SEPTEMBER BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Garnier BB Cream

I have recently found out that this has a large amount of alchol in i so after I finish it up, I probably won't be repurchasing. Apart form that I have found that it works great on my skin and gives a much more natural look and lighter finish than a foundation.

Mary Kay Lash Primer
I love priming my lashes with this before I use a mascara because I notice a huge difference in the length of my lashes whenever I use this! It doesn't matter what mascara I put over the top, it's this product that really makes the most noticeable impact for that reason I love it!

Maybelline Illegal Lengths Mascara

This is a micro fiber mascara so it has little fibers that attach to the ends of your lashes and add length. I notice difference between when I use this and just a regular mascara so it has been a definite favourite and I recommend checking it out!

Australis "Jive" Mineral Inject Lipstick

This shade was highly recommended to me on Twitter and Instagram so I figured it must be good and picked it up the next time I remembered at Priceline. I am so thankful that everyone recommended it to me because I am in love with it and have been wearing it nearly everyday! It's the perfect pastel pink colour that doesn't wash me out but is still a very light pink.

Maybelline "Too Cool" Color Tattoo
I love all of the Maybelline Color Tattoos, you can check out a review I did on "Bold Gold" and "Tenacious Teal" if you click here and "Too Cool" is no exception! It's such a great shimmery white base for all coloured eyeshadows and I realized how much I love this when I was choosing it over my NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Milk".  

Australis Eyeshadows

In the month of September I have worn the Australis eyeshadows in "Mother Of Pearl" and "Sea Urchin" probably 80% of the time! With the Matte neutral skin colour on the lid and the Deep plum brown in the crease, I absolutely love how they work together and look on my eyes.

Real Techniques Brushes
It was hard to choose from all of the Real Techniques brushes which ones were my favourites but I decided on the "Blush brush" because it applies setting powders really nicely, the "Contour Brush" because it provides such a natural and seamless contour s well as the "Deluxe Crease Brush" and the "Base Shadow Brush" because I use both everyday to apply my eyeshadows. 

Those were my beauty favourites for the month of September, let me know what you have been loving this month :)

REVIEW: MARY KAY BOTANICAL EFFECTS SKINCARE

Something I have been absolutely loving lately is my skincare system which is the new Mary Kay Botanical range. So I thought I would let you all know about how this new system works, it's effectiveness, my experience and where to buy these products!

The new Botanical Effects Skin Care by Mary Kay are a range of personalised botanicals which deliver holistic benefits by skin type. It leaves skin feeling nourished and revitalized as well as enhances the skins natural beauty. The three gentle formulations leave dry, normal and oily skin feeling balanced. It contains an antioxidant-rich complex and is formulated without alcohol, synthetic dyes and added fragrance which protects sensitive skin from harsh ingredients. These products are all natural, even down to the packaging which is created with products that are gentle on the planet.  

Cleanse (AUS $35, NZ $41)

This cleanser removes impurities such as excess oil and dirt while keeping your skin balanced by not stripping it from the essential oils your skin needs. I love how effective this cleanser is while still being so gentle.

Hydrate (AUS $39, NZ $45)

A quick absorbing moisturiser which leaves skin feeling moisturised without an oily feeling. If you have oily skin, please do not think that using a moisuriser will make your skin more oily because it won't! Actually by not using a moisturiser after cleansing, your skin becomes so dry that it produces more oil than needed thus making your skin oilier than before.

Freshen (AUS $30, NZ $35)

This is a mild freshener that gently removes excess residue from the skin. Simply spray some of the product onto a cotton ball and gently wipe it all of your face and you can also bring it down to your neck. It's jsut really refreshing and makes your skin feel extra clean and oil free.

Mask (AUS $37, NZ $43)

To take it to the next level you can add a mask that you can use two to three times per week. The benefits of a mask

Botanical Effects Set (AUS $141, NZ $41)

This set includes Cleanse, Hydrate, Freshen, and Mask. I think this pack is definitely something worth investing in because I recommend each of the products and this set allows you to save some money and try out everything the range has to offer. Although the only essential steps are cleanse and hydrate; freshen and mask are great additions to your skincare routine.

I think that if you take care of your skin with the proper products it can really improve acne and breakouts as well as your overall appearance. The essentials for healthy and clear skin include at least a cleanser and moisturiser, use products based on your skin type for best results like the Botanical Effects range. A freshener and a mask can be added to your routine to further benefit your skin, based on what it needs. 

I hope this was helpful and that you check out this awesome new skincare range!
For my video review on my YouTube channel, click here. 

COMPARISON: "MAYBELLINE BABY LIPS LIP GLOW" VS. "DIOR LIP GLOW COLOR REVIVER BALM"

I love it when drugstore dupes are made for high end products because it makes it so much more affordable to achieve expensive results. I did a review on the Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Glows and mentioned how similar they are to the Dior Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm and how I might do a comparison so here it is. Basically, I'm going to pick apart every aspect of the both products and compare the Dior Lip Glow to both of the Maybelline Lip Glows to determine whether you need to splurge and buy the Dior one or can save your money on Maybelline.

Price

The Dior version is going to cost you between $48-$52 whereas the Maybelline version will only set you back $3-$4! So there is a very obvious price difference and what is going to become evident is that you probably don't need to spend the extra $45 on the Dior balm when you can get the same effects from the Maybelline Lip Glows. Being realistic, noone wants to spend 13x the amount that they should on a beauty product! When the whole point of spending the extra money on high end makeup is to get good quality, sometimes it isn't necessary when drugstore options are of the same quality but much cheaper.

Packaging

The metal and smooth hard plastic Dior packaging is definitely much more luxurious than the thin soft plastic used to package the Maybelline Baby Lips. Something you do have to consider is how important the packaging is to you. It doesn't affect the product in any way so probably doesn't matter too much but if your the kind of person who only loves carrying around pretty lip balms or loves to display your makeup, you may find you will get more use out of the Dior one due to it's appealing packaging.

Colour
The picture below shows the colour each of the balms turns the lips. This colour does vary depending on an individuals skin tone, how much is applied and other factors but hopefully this can help compare how each of the products change colour. The first swatch is the Maybelline "Baby Pink" Lip Glow. The second swatch is the Maybelline "Pink Blast" Lip Glow. The third swatch is the Dior Color Reviver Balm Lip Glow.

Consistency

The picture above shows that the Maybelline Lip Glows are much more glossy than the Dior product. The Maybelline Lip Glows feel like a much thinner formulation and are not as thick/moisturizing.

Longevity 

Considering the Dior balm is much more rich and thick, it does last quite a bit longer. That being said, the Maybelline Baby Lips are so cheap that you can use more of it and repurchase it much more often than the Dior one.

Scent
Both Maybelline Lip Glows have the same scent and that is a strong fruity smell. The Dior Lip Glow has a subtle peppermint/menthol scent but not to the point where the fragrance irritates your lips. 

After reading all of this, the decision is up to you whether you want to invest in the Dior one or settle for the Maybelline. Of course the Dior Lip Glow is going to be more luxurious but you have to weigh that up with how similar they are and the price difference.

IMATS SYDNEY 2012

I just wanted to let you all know that I will be attending IMATS this year on Saturday the 29th of September. I will be there basically the whole day and look forward to meeting some of you! For more details you can watch my IMATS Sydney 2012 Tag :)

REVIEW AND SWATCHES: BLOOM PREP AND PRIME PRIMER

Priming your face before foundation is a really important step so you want to make sure that you choose the right product. This is not always a simple task especially because everyone's skin requires different things and there are so many options these days! I realized how much I love this Bloom Primer when I found myself choosing it over my Face Of Australia one!

This is a lightweight primer which means that it's more comparable to a moisturiser than a waxy silicone product like Benefit POREfessional. This is great for everyday use because it's a simple and easy step before your foundation which makes makeup application much smoother. I definitely notice that it prolongs the wear of my foundation and face products as well and keeping my skin moisturized from the Shea Butter and Algae extract which it contains.

The only aspect which could be improved with this primer is adding an SPF since it doesn't contain any and you have to use a separate product to protect your skin from the sun. If sun protection isn't a high priority then you can always rely on the SPF in your foundation.

As previously mentioned, the consistency is like a moisturiser so it's white but blends in completely transparent. I love the non-greasy formula of this product and it leaves a really lovely velvet feeling after application. I notice a significantly positive difference when applying my foundation with this product.

This primer is quite a reasonable price at $29.95 and you can purchase it from Target, Myer or online. For this price you receive 50ml of product which is a fair bit considering you only need about a pea sized amount for each use so it will definitely last you a good three months or longer.

Let me know if you have tried Bloom products before!

MY SECRET TO STAYING ENERGETIC AND FOCUSSED!

Currently I'm in exam block and have been relying on GungHo, a clinically proven formula to increase concentration and focus, to get me through! I wanted to let you all know about this awesome product and how you can get it 50% off!

I'm on a bit of a health kick as well so I was very happy to find that this product contains no sugar or carbs and is completely natural! It can even be used as a mild appetite suppressant! It gives you a heap of energy and focus but it isn't like coffee or energy drinks where your going to get jittery then crash because it's all natural! I've really noticed it has helped me with my exams this week and it's going to be my little secret about how I stay energetic and focused!

If you want to try it for yourself to see how it works for you, click here and you can buy it 50% off for the next two weeks only!

