The CoverGirl Lash Blast Cleantopia Mascara in Brown Review

The CoverGirl Lash Blast Cleantopia Mascara in Brown Review

Thursday 29 February 2024

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 I love trying products that we can't get here in the UK and I saw a lot of people raving about the CoverGirl Lash Blast Cleantopia Mascara, which I managed to find on the US Amazon website for delivery to the UK. CoverGirl is a brand that we used to have many moons ago here in the UK but then it disappeared and I know so many US influencers love so many products from CoverGirl, so I often pick something up to try when I am in Orlando.

There are five shades to choose from - Extreme Black, Black, Black Brown, Brown and Ultramarine Black, and as you don't get that many brown mascaras here in the UK, I went for the Brown shade as I am fair haired and skinned, so it is nice to have a more natural looking mascara shade. The packaging is lightweight, and is mint green in colour with leaves embossed all over it. The wand has a natural bristle brush that is shaped like an hourglass, a little like the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. It looks fluffy and that hourglass shape enables the brush to coat the smaller lashes that are harder to reach with a straight brush.

The formula is a clean, vegan one and is infused with Aloe Leaf Extract, Ceramide and sustainably-sourced Rainforest Maracuja Oil, and so the formula is going to care for your lashes and plump them up. I found the formula to be a good consistency - not too dry but not too wet either. For reference, because products work differently for everyone, I have fine, short, fair, straight lashes. From applying just one coat, my lashes were instantly lifted, which is very rare for me, and the Mascara applied well to each lash to give a good coating without being clumpy or too thick. Volume was also clear from just one coat, and I normally have to apply 3-4 coats of mascara to start seeing a difference as a general rule, so this impressed me from the very first coat.

Some clean, more natural formula mascaras tend to be quite disappointing, but this has become my go-to mascara since first trying it. It adds amazing length, volume and lift from just 1-2 coats and I did apply more coats just to see what if it was buildable, and it caused absolutely no issues there. The Cleantopia Mascara feels very lightweight, as I mentioned the formula isn't at all thick or heavy and so it is very comfortable to wear. I have sensitive eyes and wear contact lenses, and this Mascara caused me no issues there either. Throughout the day, there was no budging or smudging and I am so glad I picked this up!

I paid $10.42 (£8.22 GBP) for the Mascara, but obviously with Amazon prices do change as does the exchange rate. I was ordering a few things at the same time so I aren't taking into account the postage. You can find the CoverGirl Lash Blast Cleantopia Mascara online at Amazon US here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn x

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The Huda Beauty Pretty Grunge Eyeshadow Palette Review + Swatches

The Huda Beauty Pretty Grunge Eyeshadow Palette Review + Swatches

Wednesday 28 February 2024

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 I have been eyeing up the Huda Beauty Pretty Grunge Eyeshadow Palette ever since it was released, and so when Boots had an offer on recently, I had to treat myself! Huda Beauty are one of those brands that you can always rely on - I don't think I have ever tried a bad product from them, so whilst they are higher up there in price, you know you aren't likely to be disappointed.

The Huda Beauty Pretty Grunge Eyeshadow Palette retails for £62.00, which as I mentioned is going towards the luxury end of the market, but it comes in beautiful sleek matte black and mirrored packaging, with a large mirror on the inside of the lid and eighteen eyeshadows. This smoky, cool-toned palette features different textures such as mattes, multi-chromatic foils, shimmers, glitters and even a gloss. You will find shades such as nudes, silvers, browns, blacks, and a couple leaning towards bronzes and golds. I find this palette very wearable, because you can create everyday looks, grunge vibes, sultry siren eyes, or simple matte or sparkle looks.

These decadent shades add edge to define and shape the eyes while the innovative textures add contrast. You could line the lower lash line with metallics or use the black gloss shade to create the ultimate grunge eye. But grunge looks don't even have to be something you're wanting to attain, because there are so many options in this palette. I am not into a grunge makeup look, it wouldn't suit me, because I am fair in colour and skin, and I wear pastels, or neutral shades, rather than darker colours when it comes to clothes. But I can create a bronze smoky eye, or I can use the pretty array of mattes and shimmers to create everyday looks with a pop or glamour.

