Winter beauty

Winter beauty 

Brrrrrrr.......

As the season changes so should our beauty routine. 

If you live in the UK you may be thinking we didn't have much of a summer ... Well I can bet you we will have a proper winter. 

In the winter your hair and skin can really suffer so it's important to take precautions to protect it. 

My first point may seem like the most ridiculous. 

SPF - Slap it on addicts. Please do not think just because it's not sunny you do not need SPF. Where there is day light there are UV rays and those rays can damage your skin and cause premature ageing. I for one do not want to wake up one morning looking like a prune nor do i want skin cancer so I always use SPF on my face. 

Moisturiser - What you had in the summer may not be the best for the winter. Skin can change in the seasons. You might notice your skin is a little on the thirsty side. Remember to moisturise every morning and every night. Try a slightly heavier cream, I use a repairing cream at night when I sleep. Everyone's skin is different. Take time to notice what your skin is telling you. I love Avene products. Have a look at the hydrance moisturiser with SPF 20 for the day and look at one of their richer creams for bedtime. 

Cleanse your face - Foaming soaps and cleansers disrupt the skins acid mantle, the protective barrier. In the winter there is less moisture in the air and skin becomes dryer. Avoid foaming products to reduce the risks of dry flakes. Remember... face wipes are always banned.  

Exfoliate -  Dry skin is never fun. Apply foundation to it and the party is over. Foundation just highlights the problem. Try to use a chemical exfoliating wash or liquid if you can, rather than a scrub. I like Sk:n Face wash with Salicylic and Glycolic acid. I use it twice daily and once a week leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off to get a proper exfoliating effect.

Hand Cream - This is something I always forget to do. I wash my hands repeatedly throughout the day and I am constantly using hand sanitiser. EEK! I know, I know, I know. I will have granny hands before I know it. I'm trying to put hand cream on at least once a day. Slap Addicts, please try this too. The cold weather can really dry out your hands so take care of them. I am trying to use a hand cream in some gloves when I sleep. You can pick the gloves up for peanuts. Best thing to do is to wear winter gloves when out side and rubber gloves when cleaning. Remember to apply a hand cream every time you wash your hands. 

Lip Balm - There are so many Liquid lipsticks on the market, as much as they look great in snaps for insta, I do find them really drying. Add that to the weather and chapped chops are on the menu. 

Take care of your lips and apply Vaseline or repairing lip cream when ever you can. I don't wear lip stick to work usually. If I do want some colour Kiehl's do an amazing lip balm with a hint of colour. Have a look on the high street as there are plenty of budget friendly balms available. Try and avoid ones with Lanolin and fragrance. Fragrance can cause more sensitivity. 

Deep conditioning hair masks - The harsh weather can make hair really wiry. I know I also blow dry my hair more in winter also. It's not a smart move leaving the house with wet hair in -1 oC. But the extra heat on my hair can leave it feeling a little unloved. I love using Redken hair masks but you can easily make your own. A simple olive oil treatment could be all you need. 

Pedicures - Just because you are out of your Sandles doesn't mean you should neglect your feet. I understand that getting a pedicure every 2-6 weeks can be pricey. So in between visits pamper yourself at home. Get a pair of moisturising socks, same as the gloves suggested above. Wear them once or twice a week with a thick cream when you sleep. Get a foot file and file away any dead skin once a week. Keep toe nails neat with clippers and a file. Remember to cut nails straight as curved edges can encourage ingrown toe nails. If you or a loved one can be bothered, massage your feet. Many of us are working all day and then rushing around trying to get things done for our families, then christmas comes and everything gets CRAZY. Massage your feet and feel the rest of you relax. 

Waterproof Makeup - I know water proof mascaras seems like a summer product. Something you wear when you're going swimming or to a wedding. However, harsh winds and cold weather can cause the eyes to stream. Try using water proof liners and mascaras to avoid black tears down your cheeks. 

Dry Eyes - With the windy weather and glare of lights, your eyes can get dry and red. Try using eye drops or even the eye mists. I like to use the Optrex eye mist for dry eyes as I find I can spray it over makeup. Its also very quick to use on the go. 

Water - Its not as exciting as hot chocolate or that caramel coffee thingy with the whipped cream but your body still needs water. Try to limit your hot beverages and replenish your body with 8 glasses of water. Tea and coffee can be very dehydrating. As mentioned above the weather is drying us out enough. Lets not do it from the inside out also. 

I hope this quick post gave you a few tips and maybe a few reminders. 

I know I need to up my routine and keep the winter damage to a minimum. 

If you have any suggestions or questions please leave them in the comments below. 

Understand box colour.

Hello Slap Addicts

I was in Boots and I over heard a couple of lovely ladies in their late thirties trying to choose a hair colour. Words like well whats a 5? What does RV mean? Will it lighten my hair?

As usual I had to say something. I can't help it. Just the other day I heard a young girl talking about a possible phone contract. I butt in and told her of a better deal so she ended up declining the offer and checking out the deal I suggested. I'm sure its irritating to some. But maybe for the odd few, I do offer some help.

So back to my two lovely ladies in boots...
They both had dark hair colour already on their hair. One was concerned about greys and one was concerned about damage to her hair.

After offering some advice on what a 5 meant and what was a permanent and what wasn't and a cheeky chat about at home balayage, it got me thinking, BLOG!

I trained as a hair dresser back in 2008. Frankly I hated it and after working in a South African salon for a few months I gave it up came back to England and trained to be a Dental Nurse instead.

As much as I didn't enjoy working in the salon environment I never lost my love for hair and beauty.
My mum and her friends still ask me for a quick trim here, or slap on a colour there.

One of the first things you have to learn when training to be a hairdresser is the colour wheel and how colour actually works. You also learn about Depth and Tone.

So here we go....

Depth is how light or dark your hair is. 10 being very very light blonde and 1 being black. Its around 7 that hair starts to look blonde.

1 Black
2 Very Dark Brown
3 Dark Brown
4 Medium Brown
5 Light Brown
6 Dark Blonde
7 Medium Blonde
8 Light Blonde
9 Very Light Blonde
10 Lightest Blonde


Tone is the shade you see when it hits the light. Think of it like your foundation or eyeshadows, you get warm tones like red and cool tones like blue and green. Tone of hair is like that. You will commonly hear ash - thats cool, neutral and warm - think red and orange tones.

Usually box hair colours will have a number followed by a description or letters.

So you may see 5RV, that is a light brown shade with a red violet tone. It will be quite a red purple brown. The lighter the depth the brighter the tone if choosing a red or purple or even green.

If you see a 7A that will be a blonde with a cool ashy tone.

Thats all well and good but you also need to apply that colour to what ever shade you already have on your hair.

What if you're a bit too red and want to neutralise it?

Thats where the colour wheel and understanding that comes in.

The opposite colour on the colour wheel will counteract and neutralise the opposing shade. So a green tone ( ash shade) will cancel out red tones in the hair. If your blonde hair is looking too yellow you need to find a violet tone to reduce the yellow. Thats why you see a lot of purple shampoos for blonde hair. They help to achieve and maintain platinum blonde shades. 

Now you will have to spend a few minutes maybe with a friend in natural light analysing your hair before you go and purchase a colour. 

I think half of the errors occur when we try to do things in haste. I know I've just looked at a box and thought she looks good i'll have that. I haven't looked at the number system, my own hair or even if its a permanent or semi permanent hair colour. 

SO what does permanent and semi permanent mean?

When colouring your hair its going through a chemical process.

The hair if you are european is made up of 3 essential layers. 

The medulla, the cortex and the cuticle. 

As you can see from the diagram the medulla is the central part of the hair shaft, the cuticle is what you and I can see, its the outside and the cortex in under the cuticle and surrounds the medulla. 

Who knew in that tiny strand of hair was three layers! 

Quick Fact - If you have afro caribbean hair you will not have a medulla. 

When colouring your hair different types of colour penetrate differently. 

A temporary hair colour will come out after a  wash or two. These come in sachets, mouse, chalks and sprays. These will not lighten your hair. They will only deposit colour as they sit on the cuticle. 

Semi permanent colours last between 6- 12 washes. These again have no peroxide or ammonia in them so they will only deposit colour. These will not lighten your hair.  They can be great for adding a tone to your hair but won't be effective in covering grey. 

Demi permanent or Quasi colours. These last between 12-26 washes. These do have a developing agent in them which means they can lighten the hair one shade. I wouldn't assume they will lighten the hair. Some of the colours work differently. Some do penetrate the cuticle whilst other stain it.  They are not as damaging as permanent. These are my colour choice. They will cover grey hair. If you're 50% grey I would choose a permanent instead. Its important to remember that you can get regrowth with these.  Some products claim you won't but from personal experience I know you can. I have brown hair and use these to change the tone of my hair. Within 3 months I feel I need a freshen up. However, I will stretch it up to 6 months as I'm trying not to process my hair.  

Permanent colour. These do what they say in the tin. They can lighten hair a couple of shades but as with all of the above they predominantly deposit colour that penetrates through the cuticle in to the cortex. You will need to grow this colour out. It permanently changes the shade of your hair. If over used you can get colour build up (where is looks really dark on the ends and lighter at the roots) and you can cause damage. These colurs are great for covering grey hair. 

Bleach and highlighting kits. This is what's most tricky to do at home. 

Lightening your hair is a process that can be very unpredictable. 

I have naturally mid brown hair. Most people think it looks quite dark. Put a blob of bleach on and I promise you it goes white in what feels like seconds. My hair lightens very quickly. But some hair takes longer. Also, not everyone's hair will turn white in one application. It takes a lot of skill and patience to achieve platinum hair. I know Kim K says she went from brown to blonde in one go... I don't suggest you try that at home. Seriously, DONT be a plonker. You could seriously damage the hair causing it to break off. 

When you are at the salon the colourist has control over the strength of the solution used. They can analyse your hair and determine how strong they should make the solution. When purchasing a home kit you get what you are given. Another point to remember is that quite often after having some sort of highlights the colourist will apply a toner to the hair to minimise any unsightly tones. I know I've had toners to stop my hair from looking too brassy. If you are bleaching at home the kits you buy will not include a toner. I'm sure you've seen or maybe even had some orange hued highlights? I do remember the boys at school channeling their inner Eminem and sporting a rather bright scalp. 

My advice to everyone is treat your hair with love and caution. 

If you are trying to colour correct take the time to analyse your hair and seek advice. If it seems too complicated then it is! I suggest going to a salon, even if you have to wait a bit longer to save up. 

Messy buns and french twists are great at disguising disasters, or if its really awful maybe get a hat?

Pay attention when applying colour. Always read the manufacturers guidelines and if it says do a skin test... DO A SKIN TEST. 

I hope this was helpful. 

Good luck!

Younique

If you're on social media you may have seen posts about a company called Younique.

I was lucky enough to be sent several samples of their products.

Younique is set up a bit like Avon. People buy a kit and they sell the products. They make a percentage back on what they sell.

However, unlike Avon the products are highly priced. There is no catalogue to order from, its all online. So if you have internet you have access to purchasing their products. You can buy directly from the younique website or through a presenters site. That way they get some commission for the sale.

I'm not going to blog about how it works or if its a good scheme to get involved in.

If you're looking to start one of these schemes then please take the time and do you're own research.

What I am going to blog about is the products and give my honest opinions.


As I said these products are highly priced. I have reservations when it comes to spending my hard earned cash on something I've never seen before, let alone not sampled.

I always go into department stores and try before I buy. I am a bargain hunter by nature but I am happy to splurge on products that are worth the pounds.

I was sent the following samples:

1. Glorious face and eye makeup primer.

I'm not one for using primer on a regular basis. However for a special occasion I will use one. In the past I've used Estee Lauder and L'Oreal products. The whole point of a primer is to create a perfect base for your foundation.
This primer is priced at £30
Its pricey! EEK! However, I do like this product. I have found some primers drying. This created a velvety smooth finish to the skin but it still looks hydrated.
It helped keep my foundation  on all day. This was especially good when the texture of my skin was uneven. I have used this as an eye primer and I am inclined to say I like it more than Urban Decays Primer Potion. I find the Primer Potion creases if you use too much product. I also think it drags a little. Anything that drags the delicate eye area is not ideal. So, for looking after your peepers you may prefer this primer. Another point to add is this is completely translucent. This is not colour correcting or brightening. It is purely to smooth the skin and help your foundation stay put.

2. Rose water.

This is meant to be used to hydrate the skin. Whilst I have no problem with rose water, actually it is a blooming marvellous product (see what I did there?)
My problem is charging £23 for a product that you can purchase in a purer form for much less. I did warn you that I am a bargain hunter. This is an excessive cost. However, if you can't be bothered to look else where or you have money to flit away, go on spoil yourself.

3. Devine Cream.

Its suggested to use this product every AM and PM and that it's good for all skin types. I haven't been able to use this product as I am going through a very strict skin care regime prescribed by my dermatologist.
What I can say as a first impression is its a very rich cream. Probably better for dry skin. If you are acne prone be careful. Use with caution if you suffer from congestion like I do. This could potentially clog your pores because its so luxurious. Its lightly scented, nothing I can put a description to. Normal to dry skin types would love this. You can try it for £30.

4. BB flawless.

I was given a sample in the shade Cream.
This BB cream is more like a foundation. It has amazing coverage. When it comes to the skin care benefits that come from BB cream honestly, I'm not convinced. I think its clever marketing more than clever cosmetics. According to Wikipedia a BB cream is promoted as an all in one facial cosmetic product produced to replace serum, moisturiser, primer, foundation and sunblock. It can be worn alone or over serum and moisturiser as a regular foundation. I don't like all in ones. I don't like it when I wash my clothes or when I wash my hair, I really don't like it as a dress size either. Lets be real one size does not fit all. Any way I'm getting off course, but I will delve deeper into this another time.
As BB creams go this is really nice on the skin. Its not drying it does not split ( benefits one makes me look like curdled milk) It has AMAZING coverage as I said before and it blends really easily. Frankly you could swap your foundation for this. Its reasonably long lasting and comfortable to wear. There isn't too many shades to choose from. I would struggle trying to choose online. If you know someone who sells this stuff I would see if they would send you some samples or check their returns policy in case you get the wrong shade. you can try this for yourself for £30.

5. Eye Pigments in Angelic
This is a fine pigment powder. Its very similar to BarryM eyeshadow pots. The one I was sent was a nice vanilla colour with gold undertones. Its very finely milled and blends out really well. Because I was sent a very light shade its hard to say how pigmented it is. From what I can see they are pigmented. Now, if you're used to spending out on pigment from companies like MAC then there is no reason why you wouldn't be happy with these ones. If you want to be a little more thrifty then there are plenty of other alternatives on the high street. I tend to save money on eyeshadow and lip products and splash out on foundations and skin care.

6. Eye pigments in Enamoured . Same product as above but in a sludgy brown, grey colour. I have to say not my favourite shade but it did prove that my theory was right. It is pigmented. However this is a matte pigment, no shimmer what so ever. I like that they do matte and shimmery shades. I do love my sparkles but its not always suitable.
These pigments cost £35 and you can choose your 4 favourite shades.

7 Sultry Lip Stain.

 The note attached to this product said exfoliate first!!!
HAHAHA. Thank you for this tip. Oh my gosh this does stain. I'm not overly keen on lip stains I'm more of a lipstick kinda gal. As lip stains go this is highly pigmented an very long lasting. It wont transfer once its on. Great if you want to apply in the morning and go about your day care free knowing you wont have lippy on your teeth.  If you have cracks, flakes or dry lips it will accentuate the flaws. Use with caution, don't get it on your hand or your face because you'll be stuck with it for a while. There are 7 shades and cost a whopping £18 each. They do sets where you can save a few pounds and I know the presenters at times do their own offers.  

My overall opinion with regards to Younique is that they offer good quality products but they charge for it.
If you can get in touch with a presenter ( someone who sells the stuff from home) I'm sure they would get you a sample of what you are after and help you choose the right shade for you.

My favourite product was the primer, closely followed by the BB cream.
I am biased because this is where I would normally spend more money.

There are plenty of other products online to choose from. The eye shadow pallets look luscious. I am going to treat myself to one next pay day.


Im not convinced that I would stop buying from department stores and only buy online. However, I will be ordering from Younique again and I will consider online makeup shopping in the future.

I hope this review was helpful.
If you have any questions comment below.

If you would like to order through my presenter please click on the link below.

https://www.youniqueproducts.com/LoveYourInnerBeauty - this lady Leah really is the sweetest and super helpful.  

Lets talk lips

Let's talk lips

As we near the end of the year I've been thinking of the trends that made 2015. 

This year it seems that big is beautiful, the bigger the better from the size of your arse to the fullness of your lips. 

Big is beautiful. It's about time too that size is celebrated. 

I'm all for women being curvy if that's their shape. 

Personally for me I don't think one size fits all or that only one style is sexy. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the world would be a very boring place if we all looked the same and liked the same things. 

When it comes to beauty trends I am all for trying new things. However, I try not to do something that's in fashion if it really doesn't suit me. 

Tanning... For the time being just isn't me. I adore my pale skin. I love my natural skin tone and it's part of who I am. This doesn't mean I think everyone should stay pasty and stay out of the sun. It's just my style and I'm happy with it. 

One look that took over the world was big lips.

Who can forget the Kylie Jenner challenge. 

She famously denied having lip fillers and her sister Kim Kardashian claimed her new found fullness was from over drawing her lips... Wow. 

