The palette comes packaged in a cute little box peppered with little eyes of Alber Elbaz's own design, and the magnetic closure palette is functional and sturdy.
Before I launch into my little gushing speech about this gorgeous baby, let me show you a couple of videos that I also showed on my Facebook page a little while back (you can follow me on Facebook for sale updates, brand news and little snapshots of my life) of the brand's introduction to the collaboration:
So the Doll Eyes palette is a collection of silvery taupes and light pinks, designed to enhance your eyes to give them a doll-like appearance. I absolutely adore this palette, because before this, all I'd been able to create was a warm tonal look, like the one I did in this tutorial on YouTube:
A cool-toned tonal look was just out of my reach, because it was so difficult to find the perfect silvery-taupe colour (a pure silver would look to stark on my neutral/warm skin), and everything just made me look incredibly washed out. These colours, on the other hand, have a beautiful balance between that gorgeous cool, ethereal silver, and browns with a more neutral purple undertone, shown in the swatches below:
With these gorgeous colours, I was able to create the look below:
In the pictures above, I am wearing the lightest silver colour (bottom row, middle column in the palette) all over my lid, with a little warm contour colour run through my crease. The warm contour really ties the look together and avoids that washed out look that warm-toned skin gets when cool-toned products are applied.
So to sum up the colours in the palette - I LOVE them. I cannot get enough of them. I want to wear them when I sleep.
Moving on to the shadows themselves, most of the shadows are quite smooth and buttery and easy to apply, save for the pink shimmer (this is also the lightest colour in the palette) which I haven't quite found a use for yet. It looks too shimmery when applied to the brow bone, and only serves to enhance the look of hooded eyes when I wear it on my lid. On the inner corners, it is unimpressive. When I find a use for it, I will update my Instagram or Facebook page, but for now, it sits unused in the palette.
These eyeshadows are also very pigmented, and easy to blend. I love how the silver really shows up on my skin (most light colours barely show any kind of effect).
I also did a slightly darker look with the palette, which I have turned into a mini-tutorial below. I hope you enjoy!
1. Sweep the lightest silver colour all over your lid, staying below the crease.
2. Using a fluffy eyeshadow brush, pick up the dark silver colour (second row, second column) and run it into the outer corners of your eyes in little circular motions. With whatever is remaining on your brush, run your brush into your crease, to create a little bit of a contour in that area.
3. With a smaller eyeshadow brush, pick up the darkest colour in the palette and run it along both your upper and lower lashlines. Then, pick up the same light silver colour that you placed all over your lids, and apply that to the centre of your lower lashline, and into the inner corners of your eyes. This will help open up your eyes a little bit and make them appear larger.
4. Apply a liquid eyeliner to your eyes, according to your eye shape. I added a wing here because I wanted more 'lift'.
5. Curl your lashes, apply mascara and false lashes. I skipped this part but it is essential to create a more polished, defined look!
The Hypnôse Show collection is now available in stores, so be sure to head in and check this beautiful collection out!
Lancôme says: Immediate flawless finish: Lines, spots and dullness instantly fade out as the lightweight texture smoothly glides on.Packaging
Everyday skin’s refinement for visibly and touchably smoother skin.
SPF 30 protective shield against UVA & UVB: Fist class protection against premature skin ageing and pigmentation.
The UV Expert BB Complete has a unique light air weight texture and is proven to weigh as little as four feathers.
Sturdy and lightweight - the packaging gets an A+ grade for functionality, though if I'm going to nitpick here I have to say that I was expecting something a little more fancy/luxe-looking.
Product
This BB cream isn't one of the heavier creams out there, but it is also far from the lightest. There are very 'watery' BB creams out there - my Luview Aqua Essence BB Cream being a prime example - but this isn't one of them.
It comes in two shades - Shade 1 for pink undertones and Shade 2 for beige. In the swatches below, you can see that both undertones are quite subdued, and so if you aren't in either extreme, you can use both.
Performance
The light texture of this BB cream means that it is easy to blend - I just dot the cream on my face and blend it with fingers. I find that fingers are the best way to apply BB cream as they need a little bit of warming up to perform at their best.
It also feels extremely lightweight on the skin - give it about 10 minutes to settle into your skin and you won't feel a thing after! No need for powder unless you have extremely oily skin. Another huge plus is that I can wear it all day without irritating my skin! Generally I can only wear thicker products with SPF in them for short periods of time, otherwise I break out. I wore this for an entire day, a few days in a row, without any issues. That gets a big gold star from me!
