review: nyx angel veil primer

Hey guys!

Today, I thought I'd do a review on the NYX Angel Veil Primer! Although it's not available here in Australia, I've noticed that there aren't a lot of reviews on this little tube of goodness. I'm not sure how long it has been available to purchase in the States for, but either no one likes it or nobodies bought it, because I have read probably one review online before buying it.

I used this pretty much everyday for two weeks as a primer in order to get a proper impression of it. I have to mention that this is not the typical primer that I go for. I have normal to dry skin, and definitely prefer a primer that hydrates my face. However, I have been loving what's in this tube! 

Read on to see my thoughts!

Firstly, for a drugstore primer, this tube is incredibly cute! Its white with black writing, and a pink lid. The primer itself is white and silicon based - which i was surprised by because honestly looking at swatches of it online, and even at my own, this doesn't look like a silicon primer. More sort of creamy, and fluffy.

It blends in like a dream and completely brightens my complexion! It goes on completely white, and blends into my skin as I'm pale - however, if you are someone with a darker complexion, this may not work for you as it stays quite white even after its blended in. But, I feel that because it's so white it really really brightens up my face. It also corrects my skin tone really well. I would say it has a similar concept to Korean BB Creams, in that it has a whitening effect on your skin, helping to correct all redness and uneven skin tone. This just doesn't have the skincare benefits of the Korean BB Creams.

Here are some swatches for you:

 

As you can see, it has lightened and brightened my skin considerably, and also corrected the redness and unevenness. I really enjoy this primer for something different in my routine - and according to some people, it is EXTREMELY similar to the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (which retails for $69AU at Mecca). I can't comment as I haven't tried the Hourglass primer (it's on the list), but if you compare $20something to $69, I know which one I would rather be paying.

I found mine on eBay for roughly $20, but you can find it here on BeautyJoint for $19.25 AU.

Have you tried this primer? How did you get on with it?

Until next time my loves...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

foundation friday: urban decay naked skin foundation

Hey guys!

Welcome to this weeks Foundation Friday! A bit late, as per the norm at the moment, but here nevertheless. I was pretty certain that this foundation would be reviewed - ever since I've included it in Foundation Friday Instagram posts, it's usually only just missed out. I love Urban Decay products, amd ever since I saw this being used on Youtube, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

The idea behind this foundation is that it is a weightless, easy going formula - almost like skin! It goes along perfectly with their ever expanding Naked line (which some people are starting to get over, but really I'll always love it), because it's meant to be your skin, but better (duh, #getnaked). The Naked line is all about neutrals and easy to wear colours - which, if I'm honest, is basically me represented by a makeup line.

For all the details on this baby, keep reading!

The foundation is housed in a tall, sleek plastic bottle with a pump (yay). I love that the pump also doesn't dispense too much at once - it actually pumps very small amounts each time, so I could always tell that this was going to last me forever. I do need a good 3-4 pumps to cover my face and achieve the coverage I desire, but considering they are quite small, I don't feel like I'm caking my face up at any point.

In terms of formula, this is a really light formula with decent coverage. I would say that, on me, it is a definitely medium coverage, and really easy to build up should I want more. The colour range is also fantastic, which is another reason I love Urban Decay - the shades ending in .0 have strong yellow undertones, and the those ending in .5, have strong pink undertones. The only qualm I have with this particular foundation is that it seems to just sit on my skin, rather than really buffing in and blending in with my skin. Don't get me wrong, it still looks like skin but it is a bit mask like.

Here are some swatches for you - I have shade 3.0, which is actually my shade for when my fake tan is wearing off, so it does look too light in the photos (I had just fake tanned the night before):

As you can see, it does even out my skin tone and cover any imperfections I have - you can also tell what I mean when I say it doesn't quite become one with my skin. Overall, I do really love this foundation, it is really easy to wear on days where I need just that easy coverage when my fake tan is wearing off. As I said, I do really like it, but I don't reach for it as much as my other foundations.

You can buy this foundation, and other Urban Decay products, from Beauty Bay for $54.40AU

Hope you enjoyed this review - keep an eye out for next Monday when I reveal next weeks contenders!

Have you tried this foundation? What are your thoughts - love or hate? In the meantime, if you have a foundation you'd like me to review let me know down below!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

clarisonic mia VS racinne lady 1 massager

Hey guys!

Today, I have a little something different for you. How many of us have been duped into buying an expensive tool or product just because of favourite beauty gurus rave about them, only to find it doesn't seem to have the same effect on you as it does on them? I know I have. Sometimes, to justify that I just spent a ridiculous amount of money on something that really isn't working for me, I somehow trick my mind into thinking its working. I can't be the only one - I really hope I'm not the only one..

One of these items that I have been left disappointed by was my Clarisonic Mia. At first, I really believed that it was doing fantastic things for my skin - but after using it for a month, I realised that while it wasn't making my skin worse, it wasn't exactly improving it either. But, due to the fact that I parted with a fair amount of money to buy it, I kept using it in vain hopes that I might see the magic all my favourites speil on about.

I recently got the chance to try a product that is a similar concept to the Clarisonic - the Racinne Lady 1 Massaging Rejuvenation System (which is a cleansing system, despite the fact that the name seems to suggest that it is a vibrator), which is a super affordable yet luxurious alternative to the Clarisonic. I've been trialled this for two weeks, and then switched back to my Clarisonic to really see which one was better for my skin. And even I was surprised with the results. I'll be going through each system briefly before telling you about what happened during my trial, so you can best decide which would work better for you.

Aaahhhh.. So my Clarisonic Mia.

I remember being so sceptical about buying this at first. It's $139AU from Myer, not including the fact that you have to pay about $30 every 2-3 months to replace the brush head. But, after Lauren Curtis put a photo up on Instagram of how well it removes makeup leftover on your skin, I was sold. Luckily, I was also armed with a Myer gift voucher, so I didn't have to pay the full price out of my own pocket.

At first, I was so impressed. My skins texture did slightly improve, I didn't experience intense breakouts like others who have tried it, and it did remove any remnants of makeup left on my skin after using makeup remover. So far, so good!

However, after a while, I noticed that while my skin wasn't getting worse, it wasn't getting any better either! I was still getting the odd pimple, with scarring, and the Clarisonic wasn't helping it any. I continued to use it hoping that it would perform this godsent miracle that I'd heard it do, but it just never happened. But each to their own. While I don't dislike the Clarisonic, I wasn't exactly impressed overall either.

Now enter this competitor - the Racinne Lady I Massaging Rejuvenation System!

I was given the opportunity to try this about three weeks ago, and I was sceptical of this also. I mean, my Clarisonic didn't exactly work, so how could this, especially when it was less than half the price of the Clarisonic? Well, ladies and gents, this product is proof to me that sometimes the quality of the product oversteps its price.

Firstly, unlike the Clarisonic system, this has four different brush heads. The first, which is similar to the brush head on the Clarisonic (except smaller), and is meant to be used the same manner. The second is a sponge, which is meant to make it easier for products, such as your moisturiser, to soak into your skin. The other two are actually meant to used for your body - one is a larger version of the first brush head, to exfoliate and cleanse your body of impurities and the other is a pumice stone, which can be used to smooth down any rough skin.

Secondly, this bad boy is amazing. It does everything the Clarisonic does and more. I have had a blemish scar on my chin for months, and after using this four about four days it was significantly reduced. That was really the part that convinced me that this is a fantastic product. The sponge is also amazing, it really smooths down my face and allows my rosehip oil to completely sink into my skin and make it all plump and happy.

In terms of the trial I did, it all centers around my 'blemish' scar. I've had pimples pop up in exactly the same spot every couple of weeks for a while now. My Clarisonic didn't really change that schedule, but the Racinne brush honestly did. It didn't make it completely go away, but after two weeks it was significantly less noticeable and I didn't have to pile on the concealer either!

Out of curiosity, and of course for the sake of this blog post, I decided to go back to the Clarisonic for a week to see if it changed anything now that one of my biggest skin insecurities was almost gone. Within a couple of days, I had another pimple in the exact same spot. Some people may argue that that is the Clarisonics job - and that your skin goes through a period of transition where you do breakout. But, when I was using the Clarisonic for six months, my skin still broke out a pimple in the exact same spot! But with Racinne, it was almost gone from my life.

Its clear which cleansing system I prefer - in terms of both quality and affordability, the Racinne system wins a million times over. Plus, with all of its little add ons, you really do get more bang for your buck. I will continue to use it, and lets hope that my scar is gone in time for my holiday in September!

You can find the Racinne System here for $49AU!

You can find the Clarisonic Mia here for $139AU!

Hope you enjoyed the review and found a cheaper and better quality alternative to the Clarisonice - definitely give it a try!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

*These products were kindly sent to COAMA HQ for consideration of review. All reviews are 100% honest!

foundation friday: bourjois healthy mix serum gel foundation

Hey guys!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Foundation Friday - and also my brand spankin' new vanitys little teeny sneak peek! The winner this week was the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. For those of you who may have been following my blog since its beginning you may remember seeing this baby pop up a fair amount of times. I was obsessed and I raved about it constantly here on my blog in favourites and random mentions (I also have a post here on my Bourjois foundations - click here to read!).

Just an FYI - Chanel and Bourjois are owned by the same company. While this foundation has been compared to the Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua Foundation, I'm not too sure. I haven't been brave enough to part with the cash that Chanel demands. Maybe when I'm rich.. But, this is like the little sister to Bourjois original Healthy Mix. If you found that foundation not to your liking, because it was too thick or too hard to work with, this might be the foundation for you.

So, you can probably tell how this review is going to go. I adore this foundation, and always have since I first put it on my face. It is probably in my number two in my favourite drugstore foundations. Its just perfect and it fulfils basically every want and need that I have in a foundation. Read on to see exactly what I love about this foundation and why!

First up is packaging - and this is quite sturdy packaging considering its available on the drugstore. It's a tall thin plastic bottle, with a pump. Mine is, of course, absolutely filthy because I use it so often. I've had this since about February-March this year, and I used it religiously for a while and every now and again at the moment, and I still have so much left over!

In terms of coverage, this a definite light to light-medium coverage. If you are after full coverage, this is not the foundation for you. While you can build it up, I have noticed that it doesn't really do anything for the coverage. But why I love this foundation is because it really is perfect for those my-skin-is-looking-amazing days. You'll notice that this is called the Healthy Mix SERUM Foundation, leading me to think that this foundation could have some skincare benefits. While I don't think this improved my skin, I guess it didn't make it worse either. Good sign!

The finish of this foundation is absolutely gorgeous. Its glowing and dewy, just incredibly healthy looking which is why I always wear it when I'm having a good skin day. It also smells sooo good! Very fruity. However, if you are someone who is sensitive to scents, I wouldn't recommend this. Its extremely prominent and it does linger. This does claim to have 16 hour wear, which is something I have to disagree with. While I did think that it did at first, I've noticed that it only lasts a good seven-eight hours before fading on me, I don't think it would withstand much more unless you had a powder to touch up with.

Here are some swatches of the foundation:

You can see that it doesn't completely cover my veins on my hand. But you can also see how gorgeously dewy this is! It evens out my skin tone and really makes my skin just look better - just more healthy and glowing. Exactly the way I like it!

If you are someone who has normal to dry skin, or if you are in the market for a foundation that you can wear on a daily basis, I would 100% recommend this! However, as someone with dry-normal skin myself, I unfortunately can't speak for if this would work if you have oily skin. Given the finish and the longevity, I assume it wouldn't be the best option, but don't let that stop you it! You could always set it with a powder to control your oil and prolong its wear.

You can find this foundation here in Australia for $32AU. My understanding is that it is not available in the US, but if you look up swatches online you could always try eBay. Just remember to be wary and only buy off sellers who have positive feedback on all aspects.

Thanks for reading lovelies! Remember to check my Instagram page next Monday when next weeks contestants are revealed. If you have any particular foundation you'd like to see included, comment it down below!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

foundation friday: chi chi cosmetics fabulous & flawless foundation

Hey guys!

Getting back into the swing of things this week - I had a rough week last week and needed to take time to relax and spend time with my family. I hate not blogging but it is time consuming and sometimes you just really need a break from taking photos and writing. I have been MIA from here and not as active on my Instagram, and I apologise if I've missed any interaction or questions from you guys - I will be going through everything today and hopefully I will get back to everyone!

Back to todays post - oh yes, its Foundation Friday/Monday here at COAMA, and the Chi Chi Fabulous & Flawless Foundation was voted as this weeks contender! For those who are not Australian or from New Zealand, Chi Chi is an Australian cosmetics brand that is sold in some of our department stores and online. They're well known here for making great quality affordable cosmetics, and their eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks are amazeballs!

This foundation was relatively unknown until Shaaanxo started talking about it in her videos. I had it on my list and waited until Myer had a 25% off Chi Chi products and brought it then. I've been thoroughly impressed by my whole experience with the product - to the box, packaging and the performance of the foundation itself! Read on to see my thoughts, and whether you should be purchasing this yourself!

First of all, I need to talk about this box. This foundation is available in 9 shades (although, like most drugstore foundations, unfortunately darker skin tones aren't catered too), and on each box is a description of the colour which makes it so much easier to pick out your shade - I only had to quickly swatch this shade, thanks to the colour description! 

In terms of packaging, this feels ANYTHING but cheap! It's a heavy frosted glass bottle with a pump - hurray! Its really sleek and simple, and would look good on atop of anyones vanity!

As for the formula itself, I feel like it is the foundation version of the Chi Chi BB Cream which I absolutely love - it has a decent medium buildable coverage, and looks so flawless on the skin like the name suggests. It does have a strong fragrance - but strangely enough I didn't notice it until I swatched it on my hand for this post! It is a strong floral perfume type smell, but as I said, I didn't notice it when I applied it to my face so maybe it doesn't last that long. But if you are someone who doesn't like products that are perfumed, this may not be for you.

I feel like this is great for my skin too - I have normal to dry skin, and this feels so lovely! Almost as if it is moisturising my face as it sits there. It has a satin finish on me - neither matte nor dewy - and it also has a glow to it. The foundation is yellow based, however I have noticed that it does oxidise a little pink throughout the day. This isn't a huge issue for me, as I don't think its that noticeable to anyone who isn't me (hopefully).

In terms of longevity, this does last on me EXCEPT on my nose and chin - although, I have this issue with almost every single foundation I have tried, so its not unusual. Of course, you can always carry powder and touch up if you are someone who has oily skin or if you have trouble with your makeup wearing off throughout the day.

Here are some swatches for you! (I had taken photos of swatches before - the new Rimmel Lip Crayons are the fricken bomb - so thats the marks that are on my hand)

As you can see, it evens out my skintone and cover my veins and any skin imperfections pretty well. You can also see that the shade runs pretty dang close to the description on the box. Hats off to you Chi Chi - you did damn good, and this is a foundation that I would recommend you try out. Especially given that Myer and Target have sales pretty frequently on the brand, you can always wait to find a good sale and purchase it then.

You can find this foundation here on the Chi Chi website for $29.95AU - and good news, they do ship internationally! Keep in mind though that the price will vary depending on what the conversion is for your country :)

Have you tried this foundation? What was your experience like?

Also, don't forget to vote for this weeks Foundation Friday contenders which will be up on my Instagram shortly! Also its vanity week countdown so my photo quality will hopefully be increasing once I finally have that baby in my life!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner