Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita

October 13, 2015August 18, 2018 - Vicki 15 Comments

I have some exciting news to share with you, you can now get your hands on Charlotte Tilbury makeup at John Lewis both in store and online. Previously Charlotte Tilbury only had counters in Selfridges so it’s great that John Lewis is now stocking this much sought after brand. To celebrate their launch into John Lewis I was kindly sent a few treats to recreate one of the 10 iconic Charlotte Tilbury looks, I went for The Dolce Vita* because the eyeshadow palette is just stunning. The Dolce Vita look is described as,

Ultra feminine and utterly alluring, the Dolce Vita plays the muse for very good reason. Her look is all about unbridled glamour: seductive lips, chiselled cheeks and a smouldering stare.

I have to say the look was harder than I thought to create but I used the video & followed the step by step tutorial and although I don’t quite look, Dolce Vita, I tried my best!

As I said Charlotte Tilbury has 10 Iconic looks from the cool edgy Rock Chick and Vintage Vamp to the more natural Ingénue, there really is a look to suit everyone. Charlotte has made the shopping process so simple, you shop your desired look and get all the products needed to recreate that specific look and they come in a beautifully packaged box. It’s such a no fuss easy way to do it and then if you need a little more help or pointers then you can follow Charlotte’s step by step tutorial videos which I found fab and it helped me create a half decent look.

As I said The Dolce Vita eyeshadow quad was the reason I picked this look, the shadows are just as beautiful as I’d imagined. All four shades have an element of frost/shimmer to them, you get four colours one to Prime, Enhance, Smoke and Pop.

Prime – a beautiful frosted Champagne colour which instantly brightens the eye and is a lovely base for the other colours.

Enhance – this is a rich deep rusty brown with a touch of shimmer and this is for blending out into the crease and across the lid to define the eye and make the eye look sultry

Smoke – this is a matte brown with a hint of shimmer and is for smoking out along the upper and lower lash line and creating that smouldering copper smoky eye.

Pop – this is where the magic happens, this is a stunning copper pressed pigment with such a POW of glitter. You press this on top of the finished eye look with your finger to make it look extra special.

All the shadows apply and blend like a dream and even if I don’t wear the full on Dolce Vita eye look every day the Prime, Enhance and Smoke shades can be worn daily and look beautifully Autumnal.

The Feline Flick Eyeliner was another product I was excited to try, I love wearing black felt tip eyeliner and I wondered what could be so amazing about this one and WOW let me tell you the nib is incredibly precise and has just enough flexibility to create a such a clean smooth flick. I am sold, even my husband noticed how on fleek my eyeliner was. This goes on jet black and stays jet black all day long, it applies effortlessly without any dragging or having to go back over the same spot again & again and I love that it doesn’t bleed or smudge. Oh, & its waterproof too, it ticks all the boxes. I think this is my new all-time favourite eyeliner and I have tried quite a few.

To create the eye look I also used one of my own black kohl liners in the upper and lower lash line to make them look more authentic and I also used my own black mascara (lots of it).

So after the eyes, I used the Cheek to Chic Blusher in Ecstasy which comes beautifully packaged (as all the products do) with a great sized mirror and the signature Charlotte Tilbury rose gold touches which are so pretty. You get two cheek shades in this blush, the outer shade is a dark peachy pink with a pretty frosted finish, and the shade in the middle is a more true pink with the most gorgeous gold shimmer running through.

So you Swish the outer shade up on your cheekbones & you Pop the middle shade on the apples of your cheeks. This duo really gives you not only a pop of colour but also act as a highlighter too, they catch the light and make your skin look fresh and glowing. make sure you use a light hand and get just a little product on your brush because this is seriously pigmented.

Now onto lips, I had three beautiful nude pink lip products to pull this look together and they were Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk, K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Penelope Pink and the Lip Lustre in Seduction. The lip products have quite a sweet scent and they smelt so good! These were such a pretty combination and the Lip Cheat was so creamy and easy to use, I don’t have many lip pencils but this was perfect for outlining my lips and getting a good shape ready to apply the K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick which comes in such decadent gold packaging and it just feels and looks luxurious.

The lipstick in Penelope Pink is such an easy shade to wear it is simple but pretty and was smooth and easy to apply. I would normally leave it at that but in the interest of recreating the whole look & applied the Lip Lustre on top and it has a pretty glossy but not sticky finish and it would be beautiful for a nighttime look.

The Beach Stick in Formentera Is a multi-use product which can be used as a cream blusher or as a lip tint. I am useless when it comes to cream blush but I would use this as a lip tint. I didn’t use it with this look because I have blush and 3 lip products so I will have a play about with it and see what I think. It feels nice and creamy and it has the same inviting sweet scent as the other lip products. Also, the packaging of this is so cute and pretty, it looks like a chunky lip crayon in rose gold packaging.

