April Favourites 2019

Tuesday 30 April 2019

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Another month has passed and again there have been so many incredible new beauty releases, and I have also re-discovered some old favourites. Without further ado, here are the products which I have been loving throughout April...
During the Easter weekend, we had some gorgeous hot weather, and guess who fell asleep in the sunshine without her sunscreen on? Yes, this silly gal! I didn't have any after sun at home and so I used the Palmers Moisturizing Body Oil* (£5.39) (US spelling!) both in the bath by adding a few drops and then massaging into where my skin was slightly burnt. This Body Oil is so nourishing, and due to it being an oil, it really helped to calm down my soreness and dry skin and when I woke up in the morning, my skin still felt moisturised due to it having 24 hour moisturisation. My skin now feels super soft and I have been continuing to add the oil to my bath at night.
Even though my legs and arms were sun burnt, my face wasn't as I have been using the Pixi Sun Mist (£18.00). This sheer sunscreen mist has an SPF 30, which is great and so I use it before I apply makeup, or just on its own if I am having a no-makeup day. The Sun Mist has a lovely fresh and light fragrance to it and comes out a little milky but blends easily into the skin. I think this is such a good product to keep in your handbag or have by the pool with you on holiday as it protects your skin against the sun and keeps the skin moisturised.
I cannot get through a monthly favourites without mentioning a sheet mask! This month I really enjoyed using the Payot Blue Techni Liss Week-End Chrono-Renewing Peel Mask*. The Week-End Mask is a 100% natural, recyclable sheet mask that is designed for use on a weekend to prep the skin for the week ahead. The Mask has been designed to smooth out wrinkles and renew the skin's texture in just 15 minutes. My skin always feels so much cleaner and fresher after using this mask and I have gone through three this month alone. If you are venturing abroad this Summer, I would definitely recommend taking a mask like this on board your flight as it will help to keep you looking and feeling much fresher.
I get through skincare products like nobody's business as I keep to a morning and night-time routine. One of the cleansing products I have been loving this month is the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm* (£38.00), and even though you are only really supposed to use it on an evening, I have been using it on a morning too as I love how it makes my skin feel. You get a luxe pot of the balm which goes onto the skin as a lightweight balm and then melts into a silky cleansing oil as you massage it over the skin. You then add water to it and it turns into a milky emulsion which rinses off easily so there are no greasy remains. This Balm manages to remove all my makeup super effectively and it gives my skin that really clean feeling! You get 70ml of product, so it isn't the cheapest skincare item, but a little goes a long way with this and so it will last you a decent amount of time.
Onto a product which is a little bit skincare and a little bit makeup, the Kiehl's Love Oil For Lips* (£18.00). This was inspired by the 1960's Summer of Love, and is a lightweight lip oil which is available in four shades and one un-tinted shade. I have Botanical Blush which adds a sheer hint of pink to the lips, perfect for Spring and Summer. They smell incredible as they contain Coconut Oil, Moringa Oil and Acerola Cherry Extract and they leave the lips looking slightly glossy without the stickiness of a gloss. Due to them being an oil formula, they are so hydrating for the lips and really do keep them in super smooth condition. I love wearing the Love Oil when I want a little something on my lips for lovely Spring days.
Now onto the makeup and I have been reaching for the L'Oreal Infallible Blush Paint Palette in 01 Pinks (£14.99). This isn't a new product by any means, but I love that you get five pink-toned blushes in one handy palette, which makes it great for travelling. The formula is super pigmented and you can go as light or as heavy as you want with these pretty Spring-like pink tones. There is also a peach shade in here which has a slight shimmer to it and so this would be a great highlighter for more medium to dark skin tones too.
Back in March for my birthday, my Grandad kindly gave me a Debenhams gift voucher and as it was the first birthday I have had since losing my Nanna, I bought a lovely necklace and had some money left over so I put it towards this Chanel Rouge Coco Flash Lipstick (£31.00) in the shade Boy as my Nanna loved her luxury makeup and I know she would have been happy with my choice. A Chanel Lipstick isn't something I would normally be able to splash out on and I love this gorgeous everyday nude shade, as it has a slight shimmer to it and leaves a healthy shiny finish to the lips. It is more of a tint than a full-coverage lipstick, but I have found this great for Spring mornings to keep my lips moisturised.
My eyebrows are currently going through that stage where they just haven't been loving my normal brow products and so when I received the KISS Beautiful Brow Kit* (£8.99) I was excited to give it a go. This well-thought out kit contains four different eyebrow stencils, a razor to trim unwanted brow hair with precision, and a quad palette which contains a brow wax, two brown shades, a highlighter for under the brow bone, a spoolie brush and a double ended brush. So, yes, pretty much everything you could need for the brows. I love how great this is for travelling as the palette is nice and compact and you are able to create your brows however you please.
A product I recently saw Jeffree Star use was the e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer (£8.00) and as I suffer from quite large pores, I definitely wanted to give it a whirl. The primer comes in a good-sized tub and is a universally sheer shade so it is suitable for all skin tones. It doesn't feel drying or greasy, and I find that it melts into my skin seamlessly and whilst it doesn't cover every single pore, it certainly does a great job at hiding the majority. The magic ingredient in here is Squalene which helps to grip makeup and keep it in place throughout the day, whilst also protecting the skin from moisture loss. It doesn't have a 'putty' feel to it, but instead feels soft and velvet-like on the skin, giving an airbrushed effect.
Finally, we have the Jeffree Star Liquid Frost (£23.00) in the shade Ice Cream Bling from the new Blue Blood Collection. I haven't previously tried any of Jeffree's Liquid Frosts before and so I treated myself to the shade Ice Cream Bling when he released the Blue Blood Collection, as some of the other shades were a little too blue-toned for me (go, figure). This liquid highlighter comes with a glass dropper to dispense the product onto the skin, so you are able to control the amount of product you are releasing. The shade is a soft champagne colour which of course is super shimmery and as you get so much product in the bottle, this will also be great for adding to the arms and legs in Summer to add an all-over glow to the skin.
All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx

*Products marked with an asterix have been gifted to me, but all opinions are my own
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Rimmel Lasting Radiance Foundation, Concealer & Powder Review

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Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation and Concealer has been such a cult drugstore duo in the last 7 or 8 years and people were going mad for it. However, Rimmel have recently re-branded and repackaged the Wake Me Up range and it is now called Rimmel Lasting Radiance. As a big fan of Wake Me Up, I was excited to try the new formula out.
First up is the Rimmel Lasting Radiance Foundation (£9.99), which just like the Wake Me Up offers a medium coverage, however it is completely buildable if you prefer a fuller coverage. The packaging is very similar to the original, which a glass bottle and an orange lid. I opted for the shade 070 Porcelain which looks rather dark in the bottle so I was a little worried as most brands offer Porcelain as a fair shade, but this looks more light to medium in the packaging. Again, just the like the original it has a pump applicator and it has a feint fruity scent to it. Once applied onto the skin, the colour of the foundation was a lot better, however I still wouldn't say it was 'Porcelain', and it went on really easily and blended out lovely. With regards to skin type, if you have really dry skin, I would definitely recommend using a primer underneath, and if you have really oily skin I would perhaps give this foundation a miss, mainly because it does give a gorgeous glow to the skin, but if you already have oily skin, then this will just enhance that. Overall, I am very impressed with this foundation, and it doesn't feel extremely different to the original, but it certainly leaves my skin looking fresh and glowy and lasts all day long.
Moving on to the Rimmel Lasting Radiance Concealer (£6.99) and again, the original was such a big hit once Zoella declared her love for it back in the day. The packaging is pretty much the same, with a sponge doe-foot applicator making it super quick and easy to apply straight onto the under eye area. I have a little confession, because when I ordered these from Superdrug they didn't have all of the shades uploaded (which I didn't realise at the time) and so I ended up getting shade 050 Nude, when I should have gone for Ivory, so this is a little dark for my under eyes. However, this does give a good amount of coverage, because of course I tried it out regardless of the shade, and it does have an awakening formula due to the inclusion of Vitamin C and radiance pearls that help give an illuminating effect. I had a slight amount of creasing under the eye, but that is my age (oh hell) and I do get that with 99% of concealers. The concealer didn't budge, and it stayed in place, which is definitely what you want from a concealer so again, I am more than happy with this. I just need the right shade!
The other product I messed up with colour-wise was the Rimmel Lasting Radiance Finishing Powder (£7.49), which is available in three shades, and Superdrug had only uploaded one at the time so I thought it only came in the one shade. However, I have the medium-toned finishing powder in the shade 002 Honeycomb, so it is not terrible as I can use this in the Summer when I have a little more colour on my skin. The pan is a little like the Bobbi Brown Brightening Bricks, with different shades and finishes which you can use individually or all at once. I love that there is a shimmer shade in here, and in the meantime I can use these shades as eye shadows. You can use a powder brush to swirl in all the shades and apply as a setting powder, or you can concentrate on the darker shades and use as a bronzer. Again, I am such a fool, and I will definitely have to pick up my correct shade next time I go out of town to a Boots or a Superdrug! 
You can find the Rimmel Lasting Radiance collection in-store and online at Boots.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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Primark Beauty: What's New Spring 2019

Monday 29 April 2019

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I love a new Primark beauty collection, and this Spring is all about hydration and glowy skin. I recently picked up a few products and have been putting them to the test.
First up, we have the Sun Set Beam Coconut Primer Water (£2.50), which comes in a 150ml bottle complete with gold animal print and a gold applicator pump. The Primer Water has no colour to it, and spritzes nicely onto the face, with a fine mist. It has a coconut scent to it, which I love as coconut takes me right back to being on holiday and it is really refreshing on the skin. I get quite dry skin, even though I have an oily T-Zone, and so I often use a primer water before any other makeup or prep product to get some moisture into my skin, which I find always helps my make up to apply better.
We then have the Summer Blue Soft Focus Primer which at £5.00 is one of the more expensive items from the collection. However, it comes in a glass bottle which adds a little class to it, and in my opinion it has been heavily influenced by the YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer in the fact it has lots of little gold sparkles running through it. Unlike the Touche Eclat version, you can see the sparkles on your skin, which did put me off slightly, but if you are using a medium to full coverage foundation this shouldn't be a problem. I love glitter, but I don't necessarily want it all over my face. As a primer, I love it, it has a gorgeously soft texture to it and blurs the skin beautifully, making a great base for foundation application.
The Nudes collection has had a few more products added to it, including the Nudes Glow Illuminating Highlighter Drops (£3.00), which comes in this shade Desire and then a darker shade, but as I am fair-skinned I opted for this one. This liquid highlighter can be mixed in with foundation, or applied on the cheekbones, the tip of the nose and so on. It is easy to distribute as it has a pointed nozzle and the shade is gorgeous, however, again this has a lot of actual glitter in it and therefore it can be quite sparkly on the skin rather than shimmery.
Another liquid highlighter product which is new is the Prep & Perfect Skin Illuminator (£3.50), which again is available in different shades, but I opted for Champagne. I am really happy with the packaging on this, Primark do seemed to have upped their game with packaging which is great to see. This product is classed as an illuminating base, so you can apply it before foundation, mix it in with foundation or again use it in the places you normally would a highlighter. I found that this gives a lovely glow to the skin, and I also like to apply it to my shoulders and arms as you get a lot of product and a little goes a long way.
One of my favourite newbies from Primark Beauty is the Bring The Heat Glow Stick (£3.00), which is available in a darker shade and then this one, which just says Glow Highlighter. The packaging is champagne and gold animal print and is pretty darn dreamy. Again, you get a lot of product for your pounds, and this cream highlighter stick is gorgeous. It makes the skin look glowy and fresh, and is super easy to apply as it is so creamy. I sometimes find with cream stick products they can be quite hard to put on the face, but this works really easily.
You can find these gorgeous Spring products in your local Primark store.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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Zoella x Colourpop Brunch Date Collection Review + Swatches - 100% Honest!

Sunday 28 April 2019

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When I first heard Zoella was collaborating with Colourpop, I was a bit meh about it. Zoella hasn't been at the top of her game for the last year or so and collaborating with an American brand was a little bizarre to me. Yes, UK fans can get Colourpop delivered to the UK, but you do have to pay customs and shipping which isn't always cheap. Plus, as much as I love Colourpop, I have had problems with some of their deliveries. Also, when I saw the collection, I thought a lot of the colours looked too similar to each other for such a small collection. However, for fear of missing out, I eventually ordered it when I saw people receiving theirs on Twitter. I ordered the PR collection, which includes everything from the collaboration.
Starting with the Brunch Date Eye Shadow Palette ($18.00), which includes twelve shadows. The formula is great and individually most of the shades are really nice and pigmented, but as a whole palette, for me, the shades were too similar and to have that pop of electric blue, was too similar to Kim Kardashian's eye shadow palette for me and it doesn't really go with any of the other shades, unlike Kim's. I know Zoe loves nude shadows and so that is probably the basis behind this palette, but I have numerous nude palettes which include a much better range of shades.
Moving on to the Lip Bundles ($11.50 each), of which there are three, and I love the cute milk carton-style packaging. There are three shade duos, and again for me, two of the shades were just too similar. I love Colourpop's Ultra Matte Lip formula, you cannot knock it or the price, but to have two very similar nude shades and then a bright red just seemed a little off to me. Zoe loves a deep burgundy shade, so it would have been nice to see one of those. My Day Ones include Little One Ultra Matte Lip and Little One Lippie Pencil, to give a nude lip look. What Happens At Brunch includes @me Ultra Matte Lip and Oh Snap Lippie Pencil, to give another nude lip look, with a slight hint of a pink nude and Give Up The Goss includes Self Love Club Ultra Matte Lip and Bossy Lippie Pencil which gives you a bright red lip. As I say, I like the packaging and the price, as well as the formula, but I just would have expected more variety colour wise, and that being said, I feel like this collection was perhaps rushed a little.
We then have the Group Hug Supernova Shadow Bundle ($14.00), which includes two of Colourpop's Supernova liquid eye shadows. You receive the shades Bellini and OG, both of which are nude/champagne shades, and look pretty much the same, except one is slightly more shimmery than the other. I hadn't tried this product before, and I must say, I love the formula and it stays on really well, so I would definitely look into Colourpop's other Supernova shades. However, for me, again the colours are just too similar and I feel like not much thought has gone into this collection.
Next up, we have the Pressed Powder Blush ($8.00) which is available in just one shade, Soul Mate, a cotton candy pink. The packaging on both this and the next product does feel a little cheap and childish, but it comes with a mirror on the inside for on-the-go ease. I did find this a very sheer blush, and for my swatch I had to really dig into the powder a few times just to get some kind of colour, so if you like your blush super sheer, then this will be perfect for you. I do really love this colour though, although it won't suit all skin tones, it does suit my fair skin quite well.
The other cheek product within the collection is the Swipe Right Pressed Powder Highlighter ($8.00), and from a huge You Tube star who is massively into her makeup, I did expect something with more of a wow factor when it came to highlight. Again, there is just the one shade, which is quite pretty, a nude champagne with a tiny hint of pink iridescent running through it. However, the formula is just not there for me, it does feel velvety soft but I found there to be very little pigmentation and it gave a very barely there look. Very barely there. 
The final products within the Zoella x Colourpop collaboration are the Creme Gel Liners ($5.00 each), which come in two shades, Sincerely Yours, a dark brown and XOXO, a black. With there being an electric blue in the eye shadow palette, I would have perhaps thought there might have been an electric blue liner to make it feel more included but alas there wasn't. The packaging is fine, and the formula does glide on really easily, but how many black and brown eyeliners do you have in your collection already?
I don't mean to be a negative nelly, as I have often praised Zoe's ranges in the past. However, I am always honest on my blog, and yes I will use these products, maybe apart from the cheek products, but when someone whose career has been slipping in the last year or two, and for a collaboration with a brand who creates some amazing colours, finishes and products with other influencers I would have expected something that would blow me away a little more. I could be wrong, and this is my own opinion, but I feel this collection has been rushed, and that not a lot of thought has gone into it. I like Zoe, I really do, and I like Colourpop too, but for me, this could have been so much better.

You can find the Zoella x Colourpop collection online at Colourpop here, but remember, you will be charged shipping, taxes and customs on all orders.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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Cuticura Mildy Medicated Dry Skin Cream Review

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One minute it is warm and I have my flip flops on, the next it is bloomin' well cold again. This weather is wreaking havoc with my skin. Especially during the colder months the skin on my legs and arms get so dry that they then become itchy and whilst I am asleep I end up itching the skin and making it bleed, which then results in lots of little scabs and scars all over my legs. Come Summer I find it embarrassing to wear dresses and shorts. When Cuticura recently asked if I would like to try their Mildly Medicated Dry Skin Cream, I jumped at the chance to get my legs Summer ready.
Cuticura's Mildly Medicated Dry Skin Cream is specifically formulated to provide advanced moisturisation and protection for very dry and sensitive skin, and therefore I knew this was definitely something I wanted to try out. The cream is powered by a unique Triple Action Complex which contains a potent mix of ingredients which are known for soothing, moisturising and helping to restore the skin back to its best when it is otherwise prone to dryness and discomfort.

The product comes in a 50ml tube and has quite a thick, creamy consistency to it, so you do not need much to cover an area of the skin, which means you won't have to be constantly repurchasing. As soon as I apply the cream, it sinks in to my skin instantly and makes it feel extremely soft and supple, leaving it hydrated for a long period of time so you do not need to keep reapplying the cream. One thing I noticed was that unlike with other creams, there was no greasy residue left over on the skin and it had gone into the skin's layers rather than sitting on the surface.
As this is also great for sensitive skin, I like to use this after shaving my legs as it prevents any shaving rash appearing and keeps my skin moisturised rather than them drying out like usual after shaving. This doesn't have the prettiest packaging, but at just £5.99 and with the results you get I can forgive that. With such a handy-sized tube, this is great for taking on holiday with you too for any dryness after being in the sun or the swimming pool all day.

You can find the Cuticura Mildly Medicated Dry Skin Cream in-store or online at Superdrug here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx

*This post contains an item which was gifted to me, but all views are my own
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Natasha Denona Transformatte Pore Vanishing Matte Foundation Review

Saturday 27 April 2019

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I have always wanted to try some of Natasha Denona's eye shadows as they look so incredible and people rave about them and I watched a You Tube video the other month where someone was really impressed with the Natasha Denona Transformatte Pore Vanishing Matte Foundation (quite the name!), and so I decided to save up for it, as it does cost £39.00 for 28ml, which isn't crazy expensive, but it is obviously on the higher end of the price scale.
If you read my blog often you may know I struggle with my pores and to keep them concealed, and so when I saw the 'Pore Vanishing' part of this foundation I was really looking forward to giving it a go. There are around 35 shades, so the shade range is pretty great, and the foundation comes in cool white, black and nude packaging. The foundation features a pump applicator so that the product is easy to get out, and there is no waste.
The Transformatte is marketed as a long-wearing medium to high coverage matte foundation which visibly transforms uneven skin textures and minimise the appearance of large pores. Sounds great so far! For a quick skin history, I have dry cheeks and an oily T-Zone with large pores between my cheeks and my nose area and I have redness on my cheeks, so this sounded perfect for me. I firstly decided to try the Transformatte without a primer, just to get a good understanding of how it works for my skin on its own. I really was astounded at how I had wasted £39.00 of my hard-earned money.
Do I sound harsh? Yes, but this foundation grabbed my pores like no other foundation has before, and sunk into every single one of them, making them look bigger than before. I did actually feel pretty upset as sad as that sounds. I opted for the shade 5N Fair Neutral after using the Temptalia Foundation Matrix and it works pretty well colour-wise and there was no oxidising either. Please remember that what doesn't work for me, may work for you and vice-versa, and to me, this foundation felt so thick to apply and slightly oily to be honest, which I found strange for a matte foundation. 

I stuck it out and tried it with a primer, which didn't make too much of a difference, as well as testing its longevity. I found within a couple of hours, if that, that the foundation started breaking apart, especially on my T-Zone, which again for a matte foundation, it should be able to prevent that from happening. This was my first Natasha Denona product, and yes for me, it didn't go well, however that wouldn't stop me from trying other products and one day when I can afford one of the eye shadow palettes, I'm sure it will be love at first use.

You can find the Natasha Denona Transformatte Pore Vanishing Matte Foundation online at Feel Unique here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation Review

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I have seen a lot of buzz surrounding the Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation, and as I am constantly on the look-out for the 'perfect' foundation, I of course had to give it a go. Dior do have an original Forever Skin Foundation which gives a more mattifying finish, but this one is supposed to leave a glowy finish and I am all about that glowy look.
There are 31 shades available and following my beloved Temptalia Foundation Matrix, I opted for shade 1N, which is for fair skin with neutral undertones. The packaging is very sleek and Dior, and the foundation comes packaged in a glass bottle with a pump applicator, both of which I approve of. This liquid foundation feels very lightweight when you are wearing it and I only needed one pump of the formula to cover my entire face with a medium coverage.

However, I did go in with a second layer just to see what it would be like, and I found that it builds up really well, yet even with just the first layer, I got really good coverage and it definitely gave my skin a glowy look to it. I am not talking disco glow, but more of a 'radiant skin' finish to it, and it looks really pretty. I am always quite open about my pores, and this did cover the majority without primer, but I do prefer to use a primer underneath just to give a little more concealment to that area.
As with a lot of other newer foundation releases, this one claims to give 24 hour wear, but and I had repeating myself, I never wear foundation that long, however I did find that it lasted me from morning until evening and without my T-Zone oiliness making an appearance so I was definitely impressed with that. It gives my skin a velvety-matte finish but with that extra healthy glow and I have definitely been reaching for this a lot since I first tried it.

The Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation costs £37.00 for 30ml, which isn't the cheapest, but is about average for a higher-end brand, and I think if a product works, then it is certainly worth the investment and you only need one pump per use, so this will give you plenty of wear. You can find it online at Dior here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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Spring Picks: Five Lip Products

Friday 26 April 2019

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I thought I would do a little post about some of my favourite lip products at the moment, and some which are perfect for this time of year. 
If you are wanting something lightweight on the lips, then I would highly recommend the Lavera Matt'n Stay Lips Crayon* (£10.90). I have it in the shade Matt'n Rose, which is a lovely dusky pink, perfect for day or night wear. These crayons are super soft and smooth to apply and due to the shape of them, they are so quick to pop on, allowing you a more precise look. Even though this is a matt lipstick, it doesn't dry out the lips and I found it very moisturising.
Next up is the Wet n Wild Megalast Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick (£5.00) in the shade Nudist Peach. This matte liquid lipstick comes in plenty of different shades and I have tried quite a few of them, but I love this Spring peach shade to add a pop of colour to the lips. I find this particular formula very long-lasting and budge-proof, perfect for all day or all night.
For something a little different, I have been enjoying the INC.redible Shook To The Core Metallic Lipgloss (£8.00) in the shade I'm Fairy Extreme. This lipgloss has a gorgeous pink shade to it, and plenty of micro glitter and shimmer running throughout it. It adds glimmer, glow and gloss to the lips without looking like you kissed a pot of glitter.
One of my favourite lip product releases so far this year has been the NYX Candy Slick Glowy Lip Color (US spelling!) (£6.00), which is available in 12 intense shades. I opted for the shade Sugarcoated Kiss, which is a pretty nude pink, and it suits my fair skin really well. I love the full-coverage it gives, and it makes my lips look super glossy.
Collaborate with Disney, and you know you're onto a winner! Dose Of Colors recently did a Mickey Mouse collaboration and I adored this Mickey Mouse Collection Lipgloss (£16.00) in the shade Rockin' It. The packaging has cute little gold Mickey heads on the lid and the nude colour is just perfection if you have fairer skin like myself. All the glossy goodness!
All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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