Glammed Up | Royal Blue & Silver Ball Makeup

Hey beauties!
A couple of weekends ago we went to a charity ball called The Ball Of Hope to raise money for mental health & Telethon which is an annual Western Australian fundraising organization that raises money for children with illness, so it was a good cause to get dressed up & help contribute towards that. In fact the Telethon child for this year is a girl from my home town so it felt even more meaningful. It was a fun night, we enjoyed a photo booth that they had where you dress up with props. But of course the fun part was getting ready.

You will see my dress in a moment, I was so excited to get and it got here with one week to spare so I was very thankful for that. With the makeup, of course I wanted it to be glamorous & I took the colour theme for my dress and hoped it wouldn't look too matchy-matchy.

Apologies for the pic heavy post!

 ~Products~

 Eyes: MAC Painterly paintpot (Primer), Maybelline CTT in Electric Blue (Base), MAC Nylon (inner corner, highlight) Inglot 428 (Metallic Blue), MAC Contrast (outer corner). For the crease I used a mixture of colours, although I was never happy with it, primarily I used Charming from the Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette & Urban Decay Tease. For blending I used Dainty from Pretty Rebel. I then did my eyeliner with the Tarte gel eyeliner and above that line, created the glitter liner firstly using Nyx Glitter liner in Disco & setting it with Nyx Silver glitter. Lastly I applied my mascara & the eyelashes I used are Ardell Demi Wispies.

Face: YSL Touche Eclat (center of face) + Nars Sheer Glow (all over),MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Light, Benefit Hoola bronzer, The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer highlighter, NARS Sex Appeal

Lips: Bourjois Levres Contour in #17 I think?, MAC Angel

I curled my hair with a Bed Head clampless curling wand all in the same direction and pulled to one side & pinned in place. I brushed out the curls with my fingers after hairspraying to give them a messy look.

 With my partner, friends & my BFF that I've known since pre-primary school :)

My dress is from www.myballdressau.com, it is so well made & I am absolutely in love with it, hopefully I can wear it somewhere else! I only got it a week before the ball but luckily it didn't need to be tailored because the asymmetrical hemline meant I wasn't tripping over it & it had a tie up back so the bust wasn't too big. If you are ordering a month before an event make sure you pay a little bit extra for a rush order!

My shoes are by "shoezy" from eBay and I loved how they looked with the dress. I went jewelery free because the sequins & shoes were so blingy, but I do wish I wore some 'dainty' bangles.

They also had a photo booth there, lots of fun!

Thanks for looking!
If you were to go to a ball, what would your style be?
xx

P.S I cannot log onto blogger from my phone, all I get is infinite page redirects which is the worst pain in the world. I normally post drafts from my phone so it makes it really hard. Can it be fixed?

3 Different Ways to Exfoliate

Hi Beauties!
Exfoliating is definitely an important part of your skin care routine, to aid in the removal of dead skin cells which reveals the gorgeous skin underneath, preventing a buildup which can make your skin look & feel dull & lifeless. This post isn't exactly about different groundbreaking ways to exfoliate but more about different formulations in the exfoliaters I am currently using. 

 I went without exfoliating over a period of time, except for a few aspirin masks here and there but all I needed to do was buy another one, but wasn't sure what.
Over the past few months I've found a few products that have been able to work in conjunction with each other, which may seem over the top but I make sure not to overdo it by letting my skin rest for a few days in between. I don't recommend it for everybody but I haven't had any bad reactions and my skin is always feeling soft & smooth.

 DMK Micro Peel, Biore Warming Anti-blackhead cream cleanser, Michael Todd Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant Scrub

DMK Micro Peel

 The DMK Micro Peel is the main exfoliant that I make sure to use weekly. This 'peel' (note- I do not have any extra peeling occur afterwards) works chemically unlike typical exfoliants which work mechanically. It has a thin, runny consistency & applies like a masque, which slightly tightens the skin so it's not going to run off the face. After 5 minutes I rinse it off with cold water & moisturize.
This is the most expensive skin care item I own at $68 but I can see it lasting a long time as I use it strictly once a week and I only need the size of a 50c coin.
-Can only get through a salon that sells DMK skin care. Learn more here

Biore Warming Anti-blackhead cream cleanser

This is actually a cleanser but it has similar properties to a scrub. I use this 2 nights a week if needed, usually when I notice a pimple starting to appear because it helps to bring it out so it can heal, or uneven texture around the forehead, nose & chin. I do actually notice a big difference with the presence of blackheads on my nose & chin & I like the warming feeling that it provides. It has a very thick & sticky texture with very small beads in it, which works pretty nicely as a very gentle, healing scrub.
-Can buy from Woolworths or anywhere that sells Biore products for around $12.

Michael Todd Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant Scrub

 This is a product that I'll also use just as an extra boost, and I make sure not to use it within 3 days of using the DMK Micro Peel. It is a creamier exfoliant that smells divine & glides really smoothly over my face without feeling too harsh & leaves it feeling smoother afterwards.
-$18 from the Michael Todd website

Comparing the different textures of each product

Remember to use products that are made for your skin type & to cleanse & moisturize as normal!
What is your favourite exfoliator?
xx

This is not a sponsored post, all products bought with my own money

My MAC Lipstick Collection

Hello dolls, sorry for the lack of posts/ comments!
Today I am bringing you my MAC lipstick collection. I've posted my lipstick collection (back then, anyway) sorted out by colours, so I do have some of these in there but I wanted to group my MAC ones all together and do a generalized review.

MAC has to be one of my favourite brands for lipsticks, because I can really notice the quality compared to cheaper brands. The biggest differences are the pigmentation, how they apply & how long wearing they are. I find some of the brighter/ deeper ones stain my lips so much that I still have a tinge on my lips when I wake up in the morning.

The packaging is quite simple with the usual black, bullet shaped tubes, but I like how the Viva Glam ones stand out with pink instead of silver on the inside. I also love the standard vanilla smell that all MAC lipsticks have.

MAC lipsticks have come in 9 finishes: Matte, Satin, Frost, Cremesheen, Cremesheen Pearl, Lustre, Amplified, Amplified Pearl, Glaze. Wow that's a lot more than what I thought there was until I looked it up. For a great in-depth description of each finish, this blog describes them better than what I could ever do.

Hue

A light nude pink, Hue is perfect for when you don't want a full on nude look.The glaze finish is the most natural out of them all, providing a subtle colour but also lasts the least amount of time, which is ok because it is easy to reapply.

Creme D' Nude

A nude peach colour in a very moisturizing & creamy formula which makes it only last around the 2 hour mark, but is also easy to reapply. It has a decent amount of coverage but is still fairly natural.
Myth

A pink-beige nude which I find way too creamy & have to smooth it out with my fingers after applying it from the tube, but it is perfect for a blanked out lip look. You can tell from the skin swatch how much comes off from a light application. Is anyone else's the same? From what I've read it is one of the more drying shades but it is not like that on me at all.

Angel

One of the most perfect pink nude lipsticks I own, I do not find this as frosty as what everyone else claims it to be. I can see why this is a cult classic!

Please Me

A matte muted pink lip colour which is more forgiving than some mattes which will dry out your lips completely & tug on application, which this does not. One of my favourite muted lip colours of all time!

Snob

A satiny-matte finish that is a cool toned lilac-pink, a bit less dramatic than Saint Germain, which makes it a wearable barbie-pink and is non-drying!

Crossswires

A gorgeous coral-orange that I thought never really tried when I received it from the lovely Amalia in a blog sale, but started wearing later and really appreciated the colour. It is perfect for spring & day time & has a lovely sheen thanks to the formula!

Viva GLam Nicki

The first MAC lipstick I had ever bought by myself, that i had to go back & buy as a gift for a friend because I loved it that much! This can pull off different colours on different people, on my friend it looks fuchsia somehow but on me, a vibrant, almost neon coral-pink. DAYMN! Such a nice formula, it applies nicely & lasts a long time.

Impassioned

The first MAC Lipstick I had ever lusted over, is finally no longer a lust! This beautiful amplified finish makes the warm watermelon pink colour stand out & makes it a long wearing, moisturizing lip colour.

Girl About Town

A fuchsia berry colour that I could assume would look awesome on any skin tone & colour. Another amplified finish that leaves your lips glossy & moisturized.

Candy Yum Yum

So glad I ended up buying this at the last minute! A gorgeous **bright** candy pink colour that will be sure to make you stand out. It is matte so it lasts for ages and is slightly drying but I find it very forgiving to wear.

Morange

A super bright, neon orange lip colour that applies exactly the same as Impassioned & is extremely pigmented with just one swipe. This is lovely to wear with minimal makeup or a brown smoky eye.

Ruby Woo

A classic blue-based red lipstick which has become a cult favourite, Ruby Woo is super matte which also means it is one of the most drying lipsticks I own and tugs on your lips when applying, but also lasts throughout pretty much anything & even when it wears off, your lips are so stained that you almost only need lipgloss to freshen it up.

Rebel

An almost impossible colour for me to wear, mainly because I find it way too creamy (just like Myth- I think I got both dud shades from a flash sale website!) I can't get this to apply evenly, so I have to stain it on. It looks a lot more scary in the tube but when applied is a deep plum-berry. I have no idea why it doesn't work on me because everybody else loves it!

 Edit: Just realized that I forgot to include the arm swatches!

L-R: Hue, Creme D' Nude, Myth, Angel, Snob, Please Me, Crosswires

L-R: Viva Glam Nicki, Morange, Candy Yum Yum, Impassioned, Girl About Town, Ruby Woo, Rebel

So that is my MAC Lipstick collection. I am very happy with it and think I have a nice selection of brights & nudes. My favourite colours, if I had to pick any, would be Angel, Please Me, Viva Glam Nicki, Impassioned, Morange & Ruby Woo, although I do love them all.

Let me know what your favourite MAC lipsticks are, or your favourite brand for lipsticks!
xx

Smashbox Master Class 2 | Review & Swatches

The first time I had ever walked into a Sephora was when I first eyed this beauty.. the Smashbox Master Class 2 palette. I wasn't sure about it but when I found out the value I knew I had to have it. Definitely something that would come in handy for traveling (next time!) & in a makeup kit.

 

The Smashbox Master Class Palette 2 offers a huge range of eyeshadows, cream eyeliners, blush & highlighters; a great set for a beginner who is not really sure how to put together colour combinations &so they also don't have to spend up on lots of different products. 

Packaging: Encased in a hard case that is very similar to a book with how it feels & how it opens up with eyeshadows on the left, cream eyeliner, blush & highlighters on the right. The magnet is strong enough to keep the palette from opening by itself in your makeup bag. The colours are named on the plastic sleeve that protects the products on each side from coming into contact when it is closed,
which can be tucked underneath out of the way when using the palette.

Pigmentation: Although the shimmery & darker eyeshadows are pigmented they do need a base as I find it doesn't take long for them to start fading & they need a bit of a kick to get started. The lighter matte shadows do take a few swipes to show up. Cream eyeliner applies a bit patchy but it just needs a couple of layers & should be set with similar coloured eyeshadow. The Blush & highlighters are extremely pigmented & show up on first swatch.

Texture: Matte eyeshadows can come off a bit chalky & but the shimmery ones apply really smoothly & everything is easy to blend. Cream eyeliners have a perfect consistency where they glide on really easily & make for great bases underneath shadows. Blush feels very similar to the eyeshadows & the highlighters have a very shimmery finish without chunky glitter.

 Swatches

 Column 1 'Head Shot': Linen, Golden Orchid, Chestnut

    2 'Heliograph': Nectar, Peacock, Mocha

           3 'Focal Point': Champagne, Flamingo, Java

       4 'Quick Take': Vanilla, Ambient, Serpent

 1 'Cover Shoot': Flirt, Dusk, Haze

2 'Hyperfocal': Mist, Rose, Obsidian

3 'Vignette': Parfait, Amethyst, Aubergine

4 'Aristotype': Opal, Anchor, Ultramarine

 Top (bottom of left side in palette): Bliss, Wheat, Sable, Blackout

Bottom (Top of right side): Bronze, Midnight Purple, Picasso,Caviar

 Top: Carnation, Flush, Geranium

Bottom: Rosy, Suntan, Warm Apricot

 Lens, Shimmer

Overall, my favourite thing in this palette would have to be the blush. It would be so much more easier to go traveling and not having to bring 4 different blushers with you! I also like how the eyeshadows are set out in groups of 3 for a lid, brow bone & crease colour & each group has their own name for the type of look they could present, and then they have the classic blending colours that can be added to any look.
Something I don't get is the peachy toned highlighter, it looks like you've applied your blush too high, but the skin toned one is perfect. Instead of that highlighter, the bronzer which is among the blushes would be perfect in that place because of all things probably needs to be a decent size.

I am pretty sure this palette is limited edition so I apologize for that but I'm sure if you do miss out, they will release another one in the future.
You can pick this up from Sephora (once again, sorry to those in the Southern Hemisphere) for $59 and it has a $275 value, which means you get 40 different products for $1.47 each! I've also seen it on eBay for $79 which is still decent but it will most likely go up, so it pays to shop around.

I'd recommend this palette if you feel the need for extra shades & for a convenient palette but honestly I think many are very dupable as well, or f you'd rather have everything in one palette then this would be perfect!

xx