Tellybox Beauty Breakdown ft Armani Neo Nude, YSL, Bobbi Brown, Tilbury & More

Instgram has for sure been getting the best of me when it comes to my Tellybox Beauty Breakdown posts, but let's go retro with an old style blog post too, shall we? As ever in these posts I'll break down the beauty products that I wear for TV appearances and let you know if they're worth your hard earned cash or not. In this post we're all about that Base and I have bad news, they're all killer. Fancy a look? 

KIKO Comes to Ireland - Whether it Likes it or Not via Parcel Motel!

There are many brands I lust after but when their products are reasonably priced, beautifully effective and budget friendly yet refuse to open shop or ship to where I am, then that want increases ten fold. I first encountered KIKO on a trip to London with my Sis and reviewed my purchases here  - those shadows are still going strong so when I figured a workaround to have KIKO delivered to Ireland (despite their restrictions) both delight and Laser melting ensued but how did I do it? 

Yep, Parcel Motel, the new Irish delivery service worked a treat for me. For €3.50 per stay (though they ask for €10 minimum top up) you register with Parcel Motel and they give you a UK address, complete with PO code to use as your delivery address on the site of your choice. 

When your package has been delivered to your choice of 100 'Motels' you'll receive a text with pin code to go and pick up your goods. I can see this causing serious damage to my Laser on sites that have been off limits before. 

But back to KIKO - what did I get? 

KIKO Water Eyeshadow: Chocolate

KIKO's Chocolate is unlike any chocolate I've eaten. The deep, russet brown pigmentation is a high shimmer shadow and gives beautiful depth of colour even dry. It's the most intense burnished copper colour when used wet. I can see chocolate and I being close for a long time. 

KIKO Water Eyeshadow: Graphite

Again Graphite is an intense, high shimmer shade. A deep graphite grey shadow when used dry and almost black when wet, this is an ideal base for a dark smokey eye or used on a damp liner brush makes a beautiful eye liner.

The price definitely belies the quality of this rich and nourishing best selling KIKO lippie. I chose Cherry Red, naturally and it's a creamy, soft wearable rouge. Brilliant budget find. 

Finally the limited edition Colour Impact Palette from the Dark Heroine range in Lounge Warm Tones broke my heart a little when I opened it. Priced at £16.90 (€20.12), it was Nic over at Strawberry Blonde Beauty that put the longing on me for this autumnal palette. 

I haven't even swatched this beauty as it's to be returned to KIKO but it's replacement is already en route and I'll have a full swatch post up as soon as it arrives. 

All in all I'm over the moon that I can get my KIKO fix here on the emerald isle. Even though the Parcel Motel option adds €3.50 to the cost, once you register on Kikocosmetics.co.uk your shipping from them is free. 

Tell me, will you be indulging? Have you used Parcel Motel to smuggle anything else into Ireland? Hmmm? 

Budget Beauty Picks from KIKO

While on our London jollies at the weekend, we also spent a good chunk of Friday navigating the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepards Bush. Take it as someone who lives in close proximity to the huge Blanchardstown Centre - that place is GINORMOUS.

One shop I was thrilled to see was KIKO, having heard so much on the beauty blog circuit about their budget friendly and great quality products. Their products are not all cheap as chips by the by but I did manage to pick up some goods before the Sis physically jostled me from the premises. 

First, I was an inordinate amount of time trying to decide between 32 'Have the Eye Out of Your Head' Water Eyeshadow shades. These spectacularly vibrant shadows are developed to be used wet or dry and while not 'cheap' at the price, are well worth a tenner each. Their ergonomic design means you get a perfect swipe of colour first time, every time. 

223 reminds me very much of the newest Estée Lauder Violet Underground collection. Densely pigmented and true to pan even without wet application, this beautiful purple will be a welcome addition to my collection. 

200 is as close a dupe to my beloved MAC SuperWatt as I've found yet. Super soft to the touch and with no fall out whatsoever this champagne golden taupe will act as a perfect highlighter as well as a bright wash of light in its intended purpose as a shadow. 

I had to snap up Volumeyes at half price. This deep intense black makes full use of the densely packed brush to add volume without clumps to lashes and may be my favourite budget mascara in a very long time. I'll be featuring this in a Budget v Blowout post vay soon!

Last but certainly not least are these gorgeous Pencil Lip Glosses that were temptingly placed by the tills. I had 5 in my hand but sense got the better of me. As I was pondering the ever helpful Shop Assistant pointed out that she was wearing shade 12 (Wine Red) and her colleague 03 (Glitter Bronze) if that helped and it did. I bought both immediately. They're unlike any lip pencil I've used before, settling as a glossy, pigmented and moisturising colour once on the lips. Kicking myself now I didn't get the other three. 

And that rounds up my picks. The Sis bought several other lovelies, including some much raved about polish but, truly, I was being good. Thing is now I know the quality is so good, all bets are off when I spot a KIKO store on our next Euro tour. 

Have you tried the brand before? Liking the cut of their jib?