I would say that the coverage with this BB cream is sheer - it isn't obvious in the swatches below but my little freckles and acne scars were still visible even after applying two layers. I would recommend this for people with decent skin. If you suffer from breakouts, you might want to look for a foundation/BB cream with better coverage.
Wearing Shade 1
Wearing Shade 2
The overall effect that this BB cream provides is wonderfully radiant and luminous skin. I have discovered that Shade 1 with its neutral/pink undertones really helps to brighten my NW20-ish skin. If you have a similar skin tone then I highly recommend using Shade 1. It looks a little funny at first, but once it settles into the skin, the effect is beautiful.
I think this BB cream is the perfect everyday base, because it contains a high SPF, evens out the skin tone, masks imperfections adequately, and creates radiant skin without sacrificing oil control. However, I wouldn't recommend it for pictures if you have bumpy skin or large pores, because this BB cream didn't manage to mask mine. In pictures, my tiny oil seeds and bumps around my forehead, and pores around my nose, were all visible in close-ups.
Pros vs. Cons
Pros
Lightweight - barely feels like you have anything on your skin
Creates a very radiant finish with good oil control
Does a fantastic job of brightening the skin
Does not cause breakouts
Cons
Coverage a little too sheer for acne-prone skin
Does not disguise bumps and pores in the skin
This BB cream retails for AUD 52/70 per 30/50mL tube at Lancôme counters.
This is a sponsored post written in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.
Are you the kind of person who changes out her makeup or skincare routine with the change of weather? Some people don't realise that they need to do this in order to keep their skin in tip top condition.
I know beauty needs change from person to person, but here are some fail-proof recommendations for almost all skin types. If you tote these around in your handbag, I guarantee you a fabulous summer, beauty-wise anyway ;)
Sunglasses
A lot of people don't realise this, but shade can eliminate a majority of UV rays, and it is always recommended that you find shade from the sun as often as you can. Larger shades are ideal because they cover more of your face. Another great thing about sunglasses is that when you wear them, you tend to squint a lot less, which means less frown lines!
Mini Perfumes
These are an absolute must in the summer! Whether you just need to freshen your fragrance or you really need to mask certain smells (C'mon, walking around in that summer heat? You know what I'm talking about!), mini fragrance bottles are perfect. Some I'm really loving? The Lancôme Poême fragrance - very strong and long-lasting. All you need is a couple of dots on your décolletage and you're set.
The Balenciaga Paris fragrance is a little lighter and more breezy compared to the Poême, so if you want a slightly younger, more edgy-smelling scent, this is the one for you.
The House of Chloé also has the purse-sized perfume department locked down! A while back, they released the famous Love, Chloé fragrance in a rose-gold covered purse spray, pictured below. You can buy refills for this, so you won't have to repurchase the whole canister. So pretty :)
And as if that wasn't genius enough, Chloé also released a brand new Chloé Solid Perfume fragrance. It is a gorgeous locket filled with solid perfume, silver on one side, and a pretty magnolia yellow on the other. This would make such a fabulous Christmas gift, but move fast, because it is limited edition.
BB Cream
If you're looking for a lighter, less skin-clogging version of your foundation, look no farther than BB creams. They are so easy to apply - no need for brushes, just dab the product onto your face and smooth out with your clean fingers - and almost always come in handy squeezy tubes so that they are easy to transport. For a lightweight, quite watery version, I highly recommend the Luview Aqua Essence Whitening BB Cream. It is light and quite sheer, and gives you the most insanely dewy complexion.
If you want something more readily available (and super affordable - only AUD 12.95), look no further than the Rimmel BB Cream. Containing SPF25, this is a multi-tasker so you don't have to cake another product onto your probably already-melting face. This has fabulous coverage and has pretty decent oil control, so the finished result is a kind of silky matte, perfect skin. I should warn you that the colours run a little dark (I am a MAC NW20 and the 'Light' shade is a tad too dark for me) but if you're anywhere between a light-medium to dark coloured skin, this BB cream will match.
Hand Cream
I love repeating this - the backs of your hands and your neck are the first places to show signs of ageing. Always protect these areas by applying plenty of sunscreen as well as locking in moisture. These hand creams are both moisturising and non-greasy, and one reason why I love them so much is that they smell absolutely amazing!
The Urban Rituelle Hibiscus and Cranberry hand cream comes in a beautiful gift-packed trio that you can gift for Christmas, and the L'Occitane Cherry Princess hand cream comes from an entire range of Cherry Princess products, which undoubtedly will also be included in some beautiful gift packs for the holiday season.
Lip Balms
Lips are sensitive and need constant protection and hydration - they become dry and chapped in almost any kind of weather, and at the slightest sign of dehydration. Some of my favourites are:
Simplicité Angelica Lip Care Balm - by far the most effective of the three. It gets rid of chapped lips and helps plump the lips without that overly creamy feeling, so it almost feels like there's nothing on your lips.
L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate Lip Balm - Great if you want a non-greasy texture and a little tint to your lips. This tints your lips a light, rosy pink colour. Beware though, if you lean too warm in your skin tone then this colour might look a little unnatural on you.
Kiehl's Lip Balm - this is another star product that really gets rid of chapped lips and helps lock in the moisture, but has a little bit more of a creamy texture than the Simplicité lip balm. The great thing about this is that it comes in a number of different flavours and you can get one that contains SPF.
Spritz
When it comes to face spritzes, be careful which one you pick. If you get one that isn't formulated properly, it can actually lead to more moisture being sucked from your skin. The Uriage thermal water is formulated in such a way that it actually encourages the absorption of the moisture into your skin when spritzed on, which is absoultely perfect for the summer. In addition, it makes your makeup settle into your skin and helps it look more natural, as well as a little bit more comfortable to wear. PLUS, I mean, a little spritz or two is always so refreshing in that summer heat.
Compact Powder
Compact powders are great for a quick touch-up to keep your skin matte. For something with more coverage, try the Dior Diorskin Nude Compact. It comes with a dual-sided brush depending on what coverage you are going for, and the compact is lovely, luxe, and comes with a handy mirror.
Another great powder is the Luview Crystal Mineral Pact, which has a little sponge that is in a separate compartment. This also provides great coverage, but is quite light, so it will only suit more fair skins.
So that about sums up my handbag essentials for summer! Do you have any handbag must-haves for summer?
Hello everyone! This post is a little late, because I've had quite a few things to deal with, but it is finally up and I hope you guys enjoy it!
So as promised, here's my step-by-step guide to a long-wearing, shaped red lipstick.
And that's it! Here are a couple of products that I used to create this tutorial.
I have posted swatches of these lipsticks below:
As I mentioned earlier, the concealers used around the lip need to be moisturising. My favourites are the MAC Select Moisturecover and the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer.
I hope this post helped you! x
So as promised, here's my step-by-step guide to a long-wearing, shaped red lipstick.
Before you start, apply a lip balm and leave it in for 2-3 minutes. I love the Simplicité Angelica Lip Care Balm. It is gorgeous and very moisturising. Then, grab a cotton bud and rub it along your lips to remove any dry, loose skin.
Now you're ready to apply your lipstick.
First, apply your favourite red lipstick. Stay within your lip lines.
Next, use a lip liner to line your lips. At this point, you can shape your lips and draw them as you like. You can draw the line slightly outside your natural lip line to make your lips appear fuller.
Then, using a lip brush, apply another coat of lipstick to your lips. A lip brush will help you control the application of the lipstick and help you create smooth, perfect lines.
Blot the lipstick once you've applied it. This filters it down to a thin layer that you can then build up on. Building up thin layer upon thin layer helps the lipstick last longer than applying one thick coat of lipstick.
Reapply a coat of lipstick, then blot again, then apply again.
Next, using a small concealer brush, apply concealer to the outside of your lip, especially around the outer corners. This will perfect and also lighten the line around your lips, which will make them look more perfect and full. Try to use a moisturising concealer, because the area around your lips is most likely dry and may have some fine lines. A moisturising concealer will help disguise any of these imperfections.
Finally, apply some lipgloss to the centre of your lips. This creates the illusion of fuller lips.
And that's it! Here are a couple of products that I used to create this tutorial.
Some great lipstick shades that match a myriad of skin tones are, as shown from left to right:
Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color in True Coral - this is a lipstick with an orange undertone which matches both very fair skins as well as warmer skin tones.
ck one color Pure Color Lipstick in Loudmouth - this is a dark red with a plummy undertone. Plummy undertones suit both warm and cool undertones in the skin.
Lancome Rouge in Love in 163M - this is a red with a bluish base which suits more neutral skins as well as cool skin tones
NYX Round Lipstick in Snow White - this is the most blood-red lipstick I have ever seen! This kind of blood-red colour suits every skin tone and is very flattering on the skin. It really stands out on the skin though, so if you're a first time wearer, be warned!
Australis Show Stopper Gloss Stick in Fireworks - this is for people less experienced with red lipsticks. It is more sheer, and also very easy to apply because of its stick form.