DIY SPRING/SUMMER FASHION JEWELLERY

  I recently did a my tutorial on my channel about how to create these fashionable jewellery pieces perfect for Spring and Summer! All you need is some old jewellery you don't wear anymore and if your interested then you can watch the DIY below!

REVIEW: SO...? KISS ME

I recently did a review on the So...? Kiss Me perfume on my channel and have been loving it so much I wanted to rave about it some more on here. I adore the smell of this scent so much, I can never get enough! It smells like fresh blackcurrants, pineapple and citron as well as vanilla, musk and woods.

This scent can be purchased in a 100ml bottle for $24.95, a 30ml bottle for $14.95 and a 150ml Body Fragrance for $4.95. As you can tell this is definitely a very affordable fragrance line compared to designer perfumes such as Marc Jacobs and DKNY which you can get from Department stores.

 Have you tried any of the So...? fragrances before?

REVIEW AND SWATCHES: JORDANA LOOSE EYESHADOWS

I recently blogged about the Jordana Color Effects Bright Eyeshadows and now I'm back to blog about the Loose Eyeshadows I picked up on the same occasion. These are extremely affordable, have great colour payoff and are really good quality. I find that they are best used with a damp flat shadow brush as it gives the best colour and look. I got asked a few questions about these in a video I mentioned them in so thought I would do a little review and let you know my thoughts on this product.

03 Pink Quartz
This colour is a stunning shimmery baby pink which acts as a beautiful lid colour in a pink smokey eye. The swatch is of the product dry but when applied with a damp brush, it is much more vibrant.

05 Bay Blue
This shade was so scary when I was first working with it because it seems so dark and pigmented! You get over that after the first use as it is easy to apply and starts off quite sheer as it is very build-able!

I hope this was helpful, let me know if you have tried these before!

REVIEW AND SWATCHES: BLOOM MINERAL VEIL IN "HIMALAYAN MIST"

Clearly I have been loving Bloom products lately and I'm back with another product to review which is their mineral veil in the shade "Himalayan Mist". Similarly to the other Bloom products I have reviewed, this product has really impressed me with it's high quality formulation. which makes it so easy to apply. If your not familiar with how a "mineral veil" or "translucent powder" works, it's basically a fine powder which helps to set your liquid foundation and concealer to make sure it stays put all day. It's an alternative to using a pressed powder/powder foundation which can sometimes become cakey compared to a lightweight powder like this. Don't get me wrong, I love using my MAC Studio Fix to set my Chanel Mat Lumiere but if I'm aiming for a more natural look, I find that a fine translucent powder is a better option.

I think I have mentioned this but I adore the Bloom packaging! It's so sleek and practical in a lovely black and clear jar with clearly printed names and the colour of the product visible. This makes storing Bloom products really simple for easy accessibility when doing your makeup.

As for the actual product and how it is dispersed from the packaging, holes in the top allow small amounts of the product to make it above the top, making it easy to simply swirl your powder brush in.

Lets talk about how much and where from. This product retails for $35 and you can buy it from department stores such as Myer and David Jones as well as Target. 

The product itself looks like a light beige but the small amount you use and how it is spread out so thinly on your skin means that it is transparent. The swatch below is of the powder thickly applied to the skin without blending and above that it has been blended so as you can see it basically blends into your foundation like a second skin.

On a last note, if you haven't tried a translucent powder, I definitely recommend this Bloom one as it is high quality and great for starting out because it's so easy to use! Hope this was helpful, thanks for reading!

AUGUST FAVOURITES

Here are my beauty favourites for August 2012!

Australis Fresh and Flawless Powder

I was recommended this so much before I finally decided to pick it up and I regret not doing it sooner! This is so comparable to MAC Studio Fix it's cracy! Such a good quality product and for only $11 is such a bargain!

MAC Dollymix Blush

This is such a beautiful coloured blush that's great for everyday use because it's so easy to work with!

Bloom Prep and Prime Primer

I am currently on the hunt for a great primer and so far this is the best one I have found!

Maybelline "Bold Gold" Color Tattoo 

I absolutely love these things! They are such great bases for eyeshadows with an amazing consistency and overall a beautiful product to work with.  Bold Gold is the most wearable and the one I have found myself reaching for most!

Mary Kay "Crystalline" Eyeshadow

On an everyday basis, I love using shimmery champagne eyeshadows and this is really lovely pigmented one that I love working with and use regularly. 

Australis Lip Butters

These are so cute and easy to chuck in your purse for instant lip hydration with a hint of colour.

Bloom Mineral Veil 

I love using transluscent powders as an alrenative to pressed foundations and this one have worked really well for me this month!

Maybelline Baby Lips, Lip Glows

I love the lightweight formulation with the subtle pink tint that I get from these products!

MAC "Gilded White" Eyeliner

I have been staying up so late recently so I have been relying on inner corner highlights to make me look more away and have found this eyeliner to do a great job!