The Palette You Just Can't Give Up...

My mum once said to me that you should never go back to an ex.  It never works out.  It maybe 'comfortable' to be with that same person but it will all end in tears.

Now, what's this got to do with makeup??

Well, I've used a certain palette for a while now.  I loved it.  I went through most of the colours & then I got a bit bored & put it to one side.  I thought I would try out some new ones; like a kid in a sweet shop, trying out all the varieties out there is always exciting!

Then, after a few weeks, the looks I was trying out seemed a bit stale. So, of course, back to my old palette I went; like a faithful puppy, it was awaiting my return!

And, I'm so glad I did.  You see, it's perfect.  What's it's name?  Iconic 3 by Makeup Revolution.  

As I say, I've used it for quite some time now & the quality is so good, that I've barely made a dent.  No wonder people say it's the perfect dupe for Urban Decay's Naked 3!

The shadows are soft & perfectly pigmented but without fallout - which is great for me!  Especially when I'm in a rush!  You don't want shadow flying everywhere!

The pricepoint is great too at only £4.00 compared to it's 'big sister' at around £38.00!

It's packaging is on the cheap side & very basic, I must admit but you really want to dive straight into the colours & not faff around with packaging.  I also wouldn't bother with the appicator though.  I would just use your favourite brush to apply the shadows.

The palette contains 12 shadows - a mix of shimmery & matte.  I particularly love the warm pinky bronzey tones which compliment my green eyes well.

I do think on the whole these Makeup Revolution palettes are great especially if you are starting out in makeup as they have so many colours to experiment with & you definitely don't lose out if some shades don't suit you as they are so cheap compared to their more expensive counterparts.

But, back to the Iconic 3. It has so many shades that will work for any look - should it be a daytime look or something more dramatic for night time.  The colours are all very wearable.

So, what was I saying about that ex that you shouldn't go back to?  Yep, it may feel comfortable but it won't work out; you know why it didn't in the first place.  Well, thankfully in the makeup world, if you find a palette comfortable & faithful, then why not take it back, should you get bored??

This palette is dependable & with perfect colours for every look necessary.  The Iconic 3 will always be the reliable sort you just can't give up.  It will never let you down!

It's the perfect love story!

So, what makeup do you always go back to? I'd love to know!

Bee x

Discovering Kiko...

Quite a while ago, I was watching one of the many beauty channels on YouTube which I'm subscribed to & the lady on there was raving about 'Kiko' & how great the quality & price point was.  I was fascinated!
After watching that video, the name 'Kiko' kept cropping up in magazines & other beauty channels - it was drawing me in!  I needed to get Kiko in my life!
But...life gets in the way & as I thought I could only order online, I kept forgetting to have a look!  Then, not that long ago, I was on a trip to London.  Pushing through a busy crowd of shoppers, I suddenly looked up & there, straight in front of me was Kiko!  That was it. I had to go in!
It was a tiny shop crammed full of makeup & shoppers!  I now know why Kiko is popular!

Kiko was established in 1997 & it's full name is actually Kiko Milano & as it is an Italian brand, it is at the forefront of beauty trends.  Having finally looked up it's website, it says there that their vision is "Be what you want to be" & that really sums them up!   Great quality products & a great price too. Oh, & they don't test on animals either!

So, here's what I purchased.....

3 Lipsticks
1 Eyeshadow
Eye Primer

The Lipsticks....

The Smart Lipstick in 917 'Mauve Pink' -
I absolutely love this lipstick.  It's a gorgeous colour (think your lips but better) with a wonderful rich moisturising texture so it will never dry out your lips.  The matte black packaging is really sleek & the price is only £3.90.  Bargain!

Crystal Sheer Lipstick in 413 'Persian Pink' -
I wanted a new 'girly pink' lippie & so I went for this.  It's a really sheer (but glossy) finish - hence the name! - & I love the funky silver & lilac packaging.  You push the top down to release the product.  Very cool!
It was £6.90, but I've just looked on their website & it's currently down to only £2.00! Wow! I want some more!

Luscious Cream Lipstick in 503 'Hot Cocoa' -
This is a really creamy lipstick, again with the funky packaging but in just plain silver.  The colour payoff is great.  I'd wanted a more darker browner tone as I always seem to play it safe with similar colours, so I chose 'Hot Cocoa'.  A lovely creamy colour which reminds me of hot chocolates!
And again, this has been reduced to only £2.00 from £6.90. (Get on the website now - go! go!)

Onto the Eyeshadow....

Infinity Eyeshadow in 243 -
A gorgeous pigmented burgundy colour.  I'm yet to use this (I have lots of shadows!) but I can't wait!  Again, a reasonable price.  The only downside is, having looked on the website, it seems to be no longer available (although I've found one very similar on there).  However, there are tonnes of other gorgeous colours to try.

Final Product....

I needed an eye primer.  I had been applying my eyeshadows straight onto my lid after applying my base (foundation, concealer & powder) - partly down to laziness, but I was fed up of my shadows not lasting or creasing.  So, primer it was!
I came across Kiko's eye base primer.  And it does what says!  It definitely makes your eye shadow last longer & it really does make a difference to the colour of your shadows.  It really enhances them.
Top tip! - Only use a tiny amount.  A little really does go a long way.  So, for £6.90, it's great.  It will last me forever!

Recently, I received a beauty box & to my surprise, inside was a mascara by....you guessed it...Kiko!  It's their Extra Sculpt Volume mascara in Black.  Again, funky packaging & the brush looks cool too & very thick.  I'm yet to try it out but judging by their other efforts I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

I took a shopping trip to Birmingham the other day & came across a new Kiko store there.  They are cropping up everywhere!

Have you caught the Kiko bug yet? It's really contagious & will definitely take hold!

Bee x

My current hair saviours!

My hair, like I'm sure with many other ladies, is the bane of my life!
I've been colouring my hair for many years.  It's naturally light brown (at least I think it is - I've not seen it since I was about 14!).  It's been nearly every shade of blonde I can think of, but I've always sort out the best products to protect it from the various chemicals which have been used on it.
In recent years my naturally thick & wavy hair has lost a lot of volume.  I discovered recently that it is down to a health issue & now, finally it is being rectified & is slowly improving.

So, in the meantime I thought I would share with you 2 hair saviours that have really helped me.
They are;
Garnier Ultimate Blends - The Sleek Protector Oil

&

L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Heat Styling Spray - Volume 3 Days

So, here's the low down.....

After I've shampoo'd & conditioned my hair, I apply my Garnier oil to the mid lengths (from ear height!) & ends of my hair.  I use 2 pumps of this. 
The Garnier oil contains pure coconut oil.  Now, we all know how amazing coconut oil is, don't we?  It's useful for EVERYTHING!
This hair oil, not only smells divine but is lovely to apply & makes my hair a lot smoother as it tends to get rather frizzy!
It has many uses too.  It claims to smooth your hair for 72 hours (although I don't think I've left it that long before I've washed my hair again!) & it contains a heat protector for upto 230c protection.  As well as applying it to wet hair (like me) before you style, you can use it before you wash as a pre-nourisher & also after styling to just tame any fly-aways.  Basically, you can use it any time!
It comes in a 150ml bottle & I've had this for ages as you only need a small amount, so it's definitely value for money.

Finally, I use my L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Heat Styling Spray.  I have the one for volume. 
After running through my mid lengths & ends with the oil, I give my hair a generous spray all over with this.  So, I'm definitely making sure I have plenty of heat protection before I blow dry my hair (& occasionally I straighten my hair too).
This volume formula claims to give you a voluminious style for up to 3 days.  It definitely gives me volume for the first day but depending on the weather etc.,  my hair can lose volume on the second day.  I wouldn't have volume for the third day, as despite always colouring my hair (I have foils), it would be too greasy to get any volume!
The spray comes in a 170ml spray bottle & like the oil, it lasts me ages - even though I do give my hair a very generous spray!  Again, it's great value for money & pretty much does the job I'm after! (I've tried other heat protector sprays but always repurchase this!)   

So, these are my 2 hair saviours to keep my hair looking pretty good & keeping it healthy.....
What are your hair saviours?

Bee x

A 'Pop' of Colour!

Yesterday, I was freezing.  The wind was giving everything a battering including my face!  And what takes the brunt of it, is my lips!  They get extremely dry at this time of year & its a constant battle to keep them moisturised.  It's hard to make lipstick look good with flakey skin!  So, I think Clinique have been thinking about me!

Last year,  they released their 'Pop Lip Colour & Primer' Lipstick & since then I've been hooked!  They have about 24 shades in their collection & all the colours look amazing!

The colours I have are -
Nude Pop
Beige Pop
Cherry Pop

They contain lots of moisturising ingredients including Shea Butter, so you know you are constantly keeping your lips soft & supple against the elements.  They claim to keep your lips moisturised for 8 hours & I must admit they are longwearing & comfortable. 

'Nude Pop' (which was the first one I purchased) has a lovely pink tone to it which blends perfectly with my natural lip colour.
'Beige Pop' is a slightly lighter shade with a 1960's look to it, but very wearable.
The final shade was actually a sample shade from a magazine I bought!  I really wanted to try out a red, so when I came across this, I had to get it!  'Cherry Pop' has a good colour payoff - as have the other shades.

All in all these lipsticks are so comfortable & perfect for my dry lips.  And I adore the colours - I'm sure I will soon be trying the others in the collection!

The packaging is classic Clinique.  The lipstick is 100% fragrance free & the bullet is easy to apply.

These lipsticks are definitely perfect during these cold harsh winter months to protect your lips - but I will be wearing them all year round!

I have noticed that Clinique have also recently released their 'Sweet Pots' - A sugar scrub & lip balm (the packaging looks amazing for starters!) - I may just have to try these out too!

So, what are your favourite lip products?  I'd love to know!

Bee x

My Wheat & Dairy Free Chocolate Sponge Cake

As I've mentioned before, I can't eat wheat or cows milk (believe me, I'd love to, but it doesn't love me!) & there aren't always many sweet treats I can have, so I decided to make something myself!
So, here it is. I'm sharing a secret with you....my chocolate cake recipe & it really is as delicious as it looks!

You will need....

2 x 8" deep Cake Tins
3 x Eggs
5oz Gluten Free Self Raising Flour
1oz Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 teaspoons Gluten Free Baking Powder
6oz Caster Sugar
6oz Dairy Free Spread

Sieve the flour, cocoa powder & baking powder together. Then mix the rest of the ingredients & divide the mixture into the tins (make sure the tins are greased with dairy free spread & line with greaseproof paper) & bake for 20-25 minutes on 170c Fan

For the buttercream....
You will need....
3oz  Dairy Free Spread
7oz Icing Sugar
2oz Cocoa Powder
1tbl Soya Milk

Beat the dairy free spread & sieved icing sugar & sieved cocoa powder together.  Then gradually add the soya milk.  Then spread on one of the sponge cakes & place the other spong cake on top.  Afterward spread the remaining buttercream on the top.  Add whatever decorations you like or leave plain.

Then the final & most important thing....
Scoff & enjoy!

What do you like to bake?  Let me know....

Bee x