Brunette Beauty

Packaging: Palm sized black opaque plastic squeeze tube. The cap is sturdy with the opening 4mm wide. It is a lot smaller then I had anticipated compared to other brands of primer. Smell: None. Colour: White in high density. Clear when rubbed in. Formula/ Texture: This is a smooth, thin moisturising liquid. It glides onto the skin and takes no time in absorbing up. Using a small amount I concentrate this around the centre of my face and smoothing out onto my cheeks. I find this is the area where foundation can start to fade the first. As it absorbs into the skin it has a really good hold for foundation. Pores are slightly reduced but it adds a more mattify finish to the skin reducing shine honestly through out the day. I find it to work well with loose mineral powder as well as the typical liquid foundations. I do like how the formula i s   alcohol free, non-comedogenic, dermatologist tested, synthetic and fragrance free. I defiantly have...

Packaging: Palm sized plastic tube with a screw on cap. The tube is an opaque colour that corresponds to the shade inside. This is topped off with a good cap to match the corresponding gold accents. There is a unique felt sponge applicator that has many holes in it to evenly spread the colour onto the lips. I do find this to be too tall as with heavy use, the tip looses it's precision as the colour drapes to the sides. Smell/Taste: Manufactured product. Colour: Melted Nude - beige nude with warm undertones. Melted Peony - soft baby pink with cool undertones. Melted Fuchsia - bright pink with blue undertones. Melted Berry - deep berry shade with warm/red undertones. Opaque pigmentation with a semi matte finish. These are all part of the permanent range which has a total of 18 shades. Formula/ Texture: These are a thinish, smooth liquid. They are easily applied using the song tip applicator but this may loose it's precision over time w...

  Packaging: Comes in a beautiful thick cardboard case covered in matte X-rayed orchids in black and white with a glossy red UD icon. The silver writing is also raised which is the same on the inside. Each lipstick and lipliner sits in it's own allocated slot in the foam padding complete with drawstring ribbon to hold the lid up. There is a flap magnetic closure. The lip liner is no different to the individual full size I have. The lipsticks do differ  however. With the same gunmetal colour however with a smooth finish and purple UD icon on the top of the lid. The inside of the case is the same with purple mechanics. The lipstick bullet features the same slant. I like this presentation, it makes it feel like a deluxe set. I don't care there's no mirror as I'll use a full sized due to the smaller lipstick bullet. The foam insert is pretty solid which means every lipstick has it's place and it becomes more of a feature rath...

Packaging: Aqua pencil with gold foil and black accents. The base and extended cap are black also. It's a standard size width pencil. Smell/Taste: None. Colour: Transparent. Formula/ Texture: This is a smooth, thick wax. It glides on easily onto the skin around the lips with no tugging. It doesn't dry white or flake throughout the day. Lip colour doesn't cling onto it either. This works great! Defiantly no bleeding which is the main thing. Any type of lipstick, gloss, balm stain all work and have the same effect. I really like this as it's just so easy to use and keeps the colour where it should be! Defiantly one of the better clear lip liners available. Available: From Mecca Cosmetica stores, meccacosmetica.com.au for $25 for 1.20g/0.04oz. I got mine in America from Ulta Beauty for US$18.50.

Packaging: Standard black square mascara tube. The wand is actually a sculpting ball brush which width is the same width as my little finger. I do find this to be way to large for the size of my brows. The bristles on the ball are too long that it doesn't pick up product to comb through brows evenly. It defiantly isn't going to work with thinner brows. Smell: Alcohol. Colour: Medium Brown - taupe Available in 2 shades which is disappointing. Formula/ Texture: This is a gel. Due to the width of the ball wand I do find this hard to apply. I'm not sure which way the ball is meant to be held over my brow. The way the ball holds the gel, it does get streaky when you use one dip across the entire brow. Sometimes the product gets on my skin which I have to wipe away. This is a multi dip use product unfortunately which makes it  less convenient as the brush isn't small enough to be precise and quick. It does dry quickly and is easily remove...

Packaging: Aqua slim oval plastic case. The casing slips off to reveal the twist up wax product. Winding the stick up too much can get the casing messing but other then that there's no flaws in the packaging. The plastic isn't opaque so you can see how much product you do have left. Smell: Lime. Colour: Clear. Formula/ Texture: It's a thick, tacky wax. No residue is left behind but it quickly sticks on the skin. The packaging makes it super easy with no mess to apply. Simply wind up the stick and apply. Layering this product is perfect with no balls of product forming. In saying that only a little bit of this is needed to stop the rubbing pain. I apply this to the areas on my feet where I know cause me pain when my feet swell. I didn't think this would work or that the effects would wear off over the course of the night. How I was wrong. This is quite amazing. It acts as a barrier between your feet and shoes and really stops any f...

Forever the two eye primers compared. One always wins but are very critiqued. Finally I wanted to put the comparison in it's own post. A brief overview of each is below; Urban Decay Primer Potion Used to be in a doe foot applicator 10ml Now in a friendlier squeeze tube 11ml Available in 4 shade varieties + 1 formula variety Occasionally available in larger and travel sizes (excluding in Christmas kits) Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer In a squeeze tube Available in 5 shade varieties Both have similar properties in the formula. For example both have these claims,  24hr wear, c rease/ fade proof, l ightweight, intensifies colours, waterproof, colourless, dries matte & quickly and glide on. So as you can see they are very much comparable. With UD's original doe foot applicator, not a lot product was being kept on the wand when it was coming through the filter. I found that not enough of the primer was added to the eye and the wand wiped away any p...

Packaging: Plastic slim palm size squeeze tube. There is an aqua/teal opaque colour with hints of pink. The tip is flat and has a 0.4mm opening. Not too small or large. Smell/Taste: None. Colour: Clear. Formula/ Texture: It's a silicone based, smooth thick gel. It glides onto the skin and takes a few seconds to absorb. I don't find it to sink into the skin but more sit on top. This isn't my preferred way for a primer to work either. It does leave that silicone feeling on the hands after it's applied, which I just to wipe off. It did mattify my skin but didn't hold makeup on my face as along as the other (higher end) brands I've tried. I didn't really see a reduction in my largest pores around my nose. Probably more evident on smaller pores. I did also use a setting spray to set my makeup too. It's a great affordable primer but not one that I would recommend buying. For a few extra dollars they are some great options ...

While on holiday in America, I stopped by the MAC counter to pick up a few favourite products. In this I noticed unknown to me that the MSF Natural had new and updated packaging. Little did I know this was packaging that all of MAC's compact packaging had the same effect. I've actually realised I've never done a review on this and I've been using it for 3years! The plastic compact is thicker. The lid is fully opaque, meaning the product can't been seen without opening the compact. The top portion is a smooth matte solid black but now there is elements of a shiny finish. This is only on the bottom portion. The width of the plastic from the powder pan to the edge is thicker. The inside lid features a mirror and appears to be more domed shaped as if a sponge would more easily fit inside. The powder itself doesn't seem to be changed in shape or height. The height of the lid does feel like a waste. It's still the same amount of product compar...

Packaging: Palm sized thin round rose gold compact. There is an embossed star and 'stila' pattern on the top the  inside lid featuring an almost full sized mirror. Makes it great for portability. It does feel sturdy and durable with a large enough hinge and hole to open it. It is a typical snap shut compact. Smell: None Colour: Kitten (left) - light frosty baby pink. Slight warm undertones Kitten (right) - peach with light gold shimmer. Warm undertones. Both are buildable colours with medium pigmentation. Formula/ Texture: This is a smooth and finely milled powder. It's a tad powdery but not at all chalky. There is no fallout. Its easily applied with fingers or a brush. It's a diverse and multi purpose powder that can be adds a touch of glow to the skin. I brought it with the intention of using it as a cheek highlighter but it can be used as a quick eyeshadow look, blush and overall face glow or  body shimmer. I think this is g...

Smell: Fruity. Colour: Light purple. Sheer pigmentation with semi shine finish. Forumla/Texture: This is a smooth and thick balm. It's does take a few swipes for the product to emulsify. It's easily applied from the small tube though. It does transfer but doesn't bleed. I find the colour to last 3hrs. You can defiantly feel hydration to the lips with this which is nice. Availability: Sold individually in a full size but this was apart of the Frisky Six Set released September 2014.

Smell: Fresh. Colour: Light gold with brown undertones. Sheer pigmentation with shimmer finish. Forumla/Texture: This is a smooth and thin liquid. It's easily applied using the brush tip applicator and rubbed into the skin using fingers. A brush would wipe away most of the product thus sheering this out. This gives a nice golden glow to the cheeks. It's not very icy which I like and it's something different for me. It look great with tanned skin, giving it this natural radiance effect. Those with paler skin tones might want to give this a miss as it might look unnatural. While it's a nice highlighter, it's also pretty affordable too. Availability: Sold individually in a full size but this was apart of the Frisky Six Set released September 2014.

Smell: Fresh. Colour: Light pink. Sheer pigmentation. Forumla/Texture: This is a smooth and thin cream. It's easily applied using the doe foot applicator and rubbed into the skin using fingers. A brush would wipe away most of the product. The purpose of this is to brighten up underneath the eyes and make them appear more lifted. I can defiantly notice a difference with this, when it's used. It's subtle enough that looks natural. It performs the same over a primer as on bare skin. I actually quite like this. Availability: Sold individually in a full size but this was apart of the Frisky Six Set released September 2014.

Smell: Fresh. Colour: Light purple. Sheer pigmentation. Forumla/Texture: This is a runny and thin liquid. It's easily applied using the brush tip applicator and rubbed into the skin using fingers. A brush would help sheer out the colour creating a softer colour. These tints last literally all day, I'm talking 16hrs+. They do stain the skin, especially if a lot is applied. A good makeup remover and cleanser will get rid of this. Again following the Pantone Colour of the Year this Radiant Orchard shade is a great spring shade that'll suit all skin tones. Availability: Sold individually in a full size but this was apart of the Frisky Six Set released September 2014.

Packaging: Thinnest of 6 deluxe sized products comes in a simple cardboard and plastic box. Nothing fancy which is fine with me as the inside is the most important thing.   I think kits and value packs are the best way to do this as you get a taste of the product /s without forking out the money for the full sized product. This kit contains 4 products I have never tried before. The They're Real Mascara is one of my all time favourite  mascaras so I don't mind having one for when I travel. The Sugarbomb box powder isn't one of my favourite from the Benefit line but one of my favs from these powders. I am interested to see if the formula has changed though. The set contains; They're Real Mascara #black   review here Sugarbomb Box o' Powder       review here SunBeam Cheek Tint                 review here Lollibalm                     ...

Packaging: Short & stubby black square casing. The lid portion is half the length of the casing with 'Smashbox' in silver text on the casing. The twist up mechanism is smooth with no problems. The bullet is circular with a slanted tip. Smell/Taste: None. Colour: Pretty Social - rosy milky pink with cool undertones. Opaque pigmentation and buildable colour. Formula/ Texture: It's a smooth thin creamy consistency. It's lightweight and glides easily onto the lips. The cream texture clings to dry skin so make sure to exfoliate before use. What I have also found is that the creamy nature of the bullet doesn't really hold it strongly in the tube. With a heavy swatch, the bullet may break off. The same care needs to be taken in leaving this in a handbag or car on a mild warm day - it'll be a hot mess. So only wind up the bullet for as much as you need. The longevity is short due to the creamy texture, getting 3hrs in. While I f...

Packaging: Clear plastic squeeze tube with an angled metal plate applicator. It's protected with a clear screw on lid. The majority of the tube is solid purple with a small square window that helps indicate how much product is left. Defiantly durable enough for travel and deceiving size for the amount of product. Smell: Perfume. Colour: 320 Fair/Light - light beige with slight warm or pink undertones. Medium pigmentation with a natural finish. Buildable coverage. Available in 3 shades. Formula/ Texture: This is a hick, smooth liquid. Once buffed into the skin it's lightweight with no caking. It hasn't caused any irritation or dryness to my skin. I do find it a bit moisturising but never greasy. It's quite easy to use, simply dot a small amount under each eye and use the metal nib to smooth and but this out. If you have applied to much, a finger or brush will help to buff this out. It can also create a mess of the metal nib and cause s...

Packaging: Palm sized plastic compact. It has a rubberised texture with a domed metal embellishment engraved with  'Becca', which reminds me of an alien spaceship. Inside the lid is a full sized mirror that is going to catch dirty fingerprints and powder fall out. It feels sturdy which is great for any type of travelling but I feel as though the domed metal adds for wasted packaging as the powder sits well into the pan. It's not as slim as I think it could be. Smell: None. Colour: Rose Gold - peachy gold with warm undertones and gold shimmer. Pigmented with a shimmer finish. Buildable coverage. Formula/ Texture: This is a finely milled and smooth powder. A light tap with a brush picks up product but expect a little bit of fall out from the shimmer. It doesn't cake ontop of other powders or has caused me any irritations. Depending on how much is applied I can get 4-5hrs wear. The colour fades first and the shimmer remains. While it...

Packaging: Palm sized blue hard plastic flip top compact with a breathable bottom. This is for water drainage. The shaver head is the same size as Gillette's razors and is their 5 blade version. The handle is a short and rounded almost with a rubberised pink portion. This is comfortable to hold and guide along curves and angles. The compact is very portable and durable. The fact that you can change the shaver head and not have to buy special heads is really handy and saves money. It saves a lot of cut fingers and inconvenience in bringing your full handled shaver away when you travel, especially at times (like me) when you're not able to get to a drugstore at your destination. That's another thing about the same well loved Gillette shaver head is that you know you're going to get the same quality shave on the go as you would at home using the full sized handle version. It's one less thing to worry about. Before this I used to tightly wrap cling wrap aro...

Packaging: Slim white matt round plastic tube with a purple cap that match the text. The spray is a soft and wide. Very portable Smell: Light Floral. Colour: N/A. Formula/ Texture: This is a thin, non sticky liquid. It is very lightweight on the face. You do have to shake this well before you spray, being about 8-10" away from the face in an X and T formation. It takes 10secs for the spray to dry. The bottle is comfortable to hold. It is formulated without parabens, oils and has temperature control technology that make your makeup long lasting. There's no need to touch up during the day or respray to increase the longevity of makeup which is nice It doesn't change the finish of your makeup. It does reduce the powdery look and keep shine away. The longevity I can get using this is at least 14hrs. I really love this. I don't know what it is but there's something about it that just locks your makeup onto your face. I have used th...

Packaging: Gold shiny square tube. Portion of the tube has a fake colour window that's painted on and doesn't show the actual product. It does somewhat accurately represents a shade chosen. I hate that the name of the lip product isn't anywhere on the tube just the shade name. It has a wide opening for a flat and thin, bent doe foot applicator. I do find this dispenses more product over a wider area on the lips. It might be too long for those with thin lips. Smell/Taste: Peaches. Colour: 101 Rose Mauve - nude pink with micro shimmer. Medium coverage with a shiny finish. Formula/ Texture: This is a smooth, thick liquid. It feels tacky immediately on the lips but with the body's heat it emulsifies and becomes more slippery and easy to move around the lips. This does mean it takes a little to work the product on for even colour. Due the shine, this does transfer and means it doesn't last a long time. I can get about 2hrs wear and I...

Packaging: Orange plastic square with a reusable sticky opening tab. It has element of blue and black in the text. Defiantly very portable. Smell: Floral x alcohol. Colour: N/A. Formula/ Texture: These are a saturated thick cloth. They glide easy over the face with no tugging. My eyes can get sensitive and I've had no stinging using these over my eyes. It hasn't caused my skin to breakout which is good as this is oil free. The size of the wipe is standard and easy to have in the palm of your hand to use. The saturation of each wipe means that there's enough product to remove all your makeup, even the long wearing formulas. I haven't tried this on any waterproof makeup. I love how you can run it over your face a few times and there's enough product on the wipe, it really does extend the use. The efficiently and effectiveness that this is at removing makeup is amazing. These are the best affordable drugstore wipes I have tired. ...

Packaging: Blue, red and white shiny aerosol can. It has a hourglass shape that sits at the top of the can.. The spray nozzle twists unlocked which makes the product more secure for travelling. The nozzle is a decent open size and the straight structure and width of the can comfortable to hold for continuous spraying. The spray is flat and wide but with two streams very left and very right with a unclogged nozzle . I feel like this is too wide for each limb and impractical. Smell: Strong cocoa butter that lingers. Colour: White in high density. Formula/ Texture: This is a thin lotion. It is lightweight on the skin and easily applied using the continuous spray motion. The product still does need rubbing into the skin so I'm not sure it's any faster then standard body lotions. It's very fast absorbed with no greasy residue. I defiantly felt my skin drink this up and stay hydrated into the next day. My skin felt a lot smoother and this was t...

Packaging: Brown matte aerosol can. The spray nozzle twists unlocked which makes the product more secure for travelling. The nozzle is a decent open size and the straight structure and width of the can comfortable to hold for continuous spraying. The spray is flat and wide. I feel like this is too wide for each limb. Smell: Pleasant. Colour: White in high density. Formula/ Texture: This is a thin lotion. It is lightweight on the skin and easily applied using the continuous spray motion. The product still does need rubbing into the skin so I'm not sure it's any faster then standard body lotions. It's very fast absorbed with no greasy residue. I defiantly felt my skin drink this up and stay hydrated into the next day. My skin felt a lot smoother and this was the only alteration to my skin care routine. It didn't alter the finish of the skin. There is no shimmer/ glow to this. It's very easy to use but I don't think it's as...

Packaging: Small thin round white plastic container that has a twist off lid and blue and red colours on the lid. It's very durable and portable. Admittedly the packaging is quite basic but it suits the product very well. I find the lid to screw on nice and tight and flush. Smell: Floral. Colour: N/A. Formula/ Texture: These pads are very thin but feel like they hold a decent amount of product. In the tests I did with these, I always had on a base coat, two colour coats and seche vite top coat. Removing both hands took me through 3 entire pads compared to two soaked cotton balls. The third pad was a clean up and removed the tiny last traces of polish. They were defiantly easier to move around the nail and required less effort to remove darker colours but nothing considerable. Lighter colours will only need two pads. My nails were never left feeling dry, or greasy or with any residue on them. Nor have my nails felt more brittle or started to split...

Packaging: Slim and long grey plastic squeeze tube with white text. The cap is blue with a decent sized opening. Great for travelling and can be cut open in order to get the remaining product out of. Smell: Fake plastic. Not very pleasing. Colour: Light grey with blue specks. Formula/ Texture: This is a thick and smooth liquid with a tacky feel. A little effort is required to apply and spread over the face. You don't rub this into the skin and leave on for 5mins and rinse clean. It also means that it takes a little longer and more effort is required to remove this. I find a wash cloth great for this. When applied it does have a warming sensation on the skin that last as long as the mask is on. Nothing uncomfortable just very unique. If you don't like feeling warm then you might enjoy this sensation. It doesn't make my skin dry out but not moisturised either. The formula contains charcoal which is what drew me into trying this out. Charc...

Packaging: Slim light blue squeeze tube with sliver cap. The cap screws off the reveal the metal roller ball applicator. It does look like it sits a little low in the tube but it doesn't affect the product from coming out. Smell/Taste: Citrus. Colour: Clear. Formula/ Texture: This is a thin and smooth gel. It's very lightweight and easily absorbed into the skin. The roller ball is easy and gentle on the delicate under eye skin. The ball itself doesn't sit too far in the tube that it catches on the skin either. Once applied it leaves a refreshing and cooling effect. Coupled with the citrus scent has an awakening effect. This area also feels instantly hydrated thanks to the hyaluronic acid in the formula. It's great preparation for makeup and doesn't aper the natural finish to the skin. Citrus acid helps to brighten the skin while olive extract and ionic mineral complex claim to visibly reduce fine lines and created a more firmer ...

Packaging: Palm sized short and round container. The base is blue with the screw off lid a metallic gold. It feels very strong and durable. The opening of the container is massive and perfect for this type of product. Smell: Light floral. Colour: Light peach. Not visible in the hair. Formula/ Texture: This is a smooth and thick cream. It is easy to grab from the container and use. It might take a little adjusting from your normal routine to incorporate this as you apply a small amount onto your hair (dry or wet the directions don't specify) and leave for 3-5mins, rinsing with cool water. Even after the first use your hair is a lot softer making it more manageable. It feels silkier and smoother but also strong. Finally your hair looks shiner and that tad bit healthier. The result of this is thanks to the argan oil that is pretty widespread in skincare products now makes it's way to haircare. My hair doesn't feel greasy or weighed down afte...

Packaging: Thin and wide plastic squeeze tube with orange and cream colour scheme that features a shiny floral design. Cap has a sturdy hinge with a wide opening. Smell/Taste: Cocoa. Colour: White, blends out clear. Formula/ Texture: This is a thick and smooth cream. It's easily applied to the skin and rinsed with water. There's no tugging or pulling at the skin. A small walnut sized is all that's needed which foams easily and leaves the skin feeling moisturised, soft, smooth with a natural finish. There's no residue leftover and it hasn't broken me out! The cocoa butter really helps to protect the skin and aid in water retention levels which is why my skin is left feeling so moisturised. I love how this has no parabens, dyes or phthalates. It's an all natural - no filler remover. The formula also contains vitamin E that soothes the skin. It's defiantly a quick and easy way to remove makeup but does require a sink so n...

Packaging: Bulky plastic casing with a ridge for the sponge. This isn't reusable or can act as a storage method once the sponge has been used as it can't breathe. The sponge itself is a tear drop shaped with a portion of it cut off on a sharp angle. Smell: None. Colour: Orange that doesn't transfer to the face. Formula/ Texture: This is a very dense sponge. When squeezed in the hands it is from and takes longer to bounce back and regain it's shape. The shape of the sponge has different purposes. The flat edge contours round the eyes and nose. The rounded body blends large areas of the face. While the pointed tip precisely covers imperfections. I have found each of these elements to work for it's purpose I much prefer using the pointed tip to get right under the eye area. It can be used wet or dry. Either way I have found that this does soak up more foundation than if I was using my fingers for application. So be sure to add a tou...

Packaging: Matte black long and wide metal can. The lid is tinted blue to match the blue elements on the can complete with a fleur pattern. The spray is and I haven't and the nozzle clog. Smell: Floral. Colour: None. Formula/ Texture: This is a fine, thin liquid that's a bit tacky to the touch. It is very lightweight on the hair and easy to comb out. If too much is sprayed in the one area and the spray is concentrated, the hair is stiff and this does take a bit of care to comb out. For best results, shake the can well and hold 30cm away from hair. For added volume spray directly onto the roots. This has a hold factor 6, which is the highest level. While I found it to hold up styles such as a bun I wouldn't consider it ultimate hold. I think a basic hairspray would be able to do this. For other styles such as curls, I didn't find it to hold well. Defiantly no where near a 48hr lasting hold. Maybe I haven't been using it correctly...

Packaging: Very tall and thick red metal aerosol can with a black nozzle and clear cap. This correlates to elements of black and white on the packaging. It's very bold and big making it more noticeable. The spray is dense and wide. I haven't experienced the nozzle clogging. This is the same colour for the whole Big Sexy Hair line. Smell: Light floral. Colour: None. Formula/ Texture: This is a thin and fine liquid. It's easily applied from the can. For best results you shake the can well and spray onto dry roots for volume and hold. I was actually surprised for the denser spray that this  is lightweight and undetectable on the hair. It's not sticky or leaves any residue and easy to comb out too. The droplets weren't as fine as other hairsprays, it held the firmness of a style in place throughout the day. It defiantly wasn't industrial grade so no helmet feeling hair here but created movement of the style throughout the day...

Packaging: Heavy, palm sized smooth round metal jar with a plastic screw on lid. The jar has a blue and silver/ grey colour scheme. The lid features a silver star to match the silver embellishments. There is a product stopper that lifts out which can be either thrown away or kept. It feels considerably heavy and wide with not a lot of packaging wastage when you see how much product it holds. This could have something to do with keeping the natural ingredients/ acids fresh. It comes in this round shaped white cardboard box. The lid is a flap that lifts up, revealing the jar in a cradle from the cardboard, covered by another 'Hello Sexy' flap. I thought this was a unique way to present the jar and it was nice to have my sexiness reaffirmed! This is a little larger jar size then the white supreme treatment mask. Smell/Taste: Caramel cookie dough! Colour: Golden brown. Formula/ Texture: This is a thin and smooth cream. It's very easy to app...