Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipsticks Review + Swatches

Monday 30 March 2020

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I have really been loving and enjoying using Pat McGrath products in the past six months, so at the end of last year when there was an amazing deal on the Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipsticks, I stocked up on eight amazing shades!
There are 30 shades available and each one comes beautifully packaged, as well as each tube being a glossy black and gold luxuriously feeling casing. Each LuxeTrance Lipstick provides the lips with seriously saturated colour whilst providing them with rich hydration and protection from free radicals. The formulation of the lipsticks glides on to the lips, and just one swipe provides you with full coverage and colour, so even though these are pricey lipsticks, they are going to last and you are getting quality with each and every swipe.
The first of the shades I chose is Beauty Junkie, which is from their Seasonal Colours range and is a pink violet colour. I love this colour as it is slightly different to the normal shades I tend to wear, but will be great for Spring and Summer. I then chose Donatella, from the Skin Show colour collection and this is a medium nude, so is great for most skin tones and most occasions. A slightly warmer, spicier nude is the shade LaBeija, which is also from the Skin Show collection. Going even more warmer toned, we have Lust Angeles, which is a darker nude, and I imagine this would be beautiful for darker skin tones and during Autumn and Winter. Madame Greige is from the Skin Show range and is a mauve-toned nude, which I feel would suit most skin tones and occasions. From the Seasonal Colours, we have Psycho Candy, a bright fuchsia shade, which is going to look stunning with a tan during the warmer months. Sorry Not Sorry is a beautiful plum shade from the Colour Blitz collection and I believe this would look amazing for a pop of colour all year round. Finally, we have Wrecked, from the Vicious Venoms range and this is a beautiful true berry shade, which would work stunningly on warmer skin tones.
There is no doubt that these are expensive lipsticks, but if you want amazing colour pay-off and long-wearing lip colour, then I would definitely recommend making the investment. You can find them online at Pat McGrath here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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I Heart Revolution Fruit Fixing Sprays & Fruit Lip Mask & Balms Review

Saturday 28 March 2020

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You know I love a new release from Revolution, and this post is all about the I Heart Revolution Fruit Fixing Sprays and Fruit Lip Mask & Balms.
Starting with the Fixing Sprays, we have the I Heart Revolution Cherry Pie Dewy Makeup Fixing Sprayand the I Heart Revolution Pineapple Brightening Fixing Spray. They both retail at £6.00 each for 100ml and there is also a Watermelon fragrance available. The packaging is lovely and bright and adorned with fruity goodness and as soon as you take off the main lid, you can smell those delicious cherries and pineapple. Fixing sprays like these can be used to refresh your makeup and revive the skin, and if you pop them in the fridge in the warmer months, they are going to be super refreshing on a hot day. As mentioned, the Cherry Pie Fixing Spray is a Dewy formula, so this will give the skin a pretty dewy finish and the Pineapple Fixing Spray will give your skin a fresh and healthy glow, as well as keeping makeup in place throughout the day. You can of course use these without makeup, just to freshen the skin up a little or make it look dewy or glowy.
Moving on to the I Heart Revolution Lip Mask & Balms, these retail for just £3.00 each and they are the perfect product to get your lips in great condition for all those Spring and Summer lip colours. There are five fruity flavours available - Cherry Pie, Coconut Ice, Mango Smoothie, Vanilla Cake and Watermelon Popsicle. It is so hard to pick a favourite scent as they all smell absolutely divine but I do love anything Watermelon! The formula is balmy and smooth and adds protection to the lips to keep them in amazing condition. The Lip Mask & Balms can be used on an evening before bedtime as a mask throughout the night, so that you wake up to gorgeously soft lips, or of course throughout the day when you need a little more protection and nourishment. Revolution often have 3 for 2 deals on, so you could get three of your favourite fruity flavours and keep one on your desk, one at home and one in your handbag for on-the-go care.
You can find the new fruity collection from I Heart Revolution online at Revolution Beauty here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx

*These items were gifted to me, but all opinions are my own
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Lee Stafford Hair Apology Intensive Care Haircare Review

Friday 27 March 2020

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Lee Stafford are one of my favourite high-street hair care brands, as their products are affordable, do what they say they're going to do, and work wonders. Their latest offering is the Lee Stafford Hair Apology Intensive Care collection, which features a Shampoo, Conditioner, Leave-In Treatment Spray, Mask and Power Shot Capsules.
The Lee Stafford Hair Apology collection is like an emergency service for damaged hair, and ensures the hair is sleek, soft and healthy from the very first use. The Lee Stafford Hair Apology Shampoo (£8.49 for 250ml) is formulated to keep frizz at bay, gently cleansing the hair whilst taking care of your hair and scalp's natural moisture levels, making it perfect for every day use. This is a sulphate-free shampoo and therefore it is recommended to always double cleanse - the first cleanse removes dirt, oil and product residue, whereas the second cleanse gives you that super clean-feel lather.
Formulated for deep nourishment, the Lee Stafford Hair Apology Conditioner (£8.49 for 250ml) is a lightweight but supercharged product which gives you softer, smoother, tamer hair that looks shinier and healthier. The products smell incredible, without being overpowering, and I noticed that I could smell the products in my hair even after drying and styling - you cannot beat that freshly-washed clean hair smell! One of the things I love most about this Conditioner is that it washes out really easily, and there is no left-over residue which can sometimes cause greasiness.
Lee Stafford have quite a lot of amazing leave-in treatment sprays, and I nearly always have one on the go as they are so easy to use. The Lee Stafford Hair Apology 10-in-1 Leave-In Treatment Spray (£11.99 for 100ml) is a hardworking and multitasking daily essential containing intelligent repair ingredients that help to moisturise, hydrate and rehabilitate existing damage whilst also reducing hair breakage. This spray contains heat protection and is lightweight on the hair, helping to reduce split ends and fly-aways without weighing the hair down. I have quite fine hair and so a product like this is perfect for me, as I cannot feel it in my hair, but can notice such a difference, especially with my hair being prone to split ends. To use, you simply smooth onto dry ends before bedtime as an intensive overnight treatment so that you wake up to rejuvenated and restored hair.

Boots nearly always have a deal on hair care, so be sure to check out the Lee Stafford Hair Apology collection online here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx

*These items were gifted to me, but all opinions are my own
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Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Collection

Thursday 26 March 2020

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I have quite a sentimental relationship with Charlotte Tilbury products, because my Nanna used to swear by the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, and at the end of 2018 she sadly had a very bad stroke, and even in the hospital she was asking for her Magic Cream to be put on for her. She sadly died a few months later, but whenever I see the Magic Cream online or in shops, it always makes me smile. I personally haven't yet tried it, but one day I am going to save up and order myself one, because my Nanna tried a lot of beauty products in her time and she said that was the best moisturiser ever.
However, today I am going to be focusing on the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk collection, which is one of the most iconic collections in the beauty world. Charlotte's Pillow Talk collection is getting bigger and bigger due to the popularity of it, and I have been lucky enough to receive four products from the range - the Cheek To Chic Swish & Glow Blusher, the Collagen Lip Bath, the Lip Cheat Lip Liner and the Beauty Light Wand Highlighter. 

The Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Cheek To Chic Swish & Glow Blusher (£30.00) comes in a beautiful soft pink outer box and then the compact itself is the classic Charlotte Tilbury dark burgundy and gold colourway. Once you open the compact up, there is a mirror on the inside of the lid and then the dual blush shades. Pillow Talk Intense is a deep rosy pink blush shade, and you get the warmer shade on the outside and then a lighter, slightly shimmery shade in the centre. You can of course use one or the other, and then swirl them both together to create a unique shade. As I mentioned, there is a slight shimmer within this blush, but instead of giving you a highlighter look, it gives a very subtle and pretty glow to the skin. The formula is slightly sheer, which is best with a blush, and if you want a bolder look, you can build it up by layering, but as I have quite light skin, I like to apply this with a light hand. I find the formula very lightweight and comfortable on the skin, and I don't feel like I have heavy makeup on, which is important to me, as I dislike feeling like I am caked in makeup. All in all, this is a high quality blush that is going to add a healthy glowy colour to the cheeks.
Next up is the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Cheat Re-Shape & Re-Size Lip Liner (£17.00). There are three shade options within the Pillow Talk collection - Original, Medium and Intense and here I have the Medium shade. I have very fine lips and so a lip liner can work a treat for me, and even if you have a fuller lip, wearing a lip liner can really help to define the lips and helps to keep your lip colour on throughout the day. Again, the packaging is that pretty pink colour and the liner itself has a gorgeous gold covering. Lip Cheat has a gorgeously soft and smooth texture and so you don't need to go in hard on the delicate lip line area, a light touch will work wonders, due to the pigmentation of the formula. Due to the lip liner being so creamy and comfortable, I would wear this all over the lips on its own as I found that it lasts a really good amount of time whilst on the lips, much longer than some lipsticks! Pillow Talk Medium is a warm berry pink shade and so it is suitable for all year round and will suit the majority of skin tones.
When I first saw the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Collagen Lip Bath (£25.00) released, I knew I needed it, because I love anything to do with baths (Okay, I know this isn't technically to do with having a bath) and because I have those fine lips I mentioned, I need a little collagen and plumping action. This one is in the original nude-pink Pillow Talk shade and comes in a see-through and gold tube. The applicator is a sponge applicator and is in the shape of a heart, and if that isn't enough to make you absolutely 'need' this product, then I don't know what is. In all seriousness, the Lip Bath features a wide range of super-nourishing and plumping ingredients that make your lips feel soft, protected, fuller and with a hint of colour as soon as you apply it. This is more of a gloss than a liquid lipstick, and so even though there is some colour with each application, you aren't going to be getting a full coverage, but I really enjoy that as I find it more wearable on more occasions. Some of the key ingredients include Marine Collagen which helps to hydrate, Mustard Sprout Extract to define the contours of the lips, resulting in a fuller appearance, Coconut Oil to soften and nourish, Peppermint Oil for a fresh flavour, and many more.
My final product from the collection is the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand in the shade Pillow Talk (£29.00). Pillow Talk is the original nude-pink, but you can get the Pillow Talk Medium too. The Beauty Light Wand is one of the easiest makeup products to use. I have known some older girls in my life that were unsure of highlighters, and I recommend this each and every time because of how easy and natural, yet beautifully glowy this is to use. The Highlighter comes in a rose gold tube, and then you switch the sponge applicator to 'On' and gently squeeze the product out of the tube and then onto the sponge and you can then apply straight onto the skin. Whether you are wanting it on the cheeks, cheekbones, tip of the nose, underneath the brows and not forgetting a dab on the Cupid's bow for a fuller-effect on the lips, this is super quick and easy. Pillow Talk is a gorgeous light rose gold shade and the pigmentation of colour and the soft, silky texture makes it super comfortable to wear and really easy to blend into the skin. The result is the most gorgeous sheen to the skin, without looking like a disco ball, but still enhancing that natural beauty. As with the Collagen Lip Bath, the Beauty Light Wand also contains a wealth of amazing ingredients, such as Silica which gives the highlighter a rich velvety texture but also has oil-absorbing properties, so will be great for those with an oilier skin, as well as Lindera Extract which hydrates the skin and keeps it looking radiant and smooth. One thing I noticed about this highlighter is that even though it is a liquid, it doesn't budge or start to move around the face later on in the day, and gives such a beautiful effect.
You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk collection and much more online at Charlotte Tilbury here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx

*These items were gifted to me, but all opinions are my own
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Trying Fresh Skincare

Wednesday 25 March 2020

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When I was over in Orlando back in December, I picked a couple of Fresh skincare bits up, and I loved them - I would highly recommend the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Moisturiser. Because I was really impressed with the items I had, I decided to make a little order on their website to try out a few more products.
First up, is the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, which is available in two size, 150ml for £30.00 and the one I got, 50ml for £11.50. I decided to go for the smaller one because as a blogger I get to try out quite a lot of skincare, so even though the larger size is better value, I opted for the smaller one. The Soy Face Cleanser is one Fresh's cult products and is a pH-balanced gel cleanser which is suitable for all skin types. It is amazing at removing makeup, even mascara, and it doesn't dry out the skin and leaves it lovely and soft. The formula includes amino acid-rich soy proteins, calming cucumber extract, which is great for sensitive skin types, and balancing rosewater. It has a very delicate fragrance which is mainly cucumber, so it is light and refreshing to use in a morning. As with all cleansers, this should be used daily, both morning and evening and I find it is a very effective cleanser that leaves my skin super soft.
Because I wear makeup most days, I do like to use an exfoliator at least once a week just to ensure all makeup is fully removed and to rid my skin of any dead skin cells. Therefore, I also ordered the Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash, which again is available in this 50ml size for £12.00 or 125ml for £26.00. Even though this is a Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash, I don't think it smells all that strawberry-like. However, this gentle exfoliating cleanser removes impurities and excess oil while refining pores to leave the skin feeling super smooth and soft. Key ingredients within this Face Wash include a customised blend of white sugar crystals to smooth and soften the skin, strawberry and blackcurrant fruit extracts to maintain a healthy-looking complexion, grapeseed oil to maintain hydration and soap berry peel extract to gently cleanse the skin. With this being an exfoliating cleanser, I don't personally like to use it twice a day, so I would use a regular cleanser in a morning and then this one on an evening.
Fresh are renowned for their Lip Treatments and so I ordered the Fresh Sugar Mint Rush Freshening Lip Treatment (£19.50). I love anything minty, especially when it comes to lip products and this lip treatment smells minty without being overpowering, which I really enjoy. The formula is a 24 hour moisturising treatment that uses a duo of time-release technologies and it is super fresh and nourishing on the lips. It is slightly pricey for a lip treatment, but because it lasts for up to 24 hours, you only need to apply it once a day. It comes a glossy ombre-effect tube which you have to twist to secure the lid, which I really like, because let's be honest how many times have you gone to grab a lip balm or product out of your bag and the lid has come off? There are tinted versions of these balms available, so I think I would definitely look at those for the warmer months when I don't want anything too heavy.
The final product is actually a repurchase as I received the same item in a gift set with the Lotus Youth Preserve Moisturiser I bought in Orlando. It is the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream, which costs £17.00 for 15ml and £45.00 for 50ml, and yes that is a little expensive, but this stuff works wonders for the skin and as it is a night cream, you only need to apply on an evening. It comes in a frosted dark blue glass jar and this night recovery cream is powered by antioxidant Super Lotus, which helps strengthen the skin barrier whilst also fighting dullness and dehydration and so it worked wonders for my skin during that really cold spell we had. This night time moisturiser works while you sleep and so you can awaken to smooth, renewed, radiant skin. It smells relaxing and dreamy and I would definitely repurchase again once I have used this one up.
You can find Fresh skincare online here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Daze Eau De Toilette Review

Monday 23 March 2020

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It isn't often I treat myself to a new perfume, but when I saw the new Marc Jacobs Daisy Daze collection in-store at Boots, I just had to try them all because the packaging is just beautiful - yes you should never judge a book my its cover, but I am a sucker for packaging. I tried them all, but the Eau So Fresh was my favourite so that's the one I picked up.
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Daze Eau De Toilette comes in a see-through peach-coloured glass bottle, with an array or mint, coral and peach Daisy flowers attached to the lid, in true 'Daisy' style. I was quite surprised that they are all eau de toilettes rather than eau de parfums, as the prices are quite high - the difference with an eau de parfum compared to an eau de toilette is that the parfum is stronger, and more concentrated so you don't need to use as much.
The 75ml bottle retails for £68.00 and this was the only size I could see in store, and I believe it is a new collection, which may be limited so if you like the look or sound of this fragrance, I would suggest heading to store to check it out sooner rather than later. The Daisy Daze collection is a fresh and fruity twist on the classic Daisy fragrances and I find them perfect for Spring and Summer, when the days are a little lighter and a little brighter.
Daisy Daze Eau So Fresh opens up with white peach, with a heart of orchard blossom and a base note of peach. I have said before that I am not a huge fan of peach scents, but this one mixed with the orchard blossom, is a beautiful, feminine, light and fresh fragrance and I really do love wearing it. If you are looking for a new Spring fragrance, then I would definitely recommend this one, or recommend that you try out the other scents in the Daisy Daze collection.
You can find the Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Daze Eau De Toilette online at Boots here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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Revolution Glass Collection - Review + Swatches

Saturday 21 March 2020

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The babes over at Revolution have just released a brand new range, the Revolution Glass Collection, which features ten fabulous products to give you the ultimate clear, glass look, but with a pop of colour too.
I will start with the face base, and there are two brand new primers available, firstly the Revolution Glass Liquid Skin Illuminating Skin Primer (£8.00 for 17ml). This cute glass bottle comes packaged in super holographic packaging and has a glass dropper applicator. Glass Liquid Skin is a silky serum that helps to replenish and boost skin that suffers from dullness. It is specially designed to illuminate skin by enhancing its natural glow to create a subtle radiance. You can use this serum on its own to boost natural glow or underneath makeup to lock in radiance. The Primer has a slight fruity scent to it and it feels very hydrating on the skin, without any oily or greasy residue and the slight shimmer is pretty without being over the top.
The second primer in the collection is the Revolution Glass Skin Primer (£10.00 for 26ml), which comes in a clean glass bottle and has a pump applicator for quick and easy dispensing. This dewy finish gel primer hydrates and smooths the skin to boost the natural radiance of it and leave your skin looking healthy and glowy. You can use the Glass Skin Primer on its own for a natural dewy finish or underneath makeup to increase the longevity of wear and create a pretty dew on the skin. It feels slightly thicker in texture than the first primer, but it leaves the skin feeling super soft and my foundation adheres to it really well.
We then have the Revolution Glass Illuminator Face & Body Highlighters (£8.00 each). There are three different shades available, including Black Ice - a champagne gold in a black faceted chrome compact, Glass Crystal - an icy white in an iridescent white faceted compact, and Glass Mirror - a pale icy pink in a silver chrome faceted compact. Each compact contains a mirror on the inside of the lid and a large pan of highlighter. These finely milled highlighters add a delicate soft-focus finish to the skin and contain a blend of light reflecting particles which boost the skin's natural luminosity in just one swipe. These are super pretty as they are not too in your face, but still add a beautiful glow to the skin. Black Ice is too dark for me to wear as a highlighter but it makes for a pretty eyeshadow!
For the lips, we have the Revolution Glass Clear Lipgloss (£5.00), which comes in a very clean-cut tube complete with silver chrome lid and slanted sponge applicator. This wet-look ultra shiny clear gloss can be used alone, or with lipstick or liner to enhance any colour. The formula is both hydrating and nourishing so that it also takes care of your lips whilst helping them to look fabulous. The formula isn't gloopy or sticky, and I found it very comfortable to wear. The only thing I will say is that if you are putting it on top of a colour, let the colour dry before applying the gloss or it could make the rest of the gloss turn a different colour.
There are two eyeshadow palettes in this new collection, the Revolution Glass Black Ice Shadow Palette (£10.00) and the Revolution Glass Mirror Shadow Palette (£10.00), both quite different to the other, but also complimentary to each other too. Both palettes are shiny and faceted and there is a mirror on the inside of the lid and fifteen eyeshadows in each one. Black Ice and Glass Mirror both feature a combination of richly pigmented and creamy matte and shimmer finishes, and I am a huge fan of the shimmery metallics in particular as they really are super pigmented. Glass Black Ice features a mix of shades from warm browns and rich maroons to pops of bright red, earthy green and glass-like silver, making it the perfect palette for a smoky or shimmery eye look. If pastels and pops of colour are more your thing, then the Glass Mirror Palette will be your favourite with its shimmering neutrals to hot pinks, dazzling purples and icy blues. You can create endless amounts of looks with these palettes and both have neutral shades so that you can create full eye looks instead of having to dip in and out of other palettes.
The first of two setting sprays and my favourite of the two is the Revolution Glass Shimmer Fix Iridescent Fixing Spray (£8.00 for 100ml). This iridescent spray leaves skin glowing with hydration, whilst the subtle shimmer particles are perfect for creating that 'glass skin' glow. The ultra-fine, weightless mist leaves the complexion looking super luminous without you looking like a disco ball. As well as using this to set the makeup, you can also use it before you apply makeup if your skin is in need of a little hydrating or natural glow. Once you give the bottle a good shake, it is mesmerising watching the iridescent sparkle moving around and I adore this Spray as it really does help my skin to look and feel healthier.
If sparkle isn't your thing, and you prefer a dewier look with your skin, then the Revolution Glass Glow Fix Fixing Spray (£8.00 for 100ml) is the one! This ultra-fine, weightless mist sets makeup in place to last all day and enhances the skin with a pretty dewy finish. I find this Spray super hydrating and refreshing and I imagine if you keep this in the fridge come Summer it will be amazing for cooling the skin down whilst also adding a glow to your tan. As with the Shimmer Fix Spray, this can be used with or without makeup, before makeup application or after, and even to enhance highlighters and other shimmery powder products.
You can find the Revolution Glass Collection online here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx

*These items were gifted to me, but all opinions are my own
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