September Favourites

I can't believe it's the end of September already! Where is this year going? On to my favourites!

Napoleon Perdis The One Concealer 
I don't know what it is (maybe stress of uni), but my bags have been bad this month. I purchased this peach coloured concealer during August when my friends got me a gift card for Napoleon Perdis, and this works wonders for cancelling out any bags and blues under the eye around my eye (it gets pretty bad in the inner corner). This isn't a concealer but a corrector, and you need the smallest amount of this. I use this almost daily, especially when I'm super stressed or haven't had enough sleep. Love this product!

Sigma E65 Small Angle Brush 
This is my brush of choice for applying powder to my brows, and I love it. Not much else to say!

Urban Decay Naked Palette 
I went a little backwards with my Naked Palette purchasing, and bought the Naked 2 before the original Naked Palette. The Naked 2 will always have a soft spot in my heart, but lately I really have been reaching for this palette (which has both surprised me but pleased me!)

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumising Mascara 
I think I got this mascara two weeks ago, but every day since, I have loved using it. It's great to use in combination with other mascaras, or on it's own.

Garnier BB Cream Combination to Oily Skin in Light 
This was a product I was meant to include in last months favourites, and I completely forgot to do so! When the original Garnier BB Cream was realised last year, I bought it with high hopes and was disappointed. I find it too orange for me. This BB Cream, though targeted for oily/combination skin, gets a lot of love and attention in the beauty blogging/vlogging world, so I decided to pick it up and try it out. I absolutely love this! For good skin days (which haven't been many lately) this is an awesome product. Although designed for oily/combo skin, it is still a moisturising product and it works on my dry skin fairly well. This is in the light colour, but unlike the original I own in light, this is fairly light and not orange at all!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 52 Vanilla
This is another product I was sucked into buying, expecting great things and being disappointed. I don't know why I was, because this is a lovely foundation, but when I first bought it a couple of months ago, it didn't live up to what I thought it would be. However, this month I have been loving this foundation! It's not super coverage, but it is a nice foundation.

Savvy by DB Smooth Finish Primer 
While I don't find this primer one that will make your make up last all day and then some, I do find this a nice moisturising primer to smooth my skin before applying foundation, especially on days my skin is feeling super dry.

Benefit Coralista Blush 
This blush has shimmer in it, which I thought I wouldn't like. But it is the most subtle, gorgeous looking blush I have ever seen and now I look forward to applying this blush! (I never thought I'd say that!!). This blush has really made me fall in love with blush, and I think I need to add another Benefit blush to my collection! What Benefit blushes do you recommend?

(L to R: Napoleon Perdis The One Concealer, Benefit Coralista Blush) 

And those are my favourites for this month! Thanks for reading!

Shop My Stash #2 - How Did It Go?

This post is a little late, it should have been up on Sunday. Sorry! To see my original post, click here.

In all honesty, I haven't reached for much makeup over the last two weeks. My days have generally involved staying home and doing university work, or going to work, or just catching up with friends. During the first week, I did try and use these products, but for simple makeup I really only reach for foundation, concealer, some powder in my brows and mascara, and maybe a bit of bronzer. I really have been trying to incorporate blush into my routine, though! 

The first product isn't in the photo here, because I used it up. That is the Maybelline The Falsies Mascara. I have a tonne of mascara to get through, but I absolutely adore this one and will repurchase it eventually. I found the Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara in a cosmetic store about fifteen minutes from my house last week, and have been loving it! These two are definitely my top two drugstore mascaras. 

If you look closely, you would be able to see that the Sleek Storm Palette looks a little worse for wear. This would be because I bought a Z Palette and all the other three Sleek palettes I own are depotted and in that palette, but this one is so hard to do! I shattered the black quite a bit, and have only been able to get one of the shadows out. Once next week is over (and most of my assignments for the semester are done), I'll try open the palette up again. Besides that, I did use this palette quite a bit for the first week. The shadows are lovely and pigmented, and I absolutely adore the first two shadows in the palette. I definitely recommend this Sleek palette if you are looking to buy one, or the Au Naturel Palette. Both are super pigmented and can be used for both neutral day and night looks. 

In my blush endeavours, I have found theBalm Frat Boy blush to be the most long lasting blush I own. In the summer months, I think I will get a lot of wear from this. It is super pigmented though, so a little goes a long way! I would definitely recommend this blush, and I do want to try some more of theBalm blushes. 

The Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 022 Sun Bronze, like I said in the original post, was the first bronzer I ever bought. I've probably had this for over four years, and a couple of weeks ago I did some research on make up expiry and I should probably throw this out (I'll have a post on this soon, I promise!). I find it a little too warm, but in summer this would work out. I recommend this bronzer, though (if they still sell it, I'm not too sure). 

The Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights in 200 Pink Light is a product I was really excited to try. Because I haven't been wearing too much makeup, highlighter isn't a step I'd go out of my way to do. This does work as a primer also, but I don't like too much shimmer on my face. For a luminous look, though, I'd try this out. You could even mix this in with your foundation. I think in summer I'd get more use out of this, because it is a liquid highlighter and at the moment I prefer powder highlighters. 

And that's how my second Shop My Stash went! This week I won't be doing one, and I'll try to next week, but it depends on how much time I have! No point doing a Shop My Stash and not being able to use the products! Thanks for reading, and if you haven't already, follow me on Bloglovin'! 

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - review and swatches

I wasn't going to do a review of this palette, because I didn't think it would be anything special. However, I love this palette so much, and even though reviews of it are probably overdone, I wanted to give my two cents because I really have fallen in love with this palette!

Like I said, I bought this palette thinking it wouldn't be anything special. I love Urban Decay, and I couldn't pass up being at an Urban Decay counter and not pick up a palette! I didn't touch this while I was in England, but when I came back home and first used it, I fell in love. It was love at first sight.

There are six shadows in this palette. One satin shade, Venus, which serves as a highlight. The rest are matte. Foxy is a repeat from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, which I wasn't thrilled about. But mixed with Walk of Shame (W.O.S), they form a perfect shade for blending out harsh edges, especially with a day time look. Naked 2 and Faint are good crease colours, and Crave is a nice black (not as pigmented as Blackout, though). 

The one thing I will say about this palette (especially with Foxy, W.O.S and Naked 2) is that the colours are quite chalky. You run your brush through the shades, and it is quite powdery. A lot of product is wasted like this. I have noticed before that with the matte eyeshadows I have from various other Urban Decay palettes, they are not as pigmented as the shimmery ones (think Buck and Naked from the original Naked palette). These ones are fairly pigmented, but they are a little chalky. I work with it though. 

So why do I love this palette so much? 

This palette is what it is called - basic. There is nothing too fancy or special about this palette, but I find it the most universal palette I own. It is complimentary to every other palette I have, and even single eyeshadows. Need a subtle blending colour - bam, you have it. Need a crease colour - it's here, and you have two options. Need a black eyeshadow to subtly line your lash line - yeah, it's here as well. And there's even a nice highlight shade that isn't too shimmery! This palette is so simple, but so wonderful. If there was one palette I'd recommend to anyone, it's this. You can do a simple, day-time eye look with this. You can even amp it up for night time. But whatever eyeshadows you may already own, this will just enhance the looks you can create with it. I still can't believe how much I love this palette, because it really is basic. 

And that's my review of this palette! I hope this has helped some of you who are questioning whether you need this palette or not. Thanks for reading! 

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation - review and swatches

In the coming weeks, I will have a post coming up on the three MAC foundations I own, comparing them. For now, I want do to a review of the recent MAC foundation I bought, Studio Sculpt. MAC describes this foundation as "a creamy, luxurious, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish. Hydrating, instantly revitalises the skin while keeping it looking smooth, soft and plush. Long-wearing, water resistant".

The first thing I want to note is that this foundation comes with 40 mL of product, where most other MAC foundations (Studio Fix Fluid, Mineralize Moisture, Pro Longwear) come with 30 mL (Matchmaster comes with 35 mL). This foundation retails for $52 in Australia, which is the roundabout price for MAC foundations in Australia (they range from about $49-$60 in Australia). Next to Face and Body, which contains 120 mL for $60 (or 50 mL for $49) this is the best value for money you will get with MAC foundations. 

Now on to the actual product!

The reviews of this particular foundation said Studio Sculpt leaned a bit more yellow, and I was matched to NW20. I find this foundation works, but if I was to repurchase this I would go probably go for NC20. I still have the concern of oxidising on my mind, and I find the yellow cancels out a lot of the redness on my face, and overall just works better.

The foundation comes in what I think is rather fool-proof packaging. It's a plastic tube, so it is ideal for travelling. The product dispersal is not too much, and rather easy to control. Unlike both the other MAC foundations I own, which are in glass packaging, if I was to drop this on tiled floor it wouldn't shatter.

The consistency of this foundation is thick. It is gel based, but it is unlike my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (which is also a gel-based foundation). The Bourjois is quite liquidy, but also lighter coverage. This foundation is really thick. I've found the best way of applying this is first with any traditional foundation paddle brush, and just place the foundation all over. Then take a buffing brush, and brush it in. If some places look too heavy, then grab a sponge (I use one by Manicure that has been like a best friend to me), damp it and pat on the skin.

So what's the coverage like?

(The above product slightly blended out - you can see the foundation is quite thick)

I find it medium coverage. You can see in the above photo that it doesn't cover my freckles, but it has covered the pimples I have on my chin and on the forehead. It covers redness well also. I have quite dry skin, so I only ever use powder under my eyes. I think if you were to top this with powder, the coverage could be quite flawless. I may try that at some point closer to summer when my skin isn't as dry.

Overall, I'm really happy with this foundation. It has been on my to-buy list for a while. It is a thick foundation, so I'd probably get more use of this in winter. If you're after a nice medium coverage foundation, I'd recommend this and Studio Fix. I prefer the way this one applies, though.

Thanks for reading!

Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact - review and swatches

When I first saw pictures of this bronzer on Temptalia a couple months ago, I just knew it had to be mine. I'm an ancient history major, and I think everyone studying ancient history needs this in their life (okay, maybe you don't need it, but I do). This is the Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact, and it is absolutely gorgeous.

Isn't the packaging just adorable?!

There is a massive amount of product in this compact - 20 grams! For comparison, Nars Laguna Bronzer has 8 grams. 

The bronzer is made up of three shades - two matte shades, one lighter and one darker, and in the centre is a shimmery golden shade. When I use this, I usually sweep my brush around the bronzer, missing the middle as I'm not the biggest fan of shimmer in bronzer. 

(L to R: Lighter matte shade, darker matte shade, shimmer circle in the middle of bronzer)

When you swatch the individual shades the colours are orange-toned (which usually is a big no-no, especially on my pale skin). However, when you apply to your face it just blends in and there is hardly an orange appearance. I never really noticed how orange it did look (because it doesn't look so orange when applied on the face), only when I swatched it. 

Overall, who could not love this bronzer? It is quite warm toned, so I think this bronzer will be perfect in the summer, and I know I will be loving it in the summertime. This bronzer wears well, and I am so happy to add this to my collection! (Shout out to my lovely friend Simon who gifted this to me for my birthday). I'm absolutely in love with this bronzer. I don't think it is the best for contouring, but this has easily become my favourite bronzer for allover warming up the face!

Thanks for checking out my review! I've just set up a Bloglovin' account, so I would love it if you'd click the widget on the top of the side bar and follow me there.

Fashionista 4 Pan Custom Design Palette (Blusher and Bronzer) review and swatches

Last week I posted about an order I made on the MUA website, which now stocks Fashionista products (see haul here). I was really interested in trying the Custom Design Palettes, because I am trying my hardest to get into blushes. I decided to pick up the 4 pan palette, and I filled it with three blushes and one bronzer (which is more of a highlight).

(From top left to bottom right - Juicy Apricot, Barcelona, Cinnamon and Butterscotch) 

Juicy Apricot has some noticeable golden flecks of shimmer in it, which I think would make a very pretty blush colour for the summer. It is quite a vibrant pink. Barcelona is one of the bronzer shades, although it is definitely a highlight. It is a light, goldish colour when swatched. I don't notice any glitter in it (like there is with MAC Mineralise Skin Finishes), it is just a nice, subtle shimmer. It blends out almost into nothing, leaving a very nice sheen. I think this is a perfect every day highlight shade. Cinnamon is the darkest shade out of the bunch, and I see this being a good fall and winter blush shade. This is a matte blush, and I have loved mixing this with Butterscotch, which is also another matte blush. The two together are a nice mix, not too dark for the spring time, and Butterscotch really livens up Cinnamon. I've really enjoyed these two together.

(L to R: Juicy Apricot, Barcelona, Cinnamon and Butterscotch) 

The price of these is really unbeatable - only $2.81 each! When you purchase the four together in one go, you also get the palette for free (this is also the case when you purchase six shades together). There are also eyeshadows that you can pick, but I own way too many eyeshadows so I felt blushes and the highlight (bronzer) shade were the best pick. Each pan comes with 2.5 grams of product. 

The palette itself is also quite sturdy. The pans just click in and are quite easy to remove. The mirror is able to stand up by itself, making this quite a travel friendly palette - you can customise blush, bronzer and eyeshadow shades, but also have a nice side mirror that can stand up by itself. 

I am quite pleased with this purchase. The shades are beautiful, with the only downside being lasting power. These don't last as long as I'd like, but a cream blush and setting spray will always prolong the wear. I'd recommend the blush and highlight shades I have tried, and I can't wait to place another order and get a few more shades.
For those wanting to venture out into blush, eyeshadow or bronzer shades, or on a budget, or just really love make up, this is perfect for you. Thanks for reading, and let me know some other good blushes to try!

Shop My Stash #2 Update

I think I need to span the time frame from one week to two weeks for the Shop My Stash series, because I like to change up my make up routine and some days I don't use specific products - for example, I don't wear eye makeup (mainly eyeshadows) on a daily basis, maybe 3 out of 7 days a week. The days I do work (early morning) I don't have enough time in the morning to do a whole eye look, so mascara and eyeliner on my tightline and waterline is about the extent to which my eye makeup goes (this is something I do everyday, I feel incomplete without mascara). I do actually want to give these products a chance (right now I'm thinking more of the palettes I know I will include in these posts) as I don't think one week is enough to get a grasp for some products - especially a palette with 12 beautiful eyeshadows! So every post in the Shop My Stash series will now run for two weeks, so I have another week and a bit to trial out the products I included in Shop My Stash #2 (see post here).

MUA and Fashionista Haul

About two weeks ago I placed an order on MUA. When I was overseas, the only MUA stand I saw was small so I didn't get anything from the brand. I was really interested in the Fashionista Build Your Own Palettes - and the three blush and one highlight shade I purchased were only $2.81 each! How can anybody say no to that?! I decided to also pick up some MUA eyeshadows, as after uni finishes this semester I want to depot a majority of my eyeshadows and stick them in Z Palettes, these included. I haven't swatched any of the eyeshadows yet (I think I will do a separate post for that), but they look extremely beautiful in the pan! Here's a quick post showing you everything I got.

First, let's talk eyeshadows. I have two MUA palettes (Undress Me Too - see comparison with Naked 2 here, and the Heaven and Earth palette). I've heard some good things about these single eyeshadows, so I decided to pick up a few. Each eyeshadow worked out to be $1.74, and I got the pearl eyeshadows in Shade 1, 9, 12, 15, 24 and 30, and one matte eyeshadow in Shade 17. I haven't swatched these as yet, but I am excited to!

I decided to pick up the Fashionista 4 Pan Custom Design Palette in Black, along with three blush shades and a bronzer (which is more of a highlighter)

The back of the blush and bronzers looks like this, and they just pop out of the container and you put them right into the palette.

For the blush shades I got Cinnamon, Butterscotch and Juicy Apricot. For the bronzer (which is really a highlighter), I got Barcelona. Each pan was only $2.81, and when you get the four together the Custom Design Palette is free - the price is deducted as a discount on your invoice. 

I also picked up the F2 Stippling Brush, as I thought it would be a cheaper alternative to the MAC 130, but alas, it doesn't seem to be. This brush cost $5.22. 

I picked up a Fashionista Double Take Long-Wear Lipstick in 9 Atomic Tangerine. I'm actually quite happy with this colour choice, as I don't own anything like it in my collection. This lipstick cost $2.61. 

And that's all I got from the MUA site! Postage worked out to be $13.04 (I believe they have a flat rate for international postage), and my order including postage only came to $44.53! MUA is definitely an awesome brand to check out! Look out in the next few weeks for reviews of these products. 

Shop My Stash #2

First up is the Sleek Storm Palette. This palette is a recent purchase I made when I was overseas in England, and I haven't really used it all too much (because I have a million eyeshadows). However, this week I aim to get some use out of it and I've already put it on for today. Into hour four and there is absolutely no creasing! I love Sleek eyeshadows.

This blush was the first theBalm blush I bought. theBalm Frat Boy is a lovely, peachy shade and the packaging is absolutely adorable. 

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 022 Sun Bronze was the first bronzer I ever bought. I hit pan on it ages ago, but I just want to give it a go and hopefully make the pan a little bigger! 

Revlon Photoready Skinlights in 200 Pink Light is a new product to me, which my Mum got in a Revlon gift set last week. I want to give this product a go, but I'm not too sure what to do with it! If it is only a skin illuminator, this is such a huge bottle! I've tried it out as a primer today, because I really don't want to mix it with my foundation (don't like shimmer, remember?) The colour of the product looks to me like Benefit High Beam, but I don't have it to compare. I've also popped the product on my cheek bones.

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara is an absolute favourite of mine! I bought this tube late June, and it's about dried up. I want to finish as much product as I can, so that's why I decided to include it in this weeks Shop My Stash!

And those are the products I've grabbed for this weeks Shop My Stash! So far, the products are working well and I absolutely love the Sleek palette! The second shade from the top row of the palette reminds me of Urban Decay Booty Call! 

Shop My Stash #1 - How Did It Go?

This week has been quite hectic for me, I've worked more than I usually do so in those cases I like to stick to what I know and using these products hasn't been on the top of my list (see my first Shop My Stash post here). However, one of the products I have used on a daily basis, and that is the Vivo Cheeky Cream Blusher in Bloom. It isn't the longest lasting product I've ever used, but if I paired it with a powder blush I'm sure it would last much longer. I've enjoyed using my fingers to place the product on my cheeks, and then blend it out with my Sigma F50 Duo Fibre Brush - which makes me happy because I'm getting some use out of this brush! I hardly touch it.
The Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette on the other hand, is a product I really don't like. Not because it is bad or anything, but the concealers are really pink based (the lighter ones, at least) and it doesn't work for me well. I'd then have to apply foundation on top of this concealer to match me better. It is a good palette, and I think I'll include it in my kit (when I start doing freelance work) because it is a good, all-rounder palette. I did try the darker shades out as a contour, using my beloved MAC 130 Brush, and it worked well. But for day to day, it's just too much work doing a cream contour (it has been this week, at least).
The MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter is another product that didn't work well for me. I have the same problem with MAC Soft and Gentle - while they both look lovely swatched, I don't like pinkish highlighters. I love theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer because it is more of a yellow champagne and it works well. Pink and me just don't mix.

I ended up finishing two of the products (kind of), which makes me happy! When I use up a make up product, I feel accomplished! I've had the Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder in True Translucent since last year, and I'm happy to have used it up. When I was half way through this, I discovered the Face of Australia Translucent Loose Powder, which I adore as an under eye setting powder. This isn't a horrible powder, it is pretty good! I'm happy to have used this up to make some room in my makeup drawers. The Australis Eyeshadow Primer I have had for probably two years. The bottle is at the point where it doesn't distribute much product, and I've had it for a while so I figure it's time it went. This is a good eyeshadow primer, it was the first eyeshadow primer I purchased, and if you're in Australia or New Zealand I recommend this primer!

And that is all for my first Shop My Stash. I'm excited for next week's Shop My Stash - I might discover I product I will really enjoy, like the Vivo Cream Blusher!

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Bikini-tini vs. Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Barely Branded

I received the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Bikini-tini in the Bronze of Champions kit (see post here). It immediately reminded me of the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Barely Branded that I purchased in June, so I thought I'd do a quick comparison post of the two for those interested.

A swatch of the two - Maybelline Barely Branded on the left, Benefit Bikini-tini on the right

Here is the two blended out - Maybelline on the left, Benefit on the right

The texture of the two is different. Barely Branded feels more creamy on the finger, whereas Bikini-tini feels more liquidy. I feel like Barely Branded is more yellow, whereas Bikini-tini leans more pink.

Above is the an eye look I did using Bikini-tini on the left eye and Barely Branded on the right. This is a picture right after application. 

Above is about six hours later. There isn't too much creasing or fading, although the right eye with Barely Branded does look more vibrant. 

Overall, I do feel that the two products are similar, and if you're looking for an alternative to the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Bikini-tini, I think the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Barely Branded is a good option. There are slight differences in colour and texture, but they give the same result. 

Clarins Splendours Colour Quartet & Liner Eye Palette - review and swatches

The Clarins Splendours Summer Colour Collection is amazing. I have two products from the collection - the eye palette and the bronzer, which I will be reviewing soon. Although we have just finished winter in Australia and have entered spring, I have been loving these two products since I got them, and probably will be abusing them in the summer. 

Warning - this may or may not be the most beautiful packaging you've ever seen.

And the eyeshadows...

Yes, this is by far the prettiest palette I own. The bronzer is absolutely amazing though, and I think that is the prettiest makeup item I will ever own.

The palette comes with four eyeshadows - a coppery gold, a pale gold, a chocolatey brown and a pinker gold. It also comes with a cream liner, which looks black in the pan but is actually a nice plum. 

The swatch photo isn't the best, but hopefully from the photo below you'll be able to see how lovely the shadows are. I absolutely adore the plum eyeliner. 

These eyeshadows wear well. On top of a good base (MAC Paint Pot in Painterly), there was no creasing after 8+ hours of wear. Everything stayed in place, and I am absolutely head over heels in love with this palette. The eyeshadows are beautiful and scream summer, while the plum eyeliner is a nice alternative to black. 

If you're still able to get your hands on this palette, I recommend it 100%. This palette was gifted to me for my birthday (I know you stalk my blog and I want to say a huge thank you) and is one of the nicest things anyone has ever given to me. I love that my friends know just what I like... hehehe.