New In: At the Drugstore

The hardest thing about not having a job at the moment is being tempted by all the new releases to hit Australian shores (first world problems I know, but seriously...hire me). There are heaps of exciting new products popping up at the drugstore so I've complied a list so you don't miss a thing.

Maybelline is definitely my favourite drugstore brand and they have so many new products hitting the shelves. Firstly for the eyes, a twist on everyone's favourite black liquid liner, the new Master Graphic Liquid Liner is for those who love a bold liner look. Maybelline also brought their Pumped Up! Colossal Mascara to the Australian market. Maybelline have an amazing range of mascaras so if you're looking for something new to try, I doubt you could go wrong with this one.

More Maybelline products that have finally reach Aussie shores are the Dream Wonder Foundation. I tried this in store and it is very similar to the L'Oreal Nude Magique foundation. However, I did notice that the Dream Wonder foundation have a larger selection of pale shades which is excellent news for #whitegirls like me. I was also excited to see the Face Studio Master Hi-Light and Face Studio Master Glaze products on shelves too!

Finally from Maybelline are their Colour Drama Lip Colour lip pencils, which look like a thick lip liner and remind me of the Bobbi Brown Art Sticks. They have a nice range of colours and this is definitely a product I'm interested to try as it's quite unique to the drugstore market.

Revlon have added to their Photo Ready range with three new products. Firstly is their Prime and Anti-Shine Balm which claims to even out the skin's texture and minimise pores. Another new addition is their Airbrush Effect Foundation and finally is the Insta-Fix Makeup which comes in a convenient stick form. This range seems to be aimed at providing a long-lasting flawless complexion. A few retailers have a 3 for 2 promotion on this range at the moment which would be great to take advantage of if you are interested in trying these products.

One of the most exciting new releases that I have been waiting for to hit Aussie stores is the L'Oreal Colour Riche Exclusive Nude collection. There are a range of nude nail polishes and matching lipsticks inspired by some of Hollywood's biggest stars. I've already got my hands on some of the lipstick shades and I absolutely love them! The formula is quite sheer, but very moisturising and comfortable on the lips. I definitely recommend wearing a lip liner underneath to get more depth of colour.

From Rimmel is a new mascara release and the first mascara to be created by Kate Moss! The Kate Idol Eyes Mascara has a thick, curved wand that claims to add heaps of volume. Kate's line of lipsticks and nail colours are some of Rimmel's best products so if you're a fan of Rimmel mascaras I would definitely check this one out!

Finally from the drugstore are some new releases from Sally Hansen, one of my favourite brands for all things nail care and pretty colours! Firstly are two new 18K Gold products for nail care - the 18K Gold Hardener and the 18K Gold Cuticle eraser. Both products look fantastic for a DIY mani at home and I will definitely be trying these out!

Have you picked up any of these products recently? What's your favourite new release?

xx Catherine

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New In: Nail Polish

This summer I have been absolutely loving playing with nail polish, switching up colours every two or three days! So lately whenever I pop into Priceline I can't help but pick up some new shades. Here are the latest additions to my collection:

Firstly, I picked up two shades from the new Essence Beach Cruisers trend edition. I always love the Essence limited edition collections and both 02 Girls Just Wanna Have Sun! and 03 Keep Calm and Go to the Beach! are absolutely perfect for summer. They also have a pretty gold shimmer throughout the which is something unique to my collection.

I've been meaning to try more polishes from Essie and when I received a $5 off coupon I jumped at the chance and picked up Spaghetti Strap. It is such a gorgeous pastel pink and perfect for everyday or as a base for glitter top coats.

My next pick is a gorgeous shade, but a bit of a disappointment. I bought Up the Ante from the Revlon Colourstay Gel Envy range after seeing Estée from Essie Button wearing it in a few of her videos. I hope hoping this shade would be a little more unique than others in my collection but unfortunately it is almost exactly the same as Essence 'Break Through'. However, after initially hating the Revlon Gel polishes I've found by applying thin coats and at least two layers of the top coat the finish is so glossy and really does last ages on the nails!

Finally, all the shades in the Maybelline Super Stay 7 Day Gel Nail collection are really unique and I can't believe I've been able to show some restraint and only pick up one! I bought Forever Green which i have been loving throughout summer on the toes.

What's your favourite nail polish colour for summer?

xx Catherine

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Products to Pass Up - Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Polish

I am definitely one to fall for the hype of new exciting products, particularly products that claim to do things better. One of the recent products I picked up for this reason - as well as the fact that they were on sale at Priceline - was the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy nail polishes. I picked up the shade #440 Wild Card as well as the Diamond Top Coat which is meant to create the gel like effect without a lamp.

I was initially impressed with these as the application was fantastic. The applicator has two little brushes so you get a nice even coverage with one swipe. As well as this, the opaqueness of this shade meant that you only needed one coat. Once I applied the top coat my nails dried really fast and the whole process probably took less than 15 minutes. My nails looked shiny and the colour was great, however, by the end of the day I had already experienced chipping.

I was patient letting the polish dry and definitely wasn't doing any strenuous activity that would lead to chipping. Two days after application I had chipping at the top of nearly all my nails and two had completely peeled off. For me, the marketing of nail polishes as being similar to gel leads me to believe they will be long lasting and that's why I was really disappointed.

The price of these is really expensive as well, retailing for $16.95 EACH which is ridiculous. I was lucky to pick up mine 2 for $20 but to pay $10 for a polish and not get results is also disappointing. Other polishes at a much lower price point including the Rimmel London Salon Pro range last much longer even without a top coat and retail for $8.95, nearly half the price.

I know Sally Hansen has come out with a similar product that claims up to 14 days wear, so I'll be interested to try those out and see how they compare.

Overall, unfortunately I can't recommend the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Polishes. If you were to buy one polish and the top coat, you would be paying as much as it costs to get a gel manicure at a salon, revealing that it is just not worth the price.

All Revlon products are currently 40% off at Priceline.

What are some new releases that disappointed you?
xx Catherine

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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

My Everyday Makeup Bag

//For Touch ups

• Benefit Hello Flawless Powder

I love this one because it is so finely milled and is the perfect colour for my skin tone, which I normally have difficulty finding in powders. It is perfect for touching up on the go and also super convenient because it comes with a little brush and sponge so there's no need for me to carry around another brush!

• Essence Tribal Summer Blotting Papers

I always like to use blotting papers before I re-powder my face as it makes sure product isn't building up on top of oil and create cakiness. These ones are very convenient and affordable. I'm sure Essence stock blotting papers in their normal range as well.

//On the Lips

• Maybelline Baby Lips

Lip balm is an absolute staple and I love the Baby Lips range from Maybelline. I always carry a tinted one as well as a regular one just in case I've forgotten to pop the lippy I'm wearing into my bag so I can still pull my look together with something on my lips.

• Revlon ColourBurst balms

I'm absolutely obsessed with these and have both the matte and lacquer balms in my collection. I like carrying these around because they are so easy to apply without a mirror and are also quite moisturising on the lips. At the moment I have the lacquer balm in 'Coquette', a gorgeous bright pink and my favourite matte balm in 'Elusive' which is one of my favourite everyday shade.

//Just in Case

• Garnier SOS Repairing Hand Balm with Shea Butter

Hand cream is an absolute must and this one is my favourite as it smells great and has the thickness and intensity I need. My hands often get very dry so I like to keep them moisturised a lot and it also helps keep my nails long and healthy.

• Nail File

I'm a bit obsessive with filing and shaping my nails, so of course I carry a file with me at all times! This is one I just picked up from the supermarket.

• Hair elastics and bobby pins

I'm one of those people that always has the hair tie you need in times of crisis. Mostly it makes me feel good and I like to be prepared.

p.s. How cute is this little makeup bag from Benefit?! It has one of the Benefit girls saying 'I know more about makeup than you because I grow the stuff!' I'm obsessed :)

What beauty items do you like to carry on a daily basis?

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

Weekly Beauty Edit #3

Hello beautiful people! Unfortunately last week I didn't post my usual weekly beauty edit as I was sick and very uninspired in terms of beauty. I have organised to have regular posts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday as well as a Weekly Beauty Edit or other special post on a Sunday. This doesn't mean that I won't be posting on other days but you can be sure that new posts will be uploaded on those four days. Enjoy all my favourite beauty things from the last week and look out for my upcoming March Monthly Roundup!

1// Celebrity Makeup Tutorials
This BuzzFeed is the best makeup tutorial master list I have ever seen!  Featuring some of my favourite beauty Youtubers like Lisa Eldridge, Shannon Farrell, Tanya Burr and Pixiwoo this will give you so many makeup ideas to try.

2// Revlon Matte Lip Balms
One of the most anticipated new lip products has finally hit the Australian market. I recently picked up four shades at Priceline where they are currently 2 for 1! I definitely recommend them so get down to Priceline and try them for yourself. I have a full review and swatches coming up this week,

3// Benefit Brow Bar
Finally visited the Benefit Brow Bar again for my way overdue eyebrow wax. As always I had an absolutely amazing experience and although their services are quite expensive there is no one else I trust with my precious brows after being burnt numerous times.

4// Chatting with Chloe Morello
Probably the most exciting part of my week was getting to have a good chat with Australian Youtuber Chloe Morello at her recent YSL beauty workshop. While I didn't attend the actual event I was at Myer for the Autumn Racing Fashion Showcase but went past the YSL beauty stand before I left and Chloe was still there and chatting to people. I was so happy to get a chance to talk to her and tell her how much I love her videos and appreciate her efforts to make beauty inclusive for all. She was so sweet as usual and remembered me from when we met at the Benefit Lollitint event! We also chatted about the YSL Rogue Volupte lipstick I bought in No. 1 which she said was one of her favourites. Chloe is definitely such a role model for me and its so fantastic that she does events and gets out from behind the camera. Check out her Youtube channel here.

5// Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
I'm absolutely loving this concealer I picked up from the Priceline 40% sale. It is fantastic under the eyes to conceal dark circles as well as highlight without noticeable creasing. I've been wearing this on an everyday basis and is super creamy and easy to wear. Check out my guide to concealer here.

xx Catherine

What's on My Face?

On-the-go Mascaras

Its amazing how quickly I accumulate mascaras. There are so many to try and I have to hold myself back before buying like ten different ones every time I go to Priceline!

Here are the mascaras I currently have open/am using:

Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express (Waterproof)

• waterproof mascara...*shudders* I really can't stand waterproof formulas but sometimes you just need them and I hate that! This one is ok, I definitely wouldn't repurchase though as I'm sure there are so many others to try that I would like more as well. It does make my lashes very 'plush' and full but nothing much in terms of length. This is the oldest one I have going and its nearly empty/dried up so at least I can throw it out soon! 

Photo sourced from: www.maybelline.com.au

Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious

• Mentioned this one as my favourite product in January so I definitely am loving this one! Smaller brush than the Maybelline, beautiful formula that isn't super wet and makes my lashes look so long and full. Love! Definitely one I will repurchase.

Lancôme Hypnôse

• My favourite mascara ever! So great I won't even bat an eyelid when paying over $50 for one tube. The smallest brush of the three it creates amazing length and definitely the easiest formula to work with.
• I also have sample sizes of the other Hypnôse mascaras - Drama, Star and Doll Eyes. Each different one has a really interesting brush (photos* below!) and I also layer these on top of the original to create the most amazing lash looks ever!

 

*photos sourced from Nordstrom: these are the best photos I could find of the different wand types

Benefit They're Real!

• I also wrote a review of this one recently and am really coming around to it. Separates the lashes and adds amazing length.

I think I'm actually doing pretty well with only 3 full size and 4 smaller sized mascaras at the moment! 

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you're in the market for a new mascara gave you a good idea of what to try next.

xx Cat ^.^

My Go-To Mani

I absolutely love doing my nails! However, the practicality of having a fabulous manicure while I'm working is practically zero as they crack after one shift. Lately I've been loving Revlon's Brilliant Strength Nail Enamel - I have the shade 080 Enchant which is a gorgeous ballet pink with a bit of shimmer. This is a perfect everyday colour to wear to uni and lasts an extra few days without chipping - even at work which makes me so happy! I love the formulation and the applicator, making it really easy to apply. Will definitely be going back to get more colours!

xx Cat ^.^

Monthly Roundup: January

I thought instead of just doing monthly favourites posts, I'd take the chance at the end of each month to stop and reflect on things I've been loving in terms of makeup and fashion and also to update on the progress of some of my beauty goals for the year.

This month has been very exciting in terms of my blog. In the first month I reach 1 000 page views, received a lot of positive feedback from readers and have been able to really expand my horizons by reading so many other beauty blogs and most importantly being inspired by all the other beautiful beauty bloggers out there :)

Pick of the month:

I never thought I would find a mascara that came close to my favourite - the Lancôme Hypnôse, however I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious. It absolutely outdid all my expectations and most notably gave so much length to my lashes and made them look really curled as well without even using an eyelash curler. As pictured below it has a really big 'fluffy' fibre brush which is definitely the type of brush I prefer. Although the Lancôme Hypnôse still remains my favourite, the Revlon Lash Potion has a much dryer formula which makes my lashes look curled and super long all day because they aren't being weighed down by a heavier formula- however, it does smudge much faster than the Lancôme Hypnôse. I am super happy I stumbled across this mascara and will continue to repurchase!

Spending ban update:

I'm so so so excited that my two month spending ban is finally coming to an end! I did cheat a little and bought something with a voucher - but still haven't spent any money on cosmetics and I am really proud of myself for following through with the challenge. I can't believe I haven't bought a single makeup item for two months and have so many things I want to try. Get ready for a few hauls coming in the next few weeks!

That's all I really have to update you all on this month ! I am really excited for my next couple of posts so please come back to check them out :)

xx Cat ^.^

Day 3 - New Year, New You: Skincare

Its no secret that when you have a regular skincare routine your skin is going to improve. Whether it clears any acne or imperfections you have or whether your skin becomes less erratic there is definitely benefits to having a consistent skincare routine. I've been pretty good with my skincare in the last couple of months so my goal for 2014 is to continue taking good care of my skin as well as trying some new skincare products - I really want to try face masks!

My current skincare routine is:
Morning before putting on my makeup

1. Sukin Revitalising Facial Scrub
2. Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner
3. Sukin Facial Moisturiser

Night after taking off makeup with makeup removal wipes

1. Natio Ageless Gentle Cleansing Milk - perfect for taking off left over makeup late at night because it doesn't foam which is really easy when you're not in the shower
2. L'occitane Immortelle precious essential face water
3. Revlon Age defying DNA face serum (this is just a sample I got so I don't feel I would need to repurchase an anti ageing serum)
4. Natio Antioxidant Facial Moisturiser

FOTD

Products used:

• Kate Somerville CC Cream in No.1 Fair
• Maybelline Mineral Power Finishing Veil (discontinued)
• Young Blood Mineral Blush in Sherbet
• Revlon Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde
• Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Inked in Pink
• Lancome Ombre Mono Effects Sensational Eyeshadow Quad
• Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner
• Lancome Hypnose Mascara
• NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Tokyo
• NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream

Easy Makeup for School or Work

If you're anything like me you probably wake up about 10 minutes before you need to get out the door in the morning and/or generally struggle to fit in doing your makeup for the day as well as getting dressed, eating breakfast and making sure you haven't forgotten anything. That's why when I go to work I like to keep my makeup as simple as possible. My main rule is - never leave the house without filling in your eyebrows! However I always feel like a little bit of mascara goes a long way (waterproof if you're working long hours). In this look I've evened out my complexion using a primer, concealer
 over my blemishes and under my eyes and then finished off with some powder mineral foundation - this way I can get a little bit of coverage without messing around with liquid foundation when I don't have the time. Finally finish the look off with a little bit of nude lip loss or I usually just use a lip balm to keep my lips hydrated throughout the day!

Products used:

• Australis Primer
• Napoleon Perdis Concealer in Amber (discontinued)
• Maybelline Mineral Power Powder Foundation in Classic Ivory 
• Revlon Colour Stay Eyebrow liner in Blonde
• Maybelline Waterproof Mega Plush Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis Luminous Lip Veil in Sand