review: missha perfect cover bb cream

Hey guys!

If you follow my blog, or Instagram, closely, you may know that I have a thing for Korean BB Creams. Westernised versions (with the exception of Chi Chi Super BB Cream) just do not match up to them! If you don't know the history of BB creams, the first originated in Asia with whitening properties, as pale skin is much preferred. It stands for Beblesh Balm, and is supposed to be a skincare product, as well as adding coverage, evening skin tone and lightening any dark spots. Really, Westernised versions are basically tinted moisturisers, and with the exception of one, they're basically all a waste of money in my opinion.

I'm a huge fan of Korean BB Creams. My favourites were the Skin79 Super BB Cream in pink and Lioele Beyond the Solution, and I nearly always use one or the other after my primer and before my foundation. Unfortunately, they are usually too ashy of a skin tone for me to use alone, but I find using them underneath my base really evens my skin tone out better than any primer and just adds a touch of coverage. I do typically have a lot of redness, which is why I started using them in the first place, and I feel that it really really really helps with that!

Enter Style Story - a new Australian based destination for Korean beauty products! I was approached by the lovely Lauren who asked if I would like to try any of BB creams available on the site to see if I liked them. Because I had way too many on my list to try (seriously, look at the site and see if you can pick one!), she recommended the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream - and boy, was she on the money!

All of this was sent to me in a box, really safely packaged so that nothing could possibly happen to it on its transit to me (we all know how rough Aus Post can be!), and she was so generous to include 3 samples of other BB creams for me to try out! Unfortunately, I was so infatuated with Missha that I haven't had the chance to use them, but you can bet that I will be!

Now, onto the star of the show itself! I was given the shade 23, which is too light for me (please keep in mind that I do self tan), but this isn't an issue for me personally because, as I said, I wear these underneath of foundation. This has now taken the place of both of my beloved Skin79 and Lioele BB Creams - let me tell you why.

A problem that I was familiar to having with my other Korean BB Creams was melting it into my skin. I used to take one pump of either, rub it in my hands to warm it up and then blend it into my skin with my hands. The problem was, if I accidently took too much, it would never sit quite right. And then it would sort of cake my makeup up because it would look cakey underneath. I have not yet experienced that with this BB cream AT ALL.

I still do the same thing - take almost a pump, and rub it between my hands to warm it up. It has quite big pumps (see below), so I don't need a full pump in order to cover my face. It just melts into my face! Especially using my Covergirl TruBlend Foundation with a beauty blender, my skin looks so good! It has a great amount of pigment, so it really evens out my skin tone without making it look too white or ashy! Best of all, it doesn't distract from my foundation, or peek through. It blends into the colour of my skin and just adds a tinsy amount of coverage.

Here is a quick swatch of the product - this is one full pump! I accidently pumped way too much, and I couldn't blend it out without looking super weird on my hand.

Oh my goodness me, if you haven't jumped on the bandwagon that is Korean BB Creams, I would. Like yesterday. Out of all my collection, if there was one product I would say that you need, its one of these. The fact that you can use it as is on its own, or like I do, and it will do magical things for your skin should be reason enough for you to purchase this. This is like an added part to your skincare range that also serves as part as your makeup routine - I honestly think these are part of the reason as to why I have little trouble with my skin. I would definitely recommend this one, as well the others I have tried!

As for Style Story, I would 200% be purchasing off them. Not only are they Australian based, with pretty decent prices, but they have a whole hoard of Korean beauty brands which are so hard to find for an affordable price in Australia! This Missha BB Cream retails for only $22AUD.. That's cheaper than most drugstore foundations! I should also mention they are starting their own beauty box, called STYLE box, packed exclusively with Korean beauty products. For as little as $20 per month, you can get a little box delivered straight to your door with full, mini and sample sized products for you to try out, should you have a hard time deciding what to actually purchase on their website (p.s. I doubt you will).

Thank you so much to Lauren for introducing me to this gem! I'm sure this is the start of a loooong relationship for me - both with Missha and Style Story! Also, in case you were wondering, I am not affiliated with Style Story or receiving payment for a glowing review. I genuinely love this product, and Korean beauty in general, and its DEFINITELY something everyone should be investing in!

What are some of your favourite Korean beauty brands or products? Leave me recommendations please!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

*Product featured was kindly sent to COAMA HQ for consideration of review. All reviews are 100% honest!

high end haul: mac, anastasia beverly hills & sephora

Hey guys!

First of all, I'm going to straight up apologise for the quality of these photos. It is absolutely disgusting weather in Sydney at the moment, and I just couldn't catch a break with the lighting. BUT I've been way too excited for this post, as well as being asked to do it, that I decided to forgo shitty lighting and photos and just get on with it.

Now not only is today's post a high end haul, it is also a review of the shipping service I used. I'd been going back and forth about ordering with another shipping service (I wasn't exactly thrilled with my last - see here), especially because makeup is just so incredibly expensive in Australia and because I attend university full time, I only work two days a week. I finally bit the bullet after speaking to Melissa from Loads of Lifestyle, and reading her post on the service she used. She gave such a glowing review I thought that I may as well try it - so I did! I'll first go through what I grabbed from MAC, Anastasia Beverly Hills and Sephora, and then give a quick overview of the service and my experience with them. Spoiler alert: I'm so damn impressed with the service, and everything that came with it!

If you've been like me, a bit indescisive about ordering through a shipping service, this is the post for you! 

First up, here's my MAC haul! I ended up mistakenly ordering two empty MAC palettes, and the wrong insert for it as well - oh well, I'm sure it'll come in handy soon! I also ordered two Pro Sculpting powders in Sculpt and Emphasise, a lip liner in Nightmoth, travel sized Fix+ and two lipsticks In Viva Glam II and Heroine. I've been using alot of these daily, and I love everything I picked up! It was so inexpensive as well, compared to the Australian site!

Next, I made a stop off at the Anastasia Beverly Hills website! I have wanted the contour kit forever, and Sephora was sold out at the time, so I just quickly grabbed it there. Instead of getting the original I ordered the one for light skin tones - although honestly, I think its exactly the same as the original contour kit.. But anywho, I've also been using this, and so far I love it! I'm also working on a comparison between this and the Australis Contour & Highlight Kit that I reviewed last week - it will be up in the near future!

And lastly, my Sephora haul! This was so nervewracking to order - all websites I ordered off either accepted international credit cards or Paypal so I ordered it myself, but Sephora is known for cancelling or rejecting orders with mail forwarding addresses. Luckily, it went through, which I was ecstatic about because I really wanted to get my hands on some things!

First up I ordered two limited edition Christmas sets - the Top Faced Melted Kisses Set and the Hourglass Ambient Blush Palette! These are due to hit Aussie shores on November 9, but let's be real, I'm super impatient and really the price was right. I've wanted to try the Too Faced Melted Lipsticks forever, and these are four travel sized ones which seems perfect for me - reality is, I'll probably never finish them, so this is a great solution to that problem. I've wanted to try Hourglass Ambient Blushes forever, and this was the chance to try three of them! Why wouldn't I jump on that? This is so gorgeous as well, I really don't wear blush that often, but these are a dream to use. Definitely want to get my hands on the original Lighting palette now. I'll be doing a quick review of it next week, so if you want to see swatches before purchasing it, don't worry I got 'chu!

After that ramble, I also picked up the Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment, which has been on my list for over a year, the Tarte Power Pigment in Exposed and the Make Up Forever HD Foundation! They also included three samples - the CoverFX Cream Concealer, Elizabeth & James Nirvana White Mini Rollerball and the Soap & Glory Super Serum. The rollerball was taken off me by the US warehouse as it would delay the arrival of my items to Australia - no biggie though, but I still want to try it! I was so impressed with how quickly this order got to my US address - only two days!

Swatches of all lip products (bottom to top): MAC Viva Glam II, MAC Heroine, MAC Nightmoth, Too Faced Melted Lipsticks in Nude, Peony, Fuschia & Berry

Now onto my experience with my shipping service: holy cow, I am sososo unbelieveably happy! I used a service called Comgateway - you sign up with them for free, and are assigned a US address to which you can send all packges to and hold onto them for free for 30 days. Once all your packages have arrived, you can them combine then and ship them altogether. Shipping is a little expensive, but it does come with compulsory insurance, so I honestly didn't mind paying it especially considering that I didn't have to pay for signing up. I ended up paying $60 for shipping for all of this (which equaled 4kg with packing), and $1 was consolidation (combining packages). Consolidation is free for three packages and I ordered four, but $1? Pssh, take it!

I sent this all on a Wednesday, with an estimated date to be the following Friday, and it had arrived at customs two days after being sent! I then had it in my hands by the following Monday! That was a exactly two business days after it was sent that it arrived in my hands - and I only paid for standard shipping! Colour me impressed and absolutely so happy! I have made another order, which will hopefully be shipped tomorrow, and I'll test that arrival time again but either way a week is still a great amount of time for the package to arrive! Considerinf most packages from the US take 2-3 weeks, and sometimes longer, to arrive in Australia I practically cried with delight as I watched its tracking be updated and saw how close it was to me.

I did purchase everything myself with either my credit card or my Paypal, but incase you wanted to order from a place that doesn't allow international payment, Comgateway do have a 'Buy For Me' service in which they order everything for you and have it sent to your address for you. There is a fee associated with the service, but I'm not sure of how much that would be. I will try it out at some stage, but I'm considering I just ordered this lot as well as another 4.5kg currently on its way to me, it won't be any time soon. But I 100% recommend Comgateway! Cannot wait to shop with them more!

Let me know if you've been impressed (or unimpressed) with a shipping service you've used and why?

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

september & october favourites

Hey guys!

Its that time again - I completely missed September Favourites because I was overseas, so this will cover both months. I've honestly tried to narrow it down this month (I have alot of products that I love and continously use over and over again), but ya know, I get carried away and this is for over two months! I'm really just going to get started - otherwise this post could go forever - so enjoy reading what I have been loving over the past two months!

(P.S. I'm sorry this is all over the place in terms of format - I've been trying for the last 3 hours to fix it with no luck.. Will try and get it back to normal ASAP)

1. Skindinavia Moisture Lock Makeup Finish Spray

I have been wanting to try a Skindinavia Setting Spray for forever - I ended up choosing this one because I love my skin to look more dewy and hydrated over cakey and desert-like.  I have really been liking it, because its more like a mist than a spray. With my NYX Dewy Mist Finishing Spray, as much as I like it, it always feels like I'm sprayed a water bottle on my face. This is much more fine, and it doesn't feel like it disturbs my makeup.

2.  Covergirl TruBlend Foundation

I won't harp on - I have a full review here - but I love this, its so easy to wear and it looks like skin! With a beauty blender it just blends out so well and makes my skin look so so so good. I would definitely recommend this as a drugstore foundation, Covergirl is super affordable and it's fantastic quality for the price.

4. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser

I flipping love this stuff for an easy face! It has just the right amount of coverage to cover anything I want covered, while still looking natural and radiant. It is expensive (the most I've ever paid for a face product omg), but I definitely recommend this if you have normal to dry skin, and prefer a light feeling foundation that still covers any imperfections.

5. BareMinerals Bareskin Foundation

Another love. So much love. This is probably up there with my favourite foundations, and that is a BIG deal. I need like four to five drops to cover my whole face, and I feel that it improves my skin while its on it - which is why they call it a serum foundation, I guess. It is 

extremely dewy (almost oily) but its perfect for me for everyday. I didn't get the brush that comes with it, so I use my Sigma F80 with it and it works perfectly fine. I wouldn't use a beauty blender with it, as it is quite thin and I feel that it would just completely soak the product up.

6. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

I'd like to thank Kuala Lumpur International Airport for this expensive favourite (although, when converted to AUD I paid more for the NARS Tinted Moisturiser than for this). I wanted so badly to not like this, and there are parts of it that I don't like, but overall it makes my skin look absolutely perfect and it lasts a super long time. Two issues though - it does sink into fine lines, and its hella expensive. I honestly do love it, but I haven't decided if I'll ever repurchase.

7. MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in Medium Deep

Um, I'd just like to take a moment to thank Jaclyn Hill for introducing me fo this gem. Its perfect for an everyday bronzer - even though it is technically a face powder. I am in love, and I use it almost everyday. It is warm toned, but not overly so, so it looks really quite natural and super easy to blend out. I also have another in the shade Dark, but this is just my go to for everyday. Highly, highly recommend!

8. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle

Best highlight of all time. Or the best for everyday, for sure. This has become an everyday staple for me. I use it as an eyeshadow as well as my highlight on an everyday basis. Its not obnoxious, or in your face whatsoever, which is why I think its perfect for using with my day face. It just gives a very subtle glow, and opens up my eyes as well without having to use a seperate product.

9. Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Golden Light

I search high and low for this bronzer for a year, and I am happy to say that it did not disappoint. Its a little more neutral than what I am used to using, but still gorgeous nonetheless. It blends like a dream and looks extremely natural when used as a bronzer. I love it to contour with as well, because it does have a cooler tone than most of my other bronzers. Definitely a great purchase!

10. Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara

Rediscovered this bad boy this month. I love this mascara so much! I have a review of it here, along with a comparison to the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, and I still stand by everything I said there. Its perfect for volume, and making my lashes look amazing. But the best part is how inexpensive it is!

11. Hurraw Grapefruit Lip Balm

I've been powering through these Hurraw lip balms this past month - I've finished another three! These are great lip balms, I really like them and I'm a huge fan of all their different flavours. These are relaticely inexpensive, and because they are raw vegan, you can just tell how good they are for your lips. Mine actually have withdrawals if I switch it up and use something different!

12. Gerard Cosmetics Lipstick in 1995

I love love love love love this lipstick! Its so perfect! It was formulated by Jaclyn Hill to be the perfect Kylie Jenner lip colour, but I don't think that its spot on. Nevertheless, I still absolutely adore it - its the perfect everyday dark nude, and it would go with so many skin tones because it is such a natural shade. I've used it a fair bit since recieving it, and I'm sure I will be repurchasing!

13. MAC Lipstick in Brave

My new fave MLBB! This is so pretty, and has basically been living in my makeup bag just in case I so happen to change my mind and want to wear it. Its just so easy to wear, its so natural (can anyone see a trend here?) and its a satin finish which are my personal preference when it comes to MAC lipsticks. It also lasts a really long time on my lips, even when I eat and drink!

14. Shanghai Suzy Lipstick in Miss Leah Baby Cocoa

THE MOST PERFECT NUDE COLOUR IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! Like Brave, this has been hanging out in my makeup bag, just in case.. Its a perfect nude, but not too nude, shade and its just perfect. That's literally the only word I can use to describe it. Its a nourishing formula, so it sits really comfortably and has a slight sheen to it. I will be buying a backup (or two or three) because Shanghai Suzy lipsticks are seasonal, not permanent, and I can't bare to be without this in my life. I HIGHLY recommend these lipsticks - they smell like grape Hubba Bubba, and even the matte formulas are super easy to wear!

18. evo Water Killer Dry Shampoo

This is such a little can which makes me so sad, because it is such a great dry shampoo! My hair goes oily really easy especially on the second day, and this is just so easy to spray in it and brush out. I used to use baby powder before this (which actually does work), and this is more finely milled so its now much easier to leave it in my hair for about two minutes before brushing it out.

19. Impulse Aerosol Perfume in Romantic Spark

Ah, this brings back so many memories for me! I used to swear by Impulse when I was younger and in high school, I used to carry them in my bag to spray whenever I wanted. I was so happy to recieve a small care package of three new and revamped scents, and this scent is perfect! It's now become a fixture in my bag again, just like when I was in my teens!

20. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat and Ulta3 Nail Colour in Orange Blossom

I am loving the Sally Hansen top coat - I've used it with the other Miracle Gel nail polishes, and my other nail polishes as well. I'm literally in awe that I've finally found a top coat that prolongs the wear of my nail polish without me having to go to a manicurist or paying an arm and a leg. So impressed! I'm also loving the Ulta3 Orange Blossom nail polsih as well - as a pastel orange, its perfect for the warmer months and it really fits the season! I've got a whole bunch of Ulta3 nail polishes and I plan on doing a swatch post for you all soon. For the prixe you pay, they are pretty great quality polishes!

And thats it for this month! Stay tuned for Wednesday's post which will detail my FAVOURITE thing that I discovered in October. In the meantime, I'd love to hear some of your favourites from this month!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

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