God do I like a good contour. Not just the crazy-85-layers-of-30-product contour, but also an everyday, quick and efficient one that gives you just that extra oomph – definition and fierceness.
Sleek has made our lives easier with their new Cream Contour Kit. The palette has six creme colours and is available in three different shades to suit different skin tones. Because there are six shades in each, they blend among each other, making the skin shades it covers really great.
It also comes with a handy guide to make sure you make the best of all colours by putting them in the right place.
For this review, I used them all, as instructed on the guide, plus a little bit of shade 1 over my cupid bow, down my nose too and brow bones.
The cream is great – quite firm for consistency in the palette, but melts away on the skin, making the blending process a whizz. Pigmentation is good, so not a huge amount needed for each area; it is also buildable.
I first did my base with my usual primer and foundation, then using the medium palette, added the colours in the respective areas with a duo-fibre applicator brush (I used MAC 282).
Then I blended quite a bit with a very light touch, starting with my lighter colours to the darkest, using another duo-fibre brush (MAC 130 which I highly recommend for flawless cream/liquid blending; I use with concealer a lot).
I have to say that the creams are so velvety that blending was very easy.
After blending, I retouched a bit, adding shade 1 to my cheekbones for extra highlighting and a little bit of 6 to the hollows of my cheek for a little bit more definition.
Even though I used all the colours in all recommended places, I think the result is quite natural, there is definition, but no thickness or a massive makeup build up.
To finish off, I set with a translucent powder (coloured powder can mask the contouring, I used GOSH prime ‘n set), a little bit of blusher (Charlotte Tilbury First Love), subtle mascara (Benefit They’re Real Lash Primer used solo, as a brown mascara) and a lipgloss (yes, a lipgloss! Lancôme Juicy Shaker in Apricute) .
The contouring and finishing whole process didn’t take more than 10 minutes. I usually do my skin base in under 5.
For everyday, I’d probably stick to shades 1 and 2 for highlighting and 5/6 for the cheek hollows. Of course, shades 3 and 4 can also be used as a concealer.
Sleek, you got it right, once again. And it gets better: this baby costs only £10.99. yes, you read it right. £10.99.
The Sleek Cream Contour Kit launches on the 6th April, comes in Light, Medium and Dark, cost £10.99 (just in case you missed – or didn’t believe – it above!) and can be bought from sleekmakeup.com, Superdrug and Boots.
Lipgloss hasn’t been a thing for me in a long time.
The classic Lancôme Juicy Tubes were an integral part of discovering makeup for me, but I felt I grew out of them, in a way.
Start with the packing, a cute bullet that keeps a surprise: a ridiculously soft sponge applicator in a conical shape, which delivers the right amount of product and helps contour the lips.
I tried Apricute and Cherry Symphony and the pigmentation is very decent: a somewhat buildable tint (which is said to get more intense the more you shake the bullet) with a lovely sheen that is in no way sticky. My hair hasn’t caught once!
So good tat even my little forest friend wanted a piece of it – I had to be pretty nifty in removing them from the tray! 😀
They come in an amazing 14 shades, including the limited edition Mint to Be, cost £18 each and can be purchased online and at retailers nationwide.
Oh, the feeling to be sent something brand new, yet to be launched, that not many people have seen, just like you were let in to a secret….
It has a medium creaminess formula – not too dry, not too wet. It’s super black and glossy.
Not too long ago I mentioned Sleek was the very first red lipstick I ever owned, and that started a love affair that spanned years.
Apart from the more luxurious packaging with the colour at the bottom, this £5.49 gem packs a punch. It’s super pigmented and hydrating, with Vitamin E, Shea Butter and Coconut Oil, at the same time, while offering a very decent durability!
My favourite, Flaunt It, is a vibrant orange; Night Spot is a rich pinkier red (and I love a red lipstick!); Guest List is a bright coral; Backstage, a warm coral pink; Reserved, a candy pink and Private Booth a great nude with some pink in it, and not grey and dull as most, so suitable for my skin tone!
I am very lucky to be a friend of dermalogica, a brand I’ve been a fan of for a while. Everything I try agrees with my skin, and their new hydrablur primer is no different.
It does spread ok, there is a bit of drag and a little does not go such a long way, but upon application, you can clearly see the blurring properties: skin is smooth, even and slightly mattified.
Overall, this product delivers in its three promises and I am quite impressed.
There is something about Benefit I canto quite gauge. I love their packaging, adore the name and the concept behind their products, see thousands of people who swear by them but nothing I tried seemed to quite work for me.
The formula is gel, in a watery brown colour, which is great and can be used on its own for a lighter, feathery and super defined look.
Mascara application (admittedly, 
The 
Many a times I said I’m not a fan of BB creams and other multi-function products.
Durability wise, it’s not amazing in the long haul (10 hours on a work day), so I wouldn’t say it will replace my foundation, but it’s perfect for less makeup days and speedy makeup. Because it is from the Effaclar range, not only does it make my skin look good, but it’s also looking after my blemish prone skin.
I must admit that I notice all benefits above, but mainly even tone, a slight radiance and better texture, which is quite amazing, bearing in mind it is one product.
Here I am again going on about how amazing Charlotte Tilbury makeup is.
The formula is a great glossy black and is not too wet, which is great for application control.
I am totally sold. Of course, it carries a premium-ish price tag, but worth every penny.
2015. What a fabulous year for the blog. I never expected all the amazing things that happened, brands, products and, above all, people I met.
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Love bite lipstick: usually a finish I don’t go for, a kind of lustre, but oh, boy, this is pretty. An orange red, with a fab sheen, but not too much, and great durability.
And a special mention to my favourite budget highlighter: 
I run away from eyeshadow pencils at the best of times; in fact, I believe there is only another brand that will work for me.
This pencil glides amazingly and blends beautifully. I usually draw the crease, from the Middle of the eyes and use a fluffy brush to smoke it.
So Many Lovely Things 