Grey + Coral - when winter and summer collide

The coral cheek trend has been a bit hit with me for quite a while now (BYS Endless Summer blush trio is the best for coral cheeks!) but now I'm adding a coral lip into my easy summer repertoire. As I think I've mentioned before, come summer time I pack away my lipsticks and bring my lipgloss stash to the front of my collection. Bright and summery glosses like this essence Beauty Beats Groupie at Heart gloss are great to brighten up the face. I also adore the MAC Archie's Girls Kiss and Don't Tell lipglass which is similar but more sticky (in a good way) than this el cheapo option. Since the essence gloss doesn't last very long, I layered it on top of my Maybelline Colour Bloom in Peach Blossom so that colour remained after the glossy effect wore off. Was very pleased with the result! 

In an unexpected wintery twist, I have been using quite a few grey and silver polishes lately, For this mix I chose a base of the nails inc Leather Effect polish* in Old Compton Street (which I am sad to say Charlie has now chewed the top of so the leather lid doesn't look so fresh, cheeky little puppy!) I then dabbed a bit of Sinful Colors Diamonds are Forever on the tips of each nail, and I have to say this cheap silver glitter is something my collection was in desperate need of! I threw a few coats of top coat on to try to get rid of the leather effect and was almost successful, but next time I think I will just use a grey crème and be done with it. I much prefer the other nails inc formulas, the leather look for nails isn't really my thing. I think perhaps I will appreciate the different texture in winter when leather and faux fur are floating my icy boat.

 

Adore the silver glitter tips! The other silver polish I've been trialling is the chrome finish Push & Shove* from the new OPI Gwen Stefani collection, and it is pictured above.

this is my 'wow I love coral and grey' face! note the grey throw rug behind me in this shot - it is my best buddy for couch naps!

 



Are you a fan of coral lips? Are grey tones your thing at this time of year or do you stick to traditional brights in summertime?

 

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

 

*Provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

The 6 Best Bronzers for Fair Skin

Summer has arrived in Melbourne! I'm currently slumming it with Charlie in front of the air-con with all of the blinds drawn, and thought that it was the perfect time to bust out some of my bronzers. Does summer get you in the mood for bronzing it up, too?!

So as a self-proclaimed blush junkie, bronzer isn't a consistent part of my makeup routine if I'm honest. However, around this time of year both of my sisters head on summer holidays and come back looking uber brown, and since I am crazy-pale at the best of times, sitting next to them can make me look like a ghost if I'm not careful. I need a touch of bronzer to warm up my complexion since actual tanning is a no-no for me, and these are what I'm working with!

The easiest powder for me to wear is probably the Clarins Accent Face Powder thanks to the sheer formula, pale shade and dash of peppy pink to bring it into blush territory. Next up for the pale and sheer reasons would be The Body Shop Honeycomb bronzer, which it a tie for my very favourite bronzer altogether. Not only is it cute and compact, it blends like a dream and can be used as a contour thanks to the matte formula.

Now for an opinion that many won't agree with...let's talk about Nars Laguna. I see people rave about this all the time on blogs and YouTube, and am happy to say I got this adorable little travel size for free back when Mecca Maxima first opened the doors in Melbourne Central. As you can see, I've used it enough to hit pan on it, but if I have to be totally honest I'm just not a huge fan of this! It doesn't blend as nicely as most other bronzers I own, the colour isn't anything spectacular and as we all know, Nars rubber packaging gets super filthy in a flash! This is something I wouldn't personally purchase, but others seem to love it so take that with a grain of salt.

Another hyped up bronzer that I'm testing out is the beautiful Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel which is one of the only cream bronzers in my stash. I am yet to try this under my foundation as Estee/EssieButton recommends, but so far it seems easy to blend and the colour is pretty lovely for my skin tone. Plus c'mon, it is Chanel for crying out loud - stunning!

The most shimmery of the bronzers I own (and the most affordable at $11.95!) is definitely the Face of Australia Pressed Bronzer*, which I use sparingly on the top of my cheekbones for a subtle bronze glow. I don't see this as being the same as any of my other bronzer-type products, and use it more as a bronzed up highlighter than anything else. The top nod for my favourite bronzer (tied with The Body Shop number...) is the beautiful Clinique Superbalanced Bronzer* (the grinder version) which is the best for me in terms of colour, blendability and finish. I do see how frustrating the large packaging would be to travel with, but ultimately the other factors more than make up for that and my love for this bronzer holds strong.

And now for the swatch!

 

What are some of your favourite bronzers?
Are they a daily staple in your routine, or do you only bust them out occasionally too?

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

*Provided for consideration, which doesn't affect the bronzed up love. Honesty, always.

Sunshine + Beauty

While Melbourne stays overcast and sends me diving into my scarf collection, the thought of sunshine and laying on the sand is still planted firm within my mind. With a tropical holiday not in near sight, I turn to my beauty cabinets to inject some sunshine + happiness into my days!

Apart from the beautiful bright orange bottle of Clarins Sunshine*, I love the summery fresh scent despite it not lasting too long on my skin. I had a look at Fragrantica for the notes of this (detecting notes is definitely not my forte!) and this is what it told me:

Top notes are sicilian mandarin, grapefruit, watermelon and bergamot; middle notes are mimose, chamomile, ylang-ylang and carnation; base notes are tonka bean, patchouli, lime (linden blossom) and osmanthus.

Sicilian mandarin and mimosa, mmm mmm! I like that this smells summery but still doesn’t feel out of place in the cold Melbourne winter, which is perhaps due to the lack of coconut or strong summer fruits that ‘summer’ scents normally possess.

In terms of actually wearing orange, I can’t go past the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous, which was originally not released with the rest of the collection but has now crept onto Australian shelves where it belongs. I bought my crayon on eBay and find it the perfect orange shade for my pale skin tone, to really brighten up my whole face! Having said that, I think this would also be amazing on darker skin tones, so I recommend a swatch next time you hit up Priceline. Another orange makeup I marvel over is the Stila Convertible Colour in the shade Gladiola, which appears bright orange but sheers out to a wearable peachy orange on the cheek. I apply this either with a stippling brush (blush brush staple, for sure) or a paddle foundation brush, and it melds in with the skin so easily.

I've also popped my little REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask sample into the shot above, as I'm very excited to try it out since nabbing it from one of the lovely ladies at Mecca Maxima Melbourne. I love the orange colour of the mask, and hope that it will indeed renew my radiance when I try it out.

 

Orange nails were my first real beauty obsession, and anytime I get a manicure I gravitate towards orange- the brighter, the better! Jinx* is one of the new Liquid Sand shades from the OPI Bond Girls collection, and when I saw it at David Jones both Chris and I found the golden shimmer in the shade just breathtaking in the bottle. I was happy to have the shade hit my desk not long after, and the textured sand finish paired with the golden shimmer filled bright orange is just stunning.

 

What shades makes YOU smile the most? Are you like me, and embrace brighter colours in the colder months to perk up your day?

 

 

 

*Marked items provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Summer Skin Essentials

While the UK shivers through the snow, we in Australia are absolutely roasting! Seeing the difference between the whinges of my family in Scotland/England and the whinges of my local family is quite funny. The beauty products I use in summer are also quite different to the products I use when it’s cold, and I thought I would share some of my summer skincare essentials with you.

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist: A beautiful and refreshing rose scented spray, housed in a stunning frosted glass bottle. As I've mentioned previously, this isn’t handbag friendly, but for long days at the desk it hits the spot!

Dermalogica Oil Free Matte Sunscreen (with Medibac Clearing)*: Though the ladies at Dermalogica have said that this may be too matte for my dry and dehydrated patches of skin, I am still head over heels for this sunscreen. It contains SPF 30 and truth be told, I use this as a primer just as much as I use it as my daily sunscreen.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR, aka Dry Oil Golden Shimmer*: It is no secret that anything French has a headstart for my affections, and this is no different. I’ve been using this down the centre of my lily white legs to get a bit of healthy-glow action happening, and over my arms and décolletage to glam up my summer outfits. The smell of this is the same as the original Dry Oil, which I tend to use as an overall moisturiser.

Uriage Bariederm Barrier Cream*: A less glamorous addition to the summer bag, but a necessity nevertheless. Barrier creams are excellent at stopping chafing, and is recommended for nurses and mechanics who wash their hands and get dirty frequently. Chris is a mechanic and also chafes during summer, so he loves swiping a bit of this stuff when the weather heats up.

 

Clarins Mineral Bronzing Duo (in Dark)*: Nothing better on a summers day to have bronzed up skin, and since I don’t tan, I turn to bronzers to give me the glow I need. My love for Clarins knows no bounds, as this blog documents, and these two shades work for my pale skin even though I was sent the dark version, if I use a light hand.

Unmeltable lip products!

YSL Glossy Stain in #15 Rose Vinyl: I adore the formula of the YSL Glossy Stains, and because they don’t melt or snap when warm, they are perfect for keeping in my handbag during hot weather. The glossy finish is casual enough for everyday and the stain means I don’t have to retouch very often, and all of those factors make this a perfect summer lip product for me!

Sportsgirl Give Some Lip liquid lipstick (pictured is the shade Luscious): I swear by this liquid lipstick/lipgloss formula, I love the unique scent and the beautiful colour selection. These are unmeltable, and really pigmented for juicy looking lips.

Revlon Super Lustrous lipgloss in Coral Reef: Revlon are stellar when it comes to lip products, and these glosses are really comfortable to wear, with Coral Reef being the perfect coral shade for this heat.

So now it is your turn to share your summer essentials in the comments below,  I’d love to hear what you rely on when the weather heats up!

*Marked items were provided for editorial consideration. Honesty, always.

Coral Reef, Pinched, Flushed // Revlon Photoready Cream Blush // Swatches, Photos, Review

 The new Revlon Escapism collection by Gucci Westman saw the release of three creme blushes, as well as a slew of other beautiful products. Naturally, I was drawn to them like the proverbial moth to a flame, and here are the spoils. (I will also admit to picking up other pieces from the collection later in the week!)

 

 The packaging of these is nice and compact, a thick plastic pot with a screw top lid.

 

 From what I understand the most popular shades are definitely the latter two, brighter shades. I am happy to own all three, and have been wearing them all equally.

 Pinched is a pale peach shade that it very sheer, even on my palest-of-the-pale skin tone. I have been wearing this regardless, as I find the hint of colour to work well when I'm playing up my features with bronzer. Those with skin tones darker than mine might want to give this shade a miss, and instead pick up one of the more intense flushes from the range.

Coral Reef is a great match for the lauded Super Lustrous gloss of the same shade, and being a fan of coral colours in general this was a sure fire win for me. Though it appears super vibrant in its pot, it sheers out easily and creates a beautiful flush on the cheeks. I like wearing this with a slick of black liquid liner and the Coral Reef gloss, the look ties in well together and I find it flattering. 

Flushed is a hot pink shade that sheers out, just like the others, to a very wearable pop of pink on the cheek. Of all the blush colours I own, my pink shades get the most love and so this is a nice change from the baby doll pinks I generally go for.

See, I told you they could be sheered out easily!

I find these long-lasting so far (though have only worn them a few times each) but I have had a problem with Pinched fading on my cheeks in a patchy way (which you could only see if you were reaaaally close to my face) I have a feeling it didn't get on with my Dermalogica sunscreen, as when I've worn it previously I didn't have a problem.

I love the muted but bright shades that Gucci Westman dreamed up for this PhotoReady collection, and coming into the warmer weather of Australia means these should get a good run in my 'everyday face' bag.

 

Have you tried anything from the new Escapism collection?

What are your thoughts on bright cheeks?

 

*These products were purchased by me and I am not affliliated with Revlon. Honesty, always.

Cute as a Button

This polish is described as a 'juicy persimmon delight' on the US Essie site (here) I would describe it as a light peachy pink coral, which appears a little neon in some lights and dusty in others.

I adore the name of this polish, the shade itself is indeed cute as a button so it is very fitting!

I wore this a few weeks ago when Chris and I stayed at his family beach house, and though the wind was howling and the air was chilly, I was happy to have this little ray of muted sunshine on my fingers.

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Do you tend to wear darker shades in colder weather, or are you like me and brighten up your nails?

Jaunty- MAC Hey Sailor! collection

As soon as I saw the press release for MAC Hey Sailor! collection, the pretty packaging suckered me right in. I loved the promo image and I think the stripes are fun but also something pretty to sit in my makeup collection.

I was a good beauty blogger and only chose one thing from the collection, and didn't hesitate when making my choice.

Jaunty is a warm light-medium beige shade with a gorgeous frosty sheen to it, which makes it appear as a warm champagne to my eye.

As soon as I swatched Jaunty I knew that it would fill a void in my collection for another perfect 'all over the lid' eyes, and would sit with Urban Decay Sin as that kind of colour very well.

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I love the navy blue casing of the shadows in this collection, and have decided that I won't be depotting this one, despite it being harder to tote around that way.

The sheen on this is so lovely, and I found the colour payoff to be good, but not as buttery as Urban Decay shadows.

I love wearing this as a wash all over the lid, and either leaving it like that or popping a bit of Urban Decay Darkhorse into the crease. It works well with most other neutral shades, and I think a pop of bright along the lower lashline would work perfectly with Jaunty as well. I was so pleased to get this shadow 10% off at Myer with their recent sale!

Have you tried anything from the Hey Sailor! collection?

What are your favourite 'all over the lid' eyeshadows?

 

Peach Crystal- Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Balm (Review+Swatch)

This little stunner jumped out at me during a cheeky Priceline trip a few weeks ago, and despite not needing it in the slightest, it somehow wangled its way into my basket.

The Revlon Summer Romantics collection is new out at my local, despite us Aussies only just heading into Spring. Nevertheless, a gorgeous collection that had me swooning.

If only it could make me look like Ms Alba!

And well priced as you can see
The lip balm pots jumped out at me, and as soon as I smelt the peachy goodness I knew Peach Crystal was the one for me.

Comes in a sturdy pot that has a slide out brush in the lid, great if you aren't a fan of using your fingers to apply lip products. This is safe to keep in your bag as it is super secure.

If you enlarge the image you can see the slight shimmer that runs through the balm. This doesn't translate to the lips, however, but adds a glossy sheen to the swatch.

The tint is quite sheer and only gives the slighest coral hint to the lips, so if you're wanting a good colour payoff this isn't for you. It would be really nice over a coral lip stain, so if you know of any please let me know.

The scent of this product is quite strong, so if you have an aversion to peach you should sniff before you buy. I personally love it, and it was the deciding factor in my purchase.
Pros:
Scent is killer
Nice glossy sheen
Very wearable
Pretty packaging
Non Sticky
SPF 15
Cons:
Packaging quite bulky for carrying in handbag
Jar form can be unhygienic (though this does come with a brush)
Minimal colour payoff
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A winner, despite its flaws!
My bestie is lusting after the cream shadow palette from the range and I'm sure I'll pick up something else from it soon, so I will get back to you when I do.
Have you tried anything from the Revlon Summer Collection?
Are you a fan of strong scents in lip products?
Do you know of any great coral lip stains?

emmabovary xx