Everyday Make Up Look - Mini Reviews

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation in Ivory - Before and After

I filmed a little GRWM video on this make up look and I though for my blog I would do some mini reviews of the products I used.

Starting with the foundation I used Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation in Ivory. This foundation has more of a dewy finish than the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation. It also has less coverage and this colour is quite yellow, but because it isn't full coverage it doesn't end up looking too yellow on my skin. I like the finish that this gives to my skin but it doesn't last very well with my oily skin. It is definitely a foundation that needs powder.

Under my eyes I used the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in fair. This concealer is ok. The colour isn't perfect for me, it is quite pink toned and light so if I use too much I look a little crazy. I also find it settles into the creases under my eyes.

I used Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in 1C light to conceal my many blemishes. I really like this concealer, it covers well, lasts really long on my skin. If I'm being lazy and don't want to wear foundation I will use this alone. The colour matches my skin really well.

For powder I used the Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder in Translucent. I picked this powder up while I was in the UK. I haven't really used it long enough to have a clear opinion on it but it does the job. I can't say it has wowed me but it also hasn't disappointed.

I used the Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze to bronze up my skin. This is really great pale girl bronzer, its not too pigmented so you can build up the colour instead of going in too strong. Its also a great colour, not too orange and according to the packaging it is waterproof. It also has quite a perfumed smell which I can't say I'm too fond of and I was a little worried the fragrance might break me out, so far it has not. I also used this as eyeshadow in my crease.

On my cheeks I used the Top Shop Cheek and Eye Duo in Bitten Cherry. This is very pigmented and dark. After watching back the video and looking at the pictures I think this is too dark for my pale skin on an everyday look. It would be great for a dark vampy look. I also think I applied it too low down on my cheeks, so that doesn't help. It is a really great colour and I can see it being a lovely eyeshadow.

I used Nars Albatross for my highlight and also as an eyeshadow. I love this product, it is so beautiful. I do think it is possibly a little too much for everyday on my fair skin because it has a very gold reflect and I think something more champagne or peach looks more natural on my skin for everyday. I absolutely love this as an eyeshadow as well.

On my brows I used the Jordana Eyeliner in Taupe. I have used this a long time, it gives a great natural looking brow that is not too warm toned. Also can't go wrong with the price.

For eyeliner I used the Nutrimetics Defining Waterproof Eyeliner in Mahogany. I don't love this product but its not bad. I like that is retractable so I don't have to worry about sharpening, it doesn't smudge or transfer throughout the day. Its not a bad eyeliner but I just don't love it for some reason.

I used a sample of the Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara in Extreme Black. This is an ok mascara. Defiinitely looks better when I curl my lashes, but most mascaras do. It added length and thickness and doesn't smudge through out the day. Overall a good mascara but I don't think its really any better tan a lot of cheaper mascaras I have used.

Finally on my lips I used the Rimmel Provocalips in I'll Call You. The colour is a great muted hot pink, very wearable everyday. The product is good too. Easy to apply, lasts well. It does end up peeling off at the end of the day and does wear off a little in the inner rim from eating. I like to carry a tinted lip balm product with me so if it starts to wear off in the inner rim or is getting a bit dry, I can apply the balm. The tinted colour of a balm helps to blend the apocalips colour with your nude lip colour so it isn't such a stark difference.

Overall most of these products I would recommend. I can't really bash any of the products I used in this GRWM. My favourite product would probably be the Nar Albatross, because it is so pretty and shimmery I could stare at it all day. My least favourite product is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer just because I think the colour I have is a little off on me and it does crease a little.

Here is the video if you would like to watch.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation Review

I think the best way to start off a foundation review is to tell you a little bit about my skin type. I have combination skin, I get quite oily in my T-Zone, my cheeks are fairly normal and I also have dry patches on my nose and chin. I am also quite prone to breakouts from new products as well as hormones.

I picked up the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in Intensity 1 while I was away on holiday in the UK. I had heard great thigs about the longevity of the regular Double Wear foundation but I wanted something lighter and more natural looking for everyday wear. I was colour matched at Selfridges in London, I first though I would be the lightest colour, which is intensity 0.5, but this was a very yellow based colour and did not match me well. Intensity 1 has more of a pink undertone which I generally am not too keen on but this colour matched me well in store. After wearing the foundation a few times, although the colour matches my face very well, I wish there had been a more neutral colour between Intensity 0.5 and Intensity 1 to match my body a little better because my body has a slightly warmer colouring than my face. But this problem is easily fixed with a little bit of bronzer.

In the pictures below, the first picture is my bare face with no products. The second picture is with only the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation on and the third photo is with a full face of make up.

Before and After Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Intensity 1

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light claims to wear for 15 hours, I have not worn the foundation for 15 hours but I have for a full 12 hour day and it hold up very well. I have no issues with the foundation breaking up or rubbing off. I sometimes lose some foundation from around my nose but this is only if I have been frequently blowing my nose.

The foundation also claims to control oil and resist smudging. I definitely agree with this statement. I often have problems with other foundations rubbing off onto the collars of black jackets but this foundation has not done so. As for oil control it does the job well. With a non oil controlling foundation my face will be shiny with oil within an hour or two, with this foundation I don't even need to powder and I am left oil free for at least 6 hours and even then I do not look greasy but my skin has a healthy glow and is no longer matte.

This foundation does not feel heavy on the skin but I feel as though you can tell you are wearing foundation from the look of it. This may be just because it has such a matte finish that it does not look skin like. This is not a problem for me because I like to be able to add shine in the areas I want it.

Applying the foundation is fairly easy, I choose to use a Real Techniques Buffing Brush to apply mine because I don't like using my fingers. If you are having trouble blending this foundation, try applying it with your fingers because the warmth of your hands helps it to blend seamlessly into all areas of your face. I do find if I am not careful when applying, the foundation can exaggerate some of my larger pores around my nose. Also once the foundation sets it can grab on to dry patches, for me this was only an issue when I had a healing spot that meant flaky skin.

With Flash

I do find the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation is not the best with flash photography, most likely because it has an SPF of 10. It doesn't look too bad in this flash photo but I have had worse photos also. I find that you can counter the flashback look by useing bronzer and blush to give your face shape and leave the centre of your face bright. I wouldn't recommend this photo for occassions with flash photography but I also wouldn't avoid flash photos if I was wearing it. That doesn't really make sense but I'm trying to say the flash back is not that bad but if you knew there were to be a lot of flash photos, maybe avoid this foundation.









On the rest of my face, I used some Maybelline Fit Me concealer in the colour 15 Fair under my eyes and Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in the shade 1C Light on my blemishes. I used Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent to set under my eyes and on my lids. I used Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 022 Sun Bronze around the perimeter of my face and under my cheekbones, I also put a little bit of the same bronzer into the crease of my eye. I used the Top Shop Cheek and Eye Duo in Bitten Cherry on my cheeks. I used Jordana Eyeliner in 20 Taupe to fill in my eyebrows,  Nutrimetics Defining Waterproof Eye Pencil in Charcoal in my tightline and Rimmel Wonder'full mascara with Argan Oil in Extreme Black on my lashes. On my lips I used Nutrimetics Perfecting Lip Pencil in Nude and Collection Work the Colour Lip Butter in Vintage Rose. Finally I finished with a dusting of Nars Albatross on my cheek bones, brow bones and nose.

Overall I would recommend this foundation to anyone that has oily skin and struggles to keep their make-up looking good all day. This foundation lasts all day for me without powder, if its really hot or I know its going to be a long day I will powder for extra protection. It does not break me out which is wonderful. Its not ridiculously expensive at $69 although I would recommend trying a sample before committing to spend that much money. It feels weightless to wear and is easy to forget that it is on at all. This foundation is not full coverage but you can build the coverage by adding a second layer, although i fell like this is when it starts to look less natural on the skin. I prefer to do one layer and then pin point conceal the areas that are still showing through.

I feel like this review was all over the place, if I missed anything or you have any questions, please comment below.

Dove Summer Glow Review

I had been feeling a little bit pale recently so I decided it was time for a bit of false tan. I've never been in to tanning so I was a little bit nervous to go straight into a proper tanning lotion or mousse. I thought I would start off with a tanning moisturiser because, to me, it seemed a little more foolproof and I could definitely do with the extra moisture.

I have in used the Dove Summer Glow moisturiser in the past but I used the one for light skin and I found that the effect was quite subtle and I felt as though I had washed it off before I could build up the colour to my desired darkness. This time I decided to grab the one for medium to dark skin and hoped for the best.

Dove Summer Glow Before and After
Bikini top is from Bravissimo

The bottle says it is best applied after a shower, so I did. I didn't exfoliate because I'm lazy, I was a
little bit worried that because of this the tan might cling to my dry patches but luckily I didn't have this problem. I did shave my legs and underarms in the shower and I didn't get any stinging when apply the Dove Summer Glow. I found it a little difficult to get out of the bottle especially whem having to squeeze it with my left hand. It would definitely be easier if there was a pump, and I do feel as though as I use more of the moisturiser it is going to be very difficult to get the last of the product out of the bottle.

Streaking on leg

I had some streaking on my legs, I think this was because I used too much product and did not rub it in well enough. I found that on my more pale areas any streaking was more obvious and the tan also looked less natural. I did get some staining on my hands and nails, I would suggest making sure to wash your hands thoroughly after application especially under the nails.

I applied a small amount of the moisturiser to my face and I didn't have any problems with breaking out from the product. I found this quite surprising because my face breaks out almost every time I use a new product.

The colour is a little more orange toned than I would like although I feel it would look more natural on a medium to dark skin tone as the product is made for. Personally I would apply this moisturiser to my full body once a week, possible twice a week to my legs and more pale areas if I was going to be in a bikini. The moisturiser did a great job at blurring my tan lines which I love.

Dove Summer Glow Medium to Dark Skin

The moisturiser smells quite pleasant when applying but I did find that once it had dried it did have that fake tan smell. It also dried to quite a sticky finish, I applied it at night and by the morning it was no longer sticky but did smell of fake tan. I would not recommend applying this moisturiser to your whole body in the morning and then going out to work, because it has a fake tan smell and it feels as though you have something that needs to be washed off on the skin. It may be ok if you were just applying to your legs. I would suggest applying at night and washing off in the morning.

When I showered the next day I used a moisturising body wash to wash myself and dried myself with a white towel to see if any colour came off. There was a little bit of colour transfer to the towel but not a lot. The tan stayed on my skin well after the shower. The Dove Summer Glow moisturiser left my skin feeling soft and moisturised after I washed off the sticky layer.

Overall I am very pleased with this product, It gave me an instant glow because I am a light skin tone and used the medium to dark moisturiser. If you wanted a more gradual tan I would recommend getting the correct colour for your skintone. This is definitely a great product to have.

Links:
Dove Summer Glow
Bravissimo Bikini

Day 26 - Eyebrow Tinting

It has been quite awhile since I last tinted my eyebrows and I have been spending quite a lot of day make up free recently, so I thought I would tint my brows and show you some photos.

I am aware that that the before photo is blurry but I didn't notice until now and obviously I can't retake it now.

In the first photo is my naked face and natural brows, in the second I have the tint mixture on my brows, in the third photo I have just removed the tint and in the fourth photo I waxed my brows and I applied mascara to show how it looks.

I know my brows my look a little dark but the colour fades in the first couple of days because at first the skin under the hair is also tinted but as you wash your face, the tint comes off your skin and the brows look less dramatic. For this reason I always go a little darker than I think I should but you can experiment and see what works best for you.

If you would like to read how to tint your brows read on.

You want to start by cleansing your brows to remove any oil that will prevent the tint from sticking. I just wipe them with toner.

Next, using a cotton bud and some vaseline, mark off the areas you don't want tinted. Basically outline your brows with vaseline.

You now want to mix up your tinting solution following the directions that come with your product.

Now apply the tint to your brows making sure to rub in both directions so that you get down to the root of the hair.

Next clean up your lines using a cotton bud to wipe off any tinting mixture that is not where you want it.

Now let it develop on your brows for 2 - 3 minutes, then remove with a damp cotton pad. If your brows are not dark enough reapply for another 2 minutes or until desired colour is achieved. I left mine on for about 6-7 minutes. If it is your first time it is better to have to apply a few times than leave it on too long and your brows go too dark. Remember you can always darken but you can not lighten.

Make sure all tint is removed and you are done. You can now go on and shape your brows how you would like.

Day 25 - Nutrimetics Hair Serum Review

Nutrimetics Essentials Hair Serum with Ginger and Virgin Coconut Oil 40 ml for $22.

I would just like to be fair to this product and mention that my hair is extremely dry at the moment because I spent a lot of time in chlorinated water over the weekend, so it is soaking up moisture like crazy.

I will do a little comparison between this and the only other hair serum I've used the Dove Nutri Oil Serum which I reviewed here and before and after photos here.

This serum is a little bit thicker and more gel like. It also is a little bit heavier on my hair and I feel I have to use less to get rid of frizz. I also notice that it takes awhile to absorb in unlike the Dove which is almost instantly absorbed. If I apply a little too much of the serum, it will absorb over night and leave my hair silky the next day.

This serum has a much stronger smell than the Dove which has barely any scent. This serum smells very strongly of Ginger which I guess is because it is one of the main ingredients. You can smell it on your hair.

I think that I prefer this Serum slightly more over the Dove because it is slightly heavier and for my dry hair I feel it does more to repair my hair than the Dove does. I do still like the Dove and if you have already quite good hair and just a few flyaways to tame I would definitely recommend the Dove over this Serum.

If I know I am going to wash my hair the next day or in the evening I will apply a generous amount of the Serum to the length of my hair and braid it, then leave it in throughout the day or overnight. Then when I wash my hair it is nice and healthy.

Because I find this product does absorb into your hair, you don't get a build up of product. On second day hair I will sometimes add an additional pump to smooth any frizz that has appeared over night.

The first photo is my hair air dried overnight and brushed through, the second photo is my hair with two pumps of the serum which is normally enough for my hair but today my hair was so dry I used a third pump which is my hair in the last picture.

Excuse my really bad roots but I am trying to grow out my natural colour.

Day 19 - Nutrimetics Lip Apeel Review

 Today I am doing a review of the Nutrimetic Lip Apeel. It usually costs $32 but is on sale at the moment for $24.90. I recieved this free for selling/buying a certain amount of products.

Here is what Nutrimetics says about the product; "Two-step treatment instantly smooths and plumps the appearance of thin, dry lips. Step one of this innovative treatment gently polishes away dry, rough skin and removes lipstick build-up, while step two plumps fine lines, leaving lips softer, smoother and looking younger."

I have taken before, during and after photos so you can see the results for yourself. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Before I started I thought my lips weren't really that bad, on my naked lips I didn't see a lot of dry skin. I decided to apply a lipstick that accentuates any dry skin, so that it would show up better in a photo. In case you are wondering the lipstick is Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in Honky Tonk.

As said in the quote above, the Nutrimetics Lip Apeel is a two step product. You start with the bottom segment of the jar, which is the white paste. Before I put this on my lips I gently removed excess lipstick with a tissue, I didn't scrub my lips with the tissue because I didn't want it to do the job of the Lip Apeel. I applied a layer of the line peel to my lips then let it dry. Once it was dry I rubbed the majority of the product off my lips with my finger and then removed the rest with a moist cotton pad.

I did feel a slight tingle when using step one.

Step two is called the lip nourisher, it supposed to be a plumping lip balm. It smells like oranges. I applied this to my lips quite generously. This step was a lot more tingly than step one but nothing too bad.

I didn't notice that my lips looked any different after completing the two step process but my lips did feel smoother when I rubbed them together.

Before taking the after photo I dabbed off excess lip nourisher with a tissue then applied the same lipstick that I used in the before photo. I noticed that the lipstick did glide on a lot smoother. I'm not sure if you can tell in the photo but the lipstick still settle a little bit in the lines of my lips but they are a lot smoother than in the before photo.

I didn't notice much plumping, but if you look at the photos it looks to me as though the lines in my lips are deeper in the before photo.

After seeing the photos, this product definitely works. I am not sure whether it is worth its $32 price tag just because I feel as though the same out come could be achieved with a homemade sugar scrub or toothbrush, although I haven't tested this out.

The lip nourisher (step two) itself is a nice balm. They recommend using the balm when needed and the line peel (step one) once a week or so. I feel like this product would last quite a while if you were using it once a week, but if you were using the nourisher more regularly you may run out of it before using up the line peel.

If you can pick this up on sale or you have a problem with chapped lips, or your lipstick not going on smoothly I recommend giving this a try. I haven't seen any similar products before, if you have let me know.

Day 17 - Nutrimetics Dramatic Lash Mascara Review

I finally managed to take some photos of something to post about. Yay me!

I am reviewing the Nutrimetics Dramatic Lash Mascara, I have it in Black.

When I first got the mascara I was surprised by how big the tube was, it looks like a jumbo mascara compared to my others.

The brush is also quite large and spiky. It definitely hurts if you poke yourself in the eye with the brush, I suggest not to do this.

The formula is quite wet at first and then dries up a little after the first few uses. This is not a bad thing though, I feel as though you get more dramatic lashes when the formula thickens up a little bit.

This mascara adds thickness, length and also a little bit of curl on my lashes. You can see this in the before and after pictures on the right.

Once this mascara is dry my lashes are still flexible and the mascara does not flake when you touch them. I also do not notice any of the mascara transfer to my lid throughout the day like I often find with other mascaras.

I apply two coats to my lashes, one to each eye and then go back to apply another coat. You can add more if you want even more dramatic lashes. I don't think my lashes look clumpy but you can judge that for yourself in the photos.

I also think it has quite a good price, especially when you can get it on sale. It is on sale now until the end of February. I have had mine for about three months, I should probably be replacing it soon, but it still works perfectly well.

I sometimes find it a little difficult to remove this mascara with my Simple Eye Make Up Remover but once I wet my face it does come off a lot easier. I don't have to scrub at my eyes to remove the mascara once it is wet.

You can find it in the Nutrimetics February Special E-Brochure on the third page and in the 2014 E-Catalogue on page 11. Regular price is $33, current sale price is $22.90.

What is your favourite mascara?

Day 13 - 50 Facts About Me Tag

Here are 50 facts you probably don't know about me.

1. My favourite colour is orange, note the orange top and orange lipstick in the photo of me. I also quite like yellow.

2. I was born in this house.

3. I am so painfully shy and socially awkward, I give the impression that I hate people.

4. I am addicted to YouTube, I watch at least an hour worth of videos, generally a lot more.

5. I have only had one boyfriend, we have been together 7 years and 6 months.

6. I have never had a proper full time job.

7. I have two accents, one for my family and one for the rest of the country.

8. My middle name is Elizabeth.

9. I don't drive, not because I'm scared of driving, I've just never felt the need to learn.

10. I have only lived in three different cities.

11. I have one brother and one sister.

12. I have never been to a wedding.

13. I have not played a team sport since primary school.

14. I have no tattoos.

15. I have had three cats, but I only have one at the moment. This is Tilly.

16. I am the middle child.

17. I run my own business.

18. I haven't cut my hair in over a year.

19. I have three piercings in my left ear and two in my right.

20. I hate waxing my own legs.

21. I always seem to end up liking most of Miley Cyrus's songs. I am currently always listening to Adore You.

22. I had a curry for lunch today. I go to this restaurant at least once a week.

23. I have never had my own passport.

24. I have my nose pierced.

25. I have studied at the University of Otago, Otago Polytechnic and Wintec.

26. I worked at Mc Donalds for one year, it was delicious.

27. I love Dr Pepper.

28. I hate washing my hair.

29. I have very blonde eyebrows and eyelashes.

30. I had braces. Check out the before and afters.

31. I have my belly button pierced.

32. I worked at New World for about two years.

33. I met my boyfriend working at New World.

34. I like playing Rock Band.

35. I lack motivation and I am a master procrastinator.

36. I have never bought a new phone.

37. I love Walkers Cheese and Onion Crisps.

38. My favourite food is mashed potato and gravy.

39. I haven't left the country since I was 13.

40. I am terrible at making decisions.

41. I don't drink coffee.

42. My eyes are blue.

43. I didn't get my first pet until I was 18, not counting goldfish.

44. I used to be terrible at painting nails.

45. I was born in 1990.

46. I have both regular brown freckles as well as white freckles.

47. I love looking at old photos.

48. I am scared of dogs.

49. I am a Libra.

50. I always break technology.

That was so difficult. I started struggling to think of things at 10. Hope this was interesting.

Day 8 - My go to Face MakeUp

Today's post is all about my go to every day face make up. This is the base for my daytime looks, I start with this base and then add my other makeup depending on how much time I have available.

This base takes me no longer than 5 minutes and looks great finished off with just mascara and lipgloss, maybe some eyebrows if you have fair brows like me.

Lets get into what I do. I start with my morning skincare routine, then I apply Nutrimetics Liquid Cover concealer on to any redness, blemishes or under eye circles and I blend this out very well because the shade I have is a fraction too dark for me at the moment. Next I buff on a layer of Nutrimetics Velvet Finish Mineral Foundation to even out the rest of my skin tone, you may notice in the first photo I have a lot of redness in my skin, I use a yellow toned powder to counter act this. If you have good skin, you may be able to skip the concealer step and just use the powder. And that is all. Simple and easy, two products and one brush is all you need. I used the real techniques buffing brush but you can use your favourite.

From here I add mascara, brows and lip gloss if I am in a rush, or I add more if I have the time. Today I had quite a lot of spare time so I chose to do a little extra, which you can look forward to seeing in a future post.

You can buy the two products I used here in a kit with a kabuki brush. I have tried the kabuki brush and it is not my favourite, it is not as soft as I would like. You can also buy these products separately but I can't find a link.
Edited to add you can purchase Nutrimetics products separately by browsing the online catalogue here.

F.O.T.D. Friday: 3 and a half minute make up

This post is a little different than my usual make up looks, I haven't been wearing a lot of make up lately so I thought I would show you what I do when I'm  rushing to get ready and want to look a little bit more put together.

Before and After

I timed myself when I was doing this and it only took me three and a half minutes. I started by buffing in some Maybelline Dream Matte powder to blur my blemishes, reduce my redness and make sure I'm not looking shiny.

I added a little blush to my cheeks, you could skip this step if you want to or swap it out for bronzer if you prefer.

Next I ran LA Colors clear mascara through my eyebrows to set them in place, sometimes I fill them in but if I'm in a rush I skip it.

I am wearing Maybelline Great Lash Mascara on my lashes which is a great mascara for everyday because it doesn't add too much volume.

I finished with a little gloss on my lips.

This is just my base look. You can add to it if you have extra time. Sometimes I will start with a BB Cream instead of moisturiser, or add some concealer before the powder.

The best way to do a quick make up look is to decide what is most important to you. If you love flawless skin, start by perfecting your skin with concealer and powder then just add mascara, but if you want your eyes to pop, start with your eyes then finish with a dusting of powder and run out the door.

A great way to make your make up look like you put in some effort is to wear a bright or dark lipstick.

No Mirror Make Up

Before and After - No Mirror Make Up

I missed my Manicure Monday this week so I thought I'd do something fun for Whatever Wednesday. I have attempted the no mirror makeup challenge and I filmed the process so you can see that I didn't cheat.

Other than almost poking my eye out, the finished look was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting.

Close Up

I wanted to do a full make up look to really test my blind make up application. I am wearing foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, brow powder and mascara, blush, contour, setting powder and a red lip.

I could have done with a little more coverage over the blemishes on my chin and my eyeliner didn't really line my eye but I think it could be fixed up to be a passable makeup look. Especially if you squint and don't get too close.

This was really fun to do, it was quite exciting not knowing how it would turn out. You should give it a go.

F.O.T.D. Friday: Awake makeup

Somedays I wake up and I am shocked by what I see in the mirror. On this particular day I was feeling a little under the weather and very tired.

I wanted to make myself feel better and look more awake so out came the makeup.

Before and After

On my scary face days, when I want to look my best I always reach for my Revlon Colorstay Foundation. In this picture I am wearing Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Buff with Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in light on top. I am also wearing Rimmel Match Perfection 2 in 1 Concealer and highlighter in Ivory.

On my cheeks I have contoured a little bit with L.A. Colors Pressed Powder in Cocoa. I have a little bit of both colours from my Wendy Hill Cheek Duo in Riviera as my blush. I have also highlighted with shimmery champagne coloured eyeshadow that I also used on my eyes.

On my eyes I have a winged cut crease kind of look. For a closer look at my eyeshadow have a look here in my Revlon Mascara review. I used a champagne shadow all over my lid then used my Rimmel Mono Eyeshadow in Dusk in the crease in a winged shape. Whenever I am feeling tired I always do a winged look on my eyes to make sure they look open and not down turned at the outside. I also have a little liquid liner on my top lash line.

On my lips I am wearing L.A, Colours Lip liner in Pinky and Designer Brands Lip Gloss in Strawberry Sorbet.

Whatever Wednesday: Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara Review

I have been wearing this mascara for a couple of months now and I am really pleased with how it works. I bought mine from a little makeup shop for around $12 and accidentally picked up the Waterproof version.
I have to say that this is not the best waterproof mascara, it is waterproof enough that it is annoying to get every last bit off when removing your makeup but it still smudges when in contact with water. I have the colour blackest black.

Before and After

You can see from the photos that this formula lenthens, thickens and also adds a little curl. If you look at the bottom two phots it looks like my lashes are shorter with the mascara on buyt this is because my lashes have flicked up. I did not curl my lashes in these photos.

As this mascara gets older I have noticed it starts to clump more, but I have had it for at least 2 months, probably longer.

The staying power of this mascara is quite good, although I have noticed flaking. The flaking usually only happens on days that I have found myself touching my eyes. I have also noticed that because it makes my lashes so long and curled that sometimes my lashes hit my brow bone and the mascara smudges onto my brow,which can be quite annoying if you don't notice this until the end of the day.

I believe that this mascara is supposed to have ingredients that improve lash growth, I can't say that I have noticed this in my self but then again I haven't been looking out for it.

Overall this is a great mascara if you want lots of volume and length. Its great when wearing a full face of makeup, I think it is a little much to wear by itself on days when you wear no makeup except mascara.

Revlon ColorStay Before and After

I just wanted to update with a before and after photo  for the Revlon ColorStay foundation.

In the first photo I am wearing nothing but moisturiser.
In the second photo I am wearing Revlon ColorStay foundation in 150 Buff applied with a Real Techniques buffing Brush. You can see it has covered all the redness in my skin.
The third photo is my Revlon ColorStay and Buffing Brush.
The final photo is my completed makeup. I have not used any concealer only contour, blush. highlight and my Maybelline Dream Matte Powder.

Before and After

Check out my full review here.

Rimmel BB Cream Review

I have been on the look out for a cheaper, everyday alternative to my Revlon Colourstay Foundation for quite awhile and when Rimmel released its BB Cream here in New Zealand I new I had to give it a try. I have always been impressed with all the Rimmel products I have tried and the price is great.

I bought mine from The Warehouse for around $18 in a buy one get one half price sale, I also picked up the Hide the Blemish concealer for half price.

I believe there are 2 colours, light and medim. I chose light and the colour is maybe half a shade too dark but this works well for me because my chest is darker than my face and neck, so I just make sure to blend the BB Cream down my neck. If you are any lighter than me you will probably find this too dark.
It claims to be a 9 in 1 product. Primes, moisturises, minimises pores, conceals, covers, smoothes, mattifies, brightens and helps protect. I shall address each claim.

Primes - For me there are two types of primers, those that moisturise the skin making sure your makeup does not cling to dry patches and those that mattify the skin making your make up last longer and minimising pores. The product does not cling to dry patches but I wouldn't consider this a long lasting foundation.

Moisturises - This is definitely a moisturising product. I have used it with no moisturiser underneath and my skin still felt moisturised.

Minimises Pores - I'm not sure if it minimises pores but it does not exaggerate them. My pores look smaller with this BB Cream than they do when I use my Revlon Colourstay with no primer.

Conceals - As you can see from the pictures, this BB Cream conceals my more minor blemishes wonderfully. It does struggle a bit with my gigantic blemishes which even my full coverage concealers struggle to cover up. I would definitely wear this without concealer on a daily basis.

Covers- To me, concealing and covering are the same thing.

Smoothes - This BB Cream smoothes over any dry patches without clinging to them and also helps to moisturise them.

Mattifies - I did not find the BB Cream mattified my face at all. Perhaps this is because I have oily skin or on't leave it long enough to set. But I would never wear this without setting it with a powder, although this is personal preference as I never wear any liquid with out a powder.

Brightens - I would not have described this BB Cream as brightening but I don't really have any areas that I want to brighten. It did leave a dewy glow on my skin.

Protects - The BB Cream has an SPF of 25, which I think is pretty good for daily wear.

So, although it claims to be 9 in 1 I feel it's more like 6 in 1. For me the priming it does is the same as moisturising, concealing and covering are also the same thing. I don't find it mattifies or brightens my skin.

This BB Cream doesn't have a claim on how long it lasts on the skin,but on my combination oily skin I have to blot or powder every couple of hours and this will vary depending on your skin type and shine preference.

Lets get on to the photos. I'll start off by saying front on photos do not flatter my face at all but I wanted to show the product in the nest way possible. The first photo is my naked moisturised face, you can see I have a few large red spots on my chin and quite a few smaller red spots all over my face as well as freckles.

Photo 2 is after applying only the BB Cream using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. The BB Cream has covered my less obvious spots and has significantly reduced the redness in my giant spots. It still lets my natural skin and freckles show through which I like.

In the third photo I have filled in my eyebrows, added mascara, under eye highlighter, powdered my face, a little bit of blush and applied lip gloss to show you the finished product.

Rimmel BB Cream Before and After

The BB Creams i have tried in the past have been more like tinted moisturisers that give little to no coverage. This BB Cream is more like a foundation that has the benefits of moisturiser. This has become my daily face makeup although I do still use my Revlon Colourstay when I need my makeup to last with out touch ups. I am really pleased with this BB Cream and would definitely repurchase.

Dove Nutri Oil: Before and After Photos

This is a follow up post to my review of Dove Nutri Oil which you can read here. At the time I didn't take any photos for you to see the difference. I can tell you that I like the product, but I thought I would let you make up your own mind by seeing my before and after photos.








I know the colour and angle of the photos are different but I had a hard time getting them to look similar, I hope you can still see the difference.

Before and After

In the first photo I have shampooed and conditioned my hair and then let it air dry with no styling products. I have also pinned my hair in the position I want it to dry in. My hair is frizziest in my top layers where the hair is shorter so has less weight and it has also been highlighted more often.

I start by squirting two pumps of the oil into my hands and spreading it all over my hands then i rub it through my hair avoiding the roots. Then if I need to I will apply more one pump at a time. I used about four pumps today as the weather is quite humid. When I am finished I will use what ever is left on my hands to smooth down any frizzies near my roots.

This oil is so lightweight that I can apply as much as I want. If my hair is being particularly unruly I will reapply the oil throughout the day when I need to and it does not get greasy.

I highly recommend you try this product, its inexpensive and works well.

Manicure and Tutorial

This is what I have on my nails right now, it's really easy so I thought I would share it with you.

Step 1. Always start with clean freshly manicured nails and remove any grease from the nail plate with nail polish remover

Step 2. Apply your favourite base coat to protect your nails and make your manicure last longer. I am using O.P.I Nail Envy.

Step 3. Pick two nail polish colours, they can be contrasting or complementary. You can even use just one colour. I have chosen Orly Purple Crush (pink polish) and O.P.I Fly (blue-green polish).

Step 4. Using a thin nail art brush and a black acrylic paint brush two stripes onto each nail in a cross shape. The crosses can be different on each nail or the same if you prefer. You can use black nail polish for the crosses if you have it. If you want really crisp lines you can tape off your nails in the cross shape. I don't use tape because your nails must be completely dry before putting tape onto the polish.

Step 5. Apply your favourite topcoat and enjoy.

Don't worry if your crosses don't look perfect close up, I always look at my nails from arms length and if they look good from there I'm good to go.

OOTD - 11/01/2013

Since finishing my studies and not yet finding a job, I am leaving the house a lot less than I used to. I've decided that I am going to make an excuse to dress up at least once a week. By dress up I mean get out of my pyjamas and put on a bit of makeup. 

I'm posting my outfit of the day posts here so it will hopefully make me keep my promise to myself.

I am wearing a dress and belt that I bought from The Warehouse, the dress was on sale for about $10 and the belt I bought ages ago but it was definitely under the $20 mark.

My necklace was given to me by my parents for my 21st birthday.

The top middle picture is of two rings that fit together that I got from Silvermoon.

The bottom middle picture is of my bow ring that I got from Farmers.

My hairs is just yesterdays curls that I did with an ordinary GHD straightener.

On my face I am wearing Revlon Colorstay Foundation with Maybelline Dream Matte Powder over the top.

I am also wearing blush, highlighter and a little bit of contour.

I have run a matte brown eyeshadow through my brows.

I have a variety of light shimmery shadows on my lid with a small amount of black pencil liner on my outer corner and in my tight line. I am wearing Revlon Growlucious mascara.

On my lips I have a nude lip liner, lip stick and lip gloss.

The middle photo is a blurry before shot. I put it in there to show that I naturally have very light eyebrows a funny shaped face and not the best skin. Thankfully you can't see how bad my skin really is in the photo.

This is my first outfit of the day, hopefully there will be another post next week if not sooner. Expect to see much of the same outfits because I really don't have many dressy clothes.