Swatch: Dior Lipstick in Fuchsia Star ✰

Hello everyone!

 Hope everyone is well!! Thank you all for your lovely comments, it was nice to know I'm not the only one who has had some mishaps with false lashes and the same situations has happened to some girlies too! 

Here's a swatch of one of the lipsticks from Diors Rouge collection:

Fuchsia star 766.

Have you noticed that red/bright lipsticks tend to make your teeth look whiter? Or is it just me...

I love their packaging, so sleek and chic! Also, it's not unnecessarily big :)

My thoughts: 

- It's definitely a lovely shade, the quality like all Dior lipsticks is great, my lips never feel dry and it's quite shiny on its own.

-  It's such a bright colour, I don't think I would wear it often but i would recommend this to girls who love to embrace bright colours!

Does this ring look familiar to you?

Yes, i'm secretly married to Prince William.. Lol!

This is such a cool dupe of Kate Middletons ring! I wear this as a statement ring.

In my last post, Blair had asked me to show a close up of my necklace. Here it is Blair :)

This was a birthday gift from my mum, my first impressions of it wasn't great. I remembered asking her "why did you get me a caveman necklace... it looks so weird". However, I've come to appreciate how unique this piece is and I think it's really pretty :) 

Thank you for reading! Lots of love xX <3

Looking for a good BB Cream? *Review*

Hello lovelies!

Before I start, I just wanted to tell you all that I have joined twitter! I have no clue how to use it... So far I've worked out how to follow people lol!! So if you have a twitter account please leave your info below so i can follow you! You can follow me @KawaiiCrystals or click here.

I'm sure most of you know what BB creams are. For those that don't, this isn't the best definition, but if I had to sum it up; BB creams are similar to tinted moisturisers but thicker, like foundation but thinner... if that makes sense. BB creams (properly known as Blemish Balm creams) are very popular in Asia, I think one main reason is because it helps women achieve a lovely clear and bright complexion. Women, particularly in China and Korea think the clearer and lighter your skin is, the prettier you are.

I am a huge fan of BB creams, they are not as heavy as foundation and hardly ever make me break-out, they also give a little more coverage than tinted moisturisers or mineral powder foundations. I have really oily skin and am prone to break-outs, thus I tend to stick to light make-up.

Here is a review on three different brands of BB Cream that I have used, I'll try to keep it light! If you have further questions, don't be shy and either leave a comment or email me!

L-R: Missha Perfect Cover in No.23, Skin 79, Hanskin Control Skin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So lets start with Hanskin.
This is only available in Korea the last time I checked, which is a bummer because I really want to purchase more.

Hanskin BB Cream has a slight yellow tone to it and it blends into my skin tone very well. Some BB creams require a few minutes to oxidise to match your skin tone, with Hanskin I feel that once applied, it matches my skin tone quite well already.

Oh hello wrinkly dry hands >.<
 

(+) Hanskin BB cream leaves a lovely dewy finish

(+) It's not too thick so it's easy to apply

(+) It doesn't brighten my skin as such but it gives my skin a slight glow

(-) unfortunately it's not great for oily skin, after a while my face looks greasy

(-) would have been perfect if it had spf protection

*A note on Hanskin, they use natural materials, this BB cream claims to control spots and I feel it does, it hasn't made me break-out at all. They also have a skincare range, if you can get your hands on it, i definitely recommend their facewash and moisturiser, it's great for acne prone skin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream, No.23. spf 42

It has a pump at the bottom, but this makes it a little hard to control how much to squeeze out, I always squeeze more than I intend to.

It may look dark but when applied it's quite light, like a shade too light for my skin. However, after about 5mins once it has oxidised it matches my skin tone really well.

(+) The shade matches my skin tone very well, I like this because it's not too obvious
(+) you only need a tiny amount
(+) with the right moisturiser, your skin won't look really greasy after a few hours.

(+) it has spf

(-) It doesn't really give me a brighter complexion, it claims to lighten skin tone by healing blemishes, but I don't think it does.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Skin79
It claims to have a triple function; whitening, UV protection spf25, and wrinkles free.

I don't think they mean permanent whitening because my face doesn't look whiter after using it, as for the wrinkles free, I don't think i'm qualified for that yet.

This BB cream has a slight pink tone to it.
I bought this one off Ebay, let me tell you, I was so scared this was a fake. I heard so many horror stories about fake bb creams imported from China and the horrible reactions some girls got on their skin. I had to apply some on my arm for a few hours when I first got it just to be sure I didn't get a skin reaction. However, I think this is a genuine one, the buyer is also from S.Korea (which was a reassuring sign). If you guys are interested in which buyer i got this from I can give you her details :) Please beware, there are a lot of fakes going round, don't risk your skin over saving a few pennies!

This really does brighten your complexion, when I first applied it I physically groaned because my face was a shade lighter and I looked so stupid. However, once I gave it time to oxidise it came out really nicely. I think you have to blend it out correctly so it doesn't look too obvious that your face is slightly lighter than your neck even after it oxidised.

(+) I think it makes my skin glow and gives a dewy finish

(+) I love how it brightens my complexion

(-) the pump is hard to use, I can't control how much product I want and also some product gets stuck at the little tube bit and it dries and clumps there (eww..)

I think Skin 79 is perfect for going out if you want to look polished, for everyday use, I think missha is great. I tend to use Hanskin as  a concealer on days where I just don't feel like wearing too much make-up.

A tip on using BB Cream, if the consistency is still too thick for your liking, I always add a little moisturiser on my palm and mix it in with a bit of bb cream, works like a dream :) In addition, with BB creams a little goes a long way! 

Hope this post helps! Lots of love, xX <3

Fake Tan ~ The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I was initially going to review one or two fake tans individually but I thought it would probably make more sense and be a bit more helpful to review all of the ones that I've tried together and also do a quick comparison of them while I'm at it!

The 4 that I will be comparing are: the St. Tropez Mousse, St. Tropez Lotion, Xen Tan Dark Lotion and He-Shi Liquid Tan. These are all within the same price range. I also have Xen Tan Transform Luxe in the photo and I'll review this briefly too but I can't compare it with the other tans since it's a gradual tan and not a weekly one so it serves a different purpose. I've been using most of these over a few years and the ones which are newer to me, like the He-Shi, I've been using for a few months so I think I've given them all a fair try!

I'll also just mention that tans do react differently on different skin tones and types so do keep in mind that these reviews are just based on my experience with the tans on my own individual skin.

Before I apply any tan, I exfoliate really well. Right before putting on the tan I'll apply moisturiser to dry areas like knees, elbows, feet, wrists and under arms. All of these tans last about the same amount of time on my skin. I think the longevity of the tan has quite a lot to do with the condition of your skin. For example if your skin is dry and flaky then the tan may not last too long so make sure to exfoliate and moisturise well. Generally if your tan starts to wear off patchy or scaly then you're probably not exfoliating regularly enough. To keep a good colour, I have to apply any of these tans a few times a week. If you're tanned already then you may not need to apply them as often but I'm basically starting from a blank canvas, lol!


St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse


Application - Since this a mousse, the application is absolutely fool-proof. I find that it applies best with a surgical latex glove. It's extremely quick and easy to spread around and it dries within minutes so you don't have to wait around before getting dressed. The mousse is brown so you can see where you're applying it and it does also give a little bit of instant colour. This is one tan that you can actually apply in the morning and leave on throughout the day as there's absolutely no residue or stickiness. It's completely streak-free and very even. I think it's a great one to try if you're new to tanning.

Smell - St. Tropez is not the best smelling brand of fake tan and the mousse does have that classic fake tan smell while you're applying it but I actually find that it's not too evident after the application process. The smell doesn't get any stronger as it's developing. I often put some of this on in the morning and leave it on all day and, unless I'm smelling really closely (lol!), then I really don't find it to be too evident.

Colour - It gives a very natural colour - no orange in sight! This won't be very dark after one application but it can definitely be built up over a few days.



St. Tropez Bronzing Lotion


Application - I tend to use a surgical glove again with this one. Since this is a lotion, it takes a little bit more effort to spread than the mousse version but it's still extremely easy to apply. It's a brown lotion so you can tell where you're applying it and it takes a very short time to dry - although probably not quite as quick-drying as the mousse. This one is best applied at night and the excess showered off the next morning. Again, it leaves no streaks or unevenness at all.

Smell - This smells the same as the mousse - just a classic smell of the tanning ingredient, DHA. Definitely not the best scent in the world but not unbearable either I don't think!

Colour - Gives a nice non-orange colour. I find the colour of this leans more towards the yellow toned side so it's more of a golden tan. It's not the darkest of tans but it can be built up. It's not my favourite colour-wise mainly due to the more yellow tone which is not ideal for me personally so I don't find myself reaching for this one over the others.



Xen-Tan Dark Lotion


Application - This applies nicely with either a glove or a mit. The lotion is quite a thick one so this tan probably takes the most elbow grease to spread around. It's by no means difficult to apply, however. It's a very dark brown lotion so, like the others, it's easy to know where you're applying it. It dries after a few minutes too. This tan does leave a slight bit of a muddy appearance after application. For this reason it absolutely needs to be applied before bed and then showered off in the morning. After showering, though, it's lovely and even with no streaks at all!

Smell - It smells like marzipan! After a few hours, however, the smell of the DHA will come through a bit. I really don't find that to be an issue though since it's one that I'd be wearing overnight anyway.

Colour - Xen-Tan has more of an olive base so it's never orange or too yellow. I think it's a very realistic tan shade. It gives a darker colour than either of the St. Tropez tans.



He-Shi Express Liquid Tan


Application - The consistency of this tan is like water. Now this proves to be a bit problematic and off-putting when applying it as you have to be very careful that it doesn't drip all over the place. To catch drips, I'd recommend spreading a big towel out underneath you or you could apply it in the bath. Since it's an extremely runny liquid, it must be applied with a mit so that it doesn't become too messy. It's a brown colour so you can tell where you've applied it and it's very quick-drying. It leaves no residue at all behind. I've been applying this before bed and letting it develop overnight which is most convenient for me. Unfortunately this is where it goes a bit downhill because, despite it having looked nice and even after application, a few times now I've woken up with a streaky, uneven tan which didn't go away after showering! I tried to apply it several ways to avoid this happening - not moisturising before, moisturising before, using different mits. I even bought the He-Shi mit to see if that would help. I found that both using the He-Shi mit and moisturising before (despite it saying not to!) actually did make a difference. The last time I applied it I only had a minor streak which wasn't too bad. Overall though, I think the application is a bit hit or miss for me.

Smell - He-Shi has only a faint tan smell. I can barely smell anything at all when I'm applying it. It does become a bit stronger as the tan develops, though but it's still not strong in comparison to others.

Colour - Streaks aside, the actual colour itself is brilliant. It gives a deep colour quickly and is a believable shade. It's a very bronze colour and is not orangey or yellow.


Best Ease of Application: St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse

Best Smelling: Xen-Tan Dark Lotion

Best Colour: He-Shi (despite the fear of streaks!) and Xen-Tan. I really like the tone of both.

Best Overall: Xen-Tan Dark Lotion and St. Tropez Mousse (yes I'm allowed pick two :D )



I'll just give a quick mention to the Xen-Tan Transform Luxe. This is a gradual tanner - so it's like a moisturiser which has an added tanning ingredient. It's great for applying between your main tan applications to keep the colour up and it also means you don't have to apply your main tan as often. This would also be great if you already have quite a deep natural tan and just want a bit of a boost or else if you're extremely fair and just want enough colour to take the pale edge off. It's also fantastic for hands and feet. It smells like Vanilla which is lovely and only a very tiny amount of a fake tan smell comes through after a while.

OOTD, Chanel tweed Blush Swatch & Mini Review

Hello lovelies!

 I am happy to announce that the sun has arrived in London and the weather has been beautiful these past weeks, therefore I have been taking every opportunity to dress up in my summer outfits before the sun disappears again (which is very often).

Top: Mango
Belt: NEXT

Skirt: Zara
Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Sunnies: H&M

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chanel Blush in tweed coral. 

 

So pretty!

 

Without flash, it was really hard to swatch for some reason. You can see though, that it is a very light coral pink.

With flash, you can see it's a lovely shimmery coral. It's quite similar to Sleek's Rose Gold?

No flash

With flash

Likes:

- It's really natural looking, if you want more colour, you can gradually build it up.

- It has some shimmers in it, unlike other blushers, the shimmers are discreet. Comparing this to Rose Gold by Sleek, you can definitely see a difference in quality. With Rose Gold, you can definitely see the shimmers and you have to really control how much blush to apply to avoid the caked-on effect. With Chanel, the shimmers are not as intense, it gives you a glow rather than looking cakey. 

- Great quality

Dislikes:
- the price may not suit a lot of people; £30.

I definitely recommend this blush if you are willing to dish out £30 for a blush, but it's definitely not a "must have", it's more of a luxury product.

Hope you enjoyed this post! Lots of love, xX <3

Dior Addict Lipstick 865 Collection Review

Dior have just recently revamped and modernised their iconic lipstick, Dior Addict. It now has an entirely new appearance and formula and the collection contains an incredible 44 shades! Dior have categorized the lipsticks into three different styles which I think is really fun. The three styles are: Rock Icon Style, Doll Style and Glam Icon Style.

The shade that I bought is 865 'Collection' and belongs to the Glam Icon Style! It looks quite red in the tube but when applied it's actually a gorgeous fuchsia/bright pink colour. I think this is the kind of shade that could absolutely be worn either with a stronger look for nighttime or to add some colour to a more neutral daytime look.

The new formula has less wax than a classic lipstick. Instead it has a gel which claims to provide hydration and shine. I think this just may be one of the best textures in a lipstick that I've tried so far. It's smooth, has a gorgeous shine and is comfortable to wear. It also has a lovely amount of pigment - not as much as the Dior Rouge lipsticks but still a fantastic amount. On top of all that I think the packaging is just so beautiful! The price is very steep though at €28. I was lucky enough to have a gift card which I bought this with but I still think if you want a bit of indulgence then they are worth splurging on. The only fault I can think of is that these have a rounded top instead of the classic pointed one which makes them a bit harder to apply precisely so therefore I find that a lip brush is required. 

Compared to my Chanel Rouge Coco Shine this has more pigment. The Chanel, however, is a bit glossier. The Chanel Rouge Coco Shine also feels more moisturising but I think the Dior Addict may be a bit more long-wearing. It's really hard to pick a favourite! For ease of application and less effort I tend to grab my Coco Shine. However, when considering shade range and quality of colours then the Dior Addict comes out on top.

Pros: Smooth, hydrating, nice shiny finish, good pigment, amazing packaging
Cons: Price, rounded shape makes application more difficult

Mark out of 10: 9

Would I buy again: Yes


Hope everyone has a lovely weekend whatever you get up to! I'm off on a little holiday to Rome tomorrow for a few days which I'm extremely excited about! (:

Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Creme Review

When it comes to highlighters I definitely favour either cream or liquid versions over powders. I think they look a lot more natural as they really blend into your skin as opposed to just sitting on top of it like a powder does. I bought the Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Creme in Iced Gold a few months ago and it has very much become one of my top favourite highlighters. 

It's described by Jemma Kidd as being a 'light-diffusing creme' which can be used 'under or over foundation or on bare skin.' I wear this over my foundation just on the tops of my cheekbones, down the centre of my nose and maybe a tiny bit on my forehead since my skin is on the slightly drier side. A tiny bit goes a very very long way - I've been using this constantly for the last few months and as you can see from the picture it still looks like I've barely used any! 

The texture of this is really beautiful. It's extremely lightweight and very smooth and easy to blend. It's definitely not thick or sticky in any way. It contains no detectable shimmer particles at all so it really does just give the skin a very healthy dewy finish. I think this is a great one for daytime especially if you're outside as your face won't look shimmery or glittery or very unnatural in daylight.

I would describe the colour of this as being a light champagne as you can see from the swatch. I think this colour would look great on both fair and darker skin tones. They also do a Rose Gold shade which is obviously more pink than this one.

The other cream highlighter which I own and also really like is the MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl so I thought I would do a really quick comparison of the two. Pearl is swatched below on the left and the Dewy Glow Iced Gold is on the right. As you can see Pearl is more of a yellow gold colour. The texture of the MAC Cream Colour Base is also heavier and thicker than the Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow so, while it's still easy to apply, it doesn't go on quite as effortless as the Jemma Kidd one. I tend to prefer the MAC Pearl for nighttime as it's that bit more intense. MAC Cream Colour Bases contain 3.2g and cost €18.50 (if I remember correctly). The Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow contains a huge 10g and cost me €21.25 including shipping from www.feelunique.com. So you get a lot more for your money with the Jemma Kidd! Overall I do prefer the Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow.

Mac Pearl on left, Jemma Kidd Iced Gold on right

The only thing I don't like about this product is that the outside of the compact is made from a similar material to that of the NARS packaging. It's that velvety texture so it attracts dirt and gets very grubby looking and even when you wipe it down it doesn't come off. Other than that though I can't fault it. I think it's a really fantastic product!

Pros: easy to apply, lightweight, no detectable shimmer, gives natural dewy finish

Cons: outside of the compact gets dirty easily

Mark out of 10: 9.5

Would I buy again: Yes

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Monte Carlo 62 Review

I finally picked up one of the new Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipsticks while I was out and about last week. I've been meaning to try these since their release here back in March but have been pondering over which colour to get for a few weeks now (oh the dilemmas of a make-up artist, lol!). It was either between the lovely Monte Carlo or Bonheur. I eventually settled on Monte Carlo - a gorgeous glossy strawberry red shade.

Swatched heavily - about 3 layers

I absolutely love the idea behind these lipsticks - they look like a lipstick but have the finish of a gloss...minus the stickiness! The texture is lovely - extremely smooth and glides on really easily. I've been wearing Monte Carlo for the past week and so far I'm loving it! It's very comfortable to wear and feels nice and moisturising. The only downside for me is that I find that I had to apply it quite heavily to achieve the full colour pay-off since these lipsticks are fairly sheer and so for this reason I can see it running out quite fast. It cost me €26.50 which is very pricey but what do you expect from Chanel! Other than that, however, it's a beautiful lipstick which I'm really enjoying. I think this will be perfect for the summer months when I still want a nice bit of colour but may want to look a bit more effortless! I also think it would be great to wear over a heavier lipstick for a bit of added shine in lieu of a sticky gloss.

The ad campaign for these on the Chanel Makeup Confidential website is so cute! You can check it out here: http://chanel-makeup-confidential.chanel.com/en_GB/#/collection/27/44

Pros: Easy to apply, very comfortable to wear, lovely glossy finish

Cons: Must be built up if you want to get a good colour pay-off, pricey

Mark out of 10: 8

Would I buy again: Yes