Middling Metropolitan

The new Revlon PhotoReady Primer + Shadow eyeshadow palettes weren't hugely enticing to me, but after a foiled trip to Chemist Warehouse for 50% off the newly released Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Crush and Rendezvous (for whatever reason, the powers that be decided to deprive Australia of them until recently), I ended up turning to Myer as a last resort. Though I baulked at the idea of paying full price for them, at the very least Myer were offering a Revlon gift with purchase that included the Metropolitan (501) Primer + Shadow, normally $25.95. Let's just begin by saying the Revlon PhotoReady Sculpting Blush Palette in Pink Rose (001), also in the GWP, is such a huge product fail that it's hard to believe it passed any kind of quality control. Believe the hilariously negative reviews on MakeupAlley and stay as far away as possible. Despite the disappointment with the blush, I hoped the eyeshadow would be something worth writing about, especially as the colours seemed promising.

l-r (numbered per diagram at back of palette): 1, 4, 2, 3, 5

The eyeshadow palette consists of 5 shades, though one of them is supposed to be a primer. I don't really get the idea of using another powder eyeshadow as a primer, as I'm more used to clear, creamy primers like Urban Decay Primer Potion or cream eyeshadow bases. The primer (shade 1 according to the diagram at the back of the palette) could double as your standard highlighting shade. It's a frosty pale pink with a slight peachiness to it, very similar to Urban Decay Sin, though Sin is more beige-toned and a little darker. The top highlighting shade (4) is a shimmery pale sherbet orange with a subtle golden pearl. The crease shade (3) is a cool, grey-toned medium taupe with white shimmer that flashes almost a duochrome green. The lid shade (2) is an almost matte bark brown with sparse, nearly undetectable silver glitter. Finally, the "sparkle top coat" (5) is an antique bronze with iridescent glitter particles, basically the poor man's version of the gold leaf shade in Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Odyssey.

Maybe I'm now more discerning or demand more of my eyeshadows, but I found the overall quality to be uninspiring. The color payoff is acceptable (especially when layered) but fundamentally, they aren't very vibrant or richly pigmented. The shadows feel quite powdery and could easily be wiped away when I swatched them on my arm. The primer shade was surprisingly the standout in terms of pigmentation and texture, though I don't picture using it regularly and I already have multiple eyeshadows similar to it. Perhaps the shadows would be more impressive to me if applied wet, but let's face it, I won't ever be bothered.

The shade selection puzzled me somewhat, mainly because the lid shade is so dark for the daytime. I instead use the crease shade for my lid, but the colour is a bit too grey and cool to complement my colouring. I do like the subtle green duochrome quality that it has, which adds some unexpected interest. The glitter top coat seems more for special occasions to delicately dab onto the centre of the lid as a finishing touch. This shade was the most powdery, least pigmented and most susceptible to being wiped away to nothingness (be prepared for loads of glitter fallout), but the purple/blue, green, orange and diamond sparkles are pretty, though not all that pronounced. At first I thought it might be a more affordable version of the glitter top coat in the Clarins Odyssey quad, but the richness and density of the Clarins is simply incomparable.

Hint of Tint

For the longest time, I've heard raves about Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser. I wasn't entirely convinced how good it could possibly be, mainly because the idea of a tinted moisturiser never particularly appealed to me. After all, wasn't it the same thing as mixing in a bit of my foundation with my regular moisturiser? Still, when I saw a smaller 30ml tube of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser at Sephora during my trip to the States for around $20, I couldn't resist picking one up and seeing if it was worth the hype. While there's 3 versions of the tinted moisturiser: regular, oil-free (in the brown packaging) and illuminating, I only saw the smaller size in the regular form. There were also only two available shades, Nude and the darker Sand. I grabbed Nude after trying a bit on my face first and being satisfied it wasn't too light for me. I managed to resist opening my tube for months, hoping to use up some other of my other base products first, but caved recently.

