Anyways, So let's get into this DIY! I don't think I've ever done a DIY on my blog before but let it be one of the first DIY project I'll ever do.
Showing posts with label Face. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Face. Show all posts
DIY Coffee Body Scrub/Face Mask
I'm back! And I know I keep going and disappearing! I'm currently teaming up with a friend of mine whom will be partnering up on my blog as well as also posting reviews for as well. I've been super busy so... having another person on Just Plain Delirious to also be apart of this new 'team' will be something special! We're hoping to post more given that we have another person on board, so stay tuned for that!
Anyways, So let's get into this DIY! I don't think I've ever done a DIY on my blog before but let it be one of the first DIY project I'll ever do.
Lately I've been recovering from the flu and even after the flu, I realised my eyes were puffy and also my skin was kind of dry and red. Puffy eyes have always been an issue for me, not only do I try to drink enough water but for some reason I just always tend to have them. I was bored one night and was inspired by one of Michelle Phan's Coffee Scrub Video that she did yoinks ago and ... went and dug up some things I could find in the kitchen and voila!
Anyways, So let's get into this DIY! I don't think I've ever done a DIY on my blog before but let it be one of the first DIY project I'll ever do.
Benefit Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer
So I’ve been MIA, once again. But I'm back! Over the summer I did buy some make up but not as much as I normally would. I think over the past year I saved a lot of money compared to the previous year as I would just splurge all the time with make up, so now I’ve behaved with that and this collective haul I’ve gathered up over summer will depict the damage I made over the span of 3 months or so?
But today, I'll start off with a Benefit primer I purchased during my trip to Melbourne.
So I got from Benefit is a primer and I’ve been on the hunt for a new primer since I’ve ran out of my previous primer. I got the Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer and I did love it at first but after a while I found it made my foundation really patchy and it was horrible.
Beauty Favourites of 2013
Hi All! Happy 2014 and also it's my first post on this blog - this year! Hurrah! It's been a while and to be honest I've been lazy with blogging - so I'm gonna try and keep up since I do have some spare time right now.
Anyways... this will be a quick and sweet post! I've complied a bunch of beauty products in which I deemed to be my beauty favourites of 2013. I've seen many other bloggers who have done this post or in a video form, so... I thought I'd share my own version!
Anyways... this will be a quick and sweet post! I've complied a bunch of beauty products in which I deemed to be my beauty favourites of 2013. I've seen many other bloggers who have done this post or in a video form, so... I thought I'd share my own version!
Summer Favourites
Yes, it's summer! And I've been waiting all year for summer... despite the fact that I'm kind of missing the winter chill but nevertheless, this means.. trips to the beach, endless days of sunshine (of course!), ice cold drinks and most importantly slapping on that sunscreen!
So... since summer in Sydney is getting pretty humid and sticky. Make up wise, I've been keeping it minimal and natural.. as usual! Here are a few things I use / carry along with me on the regular.
So... since summer in Sydney is getting pretty humid and sticky. Make up wise, I've been keeping it minimal and natural.. as usual! Here are a few things I use / carry along with me on the regular.
The 'Alternate' Clarisonic - Olay Regenerist Cleansing System
When it comes to exfoliating my face, I could say I tend to get really lazy... and my track record on exfoliating isn't the best despite the fact that you should be exfoliating once a week.
BUT having a motorised cleansing brush makes exfoliating a little less boring and also a little more exciting and weirdly it's something I'm looking forward to adding to my non-existent skin care routine and by non-existant I mean, I just cleanse my face in the shower... yeah, talk about lazy.
The fact that you're getting a deep clean and getting into places on your face where a manual brush can't reach seems way more convincing than just using a buffer sponge/manual brush.
Like many girls, I've been eyeing the Clarisonic Cleansing Brush for a while now but I couldn't really justify if investing around $150~ (depending on the model - which can go up to $300!) and if it is worth the spend. I know people out there who swear by it and some say that it didn't do any wonders to their skin - hence why I haven't purchased one myself.
Luckily, I was given the opportunity to try out Olay's Regenerist Cleansing System which is the 'poor girls version' of the Clarisonic and put it to the test to see if it really made a difference.
This cleansing system includes the 'The Beauty Device' aka the motorised brush, a pair of AA batteries (Yes, batteries included!) and also the brush head which 'acts like tiny hands and fingers'. Also enclosed with the system is a generous sized sample of their 'Skin Perfecting Cleanser'.
The sample is pretty redundant for me since I don't really need the anti-aging properties - so I passed on that. Instead I used my Clinique Liquid Facial Soap since I use that stuff quite regularly, along with my miscellaneous bundle of exfoliators I have from both Clinique and Neutrogena in my bathroom.
My skin isn't really problematic in general but I do get the occasional zits and blemishes along with the whole list of blackheads, pores etc. Despite my skin needs, it's the perfect time to put the brush to the test and also get a routine going. If you're wondering, I currently have Dry Combination skin.
I wish I could compare this to the Clarisonic but sadly I don't own one, so I'm just gonna go with my instincts and also on what my thoughts are on this brush.
The brush itself is pretty average, nothing special. The system itself is waterproof which is always a plus. I tried this on my face a couple of times already and I could say I've instantly noticed that my face feels so much more polished and smoothed out. But I wouldn't say the brush is a versatile brush as it may irritate those with sensitive skin.
It's recommended that you approximately use the brush for a minute which is more than sufficient to get that deep clean. The cleansing brush itself, reminds me much of a giant toothbrush. Don't get me wrong the bristles are super soft and the brush head is really gentle against the skin. But... I would limit this to either once every one to two weeks if you have super sensitive skin like me.
In terms of speed, the device itself has two speeds (slow and fast) which is easily interchangeable by just alternating between the two buttons. Great for where you want to focus on problematic areas and can get right into the crevasses to get rid of all those blackheads and what not.
The downside, you have to keep purchasing/replacing batteries which is a nuisance. Also, I wish there was a case to cover up the brush and the brush to me could've been more unique it terms of the design of the brush like having a combination of bristles or something? I'm just saying.
As for the design, I'm not really a fan of the way the brush is designed as the brush head sticks out and I find that it's kind of bulky?
Other than that, I felt like the system is pretty good for the price you pay so I'm pretty content for what the product is offering. I would definitely say it's a step up from your traditional sponge/manual brush and if you're in the market for a cleansing brush / Clarisonic alternative.
Deep cleansing is something I don't really do that often (yes I am ashamed!) and I think i'm going to get into the habit a bit more with this brush.
If you're interested, do check it out in store - I believe Priceline and leading retailers like Big W, Target etc. carries this cleansing system. So check it out!
*Disclaimer: This product was kindly sent by a PR. All of the companies mentioned were mentioned on my behalf and I was not compensated to mention the my opinions and thoughts are mine and are unbiased. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy.
BUT having a motorised cleansing brush makes exfoliating a little less boring and also a little more exciting and weirdly it's something I'm looking forward to adding to my non-existent skin care routine and by non-existant I mean, I just cleanse my face in the shower... yeah, talk about lazy.
The fact that you're getting a deep clean and getting into places on your face where a manual brush can't reach seems way more convincing than just using a buffer sponge/manual brush.
Like many girls, I've been eyeing the Clarisonic Cleansing Brush for a while now but I couldn't really justify if investing around $150~ (depending on the model - which can go up to $300!) and if it is worth the spend. I know people out there who swear by it and some say that it didn't do any wonders to their skin - hence why I haven't purchased one myself.
Luckily, I was given the opportunity to try out Olay's Regenerist Cleansing System which is the 'poor girls version' of the Clarisonic and put it to the test to see if it really made a difference.
This cleansing system includes the 'The Beauty Device' aka the motorised brush, a pair of AA batteries (Yes, batteries included!) and also the brush head which 'acts like tiny hands and fingers'. Also enclosed with the system is a generous sized sample of their 'Skin Perfecting Cleanser'.
The sample is pretty redundant for me since I don't really need the anti-aging properties - so I passed on that. Instead I used my Clinique Liquid Facial Soap since I use that stuff quite regularly, along with my miscellaneous bundle of exfoliators I have from both Clinique and Neutrogena in my bathroom.
My skin isn't really problematic in general but I do get the occasional zits and blemishes along with the whole list of blackheads, pores etc. Despite my skin needs, it's the perfect time to put the brush to the test and also get a routine going. If you're wondering, I currently have Dry Combination skin.
I wish I could compare this to the Clarisonic but sadly I don't own one, so I'm just gonna go with my instincts and also on what my thoughts are on this brush.
The brush itself is pretty average, nothing special. The system itself is waterproof which is always a plus. I tried this on my face a couple of times already and I could say I've instantly noticed that my face feels so much more polished and smoothed out. But I wouldn't say the brush is a versatile brush as it may irritate those with sensitive skin.
It's recommended that you approximately use the brush for a minute which is more than sufficient to get that deep clean. The cleansing brush itself, reminds me much of a giant toothbrush. Don't get me wrong the bristles are super soft and the brush head is really gentle against the skin. But... I would limit this to either once every one to two weeks if you have super sensitive skin like me.
In terms of speed, the device itself has two speeds (slow and fast) which is easily interchangeable by just alternating between the two buttons. Great for where you want to focus on problematic areas and can get right into the crevasses to get rid of all those blackheads and what not.
The downside, you have to keep purchasing/replacing batteries which is a nuisance. Also, I wish there was a case to cover up the brush and the brush to me could've been more unique it terms of the design of the brush like having a combination of bristles or something? I'm just saying.
As for the design, I'm not really a fan of the way the brush is designed as the brush head sticks out and I find that it's kind of bulky?
Other than that, I felt like the system is pretty good for the price you pay so I'm pretty content for what the product is offering. I would definitely say it's a step up from your traditional sponge/manual brush and if you're in the market for a cleansing brush / Clarisonic alternative.
Deep cleansing is something I don't really do that often (yes I am ashamed!) and I think i'm going to get into the habit a bit more with this brush.
If you're interested, do check it out in store - I believe Priceline and leading retailers like Big W, Target etc. carries this cleansing system. So check it out!
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Love, J
*Disclaimer: This product was kindly sent by a PR. All of the companies mentioned were mentioned on my behalf and I was not compensated to mention the my opinions and thoughts are mine and are unbiased. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy.
The Basic Lazy Face (Winter Routine)
Hi guys! I've been busy (as usual) so that's why I haven't been posting! Right now I'm free from the horrid exams, yay!
Also, I'll be heading to Melbourne next Wednesday so my blog will be quiet... not that it hasn't been quiet for a while!
Anyways... onto the post! Ever since Uni started for me this semester, I've been lazier at applying my make up (surprising? Yeah I know.) I haven't been putting that much effort into applying my blush, bronzer, lipstick etc. unless I have time and that I'm really bothered and by bothered if there's photos bound to be taken I'll probably put in that extra effort.
For those who know me, I try to keep my makeup as natural as possible, you'll never see me with a smokey eye or anything dramatic because...... let's face it... I'm not that spontaneous enough to wear it though I'm kind of a make up noob when it comes to looks!
Now a days it's just face and eyeliner and that's it! Oh and the brows too. I remember last year I put a bit of time and effort whilst getting ready but... 'nobody got time for that! Especially for the busy person I am now. (Or correction, lazy)
Anyways, since it's winter my face tends to get a little drier and I've been using a variety of BB creams and Tinted Moisturisers to allow some moisturisation for my face.
Today I'm just gonna show you some products that I've been reaching out for lately for my easy peezy lazy natural/flawless face look. (No self shots apparently but just images of products that I've been reaching out!)
I've been trying out this new Australis Matte Out Face Base* and I love how I can apply this on my T Zone and not have it getting all oily. I always tend to get an oily T Zone throughout the day and I love how it mattifies the T-Zone. This product swatches clear, so no - you would have purple streaks on your face nor do you have to blend it out! Staying power is mediocre though, I can get through a day but the oil control is quite excellent. It reminds me of those foundation sticks but it's in purple and has this floral scent.
Disclaimer: Products marked with an * were sent for consideration but I was not obligated to review the item. All items posted here are purchased with my own money.
Also, I'll be heading to Melbourne next Wednesday so my blog will be quiet... not that it hasn't been quiet for a while!
Anyways... onto the post! Ever since Uni started for me this semester, I've been lazier at applying my make up (surprising? Yeah I know.) I haven't been putting that much effort into applying my blush, bronzer, lipstick etc. unless I have time and that I'm really bothered and by bothered if there's photos bound to be taken I'll probably put in that extra effort.
For those who know me, I try to keep my makeup as natural as possible, you'll never see me with a smokey eye or anything dramatic because...... let's face it... I'm not that spontaneous enough to wear it though I'm kind of a make up noob when it comes to looks!
Now a days it's just face and eyeliner and that's it! Oh and the brows too. I remember last year I put a bit of time and effort whilst getting ready but... 'nobody got time for that! Especially for the busy person I am now. (Or correction, lazy)
Today I'm just gonna show you some products that I've been reaching out for lately for my easy peezy lazy natural/flawless face look. (No self shots apparently but just images of products that I've been reaching out!)
I've been trying out this new Australis Matte Out Face Base* and I love how I can apply this on my T Zone and not have it getting all oily. I always tend to get an oily T Zone throughout the day and I love how it mattifies the T-Zone. This product swatches clear, so no - you would have purple streaks on your face nor do you have to blend it out! Staying power is mediocre though, I can get through a day but the oil control is quite excellent. It reminds me of those foundation sticks but it's in purple and has this floral scent. 
Rimmel BB Cream 9 in 1 - Not my favourite but I like how it has a primer already in it's formula and along other moisturising properties and goodness. This is a huge lazy face essential - just apply it and if you like, set it with powder! I would use this on days where I have work or just need some evenness on my face in a flash. If it's a special occasion like a party, outing or where I need my make up to last - I'll use my Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation (in which I should blog about real soon!)
In my case, I use MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Medium to set my make up. But before that, I like to conceal any redness or blemishes with the Benefit's Some Kind-a gorgeous Foundation (in a Mini) in Medium which provides me with that natural flawless look. It's quick and easy.
For the lips I use the Korres Lip Butter in Mango and I LOVE this stuff. It's so moisturising and gives my lips a little colour. Throughout the day, I apply my Bloom Watermelon Crush Lip Balm or any other lip balm I carry on my either the Korres Lip Butter or the Maybelline Baby Lips which is somewhere in one of my bags.
As for eyeliner, it's nothing too special. I didn't take a photo but it's just a basic black crayon eyeliner and my Dollywink Liquid eyeliner. I haven't curled my lashes in so long or bothered to apply mascara now a days, so I've been uber lazy.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed this post. A bit bland but it's what I've been sporting lately for my lazy look. Let me know if you ever go through a phase where you just use less makeup or what not! I want to know :) Shall see you REAL soon!
Love, J
Disclaimer: Products marked with an * were sent for consideration but I was not obligated to review the item. All items posted here are purchased with my own money.
L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream in Fair
So I've been eyeing this BB Cream for quite sometime, not that I have enough already but I was on a search for a good drugstore BB Cream.
Anyways, I snagged this BB cream after swatching it varies times in store and was quite pleased with it. L'Oreal claims that this mimics the texture and the glow of perfect bare skin, which I believe is pretty cool!
Anyways, this is the Australian version of this L'Oreal BB Cream, so if you're in the UK & US they're different variations from what I know.
First off, the BB cream has this self adjusting formula which when squeezed, it's come out white and dotty then mellows into your skin tone when blended. Just beware when purchasing this product, you would probably wanna try this out beforehand cause I mad the silly mistake of assuming that because I'm normally a Medium tone for most products I purchased the Medium tone, which it was way too dark for me. (For reference, I'm a MAC NC25-30.)
I opted for the 'Fair' shade after swapping with a friend after she had the same thing happen to her but instead she bought Fair! Anyways, I think this Fair shade suits my Medium / Warm toned complexion really well.
I think for very fair and pale girls (especially those with Pink Tones) I don't think this would suit you. I think this product is more catered to more gold/warm toned skin types. There's testers all over Big W, Target and Priceline so be sure to test it out on your jawline and see how it reacts with your skin!
Formula wise, the BB cream is pretty liquid and applies smoothly and my skin feels smooth and hydrated. I don't know about the 24 hour hydration thing L'Oreal claims - but it feels super silky and hydrating on my skin; so I don't have the slap on any additional moisturisers without making my face feel heavy.
The coverage is very light but buildable. I use my fingers to apply the BB cream (which is a bit troublesome) just to warm up the product. But I do use a Sigma Round Top Kabuki brush to blend the foundation with for a seamless application when primer is applied prior.
This BB Cream is great for those who don't want to wear too much make up (especially, if you're opting for a natural look). If your skin isn't really acne prone and has a few blemishes or tinges of redness (which is how my skin is) this BB cream would be perfect because it gives you that subtle flawless natural look as if your skin was naturally blemished free. Oh, and without the whole 'I can tell you have make up' look.
I've been using this BB cream on days where I'm going to do errands and going to Uni because I'm not going anywhere special or where I need that extra coverage. Longevity wise, it holds up pretty well. For a good 5-6 hours I would say. It lasts the whole day for me (typical 8-10 hours) when I set my BB cream with my MAC Mineralise Skin Finish so... it's all good.
I would highly recommend this BB cream to girls who wants a bit of coverage but without the whole cake face and heavy foundation feeling. That being said, school girls! Great BB cream to wear to school if you wanna cover up some blemishes and have an even complexion!
It has an SPF 12 and it's super hydrating so it's really good for a 'tinted moisturiser' BB cream. Okay, they should really just name this a tinted moisturiser - seriously! But anyways, for the price coming at $26. It's a bit hefty, but be sure to checkout for sales on L'Oreal products. I've seen it go down to $16 once (which is when I purchased mine) and it would probably last you a good few months.
As a drugstore BB cream, I would say it's really good for what it delivers. Despite the fact that I don't think much of it as a BB cream. In hindsight, if you're a medium/warm toned girl who has a few blemishes and wants to cover redness but don't want to look like you're wearing foundation then this BB cream is for you.
Hope this review of this BB cream (damn I've said that at least 10 times already) was helpful! Let me know if you use this or if you're interested in purchasing this BB cream too!
Anyways, I snagged this BB cream after swatching it varies times in store and was quite pleased with it. L'Oreal claims that this mimics the texture and the glow of perfect bare skin, which I believe is pretty cool!
Anyways, this is the Australian version of this L'Oreal BB Cream, so if you're in the UK & US they're different variations from what I know.
First off, the BB cream has this self adjusting formula which when squeezed, it's come out white and dotty then mellows into your skin tone when blended. Just beware when purchasing this product, you would probably wanna try this out beforehand cause I mad the silly mistake of assuming that because I'm normally a Medium tone for most products I purchased the Medium tone, which it was way too dark for me. (For reference, I'm a MAC NC25-30.)
I opted for the 'Fair' shade after swapping with a friend after she had the same thing happen to her but instead she bought Fair! Anyways, I think this Fair shade suits my Medium / Warm toned complexion really well.
I think for very fair and pale girls (especially those with Pink Tones) I don't think this would suit you. I think this product is more catered to more gold/warm toned skin types. There's testers all over Big W, Target and Priceline so be sure to test it out on your jawline and see how it reacts with your skin!
Formula wise, the BB cream is pretty liquid and applies smoothly and my skin feels smooth and hydrated. I don't know about the 24 hour hydration thing L'Oreal claims - but it feels super silky and hydrating on my skin; so I don't have the slap on any additional moisturisers without making my face feel heavy.
The coverage is very light but buildable. I use my fingers to apply the BB cream (which is a bit troublesome) just to warm up the product. But I do use a Sigma Round Top Kabuki brush to blend the foundation with for a seamless application when primer is applied prior.
(Image taken from lovelygirliebits)
This BB Cream is great for those who don't want to wear too much make up (especially, if you're opting for a natural look). If your skin isn't really acne prone and has a few blemishes or tinges of redness (which is how my skin is) this BB cream would be perfect because it gives you that subtle flawless natural look as if your skin was naturally blemished free. Oh, and without the whole 'I can tell you have make up' look.
I've been using this BB cream on days where I'm going to do errands and going to Uni because I'm not going anywhere special or where I need that extra coverage. Longevity wise, it holds up pretty well. For a good 5-6 hours I would say. It lasts the whole day for me (typical 8-10 hours) when I set my BB cream with my MAC Mineralise Skin Finish so... it's all good.
I would highly recommend this BB cream to girls who wants a bit of coverage but without the whole cake face and heavy foundation feeling. That being said, school girls! Great BB cream to wear to school if you wanna cover up some blemishes and have an even complexion!
It has an SPF 12 and it's super hydrating so it's really good for a 'tinted moisturiser' BB cream. Okay, they should really just name this a tinted moisturiser - seriously! But anyways, for the price coming at $26. It's a bit hefty, but be sure to checkout for sales on L'Oreal products. I've seen it go down to $16 once (which is when I purchased mine) and it would probably last you a good few months.
As a drugstore BB cream, I would say it's really good for what it delivers. Despite the fact that I don't think much of it as a BB cream. In hindsight, if you're a medium/warm toned girl who has a few blemishes and wants to cover redness but don't want to look like you're wearing foundation then this BB cream is for you.
Hope this review of this BB cream (damn I've said that at least 10 times already) was helpful! Let me know if you use this or if you're interested in purchasing this BB cream too!
I'll be back soon with a review soon!
Love, J
*This product has been purchased out of my own pocket, I was not paid or reimbursed in any way. All my opinions are mine, for more information please see my disclosure policy.
The Hits and Misses with Australis.
No doubt, I love Australis products! I think they have improved a lot over the years and I have to say that there a few items from them that I use everyday, religiously. That being said, Australis has got to be one of my favourite Australian drugstore brands. They're affordable, good quality and also they have a nice selection of cosmetics to offer.
Undoubtedly I was lucky to receive many PR packages from Australis which I have previously blogged here! Check out my recent post on the Go Long Longwear Lipsticks or their Pout Pastes.
Anyways, here's my personal stash of Australis products which today I'm going to showcase my favourite and least favourite Australis products. I also use to own 4 other products that I didn't take a picture of but I'll include external images later.
I apologise for the low quality photos since my DSLR has been dying on me so I've been using my iPad 3 camera and also been tweaking the lighting on Photoshop. Don't worry nothing drastically changed! I'll start off with my favourite to my least favourite Australis items!
Australis Bronzing Powder - Favourite bronzer! I use it everyday and it's cheap, it's great and I think it's comparable to NARS Casino which I like.
Australis Lash Length Extensions Mascara & Australis Killer Curves Mascara - Without a doubt having short stubby asian eyelashes is annoyingly frustrating. Enough said, the Lash Length Extensions gives my lashes that little bit of length and separation. I use it every now and then in conjunction with my Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara but this mascara is something I definitely recommend!
As for the Killer Curves Mascara*, I love the separation and how it holds the curl of my lashes (that being said, they make my lashes look nice, but curls never last too long for me anyways).
I never thought in a million years that these two drugstore mascaras would do so much for the price you pay! Let alone, I've managed to finish the Killer Curves Mascara, sadly. But these two have to be my favourite drugstore mascaras and also for girls with short thin stubby lashes like me, I think these mascaras are something to look at!
Australis 10hr Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Bombtastic Bronze - I use this eyeliner everyday to tightline my eyes as well as an overall eyeliner. I actually have two, one for my everyday going out / uni bag and one at home in my make-up vanity. I adore this eyeliner and it's such a nice colour to complement any natural look. Did I mention it's long lasting as well!? Hence the '10 hour'.
Australis Body Sprays in Wild At Heart and Get Your Rocks Off* - All I can say is that this is an awesome thing Australis has brought out Body Sprays. I'm the type of person who would buy body sprays over perfumes any day! I still have the Chi Chi Body Spray in Passionfruit that my friend Lana gave to me for my 18th! (Thanks Lana! I still have a tiny bit left and I'm still savouring it!) Anyways, they're cheap - they smell great (I love both scents) and also they're heaps handy! I usually bring this with me to the gym and also pop it into my Uni bag or spritz a bit before I head out.
I gotta say Get Your Rocks Off is my favourite, it has a combination of berry, coconut, mango and apricot - which is why I'm drawn to it cause I love fruity scents! As for Wild at Heart I think it's more of a mature scent (not mature as in grandma mature) but more of a big girl mature. It has more of a 'punchy fruits, flirty florals and touches of lily, violet' scent.
Australis Go Long Longwear Lipstick* - I've recently blogged about this here, so you can check out how much I adore this lipstick. I think that sums up why, but in summary it's a really good lipstick but a tiny bit drying (hence the Matteness of the lipstick) but nothing a little bit of Lip Balm can't do.
Australis Curve Ink Eyeliner* - I like this eyeliner but I'm gonna say that I like my Dollywink eyeliner more cause I feel like the Dollywink has a 'tattoo' staying power as opposed to this eyeliner. It's not a bad eyeliner, don't get my wrong! But I'm gonna say that it's a really good liquid eyeliner (with precision) as opposed to many liquid eyeliner on the market. I personally think this is a little better than the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner as the felt tip is much more thicker and the eyeliner itself is more opaque, as the Maybelline one has a fine tip (great to draw your eyeliner on) but the formula isn't waterproof and as opaque as the Australis one.
Australis Fresh and Flawless Pressed Powder - I know this has been raved about way too much but I know for a fact that it's supposedly a dupe for MAC's Studio Fix Powder. In which I think so, for a fraction of a price of a MAC Pressed Powder, I would say it's decent. But I prefer my MAC Mineralise Powder over anything right now.
I'm just going to put the Pout Paste and the Colour Inject Lipsticks here. First off, the Pout Pastes are okay, they're nothing too wow to me cause I'm a huge fan for glossies and anything thats simular to an OCC Lip Tar (if we can put it that way). I'm more of a long-lasting lip colour girl (which is why I love the Go Long Longwear lippies). But I don't think they're bad, I wish there was more variety but they don't really appeal to me. You can see the post where I review the Pout Pastes here for more of an in-depth review and my thoughts on them.
As for the Colour Inject Lipsticks, I feel like they're nothing too special. I know that they're $12.95 but at Sportsgirl I can get similar colours, similar quality and pretty packaging for $9.95. I think they're nothing too interesting to me but their lippies mediocre. I don't have anything bad to say besides the packaging, not a fan of their old fashion lipstick case packaging.
Last off, the last 2 items that I didn't take a picture of. I'll start with the Australis Make-Up Finishing Spritz - All I can say is that I'm not a fan of this spritz. It's suppose to be something like MAC's Fix+ (you know that concept with the whole, setting makeup thing) yeah, that didn't work for me. I felt like my skin was sticky and felt disgusting. I should really throw it away. Also, surprisingly it's their best seller... I don't know, I'm not sold! Sorry!
The other product which is really really dislike I the Australis Translucent Loose Powder I was a fan of it at first but after a while I noticed it left a white cast on my face and it was so fiddly and since it's Loose Powder, it went everywhere. I did use a small amount and noticed that I still had this white cast. I know a few people like this but I honestly didn't after a long while. So since then I chucked mine out. :(
Last product which I really dislike from Australis is their 3 in 1 Make Up Wipes - After purchasing them at a sale at Big W a while back, I honestly disliked them from the beginning. It was dry, it didn't have enough product in able to remove make up - Australis, please work something out with these wipes! That being said, I would prefer Face of Australias wipes, they actually do the job.
I hope this has given you an insight into my views on Australis cosmetics, overall I think they're a really fantastic Australian brand (who also does not test on Animals - yay!) and they have many things to offer. But that being said, there was some hit and misses!
Do you have any Australis products that I haven't listed that you adore? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know!
Also I have a blog sale going on so if you're interested in purchasing some things check it out!
Undoubtedly I was lucky to receive many PR packages from Australis which I have previously blogged here! Check out my recent post on the Go Long Longwear Lipsticks or their Pout Pastes.
Anyways, here's my personal stash of Australis products which today I'm going to showcase my favourite and least favourite Australis products. I also use to own 4 other products that I didn't take a picture of but I'll include external images later.I apologise for the low quality photos since my DSLR has been dying on me so I've been using my iPad 3 camera and also been tweaking the lighting on Photoshop. Don't worry nothing drastically changed! I'll start off with my favourite to my least favourite Australis items!
Australis Bronzing Powder - Favourite bronzer! I use it everyday and it's cheap, it's great and I think it's comparable to NARS Casino which I like.
Australis Lash Length Extensions Mascara & Australis Killer Curves Mascara - Without a doubt having short stubby asian eyelashes is annoyingly frustrating. Enough said, the Lash Length Extensions gives my lashes that little bit of length and separation. I use it every now and then in conjunction with my Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara but this mascara is something I definitely recommend!
As for the Killer Curves Mascara*, I love the separation and how it holds the curl of my lashes (that being said, they make my lashes look nice, but curls never last too long for me anyways).
I never thought in a million years that these two drugstore mascaras would do so much for the price you pay! Let alone, I've managed to finish the Killer Curves Mascara, sadly. But these two have to be my favourite drugstore mascaras and also for girls with short thin stubby lashes like me, I think these mascaras are something to look at!
Australis 10hr Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Bombtastic Bronze - I use this eyeliner everyday to tightline my eyes as well as an overall eyeliner. I actually have two, one for my everyday going out / uni bag and one at home in my make-up vanity. I adore this eyeliner and it's such a nice colour to complement any natural look. Did I mention it's long lasting as well!? Hence the '10 hour'.
Australis Body Sprays in Wild At Heart and Get Your Rocks Off* - All I can say is that this is an awesome thing Australis has brought out Body Sprays. I'm the type of person who would buy body sprays over perfumes any day! I still have the Chi Chi Body Spray in Passionfruit that my friend Lana gave to me for my 18th! (Thanks Lana! I still have a tiny bit left and I'm still savouring it!) Anyways, they're cheap - they smell great (I love both scents) and also they're heaps handy! I usually bring this with me to the gym and also pop it into my Uni bag or spritz a bit before I head out.
I gotta say Get Your Rocks Off is my favourite, it has a combination of berry, coconut, mango and apricot - which is why I'm drawn to it cause I love fruity scents! As for Wild at Heart I think it's more of a mature scent (not mature as in grandma mature) but more of a big girl mature. It has more of a 'punchy fruits, flirty florals and touches of lily, violet' scent.Australis Go Long Longwear Lipstick* - I've recently blogged about this here, so you can check out how much I adore this lipstick. I think that sums up why, but in summary it's a really good lipstick but a tiny bit drying (hence the Matteness of the lipstick) but nothing a little bit of Lip Balm can't do.
Australis Curve Ink Eyeliner* - I like this eyeliner but I'm gonna say that I like my Dollywink eyeliner more cause I feel like the Dollywink has a 'tattoo' staying power as opposed to this eyeliner. It's not a bad eyeliner, don't get my wrong! But I'm gonna say that it's a really good liquid eyeliner (with precision) as opposed to many liquid eyeliner on the market. I personally think this is a little better than the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner as the felt tip is much more thicker and the eyeliner itself is more opaque, as the Maybelline one has a fine tip (great to draw your eyeliner on) but the formula isn't waterproof and as opaque as the Australis one.
Australis Fresh and Flawless Pressed Powder - I know this has been raved about way too much but I know for a fact that it's supposedly a dupe for MAC's Studio Fix Powder. In which I think so, for a fraction of a price of a MAC Pressed Powder, I would say it's decent. But I prefer my MAC Mineralise Powder over anything right now.
I'm just going to put the Pout Paste and the Colour Inject Lipsticks here. First off, the Pout Pastes are okay, they're nothing too wow to me cause I'm a huge fan for glossies and anything thats simular to an OCC Lip Tar (if we can put it that way). I'm more of a long-lasting lip colour girl (which is why I love the Go Long Longwear lippies). But I don't think they're bad, I wish there was more variety but they don't really appeal to me. You can see the post where I review the Pout Pastes here for more of an in-depth review and my thoughts on them.
As for the Colour Inject Lipsticks, I feel like they're nothing too special. I know that they're $12.95 but at Sportsgirl I can get similar colours, similar quality and pretty packaging for $9.95. I think they're nothing too interesting to me but their lippies mediocre. I don't have anything bad to say besides the packaging, not a fan of their old fashion lipstick case packaging.
Last off, the last 2 items that I didn't take a picture of. I'll start with the Australis Make-Up Finishing Spritz - All I can say is that I'm not a fan of this spritz. It's suppose to be something like MAC's Fix+ (you know that concept with the whole, setting makeup thing) yeah, that didn't work for me. I felt like my skin was sticky and felt disgusting. I should really throw it away. Also, surprisingly it's their best seller... I don't know, I'm not sold! Sorry!
The other product which is really really dislike I the Australis Translucent Loose Powder I was a fan of it at first but after a while I noticed it left a white cast on my face and it was so fiddly and since it's Loose Powder, it went everywhere. I did use a small amount and noticed that I still had this white cast. I know a few people like this but I honestly didn't after a long while. So since then I chucked mine out. :(
Last product which I really dislike from Australis is their 3 in 1 Make Up Wipes - After purchasing them at a sale at Big W a while back, I honestly disliked them from the beginning. It was dry, it didn't have enough product in able to remove make up - Australis, please work something out with these wipes! That being said, I would prefer Face of Australias wipes, they actually do the job.I hope this has given you an insight into my views on Australis cosmetics, overall I think they're a really fantastic Australian brand (who also does not test on Animals - yay!) and they have many things to offer. But that being said, there was some hit and misses!
Do you have any Australis products that I haven't listed that you adore? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know!
Also I have a blog sale going on so if you're interested in purchasing some things check it out!
Til Another Time!
Love, J
*Products marked with an asterisk were sent by a PR. All other products that were not marked were purchased by me. All PR Items has not affected my opinions or views towards this brand or towards this post. My loyality is to be honest with my readers. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy.
Illamasqua's Satin Primer.
Hello! *big waves!* I'm feeling somewhat positive since I got a huge chunk of work out of the way (best feeling aye?) and today I got an awesome package from Australis - just in time to enlighten my day!
If you're curious and also want to keep up to date with me (regardless if it's beauty or not! Follow me on instagram @jolinemelina)
Anyways, long story short. Thanks to those who have responded to my last post and also been comforting me! (I really appreciate all your kind words!) It's been a hella long long time since I last blogged and... I've had this post sitting in my drafts for a while and thought, since I could squeeze in a bit of time today - why not?! :D
Anyways! I've found love with Illamasqua's Satin Primer after searching for a good primer. This was lovingly gifted from my beloved cousin! (So, Thanks Mel! - You're awesome!)
First things first, It's not the first time I've tried this primer. I actually purchased this primer on Boxing Day last year but I had to return the primer back since it was expired (more mentioned in this last post here) but nevertheless, Mel purchased this primer as a surprise (knowing that I needed a new primer) and I've finally have a new fresh (and one that is not expired!) Illamasqua primer to use!!! :D Yay!
When I first tried this primer all I can say was... 'It's freaking amazing!' and it's still amazing today. I try not to use it everyday because for the scarce amount I get for the price paid for, I try to use it on occasions where a primer is really essential. (Note those days where your make up HAS to be perfect). Other than that I just use my Face of Australia primer (not my favourite but I'm trying to use it up).
Illamasqua's Satin Primer applies on so smoothly and also has a nice velvety watery touch which creates this soft canvas for my face - all prepped and ready for foundation. Recently, I've purchased Illamasqua's Skin Base Foundation and I have to say that together with the Satin Primer - it works wonders! Let alone, the Skin Base foundation makes my face looks heaps flawless! (Note that I'll probably blog about this foundation later!)
You don't need a large amount of primer, probably a pea size to a pea size and a half is enough to cover your entire face. The texture of the primer is watery and smooth so, that being said - a little goes a long way.
So far I have not experienced any breakouts and also my foundation stays on significantly much longer (compared to the other primers I've used) I could go a whole 8 hours and my foundation and face will still look somewhat fresh.
What I also like about this primer is that it contains UVA and UVB filters to protect yourself from the harsh sun. Not to mention, it does not contain any parabens or silicone. (Which I noticed when I was using the Smashbox primer - which made me breakout).
I've taken photos with this primer underneath and I don't get that reflective ghostly look. I'm not sure if it's because this does not contain SPF's or because the UVA and UVB filters act as different agent in this primer... but so far so good. (Let me know if you could clarify something about this!)
In the past I found that the other primers that I've used: Smashbox, Face of Australia, Natio & Benefit - just to name a few, didn't work as well and I didn't really see a difference.
Just so you know, Illamasqua's primers come in a Satin & Matte Finish. I chose Satin because I find that the finish suits my oily skin better and I like the dewy finish as opposed to the Matte finish which didn't really give my face any dimension.
Coming at $35AU for 30mls I'm highly sceptical about repurchasing it despite how awesomely in love I am with it. I think if it was probably significantly cheaper I would stock up on it! But... seeing that it's my favourite primer, I think I'll fork out some cash for this beauty.
Anyways, that sums up my review on the Illamasqua Satin Primer. Hopefully I can have some posts up soon to keep you guys occupied. I know it's been a while since I did a review, so I try and keep you guys posted. Any specific requests and also any enquiries feel free to pop a message on my Facebook page. I know I haven't been active on there but I do check whenever I get a notification!
*Disclaimer: This product has been kindly gifted to me by my cousin.
If you're curious and also want to keep up to date with me (regardless if it's beauty or not! Follow me on instagram @jolinemelina)
Anyways, long story short. Thanks to those who have responded to my last post and also been comforting me! (I really appreciate all your kind words!) It's been a hella long long time since I last blogged and... I've had this post sitting in my drafts for a while and thought, since I could squeeze in a bit of time today - why not?! :D
Anyways! I've found love with Illamasqua's Satin Primer after searching for a good primer. This was lovingly gifted from my beloved cousin! (So, Thanks Mel! - You're awesome!)
First things first, It's not the first time I've tried this primer. I actually purchased this primer on Boxing Day last year but I had to return the primer back since it was expired (more mentioned in this last post here) but nevertheless, Mel purchased this primer as a surprise (knowing that I needed a new primer) and I've finally have a new fresh (and one that is not expired!) Illamasqua primer to use!!! :D Yay!
Illamasqua's Satin Primer applies on so smoothly and also has a nice velvety watery touch which creates this soft canvas for my face - all prepped and ready for foundation. Recently, I've purchased Illamasqua's Skin Base Foundation and I have to say that together with the Satin Primer - it works wonders! Let alone, the Skin Base foundation makes my face looks heaps flawless! (Note that I'll probably blog about this foundation later!)
You don't need a large amount of primer, probably a pea size to a pea size and a half is enough to cover your entire face. The texture of the primer is watery and smooth so, that being said - a little goes a long way.
So far I have not experienced any breakouts and also my foundation stays on significantly much longer (compared to the other primers I've used) I could go a whole 8 hours and my foundation and face will still look somewhat fresh.
What I also like about this primer is that it contains UVA and UVB filters to protect yourself from the harsh sun. Not to mention, it does not contain any parabens or silicone. (Which I noticed when I was using the Smashbox primer - which made me breakout).
I've taken photos with this primer underneath and I don't get that reflective ghostly look. I'm not sure if it's because this does not contain SPF's or because the UVA and UVB filters act as different agent in this primer... but so far so good. (Let me know if you could clarify something about this!)
In the past I found that the other primers that I've used: Smashbox, Face of Australia, Natio & Benefit - just to name a few, didn't work as well and I didn't really see a difference.
Just so you know, Illamasqua's primers come in a Satin & Matte Finish. I chose Satin because I find that the finish suits my oily skin better and I like the dewy finish as opposed to the Matte finish which didn't really give my face any dimension.
Coming at $35AU for 30mls I'm highly sceptical about repurchasing it despite how awesomely in love I am with it. I think if it was probably significantly cheaper I would stock up on it! But... seeing that it's my favourite primer, I think I'll fork out some cash for this beauty.
Anyways, that sums up my review on the Illamasqua Satin Primer. Hopefully I can have some posts up soon to keep you guys occupied. I know it's been a while since I did a review, so I try and keep you guys posted. Any specific requests and also any enquiries feel free to pop a message on my Facebook page. I know I haven't been active on there but I do check whenever I get a notification!
Til Later!
Love. J
*Disclaimer: This product has been kindly gifted to me by my cousin.
Welcoming Spring with October Favourites
Apologies for the lack of posts because as usual, I've been hella busy! I've just got signed up for this new promotion at work (and I'm currently on 4 different marketing promotions at the moment) and it's crazy. Juggling Uni and also hours that are probably considered as full time work is no doubt stressing me out.
Anyways! So, I don't really do a monthly favourites post because it's just so hard for me to literally have a favourite every month... unless I was repeating myself.. Anyways, this month has been an exception I'm going to try and do a monthly favourites so if it's successful or so I'll keep posting monthly favourites from now on!
These are the products that I've been reaching lately ever since Spring started. Today I thought I'll do a post about it and also introduce just a few new products (which I've been meaning to review). I'm not going to go into too much detail because I'll be either saving them for a future review or they've already been reviewed.
Hope you enjoyed by 'favourites' this month. This was more of a 'Welcoming' Spring Favourites post. Stay tuned for more 'favourites' posts in the future!
Products marked with '*' were sent by PR for consideration, all other items here were purchased with my own money and I was not reimbursed in anyway. For more details please see my disclosure policy.
Anyways! So, I don't really do a monthly favourites post because it's just so hard for me to literally have a favourite every month... unless I was repeating myself.. Anyways, this month has been an exception I'm going to try and do a monthly favourites so if it's successful or so I'll keep posting monthly favourites from now on!
These are the products that I've been reaching lately ever since Spring started. Today I thought I'll do a post about it and also introduce just a few new products (which I've been meaning to review). I'm not going to go into too much detail because I'll be either saving them for a future review or they've already been reviewed.
It's quite a lot of favourites but hey, they had to be included in this post! I love love love each and every product and a few are just ones I've recently picked up as well... (at IMATS)
First off the MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15. Neglected for quite a while and thought I'll put it to use since my Garnier BB Cream (the new one for oily & combination skin) has broken me out with stubborn pimples. I bought this last year from the US and got it shipped to me via my cousin. Best Tinted Moisturiser I've used and it's so gooooood. Highly recommend it.
MAC Blush in Peaches is something I purchased at IMATS this year, I paid the full AUS RRP which was $40 (I think) and I don't (really) regret paying the AUS price (considering I order my MAC via the US) but this time I didn't want to bother my cousin and trouble her sending items over and also I was in desperate need for a new blush and went away and splurged on this along with Margin which I don't really pick up that often. This blush gives me the nicest flush of colour and perfect for Work, Uni & Outings. (Review Here)
The Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent is AMAZING. So cheap and also so good. Doesn't leave a white mask like my old Australis Ready Set Go Translucent Powder and also actually keeps my oily combination skin matte for a good period of time (by all means at least 5-6 hours, but I wear this from 8am - 6pm and barely any sleekness on my face) it's amazing and I highly highly recommend it if you're looking for a cheap translucent powder. (Review Here)
The next item is something I really adore and also something I picked up at IMATS as well. Well, I picked up Shade 100 at IMATS and bought the Shade 45 at Inglot Bondi Junction. These Inglot Sleeks/Sleeks Cream's are amazing. I find that the Sleeks Cream has a slighter better longevity but it's not that drastically noticeable. The Shade 100 is a perfect dusty pink nude colour (An in-depth review will be posted soon! (SO, I don't wanna go into too much detail!) as for the Shade 45 which I purchased for $22 at Inglot. It's an amazing and highly pigmented orangey-coral colour that I've been searching for. Shade 100 which I purchased at IMATS was $15 by the way. Today, I purchased a whole heap of Inglot products so keep your eyes out for that Inglot Haul Post real soon!
Moving onto the other items! I have here are the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara which I've previously reviewed ages ago here. This mascara provides me with lashes that my natural asian lashes don't display naturally... This was a travel size and I'm willing to purchase the full size when it runs out. To be honest it's the best mascara I've ever used and very hard to find. It's almost comparable to Maybelline's One by One but instead it's a much more drier formula.
Australis Killer Curves Mascara* was a miss for me when I first received it, I didn't really like it that much and didn't see much of a difference. But now since using it and also probably cause of the fact that my lashes grew a tad bit longer (due to applying lash serums for like a month?) my lashes are lengthened and slightly curled up. I love it to bits and I can't wait to repurchase this mascara. I always apply this mascara first before my Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara and both work like a charm! Definitely a good purchase if you would like to get your hands on one, it's under $12 (from what I remember)
Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner in Deep Black is something I recently got this week, giving that I've had it for a couple of days it's more than enough for me to give my input to this mascara. I won't go in too much depth since I'll save it for a review later but so far, I actually do believe it lives up to it's hype. Let's see how it goes in a couple of weeks and a month later on. So far so good.
Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy Travel Size Perfume, I've recently bought the gift set (with a body lotion, shower gel, travel perfume & 100ml bottle) of this fragrance because I absolutely love it. As much as I adore the Marc Jacobs Eau So Fresh Daisy, Dot and also my Miss Dior Cherie by Christian Dior. None of them have the longevity like Midnight Fantasy.
Lately I've been annoyed with having all these expensive perfumes and then not getting a really good run on longevity unlike Midnight Fantasy. Despite the price tag for this (it's like so so cheap now) you don't need to spend so much on fragrances just to smell good! This was such a bargain grabbing the 100ml gift set for $49 at Priceline. It's going to be my everyday scent but it won't be my signature scent.
Last but not least, Make Up Forever Aqua Lip in 1C this is a nice nude lip pencil which I use nearly everyday (when I remember to lip line or feel like it). It's a great multipurpose nude lipliner for any lipstick you're planning to wear. I'll be writing a review on it real soon as well.
Hope you enjoyed by 'favourites' this month. This was more of a 'Welcoming' Spring Favourites post. Stay tuned for more 'favourites' posts in the future!
Love, J
Products marked with '*' were sent by PR for consideration, all other items here were purchased with my own money and I was not reimbursed in anyway. For more details please see my disclosure policy.
Royal and Langnickel Silk Pro Brushes Review
Before I start... Excuse the images as my camera lense has been acting up on me lately, as well as the dirty Stippling Brush I have displayed on my images! Slightly embarrassing! I should've cleaned it before taking the photo but oh wells! Anyways, I'm going to be reviewing the Royal and Langnickel Brushes which I purchased at IMATS a few weeks back. I don't have a full set but this is a selection of brushes I picked up!
First off, these brushes are affordable and they're pretty decent quality. I mean you get what you pay for and a few were are beyond my expectations and some didn't quite make it. They ranged from as cheap as $5 (I believe) to $15-20? for a single brush. There were brush sets and rolls at IMATS but they didn't appeal to me since I wouldn't planning on getting a large amount of brushes.
I purchased the Silk Pro brushes, which I think is relatively new. These are the first time I've purchased the R&L brushes and seeing how affordable they were, why not!? There was also the Revolution brushes from the R&L range and also these other ones which I don't remember.
I bought these as back up brushes as I always find that some of my eye brushes are dirty and it would be useful for a back up and have a clean brush handy for those days when I want to switch or blend some colours around without spot cleaning the brushes and waiting for them to dry since I am always in a rush in the morning when applying make up.
I purchased a total of 7 brushes I believe, and it cost me $44 (from memory) I don't remember exactly how much each brush was but they were roughly around $5-$7. The stippling brush I believe was $7? I think... or $7.50 and the metal lash comb was $5.
The stippling brush isn't anything new to me. I've gone through 5 stippling brushes (many of which were purchased on ebay) and I had a MAC 187 brush but I've seem to misplaced it. (Sad life! Gah!)
Anyways, it wasn't the best stippling brush I ever used... in fact it was really bad. I did use it as a blush brush at some times so hence the pink on the image. Nevertheless, I needed a new stippling brush and I was planning on getting the real techniques stippling brush but I picked this up cause it was cheap and I wanted to see how it was and see if I could use it temporarily. Overall, I was really disappointed with this brush (which I will explain real soon and why!)
Anyways, it wasn't the best stippling brush I ever used... in fact it was really bad. I did use it as a blush brush at some times so hence the pink on the image. Nevertheless, I needed a new stippling brush and I was planning on getting the real techniques stippling brush but I picked this up cause it was cheap and I wanted to see how it was and see if I could use it temporarily. Overall, I was really disappointed with this brush (which I will explain real soon and why!)
The metal lash comb has been a huge lifesaver and I'm glad I picked it up! Though I haven't found myself using it so much... I'm so glad I bought a concealer brush and this one from R&L is pretty awesome!
Okay, now to the brushes and my thoughts on them. I feel like I'm all over the place with this post but excuse my writing!
The brushes that I really like the most are the concealer brush (4th brush down on the image above) and the eyeshadow smudger brush (7th/last brush pictured on the bottom of the image above). I use these everyday and so far they're awesome. No complaints and for around $5-6 a brush, I'm loving it!
The brushes that I least like are most definitely the stippling brush, it has fallouts everytime I use it and it's annoying. If it didn't have fallouts at all I would like the brush. To me the brush felt flimsy and also didn't work as well as the other brushes which were more sturdy As for the stippling brush itself it's mediocre, I wouldn't say it's the best and I would definitely not purchase this brush anymore. I'm definitely going to find a new stippling brush.
The crease brush (or the fluffy brush I would like to call it - which is the 5th brush on the image above) it's an a-okay brush I don't love it or hate it - it's kinda in the middle. I like the brush in terms of blending and blurring out the harsh lines when I do my eyeshadow, but I wish the brush wasn't so big and so fluffy! Look at the fluffiness! My sigma E40 is the right size for blending and I wish it was a bit smaller, other than that no complaints.
As for the metal lash comb, I adore it! Great for getting rid of clumps and also get for separating lashes - though I haven't used it on a daily basis lately but I do like it!
The travel brushes, I also bought two travel brushes that I stash in my bag for on the go makeup application. One is a Dome Powder brush and one is a lip brush. The Dome Powder brush would have to be the most expensive out of the lot coming in at $11 for the travel size. It's exceptional quality for that price, and I love the sleek black packaging. The lip brush was $4 and it's pretty good as well.
I hope this post wasn't all over the place as I'm trying to fix up my horrible grammar within my post, let me know if there's anything I need improving on! Last weeks #bbloggersoz chat on twitter really opened my eyes about blogging and I'm feeling a bit skeptical about my posts! Hahaha!
Have you tried any R&L brushes? If so, which one are your favs?
Love, J
MAC Blushes in Margin & Peaches
So two weeks ago I picked up these MAC blushes at IMATS. Surprisingly I heard that they weren't 20% off because it was only the MAC Pro items that was 20% off so to my realisation now, when I handed my credit card I paid full price?! Oh well, I worked really hard and I deserved to spoil myself at IMATS! (Not going to kick myself...) If I knew that earlier... why did I bother waiting in line and shizz. Urgh!
Together both blushers look awesome. I've gotten many compliments from wearing them (especially Peaches) and also it's great for everyday wear and also going out. Basically, ANYTHING. I recommended Peaches to my cousin Mel and this was after she bought the NARS Orgasm blusher from Mecca... I told her to suss out Peaches and go back and exchange Orgasm. And I'm pretty sure she really digs Peaches as well. :)
Anyways, these are the very first MAC blushes I ever gotten and probably the most expensive blushes I've own to date. I was on the hunt for a peachy toned blush and somewhat Peaches was somewhat kinda what I wanted - not exactly but boy, it looks amazing on my cheeks! Hehehe.
I tried Warm Soul in store many times - which I really liked but you gotta have a light hand to apply that because it's really pigmented. I was planning to purchase Warm Soul at IMATS but it was sold out. I got to the MAC Pro stand at around 9am and crap... a lot of goodies were gone. Margin was a random purchase I don't know, when I swatched it.. I was like... "Okay, I'll get that one" cause the other colour I chose (I don't remember) probably it was Springsheen (I think) was sold out. So maybe... that's why I chose Peaches secondly?! Anywho don't care I got two blushes, I'm happy!
Together both blushers look awesome. I've gotten many compliments from wearing them (especially Peaches) and also it's great for everyday wear and also going out. Basically, ANYTHING. I recommended Peaches to my cousin Mel and this was after she bought the NARS Orgasm blusher from Mecca... I told her to suss out Peaches and go back and exchange Orgasm. And I'm pretty sure she really digs Peaches as well. :) 
Margin (Left) & Peaches (Right)
As Margin is a Frost Blusher, as mentioned I use it sometimes as a highlight. As a blush by itself it's really opaque?! Well sheer. Peaches on the other hand is a Sheertone blush which is ... obviously sheer and also more pigmented and really buildable. The blushers I find are not so powdery they're smooth on application and last quite a while on the cheeks. I think a good couple of hours (4-5hrs?)
I believe Margin is $42 or $43 at the MAC Counter and Peaches is $40. You can find these at a MAC counter at Myer or David Jones.
Overall, I dig Peaches more and I love these blushers. Before these, I didn't really use blusher and now I'm so in love with Peaches and I love how it gives my face some colour. Love love love it!
Any other MAC blushes you admire or like to try?
Love, J
September's Lust Have It
So before heading out to work today around... 2pm. My mum handed me three parcels to me. One was from Sleek MakeUp (which I will review real soon) and another was some accessories I got from eBay. Last but not least it was also this month's Lust Have It box! I ripped that box quickly and had a good suss at the items I got this month before I left for work today!
This month's Lust Have It has been a bit of an improvement as opposed to the past 2 months or so (if I believe so.) I didn't blog about last month's Lust Have It because I was that disappointed and I couldn't say too much about it. Anywho, with a slight positive outlook towards this post - I was excited and thrilled to check out what I got for this months subscription.
I'm somewhat satisfied with this months box as opposed to the previous ones so far only because there were items I actually find pretty useful and also they're pretty good sample sizes or trial sizes considering how pricey they usually are. (I'm talking about the Dermologica ones, I think they were the ones that got me excited the most)
This month, it came in a silver pouch. Last month it came in a box to celebrate Lust Have It's 1st Birthday. The contents on last months box were mediocre but we shall focus on this months box which I quite like!
I got two Dermologica trial size products! Enough said. I am happy! For the rest of the item they were like... meh. I've been keen on trying their products so this is a great opportunity to try them! Also, it's my first time trying out a Mirenesse product that was included in this months subscription. There was also a free $90 voucher for a Dermologica facial (if you make a $50 purchase in store) and also there was a voucher where you can redeem for a free Cat Liner Eyeliner from Mirenesse worth $39? I think it was. Davroe came with a coupon for a free hair styling product. The code is 'BEAUTY' if you're interested.
I apologise for the bad photos, my camera was just not focusing much today and it was hella annoying. Bare with me for now!
So what did I get...
1. Dermalogica PreCleanse (150ml @ $65.50 - Received 15ml) - Gently permeates and liquefies sebum and oil based debris from the skin's surface, encapsulating it so it is readily rinsed away without leaving behind any greasy residue.
Haven't tried this product yet but it was depicted on the Lust Have It description card that the Precleanse was very popular on the set of the Twilight Eclipse movie, as the make-up artist used it to remove heavy make-up from actors without harsh rubbing or over cleansing.
2. Dermalogica Active Toner (250ml @ $51 - Received 30ml) - Spritz on for critical hydration with this refreshing blend of skin-repairing Aloe, moisture binding Sodium PCA plus soothing Lavender, Balm Mint and Arnica. Excellent for all skin conditions.
This product reminds me of the Puretopia Refresh and Balance Facial Mist & Toner. It can possibly be a cheaper dupe. If you own the Puretopia Refresh & Balance Facial Mist you know what I'm talking about. This toner leaves this numbing tingly feeling on my face after spritzing it. I don't know if that's good or bad... LOL. But it then leaves my skin smooth and refreshed.
3. Davroe Ultimatum Non Aerosol Hairspray (200ml @ $19.95 - Received 50ml) - A finishing spray that provides a long lasting maximum hold to any style. This quick drying formula includes Rosemary and Hops to help protect the hairs natural moisture balance and adds natural shine.
I used this today before heading to work, it was meh. Felt like a typical hair spray and I didn't like how it made my hair solid (you know that feeling with hair spray?) Yeah, I like my De Lorenzo Elements Ocean Mist Hair Spray which I got with April's Lust Have It box which I use from time to time for work to just set my stray baby hairs in place.
4. Mirenesse "Protect Me" - Tinted or Regular (18g @ $69 - Received a 'Tinted' sample size roughly 5gs?) - A unique 2-in-1 anti-ageing balm that's infused with high performance Mineral Sunscreens (not chemical) that protect against UVA & UVB rays.
Haven't tried this yet but I'm assuming it's a tinted moisturiser from the description.
5. Say It With Scent - Green Tea or Vanilla or Frangipani (200ml @ $26.80 - Received a 30ml 'Vanilla' scent - A non-greasy easily absorbed lotion, enriched with Shea Butter and natural vitamin E. This lotion is plant based and contains no petro chemicals.
I was kinda meh when I saw this considering the amount of lotions Lust Have It always shoves in their monthly subscriptions. But I do love the heavy vanilla scent, it's heavenly pleasant that you might be tempted to lick the cream... LOL. Trust me this vanilla scent is not sickening but smells so good that you wanna eat it.
This wraps up this post, I've been hella busy and I apologise my recent rant on twitter about Uni. You know... a girls gotta rant... Anywho, be back soon with more reviews (Mid-Semester Break next week! Woop!)
This month's Lust Have It has been a bit of an improvement as opposed to the past 2 months or so (if I believe so.) I didn't blog about last month's Lust Have It because I was that disappointed and I couldn't say too much about it. Anywho, with a slight positive outlook towards this post - I was excited and thrilled to check out what I got for this months subscription.
I'm somewhat satisfied with this months box as opposed to the previous ones so far only because there were items I actually find pretty useful and also they're pretty good sample sizes or trial sizes considering how pricey they usually are. (I'm talking about the Dermologica ones, I think they were the ones that got me excited the most)
This month, it came in a silver pouch. Last month it came in a box to celebrate Lust Have It's 1st Birthday. The contents on last months box were mediocre but we shall focus on this months box which I quite like!
I got two Dermologica trial size products! Enough said. I am happy! For the rest of the item they were like... meh. I've been keen on trying their products so this is a great opportunity to try them! Also, it's my first time trying out a Mirenesse product that was included in this months subscription. There was also a free $90 voucher for a Dermologica facial (if you make a $50 purchase in store) and also there was a voucher where you can redeem for a free Cat Liner Eyeliner from Mirenesse worth $39? I think it was. Davroe came with a coupon for a free hair styling product. The code is 'BEAUTY' if you're interested.
I apologise for the bad photos, my camera was just not focusing much today and it was hella annoying. Bare with me for now!
So what did I get...
1. Dermalogica PreCleanse (150ml @ $65.50 - Received 15ml) - Gently permeates and liquefies sebum and oil based debris from the skin's surface, encapsulating it so it is readily rinsed away without leaving behind any greasy residue.
Haven't tried this product yet but it was depicted on the Lust Have It description card that the Precleanse was very popular on the set of the Twilight Eclipse movie, as the make-up artist used it to remove heavy make-up from actors without harsh rubbing or over cleansing.
2. Dermalogica Active Toner (250ml @ $51 - Received 30ml) - Spritz on for critical hydration with this refreshing blend of skin-repairing Aloe, moisture binding Sodium PCA plus soothing Lavender, Balm Mint and Arnica. Excellent for all skin conditions.
This product reminds me of the Puretopia Refresh and Balance Facial Mist & Toner. It can possibly be a cheaper dupe. If you own the Puretopia Refresh & Balance Facial Mist you know what I'm talking about. This toner leaves this numbing tingly feeling on my face after spritzing it. I don't know if that's good or bad... LOL. But it then leaves my skin smooth and refreshed.
3. Davroe Ultimatum Non Aerosol Hairspray (200ml @ $19.95 - Received 50ml) - A finishing spray that provides a long lasting maximum hold to any style. This quick drying formula includes Rosemary and Hops to help protect the hairs natural moisture balance and adds natural shine.
I used this today before heading to work, it was meh. Felt like a typical hair spray and I didn't like how it made my hair solid (you know that feeling with hair spray?) Yeah, I like my De Lorenzo Elements Ocean Mist Hair Spray which I got with April's Lust Have It box which I use from time to time for work to just set my stray baby hairs in place.
4. Mirenesse "Protect Me" - Tinted or Regular (18g @ $69 - Received a 'Tinted' sample size roughly 5gs?) - A unique 2-in-1 anti-ageing balm that's infused with high performance Mineral Sunscreens (not chemical) that protect against UVA & UVB rays.
Haven't tried this yet but I'm assuming it's a tinted moisturiser from the description.
5. Say It With Scent - Green Tea or Vanilla or Frangipani (200ml @ $26.80 - Received a 30ml 'Vanilla' scent - A non-greasy easily absorbed lotion, enriched with Shea Butter and natural vitamin E. This lotion is plant based and contains no petro chemicals.
I was kinda meh when I saw this considering the amount of lotions Lust Have It always shoves in their monthly subscriptions. But I do love the heavy vanilla scent, it's heavenly pleasant that you might be tempted to lick the cream... LOL. Trust me this vanilla scent is not sickening but smells so good that you wanna eat it.
This wraps up this post, I've been hella busy and I apologise my recent rant on twitter about Uni. You know... a girls gotta rant... Anywho, be back soon with more reviews (Mid-Semester Break next week! Woop!)
Love, J
Tag: How Much Is My Face Worth?
It's a tag that has been circulating for a while, I thought I'll do it. I wasn't really specifically tagged but thought it'd be heaps fun to do. It's interested to read what other beauty bloggers have and how much of their money has been spent on products! Note: I don't use all these items all at the same time but they are part of my daily routine.
Brushes:
Real Technique's Foundation Brush - $9.99
Sigma Angled Top Kubuki Brush F84 - $16
Sigma Large Powder Brush F30 - $15
Face:
Make Up Forever HD Foundation in N123 - $42
MAC Fix+ - $27
Benefit Porefessional - $30
Smashbox Photo Finish Travel Size Primer - $16
elf Contouring Blush & Bronzer - $6
Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Powder - $10
MAC Select Cover Up Concealer - $15
Eyes:
Naked 2 Palette - $50
Maybelline One by One Mascara - $15
Australis Lash & Brow Extender - $11
Australis 10hr Waterproof Eye Pencil in Bombtastic Bronze - $10
Essence Brown Pencil - $3
Skin Food Waterproof Eyeliner in Black - $13
Urban Decay Primer Potion - $24
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze - $10
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler - $20
Skincare/Lips:
Bioderma Crealine H20 Cleanser 250ml - $19.95*
Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Moisturiser - $39
MAC Lipstick in Freckletone & Costa Chic - $29
Maybelline Baby Lips - $3
Altogether: $414 Australian Dollars
Crap! That is heaps! Take into consideration that some products I've purchased from the US, eBay and all and maybe cheaper than the Australian RRP. Also, the ones I've put in italics are the ones I use from time to time or not so often. Lately this is what i've been using. I hope you found this interesting and if you decided to do this tag let me know! I would love to check out your tag!
Love, J
*Disclaimer: Product marked with * has been sent for consideration and has not been included into the final total amount. All amounts shown are the prices purchased during the time of purchase.
Benefit's Cabana Glama
So I while back, probably around 2 weeks ago or so I received this super quick package I ordered from Benefit. My friend Shela & I ordered the Cabana Glama Kit only because I informed her that it was on sale for $19US on the Benefit website. Considering how much of a bargain it was and how much Shela wanted to try out the Hoola Bronzer, it was an instant impulse buy for us both.
I placed an order for two of these kits and a week and a half later it arrived! Super quick, way quicker than I expected because I know a lot of people who order from Benefit usually take 2 weeks. I'm impressed!
In this box/set it includes:
- Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder
- Benefit Some Kind a Gorgeous The Foundation Faker (Medium shade)
- Benefit Posietint
- Eyeshadow Palette (Shades: Peach Fuzz, Bronze Buzz, and Cocoa Pizzazz)
- Mini Cheek Brush and Double Ended Sponge Applicator
- Step by Step Get the Look Instructions
The box is super adorable. It comes with a leaflet which looks like postcards as well as instructions on how to use the products altogether. The box where the cosmetics are placed is also removable.
So far I've been using the eyeshadow colours from this palette to give it a test run and also experiment with colours combined.
- Peach Fizz is a iridescent pink, it's an awesome highlight colour and it's looks pretty and chic by itself on the lids.
- Bronze Fizz has go to be my go-to everyday brown eyeshadow colour. I'm a pretty neutral person when it comes to eyeshadows - I've never really had the courage to pull off any bright colours and hopefully one day I'll experiment and try to pull it off but in the meantime I'm loving this, goes really well with the rest of the 2 eyeshadows.
- Cocoa Pizzazz is a colour which I don't really reach for but with this set, all the colours combined makes a wonderful combination on the lids. This adding a little depth on my non-existent hallows of my lids.
The formulation of the eyeshadow isn't too bad. I feel that it's mediocre, they're very sheer on the first application but very much buildable. The eyeshadows feel creamy and not chalky and cheap. I found that when I foil these eyeshadows they look so much better. So I usually do this with spritzing a bit of the MAC's Fix+ on my Sigma E55 brush with the desired eyeshadow and apply it on the lids.
Some Kind-a Gorgeous is a cream foundation which when applied settles to a powdery velvet finish. Much love for this compact, great for touch ups and all and it's the perfect shade for me! It's mainly the reason why I bought this set in the first place because I didn't want to opt for the full sized compact and wanted something small and compact to carry around.
Hoola Bronzer is probably the best thing in this kit (if you're a huge benefit fan, in my opinion), you get a decent amount of this beautiful bronzer and it's freaking amazing. I had the full size bronzer until I gave it away to a family friend because I felt like I liked the other bronzers I was using more but now I rediscovered my love for this bronzer.
Posietint is pretty mediocre, it works like a charm on the lips but I'm not too sure about the cheeks. To have the full effect of the tint on the cheeks you gotta work that product quickly or else it will look blouchy if you don't blend it immediately. I love it more as a lip tint.
If you're a neutral type of girl (like me) this would probably be the kit for you. I'm not 100% sure about the Hoola Bronzer because it can seem a bit dark if you're skin is really fair. But if you're a medium toned person, this would be suitable. Overall, it's benefit's best selling bronzer - it's hard to pass!
I'm not a huge fan of the applicators in this package so I'm always using my Real Technique / Sigma eye brushes. Feel free to use your fingertips, I won't judge you.
Swatches:
- Hoola Bronzer
- Eyeshadows: Peach Fizz, Bronze Buzz, Cocoa Pizzazz
- Some Kind A Gorgeous Compact Foundation in: Medium
- Lip/Cheek Tint: Posietint
Considering how this was on sale for $19USD and how everything was so compact... it was hard to pass with a bargain like this considering it retails for $54AUD at Myer & David Jones. Perfect as a present as well! Too cute!
Have you tried any other kits from Benefit?
Love, J
Bioderma Crealine H20 Review
This has got to be the most talked about Make Up Remover in the beauty blogging world and probably renowned by all international make up artists. I first found out about Bioderma Crealine H20 on YouTube after watching a few beauty gurus rave about it. I also found out the famous Rae Morris (international make up artist for those who don't know - swear by this and was "not allowed anywhere near the models at Paris Fashion Week if she didn't have this make up remover" (sounds crazy to me...)
Anywho, I see what the hype is all about and how wonderful this little bottle of a miracle water this is!
Bioderma Créaline H20 is a very gentle, fragrance-free micellar solution that cleanses impurities and removes make-up without affecting the skin’s natural balance. The ultra-gentle micelles help capture fatty molecules such as dirt, oil, and make-up, leaving sensitive and intolerant skin cleansed and soothed. For best use, soak a cotton pad with the solution and cleanse your face and eyes. No rinsing is required. It is Soap-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic.
To use this makeup remover you pop some onto a cotton pad and wipe all over your face. This solution feels lovely on your skin and you there's no extra step required.
For the eyes, it might take a little longer to remove but it's not irritating and messy-free! You just need a little bit more solution!
What I noticed with Bioderma Crealine is that it doesn't contain those oils that aid with the make up removal. I hate that gluggy oily feeling you get when you remove make up with those make up removers. You know what I'm talking about and you may own one of those! It feels like I just washed my face with water and my make up has been removed effortlessly as well! What made me convert to Crealine is not only it's effectiveness but how gentle it is as well.
The wonderful thing about this product is that it feels just like water and has no distinctive scent to it. Which is great for people who are sensitive. I believe it's created to suit sensitive skin in the first place anyways and also can be doubled up as an everyday toner despite it's wonderful qualities as a make up remover it contains moisturising ingredients (one such, being the micelles).
Lisa Eldridge, a famous British make up artist and also someone who I subscribe to on YouTube - uses Bioderma Crealine as part of her make up removal process everyday on her skin! You can check out her video (here) check it out at 1:33. She has also mentioned Bioderma in one of her favourite skincare products as well (here) at 5:44.
Overall here are my thoughts on Bioderma in a nutshell...
Pros:
- Removes make up effortlessly without irritating the skin
- Scent and colour free and will cleanse your skin while cooling it.
- Gentle to use everyday
- Great for all skin types (sensitive especially)
- Great as an everyday toner as well
- Not widely avaliable in Australia (At the moment avaliable at Terry White Chemists in Syd & Melb)
- Expensive (Comes at $39.95 for a 250ml in Australia)
- There are cheaper alternatives but I don't think they really compare to Bioderma
Will I repurchase?! Maybe... since the price tag is a bit hefty but it is worth every single cent in the long run and also other than that I love it regardless!
You can find Bioderma Crealine H20 here in Australia at Terry White Chemists. For those who live in Sydney, I know Strathfield's Terry White Chemist (in Strathfield Plaza) stocks them as I'm a regular at Strathfield from time to time.
[EDIT:] I've just been informed about the following places in Sydney!
- Avalon Beach Pharmacy, 40 Avalon Parade, Avalon
- Boian Night Pharmacy, 486 King Georges Road, Beverly Hills
- Hala Pharmacy, 550 King Georges Road, Beverly Hills
- Bondi Beach Chemist, 14 Campbell Parade, Bondi
- Harrisons Pharmacy Castlehill, Shop 226, L2, Castle Towers, Old Castlehill Road, Castle Hill
- Well Being Pharmacy, 119A North Road, Denistone East
- Furley's Pharmacy, Cosmopolitan Centre Shop 25, 2-22 Knox Street, Double Bay
- Drummoyne Medical Centre Pharmacy, 1/159-167 Victoria Road, Drummoyne
- Forestway Pharmacy, Shop 24, Forestway Shopping Centre, French's Forest
- Terry White Chemists, 119-125 Beaumont Street, Hamilton
- Hurtsville Pharmacy Chinatown, 172 Forest Road, Hurstville
- PharmaSave Compounding Pharmacy, 74C Old Bells Line of Road, Kurrajong Village
- Wade’s Chemist, 152 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove
- Manly Vale Pharmacy, 339 Condamine Street, Manly Vale
- Blues Point Pharmacy, 1/137 Blues Point Road, McMahon's point
- Mulgoa Pharmacy, 1216 Mulgoa Road, Mulgoa
- Inform Pharmacy Neutral Bay, The Grove Arcade, Shop 1, 166 Military Road, Neutral Bay
- Discount Day and Night Pharmacy, 296 King Street in Newtown
- Northbridge Pharmacy, Shop , 125 Sailors Bay Road, Northbridge
- North Ryde Pharmacy, Shop 18, 213 Coxs Road, North Ryde
- Inform Pharmacy North Sydney, 68 Walker Street, North Sydney
- Greenwood Plaza Pharmacy, Shop M15-M17 36 Blue Street, North Sydney
- Comino Pharmacy, 149 Avoca Street, Randwick
- Gold Cross Guardian Pharmacy, 118 Redfern Street, Redfern
- Blooms Pharmacy, Shop 45 Richmond marketplace, 78 March Street, Richmond
- Adore Pharmacy, 671 Darling Street, Rozelle
- Terry White Strathfield, 8/11 the Boulevarde, Strathfield
- Strathfield Boulevarde Pharmacy, 25 the Boulevarde, Strathfield
- Prohealth Pharmacy, 2/2 Booralie Road, Terrey Hills
- Wards Pharmacy, 176 Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga
- McBeath's Pharmacy, 161 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead
Also, you can hop onto the Cosmetiques De France Website (as they are the Australian Stockists for this brand) and purchase it from there. Just contact them and they can assist you in purchasing and sending out an order form! I believe someone said that it was free postage but you have to double check that.
You can also check out SASA as I believe they stock this on their site for $32-33 for a 500ml bottle. But they always tend to be sold out and Bioderma have recently rebranded this from “Crealine” to “Sensibio” so if you’re after a bottle, make sure you look out for either name – they’re the same product.
Love, J
*This product was provided for consideration. All my opinions and thoughts in this review are my own and are honest. For more information please see my disclosure policy.
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