Under $2 Lippy- Jordana Matte Lipstick in Matte Nude [Review & Swatch]

Another cheap and cheerful find recently is this Jordana Matte Lipstick in Matte Nude- a very wearable pink toned nude that is great for pale girls like me that want a nude lip but don't want to look like you have concealer lips.

Don't be fooled by how dark it looks in the tube- it applies lighter than this on the lips.

In terms of formula, it is quite a creamy consistency which is odd for a matte lipstick but feels quite comfortable on the lips. It does have a very strong faux-vanilla scent which may put some people off but I actually grew to like the scent the more I wore it. 

Lasting power is average, maybe a few hours, but who cares at under $2 right!

The packaging is obviously cheap, but the lid clasps firmly and it kind of looks vintage-chic (which is what I'm going with...) 

Swatch of Matte Nude Jordana lipstick
in natural light

Overall, if you are looking for a very wearable nude lipstick for a very reasonable price, this is for you!

PRICE  $1.49USD (under $2NZD)

AVAILABILITY  Beautyjoint.com, Cherryculture.com

RATING  B+

Australis Nail Colour - Rose Tattoo, Knickers In A Knot

This is just a quick post on two Australis Nail Colours I picked up the other day - Knickers In A Knot & Rose Tattoo.

Australis polishes are in my opinion the best "drugstore" nail polishes available and are a steal at $13 NZD. All the shades I have collected have been very opaque and go on easy and pretty much streak-free as the claim.

I really recommend them!

Knickers In A Knot

This is a bright pinky red, that becomes more red the more coats you use. Two coats give perfect coverage.

Rose Tattoo

Gorgeous. That pretty much describes this colour. Metallic bronze with rose gold undertones. Never get sick of this one.

Cheap and Cheerful Organic Skincare - Sukin Organics Review

Finding cruelty free skincare that doesn't cost the earth can be next to impossible, but I recently discovered a brand called 'Sukin Organics' in my local Farmers store that I think truly fits the bill.

Doing a bit more research on the company I found out that Sukin Organics is an Australian owned company that produces 100% vegan, cruelty free, natural, carbon-neutral personal care products that don't come with the hefty price tag most organic skincare products do. Their packaging is even biodegradable! 

I purchased their Revitalising Facial Scrub and the Hydrating Mist toner, both for well under $20 each.

Product Claim:

This gentle creamy treatment promotes healthy skin circulation, refining texture and smoothness, leaving clean radiant skin.

This gentle cleanser uses non-abrasive, micro particles of bamboo extract and ground walnut shells to remove dirt and impurities leaving clean, radiant skin. Aloe vera and chamomile work to soothe skin and rose hip, jojoba and sesame replenish and protect the skin’s moisture barrier.

Application: Apply a small amount to fingertips. In a circular motion, massage into face and neck. Rinse well with warm water.

Suitable for all skin types.

This is a really nice scrub that is definitely gentle enough for daily use, but at the same time feels like it is doing something. The texture is quite creamy but not very thick, and the bamboo extract/ ground walnut shell exfoliating particles don't feel like they are taking away a whole layer of skin (like a St Ives scrub I won't mention...)

The scrub has a pleasant herbal scent that doesn't linger too long. 

After using this scrub my skin feels very smooth and soft, and not irritated and striped of all moisture like it did in the past with other exfoliant scrubs. I like it!

PRICE-  $15 NZD, $10 AUD for 125ml of product.

AVAILABLITY-  Farmers stores in NZ, Priceline stores in AUS and selected pharmacies worldwide. Check their website for a detailed list.

RATING-  A

The other Sukin product I bought was the Hydrating Mist Toner.

Product Claim:

Combines German chamomile and rosewater to soothe and tone the skin.

This alcohol-free, skin hydrating mist combines chamomile and rosewater to help soothe, tone and cool tired skin. Use after cleansing or whenever your skin feels tired or stressed. Perfect for hot days, long flights or long days in an air-conditioned environment.

Application:  Close eyes and spray onto face and neck area for an instant refreshing feel. Can be used on face and body, over and under lotions, creams, oils, gels and make-up. Use throughout the day to refresh and hydrate dry skin.

Suitable for all skin types.

I've never really used toners consistently before now, so I wasn't really sure how I would like this one. 

What initially attracted me to this was that you could spray it over makeup for a hydrating boost, and working long hours in an air conditioned environment I must say I don't know how I lived without something like this before!

It sprays quite a fine mist so you don't need to worry about running makeup, and I find that not only is it good for a quick pick-me-up for skin during the day, it also helps to settle down your skin if you have over-powdered or you want a more dewy, natural finish.

Incorporated into my skincare ritual after cleansing or exfoliating, this feels very soothing and softening on my skin, but I don't know whether it has actually benefited my skin in any way yet.

If you are looking for a refreshing and gentle toner though, I would definitely recommend this one.

PRICE- $15 NZD, $9.95 AUD for 125ml of product.

AVAILABILITY- Farmers stores in NZ, Priceline stores in AUS and selected pharmacies worldwide. Check their website for a detailed list.

RATING-  A

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Light [Review & Swatches]

This is definitely what it says it is- a heavy duty concealer. I've been using this in the shade 'Light' as both an undereye and blemish concealer for awhile now with mixed results.

The concealer has a very thick, emollient texture which can be both a plus and a negative when it comes to specific concealing jobs.

As said above, I've had mixed results with this concealer but I think I finally have worked out how to get the best results.

As a blemish concealer, this is great. It covers redness well, and as long as you make sure it is properly blended and set with a powder, it will last all day.

Covering dark circles however is a little trickier for this product. If you suffer from any dryness under the eyes, this concealer will just not sit right and will sink in to any fine lines (as I have experienced). Since I've switched up my moisturiser to a heavier duty one for the colder weather, I've actually seen much better results. It blends easier, and just looks more natural. 

I think the best way of applying this under the eyes is using a fluffier concealer brush (or even a fluffy eyeshadow brush) as you get the best results this way.

Also be wary of applying too much of this. You only need the tiniest amount (the amount I put on my hands for the swatches would probably be enough to cover my whole face a few times over). Because this concealer is so thick it can look caky if you apply too much, so applying a tiny amount and blending out with a brush until you are happy with the result is the way to go.

One plus for this product is the tube packaging, which is much more hygienic compared to pot or stick concealers. You also get a crazy amount of product for the price, 20 grams, which at the rate you use it should last years. Be aware of the little pot icon with the recommended shelf life on the back of cosmetics though, it tells you when its time to get rid of it, and this concealer has a 24 month life.

As a small bonus in the pack, you also get a very small concealer pencil. I've found the best use for this is lining around the lips when putting on red lipstick- quite handy to have and a nice wee bonus.

To conclude, this is a very decent blemish concealer, and a good undereye concealer (with conditions). As said earlier, if you have dryer skin this may not be the best product for you, but taking into account the affordability, the amount of product you get and the finish, overall I do recommend this concealer.

PRICE  $6 US, $13.99 AUD, $16-17 NZD.

AVAILABILITY  Easily available in the US, however aussies and kiwis can purchase this from crushcosmetics.com.au which is where I ordered mine. 

RATING   A-

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette [Review & Swatch]

This review is going to be short and sweet, rather like this palette. Urban Decay have really knocked it out of the park with this one, giving six everyday wearable MATTE shades in a light, travel friendly case.

As you can see my palette is already well-loved, as this is so easy to reach for in the mornings when you want a simple neutral eye look. All six shadows are buttery and pigmented, and last the whole day.

One slight downside for me though is the shade 'Foxy', which on my fair skin just looks yellow and a bit strange. The other shades more than make up for it though. 

The lightest shade 'Venus' has the slightest touch of pearl which looks very pretty as a highlight. 'Naked 2' and 'Faint' hold up exceptionally well as crease and outer corner shades. My favourite shadow though would have to be 'WOS' which is the perfect nude lid colour. Gorgeous.

A bonus in this palette is that the colour 'Crave' makes an awesome almost-black eyeliner which stays put all day (I know, because I tested it out for a full day of work and it was still going strong by the end of it).

So to conclude, if you are looking for a pretty little palette of wearable matte neutrals, this one is definitely for you!

PRICE    £19.95 (which ends up converting to around $36-38NZD, bargain!)

WHERE I BOUGHT IT  Beautybay.com (free international shipping)

RATING   A+

Edit:  Unfortunately Urban Decay have recently been bought out by L'Oreal which means I will no longer be buying or reviewing this brand- what a shame :(

Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio in Silent Treatment - Review, Swatch & Photo

If there were (for some reason) to be only one eyeshadow I could wear for the rest of my life it would come from this little palette.

Any guesses? Yep, it's that beautiful purple taupe shade at the bottom, but more on that later.

PRODUCT CLAIM  

Coordinating trio shades take the guesswork out of creating the perfect eye look.

• Beautifully enhances any eye color

• All-day crease resistant color

INGREDIENTS 

Talc, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Magnesium Stearate, Nylon 12, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Boron Nitride, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Polyethylene, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Tin Oxide, May Contain (+/-):, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Black 2 (CI 77266), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Carmine (CI 75470), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035)

SWATCHES

Wet n Wild Trio in Silent Treatment

REVIEW

All three shadows do combine perfectly to create a very wearable day look. The third shade is a triumph, buttery smooth and pigmented, and is my probably my favourite ever eyeshadow.

It looks pretty much the same on the eye as in the pan, a satin purple taupe. This shade would suit pretty much any eye colour.

The crease shade in the middle is a dark brown with small gold flecks. This is not the most pigmented shade but does well as a liner and in the outer corner, and blends nicely into the other shadows.

The highlighter shade is a pale pink with a slight sheen, but isn't very pigmented on the lids. Probably the least in terms of pigmentation of the three, but not a big deal as you don't but this palette for the highlight!

Worn over a primer (which is always a good idea no matter what brand of eyeshadow you use) these last a full 8-10 hours with no creasing and only a little fading.

Eye look- Wearing the purple/taupe on the lid, brown on the
outer v/crease, and the light pink to blend out and in
the inner corner.

PRICE-  $3-4 USD depending on where you source it.

WHERE I GOT MINE-  Beautyjoint.com (very reasonable international shipping!)

RATING-   A

Chi Chi Nudes Palette Review - Drugstore Naked Palette Dupe

The Chi Chi Glamerous Nudes Palette is relatively new to New Zealand shelves, and can be classified as a more affordable and accessible version of the famed Urban Decay Naked Palette. 

The 12 shades have definitely been created in mind of the original Naked palette shadows, so if you always wanted to try the Naked palette but couldn't for whatever reason, this palette may be for you!

Contains two matte, and 9 shimmery shadows. The shimmery shades range in terms of shimmer, some are more pearly while others are full on.

PRODUCT CLAIM     Chi Chi Glamorous Nudes Eye Shadow Collection is a palette of 12 velvety, soft, highly pigmented eyeshadows that are easy to blend to create individual looks. The shades can be worn sheer or dramatic by applying them wet or dry.

PACKAGING    This is your classic plastic case with see through clasp lid. Feels very sturdy. Palette comes with two double-ended applicators. 

Shades 1-4 applied without primer underneath

1) This is a pretty pearly white shade with a slight shimmer. Excellent as a highlighter. Looks very similar to the highlighter shade in the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. Good pigmentation.

2) This is a very pigmented shimmery nude that looks beautiful on the lid.

3) This is your basic light crease shade, performs well on my fair skin but this probably won't show up on medium to dark skin tones. Matte.

4) This is another shimmery shadow, and is a  light browny/gold colour. Good pigmentation.

Shades 5-8 applied without primer underneath

5) This is the second (and last) matte shadow. A medium tone brown, good for crease work. Nicely pigmented.

6) This true gold shade is probably the most pigmented of the bunch and is truly gorgeous.

7) This is a gold-flecked dark brown, and is among the highest pigmented of the bunch. 

8) This is an dark olive/brown, pigmentation is OK on this one but not great.

Shades 9-12 applied without primer underneath

9) Another beautiful shimmery shade, dark coppery gold. Very pigmented.

10) This is one of my favourite shades, a mauvey purple/brown with a slight sheen. Average pigmentation but still pretty.

11) This is my least favourite shadow of the bunch by far, terrible splotchy application, and i don't really know what colour they were trying to achieve with this one.

12) A pretty blueish dark grey shadow, much better pigmentation than the previous dark shade.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON PRODUCT

There is a lot to like about this palette. The price is more affordable for those looking for a Naked palette dupe, and for the most part pigmentation ranges from good to excellent (apart from no.11 which is awful).

Some of the lighter shadows may not show up well on medium to dark skin tones so be aware of that. I also wish that there were more matte shades included, but that is only a minor complaint.

Overall I do recommend this palette if you are in the market for a decent selection of nude/ brown/ gold shadows, however if you already own the Urban Decay Naked Palette there is really no need for you to get this one!

PRICE    Approx. $31.50 NZD, $19.95 AUD.

AVAILABILITY  Can be found in Farmers department stores in NZ, Priceline stores in AUS, and online.

RATING   A-

Until next time,