Kat Von D Serpentina Eyeshadow Palette

So this is what an impulse buy looks like. Yep, a little while ago when I realised that this palette wasn't going to be around much longer I just HAD to have it, so 'Add to Cart' I did. I didn't need another eyeshadow palette, and I certainly didn't need one with such bright, rainbow shades that can't be used on a daily basis, but, even though I open this up and just stare at it longingly way more than I actually use it, I still don't regret buying it. It's an addiction!

The Kat Von D Serpentina palette contains 8 colourful shades plus a loose gold pigment that can be used alone or over the top of other shadows.

It comes in nice, solid cardboard packaging that closes with a satisfying magnetic catch. It also has a fairly decent size mirror on the inside of the lid.

It's definitely not one of the most practical eyeshadow palettes out there and I find I really have to plan specific looks to get any use out of it, but it's so pretty to look at so I can forgive it's shortcomings, which there are a few of unfortunately.

Firstly, it really needs a nude or lighter shade that can be used as a base and built upon. I find that I reach for one of my nude palettes first before using this one as some extra colour in the crease or as a highlight.

Some of the shades really are beautiful to use and are highly pigmented while others are a bit disappointing and don't show up very well at all.

(Kat Von D Serpentina Palette - L-R - Prophet, Bloodmilk, Medusa, Ankh, Queen, Hieroglyph, Nile, Scarab, Venom)

Here is a little breakdown of the shades:
* Bloodmilk - probably the most disappointing shade in the whole palette. Looks like it should be a spectacular matte red in the pan but ends up being so hard to swatch and get any pigment out of on the lid. Good for blending with other shades but not any good for using on it's own.
* Medusa - this one is a dark, antique gold that has good pigmentation and is nice to blend out. This one is probably as close to a base shade as you can get with this palette.
* Ankh - a dark brown/black with a golden shimmer mixed through. Very hard to blend and can look more dirty on the eye rather than smoky. Good to use to slightly darken the crease or to blend out edges but not much else.
* Queen - a dark burgundy that is nice to blend and has pretty good coverage.
* Hieroglyph - a coppery-orange shade that seems like it should be so much brighter when applied that when it really it.
* Nile - a gorgeous royal blue with a pretty sheen when applied. This one has nice, strong pigmentation and is one of the better shades in the palette.
* Scarab - a pretty, dark green that is definitely the best performing shade as far as pigmentation and blendability go. This one is my favourite.
* Venom - a medium purple with a matte finish. This is the second most disappointing shade. It's very sheer and almost impossible to build up or even out. Such a shame as it looks so pretty in the pan.
* Prophet loose pigment - a pretty, shimmery gold that works great as a highlight shade or for some extra oomph over the top of another on the lid. This one can be very easy to go overboard with though if you're not careful and accidentally pick too much up on your brush.

(L-R - Prophet, Bloodmilk, Medusa, Ankh)

(L-R - Queen, Hieroglyph, Nile, Scarab, Venom)

Overall, it's a palette that definitely has some hits and misses but if you are a Kat Von D fan or just like to have palettes that are more pretty on the eye rather than practical then this one is for you. I'm pretty sure you can still get them on E-bay right now if you feel like being impulsive like me.

What makeup product have you bought on a whim but ended up hardly using?

Have a great week everyone!

Michelle xx

Rimmel Wonder'Fully Real Mascara

Well it seems I have found my latest favourite mascara in the form of Rimmel's Wonder'fully Real.

I have been using this mascara almost on a daily basis for weeks now and just love how I can just apply one coat for a nice and natural look, or add 2-3 coats for a more defined and full lash look depending on what I am going for.

I have been using this mascara in the Shade 001-Black which is a really deep, true black shade. It has a very subtle scent that isn't too strong or overpowering and I hardly even notice it when I'm using it.

The applicator wand is very fine and kind of spiky and it works really well at separating the lashes without making them look too unnatural. 

It doesn't make my lashes clump together at all and I don't really notice much flaking off during the day either, even on a really hot day.

