March Favourites

March was barely distinguishable from February, with the only difference being I officially turned a year older. There was no shortage of cheesecake this month, partially sabotaging my attempt at a "lifestyle change" by eating more cleanly and trying to get in some exercise (and by exercise, I mean run on the treadmill 1-2 times a week while feeling close to puking, and random made up floor exercises in the comfort of my own room). In terms of beauty products, there was a bit of a mixed bag this month, but more items than usual. I had not one, but two favourites for foundation, nail polish and moisturiser.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Taupe (004)
I dismissed Taupe the first time I picked up one of these eyeliners (in Bronze) because it seemed so similar to Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe, which I never use. But with Priceline's most recent 40% off cosmetics sale, I was suddenly inspired to give Taupe a go. I've been reaching for it almost exclusively this past month to define my lower lash line instead of my usual bronze eyeliners. What I like most about it is that it's quite hazy and soft when it's applied, and it wears in much the same way. The lasting power is impressive, but even when it's faded by the end of the day, it doesn't look patchy like some metallic eyeliners can. The overall look is more understated and natural because the colour is matte, very neutral and not as harsh as a black.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Soft Beige (200) + CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation in Buff Beige (825)
These two mixed together (usually half and half) have been working really well for me. At first, I combined them out of necessity because the Rimmel is too dark and the CoverGirl too light. Sometimes in the morning rush and with less than ideal pump control, I get the proportions out of whack and my face doesn't match my neck, but the freedom to customise your own shade remains one of the biggest perks of having too many foundations. The creamy, thick consistency and occasional over-dewiness of the Rimmel is tamed by the CoverGirl, which has much superior coverage but a drier, more satin finish and runnier, lighter texture. Worked in with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush, this drugstore foundation duo ticks most of the boxes: good coverage, radiance-boosting, sets properly and doesn't overly transfer, excellent lasting power, oil control ... and shade match (when I get it right).

LUSH Snow Fairy Limited Edition Shower Gel
I know this is a popular product from LUSH, especially around Christmas, but despite hearing constant raves, I hadn't tried it until recently. At first, I wasn't blown away (it just smelled of banana lollies to me), but after squirting generous amounts on a shower puff and lathering it all over a couple more times, I saw the light. Yes, it's extremely sugary, but somehow not in an overwhelming, sickly way. I think it might be tamed by the musk in there, but whatever it is, the unbridled burst of edible sweetness is an absolute pleasure. It honestly feels like I'm bathing in lollies. In the past month alone, I've used up about two thirds of my tiny 100g bottle and I'm now majorly regretting not buying a larger one when I had the chance.

China Glaze Nail Lacquer in It's a Trap-eze!
I wore this over Nails Inc. Porchester Square for a whole week, which is almost unheard of when you're as fickle about nail polish as me and frequently change nail polish daily. It's a Trap-eze! is a glitter masterpiece. The overall effect is more speckled egg than bling overload, so it's perfect for any upcoming Easter-themed manicures. Still annoyed BeautyJoint shipped me a half-used bottle though.

Australis Nail Colour in K-Pop
The nail polish colour du jour seems to be Essie Splash of Grenadine (popularised by Estée), which reminded me of this gem from local brand Australis. As soon as I saw K-Pop on the stand, I knew I had to have it. It's such a unique, eye-catching colour (also very fitting with the Pantone Colour of the Year "Radiant Orchid") and the formula is close to impeccable. Here's a shot of the colour on my nails. I like that it has this injection of neon which makes it a bit fresher and more youthful than similar colours that are darker and more dusty.

Trilogy Rosapene Night Cream
I've tried a few products from Trilogy and I can't say my skin has loved everything, but this night cream is a definite winner. I have a mini 25ml jar from the Rosapene Day and Night Collection which I bought during Priceline's 40% off skin care sale around Christmas. This is essentially the evening version of their Vital Moisturising Cream, in that it's slightly thicker and more hydrating. I think the texture is an improvement (closer to Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream), it absorbs well, instantly comforts and adds moisture to the skin and smells pleasant and soothing. Dare I say I prefer it to the funky-smelling Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream (of which I have a small 15ml tube from the Anti-Ageing Minis set)?

Jurlique Arnica Cream
I was fortunate to receive this as a birthday gift and immediately incorporated it into my skin care routine as my daytime moisturiser. The smell reminds me of slightly off, sweet yoghurt and it has a thick texture that requires a tad more effort to spread onto the face, but this stuff sinks deep into the skin and provides amazing hydration and softness. I used to struggle with dry patches, especially around my nose, which would be apparent when I applied my foundation, but since using the Arnica Cream, I don't have those issues anymore. It serves as a perfect base for my foundation because it provides a smooth, richly moisturised platform, but it's not greasy or slippy on the skin. It's almost matte in texture when absorbed. It also doesn't begin to seep through your foundation, emerging as an oily mess a couple of hours later. Yes, there's a bit of shine, but it's positively restrained compared with other products, plus blotting with a tissue ensures the skin is sufficiently mattified for the remainder of the day.

So Many Regrets, So Little Time

It's been nearly a year since my take on a Products I Regret Buying post, so I thought another instalment was well overdue. More blatantly negative than the the mixed sentiments towards the Products I'm on the Fence About, I wouldn't mind giving away or binning any of the selected items this instant. They're disappointing in performance, disgusting to use, easily disposable, downright ugly and smell bad. I'm at a stage where I have to be exceedingly selective when it comes any makeup purchases, because whatever I'm eyeing, I probably already have four things exactly like it at home. That's what makes makeup regrets more acute — in a world of excess, these unloved additions serve as unpleasant reminders of how overindulgence can backfire.

CoverGirl Intense ShadowBlast in Beige Blaze
I bought this on the recommendation of Zoë Foster, and I don't get it. I knew things were wrong from the moment I opened it up and it smelled funky. This isn't a resoundingly bad product, I just wish I hadn't bought it. I had such high hopes seeing that Zoë herself totes it around in her makeup bag, and after a review I read that compared it favourably with Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin and Eden. But it just doesn't do anything for me. As an eye primer, I have better alternatives (NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base), as a cream eyeshadow it barely shows up on my lids, as a base for gold/yellow powder eyeshadows, I can use Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bold Gold or just an ordinary primer. Waste of money and space.

Face of Australia Lip Quench SPF30+ in Pink Champagne
This light, blue-based pink looks horrid on me. Every time I get it wrong with a pink lipstick, I can't help but berate myself. I've had enough experience by now to realise what colours I should stay away from, but sometimes logic simply doesn't enter the equation. What distinguishes this particular lipstick from my other pink lipstick failures is the unappealing smell and texture. Like all of the Face of Australia Lip Quench lipsticks (blame it on the SPF or something), it stinks. I can't put my finger on the scent, but it's like melted plastic covered by a strong, synthetic, floral perfume. It's so soft and creamy that not only has it broken off at the base, but you can't apply it straight from the bullet, otherwise the product just sits on top of your lips and looks patchy and uneven. You have to really rub it in with your finger, at which point it loses all vibrancy as a pink and just melds with the natural tone of my lips, making it look even duller and more purple.

Essence Stay All Day Long Lasting Eyeshadow in Coppy Right
I gave Glammy Goes To... to a friend because I simply didn't get on with the colour, but I hoped that Coppy Right would fare better. It doesn't. This is so dry, patchy, lumpy, hard to blend and frosty to the point of looking scaly on my lids. The shade, while an improvement on Glammy Goes To..., is still too cool-toned for me and more or less overtaken by the silvery/white shimmer. There's no reason to have this sitting around when there exists the infinitely superior Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze.

Top to bottom: Essence Coppy Right, CoverGirl Beige Blaze, Face of Australia Pink Champagne

Revlon PhotoReady Sculpting Blush Palette in Pink Rose
Remember when Sunday Life Magazine pictured Revlon PhotoReady Sculpting Blush Palette among "three of the best blushing beauties", then lost all credibility? I'll let the swatches speak for themselves (each was 3 swipes, by the way). The only passable part of this palette is the highlighter, which is still average at best. Everything is packed with shimmer, with the faintest pigmentation and zero lasting power. It's honestly hard to believe an otherwise solid, occasionally brilliant brand like Revlon released such an emphatic dud.

Daiso False Eyelashes No. 130
When Daiso first rolled into town and I saw rows upon rows of fake eyelashes for a mere $2.80 per pack, I admit I went a little overboard and bought about five pairs. My enthusiasm came to a screeching halt when I actually tried these on. These lashes are perfect ... for that costume drag queen look. They're extremely unnatural and cartoonish, hard to manoeuver, and uncomfortably stiff and spiky. Each of the fake lashes are quite spaced out on the band and flare out in a manner that no human lashes would ever. Cheap and nasty.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Plums the Word & Café Au Lait
I was such a fan of the Complete Salon Manicure polishes I'd bought (Jaded and Commander in Chic), that when Priceline had a buy one, get one free on this range, I immediately set out and bought two more. Sadly, I can't get on board with either of the new shades I purchased. I was trying to eliminate one of them for the sake of not repeating myself, but they're equally grotesque. Café Au Lait is one of the most unflattering neutrals I've ever come across. It's like an opaque skin colour that adds nothing to my nails. I might as well skip polish altogether. It's not dark enough to be called a beige, or light enough to be a sheer or pale nude. It's not so much that it's dull (I could do with a few more conservative, work-appropriate shades), it's just that it's plain ugly. Plums the Word looked like it could be a promising, moody, autumnal pick, but it's the most bizarre, yucky mix of red, brown and purple. It's just so unattractive, it pains me. Both colour choices were complete fails, which is an utter shame because I love the smooth, high shine formula.

Ulta3 New Years Eve
I put New Years Eve, but it's really every single polish from the 2012 glitter collection because they all share the same MASSIVE problem. This polish is simply offensive to me. I can feel it destroying my nasal passages, nails and lungs as I use it. It smells noxious. Like a combination of fresh paint and the stinkiest nail polish remover out there, but sharper, more pungent, more poisonous. The formula is terrible as well — thick, gloopy, impossible to dry. As pretty as these glitters are, the smell and formula make them unfit for sale.

l-r: Café Au Lait, Plums the Word

Most Worn Things: Summer

How is it almost the middle of March? The past three months have come and gone in a blink of an eye. Thanks to Cherie for tagging me to take part in this fun post reflecting on my most worn things this past summer.

1. Nail Polish
Revlon Whimsical. Though that would probably be at most only 3 times. Because of how much nail polish I have, I don't tend to wear the same shade over and over again in a short period of time. (Plus, I need to preserve this one bottle for as long as possible.)

2. Hair Product
Easy question, because Pantene shampoo every 2-3 days is the extent of my hair care routine. Usually, I can't even be bothered to condition. I literally don't do anything else with my hair, though I have been dabbling in Morrocanoil, which I bought on sale around Christmas. I use it on my ends after I've washed my hair, or the morning after (I always sleep with my hair wet — one of my many terrible habits). I'm not sure how I feel about it, mainly because I don't use it with enough frequency, and don't really pay attention to the state of my hair except whether it's clean or not. I have noticed when I put the Morrocanoil in it, my hair is more manageable and appears smoother, healthier, better-looking. Or maybe that's just what I want to see?

3. Bag 
Still my Mulberry Alexa. But I've recently switched to a navy Longchamp Le Pliage Medium Long Handle Tote because it's just so much easier. The Alexa was constantly overflowing and weighed a tonne. I need something that I can just chuck a lot of useless stuff into and be able to carry on my shoulder comfortably.

4. Shoes
These leopard print loafers I bought from ALDO in New York. I usually wear a pair of flats to death until it's time to buy another.

5. Clothing Item 
Nothing to do with summer, but probably a pair of black Zara work pants. I wear them at least 1-2 times a week. My wardrobe is spectacularly dull because I can't be bothered to think about what to wear most days. I just wear the same things over and over again to work, and the same (different but more casual) things if I’m going out on the weekend.

At home, I practically lived in this shapeless paisley cotton tunic all through summer. For a person like me who wants to expend as little effort as possible (mental and physical) to get dressed, it was the perfect garment. No buttons, no fastenings, you need only to slip it over your head. Super lightweight and thin (but not see-through), it also kept me cool in the heat.

6. Accessory
I rarely wear jewellery except some random rings I have lying around and the House of Harlow 1960 Double Sunburst Station necklace.

7. Foundation 
I was using Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow until I bought Rimmel Wake Me Up, which I started to mix with Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum as the shade I bought was too dark.

8. Bronzer and/or Blush
I went through a short-lived period of regularly using bronzer in an attempt to contour, but kind of gave up on it in the last few weeks. I liked the Bourjois Délice de Soleil Bronzing Powder and was close to putting it in a monthly favourites. As for blush, I'd say NARS Deep Throat. It's just easy to reach for because it goes with pretty much anything. I wore this to a friend's wedding in December, on laid-back weekends with more minimal makeup, and as a go-to blush during the working week.

9. Lip Product 
I'm going to narrow this down to something with colour, because clear Maybelline Baby Lips is just too boring. Truthfully, it's Korres Lip Butter in Mango or the underrated, now discontinued Revlon Protective Liptint SPF 15 in Pink Rose which lives permanently in my handbag.

10. Mascara
It's a toss up between CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume and more recently, Max Factor Masterpiece Max. I'm not really in love with either, but there's only so much a mascara can do for me with monolids and short lashes. They're both reliable everyday mascaras that perform reasonably well and don't have any glaring issues.

11. Eyeshadow 
Surprise, surprise. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. But I also really loved Laura Mercier African Violet from the Lingerie Eye & Cheek Palette.

12. Fragrance
Lady Gaga Fame, though being terribly fickle, I'm kind of over it now. There were also my usual picks for the daytime, Liz Claiborne Liz, Estée Lauder Pleasures and Elizabeth Arden Pretty.

I Love Drugstore Makeup Tag

Tanya Burr's recent video finally motivated me to do this tag myself. While "drugstore makeup" is more of an American term, I guess the Australian equivalent would be the brands sold at Priceline and chemists. These questions might as well be about my whole makeup collection, as most of what I own is from the drugstore (with some notable exceptions, namely foundation, higher end blushes and a few eyeshadow palettes).

1. What is your favorite drugstore makeup brand overall?
Have to give this one to Revlon. I think it's the strongest brand across the widest variety of products. Revlon PhotoReady was the first "serious" foundation I wore, and I loved the brightening, dewy finish it gave before it started randomly caking on me (maybe it was just a case of needing to start a new bottle). Their huge scope of lip products are some of the best I've tried, high end or low. I also love some of their eyeshadows (though they tend to be hit and miss) and nail polishes.

2. What are your favorite face, cheek and lip products?
Face: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation and the corresponding Healthy Balance Unifying Powder.

Cheek: Rimmel 3 in 1 Powder Blush in Autumn Catwalk, Models Prefer Highlighter in Glitz & Glamour, Bourjois blush in Rose D'Or.

Lip: Revlon owns this category. Revlon Lip Butters. Revlon Super Lustrous or ColorBurst lipsticks. And let's not forget their plush Super Lustrous lip glosses and long-wearing Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains.

3. Least favorite product?

Revlon ColorStay Mineral eyeshadow in Midnight Garnet — pitiful colour payoff and zero staying power.

CoverGirl LineExact Liquid Liner — a disaster. Don't attempt to draw over an existing line that's dried. It will smudge and smear it to nothing and you'll effectively have to start again. Binned.

Innoxa Summer Matte lipstick in Sugar Frosted. Can't picture anyone who could make this colour work. Save your money. 

4. What is the best makeup bargain?

There aren't that many super cheap drugstore brands in Australia, unlike in the US. For the low price and quality, Essence is my pick. Two of the best bargains are the Essence Eye Soufflé in Pas Des Copper (around $3.50) and Essence Kajal pencil in Teddy ($2).

5. What is your favorite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?)

Revlon CustomEyes eyeshadow palette in Naturally Glamorous and Revlon Luxurious Color Satin eyeshadow in Polished Bronze — some of the best neutral eyeshadows I own and everyday colours I reach for constantly.

Savvy by DB Luxury Liner in Brilliant Bronze (old formulation, haven't tried the new one). Glides on, doesn't budge, creamy, pigmented, ideal shade for defining the lower lashline.

Australis Colour Inject lipsticks are underrated. Excellent formula and some really fun colours (Lick the Icing, Honky Tonk).

6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?

A hard one to answer, as all drugstore products in Australia are overpriced, full stop (a Revlon foundation retails for $36.95, Bourjois felt tip eyeliner is $24). Taking that into account, I find the L'Oréal brand is ridiculously expensive here. $25.95 for a Color Riche lipstick? $27.95 for Volume Million Lashes mascara? I could almost buy a NARS blush online for that price. 

7. Show your best drugstore dupe(s)!

Not that I have the higher end product to compare it with, but I think that the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal eyeliner in Nude is a dupe for the Stila Kajal Eye Liner in Topaz. Essence Kajal pencil in Teddy is supposedly a dupe for the MAC Eye Kohl of the same name.

Onto products I do have, Sleek Rose Gold blush is like a more coral and intensely shimmery version of NARS Orgasm. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze swatches identically to Urban Decay Sidecar, though Bad to the Bronze is a little bit warmer when applied. Maybelline EyeStudio Mono in Iced Fudged is a slightly darker version of Urban Decay Toasted.

If we consider that a Revlon Lip Butter is $21.95 here, the set of Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Lip Crayons ($14.95 for 3) are exact dupes for Lip Butters in Strawberry Shortcake, Pink Truffle and Cherry Tart. 

l-r: Orgasm, Rose Gold, Toasted, Iced Fudged, Bad to the Bronze, Sidecar

Left column: FOA crayons. Right column: Revlon Lip Butters

8. Drugstore product that isn't worth the hype?
It's not available here, but it's a French drugstore product. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè. I don't get the hype. It's a very thick, oily cream that I use mainly as a primer. I don't enjoy using it as a moisturiser as I don't feel it comfortably hydrates and sinks into my skin. It's more like an oily layer that sits on top of the skin.

Other than that, I don't think I've been extremely underwhelmed with a very hyped up product. I have been disappointed by products where I've read a good review and didn't like it personally. For example, I cannot fault the quality of Sleek Rose Gold blush, but the colour makes me look like a glittery crustacean. Essence Glammy Goes To... and the Stay All Day shadows in general are way too frosty, silvery and shimmery with not enough actual colour payoff. CoverGirl Intense ShadowBlast smells funny and I never use it for anything. Hate to say it, but L'Oréal Sahara Treasure. I love having it around, but the shade doesn't flatter me and the Infallible eyeshadows are annoyingly fiddly.

I also don't love all my Maybelline Color Tattoos equally. The only one I'm really enamoured of is Bad to the Bronze. I could've done without Bold Gold and Too Cool. Same with the Bourjois blush pots — Rose D'Or and Rose Coup de Foudre are my favourites, the rest are superfluous and I rarely use them, especially since I now have higher end products I prefer.

Recreating FrmHeadtoToe

I have so much respect for YouTube beauty gurus who take not only the time and effort, but the creativity, dedication and skill, to routinely share their expertise and experience to inform and entertain. While I love watching tutorials of looks, I rarely (if ever) attempt to replicate one. Most gurus I watch don't have the same eye shape as me, so I physically can't just copy a look they've done. The main exception is Jen from From Head to Toe, who has monolids like me. I love that she embraces her monolids and finds ways to really enhance and play up her eyes without resorting to drawing in an artificial crease or complicated eyeshadow shading. I recently came across this Makeup For Glasses tutorial she posted, and somehow wanted to try it out for myself. The frames she wears are similar to mine, and I had most of the eyeshadows she used, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see just how well I could follow a tutorial.

I didn't have the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner she used, so I opted for Maybelline EyeStudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black instead. I used the included mini brush, since I didn't have anything better and an angled eyeliner brush seemed like a trickier option. I found it really difficult to get both eyes even and I wasn't sure exactly how far I should extend the eyeliner, except for the vague notion I should go for a bolder, more dramatic look than I normally would.

Then came the eyeshadow part. I started with Gunmetal from the original Urban Decay Naked palette, except I didn't have the Sigma E30 Jen used. That turned out to be problematic, since you really do need that kind of small, dome-shaped brush for precise enough application. I ended up using my usual Sportsgirl dual-ended flat eyeshadow brush, which made a bit of a mess. I couldn't get a fine tip at the end, but I did my best, soldiering on and applying Creep near the outer corner for a gradient effect. It was then that I remembered my Ecotools Smudge Brush from the Bamboo 6 Piece Eye Brush Set, which is the closest thing to the Sigma E30 that I have. I attempted to fill in and refine the tip so it more resembled a clean, pointed end. I then concentrated Sidecar on the centre of the lid, though I probably should've created more of a rounder shape and applied it higher. I did go back and draw over the original Maybelline gel liner, but it seemed a bit of a redundant step that barely made any difference, because it wasn't as inky black as the Eyeko Jen used.

Rather than the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, I went for my Maybelline gel liner again. Instead of Yeyo, I used the white end of the CoverGirl SmokyShadowBlast stick in Onyx Smoke. It definitely isn't as pronounced as Yeyo, especially on the lower lashline. Mascara was CoverGirl LashBlast, and I finished off with wonkily applying a pair of flimsy, barely there falsies purchased from Daiso ages ago.

November Favourites

I've been loving a good number of products this month, some being things I've had for a while but never fully appreciated, others being entirely new to me but quickly adored. Notably, I've discovered a primer + foundation + powder combination that seems to actually work. I've also come across a new eyeshadow favourite that (shock, horror) isn't a taupe or bronze. See, I can like things beyond my comfort zone.

l-r: Benefit Busy Signal, Laura Mercier African Violet & Rich Cocoa, Stila Bronzing Powder, Bourjois Powder

Laura Mercier eyeshadows in African Violet and Rich Cocoa (from the Lingerie Eye & Cheek palette)
So impressed with the quality of these two shadows. African Violet is the most wearable and special purple I've come across, it's soft and shimmery but never overdone. I love how it flashes a different colour depending on the light. Sometimes, it appears almost like a pinkish taupe with fine gold running through it. It's such a versatile shade that can be worn day and night. It blends beautifully with Rich Cocoa, a super pigmented blackish brown matte that doubles as a soft eyeliner. I don't care for mattes usually, but Rich Cocoa has proven to be the exception.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow/Liner in Busy Signal
Already raved about here, but this is the product most likely to be elevated from a monthly favourite to HG status. I haven't worn much else on my lower lashline for almost two months. Perfect colour, super creamy and buttery soft in texture, strong pigmentation, and long lasting.

Stila Sun SPF 15 Bronzing Powder in Shade 01
I wore this quite a bit this month, and I've ended up liking it much more than I initially expected. Everything about it is just easy. It's soft and not too pigmented, it blends effortlessly onto the skin, and it adds warmth and a little bit of definition to the face. Even though it's orange-leaning, the colour works well for my skin tone and applied lightly, it gives a natural, summery pep to the complexion. Full review here.

Face of Australia Face Base Primer
I bought this earlier in the year and have never been particularly enthused with it. I tried it multiple times with previous foundations and never thought it did anything special. But somehow, I've discovered it works wonders with NARS Sheer Glow. I have no idea why, but I've noticed a significant difference to how long my foundation lasts when I apply this beforehand. I like that it's not greasy, it's readily absorbed, feels weightless and helps to prep and prime the skin so foundation applies more smoothly and stays on.

NARS Sheer Glow in Fiji
I've been reaching for Sheer Glow much more than my Make Up For Ever HD foundation, or anything else. Although it can cake ever so slightly around my nose, overall, I'd have to say this is the best foundation I've tried. I love the softly illuminating finish it gives, the medium coverage, the way it melds into the skin and perfects it while still looking natural. It also photographs beautifully. Fiji is a really good match for me, and the wear time is impressive, especially with primer and powder. Full review here.

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume
I take back what I said about the wand being too fat and it being difficult to get to the base of the lashes. It's no Benefit They're Real, but I've really enjoyed using it this month. It could probably do better in the lengthening and curling department, but I love that smudging on my lower lashes is kept to a minimum, and how it magically coats every single one of my lower lashes better than any other mascara I've tried.

Bourjois Healthy Balance Unifying Powder in 52 Vanille
I'm glad that I bought this powder as part of the recent Bourjois gift with purchase promotion at Priceline, because I can't imagine using anything else now. It's very finely milled and so soft in texture. After Face of Australia Face Base and NARS Sheer Glow, I pat this on with my Real Techniques powder brush around my T-zone. It helps to set my foundation, keep greasiness at bay and prolong foundation wear time. It also works brilliantly for touch ups to perfect the skin, whether to add a bit more coverage or tone down any shininess.

Gloss Goss

Despite the increasingly disturbing amount of lipstick I have, I'm not a huge lip gloss girl. It's just not something I reach for or feel like I want to use all that much. The main reason is I don't quite get the appeal. If I want some colour on my lips, I'll reach for a lipstick. If I want some hydration, I'll reach for a balm. What I don't find myself wanting a whole lot is shiny lips. Especially when said shiny lips attract stray hairs that later stick on your face or glasses. Every now and then (most crucially, when I'm not exposed to wind or my hair is up), I'll whip out a lip gloss and wear it for fun. Something about the colour, or glossiness, or mintiness, or smooth and lush feel of them will redeem my opinion. Here are five of my favourites.

l-r: PK 24, Red Riot, Mauve Pout, Jammy, Who Are You Wearing?

VOV Hi-tech Lip Polish in PK 24
This is the prettiest light pink that just seems to work with the natural pigmentation of my lips. It feels smooth and luxurious when applied (I'm not sure if it's something to do with the sponge applicator or the formulation, or both) and smells of juicy strawberry candy. It's glossy but not in a shiny way, and moisturising without being too sticky or liquid.

CoverGirl Wetslicks AmazeMint in Red Riot (630)
It looks like the most incredible red in the tube, but is actually very sheer. On the lips, it gives the slightest cherry red tint but the colour is barely there. I actually like the fact it's not very pigmented, as it feels light and fresh on. Something easy to just slick on for a bit of understated gloss and tint to the lips. I absolutely love the sweet mint smell and the cooling, tingling sensation it leaves when applied.

Revlon Super Lustrous Plumping Lipgloss in Mauve Pout (07)
Probably the most pigmented lip gloss that I have, I appreciate that it's pure colour and contains no shimmer (so there's no grittiness). I'm not sure why the shade is called Mauve Pout as I don't detect any purple whatsoever. It looks more like a dark rosy pink with brown and coral tones. The formulation is excellent and feels like that of a higher end brand. Super smooth, high colour, glossy, a little on the thick side, but very comfortable on the lips.

Rimmel Sweet Jelly Sheer Lipgloss in Jammy (050)
I've almost used up my tube and repurchased this gloss a few times before it was discontinued. I believe that they were replaced with Royal Gloss Delicious Lipgloss, which I have in Yummy (121). Both are very similar, but I still infinitely prefer Sweet Jelly. Like the CoverGirl Wetslicks, these are very sheer and not very pigmented. While I find the scent of the Royal Gloss cloying and overpowering, Sweet Jelly has more of a juicy fruity smell. Additionally, Sweet Jelly literally has a sweet taste. Not that I make a meal of my lip gloss, but from experience, most lip glosses either taste like nothing or are unpleasant to inadvertently digest. Not Sweet Jelly. There may have been the odd occasion where I found myself licking my lips a little more often when I had this on.

Benefit Her Glossiness in Who Are You Wearing?
I forgot I had this lip gloss for the longest time, it's embarrassingly ancient and I was debating whether or not to include it in this list as it has its flaws. I'm not a fan of the artificial, sickly sweet scent and I find it slightly stings my lips. But the colour is everything. I wish I could find a lipstick equivalent. It's a hot pink but due to its consistency and sheerness, it applies like a warm, slightly brightening but still natural pink. As a gloss, it cancels out the purple of blue-based pinks and adds pigmentation to paler pinks.

Colour Shifters

It occurred to me that I haven’t given CoverGirl much love on my blog. For whatever reason, their products don’t call out to me. Currently the only CoverGirl products I use are the LastBlast Volume mascara and Wetslicks AmazeMint in Red Riot. I used to have their Eye Enhancers Quad in Country Woods which was one of the very first eyeshadows that I owned. I'm guessing I was 11 or 12. I remember liking it a lot, the shadows were nicely pigmented (better than rival Maybelline and other cheap eyeshadows I had), the quad consisted of warm wearable browns and had a good mix of light and dark, matte and shimmery shades.

Recently, I decided to take a closer look at the CoverGirl range. Mainly due to the fact I had a $10 voucher off CoverGirl products that I had to use before the end of May. I contemplated the obvious choices: one of their well-reviewed LipPerfection lipsticks (I was eyeing Heavenly intently), or repurchasing Country Woods. But I rationalised to myself they'd be the absolute last things I needed: more pink lipstick and brown eyeshadow. Instead, I opted for two products I wouldn't normally consider, a LipPerfection lip liner in Seduce (210) and Intense ShadowBlast in Beige Blaze (800).

The first picture is my lips filled in with the LipPerfection lip liner in Seduce all over. The colour is a medium peachy nude which can be worn by itself or to neutralise one's natural lip colour. The picture on the left in the second row is my lips with Face of Australia Lip Quench lipstick in Pink Champagne. I've previously bemoaned that this lipstick is too cool and pinkish-purplish on me, but with Seduce as a base it magically transforms into a noticeably warmer and more yellow-toned pink. I wouldn't have thought to use lip liner in this way, but it's surprisingly effective. More so than using a nude lipstick underneath, as mixing lipstick can be a little messy, especially if they're on the creamy side. The lip liner on the other hand really adheres to and almost soaks into the lip, possibly due to the fact I find the formula a little drying.

l-r: Beige Blaze, Essence Mystic Lemon and Taupe of the Pops (with Beige Blaze), without

The IntenseShadow Blast in Beige Blaze was a product I was first introduced to in this video by Zoë Foster where she goes through her travel makeup bag essentials (it appears at 4:15, and she's also written about it). After a quick Google search (this review swayed me in particular), I decided that I needed to have this seemingly all-purpose miracle tool (primer, cream eyeshadow, eyeshadow intensifier, cross between Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin and Eden). Taking it home, the first thing that struck me about it was the smell. I don't know if it's because the product's been sitting on the shelf for 2 years, but it has this distinct slightly sour, metallic smell that I find really off-putting. The colour itself is an intensely shimmery, yellow-leaning champagne. After about two minutes, it sets to the point where you can't rub it off, so it's best to blend it out with the finger straight after you've applied it to the lid.

I definitely can see a difference to the intensity of eyeshadows when it's used as a primer. I tested it with two fairly ordinary eyeshadows, Essence single eyeshadows in Mystic Lemon and Taupe of the Pops (reviewed more in depth here). I'm guessing if I used already very pigmented eyeshadows, the difference wouldn't be as apparent. The swatch above shows the difference between the Beige Blaze applied underneath the eyeshadows and without. Instantly richer and more pigmented, though Taupe of the Pops looks somewhat distorted in colour due to the shimmery yellow undercurrent from the Beige Blaze (not so much a problem for Mystic Lemon, which is practically the same colour). For this reason I'd recommend using Beige Blaze only with similar eyeshadow colours. I tried it on my lids and I didn't notice a significant improvement from the existing cream eyeshadows that I use for my base/primer, but possibly because I only used a very small amount and blended it out with my finger so it ended up quite sheer. To me, this product would be best used to intensify underperforming beige/champagne/yellow/gold eyeshadows and really make them come to life.