Festive Makeup Tutorial

It's been a while since I've done a makeup tutorial so I thought I'd make one for this festive season. This is only my second makeup tutorial and to be honest, when they go to plan, I quite like doing them so I might make a few more. 

The makeup look I went for is a white eyeshadow look that's blended with some nude colours in the crease, a bold eyeliner look with fake lashes, light blush and of course bright red lips. I felt like this look is dramatic and ideal for any parties you may have coming up this Winter. 

Although I loved doing the actual makeup in this video, I did have a bit of trouble with the actual video itself. First of all the lighting is a mess and this video was the final little push I needed to buy lighting equipment because I'VE HAD IT WITH THE LIGHTING ALWAYS CHANGING NOW! Secondly my eyelashes went horribly wrong, starting with them being stuck on the wrong eye and then the fact that the glue wouldn't dry and was visible. And thirdly I got really awkward because people were walking past my house and could see me filming myself and my neighbours could hear me talking to myself through my wall which made me feel self conscious and awkward. And finally by the end you can just see the frustration in my eyes!

But I'm hoping it's just one of those things where only I noticed it but I thought I'd do a little disclaimer in case you did notice them anyway. I hope you like the makeup look regardless and enjoyed the video because despite all that I really did try hard. What's your go to makeup look for Winter?

Izzy K xxx

Q&A With Kim Petersen

I'm so excited to share today's post with you because it's with a true blogging friend of mine, Kim Petersen. She is the writer behind The Thirty Something Life which is a wonderful lifestyle blog, filled with fashion, reviews and general life updates. I sincerely love reading what she's been getting up to and her warm heart shines through in her blog. I'm honestly so honored that she agreed to take part in this Q&A :)

She's so gorgeous and her style is amazing. This is from her Thanksgiving Day Outfit's post

1. Is this the first ever blog you've had, and if not what were the other's like?

The Thirty Something Life is my first ever blog. I thought for years about starting a blog but never had the courage (or knowledge) to do it until recently. 

2. What is the biggest milestone you've achieved in your life so far and how has it changed you? 

The biggest milestone so far for me has been riding Salt to Saint this year. It's a 425-mile bike race done across my home state. I did relay style in a team of 8 so I rode roughly 60 miles. It was such a game changer for me in how I thought about myself and what I was capable of. I wasn't the fastest person ever, but I felt so good knowing I accomplished something like that. 

3. If you were only able to listen to 3 music albums for the rest of your life, which ones would you choose (it's a hard choice I know!) 

This is a really hard one. First would have to be Fun.'s album Some Nights. That whole album is amazing. Second would have to be Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous, another great album. And last would be Weezer's Blue album, only because that literally was my life throughout high school.

4. If you had £1000 to spend in any shop, which one would it be?

This is hard. Practical me would say somewhere like Target because you can get anything from groceries to clothes to makeup; basically anything you could possibly want. But dreamer me would say Ted Baker because I LOVE the aesthetic of his products because they are so beautiful and well made. 

5. I feel like starting a blog is either a spontaneous decision or one that takes lot's of planning. What was your process like for starting your blog?

It was definitely a lot of planning, mostly because I'm not tech savvy in the least, so I had no idea where to start. I was scared to even talk about it because it seems like something a lot of people find ridiculous. Luckily, my husband really supported the idea and really helped me get the whole thing going. He found a host (I didn't even know what a host was!), brought my domain name, worked with me to create a banner and set up my entire blog. I basically just had to start posting, so I was very lucky to have so much help! 

6. Blogging opens so many opportunities, what is the best thing that's happened to you through blogging so far? 

I think the best thing about blogging has been getting to collaborate with so many other bloggers, even across the world like you with this Q&A! It is also amazing to be able to connect with so many people, whether it's working on a blog post together or simply supporting each other. Blogging's opened up a lot of doors so far as working with and meeting so many people from different places, it's amazing. 

7. Since it's getting closer to Christmas, I couldn't resist asking this: At what time of the year do you start to get into the Christmas spirit? 

October. As soon as October hits and the weather starts cooling down I go in full Christmas mode. I start planning, sorting through decorations, drinking all the Christmassy drinks, baking all the Christmassy goods and listening to all the Christmas songs I can. 

8. Would you rather travel 5 years into the future or 5 years into the past, but you couldn't change what was happening when you were there either way. 

This is such a good question. I would rather travel 5 years into the past. Even if I couldn't change anything, I think I'd rather relive that time with the knowledge of where I am now, then go into the future and see where I will be. I'd be too afraid it would make me live my current life differently. Like knowing where I would be in 5 years I would make different choices either leading to or away from that. I believe that what's meant to happen should happen. 

9. It's always nice to gather advice from other bloggers when you're on a blogging journey, so what advice would you give to any aspiring bloggers reading this? 

I would just say do it because you really enjoy it. Whether you have 1 follower or a million if you don't love it, it's just really hard work. If you love what you're doing your content will show that. Also, comment and support other bloggers and really get into the community. It makes a big difference when you do have those down times, as all bloggers do. 

10. And finally, what is the main message that you're trying to get across with your blog?

I wanted to start a blog that is just for every person who loves makeup, fashion, food and fun as much as I do. I like to think of it as a place you go when you want to talk to your best friend about something, to share something fun you bought or that you learned. It's basically just a meeting place for friends. 

Please do yourselves a favor and get to know Kim through her blog if you haven't already, you can tell she puts a lot of time and effort into it. I'm so happy to have her feature on my blog and I know I'd get on well with someone if they like Ted Baker. I agree, the aesthetic of their designs are perfection. Thank you for reading,

Izzy K xxx

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lipliner

Being the lippie enthusiast that I am, I'm always looking for ways to keep my lipstick on for longer. After looking around the internet for a while I found out that loads of beauty gurus swear by lip liner so I was intrigued to try it myself and see if it makes a different.

Naturally, I went straight to my favourite makeup brand, Rimmel London, to pick up the 1000 Kisses Lipliner. This bad-boy was a mere £2.99 which I think is a pretty decent price, and I picked the shade Black Tulip 63 because I have many lipsticks that will go with that shade.

I want to start off by saying that the colour is incredibly pigmented. You only need to apply one thin layer onto your lips and there you have it, complete coverage!

Rimmel's lip products are known for their lasting power, and I have to say that this lip liner is no exception. It's no exaggeration when I say that this lip liner lasts for hours and even when your lipstick has come off, this product still leaves a coloured stain on your lips. 

The one thing I'm a bit unsure about is the fact that it is fairly drying. I would compare applying this to using a literal pencil to draw a lip colour on your lips. Basically, it's not a very smooth product but I suppose it can't be if it's not going to budge off your lips.

Overall I would have to rate this product a 8.5/10 and I will most definitely be picking up a few more in different shades. If you're looking for a trusty lip product that would last all day this is the one for you, it most definitely will not let you down. What is your favourite lip liner? Let me know in the comments

Izzy K xxx

Essence Anti-Spot Compact Powder

As you guys know I'm so obsessed with my Rimmel Stay Matte powder, and well, just powders in general. A few weeks ago I decided to branch out and try a different brand and picked up the Anti-Spot Compact powder by Essence. Here are my thoughts on it:

The first thing I'll have to mention is the consistency of the product. I would say that compared to other powders I've tried, this is rather creamy in comparison. With that said, it's still a pretty powdery product that leaves your face looking extremely matte, which afterall is what you look for in a good powder. 

Something that really impressed me with this powder is that it has really good coverage. I find that on lazy days where I really can't be bothered for a full face of foundation, I can get away with just a bit of concealer and this powder on top. And then Bob's your uncle, you have an airbrushed finish to your skin. When you wear this over foundation, it does a fantastic job of making everything look even. I feel like it sets my foundation really well and stops it feeling cakey on my skin. 

This product claims that it is "anti-spot" since it has antibacterial substances in it that are supposed to fight any potential spots that may appear. I'll be honest, if you suffer from severe acne, I don't think this powder will be the cure to your problems. I don't think that this product has made my skin any worse, but I haven't seen a huge improvement in my skin. But with that said, every little helps and I appreciate the effort that Essence have made to help those of us who get the occasional bad spot. 

One thing that disappointed me with this product was the fact that it was almost hollow in the packaging. When I first saw it I was like "Yay, there's loads of this product" but after a while of using it cracks appeared. It just made it really hard to apply because it started to crumble everywhere which was a bit of a hassle. 

But overall, I would say that considering it's a really affordable product, it does the job well. I would rate this little product a 7/10 and it's the best alternative to the Rimmel Stay Matte powder I've found so far. Have you tried this powder before, and if so what did you think of it? 

Izzy K xxx

Q&A With Morgan Gifford

Hello everyone! Today I'm really excited to share a blog post with my lovely blogging friend Morgan from the blog The Rad Wife. She writes a lifestyle blog filled with what she's been loving lately. You can honestly tell that she has a passion for writing, and a love of life so if you're looking for a great quality blog to read, go check her out because she won't let you down.

Isn't she beautiful!

Here are the questions I asked her:

1. Do you remember what it was that inspired you to write your first ever blog post?

Growing up I idolized bloggers and YouTuber’s. I thought it was so cool that you could put your own content out there without needing a publisher or a producer. Then when I was 18 I found out I was pregnant and turned to writing as a way of coping with what was going on and I turned those thoughts into a blog. It was amazing to see the responses from people I didn’t know who read my posts, left comments and followed me, and while I no longer write on that blog, it left me inspired to keep doing what I was doing.

2. We all have those guilty pleasure songs that we secretly jam out to when we're alone. What's yours?

Either Shoop by Salt N Pepa (I know all the words and jam out when it comes on…don’t question it), or Beyonce’s Drunk in Love.

3. What is your favourite topic to talk about on your blog?

I don’t really have one; I like sharing most things. If I had to pick something though it would probably be personal life stories. I love reading them, and I love writing them.

4. Throughout our lives we all get handy bits of advice given to us. Do you remember what the best piece of advice you've ever been given was?

Since I was little my mom’s been telling me the one thing my grandpa used to say to her and her siblings when they were little: “Work hard, waste nothing, and make the most of your opportunities”. I think that’ll stick with me forever.

5. Let's face it, we're all either cat or dog people. Are you more of a cat or dog person and why

I’m more of a dog person. And more than that, I’m a big dog person. I love cats, but dogs are so much more affectionate and have much more energy. I’ve grown up my whole life with dogs, and while we’ve had cats sporadically, dogs will always have a special place in my heart. Even if they do drink out of the toilet.

6. Is there a particular event in your life that you think has changed you the most?

Definitely getting pregnant the summer after I graduated high school. I had to grow up and make a lot of decisions really quickly. I had to learn how to tell people “no” and to be independent because for a while I was a single mom. I grew up a lot and gained so much more self-confidence because I wasn’t relying on someone else to make my decisions for me, and I think that’s made me a stronger person.

7. If you could swap lives with any blogger for a day, who would you pick?

Probably Helene from Helene In Between. She’s so down to Earth and cool, and she seems like she really makes the most out of her life.

8. If you could change one thing about your blogging experience so far, what would you change?

Well, I’m only a month in so far, but I’d say I really want to work harder on growing through my various social networking platforms. And maybe be better organized.

9. Do you still remember the first blogger you ever started reading, and if so who were they?

I don’t remember, but I wish I did. It was some fashion blogger girl who always dressed so cool and I always thought “wow I’d love to do that”.

10.What are you hopping to achieve with your blog in the next year?

I want to keep putting out content that people are enjoying, and I’d love to have several hundred more followers, and at least quadruple my monthly page views. I’d also love to start monetizing my blog and maybe incorporate vlogging into my blog as well.

Thank you so much for taking part Morgan, it was a pleasure to have you feature on my blog. I absolutely love your aspirations for your blog. And I really hope everyone else enjoyed reading Morgan's lovely answers. Thank you so much for reading,

Izzy K xxx

Halloween Nails That Have Taken My pInterest

Excuse the punny title I just thought I was being hilarious! Today's post, since it's Halloween (happy Halloween btw) will be my favourite Halloween nail designs.

*None of these are my own because I'm super untalented at doing nails and all credit goes to the creator themselves*

I went to my beloved Pinterest to get some nail inspiration and here are some creepy, but awesome nails that I found which are perfect for this time of year!

To be honest you could wear these nails all year round, but I especially love them at this time of year. The two colours that are ombred together definitely work well for Halloween, and they would still be suitable to wear after Halloween too. 

I love when nails have different designs on the ring finger because I just think it makes the whole manicure look so much more intersting. The black and sparkly nails look so elegant and the amazingly detailed spider's web definitely gives it a spooky look. 

I'm absolutely obsessed with these nails because they just scream "Halloween". I think it's also really cool that each pumpkin is a different colour because, again, it just makes the whole thing a bit more interesting to look at. 

How cool are these neon green nails. If I had this nail colour I'd totally give it a go myself. Again, I love that the ring finger has a different design. And if Frankenstein nails aren't perfect for Halloween, then I don't know what it!

Arrghhh how gorgeous are these nails?!? I love their pointed shape and of course the fact that their black and matte. To be honest, I'd wear these nails all year round, but they are still ideal for Halloween. 

Sorry if it seemed like I was being lazy by using other people's pictures, but I really wanted to do a nail inspiration post for Halloween this year. My nails are so short and damaged at the moment, and let's be real, ain't no one gonna want a nail tutorial with the state that my nails are in.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope this post gave you a bit of inspiration. How have you done your nails for today?

Izzy K xxx

Makeup Appreciation: Cheryl Fernandez-Versini

If you've been reading my blog for a long time you'll know that I've been doing a series called "Style Appreciation" where I take celebrities who's style I adore and write about them. Well, I've just started a brand new series called "Makeup Appreciation" which essentially has the same concept.

The first person who I will be writing about in this series is Cheryl Fernandez-Versini. I could literally write about her in my style inspiration or even write a post inspired purely about her hair, but I decided I would just start off by talking about her makeup today. Cheryl's makeup never fails to amaze me and every time I see her I literally think #goals. Here are some of the many reasons I am in awe with her makeup:

Smokey Eyes

There are some people that are known for pulling of the smokey eye look and Chezza is most definitely one of them. She has beautiful, dark eyes and the brown eyeshadow look that she often wears definitely emphasizes them. As someone with very dark eyes myself, I always attempt this look but I can never seem to pull it off!

Thick Lashes

On top of the smokey eyes, Cheryl tends to exaggerate her eyes even more with bold lashes. The lashes she likes to wear are usually longer on the outer lashes, creating a cat eye effect. 

The pop-star has even brought out her own line of lashes, and you can tell that they really are the style that she would wear. 

Contour

I think Cheryl's signature feature has got to be her dimples. They are definitely extreme dimples which just add to her cuteness. But I find that the contour she wears perfectly compliments her dimples and makes them even more noticeable. She seems to wear a bronze contour and if she wears blush, she wears a peach shade as opposed to pink. 

Glossy Lips

Throughout the years she has most definitely stuck to glossy lips instead of matte lips. The shades she most often wears are nude colours or dark red. But no matter what shade she wears, you can almost guarantee that it will be a lip gloss. 

Purple Eye Liner

Ok this is quite a cheeky look to include because it's not one that Cheryl often wears or one that she is known for. However, she did wear it on the X-Factor this year and I became absolutely obsessed with this look. She really rocked this look by wearing her usual smokey eyes, but used purple eyeliner to draw a wing from the lower lashes. 

So in summary, I really need to hire Cheryl's makeup artist! These were some of my favourite makeup looks from Cheryl from the last few years and I'm actually convinced she can wear any makeup and pull it off. What do you think about my new "Makeup Appreciation" series and what do you actually think of Cheryl's makeup? Let me know in the comments!

Izzy K xxx

My Every Day Makeup Routine

Today's post and video will be a little bit different because I'll be attempting my first ever makeup tutorial. Yes that's right, a makeup tutorial!

I hope you enjoy watching :)

I never thought I'd be the type to do makeup tutorials, quite frankly because I have no idea what I'm doing and quite I literally just slap a load of makeup on my face until I think it looks decent. Another reason is because I have no idea how to film them in the first place. I had to find a place to put my mirror so that I could look into the camera but still see what I'm doing.

 Also, I had loaaaaaads of trouble with the voice over. I initially wanted my first makeup video to be a chatty one where I sat and talked to you guys whilst applying makeup. Unfortunately the odds were against me though as I ended up having laryngitis for 2 1/2 weeks which meant I had to film the actual makeup application first, and the voice over a couple of weeks later. And then my camera died so I had to do a voice over on my laptop, hence why the sound is really crackly. I do apologize for all this, but it was literally a nightmare trying to get this video together and I don't think I've worked on any video longer.

With all that said, I had sooooooo much fun filming this makeup tutorial. And don't you worry, I've learned from my mistakes and I know what to improve on next time. So who knows, there may be a few more tutorials to come in the future!

I hope you are able to tolerate my first tutorial and accept the fact that I will improve as time goes on. But most importantly I hope you enjoyed watching. What are your everyday makeup essentials? Let me know in the comments.

Izzy K xxx

Soap And Glory: Nothing But The Fruits Collection

Ok I have a little confession to make and please don't judge me too much because of it. I've had this product to review since January, but because my life is so incredibly organised I've only just got round to doing it now!

The Nothing But The Fruits set is by Soap&Glory, one of my personal favourite brands, and it can be found in Boots. The set consists of the Butter Yourself moisture lotion, Foam Call shower and bath body wash and Pulp Friction body scrub. Not to mention the fact it comes in a cute little cubed bag with a little bow-zip. How practical!

Butter Yourself Lotion:

I think this is my all time favourite body moisturizer I've ever tried. And that's a huge claim because I've tried millions of them. I don't think you can understand how truly moisturizing this lotion is, until you try it for yourself. After using it, I seriously feel the benefits from it for days after. And not to mention the smell is so fragranced and fruity, hence the name. The smell lasts for hours too, making me feel extremely comfortable in my own skin. 

Pulp Friction:

I'm certain that no other body scrub compares to this one. It intensely exfoliates your skin, leaving you feeling fresh and as smooth as a baby's bottom. My top tip is before applying fake tan, use this product in the shower because it means that the tan will glide on easily and with a fully even coverage. 

Foam Call:

I have to give it to Soap&Glory, this product does exactly what it implies. It leaves you feeling squeaky clean after every use. And for me, the scent of my shower gel is essential, because the stronger and fruitier it smells, the fresher I feel. 

Overall, I would say that I'm very impressed by Soap&Glory products, especially the ones from their Nothing But The Fruits Collection. I will definitely be purchasing more products by this company after trying these. I would have to rate them a 9.5/10 and I'm really struggling to find possible improvements for these products. Thank you very much for reading, and if you've tried this collection what did you think of it? 

Izzy K xxx

Life With A Sprinkle Of Glitter

A couple of months ago I was lucky enough to go to the book signing of one of my favourite YouTubers, Louise Pentland, aka Sprinkle of Glitter. She is an extremely successful blogger, as well as a YouTuber with well over 2 million subscribers!

You just gotta love the front and back covers!

And as if she wasn't already successful enough, she only went and wrote a book called "Life With A Sprinkle Of Glitter", a title which I think is perfect. This book is simply filled with Louise's personality, from the aesthetic of it, to the content inside. I feel like I'm literally reading an extended version of her blog, and you lot know how much I love reading blog posts.

I still feel so blessed to have a signed copy

This book is divided into four sections which are as follows: 

Glitz:

This section is about the rather glamorous side to Louise. When I saw Louise in person at her book signing I must say that I was truly blown away by her beauty and glamour. Therefore, I'm so very grateful of her sharing her secrets in this section. I particularly like the fact that she talked about being able to pamper yourself  at home, knowing that it would be unrealistic to suggest to all her viewers to book a spa day to relax. This section includes:

• Beauty and Pampering
• Partying
• Meeting Celebrities
• The Art Of Shopping
• Travelling in Style

Create:

This really allows the reader to get in touch with their inner creativity. It's really filled with cute little inspiration of ways to sparkle up your every day life with a bit of crafts. And I must say the "anti baking" chapter is the one for me in this book. This section includes:

• Setting Up Home
• Prettifying Your Room
• Crafts
• Anti-Baking

Need to knows:

It's so nice to read a sort of "survival guide" from someone you really admire who's been there and done that. I really appreciate that she wrote a chapter on bullying too, because she has such a large audience to who her book appeals to and it's important that they realise that bullying isn't tolerated in this society and that they're not going through it alone. I also think its fantastic that this section will help build up young girl's confidence. It's so important for girls to have a strong confident woman role model, and this is definitely Louise. She's able to give tips and advice to literally thousands of girls around the world on the following topics:

• Surviving Education
• Bullying
• Online Safety
• Body Confidence
• Comfort Zones

All about love:

