Retinol & Niacinamide - A Match Made in Heaven | The Inkey List Review

I cannot believe it has been over a year since I last did a blog post. Oh how I missed it! I hope you're all well, staying at home and keeping safe.
If you follow me on Instagram (or can simply read the title of this post) you will know exactly what this post is going to be about. For all of you that know me personally (or even virtually) you'll know that my road to perfect skin has been a rather bumpy one. I suffered from severe acne in my teens and have super oily skin (the oily skin part, I can deal with). All of these struggles led to acne scars, enlarged pores, pigmentation, you name it. As I've gotten older I've learnt to really invest in my skin and do some a lot of research into the products and tools I use. We're all here for the hype around certain products but if there is anything I've learnt over the years, it's to take everything with a pinch of salt. Something that works for me may not necessarily work for you and vice versa. More recently I've been looking into Retinol and Niacinamide.

Prepare for an overload of information on both...

Retinol is like the superman of skincare ingredients. It helps with a number of issues, such as improving pigmentation, texture and tone, enhancing collagen production, skin smoothing and an overall evening of pigmentation, it helps fight the signs of ageing, reduces wrinkles, treats acne, brightens skin and increases the blood flow to the skin.

To see the full effects of using retinol it is recommended that you use it for around 12 weeks. Whilst most brands claim that the benefits of retinol will take effect pretty much immediately, this is very unlikely, unless you're using a prescribed Retin-A product which is a lot stronger than any product you can purchase from the drugstore, in which case you would see results a lot sooner but it is recommended that you only use this with the advise of a doctor. 

For sensitive skin you should use a product which has a low concentration of retinol, you can gradually begin to use products with more of the ingredient as your skin becomes tolerant.

A lot of skincare products can cause irritation to the skin, especially for people with sensitive skin (my skin can be sensitive at times), but when it comes to retinol, it is recommended that you continue to use it, just not as often or switch to a product which has a lower concentration. As your skin cells will eventually adapt to tolerate it a little better.

You may have read or heard that you should not to use retinol around the eyes (I’m someone that read this and didn’t use it around my eyes for a while), but apparently this is untrue. In fact you should use it around your eyes, studies have previously shown that people who use it around their eyes, as well as the rest of their face, see the best results (holla @ me baby faced Yogita with the bright under eyes). Whilst dark circles aren't really a concern of mine and may not be to some of you, it's always better to prevent than treat, in my opinion.

Retinoids, Retinol and Retin-A. What's the difference I hear you say? To sum this up in plain understandable English, Retinoids are basically a chemical class in which Retinol and Retin-A fall under.

Retinol is something I have been looking into for a while and I found that it was the safest option in terms of irritation or side effects. Although it may take longer to see results, I wasn’t willing to damage my skin in order to see results. Take it from someone who has used nearly every skincare product under the sun and experienced some not so pretty results. When it comes to your skincare you do not want to take risks.

I prefer to use Retinol as part of my evening skincare routine, as I know I won’t be going out in the sun and it gives the product time to sink into my skin. Retinol actually breaks down in the sun and makes your skin more sensitive. Although most of us are going absolutely nowhere at the moment (thanks a lot Coronavirus, thanks a lot), in my opinion you are better off using it at night (after cleansing your skin), although this is a matter of preference. Regardless of when I use any product or whether I am going out or not, I always use SPF. UV rays can pretty much get to your skin from anywhere, sunshine or not. Exposure to the sun can cause premature ageing and damage that isn't necessarily visible to us. It would be pretty much pointless going out in the sun without SPF and then expecting Retinol to reverse the damage you've just caused or just simply breaking down and doing absolutely nothing for our skin. Instead we can encourage them to be besties like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton and work together in helping to turn us into glowing gods and goddesses.

When it comes to products that contain Retinol, a little goes a long way. I've been using The Inkey List Retinol Serum for a while now and I honestly cannot fault it. It has made such a huge difference to my skin. My skin has never looked so good. My pores have become visibly smaller (I think Niacinamide has been a helping hand with the pore situation), the texture of my skin is smooth, I've had no breakouts and the overall tone of my skin is even. A tiny pea sized amount is more than enough to cover my whole face and neck. I started off by using it once or twice a week to start off with and slowly built up how frequently I used it because we can never be too sure about how our skin will react to new products, it's better to be safe than sorry! 

The texture of the serum is beautiful (can I use that word to describe a serum?) It is slightly more thicker and has a yellow tone in comparison to the Niacinamide Serum, which is a little more runny and looks pretty much like water. It sinks into the skin ever so quickly, isn't sticky and as far as I can see, it does exactly what it says on the tin tube. 

Niacinamide is another skincare ingredient that I think everyone needs to know about, especially because of its versatility.

It minimises pores (this was the main point that got me to start looking into Niacinamide), it improves uneven skin tone, softens fine lines and wrinkles, strengthens the surface of your skin and also helps reduce the impact of environmental damage because of how well it improves the skin's barrier (this was also a huge + for me). Another great thing about Niacinamide is that it also tackles any damage that your skin has endured in the past. We've all neglected our skin for various reasons in the past, so it's always great when a product can help repair that damage (yep, you guessed it. This was another selling point for me).

Niacinamide is an ingredient that will work incredibly well with other products in your skincare routine. It's a great product for people with sensitive skin or rosacea, because it doesn’t cause any sensitivity.

Niacinamide helps to restore and renew the surface of your skin, to prevent moisture loss and dehydration and to help improve the skin’s natural production of skin strengthening ceramides.

If you are someone that suffers from dry or flaky skin, Niacinamide is a great option to add to your skincare routine because it is extremely good at boosting the hydrating properties of any moisturisers you use and helps to retain that moisture.

Just like Retinol, you can also use Niacinamide around your eyes. You may find that it improves the look of dark circles and also helps to smooth out the appearance of fine lines around the eyes.

I've been using The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum along with the Retinol Serum. I mix a pea sized amount of both and apply them to my face and neck, I wait ten minutes before applying my moisturiser, just to allow the products to sink in before applying anything else. My biggest concern was my pores, I hated looking in the mirror and seeing these huge pores basically screaming back at me (OK, slight exaggeration). This is where I've seen the most improvement, along with the texture of my skin and overall evenness. I am someone that is pretty pale and a lot of the time this can be mistaken for for having vibrant or glowy skin; but when you see your face at least once everyday in the mirror you truly see a difference when your skin is genuinely beginning to look bright and even. You could say this difference might have come from other products I use, but in fact I've only recently began to see a difference and it's because of the two products I've added to my routine. I was kind of playing it safe prior to adding these two products to my routine.

Honestly, there are a lot of products out there that contain these two ingredients and claim to do a lot of things overnight. I would love to try all the different Retinol and Niacinamide products on the market, but for now, these have worked wonders so I intend to stick with them! 

The reason why I chose to use The Inkey List is because of their no nonsense approach to the market, their products are exactly what they say they are. There's no fancy packaging or any claims to turn you into a golden god or goddess with glittery skin overnight (with a little more dedication to my skincare, I reckon I'm halfway there). The Inkey List stand for everything that I believe in when it comes to skincare. Knowledge is power. The more research you do, the better equipped you are. I did my research, read as much as I could into these ingredients, read reviews on various different products including these and then took the plunge with what I thought would work best for me.

The Inkey List website is a great tool if you are unsure about what products might work for you. I recently discovered their skincare recipe tool, you can pop all your skincare issues into their questionnaire and BOOM, The Inkey List will answer your prayers, along with all the information you need about their products and what they might help with. Safe to say I have an Inkey List shopping list in my notes now (sorry not sorry).

I purchased my Inkey List goodness from Cult Beauty, but they are also available at Feelunique, Boots, Lookfantastic and Selfridges.

I really hope you enjoyed this post as much as I loved writing it, it has been a long time coming (mainly in my mental to-do list). 

Any questions, as always pop them in the comments or catch me on my socials!

Stay at home, stay safe and I'll see you all again soon!

Yogita x

Pixi Beauty MatteLast Liquid Lipstick | Swatches

Good morning all! I know, I know, I promised I would be way more consistent with my posts and it has been way too long, but adulting is way harder than it was playing with lego when I was like 4! I hope you’re all having an incredible 2019 so far! Have you guys set any goals this year? Or are we going with the flow?
I have a quick but exciting post today. I was kindly sent the Pixi Beauty MatteLast liquid lipsticks a while ago and swatched them for you! At just £16 a pop, these are INCREDIBLE. I’m more of a lipliner all over the lip kinda girl, purely because I hate the feel of liquid lipsticks on my lips, but these bad boys are something else. The shade range and the formula is beautiful.

Cue the swatches..

Shades L-R: Berry Boost, Real Red, Orange Red, Prettiest Pink, Evening Rose, Really Rose, Pastel Petal, Matte Beige, Bare Beauty, Au Naturelle

I actually forgot to swatch the shade ‘Peony Pink’, which is basically a ‘your lips but better’ kind of pink. I don’t think there’s any shade I wouldn’t wear, other than the pinks, because I’m not really a fan of pink! 

Pixi Beauty MatteLast Liquid Lipsticks | Available here

psst, they’ve also added a few new shades since these were released!

Hope you enjoyed this short but sweet post. I’ll see you in the next one!

Yogita x

*the products featured in this post were kindly sent to me, but as always, my opinion is 100% honest.

HiMirror Mini Premium | Review

Has it been a long time or has it been a long time?! I hope some of you are still with me and keeping well along the way. Since I last posted on here, not only have I been super busy but I also went to India! As always, it was incredible, but as you all know, I hate the heat so I was more than happy to come back home to a sunny but cooler London.

I recently posted a story over on my Instagram and had quite a few of you sliding into my dm’s requesting a review on the HiMirror Mini Premium. After using it a fair bit (and my sister threatening to take it when I'm not looking), I think it’s safe to say that this is a beauty gadget that every single human being should own and that is no exaggeration. This nifty little thing is incredible! When they said it was the world’s smartest mirror, they were not playing around. 

The thing that most appealed to me was the skin analyser, which basically uses the built in camera to capture your face, analyse your skin, recommends the best products for you and also allows you to track the progress of the products on your face (it’s like having a skincare specialist at home 24/7). It looks at a number if things on your face:

• Complexion
• Roughness
• Pores
• Dark spots
• Wrinkles
• Fine lines
• Red spots
• Dark circles

Another thing I loved about the mirror was the ‘My Beauty Box’ feature, which allows you to scan your favourite beauty products and track their progress (it reminds you when they’re about to expire too).

The next feature is something that you makeup junkies will love; you can adjust the lighting on the mirror to reflect the surroundings you’ll be in. For example, if you’re going to be in direct sunlight, you can adjust the light settings on the mirror to see what your makeup will look like outside. No more ghost face for us! 

You can also zoom into your face to make sure your eyebrows look like sisters and your eyeliner is as ‘fleeky’ as possible.

If you’re a music lover (like me) and an avid user of social media, the next feature will definitely blow your mind. You can play music, watch youtube videos, keep up with your social media accounts and the news whilst you get ready! Yep, Spotify too! It’s basically like having your phone in your mirror.

I’m honestly so blown away by the mirror, I use it pretty much everyday and everytime I use it I discover it does something new. I’ve been scanning away on my beauty box feature, to store all the products I'm currently using and listening to music whilst applying my skincare.
As you all know I am someone that suffered from acne for a very long time and still have some scarring, which is my main concern when it comes to my skin and it’s also the reason I love using this mirror so much, it means I don’t waste time using products that are doing nothing for my skin, or even doing more harm than good to my skin. My skin concerns were the main reason I looked into the mirror before receiving it. I honestly had no idea it would be as amazing as it is.
A lot of the time, your skin problems aren’t visible to the human eye, so it’s extremely useful to have a gadget like this to keep an eye on your skin, to see whether there are any changes or improvements. I cannot recommend it enough. I’ve just highlighted the bits I love about the mirror and my thoughts on it, but there is so much more this mirror can do, it also has a body and fitness feature for all you gym junkies (I've promised myself that this feature will motivate me to go to the gym more and eat healthier, I say this whilst eating a Mars ice cream). It's such an incredible mirror, I actually look forward to using it!
It's super easy to use and set up with it's touch screen and user friendly interface (I spent about half an hour playing around with it after setting it up, I was like a kid in a toy store). It's such a great size and I love the simple design. It looks great on my dresser too!
The amount of features it has, I thought it would take absolutely ages to set up but it honestly took me about 5 minutes and once you've created your profile, you're pretty much ready to roll.

You can head on over to the HiMirror Instagram page to see more videos and posts on the mirror. 

For the month of October you can use the code OCT18 to get 15% off your order (you're welcome).

HiMirror Mini Premium | Available here

If you guys have any questions on the mirror, please leave them in the comments section or head on over to my Instagram page and I will do my very best to answer them.
I hope you guys enjoyed this post and I'll see you in my next one (sooner rather than later this time!)

Yogita x

*The product featured in this post was kindly sent to me, however, as always, my opinion is 100% honest.

Ubersonic | Review

Afternoon all! It has been way too long. I hope you are all doing well and having a great weekend.

Today I bring you my thoughts on the the Ubersonic toothbrush, as promised on my Instagram page. 

As I mentioned on there, I had braces for 4 years so I’ve always been very careful about the things I eat, in particular avoiding foods that would stain my teeth and the obvious one, sweets; although I don’t have much of a sweet tooth anyway. I am a die hard Arm & Hammer toothpaste fan. As soon as I stop using this, I notice a difference in my teeth straight away, but what is even more important is your toothbrush. I’ve always thought electric toothbrushes were a bit of a gimmick, the heads on these things are so small, it’s just time consuming to cover all your teeth. I have been using the Ubersonic toothbrush recently, and I cannot fault it. I love the fact that this toothbrush has a rectangular yet rounded head. It makes it so much easier to brush all your teeth without going overboard (overbrushing your teeth can cause your enamel to wear). It has an incredible high speed of movement, with 35,000 vibrations per minute (insane right?!). It’s so lightweight, so it’s perfect for travelling and of course you can charge it pretty much anywhere. At £19 and with the subscription option to get new brush heads every two months for an extra £9, which you can cancel whenever you want, you just can’t go wrong. You could spend a ridiculous amount of money on an electric toothbrush that will do pretty much the same job, so I would totally recommend trying this little gem out! 

AND - fun fact of the day: It’s made from the same material as an iPhone! 

I also received the teeth whitening kit. I was a little scared about using this in case I ended up like Ross from Friends in the episode where he pretty much ended up having glow in the dark teeth, but I grew a pair overnight and I’ve used this once so far and I am so impressed, I only had the gel on my teeth for about 20 minutes (I’m an impatient human being) and saw a difference straight away, I will definitely continue using this and keep you posted on how I get on.

Side note: the moulds didn’t work for me, which I was totally fine with. I just ended up spreading the gel over my teeth and grinning like a clown continuously for 20 minutes.

Ubersonic Toothbrush and Whitening Kit - available here

Have any of you tried the toothbrush or teeth whitening kit? I’d love to know your thoughts.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead and I’ll see you all in my next post!

Yogita x

*This product was sent to me, however, as always, my opinion is 100% honest.

Fenty Beauty Haul

Namaste guys! Another fun post this Sunday, although it will just be a photo heavy post. A few months ago my sister and I decided to take a spontaneous trip to Harvey Nichols to check the Fenty Beauty range out and I think it’s safe to say we got carried away. Below are the gems I picked up!

 

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer - available here

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation - available here (the colour range is incredible so I highly recommend getting matched in store just to be safe)

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Trophy Wife - available here

Fenty Beauty Match Stix Trio - available here (these come in a range of shades and are also sold separately, I bought them as a trio in the shade medium)

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint - available here (the pigment of this lip paint is INSANE)

Let me know if you would like to see an in depth review of the products along with swatches!

I hope you guys enjoyed this short and sweet post and loved the photos as much as I do. I thought I’d post something a little different to me just rambling on.

See you in the next one!

Yogita x

Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighters | Review + Swatches

Afternoon all! I hope you are all doing extremely well on this fine evening, wherever you may be. I am currently sweating my a*** off because it is beyond boiling in London today, let's hope this weather continues through the long bank holiday weekend (although I can't stand the heat and much prefer the cold weather).
I know, I know it's been a long time, but I am back with a good one today. You will not be disappointed (I hope).
As you all may know Makeup Revolution released their liquid highlighters this week and let's be real which one of us isn't obsessed with highlighters? As soon as Adam Minto announced their arrival on his Instagram page, I was like 'shut up and take my money'.
Makeup Revolution has got to be one of my favourite drugstore brands, not only are the products extremely affordable, they also pack a punch against the high end products on the market. Speaking of packing a punch, who is looking forward to the Mayweather v McGregor fight tonight? I bloody well am. Team McGregor up in here!

Stop getting distracted Yogz.

Back to the topic in hand. Makeup Revolution came out with 7 shades in total, although I only purchased 6 out of the 7 because as much as I love highlighter I am not going to get much use out of the Unicorn Elixir highlighter and the name just makes me picture myself as a unicorn prancing around with that highlighter on (I know you pictured it too, it's ok to admit it).
I know there's a heck of a lot of liquid highlighters out on the market but none of them are as affordable as these, at just £6 a pop they cost a fraction of the price of most highlighters, yep you heard right, I said £6! They are also currently on offer at Superdrug. So for me they worked out at £4 each, which is insane.

My holy grail highlighter has got to be Mary Lou Manizer from The Balm, but powder highlighters can often end up looking cakey if they aren't applied correctly, which is why I believe liquid highlighters are a god send, providing you use the right amount and the right technique/tools.
When it comes to liquid highlighters I prefer using a wet beauty blender and I try not to blend it out too much because otherwise you'll end up with just specks of glitter on your face.

On to these bad boys.
I'll start with the packaging. The highlighters come in glass bottles and although they feel quite delicate they have been packaged very well. I was pretty impressed to see that the highlighters came in glass bottles because at that price I was expecting the packaging to be plastic. The applicator is a pipette, which I think is great, because it means no mess or waste. You can just pop a couple of drops on your cheekbones and dab away.
The bottles may look small but you need very little product and when I say very little, I mean very little. These will last absolute ages.

Shoutout to my sister for the picture above, you the realist.

The quality of these highlighters is incredible, whether we're talking about the packaging, the shade range or the product itself. These highlighters are extremely pigmented and give the most beautiful glow to the skin. These can be used on the high points of your face or on your body. Another perk of liquid highlighters is that they look beautiful on your body as well as your face and as I mentioned before it won't look cakey.

Top to bottom - Starlight, Luminous Gold, Champagne, Bronze Gold, Rose Gold and Lustre Gold

As you can see from my amateur swatches above (I thought swatching liquid lipsticks was hard, little did I know), there is a good shade range and they are very pigmented. Starlight has a pink undertone, Luminous Gold looks like it has a peach undertone whereas the rest of them have a golden undertone, which is usually the kind of highlighters I go for and although the bottom three highlighters are a little dark for me and may be for others too. You can still make them work for you because they blend beautifully.

Another thing I noticed about these highlighters was that it was an absolute battle to remove these off my arm, so you can bet they'll last all night. They'll probably be able to see you in Mars whilst you're trying to wash it off your face.

You can use these on their own, mix them with your foundation or even with your moisturiser (this is my favourite technique) for a natural glow all over your face and body. As you guys know I'm not a fan of using makeup on a daily basis and usually stick to translucent powder and mascara, but I am all for these highlighters in my moisturiser. If you see someone looking like a disco ball on the tube, it's probably me (sorry not sorry).

You better believe I had to take a photo of these highlighters that can turn you into a glowing goddess with one dab, in the sunlight. I highly recommend wearing your sunglasses for the following swatches. Just saying 😎

Top to bottom - Starlight, Luminous Gold, Champagne, Bronze Gold, Rose Gold and Lustre Gold

Champagne is my favourite shade out of the lot. Speaking of favourites, if you haven't watched Sophia and Cinzia on youtube or follow them on Instagram you are missing out big time. These girls are beyond hilarious, absolutely gorgeous and are totally my soul sisters. They have got me hooked on Paige Toon. I have been reading her books non-stop. I ordered another 5 of her books as I was writing this post, yes I am that obsessed. If you haven't read any of her books you NEED to read them asap. Every book connects to the other in the most smartest way. Paige Toon if you're reading this you are AMAZING (let's be real she probably has better things to do).

You can watch Sophia & Cinzia here and follow them here

Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighters available here and here (currently 3 for 2 at Superdrug)

I hope you all have a lovely long bank holiday weekend and I shall see you all in my next post (let's hope the next one comes sooner than this one did).

Yogita x

Kylie Cosmetics | Review, Swatches + Customs

Hello my lovelies! I know it's been quite a while and I am extremely sorry, unfortunately things are only getting busier for me, but I do hope to get back into the swing of things in the coming weeks! 

I am starting this post with an extremely heavy heart because of the incidents that occurred here, in London last night. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with everyone, not just the people of London. An attack like this is an attack on humanity and it's heartbreaking. What could anyone possibly get out of hurting and instilling fear in innocent people? The one thing that is beautiful to witness is the kindness, the kindness of people towards absolute strangers and the courage from our emergency services, it's incredible. Please stay safe and try and help those around you if you are in a position to do so.

Today's post is one that I was extremely excited to write (I'm pretty sure I say that about every post I write, but I really am excited). I received my first Kylie Cosmetics order not too long ago! I know I'm a little late but as I said before things are only getting busier for me which means I'm a little late when it comes to hopping on the bandwagon. Now, I bloody love Kylie Jenner, I am no-one to judge, I don't care what she's done to her lips (she didn't borrow my lips, so why should it bother me?), I don't care who she's dating (she isn't dating my boyfriend, so why should it bother me?), I don't care what she's wearing (It isn't my nip that she's flashing, so why should it bother me?), I think she's beautiful and I think it's great that she's built such a solid empire at such a young age. My love for her is one of the reasons why I wanted to get my hands on her Lipkits!

I purchased the Lipkits in Dolce K, Pumpkin, Ginger and Exposed and was kindly sent the So Cute gloss as my order took a little longer than usual to arrive, which was a lovely little surprise!

I have to talk about the packaging because I absolutely love it. It's very minimal, which, if you know me you'll know is right up my street. I am someone that loves hoarding pretty packaging, I really don't know why because I doubt I'll get much use out of an empty box that can barely hold a lipliner, let's be real, but you can bet a pretty penny that I'll be keeping these boxes hah!

The formula of these liquid lipsticks and the lipliners is incredible, definitely the best I've come across, the lipliners are pigmented and as are the liquid lipsticks, but they are a serious workout to remove, which in my opinion is great because it means you won't have to reapply throughout the day. They come off pretty easily with oil based makeup removers, which is what I personally use and would definitely recommend you do the same, otherwise we'll be here all week trying to get these off! I am aware that a lot of people compare these to the Colourpop liquid lipsticks just because they're made in the same factory and have the same formula (I have been told), but I much prefer Kylie's formula, which means there has to be something different about them right? The Lipkits are lot easier to wear and don't feel heavy on your lips whereas the Colourpop liquid lipsticks, as beautiful as they are, are a lot heavier on the lips and I can't stand it when I can feel things on my skin.

When it comes to liquid lipsticks in general, I exfoliate my lips with a lip scrub and moisturise them with a lip balm immediately after exfoliating and blot them a little to take off any excess lip balm with a piece of tissue paper, just to prevent any dryness or flakiness. I've found that taking these steps prior to applying liquid lipsticks means that the overall application is a lot smoother and the colour lasts a lot longer.

Top-bottom (lipliner and then the corresponding liquid lipstick): Dolce K, Pumpkin, Ginger, Exposed and gloss in So Cute

In the tubes Pumpkin and Ginger look very similar but are a little different when applied. Pumpkin is a lot more on the orange side and Ginger is a little more brown. The So Cute gloss is a little pale on it's own but over a darker lipliner, it is absolutely stunning. It isn't sticky or uncomfortable on the skin, I'm not a gloss kind of person but I absolutely love this formula. My favourite out of the bunch has to be Exposed, it is the most beautiful nude shade I have ever come across and would probably look insane on any skin tone. The applicator is your bog standard doe foot applicator but it doesn't cause any streakiness or unevenness when applying the liquid lipsticks and are really soft on the skin.

I know you may be thinking $29 (£22) is a lot for a liquid lipstick and lipliner but if you think about it, a Mac liquid lipstick is £17.50 and a lipliner is £13 (£30.50 in total for the two), which is a lot more than £22 for a lipliner and liquid lipstick. Also, considering the formula, I think these are totally worth the money. The formula is beautiful and pigmented, the lipliners are extremely creamy and so easy to work with.

Customs

Now on to the topic that no-one really wants to talk about, but want to know everything about. Customs 😱 You have to pay customs on any goods that are ordered from outside the EU that you have paid more than £15 for and also an £8 service charge from Royal Mail if the goods are delivered by them. Always keep this in mind when purchasing from abroad because the last thing you want is a hefty customs bill you weren't expecting, on top of what you've already paid for your items.

I was charged customs on the basis that I paid full price for the items, which is incorrect as I purchased the lipkits during a promotion. You can fill in a form along with a copy of proof of purchase and any other documents you may feel are relevant if you believe you have paid too much. The form can be downloaded here. Make sure you pay the customs charges asap just to avoid your items being sent back. The reason I was charged customs on the basis that I paid full price is because the people at Kylie Cosmetics filled in the customs declaration on the outer packaging incorrectly, so I will be filling in the form that I mentioned above so that the mistake can be rectified and I will keep you posted on the progress because I know how confusing customs can be. 

I really hope large companies such as Kylie Cosmetics and Colourpop recognise the problems that customs declarations can make and start filling in the customs declarations as they are on your purchase order, because it means avoiding all the hassle of getting reimbursements for any excess payments you have made for customs. You can read more on customs here.

Customs Update

As you guys know I did fill in the Customs form mentioned above just a little while after I received my Kyle Cosmetics order. I received a letter and a cheque rectifying the miscalculated customs charge, so I would definitely say it is well worth filling the form out and sending it off with your proof of purchase, photocopies of the customs charges that you paid and copies of any other documents you feel may be relevant. Although it did take a long time to get processed, I'm so glad the mistake was rectified because the customs charges for some of these orders are horrendous especially when they are miscalculated! 

Another thing I would like to mention is where to purchase Kylie Cosmetics products, especially here in the UK. 

I get asked about this so much and all I can say is DO NOT purchase Kylie Cosmetics products from anywhere other than their official website. There are so many fake websites and people selling fakes that contain ingredients that are harmful. Please be aware.

Taking into account the price, customs, delivery etc. Do I think these Lipkits are worth it? Hell yeah! I definitely want to get my hands on more of them and also the eyeshadow palettes!

I really hope you guys found this post helpful. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me via my social media links, which are provided at the top of my blog or through the comments section below.

Official Kylie Cosmetics website

Kylie Cosmetics Lipkits - available here

Kylie Cosmetics Glosses - available here

Please be safe and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Yogita x

DermaQuest | Review

I am going to start off by apologising, I know it has been quite a while since I last posted and I am making no excuses but I have been extremely busy (busy may be an understatement) and this may be the case for the coming few weeks, although I will try my very best to post as often as I can.
Today's post is one that I have been extremely excited to write. A few weeks ago I was sent a bunch of stuff from DermaQuest and of course I wasn't going to tell you my thoughts until I had tried the products out and that is exactly what I've been doing for the past few weeks.

I wasn't expecting any miracles but around the time I was sent these products I had a painful breakout and I had an inkling that this pesky little thing was going to turn into a mountain overnight if I didn't do something about the unwanted guest pronto! I applied the BHA Spot Treatment on the breakout before I went to bed and I am telling no lies, I woke up to a totally dried out spot, of course it was still slightly visible but it was totally dried out and wasn't causing any pain. If there was one product I could compare to this it would have to be the Mario Badesco Drying Lotion and I have sworn by this product for years! It's main ingredient is Salicylic Acid, which, if like me you've suffered from acne in the past, you will be extremely familiar with.

Another product I was sent was the SheerZinc SPF 30. If there's one product you NEED to have in your skincare routine it's SPF, regardless of whether the sun's out or not, the UV rays will always find a way. I have absolutely loved using this. It is a cream formula but it is extremely light on the skin, now I have really oily skin but this hasn't made me excessively oily or left any white residue, which is great because the last thing you want to do is look like a zombie out in the sun. This offers UVA and UVB protection. Also if you're someone that uses acids on your skin, whether it's hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid or any other acid, SPF is always a must!
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun (UVA and UVB) damage the skin, age it prematurely and increase the chances of skin cancer, which is why SPF is so essential in your daily skincare.
As you all know I am someone that has suffered from severe acne in the past, which is why I try not to use new products because you never really know how your skin will react. None of the products I was sent have made me breakout or caused any irritation.

Lastly I was sent the Essential B5 Hydrating Serum. Now I know you guys must be thinking why on earth is this girl using so many hydrating products when she already has oily skin. Just because you have oily skin doesn't necessarily mean your skin is hydrated. Your skin will always need hydration, whether it's in the form of a cream, serum or just you drinking water regularly. I love having a serum in my skincare routine and this little gem contains Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid and Vitamin B5.
Vitamin B5 is known to hydrate the skin but is also a natural healer and protector of the skin.
One gram of Hyaluronic Acid can hold up to six litres of water and as we age our skin loses it's natural ability to retain moisture and that's where Hyaluronic Acid can help. As well as hydrating the skin, Hyaluronic Acid revitalises the layers of your skin and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Ferulic Acid is naturally found in seeds of fruits such as apples, oranges and even in some vegetables, nuts and grains, where it plays a vital role in the plants' protection and self preservation. It helps fight against the free-radical damage that contributes to ageing. It basically helps slow down the clocks when it comes to ageing.
The Essential B5 Hydrating Serum from DermaQuest contains all three ingredients, so you know it's a load of magic in a bottle. This product has made my skin extremely smooth and so naturally glowy (and I am bloody loving it). It really is hydrating but very lightweight at the same time. The serum has a pump, which is always useful because it means you won't waste any product, one pump of this is more than enough to cover your whole face. It's also won the Best Daily Serum Award at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017 and I can't say I'm surprised, because it is incredible. Definitely my favourite out of the lot.

Honestly, I can't praise these products enough. I genuinely wasn't expecting any miracles when I received these products, but they really have helped transform my skin and have become such an essential part of my skincare. I will definitely be purchasing the SheerZinc SPF 30 and the Hydrating Serum once I run out because I am obsessed! Another thing I loved about the products was the packaging, I am a sucker for anything minimal. DermaQuest caters for a whole range of skincare concerns, whether it's ageing, acne, pigmentation. They literally have a product for everything.
When it comes to skincare, everyone reacts differently to products so it is extremely important to do your research and avoid any products that contain ingredients that you may be sensitive to. Finding products that work perfectly for you is an ongoing journey, some things may work and some may not but doing your research and being patient is essential to your own personal journey.

DermaQuest Essential B5 Hydrating Serum - available here
DermaQuest SheerZinc SPF 30 - available here
DermaQuest BHA Spot Treatment - available here

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Yogita x

*Products featured in this post were kindly sent to me. Please refer to the Disclaimer page for more information.

Spring Scents | Gucci Flora #SummerWithFD

We have another bank holiday weekend ahead of us and boy am I glad, although we have kind of been spoilt with all the bank holidays recently, who wouldn't love another one?!

Summer is fast approaching and it is my favourite season to try out new scents, especially because the heat really tests the staying power of the perfume. Heat isn't something we get a lot of in the UK but on the rare occasion that we do, it's perfect to experiment with new scents.

Today's post is about a newbie in my collection although it has fast become a favourite and that is, Gucci Flora.
For me the longevity of a perfume is just as important as the scent itself. I absolutely hate strong scents that linger for a lifetime and give you a pounding headache, so I tend to reach for light floral/sweet scents and Gucci Flora is one that I have found myself reaching for quite regularly.
The staying power of this scent is impeccable, I've put my clothes in the wash and they've come out still smelling of the perfume, which is insane.
The scent features top notes of Mandarin Orange, Peony and other citruses, heart notes of Rose and Osmanthus and base notes of Pink Pepper, Patchouli and Sandalwood. Give me anything with hints of Peony, Rose and Sandalwood and I will happily sleep in it for the rest of my life! Mum if you're reading this, I've seen you watching him (yes my bottle of Gucci Flora is a male) and if he goes missing, you're at the top of my suspect list #justsaying.

I've always been a huge fan of Gucci as a brand but I've also found that their perfumes are absolute classics. The scents never go out of fashion, the staying power is impressive and the packaging is beautiful. I am a packaging hoarder, so of course I still have the box (sorry not sorry). I love that the packaging mirrors the scent, the bold hints of gold and black and the beautiful floral print, sums this scent up perfectly.

Gucci Fragrances - available here
Gucci Flora Collection - available here

Fragrance Direct currently have free delivery on orders over £20 with the code FREEDEL20 and you can get 10% off with Unidays, so there couldn't be a better time to switch up your scent!

There's a Royal Challengers Bangalore match on today and on Monday, so you know where to find me if you need me ;)
Have a lovely bank holiday weekend!

Yogita x

*Items featured in this post were kindly sent to me. Please refer to the Disclaimer page for more information.

Makeup Revolution Renaissance Lipsticks | Review & Swatches

Happy Easter guys! I hope you're all having a wonderful bank holiday weekend.

I thought I'd get a good old review+swatches post up today incase you guys want to take a break from eating all that yummy food and Easter eggs and have a little read; I on the other hand have no intention of putting this chocolate down because the Royal Challengers Bangalore aka my team are playing today, so I need all the chocolate in the world to keep my energy up as I scream at the top of my lungs.

I will be talking about the Makeup Revolution Renaissance lipsticks today. You may have seen these making the round on Instagram and also causing a fair bit of controversy as they do resemble the Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks. I won't go into this too much but in my opinion, I love a good dupe. If I really want something high end I will go out and get it, no questions asked, regardless of whether a dupe is available or not. I think purchasing something designer or high end is an experience in itself. Of course not everyone can afford to spend a huge heap of money on a lipstick and you shouldn't have to. A lot of the time the dupes are better than the high end products and sometimes the dupes just can't match up to the high end products and that's just the way things go sometimes, but it's great to have some inexpensive alternatives out there, especially for someone that is just starting to dabble into makeup. I have been a huge fan of Makeup Revolution ever since I read about them on Daily Mail (this was before they had released any products) and I sure do own a fair bit of their products. They're great for everyday use when you don't want to rub £50 in the form of a lipstick on your face. Their products are really affordable and sometimes, just as good as some of the high end products on the market.

The Makeup Revolution Renaissance lipsticks are INCREDIBLE for just £4, they're very pigmented and don't dry out your lips, of course they aren't as long wearing as liquid lipsticks but that can be expected from any lipstick in bullet form, so you may find yourself having to reapply it throughout the day. The packaging is beautiful and has a fair bit of weight to it, so you don't have to worry about it breaking or the lid suddenly falling off and finding your makeup storage in a right old state and assuming it has been vandalised.
The shade range is pretty impressive too, I believe there are 20 shades in total, a lot of these are nude/brown shades, which is right up my street, so I am not complaining.

Below are swatches of the 6 lipsticks that I own from the range.

Top - Bottom: Vintage, Vow, Breathe, Class, Rebirth and Finest

Makeup Revolution Renaissance Lipsticks - available here and here (currently 3 for 2 at Superdrug)

Enjoy the rest of your Easter bank holiday weekend!

Yogita x

Nip+Fab Matte Liquid Lipsticks | Review & Swatches

If you guys follow me on Twitter you will know that the Indian Premier League started last week and I have been watching the Royal Challengers Bangalore matches religiously (as always). I am a HUGE cricket fan and an even bigger RCB fan.
Another great thing that happened last week was that Nip+Fab launched their makeup range at Superdrug. Now, you all know that Nip+Fab is one of my favourite skincare brands, I literally love everything in their skincare range. So as soon as Nip+Fab posted that the range was now available at Superdrug I went straight on to their website and ordered 3 of the matte liquid lipsticks that stood out to me the most, which were Marshmallow, Biscuit and Cinnamon. I will, of course pick up some more of their makeup products in due course and let you guys know what I thought but for now we'll start with the lippes!

The applicator on these liquid lipsticks is SO soft, it glides the product onto your lips evenly without leaving behind any streaks and is the perfect size to get in to the corners of your lips without looking like Miranda Sings. When Nip+Fab stated that these liquid lipsticks were pigmented and long lasting they were not messing around, they last absolutely ages on your lips, although I wouldn't sleep with a lipstick on, I can definitely say they'd probably last the night. I ate with one of these lippes on and it did not budge! One swipe of these lipsticks on your lips is enough to test the pigmentation. The colour range is beautiful, there are some deep nudes, some pink nudes and some peach nudes. My favourite shade out of the ones I have, has got to be Cinammon, it is one of the prettiest shades I have ever come across.
The formula of the lipsticks is very buttery, they go on to your lips like a lovely glossy balm but dry matte. The lipsticks are in no way uncomfortable on the lips, they feel lovely. I get really irritated with the way that some liquid lipsticks feel and want to take them off as soon as I apply them, but these lipsticks are probably the first that I would happily wear all day without ripping open a pack of wet wipes. You could wear these lipsticks with lipliner but I prefer to wear them without.

Top - Bottom: Cinnamon, Biscuit and Marshmallow

At first I was a little sceptical about a skincare brand introducing a makeup range, but I guess if anyone could pull it off, it had to be Nip+Fab. I can safely say that I am impressed, they did not let me down. For the price (£7.95) I cannot praise these lipsticks enough, they are totally worth a try. Compared to some of the more expensive yet not so impressive lipsticks on the market these are easily accessible, they don't burn a hole in your pocket and you certainly won't be disappointed. 

Superdrug currently have 3 for 2 on all makeup, which includes the Nip+Fab makeup range. You can also purchase the lipsticks (and everything else from the range) on the Nip+Fab website.

Nip+Fab Makeup - available here

Nip+Fab Makeup at Superdrug - available here

Yogita x

Smith & Cult - Kundalini Hustle | The Perfect Red

Am I the only one that struggles to find the perfect red nail polish?! Worry no more people. We are about to enter a struggle free blog post. I have found the perfect red nail polish and it's Kundalini Hustle from Smith & Cult. I feel like this shade of red would be beautiful on any skin tone and once you've tried it, it will most probably become your go-to shade. The thing I love most about red nail polishes, is that they go with anything, providing you have found the perfect red for yourself. Red is a colour that will never go out of fashion whether it's a lipstick, a pair of shoes or in this case, your nail polish.

I am such a huge fan of Smith & Cult. Their packaging is BEAUTIFUL, the best I've seen when it comes to nail polishes and the beauty doesn't end there. Their nail polishes are so long wearing and very pigmented. They're also free from Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Xylene and Ethyl Tosylamide Triphenyl Phosphate.

I know £19 might sound like a lot for a nail polish, but if you want a great product, sometimes you have to dig a little deeper. When it comes to Smith & Cult Nail Lacquers you really do get some serious bang for your buck. I'm not someone that wears nail polish on a regular basis so regardless of whether I've paid a lot or very little for my nail polishes, I feel like I get a lot of wear out of them in the long run (does that even make sense? Knowing me, it probably doesn't. But you get the jist). 

On the odd occasion where I choose to paint my nails, I want my nail polish to be chip free for as long as possible and Smith & Cult is my answer to long lasting nail colour.

I find some nail polishes have really flimsy applicators, the brush is all over the place and the lid is really hard to hold. With the Smith & Cult Nail Lacquers you can remove the gold part of the lid whilst it is still screwed on to reveal a smaller black top, that some may find a little easier to use. I don't really mind either to be honest because the lid itself has some serious weight to it, which I love. The brush itself is the perfect size to get an even wash of colour over your nails without painting your whole hand. The nail polish comes off really well with pretty much any nail polish remover with very minimal mess and effort, which is very useful because red nail polishes are amongst the hardest to remove.

Smith & Cult have some of the most beautiful nail colours I have ever come across. The shades are very muted, nothing in your face which is my kind of style. It's safe to say you probably won't find dupes for their shades (yes, they are that beautiful!) and the lacquers themselves have a lovely shine to them. The names of the shades are also really quirky and unique. I'm not a fan of getting my nails done professionally, unless it's a really special occasion (to me, nothing is ever that special). I prefer to paint my nails myself and I'm pretty good at it too, if I do say so myself. So as you can imagine my collection of nail polishes is pretty big huge. Smith & Cult and OPI are my favourite brands when it comes to nail polishes.

Smith & Cult Kundalini Hustle - available here 

Yogita x

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette | Review

Today's post is an Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette appreciation post (that was just as hard for me to say as it was for you). We are approaching much sunnier days in London and I'm all for experimenting with my eyeshadows during the Summer as long as I don't end up looking like Krusty the clown.
I'm not a huge user of eyeshadows on a daily basis, I actually hardly ever wear eyeshadow but I absolutely love collecting eyeshadow palettes because you never know when you might need a specific shade and you're bound to find them in one of your 24876 eyeshadow palettes. If I had just one orange/brown eyeshadow to use for the rest of my life, that would do me fine.
BUT (yes that's a very big but) as soon as I saw the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette I was in absolute love! I know a lot of girls have been umming and ahhing about whether to purchase it just because of the deep pinks in the palette and I was thinking exactly the same thing. Would I ever really use the pinks? How much wear would I actually get out of the palette? You get the jist, but of course I caved in and bought it. I really regret not buying the Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario, so I was not about to make the same mistake again (Anastasia if you're reading this, please bring back the Master Palette by Mario!).

I do not regret purchasing the Modern Renaissance Palette one bit.

It is absolutely stunning, the packaging is beautiful, it's a lovely dusky lilac faux suede texture, which is something I've never seen when it comes to eyeshadow palettes. The palette comes with a brush (a really good quality one), the Anastasia Beverly Hills logo is in rose gold on the outside and just under the mirror, which ties the whole palette together beautifully. Most of the eyeshadow palettes I own come in some not so aesthetically pleasing plastic packaging, I'm not complaining but it's not something that impressed me. Of course it's the product inside that matters the most but packaging is a huge thing when you're parting with a pretty hefty amount of your hard earned money.
There are really only two eyeshadows that I would be hesitant to use (Love Letter and Venetian Red) but even then I think if you used them with a light hand or blended them with some of the other shades, they'd look pretty good!
My favourite shade in the palette is Raw Sienna, like I said before, give me an orange/brown eyeshadow and I'll happily use it for the rest of my life - Raw Sienna is that eyeshadow.
The pigmentation of these eyeshadows is really really good. If you've ever owned any of Anastasia's palettes or products, this is something that's pretty common with her palettes, you basically get what you're paying for and that's a really good product for a not so bad price.
I know some people may be reading this and thinking 'but there's so many palettes out there that are half the price and contain a lot more eyeshadows' and I can't disagree but this is one of those products that if you really want it, you won't mind paying the price. No-one is going to make you buy the palette, let's be real. I'm totally against the overrated hyped up products that you'll see on Instagram and Youtube. Some people feel pressurised into buying it just because you see it everywhere, please don't feel like you have to buy beauty products just because you've seen it on 34 posts in the past 10 minutes on your Instagram feed. This is my honest opinion, I did my research, looked at swatches, watched a few Youtube tutorials, thought about it (quite a few times) and parted with my money and I was not disappointed. Anastasia Beverly Hills is a brand that I have never been disappointed with, so I didn't mind paying £41 for an eyeshadow palette.

You can see swatches of the eyeshadow palette on a selection of skin tones here. As you can see it compliments any skin tone, which is another thing that's really important. I hate products that are targeted at one specific skin tone. We're in the 21st century, get with it.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette - available here and here

I really hope you guys enjoyed this post!

Yogita x