PRODUCT REVIEW // ILLAMASQUA HYDRA VEIL, BEYOND POWDER, RICH FOUNDATION AND POWDER FOUNDATION FROM RY

THE PRETTIEST XMAS GIFT IDEAS FOR HER YOU'LL EVER FIND...

PRODUCT REVIEW & LOTD: ILLAMASQUA INTENSE LIPGLOSS IN MOVE

I have always had had a fascination for the makeup from Illamasqua. The products from the UK have not been available here in Australia all that long, but I came across them in London a few years ago, on my annual trial back to Europe to visit my family. Unlike most other brands, Illamasqua has a very bright and ‘out-there’ colour range, but I also believe that the products were essentially designed to be theatre makeup. And those bright colours are a little scary for someone like me who is very conservative when it comes to makeup choices, so luckily they also do some muted shades, but I do like the variety available. And another thing that I like is Illamasqua’s recent petition to get prices of makeup in Australia lowered, and brand followed by lowering their prices, so they are no in fact very reasonably priced. Well done Illamasqua. Anyway, here are my thoughts on the *Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Move;  

 

What They Say:

"Come out of the shadows with high-shine, colour-rich Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in a wide range of bold colours. Create lips that look full and glossy, without feeling sticky. Draw attention to your lips, and to you."

RRP: $27 – Available from Myer

What I Say:

The lipgloss in Move is a lovely warm dusty pink shade, and perfect for said conservative little old me for wear on casual outings. The colour complements my medium skin tone and lips nicely, and has a nice gloss. The lipgloss has a very light consistency, and it is rather pigmented, and only the smallest amount is needed, as if you use too much, it does end up looking a little gluggy, and not to mention, runs a little.

Most lipglosses are a little sticky, but this one from Illamasqua feels very lovely to wear on the lips. And best of all is that it, for a lipgloss has a very long wear. After a few hours  I am surprised to say that it is still to be seen, and it even survives drinking a glass of water, although it does vanish along with my lunch, which is however also only to be expected. And this is a fairly light colour, so I can only imagine how well the darker colours will perform!

 

 

 

The lipgloss comes in a clear tube, and it has a small brush applicator with a thin tip, which makes it very easy to apply more perfectly to the edge of your lips – certainly a lot easier than if using a foot doe applicator. However, having said that, I do find that the brush applicator means that it should be applied in front of a mirror to avoid getting lipgloss all over, especially with a lipgloss like this one that is so pigmented.

 

Overall I really like this lipgloss; the colour is lovely, it feels lovely on the lips, and it has a good wear, and with Illamasqua’s new prices, it is only $27, which I personally find cheap for such a high end good quality I mean what’s not to love! Next time I pass an Illamasqua counter I will definitely check out the rest of the colour range!

*Product was kindly provided for consideration, and has reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever tried any of the products from Illamasqua? Are you for lipsticks or lipglosses?

 

APRIL 2014 FAVOURITES

How time flies, and it is now that time of the month again where I share some of the products that I’ve particularly loved during the past month;

 

Arbonne It's a Long Story Mascara*

 

A little while we moved into our new house – well that is, the house we will be living in until we’ve finished building our new house. And with all the unpacking I’ve done the last month, along with looking after our little boy who has been teething with several teeth coming out at the same time and hence needed extra cuddles, I have had several days were I’ve gone more or less au naturel – wearing nothing more than mascara – as that is the one product that I would never leave the house without wearing. And I’ve been enjoying the It’s A Long Story Mascara from Arbonne.

Just one coat of this mascara instantly makes your lashes look incredibly long and glossy, nicely defining and separating the lashes and without clumping them together – and over time it also promotes the appearance of longer-looking lashes due being formulated with revolutionary polypeptides, bamboo extract and pro-vitamins to pamper, condition and nurture the lashes. While I’m yet to see the long term effects of using this mascara, the look that this mascara gives my lashes, makes it worthwhile regardless.  And the mascara is waterproof, and so gentle too, so perfect for my sensitive eyes.

RRP: 46.00 – Available from Arbonne

 

Illamasqua Precision Ink in Havoc*

 

When I have been wearing a little makeup, and felt like spicing things up a little, I’ve been using the Illamasqua Precision Ink in Havoc which is a reddish brown waterproof liquid eyeliner.

And as the name suggests, it makes it easy to make a precise line, even for fumbly fingers like mine. And it really does stay put all day, perfect for eyes like mine, which are sensitive and easily water.

RRP: $32 – Available from Myer

 

Laura Mercier Longwear Cream Eye Pencil in Sage*

 

To contrast the reddish brown liquid liner on my upper lashline, I’ve enjoyed using the Laura Mercier Longwear Cream Eye Pencil in Sage along the lower lashes. Sage is a dark olive green colour, and I feel that it the combination of the two colours really make the green colours of my eyes stand out a little more.

The eyeliner is such a joy to use, and applies easily without the need to drag or pull, yet it stays put all day, which is very rare for a kohl eyeliner.

RRP: $30 – Available from Adore Beauty

 

Clarins Rouge Eclat in Pink Berry*

 

I absolutely adore this Rouge Eclat in Pink Berry from Clarins. This is a lip treatment and lipstick in one, as it is an Age-Defying Lipstick which contains Nutri-Youth Complex to help create younger-looking, fuller lips, all while giving the lips a gorgeous colour. The Pink Berry, is a gorgeous red toned colour, and is very pigmented so just a quick swipe will leave you will fully saturated colour with a nice satin sheen, perfect for both casual wear and a night out. It feels incredible comfortable to wear, and it has a long wear, but as it wears off, it leaves the lips feeling so soft and smooth.

And not to forget, it has the most divine scent that I just can’t get enough off! I’ve already got my eyes on a few other colours to add to my collection!

RRP: $38 – Available from Clarins counters and Adore Beauty

 

Color WOW Pop & Lock*

As a stay-at-home mum, I no longer have my hair coloured as often as I used to – finding the time to sit in the chair at the hairdressers for hours when you have a baby is a luxury that I often haven’t got. And that’s why I’ll do anything to protect my hair colour by using products specifically designed for coloured hair. This Pop & Lock from Color WOW is a clear gel containing shimmers, and it contains shellac that adds a protective layer on the hair’s surface making the hair colour pop and gives the hair an incredibly healthy shine at the same time as it smoothes down any frizz. It also contains UV filters that helps prevent the hair colour from fading. And always looking for multi-tasking products, I love that it can be used in both wet hair, as well as to freshen up dry hair.

RRP: $29.95 (55ml) – Available from Hairhouse Warehouse

 

Pacifica Skincare Frangipani & Lime Body Butter*

 

I had never before heard of Pacifica Skincare when I was asked to trial this body butter. And now I feel I have a lot of catching up to do as this body butter is nothing short of divine. The last time I was on a tropical holiday is a very long time ago, in actual fact, it was in Fiji during 9-11! But this body butter transports you to that secluded tropical island as soon as you open the cream.

It simply smells incredible, beyond words. If you love frangipani and lime – which I are two of my all time favourite scents, then this will no doubt tick your boxes too. The cream leaves your skin feeling silky soft and smooth, and the scent more or less lingers for the rest of the day, which is pretty rare for a body butter. And then how cute is the floral box the cream comes in!

RRP: $20.95 (120gms) – Available from Pacifica Skincare

 

Paco Rabanne Million Lady Collectable Key Chain*

 

It has been awhile since this fragrance was launched, but nevertheless, it is a true classic. It is fresh and floral, sweet yet it is not sickly! It contains among others bitter orange and raspberry, neroli and jasmine and gardenia. As it is so floral and fresh it is perfect for daytime wear, yet as it also has such a depth, it is just as perfect for a night out.

And you know it is a quality perfume when it lasts all day, without really needing to respray (I can even smell it in my hair where it has brushed against my neck the following day) – Yet the small keychain is just so cute and gorgeous and perfect for the handbag, that I’ve found myself carrying it around regardless. I love it, and have already given my hubby subtle hints, so maybe one day I will get a full sized bottle..

RRP: $64 (Key Chain Travel Spray 10ml + 10ml refill) – Available from Selected Myer and David Jones

Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum*

 

One of the key thinks that bothers me about my skin is pigmentation, and I am forever in search of products which can help minimise it, and this serum has dramatically made a difference in the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation as well as minimised the look of pores and not to mention the amount of breakouts that I get - and just a month.

It I not a cheap serum, but it is really does deliver on its promises, so worth every cent! You can check out my full review here.

RRP: $100 (30ml) – Available from David Jones

 
BioElixia Body Shaper Stretch Mark Diminishing Cream*

I’ve never had a lot of stretchmarks, guess genes, and regular exercise has kept it at bay. But then I got pregnant, and while I didn’t get as many as I thought I would, and which I think would have been normal considering my 14kgs weight gain, I still can’t say that I loved them. The BioElixia Body Shaper Stretch Mark Diminishing Cream claims to help visibly reduce stretchmarks by smoothing out their appearance and fading discoloration, by an average of 46% after just 4 weeks of use, and 87% after 8 weeks of use. Pretty impressive stats, don’t you think! I am not sure that I can see that the few stretchmarks on in particularly my thighs and breasts have reduced by almost half in the just over a month I’ve been using this cream – but I know that I can both see and feel that there is a difference, and my skin feels super soft too, so the $39 it is well worth it if you ask me.

RRP: $39 (125ml) – Available BioElixia

 

Aphelia Master Cleanse Deep Cleanse Fluid*

 

This cleanser helps clean the skin deep down every single pore, and detoxify it, leaving it ready for any treatment care. I have had a few issues with breakout the last few months, but I believe that this cleanser has helped get my skin back to normal again, as it has cleaned it so well from any makeup and excess sebum, yet without drying it out or irritating my skin. It easily removes even longwearing makeup, but I’ve been using it as the second cleanser to give my skin the good deep clean it has obviously needed. It is extremely concentrated, so just a small pump is more than sufficient.

RRP: $29.95 (100ml) – Available from Aphelia

* Products were kindly provided for consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

So there you go, these are some of my favourite products for the month of April.

Have you tried any of these products? Any that you’d like to try?

Product Review and LOTD: Illamasqua Lipstick in Shard

Today I’d like to talk about the *Illamasqua Lipstick in the colour Shard;

 

What They Say:

"Let your lips speak volumes. Indulge in colour-intense lipstick with a highly pigmented formula, available in a choice of flawless finishes, from creamy matt to iridescent finishes. Illamasqua Lipstick glides on smoothly and doesn't give up without a fight for the perfect all-night pout. A must have for professional make-up artists, and those who want to make a statement."

 

RRP: $30 - Available from Myer 

What I Say:

This is my first lipstick from Illamasqua, although I have recently also tried the Intense Lipgloss, which I really love.

The colour is an intense dark violet with a red undertone, and it is extremely pigmented, so just one swipe gives you full coverage. It has a nice velvety matte finish.

 

 

It is lovely and creamy so it is very nice to wear without drying the lips out, or without settling into the fine lines of the lips, or even worse bleeding!

 

 

The lipstick comes in classy black square packaging, and it is very long lasting, lasting for several hours before a touch up is needed, it even lasts through several cups of tea and coffee, and even survives a sandwich lunch.

 

I don’t normally wear this dark lipsticks, but it is a refreshing change to the otherwise ‘safe’ colours that I normally wear. This definitely won’t be my last lipstick from Illamasqua, and with over 30 colours in the range, there are plenty to choose from! If you are after a highly pigmented lipstick then I highly recommend that you check out these ones from Illamasqua!

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever tried any of the makeup from Illamasqua? Do you wear dark lipstick? Or are you conservative like me?

Product Review and NOTD: Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Hemlock

Today I’d like to share with you a review of the *Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Hemlock;

 

What They Say:

Leave your mark with bold, rich, vibrant colours. Hardwearing and chip-resistant with individual finishes from matt to high gloss. Apply two coats for intensity and use with Illamasqua Nail Base Coat and Illamasqua Nail Top Coat for the perfect finish. Talk with your hands and make a statement.

 

RRP: $16.50 (15ml) – Available from Myer

 

What I Say:

The Illamasqua Nail Varnish in colour Hemlock is a pink pearlescent semi-sheer nail polish, which has a green iridescent tinge when seen in the right light. In the bottle the nail polish looks a little lavender pearlescent and the green iridescent is more visible than when on the nails where is more sheer. Well, that is when you as me apply two coats, as I am sure that if you apply more coats, the colour will also appear more solid, but having worn a lot of bright and strong colours, the delicate sheer colour is such a refreshing change. And it has such a lovely and glossy sheen.

 

The nail polish is very easy to apply smoothly and evenly, and it dries instantly, before I manage to smudge it, which I am usually pretty good at doing.

Being a little bit in a hurry as I applied this while my baby boy was sleeping, I omitted both the base coat and the top coat, but even with very regular hand washing during the day, the nail polish still stayed put for four days before I felt the tips of the nails were so chipped that I needed to remove it. And again, that also includes tapping away on the computer keyboard, doing dishes (without gloves as I always forget), so really four days is not bad at all.

And once it came time for the removal, the nail polish removes quickly with a normal nail polish remover without leaving any colour residue on my nails.

The packaging of the Illamasqua Nail Varnish looks sleek and elegant, and unlike other nail varnishes, it comes in a small square black box. The actual nail varnish also comes in square bottle with a square cap that makes it easy to hold. The actual brush is also of a good quality, making it easy to cover the nails in just a few strokes.

On the negative side, I do wish that the nail polish had been 3-free, especially considering it is not a budget nail polish.

However, all I love this nail varnish, it has a good long wear, and I love the delicateness of this pearlescent colour, so I hope to be able to add more colours to my collection.  

* Product was kindly provided for consideration, and has reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever tried any of the nail polishes from Illamasqua? Or maybe some of their makeup? Which nail polish colours do you prefer? And do you care if the nail polish is 3-free?

 

 

Colour of 2013: Emerald Green!

Happy New Year to all of my lovely followers. I hope you had a great start to 2013.

Each year Pantone announces a colour of the year. In 2012 it was Tangerine Tango, reddish orange, and a little while ago Pantone announced that the colour of 2013 is Emerald Green (Pantone 17-5641 Emerald).

According to Pantone, "Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the colour of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. Also the colour of growth, renewal and prosperity, no other colour conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity."

Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today's complex world. This powerful and universally-appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors."

Explore this page. Find out more about this radiant jewel tone and its many applications in fashion, beauty, home décor and design.

International designers are already incorporating the emerald green into their spring/summer 2013 collections. And Sephora and Pantone proudly announce the Sephora + Pantone Universe™ Colour of the Year Beauty collection featuring Pantone 17-5641 Emerald, which will be available exclusively at Sephora in March 2013. Sharing a strong passion for how colour can transform a face, mood or even an attitude, Sephora and Pantone continue to change how consumers wear, feel and think about colour through the second annual radiant and modern Colour of the Year beauty collection.

The limited edition 2013 Colour of the Year beauty collection features a variety of products in Emerald, including eye shadow, nail polish and accessories, and will be available at Sephora stores across the U.S.

Unfortunately, for those of us still dreaming that one day a Sephora will eventually open shops here in Australia, luckily other brands seems to be following and launching their green collections.

 

1. Cali Green Suede Wedge Sandals - RRP: $99.95

- Available from Style Thread

 

2. Swarovski Nirvana Emerald Ring - RRP: $325.00

- Available from Swarovski

 

3. Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Permission Cool Emerald Green - RRP: $24

- Available from Myer and Illamasqua Online

 

4. Mimco Mini Metal Button Zip Top Handbag -RRP: $399.00

- Available from Mimco

 

5. L'Oreal Colour Riche Quad in Emerald conquest - RRP: $23.95

- Available from Priceline, Department Stores and Select Chemists

 

6. Very Very Leaf Print Dress Body Con Dress - RRP: $165

- Available from Birdsnest

 

7. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Rocky Mountain Green - RRP $6.70

- Available from Crush Cosmetics

 

8. L’Oreal Colour Riche Le Vernis Nail Polish in Green Couture - RRP: $6.99

- Available from Priceline, Department Stores and Select Chemists.

 

As a green-eyed girl, I’m loving the emerald colour, although I’m not too sure that I would use green makeup, but I do love the nail polishes, and I so love the green dress, sandals, and the handbag….oh, and the gorgeous  Swarovski ring too!!

What do you think of Emerald Green colour? Do you plan to get yourself a full kit of green makeup?