My Favorite Brushes

I recently ordered two new brushes from iHerb and it got me thinking that i had never shared my favorite brushes with you, most of the makeup i show off on this blog wouldn't go anywhere with out these my favorite brushes;

1. Lust Have It Kabuki Brush
This arrived in a Lust Have It box maybe two or three months ago and it instantly replaced my older Chi Chi kabuki brush and this is probably my most used brush next to the Blush brush. It's eco-friendly and like all of these its a synthetic brush. I find it does a great job of buffing in my face powder which is its main purpose in my arsenal.

2. Real Techniques Enhanced, Shading Brush
I love this brush for blending out eyeshadow on my crease, i have a few similar brushes but i like this one the best as it is the softest one and doesn't require a lot of effort to make ti do it it's thing.

3. Eco Tools Angled Eyeliner Brush
I like using this brush for my powder eyeliner  but more commonly i use this for filling in my eyebrows. Among my two other angled brushes this one is the best width and the individual hairs don't tend to bend as much as the others so it's stiffness is a real plus.

4. Models Prefer Smudge Brush
I picked this one up recently to get the Priceline Makeup Bag and i have come to like it alot, it's stiff but not so much that it hurts, it's great for blending eyeshadow or eyeliner.

5. Real Techniques Perfect Blush Brush
I bought this because it is so incredibly soft, i have a lovely Eco Tools blush brush that lies abandoned since i got this. it's nicely tapered so i feel like

6. Real Techniques Perfected Stippling Brush
I bought this on iHerb because it (like the other RT brushes) are stupid expensive and its main purpose is dealing with liquids; as in liquid foundation or bb cream if i don't feel like using my hands or for cream blushers. It's quite good and gives me a very nice and even coverage.

7. Chi Chi Double Sided Eyeshadow Brush
This one i picked up probably about a year ago when i desperately needed new makeup brushes after i first started getting back into my makeup and for actually placing eye shadows i find this to be very good. It picks up both powders and creams easily and can be used for both patting the eyeshadow on or blending it onto the lid. I like that it's double sided as it means i don't have to go rummaging for a second brush if im just doing a two color eyeshadow look and it's flat edge makes it good for multiple uses including eyeliner, eyebrows, applying concealer and even as a lip brush.

8. Eco Tools Bronzer Brush
This one i bought got for my birthday last year when i was staring out with bronzer and although i still feel like it's not really my thing a lot of the time, this brush helps alot and i love the feeling and heft of it. Not a subtle one.

So those are my go to brushes which i use basically everyday and i really like and would recommend all of them, though i have to say the sheer softness of the RT brushes probably makes them my favorite and i hope they bring out some more, especially a lip brush would be nice or a domed rather then angles kabuki. What are your favorite brushes? Post a comment below :)

My Wishlist (or I wish there was an Illmasqua counter here)

Whilst i wait to figure out how best to take photos here is my current wish/lust list.

1. MAC Star Violet Eyeshadow - I've talked about my lust for this eyeshadow and it hasn't changed but I'm still put off by the exorbitant price here and no real way to try lower it as buying from ebay i can't really guarantee if it's legit or not. It's such a lovely plum shimmer and one day it will be mine.

2. Revlon Photoready Cream Blush - I've been walking around this blush since it came out, i always convince myself it's not necessary but its so pretty and I'm developing a love of cream blushes, the only other one i have is an essence one and i would like to see how a somewhat "high end" cream blush is like.

3. Sephora/Pantone Color of the Year Collection - Only recently found out that this is even a thing, but i really love the teal color that was color of the year, and all the makeup looks really fun. It seems like it would make a really cool birthday gift or something (hint hint).

4. Philosophy Cinnamon Buns Shampoo -CINNAMON BUNS as a shampoo scent, i don't need to say anymore.

5. Chi Chi Nudes (Naked 1 Dupe) Pallet - It looks like a good dupe and I'm super happy with my Naked 2 but have no desire to spend another $50 on very similar colors, this seems better for my wallet.

6. Illmasqua Hydra Veil - I lust after anything Illmasqua, everything from them always seems super pigmented, gorgeous and really unique. This is the first time i ever lusted after their skincare but it seems very cool, i like primers and haven't really found one that hits the spot yet.

7. Illmasqua Cream Blush (in Dixi or Seduce) - Again Illmasqua and Cream blush lust combine.

8. Illmasqua Liquid Metal Eyeshadow (in Enrapture) - If you have eyes you can see how gorgeous this gold looks, i want it on me now.

9. Illmasqua Nail Varnish (in Mottle, Speckle and Scarce) - Maybe its because the fruity essence edition never came out here. but i kind of feel like these speckly nail polishes and i have a date with destiny.

10. MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque - I love my Maybelline Eye Tattoos but i want to try the original and wow the color on this is to die for, some kind of majestic combination of gold and cream.

11. Not a make up product but a videogame one, I've been playing through Starcraft 2 the past few days and i'm almost done. What am i going to do if this doesn't come out soon! The 3rd and final act is the Legacy of the Void expansion which i just know will drive me crazy till i get it.

Super Tired Haul Post!

I feel like today i have leveled up as a blogger; i now own my very first, NARS blush. Also my first high end product i have purchased just for me.

Today the car went in for a service thus giving me and my boyfriend a chance to wonder aimlessly around the city for some three hours hoping the car was not going to cost an arm and leg. Thus after a nice lunch, and some time snooping at geeky Dungeons and Dragons books at Tactics in London Court we made  our way over to some "shiny shops" as i like to call them. That is shops that stock things like  makeup, jewelery, skincare or in general things i find to be pretty and interesting to pretty much only to me.

(Not all of these were purchased at the same time, just came into my possession within a day of each other)

Firstly exploring Myer today i found a Essie polish on sale; LUXEDO a deep plum polish (but nowhere near as dark as Linkin Park After Dark) and as i was not totally thrilled with my jelly mani earlier i decided to grab a glitter fest nailpolish from Chi Chi aptly named "Glitterati". (Attempting my second jelly mani as i type).

Next stop was Target (which btw now stocks MAC eye shadows, but i find the MAC stuff way too intimidating at the moment to venture there). At Target i located the last of the last 24 Hour eye tattoo in "Too Cool". (Still undecided about the taupe)  Others of these were reviewed here.

It was literally the last one on the shelf, everything else was gone except a single orange eye tattoo which by the time i circled back around again was also gone. Not  to mention that I've been checking out Priceline andTargets every time i walk  past them  in the last week or so in hope of finding it, the entire range seems to be sold out across town.

Then my luxury purchase;  (prepare for photo fest)

Love the packaging, and the girls at Mecca were super friendly.

I walked into Mecca cosmetics, thinking I'll take a look at the oh-so-lusted-for NARS Orgasm blush (giggle) and then when i had a try of it i was not really that impressed, i mean it's pretty but it's such a glitter-bomb, crazy shimmer. Not a blush for me, as someone who had to deal with oily skin in my teens I'm not a fan of anything that makes my face shiny. 

But as you can see i clearly didn't leave empty handed, well Orgasm and Super-Orgasm (double giggle) were not my cup of tea, but their sister Deep Throat (giggle) caught my eye and then my heart.

Though i would never normally buy this for the inflated price, the prices aren't hugely different this time ($45) and i wanted a birthday treat. So since my birthday is approaching i got this as a birthday treat for me. 

It's so pretty, I'm a little afraid to touch it.

Oh, almost forgot the other two things i got were from Mum's visit to Hong Kong; a legit bb cream (very eager to try) and a set of scented nail polishes from the Anna Sui range (don't know it, but it's cute). The nail polishes feature Russian dolls on the brush handle and from my little research it seems to be part of a set, i found some more info at this blog here .

So far i tried the purple polish and the grape scent stayed on all night and kept me up; not entirely unpleasant but a little sickening after a while. Not sure if  I'm going to venture into these anytime soon. But cute nonetheless. 

I'll do some swatches and let you know how the products go after some testing. 

UPDATE: Who knew NARS would be an amazing blush?

Nailpolish Stash

I looked at my box of polishes today, and decided that it would be cool to count how many i had and take some photos to  share with you :)

So with now further adu i present my nail polish stash;

The reason my nail polish has grown in the last 5 months was the China Glaze  Hunger Games collection which sent me spinning into nail polish hording :)

China Glaze; Riveting, Stone Cold, Harvest Moon, Electrify, Smoke and Ashes, and Agro

Riveting is my favorite of these, its sucha beautiful unique color.

China Glaze; Re-fresh Mint, For Audrey, Secret Peri-wik-le, Meteor Shower, and Optical Illusion

I couldn't decide between Re-fresh mint and For Audrey, so i got them both. Bad Me.

OPI; Actually Black Onyx, Just Spotted the Lizard, Sparrow me the Drama, I Don't Give a Rotterdam, and Give me the Moon

 OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, Not like the Movies, DS Reflections, DS Radiance 

Now that i look at the photos side by side im almost 100% sure i mislabeled these, Black Onyx is on top and Lincoln Park after Dark is in the bottom photo. Sorry they look really alike in bottle.