I really admire Louise for sharing personal stories about the likes of dating and her love life. I feel like I really learned more about her and also, I had a good ol' giggle at some of the stories! Also, the chapters about Darcy and spreading kindness melted my heart and left me in a really good mood. This section includes:

• Boys and Lurve
• Dating
• Bonding With Baby
• Being Kind

And finally, I have to say that I adore the whole look of the book. I hadn't seen it before I went to her signing and the moment it was handed out to me I kinda froze because I was able to hold something so adorable. The book's theme is pastel colours, which some of you may know are my favourite colours, and there is even a little touchy-feely pot of glitter on the front. It's such a great little touch to the cover (if you'll pardon the pun).

I can't even deal with the cuteness of the page designs 

I truly had a wonderful read out of this book and I constantly find myself going back to it. Whether it's to learn something new or as a little pick-me-up, I know that this book will have just what I'm looking for. I don't often give 10/10 on a review, but I honestly can't think what could be added to this book to make it better. Although I do feel like this book is aimed at the female population, I believe that this book would have something for everyone. If you haven't already got your hands on "Life With A Sprinkle Of Glitter" please get yourself a copy. Have any of you read this book, and if so what did you think of it?

Izzy K xxx

Q&A With Evangalina bows 12

Hello everyone! Today I'm here with a wonderful YouTuber that I've been loving under the channel name Evangelina Bows12. You can just tell that she puts so much effort into her videos and she definitely deserves more renegotiation.

This video called 8 Things I Hate About School really made me laugh :)

Here are the questions that I asked, and she answered :

Starting a YouTube channel is either a spontaneous decision, or something that people think about for ages beforehand. How long did it take you to start a channel?

It took me a pretty long time to make my channel and I had to wait a while for my filming equipment and in all that time taken I was able to convince myself I was actually going to make my channel. 

Would you rather spend an entire day with your favourite band, but you wouldn't be able to film or take pictures with them, or spend an hour filming a youtube video with them? 

I would rather film a video with them I think it would make a great memory to share and look back to.

What made you decide on your username and did you have a previous username?

This was my first pick for a username, and it took a while but I knew I wanted my middle name (Evangelina) and my favourite number (12) in it for sure.

Where do you get your inspiration for your videos? Is it from things you've experienced in your everyday life, something someone said, another YouTuber, or something else?

I get inspired from all of the above actually, if I see something that would make a great addition to my videos I'll do it. 

If you could swap lives with one person, also meaning that you looked like them and they looked like you for a day, who would you choose?

I would choose...my life as Eva because she's such an inspiration and seems like she's always doing something super fun. 

Do you remember who the first person you subscribed to on youtube was, and if so who was it?

I believe the first person I had ever subscribed to was Bethany Mota which is crazy because you see how far she got today and how much her channel has grown I'm really proud of her. 

How many people in your personal life know about your YouTube? Is it a secret or do you let everyone know?

I think about 15 people it varies from friends and family, and I don't go crazy talking about my channel but I don't exactly keep it a secret either haha. 

What genre of music do you listen to the most often? 

The genre of music I listen to is honestly all kinds it can range from country to rap, from hip-hop to light rock.

What do you think about blogging and did you ever consider trying it for yourself?

I actually quite like blogging a lot. I was thinking about making a blogging channel in the future when I have more subscribers. 

It's always nice to have little goals with your hobbies. Is there one particular milestone you're hoping to reach with your YouTube channel?

I'm hoping to one day hit around 1000 subscribers, it may be a big mile stone at the moment but I have a gut feeling I'll get there sometime. 

Thank you so much Jocelyn for answering these questions. I highly recommend you checking out her channel because she's so talented at making videos and deserves loads more subscribers. I will see you guys soon and thank you for reading. 

Izzy K xxx

Lush Haul Video

I've always been a huge fan of Lush, but I never brought their bath bombs regularly. But I did a bit of saving up for this video. 

If you watched my London Vlog you will know that I also popped into the Lush Oxford Street and I have to say it was one of the best experiences of my life! Not everything in this haul video is from that particular branch, but most of it is. This is more of a collective haul and even though its not a lot compared to other hauls I've seen, I still felt like it was enough to show you guys what I brought. 

Feel free to watch to see what goodies I picked up

Please let me know in the comments what your favourite Lush products are, I'd love to try something new. Thank you so much for reading/watching. 

Izzy K xxx

Real Techniques Core Collection

As I needed to build up my makeup brush collection, I decided to buy the Core Collection kit from Real Techniques because I've heard they're the best drugstore brushes out there. Let's see my thoughts on them...

I ordered these brushes from Superdrug for £20.99, and when you think about it, that's a great price for 4 brushes. I had one brush from Real Techniques before and loved it, so I had my eyes on this kit for quite some time.

Stand:

This set comes with a handy little case/stand. When it is in the stand form I find it very practical because it's an easy way to keep your brushes organised. The case is very flexible so it can be horizontally bent to form a stand.

When bent vertically, this stand doubles as a case, which makes it ideal for travelling. However, I do find that because its not enclosed on the side, the brushes could potentially get damaged and bristled whilst travelling. 

Detailer Brush:

This is seriously the most adorable brush I've ever seen because it's so tiny. This brush can be used to precisely apply concealer or lipstick. Personally, I've only used it for concealer, because I find concealer easier to clean off brushes than lipstick. But I still think it's cool that it can be used for either. 

Pointed Foundation Brush:

This brush is extremely soft and the shape of it makes application very easy because it's flat and pointed. Although it's meant for foundation, I personally find this brush too small for foundation and use it for concealer instead. 

Buffer Brush:

This is the perfect brush to apply powder and mineral foundation. I find it extremely soft so it leaves an airbrushed look on your skin and applies makeup evenly. In fact, I think it's the softest makeup brush I own. 

Contour Brush:

This brush can be used for contouring (obviously), blush and bronzer. I much prefer this brush to bronzer brushes when contouring because I have a really small face and normal bronzer brushes take up my whole check. This is a fantastic brush for detailed contouring. 

I'm absolutely chuffed that I made this purchase because I think it was a great investment. I would rate the brushes themselves a 10/10 because they perfectly apply makeup. However I would rate the set itself a 9/10, only because the writing of the brush names on the side has faded slightly and the fact that the case remains open on the sides. However, I would definitely recommend this to anyone, especially if they're just starting out with makeup and need a brush set to begin with. Thank you for reading, and if you have these brushes yourself, what do you think of them?

Izzy K xxx

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick

It's absolutely no secret that Rimmel Kate Moss lipsticks are my all time favourites, so I decided to branch out and try another lipstick from the Rimmel range.

The lipstick I decided to pick up was the Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in the shade 016 Heart Breaker. This little lipstick cost just £4.99 from Superdrug, which I thing is great deal. 

There are many things I absolutely love about this product, the first being the pigmentation. You literally only need to apply one thin layer and voila- you have full coverage! This is one of the most pigmented lipsticks I own and the colour always appears bold. 

Also, the formula is incredible. You can tell why it is called "lasting finish" because it lasts for hours. When I wear this lipstick to sixth form, the only time I need to reapply it is during lunchtime, and that's only because the colour has faded slightly from eating. Otherwise it would last all day long, I'm sure of it. And not to mention that it's fairly matte which naturally means that it lasts longer than lipstick with shine. 

And without sounding strange, I'm a fan of the taste of Rimmel lipsticks. Taste is an important factor when it comes to me choosing lipstick, because if it tastes disgusting, the last place I want to put the products is on my lips. I find this tastes just like all the Rimmel lipsticks and if you are familiar with them you know what I'm talking about. If not... well I don't exactly know how to describe it because it's not particularly flavoured, it just tastes fairly nice. 

What a poser!

There is one thing that I'm not too keen on with this product though, and that's the fact that it's quite drying on your lips. I find it's not smooth which makes it not so easy to glide on your lips. In fact, I think its a little more drying than the Rimmel Kate Moss lipsticks, and they're pretty drying themselves. This isn't a huge issue and if you put a lip balm on before, it protects your lips from drying out. 

This didn't have to be on here, but Kitty was being cuddly 

when I was taking pictures for this post! 

I'm quite a huge fan of this lipstick and it's become one of my "go-to" lipsticks, especially for Sixth form due to its lasting power. I would rate this product a 7.5/10 and would recommend this to everyone, especially if you're a beginner with makeup or are on a budget. Have you tried this product, and if so what shade did you get? xxx