• M.A.C Minerlize Skinfinish Natural £20.50 (Medium Plus)

    I didn't know if I believed the hype about this product to begin with, M.A.C has always been a brand I couldn't justify financially. However, their Mineralize Skin Finish Natural is a dream to use. I cheekily picked this up brand new on eBay for a bargain price as it was at a funny time of day and I got in there last minute! I've used it for two days now and, even though I have other powders, I've found myself reaching for this both times. As you can see, it's a finely milled powder in a domed shape and it gives a very natural finish which is quite matt. I guess it could be used alone as a low coverage base but it wouldn't provide me with the coverage I prefer - it's fabulous for keeping the skin under control throughout the day though.

    I've been applying this with a round topped kabuki sort of buffed in all over the face but lightly so it doesn't get caked on (pet hate..) I'm looking to grab myself some M.A.C Fix+ as Lily over at llymlrs suggests it gives a more creamy/luminous finish and not as powdery - which sounds very appealing to me as I prefer a healthy glow. I have oily skin most of the time, so I find I use this again mid afternoon to get my t-zone matt again. I got shade Medium Plus and find this is pretty perfect for me and I'm not particularly dark I'd actually say I'm more light but I think the lighter shades would make me look like a ghost (don't worry, I don't have the neck line going on..it matches!).

    So far, it's given me a good matt finish to my foundation and hasn't made me look cakey like some others that are lurking in my collection somewhere - I think I will be trying that Fix+ though. I really like the glow it seems to give, even without a setting spray, so I look forward to teaming them together!At £20.50 it is expensive, but I think I would pay full price when this one is used up. Compared to other powders I can really see the difference so it's worth the extra if you have it in my opinion.

    My score rating - 5/5
  • Barry M polish in Peach Melba teamed with Models Own Ibiza Mix glitter polish

    I've purchased quite a few new products recently (oops) including this Barry M nail polish in Peach Melba and Models Own Ibiza Mix; the weather perked up and these colours seemed to fit my mood! Barry M formula is actually quite pigmented and I applied two coats to get this finish as I think it gives a fuller finish; it glides on beautifully and is actually pretty much the same on nails as it looks in the bottle. I can never easily vouch for drying time as I apply polish in the evening and go to bed when it's touch dry and allow it to set over night! I really recommend doing this if you're like me and hate waiting around with your hands in the air getting frustrated because you can't do anything! 

    Anyway, I teamed it with Models Own Ibiza Mix as an accent nail but I did just one coat of this - using it alone I'd do two. This is a really pretty glitter polish containing some larger and some smaller glitter particles in sort of aqua, gold, lilac and peachy colours with a clear base. This formula was a pleasure to use, some glitters I find too gloopy and messy but this is so easy and picks up the glitter bits well without feeling rough afterwards too. Super! 
    I finished with Rimmel 60 Second clear polish which has a lavishly large brush!
    Overall I'm definitely pleased with these two polishes both alone and together and I'm sure I will get more use out of these come summer! 


    My score rating - 5/5

    Have you purchased any new polishes lately?

  • Benefit They're Real! Black Mascara

    For my first product review, I've gone with Benefit They're Real! Mascara - simply because it is one of those items that is always in my make-up collection of late and I've recently re-purchased it.

    Priced at £18.50 I never thought I'd give this the time of day, but on a whim one day I picked it up and hoped for the best. I'd read a lot of good things about this and, with gritted teeth, parted with the cash in the hope I'd found a tubed miracle. That's exactly what I found!

    I already have quite long eyelashes, but they aren't terribly voluminous; I find this mascara coats each lash to separate, lengthen and lift with ease due to the comb like wand gives a true black finish. I think it really makes my eyes pop and opens them up to make me look a lot more ready for the day than I feel half of the time! I also find I do not get the spider effect or the rub-off marks below my eyebrows (where my lashes brush against my skin) with this formula. I apply two coats to get the full potential, as I do with any mascara, and I think this really helps to get the most out of your natural lashes and adds the drama I like. 

    (I usually also use Avon SuperShock mascara in black in conjunction with this, but for the purpose of this review I have used They're Real! alone, also for the photographs. I don't know why, because this is great alone I just love both! I will post a review for Avon SuperShock upon repurchase!)

    I wouldn't usually spend this much on a mascara, so the only negative here is the price really, but if you have the spare cash and you're trying to choose a new mascara I'd definitely give this a whirl. 

    My score rating (taking into consideration the cost) - 4/5

    For reference, other products I used here are:
    MaxFactor Face Finity foundation in beige 55
    Collection 2000 Extreme 24 our felt tip pen eyeliner
    The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes - Palette 20
    Avon Ideal Luminous blusher in soft plum
    Rimmel eyebrow pencil
    Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in 101
    Topshop lipgloss in Dash
    MUA pressed powder in shade 1
    Applied with Virgin V and Cosmo brushes.


    What mascara do you swear by?
  • Okay, so I have spent quite a lot of today umming and ahhing over my cosmetic wish list. 
    (My general wish list may be all for another post...yikes.)


    I've purchased a couple of new products recently that I'm nearly ready to review and I'm not flooded with paper and gold to keep buying the way I have been..yet I am taking a trip to the Bullring with a friend in a couple of weeks hence sorting out my list of things I super want!



    It has occurred to me just how many products I've found myself wishing for lately (yikes) so I will blog about my buys and tries as I go along. 

    The Wish List


    - MAC Minerlize Skin Finish Natural in Medium Plus
    - Lush lip scrub
    - Seventeen mirror shine lipstick in beehive
    - Burt's Bees tinted lip balm
    - Urban Decay De slick
    - Pixi lash line ink 
    - Pixi lip gloss duo
    - REN ClearCalm 3 starter/trial kit
    - Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer (when it becomes available within the UK!?)
    - A bunch of MUA make-up products

    I tend to be pretty happy with my skincare routine and rarely feel the need to sway from the products I love, but occasionally I will replace a products if I feel something isn't working for me anymore; I also occasionally add to the routine. I will be doing a post on my daily skincare routine shortly so keep an eye out for that! It will include products and information on my skin type and how I deal with it. (Need to fetch my camera to do it!). 

    So, I tend to find myself buying and trying make-up mainly. The list above consists of the products I really fancy trying and is not representative of them all! I think I'll be able to knock the lip scrub and lipstick off that list on that upcoming mini shopping trip and probably De Slick too but I love the internet for being able to shop from home and I'll probably find myself sneaking in some purchasing of other products too..oops. (Just to add, I do tend to stick to drugstore/low to medium bracket brands just because I have no reason to turn to premium brands most of the time, but I don't ever rule them out). 

    I'm contemplating a subscription to GlossyBox because I just love trying new things and I think it's a great way to do it - smaller versions mean less waste and less costly purchasing mistakes that makes you curse yourself for weeks. Any recommendations out there? 

    Have you tried and tested any of these products? Would you say 'WAIT! Don't buy that!', or would you run back for more? 

    ♥ K
  • The official first post from 'KEE'; Katie Elizabeth Evans.

    Hey!
    Welcome to This Is KEE, my online platform to share all things me. I think I'll introduce myself for this initial post, it seems like the most logical thing to do. So..


    Who am I?

    My name is Katie, sometimes Kate. I'm 22 years young and currently reside in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Since studying design, 'Katielizabeth' has formed as the standard on screen name and identity in which i work behind and KEE are my initials. I prefer this slightly more disguised position in the feisty world of graphic design; and the online community in general for that matter.


    Why have I formed this blog and what will it be all about?

    As a creative, I want to share creative things. This blog won't be entirely about design, but about everything that I find catches my eye; a sort of escape from monochrome. My main interests are design, fashion & beauty, travel and literature. I also have an undying love of cats. (I volunteer at Shropshire Cat Rescue on a weekly basis). So you'll probably find a lot of content around these areas. 


    What are my aims?

    In short, as a bolt on to my interest in reading, writing and reviewing, I hope this will give me a space to do those things in a fun, laid back manner. 
    With any luck, you guys will enjoy visiting for a cheeky catch up with a cuppa on a regular basis!

    I'll leave you with a snap of me (freezing my toes off out in the recent pretty snow)...perhaps you could introduce yourselves too?



















    ♥ K
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