MAKEUPBOXLDN BROW SHAPER REVIEW [gifted]

Well hello there!

Welcome to a brand new blog post where I will be giving you a review on the MakeupBoxLDN brow shaper. 

This beauty tool was very kindly gifted to me, I have not been paid to do this review.

So, what exactly is a brow shaper and what does it do?

It is a small brow tool that is designed to remove unwanted hair quickly, it is portable and has a folding head for on the go. Basically, anywhere you have unwanted hair you can use it there. The precision stainless steel blade does not cut or irritate the skin, or encourage new hair growth. This tool in particular doesn't just remove unwanted hair, it also doubles as a dermaplaning tool. The shaper lifts dead skin away while removing the hair, leaving behind a smoother skin surface for better makeup and skincare application. 

How do you use a brow shaper?

• Use on clean, dry skin
• Pull skin tight
• Place the shaper at a 45 degrees angle 
• Use short gentle strokes with no extra pressure
• To clean, wipe the blade with a dry cloth

Advantages?

• Effortless and easy to use
• Instant results
• Painless hair removal
• Compact and portable
• Reusable and affordable
• Suitable for all skin care types
• Hypo-allergenic stainless steel serrated edge
• Designed not to cut or irritate skin
• Does not encourage coarse hair growth

My thoughts?

I have been using this for a while now on my brows and upper lip to get rid of all of my unwanted hair, and I must say I am so surprised with the results. It actually does work, it's not painful at all so I completely agree with that claim. The blade on this tool is not extremely sharp to the point where you can cut yourself, it will comfortably glide on your skin. I always thought these kind of tools were gimmicks but no, this works and I am very impressed. It leaves my skin really smooth and soft and luckily for me, my hair did not grow back any darker which I was afraid of. It is super easy to use which is great and you can't really mess it up because you have so much control with it. I get my perfect brow shape in under a minute!

If you would like to try one of these for yourself then you can buy them here. They also very kindly gave me a discount 'alix10' (non-affiliate), which will get you some money off. Check out their Instagram and Facebook. 

Again, thank you to MakeupBoxLdn for sending this tool to me, I will be using this a lot in the future.

Thank you so much for reading,

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EASTER EYE LOOK // COLLAB WITH LUCI BARKER!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Today I have another collaboration post with my blogger bestie Luci Barker, and we are bringing to you an Easter eye look. I hope you like both of our looks and don't forget to check out Luci's look here. If you've come over from Luci's post then heeeeey I hope you stick around!

The products I used:

Revolution Pro Mischief Mattes Palette

YOU GUYS...you do not need to spend a lot of money to get a decently pigmented colourful eye shadow palette, because this one is amazing! I used this for the pinks on my lid, I did build it up in a few layers but that's because I didn't want a dark pink. I also used the yellow from the palette and again was very pigmented. This is only £8 which is an absolute bargain and I know Luci used the Revolution Marvelous Mattes colourful palette, which is half the price of this one so definitely check out her post to read her thoughts. 

Revolution Pro White Eyeliner

This is the second time that I have used this liner and both times I have found it difficult to use. I feel like most drugstore dip liquid liners are not really that great so if you have any recommendations please let me know! I just found the applicator quite scratchy, and it's not a pointed tip either it almost has a small hard bit of plastic on the end. However, it was perfect for the dots on my lid! It's very cheap at £3, but I don't think it's worth buying.

XO Beauty Lashes in The Romantic

I'm so chuffed that we can now get Shanxo's lashes in the UK, I love these lashes they are so perfect for everyday use. 

Primark False Lash Effect Mascara

This mascara is only £2.50 and let me tell you, it is so good for everyday! I have had this for ages and it still has product! Primark was not messing around with this product.

My eye look:

As you can see I did half an Easter egg on my lid, I'm still learning when it comes to detailed looks like this but overall I'm happy with how it turned out.

Thank you to Luci for collaborating with me and thank you so much to you guys for reading,

Want to see more from me?
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WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Hi guys, so I think I owe an explanation to my loyal readers (if I have any left at this point lol), as to where I have been for nearly 2 months.

If you didn't know I also have a YouTube channel where I upload videos twice a week, and I also have an Instagram where I upload almost daily. As you can imagine for someone who works full time, uploads 2 videos a week, spends a lot of time during the week doing eye looks for my Instagram and spending time with my boyfriend/friends/family on the weekends....it's a lot. I just found myself pushing my blog to the side to focus on other things that I enjoyed doing more. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy my blog it just means at this moment in time I love uploading my videos and eye look photos way more. 

AlixKate is not stopping, I will still be uploading posts (I have a few posts in the works). I just will not put pressure on myself to upload frequently, it's better this way for myself. I also only want to upload posts that I am proud of, ones that I am happy with and ones that aren't rushed.

You may have noticed my blog theme has changed, that's because of a Pipdig drama and blogger's were advised to remove a theme if you have one from their website. For now I have a default theme, I may go back to the old one if it is safe to do so or I'll buy a new theme when I can afford it. 

I hope you can forgive me for not uploading in a long while but I am now starting to get on track and will have a couple of posts going up in the next week or so. 

Thank you so much for reading,

Alix xo

2 LIP OBSESSIONS: VALENTINES EDITION // COLLAB WITH LUCI BARKER

Well hello there!

Today I have another collaboration post with my blogger bestie Luci Barker, we are going to be telling you about our 2 lip obsessions - Valentine's edition. We are going to be talking about 2 lip products that we love but they'll be shades that relate more to Valentine's day. 

For my first pick I have chosen the perfect day time colour, it is a Mac lipstick in the shade 'Brave'. I absolutely adore Mac lipsticks and this is one of my favourites. It's a satin formula and is the most beautiful pink shade, it's not too pink it's more of a nudey pink which as you know is my favourite type of nude. As it has a satin finish it will not last long on you but there is nothing wrong with a couple of touch ups! What I like about a satin lipstick is that it is more moisturising, creamy and comfortable on the lips, I can get really dry lips so the formula is perfect for me. Mac lipsticks are expensive but they are completely worth it, I think I have around 6 in my collection.

The other lipstick I have chosen is the Revolution lipstick in Past Midnight. I also equally love all of the Revolution lipsticks, their formulas are so good for the price. This shade is more of a darker red which gives off more of a bold and sexy vibe, I would definitely wear this on a dinner date. This lipstick has more of a demi-matte formula, so it's not completely matte to the point where it dries your lips out. This means it will last slightly longer than a creamy lipstick, and I love to blot down my lipstick on a tissue sometimes to give it more longevity. These lipsticks are only £3 which is an absolute bargain so if you don't want to spend a lot of money on a Mac lipstick, then I would check out the Revolution ones.

Swatches:

So those were my 2 Valentines lip obsessions, don't forget to read Luci's post here.
Thank you so much for reading,

Want to see more from me?
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JANUARY FAVOURITES

Well hello there!

Welcome to another favourites post where I will be sharing with you some beauty items I have been loving throughout the month of January. Who else thinks January flew by?! Last year it went so slow but I feel quite the opposite about it this year. In Essex it has got extremely cold over the past week or so and I am not a fan of it, after Christmas I am well and truly done with Winter - bring on Spring!
Enough rambling, let's dive into my January favourites...

Revolution Mattifying Primer

To be honest I always questioned whether primers actually worked, but I still applied them because it was an extra step in my makeup routine. As I have a combination skin type my t-zone will always start to get oily after wearing the makeup for 4/5 hours. After receiving this in the Revolution 12 Days of Christmas box I decided to give this a go. I apply this under a matte foundation and let me tell you I have noticed a huge difference in the longevity of my makeup. I don't know what magic is in this primer but it makes me skin stay matte for around 6/7 hours which is very impressive to me. If you have a similar skin type to me then I would definitely recommend this primer, plus its drugstore so that mean's its cheap! 

Primark Falsh Lash Effect Mascara

If you are looking for a very inexpensive everyday mascara then this is the one for you, I think this was literally only £2 which is an absolute bargain! This mascara claims to give extreme length, definition and volume and I completely agree with all of them. I was so shocked at how good this was at lengthening and separating my lashes I don't know how they do it for such a low price. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is quite a wet formula, it goes all over my lids which is annoying but when it dries down I just get it off with a spoolie. As I wear it for work, it doesn't bother me that much because I don't wear eye shadow during the week. If you like the sound of this go to your local Primark and pick one up!

Mario Badescu Facial Spray

I got 4 bottles of this facial spray for Christmas and I have been using them every single day. I will use them for before my makeup, part of my skincare routine, wetting products and as a setting spray. They smell amazing and my favourite scent is the Rose Water one. I just feel like they do the job and can be definitely be used for different things. You can get this either for £7 or £11 which I think is good, especially if you wanted to try it and wasn't sure what they will be like. When I use up all of the scents I am going to be purchasing the huge bottle of this! 

I Heart Revolution Strawberry Cheesecake Palette

I also received this eye shadow palette for Christmas in the Chocolate Heart Gift Set (which is still available!). My favourite colour is pink, so it was no surprise to me that I would love the colour story of this palette. I have used this a few times since getting it and I am loving it! The pink shades are not as good quality as high end which is obviously a given but they are super pigmented and easy to blend. This is my favourite I Heart Revolution eye shadow palette by far, and this is a limited edition palette at the moment which you can buy in a set. If you like the look of it, I would get your hands on it ASAP! I hope so much that they bring it out permanently, and if you would like to see this palette in action you can watch that below.

So those were all of the products I was loving throughout January!

Thank you so much for reading,

Want to see more from me?
Twitter: alixholdenx
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2019 BEAUTY TRENDS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

Well hello there!

I uploaded a post a couple of weeks ago telling you all about Spring time fashion trends and today I have a collaboration post for you to tell you all about the 2019 beauty trends. 

Clear out your makeup and beauty storage people, because a new year means lots of lovely fresh trends to sink your teeth into. In fact, you can find out about the most essential 2019 trends in so far in my post below.

Cheap and chic

Let's face it buying makeup and beauty items can be pricey at times, especially if your taste runs to Creme de la Mer moisturiser and Louis Vuitton lip gloss. However, one trend that is doing particularly well in the beauty market at the moment is the cheap and chic brands. You know the ones that focus on proving the material and equipment you need to have a go at the latest looks yourself, without needing to remortgage your house!

In particular makeup, brands like Makeup-Revolution do this well, and you can even get some products for under £10, like an eyeshadow pallete that can be used in multiple situations like in the day and in the evening. A price that means we won't feel so bad about indulging our makeup addiction!

Korean beauty

Korean beauty products were a strong trend in 2018, and it's and look as if 2019 will be no different. Of course, the main issue with this one is that it can be pretty hard to get your hands on what you want. In fact, sometimes the shipping prices are more than the actual products, and on some sites, you have to wait until you have enough for a bulk buy until you can order.

Luckily, you can now buy face moisturiser as well as other Korean beauty products, one at a time, from websites that ship to the UK with reasonable rates. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to, and with such an exciting range of products, available keeping your purchase to a single item may be a bit of challenge.

Glorious green

Green, it's the SS 2019 colour and believe me you will be seeing a lot of it. In particular, this tone will dominate the eye makeup game, with the pinnacle of this trend being a forest green metallic eyeshadow that is combined with copper and rose gold tones.

In fact, this is a look that is pretty easy to achieve, and not only looks classy but has some drama and and vintage elegance as well. Therefore if you are going to treat yourself to just one makeup item this season, make sure it's a green eyeshadow.

Two-tone lips

Lastly, if you want to keep up with all the Instagram makeup and beauty trends online, you'll also need to embrace the two-tone lip. This isn't too tough to achieve either as its all about using a darker colour around the outside and a lighter one in the middle.

In fact, it's sort of like contouring for your lips, making them appear more prominent. But beware the key to this trend is proportion and blending. Otherwise, you can look like your makeup got stuck in the 1990s, even though you were aiming for a 2019 trend!

I hope you enjoyed this post. let me know of any other trends in the comments.

Thank you so much for reading,

Want to see more from me?
Twitter: alixholdenx
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GLOSSY BOX OPENING | JANUARY 2019

Hi guys, firstly I'm so sorry I haven't been posting much. The past couple of posts have been collaborations and I haven't properly uploaded since the beginning of the month, I've just had to come away from blogging for a few weeks to find myself in the blogging world again. I am back now and have decided I am not going to put pressure on myself to upload every week, instead when I feel like I have produced good enough content that I am proud of. It's just so hard blogging, having a full time job, uploading 2 videos a week to YouTube as well as keeping up with social media! I hope you don't mind this decision, but get excited as I have a couple of good opportunities coming up!

Now let's get on with today's post which is of course the next Glossy Box opening, I couldn't miss this out - I do it every month after all! Also, sorry this is going up pretty late in the month.

This month's box is all about keeping our beauty resolutions easy with some face and hair care, along with a beauty tool so let's dive in!

Avant Skincare Face & Eye Night Cream

I am not the greatest person at skin care, I am trying to get into it more in 2019 so I'm not quite an expert yet! I do have moisturisers, a serum, cleansers, toners etc but the one thing I don't have is an eye cream. As you can imagine when I saw that this was a face & eye cream I thought what a result I don't need to go out and buy one. This has Hyaluronic Acid in it so you know this is going to be hydrating and I love to keep my skin nice and hydrated. It says it will help rejuvenate tired eyes, even your skin tone, minimise pores and it will smooth your skin! This sounds amazing and guys this product retails for £98!!!!!! I'm not kidding it says it here right in front of me, I cannot believe it. I am so excited to try this and you will definitely hear about this from me again if it is as good as I hope it is.

Batiste Rethink Dry Shampoo
Now I live on dry shampoo I use it all the time, I even have a mini in my handbag! The rethink range I'm pretty sure is new and they are infused with strengthening keratin, coconut, avocado and collagen to refresh, repair, soften, hydrate and revive your hair! The spray is also invisible and feels lightweight on your hair, I love their normal dry shampoo but I am very excited to try this one as it helps with volume which is something I do not have at all in my hair. If you love dry shampoo like me and are looking for something to give you volume as well, then I would definitely check this out!

Maybelline Blender Foundation Sponge
This is a latex free foundation blending sponge that will apparently deliver an even coverage and a smooth finish. I don't know about you but I'm not the biggest fan of sponges like this, I don't think it is big enough for foundation. However, this could be good for blending out under eye concealer or baking under your eyes instead of using your regular sponge. It will be one of those things where I need to actually try it for myself to see if I will get on with it. It seems quite overpriced at £5 but I will have to try it.

Hask Repairing Deep Conditioning Treatment
I don't ever use hair masks but I should really try them, it's just another step in your bath/shower routine and I'm just being very lazy. These treatments are infused with different oils and extracts to repair, soften, smooth and strengthen your hair. I mean it sounds amazing, whether I have the effort to do it or not is another question! Let me know in the comments if you've ever used a hair mask before and if you think they are worth doing.

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel
This gel is formulated with minerals, rare plant extracts and vitamins to leave your skin feeling clean, soft and fresh. You work the gel into damp skin in circular motions to gently exfoliate and remove your makeup. Exfoliating is quite an important step in your weekly routine, you should exfoliate 1-2 times a week to get rid of any excess dirt and dead skin. You can never have enough exfoliating products so I am looking forward to giving this ago! The full size of this is worth £22.71 so it's not the cheapest on the market but let's hope it's a good one.

So that was everything in the January box, if you want to sign up to Glossy Box you can here.
Thank you so much for reading,

Want to see more from me?
Twitter: alixholdenx
Instagram: alixkateblog
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