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!)

Flamingo & Party Parrot - Iris Apfel for MAC

MAC seem to be pumping out the collections lately, but this is one I had my eye on from the start. My favourite YouTube ladies Allison (Amarixe) and Ingrid (MissGlamorazzi) had managed to snaffle some gorgeous pieces from the Iris Apfel collection, and I knew what I wanted before the prodz hit Australia.

Party Parrot (bright red-pink) seemed like it would be an excellent bright to add to my collection, while Flamingo (light milky bright coral) would make a lovely pink to swoon over.

Matte formula, my first from MAC.

(Party Parrot)

(Party Parrot)

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(Flamingo)

(Flamingo)

Flamingo and Party Parrot

Flamingo in top and Party Parrot below, I really like the matte effect of Party Parrot though I was a little worried when I ordered it. I've tried it on and don't find it to be drying, but haven't had a proper go at it so expect a FOTD soon.

I compared the two next to MAC's Ever Hip to compare, you'll see that Ever Hip (last swatch) is much peachier than Flamingo which I'm really happy about. Have been obsessed with pink lips lately, Flamingo is a winner.

Did you pick up anything from the Iris Apfel collection?
What are your favourite MAC shades? I have a voucher to spend and unsure what to choose!

A Bronzed FOTD ft. Illamasqua, MAC and the Naked Palette

Neutrals are my best friends, and this look was created with some of my favourites from brands like Urban Decay, MAC, Illamasqua and Face of Australia.

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Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Liquid Foundation in Beige

Illamasqua concealer

Eco-Tools concealer brush

Essence Shimmer Powder in Flamingo Pink

BYS blush in Candyfloss

Jack Black Balm

MAC lip gelee in Straight to the Head

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Buck (from Naked Palette)

Urban Decay pencil in Zero

Napoleon Perdis brush (holiday collection)

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My base products for this look consisted of Face of Australia's Mineral Therapy foundation which I am in the midst of testing. The shade 'beige' was a little too dark for me, but still wearable. This Illamasqua concealer is one I use everyday, sadly my skin is not in top condition and I have quite a few blemishes that need covering.

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BYS have some great shades in their blush range, and Candyfloss is my favourite. I used this with Essence's Flamingo Pink highlighting powder along the cheekbones to try and brighten up my dull skin.

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Mister Christopher bought me Illamasqua Bronx for Christmas, and when I received the Naked palette for my birthday the next week I assumed I had no use for the shade anymore. Not so! This shadow is a true stunner, and I'm glad we lost the receipt and couldn't exchange it. I layered Bronx over Buck from the palette, next time I create this look I would blend lighter shades up higher for a more intense look. I finished the look with a smudge of Urban Decay liner in Zero, and Benefit's BadGal Lash mascara.

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I originally went with my clear Jack Black balm for this look, before I remembered that I had just received MAC's lip gelee in Straight to the Head from Lilit's blog sale. It's quite opaque and gives a sort of frosted finish, I will be reviewing it in depth soon.

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This look is my version of an 'everyday' casual look. I found it to be pretty subtle but Bronx really made it all pop just that little bit.

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I hope you enjoyed this FOTD, if you have any ideas of looks I should try do let me know.

I would love some inspiration!

emmabovary xx

Essence-Return to Paradise

Introducing a brand that I have a huge cosmetic-crush on right now- ESSENCE!
A German brand, this is what they have to say about themselves:

Essence cosmetics, the must have in beauty: trends, fun, unique – but never expensive! With a striking range of quality cosmetics, essence is the ultimate brand for all beauty queens.

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I've always thought this brand was a cutie-patootie, but could never get my hands on more than a few items at my local Priceline. I then saw that my local Target had the new range!!

Return to Paradise



 Essence stand at Target 



Essence Return to Paradise display





I picked up a few items from the collection, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I have since returned twice to pick up more from both this range and their permanent range. Gorgeous products at crazily affordable prices are my weakness, it seems! All of these hover around the $5 mark, which is awesome.



Essence Oil Control Paper



Essence Oil Control Paper packaging

These papers retail for less than $5 from memory, and I've found them to be great to touch up with during the day. The slim packaging fits into my makeup bag with ease, and they leave no residue on the skin after use.

Essence Shimmer Powder in Flamingo Pink

I have a huge crush on this product, I love it so much that I've already picked up a back-up (darn limited editions!) A separate post on this is warranted, and will be up next week. It's love, guys.

 LOVE!

$5.95



Essence Teal Liquid Liner

A gorgeous colour that I couldn't resist, the super fine line applies well on hand. Am yet to try on eyes, will include this in a FOTD soon.



Essence Trio palette



Essence palette with swatches



Pigmented and smooth, these are great for the price though the packaging is slightly bulky, it's nothing too major. Love all of these colours, especially when paired together.

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The packaging and design of this limited edition range is ace, such summery looks that are brightening up my winter mornings. I highly recommend Essence and suggest you head down to your local stockist to peruse this fabulous new collection (if I haven't hauled it all up already!)

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Bourke Street Priceline down in Melbourne has a decent Essence range, though no limited edition collection as yet. Find more stockists at the Essence Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/essence?v=app_6009294086#!/pages/Essence-AU/162437847112357

emmabovary xx

May Favourites

May was filled with lots of studying, and the early mornings meant I leant on my favourite products to work their magic rather than changing it up for uni. I tended to go for wine shades or neutrals for the eyes and lips. Here is what I reached for most fin the cold month of May:

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Face of Australia Translucent Powder 

This stuff is seriously amazing, love it so much.

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Essence Return to Paradise powder in Flamingo Pink 

a review of this is coming up, for now I will just swoon and tell you it pretty much owns my heart. Cute and cheap as chips!

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NYX powder blush in Peach 

A pretty pink shade (not peach...) this is buildable and natural, my never fail shade.

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Savvy lip crayon in Cafe 

This is wine-shaded goodness, have bought so many back-ups. A look is coming up in which I wear this, I'm also wearing it on the blog is the 'About Me' section <<

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 Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey 

I'm sure you've all read reviews, these new releases are gorgeous and I won this colour from Clinique on Twitter. Not a shade I would've chosen myself, and wouldn't you know it's perfect for me!

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Bvlgari Rose Essentielle EDT

A simple, everyday fragrance that lets me indulge in my love of anything rose-scented.

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MAC Eyeshadow in French Cuff

I've been loving wine shade on lips and eyes, and this fits the bill completely.

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MAC eyeshadow in Retrospeck

I am planning on buying this in pan form soon, but for now I am using it out of the Holiday palette I purchased from Stef's blog sale. It's my two second lift, I literally just sweep it over my eyes and voila! I'm complete.

I have marked Retrospeck to show you the shade, which is housed in the MAC Holiday palette

I hope you have enjoyed taking a peek into my favourites for the month of May, just as much as I enjoyed using them all! emmabovary xx