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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Adriana's Makeup

What I used on Adriana for this look:

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 'The Promise' 

featuring Aspire + Vow (buttercream sheen/brownstone)

$27.95 AUD

The buttercream sheen was used as a base for her eyes.

The brownstone was used darken the outer eye corners.

Nars Eyeshadow Duo 'Jolie Poupée'

(Vibrant Violet / Pearlescent Purple)

$55 AUD

I used the Vibrant Violent as the main middle tone colour for her eyes. I applied it from the middle to outer corner.

The Pearlescent purple was used to darken the purple on the outer edges. I also used a little bit on the bottom lash line (from the middle to outer corner).

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 'The Grande Finale'

featuring Standing O + Climax (brilliant gold/deep royal blue)

$27.95 AUD

I went over the matte light yellow with this brilliant gold (from the inner corner to the middle of the eye).

I applied the royal blue with a dampened brush and used it as an eyeliner base on top lash line. I also applied little bit on the bottom lash line (from the middle to outer corner).

bareMinerals Pigments 'True Gold' 

(medium golden nugget)

$17.95 AUD

This was used to add more shimmer, intensity and dimension to where I originally placed the yellow/gold eyeshadow colour (from the inner corner to the middle of the eye).

I also placed a little bit on the bottom lash line in the inner corners of the eye.

Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner 'Onyx'

(Black)

$28.95 AUD

I used this all the way through on the bottom waterline. This is perfect for the waterline as it's waterproof and won't smudge.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner 

(Black)

$32 AUD

I used this to go over the blue eyeshadow on the top lash line and did a bit of a wing/flick at the end. I didn't completely cover the blue eyeshadow from before and left a visible line of blue on top of the eye. This eyeliner is great as it's waterproof, doesn't smudge and literally stays on all day.

Kevyn Aucoin The Mascara 'Volume'

(Black)

$40 AUD

I used this mascara on the top and bottom eyelashes. I think this mascara is great for everyone (except those who prefer waterproof mascara). The thin brush allows precise application from the roots to the end of the lashes and doesn't flake, smudge, or melt. It's also infused with volume building fibres which thickens, separates, and lengthens without clumping - thanks to advanced Japanese technology.

Nars Semi Matte Lipstick 'Funny Face'

(Fuchsia)

$39 AUD

Love this lipstick as its velvety, long wear, and very highly pigmented. It also has a blend of conditioners and antioxidants to hydrate and protect the lips. 

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KIT Diamond Nail Bows

 Today I'm wearing these cute diamond nail bows from KIT. They are so easy apply and you can even re-use them again provided you take them off carefully.

The procedure to put it on is quite simple really - All you need to do is paint your nails first with nail polish (and top coat if you like), then squeeze a small dot of glue on the nail you wish to stick the bow on and then hold the bow on the nail for about 20-30 seconds until dry/secure.  

You can put it on however you like e.g. in the middle of the nail, on the bottom of the nail, or on the top of the nail slanting on an angle (kind of looks like hello kitty this way).

They're really sturdy, wont budge, and give your regular old boring nail colour a bit of bling.

What I used on my nails:

- KIT diamond nail bows $23.95 AUD

- O.P.I 'Tickle My France' Nail Polish $19.95 AUD

- Sportsgirl 'Fruit Salad' Nail Polish $7.95 AUD

- Ciaté Speed Coat (Leaves a nice shiney coat and dries super fast!) $24 AUD

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Too Faced Buodoir Eyes

Last week I experimented with the Too Faced Buodoir Eyes. After playing around with this eyeshadow palette and using their How-to Glamour Guide provided, I would say that this palette was so-so for me.

Blend ability: 6/10

It was quite hard to blend the colours nicely at times, especially when following the instructions in the How-to Glamour Guide.

If you aren't careful with applying the eyeshadows, the look can very easily appear 'muddy'. My theory is that the colours in the palette don't compliment each other very well and there are too many shimmers in contrast with mattes. Often when you mix shimmers together with colours that don't compliment each other very well, it can give you that 'muddy' kind of effect. Also, I find that the shimmer colours in this palette aren't very nice to blend with.

Pigmentation: 8/10

Of course the shimmers aren't as pigmented as the mattes but I would say the colours are relatively well pigmented.

Staying Power: 9/10

The eyeshadow will stay on well throughout the day but thats provided you use an eyeshadow primer. My favourite is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance!

Overall Rating: 7/10

It is quite a versatile palette and very easy to take around with you whilst travelling however I didn't really like the mix of eyeshadows recommended for use in the How-to Glamour Guide provided for you. Although there are no set rules on how to use the palette, I would've much preferred to use it in a different way (e.g. I would've mixed the colours from here with colours from another palette).

If you are beginning with makeup then I do think it's quite handy to have this as you have an instructional leaflet book to give you ideas on how to use the eyeshadow colours. But I would still prefer and recommend the the Urban Decay Naked or Naked 2 over this as you get a lot more colours which compliment each other very well, get a lot more looks out of it, and the colours are more pigmented.

Below I have recreated the 3 different looks (Day, Classic, and Fashion) that they have provided for you in their How-to Glamour Guide.

 DAY 

1. Sweep In The Buff from lash to brow.

2. Press Fuzzy Handcuffs onto the eyelid.

3. Blend Voulez-Vous into the crease and outer lash line.

4. Apply black gel liner to the top and bottom of your eyes (apply as you like or here I have done a slight wing at the top and only applied the eyeliner half way on the bottom - using Loreal gel liner).

5. Curl your lashes and apply mascara to top and bottom lashes (here I am using Shiseido eyelash curler and Helana Rubinstein Lash Queen Sexy Blacks mascara).

CLASSIC

1. Prime eyelids and apply Satin Sheets from lash to brow.

2. Sweep Sugar Walls onto lid, crease and around tear duct.

3. Smoke upper and lower lash lines with Garter Belt.

4. Apply black gel liner to the top and bottom of your eyes (apply as you like or here I have done a slight wing at the top and only applied the eyeliner half way on the bottom - using Loreal gel liner).

5. Curl your lashes and apply mascara to top and bottom lashes (here I am using Shiseido eyelash curler and Helana Rubinstein Lash Queen Sexy Blacks mascara).

FASHION

1. Prime eyelids and sweep Birthday Suit from crease to brow.

2. Blend Lap Dance into crease and onto lid. 

3. Apply French Tickler to upper lash line and extend outward, then blend into lower lash line.

4. Apply black gel liner to the top and bottom of your eyes (apply as you like or here I have done a slight wing at the top and only applied the eyeliner half way on the bottom - using Loreal gel liner).

5. Using a pointed eyeshadow brush, smudge the eyeliner out to a little to create that smokey effect.
6. Curl your lashes and apply mascara to top and bottom lashes (here I am using Shiseido eyelash curler and Helana Rubinstein Lash Queen Sexy Blacks mascara).

Below: Full face of the 'CLASSIC' look.

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