KIKO Milano Haul

Hey all! As promised, here are more detailed pictures of the KIKO Milano unboxing I posted on my InstaStories a couple of days ago.

I was looking for a replacement angled eyeliner brush and KIKO came to mind. I have other brushes from their collection and have always found them to be of good quality thus I went for it; plus, it's been ages since I last bought anything from them and they have some pretty good offers going on at the moment such as 2 + 1 on products from some 2017 limited edition collections. Here's what I got:

From one of their current limited editions, Metal Fusion I got the Highlighting Drops in 02 Sweet Dreams and the Water Eyeshadow 200. The Highlighting Drops can either be mixed with foundation to achieve a glowy look or else use them as a liquid highlighter which is my intended way of using them. The Water Eyeshadow can be used both wet and dry; wet making the colour more intense of course.

Left: Metal Fusion Highlighting Drops 02
Right: Metal Fusion Water Eyeshadow 200

Next up are more limited edition products, a Lip Liner in 01 Innovative Nude from the Fall 2.0 Collection, a Holographic Eyeshadow Palette in 01 Signature Brown from the Isa Arfen Asian Touch limited edition, a Metallic Lip Colour in 02 Desirable Burgundy from the Into The Dark collection and a makeup pouch from the Tropic Heat collection.

I also got some mascaras which are currently being sold at a discount. I got two Smart Colour Mascaras - 02 Electric Blue and 03 Emerald as well as the Standout Volume Waterproof Mascara to update my makeup bag for summer.

Lastly, I got a Dark Circle Concealer in 09 Light Beige which I have already tried and like and what this haul was intended for - an angled eyeliner brush Eyes 62. 

It's been a long time since I purchased makeup from KIKO or any makeup online for that matter and it felt like Christmas all over again opening the package :)

Customisable eyeshadow palette? Yes, Catrice! | Catrice Cosmetics Art Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette Review

A while back I was invited to the launch of the Autumn/Winter collection by Catrice and well, I really liked their whole re-vamped approach to their single eyeshadows. They came out with the Art Couleurs concept where you can still purchase the eyeshadow singles and you can also get an empty 4-pan palette to store them in instead of having them all over the place. Let's have a look at this new system together in this post.

First things first - the empty palette has a glossy black lid with the new Catrice logo engraved on it and comes with four hollow spaces for the eyeshadows to click in. It also comes with a mirror on the backside of the lid. With the spaces being hollow, the names of the eyeshadows are visible at the back which I think is great to know which is which and it's easy to know which colours to pick up when they finish!

While the eyeshadows may look the same as before, because they kept the transparent casing, in reality, the pans are meant to be clicked out of the singles' casing and put into the palette spaces - genius right?! Me being an organisation freak, eyeshadow singles are not really favourites of mine and the idea of having eyeshadows from different brands in one palette is not appealing either so this new concept from Catrice is right up my alley. One suggestion though - I think the brand should consider introducing palettes with more empty slots to avoid clutter in makeup drawers and have all Catrice Art Couleurs eyeshadows in one place!  

I'm pleased to see that Catrice have greatly improved on the pigmentation of their eyeshadows. I have two matt and two shimmer shades in my Art Couleurs palette (swatches left to right):

040 - Wild Ginger (matt mauve)

050 - Taupe Addict (matt greige)

090 - Life On High Heels (shimmery burgundy)

110 - Chocolate Cake By The Ocean (shimmery golden brown)

My favourite is hands down 050 Taupe Addict for its versatility. I mainly use it as a transitional shade in my crease but it's equally great if you're using it as an all-over-the-lid colour for it complements all skin tones and provides a great base for a myriad of eye looks. Both matt shades have great pigmentation and I'm happy to say the shimmery ones do too. And the shimmer is all throughout the shadow not just the upper layer. I don't have issues with longevity as the eyeshadows last all throughout without the need for touch-ups.

I think Catrice have really outdone themselves with their new releases which I will be sharing with you over the coming days since I have now had a chance to try them all. Did you pick up your Art Couleurs palette and eyeshadows yet?

PR Samples

New Skin Care Finds | Lierac Paris Double Cleansing & Hydragenist Product Ranges

As much as I enjoy planning and organizing events, I never though wedding planning will be as stressful. We have a little more than a year to go and with May being one of the peak months for weddings in Malta, we struggled to find a venue we liked which was available and the stress definitely took its toll on my skin - I was breaking out uncontrollably until we settled on a venue so of course I resorted to a skin care routine that helped my skin get better in a matter of days. Apart from Eau Thermale Avene's Cleanance range, I've been using a few new products from Lierac Paris too, namely, their new additions to the essential range, all of which offer double cleansing.

I was delving into double cleansing at the end of last year thereby I was delighted when the people behind Lierac reached out and offered me deluxe samples of their newest products which I will gladly share with you in this post. What exactly is double cleansing? Double cleansing usually involves layering two cleansing products during your skincare to make sure your skin is thoroughly cleansed and free from makeup and pollutants.

I will start with the Foaming Cream Double Cleanser which is meant for makeup removal, gentle scrubbing and anti-aging. I found this product a bit too rich for my skin but nonetheless, it does an excellent job at all it claims to do. The cleansers transforms to a gentle cleansing foam on contact with water and leaves the skin fresh and purified with floral notes of jasmin, lotus flower and gardenia.

The other two products in the range require no rinsing and they are the Double Toning Gel Lotion and  Double Cleanser Micellar Milk. These are more up my alley especially after a long day when all I want to do is just remove my makeup and go to bed. I don't like removing my makeup in the shower - I prefer taking it all off in front of my bathroom mirror so using products that require the use of a cotton disc are sometimes favoured over gel cleansers especially when I am not wearing any or too much makeup. I find that the cleansing milk is an effective makeup remover and leaves my skin feeling clean even though I don' rinse it off. The toner, on the other hand, has the perfect consistency which enables it to be easily absorbed and help keep my skin toned and hydrated. They both transform into water on contact with the skin and the milk also features the same floral notes as the Foaming Cream Double Cleanser.

The last two products that I want to talk about are from the Hydragenist range which is aimed at younger skins and targets their adequate hydration as the name suggests. I'm going to start with my favourite - the serum! During these last couple of years, I have been making it a point to include serums in my skincare routine and so far I have only used Lierac serums. I love the smooth, velvety texture and my skin feel re-energized immediately after application. The other product is a moisturiser. I like to use this mostly in the evening as during the day I prefer to use something with SPF in it. It is light enough not to make my oily skin feel oilier and it does a great job of keeping my skin hydrated.

Lierac is one of my favourite skincare brands but these two ranges have definitely got to be at the top of my favourite skin care products from the brand! Did you try them already?

PR Samples

Event | QIVY Spa Opening

There's a new relaxing place in town, QIVY Spa at Yue Healthier Living Complex in Naxxar and I'm pleased to have been invited to the opening do.

Nestled under street level, the spa is one of the best escapes on the island. I was given a tour of the premises along with other guests where we were able to see the different rooms as well as some treatments which were being performed on models for the night. Products used are by Mary Cohr and Elemis, two premium skincare brands that need no introduction. As for nails, products by ProNails are used to ensure the best possible care for your nails.

There is also plenty of room to relax in the chill out area which is tastefully decorated in a minimalist style that further helps your senses to relax.

I look forward to experiencing the spa soon and see what they have to offer, watch this space!

Photography by Noel Fenech

Luxury Unboxing | Saint Laurent Envelope Wallet On Chain

Surprises are always welcome, especially when they come in chic, black packaging signed Saint Laurent. My better half is definitely a keeper; he surprised me over the weekend with the YSL wallet on chain that I have had my eyes on for the past few months. He was able to get the last one in black on their website and after just three days (he ordered it on Sunday evening and it was delivered on Wednesday), my baby is finally here!

About Saint Laurent

As much as I love the Italian way of dressing, my heart has always favoured French designers more, maybe because of my love for their capital; thus, YSL or as it has recently been rebranded, Saint Laurent is one of my favourites.

The French fashion house was established in July 1961 by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé making it one of the 'youngest' French luxury brands when compared to Chanel, Balmain and Dior for example, yet the brand is intricately etched into the history of Parisian high fashion. The house of Saint Laurent has revolutionised fashion from the very first of their creations and continue to do so to this day. In remembrance of such a legacy, the Fondation Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent opened a museum last year in the very heart of Paris, housing over 5000 garments, sketches as well as the designer's working tools and some personal artefacts.


Unboxing 

On to the fun part, unboxing! Everything comes packaged in Saint Laurent's signature sleek black box including receipt, return forms, authenticity card, care instructions as well as a personal message from my beau :) The bag originally comes with a styrofoam sleeve around the chain but I have already taken it off.

The designer name of the bag is Saint Laurent Monogram Envelope Chain Wallet In Black Grain de Poudre textured matelassé leather which essentially means that the bag is made out of grained leather and has a quilted texture. I chose the one with silver hardware but it also comes with gold hardware or black chrome hardware. Other colours are also available but since this is my first luxury handbag, I opted for black to make sure I get maximum use out of it.

The bag is the perfect size to carry around when all you need are just a few essentials. I intend to use it mostly for weddings and special occasions so the size is perfect for me. Also, compared to my petite stature it looks perfect. It is made in Italy out of 100% calfskin leather and features a snap front closure.

The inside features one zip compartment, a bill compartment at the very back and 6 card slots. There are no other compartments on the back of the bag. The chain is made out of the same leather as the bag and silver-toned metal. I favoured this strap over the one made entirely out of metal because I think it is more comfortable. The chain is not adjustable but can be removed to use the bag as a clutch. Alternatively, I like the look of the bag when worn across the body for a sportier feel.

What fits inside the bag

Let's have a look at what fits inside the bag now. Having six card slots, I will probably skip carrying around a small wallet but for the sake of this post, I will be using a small card holder just to show you what I can fit. Basically, I can fit my mobile phone (currently Samsung Galaxy S6), card holder or small purse, tissues, one lipstick and keys. I think that is more than enough to carry with me.

That's it for this post :) Do let me know if you have any questions about this bag. I also intend to post an update when I have used the bag enough to be able to address how it wears etc. but in the meantime do let me know what you want to know more about it.