Though I've only used it for a short period of time, I'm unexpectedly impressed by the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser. Maybe it's finally made me see the light when it comes to tinted moisturisers. The first thing I noticed is the effortless way it applies to the skin. You really don't need to expend much energy blending or rubbing it in. It almost does the job for you. There's no feeling of product sitting on top of your skin or any kind of oiliness, chalkiness or residue that foundation or certain BB creams can leave. It really is akin more to a normal moisturiser that hydrates and sinks into your skin, but with a creamy texture rather than being more of a lotion or relatively liquid. The colour is undetectable, in that when you're applying it, there's not a huge, noticeable difference in skin tone between the areas of your face where you've put some on and the rest of your face. It's a very subtle, light coverage, weightless product that brightens and evens out the skin tone and provides a natural radiance. I've called other bases "natural-looking" in the past, but I can truly say that I only discovered what that means after using this.

The before picture on the left is my bare face without a scrap of makeup. Beside it is my face with just the tinted moisturiser on. Both pictures are 100% unedited. I'm talking extract from the SD card and cropped only. Not even a minor brightness or contrast or colour adjustment. To my eyes, I can see that the tinted moisturiser has minimised the appearance of pores and blackheads, reduced redness and areas of discolouration, and generally injected some health and luminosity to my complexion. The end result is still incredibly subtle but undeniably effective.

Nude seems like the right shade for me, as I don't find it too dark or light, but the product itself is so natural-looking and light coverage that even if the shade was slightly off, I don't think it would be all that noticeable. The moisturiser admittedly has a faint chemical smell which is slightly off-putting, but nothing major. I do have to put quite a bit on each time (the amount pictured on my hand was barely enough for my whole face), which again reinforces how much closer it is to a regular moisturiser than a foundation or Asian BB cream. I can easily picture myself finishing the whole tube fairly quickly. I am curious about the oil-free version, which might be better suited to my skin come summer. I haven't noticed any issues with oil control in the few times I've used it, though my skin is in a drier state at the moment than it normally is. Once my tube is emptied, I probably would repurchase, though the Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector (Combination to Oily Skin) still remains a solid option for higher coverage and a glowier finish.

Super Lustrous Seven

Next to MAC, Revlon are my favourite lipstick brand. I love almost everything Revlon make for lips, from Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains to the ColorBurst Lip Butters. Inspired by Jane, I've put together a post featuring my collection of Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks (crème finish only). I do own 6 of their matte lipsticks as well, which I may post about separately. The Super Lustrous lipsticks retail for $21.95 in Australia, though they often pop up in random chemists and market stalls for cheaper (I'm sure you could find them on eBay as well). Occasionally, Priceline will have a buy one, get one free sale on Revlon lip products, or Chemist Warehouse will have 50% off Revlon, making them more affordable, but still nowhere near as cheap as the US.

l-r: Ginger Rose, Pink in the Afternoon, Primrose, Berry Haute, Melonade, Cherries in the Snow, Black Cherry

Ginger Rose (131)
I picked this up at a bargain bin at a local chemist about one or two years ago. I could only judge the colour from the sticker at the back (I absolutely love that the lipsticks are colour-coded) and peering through the cap. I thought it might be a bit too brown and dark for my liking, but because it was so cheap I decided it was worth a shot. This medium tawny nude isn't the most flattering shade on my already pigmented lips (I wish it were more pink and lighter), but I love mixing it with BYS Beautifully Bare for a MLBB look.

Pink in the Afternoon (415)
I remember I was ecstatic when I stumbled across this at Paddy's Markets a year ago as I'd been trying to hunt down Pink in the Afternoon for months. I was continually let down by blue pinks that clashed with my yellow skin tone, or light pinks that always had a purplish edge when applied to my lips, and was craving something distinctly warm and medium-toned. Pink in the Afternoon is a soft coral pink that has almost a retro vibe. Interestingly, reviews on MakeupAlley describe this as an Audrey Hepburn colour, very much like what Holly Golightly wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Primrose (668)
This milky lavender pink remains one of my favourite lipsticks ever. Along with Melonade, it was the first Super Lustrous lipstick that I bought. Yes, it's a light, blue-based/purplish pink, everything I mentioned above that I was tiring of. But it's precisely because it's nearly impossible to find a shade with those characteristics that doesn't look ghastly on me that I adore it. It's just on the precipice of being too light and too cool, but manages to work for my skin tone. Just.

Berry Haute (660)
I've wanted this lipstick for forever, but resisted until recently. I just didn't know whether I'd be walking into the purple lipstick trap. I find myself irresistibly drawn to purple lipsticks, but they're not exactly conventional or the easiest to pull off. Berry Haute is a pinkish grape purple that has more of a muted quality on my lips. It's not a colour I would describe as bright. The shade is a little unusual but it's really not as out there as I may have thought. There's enough pink in there and it's not too dark, which makes it more accessible. I'd be comfortable wearing this lightly during the day, or packing it on for a more distinctly purple lip at night.

Melonade (180)
Probably my favourite bright orange lipstick, along with Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti. Melonade is a watermelon coral that appears more red on my lips than when swatched on my arm. It's one of those quintessential summer colours that instantly lifts the complexion and looks youthful and fresh. Sadly, Melonade has been discontinued, made more unfortunate by the fact my tube is actually half finished, an almost unheard of personal feat and a testament to how much I love the shade.

Cherries in the Snow (440)
This classic Revlon shade is my latest acquisition along with Berry Haute (I purchased both from Priceline as they were buy one, get one free). I don't usually go for red lips, but Cherries in the Snow was so creamy, richly pigmented and such a stunning dark pink bordering on blue-based red, that I was sold. This one is super staining and I found it a little drying, so I had to mix it with some lip balm to give my lips some moisture. While it's definitely more pink than red, I've heard some describe the colour as fuchsia but I personally don't see it. I like this for a statement evening lip though application can be tricky because it's so intensely saturated.

Black Cherry (477)
This deep burgundy/oxblood can appear intimidating, but it's surprisingly versatile. It's also just incredibly fun to have in your collection. You never know when you might need it to recreate a '20s flapper look (isn't that all the rage with the release of The Great Gatsby?) or emulate a goth teen. With my whole vampy berry lip fixation, Black Cherry was the pinnacle. Read extended rambling about it here.

l-r: Ginger Rose, Pink in the Afternoon, Primrose, Berry Haute, Melonade, Cherries in the Snow, Black Cherry

l-r: Ginger Rose, Pink in the Afternoon, Primrose, Berry Haute, Melonade

l-r: Berry Haute, Melonade, Cherries in the Snow, Black Cherry

l-r (top row, then bottom row): Ginger Rose, Pink in the Afternoon, Primrose

l-r (top row, then bottom row): Berry Haute, Melonade, Cherries in the Snow, Black Cherry

Revlon Super Lustrous Crème Lipstick

Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks are creamy, pigmented and give a subtle sheen to the lips without being overly glossy. I don't find them particularly moisturising, but for the most part they're not specifically drying either. They're tasteless and scentless. I'm actually a big fan of the packaging, especially the colour-coded stickers, and I like the cylindrical shape over the rounded tip of MAC lipsticks or the rectangular-shaped Revlon ColorBurst lipsticks (though I do prefer the formulation of the ColorBurst line to Super Lustrous). The wear time depends on the shade, but since I'm constantly eating/drinking, how long my lipstick lasts isn't a top priority for me (if I'm really concerned, I'll opt for a stain). While I steer clear of the pearl finish, the crèmes boast some gorgeous colours.

May Favourites

May was yet another largely uninspired month makeup-wise, which isn't to say I haven't been as cosmetics obsessed as ever (especially in the lipstick and eyeshadow department). But in terms of my daily routine, it was more or less the same old. Except for a wine lip stain and pastel glitter polish, I haven't discovered anything this past month that I'm really excited to start using on a regular basis. Most of my favourites are well-loved products or those I've had for a while but needed some time to fully appreciate.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush
I did a whole post on vampy berry shades, but didn't include what might be my favourite of them all. Crush long eluded me because until recently, Revlon decided to exclude it, along with Rendezvous, from the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain range in Australia. Thankfully, they released the two of them as "new shades" (snort), and at the earliest opportunity I snapped both up. (Now if only Maybelline would follow suit with Brazen Berry from the ColorSensational Vivids line.) Crush is the perfect wine lip — not too red, not too brown, not too light or dark. The only thing I'm not crazy about is that it tends to wear unevenly, fading from the centre of the lip faster than the outer edge, which can look like you've put on lip liner but nothing else. I prefer using this over a lip balm, alternating between applying and blotting a couple of layers first so the stain really sinks into the lip, and reapplying as needed.

Australis 10 Hour Waterproof Eye Pencil in Bombastic Bronze
This has quickly become my go-to bronze pencil eyeliner that I use every day to define my lower lash line. I think it's better than the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Bronze which I was trialing previously but wasn't entirely satisfied with. It doesn't quite top my absolute favourite, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Busy Signal (which seriously doesn't budge), but a pencil is a much quicker and easier option compared with a cream shadow, and I'm all for any kind of time/effort saving. It ticks all the boxes: gorgeous metallic pigment, glides on without ever tugging at the skin or feeling waxy, and even if it doesn't entirely live up to its name in lasting power, it comes pretty darn close.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black
I've been using this for a few months but only recently became fully converted. At first, I was a little on the fence, wondering if I should revert to my trusty ol' Bourjois Liner Feutre. I wasn't used to the finer, more precise tip on the Stila with which you can draw a much thinner line, and the first few times I tried it over my bare eyelid, it was surprisingly streaky. I've found this works much better over some kind of product, be it a power or cream eyeshadow or primer. It's seriously black and although it's quite liquid, it dries very fast. The staying power is excellent but it's also not an absolute nightmare to get off. The tip of mine has frayed slightly, but I haven't found it to affect the application. After using it solidly for some time, I've managed to get the flick needed for my upper lash line down pat.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Exposed
One of the greatest pleasures of having more blush than 10 average women combined is the ability to select the one that suits your fancy any given morning. But even with all the options available to me (or perhaps it's precisely because of the sheer variety of choice?), I tend to just draw a blank. That's when Exposed comes mightily in handy. It's the perfect blush to reach for when you don't know what to pick. It'll go with anything and it won't look bad. It's more rosy than the polished nude of NARS Douceur, not as plummy and tan as Benefit Dallas, but not your run-of-the-mill "peachy pink" either. It's sitting somewhere in the middle of all that, in an ideal neutral territory. Given I had to literally fly to the States to acquire this, I feel like I really should appreciate it more. More in depth review here.

Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
An ancient favourite of mine and I product I will continually repurchase without hesitation. Yes, Batiste also make a perfectly decent dry shampoo, but I just like the Klorane better. I've reached a pitifully new low of laziness when it comes to hair "care" (the extent of which is shampooing my hair at night every 3 days, skipping conditioner, and spritzing dry shampoo on the morning of the third day). This product serves a very important function in my life, which is to minimise any effort I have to make regarding my hair. It does its best to keep greasiness at bay while I do my best to stretch out the time in between washes.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 52 and 53
I just did a whole post on this foundation so I won't go into too much detail here. I moved on from Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow which I was using in April back to Healthy Mix Serum. I was combining 52 with Rimmel Wake Me Up in Soft Beige, but ditched that as well, and began just mixing 52 and 53 to form my shade. I almost wish I had dry skin rather than normal/combination just so I could wear this all the time.

Face of Australia Heart of Glass
Already raved about here (with nail swatch to boot), this is one of the most exciting nail polish discoveries I've made in recent memory. The moment I put this on my nails, I knew that I had to scout a backup bottle before the limited edition collection disappeared from the stores altogether. Pleasingly affordable at $4.95, this polish is worth three times that. The formula seriously impressed me for such a light base and the glitter is delicate and not garish or overdone.

l-r: Tarte Exposed, Revlon Crush, Australis Bombastic Bronze, Stila Eye Liner, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum