Maybelline New York 'Bricks Bronzer'

Most people that know me know that I am not a big bronzer user. I have fairly pale skin and most bronzers just look too orange for me or are virtually impossible to blend on my skin tone. Most of my bronzers have now become eyeshadows and very rarely get used for their original purpose.

This Maybelline New York Bricks Bronzer is a bit of an exception. It gives such a pretty golden glow that isn't too orange and it's light enough to blend in with my fair skin without looking streaky or like I've got a bad fake tan. I do also love using it as an eye shadow on those days when I don't have much time as it gives a nice nude eye look without any fuss.

The bronzer itself doesn't work as a contour for me but I've found that sweeping some of it over my forehead, temples and cheeks gives me a little lift so I don't look so deathly pale.

The highlighter section is made up of a few small 'bricks' that alternate between a pale pink, a darker pink and a shimmery beige. You could use just one square if you were after one of the specific shades (and had a small enough brush) but I like to just sweep my regular brush over all of them together to get a really pretty glow.

I've also been trying out sweeping my brush over the entire pan catching the shimmery shades as well as the bronzer shade all together and using it in place of my regular blush and I find this works really well to give me a nice and natural looking glow on days when I don't want too much colour on my face.

The powder blends nicely and doesn't seem to have any smell at all that I can determine.

You only need to use a very small amount of it for each application as it is highly pigmented so it will literally last forever.

I like the compact plastic case but just wish that it had a mirror built into the lid rather than being see-through.

Overall though, I am a big fan of this bronzer and will continue to use it regularly. For the cheap as chips price tag you really can't go too wrong.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Michelle xx

***This product was sent to me for review but my opinions are completely my own***

Rimmel 'Good To Glow Highlighter' in 001 Notting Hill Glow

I must disclose a bit of a secret, I am a little bit obsessed with liquid highlighters and with adding them to my BB Cream, tinted moisturiser or foundation on a daily basis to add a little bit of glow to my skin. I just love the extra dimension it seems to give my skin and how it makes it look less flat.

So you can imagine how excited I was when asked to trial this Rimmel Good to Glow liquid highlighter as I couldn't wait to start adding it to my daily routine to see how it performed.

I received the shade 001 - Notting Hill Glow which is a really pretty white-gold shade when swatched on its own and which does miraculous things when added to my foundation or moisturiser of a morning.

When used alone as a highlight it's very easy to blend out and build up the intensity depending on how much you want to glow. I have used it on the cheekbones, brow bones and my top lip/cupids bow and it gives a subtle but really pretty glow to those areas once applied.

But, my favourite way to use it is to add a tiny amount to my liquid foundation or tinted moisturiser and it makes my skin look fresh and glowy, especially if my skin isn't in peak condition or I'm feeling a bit tired.

It has hardly any scent but if I do try really hard to smell it I can kind of make out a bit of a sweet scent but it's in no way detectable once applied to the face.

The tube it comes in is a very generous 25ml size which feels like it will literally last forever with the tiny little amount you need to use.

Does anyone else have a bit of a liquid highlighter fetish like me? If so, I'd love to know some of your favourites!

Have a lovely week,
Michelle xx

Becca 'Jaclyn Hill' Champagne Collection Face Palette

So, I have debated writing a review on this palette for months and originally wasn't going to do one because it has kind of been reviewed to death since being released. But, being that it has become a staple in my makeup wardrobe I finally decided that I might as well give my two cents on it as well.

First thing to get out of the way first is this: How friggin' pretty is this damn palette?? I literally hate touching it every time I use it because it is a fingerprint magnet and I just can't seem to stop myself stroking it just a little every time I open it. Yep, I know I have a big problem! But look at it! Just look at it!!! I think it definitely has to be the prettiest and decadent thing that sits on my makeup table at the moment.

(Left to Right - Top Row - Rose Spritz, Amaretto, Pamplemousse - Bottom Row - Champagne Pop, Prosecco Pop)

This palette is so unbelievably versatile and if I had to choose between one face palette to take with me to a deserted island, I think this would be my choice. It contains three totally different shades of blush plus two absolutely gorgeous highlighters and all of the shades are suitable for pretty much any makeup look you may be going for.

The three shades of blush are as follows:
Rose Spritz - This is such a beautiful rose gold shade that contains a hint of shimmer. This one is my most used shade as it goes with absolutely any makeup look and it great for days when I don't feel like doing the whole blush and highlighting thing because it has the pretty shimmer contained in it already.
Amaretto - This is a pretty caramel shade that I find great as a contour for my pale skin tone. I never really like to use shades like this as a blush as they kind of always make my face look dirty but as a contour it rocks.
Pamplemousse - Aside from the name of this shade which seriously makes me smile every time I think about it, this is the most amazing but also terrifying bright pink with a small hint of coral. I use this one very lighthanded as it can easily become a bit clown-like if over-applied.

(Left to Right - Rose Spritz, Amaretto, Pamplemousse)

(With flash)

 As for the highlighters:
Champagne Pop - A pretty gold shimmer with a hint of peachy-pink. This highlighter is super-duper-duper shimmery and can look a little 'disco-ball' if too much is applied. But, if you have a light hand and are strategic with your application of this one, it is truly to die for.
Prosecco Pop - A true gold shimmer that is one of my favourite highlight shades ever. It's not as scary as Champagne Pop so is a little bit more versatile and I love how it leaves a pretty, gold sheen to my face when applied.

(Left to Right - Champagne Pop, Prosecco Pop)

(With flash)

The palette itself is nice and sturdy and even though it is ridiculously reflective, it's easy enough to keep clean and I see it lasting for quite some time. It also contains a nice, decent sized mirror underneath the lid which I really like.

This palette was my first time trying any of the Becca face powders and I really am impressed with how well they perform. They blend like a dream and really do have great colour payoff.

So, that's my two cents worth on this very popular palette. I really do recommend buying it if you've been thinking about it but haven't acted because I promise that you won't be disappointed. I bought mine online from Sephora Australia and I'm pretty sure they are still available for around $89.

Has anyone else fallen in love with this palette as well??

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!

Michelle xx

July 2016 Favourites

So, I'm a few days late with getting my July favourites out but I had a few items this month that I really enjoyed using and just had to share (lets just forget that I haven't done a favourites post in around a year or so shall we!)

So this month I had a little mix of things that I kept going back to again and again. These were:

1) Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - It took me a really long time to get on the Micellar water bandwagon as I was convinced that it was a lot of hype over nothing. But, since I decided to take the plunge and buy some of this at Priceline a few weeks ago I can now see why it is so popular. This product takes off any makeup product it's put up against and does it with very minimal effort. It's non-irritating, even when used for stubborn eye makeup and has no annoying scent or oily residue. My skin feels refreshed and totally clean after use so I will definitely be repurchasing this when it runs out.

2) L'Oreal Infallible Makeup in Creamy Natural - This would have to be hands down my most favourite foundation of all time. I have had this bottle for what seems like forever and I put it aside now and then to use other newer foundations I buy, but then I always go back to it and wonder why I change. It goes on flawlessly using a brush or a beauty blender and stays put all day long. It doesn't sink into my fine lines and gives me great medium to full coverage without looking like I'm wearing a huge amount of makeup. I just love it!

3) Australis AC on Tour Contouring and Highlighting Kit - I was going to do a full review on this product but decided not to as I think it has been reviewed to death. This palette never leaves my makeup table and is my most reached for item at the moment. All of the highlighting powders are the perfect shade for my pale skin and the middle contouring shade is just great. These powders are so easy to blend out and seem to last for the whole work day. They also make good eyeshadows on those days when I'm in a rush and want a quick, neutral look. For the price this has to be one of the most economical palettes out there.

(Australis AC on Tour Contouring and Highlighting Kit)

4) Elizabeth Arden Lipstick in Rose Petal - I have been living in this lipstick this past month as it is the perfect everyday winter shade for me. It is a gorgeous medium, rose-pink shade that is so creamy to apply and it lasts for hours, even through eating and drinking. This formula doesn't sink into lip lines at all and it keeps my lips feeling moisturised and soft all day. I have always been a huge fan of Elizabeth Arden lipsticks and have a few of them in my collection. I don't think they get anywhere near enough attention in the beauty world.

(Elizabeth Arden lipstick in Rose Petal)

5) Sukin Purely Ageless Intensive Firming Serum - I received this is the last Priceline beauty bag and am going to be running back to my nearest store to get more as soon as it is finished. This serum feels just gorgeous on my skin and makes it seem so soft and supple when applied. I absolutely adore the smell as well which is kind of sweet but floral at the same time (I suck at describing scents!) It's not sticky at all and absorbs into my skin straight away so it doesn't feel too heavy when I apply my day or night cream afterwards. I will definitely be repurchasing this.

6) Rimmel Magnif'eyes Eye Shadow Stick and Liner in Back to Blacks and Queens of the Bronzed Age ** - These shadow/liner sticks have been on my eyes almost every day for the past month. They make a subtle daytime smoky eye possible in literally under 2 minutes. My favourite way to apply these is to do a thick swipe of the black shadow along my upper lash line followed by another thick swipe of the bronze shadow on top of the first line. I then quickly grab my eyeshadow brush and then blend, blend, blend upwards until my whole eyelid is covered and I have an unbelievably fast and long-wearing smoky eye. I then like to use the golden liner end to line my lower lashes and highlight the inner corner of my eye. The trick to these is to blend them very quickly as they set fairly fast and then don't budge for the entire day, even on my badly hooded eyes. They are amazing!  

(Rimmel Magnif'eyes Eye Shadow/Liner sticks in Queens of the Bronzed Age and Back to Blacks)

So that's it for my favourites this past month!


Have a great week!

Michelle xx

** Product received for consideration but my thoughts are purely my own.

Disappointment of the Month - Revlon PhotoReady Sculpting Blush Palette in Pink Rose

Well it's been quite a while since I have been disappointed enough in a product to write a post about it but I felt like I really needed to give my thoughts on this one.

I purchased this palette in the last Priceline sale as I own a lot of Revlon products and have never really hit on anything bad from them before, until now!

This palette looked great in-store. It contains a contour shade, a blush and a highlighter as well as a mini application brush and a built-in mirror in the lid.

If you're a regular reader of this blog you will know how much I love my all-in-one palettes so it is very hard for me to resist buying ones that catch my eye. Unfortunately I just can't find much that is positive to say about this one no matter how much I try.

The shades are all so very chalky and sheer and barely show up at all on my fair skin tone. They also contain a huge amount of shimmer so rather than seeing any colour on your skin you just see three different amounts of shimmer wherever it has been applied.

Also, one thing I really dislike is the fact that the powders seem to all get a bit of a hard seal on the top that makes it even harder to get any colour payoff unless you drag your brush over the top of them multiple times. 

I tried so hard to get a good photo of this product and it just wasn't happening. I had to swatch each shade no less than around 10 times just to get enough colour to show up in the below photos.

(Left to right - Contour shade, Blush shade, Highlighter shade - no flash)

(Left to right - Contour shade, Blush shade, Highlighter shade - with flash)

As I don't own any other products from this range, I'm guessing that Revlon's definition of PhotoReady means having no colour on your face whatsoever but lots and lots of shimmer!

Such a shame.....

Have you had any products disappoint you this month? I'd love to hear of any!

Have a great day.

Michelle xx

Getting My Glow On with Rimmel Wake Me Up Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in Shimmering Sand

A little while ago I picked up a tiny tube of wonder from Rimmel called Wake Me Up Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch (to be known as Simmer Touch from this point on :-)) in the shade Shimmering Sand.

At first I was actually at a little loss as to what to use this for. I loved it in Priceline, but when I got it home I started having second thoughts because it seemed a lot darker and more shimmery than I first thought and with my pale skin it was a bit scary.

But, being the persistent being that I am, I finally found a way that I can use Shimmer Touch practically every day, and that is by mixing a drop of it into my Nude by Nature BB Cream of a morningon the days I'm not going to be wearing foundation.  It is well known that the Nude by Nature BB Cream is very, very matte so the two of these products are seriously a match made in heaven. I get a super radiant glow that fools the world into thinking that I do actually get enough sleep and that I'm not stuck inside like a hermit in front of a computer for 12 hours a day.

Now, when I tried to photograph Shimmer Touch it was not playing nice. I just couldn't seem to capture the prettiness of it unless I went out into the backyard in full sun and it still didn't translate well into a photo.

(Rimmel Wake Me Up Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in Shimmering Sand - Full sun)

(Rimmel Wake Me Up Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in Shimmering Sand - Inside in natual light)

Shimmer Touch could be used as a lovely shimmery bronzer or contour shade for those of you that have the skin tone to pull it off. There are four different shades available and Shimmering Sand seems to be the darkest of the lot (in hindsight I really should have gone for a lighter shade but pfft!).

Just be warned that this product really does pack in a lot of shimmer in a small package so a little goes a very long way. Even though it only comes in a 14ml tube I envisage it lasting for quite some time due to the teeny amount that needs to be used for each application.

Has anyone used any of the other shades in this range yet? Are they worth adding to the collection?

Michelle xx

Models Prefer Brow Highlighter

I recently received this Models Prefer Brow Highlighter as part of a beauty bag Priceline was giving away with a purchase up to a certain amount and was instantly intrigued into trying it.

This highlighter comes in the current jumbo crayon form that seems to be everywhere at the moment and is a very soft and blendable formula.

It is supposed to be applied to the arch of the brow to give the appearance of more open eyes and a more defined and lifted look to the eyebrows.

I find it a little too thick and frosty to be applied directly to the arches of my eyebrows but I've found that it makes a great general face highlighter when applied to the tip of a finger and blended onto the skin. It's also great to use on the inner corner of the eye to brighten up the eye itself.

 

(Without flash)

 

(With flash)

The crayon itself it very soft so you only need a light hand to get a lot of the product from it. It really it super shimmery so a little goes a very long way.

This will become part of my everyday travel makeup bag kit as it is a convenient size to carry around without worrying about powder going everywhere and spreading through your handbag for when you want a little extra bit of highlighting to brighten the face during the day.

Has anyone else tried this brow highlighter before?

Michelle xx

December Addiction - Mirenesse Crystal Colour Drops Hydrating Mineral Powders

Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and have great plans to bring in the New Year. Sorry I have been absent a bit lately but hubby has had the week off so we've had some much needed family time which meant blogging had to take a back seat unfortunately. He also rebuilt my laptop during the week (the benefit of living with a Network Engineer) to try and make it run better for me so hopefully I'll have no more issues for a while.

Anyway, today I just had to talk about a product that I have been using non-stop over the past month which is my Mirenesse Crystal Colour Drops Hydrating Mineral Powders.

This is a great multi-use palette which contains a contouring shade, a highlight shade and two blush shades.

It's a huge competitor to my beloved Napoleon Perdis Ultimate Contour Palette which I was obsessed with for a little while, but this one just manages to stay in front by having the extra blush shade.

These powders are lovely and soft and blend perfectly. They are extremely pigmented which means a light hand is needed, especially for the rosy shade and the contouring shade. I am in love with the peachy shade as it is the perfect shade of blush for my pale skintone when I'm after a natural look.

These also make great eyeshadows if you're in a hurry as they don't crease or disappear but last the entire day on the face.

I love multi use palettes like this because they just make life so much easier and are great for travelling.

This palette usually retails for $59.95 but Mirenesse is having a 35% off sale at the moment so you could score it for around $39 if you're quick.

Has anyone else tried this great product yet?

Michelle xx

Mirenesse Haul

So I did it! I joined the Mirenesse VIP club and as soon as I received my first voucher I was online faster than you can say 'Discount!'

I'm extremely happy with what I ordered and it only took three days to arrive with free postage. Win!

Here's what I got for my first VIP order:

1) Spring Racing Pack - This contained the Pore Perfect Cover Air Mousse Primer, the Crystal Colour Drops Hydrating Mineral Powders and the Viva Eternal Gloss in Show Girl. The mousse primer is unbelievable and I think it will become a favourite product of mine and the Mineral Powders is a very good competitor to my Napoleon Ultimate Contour Palette. The lip gloss is a really pretty pale pink with a hint of sparkle.

2) Lip Bomb in no. 9 - This is an amazing lip product that is kind of like a hybrid between a lipstick and a gloss. It seems to be very similar to an OCC Lip Tar in consistency and colour payoff and this one is a bright apricot/pink shade. My only gripe is that Mirenesse give these a number instead of a name. I prefer products to have names so you can relate to them better. Is that weird?

By purchasing the above products I was entitled to receive two freebies and from the selection they gave me I chose the Cheeky Blush in Russian Rose and a sample of the Eclipse Age Defence Daily Face & Neck Mineral Balm. The blush is so gorgeous and I don't want to ruin the pattern on it by using it! I've used the balm once so far and really like it. It also contains an SPF15 which is always a winner with me.

Overall I was super pleased with what I got in this order and am looking forward to trying it all out properly. Next month I think I might have a go at ordering some of their skin care products as I'm curious to see what they are like.

Michelle xx

October Addictions

I surprisingly had quite a few products that I reached for often during the month of October. Due to being so stressed and strapped for time I had a tendency to use pratically the same products every day which is unusual for me as I have a tendency to get bored when I do that.

Here is what I loved using during the month of October:

I was mainly sporting a more neutral 'no-fuss' face during October and the above items were all awesome products that didn't require much effort to use.

1) Eyeshadows - B Collection by Bloom in Sahara Desert and Almay Intense i-colour in Trio for Greens. The Bloom eyeshadow is a no brainer soft coppery brown that is excellent as an all over the lid colour on it's own but also looks great with a little green or purple added into the crease from the Almay palette on days when I could be bothered making a little more effort.

2) Mascara - Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes. I love the way this mascara make my lashes look a mile long but I don't love the black smudges that end up underneath my eyes at the end of the day after using it.

3) Eyeliner - Models Prefer Kohl Pencil in Matte Black. Such a simple eyeliner pencil but it works wonders. It goes on so smooth and easily with no pulling at all and doesn't budge all day or night. Another quality product from this great brand.

4) Primer - Dr Lewinn's Skin Perfect Anti-ageing Primer. I will be posting my review of this soon but needless to say I love it and use it every day. Thank you Beauty Heaven for allowing me to trial such an awesome product!

5) Foundation - Maybelline Fit Me Foundation. The main reason I love this foundation is because it suits my skin tone perfectly which means I can be a bit quicker with my application of it and don't have to be pedantic about blending it in within an inch of its life. It gives me good coverage as well without being too thick and stays in place all day.

6) Face - Napoleon Ultimate Contour Palette. I've reviewed this palette here and it hasn't left my bathroom vanity for over a month now. Totally in love with this product and how quick and easy it makes contouring and highlighting my face.

7) Concealer - Mirenesse Icon Sealer. I have grown to love using this as my undereye concealer as it covers my dark circles excellently and doesn't end up sinking into my fine lines as the day progresses. It's the perfect shade for my skin tone as well so takes minimal effort to blend in. Anything that saves me time in the mornings is a big plus for me!

8) Lips - MOR Lip Nectar in Lychee Flower and ELF Lip Shine in Candlelight. I have been a definite gloss girl during October as it's easier to maintain with minimal effort. The MOR lip nectar is one of the best lip glosses I have ever used and I am in love with the subtle pink flush it gives my lips and the way it seems to stay on for hours. The ELF gloss was a very happy surprise that I got in one of the monthly beauty packs and is such a great nude that goes with anything. It also stays on for a surprisingly long time too.

So that's my list of favourites for the past month. Nothing too exciting but they were products that definitely made the month a lot easier for me.

If you've done a favourites post I'd love to know about it!

Michelle xx

Latest Love - Napoleon Perdis Ultimate Contour Palette

If there was one beauty product I was told I had to use for the rest of my life and never have any other substitute, I'd be over the moon if it was this one. This palette has probably been reviewed within an inch of its life but I felt like I just had to share my experience with it since I purchased it as a birthday present for myself in July this year.

I've seriously fallen deeply in love with this palette and have been wearing it practically every day lately.

The palette is made up of three beautiful shades that match my fair skin tone perfectly.

On the top is a highlighting shade that is so pretty and pearlescent which highlights with just the right amount of glow without making you feel like a disco ball.

The blush shade in the centre is like it was made for my fair skin. I literally feel as if I am glowing and my face always looks so awake when I use this blush. It's the perfect pink that goes with practically any look.

The bottom contour shade terrified me at first because I've never really been able to perfect contouring without looking like I have dirty brown streaks on my face, but this shade is so easy to blend and gives me some of the best cheekbones I have ever had without looking unnatural.


These powders are all very fine and silky and a little goes an extremely long way. They are highly pigmented so are great for fair skin tones when only a small amount is used and would also be fine for darker skin tones if you applied a little more powder to your brush to get a darker colour. They also blend like an absolute dream.

If you are after a great multi-purpose product I highly recommend picking this one up. It has also become a favourite product for me to take away as I know I have three products in one small package which leaves more room for other goodies to be packed instead!

Has anyone else tried this palette as well? Do you love it as much as I do?

Michelle xx

Models Prefer Professional Illuminizor in Illuminate

Lately I have developed a new love in the brand Models Prefer. Everything I've tried from this brand so far has impressed me and their awesome low prices are too good to be true sometimes.

One of the latest products that's been on constant rotation lately is their Illuminizor in the shade Illuminate. I purchased a few products a little while back when Priceline had a buy 2 get 1 free sale and this was one of them.

What the product claims:
'Luminizing cream to highlight the face or body for a natural glow. Enriched with cactus extract and Vitamin E.'

Illuminate gives a really pretty but subtle pink glow and is so easy to blend on the skin.

I love to mix some of this illuminizor in with my foundation as it just wakes my face up and makes my skin look alive, fresh and glowy. It's also lovely as a highlighter on the cheekbones.

I only have one little gripe with this product and that is the pump mechanism on the bottle. I swear mine is bipola. Some days it plays really nice and allows me to dispense just the right amount of product, but then on other days it either spews out a ridiculous amount that would cover my entire body or it spits out in a way that coats me and the rest of my bathroom. See the above picture, this is one pump worth on the left and a small amount blended out on the right.

I think if it came in a tube or other type of packaging that allowed easier dispensing it would almost be faultless.

Has anyone else used this illuminizor before? Are you a fan of Models Prefer products as well?

Michelle xx

Highlighting - My New Obsession

I must admit that I only discovered the whole world of highlighting a couple of months ago. I know, I know, I'm a bit slow on the uptake on these things sometimes but prior to that I was content to be just a foundation and bit of blush kind of girl.

Well, not anymore. Since I purchased my first highlighter that fateful day I have developed a bit of an obsession with achieving a gorgeous glow and don't ever leave the house anymore without applying even just a tiny bit of highlighter, whether I've done the rest of my makeup or not.

The product which started it all is my Prestige Skin Loving Minerals Sunbaked Mineral Bronzing Powder in Pure Shimmer:

I am in love with this powder. It gives such a nice shimmer without being too over-the-top and it's just so pretty to use. I'm even a little obsessed with the smell of this powder. I can't really describe what it is but there's something really addictive about it. I just love swirling a brush over this powder to highlight the tops of my cheeks, my temples, brow bone and the cupids bow area above the top lip.

My second new love which I've acquired recently is my Mirenesse Superlong Wear Gel Mineral Face Colour in Toffee Mousse. This cream to powder formula supposedly can be worn as an eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush, or lip colour but my favourite way to use it is as a highlighter over my normal blush. I don't fair well with creamy eyeshadows because I've got hooded eyelids which always seem to crease if I use this type of formulation and this colour just does not suit being used as an eyeliner or lip colour. Hence, the reason I favour it as a highlighter:

Here is a comparison of these two products. As you can see the Prestige powder is very light and shimmery whereas the Mirenesse cream is a bit heavier which means a much lighter hand is needed when applying that one.

( Prestige Skin Loving Minerals Sunbaked Mineral Bronzing Powder in Pure Shimmer on the top, Mirenesse Superlong Wear Gel Mineral Face Colour in Toffee Mousse on the bottom)

And here is a photo taken last week while we were at the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights show. In this photo I have the Mirenesse cream on my cheeks and brow bone:

(Me getting my glow on with my little man)



What's your favourite highligher at the moment? Do you have any other makeup product that is your favourite instead?