23 May 2014

review & swatches: savvy high shine & matte lip lacquers


Hey guys!

If you're in Australia, you would hopefully know about the brand Savvy that is available in Priceline. It is a super affordable brand, and although I can't speak for all of their products, their lip products are the bomb dot com. They have recently released new lip lacquers in both a shiny and matte formula, which I suppose are a cheaper alternative for the Australis Velourlips and the Chi Chi Creamy Liquid Lipsticks. Given that are only $7.99, I thought why not pick some up?

These come in about five colours each - a nude, pink, red, purple and mauve. I wasn't drawn in by all the colours though, especially the nude, as it was really quite dark and beige coloured. I ended up picking up two of the high shine formula and one matte shade.

I haven't worn these for very long, so unfortunately I can't give you guys an idea of wear time. However, when I swatch them on my arm and lips, they are super opaque and creamy.

I haven't worn these for very long, so unfortunately I can't give you guys an idea of wear time. However, when I swatch them on my arm and lips, they are super opaque and creamy. The high shine colours stay a little tacky, but stay beautifully creamy and glossy for as long as I wore them. The matte didn't ever dry completely matte, but then again I didn't wear it for as long as the high shine. The high shine colours are the definite stand outs for me!

Honestly, for $7.99 we have to be real - these are probably not going to be as good as those that are more expensive. In seeing that though, I haven't experienced any problems! I'm definitely loving the idea behind them, especially as there are so many more expensive versions now on the market (ahem, Too Faced Melted Lipsticks, I am looking at you) and these are definitely better than spending $25-30 for a lip lacquer.

I have swatches below for you guys to take a look! They are a little shoddy - sorry about that!


High Shine Lip Lacquer in On Set



Ultra Matte Lip Lacquer in Hollywood Baby


High Shine Lip Lacquer in Walk of Fame

All of these swatches are with one swipe! You can see how pigmented and creamy these are. Considering their price, I will take any cons about this product. The fact that are just so beautifully glossy and gorgeous, I can deal with any shoddy wear time. I'll just whip it out and reapply!

I can't find these on the Priceline website for some reason, which may mean they are limited edition or that no one has updated the Priceline website. They are relatively new, having been released about 2-3 weeks ago, so if they are limited edition, head to your local Priceline and swatch some for yourselves!

That's it for today's post loves! Also, there were only two blog posts this week - I had a huge week and didn't have the time to write as I normally would. Everything will return back to normal next week!

One more thing, remember that you only have two more days left to enter mine and Tarlie's giveaway! Click the link at the end of this post to find out more information.

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!














19 May 2014

review: benefit hello flawless oxygen wow foundation


Hey guys!

Last week, I had a relative go overseas. So of course, I asked if they could make a stop off at the local Sephora and pick up this baby for me. I have wanted to try this foundation forever, but it is so expensive here! I recieved a sample of this foundation in my Ulta Haul, and upon trying it knew that I should try the full size, as I had found my colour match. I personally just use samples to colour match, as I don't think that I can really test a foundation properly from a teeny tiny sample.

I posted my first impressions of this on my Instagram (link is at the end of every blog post, if you want to have a look), and thought that I would wear it for the rest of the week to give you guys a proper overview of the foundation and my thoughts on it. It is an expensive foundation, so this may help you decide if you want to try it or not!



This is what you get inside the packaging. The foundation holds 30mLs, which is pretty standard. It also comes with a small sample of their Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer, which I already own and love!



The bottle comes with a pump, which is awesome because its so much more hygenic! Plus, its easier to comtrol so there isn't as much product wastage. Also, I've noticed that as you use product, the bottom of foundations creeps up and up. I love this! Every foundation should have this! I'll definitely know when I need to repurchase.



Here is the consistency and coverage of the foundation! It's quite liquidy and definitely lightweight, which is great because it doesn't feel like you're wearing a heavy foundation. As you can see from the bottom photo, it definitely covers pretty well! You can only just see my veins peeking through. As for the finish of the foundation, some have said that it is extremely dewy. I have to disagree! I don't think it is hugely dewy or matte, but it is more dewy than it is matte. That said, I would not recommend it for oilier skinned girls. This is definitely for dry to normal skin!

My only issue with this foundation so far is the wear time - which is a big reason why I wouldn't recommend it to those with oily skin. I did set it with a powder after wearing it the first time, but that didn't seem to prolong the wear time by much.

That said, I do really like this foundation! I love the finish and the coverage - and especially how lightweight it feels on my skin. The wear time isn't a huge deal, as I can save this foundation for days when I don't have to wear it for as long.

That's all for todays post! Is there any products that you would like me review? Let me know down below!

Until next time...

xxxx


in between blogging, you can find me here!








16 May 2014

my makeup collection & storage

Hey guys!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I recently revamped my makeup storage! Because I still loie at home. I have a small bedroom that unfortunately has no room for a vanity. My room also bears the full brunt of the Australian sun throughout the year, so my room will always be hot and muggy which doesn't help. Because of this, I keep my makeup collection in my wardrobe in the drawers meant for clothes.. Up until now anyway!

I finally found clear affordable acrylic drawers (courtesy of Wild Glossy), and had a ball reorganising my makeup collection into it. Because I got a lot of questions about the storage, I thought that I would do this blog post dedicated to the storage and where I got it. while simultaneously showing you how I organised my collection!

A couple of side notes; I am from Australia, so unfortunately I do not know whether the US versions of these stores stock the same storage! Also, this is in no way to brag about what I have or rub it in anyone's face. This has been collected over years and years, and I honestly love and adore my collection. This post has been put together to hopefully give you some ideas for your storage, and how you can organise your own collection!


This is the top part of my storage. I have two of these acrylic drawers (on the left) that I got from Officeworks for about $17 each, and I use them to hold my main collection. There is two versions of these drawers - one has five smaller drawers, and the other (mine) has four drawers. I got the four drawers, because the last drawer is deep rather than being the same size as the others!

I'll be going through each drawer individually further on in the post, to give you an idea on how it has been organised! Behind this, I have my all my brushes that are in an old candle holder.


This cosmetic organiser is from Kmart, and I got mine for $7. I basically use this to hold the products that I would use on an everyday basis, and also for products that I tend to forget to use. I plan to switch these out quite often, so that way everything gets some use! This organiser is fantastic, it has a place for your foundations/primers etc, two columns that I put my mascara in, 12 lipstick holders and another small space where I keep my MAC Mineralize Natural and my current eyebrow product.


I keep these next to my everyday organiser, because there isn't any room for them in the actual organiser. But I use all of these (except the second NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray because it's a back up) on an everyday basis as well.


On top of the first set of acrylic drawers, I have my eyelash curler, my little palette that I use for my foundation and a smaller lipstick holder that my YSL Rouge Voluptes sit in.. Because, y'know, they're the queens of my makeup collection, so it's only fitting that they sit on top and survey the rest.


Onto the first drawer in my acrylic set. This drawer holds ALL of my lip crayons and liners, plus some Maybelline Colour Whispers and Rimmel Apocalips.


The second drawer hold some of my favourite mascara and eyeliners, plus my MAC Archie's Girls Spoiled Rich Palette, some loose Jordana shadow pots and my broken Naked Basics Palette. I really need to throw it out, as its pretty much unusable but I don't have the strength just yet. Sob!


Third drawer down holds some MUA palettes, Maybelline Colour Tattoos, more Jordana loose eyeshadows and gel liners. It also holds my Tarte Off The Cuff palette, my concealers that I don't use everyday, and my NYX Eyebrow Cake.


Fourth drawer down, and my personal favourite, holds most of my foundations and powders. As a foundation junkie, this is of course my pride and joy. There will be first impressions and reviews coming soon on some of these so keep your eyes peeled!


This is my second set of acrylic drawers! I just love how colour coordinated this looks honestly..


My primer basket <3 I don't know where this came from, I got a hamper for Christmas last year and this is what was included in it. I try to switch out my primers on a regular basis, but also with what I feel like my skin needs at the time.


My primers sit on top of my acrylic drawers, as well as my Victoria Secret makeup bag, which I switch out with products that I am using that day. I also have two EOS lip balms that sit on top as well - purely for decoration, as I'm not an actual fan of the balms themselves.


Next to my drawers, I have my higher end palettes that I actually use on a more regular basis. It's easier to have these here, so that I can reach for them when I need them. The Victoria Secret bag holds my empty products (if I remember to put them in there) and a back up of my favourite Victoria Secret Candy Baby spray. It smells like fairy floss - so good!


The first drawer of my second set of acrylic drawers holds my higher end lipsticks, plus some of my drugstore because they don't really fit in my drugstore lipsticks drawer. You'll see why in a second..


This is my drugstore lipstick drawer - or, the drawer of desperation as it's getting hard to get this drawer to close. At some point, I will reorganise this drawer, but for now it will have to do!


The third drawer down holds the rest of my mascaras - honestly I switch between these and the ones in my first set of drawers all the time. Which is good because I have variety, but also seriously bad because I have a million different mascaras open at the same time. I also have some of my lip balms and tinted lip balms just hanging out in the back.


My last drawer holds the rest of my powders, bronzers, blushes and highlighters. I love how this looks, so easy to organise this! Everything just fits so perfectly! If I wasn't a foundation junkie, this would hands down be my favourite drawer.


After my acrylic drawers, I have two more actual drawers that hold the rest of my products. In here, I have product back ups, products that I didn't particularly get on with, extra products that don't fit in the acrylic drawers and of course my samples.


The second drawer holds some more Chapsticks, my Sigma Jaclyn Hill box set, some packaging that I don't want to let go of and some supposed beauty blender dupes that my Mum got off eBay (total waste of space).

And that's it for today's post! I hope this helps some of you on some makeup storage idea, and how to organise them. I know that before this, I used to fantasise about having proper storage but I had no idea where to start! One day, I will have a proper vanity, with all the trimmings, but today is not that day and I honestly am loving how it looks at the moment.

If you see any products in these photos that you would like to see a review on, please let me know!

Until next time...

xxxx


in between blogging, you can find me here!







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!