Favourite Cream Blushers

 I love a cream blusher though I do tend to set them with a powder on top. I'm a face toucher and spend my time walking dogs and marshalling children so I want to give it maximum time on my face. However I love the look of a cream blush and use it most days and these are the ones I use again and again. In no particular order... 

Kiko Velvet Touch Creamy Blush Stick

Kiko is a brand that can be quite hit or miss. They have some incredibly reasonably priced products so whenever I go in there I end up coming out with a few products to try and most of them are good to great - some of them go straight in the 'giveaway' box. One thing I should mention is that their packaging always fails... anything twist up from them has stopped twisting efficiently fairly early on. That's ok - you get what you pay for and with most make-up products a large majority of what you pay for is packaging.

Anyway, I bought this Velvet Touch Creamy Blush Stick in Golden Peach about two years ago and for some reason it never made it into regular use. It was only when I was testing the Ilia Multistick earlier in the year that I remembered I had this and when and dug it out of my blusher stash and started using it. The colour I have is really lovely, I much prefer it to the famous NARS Orgasm as it's less harsh on paler skin but has the gold flecks through it.

Eye Shadow Pencils Spend or Save

I love an eye shadow pencil. They make application so easy, they travel well and are often a great base for eye shadows if you need to give them a bit of oomph or longevity. You can use them as an eyes shadow or straight liner, or as a blended liner or base. They make for a great, quick and easy smokey eye too. But they not only vary wildly in quality but also in price. So I've gathered together all the ones that I've either been using for a while myself or have been recommended and have been testing them out to see how they compare. Do you really get what you pay for? Are they actually all the same?

There are so many things to take into consideration so I've tried to test take the same things into consideration for each pencil. Longevity, price, packaging, whether they are sharpen or twist up. In my opinion there is less to go wrong with a pencil that you sharpen - the product doesn't dry out and you don't get a fault with the mechanism. It is a bit of a ballache to have to sharpen. I feel I should just mention the difference in shimmery and sparkley here. For me 'shimmery' means a not matte but not noticable glittery finish, 'sparkley' means there are noticable bits of glitter of whatever size. I've included some swatches below so hopefully you'll be able to see what I mean. I've used these a lot but when testing and re-testing for this post I've worn for a couple of days on their own to see how they looked and lasted and a couple of days more as a base with a shadow over the top.

Holiday Makeup

This is a bit of a long one but having done a blog post on how to pack your wash bag (link below) I thought it might be useful to see what I took on holiday with me make-up wise. I know this is a lot more than some of you but for me this is travelling light!

I spend most of a pool holiday with no make-up on but when we go out I put a little on. I take a few things that I am trying out and the everything else either has to be running out, easy to replace or a mult-tasker.

As always if you haven't already then please subscribe to my channel.

All products are listed below - I've put an * next to ones mentioned or shown that aren't actually used in this video. If you see a product that you like you can always check out the directory on the blog (link below) to see a full review. If there isn't one and you'd like to see it then send me a message!

Blog product directory
How to Pack your Wash Bag

Em-J Brush roll (personal which I don't think she makes anymore)
The Makeup Armoury Canvas Pouch
Rosie for Autograph Cream Eye Shadow Stick (Sparkle & Magic shown)
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (in Iced Mocha and Yoghurt)*
NYX HD Eye Shadow Base*
Accessorize Palette from years ago
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit
L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim
MAC Smoulder Eye Kohl*
Lancome Artliner*
Urban Decay Perversion mascara
Dr Jart Premium BB Cream*
Clarins Wrinkle Control SPF50*
Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation
Bobbi Brown Corrector in light bisque
Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeliner in Midnight*
Maybelline Better Skin Concealer
Kiko Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush in 02 Golden Peach
Daniel Sandler Waterbrush
NYX Wonder stick
Louise Young Blusher (in Mae and Dolly)
Cover FX Illuminating Setting Powder
Dior Rouge Baume in Lili
Louise Young Lip trio in Enigma*
MUD Lipstick in Lucky*
MAC lip pencil in Whirl
Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lip Pencil in 714
Ilia Tinted Lip Balm in Nobody's Baby

Brushes:
Real Techniques Blush Brush
Daniel Sandler Waterbrush
Eco Tools Define*
Real Techniques Contour Brush
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
Louise Young LY16
Crown Brush BK38 Round Crease
Eco Microblending
Louise Young LY19
Laura Mercier Smokey Liner *
Eco Tools Angled Crease
Real Techniques Brow
Real Techniques Base shadow
Real Techniques shading brush
Eco Tools Spoolie
Louise Young LY16*
Bobbi Brown Lip Brush
Real Techniques Buffing Brush

The Sunday Spend

One of these deals below I've already taken advantage of. Why not celebrate the end of awful January.

• Beauty Bay have some great offers. The LMB picks are buy one get one half price on Eye of Horus a brand I've been meaning to try out for ages (the Isis Sun Goddess palette and the Goddess Pencil look good). I'd also get some Cargo products as I haven't tried anything from this brand for years (probably the mascara and Summer in the City eye palette)
• Cult Beauty - 15% of all orders until midnight tonight 
• Kiko - I haven't tried anything from this brand for a while and what I have tried has been a bit hit and miss so I'd really go crazy in the sale here to try more out. The LMB picks are the Water Eye Shadow (champagne looks a beautiful colour), the Mixing Solution (always great to have in the kit for mixing loose pigments) and the nail corrector pen (you can never have too many of these).
• PAM - have a rare sale on and this is great for pro's wanting to top up their kit. If you use Make Up For Ever shadows their have a discount on the refills, if, like me you've wanted to try the Vera Mona colour switch that too is on offer and the fabulous beauty blender is in a bind up with the make-up eraser. I've never used the make-up eraser but someone who had sought me out in Selfridges to tell me how amazing it was.
• Space NK - have £15 off orders of £60 or over. This is an online only deal and I've taken advantage of it and bought the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil which I've been tempted by since I heard about it. If you've been thinking about making a spendy purchase from Space NK for a while then now may be the time to bite the bullet. 

Colour Match - Green Eyes

Something I get asked about a lot and which I always factor into my bridal work is choosing eyeshadows that are going to bring out eye colours. Once you know what's going to really enhance your eyes then you can go straight for those shades and choosing quads and palettes becomes much less time consuming.

I thought I'd start off with green eyes as, well my eyes are green and though I don't colour match them with my eye shadow every day when I do a lot of people suddenly comment on them. Usually they just look kind of sludgey.

You can choose shades to enhance your eyes - these will reflect your own natural eye colour. So, green shadow for green eyes. Alternatively you can choose to intensify you eye colour - to do this, you need to select shades from the opposite side of the colour wheel and the contrast will make your eyes 'pop'. (Agghhhh I hate that expression.) But, you also need to take into account your skin tone. I avoid purples because of my dark circles, for instance, although a thin line of purple liner would do the trick nicely for most green eyes. Personally I love black liner and mascara, and they will bring out the green in your eyes nicely. Brown's are the way to go if you want something a bit more subtle or for the daytime.

So to enhance your eyes choose a similar shade of green. Golds look beautiful too with green eyes. Or to make them really intense go for purples, copper, browns and taupes. A good slightly metallic beige or tan will really bring out the green during the day so if you want to tone it down for the office those are the ones to try. By choosing an eye quad or palette that has a mix of colours in it you are guaranteed to make the most of your green eyes whatever mood you are in or whatever event you are doing your make-up for and some brands are even starting to note which product will work with which eye colour (thanks Charlotte Tilbury!)

Some of my favourite products for green eyes...

• MAC eye shadow in Satin Taupe and Woodwinked
• The Urban Decay Naked Palette
• Liz Earle Signature Eye Shadow in Bronze
• Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Bronzed Garnet (see my review here)
• MAC eye kohl in Teddy, Powersurge, and Smoulder
• Charlotte Tilbury Luxury palette in The Golden Goddess, Vintage Vamp or The Dolce Vita
  (I've yet to try but I've heard great things about these)
• Sleek Makeup I-Divine palette in Au Naturel, Oh So Special, Garden of Eden and Vintage Romance
• Kiko Colour Fever Eye Shadow palette in Coral Burgandy (not the most long lasting colours but blend nicely for a worn look)

Sorry for terrible photo's but thought it would be good to show the difference it can make... on the left is my unmade up eye. Below is with a bit of the Bronzed Garnet from Charlotte Tilbury and Satin Taupe from MAC done very quickly as late for nursery. Standing in the same position light-wise..

Face of the Day 12th March 2015 - Friday Video

Long and rambly due to husbands absence. Really simple though using mostly high street/drug store products...

Friday Video - Face of the Day 14th January 2015

This is a quick (despite my chatting) easy way to do polished make-up without feeling, well, too made up so great everyday make-up or for the office. Full a full list of product see below...

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in 13 Warm Beige
Liz Earle Signature Eye Colour in 05 Bronze
L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim
Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara
Estee Lauder EE Cream in Light
Maybelline Better Skin Concealer
Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow
Kiko Blusher in Sound Coral
Sleek Makeup Luminous Pressed Powder in 01
MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge
Eyeko Fat Brush Mascara
Maybelline Colour Drama in Minimalist
Paul & Joe Beaute Lipgloss in 05

Friday Video - Face of the Day 23rd September 2014

A nightmare to edit because I talked so much but I like the end result!

Products Used:

Embryolisse Lait Cream Concentrate
Kiko Face Skin Glow
Dior Star Fluid Foundation in 020
MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge
Maybelline Big Eyes Eyeshadow in Luminous Brown
Inglot Gel Liner in Black 77
Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp Mascara in Black
Daniel Sandler Eye Shadow Brush
Kiko Rock Attraction Blush in Sound Coral
Cover FX Loose Setting Powder in Translucent
Sleek Makeup Luminous Pressed Powder in 01
Real Techniques Brushes
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Lip Protectant Stick in Berry

Friday Video - May Favourites

Here are my May favourites including a few of the Kiko products I bought in Sicily. These are the ones that I like, the rest I really don't like so I'm going to review them separately. I'm sure it's just a matter of taste but would be interested to know what you think if you've tried any of their products.

I may not love all the Kiko products but I do love all the Daniel Sandler products I've tried (especially the Invisible Blotting Powder and the Blending Brush) so worth checking out his whole shop. All links are below and I would love it if you would subscribe to my channel on YouTube

Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp mascara in Black
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush
Kiko Rock Attraction Blush in Sound Coral
Kiko Colour Shock Long Lasting Eye Cream in Snappy Brass
Kiko Face Skin Glow
Inositol Vegetal (not the actual one I have but similar)

Kiko Colour Shock Long Lasting Cream Eyeshadow

Keeeeko? Kiiiiko? I don't know. But however you say it Kiko is a cosmetics brand that seems to be increasingly popular among consumers, make-up artists and bloggers and not only is it reasonably easy to get hold if it's affordable too.

I have to admit that when I have gone into their Westfield store I have felt pretty uninspired but then it's hard to be inspired by much in Westfield when most of the time it's heaving with people and shops feel the need to play really loud music (I'm such a mum). But on a recent trip to Sicily it was the only make-up shop I could find in Taormina so in I went and came out with a whole bagful of stuff (obviously).

Like many make-up brands they seem to have their staples that they sell all year round and more seasonal products. I, rather foolishly, went all seasonal because I was a time limit before my husband had a melt-down and I do like what I've got but it's not blowing my tiny mind! It was a bit like something from Supermarket Sweep (yes you do remember it).

One thing I do really like is the Colour Shock Long Lasting Cream Eyeshadow which comes in 10 colurs and I got in 104 Snappy Brass because it was so beautiful and I thought it would get the most use. It's £5.50 on their website at the moment which is an incredible price for any good quality eye product and this is good. It's really easy to apply, has a lovely texture and finish and one pot will probably last a long time. I've had it a couple of weeks now and it's still as smooth and moussey as when I first got it - it hasn't dried out at all. My only fault with it, and it's minor, is that it is incredibly sparkley, much more than it looks like in the pot and more than I would usually choose to wear. I'm getting used to it though and it's lovely to quickly apply to change your make-up from day to night.

Kiko do some lovely bright colours in this so if you fancy getting on the blue/aqua liner trend that's big this summer but don't have a huge budget then this would be worth a try as it's incredibly versatile, liner or shadow I'm finding it hard to fault.