Kiko Tropic Heat Dewy Stick: Review

With the weather gradually getting warmer, I'm reaching far less for beaming pearlescent highlighters, and going more for a subtle 'glow' with my makeup looks.  In summer I prefer to go more minimal and natural in terms of makeup, and I've recently been trying out this Tropic Heat Dewy Stick from Kiko as an alternative to my MAC Cream Colour Base. 

This product comes in at £7.90, so fairly affordable, and as with most of the Kiko products I love the simple, ergonomic yet stylish packaging.  The product applies easily, and gives a dewy, almost slightly wet look to the skin depending on how heavily you apply it.  It's completely uncoloured (which I really like) and has no shimmer or glitter to it, which I'm also a big fan of.  

My main qualm with the dewy stick would be that it can shift foundation quite badly if you're not careful with it - you can't be too heavy handed, in spite of the fact that its effect is quite subtle.  It does also feel ever so slightly sticky on the skin... but to be honest this was something I had expected, especially with a main ingredient being beeswax. 

All in all, gives a natural, sunny glow to the skin.  For £7.90, not too bad at all.  What do you guys think?

Ruby x 

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Nars Eye Paint in Black Valley: Review

And so, my quest for an above average eyeliner continues.  Since the birth of this blog I've grappled with the likes of Smashbox and Stila's offerings, but to little avail.  Smashbox didn't have quite the right amount of pigment, and Stila was not enough bang for your buck (I was going through one every couple of months!), so I decided it was time to try something new...and that something is Nars' Eye Paint in the shade Black Valley.

 



This is a gel formula liner, which I have tended to have the most luck with over the years - I'm certainly better with a brush than with a pen.  I also think gel liners work out much better value in the end.  This was £19 from Space NK, and by the looks of it will probably last me 2-3 years, as a little goes a long way! 

The colour is pretty much as black as you can go, and dries to a gorgeous deep matte.  The formula is creamy and very movable, making it fairly easy to apply as long as you've got a trusty liner brush to hand.  I haven't yet tried it, but the sales assistant I spoke to about it in the shop also mentioned you can use these paint pots as all over creamy shadows as the colour is quite buildable - however I'm not too sure I'd be using it all over my lid in this shade (unless I was dressing up as a panda, maybe).

My only qualm with this would be the staying power, as always.  I think they need to invent an eyeliner that includes some kind of safe adhesive in its ingredients.  I'm fine for the first few hours, but once those facial oils start to creep through I'm in smudge city.  I've found using an eyelid primer or applying over the top of a powdered lid definitely helps - it's still not fail safe, but it'll do for now. 

 

Will my quest for eyeliner ever end?  I'll keep you posted...

Ruby x



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Skin Saviours of the Here and Now

Hello my loves!  Tonight's post is devoted to three skin care products I've been reaching for every single day over the past 6 weeks or so.  My face has really been wreaking havoc on my confidence recently, with dry skin left right and centre and breakouts galore.  It's been especially bad since I've had a cold - blowing my nose 24/7 has caused all the skin in that general area to literally flake off.  I know.  But such are the joys of life, and thank god there are products to ease the pain.  

Pixi was a brand I had heard so much about, and so when I got a couple of their products for my birthday I was over the moon and couldn't wait to try.  I'm absolutely in love with their Glow Mud Cleanser, and use it everyday as part of my oh-so-glamorous 'in-shower skincare routine'.  I think it's a really nice product to use in the morning particularly, because it leaves your face feeling ultra clean, and ever so slightly tingly, owing to that darling Glycolic Acid which I have only recently discovered to work wonders on my skin.  Other pros; Pixi are a cruelty free brand, the packaging is so so cute, and you're guaranteed a glowy complexion with this product.  Major con, however, is price - this comes in at £18, so is worth using sparingly!

And, post cleanse, where would I be without Avene's Tolerance Extreme.  Interestingly enough, this has received some pretty bad ratings online, owing to a recent change in product ingredients.  I believe it is actually intended for super sensitive skin, and whilst I don't have particularly sensitive skin, I wanted something ultra moisturising to get me through the last leg of winter.  This cream is rich, has a neutral scent, and applies thickly but sinks in rapidly, trust me.  Again, price point isn't great if you use a lot of moisturiser like me, however you do get more bang for your buck than with many other brands - £13.50 for 50ml, as opposed to the more common 30ml size.

And finally, my new favourite thing is the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Serum, again containing Glycolic Acid and Aloe Vera - my two best friends, apparently.  This stuff is fantastic for visibly brightening and tightening the skin, minimising the appearance of large pores, and making you smell like a freshly sliced orange.  How delicious.  Another mid-range highstreet product at £14.95, but I'm stingy and I'd still repurchase this.  

The next skincare product I'm desperate to try is Liquid Gold by Alpha H... has anyone else tried this?  Hope you're all well and happy,

Ruby x

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Review: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

It was not until the release of the BeautyBlender in 2007 that blending sponges were taken truly seriously within the beauty world.  Over the past 10 years or so, the BeautyBlender concept of a pricier, but high-tech and reusable sponge which forms an integral and versatile part of any makeup routine has been adopted by dozens of other brands within the market.  I first got my hands on the original BeautyBlender sponges back in 2015, and having previously used a stippling brush, I could instantly see why everyone was going crazy for sponges instead.  Although I would still consider myself a relatively faithful member of the original BeautyBlender fan club, the price of those bad boys is not easily overlooked, at around £13 a sponge.  And so, when the time came, I began my search for a new, more affordable blending sponge.  And this is what I found...  

 

Real Techniques have a pretty good reputation with me as it is for affordable but good quality and well designed makeup brushes.  And their take on the blending sponge certainly does not disappoint.  Coming in at just £4.49 on Amazon for one, or £7.49 for two, these are undoubtedly miles better value than the original BeautyBlenders, yet are similar in many ways.  They expand slightly less than the BBs, which I found to grow by at least 40-50%; I would say with RT you're looking at around 25% expansion, making for a slightly denser sponge. 

Before soaking...

After soaking.

   

 But I actually far prefer this - I would find if I didn't rinse the water out my BB properly before using, it would dilute my foundation to only give a very light coverage.  Don't get me wrong, I don't like cakey, but there is also a reason I bother wearing foundation in the first place!  Also, I far prefer the shape of this sponge.  The flat side is perfect for under eyes and across cheeks, while the rounded end is better for nose and eyelids/browbone area.  In terms of effect, this is certainly on par with the BB, giving a similarly subtle, airbrushed but natural look that blends seamlessly with the skin.  Because of its functionality, price point and design, my vote must then go to Real Techniques' sponge over BeautyBlender.  

Has anyone else compared the two? 

Ruby x

 

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Activated Charcoal: The New Teeth Whitening Phenomenon

Good evening strangers.  I hope advent is treating you all splendidly!  I feel like a right failure at the moment - I've been lapping up all the Blogmas and Vlogmas contributions of so many other bloggers and doing... well, one post short of nothing myself.  You guessed it - deadlines are approaching (oh, the cruelty).  

Anyway, I thought I'd drag myself away from my essays for a little while tonight to offer you my two cents on the new teeth whitening craze that appears to be taking the world by storm: activated charcoal.  Little pots of the stuff seem to be popping up left, right and centre wherever I look, but the one I chose was this one from Amazon, by Pro Teeth Whitening Co. (currently out of stock :( ), and came in at a tidy £12.99, certainly representing one of the cheaper options for teeth whitening!

This particular one is 100% natural and made with finely ground food grade activated charcoal, unlike many other whiteners I've been guilty of trying in the past which use peroxide or other chemicals.  Unlike with using Crest Strips for example, I have no teeth sensitivity whatsoever using this which is a Godsend.  Although I got great results using Crest Strips, the sensitivity really was a bitch, to the point that if I breathed in too quickly through my mouth I would get shooting pains in my teeth - nice.  

 Also, perhaps contrary to my initial expectation, this particular one has quite a pleasant, natural and mild flavour which can only really be described as a considerably weak cocktail of mint and ginger beer.  I dampen my toothbrush and dip it straight in to pick up a light coating, then brush my teeth immediately for around a minute.  I do this after brushing my teeth with normal toothpaste first.  The texture is predictably quite gritty at first, but it does lather up slightly to more of a paste consistency as you brush.  

In terms of how it works, I'll leave it to the professionals to explain: 

'Activated charcoal is used today and has been used throughout the centuries to treat people who have accidentally ingested poison - with its porous surface, it attaches to toxins and impurities in the body to draw them out. It works in just the same way on plaque, tannins and stains on teeth - safely and efficiently lifting these off.'

 


 For my particular brand it recommends using twice a day, which I have been doing fairly routinely for around two weeks now.  And I must say, I feel like slowly but surely, my teeth are looking cleaner and whiter, and I've noticed small surface stains gradually fading.  I did take some fairly atrocious before and after gnasher-shots I was going to share with you all, but having put them side by side I realised the lighting is so horribly inconsistent that it would be better to not share them with anyone, ever, and leave things to the imagination instead.  Has anyone else tried or is thinking of trying a similar product?

Ruby x

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Budget Brow Saviour: Maybelline Brow Drama

 I don't know if anyone else has been suffering in the wake of Storm Angus with sudden and vicious gusts of wind threatening dignity and composure all in the same breath..?  Brighton has been particularly windy in the past week, which has had me reaching for everything I can to preserve my makeup.  And while there is very little that can prevent my watery eyes, I've rekindled my love for Maybelline's Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara as a fail-safe way to keep those caterpillars in place all day long.    

My first steps involve giving my brows a little brush through using a spoolie brush, then using Mac's 253 to apply my well-loved ABH Dipbrow Pomade, to give them some initial shape and colour (admittedly they could've done with a pluck too - apologies, the approaching uni deadline stress is real)...

And once that's done, it's time for Brow Drama.  

Having tried a few slightly more expensive brow gels by the likes of MAC and Laura Mercier, I have to say, this is equally as good, if not better - I really don't think there could ever be a huge difference between high street and high end brands with regards to this type of product.  It's the perfect brow finisher - sets them in place, adds a tiny tint of colour, and keeps them put all day.  Marvellous!

Ruby x

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Review: Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara

Wow, what a title for a bloody mascara!  

I purchased this a little while ago and, to be honest, it's taken me a little while to gather my thoughts as to what I think of it.  If you can't tell by now, I'm a serial mascara buyer and tryer.  Maybelline isn't usually a brand I would go for but something about the idea of an 'oil blend' mascara sounded far too inviting to pass up... it had me thinking healthy, shiny, natural looking lashes with more luscious-ness than you can shake a stick at. 

And I guess, that wasn't too far from the truth.  The formula is very black, and quite liquidy, making for quick and easy application.  The wand itself is contoured slightly, with short plastic bristles.  I find for my eye shape, the wand is a little cumbersome - I can't really get into the corners of my eyes without also accidentally getting my eyelids - but I guess this a case-by-case problem depending on your own eye shape!

In terms of results, I think this mascara is great for a slightly more dramatic look, and for me, is perfect for wear in the evenings.  It gives plenty of length and volume, has good staying power and is easy to remove. 

 It is also quite buildable, besides being a little prone to clumping - but that's nothing a spoolie (a brow/lash comb - who'd have known there was a word for that?!) can't fix.  

All in all, for £7.99 a pop, this isn't half bad at all.  Has anyone else tried Maybelline mascaras?  Or been sucked in by some clever branding eg. 'oil blend', haha!

Love, 

Ruby x

  

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Review: YSL Touche Éclat le Teint Foundation

Over the years, I've tried out my fair share of foundations.  I first started wearing foundation when I was in my early teens (as a way of combating those inevitable smatterings of pubescent spots), and although I couldn't put my finger on exactly which brands I started off using, I have a sneaking suspicion it would've been in the price range of Boots' 'Natural Collection' - so, no more than around £1.99.  Flash forward almost 10 years and I have no shame in confessing to purchasing my most 'high-end' foundation yet - YSL's Touche Éclat le Teint Foundation, which came in at £32.50 from Boots. 

Everything about YSL has a luxurious feel to it: from the gold lettering to the cool, round bottle, to the formula of the foundation itself, the entire experience breathes an effortless sophistication.  The bottle features a small pump at the top, and I find one to one and a half pumps is plenty to cover my entire face in a light layer.  The formula is water based and silky, giving a luminous, hydrated finish, even without using primer.  

As you may already know, my favourite types of foundations are lightweight, buildable, luminous formulas, that feel weightless on the skin, giving a 'soft filter' effect.  For me, this foundation ticks all those boxes.

Before:

After: (one light layer applied with a damp beauty blender)

As you can see from these pictures, one layer provides a light, soft coverage that gives a lovely subtle luminosity to the skin, and feels almost as though you're wearing nothing at all.  It blends in wonderfully; especially using a damp beauty blender, and I have also found it is very effective when layered for heavier coverage looks.  I can't fault the staying power of this foundation either.  Even if I apply it at 8am and don't get home until midnight, YSL has me covered - literally.  My skin stays hydrated all day, the formula doesn't shift.  All round, £32.50 well spent.  

After

 

Before

Has anyone else tried any high-end foundations?  Were they worth it?

Ruby x

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The Incredible Lash Treatment

A few months ago I was watching one of Inthefrow's videos on what she's 'had done' in terms of beauty and cosmetic treatments, and it was in the video that I first heard of the LVL lash lift.  LVL stands for length volume and lift, and it is a treatment designed to give just that to your lashes.  I began to read a little more about it, and became increasingly curious about trying it out for myself...

... and my upcoming holiday to Athens in Greece (I'm leaving on Tuesday, eek!) seemed like the perfect excuse to get them done.

I was really, really happy with my results: a relaxing but quick and relatively inexpensive treatment that made my natural lashes look longer, darker and thicker - amazing! 

Location and price: I got mine done at Glorious Spa in Chichester, where the treatment was on introductory offer for a bargain £30, but the treatment seems to have become pretty popular and I've seen it popping up in salons all over the place.  Having had individual lash extensions in the past, I loved the way they made my eyes look, but the upkeep was too much.  I found lash extensions would last me an absolute maximum of just over 2 weeks before I'd need them done again, which would generally take at least an hour - and cost a bomb.  I think the LVL is a great and more affordable alternative to lash extensions, and also looks far more natural.  

The treatment: I went in for a patch test a couple of days before to make sure I wasn't allergic to any of the products they were going to use - this is essential, especially as it's being put on your eyes!  Similarly to getting extensions, you must not wear eye makeup, and they first apply a shield to cover your lower lashes and keep them out of the way.  A shield is also applied on top of your eyelid, and you have your eyes closed for the whole procedure.  Several different formulas are applied to your lashes and they are curled upwards from the root, similarly to a lash perm, and dyed black.  The treatment itself is quite relaxing, as long as you don't mind people touching your eyes.  Although compared to getting extensions, there is a lot less work from the beauty therapist and more work done by the products themselves - it seems to be a lot less fiddly and intricate than extensions, too! 

I'm not wearing any makeup in these photos, which were taken a few hours after the treatment...

 ...yet my eyelashes look almost as they would if I was wearing mascara!  

For me, the LVL was a great treatment that gave me amazing results that should last 6-8 weeks.  You can't get them wet for the first 48 hours, but after that you're free to go about your business as usual, and can use makeup products with them as normal too.  And the best thing is (unlike lash extensions), there's no damage to your lashes, either!  I can't wait to flutter them all over Greece...

Ruby x

 

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