Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Blaze (OR 508)

I purchased this liquid lip glaze on a whim one day when I spotted it for sale online as I'd never tried a Shiseido lip product before.

This lip product comes in a cute, little tube with a doe foot applicator this is nice and easy to open and close and mess-free when applied.

It's a lovely, smooth liquid lip glaze that applies nice and evenly and it gives exceptional coverage with just one coat.

Unfortunately, I'm not too sure what possessed me to purchase the shade Blaze as orange lips have never seemed to suit me and I can never work them into a makeup look.

(Shiseido Lacquer Rouge - Blaze (OR 508))

As far as the formula goes, it doesn't bleed into my lip lines which is a bonus and it always feels more like a lip balm when applied as it's so lightweight and comfortable to wear all day. I can't seem to notice any smell or taste once applied which I also really like.

It seems to wear off pretty evenly throughout the day and does have to be re-applied every couple of hours, especially when doing a lot of talking, eating or drinking so I can't say that it's a very long wearing formula.

I just really wish that I'd bought one of the pink or red shades now that I could get more use out of, but there's always next time!

Have you ever tried one of these lip lacquers before?

Have a super New Year everyone!!

Michelle xx

The Balm 'How 'Bout Them Apples?' Cheek and Lip Palette

A little while ago I did a little haul of some The Balm products as it's a brand that I hadn't had much exposure to before. There was no way I could resist the How 'Bout Them Apples? Lip and Cheek Palette as it just looked so cute.

This palette comes in the signature cardboard packaging that The Balm are known for which is probably the one thing that I'm not a huge fan of as I can see it getting very dirty and showing a lot of wear and tear after a while. It has a flip top lid that contains quite a large mirror underneath and it is slim enough so that it doesn't feel too bulky to hold when using it.

On the back of the packaging is a list of the shades contained in the palette with little colour swatches as well.

Packaging aside, this palette contains six gorgeous creamy shades that can be used either on the lips or cheeks. The shades are all very versatile for any occasion, they are all easy to blend and don't end up patchy like some other cream products can on my skin. They are also very pigmented and a little goes a long way.

Each shade wears for a good couple of hours on my lips (with eating and drinking involved) and can last all day when I wear them as a cream blush.

I generally like to use cream makeup products on my skin when it is feeling a bit dry and I don't want anything emphasized by using powder type products so these get quite a bit of a workout when I am having no-so-good skin days.

The six shades swatched in order above are Cider (a pretty pinky nude), Pie (a nice bright pink), Candy (a more muted rose pink), Cobbler (a gorgeous red), Crisp (a shimmery pink) and Caramel (a darker browny nude).

I alternate between using all of them on my lips depending on what look I'm going for but my favourite shades to use on my cheeks as a blush are Cider, Pie and Candy. I have also used Caramel as a contour shade when in a hurry and it works really well this way when blended out.

The Balm's How 'Bout Them Apples? Lip and Cheek Palette can be bought almost anywhere that stocks The Balm products and seems to retail for around $34.95.

Has anyone else tried this palette? What are your favourite The Balm products?

I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend!

Michelle xx

L'Oreal Shine Caresse Lip Colour in 501: Bonnie

So I know that these have been out for a while now but I only recently decided to bite the bullet and get myself one. I have seen so many different reviews about these that are both positive and negative but last time I was out I couldn't help but have a bit of a swatch-fest and just buy one.

I ended up getting shade No. 501 Bonnie as it's a shade that I normally don't lean towards. I have so many pink shades at home that for once I went a bit out of my comfort zone and tried something different in this peachy shade.

Surprisingly I have found this shade very versatile and it goes so well with a very minimum makeup look on days when I don't have time to do much or am just not feeling like putting too much colour on my face. It gives off such a lovely shine when applied and this is one thing that I really do love.

Here is a little bit about the Shine Caresse lip colours from the L'Oreal website:

'The next generation lip colour, that combines the texture & shine of a gloss with the long wear of a stain. Delivering a lasting colour with a subtle glossy shine. 

The unique formula comprised of 30% water and 60% oil provides an exceptionally high level of moisture, allowing for 6hr hydration.
Concentrated soluble colour pigments create a subtle wet look with a weightless feeling on lips.'

I find this gloss is very sticky to start with when it's first applied but it does dry fairly fast and not leave too much of a sticky residue once that happens. It feels quite comfortable on the lips which really surprises me as my poor lips and stain products normally don't get along very well as I always find them too drying. I don't seem to have this problem with the Shine Caresse gloss which is great.

It has a very fruity scent that reminds me a bit like boiled lollies but it doesn't seem to have much of a taste that I can detect. The doe-foot applicator is a very convenient shape to apply the gloss but I usually wipe off quite a bit of product before applying or it can get a bit messy and difficult to spread around evenly before it starts to set.

L'Oreal Shine Caresse in No. 501: Bonnie - with flash

L'Oreal Shine Caresse in No. 501: Bonnie - without flash

The only problem I sometimes have with this lip product is that it tends to wear off the centre of my lips in a short amount of time and I find I can get a bit of a ring around my lips because of the stain component. I am a bit of a lip licker though when I am thinking alot so this might not be an issue for most people.

Overall I am really happy that I decided to try one of these for myself and will most likely pick up one in another shade next time I am out and about.
 
Has anyone else tried one of these yet? I'd love to know what other shade I should try next.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Michelle xx

MAC Stroke of Midnight Lip & Cheek Bag in Pink - The Perfect Gift From a Guilty Husband

So my husband had to go to Macau for a week on a work trip a couple of weeks ago and unfortunately it just topped off a bit of a crappy time where he'd been away an awful lot for work. For any new readers that don't know about me, I work as an Accountant two days a week, run my own Bookkeeping business on the side from home the rest of the week all while juggling the care of our very active toddler. I pretty much work 7 days a week sometimes. 

Now, I admit that I do love being busy as I get too restless when I don't have much on, but sometimes this means that when hubby has to go away a lot for work I tend to get very frazzled and exhausted trying to keep up with everything that needs to be done on my own. As a way to say sorry and reduce my frazzledness this time my lovely man decided to buy me some MAC as a surprise in the form of the Stroke of Midnight Lip & Cheek Bag in Pink, as well as the Stroke of Midnight Eye Palette in Cool (due to not wanting this post to be too photo heavy I'll be showing this one separately in the next couple of days).

I do think he's a keeper!

Firstly, the bag you get with this set is so fancy looking that it could almost be used as a small clutch for a night out if one was so inclined. I'll definitely be swapping my normal overnight makeup bag for this one next time we go anywhere.

 

Inside the bag is an assortment of goodies as follows:

* Cremesheen Lipstick in How Darling!

* Lipglass in Soft Spoken

* Beauty Powder Blush in Formal

* 129SE Blush Brush; and

* Mirror

First up, I have to admit one dirty little secret........ This is the first time I have ever used any MAC products! Yep, for some reason I have just never bought anything from them before. Mainly because they're not easily accessible from where I live and I never really worried about going out of my way for it.

So, being that these products are my first ever experience with the brand, I have to say that I definitely am impressed.

The Cremesheen lipstick in How Darling! is a lovely shade of pink that is so versatile and wearable for everyday use.

I've been wearing this quite a lot over the past couple of weeks as it's not too drying on my lips and seems to last a good three to four hours before fading away. It doesn't bleed into my lip lines and has a yummy vanilla scent and taste.

The Lipglass in Soft Spoken is a very subtle pink shimmer in a clear gloss base. It doesn't really give the lips any colour but imparts a lovely shine instead and looks really nice when worn over How Darling! It also has a yummy vanilla scent and taste to it.

The Beauty Powder Blush in Formal is a gorgeous rosy pink that looks really natural on my pale skin. It's quite pigmented though so I only need to apply a very small amount but others might be able to get away with a bit more than me if their skintone isn't so pale. It's really easy to blend and lasts an entire workday without really fading too much.

The Blush Brush and Mirror are both very useful, although I wish to mirror had a frame around it as it gets very smudged with fingerprints the way it is. The brush is so super soft and really good for blending.

Last but not least are the swatches....

From Left to Right: Lipglass in Soft Spoken, Cremesheen Lipstick in How Darling! and Beauty Powder Blush in Formal (With Flash)

From Left to Right: Lipglass in Soft Spoken, Cremesheen Lipstick in How Darling! and Beauty Powder Blush in Formal (Without Flash)

So I am proud to say that my MAC virginity has finally been broken and I'm definitely more interested in trying out a lot more from this brand now. I just can't believe it took me so long to finally get on the bandwagon!

Has anyone else bought this set or any of the others from the Stroke of Midnight range yet?

I hope everyone has a great week!

Michelle xx

I'm Back With A New Lip Gloss Love! Maybelline Colour Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss in Gleaming Grenadine

Hi Everyone! Again, I am so sorry for my long absence but things just got so hectic in my life that it was an unfortunate necessity.

After I posted to say I was still alive last week I must have jinxed myself because our little man decided to bring home a mild case of viral meningitis that he was lovely enough to pass onto his father and I.  So, after spending a day in the hospital last Friday with my husband on a drip and strong pain meds, then vomiting and being in pain from head to toe myself for three days straight, as well as having to beg my parents to come around to pack up our kitchen for us because it was being replaced this week and neither hubby or I could barely stand up and then also having to beg the other grandparents to look after the little man (who got over his virus quicker than you could blink!) because we just didn't have the physical ability to, I can honestly say with total gusto that this was the week from hell.

Life seems to be slowing down a bit again now and we are all on the mend so hopefully I can get back to blogging and start to get through the HUGE backlog I have got going on now.

Anyway, back to what I wanted to tell you about today which is this new lip gloss that I have been getting a lot of wear out of (pre-virus of course). The Maybelline Colour Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss in Gleaming Grenadine.

I received this gloss in the March 'Her Fashion Box' and was excited straight away because I have had a few Maybelline lip glosses in the past which have always performed well.

The Maybelline Colour Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss is a wax free formula that guarantees an ultra-clear shine and a luminous lip. It is infused with honey nectar and has superior colour saturation to give a luscious smooth feel.

The shade I received, Gleaming Grenadine, is a bright pink which almost borders on looking red. It applies quite sheer at first but can be built up to give a really nice, bright colour on the lips if you so wish. It's a super shiny lip gloss but isn't too sticky or gluggy which I like.

I've been wearing this gloss a lot lately as it's such a wearable shade that instantly brightens the face without going overboard. The gloss is nice and smooth to apply and has a fruity kind of scent and taste which isn't too overpowering in my opinion.

The one little problem I seem to have is that it can sometimes settle in the lip lines, especially if I am lazy and apply it to dry lips. I usually try to remember to apply it over a lip balm and this generally gets rid of this problem.

Has anyone else tried one of these glosses yet?

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Michelle xx

Current Nude Lip Gloss Love - Yes To Carrots C Me Shine Lip Gloss in Playful Nude

I'm not usually into wearing nude gloss much as it can make me feel a little washed out sometimes so I normally will wear something with more of a tint in it for days when I feel like a gloss instead of a lipstick.

A couple of months ago I received this Yes To Carrots C Me Shine Lip Gloss in Playful Nude in one of the monthly sample boxes and surprisingly it's become a regular in my handbag for days when I'm out and about but don't want to have a full makeup face.

This is not like you'd expect from a normal gloss. It's not thick or too sticky at all which is what I think I love the most. It's a very light gloss that makes my lips feel extremely moisturised for hours and being such a pale nude it's super easy to apply on the go without the need for a mirror. It's got a cooling sensation when applied due to the addition of peppermint oil which makes it a nice and soothing gloss to use on hot days.

The one complaint I have is the full-on peppermint flavouring that it has which is the same as the tinted lip balms. I don't mind a slight peppermint flavour but it really is quite strong and can almost get a little overpowering sometimes, especially if you are about to eat or drink.

Overall though, this is a great lip gloss that is actually beneficial to your lips as well as giving them a nice subtle shine.

Has anyone else tried this or any other C Me Shine Lip Gloss? If so, what did you think?

Michelle xx

Lush Emotional Brilliance Lip Colour in 'Confident'

I received this lip colour in a previous monthly beauty subscription box and have to say that at first I was super excited to try out this range after hearing so many good things.

Unfortunately, that excitement didn't last too long after I finally tried this product out.....

The shade 'Confident' comes with the following description (taken from the Lush Australia website):

'Your CONFIDENT nature shines through today. People admire you all around for your self –belief. Some may feel irritated by your assured manner, as they might not be feeling so great themselves. That said, your focus should be on your certainty as it is making you strong.
You might need a little bit of self-belief today, and that is why your subconscious is asking you for some confidence. Wear this colour to give you the assurance you may need at this moment, and let it remind you of what you require as you continue your day.
Feeling CONFIDENT is key, and you have this in spades. What a talent to possess today! It can help you achieve anything! Stay bold and great things will come of it.'

It can be used as a lip colour or as a cream blusher if you so desire.

The packaging is a small glass bottle which kinds of reminds me of a medicine dispenser and the applicator is your usualy doe foot shape.

This shade is quite a dark plum/purple shade which has a very bad tendency to sink into the lip lines and enhance the hell out of them. I also found the formula terribly drying and felt like my lips had been dragged through the Sahara desert after wearing it. It is very long lasting and does leave a slight purple stain on the lips after wearing off.

It felt kind of gritty to me and this is what actually made me look up the Lush website because I was certain that this should have been an eyeshadow rather than a lip colour because of the texture being so dry and powdery but I was proved wrong. I haven't tried using it as a cheek colour mainly because it just doesn't seem like a shade that would work on me that way at all so I can't comment on it for this use.

 



 

Unfortunately this is not a lip product that I found comfortable to wear in any way so I definitely won't be rushing out to try any other shades in the near future.

 

The tip of this one actually broke off after I put it on for the above photo but needless to say, I'm not too disappointed.

 

Has anyone else tried any of the Emotional Brilliance range yet? If so, I'd love to know what you think.

 

Have a great day.

 

Michelle xx 



It's Good To Be Chubby - Clinique Chubby Sticks in Two Ton Tomato and Curvy Candy

Ok, so I know I'm VERY slow with getting on the Clinique Shubby Stick bandwagon but now I finally am I'm hooked!

Have you ever had that one product that you lusted after every day but just couldn't get yourself to actually buy it for some reason? That was me and the Chubby Sticks. I stopped at my local Clinique counter practically every time to drool over these beauties and swatch away, then I would always just walk away empty handed.

Why you ask? Well, I'd read so many mixed reviews for them that I was reluctant to part with what really is a sizeable amount for a glorified tinted lip balm. So, I dreamed my little dream but never took the plunge to actually purchase one.

Then came Valentine's Day this year. Hubby was awesome enough to go out of his way at lunchtime when he was at work and walk up to a Clinique counter and explain his silly wife's obsession to the sales assistant, all while she swatched away so he could try and choose some shades he could see me wearing.  was so impressed because I had no idea of his intentions and I really don't think I have said enough on this blog how much I really do love my hubby :-)

Between the two of them they decided on Two Ton Tomato, a gorgeous sheer red, and Curvy Candy, a lovely sheer flushed pink.

My favourite is definitely Two Ton Tomato and I have been wearing it a lot due to it being just such a lovely, wearable red for everyday.

The Chubby Sticks feel just so moisturising on my lips and amazingly last around 3-4 hours on me without having to be reapplied. They really are a glorified tinted lip balm I'll admit but as far as I'm concerned they can get away with it by being just plain cute and so easy to apply due to the twist up nature of the stick.

(Left: Two Ton Tomato, Right: Curvy Candy)

 

(Wearing Cliniqe Chubby Stick in Two Ton Tomato)

I'm very keen to try out a couple more of these now that I finally have some.

What does everyone else think of the Chubby Stick? Am I the only one who still issues a small giggle whenever I say the name of these?

Have a great week!

Michelle xx

My Favourite Lip Products This Summer

Over the past couple of months I've definitely been all about simple, easy makeup looks due to the hot weather we have been having here in Australia. Also, my skin has been in the best condition it's been in for years and I haven't wanted to hide it by wearing heavy makeup for once.

Due to this I've been favouring fresh and pretty lip colours that are easy to wear with almost any look during the day or night and are also moisturising on the lips as well.

Here are the lip products that have been on high rotation for me this summer:

Listed in Order of Swatches:
1) Avon Simply Pretty Colour Bliss Lipstick in Darling Mauve - Such a pretty bright pink which almost borders on a cool plum. This lipstick has amazing staying power and has rekindled my love for the brand Avon again.
2) Avon Shine Attract Lipstick in Plum Berry - This is an unusual lipstick where the colour is encased inside a clear gloss. It's a colour that is barely there on the lips but it gives such a pretty shine and makes my lips feel lovely and moisturised for hours.
3) Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart - I love this lip butter because it gives just the right amount of colour without being too much of an over-the-top red. These don't stay very long on my lips though and I find I am applying it a lot during the day.
4) Models Prefer Lipstick in After Party - I first mentioned this lipstick here and it is still a favourite that I bring out regularly for a fun night time lip. I am always amazed at how long this lipstick stays on my lips and it never feels dry.
5) Napoleon Perdis Lip Patrol in Private Kiss - This is such a pretty My Lips But Better kind of colour that feels lovely on and is a great lipstick for when you want to have a subtle look but still want a hint of colour.
6) Models Prefer Ultra Lipgloss Pencil in Kiss & Make Up - Probably my favourite lip crayon of all time and my go-to colour when I can't be bothered thinking about what I want to wear. It's a pretty pink that goes with everything and lasts a nice couple of hours on the lips.
7) Face of Australia Sheer Lip Gloss Crayon in Cupcake - I usually wear this pale pink when I don't have much else on my face as it gives a hint of colour without looking like I've really got anything on. These just don't seem to last very long on and need constant re-application which is the only disappointing thing I have found with these crayons.
8) Clinique Long Last Glosswear in Sunset - An old favourite that always comes out this time of year as it's such a pretty gold gloss that gives a lovely shine to the lips and lasts forever.
9) Mirenesse Velvet Lip Lift Moisture Shine in No. 47 - It's no secret I'm a huge fan of these Mirenesse lip glosses and this one is my current favourite as it's a really pretty pale coral shade.
10) Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate - I love the feel of these butters on my lips but I hate the container and having to use my finger or a cotton tip to get the product out. This is such a pretty colour though and makes my lips feel super moisturised when I'm wearing it.

Do you tend to stick with a few favourites at certain times of the year like me?

Michelle xx

Silk Oil of Morocco Lip Gloss in Moroccan Sunrise

I purchased this lip gloss a few weeks ago from the Bellabox shop and have been pleasantly surprised with it so far.

This gloss comes in your typical glass tube with a doe-foot applicator. According to the Silk Oil of Morocco website, these lip glosses contain the following beneficial ingredients:

Certified Organic Argan Oil	Key active ingredient provides hydration to the skin and contains many vitamins and fatty acids that have amazing healing properties. In particular, Vitamin E and Lineoic Acids help protect the skin from oxidisation (aging), environmental pollution and harsh UV rays. It is non-greasy and light.
Spearmint Oil	Naturally restoring and plumping
Tocopheral (Vitamin E)	Heals, rejuvenates, softens, soothes and protects. A powerful anti-oxidant that reduces the aging process.

The shade Moroccan Sunrise is described as a Fuchsia with pinky gold undertones. I'd describe it more as a pinky-peach with quite a bit of shimmer.

Overall I like this gloss and the way it feels on my lips. The spearmint flavouring it quite refreshing and it's not a gloss that's too sticky or gloopy so it stays put on the lips for a good couple of hours.

Personally I would have preferred it to have been a bit more pigmented when applied but it's become a good gloss for me to slap on when I'm in a hurry and don't need to worry about precision. I've also found that it's lovely to apply over any of my pink or peach lipsticks to give them that little bit of extra shine.

Silk Oil of Morocco is Australian made and owned which I just love. It's always good to help support our great Aussie brands.

Has anyone tried any of the other shades in this range?

Michelle xx