Fables in Fashion

Pros:

• Great pigmentation
• Easy to use elegant packaging
• Easy to obtain
• Array of wearable colours

Cons:

• Limited colours (nothing overly unique)
• Texture can vary between colours

Price: $16.95AU

Where: Priceline, Coles, Woolsworth, Chemists etc

Currently, this is my favourite non-high end lipstick, the packaging is what caught my eye initially as it reminds me of Lancome products.

That aside, the quality of this product is lovely, it may not be as creamy as say YSL’s Rouge Volupte, but given the price point, some of the formulas are pretty close. I say some because for example, Pink Sand is a more frost finish and tends to feel a tad drier than Pink Please, which is a delightfully pigmented cream matte. That said, I would still recommend applying some lip balm first.

Throughout the day (including snacking and lunch) I’d say I would need to reapply this maybe 1-2 times after the initial morning application.

As mentioned above, the texture, finish and pigmentation varies from colour to colour. My least favourite finishes are the ones with frost, as the colour pay off tends to be lighter and less consistent. I tried my best to swatch the ones I currently own to hopefully give you a better idea as to what I mean:

In general, I would definitely recommend you try these out in person and avoid buying online if you can. As you can see, there is a big difference between the swatches and actual product, so try first. These lipsticks are great for everyday / general purpose. However, if you’re a costumer / makeup “artist” (I use the term lightly because I’m not an actual makeup artist, but as you can see from my lookbooks, I like to create art with makeup), I’d be keener on a wider range of colours. So I tend to only use these for work / outings etc.

So if you’re looking for good quality non-high end lipsticks, I would highly recommend these! You won’t be disappointed (In fact I need to purposely avoid walking past a Maybelline display every time I do my weekly Priceline run else I may end up drowning in these!)

Shimmering Slate, Illuminating Indigo, Glistening Green, Brilliant Bronze, Pearlescent Plum

Pros:

• Fantastic price
• Very pigmented
• Smooth application
• Strong staying power

Cons:

• Can flake off under warm water
• Sharpening can be messy

Price: $7.95AU

Where: Priceline

One of the problems with reading primarily American / British beauty blogs is that half the products they talk about, I can’t easily test / try out without buying it online (and even that can present it’s own set of obstacles). So when I made my weekly voyage into Priceline, I was talking to one of the SA about trying to find a creamy pencil liner that doesn’t budge. She recommended this.

Saavy by DB is a local brand, made in Germany, but distributed within Victoria (state loyalty!)

What I loved most about this liner is how it glides on my lids, absolutely no tugging at all (a personal pet peeve of mine, looking at you NYX pencil eye liners ). The colour pay off is amazing, exactly how it appears on the pencil. It goes on very creamy, and after about 20 seconds it dries and is almost impossible to budge. I wear mine to work, 14 hours later, you will notice hardly any wear.

And the best part is how cheap it is! The average MAC liner is around $30 – 35ish, so these are amazing! In fact after trying out the black, I had to go back and buy every colour, I’m a bit of a collector at heart. I also have Glitzy Gold, but unfortunately forgot to include it in the photos

My only complaint would be sharpening them, I personally haven’t done so yet (a little goes a long way), but given how soft and creamy the colour is, I think you could run into quite a bit of wastage during sharpening. Still, for $8, totally worth it

P.S: Since discovering Savvy by DB, I thought it would be cool start a Local Luxe series and include more local / Australian makeup brands on my blog So I will try my best to hunt them down, try them out and let you guys know whether they measure up Feel free to recommend brands if you know of any!

Pros:

• Good way to store your brushes
• Maintains brush shape

Cons:

• Can damage brushes whilst traveling
• Brushes take longer to dry

Price: $5.50US Variety Pack

Where: The Brush Guard

I first discovered these via some popular makeup gurus on YouTube thanks to some sponsored competition / event. Nothing similar existed in the market at the time (not sure about now?), and I figured I’d give it a go.

They are definitely an interesting asset to my brush storage regime, but certainly not the HG the youtube videos made them out to be. They are certainly useful in storing brushes at home whilst not in use, or for drying. But perhaps I dry my brushes too effectively? When I store them upside down to dry, not a single drop of water appears at the bottom of my cup, which makes me think I probably could do without the brush guard and let my brushes dry on their side. I’ve been using my brushes for a couple of years now using this technique, and no issues thus far. In that sense, it’s more a nice to have, than a need.

Keep in mind, when you do dry them in this manner, especially for the thicker brushes, it can take quite a bit longer. For example, my 109 MAC brush took about 2 days to dry, as opposed to under a day / over night when on it’s side.

One thing I wouldn’t do is use them for traveling if you store your brushes in a bag. The brushes will tend to move around, and my bristles become lodged in the netting of the brush guard. After the 12 hour flight, when I pulled my brushes out I found quite a few bristles bent backwards So for travel, stick to something that doesn’t contain netting, or if you insist on using the brush guard, keep your brushes in a brush roll to stop them from moving around.

Overall I don’t regret purchasing this product, but I most likely won’t be repurchasing once mine are worn out.

Pros:

• Applies like a dream
• So pigmented that a little goes a long way
• Great opacity, 3 coats would be completely solid

Cons:

• Not everyone will love this colour

Price: $22AU

Where: MAC website, Myer, David Jones or any stand alone MAC stores.

Apologies for the less that presentable photos, these were taken with my iPhone, because I was THAT eager to post that I couldn’t wait till I got home from work to take proper photos / edit / watermark etc.

It’s pretty rare for me to use a product and think, “omgosh I’m in love / need to tell everyone!”.

Generally MAC Lacquers are easy to use and apply pretty well. If it weren’t for the heavy price tag I’m sure I’d own a few more. But generally, they’re nothing special to me, that is till I met Scorcher. Part of the To The Beach collection, I picked this up upon the recommendation of some beauty gurus and I do not regret it one bit! If all MAC polishes would apply this well, I’d have every single colour!

Usually, I need to have at least one side of the brush completely saturated in product to fully cover one of my nails, I literally needed half a drop to completely and comfortably cover an entire nail with Scorcher. It is so pigmented, my favourite kind of product! A little goes a long way, which is the number 1 thing on my list when colour is involved.

I wonder if it was the formula or the brush, but I didn’t mess up the application at all. Usually I’ll go over my cuticles, over the sides etc, which usually means a bit of a clean up after wards. Not this time, it was like I had complete effortless control. And on top of all that, the colour is amazing! I’ve really been into some of the bright matte / cream colours this Winter, maybe it’s my rebellion against the cold? Though I feel a change coming on next week, gotta start embracing Winter before Spring arrives I think.

Overall, so glad this is now part of my collection, I love it! No regrets~ I really hope MAC keeps up the great work and I’m sure a couple more bottles will find their way into my home

Lately I’ve been on a huge mascara spree, trying everything I can find~

Covergirl’s traditional LashBlast is most likely one of my HG mascaras (can you really call it HG if you have more than one!?)

So of course I wanted to try out the other mascaras from the LashBlast series, unfortunately they don’t currently stock the LashBlast Fusion mascara in Australia So I’ll be leaving that out *sigh*

LastBlast Luxe
I purchased this online for a very discounted rate, though I can’t quite remember the exact URL According to the website, this particular mascara is tinted with shimmers for that extra sparkle to the eyes. Honestly, as you can see in the photo below, I see no shimmer at all. However, it’s a solid mascara, it isn’t as easy to apply as the original LashBlast as it does take a bit longer to really get the formula to stick.

However, the up side of this mascara is it’s buildability. I’ve found it very easy to build luxious even lashes without becoming clumpy at all.

The colour I’m using is called Black Platinum.

LastBlast Length
This is the lengthing alternative of the original LashBlast formula. And it is a great lengthening mascara because it’s also wonderful at seperately all my lashes, making me look like I have many more than I do! It does take a bit of work to get the right look, but practice this is hardly a sacrifice for long lashes.

This would be the perfect mascara if the formula was more thickening. But I can compensate by throwing up a very light layer of the original LashBlast.

The colour I’m using is called Very Black.

LastBlast
The original LastBlast formula, and as mentioned one of my HG mascaras. It’s a great volumising formula, that is very quick to apply. Huge deal for me given how rushed I am in the mornings to get to work. I do find that the formula can be a little clumpy if you don’t watch what you are doing, but nothing a bit more practice can’t take care of.

I know it appears sparse in the photo below, but I’d be tempted to blame the strange lighting (it was a very cloudy day, so I had to rely on lamps) I was getting on the day because this mascara doesn’t disappoint thickening wise.

The colour I’m using is called Very Black.

Verdict?
Why LashBlast of course! Original and still the best But this is coming from a girl who can’t spend more than 5-10 mins in the morning doing her makeup, so speed is the most important thing for me. If I’ve got the time, I’d certainly invest in the two above~ Completely depends on what your lifestyle is like! (But as a beauty blogger, I’ll probably continue to buy them hehe)

Pros:

• Removes most makeup instantly
• Gentle on skin
• Water based

Cons:

• Won’t remove waterproof makeup

Price: $34AU

Where: MAC website, Myer, David Jones or any stand alone MAC stores.

It’s been a whilst since I’ve done a review, that’s mostly because I haven’t come across any noticable new products lately. I know this makeup remover is not new by any means, but it is brand new to me!

I used to use Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make-up Remover (was on my 2nd bottle), but one day I got a sample size of MAC’s remover and decided to give it a go since I remember my dear Sefie talking about that being the remover she used. And wow, it was amazing! When it removed my very heavy eye makeup in one swipe I knew I was converted. The product is very concentrated, so you really only need a little bit to remove a lot of makeup all over the face (not just the eyes).

