Fresh & Peachy | FOTD

Going through my older FOTD's, I found this summery peachy look that I wore a little while ago. I noticed I had followed through the peachy look with the lips & cheeks onto the eyes with a touch of a warmer colour in the crease, and paired with dewy skin & keeping the lower lash line clean adds to the summery look, which was not my intention haha.

 Face | Rimmel Wake Me Up + MAC Strobe Cream for a really dewy look topped off with NARS Laguna Bronzer & MAC Lightscapade to add an extra glow. Colour to the cheeks is achieved with Milani's Baked Blush in Coralina
Eyes | After a primer apply a shimmery skin-toned colour to the lids such as Stila Kitten. Blend lightly into the crease with a fluffy brush so there's no harsh line with a brighter corally-red, such as Makeup Geek's Razzelberry eyeshadow. Make it so you can just see a pop of colour with the eyes open. Line the eyes, I used Maybelline's Line Allure, go as thick or thin as you like & simply use a flesh-toned eyeliner on the waterline, I used the Prestige Brow Highlighting Duo pencil. & finish with mascara. Don't forget the eyebrows!
Lips | Finish the whole look with a peachy toned lip colour such as Sleek Pout Paint in Peachykeen or you could even go a brighter coral if you wish like Maybelline Coral Crush which is not completely opaque for something more carefree.

Do you ever like to carry the same tones throughout your whole makeup look?
xx

Lancome Travel Chic Golden Edition | Review & Swatches

My lovely Mother-in-law got me the Lancome Travel Chic palette from her travels in Europe which is exclusive for Duty Free at the airports. I actually included this in my What's in My Makeup Travel bag post but then decided afterwards, is it worth me taking? I was always going to bring my Naked 2 palette but I thought I'd better test it out to see if I would actually use it.

Firstly how stunning is the case!! It's a beautiful sequined gold clutch with a mirror basically the size of the lid, which is perfect for traveling. It has everything that you may need for a couple of days; a variety of 6 eyeshadows, a mini mascara, two lip glosses, a blush & a translucent face powder & also a few mini brushes.

The eyeshadow choices are perfect for creating simple looks and when you're on holidays you rarely want to spend a lot of extra time doing your makeup. The mascara you get is a mini version of the famous Hypnose mascara (I haven't tried it before so I can't comment on that). I like the way everything has been set out and the plastic casing is sturdy.

The variety of eyeshadow colours are good for creating day or night looks & feel buttery in the pan but don't come off very pigmented & a bit chalky as I wore them, and while they are pretty colours, I'll be buying a lot of palettes so in the end I may not even wear these. The lip glosses are nice but very sheer and not something I'd be able to reapply, but the blush is a gorgeous universal colour and on the face shows up nicely. The powder is also handy to have.

 The makeup tray is actually removable, so you can use this as a clutch out! I would just be terrified of the mirror smashing if I were to accidentally drop it, though.

The Good

• The range of colour choices
• The stunning packaging
•  Having a mini mascara
• Versatility of the clutch

The Bad

•  Poor pigmentation with the eyeshadows
• Mini brushes too useless to do anything with them

Overall this would be a very handy travel palette to take if you were only going for a couple of days & were really limited on what you could bring, but I already have most of the eyeshadows I need in my Naked 2 palette, and as I said I will be buying other products that I may tend to gravitate towards anyway. But for a weekend away I would use this, any time! I also think it would be nice to have in a makeup kit for brides.

Have you tried any of the travel palettes that you can get through Duty Free?
xx

Product given as a personal gift, not a sponsored review!

MAC Blue Brown Pigment | FOTD

Soo this is a really old FOTD that I posted to my Instagram probably a few months back & also in my MAC Samples post to showcase the gorgeous Blue Brown pigment from MAC. It is full of duochromey goodness with a two-in-one colour effect that you can apply & blend, adding more dimension while cutting out on application time.

So this lip colour is probably a bit too muted out, especially as I am not wearing much blush but something like Revlon's Matte lipstick in Smoked Peach may have been more suited to add a bit more colour to the lips.

Face | Rimmel Wake Me Up + Bourjois Healthy Mix, Rimmel Stay Matte, Nars Laguna, MAC Lightscapade, MAC Pink Swoon
Eyes | Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Blue Brown pigment, Urban Decay Naked 1 Naked {blending}, Virgin {Highlight}, Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner, Maybelline The Falsies, Vau Beauty lashes , Nyx Eyebrow Cake Powder
Lips | MAC Myth lipstick

So I've kept it pretty simple this time with only a couple of eyeshadows & nude lips & barely there cheeks... what would you pair this Blue Brown pigment with?

Thanks for looking as always
xx

Youtube Inspiration #4: Sharon Farrell

Another inspiration of mine on Youtube is Sharon Farrell. I've only just discovered her in the last couple of months but she has a nice variety of tutorials, from Beauty Icons, Celebrities, basic makeup tutorials & improvised tutorials that she makes up on the spot. This one day I decided to try her Teal & Gold Peacock Eyes , well this is actually again my second attempt, as I had (again) forgotten exactly how she had done it the first time! She used some amazing MAC eyeshadows in hers so I had to try and match it as well as I could! Where I've listed what I used I added her products (next to them).

Face | Rimmel Wake Me Up + Stay Matte powder, NARS Laguna, MAC Lightscapade, Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso
Eyes | Chi Chi pencil eyeliner in Caribbean Queen [as a base, ended up creasing a bit] (MAC Minted)
 Makeup Geek e/s Mermaid [1: Lid] (MAC Steamy)
Bh Cosmetics Day & Night palette [2: Crease, lower lash line] (MAC Tilt)
Skin tone colour from same palette. [Blending]
Day & Night dark blue mixed with MAC Contrast [3: Outer V] (Deep Truth)
Sleek Storm palette, Gold [4: inner lash line top & bottom] (MAC Woodwinked)
Black E/S pressed as eyeliner, E/S #2 over the top for blue eyeliner.
Shimmery White [Highlight]
Maybelline The Falsies Flared
Lips | Maybelline Coral Crush (No idea why I chose it, but I like it with the eyes anyway)

Sharon's look. I wish my blues turned out as vibrant as hers, but I think it still looks ok! Now I really want  need Steamy & Deep Truth.

If you would like to, check out Sharon's Youtube channel here. She seems like such a lovely lady & she is an Irish girl living in Sydney, hence her accent!

Thanks for reading another Youtube Inspiration post, stay tuned for more!
xx

Make Me Blush | Collection Part 1: Drugstore

So I've done my lipstick collection and that was over 5 parts sorted by their colours, now I'm doing my blush collection. I was actually going to do my nail polish collection first but that one will probably take the longest so I might leave that one till last. Not that I plan on doing it on absolutely every type of product you can have, I want to do the ones that I seem to collect haha such as lipstick, blush, nail polish, perfume & maybe eyeliners, but we'll see as I go along.

I have decided to break this up into 2 parts, Drugstore & High End. I definitely have a lot more drugstore blushes as obviously they are cheaper so I don't feel as bad to have multiple colours by the same brands. It would be way to hard to go by colour, and I was going to go by brand but since I only have a few of some brands & more of the others I thought it would be easier to group like this.
Some of the swatch pictures have been enhanced the tiniest bit with contrast as my camera washed out the colour, and the top pictures are natural light & the bottom are with flash.

Milani & Jordana

 L-R: Fantasico Mauve {satin}, Coralina {shimmer}, Dolce Pink {shimmer}, Luminoso {shimmery/satin}.

Jordana blushes can also be purchased from Cherry Culture & Beauty Joint and they have the hugest range. I am really happy with my colour selection although Redwood is the least used as it is easy to go overboard and look tooo flushed. They are so pigmented & are only $2.50!!!

 L-R: Redwood {matte}, A Touch Of Pink {matte}, Coral Sandy Beach {shimmer}.

 E.L.F

E.L.F can be bought from Beauty Joint & IKatehouse (only some products). I much prefer their studio line from their $1 one (more $ when bought in Aus, big surprise there!). I do not use their powder blushes too frequently but they're pigmented for $4 (note the similarities in packaging to NARS) but love the HD Blush as a base or on it's own. The shimmering facial whips' are ok but a bit too shimmery for my tastes, especially Golden Peach which I thought was going to be more of a highlighter colour but I find it too bronzy to wear as a blush or highlighter. For $1 who cares I'm sure friends or family wouldn't mind it!

L-R: Pink Passion {glitter}, Peachykeen {matte}, Headliner {liquid, matte}, Pink Lemonade, Golden Peach {disco-ball-like shimmer}

Nyx
Nyx is the first brand I started collecting when I was getting into makeup because I found a really good seller on Ebay who sells them in "bulk" so I could get multiple colours for a really good price. Has any body depotted their Nyx blushes or eyeshadows, I haven't depotted anything before and want to know if it's easy with these!

The cream blushes look nasty so sorry about that!

Their powder blushes can bit a hit or miss but I find these ones quite pigmented, especially with Pinky & Spice so you may want to have a lighter hand especially with such a bright pink! Angel would be a perfect summery colour & Peach is a misleading name as it pulls more baby pink than peach. They are $6 on Cherry Culture but if you want to get a few definitely look at the eBay seller I linked above.

 L-R: Angel {shimmer},Peach {satin}, Pinky {satin}, Spice {satin}

 Nyx's Rouge Cream blushes ($6 on Cherry Culture) are perfect as a base for other blushes but they go not last well on their own, but you can just apply translucent powder if you are happy with their colour. I used to use Natural & Glow with a stippling brush which made the product in the pan look horrible but now I prefer my fingers. I need to use Hot Pink & Orange more!! Except you need an extremely light hand! I also love the Stick blushes as bases but same goes as the cream blushes.

L-R: Natural, Glow, Hot Pink, Orange {all creme}, Orchid & Tulip {stick}

Bourjois & Assorted 

 I've found that after a few uses with the Bourjois blushes they can become dry & pigmented, so I have to scrape the top of occasionally as it develops a film on top. I had stopped using my older ones for a while because of this & found when I had gotten rid of that film they were pigmented again! They also have a lovely rose smell. The scrapping doesn't bother me as they will last forever!
I apologize that Bourjois may not be available to you but there are plenty of substitutions out there!
The Essence mousse blush from their Ballerina Backstage collection was LE & it's not something I reach for too often as it is quite matte so it would be good for oily skin, but if I do wear it I pair it with MAC's Pink Swoon.
I've posted about the L.A Girl Blushes before & don't have anything new to say, I think I will be finding a new home for them as I have similar colours already and they are nothing too special.

 L-R: Bourjois 16 Rose Coup De Foudre {Shimmer}, 34 Rose D'or {shimmer}, 54 Rose Frisson {satin}, Essence Prima Ballerina {mousse}, LA Girl Just Pinched {matte}, LA Girl Nectar {satin}

 I'm not sure if you can get this Revlon blush from I believe their A Floral Affair collection ( probably discontinued years ago) but I had found this in a dump bin & it was one of the first blushes I had so as you can see I don't use it enough.

This Fyrinnae blush is a loose powder and because it is such an extremely bright red colour it is so hard to use without applying waay too much! I dip my brush in it a little bit and tap off the excess & also onto my hand and it is still sometimes too bright, so for this reason I haven't given it enough love for the couple of years that I've had it, but don't want to throw it out!

L-R: Revlon Hushed blush in A Floral Affair (Peach side, pink, & highlighter side all swatched separately, and then together although I would only use the highlighter separately) {Shimmer}, Fyriannae Powder blush in Intrigue (Not on their website anymore, Sorry!!!) {matte}

Alrighty so that ended up being a bit more of a review then anticipated, but that's never a bad thing, right? Sorry that there is way to much to read but I appreciate if you just look at the swatches too :)

So I have waay too many blushes that are similar & I clearly don't really need any more but it's going to be hard to downsize. I can't pick any fave blushes but my fave formulas would have to be with the Milani Baked blushes and the Nyx powder, cream & stick blushes.

I will be posting my High end blush collection soon so stay tuned!

Whats your favourite drugstore brand for blushes?

xx

First Impressions | Michael Todd True Organics for Dry Skin

When I saw Michael Todd products on Ozsale a couple of months back, I knew I had to try them after seeing many videos from my favourite beauty guru's as of late. So I was trying to go back through the videos and find the products that were most raved about, but instead of trying to work out what I wanted to try, I thought I would go with a Discovery Kit to sample each type of product that can used in a routine, and I also bought an extra item that I liked the sound of.

About the brand...
 Michael Todd is a certified vegan brand created by the founder who set out to create his own product line using as many organic ingredients as possible without unnecessary added water & unhealthy chemicals after finding out how many brands that proclaimed to be organic had included harmful parabens, sulfates etc and also had water as the main ingredient, so the products would go further but also be diluted down.
Each product of his has on the back a percentage of how organic the ingredients in each one are, ranging from 70-96% from the ones that I have so you know what you're using is kind on your skin and to the environment.

The Discovery Kits they have available are for anti-aging, acne or oily skin, dry & normal/ combination. I always thought I had dry skin without the flakiness, but now I think it's more dehydrated- normal, so I went for the dry skin discovery kit.
Skincare products that cater for dry skin are also targeted for mature skin, which I obviously do not have as of yet, so while these products may be described for preventing anti-aging, environmental damage & helping to firm skin, they will be beneficial in the long run because prevention is easier than a cure.
I have been using these products for a couple of weeks now so here are my opinions on them.

 Skin Defender Cream Facial Cleanser
They say: "Alpha Hydroxy Acid eases away the appearance of fine lines, blotches and discolouration while Organic Green Tea & Extracts of Lemons and Oranges help fight environmental stressors for more vibrant, even-toned radiant looking skin"
I say: This is a really thick cream cleanser which is better for dryer skin as it wont strip the skin of natural oils like foamy cleansers can do. It's so thick that I have to sit it upside down so the product comes to the opening to grab the product out with my finger as the plastic is too hard to squeeze. It has a slight chemically-citrus smell & makes my skin feel squeaky clean but a little bit tight. This was effective of washing makeup off without removing it first (I always do with a wipe) with two cleanses, and I was able to use this on my eyes as long as I didn't push it up into my eyes accidentally, although it may not be the most delicate for the skin around the eyes.

Cranberry Antiox Hydrating Anti-Aging Toner
They Say: "Cleans & restores the skin's proper pH without the drying effects of alcohol. Cranberry & Antioxidant Vitamins help fight bacteria and environmental damage. Leaves skin feeling cool & refreshed."
I Say: I stopped using toners years ago when I found out they were doing more harm than good with most having very drying properties. I use this in the mornings after cleansing with cool water only to remove any dirt or moisturizer residue from the night before, & haven't noticed any tightness but a very refreshing feeling. I don't find it necessary to use absolutely everyday but overtime the ingredients in this will help prevent environmental damage & signs of aging which is bound to appear one day.

Citrus Cream Moisturizer with DMAE & hyaluronic acid
They Say: "Light, soothing hydrating cream moisturizer infused with essential oils of sweet and mandarin orange, tangerine, lemon & lime. DMAE firms skin & improves fine lines & wrinkles. Hyaluronic Acid attracts moisture to the skin restoring the skin's optimal moisture balance"
I Say: I've found this to be a good day cream as it is light but still fairly thick & it absorbs into the skin fairly quickly, being ideal for under makeup. It contains the same main ingredient as my Mario Badescu Hyaluronic moisturizer so the moisture after cleansing is locked into the surface of the skin so it cannot be evaporated. It has the same refreshing smell as the cleanser & helps remove any feelings of tightness.

Cleanser, toned & moisturizer

 Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant Scrub
They Say: "Naturally fruity refreshing skin treatment that uses the power of Papaya and Pineapple Enzymes as a mild non-irritating exfoliant to remove dead skin, impurities & toxins without irritation caused by scrubbing. Exfoliates, moisturizes & firms, improves elasticity and pliabilty of the skin, unclogs pores allowing skin to breathe and facilitates movement of skin oils. Gently refines skin texture and encourages skin renewal."
I Say: This is a very gentle scrub that leaves my skin so smooth. I find it good to use twice weekly after cleansing but before toner & moisturizer. It is quite thick so you have to make sure to add a little bit of warm water with the product and to only go over the skin lightly as you don't want to overwork the skin, although the granules are small and not harsh, the enzymes in the product would be strong. Another pleasant tropical smell which makes me look forward to using this exfoliant.

Pearl & Silk Facial Mask.
They Say: "Apply a thin layer over face & neck and leave for 10-15 minutes & rinse. Hydrating masks made with glycerin are great for dry skin by moisturizing while they unblock pores and exfoliate dead skin cells. Follow with toner & moisturizer, keeps skin glowing year round"
I Say: This mask dries quickly and leaves a super tight feeling which is just bearable until I rinse it off with cool water where it goes back to normal, leaving my skin feeling ultra smooth & silky. After 10 minutes I noticed some redness on my right cheek and after removing it,I also had some marks on my forehead but I think it is just because it was getting the blood circulating. Once I finished off with moisturizer my skin felt clean & had a nice glow to it, but I wouldn't need to use this more than once a week. I also prefer masks that feel more hydrating when you're wearing them.

  

Hydration Boost Facial Serum

They Say: "Concentrated hydrating serum infused with Neem and other essential oils to restore the skin’s optimal moisture balance. Penetrates quickly to soothe and add moisture back to dry, dehydrated and irritated skin. Hyaluronic Acid helps strengthen skin’s moisture barrier and lock in moisture for healthy, supple skin. Skin is left feeling moist, smooth and younger looking all day."

I Say: To save some time I dot a tiny amount on the main points of my face and then dab on my moisturizer & smooth them in together, or you could apply it on it's own if you wish. The formula is quite runny so if I get a bit too much product I smooth it upwards on my neck. I love the added hydrated feeling.

 Overall I am really happy with these Michael Todd products, when I run out of the samples I would be happy to repurchase the toner, moisturizer & scrub in full size because they are my favourites from the kit and I would also repurchase the serum.
You can have a look & buy from the Michael Todd website, and they offer international shipping and the website is easy to navigate. The products from this kit range from $18- $34 for their full size depending on which one you get, which I believe is a reasonable price for some one with a mid to higher budget, especially when you know you're getting good quality products.

Have you tried anything from the Michael Todd True Organics range?
xx

All products bought with my own money, Not affiliated with the brand & this is not a sponsored review, all opinions are my own.