Thursday 26 September 2013

Sigma - Discount Code - October 2013

Sharing my love for Sigma...
You know most of my fave Make up Brushes are from Sigma
I literally want to get doubles of everything...
This code is valid Only for the month of October 2013


 Simply use this link to Shop: 
& at the check out enter the code:  
FALL2013

#LittleKiva #Sigma #Discount #Brushes

Review - Illamasqua: Blusher & Eyeshadows

Here is an order I made with Illamasqua recently

I'm a big fan of Illamasqua products.
I think they have unique shades/tones/textures & original ideas for there campaigns & visuals.

This brand is high quality, well pigmented & good formulations.
Price range is about the same as Mac cosmetics,
It's a British brand with well known artists like Alex box on the team.
Illamasqua Powder Blusher: Hussy (matte)
4.5grams/0.15oz
€21.50

Above is a beautiful warm coral/pink blush from Illamasqua
It is a matte finish which I tend to prefer when it comes to blush.
Highly pigmented & would work well on most skin tones.
Luxury packaging. The product has a light, sweet smell to it. 

What I love most about Illamasqua is that they look after their mua's.
Make up Artists can get up to 50% discount off their products, 
which defiantly entices me to buy more.

Shipping is well priced & usually free when you spend over €50.
As they are just across the water from me, 
I got my parcel much quicker than original delivery date.

Would I repurchase another Illamasqua powder blusher?
Yes

Four Illamasqua Eye shadows
Above, looking at the right side of the picture,
Starting from top to bottom
Matte finish
2grams
€18.50

Four really unique shades
  • Feint is a warm medium brown with a dusty pink undertone
  • Forgiveness is a medium/dark berry shade & works well with Feint
  • Truth is a cool toned brown with a hint of warmth 
  • Vernau is very unique, I would class it as a medium mustard brown 
I chose these shades, as I don't have any other eye shadows in my kit similar to these.
Can be used in conjunction with other shadows, they do not have to be used all together.

I actually ordered duplicates for my sister as it was her birthday.

Would I repurchase Illamasqua powder eyeshadows?
Yes

Thanks for stopping by....
Love,
Little Kiva

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Review - Ben Nye: Banana powder & Maq pro

Here are some recent products I have purchased
My thoughts & tips....

First up two products that work well together but are also amazing individually
Ben Nye: Banana powder 
Maq pro: 10palette PP.01
€22 excl. tax
I bought these two little beauties from a small secluded store in Co.Wicklow called Sunaura
Let's start with Maq pro...
This was my first time trying out a product from Maq pro.
 This palette is 30ml & in the shade: PP.01

I was firstly drawn in by the packaging.
Simple, compact, see thru & professional, I would say.
Great for a make up artist as all your cream concealers/correctors are in this one small palette, which is about the size of the palm of your hand.
See thru, so if you do buy a few different colored palettes(which they have) you can easily see what you're looking for.
The product can be scrapped out onto a mental palette for hygiene, to avoid cross contamination.

This particular palette would be used to conceal, highlight, shade, correct & add coverage.
Shades can be used individually or mixed together to create different tones.
This product is well pigmented, high in coverage, creamy & light weight. It does not set by itself. Powder can be used to set this product or to reduce shine.
           
 This palette would best suit very light to medium/dark skin tones.
Yellow shades can be used to highlight the skin, yellow can be lightened using white.
I like to use peach to correct purple tones under the eye area.
The darker browns can be used to conceal medium/dark skin tones or used as a contour on a lighter skin tone.
I love the consistency of this product, works well on most skin types.
Not too creamy, not powdery & blends beautifully.

Would I repurchase?
Yes
Next up 
Ben Nye: Banana powder
1.5oz/42grams.
€12.50 excl. tax
Semi-Translucent powder

As you can see above the Maq pro palette & Ben Nye powder work well together.
Perfect for recreating a Kim Kardashian sculpted/highlighted face.

The Ben Nye powder comes in a couple of different colors & different containers.
White, pink, yellow, tan & brown. The names of the shades are: Buff, cameo, banana & beige suede. 
These different shades are designed to suit different skin tones from very light to very dark.

That's why I would call this powder a semi translucent powder, as it can be seen slightly on the skin because its consistency is not as finely milled as some other translucent powders.
This particular shade: banana is best suited to medium/dark skin tones.
The reason being is, if you applied this powder on a very light skin tone it may not show up as a highlight. In fact it could actually darken the highlighted area & give it a yellow tinge.
If this powder is applied to a very dark skin tone it may show up too yellow/ashy in the highlighted areas.
You must get the correct powder to match your cream/liquid highlight 
or the Ben Nye powder will not work sufficiently.

This is a matte powder & will set your highlight in place,
in tern giving your highlighted areas a matte finish!

I have oily skin & it mattified area for much longer than a regular pressed powder.

Be aware; This powder is mainly for highlighting, so the correct tone of powder needs to match the highlight you will be using.
It will highlight the area but in a matte finish!
Can be used with a sponge to pack on or a soft brush for a more natural finish.
Brush I would use to buff off access powder would be the Sigma E40

Thanks for stopping by...
Check out my latest video using these products
Love always, 
 Little Kiva