Priceline 40% off cosmetics sale!

Australian readers! Priceline currently has 40% off all cosmetics today and tomorrow (24/4). I planned to post this earlier but the website has been playing up all day, it's only just started working better now. The sale is online and in-store!

I hope to pop into a store tomorrow. I want to get Face of Australia's Glitterati polish collection,  the new Garnier Sensitive Skin BB cream and a couple of Australis items.

Do you plan on purchasing anything from the sale? Or have you already?

Product review with swatches!: MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish!

This is a product review with swatches for MAC's Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish. Soft and Gentle is a gilded peach bronze. MAC describes it as:

A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face.

This is such a gorgeous product. I first read about it years ago but never thought to get it. I then saw it on my best friend Clair, it gave her skin such a pretty sheen I had to get it. 

 

The shade is a kind of champage-y peach, it is super flattering. I wear it as a highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones, it makes my skin look brighter and gives it a glow.

Swatches!

It retails for $47AUD at MAC Cosmetics. I got mine cheaper from a blog sale. It was out of stock when I first tried to order it!

Do you own any MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes? Which ones? Or are they on your wishlist?

April Beauty Wishlist!

This is my April beauty wishlist!

1. NARS Pierre Hardy blushes in Boys Don't Cry and Rotonde

When I first heard of this collection I only saw photos for nail polishes in the collection, I knew nothing of Pierre Hardy (a French shoe designer!) so I didn't research any further! Then I saw these photos on Temptalia and saw the gorgeous swatches - bring, gorgeous shades. I will definitely be getting these!

2. Face of Australia Glitterati nail polish collection

I saw these yesterday on the lovely Kate's La Beaute Et De Blogueur blog. Amazing!! I NEED these. I love glitter polishes. I'm going to try and find these tomorrow!

3. Ginvera Green Tea BB cream

I'd seen this product reviewed a couple of times. Yesterday I saw it on the lovely Alice's Bright Town Girl blog and was convinced to try it because of her stellar review - she was so positive and impressed by it that I've already popped it on my watch list on eBay.

4. Britney Spears Island Fantasy perfume

I first read about this on Fleur's Fleur de Force blog in February. The scent is fresh and sweet, I like clean perfumes, I'm hoping it's similar to Jennifer Aniston's perfume - one of my faves! Everytime I go to the shops I check for it. It is due to be released in the UK mid April - now! so I am going to keep searching for it. I may even buy it online!

5. Maybelline Color Tattoos for Summer 2013

New color tattoos! These are one of my favourite make-up items, a cream eyeshadow. I've got most of the previously released colours (only 10 have been released here). These have just come out in the U.S. for Summer 2013. The new shades are: Shady Shores, Cool Crush, Waves of White, Lavish Lavender, Icy Mint and Seashore Frost. I keep checking eBay wanting to purchase these! Photo from Amarixe.

So that's my wishlist for the month! What is on yours? Are you interested in trying out any of these products?

Product review and swatches!: Revlon's Lip Butters in shades Juicy Papaya, Pink Lemonade, Sorbet and Wild Watermelon!

This is a product review with swatches for Revlon's Lip Butters in shades Juicy Papaya, Pink Lemonade, Sorbet and Wild Watermelon. These shades are new for 2013. I thought I'd swatched the older shades but nope! If anyone is interested I can do them and take some photos.

So far they are only available in the U.S., being impatient I got mine from eBay.

From left: Juicy Papaya, Pink Lemonade, Sorbet, Wild Watermelon

Juicy Papaya is a warm toned coral, Pink Lemonade is a neutral pink nude, Sorbet is a bright blue toned pink and Wild Watermelon is a bright watermelon red.

Swatches!:

I love Juicy Papaya and Sorbet - gorgeous brights! I like Wild Watermelon, I don't wear reds too often though. Pink Lemonade is pale and sheer, a good nude though. I know I will get a lot of wear out of all four shades.

I paid $15-16USD for these, a bit higher than US retail but worth it as they are a bit hard to find. When they arrive in Australia they will retail for $21.95AUD.

Have you splurged like me and got these!? If not will you be picking them up?

Product review with swatches!: Kevyn Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enhancer!

 

This is a product review with swatches for Kevyn Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enchancer. It can be used as either a foundation or concealer. Kevyn Aucoin describes it as:

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer was created to mimic the appearance of healthy, radiant skin. It can be used as a spot foundation, concealer, all-over foundation, highlighter (choose a shade lighter than your actual skin tone) or mixed with your moisturizer for a tinted moisturizer effect -- the possibilities are endless! Honey and jojoba oil create a soft, dewy finish as well as lend themselves to the formula's silky texture. It may be applied with the fingers, a brush or a sponge (wet or dry) for any desired finish.

I first read about this product on Makeup Alley, it has so many excellent reviews so of course I wanted it.

This is an unusual product. The product is very thick - you need the teensiest (yes teensy!) amount for full coverage. As the texture is so thick I like using a MAC 226 brush to apply it, I just dot it on and buff. I found using fingers applied the product too heavily and it looked cakey.

The product is 0.63 oz (18 g) - it comes in a small pot container. I knew it was small but I was still a little surprised. As you only need the smallest amount it'll last forever! In comparison, Rimmel's Wake Me Up and NARS' Sheer Glow:

The shade I have is SX03 and I'm very pale (MAC NC15) so the shade range is fantastic - there is amazing dark cocoa shades for darker skins. I originally purchased SX04 but it was too dark, luckily I snagged the next lightest shade off eBay. If anyone is interested in purchasing SX04 please let me know! I think the SX03 is a little too dark so I might also pick up SX02.

Swatches!

 This retails for $45USD at Beauty.com and £36 at Mise Beauty.

While unusual this is a great product. Lately I've been switching between this and OCC's Skin Conceal for covering blemishes/redness.

Do you own Sensual Skin Enhancer? Or are you interested in trying it?

Product review with swatches!: MAC's Full Coverage foundation!

This is a product review with swatches for MAC's Full Coverage foundation. MAC describes it as:

A smooth-to-apply, easy-to-blend, emollient-based foundation formulated to provide opaque coverage. Full Coverage foundation was developed for the professional makeup artist who wanted an emollient-based foundation with opaque coverage. Water-resistant and long-wearing, it can cover most scars, blemishes and birthmarks.

I hadn't heard much about this foundation before purchasing it, only a few reviews - I liked the sound of its opaqueness. I got it to use as a concealer.

This is a cream foundation, it has some slip but it needs work to make it look flawless on the skin. It can be a little tricky to apply. It worked best with a synthetic brush but I think a damp sponge would be much better - I've yet to try that.

This works well as a concealer, it is very opaque and you only need a bit to coverage blemishes or redness. I just press a little on with my fingers where needed. I think I like using this best to touch-up throughout the day, I just pop it in my bag and go. I won't use this as a foundation, I prefer something easier to apply like Laura Mercier's Silk Creme.

Swatches!

This product retails for $31USD. I purchased it from MAC Cosmetics. The foundation is a PRO product so it is only available at PRO stores and online.


Have you ever tried this product? Do you use full coverage foundation? If so which one/s?

March Favourites!

Apologies for the lack of posts recently. My much loved Grandpa passed away a week and a half ago. He will be very missed. I'm doing okay, it's been a very difficult time though of course. I'm just so grateful I got to have so much time with him.

March favourites. Like previous months I have featured beauty favourites and a few others like tv, books, movies, games, food etc.

1. Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation   review/swatches

Still loving this foundation. Since I got this I really haven't used much else. The shade is perfect for my skintone, it has amazing coverage and looks amazing on the skin. I do mix a little of Le Metier de Beaute's Classic Flawless foundation with it, around 80% to 20%. I find the Laura Mercier a little bit too dewy for my skin so the Le Metier mattes it a little bit.

2. Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless foundation

As I stated above I love mixing this with Laura Mercier's Silk Creme foundation. The combination of these two foundations works really well for me. I haven't really reached for anything else. These may be my HG. I love it.

3. Face of Australia Face Base 3-in-1 primer

I use the oil-free version of this primer. I tried the original once before a few times then never used it again. This is very similar to Napoleon Perdis' Auto Pilot primer, for that reason I've wanted to try it again so I grabbed it. This primer makes my foundation go on smoother and helps it last a little longer. Good budget product. I'll continue to use this, I do want to pick up Urban Decay's Pore Perfecting primer soon though.

4. Real Techniques Buffing brush   review

My absolute favourite make-up brush. I use this so apply pretty much everything - foundation, powder, bronzer and blush. I love it. I applies make-up with such ease. You can purchase this brush and others from Real Techniques at iHerb. You can use the code POZ847 to receive $5USD off your order or if your order is $40USD or more you will receive $10USD off.

5. Chanel Joues Contraste in Espiegle 

This is a gorgeous soft apricot/coral blush. Joues Contraste are my favourite blush formula, they make your skin just glow. I love this shade, it looks so lovely on the skin, natural with a slight pop of colour.

6. Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective foundation

I use this as concealer to cover any blemishes and redness. It is a liquid and covers amazingly. I first thought this would be too dark for my skin but it blends in nicely. I use both this and my favourite OCC concealer, both are excellent. I will be doing a full review of this soon.

7. Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill mascara

This is a much hyped mascara. I hadn't tried a high end mascara in awhile so I picked this up from a blog sale. It is a nice mascara that lengthens and gives definition to the lashes, it is good but I don't think it's worth the price. I wouldn't have purchased it at full price.

8. Hard Candy nail polish in Gummy Green

Speckled nail polishes are the in thing at the moment. Illamasqua has their Imperfection line, I also have a couple of Sprinkles ones from Nails Inc. This is a gorgeous mint green with black glitter bits in it. Unique and super pretty.

9. Seche Vite top coat

I've tried many fast dry top coats - never giving into purchasing this. This beats them all though, it dries my polish to touch within 45seconds - 1 minute. I love it. I'm terrible at letting my nails dry without touching things so I need this! I will re-purchase again. My second favourite is China Glaze's Fast Dry.

10. MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

I got this after seeing it on my best friend Clair. It gives the skin a gorgeous subtle sheen.

11. Matched

This is the first book I've actually finished in awhile (I read a book with a terrible turn in story so I went off reading!) This YA story is a dystopian world with a heroine - and of course it has a love triangle (like all YA books). I like dystopian stories, I find them so interesting. The book is slow moving but intriguing enough that it kept me interested. It doesn't beat The Hunger Games though!

12. Nikita

I watched the first episode of this show years ago. I intended to continue but never got to it. I had it waiting to watch I just didn't get to it. Why did I wait so long? This is a action/drama/intigue series, it's easy to watch and I enjoy it. Does anyone else watch this?

Those are my March favourites. What are yours!?

Product review with swatches!: MAC's Unflappable Mega Metal eyeshadow!

This is a product review with swatches for MAC's Unflappable Mega Metal eyeshadow. MAC describes the shade as:

'plummy-gray taupe with metallic shimmer-sheen'.

I missed this when it first came out as part of MAC's Peacocky collection. I'd only just got into MAC then and considered it too expensive ;) I saw it on a blog sale though and got it as I can never have too many taupe eyeshadows!

So I love taupe eyeshadows. It's no secret. I find taupe-y shades complex - a mix of gray, brown and purple. Gorgeous! This eyeshadow is no exception. This shade is a Metal finish. It is incredibly pigmented - opaque in one swipe. It applies very smoothly and blends easily. It has a little fallout but I can deal with it.

Swatch!

This eyeshadow is 0.11oz, instead of MAC's usual pan size of 0.05oz. It's the same size as MAC's Pro Longwear eyeshadow line.

This eyeshadow retailed for $19.50USD. It was limited edition.

Do you own any MAC Mega Metal eyeshadows? I also have Dalliance.