get some long lashes

Though my beauty collection spans all spectrums when it comes to price range, the one thing I hate to spend big bucks on is mascara. Though there are some high-end mascaras that have captured my heart, I am not willing to outlay cash on them as regularly as you need to with mascaras, and so I turn to drugstores aka Priceline for my lash fix.

Australis have recently come out with a massive range of 'all-sorts' of mascaras, and I was sent the Lash Length Extension to trial. I tend to swing between lengthening and volumising ones, and I think that this one is best suited to day events or work days. I am quite lucky in the lash department in terms of length, and this mascara really worked to stretch them out even further. It doesn't have as dramatic an impact as Lancome's Hypnose Doll Eyes, but I really like the way it defines and separates each lash.

The LLE is a fibre formula, which means rather than using a makeup remover you simply wet your lashes and the fibres slide off in your fingers. I use a makeup remover before hopping in the shower, sliding off my mascara and then cleansing. I find that this has resulted in much less irritation to my eyes during the removal process, which keeps my lashes in tip top condition. This lasts all day long as well, and does not flake or smudge on me.

One eye with, one eye without. Can you tell which is which?

If you are a fan of fibre/tubing style mascaras, this is an excellend budget option for you. Those looking into trying one out should give it a go before outlaying moolah on high-end offerings, to make sure you like the style!

What are your thoughts on fibre or tubing mascaras?

It is so hard to go back to a regular mascara after using this, if my lazy self is totally honest!

Australis Lash Length Extension retails for $11.95 and is available at Priceline, Big W, Kmart, Target and selected pharmacies nationally.

*This indeed was sent to me, but my reviews are always honest.

Malibu Barbie FOTD

                   

When a piece from my cosmetic collection jumps out at me, I tend to base my whole look around it. While getting ready for work I came across my stunning Face of Australia Malibu Barbie lipstick, and I decided to choose products to compliment it.

Bourjois Healthymix Serum is a foundation I use quite regularly, it gives a luminous finish and is easy to apply with my fingers, which is how I applied it for this look. I find that I need to scrub my lips a few times a week to keep them in good condition, and I scrubbed them with Lush's Mint Julips before applying Malibu Barbie to make the most of the gorgeous shade.

The Urban Decay Naked palettes have been out in full force lately, and I used a mixture of shades from each to create a subtle eye look that wouldn't compete with the bright lip. Benefit Hervana was a perfect blush choice to pair with this look, the pale pink shade is very wearable and went well with the essence highlighter in Flamingo Pink, which is a very subtle shimmer powder.

Malibu Barbie is a stunning bright pink shade that I find really comfortable to wear, it is smooth and creamy without being too slippery, which also helps it last quite well on my lips. It is the sort of shade that would look good on most skin tones I think, and it seems to brighten my pale skin quite well. I have a few of the Face of Australia lipsticks from this line and so far I have been really impressed with them all, both in colour and in formulations.

How often do you wear bright pink lip shades?

Have you tried the Face of Australia lipsticks yet?

Malibu Barbie is available at Kmart,Priceline and Big W, and on Fashion Addict here (they ship internationally!)

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?

The Inglot Inventory: a bronzed navy FOTD

I am a massive lover of navy eyeshadow, and instead of using the black I fear I always turn to its blue buddy. Here is a look I wore to university the other day.

I wanted to use colours from my Inglot palettes, and when Mum gifted me this jumper it inspired me to utilise the gorgeous deep brown and dark navy of its threads in an eye look.

Apart from the fact that I look super-dopey above, check out the sweater! Same colours,  no?

Face: 

Bourjois Healthymix Foundation in 51

Face of Australia Loose Powder in Outback Translucent*

NYX powder blush in Peach

Eyes:

MAC Painterly paint pot

Inglot  D.S 483 (navy shade)

Inglot Bronze shadow (unknown number!)

Urban Decay Virgin (highlight)

Mirenesse Tightliner in Black

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara

Lips:

Can't remember what I had on here, but I know I used my Estee Lauder gloss in Blush for the rest of the day.

How do you wear navy on your eyes?

Do you wear looks like this during the day?

How often do you match your eye shadow to your clothing?

The Hunger Games: A Katniss Everdeen Look

The Hunger Games film came out in Australia last Thursday, and I was excited to see how the adaption would turn out! I have read the first two books so far and am holding out on the 3rd 'til uni holidays, but watching the movie has made me want to dive into it right now!
Chris and I went to a restaurant before the movie on Friday night, and I was inspired by The Hunger Games protagonist Katniss Everdeen when I was doing my makeup.

Katniss is quite a natural beauty in both the book and the film, and so I decided to create a healthy flushed look (from running around the forest!) with bright eyes to open my face up. A natural lip look was necessary as Katniss doesn't seem the type to wear makeup anyway, and wears simple balm for most of the film.

Face:

Bourjois Healthymix 52

YSL Creme de Blush in 02

Bourjois Chocolate Bronzing Powder

Benefits Watts Up! highlighter*

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Cream

Eyes:

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

Urban Decay Sin (Naked Palette)

Urban Decay Virgin (Naked Palette)

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara

Ardell Clear Brow Gel

Lips:

1skinsolution Vanilla lip balm

Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey

Katniss rocks quite a few brighter looks in the film when her stylist Cinna takes control over her look, and I can't wait to try some of them out! Cinna's gold liner is also gorgeous, and I will definitely be using him as inspiration in a look soon!

I decided to use my YSL Creme de Blush as I think it gives a great natural finish compared to powder blushes, and it lasts really well which is also part of the reason why it is one of my favourite products. I have an in-depth post coming up on these blushes, they are incredible.

I wore my khaki cargo pants and a long sleeved black top with chunky boots to see the film, I felt a bit funny semi-dressing up but it sure got me into The Hunger Games mood! I also wore my hair to the side with a plait to really channel Katniss' look, and I decided I really like my hair this way.

And now, I leave you with my 'I can't wait to see The Hunger Games movie' face.
 You're welcome!

This look has coincided with a challenge from Sara-May at Makeup Utopia as part of their regular challenges. This round has challenged us (here) to create a look inspired by The Hunger Games- I urge you all to have a look at some of the inspiration there and give it a go yourself! I had this post ready before the challenge but am glad to be finally involved in a challenge- I may give another look a go in the coming week!

Have you read The Hunger Games series, or seen the film?

What do you think of the look?

Are you Team Peeta, or Team Gale?

Do you think the film adaption did the novel justice?

Items marked * were provided for consideration.

a basket full o' makeup

This post here had me thinking about my beauty using habits. I tend to wake up in the morning bleary eyed and reach for whatever pretty my heart desires at that very moment. I decided to switch it up, and at the start of the week (which is a Wednesday for me!) fill up my tub on the counter with products I want to make a dent in. Here is what made it in this past week!

I threw in a few half-used items to see if I could finish some off, and some new items I'm reviewing to make sure I give them time to impress me.

base; Bourjois Healthymix, L'Oreal Base Magique sample
blush; NYX Peach (review here)

bronzer; Nars Laguna

Undereye; Smashbox Undereye Brightener*

Mascara; Lancome Doll Eyes (review here) & Clinique High Impact
Eyes; Sportsgirl Prom Night (pan hit, woohoo!), MAC Painterly Paint Pot, Ardell Clear Brow Gel, Mirenesse Tightliner*, BYS Brow pencil* & Rimmel pencil liner
Lips; Estee Lauder High Gloss in #11 Blush

I have almost used up both mascara samples and want to make good use of them before they have to be tossed, and the Smashbox concealer is just there to be used up as I'm not fond of it. NYX Peach and Laguna have been kicking around in my collection for quite a while and I'm looking to hit pan on them, if it's the last thing I do.

I don't even need to explain the Ardell brow gel, it's pretty ratty looking. I know that it is fine and that it is just my brow powder mixed into it, but it still grosses me out. The BYS pencil is something I'm trialling for review at the moment, and the Sportsgirl shadow is much loved but needs to be in cosmetic heaven now. Painterly is something I use every single day so it has a permanent position in the basket full of awesomeness.

My Bourjois Healthy Mix has been so good to me, and has lasted so long only because I had two on the go at once. I had one in my bag most of the time for weekends away or for when I was at Chris' place, but this one is finally about to bite the dust!

Laguna and Peach, respectively.

The L'Oreal Base Magique was a sample Chris got me, haven't used it enough to know whether or not I like it. The gloss was nabbed from Chris' Mum when she split up her travel set. Estee Lauder glosses are the bomb, and this one is my favourite shade. Boring in the tube, stunning on the lips!

My neutral Inglot palette...(review here)

...and my brights palette (review here)
I chose these two palettes because I adore them, and also because I don't reach for them as much as I should. I wear brights quite a bit, but thought that throwing them in would push me to create some nice combinations that I haven't tried out before. I was right! I have a stack of FOTD's to share with you in upcoming posts, all using these palettes with other shadows thrown in.

I think this is the sort of task I am able to stick to, I don't have enough patience to complete a set pan project. I think the fact that I have enough wiggle room to use other items from my collection makes this an enjoyable effort, and still gets my mind working in order to use these items creatively. I'm not trying to use all of them up (palettes,for example) but wanting to remember the things I love about my makeup collection.

Have you ever tried a project pan? How many makeup items have you hit pan on?

Would love to hear some motivation and your pan efforts!

Items marked with * have been provided for review or were in goody bags.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes

Being quite new to the beauty game means I haven't had years of finetuning application technique or finding my HG product list (yet!). I have spent my time, however, trying new things that come my way and trusting my gut instinct as to whether or not I like them. In my search for a 'perfect' mascara, I present Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes. 

Doll Eyes vs Bare lashes

My gut instinct says this mascara does good things for my lashes!

I've forgotten how I came to possess this sample size Lancome Doll Eyes mascara (have a feeling it might've been in a beauty sample box?) but I'm mighty happy that I've had the chance to try out a high end mascara for the very first time.

This 2ml sample excited me first with it's name, as I'd definitely love to have lashes like a doll! The scent that it possesses was another interesting aspect. If anything, other mascaras I've tried smell like chemicals, but never have I had one that smells of roses!

The smell probably won't be an awesome addition for those with super-sensitive eyes, but for me it's a nice touch that makes my mascara application in the morning a little bit of aromatherapy as well! This mascara doesn't smudge on me at all and I find the formula wears well, even on long days and into the night. It's not a very wet formula which I prefer, as it means less mascara splodges when my lashes hit my lids.

The brush tapers out at the end to make a sort of cone shape, which makes it easier to wiggle into the lashes on the very outer and inner corners of my eyes. I find that I'm still often too lazy to catch every lash on my way out of a morning (see photos for proof of this, wasn't my best application efforts!) but it's nice to know I've got a wand that is capable of it.

Wider shot of my mug which isn't flattering, but shows the difference quite well I think.

Overall I am really enjoying using this mascara. I do find that it stings if it gets into my eyes (for eg if I don't remove my makeup before I shower) but that is the case with most mascara so I'm not complaining. I will most likely repurchase this as a full size in the future, but will probably stick to cheaper priced mascaras for everyday wear.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara retails for $52 AUD and is available from David Jones, Myer and online at Adore Beauty here.

What is your HG mascara?

What mascara do you think I should buy when this runs out?
Drugstore options?

Feel free to leave any of your mascara review links in the comments below :)