Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation Review

Hello my loves!

Recently I've had a lot of requests to do a review on the Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation (long enough name?), so here it is! :)

I picked up this foundation while I was in Hawaii in May, as I'd heard Shaaanxo rave about it and lets be honest, I feel the need to try anything that girl recommends! It set me back $42USD in Sephora.

What it claims: "Stay flawless for 15 hours with this photo shoot secret to picture perfect skin. This long wearing, hydrating formula blurs imperfections using light diffusing spheres and delivers natural-looking, buildable medium-to-full coverage while keeping skin hydrated and shine free all day."
I'll start off with noting that I have normal to dry skin which can be rather sensitive at times. But then again, there are those random days where my skin seems a little on the oily side through the T-zone - rare - and I have worn this foundation during all types of skin days :)

The colour range is pretty good, but to be honest I didn't spend a whole lot of time looking at them as I was matched to the lightest colour (1.1), so I didn't really have much reason to play around with shades! I do have deceivingly pale skin, but if you're paler than I am (Illamasqua "SB4.5", Benefit Hello Flawless "Ivory", Loreal True Match "D1.W1 Golden Ivory") then sadly you won't be able to find a match!

The bottle is made of glass, and it has a pump (hoorah!) to dispense the foundation.

Now, on to the contents.
I don't know how else to describe this foundation other than - it's amazing. For me, it really does live up to the claims!

I apply this with a damp Beauty Blender sponge, and it works like a dream. The coverage is medium but is definitely buildable to full coverage. It doesn't look cakey or over the top when you apply more than one layer.

It really does blur imperfections, and for me personally, I think it improves the longer you have it on! It seems to settle (in a good way) and blend in to the skin seamlessly after a little while, and it becomes more natural looking. I swear it still looks flawless after an 8hr work day!

The finish is semi-dewy for me. I always set my liquid foundations with a powder though, so this doesn't really affect me either way.

Overall, I would say this is my favourite liquid foundation that I own. I would definitely recommend it if you have similar skin to mine. If your skin is different, it is definitely worth picking up a sample of this if you can get your hands on it, because if it works for you, it is so worth the money!

Are there any other foundations you would like me to review? Let me know!

Xx.

iHerb haul... Oops I did it again!

Hello lovelies!

Today is a good day - the mailman finally delivered my iHerb package! :)

I placed this order on the 25th of June, and I qualified for free shipping.

Let me just tell you this now - Next time I qualify for free shipping I do not care, I will be opting for the paid route. Why? Because it's now the 16th of July.. yes, my package took 3 weeks to arrive this time, when usually it takes about 2 days when I pay for the shipping! So worth it, and it's only a few dollars!

So lets jump in to what I ordered, shall we? :)

It's all Real Techniques and E.L.F cosmetics!

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - 

I really wanted to try out some of Sam and Nic's brushes, and I've been told that this one is awesome for contouring and for applying liquid foundation!

Real Techniques Setting Brush - 

This is one I've been eying off for a long time! I know it will be amazing for setting concealer under my eyes!

E.L.F Long-wear lipliner pencil in 'Spice' - 

I've been after a lipliner that is similar to my natural lip colour, so I'm hoping this is it! :)

E.L.F Mineral Lip Tint in 'Berry' -

A gorgeous berry shade, perfect for the winter weather at the moment! I figured it's nice and slim, so it will be easy to chuck in my purse for emergencies!

E.L.F Shimmer in 'Pink' -

I just love highlighter. That's my only excuse for this one. It was so cheap and look at how pretty it is!

E.L.F All over Color Sticks in "Lilac Petal" and "Toffee" - 

I've heard Shaaanxo talk about these (foreeeeever ago) so I picked up a shade for highlighting, and a shade to play around with for contouring!

E.L.F Baked blush in "Peachy Cheeky" - 

Again, I have no excuse other than the fact that I really like blush ;) This one has received a fair bit of hype, so I knew I had to have it! Isn't it stunning?!

And lastly, the E.L.F eyebrow kit in "Medium" -

I originally picked this up in the shade "Ash" and I have absolutely no idea what I was thinking. It works well, don't get me wrong, but it's just too light for my brows. I've got light hair naturally, but much darker brows, which can make finding a shade tricky! Lets hope this one is on the money :)

So that's it for this iHerb haul, if you would like to see a review of any of the products in depth, leave me a comment below and let me know! I'll happily review any of them for you! :)

Xx.

Napoleon Perdis event

Hey everyone!

Hope you're all doing well!

Today I thought I would post something a little different - on the 3rd of July, 3 of my close beauty blogger friends and I attended a Napoleon Perdis event at their counter in David Jones on Bourke Street, Melbourne! So I thought who better to share my experience with than you guys? :)

The event was based around their latest collection - The Slim Aarons collection, which includes a full size nude lipstick, a stunning cream highlighter stick, and a pressed, matte bronzing powder, all packaged together in a cute little makeup bag with one of Slim Aarons famous photographs on the front which is named "Poolside".

These three gorgeous felt eyeliner pens are also a part of the Slim Aarons release, but they are available for purchase separately.

When we first arrived we were greeted by the Napoleon team and the guest makeup artist for the night, Lidia, who has worked with Napoleon himself at events and shoots! Straight away we noticed that gorgeous platters of snacks and drinks had been provided... 

and waiting for us on our chairs were these gorgeous blue satin satchels, filled with goodies!

We were provided with two face charts which had a breakdown of the products used in each of the makeup looks that Lidia would be creating. The first was a more natural look named "Aristocrat" and the other was more of a night time look, with heavier eyes, more bronzed skin and amazing bright blue winged liner, which was named "Poolside".

Lidia talked us through every step she was doing, and explained the techniques she was using and the importance of each. She explained everything in detail and made sure to answer any questions we had along the way!

Once the demonstration was over, we had a chance to have a look around the counter and have a play with the products. We were able to redeem our ticket price on products, and boy were we excited!

One of my favourite parts of the night by far was having the opportunity to meet these lovely ladies! We originally bonded over our mutual love for all things beauty related on Instagram, and we've been talking every single day non stop for weeks! I was so happy to meet them all, finally!

Make sure you head on over and check out their social media pages as well :)

Monique's Instagram - http://instagram.com/moniquebeauty_14

April's blog - Aprilleebeautyx.blogspot.com.au

Veronica's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCShGaeEAwIr9Zl_N8ND6Rig

And last but not least, I want to say  massive thank you to my brother David K Davey for being an angel and inviting us to this! We had an absolute ball and you've definitely created some serious NP addicts! 

Check out Davids links here! :)

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/DavidKDavey

Tumblr - http://davidkdavey.tumblr.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/davidkdavey

Instagram - https://twitter.com/davidkdavey

I hope you all enjoyed reading about our little adventure! What are your favourite Napoleon products?  Let me know! :)

Xx.

40 Beauty Questions tag!

Hellooo guys!

Today I thought I would post something a little different, so I've decided to do the 40 Beauty questions tag! :)

I'll post the makeup questions first, and then move on to the skincare ones! 

Here goes!

MAKEUP!

Q1. What foundation do you use?

My go to foundation at the moment is the Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour foundation! It has amazing coverage and wears beautifully throughout the day!
I also must give a special mention to the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation. Love this stuff, I've been using it forever!

Q2. How about concealer?
I love using MAC Prolongwear concealer under my eyes and blending it out over my cheekbones for a highlighted effect. For blemishes I can't go past the NARS Radiant Creamy concealer.

Q3. Do you know your undertone colour?
I do! I've got beige/ slightly golden undertones!

Q4. What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I love them! I wish I had more time and patience to wear them every day. Sometimes I wear them during the day, but I mainly wear them out at night or to special events.

Q5. Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
I do indeed! But lets be honest, it doesn't always happen. 

Q6. What brand of mascara do you use?
At the moment I'm using a combination of the Maybelline Full 'N Soft mascara and the Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara (which is practically empty, I just love using the wand to comb through my lashes after applying the first mascara).

Q7. Sephora or MAC?
Sephora. Bigger selection, much wider choice - Makeup, skincare, haircare, fragrances and more! I do love MAC, but I'm so excited for Sephora to come to Australia!

Q8. Do you have a MAC Pro card?
Sadly, no! Not yet ;)

Q9. What tools do you use in makeup application? 
I use a combination of makeup brushes (Sedona Lace, Ecotools, xobeauty, etc) makeup sponges (Beauty Blender, Real techniques) and if I'm in a hurry I use my hands! :)

Q10. Do you use a makeup base/ primer for the eyes?
Yes, always! I feel strange if I don't. Some of my favourites are the Urban Decay Primer Potion, Maybelline Colour Tattoos and MAC paintpots.

Q11. For the face?
Some days I do, some days I don't. It depends on the foundation I'm using. I really love illuminating primers, though.

Q12. What is your favourite eyeshadow colour or shade?
My favourite colours to wear on my eyes are warm bronzes, purples and teals.

Q13. Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
I love using both! Liquid eyeliner for a more defined, crisp look, and pencil for a more smudged out effortless type look.

Q14. How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Never, really! Now mascara is a different story...

Q15. What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
Sometimes they can be a little messy and fussy to use, but they're worth it if they're good quality! The trick is a good base :)

Q16. Do you use mineral makeup?
Not at the moment, no! But I've tried it and I like some brands more than others ;)

Q17. What is your favourite lipstick?
I think I'll have to go with Snob or Up The Amp by MAC! I also love bright purples :)

Q18. How about lipgloss?
I don't really wear lipgloss, so I can't say I have a favourite!

Q19. What is your favourite blush to use?
Katie by Illamasqua. Absolutely adore it. Check out my top 10 blushes post to see my full opinion and my other favourites!

Q20. Do you buy your makeup on eBay?
Rarely. I'm too paranoid!
  
Q21. Do you like drugstore makeup?
Do I like drugstore makeup... Pffffft! Of course I do! Some of my favourite products are drugstore brands :)

Q22. Do you go to CCO's (Cosmetic Company Outlets)?
If theres a good one, heck yes! They don't pop up too often though, and the permanent ones around my area are a bit dodgy.

Q23. Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?
I have indeed! Not sure what I'll do though. I'm too indecisive.

Q24. Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
Not really no. Which surprises me because I'm generally a pretty clumsy person in every other aspect of my life!  

Q25. Name a makeup crime that you hate?
People telling me what I can and can't do on my own face. If I want to wear bright blue lipstick I'm gonna do it! As long as you're comfortable and you like the way you look, then you can wear your makeup however you like :) As long as you're not affecting anyone else, do what makes you happy! 

Q26. Do you like colourful shades of makeup (lipstick, eyeshadow) or neutral ones?       
Refer to my last question ;) I like both! Depending on what mood I'm in :)

Q27. Which celebrity always has great makeup?
Rupaul! Oh mah gawwwd.

Q28. If you had to leave the house wearing only one makeup item, what would you choose?
If my skin has had a reaction to something and it's red and blotchy, or if I'm particularly tired I'll go with concealer. If I'm having a good skin day, I'll go with mascara!

Q29. Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
Of course! I do it all the time!

Q30. Do you think you look good without makeup on?
If I don't have any makeup on, I'm generally in a mood where I'm too lazy to care :)

Q31. In your opinion, what is the best makeup line?
Drugstore I would have to go with Maybelline or Loreal, and high end I would go for MAC! They have a bigger range than most companies.

Q32. What do you think of makeup?
I absolutely adore it! The possibilities are endless.

SKINCARE!

Q33. How many times do you wash your face daily?

I always remove my makeup and wash my face at night without fail. Sometimes I wash my face in the morning too, but I'm not as strict with that.

Q34. What skin type do you have?

I've got sensitive skin, and at the moment it is really quite dry on my nose! My cheeks generally stay pretty normal but my T-zone changes.

Q35. What is your current facial wash?

Lush Angels on Bare Skin. Cannot speak highly enough of this cleanser!

Q36. Do you exfoliate?

Sure do! My Lush face wash is a gentle enough exfoliator for daily use :)       

Q37. What brand do you use?

...Lush? I'm also a fan of the St. Ives Green Tea scrub.

Q38. What moisturiser do you use?

My HG moisturiser is the Nivea Sensitive Soothing Day Cream. It has been discontinued sadly, but my mum and I found a heap of them at Target one day and bought them all! I also love the Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion. I get the small squeezy tube and it lasts me forever for my face!

Q39. Do you have freckles?

I don't!

Q40. Do you use eye cream?

I've tried a few but haven't found one that I love yet. So no, not really.

Q41. (What?) Do you or did you ever have acne prone skin?

Thankfully, no. I get the occasional spot here and there, but nothing major. I tend to have more problems with redness!

Q42. Have you ever had to use Proactiv?

I tried it once upon a time, but the lady told me that I should use the body wash on my face as it is more gentle than the traditional 3 step system -  but even that was way too harsh.

So that's it! 40 Questions my butt... I wonder if anyone else who answered these noticed that?

I tag you! Go go go!

Xx.          

       

 

  




    
     

BeautyJoint haul

Hey hey!

Hope you're all doing well!

A couple of weeks ago I made a BeautyJoint order, and it arrived in my mailbox last week!

So I figured why not show you all what I ordered? :)

Keep reading if you're interested!

NYX Dewy Finish Setiing Spray-

NYX Dewy Finish Spray - $8.00

I'd been wanting this for such a very long time, after hearing Shaaanxo rave about it in her videos :) 
Yes, I do take a lot of my makeup inspiration from her, so you'll often see her name pop up! Especially when I post hauls ;) Forever being sucked in!
I haven't tried this yet, but I will post my thoughts up when I do!

Milani Baked Blushes in '05 Luminoso' and '01 Dolce Pink'- 

Milani Baked blushes - L:'05 Luminoso' R:'01 Dolce Pink' - $7.99ea

These have recieved so much hype in the online beauty community, so obviously I had to get my little hands on them!

'Luminoso' is the shade that gets nearly all of the spotlight, and I had heard Lauren Curtis raving about this one along with 'Dolce Pink', so I figured why not try both?

L: 05 Luminoso R: 01 Dolce Pink

These are CRAZY pigmented! You barely have to touch your brush in the product to get more than enough for both cheeks (and it's not made any easier by the fact that I'm as pale as a ghost).

I haven't used them enough to have made a concrete decision on them, but as soon as I've decided, you'll be the first ones to know! Promise!

The last three things I bought are all E.L.F products. I've only recently started getting into this brand (way late, I know) and I'm so happy I have! I was holding out for my trip to Hawaii, where I was going to stock up on E.L.F stuff, but I couldn't find it anywhere! So I've had to make some sneaky purchases since getting back home ;) The first two were again, all Shaanxo's fault!

E.L.F Eyebrow Kit in 'Ash'-

E.L.F Eyebrow Kit in 'Ash' - $3.99

I've used this little guy once so far, and already I don't know if I'm sold. I only used the wax side, but even when I swatched it on the back of my hand, it just isn't as pigmented as I thought it would be. Perhaps I need a darker colour. I'll keep playing around and hopefully it will get better the further I dig into it!

E.L.F High Definition Undereye Setting Powder-

E.L.F Undereye setting powder - $3.99

So far, I've only heard good things about this one! Can't wait to give it a shot. I'm such a fan of highlighting products, and anything that will make me look more awake gets my money! I'm hoping it will give my Bare Minerals 'Well-Rested' a run for it's money - I love that stuff! So if this is anything similar, I'll be a very happy lady :)

E.L.F Studio blush in 'Gotta Glow'-

E.L.F Blush 'Gotta Glow' - $3.99

Did I mention yet that I'm a fan of highlighting products? ;)

This reminds me so much of NARS Albatross! I'd read online that they were similar, and I figured since I already own the latter, I would grab the E.L.F one so that I could write a comparison post for you guys! :)

So that's it for this BeautyJoint haul! I will mention that shipping can get a little exxy with this website, so keep that in mind. It also took a really long time to get to me! (more than 3 weeks from ship date to arrival date). 

If you're willing to wait though, it's worth it! Because I think it makes up for the shipping costs in the low prices they charge for the products themselves :) 

And if you live in Australia, you'll know that waiting is just a part of having beauty products from the rest of the world that we just can't get here, unfortunately! 

Xx.

Top 10 favourite blushes

Hi everybody! (Hi Dr. Nick!) <- Surely I'm not the only one who does this?

How are we all? :)

Today I've got a suuuper exciting post for you...

My top 10 favourite blushes!

My blush drawer ft. my cat Riley! He wouldn't get up :/

Yay! Blush is my favourite makeup item, and I definitely have the most of it out of all of the things in my collection.

I've got blushes from both high end and drugstore. I've got cult classics and I've found hidden gems. I've got more blush than I "need", but lucky for you guys, this means I've tried and tested enough to be able to show you my current top 10!

These are in no particular order with the exception of the last on the list. That is my holy grail #1 blush that I would trade all others for if I had to. Keep reading to find out what it is!

Essence Silky Touch blush in '10 Adorable'-

Essence Silky Touch blush - $4.50AUD

This blush a light peachy pink colour, with very fine glitter. The glitter is barely visible on the skin, and just adds a glow to your cheeks! This is such an easy every day colour, it goes with any makeup look, and it's the one I take with me while traveling!

NARS blush in 'Orgasm'-

NARS blush - $45AUD

Now you've all heard of this one, but I had to put it in! This blush is known for being a gorgeous peachy pink shade with that famous gold shimmer. Heaps of brands have their own recreations, but so far from what I've tried, none of them beat the original!

NYX Cream blush in '02 Natural'-

NYX cream blush - $11.95AUD

This has got to be my favourite cream blush yet. It's a dusty pink colour with no shimmers or glitters, so as the name suggests, it does look quite natural once applied to the cheeks. It is so easy to apply and blends like a dream!

Benefit blush in 'Hervana'-

Benefit blush - $51AUD

This stuff is absolutely gorgeous! It's expensive, yes. But totally worth it! It's got swirls of apricot, dusty pink, lilac and a pretty highlight all in one. I'm such a fan of blush that leans on the lilac side. It smells beautiful and it looks amazing on the cheeks! Love it!

BYS blush in 'Candyfloss'-

BYS blush - $3.95AUD

Don't let the price of this one fool you. For a very long time this was the only blush I would reach for, every day. It is yet another peachy pink blush, and it is not dissimilar to the Essence blush mentioned above. It is slightly warmer than the Essence blush, and not so baby pink. It is impossible to overdo it with this one, yet it is pigmented and blends beautifully. This would definitely rank in my top 3 favourites.

Models Prefer Soft Touch blush in 'Charisma'-

Models Prefer Soft Touch blush - $12.99AUD

This blush is one that I picked up on a whim one day while browsing around at Priceline. For memory I grabbed it because it looks similar to Benefits boxed powders and I wanted to see what it was like! It is such a pretty apricot colour with plenty of gold shimmer. It looks healthy and glowy when applied to the cheeks, and acts as a highlight at the same time as a blush. Booonus!

Sportsgirl Make Me Blush cream blush in 'Pink'-

Sportsgirl cream blush - $9.95AUD

I wouldn't call it dusty or peachy.. I think the name 'Pink' is a pretty accurate desription of this colour! It's a light pink, but not quite baby pink. The application of this one is drier than the NYX cream blush, so it's a little harder to work with. But once you warm the product up between your fingers you're set! 

MAC powder blush in 'Well Dressed'-

MAC powder blush - $41AUD

This one is on the pricier side, but I obviously think it's worth it! Well Dressed is a cooler shade of pink, which almost throws a little on the lilac side on my skin. It has a teeny amount of fine glitter in it, but nothing crazy. I absolutely adore it, and it's another one of those blushes that you can throw on with any eye look!

Rimmel Match Perfection blush in '001 Light'-

Rimmel Match Perfection blush - $14.95AUD

Easy peasy to apply, perfect natural flush of pink. I've had this one in my collection for a while, and it used to be my go to blush when I was first getting into them! Happy memories :)

And the last on the list... The all time favourite... The only blush that I actually ranked out of my whole collection... My number one is...

Illamasqua Powder Blusher in 'Katie'-

Illamasqua Powder Blusher - $35

I absolutely cannot say enough good things about this blush. I LOVE it. It's a cool toned pale pink, which when applied to the cheeks makes me look like a doll! It's velvety smooth and applies like nothing else. It blends beautifully and has a matte finish. So easy to layer with your favourite highlighting products, but still looks amazing when applied alone. 

The girl at the Illamasqua counter told me that this wouldn't suit me, and instead talked me into a different shade. When I got home I knew I had to have it anyway so I ordered it from ASOS online (hate to say it, but they're cheaper there anyway. Plus, free shipping! Yes please!) and I'm so very happy that I did! 

It's not the kind of shade that is for everyone but like any makeup, if you like it and it makes you happy, then wear it! Don't listen to anyone else. You're not wearing it for their satisfaction anyway!

So that's it! My top 10 blushes (for the time being, at least ;))

Thank you so much for reading!

Xx.