A few months ago I was given some review samples from the Wild About Beauty makeup range. I put them to one side while I focused on researching and writing a heap of skincare posts (me being a skincare junkie and all).
Then a week or two ago I fancied having another crack at perfecting the kitten flick – such a sexy eye look but sadly not one I’m very good at creating (more on that in a minute). I knew there was a liquid liner in my Wild About Beauty collection, and so I headed off to find it.
Once found I read the label, properly - Organic Chamomile water based liquid liner pen. Oh boy! Now that is skincare, in makeup. What joy! Why had I not spotted this before? I then checked out the rest of the Wild About Beauty products that I had – eye shadow pencils, definer pencils, a multi-purpose tint and a powder blush among them. A further label ponder brought more skincare – vitamins A, C and E, shea butter, aloe vera, rose water, winter cherry… you get the idea. I’d just landed in my makeup heaven!
The trend for skincare makeup is here and going nowhere fast (thank goodness), and I do have a fair bit of it in my possession (see post Eve Lom vs By Terry here). But there are skincare naturals in the Wild About Beauty range that I don’t have elsewhere in my makeup stash.
Louise Redknapp: Wild About Beauty co-founder |
Before I steam headlong into some reviews, I want to give you a little background on the brand. It was founded by Louise Redknapp and her make-up artist pal Kim Jacob. Louise, as you probably know, is a singer and TV presenter. I remember catching sight of Louise in 1997, post her Eternal band days, backstage at a Smash Hits Poll Winners party – I was a newbie music journalist at the time. Blimey, this makes me feel old! Let’s move on…
Central to the brand’s philosophy is that makeup should be skin kind. Botanicals are at the core here and one thing that I really love about WAB is the way the website lets you select makeup according to skincare ingredients. For example , if you click on organic German chamomile in the ingredients section, it will tell you that the Golden Skin Glow, Line & Define Liner Pen and Smooth Cover Concealer Kit each contain it. What a super way to shop for makeup!
As you can probably tell, I have become quite smitten. I’m not surprised the brand picked up several awards in the latest Natural Beauty Bible. It really is very good. Here are my current favourites:
Line & Define Liner Pen - £14.50 (1.56ml)
Key skincare - Organic Chamomile Water (anti-inflammatory, soothing and moisturising)
Enter the cat flicks. This is the product that started off the love. It’s a densely pigmented glossy black liquid liner. It is so easy to use. It has a fine tip and such a precise flow that even I can manage drawing a cat flick with it. By my standards that flick pictured is perfection! There’s no pulling or tugging as you draw and once set the liner doesn’t budge (my lids get moist, so prone to running liner, even with a primer underneath). I’m very impressed!
Kajal Pencil Duo in Carbon Black – currently £9.99 (normally £14.50)
Key Skincare – Vitamins A,C and E (evens pigmentation, stimulates collagen, protects skin)
A double ended pencil combining a fine liner with a thick kohl. Super handy to have both pencils in one as it saves having to switch. I’m struck again by the smoothness of the product. The kohl glides as you draw: I can do my outer lash line in one sweep. I tend to go back over it with the fine liner to give extra definition to the tip (you could also use it to fill in any missed bits). I sometimes also smudge for a smokey effect. What’s not to love about this pencil? It’s richly pigmented, has a satin texture, and is a liner and kohl in one.
Nutrilips Balm, colour Alice - £14 (4g)
Key skincare – Shea Butter and Vitamin E (nourishing and skin protecting)
A deliciously rich balm with a hint of a tint. It is soft, non-sticky and feels super nourishing on my lips. It also stays put way longer than most balms I have used, preventing my lips from drying out, which is what often happens as I’m a bit hopeless at remembering to reapply product. The balm is available in 6 colours, from a deep plum (Hannah) to a rosy pink (Rosarai). The shade I have here is Alice, a slightly pinky nude. It brings definition to my lips, without overpowering them. I love it! All the tints available are subtle, making these balms a great option for those who want some pigment without the heaviness of a lipstick.
More on the Wild About Beauty range here.