Base Compare

Well, first things first. I have too many makeup bases. I didn't used to, in fact i'm not quite sure what happened.. I used to use one up then go buy another but now I hear something or see something talking about a shiny new foundation or a cult fav and somehow here it is... Well in  attempt to stop this I thought I would take the time to compare some of these for you and also try to control my own base-addiction so I won't be buying anymore until I finish at least 6 of these. I'll note how much has already been used in the post below too.

Foundations

So my collection of Foundations includes; Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (bought start of this year), Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation, Illamasqua Skin Base, L'Oreal Eau De Teint, NYX Matte but not Flat Foundation, Korres Vitamin Foundation, and Rimmel Stay Mate Foundation.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum - This have been my everyday foundation since the start of the year when I found it on special, it's a great match for me once it's buffed out even though on the swatch below it looks quite dark. I would repurchase this but probably wait till there was a sale again as it was good but not the amazing foundation that people had raved about.

Texture: Liquid 

Finish : Dewy

Opacity: Sheer, buildable

Wear: 6- 8 Hrs

Rebuy: Only on sale

Why I haven't finished it:  It's nearing on empty, maybe a month use left

Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation - I got a sample of this once and it was so god damn amazing I went and bought the full product full price and then tried it at home and was...deeply disappointed, it was not the smooth flawless coverage from the sample. it was thick, heavy and cake-y and I hated it but never threw it away because I still hoped one day I would find that one thing that could make it work. I would take it out every few months and try again and no luck, until last week! I finally found the one way this can be applied and look amazing - a damp beauty blender! With it you can get a very covered look but it won't feel heavy or look like you have a face full of foundation on. Success!

Texture: Liquid 

Finish: Matte

Opacity: Very Heavy

Wear: 8- 12 Hrs

Rebuy: No, too difficult to work with

Why I haven't finished it: Stopped using it due to difficulty of use.

Illamasqua Skin Base - shade SB02 - I love this foundation, it's amazingly pigmented for very little product. It's very pale and a little hard to use  if i get a but of sunlight but that's not usually a concern. But the biggest problem is the packaging which is so hard that it's very difficult to actually get any product out as it's more cream then liquid. 

Texture: Cream 

Finish: Satin

Opacity: Medium

Wear: 5- 8 Hrs 

Rebuy: Yes, if the packaging was changed

Why I haven't finished it: I save it for special occasions and the packaging is hard to use on a daily basis

L'Oreal Eau De Teint - shade 120 Pure Ivory - I've been keeping an eye on the advertised space in Priceline for weeks and lucky me it showed up just the Priceline 40% off sale came around so I snatched it up. Been using it everyday since then and I'm very much in love, it's so light and feels like there is nothing on my face. It's so effortlessly easy to blend and feels lovley, soft , and smooth to the touch.

Texture: Super Liquid

Finish: Satin

Opacity: Sheer, buildable

Wear: 6-8 Hrs , wears away well

Rebuy: yes

Why I haven't finished it: I just bought it

NYX Matte but not Flat Foundation - 04 Creamy Neutral , I picked this up last November when NYX first arrived at my local Target. I wanted to like this as the color match for me was quite spectacular however it did something no other foundation or bb or cc or any other kind of base ever has - it found dry patches on my normal/oily skin. Madness!

Texture: Cream/Mousse

Finish: Matte

Opacity: Medium

Wear: 4- 6 Hrs 

Rebuy: No

Why I haven't finished it: It's the first and onyl foundation to ever cling to supposed dry bits on my screen so it doesn't look good. Might try the beauty blender on this.

Korres Vitamin Foundation - I got this is a special package along with a few Korres lip balms which are also awesome and for most of last year this was my go-to-foundation and was the one I picked to take with me to Melbourne. It's very good and long lasting foundation that is great at controlling shine and it's too bad that it's been discontinued as I do feel that it made my skin look better.

Texture: Cream 

Finish: Dewy

Opacity: Medium

Wear: 6- 8 Hrs 

Rebuy: Yes, but discontinued

Why I haven't finished it: I got new foundation (Illamasqua) that I was eager to try and this fell to the back of the drawer.

Rimmel Stay Mate Foundation - I picked this one up at the Priceline 40% off last November and it was probably a mistake since it's quite similar to the NYX Stay matte but not flat, it feels heavy and although the coverage is great I don't really feel comfortable in it. This one however does not stick to apparent dry patches like the NYX.

Texture: Mousse

Finish: Matte

Opacity: Medium/Heavy

Wear: 4 - 8 Hrs 

Rebuy: No

Why I haven't finished it: It turned out to be si thick and heavy it didn't feel comfortable on the skin, another one for the beauty blender.

BB & CC Creams 

This collection of Foundations includes; Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream, Ponds Flawless Whitening BB Cream, Nivea BB Cream, Garnier Oil Free BB Cream, Revlon Photoready BB Cream and the Watsons Collagen BB Cream.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream - I saw on this some blogs and various youtube channels and it seemed to get a lot of love, I got shade 33 which is a smidgen too dark and I have worn this twice since purchase because I fell in love with the L'Oreal Eau De Taint.

Texture: Liquid

Finish: Dewy

Opacity: Medium

Wear:  4-6 Hrs

Rebuy: probably not, it's nice but I still like my Ponds BB cream better.

Why I haven't finished it: Just bought it

Ponds Flawless Whitening BB Cream- This is my favorite bb cream as it's a great match, it's a little thicker and ashy like an asian bb cream but is so much more easily available. I've gone through 2 of these and will almost certainly repurchase it again and again.

Texture: Liquid/Cream 

Finish: Satin

Opacity: Medium, buildable

Wear: 8- 12 Hrs 

Rebuy: Yes, have before

Why I haven't finished it: This one has been in rotation between the Bourjois health mix and is almost finished, maybe a week or two left.

Nivea BB Cream - A gift from mum when she went to Poland hence the crazy unreadable text, and i love the smell of it as it has that comforting Nivea smell but oh gosh the color is so wrong, it might as well be bright orange!  I tried it on a stay at home day to see how it lasted and it did okay, the texture reminds me of the Dove tinted moisturizer I used to use as a teenager.

Texture: Cream 

Finish: Matte

Opacity: Medium

Wear: 4-6 Hrs

Rebuy: No

Why I haven't finished it: It's the wrong color, probably going to give this away.

Garnier Oil Free BB Cream - This was my first ever brand of bb creams, I used the regular before the oil control version came out and then switched over, it's cheap and works quite well. There is really nothing wrong with this bb cream but for my skin the Ponds bb cream is much better for basically the same price.

Texture: Liquid 

Finish: Dewy

Opacity: Sheer, buildable

Wear: 6- 8 Hrs 

Rebuy: No, have found better matches since but I have re bought it in the past and gone through at least 3.

Why I haven't finished it: Found better color matches and better lasting products.

Revlon Photoready BB Cream - This was largely a purchase made at the spur of the moment due to excitement at seeing a new BB cream (when i bought this there was maybe 3-4 or the maker, not like 30 that there are now) and I probably didn't need it but id recently finished another bb cream and obviously felt that there a gap of some sort. It's not horrible but it;s very sheer and doesn't control oil at all, so this would be amazing on someone with dry or normal skin and a good complexion. While my complexion is much improved since I was a teen my forehead can get a bit oily especially on hot summer days.

Texture: Cream 

Finish: Dewy

Opacity: Sheer

Wear: 4- 6 Hrs 

Rebuy: No

Why I haven't finished it: It's so sheer and hardly build-able and terrible at oil control so it fell to the back of the drawer.

Watsons Collagen BB Cream - Another present from mum, this one from Singapore and it;s amazing. Probably better then my Ponds bb cream but it is almost impossible for me to get, it's a better texture and coverage but does harden a little in cold weather and needs some heating in your hands but is perfect in summer. If it was easily available I would get this BB cream and no others.

Texture: Cream 

Finish: Satin

Opacity: Medium

Wear: 8- 12 Hrs 

Rebuy: Yes

Why I haven't finished it: I'm so close to finishing it, if i do it will be gone and I will never find it again. That makes me sad. Has maybe a month or so left in it.

Cream Eyeshadow Comparison - Bourjois, e.l.f, Maybelline, Essence

Since the release of the Maybelline Eye Tattoos I have become a huge fan of cream eyeshadows and it seems so have a lot of people have too since almost every company seems to be getting on the bandwagon.

Whilst shopping today I popped into Priceline and spotted something new and shiny in the Bourjois section - the 24H Color Edition Cream Eyeshadows and was immediately drawn to one of the colors, when I got home with it I was reminded of how similar it was to the Maybelline Eye Tattoo (packaging wise) and I thought a comparison post was in order so I dug up my other cream eyeshadow and took some photos for you.

So, the contenders are;

Essence Ballerina Backstage Edition in "pas des copper", Essence stay all day  in "for fairies", Bourjois "

Pétale de Glace",  e.l.f "Soiree", and Maybelline Eye Tattoo in "Pomegranate Punk". I tried to stay in a similar color palette to give a better comparison between them. I also gave Essence two spots as their formula for cream eyeshadow is so variable it's best to judge them by collections rather then as a company standard.

Here they all are swatched side by side, no primer, photo taken a few seconds after application.

Essence Ballerina Backstage Edition in "pas des copper" 

I've talked about this one a lot before, and this was the first cream eyeshadow I ever owned, it cost about $3.50 and I feel it can hold it's own against almost any competition. Essence struck gold with this one.

Texture: soft, creamy and very slightly powdery. Non drying (I've had it for two years and it looks like like i could have picked it up yesterday). Almost mousse like.

Opacity: Very opaque

Wear: 6-8 hours

2.8g

Essence stay all day  in "for fairies"

As amazing as pas des copper is, sadly Essence's regular range does not reach the same hights, this one is the same formula that has appeared in at least their last three collections (Breaking Dawn, Circus, Paradise). It was also in their permanent line for a long time but I'm not 100% if it still as as they changed it up a few months ago and I haven't looked at these since then. It's sadly quite terrible, patchy, drying, please go back to the soufflé formula!

Texture: hard, dry. Very difficult to blend without taking color off. With the shimmery shades sometimes the color with get wiped off or fade away and leave big chinks of glitter.

Opacity:  Medium, when it works. 

Wear: 2-4 hours

5.5g

Bourjois "Pétale de Glace"

Brand new collection here is Australia but it's been out for a little while in the UK now, I only saw three colors available at my local Priceline - the pink/beige (which i came home with), a silver and a dark blue. However I know overseas has at least three more colors, though I'm not sure if Australia will get them.

Owning Chanel you might also see some similarities between these and the Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear .

Texture: Fluffy and soft. It's a cream to powder and blends very smoothly.

Opacity: Medium but can be built up.

Wear: 4-6 hours

5g

e.l.f "Soiree"

If you haven't heard yet e.l.f cosmetics are now available in Kmart (who is redoing all their beauty sections to be less nasty) and i picked this up the same day as the Bourjois for two reasons 1) for this comparison 2) I have never tried a e.l.f product before. It's smaller then the rest but packs quite a punch, I was expecting something closer to the Essence stay all day but it's probably closer to being somewhere between the Maybelline and the Backstage Ballerina.

Texture: Thick, and very fluffy. Whipped really is the best description.

Opacity: Medium/Heavy with more shimmer then the others

Wear: 4-6 hours

3g

Maybelline Eye Tattoo in "Pomegranate Punk"

These have been out for a while and most people probably have at least one with Bad to the Bronze being the standout shade (I personally love Bad to the Bronze, Tough as Taupe and Pomegranate Punk). There are many more colors overseas and a new nude collection which i really hope makes it to our shores! These are hefty little jars of awesome, they make great bases and the huge color range makes them much more accessible then the rest.

Texture: Average leaning toward hard, best applied with fingertips to warm it up a little.

Opacity: Heavy, some colors much less so.

Wear: 6 - 10 hours

4g

Photo of the same swatches 5 hours later

Review: Burjois Healthy Mix Serum

I've been wanting to try this foundation for ages, I think every blogger and youtube guru that i follow has had this show up at one point or another but I alway kind of balked at the $32 price point, without being sure if i would like it. I also has a bad experience with their flower perfection foundation. (I got a sample and loved it, bought it and it was the heaviest most difficult foundation I have ever used). Still the entire Internet probably couldn't be wrong and I would always pick this up and put it back down every time i went into Priceline. However last week i went into a Friendlies Chemist near my mum's place and there it was, discounted being discontinued at the store and all for the low price of $15! I was a tad concerned it would be too dark (52) rather then my usual 51, but it turned out perfectly fine. That I could work with, so here we are. Discounts like that make me very happy and I'm thrilled to give this a shot.

Being super excited about this I wasted no time trying his on, and have worn it now almost every day for about a week. Admittedly this might not have been the best time to do as it's been one of the hottest heat waves in Perth for a while. However I'm happy to say that despite these less then ideal conditions this foundation withstood the test. It's very smooth, almost watery texture that feels a bit more "silicon smooth" then a liquid foundation. It's not streaky or patchy and I get a great effect with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, it's buffs in quickly and smoothly. 

As you may know I'm a fan of bb creams over foundation as I prefer a lighter coverage, and this fits in so well with that as it is quite a sheer foundation so those with problem skin might want to avoid, I think if your skin leans towards a drier combination this might be a nice one too as i think the gel combined with oily skin might mean the whole thing just slides off.  My skin used to be oily but is now mostly normal with some days leaning towards oily and others towards dry and this works quite well.

Another thing that's great about this is how easy it to use, all the problems I had with their flower perfection foundation are non existent here. In fact it's the exact opposite as it applies like a breeze with a brush, sponge or fingertips and if you have the right color match it will be difficult to cause any mistakes.

I will repurchase this again, though hopefully at a sale price because I still think $32 is a bit much for 30 ml of product, however if it lasts me well then I will consider it turns out you do not need very much as the nice hygienic pump makes it super easy to control how much your using.

Empties: November 2013

End of November, almost Christmas time :) Even better yesterday was the PS4 Australian release so that's going on. Let's jump into it then shall we?

Maybelline Dream Pure BB for Oily Skin
reviewed here
+++ repurchase: no
One of the better BB cream's I have tried, if not for the fact that it didn't turn my skin super oily after a few hours it would be a winner. I might try the regular version and see if that has a similar effect on me.

Ponds Flawless White BB+
reviewed here
+++++ repurchase: yes
My favorite and most easily available bb cream, has the slightly ashy coloration of the original bb creams, lasts ages and fades naturally. A favorite

Burjois Flower Perfection Primer
+++ repurchase: no
This was my first ever primer, and the product that really introduced me to the concept. It's small size is actually why it took me so long to finish, i didn't want to go buy another one for the price so I really made it last. Over the past few months I finally used this up which did not take long as other primers have made their way into my life and I'm okay letting this go.  Heavy flower scent, thick texture, probably better for more mature skin.

Essence Marble Mania Mascara
++ repurchase: no
This was from the Marble Mania trend edition about a year back (yeah yeah 3 months mascara blah blah) and i picked it up to check out how the marbled effect would work, it's supposed to be a black mascara with silver shimmer. I saw no silver shimmer, it's dried up and gross now so bin it goes.

Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara
++ repurchase: no
I picked this up when it was first introduced as i was intrigued by the concept but it didn't really do it for me, the brush i really don't like as it's impossible to get lower lashes. It smudged when first applied and then i had a terrible time getting it off in the evening. No thanks.

Softlips spf 20 Raspberry Lip Balm
++++ repurchase: maybe
Got this one during a stress day at school last year and used it a lot when i was out and about, it smelled like raspberry and had a pleasant cooling sensation. This always felt like a bit of a treat to use. If i see it again i will pick it up but I also have a lot of lip balms so I'm in no rush.

Nice'n ease Color Condition Gloss
++++ repurchase: yes
I wish they would sell these separates and not just as part of the coloring kit, this was a really nice conditioner and I usually hate the included ones as they feel quite cheap. The Nice'n Easy coloring kits are by far my favorite too, the best part is that after the first shower the color doesn't leak all over your shower.


Swisspers Cotton Wipes
+++++ repurchase: yes
A staple. No more need be said.

Rexona Delicious Long Lasting Protection Deodorant
+++ repurchase : no
It's an alright deodorant that smells nice, but it seems to run out quite fast.

Priceline Beauty Bag 2013 Haul

(see catalogue here)

 

It's been a while since I did a haul post but I know a lot of people have been curious about the current Beauty Bag that went on sale today at Priceline, so I though I would do a bit of a haul post as well as list some of the items included so people can make a better choice if they want to pick it up.

 

Now the deal is that you spend $60 on selected brands, in this case Rimmel, Revlon, Models Prefer, Nude, Manicare, Burjois, Kiss, Natio, Australis, EcoTools, Sally Hansen and Savvy. Not the biggest range but decent, especially if you have a few things you might need to pick up anyway. In return you will receive a bag full of stuff worth $220 (supposedly) in value, almost entirely consisting of full size items from those ranges themselves.

 

So let me note that when I pick up the Priceline beauty bag, for the past 3 years (I picked up the skincare beauty bag before I was ever really "into" makeup) I usually split it with a friend or in this case my mum. We have both similar tastes but different needs so it's fairly easy to split it up between us and means no one goes home with something they really don't like. For this reason not all the items from the bag will appear in the photos because mum already took them home, but I will list them anyway.

 

I also want to point out that at the moment Priceline has a lot of sales specifically on Revlon, Rimmel , Nivea and Burjois. (The Burjois lipsticks which are usually $21 are currently all $10)

 

 

So, to qualify for the $60 buy in, mum and I purchased the following items;

 

Burjois "Vert Peptite 55" Metallic Eyeliner Teal (mine) $16

Burjois "Bleu Cinquant 54" Metallic Eyeliner in Blue (mums) $16

Models Prefer Eye shadow Quad in Grand Finale (mine) $4.99 (huh, just notice it was cheaper then listed on the floor where it said $10)

Models Prefer Bronzer & Illuminator Quad (mums) $10

Models Prefer Mystic Smudge Brush $14.99

 

As you can see I also picked up the Nivea Pure and Natural Toner (on special for $5.99 down from $10)

 

With these purchases we qualified for the BeautyBag but also for the Burjois (Spend $20) gift :) Muhahah

 

The Burjois gift included a Burjois blush in D'or (but this may vary), a kabuki brush and a small mirror.

 

The Beauty Bag on the other hand included; (there may be variations in color in individual bags)

 

Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Nail polish (in Midnight in NY)

Revlon Lip Butter (in Sweet Tart)

Natio Lipstick (in Flutter)

EcoToolsShower Puff

Models Prefer Brow Highlighter (what?)

Manicare Cuticle Therapy Oil

Rimmel Wake Me Up Primer (not full size like pictured on the promo)

Australis Pepperatzi Perfect Concealer

Kiss Stick on Nails(in French Manicure)

Press & Go Glue on Nails (in Red)

Burjois MAXI Mascara

Nude Mineral Airbrush Primer

Savvy Facial Wipes

 

For some people this will be worth it, others not so much, but I hope this helps a little.

 

 The Beauty Bag sale will run from Thursday 11th April - Monday 22nd April 2013
 

 

My Makeup Storage

I always enjoy seeing how other people deal with storing/handling their makeup stash, therefore since i have recently reached what i feel might be the zenith of what one of my drawers can hold it seemed like a good time to share.

My makeup used to fit into my side of the bathroom cabinet but shortly before i started blogging my collection was...overflowing into my boyfriends side of things, so after doing a bit of research i picked up a clear plastic set of drawers from Officeworks, i believe it cost around $20 and also came in white.

So the first drawer contains my eyeshadows and blushes. The ones visible here are;

Maybeline Eye Tattoos (5) | Essence Cream Eyeshadows (2) | Essence Powder Eyeshadows (4) |

Essence Cream Blushes (2) | Burjois Blushes (2) | Essence Powder Blushes (1) | NARS blush (1) | BD Blush (1) | Revlon Eyeshadow Set (1) | Prestige Eyeshadow Set (2) | Chi Chi Eyeshadow Pigments (1)

There is also a Australis red eyeshadows set underneath the Revlon. 

Second drawer is for all things lipsticks, lipgloss, lipliner, eyeliners, mascaras and those sorts of things. The lipsticks that live here are ones that are currently out of my main rotation or are too dark or too something for everyday wear. Here is what we can see;

Korres concealer pen (1) | Face of Australia lip crayons (2) | Revlon just Bitten Kissable Lip Balms (3) | NYX Lip Creams (2) | Essence Lip Creams (2) | Essence Lip Gloss (2) | Essence Lipstick (1) |Revlon Lipstick (1) | Sportsgirl Lipstick (1) | Wet n Wild Lipstick (1) | Revlon Lipbutters (2) | Avon Lipstick (1) | Revlon Mascara (1) | Essence Mascrara (1) | Burjois Mascara (1) | Essence Eyeshadow Primer (1)| Maybeline Mascara (1) | Essence Eyeliners (2) | Essence Lipliner (3) |Lipsmacker Gloss (2)

Drawer 3 is th one that I'm looking to change up, my house and bathroom is quite tiny so I've been trying to think up a better way to store these. For now however my brushes and random nick-nacks live here.

Here we have

Real Techniques Blush Brush (1) | Eco Tools Brushes (6) | Chi Chi Brushes (2) | Random Unknown Brushes (4) | Burjois Puff (1) Essence Eyebrow kit (1) | Essence Gel Eyeliner (1) | Korres Eyeshadow (1) | Essence eyebrow brush (1) | Ecotools Brush Travel bag (1)

Lastly we have th Foundation and Powder drawer that also takes whatever is too weird a size for the other drawers.

Lush Emotional Brilliance Collection (8) | Chi Chi Translucent Powder (1) | Essence Concealer (1) | Burjois concealer (1) | Physician's Formula Face Powder (3) | Chi Chi Kabuki Brush (1) | Foundation Sponge (1) | Revlon Powder (1) | Garnier BB Cream (2) | Covergirl Blush (1) |Burjois Flower Foundation (1) | Watsons BB Cream (1) | Essence Eyeshadow Set (1) | Essence Eyeshadow pigments (2) | Burjois Primer (1) | BD Primer (1)

Annnnnnd..... last but not least is my main lipstick stand and my lip balms next to the case. The one i currently use the most; Lancome Rose Defile, Revlon Soft Rose, Lipstick Queen Medieval, NYX Saturn and Tea rose, Mac Creme de la Femme, Rimmel 21, and two random Revlon colors in caramel and plum.

The lip balms sitting there are Haus if Gloi Spun Sugar and Korres Quince and Wild Rose.

So that's most of my stuff, there are other bits and pieces that float around the house, lip balms especially and a few other favorites in my purse/makeup bag. S

o if you see anything you wanna know more about drop a comment, or if you have another cool storage post/video i would love to see it!

Review: NYX Matte Creams/ Essence Rebel Matte Creams

About two weeks ago i became enamored with the NYX matte lip creams and decided to purchase some from CrushCosmetics. (win) So for about a week after i got them  i was totally in love and then Essence released their "Rebels Collection" which basically featured the same sort of  product. (boo!)

So a comparison post seemed impossible to avoid.

So let's start with the base facts;

Essence $3.50 each vs NYX $10.95 (+ Shipping)
Essence has a little bit more product inside.
Essence has 2 color choices, NYX has 11
Essence is available for around a month give or take, NYX is available all year round
Both are vanilla scented
Both have a doe foot applicator

Overall it depends what sort of product you're after.

Milan | Stockholm | Antwerp

I was originally attracted to these as they reminded me of a product i used a few years ago, the Bourjois So Delicate Lip Creams which were also matte.

These were a great favorite of mine, they were matte so they were fairly easy to use for most occasions, they lasted ages and did not dry out my lips. Sadly they were discontinued and their nail polish line adopted a similar packaging, trying to be tricksy.

San Paulo

Hence the decision to try the NYX variant, though the color i was originally after (San Paulo) was out of stock at the time, so i ended up getting 3 simmiliar-ish ones that also looked good;

Milan | Stockholm | Antwerp (web swatches)

The formula on these was very creamy; kind of like if you combined a lipstick with a gloss. Creamy but textured and slightly on the thick side but this means the pigment spreads very evenly across your lips and doesn't leave any bold spots. Once applied these dry quite quickly and will last for hours without needed a huge effort from you to make sure it looks good. Once it's dry you can even put a clear balm or gloss over it if matte is not what your feeling at the time.

Unlike the Burjois which i loved these will dry out your lips a bit, usually after about an hour, but this can be fixed with a lip balm underneath/on top or a reapplication. The colors i have do sit nicely on the lips and don't creep into lip lined like i know the very lightest shade of these is known to do. (Tokyo)

They do smell a little like vanilla, but although i don't mind it i feel like it's a synthetic sort of vanilla scent that might not sit well with some people. 

Mauve like a Rock Star | Rebels Delight

The Essence products on the other hand are limited time engagements; though to be honest if i had been aware of this collection when i made my crush order i might have reconsidered. These colors are a little more subtle, but i feel with a matte look that is a bit easier to work with.

The formula on these is a little bit heavier then the NYX, but also much creamier and less likely to separate and become water. (I've noticed that Antwerp is a bit liquid compared to the two other NYX's, while both the Essence are perfect). 

These also smell like vanilla but it's less noticeable and is a more pleasant vanilla smell, not quite so cosmetic. These last a bit better and feel more comfortable on the lips; what i mean to say is they feel lighter and are less noticeable that your wearing it. I usually forget i have it on. They don't however stain as well, once they fade away they are gone while the NYX leaves your lips tinted long afterwards. This one also dries out your lips but not as noticeably as the NYX.

In the end i love both; if push came to shove i would probably choose the Essence but i love the colors that NYX offers and in the end they are basically the same product save a few very minor differences. If you just want to try a matte cream then try the Essence as for $3.50 it won't put a huge dent into your bank account and you can figure out if you like the finish or not. 

One annoying thing is that the web swatches for NYX (posted above) are not very true to color and all sort of look the same so if your going to try these out then look at lots of different reviews to figure out which color you like.

Have you tried any matte lip creams?

P.S. If i don't come back it;s because my life was stolen away by this game;

Inexpensive Blush Off

Presenting the Blush off :) I thought this would be more fun then doing these each on their own/ plus this gives a chance to see how they compare to each other. So without further clutter here are the contestants;

1. Essence 02 Beauty on Tour Lip and Cheek Tint - I mentioned this in my previous post as my "go to" blush for everyday wear. This is for several reasons the biggest of all which is longevity. It last 5+ hours and then fades away very clean without any marks or splotches. 

The color is a lovely coral pink so it's quite a natural shade; it blends out extremely easy and can be layer like a dream for more or less brightness. It might seem mega bright when it first goes on but a little blending is all that's needed as it really isn't that strong (unless you want it to be). Since it's a cream i recommend layering it over powder so it has something to hold on to as it doesn't have the same lasting power on bare skin or just foundation.  It makes a decent lip tint but not that special in my opinion. Cost: $3.50

Note: for some reason no matter how much i use this it always self evens out hence why it looks untouched in the photos.

2. Essence Blush Soufflé in Prima Ballerina -  Another Essence blush, this was from the Ballerina collection and is similar to Maybeline dream blushes.  This blush is probably the most natural looking one i own. The pink is very subtle and slightly dusky, plus it mixes with your own chemistry very easily and just looks like a very real and natural glow to your cheeks. 

Due to this i tend to use it for more subtle occasions; interviews or formal events at school. It doesn't have the same staying power as the cheek/lip tint above but it feels much lighter and looks much more real. Price $3.50

3. Burjois in Lune D'or - This is my 3rd Burjois blush, and this shade is  the NARS "Orgasm" dupe although i think this one probably came first though i haven't actually looked into it. It's a gorgeous shade; when you can get it out of the container. It's very sheer and thus i usually tend to scrape the top a bit to make it more powdery as otherwise it takes too long to apply but the color pay off is very much worth it. This blush when applies properly looks like glows.

Though it takes a  bit more work this blush is great for travel and for special occasions; it's also quite nice in the mornings if you need a bit of a lift because the rose scent in the product is soft and pretty. If you can deal with sheerness in the product and the fact it requires a little effort to get going then this product is great. Lasting power is very average.  Price $20

4. DB Pink Blush 593 - I bought this blush at the start of the year and for a while it was my go to blush due to the fact it kind of looks like your not actually wearing blush. The color is very dusky and warm, it gives the sort of look that your cheeks are just warm not that your actually blushing.

 Like maybe you've been in the sun for a bit. It kind of sits the line between a bronzer and a blush really. It's a good color but the product itself has a lot of fallout which depending on how applies isn't a bad thing. Lasting power is about 4 hours and it fades very evenly. A fair product for a subtle look. Price $8.99

5. Physician's Formula Flawless Complexion Mineral Blush in Rose Glow - i did a bit of a review on this when i first got it. It's a nice blush and super pigmented; too pigmented in my opinion. I like the dark plum color but find it hard to use; it doesn't like blending out well and is prone to leaving streaks from where i try to blend it out; fingers works a bit better then a brush which does nothing but even that doesn't achieve a nice look. I'm not sure how much it is on it's own but the kit i got it in was $29.00 and included a foundation powder and "mineral veil". Still not sure how it's different from powder?

The color is great and will lasts ages if you can manage to spread it and blend it out,  I would say skip it, you can find a much more useful and pretty blush elsewhere.

Swatch time; As you can see the Essence Beauty on tour is crazy thick and bright when it goes on but blends out to a pretty pale coral, the soufflé is a bit harder to work with but is a nice subtle pink. The Burjois is lovely and if you can find a way to make it work well is the pretties color with lovley shimmer. The DB is closer to bronzer then blush almost but is a nice yellow toned coral blush with good color pay off. Lastly the PF, the swatch as you can see if crazy bright and that's just one swipe. Hard to blend and use but the color, admittedly, is quite pretty. 

What's your go to blush?

Birthday Haul

Hmm i really should have expected that my next post would be a haul what with the birthday and stuff; still two hauls in a row makes me feel much richer then i actually am. ^^

However as all of these things were birthday presents from various friends and family and my wonderful boyfriend i am extremely grateful and feel very lucky to be the recipient of so much love and affection. Thank You.

So the only reason I'm showing these off is because they will all be reviewed (in the fullness of time) so consider this a little preview i suppose.

So here is the haul:

Essence "Ready for Boarding" Nail polish Set in 01 sending you kisses, 02 beauty on tour, 03 exits on your right, 04 via airmail! and 05 destination sunshine.

Essence "Ready for Boarding" Peel Off Base Coat in 01 carry me home
Essence "Ready for Boarding" Eyeshadow Palette in 01 beauty on tour
Essence "Ready for Boarding" 2in1 kajal pencil in 02 via airmail
Essence "Ready for Boarding" Lip and Cheek Cream in 02 beauty on tour

Essence Clear Eyelash and Brow Gel

I had the option to get the cosmetics bag too but it felt kind of flimsy despite being ultra cute, so i opted out, i have so many from Lust Have it now anyway.

Burjois Blush in Lune D'or (the NARS Orgasm dupe which btw, turns out it's not too shiny for me) Speaking of which, there is currently a 10% off voucher on their website right here which can be used in stores at Priceline

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Maxi Bronzer in 001 Sun Kiss ( i was lured by the pretty shimmery waves, they disappeared after one use)

Korres Lip Butter in Mango (so in love with this, unexpected)

OPI in Pirouette My Whistle

ecotools Bronzer Brush (this thing is amazing)

Real Techniques Blush Brush (this is possible the softest thing i have ever touched)

Australis Intense Eyeshadow Palette in "You Beauty"

Lush "It's Raining Men" Shower Gel (the liquid version of their Honey, I Washed the Kids soap)

and last but oh so totally- not-least are also from Lush, from their Emotional Brilliance Line (first looked at here) and they are; Success (silver eyeliner), Calm (blue eyeliner), Sophisticated (taupe/bronze/pink eyeshadow) and Perspective (a taupe/pink lipcream).

All in all it was an awesome day topped off with Waffles at the Pancake house (mmmmm), so next post up later this week will be about the Revlon Lip Stains and after that it's anyone's guess, but if you have a preference for anything that you see in this post just give a shout.

Have a good week :)

Most Reached for July

First Monthly "Most Reached For"

I was not too sure if i should do the traditional Monthly favorites, but after considering it i don't really think that's the right name. Especially since my favorites don't change that quickly but i do like to try different things when a product ends so i figured i would rename it a little. So here are the products i reached for the most last month:

Garnier BB Cream: (In Light) : I like to use a light "foundation",  and so i don't often use my heavier foundations, and day to day this is my most reached for product, it's easy and does an awesome job of evening out my skin without making it look like a mask.

Physician's Formula Face Powder: (also in Light) This is usually my second step, i like to make sure my foundation doesn't move around and since my skin is a little bit on the oily side i feel much more comfortable with this on as well, it's pretty good but maybe a touch too yellow for me so after it's done I'll probably try another face powder.

Eco Tools Blush Brush: Bought at the start of the month this has since replaced my old yucky spiky blush brush and i can't believe i ever thought it was any good, this thing is a dream of cloudy pillow-y softness and i never want to go back.

Burjois Flower Perfection Primer: I usually forget about primer but it's sometimes necessary just under my eyes and this is the one i reach for most; it's a silicon based primer and feels incredibly soft and works well for my needs. It works well with the Garnier BB cream but works like a dream with it's matching Burjois Flower Perfection foundation which is a little too heavy for daily wear for me.

Maybelline Eye Studio Color 24hr Tattoo:  (Pomegranate Punk) I fell in love with this shade via this post and it's been my go to almost every single day since i got it, and it's prompted me to a be a little more creative with my color choice for eye make up too.

Face of Australia Lip Crayon: (In Sundae): I got the three pack along with every other Australian blogger (so it seems) but never reviewed it because i gave the bubblegum pink shade away to mum. I really like it as an everyday wear lippy. For me it's totally the longed for "my lips but better". I love the faint vanilla smell and it goes on super smooth. Until the Revlon Lip Stain crayons arrive this is my go to color and i highly recommend it. If you can still find it, it appears to be a limited edition set. Mine however may be cursed as before i reorganized my makeup it fell onto the floor about 5 times and the lid is cracked on the other side. It was weird because it was the only thing that would fall out.

Plus a non-makeup item: a little present from my boyfriend and my brand new wallet featuring the so-lovable Yoshi. It's super cute, along with my pink hair and non standard wallet i now feel very un-boring and  funky.  A change is as good as a holiday right?

Hope you're all having a great weekend. ^^