Garnier 5 Second Perfect Blur Review

Hi,

Today's post will be a full review of the "new" Garnier Perfect Blur primer or in their words a base. 

The product retails for $17 here in Australia and I purchased mine from Priceline. 

The product claims to blur out wrinkles, imperfections, pores and shine in 5 seconds. If you ask me it is a lot to fulfil and because it promises so much I think that impacted how I felt about the product over all. 

For myself I was mainly interested in using this product to blur out pores and imperfections in hope I could use this with no makeup over the top or very minimal for school. 

This how ever was not the case, the product did fill my pores nicely which was impressive for a drugstore primer but it did not correct any redness or imperfections on my face.

Another major let down for me was the fact that it did not sink into my skin at all, if I even touched my face not only would I remove significant amounts of the product but by the end of the day it was producing a shiny oily effect. I don't really have an issue with oil so it was a shock that a product that was meant to be eliminating shine was creating it? 

Onto the packaging. The product is in a light pink tube with hot pink writing, and let me just say that you really don't get much product. Here in Australia where the product is expensive you would expect to actually get a fair bit of product. 

This is what the website displays as what should happen when the primer is applied.

Overall this primer was a disappointment, I feel as though if Garnier had focused on only on one thing like reducing pores then this product would have been so much better. 

Top 5 Best Affordable Skin Care Products

Hi,

In today's post I will be showing you my top 5 favourite affordable skin care products, that make there way into my everyday routine. I have tried many different products and these are the few I have narrowed down to work the best for me. 

I have very sensitive skin which is quite dry. 

1. Neutrogena Oil Free moisturiser for sensitive skin. 

This product has been my daily moisturiser for almost a whole year, it has a thick creamy constancy with not smell. It does a great job at moisturising my dry face without adding that extra oiliness that I don't want. Like I said I have been using this product for a long time and it has never broken me out. There are also other options available for this moisturiser for example one comes with SPF and isn't for sensitive skin. 

BUY FROM:

Priceline

2. Formula 10.0.6 So Totally Clean Pore Scrub.

This product is my absolute favourite product for my face that I have ever come across. It says on the bottle that it is a deep pore cleansing scrub and it seriously lives up to its reputation. I call this my lazy face product because all you have to do is put some on a cotton pad and wipe it over your face, and just like that your skin is cleansed and dirt free. I recommend this product to everyone, it is quite harsh and will slightly tingle your face but its easy to get used to and put up with. My brother and I have literally gone through 15+ bottles of this. 

BUY FROM:

Priceline, Big W

3. Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox mud mask.

This is another one of my favourite products. This is the only mud mask that I actually trust, all others I have used have either done nothing or broken me out where as this just brings out the imperfections perfectly and leaves my face feeling so smooth. Not only does this product work well it also smells amazing. 

BUY FROM:

Priceline, Big W

4. Clearasil Stay Clear wipes. 

This product I feel has been around for ever? And yes this is another one of my lazy products. I don't use these types of products every night, only when I am travelling and I am not able to bring a proper face wash or I know I wont have time to wash my face at say a sleepover. These basically are just cleansing makeup wipes that are going to provide you with a clean face. I wouldn't recommend just using these though as they are not the best products for everyday use. 

BUY FROM:

Supermarkets, Priceline, Chemists, Big W, Target

5. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brighting Facial Cleanser.

This is the final product for today and it is once again one of those products I have gone through multiple bottles of. This stuff smells amazing, like you have no idea. I use this in the shower every morning and it does an amazing job of cleansing my face, waking me up and brighting my face. I can not use makeup unless I have used this before as it creates such a nice canvas. It is quite drying though so you will need a moisturiser. 

BUY FROM:

Supermarkets, Priceline, Chemists, Big W, Target

Thats it for todays post! Please check back tomorrow for a new post, thats right I post everyday! 

xxx

Elf Hypershine Lip Gloss Review

Hi!

Merry Christmas! Im aware that in some countries its not quite the 25th so Happy Holidays to you when it is!

Because i'm going to be spending the day eating food and chilling with my family I deiced to keep this post short!

Today I will be quickly reviewing the Elf Hypershine Lip Glosses. These bad boys retail for what like $2? I don't even know but they are crazy affordable and I must say I was impressed with the quality.  

Starting with the packaging, as you can see the come in a clear plastic tube which is awesome because you can see the colour before you buy it and also it has a wind up dispenser. I know some people aren't huge twisty dispenser fans but me personally I love them, they keep it nice and sanitary because you aren't pulling out a wand and exposing the entire product to bacteria and germs, you are only using as much as you need for that particular application.  

Now lets look at colour options. These things come in every colour under the sun ranging from light wearable colours to more daring darker colours. For such an affordable makeup line I was really surprised as to how many colour choices they have. 

Lastly lets discuss the formula, these bad boys smell delightful and are extremely and surprisingly pigmented. But, (there is always a but) these are soooooooo sticky, holy cow these are the stickiest lipgloss I have ever used. I was however willing to look past it as I loved everything else about them.

Over all these are pretty good products and I would recommend you give them ago, maybe not on a windy day cause your hair will stick to your lips!

Have an amazing Christmas, eat tones of food and just enjoy your family.

See you guys tomorrow!

xxxxx  

Best Affordable Makeup Brushes

Hi!

Today's post is going to be a quick guide that will show you some of my personal favourite affordable makeup brushes.

Lets jump straight into it shall we?

1. Eco Tools 

The first brand of brushes I would highly recommend is the Eco Tools brushes. Eco Tools sell their brushes individually which is great but they also sell them in kits which is perfect for beginners. These brushes are incredibly soft and their bamboo handle makes them ideal for gripping and flawless application. For Australian's like me you can find these brushes in Priceline stores and I believe that international residence can find them in their local drugstore. 

2. Avon 

The next brushes I want to show you are the Avon brushes, the reason I only am showing the kabuki brush is because it is the only brush I have tried. I really love this brush for applying powder and even though it does shed some hairs it still feels like a luxury brush. The range of brushes include foundation brushes, blush brushes, various eye brushes and so many more. Obviously you buy these from your local Avon supplier.  

3. Real Techniques

I left these ones close to the bottom of my favourites list because they are not actually that affordable for  residences other than the ones residing in the United States. Even though they are expensive I could seriously write a book as  to how amazing they are, other than the price I have no bad words for them.

The best place to buy these brushes is from iHerb, and yes they do ship internationally and I would highly recommend them.

4. Ebay Brushes

These brushes are the kits you buy for around $10-$15 on Ebay. These are probably the last resort, if you just can't get the other brushes I would recommend these. Ebay is available almost everywhere around the world so they are easily accessible. The quality of these brushes isn't that great, they are normally goats hair which means they will be a little less soft that regular brushes. However in saying that these brushes are great for beginners as they have every brush that you would ever require.

Thats all for today's post! Check back tomorrow as I do post every day :) 

xxx

Essence Sparkle Sand Effects Nail Polish Review and Swatches

Hi!

Today's post is going to be a review of the "new" Essence Sparkle Sand effects nail polishes. The colour I will be swatching/reviewing today is called me & my lover. 

When I saw this polish in my local essence stand I was very intrigued as to what the product was claiming to be, it seemed to be a liquid sand. If you have been following my blog for a while you will know OPI is my favourite nail polish brand and they are notorious for stating the textured polish trend. 

OPI in Australia retails for $20, Essence is a fraction of that price, coming in at $2.75.

The colour itself is very nice, it is a festive sparkly red colour that would complement all skin tones. Also if you didn't know red polish also makes your nails appear longer. 

* both pictures where taken without a flash *

Over all I am super impressed with this nail polish. I have tried many textured polishes and am planning a post that will compare the different brands. For the time being this is so far one of my favourites, its super inexpensive and easily accessible, as impressed as I was the colour selection is minimal, so for now OPI remains my favourite. 

Also quickly I just want to mention that like most textured or glitter polishes they tend to have a longer chipping resistance on your nails. This polish is going 3 days strong and I am yet to see any signs of wear. 

Hope your day was awesome, Ill see you ladies tomorrow. Thats correct,  I do post everyday! 

xxx 

Top 10 Drugstore Beauty Products For 2013

Hi ladies,

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like 2013 went way to fast? Anyways, for today's post I will be sharing with you my personal top 10 favourite drugstore beauty products that I found this year. 

In no particular order, lets get started:

Real Techniques Makeup Brushes

Holy cow, how much hype have these brushes had over the past year? Well it was all worth it because these are the best makeup brushes I am yet to come across. If you live in the states then these brushes are super affordable, not so much for Aussies but you can buy these from iherb for RRP. These brushes come individually (well some) and also in sets, I literally could talk about them all day without saying one negative. 

