In February, Maybelline released rwo new shades to their Colorama Mini Nail Color Bitter Sweet Collection. True to their name, they come in mini size and is very cute! Both nail polish consistency are creamy, I find the purple nail polish to be slightly creamier and thicker than the red.
#Fruit Juice – Bright red (not your old grandma red), glossy, great timeless shade. It’s the one-can-never-go-wrong shade.
#Tart – A rich purple shade that has a slight metallic feel in the bottle but once applied it’s a gorgeous midnight purple shade. Love the glossy finish, there’s no top coats in these swatches.
RRP AUD$5.95 each
Available on Maybelline counters now
Regardless of the price, the quality and the brand; lipsticks always dry our lips out. Which is why, when I am given a choice I always pick lipsticks that are known to be moisturising and always prep my dry, chapped lips with lip exfoliation and lip balm prior to lip stick application.
From left: #Malibu Barbie, #Forbidden Fruit, #Pink Champagne (all new shades)
Face of Australia released 6 new shades to their existing Lip Quench Moisturising Lipstick SPF30+ (existing 8 shades). These lipsticks moisturises lips with natural emollients like Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E & Shea Butter. Not forgetting our lips being one of the most vulnerable area to sun damages, these Face of Australia Lip Quench SPF30+ also provides broad spectrum sun protection.
Consistency for these lipsticks are creamy and very smooth to apply. Here are the swatches in natural morning sun light with no flash.
#Forbidden Fruit – Favourite colour of the lot. It’s rich, creamy and compliments my skin colour really well. Doesn’t accentuate the fine lines or seep into my lip lines. I also got quite a few compliments when I wore this to work the other day.
#Pink Champagne – Probably my least favourite. The colour washes my skin tone out and magnifies my lip problems (chapping lips and lip lines). This colour will probably suit someone with no lip problems like I do and someone with a cool skin tone. Oh, how I wish this work for me as the colour looks so good on the tube.
#Malibu Barbie – This was the colour I looked forward the most prior to the launch. It screams BARBIE, it stands out, it is unique and is HOT. Due to the colour being lighter, I have to apply layers of this to avoid seeing my lip lines (yes it is that bad) and have to take extra time to prep my lips to ensure there’s no dryness or flakiness prior to applying this or it will have the tendency to accentuate flaws.
All in all, I love the colours from these lipsticks, they are fun, demands for compliments and doesn’t dry my lips out as much as I think it would. Highly recommend #Forbidden Fruit and #Malibu Barbie.
RRP AUD$9.95 each
Available on Face of Australia counters now
Stockist: Priceline, Kmart, Big W, Selected Pharmacies or call 03 9338 5222
In 2012, Trilogy celebrating 10th year in business is giving back and is launching a new year-long campaign to raise funds for Child’s i Foundation - a foundation set up to end the tragedy of baby abandonment in Uganda.
Trilogy has launched the limited edition Trilogy Helping Hand Wash 30ml (RRP AUD$19.95) with all profits from the sale of Helping Hand Wash throughout 2012 will be donated to Child’s i Foundation.
Helping Hand Wash contains natural antibacterial ingredients like Elderberry and Burdock, contains natural vegetable oils and Trilogy’s signature fragrance of frankincense, rose geranium and lavender. Texture wise, this hand wash is creamy and low foamy, leaving hands clean, smells refreshingly good and non stripping dry.
Trilogy is sold nationally through selected Priceline, Myer, pharmacy and health stores
ESP stands for Environmental Skin Protector combines antioxidant moisturisers combines natural, physical, mineral, zinc sunscreen (20%) and anti-pollution formula.
Pump bottle two in one functioning sunscreen (UVA/UVB) + moisturiser is the best bet for time poor individuals. While I am not a big fan of using skincare that combines moisturiser and sunscreen; but because of the high concentration of sunscreen, I deep dived into this and gave this a go.
As I already do have oily skin, moisturiser is not really ‘important’ on my list, hence I find this product just great on me. It acts as a barrier between the skin and the environment. Texture wise, this moisturiser is quite watery but the consistency is still rich. I use two full pumps for my face and neck area everyday in the morning.
Due to its zinc content, the sunscreen takes a while to rub in and to blend onto skin so make sure you put in the effort to massage and thoroughly work it all over face/neck. Scent wise it does smells like a zinc sunscreen. As for the finish, it is WORTH it. My skin felt refreshingly cool with a quite comfortable and non greasy finish.
In fact, I’ve been told this sunscreen can prevent those bad burns you get during ski trips! If you’re in the market for a high performance sunscreen, this one is a winner.
RRP AUD$35
Available on counters now
For a nude palette, Bobbi Brown has nailed the palette down with screaming hot pink casing on the outside and the discreet classic black on the outside. From the Neons and Nudes Collection the limited edition Bobbi Brown Ultra Nude Eye Palette is one to watch out for if you’re in the market for a nude eye palette minus the shimmer.
Now you’d think that, oh this is just another nude eye palette. Well you are wrong. This is no normal nude eye palette because:
- The six colours in this staple palette suits everyone (regardless if you’re warm or cool toned)
- Perfect for those who are afraid of wearing eye shadow or simply don’t know how to (these colour are quite sheer so even none pro blending skill can get this mastered)
- Comes with beiges (you can’t go wrong with this shade) to browns (for a slightly more intense look minus the OTT smokey eye look)
- Has a combination of mostly matte and shimmer finishes (think pearlised shimmer rather than glitter shimmer)
- Comes with really handy and actually usable double ended make up brush, so there’s no need to invest in further make up brushes
RRP AUD$99
Available on counters officially 19th Feb 2012 but you can purchase it online at Bobbi Brown website now (get in quick as Bobbi Brown is notorious at selling out their limited edition palettes)
I have a confession, I find it extremely gross to get make over done in a makeup counter. Don’t get me wrong, I love learning new tips from the experienced makeup artists, trying new products and colours on me but just not big on using products on display counters straight to my face.
Reason behind this is that no matter how clean and hygienic you think you are; the next uneducated customer is just going to come along, dig their dirty finger onto the makeup products on display and apply it to their face. I have seen people apply lipstick on display to their lips, JUST LIKE THAT, using the liner on display on their eyes, JUST LIKE THAT, using the bronzers on display and buffing away, JUST LIKE THAT. Gross much? It is disturbing and is a major ground for breeding infections.
This is the same reason why I would never swim in a public pool. The thought of while I do not piss in the swimming pool but that doesn’t stop someone else from doing so and I don’t want to drown myself in someone else’s piss. Major gross. I know, I am weird.
As a result, I only trial beauty products at the counter on the back of my hand unless it is a pump bottle product.
Do you feel the same way?
To celebrate their association with New York Fashion Week, Maybelline NY is releasing a limited edition NYFW Baby Lips Lip Balm SPF20 in February. This lip balm delivers a conditioning formula and berry fragrance that keep lips moisturised for a full 8 hours and decreases fine lines.
To share their excitements, from 9-16th February 2012 – Maybelline have 10,000 limited edition Baby Lips lip balms up for grabs. They will be conducting a treasure hunt at New York Fashion Week AND you are all invited as it is online.
Clues will be posted on Maybelline NY’s facebook page. Good luck!
#1 Make Up Brushes from NP Set, Benefit and Royal & Langnickel – Make up brushes that are worth investing and won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
#2 Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser – HG quality concealer, such a shame with the sponge applicator design.
#3 Lanolips Lip Ointment with Color SPF 15 in #Apples – Favourite colour from Lanolips so far!
#4 UNT Color BB Cream – One of the better BB cream I have tested recently, dewy, good coverage and gives me a great natural skin finish.
#5 Restylane Skincare – Simple, effective and affordable. You can’t go wrong with this range.
#6 Harmony Home Spa Ultrasonic Cleansing System – Clarisonic watch out, this newbie is going to take you out!
