NOTD: Rimmel I Love Fruities Lasting Finish in Apricot Punch

Even though we are still in winter here in Perth, I notice myself reaching for brighter polishes recently. Maybe because spring is almost here or perhaps I'm just looking to add colour to my dark winter wardrobe? Either way, I picked up this lovely coral polish when Rimmel had a sale at Priceline 2 weeks ago(check out the haul here). It is from their I Love Fruities line of the Lasting Finish nail enamels and all the colours look so delicious! 

The brush applies the polish evenly and nicely on my nails. It is my habit to apply two coats but I do think it is necessary with this polish because it did seem just a tad bit streaky with only one coat. With two coats, the finish was nice and definitely glossy enough to do without a top coat, as seen in the pictures below.

This particular polish smells amazing after drying! I had it close to my face while blowing it dry and happened to catch a sweet scent from my nails. I thought it was just so fascinating that they are scented but I am not sure if the I Love Fruities range is scented or just this shade. I'm definitely going to pick up some other shades because who doesn't love yummy-looking/smelling polishes?! Haha. Thanks for reading and hope you're having a great week so far! (:

Haul: 50% off Maybelline at Priceline!

Priceline's new catalogue came out last thursday and I was stoked when I saw the front page...(are you ready?)... HALF PRICE ON THE ENTIRE MAYBELLINE RANGE!! So of course I had to go and take a look, and by take a look I mean buy anything that catches my eye. (:

Lots of new products hitting our aussie shores lately, so there was definitely items I wanted to get with this sale. I do admit I got quite out of control but it was just too difficult to resist. Here's a look at what I picked up...

My Maybelline goodies!

First up, face products. New to Australia are the Dream Pure BB cream and the Super Stay 24H Waterproof powder. I'm loving my Garnier BB cream at the moment so I wasn't planning to get the new formulated BB cream for oily skin but there were some very good reviews on it I thought I might try it for myself and the fact that it has salicylic acid made me even more keen. I got the BB cream in Medium which was the darker of the two shades available. The waterproof powder was just intriguing to me and I wanted to see how long-lasting it really is, the shade I got is 030 Sand.

I also got the Dream Matte powder in 05 Beige as a backup because this powder really keeps me from oiling up. The last foundation purchase was kind of an impulse buy because I saw Shu An(@oonshuan) post a picture on instagram wearing the Dream Liquid Mousse foundation and she was saying how lovely it was. Since it is half price, I kind of caved and got it even though I have no need for another foundation. Colour selection for this line was pretty good, I think Sandy Beige is a close match for me.

Clockwise from top left: Dream Matte powder and Super Stay 24H powder (AU$9.47 each),
Dream Liquid Mousse foundation(AU$10.97), Dream Pure BB cream (AU$7.97).

Last two face products are my favourite concealers. Picked up the Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles treatment concealer in Light and the brightener which is more pinky-toned. I currently only use the skintone concealer in Medium but I'm paler now hence getting a lighter shade. I am definitely excited to try the brightener to see if if covers my dark undereye circles as well as the Benefit Erase Paste.

Left to right: Brightener and concealer in Light (AU$9.47 each).

On to the eyes, the first thing I had on my list to get was from the new Color Tattoo Metal range. Barely Branded and Electric Blue definitely caught my eye when this series came out not so long ago. Barely Branded was really difficult to get hold of, I had to go into three Priceline outlets before I finally saw the last one available but sadly, it was left on the shelve before it was swatched. oh well, that's another story. I also picked up Bad To The Bronze because it is a favourite of so many people.

Top: Bad To The Bronze, bottom left to right: Electric Blue and Barely Branded (AU$5.97 each).

Finger swatched by someone else. ):

I also got their gel liners in Brown and Eggplant because I read that these shades were pretty hard to find in Watsons Singapore. I have the one in black and it does perform well. Not to mentioned it hasn't dried up on me and I've had it for probably a year or longer now. The brown shade looks very pale in the pot but when applied to the lashline, it does darken and look really natural. Haven't tried the purple one yet but I can't wait.

Left to right: Eggplant and Brown (AU$8.47 each).

Last for the eyes, I got a Expert Wear eyeshadow quad in Designer Chocolates. I have always been looking at this quad whenever I am at any Maybelline stand because the colours are so beautiful and so perfect for the kind of everyday eye look I'd wear. 

Chic Naturals: Designer Chocolates (AU$7.47).

To round things up, I got two lipsticks from the Color Whisper line that is (also) new in Australia. The shades I picked up are Lust For Blush and Pink Possibilities. Again, Lush For Blush was out of stock everywhere I went. Luckily for me, I managed to find it in stock at the Priceline in Belmont. They also still had stock for the color tattoo in Barely Branded as well so definitely check that outlet if you're in Perth and have trouble finding any stock.

Left to right: Lust For Blush and Pink Possibilities (AU$7.47 each).

Side tracking a little, I also picked up the new Revlon Nearly Naked liquid foundation and powder because they were on offer for 2 for $30. My shade for the foundation is 160 Fresh Beige and I got the powder in 020 Light.

So that's all for my haul. The sale is currently on until the 26th August 2013 so definitely check out your local Priceline! And apologies for the lack of updates, the wifi card in my laptop appears to be damaged so I can't go online at home. Will try and fix it soon, meanwhile please be patient with my entries and I definitely hope to be posting more often! Cheers. (:

Review & Swatches: Chi Chi 5 Professional Looks On The Go

It took me a while but I'm finally here to review a new product by Chi Chi (which I've recently learnt is pronounced 'shee shee'). I was lucky enough to win this palette during their giveaway on instagram but from what I know, this palette is exclusive to Myer and retails for AU$39.95. 

I have previously talked about the palette and its packaging in my haul post(check it out here), so I shan't bore you with those details. Here is what the palette looks like on a whole. It comes with 5 separate eyeshadow+face looks and interchangable lip glosses. There is also a mini palette for you to take any one of the compacts with you on-the-go.

The lip glosses are very glossy and moisturizing. I do quite enjoy them because they are not too sticky and have a slight vanilla scent to them which I personally don't mind.

Lip glosses come with a doe-foot applicator.

Here is a closer look at each individual palette...

Everyday Basics

I like this palette at first glance because it does have a good range of colours that i would do an everyday basic look with. I usually just need a nudish/cream colour, a light brown/taupe and a dark brown when I need to get my makeup done pronto, so this palette has definitely got me covered in that aspect. The bronzer in this palette is probably my favourite because it is matte. The lip gloss is a simple nudish pink which also compliments the eye look from this palette by keeping things simple.

Top to bottom: Bronzer and lip gloss from Everyday Basics.

Sophisticated Smokeys

This is a palette that I might get the least use out of but nonetheless I think it's really well-thought out palette for creating a smokey eye. One great thing is that this palette comes with 2 blacks, a matte and one with multi-coloured microglitter. I would use the matte to darken the outer corners to create the smokey effect and use the glittery black along the lash line to give my eyeliner more dimension. The lighter shades are also very versatile with a basic champange and dusty pink to add as highlight or just to brighten the inner corners or the centre of the lid. The blush is a gorgeous rosy pink which will brighten up the face with the dark eyes and to end off, you will not go wrong with a bright lip to finish the look. The gloss looks redish pink in the tube but when applied, it appears a bright pink with silver microglitter.

Top to bottom: Bronzer and lip gloss from Sophisticated Smokeys.

Bronzed Beauties

The bronzes palette has every type of bronze/copper/metallic shade which is such a great range. I love that it has a true copper shade(top right) and a rose-gold shade (bottom right) because it is quite hard to come across such colours. The bronzer to compliment this look is a very shimmery copperish brown which will definitely give you a bronzed glow to the cheeks. The lip gloss is a shimmery coral shade that is perfect for the look.

Top to bottom: Bronzer and lip gloss from Bronzed Beauties.

Pretty Pastels

This has got to be my favourite palette out of the lot! I am loving pastels because they create such a feminine look. Although it will be hard for me to pull off some of the shades, I am thrilled that these colours are put together for this palette! However, the eyeshadows in this palette are the least pigmented of all, especially the purple, pink and green. They do look great with a white base underneath so the trouble of first putting a base is probably the only downside. The bronzer is a medium-tone brown with silver microglitter in the pan but acts more like a highlighter than bronzer when swatched. The lip gloss has a slight peachy pink tone which give more of a soft pink look on the lips.

Top to bottom: Bronzer and lip gloss from Pretty Pastels.

Fashion Brights

I personally like the colours in this palette because if I were to wear a bright colour on my eyes, it would be either green and purple. So if your idea of "brights" are electric blue, red/pinks or golds, this palette probably just looks like another smokey eye kit to you. Sad to say, the green in this palette is not very pigmented, which is a total shame because it is a absolutely gorgeous teal! I had to swatch a few layers for the colour to show up but it is definitely buildable as you can see. This palette definitely has the brightest face product, the blush it comes with is a hot barbie pink with slight silver shimmers. The lip gloss is also a light pinkish-nude shade with helps tie the whole look together.

Top to bottom: Bronzer and lip gloss from Fashion Brights.

My overall thoughts on the 5 Looks On The Go is that it is a really versatile palette that can create so many looks! The idea of making it travel-friendly is unique and is very convenient for short trips or even just to throw in the bag for touch-ups. The eyeshadow shades in this kit are beautiful although there are hits and misses with some in terms of quality but I do find there are a couple of unique eyeshadow colours from the various palettes.