So that’s my take on Charlotte Tilbury’s The Dolce Vita look, I had such fun watching the tutorial video and recreating the look. I would say the quality of these products lived up to the hype and are well worth investing in. Everything looks and feels luxurious and its makeup that makes you feel good if that at all makes sense. I have been converted into a CT fan, that’s for sure.

So if you want to shop any of the 10 iconic looks or buy the products individually you can now do that at John Lewis. So pop over and see what look best describes you & let me know what you go for. I want to have a go at Rock Chick next I think.

Let me know if you have any Charlotte Tilbury product recommendations, I would love to hear them.

John Lewis provided these products so I could recreate my chosen look but the review is 100% my own thoughts.

My Moving Makeup – Cornwall Edit

September 21, 2015 - Vicki 4 Comments

My Moving Makeup

If you follow me on Twitter you may have seen me mention I am moving. I am heading down to Cornwall from Merseyside & I’m so excited for a new adventure. Even though I have moved more than 20 times (I’m an Army child) it never gets easier, I’ve tried to be very organised with this move & have been packing up all my belongings over the past couple of weeks and that includes all my skincare & makeup. I wanted to share with you the makeup I have kept out to see me through the next 5 days.

Essence Plump no Clump Mascara* – Essence is one of my favourite affordable brands & I have been loving this Mascara it makes my lashes look really full and thick and its a very intense black. It doesn’t give much length but if like me you have give naturally long lashes but need help with making them look more healthy and thick then this is a wonderful mascara.

Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner -This is a very intense black felt tip eyeliner, I love how precise the nib is so you can get a very neat thin liner or build it up to be much more dramatic. This eyeliner is so easy to use and it doesn’t bleed or transfer on to my upper lid (I hate it when liner does that) & I really like to use this eyeliner to do cat flicks as its so neat & fluid.

Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream – I have the shade Cotton Candy & the colour is a pretty dusky rose pink which applies evenly and creamy on the lips. It feels moisturising & it dries to a velvet matte finish. Despite this being a matte finish it doesn’t feel drying at all & wears off the lips evenly after a few hours. Its very affordable, it smells so good and the colour is beautiful! Thats 3 reasons you should buy it, if you haven’t already.

Rimmel Glam Eyes in Brixton Brown – I love this small palette, you get 5 really wearable shades. They’re all pigmented and very easy to work with, I do really love the red toned copper colour in the centre, its gorgeous to wear it alone all over the lid. I figured these are very me shades and its a good safe bet to keep out & I can get a few eye looks using these 5 shades. I like the quality of Rimmel eyeshadows and love that their palettes are so dinky and travel friendly.

Clarins Skin Perfecting BB Cream SPF25 – This gives my skin such a even healthy look, its formula feels lightweight on the skin but still offers a good amount of coverage without feeling or looking too heavy (if that makes sense). I have been using this quite a lot over the Summer and its become a staple in my makeup routine, I also really like that it has SPF25, so you’re getting a good amount of protection too.

Seventeen Stay Time Concealer – I love this concealer & I have repurchased it three times now. It gives good coverage without being heavy or looking like you have tried to cover up imperfections. The staying power of this is up there with high end concealers. Its another product that is affordable & if you haven’t tried it already then I highly recommend picking it up.

Soap & Glory Solar Powder – This product gets a lot of love from me & I think I have used it almost daily since I bought it. It gives a natural glow & it never looks orange or muddy. I LOVE it, I have hit pan on it & the rubbish (cheap) cardboard packaging is almost ready to give up the ghost so I am in need of a new one. If you’re quite pale then this is the perfect bronzer for you. Oh & the good news is Soap & Glory have repackaged it & it now comes in more robust plastic packaging, this makes me very happy indeed.

Glo & Ray Nuage Solo Blush in Star Dust* – This is a real gem in my collection & think its just the more beautiful blush. It is a peachy pink with an iridescent finish, it adds a fresh bright colour to the cheek which lifts your whole face and makes you look healthy and glowing. It has fantastic staying power & the colour is still visible after a long day. The formula is so buttery and pigmented, there is no shimmer in it so don’t worry about looking like a disco ball. This has been a gorgeous addition to my makeup bag & I want to try more of these solo blushes as they come in a pretty range of colours.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Lip Protectant Stick – I had this in a pot last year & I much prefer it in stick form, its more hygienic and & I feel like It has lasted a lot longer too. This feels instantly hydrating and nourishing on the lips & it helps lock in moisture and keep lips looking and feeling soft and smooth. It also contains SPF15 which I really like so I know my lips are protected too.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Max Factor Lipfinity Long Lasting Lipstick

September 14, 2015March 2, 2025 - Vicki 8 Comments

Max Factor Lipfinity Long Lasting Lipsticks* £8.99

Apart from mascaras and blushers, Max Factor is a brand I haven’t tried much from, I think it’s because their products are a little harder to come by, so I was excited to try 6 lipsticks from their Lipfinity range.

There are 12 Lipfinity Long Lasting Lipstick shades to chose from, and I think they have a great selection of wearable shades, from deep plums to the ever-popular nude pinks. I have had a nice selection of shades to try out. Max Factor say they will give you,

Intense colour and conditioning moisture that lasts.
Up to 8 hours of vibrant, nourished colour that doesn’t dry out lips.
Infused with nourishing oils, this long wear lip colour doesn’t crack, crumble or bleed.
Your high-impact lipstick that’s long-lasting and effortless to apply.

I found these lipsticks so easy to apply, and they didn’t drag on the lips or apply patchy. I also found that the darker / deeper shades lasted a little longer on the lips, which I have to say is true for most lip products I’ve tried. All 6 shades are beautifully pigmented, and if you want to have a really bold lip you can build these up to give a pretty intense colour.

Like the name suggests, these lippies have good staying power considering they are quite creamy and nourishing on the lips, I didn’t manage to get 8 hours out of them, but they certainly stay put for at least 3–4 hours. I did have to do a little touch up after eating and drinking, but the colour hadn’t completely worn off, just dulled slightly. Lipstick never seems to last that long on me, so you might find these last longer than 3–4 hours on you.

They apply evenly on the lips and have a nice satin finish, a few of the shades look quite glossy in some lights. The formula feels comfortable on the lips, which is probably down to the fact these lipsticks contain 60% skincare ingredients including shea butter and acetylated lanolin, so your lips are being well looked after.

These come in nice luxurious gold bullets with a clear acrylic lid, so you can immediately see the shade you’re looking for, which is very handy.

From Left to right

Just Deluxe / Always Chic / Forever Strong / Just Alluring / Evermore Lush / Always Elegant

I absolutely love a couple of shades, in particular, Just Alluring is the perfect everyday lip colour and is a really flattering dusky pink. Also, Evermore Lush has become my go-to evening lipstick of choice and this is more of a plummy pink. But I do like all 6 colours and have been enjoying wearing them all.

What are your favourite shades & let me know if you have any favourite products from Max Factor that I should try?

Products that are marked with a * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

INIKA Mineral Makeup & Complimentary Blush

September 4, 2015April 20, 2025 - Vicki 1 Comment

INIKA began in 2006 and almost 10 years later the brand has won over 35 awards for product excellence and innovation, even beating big name brands in open categories. And INIKA’s full natural makeup range is now sold in more than 25 countries around the world. They’re a brand committed to delivering quality without compromising on their key ethics, like being

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free
By using tubes, pots and brushes that are made from recycled materials and all INIKA packaging is recyclable
INIKA is 100% Certified Halal with the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils
Their products contain no petrochemicals, synthetic substances, mineral oils or parabens

I’ve tried a few of their products over the years & their eyeshadow and eyeliner are amongst some of my favourite products from them.

INIKA Mineral Foundation SPF15*

Available in 8 shades
Concealer, Foundation and Powder in one
Titanium and Zinc Oxides provide natural sun protection with SPF15
Ideal for skin concerns such as acne, scarring, rosacea or pigmentation

This is a very lightweight foundation which gives surprisingly good coverage. I have never tried a mineral foundation and was convinced I wouldn’t get on too well with this, but I have been proved wrong. It’s extremely easy to apply, and it gives the skin a very flawless finish and can be built up to give a more medium coverage, which is perfect if, like me, you need to cover any redness or imperfections. Unlike liquid foundations, this feels so natural and light on your skin, and you don’t feel like you have a base on.

This foundation has incredible staying power and doesn’t end up looking patchy or uneven after a few hours, it also holds up well in the heat which is great. I also like that it has SPF15 in & It’s very easy to reapply throughout the day (I carry a small Kabuki Brush to reapply on the go), especially if you’re going to be in the sun.

INIKA Mineral Blusher Puff Pot*

Available in two shades
Highly pigmented minerals offering a long-lasting youthful glow
Non-comedogenic – does not block pores or irritate skin
Naturally water-resistant

The packaging of this Puff Pot Blusher is so sweet – you get a mirror on the lid, and you apply it to your cheeks by tapping the sponge and the product puffs out. I have the shade Pink Pinch, which is an easy-to-wear sweet girly pink shade, with a touch of glowing shimmer. Not disco ball, more beautiful glow. The colour is very light but can be built up, so don’t be afraid of applying too much because the product comes out lightly and nothing is wasted.

Pink Pinch gives your cheeks a subtle rosy look and the finish is gorgeous & natural on the cheeks. I love the packaging & the puff sponge applicator, it’s easy to apply and travel with.

Let me know if you have tried any INIKA products and what you would recommend.

Let's talk beauty

Unbiased beauty product reviews & tips

Makeup