july/august favourites

Hey guys!

So I slipped up, and forgot to post my July Favourites. Actually, I was just way too busy working to actually sit down and go through the products I had been loving, but I kept track of everything so that I could do this jam-packed favourites post for you!

I have been loving SO much over July and August, I actually had to cull the list down to what I really really loved - otherwise this post would have been a newspaper. As it stands it's still bloody long, so grab a snack and a cuppa, and read on to see what I have been REALLY loving throughout these two months.

MAKE UP

1. MAC Strobe Cream

I will cry when this runs out. Its my new favourite primer. Luckily, my friend Kirsty from Lipstick Addict was kind enough to pick me up some MAC goodies on her recent trip to Hawaii, and this was one of the first on my list. This is super similar to the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer, except thicker, creamier and just overall better. Despite the price difference, I would 100% buy this over the L'Oreal one anytime. It's super moisturising and just gives this gorgeous subtle metallic glow all over my face - definitely will repurchase when I run out.

2. Maybelline Better Skin Foundation

I won't harp on too much about this product as I have a review here, but I love almost everything about this foundation. The only thing I really really don't like is the colour range (its unfortunately a bit oompa loompa-ish), but everything else is so on point its ridiculous. I recommend the heck out of it, especially for normal to dry skin.

3. Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream

Another super huge favourite, I have been using this pretty much everyday under my foundation to balance out my complexion before going in with my foundation. This is the lighter of the Lioele BB Creams - there is also one called Triple the Solution which is apparently amazing for problematic skin. This is just perfect for me and my skin type, and I'll continue to use it 'til I run out.

4. Lush Feeling Younger Skin Tint

This is actually super similar to Strobe Cream, but even more light reflective. After my primer, I've been placing a teeny amount of this (it's super pigmented!) on the high points of my face, in particular my cheekbones, and then going over it with my foundation. It's so pretty and easy to use, and it gives a subtle luminous to my face without having to go in with a million powder products to achieve that look. This is a super great product as well, because you can use it mixed in with your primer or foundation, or even just as a primer itself.

5. BareMinerals Well Rested Concealer Powder

Where has this product been all my life? Seriously? I am so stunned that I haven't been thrown into purchasing this earlier. This is the most amazing undereye powder ever - its brightening, and it even has a little bit of a tint to it which really helps conceal my undereye circles. I can't recommend this enough, I may even love it enough for it to be at holy grail status.

6. L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation

Rediscovered this foundation as well! I adored this back in the day, it was a huge favourite - I even own four bottles to match me at all stages of my tan. Its just a great everyday foundation, it has a beautiful healthy, dewy finish and a light-medium coverage. Dry to normal skin types, definitely try this out (I have a review here if you want to read more!).

7. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Give Me Sun

Just another bronzer to add to the collection. I love the MAC MSFs, they're amazing and I love this because its goes on like butter - its so easy to blend out for a sunkissed glow, plus the powder of the MSFs is so finely milled that it actually looks so natural. J'adore!

8. Lip Liner - NYX Mauve, MAC Whirl & Chi Chi It Girl

Yes, I have finally jumped on the lip liner bandwagon and I have been using these three alot for these two months. These are all relatively natural lip liners, so its nothing out there and I have slowly been working to slightly over line my lips. These are fantastic shades and formulas, and I would recommend them all! Watch this space as I get into a lip liner fanatic.

SKINCARE

9. Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Booster Serum

Again, I won't harp on about how much I love this because I have a review on the whole range here. But I love this serum, its super hydrating and just makes my skin feel like a million baby butts.

10. Puretopia Skin Radiance Gel Masque

OMG I LOVE THIS MASK SOOOOOO MUCH. Dead serious, I've been using it once a week and it gives my skin some extra life on top of my moisturisers. It is a gel masque, amd it promises dewier, more luminous skin - which I can totally vouch for. If you have normal/dry skin (maybe more on the normal side), I really really recommend you try this!

11. Trilogy Antioxidant+ Rosehip Oil

I used to be completely loyal to the Sukin Rosehip Oil, which is still honestly something I would recommend, but this is BETTER. I have minimal scarring from pimples, because I can't help myself and pop them all as soon as it appears, and this along with my Racinne Cleansing Brush has honestly helped to minimise those scars. Deadset, this is a little more expensive than Sukin, but I would choose this over their branded Rosehip Oil. Sorry, Sukin, I still love you!!

12. Dr Lewinn's Hydrating Cleanser

Sweet mother of Jesus, this stuff is magic in a bottle. Its a cream cleanser, so I put a little on a cotton round morning AND night, and I rub it all over my face - and it cleans and hydrates my face! Because of Winter being such a bitch to my skin, I have been loving almost over hydrating my skin, especially as night, and this really starts that process off on the right foot.

OTHER FAVESSSS

13. Prada Candy Perfume

I adore this scent so much - it smells like lollies, but like the adult version of lollies. Very sophisticated and dignified, I just feel so elegant wearing it. Not to mention its Prada, so I just feel extra special when I put it on. Only problem is that I am severely allergic to it, so I can't wear it on my skin because I break out in hives - so all my clothes basically smell amazing.

14. Hurraw Lip Balm

I've been trying to preserve my stash of Chapstick Cake Batter Lip Balms, so I started back on my Hurraw Lip Balms. This is in the flavour Green Tea, and its awesome - I remember why I loved them so much now! They are all organic ingredients, and vegan, so there is nothing bad in there for my dry chapped little lips. I 100% recommend these, they're only like $4 and they have really amazing customer service (I have a review here) plus their flavours are different and unique - get on it!

15. Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush in Copper

How beautiful is this brush?! I was lucky enough to be sent this from this amazing website MYQTY (as well as giving five away to some lucky Australians) and it is the most luxurious brush I have ever seen or used. I was a sworn Beauty Blender user until this brush came on the scene, and I've been using it ever since. I really recommend MYQTY, they have amazing service, are Australian based and have some higher end brands that we can't get here in Australia. I'll be featuring one such product here on the blog tomorrow, so stay tuned....

16. Revitanail Nail Strengthener

Ugh, my nails have been so feral lately. Like bad enough that I've been cropping them out of photos, and hiding them from the world. Because I've been working so much, my nails have just been destroyed. I'm a klutz so I manage to break them on anything I touch, plus I also have to wash my hands constantly so that doesn't help them at all. I've been putting this stuff on my nails one a week for about a month now, and I'm happy to report that my nails are making a sweet as comeback!

Thats it for my July/August Faves! If you managed to make it through this, I applaud you because its long as anything. But I've just loved so much over this past two months that it was really difficult to cull anything! Ya know how it is; #makeupjunkie! Let me know some of your favourite products from August in the comments down below!

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!

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!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

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

mini review: benefit's they're real mascara

Hey guys!

Today's post will be a quick review on a much coveted mascara within the beauty community. Everyone raves about this mascara on blogs and Youtube alike, and even its high price tag won't stop most people (i.e. me) from giving it a try.

Of course it's the Benefit They're Real mascara!

I had high hopes for this mascara, I'll admit it - I had read and watched reviews upon reviews before actually making my mind up to buy this. Honestly, I had not seen one bad review, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. Read on to see what my thoughts are now after trailing this for a couple of months.

Being a higher end brand, the price tag on this baby is quite high. But, given that it retails in Australia for $38, it honestly isn't as hefty as other high end brands. Our drugstore mascaras usually retail for about $25-30AU, and seeing as this is only $5-8AU more expensive, I don't think that the price for this is too unreasonable. Still, I did wait until I went overseas to buy this because it is only $23USD. I did have the option to purchase a sample size at $10USD, but when in Rome..

From the Benefit website, this mascara claims to:

"... lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts & separates. Our jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had!"

So... What do I think?

I may be the first person to say this but.. I have such a love/hate relationship with this mascara. I really really wanted it to work - so many bloggers and youtubers claim this to be their ride or die. I, unfortunately, think differently. Is it a bad mascara? No, not at all. Is it a great mascara? Ehhh.. Well, its definitely not a bad mascara. It does what a mascara is supposed to do - namely coat your lashes and make them look more defined. But is it worthy of all the praise it receives? Not in my opinion. 

First of all, its a plastic brush. I am a known bristle brush lover, but that hasn't stopped me from adoring a select few mascaras with plastic brushes. Most people claim that this mascara is what converted them to a plastic wand, but to me its just a standard brush nothing too special. Oh, except the spiky ball on the end. That was genius on Benefit's part. It has never been so easy to get the lashes situated in the inner part of my eye, and also the outer lashes. It's my favourite thing about this mascara.

Close up of the mascara wand

The other thing about this mascara is that its that dreaded wet formula. If you don't know how I feel about wet formulas, I will tell you now. Basically, most wet formulas just clump my lashes and make them so spidery. I have to work twice as hard to get my lashes to separate and gain more volume. I am someone who prefers my lashes to look full and voluminous, and a bristle wand with a dry formula really helps me to achieve this. Unfortunately, this is a problem that I have with this mascara.

Here are some pictures with the mascara applied to my lashes:

One coat of the Benefit's They're Real mascara

Two coats of the Benefit's They're Real mascara

As you can see in the first photo, my lashes are quite thin and spidery. As much as it has coated, curled and lifted my lashes up, there is really no volume or lusciousness to them. And then the second photo, you can really see how clumped they can become. This is after trying to work with the mascara for 2+ minutes..

I don't love or hate this mascara in all honesty - I wouldn't say its a favourite, nor one that I would consider throwing out. There are days where it does work perfectly - where it really does all it claims to. But unfortunately those days are few and far between. I just wish I had had the sense to buy the sample size before purchasing the full size, but hey. At least it is one more mascara to have. But, so many other people have had a great experience with this mascara so I wouldn't let this review stop you from giving it a go - just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for you! It is quite possible that I was just the unlucky person who got the dud bottle.

Do you own this mascara? What are your thoughts on it?

Until next time...

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

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*