Combined Makeup Haul

There's been lots of skincare talk on the blog lately so I thought I would share same of the newest makeup bits I've added to my collection and who doesn't love a good haul! I've also been able to test out most of these products so I have given some mini reviews as well :)

I wanted to first talk about all the goodies I've recently picked up from NYX which is now being stocked in Priceline! The NYX Priceline displays have taken over Max Factor and Face of Australia I believe and are much bigger than the current displays in Target. Priceline also have a wider range of NYX products including a few exclusives. 

I was really excited to find the Liquid Suede Lipsticks stocked in Priceline and picked up the shade 'Cherry Skies' a beautiful deep red shade. I really like how comfortable these liquid lipsticks are and you can reapply/layer them without the formula going crumbly and gross. The formula wears really well too, but will definitely come off in the centre of the lips after eating. I would also recommend a lip liner or primer as it tends to bleed. The real downside however is how large the applicator is and with a dark red shade its pretty much impossible to apply without making a mess. I also noticed the Lip Lingerie Lipsticks have the same applicator, so be prepared to need a lip brush!

Probably my favourite purchase from NYX was the Roll On Shimmers in the shades 'Salmon' and 'Almond'. I can't believe I haven't seen these before and they are only $8.95!! Haven't yet had a chance to play with these on the eyes yet but I'm really impressed with how they swatched, hopefully if they work well I would be keen to pick up lots more shades!

L-R: Roll On Shimmer in Salmon and Almond, Liquid Suede Lipstick in Cherry Skies.

Finally, I picked up the Micro Brow Pencil in the shade 'Ash Brown'. I was really impressed with this brow pencil! I've heard lots of people saying its a dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and to be honest, I prefer the NYX. The cool brown shade is perfect for me and the tiny tip of the pencil makes it really easy to fill in the brows to get a natural look. I would definitely recommend this brow pencil, there are eight different shades and is a great price point at $16.95.

Next, from Target I picked up the In theBalm of Your Hand palette from TheBalm. I was attracted to this palette because it has a collection of theBalm face and eye products (even a lipstick!) all in one palette. I haven't had a chance to play with this one yet but I'm really intrigued to try all these different products, especially the eyeshadows and of course the cult favourite Mary LouManizer. I wasn't able to find this palette online but I would check out your local Target stores if you're interested!

I made a sneaky trip to Sephora just to have a bit of a browse and came across the new IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara. I picked this one up because I saw one of my favourite Youtubers, Coffee Break with Dani wearing it and it looked incredible! I've been using it for the last couple of weeks and I do like it, especially for adding volume to my lashes, but I do prefer my Chantecaille Faux Cils which gives me the length I want as well as volume. It also cost me $38 from Sephora Australia (not currently online) which I think is a little expensive. If you're after a mascara from Sephora I would recommend the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes, which is around $10 cheaper and does pretty much the same thing. Also the packaging is just insanely large for a mascara!

Finally, because I have such wonderful friends who also happen to be well travelled, I was lucky enough to add a few makeup bits from Soap and Glory into my collection. Firstly, is the One Heck of a Blot Translucent Powder which I already love and was very happy that my lovely friend Madi was so kind to bring me another compact back from her travels just in time considering I've hit pan on my first powder! This is my favourite powder for touch ups because it's so matte and smooth. Next up is the Solar Powder Bronzer which I've had on my wish list for ages. I've been using this quite a bit and it it absolutely gorgeous! So natural with just the right amount of sheen. Shout out to Olly for searching 4 Boots stores to find this one for me!

What new beauty bits have you picked up recently that you've really loved?

xx Cat

Tried & Tested // Go-To Skincare

A couple of months ago I purchased a few items from Go-To, the skin care line founded by the incredible Zoe Foster Blake. I was tempted to buy a few things mainly because they recently launched a new product - Pinky Nudey Lips! - a hydrating, tinted lip balm. While I was placing an order I also decided to try Very Useful Face Cream as well as Exceptionoil. After giving all three products a really good test I'm sharing with you my thoughts.

First off, Go-To is an Australian company that is also cruelty free and doesn't contain use any mineral oils, parabens, synthetic colours or fragrances, sulfates or silicones which gets a huge tick from me! Great for your skin, all the fluffy animals and you're supporting an Aussie business - yay!

I was so excited to try Pinky Nudey Lips! and was hoping it would be a replacement for my favourite lip balm, Mecca Lip de Luscious, because having to dig lip balm out of a pot is not super easy on the go. Whilst I absolutely loved the slight pink tint, unfortunately the lip balm itself is not as nourishing as I had hoped. The texture is quite thin and feels super comfortable on the lips and does give hydration, just not lasting nourishment. I love the scent and the squeezy tube packaging and it has definitely become a staple in my on-the-go makeup bag. I just still need something a little extra as well, particularly during the colder months.

The second product I've been using from Go-To is their Very Useful Face Cream. I absolutely love this moisturiser for a few different reasons. Firstly, it has a shea butter base which is super hydrating, blends really well and also works fantastically underneath makeup. Secondly, the scent is divine (fig and natural rose) without being too overpowering for the face. Thirdly, I just feel like my skin looks great all day when I apply this in the morning and it keeps my skin looking bright and hydrated throughout the day rather than just for a little bit. I have super oily skin so I was worried this will be a little too heavy for me (and it might be in summer) but so far I've been absolutely loving it as my day time face cream. The only downside for me is the packaging. Whilst the squeezy tube is convenient I find the tube a little too tall and clumsy so its hard to store without falling over.

The last product I tried from Go-To is their Exceptionoil which is basically a multipurpose oil-based balm that you can use on your body, face and hair. I've been using it mainly on my body and oh my goodness this stuff is absolutely heavenly! The product is mainly coconut oil as well as being packed with heaps of other delicious and hydrating oils. The scent is Monoi Tiare which is gardenias (i'm pretty sure) but mostly smells like you're frolicking around a tropical island. In terms of effectiveness, it has been really beneficial on my parched, dry winter skin and is great after shaving. Because it is mainly coconut oil, it becomes hard in the tube due to the colder weather, but if you run it under warm water for around 30 seconds it will soften and be all ready to use. Again, I have similar feelings about the packaging to the Very Useful Face Cream - I just think they could to better.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed by the three products I tried from Go-To. Exactly as they claimed, the products are simple and effective. I can't say that the products drastically changed my skin, I didn't try enough of the range and my skin was (thankfully) already in pretty good shape. However, I would definitely recommend the range for anyone who wants a great, natural based range to maintain healthy skin. The whole range is at a fantastic price point too!

Have you used anything from the Go-To skincare range?

xx Cat