Firstly what a crock.

Secondly, this sparked what can only be described as one of the most dangerous beauty blunders I have ever seen. 

People started trying to enhance their lips through suction. From bottle caps to hoovers. People were creating a suction and bruising their lips. Some swelled up 10X their nature size. Lips were splitting, some who tried the challenge ended up in the emergency room. 

Not only was it dangerous it was damn right ugly. 

I can appreciate that Kylie Jenner is a style icon. Her 90's makeup had brought back nostalgia from my childhood. I remember my mother doing her makeup. Brown/natural lip colours, lashings of mascara, the neutral tones really suited her. Kylie brought that back in a wonderfully modern way. 

The lips on the other hand, are enhanced by lip liner but slap addicts, they are in no way natural. 

Kylie has now admitted to having fillers in her lips and that indeed at one point they were redic.

Now you can certainly enhance your lips. 

The most permanent way is through lip implants. I have seen quite a few before and after photos. Personally I think that its very tricky to get a good, natural looking result. I've seen a lot of lips that look tubular, the cupids bow seems to flatten out. Like every surgery there are good and bad results. Plus, there is always personal preference. Some people think Audrey Hepburn is stunning, others prefer Katie Price. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

My reservation with regards to any surgery is that its permanent. 

Another alternative is injectables. Lip fillers have been on the market for years. This is the enhancement choice for many celebrities, WAGS and members of the general public. 

Lip fillers can be as natural or dramatic as you and your aesthetician choose. I have seen so many fantastic results with fillers. One close friend of mine had a scar on her lip which she hated. A little filler plumped up the dent and smoothed out the scar. It's considerably less noticeable and my friends confidence rocketed. One comment I hear people say when considering fillers is "will I have a duck face?"

The answer is no. Find the right provider, discus what you want. Explain the look you are after. Remember less is more. Just because you paid for a certain amount of filler doesn't mean you should use it all. You can always go back for a top up. However, once its in its kinda stuck for about 18 months. Lip filler products are always improving. They are becoming softer and more natural. Do your research and ask as many questions as you like. This is your face at the end of the day. You are the one who has to wear it. 

If you know me you will know not only do I have a big gob, I do also have big lips. I still like playing them up and making them look full and pouty. My way of doing so is through makeup. I am ADDICTED to Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker lip glosses. They really do work. They tingle when applied. Nothing painful but I would warn your kissing partner or it could come as a shock when it transfers.

 I'm not one for over drawing my lips because I find it can look really obvious in person. It can work in selfies due to lighting and filters but in person it is more obvious. My top tip which was also a fave of Marilyn Monroe is to use different shades of lipstick. If you use a lighter shade or a highlight in the centre of the lips you can really draw the lips out and create the illusion of fuller lips. If you are going to over draw your lips and want it to look natural the best place to over draw is around the cupids bow and on the lower lip around the centre. If you over draw at the corners of your mouth it can look a little more clown than Kardashian. Also choose a colour close to your natural lip tone. 

The days of brown liner and pink gloss should never have happened. Pamela Anderson barely pulled it off. And she was Pamela Anderson the original #sexymotherpucker. 

My main point is that beauty trends are always changing. Thats why its a trend. If you want to go under the knife do it for you. Do it because you want it and you believe its best. Not because everyone on Instagram who gets likes has big lips or because Kylie Jenner had them. 
If you look at the photo above you will see pammy's eyebrows...that was a trend and now its over. Just like overly inflated lips will be too. 
If you havent got it FAKE it, or better still embrace it. 

We are all beautiful in out own way. Big lips, big, hips, big feet. Who cares. 

Save or Splurge ... Eyebrows

Favourite beauty double. 

I hear a lot of people raving about the benefit brow bar. If you havent heard of it, its a place to go and get your eyebrows done. They will also contour your browns with their products. 

However I have noticed something..: the benefit brow pallet looks remarkably like sleeks brow pallet. And I have of course purchased the purse friendly option. 

Ladies the sleek brow cube includes a cream consistency and a powder product, two little brushes and mini tweezers. It's everything you need for perfect brows and it's just as good as the benefit one. 

So save your silver and splash your cash on something else. 

The Sleek brow product costs £8.50

You can purchase it here http://www.sleekmakeup.com/brow-kit-light

Concealer bargain buy.

Conceal don't feel , don't let them know.... In the wise words of Queen Elsa conceal! 

Concealer has been around forever. It's nothing new. 

However, how many there are and what they claim to do has definitely changed. 

I remember way back when in the early 2000's a stick concealer was your best friend. Have one made with tea tree oil and I bet your brother would pinch it on occasion. The waxy, lipstick style type concealers were and still are, great for covering spots. As far as I can remember as a member of the general public ( not a makeup artist )  that's what I used mine for. 

Using it to contour my cheeks or carve out my brows... I did not. 

I would use a bit of stick concealer ( I always used it first), followed by foundation- more than likely maxfactor colour adapt and finished with a translucent pressed powder.

Not a shabby routine for a 14 year old. My problem was some twit told me I was shade 75... 😵 Back then that was the equivalent to David Dickinson and I can tell you, I looked the real deal. Pure orange, but that's a blog for another day.

Luckily by my prom I managed to find the right foundation for my face and everything was perfect. 

Let me get to the point I am trying to make. 

Concealer is now much more sophisticated. We know we need something for spots and now something completely different for our under eye area. 

One of the most famous under eye concealers/high lighters is the YSL touché eclat. 

I have this and I will admit I do like it. 

When it comes to under eye concealing I'm not fond of the stark white contrast that you see all over Instagram. 

I don't find it natural - unless you've been skiing and wore rather large goggles it's just not how skin is. Plus I am very pale. I already use the lightest shades of foundation and concealer. Trying to achieve that look would mean tanning or actually using white face paint. 

I like to use concealer to cover any dark circles and create a flawless base. Younger looking eyes are always desirable. Dark circles can be very ageing. Even if you have zero wrinkles. If you are dark under the eyes people assume you are tired and older. 

There are lots of expensive under eye concealers I personally use the Estée Lauder BB concealer and Estée Lauder double wear concealer wand or as mentioned above the touché eclat. 

     Double Wear Concealer

BB Highlighting Concealer

However, in my pursuit to bag a bargain I have come across a budget friendly alternative.  

Rimmel London's wake me up concealer. It is a fab wand concealer. It comes in 4 shades. I do use the lightest (Ivory) but this is not very light. It's very natural.

I use this as the base for my under eye. I always use a blended out layer of concealer followed by a thin veil of brush on highlighter concealer. The two products are very different but used together get the desired effect. 

The initial conceals and covers the second highlights and brightens the area. If you want to use colour corrector- knock yourself out. Remember opposite shades of the colour wheel counteract each other. Red cancels out green, blue cancels out yellow vice verse etc etc 

This concealer is a steel at under £6 combine that with the popular 3 for 2 offers on the high street and you may pick this up for free. 

It's very long lasting and on my eyes it does not crease.  The colour range isn't extensive but it caters very well for Light/Medium toned skin, I am very light and found the lightest shade worked wonders. But only if you want a natural concealer not if you like a very bright under eye. For a drugstore product this is worth a try. 

I've definitely paid more for products and hated them. 

One being the Max factor under eye concealer. It's a brush applicator where you twist the bottom to dispense the product.

I get that using a pink tone under the eyes can cancel out some of the green undertones of dark circles but this was very pink. It also had glitter particles running through it! What! I want my eyes to sparkle but this is too much , even for me. I am not a fan of that product. 

There are so many concealers on the market all with different textures and finishes. 

If its thick and creamy its best for blemishes. Do not use around the eyes. It will cake and it will crease. 

The types that are not shimmery but liquid like a foundation can be good for blemishes and around the eyes to cover dark circles. These are also great when contouring. 

Highlighters are just that. Use under the eye if not too shimmery. Down the bridge of the nose and on the cupids bow for a lovely natural highlight. Do not use in spots unless you want to highlight them. 

I hope this blog has been of some use. 

Please comment below your loves and hates when it comes to concealer. 

Confessions... Kiko Cosmetics

http://www.kikocosmetics.com/en-gb/

I love my Estee Lauder double wear, my Chanel pirate red lipstick and my Makeup Forever HD setting powder. However, these items are not cheap.
Frankly when I first started wearing Estee Lauder it cost £23.50 its now £30.00. And I probably use a bottle every 8 weeks. I justify it in my head as I would use a bottle of Maxfactor every month and thats about £12. So my Estee Lauder at £15 per month is not much more to pay for a far superior luxury product.

Kiko cosmetics for me are guilt free.
Lets be honest most of us have more makeup than we need. No one needs makeup to survive, although I would behave like a drug addict going cold turkey if someone took mine away.

I first discovered Kiko cosmetics in 2014. There is a store in Westfield London. I would walk past the store which is set up like MAC and as I hadn't heard of it assumed  it was on the same price scale too.

It wasn't until my bf decided to go in to Uniqlo ( quite possibly the most unexciting store) for the second time that day, I decided to break free and browse in Kiko.

To my amazement the products were cheap. Like normal makeup prices. Similar to what you would spend on L'oreal or maxfactor.

I swatched up to my elbows and came out of the shop £40 lighter. If that was House of Fraser I would have been lucky to get two items for that. I had a whole face full in my shopping bag.

I concentrated my purchases on lip and eye products. I will admit my addiction to double wear is not something I'm looking to swap. But anything other than foundation is interchangeable for me. That's not to say I don't have other foundations I do. But that's another blog.

A new store has opened up in covent garden and I promise you its worth a visit if you are in London.

I went to Italy in the summer and Kiko's are as popular as boots here in the UK.

I love the stores they are set up similar to a high end makeup brand. All the products are on display and available for you to try. There are plenty of tissues and swabs. They even have tape for your nails so you can try colours without having to ruin your exiting manicure.

One of my favourite ride or die products is their eyeshadow sticks. I wear shade number 4 its a dark chocolate brown shade with gold shimmer through it.

Shadow sticks are a great way of achieving a quick smokey eye. Simply cover the whole lid in one shade then with a fluffy blending brush buff out the edges.

The eyeshadow sticks are long lasting and highly pigmented. They have so many colours. There are lots of great shade to choose from. These sticks are also great used as a base for a more detailed makeup look. They really help powder shadows stay in place all day and all night.

I feel like these are completely fool proof and at £4-£6 each you really can't go wrong.

Another product I am obsessed with is their lipsticks. Creamy, rich formula with so many different textures and shades to choose from. I have found my perfect neutral lip and I never leave the house without it. I think the cases are quite cute. Some of the lipsticks have Kiko embossed on to the bullet and in the summer they had polka dot bullets which were adorable.

I could waffle on and on about all of their products because so far everything I have tried has been great. The range is extensive and they are always launching new colours and items.

If you are ever in London get in and get testing.

Warning - do not wear white or anything with sleeves. You will need as much space possible to try everything. Also this may be the time you send the boys to Apple or for a beer. You will be a while.

Foundation review. Urban Decay, Estee Lauder, NARS

Hey Slap Addicts,

So I thought I would do a foundation comparison review for you all. 

I've worn the same foundation for 8 years. The shade changing with the seasons but the formula was always the same. 

Estée Lauder double wear. 

I first started using this when I was 18 years old and living in Cape Town, South Africa. I needed a foundation but none of the drug stores that I visited sold a shade light enough. I went to Estée Lauder and discovered double wear. I didn't look back, until very recently . 

If you have been reading my blog you will know that I have been suffering with acne and having treatment for it. 

The therapist suggested some of my congestion could be caused by my foundation. 

Frankly I was horrified. The thought of changing my base was daunting. It's part of me. It's how I'm used to seeing my face. 

But what's the point in paying £600 to fix my skin only to spoil it again. 

So I watched some reviews, did some research and decided to try the following: 

Urban decay Naked Skin liquid foundation - shade 1.0 

£27 

NARS sheer glow - shade light 3 Gobi 

£31 

OK so let's talk about the UD. They have a total of 18 shades light to dark, pink and yellow undertones. If the number ends in a 0 it's yellow based and if it's a .5 shade it's meant to be a pink tone. I like my yellow tone foundations. I am light but I like the yellow base. If I use pink I look a bit grey. This foundation formula is peptide infused, light diffusing and paraben free.  It also contains an anti ageing chemical ... Not sure it does anything but I like the idea of skincare in my foundation. 

It's a very thin watery consistency with a buildable coverage. My opinion is its light to medium coverage. It is light weight on the skin and feels like you have nothing on. 

You need to shake this very well before dispensing.

It's a satin finish and looks very natural. 

The packaging is pretty and it has a pump attached. The bottle is coloured so you can't see how much is in there. I like that when its stood on my dressing table but I hate that I can't tell when I'm running out. 

This is the cheapest of the three. But by no means pocket money. I tend to use 2 to 3 pumps for a nice medium coverage and I use my fingers, beauty blender or a brush to apply. It covers under my eye circles nicely and the redness on my cheeks. 

Negatives - it's more pink tone than yellow and this annoys me a little. Everyone else thinks this looks amazing on but I notice the pink tone. I would prob have to go to shade 2 in the future. It sets satin but never completely dries. I have to set this with a powder or it will disappear throughout the day. With powder it does last a day and looks very natural. I need a concealer to cover blemishes and the formula will settle in any dry skin.  To be fair I think most foundations highlight flaky skin. 

It has a 6 month shelf life. 👎🏻OK if I used this everyday it would be gone way before 6 months and wouldn't be a problem. However if you don't wear foundation all the time this could be a problem, although I'm aware most of us keep things much longer than the expiry dates shown. 

NARS

I've heard so many good things about this foundation. It comes in an array of colours and from what I read on other reviews it's really good for darker skin tones. Being the opposite end and really light I also struggle to get a good match. 

The colour I chose is perfect. It's got a nice yellow tone but not orange. It's light enough without making me look white. 

You need to shake this before you use it. NARS suggest warming the product between your fingers and applying to the skin. I do this or use a stippling brush. I will also apply it with my beauty blender. 

It has 0 SPF which means this is great for photos. SPF causes flash back which is terrible on a night out. Do you ever see pictures of yourself with white face and tanned skin? That's the SPF in your foundation and possibly the powder you are using. I really struggled with this problem when wearing double wear. 

The foundation is not sheer nor glowy! Haha. The name is quite misleading. It's a medium build able coverage that's meant to be for normal to dry skin. I'm combination and this really sits well. As with the UD it will sit in dry patches but it's not terrible. This sets as a satin matte finish and I think it's quite radiant. 

It has a shelf life of 24 Months which is 4x the length of the UD. I know I never keep a foundation that long but it's nice to know I can. 

Negatives - It's meant to be long lasting but if you are oily you may need to apply powder in the morning and possibly blot in the day. It's not as long lasting as double wear but I don't think there is anything that compares. 

The packaging is a sturdy glass jar with a screw top lid. It doesn't come with a pump but you can purchase one from NARS for £3-£4.This annoys me. If you think your product needs a pump and your charging premium prices just put a bloody pump on and stop being so money grabbing. 

OK rant over - but it really annoyed me. 

I chose not to get the pump as the double wear is in similar packaging and I'm used to just putting it on the back of my hand from the jar. Also the cap doesn't fit if the pump is on. So if you want to travel with it, it could go all over your handbag. 

With there being no SPF you will need to apply one separately for day time wear. I am using a factor 50 on my face so this isn't a problem for me. However, if you are used to getting your SPF from your making this will mean applying another layer prior to your makeup. 

Ester lauder double wear. 

This is the number one selling foundation in the UK. Estee lauder use this statistic to say its the nations favourite. 

I do love the foundation. It comes in many shades and tones. Not just warm and cool but neutral also. I find the neutral tones work really well. They do lighter shades and plenty of mid tones. They do sell darker shades but not every counter will have the stock. If you have a very deep skin tone you may want to call before you do a special trip to a store. 

Estee Lauder are great at providing testers. The little pot will be enough for a week. I strongly advise you take a tester and try it for yourself. The foundation is not cheap at £31. There is an art to applying this foundation. I will admit I used this incorrectly for years. This can be a complete mask. I used to think that was how to have the perfect base. However, recently I prefer people to say my skin looks amazing rather than wow your foundation is high coverage. 

If you want a full coverage this is the foundation for you. 

If you want something that's great in high humidity, doesn't transfer on to clothes, will not budge all day and all night. Then get this. 

But keep in mind that it contains SPF. It can flash back in photos if you use too thick a layer. If you want to have the longevity without all of the coverage mix with an illuminator or a moisturiser. Applying with a damp beauty blender will also give a beautiful finish. 

This foundation sets matte, unless you try the tips above. 

I highly doubt you will need a powder. I never even need a concealer. It covers blemishes and scars. 

One of the biggest down sides is how hard it is to remove. If you are used to makeup wipes, firstly STOP they are so bad for you. Secondly they will not remove all of this foundation. I use an oil based makeup remover and then cleanse my skin with a face wash. Double cleansing with water is essential. 

All of the foundations are lovely. It depends what you want to gain from your foundation. 

My advice it to go to a makeup counter with nothing on your skin. Have them apply a full face. Wear it, leave the store and take away a tester. 

I don't know about you but I never leave a makeup counter happy with the foundation. Plus the lighting in store can alter the look of the foundation. 

These brands are an investment at £30 a pop.  Don't be afraid to ask for testers. 

I hope you found this helpful. 

Happy Shopping SlapAddicts