Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Review: Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer (SSE)

Hello!

I hope everyone is well and is enjoying their holidays! Today I have a review of the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer for you! I have three shades SX06, SX08 and SX11. It retails for £38.00 and can be found in Space NK and also Sephora. It comes in a little tub with 18g worth of product.

SX06, SX08 and SX11
I think that the product needs to come in a tub, because in all honesty since the product is quite thick if it came in a foundation pump type packaging it will more than likely clog up the pump so I have no qualms about the packaging at all. It's small if you ever needed to take it with you anywhere you just pop it into your makeup bag and go! Also as it is thick in texture it's not going to leak everywhere either!

It is thick. It is a full coverage foundation/concealer in one,  kind of like Estee Lauder Double Wear. When you pour Estee Lauder on the back of your hand it is quite fluid and runs. The Skin Enhancer is not like that, it is thick and it doesn't run I don't know quite how else to describe it apart from the fact that it's not fluid but it reminds me of a thick paste of some sort. (Clearly, I am very good at describing)! Since you only need a tiny bit, this small tub is gonna last you a hell of a long time!

I love LOVE LOVE this product! It is full coverage and you only need a tiny bit for a full coverage finish. When I say a tiny bit I literally do mean a tiny bit so when you open it you literally just touch/pat it with your finger and then dot all over your face and that is enough for a full face. The best thing about this product is that you can sheer it out too! Just grab your moisturiser and put some on the back of your hand and add a little of the skin enhancer to it, then if you want more coverage you can add a bit at a time and mix together and apply and get the coverage that you want. This method would also be ideal for those of you with dry skin since this product used it on its own will cling to the dry areas of your face and emphasise them. Those of us who have oily skin can get away with using this on it's own if we wanted full coverage, if you wanted sheer coverage either add a moisturiser or BB cream and away you go!

I use the shade SX08 for the whole of my face, I use SX06 for under eye highlighting! I wouldn't use it on its own for under eye highlighting because it is too thick and the under eye area is too delicate and fragile, so I use my Vichy Aqualia Thermal moisturiser and mix a teensy amount of that with a tiny amount of the SSE and use that as my under eye highlight and because I have oily/ combination skin and mixing a moisturiser means that my foundation will slip I make sure to powder on top. I use SX11 if I've been out in the sun (Because that happens in the good old UK!) SX08 is pretty much my perfect shade. For me this foundation doesn't oxidise, most foundations do on me so I have to go a shade lighter and then throughout the day it will tend to be my perfect shade!

Although a little will go a long way, it is expensive so I would advise you to get a sample of your shade if possible because it is a lot of money to put down for a product! or if you can't do that, do tonnes and tonnes of research and I literally mean search websites, blogs etc. and figure out what undertone you are, whether you're fair, medium or dark etc. etc. don't just buy it online without having seen it especially if you are new to makeup! I have been into makeup for awhile now and can pretty much guess my shades however I DON'T advise you to do that!


Basically I'm in love with this foundation it does everything I need it to do, it's full coverage, my perfect shade, lasts all day and a little goes a very very long way! What more do you need?


Have you tried this foundation? Let me know what your thoughts are down below!

Have a great day!

Lots of Love

Rifa xx





Tuesday, 5 January 2016

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone!

I thought I would just do a small blog post on here and wish everyone a Happy New Year! I know!!! six days late, but better late than never! As some of you know I work in retail so we don't actually get holidays off during Christmas and New Year really.  I worked Boxing Day (Almost a 10 Hour shift!) and then when I did get a couple of days off I ended up ill! I went back to work yesterday but I had no voice, it's back a little bit today but croaky so hopefully by tomorrow it will be back for good.

I also got a promotion at work about four days before Christmas so that was quite nice. It does mean that I am doing more hours at work which I don't mind. Most people (the majority) were happy for me and some people had issues for whatever reason but that's life they'll have to get over it! I'm not going to say no to a promotion because it bothers some people.

Uuum, What else? I'm trying to do more blog posts but obviously with the Christmas period it has been hectic and I haven't had as much time to dedicate to the blog and doing posts as I would have liked but hopefully with the New Year it will have calmed down at work so I can concentrate a bit more on the blog. I do have some draft posts up so those should be up soon. I didn't want to put out blog posts about items without having tested the products out and worn them because that would be stupid ,and it would be a bit pointless doing a product review on a product I've not used. So some blog posts coming your way soon!

Like I mentioned I have been ill so putting on makeup has not been a priority lately plus the fact that my skin has been breaking out like nobodies business means that I've not worn as much makeup as I would have liked to. If anyone has any recommendations for skincare like exfoliators, toners and cleanser preferably with salicylic acid in it (because benzyl peroxide does nada for my skin) then let me know in the comments below!

Yeah?!? I was just going to make this post short, but it looks like I gave you my whole life story instead oops never mind! Aaaanyway HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! everyone!

I hope you all have a great day!

Lots of Love

Rifa xx

Wednesday, 16 December 2015

Weekly Wish List Volume 3

Hello,

I am back with another weekly wish list! Are these too much doing one every week or should I do them bi - monthly or monthly? What do you think? let me know in the comments below! Let's get started!

  • Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipsticks in Bond Girl, Very Victoria, Red Carpet Red and Birkin Brown - They look so pretty online but I really want to see them in person before I go ahead and purchase them! Bond Girl is out of stock online and I don't know when it will be back in stock :(
  • Charlotte Tilbury Foxy Brown Lip Cheat Lip liner - I think this would be a suitable nude lip liner for my skin tone and would look nice underneath Very Victoria!
  • Charlotte Tilbury Kissing Lipstick in Night Crimson - the perfect vamp shade and just my type of colour! Gorgeous !!!
  • Zoeva makeup brushes - Because I actually need more brushes like I need more makeup right? But their Rose Gold brush set looks amazing and I've heard good things about them too!
  • Zoeva Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette -  Because a girl can't have too may neutral palettes! Their prices aren't too bad either!
  • MAC Faerie Whispers Collection - This isn't out in the UK yet but the eyeshadows  look beautiful especially the warm toned ones!
What's on your wish list? Are any of these making their way onto your Christmas List? Let me know what you're all hankering after!

Have a good day!

Lots of Love

Rifa xx

Saturday, 12 December 2015

Update

I just wanted to give you guys a little update with regards to the blog. As you probably know I have done a couple of posts here and there whenever I have had the chance to. I know it isn't much at this point but since I practically work full time any chance I get I do try to write a blog post, whenever I am able so I do apologise if it isn't where it should be right now. I am trying (I promise)! 


Secondly, this blog was supposed to be a joint venture with Chan and we were going to do blog posts each as and when we could. However, as you will have noticed it has mainly been me that's been doing the blog posts etc. For reasons that I won't go into, Chan won't be doing the blog with me and from now on it will just be me doing the blog posts. Since I didn't want to edit the first post which mentioned her I figured I would just do an update post instead to let you all know what was going on.


Lastly, I know I haven't gotten around to doing many reviews yet! But I am testing as many products as I can so that you all can have decent reviews and make well informed decisions about whether you want to buy a product or not. So hopefully, there will be some reviews coming your way soon!


I hope you all have a great day!


Lots of Love


Rifa xx

Review: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone is well and no-one has come down with the dreaded bug/flu that's been going around lately! All I see around me are ill people lately so I'm praying that I don't end up ill or anything right now. Fingers crossed everyone stays healthy!

Today's blog post is all about the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. It retails for roughly £19.00 and can be found at Debenhams online and in store and also the Too Faced website !

This mascara is not a waterproof formulation as far as I am aware and I don't believe that they do a waterproof formula either, perhaps that's something that Too Faced might work on next? Who knows? But I think it would be a good idea if they did! It is a quite wet type of formula its not completely runny but it is wet so what I tend to do is wipe of the excess especially at the top of the mascara wand on the edge of the mascara bottle!

Now, before this mascara I was using my holy grail mascara otherwise known as Lancôme Hypnose Star, when that ran out I thought I would try this one as everyone, their mother and their cats were talking about it. So I did, and I have to say I am not surprised that everyone is banging on about this mascara. It is absolutely without a doubt an amazing mascara and I might even whisper that it might have ever so slightly eclipsed my Lancôme Hypnose Star mascara too!


When I first saw the wand I was a bit worried! The mascara wands that I am used to - whether it be a rubber bristle or a traditional one - are not that big and when I first used it I must admit that I nearly poked my eyes out so be very careful. However after the first couple of uses I got used to it and now it doesn't bother me so much! Unlike other mascara wands this one is shaped like an hourglass which I don't understand the point of but since the mascara does the job its supposed to who am I to complain and quite frankly I think I prefer it!


The mascara only comes in the black shade as far as I am aware (perhaps they need to get some more shades out)! It is BRILLIANT at volumising! However, you do have to be careful to not add a million layers as it can make your lashes look clumpy, however three layers isn't going to give you that look! at least not on me, if you do any more it might give you spidey lashes! If you do want to layer make sure the first layer is dry before adding a second or third coat and make sure you separate your lashes with an eyelash comb in between coats too! 

It does make your lashes look fuller too due to it being volumising and I also feel that it makes your lashes look longer! My lashes are quite long naturally so I wouldn't be able to claim that they do make them longer but I feel like this mascara does that! Customers have commented on my lashes when I have worn this mascara but they've also said the same thing when I have worn the Lancôme Hypnose Star too so I don't know if it's just those mascaras or just my lashes! However I do feel that they emphasise my lashes in a good way!

I would say that it curls your lashes a little bit, I think that might have to do with the hourglass shape of the wand. Now I don't curl my lashes because I am terrified of ripping my eyelashes out with an eyelash curler so I don't own one! I have to say that although it doesn't give a full on curl it does give my lashes a little bit of a curl when I wear it. 

The only downside to this mascara possibly is the wand which happens to be huge, now whilst I love using it for my top lashes I can't use it for my bottom lashes as it smudges the mascara on top of the eyeshadow I've placed on my lower lash line so when I  use it for bottom lashes I have to be very careful not to get it underneath otherwise it just looks like a mess under my lower lashes. So for bottom lashes you either need to use a disposable wand, have a lot of patience or just use another mascara!

So basically, this mascara is good at separating your lashes, good at volumising your lashes, gives you a little bit of a curl, doesn't flake, doesn't smudge once it dries and basically lasts all day! I have to say I am quite in love with this mascara and it is currently the only one I reach for and wear almost every day without fail!

What's your holy grail mascara and why? Have you tried the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara? Do you love it or loathe it? Let me know down in the comments below!

Have a great day!

Lots of Love

Rifa xx


Saturday, 28 November 2015

Weekly Wish List Volume Two

Welcome back to the second instalment of the Weekly Wish List (why do I sound like a TV presenter when I type that)? which is where I give you a list of products that I am currently dying to try out and which I haven't bought. I will give you links and as always they aren't affiliate links etc.  just where you can find those products. So without further ado, let's get started!

  • ABH Highlighter in So Hollywood - it looks beautiful and reminds me of MAC's Whisper of Gilt and recently their Oh Darling highlighter, its similar to that colour family.
  • Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Palette - Look at the rainbow of colours! I saw it on the Sephora website but cant seem to find it on there now so perhaps they have sold out of it?
  • NYX HD Finishing Powder in Banana - I have the Ben Nye Banana Powder and thought that this might be a cheaper dupe for it, plus the fact that it is in the pressed form is much more ideal for me than pouring out powder from a sifter like I have to do for the Ben Nye powder. 
  • Marc Jacobs Under(Cover) Perfecting Coconut Face Primer - I hear a lot of talk about this primer on YouTube from bloggers so I wanna know what all the hype is about! Cos I'm nosy like that!
  • ABH Liquid Lipsticks - Specifically the shades Trust Issues, Vamp, Heathers, Candy Apple and Sweet Talker so basically all of them!
And that's it for this week! I usually want to try a bunch of stuff but this week I've not really been feeling it! Plus the fact that I work in retail and every day seems to be busy and full of customers means that I'm probably sick of looking at stuff! Don't worry I will more than likely be back to making a huge list of stuff that I want for the next instalment of the Weekly Wish List!



Have a great day!



Lots of Love



Rifa xx

Saturday, 21 November 2015

Weekly Wish List

So I've decided to come up with a weekly blog post of products that I'm currently lemming after! (that I will try to do weekly but knowing me and my goldfish brain I will probably forget!) It's just going to be a list of products that I've seen or that I'm dying to try and haven't bought yet. It's not going to be picture heavy and if there are pictures or anything, all the photos will be courtesy of Google! I will try to put links in for you to see the products that I'm talking about (no, they aren't affiliate links or anything)! but feel free to search Google at your leisure!

  • BareMinerals Seamless Shaping Brush- I have been after a brush which is tapered at the top and currently this tops the list. However, if Make Up For Ever do one I might be after that instead because their brushes are some of my favourites to use.
  • Bobbi Brown Warm Glow Christmas Eye Palette - On the website it's a palette with warm neutral shades which are my favourite however Google shows them up as cool toned so I'm on the fence about this one but it does look beautiful!
  • Illamasqua Neutral Palette - Just look at it!!!! It's beautiful and filled with four everyday neutral shades, absolutely stunning! I think I'm in love with it.
  • Illamasqua Reflections Palette- Four shimmery/ satin shades I don't know how I feel about it not having a matte shade with all the shimmery shades. But pretty nonetheless.
  • Illamasqua illamusthaves Christmas Gift Sets in Equinox and Charisma - If I didn't have both the pure pigments in both sets I would be all over them like a child in a sweet shop but as I have them both I might just get the Gleam Highlighter in Aurora  and the nail polishes in  Charisma and Phallic (Seriously ?!?! Illamasqua Seriously!?!!? You and Nars need some new ideas for product names, just saying) separately since as far as I am aware they are sold separately. Packaging looks stunning!
  • Clarins Colour Quartet and Liner Palette- This palette has neutral shades with a pop of purple which reminds me of the purple shade from the Anastasia Beverly Hills Self Made Palette! I think Clarins is underrated sometimes or people think its old ladyish as a brand, but sometimes the Summer collection Eyeshadow palettes that they come out with are just amazing especially since they seem to put thought into how they present their packaging and products for their Limited Edition Collection!
  • Guerlain Ors et Merveilles Palette Eye and Blush Palette - Absolutely beautiful colours (have you guessed that I'm a lover of warm bronzes and gold shades yet)? However, judging by the pictures the blush portion of the palette seems so tiny and I doubt I'd be able to fit a blush brush in it!
  • MAC Magic of the Night In Extra Dimension Skinfinishes in Oh Darling and Shaft of Gold - These are limited edition and they look beautiful and I would wish they would come back online but I'm pretty sure that they have sold out everywhere and since they're limited edition I doubt they will re stock! But hopefully MAC makes these permanent! 
  • Dior Multi Use Palette Gift Set - I like that this has three warm shades and three cool toned shades so you can Mix and Match and that it also comes with a highlighter, blush and two lip products too!
  • Dior Eye and Lip Smoky Palette Gift Set - Contains three eye shadows and two lip products plus a double ended brush I like this one to the other nude one as its warmer toned and includes colours that are more me. Its also portable so you can zip it up and take it with you!
  • MAC Magnetic Nude Fluidline - Its a gel eyeliner in a Nude colour so perfect for lining your waterline to make your eyes look bigger and more wide awake!
That's it for my weekly wish list! I hope you are all doing great and let me know in the comments what you are all lemming after!

Have a great day!

Lots of Love

Rifa xx