Hey all! Firstly, apologies for the really crappy photo. It's the only one of this product I managed to take before it ran out! I bought these make up wipes as the package suggests at boots over a lunch break two weeks ago when I realised that I had forgotten my cleanser at home and needed some wipes for when I visited my parents in Bristol. The wipes retail for only £1 and come in a pack of 25. After going through the whole packet, my thoughts are that this is an okay face wipe for cleaning your face if you feel a bit grotty or oily. I don't think it is as good as other wipe brands out there as the wipes themselves lack a bit of moisture and I find it incredibly hard to take my make up completely off with these wipes and have to go through 2-3 wipes before I can get my make up completely off. So if you wanted to use them on the go, they may not be idea at all as you'd end up using so many/ resorting to washing your face. My solution to their dryness was to apply some micellar water to them to give them an extra edge in taking my make up off. Above all, I didn't like the fact that these wipes are not at all scented, but hey that's just me I really like scented things. Will I buy these again? probably not unless I had any other choice or needed a quick and cheap fix for make up removal. What's your favourite make up wipe brand?
Hi guys, I've recently tried out the Garnier SkinActive Micellar cleansing Gel Wash. I regularly use the Garnier SkinActive Micellar water anyways and I saw this in the store and I thought that I might give it a try. I usually use this with the facial cleansing brush that my friend Hobson gave me for Christmas. My initial reaction to this wash was that although there is no perfume you sort of can smell the grape extract that is in the wash. However, I felt that this made it smell a bit chemically and I'm a big fan of face washes with a scent in them although I know they're not as kind on the skin. The wash does what it says and removes every single trace of your make up quite easily with very little product required per wash and this bottle has lasted over 2 months with twice daily washes.
Another great feature of this wash is the fact that it is formulated in a way that is makes it suitable for sensitive skin like mine. Most washes I feel dry my skin out completely but this makes my skin feel so soft and so gentle, and I don't have to lather so much moisturiser on after to restore its moisture. So overall, I think this is a great wash for you if you're looking for a cleanser that takes of the entirety of your make up easily.
19:50
No comments
Hey everyone, my friend Lizzie recently gave me the amazing Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle. I had previously tried this highlighter before when I was around hers getting ready for a gig. Every time after, I would tell her how much I loved the highlighter and I've been meaning to get one for myself for ages now. So on my birthday she made my dreams come true by gifting me with one!
This highlighter is honestly so beautiful, just the way it looks and the way it is marbled is enough to catch any beauty lover's heart.
Just as the name suggests, the highlighter is literally the smoothest thing ever. When applied to your cheekbones, the highlight is quite subtle but it can build up if you layer it on a bit. It isn't like some cheaper highlighters that cake on your foundation or are just a bit too in your face or rather overwhelming. This one really gives you a natural glow and at the same time cheek bones sharp enough to kill.
Having used some cheaper highlighters over the last few months, I truly noticed the difference between this one and the rest. The staying power is incredible, I don't even use a setting spray at the moment and this lasts me the whole work day and beyond. I'm actually quite excited to go H A M on my cheekbones with this for my next night out so I can look absolutely on point for all of my photographs. So if you're looking for a lightweight, shimmery and long lasting highlighter with that is versatile with the ability to be layered as you like without caking, then honestly look no further. This highlighter is a must have and will probably be my favourite item for a long time coming. Do you guys have any other highlighters that you adore? If so hit me up as I'm eager to try a bunch more out.
21:33
No comments
Quite recently I found the limited edition Multi-task brush set by Real Techniques on sale at Asda. With a brush for almost everything you need for a complete look and a carrying case, I thought that it was an absolute steal. So more or less I simply had to have it.
The set includes a multitask face brush that the packaging describes that it can be used to set powder, apply bronzer and contour face. The multitask cheek brush on the other hand is a tapered head that can be used to blush, highlight and contour. The last brush is an extremely soft multitask eye brush that can be used to apply colour to the crease and also highlight the brow bone.
I mostly use the face brush to bronze my face when my foundation is too light and I have used it in the past to do my contour but I find that the head is too fat to achieve neat looking cheekbones.
As for the cheek brush, I've never used it to apply blush as I love using my Real Techniques blush brush to apply colour to my cheeks. Instead, I mainly use this brush to do my highlighter as the taper in the brush is just right and the bristles are uber soft and gentle.
Lastly, I cannot even explain how much I love the eye brush. It is literally my favourite and I've pretty much abandoned all my other brushes for this one. The hair is incredibly soft and this makes it super, super easy to not only apply your eyeshadow but also to blend it. I have struggled to find a brush that doesn't feel somewhat 'rubbery' on my eyelid which causes the eyeshadow to go on creased and messy. So I am extremely pleased that I have found this eye brush.
What's also cool about the set is that it comes in this funky casing that is really pretty, bright and fun. It's also brilliant that instead of just having space for the brushes that you've purchased, there is also space for some from your existing collection. Therefore this makes a great case for carrying your brushes in when you are heading off for a weekend or even a holiday. Another nifty thing about it is as described on the packaging, the case props up and stands and is useful for drying your brushes!
I cannot put into words how impressed and happy I am with this purchase and can only recommend that everyone should try get their own so they can try it out themselves.
23:25
No comments
Hey guys, it's been a whole while since I've done one of these make up reviews so I thought I would stop by and quickly write one. Today I thought I'd write about my eyebrow regime and the Rimmel London Brow This Way sculpting kit which is the current centre of it. Everyone knows how important brows are in defining your look and I often find it hard to find a brow kit that I like. Some make my brows too thick and some just wipe off instantly. This is even the case when my brows are freshly done or even when I use the smallest of brushes on my brows which makes it incredibly annoying for me. The best eyebrow pencil I have used the past is without a doubt the Dior Diorshow Brow Styler which retails for about £19.50 in Debenhams. However, my issue the Dior pencil was that it was one of those brow pencils that you had to twist. It was more a mechanical pencil than anything, though it was amazing to use. Due to this, the lead kept snapping and it didn't really last more than eight applications really. From then on I decided to just try out cheaper alternatives in an attempt to save money. Mostly it was because everything I was buying was clearly not lasting long enough for me to splurge on.
So the latest eyebrow kit in the drugstore price range I have been trying out is the Rimmel London Brow This Way brow sculpting kit which retails at £3.99 in Boots. Honestly, really cheap but hey, it works so well so no loss there. The kit comes with a spoolie brush for combing through your brows and a small applicator brush with slanted ends for the wax and the powder in the kit. Both the wax and powder in this kit honestly last for ages. I bought this kit back at the end of September and it's now January and I've just hit the pan on the wax and I am far far off from hitting the pan on the powder. The formula of both the wax and powder are both very very smooth which makes for an effortless and seamless application to the shape of your brows. The powder is super pigmented and therefore only very little is necessary to fill in your brows. This is probably one of the main factors contributing to the longeivity of the product. Whilst this does the job really well, I have still not mastered the art of keeping them completely matte. I have really oily skin and after awhile in cold weather it just gets super oily despite my religious use of matifying sprays and powder. The situation was worse when I was in the Philippines recently as well to the point where I just decided to spend most days make up free in order to cope with the heat. Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone have any tips on better managing oily skin? If you do, please let me know as I would love to hear from you.
Nikki xo.
10:13
No comments
I recently purchased the Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer to replace my free samples of Urban Decay eye shadow Primer that came free with Naked 3. The retailing price of this product actually retails for £17 from Debenhams. However, I managed to score a great deal on this in TkMaxx and it ended up only costing me £4.99. The product comes in a light blue box with gold detail which I find absolutely adorable. The primer itself is a nude fleshy tone that blends in completely colorless, so no need to worry about it ruining the look you wish to achieve.
The back of box details what the primer promises to do- secure your eye shadow for 24 whole hours. This really does an amazing job and you only need the smallest amount of product for BOTH eyelids! What's really great about this product is how smooth it glides on and it creates a genuinely smooth canvass for you to apply your eyeshadow on. This is absolutely fantastic seeing as some primers tend to turn your eyelids into a rubbery base that makes it super hard to blend your eyeshadow. It also makes your shadow 'pop' a little more adding vibrance to them.
I am genuinely impressed with this product, my eye shadow lasts all day, does not budge or crease like it does when I do not wear eyeshadow primer. The tube is super portable due to its non bulky size and does not take up much space in my make up bag when I travel! Although I had bought this at a discounted price, I am definitely going to buy this again at full price as it does such an impressive job!
15:05
No comments
I've always been a fan of NYX cosmetics, their products are so sleekly packaged, their staff at their concessions are always super friendly and best part is that their products are all super high quality and don't even break the bank at all. I saw this gem whilst I was browsing their concession in Boots flagship store in Oxford Circus. The spray comes in two variations, dewy and matte. Having oily skin, I naturally opted for the Matte finish in hopes that it would fend off the oil and make my make up last. After a few uses, I can say that I was extremely impressed at how good of a job this does. I'm not saying this is 100% a dupe for the more expensive Urban Decay, but it certainly exceeds expectations. Having only spent £7, this was able to make my skin look oil free and keep my make up on for hours at a time. I definitely recommend this product to anyone who has has oily skin and is looking for a cheaper alternative to the Urban Decay de-slick setting spray for every day use.
14:00
No comments
I have very sensitive eyes when it comes to mascara and I often find myself settling for more expensive ones to ensure that I don't up with an allergic reaction that leaves my eyes sore and itchy for days. I've been jumping from one high-end mascara to the other in the past few years, but recently my expenses have sky rocketed and I decided that it was time to find a cheaper alternative. I knew that NYX was a pretty reputable brand adored by many and I thought that heir blush (which I will post about) and their lip products were absolutely incredible quality for their price and decided that it wouldn't hurt to give this a try. This mascara after all only sets you back £6.50. The packaging is so gorgeous, sleek and fits extremely well in the hand when you apply it.
The product does exactly what it says, it does give you extra voluminous eye lashes. However, that is only after you have coated your lashes several times. This may seem like the expectation for most mascaras but you honestly have to be so careful when applying this one. The product is thick and quite gloopy-- it is uncommon for me to pull the wand out from the tube and there not to be a fat blob of product just completely chilling on the end of it. It also annoys me that I have to wipe so much excess product back into the container ( which I don't imagine is hygienic at all) before applying the mascara to my lashes or it just ends up all over the bridge of my nose. Another problem with the formula being this thick and gloopy is that it tends to clot up on your lashes leaving them either attached to each other or just little bit of a spidery mess. It's really important with this mascara to let each coat more or less dry before applying the next which reduces the risk of this but not significantly. In terms of using this product on your lower lash, don't bother. It really just looks like you've attached little balls of mascara to your lashes and the brush 99% of the time hits your skin leaving mascara marks.

The drying time is also a major issue, when I say leave it to dry for a bit, it only semi-dries. You can apply this at the very start of your make up regime and by the end when you've set your face with setting spray, it still would be semi-wet and the spray causes your lashes to 'print' onto your perfectly highlighted cheek. If you do however have the patience, and better skills than me when it comes to applying mascara, then I'd say yes, it does what it says. It's just a matter of finding the right tactic and having the time to even it out so it does not look clotty, which I find incredibly hard to achieve (but have done so on a few occasions so I could be at fault). Overall, I am quite unimpressed with this product and although it is cheap, I expected more from NYX and doubt I will repurchase this again. I am however, willing to give the other NYX mascara's a try just in case I find one that I like. Until then, my search for a decent cheap mascara that doesn't set my eyes off into a red itchy allergic reaction continues.
16:16
No comments
Awhile back I did a very brief review of the EOS Lip Spheres in coconut milk and honeydew which can be found here. Since then, my collection of these balms has indeed expanded. I now also have the passion fruit and blueberry ones mentioned above, the blackberry flavour one (which I will make a separate post for) and another coconut milk sphere (I've since given my old one to my brother). True to what I said in my previous post, I definitely did not go running out to buy these as they last ages and cost a huge amount in the UK (£6.50 each in boots). However, one of my American hall mates at LSE ( thanks Jess!) learnt that I loved these and brought me a ton back from America as a gift! They are literally USD $2.90ish in target which is roughly £2.39 which is absolutely a bargain considering the price in boots! Both of these flavours are absolutely beautiful, the blueberry is a bit on the sugary side and reminds me of candy and the passion fruit one is mildly scented and fruity without being too overbearing on the senses. Unlike both coconut and honeydew variants that I previously reviewed, these two aren't as oily on the lips but still keep your lips smooth and hydrated throughout the day without much need to reapply. As a fan of wearing lipstick, I find these two perfect for moisturising my lips pre-application of lipstick and to revive them after wearing lipstick that may be on the drier side. I'm a big fan of these two and I'd quite certainly repurchase so I hope the price drops in the future in the UK!
Nikki
11:00
No comments
When it comes to the end of the day, taking off your make up is an important part of the getting ready for bed process. It not only saves your bedsheets from nasty make up stains but also is obviously better for your skin. Across the years of wearing make up, I have experimented with both using make up wipes from a variety brands to make up removal lotions, oils and the latest hot product-- Micellar water. I've still not decided which method of make up removal I like the most, and I still use wipes now and then with an added dash of micellar water on them as I enjoy their fragrance a lot. In the past, I've made my way through bottles and bottles of the Garnier Micellar water. What really drew me to the concept was the fact that you got such a big bottle that would last ages because of the amount of product that you needed per make up removal was so minimal! In addition each bottle of Garnier Micellar water only set me back £4.99 for 400ml.
However, upon becoming more invested in reading skincare/makeup blogs, I saw that literally everyone had been hammering on about how great the Bioderma Micellar waters were so I obviously had to give them a try. I remember picking up this bottle on a make-up shopping trip down oxford street (where I spent too much money on unnecessary purchases) in a boots for £10.50 for 250ml which is hell lot more than what I was paying for the Garnier ones. Nonetheless, I was tempted by the rave reviews and the price of the product was no longer powerful enough to deter me from buying it.
Like the Garnier Micellar water, the Bioderma sensitive micellar water is fragrance free. In fact, although both are fragrance free, I observed the Garnier micellar water to have a some what weird scent to it when it is applied to cotton wool. The Bioderma one the other hand has NO SCENT at all. It doesn't even make the cotton wool go funny, which is great because I'm so particular when it comes to scents. Having used the product to get rid of my make up, I've observed that it does a great job in taking off all of my make up like a magnet and is true to the packing-- it is really gentle on the skin! Due to this, you only needed a few drops on a cotton wool pad to get a make up free face.
I especially loved to use this product with wipes as it gave them a bit more moisture to do their job better and I like the fragrance of make up removal wipes as some make me feel really refreshed. However, although this is an excellent product and I can't fault it in any way at all, I just don't see the hype. It's great and all but having used other Micellar waters in the past, I cannot say that this product is any better than the others? They're all equally as good, and some even cost less. Now that I'm almost at the end of the bottle, I'd love to repurchase this in the future. But, it's not something I'd die with out and would happily purchase cheaper alternatives when I'm short of cash and purchase this when I have more and want to splurge.
Nikki
00:46
No comments
I recently was fortunate enough to snag one of the Kylie Cosmetics Kyshadow Burgundy Palette when it was first released. The palette retails on Kylie's site for $42 USD. I paid roughly $15 for shipping too which I feel like is way too much but at the moment there is free shipping for international orders over $60. However, it's worth noting that you will get slapped with a customs charge and that was another £15 for me to shell out on.
When you crack the open the packaging, the first thing that you see is a Lenticular card of two eyes with one moving when you tilt it which is pretty entertaining.
On the reverse side of the card was a rather amusing message from Kylie.
Before I even opened the package in the first place, I was super worried that they would have smashed in transit over here. On opening the package however, I saw that the small square packaging had been nicely padded with soft foam sheets that nicely cushioned the product ( excuse my cat in the background).
Upon opening the outer packaging, the first thing you notice is the print of two eyes with coloured drips running from the eyes that reflect the shades of eyeshadow in the palette. The back of the package is pretty standard with Kylie's signature, list of ingredients and the name of each individual shadows.
Unfortunately, there is no mirror in this palette but this is something a lot of people have expressed concern for this and Kylie has said that there will be one in her next palette. However, I don't see this as a big deal as I usually just use the mirror on my vanity anyways despite all my other palettes having mirrors in them.
There are four shimmer shadows and five matte shadows in the palette all obviously to create the perfect burgundy eye. My favourites in this palettes are obviously the shimmer ones as I am a big fan of shimmer shadows in the first place so I am biased like that. These are super pigmented so a little of each goes a long way when applied on the eyelids. The only one that you'd need a lot of is the first one on the top row 'naked' which is a little too light when swatched.
However, it is quite expected with such light shades for you to have to layer a bit more on if you want anything noticeable other than a light shimmer. Nonetheless, all of these shades are super pretty and easy to apply and blend. I am definitely very impressed with the quality of Kylie's palette and definitely recommend everyone get their hands on it when they can.
Nikki.
22:02
No comments





















