Empty Product Review - Essence Mascara

Hello lovelies

Today's empty product review is on the Essence Get Big Lashes Volume Boost Mascara.  I picked this up from Target for only $4.50 for the $20 makeup challenge (that I never filmed) and I freaking loved it!  For about a month.....

I think this mascara is fantastic if you love bold big lashes.  The brush is quite large and fibrous and distributes a great amount of product.  For about a month......

I normally will use a mascara for 8 weeks before I throw it out but this one I could only keep for 4 weeks. While the formula was perfect to start with and had no flakes or anything after a couple of weeks I noticed that by the end of the day it was starting to flake and the texture had changed quite a bit.  It also developed an awful smell.

Would this stop me repurchasing?  No, probably not.  I really enjoyed this for 4 weeks and for the price of it I can justify only having if for that long.  I would normally spend $10-20 on a mascara anyway so it does work out to be the same price.

April Favourites

Happy May my pretties!

The fifth month is upon us (wow this year is flying by) and it is time for April favourites.

Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask

This product has one of the longest names I've ever seen!  It is a nice gentle mud mask that is in fact ultra cleansing.  I've been enjoying using this every third day or so this month.

Manicare Artiste Stippling Brush no17


Although I've been using this every day since I bought it, I've really enjoying the application I get with this brush.

I don't use if for foundation, but for blush!  It give the perfect amount of colour and doesn't give me that clown look.  Ever.

I've also washed this loads of time and it's still in great condition.  A wonderful brush for the price.

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie


What would April favourites be without a lip butter!  My favourite colour this month has been Berry Smoothie.  It's the perfect Autumn colour.

I now have 5 of the lip butters.  Eeek!

Mac Blush in Springsheen


My favourite blush this month has been Springsheen.  I would have loved to have picked Melba but I have only been using it for a week.  I've used Springsheen nearly every other day this month though.

It's a pretty shimmery coral colour.

Essence Gel eyeliner in Midnight in Paris


My last favourite for the month is this gel eyeliner.  I've had a great time the past few weeks playing around with different types of eyeliners and this is my new favourite.  I was always a crayon girl but now I'm loving the gel.  So easy to apply and this Essence liner is so black and it was so cheap!




What are your April favourites?

FOTD Tutorial - Make up for shopping

Hi pretties

I thought today I would do a face of the day for weekend shopping!  This is also a fairly neutral look that could easily be worn to work or any occasion really.

How to:

1. Prime - I used David Jones Primer

2. Foundation - I used Benefit Hello Flawless that I received in my April Bellabox.

3. Powder - Natio pressed powder

4. Blush - Mac Melba

5. Lips - Revlon lip butter in Peach Parfait

6. Prime eyes - Mac Paintpot in Bare Study

7. Brow highlighter - Mac eyeshadow in Blanc Type

8. Inner Corner Colour - DB Palette (bottom left colour)

9. Lid colour & Crease Colour - Intensifeye Quad Choc-a-Block shade two from the Australis Nudist Palette

10. Liner - Essence Gel eyeliner in black

11. Eyebrow - Savvy by DB liner

12. Waterliner - Chi Chi in Virgin

13. Mascara - Loreal Extra Volume Collagen

Eye Close up!

That's my look for shopping.

I hope you enjoyed and if you have any suggestions for a look please contact me :)

FOTD - Make up for work

Morning Pretties


I thought I would start the week off with a face of the day!  Being that it is Monday morning, it's a work make up day!


I generally like to keep my work make up pretty and understated (sometimes I'm a little bolder) but this is a general look for work that is achievable in no more than 10 minutes and you are out the door!

Face
Loreal Matte Morphose souffle foundation in 115 - applied with fingers
Natio mineral pressed powder in light tan - set with Nude mineral foundation brush
Mac Springsheen blush - applied lightly with Manicare Artiste stippling brush 17

Eyes
Savvy by Db eye brow pencil
Mac paint pot in Bare Study - applied with fingers
Mac eye shadow in Naked Lunch - applied with Models Prefer MP24 small eye shadow brush
Covergirl lash perfection mascara in very black
Essence gel liner in 01 Midnight in Paris - applied with Essence slanted gel liner brush to top lash line
(Name worn off) white shimmer crayon - applied to tear duct and brow bone

Lips
Revlon lip butter in 090 Sweet Tart - just one swipe

Well there you have my face of the day for work make up.

Have a good day pretties.

Sunday night haul

Hi Pretties


Well it's that time of the week again.  The weekend is coming to an end and it's time for my Sunday night haul blog!  I promise you this one has been a big one!

Now I must admit, I didn't actually buy everything here.  If you read my Priceline gift with purchase blog post earlier this week, you will see that a very large portion I actually received in that bag.


Products from Priceline gift with purchase bag
Eco Tools - 100% recycled plastic bath sponge in purple. This is nice and soft
Nude By Nature - Soft focus illuminator
Models Prefer Multi purpose sponge in hot pink
Rimmel - I love lasting finish nail polish in 185 Mocha Fever (I already own this colour)
1000 Hour - Nail Foils in a purple/silver patterned colour
Manicare - Soft Touch Tweezers
Covergirl - $10 off card (not pictured)
Revlon - Colour Burst lipstick in 035 Blush
Innoxia - Lovely Lips lipstick in Honeysuckle
Australis - Paparazzi Perfect High Definition blush in Poser
Press and Go - Nails in a zebra type pattern
Natio - Mineral pressed powder in Soft Tan
Priceline - Calming facial wipes
Max Factor - Xperience Volumising Mascara in black
Models Prefer - Kohl pencil in matte black
Savvy by DB - Luxury Liner in Shimmering Slate




Below are this weeks actual purchases;

As you can see, its still not a bad haul.  I did buy most things on special too, so I got some bargains.  I am actually now on a spending ban for the next three weeks.  So no hauls :(  But I will be going to Melbourne in a couple of weeks so I'm saving my pennies!


Products I purchased
Revlon - Lip Butter in 055 Cupcake
Revlon - Lip Butter in 095 Creme Brule
Revlon - Lip Butter in 090 Sweet Tart
Revlon - Color Burst lipstick in 070 Soft Nude 
Australis - Make Up Finishing Spritz
Essence - Gel eye liner in 01 Midnight in Paris (black)
Essence - Gel eye liner in 03 Berlin Rocks (purple)
Formula 10.06 - Deep Down Detox Ultra Cleansing Mud Mask
Modern Living - Lipstick organiser (I bought 4 of these and they hold 9 each)
Maybelline- Master Precise liquid liner
Models Prefer - MP24 small eyeshadow brush
Essence - Angeled eye liner brush
Essence - French manicure tips


For years I have only used crayon eye liners and I'm being a little adventurous a the moment and have branched out and bought a liquid liner and the gel liners.  I LOVE the gel liner.  I got the black for $5.95 and the purple for $3 and I think they are fabulous.  Maybe a little too much for everyday, I think I'll use the Maybelline liquid eye liner for during the day but the gel just seems to give my eyes that little extra pop.


I bought another Models Prefer brush.  I'm actually getting up quite a collection of these now and I think they are great value for money.  I don't think I have paid full price for any of them and I haven't paid any more than $15 for my most expensive brush which was the bronzer brush.  I think this one was around $11?


I spoke in my skin care routine blog post about trying the 10.06 masks in the sachets and I liked them so much I bought the full sized product while it was 20% off at Priceline.  I think it was down to $7.


So as you can see, I purchased 4 Revlon lip products.  Now I refuse to pay full price for Revlon lipsticks.  I think the price is ridiculous and rather than pay $22 a lipstick I'd rather pay that little bit extra and get a Mac lipstick or something (another reason I love Rimmel lipsticks so much, they are so cheap!), but when Priceline had their 2 for 1 special on, I thought it was time to stock up on the lip butters and the nude I have been lusting after for a long time.  I'm pretty pleased with the lip butters.  I don't find Creme Brule to be overly moisturising, but it is a nude and that's generally the case with nudes.  I think the Color Burst lipstick in Soft Nude is much more moisturising that Creme Brule actually, but the pinks are great.  I now have 4 lip butters.  Hurray!


I showed you my make up storage last week and I have actually now added some lipstick organisation to my vanity and given my blushes their own drawer in my big pink case.  They are all very happy in their new homes!  The lipstick holders were $5 at Target and I purchased 4 of them as I forgot to count my lipsticks before I went.  I do have a whole holder spare at the moment now.  I'm very happy with these holders as they seem to be a lot better quality than the Priceline ones, but much cheaper.


So anyway I'll leave there with my Sunday night haul.  No hauls for three weeks.  Ahhh so long with no new products but I do have loads of new things to play with :)


What did you haul this week?

My favourite 5 autumn lipsticks

Hi pretty people!

I thought today I would share with you my top 5 favourite lipsticks for autumn! Yes, I know there are 6 in the photo but one I always wear with gloss, so I count them together!

Without flash

With flash

The first swatch and the front left lipstick is by David Jones and it is the colour Antique Musk from the Moisture Cream range. This is probably one of the darkest lipsticks you will catch me wearing as I am quite pale, but it is a pretty dusty plum colour and is the perfect shade for darker clothes (I normally wear with black) this autumn. I got this in a pack, but from memory this range is around $14.95. I will definately be wearing this colour right into winter. I find this formulation to be quite moisturising which is a bonus for the cooler months!

Second swatch and front middle in the top picture is the much lusted after Revlon Lip Butter. This particular shade is in 050 Berry Smoothie. Another colour perfect for autumn with a great formulation. It is so nice and creamy and I think I will use this little baby up VERY quickly! RRP $21.95

Next is a colour by CHI CHI called Centerfold. This lipstick is a muted, matte nude which is very pretty, but unfortunately quite drying on the lips. However I love this shade so much I will persist with it and use loads of lip balm underneath. I have quite pigmented lips so this is the perfect colour to mute out my lips to make them truely nude. RRP $18.95???

Fourth lipstick and top left in the top photo is a Mac lustre in the colour Lovelorn. This is a new purchase for me but I know I'll be wearing it year round as it is a super pretty medium pink. The formulation for this is great and this is not overly moisturising, but it is not at all drying. It is shiny without being too lipglossy. RRP $36

Lastly are the two I group together as I don't wear either along, but together this lipstick and gloss make a great glossy nude combo. The lipstick is by Maybelline in the colour 132 Nude Blush (I think this is discontinued and I purchased for $5), and the lip gloss is by Essence in the colour 01 Pure Nude. RRP $3.95.

So that's my favourites for this autumn, and tell me, what colours will you be wearing?