3ina Makeup

3INA is a fairly new entry to the beauty scene and is trying to shake up the 'one size fits all' approach to the cosmetics industry. Their products have a functional design with long-wearing formulas while still being an affordable option for many people. The products I've tested are paraben and cruelty free and come from their bestsellers list that are designed to be 'tools for self expression and colour confidence'.

The first item I tried out was The Longwear Liquid Lipstick which comes in 20 shades and is priced at £7.95. It's designed for those who would like to have the colour payoff from a longwear lipstick while still being able to enjoy the application method of a lip gloss. I've got this in the shade colour 500 which dries as a matte cherry red. To apply, you need a generous amount of the product to put one coat over the top of a base of lip liner on clean dry lips. If you start at the Cupid's bow and work your way outwards, you'll get the best application. The gloss will then turn into an opaque matte lipstick that will stay on your lips for hours. When you want to remove the product use their 'The Eyes & Lips Make-Up Remover'. 

If you fancy something to use on your eyes, the 3INA The Cream Eyeshadow (£7.95) is waterproof and available in 18 different colours. It gives you a strong, shimmery magnetic colour that will last all day. I've got this in the number 301 which is a dual-toned coppery bronze metallic shade. To apply, you can use concealer brush to blend outwards towards the outer edge of your eye. To get a sophisticated finish, you can blend a number of shades together. For me it's not an everyday product as I've got oily eyelids, but when I set my eyes with primer it works quite well.

If you want a product that is a 'flashbulb for your skin', this 3INA The Highlighter (£10.95) can illuminate your face. For applying you can use a fan brush or makeup sponge to lightly add the powder to your temple and cheekbones. You can also dust over your eyelids or Cupid's bow using your fingers to light up these areas. Don't think that this product has to be limited to your face as it can add glow and radiance when wearing a strapless top by adding it to your shoulders and collarbones.

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L'Oréal's Latest Beauty Releases

During this time of year, there are so many beauty releases launching that it can be overwhelming to see what products are worth buying. It could be for Christmas presents or to glam up your festive party look, but in stores and online you can't see swatches of the products themselves. To make it easier for us, L'Oréal Paris has sent over some of their new products for me to try out and swatch for you, and for me to see what's the most worth it.

Right in time for Christmas, there is the Merry Metals collection which is full of shimmery products with luxury-looking packaging. The Merry Metals Glow Drops (£9.99) is a highly pigmented illuminator that is buildable for a bold shimmer and daylong glow. You can use the tiniest amount of a subtle shimmer or pack it on for an intense glow which makes it a very versatile product. The concentrated glow drops can be mixed with a primer or foundation for an all-over glow or added on top of lipstick and it's just beautiful. This is definitely a firm favourite of mine. There are three Infallible Metallic Lip Paints (£6.99) with similar packaging, and I have the shades Internet and Pixie. I'm not really sure about the name 'Internet' as it seems a bit random but it's a gorgeous shade nonetheless. The name 'Cute Psych' is another name I'm definitely not sure of but since I've not received this one I'm just going to leave that there. The lip paints have a shimmering metallic finish and they're not completely opaque but again this means you could apply them on top of another lip product. They're a long-wearing formula with high shine and shimmer so you can celebrate the festive season with a glossy pout. I'm not head over heels with the shade 'Pixie' as I'm fair with blonde hair but if you're daring enough to pull it off, I can imagine it would look amazing.

My photos just don't do this palette justice. It's the Merry Metals Highlighting Palette (£12.99) with 5 high-shimmer shades inside, from icy tones through to golden shimmers. I was originally a bit wary of the shade 'Make Me Flush' as it seems quite peachy but I'd use this and 'Pearlista' as blush shades instead. Make sure to head over to my Instagram to see the video I've uploaded of the swatches with flash on as they are far more shimmery with a light shone on them. I'm in love with the shade 'Metallicious' as it's basically a rose gold and I've been using it as an eyeshadow which you could do with the rest of the shades in this palette.

 

I have to admit, these are my first lip kits. Ever. I was never taken by the Kylie trend, nor the subsequent products that followed suit, but I can see why some were obsessed with them. Cheryl has collaborated with L'Oréal to bring out her own lip kits that include a lip liner with matching lip paint, and I have the shades 'Paint It Peach' and 'Paint It Greige' and there is a Burgandy shade too(£9.99). The Lip Kits are a match made in heaven to create a flawless pout that's matte, with a lasting time of up to 8 hours. You outline your entire lip with the lip liner then apply the lip paint all over and it's just such a pretty look and would compliment every skintone.

I know that Halloween is over, but the Autumn/Winter season is not. These are the Infallible Vampies Lip Paints (£6.99) in the shades 'Bye Felicia' and 'Purple Panic'. Unlike other lip products I've tried out before, these have a lacquer finish so they're opaque and high-shine, with shades suitable for your inner vamp. There's even a black shade in the collection so fear not, you can wear whatever shade you like right now with ease. I love that they've brought out more unique colours but since they're not incredibly wearable for me, I've not had too much wear out of them yet.

Unique to Superdrug, we now have brushes! These are the Infallible Makeup Brushes (£5.99-9.99) which are made for applying foundation and concealer, stippling, contouring and applying blushes and powders. I don't tend to use brushes for exactly what they're meant for, and I am a bit sad that the contouring brush is dual-ended as I stand my brushes up in a pot (when I say a pot I mean three...) and this means one side has to get squashed, but nevermind. I love that these brushes are affordable with soft bristles and I would definitely check out the concealer and blusher brushes if you come across them.


The products I'm most excited about have to be the Glow Drops and the Highlighting Palette from the Merry Metals Collection. You can't go wrong with a bit of shimmer and you can use them in so many ways that they're so worth picking up. Boots quite often have 3 for 2 on too so grab yourself a bargain if you can!

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Prepping For Summer With Fragrance Direct

Summer is one of my favourite seasons; you can sip cocktails in the sun, wear bright colours and switch up your beauty routine. Aside from shopping for new clothes, I love changing what makeup and fragrances I wear to more fruity and bright beauty items. Fragrance Direct have sent over some items to help me get ready for summer to get my glam on. The items included are the Givenchy Live Irrésistible Délicieuse Eau De Parfum (£55.95), Nars Illuminator in Super Orgasm (£23.00) and the Clinique Repairwear Intensive Lip Treatment (£20.50).

Givenchy Live Irresésistible Délicieuse EDP was created in mind of a woman who makes her own rules, bringing her spirit to life with a new creation that is as sassy as it is sweet. The theme around it is to live intensely without constraints or rules and I love the tone around it, being free and independent. It has an accord from the merging of a Madeleine with touches of cherry and vanilla, heart notes of a caramel-coated Rose, with a highlighting touch of sensual Tonka bean. The combination of orange and rose blossom create an ultra-feminine character before the Tonka bean creates a tempting warmth. The bottle is studded and an ombré pink which screams summer. The face of the scent is Amanda Seyfried who is beautiful and glamorous who is known for roles where she is empowering, emotive and feminine. The sweet fragrance brings to mind a summer romance in Paris and this is exactly what I go for when it comes to choosing a perfume. I'm all about sweet, fruity scents. The perfume ranges from £39.50 for 30ml, to £66.95 for 75ml.

The Nars Illuminator in Super Orgasm is one product that really makes me think of summer. I've previously reviewed the Nars Illuminator in Hot Sand which is a firm favourite. It's essentially a liquid highlighter that glides on to enhance your complexion with 'shimmering incandescence. It can be applied under, over or mixed in with foundation and since it's more of a pink toned highlighter it can be worn as a blush too. It's lovely mixed in with your foundation for a dewy finish or on top of your base to make your cheekbones glow, both of which is made for the summer months.

The Clinique Repairwear Intensive Lip Treatment pretty much does as it says in the name. It's a gel-based lip treatment that helps minimise the look of wrinkles on and around the lips, supports the skin's natural collagen and replenishes the natural moisture barrier to ensure lips stay hydrated. It's smooth and is essential during the hot months when your lips can dry out, especially when using matte lipsticks. The only thing that would make this better is if it had an SPF in to protect your lips in the bright sun. This will be carried everywhere with me so I can ensure my lips are soft and nourished.

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Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette Review & Swatches

Kat Von D is a brand I've been intrigued by since it launched in America and became big in the beauty community. Last year I went to Los Angeles and actually walked past Kat's High Voltage Tattoo Studio and it reminded me to have a splurge in Sephora, especially to pick up the Tattoo Liner. Since then I've been collecting makeup like wildfire and when I saw the release of the Alchemist Holographic Palette (£25)* I knew it was the type of product I've been missing. With four holographic shades, you can transform your eyes and face without sticking to your usual highlighter regime. 

The outer packaging is one of the best parts of the design, with a holographic A that did take me a few minutes to put down after I saw that it changed colour in the light. The packaging of the palette itself is more subtle in nature and is a lot smaller than I expected from the photos. In fact, it's a really handy size for both storage and travel, as triangular palettes aren't the easiest to store. Inside are four different holographic highlighters, formulated with Double Dimension technology, with each prismatic power submerged in a refractive coating to catch the light from all angles. It's said to create a spectrum of luminising special effects on the eyes, lips, collarbone, cheekbones and cupid's bow, or anywhere you wish to achieve an 'extreme iridescent highlight'.

The palette is inspired by the ancient science of alchemy which is the art of turning natural minerals into a precious elixir. In essence, using the Alchemist Palette you can magically transform any shadow, or bare skin, into an iridescent and beautiful finish with a small flick of your magic brush. The shades available are Emerald (green), Amethyst (ultra-violet), Saphyre (blue) and Opal (pink). The pigmentation is definitely here, with the ability to pack on the product to be illuminous, or blend it out for a more subtle finish. I can't say I've used green, blue or violet highlighters before so I'll be challenging myself to see what I can come up with both creatively and for natural looks too.

For £25/$32 for four pans of highlight is good in my eyes, especially when they're holographic and unlike other shades you've seen before. When the light hits the shades really come alive and they'd look amazing as eyeshadows at the same time. Another amazing idea from Kat Von D is to layer the product over an Everlasting Liquid Lipstick for a bolder look, which I'll be trying for sure as the combinations are endless, especially with the 13 Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks I own myself.

The palette is 100% cruelty-free and vegan-friendly so is suitable to all which is good to hear. Previously I've been quite brand-loyal when it came to highlighters but now that I've tried Kat Von D's I can see myself wanting more of her powder products. The Alchemist Holographic Palette is exclusive to Debenhams in the UK and I'm excited to see the brand coming to Debenham stores soon so I can nip into town to browse the rest of the range. 

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Ultimate Glow - Review and Swatches

Ever since I picked up my first Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam, I've wanted to try out another. Over the past few months I saw other Glow Kits from ABH such as That Glow, Moonchild, Sun Dipped and Sweets but I wasn't fussed on them. There was at least one shade in the palettes that didn't capture my attention, but I looked on the ABH website a few weeks ago and saw a new Glow Kit in Ultimate Glow and knew it was for me. It's $45 to buy and I used a shipping service so it wasn't as cheap as the roughly £36 it converts to due to shipping and customs costs (that may have been due to Colourpop or Bath & Body Works but I'm not too sure). 

Ultimate Glow consists of six limited edition powder highlights available in shimmering and metallic pearl finishes. You can layer them up or wear individually, and can be used anywhere you desire on your face. The shades all compliment each other, as one is a bright white and all the others are of a gold shade. The formula is ultra-fine that claims it won't leave any shimmer particles for a smooth, even glow. 

Inside are three shimmering luster shades: Snow, which is a true icy white with a platinum reflect, White Sand which is a warm beige with gold reflect and Golden Dawn, a warm amber with a gold reflect. The metallic pearl shades are: Sunray which is a warm copper with peach-gold lustre, Amber Gold, a warm rose with gold lustre and Hot Sand which is a warm bronze with an amber lustre.

 It's definitely a palette made for an obvious highlight and is in no way subtle. The formula isn't as light as the Glow Kit in Gleam, and works best with a densly-packed brush. It works so well for eyeshadow too since it's very pigmented and lasts so long on the skin. I feel like it definitely leaves some sparkle on the face which you can see from the swatches above but I don't mind this. I have more subtle highlighters for when I want a hint of glow, but this palette is made for a more intense look. This palette is being released in the UK soon, so people in the US have enjoyed it for a few months ahead of us, but it would be perfect during the summertime. Snow is the perfect shade for the winter, especially on my pale skin but I'll definitely be taking this with me everytime I travel in 2017. For darker skin tones it might suit more of an everyday wear, but I'm going to be using this as an eyeshadow whenever I feel like it, especially using Amber Gold as it's the truest rose gold shade I've seen out there so far.

I can't wait for it to be released in the UK so other beauty bloggers and lovers can get their hands on this. I imagine it will sell out fast too! This is actually a Christmas present for me from my Nan, but I've been allowed to review it before having it back until the 25th. I'm sure over the next few months it will make its way into my favourites and you'll definitely see it in my What I Got For Christmas post!

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit Review

I honestly never thought I'd buy the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam as I'm not normally one to drop $40 (£39 in the UK which is a conversion rip off as it should be £28ish but anyway) on a bunch of highlighters. Whilst browsing Sephora in Los Angeles and was picking up quite a lot of makeup, I saw the stall and thought I'd just swatch the shades. I do tend to be one of those people who will just swatch products out of interest with no intention of buying them, just the same as I feel clothes in shops to see if they're made out of nice material. My boyfriend finds it hilarious but I'm just curious!

Now I was not expecting what happened. I'd already picked up the ABH Contour Kit as I had heard wonderful things and was going to get it regardless of the swatches. I swatched them and had honestly never seen such pigmented shades before, especially in highlighters. In the pan you can see there is a fair bit of shimmer in them and I was worried it would come out a bit chunky but it's so just finely milled. The highlighters just glide on and they're so light that you can't feel them on the skin. I honestly don't know how I'd ever even hit pan on these as you can barely notice when you swatch it let alone use it every day.

There are four shades in the palette, Hard Candy, Starburst, Mimosa and Crushed Pearl. Hard Candy is described as a Golden peach with a pink-pearl shimmer, Starburst is an iridescent pink with cooler undertones, Mimosa is a metallic peach with gold undertones and Crushed Pearl is a pearlescent pink with a frost finish. Crushed Pearl is the perfect shade for a light and bright highlight, and I use the darker shades to contour with. You can easily incorporate the shades into your eyeshadow looks too. Anastasia Beverly Hills also recommends that you should use it with a damp brush for a more intense glow which I am yet to try out.

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