Olive Green and the Power of Compliments

Years ago when I was an undergraduate at university, I walked into an afternoon tutorial on an average Wednesday rugged up in a big scarf and with my bag heaving with a new stack of library books. The lady running the tutorial at the time is a local author and she stopped speaking to compliment my makeup and ask me where I was heading after class! The quickest and most simple compliment (I was heading home to read after class!) stuck with me for all these years, and subsequently every time I wear olive green or khaki eyeshadow I'm reminded of that moment and it makes me smile. It also reminds me that if you think a nice thought while out and about, it's often worth saying something to the person, it could make their day! I often throw quick (genuine!) compliments if I see someone wearing something lovely and some may think me strange, but I'm happy to take the risk so that they have a chance at that lovely feeling that I had years ago. Here are some of my favourite olive toned shades that I love to wear (not including the MAC shade I was actually wearing for that tutorial, Mink & Sable!)

-MAC Cosmetics 'Grand Entrance' from the Intriguing Scarlet Warm Eyes Palette (MAC Passions of Red collection, 2008)

-Chanel Illusion D'Ombre '84 Epatant'

-Prestige Total Intensity shadow 'Bewitched'

-Inglot Eyeshadow Pearl '419'

-Lancôme Ombre Hypnose 'Erika F'

-Colourpop Super Shock Shadow 'Hammered'

-Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Crayon 'Urban Camouflage'

Swatches! MAC, Chanel, Prestige, Inglot, Rimmel, Colourpop, Lancome

Have you ever given someone you don't know well a compliment? Or have you been given one yourself?
Are you a fan of green shades like the ones I've shared today?
-Emma 

New Beauty Releases

The tried and true products are still well-loved, but playing with the new kids on the block makes me so happy and excited about makeup and beauty again in a big way ('cause they've got the right stuff, babyyyy - points if you get the reference!)

Despite being deep into a Netflix-induced old school Gossip Girl obsession right now, I'm still totally up for trying out new things and the best way I know how is by taking a peek at the new beauty bits on shelves and slapping them on myself for a whirl! My cheeks have been glowing thanks to the new Sisley Phyto-Touche Illusion D'Ete* which is one of those awesome gel powders that fake a really healthy look (no real rays for this fair maiden!) and naturally I'm still stuck on the new Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blushes - the pictured Alezane shade is a serious stunner. I've been popping those over the new L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Matte Foundation in Vanilla* - annoyingly transfers easily but I quite enjoy the finish of this base so I'm sure use up the tube despite that!

New lip releases are a dime a dozen and since my drawers are stacked high I'm picky about what I'll try - the Carmex Green Tea Jasmine Lip Balm sounded too delicious to pass up, the Bobbi Brown Telluride lipgloss in Sunset* is gorgeous (see it in action here!) and may replace my old Nars lipgloss obsession, and the packaging of the new Lancôme Shine Lover Lipstick in Twisted Beige* is definitely the brands best yet. The sheer and shiny finish may not last the longest on my lips, but I like the colour a whole lot and as long as the weather isn't too hot I like toting this tube about in my handbag (not a fan of melted lip products!)

Twisted Beige, Sisley bronzing gel powder, Alezane, Sunset

I'm still loving the first three Urban Decay Naked palettes, but practising my smoky eye game with the fresh Naked Smoky Palette has been a lot of fun and I'm really glad I added it into my UD collection. Something I'm less chuffed about is the new Rimmel Wake Me Up Mascara* - at first I liked the pretty green tube, awesome cucumber scent and wet formula, but it takes what seems like an eternity to dry on my lashes and I always manage to get mascara all over my lids before it sets properly. I'd rather buy a few Rimmel nail polish bottles instead of this, a much better investment I think!

Rounding out the newbies? The Body Shop Italian Summer Fig EDT*, a jolt of strong figgy goodness that I've been wearing a ton of! I just saw in store that they have those cute little gift cubes in this scent for Christmas gift-giving - how perfect is that!? I have to pick up an early KK present this week so I'm going to hit them up for sure. 

 

Tried anything new lately?

What's your best $20 and under KK gift idea for a lady?

What lipgloss formula is your all-time favourite?

Hands up who got the song reference at the start of the post?!

-Emma x

 

 

*Marked products provided for consideration. Honesty, always!

Dreaming of Dreamtone

Who doesn't dream of a flawless skin tone? I personally battle with some lovely leftover blemish marks and general redness on my face, so was all gung-ho to try this new release from the skincare giant Lancôme.

First impressions? I love the ombre pink bottle, and the twist top open is a nice touch that I find really easy to use, and it keeps the application hygienic as well. This luxe serum targets dark spots (buzz term of late, don't ya think?) and comes in 3 variations for different skin tones/areas of concern. 

