Favourites | Beauty Bits

Clockwise from top left: Charles Worthington Salon at Home Texturising Spray, Stile Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner, Savvy Matte Lip Colour in Lights...Camera, Maybelline The Rocket Mascara, Face of Australia Contour Kit, NYX Eyebrow Brush, Urban Decay Naked Palette

Hi lovelies! So I thought I'd do a quick post about the beauty bits I have been loving using lately. Whilst there aren't many new bits, they are all things I've been doing everyday recently. 

Monthly Round-Up | August

Eat and Drink

Plum Tucker, Red Hill

Its been a while since Jess and I have shared a day off together and this August (much like last August) we took advantage of our state's show holiday. We stumbled across Plum Tucker in Red Hill after finding our desired destination in Paddington over booked. This cafe was pleasantly surprising for both of us. I had a delicious interpretation of Báhn mì with their outstanding home made chicken pâté. Jess also enjoyed a delicious lunch of avocado, pumpkin smash and haloumi on sourdough. 

If either of us are in the Red Hill area again and are looking for a delicious meal I doubt we'd hesitate at where to go. Great service combined with high quality, yet affordable meals, is always a winner. 

Nails | Maybelline Forever Strong Gel Nail Colour

It is no secret that when Priceline puts on a good sale, I rock up with bells on and my wallet at the ready. The last week or so has seen all Maybelline New York products at half-price and I picked up quite a few goodies. Included in my haul were these three shades from the new (to Australia) Forever Strong range. With the discount applied these babies came down to less than $4 (normally $8) which my impulse-buying self thought (and still think) is a great bargain. 

Review | Aēsop Tea Tree Leaf Facial Exfoliant

It has been a life long mantra of mine that we keep our skin for life and should therefore treat it with the utmost respect. During my childhood and teenage years my parents and I put a lot of effort into minimising the effects my moderate but persistent acne would have on my skin. I still to this day have no problem in investing in more expensive skin products if I believe they will benefit my skin. Aēsop isn't the cheapest of skincare brands but I have a lot of respect for the amazing products they produce all with a heavy emphasis on natural ingredients. Occasionally, I will splurge and purchase from their line; normally when I'm feeling like a good old fashioned bit of retail therapy. 

I had recently tried their Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste in a sample (oh, how I adore their sample generosity) and was considering purchasing that. The ever-helpful staff member did a comparison on my hands of both of these products and I ended up preferring the Tea Tree Leaf Facial Exfoliant.  

The consistency is a fine light grey powder that smells just as a powder made mainly from tea tree should; like tea tree. It was suggested that I use an Aēsop gel cleanser but, as she could tell I was on a budget, said that it was only essential that the cleanser was a gel formula and the brand was irrelevant. I have been tapping a small amount (about the size of a five cent piece) into my hand, pumping my usual quantity of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser on top and adding a few drops of water. When you combine these products in your hands they form an extremely clarifying exfoliating paste (there is a full demonstration on if you click the link to the product).

I think the value of this product far exceeds that of the Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste simply because you need a lot less of the powder to combine with a cleanser. I have also found that the intensity of the exfoliation is more suited to my skin type. 

If you don't mind the $40 price tag then I would highly recommend trying this product as a weekly exfoliator. I wear full coverage makeup everyday and am surrounded by coffee grounds and cocoa in the air - a natural but clarifying exfoliant is exactly what my skin needs. If you're not sure but have an interest in any Aēsop product, the staff are super helpful, knowledgable and incredibly generous with samples and demonstrations - never be afraid to ask when you're unsure.

Happy Wednesday!

Erin xx

Review | Lime Crime Velveteen in 'Pink Velvet'

 Lime Crime Velvetine in 'Pink Velvet'

Hi lovelies! Recently I picked up the new shade from Lime Crime's Velveteen Range. I've really enjoyed the other two shades from the range and wanted to see if the new shade matched my expectations.

About Face | Satin Taupe

Hi lovelies! Back when I first became interested in the whole beauty side of things, all that anyone could talk about was Mac. Now my skin is extremely sensitive and does not get along at all well with their skin products, however over the years I have built up a stash of eyeshadows. And lipsticks, but I think it's more than a stash of those. 

Review | NYX Highlight & Contour Duo

Hi lovelies! So today is a review of a new NYX product that I have been testing out over the past couple of weeks. You may remember from this review that NYX have recently launched in Target stores Australia wide, so I have been keen to test out the range. 

About Face | The 5 Product Face

Hi lovelies! I am a big lover of music festivals. Recently this has been my go-to face to last through the long and sweaty days. Personally I can't think of much worse than sitting in a camping chair trying to apply my usual routine with a tiny compact mirror. For festival days (and nights) I opt for a five product face that only uses one brush. 

Review | NYX Matte Lipsticks

 NYX Matte Lipsticks (From L to R) in Merlot, Shocking Pink, Alabama and Indie Flick

Hi lovelies! Another day, another lipstick review. I have resigned myself to a complete lack of control whenever the words matte and lipstick are combined. A website I used to shop on quite frequently was Cherry Culture, and when they sent me a code for 20% off my purchase, I couldn't resist.  

They stock a myriad of American drugstore beauty brands including Jordana, Milani and most excitingly NYX. Target have also recently started stocking the brand so for immediate gratification purposes I would head there. 

I picked up four shades from the Matte Lipstick range. I have heard many postive reviews for these lipsticks over the years and I'm glad to say that they live up to their reputation. Whilst they aren't quite as matte as my favourite Illamasqua or Mac formulas these are very similar in finish to the Kate Moss for Rimmel Matte Lipsticks. I find them very creamy and comfortable to wear, with a good lasting time of around 4 - 5 hours. 

I'm so pleased that NYX is now stocked in stores as I will be able to get a more accurate idea of the shade range. Swatches of these lipsticks can take a bit of searching and the swatches on Cherry Culture are not the most accurate. Hence why I ended up with two shades (Alabama and Merlot) that are very similar. I do wear shades like this a lot during the cooler months however so they wont be going to waste. 

My favourite picks were definitely Indie Flick and Shocking Pink. A vibrant orange-red Indie Flick definitely reminds me of So Chaud by Mac. And Shocking Pink is a great blue-based pink that is almost neon. 

I highly recommend checking out these lipsticks in person as for the price the quality is fantastic. 

NYX Matte lipsticks are available online at Cherry Culture or at selected Targets for $12.95. For a full list of NYX stockists in Australia check out this wonderful graph from Tried and Tested. 

Will you be picking up any of the shades?

Jess xx

Review | Australis Velour Lips

 From L to R: Australis Velour Lips in 'MA-LI-BOO' and 'TO-KI-O'

 Hi lovelies! It's barely a week into November and what was the first beauty product I bought? Lipsticks! Two in fact. Despite the ludicrous number of lipsticks I own there was definitely room for these two.

They are the latest release from Australis called Velour Lips. Claiming to be a long-wearing, highly pigmented, matte lip colour of course I was interested. I managed to track down these two colours and after some testing here are my thoughts. 

Seasonals | Bright and Bold

From L to R: Mac 'So Chaud', Revlon ColourBurst Lipstick 'Fuchsia', Illamasqua 'Scandal'

Hi lovelies! Today I have hijacked Erin's Seasonals series to chat about my favourite lipsticks for summer. It gets face-meltingly hot in Brisbane over the summer and my day to day makeup is reduced to eyebrows, lashes and a bright lip colour. If it isn't a bold colour chances are I won't be interested.

Review | Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick vs Shadow Paint

 Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick in Bulletproof Beige, Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint in Golden Bronze

Hi lovelies! It's been awhile since my last beauty review. With the change in seasons my skin has not been too happy with me, so I have been sticking to mascara and concealer for the most part. To make up for the lack of beauty on the blog I am back with a double review on some new releases from Rimmel.

These have been out in the UK for quite awhile now, but are just now making it into Pricelines in Australia. For any of you who are tossing up between the two I though I would give you a quick rundown on the differences. 

Colour: Day to day I stick to neutral colours on my eyes. I picked up the most neutral in both lines. My one gripe with both products is that the shade range is very limited and features some very out there colours. Hopefully Rimmel will expand the shade selection in the future. 

Bulletproof Beige is very subtle on my eyelids as it is nearly the same shade as my skin. For this reason I prefer to use it as a base for powder eyeshadows, rather than on its own. 

Golden Bronze is a beautiful warm gold. It catches the light beautifully and lately I have been wearing on its own blended all over the lid. 

Application: Here is where the two products are very different. Bulletproof Beige is a chunky pencil which unfortunately is not self-sharpening. Once applied to the eye there is a short window of time to blend the product after which it sets. 

Golden Bronze is a housed in a tube with a doe-foot applicator. This leaves a really thick layer of product that needs to be blended out very quickly before it sets. It took a bit of getting used to as the product dries very quickly, but once you've got the knack of it it becomes very quick and easy. 

Staying Power: I think everyone wants their eyeshadow to stick around, and these two products are definitely great for that. As I mentioned I use Bulletproof Beige predominantly as an eyeshadow base, and I find it definitely extends the wear of my eyeshadow and liner. 

I haven't had any issues with Golden Bronze either and on its own there is no creasing or shifting throughout the day. 

Personally I prefer the colour and ease of Golden Bronze so if I had to pick just one of these products then it would be the Shadow Paint. 

If you fancy either of these products for yourself you can find them at Pricelines Australia wide. Otherwise they're currently on sale on Asos! 

What are your current eyeshadow favourites?

Jess xx

Review | Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquers (L-R) in Galaxy, Phenomenon, Stellar

Hi lovelies! So this is a bit of a first for us, but today we'll both be giving you our thoughts on the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquers. If you live in the UK then we're miles behind the times, but it takes a while for new products to work their way onto Australian shelves. Erin and I definitely enable each other when it comes to shopping so often we end up with the same products. We thought it'd be good to get two opinions on the one product. 

Erin: When Jess and I stumbled across these in our favourite Priceline a few weeks back I think we both fell a little in love. My love however was a little misguided as I selected a slightly awkward nude colour, Phenomenon. I loved the colour on the back of my hand but had no idea how it would appear on my face. My first application was too thick and I was instantly sad and slightly unimpressed with my impulsive purchase. 

However, after a few days of fiddling and colour mixing I discovered that a much lighter coverage was needed for a wearable look. It is also really lovely mixed with Rimmel's Lasting Finish lipstick in 103 for a muted but glossy nude. 

Considering my initial disappointment with the product it is quite humorous to think that I would go and buy another. Yet when it popped up on ASOS I couldn't resist and purchased it in a colour much easier to wear, Galaxy. 

Jess: Now it's no secret that I love a bright lip. So when I was tossing up between the shades Stellar leapt out at me. It's one of the strange shades that isn't quite coral and not quite red, but I love it. 

I also generally like my lip products matte. I knew what I was getting into with this product, but it was on special and I figured why not. I love the overall consistency and think it's a great product. That being said I wouldn't reach for this product over my matte lipsticks. 

I prefer being able to swipe on a lipstick and forget it's there. With this product I find myself needing to touch up more frequently and it's much easier to smudge. Like I said I think the product is fantastic quality, especially for the price it just isn't my cup of tea.

So a hit for Erin but a miss for me. Guess it shows how different people have different tastes. To sum up great product but make sure you pick the right colour and like a glossy finish.

Rimmel Apocalips can be bought from Pricelines or on ASOS with free shipping. 

Jess and Erin xx

Review | Himalayan Sea Salt Soap

A while back I did a tiny haul post of completely unnecessary luxury items. I have since discovered they are totally necessary in my life and I don't want to live without them. In particular, this bar of soap made from Himalayan sea salt. I hadn't even taken off the plastic packaging in this photo and I am now contemplating my second purchase of this miracle cleansing and exfoliating product. 

About Face | Number 5

Hi lovelies! In my last post I mentioned how I have been obsessed with my new Illamasqua Blush Duo in Beg/Bronzerella. I figured a post on how I wear it was in order. You can check out my review here for a close up view of the blushes, but for now... on with the makeup. 

Lately I have giving foundation a miss. Particularly when wearing heavier eye makeup I like keeping my skin fresh and clean. Just a swipe of concealer under the eyes and I'm good to go. 

It's always hard to show blusher in photographs however I'm wearing Beg from the duo and my usual Smashbox bronzer. As I mentioned in the review it's easy to go overboard with this blusher, proceed with caution unless you want to be sat blending for five minutes ...guilty. 

Mid-Monthly Loves

I have been intending to do a monthly favourites post for what feels like a year and a day now. However every time the start of the month rolls around I seem to get distracted and I don't remember until the middle of the month. Today I just decided that the fact that it was the middle of March didn't matter I was doing a favourites post. 

Beauty Buys

I'm headed off to the beach today, but before I left I thought I'd share my recent beauty purchases with you all. 

Head and Shoulders Sensitive Scalp Care Shampoo and Conditioner
I don't suffer from dandruff, however my skin is liable to react to anything and everything. I thought I'd share this hair combo with you because this is the first shampoo and conditioner my scalp is able to tolerate. For any sensitive skinned girls out there I'd really recommend giving this one a go, and it won't break the bank either. Besides being very gentle the conditioner is very thick and works a treat at moisturising my blonde hair. 

Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
Although 'precision ink' is really just a fancy term for liquid eyeliner, this is a fantastic product. I am no stranger to liquid eyeliner, wearing it on a very nearly everyday basis. I've always been a big advocate of the L'Oreal Super Liner, but was always annoyed that it tended to get a bit flaky at the end of a long day. This liner checks all the boxes: it's easy to apply when half-asleep in the morning, super black, and doesn't budge. Also with Illamasqua reducing their prices in Australia there isn't a big price gap in between the L'Oreal and this anymore. 

Sleek Lipstick in Amped
This is a properly nice lipstick. I never thought I would be a huge fan of such a cool pink on my skintone, but I love how this looks and have worn it regularly since its arrival. That's why I purchased a cheaper alternative to give the colour a test. The quality of the product surprised me though. Sleek's matte formula is up there with the likes of Illamasqua and MAC, pigmented and very long wearing. Although Sleek can be a bit difficult to get your hands on in Australia, their website ships internationally and their shipping rates are really reasonable. 

Australis Double Decker Eyeshadow in Supernova Casanova
I picked this last one up on a whim when it was on offer in Priceline. I love copper eyeshadows and thought this would be great for a sparkly bronze-y eye. The concept of this product is that they give you a cream eyeshadow to use as a base and then a pigment to press over the top. My advice? Just forget about using the cream eyeshadow, it creased on me within 5 minutes. The pigment however is fab. Super sparkly and pretty. As with any loose eyeshadow it's a bit of a fiddle to apply and some glitter will end up on your cheeks. But once that's cleared away you're left with a sparkly eye that wears really well. Loverly. 

What have you been buying beauty wise?

Jess xx

Rebel, Rebel Your Face is a Mess

So I've decided that its about darn time a picture of my face appeared on the blog. I was worried that all I would post were pictures of my disembodied feet.

This is one of my favourite MAC lipsticks and the fact that I got to throw David Bowie into the mix was just an added bonus. 

I am a bright lipstick fiend. In fact, the photo above is pretty much my standard face. Compulsory black liner, mascara and lipstick, easy-peasy. 

I don't tend to have a lot of boundaries when it comes to bold lip colours. I have happily slapped on a black lippy and dashed out the door on more than one occasion. The reason I like this colour so much is that it is dark enough to be vampy but still quite a bright colour. This makes it a worthy addition to my lipstick drawer (yes there's a drawer, I'm aware I have a slight problem). 

MAC lipsticks are pretty pricey in the Land of Oz, but as a brand they are consistently good. The deciding factor in my lipstick purchases is always lasting power as with colours like this any wear is far more obvious. MAC lipsticks have proven themselves time and time again to stick around for a good 8 hours, and this shade stains the lips as well.

An all round winner then is MAC's Rebel. 

What's your go to bold lipstick? 

Jess xx