review: too faced natural eye palette

Hey guys!

It feels like forever since I have actually sat down to do a blog post for you guys! Usually, I do five posts a weeks Monday to Friday, but unfortunately due to university, work and internship commitments, I have little time to photograph and write posts which sucks because I do really miss it. But, until I have more time, I will be sticking to three posts a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday! This is just because I would rather give you guys three great posts rather than five mediocre ones. Of course, I am nearly always available on my social media networks, which are always linked below at the end of my posts :)

So todays post will be a review on one of my all time favourite palettes. Some of you will know from my earlier posts that I am generally a neutral eye girl - I don't think I wear eyeshadow enough to warrant having one with crazy colours! This is, alongside of my Urban Decay Naked 1, my most used palette. It is just simply perfect for everyday, and is appropriately packaged for travelling as well!

Read on to see swatches and my thoughts on the shades!

I won't lie - I adore all things Too Faced. They are 100% one of my all time favourite brands, and I think they are reasonably priced for a high end brand. They are great quality, and you also get a decent amount of product considering the price you pay. This palette is no different!

Like the majority of their other palettes, it comes with these three cards that give you different ideas for an eye look incorporating the palette. These are great, especially if you are a beginner and are not sure what colours should go with which. 

The shades themselves!

How beautiful do they look.. So gorgeous, you can tell its a neutral eye palette but it also has a little bit of a twist with the shimmery pinks and gold. It's a mix of mattes and shimmers, with the palette focusing on the shimmers this time. The majority of them are opaque and pigmented, but I have to say I was disapointed in one particular shade with how it applied. But aside from that, I am impressed and nearly all shades apply like butter!

And here are the swatches!

First column:

Heaven: A matte white highlight shade. This does take a couple of swipes to build up the colour

Silk Teddy: A shimmery light pink, another highlight colour. Very subtle!

Nude Beach: Seems to be a light pink with pink and silver glitters. I'm a bit disappointed in this shade, as it really only swatches glitter and it fallout goes everywhere!

Middle column:

Velvet Revolver: A very cool toned matte brown, so cool that it's almost grey - a great transition shade

Push Up: A dusty pink shimmery shade

Honey Pot: A gold shimmery shade. This shade and Push Up go on like butter!

Last column:

Sexpresso: A dark cool toned matte brown shade

Erotica: A dark brown shade with gold shimmers

Cocoa Puff: A warmer brown shade with subtle shimmers

I've said it before and I'll say it again - how freakin' amazing is Too Faced! If you are just beginning your makeup journey, this would be your perfect palette. Yes it costs a little more, but its easy to travel with (it's virtually unbreakable), plus it has no scary shades and can be used everyday.

I'm not 100% sure if this version of the palette is still readily available - Too Faced actually re-released this palette this year, and replaced Nude Beach, Velvet Revolver and Cocoa Puff with new different shades. The new shades are still pretty much identical to the ones in this palette though, so I'm not sure of the reasoning behind changing them.

Unfortunately, I can't find it online at the usual Australian stockists (it's temporarily unavailable), and I assume that's because this new version will soon be arriving and taking its place. You can find Too Faced cosmetics here at this website www.kitcosmetics.com.au , and they should hopefully have this palette in stock soon. Their palettes usually range from $50-60AU.

Have you tried this palette? What are your thoughts?

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

review: l'oreal true match lumi foundation

Hey guys!

I have wanted to do a review on this foundation since I started my blog! It is one of my faaaaavourite foundations (can you tell? I literally own four bottles), but I wanted to wait until I was able to purchase the foundation in my current correct shade. I got this here in my Ulta Haul. Unfortunately, because I know self tan, my skin tone is always all over the place. Because I am fair, naturally I have a pink undertone, and when I tan naturally I retain that pink undertone. BUT, when I self tan, my undertone becomes yellow. I know, it's getting hard to keep up.

I heard about this foundation through Jaclyn Hill first. Of course, I knew I needed it. Her recommendations are always spot on, and being the foundation junkie that I am, I immediately went out and purchased a bottle. I adored it as soon as I put it on!

Most people will know the original True Match formula, which is also a favourite of mine. The original True Match is a very full, flawless coverage that covers virtually anything. True Match Lumi is its younger sister, with a light medium coverage. It has light relfecting technology to make your skin look radiant and glowing, which is why I love it because I really prefer dewier finish foundations.

Below, I have photos of my skin without the foundation and then after once the foundation has been put on. You'll notice that it really isn't a full coverage, you can still see all my freckles and any blemishes that I have. But, this makes it perfect for everyday because it doesn't suffocate your face at all.

Before foundation - only wearing the Garnier Perfect Blur as a primer.

After foundation - one layer of the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation in W3

You can see it isn't full coverage - but that's honestly why I love it! It is so perfect for everyday, and I'm so glad that I finally have it in my correct shade so that I can wear it more often. The other thing is that it can sheered down or build up - much like the original formula! Overall, I love it and if you like dewier finish foundations then I would definitely recommend you give this a try!

As I said, I did buy the latest bottle from Ulta using a shipping service for $12.99US. In Australia, this retails for about $33.95AU in most drugstore like Priceline.

Do you own this foundation? Do you love it as much as I do?

Until next time....

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

what's in my travel beauty bag?

Hey guys!

Happy Easter to you all! I hope the Easter bunny is good to all of you, especially all you big kids out there, and that your long weekend is full of chocolate comas!

Today, I am going away for Easter (yay!). I leave today, and I'll be coming back on Easter Monday. I thought that given I was going away, and have to pack anyway, it would be a good idea to show you guys what I generally pack in regards to beauty. Given that I am only going to be away for four days, I am packing as light as I can because I may not even necessarily wear makeup while I'm away. But I still want to pack the essentials (and maybe a little more) in the event that I do decide that I don't want to scare people when I leave the hotel.

Read on to see what I packed for this trip!

I always use these two bags to pack my skincare and makeup products. I use the left for my makeup, because it has two sections that zip up and it makes the items quite secure inside the bag. The right bag is for my skincare products, as it is quite deep and my skincare products don't require a lot of tight packing as they're not as delicate as my cosmetics.

This is what I am packing for my skincare routine. Actually, I'm packing everything because I want to make sure my skin stays the best it can be, especially as I have been having trouble with it since my Clarisonic broke (waaaaaaah). If you would like to see an updated Skincare routine, let me know in the comments! I have written a post here, but it has changed a little since then.

These are the products that I am packing to use on my face. I'm packing a primer, BB cream and a foundation, amongst others. I realise that it is only four days, but I like to have options. Plus the BB cream is too light for me, and the foundation is really lightweight. I'm not packing anything with heavier coverage as I really doubt I will need it. These will be perfect if I need a sheer coverage, or if I want to build it up for this little holiday.

And this is what I'm packing for my eyes. I'm not packing any eyeshadow, because I honestly don't wear it on a regular basis (plus, the last time I travelled, I took my Naked Basics palette and the black shadow shattered all over the other colours in palette, rendering it basically unuseable :( ), but I am packing a brown eyeliner so I can amp up a look if need be. I'm also packing two mascaras, one for lengthening and one for volume (because I want some choice), and my brow pencil because that is so essential in my routine.

And lastly, this is what lip products I am packing. Apart from lip balm, of course. I know I did a post yesterday all about my top Autumn lip colours, but really I do prefer nudes and pinks, and I don't want to pack anything I know I'm not going to use! Plus, I am heading somewhere where warmer than Sydney :) I decided to take one nude, a light pink and a deeper pink so that I have a little variety that is still going to be within my comfort zone.

What are some of your beauty essentials when you travel? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a safe and happy Easter everyone - please stay safe over the long weekend and enjoy all the chocolate you can eat!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

top five thursday: autumn/fall lipstick

Hey guys!

Todays quick edition of Top Five Thursday will be all about the lip colours that I will be turning too in Autumn (or Fall if you're on the other side of the world). The weather has finally started to cool down now, so it is finally appropriate to stop wearing all my peaches and corals, and wander into the wine, berries and purples territory.

I love these colours, especially as they are bold without being too bold. Because of the weather really cooling down, these are so appropriate for the weather! Autumn and Winter scream for more indulgent colours, and although I usually shy away from colours like this, I am feeling the need to venture out of my comfort zome and bring out my inner vamp!

Read on to see what colours I chose!

Lipsticks pictured (l-r): MAC's Plumful, Sportsgirl's Love Bite, MAC's Rebel, Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Shameless, Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Sultry

1. MAC Lipstick in Plumful

I spoke about this lipstick in here in My Top MAC Lipsticks, so if you would like to read a more indepth review on the lipstick, click the link. Basically, this is a perfect everyday Autumn Lip colour! It is a darker version of MAC's Syrup, which is my perfect MLBB. The colour is a darker pink with a tinge of purple. The fact that it is a Lustre finish as well makes it super easy to wear, as it it moisturising and sheer on the lips. Unfortunately. that means it doesn't last as long as some others, but its not a huge deal to whip out a mirror and reapply. This retails for $36AU at either a MAC counter or their online store.

2. Sportsgirl Lipstick in Love Bite

This is a more recent purchase of mine, but I already love it! It is a perfect deeper raspberry, and it literally goes with everything. Another great thing about this lipstick is that once it actually wears off, it stains your lips the exact same colour! I would say its a satin finish on the lips, and definitely opaque! Aaah, its so beautiful and so inexpensive when you consider the quality of the product. These are available in Australia at any Sportsgirl store, or internationally online, for $9.95AU.

3. MAC's Lipstick in Rebel

Again, I spoke about this here if you would like to read a more indepth review on it. This is a cult favourite from MAC, and it is so so perfect. I always turn to this when I want a bold lip that isn't too bold. Its a gorgeous deeper purple berry. Its a satin finish, so it doesn't look flat or unnatural on your lips. This is a perfect colour honestly, and if you are someone who loves berries, this is a colour you need in your life. It retails for $36AU at any MAC counter or their online store.

4. Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Shameless

I have to say, I was surprised by this colour! I wasn't expecting to love it at all, thinking that it was way too dark and vampy. I was totally and completely wrong, and so happy that I was. I assumed it wouldn't suit my colouring, as I usually steer clear of these colours, but honestly with a purple or neutral eye, this just amps up the look and adds that extra somethin' somethin'. I have a review on all of the Revlon Matte Balms here if you want to know my thoughts on them. These retail for about $17.95 in Priceline, and any other chemist or drugstore that sells Revlon.

5. Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Sultry

Again, this was a darkhorse for me! Swatching it, I assumed it wouldn't suit me at all. I noticed once I put it on my lips, the colour changes compared to the swatch. When I swatched it, the colour looks like a darker brown pink colour. But on the lips, this looks so gorgeous, almost a little burgundy. This goes perfect with nearly every look I create, especially with my Lorac Pro Palette! I have been wearing this nearly every day since I got it, and I adore it! Again, these retail for $17.95AU in Priceline, or any other drugstore that sells Revlon.

Swatches (l-r): MAC's Plumful, Sportsgirls Love Bite, MAC's Rebel, Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Shameless, Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Sultry

That's all for today's post! What colours will you be turning to this Autumn?

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