REVIEW | EX1 INVISIWEAR LIQUID FOUNDATION WITH SWATCHES & TUTORIAL/DEMO

Between September and April I have accumulated numerous foundations as they are my favourite product, aside from eyeshadow palettes, to review. Finally, I am getting around to actually talking about them on my blog, on the plus side this means I have used them long enough to provide a proper in-depth tutorial. The foundation to be discussed today is the highly raved about EX1 Invisiwear Liquid Foundation (£12.50) I am currently at home, and honestly my soul feels at peace. It feels so good to get away from London for a while with this insane heat wave the UK is experiencing. I feel so comfortable at home and have found much more motivation being here, so please expect a lot more posts and videos hopefully in the coming weeks. Onto the review . . .

What It Is: A foundation 100% oil and fragrance free, specifically created for those of us with  olive undertones who struggle to find our shade in most foundation ranges. I believe I have discussed on my blog before the dangers of "fragrance", it is essentially a loophole for companies to put ingredients they don't want to list into products. Anything could be in a "fragrance", so I appreciate the fragrance free claim and oil-free is perfect because my skin definitely produces enough oil on its own. It is available in 16 shades, but on ASOS only 12 are up for purchase.

What It Does: The foundation is designed to conceal pores and boasts special true colour pigments which adapt to natural skin tone. It claims to be ultra-blendable, lightweight and luminous. 

What I Like: It is a medium coverage foundation, that is definitely buildable, it does match really well as I have been using the same shade - shade 7 - since early January and you can imagine how much tanner my skin is now. It blends really easily with a dense big brush (see video below) and lasts really well on my skin without settling into my smile lines. Additionally, it does cover my pores nicely which I love even when I forego a pore-filling primer. It honestly looks great alone.

What I Don't: There isn't too much I don't like, the only concerns are that it doesn't feel lightweight exactly to me, it does feel like foundation on the skin and I do have to set it because of the creamy consistency. If I didn't I do think it would slip and slide around. I also feel like for the coverage that I desire I need to use a substantial amount of product, for me that is 2 pumps. 

Final Verdict: Honestly for the price - £12.50 which with a 10% Student Discount would be reduced to £11.25 - I would rate it as a five star foundation. The packaging is nice, I love the pump and the bottle, the shade is perfect and it looks really nice on my skin, covers all my breakouts and makes my skin look smooth but not heavy which is fantastic. Watch my video below to see it in action.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this review and if you did watch the short video above, please head over to my YouTube channel and leave a comment and subscribe (if you want to). Hope you are having a brilliant weekend, here's to it raining tomorrow *fingers crossed*. Take care.

What foundation do you have your eye on?

Love ❤

Kiran

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MY FIRST TIME GETTING A CLEANSING FACIAL WITH BLACKHEAD AND SPOT EXTRACTION

Fun story, for my sister's wedding I really wanted to get a facial because I was noticing that my skin was looking very shit. Texture, spots, blackheads, you name it, it was a lot of work and I needed a purge. My diet was heavily saturated with chocolate because when I am stressed I need chocolate and boy was I stressed. I found a deal through Wowcher (not spon omg I wish love a wowcher) and purchased a cleansing/clearing facial for £19 at Cher Salon in Tooting or Chelsea (link here). Unfortunately, it was a massive fail because the actual voucher code wasn't valid until 11th June, literally the day after my sister's wedding. So I didn't get a facial for the wedding like I intended and instead redeemed the wowcher on Saturday. If you're interested in how I found the experience please keep reading and potentially I might make a quick story time video and leave the link here if you would prefer to watch that instead. 

The salon was in Tooting, as always I was running late and felt slightly nervous just because I didn't know what to expect. I didn't put any makeup on to make the beautician's job easier, I slathered a layer of SPF on and called it a day. The salon wasn't the most upmarket I have been too, the area itself is pretty grim (there is a Primark nearby though which was a definite win in my opinion). There was a small room at the back with a massage table and some dim lighting which freaked me out a little. I would have thought the lighting would be quite bright so she can see what she is doing. 

It started off very peaceful, she cleansed my skin and used multiple cooling products, I believe the product range was Dermalogica. It felt like she put yoghurt on my face at one point which was interesting. She was definitely using very soft exfoliating gloves on my face throughout the first ten minutes which is something I have been doing at home myself now. Then there was a steamer which was terrifying and I found it really hard to breathe when it was on my face but that fortunately didn't last too long. She left the room while the steamer was on and then came back which was when it became quite painful. This was the point where the extractor tools came out to play, she pushed out the blackheads in my nose which was frankly horrible. She pressed down on my nose and it really really hurt, she also used a similar tool on some spots on my face which I hated and I am pretty sure some bled. There was also a tool that literally felt like she was cutting my skin. Obviously she didn't but as my eyes were closed I was genuinely terrified that I was going to look in the mirror and see scratches or lacerations on my face but that was just me freaking out. 

After the pain and incessant fretting, she finished with a face mask and left the room for ten minutes. The face mask felt tingly and pleasant, upon return she removed it and put a sticky gel-like cream on my face and told me we were finished. I thanked her and caught a sly glimpse of my face in the mirror so I could verify that my face was intact, it was thankfully. Once that was over I went to Primark, obviously, and headed home, I  stared at myself in the mirror when I got back to my room and was disappointed. If anything I felt like I looked worse (because I was sweaty and my skin was red and angry in places), I was definitely tanner than I had been that morning. But over the last two days I have noticed that my skin is a lot smoother with less texture and my nose is significantly clearer. Makeup sits better on my face and although I still have spots, in fact more have been popping up since the facial I think a week from now I should notice an improvement (if I can stay away from chocolates which is unlikely because yeah I am still stressed *insert manic laughter*). I have had a few compliments on my skin looking clear which is nice but truthfully I think that has more to do with my trusty Fenty foundation than the facial I got. 

If you would like an update on how my skin has progressed by the end of the week let me know in the comments. Please share your own facial experiences in the comments below, what do you usually go for, what gives you the best results and have there been any experiences that scared the socks off you as well? Do you perform your own facials at home? All in all, I am glad I got it, it was a fun and interesting experience but I am not sure I would get this again. If there are any places in London yo would like me to review, salons, nail bars etc. please let me know I think that would be so fun for me to do. Thank you for reading. Hope you have a great week! Take care.

Have you ever gotten a facial?

Love ❤

Kiran

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HOT NEW PRODUCT | IT COSMETICS CC+ OIL FREE MATTE PORE MINIMISING FULL COVERAGE CREAM

Are you ready for this, because I don't think you are ready for this? The second I saw this I was so excited, I was awaiting news of a release date but it hasn't been announced yet. Ultimately, I couldn't keep it in any longer. It Cosmetics, a big name brand known for their CC Cream that has a SPF 50 it is everyone's go-to holiday base, has been posting photos of a brand new product that is shaking all the bloggers everywhere. Or maybe it's just me. An oil-free matte CC+ cream with a SPF 40 is coming soon! It will be available on Sephora and I can only hope eventually we can get it on QVC.

I am so excited, it promises to be pore minimising and full coverage, two things I love especially on holiday. It will be available in 12 shades, which is pretty amazing because their original one is only available in 6 shades I believe. It was developed with plastic surgeons and will retail for $38. It is also infused with charcoal, tea tree extract , collodial clay and Moroccan lava clay, in addition to oil-absorbing pore-minimising technology (a bit vague??) and an advances anti-aging serum. Other claims are 12 hour wear, sweat and humidity resistant, natural matte finish and reduced shine and oil control. Basically everything I want and more, are you also eager for this release. It is coming in July, possibly a bit later for us UK chaps. 

Thank you for reading, I hope you found this post informative. Check out my last YouTube video if you wish, it was highly personal and explains a bit more what has been going on with me and why my blogging game has been a bit fucked. I love you guys and always promise to do better. Please leave a comment and let me know what posts you like to read. Thank you so much. Take care. 

Are you excited for this new release?

Love ❤

Kiran

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#ABHxNORVINA | NEW NORVINA EYESHADOW PALETTE BY ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS SWATCHES & RELEASE DATES

Whereas with most releases most people barely bat an eyelid now due the amount of new products that are dropping daily, this time around this particular new product seems to have caught and held a lot of people's attention and I have seen a genuine interest surrounding the new Anastasia Beverly Hills palette: NORVINA, therefore I decided to do a post on it. I think we are seeing a shift from the warm tones to pinks and purples and soft pastel shades as well. I think that is evident in a lot of existing palettes such as Huda Beauty Desert Dusk, Natasha Denona Lilac Palette, it is essentially a similar aesthetic to the Viseart Cool Mattes palette but not quite as cool, a lot softer and more girly in comparison. I think people are gravitating towards cooler toned but still wearable and feminine shades that are a little more fun and light. 

As it stands I actually do like the colour palette, the more I look at it the more the different shades stand out to me. Norvina said a bit about the palette on her Instagram yesterday. Unlike the other ABH palettes this palette has 7 shimmers and 7 mattes. Norvina explains that this is because she in particular needs and uses shimmers a lot because she has a lot of eyelid space (jealous). In terms of the colours she chose she did of course opt for a cooler palette this time around, a blue toned berry (Passion) as that is one of her favourite colours to use and she describes Eccentric as essential and unique, she uses it to create a contrast on her lids and add dimension. The other colours were chosen to create a whimsical Disney fantasy aesthetic which I completely get, I literally look at this palette and see the Disney castle graphic with the turrets and I love it. I love the inspiration and the interesting mix of colours, I wish the shimmers were slightly more unique but they probably look a lot better on the eyes. 

Onto the swatches, I can't lie when I saw this picture I wasn't wowed so I am still undecided on whether I actually want this palette or not. Top Row: Dreamer (gold shimmer), Summer (bronze gold shimmer), Wild Child (light pink shimmer that absolutely has to be named after the Emma Roberts movie), Rose Gold (rose gold shimmer) Celestial (purple shimmer) Dazzling (champagne shimmer) Drama (dark purple shimmer). Top Row: Base (light neutral matte), Soul (dark periwinkle matte), Incense (light brown matte), Love  (pinkish matte), Volatile (dark brown purplish matte), Eccentric (yellow brick matte) and Passion (deep plum matte). The palette has a heavy purple influence because it is Norvina (real name: Claudia) favourite colour - as well as mine - and she found purple helps brighten her naturally yellow/olive undertone.  

Overall, I think the palette is well thought out and executed, there are an interesting mix of colours which are cohesive but still slightly more artsy and creative than the other palettes whilst still being soft, fun and wearable. I am really excited to see looks with this palette and think it will be very on trend for the summer. The Norvina Palette is available online July 17th and will come to Ulta stores on the 29th July. Available on Sephora from 7th August and will reach the UK and other people around the world on the 8th August. I believe for UK beauty addicts it will be stocked on Beauty Bay and Cult Beauty. Please leave me a comment below and let me know if you are interested in this palette, it might be a good giveaway prize. For more information  on Claudia's (norvina) inspiration for this palette read her interview here. Thank you so much for reading. Take care.

What are your thoughts on the Norvina Palette?

Love ❤

Kiran

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*Photos from @norvina on Instagram, edited by me. 

REVIEW | CETAPHIL OILY SKIN CLEANSER

Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser Review: Is it the best cleanser for oily skin?

As I have been running low on my Superdrug Naturally Radiant Cleanser (review here) I have since been on the hunt for a new cleanser. I love trying new things especially when it comes to skincare and recently Superdrug have had a 20% off deal for students (ended on 03/07 so sorry) and a buy one get one half price deal on Cetaphil. Cetaphil is a brand that as a blogger I am familiar with, I have read a lot of rave reviews regarding their products and this product in particular seems to be well respected and is considered a staple among many. I am of course talking about the Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser (£9) as you can see by the picture above. Honestly, if I had read the bottle before purchasing I probably wouldn't have bought it, anything that says "foaming action" makes me run a mile because I have noticed foams leave my skin feeling like it's been washed with a window cleaner - squeaky, stripped and unpleasant - fortunately I didn't read it and decided to take a chance. 

I have been using this for over a week now, which I know for some isn't an adequate period of time to form a judgement but because I have used it daily I can confidently tell you why I like it. It is a cleanser that is suitable for both morning and night, it's gentle and manages to remove excess oil without leaving your skin feeling like sandpaper, it removes my makeup like a dream, a little goes a long  way which means this one bottle will last months and months, I love the pump and the dispenser it allows great control and finally it is inexpensive but performs brilliantly. The only con is that it stings my eyes if I am not careful. Apart from that one thing it is a great product, ideal for my acne prone combination oily skin and perfect for this seriously hot sweaty weather. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new cleanser with similar skin to mine, it works a treat. 

My next post will be up Wednesday, I have been shit at posting and I am well aware but this time it's the real thing because I plan to write it right now. It will be a really cool and varied haul from a press event I went to last night which was quite interesting Thank you so much for reading, please a comment describing your favourite cleanser of the moment and have a great weekend. Take care. 

What is your current favourite cleanser?

Love ❤

Kiran

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