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***

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 '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

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.

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**

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation Review

A little while ago I was given the opportunity to trial this Rimmel Match Perfection foundation and I have to admit that it has been on very high rotation in my beauty routine ever since.

I received the shade 100 - Ivory which is one of the best matches to my natural pale skin tone that I have found in a foundation in a very long time.

It comes in a glass bottle with a pump action head that gives the perfect amount of coverage for my entire face in just two pumps. Needless to say this foundation will literally last forever with the small amount that needs to be used for each application.

When being applied this foundation blends seamlessly and my favourite way to use it is with a beauty blender. It does work perfectly fine with a foundation brush as well but I find the beauty blender much easier when I am in a rush so that is why I use it more often.

This foundation is around medium coverage on me and can be built up if you want it to cover blemishes a bit more. I absolutely love using it on warmer days as it doesn't feel too heavy on my skin and I just love the fact I don't feel like I have a face full of makeup whenever I am wearing it. It gives a dewy look to the skin when it is first applied and then dries to a more powdery look after a few minutes once it sets.

The Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation has become my go-to foundation on days when I am in a rush and I want something that applies smoothly without needing much effort to blend to look good. It's also great for long work days as my skin never feels too dry or oily at the end of the day after wearing it for 10 hours or so.

Once thing I have to mention though is that it does have a tendency to separate on the oiliest parts of my face if I don't apply a setting powder over the top. It can also sometimes settle into any fine lines on my face after a long day but I'm willing to put up with this when it makes my skin look so nice for the majority of the day beforehand.

It's a nice liquid consistency that's not too runny, nor too thick. It does have a very strong floral-like scent though which does fade quickly once applied, but if you are a bit sensitive to strongly scented products then you may have an issue with this one.

I am also in love with the fact it contains SPF 20 as it means I can skip putting sunscreen on my face beforehand when it's not going to be too hot, or on really sunny days I get that little bit of extra protection when I am wearing it.

This is the first foundation I have ever tried from Rimmel and I am definitely keen to give others from this brand a go now.

Have you tried this foundation or any others from the Rimmel range?

Have an awesome weekend!

Michelle xx


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

Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick Collection

So I'm a little bit late in getting this post up due to having some ridiculously dry lips lately and not wanting to post without showing some lip swatches (beauty blogger problems!)

Anyway, we're off and running now and I am very excited to tell you about the Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Nude Lipstick Collection as these lipsticks have seriously restored my faith in wearing a nude lip.

The five shades I received to try range from a very pale nude to a much darker plummy/brown and I love the way some of them are more brown toned while some have pinkish tones in them as well.

I already owned a couple of Rimmel lipsticks in my collection at home and after trying these ones it has now become one of my favourite lipstick brands as they are all just so creamy and feel almost weightless on the lips once applied.

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Collection)

The shades are all numbered instead of having names (my one little gripe with Rimmel lipsticks!) so from top to bottom the swatches above are 40, 42, 43, 45 and 48.

Shades 42 and 45 are firm favourites of mine and can be used for practically any look depending on whether I want a more brown toned or pink toned nude lip. Shade 40 scares me a little because it is just so pale and against my pale skin tone it makes me feel like I look a little dead, but I have seen photos of it on others with a really dark smoky eye and it looks sensational. Shade 43 is a definite brown toned nude that can also look a little washed out on me unless I brighten up the rest of my face and Shade 48 is one that I can see myself getting a lot of use out of when winter comes around again.

The thing I love most about these lipsticks is that they don't bleed into lip lines and they stay put for a good few hours during the day, even after eating and drinking. They feel nice and hydrating on the lips and are comfortable to wear all day, even if your lips aren't in optimal condition as mine have been lately.

They do have a very strong, sweet scent and taste when first applied though so if you are not a fan of lip products that stay with you for a while then just be warned. It isn't unpleasant, just very noticeable.

Now, here are the lip swatches:

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 40)

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 42)

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 43)

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 45)

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 48)

Has anyone else tried these lipsticks yet? Are you a fan of any other Rimmel lipstick you'd like to tell me about?

Have a great week!

Michelle xx

***These items were provided for consideration but my opinions are solely my own***