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ColourPop Curious

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ColourPop is having a moment in the beauty world. After resisting for a while, inevitably, I reached a breaking point (probably around the time KathleenLights came out with her Where the Light Is set). I was uncharacteristically good and stuck with my self-imposed lip product ban, limiting myself to the Super Shock Shadows only. (Unfortunately, the new highlighters hadn't been released at that point, otherwise a couple definitely would've ended up in my cart.) The hardest part was of course, deciding which shades to order. After an eternity of Googling, reading blog posts and watching YouTube videos, I settled for Smash (satin), Amaze (metallic), So Quiche (metallic), Sequin (metallic) and Game Face (ultra metallic). I was contemplating Bill and Desert as well, but decided to omit both. My total order came to $43.91 USD ($58.78), of which a large chunk (we're talking $18.91 USD) was devoted to shipping. That's 75% of the total cost of the five shadows. Bummer.


Top row, then bottom row: Game Face, So Quiche, Amaze, Smash, Sequin






l-r: Smash, Amaze, So Quiche, Sequin, Game Face

Top to bottom: Game Face, Sequin, So Quiche, Amaze, Smash

l-r: Smash, Amaze, So Quiche, Sequin, Game Face

l-r: Smash, Amaze, So Quiche, Sequin, Game Face

Smash

Smash is a slightly dirty, slightly warm-toned, light goldy beige. On my lids, because it's not that much darker than my skin tone, it's barely detectable (even less so with glasses). On a paler person, I can picture this being an all-over lid staple, but on me, it's entirely wasted. It reminds me a little of BurberryPale Barley, but Pale Barley is darker, cooler-toned, more grey/taupe with slight purplish tones in comparison. They do have a similar finish though, both with a subtly shimmering goldish overlay.

Amaze

Amaze was one of the shadows I was most looking forward to, but ultimately, it failed to excite. It's a light, ultra-reflective, shimmer-packed rose gold. The primary sheen it gives off is whitish/silvery, which I don't find flattering. Sheered out, it's almost intolerably glittery. Don't get it anywhere near your face unless you want the world's most sparkly highlighter. It's almost impossible to build up to full opacity, so I'd recommend it more as glitter top coat or dabbed on the centre of the lid for extra dimension and interest.

So Quiche

So Quiche is a dirty olive green base with purply-pink sparkles. I'm sure there's other colours of glitter in there, but purply-pink is the gist of it. With one swipe, it's not as strong in terms of pigmentation as the others. A sheerer application really brings out the beauty of the glitter (truly eye-catching and gorgeous), but doesn't give much definition or depth in terms of the base colour. Conversely, when built up, the green comes through stronger but a lot of the detail in the multi-coloured glitter is lost.

Sequin

Sequin is a super pigmented, super glittery, russet (orangey, pinky, coppery, reddish) stunner. I can thank Angela for introducing me to it. This is the only shade out of the 5 I bought that I can and do wear all over the lid, though it's not one to reach for if you're after subtlety.

Game Face

Game Face is a very warm, mid-tone, rich glistening bronze with a goldish, coppery lustre. To the uninitiated, this shade seemed to be a clear standout in the Super Shock Shadow range and the only one I didn't remotely hesitate to order. It's not so much shimmery as it is metallic. Pigmentation is excellent though oddly, I found it swatches better on the hand than when applied to the lids.


I've been playing with the shadows for around 3 weeks now and overall, I like them but I'm not completely won over. For me, the main problem is convenience and wearability. While the round white pots are certainly distinctive, the individual packaging of the shadows somehow makes me less inclined to reach for them. In their own containers, the lid of which you have to physically unscrew just to see and use the shadow, they're not as accessible compared with say, a quad or palette where everything is laid out in front of you, ready to be utilised.

While I painstakingly attempted to minimise disappointment in the shades I picked, some of them simply don't work for me the way I hoped. They're either not dark enough, oddly sheer and somewhat patchy despite strong pigmentation, difficult to layer and achieve full opacity, overly glittery (and this, coming from someone who wears shimmer/metallic finishes on a daily basis) or not the most flattering colour against my skin tone. The biggest success of the lot is probably Sequin. I could've done without Smash (Desert likely wouldn't have fared any better). Amaze is beautiful but a total glitterbomb, too light to be used over the lid and too reflective in the inner corner. So Quiche is pleasingly unique and I love the contrasting glitter and base, but it's the sheerest of the bunch and difficult to pull off. Game Face is an absolutely stunning shade but its beauty doesn't translate on the lids, where it appears borderline muddy, a bit too dark and too warm.

Much has been said about the unusual texture of these shadows. They're thin and emollient, but packed with pigment. They're definitely closer to a cream shadow than a powder, but at the same time, they're drier to the touch and not as wet and creamy as traditional cream shadows like the Maybelline Color Tattoos, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows or MAC Paint Pots. ColourPop recommends applying them with your fingers, and most reviews seem to agree. I wouldn't bother with brush unless it's a relatively stiff, flat, synthetic brush like the Ecotools Concealer Brush from their 5-Piece Bamboo Brush Set. On my non-oily monolids, I don't seem to experience any noticeable issues with wear time or creasing, though a primer underneath these shadows seems like a good idea to increase the vibrancy of the shadows, make them stay on longer and ensure they don't move around.

ColourPop advises that the lids on these shadows need to be secured tightly after each use. It makes me wonder what alchemy was involved in their formulation, to what degree they would change in pigmentation or texture naturally over time, and how long it'd take until things get really bad. It's not uncommon for certain cream shadows to dry out terribly after a year or so (my Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze is basically unusable now), but it seems they've been mindful to design the packaging in a way that reduces the chances of that happening.

Gold and Fudge Squares

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This post is long overdue, but I guess better late than never. While in Japan in September last year, I made two Asian market eyeshadow purchases: Too Cool For School Glam Rock Urban Shadow in Golden Edge (#5) and Addiction by Ayako Fudge (017ME). The former is a Korean brand I'd never heard of before, but Golden Edge appeared to be the perfect neutral with faultless texture and pigmentation. I had to have it. In contrast, I'd already heard about Addiction, a highly regarded, hard-to-get Japanese makeup brand, and was eager to explore the product range in person. I'd read the eyeshadows were a bit hit or miss, but the consensus seemed to be that Fudge was a clear standout.






Too Cool For SchoolGolden Edge (#5)


Too Cool For School in Golden Edge is a warm, slightly olive, antique medium gold. Built up, it becomes a darker bronze with a golden lustre. The greenish tinge was unexpected, and not in a good way. I'm not huge on greenish golds. They're not as abysmal as cool-toned, frosty taupes, but I prefer more coppery shades or true bronzy golds. I thought I'd found that in Golden Edge (I didn't detect any yellowy-green in the pan or when I first swatched it), but the khaki tinge is definitely there on the lids. I guess it gives Golden Edge a point of distinction, just not one I particularly care for.

l-r: Urban DecaySmog, Urban DecaySuspect, EssenceParty All Night, Too Cool For SchoolGolden Edge, MaybellineGold Shimmer, NARSKalahari (I)

I hoped Golden Edge would be a deeper version of NARSKalahari (the left side of the eyeshadow duo, or the shade included in the And God Created the Woman palette), but the two aren't alike at all. Kalahari is pinker, slightly mauve in comparison, more brown, less olive and golden. Golden Edge is probably closest to Urban DecaySmog, but Smog is darker, more brown, less yellow gold. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Gold Shimmer is clearly more green but the undertone is very similar. Urban DecaySuspect is more of a sandy beige, while EssenceParty All Night is greyer and cooler-toned.

AddictionFudge (017ME)


With rave reviews by fellow bloggers, I was almost expecting AddictionFudge to be my new favourite eyeshadow. It certainly swatched promisingly enough, but it suffers from the same problem as ColourPopGame Face. It's too dark and warm to be used all over the lid (it just looks messy and muddy), yet too metallic and not dark enough to effectively deepen the upper lash line and add definition. I like it best applied with a small brush like the Real Techniques Accent Brush (from the Starter Set) or Ecotools Petite Eye Shading Brush (from the Bamboo 6 Piece Eye Brush Set) to define and smoke out the lower lash line.

l-r: Face of AustraliaBronze Sphinx, NARSGalapagos, Too FacedCocoa Chili, BurberryMidnight Brown, SleekDust Storm, AddictionFudge, RimmelBad Girl Bronze

While well formulated, Fudge isn't the most unique colour, especially to a bronze eyeshadow enthusiast like me. Surprisingly, I don't have an exact dupe, though the bronze shade from the Sleek i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Storm (which Google informs me is named Dust Storm) comes the closest. Of all the eyeshadows I pulled out to compare it with, Fudge is the most yellowy ochre in tone. Too FacedCocoa Chili and NARSGalapagos are darker and more ash grey (the NARS a lot sheerer and lighter than the Too Faced, both have gold glitter). BurberryMidnight Brown is cooler-toned and more silvery. Face of Australia Budge Proof Eyeshadow in Bronze Sphinx, SleekDust Storm and Rimmel ScandalEyes Shadow Stick in Bad Girl Bronze are more chocolate brown, though the Rimmel is a lot darker and the Face of Australia is slightly reddish/purplish-tinged.

Shrill Musk, Quiet Fig

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Have you ever been compelled to seek out and buy something simply because it was featured on a blog? That's what happened with me and LumiraParadisium eau de parfum. Beautiful pictures and rave reviews on The Beauty Look Book had me convinced I needed it in my life. Many probably have never even heard of Lumira. I certainly had no idea of its existence until Sabrina's posts introduced me to the boutique Australian candle company. That's right, Australian. It was so weird to me that this small Australian brand was being featured on this huge American beauty blog. I tried looking up more information about Paradisium, but hardly anything came up. When a fragrance doesn't even have its own listing on Fragrantica, it doesn't get more niche than that. One day after work, I made a dedicated trip to Made on Earth on Pitt St to smell it, and in the absence of absolute revulsion, buy it. I paid $89.95 for a 50ml bottle after spraying it on my hand and walking around the shop for 2 minutes. Because you know, I'm hasty and ridiculous prudent and measured with my perfume purchases like that.





Before I launch into a review of the scent, a couple of things irritated me about the packaging. Firstly, the spray nozzle thing on the perfume is SO TIGHT that I have to press down super hard to get it to spritz. It's almost like it's stuck. If my fingers are slightly greasy due to putting on some hand/face cream beforehand, it's nearly impossible. Secondly, the sticker on the bottle wasn't applied in a straight line and is noticeably crooked. I mean, it's not the end of the world, but neatly affixing the label to your $90 perfume shouldn't be too hard to ask.




Paradisium opens with the immediate freshness of fig combined with candied citrus. Instantly reminiscent of Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Fico di Amalfi EDT. The prominence of fig in the top notes doesn't last too long and within a few minutes, it starts to mellow into a somewhat woody, somewhat sweet, somewhat fruity concoction. Every now and then, I get a hit of sharp, strong soapiness, bordering on laundry detergent or similar household product, that destroys the delicate, ethereal nature of the fruits. It gives the scent a fullness and body, but I still haven't made my mind up whether it destroys the whole thing or adds to its character. The fig is my favourite part of this perfume, but apart from the burst of it at the very beginning, it's very much in the background. Still detectable and undoubtedly there, but not center stage as I would've preferred.

Paradisium is a fragrance that smells better from a distance than up close, and in smaller doses than liberally sprayed. This is truly an EDP in terms of strength and longevity, which I absolutely appreciate. I can see this being very potent mixed with sweat on hot summer days, especially if you're generous with the spritzes. You don't need much at all. One spray on the neck and one on the wrist is plenty.

The Lumira website lists the composition as top notes of Bergamot, Grapefruit and Lemon, middle notes of Fig Nectar and Guava and base notes of Vetiver, Sea Moss and Cedarwood. I'm by no means a perfume expert, but I detect almost no guava, and the vetiver (or my embarrassingly limited understanding of it) is faint if there at all. It claims to be "evocative of a verdant Mediterranean nirvana", but I don't get a huge naturalistic greenness or lushness to it, mainly because of the overbearing, almost headache-inducing freshly washed sheets smell I mentioned earlier.

I'm happy to have Paradisium in my perfume collection despite it not being everything I hoped for. I don't have anything like it, plus it's strong and lasts a long time — just how I like 'em. It's hard to categorise as it's not predominately fruity, sweet, woody or green, though all those elements make an appearance at some point. Any sweetness is restrained (it's meant to be unisex, after all), and after an hour or so, there's only the suggestion of fruit, not the juicy, ripe, real thing. I'm mainly left with a shrill, clean musk smell with a hint of sweetened citrus, salt, and woody fig. If only they'd toned down the soapiness and amped up the fig à la diptyquePhilosykos or Jo MaloneWild Fig & Cassis, I probably would've bought a backup bottle.

May Favourites

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May, like any other month, was more of the same old. At least for yours truly. My dad, on the other hand, embarked on 3 week solo trip around Italy jam-packed with tourist activity, fortunately managing to make it back home in one piece. While he was gone, I spent some more one-on-one time with my mum, including a super indulgent high tea buffet at the Swissotel for her birthday. In terms of beauty, May has been all about returning to my first love: perfumes. Favourites-wise, it's been a successful month with lots of products I'm genuinely excited to have discovered or put to good use.



Serge LutensUn bois vanille
To describe this merely as a vanilla perfume as I've done in the past doesn't do it justice. It's so much more than that, and it was only this month when that finally clicked in my mind. This is actually a busy, complex fragrance with A LOT of notes. According to Fragrantica, sandalwood, black liquorice, coconut milk, beeswax, bitter almond, musk, vanilla, benzoin, guaiac wood and tonka bean. I don't know if my nose detects all of that, but I do get whiffs or bursts of certain ingredients coming to the fore when I'm smelling it. There's almost a risk of too much going on, but it's too well-blended to be overwhelming or dissonant. There's an unpredictability and depth about it that keeps things interesting, but overall, this potent, full-bodied, somewhat spicy/smoky but lusciously sweet concoction is simply addictive. The lasting power is phenomenal and it's one of few perfumes I can easily smell on myself after I've applied it.


CacharelAmor Amor
ZOMG. I discovered Amor Amor only this month and it's like I've been living under a rock all this time. Bit of trivia ... the nose behind Serge LutensUn bois vanille, Christopher Sheldrake, named Amor Amor as one of his favourite perfumes. If that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is. This stuff is strong and very, very sweet. At first when I sprayed it on my wrist, I dismissed it as some generic, slightly chemical, overly sugary, youth-oriented frag that I'd quickly forget. How wrong I was. This developed and blossomed on my skin in a way that commanded my attention and soon, my wrist was glued to my nose. Someone on Fragrantica described it as smelling like an orange creamsicle and I'd have to agree. Fruity, sweet, creamy, edible, romantic, comforting. Call me utterly hooked.



EssieCocktail Bling
Star polish of the month. You know it's a hit when it's on both my toes and fingers. Cocktail Bling is up there with Nails Inc.Porchester Square and OPITickle My France-y if we're talking unassuming, easy to wear, effortlessly cool neutrals. Eva Chen describes it as one of very few shades she repeats and it's not hard to see why.



First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream + Garden of Wisdom Argan Oil
Obsessing over this combo for my skin, day and night. Nothing else works as effectively in combating the winter dry spells. I wasn't a huge fan of the FAB on its own, and I'd completely forgotten I even had the Garden of Wisdom argan oil, but together, they're magic. As odd as it sounds, I find my skin responds really well to no-frills moisturiser mixed with a straightforward, one ingredient face oil. I was using rosehip oil (or rosehip oil with avocado oil) for a while, but I'm convinced argan oil is it for me. Nicest texture (not overly greasy or thick), largely scentless, great absorption, and noticeable, fast results. It's my favourite oil and I'll probably repurchase the Josie Maran travel size when I run out of the Garden of Wisdom.


Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Lovely Pink + Real Techniques Blush Brush
These Creme Puff Blushes from Max Factor do remind me a lot of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes, though they're not as long lasting. Still, I've been enjoying the sweet, girly, warm pink flush Lovely Pink gives. It's pink without being too earthy/ruddy or cool-toned. Texture-wise, it's smooth and soft but not powdery. The pigmentation is easy to work with as it's not too strong, but still gives good colour payoff. It leaves a glow to the skin due to the shimmer content, but it's not pore-emphasising or OTT. I've swatched it in a previous haul post here.

I've been relying heavily on my Real Techniques Blush Brush this month to apply Lovely Pink (and basically all my blushes). The fluffiness and large size is ideal to diffuse pigment and ensure a well-blended, natural-looking flush. It's so soft on the skin and the tapered shape helps to sculpt my cheeks when placing the colour. I love that I can also dab the round tip into my blush to concentrate the colour on the apples of my cheeks. In a way, I've always overlooked the Blush Brush for applying my blush, favouring other brushes like the Ecotools by Alicia Silverstone Blush Brush, or more recently, the ZoevaLuxe Sheer Cheek, but I've truly rediscovered it in May and realise the error of my ways.





Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color in Bare It All
I've finally managed to buy this darn lipstick, despite wanting it for more than 2 years after seeing it on clothesencounters in one of her tutorials. I tried to live without it, even going as far as attempting to replicate the colour by combining BYS Longwear Lipstick in Beautifully Bare with Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Ginger Rose. Now it's here, I wish I hadn't resisted for so long. The colour is spot on for me as a not too pale, reddish brown nude. A true "my lips but better" shade. The lip swatch doesn't even do it justice as it's coming off a bit too brown. The pigmentation is incredible and it's not especially drying for a fully matte lipstick. I also love that it's extremely versatile. Wear it lightly patted onto the lips for a barely there, fresh-looking stain, or built up to full opacity for a bolder, more done up look.

Playing Favourites

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Did anything cement my status as a 21st century beauty consumer more than the purchase of this Jaclyn Hill Favorites Palette by Morphe Brushes? I'm not a rabid follower of the big "YouTube gurus", but when someone has two million subscribers, it's hard to deny their success and influence. These YouTube stars really are the new category of celebrity in the social media age. I wasn't falling over myself to secure this palette (it immediately sold out when it was first released in January this year), but I figured it was fate when I randomly woke up in the middle of the night EXACTLY when the palette was scheduled to be restocked. Presale began at 10am California time, which was 3am for me in Sydney. I wasn't crazy enough to set my alarm for that time, but I figured if I woke up later and it was still available, I'd order. But for whatever reason, I naturally abruptly woke up 3 minutes after 3am. I took that as a sign.









I'd never heard of Morphe Brushes except from YouTube, but as far as I know, they're a relatively affordable American makeup brush and cosmetics company. You can buy everything on their website and they ship internationally, though they do have one physical store in Burbank, California. Information about the origin of their products was hard to find on their website, but their eyeshadows are made in China, as I suspect are the rest of their products. I personally don't mind makeup being made in China, though I know not everyone will share that view. A lot of cheaper eyeshadows with decent/good pigmentation are made in China, like Wet n Wild, Sleek and MUA. I was expecting this palette from Morphe to be comparable to those brands, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it's a step up.

First things first, the price. The 27-pan palette was $27.99 USD and I used Jaclyn Hill's affiliate code for 10% off (bringing it to $25.19 USD). The real killer was the shipping. Like my experience with my ColourPop order, shipping was almost as expensive as the product. In this case, $20.45 USD, or 81% of the cost of the palette. Ludicrous. All up, the palette cost me $62.53. Considering I get 27 colours, I figured I could live with $2.33 per shadow, especially since the shadows on their own are $2.29 USD each. I did have a hiccup ordering with my credit card and had to resort to PayPal, but things worked out in the end.

The palette assembles Jaclyn Hill's purported favourite shades from the Morphe individual eyeshadow range. While the palette was limited edition and won't be restocked again, each 1.5g shadow can be purchased alone, though it'll be a more costly exercise and a bunch of them are currently sold out on their website. Morphe also does several premade 35-pan eyeshadow palettes, but the shades aren't individually labelled and apparently the quality of these palettes is inferior to the individual shadows.

(Source: Morphe Brushes)


It took me forever to search and compile the names of the shadows when only the number was provided on the Morphe website, but it seemed like a worthwhile exercise for ease of reference. What's most impressed me with this palette has been the uniformity of pigmentation. I'm pleased to say there wasn't a single dud. The ultimate test of a good cheaper eyeshadow comes down to how the mattes perform. Anyone can do a shimmery or metallic shade with high colour payoff. The mattes here however, were smooth, not powdery or chalky, pigmented, and easy to blend. In general, the texture of these shadows are probably the best I've encountered for the price point, especially because fall out is kept to a minimum. I would still recommend wearing a primer or cream shadow underneath these shadows to increase their vibrancy and wear time. They could probably hold up fine on their own, but I did notice some fading during the day.

In terms of the colours, sadly the highlight shades weren't for me (Pearl and Glisten are too light and whitish, so I'm left with Pink Moscato, which I occasionally mix with a bit of Lustrous). A lot of the warm brown/orangey shades (Caffè Macchiato, Spice, Dazzling) recall the Too FacedSemi-Sweet Palette. A few of the matte shadows, particularly the mid-tone browns, are also very similar (Toasted Hazelnut, Crème Brulee, Nuts For You), but they're such staple shades that it doesn't hurt to have 3 of them. Having said that, I would've preferred if they swapped one of them for a darker brown similar to Deep Cocoa. The only matte in the palette with comparable darkness is Secretive, but that's a vampy reddish burgundy that can be at odds with a more neutral look. I'm glad however, there isn't a black in there, because ... boringggg.