I would recommend checking them out if you're a beginner in makeup because this kit also includes a variety of cheek and lip products to complete your whole look. This will also make a great gift for any makeup junkie. However, they are not a must-have in my books and I will try and wait for Chi Chi to go on sale if you are really keen on this palette. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful to have won this wonderful prize and will definitely get much use out of it! If I didn't win it, I would look out for a discount on Chi Chi before picking it up. Hope you enjoyed this review and have a great weekend! (:

Review: Australis Pretty Pastels 4-in-1 Kit

Australis came out with a limited edition palette a few months back and the theme was pastels. However, when I went to check out the palette, I was a kind of disappointed because... there was not a single pastel coloured product in the kit. If they had marketed it as a neutral everyday or travel palette, I would rave about this product. I guess the idea here is to have a palette that will compliment a pastel look, whether is it your lipstick or clothing/accessories. So although it isn't a colourful pastel palette, I have to say it's a pretty decent palette still and now that Australis is having $3 off their entire range at Priceline, I though it will be a good time to pick it up.

The Pretty Pastels kit normally retails for AU$9.95 exclusively at Priceline and I believe it is limited edition. Fortunately for me, my local Priceline still had a good amount and on offer, so I got mine at only AU$6.95. Definitely check different stores or even online because I have noticed the palette isn't available at some Pricelines.

The packaging comes in a black plastic palette with the brand name in metallic pink printing. I like that it is sleek and compact and also comes with a full size mirror.

Nice packaging, both the box and the actual palette.

What you get in this kit.

Huge mirror included, perfect for travel!

3 neutral eyeshadows, blush, bronzer and pressed powder included.

The names of each product isn't listed so it is not known if the eyeshadow or face products are from their permanent line. All the eyeshadows have silver microglitter in them and the bronzer is also shimmery. Only the blush and pressed powder is matte. The eyeshadows aren't out-of-this-world quality but they are do the job and have only the tiniest bit of fall out. The lighter eyeshadows are very similar to my skin tone so they're great for a simple look. The dark brown is quite pigmented, so I like that to use the taupe colour to blend it out.

Eyeshadows: shimmery champagne, shimmery taupe, shimmery dark brown.

The face products are surprising pigmented. The blush is a matte rosy pink colour and the bronzer a nice golden brown with shimmer. I wouldn't use the bronzer to contour but it does give a nice sunkissed glow if you're after that look. The pressed powder that comes in this kit is actually really nice, I want to say it might be the Fresh and Flawless pressed powder but who knows. I would say it suits light to medium skin tones so keep in mind if you're much darker.

Left to right: matte blush, shimmery bronzer, face powder.

Like I mentioned, I think this palette is great for a simple everyday look and it would be fantastic to take on travel. For under 10 bucks, it is definitely worth checking out but it's not a must-have. I won't deny I enjoy having it in my collection though. Hope this review helps and have a beautiful week ahead! (:

Haul: Priceline

Priceline has some good deals going this week so this was the perfect time to get some things which I have been eyeing. Firstly, Australis is having $3 off their entire range so I finally caved and got the Pretty Pastels palette(for AU$6.95) which regularly retails for AU$9.95. Check out my review if you're interested.

Haul goodies from Australis and Rimmel.

Rimmel is currently offering a bonus gift when you spend $20 or more across their range. To reach my minimum spending, I bought the Apocalips lip lacquer in Celestial, which I've been wanting to try for a long while now, and a I Love Fruities Lasting Finish nail enamel in Apricot Punch. The free gift I chose included the Matte Finish lipstick by Kate in 113, Scandaleyes waterproof kohl eyeliner in Taupe, Scandaleyes waterproof mascara and a 60 Seconds nail polish in Euphoria. This set has more nudish colours than the other one.

Free gift valued at $47.80.

The other gift set also has four items but in different shades. It has a Lasting Finish matte lipstick by Kate Moss in 103, Scandaleyes waterproof kohl eyeliner in Silver, Scandaleyes Show Off mascara and a 60 Seconds nail polish in How Do You Lilac It. I was more keen on the set I chose because of the taupe eyeliner mostly. I don't mind either mascaras or nail polish but since I already have the lipstick in 103, I figured the neutral set is better for me.

And while I was at it, I also picked up the Essence Match2Cover! cream concealer for AU$4.25. It is one of their newer concealers and I was keen to try this but it isn't available in Singapore so I thought I'll get it here at Priceline.

2 shades of concealer for undereye and blemishes. (The right shade is pinkier than the left.)

Speaking of new, the Revlon Nearly Naked liquid foundation and pressed powder are just released at Priceline and they retail for AU$25.95 each. I do believe this is the permanent price which is surprising considering other Revlon foundations are over $30. And Revlon is having a 3 for 2 sale currently if any of you are interested. The current catalogue will run from today Thursday 1st August up to Monday 12th August.

New stand at my local Priceline.. featuring the Nearly Naked line!

Hope you are all having a good week and thanks for reading! (: