Showing posts with label brand focus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brand focus. Show all posts

7 Jul 2014

brand focus: thebalm!


Hey guys!

I posted a picture on my Instagram a couple of weeks ago after I managed to get my hands on some more TheBalm products, and asked if you would like to see a more in-depth review of the brand. I love using their products - they have such a fantastic range of great quality cosmetics, and I even have a wishlist to hopefully be fulfilled in the near future.

However, I really wanted to do a post on them because I honestly feel like TheBalm is relatively unknown here in Australia. Maybe this is because people don't know where to buy them (I certainly didn't until earlier this year) and think they are only available in the US - I can't say for sure. But there is no doubt in my mind that TheBalm is a brand that you need to introduce into your makeup collection.

TheBalm has a wide range of products available, and not it's not all cosmetics! Their line also includes skincare and hair care, and it's all paraben and cruelty free. Their philosophy is "Beauty in five minutes", and caters to a wide range of beauty lovers - from those who love more neutral easy to achieve looks and those who love daring, bold colours.

Of course, I don't own one of every single product from their line to show you guys - actually my collection is relatively small compared to some. But everything I own is absolutely gorgeous in it's own right, so highly pigmented and easy to use. So without further adieu, grab your cuppa' and settle in!



The first two products I have to show you are perhaps my favourite and most used of my TheBalm collection. Everyone knows TheBalm for their Loumanizer collection - namely Mary Lou (honey champagne highlighter), Betty Lou (bronze bronzer/highlighter) and Cindy Lou (pink toned highlighter). Of course, Mary Lou (right) is used by EVERYONE - and for good reason. It is THE most gorgeous highlight I own, so highly pigmented that I only need to dip my brush lightly once into the pan in order to achieve a beautiful glow on my cheekbones and the center of my face.

On the left we have Cindy Lou - another gorgeous and highly pigmented highlight shade. Although, this is meant to be a highlighter, I do actually prefer to use this as a highlighting blush. In darker skin tones, this would be actually gorgeous as a stand alone highlight. As you can see in the picture, its a peachy pink shade, with a hint of shimmer. Its so beautiful as a blush, because it just has this glowing sheen - sort of like the Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso, but better!



And of course, who could go past any of TheBalm blushes - even choosing these three colours were incredibly difficult because they are all so beautiful. From left to right, I own The Instain Blush in Swiss Dot (a matte coral shade), FratBoy Blush (a light pink shade) and another Instain Blush in Pinstripe (a deep plum purple shade).

The Instain Blushes are incredible - if you couldn't tell from their name, they act as a staining powder! These are hugely pigmented, and even when swatching them, it's a mission to get it off my hands. Both Swiss Dot and Pinstripe are gorgeous shades, are super easy to blend and as I said, are amazingly long wearing. The middle blush, FratBoy, is another better known TheBalm product and its so easy to wear. The shade is spot on for everyday wear, and its so fine milled and easy to apply.



Another product is the What's Your Type Mascara in Tall Dark And Handsome (they also have another in the What's Your Type Mascara line called Body Builder). I love this mascara to really separate my lashes and lengthen them - the brush pretty much ensures that I have zero clumping. I haven't used this to too much, due to the fact that I have way too many mascaras open as it is, but the few times I have used it, I have been seriously impressed with how it applies.



And now for the last product I own - the BalmJovi Rockstar Face Palette! This comes with twelve eyeshadows, a highlight shade, a blush shade and two lip colours. And possibly one of the standout things about this palette for me is the shade - all the names are play on words of popular rock bands and song names! If you couldn't tell from the palettes name..

Below I have swatches of all of the shadows and lip colours in the palette - really they speak for themselves! All beautiful shades with fantastic pigmentation, and are so beautifully creamy and glide on like butter! This palette does lean more neutral (hey, I know what I like!), but it does include some shades that are a little out of the ordinary to give it some variety.


From left to right: Metal-Ica, Adaglo, Blink 1982, Iron Maid-In, Allegro & The Stroke


From left to right: Lead Zeppelin, Moderato, rem, Alice Copper, Presto & Third Eye Blinded


From left to right: Solid Gold (highlighter), Don't You Want Me? (blush), Milly & Vanilly (lip/cheek tints)

So you can definitely see how fantastic TheBalm products are! They are all just so easy to wear, so easy to blend and are simply some of the best quality products I own. Considering the price tag, you really get more bang for your buck than other brands you would be spending the money on. Another great thing about them is that they are really neither drugstore or high end cosmetic products - they are sold in some higher end stores, but the products themselves are really affordable.. Even in Australia!

You can find TheBalm products at David Jones stores and on their online store. You can also find them on their website, and online boutiques such as Skincare Cosmetics!

Thanks so much for reading! I'd love to hear your favourite products from TheBalm - let me know down below!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!


*some products featured in this were gifted for consideration, but all opinions are honest and my own :)

14 May 2014

brand focus: sukin natural skincare


Hey guys!

Months upon months ago, as one of my first ever posts for my blog, I shared with you my Current Everyday Skincare Routine. It hasn't changed a whole lot since then, but I am incorporating newer products into my routine on a regular basis. One brand that is slowly but surely overtaking my skincare routine is Sukin! This an all natural, organise skincare line that is 100% Australian made. It's sold at Priceline and other selected Australian stores.

If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that I adore this brand. Every time they are on sale at Priceline, I take advantage and pick up some new things to try. Sukin is so unbelievably affordable as well, and so completely good for you skin. Since picking up my first couple of products, I have definitely noticed my skin pick up and look better than it ever. I can only imagine what good they could do for someone who has problematic skin.

For today's post, I thought that I would give you a quick run down on each of the products that I currently own, how I use them and what they do for my skin. I use the majority of these products on a daily basis, and feel like I know how they have improved my skin over the time that I have used them. If you're on the fence about trying Sukin, this may finally help you to decide whether or not to take the plunge.



This is the product that started my love affair with Sukin products. I read in an article somewhere that Miranda Kerr uses this to make her skin more glowy and radiant - and who doesn't want skin like Miranda Kerr? I adore adore adore this oil! It's so great for an extra hit of hydration, and after letting this soak into my skin overnight, I wake up with my skin feeling so plump and nourished. Plus, my skin looks glowing and radiant! Rose Hip Oil is not only amazing for providing your skin with extra moisture, but it also helps in reducing scarring on your face. I use this at night about half an hour before going in with my eye cream and night moisturiser, and I would 100% recommend this for anyone, but especially if you have drier skin, or skin that is prone to acne scarring.



Before actually telling you what this stuff does, can I just tell you it smells amazing! So clean and fresh, with a hint of floral. This cream is so good on my skin. The fact that I have used it over and over for close to a month now, and it's still pretty much completely full, speaks for itself. It's full of antioxidants that promote the restoration of healthy skin cells, and let me tell you, this is the lightest feeling night moisturiser I have ever used. It sinks in almost immediately, and there is no greasiness which is what has turned me off other night creams in the past. But, it definitely does some heavy moisturising considering how light it feels. Again, another hugely recommended product!



I haven't used this too often so I can't speak about it too much - it will be my new replacement for my current foam cleanser once it runs out. However, the times that I have used it, my skin has felt so completely refreshed and clear. Considering this is infused with green tea, chamomile, cucumber and avocado oil, I can definitely see how this cleansing gel would work well for cooling and keeping your skin feeling refreshed!



I use this as my night eye cream, and like other moisturisers, this is so incredibly moisturising. I love how this is so light and absorbs so quickly into my eye area, and it keeps my eyes from getting any dry patchy skin. I am someone who's eyes water constantly (especially when I sleep), and before using eye creams in my daily routine, they were the place that I always got dry skin, mostly on my lids. I love this because it is made to repair the skin cells around your eye area, which is why I don't get dry skin there anymore. Love love love - I've used this for about 3 months now, and it is not even under the cap yet. Talk about value for money!



This is my new go to mask. I use it maybe 1-2 times a week, and I love how easy it is to apply! You wet your face first, and then put this mask on top for about 15 minutes, and wash it off. My skin feels so CLEAN! And I don't have big pores by any sense of the word, but I swear this reduces the ones I do have which is amazing! This is a combination of kaolin clay, aloe vera and rose hip oil, and seriously guys, this is just such great value for money. I used to be stuck on my Lush Mask of Magnaminty (which I still like), but this is slowly overtaking my use of that mask. I know this is available at Priceline (I brought mine from there), but for some reason it isn't available online. The link takes you through to another online store, so if you want to try it, you can go through to the link above or go in store to buy this baby!

That's it for today's post! It's definitely not a secret that I love Sukin, and I'll definitely be trying more of their products in the future. Do you have any recommendations for me?

Until next time...

xxxx

*Just a quick side note - Per my disclaimer, I alert my readers to any products that have been sent to me to try. These have all be brought with my hard earned money, and I am in no way affiliated with the brand in question*

in between blogging, you can find me here!