My favourite and most used shades in the palette are Caffè Macchiato, Spice, Golden Glory, Marbleized, Dazzling, Caramelized, Deep Cocoa, Burlesque and Secretive. Predictably, they're mainly the warm browns/bronzes. Still, I love the inclusion of pops of colour in the form of jewel-tone hues, summery brights, and whimsical shade-shifting pastels. It's what makes the palette so appealing to me, because it offers something different while still catering to all your neutral needs.

High End Cleansing

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I remember when I found it horrifying to spend $34 on a face mask. Fast forward two years, and I'm at the point where the prospect of shelling out $52 for a cleanser isn't overly ludicrous. I mean, it's still an unbelievable amount to pay for something that washes off my face after 2 minutes, but I'm able to bite the bullet through seemingly rational justifications. Firstly, I do find it hard to find an affordable (primarily morning) cleanser I genuinely like that doesn't dry out my skin. On a cost-per-use basis, I know a 120ml tube will last me at least several months, so $52 spread over that time doesn't seem too bad. Especially since I barely blink an eye spending the same amount on stuffing my face.


I'd just run out of my small tube of Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser from the Anti Ageing Discovery Collection and was keen to try something new. Enter Radical Hydrating Cleanser. I'd heard it mentioned before on Amelia Liana and I Covet Thee, but browsing the Mecca Cosmetica website late at night and reading all the glowing reviews was what finally persuaded me. It seemed to tick all the boxes: non-foaming, not a cleansing milk (shudder), not a clay (too catered to oily/combo skin), not a clear gel but not a watery, "natural" cream cleanser (somewhere in between), something that would nourish and hydrate the skin rather than leave it feeling dry and stripped, and a product that could actually remove makeup. The latter was more a hope than a requirement, since it's surprising how many cleansers simply are unable to get rid of makeup properly, especially ones that purport to be gentle and kind to the skin.




Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Isododecane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Squalane, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Pca, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool




I've been using the Radical Hydrating Cleanser almost daily for three weeks now, and I've been thoroughly enjoying it. The scent reminds me so much of AntipodesAura Manuka Honey Mask oddly enough, with a bit of AntipodesReincarnation Pure Facial Exfoliator. A refined, subtle, sweet orange, botanical scent. I use a larger than pea-size dollop every morning (maybe 60% of a Malteser ball?) and work it into my skin in sections, eventually massaging my whole face with it. The routine of it all is therapeutic and it feels instantly soothing and nourishing in my bleary-eyed, just awakened state. Washed off, my skin feels balanced, gently cleansed (goodbye skin care gunk from the night before and morning eye poo), and most importantly, not stripped or irritated or dried out in any way. There's no residue left either, which can sometimes occur with a richer cleanser loaded with oils like Emma HardieMoringa Cleansing Balm (love the stuff, but it gets into the eyes and I always need to ensure I wash it off thoroughly).

I did try the Radical once for makeup removal, and it fared better than expected. It dissolved most of my face paint, though mascara needed a bit more attention and could've used the help of a micellar water first. I'd say in terms of makeup removal effectiveness, it's on par with something like the Liz EarleCleanse & Polish, though probably a step up as the majority of my eye makeup was removed more easily with the Radical. However, given I need to use 2-3 times more than the amount I use in the mornings, it wouldn't be my makeup remover of choice (I'm on my second bottle of DHCDeep Cleansing Oil for that).

Overall, despite the steep cost, I'm happy with the Radical Hydrating Cleanser. I'll continue to use it in the mornings until it runs out, which I don't foresee happening any time soon given I use a modest amount each time and I don't intend to waste it. When it runs out (or perhaps before, let's be real, most likely before), I'll probably finally buy the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel I've been meaning to try for years. Unless I happen to discover a non-foaming, hydrating cleanser that does everything the Radical does but for a fraction of the price. I tried SukinCream Cleanser and it was only okay, I tried MoreishEuphoria Cream Cleanser and it covered my face in welts. AntipodesJuliet Skin-Brightening Gel Cleanser was too drying for me. Cetaphil is too boring. If anyone knows what could fit the bill, I'm all ears.

Priceline Skin Care Gift Bag 2015

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It's that time again for Priceline's annual skin care gift bag. I skipped last year's after the 2012 and 2013 bag, but this year's is undoubtedly the best one yet. The minimum spend has climbed over the years (from $50 to $60 and now $69 this year), but I don't care since Priceline has really stepped up its game with the brands it stocks. We're talking Antipodes, Avene, Bioderma, La Roche-Posay, NUXE, Uriage. So much French pharmacy goodness and mid-range brands that previously were the domain of department stores or specialty chemists. Though the absolute last thing I needed was to spend $72 on more skin care (pretty sure I'm still trying to get through stuff from 2013's bag), the sheer amount of freebies this year, a lot of which is surprisingly decent, won me over. Behold the excess.




To qualify for the bag, I bought Avene Soothing Moisture Mask (a 5ml sample I previously used convinced me I needed it in my life), La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche (tried it once on my hand a while ago, seemed rich and super hydrating, a potential winter saviour) and Nivea Sun Light Feel Every Day Sun Lotion SPF30 (needed a sunscreen as my La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Fluide Extrême SPF 50+ is close to expiring, though I've only just realised this is marketed as a body moisturiser rather than for face). Those three items still left me $1 short, so I chucked in a small tub of Nivea Soft, despite recently buying one from Woolies. Oh well, it's a cheap staple and seemed more useful than a face mask sachet or mini Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Body Lotion.


As with previous years, the goods come in a free tote bag. This year they tried to do some kind of perforated pleather light blue with a contrasting bright green interior. Not the most beautiful thing I've seen, but it does the job of holding an enormity of free stuff and seems sturdy enough.




So what's inside this thing? Prepare to scroll. Some items will vary depending on luck of the draw:

  • Swisspers Makeup Pads (pack of 80, the bag could also contain 400 cotton tips instead)
  • Innoxa Organic Brightening Eye Crème
  • Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser
  • Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia (you can also potentially get Rose, Pink Blossom or Hibiscus)
  • Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour SPF15 in Rose
  • Nivea Lip Butter Unscented (or the bag could contain the Vanilla & Macadamia one)
  • La Roche-Posay Cicaplast (7.5ml sample)
  • Rosken Intensive Moisture Hand Cream
  • Zinke Stick in Red (you can also potentially get Pink, Purple, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange or White)
  • Garnier Miracle Skin Cream (5ml sample)
  • Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream (5ml sachet sample)
  • Antipodes Apostle Skin Brightening & Tone Correcting Serum (10ml mini bottle)
  • Bondi Sands Reusable Self Tanning Mitt
  • LeTan Fast Tan Instant Foaming Mousse in Dark Bronze
  • Jergens Original Beauty Lotion Dry Skin Moisturiser (or the Daily Moisture Dry Skin Moisturiser)
  • Sukin Detoxifying Clay Masque (50ml)
  • Pure Paw Paw Ointment in Watermelon (you can also potentially get other flavours)
  • Thursday Plantation Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Toner (or you could get the Nurture Oil)
  • Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub (or the 4-in-1 Revitalising Cleanser or Warming Anti-Blackhead Cleanser)
  • Dr Lewinn's Multi Moisture Balm
  • Formula 10.0.6 Keep Me Clean Clarifying Facial Wipes (or the Wipe Your Face Off Wipes)
  • Swisspers Rosehip Rejuvenating Facial Cleansing Wipes (or your bag could contain the Original, Pomegranate, White Tea or Mango)
  • Palmer's Shea Butter Formula (or the Aloe, Coconut or Smoothing varieties)
  • Avène Thermal Spring Water (50ml can)
  • Bioderma Hydrabio Sérum (15ml sample, or you could get a NUXE Huile Prodigieuse sample)
  • L'Oréal Revitalift Magic Blur
  • Rosehip by Essano Nourishing Hand Crème
  • Montagne Jeunesse Blemish Mud Mask (6g sample)

Amazingly, if that wasn't enough, the bag also contains separate vouchers to claim an additional 4 full size products in store (Garnier Miracle Skin Cream, Innoxa Renew Anti-Ageing Exfoliator or Renew Triple Action Gel Wash or Super Sensitive Creme Cleansing Milk, Physiogel Calming Relief Cream, and ModelCo Gel Cleanser or Cleansing Foam or Cream Cleanser), but good luck getting those. I went to 5 Priceline stores and only managed to claim one of them, an Innoxa Cleansing Milk.

Apparently you're getting $400 worth of skin care with this bag. Even if that was overvalued (which it probably is), no one would call it ungenerous.

A rundown of my take on the goodies. There are items that I will likely immediately give away to friends/family (the body lotions for one, as well as the foaming cleansers/scrubs, hand creams and some of the lip balms). I recently bought a multipack of Simple wipes, so with the Swisspers and Formula 10.0.6 ones, I'm more than set for makeup wipes for the foreseeable future. I've always wanted to try the Lanolips lip balms, but the Rose colour is a bit light for my liking. Looks like a pale nudeish pink. I'm not a fan of the Nivea Lip Butters and am still trying to get through the two I bought a while ago, Vanilla & Macadamia, and Caramel Cream. I'll probably never use the Zinke Stick. I've never self-tanned before, so at least the LeTan with the Bondi Sands mitt are there should curiosity ever overcome me.

Some of the most exciting items unfortunately are small samples (Bioderma serum, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast, Garnier Miracle Skin Cream), but I can't complain too much. The Antipodes Apostle serum is a 10ml mini as opposed to the 30ml full size, but it should still last me a good while (plus it's adorable and great for travel). I'm interested to try the new Sukin mask (love the Purifying Masque they do, so expecting good things), L'Oréal Revitalift Magic Blur and Dr Lewinn's Multi Moisture Balm (skin needs all the hydration help it can get). The Burt's Bees tinted lip balm in Red Dahlia isn't a terribly exciting colour, but sensible and universal. I always need small cans of my life staple Avene Thermal Spring Water for on the go, so the one included saves me from going out and buying a can for at least a few months.

June Favourites

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If last month was anything to go by (echoing sentiments in my June 2014 Favourites), the middle of the year seems to be when I start becoming intensely more interested in clothing than makeup. I've blown my #treatyoself budget many times over on recent wardrobe additions, no thanks to relentless mid-year sales, re-obsessing over Gorman (what is it about that brand that makes me want everything?) and my inability to walk away from pale, lilacy-pink things. Still, there were some makeup and skin care favourites amid all the crazed clothing stalking and shopping. A few tried and tested products I dredged up, inexpensive new items I've been putting to good use, and an expensive (but worth it) perfume love.



Caudalie Divine Oil + water in spray bottle
I call this my DIY glowy finishing mist. This isn't the first time I've featured this lil invention of mine on the blog, but something inspired me to revisit it in June. Probably because I was regretting omitting the Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura Makeup Mist from my Korean makeup/skin care haul, so I had to make do with my own creation. I take my Daiso spray bottle, fill it up with tap water that's been boiled and cooled down (staple in any Asian household), then spritz some Caudalie Divine Oil into the water. It's a bit of trial and error how much Divine Oil I need to put in, but at least 7-8 sprays. Enough so that when I mist my face (shaking the bottle to combine the oil and water before each use), there is a distinct but subtle dewiness coming through. I honestly think the effect is very similar to something like Caudalie Beauty Elixir or MAC Fix+, though I haven't tried the latter personally. It's not going to set my makeup and make it last longer, but it brings some life back into my face if my makeup's looking a little heavy and cakey or over-powdered. Works great on bare skin as well for a pick me up and injection of radiance.


Rimmel Glam'Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara
Finally cracked open this mascara after it was sitting in my makeup drawer for an age. Surprisingly, it hadn't completely dried out. The opposite — the wand is loaded with product. This could be problematic if the brush didn't work as well as it does. It loads the mascara on so there's instant definition and volume, but then combs through the lashes to get rid of clumps and separate the lashes. This is one of those newfangled mascaras with dual functionality thanks to a "2-in-1 magic cap", where you have the choice of your mascara wand coming out of the "Volume" or "Length" section. I've photographed the "Volume" mascara — the "Length" one basically has a more defined, separated wand with much less mascara gloop on it. I'm not a fan of the "Length" (mainly because it seems devoid of product), but "Volume" is a winner. The only slight negative is that if you're thinking of multiple coats, do it while it's still wet. It will flake onto your face if you try another coat after the first has dried.



Narciso Rodriguez Narciso EDP
I caved and bought this after wanting it for half a year (interestingly, or perhaps not interestingly at all, the only other item on that wishlist I've bought is the Zoevarose gold brush set). In my defence, the 50ml bottle was on sale in a set with a 75ml body lotion for $82.60. Not the bargain of the century, but acceptable considering the 50ml bottle on its own is $118. Despite my bloated perfume collection, I honestly don't have anything like Narciso. It's perfect for this time of year; the cold air, rugging up in knits, trying to keep cosy and warm. It smells rich, intoxicating, evocative of skin, musk, cleanness. Radiant and refined. It's woodsy, soapy, powdery, floral. Top notes of gardenia and rose, heart of musk, base notes of vetiver, black cedar and white cedar. I get why it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I find myself increasingly drawn to powdery, soapy perfumes despite their potential granny factor. I had to even scour the internet to find a backup bottle of my beloved but tragically discontinued ChloéLove, Chloé. In the end, I paid a pretty penny to have one delivered to me, though the transaction wasn't entirely above board. (That's a totally different story, suffice it to say esavingsfreshscents.com.au sells perfumes with the serial number etched off and then insists it's standard industry practice to prevent fraud.)


Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes
Yes, I know. Shudder. Caroline Hirons and Sali Hughes would be horrified I'm including makeup wipes here, not that either know of my existence. But I can't help it, I've been using these wipes to remove my makeup when I get home from work, and they've probably knocked off SwisspersCucumber Facial Cleansing Wipes as the best wipes I've used. I like that they're decently wet so it's not like you're scrubbing your face with a paper towel. Vitally, they don't sting or irritate my skin, despite some vigorous, repeated rubbing. They also get everything bar eye makeup off (still need Bioderma for that). I know, because when I start on the Bioderma for my eyes and then use the other side of the cotton pad for my face, not much comes off. I still follow up with a cleansing milk (trying out the Innoxa one that I scored from the Priceline skin care bag, not hating it, but definitely not loving it), and the end result is refreshed, clean-feeling, balanced skin.



Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Busy Signal + Ecotools Bamboo Angled Eyeliner Brush
Back to this old faithful and not entirely sure why I stopped. Busy Signal is truly one of the best makeup purchases I've made. It's been years and it shows zero signs of drying out, unlike pretty much every other cream shadow I have. It hasn't even slightly shrunk around the edges or changed texture in any way. It's still soft, smooth, emollient and ultra pigmented. The colour is complex and beautiful, it lasts all day and doesn't budge. I've used it consistently over the years and the surface is only mildly scratched. Not sure if I'll finish it in the next decade. If that isn't value, I'm not eating chocolate every day like it's good for me. I've been reaching for the Ecotools eyeliner brush to apply Busy Signal to my lower lash line every single day. Lately, I've also been playing around with a slightly longer, subtly flicked up shape for my liner using my Dolly WinkLiquid Eyeliner, and the precision of the Angled Eyeliner Brush is ideal for joining the lower lash line to the upper for an overall larger, more extended eye.



Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve
I've actually had this lip balm since my trip to New York in late 2012, but only opened it recently. It's brought welcome relief to dry, chapped lips during winter. It's powerfully perfumed which I don't mind, though I can see why it would be off-putting to some. While it's basically fancy Vaseline, it does feel soothing and relieving on the lips, and I like that it imparts a fresh, easygoing shine to my naturally pigmented lips which makes it look like I'm wearing a tinted gloss.

And now ... I don't ever do this, but I simply had to include one non-beauty favourite. Because the joy it's brought me at least deserves a mention on this blog.




Gorman Pom Pom Pom Scarf in Grey
Words can't capture my love for this scarf. It is my dream. Because BALLZ. Look at those colourful spheres of fluff and tell me perfection doesn't exist. Whoever said money can't buy happiness hasn't bought this scarf. And I'd understand, since it was damn hard to acquire. Not to mention the kind of expensive that can only be justified in a crazed state. Bank balance says I'm poorer, heart says I am oh so richer.

Not As Described

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Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation has been on my wishlist for a while, so when COSME-DE.COM was having a sale, I jumped at the opportunity to buy it. The foundation retails for a whopping $92 here in Australia, but I paid just under $60. As always, the trickiest part was determining which shade to buy. I matched myself to Karima McKimmie as it seems we have a similar skin tone (NC 20-25), so I chose 4.5.





Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 4.5

l-r: NARS Sheer Glow in Fiji, YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat in B40, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk in 4.5, Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation in 013

The attempted colour match was a fail. It's a tad too dark and very obviously the wrong undertone, in that it's tan/pink rather than predominately yellow or neutral. The discrepancy is especially visible when inspecting the difference between my face and neck in natural sunlight. I seem to have this problem with every face product I buy these days (also see Koh Gen DoMaifanshi Aqua Foundation in 013, ClarinsInstant Concealer in 02 and HourglassAmbient Lighting Powder in Dim Light), so I'm developing something of a pattern here. So far, only BourjoisHealthy Mix Serum in 52 and NARSSheer Glow in Fiji are yellow enough for me. Everything else is off to varying degrees.


Here we have the comparison shot (both entirely unedited images, only cropped) of my bare face and the same area with a small amount of Luminous Silk applied with the fingers. I probably should've moisturised my face before applying the foundation, but you can't really tell from the picture that it's picking up and emphasising dry patches as opposed to blurring them out.

To my surprise, coverage is on sheer side. It's actually one of the lightest coverage foundations I own. This stuff is less coverage than GarnierBB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector Combination to Oily Skin or Laura MercierTinted Moisturiser. One pump over the face only provides a light layer of tint and won't go all that far in perfecting and evening out the skin. I find I need at least 1.5 pumps for bare minimum coverage, plus concealer if my skin's acting up or I want to camouflage scarring from breakouts. The downside to requiring more than a pump of foundation is that the colour mismatch only becomes more pronounced.


Apart from the scant coverage, another unexpected aspect of the foundation is it doesn't live up to its "Luminous Silk" name. Basically, this stuff ain't dewy. Quite the opposite. Call me crazy, but the finish is fairly flat and matte to my eyes. Sure, there's luminosity in the sense that the complexion is evened out and subtly highlighted from within, but there's no translucent, light-reflecting plumpness. There's no magic. It's not YSLLe Teint Touche Éclat, a foundation that instantly provides a smoothing, soft focus, luminous effect, perking up tired, dull skin. The texture and the way it applies reminds me a bit of CoverGirlOutlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation. It's not that forgiving in that a moisturised, smooth canvas is required for best results, otherwise it will pick up dry patches and highlight them. Or it could just be that it's targeted more towards oily/combination skin rather than dry. Of my two most recent foundation acquisitions, I infinitely prefer YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat to Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk.

On the plus side, and perhaps because it's drier/more matte on me than moisturising/dewy, I do find it to be longer lasting on the skin and not as oily as other foundations I favour (e.g. NARS Sheer Glow, YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat). It definitely holds up better over time, especially when I mix it with a higher coverage foundation like Sheer Glow. That's the way I've been preferring to wear Luminous Silk — not on its own, but mixed with another foundation to counteract some of its less desirable qualities. For example, mixing with Sheer Glow helps to make it more yellow-toned with higher coverage. Mixing it with YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat also amps up the coverage while making it more dewy and soft-focus in effect.

Luminous Silk, at least on my skin, benefits tremendously with the addition of a glowy finishing spray like my DIY Caudalie Divine Oil-infused water. A light misting takes away the matte finish, eliminates dry areas and generally applies a smoothing wand over the complexion, making it more alive and radiant.

High End Highlighter Wardrobe

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Highlighter seems to be having a resurgent moment, despite never truly dropping off the radar. Still, with the release of Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop (purportedly breaking Sephora records for sales of a new item) and talk of "strobing", highlighting seems to be back bigger than ever. I've always loved highlighter (the obsession started at the very beginning of the blog), and still regard it as one of the most enjoyable aspects of makeup. Here, I've rounded up my high end powder highlighters. Among them are some of my favourite makeup items ever.



theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
Generally regarded as one of the best highlighters out there, and for good reason. For anyone remotely into highlighter, the Mary-Lou Manizer is a must have (chances are, you already own it). This is the strongest, most visible highlighter out of the 5 I've featured. The texture can't be faulted: smooth, soft and buttery, almost creamy, not powdery in the slightest. It blends effortlessly. As it's so pigmented, it requires a light hand and applies best with a small fluffy brush like the SUQQUCheek Brush.

Napoleon Perdis The Ultimate Contour Palette Highlight shade
Recently included in my January 2015 Favourites, there's been no loss of enthusiasm since. This one is special because it's glowy as opposed to shimmery or metallic. It's also the most refined in that you can't detect any shimmer particles — it just projects a luminous sheen. Excellent texture and quality.

Stila All Over Shimmer Powder in Kitten
I was fortunate to win this in the Stila Party in a Box set that also had a Lip Glaze in Kitten. Since then, I admit I haven't reached for it very often. I do like the colour, but texture-wise it's a bit chunky and not as finely milled as the others. The shimmer is more frosty on the skin and looks slightly gritty and dry.

Dior Diorskin Poudre Shimmer in Amber Diamond
One of those products I'm so thankful to have in my makeup collection, because I'm not sure how I could get my hands on it now. Christine of Temptalia calls it her "all-time favourite highlighter", though that declaration was 7 years ago. Still, I can understand why. As it's a gradated strip, there's more choice and versatility with the colour selection. Overall, it produces a very flattering, softly glowy effect that instantly adds radiance and dimension to the face. It has a slightly harder texture than the others so I prefer using it with a flatter, firmer brush like the Real TechniquesSetting Brush. A softer, fluffier brush might not pick up enough product and distribute it in a concentrated enough manner along the cheekbones. Full review with swatches here.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Highlight shade
Ahhh, the Filmstar Bronze & Glow. Such an incredible contouring palette and worth every penny. The Highlight shade in this duo is powerfully luminising but not greasy or pore-accentuating. Being so smooth and soft in texture but not crumbly, it blends with hardly any effort. I almost exclusively apply it with the Charlotte TilburyPowder & Sculpt Brush which places and diffuses the product brilliantly.

l-r: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Napoleon Perdis Highlight, Stila Kitten, Dior Amber Diamond, Charlotte Tilbury Highlight

l-r: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Napoleon Perdis Highlight, Stila Kitten, Dior Amber Diamond, Charlotte Tilbury Highlight

Colour-wise, theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer is the most yellow-leaning/champagne. The Napoleon Perdis is an ethereal pearly pink and the lightest. StilaKitten is a rose gold/pinky bronze with a touch of frostiness. DiorAmber Diamond (mixed together) leans the most orange/copper, though the exact colour obviously depends on what section of the strip your brush is dipped into. (The lightest shade to the left, a pale yellow gold, is a stunning inner corner highlight.) The Charlotte Tilbury is like a peachier Mary-Lou Manizer, with glints of yellow, orange and pink when inspected under the light.


There's just something about highlighter that injects instant glamour and lift to the face. It literally brings light to the complexion and is that final, beautifying step that ties everything together. I don't wear it every day, but when I do, I'm reminded how much an impact it does make. Plus, it's just fun. Who doesn't want to cheat higher, more prominent cheekbones or give themselves a touch more glow? Since I took photos for this post, I may have purchased theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer and pre-orderedBeccaChampagne Pop. I'm still looking to eventually add Kevyn AucoinCandlelight to my collection. And while it's not a powder, I think I need some of the MAC Cream Colour Bases. I was fixated on highlighter in the early stages of the blog and I'm still hunting down highlighters now. Some old loves show no signs of fading.

Spliced Nails in the Bag

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It's not every day that your nails unintentionally match your bag. A couple of people thought my manicure was a deliberate reference to my new Gorman Casato Splice Tote, but I assured them it wasn't planned. Perhaps it was entirely subconscious. Either way, pink/peach and pale gold is a foolproof combination that's equal parts girly and dressy, with a bit of pizzazz but nothing gaudy. I was considering painting just a single gold accent nail but decided I needed something more elaborate. I used EssieVan D'Go, China GlazeStellar and trusty ol' sticky tape to achieve the look.





The same people that commented that my nails matched my bag also were stumped at how I painted the triangles. I was quick to point out I really didn't put in that much effort and the sharp edges certainly weren't freehand. Tape is the answer and it makes things super easy. Paint your nails with the pink/peach colour as you would normally, let that dry, get two pieces of sticky tape and place on either side of the nail to form a triangle shape in the middle, paint over that area with the gold, let the polish settle for a couple of minutes, remove tape. Apply a generous layer of top coat to lock it all in and ensure a smooth, glossy, even surface. Simple as that.


The Gorman obsession just won't let up. Since my Pom Pom Pom Scarf, I may have made some other sneaky purchases. The damage to my wallet is real. I saw the Casato Splice Tote a few months ago, but I couldn't bring myself to spend almost $200 on two flaps of leather, especially since the bag lacked any zips. One day, I noticed it disappeared from the Gorman website, so I figured it had sold out and it wasn't meant to be. To my surprise, I checked a couple of days later and it was there, plus on sale. If past experience had taught me anything, I knew I had to act quickly. There was no room for hesitation if I didn't want to miss out. Sure enough, after I bought mine, it once again sold out. The perfectionist in me could nitpick at a minor scratch and small dint in the gold leather when the bag arrived, but given it was probably the last one, I'll content myself at managing to secure it.


If I really did want to channel inspiration from my bag, I'd probably have picked a pale, slightly lavender pink like OPIPanda-monium Pink rather than the pastel peachy-pink of EssieVan D'Go. ChinaGlaze Stellar is pretty close to the gold section of the bag, but a better match would be something brighter and more yellow (I thought about OPIGoldenEye but that's way too in-your-face and orange). Plus, I missed the black altogether. Maybe I could incorporate some additional texture similar to the pebbled leather by painting OPIBlack Shatter over black nail polish. Manicure idea for next time.

No Miracle Worker

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I'm a huge fan of Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector Combination to Oily Skin, so when Garnier Miracle Skin Cream launched, I was immediately curious. It retails for $19.99 for a 50ml tube in Australia, which isn't hideously steep but not dirt cheap either. Thankfully, a full tube was included in the recent Priceline skin care gift bag. (It was a real struggle waiting for stock to be replenished to be able to redeem the gift bag voucher for it, but that's another story.) I couldn't wait to slap some of the stuff on my skin and see how it performed. The first day, I tried it as a brightening/skin tone-evening primer underneath my normal makeup, but immediately started noticing issues with how it blended into the skin. Later that day, I was Googling reviews and came across MakeupAlley, where it has a whopping 2.5/5 score. Hmmm...







Most of the reviews on MakeupAlley were negative, some quite scathing. I can understand why, since I'll cut to the chase. There are major problems with Garnier Miracle Skin Cream. Major. I know with any skin care/makeup product, it ultimately comes down to individual experience, but at least from reading others' thoughts, I know I'm not alone.

Marketed as an "anti-ageing skin transformer" that "smooths, evens and illuminates skin", "reduces wrinkles, dark spots and pores" with "micro-pigments [that] automatically adjust to your skin tone" and "an anti-ageing complex with 7 actives [LHA, Pro-Retinol, Vitamin C, Vitamins B3 and B5, Peptides, Antioxidant Ginger] plus SPF15 protection", this is basically a tinted moisturiser where the tint forms upon contact with the skin. It comes out white with some fine granules in it, then blends out to this smooth, orangey tint. I guess you could call it the drugstore/affordable equivalent to Origins VitaZing SPF15 Energy-Boosting Moisturiser.

Firstly, the scent is absolutely overpowering. It's a kind of artificial, sweet, "fresh" but cloying fragrance that is entirely off-putting. But I can overlook an unwanted scent if the product performs brilliantly. If you've ever tried a tester tube in a shop and rubbed some of the cream on your hand, you might be fooled like I was into thinking this blends out well. On the face, it's a different story.


Here's a before and after shot of my bare, freshly washed and moisturised skin, then when I attempted to apply Garnier Miracle Skin Cream. I used Trilogy Balancing Face Lotion beforehand, which is a slightly sticky, quite mattifying moisturiser. The Garnier didn't work well with it to say the least. It started out okay when I applied it mainly to my cheeks and forehead, but things took a steep dive when I applied it on the nose and chin. It was picking up dryness I never knew I had. It was accumulating in areas and not blending out. It was bunching up together in patches. Undeterred, I tried squeezing a bit of the Garnier into my palms, rubbing them together, then smoothing my hands over my face. That only exacerbated the problem. I tried using a very emollient moisturiser like La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche over the top to fix it and dissolve the patches and unevenness, but it was a lost cause. It was impossible to remedy.


A necessary close-up. Hot mess.

I'd never had a base product be that bad that the only solution was to wipe it all off and start all over again. It wasn't just that it didn't blend out properly and accumulated in patches, it was also that it made my face feel tacky and gross. I started out with fresh, bare skin that was clean, balanced and properly moisturised, and then I undid all that effort and transformed it for the worse, not better.

I ain't a quitter though, so I decided to give it another chance. After rubbing my face with a Simple Cleansing Facial Wipe and then liberally spritzing with Avene Thermal Spring Water, I thought a different moisturiser might be the solution. Clearly, the Trilogy was not cutting it, so I opted for something far more hydrating, watery and plumping. With my face still partially wet from the Avene, I used some Laneige Perfect Renew Emulsion_EX. With some trepidation, I began applying the Miracle Cream again.



This time, the results were much better. Not perfect, but a vast improvement.

I still had some issues with blending out the cream seamlessly, especially around the nose and mouth, but nothing I couldn't live with. Having said that, for the work required in terms of skin prep, ensuring the right moisturiser is used underneath, diligent application and blending with the fingers, and mindfulness not to over-blend lest disaster strike, it's all a bit too much effort for something that delivers the same results as any good, luminising, tinted moisturiser. My skin right now isn't even in bad shape in terms of texture and blemishes. I can't imagine how inappropriate and ineffectual this product would be on problematic skin.

When it works, the coverage is akin to something like Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser and the finish Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector Combination to Oily Skin. It does give me a bit of colour and glow and evens out the complexion, though I wouldn't say it's entirely undetectable because of application and blending issues which makes the product visibly sit on top of the skin. The tint isn't too dark for me, though it is a bit on the orange side.


Overall, too much effort for not enough reward. Not that it matters that much to me, but I can't even comment on the promised anti-ageing/"skin-transforming" benefits since it's unlikely I'll use this consistently enough to notice a change, if any happens. Ain't no one got time for something this temperamental. Maybe if I had no comparable products, I'd continue to use this on good skin days after prepping my face with lots of moisture and finding the best moisturiser to pair it with through trial and error, but when a product is this fundamentally unreliable, it has no value to me other than for occasional experimentation. A new, everyday workhorse base this isn't.

Grey Twist

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Remember my lipstick ban that I decided to embark on at the end of March? I'm pretty chuffed to report I've done better than expected in sticking to it. In fact, apart from the acquisition of Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color in Bare It All (which I'm not counting because a) it was cheap b) I don't have an exact dupe c) I've wanted it for ages and it didn't disappoint), I haven't bought any new lip products. I even resisted adding any of the Colourpop Lippie Stixs to my order. *pats self on back* In recognition of my restraint, I permitted myself to seek out and purchase Essence Longlasting Lipstick Nude in Come Naturally (03), a shade I first saw on Angela's blog that I immediately was compelled to hunt down.