L-R: Australis 'Fireworks', ck one 'Loudmouth', Lancome 163M, NYX 'Snow White', Tom Ford 'True Coral'
As I mentioned earlier, the concealers used around the lip need to be moisturising. My favourites are the MAC Select Moisturecover and the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer.
I hope this post helped you! x
Hi guys! So in continuation of yesterday's post on how to make your makeup last longer, here's Part II!
Buff, Reapply, then Buff Again
The key to having long-lasting makeup is to really buff your makeup into your skin, and then re-layer the makeup over what was just buffed in. This creates a good barrier of layers, which means your makeup isn't fading anytime soon. Do this with eyeshadow, blush, concealer, and contour - always buff in, and then reapply.
A couple of my favourite buffing brushes are pictured above - the Real Techniques Buffing Brush (left), and the Sigma Flat Top Kabuki brush.
Cream Products Will Help Your Makeup Last Forever!(ish)
Cream products, when applied in a light layer underneath your powder products, help give your makeup something to grip onto, in addition to producing a more intense, uniquely textured result. Cream products help maintain the healthy glow in your skin, and the powder products layered on top of them help to set them and keep them in place. This combination will keep your makeup looking fresh and staying put, through sweat and tears, and then some.
1. Illamasqua Blush in Seduce
One of my favourite cream blushers. It isn't easy to blend, so it's best to use a sparsely packed stippling brush with this cream. Layer a powder blush over it and you're set for the rest of the night!
2. Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate
This cream product is both easy to blend and long-lasting. It is also one of the best contour products I've ever used, because it produces just enough colour so you don't have to spend hours contouring, but is light enough so that you don't look like you stuck a Snickers bar onto your face. I love layering the Sleek Contour Kit in Medium over this cream contour.
3. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Strut
This is my HG product for a long-lasting smoky eye! It darkens any smoky eye you're trying to achieve, and keeps all the makeup in place. You'll need to blend a little bit more with this gripping onto your eyeshadow like glue, but it'll be worth it in the end, you'll see :)
Choose Long-Lasting Makeup Products
Even with all your awesome makeup tricks doing their magic, you should still try and pick out products that are made to last. Some great examples are:
1. YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 16
The YSL glossy stain is a moisturising, long-lasting lip stain, and comes in a wide variety of colours. When it fades, the lipstick lightens evenly, and ends up looking like a stain on the lips - hence its name. This stain is still quite intense, which is why this lip product is definitely my favourite long-lasting option. #16 is a pretty, deep pinky-mauve colour.
2. Lancôme Rouge in Love
This is one of Lancôme's latest releases, and is marketed as a long-wearing liptsick. The weartime I get with this lipstick is extremely satisfying, considering how creamy and smooth it is! It lasts half a day on my lips easily, and fades into a light stain. It is quite a feat, making a creamy, lightweight lipstick that is also long-lasting, but Lancôme have managed to do this. It also doesn't hurt that the ambassador of this line of lipsticks is the gorgeous Emma Watson.
3. Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner
Gel eyeliners are your best bet if you want to get long-lasting, intense colour on your lashline. Bobbi Brown makes a great gel eyeliner that comes in a wide range of different colours to suit every need.
4. Clinique Brush On Cream Liner
Clinique's cream liner is also extremely long-lasting, with the added bonus of being extremely long lasting as a product. Gel eyeliners tend to dry out pretty quickly, but Clinique's cream liner lasts a while longer than that, and never dries out in the pot.
Set Your Makeup!
Always, ALWAYS set your makeup! This helps all the makeup particles settle into place and keeps your makeup exactly where it was applied. My favourites are the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder, the Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder, and the Face of Australia Loose Powder (not pictured).
Seal it!
I love spritzing my face with some form of makeup sealant. Doing this helps your skin look dewy, instead of powdered and overly made up. I love using the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, and the Uriage Thermal Water.
And that wraps up my tips for making your makeup last all night! I hope this helped.
Do you have any other tricks for making your makeup last longer? Have you tried any of the above methods? What do you think works best? :)
I was invited to the Lancôme Rouge in Love launch yesterday, where we were introduced to the latest range of lipsticks brought out by Lancôme in collaboration with the gorgeous Emma Watson.
I was given the Rouge in Love in the colour 163M, a gorgeous red with a very slightly blue undertone.
These lipsticks retail for AUD 45 each.
This product was provided for review and consideration in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.
I was given the Rouge in Love in the colour 163M, a gorgeous red with a very slightly blue undertone.
Lancôme: Love your lips! Finally, the long wear lipcolor you'll love to wear. This collection of radiant, high potency colors, with up to 6 hours of wear, is surprisingly featherlight, offering delightful comfort.
