KIKO Sweetheart Collection Review

Generally people are either into Valentine's day, not into it or are indifferent to it however I don't know of anyone who won't still appreciate a gesture of love on that day. Whatever the case is, it is always great to celebrate love at every opportunity because life is too short. KIKO Milano recently launched their Sweetheart Collection and I was very kindly sent a generous selection of products from the range. I wanted to share my thoughts on them with you. Let's get started.....

Brief Overview

The Sweetheart collection was launched to celebrate Valentine's Day and designed to make you feel on top of the world as only love can. The collection consists of a baked highlighter, baked blush, an eyeshadow palette, lip liners, lip gloss and lipsticks. The products are enriched with the scent of forest fruits and it is so lovely. I personally think the shades chosen in this collection will suit a good range of complexions which is a plus for me. 

Packaging

I really like the cute packaging complete with heart inscriptions all over it. There are two shades to the packaging; the pink with hearts and red with hearts. The eyeshadow palette has a hard paper/cardboard packaging which I am not usually a fan of but this one seems to be good quality. I love the lipstick bullet and the packaging of the baked highlighter and blush. All in all, I think KIKO Milano did a great job with their packaging as they always do. I have quite a few KIKO products and their packaging have lasted for a good while so I am expecting the same quality for this collection. 

KIKO Sweetheart Baked Blush in Just like Coral*// Link //£16.90

I generally love baked products so I had high hopes for this blush. There is only one shade which is called Just like Coral and I totally adore the shade. I feel it will suit many complexions because coral is one shade that just looks great on a variety of skin tones. It is very pigmented and I use a very light hand with and my Real Techniques Fan Brush works best for me. I use it both as a highlighter and a blush because it has a really nice natural glow. I adore the heart shape and the entire packaging because it's very cute and fits nicely in my makeup bag. For a night out, I feel it will fit well into any clutch. If you like a subtle touch of colour on the cheeks, this will be perfect and if you want to go all out, this blush will also work well because it is buildable.








KIKO Sweetheart Baked Highlighter in Gold* // Link //£16.90
KIKO does really great highlighters so I knew that this will be an amazing product and I am happy to report that it did not let me down. It comes in a similar packaging as the Baked Blush and has the same smooth, velvety texture which I really like. It does not have a film across it that prevents you from getting the product and I find some highlighters doing this after a few uses. I have used this quite a few times and I can tell the texture will remain true till I hit pan. It is equally pigmented and I love this shade of gold because it is wearable. It is not too yellow or pale but just sits right in the middle which makes me believe many people will enjoy using it. Just like the blush, it can be built up so if you are out to slay all the way, you can just pack it on. I prefer a subtle glow so I just use a light sweep of my same Real Techniques Fan Brush which really packs and distributes the right amount of product where I need it. I can't fault this highlighter at all and I have been wearing it every chance I get.





KIKO Sweetheart Eyeshadow Palette*// Link //£14.90
I have a large collection of KIKO Eyeshadows which I have customised into palettes and quads because they make amazing and affordable eyeshadows. I don't think I have any pre-made eyeshadow palette so I was excited to try one and see if the quality was the same as others I own. The Sweetheart Eyeshadow Palette contains 6 eyeshadows which are heart shaped in the cutest palette packaging. It is made from hard cardboard/paper with a magnetic lid and a mirror. It is really slim and travel friendly. I actually traveled with it to London and there was no mess or damage which is great. I do tend to prefer eyeshadow palettes made from plastic because they are easier to clean and more durable but so far this has been fine.






The six eyeshadows are: Cheri, My Sweetness, Thinking of You, Love Blast, XOXO and Je T'Aime which are all lovey-dovey names. The palette has a mixture of matte and shimmer shades which I like because it means I can create a complete eyeshadow look with it. Cheri and My Sweetness don't have the best pigmentation on my complexion so I do have to build it up however the other four shades are just marvelous. I use Love Blast and XOXO on my crease while Thinking of You and Je T'Aime are for my lids. I use Cheri as a brow bone highlight and it works well. I am so pleased there are warm shades in this palette.







KIKO Sweetheart Lipstick (Kiss from a Rose)* //Link // £6.90
Isn't this the cutest lipstick ever? I definitely let out a squeal when I first unboxed this lipstick. KIKO describe it as a two-toned creamy and shiny lipstick and I can't think of a more apt description. There are 6 shades and I have the shade 01 Kiss from a Rose which suits my complexion so perfectly. The lipstick bullet looks so classy with a heart inscription while the lipstick bullet has a heart within the design. There are two tones as you can already tell from the picture (ignore my silly swatch) and together, they create a seamless lovely shade on the lip. I love the texture as it is moisturising, long lasting and perfect for this weather which has my lips feeling dry. It feels lightweight and non-greasy so I don't get my hair sticking to my lips when the wind gets out of hand over here in Scotland. It's such a lovely lipstick and a perfect addition to my collection as I don't have anything like it at all.







KIKO Sweetheart Lip Pencil (Kiss from a Rose)* // Link //£4.90
I don't use a lot of lip pencils these days but I was very curious about the KIKO Sweetheart Lip Pencil. It also comes in 6 shades similar to the lipstick and I got the shade Kiss from a Rose which is the matching shade to the lipstick. It is described as an automatic lip pencil in the sense that it rolls up and down. It does not need to be sharpened (hurray!!) and it's the perfect size for a lip pencil. It fits the contours of my lips and I actually use it as an all over lip product. I have also used it as a lip pencil to go with the lipstick but I do prefer to use it all over my lips. It is also well pigmented and moisturising on my lips. It does not break easily which is great because I have used lip pencils which break easily. Absolutely love using it!!






KIKO Sweetheart Lip Gloss*// Link // £6.90
I rarely use lip gloss because I prefer either matte lipsticks or cream/shiny lipsticks. Every now and again, I try a few lip glosses but I always go back to my other favourite lip formulas. The KIKO Sweetheart Lip Gloss is described as a 3D-effect lip gloss which is lightweight. It has some light glitter which adds that extra oomph on its own or on top of another lip product. It does make my lips soft. I do find it slightly sticky on my lips but it's a gloss so I am not mad about that. For the cold weather, it is great to wear on top of my matte lipsticks which is always a plus for me. One thing I really love is the packaging and the applicator. It just looks so aesthetically pleasing; almost ethereal and it's possibly due to the design and the white colour. If you love lip gloss, I will definitely recommend giving this a try and it is very affordable as well.





KIKO Sweetheart Collection can be purchased online (but the Baked Highlighter and Blush are sold out so only available in-store now). They can also be purchased from KIKO stores too which is always nice because you get to find other treasures in there. The best part is that they are offering a 25% discount off the Sweetheart Collection when you purchase 2 products from the Sweetheart Collection. It is only available online and will end on 14th February 2019. I really enjoyed trying out these products. My favourite products from the collection are the Baked Highlighter, Baked Blush and the Two-Toned Lipstick. I will highly recommend checking them out. That's it from me. Have you tried the KIKO Sweetheart Collection?
*Gifted PR Sample, read my full disclaimer here.

Best in Beauty 2018 (Skincare)

Let's just say 2018 was the year I tried so many products I loved and never got a chance to talk about them on the blog. A few made it onto Instagram but some did not however it does not mean they are not well loved because they indeed are. That's why I am so happy to be writing this post. I have to say my all time favourite brand in skincare for 2018 has to be Neutrogena and The Ordinary because I reached for many products from these brands last year. All links used in this post are affiliate links and any PR/Gifted product will be marked with an *. Right let's get started because it will be a long post.


Makeup Removers
In 2018, I stuck to my tried and trusted makeup removers - Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water//£4.99 and Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water//£10.80. I actually prefer the original Garnier Micellar Water (pink bottle) to the other versions. I have run out of my pink one so I could not get a photo of it but the Garnier Micellar Water for Combination Skin//£3.32 (green bottle) is also good. My ultimate favourite Micellar Water will always remain the Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water and I don't think it will be changing anytime soon unless some outstanding product is made to replace it. Both micellar waters were pretty much all I used throughout the year and they were amazing at removing my makeup (first cleanse) including my eye makeup. I actually did not really use a separate eye makeup remover for majority of the year because my micellar waters did a great a job.


Cleansers
I tried quite a few cleansers in 2018 and my favourite for the year was the Neutrogena range. I loved the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gelee Milk Cleanser*//£7.99 and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser *//£7.99 which were both amazing because they don't dry out my skin and my face feels/looks clean. Towards the end of the year, I decided to try out another range and purchased the Neutrogena Pore & Shine Daily Wash//£4.99 and I absolutely love it too. It has the same texture as the Hydroboost one but it is not as hydrating nevertheless it smells so delicious and does not strip my skin. I am so surprised it took me so long to try this cleanser and now I know I will be repurchasing several backups.


Eye Creams/Serum
I did not try too many eye creams/serums in 2018 rather I tried to use up all my well loved ones. Top on my list still remains the Lancome Advanced Genifique Yeux //£40 which has been a favourite for many moons. It just works so well for my under eyes and it does last a good while so it is worth its expensive price tag. Two other favorites were the Institut Esthederm Lift & Repair Eye Patch*//£47 (on sale) and the Botanics All Bright Eye Roll-On*//£6.75 which were perfect for my very short nights especially when I was on-call from work. I am looking to try more eye care products to see if I will find new favourites. I have already purchased the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Patches and will be sharing my thoughts soon.




Toner/Astringents/Chemical Exfoliators
I did not try any new ones in 2018 but I fell deeply in love with my usual favourites because I stuck with them for longer times. The first is the Pixi Glow Tonic//£18 which is my perfect everyday glycolic acid solution which works wonders for my skin. I also tried out The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Solution//£6.80 which I used for many months and enjoyed how clear it kept my skin. It contains 7% glycolic acid which is slightly more than what the Pixi Glow Tonic contains (5%) so I did find slightly better outcomes initially with it. I have repurchased several backups so I don't run out. My all time favourite remains the Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion// £56 because it is just perfect for my skin. It is still very expensive and quite difficult to get online so I whip it out when my skin is seriously playing up. I also purchased the Pixi Rose Tonic//£10 and Pixi Retinol Tonic//£10 which I am currently trying out and will share my thoughts soon.


Serums
I tried quite a few new serums last year and I feel like I need to do a separate post talking about each of them. For my 2018 favourites, I think it has to go to The Ordinary Serums because I used them consistently for the most part of 2018 and I saw amazing results. My all time favourite serum is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin//£7 which has been instrumental in helping me clear my hyperpigmentation. I used it along with the The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5%//£5.50 initially and then moved onto The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% //£5.99. I was so delighted when Deciem launched The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid + Alpha Arbutin //£10 because I had heard how effective using both ingredients were. It is such an amazing product and I tend to use it mainly at night because it has more of an oily texture. I will highly recommend checking them out if your skin is playing up. I also loved my Biologique Recherche Placenta Serum//£63 which really helps with hyperpigmentation. It is very expensive and you do have to buy it in-store but it is totally worth and works so well with my skin.


Moisturisers
In 2018, I was not too precious about my moisturisers because I feel like my serums were doing all the hard work. Two moisturisers I loved were the Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturiser*//£65 and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturisers* (Gel-Cream//£12.99 and Water Gel//£12.99). They both helped my skin stay hydrated and protected it against environmental factors. I tend to use the Water Gel during the day as it has a lighter texture and save the Gel-Cream for nights because it is creamier. I love how easy they both are to apply on the skin and they absorb quickly without feeling greasy or interfering with my makeup.


Sunscreen
I am not going to lie, I don't think I was very good at using sunscreen everyday in 2018. I currently live in Scotland and the weather is pretty cold with minimal sunshine for the most part. I know it does not matter whether the sun is shining as sunscreen is essential but it is easier to remember to use sunscreen when you look out of your window and the sun is shining. I am much better now in 2019 and using my sunscreens like I should. During summer in 2018, I enjoyed whipping out my favourite sunscreens which happen to be the Institut Esthederm Bronze Repair*//£56 and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Lotion SPF 25*//£6.49. My all time favourite has to be the Bronze Repair though because it ticks all the boxes for me and it is a pleasure to use. The Neutrogena sunscreen is a close contender because it is easy to work into my skin and feels like a regular face lotion. I still love my La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50 which has featured in almost all my yearly favourites.


Masks/Peels
The funny thing is I did not use many masks in 2018 because I was just so busy but for the few times I could squeeze in some time, I had one absolute favourite. The Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel*//£55 was my go-to mask whenever my skin looks dull. I love that you can see an immediate radiance to the skin and my skin loves it. It has a slight sting when you initially use it but over time, it does get better. Would you believe I still have not tried out The Ordinary AHA/BHA Peel? It is still sat in my skincare drawer.  I am going to try it out tonight as I am on annual leave so there is no excuse. I will share my thoughts on Instagram.


