My Red Lip Picks for Christmas | KMC Beauty

by Kelly, December 13, 2014

Christmas is the time of a year for a bold red statement lip, I have picked a few favourites from my collection that are my top picks for this year.

Vaseline 'Rosy Lips'
Okay technically this isn't a lip colour, more of a lip treatment.. However over Christmas here in the UK it's cold and you have to keep your lips hydrated, the Rosy formula gives off a very light colour payoff, if like me you already have semi-pigmented lips then this just enhances your natural lip colour almost looking like you have a sheer lipstick on.
Find online here

Revlon Matte Balm in 'Standout'
If your looking for a non-drying, long lasting matte formula then you will find it in the Revlon Matte balms. The shade standout is a super pigmented cherry red perfect for this season.
Find online here

MAC 'Russian Red'
I know there will be a LOT of MAC lippy hoarders out there that are bound to have this staple matte lipstick in their collection already. Unfortunately for me the formula of this lipstick is a little too drying for my lips, but it's still a Christmas appropriate lip that i'm sure a lot of people love!
Find it here

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Kate Lipstick '107 Wine'
This lipstick is my favourite shade for this season, this deep wine colour is a little on the vampy side for Christmas but still festive. Again its a matte formula but what can I say, i'm into mattes! There is less colour transfer, they are longer lasting and sure they can be a little drying sometimes but these trump a glossy finish for me anyday of the week.
Find online here

What are your red lip picks for Christmas?

November Favourites 2014 | KMC Beauty

by Kelly, December 05, 2014

I haven't done a "favourites" post in a long while, this month I had a few little gems that I have been really loving and wanted to share with you all.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit
I have wanted the Contour Kit for a while now but it has always been out of stock on Space NK when I wanted to get it, I was on the Sephora website last month and noticed it was back in stock, without hesitation I added it straight into my basket, I didn't want to chance leaving it to return another day and it be out of stock again.
I am still experimenting with the Contour Kit but so far I am loving the top left shade "Vanilla" for setting my under eye concealer and in particular the shade "Fawn" in the middle of the bottom row, this is my perfect contour shade, it's not too orange and not too tan, I just find this gives me a natural "shadow effect" to my cheeks where I can blend this upwards on my cheek bones and it doesn't look like i've applied a blatant line of bronzer to contour my face.
Still in stock, but I warn you they sell fast! Find it here

Moroccan Oil - Moroccan Oil Treatment
As it is fast approaching winter here in the UK, and the colder weather is drawing in, my hair is starting to show signs of distress with my serious dry ends, I do have my ends dyed blonde and this also does not help but I have found that my Moroccan Oil is helping my ends look healthy again. After I have showered and I have towel dried my hair I like to apply maybe two pumps of the Moroccan Oil to my ends and massage it in. I then blow-dry my hair as normal and once my hair is dry I can immediately tell the difference on my ends as opposed to the days when I don't use the oil, they immediately look healthier, shinier and a lot less like hay.
Find it here at Feel Unique.

Maybelline Brow Drama
This product is actually a rediscovery for me this past month, I have used this before but like most things it get tossed in a drawer and forgotten about. I dug this out in November and have been using it non stop. Maybelline call it a "sculpting brow mascara" but for me it's just a tinted brow gel, as brow gels go, I haven't tried any others but I hear the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel is also very good. This brow gel gives light colour payoff which is fine for me as I fill in my brows anyways, I just like using something to set them with and this ticks the boxes. When I set my brows with this product they don't go hard and "crispy" as some brow gels can do, it just nicely holds all my hairs in place for the duration of the day, the wand also allows for super easy application.
I also did an in depth review on this product earlier this year, check that out if your interested (link)
find online here

MAC Cosmetics Amplified Lipstick - Red Balloon
Yet another rediscovery, I picked this lipstick up earlier on in the year and loved it. Last month I wore it for a night out and was reminded of how much I enjoyed this lipstick when I first got it. It is an amplified formula so the colour pigmentation is amazing and the longevity is also pretty decent. Most people go for darker lips during the autumn/winter but I don't think I suit those kind of colours, I much prefer reds and pinks against my skin tone.
If you want to see swatches of this shade see the link here where I swatched this lipstick alongside two others.
Find online here

Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon - Léché
Finally a completely new brand that I tried out this past month, Bite Beauty's products really intrigued me so when I got my Contour Kit on Sephora I picked up one of their Matte Crème Lip Crayon's to try. Described as a dusty rose the shade Léché is a really great everyday shade for me, it is incredibily pigmented and the matte finish does not leave my lips feeling dried out. I managed to get almost six hours wear from this Lip Crayon which is impressive by my standards.
I also like the idea of a "Crayon" style lip product, it applies really easily to the lips with the small rounded end, sometimes lipsticks can be a bit fiddley I find.
Do you have any of the Bite Beauty products? I would love to know what other must haves from their range are, and I will definitely be needing more shades in the Matte Crème Lip Crayon line in the future.
Find it online here

Hope you enjoyed reading my November Favourites, I would love to know what your favourites have been this month, or have you done a post of your own? Feel free to drop me a comment.
Also I got a new camera this month so i'm making a conscious effort to get up more posts on a regular basis!

It's safe to say the hype over these lipsticks has been huge, the anticipation over the release of these has had me more excited than any other make-up launched this year.
I was able to pick up two shades to swatch and review on my blog today, I wish I could of picked up more but my bank balance wouldn't allow me to do so, however when payday comes around i'm almost certain i'll be grabbing more shades as i'm seriously impressed with the two I have now.


Anita

Anna

Firstly let's start with the packaging, that sleek matte black packaging Nars is known for with the glossy logo right round the casing. To top it off, the closure is magnetic which I just think is so classy and really completes the lipstick for me.
But it's not all about what's on the outside, for these lipsticks it's definitely about whats on the inside! In comparison the two shades I picked up are fairly similar but both individual in their own right.

Anita is definitely my favourite shade of the two, on my lips I almost think this shade brings out a hint of coral although it is described as a "antique rose" it is a warm shade with a satin finish that is super moisturising on the lips which is what you need for the up and coming colder weather in the UK. I think Anita is a nice everyday Autumn shade, I can definitely pull this off at work without it looking too bold.

Now Anna really surprised me when it arrived I was expecting this shade to be more of an everyday nude but it's actually a lot darker than I had realised (that's what you get for ordering online) nevertheless I really do like this shade especially for Autumn. Described as a "smokey rose" which I would agree with, maybe some mauve in there? Again with a satin finish. I also think that this shade would really compliment someone with a tanned complexion.

Nars really hit the nail on the head with the formula, so nourishing on the lips and both shades provide a nice opaque layer of colour, they are very pigmented and neither required lipliner as feathering was not an issue which is often found with heavily pigmented lipsticks but not these ones.
I managed to get five hours wear from both shades before reapplying which I didn't find too bad as I had ate and drank in this time. These lipsticks do transfer but I guess that's to be expected when it comes to a satin finish.

In conclusion i'm really impressed, they have everything I look for in a lipstick and like I said I will definitely be picking up more! Are there any shades you have or any that are on your wish list? Let me know!

Find online here at Space NK for £24.00 each


New Lush Purchases | KMC Beauty

by Kelly, October 01, 2014
It's been a minute, between work, holidays and a tad bit of laziness I haven't posted in a while.
I picked up a couple of new things from Lush this week and wanted to share what I got.

I am always on the lookout for a new scrub, the more abrasive the better! I like to feel all that dead skin getting scrubbed away, am I weird? I have tried the Ocean Salt face and body scrub by lush and I did enjoy that one but like I said i'm always on the lookout and I like to try new ones so I picked up the Rub Rub Rub shower scrub as I am not much of a bath person. Doesn't it look just like a slush puppy?
Not only can you use as a face and body scrub but you can use this in your hair too which is said to add shine, my hair is always looking limp and lifeless so I can't wait to try that out.
Find this online here for £8.75
This stuff smells delicious! If you are one for sweet scents then you will like this conditioner. With ingredients such as vanilla and strawberries I can't wait to put this in my hair. When I use conditioners I mainly apply to the ends of my hair as they are the driest so I hope using this will leave my ends soft and shiny as stated on their website.
Find online here - I picked up the 100g size retailing at £4.50

If you enjoyed reading my mini post about my Lush purchases you can check out one of my older posts on Lush Cosmetics here.



Bourjois are not a company that I have tried a lot of products from, the only other item I own by them is their Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder in the shade medium 51 which I am a fan of, but when I saw their liquid lipsticks in Boots I was curious to try one.
Normally lip products with a matte finish are not my friend, I know after trying 'Russian Red' by MAC and having it go from looking matte on first applying to looking seriously dried out, it really put me off. Not one to tar all brands with the same brush I thought I would try Bourjois's take on a 'matte finish' with their Velvet Lipstick in the shade 'Olé Flamingo!'
The packaging is cute, it's very compact and definitely purse friendly, I know when I go out or have special occasions i'm attending I often like to take a clutch bag, this lipstick would take up no room at all if you wanted to take it along with you.

I would describe this colour as a hot fuscia, it's very bold but still wearable at the same time, you could get away with wearing this shade on a day to day basis if pink's are up your alley.
One stroke of this lipstick was very opaque when swatching, however when applying on the lips it took me a few attempts to get an even finish.
Swatch of 'Olé Flamingo!' while still wet taken in natural daylight.
Application itself was easy, the dofus applicator allowed me to accurately apply the lipstick where I wanted it, however be warned, if you have a full face of make-up on already and you overdraw this lipstick or accidentally place it somewhere you don't want it then you may be in trouble as it will not simply wipe away with your finger, it will stain inevitably ending up with you removing your foundation in the process of removing the lipstick from where you have accidentally placed it.
Swatch of 'Olé Flamingo!' once dry - photo taken in natural daylight.
Actually wearing this lipstick on my lips it felt comfortable, as it does have a matte finish sometimes this can leave your lips feeling dried out, I can't say that they felt this way when wearing it.
Once the Velvet Lipstick has completely dried to a matte finish I found it did still transfer e.g. when drinking from a glass. If you were to be frequently eating/drinking when wearing this lipstick I would imagine touch ups will be required. However the actual longevity of this product was pretty amazing, after two hours of wear I found the lipstick looked no different to when first applied, even when I did have a drink and it did transfer, my lips weren't left patchy and I didn't need to re-apply, however like I said if you are going to be eating/drinking more regularly while wearing this product then touch ups are more than likely, but that goes with most lipsticks right?
Bourjois Velvet Lipstick after two hours of wear - Left photo sun behind me, right photo facing the sun
I was pleasantly surprised by this lipstick, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, if you like the look of a matte finish on your lips then I would definitely give these a try, even if 'Olé Flamingo' isn't the colour for you there is another five shades in the collection to choose from that might take your fancy instead. I think I will find myself picking up a few more colours in this range and I would love if they brought out some darker shades for Autumn/Winter like a deep plum!

I think one of these liquid lipsticks will last me a long time, with infrequent reapplication required they are sure to be worth the money.
Find them online here at Boots for £8.99



I am a self confessed nail polish hoarder, out of everything beauty related nail polish is the one thing I can't get enough of! This month I ventured out of my comfort zone and picked up a couple of polishes from the Color Club Poptastic Collection, they brought out these neon shades this Summer and I have one of the two I purchased on my blog today for a review.
I have tried Color Club before and really enjoyed their polishes, I have 6 colours from their Holographic range and they are amazing.
Firstly the colours in this range are not your everyday shades, they are in your face super bright neon. Very bold and very loud they are sure to be a conversation starter, and the shade I have on the blog today is no exception. 'Not-So-Mellow-Yellow' is very true to it's name! There is nothing mellow about this shade, it is a yellow neon colour with a hint of lime shimmer running throughout.
Color Club Poptastic Collection 2014 - 'Not-So-Mellow-Yellow'
Application was a dream, I know theres one thing I hate and that is streaky polish! One coat of this was very opaque, I didn't need to go in with a second coat which is definitely a bonus as I am quite impatient when it comes to painting my nails, I like one coat plus a fast drying top coat so I can get on with whatever I need to do.
I am currently on my third day of wearing this polish and so far, no chips. Considering I am in and out of a till most of the day that's pretty impressive.
But I do always like to use a base coat and top coat, the base coat prevents the polish from staining my natural nail and the top coat adds shine and longevity to the polish. Currently I am using the Eye Candy London Gel Wrap System which I picked up from Bodycare at £6.99 but you can also find it here.

Even though Summer is nearly over i'm still clinging on to what's left of it with bright shades such as this one.
Every single polish I own from Color Club has impressed me, this polish included. I definitely look forward to trying out more of their products in the future and I am sure I will not be disappointed.
All of their products are also cruelty free and not tested on animals.

The only downside to Color Club is that as their products are made and based in the USA they aren't widely available here in the UK. I picked up my shades from the Poptastic Collection on eBay at a reasonable £7.99 each, see link here.


L-R Rimmel Stay Matte, Nars Sheer Matte, MAC Prolongwear, L'Oreal True Match, MAC Studio Fix, L'Oreal Lumi Magique & Rimmel Match Perfection
For about two years now I have gone through numerous bottles of foundation, some that absolutely did not agree with my skin and some that were just bearable but I have yet to find the perfect foundation for my oily skin.

My main issue with my foundations is preventing my oil from breaking through, I blot and touch up with powder but still the oil is determined to break through my foundation and sit on the surface of my skin making me look super shiny.
Not only do I need a foundation to help with oil prevention but I also need one that will stand the test of time, a minimum of eight hours staying power is imperative when I am in work.


Based off other people's suggestions on Instagram I picked up the Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation from Debenhams this week and after only two days of use I can definitely say that I have seen a difference.
It 100% prevents my oil from breaking through during the day, I don't have to touch up with powder either which could not make me happier. But I do still have a few nit picky issues with this foundation that prevent it from being my perfect foundation, first issue being that it doesn't have a pump! I hate not having a pump on foundation, it's messy and just hard work but I did read somewhere that the MAC pumps fit the Double Wear's bottle so I will try this to see if it works. Second issue, the shade, I did get colour matched in Debenhams and the shade down from this one was far too light against my neck (I like to match my neck because my neck and body are more tanned than my face) so I tried a shade up which was the shade Pebble, when I first apply it to my skin it looks fine but during the day I feel like the colour changes? I'm not sure if i'm imagining it or not but although my skin is still matte I feel like my face looks a little muddy. Whether it's due to the amount of oil it's absorbing or just the way it oxidises on the skin i'm just not quite sure on the shade.
I will probably do an in depth review on this foundation as an update on how I get on with it.

So I would love to know if anybody else has any other suggestions of foundations for oily skin! Drugstore or high end i'm willing to try anything at this point, also has anybody had the same issues I have had with the Double Wear foundation? Although i'll keep using it for now i'm not sure that I will re-purchase, I may look for an alternative.

Thanks for reading.




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