Winter Edit: Lipsticks

One of my most favourite things to stock up on is lipsticks, in any form or colour, I'm just obsessed. And while I've been trying to cut back on spending so much (you can buy so many red lipsticks), I wanted to show you guys some gems I've discovered these past months (and one that I've been loving for a while!)

KIKO Lips & Cheeks in 105 (LE): This crayon lipstick thing has been with me for a while now and it's one of my most loved colours. I use it year round and it's this medium dusty rose that looks amazing on everyone and compliments fair skin really well in the winter! Sadly, it's a Limited Edition but by mentioning it here I'm hoping KIKO gets the memo and brings it back! <3

Sephora Long Lasting Lipstick in 23: Dark (darrrk) lipsticks have been my thing these past months and this Sephora one has been my best discovery. Honestly, I own like 7 different shades of this lipstick and it's a weird but amazing lipstick: very creamy and easy to put on, but dries down to a super comfortable matte (and it's definitely long lasting!) Also, I have another extra lipstick in 23 just in case I lose it, that's how much I love it!

Rimmel London The Only One Lipstick in 510 "Best of the best": Another great discovery is this cherry red. I usually never wear bright reds if they're not matte, but surprisingly this has a glossy finish but is not slippery, and fares extremely well with food and drinks. Best of the Best is such a beautiful colour (cool reds are my thing in the winter) and the texture is otherworldly (is that even a word...) Just check them out, they also have some mattes but this glossy non-sticky and extremely light texture is rocking my world!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in "Cannes": I have owned NYX SMLC for a while now, but I just started appreciating them some months ago when I acquired this colour. Usually liquid lipsticks are way too drying or too opaque which makes a mess usually, but these NYX ones are creamy and non-drying (=comfortable) and while it takes a minute or so to dry down, they never let me down. Cannes is the colour I wish my lips were, and while the tube is brownish the actual colour is pinky brown (my nude fave hands down).

What lipsticks are you wearing this winter?

<3 M.

Brand review + What to buy: KIKO Cosmetics

Since I discovered KIKO some years ago, I started using their products with the same awe a child has on Christmas day. At first it was only the nail polishes, but then my nail polish interest in general plummeted (I have like 100 of many different brands that I want to give away or just toss). Then it was the eye makeup, which is stellar. And then.. of course, my faves: lipsticks of all sorts!

Let's review some of these products!

LIPSTICK

For years now, lipstick collecting is my obsession. But I do tend to have some lipsticks that I never ever use, which is a shame. This, however, has never happened with my KIKO lipsticks because they are creamy (even if some are matte) and pretty long lasting (unless you go for a creamy sheeny one, of course). The picture above just shows 7 of dozens I have, so if you are interested in swatches, please let me know in the comments :)! 

My favourite ones are the Lavish Lipsticks (the three lippies pictured on the right) and I have the whole range of those but they were limited edition, which is why I had to buy a couple of backups. 

The new Gossamer Emotion (two on the left) are creamy, have a huge range and stay on, plus are not limited edition (and that embossing is suuuper cute)... However I'd definitely recommend swatching in person as some shades have microglitter (which doesn't show up A LOT but you can tell it's not matte) and others are just normal mattes, and sadly the website swatches are not specific about which is which. 

Above pictured are some sheeny creamy lippies that are also the bomb and I use very frequently (as you can see from the wear on the packaging of the pink one!) Definitely comfortable and you can find either sheer ones (sometimes you just need a little colour) and others (like the middle one) start shiny and then turn matte <3.

Quite honestly, even if I have MAC and NARS lipsticks, I usually go for KIKO ones (or L'Óreal but we'll talk about those on another post!) because I love the formulation and colour range that much. 

NAIL POLISHES

KIKO nail polishes have great opacity and range, plus are good quality and pretty cheap. Just recently I checked their nail polishes again and they just came out with a new version of their nail polishes, with a new and cuter packaging (pictured above), plus an even better formula. They are a bit pricier than before (4,90€ a pop) but they have loads of discounts on nail polishes pretty frequently. 

EYESHADOW

I have honestly never used a single powder eyeshadow from them (although I have swatched them in-store and are super buttery!) because for me their most stellar products are the eyeshadow sticks. If you have a limited budget to spend, go for THESE! <3 They have an amazing range of colours (04, 05 and 39 are my faves) and some are matte while others are shimmery. Once they're on, they literally won't budge or crease at all. I also have a couple of limited edition ones, like the golden in white packaging pictured above, which are the bbbbomb.

EYELINER + EYEBROWS

Eyeliner-wise, I only own three from KIKO: one liquid that has a flat paddle applicator and two pencil ones. Honestly, the pencil ones aren't amazing, I find they are not as soft as I like them but I actually haven't given them much of a chance since I usually don't use pencil eyeliner. The liquid eyeliner on the other hand is pretty good, I'm not sure if my favourite of all my eyeliners just yet, but pretty high up, although limited edition so I'm pondering getting a backup just in case. I'm sorry I didn't picture any eyeliner, I just got a bunch of stuff and forgot about these...

In terms of eyebrows, I have to say that I almost never do anything to mine. I have a Maybelline brow pencil that has a spoolie on the other side and that was about it before I got my KIKO eyebrow sculpt. I still won't do my eyebrows every day since mine are pretty dark and not too patchy (but they do need some perfecting) but whenever I do, I use the Eyebrow Sculpt over any other product. It looks like a similar concept (IMO) to the Hourglass Brow Sculpting pencil + Anastasia Brow Wiz but I haven't tried these so I can't really say much in terms of pigmentation, etc. but the KIKO Eyebrow Sculpt has enough pigmentation for my eyebrows (I need just *enough* since I use black for mine, it would be too much!)

MASCARA + LIPGLOSS

Why the hell did I pair these together, you might say. Honestly, I'm not sure. They are both products that I really like and use, but they're not products I'd choose over other brands. 

The lipgloss is really nice (not gloopy, not watery) and minty, plus it sheers out (which is something I need with lipgloss, I hate pigmented ones on myself!) which is why I have like four different shades. It looks really good on its own, but I do feel like if I don't put some balm underneath before applying my lips will look flaky when the gloss is gone. 

The mascara is volumizing and very black but I feel like it's too dry for me, or at least the one I got was very dry from the moment I bought it. This one is the only KIKO mascara I own and it's Kathleen Lights' favourite according to her Youtube videos, and while I get why she might like it (it does build volume), I can't say that this is my favourite mascara of all times (or even top 5).

FOUNDATION + CONCEALER + POWDER

This is my first KIKO *liquid* foundation and since cushion foundations are all the rage right now, I decided to try it out (mostly because I couldn't get my hands on the L'Oreal one just yet in Spain and I'm not buying foundations online ever). This is actually a CC cream which I prefer, but the lightest warm shade available is this one (Warm Beige 15) and it's still a tad darker for my skin (although that happens to me with almost all foundations). However, I really like it and use it every morning for work so I can't say it's my favourite (my Bourjois Healthy Mix is still top 1) but I got it recently and is way more useful to take on the go than foundation + brush/beautyblender.

I also use a powder to set my makeup and I love having compacts with their own applicators so that I don't need to bring any more stuff in my bag. It mattifies and doesn't look cakey, and the colour match is on point, so it's the only powder I ever use.  

In terms of concealer, I have to admit that I have never tried one from KIKO (although I hear great things of the Soft Focus one) and my most favourite high street one is from Bourjois CC Concealer (shade #21, always).

What do you think of KIKO? Have you tried it and what did(n't) you like? (+ would you like swatches of anything mentioned above?)

MARIA

Review: KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow

Now that the summer is finally here to stay, wearing eyeshadow can be a tricky business. 

With the sweltering heat, the only option is wearing a really long lasting eyeshadow that won't crease and will last you all day (and night!) These KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows are the most comfortable ones I've ever tried, and there's a great variety of really beautiful colours! 

Texture:

A very pigmented, creamy texture that doesn't require more than a dab to show the full-on colour you can achieve. After some minutes it sets and doesn't move, so be sure to blend your eyeshadow shortly after applying it!

L to R: #05 Rosy Brown, #39 Dark Taupe

Colours:

There are 33 shades to choose from, ranging from dark blues to golds. I bought these two shades:

• #39 Dark Taupe - this dark brown is not too warm and is ideal to create the perfect smokey eye without the need of any other product! It has a satiny finish and looks almost matte.
• #05 Rosy Brown - this is an amazing shade, quite sheeny and metallic. The name suits it perfectly, and can look amazing for day looks on itself and with some eyeliner for night (it also looks amazing with #39) Unlike #39, it contains glitter.

L to R: #05 Rosy Brown, #39 Dark Taupe

The problem is, once you pick one, you need more and more!

I am eyeing up these: #06 Golden Brown, #11 Teal, #31 Iris Blue... (okay, I need them all!)

Packaging:

They come in a sleek black matte tube, and the eyeshadow twists up (= no product waste!) 

Final thoughts:

This product is definitely a 10/10 in my opinion. You should go right now to your nearest KIKO counter and check these out (and thank me later!) 

Have you tried these or would you like to? What do you think about them?

<3

M.

My nail polish collection

In the past months, I've become a nail polish magpie. I kid you not if I tell you I have around 45 (give or take) nail polishes in my stash, and I have ordered 7 more that have to arrive soon.

Yes, I have a terrible addiction, and it's a problem.
My idea is that, (if I'm able to), I will give the polishes I don't use to my girl friends. But it's quite probable also that I won't be able to part with any of them. You know, "just in case" I might use them later.

So, if you have a problem with nail polish like I do, then maybe you'll like this post, where I will show you swatches and comparisons of every nail polish I own and group them together with those in the same colour family.

Hope you like <3

Teals, bright blues and green blues

L to R: MAC Mischievous Mint, KIKO 389, Essie Turquoise and Caicos, KIKO 352, KIKO 342, Butter London 'Slapper'

(LEFT) Pinky: Mischievous Mint; Ring: KIKO 389; Middle: Turquoise + Caicos; Index: KIKO 352; Thumb: KIKO 342

(LEFT) Pinky: Mischievous Mint; Ring: KIKO 389; Middle: Turquoise + Caicos; Index: KIKO 352; Thumb: KIKO 342

(RIGHT) Thumb: Butter London 'Slapper'

Yellows and Greens

L to R: KIKO 279, Illamasqua "Rare", H&M "I'm not a kiwi", KIKO 396

Index: KIKO 279; Middle: Illamasqua Rare; Ring: H&M I'm not a kiwi; Pinky: KIKO 396

Neutrals and Nudes

L to R: Sephora nº49; Astor 610 Satin Angel; Rimmel "018 Rose Orchid"; H&M duo "Lavender Frost"

Pinky: Sephora nº49; Ring: Astor 610 Satin Angel; Middle: Rimmel "018 Rose Orchid"; Index: H&M duo "Lavender Frost"

Pinky: Sephora nº49; Ring: Astor 610 Satin Angel; Middle: Rimmel "018 Rose Orchid"; Index: H&M duo "Lavender Frost"

Metallics

L to R: OPI "Rainbow Connection", KIKO 354; KIKO 274; KIKO 395; H&M duo "Golden Nails"

Pinky: OPI "Rainbow Connection"; Ring: KIKO 354; Middle: KIKO 274; Index: KIKO 395; Thumb: H&M duo "Golden Nails"

Pinky: OPI "Rainbow Connection"; Ring: KIKO 354; Middle: KIKO 274; Index: KIKO 395; Thumb: H&M duo "Golden Nails"

Pinky: OPI "Rainbow Connection"; Ring: KIKO 354; Middle: KIKO 274; Index: KIKO 395; Thumb: H&M duo "Golden Nails"

Oranges and Red-orange colours

L to R: Models Own "Tangerine Queen"; KIKO 280; Models Own "Fluro Orange"; KIKO 236; Models Own "Hedonist"

Thumb: Models Own "Tangerine Queen"; Index: KIKO 280; Middle: Models Own "Fluro Orange"; Ring: KIKO 236; Pinky: Models Own "Hedonist"

Thumb: Models Own "Tangerine Queen"; Index: KIKO 280; Middle: Models Own "Fluro Orange"; Ring: KIKO 236; Pinky: Models Own "Hedonist"

Pinks and Corals

L to R: KIKO 281; H&M "Check Me Out"; OPI "Kiss Me On My Tulips"; ASTOR 235 Insolence; Butter London "Disco Biscuit"; Models Own "Bubble gum" 

(LEFT) Pinky: KIKO 281; Ring: H&M "Check Me Out"; Middle: OPI "Kiss Me On My Tulips"; Index: ASTOR 235 Insolence; Thumb: Butter London "Disco Biscuit"

Pinky: KIKO 281; Ring: H&M "Check Me Out"; Middle: OPI "Kiss Me On My Tulips"; Index: ASTOR 235 Insolence; Thumb: Butter London "Disco Biscuit"

(RIGHT) Thumb: Models Own "Bubble gum"

Pure blues

L to R: KIKO 338, KIKO 299, KIKO 265, Nails Inc "Baker Street"

Index: KIKO 338, Middle: KIKO 299, Ring: KIKO 265, Pinky: Nails Inc "Baker Street"

Index: KIKO 338, Middle: KIKO 299, Ring: KIKO 265, Pinky: Nails Inc "Baker Street"

Index: KIKO 338, Middle: KIKO 299, Ring: KIKO 265, Pinky: Nails Inc "Baker Street"

Dark hues: purples, reds + black

L to R: H&M "Soaked in Purple", H&M duo "Lavender Frost"; NARS "Purple Rain"; H&M duo "Golden Nails"; KIKO 227; Maybelline 501 Cherry Sin; Astor 550 Red Lace; KIKO 275

(LEFT) Pinky: H&M "Soaked in Purple", Ring: H&M duo "Lavender Frost"; Middle: NARS "Purple Rain"; Index: H&M duo "Golden Nails"; Thumb: KIKO 227

Pinky: H&M "Soaked in Purple", Ring: H&M duo "Lavender Frost"; Middle: NARS "Purple Rain"; Index: H&M duo "Golden Nails"; Thumb: KIKO 227

(RIGHT) Thumb: Maybelline 501 Cherry Sin; Index: Astor 550 Red Lace; Middle: KIKO 275

(RIGHT) Thumb: Maybelline 501 Cherry Sin; Index: Astor 550 Red Lace; Middle: KIKO 275

Have you got a huge nail polish collection you're ashamed of but love at the same time too? 

Love,

Maria.

Essie "Cute as a button" dupe?

You guys probably already know the brand KIKO Milano, I tend to compare lots of nail polish shades with their vast (and cheap) collection. I probably have around... 15-20 KIKO nail polishes. Amazing quality, great brush which makes application a breeze, no strokes to be seen, and SO INEXPENSIVE!

So, dang, when I'm able to pass on a more expensive colour for a KIKO dupe, I'm quite happy to, but as I have to look at swatches online, I don't know if it really is similar or not.

I wanted to ask you guys: is KIKO 281 (below) a dupe for Essie's "Cute as a button"? 

I used a fisheye effect on my camera, that's why the pictures look a bit distorted! 

What do you think? Are they dupes or not remotely alike?

Love,

Maria.

Butter London: Slapper

As I plan on buying a couple of Butter London nail polishes in the near future, even if they're not what you'd call CHEAP, I am willing to make a kind of series reviewing each of them. It won't be a continuous series, because I will post about different things in between.

My first "taste" of Butter London's nail polishes was "Slapper", described by the brand as "a truly teal lacquer, bold and very bright." And I can say, absolutely everything about this is right!

 MAC Mischievous Mint; Butter London Slapper; KIKO 342

MAC Mischievous Mint; Butter London Slapper; KIKO 342

Oops, finger prints!

Comparisons:

Even if KIKO 342 and Slapper look alike, I assure you Slapper is a lot greener while KIKO is quite a blue toned polish with some green here and there. Butter London's Slapper is the true teal. 

Mischievous Mint is a LOT lighter than the other ones, and even if in the swatch it looks greenish, once on the nail, it looks like a very light baby blue, which doesn't suit me at all, I have to say. It's NOT a dupe for Essie's Mint Candy Apple, which I don't own, but I've seen enough swatches to notice it has the green tinge Mischievous Mint lacks.

 It is has a bit of green that doesn't show up on camera,

but at least you can see the brightness it has!

 Two coats

 Indoors.

Indoors, with flash. 

I wasn't able to take pictures under direct sunlight but flash pictures can give you a pretty good idea of what this polish looks like, even if it didn't manage to capture right the greenish tinge it has in real life.

Butter London's "Slapper": ever since I heard about this brand, I knew they were going to be my new obsession! And I searched for the perfect teal for years, but I think I finally found it! This is a beautiful colour that is OH-SO-BRIGHT, and perfect for summer (and winter, I'm not one to follow seasonal trends, actually)! 

It applies like a dream, although one coat doesn't give you the required opacity, two will be perfect, although I normally always apply three for extra opacity, if you know what I mean. In these pictures, my nails have two coats. Once dry, it has a LOT of shine, so if you don't have a topcoat around, your nails will look just as perfect! (My topcoat actually created small bubbles on the nails... is that weird? I'll have to switch to Seche Vite.)

And let's not forget that it's 3 Free, which means there are no carcinogens in it. Yay! No toxic fumes will kill me... using this nail polish at least! :)

I was able to purchase it on The Beauty Booth, for a discounted price  (£10.80) because of the Jubilee celebrations, but right now they're at their full price again: £12. 

 It's already in my favourites!

Would I recommend this polish? Absolutely, it's a beautiful polish, and even if KIKO 342 looks similar to it in the swatch, it has a much worse quality, it's more watery and less bright. And too blue for my idea of a perfect teal. So, if you have the money and you're willing to spend it on a nail polish such as this one, do it! 

Butter London polishes I'll buy next: Trout Pout (coral pink), Disco Biscuit (glittery hot pink), The Old Bill (tarnished gold chrome)... and all that catch my eye, basically!

Have you guys got any Butter London recommendations for me? Which Butter London polishes have you tried and what do you think of them?

Love,

Maria.