Review: Designer Brands Mosaic Bronzer

Hey there folks! Since I was needing a good matte bronzer for my make up collection, I picked this up a few months ago. Now that I've really tried out this product, I'm here with a review.

Quick Pros:
♥ Inexpensive
♥ Matte with a tiny hint of shimmer
♥ Cruelty Free
♥ Does not irritate the skin
♥ Does not break me out

Quick Cons
♥ Can be a little orange on fairer skin tones
♥ Needs a couple swirls for full pigmentation

I think this is a great bronzer for any girl on a budget. It's under $20 and it works great as a staple bronzer.

I use this bronzer with a nice dense blush brush for the most colour pay off when I really want to contour. You'll need to swirl your brush around in the product a few times before you get a nice deep colour. However, for an everyday, light sun-kissed glow, one swirl and a soft dust all over the face should be fine.

I really don't have anything bad to say about this bronzer. It's matte so it looks quite natural on the skin and the colour suits most skin types. If you have very fair skin, e.g. NC15 and below, this could look a bit orange.

The product is in powder form and it does not flake or become dusty. The product is densely packed into a neat little compact.

Overall, if you're looking for a good, cheap bronzer, this is the one for you! I'm keen to try out other products by Designer Brands. They seem to offer good quality product for their price.



Have you tried this product out? What did you think? Leave a comment below! 

Review: Australis Fresh and Flawless Powder Foundation

(Source)

I've been dying to get my hands on this product ever since I saw gossmakeupartist's video which highlights on using powder foundation to cover large areas of imperfections. This product is a dead on dupe for MAC's Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. While MAC's costs around $60 in New Zealand, you can get Australis's for $20.50 instead.

Quick Pros:

♥  Inexpensive
♥  A matte face powder
♥  Controls oil
♥  Medium coverage
♥  Cruelty free

Quick Cons:

♥  Not full coverage
♥  Only available in 3 shades
♥  Not suitable for dry skin
♥  No SPF

You know you've enjoyed a product when you buy it once, use it up and buy it again. Well, that's what happened with me and this product. I personally think powder foundation is great since it's easy to apply and take with you for touch ups. This powder provides a solid medium coverage when used alone - covering minor blemishes and evening out skin tone. Combined with another foundation it can provide you with full coverage.

My shade is in Deep Natural - one of three shades. The shade selection isn't very wide, unfortunately, catering to those with fair to tanned skin tones.

The powder itself was created to control oil and it does just that. I usually get oily on my forehead on my T-Zone and I've had about 4 hours of wear before needing to touch up. However, when your face does start to get oily, it gives your skin a nice glow rather than totally matte.

It's almost winter here and when I apply this powder to my cheeks they start to feel a bit dry, therefore I wouldn't recommend this for those with dry skin. For those with oily to combination skin, this product is perfect for controlling unnecessary grease on the face! In winter I'll probably have to use a really good moisturiser with SPF so my face doesn't end up feeling tight.

All in all, this is definitely worth trying out. Especially if you live in NZ and you're strapped on cash. Don't underestimate this little gem by Australis.



Have you tried this product out? What did you think? Leave a comment below!

Sweet Sixteen

Happy Birthday to me ^_^

(Psst: I'm wearing a navy blue smokey eye from TheBalm's Meet Matte Palette! You can see my review here!)

Review: TheBalm Meet Matte Eyeshadow Palette

(Source)

My name day was on a 21st, I'm finally 16! As a gift for myself, I purchased this popular palette by TheBalm. It's got 9 gorgeous matte shades that are both wearable and fashionable.

Packaging:
The palette comes in a sturdy board case that fits in the palm. I found the palette a bit smaller than expected...but don't all good things come in small sizes?

Shades:
9 shades! What I love about this palette is that every shade is different from each other, from a warm beige to a bright teal. They're all matte, which makes them very wearable.

Product:
The shadows are silky and smooth to the touch and go on smoothly on the eyelid. However, some shades don't have as good pigmentation as the others. Matt Horowitz (a navy blue) and Matt Schilling (a teal) both come off fairly light on the skin if used without a good primer/base. However, the rest of the shades seem to have fine color pay-off.

Overall: 4/5
The palette wasn't as awesome as I expected to be, however, I think its a wonderful item for those looking for an all matte palette. You get one palette with 9 shades, all which vary from different colours, giving you a wide range of options to choose from.

Tutorial: Simple Cat-Eye/Winged Eyeliner for Hooded/Almond Eyes!

Hey guys! Today I've got a tutorial for you - this one is on how to do a simple winged eyeliner for those of us who have Asian eyes or hooded eyes. Eye makeup has always been my vice because of my eye shape. It's hooded in the inner corners, but not on the outer corners. This makes knowing where to place my eyeshadows and eyeliners extremely difficult. However, upon seeing this picture of Karlie Kloss...

...I decided to recreate this dramatic look into something wearable for hooded eyes! It's somewhere between a simple winged eyeliner and a bold cat-eye. I used liquid liner for this look as it was what I had on hand, however gel eyeliner with a fine tip brush would probably be the best products for creating this look as it's long lasting and dark. Alternatively, you can use a creamy kohl pencil and then layer a matte black eyeshadow on top for staying power.

Keep reading if you want to know how to recreate this look for yourself!

I've already applied a base and a translucent powder to my face. Use your primer on your lids if you have one!

Start by drawing the 'wings' of the eyeliner. Do this by drawing a small line that follows up from the outside corner of your bottom lash line.

Draw a line from where your crease ends to the line you drew before to create a true wing.

Keep your eyes open and draw along your crease. You can choose to draw this all the way into the inner corner or stop 3/4 of the way in.

Fill in your lid with your liquid liner/gel liner/kohl pencil.

I cleaned up the look and sharpened the edges with a q-tip dipped in make-up remover. Apply a matte black eyeshadow over the top of the eyeliner to make it dark and give staying power.

That's it! I added a highlight into my inner corners, filled in my brows, added blush, mascara and some lipstick to complete the look.

Simple, no? Please give this tutorial a try if you've got hooded lids too! Good luck!

Products used:

• K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner in Black
• Chi-Chi Black Eyeshadow

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Review: Sukin Cream Cleanser

Ever since I found out that my Simple facial cleanser was in fact owned by Unilever (WHY, SIMPLE?!), I went out to find a nice, cheap and cruelty free cleanser.

As I was browsing the internet I remembered a small brand called Sukin that Farmers stocked in their beauty department. I immediately rushed down to my nearest mall to check out the brands. They certainly had me in mind - cruelty free and organic skincare that was also affordable and effective. I decided to pick up the Cream cleanser instead of the foaming one, since cleansers that don't lather are less likely to irritate my skin.

Price: $12 (ish, I can't remember properly)

Packaging: 4/5

The cleanser comes in a small, cute little bottle with a pump for dispensing. The bottle itself is environmentally friendly and recyclable. The only trait that knocks a point of is the actual 'unscrewing' the pump - it took me a long time and help from someone else to open up the pump.

Product: 4/5

The cleanser has a strong herbal smell to it, but it's not a smell that will cause migraines. I like the smell - it makes the product feel very natural.

The product has of course, a whit cream-like consistency that's very smooth. It's got a lot of skin-friendly oils on it, but I discovered that one pump makes your face basically waterproof. Half a pump should be enough to cover the entire face and be able to rinse it cleanly.

What I really liked about this product is that it does not leave your skin feeling tight or oily. Skin becomes smooth to the touch and almost like it's been moisturised. I really the feeling it gives.

However, this product can only remove light traces of makeup - say, tinted moisturiser + pencil eyeliner. If you're wearing anything more, you're going to need makeup remover or wipes.

I would recommend this for:

Despite having oily combination skin, I still like this cleanser a lot. It's very gentle and I need moisture in my face because of my constant usage of a acne treatments. I would definitely say that this product will be wonderful for dry skin and normal skin in the winter. Those with combination skin might also like this product, depending on how oily your skin gets. Anyone with sensitive skin or easily irritated skin should probably stay away from this product - it has lavender oil in it, which is a common skin irritant. However, Sukin has their own Sensitive Skin range, so there's something for everybody!

All in all...

I really like this product! It's not too expensive and definitely worth trying out. It hasn't broken me out or irritated my skin which I'm thankful for. It's a wonderful little gem.


Have you tried this product? What did you think? Leave a comment below!

Moschino + Moschino Cheap & Chic F/W 2013

New York Fashion Week has passed on by and made a lasting impression on fashionistas worldwide. I was catching up on some videos of those who were lucky enough to attend the event. Moschino and Moschino Cheap & Chic's collections completely stood out to me.


Moschino F/W 2013 Collection 

I can happily admit I liked everything from this collection and would wear every item from the collection. The show begins with an array of tartan in rich reds and deep greens. The style can be described as prep-school with it's statement  blazers, beautiful blouses and pleated skirts. Equestrian hats were seen on every other model. The hair was simple - swept back into soft chignons and ponytails. Giant gold earrings seemed to be part of the theme too.

After the plaid they go back to basics - with the ever-classic black and white, keeping with the same prepster theme.

The show rounds off with gorgeous reds. I must say I love, love, love the matching red suit and dress.

Moschino Cheap & Chic F/W 2013 Collection

UGH Moschino why so gorgeous? This collection is about statement brilliance! From a leopard print suit to fur to pops of pink, if you want to be seen this Fall/Winter, Moschino Cheap & Chic fits all your needs.

I tend to gravitate towards black, and if you're anything like me, you'll probably fawn over these couple of pieces.

Animal print also seemed to be a trend in this collection. The cut and wear of the leopard print suit almost makes it wearable. But I'd wear it nonetheless - and during the daytime too.

Pink is one of those colours that adds a fresh feel to an outfit. It's youthful and it's vibrant. Moschino makes femininity edgy. I adore shift /60's vibe as they give such a modern shape to the body.

In case you haven't noticed, Moschino also happened to create a creeper with a strap and a heel...embellished with little belts down the calf. It's fantastic. Rosella Jardini, you are amazing.

As for beauty, I love the dark lip most of the models rock. Others had a fierce black cat eye with nude lips. It was all about clean skin and statement one or the other. You can make it wearable for the cooler seasons with a deep plum lipstick, sheer foundation + pink blush for a 'just out of the cold' look, or go for the classic winged eyeliner and nude lips.

That concludes my outlook on both Moschino Fashion Shows! I hope you got some inspiration from these photos because I totally want to rock pink with leopard and black blazers now.

What fashion shows did you like in NYFW? Leave a comment below!

All images sourced from: Fashionising

SaSa.com Haul!

On Saturday, I picked up some make-up products I purchased from SaSa, a Hong Kong department store. They sell lots of makeup products at relatively nice prices, from Western brands to Asian brands.

This is my very first haul, so let me know what you think!

(Note: All prices are in New Zealand dollars)

Suki MAKE UP-FACE Single Colour Blusher in 01, $10.30

This blush has a gorgeous coral-peach colour to it, and the pigment is amazing. Just a gentle dab into the powder gives a healthy flush to my cheeks. The packaging is really cute too and I love the star in the center of the powder.

Suki MAKE UP-EYES Eye Shadow Platter in 03, $11.80

A neutral palette with a caramel, a deep bronze, a gold, a pale yellow highlight colour and a dark ash-brown. The eyeshadows carry more pigment than I expected and they look really pretty together. The dark brown however, is not as rich as the other eye shadows, probably since the finish is more satin than shimmer. It's the perfect shade for my eyebrows, since anything too warm looks orange on my brows.

Suki Angel Long and Uplifting Mascara, $11.80

I thought this mascara was the cutest thing ever. The angel wings totally sold me, plus the wings are removable and turn into a little rubber ring. The mascara itself does not clump and gives a nice, natural look to the lashes while adding some length and definition. It has it's own counterpart - the Suki Devil Volume and Curl Mascara.

K-PALETTE Real Lasting Eyeliner 24H Waterproof, $18.80

I had heard good reviews on this eyeliner, so I decided to buy it. I really like it - it's got a nice fine tip for precise strokes, dark colour and staying power. Is it actually waterproof? I don't know - I haven't been in the pool yet! However, it does remove easily with makeup remover. 

Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar in Juicy Peach, $9.70

When I saw this I knew I had to buy it. I mean, it's so cute! The Gloss Bar is actually a lip gloss in lip balm form. It was easy to apply, and gave my lips a peach tint. There's not much shine to the product, but it did moisturise my lips and kept them from being chapped.

Isihara Oil-Off Paper in Mix Berry and Cherry, $2.60

Because of Summer and my oily skin, I needed a good blotting paper. This one comes in a cute plastic wallet with the scent of cherries! There's 120 blotting sheets - a good buy for $2. The sheets are pretty thin and they remove a decent amount of oil. Probably not the best - but it's pretty good for it's price.

So there's my first haul...and probably my last for this year >< due to a tight budget for cosmetics. However, I do have things planned. Please comment below if you want more hauls :)

Review: Missha Cho Bo Yang BB Cream

A few weeks before Christmas I bought the Missha Cho Bo Yang BB Cream (otherwise known has the Missha Herbal BB Cream) from a Missha store at the Atrium in town. I asked a clerk for a recommendation for a good BB cream and she asked me to try this one.
After sitting down for 10 minutes with the clerk working two creams into my face, I ended up buying it for a whopping $50 NZD. I thought it was way over-priced, but the clerk promised that a little went a long way and so I believed her.
This BB cream claims to promote wrinkle-repairing, whitening and keep skin healthy.
I've been using this BB cream as my base for the last month or so. Let's get on to the review of the product.

Packaging: 5/5

I like this packaging. It's a squeeze-tube, making it hygienic and easy to use. You can control how much product you want.

Application: 3/5

The first thing I noticed was how thick this BB cream is. It feels more like a paste or a balm rather than a liquid foundation. Depending on how you like your BB creams, this can be good or bad.

The good part is that a little bit goes a long way.

The bad part is that the BB cream can be hard to spread onto your face.

I personally like foundations that are more liquidy and easy to spread onto your face with your hands since I'm kind of lazy. This BB cream allows you to work slowly, blending in a bit at a time for a flawless finish.

As you can see, the texture is more like a paste than a liquid.

Coverage: 4/5

This definitely gives medium-full coverage that is also buildable if you do happen to like that perfect doll skin look. I've discovered that using the least amount of this BB cream as you can gives you a matte finish, but as you blend it in with more cream, it turns into a dewy finish.

Despite how moisturising this BB cream seems, it does settle into fine lines under the eyes and exaggerate flaky skin.

Blended.

Durability: 3/5

It's Summer over here in New Zealand and might I say, it's blimmin' hot. My skin is naturally oily with dry patches here and there. I will honestly say it's not the best BB cream when it comes to durability. I went on a day trip from 10 am till 3pm. By the time I came home, I could see that the cream starting to break because of sweat and sebum. Had I applied a primer, it could have lasted longer.

However, I can imagine this BB cream being perfect for cooler months. With it being both moisturising and slightly oily controlling, it would work well for those who need something to keep their skin healthy throughout cooler seasons.

Blended into skin. Note how it has a bit of a pink-gray cast over my yellow toned skin.

How I use this product

I like to blend my high-coverage foundations with a good, oil-free moisturiser. This BB cream seems to work well when blended with my moisturiser. It evens out skin tone and mattifies the skin. Afterwards, I go over any trouble-areas with a dot of the cream.

Conclusion

I would suggest this BB cream for dry-but-not-flaky skin types and combination skin. Normal skin would also like this product. Would I recommend it as a staple? Depending on your budget and skin type. For an oily skin like me, Revlon Colorstay would have been a better choice for it's oil-control and nice coverage. But for mature women, or those with skin on the drier side looking for good sun protection, this BB cream could become a staple.