Lancôme have chosen a unique way to present these 21 shades - they have been separated into Jolis Matins (Fresh shades for daytime wear), Boudoir Time (Pop shades for cocktail hour), and Tonight is My Night (Intense shades for night time wear).
Packaging
I have no doubt that Lancôme put a lot of thought and care into the packaging - there are intricate details embossed into both the cover and the base of the lipstick. It's not my favourite design, but I appreciate when a brand takes the time and effort to product a beautifully packaged product.
Product
The lipstick that I was given is highly pigmented and so incredibly smooth and creamy. I'm not bothered by 'heavy' lipsticks, but for those who are, it is very light and doesn't have that thick, heavy feel. Here are a few pictures of the product in action on my lips - one with filter (because I am thoroughly obsessed with Instagram), and one
I recommend applying this lipstick with a lip brush if you're going for the darker shades, but you shouldn't have any problems with bleeding because this lipstick is so lightweight.
Performance
Immediately upon application, my lips feel moisturised and the lipstick itself looks glossy and thick and beautiful. It takes me about two swipes to achieve maximum coverage and intensity.
With creamy lipsticks, I often have this problem where the wettest patch of my lips (the inside of the middle of my bottom lip) is unable to hold on to the product, resulting in an empty patch on my lip which is visible even with my mouth closed. This lipstick covers that area without being too drying, which is a big bonus.
I wore this lipstick the entire morning and through lunch, and even after a meal and a hot drink, this lipstick still looks exactly the same as when I first applied it.
If this piqued your interest, there is an interesting event that you guys in Melbourne and Sydney might want to check out tomorrow!
Come along to the beauty levels of Myer Sydney (George St) and Myer Melbourne (Bourke St) from 12pm to have your very own Rouge In Love moment this Saturday the 28th of April. Have your colour matched and your moment captured on the Rouge In Love photo booth, which will be uploaded immediately to your Facebook to share with your friends.
These lipsticks retail for AUD 45 each.
This product was provided for review and consideration in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.
Hello everyone! I have the pastel-look tutorial that I promised a while ago! Here are a couple of pictures of the finished look:
And here's the video:
As usual, I've listed the products that I used in the video for you:
ElishaCoy Premium Gold BB Cream
Anastasia Beauty Express Kit in Brunette
Clinique Lid Smoothie in Cashew Later
Royal & Langnickel brushes
Heavenly Natural Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Daddy's Girl
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Vapour
Clinique Brush On Cream Liner in True Black
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in 20
Eyelashes from kkcenterhk.com
Lancôme Blush Subtil in 30 Rose Melba
And here's the video:
As usual, I've listed the products that I used in the video for you:
ElishaCoy Premium Gold BB Cream
Anastasia Beauty Express Kit in Brunette
Clinique Lid Smoothie in Cashew Later
Royal & Langnickel brushes
Heavenly Natural Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Daddy's Girl
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Vapour
Clinique Brush On Cream Liner in True Black
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in 20
Eyelashes from kkcenterhk.com
Lancôme Blush Subtil in 30 Rose Melba
LimeCrime Lipstick in Coquette
Australis Show Stopper Gloss Stick in Fairy Floss
Clinique Lipgloss in Sooo Pink
Because I am obsessed with my new mic and my being able to finally film with my DSLR, I decided to film a video of some products that I though stood out in the month of February. It's a little jerky because I am SO ineloquent it's not even funny, so I had to cut my grunts and 'ummm's out, sorry! I hope you guys enjoy it despite that :)
Here is the video:
And here are the products that were mentioned in the video!
Luview Aqua Essence Whitening BB Cream
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate in Intensity One (guest review on The Plastic Diaries)
NP Set Contour and Highlight Palette
Sisley Phyto Ombre Eclat in Stardust (review and swatches here)
Lancome Blush Subtil in 30 Rose Melba
NP Set Blush Contour Brush
L'Occitane Lavender Cologne (review here)
Bioderma Créaline H20 (review here)
Bioderma Sébium AKN (review here)
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye
Here is the video:
And here are the products that were mentioned in the video!
Luview Aqua Essence Whitening BB Cream
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate in Intensity One (guest review on The Plastic Diaries)
NP Set Contour and Highlight Palette
Sisley Phyto Ombre Eclat in Stardust (review and swatches here)
Lancome Blush Subtil in 30 Rose Melba
NP Set Blush Contour Brush
L'Occitane Lavender Cologne (review here)
Bioderma Créaline H20 (review here)
Bioderma Sébium AKN (review here)
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye
