Eylure Lashes Review & How To Care for your False Eyelashes

I used to shy away from false eyelashes until I was introduced to Eylure Lashes. I love the fanned out look that false lashes impart yet I used to brush off the idea of applying false eyelashes myself because i) it can get tricky and ii) I tried buying some cheap ones off Ebay once and the strip was just so hard it kept poking me in the eyes so I gave up altogether.

Towards the end of last year and up to a few weeks ago, I started receiving Eylure lashes from the local representatives and I kept them on my vanity for some time before I decided to give them a go. Well, clearly I was missing out!

Eylure Lashes come packaged in attractive boxes I must say and of course my favourites in that regard have to be the limited edition Enchanted ones. Each pair of lashes comes complete with a mini sized glue that can be used countless times and is the perfect size to take away with you in your bag for any touch-ups you might require.

Wearing the Limited Edition Roses & Thorns pair on different occasions

The lashes comes in a huge array of shapes made to suit all tastes and requirements yet they all look quite natural. The strip is thin and feels comfortable on the eyes and they can be re-used. Speaking of re-using lashes, here's a quick guide to cleaning lashes and make sure they are kept in tip-top condition:

1. Pour a little eye make-up remover into a small plastic container and put in a pair of the dirty lashes if they have a ton of glue or mascara on them. Leave the lashes to soak in the make-up remover for a couple of minutes.

2. Alternatively, if they only have a little glue on them, just pick at it gently with tweezers until it's off.

3. Carefully, take out one lash at a time with a pair of tweezers and place on a paper towel.

4. Gently remove any traces of mascara from the lashes with some more makeup remover. Put the lash back in the container and repeat until no more mascara comes off.  Do the same with the other lash.  Remember to clean the underside of the lashes as well.

5. Take off any left-over lash glue from the strip with your fingers and wipe the lashes clean.

6. Brush the lashes through with the lash comb to separate them and allow to air dry for a few minutes.

7. Store the lashes back in their original case and voila'! Lashes are clean again and ready for another use!

Wearing the Limited Edition Divine Crime lashes

Wearing Eylure No. 070 lashes

Thank you Eylure Lashes for easy-to-use, comfortable lashes! Now I look forward to putting on a different pair each time!

PR Samples

A Portrait of Me

Last April I took part on local gameshow Ħadd Għalik and my team managed to win a game which had a voucher for a photoshoot as one of the prizes tied to it and well I utilised it to take some portrait shots.

Initially, I was going to review the makeup products I used to achieve this look and we will still get to that in a minute but first, I wanted to talk to you a bit about what really goes on my life when I am not posing for pictures or attending events.

When I first saw these pictures I was elated with the results, something I not always am when I look at photos of me - I'm either not happy with the way my face looks, or certain poses make me look fat, others accentuate my problem areas (read my hips and thighs) but sometimes, there are those photos which I really love and want to share them with all the world because I look good and feel good looking at them! A case in point, being these portraits.

Behind the shy smile in these photos, is a strongly opinionated individual that is passionate about a myriad of subjects besides fashion and beauty - stamp collecting, history, politics and science being some of them. My full-time job, in fact, involves me working in a medical laboratory at the hospital, which of course occupies most of my time. Blogging does take up a lot of time too but it is something I truly enjoy doing for I get to share my outfits and new products with you as well as getting to meet fabulous people all along the way, be it other bloggers/influencers, followers, brand managers, photographers, etc...

Now, as promised, here are a few words about the products used to create this makeup look. A couple of months ago I was sent some products from the local representatives of Rimmel London which I haven't got to feature properly on my blog. This shoot was the perfect opportunity to show you this colourful palette and this beautiful red liquid lipstick.

I enjoy planning ahead, be it outfits for events, or activities for a day off. Summer is my favourite time of year and I enjoy spending days at sea whenever we have the chance to go and thus, to be honest, I was going to go for a more colourful look. However, when I had these pictures taken, summer was still not sure it wanted to make an appearance, so colourful makeup wasn't really on my agenda. The eye makeup was done with shadows from the Magnif'Eyes Colour Edition palette. The palette comes with 12 colourful shades ranging from warm neutrals, to blues, greens and even purples. The eyeshadows are mostly shimmery, with only 3 shades being matte. All shades have good pigmentation but the darker ones are a bit powdery in texture. Albeit, the colours I used all lasted well throughout the day and I think they came out really well in these photos. I think the khaki greens and beige shades used really brought out the colour of my eyes, which I admit are one of my favourite features to play with it when it comes to makeup.

For lips, I used the Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour in the shade 500 Firestarter which has fast become a product I reach for very often. It has insane pigmentation and I don't need to touch it up during the day! This shade of red is one of my favourites ever and works well for day and night! I believe red lipstick gives you a confidence boost like no other and when you find the perfect shade that works for you, you're unstoppable -  to a certain extent of course ;)

Lastly, for contouring, correction and highlighting, I used the new Insta Conceal & Contour Trio and the Insta Duo Contour Stick respectively. My favourite out of the two is the Contour Stick, especially when it comes to the highlighting part. I like the highlighter on this one better than the trio palette because of the shimmer, whereas I prefer to use the lighter shade from the trio as a 'highlighting' concealer on the bridge of my nose and chin. I find both products have a creamy, easy to blend formula and I especially like the contour shade from the duo stick because it fits right under my cheekbone and is easy to blend seamlessly. On a side note, I think that the shades in the trio should have been labelled the other way round, don't you agree?

Doing my makeup and choosing my outfit for a night out is part of the fun for me and it is when I am most relaxed especially when I get to try out new products, so thank you Rimmel London Malta and thank you Paul from The Foto Grafer for these fun portraits :) I hope you enjoyed this post and got to know me a bit better too :) What are your favourite features/traits in yourselves?

Portraits by The Foto Grafer.
Featured makeup products were sent to me for PR purposes.

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

Wonder Gaze Look with Rimmel London

The eyes are the window to the soul and thanks to Rimmel London, everyone can now achieve a wondrous gaze worthy of a stare or two! I was lucky enough to be sent some newly launched products from the brand and needless to say, I was curious to see how they performed right away!

Rimmel London is a staple brand in many makeup collections because despite their affordable price tag, the brand doesn't compromise on the quality of the products. Speaking of great quality products, did you know that 'rimmel' translates to 'mascara' in many a Mediterranean language thanks to the brand's highly successful mascara created by the founder Eugene Rimmel himself?

I guess great Rimmel mascaras have stood the test of time and one of the latest to join the family is the Wonder'FULLY Real keratin and argan oil mascara. I love this mascara and it is my current go-to one. It is very black which is always a plus and it doesn't smudge or flake off. The only issue I have with it is that it is a very wet mascara and the wand picks up a lot of product so I have to remove the excess before applying it; but other than that, I would recommend this mascara especially because it lengthens lashes like there's no tomorrow!

Next we have the Wonder Wing eyeliner. This is something like I have never seen before - it's got a stamp applicator which helps you achieve the perfect cat eye in no time while the pointed tip helps to line the rest of your eyes to perfection. I was most curious about this eyeliner from the products I received so I had to try it right away. I'm not going to lie - it is one of the easiest products to use! I swear by gel eyeliner and it's still my favourite but whenever I am in a hurry, I'll just grab this Wonder Wing Eyeliner and I'm good to go!

I still struggle with brows. Fact. But, The Rimmel London Brow This Way Pencil Pomade Fix & Fill makes things sooooo much easier! I have given up using pot pomades to fill my brows and just use this instead - in just one step my brows are filled and fixed so it's a great time saver. I got the shade Dark which suits my natural brow colour perfectly and I like that you can sharpen the tip to ensure a precise application every time. The pencil pomade stays on all day without fading or smudging.

Lastly, I got the Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in 003 Brown. This couldn't have been a better choice, for brown complements my eye colour and it's a great alternative to black especially for daytime looks. I am not new to Scandal Eyes as I have some other colours from the range which I reach for very often. Staying power is great though you may need to reapply throughout the day.

Thank you Rimmel London Malta for giving me the opportunity to try out these fabulous products! Find them yourselves at various outlets across Malta & Gozo.

PR Samples

Event | Catrice Cosmetics Autumn / Winter 2017 New Products Launch

I never get tired of saying this and even more so, I never get tired of looking at it - The Grand Harbour is the best view we have all around the island so you can imagine my delight when I was invited for the launch of the fall collection from Catrice Cosmetics at the Panorama Lounge in Valletta overlooking the said Grand Harbour!

Catrice Cosmetics is a German makeup brand under the Cosnova portfolio and has been around since 2004. I have regarded the brand as a special one ever since it was launched locally by Pharma.MT for it was one of the first brands to work with us bloggers along with sister brand Essence.

Catrice is all about innovation and they produce over 1400 products which come in both classic and trendy colour variations. The brand is heavily inspired by catwalk and fashion trends and in fact, it has ongoing collaborations with German fashion houses Kaviar Gauche and Lala Berlin. So what will the brand bring our way in autumn 2017?

For starters, they are embracing the concept of individuality with the launch of their Art Couleurs Palette for eyeshadows which is supplied empty and you can fill it with up to 4 of your favourite Art Couleurs eyeshadow shades. The eyeshadows come in matt and shimmer finishes and bear the new, cleaner and more sophisticated looking logo. I think it's cool that the base is fully transparent and hollow for the eyeshadows to fit in and still show the shade name and number! Struggling to find the right shade of foundation? Catrice has now got you covered with the Prime and Fine Makeup Transformer Drops!

Other new products include the Liquid Metal Cream Eyeshadows and the Glam & Doll Waterproof False Lashes mascara to complement the already successful range of Glam & Doll Mascaras as well a the Ultimate Chrome palette which is just breathtaking!

As for lips, there are the new Lip Dressers and the Liquid Lip Powder which dry to a matte metallic finish as well some new shades for the exiting lip product ranges. For the face, it is all about a bright luminous complexion and colour correction. My favourites are the Re-Touch Concealers and the Professional Makeup Techniques Face Palette.

Ultimately, they have launched a new nail polish range, ICONails, comprising 36 colours and a gel top coat. I am currently wearing shade 10 Rosywood Hills which Stephanie from Lacquer Nail Bar in Naxxar applied on my nails during the event. The nail polish is supposed to last for 7 days without top coat which can be extended to 10 days with the ICONails Gel Top Coat. I'll put it to the test and share the results in a separate blog post :) For those favouring a matte look on their nails, there is the new Silk Matte Top Coat too. Oh and how gorgeous do the Brown Collection nail polishes look with those rose gold caps?!

Catrice is really breaking the rules with their innovative, quality products at a very affordable price range which are appealing to a lot of women of different ages don't you think?

I wanted to share the excitement with you guys and at the same thank you for your ongoing support so, to celebrate the launch of the Autumn collection, I will be giving away some newly launched products to one lucky reader! Head over to my Facbeook page to discover how you can be in the chance of winning this bundle!

Lastly, thank you Catrice and Pharma.MT for having me, I look forward to test run all these new products!