Barry M Vintage Violet and Cling Wrap Nail Art Mani!

Hi lovelies,

I recently picked up this gorgeous polish called Vintage Violet from Barry M, and it's completely captured my heart!

Vintage Violet is what I would call a smokey, blackened violet creme, and it's such uniquely gorgeous shade that would fit a lot of skintones.

Barry M Vintage Violet.

Keep reading after the jump!

TBX (The Beauty Exchange) - Magnetic Brushes Review!

Hi lovelies,

I was recently sent some magnetic brushes and accompanying accessories (the Clique rectangle brush holder and medium cosmetic bag) from new(ish) Australian brand The Beauty Exchange, also known as TBX, and the nerd in me was super excited to try these! Something about the idea of magnetic brushes just gets me excited, and I also love that they're an Aussie company.

The Beauty Exchange - TBX Magnetic Brushes 

First up, let's talk about the brushes. Each brush is sleek, slim and black, all of which rendered them immediate hits with me! The bases of each brush are flat, which enables you to easily attach them to any magnetic surface (but more on that later). I was generously gifted with the six brushes below, namely the fan highlighter brush, foundation brush, eyeshadow brush, foundation buffer brush, stippling brush and concealer brush.

The Beauty Exchange - TBX Magnetic Brushes 

Keep reading after the jump!

Shu Murakami - Shu Uemura x Takashi Murakami Limited Edition Collaboration Review + Swatches!

Hi lovelies,

Did you know that Shu Uemura have collaborated with renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for the cutest collaboration? This is actually the second time they've collaborated, the first time was back in 2013! This 2016 holiday collection focuses heavily on Takashi Murakami's 'Flower', which is meant to represent love, hope, peace and the wonder of poetry and magic in this world (aside from being intensely adorable, of course).

There are quite a number of things in the collection, of which I have three to show you in the photo below. I was kindly gifted with an eyeliner and a lipstick from the collection, and being the crazed Shu Uemura cleansing oil fan that I am (you can read my mini review on one of the Shu cleansing oils here), I also leaped at the chance to pick up a new cleansing oil in the limited edition packaging, so I dashed into the Shu Uemura counter at my nearest David Jones to snatch this off the shelf *ahem* buy the Anti/Oxi+ pollutant and dullness clarifying cleansing oil ($50).

Shu Murakami - Shu Uemura x Takashi Murakami Limited Edition Collection.

Isn't the collaboration just too gorgeous for words? Keep reading after the jump!

Halloween 2016 Makeup Look!

Hi lovelies,

As I mentioned in my Lush Halloween post yesterday, Halloween is one of my favourite times of year!

I wanted to do something simple this year, so here's what I came up with. I'm not very happy with it as I tried to use a glow-in-the-dark base underneath the makeup, and not only did it NOT glow, it also made it really hard for me to apply makeup on top, which is why some of it looks so blurry and smeary. The lighting was also pretty bad as I took it in the light of my vanity table after work, and natural lighting would have been much better! Never mind, more room for improvement next time!

 
Keep reading after the jump!

Lush Cosmetics Halloween 2016 Collection!

Hi lovelies!

Oh my, Halloween is almost here! It's one of my favourite times of year, though regretfully, I didn't have too much time to do much about it this year. I did still come up with something though, so check back tomorrow to see what I have up my sleeve!

In the meantime, I wanted to share a quick post on the adorable offerings from one of my favourite skincare shops, Lush Cosmetics! Now, they have a tonne of stuff in their Halloween collection, but I was kindly gifted with a few of the things pictured below.

Lush Cosmetics Halloween 2016 Collection 

Bath Bombs

They have a total of five bath bombs in the Halloween collection, which include the three pictured below. Monsters' Ball ($8.95) is a mash up of lime and neroli oil and smells so refreshing, Lord of Misrule ($7.95) smells spicy with its blend of patchouli and black pepper oil, and Sparkly Pumpkin ($8.95) is just a glittery gold treat.

Keep reading after the jump!

Clinique Pop Liquid Matte Lip Colour + Primer Review (and Swatches)!

Hi lovelies!

I've got a short and sweet review post today on some pretty Clinique lippies to share! The Clinique Pop Liquid Matte Lip Colour + Primer is one of the newer releases in the Pop lipstick line, and is Clinique's response to the latest matte liquid lipstick trend. Like the others in the Pop line, this is meant to have a built-in primer to keep your pout looking freshly applied. You can read my post on the original Lip Colour + Primer here.

Clinique Pop Liquid Matte Lip Colour + Primer 

The spiel on the Clinique website states:

"Lightweight liquid lipstick covers lips with lush pigment and a modern matte finish. Wears all day. Moisturizing formula with built-in primer provides a smooth, even glide so lips feel as fresh as they look."

First up, let's talk packaging.

The lipstick is packaged in a square tube with a frosted base that lets you easily identify which shade you're picking up. The lid is the classic silver lid that is true to most of the Pop line, and screws on tightly to prevent accidental leakage. The applicator, a teardrop-shaped sponge as seen in the photo below, is great for spreading colour over your lips, but a little unwieldy as compared to the precise application that a doe-foot applicator affords.

Keep reading after the jump!

Huge October Haul featuring ColourPop, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, Mecca and Sephora.

Hi lovelies,

I hope you've all been faring well of late. I've been loving the bright sunshine and warmer weather that's upon us now that it's spring! It's also a lot easier on this blogger now that daylight savings has kicked in, because I have a lot more time to take photos instead of having to cram everything in on the weekend!

October has been a rather heavy haul month for me. It started off with one or two things and then just snowballed from there. To be honest though, most of what I bought was either something I had really wanted for ages (I'm looking at you MAC and Charlotte Tilbury) and the rest I chose to stock up on since the opportunity presented itself (this is all you Sephora, ColourPop and Mecca)! Either way, a part of me is feeling quite guilty (I can't be the only one who feels guilt when I've 'treated myself' a bit too much, can I?) while the rest of me is exulting in all my pretty new beauty goodies! Let's take a look, shall we? Word of warning, this is going to be quite a large post so do bear with me!

First up, we have a single lipstick from the MAC Selena limited edition (two dangerous words if I ever heard them) collection. I first heard about this collection months ago and I'd been hanging out for it ever since! Selena was one of my favourite singers, 'Dreaming of You' was literally the first song I ever fell in love with and I also fell in love with J. Lo when I saw her play the part in the movie (also titled Selena). For those of you who don't know her, Selena was a Latin American singer, songwriter, actress and fashion designer who was tragically shot dead by an ex-employee at the age of 24. While 'Dreaming of You' was my favourite song, I picked up 'Como La Flor' instead, as I preferred the Amplified formula and the shade. This collection sold out within minutes of its release in the US, but strangely, is still very much available on the MAC Australia website, so it's not too late to grab something if you're keen. I also got a free sample of strobe cream which is always nice.

MAC Selena Como La Flor

Next, ColourPop, a brand you all know that I absolutely love...had a free shipping deal. Now, all their products are extremely affordable but international shipping is always a killer, so I couldn't not stock up! I bought two more highlighters, 7 shadows (including a collaboration quad) and five lip products (an Ultra Matte, two more Ultra Satins and two Metallics). Most were from the new Fall Collection. I'll review them in a separate post but here are photos of everything I picked up.

ColourPop Haul

The two highlighters are Might Be and Wisp, and I honestly love them both.

Keep reading after the jump!

NOTD: The dry brush manicure (with feature accent nail).

Hi lovelies!

Happy Friyay!

I wanted to share some quick and simple nail art I did recently using the dry brush technique. In case you're wondering what the dry brush technique is, you simply scrape off almost all the polish off your brush until it's almost dry, then stroke it across the nail! It actually feels quite therapeutic, and you can get different patterns by alternating brush stroke directions and also changing colours.

Before I get any further, I do apologise for the smudge of red polish on my ring finger cuticle bed...I was rushing to take photos and didn't notice it at the time!

The dry brush manicure.

I used three Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polishes in Dig Fig, Birthday Suit and Game of Chromes. I used Birthday Suit as my base polish on all my nails except my ring finger, where I used Dig Fig instead. I then simply used the dry brush technique to use the remaining two shades on each nail, alternating directions with each stroke. I wasn't overly impressed with the design when I first did it, but it was quite late so I left it to the next day, and by then, it had grown on me so I decided to keep it!

Keep reading after the jump!

ColourPop Ultra Satin Lips Review + Swatches!

Hi lovelies!

If you follow me on Instagram or if you know me in person, you'll know that I'm a huge fan of ColourPop cosmetics, and usually have one (if not more) of their products in my handbag at any given time. They have some of the most gorgeous products, at the best prices, with the cutest names. Based in the US, the products retail between $5-8 USD each...yes, they're THAT affordable! Sometimes low prices translate to low quality, but that's certainly not the case with ColourPop as all their products are totally bangin'! Wallet and fur-baby friendly (they don't test on animals), it's no wonder I'm totally addicted to them...which is why it's surprising that they haven't appeared on the blog before. Time to remedy that, I say, so let's start with one of my favourites, the Ultra Satin Lips.

ColourPop Ultra Satin Lips

The Ultra Satin Lips are a liquid lipstick that's relatively new to the ColourPop range, having only been released a few months ago. They are packaged in a slimline clear tube with a metallic cap and have the brand name and type (ColourPop Ultra Satin Lips) printed holographically on the tube. The tubes contain a doe-foot applicator which makes it really easy to get precise, clean application (because let's face it, no one's got the time to constantly have to apply concealer to clean up edges all the time).

Keep reading after the jump!

Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Luxe Lip Color Review and Swatches!

Hi lovelies,

Oh my, it's been a month since I last blogged! I do apologise, I caught a dreadful cold which took ages to recuperate from, and time simply got away from me!

Since I'm feeling better now, I wanted to share a post today on some beautiful, luxe lipsticks which landed on my desk a couple of weeks ago. The Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Colors certainly live up to the name, as they definitely have a luxurious look about them, don't you think?

Packaged in a sleek, metallic gold tube, you do get quite a little thrill every time you use this to paint your pout. I certainly do, anyway!

Here's what the brand has to say about the Luxe Lip Colors..

"Our boldest, most vibrant colour ever. This sumptuous formula dramatically boosts moisture levels while intensely rejuvenating lips, keeping them comfortable and conditioned—even after it’s removed. Now in 30 shades, with a sleek gold tube. It's luxury, redefined."

Keep reading after the jump!

Clarisonic Mia 2 Review!

Hi lovelies!

How have you all been keeping this cold winter? The cold snap has been making me want to make like a bear and hibernate! The awfully cold weather outside goes hand in hand with insanely hot heating inside, all of which is making my skin act up from being bounced about between either extreme. As a result, I've really had to up my skincare game...an effort made a lot easier thanks to this nifty little device - the Clarisonic Mia 2!

The Clarisonic Mia 2

A bit of background.

I've actually owned a Mia 2 for over three years now, which is why I'm amazed I've never blogged about it before. I think it's because I wanted to test it out for a good length of time before I blogged about it, but then I got distracted by other things! I also got a bit lazy about using mine regularly, thanks to continually forgetting to charge it (not that it's hard at all, I've just been really bad with planning ahead of late). I was recently invited to a Clarisonic event where we learned more about the device and its benefits, all of which resulted in me vowing to be more disciplined about using it daily. As you may have inferred from the name, the Mia 2 is actually an updated model of the original Mia 1; the Mia 2 has two speeds and a built-in timer, which is why I opted for it over the original Mia when I purchased mine years ago.

The Clarisonic Mia 2

How does it work?

The Mia 2 differs from other cleansing brushes in the market by utilising an oscillating sonic technology to deep clean the skin. The 'cradle-rocking' technology provides more than 300 movements per second to clean the skin more efficiently and gently, up to six times better than standard superficial cleansing. The technology is so gentle that it can be used on the surface of a raw egg yolk without breaking it. We were treated to a live demonstration where the Clarisonic was used on the surface of pantyhose without ripping it, while a competitor brush caused both rips and laddering. With six different brush heads available, you can easily change the brush head to the one that best suits your skin type.

The nifty travel case which protects your Mia 2 during travelling.

Keep reading after the jump!

NOTD - OPI Wooden Shoe Like To Know?

Hi lovelies!

I hope you're all keeping warm and dry! I'm rugged up in my PJs, a fluffy sunshine yellow bathrobe and with a cup of hot green tea by my side as I type this! But hey, at least I have pretty nails...which brings me to the topic of this post!

As you may or may not know, I am currently hosting an Instagram challenge over on my Instagram page, #7dayswithmm. I thought it would be a fun way to challenge myself (and whoever decided to join me), and also have a bit of fun along the way! Just to sweeten the pot a little, I'm also giving away a set of Maybelline lipsticks (the ones I wrote about here) and an amazeballs Clinique gift pack! It's not too late to join in if you're so inclined!

Anyhoo, the theme for Day 4 was nails, so here's what I came up with! I used OPI Wooden Shoe Like To Know for my base, OPI Liquid Sand in Honey Ryder for my middle finger, and an accent nail with dry marbling using Revlon Gold Coin and Orly Liquid Vinyl on my ring finger.

What do you think, lovelies? I'd love to hear your feedback!

Much love,
MM.
x

Maybelline New York Vivid Matte Liquid Lipsticks Review, Swatches and Giveaway!

Hi lovelies!

I hope you're all well and if you're in Australia, staying warm in this frigid weather we're having! If you're anywhere else in the world, I'm really jealous of you right now with your warm(er) weather! Anyhow, I wanted to share a new launch with you which is currently giving my lips a bit of sunshine these cold winter days...the new Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid* lipsticks. I first gave you a sneak peek of these lippies in this post, and since they were the product I was most excited for, I couldn't wait to share my thoughts with you!

Maybelline New York Vivid Matte Liquid Lipsticks.

The pitch from Maybelline reads:

"Drench your lips in double the pigments for the ultimate colour payoff with a comfortable, matte finish. Bolder and fiercer than ever before, the Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color has a luxurious matte finish that's never dry or flat."

Do I agree with this statement? Yes and no, but more on that later. First up, as always, let's talk packaging. These liquid lipsticks are packaged in a square, see-through tube with a screw top lid and doe-foot applicator. I quite like the packaging as it makes it easy to pick out the shade you're after, and there's also no chance of it accidentally coming apart in your bag. The doe-foot applicator also makes it really easy to get a perfect application in seconds.

Keep reading after the jump!

Stone Marble Manicure!

Hi lovelies,

It's been too long since I've shared some nail art with you...I've still been playing, I just never seem to be able to get a good photo before I take my mani off! Darn these winter hours with limited natural light.

There's only one thing I love more than rose gold, and it's marble. It often pops up in my photos (case in point below, and yes, a review of these will be forthcoming), and I thought it would make a beautiful accent manicure too.

It was a really easy mani to do. I began by painting my nails with the chosen base colours (Orly Mirror Mirror and Sally Hansen White On). Next, I used the cling foil technique with Orly Mirror Mirror (tutorial here, but please excuse the terrible photos, it was in my early days of blogging), to create a little texture over the white that also tied in with the rest of the mani. I then used a very fine tipped nail brush to 'draw' on the veining to emulate the striations in marble. Lastly, I applied a thick layer of top coat while the 'veining' was still wet, to smear the lines for a more realistic look. Overall, I'm pretty happy with my first attempt and I can't stop looking at my nails!

There you go, lovelies, my first attempt at a marble manicure! What do you think? I'd love to hear your feedback!

I also used a mattifying topcoat on my nails just after I wrote this post, and I quite like the effect! I'll try to take more photos and update this post, it's definitely a different look to wearing it glossy.

Much love,
MM.
x


PS- Linking up with Ingrid from Fabulous and Fun Life on her Blog Link Up Party, so do go check out all the other amazing posts from this week! 

Sneak Preview - Maybelline 2016 Second Half launches!

Hi lovelies,

Well, I kinda failed at the blogging twice a week thing. But you know what they say, try and try again!

I was lucky enough to be invited to the blogger event showcasing Maybelline's second half of the year launches late last week, so I couldn't wait to show you everything that is being brought out for the second half of 2016. Maybelline were kind enough to give us a really generous goodie bag with most of the collection, so a big thank you to them for that! I'll keep this as brief as possible as we have 13 products to get through, but if you want to see anything in particular reviewed, leave me a comment!

Here's everything from the new launches!

Maybelline new launches for the second half of 2016.

And in case you prefer a flatlay...

Maybelline new launches for the second half of 2016.

Keep reading after the jump!

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche La Vie En Rose (Exclusive Pinks) Collection Swatches & Review!

Hi lovelies,

I'm sorry for the radio silence here on the blog! I've been on a short term contract and there just hasn't been time for much outside of work. Winter also always wreaks havoc with my blogging, as I have to wait for the weekends to take my photos. I'm a little more active on Instagram, so hop on over there and show me some love, if you aren't already! Sneaky tip, there will be a little giveaway coming up very soon, but it will be Instagram-based, so be sure to follow me so as not to miss out! Let me know who you are so I can be sure to follow back!

Anyway, I have missed blogging so I resolve to try and get a post out at least twice a week. Thank you for staying with me and continuing to read my posts. ♥

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche La Vie En Rose Exclusive Pinks Collection.

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche La Vie En Rose Exclusive Pinks Collection.

There's no better way to celebrate being back after a month long absence than to share a post on a beautiful collection of lipsticks that arrived at my door a week or so ago. Bear with me, this will be a very photo-heavy post, because I couldn't help but take heaps of photos of this gorgeous collection!

Keep reading after the jump!

Dermalogica Redness Relief Primer (with SPF15) Review!

Hi lovelies!

I've never tried a Dermalogica primer before, which is why I was quite curious when the new Dermalogica Redness Relief Primer with SPF15 landed on my desk. I don't have a lot of redness in my skin but I do like a product that can help even my skintone, so I was curious to see if this helped in any way. It's always a bonus when there's a bonus sunscreen factor included, as it's one product I can skip if I'm in a rush!

Dermalogica Redness Relief Primer with SPF15.

Dermalogica Redness Relief Primer with SPF15

Keep reading after the jump!

Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Replenishing Pearl (Serum) Review!

Hi lovelies,

I have an interesting new product to share with you today, which I was sent as an Expert Panel trial. The Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Replenishing Pearl is a rather unique serum which caught my attention immediately. It consists of pale yellow, concentrated Q10 pearls suspended in a clear gel made of Hyaluronic Acid and Creatine.

Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Replenishing Pearl (Serum).

Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Replenishing Pearl (Serum).

Keep reading after the jump!

In case you're wondering, our skin naturally contains the Q10 Coenzyme, which helps drive energy production and protects from free radicals. This enzyme is responsible for fulfilling vital functions like skin repair, protection, regeneration and renewal. Unfortunately, levels of this Coenzyme decrease with age, which is why skin begins to be prone to fine lines and wrinkles. The Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Replenishing Pearls aim at replenishing the skin's Q10 levels. Hyaluronic Acid also occurs naturally in skin, and is known to increase the cells capacity to bind water, holding up to 1000 times its weight in moisture. Creatine is also an energy booster in skin, released where necessary to aid in cell functions. Encasing the Q10 pearls in this gel allows the product to deliver the highest concentration within the Nivea range.

It works in quite an interesting way; the pearls break in the head of the dispenser head to combine with the hydrogel each time the pump is depressed. The resulting mixture is pale yellow, and has quite a whipped, fluffy texture, as shown in the photo below. It applies really beautifully, sinking quickly into the skin without leaving any greasy residue. This is quite an interesting texture for a skin serum. I like to use this by applying 1/1-2 pumps of this after cleansing, and letting my skin settle for a minute before following with a healthy dollop of moisturiser.

I've been using this twice daily for a week now, but I believe it takes two weeks to see a real difference. Unfortunately, we were only given a week to try this, so stay tuned, I'll pop back to update this post in about 3 weeks (because I like to trial skincare for at least a month). I will say that while I don't really notice a huge difference in fine lines, I do think that my makeup sits a bit better since my skin is more hydrated, and my skin also looks a bit less tired after a long day with regular use of this serum.

Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Replenishing Pearl (Serum).

In case anyone is wondering about the scent of this, it has a faint, flowery scent which is a tad powdery. I find it pleasant but it's something worth mentioning. Overall, I quite like this and I'm excited to keep using this and seeing if it makes a difference!

This product is available in all standard Nivea stockists and retails for $29.99, which I think is quite reasonable for 40 ml. What do you think of this, lovelies? Are you keen to give it a go?

Much love,
MM.
x


Note: This product was kindly provided for editorial consideration. This has not affected my opinion in any way. For more information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

M.A.C Zac Posen Collection (Eye Z You Palette, Lipsticks and Fluidline Pen) Review + Swatches!

Hi lovelies,

I do apologise for the delay in writing this post; it was meant to come out two weeks ago but I unfortunately caught quite a bad cold, so everything took a bit of a backseat while I took up residence on the couch and tried to recover. Luckily there's plenty of stock left online and in stores, so you can still pick up anything you see here if it takes your fancy!

The M.A.C Zac Posen collection is one that caught my attention immediately, simply because I love the fashion that designer Zac Posen comes up with. The cover image that accompanies this collection is stunning, with an elegant, classy feel given a modern twist with a bright pop of colour on the lips. When you combine fashion from one of my favourite designers and the words 'limited edition'...let's just say it's no surprise that this one reeled me in, hook, line and sinker. Throw in some burnt orange and bright pink lipsticks, a sleek pen liner and a beautiful eyeshadow palette with plenty of pinky purples, and I was jumping for joy when these landed on my desk. Let's take a look at some of the items in this collection, shall we?

M.A.C Zac Posen Collection.

The packaging is simple, sleek yet elegant, with the name emblazoned in gold on a matte, dark greenish grey background. The lipsticks and eyeshadow palette have sharp, square lines, which lend quite a classic feel (and made this beauty blogger's day, as it was so much easier to photograph). The products also have a bit of weight to it, which gives it a luxe feel.

I was kindly sent the Eye Z You Palette, lipstick in Darling Clementine (burnt orange) and fluidline pen, and also purchased the lipstick in Dangerously Red (bright berry red) because I couldn't resist it! In addition to these, the collection also has a Zoom Lash mascara, sheer nude lipstick in a lustre finish called Sheer Madness, Prep and Prime Powder, Haute Contour kit and two makeup brushes.

Both Darling Clementine and Dangerously Red are mattes, which I think will look lovely when topped with Sheer Madness for a little extra moisture.

Keep reading after the jump!

Easter Treats!

Hi lovelies!

I hope you're having an amazing Easter long weekend so far! Now, I'm a big chocolate lover, but I've been noticing an abundance of chocolate everywhere, so I thought it might be fun to come up with a post that outlines some non-edible chocolate related treats...just in case you're a little tired of chocolate (or just want to cut down on the calories), but still want to treat yourself to something along those lines!

Un-edible Easter Chocolate Treats!

1) Try a scented soy candle like Chocolate Cookies from Buddha Bum Soy Candles to help you feel some Easter vibes, and it will make your home smell beautiful, too. Soy candles burn cleaner than other waxes as they don't have as many nasties in them, which means they're less likely to trigger allergies. Soy wax burns at a lower temperature, too, which means that a soy candle will last longer than a paraffin candle, bonus!

2) Indulge in a chocolate infused eyeshadow palette like the Chocolate Bar palettes (either the original or the Semi-Sweet, pictured above, or the new Bon Bons palette) from Too Faced Cosmetics, or any of the chocolate themed palettes (there are five in total!) from Makeup Revolution (the white one above is I ♥ Makeup Naked Chocolate)! They smell beautiful and they'll make you feel gorgeous when you look in the mirror!

3) Try a chocolate coloured polish, the one pictured in the photo above is Wooden Shoe Like To Know by OPI, and it's gorgeous! I feel like I've dipped my nails in milk chocolate every time I wear this.

4) The one food item on my list; it isn't technically edible in itself so I figured it passed...a chocolate infused tea! I'm obsessed with Lamington from T2 teas, but there are stacks of other delicious sounding teas, including a curated box containing several different types of chocolate teas called T2 Choc Selfies!

5) A signature fashion item like a pair of shoes or a bag in chocolate tones will also help you fit right in. Pictured above is my little tote bag from Colette Hayman.

There you have it, lovelies, some cute little ideas that will help you celebrate Easter in a slightly out-of-the-box way!

Now, how will you be celebrating Easter? Are you a big chocolate fan?

Much love,
MM.
x

Salon Melbourne 2016 Haul!

Hi lovelies,

I'm a little late with this post, which is all about what I picked up at Salon Melbourne a couple of weekends ago! If you're wondering what Salon Melbourne is, it's basically an industry event for professionals like hairdressers, makeup artists etc, but luckily, bloggers are also allowed in. I've already reviewed the event the last couple of times I went (wayyy back in 2012 and 2013, which you can read here and here). It hasn't changed overly much in the years so I won't review it again, but will just jump straight to what I purchased, though of course, some of the brands that were exhibiting have changed.

Salon Melbourne 2016
(image courtesy of Salon Melbourne)

I was a lot more restrained with my purchases this year, so here's what I ended up getting.

Haul from Salon Melbourne 2016.

I picked up 5 brushes from Crown Brushes, to fill gaps in my brush collection. Pictured from left to right, as detailed in the photo below, these are:

Fan brush SS023 ($19) - I'd been wanting a dense, fluffy fan brush for applying highlighter, and this was the softest out of all the choices that the Crown Brush stand had. I've already used this and I'm loving the result I get from this!
Dense powder brush 443 ($35) - This was the most expensive brush I picked up. This is a little like a kabuki, but it's a lot denser than all the brushes I own. I wanted something to really buff powder into the skin after the application of liquid foundation, so I can't wait to give this a good try. I've just washed this and there was a fair bit of dye leaking from it, but this should hopefully peter off after the first wash.
Contour brush C473 ($20) - I own a Zoeva contour brush but wanted something that had a bit more bulk to it. I've also just washed this but have yet to try it out properly. There was no dye leaking out which is good!
Eye smudger SS028 ($7) - The eye smudger brush caught my eye immediately! I've got one from Sigma which I love, but I wanted a dupe as a backup. I've washed this but have yet to use it.
Spoolie brushes x 2 C115 ($3 each) - I had to bin my last spoolie, so I really needed a soft spoolie to help brush product through my brows. Both of these felt quite soft, and as they were $3 each, I figured it didn't hurt to pick up two different ones!

Let me know in the comments if you want to see reviews once I've tried them all.

Keep reading after the jump!

Sukin Hydrating Facial Masque (Mango and Avocado) Review!

Hi lovelies,

I have another quick review today as part of the Beauty Directory Expert Panel...the soon-to-be released Sukin Hydrating Facial Masque (Mango and Avocado)! That's a bit of a mouthful, phew!

Sukin Hydrating Facial Masque

This hydrating mask sounded quite interesting as I love anything with mango in it. There are also quite a few other lovely ingredients in it, with the main ones listed below:

Mango extract - source of antioxidants such as Vitamins A, B and C, phenolic acids and caratenoids to help protect the skin against skin damage, boost the immune system and be astringent to prevent acne.

Mango butter - softens the skin with its rich content of C18 fatty acids and triglycerides.

Olive oil - moisturising and softening properties due to the high concentration of fatty acids. It's nutritious for the skin, absorbs and penetrates easily and reduces the appearance of scars.

Papaya extract - loaded with vitamins A, B and C, and nutrients like magnesium and potassium to nourish the skin. Papain, an extract within papaya, also possesses anti inflammatory properties to help reduce redness and puffiness.

Pineapple extract - contains Vitamin B to improve the skin barrier function and reduce redness and irritation.

Avocado oil - moisturising and nourishing, it's a rich emollient with superior skin penetration and valuable vitamins, proteins and fatty acids.

Jojoba oil - similar to avocado oil, it is a very moisturising emollient which helps restore the skin's regular pH levels and is excellent at soothing inflamed skin.

Keep reading after the jump!

V-Day Nails 2016!

Happy V-Day, lovelies!

How did/ are you going to celebrate?

I decided to celebrate by doing some themed nails! Here's what I came up with. I used Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Pink Tank for my base, then stamped on top with Konad black, before adding a few gold studs as a finishing touch!

There you go, lovelies! My simple Valentine's Day nails. I'd love to know what you think, and let me know if you've done any V-day looks/nails, I'd love to see! 

Much love,

MM.

x

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Mattes Review & Swatches!

Hi lovelies!

How's your week off to so far?

I must say that mine has been going quite well, because I've been busy playing road-testing all the new release lippies that Maybelline launched this month! You can read my review of the Color Blur Matte Pencils here, if you missed it earlier. As much as I loved those pencils, I have to say that the new Color Sensational Creamy Mattes had my heart beating just that tiny bit faster!

I have a love-hate relationship with matte lipsticks, because as much as I love the way they look on the lips and how long-lasting most mattes are, I hate how dry they can feel. As a result, I couldn't wait to see if these really lived up to the 'creamy' promise! Let's take a look, shall we?

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte lipsticks.

I received three of the lipsticks in my little care package, but I believe there's a total of eight shades that will be available here. The colours I got were:

655 Daringly Nude - soft brown nude
670 Ravishing Rose - blue based pink
680 Mesmerizing Magenta - bright berry pink

Keep reading after the jump!