Brunette Beauty

Packaging: Plastic rectangle compact. The lid is fully clear with bronzed text. The bottom portion of the bronzer is a bronze colour. A brush is included that fits into the space next to the powder but at the time of this review I have thrown it away. Smell/Taste: None. Colour: 200 Medium bronze - light tan with shimmer and a warm/orange undertone. Sheer pigmentation with a satin finish. Available in 3 shades. Formula/ Texture: This bronzer is a thin, lightweight, smooth powder. I wouldn't say it's as buttery and fine as Too Faced Chocolate Soleil. Like with the whole FIT Me Line, these bronzers are meant to adjust to your skin tone and colour balance. I don't quite get how the bronzer would do this. Does it give more of a smoother, even colour? Of course I don't use the brush that was provided with this to apply the bronzer, but it is easy to apply and somewhat easy to blend with a brush. It did only last 6 hours on my skin before I ...

Packaging: Black plastic compact with bronze text on the lid. Inside the lid has a full width mirror. Smell/Taste: None. Colour: Golden- Muted golden tan-beige with golden shimmer and warm undertones. Sheer pigmentation with a frost finish. Available in 4 shades. Formula/ Texture: Fine, smooth and lightweight powder. I was surprised when I swatched it to see how light in pigmentation this is compared to the pan. This is a good thing meaning the colour can be built up and the shimmer won't be as glitter ball as I imagined but a nice natural effect and adding some warmth to the skin. It applies smoothly and with ease. I feel like this shade will suit more medium to dark skin tones or add to your summer tanned skin. I don't think you could use this year round. Honestly for the price I do know there are other cheaper bronzers available that you would be able to make work year round by adjusting how much you apply. Available: Myer & D...

A while back I did a review on Benefit's Hoola Boxed Powder. I received a sample and didn't like it, it was too muddy for me. Well this is a first segment, where I am doing a re-review. Colour: Medium brown with warm undertones. Sheer pigmentation with a matte finish. Formula/ Texture: Smooth but a little stiff as it's dry. It's easy to apply, though I haven't tried it with the small sample square thin brush you see above that was included. I found it to be long wearing too, lasting an average 10hr day by the time I take it off. Just a caution that you have to be careful with applying this as too much product can give a muddy brown look. I honestly didn't expect to like it. It gives you this nice warm bronzed look. I found it very comparable with Too Faced Chocolate Soleil, I think Too Faced is more long wearing and you can't beat the sweet yummy chocolate smell :) I would recommend this bronzer for contouring. If your debating betwee...

These are the brushes in my opinion that aren't essential but for someone who loves their makeup and wears it everyday will benefit from these. I also think these would be used more by someone who has a larger variety of makeup. I suggest to always see the brush in person otherwise you will become disappointed. Feel it, play with it on your face. Test to see how it would work for what your after. Remember the denser a brush is the more it's going to pick up. The fine the tip the more precise application of colour. I think the quality and seamless of your makeup is a lot to do with the quality of your brushes. Cheap, average brushes won't provide you with the same application as mid range priced brushes. Basically you get what you pay for. A Chanel brush is the top end of the spectrum and may often then not be over priced and very similar to mid range priced brushes. I also want to mention that what specific brushes work for me may not for you. There are different len...

Since moving house, I have been into sorting things out and finding the most efficient and basic ways  to do and store things. So getting back to basics - what is really needed. This extended into my makeup and filtering what is the minimal amount of brushes needed for a usual face of makeup also the ones I have recommended. I am in no way a professional, I just wanted to share.  I suggest to always see the brush in person otherwise you will become disappointed. Feel it, play with it on your face. Test to see how it would work for what your after. Remember the denser a brush is the more it's going to pick up. The fine the tip the more precise application of colour. I think the quality and seamless of your makeup is a lot to do with the quality of your brushes. Cheap, average brushes won't provide you with the same application as mid range priced brushes. Basically you get what you pay for. A Chanel brush is the top end of the spectrum and may often then not be over ...

My top products to give you a taste of what Mac has to offer. Mineral Skin Finish Natural (MSF Natural) It's a low coverage powder but that extra tint of colour can be all you need to even out the skin. I love the natural semi-matte finish it gives. It's a baked powder with mineral pigments meaning it doesn't have any harmful ingredients. It's a soft and velvety powder that is awesome to set foundation and when worn on it's own. It does also last a long while. Lipstick Any formula of lipstick will be a good test. MAC does have a very wide variety of shades that smell like vanilla. I have four different formulas and they all have equal long staying power on my lips. Easy to apply too. My favourite shades are; Blankety, High Tea and Angel. Blush - Pink Swoon Ahhh MAC's blushes are soft, velvety, easy to apply and blend. Pink Swoon  however is a sheer blush with a matte finish, giving a natural bright pick flush to the cheeks. Now don't ...

Packaging: Typical MAC plastic compact with the see through lid, however this is a shiny green with a starfish  print on the lid. There is no brush or sponge bottom portion to MAC compacts. The pan itself is a round disc. Each product in this collection has a different beach themed print on the packaging. Smell: None. Colour: Coral with gold shimmer. Medium pigmentation with a frost finish. It can be either sheered out or built up. The colour reminds me of the NARS blush in Orgasm. NARS is defiantly more sheer in pigmentation and more on the pink side but thats where the differences lie. The swatches below correlate to the order of the blushes. Formula/ Texture: It's an ultra fine smooth textured powder. It is lightweight and does have an longevity of up to 5 hours. It is easy to apply with a blush brush and easy to remove with a basic makeup wipe. There's no oxidisation or skin irritation. I'm glad to see that there isn't a...

Packaging: Typical MAC matte black plastic compact with the see through lid with 'MAC' writing. There is no brush or sponge bottom portion to MAC compacts. The pan itself is a round disc. Smell: None. Colour: Light beige with gold shimmer with warm undertones. Sheer blush with a frost finish. There are heaps of shades in this formula! Formula/ Texture: It's an ultra fine and smooth in texture powder. It is lightweight on the skin and does have an longevity of up to 5 hours, longer with a setting spray. I do think a more pigmented colour will last longer. I do find there is some shimmer fallout when applying this with a brush. Fallout does bother me a bit as generally some shimmer spreads across the face. This shade gives a natural finish but it's a lovely nude colour that warms up the face. I really like as a nice alternative to a deeper bronzer. Available: From Myer & David Jones counters or maccosmetics.com.au f...

Packaging It comes in a gold, shiny box with the shade number on the top and the tube is circular  palm length shiny gold . This has a soft flexible brush tip and a click activator pen end. The lid secures tightly with a click. There is very minimal text on the tube itself but with the shine, it's unmistakable.  Smell: None. Colour: 1-light beige. Medium to full coverage with a satin finish. Formula/ Texture: This is a thin and smooth liquid/ cream consistency. It's easy to apply just by clicking the end, wait for the product to appear at the tip and brush this onto the areas on your face you want to highlight. The first use does require a lot of clips before product starts to come out. A little product does go a long way. It is easy removed with a basic makeup wipe. There is no reflection in flash photography. This is a highlighting type of concealer not a concealer. It has reflective pigments in it from what I can gather that bounce light off t...

Packaging: The Pro longwear comes in the typical MAC matte black plastic compact with the see through lid with 'MAC' writing. There is no brush or sponge bottom portion to MAC compacts. The pan itself is a round disc. Smell: None. Colour: Bright pink. Opaque pigmentation with a matte finish. MAC describe this as a light blue pink. Available in 8 shades. It's more pigmented I found then the regular MAC blushes and is more blue undertoned than Pink Swoon from the regular line. Formula/ Texture: It's an ultra fine powder that is smooth in texture. It is lightweight and does have an extended longevity than the normal MAC blushes of up to 10 hours, looking how it did when first applied. I'm not sure if it's the intense colour pigmentation that gives a natural finish but it does defiantly stay put though a typical work day. It's easy to apply with a blush brush and remove with a basic makeup wipe. I haven't had any irr...

This kit is essentially Benefit's best selling products to create a bronze complexion. I took the opportunity to buy this to try the products for the first time. I think kits and value packs are the best way to do this as you get a taste of the product without forking out the money for the full sized product. There was 3 available in this All Stars collection which featured the brands top products - Bronze of Champions - Do the Bright Thing - Priming With the Stars  I felt like this one had more products that I hadn't and wanted to try. Packaging: This kit comes in a decent sized cardboard box. It has a mirror (mine was broken when it arrived!!-bad luck or what!) on the reverse side of the lid. This also has built in yet detachable Tips & Tricks cards. The bottom portion contains the mini samples of each products.   After you’re done with the products, remove the inserts and use them for keepsakes or whatever you want! Such a useful packaging Ben...

Packaging: I have the sample size which is a mini version of the full sized product. This one has a bright pink flower over a paler pink tube with a brush at the end of the screw off cap. Smell: Watermelons!! Colour: Poppy pink with blue undertones. Sheer to medium pigmentation with a natural finish. Formula: It is a smooth consistency and semi liquid formula. Being a tint, it has great longevity of 12hrs. I haven't experienced any breakouts or irritations. I find my fingers the best method of application as I have yet to find a synthetic brush that does the job the same in the same amount of time. It did leave a stain on my fingertips if I didn't wipe my hands. It is was to blend but the trick is to do one cheek at a time, applying to the face and immediately smoothing out. Otherwise the tint will "set" and you'll be left with the evidence of where you applied the tint. You do need a small amount per cheek, which took me ...

Packaging: I have the sample size which is a mini version of the full sized product. This one has the night starry sky over the city buildings cartoon wrapped around the whole tube with the twist off cap. I know the full sized product is a twist bottom tube with a sponge tip applicator. Im not sure how much better that would work as I can imagine you would still have to rub it in suing your hands. Smell: Watermelons!! Colour: Golden & peach with shimmer highlighter. Light coverage with a satin finish. Formula: It has a smooth consistency that is a little thick. I use my fingers to apply this but a small stippling brush can also work. It does apply evenly and without ease. No problems with it breaking me out or irritation.  It removes easily too. The shimmer on this highlighter is very discreet and minimal. When you apply a large area you can really see the lovely effect it gives. I use it along the top of my...

Packaging: Small clear tube with white screw lid with brush tip applicator. Smell: None. Colour: Ruby red colour. Light coverage/ sheer pigmentation with a natural finish. On the cheeks it is a lot more sheered out and is more pink looking. Texture/ Formula: This is a quite runny and thin. It absorbs and sinks into the skin quite quickly. So it must be applied onto one cheek at a time, blending it immediately. This is my first tint so I had a hard time adjusting to the application method as I ended up with blotches of tint that no powder could fix. A small amount goes a long way. I do use my fingers to apply this and the blending is easier then a brush. This does leave a slight stain on my fingertips. It does have an amazing longevity of 12hrs+, which is what a tint is known for. This can be increased more topped with a powd...

Packaging: Pink , brown and gold foil box. The rounded compact has a two toned brown with the bottom a dark rich brown and the lid a more carmel, light colour. Opening the compact reveals the mirror on the full width underside of the lid with the bottom portion holding the powder. Smell: Chocolate/Cocoa. Colour: Chocolate -light brown with a cool undertones. Medium pigmentation with a matte finish. Too Faced recently released is a light version for paler skin even though this one is suited for all skin tones and types. Formula/Texture: This is a silky fine smooth powder. It feels lightweight on the skin and the colour has a medium opaqueness but is defiantly buildable. It's made from 100% real coca and it banishes redness on my cheeks and evens out the skintone in this area. Easy to apply and I notice very long lasting. I use asmall contour brush and I have no problems blending or blotchiness or anything along those lines with a little powder goes...

Packaging: Black cardboard box with black congregated cardboard inside incasing the actual product. The trio itself is enclosed in a solid material case with a black hard cotton exterior with thin black 'NARS' writing. The compact is actually a zip around enclosure with NARS engraved on the zip handle. Inside the case the top portion of the case is a mirror, with the bottom being the powders. Packaging is handy and great for travel. Smell: None. Colour: Left- Orgasm blush- peachy pink with gold shimmer Middle- Albatross highlighter- icy white with silver sheen Right- Laguna bronzer- light brown with cool undertones These have sheer pigmentation with Laguna the most pigmented and all with a frost finish. The colour is easily built up. L-ELF Bronzer  M-Albatross    R-Laguna L-Orgasm           R-ELF Blush T...

Packaging: Black matte box. Shiny white squeeze tube with a screw off lid and a 2mm wide tip. This cheek tint also has a plastic seal. Has a touch of pink to replicate a blush or glow. The packaging is defiantly travel and clean friendly. Smell: None. Colour: Clear gel that dries intune with the body's natural chemicals to your perfect blush shade as you can see from the pictures below is a sheer bright pink colour. Light coverage with a sheen finish. Formula/ Texture: It's a thick silicone consistency gel. It's easily absorbed into the skin. It leaves a bit of a stain on the cheek that is easily removed with a second makeup wipe. This gel consists of goji and berry C complex, ginkgo bilba & pomegranate seed for antioxidant protection. So it's going to help nourish the skin. I didn't find this to dry out my skin. This gel is not a stain and more of a long wearing cheek colour. In this sense I don't feel that it stains as bad as ...

Packaging: Reflective royal blue box. The compact is housed in dark, rich, navy velvet pouch with the initials 'CD' burnt into the front side of the pouch. The compact is a luxurious dark navy with a lighter 'CD' sitting under a bubble like plastic depending on what angle you hold the compact. The most prominent feature is right in the middle and is a large shiny silver ' Dior' . Opening the compact by a push button on the front bottom side to reveal a full width mirror in the top inside. Bottom side is the powder, protected by a plastic sheet. The powder itself is engraved in a cross-check pattern with Dior on the bottom right corner. I can't say how luxurious this compact is. Smell: Silicone. Colour: 002 Amber Diamond - icy shimmery champagne colour with cool undertones. Sheer pigmentation with a frost finish. It comes in another shade 001 Rose D...