High-End Concealer Battle // Worth the Splurge?

Considering I'm a massive makeup collector/hoarder its unsurprising that my concealer collection has grown *slightly* out of control. However, I have been enjoying rotating these different concealers depending on what look I'm going for. I wanted to start by saying I enjoy using all of these, however, some stand out more than others. I've also included the shade I use for reference. I would describe my skin tone as fair, with neutral to warm undertones.

// Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer

Pros:

• Medium-full coverage
• Lightweight, thin formula
• Easy to blend
• Long-wearing
• Limited creasing under the eyes
• Sets to a matte, velvety finish, so you don't need to set with a power
• This concealer has the perfect sized applicator that dispenses just the right amount of product - magic!

Cons: 

• Can be a little more drying, particularly if you have drier skin.
• Will need to layer the product to get a fuller coverage.

My shade: Fair Neutral (Light Warm is similar but more yellow)

// Too Faced Born This Way Concealer

Probably my least favourite (sorry Too Faced!)

Pros:

• Light, thin formula
• Easy to blend
• Hydrating
• Great for a more natural look

Cons:

• Coverage is quite natural, so doesn't work very well on dark circles
• Formula is too thin and hydrating to cover blemishes
• The packaging can get quite messy with product spilling out the top
• Not very long-lasting and prone to creasing under the eyes

My shade: Very Fair - This shade is quite similar to my skin tone, so not great for highlighting. If you are fairer than me you might have trouble finding a shade.

// Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Apparently one of these is sold every 26 seconds!

Pros:

• Very high coverage
• Thin formula that doesn't feel thick or cakey 
• Blends easily
• Limited creasing under the eyes
• Long-wearing 

Cons:

• Giant applicator can dispense way too much product! Not too much of an issue but make sure to scrape off any excess
• Only available in Australia from tarte.com so you will have to try and shade match yourself using swatches online.
• I found that this concealer doesn't layer well over other correctors/concealers, which you don't necessarily need because the coverage is so high!

My shade: Fair - The lightest shade out of all these concealers. Perfect for when I want a really highlighted look.

// YSL Touche Eclat

Pros:

• The formula is so light and thin its pretty much undetectable on the skin!
• Beautiful for highlighting and perfect for brightening under the eyes
• Blends easily
• Super versatile - can be used all over the face including to highlight under the brows and to define the lip line.

Cons:

• Not cruelty free
• Incredibly expensive! I spend a lot of money on makeup but the price of this makes me cringe a little.
• This is not really a concealer, the formula is targeted towards brightening so needs to be layered over something else as it won't actually cover anything on its own.

My shade: No.2 (I could definitely go a little lighter for a more highlighted look)

//Bobbi Brown Corrector

Not necessarily a concealer, but I thought I would include this because I find this to be the BEST option for dark circles.

Pros:

• Think colour theory - peach/orange shades are opposite blue/purple on the colour wheel - so it is amazing at counteracting darkness under the eyes.
• Easy to blend
• You only need a small amount of product 

Cons:

• Not cruelty free
• The formula is very thick and creamy so it's essential that you take your time to blend this in properly.

My shade: Light Peach. There are two different undertones - peach and bisque. Bisque is more pink toned perfect for neutral to cool skin and peach is more salmon toned and works better on olive and warm skin.

So who comes out on top?

My favourite is definitely the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer. However, if you're a full coverage fan, Tarte's Shape Tape has a similar thin, lightweight formula with that extra coverage! Also if you do suffer from blue or purple darkeness under the eyes, a corrector is the best way to go.

What's your correcting and concealing routine?

xx Cat

Sweet Peach // Worth the Hype?

 I have a confession to make. When Too Faced announced they would be bringing back their Sweet Peach Palette as a permanent addition to their collection AND be expanding their range to include lip glosses and face products I didn't fall into the hype. In fact, I was so vocally opposed to the whole thing, especially the brands constant churning out of new collections with gimmicky names and packaging. I was so sure the Peach Palette was just another neutral palette and I didn't need it.

Well, I'm not afraid to admit that I was wrong. The hype finally got me and let me tell you, the hype is REAL. Before purchasing the palette, I tried it a few times in store before realising that it was a palette that I would reach for over and over. I've also since purchased the Papa Don't Peach Blush! #converted

//Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Collection



The core of Too Faced's Sweet Peach collection is the eyeshadow palette. A gorgeous palette that includes 18 shades, all quite neutral with a few brighter pinky-peach shades as well as some beautiful deep plums and my surprise favourite, an olive green.

I am really surprised at the high quality of the eyeshadow formula. I own a few other palettes from Too Faced and I have the say the quality is the most consistent in the Sweet Peach palette. The shimmer shades are soft and buttery and glide over the lid so easily, packing a punch in terms of pigment with just one swipe. I absolutely love the shades Luscious and Bellini for the perfect all over the lid shimmer. The mattes perform really well too. My favourite matte shades are the warm browns, Puree and Summer Yum. Unfortunately, the worst performing shadows in the palette are the 3 cream shades in the first column. I really wish that White Peach was a matte cream highlight, but unfortunately its super shimmery but also not very pigmented.

So do you need this in your collection? Well, you don't really need any makeup, but as someone who owns a lot of neutral palettes I love reaching for the Sweet Peach because I can create something soft and pretty and then change it up with the brighter peach shades or the pops of purple and green. I'm so glad I added it to my collection as I reach for it a lot and have used every single shade in the palette.

//Papa Don't Peach Peach Infused Blush

The Papa Don't Peach Blush was more of an impulse purchase but one that I am so glad I made! The shade is a light, shimmery peach that can be applied lightly for a slight flush or built up for a more intense peach glow! I've seen the blush applied on deeper skin tones to me and it also looks incredible - so it is quite versatile across different skin tones. It could also be used as a blush topper to add a bit of a glow! The shimmer is quite fine and doesn't look chunky or glittery at all when applied to the skin. I would also advise deeper skin tones to consider this blush over the Sweet Peach Highlighting palette as the shades in that palette are much lighter and less versatile.

Overall, as a blush lover I'm so glad to have Papa Don't Peach in my collection! However, if you're not makeup obsessed and already own shades like NARS Orgasm or Milani Luminoso, you might find the shades are quite similar.

I also wanted to quickly mention the fact that all the products in the Sweet Peach Collection are peach scented. The scent is definitely artificial and quite sweet and you can smell it as soon as you open the packaging. To be honest, the scent doesn't really appeal to me, it doesn't offend me but I would love the products just as much if they weren't scented. Also if you are usually quite sensitive to fragrance I would definitely recommend maybe checking out the products in store to make sure it doesn't bother you too much

Are you a fan of all things Sweet Peach?

xx Cat

Beauty Graveyard // Empties April 2017

Its been quite a while since my last empties post! I have a huge bag full of products I've finished up as well as some stuff I just wanted to get rid of and I knew it was time that all these empties found there way into the bin!  I've got more products than I would normally have for an empties post so I'm only going to give mini reviews on products that I haven't mentioned before and skip the boring stuff like deodorant!

I've also linked all the products mentioned for your convenience (unless I couldn't find them online)!

//Makeup

I've got a few little makeup bits that are heading to the bin this time around!

Firstly, I've finished up an Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in the shade 'Fair Neutral'. I absolutely love this concealer and have already repurchased. I love the thin consistency of this product and how it sets to a velvety matte finish. I use this under my eyes because it doesn't crease at all for me and the colour is perfect for a highlighting effect that isn't too obvious or ashy. I am also getting rid of a Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer. I loved this product but it was getting old and since Laura Mercier isn't cruelty free I wanted it out of my collection. I did get a fair amount of use out of it though so not to sad to see it go.

