KISS Couture Lashes Launch

Tucked on the corner of the Grey Street, at the intersection is Grey Street Hotel in Newcastle. The venue for the KISS VIP Event to launch their Couture lashes range. With a promise of a fun girly night filled with canapes & prosecco, I was looking forward to it. 

We arrived at the uber chic location, complete with lime green seating and neon signage to boot. Yes, I'm an interiors geek with no shame! We waited in the lobby and were taken down to the spa were the KISS event was being hosted. On entrance, we were greeted with a glass of bubbles (priorities), and were taken through to the lovely spa area. Not a large spa but cosy and a getaway from the hustle of the city view from the level above.

There was a nail bar set up and also lash stations in the side rooms. We headed for the lashes first, and got to choose a pair from their huge range to wear on the night. I was totally spoilt for choice and I'm not sure if any other high street lash brands offer that many shapes and variations of lashes. 

I opted for the Peony lashes which are a natural looking lash but with a little fullness and a fluffy finish. My regualar faves are the Whispie lashes from Ardell so these look like my style too... 

The lashes they were launching on the night is the Lash Couture Faux Mink Collection. A set of 6 in total, different lashes which claim to have weightless volume and non-mink which is a plus with many mink lash brands popping up. It really isn't necessary when there's so many decent non mink lashes out there. The contour range is bold so if you're wanting to make a statement look with some killer lashes these are the babies for the job! The lashes range from apx £4.99 - £7.99 in Superdrug if you're wanting to grab a set yourself.

Once the lashes had been applied, prosecco in hand, I went to explore their nail range. Emerging from the lash room... the even had filled up extremely quickly and obviously everyone wanted to get in on the action too. 

Canapes circulated the room but they surpassed me many times as I was waiting to get a look at the nail selection - also an impressively large selection for a high street range! The designs go from matte, pearlised, sparkly, matte, glossy, squared, talon shaped and the list goes on. The nails come in either press on manicure (which last some time from trying a set for myself) and traditional glue on sets. I've always been weary of the sticky back pre - adhesive type as they seem to ping of fairly quick but these have some staying power! 

In Superdrug, the nails retail from arounf £6.99 - £7.99 a set. Personally having tried these and knowing how long they last and the quality if the finish on the surface I think that is a very reasonable price. 

To top the night off, we were gifted with an amazing goody bag packed of their different products to test at home. thanks so much KISS for the generous goodies!

Until next time... 

The Original Redhead 

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KATHLEEN Skincare: Cleansing Lotion & Tonifying Mist

After seeing blogger Carly Musleh, talk about cream cleansers on her Instagram stories. So when I was selected to review the pre launch products from Kathleen Skincare I though it was divine timing. I was sent the Lightening Cleansing Lotion & Rebalancing & Soothing Tonifying Mist which are set to launch and be available to order in May. 

For those of you who may have missed my last post about the Kathleen Caviar Enriched eye cream, you can catch up here. Kathleen offer are luxurious beauty products which are made in the UK, natural, organic and no added chemicals. They really know their stuff, and I sometimes find organic skincare a little diluted and doesn't pack as much punch against other brands but I really feel a difference with their range. 

The cleansing lotion & toning mist come in complimentary boxes and the packaging is lovely quality. They are both available in 2 sizes, 150ml for your nightstand and the smaller size, 50ml is perfect for those weekend stays when you need skincare on-the-go. 

I've been having a crazy time with my skin recently due to a hectic schedule so I really felt this was a great time to put these to the test. After a long (and stressful) day, I removed the majority of my make up with a make up wipe and then used the cleanser followed by the mist. The cleansing lotion is to be applied to dry skin and massaged deeply using your fingertips. I followed the instructions and massaged it all into my face. I then ran a skin of just-hot water and submerged the muslin cloth which I used to exfoliate my face and remove any make up still lying on my skin. 

I cleaned my face, using different sections of the muslin for each section. This lotion boasts to "help to lift dirt, oil, make up and impurities, without drying the skin" for which I can vouch for. This left my skin feeling fresh, clean and free from the greasy oils left on your face from a long day of wearing make up! The cleansing lotion is made up from rose water, lavender water, lemon, tamansu and  avocado oil among other nourishing ingredients. We all know the benefits of oils and such so to get it penetrating your skin in your routine is super beneficial. The muslin cloth helps to exfoliate and rid your skin of dead skin cells to reveal fresh, bright skin underneath. 

I then let my face breathe for a few minutes before moving on to the tonifying mist. The mist can be applied in one of two ways. You can either spritz over your face in a "just stepped off a desert island and need hydrating" kinda way, or you can spray onto a cotton pad and apply to face and neck. Obviously I opted for the first option. 

I let the mist sink into my skin and this glistened on the surface and then slowly dissepearing to work its organic magic on my skin. Aloe vera, chamomile water and lemon are some of the ingredients in this spray. I have quite a good skin tone overall and not many red patches or uneven colour but I could really feel a difference after using this combined with the cleanser. My skin felt lighter, fresher, clean and soft with the Kathleen products and would recommend if you have sensitive skin or are looking for organic luxe beauty products. 

If you're looking for organic products with a punch, then Kathleen has got you! The cleansing lotion is priced at £ 29.50 for the 150ml or £13.00 for the 50ml (only bigger size includes 2 muslin cloths.) The tonifying mist is £23.00 for the 150ml or £13 for the 50ml size and these are set to last you quite a while. However, I have a special discount code for you to all receive 15% off, just enter redhead15 at the checkout to redeem. 

If you're looking for that fresh, glow you get right after leaving the spa then give Kathleen products a try. These launch in May however, their other products are available to order now. 

Until next time... 

The Original Redhead 

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Looking for Legendary Lashes?!

With the party season in full swing, we're all in search of the beauty products which really make us feel glamorous. And after attending an event at Charlotte Tilbury earlier in the year, I couldn't help but treat myself to the Legendary Lashes Mascara.
 

 

 

 

For those of you who don't know about Charlotte Tilbury cosmetics, she's been on the scene for quite some time but has been making real waves as a household name within apx the past 5 years I'd say. Charlotte is a powerhouse of a woman, a redhead (something we have in common), and is truly obsessed by her craft as a make up artist. She was raised in Ibiza and the rose gold (gorgeoussss) packaging is a reflection of this as it is a representation of the Ibiza sunset.

 

 

 

Her love for products goes way back to her backstage catwalk days where she'd hand out little pots of her 'magic cream' to the models to get it out there. Fearless, tenacious & shrewd. I like her already. I've heard lots of good things about the brand but have been yet to try it until this purchase. The Legendary Eyes Mascara was on my list as I was in the market for a new black coat for my lashes anyway...

 

 

The packaging is really dreamy so thought this may have been a way of hiding a poor performing product (as I say, CT newby so didn't know what to expect.) And I've got to tell you on my first application I wasn't keen. I think it was the formula of the mascara, it feels kind of like a mouse, thick yet smooth. However, on more applications I fall more in love with this every time. I already have pretty long eyelashes but this manages to make them appear longer and the depth of black is so intense. If you're going to do black mascara, you've really got to commit to the pigment being as black as the night sky. Newcastle girls love the volume, the bigger the better. Hair, lashes, shoes... you name it. This product is buildable so you get to choose how intense it appears depending on the look you're going for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see the brush is full of tiny little bristles which means every millimetre of your lashes gets covered with minimum effort. I wore this Christmas day and loved it! I try to avoid wearing is on my bottom lashes as it can transfer on to some foundations (I think because it's so strongly pigmented), but if you're looking for length, intense black and volume from a mascara, Legendary Lashes really needs to be in your make up bag. I use this for special occasions because it truly makes me feel glam with the stroke of the wand.

 

Retails at £25.00

 

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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Skincare & Shopping: Sunderland Bridges

So for all of those who have been super organised and have completed your Christmas shopping, well done you. To those of you like myself, who think they're organised and will be calm and under control and still panicking the week before the big day, then this one is for you. 

 

Sunderland Bridges Shopping Centre invited me to experience a little of what their shops had to offer. And as a gal who likes to shop... how could I refuse?! First on my list was Boots, where they firstly explained their new service of custom printed ribbon and laser etching service. This is a lovely little personal touch for anyone really but if you've left it last minute, then this is so convenient! Even for birthdays, anniversaries, new babies, etc.

 

 

 

Lets all take a minute to appreciate my etched make up brush...

 

 

 

 

 

Boots also stock a wide range of contour & strobe creams and eye shadows from £3 each. And even better, you can buy an empty palette and custom select the colours you'd like in there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was then colour matched with the No7 colour matching service. Almost like a Dulux colour reader, the device reads your skin tone. Once you have been matched to your foundation, the colour card of your shade offers a range of blushes, lip and eye shades that would also suit your skin tone. This really would be a lovely experience for anyone who is a little afraid of experimenting and unsure what colours to buy for their make up bag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving on to The Body Shop. Every Christmas I normally pop in here & buy a few gift sets as they have some lovely scents. But to be honest, it's been a while since I've really explored their product range. And jeez, it's expanded a lot! The product I really fell in love with was their body scrubs. Available in a range of sultry and alluring scents - a little pricey but the tubs look like they'd last months.. This would make the perfect gift for any bath lover!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's not all, they have boxed candles in invigorating scents which remind me of islands and summer air with woody undertones. I'm a sucker for candles so these stood out to me.

 

 

 

As well as the other newbies to the store, their ranges of face oils for different skin types is extensive. All colour coded from green to yellow, white to green. Love the packaging on these mini skin collections.

 

 

 

 

Moving on to Lush after trying everything (pretty much - no regrets) in The Body Shop. My love for Lush is constantly growing. I was never much of a fan of their products but the more I try, the more I love. And as if I wasn't already a converted fan, they then let us make our own bear shaped, bath bomb. Let me repeat that. I MADE MY OWN BATH BOMB. I was far too excited for this and who doesn't love bath products in the shape of a bear. I mean, seriously!

 

 

 

 

These have always had my attention, even though I was big on the bombs themselves I remember seeing these as a teenager and loving. Lip scrubs!! The Sugar Plum Fairy is sooo good and edible too for truly lickable lips. If you're shopping for teens or your girlfriends these are great to keep your lips polished in this winter weather.

 

 

 

Phew, last stop on the list! I rushed to Clarins just before closing to check out what they could offer over this crazy festive time.

 

 

 In the midst of Christmas parties and busy festivities combined with Christmas shopping and working overtime, who doesn't need a helping hand to revamp your skin? My mine was blown by this little skin boosting range. The serums target dull skin, dehydrated & tired skin and also help bring your radiant glow back. Got a friend who loves to party? Or a workaholic? This lovely little Detox, Repair & Energy range is really the perfect little remedy for your handbag to carry you through to January!

 

 

Feels so lovely on the skin...

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're splurging on yourself with your Christmas bonus, or still looking for gifts, head to Sunderland Bridges Shopping Centre for your retail fix.

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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