NYX Round Label Lipsticks

The next products are the NYX round label lipsticks. At the beginning of the year I wasn't a huge lipstick person mainly because I had never really found a brand that sold affordable nice options. One day I placed an order on Cherry Culture and bought one of these lippies. It was one of my wiser choices, I absolutely love the consistency and how they don't dry out my lips. If you don't own one of these, seriously stop reading this and go buy one or maybe all of them? 

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

I actually have a whole review on this product already on my blog so you should check that out! Just quickly though, I love this product and it is one of my many favourite drugstore concealers. Stay tuned for a whole concealer post coming soon!

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

Another massive trend this year was the introduction and expansion of the BB and CC creams. Im sure you are well aware of what they are but incase your not sure they are basically a light coverage foundation, like this Maybelline one they do also offer a bunch of other good things like SPF. I chose to put this particular BB cream in this post because it was the only one I found that didn't look cakey and also it felt the lightest on my skin. 

Maybelline Colour Tattoos 

This year seems to be the year for Maybelline? Like the BB creams another uprising I noticed this year was the cream shadow market. Most brands do offer cream shadows but these Maybelline ones are by far my favourites! My favourite shades are the ever so popular "barely branded" and "bold gold." These work as an excellent base for other shadows, cream liners or simply just to be warn on their own. These are a necessity in all makeup collections. 

Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivid Lipsticks

Last Maybelline products I swear! These lipsticks are just like the NYX ones, these being slightly less loved by me because of the difference in price. These are creamy and extremely pigmented, they also offer sooooooooo many shades so there is bound to be one you will love!

Chi Chi Glamourous Nudes Palette

Nudes palette or Urban Decay naked 1? You decide, but this palette has been given so much love this year from the Aussie beauty community for its obvious duplication qualities. As of now we can't access Urban Decay directly so this is a great option and has been one of my favourite products this year, hence it being in this post! Also drugstore eyeshadows can often be bad quality but Chi Chi never fail to let me down!     

Revlon Just Kissable Balm Stains

Do these products even need an introduction? Oh and if you have managed to read down this far I commend you, I promise i'm nearly finished! Another trend this year seems to be the whole chubby stick lip crayon contraption thingos. These products come is once again soooooo many colours and are just all round great. The price is a little bit frightening but hey you are paying for awesome quality. 

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara

Seriously if you don't own this or haven't heard about it crawl out from that rock you are under and go buy it! This is hands down the best mascara for anyone of any age as it is easy to apply, adds crazy lengths and the best part is NO FREAKING CLUMPS! 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

The final product is the Rimmel stay matte pressed powder. This powder is super nice for keeping you matte (although it doesn't last long) and also for adding a flawless look to your face. It is finely milled which is nice when applying it as it makes your skin feel super duper soft. Once again this is a makeup collection must and if you don't own it I would seriously recommend it!

Thats it for today's post! Check back tomorrow for a new one and also let me know what is on your top 10 list!

Benefits Hervana Boxed Powder Dupe

Hi ladies!

Todays post is going to be a drugstore dupe for the ever so popular Hervana blush (boxed powder) from Benefit cosmetics. 

Lets start with the packaging, both are quite obviously in some what of a cardboard box, both contain a small mirror inside and lastly both contain a small brush applicator. So far the to are comparably the same, if you go off the attractiveness of the packaging when selecting products you would probably chose the Benefit product as it does look more appealing. 

In terms of the product as you can see they are a little different but when swirled together they create almost the same natural flushed colour. Lets be real, most blushes are this colour and the only real dupe i'm going off is the packaging. I'm sure with more research I could give you a list of blushes that come to be this colour. The quality of the MP blush would pleasantly surprise you, in saying that again the Benefit product is smoother (finer) and has longer staying power. 

Next lets asses the price differences, if you are an Aussie like me then Benefit is quiet expensive down here. The Hervana blush comes in at RRP $51 whilst the Models Prefer blush comes in at RRP $8. The prices are quiet different from each other and like previously stated the quality is different but there isn't a massive difference if you go for the Models Prefer blush. 

Availability is also a small yet major factor here. Models Prefer can be found in almost all Priceline stores across the country where as Benefit is only *as of now available in Myers. 

IN SUMMARY:

Both products have their pro's and con's. All I will say is that there is no harm in buying the cheaper option, yes it is slightly less of quality but it does the exact same job. What i'm trying to say is, if I lived in a place where Benefit was cheaper I would totally buy it, this post was purely for all my struggling Aussie friends who need a more realistic substitute. 

xxx
Don't forget to check back tomorrow for a new post! Thats correct, I post everyday! 

How To Eliminate Fizzy Hair

 Have frizzy hair? Don't be ashamed, step forward with all of the rest of us and lets kick that frizz's butt together. Could the real frizz lady please stand up? 

Was that to much? Anyways back to todays post, I am going to show you my tips and tricks to eliminate frizz. We are going to brake this down into steps starting whilst you are in the shower. 

STEP 1:

When you are in the shower it is important to use a frizz eliminating conditioner, I would stay clear of a frizz easing shampoo as in personal experience I have found that it doesn't clean my hair properly. A conditioner I would recommend is this Palm Olive sleek and smooth conditioner, this does a great job at the first faze of eliminating frizz, yes there is faze's I am very serious when it comes to not having frizzy hair.  

TIP ONE:

When you have finished washing your hair and are about to exit the shower, you are going to want to run your hair under cold water to close the hair follicles, it seems stupid but little things like this really help.  

STEP 2:

Now that you are out of the shower you are going to want to apply some sort of leave in conditioner or serum. The one I have been obsessed with lately is the John Freda frizz ease serum, you apply this whilst your hair is still wet, I use it all over my hair cause the whole damn thing is frizzy but you can also use this just in the ends of your hair. This product is quite expensive at around $17 for a small bottle but it does last a long time and is worth the $$$

TIP TWO: 

When you get out of the shower DO NOT towel dry your hair, by rubbing your hair with the towel you are going to re open the hair follicles and make your hair frizzy which would make you suffering in the cold water pointless and nobody wants that. 

STEP 3:

If you have curly frizz like me it is an essential that you brush your hair whilst it is drying to ensure your hair doesn't get tangled. Brushing your hair with a brush will cause the hair to become frizzy, because you are separating the curls and once again aggravating the follicles. You need to use a wide toothed comb to ensure tangle free hair without the frizz. 

TIP THREE:

Be gentle when combing wet hair as it is very damaging and can cause breakage.

STEP 4:

This is the final faze in my frizz journey, I don't blow dry my hair because it is damaging and quite frankly i'm to lazy. If you blow dried your hair you may have found that your hair is frizz free and you may want to skip this final step. The final stage is to add some sort of moroccan or argon oil, this one is from Avon. The oil will give your hair a lovely healthy shine and smooth down any final frizz, also it smells amazing!

TIP FOUR:

Go light handed with the oil, you just washed your hair, you don't want to look like a grease ball.  

Thats it! I hope at least one of these products work for you, and if they didn't, don't worry because everyones hair is different and you just need to keep testing products out in order to find the best techniques for you.

Have an awesome day! And check back tomorrow for a new post. That is correct, I do post at least once a day! 

xxx

How To Make Your Makeup Last All Day Long

 Hi ladies,

Today's post is a few of my personal favourite tips and tricks to keep your makeup looking fabulous on your skin all day. 

FACE:

The face is typically the place that we all struggle, I have combo oily skin so I feel your pain. When I am at school I hate my face getting shiny and yet I am still so lazy and never touch up? Well hopefully with these tips we can all take our powder out of our makeup bad and rock our look oil free all day long. 

 

This is the Australis matte out face base which is basically a primer for your primer, I know what you are thinking like how many layers do I have to apply? But this is seriously the best product and it is so affordable. It comes out like a purple glue stick, you know like the ones you used to use in school, because it is purple it really helps with redness and evening out skin tones. If you are an international reader and you can't purchase this product in stores I would recommend you check ebay as this product is one of my personal favourites.    

Next you would want to prime your skin, I know shock horror!? This here is the Revlon photo ready primer and it has been a big game changer in my everyday routine. I have a very pale complexion and the pink under tones in the lightest shade which is 001 cancel out any redness left behind from the matte out stick. This product creates such a nice base for my concealer or foundation (depends on what the occasion is) and keeps it looking flawless and photo ready all day.   

Another primer is the ever so famous Pore-fessional primer by benefit. This product isn't as long wearing as the Revlon primer but it creates such a nice base, especially if you have enlarged pores. I for one have pores on my nose and this clears them right up, I also often use this product with a little powder and am set for the day because it really cancels out the redness and imperfections. 

Once you have applied your concealer and foundation itis essential to use a setting powder to lock in your makeup all day. This here is the Maybelline super stay 24 hour waterproof powder. I love this powder, and yes like it says this product is water proof. In terms of 24 hours I think that may be a little exaggerated but it really does lock in my makeup for the whole day. This powder is perfect for school girls like me as it adds a nice amount of coverage without looking cakey . The only downfall is that there is little shade selection. 

Another powder I love is the Lacura Beauty translucent powder but stay tuned for a full review on that product coming this week. 

The next product is this all over colour stick from elf. Elf have a range of shades available and these things seriously seem high end even though they are super affordable. The shade I own is in pink lemon and it basically adds a nice natural flushed look and the up side is this is the most long wearing cream blush I own. I would stick to a cream blush because it will sink into your skin and last longer than a powder blush, also I find that cream blushes tend to be more pigmented and have wider ranges of shades. This product can also be used as an eyeshadow which is a little strange, and also an eyeshadow.  

The last face product I will be recommending is much like the last one, this is bene-tint and it is a lip and cheek stain. The word stain is off putting to some but really it just gives off a slight red pink tint to your lips. This product being a stain will withstand heat and look perfect on your cheeks all day long!

LIPS:

Moving onto the lips, I would highly recommend the bene-tint as a lip stain and also this Chi Chi glossy lip stain. Firstly Chi Chi is a high end drugstore brand and can be found in Target and Myers stores in Australia and maybe New Zealand i'm not sure? Anyway the lip portion of your makeup is always the most challenging part of your face to keep on, you are constantly using your lips which causes the product to either move around your face if its a dark colour (no body wants to look like the joker) or it completely comes off. You MUST use a stain if you want your lips to look cute all day, these Chi Chi ones are affordable and don't dry out your lips like many others do. To keep it looking glossy you will need to apply a clear gloss or balm over it throughout the day. 

EYES:

Moving onto the eyes once again the most obvious thing you need to do is prime your eyelids. There are so many great primers available on the market and today I am only showing you one of my favourites which is the Elf eyelid primer. This primer keeps all of my shadows creaseless and flawless the entire day and it is so inexpensive. I would recommend this primer to anyone who is looking for a great primer which also cancels out nasty eyelid veins and redness. 

Lastly for the eyes I would recommend these Maybelline 24 hour Colour Tattoos. These are actually 24 hour wearing cream shadows and take a good scrubbing to remove. I seriously recommend these to all my friends and family because they have a shade for everybody and are so easy to work with. I really believe that no matter what stage you are at with makeup you will be able to use the and create an amazing look. If you are still set on using powder eyeshadow then no problem! You can use these as a base and apply your powder shadows over the top to create longer wear. 

These are just a few of my tips to ensure that your face of makeup will last throughout the harsh conditions and simply withstand the test of time. I love all of these products and would swear by them for the longest possible face of makeup. If you have any products that I have missed let me know in the comments!

Thats all for today, stay tuned and check back EVERYDAY for a new post!

xxxx

One Direction "Our Moment" Perfume Review

Today's post will be an in depth review of my new favourite perfume which happens to be by One Direction. Even if you aren't a fan of the boys you will for sure love this perfume.

The fragrance is called "Our Moment" and is packaged in a light pink bottle with a crown for the lid. (very cute if you ask me.) This perfume retails for $49 for 30ml.

Moving on to the interesting part and i'm sure the part you are all here for which is the scent. Like you are more than likely aware of this perfume is more so marketed towards teenage girls as it has a sweet almost sugary scent. But hey i'm not one to say what age you have to be to rock this scent as even my mum enjoys it and would gladly wear it. 

Like I said it is very sweet and would almost be like a Katy Perry perfume, bottom line being that there are many celebrity scents that do smell like this, but there is one key point that really sold me. This perfume is the longest wearing perfume I own, and sure it does depend on your skin but seriously I can put this on in the morning and still smell it when I go to sleep that night.

IN SUMMARY:

This perfume would be great for anyone who enjoys a sweet smelling scent, the price is quite high but i'm sure around the holiday season you will be able to find some sort of deal. If you can get your hands on it I would highly recommend this for a gift of a nice treat for yourself.