-Dreamtone 1 is targeted at fair complexions and is supposed to fight redness.
-Dreamtone 2 is for medium skin tones and fights sallow skin
-Dreamtone 3 is for dark skin and targets blemish marks.

I personally take these variation types with a grain of salt, and was sent Dreamtone 2 despite my very fair complexion. I was dubious about this serum, but also quite excited at the thought of using something so lovely and had hopes that it would help improve my skin overall. I am so pleased to say with hand on heart that I found this to make a noticeable difference in my skin, and it not only fought any dullness and redness but also helped fade some of my stubborn acne marks. Now you see why I think all 3 serums are very similar!

I generally use one or two pumps of this at night as I apply it all over my face, and the pale rose coloured serum smells luxe and floral which I am personally a fan of. Those who are sensitive to scents like this should try to nab a sample before splurging for a bottle thought, just in case. If you were wanting to stretch the serum out you can apply it only on areas of darkness or redness, but I figure that the whole lot needs help so on it goes!

Without meaning to sound totally lame, I actually look forward to applying this and love the way it feels on my skin. I have found that since using this, my skin is more even and I can head out without too much slap on if I feel like it, which is quite a thrill for me. It didn't take too long for me to see the results as well, which is a good thing since this bottle is pretty pricey and I was uncertain when I began using it. It didn't flare up any acne for me (in fact, it was a player in the skincare routine which seemed to calm my recent skin flare up!) and I've noticed that if I skip this for a few nights, my skin gets a little upset with me.

My only misgivings about this beauty of a skin serum? The face that I can't see how much I have left, and the price tag! Sitting at $105 AUD (close to US price, woohoo!) this is definitely a skincare splurge, but I can actually envision myself trotting down to Myer or clicking onto Adore Beauty for a repurchase when this press sample runs dry...wallet be warned.

Lancôme Dreamtone retails for $105 AUD and can be purchased at Adore Beauty.

What luxe skincare have you found to really work for you? Or do you stick to budget skincare and splurge on lipsticks instead?!

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

Palette Power

A mix of a few shades of eyeshadow can do wonders, and the ease of palettes is a definite drawcard for me. This is perhaps why my drawers are overflowing with sets of shadows from all different colour families, and why I tend to use shadows in palette form more than free standing shades. I grabbed a few of my favourite palettes to perve on, and thought I would share them with you and see what your favourite palette was!

 

Naturally I had to sneak the Urban Decay Naked palette into a post like this, the wearable shades and top notch quality are much lauded and it remains my #1 palette above the rest. Particular shade favourites are Sin, Darkhorse, Toasted + Virgin to create an amazing neutral eye look.  The Laura Mercier Signature Colour Essentials palette combine 4 of their top shades with a blush, and I love that in theory you could bring this with a base and mascara and be able to create a whole look in one shot.

 

 

Clarins remains one of my favourite makeup brands, as I am constantly impressed with both their packaging and product design in general. The Odyssey palette is my favourite from the two pictured here, though I do have a deep love for the purple within the Enchanted* palette. The Odyssey palette is quite sheer in nature (bar the gold leaf shade) and I find it easy to throw on and not have to think too much about. The Enchanted palette is really only reached for because of the purple shade, which I wear on my lower lash line all the time and absolutely adore.

 

My custom Inglot palette is filled with a mixture of matte and shimmery shades, and though that second to last pan seems quite orange it actually applies as a deep champagne shade on the lids and when swatched. I will admit that I don’t reach for this as often as I would if it were packaged in the old style, when the lid flipped out with a mirror and the pans were round. Though I like the look of the frosted glass top of these, my heart is just loyal to the old school ways!
 
I think I need to watch some Michelle Phan videos to work out how best to use the Lancome Midnight Rose palette*, as I haven’t used it too much and would love to work out how to make the most of all of the unique shades. The same goes for the Illamasqua Complement palette which I bought upon its release, but haven’t been able to create anything other than the look that the Illamasqua make-up artist talked me through. I love the purple shades from this palette and use them as stand-alone shades quite a bit, but getting all 4 to work harmoniously is a new way is next on my to-do list!

Which of these palettes would you snap up first? I’d love to know whether or not you are a fellow palette lover like myself! If you would like to see any of these in a makeup look be sure to let me know in the comments and I will happily oblige!

 

 

 

*Provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

A Fragrance Wardrobe

I have a plethora of scents in my possession, but I’ve taken to keeping a select handful on my desk to help me use them up faster. I swap some of these out and I do still use scents from the rest of my ridiculous collection, but these are the ones that have taken their place on the desk shelf lately!

 

 

I spoke at length about my issues with Lancome Tresor in Love, and I’m hoping to use a lot of this bottle before our next anniversary rolls around, to increase my chances of getting a new bottle of juice. This is a fruity rose scent, with notes of nectarine, bergamot, peach and Turkish rose, and I tend to wear it at night when we go out for coffee.

A recent launch from one of my favourite brands, Illamasqua Freak* is definitely a unique part of my scent collecton and unlike anything else I own.  It smells spicy and rich to me, and I tend to wear it when it is cold out and I feel quite tough and brave. I had to look up the notes for this, and they include opium flower, poison hemlock and frankincense. I have personally smelt this on quite a few people and it is definitely one you have to try on in store to judge, as it changes drastically depending on your skin.

Balenciaga Paris*, a powdery floral scent with notes of violet, cedar and carnation, is one of the most luxurious scents in my stash. I find this stays quite close to my skin when I wear it, and I use it sparingly as it is a travel sized sample gifted to me from the Balenciaga PR. I adore the bottle and have been hoping to add a full size Balenciaga to my collection once I use up a few more bottles, and this is a contender for that top spot.

Tucked away in the back in that image is a gorgeous Jo Malone bag filled with a teensy bottle of Orange Blossom* and a body cream in another scent, that I have been squirrelling away since before I began beauty blogging a few years ago. I received this in a Primped goody bag, the very first bag of that kind that I had ever received. I absolutely adore both the aesthetic and the scents from Jo Malone, and know that when I begin full time work my Jo Malone collection will grow from this small bottle up.

So Hooked on Carmella from Benefit is one of the stronger scents in my collection, and was purchased from a blog sale a while back.  Classified as an oriental floral, this contains notes of grapefruit, lemon, rhubarb, peony, sandalwood, amber and vanilla. Most of these notes are my very favourites, and though I can’t wear this scent around my sensitive-nosed Mumma Bovary, I do pop it on quite often on days when I know I won’t see her.

Last but not at all least is my all-time favourite fragrance, and the one I hope to wear for the rest of my days here on earth. Guerlain’s Champs Elysees is a fruity-floral that contains notes of mimosa, rose almond and forest fruits, but most of all it smells like me!  I feel strong, powerful and intelligent when I wear this, like I am the woman I want to be.

 

Isn’t it amazing how fragrances can make you feel certain things?

Wasted Beauty

We all do it, so just admit it.


There are certain things you ‘save’ for a special occasion, one such occasion that takes a damn long time to come. Whether it be a beautifully embossed eyeshadow palette or an expensive perfume that was a gift from that someone special, these beauties sit alongside the staples waiting for their turn to shine and be wholly loved. If they do manage to get a look in, they are quickly popped back on the shelf for fear of running out (the dilemma of the limited edition item, you see) Whilst I have a long list of things I’m sort of hoarding (Thierry Mugler Angel EDT, travel bottle of Bioderma, Rimmel Match Perfection Crème Gel foundation…the list goes on!) this beautiful perfume set is the one that has made me rethink my ways.

I can’t seem to put my finger on the occasion that this marked (it was a few years ago now, this was released early 2010) but I remember Chris handing it over, impeccably wrapped with a big ol’ grin on his face. I was elated as I always spritzed myself with Tresor in Love whenever I passed a Lancome counter, and now I was free to wallow in the stuff. Fast forward to last Christmas, I mentioned a perfume I had my eye on to the boy… his response was a firm no, followed by a stern word about the wasted gift set that still sat upon my shelf, unopened and pristine.

“Saving things for a special occasion is stupid. Put it on and let’s order Dominos.”

With that, I took it down and since then have been enjoying the fruity sweet rose scent and the love that it was given with. I want to enjoy the things in life that make me smile, the taupe shadows and the discontinued highlighters, the limited edition blushes and the hard to find lipsticks. Life is short, and I am going to enjoy the beautiful things (material or otherwise) while I can.

What are you saving for a special occasion?

Emptied in August

Clarins Eau des Jardins Uplifting Shower Gel

Will be posting a full review on this as I adored it, smells amazing and is PH balanced.

Priceline Round Cotton Pads

You constantly see these in my empties, because I use them for everything! Bioderma, toner, folded in half to fix eye liner. You name it!

Dermaveen Oatmeal Conditioner

The matching shampoo was featured in my last empties, and this isn't much better. Doesn't give my hair enough moisture, but I've used worse conditioners in the past.

Boots shave cream

This is so old the can has rusted, I found it at the back of my cabinet and was repulsed. This is not empty, but a chucker.

Sunsilk Colour Lock Shampoo

A grotty sample that I don't want to put near my head, this is also a chucker.

Shu Uemura Skin Purifying Cleansing Oil

I felt that this took my makeup off well, but did leave a bit of an oily residue. I didn't dislike it, but I can't decide if I like it enough to buy it in the future.

Rimmel Match Perfection Cream Gel Foundation

I really enjoyed this, it really does feel like a cross between a cream and a gel. I found that it sets really quickly so you have to blend each section of your face separately to avoid it feeling mask like. The finish it gives is like real skin, but without major flaws, and I liked wearing this to work or out to lunch on Sundays.

Lancome Tresor Midnight in Love

I love fragrance samples, and this sweet blackberry vial was lovely. It was uber sweet so I tended to wear it at night, but I can see myself buying a full bottle of this.

Australis Lash Length Extension mascara

Reviewed here, I really enjoyed using this fibre mascara and loved how easy it was to remove. In the end up it became very clumpy (in a soft, fibre-y way) but it lasted well past it's proper 'expiry' date (yes, I kept using it because I'm cheeky) Would repurchase. 

 Face of Australia Face Base Primer

I already have another tube of this on the go, it is my favourite moisturising base and it lets my foundation glide on a lot easier. I use this daily and find it helps my colour cosmetics last a little bit longer, but it's more for application help than anything. Have and would repurchase.

What did you use up this month?

What mascara and primer are you using right now?

Empties for July

I thought I hadn't used up many products this month, but it turns out I did alright.

Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose
I love the blackcurrant edge that this has over the other Tresor varieties, it lasts quite well on me but until I finish up some of my other perfumes, I won't be purchasing this. A customer came into work wearing this last week and it smelt so good, which is why I pulled this out to finish it up.

Ardell Sculpting Brow Gel
This still has product left in it but it's so scungy now that it just had to go. It's affordable and easy to find, so I will repurchase after I finish the brow gel I am currently using.

DermaVeen Oatmeal shampoo
I was so excited to try out the sample of this shampoo (the matching conditioner will be in my next empties post) but sadly this did nothing for me but make my dandruff worse. My scalp is still itchy and distressed after using this, I've only found one anti-dandruff shampoo that works (Garnier) so I'm sticking with that one.

Australis 3 in 1 wipes

These are nice enough, I buy them when they are on sale and use them for swatching.

Dove Tinted Moisturiser

I love this TM, Chris' Mum gave it to me but it has started to smell and has gone off. I've repurchased a fresh one!

Ethnique nail polish

I have no idea how I came to own this, but it is pretty much solid now.

Crabtree & Evelyn Nantucket Briar shower gel

I love Crabtree, this was a bit too 'nanna' even for me, but I still liked it.

Impulse Paris body mist

I love this body mist, I use it as a room spray and occasionally as a body mist. It is very similar to Miss Dior Cherie, and I have already repurchased.

Kiehl's Coriander liquid body cleanser*

This was such a strangely enjoyable scent, it was herby but somewhat sweet, and unlike anything my nose has come across before. I don't like it enough to repurchase, though I did enjoy using it.

Face of Australia Gentle Make-up Remover

I remembered loving this more than I now do, I think since trying Bioderma all makeup removers will let me down in comparison. I would still repurchase, as it does a good job and is affordable.

Rexona Girl Free Spirit Deodorant

I usually buy the Tropical Energy version of this (my ultimate fave) but thought I'd see what this version was like. I liked the scent, but not as much as the Tropical Energy one. I would repurchase in the future, just to change it up a bit.

QV Gentle Conditioner*

This was woeful, I am sorry to say. Hardly moisturised my hair and the build up was atrocious. The matching shampoo was just as bad, so this is definitely not being repurchased.

Coles Make-up Removal Pads

Done the job, they fall apart easily but I'm not bothered by that as they are cheap as chips.

Have you tried any of these products?

How much did you use up in July?

Serum Sampler!

The idea of trialling petite sized serums is a very exciting one, and so when Adore Beauty contacted me and told me about their new (and limited!) Serum Sampler Set, I was elated. I was sent the pack which contains 5 petite serums, and today I am showing you the contents of the pack. I would love to provide reviews on each of these serums but it takes quite a while to trial each one, and I didn't want you to miss the opportunity to try this sampler out so I will just be providing some serum overviews for you at this point!

The Serum Sampler Selection.

SK II Facial Treatment Essence (30ml)

This facial essence promises radiance and says that it helps to maintain the skin's normal renewal cycle, which all sounds very promising. It also mentions that it balances the skin's PH levels and sebum secretion, so the oily and dry bits of your skin come out happy with this. I love Cate Blanchett in the television ad for this product, and am looking forward to trying it!

Lancome Genifique Youth Activator (7ml)

This says that it is based on gene science and stimulates the skin's production of youth proteins. Being 21 I don't think this is aimed at me, but I am up for warding off aging and it says it will make my skin cushiony soft- I like! It also mentions that it will help with skin tone and texture. I think I have another of these samples lying around so it will be good to give this a red hot go!

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster (7ml)

Like a vitamin for your face, or so it says on the pack! Promises to help smooth out lines and wrinkles and prevent them appearing in the future, which sounds great for the little lines appearing around my eyes! I know I'm young but I would like to stay looking fresh for as long as possible, so this stuff should be good for me.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant + (2.5ml)

I am a fan of rosehip oil in general, and Trilogy is an excellent brand so this is a welcome addition to the sampler pack. This is certified organic and 100% natural, and great at moisturising deep into the skin, which is a must-have in winter! I will be gifting this little sample to my sister as I have this already, and she is having a bit of trouble with dry skin at the moment, and this should do the trick!

Alpha-H Liquid Gold Prep & Prime (10ml)

This water-based fluid says that it will leave skin plumped and luminous, and refines pores and dissolves cell build up. I like that it had a mattifying effect, and doesn't contain filler ingredients. It notes glycolic acid as a primary ingredient and says that it will improve the overall appearance of my skin. I have a full size of this that Alpha-H gifted me that I am yet to use, so when I do open it this will live at Chris' house with my travel skincare.

Subtle Energies Facial Blend (10ml)
This 'aromatic' facial blend says that it gives a youthful glow by providing rejuvenation, and that it is great for normal to dry skin types. The blend includes the oils of mogra, sandalwood and Indian Rose, which sounds like a very lovely mix! I've not heard of this brand before so am excited to see whether or not this can help my winter dryness.

I think that sampler packs like this are a terrific way of dipping your toe into new products without too much commitment, and I am excited to be able to try out all of these brands.

The exclusive Adore Beauty Serum Sampler retails for $29 AUD and can be purchased here. The pack arrives with a discount code for 10% off of any serum within the pack, so once you have chosen your favourite you can save a bit of cash! Shipping from Adore Beauty is $5.95 AUD.

Have you tried any of these serums?

What do you think of the idea of a serum sampler?

*This serum sampler pack was provided for consideration for review from Adore Beauty, which in no way affects my opinion of the product. Honesty, always.

Dans Ses Bras - Lancome Rouge in Love #163M

At the launch of the new Lancome Rouge in Love range, I fell in love with more shades than my purse could handle. Dans Ses Bras (163M) was certainly one of them, and I delighted that Lancome gifted me with it. A silky smooth texture, these lippies last longer than most others but are still nice and moisturising which is pretty darn impressive!


 The packaging of this range is one of the best features, the red seam up the back imitates a stocking seam (love!) and the base is just lovely.

***

Have you tried the new Rouge in Love lipsticks yet?
My pick is Corail in Love, which matches the polish I reviewed here!

Rouge in Love lipsticks retail for $45 AUD and are available from Myer and Adore Beauty (link).

*Product was provided for consideration, which does not affect my opinion of it. Honesty, always.

A Subtle Pop of Bright

Despite being one to embrace bright shades in all aspects of makeup, I know that many are wary of busting out of their shell and moving away from neutral tones. When it comes to eye makeup, most people I know (non-beauty bloggers!) lean towards champagnes or greys for their day to day eye look. I've come up with a subtle look that is safe for work but adds a bit of brightness to the face!

By using a small sweep of colour close to the lower lashline, you add a great frame to your eyes and it still allows you to work with neutral shades on the upper lid. This time around I chose a gorgeous turquoise shade from my Rimmel palette, and paired it with champagne tones from the same palette topped with some Napoleon Perdis eye dust in Starlight.

This look was done quite a while ago, and if I were to recreate it I would all more liner to the top lashline to balance out the contrast of shimmer and matte shades. I would also love to try it out with a foundation rather than the tinted moisturiser I used in this look, just to create a smoother canvas to work with.

I think the pop of colour is a really great idea, and would work with anything from an electric orange to a mossy green shade. I know a lot of people are afraid of wearing blue shadow, but I think wearing it in this way is a great stepping stone to braver, brighter looks!

Products used:

Dove Essential Nutrients Tinted Moisturiser in Beige

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara

Clinique High Impact mascara (for lower lashline)

Rimmel Eyeshadow Quad

Sportsgirl Liquid Lip Colour in Wow!

Napoleon Eye Dust in Starlight

What do you think of this subtle pop of bright?