bloomzy /

Review: 3 Concept Eyes Lipstick #204

3 Concept Eyes Lipstick #204 – Come to Me*
I was introduced to 3 Concept Eyes lip markers recently, so I was eager to try their lipsticks also. I was sent an orange shade, which I’m sure will be very popular this Spring/Summer. It was my first time using this kind of shade, so I had my serious review hat on.
Swatched on hand in natural light, and on lips in artificial light.

Pros:
+ Creamy texture
+ Didn’t dry my lips out
+ Highly pigmented
+ Easy to apply

Cons:
– Transfers when eating/drinking
– Not long lasting
– Creamy but not moisturising

Notes:
I was a little unsure about this colour because I’m actually quite scared of orange shades. Still, I thought I’d give it a try and see what all the fuss was about with these lipsticks. Luckily I was impressed from the moment I laid eyes on it. Although the poorly applied manicure on the packaging (done on purpose or not?) bugs me, the lipstick itself comes in a classic black tube. The formula is very creamy, so it applies easily, but doesn’t bleed at all. When applied, the colour was pretty much the same as that in the tube – highly pigmented and very orange. It was slightly intimidating. Whereas the lipstick didn’t dry my lips out, it also didn’t stay on my lips after eating/drinking, so it wasn’t exactly long lasting. I love the texture and pigmentation these lipsticks offer, and although this shade isn’t exactly to my taste I’d happily purchase another. For £13.25 this isn’t ‘drugstore’ prices, but if you fancy splurging it’s well worth it. 
You can purchase 3 Concept Eyes Lipstick in Come to Me at Lunatu.
bloomzy /

Review: Birchbox April 2014

Birchbox April 2014 Box
This month’s Birchbox has a food theme.
Products are inspired by natural ingredients, candy colours and more.
You know I’m a foodie so this box is incredibly enticing for me. 
Inside my box was…
TheBalm Cosmetics – Cheek & Lip Cream
Lord & Berry – Kohl Eye Pencil
Color Club – Gala’s Gem Nail Polish
Tommyguns – Pomegranate & Orange Flower Shampoo
One Love Organics – Skin Saviour Waterless Beauty Balm
Propercorn – Fiery Worcester Sauce & Sundried Tomato 

Thoughts?
I’m going to give you the bad news first: It’s my third month in with my Birchbox subscription, and how am I feeling? This is the first box that has left me on the fence, and feeling a little bit “meh.” I have far too many lip balms/stains already and I don’t like cheek creams so I will probably gift the ‘TheBalm Cosmetics’ product. The packaging is cute though and reminds me a bit of Benefit. Next up, the ‘Lord & Berry Kohl Kajal Eyepencil’: I haven’t used an eye pencil since high school, and after converting to liquid eyeliner I probably won’t be going back to them. It’s a shame as I have wanted to try out a Lord & Berry for a while. Now I love ‘Propercorn’, so was glad to see them included as the ‘lifestyle’ item this month, however I can’t handle spice…at all, so these were too much for me. Sadly the other Propercorn option was my favourite – Sweet & Salty, but it was a 50/50 chance I’d get it, so I’m not upset. It’s not all bad though as the fiancé said he will gladly take it off my hands.
Now, for the good news: I am always happy to add another nail polish to my collection, especially when it’s a cute pastel shade. So the ‘Color Club Nail Polish’ was a welcomed addition. I also loved that we were able to choose the shade that went in our box this month. Usually you end up with a generic shade (like red) that everyone else also got. That’s not how Birchbox roll though. They asked us to choose which colour we would like to receive, out of 4 possible pastel shades. I choose the baby blue as I don’t have a similar shade – I know, shocking! This month introduced me to ‘TommyGuns Shampoo’, which smells amazing. I already have a ton of shampoos but I’m eager to try this. Now if only I had the conditioner too…! Birchbox have also introduced me to ‘One Love Organics Beauty Balm’ with this box. The packaging is simple and is different from what you receive if you buy a full size version, but it’s cute. It sounds like a pretty awesome product. I love natural, organic products, and I love skincare – it’s a match made in heaven.
So as you can see the box is pretty much split 50/50 for me this month. I may have received 3 products I’m not keen on/won’t use, but I also received 3 that I will! I understand that I won’t always receive a super amazing box with 5-6 products I adore, so I’m cool with this. Even then, the products I won’t use are still good quality samples that will make someone else very happy. Of course I do wish I’d received items I would get some use from, but I’m sure my friends will be happy. After all, what I don’t use gets given to them or donated to charity. After all folks, you’ve got to look for the silver lining!
You can subscribe or buy a one off box at Birchbox.
Using my link will give you (and me) £5 worth of points to spend in the store.
bloomzy /

Review: 3 Concept Eyes Lip Marker

3 Concept Eyes Lip Marker in Red*

3 Concept Eyes is a Korean beauty brand I was introduced to recently. To be honest I’ve used a lot of Korean skincare products, but not much makeup. I love the appeal of lip markers, so when I was sent this one I was eager to try something new. You know I love my red lipsticks too, so this shade was also something I’d pick up myself.
Swatched on hand in natural light, and on lips in artificial light.

Pros:
+ Long lasting
+ Doesn’t transfer/rub off
+ Didn’t dry my lips out
+ Nice shade

Cons:
– More orange than red
– Not pigmented, so colour needs to be built up

Notes:
I have such mixed feelings about this product. On the one hand, it’s an amazing lip product that doesn’t transfer or rub off during wear. It can last a good 8 hours without you having to re-apply it, and it doesn’t dry your lips out. Yet on the other hand this really isn’t the shade I was expecting. As you can see by the hand swatch above, it’s more of an orange than a red. I’m a bit confused as to why it’s sold as a red. The colour does need to be built up with this, like a lot of lip markers, so application takes a little bit longer. I like the product but I feel a little let down by the difference in the shade. However I do like the shade and I will be wearing it again. For £11.25 it’s a bit more than I would usually pay for a brand I’m not familiar with, and due to the shade problem I probably wouldn’t buy this product.
You can purchase 3 Concept Eyes Lip Marker in Red at Lunatu.
bloomzy /

Review: Playboy Kitten Eyes Liquid Eyeliner

Playboy Kitten Eyes Liquid Eyeliner*

Me and liquid eyeliner go hand in hand. You won’t see me with make-up on without liquid liner. Basically it has become a staple, on my face and in my cosmetic bag. I like to think that after about 5 years wearing liquid liner I know my stuff. So when Playboy cosmetics gifted me with their new eyeliner, I was excited to try it.
Swatched on top of a nude eyeshadow, using primer.
Pros:
+ Easy to apply
+ Brush rather than nib
+ Jet black shine finish
+ Cute packaging

Cons:
– Cracked during wear
– I could feel the liner during wear
Notes:
I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect from Playboy’s capsule make-up collection, but I was excited to find out. I first noticed the packaging, which they’ve kept true to the brand by featuring the iconic Playboy bunny. The eyeliner itself comes in a simple black tube with a pink signature – cute! I prefer brushes (like this one) when it comes to liquid liner, as I think you have more freedom, and it’s generally easier to apply. This was certainly easy to apply and left a sharp black, wet look finish. It was also easy to build on. I was impressed. Unfortunately it did crack during the evening though. I also had the same problem with an eyeliner with a similar formula, and I had to keep trying out various primers to find one that worked well with it. So I will give this the benefit of the doubt and say that it could probably be solved with a different primer underneath. As for being able to ‘feel’ the liner, I don’t really know how to explain it in any other way. For £6.95 this won’t break the bank and is a fun addition to an eyeliner lovers collection.
Playboy’s Kitten Eyes Liquid Eyeliner will be available from mid-April.
Stockists are still to be confirmed.
bloomzy /

Where to Eat in London: Violet Cakes

Violet | Cafe | Dalston | Website
– reservations not available –

Violet’s is a well known cafe hidden in the heart of Dalston. You may have visited their stall on Broadway market on a lively Saturday. I headed to Violet’s cafe with my fiancé on a warm, Spring Saturday afternoon.

The first thing I noticed was how small the cafe was, and it’s surroundings. I know Dalston houses a variety of small establishments, but I wasn’t expecting to find a teeny tiny cafe in the middle of some houses. That didn’t dent my eagerness though as we snatched a seat from someone who was just leaving. Luckily the weather was gorgeous so we were fine sitting outside, however if it hadn’t been I fear our journey may have ended there, as there is no indoor seating. Inside the staff were busy making cakes and serving customers takeaway delicacies in little monogrammed paper bags. The staff were friendly, although noticeably rushed, however they didn’t let it affect them. We ordered some tea, and two toasties, as I’d heard from a friend that the toasties at Violet’s were pretty scrumptious. I loved the crockery that everything was served on, and it felt so in tune with the cafe – very granny-chic. Our toasties were as delicious as we’d been promised, if a little bit greasy for my tastes. Although the side of cornichons made me incredibly happy – they’re a favourite of mine. We left soon after but didn’t leave without grabbing a mini cupcake and whoopie pie for the walk home. The cakes have made Violet’s famous, and are why their Broadway market stall is sold out every weekend. So did they live up to their high standards? They certainly did. The cakes were moist, full of flavour and we devoured them in a second!

I can definitely see myself going back and buying more of Violet’s cakes.
They’d be absolutely perfect for a picnic in London Fields on a gorgeous Spring day.

You can read more of my restaurant reviews on Zomato.

bloomzy /

Review: Illamasqua Shattered Star Marquise Nail Polish

Illamasqua Shattered Star Marquise Nail Polish, from the Glamore Collection*

Orange nail polish isn’t really something I’ve gone out of my way to wear. So when Illamasqua sent me their new Shattered Star Marquise Nail Polish, I internally thanked them for helping me to try something new and fun. There are actually two other shades in the Glamore collection; a champagne, and a pink – both of which are glitter polishes, like Marquise. Illamasqua claim that Marquise is highly pigmented, chip resistant and has a multi-dimensional glitter finish. Well I have a little something to say about that…
Subtle triangle nail art and swatch, using Illamasqua’s Marquise
Pros:
+ Highly pigmented
+ Chip resistant
+ Applies easily
+ Love the packaging
+ Long lasting
+ Opaque in one coat

Cons:
– Could dry quicker

Notes:
As you guessed, I don’t really have anything bad to say about this polish. Yes it does everything it claims to, and it does it with flare. Application can be something which a lot of brands go wrong on. Thanks to a good quality polish and brush Illamasqua has it down to a t. As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, I’ve never been a fan of orange polishes. Illamasqua may just have changed that though as Marquise is a gorgeous, highly pigmented glitter polish that looks amazing on. I really like the other shades in this collection (Trilliant & Fire Rose), but for me, Marquise is just so striking that it stands out from the rest. I can’t explain exactly how the glitter can have a multi-dimensional finish, because I don’t even fully understand that myself, but it does! It’s something unlike any other glitter polish I’ve used before. No it doesn’t dry in an instant, but then it doesn’t take a lifetime either; it just takes about as long as any other standard polish. I love Illamasqua for their high quality, highly-pigmented make-up products and this polish lives up to all of those. For £15 it may seem like a lot, but a little goes a long way (it’s opaque in one coat), and it really is worth paying for this kind of quality.
Marquise is currently out of stock on Illamasqua‘s website, however it is also available in-store.
bloomzy /

Review: Shiseido Fullmake Washable Base

Shiseido FWB Fullmake Washable Base*

You’d be forgiven if you’re slightly confused as to what this product does. Whereas the name may be in English, it doesn’t make much more sense than FWB. Well Shiseido can be forgiven as this skincare product is aimed at the Japanese market. This is a base for your make-up, that will help it stay put, but also easier to remove. It also claims to nourish skin, whilst evening your skin tone and improving lip colour. I decided to give it a go as I love Shiseido, and the idea behind this.
Pros:
+ Easy to apply
+ Fragrance free
+ Non-sticky formula
 + Kept my make-up in place
+ My foundation washed off easily

Cons:
– Doesn’t work on waterproof make-up, such as eyeliner/mascara
– Left a mark when I got a spot of water on my face during the day

Notes:
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I put this on in the morning, but it applied easily with no fuss. The base is fragrance free, which is always a plus for a face product in my books. The product has a texture between a cream and a gel, and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. I wore this over a few days and my make-up did stay put each day. Although on one of those days I happened to splash some water on my face, and it did leave a visible mark on my foundation, but it wasn’t too big. When it came to washing it off, now that’s when I got excited. There are a whole bunch of instructions on how to apply and wash this off to get the best out of the product, and they’re definitely worth reading – at least I read them. You can read them here. So after following the instructions I noticed that my foundation had come off my face and was mixed in with the water droplets on my skin. It’s hard to explain, and it looks a bit odd, but it works! It removed my eyeliner and mascara…to the rest of my face, but then this doesn’t work on waterproof make-up, which makes sense. You do need a cloth or cotton pad to remove the make-up…or you could maybe stick your head in the sink, but I’d recommend the former. I was impressed with how my foundation removed so easily, and it left my skin ready for a good cleansing. It definitely makes the removal of make-up, and your skincare routine a lot easier. For around £11, this isn’t a bad price and is up there with some well known British brand primers – but then this does a bit more than that. I’d consider purchasing this, for all of its benefits, because it does exactly what it says on the tin tube.
You can purchase Shiseido’s Fullmake Washable Base at Lunatu.