Here is a photo of my lashes before using this mascara and then after applying one coat (with no other eye makeup on):

Overall I seriously love this mascara and will definitely be purchasing some more in the future when this one runs out.

What's your favourite mascara on high rotation at the moment?

Happy Easter Everyone!!

Michelle xx


***This product was received for review but my opinions are unbiased and solely my own***

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***

The Balm 'Balm Jovi Rockstar Palette'

First things first, the only reason I purchased this palette was because of the name. I seriously didn't care what was in it, I just love the name of this palette and it makes me giggle every time I use it. Being a bit of a closet rock fan this palette literally 'sings' to be every time I look at it.

Novelty fun factor aside, this palette really is awesome and I just love how versatile it is. You can create a nice, subtle neutral/nude look as well as a more deeper smokey eye look depending on what you want to go for and it is a great one to take away for a few nights as it contains everything you'd need.

There are twelve eyeshadows in a great mix of matte and shimmery shades, a highlighter, a powder blush plus two lip/cheek creams.

It has a cute heart shaped mirror under the lid flap which is a good, decent size for using on the go. The shadows are easy to blend and buildable shades which don't seem to have too much fallout when applied.

It also contains four suggested looks on the bottom flap in case you are in need of a bit of inspiration on what look to go for.

The highlighter is out of this world in the shimmer stakes so a light hand is needed when using it but it does give a really pretty glow. I also love the powder blush shade as it's a great, everyday shade that goes with pretty much any look.

The cream lip/cheek shades are at both ends of the scale, with a nudish pink for everyday wear and a bright, intense red for a more playful makeup look.

(Eyeshadows - Metal-ica, Adagio, Blink 182, Iron Main-in, Allegro, The Stroke)

(Eyeshadows - Lead Zeppelin, Moderato, rem, Alice Cooper, Presto, Third Eye Blinded)

(Highlighter - Solid Gold and Powder Blush - Don't You Want Me?)

(Lip/Cheek Creams - Milly and Vanilly)

Overall, if you are a bit of a palette junkie like me then you will probably want this one purely for the novelty factor. I definitely get a lot of use out of it when travelling overnight as it's so easy to chuck in my makeup bag along with a mascara and some foundation and I know I have a complete makeup set at my fingertips.

Surprisingly enough, the cardboard packaging has stayed in pretty good condition too even after a fair amount of use and being knocked around in a bag. That's one thing that always concerns me with The Balm products but I haven't had any issues with the packaging on this one yet.

Does anyone else buy products purely for the novelty factor without caring what it actually contains or is that just me?

I hope you all have a lovely day!

Michelle xx

Rimmel 'Fresher Skin' Foundation

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!!

A while ago I received this Rimmel Fresher Skin Foundation to review and I've been putting it off constantly because I just couldn't make my mind up about it. Some days I like it and other days I feel like it's literally the worst foundation I have ever tried to use.

This foundation comes in a small, glass jar which isn't ideal to use in the first place and it always seems to have a really weird, oily residue sitting on the top if it hasn't been used for a day or so. I found that giving it a good shake before use mixes it together a lot better and helps with it applying a lot easier.

(Rimmel Fresher Skin Foundation in 102 - Light Nude)

This foundation is supposed to offer a lightweight and buildable coverage that doesn't clog pores and allows skin to breathe. It also contains an SPF 15 for sun protection.

The first thing that hit me when I started using this foundation was the super strong scent. It's quite overpowering and stays on your skin long after it is applied. I'm not a big fan of strong smelling products that go on my face so this put me off using it too much.

I also don't find that it has much coverage at all and to me it isn't easily buildable if you want more. My skin needs to be having a really good day for me to reach for this foundation as it's coverage works more like a tinted moisturiser or BB cream in my opinion.

It also wears off after only an hour or so and seems to separate on my oily skin if I don't set it really well with some powder first. It does feel lightweight once applied but it's not a foundation I would wear if I had a lot of meetings during the day or was going to be out and about a lot as it just doesn't have the staying power.

I've found that the best way for me to apply it is using a foundation brush to literally 'paint' it onto my skin. This is the only way I seem to be able to avoid streaks and to get an even finish. It just doesn't work for me if I try to use my fingers or a beauty blender.

(Rimmel Fresher Skin Foundation in 102 - Light Nude)

Overall, I find this foundation a big disappointment. It's just not worth the time and effort to get it to look good and that intense smell haunts me all day long.

Has anyone else used this foundation and actually liked it? Maybe there's a trick to using it that I haven't worked out yet?

Have a lovely day!!

Michelle xx


***This product was received for review but my opinions are completely my own***

Rimmel 'The Only 1 Matte' Lipstick Review

I have somehow been sitting on this review for months in my drafts folder and had no idea that I hadn't actually pushed the 'Publish' button on it yet. Ooops, my bad!

Anyhoo, I was lucky enough to receive all 9 shades in the Rimmel 'The Only 1 Matte' range to try out and review and these lipsticks have become a firm favourite that have been on high rotation ever since.

First up I have to say how much I love the packaging of these lipsticks. The red tube really stands out amongst my other lipsticks and I love the way the lid gives a nice, satisfying 'click' when closed so you don't need to be worried about them opening in your makeup bag or handbag.

The coloured strip that shows you the shade each tube contains is also great and they also have a coloured sticker on the base just in case you really need to be sure which one you are picking up, or you prefer to store your lipsticks standing up rather than lying down.

These lipsticks don't bleed into the lip lines and feel nice and comfortable once applied to the lips. They don't leave my lips feeling dry after wearing them but I've found that they do have a tendency to kind of 'bunch up' on the inner lip area if too much is applied which can be a bit unpleasant. I've found that because they are so pigmented you only need to swipe over the lips one or two times to get enough product on there so as long as you don't go too overboard then this problem can be avoided.

These lipsticks tend to wear around the 5-6 hour mark on me before needing to be touched up and as they wear off they leave a nice stain behind.

Here are some swatches:

Shade 101 - Leader of the Pink

* 101 - Leader of the Pink - A pretty and very wearable, everyday pink shade.

Shade 120 - Call the Shots

 * 120 - Call the Shots - A super bright, dark coral/pink. I've found this one a bit more on the drier side to apply.

Shade 200 - Salute

* 200 - Salute - A pinky nude which is a very versatile shade that goes with practically everything.

Shade 500 - Take the Stage

* 500 - Take the Stage - A bright, true red. This one is so creamy to apply and is a spectacular shade of red.

Shade 610 - High Flyer

* 610 - High Flyer - A darker, dusty pink/nude. This one is hands down my favourite shade for everyday wear.

Shade 700 - Trendsetter

* 700 - Trendsetter - A true beige nude. Great shade if you are a nude lover.

Shade 750 - Look Who's Talking

* 750 - Look Who's Talking - A dark chocolate brown shade. It has a lovely consistency but I struggle to wear shades like this with my pale skin tone.

Shade 800 - Run the Show

* 800 - Run the Show - A spectacular, bright lilac. It's much brighter in real life than I could get it to show in a photo. I'm absolutely terrified of wearing this colour out in public but I'm obsessed with it.

Shade 810 - The Matte Factor

* 810 - The Matte Factor - A gorgeous plummy red. This one is my second favourite that I wear on a regular basis.

Rimmel 'The Only 1 Matte' lipsticks

Overall I think these are another great lip product from Rimmel who just keep impressing me again and again on their makeup products.

If you're a fan of the matte lip look then I definitely recommend trying these out.

Have a lovely day!

Michelle xx

Rimmel 'The Only 1' Lipstick Review

Oh, is there any better feeling then opening a new lipstick for the first time and applying it?

I must admit that lipsticks are my weakness. Above all makeup products I just can't seem to go past a good lipstick. I really don't know what it is about a lipstick that appeals to me above a pretty blush, or highlighter or whatever but lipsticks are the one thing I don't think I will ever have enough of.

So, when I was lucky enough to receive some of the Rimmel 'The Only 1' lipsticks to trial I was excited beyond words.

I mean, who wouldn't be excited about looking at such pretties all lined up together, hey?

These Rimmel 'The Only 1' lipsticks come in 15 shades of which I received 5 to try out. They are described as an all-in-one lipstick with long lasting colour, comfort, moisture and wear.

I must say that I am definitely impressed with the colour payoff and wear of these lipsticks considering how affordable they are. They are a dream to apply and leave my lips feeling soft and moisturised for most of the day. I have managed to get a good 5-6 hours out of one application before needing to touch up and they seem to fade to a nice stain once they do start to wear off.

They are a really creamy lipstick that feel almost like butter when applied onto the lips. They are exceptionally pigmented and dry to a very pretty satin-like finish but do have a very strong, sweet, fruity scent and taste when first applied which does tend to fade pretty quickly though. Also, my biggest test for a lipstick is seeing if it bleed into the lip lines and this one passes that test with flying colours!

I also am a huge fan of the rounded bullet as I tend to prefer this shape to your usual pointed lipstick bullet, but I know this shape does have a tendency to turn a lot of people off.

(Left to Right - 120 You're All Mine, 200 It's A Keeper, 510 Best of the Best)

(Left to Right - 600 Peachy-Beachy, 700 Naughty Nude)

The sleek black packaging of these is a winner for me and I absolutely love the coloured strip that represents the shade of lipstick contained within. There is also a coloured label on the bottom that matches the shade as well so it is always easy to pick out the colour you want to wear no matter how you store them.

And here are the all important swatches:

(Top to bottom - 120 You're All Mine, 200 It's A Keeper, 510 The Best Of The Best, 600 Peachy-Beachy, 700 Naughty Nude)

(Rimmel 'The Only 1' Lipstick - 120 You're All Mine)

(Rimmel 'The Only 1' Lipstick - 200 It's A Keeper)

(Rimmel 'The Only 1' Lipstick - 510 Best Of The Best)

(Rimmel 'The Only 1' Lipstick - 600 Peachy-Beachy)

(Rimmel 'The Only 1' Lipstick - 700 Naughty Nude)

My favourite shade is definitely You're All Mine as it's such a pretty, versatile pink that goes with just about every look. Coming a very close second is Best Of The Best which has to be the most brilliant red lipstick I think I own.

Have you tried The Only 1 lipstick yet? If so, what's your favourite shade?

Have a great day!

Michelle xx

Review - Rimmel Fix & Protect Makeup Primer

So, I have been trying to get more into using a primer under my makeup these days as I know it's supposed to make your makeup go on a lot smoother and stay looking fresh for longer. But, as it's just another extra step in this very time-poor working mum's routine I have to admit that I do usually skip it and go straight to applying my foundation first - naughty me!

Since receiving this Rimmel Fix & Protect Makeup Primer to try out I have definitely been making more of a conscious effort to use primer before I apply the rest of my makeup. This primer has the same floral scent as the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation which I quite like and it contains very tiny, shimmery particles which make my skin look luminous and glowing once it is blended in.

The Rimmel Fix & Protect Makeup Primer gives my skin a nice and smooth texture when applied and it makes my foundation feel like it just glides on over the top so easily.

I have also found that wearing this primer on its own with just a bit of pressed powder over the top gives my skin a flawless and smooth look when I am having a good skin day and I don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup.

This primer has an SPF 25 which always makes me happy too as I love having added protection on my skin on sunny days.

I have to admit that I don't really notice too much of a difference in the longevity of my makeup when I am wearing this primer, but it definitely make application easier and adds a glow to my skin that isn't usually there. For these reasons alone I am trying to make sure I don't skip the primer step even when I am in a rush.

Have you tried this Rimmel Fix & Protect Makeup Primer yet? What other primers are you loving right now?

Have a great weekend (or as great as you can if you are getting drenched on the east coast of Australia like me with all this rain!!)

Michelle xx


**This product was provided for consideration but my opinions are all my own**