish. Then I have the Fine Art Lip Pencil in the matching shade, which is highly pigmented, creamy and also glides along the lips. They have a sort of rounded triangle shape, in the guise of an actual artist's pencil, great for stopping it from rolling away while you're doing your make-up. Now for the Artist Stroke Mineral Loose Eye shadow, I have the shade 05 Skill Blue, a super glittery royal blue colour. I love the mesh style delivery system in the packaging, so if you dropped this eye shadow you wouldn't make as much of a mess as with typical loose eyeshadows. And finally is the Make-up Pochette, a gorgeous make-up bag that I would be more inclined to carry as a clutch bag on a night out lol!!!

Kiko is a great affordable brand, that offers great quality items at affordable price points. If you would like any items from this collection, I wouldn't hang around as it's limited edition, you can find what's left of it here.  

My latest obsession with Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution Lipsticks

I know these are not new, but if you love a matte lip, but don't want the dryness that can often accompany them, then you have to check these out. These lipsticks have been designed to give the illusion of a fuller, lit from within pout, with the addition of 3D glowing pigments, not really sure what that is. Charlotte wanted the consumer to be able to create a fuller pout that often takes makeup artists quite a few products and techniques, including lighting trickery, powder and illuminators, in one swipe of a lipsticks. Now it's quite an oxymoron to have glow and matte in one product, I don't think these are particularly glowy, but they are definitely not a flat matte either.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick

What I love about these lipsticks is the pigmentation, the hydration and staying power. All made possible with the addition of Orchid extract, oils and waxes that help to soften, protect, hydrate as well as give the lipsticks there creamy formula that literally glides on to your lips. There are 10 shades in total (with a new one on the horizon, launching in February), of which I have 4, and still lusting after Birkin Brown and Glastonberry.

 

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick and Lip Cheat Lip Liner Swatches

In the order they appear above; Love Liberty is a deep plum shade (can sometimes photograph and pull a little red). Red Carpet Red is a true blue toned bright red, Very Victoria is a pale taupey mauve nude shade and Bond girl is a deeper mauve pinky brown shade. And swatched above these is the Foxy Brown Lip Cheat lip liner, a neutral toned brown.

 

I love the unusual square shaped bullet, this makes getting a precise lipline so easy, with or without lip liner. I mainly use Foxy Brown lip liner with the shade Very Victoria, although it's not needed as the shade will still work on me alone, but may be necessary depending on your skintone.

 

The lipsticks cost £23 each and can be found here and here.  

 

Have you tried any of these lipsticks?

B Beauty; B Sweet Makeup Collection

Last month I attended the launch of B Beauty's Spring 2015 Collection, B are embracing all things bright and pretty, so the usual coral and pink shades have been amped up for Spring Summer. The collection consists of a whipped mouse textured blush, a moisturising SPF15 lipstick, a Highligting Serum, alongside the launch of a makeup brush range.

B Beauty; B Sweet Makeup Collection

I received one of the 2 shades available in the B Sweet Whipped Blush called Strawberry, it's a soft pink shade, which unfortunately appears a little ashy on my skin tone. This is a lightweight whipped texture that provides a flush of colour to create an instant healthy glow, maybe the other shade Peach (more orange toned) would be more suitable for me. These retail for £7.99 each.

One of my favourites from the collection is the B Sweet Lipsticks, there are 3 shades, I received Sherbet Dip, a gorgeous bright deep pink shade. This gives buildable moisturising coverage, with SPF15 protection, The packaging is also great, think Chanel style where the lipstick pops out at the bottom, but at a more purse friendly £7.99.

Next up is the B Sweet Popping Candy Highlighting Serum, I was initially confused by this product, is it a serum, a highlighter or a primer? I was right to be confused as this is a multi-use product, it can be used as a hydrating serum, a highlighter or an illuminating primer as well as being mixed in with foundation. I'm still figuring out the best way for me to use this, it is lightweight and provides very subtle shimmer, it retails for £14.99 for 30ml.

B Beauty Makeup Brush Collection

Finally and my other favourite is the makeup brushes, I received the travel set, which contains the Powder Brush, Foundation Brush, Eyeshadow Brush and Lip Brush. Good drugstore brushes are hard to find, and Real Techniques have dominated in this area, but I think B can give them a run for their money. These brushes are super soft and I like the travel case with mirror these brushes are housed in. I'm definitely interested in looking at some fo the full sized options, and as with all B products they are Vegan and Cruelty free, this set retails for £17.99, but is currently on sale for £13.49 at superdrug.com.

Have you tried anything from the B Sweet Spring Collection, what are your thoughts?

Thanks for visiting the blog today

Alex

Illamasqua Glamour Nude Lipsticks

Illamasqua lauched the Glamore collection, a collection to celebrate the classics, a way for everyone to redefined what glamourous is to them. This included satin lipsticks, that were developed to be less drying than their well known matte lipsticks. Within this they also launched the Nude collection, 7 Nude satin lipsticks to match every skintone.

I have 3 of the 7 shades; Naked described as a creamy nude (less beige and more pinky brown than Tease), Tease described as a pink beige and Buff, the darkest in the nude range described as a fudge brown, it's a dark muted pink brown.


Illamasqua Nude Lipsticks in Naked, Tease and Buff

These lipsticks are gorgeous and creamy, you still need to ensure lips are well prepped, but once applied they last well. I enjoy using Naked applied with a pinky liner underneath or mixing Tease and Buff together, to offer versatality and prevent Tease looking to pale on my darker skin tone. Check out pictures of me wearing these on my instagram; Aallexxy.

 

Have you tried any of the nude range yet, or the satin lipsticks in general available here. What do you think of the direction Illamasqua have been going in recently?

 

Thanks for visiting the blog today.

 

Alex