Mecca Beauty Loop Box Level 3 - 2016

Last week, I received an email from Mecca advising my Level 3 Beauty Loop box was ready for collection. 4 times a year, Mecca releases these Beauty Boxes and there are three levels, and levels are dependent on the amount you've spent in store and online in the last 12 months. 

The Ren Satin Perfection BB Cream unfortunately is a little too dark for me, but I can try and use it when I have fake tan on. The box also comes with the Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Love. Unfortunately I'm not a big lip gloss fan, so I may just pass this on to a friend. The box also comes with a sample set of the By Terry Liftessence Trio (Global Serum, Daily Cream, Eye Contour). I do wish instead of little sachets the product came in a tiny jar or something, but I am excited to try this product. Lastly, the box came with NARS The Multiple in Orgasm. I do believe this product has appeared in boxes in the past, but I've never received it, so I'm pretty excited about this product. It is a deluxe size, but comes with 4g of product, which is a decent size!

And those are the products I received the first Mecca Beauty Loop Box from 2016! Did you receive Beauty Loop Box 3 with different products?

Thanks for reading,

X

Chi Chi Brow Pomade - Taupe Vs Dark Brown

Today I have a quick comparison post comparing two shades of the Chi Chi Brow Pomade I own - Taupe and Dark Brown. I have previously done a review on the Taupe shade (and the product in general), which can be viewed here, but I have found it a bit difficult to find comparison posts on line, so thought I would compare the two shades I own.

I originally purchased Taupe as I currently have a balayage in my hair - blonde from about 1/3 down. I have recently had the brunette at the top done much darker and cooler in tone, and because I do have the dark tones in the beginning of my hair, I wasn't too afraid of purchasing one of the darker shades as I enjoyed the product so much.

(L to R: heavy swatch of Taupe, light swatch [how I would use on brows] with angled brush, heavy swatch of Dark Brown, light swatch with angled brush)

Now that the roots of my hair are a lot darker, I find Taupe doesn't work as well in my brows - it does appear a lot more warm toned than it previously had. The light swatches above is how I use the product - I like to dip my brush in the product, wipe it on the lid and go from there. I tend to reach for Dark Brown a lot more these days, but Taupe would be a great shade for blondes or those with lighter hair.

The Chi Chi Brow Pomade is $14.95 and can be purchased from the Chi Chi website, and from Myer and Target in Australia.

Thanks for reading,

X

Lipstick Queen Queen Bee - review and swatches

The tinted lip treatments from Lipstick Queen are one of my favourite lip products. Today I'm bringing you a review of Queen Bee, which is a tinted lip treatment with a bronze gold finish. This lipstick can be purchased from Mecca Maxima and retails for $32.

Lipstick Queen describes this product as follows:

"Oozing with nourishing ingredients to soothe, repair and hydrate your pout, Queen Bee is an unctuous lip treatment with a glamorous bronze gold finish. Enriched with Royal Jelly, which ensures lips remain super soft and plump, it also contains chamomile and sunflower extract to help soothe sore, chapped lips".

This product also has a honey fragrance.

As you can see above, this is a bronze gold shade, with shimmer. The shimmer isn't irritating at all and wears off fine - you're not left with glitter allover your lips once the product is gone. This is a flattering shade for a lip treatment, and definitely suited to the warmer months. Because it is relatively sheer as well, it is work appropriate. 

I have previously done a review on Hello Sailor, which is a similar product to this, and the review can be found here. I was also gifted with Medieval for Christmas, so I will have a review up shortly once I've tested it a bit more. 

The only other one of these products I want to add to my collection is Frog Prince, but it is always out of stock in store. These type of products are great for two reasons - the benefit of a lip treatment, and that the shade is really sheer, but also flattering. As it is sheer, it is a product you can apply on the go and without a mirror. Any beauty junkie knows that a bit of lip colour can really transform your face, even if you're going with a natural or no makeup look. And even if your lips are super dry and cracked, you can still wear a bit of colour on them as these products are super moisturising. 

If you're interested in a tinted lip treatment, I would recommend checking out Lipstick Queen. They have a few shades available, so I'm sure you'll find something you'll like!

Thanks for reading,

X

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Opal Glow on the Go - review and swatches

BECCA is a brand I've never tried, but their Shimmering Skin Perfectors are all the rage on YouTube and the blogging sphere. With the release of Jaclyn Hill's Champagne Pop, if you didn't know about BECCA before, you definitely do now. I saw this set around a few weeks before Sephora Online launched, and once it did, I had to pick this set up. The set includes a sample of the Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights in Opal, and the Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal. Opal appears to be one of the more popular shades of choice, and for $45, it sounded much better than $60 for one product when I can get two (obviously the size of the product is a lot smaller, but I get to try out two products).

The Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Opal is absolutely gorgeous. In this set, the size of the product is 2.40 grams, as opposed to 8 grams for the full sized. However, you only need a tiny bit of the powder for super glowy skin, so it would take a while to get through this. In regards to the liquid, the full size comes with a massive 50mL, and the one in the set comes with 5mL.

BECCA describes the set as following: "Let your features shine with Shimmering Skin Perfector and Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in best selling shades Opal. Perfect to create a range of looks, these travel friendly versions of BECCA's #1 selling luminizor allow for targeted highlighting, touch ups, and the ability to achieve a natural glow wherever you go".

The packaging describes the Spotlight (liquid) as a formula that "features ultra-fine light-reflecting pearls that melt into your skin for polished, natural-looking radiance". The Pressed is described as having a "velvet finish".

(L: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal, R: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights in Opal)

Overall, I'm really impressed with this set. The Pressed in Opal has become a favourite everyday highlight. For nights out or when I want super extreme highlight, I will use both products together. Since purchasing this set, I have also purchased the Limited Edition Champagne Pop. I'm really impressed with the two shades of highlighters. If you can still pick up this set online, I would recommend it!

Thanks for reading,

X

Top 15 of 2015

I feel like 2015 just flew by. It was one of the most challenging years of my life, and I am happy to see it go. So today, I bring you my Top 15 of 2015 - in no particular order.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette
This palette is absolutely beautiful. When I do makeup on people, this is the palette I reach for 90% of the time. Marzipan is a beautiful allover lid colour, and Creme Brulee is a stunning gold. I have made a significant dent in Milk Chocolate, which I love to use as a transition shade, and the shimmery highlight, Champagne Truffle is a beautiful shimmery shade (and can even be used as a highlight on the face). If I was to travel, this would be the palette I would take with me. It has the right amount of shimmer and mattes, and all the shadows are beautiful. I highly recommend this palette. I will eventually have a comparison post between the Chocolate Bar Palette and the Semi Sweet Chocolate Bar Palette up on the blog.

MAC Velvet Teddy
This has been my go-to colour for the better half of the year. I have purchased a back up of this, as I am nearly out of mine. It is a medium nude, and looks beautiful on my light skin, but would work on many skin tones. It is a pricey lipstick, but the MAC matte lipsticks are my favourite conventional lipstick, and it lasts for hours on the lips. If I'm wearing a nude lipstick, 80% of the time it is this.

Chi Chi Super CC Cream
This is my favourite base product from this year (and probably all time). The shade is great for my skin tone, and you get a lot of product - the tube comes with 50g! I've had it for quite a few months and will need to purchase a back up shortly. It is light-medium coverage, and if you're able to get this in your shade, I would recommend it. It is hydrating as it is a CC cream, and my dry skin looks fabulous with it. Highly recommend this.

OPI You're Such a Budapest  
This OPI nail polish has been on my nails 50% of the year. It is the most perfect periwinkle purple.

Kit Cosmetics Salted Caramel Candle
I don't currently have this candle, but it is one of my absolute favourite candles. This is the only sweet candle I actually enjoy. Usually, sweet candles are too sickly for me, but this candle smells like heaven. Absolutely adore this candle. When I've burnt through 2 more candles, I will repurchase this.

Lipstick Queen Hello Sailor & Queen Bee
I'm going to group these two together because they are a similar product, just a different shade. Essentially, they are a tinted lip stick, that are super moisturising. In the colder months, these are bomb lip products. My boyfriend also gifted me with Medieval for Christmas, so I will have a review up of it soon. For a review of Hello Sailor, see here.

Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation 
This powder is absolutely heavenly on my face. It isn't the cheapest face powder, but it doesn't dry my skin out at all. It also smells like chocolate, so who can really complain? I would recommend checking out this powder - oily and dry skin alike!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Where has this mascara been all my life???? I don't have the most fabulous lashes. They are short, okay at holding a curl, but nothing amazing. Enter the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. I love this mascara. If you haven't tried this mascara out, please, do your self a favour and try it. Your mascara game will change completely. The first time I wore this mascara, my friend asked me if I was wearing falsies. Enough said!

LA Girl Pro Conceal in Classic Ivory
MAC Prolongwear Concealer is still one of my all time favourite undereye concealers, but for the last 2 or so months of 2015, I have really enjoyed this concealer. The shade I have is quite pink in tone and thus amazing at covering dark circles.

Chi Chi Brow Pomade 
I have two shades - Taupe and Dark Brown. When my roots were a lot lighter (I have a belayage blonde happening), Taupe was a good shade, but now that my roots are a lot darker, I find Dark Brown the better option. To see my review of Taupe, please click here. A comparison of the two will be up on the blog shortly.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip in Trap
In the cooler months, this is the ultimate perfect lip shade. It is a cool toned nude. The formula lasts on your lips for ages, is a little drying, but not too extreme. These products retail for $6US, and they have a heap of shades as well. I have two reviews up of different shades - see review 1 (Trap is mentioned) and review 2.

NARS Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Palette 
This, of course, is a favourite from the last couple of months of 2015. The highlight shade in this palette is my favourite to put under my eyes. See my review of the palette here. The palette contains a massive Laguna, beautiful blush shades, and a nice contouring and highlighting duo. If you can still pick this up, I would highly recommend it.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle EDP
This perfume was a gift for my 23rd birthday this year. I've never been too interested in Chanel scents, but this scent is so feminine. I've used a quarter of the bottle in five months, so it definitely has been used a lot this past year.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion Plus
This moisturiser has been a favourite for years. It is super moisturising, works well in the summer and winter months, and always leaves my skin feeling hydrated.

ColourPop Blaze Super Shock Shadow
This eyeshadow was part of the Kathleenlights Where the Light Is quad, but can now be purchased individually (I have placed an order with ColourPop and one is on it's way to me). See review of quad here. This is the most perfect bronzey, glittery shadow. Because it is a ColourPop eyeshadow, it is super pigmented and one of my favourite go to bronzes (next to Urban Decay Smog, nothing will ever remove that as my number 1 bronze).

And those are my favourites of 2015!

Happy New Year!