GRWM: Drugstore Makeup Look

In June I shared this look using as many luxurious makeup products as I could. It was a lot of fun to create so I also wanted to do a look using a full face of affordable, drugstore makeup. Most of the makeup I own is more in the drugstore price range, I love products that are good quality and inexpensive and sometimes drugstore products can’t be beat!

Products listed in order of application:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – I used to be all about a face moisturiser from Simple until 2018 when I tried this one from Olay and haven’t looked back. This is really nice, it’s lightweight, makeup looks good on top of it and it contains SPF 15.

2. Maybelline Master Prime Hydrate + Smooth – The more I have used this primer the more I have come to enjoy it. It is a little thicker than other primers in my collection but for work and everyday wear this is good. It soaks in quickly so you don’t have to wait before going in with your foundation if you’re short on time.

3. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Still all I use to fill in my brows.

4. Max Factor Miracle Match Foundation in 40 Light Ivory – I got this foundation as a birthday gift in 2019 and it sat in my drawer for about a year before I tried it out. I put this to the test with three other foundations at the start of the year (post *HERE*) and whilst it was one of the lower ranked foundations I don’t want to give up on it yet. The undertone of this shade is neutral which works well with my skintone and as it wears throughout the day my natural oils come out and I don’t mind how it looks.

5. L’Oreal Infallible More Than Concealer in 323 Fawn – I purchased this concealer in April after seeing it on Arna Alayne’s YouTube channel. I was a little worried this would be drying on my dry skin but it’s not at all, this still feels nice and creamy! This concealer is full coverage but blends into the skin easily and a little goes a long way. I do find if I use too much this can make my skin look a little pale. This does have a bit of a weird smell but once product is applied the scent disappears.

6. Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder  – I am loving this powder lately. I have had it for a few years now but it still applies and looks the same on the skin. It’s translucent so it doesn’t alter how my base products look and it works particuarly well to set the L’Oreal concealer above in place.

7. Milani Eyeshadow Primer – I don’t enjoy this primer as much as Urban Decay’s Primer Potion but it gets the job done and keeps eyeshadow in place. It can make my eyelids a little dry.

8. Colourpop Lilac You a Lot Palette – Purple is one colour that really works for my skin tone and it was fun bringing out this palette for this drugstore look. I started by applying Zoned Out as a base shadow all over the lid then used Iffy to deepen up the crease. Finally I applied Fluff all over the lid with my finger for a pop of shimmer.

9. Colourpop BFF Mascara in Purple Prose – I have a back up of my holy grail Rimmel mascara that I didn’t want to crack open just for this post. The other mascaras in my collection at the moment are all high end and then I remembered this purple mascara I got from Colourpop last year. I love pairing it with purple eyeshadow and it’s fun to wear. Coloured mascara doesn’t take the place of regular black mascara for me but this does add length and volume to my lashes without looking clumpy and the formula is nice and doesn’t smudge. The more coats I apply, the more purple my lashes look.

10. I ♡ Makeup Goddess of Love Highlighter – This was my first highlighter and I still love wearing it. The pink, purple and silver tones look so nice on fair skin and this can be built up depending on the intensity you like. This highlighter looks natural on the skin and pairs so well with purple toned eyeshadow.

11. Dainty Doll Cream Blush in Billion Dollar Babies – I knew this blush would be perfect to add a natural flush to the cheeks. The cream formula is lush!

12. The Body Shop Rose Face Mist – This mist makes the skin lovely and dewy. It’s particularly nice on top of more matte foundations and if I’ve used setting powder. The rose scent is also pleasant, it’s not overpowering or too strong.

13. Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop – Not only is this my favourite kind of lipstick colour to wear but it also looks good with anything! I love these lip butters as they are nicely pigmented as well as making the lips look juicy and glossy. The formula is sheerer than a regular lipstick but this shade in particular still packs a punch!

The Finished Look

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What do you think of this look? What are some of your favourite drugstore products?

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Battle of the Bronzes

I’m a neutral eyeshadow fan and recently I noticed the amount of bronze shades in my collection. I have a couple of single bronze shadows and in almost each of my eyeshadow palettes there is a bronze shade. I can appreciate a good bronze but there are different tones and I thought it would be fun to compare my bronze shades side by side to see how similar they are. Spoiler alert: I was pleasantly surprised at all the little differences between the shades.

There are a total of 10 bronze shades in my collection across six palettes and three single shadows.

Shades will be discussed individually in the order they are swatched.

Left to right: Bronze (from Maybelline’s The Nudes palette), Pure Ganache, Cinnamon Sugar, Hotel and Beach Babe.

1. Maybelline – Bronze (‘The Nudes’)

This is the darkest bronze out of the 10 shades and leans towards being a cool toned brown-bronze. It’s not a shade I reach for all the time but it is one of my favourites from the Maybelline palette. It is a satin formula and has micro-shimmer. It’s nice and soft and blends easily.

2. Zoeva – Pure Ganache (Cocoa Blend Voyager Palette)

From one of the darkest shades to one of the lightest! Pure Ganache is without a doubt a metallic shadow, it has quite a bit of shimmer and is a light-gold bronze. This shadow is really nice for a natural eye look and applies best with a finger.

3. Zoella x Colourpop – Cinnamon Sugar (Brunch Date)

Cinnamon Sugar is such a cute name for this shade and it describes the colour perfectly. This shade is one of my personal favourite bronzes and it reminds me a lot of my hair colour which is why I like it. The formula is metallic and slightly more gritty than Pure Ganache but it also applies best with a finger.

4. Colourpop – Hotel (Sol)

My Brunch Date and Sol palettes were purchased at the same time and when they arrived I compared Cinnamon Sugar and Hotel straight away. Hotel is a warmer bronze and more orange which fits perfectly in the Sol palette. Both shades are comparable in terms of formula and pigmentation but out of the two my preference is Cinnamon Sugar.

5. xoBeauty – Beach Babe (The Remix Palette)

Beach Babe definitely swatched the smoothest (the entire Remix Palette is excellent quality) and to me is the most pure metallic bronze. It doesn’t have orange or gold tones, it remains entirely neutral and goes with any makeup look.

Left to right: Two bronzes (from Makeup Revolution’s Iconic 1 palette), Copper Sparkle, Nillionaire and Feral Brown.

6. Makeup Revolution – Bronze #1 (Iconic 1)

This shade is quite similar to Pure Ganache as it is a light gold-bronze but this has more shine when swatched and looks more metallic. From memory this takes more building up on the lids than Pure Ganache to get colour pay off but this shade swatched better than I expected.

7. Makeup Revolution – Bronze #2 (Iconic 1)

In the Iconic 1 palette the two bronze shades are next to each other and this one didn’t swatch as well as the previous shade, you can see it’s not as pigmented. Colour wise this shade is a cross between the bronze from The Nudes palette and Beach Babe from The Remix Palette.

8. MAC – Copper Sparkle

Let me compare this shade and then I’ll talk about a few issues I have with it. Copper Sparkle has a very warm orange-bronze undertone, even more prominent than Hotel from the Sol palette. It is one of my least favourite bronzes out of the 10 because it fell short when I wore it. I have other MAC pigments and this one looks so gorgeous and glittery online but in real life it has large chunks and it’s not as finely milled as my other pigments. I had to build this swatch up the most and the sparkle of the product still didn’t come out much. When I wore this on my eyes it stayed put all day and was pigmented but it was very warm. I will try this with Fix+ to see if the glitter is more prominent but at this stage I’m leaning towards passing the shade on as I don’t find it as unique as I’d hoped. If I want warm bronze tones I can get them from Hotel or Cinnamon Sugar.

9. Colourpop – Nillionaire

Colourpop describe Nillionaire as a bronze with pink and gold ultra-glitter which is an accurate description. Nillionaire is a Super Shock Shadow so the formula is soft and bouncy. It does take a few swipes to build this up on the eye but it’s not hard work. The fact this can be applied sheer also makes it a great layering shadow. Nillionaire looks lovely over top of a warm brown matte eye look for a pop of shimmer.

