Top 5 Lip Colours for Spring

While I have enjoyed experimenting with darker lip shades this past autumn and winter, I am beyond excited that the weather is warming up and I can bring out the corals again. There is nothing I love more than a bright coral lipstick! These are my top 5 lip colours for spring, ranging from super matte to glossy depending on your preferences. Unsurprisingly, most are coral shades!

// Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivids in 'Vibrant Mandarin' ($16.95)

Probably one of my favourite lipsticks ever! This is a orangy-coral shade that is so pigmented, super bright and a lot of fun to wear. The formula is really impressive for a drugstore lipstick and there is a reason these are marketed as 'vivid'. While this isn't a matte lipstick it is still really long wearing so it is perfect for the warmer weather.

Formula: Creamy formula with a satin finish.

// MAC Lipstick in 'Coral Bliss' ($36.00)

Coral Bliss is a beautiful peachy-coral shade that is perfect for both simple day looks and full-on night time looks. I love this shade on my pale skin tone and it is also one of those lipsticks that is really easy to wear and you can reapply without a mirror.

Formula: Cremesheen - medium opacity that can really be built up, beautifully glossy finish and moisturising on the lips.

// MAC Lipstick in 'Impassioned' ($36.00)

One of the latest additions to my MAC lipstick collection, Impassioned ticks all the boxes for a bright pink lipstick, mostly that it does lean somewhat into 'coral' territory. I have really been enjoying wearing pink shades lately but find that most pinks just do not agree with my skin tone and/or make my teeth look yellow. Impassioned has quickly become one of my favourite pink lipsticks because it suits me so well!

Formula: Amplified - super pigmented but still creamy and comfortable on the lips, slight glossy finish.

// Maybelline Colour Elixir in 'Petal Plush' ($17.95)

These new release glosses from Maybelline are so beautiful. This is such a perfect everyday shade because it is a perfect soft pink with shimmer through it and is so comfortable on the lips. I really wish these weren't so expensive because I think the price is really ridiculous - luckily Maybelline is always on sale somewhere and I would 100% recommend waiting until you can get these reduced.

Formula: Lip Gloss - a creamy, non-sticky gloss with high shine finish.

// Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 'Pink Pong' ($24.00)

This is one for you matte lovers! Another pink shade that I think is really universal and looks great on all skin tones. I love this formula for a night out, not only because it is matte and bold but because it lasts so long even through eating and drinking.

Forumla: Matte Stain - a thin formula that dries super matte on the lips. Lasts a really long time on the lips and leaves a stain.

What colours will you be wearing for spring?

xx Catherine

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Lip Product Haul!

My absolute favourite makeup products to shop for are lip products! If I see a blogger or beauty youtuber talk about a lipstick and it catches my eye I will usually go out and buy it. My lipstick collection is something I'm really proud of and love adding to.

From Priceline I've picked up a few different lip products - from matte to glossy and lip balms.
Firstly, as a recommendation from Sarah at morethanadored.com I purchased the Savvy Long Lasting Matte Lipstick in 'Maui' ($6.99) as I cannot resist a bright orange coral! While the colour is beautiful and quite neon, I find the formula quite sheer and can be a little patchy once you try to build it up. Still I can't believe how affordable this range is from Savvy!

Next, I've been wanting to add to my collection of Australis Colour Inject Lipsticks ($12.95) and chose the shade 'Gangsta Rap' after seeing a swatch online. It reminded me of the Lime Crime shade 'Airborne Unicorn' which I was hesitant to pick up, especially if I didn't like how the light purple shade looked on my skin tone and this was a more affordable option. I love the formula of the Colour Inject Lipsticks too!

A lip product I had my eye on since their release is the L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire lip lacquers ($21.95), however, I waited until they went on sale to pick one up. I chose the shade 'Rouge Soprano' which is a beautiful watermelon red and it just melts onto the lips. As they are a lip lacquer, they have a lot more pigment than a gloss and last longer as well. This product is very similar to the Colour Elixirs from Maybelline - same texture, applicator and smell even!

And I just couldn't help buying the new Maybelline Baby Lips 'Electro Pop' balm ($3.95). These new additions to the Australian market look like the Baby Lips available in the US and I have the flavour 'Berry Bomb' which smells amazing. Unfortunately, these aren't available online yet, but I did purchase it from Priceline.

Target has also been on sale lately and with 30% of ChiChi I picked up two of their Stay on Lipliners, 'Lady in Red' and 'Status'. These are beautifully creamy and so insanely pigmented! I can't believe I got these for only $6.96. ChiChi is really fantastic value for great quality products and is often on sale at either Target or Myer. I also picked up the NYX lipliner in 'Natural' after I saw one of my fave Aussie Youtubers Katrina post on instagram saying it was a dupe for MAC's Velvet Teddy lipstick. NYX is rarely on sale in Target and unfortunately wasn't on this occasion but still a great price at only $9.95.

Finally, the last two items in my haul are from a brand I've been dying to try for so long. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to IMATS this year where I was planning to pick up some lipsticks from Lime Crime. To make me feel better about missing the event I order a few lipsticks online anyway. I had also wanted 'Geradium' and I also ended up ordering 'Babette'. The price of the Lime Crime Lipsticks vary online, however, the cheapest I could find was on Australian online retailer Princess Polly. Each lipstick was AUD$22 and I only paid $5.00 for express shipping (it arrived the next day!)

L-R: Geradium, Babette, Rouge Soprano, Maui, Gangsta Rap, Lady in Red, Status, Natural.

I hope you enjoyed this lip product haul! I definitely have been loving playing with all these bright, fun colours :)

xx Catherine

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*NEW* Australis Velour Lips

I've been following new beauty releases for about a year now and I remember one of the very first products I got super excited about was the Australis Velour Lips. For a drugstore brand, Australis did an awesome job at pushing these out into the market just as the liquid matte lipstick trend was skyrocketing and when they were first released it was almost impossible to find any in stock. In the last month Australis has released another five shades to Velour Lips range, this time the shades are more muted and wearable but still just as pigmented and long lasting. I own 4 out of the 10 shades available, 2 from the original collection and 2 from the new release shades.

L-R: PAR-EE, TOK-I-O, LUN-DUN, MI-A-MEE

While the formula itself does dry down VERY matte and tend to be super drying on the lips, I find applying a layer of lip balm first makes a huge difference to how comfortable these feel on the lips and doesn't jeopardise the pigmentation or wear. However, I do find because they do dry so matte, applying more than two layers can make the product go clumpy and ball up. This isn't much of a problem with most shades as they are very pigmented, however, I did have problems with TOK-I-O, which was the least pigmented and most patchy of the bunch. This shade in particular didn't last as long especially when eating or drinking which was not a problem with the other shades.

PAR-EE 

TOK-I-O

LUN-DUN

MI-A-MEE

For only $9.95 I definitely recommend the Australis Velour Lips - they are amazing value for money. I have been trying these out over the last week and have gotten compliments every time I've worn them!

Wearing MI-A-MEE

Australis is available from Priceline, KMart and Big W. The Velour Lips range is $9.95.

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Winter Beauty Edit: 50 Shades of Winter

Today's instalment of my WBE is all about the trending winter colours. From lips to nails its all about opposite ends of the spectrum - deep berry shades and sophisticated nudes.

In the nude

For nights out I've gravitated towards a dark brown smokey eye and the perfect pairing for that is a classic nude lip. My favourite nude lipstick is the Australis Go Long Lipstick in Preppy. This is a gorgeous, easy to wear nude shade in a matte finish and probably one of my most worn lipsticks. The Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in Tantalizing Taupe from their Stripped Nudes collection is a another nude lipstick I've been gravitating towards because I absolutely love the formula. This is definitely more of a true nude than the Australis one but is surprisingly easy to pull off, even with my fair skin tone. I suggest checking out the Stripped Nudes collection from Maybelline if you're not sure what kind of nude will suit you. Finally for the lips is the NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee. One of the best gloss formulas out there, Creme Brulee is perfect to layer on top of any nude lipstick to add that extra shine.

For the nails, I cannot go past a nude as they just look so sophisticated and elongate your hands. From the Rimmel London Salon Pro Range, Oh, Mr Darcey! is such a unique grey/taupe colour that is perfect for winter. You can't go past the formula of these polishes either - they are virtually indestructible. Finally, for a lighter, more girly nude I've been loving the Formula X for Sephora shade in Invincible. While you will need a couple of coats to get an opaque look, this is such a pretty shade again in a long wearing formula.

Berrylicious

Whilst keeping it subdued on the lips for night time looks I love wearing a bold lip during the day with flushed cheeks and a little bit of shimmer on the eyes. I've been leaning towards shades which are more red based with a purple undertone and with berry shades on the lips I prefer to keep in more on the matte side in terms of finish. Firstly, I have absolutely been loving the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets for a bold, matte lip. The shade Ole flamingo! is a gorgeous bright magenta shade and the formula is unbelievably long wearing. For another more pinky shade, the Shanghai Suzy Miss Melissa lipstick is a great, wearable bright berry pink with a long wearing formula. Finally, for something a little bit darker and with a bit more shine, this wouldn't be a 'Shades of Winter' post without mentioning Rebel by MAC. In the MAC satin finish, it makes your lips look full and intense and is very on trend for winter. Check out how I created a ombre lip with Rebel here.

Top - Bottom: Miss Melissa, Rebel, Ole Flamingo!

• Check out how pigmented these lipsticks are - they still stained my hand even after scrubbing them off!

My favourite shade of nail polish of the winter has to be purple as it is my favourite colour. Because I've been loving the Rimmel Salon Pro polishes so much I picked up Urban Purple which is a beautiful dark red shade with purple undertones. However, my favourite purple nail polish has definitely been Essence Break Through. Essence have the best colour range for such an affordable brand and I absolutely love this one so much!

I hope you found some inspiration to warm up your winter looks and again, don't forget to check in tomorrow for a super exciting addition to my Winter Beauty Edit.

xx Catherine

Tutorial: Ombre Lips

Ombre lips have been a huge trend this autumn and winter season! Its such a fun way to add a little extra dimension to your lip look that is still super wearable. I decided to create a really fun vampy lip with an ombre effect by following this really easy tutorial from boohoo.com.

To create my look I lined my lips with Essence Lipliner in no.5 'Soft Berry'. Using a clean lip brush I carefully smudged the liner towards the centre of the lip. Then using the lip brush again I applied MAC's 'Rebel' lipstick to the middle of my lips. To finish, I used Creme Brulee Butter Gloss from NYX to highlight the very centre of my lips - simple!

My tips for creating an ombre lip are:

1. Choose a colour scheme: I went for dark berry shades, but pick a liner that is a darker colour than your lipstick. For reds, you might want to go for an orange or pink shade of lipstick.
2. Make sure your lip liner is sharp: blunt lipliner is going to get messy!
3. Use a lip brush: Using a lip brush to apply your lipstick will allow for much more precision and dabbing your lipstick on will add the the ombre effect.

I hope you enjoyed this post and let me know if you try the ombre lip as well!

- Also please excuse the faded foundation around my mouth - It is inevitable while doing lip swatches all afternoon!

xx Catherine

* This post was not sponsored.

Weekly Beauty Edit: Catch Up Edition

I haven't posted anything in nearly a week which is really bad but at the moment I'm stuck in the middle of my exam period. With two weeks left, 2 essays and 2 exams until semester one is officially over I've been really busy and naturally, stressing out. I have still been able to try out some new beauty products and I thought I would give you a sneak peek of the products that I have been loving and which I will be doing full reviews of in the near future.

1// Custom made cleanser from Pristine Oils

I recently jumped at the opportunity to try a customised cleanser from Pristine Oils when they contacted me. After talking to them about my skin type and different problems I've been having with my skin, they suggested a blend of organic oils in my cleanser. I've been using the oil cleanser for about a week now and have been so impressed. My skin feels brighter, smoother and I love that using an oil cleanser is really moisturising as well. Not to mention that it is fantastic at removing makeup. A few review will be coming soon after I give my skin a bit more time to adjust. 

And it comes with a customised label too! 

2// Bright Lips

Yes, more new lip products have made it into my collection with absolutely no regrets. Even as the weather cools down significantly my choice of lip products have been getting brighter and brighter. I've absolutely fallen in love with Lady Danger by MAC and have also picked up a few of the new Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lipsticks and WOW. My first impressions of these lipsticks are fantastic - if you're looking for a bright, matte, long lasting lip colour I would recommend giving these a try - and on sale for only $10 at Priceline right now!

3// Nomadic Store Jewellery 

Chokers have really made a comeback in the accessories arena as the 90s seem to be the decade that everyone is nostalgic about at the moment. This Blue Mountains based online shop has a variety of really pretty and unique neck pieces at a super affordable price. They are also all handmade and the chokers are vegan as well! Check out their online store here. 

Here I am layering the Tiny Moon choker and Amethyst Point Sterling silver necklace

4// EmerginC Skincare

I was lucky enough to attend an event for EmerginC and hear the founder of the company Ian Lirenman talk about the importance of organic skincare as well as the amazing sustainability vision behind his business. I was also very excited to receive a few products from the EmerginC Scientific Organics range to try so I will definitely be reviewing those. Learn more about EmerginC here. In Australia, the brand can be purchased through Inskin Cosmedics.

5// Burts Bees

I recently picked up a little travel sized kit of Burts Bees products so I was able to try a few of their different products. I didn't have huge expectations but I've really been loving the Lemon Butter Cuticle cream as well as the lip balm. Again I will have a full review of all the products I tried coming very soon! You can get the 'Tips and Toes' Kit from anywhere that stocks Burts Bees (unfortunately I couldn't find it on the Priceline website).

I hope you enjoyed this little catch up and are excited to see the products I will be featuring reviews on very soon when I get back to my usual post schedule  - wish me luck for exams!

xx Catherine

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick: review and swatches

Rimmel have recently re-released their Moisture Renew lipstick range and when I they went on sale at Target I grabbed a few of the shades I had my eyes on! 

These lipsticks mainly interested me because I've been gravitating towards matte lipsticks a lot lately and wanted to try some bright lipsticks with a more glossy formula. The Rimmel website says these contain SPF 20 as well as Vitamins A, C and E for well cared for lips - impressive!

They feel absolutely gorgeous on the lips and practically melt on when applied. The pigmentation is amazing and with only one coat gives an intense colour that can be built up even more! The finish they give is beautiful and glossy, making the lips look plump and full. However, because they are a moisturising formula the staying power isn't overly impressive. They do last a few hours but if you're eating or drinking they will come off the lips.

As well as this, the packaging is really sleek, particularly for the price.

As You Want Victoria

A beautiful vibrant, blue based fuchsia!  

Sloane's Plum

A brown based plum shade. I had trouble with this one looking patchy so I prefer applying thinner layers using a lip brush.

In Love With Ginger

I absolutely love orange shades and this is a fantastic addition to my collection!

The Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks retail for $13.95 but Rimmel is often on sale at Priceline at Target so there's a good chance you can get these at a better price. I definitely recommend these for the price, the pigmentation and fantastic colour range.

xx Catherine

FOTD: Bronze and Bright Lips

This look was inspired by my new lipstick from Shanghai Suzy "The Gossling Lippie" which is an amazing bright orange. I love orange shades and this was is such a nice glossy formula. 

I recently received a new bronzer to try and it was so shimmery I tried it on my cheeks inside and absolutely love the result! 

Read more to see the products I used :) 

Monthly Roundup: April

After a failed attempt at filming a favourites video at the end of March I have so many favourites to share with you this month! I've been trying lots of new products and this month's roundup will include some little reviews.

// Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Such a fantastic affordable concealer. It is really creamy, easily blended out and provides great coverage under the eyes or over blemishes. I've been reaching for this everyday and much more than my high end concealers so it makes it into my favourites this month! Maybelline is almost always on sale at either Priceline or Target so you can definitely get this at a great price but normally retails for $14.95.

// NYX Love in Paris palette in 'Madeleines and Macarons'

I don't think I've used any other eyeshadow palette this month! This palette from NYX is absolutely gorgeous and had really beautiful matte and shimmery neutral shades. Whilst the shadows themselves aren't the most pigmented I've ever tried, they definitely blend well, have minimal fallout and are not chalky at all. They have a fantastic staying power that is even better with a primer underneath. Overall I think this is an amazing affordable eyeshadow palette with really cute packaging too. The fact that I've used it every time I've done an eye look this month speaks for itself. They retail for $16.95 from Target or $10 online from cherryculture.

// Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner

Hands down my favourite skincare product this month! My skin has recently become quite dry as the weather gets colder which I'm not used to at all. This has been so helpful adding moisture back into my skin after cleansing and it is also really refreshing. Recently repurchased and absolutely recommend! Probably my favourite from the Sukin range. Sukin is available at Priceline and selected chemists.

// New Lipstick Discoveries

R-L: Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm, Ulta3 Matte Lipstick, Sportsgirl Lipstick, Australis Colour Inject Lipstick.

I'm still on the hunt for the perfect everyday lipstick or just that one lipstick that I'll fall head over heels for. Unfortunately, April was not the month and I'm still looking for my one true lipstick love. However, here are a few fun ones I've recently discovered and definitely recommend:

• Sportsgirl 'Pout About It' Lipcolour in Berrylicious - I am beyond impressed with this lipstick from Sportsgirl. It is super matte while still being comfortable on the lips and really longlasting. The best thing is its really affordable at under $10. Berrylicious is probably the craziest lip colour I own, being a bright purple but I loved the formula so much I can really see myself pulling this one out quite a lot!
• Ulta3 Matte Lipstick in Harem Pink - Another fantastic affordable matte lipstick. The colour is definitely the defining feature of this lipstick though, its so beautiful and I've never seen anything like it! I wore it in my $20 Makeup challenge which you can check out here.
• Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in Ballet - I pull this lipstick out whenever I'm not sure what to wear on my lips and am never disappointed! Such a beautiful peachy pink with a really nice sheer, moisturising and build able formula.
• Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Elusive - My favourite of the Matte Balm colours. I go on about these enough and you can check out my full review here.

I've definitely made some progress with more of my beauty goals I set myself at the beginning of the year which is very exciting! I've officially mastered applying false lashes and have been shopping for all different types of lashes ever since. I've found a few great pairs from Ardell as well as really affordable ones from Daiso! I even picked up this adorable eyelash holder from Daiso, its so cute I couldn't not have it.

Thank you to all my new followers and everyone who reads and posts a comment! I love hearing all your feedback.
Wishing everyone a wonderful month of May <3

xx Catherine

Review and Swatches: Ulta3 Lip Paint

I recently picked up two shades of Ulta3's new lip release 'Lip Paint'. These retail for $5.95 and are available from selected pharmacies. After recently falling in love with there moisturising and matte lipstick formulas I was super excited to try these. I have the shades Expressive Fuchsia and Radical Red.

First of all I adore the packaging. I think its really cute and looks like a little paint tube. The lid screws on properly so you won't have any trouble throwing these in your handbag. The only thing is that the colour of the tube is not the true colour of the product so swatching is a must!

The formula is actually much less liquid-y than I was expecting which made application very easy. I was expecting something similar to the Rimmel Apocalips which I find gets quite messy, but along with the firm doe foot applicator the product was very easy and 'no-fuss' to apply to the lips. This is probably the best part of the product because with such bold colours and glossy finish you definitely want a perfect application. The product does have a minty smell, similar to the Revlon Balm range which I personally love but may not be for everyone.

Finally, both colours were absolutely gorgeous and bright. Expressive Fuchsia is a gorgeous blue-based pink and I think it would look fantastic on darker skin tones. Radical Red is again a blue-based shade and a red that I don't have anything similar to in my collection. I love the glossy finish of these as well and I recommend two layers for complete opacity.

Overall, very impressed with these liquid lipsticks and the fact that they are so easy to apply means I'll be reaching for them often. I also really want to get my hands on the other shade Manic Mauve.

Hope you enjoyed this review and let me know if you've tried any of the Ulta3 Lip Paints.

xx Catherine

p.s. I hope you all have a fantastic Easter and long weekend!

$20 Makeup Challenge

I have been planning this post for a while and am so excited to finally share it with you! The $20 Makeup challenge is pretty self explanatory - create an entire face of makeup with products that cost less than $20 combined. It is definitely harder than it seems, especially in Australia where its difficult to find a drugstore foundation for $20 or less. However, there are quite a few affordable options available in Australian stores and I have chosen products from four different brands to showcase them. I've got little reviews for all the product as well!

Drugstore v High End

For something a little bit different I decided to try to do a look using only drugstore products and then try and recreate it using only high end products. I chose to do a bronze smokey eye, with a red lip and highlighted face. I also used mineral foundation in both looks.

Drugstore

High end

I wanted to show how drugstore products can be used to create very similar effects for just a fraction of the price. Although I do love my high end products, if you're someone who isn't willing to spend a lot of money on cosmetics, which is totally reasonable, you can still create beautiful makeup looks with budget friendly products. 

My advice - its all about the application. Drugstore products applied with care and the right tools can create really fantastic results. I think having a good set of brushes is key and there are definitely a lot of affordable options - my brushes of choice are the Real Techniques brushes.

Let me know which look you prefer!
xx Catherine

NEW! Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm - Review and Swatches

Finally! These much anticipated new Colorburst Matte Balms from Revlon have hit the Australian market.

I am absolutely OBSESSED with these! They are the most comfortable matte lip products I have ever tried and so super easy to apply. Being a balm they are not the most opaque lip products but because they are quite thin, colour can be built up and I found that you could build them up without the product clumping or clinging to any dry patches. 

They are extremely long lasting and through a full day at uni I only had to reapply after I ate lunch. They are however quite drying on the lips after wear for a couple of hours. 

I love the crayon type packaging and pointed top which makes it very quick and easy to fill your lips in neatly which is usually an issue for me. They do have a mint scent and leave a slight tingling on the lips which some may dislike but personally I love the mint scent.

Complex

Elusive

Sultry

Unapologetic

Definitely a must have if you are a lipstick fanatic (like me!) or are looking for a comfortable matte lipstick. They retail for $17.95 and all Revlon lip products are 2 for 1 at Priceline until Monday 7 April so now is a fantastic time to try these out.

Have a beautiful day and remember how beautiful you are :)
xx Catherine

What's on My Face? #2

Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate Moss: Review and Swatches

No. 32

No. 28

I recently bought both these shades at Priceline when all Rimmel London lip and nail products were 2 for 1.

They are quite similar in formulation to the NYX Creamy Round Lipsticks - while they glide on the lips easily, they tend to cling to dry patches and unless your lips are really nice and smooth they do tend to move around and clump easily. I found the shade 32 to be slightly easier to wear in terms of formulation as it was a little bit more opaque and creamy. To find inconsistencies within the same line really annoys me and doesn't exactly make me want to run out and get more colours.

I love the colours however, especially shade 32 which is a lovely peachy nude and I absolutely love it (and I want this exact colour in a matte formulation!).

They are relatively long-lasting but nothing incredibly impressive, which is also a little disappointing for a product that claims to be long-lasting.

The packaging is quite nice for an affordable drugstore lipstick - they retail for AUD$11.95 - I love the matte black and Kate's signature in red is a nice touch.

Overall these are fairly average lipsticks and they wouldn't be my first recommendation but I'm happy to have shade 32 because its absolutely gorgeous.

xx Catherine