Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Sunset Strip

Hey all, 

Although I have dark skin, I tend to start looking a little 'dead' in winter. My skin tone gets quite a bit lighter and my natural glow dulls a little as well. In summer I usually don't find the need to use a bronzer at all, but it is a completely different story in winter - bronzer becomes a daily staple in my face routine. 

This bronzer is one that I continue to love, and most of you have probably heard of it. Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips are famous amongst the beauty savvy and often compared to Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks. I do love my BB Shimmer Bricks, but I may like these just a little more. 

What I Love

- Enough shimmer to create a healthy glow, but not enough to turn you into a disco ball. 

- Shimmer doesn't clump together and applies evenly. 

- Highly pigmented (to the level you want for a bronzer). 

- Multi-purpose - can be used as a bronzer, highlighter (lighter shades), and even as eyeshadow. 

- Clean cut packaging. 

- Reasonably priced! 

What I Don't

- Hard to source in Australia. 

- Packaging is tight and I have broken a nail or two trying to open it! 

Where to Buy: I grab my Shimmer Strips off eBay. 

Price: $10-$15

Swatches

Without Flash 

Across top, shades mixed together. Bottom, individual shades from top to bottom. 

With Flash 

So, why do I like them a little bit more than BB Shimmer Bricks? 

I find that the shimmer isn't as overpowering, and that they create a much more natural/healthy look. These don't make you look like an overpowered disco ball at the end of the day! And of course, they are SO much cheaper. 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

On My Cheeks: Essence Marble Mania Blush in Swirlpool

Hey all, 

Another new, everyday favourite blush from me! It is from the new Marble Mania range from Essence; a range with a multitude of baked, marble effect shades. 

This blush caught my eye from across the Target beauty section, so I just had to pick it up. I love baked blushes, especially when they have a swirled effect to them (I am a sucker for pretty things) - so this blush was a welcome addition to my collection! 

Shade

A gorgeous range of pinks - from deep to champagne, all swirled together. 

Slight shimmer. 

What I Love

- I adore the shade, it is the perfect shade to create a healthy glow on my skin. 

- Highly pigmented. 

- Not overloaded with shimmer. 

- Blends seamlessly into my skin. 

- Very reasonably priced! 

What I Don't 

- I wish that they had more shades. 

- Hard to find, and always sold out! 

Where to Buy: Target

Price: $5.95

Swatches 

Without Flash 

With Flash 

Essence is a well priced brand that continues to impress me. Their products always exceed my expectations, and yet, they manage to keep their prices very low. It makes me wonder whether other brands can justify their mark-ups...but that is a post for another day!

Hope you all have a great night! xx

On My Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet

Hey all, 

I have already posted about my favourite lip butter, Berry Smoothie, and that post has more of a review.  You can read it here if you want more information, as this post will just be brief. I just had to share another lip butter love with you though - I can't help myself. Although it hasn't quite knocked Berry Smoothie off its pedestal, it is close. And of course, it's red! 

You all know that I am determined to own as many red lipsticks as possible! 

Shade 

A gorgeous, deeper red. Blue-based, but very flattering. 

Finish

Typical Lip Butter standard. Creamy and moisturising, as well as being highly pigmented. 

Where to Buy: Priceline, and wherever Revlon is stocked. 

Price: $21.95

Swatch

Without Flash 

On My Lips 

It is such a gorgeous, deeper red and is definitely very wearable. Not as scary as some lipstick's, as it isn't overly bright. It is also a lot easier to apply evenly! If you want a toned down red lipstick, this one is definitely for you! 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

Australis Nudist Palette - Review + Swatches

Hey all, 

Although I love my brighter shades, I have to admit that I am a sucker for a neutral/natural eye. I am a big 'bright lip' girl and nude eyes work a treat for toning down a bright lip shade. Also, you can pair them with anything and wear them to any event.

Three cheers for versatility! 

I saw this palette on Sweetaholic Beauty a while ago, and just had to run out and find it. I am very glad that I did! 

Shades

8 gorgeous neutral shades, ranging from light to dark. All shades have slight shimmer. 

A closer look at the shades from left-right. 

What I Love

- Such a versatile palette, with a great range of neutral shades. 

- Highly pigmented shadows. 

- Creamy, smooth and easy to apply. 

- Long lasting, especially when paired with a primer. 

- Compact, stylish packaging. 

- Great price!

What I Don't

- Doesn't contain any matte shades - wish it had at least one or two. 

- It was pretty hard for me to track down, and I am pretty sure that it is limited edition. 

Where to Buy: Target, K-mart, Big W and Priceline. 

Price: I am pretty sure it was $12, correct me if I am wrong! 

Swatches 

Without Flash 

With Flash

This is definitely a palette that I have been reaching for a lot lately! I love the combination of shades, even though there aren't any mattes; and have found that it's easy to create plenty of looks with a palette this versatile. 

Universally flattering, and all up a wonderful drugstore neutral palette! 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

Face of Australia Impact Curl Mascara Review

Hey all, 

This post is going to be short and sweet, as I have a pile (well, two) assignments to finish tonight get to.

Face of Australia has been one of my absolute favourite brands recently, and when I read a review of this mascara on Shopping Intervention, I just had to buy it! 

And after giving it a go for a couple of months, I want to have its babies. 

What I Love 

- Lengthens and lifts, with a definite curl achieved. 

- Doesn't smudge or budge. 

- Wand separates and coats each individual lash.

- Doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes. 

- The wand doesn't get goopy. 

- Formula is neither too wet, or too dry. 

- Great price! 

Where to Buy: Priceline, Big W and Kmart. 

Price: $11.95

On Me 

The right lash (one on the left side of the picture) has no mascara, and the other has 2 coats of Impact Curl! 

Amazing results! 

Buy it and try it I say! 

If you want to read another great review of this mascara, the lovely Tegan has a post on Tegania's Thoughts. 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

On My Lips: Covergirl Lip Perfection in Tempt Seduction

Hey all,

Another red looking lipstick? Oh my, it's an obsession! You may have noticed by now that shades in the red family are my very favourite. I am definitely a fan of a bright lip, and red is a classic that suits everyone. What is not to love? 

I only have two Covergirl Lip Perfection lipstick's, but I think that they are both wonderful! So I am definitely looking to pick more up soon, any recommendations? 

Enough blabbing from me, time to get onto the fun stuff!

Shade: A seductive magenta-ish red. (I'm very good at shade descriptions, aren't I?!)

What I Love

- Gorgeous colour that would compliment every skin tone.

- Well formulated: creamy, smoothes on easily and highly moisturising.

- Long lasting: lasts through drinking and eating well. 

- Sleek packaging. 

Where to Buy: Priceline, Target, Big W and selected pharmacies.

Price: $14.05

Swatch

On My Lips 

What is my hair doing on the right side of my head? Ah well, let's roll with it! 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

On My Lips: Australis Colour Inject in Boogie Woogie

Hey all, 

Yet another new favourite lippie of mine! I have been discovering so many gorgeous new shades lately, that I am going to have to try my hardest not the overload you all! If I start rambling on about lip colour too much, feel free to tell me to shut the hell up be quiet. 

A couple of weeks before I picked this baby up I won Hula in a competition and absolutely adored the formula; so when Priceline had a sale I just had to take advantage of it. I picked up four, Boogie Woogie being one of them. And I have to say, it is my favourite of the lot!

Shade: A gorgeous muted nude-pink. Would work with any skin tone. 

What I Love 

- The formula is divine - creamy, moisturising and highly pigmented. 

- I know I just mentioned pigment, but it most definitely has one swipe colour! 

- Relatively long lasting - around 4 hours without eating or drinking. 

- Gorgeous range of shades. 

- Sleek packaging. 

- Although I can't put my finger on what it is, it has a nice smell. 

Where to Buy: Priceline, Target, Big W and Selected Pharmacies. 

Price: $12.95


Swatch

On My Lips

This is definitely a great everyday nude-pink that works wonderfully with all make up looks. Such a gorgeous shade, and a wonderfully formulated - especially for the price! I think you would all love it, so definitely head out to check it out! 

Have you tried Australis Colour Inject Lipstick's? Which is your favourite? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

NP Set Eyeshadow Duo in Antigua - Review + Swatches

Hey all, 

This is the first ever NP Set product that I chose - I'd always walked past them in Target, thought about buying something and then left empty handed. But when the mid-season sales hit, I couldn't help it! So I picked up a couple of duos, a few trios, a brush or two and some lovely lipsticks (oops!). 

I have been a sucker for neutral eye shades lately and thought that the combination in this duo was just lovely, especially for my darker skin. It is Set 5 - Antigua. 

What I Love 

- Gorgeous combination of neutral shades. 

- Buildable colour. 

- Smooth and creamy - it really does have a wonderful texture. 

- Long-lasting if used with a primer. 

- Great packaging - sleek, simple and beautiful.

- Relatively cheap. 

What I Don't

- Major product fallout, you have to make sure that you tap your brush and clear the sides of the pan. 

- Not one swipe, pigmented colour - but it does build up well. 

Where to Buy: Target

Price: $16.00

Swatches

Without Flash 

With Flash 

This definitely exceeded the expectations that I had for it, and I am now much more excited to try out some other NP Set products. Maybe I should just grab all the neutral shades? Hehe. 

Have you tried any NP Set products? What are your favourites? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

L'Oréal Lumi Magique Foundation Review

Hey all, 

I'm a sucker for trying new foundations, and can rarely walk past them when I am shopping. I won't lie, I am continuously on the hunt for products that give me perfect, luminous skin; so this L'Oréal Lumi Magique Foundation definitely caught my eye. Apparently it is infused with Liquid Light Technology, whatever that means. 

Despite the doubts I had about the 'Liquid Light Technology', this foundation had both Lumi and Magique in its title...how could I go past that? I am definitely a marketers dream! 

I've been using this foundation or around 2 weeks now, and although I am not sure if it is 'magical', I do love it! 

What L'Oréal Says 

- Innovation: new Liquid Light Technology infuses skin with a ray of light, illuminating your complexion as if lit-from-within. The radiance of your skin seems recreated. Perfect coverage, without masking. 

Is it just me, or do foundation descriptions always sound like excerpts from romance novels?! 

My Shade: W6 Gold Camel 

What I Love 

- Medium buildable coverage. 

- Evens out skin tone and hides imperfections 

- Blends into skin seamlessly to create a second-skin look. 

- Boosts radiance levels. 

- Luminous finish. 

- Relatively long lasting, especially when set with powder. 

- Large range of shades available. 

- The packing is pretttttyyy! Haha. It also has a pump bottle, which is very handy! 

What I Don't 

- No SPF - although this isn't a problem for me as I wear a sunscreen over my moisturiser. 

- Glass bottle that is not floor friendly. 

- Not the cheapest drugstore foundation. 

Price: $33.95

Swatches 

Unblended 

Blended

On My Skin

I definitely love this foundation and L'Oréal is right, it does create a radiant complexion as if 'lit-from-within'. I have been picking it up almost every morning for my face routine and just feel as though it works perfectly for me! 

Now I really want to try the primer! 

Have you tried any of the L'Oréal Lumi Magique products? Are you going to? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

NYX Eyeshadow Trio in Tropical/Yellow/Lime Green

Hey all, 

Although I am absolutely in love with neutral, natural looking eyes, sometimes I just want to brighten things up a little! Recently this has been my go-to trio when I have wanted a little bit more colour in my routine. 

NYX has some wonderful trio's that are both of high quality and affordable. This trio contains the shades Tropical, Yellow and Lime Green -  and it definitely has a summery feel to it! 

Tropical, Yellow and Lime Green (sorry for the product fallout!)

What I Love 

- Highly pigmented - extremely vibrant shades. 

- Great combination of shades, a very well put together palette.

- Smooth and creamy. 

- Long lasting.

- Affordable. 

- Sleek, simple packaging. 

What I Don't 

- A lot of product fallout in the palette, as you could see in the picture above. 

- Harder to find in Australia. 

Where to Buy: Crush Cosmetics, Groove. 

Price: $16.99

Swatches

Without Flash

Lime Green, Yellow & Tropical.

With Flash 

Although this palette isn't very wintery, I have never been one to follow trends to the key and am still using this palette although it is getting a bit cooler. It's a great palette that you can get a variety of looks with. Personally I like using the Lime Green on the lids, Tropical in the crease and Yellow blended above the crease. 

Do you like brighter, more fun shades? Or do you prefer to stick to neutrals? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

Sleek Blush in Pomegranate - Review + Swatches

Hey all, 

I am on a bit of a blush discovery mission at the moment and have found a plethora of new shades that I love; some expensive, some more affordable. This blush is definitely an affordable product that I cannot believe how much I adore. 

I only discovered Sleek blushes recently, and so far, I love every single one that I own. They are of amazing quality for the price; and you can be sure to find a shade to suit any skin tone! 

This review is for Pomegranate - one of my favourite shades to date! 

What I Love 

- Great range of shades. 

- Highly pigmented.

- Easy to apply and work with, blends well. 

- Long lasting and fades evenly. 

- Sleek, compact packaging. 

- Affordable. 

What I Don't

- Harder to find in Australia. 

- The packaging is hard to get open, and I have lost many a nail! Maybe this is just me though!

Where to Buy: Crush Cosmetics

Price: $12.95

Swatches 

Without Flash 

With Flash 

Pomegranate is one of my favourite shades out of my little collection, and is a gorgeous, bright pink that leaves a lovely flush on the skin when applied with a light hand. It looks scary in the pan, but trust me, it will purr like a kitten! 

Have you tried Sleek blushes? Which one is your favourite? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

On My Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

Hey all,

Yes, I have jumped on the bandwagon and purchased some of the well acclaimed Revlon Lip Butters. But before I start with the review, I have a bit of ranting to do. 

The prices us Australian girls get charged for products is insane and personally I think it is completely unjustifiable. The lip butters are a perfect example; how we can get charged $21.95 for something that is $8 in the U.S is completely beyond me. Because of price gaps exactly like this, products that are affordable (and quite often loved for that reason) for our fellow beauty lovers overseas are not as easily accessible for Australian ladies. 

What are your thoughts? Does anyone know the 'reason' behind the price gap?

Okay, rant done - on to the review. 

Revlon Lip Butters are a famous new-ish product that are a wonderful combination of a lip balm/gloss and a lipstick; they provide moisture as well as colour. I have picked up four lip butters so far, but Berry Smoothie is definitely my favourite shade. For me, it's a perfect 'my lips, but better' shade. 

What I Love 

- Gorgeous colour- natural and universally flattering. 

- Great pigmentation for the product type. 

- Very moisturising and feels great on the lips. 

- Relatively long lasting. 

- Gorgeous packaging. 

What I Don't 

- The ridiculous price difference between the US and Australia. 

Where to Buy: Priceline, Selected Pharmacies and wherever Revlon is sold. 

Price: $21.95

Swatch

On My Lips

They are lovely lip products and they do exactly what everyone and his dog/cat/bird/ant? (who hasn't been talking about them?!) claim. I am just not convinced they are worth the larger Australian price-tag. 

What do you think? 

If  I purchase more, I think I will grab them off eBay from the US - at a much lower price. 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

I love that you can see the colour from the top of the packaging. 

Models Prefer Highlighter in Glitz & Glamour

Hey all, 

Highlighter and I haven't always been the best of friends; I have oily/combination skin and always thought that it would make me look like an oil slick, and a lot of it does. But out relationship is quickly changing, and highlighter is fast becoming my new best friend. Who doesn't want to look radiant and glowing when they have only had 3 hours sleep? 

I picked up this Models Prefer powder highlighter from Priceline the other week. I have always been pleasantly surprised by Models Prefer, so I figured that I would give it a try. 

It turns out that is a gorgeous blend of four shades that work perfectly with my skin tone; I'm in love with the formula as well. 

What I Love

- Gorgeous blend of shades for my skin tone. 

- Smooth, creamy and not at all chalky on my skin. 

- Not too much shimmer. 

- Doesn't make me look like a deep fryer. 

- Long-lasting and wears off evenly (no blotchy shimmer here). 

- Very reasonably priced!

- Sleek, simple packaging. 

What I Don't Love 

- This is just a personal mope moment - but I always get a little sad when the shades all start mix together 

:( 

Where to Buy: Priceline 


Price: $9.99

Swatches 

Without Flash 

The frist swatch is all four shades mixed together, and the rest are clockwise around the quad. 

With Flash 

I've been using this product almost everyday now. It's a gorgeous shade and works very well with my combination shade. I am definitely cheating myself to a glowing, restored self with this one! 

Definitely another Model's Prefer Success! 

Do you have a favourite drugstore powder highlighter? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

Wet n Wild Colour Icon Eyeshadow Single in Nutty

Hey all,

Most of us would have heard of this eyeshadow at one point or another; it is a favourite amongst YouTuber's and bloggers alike. Wet n Wild products are famous for their exceptional quality and affordable price and are definite drugstore gems. 

This eyeshadow and I got off to a bit of a rocky start; I saw it as just another neutral and it sat in the drawer untouched for a long while. But eventually I decided to give it a try and it gave me a bit of a pleasant shock. Nutty has unbelievable amounts of depth and dimension. It also catches the light wonderfully! 

It is definitely one of those shadow's that can be used all on its own. 

What I Love 

- Extremely pigmented. 

- The shade has wonderful depth. 

- Creamy and goes on very smoothly. 

- Long lasting with minimal fall out. 

- Looks amazing as a sole shadow. 

- Cheap! 

What I Don't 

- Hard to find in Australia, I purchased mine from Crush Cosmetics. 

- I find the packaging very hard to open, and it has taken a nail or two with it! 

Where to Buy: Crush Cosmetics 

Price: $4.95 

Swatches 

Without Flash 

With Flash 

This really is a wonderful neutral shade that has a little bit more depth and dimension to it than most! It looks absolutely gorgeous on the lid. It is definitely a drugstore neutral that is in a league of its own. 

What is your favourite drugstore neutral? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

Avon Glimmersticks Diamonds Eyeliner - Review + Swatches

Hey all, 

I bought these little beauties on recommendation from one of my favourite YouTube makeup guru's - gossmakeupartist. He's great, head over and check him out if you haven't already! I am a sucker for eyeliner's and ran off to purchase them after I saw them in one of his favourites post. 

They are long-lasting coloured eyeliners that are infused with shimmer particles. They come in a range of shades and I picked up: Emerald Glow, Sugar Plum, Twilight Sparkle, Sparkling Silver and Golden Diamond. I have been using them for about a month now, and absolutely adore them so far. They have the perfect balance between colour and shimmer, and I have found that they add a special something to most eye looks! 

What I Love 

- Highly pigmented - deep, rich colour, especially in the darker shades. 

- Great range of shades. 

- Bright, sparkling shimmer.

- Not too shimmery - can be used both day and night. 

- Long lasting and don't smudge easily.

- Go on smoothly and easily. 

- Automatic and self sharpening. 

- Cheap! 

What I Don't 

- The darker colours seem to be a lot more pigmented than the lighter ones. 

- They are hard to come by in Australia, you would have to hunt down a representative. You can get around this though by purchasing them on eBay from overseas. 

Where to Buy: Avon Representatives, eBay.

I purchased mine from tupperwarenavon2731 from the USA. 

Price: I bought them for $2.90 each, and combined postage came to $5.20.

Swatches 

Without Flash 

Emerald Glow, Twilight Sparkle, Sugar Plum, Sparkling Silver and Golden Diamond.

With Flash 

I definitely recommend these if you want a shimmer infused liner that isn't too overpowering. I have found that they brighten up and add depth to most looks. At $2.90 each, why not give them a try? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx