Idiot Proof Makeup Item 2. - Australis Paparazzi Perfect HD Blush

Next on my list of idiot proof makeup is the Paparazzi Perfect HD Blush, I sent one as part of a swap once and the recipient declared it a new Holy Grail product, well, with that kind of statement and while Target have 25% off all makeup, I thought I should try it.  I bought Screen Siren which is a blend of light brown, peach and light plum. I'm not sure why I didn't take a picture of the packaging, guess I was just in too much of a hurry.

What Australis say: Perfectly blended multi-coloured blush that allows for customised shades to suit any complexion. Formulated with light reflecting and balancing photochromatic pigments that assist to create instant camera ready photos. Pigment is high in Mica content providing intense colour payoff. The blush is enriched with Jojoba and Grape seed oil to lock in skin moisture and soothe the skin.

I'm not sure about all of that but I can say it does a great job of being the 'right' shade, I'm light handed with my blush because I'm paranoid but this is one hell of a product, I can also say is goes on smoothly and stays there, it made it through a 36 degree day and jam making- who the hell decided to make jam on a hot day? ah hem, yes, me, I do.
Blends beautifully, looks great, stays in place, doesn't cause break outs...couldn't be any more idiot proof.

So now I want to try the other shades which have adorably names such as:

Shoot to Thrill; a blend of bright pink, light pink and coral pink

Flash It; A blend of beige, pink and brown

Poser; A blend of cream, medium brown and dark brown.

OK I probably won't try Poser because I already know my pale Scottish skin can't pull off that many browns no matter how light handed I am...

Australis products are available at Target, K-mart, Big W and Priceline as well as selected pharmacies.
To find out more, visit the Australis Website.

Essence Vampire's Love Volumizing Lash Powder

I loved the idea of this stuff, powder you put on your lashes to make them appear thicker and longer.  I am hopeless with falsies soooo I need all the help I can get.

It comes from Target for a reasonable-for-an-experiment price of about $6.
Instructions tell you to coat your lashes in mascara, use the brush as you would a mascara wand to adhere powder to lashes and then seal with another coat of mascara.

I did that, it looked good, it really did, I felt like I had something in my eye ALL day and I was completely paranoid that I would have missed a bit and someone would tell me I have 'fluff' in my lashes.  Thankfully, this wasn't the case- although why can't they make it black, or in an assortment of colours for fun?

The next time I used it, is tipped my head forward so that I was looking over my mirror, the effect wasn't as good doing it this way but I did at least manage to avoid the dreaded 'something in my eye-must rub-have to rub-must rub my eye' feeling.  From then on this is how I used it and I think its cool to make spidery lashes for a night out.

My biggest complaint is the design of the packaging, 1. I have to keep the little plastic box because I'm worried about loosing the wand (although I have a stash of disposable so not sure why) and 2. It doesn't lend itself to the function of the product, you can't get the stuff on the brush, either you jab it in which is near on impossible or as I do you tip a bit out and roll the brush end in it.  Maybe a flatter design would make more sense, but for $6 what do you expect?

If like me you suck at applying false lashes, this is a great idea, if however you don't suck, I'd suggest the lashes are easier.

My first EVER FOTD

OK, so I did my makeup for fun and I thought, hey, that's cool, I should take a pic and to a Face of The Day pose, except I hated every every every picture of me, it was awful, here is the only one I took that I liked.

OK, its of my cat, who happened to be there while I was getting irritated by the fact that in the mirror, my makeup looked cool and I looked human, but as soon as I tried to take a picture my face, seemed to become completely out of proportion, my giant eyes even more so, my eyebrows at different heights (which I'm not so secretly sure they are) and also 1 eye bigger than the other, basically none of them did my makeup justice and it was all really pissing me off, so, I took a picture of the cat.

Here is a selection of the pictures I hated the least, although I still don't like any of them...

At least in the last one you can see my eye makeup is at least OK, seriously I swear it looks better in person...

Even as I look at those pictures now, I hate them more, I mean look at the size of my nose!  I was seriously [ ] this close to taking it all off, convinced it was shit.

The products I used:

Oh and a primer which I forgot to photograph.

Face

Stilla sheer colour in medium mixed with

FoA Mineral Therepy Illuminator: Angel Mist, which seemed too light so on top I put

Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Tinted Moisturiser: light/medium

Cheeks

FoA Mineral Therepy Illuminator: Angel Blush

Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush: Flash It

Eyes

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Nyx Dramatic Chromatic Pigment: Pearly White

Illamasqua Powder Eyeshadow: Victim

Bourjois eyeshadow: 02

Essence Kajal Pencil: 11 Cool Breeze

Maybelline Lash Steiletto: Soft Black

Loreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon black (I got this as part of a makeup swap with Amber from Glamtrotter, it is not available in Australia, as far as I'm aware)

Lips
Sheercover lip gloss- Pink Praline

And that's it, lots of eye makeup...I love it.  I don't however love trying to get a picture, maybe in future I'll just stick to EOTDs instead....

Idiot Proof Makeup Item 1. - Nutrimetics Smokey Eye Stick

Nutrimetics, in my opinion,  has, for years, been over looked as a source of great products, it was makeup and stuff sold by your friend's Nan, that was daggy and ugly... not any more.  Modern Nutrimetics has really stepped it up in order to compete with many other brands. 
Our local consultant is BRILLIANT and lets us hold Nutrimetics parties at her house so we can really try before we buy. (it is probably easier for her not to lug the stuff around, but its SO much easier for us, not to worry about getting our living rooms clear) with that, I have a few products that I have bought that I want to share.  First off the ranks is the Smokey Eye Stick.


This little doova (yes, it is a word...now) is so clever.  It really is fool proof, there is no holding it a certain way to make it work, so you can hold it at any angle to get the job done.

What they say: "Super easy smokey eyes. It has never been this easy to get perfect smokey eyes. The nc Smokey Eye Stick has an easy to apply, glide-on formula that blends beautifully and will last all night. In a delightfully embellished case it is a makeup bag essential and your solution to party eyes."


I'd agree with most of that, except the embellished case, it looks a little like a Christmas decoration, but that's got nothing to do with the ability of the product.  Basically, to use it, you line your whole eye, then smudge it, add mascara and you're done.  Unless you're like me, that is too simple to you'll probably add some shadows, maybe some highlighter to the brow bone, line the water line etc...but the point is, you don't HAVE to.  It is a more or less stand alone product, and most importantly, its fun. 
I was worried that because it glides on so easily it would feel sticky, but it didn't, I also thought because it smudged so well it would come off and smudge everywhere through the evening, but it didn't.  I have seen this product used by 3 different people (in 3 different looks) through a whole evening and not one looked like she 'walked into a door' at any point.  It held up well and still looked good late into the evening.


I do declare this makeup *Idiot Proof* 




You can find the Smokey Eye Stick here or contact your local Nutrimetics consultant.

Idiot Proof Makeup

I probably like to think I'm better with makeup than I actually am...but I don't care.  I love playing with makeup and as long as I'm happy with how it looks what more is there?  Makeup is mostly personal choice, so, if I want to wear BRIGHT aqua shadows, I will and I have friends who hate it....but i don't care.  As far as my skills go? I'm pretty good with a blending brush, I can line my eyes like a demon and wing it if necessary (in every sense of the phrase).  I know where the blush should sit, I can cover all kinds of skin sins with concealers of different shades and types, and, as a single mum of a 2 yr old I know EXACTLY how to fake that 'I'm awake and radiant' look. 
Having said that, I have Scottish skin and a paranoia of looking orange, so I'm not so great with bronzer etc.  I'm also lazy, so if something can be make quick to allow me extra snooze time? I'M ON IT!  Thankfully I'm not the 1st and I WILL NOT be the last to feel this, as I pay more attention to new products, go to cosmetics parties with my novice friends and read more how-tos I am becoming more and more aware of a whole world DEVOTED to fast, easy and therefore idiot proof makeup. 
Let me just say though, I am in no way calling the users of these products idiots, well maybe, I sort of am, BUT I  am including myself in that too.

I don't have any pictures for this topic that aren't individual products, so instead here is a picture of the reason I learnt to look awake with makeup. - Raiding the jam cupboard.

Essence Sun Club Range - Eye Makeup Remover Gel

We all know I'm a fan of the 'Essence' its price, colours, quality, everything.  So this led me to try their eye makeup removed gel.  Basically, as with all other Essence products, it does exactly what it says on the bottle.  That is, with the exception of removing the gel liner.  All in all it took off all my other eye makeup really well, because it is a gel it was cooling and didn't tug.  My favourite eye makeup removed is a Clinique one but at $35 I'm willing to find another brand. 

All in all, for normal makeup the Essence Gel works really well, just not so much on the waterproof gel liner.  I had to use lots and rub a bit, which I hate to have to do because my eyes are pretty sensitive.
Cheap, effective and goodly!

Essence Sun Club Range - Liner Brush

Essence declare this as a 'Gel Liner Brush' but to everyone else its just a liner brush, more than OK to use with powders too. Its about $3 and I bought it to try with the Essence Gel Liner.

Its a great brush and it was super cheap, at 1st i thought it was a little too soft, but it worked really well.  Did exactly what it said on the pack. A for Awesome.  I'm hoping this is the beginning of a potential set form Essence, so far I'm been nothing but impressed with this company, its so affordable, and to date the quality has been great. Essence Available and Target (not sure if it is every Target, sorry)

Essence Sun Club Range - Gel Liner

Essence, is a relatively new brand on the shelves of Target stores.  I've already written about the You Rock range, but another range is the "Sun Club", it seems a bit late for the Australian summer (I use the term loosely as the weather has been unsure as to what season it is) but that won't stop me loving it.

First off the ranks in the gel liner.  I was immediately drawn to this because of the colour, I'm a sucker for teals/aquas/blue/greens and anything similar.  I bought BBC All Night Blue. It claims to be waterproof, and as it is a gel liner you obviously apply it with a brush which is also available and which I purchased also.  The Liner retails at about AU$6 and the brush at about AU$3.

I have to apologise for the lack/quality of these photos, but its not the easiest thing to capture.

This is the container, pretty standard, small screw top jar.  Its about as easy to apply as any other gel liners, if you can use them you will be laughing with this.

As for being waterproof....BIG YES.  Once it had dried, its damn near impossible to get off.  I still have some on my hand from cleaning the brush... My test was to wash the rest of my face, without rubbing my eyes.  Sure sure, a real life beach test might have been more authentic BUT if it had failed I would have had blue running down my face.  Best avoided by a controlled experiment...in my bathroom.

So basically.....
Colour selection....its a summer line so mostly brights, but with some neutrals and even a black, I don't know how this black differs from the non 'Sun Club' it is the same price. B for Bordering on Awesome.
Price....It is less than $10 for a waterproof gel liner A+ for Awesome+
Wearability....I'll wear any colour, except yellow, I'm just not sure about yellow eye makeup.... BUT A for Awesome.
Durability....If you're not sure you want a tattoo yet, but you want to give it a try, these liners would be perfect for a trial, long lasting, waterproof etc A. for yep, you guessed it Awesome.

The Dirty (half) Dozen Pt2

For the last week, I've been trying to use up the Dirty (half) Dozen so far I've been going reasonably well. 

Just to recap here they are

Sooo, the City Block seems to have separated or something and I swear looks kinda green so I threw it out, I'm not messing with potentially 'off' skincare.
The cat knocked my lippie into the cat litter, not sure how, but I'm not using that again, so it went in the bin.(thanks Heston, it looked crappy anyway-do it with any other product and I'll bath you)
The liners I'm using every day, as with one, or other of the shadows, except today, today I needed more than matte neutrals but less than silver/purple smokey eye.
All in all, I'm getting through it, although I already know I'm going to cave, I have heard so much about the Face Of Australia Lip Quench Moisturising Lipsticks I've already accepted I'm going to give in.  In particular to one or more of these:

Because they are gorgeous and if the hype (of which there is lots) is to be believed they are more than worth the <$10 price tag... I have no will power, but also, I don't want to be last to love these...

Mrs. Bunny Essentials kit

This post is mostly just to show off my new (OK I've had it for a few weeks now) brush set from Sigma. It is so pretty, I had a discount code so I didn't pay full price AND I got free shipping, but for the number and quality of brushes the US$109 price tag isn't that bad (in my opinion) best of all, the 12 piece brush count doesn't include annoying things like eyelash combs, sure, we all need one, yes, ONE not one per brush set.  (seriously, if anyone wants a lash comb, let me know)

So when it came out of the Parcel, it looked like this, so cute.

Inside the box is an even more cute case which holds all the brushes to keep them safe. 

Then this conveniently opens out to be 2 brush holders. 

The brush handles themselves are baby blue, as you can just see, with pink ferrules, the bristles are 100% synthetic and vegan friendly. You can find this set here.  It is also available in black as the MR. bunny set.  Either in the essentials kit, as I have or the travel kit, a smaller more compact kit.

For interests sake the number/type of brushes are as follows:

Eye Liner - E05 An extra fine-tipped brush that delivers a precise, firm, even stroke to line the eyes. Synthetic bristles.

Pencil - E30 Precise application of colour on the crease, outer corner, upper and lower lash line.

Tapered Blending - E40 Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend colour on the crease.

Eye Shading - E55 Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments.

Large Shader - E60 Flat shape is ideal for application of cream formulas and eye shadow primers.

Small Angle - E65 Essential for the application of gel or cream eye liner on the upper and lower lash line.

Medium Angled Shading - E70 Angled, tapered, flat top. Ideal to apply highlight shades underneath the eyebrow and on the inner corners.

Large Powder - F30 Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body.

Large Angled Contour - F40 The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades.

Duo Fibre - F50 Specially designed to generate an airbrushed finish when used to apply blush, highlight shades and foundation.

Foundation - F60 Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. Recommended to apply moisturisers and conceal large areas.

Concealer - F70 The rounded, tapered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area.

My new current obsession!

Any of my dear friends have no doubt answered this question in a rather smart assed fashion....BUT my current and new obsession is "Australis Paparazzi Perfect Tinted Moisturiser".
It comes in light/medium and medium/dark and has a SPF of 15.  Available from all Australia stockists for about $15.

I love tinted moisturisers, and if they have an SPF even more so, this gives a great coverage to even out skin tone but does not feel like you are wearing anything.  I love it, its perfect for work as it's quick and not makeupy at all.  The colour lasts a work day and all in all I have nothing bad to say about it.  I can easily see it making the way into the 'most reached for products' and I've only been using it for little over a week, albeit everyday.  Because this is a moisturiser, I can so claim it as part of my 'no makeup' skin care routine!
All in all, great price, great job, great product.

You Rock?!?

Available from Target now is the 'Essence' range, (very) affordable makeup with some pretty cool themes, the first on my list is the 'You Rock' range, and in particular, the eye-shadow primer and the eye-shadow palette.

Both of these items are around the $5 mark but will be found cheaper during one of the many x% off cosmetics sales that Target have often.

In the palette there are 6 shadows, 1 liner and a double ended brush/sponge, with a mirror in the lid.  For the purpose of reviewing this product I tried to use the set as it came, that is, I used the shadows with the brush provided. as one would be expected to do.

As you can see, the shadows are all very nice and neutral, except that green, I used most of them in the look I created but decided not to add the green.
The primer has a lovely shimmery finish.  It helped the shadows stay on for a full day, which is all you can expect, I wasn't willing to sleep in them just to prove a point.
The shadows are nicely pigmented and for the most part complement each other well.
The liner is VERY soft, so if you're not a dab hand in the liner pencil department I'd use with extreme caution.
The only thing I didn't like about this set was the brush, I found it too firm to blend with, but great for adding colour, to get around this I ended up using a fluffy brush to blend.
All in all, for the money this little kit is pretty good and well worth your money. The primer is great and the shadows well worth the money.  Also if you know any makeup lovers, this would be a great gift.

Essence, at Target now.

The Dirty (half) Dozen

OK, so it is no surprise to ANYONE that I have a lot of beauty products, I've only ever touched pan on about 3 eye shadows and 1 blush- the only reason I used so much blush was because expertly applying it to parts of the face/body did a good enough job of making me look sick, this in turn got me out of gym classes in school, it wasn't the classes I hated, so much as the requirement to wear bottle green cheap nylon shorts....yuck.  I digress....I have lots of stuff.  SO, to encourage me to 1. Use up some stuff and 2. Not buy any more stuff, I have collected together a few items I will use up PRIOR to buying ANY more...
I will:

• Use up these products, posting pictures of empty packaging as I do so.
• Not buy any new items until I have done so.  (gifts don't count and items order before today that have not yet arrived are also obviously excluded)

So without further ado, I present the 6 items (technically 7 but 2 items are the same)

Item 1.  Clinique City Block, this item is one which I SHOULD use every day, and I'm slack so I don't, BUT if I include it here I have to.  Win Win Item 2. Physicians Formula baked eye shadow.  Good stuff, nice neutral colours, was a gift with some other eBay purchases, really need to use it up, takes up a lot of space. - I plan to use all of these but realistically the lighter 2 will go 1st.
Item 3: Nutrimetics lippie in "Sugary" every year my Relay for Life team have a lip-stick drive, these babies come down to $10 and a percentage goes to our team in aid of the Cancer Council....its my part for charity, but I should really use this one up before the next drive.
Item 4: Australis eyeshadow in "Electra" these shadows and great, smooth, brilliant colour, a must have for a fool proof smokey eye, so its about time I used them up. Again, I plan to use all 3 colours but the silver will be gone first.
Item 5: Mirenesse Absolutely Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in "Sheer Pearl" this is a sample size, its good stuff so it needs used up so I can decide whether its worth purchasing 
Item 6(&7): Rimmel eye liners in "Jet Black".  This has been my liner of choice for as long as I can remember. They get smallish so I replace them, these need used up- to a point where sharpening them is too difficult.


I think I've included a fair selection of stuff, its not like I can ONLY use these products, its just that nothing gets bought until they're gone.  No promises though...I am only human.