Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation Review

Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation in No.52 Vanilla

I can’t believe after all these years I haven't even posted a review on one of my favourite foundations. This is the foundation that gets me through the long, hot months. Bourjois Flower Perfection is a high coverage, matte foundation great for oily, acne prone skin.

The foundation has quite a creamy texture, and goes on very smooth. It also comes with a sponge, but I find this a very redundant feature, the formula dries quickly so you run the risk of caking yourself up if you take too long. Also, a sponge isn't exactly the most hygienic way to apply makeup, so I tend to use my fingers or my real techniques buffing brush. This foundation lasts all day for me, even when I've been running around at work for eight hours; it stays put. It can get a little shiny, nothing a little blotting or powder can't fix, but to be honest, I love the natural glow it gives the skin when it's been on for a while. It also contains SPF15, in the form of titanium dioxide. This doesn't seem like much, but at least they've used a physical UV filter instead of chemical. 

I find that many foundations break me out, this one being the exception. When researching the product I found that it contains hardly any skin or acne irritants (check out the cosDNA rating here). I guess that explains the lack of red bumps I usually find on my face the day after. I highly recommend this for those with oily/acne prone skin who are looking for a high coverage foundation to cover their spots.  This just ticks all the boxes for me, it covers everything, it’s long lasting, doesn't break me out, and it makes my skin look flawless.

I have been really impressed with Bourjois products across the board, and really don't mind paying a little extra for them anymore. I can usually find it at Priceline for around $30, but you can get it cheaper online from Asos and Life & Looks for $15. I've already repurchased this foundation twice, this is my third bottle! That’s how much I love it.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Waterproof Mascara

I had quite a shock at work the other day when, on a bathroom break, caught site of myself in the mirror. After only five hours I had already developed some serious panda eyes! With my top notch researching skills, I then proceeded to waste the rest of my break researching the best waterproof mascaras (and by top-notch skills I mean typing 'best waterproof mascara' into google). On every list I came across, Lancome's Hypnose range was always at the top. Even the lovely lady I spoke to at the Lancome counter claimed they had the best mascara's in the world (and the best selling). Those were some impressive claims, so I couldn't resist putting it to the test. 

Firstly, the packaging is lovely. Although it's plastic, the unique shapes gives it a very sleek, luxurious feel, and the exterior, adorned with the brand's iconic roses, is a nice touch. The mascara itself defines and lengthens the lashes, and leaves them with little to no clumps. The wand is the perfect vehicle for defining and lengthening the lashes. While the tip of the wand focuses on those pesky little lashes in the corners, the thicker part defines and extends the outer corners. Check out the photo's below:

This is by far the best waterproof mascara I have ever used (and also the most expensive, but definitely worth it). It lasts all day long without any flaking or smudging, which is all you can really ask for. I usually prefer a little bit more volume, but I honestly don't mind with this one. If you are after something more volumising, Lancome's Hypnose Star & Drama sound like great options (it was very hard for me to decide between the three at the time), and they both also comes in a waterproof formula.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraodinaire Lipsticks

L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraodinaire Lipsticks in #101 Rose Melody (left) & #500 Molto Mauve (right)

I really love the look of wet, glossy, lips in the summer months, so I picked up two of the new L’Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire lipsticks in Molto Mauve (500) and Rose Melody (101). Because I totally needed more lip products. Surprisingly, L’Oreal have gone with the lipstick label here instead of lacquer, claiming they have substituted the stiff, waxy materials you usually find in lipsticks with micro oils. These micro oils apparently reveal ‘the full richness’ of colour pigments and help ‘reflect light for extraordinary depth and shine.’

#101 Rose Melody (top) & #500 Molto Mauve (bottom)

The lightest shade I purchased, Rose Melody, is a pinkie-peach colour and, Molto Mauve a light plum. I did notice the lighter shade was quite sheer, and took a couple of layers to build up some colour. I don't mind this, mainly because sheer lipsticks and glosses (especially light pinks) seem to sit better on my lips. The darker shade, Molto Mauve only needed one to two layers to give it the colour is does in the swatch above. L’Oreal were definitely spot on about the shininess. Both shades have a crazy amount of glittery particles to enhance their vibrancy, but they’re minuscule, and don’t detract from the overall smoothness of the formula.

The one thing I don’t like about these lipsticks is the texture. They’re thick, sticky, and transfer like crazy. But hey, that’s 90% of lipsticks for you. So don’t make the mistake of going out on a windy day with your hair down (like I did). Aside from this, the packaging is very sleek and also has a colour indicator built in on the side. The applicator is a (dare I say) furry sponge that's easy to use and control. They smell amazing; a tropical paradise in a bottle, and give that wet, glossy, finish that seem to be all the rage in summer.

Bourjois Colour Boost Chubby Sticks Review

Okay, I really need to stop buying new lip products. My lipstick tray is overflowing, but I still can't seem to restrain myself when I see a good sale. I picked these two up at Priceline when they were having a $10 deal on all Bourjois lip products. Not being a huge fan of neon pinks and oranges, I went with the two darkest shades in the collection:  Red Island (05) and Plum Russian (06).

When I swatched these in store, the first thing I noticed was the colour; these guys are bursting with it. Bourjois were right to label them as colour 'boosting', they really do have quite a vibrant and radiant shine. I personally love the glossy finish as well, while it gives you the pigmentation of a lipstick, it still offers a certain amount of hydration. I found the '10h comfort and hydration' label very doubtful, and wasn't really surprised when it didn't even last a quarter of that time (I have very dry lips though). The gloss only lasts for a few hours on my lips before it needs a touch up, the tint remains for some time though, so sometimes I just apply lip balm on top. 

Even though they are about twice the size of a regular lipstick, I actually prefer carrying these around in my bag. Mainly because they're so much easier to find. They do take the effort of a lipstick though. I can't just whip these out of my purse and apply them without the guidance of a mirror, I'll end up with colour all over my face. It's easy to forget how pigmented these are because they melt into your lips like butter. Additionally, the formula is also waterproof and contains a sun protection factor of 15 which I think is great. Not enough lip products these days contain SPF in my opinion, and even our lips need protecting from the sun.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Review

Houglass Ambient Lighting Powder in 'Luminous Light'

Last Christmas I sold my soul life savings away for this gorgeous looking face powder. When I walked out of Mecca Maxima with this in hand and a gaping hole in my wallet I had a little internal meltdown. What have I done? Who spends $60 on a shimmery face powder? Well, I did, and so do a lot of other people, but for me it’s a rare occurrence. But as soon as I got home and unwrapped it all my regrets flew out the window.

I had been craving an Hourglass product for a while now. I love the look of their products, and this powder is no exception. The packaging is divine. The powder looks as soft as a pillow in its casing, and the product itself is quite smooth and picks up easily. The shimmer is very fine and, as the beautician at Mecca Maxima mentioned to me, it can be used all over the face for a natural glow. I've been treating this like a highlighter, so I've been concentrating this product over my cheekbones and t-zone, and I think it gives a really nice glow on top of my regular foundation.

Have you tried any hourglass products before? Have any on your wishlist?

Urban Decay Eyeshadows: Roach & Rockstar

Urban Decay Eyeshadows: Rockstar (left) & Roach (right)

I don't wear much eye shadow but after browsing various makeup blogs I felt inspired to start my own palette. I bought the Urban Decay Basics last year and was really impressed by their shadows, but I wanted to expand my colour palette beyond mattes and neutral browns, so I went for something I could use for special occasions. To start off my collection I went with Roach, a shimmery, golden brown and Rockstar a deep purple with hints of brown and gold in it. Both shadows are very pigmented, they have a huge colour payoff, and look even better with a primer underneath. They both have a velvety smooth texture that makes them very easy to blend as well. Unfortunately, I am a bit of a noob when it comes to applying eyeshadow, but you know what they say, practice makes perfect, and I will definitely be doing some serious practice with these. I can't wear matte browns all the time. Right?

