february beauty favourites!

 

Hey guys!

 

This is my favourite time of any month - everyone starts to film or post their favourites of the month and that gets me so excited.. I add to my wishlist every single time I watch or read a post. So naturally, you can imagine how excited I was about finally being able to share my favourite products of the month with you all! And not only have I gone overboard with the products, but my blog has also undergone a makeover to reflect my excitement! Hurray!

 

Because it is my first ever favourites post, but not the last I can assure you, I have gone a little crazy. For the most part, I really wanted to choose the few products that have really stood out to me this month.. But the problem is, I have loved and used all the products I'm about to talk about nearly everyday. And they were either brought in January or at the start of February. So I thought, screw it. You only get to do your first ever favourites post once! So here it is, my February Beauty Favourites of 2014!
 

FACE

 

1. Bourjois Happy Light Luminous Primer

Hands down my favourite primer yet! I brought this mid January, and have already gone through one bottle, the one pictured is my second. I basically use about two-twoandahalf pumps all over my face (it is pink in the bottle, but transparent once its rubbed in). It leave my face feeling so soft and hydrated, and foundation goes on like a dream! This retails for about $21AU.

 

2. Skin79 Super+ Pink BB Cream:

I have written about this BB cream already in this post so I'll make this short and sweet. I have used this ever since last year, and literally use it everyday underneath my foundation. It just colour corrects and adds a little bit of moisture to my skin before putting on my foundation so that my face matches the rest of my body. I highly highly highly recommend this!

 

3. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 53 Light Beige:

This is a huge deal for me. I have been loyal to this foundation basically since I brought it, which is so unlike me. I am someone who flits from foundation to foundation because I have never found one that I believe works for every occasion. I am in looooove with this, oh my gosh. The colour is a little light, but honestly you can't even tell, and the coverage is just perfect. Plus, I have had no problems with cakeiness or it fading away. It is just perfection in a bottle, and I never want it to run out. This retails for $32AU.

 

4. NYX Dewy Mist Finishing Spray:

This is an everyday essential to me - it sets my face while also helping it to melt into my skin to look even more natural. Plus, its pretty affordable at $14.95AU at Target.

 

 

5. MAC Mineralize Skin Finishes in Light and Medium Deep:

I've had these for about a month now. I use Light to set my concealer in place and to add a bit of subtle highlighting, and I use Medium Deep to add a bit of dimension to my face. Not exactly to contour, but just when I want my appearance to look natural (and that I sort of have cheekbones). These are everyday essentials for me now. Love love love, and I wish I  had brought them a lot sooner. Not only do they set everything they touch in place, they are so finely milled that they give off this flawless and airbrushed look to my skin. I will 100% be repurchasing, but seeing I have used them pretty much everyday, they barely have a dent in them. These retail for $47 AU each.

 

EYES

 

 

6. Revlon Colourstay Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde:

I brought this midway through February after watching Shani Grimmond on Youtube used it on her brows. I used to use powder for my brows, and I was ok with the results but not blown away. So I decided on a whim to try this and I'm so happy I did. Seriously. It is a waxy crayon consistency (I find because of this, it sets my brow hairs in place as well), the colour is almost spot on and it literally cuts the time I used to spend filling them in in half. So glad I brought this, I'm sure its going to be a staple for quite some time. This retails for $21.95AU.

 

7. L'Oreal Voluminous False Fibre Lashes Mascara:

I'm a mascara fiend, in case you couldn't tell from the above picture (I'll go through them quickly, so don't worry). This one I brought in the US for around $8-9USD and its a great mascara! It has a rounded mascara wand, and its a bristle brush (which I prefer over plastic wands), and I just find this gives my lashes so much colour and volume! Especially as its a rounded, dipped down brush, it really curls them up and gets every single lash. I can't find this in any Australian stores, but it is available on eBay and I'm sure it would be available online elsewhere as well.

 

8. L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara:

L'Oreal would have to be my favourite drugstore brand for mascaras (sorry Maybelline), and I also brought this one in the US for $8-9. It has a plastic brush, but I don't mind it with this mascara. It gives a ton of volume, and clumps in the right way (does that make sense?). I honestly really like it, I use it all the time with the above mascara to lengthen and volumise my lashes. Love the combination, but wish this wasn't so overpriced in Australia! It retails for $27.95AU.

 

9. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara:

I love everything about this mascara. Its packaging is amazing, being pink and its heavy (almost like a weight), and the product inside is just as amazing. It has a hourglass shaped bristle brush that works magic on my lashes. It gives amazing volume and really just gives a false lash effect to them. One of the best high end mascaras I have ever tried. Retails for $31.95AU, which I honestly think is reasonable for a high end mascara.

 

10. Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara:

My favourite everyday mascara. I've used this for about half a year and it is almost dried up (sob). I have it in the brown colour, and it really is perfect for everyday, as it looks so natural and gives my lashes a ton of volume that stays all day. It does have a plastic brush, but like the L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes, this doesn't bother me in the slightest. This retails for $24.95, and I really believe it's worth it. When I give up on this baby, I will be repurchasing straight away.

 

LIPS

 

 

11. Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo in #3:

This packaging of this is to die for. So luxurious! The actual lipstick is amazing too! If you've read my earlier blog posts, you would know that I am sucker for a lipstick in a crayon form. No, seriously. I have to have them all. But this is on another level. It is a perfect peachy pink nude colour, and I carry it with me at all times. I will be purchasing more, but not right now.. I did get this from the US for $30USD but here it retails in Mecca Cosmetica for $42, which isn't half bad. I just need to come up with the $200+ for the whole collection.

 

12. Maybelline Bold Matte Lipstick in MAT7:

This is the nude colour, and there isn't really much to say. It is almost the same colour as my lips, just a touch more pink, and I wouldn't say its completely matte. It doesn't dry out my lips, and stays creamy the whole day. I do love it, and I find it perfect to wear to work. This retails for $16.95AU.

 

13. Australis Velourlips Matte Lip Cream in PA-REE:

Australia's answer to the NYX Matte Lip Creams. This is the nude one, and is a great colour that stays on literally all day. It isn't too nude, so it doesn't wash me out either! I want more of these as well, they really are a great formula and so affordable considering the product. These are only available in Australia and they retail for $9.95AU.

 

14. YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in #1 Nude Beige:

My favourite ever lipstick. Ever. I brought #7 Lingerie Pink in the US, and when I came home, I knew I needed this colour. So I forked over the money at David Jones before I could say no. This product is so luxurious, so creamy and it glides over your lips like a dream. You could have the driest lips in the world, but no one would know if you were wearing one of these lipsticks. The only problem with it is that it is so expensive, I hardly ever wear it because I can't really afford to repurchase it all the time! But it honestly is the most perfect pink ever, and it goes with everything. This retails for $55AU (gulp), but I would pay it again if I had too. That's how amazing this lipstick really is.

 

SKIN

 

 

15. Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturiser in Cocoa Glow:

My last favourite! I have to say, before this I really neglected moisturising my body. I used to use the Vaseline moisturiser in the same scent as this and loved it, but I just found the whole process so tedious and boring, so I never did it (don't judge me, I'm not proud of my laziness). But when this came out (swoooooon), it fixed all my problems. Not only is it in the best scent ever (seriously, it smells like chocolate, Kahlua and Baileys all mixed together), but it makes my skin silky soft and it has stopped it from looking scaly (yay!). The only problem is I'm having to buy one every two weeks.. I'm onto my third can already (it was only released this month), with a backup in my cupboard. This retails for around $9.99.

 

So that is all my favourites! I know it was a lot for this month, but as I said, I may as well go all out for my first ever favourites post! And I have really been loving all of these products throughout the whole month, some of them even for a long time before.

 

Keep your eyes peeled for a weeks time, I'll be doing another monthly post for the products that didn't meet my standards ;)

 

Until next time..

 

xxxx

too faced better than false lashes mascara VS model co fibre lash brush on lashes mascara

Hey guys!

 

Let me start of by telling you guys a little story. A long time ago, when I was in dance school, we would have these little concerts at the end of the year for the parents to see our progress. For this, our mothers would cake on our makeup so that we would look semi-better-than-normal for our five seconds on stage. And this one time, a girl put false lashes on, and had an allergic reaction to the glue. Which made her lashes fall out.

 

I have never worn false lashes because of this. What if I have the same reaction and all my lashes fall out? I can't deal with that kind of pressure! I love my eyelashes too much! So, as a result of being someone who avoids false lashes like the plague, I had to find an alternative. And I found it in fibre lash extension mascara.

 

I think there are so many high end and drugstore versions of fibre lashes mascara. Really, there is an option for every budget. I have tried ones mainly from the drugstore; think Maybelline and L'Oreal. While I like them, I don't really think that they are what a fibre extension mascara should be, not in my mind anyway. When I think of a fibre lash mascara, I envision a black mascara with a separate wand with the fibre lash extensions, and you combine the two to give you that false lash effect. After much searching for the one that would match my expectations, I was lucky enough to discover two mascaras that shared my vision.

 

Todays post will be a little comparison between these two: one is a high end option, and the other is a drugstore option. I have to say that I love that both drugstore and high end brands have these options - they really almost mirror each other in the final result and quality. But, I will review each one individually and then against each other so that you can see which one may better for you.

 

So without further ado, let me introduce the Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Mascara and the Model Co Fibre Lash Brush on Lashes Mascara!

 

Too Faced Better Than False Lashes



 

This was one of the first things I brought when I went to the US. It had been on my wishlist for so long, despite it having mixed reviews on other blogs and Youtube. From what I read, you either absolutely loved it, or absolutely hated it. As it is so expensive here in Australia, retailing at $52.95AU, I wanted to wait until I got to the US where I brought it in Sephora for $35USD.

 

This is advertised as a "... three step lash extension system that includes an activating mascara base and top coat and Flexistretch nylon lash fibers." It basically comes in a cute little box that houses two mascara tubes: one that has the activating mascara and one that holds the fibres. You are meant to first coat your lashes with the black mascara, so that the fibres have something to cling to. Once you have completed that, you go in with the fibre mascara, coat your lashes with that and then go back in with the activating mascara. Although it advertises itself as a three step system, you can keep repeating the steps until you are happy with the result.

 The box that holds the two mascaras. On the inside of the cover, there are instructions on how to use it.

A close up of the mascara tubes and their wands

What it looks like on my lashes using the three step system

 

Model Co Fibre Lash Brush on Lashes Mascara

 

When I told myself that I would be waiting for my US trip to buy the Too Faced version, I went in search of a cheaper alternative. In my local Woolworths, I discovered that they had recently started stocking Model Co Cosmetics, and I found this little gem as I was looking at the display. It was on sale at the time for $17AU as an introductory price, so I immediately brought one and took it home to try.

 

I tried to look up reviews of this mascara, but as far as I could tell, it was virtually unknown. This may be because not many actual stores stock the Model Co Cosmetic line (Priceline don't even stock them), and it is hard to judge something you've never used. It has a very similar application to the Too Faced mascara, except it is dual ended, one side holding the mascara and the other holding the lashes. Again, you brush your lashes with the mascara first, and then the fibre lashes. To lock it in, you the coat them again with the mascara. Unlike the Too Faced option, it doesn't promise a false lash effect in three steps, and when I use it, I do repeat the steps until I am happy with my lashes.

 

This retails in Woolworths for $21.45AU, but I do find that they regularly go on sale. On the Model Co website, it is priced at $19.95AU, and their website does ship to most countries. I am not sure if this is actually available in any US stores though. It's also really good for on the go, as it fits in my make up bag without taking up too much space.

 Close up of the mascara brush and the fibre extensions brush

What my lashes look like only using three steps.

 

So... What do I think?

 

These mascaras are both fantastic in their own right. I love both and I use both on a regular basis. But I have to say, I am a smidge more loyal to the Model Co Mascara than the Too Faced. Let me tell you why.

 

The Too Faced mascara I find is little harder to work with than the Model Co. I think this is because it is quite a wet formula, and I tend to go for the mascaras that have a drier formula as it just works better on my lashes. Wet mascaras tend to clump them, make it difficult for me to separate them and then make them more voluminous. They also make a bit of a mess around my eye area. I just find that the Model Co makes my lashes look great, really voluminous, but also makes them look natural while still giving me the appearance of fuller lashes. But if you are someone who prefers the wet formulas over the dry, the Too Faced is a great option for you.

 

The other reason I prefer Model Co, is that the fibre lashes in the Too Faced tube tend to fly around and get in my eye really easily. Which isn't fun. It hurts and itches, and it is really hard to get those little suckers out! The Model Co seems to dispense less fibres per application than the Too Faced, which fixes the issue, and also makes it more easier to build. Also, lets be real, its $30AU cheaper, which is always great in my opinion.

 

But, I digress. Both mascaras are great, they both work wonders and live up to their expectations. It is really up to you which one you would prefer to spend the money on.

 

Do you own either of these mascaras? What's your view on them?

 

Until next time...

 

xxxx

my top five blushes

Hey guys!

 

I am a make-up addict. I have admitted this quite frequently throughout my blog. But there is one make-up product in particular that I am not so fond of. And that, my friends, is blush.

 

If I'm completely honest, blush scares me. It's a fine line. If you don't use it you look sickly. If you use too much it looks like you're off to the circus. It is so difficult to get it that in between stage where it just looks flushed, girly and pretty. And that intimidates me! Blush holds way too much power, seriously.
 

As someone who has naturally rosy cheeks, and who blushes too easily as it is, I think I have a right to be intimidated by blush. I can put on a colour and blend it out well so that my cheeks look all glowy and gorgeous in the right way. And later on that day, I will look in the mirror and my redness will have taken over, completely changing the colour of my blush and making me look a right fool. The majority of the time, I won't even put blush on. Who needs blush when you have an inbuilt blushing machine? I should probably be celebrating all the money this could potentially save me, but I'm not. I want to love blush and be all up in its blushy goodness. But right now, its a love-hate relationship. Think Katy Perry Hot n' Cold.

 

But, there are a few blushes that I adore. The exception to the rule. Not everyday, but on the occasions where I just want a teeny tiny pink flush that won't be disrupted by my horrendous red cheeks, these are the ones I go for.

 

top row (l-r): Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso, Benefit Boxed Blush in Rockateur

bottom row (l-r): MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul, ELF Studio Blush in Tickled Pink, Face of Australia Blush in Nutmeg

The reason I love all of these blushes is either because they give a lovely radiant glow or because they aren't too pigmented but still give me a healthy appearance. This post wasn't like choosing my favourite lipsticks, or my favourite foundations. It is actually the easiest top five I have chosen thus far for my blog. Read on to see what I love about these blushes individually :)

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso: This is super raved about all through Youtube and beauty blogs alike, and let me tell you, they are not wrong. It is this beautiful natural peachy pink with gold shimmer, which doesn't translate to your cheeks. But there is this beautiful sheen, and I don't even bother wearing any highlighter with this. And it is a steal at $8USD. Milani isn't available in Australia, but I brought this from either Cherry Culture or Beauty Joint (can't remember which), and if you are an Australian looking for US drugstore brands not readily available here, I highly recommend going to either of those sites and buying this. You will not be disappointed.

 

MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul: This is another beautiful shade. In pan, I would describe it as a peachy-mauve hybrid, and I literally need to just touch my brush into the colour for it to show up on my skin. It gives this lovely, natural, flushed, healthy glow, and because its a mineralize blush, it goes on and blends so flawlessly. I do find that it can go wrong really quickly though, which is why I only just tap my brush once and then go back in again in the same fashion if its not enough. But I really feel that this is worth the money, especially for me because I barely need any. I did buy this in the US for $27.50USD, but in Australia it retails for $43AU. I would purchase again, if I ran out. That's a big if but, I really don't see that happening in the near future.

 

Benefits Boxed Blush in Rockateur: This is one of Benefit's newer releases, and probably my most coveted blush. It is this beautiful rose-gold colour, and it literally goes with everything! I wouldn't say it was too pigmented straight away, but obviously that's something that I like. It smells heavenly too, sort of like my Nana, but not in a bad way. This is the only Benefit blush I own, but I swear this was the best purchase that I could have made! Maybe one day I'll buy more.. And I would 100% repurchase. Again, I did buy this in the US for $28USD, and it retails in Australia for $51AU.

 

ELF Studio Blush in Tickled Pink: My next most used blush. This is the perfect pink colour. Its not mauve, its not peach and its not Barbie pink either. It is just pink, and that's all there really is to it. Again, it isn't hugely pigmented and I just use a tiny bit on the apples of my cheeks and blend it into my bronzer, which is really enough I feel. I brought this off Beauty Joint for $3.99USD, and ELF has recently been added to Kmart (!) but I'm not sure for how much it retails for

 

Face of Australia Blush in Nutmeg: This is one of the first blushes I ever purchased! It's again a lovely pink, with a little shimmer in the pan, but I don't find it to be noticeable on the skin. I feel that this goes perfectly with a smokey eye. Just like Luminoso and Warm Soul, it just gives a lovely healthy colour, but subtle at the same time. As far as I know, this is only available in Australia for around $9.45AU.

 

Heavy swatches of the blushes in natural light (l-r): Milani Luminoso, MAC Warm Soul, Benefit Rockateur, ELF Tickled Pink, Face of Australia Nutmeg 

Swatches of the blushes with flash, same order as above :)

 

The swatches all look the same on my arm, but in person they do all look different. But you can tell the type of colour I like to wear.

 

As I said, blush is intimidating. It can make or break your make-up look, which is why it scares me. Maybe one day I'll be able to see all the good that blush does, and fall absolutely in need with it. But for right now, I'm happy switching these ones in and out. I do own more, but these are obviously the ones I go to and use the most often.

 

I hope this was helpful! If you are someone like me, who blushes like they've been running a marathon, maybe you'll find one of these blushes will work for you! If you have any others you think I should be trialling, please leave it below in the comments :)

 

xxxx

mini review: the body shop honey bronzing powder

Hey guys!

 

I used to be scared of bronzer, I have to admit. For someone as pale as me, it is usually hard to get a bronzer that will look natural on my skin, and not look orange, or muddy and dirty. Because of this, I usually avoid bronzer when I am not self tanned, just opting for blush so that my appearance doesn't look flat or unnatural.

 

After watching guru's like Ingrid (missglamorazzi) and Estee (essiebutton), who are pale like me, try out products on their face to give themselves a contour without bronzing inspired me to try a product that they both raved about: The Body Shop Honey Bronzing Powder!

 

Luckily, a shopping centre near me has a Body Shop store, so I went in about a month ago in search of this bronzer. In Australia, it is available in three colours: 1, 3 and 4. I do believe that overseas it is available in four shades. I originally wanted to buy this is number 1, as that is the colour that is raved about for pale skin tones, but it was sold out in my store :( . So, instead, I ended up getting the darkest colour, number 4 deep matte, because the majority of the time I am self-tanned anyway. I thought it would be good to test while I was self-tanned, and then if I liked it enough I would purchase it in number 1 another time.

 

How cute is the pattern on the bronzer?? I think that it is so adorable that it is designed to look like honeycomb. Always a sucker for packaging, what can I say? It is very simplistic on the outside, a deep golden brown colour with The Body Shop logo in gold. It's also small enough to fit in your make up bag without taking up to much space.

 

There is a huge reason I love this bronzer, and when you hear it you might be like what?? I love it because it isn't too pigmented. You literally can swirl your brush in this powder for 30 seconds, and it will hardly leave any colour on your face. This might not be perfect for everyone, but I love it because it is so difficult to put too much on and make your face look like a mud pile (my problem). This colour is a little too orange for my liking, but because of the fact that it isn't pigmented, it looks totally different on my skin VS the packaging.

 

Swatched heavily on my hand. You can see how it barely shows any colour.

 

I really do like this bronzer. I think it is perfect for everyday, and I will 100% be purchasing the one for paler skin tones in the near future. Number 4 is great for when I am tanned though, and its so easy to just pop a little on my cheeks for everyday to add some colour and life to my appearance.

 

This retails for $28.95AU and is available in all The Body Shop stores. Check out their website www.thebodyshop.com.au to find the store closest to you :)

 

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other bronzers that are designed for paler skin tones!

 

xxxx

my favourite MAC lipsticks

Hey guys!

 

MAC Cosmetics is probably one of the most well known cosmetic companies. I'm 99% certain nearly every beauty junkie owns at least one MAC product. Me? I'm guilty. I own several of their products, including their foundations, concealers, mineralize skin finishes and blushes. But the one thing I am really guilty of hoarding, and I know I am not alone in this, is their lipsticks.

 

The MAC lipsticks would have to be around my favourite brand for lipsticks. They have so many different formulas, finishes, textures and, most importantly, a whole rainbow of colours to choose from. And if that wasn't enticing enough, they have collections in which limited edition products are released, which you have to buy, because realistically who knows when you may see that colour again?

 

 

 

Oh lord. I went through my make up drawers and collected every single MAC lipstick I own, intending to pick five, and five only, for my favourite and most loved MAC lipsticks. I counted, and apparently I own 20 of these. Twenty lipsticks. Just MAC lipsticks. Most of which I hardly ever wear on a daily basis because they are so expensive! I couldn't bear for one of them to run out and then having to buy another.

 

Could I pick five? Hell no, I couldn't. With 20 lipsticks, I had it narrowed down to ten. I then had to really get rough and cut two out. That left me eight MAC lipsticks out of twenty that are all my favourites and that I couldn't live without. Eight. Oh man, if you guys could see my lip products, you would ask why? Why do you need so many lipsticks? Do you even wear these? Well I need them. I do, I do, I do.

 

So which lipsticks were special enough to make the cut?

 

From left to right:  Flamingo, Plumful, Rebel, Lovelorn, Creme Cup, Syrup, Flat Out Fabulous, Angel

 

Flamingo: Luckily for you guys, this is the only limited edition lipstick that I really couldn't do without. From what I understand, this colour is released once a year in a collection, or every couple of years. I got mine with the All About Orange Collection that MAC had last year. It is a beautiful milky pink colour, with a touch of coral. It has a lustre finish, so I wouldn't say that the colour is too pigmented or opaque on the lips or lasts very long, but does feel quite moisturizing and looks natural on the lips. This has, so far, been my favourite summer lipstick!

 

Plumful: This colour is lovely deeper purple-y pink, and I would call this a great everyday Autumn/Fall (whichever side of the world you come from) colour. It has a lustre finish again, but with a surprisingly great colour payoff in one swipe. I feel that it is super moisturising, and without eating of drinking, it lasts for about 2 hours before starting to wear off.

 

Rebel: This colour is hyped up so much on Youtube and beauty blogs alike, and I feel like nearly everybody knows about this shade. Most would own it as well. I don't blame anyone for blasting this colour, because it does not disappoint. It is a beautiful berry colour, that doesn't really lean red or pink. It just happily sits in the middle. It is a opaque in one swipe (hurray!) and is a satin finish, so it looks lovely and lustrous on the lips. I find this doesn't wear off too quickly, and it does leave behind a stain while it wears. This is another great Autumn/Fall colour. I wouldn't wear this everyday though, I do think it is a little dark for that. But, I usually pair it with a subtle smokey eye because its bold without being too bold. Definitely a colour that everyone and their dog should own.

 

Lovelorn: I wear this lipstick on a semi-regular basis. Its a gorgeous, wearble cool-toned pink. I wouldn't say its like Snob, which tends to be quite a Barbie pink, but is medium pink that is definitely perfect for those looking for an everyday pink that isn't bright enough to be Barbie, but not dark enough to be a MLBB (my lips but better ;) ). It has a lustre finish, is again quite moisturising like most lustre finishes, and I feel like this lasts quite well. I can still feel it on my lips at the 3 hour mark.

 

Creme Cup: Another raved about shade. This is a perfect baby pink colour, with a cremesheen finish. It looks quite creamy and natural on the lips when first applied, but staying power on this baby is weak. I get an hour at the most, and I can definitely feel when it is all worn off. I also feel like this colour can show up any dry patches on my lips, so I always exfoliate them with a sugar scrub before putting this colour on. But, with those negatives aside, it is a beautiful colour and I feel like it really hits the nail on the head in terms of being so wearable and different at the same time. Definitely in between the nude and Barbie pink colours.

 

Syrup: Oh lordy, I love this shade. This is my 100% MLBB shade, being a muted mauve pink and so wearable. I probably wear this the most of all my MAC lipsticks. I find it goes with literally any look that I am creating, while still looking so natural on the lips. Its again a lustre finish (can anyone see a pattern here?) so it is super moisturising, and I can get about 2 hours wear out of it before feeling it start to wear off. I recommend the heck out of this lipstick, it is an investment really. What other colour could you wear with your everyday makeup as well as going with the most dramatic of looks? Seriously, you need it. Off to the MAC counter with you!

 

Flat Out Fabulous: Oooooh this colour is such fun. It is part of the Retro Matte collection (think Ruby Woo), which I'm pretty sure were limited edition and then made into part of the permanent line. It is a bright fuchsia colour, that has a matte finish, so you know this baby will last almost the whole night AND leave behind a stain. I would say that it is a little drying, but I don't find it to accentuate any dry patches on my lips, which is amazing because that is my biggest problem with matte finish lipsticks. It is just such a fun colour, and I couldn't not include it!

 

Angel: You may remember this as the lipstick Kim Kardashian made famous when her makeup artist admitted that this was what he used on her. This was probably one of my first MAC lipsticks, and is a pale pink that is a classified as a frost finish. Except there is nothing frosty about this colour. It is quite sheer, but can be built up to be almost opaque. Its really wearable, and has pretty average staying power. Another that I wear on a semi-regular basis.

 

Swatches: (l-r) Flamingo, Plumful, Rebel, Lovelorn, Creme Cup, Syrup, Flat Out Fabulous. Angel

 

The unfortunate thing about MAC lipsticks is their price. In Australia, these retail for $36. But, I have been duped before after buying a cheaper one on eBay and later realising that it wasn't a real MAC lipstick (which I later confirmed with my local MAC counter). Honestly, I would rather pay the $36 and have a beautiful lipstick rather than buy a fake online. With such an array of colours to choose from, I really don't think you can go wrong with one of these them. For that price, you can buy a lipstick to wear everyday and really get your moneys worth, or a different, unique colour that drugstores may not offer a dupe for.

 

Hope you enjoyed the review! If you can recommend any other MAC lipsticks that you think belong in the Top 8, please leave it below in the comments! I'm always on the lookout for new shades! :)

 

xxxx

 

mini review: l'oreal lumi magique pure light primer

Hey lovelies!

 

Todays post will just be a quick review on a product that I feel is held favourably in most reviews on Youtube and other beauty blogs. Seeing as Australia pays something like 200% (I have heard that figure somewhere, but don't quote me on it) more for cosmetic products than every other country in the world, our drugstore items are priced similarly to most high end products in the US. Because of this, it is really hard to determine what is actually worth the money, and what is not, which I have said before in previous blogs.

 

Todays product is not a bad product I feel, but I feel like a fair review needs to be done by someone who has paid the Australian price for it rather than the US price. I'll be reviewing it under five different categories: What the Product Is, What it Claims to Do, What I Think, Is It Worth the Money? and Would I Repurchase? Hopefully, by the end of the review, you may have made your mind up about it as well :)

 

I also need to stress that this is not a reflection of the brand in question, but the product itself.

 

The L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer

 

Swatch of the primer

 

What is the product?

 

The L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer is the base primer that is supposed to go hand in hand with their L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation. It is supposed to give your skin a boost of hydration and brighten your appearance so that once your foundation is applied it looks all dewy and glowy, all while prolonging the wear of your foundation.

 

What does it claim to do?

 

From L'Oreal's Australian website, it claims to be "... ideal for preparing the skin for beautifully radiant make-up results." and that it "... masks irregularities and uneven textures." It also says it provides an "... even-textured surface for foundation to look its best and stay on the skin longer."

 

What I think?

 

Here are some photos before and after applying the primer (all photos are taken in natural light):

Before primer

After primer

Before and after side by side

 

Do I think this is a bad primer? No, I don't. In terms of it evening out my skin tone, and brightening my skin it definitely does a great job. It is not completely clear in the photos, but I do feel that this helps my foundation to go on smoother and definitely makes my skin look absolutely radiant.

 

The issue I have with this primer is its staying power. Typically, foundation lasts pretty well on me, except in my t-zone. I am not oily, it just so happens that foundation tends to wear off my nose and chin pretty easily, which is why I set it with a powder to help it last as long as it can. However, this primer does not help your make-up last any longer than if I was not wearing any primer at all. Maybe it's just my skin, but I find that I can only wear this primer and foundation for about two hours before I can see it starting to wear off.

 

So.. Is it worth the money?

 

That's the other issue I have with this product. In Australia, this retails for $27.95AU. Is it worth that? No. It's a lovely primer in the beginning, but people usually buy primer for two reasons: correcting uneven skin tone and to help the make up stay on longer. For $27.95 I expect it to at least do those two things, and a musical act for me. It does correct skin tone and make your finished look more radiant, but there are plenty of other, more affordable primers that do that and keep your face from wearing off.

 

In the US this retails for $12.99USD which is much more reasonable than $27.95AU (about $25US for any American readers). If you can get it cheaper, either if you're visiting the States, or making an order with a shipping service, even online or on sale, sure give it a try. But I would definitely research it further (don't go just off this review) before you pay the full price in Australian drugstores.

 

But keep in mind that just because I'm not hugely fond of it, doesn't mean that it won't work for you :)

 

Would I repurchase?

 

Not in Australian drugstores. Maybe on eBay, but I have plenty of primers to get through before I need to buy another.

 

Please let me know if this review was helpful in the comments below, and if you'd like to see more in this format :) I really value your opinions!

 

Until next time xxxx

 

*all products mentioned in this post have been purchased by me, and all photos and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise*

urban decay naked 3 rose gold eyes tutorial

Hi lovelies!

 

After I reviewed this palette yesterday, I really wanted to do a look with the Naked 3 palette for you! I was inspired to create a soft and romantic look, with the colour Trick as the focus of the look. The Naked 3 palette is so beautiful and versatile, you can easily make so many different looks with it. Urban Decay does not disappoint with these shadows, they are all brand new to this palette and are so buttery and creamy in texture, which makes them super easy to work with. All the shadows have a pink or golden undertone, and blend so well together. With the exception of the base I used, all shadows on my eyes have come from this palette.

 

 

The finished look! All photos have been taken in natural light.

 

Read on to see how I achieved this look :)

 

 

The first thing I used was the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, which is just a shimmery gold bronze. Because I wanted to use rose gold on the lid, I thought using this as a base would help the colour to appear more vibrant. I then used Nooner from the Naked 3 palette to blend the edges. I wanted this to be my transition shade, so blended it into and a little above the crease, and also in my outer corner a little. This is a matte shade, and I thought it was really important to use this as the rest of the shadows I was using did have shimmer in them.

I then picked up the shade Factory, which is a shimmery taupe colour, and pressed this onto the last third of my lid, and a little into the crease. I then put a little bit of Nooner again onto my blending brush, and went over the edges of Factory so that there were no harsh lines.

 

I sprayed my brush with a little bit of setting spray, and then went into the colour Trick, which is a gorgeous glittery rose gold and my favourite shade in the palette. It is a little hard to get the colour to show up, which is why I think its important to wet your brush. This also gives the colour a beautiful, almost metallic sheen. After patting this onto my lid, I also blended it into Factory.

I then went back in with Nooner and blended the edges once more. After this, I cleaned up the edges with my MAC Pro Longwear Concealer to give it a sharper edge. I tend to get a little messy with blending my eyeshadow, and I find concealer really helps the edge appear nice and crisp. I wiped away the fallout under my eyes from the colours,  then went and did the rest of my makeup.

 

I then dipped into the colour Strange, which is a matte white highlight colour, and put this underneath my browbone and in my inner corner.

 

I blended Nooner again under my eyes and blended the edges a little more. I then pressed a little more of Factory into my lower lash line to define it a little more, and placed a little more of Trick into the inner third of that lower lash line, and swiped it a little into Nooner and Factory.





After I finished with the eyeshadow look, I tightlined with a Rimmel Kohl Black Eyeliner, and also used the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Bronze in my waterline. I then used my Maybelliner Masterprecise Liquid Eyeliner to create a little bit of a cat eye on my lid, my not too dramatic as I wanted this look to still be soft and romantic. I then used the L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara on my upper and lower lashes. 

 

And then you are done!

 

I really hope that you enjoyed this look! I know people say that purples, blues and greens look great on brown eyes and make them pop, but I prefer neutral warm shades, like gold, bronze and browns on my eyes. Its pretty fantastic having brown eyes honestly, because we can pull off almost all colours ;)

 

I would wear this look on a date night to a nice restaurant, or even to a night out with friends. It defines the eyes, but isn't too harsh. You could smoke it up with some black in the crease and outer corner to define the eyes even further and bring a little drama, or make it even softer using Limit (a softer pink) instead of Nooner.

 

Let me know down in the comments below if you liked the look, and if you'd like to see more looks with this palette!

 

xxxxx

 

Products used in this look:

 

MAC Prep and Primer Skin Fortifier Illuminateur Primer

Skin79 Super+ BB Cream

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in Light Beige

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Fair

Revlon Colorstay Eyebrow Liner in Blonde

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light

Maybelline Fit Me Shine Free Foundation Stick in 330

NARS Laguna Bronzer

Tarte Off the Cuff Palette - Darling Blush

Elf Eyelid Primer

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

Elf Mineral Setting Spray

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - Nooner, Factory, Trick, Strange

Rimmel Kohl Eyeliner in Black

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Bronze

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Black

Kardashian En-Joystick Lip Lacquer in Baby Doll

 

*all products mentioned in this post have been purchased my me, and all photos and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise*