Tag: Makeup

Lookfantastic Beauty Box – Christmas Edition

Christmas time is here and so is the Lookfantastic Christmas Edition Beauty Box…

Eylure Lashes

Fist up in this month’s Beauty Box are these super glam Dramatic Eylure false eyelashes. I have really started to love using this brand recently. Although I don’t wear false eyelashes often, if I’ve got a special occasion or big night out planned, I do like to feel extra fabulous by putting on a pair of Eylure lashes to complete my look. These are probably the most dramatic style I am yet to own but as it is the festive season and all, it could be the perfect time to rock them.

Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser

I mentioned this product in my Black Friday blog post and I am actually so happy that I now have a second one because I have been loving this stuff! I never thought I’d be so impressed by a morning time cleanser (to be honest I originally thought – what even is that!?) but I have to say this stuff feels amazing on my skin. I apply it when I first wake up and leave it on whilst I brush my teeth, then when I get in the shower I rinse it off and it instantly helps to wake up my skin and leaves it feeling smooth, soft and refreshed.

CODAGE Serum N.03 Radiance and Energy

I recently discovered this brand earlier this year, after trying out one of their face scrubs, which I have been loving. I’m still quite new to this serum but after having used it a few times I can say that it feels really nice on my skin and leaves it feeling really smooth and moisturised.

Wet Brush Squirts

I probably wont attempt to use this brush as I’ve tried something similar before and I doubt this will be appropriate for my hair. However if you have looser curls or wavy to straight hair, then this brush would probably be more suited to you. It has super flexible soft tips which claim to detangle hair with ease and can be used on wet or dry hair.

Molton Brown Japanese Orange Body Wash

I love Molton Brown bath products, they always remind me of fancy hotels and their scents are always delicious. This one is no exception and I absolutely love the Japanese Orange body wash scent.

Lord & Berry Pailettes Eye Pencil Sparkle Black

I have wanted to try this makeup brand for so long but I often find it hard to take the plunge and buy makeup products I’m not familiar with, especially when I already have so many favourites. I do really like this eye pencil though; It glides on with ease and comes out bold. It’s a black liner but this one is ‘sparkle black’ and so it has sparkles in it! It’s certainly ideal for the party season and I can’t wait to create a smoky eye look with this liner.

This month’s Lookfantastic Beauty Box has been a good one and it’s certainly got me in the mood for the festive season. In fact I’ve been really impressed with all of the Beauty Boxes which I’ve received so far, as I’ve discoed so many different beauty brands which I now love. I’d definitely recommend the Lookfantastic Beauty Box. It’s an affordable way to try out a great selection of high end products each month and it could even make an excellent Christmas gift for someone who likes this sort of thing too!

You can subscribe to the Lookfantastic Beauty Box here.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

December 9, 2015
Gosh Velvet Touch Lipstick

When it comes to lipsticks my first choice always has to be matt. Gosh Cosmetics have a wide variety of matt lipsticks in their Velvet Touch range and here I’ve swatched a few of their fabulous shades… My favourite is the Matte Rose, which one is yours?

Matt Baby Lips 001

Matt Rose 002

Matt Classic Red 005

Matt Raspberry 006

Matt Cherry 007

Matt Plum 008

If you’d like to see what these lipsticks look like on, then you can check out my Gosh Lipstick swatch video here:

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

November 25, 2015
Rediscovering L’Oreal Lipsticks

It had been a good while since I last purchased a lipstick from L’Oreal, maybe years even. On a recent mini makeup haul I found myself browsing the L’Oreal counter and was lured in by the intriguing array of lip shades. Without getting too carried away, I decided to purchase two lipsticks and a gloss…

L’Oreal Color Riche Lipstick Erotique 640

I am in love with this subtle pink shade. Its creamy consistency looks matte but keeps its moisture. It’s a great everyday shade and it’s currently been one of my favourite go to lipsticks.

L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Lipstick Pure Blake

Blake’s red is a classic Hollywood red. It’s long lasting and doesn’t dry out the lips. It’s one of those lipsticks that makes you feel super glam as soon as you apply it.

L’Oreal Paris Infallible Gloss Gloss me Gorgeous DAZZLE 202

When I want my lips to have a super glossy look, this is the perfect lipgloss to go for. It’s not overly sticky yet has an incredible shine that really does make your lips dazzle. I love this one for nights out and it looks gorgeous with a dramatic eye look.

I am currently loving my recent purchases and I’m surprised I hadn’t previously ventured back to L’Oreal earlier. One reason may be that I can often be quite fussy about lipstick scents and I find that the L’Oreal ones have an old fashioned makeup smell, which reminds me of the smell of Palm of Violet sweets – great if you really like Palm of Violets. Something I do particularly like about these lipsticks is the packaging and I especially love the look of the gold one. The formulas are good and one thing consistent of all three of these products is that they don’t dry out the lips and they feel comfortable to wear.

I really like the variety of classic shades from the L’Oreal lipstick collections. I feel that they are lip shades that you can always go back to and I’m sure I’ll be repurchasing these particular ones again in the future.

Have you tried any of the L’Oreal lipsticks recently?

Samio x

November 9, 2015
Glossybox – The Style Edition Review

After having received my first ever Glossybox last month, I was eagerly awaiting this month’s arrival, in hope that this time the contents would be slightly more appealing.

I opened this month’s box with optimism but I have to say, I wasn’t overcome with excitement over the products that I saw at first glance…

The Nails Inc polish may have stirred a more positive emotion, if it didn’t look like the drabbest shade of khaki I’d ever seen. It only added to my disappointment when I checked the information card and saw that the other shade that some people received, was a pretty blush pink, a shade I would have actually worn – *sighs*.

Okay, so aside for the nail polish, what else was in the box… Unfortunately the next product I spotted wasn’t much better. It was a Maria Nila Luminous Colour Hair Masque and seeing as it was the biggest item in the box, it was a bit disappointing considering I don’t have dyed hair. A colour hair masque is a bit wasted on me.

Next was a Bellapierre shimmer pot in shade Whesek. I recently discovered Bellapierre cosmetics in last month’s Lookfantastic Beauty Box. Luckily enough, this shimmer pot came in a different shade to my last one and although not a colour I would have chosen myself, I’m sure I’ll find use for it at some point.

As someone with big curly afro hair, these Invisibobbles really did not excite me. Bobbles routinely get lost in my hair anyway and when your hair is as curly as mine, there’s not much point in a bobble that isn’t suppose to leave kinks.

Finally the last item in the box was this Marsk eyeshadow brush. This for me was the one item I was happy with, as I often want more makeup brushes and I see myself actually using this eventually.

Needless to say I wasn’t overly thrilled with September’s Glossybox. I feel that a couple of the products certainly weren’t tailored to me at all, which is a shame considering I filled out a online profile so that the products in my subscription could be geared towards me somewhat. I’m sure that for many other people, this box may have been great but for me I just didn’t feel like the majority of the products were ones that I would like to try or buy in the future.

I still don’t want to completely write off Glossybox just yet though. I still have one box left out of my three month subscription and I’m hoping that the next one can end my experience with Glossybox on a high… We shall see.

Samio x

Check out my September LookFantastic Beauty Box review here.

You can also read my first Glossybox review here.

September 28, 2015
My Three Favourite Foundations

For many years I struggled to find the perfect foundation. From too pale, to too dark, to not the right consistency, I’ve tried so many foundations in the past. Luckily now, since my knowledge of makeup has widened and finally many more brands now cater for a wider range of skin tones, I’ve been able to find not just one but several foundations that I actually find work great for me and these are my three personal favorites.

M.A.C Face and Body Foundation in shade C4:
It has a lightweight dewy consistency that’s great for when you want a light coverage. It’s also easy to build up or mix with other shades.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in shade 12:
It has an excellent coverage, ideal for when you want to cover blemishes and it’s my personal favourite for special occasions/nights out.

Bobbi Brown BB Crème SPF 35 in shade Natural:
It’s great for when you’re spending your day outdoors as it contains SPF 35 to help protect your skin from the sun. It has a matte consistency, so it won’t leave you feeling or looking too shiny.

Watch my short video to find out more about why I like each foundation and when I use them.

What’s your favourite foundation or coverage for your skin?

Samio x

Check out my previous posts:
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation
Bobbi Brown BB Cream and Corrector for Dark Circles

September 15, 2015
Look Fantastic August Beauty Box | Beauty Product Reviews

This month I received my first ever beauty box. I’ve always been intrigued by these and seeing people blog about their monthly treats has always made me eager to try one but with so many to choose from I’ve often not known which one to go for.

Lookfantastic were ever so kind to send me their August beauty box and after excitedly unwrapping my nicely packaged gift, I was able to see what all the hype was about.

The products inside…

Rimmel London Wonder’Full Wake Me Up Mascara

I don’t like to change my brand of mascara much and usually I’m slightly pessimistic when it comes to trying new ones. At first when I tried this one, I wasn’t sure about it as I found the consistency a lot more runnier than I’m used to. However, I found that because of this, I’m able to lengthen my lashes a lot more with it before it dries on my lashes. Strangely enough this mascara smells great and so far I am loving using it, as it’s making my lashes look super long when I’ve applied it.

Eve Lom Cleanser

This cleanser is actually amazing. It melts into the skin and gently helps remove makeup and even stubborn mascara. You then wet the cloth with warm water and place it onto your face to open the pores and fully cleanse the skin. After repeating this a few times my skin is left feeling so clean and soft, it doesn’t even sting my eyes when I use it to remove eye makeup. It also smells so fresh and after using the Eve Lom cleanser for the past week, I’ve really become a fan.

Alterna Caviar CC Cream

I have to admin, this is the one product in the beauty box that I haven’t tried, however it does appear to have great reviews. I’m not sure if I’ll use it on my hair yet as I’m trying to be quite selective with what I put on it. I’ll need to do a little bit of research on it first before I decide if it’s appropriate for my curly/afro hair.

Beauty Works Ten-in-One Miracle Spray

Again, with this hair product I’m not totally sure how it will work on my hair. I have used it once and it smells great! However that was before my hair had been trimmed and so with my split ends my hair still felt dry and looked extra frizzy anyway, so I’ll have to try it again now my hair has been freshly trimmed to see how it works on curly hair.

Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist

This face mist is so refreshing. It’s the perfect product to keep in your handbag, as you can spritz your face on the go and give your skin an instant pick me up. It can also be used to tone after cleansing and I love the scent of this mist as it has a refreshing lightly floral scent. I’m not sure if I’d buy this one but it’s been nice to try out.

Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder

This shimmer powder creates an awesome highlight! I’ve been applying it to my cheek bones and just below the brows and the smallest amount gives the most amazing highlight. I’m used to using liquid highlighter but this is now so easy to dust on with a small brush. I love it and I can see it will actually last for quite a while.

Overall I’m really pleased with the products I recieved in this month’s Look Fantastic Beauty Box. A few of the products I even think I will purchase in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?

You can subscribe to the Look Fantastic Beauty Box here.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

August 10, 2015
Friday’s Face

Today’s makeup look is a little more glam and ready for the weekend. It’s been a while since I used my Naked 2 palette, so today I felt the urge to use it. I’ve gone for a subtle smokey bronzed eye with a classic winged liner and for my base I’ve used a mix of MAC’s Face and Body with Illamasqua Skin Base, to create the perfect blend. The rest is listed below…

Products used:

MAC Face and Body Foundation in shade C4

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in shade 12

Boddi Brown Corrector in shade light to medium peach

Urban Decay Naked Concealer in shade medium neutral

Sleek Brow Kit in shade extra dark

Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette

Primark Liquid Eye Liner

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

Revolution Makeup Shade, Ready to Go

Sleek Contour Kit in shade medium

Boots Natural Collection Loose Face Powder in shade neutral translucent

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in nude

Have a fabulous Friday!

Samio x

June 5, 2015
Bronze Flick Liner & Pink Lips

June is here and so is a new video up on my YouTube channel! This is my second makeup video to date and so far I’m really enjoying filming them (when everything goes to plan that is). I always love playing about and experimenting with makeup so I thought I may as well film some of it from time to time to show any of you who may be interested. It’s often one thing finding out what products a person uses and another thing seeing the process. It can often be intriguing to see different people’s application techniques and here are some of mine…

Products used:

Blistex Happy Lips Mango

MAC Face and Body Foundation in shade C4

Boddi Brown Corrector in shade light to medium peach

Illamasqua Multi Facet Palette in Semblance

Gosh Xtreme Liquid Gel Eye Liner in shade Bronze

New Look Pure Colour Eye Liner in shade brown

Urban Decay Naked Concealer in shade medium neutral

Boots Natural Collection Loose Face Powder in shade neutral translucent

Sleek Contour Kit in shade medium

MAC Powder Blush in shade Dolly Mix

New Look Pure Colour Lip Liner in shade mid pink

Boots No7 BB Lips in shade Ballerina

Samio x

June 1, 2015
Simple Everyday Makeup

Although I do love to try out different makeup looks, some days I love nothing more than to keep it simple. Going light on the skin and subtle on the eyes can create a more natural looking makeup look, that’s great for day to day wear.

I’d been meaning to do a makeup video tutorial for a while and so when I had a little extra time whilst getting ready last week, I decided to film this look.

Makeup used
Urban Decay Naked Concealer – Shade, Medium Neutral

Bobbi Brown BB Cream – Shade, Natural

Sleek Contour Kit – Shade, Medium

Sleek Brow Kit – Shade, Extra Dark

Natural Collection Loose Powder – Shade, Neutral Translucent

Makeup Revolution Blush – Shade, Wow!

Bourjois Mascara – Shade, Black

Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights – Shade, Pink Light

H&M Eyeshadow – Available In Store

Primark P.S. Love Nude Lipliner (in store only)

Hello Kitty Lip Balm – Gift

Samio x

May 17, 2015
New Look Pure Colour Makeup Review

Once again, another clothes shop has lured me in with its new makeup selection. This time it’s New Look. I was greatly intruded when I spotted the smart packaging and wide selection of products and colours that the Pure Colour range from New Look had to offer.

Pure Colour Baked Eye Shadow

I was instantly drawn in by this shimmery eyeshadow. It’s a gorgeous neutral tone that looks stunning on the eyelids and the shimmery particles reflect the light brilliantly. At only £3.99, I’m super impressed with this one and it’s been a regular go to eyeshadow for me since I purchased it.

Pure Colour Eyeliner

It’s been a while since I went for a brown eyeliner. As this one was only £1.99, I thought I’d give it a try. It glides on easily and smoothly and makes a nice change from a bold black.

Pure Colour Lipliner

I love this lipliner. This shade of pink is exactly what I’d been looking for. Again like the eyeliner, it glides on easily and looks great on the lips.

Pure Colour Lipstick

The final product is this lipstick and the only product out of the bunch that I didn’t love. The scent is that of old makeup (in my opinion) and I just really don’t like it. It’s a shame because I absolutely love the colour but I’m quite funny with smells when it comes to makeup and as I can smell it when it’s on, I unfortunately just can’t wear it. Hopefully in the future they will improve the formula as the colour is perfect.

All in all I’m very impressed with New Look’s Pure Colour range. The packaging is smart and the prices are affordable. My favourite product (that I’ve tried) from the range is the eyeshadow and I’d definitely buy more of these in different shades.

Have you tried New Look’s Pure Colour Range?

Shop New Look’s Pure Colour makeup range here.

May 6, 2015