Topshop Lip Crayon in Coy

Whilst in Topshop the other day I thought I'd go over and check out their makeup range. I have never tried of the products before, but I have read many reviews in which most people highly rate the products they've tried. After a little research, I decided I would try one of the lip crayons. I went for the most popular shade "coy" - a vivid coral based pink.

It is incredibly bright. Personally I adore the colour - it literally reminds me of summer. In my opinion it definitely is not an everyday winter shade as it does look a little neon once applied (no joke), but for a night out and particularly for in summer, it will look amazing.

However, I hate the formula. I did read on some blogs that said it was drying. But not that drying. Even though I exfoliated and moisturised my lips before, it still looked incredibly drying and cakey. It felt so uncomfortable to wear I had to remove it instantly which is such a shame because the colour is so unique.

Thumbs down.

What Beauty Products Does Kim Kardashian Use? Create Her Signature Look

Kim's make up always looks perfect, whether it be on an Instagram selfie (she posts alot), a magazine cover or on their reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians. After some proper extensive research via the Kardashian sisters blogs, her make up artists and searching through their book I've found out what some of Kim's favourite, and most used, beauty products are. So, if you want the Kim K look, take note...

Skincare
It seems Kim loves drugstore skincare. She said in a recently interview that her most essential product has to go be the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes in night calming. Also, one of her  regular make up artists, Joyce Bonelli loves to use the Aquaphor Healing Ointmen to spot treat dry patches of skin as well as using it to heal blemishes. Joyce also uses La Mer The Radiant Serum which is probably one of the most expensive serums ever at £233 for the small size! Before foundation Kim says she loves to apply the Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser as it makes the foundation stick to it.

Base
The key product to Kim's signature highlight is the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Makeup Color Base in yellow. It's the product used on that photo released of her with a yellow face. The product brings out her naturally strong yellow undertone, thus enhancing the glow. Her make up artists also prime her skin with the Make Up Forever HD Microperfecting Primer 7.

For foundation, she loves using - as well as her make up artists Mario Dedivanovic and Joyce Bonelli - the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. She mixes three shades (5.75, 6 and 6.5); her natural shade, one lighter to add extra highlight and one darker to contour. On her blog she stated she loves to also use NARS Sheer Glow (her shade is Barcelona) as well as the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser. She loves to use the beauty blender to apply foundation. As for concealer, Mario Dedivanovic uses the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-3 for under the eyes. Kim also said in an interview that she uses the Cle De Peau concealer in Ochre on herself.

Face
Kim sets her makeup using the Make Up Forever HD Translucent Powder but has also been seen to use the MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder in NC30. Ben Nye Banana Powder is also her favourite to set under eye concealer and to enhance her yellow undertones even more.

It's evident Kim loves using bronzer and her personal favourite (as well as her mua's) is the Smashbox Bronze Lights in Suntan Matte. She uses it all around the face as well as to contour her nose. For blush, Mario mostly use Kevyn Aucoin Shadore and NARS Desire on Kim. I couldn't seem to find a highlighter that she constantly uses other than the Eye M Glam which she uses on her cheekbones, under her brow bone, inner corner of her eyes and on the cupids bow.

Eyes
Kim does use eye lash extensions, yet mascara is never skipped from her routine. She curls her lashes with the Shu Uemura eyelash curlers followed by her favourite mascaras which are the Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara and MAC Zoom Lash. As for false lashes, her most used brand is Ardell.

Obviously she and her make up artists uses different eyeshadows every day. She has mentioned her favourite shades before which are: the NARS Surabaya duo, Urban Decay Vapor, MAC Carbon (a "must have for a smokey eye") and MAC Tan Pigment. As for black eyeliner, she always uses Stila Oynx Kajal.

For brows, Kim fills her eyebrows softlyses MAC Cork eyeshadow focusing more on the outer corners of the brow. Mario also loves using the MAC Eye Brows Pencil in lingering as it's "quick" and "easy to define". They use the Max Factor No Colour Brow Gel to set them in place.

Lips
Kim made the nude lip famous. If, in any picture she is sporting a nude or baby pink lip, 9/10 it is one of following pairings. Trust me. For a matte nude lip: MAC Subculture lip pencil + NARS Belle De Jour lipstick. For a glossy, pink/nude: MAC Stripdown lip pencil + MAC Angel lipstick + NARS Turkish Delight gloss.

Obviously Kim uses so many different products everyday and what various make up artists use differs accordingly, yet these are the products that she constantly uses, and ones highly rated, by herself. Have fun creating her looks!

Full list of Kim's products: Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes in night calming, Aquaphor Healing Ointment, La Mer The Radiant Serum, Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser, Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Makeup Color Base in yellow, Make Up Forever HD Microperfecting Primer 7, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation in 5.74, 6, 6.5, NARS Sheer Glow in Barcelona, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, the beauty blender, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer in SC-3, Cle De Peau concealer in ochre, Make Up Forever HD Translucent Powder, MAC Select Sheer pressed powder in NC30, Ben Nye banana powder, Smashbox Bronze Lights in Suntan Matte, Kevyn Auocin Shadore blush, NARS Desire blush, Eye M Glam highlighter, Lancome Hypnose Doll eyes mascara, MAC Zoom Lash, Ardell false lashes, NARS Surabaya eyeshadow duo,  Urban Decay vapor eyeshadow, MAC Carbon, MAC Tan pigment, Stila Onyx Kajal eye liner, MAC Cork eyeshadow, MAC Eye Brows Pencil in lingering, Max Factor No Colour Brow Gel, MAC Subculture lip pencil, NARS Belle De Jour lipstick, MAC Stripdown lip pencil, MAC Angel lipstick and NARS Turkish Delight lip gloss.

Recent Purchases from Feel Unique

In my last post I mentioned about an order I placed with Feel Unique, one of my favourite online shopping websites. Today, the package arrived so I'm going to show with you what I got!

Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Facial Mask, Bare Minerals Touch Up Veil, Cosmopolitan Beauty Expert Face Brush, Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique, Redken Power Tame 16, Joico Smooth Cure, Neals Yard Remedies Remedy to Roll, Wedla Wild Rose Eye Cream

The main reason for going on Feel Unique was to get some new haircare bits. Ever since Vivianna's review on the Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique (£18.90), I knew I wanted to try it. She has the same type of hair as mine (long, thick, dry) therefore I hope that it works just as well as it does for her on me. I also picked up the Joico Smooth Cure (£11.95) travel set which includes a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment. With high-end hair products I always get travel sizes or miniatures before investing in the large bottles, just to make sure I like them. The last hair product I bought was the Redken Power Tame 16 (£15.15) which is an intense straightening balm for those who want straight, non-frizzy, glossy hair. I have seen any reviews on this, so I'm excited to do my own.

I picked up two skincare items with the first being Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Facial Mask (£11.99). I've been using my Body Shop face mask for a long time so I decided to venture out and try a something from a brand I have never used before. It's organic and is therefore filled with properties that are good for your skin. I also bought the Welda Smoothing Eye Cream (£13.45) that says it softens fine lines, preserves the skin's youthful vitality and reduces puffiness. I'm excited to try this. The size of the tube is absolutely tiny - it only holds 10ml's of product which, for the price, isn't a lot. I'll tell you my thoughts and whether it's worth it when I review it properly.

The last three things I bought were random and last minute. I've heard good things about the Neal's Yard Remedies Remedies to Roll (£5.50) oils and heard that they are particularly good for long-haul flights. They have a range of different types such as relaxation travel, yet I decided to try the energy version. I picked up a boring old face brush by Cosmopolitan (£5.95) to use my Mario Badescu powder with. The last thing I bought was the bareMinerals Ready Touch Up Veil in Translucent (£22.00) which was definitely an impulse buy. I've nearly finished my Urban Decay De-Slick and, considering bareMinerals were having a sale, I decided to purchase it. 

I'm really happy with my purchases and, as always, expect individual reviews on each of them in the upcoming weeks!

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. The Vaccines just came out with the second studio album. I'm in love and I definitely recommend you should check them out, here.

Sephora in the UK?

I'm sure everyone interested in makeup wants a Sephora to open in the UK.

If you didn't already know, Sephora did have a shop at the north of England yet failed to make good sales resulting in closing down. Harrods were believed to stock Sephora's own items, but it seems like they don't anymore as I have just checked.

Aside from the obvious - going to Paris or America - there is another way to buy from Sephora. By going on the Sephora France website here, you are able to order in Euros and then ship to the UK. The only downside to this is the fact it's written in French (you might need Google Translate to help you out!) and the shipping prices can be expensive, depending on where from the UK you live.

Let's hope they decided to open a new chain here. The only comparison to Sephora in the UK is Space NK but it's definitely not as good as Sephora. By the way, I have just e-mailed Sephora international to ask whether they have any future plans to open stores in the UK. I'll keep you updated...that's if I get a reply!

*UPDATE* I just got a reply from Sephora which says:

Dear Suzanna, Thank you for contacting us regarding our new stores in England. We are excited to hear about your interest in our stores. We appreciate your interest in our company and are pleased to hear that you would like a store near you. While we currently do not have any plans for retail locations in England, we are now shipping to England and several other European countries via Sephora France at www.sephora.fr. To view the latest store openings and locations nearest you, please refer to the Store Openings section on the Store Locator at Sephora.com. Regards, Noelle Sephora Client Services

From this, it doesn't look like England will be getting a Sephora anytime soon. Yet, like I said you can order online via Sephora France! Let's just hope they change their minds soon.

Suzanna xoxo