10. Max Factor – Feral Brown

In terms of formula, Feral Brown is similar to the bronze from The Nudes palette – a satin with micro-shimmer. Feral Brown is a warm brown-bronze and I don’t find myself reaching for this often. I tend to wear other shades on top if I do but it will only be once in a blue moon. This is another of my least favourite bronzes and I have grown out of love with this shade. It is a unique colour but I don’t see it as essential to my collection.

Top to bottom: Feral Brown, Nillionaire, Copper Sparkle, bronzes from Makeup Revolution’s Iconic 1 palette, Beach Babe, Hotel, Cinnamon Sugar, Pure Ganache and bronze from Maybelline’s The Nudes palette.

My top three shades in no particular order are Cinnamon Sugar, Beach Babe and Nillionaire. These are all slightly different but a little bit of variety is good. They are all versatile and go with a number of looks, especially Beach Babe and Nillionaire as they have a neutral undertone. Cinnamon Sugar is warmer but still gorgeous.

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Do you own any of these shades? Which is your favourite?

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Shopping My Stash

I don’t know about you but whenever I purchase new makeup I always reflect and analyse what I have in my collection. I think it’s a way of me trying to justify the purchase and evaluate what I really need. The more I use makeup and experiment I come to know what I like and what I’m missing. I was rearranging products in my makeup drawer and I put some aside that I haven’t worn in a while that I want to pull out and use again.

1. Chi Chi Metal Foil Eyeshadow – Spice

This range from Chi Chi is described as, “highly pigmented shadows with brilliant metallic shine that are super moisturising, long lasting and enriched with Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil.” I agree with the claim that Spice is highly pigmented and moisturizing but I find the product slippery and it has difficulty adhering to the eyelids. Eye primer and applying a powder shadow as a base first helps but the product occasionally creases and is affected by heat/sweat. I don’t reach for this often because I’m not sure how the product works best which is a shame as the eyeshadow is a gorgeous shimmery cranberry-pink.

2. Teeez Cosmetics – Smokey Rose

This single eyeshadow is one I know I like, it’s just a case of it being tucked away and not in my line of sight as to why I haven’t used it for a while. Smokey Rose really is an appropriate name as this shade is a beautiful duochrome with hints of pink, grey and green. When this shade is on the eyes they look stunning and the pigmentation and buttery smooth texture are lovely. My favourite way to apply this is all over the lids with my finger.

3. Covergirl TruNaked Roses Palette

Naked 3 dupe alert! I’m not going to lie out of the three original Naked palettes from Urban Decay I find the Naked 3 least appealing. I don’t tend to be a fan of light pinks and mauves on my eyes as I have fair skin and personally I don’t find they look as nice as browns or neutral colours. This palette is very pretty though and it seems Covergirl picked the best shades from Naked 3 and did their own interpretation of the palette. The pigmentation of these shades is nice but I find the formula almost a little too soft and product can blend away easily. There’s not much variety between shades either. Each time I use this palette I can’t bring myself to part with it though as I won it in a giveaway.

4. xoBeauty Radiant Glow Highlighter Powder – Lucent

This highlighter is in no way bad and in fact it’s a lovely, light gold for fair skin tones. The powder is finely milled and gives a beautiful lit from within look. The highlighter can be built up to make it more blinding and the product can also be used as an all over face powder – I have been using the other xoBeauty highlighter in the shade Aurora this way recently. Lucent sits in my drawer and theBalm’s Mary-Lou Manizer sits in my everyday makeup bag so I tend to reach for that one more often. Both shades are different however, Lucent is more golden and Mary-Lou is more on the champagne side.

5. The Body Shop Metal Lip Liquid – Pink Nickel

I actually forgot I owned this! I purchased Pink Nickel along with Plum Titanium (a berry red) towards the end of 2018 and when I tried this shade on again I was pleased the formula was still mousse like and hadn’t dried up. Pink Nickel is a very wearable shade with a subtle metallic finish. A lot of you know by now I don’t like liquid lipsticks but this formula is an exception to the rule. This is a pretty nude that goes with a range of looks and I really need to pull this out more.

6. xoBeauty Kairos Lipstick

Kairos is described as a medium, muted peachy-pink which I think is slightly incorrect – Kairos is more of a muted coral-red. The matte formula is comfortable but not as comfortable as MAC’s matte lipsticks. I find with xoBeauty matte lipsticks lips have to be super smooth or else product sticks to little flakes of skin and gets into any lines. I will try this with a dab of Dainty Doll’s Wonderbalm underneath to see if that makes any improvement. Not my favourite lip colour that I own from xoBeauty.

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Funnily enough most of the products mentioned are pink. Pink isn’t my favourite colour to wear on the eyes being fair skinned and that’s possibly why I have neglected some of these. Pink tends to be my go to lip colour and that’s usually how I incorporate it into a makeup look.

Are there any makeup products in your stash that you’ve neglected lately?

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June Favourites + Highlights

Winter has well and truly arrived! Getting up at 5:30am for work I really notice the cold mornings but I will admit New Zealand is lucky to still get sun in winter and to see the blue sky peaking through for the most part. June has felt extremely busy and I don’t know where the month has gone. I haven’t blogged a lot (but I still pop on and read posts and comment everyday) or read a lot. I don’t think I’ll make my Goodreads target of 50 books at this stage but I’m not going to dwell on it, I read because I enjoy it not to pressure myself and some days I simply don’t have time to read. I also broke my goal not to buy a lipstick in 2019 this month and I am a little disappointed. I’m not completely sold on the shade I purchased and I may end up passing it along. Even so, one lipstick for a whole year is good right?!

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Revolution Lip Topper – Fortune – I purchased this lip topper at the end of April and over the past couple of months I’ve really been enjoying wearing it. Revolution released three lip topper shades, I swatched all three in store and this looked the most sparkly and the one I imagined would go with the most colours. This product can be worn on it’s own or on top of other lipsticks to add a natural shine and sparkle. This is extremely comfortable to wear (both ways) and isn’t sticky or gritty. This shade is also a dupe for the Fenty Beauty gloss bomb in Diamond Milk.

2. MAC Melon Pigment – I am surprised I haven’t mentioned this pigment in a favourites post before. I bought this pigment around six months ago secondhand and it was almost full. I would describe Melon as a peach-gold and not a shade that is difficult to pair with makeup looks. The gold tones down the orange/peach colour and makes for a somewhat neutral eye look. Without a doubt the pigment can be built up to add extra sparkle or used alongside other palettes. I love pairing this pigment with the Sol palette from Colourpop. This was one of the shades on my MAC pigment wishlist and I’m glad to have crossed this one off!

3. The Body Shop Shea Body Butter – Without a doubt Shea is probably my favourite scent from The Body Shop. I’ve been through a few small 50ml tubs of this body butter in the past but the texture was different. The texture of this 200ml tub is much softer and creamier. This product not only has the most gorgeous scent but it feels luxurious on the skin and soaks in so easily.

4. Antipodes Halo Skin Brightening Facial Mud Mask – Over the past few years I have used a mud/clay mask at least once a week as part of my self care routine and I like how they work with my skin. I make sure to go for a mask that doesn’t irritate my dry skin but makes it feel clean and has nourishing ingredients. I’d been looking at an alternative to a clay mask I was using from Natio and really liked the sound of this one. Antipodes is a New Zealand brand and one that I know is renowned for quality products. This mask features Vinanza Grape & Kiwi and peony petal and aims to brighten skin and improve skin’s appearance. The mask has a subtle scent but it isn’t offensive.

June Highlights

• The denim jacket from this haul had it’s first outing.
• Found a new purpose for one of my lighter coloured highlighters as a nice, glowy setting powder.
• Rented The Greatest Showman from work and finally got to see it. I enjoyed the movie.
• Went on a cute date and was given roses.

June’s Spotify Playlist:

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How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

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Soft Valentine’s Makeup

2017 is the only year since I started blogging that I didn’t create a Valentine’s themed makeup look but other than that it’s pretty much a yearly tradition. This is my first Valentine’s Day in three years being single (shoutout to all my fellow single babes!) and I’m okay with that. I’ve been doing much better these past few months and I’m not the kind of girl that relies on a man. I believe things will work out the way they’re meant to… or at least I hope so!

For this look I wanted to create something dreamy and sweet but not overly pink. I opted for base products that would give a subtle glow and look smooth and seamless on the skin. I didn’t go bold on the lips or eyes and kept an almost totally neutral palette, adding pops of colour to the cheeks and lips.

Products listed in order of application:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Senstive

2. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Primer

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel

4. L’Oreal True Match Lumi in W1-2 Porcelain Ivory – I haven’t spoken about this foundation on my blog too much. I have had it for almost a year now and it’s the one I am using as my everyday foundation most days and want to finish up next. The formula is light and easy to blend and perfect if you like glowy, hydrating foundations.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion

6. MAC StudioFinish Concealer in NW10

7. Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Setting Powder – I find the L’Oreal foundation slightly too glowy in the summer on it’s own so I set my cheeks, nose and chin with powder.

8. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte

9. Shaaanxo The Remix Palette – I used the shade Clarity as a base shadow all over the lid and the shade Buttercup in the crease mixed with a small amount of The Body Shop bronzer.

10. MAC Naked Pigment – Naked was applied over top of Clarity.

11. Tanya Burr Selfie Lash Mascara – I was sent this mascara by a blogging friend and I have been enjoying using it! The brush is small allowing you to get into all the lashes and the formula isn’t wet and smudgy. This gives a lovely natural look but a second coat really adds oomph.

12. Makeup Revolution Blush Queen Palette – I used the third shade in the top row and applied it using a Detail Fibre Brush from xoBeauty which is my favourite to use with this palette. The brush picks up a combination of colour and shimmer and gives the loveliest finish.

13. xoBeauty Radiant Glow Powder – Aurora – Usually if I’m using a blush with shimmer I won’t apply highlighter as well but this one from xoBeauty has a beautiful pink shift and isn’t blinding so it blends in with the blush nicely.

14. The Body Shop Strawberry Smoothing Face Mist 

15. xoBeauty Liquid Lipstick – Carpe Diem – This is such a unique shade of lipstick; a muted lilac. The colour isn’t too pale for me (but is probably better suited to lighter skin tones) and when it fades a little it looks more pink. The formula of these liquid lipsticks is gorgeous and they have a delicious creme brulee scent!

The Finished Look:

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Are you doing anything to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, whether you’re single or part of a couple? 💕

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Shania Twain Concert Makeup

Today is the day I get to see Shania Twain in concert, and not only that but it’s her FIRST EVER concert in New Zealand! I became a fan when I was three years old and heard ‘From This Moment On.’ To be able to say I’ve seen Shania will be an absolute dream come true. Not only does she have a beautiful voice and incredible song writing ability, her story is one of strength and grace. Her life hasn’t always been easy but she refuses to give up and she continues to succeed.

Choosing an outfit for the concert was easy. I opted for my Shania Now album cover t-shirt with a pair of black leggings. Casual and comfy but concert appropriate.

Makeup wise I wanted to do a Shania-esque look so I drew inspiration from two of her music videos. I incorporated a berry red lip from ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ and a dark smoky eye from ‘I’m Gonna Getcha Good.’

Products listed in order:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – This moisturiser works really well with my current primer and skincare routine. It soaks in quickly without leaving my skin dry or greasy.

2. Too Faced Hangover Primer – I like this primer and ever since I started using it my makeup has looked really nice.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Even with this being as small as it is it still applies how it always has.

4. Max Factor Lasting Finish Foundation in 100 Fair – When I want a flawless finish and good coverage this is my foundation of choice! I previously used this in 101 Ivory Beige, but think this shade is the better match out of the two.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion – I want my eye makeup to last the night so this was a no brainer.

6. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair – I used this concealer rather my MAC one as it’s easier to reapply without ruining the base underneath.

7. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – I like to use a light dusting of bronzer to act sort of like a setting powder and take off any major shine. I apply bronzer to the tops of my cheeks, my chin, my temples and in a ‘w’ shape over my cheeks and nose.

8. Makeup Revolution Iconic 1 Palette – I did a makeup trial the Saturday before the concert using my Zoeva Cocoa Blend Voyager Palette and the black shade from my Shaaanxo palette but the eyes weren’t intense and dark enough for my liking. I loved the Halloween eye makeup I did *HERE* so I decided to recreate that look on concert night.

9. MAC Silver Pigment – I used a short shadow brush to place the pigment on the inner corner of the eyes. I just wanted a small pop of shimmer so the dark, smokiness could shine through.

10. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – My holy grail mascara! The large wand on this mascara means more lashes get coated at a time and the wand is really good for bottom lashes. One coat on the bottom lashes is enough otherwise I find they detract from the top lashes.

11. NARS Mini Orgasm Blush Highlight Duo – This blush goes with any look and the highlighting shade in the duo is the perfect accompaniment. I chose this product as it’s easy to travel with and contains blush and highlighter rather than having to pack two separate products.

12. Rimmel 107 Lipstick – A red lip is always a good idea and this one from Rimmel is not only similar to the colour Shania wears in the video for ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ but it’s also festive and looks great with leggings and a white tee!

The Finished Look:

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Who is one artist you’d love to see in concert?

What do you think of my concert makeup?

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Makeup Revolution Blush Queen Palette Review + Swatches

Back in September, Revolution launched in New Zealand on the Farmers website. Only a couple of days earlier I was eyeing up the Blush Queen palette on the brand’s British website. Blush Queen contains a mix of eight blushes and highlighters all with an underlying pink tone. Usually I don’t like pink on my cheeks as my skin has slight redness and I find pink accentuates it but, spoiler, this palette is really nice!

The product has a baked, marbled effect but it is still smooth, blendable and finely milled. The smallest amount of product is all you need for a subtle, naturally flushed, everyday look but the shades can easily be built up for more oomph. Due to the shimmer in these I find they are a nice cross between a blush and a highlighter, especially if you’re like me and don’t often wear both together. I tend to apply shades from this palette a little higher up than I normally would a blush to make the shimmer look more natural. I am yet to try these as eyeshadows but I imagine they would look pretty and applying them to the eyes and cheeks would really tie a look together when you’re running short on time.

The shades in the palette don’t have official names so I have numbered them from 1-8 and I will give a quick rundown on each shade and mention whether I use it as a blush or a highlighter. The beauty of this palette and makeup in general is that it’s so versatile and what I use as blush or highlighter others may not. No combinations are wrong.

Shade 1 – Highlight: In real life this is more of a light purple-white and is definitely the most neutral shade in the palette.

Shade 2 – Blush: This is very similar to shade 6 except this is more pink and 6 is more peach. Both shades are peachy-pinks and remind me of Orgasm by NARS with less gold.

Shade 3 – Blush: This borders on being blush and highlight and is the lightest pure pink in the palette which tips it into blush territory for me. A very natural looking pink on the cheeks.

Shade 4 – Highlight: This is the iciest looking shade in the palette, not in a bad way, it just has the lightest tone. One of my personal favourites.

Shade 5 – Blush: This is another blush perfect for a more neutral day to day look. This shade is your nude-pink of the bunch.

Shade 6 – Blush: See shade 2.

Shade 7 – Blush: I find this to be the most pigmented shade in the palette. This blush is a bright magenta-pink and won’t be forgiving if you don’t build up colour slowly.

Shade 8 – Blush: Another one of my favourites. This gorgeous berry-pink is surprisingly not as intimidating as I thought it would be.

Swatches:

Swatched in order from shade 1 – shade 8, left to right.

Overall Thoughts

For the price this palette is great value. $16.50 (NZD) for eight shades works out to $2.06 each. The packaging feels sleek and sturdy and the fact this palette doesn’t have a mirror doesn’t bother me. The quality of the product is up there along with all the other Revolution makeup I’ve tried. I’m a minimalist when it comes to makeup and don’t like to have too much of one thing. This palette slots in nicely with my other two single colour blushes and gives me a little more variety. The blush shades apply the same with fingers and brushes. The colour and pigmentation lasts well throughout the day. If you’re apprehensive about trying certain shades of blush like I was or don’t know whether you’ll like a palette, Revolution is a good brand to try. Their products aren’t expensive and will help you make up your mind without compromising on quality.

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What do you think of these colours? Do you prefer single blushes or palettes?

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Halloween Makeup

Halloween isn’t a big deal in New Zealand which I think is due to us being in spring when it falls as opposed to autumn for the other side of the world. I’ve been trick or treating once and personally I don’t go to parties or dress up. Not wanting to be a complete spoilsport I thought it would be fun to create a makeup look inspired by dark, bold colours. I was very much inspired by Rebecca’s makeup in this post.

  Products listed in order of application:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – Since using this moisturiser I have noticed clearer skin, I don’t get a lot of blemishes anyway but even less now. I really like how this works.

2. Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer – The last use of this primer was for this look! It’s finally finished! It’s a good primer.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – In all the time I’ve had this brow pencil the colour has always remained the same and the pencil has never dried out or turned crumbly.

4. Max Factor CC Cream – 40 Fair – I have been loving this the past week or so on my sick skin. It applies so smoothly over my moisturiser and primer and doesn’t accentuate dry skin or redness. One layer is enough and the product blends/buffs really easily.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion – I am a total convert to eye primers but only if they’re as good as this one! It has become a staple in my everyday makeup routine.

6. MAC StudioFinish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer blends effortlessly on top of the Max Factor CC cream.

7. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – A light dusting of this over my cheeks to add a light wash of colour and make the look slightly more matte.

8. Makeup Revolution Iconic 1 Palette – The two dark greyish-blue shades at the end of the palette stood out to me and are a key element to this look. I used the first shade in the palette all over the lid, the second to last shade in the crease and the last shade on the right on top of the base shade.

9. MAC Silver Pigment – Silver eyeshadow has always been my jam, I find it easier to work with than gold as some golds are patchy. I applied the pigment to the inner half of the eyes to make them pop.

10. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – Further adding to the dramatic, dark overall look. I use this mascara in the Extreme Black shade as I love super dark lashes.

11. Chi Chi Unicorns & Mermaids Cream Highlighter Palette – I purchased this palette earlier in the year and while my mum uses it most of the time I knew the blue shade ‘Rainbow’ would look lovely with the silver-gunmetal eye. The cream formula is easy to work with and you can build it up or keep it more subtle.

12. MAC Matte Royal – The blue lipstick came out! I don’t wear this shade often but it’s good to have on hand for looks like this. I instantly knew I wanted to create a cool toned, blue look and this was one of the key products – it’s perfect!

The Finished Look:

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Do you celebrate Halloween? What do you think of this makeup look?

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Job Interview Inspired Makeup

Many people know me as the bold lipstick girl but there are days and occasions where a bold lip isn’t always appropriate. A job interview is a formal occasion and I still like to wear makeup but a simple, understated look. I opt for soft pinks and nothing too shimmery. It’s nice to pare it back sometimes.

Products listed in order of application:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – I’ve been using this as my daytime moisturiser for a few months now and I’m enjoying it. There is no sunscreen smell and the moisturiser feels very light on the skin and soaks in easily.

2. Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer – I apply primer 5-10 minutes after moisturiser and this primer really helps to smooth out my skin and make foundation apply nicely over the top.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Been filling in my brows with this since 2016.

4. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair – Even though my skin leans towards the drier side I don’t always prefer dewy foundations. This one from Max Factor is a nice cross between dewy and matte and the coverage with one layer sits at medium, it can be built up if you like fuller coverage too and it builds like a dream. This is my favourite foundation.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion – After trying this eye primer I am a total convert! Some eyeshadows perform similarly with or without it but I do see a difference for the most part. The eyeshadow palette I used for this look has super soft, buttery shades and this primer held them on the eyelids better.

6. MAC StudioFinish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer has good coverage and a good layering ability. The concealer is not drying on the skin despite not being a liquid cream formula.

7. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – A light dusting of this over my face helps add a healthy hint of colour and as I have said plenty of times in the past it is extremely difficult to overdo it with this bronzer.

8. Covergirl TruNaked Roses Palette – I don’t use this palette as much as I should but I don’t tend to wear a lot of pink on my eyes. I used three shades from the palette for a soft, blown out natural eye look.

9. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – I am using one of the tubes I purchased from Beauty Joint earlier in the year and now the mascara has been open a few weeks it’s starting to get to the point I really like; it makes the lashes look super black and adds a pretty flutter. The bigger size of this brush makes it easier to coat more lashes and because of this I don’t have to hold it as close to my bottom lashes.

10. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish – Soft & Gentle – I know I mentioned in the intro I don’t wear anything too shimmery but I wanted my cheeks to have a nice glow so I tapped this highlighter onto my cheeks with my ring finger for a lighter, softer application.

11. MAC Syrup – This is the perfect lipstick for any occasion and one of my all time favourites!

The Finished Look:

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What type of makeup would you wear for a job interview?

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Redhead Rambles #36

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

• On Friday I caught up with an old school friend and it was so nice to see her. We grabbed a bite to eat before she introduced me to those donuts – the ones you’ve been drooling over all week on Instagram! I also bought a pair of shorts which will be perfect for summer and some iridescent metal straws.
• I watched *THIS* inspirational video about heartbreak. I agree with so much of what Jessica says and for anyone going through heartbreak I recommend watching this video.
• At the weekend I mowed the other half of the lawns and finished a book.
• Sunday was relatively quiet at work but it’s always a good catch up day and a chance to get the shelves looking nice.
• I stayed an extra hour at work as a staff member wasn’t feeling well.
• After work I was hungry as I only took an apple. Because I worked longer I was entitled to a longer break and I decided after I finished to order a cheesy garlic pizza from Dominos. I also got cheesy garlic bread and mini Dutch pancakes. Best after work treat!
• Monday was super busy at work with the start of school holidays.
• When I got home my Blush Queen palette from Makeup Revolution had arrived and I’ve been testing out various shades this week. The pink isn’t too much and it’s a gorgeous palette!
• Wednesday would have been Tango’s 9th birthday, I shared a couple of images on my personal Facebook in memory of her. (Tango was my Birman cat who had to be put down in January this year. I now have another cat the same breed and colouring as Tango called Halo).
• I bought a lotto ticket this week and won $23! The draw was on Tango’s birthday which I took as a sign to buy the ticket.
• Also on Wednesday there was a rainbow dance party at work (for children) and staff were allowed to dress up in colours. It was so nice to see everyone make an effort and see everyone looking so bright.
• Throughout this week I have been organising bits and pieces for a quiz night with a couple of work colleagues. I absolutely love trivia and general knowledge and I’m hoping we do well.
• The weather has been stunning this week but turned a little cold again on Thursday.

What I’ve been listening to:

Calvin Harris & Sam Smith – Promises – I’ll admit Sam Smith has a lovely voice but his music is not usually my cup of tea. This track with the dance beat is super catchy though!

LeAnn Rimes – I used to love LeAnn Rimes and was listening to a playlist with Can’t Fight the Moonlight as one of the tracks – cue playing her Greatest Hits album on Spotify.

How was your week?

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