Gorgeous Cosmetics Perfect Palette

Hi all, 

Gorgeous Cosmetics is a brand that I discovered recently and have been trying to explore a little more. I'm the kind of person that likes to get to know a brand by trying a range of their products, in a short period of time (usually); this especially holds true when it is a brand that I am impressed with! I'll try not to overload you all though! 

I swatched a few Gorgeous Cosmetics eyeshadow and blush shades whilst in store, but couldn't decide on what shades to take home - a common predicament for beauty bloggers I"m sure! So, I just picked up this pre-made palette instead. Sometimes I make good choices, this palette is a winner! 

The Shades 

Top Row: Buttercup, Golden Kiss, Gem & Fudge

Bottom Row: Nude, Peach Glow, Marshmellow & Cheeky

The top row are eyeshadows, and the bottom are blushes/highlighters. 

What I Love 

- The palette is very well put together, and gives you a good taste of the brand. 

- Both the eyeshadow's and blushes are of great quality!

- Very pigmented, creamy and easily blendable.

- Long-lasting, even without a primer. 

- I haven't seen any eyeshadow creasing with a primer.  

- You get a large amount of product in each pan. 

- I love the sleek packaging, I am a giant sucker for some good packaging! 

What I Don't 

- It's a little on the pricey side! Even more so if you buy the shadows individually. 

- I believe this palette was limited edition, although most of the shades are still available. 

Where to Buy: Gorgeous Cosmetics stores & online. 

Price: $89.00 

Swatches

Without Flash

Buttercup, Golden Kiss, Gem, Fudge

Nude, Peach Glow, Marshmellow, Cheeky

With Flash 

It's pricey, yes, but it is also quite wonderful! I think that the depth of the neutral shades is great and have my eyes on their Everyday Palette. I can't help that I'm drawn to the 'boring'! If this palette doesn't tickle your fancy and you aren't ready to fess up the cash for it, I suggest trying a single shadow! They are quite lovely. 

On another note, I have an exciting idea to run by all of you! But, I think that I will give it a post of its very own! 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

Kit Cosmetics Eyeshadow in That's Hot

Hey all, 

I hadn't tried many Kit Cosmetics products for a long while, but got drawn in by their bright, gorgeous lipstick's (review soon to come) and have been expanding my horizons ever since. It's a wonderful brand, with great shades, high quality and adorable packaging. 

I was shopping the other day, and just could not walk past this eyeshadow. It is such a gorgeous shade, and didn't look like anything else that I had in my collection. 

The Shade 

A gorgeous deep, shimmery and multi-dimensional purple.

What I Love 

- Highly pigmented, one swipe colour. 

- Creamy and blends easily. 

- Has shimmer, but is not overpowering. 

- Long lasting, especially with a primer. 

- I adore the packaging of all Kit products as well! 

Where to Buy: Mecca Cosmetica, Mecca Maxima, Myer and Online. 

Price: $19.95

Swatches 

Without Flash 

I though that I would put two pictures in, as I just couldn't capture the beauty of the colour as much as I wanted to. 

With Flash 

I'm a sucker for purple shadows (or anything purple for that matter), and am certain that this shade will become a favourite in my collection! 

Have you tried any Kit products? Which product is your favourite? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

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

Sleek Monaco Eyeshadow Palette - Review + Swatches.

Hey all, 

How was everyone's weekend? I had a particularly busy one myself! I am fighting the flu of doom and am in the middle of organising a bit of a career change - busy, busy, busy! At least I haven't had any time to get into trouble, have I? 

Since I started 'shopping my stash' - read the post here; I have had a look through my whole collection, just to remind myself what I have. This has happily resulted in the rediscovery of many old favourites and some new gems. 

This is one of them! 

I loved the potential of this palette, and am so glad that I grabbed it! When I first tried it, all I could think was 'wow'. 

What I Love

- Well put together, all the shades compliment each other. 

- Very highly pigmented. 

- Creamy and smooth. 

_ Long lasting, especially with a primer. 

- Reasonably priced. 

What I Don't

- It is a limited edition palette, but can still be found online. 

Where to Buy: Try eBay. 

Swatches 

Top 6 Shades 

Without Flash 

Bamboo, Aquamarine, Midnight Garden, Sunset, Washed Ashore & Magenta Madness

With Flash 

Bottom 6 Shades 

Without Flash

Summer Breeze, Sand Walker, Kiwi Zest, Lotus Flower, Humming Bird & Moors Treasure

With Flash 

Isn't it gorgeous?! It is hard to pick a favourite with so many lovely shades, but I particularly like Kiwi Zest and Sunset. 

Which shade do you like the look of? 

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

Australis Double Decker Eyeshadows - Review + Swatches

Hey all, 

Before I picked these Double Decker shadow's up, I had often seen them at Priceline and thought that they looked like a bundle of fun! I get a big kick out of novelty of any sort, and these definitely piqued my interest. What are they? They are eyeshadow duos with both a metallic cream shadow and a loose powder - all in one little compact!

Did they live up to my excited little expectations? Yes, they did!

The Shades

I picked up three gorgeous shades. All the shades have shimmer. 

Supernova Casanova - A gorgeous, deep-brown metallic. 

Greenhouse Effect - A deep olive green.

Give Me Some Space - Deep, dark purple. 

What I Love 

- Packed full of pigment. 

- Gorgeous  multi-dimensional shades to suit everyone. 

- The novelty is a bundle of fun! 

- Handy compact. 

- Long lasting when set with the loose powder.

- Very reasonably priced! 

What I Don't 

- The loose powder section of the compact can get quite messy. 

- The cream shadow cannot really be used by itself. 

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

Price: $9.95

Swatches 

Metallic Cream Base Shadow 

Without Flash 

With Flash 

Loose Powder On Top

They absolutely transform when you apply the loose shadow on top, just like magic! I have placed a little dot of the loose powder by itself above each swatch. 

Without Flash 

With Flash

How pretty are they? I have been creating a lot of metallic eye looks lately and will definitely head out to buy the rest of these babies. Like I mentioned before, you can only see their true beauty when you use the cream shadow and loose powder together - so if you are looking for standalone products, these may not be for you. 

Have you been enjoying metallics? Have you tried these? 

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

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

Wet N Wild Eyeshadow Trio in Walking on Eggshells - Review + Swatches

Hey all, 

Most of us in the beauty world have probably heard about this wonderful little trio by Wet N Wild, which can only be described as the perfect combination of shades for a neutral eye. Whoever thought this one up was short of a genius! 

After hearing my favourite YouTube guru (emilynoel83) rave about this for a while, I jumped onto Crush Cosmetics and picked it up. I picked up some other Wet N Wild trio's at the same time, but this one was definitely the stand out amongst them! 

What I Love 

- Gorgeous combination of shades. 

- Very highly pigmented. 

- Great formula - goes on creamy, smoothly and doesn't flake or crease. 

- Easy to work with and blend.

- Handy packaging. 

- Great price! 

What I Don't 

- Harder to find in Australia. 

Where to Buy: Crush Cosmetics.

Price: $9.95

Swatches 

Without Flash 

With Flash 

This is definitely my go-to on days where I haven't thought about what to do with my eye make-up, and it  currently lives at the very front of my vanity. 

A mix of perfect neutral shades, a great formula and a very affordable price make this trio a must have in any make-up collection! 

Have you tried this trio, and what do you think? Any other Wet n Wild trio recommendations? 

Also, I am planning a tutorial post on the different ways to use this trio, so be on the lookout for that! 

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

Essence Sun Club Eyeshadow Palette 02

Hey all,

I love a bargain as much as the next person, but sometimes it is hard to find quality at a lower price. Fair enough, you get what you pay for...right? Well, Essence has found a way to exceed my expectations; making products that have the same quality as more expensive alternatives. This eyeshadow palette is no exception!

I couldn't help but fall in love with it when I spotted it at Target whilst on holidays, and although I can't remember exactly how much I paid, I am sure it was under $10!!

There were two palette's, I bought 02 Bondi Beach Collection - Long Beach.

The Shades

Gorgeous summery bronzes and neutrals, a wonderful range and mix of shades. Some shimmery, matter and pearl shades. 

What I Love 

-The shades are highly pigmented, especially for the price. 

- Go on smoothly, blend well. 

- Creamy formula. 

- Minimal creasing, especially when used over a primer. 

- Long-lasting. 

- The price! Amazing value for money. 

What I Don't 

- There is a bit of fall out on the palette, but nothing too worrying! 

Swatches

No flash. 

With flash.

Where to Buy: Target

Price: Under $10

This is one of the loveliest drugstore summer palettes that I have seen so far! It has a gorgeous mix of shades that are all of exceptional quality. I would definitely recommend that you pick it up and give it a try. 

Have you tried many Essence products? What is your favourite? 

Hope you all have a great night! xx

MAC Eyeshadow: Poison Pen

Hey all, 

I absolutely adore MAC eyeshadow's! They have some gorgeous colours, are highly pigmented and also tend to be easy to work with. Needless to say, I have built myself a bit of a collection over the years! But, I still have some stand out favourites, shadow's that I tend to keep going back to. 

This is most definitely one of them! 

Poison Pen 

Shade

Lavender grey purple 

Matte2

What I Love

- Absolutely gorgeous purple! Looks especially great with brown eyes. 

- It is a matte shade, with absolutely no shimmer.

- Highly pigmented - great colour payoff even with one swipe! 

- Blends like a dream. 

- Long lasting.

- Absence of any black undertones. 

- Can be used on the eyelids, in the crease, or as a liner. 

What I Am Not So Crazy About 

- Sadly, it has been discontinued! I am sure that you could find it somewhere and I will keep my eyes out for dupes! 

- A little bit pricey for those of us that are in Australia. 

Price: $33.00 AUD

Where to Buy: Myer, David Jones & From Various Online Locations.

Swatch

If you can't find it try Urban Decay's Cult 

This has been one of my favourite purple shadow's for quite a while, and I always find myself reaching for it whenever I create a purple look. It is great for the daytime, or for night and makes an amazing smokey eye! Although it is discontinued (which is such a pity!), I definitely recommend that you have a look online or on swaps for it! It is worth the search effort!

It is my aim to eventually work my way through sharing and reviewing all my favourite and most highly recommended shades through the next few months. I have always enjoyed playing a  a part (even it if is a tiny one) in the building of other's collections, so maybe I can tempt you a little! 

Hope you all have a great day! xx

Essence Blossoms Etc... Eyeshadow Review

Hey all, 

I may have just been living under a rock for the past couple of months, but I had absolutely no idea that Essence products could be found in Australia! I was definitely on the verge of jumping in joy when I spotted a small range of Essence products at my local target when out shopping for lamps the other day! (Yes, no matter what I am shopping for - I will find myself in the make up section!)

They had the Blossoms Etc... collection and a rock chick collection (sorry, can't remember the exact name) just placed on cardboard displays on one of the counters. The Blossoms Etc... collection was full of gorgeous and feminine spring colours, I just had to pick up all three eyeshadow's!

From left to right: Bloom-a-Loom, A Hint of Mint & Forget-Me-Not

Aren't the colours absolutely gorgeous?! 

What I Love 

- Gorgeous, feminine colours that are perfect for spring/summer!

- Go on super smoothly

- Silky, soft finish

- Highly pigmented

- Long lasting 

- Cute packaging & gorgeous detail on the shadow's themselves

- Cheap

What I Am Not So Crazy About

- Not so long lasting without a primer, I definitely recommend using one

- I wish that there was a wider shade range

- Hard to find where I live! 

Swatches (without & with flash) 

Price: $3.99(AUD)

Where to buy: I have only found these in the Brisbane City Target & even then they were nearly all sold out! I really wish they were easier to find, they are absolutely gorgeous! 

These are definitely great shadows, and at $4 a pop, they are definitely worth checking out! I think the colours are absolutely precious and have already been using them all quite frequently! I also picked up a couple of Blossoms Etc... nail polishes. 

Does Kitten Approve? 

Yes she does! 

Hope you all have a great day! xx

NYX Caribbean Collection - I Dream of Aruba Review

Hey all, 

This is a review that I cannot believe I haven't done already! If someone had asked me before I started blogging what the first product I would look at would be, this would've definitely been up the top of my list! I love bronze eye looks, and use this palette so frequently I always worry that I will get stuck in a rut! You can really create so many looks with this palette, from more simple everyday looks, to more glammed up looks. 

Those who know me are aware of how much I love NYX products, especially the eyeshadows. They are such great quality! Long lasting, highly pigmented and they have some amazingly gorgeous shades (and quite a few unique shades as well). They are also so cheap and really hold their own in comparison to the high end brands. Just getting the word out there - if you haven't tried any of their shadow's, you really should! (I will put up a post on my fave NYX shades). 

NYX Caribbean Collection - I Dream of Aruba 

What I Love

- The colours - most of NYX shades are amazing colours individually, and NYX also has this way of putting together palettes that just go so well together

- Pigmentation - rivals MACs

- Easy to work with, blend etc 

- Long lasting 

- Cruelty Free 

- Hypoallergenic 

- Cheap! 

What I Am Not So Crazy About 

- NYX products are extremely hard to find in Australia, I get most of mine online (I will list some places below) 

Price: $13.95 AUD (for 5 eyeshadows) 

Where to Buy

- I buy most of my NYX products from Crush Cosmetics, they are Australian and based in Australia & you can get express shipping as well. 

- You can also buy NYX from Groove Accessories, although the selection is limited 

- eBay (direct from USA) if you don't mind paying for shipping

- And from the NYX website

It is a wonderful, versatile palette that I have got a lot of use out of. I really do recommend trying it! If bronze shades aren't really your thing, NYX has a extensive range of colours - so have a look! I cannot stress how much I recommend NYX eyeshadow's! 

Hope you all have a great day! xx

* Just a hint: use a primer! They swatch well without, but are to die for when you use one!