MAC Eyeshadow Palate in Amber Times Nine AKA the biggest disappointment

This should have been the palate of all palates...My first ever MAC shadow, 9 in fact, all in beautiful shades I would get so much use out of and for a bargain (okay, heavy discount) of $65. Yet this palate has been such a huge disappointment. 

We'll start with the good things as this part will be short. As I mentioned, the shades, oh the shades. They are unbelievably beautiful and I knew as soon as I spotted this that I would get a whole heap of use out of them.

The packaging is lovely, and I actually quite like that they are smaller than the typical shadow size as I don't tend to use eyeshadows up terribly quickly. 

The price was an absolute bargain considering that single MAC shadows are $33 each. 9 MAC shadows for $65 seemed like the most perfect way to try out some highly raved about shadows that had been on my wishlist for a very long time.

And that's where all the positives finish.

This is undoubtedly one of the most poorly pigmented palates I have ever come across - I wouldn't pay $10 for it. There are three shades out of the entire palate that are visible on the eyelids; Georgia Peach, Cork and Aromatic. Notice that all of these are matte finishes.

The rest were hopeless. The lighter shades simply didn't show up on my skin tone, though I expect they might a little on darker skin. And then there were the glittery shades, poorly pigmented bases with chunks of glitter reminiscent of a child playing princess with those shoddy lip glosses marketed at 5 year olds. Honestly MAC, I know you must have good shadows because the whole world raves about them, so why did you muck this palate up?!

Furthermore, there were three shadows in particular that I was just bursting to try: Kitties (F), Creative Copper (L) and Don't Tell (L) which turned out to be the three worst shades. In fact, Don't Tell just makes me want to cry in despair for spending money on it. Sigh.

For the photos below, I swatched the shadow 2-3 times on my arm so as to make it as visible as possible.

There's really not much more to say about this palate except simply don't buy it. Perhaps and investment in two single shadows would have been wiser but at this point I've lost faith in MAC shadows. Please please please tell me if you have had any luck with this palate (or one of the other 9 shadow palates) because I really feel I must have received a dodgy one as so many people adore MAC shadows.

Sportsgirl Makeup - Lips & Nails

Sportsgirl makeup is something I've never ever looked into. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that it's due to the fact that I never enter the store because I can't afford the clothing. The other day, however, I was compelled to enter when I saw a heap of makeup significantly reduced and figured it would be a good time to give their beauty products a try.

I'm going to be honest here and acknowledge that I have no idea how it happened, but I ended up paying $1 each for the lipsticks and $2.50 for the nail polish. Bargain! There were very few options in terms of colour selection because only a couple of shades were part of the sale but I think I did a darn good job with my choices!

First up are the lipsticks, and let me tell you, I am a huge fan. They are both matte shades, although I feel that the pink shade 'Doll Face' is slightly less matte than Starlet. Despite this they are both so creamy, easy to apply and so comfortable to wear. I love that they are both so pigmented and have a really good lasting power. The red shade 'Starlet' stains the slightest bit however staining isn't really a property of either of the lipsticks. I believe these retail at full price for $10 and I can tell you they are so worth it! Sportsgirl also has a really great shade range of their 'Pout about it lipsticks' so you really must get your hands on them if you live in Australia.

L-R: Doll Face, Starlet

We then have their nail polishes, and I can't speak on behalf of the entire range since 'Head Start' is the only one I've ever tried, but like the lipsticks it is of a magnificent quality. This will sound really strange (it's a weird beauty blogger logic) but I don't actually particularly like the actual shade, I was more interested in trying out the 'jelly formula' it claims to have. I really love the formulation of this polish and found that it was completely opaque in two coats with high shine. It also lasts really well - the photos in this post were taken three days after application, and as you can see there was minimal wear visible.

So, as you can see, Sportsgirl makeup is bloody great! I have seen a couple of Aussie girls praising the products in the past on their blogs but still didn't take the plunge and actually check them out. I recommend that you do, especially as they seem to be having lots of sales at the moment. It is totally worth your money!

NOTD: OPI Nail Lacquer in Dutch Tulips

OPI is just one of those brands that I've always stared at longingly before moving on to the cheaper nail polishes. Though they have an incredible colour range and amazing reputation, I just couldn't justify spending $20 on them! Priceline started selling them for $10 and even then I was still a bit funny about paying that much for a nail polish, but when I got my first ever job on Monday I decided to buy myself a celebratory polish in the most gorgeous colour, Dutch Tulips.

I actually wasn't going to post this because I am so unhappy with the way that the photos turned out (it makes a cool toned polish seemed orange based!) but I was just so excited about the fact that I owned an OPI polish I couldn't resist! So here are some photos - if you consider buying the polish then check out other photos on google first!

So far I've been super impressed with the quality of this beauty, but it is still early days.

What do you guys think about OPI polishes? Worth the money?

Bourjois Colour Burst Glossy Finish Lipstick in Peach on the Beach

Once again I am upholding my tradition of purchasing a product months (even years) after it's taken over the world. I don't care, I get there eventually.

And once again, I have found myself smitten with a product you've all let fall to the back of your makeup drawers because this was cool years ago. I am here to remind you to get this magical little product back out again!

Bourjois is a brand that I've not given a real chance in the past because it is so much more expensive than its other counterparts (like Maybelline and Face of Australia). I do have two of their blushes which, admittedly, are pretty darn great, but I just can't justify forking out twenty bucks for a blush. You may as well go the whole hog and get one from MAC or NARS if you're going to do that.

Anyway, when their Colour Burst Glossy balms arrived in stores, people went crazy for them, and in particular the somewhat strangely named shade, Peach on the beach.

I was, at that stage, already convinced that it was the greatest shade in the world and that my makeup collection would forever be incomplete until the day I placed this little beauty upon my dresser. I wasn't wrong, my god this shade is beautiful.

I won't bore you with another recount of the packaging because I've gone on and on about how wonderful it is in the million other reviews I've done on lip crayons. I will say though that these are identical to the Revlon kissable balm stains.

The product itself is actually quite different to any other lip crayon I've tried. It is so creamy and smooth, almost too much in fact because at room temperature you are at risk of breaking the whole tip off completely, it is just that soft. Because of this, it also means that the application is quite thick and it can look like a thick layer of paint on your lips. In saying that, if you're careful to limit your application, it is juicy, glossy perfection.

The peachy pink shade is just ideal for everyday wear because it looks relatively natural whilst still pretty and flattering. Though there really never was a gap beforehand, I feel like this balm filled a 'natural lip kind of day' gap in my life!

One problem that I do have with this is that it accentuates any dry patches on the lips unlike anything I've ever seen! I have to be extra sure to exfoliate my lips before application because otherwise it just looks like hell. It does mean that to wear this well it requires a little bit of fiddling around, but seriously, it's so worth it.

If you are in need of want a stunning everyday kind of shade then you can't go past this beauty. I would highly recommend it!

Natio Wellness Body Scrub

Back in the day when 'My shower routine" videos were popular on youtube (by the way, does anyone else find them a bit weird?) I always laughed seeing girls talk about the fifty step process they went through in the shower. I myself love a good lush product like everyone else, but the reality is my showers are more race in, race out because I'm late to get to school. I simply don't have the time or the energy to spend half an hour mucking about, and I also don't like wasting all that water.

One product that has been a consistent feature in my routine, however, is the Natio Wellness Body scrub. This was gifted to my Mum who was not at all interested in it, and she passed in on to me after I took one sniff of it and declared that it was mine!

This sugar scrub is apricot and pomegranate and every time I open it I just want to eat it! I love that this leaves the slightest hint of scent on your skin, so that if you want to wear perfume it is no problem but if you want to go without, you smell fresh and fruity. I love going to bed after having given my skin a good scrub because I just smell all clean and fresh. 

I use this scrub about once a week, usually on a weekend when I feel like giving myself a bit of pampering because it does take a fair while to scrub your body down! It's relatively gentle and not too abrasive so you probably could use it multiple times per week, I'm just lazy! Because the sugar granules are large, it really allows you to scrub fairly hard and get rid of all the dead skin cells that desperately need to be rid of! It also contains an oil that soaks into your skin completely and makes it feel smooth and moisturised.

You don't actually have to use much for this to be effective. The sugar granules are so large that they don't dissolve quickly and you can work at scrubbing the skin, massaging it in really well. I really love the jelly/jam like texture and it feels so good working it into your skin. It lathers up slightly so it's soapy and easy to work into your skin. If you only use this once a week like I do, I think it would last you quite a long time, and for around $15-20 it's worth every cent!

I've never felt the need for a body scrub before, but after this I am an absolute convert and I'm actually quite excited about exploring what else is out there! If you have tried any scrubs that you love, please let me know because I want to try it out!

NARS Blush and Bronzer Duo in Orgasm and Laguna

NARS is one of those brands that for a Priceline kind of girl, is wayyy out of reach. Though all of their products appear to be absolutely stunning and are raved about by anyone who has been lucky enough to get their hands on them, they kind of cost a small fortune compared to your brands like Revlon and Maybelline. I was super lucky to win this Laguna and Orgasm duo (yep, they also have some pretty risque names!) and I have been loving it ever since.

Starting off with the packaging, although I love the simplicity and classiness of the matte black packaging and white print, it looks absolutely filthy in no time. I tried so very hard to keep mine looking fresh but in no time at all it had foundation fingerprints and blush all over it. The photos are quite deceiving because this is actually a mini version of the duo, so much so that I can just fit my brush into the pan.

Let's start with the blush first: oh.my.lord. It's easy to become all caught up in the hype when the whole world is raving about something, which is why I start to get very doubtful about a product and whether it really is that good. Well, in this case I am happy to join all the fans out there because NARS Orgasm has catapulted itself into my new favourite blush. It is a gorgeous mid toned, rich pink shade with a sheen of gold that just makes you glow. You know that mermaid blue shade with the gold sheen? Well this is simply a pink version of that. It is absolutely freaking stunning. I still can't quite understand why I love this so much because I've actually never been a fan of shimmery blushes, but this is just gorgeous.

And then we have Laguna. You didn't think anything could get better after NARS Orgasm, right? Well apparently it can. Laguna was the bronzer that taught me that it wasn't my useless skill in application that made me hate bronzer, but the fact that I'd simply not found the right one yet. This bronzer isn't too orange toned and doesn't at all look dirty or muddy on my face. My face has been perfectly contoured since this incredible product came into my life, and I have been enjoying life as a bronzed babe who looks like she's just come back from a summer holiday. I love this stuff!

It's a big call, but I think this has to be a holy grail product for me because I've been completely bowled over with how incredible it is. I have worn both the blush and bronzer non stop since getting it and I can't see that changing at all. One thing specifically that I was really impressed with is that at the end of the day it still looks like you applied it only moments ago, the lasting power is incredible. Of course, just my luck that to purchase this in Australia it costs $56 but I have a feeling that when this runs out, it will be a splurge that I am willing to make.

Those of you who have tried this out for yourself, do you love it as much as I do?

What I think of Bio Oil 6 months down the track

When I posted my first impressions review of the infamous Bio Oil back in May 2014, I promised that I'd write another review a couple of months later once I'd given it a good chance to work its magic. As is the case with all skin products, they don't work magic overnight and require persistent and regular use to really work well.

Well, I've been using this for over six months now and I feel as though I've earned the right to give you my honest thoughts. I'm impressed.

I bought this in the hopes that it would help with my stretch marks. My stretch marks were relatively new and luckily not too deep, however they were quite dark in colour and I feared that they wouldn't fade to that silvery shade that I find easier to accept! I started applying Bio Oil each night in the hopes that it would encourage the fading and prevent them from turning into deep, dark scars.

A cynic in every sense of the word, I was prepared to write this update and give you all bad news but in all honesty, I really think it made a difference. It has done exactly what I wanted it to do: the stretchmarks on my body have faded to a light silver that is really only noticeable when you stand at the right angle under the right light! I don't know how necessary it is to continue use after they've faded (I wouldn't imagine it's importance because the way I see it, it's hardly going to stretch and change colour again) but I still lather the stuff on because it moisturises the skin.

Which brings me on to another point. Perhaps even more than its value as a means of fading stretch marks, I came to love it for the magic it did on my face. When I purchased it I knew there was no way this was ever going to go on my face because it is just so, well, oily. I have a really horrible habit of picking my skin when I'm stressed, sad, nervous, bored...basically all the time. It's no wonder that I have flaking, sore, irritated, red skin when I've literally torn it to shreds. It's a shocking habit that I'm working on. Anyway, after having practically ruined my face one particularly bad night, it was so sore that I had no choice but to slap some of my trusty Bio Oil on in the hopes that it would soothe my irritated skin and restore some of the moisture that it was lacking. I went to bed feeling like a greasy mess and woke up with the best skin I had ever experienced! It was honestly like some expensive intensive skin treatment because I felt so healed the next day! It's not something I use on my face often because it simply is too much, but I use it perhaps once or twice a month.

Since this Bio Oil seemed to be so magical I figured I would apply it to some keloid scarring (overgrown scar tissue dark in colouring) that I had. Well, I don't think it did anything at all to those scars but in all honestly I'm not surprised, keloids are nasty things.

So there it is, the magic I experienced with Bio Oil. Like I said, I was so doubtful about this product and had read both raving and condemning reviews about it before trying it and I thought mine wouldn't exactly be glowing. Obviously all skin types are different but if you are at a loss with some new (old ones unfortunately can't be helped much) stretch marks then I would 100% recommend you give it a shot. You can purchase it in a 60mL bottle for approximately $15 which lasts forever and I think it is so worth it!

Maybelline Coloursensational Vivids Lipstick in Shocking Coral

I am such a seasonal makeup person. When Summer rolls around I just start to crave the bright fruity shades, lipsticks in shocking pinks and tangerine. The Maybelline Coloursensational Vivids lipsticks seemed the perfect way to feed my hunger for summery hues. The shades Shocking Coral and Vibrant Mandarin caught my attention from the moment they were released but it was only when I saw Shocking Coral on sale for $8 down from $16.95 at good old Kmart that I actually purchased one. It's just the way I do things, I honestly can't recall the last time I paid full price for something...

Well, this is certainly a bold colour. I tried so hard to capture its true colour in the photos but as always, they didn't turn out quite right. The swatches are misleading, for in reality it is not a hot pink shade but more of a fluorescent highlighter pink! I've included the photos anyway but it definitely isn't an everyday kind of shade like the photos might suggest.


Having developed a makeup stash that is way out of hand, I'm no longer one to shy away from crazy, bold makeup products but even I hesitated with this one! It's one for the brave who love their pinks. I think it would be perfect for a summer festival or chilling out at a cafe down by the beach.

In terms of formulation, this is a perfectly fine lipstick that is neither drying nor particularly moisturising, just in the middle. The lasting power is also mid-range, basically it is a lipstick that is not my favourite of all but perfectly good in every sense of the word. The pigmentation is great and it has a creamy, slightly glossy looking finish but contains no shimmer at all.

I quite like the packaging in all its simplicity, it's really easy to find amongst my stash with its bright case and the silver mirror on the top. I love that it's not one of those stupid lipsticks where the bullet extends beyond the case and you risk jamming the lid into the product every time you try to open or close it! Those lipsticks have really been bothering me lately! It has a slight smell to it, one that I couldn't quite identify, but it doesn't linger.

All up this is a gorgeous bold pink that any lipstick lover should definitely consider adding to their collection for the summer. I have a feeling that the tangerine shade may end up joining Shocking Coral in my collection because honestly, who can resist an orange these days?

Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm - Elusive

When I first saw that Revlon had released a matte collection of the Colourburst Balm Stains, believe it or not, I wasn't terribly interested. I was at Chemist Warehouse when they were having one of their 50% off sale and when I saw that they were $10, of course I was going to pick one up anyway! Having had such success with the original ones (by success I mean that I love them and think they are the greatest inventions ever) I thought I may as well venture into the matte side of life. I grabbed the shade Elusive which I am so pleased with, it is the most perfect, beautiful, dusty pink shade that I can totally pull off as a 'my lips but better' shade.

For someone who wasn't really very fond of matte lip products, I can can that I am now a completely changed woman! This product is honestly so.darn.good and I intend to pick up some more when I see them on sale again!

First up, I think we need to talk about the gorgeous, chunky crayon look-alike balm packaging that so many brands have adopted with the new craze of the balm stains. I am 100% a fan and for some reason it just makes putting on a lip product all the more exciting. Matching the matte nature of the product, these balm stains have matte packaging in corresponding colours to the shade of the product. I was thinking the other day about how challenging it would be to finish up all the product because you really get quite a lot, but I don't know if that would be a more achievable goal for someone who doesn't own a billion lip products...

Like the other balm stains, this is very long wearing and leaves a stain behind as it wears off your lips. Eating and drinking proves to be no challenge! It is so wonderfully pigmented and comfortable on the lips, although slightly more drying than the first range due to its mattified nature. Still, for a matte product it's not bad and I have few issues with it at all.

This is undoubtedly an everyday wear, a stunning mid toned pink shade that I can just, just pull off as a my-lips-but-better shade although it is a little too perfect to be my own! (Apologies for the swatch photo though, it went all strange and looks a bit odd!)

One of my favourite things about this though, is that it doesn't have the same super strong peppermint smell the original ones did, but instead a more toned down spearmint scent that goes away quickly. I personally love scented products but I really did struggle with the overwhelming minty scent the original ones had, especially because mint is probably my least favourite scent of all!

Anyhow, I can't believe I very nearly missed out on the magic of this wonderful, wonderful balm. It's honestly been on my lips non stop since I purchased it (and that was a while ago now...) so it's definitely been a great success. I think I may have even managed to wear it to school once without getting told off (a big achievement!).

Speaking of which, I will have finished all my exams on the 14th and I will be a free woman to wear what I want, do what I want, be who I want...and that is the most exciting and terrifying prospect ever!

Already just thinking about it I struggle to come up with ideas of what I might get up to on my big long holidays because school has been my entire life and I think I will be lost without it...any ideas of cool things to get up to?

Burts Bees Radiance Night Cream with Royal Jelly

I'm going to say it: this night cream is the bee's knees. Oh lord, yes I went there with that horrendous pun but in all seriousness, it truly is a wonderful night cream. 

I was recently given the opportunity to try out some of the new Burts Bees skincare products and after having looked at the press release, I was immediately hooked. Believe it or not, I'd actually only owned one Burt's Bees product myself (the Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream) but had stolen a lip balm of my Mum's and used something from a friend and knew it was a brand I was be a fan of. It's one of those brands that also has cult products that everybody knows about too, so I was sure I couldn't go wrong with their skin products.

I received a moisturiser and toner and the moisturiser has made it into an absolute staple in my skincare routine. I've decided I cannot go without a night cream anymore because they have that extra bit of moisture and are just so luxurious. I love waking up to the most beautifully soft skin!

The first thing I noticed about this moisturiser is the texture. It's kind of reflective of most body butters I've tried, although perhaps the slightest bit softer. Despite this, it doesn't feel overly thick on my face and soaks in really well (however this could be because I've had stupidly dry skin lately). It is, however, a night cream and I don't think makeup would work well over the top because it would probably slide around a little bit.

The next thing I became aware of was the fragrance. I am one of those people who love scented products, particularly for the body, but when it comes to the face I steer clear. All the additives and strong scents are too much for the skin on my face and it just all ends badly. This night cream isn't completely scent free but has a lovely fresh, slightly honey based scent that seems so natural and hasn't caused any problems.

Though it claims to be a 'radiance' moisturiser, I've not personally noticed any difference in my skin but that's probably because I've been unbelievably stressed out with school work and have not been taking care of my skin, diet or anything really of late! In terms of the ingredients within it, royal jelly is obviously the big one! Apparently "Royal Jelly is one of the world's most nutrient-rich substances ...and offers many skin benefits."

I absolutely love the little glass jar the product is kept in, I think it is classy and just the loveliest thing to have on your dresser. For a retail price of $39.99 (although it's currently on sale at Priceline) it is one of the more expensive moisturisers I've tried, but I do love it. I'm not sure I'll repurchase it while I'm on a student's budget (aka. no money whatsoever) but I am really enjoying this product! Burt's Bees, I'm impressed!

The one and only...Urban Decay Naked Palette

Guys! I own the Naked Palette. THE NAKED PALETTE!

Okay, phew, now that I got out, I can carry on in a more sensible fashion.

Yes, I am the proud owner of the one and only Naked Palette by Urban Decay. This has always been, in my eyes, the epitome of eyeshadow and certainly when I think of eyeshadow as a product, this is what comes to mind.

When a good friend of mine went over to America I begged her to purchase this little beauty from Sephora because it is just so much cheaper and I always feel funny about ordering makeup online (probably crazy but I just don't do it). 

When she brought it back I almost died of excitement as soon as I opened it up. It is gorgeous.

With twelve warm toned neutral shades, this is literally my idea of eyeshadow heaven and contains basically every shade I could ever want. I love that it includes two matte shades because although shimmers are my favourite, there is always a place for matte shadows. 

Alright, so let's start with the packaging. I love that unlike the other two Naked Palettes, this isn't housed in a tin but a wonderfully cosy feeling (because palettes can totally be cosy!) velvet flip top box. Of course, it isn't velvet I just have absolutely no idea what the name of the lovely texture is. The gold imprinted letters are striking on the chocolate brown and it is all just wonderful. The only problem is that fluff sticks to the box so it looks filthy very quickly.

As for the shade range, I mentioned before how perfect it is. Beginning with Virgin on the far left it has a light shimmery white extending all the way down to Creep and Gunmetal, black and dark grey.

I personally think that every shade inbetween covers all that you could ever want with different browns, pinks and golds.  

Virgin: Very light pink champagne colour perfect for highlights. Super shimmery!

Sin: Light shimmery pink toned shade suitable for all over the lid.

Naked: I don't think this could be more perfectly named: a light matte flesh toned shade that barely shows up on my light skin.

Sidecar: gorgeous light brown chocolate shade that could be used as an all over the lid shade or crease colour. This shade is so beautiful and versatile.

Buck: Medium toned matte brown shade that paired with Naked in the crease works magic.

Half-Baked: This was the shade I was easily most excited about being a shimmery pale gold. Though it is beautiful it's not been my absolute favourite after all but it does get quite a workout.

Smog: Though this is technically a shimmery dark brown, I would go as far to classify it as a dark gold and my-oh-my, I am in love with this shade!

Darkhorse: Admittedly I've not used a lot of darkhorse but it is a very dark brown shimmery shade. I find that it can almost look a little bit dirty on the skin at times.

Toasted: This is another shade I think has been well named, a medium pink/brown shade that is beautiful and shimmery. I often use this as an all over the lid shade.

Hustle: This is a dark brown that almost has a hint of plum overtones to it. In my experimentations I was surprised to find just how beautifully toasted and hustle work together.

Creep: Creep really is a bit of a creepy shade, a black with silver shimmer running through it. Out of all the shades in the palette this is easily the least used and most scary to me! If you have any ideas how I can incorporate this shade a bit more I would love to know because at the moment it seems a bit of a waste with it just sitting there!

Gunmetal: Last of all is Gunmetal, a dark blue grey shade with silver shimmer. Though it's not quite as intimidating as Creep, it also doesn't get a whole lot of use.

Well I'm sad to say that this is where it started to go wrong. Despite the most gorgeous shades in the world (I've swatched my favourites below) with excellent pigmentation, they just did not last on me whatsoever. This was so disappointing me for because it's not like I ever really have a problem with creasing or wearing off but by the end of the day these were a complete mess. You can see in the photo that what once was sidecar on the lid and hustle in the crease ended up being one big yucky mess!

Of course, using an eye primer does help but I've never really had to do that before and for a palette so highly regarded (and the most expensive makeup item in my collection) I was a little let down. I'm curious to know if anyone else has had this happen because I don't think I've ever heard a bad word about this palette and I feel like I stand alone in this thought!

My Favourite shades: L-R: Naked, Sidecar, Half Baked, Smog

I do love this palette and am very glad that I finally bought the shadows I'd been lusting over forever but I am a tiny bit disappointed with their lasting powder. I will continue to love and use them but contrary to what I thought would happen, I will be using other shadows not from this palette too.