Given my oily skin, I absolutely can’t stand oil-based removers (not to mention how inconvenient it is when I’m in a rush), so I love that this is water based. It’s also very gentle to my skin, no irritation what so ever. It isn’t drying so I actually use this in between makeup looks throughout the day since it’s so gentle yet efficient! (I used to use makeup wipes, but using them twice in a row left my skin feeling a bit raw)

The down side is it won’t remove waterproof makeup, but I don’t use waterproof makeup at all, so this is never a problem for me If you do, I would recommend an oil based remover. I keep on in my collection just incase.

I know it’s not the cheapest remover, but I would still recommend this to anyone. MAC is generally pricy, so if you’re going to walk away with one product, I’d pick this!

Pros:

• Long wand, makes for easy application
• Smooth formula, no clumping
• No smudging (lasts all day)

Cons:

• Could use a little bit more volume, personal choice

Where: Any Priceline, maybe supermarkets

Price: ~$14AU

This is Maybelline’s latest lengthening mascara, I’ve seen it spammed in almost all my fashion magazines, and with Priceline’s latest by 2 get 1 one Maybelline product free, I figured why not?

Last Stiletto is a solid mascara. Despite not getting the waterproof version, it did me proud throughout the day. If I wear makeup to work, I’ll put it on at around 7am, and I need it to last me till at least 7pm. So that’s 12 hrs, and this mascara did last that long without any smudging! (So long as there are no tears of course)

Personally, I tend to be a volume mascara kind of girl, so I’m not sure I would repurchase, but it’s definitely not a waste of money and will be completely used up

Right eye has the product, left eye is product-less. I’m wearing the shade Very Black.

This won’t be your standard review, rather an overview This is the palette used for my Lookbook #5 entry. Having a bit of a collectors personality, since I already owned the 88 shimmer, matte and warm palette, when I saw metal mania appear on Coastal Scents’ website, I just knew I had to have it.

After all, the palette (and CS palettes in general) in comparison to other eyeshadows is insanely good priced! Buy 2 MAC eyeshadows can cover both the palette and postage!

This is great for a neutral autumn / winters looks (so perfect for those of us living in the Southern Hemisphere), I would definitely choose this over the Warm palette, purely for the variation. Planning to utilise this palette a lot more for future looks and everyday wear You can order them online from Coastal Scent’s website for $24.95US.

Pros:

• Applies smoothly
• Blends like a dream
• Has SPF 20
• Skin appears naturally smoother and clearer

Cons:

• Can start to feel a little oily after a while
• Doesn’t mix well with face powder

Where: Any Laura Mercier counter (Myer or David Jones), or StrawberryNET or Kiss and Makeup

Price: $76AU at Laura Mercier counters, but substantially less on-line.

My favourite tinted moisturiser! Took me a while to find it too. Mainly because the frightening price point, but in this case you do get what you pay for. It’s great for a natural look, it softens all mild to medium imperfections (in my case the light freckles I have on my cheeks become almost invisible). The Oil-free version may be a bit drying for those with dry skin (I personally have oily skin), so use your common sense when choosing between Oil or Oil-free. Great for mildly lightening your dark circles too, and the best part is that it contains SPF 20

I applied this with my fingers, as it says so on the packaging. Just pump out a bit on the back of your hand to warm it up for easier application. You can use a brush if you want, but I find too much of the product gets caught in my bristles, and given how expensive this is I want it to last me a very long time. If I do use it, I only apply it under my eyes, cheeks and nose, not my whole face. Obviously if you want stronger coverage, I’d go for a foundation instead.

I would however avoid putting powder over your face after application, even if you do find it to be too shiny (use blotting paper instead), I find the powder can become a little cakey, nothing overly noticeable, except when I make an angry face and you see the powder crack at my wrinkles >_O I like my makeup to appear flawless when looking into a magnified mirror!

For those who are curious, my perfect shade is a mixture of Nude and Porcelain.

Pros:

• Goes on smooth as a liner
• Soft creamy formula
• Works as liner or shadow base
• Strong pigmentation

Cons:

• Can be hard to blend
• Cannot be used as a shadow
• Available only online

Price: $38AU

Where: MAC website

This is the second item I bought from MAC’s Art Supplies range. These remind of me NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils, and honestly they work in a very similar way. Great as a nice liner, goes on smooth and even. I’d definitely go to this for a smokey eye effect as it’s easy to smudge out. Also works great as a colour base for your shadows. Mine really brings out the colour intensity of my shadows, a big plus.

However, I’d be weary about using this as a stand alone shadow, as it will after time tend to collect in your creases, not a great look. The other downside is that it was only available online, which is something I generally hate about makeup. I love being able to try it out first before putting my money down, but I took the plunge and bought one when I discovered the free shipping promo.

Honestly, this isn’t an essential product in any person’s makeup collection. It’s a wonderful product, and a great nice to have, but it doesn’t do anything the NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils won’t do (and they do it at about 10% of the cost!). So only get it if you’ve got extra cash or are feeling curious like me