Quick, Full Face Makeup

I don't know about you, but I'm fairly hopeless when it comes to fast makeup. Fast for me is 10-15 minutes (and let's face it, it's always more 15 minutes). Lately, I've been trying to simplify my routine so I can get away with less effort as I'm getting ready, all the while maintaining a full face approach, using few brushes as possible and placing a premium on products that will last the distance. Here's what I've been reaching for:

I start with a cleansed face and one pump of my current daytime moisturiser, Botani Boost Balancing Moisturiser. I purchased this moisturiser during Priceline's last 40% off skincare sale and have been liking it so far. Consistency-wise and in terms of application and how it dries on the skin, it reminds me of a more fluid, less tacky Trilogy Balancing Face Lotion. It's not as rich, instantly hydrating and soothing as La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche, my favoured moisturiser for this time of year as the weather starts to cool down. However, the Botani has its advantages in that it is almost primer-like once absorbed into the skin, with a slight stickiness and no oiliness whatsoever which helps to prolong whatever foundation is placed on top of it.

Speaking of foundation, I've been squeezing a dollop of Bobbi Brown BB Cream in Fair into my hand, pressing my palms together and slapping the product onto my face. It's the quickest way to apply my base and does away with brushes entirely. When I first tried the Bobbi Brown BB cream in summer, I was disappointed with it as it sat on top of the skin and transferred/moved around crazily. But now that it's approaching winter and my skin is getting drier, plus with the primer-like Botani applied before, the BB cream just blends into and sticks to my face marvelously. In fact, I have to work relatively quickly to get it all on and blended evenly with my fingers before it starts to set. I'm most pleased with the product not balling up or getting blended away to nothingness even with fairly vigorous circular and smoothing hand actions, as has been my experience with similar products like Garnier Miracle Skin Cream. It gives a truly natural, soft focus and brightening finish, but is a light veil rather than anything heavier or more effective at hiding blemishes and perfecting skin tone. Occasionally, if I need a boost in coverage, I'll go over areas of redness or in need of highlighting (mainly T-zone and under the eyes) with my trusty NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, still the best concealer I've tried.

For eyes, I've been also doing away with brushes and using just one product for eyeshadow, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige, supposedly a dupe for MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork which I've been meaning to buy for years. The midtone mushroom/taupe/putty shade provides just the right amount of definition, particularly for glasses wearers, without appearing too heavy or unnatural. The colour leans neutral enough that it doesn't drain the complexion like a lot of grey-leaning shades can. Next comes the hardest part which is doing my eyeliner with Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner, the results of which vary on a daily basis (not from the product itself which is brilliant, just from my unreliable hand). I'm back on an old fave, the tragically discontinued KIKO Eye Pencil in Glamorous, to define my lower lash line. The bright metallic copper complements deep brown eyes and contrasts well with the matte greige eyeshadow. I've been loyal to Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara, featured in my last makeup menu. I've already purchased a backup and can't picture myself using anything else. It's so affordable, very black, long lasting, lengthens, curls, adds volume, doesn't flake, serves margaritas and gives back massages.

l-r: Maybelline Creamy Beige, Clinique Nude Pop, KIKO Glamorous, Dolly Wink eyeliner

Finally, for cheeks, I've been rotating between NARS Madly, Benefit Rockateur, and Clinique Cheek Pop in Nude Pop, with the latter receiving the most love. Since the rest of the face is fairly minimal and dull, the warm peachy-beige Nude Pop perks the complexion right up and injects enough colour without being too red or orange. This is the only product I apply with a brush, being the angled, synthetic Morphe E4. It's natural, flattering, lasts longer than most blushes, and the spongy, bouncy Cheek Pop formula melds invisibly into the skin rather than sitting on top of it.

Current Makeup Menu #2

I was contemplating doing a "Best of 2016" post, but ultimately decided against it as I had no clue what would be on the list. I didn't blog for 3 months and averaged about 2 posts a month, so my engagement with makeup and product discoveries were all a bit plodding and piecemeal. Usually I look back on what I blogged about to get a sense of the stuff I enjoyed in the past year, but nothing stood out to me when I reviewed what I'd written about. Rather than force the issue, I thought I'd do a current makeup loves post instead. On that topic, I do have something to say.

I've switched back to Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua after persevering quite joylessly with Dior BB Creme. I forgot what an absolutely incredible foundation this is. It's in my top 3 all-time favourites alongside NARS Sheer Glow and YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat. Definitely a better summer foundation than for the colder months (the YSL is better for winter as it's more hydrating/forgiving), but I haven't experienced any issues with it highlighting dry patches as I have occasionally in the past. Could just be my skin's in decent condition at the moment. Not too dry, not too oily, more or less unblemished (knock on wood). With an unproblematic canvas, Vitalumiere Aqua works super well. It's immediately flattering but believable. Makes the skin look softly luminous, lifted, more plump and youthful. It blends in effortlessly, never sitting on top of the skin, and doesn't ever look too heavy or obvious. Just a high quality, high performing foundation that I must remember to repurchase when I run out.

I've also been turning to Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder to set my face with my Wayne Goss Brush 00. Previously I didn't think it did much, but I probably was just using it all wrong. I find the key is not using too much product, finding the right brush, and applying only a light, thin layer. It takes down unwanted shine a notch or two without totally mattifying the skin, and minimises the need to blot my face down the track (I still do it, but less product comes off). I like that it's undetectable on the skin and doesn't weigh it down with the appearance of a powder caked on top.

Pixi Glow Mist is a product I've been meaning to try for ages, especially after hearing it being compared with Tatcha Dewy Skin Face Mist, the price of which I could never justify, never mind it's not even sold in Australia. (Seriously, $48 USD or $70 for 40ml of liquid you spritz on your face for fun. Can't do it.) To me, the main things I look out for in a mist are a) if it feels good on the skin, i.e. isn't noticeably drying, irritating or otherwise uncomfortable b) if it does the job, i.e. makes my makeup look fresher and my complexion dewier if I've overdone it with the powders or my foundation's too matte/flat c) if there are any ingredients I should be wary of, like alcohol or menthol. Glow Mist ticks all the boxes, plus it was a far more affordable price point for double the amount you get in the Tatcha at 80ml (I bought it in a pack with Glow Tonic on sale from ASOS for about $45).

I've heard good things about Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara (especially from ozproductjunkie), so I purchased a tube during one of Priceline's 40% off cosmetics sales. I finally opened mine up a few weeks ago, and I really like it. It reminds me so much of Benefit They're Real, but is a fraction of the price. The wand, formula, application and effect are very similar. My only minor gripe is that it could do a better job at getting to the outer lashes, but I can overlook that shortcoming since it does everything else so well for being so affordable. I honestly don't know why I'd buy any other mascara from now on when this is $5.75 and so effective. As its name suggests, it builds up lots of thickness and volume in the lashes, without looking too spidery and clumpy. Separation is good, curl is good, lasting power is great and it does a good job on the bottom lashes as well without smudging too much throughout the day.

In a recent Colourpop free shipping promo, I ordered Mr. Bing Liner (a collaboration with YouTuber KathleenLights). The purchase was mainly spurred by curiosity more than anything, since Kathleen raved so much about the formula and I haven't been overly impressed with all that many pencil eyeliners I've tried. Since it arrived, I've been using this to define my lower lash line daily. I like the warm chocolately brown colour, wear time is excellent and it doesn't budge. The fine tip allows for precise application and the twist up mechanism is convenient (no pesky, wasteful sharpening ever!). The formula isn't completely soft and gel-like, but it's not totally dry and hard either. It's a little waxy, but still has a bit of give upon contact with skin.

l-r: NYX Abu Dhabi, Colourpop Mr. Bing, NARS The Multiple in Orgasm

My friend gave me her unwanted mini of NARS The Multiple in Orgasm and I've been reaching for this as part of my "quick" makeup with minimal (for me) products. Basically using it as a substitute for Stila Convertible Colour in Gerbera in my go-to low-key makeup post (ditching the cream pot eyeshadows for my beloved KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow and swapping pencil eyeliner for liquid felt tip eyeliner). This product is a faithful interpretation of Orgasm powder blush but in cream blush form. The golden sheen comes out a touch more than in the pressed version, but there's still that distinctive warm, translucent, corally baby pink. I literally draw on a few strokes onto my cheek and then use my fingers to blend out the edges. The lasting power isn't as good as the powder blush and you have to be a little careful so it's not patchy upon application as the formula is on the thin side but quite emollient (not greasy however). I love the small size and the fact it doesn't require a brush to use, making it super portable and ideal for travel.

Lastly, we have NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Abu Dhabi. To me, this is possibly the most perfect nude I've encountered. If you're light (NC 20-25) and Asian/yellow-toned, I highly recommend you seek out Abu Dhabi and try it. It's like MAC Patisserie on steroids (or the bolder, fully matte version). The only minor downside is it does settle a little bit in the lip lines, but I usually just rub the product in with my finger or blot with a tissue or the back of my hand. The lasting power isn't amazing, but perhaps to be expected for a light MLLB colour. I couldn't find this shade individually to purchase in any Priceline or Target, so I had to buy it in a set called "The Nudes" with Simply Nude Lip Cream in Sable and Intense Butter Gloss in Chocolate Crepe. Worth it.

High End Let Downs

Higher prices tend to command higher expectations, so it's more of a downer than usual when expensive products turn out to be disappointments. I don't like to keep any products I actively dislike, but when they cost a pretty penny, it's harder to bring myself to get rid of them. These six items mostly just take up space and spark the occasional moment of regret and annoyance when I see them.

Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder in Medium
I thought this would be the be all and end all of contouring powders. The price put me off, but after encountering many a rave and seeing The Sculpting Powder work its magic on people's faces, I bit the bullet. This doesn't look right on me. I think it suits pink-toned, pale complexions only. If you're more yellow and light-to-medium, it pulls very cool brownish grey (read: muddy). I've tried every brush under the sun, I've tried a light application, heavier application, different placement. It's not flattering or believable. It either is too subtle and therefore useless, or makes me look like I have a dirty stripe where I wish my cheekbone was. Swatches here.

MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge

MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge
There's nothing hugely offensive about this pencil eyeliner, except it's so unremarkable and overpriced for the quality. I was willing to pay a premium for the colour, but once I actually tried it on my lower lash line, I realised it wasn't anything special. A medium khaki-ish (greeny) gold. I have plenty of similar coloured eyeshadows which I could apply with a pencil brush to my lower lash line if I wanted identical effect. Pigmentation is not woeful, but could be better. The metallic quality is relatively subdued and not particularly intense or lustrous. The main problem is the texture. It's fairly hard, doesn't glide on and isn't that creamy. Lasting power is also extremely ordinary. There are SO many cheaper eyeliners that are superior in every respect (e.g. Savvy by DB Soft Glide Eyeliner, Kiko Glamorous Eye Pencil, Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal) that nothing can justify the $32 price tag for the MAC. I wish I'd bought another 217 Blending Brush instead.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
I weep a little thinking about the $62 I bid farewell to when I bought this powder. I was expecting this to be a skin-perfecting finishing powder, but it's so BROWN and PINK and DARK that it's virtually unusable. It's not even something I can use to "warm up" or darken my skin if my foundation's too light, since it doesn't match my natural skin colour anyway. It's far too pink-toned. It also doesn't impart any brightening luminosity to my face except the subtlest whitish pearl. I more or less never reach for Dim Light since I have other powders that do the job I wanted it to (Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder, Guerlain Météorites Compact Light-Revealing Powder). I should've bought Diffused Light instead. Original review here.

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara
Granted, this was a magazine freebie, but I was super excited to try out a high end mascara since I don't tend to buy them. Sadly, this was a complete flop. This mascara did absolutely nothing for my lashes. No curl, no lift, no volume, no separation, no lengthening. All the times I've applied it, I've either hated it, or abandoned it mid-way to grab something that actually works.

l-r (top to bottom row): Caught in the Act Courtney, Feisty Felicia, Insane Jane, Bossy Bobbi, Makeout Mary, Just This Once Jamie, Mischievous Marissa, Tempting Tara, Devilish Danielle

theBalm Shady Lady Vol. 2
I truly dislike this palette. The first two darker shades with glitter (Caught in the Act Courtney and Feisty Felicia) are dry, patchy, poorly pigmented and have huge amounts of fall out. Some of the other shades (Mischievous Marissa, Tempting Tara, Devilish Danielle) are really powdery even if they have strong colour payoff. But the main problem with Shady Lady Vol. 2 is none of the colours are flattering on me. None. This isn't a palette I want to reach for. It's not a palette that houses colours I'm excited to use. Since it came into my possession, I don't think I've ever used it, except maybe the darker shades to deepen an eye look. Also, the shade names are gross (Makeout Mary? Just This Once Jamie??).

l-r (top to bottom row): In the Buff, Birthday Suit, Pink Cheeks, Pillow Talk, Like a Virgin, Satin Sheets, Unmentionables, Lap Dance, Stiletto

Too Faced Naked Eye Palette
I possibly dislike this palette more than Shady Lady Vol. 2, which is saying a lot. At least the eyeshadows in Shady Lady Vol. 2 are visible on my lids. Almost half of the shadows in Naked Eye are invisible, including all 3 of the larger pans. In the Buff, Birthday Suit, Pink Cheeks and Pillow Talk are rubbish. Maybe if you're very fair, they'll have some kind of effect, but on my light-to-medium (NC 20 to 25) skin, they're useless. (Looks like I'm not the only one that feels that way.) I bought Naked Eye early on in my "makeup journey", back when I didn't realise cool-toned eyeshadows and I don't mix. Lap Dance and Unmentionables swatch nicely, but are so dirty/ashy/muddy on my lids and drain my complexion. Satin Sheets is admittedly very pretty and super pigmented, but I wish it were more of a gold-pink rather than a bright white gold on me. Like a Virgin is the only shade I use in this whole palette, and even then, it's a cool-toned grey that isn't as flattering as a warmer brown shade with yellow or orange tones. Given I love both my other Too Faced (Chocolate Bar) palettes, Naked Eye seems especially a waste.

Best of 2015

Is it just me, or are yearly favourites posts/videos not that exciting anymore? I'm not sensing as much interest in them as say, 2-3 years ago. Most bloggers do monthly favourites, so the yearly one is a "best of the monthly favourites" more than anything. Still, I wouldn't feel right not following tradition, so here are the products that stood out to me the most in 2015.

Morphe Brushes Jaclyn Hill Favorites Palette
Even though shipping cost more than the palette itself and I jumped through hoops to order it (including abruptly waking up at some obscene hour and entering my credit card details bleary-eyed), this 28-pan eyeshadow palette is a classic example of a product only a makeup junkie would buy, and could fully appreciate. Given it's limited edition, I feel happy and lucky even (corny as it sounds) to have it in my possession. There isn't a single dud in terms of pigmentation and texture. The matte shades are the best I've tried for the price point. Full review and swatches here.

Australis Velourlips Matte Lip Cream in Pa-ree
Though I have too many lip products to count, rarely do I encounter one that genuinely is a game changer. Pa-ree is just that. The matte lip cream formula is virtually faultless — far and away the most comfortable and forgiving I've tried, while remaining ultra matte and opaque. But the colour is what makes this product special. It's unlike any nude I've ever come across. A muted peachy caramel with slight greige tones. Obsessed.

YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat
My favourite foundation discovery of the year, beating other high end contenders like Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation, Dior Diorskin Nude BB Creme and Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. Simply put, Le Teint Touche Éclat beautifies your complexion while still retaining the appearance of natural skin. Good coverage and a soft, radiant, airbrushed finish. Especially great for dry skin.

Essie Cocktail Bling
I know buying Cocktail Bling ... can only mean one thing. That it'll be on my toes and fingers for pretty much most of the year, no exaggeration. I like it more than comparable, sophisticated neutrals like Nails Inc. Porchester Square or OPI Tickle My France-y. It's that kind of effortlessly cool colour you wear while dreaming of a Scandi kitchen and the perfect roll neck sweater.

Rimmel ScandalEyes Shadow Stick in Bad Girl Bronze
An ancient product, but one that I felt deserved a mention here. Absolutely on par with any high end offering, this has been a failproof, go-to option at home, on the run, and travelling abroad. Creamy but not hard to work with and intensely pigmented, the colour is gorgeous (look at the multi-coloured shimmer in the light and tell me otherwise), it lasts forever and the stick format ensures it can be used as eyeliner or cream shadow. Back up already purchased.

Maybelline HyperSharp Wing Liquid Liner
I didn't think I'd find anything to rival the Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner in last year's favourites, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good this Maybelline one is. I've been using it nonstop since I bought mine in August. It's everything you want in a liquid liner: easy to use, precise, a non-floppy or fraying tip, nicely black and not watery or grey, long wearing, and won't run out in a week (mine is admittedly on its last legs, but it has been over 4 months).

Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve
I really didn't expect to like this as much as I did. Initially, I thought it was no better than slightly fancier Vaseline. But consistent use throughout the year has made me see the light. Soothing, moisturising and pleasant to use, it also gives the lips a cushiony, glossy rosiness that's awfully pretty.

Radical Hydrating Cleanser
Yes, $52 for a cleanser is steep, but this has been my standout skin care product of 2015. My tube hasn't run out yet, and I've been using it almost daily for 6 months, with a few short-lived breaks as I briefly turned my attention to other options. For a morning cleanser, I haven't come across anything better. Wonderful smelling, hydrating, non-foaming, gentle, nourishing-feeling, non-irritating to the eyes and easily washed off. Never leaves my skin feeling tight, dried out or stripped after I rinse it off.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
The best mascara I've used all year. Excellent wand that gets to each lash. Extends, thickens and curls while minimising clumping. Formula is long lasting, doesn't transfer or flake. Often compared with Benefit Roller Lash, I have a sample of Roller Lash and find Lash Sensational superior.

Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush
Honestly, I don't even know why I continue to buy or look at buying brushes to contour, highlight, powder or apply blush when this exists. Especially contour. I doubt I could find anything better than the Powder & Sculpt Brush for that purpose. Apart from the fact it's absolutely beautiful to look at, it's extremely functional. The shape, the hairs (not too floppy that it's hard to pick up product, but not prickly or lacking in softness by any means), the handle. Everything works for the results you want.

Wayne Goss Brush 14
Now this is a soft brush. Only my Suqqu Cheek Brush is softer in my entire brush collection, but that was $160 and this was $50. Brush 14 is my new staple in pigmented or soft-textured powder blushes. It applies and blends product like a dream. For the quality and craftsmanship, I think it's actually priced competitively.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow
Saved for the best for last, you could say. I called it earlier in the year when I predicted this would appear here. While undeniably pricey, I can confidently say if you have this, you basically don't need any other contouring or highlighting products. Because the individual 'Sculpt' and 'Highlight' pans are the pinnacle of both fields. You also get a whopping 16g of product which will last forever. And of course, the packaging is DIVINE.

Superfluous Seven

So ... more haulage. Evidently, I've been shopping too much. In my defence (not that there's any), Priceline was having another one of their 40% off cosmetics sales, and I did buy less than last time. I also did write down a list beforehand of products to get and largely stuck to the list, with a couple of exceptions. If anything, I also wrote down a few other products I didn't buy (Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Lip Liner in East End Snob, Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow in Copper, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong, Essence lip liners), so really, it could've been worse. (Or so I tell myself.)

But seriously, I should stop buying more makeup. I did recently reorganise my stash and threw out/donated some stuff (including finally binning both my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundations in 52 and 53 which I'd stored in the bottom drawer of my Keji office organisers for more than a year, not using as I was acutely aware they were expired, but not wanting to throw away just in case they were still usable), and surprisingly didn't feel like my makeup collection was out of hand. Despite having a lot of makeup, I know what's there. And I'm happy with the majority of it. The part I'm not overly thrilled with, I'm comfortable keeping because I still see the merits in not getting rid of it. When said merits no longer justify keeping the product, it goes. I'm a lot more active in periodically editing my makeup than any other aspect of my life, despite the volume of items. I do feel lipstick is probably one area that I should exercise more ruthlessness over (Liz's Lipstick Survivor is the standard), but for now, I'm not overly concerned with having about 35 more pink lipsticks, all largely unused, than what's good for me.

Back to the Priceline haul. Here's what I purchased this time, with the discounted prices:

• Savvy by DB Soft Glide Eyeliner in Shimmering Slate ($4.79)
• Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara ($3.45)
• Models Prefer Customised Eye Shadow Quad in Hook Me Up ($6.59)
• Models Prefer Professional Airbrush Concealer Brush ($7.79)
• L'Oréal Brow Artist Plumper in Medium/Dark ($11.39)
• Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Sultry ($10.77)
• Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Mono Eyeshadow in Millionaire ($6.57)

Total: $51.35

Unlike the last Priceline 40% off cosmetics sale, I actually purchased some eyeshadows. I saw Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Mono Eyeshadow in Millionaire featured in this Pixiwoo video, and instantly it shot up my "to buy" list. The Models Prefer Customised Eye Shadow Quad in Hook Me Up was regularly featured on Oz Product Junkie's Instagram and I finally caved. I'd swatched the quad a long time ago and found it awfully tempting, but resisted because I had so many similar shades already. At $6.59 for 4 shades though, I was prepared to risk duplication in case it exceeded my expectations.

The L'Oréal Brow Artist Plumper in Medium/Dark was a total impulse buy, along with the Models Prefer Professional Airbrush Concealer Brush. If you've noticed, I rarely (if ever) feature brow products on the blog. Just like the hair on my head, I don't do the hair on my face (well, except plucking). I have relatively full brows already and can't be bothered putting any product in them on a daily basis. I did try the Light/Medium tester in the store and found it fascinating how it completely transformed the colour of my brows, and the effect that change had on my face and the way my makeup looked. It was an entirely wrong match for the natural colour of my brows (being a relatively warm, lightened yellow brown), so I opted for Medium/Dark instead, hoping it wouldn't be too severe. I can't put the product all over my brows since it makes them look too caterpillar-like, but just a light touch over select sparser areas (especially the tail end) works nicely to achieve a more consistent, polished and fuller brow. I'm guessing Brow Artist Plumper is the "drugstore" version of something like Benefit Gimme Brow, with its microfibres, small brush head, and almost hairspray-like finish. It's a little uncomfortable adjusting to the feeling of product through my brows since I'm not used to it, but after a while, it's not an issue.

I was mainly drawn to the Models Prefer brush due to its similarity in appearance to the Sephora Collection Pro brushes, namely the Airbrush Concealer Brush #57. The latter is $29 in Australia, so $7.79 for a close alternative seemed a good deal. I don't have anything quite like this brush, though the Zoeva Concealer Buffer from the Rose Golden Luxury Set is probably the most similar. The Models Prefer option is not as dense and flares out more than the Zoeva, which is significantly smaller and more a hard nub. I've tried the brush to blend out concealer under the eyes, around the nose, corners of the mouth and over blemishes, as well as for powder highlighter, and it worked brilliantly for both.

The Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara was another Oz Product Junkie-enabled purchase. I've never tried any Essence mascaras, but they're so cheap that I didn't think twice in buying one to test out. I need to finish one of my existing mascaras first before I crack open this one though. The Savvy by DB Soft Glide Eyeliner in Shimmering Slate was a repurchase of an absolute favourite pencil eyeliner. The Soft Glide liners look to be repackaged/renamed Luxury Liners, though they retained the original shade name. I truly haven't come across a better pencil liner from any brand. It's so black, so smooth, so pigmented, soft but not too melty, long lasting and doesn't move. I reach for it when I can't be bothered with the precision of liquid liner, which is literally almost every weekend and every holiday.

Finally, we have Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Sultry. I saw it on Daphne and kind of had it get it based on how good it looked on her. I've purchased 4 Matte Balms, but overlooked Sultry initially. These kinds of shades seem to be gaining popularity recently, so I thought I'd permit myself to purchase it (despite my informal lip product ban) since it at least wasn't pink or peach. On me, Sultry appears like a brightened brick red. It's not too purple or brown on me, but more a deep, vintage-looking, dusty rose. Think Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Soft Rose. I wish it were more distinctly purple-tinged on me, but it does lean more conventionally reddish pink. I see Sultry being paired with golden/bronzy eyeshadows and a nude blush for a striking (albeit typical) autumnal look. The Matte Balms have an excellent formula and aren't at all drying on the lips.

l-r: Revlon Sultry, Models Prefer Hook Me Up (Crease, Corner, Lid, Base), Rimmel Millionaire

Bottom to top: Revlon Sultry, Models Prefer Hook Me Up (Crease, Corner, Lid, Base), Rimmel Millionaire

Overall, at just over $50 for 7 products, I'm fairly happy with my new additions. It's hard to isolate my favourite purchases of the haul since they're all so superfluous and unnecessary, but if forced to pick, I'd say the Models Prefer brush and quad are the standouts in terms of value for money. Having said that, I'm sure I could easily find dupes of all the eyeshadows (including Rimmel Millionaire) in my existing collection (e.g. the Lid shade of the Hook Me Up quad is totally Makeup Geek Glamorous/Clinique At Dusk/Too Faced Caramel). Ditto Revlon Matte Balm in Sultry, which is just a slightly darker, more berry, less glossy Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Soft Rose. At least I restocked on the best pencil liner I know, tried out a tinted microfibre brow gel, and scored a mascara for less than the price of a coffee that I'm excited to try.

October Favourites

Favourites time, and this month I've really been excited about my discoveries. Before I launch into the post, you may have noticed a little change with the blog. I've decided to increase the size of my pictures from 640 x 424 to 800 x 530 pixels. I'm all about moving with the times when it comes to image quality, kind of like upgrading to HD if I were on YouTube. It's also a challenge to myself to produce as good an image as I can, especially with swatches, since there's nowhere to hide when the picture is larger. Hopefully the bigger images are a welcome upgrade and don't cause any blog formatting/display issues (please let me know otherwise!). Back to the products ... three of them I purchased in the US, one from the city Sephora a couple of weeks ago, and another I'd only recently started using prior to my trip. All have been on high rotation throughout the month, with a good portion destined to be permanent staples.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
I've been favouring this as a morning cleanser over numerous other options (Radical Hydrating Cleanser, Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, Lush Angels on Bare Skin, Innoxa Super Sensitive Crème Cleansing Milk). It has an unusual but refreshing, clean scent of cucumber. It's kind of foaming, but not overly so. I like that you can use a small amount and apply it to wet skin and it feels gel-like and calming on the skin, rather than liquidy and easily diluted. It doesn't leave the skin feeling dry or stripped, but gently and effectively cleansed and balanced. I wish Fresh were available in Australia!

Maybelline HyperSharp Wing Liquid Liner in Black
Already raved about here, but there's been no loss of enthusiasm with daily use in the past few weeks. This stuff really gets you a precise, sharp line, and is easy to manoeuvre with a little practice. The tip isn't floppy and doesn't fray, the ink stays black and pigmented, and depending on how you position the liner, you can get a quick, thick line, or make very fine, incremental adjustments. I'm genuinely impressed that a "drugstore" brand like Maybelline has produced a liner that's on par with the best I've used from higher end (Stila) or harder to find Asian brands (Dolly Wink, Creer Beaute).

KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in Rosy Brown (05)

KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in Rosy Brown (05)
When I stumbled across a KIKO store in Las Vegas (Fashion Show Mall), I couldn't contain my excitement. It was the last shop I expected to see, but needless to say, I was thrilled and through the entrance in 0.02 seconds. Mainly so I could buy a backup of my beloved Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in Golden Brown (06). I also wanted to stock up on the Glamorous Eye Pencil in 401, but it appears they tragically discontinued it? (The shop was only selling colourful shades at a discount, which signals to me they're trying to get rid of remaining stock.) I tried to get over that disappointment by focusing on my newly purchased Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in Rosy Brown, a rumoured bang on dupe for By Terry Ombre Blackstar Cream Eyeshadow in Misty Rock (I defy you to read this post and disagree). Dupe or no dupe, Rosy Brown is amazing. It's a taupey, mauvey, rosy, browny, silvery concoction that's highly metallic, extremely pigmented, long lasting and super quick and easy to whack onto the eyelids in the morning rush. Granted, I don't think every single shade of the Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows is as brilliant as Golden Brown or Rosy Brown, but those two are absolute standouts and well worth having in your collection.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara in Black/Brown
I've wanted this mascara for ages, but wasn't prepared to shell out $28 for it in Australia. At $10.50 USD though, I could consider it (still wasn't cheap at around $17). I did berate myself for buying the wrong shade (I grabbed Black/Brown mistakenly, not realising there was a solely black shade which I would've preferred). But I kind of don't mind that I bought Black/Brown, as it's less severe when defining my lower lashes, giving a more natural, daytime-appropriate look. The tiny wand is designed to coat, separate and elongate each lower lash for maximum effect. Best of all, the formula keeps smudging, transferring and flaking at bay. I wore it to a wedding (makeup on at 9am, home by 1am the next day) and barely had to do any work cleaning up any smudging on my lower lash line that I regularly have to with other mascaras.

Kat Von D Metal Crush Eyeshadow in Thunderstruck
I do not buy single eyeshadows unless they're dirt cheap or exceptional. This thing of beauty falls under the latter category. As soon as I swatched it at Sephora, I was sold. It was the most stunning shade I'd laid eyes on. The pictures aren't doing it justice, especially as they were taken on an overcast day with no direct sunlight. But basically, Thunderstruck is a warm, pale gold with the most incredible peachy-pink shift. Trust me on this. And in case you're thinking I'm actually using it as an eyeshadow ... no no. This is a highlighter for me, all the way. One of the most gorgeous highlighters ever. It's not shimmery, it's not gritty, it's not pore-emphasising, it doesn't leave you looking greasy. It's so pigmented, finely milled, smooth and creamy in texture. It just gives you a polished, ethereal sheen. Love, love, love.

September Favourites

For half of September I was on holidays in the US, and for the second half I was adjusting to resuming work and my normal daily life (including blogging). It's funny how a holiday is commonly acknowledged as a short-lived fantasy, wholly divorced from one's tedious, mundane, and burdensome reality. Everyone we spoke to while abroad invariably described the end point of a holiday as going "back to reality". Indeed. In terms of favourite products for the month, like this time last year post-Japan, half are products I brought with me in my makeup bag to the States, half are new products I purchased over there.

Oribe Dry Texturising Spray
I hated the fact I loved this product so much after I liberally sprayed some in my hair while at Bloomingdale's (they have a Space.NK.apothecary inside). Seriously hated it, because this stuff is not cheap. I don't take the decision to buy a $42 USD hair product lightly (a sickening $66 AUD), but it was the last day of my holidays, I'd been sitting on the fence about whether to buy it for most of the trip, and I didn't want to regret not taking it home. Oribe is apparently stocked in Sydney, but a) I don't go into swanky hair salons b) I can't be bothered making a special trip to Paddington or wherever just to buy it.

I tried to convince myself with various texturising sprays that I don't need the Oribe (from the ineffectual Garnier Fructis Full & Luscious Volume Booster Spray, to the hairsprayish Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray, to the close contender amika Un.Done Texture Spray), but really, as is the case with any product I covet but mentally close off the possibility of buying because it's too expensive, I should've just gone straight for what I really want. The Oribe is the best of the bunch. It's just that touch more refined, better smelling, less crunchy in my hair, and effective. It creates long lasting volume, doubles up as a mild dry shampoo, gives the hair added texture and slight grit so it's a bit more piecey and beachy, and smells like an expensive hair perfume. I think the amika is close enough and like, half the price, but I can't deny I like the Oribe just that touch more.

Bottom to top: Ivory Bisque, Peach Pop, Black Honey, At Dusk, Morning Java, Bronze Satin

Clinique Limited Edition All About Shadow Palette
I just talked about it in this post, so I won't ramble on for too long here. But basically, this palette has been such a standout among the products I purchased while in the US. Even more surprising, given it was included in a gift with purchase. I've been really impressed with the pigmentation and application of the shadows, especially the incredibly vibrant and metallic At Dusk.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
I packed this mascara in my makeup bag to the US, and my appreciation for it only grew as time went on. Before my trip, my first impressions were that it wasn't all that voluminising, but since using it daily in the States, I don't really know what I was going on about. Maybe the mascara needed some time to dry out and for the formula to become more clumpy and less wet, but I now think it does a great job at separating, lengthening, darkening and thickening. What I like about Lash Sensational is that it's a solid all-rounder that's ultra reliable. If you want a mascara that will deliver noticeable results, quickly and without fuss, it ticks the boxes. While hurriedly slapping on makeup in front of whatever mirrored surface the hotel room had, I'd haphazardly whack some of this on my tragic Asian lashes and it really made a difference.

MAC Prep + Prime Fix+
I feel like I'm very late to the bandwagon with this one. Fix+ never particularly appealed to me, I think in large part because I never find myself drawn to MAC's packaging. But I'm becoming somewhat obsessed with facial mists and sprays, and Fix+ is such a staple that I had to try it. I bought the 30ml mini from the MAC store on Powell St in San Francisco for $10 USD, since the full 100ml size would've been more expensive than if I'd bought it from Australia ($35 vs $27), and I wanted to sample it first. I started to immediately use it while on holiday, and it was instant loovveee. This stuff is all my glowy, milky, hydrated skin fantasies in a bottle. Combined with a dewy foundation and radiance-boosting sunscreen, my skin was at next level luminosity, right on the brink of too much. The ingredients seem kind to the skin (even Paula's Choice Beautypedia gave it a positive review) and it doesn't leave my skin feeling dry or irritated in the slightest. I do have to say if I'm not careful with distributing the mist evenly, it can disturb the surface of my foundation, so after most of the product has dried, I'll take a look at my face and gently blend out with my finger any areas of unevenness. I'm converted and will likely buy a full bottle in the future.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Sand
I've had this for a while, but it was only after I packed it in my holiday makeup bag that I realised just how damn amazing it is. On days when I didn't feel like wearing a base all over (the other option I brought was Bobbi Brown BB Cream), I would place the concealer under my eyes, around the sides and down the bridge of my nose, around the corners of my mouth, in a three-pronged V-shape on my forehead, and whatever residual product was left on the applicator on my cheeks. Then I'd blend it all out with my finger in a tapping motion. I'd achieve the same or fuller coverage than the Bobbi Brown BB Cream, but the product would actually stick to my face rather than slide right off. But more than that, the finish was SO luminous. Not in a shimmery or even sheeny way, but luminous in a natural, undetectable, glow-from-within way. I never realised just how radiance-boosting the Fit Me Concealer is until I used it as an alternative to foundation. Quality stuff.

Real Techniques Setting Brush
I felt it was important to include this brush in my favourites, because almost three and a half years ago (gulp), I reviewed it and didn't understand it at all. In that post, I didn't even mention the Setting Brush could be used to apply concealer (only for setting concealer under the eyes or spot powdering...)! I've been loving using the Setting Brush to apply concealer to areas of my face that need extra coverage — it's the ideal size, shape and density to blend product into the skin seamlessly. The bristles are super soft and don't irritate the delicate under eye area at all. I've also been reaching for it to apply powder highlighter, particularly Dior Diorskin Poudre Shimmer in Amber Diamond. I run the brush across the different coloured strips and apply the highlighter to the top of cheekbones and under the browbone. Because Amber Diamond is a bit harder and drier in texture compared with softer, creamier highlighters like theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer or Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop, it calls for a firmer, flatter brush to pick up product, which the Setting Brush is perfect for.