Come Naturally is a very of-the-moment shade. As the salesgirl at Priceline said to me when she asked to look at the shade of lipstick I bought, these "purply nudes" are "in right now". Yes. Yes they are. It's tempting to attribute their popularity to Kylie Jenner, since her name has almost become synonymous with the colour trend. I've never particularly liked medium-toned, plummy/rosy/mauvey/brownish shades as I find them unflattering, overly mature-looking and dated (i.e. reminiscent of the '90s, and not in a good way), but something about Come Naturally feels like a cool, casual, modern interpretation with a twist.

That twist being the subtle injection of grey. Overall, the colour is still fairly light and pigmentation isn't super strong, so it's not too out there or intimidating. It's cool-toned, but not to the extent it drains all life from the face. There's still a good amount of pink and nude to balance out the purple and grey.

l-r: RevlonHoney, AustralisSamba, MACPlumful, EssenceCome Naturally, RevlonSugar Plum, NYXBare It All

Compared to the shades I already have that I thought would be most similar, there's nothing that comes close. This pleases me immensely and in my mind, completely justifies my purchase. Everything else is a lot more red, fuchsia/magenta-ish, or brown. Though I do now see how similar AustralisColour Inject Mineral Lipstick in Samba and Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sugar Plum are (the latter is a tad darker and glossier). Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color in Bare It All is a more traditional nude, MACPlumful is a lot brighter and more pink, while RevlonJust Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey is like a cross between AustralisSamba and MACPlumful.


All in all, I'm adoring Come Naturally. It's an interesting shade that I don't already have in my overstuffed lipstick collection, it's on trend but still very easy to wear, plus it's cheap ($4.70, thank you very much). It has a subtle sheen and is comfortable feeling on the lips, very lightweight and decently hydrating. The pigmentation isn't too intense, so it can be worn lightly for a barely there tint, or built up for stronger colour payoff. If you're interested in trying for yourself these muted, mid-tone, slightly greyish/purply nudes, Come Naturally is an ideal place to start.

July Favourites

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Super late, I know, but better than never. Surprisingly, there were a whole bunch of new products for July, with only one item I've previously featured on the blog. A few skin care bits and bobs (the majority courtesy of the Priceline skin care gift bag) to ameliorate the damage of winter, learning to make use of my most indulgent brush purchase, and finally adding to my collection a couple of popular makeup products I've been meaning to try for ages. Thankfully, they didn't disappoint.



Bioderma Hydrabio Sérum
Sure, the scent of this is a bit too reminiscent of shampoo for my liking, and the texture is like a lightweight, gel-like hair conditioner, but I do think my skin is appreciating what it does. I apply a dollop to my freshly cleansed/toned face in the morning before going in with my regular daytime moisturiser. The extra step boosts plumpness, hydration and protection, resulting in smoother, more balanced and supple skin. I much prefer this to CaudalieVinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum which I'm not sure ever did anything for me. I liked it so much I even bought a whole 40ml bottle (I'm currently using a 15ml sample) during Priceline's latest 40% off skin care sale.



Antipodes Apostle Skin-Brightening & Tone-Correcting Serum
I can't really comment on the skin-brightening and tone-correcting claims (mainly because I haven't seen any noticeable difference, and/or I haven't been using it consistently or long enough), but I have been enjoying using this as my evening serum. The consistency is unlike anything I've experienced. It's extremely watery upon contact with the skin, but before then, it's somewhat gloopy and thick. Coagulated, even. I'm used to either oils or runny serums, so it took a while to adjust to the entirely new texture. When it is applied, it does feel refreshing and hydrating, sinking into the skin quickly and effectively without the slightest hint of greasiness or heaviness.


La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche
I use this as a nourishing, plumping night cream after my toners and serums, and it's like a drink of water for my skin. Instant, comforting hydration. Infused with their Thermal Spring Water, it's very moisturising but not unpleasantly thick or oily (unlike Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream). Suitable for dry, sensitive skin, I like that it's very basic (scentless, non-irritating, clinical ingredients), with a creamy texture that spreads out and absorbs well, providing vital protection and moisture.




theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer
I resisted valiantly for a year and a half, but finally caved. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't just buy it earlier. I still prefer the cult Mary-Lou Manizer, simply because the colour is more universal and versatile, but Cindy-Lou is a beautiful, worthwhile addition to my highlighter wardrobe. It's not so much a highlighter in the traditional sense (i.e. belonging to the champagne/pearl family), but pure peachy-pink shimmer. Depending on the rest of your makeup, a strongly pink highlight might be incongruous with the rest of the face, but when it does work, it's eye-catching, unique, and damn pretty.


SUQQU Cheek Brush
I've barely recovered from the amount of money I paid for it, but at least in July, I've been reaching for it daily. It was being neglected for a while because it's not my preferred brush to apply blush, but for highlighters, it's perfect. Especially ultra pigmented, smooth, easily blended, high impact highlighters like Cindy-Lou, Mary-Lou and Charlotte TilburyFilmstar Bronze & Glow. I wouldn't have thought to use the Cheek Brush primarily for powder highlighter, but it was Christine of Temptalia that recommended it. The small shape and unrivaled softness of the brush places and diffuses product effortlessly and flawlessly.


l-r: Shimma Shimma, Glamorous, Cosmopolitan, Roulette, Homecoming, Cocoa Bear, Grandstand

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows
FINALLY, I become acquainted with Makeup Geek shadows. Could I have called myself a lover of eyeshadow without having tried these earlier? When I heard the company was holding a free shipping promotion (thanks to the AustralianMakeup subreddit, of all places), I couldn't get onto the site quick enough. After waiting an age and almost giving up hope my order would ever arrive (though realistically, shipping time was less than 3 weeks), my precious cargo arrived safe and sound.

Sure, I basically have all the warm-toned, orangey/bronzey/rose goldy colours in a combination of Too FacedSemi-Sweet Chocolate Bar and Morphe BrushesJaclyn Hill Favorites Palette, but who's counting. I love all the shades I picked out, but especially Glamorous, Homecoming and Grandstand. Roulette is the only one that I'm slightly iffy about, in that it's a bit too brightened, in-your-face red for everyday wear, and extremely similar to a few existing shadows I have (LORACGarnet from the Pro Palette and MorpheMysterious ES11 come to mind). Still, the shadows are incredible quality: beautifully pigmented, vibrant, smooth, easy to blend, and complex in their colours and finishes. I'm honestly impressed and despite not needing any more eyeshadow for the next 3 decades, I want to order more.

Moderate About You

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NARSMadly was a makeup product I'd been meaning to get my hands on for the longest time, but never made a priority to buy. Even with its reputation as a staple, must-have blush despite its unassuming appearance, it never inspired strong feelings of desire or excitement. Having said that, two beauty vloggers who have been effusive in their praise for Madly tipped me over the edge: 1) Casey Holmes ("If you had to get one high end blush, this is the blush for you.") 2) KathleenLights ("This is my favourite blush of all time. I have a crap ton of blushes — this is my favourite blush ever ever ever.") Though described as a "warm soft-focus seashell pink", I find the shade undeniably brown. I really can't see pink in it. Still, I hoped it'd be a quintessential bronzy-nude blush to sculpt the face and impart a realistic, healthy glow, so I finally purchased it along with Giorgio ArmaniLuminous Silk Foundation from COSME-DE.COM.







I've heard that Madly is a blush that needs to be applied to the face rather than swatched to be fully appreciated. I can kind of see why the sentiment exists, but for me, I honestly don't discern a humongous difference between how it swatches on my wrist and how it appears when worn. It's probably slightly more red/orange/pink rather than purely brown/tan, but nothing distinct. The colour transformation might be more pronounced depending on your skin tone though.

To me, Madly is better defined as a warm bronzer with subtle terracotta tones and fine microshimmer. It does have more colour (in the sense of earthy ochre hues) than a more traditional bronzer which might be less warm and more yellow, brown or golden, but I can't imagine using this focused on the apples of my cheeks like a conventional blush. It's more of a hybrid blush/bronzer that is swept along the cheekbones and blended onto the cheeks for an overall bronzed, softly sculpted, "healthier" look. As KathleenLights so evocatively put it, "It reminds me of a goddess walking on the beach with flowers in her hair and a big seashell necklace, talking about life's mysteries, wearing this blush." Immediate Birth of Venus vibes.

NARSMadly

l-r: Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel, Charlotte TilburySculpt, NARSLuster, NARSMadly, NARSLaguna

Compared with a bunch of other bronzers and NARSLuster, another illuminating hybrid blush/bronzer, Madly is somewhere in between the golden brown NARSLaguna and more orangey NARSLuster, with a hint of the shimmering, cooler brown Sculpt shade in Charlotte TilburyFilmstar Bronze & Glow.

I'm somewhat on the fence with Madly. I don't love it, but I'm still glad it's in my collection. It's a useful, versatile, "throw it on in a rush" product that acts as a blush and bronzer in one. Colour-wise, it's a bit too brown and similar to a regular bronzer for the effect on my skin to be anything particularly special or unique. I almost wish there was more of that promised "seashell pink" to provide a point of difference. Still, the quality is top notch as you'd expect from NARS, it goes with anything and provides natural definition and a sun-kissed, enlivening warmth to the complexion.

Evil Eye Nails

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I don't often attempt nail art (mainly due to lack of skill and imagination), but when I saw this picture on Katy Perry's Instagram, I loved it so much I immediately saved it to my phone for future reference. One night when I was particularly bored and had a lot of time on my hands, I attempted to recreate it. It seemed like a design that wasn't overly challenging to duplicate, or at the very least sloppily approximate.



(Source: @katyperry)






One of the advantages of having a stupidly large nail polish collection is that I generally don't struggle to find the colour I'm after. Even if I might not have the exact same shade, chances are I'll have something similar. For the neutral, sandy base, I opted for Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Café Au Lait, a polish I found intolerably dull painted on my nails alone, but in the context of this design, surprisingly works well. Of course, I had a white and black polish handy (NYC Nail Colour in Lili White and the glittery black Chi Chi Salon Formula in Wednesday respectively). The hardest part was trying to pick the kind of blue used on Katy Perry's toes. While I do love my blue polishes, I have mostly ice/baby blues, greenish/seafoamy blues or dark marine blues. I lack a medium, bright, Santorini-esque blue. Consulting good ol' Wikipedia for "shades of blue", I guess the closest to what I was looking for is Persian blue or Egyptian blue. In the end, I picked EssieBikini So Teeny because it was the least wrong.

After Café Au Lait dried, I painted freehand the white half moon shape. Being right-handed, my left hand fared much better than the right, where things got a little outta control. If I was supposed to remain faithful to the original inspiration, I faltered since the white area was too large. It was also difficult to get an even curve without expanding the white half moon even more, a problem compounded by the fact three layers were needed to achieve full opacity. Painting over the white with Café Au Lait to correct any mistakes was out of the question since that would've resulted in a super uneven, patchwork job.

Pressing on nonetheless, I then dotted EssieBikini So Teeny in the centre of the white with the nail polish brush (no nail art tools here) and made a smaller dot with the black polish. Once again, my left hand was much more uniform and presentable than my right, which was all over the place. Uneven sized black dots, wonky placement, out of proportion blue dots compared with the white crescent.

But that's the perfectionist in me talking. All in all, as William Hung said, I gave my best. I'm unlikely to attempt this again any time soon, but I do like the end result and have been enjoying something new and different on my nails. If only I had the accompanying Greek islands vacation to go with it.

Hair Haulin'

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As you might have discerned from the near total lack of hair-related posts on the blog, I'm not exactly into hair. My hair routine consists of shampooing every 3ish days (basically putting off washing my mop for as long as I can get away with it) and liberal doses of dry shampoo in the interim to keep my oily roots at bay. I always wash my hair right before bed and sleep with it in a bun, half-heartedly towel-dried. Since I've scrapped conditioner for over two years, to bring some softness and shine back to my hair, I'll run the ends with one pump of Moroccanoil the morning after in its (still) semi-wet state. If I'm feeling especially fancy, I'll whip out the texturising or sea salt spray and go to town.

Despite my cluelessness and laziness when it comes to hair, when Priceline had its 40% off hair care sale last Tuesday and Wednesday, I felt inspired to buy a few things. Probably in large part due to the success of amikaUn.Done Texture Spray, the idea of casually experimenting with styling my hair and realising my tousled boho/beachy/bedhead dreams has become more appealing. I simply don't have a lot of hair products period, so I felt justified in acquiring a few to hopefully be pleasantly surprised by.




L'Oréal Elvive Extraordinary Oil
My Moroccanoil is 4/5ths of the way through, so I'm giving Extraordinary Oil a go. I had a sachet sample that I used once and found decent, so I took the plunge and bought the whole bottle. At 40% off ($12 for 100ml, $19.99 RRP), it's a lot cheaper than Moroccanoil ($59.95 for 100ml), but time will tell if I'll love it as much. My Moroccanoil has lasted an age, so on a cost-per-use basis (and the fact I genuinely think it's a fantastic product), it's worth the money. But if I can achieve the same results with a less expensive alternative, I'll make the switch. I've used it once and first impressions were that it made my hair feel silkier, softer and smoother. The floral, sweet smell was pleasant enough but nothing remarkable. To be honest, I'm not sure how different this is to something like Caudalie Divine Oil, NUXE Huile Prodigieuse or Go-To Skincare Exceptionoil, all three of which I have (though the latter is a sample tube) but don't regularly use, certainly not in my hair.


COLAB Dry Shampoo New York
I simply had to try this stuff out given all the attention it's received in the UK. I was super surprised to even see it stocked at Priceline. There was only New York and Tokyo for the scents, so I opted for the former as it seemed less potentially cloying and heavy. On my second day hair, it didn't seem to fare that well in the oil-absorbing stakes as my beloved KloraneDry Shampoo with Oat Milk or not-as-beloved-but-undeniably-effective Batiste. It's not even as good as sucking up greasiness as my $2.50 Girlz OnlyDry Shampoo XXL Volume-Plus from Target. Having said that, there are a few things I do like about it. First, the packaging. It looks more expensive and sophisticated than comparably priced dry shampoos out there (a 200ml bottle is $10.99 RRP). Second, it almost doubles as a hair perfume (which may or may not be a good thing depending on how much you like the fragrance). A designer perfume it's not, but it reminds me of a respectably formulated body spray. Third, there's some merit in a more subdued approach to dry shampoo, especially if you're not after the fire hydrant treatment. The product does seem more fine and "invisible" than the pesky white powder emitted by Klorane and Batiste, and it creates a bit of texture, volume and has some oil absorption — just not a lot.


Garnier Fructis Full & Luscious Volume Booster Spray
To be perfectly honest, I bought this because it was cheap. I'm used to texturising sprays being around $35 and I haven't encountered many "drugstore" equivalents. This is $5.95 (which is already cheap), but with 40% off it was $3.57. At a price of a coffee, I didn't hesitate to pick one up. After using it once, I'm unconvinced it does anything. To be fair, my hair is naturally quite thick, and I'd just washed it the night before, so there was already considerable frizz and body. I sprayed one half of my hair with the Garnier, ruffled, teased and scrunched my hair with my hands as instructed, and inspected the difference between the half with product and the half without. Frankly, I didn't notice any difference. I might have to try again with dirtier, limper hair to see if it's more effective when my hair isn't freshly washed. It does smell strongly fruity as most Garnier hair products do, so if you're into that thing, that could be a big plus.


Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray
I bought this because of Amelia Liana touting it as a more hairspray-like dupe for Oribe Dry Texturising Spray. At $15.99 RRP ($9.59 with 40% off), it's one of the pricier products in this haul, so I had high hopes. I'd read reviews that it does have a bit more “hold” than your usual texturising spray, which immediately put me off since all I think of is hairspray which I avoid at all costs. Still, after trying it, I'd say it's at the just passable threshold for hairspray feel. There is still that stiffness, crunchiness and grit that comes with hairspray, but it's not intolerable. Certainly more than I'd prefer, but I rationalise it serves a purpose and gives the product a point of distinction. Basically, the volume/texture it creates also has a better chance of lasting because of the hold. I'll never love it as much as my amikaUn.Done Texture Spray which leaves the hair more touchable and weightless, but at least the Charles Worthington is a lot closer to it than the Garnier Fructis Full & Luscious Volume Booster Spray.


OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
I've reached the stage where I'll use anything to wash my hair that approximates a shampoo, so I've tried the whole gamut of multipurpose soaps (liquid and solid form): LUSH/philosophy shower gels, LUSH Fun, LUSH Shower Jellies, as well as good ol'Pantene. I've actually been pleasantly surprised how well LUSH and philosophy shower gels work as shampoo. They're almost like clarifying shampoos in that they really get out all the gunk, but they don't leave my hair extremely dry and brittle (perhaps due to the Moroccanoil I’m putting through it the day after, perhaps due to the ingredients working better than expected on hair). Point is, I don't even need a traditional shampoo to wash my locks, so I wasn't too keen on spending $10.80 (40% off $17.99 RRP) for a 385ml bottle of fancyish shampoo. I spotted these mini bottles at the checkout though, and grabbed a couple. My friend was urging me to buy it, claiming the shampoo made her hair so smooth, sleek and frizz-less. I can't say it worked the same miracles on me, but I did enjoy the smell, it lathered up fine (despite some reviews to the contrary), and it left my hair feeling more nourished than the admittedly stripping shampoos I normally use. I'm curious to try the OGX Weightless Hydration Coconut Water Shampoo now to see what it'd do for my hair and how much I'll like it. Maybe I'll buy both large bottles of it and the Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo at the next sale.

Maybelline Haul

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Maybelline is currently 50% off at Priceline, so naturally I've been haulin'. I just can't seem to resist a good sale, no matter how valiantly the "logical" side of my brain attempts to convince me otherwise. "Drugstore" makeup is so expensive in Australia that 50% off basically just brings our prices in line with the US. Maybelline has had a few exciting launches recently, so I took the opportunity to buy some products I've heard good reviews about, along with a couple of unplanned purchases that were irresistibly cheap.





Super Stay 7 Day Gel Nail Color in Surreal ($3.97, normal price $7.95)
I was curious to try one of these polishes as they seem to be well received by British bloggers. The colour also reminded me of the exact blue I was after in my Evil Eye Nails post. Because of the long-wearing, gel colour claims, I thought I'd skip my usual Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat, but surprisingly, this chipped on me within a day. That's deterred me from buying any more polishes in the range. The colour selection is limited anyway, so no other shade (apart from maybe Rose Poudre) is really calling out to me.



Lash Sensational Mascara & HyperSharp Liner Pack ($12.45, normal price $24.90)
The bargain of this haul. I even bought a backup. It's one thing to have unbeatable value (the mascara retails for $21.95 on its own, the HyperSharp Wing Liquid Liner $16.95), it's another thing when the products actually perform. I've ditched all other mascaras I was using (including RimmelGlam'Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara and Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme, a freebie from the September 2015 issue of Marie Claire which did very little for me) to focus on Lash Sensational. I feel like it would be a dream mascara for anyone with decent lashes. On my pathetic lashes, it's not too bad, but not amazing. It separates and defines very well, though I don't find it hugely voluminising. The fanned wand does make it easier to get to those pesky outer corner lashes and coat/curl them, which is a huge plus.

The liner on the other hand, I'm very impressed by. I'm not sure how many uses I'll get out of it, but I've been reaching for it every day in the past week and it's exceeded all expectations. It's very precise but easy to use, with a sharp but still flexible tip. I also like that the formula is instantly matte and opaque upon application, without any wateriness or dilution. It lasts all day, doesn't smudge and is properly black.




Color Sensational Lipcolor in Coral Pop (420) ($4.24, normal price $16.95)
I absolutely did not need another coral lipstick, but it was $4.24 (discontinued shade?), so my resolve crumbled. When I got home, straight away I swatched it alongside my other coral lipsticks to determine how unnecessary it was. I soon discovered it's almost the same colour as Mango Diamonds (though Mango Diamonds has a slight pearl, is glossier in finish, a touch lighter and not as pigmented). Minute differences aside, they're virtually indistinguishable on the lips. Regardless, I always gravitate to these bright orangey colours for a reason. They work with my skin tone (though they can bring out the red in my face if my base isn't perfectly even) and they're an injection of summer no matter the time of year.




Master Sculpt Contour Palette in Medium/Dark (02) ($9.97, normal price $19.95)
This product wouldn't even have been on my radar but for Harry Makes It Up raving about it. I really didn't expect much from a "drugstore" contouring palette, but first impressions were almost overwhelmingly positive. Dare I say I prefer the contour shade to Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder in Medium, which I find a bit too dark and ashy on me? The colour reminds me of BenefitHoola with a dash more grey. It's not as long lasting and the texture might not be as finely milled or smooth as a higher end product, but it's still pretty damn good. Even the highlighter, which was very much take it or leave it, fared better than anticipated. On the subtle side, a little glittery (eye-catching/ethereal glittery though, not chunky, frosty or pore-emphasising), not too whitish or silvery in tone. Despite the smallish looking pan, you get a decent amount of product (9g). I just wished they ditched the unnecessary bottom compartment with the mirror and included brush, since that would've made the packaging so much sleeker and easier to travel with.




The Nudes Palette
I've saved the best for last. I've wanted this wretched eyeshadow palette since forever, but I never found it in stock. ANYWHERE. I was almost tempted to buy the used tester at Priceline, until a friend talked me out of it. I finally found the palette in stock at Chemist Warehouse, though not for 50% off. Sadly, they were only offering a measly 15% off, so I bought mine for $21.21 (a whopping $3.74 off the normal price of $24.95). It was only until much later when a friend reminded me that a lot of places do price matching that I realised I probably should've asked whether Chemist Warehouse would match Priceline. Oh well.

Moving on to the actual palette, overall, it's another winner from Maybelline. First, the colour payoff is solid. There are a couple of shades that are a bit harder to build up pigmentation, but there aren't any true duds. Granted, there are plenty of eyeshadow palettes from more affordable brands that deliver on pigmentation (MUA, Wet n Wild, Sleek), but what makes The Nudes stand out is the colour selection. It's on point. I have neutral eyeshadows coming out of my ears, but I still found myself genuinely excited about this palette. Though I'd characterise it as generally cool-toned, the shadows still work for me and don't look dull or muddy. The mix of satin, metallic, glitter and matte shades ranging from light to dark makes it so well-considered, versatile and complete. My favourites are the first colour in the bottom row (gorgeous all over the lid), the first colour in the top row (highlight shade with beautiful iridescent glitter), the gold (very pretty in inner corner), the matte mid-tone taupe (pure sophistication) and the matte dark brown (great for adding definition to any eye look). I also think they did an excellent job with the packaging, though the useless sponge applicator could've been ditched.


I almost don't feel as bad with my wholly unnecessary spending when most of the products were hits. I also bought a Volum' Express The Mega Plush Mascara for $4.99 (down from $19.95) that I retrieved from the bargain bin, but since I'm using Lash Sensational, I've tucked it away for now. Drugstore makeup successes always make me question whether high end makeup is really that much superior to justify the steeper prices. From a quality/performance perspective, it does seem like the gap is narrowing, and at times, non-existent (or the cheaper product may even trump the more expensive). Of course, the appeal of more expensive makeup doesn't lie purely in the actual product, but these Maybelline products prove that cheaper cosmetics can absolutely do the job, and do it well.

Sephora Haul

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So ... I didn't intend to not post for a month, but if you've been following me on Instagram, you may have known I was on holidays in the US for a couple of weeks. Things were a little hectic the week before and after the trip, so I've only now had a spare moment to get things in order with the blog. To make up for my mini absence, I've returned with some makeup p0rn: a Sephora haul!

My last trip to the States was 3 years ago, and because I was clueless back then, I didn't create a Beauty Insider account. This time, I made sure to remedy that. Even with the abysmal state of the Australian dollar (long gone are the glory days of parity), I didn't exactly exercise restraint. (Though I did manage to avoid buying any lip products, so I'll give myself that.) It's surprisingly stressful when your travelling companion, like an AA sponsor, limits your visits to Sephora to the number of fingers on one hand. I had to make sure I wasn't skipping over anything I would regret not buying, but also not go completely overboard (because as we all know, that's easy to do).


My loot (hauled in one and a half weeks, over 4 Sephora stores):
  • Smashbox Primer Water ($32 USD, about $50 AUD)
  • Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Radiance ($20 USD, about $30 AUD)
  • Clinique Cheek Pop in Nude Pop ($22 USD, about $34 AUD)
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveler Palette ($30 USD, about $46 AUD)
  • Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara in Brown/Black ($10.50 USD, about $16 AUD)
  • Maison Martin Margiela Lazy Sunday Morning Rollerball ($25 USD, about $39 AUD)
  • Fresh Sugar Lychee Rollerball ($22 USD, about $34 AUD)
  • Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone ($19 USD, about $29 AUD)
  • Fresh Soy Face Cleanser ($15 USD, about $23 AUD)
  • Elizabeth and James Nirvana Mini Rollerball Set ($25 USD, about $39 AUD)
  • Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo ($11 USD, about $17 AUD) 
  • philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser ($11 USD, about $17 AUD) 
  • Benefit Rockateur Box o’ Powder Blush ($28 USD, about $43 AUD)
  • Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blush in Baby Love ($26 USD, about $40 AUD)

So basically, I spent a lot of money.

Mind you, that's not all the cosmetics/skin care stuff I bought in the US. Ugh. 

I did also buy the Boscia Tsubaki Cleansing Oil-Gel but I ended up returning it the next day after one use because it left my skin feeling taut and dried out.




Some of the stuff was literally more expensive than if I'd bought it in Australia (Smashbox Primer Water, Too Faced blush), some was only slightly cheaper but basically the same price (philosophy cleanser, Benefit Rockateur). The extensive rollerball display at Sephora was like Christmas and I was pretty ecstatic when two perfumes I'd been eyeing were available in rollerball form (Maison Martin Margiela Lazy Sunday Morning and Fresh Sugar Lychee, both unavailable in Australia). I also couldn't resist any of the good ol' minis (Fresh cleanser, Elizabeth and James rollerball set, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, Laura Mercier primer, even that darn 60ml bottle of Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo which I classify as the most ludicrous purchase ever, because as if I do hair, as if this shampoo is especially better than other shampoos, and as if I couldn't buy 2 litres of Pantene for the same price).


It didn't feel right to come away from Sephora without an eyeshadow palette, so I limited myself to just one: Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveler Palette. The price was right, the reviews were mostly positive, I hadn't seen the palette available at the Sydney Sephora store, there are a multitude of shades and finishes, and I was curious to try my first product from the brand. I had listed the Make Up For Ever Artist Palette Volume 1 – Nudes as a potential purchase, but the shades/packaging seemed underwhelming to me in person. Maybe neutral shadow fatigue. I wasn't interested in the new Naked Smoky palette from Urban Decay at all. I had a look at Buxom, and while the shadows swatched beautifully, nothing was really calling out to me as a must. Other options (Smashbox, Laura Mercier, Tarte, Stila) were too expensive with the currency conversion. I kind of wanted the Bobbi Brown Telluride Eye Palette but it was $52 USD, which would've worked out to have been $81 AUD. Like, no.





l-r: Too FacedBaby Love, CliniqueNude Pop, BenefitRockateur

Bottom to top: Too FacedBaby Love, Clinique Nude Pop, BenefitRockateur

Bottom to top: Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone

l-r: Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone

For some reason, I was super into the idea of dewy, highlighted skin, so I purchased the Laura Mercier primer and the Becca, with the idea of potentially mixing them into my foundation, or applying it to my face before foundation for added natural luminosity. I also bought a small tube of MAC Strobe Cream and a Benefit set that included a 'That Gal' Brightening Face Primer sample, so I'm good with liquid highlighters for now. After trial and error, I've learned to avoid placing luminiser over my nose, and that a 40/60 ratio of highlighter and foundation is a bit excessive.

While I'm sure I have similar blushes to three I bought, I'm really happy with all of them. Too FacedBaby Love almost reminds me of a pinker/plummier NARSDouceur, CliniqueNude Pop is like a muted version of NARSMadly, and Benefit Rockateur is a foolproof pick that goes with anything.

One product I'm on the fence about is the Smashbox Primer Water. As a primer, it did absolutely zilch, and as a setting/refresher spray, I'm not convinced it's any better than much cheaper options such as rosewater or even MAC Fix+. I do like the packaging and the spray mechanism, but I'm not sure if that's $50/116ml like. Probably not, but now that I've bought it, I'll try to forget about the inflated price tag and enjoy it.

Power Glow

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When mega Youtuber Jaclyn Hill collaborated with Becca, releasing a limited edition shade of their Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed called Champagne Pop, the frenzy was real. As a makeup junkie, there was no way I was missing out. I briefly contemplated using Shop and Box, but was holding out for a better option. Thankfully, Becca decided to release a limited quota of Champagne Pop to Australian customers through their local online stockists. (I'm not sure if they have any plans for it to be sold at Sephora stores in Sydney.) I pre-ordered mine on 13 July, paying $60.01 with $6.95 shipping and using a $5 off first order code. Delivery time was estimated to be mid-August, but the shipment was delayed and arrived 9 September. That was kind of disappointing, since I was already planning on going to the States from 29 August to 12 September, and knew I'd most likely to be able to buy Champagne Pop there. But in any event, I was just glad when it finally arrived safe and sound.









BeccaChampagne Pop


l-r: DiorAmber Diamond, Charlotte TilburyHighlight, BeccaChampagne Pop, theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, StilaKitten


I'd never owned any of Becca's powder highlighters before, though I've been tempted by the lightest shade Moonstone. The popular Opal seemed a bit too dark and orangey for my tastes, and the other colours like Rose Gold and Topaz looked more like shimmery blushes than highlighters. Jaclyn Hill describes Champagne Pop as her "dream shade", and from early reviews and swatch comparisons, it was apparently a cross between Moonstone and Opal. Makes sense to me, since I'd always thought it strange there was such a huge jump from the pale Moonstone to the noticeably darker, warmer Opal.

The texture of these highlighters is very soft, smooth and almost creamy, similar to theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer. It's incredibly pigmented that you only need a light touch for BAM! HIGHLIGHT. It's one of those products where the brush you use becomes very important in not overdoing it. I've been reaching for the long, small and fluffy Burberry Eye Brush - Socket Line No.09 to apply Champagne Pop to my cheekbones and brow bone. It probably doesn't give as much precision as I'd like, but it limits the placement of the product and diffuses the edges so the highlighter isn't so stark and prominent on the face.

I do find because it packs such a punch and is so reflective, if the brush has too much product, it can feel and apply in a slightly gritty and chunky way. To avoid that, I'd be mindful to use a small amount each time, not overloading the brush, applying the highlighter precisely and lightly to the skin, and going over the edges of where it's placed with a clean brush to softly blend it out into the surrounding skin. I sometimes even pat the highlighter with my finger to take off excess product and gently work it into the skin more.

Colour-wise, it's a peachy gold. Compared with other high end powder highlighters I have, DiorAmber Diamond (all shades blended together) is more pinky orange, Charlotte TilburyHighlight (in the Filmstar Bronze & Glow) is more beige/champagne, theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer is the most similar in terms of texture and pigmentation but champagne in colour, while StilaKitten is a silvery rose gold. On my skin, Champagne Pop leans more yellow than peach, but overall translates as a relatively pale neutral gold.

It has this strong metallic smell reminiscent of cheaper eyeshadows made in China, which I wasn't expecting. Of course, it doesn't affect performance, but is one thing I noticed that I haven't heard anyone mention. I also don't think this is the most finely milled highlighter I've tried. If anything, Champagne Pop does lean more shimmery than sheeny, but I guess that's the tradeoff for mega effect. I find the Highlight shade in Charlotte TilburyFilmstar Bronze & Glow to be superior and better quality, but Champagne Pop is still a product I'm happy to have. I'm not sure if anything can outdo it for pronounced glow, and sometimes, you just want to shine — loudly, obnoxiously and unapologetically.
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