REVIEW: Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow

I'm sure you've heard plenty about this product in the beauty community but I will share why I adore this product.

I bought this product from Priceline for $11.95AUD in the shade Bad to the Bronze. It is one of 10 shades available in Australia. It is a lot cheaper than I expected because of how comparable it is to other long lasting eyeshadows from other brands such as Benefit and M.A.C. The product is packaged in a glass jar with a secure lid. This product is a great everyday neutral shade and when you're in a hurry.

It is highly pigmented. Ive tried two layers but that didn't work out for me as it seemed to create a scaley pattern on my eyelids. I've worn this eyeshadow for about 12 hours and it is just as vibrant as it was when I applied it in the morning. It does have some shimmers so be careful when applying with your fingers because if it ends up on your face, it won't budge. You can even use a flat shadder brush to apply the product. It can be easily blended out if you don't let it set.

Verdict: definitely worth having in your makeup collection especially if you're lazy or a busy person :)

REVIEW: Missha Oven Pop Blush

I bought this blush for $8.00AUD when I first started using makeup. It is in the shade No.4 Pink. It's a very bright matte pink and almost looks neon. It's satisfactorily pigmented and holds up pretty well throughout the day. 

I first started using this product with the Sigma F40 large angled contour brush and I found that it was hard to blend out because of the amount of blush on my cheeks. So I decided to change up my brush and I started using my Sigma F50 duo fibre brush which gave me a more natural look. 

Verdict: Just a standard blush and something I probably won't purchase next time.

REVIEW: Simple Soothing Facial Toner

I only buy toners that do not contain alcohol as an active ingredient because it is too harsh for skin. Every time I have tried an alcohol based toner, it stings my skin like crazy that I feel the need to wash off the toner, which defeats the purpose of a toner, and I break out. Allergy to alcohol?

 Simple is a UK brand that is known for their makeup removers (review coming up!). It can be found in Australia among all skin care stockists including Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, Big W, Woolies, Coles, Kmart and Target. I purchased the toner from Priceline because they were having a sale but they normally retail for $9.99AUD.

The toner claims to have pro-vitamin B5, chamomile, witch hazel, allantoin, and no perfume, no colour and dermatologically tested. There's no bothersome or strong scent. There's not much to say about a toner. 

I think this toner is standard and fulfills the purpose of a toner. My skin feels refreshed and it removes excess makeup and dirt I've collected during the day. It is definitely suitable for sensitive skin.

Verdict: standard toner, would purchase again but I will be trying out other brands.

REVIEW: Natio Brow Kit

The first brow product I bought was the Rimmel professional eyebrow pencil but I found it too harsh and there wasnt a shade that was suitable to fill in my brows. I then decided to use powder for my brows but I didn't want to buy a single shade of brown eyeshadow because I was afraid that it wouldn't be the right shade. I really wanted to buy the ELF brow kit because I heard good reviews about it and it was cheap but I wanted to venture into products that were a bit more accessible in Australia. That is exactly what I did.

I spotted the Natio brow kit in Priceline and had my eye on it for a while before my boyfriend bought it for me (hehe thanks baby). From the top of my head, he went to David Jones to purchase it because they were having a sale but the brow kit usually retails for $19.95AUD. This kit has two shades of brown (light/medium and medium/dark), a wax, tweezers, round grooming brush (spoolie) and a slanted brow brush. It also has a small mirror; everything you need all in one kit especially for beginners.

The shades aren't too similar so it's great for mixing your perfect shade. I've filled in my brows nearly everyday for the past 2 years and I still haven't hit pan so it's definitely worth every dollar. The wax is standard and I don't use it because I have sparse eyebrow hairs causing the hairs to stick together and extra work trying to fill in the gaps. Unfortunately it also collects dirt and dust very easily.

I don't care much for the tweezers because I prefer the slanted type. The spoolie is a great tool to brush through any harshness and lighten the powder. I used the slanted brush for a period of time before I started using the Sigma E65 angled brush which is wider and fits the width of my eyebrows perfectly. I no longer worry about accidentally creating straight harsh lines which are almost impossible to brush out.

I'm currently using the other end of the Rimmel eyebrow pencil to brush out my brows (only because I lost the spoolie) and then brushing through my brows with a clear eyebrow gel. It works wonders, creating full, natural looking brows.

 Verdict: I don't see many brow powders available in stores so I will definitely purchase another one, that's if I ever finish it!

REVIEW: Sleek iDivine Eyeshadow Palette

Normally you can only get your hands on Sleek products in the UK but I bought this off eBay for about $13AUD. The packaging definitely reflects the brand name.

'The Original' palette contains 12 buttery shades with a beautiful sheen, including a matte black. It also comes with a dual sponge applicator but I don't care for it because I find it rather difficult to work with. 

They are mineral based and highly pigmented with a light swatch. With a mix of bright and neutral colours, it's quite a versatile palette. The bottom 6 shades appear to have shimmers and a couple of the shades don't seem to be as smooth but some blending rids that tiny problem. The lasting power is brilliant, the shades are still as vibrant as they were at the beginning of the day even after a day of work or a night out.

Verdict: I would definitely order some of their other palettes and other products.

REVIEW: Face Of Australia Tinted Moisturiser

This was the first tinted moisturiser I bought at Priceline for $11.95AUD. The packaging is simple with a squeeze tube that can get a little messy with the build up of dried product around the rim. Yes it would be wasting product but it doesn't bug me because it's cheap.

The product has a light pleasant scent and the formula is rather thick. I have the shade light tint (lightest shade of three & for your reference I am an NC25) it has a yellow undertone even though it looks orangey. It has an spf of 30 which is the minimum for protecting our skin from premature ageing in Australia.

It provides sheer coverage so ideal for girls that don't have much to cover. Of course it doesn't cover my freckles but it does, not completely, even out some hyperpigmentation on my cheek. Yes it does promise a hydrated complexion as it has a dewy finish but that dries a bit after it has set. It should be suitable for all skin types. If you have oily skin, set it with a powder and if you have dry skin I suggest applying it with a damp sponge so you can skip moisturising. 

Not sure how well it will apply with a brush. Applying the product with your fingers is difficult as it creates little strings of the product? I'm not sure how to explain what I experienced but it was not attractive and it was hard to brush it all off my face. 

Verdict: I enjoy using this in winter for a hydrated complexion. I suggest giving it a go if you're on a budget and it's what you're looking for. Would I repurchase this? Probably not because I have my eyes on the Loreal BB cream.

REVIEW: Victoria's Secret Secret Craving Fragrance Mist

I had heard a lot about Victoria's Secret products on YouTube but had no idea how to get my hands on these until I recently flew interstate. For all I know, there is a Victoria Secret store inside Sydney and Melbourne Airport after you pass customs. I rushed to get a bottle before my flight but I think I picked out a good scent.

They come in 250ml bottles and retail for $14.95 (thank you boyfriend ^^). Secret craving is a mix of blackcurrant and vanilla absolute, self explanatory. It smells so sweet, but not overpowering, I literally want to eat it. It wears off easier than perfume does because it's only a body mist so I transfer it to another atomiser bottle and carry it out to reapply.

Verdict: Might give the body mist a pass next time and try something else.

REVIEW: Essie Nail Polish

Essie is by far, my favourite brand of nail polish because it's a thin formula and there are various shades of the spectrum. They retail in Australia for about 20 odd dollars so I suggest buying off eBay but be careful because some shades are not as opaque. 

The bottles I have collected so far are: Protein Base Coat, Too Too Hot, Van D'go, No Pre-nup (not opaque but makes a good pink for french tips) & French Affair (respectively).

The brush is small and thin which bothers a lot of people but I don't mind because there isn't a build up of nail polish. I personally don't like thick nail polish formulas such as China Glaze because it's harder to work with and takes longer to dry and I honestly don't have time. 
When I tried my first Essie nail polish, I was amazed by how fast it dried and how opaque one coat was. I am constantly using and washing my hands so any nail polish tends to chip easily but this brand always holds up well (inclusive of base and top coat). 

Verdict: I highly recommend Essie! & definitely looking into expanding my collection.

REVIEW: Avène Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

I personally really like the brand Avène in general: it's on the pricier side but it's great for people with sensitive skin. I received this in one of my subscription boxes but you can purchase it from strawberry.net for $20.50 (125mL).

This particular makeup remover removes all eye makeup, even waterproof! It's gentle because it is a gel like texture and contains their famous Avène Thermal Spring Water to soothe sensitive eye areas.

I just apply it onto a cotton pad and leave it on my eye for a couple of seconds and it works like magic. It stung my eyes a bit when I oversoaked the cotton pad. It's hard to control when it doesn't have a standard small opening that other eye makeup removers often have.

Verdict: I go through eye makeup removers like crazy and I'm not big on spending money (I'm Asian LOL) so I probably won't purchase it again but it was a delight to use nonetheless.

COMPARISON: MAC Fluidline Gel Eyeliner, Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner, Essence Gel Eyeliner

The well-known brand MAC has an amazing gel eyeliner in an intense black, Blacktrack. I heard wonderful reviews and purchased it from the MAC counter for $35AUD which is a reasonable price compared to other high-end makeup brands. It doesn't include a brush but any eyeliner brush of your preference will do because you'll probably use the brush to death before you finish the eyeliner. The product sits in a sturdy and air tight pot, prolonging the life of your eyeliner. The texture is extremely creamy and black. Once dried, and it doesn't take long, it doesn't budge all day besides the waterline because everything smudges in my waterline. Probably the only product I would purchase from MAC again since I'm not big on department store makeup.

Maybelline has a gel eyeliner (Blackest Black) that is very comparable to MAC's Fluidline however the packaging isn't as sleek and sturdy of course hence the product dries up a tad faster. The product retails for about $16AUD and it comes with a brush which good if that is your preference in brushes. It's not as creamy but stays put well if you don't have odd folds on your eyelids or oil eyelids, that is. I find that, at the end of the day, it has smudged and disappeared on the inner part of my eye.

My most recent gel eyeliner is from Essence (Midnight in Paris) which was recently introduced to Australia. It retails for $5.95AUD! Amazingly cheap for makeup in Australia and it's surprisingly a good product. It has the same packaging as the Maybelline gel eyeliner but it stays put and doesn't smudge as much. Essence also sells a standard but dense angled eyeliner brush which is definitely a bang for your buck at $3.95AUD.

Verdict: I think the Essence gel eyeliner is the closest and cheapest duplicate for MAC Blacktrack. 

REVIEW: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream

This was my first BB cream and I bought the smaller bottle off eBay (roughly $9 from the top of my head) to give it a try before committing to the large bottle, if I liked it, that is. 

It despised this because it made me look ghastly white. Every time I wore this out, my friends would comment on how white and dead I look today. This was probably because the BB cream has a grey undertone or it may have been the whooping spf of 42. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about protecting my skin from the sun's beaming rays. 

My shade is in #23 and to think they have a lighter shade (#22)! I believe they have added more shades now. If this product isn't working out for you like it isn't for me, you could probably wear this as a primer under your foundation, like many girls these days, to create a more bright complexion and for it's 'beneficial properties' (you would have to put that to the test yourself). 

If you have dry skin I would recommend having your face moisturised before popping this on because I found that it would accentuate the dry patches on my face and the lines under my eyes.

Verdict: I gave this away and would probably try another Asian BB cream such as Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream.