would you rather? beauty blogger tag!

Hey guys!

For my last post this week,  I thought that I would do something fun and simple! My blogger BFF Dani from laceandlovexo tagged me in this Would You Rather - Beauty Blogger edition tag! If you haven't seen her blog or followed her yet, you need to go and do that! Her blog is amazing and she is super funny and kind!

Without further adieu, here is the tag!

1. Would you rather be able to apply eyeliner perfectly or be able to contour like Kim Kardashian?

Oh, Kim K contouring for sure - I don't really have prominent cheekbones, so I have to work extra hard to really make it look like I do. Kim's is always on point - if I had that skill, guuuuuurl I would be unstoppable!

2. Would you rather wear foundation which is two shades lighter or two shades darker?

Two shades lighter - I can always overload on bronzer and make it look like it matches!

3. Would you rather wear no lipstick ever again or no eyeliner ever again?

Uuuum thats hard - probably eyeliner, it's not something that I use everyday anyway. Whereas, my lipstick collection is something I can't live without!

4. Would you rather give up your foundation or your mascara?

Neither - I don't like this question, these are two of my essential items!

5. Would you rather apply your makeup yourself with no mirror whilst on a bumpy car journey or ask a 5 year old child to do it?

By myself for sure! I could do a better job than asking a poor five year old child to do it - and it would turn out at least half decent!

6. Would you rather wear exactly the same makeup every single day for the rest of your life or drastically change your makeup every single day for the rest of your life (even if it doesn’t suit you!)?

Same makeup every single day - my everyday makeup doesn't change the majority of the time anyway!

7. Would rather have dodgy brows or have patchy fake tan?

It's actually funny reading this question and realising how much I have changed over the past year or so. If you had asked me then, I would have said dodgy brows for sure - I was never too bothered with them, they were way too thin and I never really groomed then aside from going to the beautician every now and again. But now, I do them myself and they look so much better, and I've realised how much filling them in and shaping them can really change my look and pull it all together, so I would have to choose patchy fake tan.. I can always cover that up!

8. Would you rather have perfectly white teeth or have your perfect hairstyle?

Perfect teeth for sure - my teeth are already far from perfect. I've had braces so they are nice and straight, but they're yellow now because of having braces and also because I drink alot of tea and coffee. I would love to have them whitened professionally, but it costs alot of money.. Whereas my hair can always be done quickly!

9. Would you rather wear the same colour nail varnish for the rest of your life or be able to change the colours of your varnish whenever you like but it’s always a little bit smudged?

Different colours - how boring to have just one colour! My nails are always a little smudged anyway.. I forget that they are wet and just go about my days all the time anyway. Too many things to do, not enough time to wait!

10. Would you rather have lots of scented body and perfume products that smell 
amazing to you but to everyone else you smell like pine tree car air freshener or have products that smell average to you but smell incredible to those around you?

Smell amazing to me! You think I wear perfume to impress everyone else? Wearing a nice perfume gives me comfort, and I love picking scents I love regardless of what everyone else thinks. Plus, a pine tree car air freshener isn't that bad! Could be worse.

Thanks so much for reading, and thanks to Dani for tagging me! This was so fun to do and I really had to think about my answers haha - I love doing tags, it's an easy way for you guys to get to know me around all of the other beauty related posts that come up here on my blog!

Next, I tag Allie from Wild Glossy! She's a newer blogger, but her posts are already great as well as her series names. I also tag all of you to do this as well! Make sure to leave your posts below if you do do this tag so that I can read it :)

Until next time dolls....

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

top five thursday: highlighter edition

Hey guys!

Its Top Five Thursday again! This time, I have chosen to do my top five highlighters. Typically, on an everyday basis anyway, I don't actually wear a powder highlighter. This is because I wear a dewy finish foundation on most days, so I don't usually need to add a highlight to give me that dewy glow that I need.

Lately though, I have been loving adding a liquid highlighter to my foundation to really make my base all radiant and glowly. It just gives that added boost I feel, especially when I may be feeling a little worse for wear. Because I am a full time university student, who also works part time and spends any spare time doing assignments or blog posts, my skin has been feeling a little tired and dreary of late. But, with a highlighter who needs to know that underneath that glowing, radiant complexion is a pale face with eye bags. Am I right?

Read on to see all about my top five highlighters!

Products pictured l-r: MAC Cosmetics Archie's Girls Pearlmatte Face Powder in Flatter Me, TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Revlon Photoready Skinlights in 001 Bare Light, TheBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer, MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter

1. MAC Cosmetics Limited Edition Archie's Girls Pearlmatte Face Powder in Flatter Me

This is an amazing powder! Honestly, I was more excited for this collection than any other from MAC because I loved Archie comics as a kid. I brought most of the collection, but the hidden gems were these Pearlmatte face powders! Honestly, the other powder 'Veronicas Blush' is more of a highlighter, but this one is just so beautiful. Its a bronze pink shade, with coral pink hearts. I love to swirl them all together, and use it as a blush especially in summer. It gives such a lovely sheen to my skin, so it almost doubles as both a blush and a highlighter for me. But for darker skin tones, I can imagine this could work as a highlighter. This was limited edition, so unfortunately is not available in stores anymore. You can check makeup exchange sites or Ebay even if you would like to take the risk.

2. TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

A cult favourite highlighter, this is definitely my go-to powder highlighter. It's a beautiful honey hued champagne shimmer colour, and it just works so well with my skin tone. You do have to be careful when using it though, as it can turn you into a disco ball very quickly. I put this lightly onto the tops of my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose and my cupids bow, and then with whatever is left on my brush I dust lightly onto my chin and the centre of my forehead. This retails for $34.95AU at David Jones stores, but you can also find it at select boutique online stores as well. 

3. Revlon Photoready Skinlights in 001 Bare Light

I got this in my Priceline 40% Off Cosmetics haul, and also featured it in my March Beauty Favourites. I adore this, I know use it pretty much everyday in order to get that boost of radiance and glow. It is just gives such a subtle glow. I wouldn't say you could use this by itself to achieve a highlighted look - it just wouldn't show up with you were to put it along the tops of your cheekbones and the length of your nose. But, it is perfect for mxing with whatever you are using as your base for the day just to give a radiance boost to your overall appearance. This retails for $29.95AU at Priceline stores, but I did get this on sale of $17.95AU.

4. TheBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer

This is the newer addition to the TheBalms range of highlighters, and it is a pink toned highlighter. And it is beautiful! In the summer time, this could probably be used as a highlight for tanned skin, but for my fair skintone I have been using it as a blush, just to get that sheen on my cheeks. It really makes my skin look so healthy! I would say its just gives that flushed look to my skin, without going overboard. In my opinion, it's similar to the colour and effect you get when you use Milani's Baked Blush in Luminoso, but with even more pigment This actually hasn't been released into the Australian market yet, but once it does, I assume it will be the same price as the Mary-Lou Manizer ($34.95AU). If you really cannot wait, you can search select online boutiques that stock TheBalm, I'm sure they would have it!

5. MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter

This is the best option for those on a budget. It is a pink toned highlight, and you just need to touch your brush into the pan to get the shimmer onto your cheeks. When put onto your skin, it has a subtle baby pink glow with lots of shimmer. And again, with the Mary-Lou Manizer, this really goes the longest way. I have had the highlighter for FOREVER and have barely made a dent in it. I can't recommend MUA products enough - they are seriously so affordable and such good quality for the price you pay. This retails for about $5AU, and is available to buy here.

Swatches for l-r: MAC Cosmetics Archie's Girls Pearlmatte Face Powder in Flatter Me, TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Revlon Photoready Skinlights in 001 Bare Light, TheBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer, MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter

So there you have it! Probably my most favourite highlighters would have to be both the Revlon Skinlights and TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, just because they are so versatile, especially Mary-Lou. But, I have used all of these highlighters on a frequent basis for some time now, so you can trust that I really do love all of them ;)

What are some of your favourite highlighters? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time...

xxxx

Click here to read last weeks edition of Top Five Thursday!

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

lorac pro palette tutorial: summer bronze eyes

Hey guys!

Yesterday I did a first impression of the Lorac Pro Palette (click here to read  the first impression, plus all about the palette and shades!), and today I will be doing a quick tutorial for you! I was inspired by the shades Lt Bronze and Garnet, and really wanted to create a simple summer appropriate look for you guys!

The shades are amazing, and they all apply like butter! The pigmentation is unbelievable, and the fallout is minimal. This was my first time actually using the palette and I am so so so impressed. If I thought that others needed it before, I am now completely 100% sure you need this in your life. Especially if you are a fan of neutral shades that have a bit of a kick.

If you want to see how to get the above eye look, keep reading!

The first thing I did was dip into Lt Bronze. I applied this on a flat shader brush all over my lip, packing the majority of the colour on the inner third and dragging whatever was left onto the last half of my lid.

After this, I took the colour Garnet (which I am in total love with, by the way), and packed this onto the last third of my eye where I just lightly put Lt Bronze. I went over this a couple of times, just to make the colour more intense, and I just used a patting motion rather than a swiping motion to really get the colour to build up.

Once I had got the colour to the intensity I wanted, I took the matte colour Sable and blended this through my crease and a little on my outer v. The reason I chose this above the other matte browns in the palette was because it was a very warmed toned reddish brown - I felt this really complimented the Garnet shade. After this, I took a clean blending brush with no product on it and blended the edges of the eyeshadow.

I then finished the rest of my makeup. Once I had finished, I dipped into Lt Bronze again and packed it more intensely on the inner third of my eye.

I then took a pencil brush and went back into Sable. I blended this out along my lower lash line, stopping just before the inner corner. I then also took the Garnet shade again and pressed it a little over where I just put Sable. I then put Lt Bronze on the inner corner and dragged a little more along my the inner part of my lower lash line. I then highlighted my brow bone with the matte shade White.

I then took a kohl liner and did a thin line on my upper lash line. After doing this to both eyes, I went in with the shade Black and smudged that liner out a little bit. I then added a nude eyeliner to my bottom water line and some mascara to my upper and lower lashes.

And this is the finished look!

I paired this with bronzer around the perimeters of my face, and a rose gold blush. I didn't contour as I felt it would be too dramatic for this look. I also used a coral orange lipstick and gold toned highlighter to finish off the look. I love how it turned out, and I'm kicking myself that I only got this palette now! We're a month into Autumn now, but I will be loving this for spring and summer later in the year!

If you would like me to do more looks with this palette please let me know!

Products used in this look:

Bourjois Happy Light Primer

Bourjois CC Cream in 32 Light Beige

Revlon Photoready Skinlights in 001 Bare Light

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Fair

Revlon Colourstay Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Light

Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soliel Bronzer

Benefit Rockateur Blush

TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter

Lorac Pro Palette - White, Sable, Black, Lt Bronze & Black

Rimmel Kajal Khol Eyeliner in Black

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Nude

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara in Black

MAC Lipstick in Ravishing

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

first impression: lorac pro palette

Hey guys!

I think we can all appreciate a beautiful eyeshadow palette. To be honest, I am someone who doesn't wear eyeshadow all that often - I am usually strictly a natural eye look girl. Sometimes, I add some smudged brown eyeliner to my lash line to make my eyes look bigger, but that's all I do on an everyday basis.

As such, up until recently, I've only owned a handful of palettes - of course the Naked palettes, a couple of MUA ones and the Too Faced Natural Eye. But, I've started getting more into buying eyeshadow palettes and am enjoying the variety I now have! My collection of palettes is steadily growing and I am loving it.

One palette that has ALWAYS been on my list is the Lorac Pro Palette. I featured this yesterday in my Ulta haul, and mentioned how I have been trying to find it forever. I didn't want to purchase it online because, to be frank, there are a ton of fakes out there. If I'm going to pay the money, I want to be sure it is real! So, when I made my Ulta order I knew that this had to be a part of it.

I thought I would do a first impression of this for you guys! I asked on my Instagram if you would rather see this or the Stila In The Light palette, and Lorac won by a landslide. Especially as this palette is basically non-accesible to us Aussies (the only way to get it is through a shipping service from their website or Ulta), we want to see if it's worth the money buying it. So here it is ladies!

Read on to see what I think of the palette and the shades itself!

As I said in my previous post, I was surprised by how thin this palette was. I don't know what I expected, but this is not even a centimetre tall. The packaging itself is a matte black, with silver writing. The lighting in my pictures throws that off a bit, but it actually is silver not the beige colour that is shown in the above photos. But it is a long palette, with a big mirror and it holds some of the most beautiful shades I have laid my eyes upon. 

The palette holds eight matte shades and eight shimmer shades. Of course this is a neutral palette, but it has enough variety that you can create a ton of different looks with this palette. From browns, to champagnes, to reds, purples and pinks, this could be used for everyday or for night looks.

When swatching the shadows themselves, I have to say I am impressed! They go on like butter, and for the most part opaque in one swipe, and I only noticed major fallout on one shade. The colours all tie in so nicely together, and I love how inspired I am by this palette. Naked 1 will always have my heart, but this could definitely share a piece of it!

The top row holds all the matte shades. The colours are:

White: A standard white shade - there is really no other way to describe it!

Cream: A beige shade, almost a skin tone shade

Taupe: A mid toned brown, can see this being a great transition shade

Lt. Pink: A baby pink shade

Mauve: A purplely brown shade - reminds me on Nooner from the Naked 3 palette

Sable: A deeper, warm toned brown shade

Espresso: Another dark brown shade, just a shade darker than Sable and cooler toned. This was the only shade that I noticed fall out.

Black: Standard black shade - excited about this! My only other matte black was in my Naked Basics palette, and it shattered everywhere on my US trip :(

The bottom row contains all of the shimmer shades. The colours are:

Nude: A lovely shimmer lid shade - can see this being perfect for the lid!

Champagne: The name says it all really. A standard champagne shade.

Gold: A standard gold shade, extremely pigmented

Lt. Bronze: I love this shade! It's a light bronze, which I think is different from the usual shades that are really bronze normally.

Pewter: A mauve purple, so pretty and pigmented!

Garnet: A dusty red colour. This looks be what I wanted Amaretto in the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette to be like! Excited to use this!

Deep Purple: The brightness in the photo washes it out a bit, but this looks to be promising! It's a lovely dark purple, and the shimmer is very subtle!

Slate: A metal grey that is similar to Gunmetal in the Urban Decay Naked palette.

I am seriously so happy I made this purchase! This is just one of those palettes you need in your life, and if you are someone who really only uses one palette this is one for you. It can easily be dressed up or down, and it can be the PERFECT travel palette! I cannot see these shadows shattering or anything awful like that.

I would highly recommend that you pick this palette up - either go to the States and pick up a couple to bring home, or order it online with a shipping service. Yes, the shipping is horrendous, but this is worth its weight in gold.

Remember to keep an eye out for tomorrows post - it will feature this palette ;)

Until next time..

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner