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