I purchased these from Beauty Bay.com on sale for $22 AUD each. They are currently priced at $29 so if you're interested I would definitely recommend holding out until they have a sale. They also offer free shipping on all orders within Australia. Can't complain about that!

L'oreal's Butterfly Wing Mascara

L'Oreal False Lash Wings Mascara

After hearing Estee from Essie Button raving about this mascara I immediately added it to my wish list. This is just another case of 'the blogger made me do it.' It's a common problem in my life. I had no need for a new mascara but when I heard Priceline had an introductory offer on it for $18 my resolve crumbled.

I've always been impressed by L'Oreal Mascara's. I don't buy them often because they are expensive. They usually range from  $20-30 but sometimes you can get them for under $20 on sale (which is when I buy them).  The new butterfly wings mascara claims to add instant volume and length, giving a 'winged eye-look'. Here's a photo of the wand:

It definitely has an interesting shape. The top sides of the wand slant slightly, which helps catch those pesky small lashes that you always seem to miss. And then there are the arches at the bottom which help stretch out the outer corners. You can see this in the before and after shots:

Wow. Please excuse the post-assignment eyes.

I think this mascara really lives up to its claims. It's been a while since I've been excited about a mascara, and it's nice when you buy one that actually works. I've noticed a huge difference in the volume and length of my lashes when using this, and I love the curved winged look at the edges, it feels very classic and feminine.

Anyone else tried this mascara? What are your thoughts?

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers

From the left: #101 Celestial & #201 Solstice

So I might be a little late on this bandwagon, but in my defence it has taken a while for these to be released in Australia. When they were finally  released they didn't even have the shades I wanted (#foreveraustralian)! But I did end up purchasing these two: Solstice and Celestial. Solstice is a light purple shade and contains a hint of shimmer in it. Celestial, on the other hand, which is a lighter pink, has no shimmer. Solstice is my favourite out of the two, (why do I always deviate towards the darker shades?) I love the colour and the slight shimmer it gives.

The formulation itself is what you would expect from a lacquer. They will slip and slide all over the place if you're not careful, and need to be touched up frequently. However, they do pack in a lot of pigmentation, and have a beautiful high-shine finish. For me, it's the finish that nullifies the other drawbacks.

Have you tried the Apocalips? What are your thoughts on lip lacquers?

Rimmel Mono Blushes Review & Swatches

Rimmel Mono Blushes: Pink Rose (Left) Santa Rose (Right)

During my recent purchases from Asos I decided to pick up a couple of Rimmel blushes: Santa Rose and Pink Rose. I love the sleek look of the new packaging, and it’s a shame these aren't available yet where I live. We still have the archaic oval shaped ones that don't stand up properly in your drawer. I'm OCD so this is something I have nightmares about. Anyway, here are the swatches below:

Santa Rose is by far my favourite, it's a lovely soft coral that looks quite natural with my skin tone. Rose Pink on the other hand is a lot pinker (surprise!) and I tend to apply this with a very light hand so its not too overbearing. The formula blends out nicely, and the shimmer (which I usually detest but can't seem to get away from with drugstore blushes) has definitely been toned down and is unnoticeable to me. These are really affordable blushes, I purchased these off Asos for as little as $7, and with free shipping its a win-win. I definitely recommend checking these out if you're on a tight budget.

Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara Review

I bought this mascara months ago during my 'little' Priceline haul, and it's been my go-to mascara since. Simply, it's great for everyday use for these three reasons: a) it doesn't clump! b) it defines and c) it lengthens the lashes in a way that (almost) looks natural.

This is a more defining mascara than anything, it elongates the lashes with minimal clumping, and with the mix of short and long bristles, it's now easier for the wand to coat those pesky little lashes that hide between the longer ones, giving the illusion of more  lashes. I do experience minor flaking later in the day but that's usually because I have a tendency to rub my eyes, otherwise it's quite long lasting. I have quite fine lashes so my camera struggles picking them up, but check out the photo's below:

I bought mine on sale for $10 from Priceline so I definitely recommend waiting for the sales. It's usually priced at $17.95 otherwise. Overall, a great, affordable mascara!

Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick Review & Swatches

From the left: No. 14 'Pretty Prune, No. 04 'Rose Tweed', No. 03 'Peche Cosy'.

Apologies for being MIA these last few weeks. It has been absolute madness for me at uni with heavily weighted assessment piling up left and right. Thankfully, I have some free time on my hands now, so I thought I would report on a couple of lipsticks that I've been loving this month: Bourjois's new Rouge Edition lipsticks.

After a week of hard-core studying I thought I would reward myself with something. So naturally I went to Priceline, and picked up Rose Tweed on a whim while passing the Bourjois stand. It was actually one of the last colours they had (anyone else notice how the Bourjois section is always bare?). As soon as I got home and tried it out I realised I had to get more. So far, I have these three:

My dry lips love this lipstick because the formulation is very creamy and hydrating, it feels more like a lip balm than anything, and the colour payoff is fantastic. I also love the glossy finish it gives to your lips. Rose Tweed and Pretty Prune are by far my favourites of the three. Rose Tweed is the perfect everyday colour for me, it’s not too outgoing and looks quite natural, and I love wearing Pretty Prune, a very deep, bold, vampy red on a night out. And when spring comes around again I’m sure Peche Cosy will be my go to lipstick as well.

I also love how the colours are represented at the bottom. If every cosmetic company did this my make up drawer would be so much more organised. Sigh, if only...

These lipsticks are finally available nationwide in Australia at Priceline and retail at around $19. They’re currently $13 now with the clearance sale on!

Have you tried these lipsticks yet? What are your thoughts?

Bourjois Beauty'full Volume Mascara

Boujois Beauty'Full Volume Mascara

Lucky for me, Priceline were giving away some freebies when you spent over $20 on any Bourjois Product. So as well as a foundation I received some sunglasses (Really?) and a full sized Beauty-Full Volume Mascara (Yay! That's more like it). I've never tried a Bourois mascara before so I was pretty excited. Here are some before and after shots I took:

It gives volume, leaves hardly any clumps and does what it claims in delivering well held, silky, smooth lashes. The product has also been ophthalmologically tested on sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. I have quite sensitive eyes myself and haven’t experienced any irritation, so this is a huge plus for me. Overall, not a bad mascara at all. Anyone else tried this mascara or any others from Bourjois?

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick Review & Swatches

I may not be the biggest lipstick girl out there, but man, Rimmel's new Kate Moss collection of lipsticks are making me reconsider. They have a very nice creamy texture that’s easy to apply, with a rich colour that leaves a satin finish to your lips. Moisture wise, I can get this lipstick to last up to two hours on my lips, which are dry and flaky most of the time (this is why I don’t wear lipstick), so for me that's not so bad, but I've read it lasts up to four or five hours for accommodating lips. Here are the swatches for the two I bought below:

My personal favourite is no.19 at the moment. It's the perfect nude colour for me, and just simply enhances the natural colour of my lips. No. 22 on the other hand is a bit too bright for my liking, I would have preferred the deeper shade of red if it wasn't sold out at the time! Damn you Priceline sales!

Anyone else tried these lipsticks? What are your thoughts?

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Review

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Liquid Foundation

Summer is not the time to wear thick foundation. So I've put aside my beloved Bourjois healthy mix foundation and started using the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua for the first time.

This foundation gives a very light and luminous coverage. It wont cover acne spots particularly well, but it really brightens the skin and diminishes most discolourisation. The consistency looks quite thick when you first squeeze it onto your fingers but melts into your skin like water.  Longetivity wise, for me it lasts around 5 hours, more if I set it with some powder. It also has a sun protection factor of 15 which is always a nice bonus.

If you have quite problematic skin I probably wouldn't recommend this one. I only ever use this on 'good skin' days because I find it tends to accentuate the spots on my face, and unfortunately because of the high alcohol content, it can feel quite drying on cooler days.

It's pretty pricey for the amount of product (come on, this is Chanel we're talking about here), but has a very slim and sleek package design great for carrying around in your purse. I purchased mine from OzCosmetics for $57 AUD.

What do you guys think about this foundation? Do you think it's worth the high price tag?