New Cid I-Gloss in 'Raspberry Kiss'

New CID I-Gloss Light Up Lipgloss in 'Raspberry Kiss', £13.59 from hairtrade.com. 

I was so excited to try this! I've been curious about New CID for a long time and having the chance to trial one of their lipglosses made me feel like a very lucky gal.

I'll start with the packaging. At first glance this lip gloss looks pretty regular- the tube is transparent so that you can see the shade inside, but on closer inspection you soon start noticing the interesting stuff. Not only does the lipgloss have a mirror alongside the tube, which is handy, but as soon as you twist off the applicator this bright white light switches on automatically. These two features make it a very unique lipgloss and the perfect accessory for a night out on the town- you're sure to attract some attention with a lit up lipgloss and it'll save plenty of toilet trips as you'll have your very own mirror and light all in one place to top up. It could also make a great impromptu torch, or glowstick, should a situation where you needed either of these arise!

The shade 'Raspberry Kiss' looks a deep red in the tube but transfers a beautiful sheer berry shade on the lips. The pigment has enough depth to it that it is great worn at this time of year- on it's own during the day or layered on top of a red lippy for night time. There's lots of microglitter scattered through it but this isn't very noticeable when it is on, and the glitter wears off naturally with the gloss throughout the day.

The consistency of the gloss is lovely- it's light and non- sticky. I find it lasts around an hour and a half before it needs topping up, but if you don't have time to do this it does wear down to a subtle berry stain. The only downfall I noticed was that it settled into the lines in my lips however I imagine thise wouldn't be as noticeable with their lighter shades. If it does feather, this could probably be combatted using a lip liner.

All in all, this is a fab product and would make an excellent Christmas gift because it's a conversation starter paired with a good quality product inside. I love the shade because it is so wearable and I imagine it would suit almost everybody, even those who are shy of colour as it isn't 'too much.'
I definitely want to try more shades of these, 'Coral Candy' looks like my perfect summer colour. You can also watch a demonstration of the I-Gloss and other New CID products by clicking here.

This product was sent for me to review. Hairtrade.com is one of the UK's leading online retailers of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products. You can buy this product by clicking here.

My '5 minute, 5 product face'

 Gym Makeup

Not everyday is glamorous and not everyday do I wear makeup, however when I go to the gym in the mornings there's a few products I slap on to make me look more awake, and feel more comfortable. It's not that I can't leave the house without any makeup on (though I prefer not to) but at the gym especially I feel 'on show' more than if I was walking through a supermarket, for example. With my fair features and pale skin, I can look really washed out very easily (it's at times like these I'm envious of those with deeper skin or naturally dark eyelashes and brows.) so I do the '5 minute, 5 product face' to make me feel a bit more alive and ready!

I only use five makeup products and three 'tools' so I thought I'd take a quick snap before going to the gym the other day and show you what I use:

L'Oreal Lumi Magique concealer (click) ; I use this under my eyes and on any other areas where I want my skintone evened out. It's so sheer that it doesn't feel like you're really applying makeup and offers that minimal, natural coverage that you'd want, to allow your skin to breathe when exercising. I blend it in using a buffing brush so that it becomes part of the skin rather than just sitting on the surface.

MAC blush in 'Harmony' ; I use this to gently contour my face. I miss out blusher all together because I feel it can make me look a bit overdone just for the gym, plus I'll be flushed naturally within a matter of minutes on the treadmill!

MAC eyeshadow in 'Showstopper' ; This is the shade I've been using to fill in my eyebrows recently. If there's one thing I will not leave the house without doing, it's filling in my brows. I'm obsessed, they make the biggest difference to my face; they lift cheekbones, offer definition therefore making me look more alive...

 

L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara (click) ; One coat of this on my upper lashes instantly brightens and widens my eyes. I avoid using it on my lower lashes to avoid sweaty smudge marks later, just in case! 

Benefit's 'Benetint Lip Balm' (better known as BeneBalm!) ; this is a lip balm with SPF 15 that is soft and shiny (yet not too shiny!) It has the rosy colour of the original Benetint cheek and lip stain which is made from crushed rose petals, so this balm also has a delicate rose scent which actually makes such a refreshing change to the standard sweet or vanilla scents on most of my lip products. The tint brightens my complexion and adds a bit of colour that is lacking in the overall look, a great product to put on and go.

Tools used ;

Real Techniques buffing brush

She Uemura Eyelash Curlers (these are getting a review of their own later this week)

Illamasqua Contour brush

Do you wear makeup to the gym? What products can't you leave the house without?