MY TOP FIVE // Drugstore Mascaras

Hey guys!

Similar to a series I did for a short time last year, I want to start doing another 'My Top Five' series. I'll basically be picking a category of products, and choosing what are my personal five favourites in that category. And this week, I've chosen to do drugstore mascaras!

I've noticed recently that I've been using a tonne of high end products in my routine over those from the drugstore - in all areas, except masara! Out of five mascaras sitting in my 'everyday' lot of products, only two or high end. And maybe that doesn't say anything to you, but it definitely says a lot to me! Thats why I thought it was appropriate to start this series off with this particular category, plus its always great to showcase what is truly great from the drugstore.

So in no particular order, here are my picks - keep reading to see my thoughts!

1. L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara // $8.95US

Eeek, not only is the packaging absolutely gorgeous, the product inside is incredible. I'm a massive fan of L'Oreal mascaras - I also love Miss Manga, One Million Lashes, Butterfly Lash, the originial Voluminous and the Extra Volume Collagen - but this one is probably my favourite. It has a slightly curved, bristle brush wand that really lifts and curls my lashes. The formula is also quite dry as well, which I personally love about mascara formulas, because it makes it so easy to build volume. This formula also has small fibres that also help with volume, although I barely notice them within this mascara. Definitely give this a try if you love voluminous, big, coated lashes!

Unfortunately, I could only find this on drugstore.com - they mustn't sell this over here :( (I purchased this from New York when I visited there)

2. Max Factor Masterpiece Max High Volume & Definition Mascara // $24.95

Another favourite brand from the drugstore - Max Factor mascaras have never disappointed me. This has been my personal go to lately, as I have it in the brown shade which looks more natural on me than black mascaras. This just has a straight, plastic brush - but don't let that put you off. I promise you, Max Factor have the best mascaras in the drugstore (and possibly even the high end market) on the same line as L'Oreal.

3. Max Factor Masterpiece Transform High Impact Volumising Mascara // $23.95

Oh goodness, another massive favourite! I recieved this late last year, and it went straight to my top favourite mascaras that I have eye used. The brush is small, plastic and goes up at an angle, with the biggest bristles on the end of the brush. It flares out, so trust me when I saw that this helps push your lashes up a ridiculous amount. I'm almost at the end of my tube, which makes me quite sad really, but I really really love this mascara. I used it, and only it, for months of end before turning to something else!

(If I still owned it, I would also be including Max Factors False Lash Effect Masara - thats also incredible, it's just never in stock when I go to buy it! Can you see how obsessed I truly am with Max Factor mascaras?)

4. Model Co Double Ended Fibre Lash Mascara // $20

I've done a comparison review with this and the Too Faced Better Than False Lashes here - and this mascara won! I have back ups upon back ups of this (I always buy it on sale at Woolies), thats just how good it is. It has the two ends, one with the actual mascara and the other with loose fibres. Unlike other fibre mascaras, this really coats your lashes with the fibres without ever looking clumpy or spidery. It's great for building volume on my lashes without every going overboard!

5. Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara // $14.95

I did another comparison post that featured this and the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara here! This is THE perfect dupe for the Too Faced mascara (which is out of stock a lot of the time, may I add ;) ), and is definitely my favourite Covergirl mascara! The brush is a bristle brush which is flared out on either side to really flare out dem lashes and volumise them. Its so incredibly buildable too, which is why it's really the drugstore version of the Too Faced Better Than Sex. 

And those are my top five drugstore mascaras! Which would have to be your favourites?

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

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MOTD // My Everyday Face Routine

Hey guys!

Oh boy - as you'll have seen, if you've read my earlier posts, my skin has been having a time of it lately. This in part due to Winter (allow me to link you here to find what skincare products I'm loving to beat that Winter skin), and also due to a variety of reasons. Due to this, I decided to find a new everyday make up routine that complimented my skincare and didn't harm all the good things those products were doing - I really wanted my makeup to work with my skincare to keep improving my skin.

As such, I went on the hunt - what base products (in particular) could I find that would help and improve my skin so that it wasn't suffocated under a caked on face of makeup to hide the flaws I was experiencing? And I accidentally stumbled upon the goldmine.. My official everyday makeup routine that has my skin looking amazing all the time, and isn't damaging my skin in any way shape or form. And I am going to share it with you today!

And here is the magic combination... Are you ready?

Bareminerals Complexion Rescue AND the Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation!