Exfoliators/Scrubs
I am more of a chemical exfoliator kind of girl but every now and again I love using a good old scrub. Many scrubs can be very abrasive and yet they never do a good job but I am so glad I have found three that are my absolute favourites that work so well- The Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser*//£35, Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant*//£55 and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliator Smoothing Gel*//£7.99. These three have worked both as scrubs and cleansers for me. They all have their merits but the main thing they do is gently exfoliating my skin without being too abrasive but nevertheless doing the job. I will highly recommend trying them especially if you prefer physical exfoliators.


Beauty Tools
I am sure everyone must be bored of hearing me by now but FOREO skincare devices are the absolute best. I have used different versions of the FOREO Luna Mini*//£119  over the past few years and I still feel so positive about them. I use my FOREO Luna Mini at least once a day and this has been consistent through the years. I will highly recommend purchasing one because they are so worth it and the battery life lasts forever. I think I only need to recharge mine twice or maybe thrice a year which is more than impressive. I also have my cute Luna Play*//£29 which I take with me whenever I am travelling for very short trips. It does not have a rechargeable battery but it last for about 100 uses or so and it is a great way to try out FOREO Luna products. That's all my skincare favourites from 2018. What was your Holy Grail 2018 Beauty Product? Let me know in the comment box below.
*PR/Gifted + Affiliate links all used in this post, read my full disclaimer here.

Roze Mountain Skincare, Bath and Body Products Review

I love trying out new and smaller brands especially indigenous ones because I know they put in a lot of love into their products. I was very kindly contacted by Roze Mountain asking me try to out some products from their range. I had not heard about the brand before but I checked out the website and I loved what I saw. I was sent a variety of products from their range. I've had these lovely products for a pretty long time and this review should have been up ages ago so I am very glad I can finally talk about them now.

Brief Overview of the Brand
Roze Mountain is a botanical Indie Beauty brand which focuses on formulating and developing skincare products that deliver real value. The Founder (Morgane Rozenberg) believes that formulating is both a science and an art and it requires scientific knowledge, research skills as well as creativity to bring to life your dream product ! The great thing is that all their products are cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, halal-friendly, eco-friendly. kosher-friendly; just name it, they have it covered. Roze Mountain is constantly rebranding the products and I love seeing the progress the brand is making. You should follow their page on Instagram and Facebook to see new launches. They also offer custom formulation consultation so if you were ever thinking of creating your own skincare brand, Roze Mountain could help you with that because the founder is also a Certified Organic Cosmetic Formulator. You can find out more about it over here. 




Packaging
I love the packaging as it is simple and functional. I love the amber bottles which protect the products from degradation and I particularly love the candle packaging as it is cute and easy to travel with if you love travelling with candles. The brand has now switched up their packaging which looks even better and I love it. You can check out their Instagram page if you want to see what the new packaging looks like.





Roze Mountain Plum Rose & Patchouli Soy Scented Candle* // Link // £18
The Plum Rose & Patchouli Candle is one of my favourites from all the products I've tried and it just smells divine.  It is made with non-GMO Soy wax infused with fruity and floral notes. The great thing about this candle is that it is hand poured and burns evenly. It has really lasted me for a long while considering how often I have burnt it. It has a really soft pleasant fragrance which you can smell in a room but it is not very strong. I think it is great that it does not smell too strong as it is meant to be a relaxing scent. Now that it is Winter, I have been burning it more often. It does not tunnel which is a great plus for me because I can't deal with candles that tunnel. I particularly love the size because I can travel easily with it and the tub/jar is so pretty so it will definitely be used on my dresser.




Roze Mountain Soothing Face Serum Oil for Oily Skin*
I was very skeptical about trying another oil for my skin as I do prefer regular serums as opposed to serum oils. My skin is combination oily so I tend to avoid using too much oils because they sometimes break me out. However, I was quite keen to try this oil out because it is called a Serum Oil for Oily Skin. I know that using the right oil even with oily skin can help balance out the oil levels in the skin. First off, I love the packaging as it is quite dainty but very easy to use through the pump. It completely reminds me of a spa and it's such a pleasure to use. In terms of texture, it is a proper oily oil in the sense that you can definitely feel that you are using an oil on your face. I won't classify it as greasy but you can definitely feel it on your skin however it does sink in after a while. I opt for it more at night because I think it will interfere with my foundation. Using it at night means I wake up to really radiant skin and my skin also feels super soft which I did not expect. I did not break out from using this serum oil which is a big plus considering the slightly heavy texture. I have been reaching more for it now that the weather has changed and it has helped my skin a lot to retain its radiance. If you have dry skin, you will absolutely love this oil. If you do have combination oily skin or straight up oily skin, I will recommend it probably starting with  a small amount and building up depending on how much your skin loves it.




Roze Mountain Bath Salts*
When we moved to our new house, we were delighted that there was a lovely Jacuzzi bath tub in one of the bathrooms and I told myself I will take a nice relaxing bath every week. Did that happen? Not a chance but I do make an effort every now and again. I tend to take showers more often than baths. However the few times I have run a bath, I have used the Roze Mountain Bath Salts and they totally made my bath even more relaxing. I am so obsessed with bath salts/crystals because they look so beautiful with their various shapes. I love the blue colour of these bath salts because they add a slight blue shade to my bath water and reminds me of the ocean/sea. The only thing that bothers my OCD self is the tiny black herbs which I am not a fan of although they give the bath salts their unique fragrance. I am so naughty and I take them out after a while because I just prefer the blue shade. The great thing is the bath salts retain their gorgeous fragrance and dissolve so well in the bath water. No blockages at all and I will highly recommend trying them out.




Roze Mountain Regenerating Chapped Lip Balm* // Link // £5
This is also one of my favourite products from the lot I was lucky to try out. I don't own many balms because sometimes they are so greasy and feel heavy on my lips. I prefer light lip balms that just sit right on my lips, moisturise my lips and keep it plump and I am delighted to say that the Roze Mountain Regenerating Chapped Lip Balm ticks all the boxes for me. I like that it comes in a bullet form so I don't have to dip my hands into a pot. It is very handy and it has to be my most used lip balm in 2018 and even till now in 20189. I barely notice it on my lips although I can see its full effect on keeping my lips from cracking/being chapped/dry. It has a slight pleasant fragrance and although it is a light pink shade, it does not add any colour to the lips. I tend to use it on its own (when I am going to work) or as a base for other lipsticks especially matte lipsticks and lip stains. It is one of those products I will repurchase when I run out and I will highly recommend trying it out. If you suffer from chapped/dry/cracked lips, say hello to your new lip best friend especially this A/W season.



Roze Mountain Romantic Massage Oil*
I am such a huge fan of anything massage and relaxation and I was intrigued about this massage oil. It comes in a spray bottle which allows for a great application of the oil with minimal mess. I particularly like that it sinks in without feeling greasy on my skin for too long. It smells absolutely gorgeous and very relaxing. Some of the ingredients include: Macadamia Oil, Jasmine, Patchouli to name a few. I love using this oil as a body oil especially now that it is Winter because it just leaves my skin feeling glossy and smells so glorious. I know it is meant to be a romantic massage oil but I have converted it to a general body elixir. It also works great with regular body lotions as it helps the skin retain moisture and infuses a great fragrance to any lotion I mix it with. I will highly recommend checking it out.




Roze Mountain Bath Oil*
I already mentioned I am more of a shower girl but the few times I take a relaxing bath, I have used the Roze Mountain Bath Oil and I love it.  You only need a few drops and its beautiful scent really calms me down and just changes up my bath time. It comes in such a cute bottle which makes it really easy to travel with. While the bottle does not have a stopper or pipette, I have not experienced any mess when travelling with it because the lid is very secure and can be used to measure the perfect amount of oil needed for your bath.


Overall Thoughts
I have to say I have been really impressed with these products and they honestly surpassed my expectations. If I had to pick my absolute favourites from all the products I have tried, I will definitely recommend the Regenerated Chapped Lip Balm, the Romantic Massage Oil and the Plum Rose & Patchouli Candle. I am so grateful I was able to try such a lovely brand. Will you be trying any products from the brand? Let me know in the comments section.
*PR Sample, read my full disclaimer here.