As with all Huda Beauty eyeshadow palettes I have ever tried, these shadows are intensely pigmented, have little to no fall out, and are a doddle to blend. You never have to be a pro makeup artist or makeup wearer to use quality eyeshadows, get a decent blending brush and some quality shadows like these, and you will be so surprised with what you can come up with! The palette itself is a work of art just to look at with all the different textures and complementing shades.

You can find the Huda Beauty Pretty Grunge Eyeshadow Palette online at Boots here.

If you are looking for a smaller eyeshadow palette, check out one of my other Huda Beauty reviews here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn x

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The Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Water Cream Moisturiser Review

The Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Water Cream Moisturiser Review

Tuesday 27 February 2024

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 My late Nanna Eunice used to swear by the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream and used the moisturiser every day, but for me, sometimes it can be a little too thick, so I recently tried the Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Water Cream Moisturiser and found this much better for my skin, so I thought I would share my thoughts with you all...

The Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Water Cream Moisturiser retails at £79.00 for 50ml, and so it is up there in price, but certainly not the most expensive on the market, and you can simply refill the pot for £69.00 when it is time for a new one. This fragrance-free gel-cream moisturiser comes in one of Charlotte's gorgeous glass jars and a little goes a long way. I sometimes tend to have quite sensitive skin and so because this is fragrance free, I get no irritation from that. 

If you suffer from dehydrated, dried out skin, then this is the product for you, as it provides the skin with up to 100 hours of hydration! The formula is lightweight and melts into the skin instantly, smoothing and plumping the look of your complexion and balancing out thirsty, dehydrated skin. This is more hydrating than the original Magic Cream, but also revives the skin just as well, and is clinically proven to reduce the look of pores, redness and dehydration lines.

The Magic Water Cream is infused with hydrating Waterlocking Fusion Technology, Niacinamide to reduce the appearance of pores and a Biopeptide Complex to improve the appearance of skin tone and texture, so if you tend to have dull, textured skin, this is definitely recommended for you. You only need a small amount, and I apply both morning and night time, after cleansing, toning and applying a serum, pressing the Cream into the skin, and gently massaging it in. As soon as you apply this moisturiser, you can feel that instant hit of hydration, and as it is not just instantly hydrating, and gives you that 100 hours of hydration, this is definitely a winner.

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Water Cream Moisturiser online here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn x

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The L'Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist Review

The L'Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist Review

Monday 26 February 2024

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I have recently been trying the L'Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist because as someone with combination skin, I am always up for trying new setting sprays in the hope that it will keep my makeup in place throughout the day without oiliness affecting my makeup.

The only other makeup setting spray I have found that really does the job is the One/Size On 'Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray, which I would recommend all day long if you have oily or combination skin. But it is quite pricey and not always accessible here in the UK, so it would nice to find a cheaper alternative that you can get online and instore. The L'Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist is 75ml for £9.99, with the One/Size Spray being £30.00 for just under double the size. It comes in a red and back cannister, a little like a mini hairspray, with a super easy-to-press nozzle applicator, and in all honesty it does smell a little like hairspray when you apply it.

I like and quick and easy to use this is, and how fine the mister is, so that your hair and face isn't drenched, and I found that it dried down pretty quickly, setting my makeup into place. It is very lightweight and not at all sticky, so you don't feel it whilst wearing it. I don't find that my makeup transfers onto my clothing whilst wearing it, which can happen a lot without a good setting spray, and it definitely keeps my makeup in place. As I mentioned, I do have combination skin - I have dry cheeks and an oily T-Zone, and this works really well for me, and because it isn't greasy nor drying on the skin, I would say this would work well on most, if not all skin types.

I do tend to sweat a little sometimes - thank you hormones - but when I'm wearing this I don't see any effects from that on my face, and it definitely helps the longevity of your makeup wear time - great for if you are going to The Eras Tour this year, or you work long hours. I like to apply my makeup, leave it to settle into my skin and then after a minute or so I then spritz this all over my face and neck around 30cm away from my skin, spraying in a circular motion for even distribution. I would definitely recommend this Setting Spray as a little goes a long way and it truly does what it says it does!

You can find the L'Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist online at Boots here, and Superdrug here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn x

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The Chantecaille Sea Turtle Lip Chic Lipstick in Coral Vine Review + Swatches

The Chantecaille Sea Turtle Lip Chic Lipstick in Coral Vine Review + Swatches

Sunday 25 February 2024

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 You know when you are having one of those days where you're having a bad/day/week/month/year and just think to yourself, I am going to treat myself to something I wouldn't normally? Well that's what happened the other week when I ordered the Chantecaille Sea Turtle Lip Chic in Coral Vine, because at £45.00, this is the most expensive lip product I own.

Do I feel a bit of shame at spending that much on a lip product? Yes, yes I do. However, to justify my purchase, I do love that this is part of Chantecaille's philanthropist collection, as the brand believes in the healing powers of flowers and plants, building their formulas on pure ingredients and smart science. They donate some of their profits from these special collections of products to charities that protect wild species and spaces.

The Chantecaille Sea Turtle Lip Chic is available in four shades - Starflower, a plum nude, Ginger Lily, a warm coral, Rosea, a fresh pink and the one I have here, Coral Vine, a petal pink. I thought they all looked beautiful but wanted something bright and a little different to what I normally go for. The Lip Chic comes in glossy colours of the ocean and features an illustration of a turtle. The case has a magnetic closure so you can rest assured the cap isn't going to come off in your handbag.

This is a very smoothing, hydrating lipstick that has been infused with Hyaluronic Acid, which is renowned for adding moisture and keeping it locked in for lips that look fabulously glossy and plumper. The formula is made in Italy, much like many high-end cosmetics brands, so you know you are getting top quality ingredients. I love that this gives my lips a pop of colour as well as treating my lips, and whilst it isn't super pigmented, it still lasts well on the lips.

The Chantecaille Sea Turtle Lip Chic Lipstick was created to support the Amazon Conservation Team and their Ancestral Tides initiative, which united indigenous communities to protect turtles and their coastal marine ecosystems, so not only are you getting gorgeous, luxury cosmetics products, you are also helping these beautiful creatures.

You can find the Chantecaille Sea Turtle Lip Chic Lipstick online here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn x

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The Burberry Eye Quad Eyeshadow Palette in 02 Dusty Caramel Review + Swatches

The Burberry Eye Quad Eyeshadow Palette in 02 Dusty Caramel Review + Swatches

Saturday 24 February 2024

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 Burberry has been one of my favourite designer brands since I was about 18 years old. I remember my first purchase was a little Nova check purse and matching umbrella - I love the classic look and feel of their famous check, and I now have a full check Burberry raincoat 😂. When Burberry first released cosmetics many years ago, I used to collect their special edition cheek palettes - they had such beautiful products, the kind where you don't want to use them. Burberry cosmetics went away from the makeup scene for a while - they were still some items for sale on their website, but I don't believe they were releasing anything new. Fast forward to this year, and they seem to have had a bit of a re-haul, with some new products and new packaging, and to be fair, the prices are about the same as they were before. Pricey, but not quite Gucci cosmetics pricey.

I have been looking for an eyeshadow palette that I can use everyday and not have to open up lots of different palettes to see if they are neutral or not, so when I saw the Burberry Eye Quad Eyeshadow Palette, I knew I had to treat myself. They are currently out of stock on Burberry's website, but I did manage to get mine from Selfridges online. There are currently four options to choose from - Blush Beige, more pink-toned nudes, Iconic Honey, a mixture of peach, brown and pink nudes, Midnight, browns and a black, and the one I have here, Dusty Caramel, which I figured was the most truest neutrals palette. The palettes cost £48.00, so, yes they are in no way cheap, but you can spend that on a lipstick from some brands, and that's why I chose a colour option that I knew I would get a lot of use from.

The Burberry Eye Quads are made in Italy, so you know you are getting one of the most premium formulas, with excellent ingredients and you can tell that as soon as you touch the eyeshadows. The packaging, as you might expect, is classic and luxe, with the beige cover reminiscent of their traditional trench coats, and gold edging with a little TB logo on the opener. Inside the compact you have a mirror on the inside of the lid for on-the-go application, four good-sized pans of eyeshadows, embossed with the TB logo and I think the only thing that lets this palette down, which is the double-ended sponge applicator. I feel Burberry could have included a proper eyeshadow brush applicator with this, as no one likes the sponges.