I'm also throwing out a completely used and dried out Lancome Hypnose Mascara (also not cruelty free) and an empty pot of Mecca Cosmetica Lip de Luscious. Lip de Luscious is my absolute favourite lip balm ever and I have definitely repurchased!

//Tools

Following on from my makeup bits I'm getting rid of two sponges, two brush cleaners and an eyelash curler!

I'm throwing out a Real Techniques Complexion Sponge and a Beauty Blender - both well loved. I do prefer the original Beauty Blender over the Real Techniques counterpart so I have repurchased a few Beauty Blenders. I also loved the Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser which I completely used up. I would definitely repurchase but at the moment I am using their liquid cleanser which I also enjoy. Finally I finished up a Sephora Brand Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner. I wasn't a huge fan of this and have since tried the Mecca Cosmetica Brush With Success which I find to be more effective and also cruelty free - win-win! Also throwing out my Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler because its old and getting really stiff. Will not repurchase based on cruelty free status and I'm currently loving my Eyelash Curler from Eyeko which is also much more affordable!

//Skin

Lots of exciting skin stuff to talk about! I've been trying loads of skincare products lately which means sometimes it takes me longer to finish up products but I still have a lot to share with you this empties!

I'll start with cleansers and toners. I've been trying out a few different micellar waters since my old favourite from Garnier is not cruelty free. I tried the Swisse Micellar Makeup Remover as well as the Rosehip Micellar Water from Essano. Both worked really well as removing my makeup - including stubborn eye makeup. However, the Swisse one had a strange scent which was not too off putting but still not preferable. I've since repurchased the Essano.

I also finished up the No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm from Ren which is my favourite way to remove my makeup, especially when I'm wearing a full face! You apply this oil-based cleansing balm to dry since and massage to dissolve all the makeup and other dirt and oils on the skin. You do need a face cloth to remove this product though because it is too thick to remove with water alone. Absolutely love this product and have definitely repurchased!

Apart from my usual favourites - Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner and Clarisonic Sensitive Brush Head - I also finished a few little Kate Somerville minis. Firstly, the Nourish Hydrating Firming Mist was really beautiful and incredibly hydrating but something I don't necessarily need. I also tried the ExfoliKate Cleanser which was a fantastic cleanser for my oily/combination skin that gave a really good deep cleanse without drying out my skin. It worked well with my Clarisonic and left my skin feeling really smooth and looking bright and fresh! I'm not sure if I would repurchase yet. I'm not too fussed when it comes to cleansers (apart from my first step oil cleanse) and not sure I need something with exfoliation in it since I already do lots of exfoliation BUT! if you do like an all in one and have combo to oily skin would definitely recommend!

...and now onto creams and serums! I used up the Very Useful Face Cream by Go-To Skincare which was super lovely! I loved using this shea butter based moisturiser in the morning it kept my skin soft and hydrated all day. If I didn't already have a heap of unopened moisturisers at the moment I would 100% repurchase. I loved pairing the Very Useful Face Cream in the morning with the Bare Minerals Skinvongevity Vital Power Infusion underneath. This serum is really thin, almost like an essence and is hydrating and refreshing! A stand out ingredient in this serum is niacinamide which helps a lot with brightness and pore size. Again would repurchase in a second after I finish all my other serums!

Also finished a few little minis but nothing super exciting to say about these.

//Body

Nothing too exciting here - a few deodorants (Rexona Clinical Protection is my all time favourite) and my can't-live-without shaving cream which will change your life for $7!

//Hair

As usual I've used up a few Schwarzkopf Ultime Biotin Volume Dry Shampoo. However, I have a new favourite - the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Nettle for oily hair. This did such a fantastic job at really thoroughly cleansing my hair, especially after I've been to the gym, so once I finally finish my huge backup stash of Schwarzkopf, I'll repurchase the Klorane.

I'm very happy with how I wizzed through all those products so efficiently! Let me know if you use any of these products or if you have any recommendations for me :)

xx Catherine