Review: Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee in Berry Bliss

Another product I picked up in Melbourne was the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee in Berry Bliss, it's a part gel, part cream. These are avaialble in six shades and are awesome for the summer as their base is coconut water they never feel dry or crumbly and are great on a warm day.

They work like a stain and should be applied with fingers are brushes are not going to do you much good here, the downside being that your finger will be stained too. In addition to coconut water it also has argan oil in it so it's very hydrating - these would be amazing for dry skinned folks. I usually have oily/normal skin but i still find these to be really amazing and long lasting, they also make a great base for powders.

They really do look and feel like jelly and after 5 months this is as much as I have used up after almost every day, by the looks of it i suspect this is going to last a good few years. It's not sticky or greasy and is fragrance free. It's buildable  and melts into the skin and looks very natural. Because of this it will look good on almost any skin tone but darker skins will likley need an extra layer.

Review: Illamasqua Duo Blush (2)

Through circumstance and some very bad luck in my case i ended up with this beautiful duo Illamasqua blush. My mum recently went on a Valentines trip to Melbourne so I jumped on the chance and asked her for a either Illamasqua's powder blush in Tremble or Illamasqua's Reflections pallet. Both were sold out so mum bought me this duo because the counter assistant said the light pink color was Tremble. It's not, it's Katie - the one I own as a full blush. Oh well, when my Katie blush ran out I was going to pick it up again anyway so it's not a huge deal but it would have been nice to have something new to try.

Katie powder blush sitting on top of the duo blush

Housed in a somewhat chunkier case then their regular cream/powder/velvet blushes. I believe it's the same as their eyeshadow palette case but I can't check.

This duo blush contains:

Katie - the lovely matte light baby pink.  My favorite blush of all time. It's very pale and medium skinned girls might have a bit of trouble having this show up.

Ambition -  sparky peachy/plum pink shade with golden shimmer. It's quite beautiful and creates a lot of dimension on the face.

Both colors are super pigmented and smell amazing, I usually pick Katie in the mornings because it smells so good and lifts up the whole experience but now I have two to choose from. This duo is awesome for traveling as well and will certainly be easier to carry around when I go back to Melbourne in November!

I love these so much, and have trouble choosing my other many blushes, even my NARS blushes sit in a drawer because these are just so nice. I can't wait to get a few more, hopefully next time Tremble will actually be in stock. What's your favorite blush/brand?

Review: Australis Neon Crush Blush

Been keeping an eye out for the eon collection from Australis for the past few weeks and when I saw it this blush was the one that really stood out to me, especially when I swatched the shimmery  side on the in-store tester. The packaging is (obviously)  super bright and crazy looking, and it does stand out but it won't be everyones cup of tea.

One side is shimmer(left) and the other is matte (right) but they are largely a very similar color though the shimmer side is a little lighter and with a very slight peach tone to it, but as you can see in the swatch below they end up looking very similar.

It doesn't have any "scented" flavor and the smell is a bit powdery and reminds me of older cosmetic scents, and it's certainly not a plus. One of the reasons I love my Illamasqua blush is the slightly sweet rosy smell which makes me happy just to put it on, you don't get any of that here.

The shimmery peach side is the stand out color, the lasting power is average at around 4-6 hours a bit better for the matte side. It costs $12.95 and in the collections is also a bronzer,nail polishes, some lip crayons, and eyeshadow but the neon scared me of  bit as I already have too much stuff without adding something utterly unwearable to the collection though I'm sure their just tints not actually opaque colors of neon pinks and other colors. I think this is a nice blush if your looking to try out something with more peach tones but this is very much a youth oriented product and you can probably get something a bit more wearable and a little nicer quality no matter what your market.The collection is pretty but a little to loud for me. How about you?

Here are pics of the other stuff from the collection cutesy of the Australis homepage:

Review Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush

I've had this in my stash fir a little while now, I got a hold of it a few months ago but haven't used it much. It is however a unique and interesting product to look at and try and i admit i like having it. Sadly these aren't available in Australia and so far as I know they won't be either so if your itching for one you will have to look online. The shade I have is 50 Plum Wine, as far as i can see it's the darkest shade available.

The bouncy blushes are very soft and sort of puffy, the're a bit like a memory foam pillow - you press it in and it (mosty) bounces right back. Use a light hand though or it will smush more then it bounces. It' supposed to be a powder-gel formula and it delivers quite a sheer wash of color when used. It smells a little....heavy but not unpleasant. Be sure to wipe this onto the cheeks and do not scoop the product out, that's not really going to work.

I'm not a huge fan of the packaging but it doesn't make a huge different, it's a fun product to play with but the staying power isn't really there, around 4 hours at most but it's reasonable as a base since it's such a light wash of color. 

Have you tried a bouncy blush? Would you?

NYX has Arrived!

So we all knew it was coming for weeks now, Perth (well WA in general) seems to have been near the bottom of the list but as of Monday they have made it over here too. Personally I've been following their facebook page (stalking more like) and was thrilled to discover that my local target got stocked up yesterday. So I made my way over before they had even finished stocking (as you can see in the photo above). If your in WA the current stores that have NYX are; Joondalup, Midland, Morley, Whitford (today), Perth City (today) , Victoria Park (today)  and Carousel (today).  If you need more info on other states then I suggest you check out their facebook , as they have been very forthcoming and responsive with info.

But moving on, all the stock wasn't on show yet but I managed to pick up three things I have been curious about for a while, the stock seems very decent though I was a tad disappointment to see there was no eyeshadow singles. I've has a few Nyx products in my day but it's so much nicer to be able to see it in person and swatch the colors yourself.

The three products I picked up were the Butter Gloss in Eclair, Stay Matte but not Flat liquid foundation, and a blush in the color Terra Cotta. I used all three products yesterday when i got home and to do a proper face of makeup today so I'm able to provide some initial thoughts on all three.

Starting with the  Stay Matte but not Flat liquid foundation, i picked it up in the color 04 Creamy Natural which seems to be the palest pink toned foundation as 01 Nude was the lightest in the yellow toned group. I picked this one up on a whim since I've just finished my Maybelline Dream bb Cream and needed something new. Upon trying I'm not sure how I feel about it. The color is a great match so no problems there, the texture is super smooth and surprisingly light for a matte foundation, the coverage is light to medium which is enough for me, the only problem being that...well it seems to cling a little to dry bits of skin.

I have never has this issue before with any foundation/bb cream/ or even powder. I have combination to oily skin, as far as i was aware I had NO dry bits on my skin. Turns out I was wrong. I'm going to play around with some different application methods as i still have hope that I can find a way to make this work for me.

The second item i grabbed was the butter gloss in the color Eclair, I'm usually not a fan of gloss of any kind but some of my favorite Youtube gurus mentioned they liked these and they smelled really nice that i decided to give it a go. Surprisingly i actually like it a lot, it doesn't make me any kinder to lip gloss in general but I'm willing to make an exception for this because it smells amazing, isn't high shine and isn't sticky. It smells kind of like a soft buttery pastry mixed with something sweet like maybe strawberries but it just sinks into your lips, it really reminds me of lip balm rather then a gloss as it feels insanely hydrating on the lips. I've been testing the Australis Velourlips the past few days and my lips were dry as dirt and this helped more then my Nivea lip butters, so I'm very impressed.

I've heard nice things on the blogo sphere about NYX blushes and the color i most often see is Terra Cotta so that's the one ended up picking up. It's a bit of a scary shade for me as i nearly always lean towards a more pink based blush.This one has a bit of shimmer (not glitter) and does lean towards the bronze with clear peachy notes. It's well liked as a dupe for MAC 'So Ceylon" and is also quite similar to Sunbasque which is why it gets more attention. It's quite soft and impressively pigmented but quite packed into the case so my ultra soft RT blush brush took a little bit of swirling around to pick up the color. I think this will make a great summer time blush as those golden peachy notes make it a wonderful blush/highlighter hybrid. So far very impressed with this.

Swatches are a little off, the foundation isn't quite so bright and the blush is a little more golden but the lip butter is pretty dead on.

Here's a pic of some of all my current NYX stuff, if you want a review or info on any of these let me know :) 

Here are links to other NYX reviews i have done; NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils and NYX Matte Lip Creams.

Review: Illamasqua Powder Blush in Katie

When i first heard about Illamasqua a lot of the focus on the cream blushes and not so much on the powder blushes, which was cool with me, I'd already decided that i didn't need any other blushes except those from NARS but well i was wrong. These are very close in consistency and pigmentation though i think the Illamasqua blushes might be a little softer. They are also super pigmented and only a small amount is needed even for this shade (Katie) a pale matte blue tones baby pink. It gets quite powdery when you pick up product as you can see on the photo below.

I didn't initially pick up the blush after my makeover because i wanted to see how it would hold up over the night, well that and i was already spending way too much money there. So i got home and it had not budged, and this particular color just worked so perfectly with my super pale cool toned skin tone and i spent the next day thinking about it a lot until i finally just went back and got it. Boy am i glad i did, I'm so happy to have it home with me and it has fast become my favorite blush, i even put it in my makeup bag and moved Deep Throat back to my makeup box. It is quite literally my everyday blush.

I cannot say enough good things about this, i don't usually even like baby pink colors in makeup but this truly has my heart and i wish that people talked about the powder blushes from Illamasqua more then the creams because honestly this was far more impressive (but yes i love the cream blusher too). Have you tried these? How have they worked for you?

Comparison: Illamasqua Cream Blush in Rude vs Revlon Photoready in Pinched

Illamasqua Cream Blush in Rude

I recently purchased both the Illamasqua Cream Blusher (Rude) and a very similar shade from Revlon's Photoready Cream Blusher (Pinched) i thought these would be great to do a comparison post since the colors are so similar and one is obviously much more easily available then the other.  The price difference is not huge, Illamasqua is around $28 (plus shipping in my case) while the Revlon is around $20 but i got mine on sale for $13, so it mostly depends on how available it is for you.

Starting with the Illamasqua, the packaging on it is quite lush, it's on the heavier side which is nice, it's in the classic Illamasqua shaped case. It has no scent but like all cream blushers it has a tendency to catch all sorts of dirt; lint and dust so be careful with it, also because of the kind of products that cream blushers are do not expect the packaging to stay clean for any good length of time. So in that respect, both blushers will get quite dirty.

The Illamasqua is more pigmented then the Revlon but the color itself is very similar, it's a warm peachy color that is very natural on pale skin, and it blends out beautifully. The formula is pigmented and very smooth without any clumping or crumbly bits. It doesn't dry to a powder exactly but is quite a fresh and natural look probably more so then most powders. The cream consistency is great right now that the weather is getting colder however if you have seriously oily skin then probably stick to the powder blushers. It feels very lightweight and personally i don't even feel it on my skin.

Revlon Photoready Cream Blush

The Revlon is color wise quite similar though it is more sheer and in that is probably more forgiving then the Illamasqua and is a bit more reliable if your going to layer it for more color. In the pot the texture seems similar but the Illamasqua seems much creamier where as the Revlon is a "smoother" vaguely silicon like consistency, at least that's what it reminds me of. This one also gets quite dirty after a few uses so in that respect there is little difference.

The container is not quite as sturdy as the Illamasqua but it should survive the rigors of your handbag since these are unlikely to open and are actually quite easily to apply, so if you have a light touch you don't even need a mirror. The skrew on top is actually probably more secure but the plastic is thinner so its more likely to crack or get dents and chips in it.

Both cream blushers first apply quite bright but if you have a light touch you can control this, i find your finger do a nicer job of blending this and the heat in your skins helps it move around and disperse better. The illamsqua is more pigmented and creamier so it "sticks" better and the color is more prominent where the Revlon is more "slippery" but has an easier time of being built up.

So in summary; Illamasqua is more pigmented, stays on longer, is creamier and easier to apply and has heartier packaging while the Revlon is smoother, not as pigmented but more build able, the packaging is more secure in a handbag because of its screw rather then click top, however it doesn't last as long.

I love the color and both blushers are wonderful for the current cold weather and both are very good bases for powder blushers if you want a little more bang. Overall i prefer the Illamasqua but for a base for powder blush or for a really neutral look i would choose the Revlon.

Have you tried a cream blusher? Do you prefer it over powder? Post a comment below :)

Review L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Blush

This is perhaps one of the most unique products i have seen in a long time, and honestly I'm not sure if i buy into the premise but it's certainly a fun product. Obviously it's not a bb - anything, it's not going to make your skin feel or behave any better. What it will do is give you a very light, very natural blush look that is basically idiot proof.

 

The product is a clear silicon based pink and transparent gel, you only need the tiniest amount to use, half the size of a pea really to get all you need out of it. It feels incredibly smooth when you apply it and at first appears super bright, like crazy Barbie doll pink kind of bright.

 

Luckily it mellows out pretty fast, and you need only blend so far as you want it to, the longer you blend the more it disappears until you have almost entirely erased it from your face, It reminds me most closely of the Essence Ballerina Collection soufflé blush, it's similarly smooth and very natural looking. It's not a product that's ever going to make you look like a clown if you go to hard on it and it's not going to oxidize and change color. It feels very smooth and sits pretty well, but probably works better as a blush base if you want it to last all day. By itself it provides maybe 4-6 hours worth of blush time. I would recommend it if your a blush newbie or have a terrible fear of over applying, otherwise it's more of a fun gimmick. I'll probably continue to use it when I want a very low maintenance and low effort look.

 

Note, I'm moving house today so there will be few scheduled posts going up as I don't know how long it will take to get internet up and running and my new place.

 

 

Have you tried anything from this line yet?

Review: NARS Deep Throat

So I'm not sure why i never reviewed this after i initially got it, especially since it has been my everyday blush since August. I think i just felt like it was so overdone, but now that i think about it another opinion is probably never a bad think if your trying to decide if this is for you or not. Or maybe you don't visit a lot of beauty blog and this is your first intro to lovely NARS blushes (hoora!).

Firstly, as i have said before i got this for my birthday because i was initially quite intimidated by the shimmer bomb that Orgasm was. Deep Throat is very similar in color to Orgasm but i think it leans a little more to peach then pink and has more shimmer then actually shine/glitter. Once again the color is probably dupe-able but not the quality, the blush is very finely milled and just glides onto your cheeks. It's a warm but ery wearable shade, as evident that i have worn if almost everyday since August.

It applies in a very lovely fashion, no rubbing and no patches, it's just very soft almost approaching a creamy consistency and lasts for hours. Can't go wrong with this one.

Review: NARS Orgasm

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