The shades in Dusty Caramel include a creamy beige that matches that Burberry trench coat I mentioned the lid represents in my opinion, which didn't really show up on the swatches as it is very similar to my skin tone, but I like that because it makes the perfect shadow base for me. You then get a shimmery light brown shade, a good medium shade of brown and then a deep shimmery cool-toned brown. The formula is so buttery soft and you can apply the shadows easily and well with either your fingertips or an eyeshadow brush. Because the shadows are so rich and pigmented, you only need a small amount, and they blend out beautifully. The shimmers add dimension without looking sparkly, so you can achieve an editorial look with ease and no glitter. I love glitter, I am not shading it at all, but not everyone does, and I think it's nice to have something that enhances the eyes without the sparkle.

I'm not sure I would want any of the other shade options at the moment, because they are quite similar in a way, but if they release other options in the future, I would definitely take a look as I am super impressed with this palette and I am for sure glad that Burberry seems to be back with us again. I would love to try the Foundation as they have a glowy version, but I would struggle with shade matching. If you are looking for a staple, high quality neutral eyeshadow palette, I would definitely recommend checking out these Burberry ones.

You can find the Burberry Eye Quad Eyeshadow Palettes online at Selfridges here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn x

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The NYX Duck Plump High Pigment Plumping Lip Gloss Review + Swatches

The NYX Duck Plump High Pigment Plumping Lip Gloss Review + Swatches

Friday 23 February 2024

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 NYX have been coming out with so many new releases lately that it is hard to keep up, but I just had to try the new NYX Duck Plump High Pigment Plumping Lip Glosses as they seem to give great coverage and pigment and there plenty of gorgeous shades to choose from.

There are 18 shades available, and at the time of ordering them, there was a 3 for 2 offer on, so I chose 08 Mauve Out Of My Way, which looks quite mauve in the tube but I found to be more nude mauve on my lips, (I am fair to light skinned with some pinkness/redness), 11 Pick Me Pink, a nice cool-toned medium pink shade, and 16 Wine Not?, a reddy brown colour. The packaging is pretty regular, with a see through orange lid, and the words 'EXTREME SENSATION' across the middle of the tube. The applicator is a sponge that is double sided and tapers off to a point so that you can get a neat application when applying the gloss.

The formula contains 'spicy ginger' according to NYX, which is what gives you the plumping sensation, and I was going into this with the Too Faced Lip Injection Glosses in mind, as I personally find that very uncomfortable, and NYX do state not to use Duck Plump on chapped, damaged or sensitive lips, so I was a little wary when applying it. A tiny bit got on my tongue when I was applying it which I could instantly feel, but lasted like a second or two. With the Too Faced version, that is very much a more instantaneous burning/stinging, but I found this to be much more slower and gradual. In all honesty, I didn't find the burn on my lips super uncomfortable (I do have AuDHD, so I am big on sensory discomfort), I think it hurt more when it was on my tongue by accident. However, do I want to apply a gloss and know that I am going to have some discomfort? No, not really. I just want to apply a gloss and off I go, with shiny lips and no burning sensation. Do my lips look any bigger or fuller? I would say very slightly, not noticeable to anyone but me.

The NYX Duck Plump Lip Glosses do give off great colour, they do give a nice shine to the lips, and the formula isn't sticky or gloopy, but the burning lasts at least 5-10 minutes plus, so for me, I don't think I would reach for these too often as I have a tonne of lip glosses that give me the same effect but without the discomfort. If you enjoy, or don't mind the burning sensation (some people genuinely like it), then I would definitely recommend these glosses to you as the quality and colour pay off is there for sure.

The NYX Duck Plump Lip Glosses retail at £10.50 for 7ml and you can find them at Look Fantastic here, and Boots here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn x

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The Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Collection Review + Swatches

The Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Collection Review + Swatches

Wednesday 21 February 2024

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 It wasn't so long ago I posted about the Essence Chilly Vanilly Collection here, but they already have a brand new collection out, namely the Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Collection, and of course I ordered every single item, because it is that affordable, it doesn't break the bank. And you can't say that for many beauty brands nowadays.

It is a very colourful collection, with hues of purple, pink, orange, yellow and gold with a total of eight products available. Firstly, there are two stunningly created lipsticks - the Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Creamy Lipstick in the shades 01 Energy Level: Dragon-Like, a magenta pink, and 02 Dragons Dream In Red, a blue-toned bright red. They come in gold and clear packaging but each lipstick has been embossed with a dragon curling around the bullet, which for £2.80 each, is such amazing value for something so wonderful. They really are a work of art! The lipstick, as the name suggests is lovely and creamy and gives a smooth, healthy look to the lips, without being glossy nor matte. I think these are definitely one of the main attractions in this collection.

Sticking with lips, there is also the Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Lip & Cheek Tint in the shade 01 Wild, But Cute, But Wild, a bright pop of pink that dries down very quickly to leave a tint on the lips or cheeks that lasts for hours. It costs just £3.30 for 4ml, and has a double-sided flat sponge applicator making cheek or lip application a doddle. The formula is super lightweight so it is very comfortable to wear, and there is no stickiness or residue once applied. The cap also features the dragon in gold foil to match the rest of the collection.

My other favourite item from the collection is the Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Eyeshadow Palette (£7.00). This handy-sized cardboard palette (yay environment!), features nine eyeshadows with colours including reds, pinks, mustards, golds, browns and corals, in a variety of textures including matte, shimmer and glitter. Both the mattes and shimmers/glitters work very easily on the eyelids, with a smooth texture and excellent pigment, once again, especially for the money. Colours like fuchsia pink and mustard are often quite hard to produce, and so to say how great the colour payoff is, it is very impressive. I also love the little dragon embossing on two of the colours, cute little extras that a lot of brands don't think to do because it is often added expense when manufacturing. I really do love Essence!

Also for the eyes, you can get the Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Liquid Eyeliner in the shade 01 Spread Your Wings and Fly, a yellow super sparkly gold glitter. It costs just £2.80 for 5ml and has a long slender handle so you can have more control when applying the eyeliner. The brush itself is very fine so you can create a nice neat line or build it up with multiple applications. The shade is very rich and intense and I found that once it had dried down it didn't budge or smudge whatsoever, which is all you need from a liquid eyeliner.

Left to Right: Liquid Eyeliner, Creamy Lipstick in 01 Energy Level: Dragon-like, Creamy Lipstick in 02 Dragons Dream in Red, Lip & Cheek Tint

Need some hydration? The Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Hydrogel Eye Patches retail for just £2.00, and they do have these in other collections and in their core collection, and I always stock up as I like the way the gel feels super hydrating on my under eyes. I find they help to really soothe the eye area, reduce swelling and add moisture to the skin, so I love to apply them in the morning whilst I am getting ready for the day. These ones are in the shape of two cute shimmery pink dragons - obsessed!

I love how Essence think of everything when it comes to coming up with products for their trend collections, including the Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Nail Jewels & Stickers (£1.27). These are super cute - featuring gold stickers of moons, stars, dragons, patterns, flowers, words and more and they are really easy to use as you just peel and stick, whether on your natural nails or on top of nail polish. You could even use them on your toenails too for added sparkle!

Last but not least, (because, seriously, how cute?), we have the Essence Love, Luck & Dragons Lipstick Case (£3.41). This pretty shiny gold faux leather lipstick case features a bright pink tassel, gold textured dragon and a keychain clip so you can either clip it onto your handbag or pop it inside. It is quite roomy inside so it should fit even the chunkiest of lipsticks and I just think it is a really nice thing to include in a makeup collection, and of course, super handy!

I often write my blog posts in advance, and Essence trend collections often sell out very quickly, therefore I have linked below some websites which I use to order Essence from just in case certain items are out of stock.

Notino here
Kosmetik4Less here
Boozy Shop here
Just My Luck here
Parfum Dreams here

All the Loves,
Kathryn x

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