One Palette, One Month - Anastasia Beverley Hills Shadow Couture World Traveller Palette - July 2016 Finale

This month, I decided to embark on a month long challenge to use my eyeshadow palettes. To see my original post, click here. My hopes with this one was to hit pan on one shadow - and I'm happy to show my progress to you now.

For my first month doing this challenge, I decided on the Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveller Palette.

Pictured below is my starting progress for this palette at the beginning of the month:

And here is my progress over the last month:

As you can see, I have hit pan on three shadows out of the twelve - which is more than I was expecting to hit! Chic has some significant pan showing, and in all honesty, I never reached for this shadow before this month, but during the last month, have loved using it. I really do love this shadow, and I would be interested in purchasing it as a single. Unfortunately, I think this shadow was exclusive to this palette only and is not available in the Anastasia Beverly Hills regular line. 

I think I will end up deporting the shadows in this palette into a Z Palette to declutter some of the space in my palette drawer, but using this palette over the last month has really made me love using this palette, and I am definitely interested in trying out more Anastasia Beverly Hills shadows and palettes (Modern Renaissance, I'm looking at you!).

I will in the next few days the palette I have decided to use in August. I'm really happy with my progress this last month, and hope to continue it throughout my One Palette, One Month journey.

Thanks for reading!
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GlamGlow ThirstyMud Hydrating Treatment - review

A couple of months ago I picked up the deluxe sample size of the GlamGlow ThirstyMud Hydrating Treatment from Mecca. The 15mL jar retails for $28AUD, and I thought $28 wasn't that much of an investment to try out a hydrating mask treatment. I have dry skin, and in winter, it becomes significantly dryer. 

I have been using the GlamGlow ThirstyMud for a few months, so I am ready to review the product. This product can be purchased in Australia from Mecca Maxima and Mecca Cosmetica, and can be purchased online.

GlamGlow describes this product as following:

THIRSTYMUD uses our-most advanced hydration active technologies, providing deep instant hydration. THIRSTYMUD hydrates, moisturises, restores, replenishes and clams the skin. Designed for men and women. New super technologies in THIRSTYMUD will leave you with hydrated heart pounding glowing skin".

After reading this, you can see that GlamGlow does make some serious claims for their product. I like this product, but I'm not wowed by it or anything - it isn't a revolutionary product for me. I find it hydrating and it is good for the winter (or on a weekly basis in the warmer months), but for the price that you pay for this product (almost $100 Australian for the full size), you would expect this product to be revolutionising. However, in saying that, I would recommend any dry skin people out there to give this product a go and pick up a small jar of this. 

It's actually cheaper to purchase the small 15mL tub from Mecca than to purchase the 50mL. The 50mL retails for $98AUD. This product has a coconut-like scent. I find it quite pleasant, but for those that are sensitive to scents, I would suggest smelling this in store before purchasing.

The GlamGlow website suggests using this product 2-3 times a week, or when needed. The website suggests that this product has three uses - day time use, in which you leave the product on your skin for 10-20 minutes allowing it to absorb, and then wipe off with a tissue and message the remaining product into the skin. For the night time, it suggests to apply and leave overnight (which is my preferred use for this mask), and this mask also has a use during flights, when our skin can become extremely dry. For this, it suggests to apply at the beginning of the flight and leave on for the whole duration of the flight.

I like this product, I'm not disappointed by it by any means, and I most likely will repurchase the small jar of this. A small amount goes a long way with this product, so the jar I initially purchased is still going strong.

GlamGlow does have different masks for different skin types, so I would recommend trying a sample size of the one suited to your skin.

Thanks for reading,
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Sportsgirl Lip Chalk Matte Lip Cream - Vertigo - review and swatches

I've not tried much of the Sportsgirl makeup, but every time I go in, I love to look at the makeup. A couple of weeks ago I went into a store and saw they had Matte Lip Creams (and instantly I was excited). Vertigo is the type of colour that I have been loving the last year - a medium brown (and would be a lovely nude on deeper skin tones). The liquid lipstick was $9.95, and can be purchased in store or online. This product comes with 9 grams of product. 

(The swatch of Vertigo does appear a bit patchy in places, but this is not how it appears on the lips)

If you're not a fan of liquid lipsticks, they did have this shade available as a regular lipstick - I swatched the two next to each other in store, and they were the same shade, just different finishes. The lipstick is described as a matte finish, but is definitely more creamier, and does not have the liquid lipstick matte finish.

I really like this liquid lipstick. It does have a smell that I find similar to the Australis Velourlips, but disappears quite quickly. The formula is quite thin for a liquid lipstick, but I find it doesn't dry my lips out at all - it is about average for liquid lipsticks. The website shows seven different shades, and I might go in store and swatch Sandstorm (describe as a nude) and Brownie (described as a chocolate), as these two out of the collection seem like colours I will get a lot of use out of. I would definitely recommend taking a look into these products when you're next in Sportsgirl.

Thanks for reading,
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Mecca Beauty Loop Level 3 - 2016

This week I got an email from Mecca saying the "special edition" Beauty Loop Level 3 box was available for collection. About a month ago Mecca had a Beauty Election, where you were able to vote for your favourites products. The products featured in this box are from the Beauty Election.

Generally the boxes come with a card that tells you about the products that are in your box, but a nice feature in this box is you can see all the products that were available in the Level 3 box. Not going to lie, I really was hoping for the Eyeko Skinny Liner. 

And here are the products I received:

bareMinerals Lash Domination Volumising Mascara

This mascara is actually one of my favourites. I'm currently using a deluxe sample I received in a Christmas set, but when that one goes bad I'll definitely reach for this.

NARS Liquid Laguna Bronzer

NARS Laguna Bronzer is actually one of my favourite bronzers in the summer months. I'm not too sure how I feel about liquid bronzers, but it is nice to receive a sample of this (the sample size is 4mL) to try it out. I probably won't reach for this product until the summer months, though. 

Ren V-Cense Revitalising Night Cream

I seem to always end up with a Ren product in my boxes - which isn't a bad thing, as I have quite enjoyed the products I have tried to date. This one will definitely get some use soon as I am nearly out of my night time moisturiser. 

Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Cleansing Oil

I am currently using a cleansing oil from Sephora (which I love), so it would be great to try a different brands cleansing oil, as the Sephora one is currently the only one I have tried. This would be a good travel size, but in all honesty, I don't think I'd bother too much in bringing a cleansing oil with me when I travel.

And those are the products I received in my Beauty Loop Box! What did you receive?

Thanks for reading,

X

Project 10 Pan - First Update

Back in June, I posted my introduction post for my Project 10 Pan, which you can view here. It's been over one month, so I thought I was overdue for an update post.

1. L'Oreal Nude Magique Foundation in 120 Ivory
To be honest, I think this foundation is just a little bit too dark for me. Because it is quite watery based, I can't mix it with a lot of foundations that I own, besides the MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation (or I've been thinking of purchasing The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Lightening Drops). I think I've only used this foundation two or three times, so there is actually no real progress with this product.

2. NYX HD Concealer in Fair 
I actually quite enjoy using this product, and it is the one getting the most use in this project. I apply my MAC Prolongwear Concealer in NW20, and then for extra highlight under my eyes, I apply this concealer on top. I have made significant progress on this concealer, and I'm actually thinking I'm going to end up repurchasing this once I am done.

3. Rimmel Soft Khol Kajal Eye Liner Pencil in 011 Sable Brown 
I have made some progress with this product, as can be seen in the photo at the end of the post. I don't apply pencil liners on a daily basis, so I do need to remember to use this.

4. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
For the first couple of weeks I forgot to use this product - whoops! But I have used an okay amount of this. When I wear eyeshadow, I put this on top of my MAC Paint Pot in Painterly. If I'm not wearing any eyeshadow, I tend to put on a bit of the ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in 'Glow' as it is fairly neutral and matches my skin tone.

5. Sleek Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette - Fair 
I did end up repressing the contour shade in this palette, to try and use it up fully. I feel like I have made a dip in the highlight shade, but can hardly see any progress in the blush. The blush shade isn't really appropriate for this time of year, but I have been trying to use it with a light hand. The dip in the highlight doesn't really show in the photos, but it's there.

6. bareMinerals Marvellous Moxie Lipstick in Make Your Move
I hate to say it, but I really dislike this lipstick. I have tried to use it a few times, but even, as you can see below in the photo at the end of the post, that has made hardly any significance. This lipstick is too glossy and feels really sticky - and to be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of the colour. If I am wearing a lipstick, I prefer it to be matte. I might try mix this with a lipgloss and see if that makes me like the colour a bit more, but I am really struggling at the moment to use this product.

7. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in 'Glow'
As this is actually a product with a pan, this is the first product I have hit pan on in the project - go me! I do want to use this product up, but this is a good start. As mentioned earlier in the post, I like to pop this shadow on my eye lids for the days where I am not doing an eye look, just mascara.

8. Lady Gaga 'Fame' EDP
I have tried to use this perfume on most work days. I do love this scent and think it is a great winter and summer scent. I just feel like I have hardly made any progress with this perfume. The bottle is tapered, so maybe once I use some more and get to the smaller end of the bottle, it will show more progress. But I will persevere!

9. Maybelline Brow Drama in Dark Brown
As I mentioned in my introduction post, I ended up cutting the weird bristles of the brush so that the brush is in a uniform shape. I can't monitor my progress with this brow gel as the packaging does not allow this, but I have used it every day and quite enjoy this product. The brow gel definitely holds the brow quite firmly - more than my usual Essence Brow Gel does.

10. ELF Cream Liner in Coffee 
I actually didn't take a photo of this cream liner in the introduction post. I have tried to use this product a few times, and I have used it in the waterline and it works okay. I think with this product, I just want to hit pan and then I'll call it quits - I'm not the biggest eyeliner wearer as I do have hooded eyes, and I find that wearing eyeliner on my eyes tends to close them up quite a bit.

And that is my progress so far! For the next month, I'd really like to make a significant dent in the highlight shade of the Sleek Face Form palette, and make some progress on the L'Oreal Foundation and the bareMinerals lipstick. 

Thanks for reading,

X

Dose Of Colors Sand Liquid Matte Lipstick - review and swatches

I picked up this liquid lipstick last year at IMATS - see haul here. Sand is described as a "grey-toned cream".

Sand has become my favourite light nude liquid lipstick. Like most liquid lipsticks, this one has a doe foot applicator. The texture of this liquid lipstick is quite thin in comparison to others - especially ColourPop, which I find have the thickest liquid lipsticks I have tried to date. 

As I've mentioned, the formula of this liquid lipstick is quite thin, but the colour goes on opaque. The formula is non-drying on the lips and does last a good few hours without need of a retouch. Because this is a lighter shade and the formula is thinner, I do find touching up is necessary with this liquid lipstick every 3-4 hours.

This is one of my favourite nude lip shades, especially in the Spring and Summer months. If Dose Of Colors is at IMATS again this year, I will pick up a few more shades. BeautyBay does stock Dose Of Colors, but I've noticed they don't restock the colours all too often, and at the moment only have three shades available. The Dose Of Colors website does ship internationally, but the shipping to Australia is quite expensive.

Thanks for reading, 

X

Australis Take Me On Tour Contouring & Highlighting Kit - review and swatches

I am very confused because I cannot find this product anywhere! I was in Kmart a few months ago and they had one of these kits left on the shelf so I decided to pick it up, and I'm so glad I did. From the research I've done online, it looks like the Australis Take Me On Tour Contouring & Highlighting Kit is a Kmart exclusive palette. This retails for $12.75 (and I have seen it recently, so it should still be available).

The kit comes with three contouring and highlighting shades - a light banana yellow highlight powder, a shimmery pink highlight powder, and a cool tone contour powder. I do own the original Australis AC On Tour Contouring and Highlighting Kit (unfortunately I dropped mine and only 3 shades remain), but I still have the yellow and the middle contouring shade (which I find the most comparable to this palette) for comparison purposes. 

(Without flash)

(With flash)

(L to R, how the shades appear in the palette)

To be honest, I think this palette is worth it just for the contour shade. I find it ten times more blendable than the complimenting contour shade in the bigger kit, and I reach for this shade 9/10 times when I do my makeup. On my NC15 skin tone, this is the perfect contour shade. I believe there is a different formulation between the two kits as I find the smaller kit much more blendable. 

I've never been a fan of the highlight shimmery shades that come in these types of palettes, as I find they're generally not the best quality nor what I am looking for in a highlight. But as I've said, I find this palette is worth it just for the contour shade. 

(L to R: Australis Take Me On Tour Banana Shade, Australis AC On Tour Banana Shade, Australis Take Me On Tour Contour Shade, Australis AC On Tour Middle Contour Shade)

Overall, if you see this palette, I would recommend picking it up. If the banana shade is the shade that interests you the most, I know Australis now does this as a single product in a bigger pan that can be purchased separately. 

Thanks for reading, 

X

MAC Stone Lipstick - review and swatches

When MAC released Stone, it instantly went on my wish-list. MAC describes this lipstick as a "muted greyish taupe brown", and it has a matte finish. This lipstick can be purchased in store or online for $36AUD.

I think this lipstick is a great shade for winter. This shade lasts well on the lips as it has a matte finish, and I tend to be able to wear the MAC matte lipsticks all day with maybe one touch up. 

If you're after a greyish taupe shade, I would definitely recommend looking into this shade. 

Thanks for reading,
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