Y'all, I will never find enough good things to say about either of these products - I'm completely in love with both and I doubt I'll ever find a combo as good as this to get my skin looking its best. If you'd like an indepth review of both of either foundation, I'm happy to do so - however, this won't go into detail of each. Just how I use them, and a little bit of why.

I basically mix a squeeze of the Bareminerals Complexion Rescue with a pump of the Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation and apply with either a brush or my hands. At the moment, I find my hands the best way to apply the products to my skin, as the warmth of my hands really help to melt the product into my skin. I will always use a primer underneath (that's just me personally), and these just apply so well to give my skin that flawless once over while also keeping it hydrated throughout the day. The Complexion Rescue is marketed as a tinted hydrating gel cream while the No Foundation Foundation is formulated with mature skin in mind, helping it to hydrate and smooth the appearance of skin. I then use my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer on any spots I have - mostly on my chin - and my MAC Studio Fix Powder (another amazing find recently) lightly over my nose and chin, as those areas wear off easily on me. I don't use ANY other concealer under my eyes or on any other areas! Finish off with a light setting powder under the eyes, a 'lil bronzer, brown mascara and natural lip colour and I am ready to start the day!

And here's me after - still looking like me, without a huge amount of makeup on, but looking flawless and put together! PS this is just with natural lighting - no filters or edits whatsoever!

Neither of these are cheap, let me tell you. The Perricone MD foundation retails for $74 at Mecca alone.. BUT, I'd repurchase both of these products again and again when I run out no matter the price!

And that's it! As I said, if you'd like an indepth review on either of the products mentioned in this post, please let me know! I am more than happy to cover the amazingness of both products and how they can be incorported into your routine!

What are your current 'no makeup' makeup products? I'm always on the lookout for suggestions!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

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BEATING THE WINTER BLUES // The Products Saving My Skin

Hey guys!

Welcome back to my blog after my hiatus - taking time off to focus on uni and work has made me hardcore busy, but I'm so glad to finally be done and dusted with that. I've missed blogging way to much and talking about beauty and makeup and skincare and EEEK! I have SO many posts in the works for you guys, talking about all different things and I'm starting with this one - the products that are getting my skin through winter!

Just for a refresher, I usually have normal to dry skin. However, due to a variety of factors (ie. uni and work stress, coming off the pill, working in constant air conditioning etc), my skin has become more dehydrated than usual, is also starting to break out in certain areas and has even become sensitive in parts, especially around my eyes. Because of this, I've been switching up my skincare constantly - trying out new things to try and find what will cure my skin of this feeling like this. Obviously, I want my skin to look great even without makeup on - hell, if your base isn't great before makeup, it never looks quite right anyway! And I finally feel like I may have found the perfect four products that are really helping my skin get back to how it was - read on to see what they are!

1. Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin

So this stuff is literally between $9-11, and it is possibly my new favourite product for my skin ever! I've had some bad run ins with 'cheaper' drugstore products that have really not helped my skin, in fact they've probably done the opposite. But not this bad boy - oh no, this stuff is fantasticly moisturising without being greasy or oily, and really sinks into my skin to make it feels completely ready to face to winter weather. I've heard amazing things about Cetaphil, but like every other cheaper face brand that I've tried (sorry exaggerration, but y'all get the idea), I didn't expect it to actually be as amazing as it is. Everyone who has dry skin needs to jump on this if you are on a budget but still looking for something to actually work.

2. Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

Holy shit, if the whole Origins products in this range smell like this, hell I'mma buy 'em all and I will never look back. I was recommended this by the lovely ladies on our Instabeautyau Facebook page (holla gfs, if you're not already a part of it, get on that - not even a biased admin at all ;) ) and the lovely lady working at my local Mecca also recommended it, saying that using it would not only help hydrate my skin but also help balance out my skin and hopefully avoid the breakouts I was experiencing. So 2-3 times a week, depending on how dry my skin is, I use this in place of a night time moisturiser and go to sleep with it onmy face. It just feels like a super creamy moisturising cream, so it is a little sticky but I really don't mind and it smells incredible. Always wake up with glowing, happy skin the next say and I'll forever be grateful to it!

3. Bioderma Senisibo Face Mask

Ok so this is for sensitive skin, but its super moistursing and soothing which is why I have personally been loving it. Again, this is like a thick cream (similar consitiency to the Origins mask), however you leave it only for 10-15 minutes then sponge off whatever is leftover on your skin. It definitely helps calm and soothe my skin, and gives it added moisture so I avoid any dry patches. I use this on rotation with the Origins mask, so usually 2 times a week and it 100% has been helping my skin stay hydrated and radiant!

4. The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream

Like I stated above, my eyes have been super sensitive lately. I can't use normal makeup remover on them due to how sensitive they are (legit, my eyes will be sore for days, almost like I've been rubbing them constantly), and because my eyes also water super easily ESPECIALLY at night, I need an eye cream that will keep them hydrated as my eyelids completely dry out and really look ugly with makeup on. And this is that cream! Ever since the first week I've used it, my eyes have been so much more hydrated and slowly but surely, the dry skin on my eyelids is slowly disappearing. Super happy with how this has gone - really need to try more of The Body Shop products - I also use their Seaweed Mask 1-2 times a week for my breakouts, and it's also amazeballs. Surely there is more hidden gems - any recommendations, please leave them below!

And those are the four products that have really made a diference in my skincare routine this Winter! Hopefully this can help any of you experiencing the same problems that I am during this cold, shitty weather! What have been stand out products for your skin this season?

Until next time....

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

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you're so overrated #2 - lime crime lipsticks

Hey guys!

Last year, I started a series of which I would write about products hyped up within the beauty world that really fell short for me. I was really happy with the way it went over with you guys, you really seemed to appreciate the honesty without ever being rude or leaving innappropriate comments. I'm really hoping that doesn't change with what I'm about to write about.

I'm going to start with a massive disclaimer:

This is solely based on MY OWN experience of the products shown. This experience is in no way a reflection of the way I feel about Lime Crime or it's founder, but rather how they have individually performed on my lips. Mwah.

Okay, so now that's out of the way, let's just get a tiny weeny bit personal. I don't like Lime Crime. I really really don't. These were brought before I had done research on the company and knew about its founders questionnable morals and ethics. However, like I said, this post is honestly and completely all about the way I feel about these lipsticks - and I felt this way BEFORE hearing Lime Crime's history. I understand could potentially be a controversial post for some, and I won't be making this a rant about the company. If you are unsure of what I am speaking about, you can google Lime Crimes history and see there for yourself.

So stop right here if you're not interested in reading about my negative experience with these lipsticks - promise I won't hate you! But, if you are someone who is thinking about making the purchase, and is still unsure/if you're just interested in hearing my thoughts, please read on!

From l-r; Coquette, Babette & Centrifuschia

Now to the lipsticks themselves. I have never ever before been so disappointed by lipsticks in my life. I own a lot of lipsticks, let's be real, and I can honestly say that these come at the bottom of the pack. I want to say that the advertising on these lipsticks are completely off the track - of the three that I own, NONE have matched up to the swatches or colour on the lips shown on the Lime Crime website. I understand that some editing is maybe necessary, even a tinsy bit of photoshop. But come on, LC seriously? I was most disappointed with Babette - it looked like this gorgeous pastel-ly nude-y orange/coral, and in reality it is NOTHING like the advertisement that I originally brought it for. And also Coquette! I swear all the Youtubers get the good versions and the rest of us get the duds.

First of all, the bullet packaging. While they look cute, quirky and different, you can tell by holding them that they feel cheap and tacky. They're big as well - thick and clunky compared to MAC. Not only that, they don't seem to do their job by holding the lipstick in place. Both Coquette and Babette have managed to both slant and run up the side of bullet. They also don't seem to be holding in very well to their packaging (as you can see in the photo below) and I'm guessing if I actually used them that it would have completely torn off by now. Let me also be clear that the damage shown in the picture below is with pretty minimal useage.

Second of all, they're supposedly super creamy but manage to show up every single crack and dryness on my lip without the lasting power of a matte lipstick. They wear off about an hour after application, and considering these are considered high end lipsticks with a pretty decent price tag, I expect better. They also smell like a rip off of MAC lipsticks, sort of like an off vanilla.

Thirdly, they sweat like no other lipstick I own. These have been kept upright and out of the heat, and yet they all have beads of sweat on them, especially Centrifushchia. I did try to get a clear photo, but unfortunately it wasn't working out for me. If you look hard in the first picture, you are able to see it. To me, again, for a supposedly higher end lipstick, I expect SO much better. I feel like these are almost going off as we speak because of how much they sweat and stew in these below grade plastic casing.

So there you have it - regardless of what you think of the company, its pretty obvious these lipsticks are not worth the money. If you've managed to make them work for you, let me know down below! Otherwise, I'm pretty certain these will be given away or thrown out soon..

You can click here to read my first post in this series - MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

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