August Favourites

August Favourites

Hourglass - Ambient in Ethereal Light (Cool Translucent)

This powder looks great on the skin - It is such a fine luminous powder that subtly diffuses fine lines/open pores whilst giving your skin a silky natural beautiful glow. If you want coverage, this powder wont give it to you as it acts more like a setting powder. However the benefit of being a light weight powder is that you use it to touch up several times during the day without creating that cakey look or feel. 

Hourglass - Veil Mineral Primer

This primer is great if you have oily skin or an oily T-zone as it is not just an oil free but it also has the ability to absorb up excess oil. Perfect for a long shift as you'll come back home with no oily residue on your skin at all. It also smoothes out open pores and fine lines and makes your skin feel so velvety smooth. If you're like me and have combination skin, you can just use it on your t-zone.

YSL - Glossy Stain in 15 Rose Vinyl

I recently got introduced to this product from my friend Elena at Lulu & Char. This lip stain is amazing! Not only does the colour stay on all day, but the glossiness doesn't seem to wear off either. There are heaps of lip stains around these days and most of them tend to dry out your lips but because YSL's Glossy Stain is like a lip gloss, your lips will feel nice and hydrated throughout the day. Best thing about this is that it doesn't feel sticky like other lip glosses.

LHS: Away from natural light

RHS: Towards natural light

Lancome - Hypnose Doll Eyes Waterproof

This mascara gives volume and length without being clumpy. Because of it's more separating acting, you can achieve a more natural, fluttery and 'doll-eyed' effect. I got the waterproof version as my eyelashes tend to droop very easily if I use non-waterproof mascara's. 

Image Above: Wearing Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes

By Terry - Touche Veloutee #2 Cream

I have never heard of an eye brightener and blemish cover up in one until I discovered By Terry's Touche Veloutee! For those of you who don't know By Terry, she is the maker of YSL's renowned Touche Eclat. A few years later, she came out with her own line which houses luxurious makeup products that have skincare benefits in them too. This highlighting brush is not only a light reflecting brightener that can be used underneath the eyes to cover dark circles but it is also a smooth and creamy concealer that can cover up any imperfections such as blemishes, dark spots, redness, fine lines and wrinkles. And because this product contains hydra-plumping hyaloronic acid microspeheres which hydrates and smoothes away fine lines, it is less prone to creasing into your lines. Great for dry under eyes or dry skin in general!

A Smart Exfoliator: Perricone Blue Plasma

I have been absolutely loving the new Perricone Blue Plasma. Its like no other exfoliator I have ever tried before - no irritation, no tears, no redness, and no sensitivity whatsoever.

In the past I have tried many different types of exfoliators - from chemical peels that contain ingredients such as salicylic acids, fruit acids, and lactic acids to grainy surface scrubs that contain sea salt, almond flakes, and even diamond core powder! As a beauty junkie, I can tell you the exfoliators that have given me that instant glam glow effect have usually left my skin with an unpleasant tingling sensation accompanied with a delicate sore red face and the ones that have been gentle on my skin have usually given me no results at all.

What I love about Perricone's Blue Plasma is that gives you the best of both worlds - It's gentle on the skin but results driven at the same time. And what I mean by results is that it has reduced my pore size, given my skin an extra boost of radiance and glow, buffed away a few of my dry patches and has also plumped up and hydrated my skin. But the one word above all to describe the effect that it has had on my skin is 'SMOOTH'. My skin has never felt more smooth, supple and soft before and it is so easy to glide on my makeup now. Before when I applied my makeup, I would have dry patches of skin here and there (especially around the noes area) and would be especially visible once I finished my foundation application. But now after using Blue Plasma for a week, those dry patches have seemed to magically disappear.

Initially when you use this product, you may doubt that it's actually working because you don't experience any roughness/pain like most other traditional exfoliators give you. But due to Perricone's advanced technology (Bio-Specific Peeling and Salmon Egg Enzyme), it only dissolves dead skin cells and leaves the healthy skin cells unharmed therefore you dont get the unnecessary pain with results. Smart right? It also contains ingredients such as Copper to restore and regenerate cells and Hydro-fusion to hydrate and balance the skin - thats where you get that nice smoothness and suppleness from.

Blue Plasma is so gentle that you can use it once a day (either day or night). And you can rest assure that any skin type can use it - even the most sensitive. So now when I do makeup applications for customers, I always use this as a makeup prep as it will buff away roughness on anyones skin and allow the makeup to glide on a lot easier.

No wonder it's one of the best sellers in Sephora at the moment! Give it a try and let me know what you think xx

New STILA Countless Colour Pigments

Im usually not a big fan of wearing bright coloured eyeshadows as I have no idea when it comes to vibrant colour combinations and have difficulty blending these sort of colours in however Stila's user friendly Countless Colour Pigments have converted me. This long wearing, pigmented and also pearly formula allows you to effortlessly glide on the eyeshadow and blend them in.

There are 10 different types of palettes you can choose from and really each pan is like a piece of art.

There are so many different colour combinations you can do - You can use each shade individually or custom blend any of the pigments to create your own colour. It gets your creativity jogging.

If your not a big fan of bright colours, there are some more neutral palettes you can pick from. I personally wanted to choose the bright pigments because 1. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try something different and 2. I have way too many neutral shades already. That being said, I can still  use these bright palettes on a day-to-day basis with my neutral shades (e.g., pick a vibrant colour from one of these pans and line either the top/bottom lash line with is to add a touch of colour to your everyday look).

Stila Countless Colour Pigments - $30 AUD

Above: Swatches of Tie Dye (Pink, Turquoise, Cobalt) and Light Show (Emerald, Teal, Ocean Blue) 

The colour at the end of each swatch is achieved when all three pigments are swirled and mixed together.

If you swirl and mix the pigments together it becomes one mush of colours. To get the pigments separated again, all you have to do is use a large fluffy brush and dust over it a few times. After about two swipes, the pigments will be back in their original separated form.

Below is 4 sets of different looks achieved from using the new Stila Countless Colour Pigments

(just to add - they can't be used wet)

'The Peacock' 

(colourful, vibrant, rainbow, dress up party) 

'Light Show'

(greens, blues, purely using the 'Light Show' palette)

Here I've blended all three colours together and have applied it to the centre of the lid.

'Tie Dye'

(purples, pinks, blues, purely using the 'Tie Dye' palette)

 

'Everyday Purple'

(dressed down purple, everyday look)

Here I'm using 'Foxy' in the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette 

all over the eyelid.

Here I'm using 'Busted' in the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette to 

darken the outer edges of the purple.

Here I'm using Nars Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in  'Hollywood' to line 

the inner corners of the eye.

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April Favourites

Eve Lom Hand Cream

$48 AUD at Mecca Cosmetica

- Attractive, clean, and simple packaging.

- Contains natural exfoliators (salicylic acid and kokum butter) smooth and brighten skin and Jojoba oil and beeswax seal in moisture.

- Rich in antioxidants, edelweiss extract, shea butter, and has SPF 10 which all guard against environmental damages and premature ageing. (You know what they say about aging - your hands give away your age). 

- Consistency is not too rich or too watery - it's just perfect.

- Soaks into the skin well.

- Non-greasy and doesn't leave a sticky residue.

- Hands feel velvety smooth and soft after applying.

- Appealing smell; smells like orange blossom.

Soap & Glory Glad Pits Deodorant

$9.95 AUD at Kit Cosmetics

- The main thing I love about this is the fragrance (in fact, most of soap & glory products are fantastically fragranced).

- Provides 24 hours of anti-persperant.

- Has a low whitening formula so it doesn't leave streaks.

- Contains Aloe Vera which is good for soothing sensitive armpits.

Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover

$35 AUD at David Jones

- Takes off eye makeup and lip makeup effortlessly (no need for constant rubbing)

- Love the fact that it also takes of lip makeup.

- If you wear waterproof eye makeup like me, you'll know how hard it is to take it off at the end of the day (especially mascara). This eye makeup remover is the best one I've tried in terms of how well it takes off my waterproof mascara (second best & cheaper option would be the Neutragena eye makeup remover - $10.90 AUD at Priceline)

- This is oil based so if you don't like oil-based products, I suggest you try the Neutragena one I mentioned above. Although I find that being oil-based, it takes off my eye makeup more easily.

Ciate Speed Coat

$24 AUD Kit Cosmetics

- Fast drying (only takes 60 seconds).

- Leaves a high gloss finish to your nails.

- Extends wear of nail polish as it locks in the colour.

- It's Formaldehyde-free (most nail polishes out there contain formaldehyde which has been linked to many health problems).

- Apparently this formula has also won many nail industry awards including U Magazines Best Top Coat Award.

Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pen - Soft Brunette

$48 AUD at Mecca Maxima

- The angle on the brow pencil makes it easy to achieve a nice smooth arch on the brow.

- Achieves full natural looking brows.

- Has a convenient brow wand at the end which helps comb through the eyebrows to make them look more clean and defined.

- Has all 3 brow properties - pencil, powder, and wax. It's applied like a pencil, goes on as a powder and sets to a wax.

- Stays on all day so it doesn't need to be touched up (Doesn't wear off like most eyebrow pencils do)

- Formula is not too soft or not too hard so you won't get artificial looking brows.

Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner - Onyx (Black)

$28.95 AUD at Kit Cosmetics

- Creamy formula allows it to glide on so easily.

- Colour is extremely pigmented.

- The main thing I love about this is that it's waterproof. I've been looking for a good waterproof pencil eyeliner for ages.. mainly to tight-line my top lash line (this creates fuller looking lashes). 

- Colour lasts all day however if you put it on the top waterline like I do, it may smudge a tiny little bit towards the end of the day (as it claims it won't smudge/budge for 8 hours).

- Has a convenient sharpener attached the the lid.

- Contains Vitamin E & Jojoba oil to moisturise and protect.

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March Favourites

MARCH FAVOURITES

 

Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting 'ADJUST' Primer

($54.95 AUD at Mecca)

This primer does indeed reduce redness especially around the cheek area, sides of the nose and on red blemish areas. Although using the primer by itself (without foundation on top) did subtly neutralise my redness and even out my skin tone, I didn't see a major difference until I applied foundation over it. When I applied foundation over the side of my face where I put the Smashbox Color Correcting Adjust Primer on, I found that:

1. The foundation glided more easily on to the skin
2. The colour of the foundation came out better 
3. The foundation had more coverage (even though i used the same amount of foundation on both sides) 
4. I used less foundation 
5. My pink undertone didn't come out as much
6. My open pores and fine lines were smoothed out

 Overall I found that using this primer gave me a more flawless and even finish. So if you have a bit of pink undertone, redness, rosacea or even just get flushed easily, then this product is for you.
 This primer doesn't moisturise/hydrate the skin so make sure that you treat your skin first with an exfoliator, serum or moisturiser to avoid dry patches (especially if you have dry/dehydrated skin). You can even wear the primer by itself to neutralise the redness however you won't see the real effect until you put foundation over it. 

Nars The Multiple in 'Maldives'
($64 AUD at Mecca)

This colour is perfect for anyone who wants that dewy, healthy, luminous flush and glow to their skin or even those who don't like the fuss of going through the whole procedure of putting on bronzer, blush, and highlighter. 
Maldives is a bronzy sort of rose colour without having too much bronze or rose tones overpowering it. It's also like 3 in 1 bronzer, blush, and highlighter in one (or can even be use as an eyeshadow, lip colour, or body highlighter) hence the name 'The Multiple'. So you can put it on hollows of your cheeks as a bronzer, apples of your cheek as a blush, or just on top of your cheek bone as a highlighter. The reason why I personally love this product is because I find the colour to be especially suitable for those who have fair skin so I actually just use it as a bronzer and blush in one. It's even good for those who have dull skin who just want to brighten up their complexion a little bit to get that sun-kissed look. Actually, whenever I wear this product, I get comments from people that my skin has a nice healthy glow. Well I guess my secrets out - it's not really my skin.. Its probably the Nars Multiple stick in Maldives that gives the illusion of healthy glowing skin.

Nars Powder Blush in 'Sex Appeal' 
($45 AUD at Mecca) 

Again, this is another perfect cheek colour for those who have light coloured skin. Having relatively fair skin, I find it hard to find a matte blush that won't go on without looking too harsh or pigmented. Not that there is anything wrong with high pigmented blushes (I actually love blushes with good pigments because thats when you can tell if it's a good quality or not) but I always have to be extremely careful when applying matte coloured blushes on my cheeks as one misplacement or a little too much blush can so easily make me look too flushed or like a clown hence why I always tend to steer away from matte blushes and go for shimmery ones instead.

Nars 'Sex Appeal' is one of the first good quality, pigmented and matte blush's I've tried that hasn't given me that fake pink flush or baby doll look. It gives me a rather peachy-nude natural hint of colour - perfect for those who have fair skin and just want that natural flush on their face. Those who have darker skin can also use this if they want a natural cheek colour too although it may not appear as pigmented as it would on light coloured skin. With this colour, you can also afford to make a little slip here and there as even though its a good quality pigmented blush, the colour is quite light and subtle. 

Too Faced Lip Insurance 

($28.95 AUD at Mecca)

 In the past, I've tried many too faced products and fell in love with their eye shadow primer, Eye Insurance. Now I have fallen in love again with their lip primer. It's a product that I've been longing for for ages but I just didn't know it existed until now. Too Faced Lip Insurance literally does the same job as their eye primer in the sense where

1. It ensures that the makeup stays on all day 

2. and allows the pigment of the product to come out better (therefore using less product) 

The only difference is:

3. the lip primer also prevents feathering of your lipstick

4. and prevents chapping of the lips throughout the day

 If you're bright coloured lipstick kinda girl, then you know how difficult it is to prevent feathering of bright lipstick around the lips (even if you use a lip liner). You probably also know how annoying it is to wear a lipstick and have your lips start drying out or chapping in your lip creases not long after wearing your lipstick. 

So whether you're makeup artist, a bright lipstick wearer or an occasionally lipstick wearer, I highly recommend this product for you. It's such a good investment to make because it really does stop the feathering/chapping of your lipstick throughout the day, provided you apply a lip conditioner on underneath.

Ideal way to use Too Faced Lip Insurance

- If you have a lip exfoliator, apply that on first so you can scrub away the dry/chapped skin on the lips.

- Wash off your exfoliator and apply your preferred lip treatment/conditioner/balm

- Leave that on the lips to absorb whilst doing the rest of your makeup

- Then at the very end after you've done your makeup, apply Too Faced Lip Insurance on the lips

- And while the lip primer is still wet, apply your favourite lipstick colour on straight away

Give it go, you should have perfect long lasting lipstick for the rest of the day - without feathering, without dryness, without reapplying. 

 

Koji Eye Talk 

($11.50 AUD ebay.com.au)

This is actually a double eye lid glue for mono lids but I actually use this as an eyelash glue and it works perfectly. Unlike normal eyelash glues, it doesn't smell, it's very easy to apply on as I just use the brush handle directly on to the fake lashes, and it doesn't create any mess (with normal eyelash glue, sometimes you can accidentally squeeze out too much product and it can stick everywhere and is incredibly hard to remove). It also adheres to the lashes just as well as normal eyelash glue. 

Tangle Teezer

($12.90 AUD from Beautybay.com)

 This is a great hair brush for those who have long, knotted and tangled hair. My hair is quite long and it's been permed and coloured so many times so as you can probably imagine, my hair is quite unhealthy and gets tangled very easily. After using this brush, I can't go back to using a normal hair brush anymore. I spend half the amount of time that I would normally using a normal brush to brush my hair using the Tangle Teezer. It combs through my knots and tangles so quick and effortlessly. Can't live without it now.

La Prairie Cellular Treatment Loose Powder in 'Translucent 1'

($130 AUD at David Jones)

At $130 AUD, this powder is not considered cheap but it is definitely very good quality; both the packaging and the powder itself. 

As shown in the picture above, you receive two powder cases when you purchase it - one extremely large 56 gram powder and one travel size 10 gram powder to put in your bag. 

At first when I got this, I thought it was really just the packaging that made it so luxurious but actually after trying the powder several times, I realised how good the powder itself actually was. The powder is so velvety smooth and fine which makes it glide on the skin very easily without being cakey or crusty (like some translucent powders out there). It also gives a natural radiance to your skin and is buildable in coverage. So depending on how much powder you use or what tool you use to apply the powder.. the coverage is adjustable. So for a light coverage, use a fan brush. For a medium coverage, use a large powder brush. And for a fuller coverage, use a sponge or the powder puff provided for you.

The packaging is another thing to rave on about (thats probably why you pay so much for a powder like this). As captured in the above pictures, you can see that both the powder containers have a twisty open and close thing. This is really handy especially if you want to take your powder around with you in your bag because it prevents the powder from spilling and making a big mess like most translucent powders tend to do. Both containers also come with a luxurious powder puff and the larger packaging also comes with a spatula which you can click onto the lid - So if you want to transfer some powder to the smaller container, you can easily do so (sort of like a refill container). 

Though this powder is quite pricey, you get:

a) A very large 56 gram powder that contains a spatula and powder puff

b) A beautiful travel size 10 gram powder that contains a mirror and powder puff

c) Good quality, luxurious, silky smooth and ultra fine translucent powder

You may be able to get another powder similar to this but the packaging is quite rare for me to see. That's probably why I was so drawn to this product. Ofcourse, whether you think it's worth it or not depends on your own unique values. 

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