BTW my version of Not Like the Movies is the proper duochrome!!! I previously owed the dud version but once i got this one i gave the old bottle to mum. But if anyone wants to see the two side by side just let me know!

Also I'm sad the OPI DS Range is no longer holographic : ( Their holo range predates my love of nail polishes.

Chi Chi; Doris Day, Choose Chi Chi, Before you Go Go, Boom Boom Boom, Relax Don't Do it and Jitterbug

Got this set as a gift, havent tried any of them yet, but i might try a skittle mani when it warms up a little :) Thie quite cute. But calling one of their own polishes "Choose Chi Chi" seems a little arrogant to me.

Essence; Grand-ple in black, Gold old Buffy, The Dawn is broke x2, and Hunt me if you Can

I think it's no secret that when it comes to Essence I'm a little obsessed, so here are my Vampire and one Ballerina nail polishes; among them my all time favorite polish; The Dawn is broken. Hence why it's the only polish i have which i have a back up of, i adore this color; it's edgy, different, not traditionally pretty but when you look closer it's absolutely gorgeous.

Essence; Back to the 50's, I'm a Martine Girl, Love me Tender, Love Peace and Purple, My best nude friends and me. Just the nude of us, Brightmates, and We are all Bright

Most of these i've shown before; the exception being Love Peace and Purple which i have tried to put on about 10 times and every time i finish a single nail i look at the color and hate it so i immediatley remove it. I really need to trey give it a better chance. Also i added "My best nude friends and me" to my collection of the extremes trend, i like it but not as much as "Just the Nude of Us".

Essence; Sparkling Water Lilly, Make it Golden, Fateful Desire, Better late then never, Meet me Now, Where is the Party, Absolutely Blue, Hard to Resist, Blue Addicted, and Galactic Black.

The essence permanents  that got me hooked by their cheap cheap price! I particularly love Better late then never and blue addicted. Meanwhile Make it golden is an awesome addition to any mani.

Revlon; Cherry Crush, Royal, Popular, Scandalous, and Electric

I'm never sure if i like the Revlon polishes; some are gorgeous and some are so vanilla i feel I've seen them everywhere before. My all time favorite from these is Popular it's a beautiful jelly sandwich in a bottle. (This color i have it on good authority used to be called Starry Pink which i think i kind of like better) In the same vein of though i've been searching for it's baby brother "Whimsical" but havent seen it anywhere. Does anyone know if this polish even made it down under?

Rimmel; Green with Envy, Red Carpet, and Princess Pink

Eh Rimmel polished don't really wow me. Their nice, good application and brush.

Sally Hansen; Pixel Pretty, Blu, Lady Luck, Showgirl
Chic, Blue it, and Antique Gold Crackle.

I've owned many Sally Hansen polishes in my life, until about 6 months ago i didn't really care. But i like their brand, it's very reliable quality and they usually do a nice mix of things and bring out something interesting every now and again. BTW i a) didn't know what a crackle coat was when i bought  this, b) i don't really care for the effect. Now that i see the gem the gem crushes seem to be separating a bit oddly in the bottle.

So why is it the most used?....geek moment; i and a friend painted a Dungeons and Dragons miniature with it.

Ulta3 Bewitched, Layla Turquois Wave, BYS In Da Club, BYS Magenta, and Miss Shop Edward Dare

I like magnetics but their formula generally seems to be very thick which is a little difficult to work with. Don't really like either of the BYS polishes probably won't repurchase any new polishes from that brand unless something really unique shows up, and the Miss Shop was a gift. The color on it is nice but the formula is very watery.

MODE Soho, Mode High Fashion, Faceshop Wh003, Pk103, Wh002, and Tickled Pink by Savvy

My most random polishes. The first two are my most recent purchases both picked out by my boyfried to match my new haircut ^^ The faceshop ones are quite good, i love the little glitter harts one and the PK103 is awesome to give shimmer to nay manicure as it's so incredibly sheer.

Color Club Fashion Addict,  Color Club Worth the Risque, Essie Lilacism, and Australis Speck-tacular Top Coat 

My first and (currently) only Holos!!!!!!!

I got them in the middle of winter and haven't had a chance to try them with any sort of reasonable sunny day though :(

My only essie is much treasured, i wore it for a week straight when i got it (only the dawn is broken has achieved the same status) yet i havent bought nay more essie, i think their brand is lovely and neutral but when i have the chance to buy a higher end polishes i try to get something more unique i guess.

BTW this top coat, if you like flakies is the bomb.

So let's count them shall we? 78? not bad for 6 months right?

Let me know if you would like to see a swatch or review for any of these :)