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Sunday 14 August 2011

Essence Haul Review #1


So I finally got my hands on some of this very reclusive essence!  So far its only stocked in selected Priceline stores in Melbourne, but I understand It will be Australia wide by the end of the year!!




So what do I know about essence? It is the biggest selling cosmetic brand in Germany and one of the biggest selling brands in Europe, It has quickly become very popular in the USA and the entire range is priced between $2.95 and $5.95 (yay for a bargin).

So its hugely popular around the world and mega cheap, but is it any good?  Stay tuned as I review some of the essence range over the next couple of weeks.


First up is the essence mono eyeshadow.  Yellow is called Hot Spot (no.17) and is a shimmer effect, Green is called Colour Splash (no.21) and is a matt effect.  They are both really lightly pigmented so I can't show you how it looks on my skin because the are literally too sheer to photograph. Green gives you an almost holographic effect and depending on the angle can appear almost pink.



These would probably be ok layered over a similar colour to add a shimmer or highlight, but alone don't really cut it.  



 Next up..Metal Glam Eyeliner.  Blue is called breezy beach (no.05) and pink is pinkadelic (no.06).  Now this liquid eyeliner is amazing.  It is high pigmented with an amazing metallic shimmer.  They are vibrant and bright and will be sure to make your eyes stand out in a crowd.



The are really nicely packaged and the applicator brush allows for a fine or slightly thicker line, really easy to apply.  They've been on my hand for the past half our and have not smudged or faded even with vigorous rubbing.  I certainly can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the colours in this eyeliner range.

Check back later in the week as I review more of my haul!!




Wednesday 10 August 2011

Lip Stain Compared



I've used each of these lip stains/tints for a week now and there is no difference!  So I shall just do pros and cons.


Pros:
  • Wide range of colours in each brand
  • Long lasting (but wait! Read the cons)
  • Highly pigmented
  • Great as a base coat under your fav shade of lipstick, to give it longevity
  • Revlon gives you a gloss balm on theirs



Cons:
  • Prone to bleeding
  • Do not last the advertised length of time
  • All shades are really dark or really pink
  • Some do not have included balm
  • Balm tends to flake at mouth corners
  • Application can be patchy and washed out looking if not done right
  • 2 - 3 coats need to be applied to get the desired colour




Revlon has the advantage of being double ended.  One end stain, one end a slightly glossy balm. RRP $17.95


Maxfactor - No balm, RRP $19.95


Covergirl - No balm, RRP $17.95


I'm just not a fan of lip stains or tints.  I would use them in a jam, but certainly not buy them unless they were in a clearance bin.


Saturday 6 August 2011

Oh Orange

I spent the better part of my Saturday morning digging through the nail rummage bin at my local chemist looking for something new and bright to help me celebrate the fantastic warm sunny weather we are having on the Gold Coast. And there it was (rather they were) Orange and all its fantastic variations..




I'm seeing oranges, corals and sherbet everywhere at the moment and I just had to give it a go for myself.


I will start with Ulta3 carrot top:




I don't think the photo does this shade justice.  It's a very bugs bunny bright flat carrot orange, no shimmer or metallics.  Really bright colourful and happy!


Ulta3 tahiti:




Wow its bright! I'm sure this would class as high-visibility work wear!! It's more of a pinky-orange shade that really stands out. Your nails won't be missed in this shade, even the name screams warm sunny weather.


Ulta3 watermelon:




I'm not sure if this really classes as an orange at all, but it sure is pretty.  It's more of a dusty pink shade that really makes me think warm weather and spring.  It's a flat polish with no shimmers or metallic and defiantly in my list of favorites.




So I'm loving all my new colours and the $2.25 price tag was a bonus!  And when I finally sat down to do my nails here is what I went with








Well its not Spring yet!!

Wednesday 3 August 2011

How batiste Saves My Life!




Okay perhaps a little exaggeration however it does save me hours in washing and styling my hair.  I have extremely oil hair and to keep it from looking greasy and lip I really need to wash it every morning, but then I found washing it and straightening it every day was absolutely destroying it.  A friend suggested dry shampoo and I did the O_o crazy eyes at her then hit my local Priceline and picked up some Klorane dry shampoo which I thought was the bees knees, until I found batiste. Being unbiased until I've tried every similar product I can get my hands on I tried Fudge (not too bad, I rank it 3rd) and Tresemme (just don't).  It comes in variety of different cans, but besides the scent they all do exactly the same thing.. which is to give my hair back its volume and make it look temporarily washed.  



My personal favorite is batiste Tropical only because I like my head smelling like a remote secluded tropical island aka Coconut. Don't be deterred if you are a brunette and after spraying your hair you glance in the mirror and you see you have become your grandmother, I've noticed recently that batiste are doing a dry shampoo specifically for brunette hair (I presume it's a slightly tinted powder).  Dry shampoos are a really great product that really do keep your hair looking fantastic - find the one that is best for you!

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Must Have of the Moment: Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio



My absolute must have eye shadow at the moment!  These trios are a brilliant product.  Each compact has a sculpting, blending and illuminating shade and it even give you a nifty little diagram on the back if you are a confused with application.  Bourjois has released 6 different trio's - Gris dandy (black, grey and white), Or baroque (gold, bronze and olive), Nude (beiges and browns), Rose (pinks), Bleu jeans (blues), Gris lilac (pink, mauve and dark grey). They are all well pigmented and after a long day at work its the only part of my makeup that has held perfectly all day with no touch up.




Above is the trio in Nude (my favorite).  It comes with a dinky little applicator, seems a little small to try to grip, which suits me because I can't remember the last time I used an applicator that came with anything.  Long live my brushes!




I have a medium to olive skin tone and I find I can tone this shade down perfectly for day wear or apply it a little darker to give that smoky evening look. These trio's are a fantastic all rounder.  Give them a shot!





Monday 1 August 2011

Covergirl Natureluxe


I've been waiting for this foundation to hit stores for awhile now, so I got a little giddy when I found it Saturday. First impressions: The packaging is nice, twist off lid and compact, great to just throw in your bag for on the go touch ups. It gives an really light clean coverage and you really can't feel it on your skin. Blends really well and the addition of the SPF is a selling point for me. Has a really pleasant fragrance too. The label says "Foundation, with a hint of jojoba extract and cucumber water, gives flawless, luxurious coverage with a barely there feel".   It comes in 5 different shades: Flax, Bamboo, Sandstone, Dune and Maple.  Well I've found its lived up to its promises. It really is a lovely light coverage foundation for day time wear.


As an added bonus I got a free stainless steel drink bottle with my purchase!