Cruelty Free Makeup

Affordable Essence Makeup

- Vicki 2 Comments
Essence Makeup at Wilko

Affordable Essence Makeup-

Essence has to be my favourite affordable makeup brand, it is available in Wilko stores and my local store always has a fantastic well stocked stand. If you have never tried Essence before you’re missing out they do everything well and most products are under £5 oh and they’re Vegan and Cruelty Free.

I have been trying a few products that I think we more aimed at Valentine’s Day but hey you can wear a red lip / nail polish any time of year, right!

Essence Makeup at Wilko

Essence Longlasting Lipstick in Tres Chic 

I have to say these Long Lasting lipsticks from Essence are always a safe bet, great quality and they’re really pigmented on the lips. This Trés Chic shade is a brownish red, the colour is intense without being too vibrant. I like that this is a wearable red and this formula is creamy and comfortable on the lips, these are long wearing but I do like to reapply after I eat & drink just so the colour stays even and with these more bold colours I hate the thought of them going patchy. These are so affordable that I challenge you not to want to buy the whole collection (there are 12 shades) – I think my next purchase will be, 04 On The Catwalk

Essence For-Bidden Volume Mascara

Essence Forbidden Volume Mascara

I have tried quite a few Essence Mascara’s over the years and my all time favourite has to be their Plump No Clump (great all-rounder) but it’s no longer available. This For-Bidden Volume one I have been testing out is OK for Volume as contains fibres but I also like my mascara to give my lashes fullness and this I feel just gives them length. The formula is long wearing and holds a curl so I am not disappointed with it I just like my mascara to add thickness to my sparse lashes as well as volume. I think I will try their Rock nDoll Crazy Mascara next.

Essence Makeup Swatches

Essence 2in1 Eyeliner Pen

Liquid liner is my jam, I use it almost daily and have road tested super expensive brands, budget friendly ones and everything in between and I have to say this double ended Essence liquid liner is pretty good. I do prefer the standard pen nib end (thin end), simply because I find it easier to use and less fiddly to use. I can get right up to my lash line and create a very precise flick whereas the thick line I find to be more of a novelty. If you’re not so confident in applying eyeliner then it is a good way of almost stamping an outline for your wing / flick and then going back in with the thin end to join everything up but I do not see myself using both ends.

This liner is black but I do go over it twice to get that intense deep black colour and it stays put, make sure you leave it a couple of minutes to dry before curling your lashes just so the colour doesn’t lift off. Great addition to my makeup bag.

Drugstore Makeup from Essence

Essence The Gel Nail Polish in Do You Speak Love

If there is one thing Essence are well-known for it is their Nail Polish & Nail Care Products. Their range is huge and always expanding. I own so many of their nail colours and their top coat is my Holy Grail. I have had this beautiful red shade on my toes for about 2 weeks now and it still looks great. It’s a pretty deep, dark red and it is opaque in 2 coats.

Essence Gel Nail Polish

Let me know what Essence products you love and would recommend.

Essence Cosmetics is available in Wilko Stores nationwide.

 

Eye Öf HÖRUS Makeup

- Vicki 2 Comments
Isis Goddess Eyeshadow Trio

eye of horus makeup

These are the first products I have tried from Australian brand Eye öf Hörus, I have wanted to try their makeup for some time now especially because one of my favourite bloggers Jessica enjoys using their products. I think the first thing you notice about this brand is their beautiful sleek black and gold embossed packaging it looks luxurious and it features Ancient Egyptian symbols and images which I think is really different and interesting. The brand is focused on providing cruelty free, non irritating, long lasting and nourishing products. So I have been trying two products from their range the first being their,

Eye of Horus Goddess Mascara*

Which is probably the product they’re best known for. It comes in a jet black tube with gold lettering, which I really like. This mascara has a plastic wand which is quite flexible and easy to use, the wand feels like it really grips the lashes which separates them and coats each lash with a layer of mascara making them look thick and defined.

Eye of Horus Goddess Mascara

I found the mascara to be have quite a thin formula but buildable on the lashes. You don’t over apply the product because the top of the tube is fantastic for removing excess product from the brush, this means it doesn’t go clumpy on your lashes and you get a good even distribution of product. This mascara contains authentic Moringa Oil which is nourishing and renowned for its restorative and protective benefits.

This is a great everyday mascara and I had it on my lashes for almost 8 hours with out any fall down or smudging. It also holds a curl really well, so if like me your lashes are poker straight this will be ideal for you. So in short I have been loving this mascara and it is jet black which is a must for me. I hate mascaras that promise to be black but are really grey

Eye of Horus isis sun goddess palette

Isis Sun Goddess Palette*  £22.50

This trio of golden bakes shadows are so beautiful, I just love these kinds of colours and I think they are so easy to wear. These feel so buttery and blend like a dream. You get three shades that are perfect for creating a bronzed smoking eye or these can all be worn alone and they look great either way. Oh & these can be used wet or dry which seems to be more of a thing these days, as you would assume if you use them wet the colours are more intense and they last longer so that would be great for an evening look.

Isis Goddess Eyeshadow Trio

Eye of Horus-swatches

Enigma Mist is a light champagne shade which I like to use as a base all over the lid and also on the inner corner just to add some brightness.

Chalice Bronze is a beautiful intense bronze shade with a metallic finish, this looks so good on the lid and it wears well throughout the day too.

Sacred Husk is a golden brown and it really reminds me of Mac Amber Lights but the colour is richer and the texture is so buttery. This is my favourite shade in the trio.

Three very wearable colours and they look effortless and pretty on the lid.

Isis Sun Goddess Trio

This is such a beautiful palette and the quality is up there with Inglot, which are my all time favourite shadows. They wear really well and the colours are beautiful and easy to work with. The packaging is sleek and slim and is the perfect size to have in your makeup bag or for travel.

Eye of Horus products are wax and oil based, paraben-free, great for sensitive eyes and not tested on animals and certified Vegan friendly.

Let me know if you have tried any products from this brand I would love to hear your recommendations.

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.

 

 

INIKA Mineral Makeup & Complimentary Blush

- Vicki 1 Comment
INIKA Mineral Blusher Puff Pot

INIKA Mineral Makeup

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 September GWP

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 really good 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 & Its 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

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 really pretty & natural on the cheeks. I love the packaging & the puff sponge applicator, it’s easy to apply and travel with.

INIKA Mineral Makeup

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

Throughout September this offer is will be available from Planet Organic, Wholefoods, Lloyds Pharmacies and at INIKA.co.uk

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 Makeup Review

- Vicki 6 Comments
Inika Organic Makeup

INIKA Makeup

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 wor

So its gone from strength to strength. It is 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

INIKA Organic Makeup

I’ve been trying a couple of products from INIKA this past month and wanted to let you know how I’m getting on.

INIKA have a selection of Vegan Mineral Eyeshadows £14.50 & you can pick from 22 shades. I have two more neutral colours, the first is Honeycomb* which is a soft matte nude cream shade & is the ideal colour to wear all over the lid to give you an even light base colour. Or if you wanted that no makeup, makeup look it would be a great subtle nude colour that gives your eyes that bright fresh look. You can’t really see it in the swatch below because it is quite a light colour but I think its one of those colours that isn’t a WOW shade but is great to have in your collection and you will get a lot of use from it.

Inika Eyeshadows

The other colour I have is Coco Motion* with is a very deep matte brown, its gorgeous through the crease & helps create a gorgeous neutral smokey eye. It’s so richly pigmented, I also found it easy to blend and the colour stayed vibrant on my lids all day without creasing.

These Mineral Eyeshadows are loose powder shadows (which can often be a pain) but packaged really well, the holes in the top where the powder comes out are quite small so you don’t end up with a mess when you unscrew the lid. Hardly any powder comes out unless you really tap it, so you’re not wasting product either.

Inika Mineral Eyeshadows

Inika Organic Makeup

I have also been using their Organic Liquid Mineral Foundation* £29.50 this is available in 4 shades & I have the lightest shade which is Cream & its a good match for me. The formula of this foundation is quite thick and creamy so you will need to take time to blend this into your skin and I found that it evened out my complexion and gave me a light to medium coverage with a dewy finish.

My skin looked healthy and fresh with a good amount of coverage (if you’re looking for a full coverage foundation this isn’t for you). I think this is a good base for the warmer months because even though the product felt quite thick it feels lightweight on the skin and still looks natural. Its certified organic and packed full of organic antioxidants, vitamins and minerals such as Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and Rosehip. So it is nourishing, soothing and hydrating. It’s a foundation that keeps your skin looking flawless and also keeps it healthy too. So if you’re looking for a Foundation that is Organic, Vegan & will give you a healthy natural finish then this is one you should check out. Inika Liquid Foundation

The packaging for the Liquid Foundation is really nice, it comes in a sleek plastic black and gold tube and it has a handy pump, which is so easy to use and travel with. I think it looks really nice.

INIKA also have an offer on until the end of April & you can get a complimentary Light Reflect Highlighting Crème with every purchase of their Certified Organic Liquid Foundation. So if you’re thinking about trying it now is the time.

Let me know if you have tried anything from INIKA or have any other Vegan brands you’d recommend I try.

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.