w7: Cosmic Purple

Ah the frustration when you lose the label off something! I was nearly going to post this as an unnamed w7 polish but I was successful with my internet sleuthing and found what I think is the correct name for it:  Cosmic Purple.

Cosmic Purple is a good name for this polish actually as the mix of pink and purple glitter swimming in the purple jelly base polish does look kind of cosmic and 'spacey' to me.  I applied two coats over a purple cream base to add to the intensity and loved the result.  This is definitely my kind of winter weekend mani...

Sun

Shade

Indoors daylight

Thanks for looking as always!

Missha The Style Crystal Nail Polish: JBR01

I was digging around for something not purple (or red or blue...) to wear on my nails when I found an interesting little gem from Missha worth swatching.  JBR01 - Can I call this something more interesting like, say, Jackie Brown? -  is the name of today's featured polish from Korean brand Missha's The Style Crystal Nail Polish collection.

According to Missha's official website these polishes actually contain "...little crystal pearls [to] make your nails sparkle..." and are rose scented (I can't say that my nostrils noticed that!)  'Jackie Brown' is a milk chocolate shimmer polish, subtly glinting with holographic micro-glitter.  I applied two coats and omitted top coat so as not to diminish the holo effect however it still appeared on the subtle side in most light and unfortunately the sun wasn't around when I did my nails so...  I couldn't capture the full rainbow holo sparkle here.  Oh well *sigh*. 

All pictures taken in cloudy conditions:

That's it for Wednesday

Freebies and good deals (May 2013)

There's never an understated way to share the accumulation of things - in this case beauty booty - but that's what I did this month and am sharing now. Through a combination of good luck, an eye for a good deal (and my birthday thrown in) I've been spoiled and spoiled myself pretty well.  I've checked through my archives and I haven't done a bona fide haul post since February so I don't feel too obnoxious about it.

The freebies...

Red Earth Secret Potion Illuminating Skin Fluid (01 Pearl) - I won this via a Red Earth Twitter competition.  I haven't tried it yet but the Red Earth site markets this as a multi-purpose illuminator suitable for face and body and the pretty pearl shade looks promising.

Tom Ford Sahara Noir EDP sample - This complimentary sample was given out when my husband purchased my boxed set of Tom Ford nail polish.  It's an oriental-woody fragrance described as an "ode to incense".  Sahara Noir conjures up very vague recollections of YSL's oriental Opium for me but this has a much sharper, woodier note to it.  A friend spritzed this and remarked it smelt too cedary for her and she rather strongly disliked it.  I still haven't made up my mind about this one but I can see it will polarise opinions. 

MAC Matte Lipstick (Lady Danger) - This matte orange-red was My Back 2 MAC pick.  While I was ultimately happy with my choice it disappoints me that we can no longer pick from the entire lipstick range for Back 2 MAC in Australia.  I had to make my choice from a laminated card illustrating the best sellers (of which half the shades were sold out!)  In principle:  Grrrr! Snarl! @#%$!!

Tom Ford Lip Colour sample tube (Cherry Lush) - Another complimentary product my husband brought home from the TF counter.  I love my TF lipsticks and was overwhelmed by the chicness of this little sample tube.  I've been told Cherry Lush is a best-seller and after wearing it for the first time a few days ago (see my IG post here) I understand why.  I just love the clear, vibrant blue-based red.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - I attended a Benefit event a few weeks ago arranged by one of my Melbourne blogger friends Nalini aka The Made Up Maiden.  After viewing a brow shaping session (at the Benefit Brow Bar in Myer Melbourne) and a makeup demonstration using Benefit's newly released creaseless eyeshadow shades and their uber cute new Fine-one-one cheek and lip colour I walked away with a thousand lemmings. One of the lessons learned was They're Real mascara is Benefit's number 1 selling product and now I've received a complimentary tube to find out why for myself.

The good deals...

Real Techniques Core Collection - I put $26 worth of Priceline gift vouchers towards this brush set so I ended up $19 out of pocket - to put it into perspective these retail for a whopping $44.99 in Australia.  My sole interest is the much raved about buffing brush and even if that is the only brush I end up using I'll still be happy for the price.

The Body Shop Body Butter duo (Macadamia) - I thought these duo tubs were a good concept with their dual body lotion/rich body cream combos but they're being discontinued! At 50% off I grabbed a tub for my winter-parched skin.  

Revlon CustomEyes Shadow & Liner palette (Smoky Sexy) - Obviously a discontinued colour combination but I bought this wintry cool palette on a self-indulgent whim as part of a 2 for $10 deal together with the...

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Trio Eyeshadow palette (740 Fever) - I admit I wasn't impressed with a previous palette I bought from Rimmel's Glam'Eyes line but I was sucked in by the pretty lilac-pinks (and the price).  Could be nice for spring I hope??

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (Blackberry 640) - I grabbed this gorgeous - but discontinued - cream burgundy shade for $7AUD.  I don't understand why it's been discontinued???  This is THE perfect winter lip shade and apparently a dupe for MAC's Dubonnet.  I'll view this as Revlon's loss but my gain.

I didn't have time to swatch for this post but here are the eye and lip colours viewed a little more closely:

L-R:

Rimmel - 740 Fever, Revlon - Smoky Sexy

Top - Bottom:

Revlon - Blackberry 640, MAC - Lady Danger, Tom Ford - Cherry Lush

If there's anything you want to see reviewed please let me know!

Until next time...

China Glaze: Scarlet

Sometimes you just crave the classics, like a good old fashioned glossy red manicure.

Suddenly hit by a craving for red I sought out a true red cream polish and China Glaze's Scarlet was just the thing for it.  It's such a clear and bright slightly orange red. I just love how a colour like this really smacks the cold autumn/winter days in the face and it makes a classic statement too. China Glaze cream polishes always have that extra glossy, lacquer finish and the application was as smooth as glass in two coats.

Outdoors - partial sun

Indoors

How do you brighten up cold days?

OPI: Casino Royale

I've really been getting into the OPI Skyfall shades of late because I think they're the epitome of autumn.

The rather classy Casino Royale was a bit of a sleeper shade for me and I initially overlooked it as I was typically distracted by all the other complex shimmers and metallics in the Skyfall collection.  Of course, once I saw Casino Royale gracing someone else's hands I saw the understated beauty of this deep, glossy polish and finally decided I had to have it.  This polish didn't disappoint either once I applied it - two coats and it really is a "magnificant maroon" on the nails as the OPI site describes it, rather like a deep wine.  I do genuinely love this colour even if it got lost in the crowd at the beginning...

All pictures were taken in cloudy daylight conditions:

That's it for now.

The Body Shop: Flavoured lip gloss tubes

I was lucky enough to win five pretty lip glosses from The Body Shop's new flavoured lip gloss range after participating in an Instagram 'Lippyaday' challenge hosted by the lovely Norlin of Melbourne style and beauty blog Baubles, Bubbles & Bags!  

After being terrified of showing my face on social media, this selfie challenge made me conquer my fears as I had to get out there and post a picture of myself wearing a different lip colour every day (or nearly every day).  Well, I'm still self-conscious but I'm still doing it because I've reasoned it's worth the "pain" to show you guys how something actually looks on my lips and against my pale complexion - winning the glosses was a wonderfully unexpected reward for taking that metaphorical plunge! Anyhow, enough of the social media therapy session.  This is not why we're here is it!

Time for some thoughts and swatches.  At first impressions these tubes remind me quite a bit of a glossy lip balm range European brand Essence included in their lineup a year or so ago.  The packaging and concept are quite similar as the tubes are tinted, fruity 'flavoured' glosses (I suppose the other obvious comparison would be with Lancome's iconic Juicy Tubes although I've surprisingly little experience with those).  That's where the comparison with the Essence glosses ends.  I found The Body Shop glosses to be surprisingly thick as you'll see in the swatches later in this post.  However they're not watery at all so they hold within the lip line very well, even when worn alone.  Thick yes, but tacky no, and they feel lovely and buttery on the lips giving a high shine, wet look to the lips.  Wear time was average so these do need regular reapplication and most of the colours I received were quite sheer worn alone but they work beautifully for layering over lip pencil or lipstick.  I've hit on a few combinations that I enjoyed and I'll share those with you as I go through the shades/flavours.

Left to Right:

Peach - This peach scented gloss has a slightly golden shimmer and is very sheer worn alone.  I layered this over Rimmel's caramel beige lipstick Undressed and it gave it a warm sheen with a very subtle shimmer.

Coconut - A pearly ivory shimmer with a rather delicious coconut scent, leaving virtually undetectable colour on my lips.  I preferred layering it over Wet n Wild's 666 Brandy Wine lip pencil for a cool nude look.  As a matter of fact I enjoyed this combination so much I wore it three days straight!

Watermelon - Watermelon scent and watermelon pink as the name says, with a barely detectable sparkle.  I wore this alone for a tiny hint of flush on my lips.  

Strawberry - A slightly warmer, more red tone than Watermelon, sans shimmer or sparkle. I thought this smelt more cherry than strawberry!  Another good shade to wear as a standalone sheer glossy tint.

Plum - The most pigmented shade in my collection and a little old fashioned too with its icy finish.  Again, this scent fooled my senses as I thought it was more grape than plum - but what does plum really smell like?  This cool, almost frosty blue-toned pink reminds me of the lip colours I favoured in my twenties.  I still think it has its place in my lip wardrobe though.

Swatched in same order as above:

What are your thoughts on flavoured lip gloss tubes?

Bloom: Claudia

Happy Sunday - the sun has actually been shining around here today too!

I went stash diving a few weeks ago for an autumn-appropriate pink and Claudia from Australian beauty brand Bloom is what I came up with.  The Bloom website describes this as "a carmine" and I see it as a deep pink cream with just a kiss of coral to give it some warmth.  It's bright but not in your face so it's a good everyday pink and work appropriate.  The standard two coats was enough to provide good coverage and as per usual I topped it with fast drying top coat for added shine and durability.  I have a few Bloom polishes floating around in my collection and I think I need to show them some more love really.  Anyway, onto the pictures of this Bloom polish that I am showing my love for...

Sun

Indirect daylight indoors

Have you tried Bloom's nail polish or cosmetics?

Until next time