ColourPop Lippie Stix - Pinch, Frida, Tootsi, Heart On, Fighter and Blood Swatches & Review

August 23, 2015, 12:34 am

≫ Next: MAC Monday: Archie's Girls - Cream Soda Blush Swatches & Review

≪ Previous: Living Nature Warm Summer Blush Swatches & Review

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Hey lovelies,

My love for ColourPop's Lippie Stix continues unabated with six new additions to my stash! Let's take a look at the pretties I have to show you today.

Pinch, Frida, Tootsi, Heart On, Fighter and Blood, swatched on bare skin under daylight bulbs

The packaging for the Lippie Stix is a glossy white twist up slim tube with a slanted lip bullet. I really like the smaller surface area of this lipstick style as it allows a more precision than your traditional larger teardrop shaped bullet. Each lipstick has a coloured end cap which matches the colour inside as well as a label with the name and finish (eg satin, matte, glossy). 

The Lippie Stix have a gorgeous chocolate chip cookie scent - it smells just like the Rainbowlicious Chocolate Chip scrub to my nose, which means I'm basically in heaven every time I pop the cap off one of these. SO good.

There's a mixture of mattes and satins here and I've found the texture and application to be great with both formulas. All of them have a very subtle tackiness and a smooth, slightly creamy texture. The mattes seemed to be a little firmer on the lips, but they didn't drag or tug in any way, the satins had a bit more slip. They are all pretty forgiving of flaws, good news for those who struggle to keep pesky lip flakes away! 

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Pinch

Pinch is described as 'a light pinky beige in a matte finish'. It's a warm terracotta nude with lovely colour pay off and is one of three collaboration Lippie Stix with Rumer Willis (for her Dancing With the Stars appearances). It wears for three hours on me and is noticeably drying.

See the rest of this makeup look here

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Frida

Frida is described as 'a warm mid tone nude pink with a satin finish'. It has coral leanings and applies smoothly with strong colour pay off. It's one of CoffeebreakwithDani's collab shades, who is not a vlogger that I personally follow, so I'm unaware of the inspiration behind it. Frida wears for four and a half hours on me without being drying but I did notice some gathering of product along the inner rim of my lips - this seems to be pretty common to the glossier formulas for me.

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Tootsi

Tootsi is described as a 'cool-toned grey beige (“greige”) in a matte finish' - basically another riff on the shade that Lime Crime made so popular with their Cashmere Velvetine. I'm still not sure how I feel about this colour on me, but hey, for $5USD it's a pretty cheap experiment! Tootsi lasted a rather amazing seven hours on me and was not drying.

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Heart On

Heart on is a 'bright cool toned magenta in a matte finish'. Probably not the most unique shade I could have chosen to add to my overstuffed fuchsia lipstick wardrobe but stuff it - I love this colour. Heart On applies smoothly with intense, saturated colour pay off and wears for four and half hours on me. No feathering, migrating or drying but it does leave moderate staining.

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Fighter

Fighter is 'a perfect true vibrant red in a matte finish'. It applies smoothly with rich colour pay off, doesn't feather and lasts for just over five hours on me. I love a classic red and Fighter definitely fits the bill!

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Blood

Blood is described as 'a deep burgundy red in a matte finish.' It has stunning colour pay off and applies super smoothly, Blood reminds me of MAC Runway Red, which I desperately need to reswatch - I am obsessed with this kind of red! It wears for just over five hours, isn't drying and doesn't feather. This is another collaboration shade from Rumer Willis.

What I liked:

• All of the Lippie Stix have incredible colour pay off
• Frida, Blood, Fighter, Heart On and Tootsi aren't drying
• None of the shades feathered
• Tootsi wore for seven hours
• Fighter and Blood wore for just over five hours
• Frida wears for four and a half hours

What I didn't like:

• Pinch was drying
• Pinch wears for three hours
• Frida has some gathering of product on the inner part of lips

Where to buy:

• ColourPop

Have you tried any of these Lippie Stix shades?

X
Lani

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MAC Monday: Archie's Girls - Cream Soda Blush Swatches & Review

August 23, 2015, 10:09 pm

≫ Next: Press Release: MAC Giambattista Valli - September 7th, 2015

≪ Previous: ColourPop Lippie Stix - Pinch, Frida, Tootsi, Heart On, Fighter and Blood Swatches & Review

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Hey lovelies,

How adorable was the Archie's Girls collection? I wasn't able to pick anything up before it sold out when it was on counter (back in January 2013) but I've been gradually collecting up my wishlist since. Today I have Cream Soda, which is Betty's blush from the collection.

This collection came in glossy white packaging featuring either Betty or Veronica - the collection was divided in two with a different colour story for each of the girls.  

Swatched heavily (left) and blended out (right) on bare skin, photographed under daylight bulbs

Cream Soda is a pale coral with a a satin finish. It mostly appears matte on the cheeks, with the sheen being very subtle, but the satin finish and the buildable, blendable colour give a nice, natural look. This is definitely a difficult colour to overdo, which is possibly Cream Soda's only downside - it may not show up or appear chalky on deeper skintones. On me it lasts for seven hours before it gradually starts disappearing.

A FOTD with Cream Soda

What I liked:

• Buildable colour pay off
• Blends easily
• Smooth, natural finish

What I didn't like:

• Nothing!

Start your hunt here:

• Specktra.net Clearance Bin
• Ebay
• Facebook sales groups
• Glambot
• Amazon
• Storenvy
• Trade Me

X
Lani

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Press Release: MAC Giambattista Valli - September 7th, 2015

August 25, 2015, 1:32 am

≫ Next: MAC Giambattista Valli - Tats and Eugenie Lipstick Swatches & Review

≪ Previous: MAC Monday: Archie's Girls - Cream Soda Blush Swatches & Review

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Press release

Hey lovelies,

I must confess to being rather disappointed that a collection that has generated so much hype among MAC fans and makeup lovers worldwide is seeing such a small release in New Zealand! The much lusted after Giambattista Valli will makes it appearance in just three stores on September 7th - I've listed them at the bottom of the post. Read on for all the prices and colour descriptions!

Fashion designer Giambattista Valli brings his effortless elegance and luxurious celebration of the female form to a stunning collection of timeless lipsticks.

Lipstick $44.00NZD

Bianca B - Pale white-pink (matte)

Margherita - Yellow bright peach (matte)

Tats - Bright hot pink (matte)

Charlotte - Rich yellow-red (matte)

Eugenie - Dark cherry with blue undertone (matte)

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 Crystal Glaze Gloss $50.00NZD

Lena - Clear with subtle multicoloured pearl

MAC Giambattista Valli is available from the 7th of September at the following locations:

• M·A·C Britomart, Atrium on Takutai, Auckland. 
• M·A·C Ponsonby, 130–134 Ponsonby Road, Auckland. 
• Kirkcaldie & Stains, 165-177 Lambton Quay, Wellington

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Lani

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MAC Giambattista Valli - Tats and Eugenie Lipstick Swatches & Review

August 25, 2015, 3:22 am

≫ Next: My Blush Picks From Luxola

≪ Previous: Press Release: MAC Giambattista Valli - September 7th, 2015

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Hey lovelies,

Today I have the pleasure of showing you two of the five lipstick shades coming out with MAC's Giambattista Valli collection, which launches in New Zealand on the 7th of September. You can find the rest of the collection details in the press release I posted earlier today.

The packaging for this collection won hearts everywhere with coloured tubes that match the lipstick shades inside. I particularly like the frosted metallic wind up section contrasted with the matte exterior.

MAC's mattes generally apply very smoothly without dragging and feel rather velvety on the lips; Tats and Eugenie are no exception and have great textures. MAC lipsticks have a vanilla scent (nom!) and the limited edition packaging shades have a RRP of $44.00NZD.

 Swatched on bare skin, photographed under daylight bulbs

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Tats

Tats is described as a bright hot pink matte. The yellow tones set it apart from the majority of the hot pinks in my collection, the closest colours I have are MAC No Faux Pas and Lime Crime Pink Velvet, both of which are a touch bluer and lighter and darker, respectively. Tats has smooth, opaque colour pay off and wears for seven hours on me without being drying. By the end of wear, it was mostly a stain.

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Eugenie

Eugenie is described as a dark cherry with blue undertones with a matte finish. It applies smoothly without tugging or dragging but still winds up looking a little patchy when viewed up close. From a normal viewing distance it's absolutely fine and it's not a deal breaker for me - I'm in love with this vampy cherry! It's very similar to Kat Von D Motorhead which is significantly patchier. Eugenie wears for a bit over five hours without feathering or being drying and leaves some staining.

What I liked:

• Tats wears for seven hours
• Eugenie wears for a little over five hours
• Both shades apply smoothly
• Tats has excellent colour pay off
• Neither of the shades are drying
• They do not feather or migrate

What I didn't like:

• Eugenie is slightly patchy

MAC Giambattista Valli is available from the 7th of September at the following locations:

• M·A·C Britomart, Atrium on Takutai, Auckland. 
• M·A·C Ponsonby, 130–134 Ponsonby Road, Auckland. 
• Kirkcaldie & Stains, 165-177 Lambton Quay, Wellington

Also try:

• Specktra.net Clearance Bin
• Ebay
• Facebook sales groups
• Glambot
• Amazon
• Storenvy
• Trade Me

Will you be picking anything up from this collection?

X
Lani

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My Blush Picks From Luxola

August 27, 2015, 5:08 am

≫ Next: Born Pretty Store #HS-37 False Eyelashes Review

≪ Previous: MAC Giambattista Valli - Tats and Eugenie Lipstick Swatches & Review

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Provided for review

Hey lovelies,

If there's one blush finish that can be somewhat polarizing, it's shimmer. Done well, they give a perfect, lit from within glow but done wrong, they're more likely to cause people to mistake you for a disco ball! I was contacted by Luxola recently to ask if I'd like to put some of the shimmery blushes they offer to the test, so let's see how these three fare! Plus there's an exclusive discount coupon at the end of the post, so get scrolling :D

I was allowed to choose three different blushes from among the many brands Luxola offer, which was no easy feat! If you've never shopped with Luxola before, they're a company based in Singapore who ship to New Zealand, Australia and parts of Asia - you can find the full list of locations they deliver to here. They stock over 200 hundred brands so there's definitely something for everyone's tastes and budget. If none of the blushes I'll be showing you today appeal, you can try more on their website.

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Wet n Wild Berry Shimmer

The Wet n Wild blush is big on packaging, not so much on actual volume, containing 4g of product - but that's not such a big deal given it's currently on sale for $6.15NZD! It contains a small travel sized brush, which is a bit too sparsely bristled and floppy to be very useful - I did give it a good go and it just did not want to blend, so back to the comfort of my regular blush brush it was. 

Berry Shimmer is a ruddy berry with heavy golden shimmer. It has very strong colour pay off and I needed to use a very light hand (even so, I think I still over did it a bit!). If you want cheeks that have a rosy glow as if you've been on a brisk walk on a cold winter's day, Berry Shimmer is well worth a look. I think this shade would be excellent for darker complexions too. The texture is finely milled and kicks up some excess powder in the pan, but doesn't look powdery when applied. On me, Berry Shimmer lasted a solid ten hours before showing signs of fading.

Shop Now

A FOTD with Wet n Wild Berry Shimmer

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Mirenesse Marble Mineral Blush - Rose Diamond

Mirenesse is a brand I haven't used in many years (not since receiving their Secret Weapon mascara as a magazine freebie circa 2009, which from memory was one of the first tubing mascaras around!) and I was excited to get reacquainted. Straight off the bat you can tell Mirenesse is presenting themselves as a luxury brand, with the  Marble Mineral Blush arriving in its own special pouch. It has a lofty price tag to match, currently retailing for $63.79NZD on Luxola, but it should be noted that this blush contains a whopping 12g of product! For comparison's sake, a MAC blush is $48.00NZD for 6g. 

This blush comes in a large, palm sized compact which has a decent weight to it, although the lid feels a little wobbly and thinner than the rest. Not like it's going to pop open, more that it might slide to the side somehow. I really like that Mirenesse have chosen to include a good quality, generously sized mirror instead of an ineffectual travel brush. 

Rose Diamond is a medium, slightly warm pink with heavy shimmer and lovely, buildable colour pay off. Although it looks super shimmery in the swatch, it applies with a more subtle effect and gives quite a natural finish. It's very powdery in the compact, but again, doesn't appear that way on my cheeks. Wear time was very good, still going strong after seven hours wear and beginning to look faded after nine hours. 

Shop now

A FOTD with Mirenesse Rose Diamond

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Sleek Rose Gold

Last but certainly not least is the famous Rose Gold blush from Sleek MakeUP. This blush is famously a close match for the immensely popular NARS Orgasm, which I unfortunately don't own to compare, but this glowing beauty certainly helps to sate the lemming. It's packaged in a simple but sturdy matte black compact with a large mirror and contains 8g of product, currently retailing for $15.95NZD.

Rose Gold is a medium coral pink with lots of golden sheen. The texture runs on the drier side and I found it took a bit of building for me to be happy with the colour saturation but I absolutely love it on. The shimmer doesn't emphasise pores or fallout, it's very fine and smooth. Rose Gold lasts for seven hours on me before disappearing.

Shop now

A FOTD with Rose Gold

What I liked:

• Sleek Rose Gold wears for seven hours
• Mirenesse Rose Diamond wears for nine hours
• Wet n Wild Berry Shimmer wears for ten hours
• Wet n Wild Berry Shimmer has intense colour pay off
• Sleek Rose Gold and Mirenesse Rose Diamond have buildable colour pay off
• They don't emphasise pores
• No fall out from shimmer
• Large mirrors included in Mirenesse Rose Diamond and Sleek Rose Gold compacts
• Huge amount of product in the Mirenesse Marble Mineral Blush

What I didn't like:

• Mirenesse Rose Diamond and Wet n Wild Berry Shimmer kick up some excess powder
• The brush included with Wet n Wild Berry Shimmer is pretty useless
• Mirenesse Rose Diamond's lid feels a bit loose and wobbly

Where to buy:

• Luxola (individual links above) 

Luxola have kindly offered my readers a 25% discount code! Use the code BLX-LANI to receive 25% off your first order. The coupon is valid until the 30th of September, 2015 and is only valid for first time Luxola customers. Some brands are excluded from the discount coupon, you can find out more in Luxola's FAQ. 

Not feeling confident about blush in general? Luxola have a great article in their online magazine, LXEdit to help you find the perfect shade and application style for you. Find out more.

X
Lani

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Born Pretty Store #HS-37 False Eyelashes Review

August 27, 2015, 4:14 pm

≫ Next: LUSH Kalamazoo Beard And Facial Wash Review

≪ Previous: My Blush Picks From Luxola

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Provided for review/Contains affiliate links

Hey lovelies,

More false lashes from Born Pretty Store to show you today! I've become rather addicted to their wide range of styles and budget friendly selection recently, and most of them are very good quality. Born Pretty Store sent me a ten pack of their style #HS-37 lashes to review, a dense, fluttery style.

This style is densely packed with lashes and has a full, fluttery appearance. The lash bands are fairly flexible, especially if you make sure to roll the band several times before applying (though you should do this before applying any false lashes anyway!). They do appear a bit plasticky, I think just because of how full and dense they are and I noticed a loose lash splayed away from the main set in the pair I'm wearing here. A few of the other pairs have irregularly cut lashes where it doesn't appear intentional too. I think this style may be a bit too dramatic for my eye shape, but it's still fun to try and these certainly don't break the bank at $5.45USD for the pack of 10,

A FOTD with the #HS-37 lashes

What I liked:

• Full, fluttery style
• Flexible lash band

What I didn't like:

• Some loose or irregularly trimmed lashes
• They appear a little plasticky

Where to buy:

• Born Pretty Store (don't forget to use my code LR10K31 for 10% off!)

X
Lani

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LUSH Kalamazoo Beard And Facial Wash Review

August 27, 2015, 4:59 pm

≫ Next: Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment Review

≪ Previous: Born Pretty Store #HS-37 False Eyelashes Review

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Hey lovelies,

My husband is not a LUSH man. Should we find ourselves in the vicinity of a LUSH store, he finds the aromas that I enjoy so much too cloying or too pungent in turn. So when an email landed in my inbox from LUSH's PR team declaring that 'all men love LUSH!' I was only too keen to see if I could convert him.

Mike received Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash, which LUSH describe as follows:

Keep things bright and bushy with this creamy wash for furry faces. Fresh pineapple juice is full of enzymes to cleanse the skin and zap away dirt, whilst almond oil, jojoba oil and cupuaçu butter will leave your beard soft and strokeable. Simply scoop some out of the pot and massage onto your beard and face, rinse off and pat dry.

It retails for $22.90NZD for 250g.

^ You know what that top tip says to me? It says this is a license to steal my husband's skincare.

Here's what Mike has to say about Kalamazoo:

I trialled this over the last few weeks and Lani tells me that it does make my beard softer and cuddlier. Kalamazoo is a semi solid goo in a little tub that you lather up and wash your beard and face with. It does take a bit of effort to make sure that it is all rinsed out of your beard since it gets right in there, I have had a couple of soapy beard days when I didn't quite get it all out. Seems to work as advertised and doesn't have a strong smell, pretty good stuff.

Kalamazoo Beard And Facial Wash can be purchased at LUSH Online (NZ) or you can find your nearest LUSH store using the store locator. International readers can find their local LUSH site here!

X
Lani

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Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment Review

August 30, 2015, 4:51 am

≫ Next: MAC The Matte Lip 2015 Lipstick Swatches & Review

≪ Previous: LUSH Kalamazoo Beard And Facial Wash Review

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Hey lovelies,

This month Clinique launched their new Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment and, having been able to test it out for the past couple of months, I'm ready to tell you what I think of it!

Smart Customer-Repair Eye Treatment sure wears a lot of hats Clinique says it 'visibly brightens, lifts, smoothes crepiness and diminishes fine lines and crow's feet. Plus, a boost of hydration helps repair dehydrated skin'. You just gently pat the light gel around the orbital area morning and night, easy at that. Unlike some other eye creams I've tried, it's not tacky or cloyingly fragranced, nor is it thick or slow to absorb; instead it sinks in quickly, is allergy tested, fragrance free and gentle enough to use on the eyelids too. 

The ingredients list reads like a greatest hits of skincare and although I don't purport to be an expert on that subject matter, I'm particularly pleased by the inclusion of hyaluronic acid (to attract and bind moisture) and algae extract (to soothe and calm skin). Also included on the list:

Cladosiphon Okamuranus extract, hydrolysed rice protein, vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract, sodium RNA, acetyl hexapeptide-8 and palmitoyl hexapeptide-12, whey protein, plum extract, morus nigra root extract, scutellaria baicalensis root extract, vitis vinifera (grape) fruit extract, ascorbyl glucoside, glucosamine ferment, cucumber extract, sunflower extract and barley extract.

(Psst - if you'd like to check out some bloggers who really know their stuff on skincare, I highly recommend Hyacinth Girl, Lena Talks Beauty, Nail Girl, Lab Muffin and Makeupwithdrawal).

Over the past few months I've certainly noticed that the area under my eyes is much more hydrated and the slightly pebbled texture seems less pronounced. Crow's feet and fine lines aren't something I've begun to notice too much yet at the ripe old age of 26, so I can't accurately report on that. I do feel that there are some brightening effects - despite being ill rather often of late with the last of the winter weather, my skin has been looking a lot better than I've felt and my undereye circles have not been making many appearances. 

The packaging for the whole affair is rather sleek and simple, a brushed silver plastic tube with a clear cap and a pump which dispenses enough to comfortably apply to both eyes without needing to go back for seconds. It contains 15ml of product and has an RRP of $95NZD.

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment is available from Clinique counter nationwide and online at Smith and Caughey's  now.

Do you have a favourite eye cream?

X
Lani

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MAC The Matte Lip 2015 Lipstick Swatches & Review

August 31, 2015, 4:30 am

≫ Next: JORD Wooden Watch Review

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Hey lovelies,

As a big fan of MAC's matte lipsticks, The Matte Lip 2015 has been one of the releases I have been most looking forward to this year, even if I haven't yet bought anything from it! As a longtime MAC fan and terrible lipstick hoarder, I actually have half of the twenty-two piece strong collection from their previous releases already so I thought before I bought any of the new shades, I'd better swatch and review these eleven :)

Right, so - all the lipsticks promoted in this collection are permanent, with eight already being part of the existing permanent range (Kinda Sexy, Velvet Teddy, Please Me, Pink Pigeon, All Fired Up, Flat Out Fabulous, Heroine and Ruby Woo). Dangerous was part of the permanent line for a time but mysteriously vanished a few months ago, so it's nice to see it resurface! Repromoted from the Punk Couture collection (2013) are Studded Kiss and Instigator and from the Retro Matte collection (also 2013) we have Steady Going and Runway Hit (as an aside, this is also where Flat Out Fabulous, Dangerous and All Fired Up made their debut).

Brand spanking new are the shades Matte Royal, Antique Velvet, Persistence, Naturally Transformed, Tropic Tonic, Men Love Mystery, D For Danger, Stone and Whirl, the latter two being inspired by the cult lip pencils of the same names. I'll pop up a press release later with colour descriptions and pictures.

These all come in MAC's standard black lipstick tubes and carry a retail price of $40NZD (or $17USD in the States). You'll notice my tubes of Kinda Sexy and Velvet Teddy look a bit different, as they are sample tubes purchased from TheBodyNeeds, which is a great option if you're not sure about committing to a full size tube of a particular colour. I may yet buy a sample tube of Naturally Transformed to try out, I'm not sure if I can pull off those strong yellow tones!

The finishes are a mixture of Matte and Retro Matte finishes with the Retro Mattes typically feeling drier and a bit more prone to tugging during application, they lack the slight creaminess of the Matte formula. Retro Mattes also have a more flat finish and can be more unforgiving of uneven texture on the lips. I didn't have any problems with any of these feathering, which is why it's not noted below. MAC lipsticks have a vanilla scent.

Swatched on bare skin under daylight bulbs: Kinda Sexy, Velvet Teddy, Please Me, Pink Pigeon, All Fired Up, Flat Out Fabulous, Heroine, Dangerous, Ruby Woo, Studded Kiss and Instigator

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Kinda Sexy

Kinda Sexy is described as a 'neutral pinky rose' but always seems very peach to me! It's one of my favourite nude lipsticks from MAC (though it's in danger of being usurped by Honeylove, which I reviewed here) and has a super smooth texture with great opacity. On me it lasts four and a half hours without being drying.

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Velvet Teddy

Velvet Teddy has risen in popularity alongside the 'Kylie Jenner lip' in recent years and is now a firm fan favourite. It's described as a 'deep beige', but I'd call it a warm medium brown with hints of rose. It has the same creamy, opaque finish as Kinda Sexy and lasts four and a half hours. It's non drying.

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Please Me

Ahhh, Please Me, one of my first big loves from MAC's matte range. It's described as a 'muted rose tinted pink' and has a very subtle warmth about it - close enough to being neutral in my opinion that it should flatter a variety of skintones, and the muted quality keeps it very wearable in general. Please Me has great opacity, applies smoothly without dragging and lasts for four hours on me without drying out my lips.

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Pink Pigeon

Pink Pigeon is a 'bright clean pink' with cool undertones. This gorgeous hot pink perfectly walks the line between the neon tones of Candy Yum Yum and the glossier, darker Girl About Town - I'm rather enamoured with it! Pink Pigeon applies smoothly with intense colour pay off and lasts for six hours without being drying. It leaves behind strong pink staining.

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All Fired Up

All Fired Up is described as a 'bright fuchsia' and has a Retro Matte finish. What I love about All Fired Up is that despite being undeniably pink, it has a muted quality that makes it a less 'in your face' shade. The colour pay off is fantastic and it doesn't tug during application, though as I mentioned, the Retro Mattes do generally feel more resistant than the Mattes. All Fired Up wears for five hours on me and is noticeably drying.

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Flat Out Fabulous

Flat Out Fabulous is a 'bright plum' with a Retro Matte finish. I'm honestly embarrassed it's taken me this long to swatch it, because it is the most incredible colour! Lovely opacity here and it applies pretty smoothly. When I tested Flat Out Fabulous for wear, it lasted six hours some fading, but those six hours included a shower and food, so I was sufficiently impressed! It was minimally drying too.

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Heroine

Heroine is a bright magenta-purple. It wears for five hours without feathering or drying and leaves behind a strong pink stain. I've worn this a couple of times now and I really like it! It's such a fun shade.

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Dangerous

Dangerous is another one I wish I'd swatched a whole lot sooner - orangey reds are a real weakness of mine and this one is damn gorgeous. It has vivid colour pay off and applies smoothly, perhaps a little more so than the other Retro Mattes. Dangerous wore for five hours on me without being drying.

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Ruby Woo

My tube of Ruby Woo comes from last year's holiday collection, it normally comes in standard MAC packaging :)

And now we come to one of MAC's most enduring shades and the sole Retro Matte to remain in the permanent line for many, many years - Ruby Woo! Did you know that Ruby Woo has been around since 1999, when it was launched in the first Retro Matte collection? It launched alongside five other Retro Mattes: Verushka, Santiago, Bronx, So Be and Moxie - to date, I'm only aware of Moxie ever being repromoted, the rest have sadly remained discontinued. It's been awesome to see Ruby Woo joined by new Retro Mattes over the past few years as fashion circles around again to the ultra matte lip. 

It's not the easiest lipstick to work with although the formula seems to have improved over the years - this is my second tube and it's a lot less prone to dragging or skipping than my previous one was. The colour pay off is fantastic and on me Ruby Woo wears for just over seven hours with a little fading to the centre. It's moderately drying.

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Studded Kiss

Studded Kiss is described as a 'dark oxblood red' which I'd agree with. It has a Matte finish and the same spectacular opacity as the rest of these shades. Texture was nice and smooth and it wore for six hours on me with some staining. Studded Kiss was another noticeably drying one.

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Instigator

And finally Instigator is the deliciously vampy lipstick rounding out the collection. Described by MAC as a 'deep blackened plum' with a Matte finish, it's exactly that and I loooooove it. Instigator is mostly opaque and applies smoothly. It lasted for close to seven and a half hours on me, becoming somewhat drying after four hours and only looking a little faded toward the end of wear.

What I liked:

• Lovely colour pay off
• Applied smoothly
• Dangerous, Pink Pigeon, Kinda Sexy, Velvet Teddy and Please Me aren't drying
• Lasting power ranges from four and half hours to seven and a half
• No feathering or migrating

What I didn't like:

• Instigator, Ruby Woo, Studded Kiss, Flat Out Fabulous, All Fired Up are minimally to moderately drying
• Ruby Woo can slip and drag

Where to buy:

• MAC Cosmetics
• Specktra.net Clearance Bin
• Ebay
• Facebook sales groups
• Glambot
• Amazon
• Storenvy
• Trade Me

Have you bought any of the new matte shades? Have you tried many of the existing shades or repromotes?

X
Lani

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JORD Wooden Watch Review

September 2, 2015, 2:58 am

≫ Next: Super Last Minute Father's Day Ideas!

≪ Previous: MAC The Matte Lip 2015 Lipstick Swatches & Review

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Provided for review

Hey lovelies,

Recently I was contacted by US Company JORD, who make beautiful and unique wooden watches, to ask if I'd like to try out a watch for review. Although I love the look of watches (and of course the function!), I've never found a style I was truly happy with - metal watches feel too weighty, leather seems to rub too much, while chunky plastic just isn't my thing. So I've not been a regular watch wearer in a very long time. This watch, however may change things!

Carved from wood, JORD watches are described as 'true pieces of art', with the grain of the wood making each a one of a kind creation. I chose the Fieldcrest ($120USD) in dark sandalwood, a moody, unisex style which is very lightweight and comfortable to wear, despite being a larger style than I would usually gravitate towards. JORD offer a sizing option on their site with clear instructions, so it was easy to get the right fit, but it's possible to order further links if required. The watch is very well made, and the joints are all polished smooth so there's no pinching of your skin between the links - don't you hate when watches do that? I've been nipped by metal watches in the past.

When the watch arrived, about a week after receiving a shipping notification, it was beautifully packaged and arrived safe and sound. I'm not the only one who has been enamoured by the Fieldcrest - my husband has pretty much claimed it for himself and I had to wrestle it off him to take some pictures! :D 

So far it's held up to being worn daily very well and hasn't needed a clean yet, but as wood is naturally a porous material, it will need polishing over time. JORD say you should condition it with beeswax, butcher block oil or walnut oil to help protect it - as with wooden furniture, if taken care of, it should last a long time.

If the Fieldcrest style isn't your thing, JORD have plenty of other pieces on their website with the option to filter by style or wood. Most of the watch models are available in different woods and some are accented with metal or splashes of colour, so there's something to fit almost every taste. With prices starting at $120USD, I think a JORD watch would be a wonderful and unique gift for a loved one.

Wooden Wrist Watch


X
Lani

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Super Last Minute Father's Day Ideas!

September 4, 2015, 6:00 am

≫ Next: MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1 & 2 Lipstick and Lipglass Swatches & Review

≪ Previous: JORD Wooden Watch Review

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Provided for review/Purchased by me

Hey lovelies,

Father's Day is one of those occasions I always struggle to come up with ideas for and my gift selection is often left woefully last minute! If you experience the same trouble, read on for a few quick ideas you can nip out to the shops for.

Image via BDM Grange

If you want something cheap and cheerful but potent, look no further than the Lipidol After Shave Oil. This handy oil is supposed to supplement the skin's natural oily layer which is stripped away during shaving. If it's anything like as good as their cleansing oil, I think dads receiving this will be very pleased. I hope so anyway - I bought a bottle each for Mike's dad and his best mate (affectionately known as his second dad) :D

It's available at Farmers stores nationwide for the princely sum of $9.95.

Images via ZA's PR

ZA have once again brought out their ZA Men skincare sets, value packed bundles which contain a cleanser or scrub, a moisturiser and a face cloth. Several of our hard to buy for male rellies found these under their Christmas trees last year, for the RRP of $15 they just can't be beat! Particularly when the individual, full size products these sets contain retail for $9.90 (cleansers and scrubs) and $12.90 (moisturisers) respectively. My brother Nick trialled the Ultimate Moist set here and here.

The ZA Men sets are available at selected pharmacies in NZ

Images via LUSH NZ

My husband Mike helpfully chimed in with some suggestions from LUSH! Pictured above are the Veerappan Moustache Wax ($18.90) and the Kalamazoo Beard and Face Wash ($22.90), the latter of which he actually reviewed just last week - you can catch his review here. 

Available at LUSH NZ, find your nearest location via their store locator.

Image via Products From New Zealand

And lastly, if your dad is anything like mine, nothing would please him more than his favourite sweet treat on Father's Day (or any day, if we're being real). My dad LOVE Pascall Jet Planes and 

They're available at supermarkets, petrol stations and dairies nationwide.

How is your Father's Day shopping going?

X
Lani

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MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1 & 2 Lipstick and Lipglass Swatches & Review

September 9, 2015, 5:12 am

≫ Next: Elemis sp@home Skin Nourishing Body Scrub & Body Cream Review

≪ Previous: Super Last Minute Father's Day Ideas!

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Provided for review/Purchased by me/Contains affiliate links

Hey lovelies,

I'm super excited to share the new MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2* lipstick and lipglass with you today! And as a bonus, since I haven't shared the first duo with you, I'll be sharing those too. Pull up a chair and grab a cuppa, this is going to be lengthy and picture laden post!

Swatched left to right on bare skin under daylight bulbs: Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1 lipstick, Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1 lipglass, Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2* lipstick, Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2* lipglass

MAC's ever popular Viva Glam campaign continues with Miley Cyrus as this year's spokesperson. What's fabulous about the Viva Glam programme is that it's been built around supporting those with AIDS/HIV and it's not just a percentage of proceeds or profits that goes towards the MAC AIDS Fund - it's every single cent of every Viva Glam product sale. In addition to Miley's shade, which will be available for the remainder of 2015, MAC also have a permanent lineup of six other Viva Glam shades which I hope to show you soon. If you'd like to, you can find out more about the MAC AIDS Fund here.

I think MAC's lipsticks are one of the strongest products in their range (there's a reason I can't stop collecting them!) and their lipglosses are pretty rad too. They all have a vanilla scent and the two lipstick formulas here (Amplified and Matte) have strong and smooth colour pay off. The intensity of the Lipglass formula varies a lot from shade to shade but these two both give a wash of even colour and a lot of sparkle. The Miley Cyrus 1 lipglass is sparkly enough to fall into Dazzleglass territory - I love it! The downside to the Lipglasses is that they are tacky and can be quite thick, but on the flipside this does often help them last longer than many glosses and they feel cushiony and hydrating on the lips.

To set them apart from the permanent lipstick range, Viva Glam lipsticks have metallic red sections on the tube and the celebrity collaborations also bear their signatures on the tubes and boxes. The lipglasses also feature the signatures and have a doefoot applicator to easily apply the gloss.

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Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1

Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1 is a hot pink with an Amplified finish. The colour pay off is rich and even with a semi glossy finish. I get five hours wear with no feathering or drying and it leaves behind some pink staining.

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Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1 Lipglass

Hnnnngggghhhhh SO SPARKLY.

Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1 Lipglass is described as a 'hot pink with sparkling pearl'. It's a translucent medium pink with a tonne of blue and pink microshimmer which glistens like you wouldn't believe. This gloss wears for two and a half hours on me and is moderately hydrating. Once the colour and shine fade, lots of sparkle is left on the lips.

Of course I had to show you the lipstick and lipglass layered together too - and they're flipping MAGICAL:

A photo posted by Lani (@lanilovesblog) on Sep 7, 2015 at 4:20pm PDT

If you're not following me on Instagram, please head on over and check it out for more swatches and sneak peeks!

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Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2

Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2* is described by MAC as a 'bright orange' with a Matte finish. It has a tinge of red that calls to mind Lady Danger but this is definitely more orange. Ahhhh, I love it - orange lipsticks are definitely a favourite of mine, especially warm opaque matte ones. Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2 wears for five hours on me, isn't drying and doesn't feather or migrate.

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Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2 Lipglass

Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2 Lipglass* is described as a 'bright orange with sparkling pearl'. The shimmer is much more subdued in this one which may be good or bad depending on your preferences. It's a semi opaque orangey-coral with gold and pink shimmer. This one lasted three hours on me and was hydrating.

Layered together, the Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2 lip products leave you with a gorgeously glossy cartoon ready pout! They pull as more of a tomato red like this too, which I love.

A photo posted by Lani (@lanilovesblog) on Sep 8, 2015 at 2:43am PDT

What I liked:

• Both lipsticks have smooth and opaque colour pay off
• Lipsticks lasted five hours
• Lipsticks weren't drying
• Lipsticks didn't feather or migrate
• Lipglasses have even colour pay off
• Lipglasses last two and a half to three hours
• Lipglasses are hydrating

What I didn't like:

• Lipglass formula has a tacky texture

Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1 and 2 are available at MAC counters worldwide for the rest of 2015. New Zealanders can find their closest store here. In New Zealand, the lipsticks retail for $40NZD and the lipglasses are $38NZD. Remember, every cent of the selling price of these lipsticks and glosses goes to the MAC AIDS Fund to help those affected by AIDS/HIV :)

Also try:

• MAC Cosmetics (US)
• Specktra.net Clearance Bin
• Ebay
• Facebook sales groups
• Glambot
• Amazon
• Storenvy
• Trade Me

What do you think of Miley Cyrus' collaboration shades? Are you loving them as much as I am?

X
Lani

*Provided for review

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Elemis sp@home Skin Nourishing Body Scrub & Body Cream Review

September 10, 2015, 4:05 am

≫ Next: Karen Murrell - Sand Storm Lipstick Swatches & Review

≪ Previous: MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 1 & 2 Lipstick and Lipglass Swatches & Review

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Provided for review

Hey lovelies,

The transition from winter to spring wrecks havoc on my skin. There's a sudden pick up in shaving activity as bare legs begin to sneak their way back in and it'll only be a few months before bare arms join them! Oh, how I long for the warmth of summer... but in the meantime, I have these products from the Elemis sp@home range to help keep my epidermis in good shape and combat the influx of ingrown hairs and dry, scaly or irritated skin.

I was provided with this lovely duo by Recreate Yourself, an Australian beauty e-tailer who stock over 3000 products and ship worldwide. My items were shipped quickly and arrived very well packaged with extras as pictured. I'm also impressed by the generous return policy (120 days to return unusued, as new items for store credit) and that they'll price match if you see another store selling the same product cheaper. Shipping to New Zealand starts at $9.95AUD and is calculated by weight, with some brands or types of products (flammables, aerosols and perfumes) being unable to be shipped to us at all - you can find out more about that on their Shipping Information page.

They've recently added popular British brand Elemis to their arsenal, who I haven't tried before - but they've certainly got my attention now! Elemis' tagline is 'defined by nature, led by science' and they have a focus on balancing natural ingredients with skincare innovations. The sp@home range contains body products, while the remainder of the range is facial skincare. Self described as a luxury brand, the pricing is mid to high end.

If an intense, polishing scrub is up your alley, the Skin Nourishing Body Scrub ($81.84NZD) might be just what you need. It combines rice, bamboo and Bora Bora sand for a very effective scrub that is great for prepping legs for shaving or buffing away leftover fake tan, although I find it a bit too abrasive for my sensitive underarms. They are hideously oversensitive though, my two sons (aged 1.5 and 4 years) had fun scrubbing each others backs with it without any irritation. To balance the intensity of the texture, the Skin Nourishing Body Scrub also contains sweet almond, wheatgerm and macadamia oils to hydrate skin.

This is a luxurious treat and whether it's worth the price tag or not will come down to your own skin concerns and budget. If you struggle to find scrubs with enough friction to make much of a difference to unruly dry patches or ingrown hairs, Elemis' Skin Nourishing Body Scrub is well worth a look.

The Skin Nourishing Body Cream ($49.90NZD) is a rich, deeply hydrating cream which absorbs quickly into the skin with a little slip but no greasiness. This is absolutely lovely for applying post shower, but I also really like it as a hand cream when my hands are in a dire state. I've been committing high treason among nail polish addicts for a while now by washing dishes without gloves (we've run out and I keep forgetting to buy more!) which hideously drying, but with the Skin Nourishing Body Cream you'd never know of these exploits. Had I not just told you - whoops! :)

Have you tried any Elemis products?

X
Lani

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Karen Murrell - Sand Storm Lipstick Swatches & Review

September 11, 2015, 3:15 pm

≫ Next: Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Lipstick - Furious Swatches & Review + GIVEAWAY!

≪ Previous: Elemis sp@home Skin Nourishing Body Scrub & Body Cream Review

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Provided for review

Hey lovelies,

The latest Karen Murrell lipstick I have to show you is one of their neutrals and it's a lovely one! And surprisingly unique in my bulging lipstick collection. Meet Sand Storm.

Each Karen Murrell lipstick features its own artwork on the outer cardboard sleeve of the box. The tube is their usual classy and sturdy matte black with the 'KM' logo.
Karen Murrell's lipsticks are touted as 'vegetarian lipsticks', created with natural ingredients and ecologically friendly recycled packaging. They are designed to nurture your lips, improving their condition each time you wear a Karen Murrell lipstick.

Sand Storm is a light nude with strong warm undertones. I wasn't so sure about the yellow tones on myself when I first put it on, but the more I wear it, the more I like it! Karen Murrell's lipsticks apply smoothly with very little slip and typically have buildable colour pay off. Sand Storm has mostly opaque colour pay off and I noticed that it emphasised uneven lip texture a little more than other KM lipsticks I've tried. It wore for three and a half hours on me and was very comfortable to wear, not drying at all.

Violet Mousse | Coral Dawn | Rymba Rhythm | Racy Rata | Pink Starlet | True Love | Sugar Rush

What I liked:

• Buildable colour pay off
• Wears for three and a half hours
• Smooth application
• Non drying
• Doesn't feather, bleed or migrate

What I didn't like:

• Emphasises flaws

Where to buy:

• The Karen Murrell website
• Also available around New Zealand, Australia and Dubai - check the Stockists page for more info

What do you think of Sand Storm?

X
Lani

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Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Lipstick - Furious Swatches & Review + GIVEAWAY!

September 13, 2015, 4:02 am

≫ Next: Trilogy Raha Natural Perfume Review

≪ Previous: Karen Murrell - Sand Storm Lipstick Swatches & Review

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Provided for review/Contains affiliate links

Hey lovelies,

I have a super exciting post for you today! Estee Lauder recently launched their new Pure Color Envy Matte lipsticks here in New Zealand and I have the shade 'Furious' to show you - and an extra tube to giveaway! Stick around for all of the details at the end of the post.

The new Matte lipsticks come in the same packaging as the Pure Color Envy Sculpting lipsticks; a glossy, finely shimmered deep navy rectangular tube with slightly curved sides. There's a magnetic closure, so no fear of loose lids running amok in a handbag and the lipstick itself is presented in a slightly more rounded version of the traditional teardrop shaped bullet.

Furious is described as a 'neon coral'. It's an absolutely incredible, vivid orange based coral - not neon, in my opinion, but still undeniably bold and bright. I adore this colour. The formula feels akin to MAC's best mattes - not too surprising, given Estee Lauder is MAC's parent company and formulas are bound to be shared in house. It has a vanilla scent, is super pigmented and applies very smoothly with no emphasis of uneven lip texture. On me, Furious lasted for near six hours and was somewhat drying. As it wore away it tended to look a little flakey.

What I liked:

• Incredible colour pay off
• Smooth application, no emphasis of texture
• Doesn't feather, migrate or bleed
• Vanilla scent
• Wears for nearly six hours

What I didn't like:

• Somewhat drying
• Looked flakey as it wore away

Where to buy:

• Estee Lauder counters nationwide (NZ)
• Estee Lauder (Australia)
• Amazon

Oh hey, you want to win a tube of Furious for yourself? You can! Here are the rules:

• You must be living in New Zealand to enter
• No cheating 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please note: as the lipstick for giveaway was provided by Estee Lauder's PR company, it has sample labelling on the bottom of the tube and has no box.

Good luck to all who enter!

X
Lani

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Trilogy Raha Natural Perfume Review

September 15, 2015, 1:51 am

≫ Next: Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant Review

≪ Previous: Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Lipstick - Furious Swatches & Review + GIVEAWAY!

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Provided for review

Hey lovelies,

After the success of their first foray into fragrance last year (Jua), Trilogy are back again with their new natural perfume Raha. They've collaborated again with So They Can, which is a non profit organisation working to educate and empower African communities. Here are some cool facts about Raha:

• Blended with sunflower oil purchased from So They Can’s farm in Tanzania
• NZ$2 from every bottle sold donated to ‘So They Can’
• 250 bottles of Raha donated to So They Can for their own fundraising
• Aims to fundraise $30,000, which will provide income for 50 Tanzanian sunflower growers and harvesters, along with a year's education each for 500 children

Beautifully presented in a patterned cardboard box, Raha is a rollerball perfume perfect for popping in your handbag. It has an RRP of $24.90NZD for 7.5ml and is very limited edition, so grab it while you can!

I'm no perfume expert, though I'll do my best. The fragrance notes given by Trilogy are:

Top notes: vibrant fresh green galbanum, citrus, bergamot, black pepper
Middle notes: blue iris, marine accord, rose, frankincense

Base notes: warm vanilla, subtle spice

When I first apply Raha, it feels very green and fresh to me, but with a masculine edge, like a hint of spicy aftershave, matching the top notes very well. After a few hours it becomes sweeter, more floral but still far from your nana's perfume. It's not a powdery floral at all. I stopped noticing any scent after about six hours.

Raha is available from selected Farmers, pharmacy, department and health stores nationwide or on the Trilogy website, but remember, it is limited edition so you'll have to be quick!

Will you be checking out Raha?

X
Lani

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Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant Review

September 18, 2015, 5:58 am

≫ Next: MAC Haute Dogs - Posh Pedigree Mineralize Eyeshadow x 4 and Lap Dog Mineralize Glass Swatches & Review

≪ Previous: Trilogy Raha Natural Perfume Review

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You can always count on Trilogy to produce beautiful, natural skincare that is so gentle it belies just how effective it really is. Their Gentle Facial Exfoliant has been accompanying me in the shower for a few months now and I love the way it polishes away uneven skin texture without irritating my skin in the slightest.

I always enjoy the hidden details of Trilogy's packaging, the rosehip image inside of the box is a lovely touch. This exfoliant is packaged in a flip-top squeeze tube and contains 75ml (2.5 fl oz) for $41.90NZD. 

With its cream consistency, the Gentle Facial Exfoliant smoothes easily over the skin and a little goes a long way. The scrub texture is very fine, so fine that you may not even notice it as you massage it across your face, unless you press more firmly. I like this aspect of it; that I can control the level of abrasiveness depending on the shape my skin's in but lovers of more heavy duty scrubs may find the Gentle Facial Exfoliant a bit gutless. 

I think this exfoliant would be good for sensitive, easily irritated skin. It's also a great pick if you like your skincare packed with natural but effective ingredients. Standing out on the ingredients list for me are honey (natural antiseptic, healing), rosehip oil (to hydrate and repair skin) and kaolin clay (to draw out impurities). You can find the full list of ingredients here, just click 'view all' under the 'Ingredients' header. 

I really feel the Gentle Facial Exfoliant has made a huge, positive difference in the number and intensity of pimples I've been getting since adding it to my skincare routine, as I was previously getting a huge flare up of pimples the week before my period and now that's vanished! The pimples that do still pop up appear to be smaller and last for a shorter amount of time. 

Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant is available from selected Farmers, pharmacy, department and health stores nationwide or on the Trilogy website.

Have you tried this exfoliant?

X
Lani

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MAC Haute Dogs - Posh Pedigree Mineralize Eyeshadow x 4 and Lap Dog Mineralize Glass Swatches & Review

September 19, 2015, 5:24 am

≫ Next: Australis Velourlips Matte Lip Cream - Current Collection Swatches & Review

≪ Previous: Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant Review

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MAC have been hitting hard and heavy of late with a bunch of new collections hitting counters nationwide, including Haute Dogs on September 7th. I'm obviously a bit late with this review, my youngest is going through a very mischievous, hands on stage and time to myself has been in short supply (and mostly spent sleeping)! Fortunately, this collection is still readily available so there's time to pick up any wishlist items. I have two items to show you today, so let's get stuck into it!

Haute Dogs is a limited edition canine themed Mineralize collection:

(Wo)man’s best friend is barking up the right tree in a well-groomed collection of new canine-inspired hues from M·A·C, featuring luscious, buttery fur tones, gold-spun sculpting powders, and regal berries for lips.

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Posh Pedigree

This is actually my first time trying out MAC's Mineralize eyeshadow formula! I've been a big fan of their Mineralize Skinfinishes for years but hadn't ventured any further into their Mineralize line up until recently. The quad comes in a matte black compact with a decent sized mirror, magnetic closure - and NO dinky applicators! I love that MAC don't muck around with those, mine get passed onto the kids for play makeup (or Patrick tries to eat them).

Swatched on bare skin under daylight bulbs

Posh Pedigree ($118NZD) contains a quartet of mostly cool tones; an ivory with gold shimmer, a cool taupe, a smokey brown and a dark, charcoal hued olive green. They have buildable colour pay off and blend well when applied dry, although I thought they looked quite muddy when I tried wearing them alone; I got cross and started again without taking pictures (bad blogger!). The next time I wore them, pictured below, I layered them over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy, which is a sticky eyeshadow adhesive that intensifies colour and shimmer. This worked exceptionally well to bring out the colours more. The darkest shade was very stiff to blend over the Epoxy, so I wouldn't try it again with that particular colour, but the others were great.

PS - the only picture you will see of my hair like this. Had a hairdresser mishap (now remedied).

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Lap Dog

If you can't bear the thick, tacky viscosity of MAC's regular lipglasses, you've gotta try the Mineralize Glass. Bearing the same (IMO) great vanilla scent as the bulk of MAC's lip products, the Mineralize Glass formula is thin, lightweight and nonsticky but feels just as cushiony and hydrating as the original Lipglass. I need more of these!

They come in a long tube which is flared like a rather subtle hourglass. The applicator is a paddle shaped sponge which has a slightly concave curve to the breadth of it, helping it to hug the lips as you apply. I find this applicator style prevents you from overapplying, as more of the product is held back than with a traditional doefoot, but this can be a bit annoying as it takes several pulls to pick up enough gloss to apply evenly.

Lap Dog ($58NZD) is a pale light pinky nude with sheer colour pay off. In the tube it has some pretty pink shimmer but this doesn't really translate on the lips, more's the pity - I love some contrasting shimmer! You can see this close up that it settles into lip lines a bit, but I didn't notice it from a normal viewing distance, it's just a lovely milky nude. Lap Dog lasts three hours on me and is hydrating.

What I liked:

• Posh Pedigree has buildable colour pay off and blends well (on bare skin or over primer)
• Mineralize Eyeshadow x 4 compact has a decent sized mirror and magnetic closure
• Mineralize Glass formula is non sticky
• Lap Dog wore for three hours
• Lap Dog is hydrating

What I didn't like:

• Posh Pedigree eyeshadows look muddy when applied alone
• Darkest shade from Posh Pedigree was difficult to blend over a sticky base 
• The Mineralize Glass applicator is shaped so that you need to re-dip several times to get enough product

Where to buy:

• M.A.C Britomart, Atrium on Takutai, Auckland. 
• M.A.C Ponsonby, 130-134 Ponsonby Road, Auckland.   
• M.A.C Westfield St Lukes, 80 St Lukes Rd, Mount Albert.
• M.A.C Botany, Fountain Lane North, Botany Town Centre.
• Smith & Caughey’s Queen St, 253-261 Queen St, Auckland.
• Smith & Caughey’s Newmarket, 225 Broadway, Newmarket.
• Farmers Centre Place, Shop 81, 501 Victoria Street, Hamilton.
• Kirkcaldie & Stains, 165-177 Lambton Quay, Wellington.
• Farmers Westfield Queensgate, Queens Drive, Lower Hutt
• Ballantynes, City Mall, Christchurch.
• M.A.C Westfield Riccarton, 113 Riccarton Road, Christchurch.
• Arthur Barnett, 285 George St, Dunedin.

Also try:

• MAC Cosmetics (US)
• Specktra.net Clearance Bin
• Ebay
• Facebook sales groups
• Glambot
• Amazon
• Storenvy
• Trade Me

Have you picked up anything from Haute Dogs?

X
Lani

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Australis Velourlips Matte Lip Cream - Current Collection Swatches & Review

September 21, 2015, 4:38 pm

≫ Next: August Empties

≪ Previous: MAC Haute Dogs - Posh Pedigree Mineralize Eyeshadow x 4 and Lap Dog Mineralize Glass Swatches & Review

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Provided for review/Purchased by me/Contains affiliate links

Hey guys! 

I have a bumper post today featuring a bunch more of the Australis Velourlips Matte Lip Creams for your viewing pleasure. I had to chuckle at them bringing out new five new shades just as I was putting together the full collection collage, isn't it always the way? :D I can't wait to check out the new ones though, especially BAE-JING and SAN-FRAN-DISCO. 

For today, though, I have nine of the permanent shades currently available in New Zealand, along with one of the limited edition metallic shades from the AC/ME collection, which was last year's holiday release. I have already reviewed the other pictured shades, so I'll link those posts below.

Click to enlarge!

MIL-A-NO | HON-O-LOO-LOO | PAR-EE

Noo-d Fighters | HO-CHEE-MIN | RIO-D

MI-A-MEE | RO-MA | MAL-I-BOO

SHANG-HI! | LUN-DUN | TOK-I-O

BAR-THA-LONA | NY-CEE | Grandmaster Pash

Rhi-Rhi-Wine-D | DOO-BAI | BUDA-PASH

Velourlips (10ml for $15-17.50NZD) are a liquid-to-matte lipstick formula with a thick, mousse-like formula. Thicker than the Lime Crime Velvetines and Kat Von D Everlasting Love formulas, more similar in consistency to NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams but perhaps a bit fluffier and thicker again. Colour pay off varies depending on the shade but is mostly very pigmented and opaque. They have a sweet, candy-like scent.
The packaging is simple and functional; a lip gloss style tube punctuated with a cute heart and lace trim for some extra appeal. Inside is a doefoot applicator that applies colour evenly and precisely (where the formula allows).

Swatched on bare skin under daylight bulbs

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MIL-A-NO

MIL-A-NO* is a pale warm nude with very fine silvery shimmer. It's a bit of a finicky one to apply, you need to work very quickly to apply an even layer, because it does NOT play nicely if you try applying a second layer. If you need to even out an area, it's best to wait a good couple of minutes for the first layer to dry, then carefully pat extra product just where it's needed. I found the shimmer emphasised uneven texture, but despite its flaws, I really love the colour of MIL-A-NO*. It wore for six hours on me and was a little drying.

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RO-MA

RO-MA* is a neon pink with warm leanings. Like the other neon Velourlips, I struggle to work with the formula; though pigmented, it's simultaneously streaky, thick and prone to balling up. You can see in the swatch the small balls and clumps of product. On the plus side, it wears for eight hours on me without being drying, so if you nail the application at least you won't have to worry too much about touch ups!

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BAR-THA-LONA

Mmmmmf. Has there ever been a more perfect strawberry red than BAR-THA-LONA*? Somehow I doubt it. It has mostly opaque colour pay off, applies easily and wears for eight hours without being drying.

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Rhi-Rhi-Wine-D

3 layers

4-5 layers

Rhi-Rhi-Wine-D* is a rich chestnut brown with lots of gold shimmer. It's the sheerest colour I've tried in the range, but it builds up without any fuss whatsoever so I find it hard to hold that against it! The colour is so different to everything else in my collection and I just adore it. Rhi-Rhi-Wine-D* wears for six hours on me and is somewhat drying. 

Rhi-Rhi-Wine-D* was part of the trio of limited edition metallic Velourlips released with the AC/ME collection for the holidays last year, but all three shades are still available on Australis' website (which sadly only ships to Australia) and I've seen them in pharmacies still too. 

*

BUDA-PASH

BUDA-PASH* is a gorgeous deep brown leaning burgundy with great colour pay off. My camera washed the closeup out a bit, but the full makeup look below is colour accurate. It lasts for five hours on me without being drying and leaves some staining.

*

Swatched on bare skin under daylight bulbs

I've actually reviewed RIO-D, MAL-I-BOO and TOK-I-O before, but since my photos have improved markedly since then, I thought I'd redo them to include in this post.

*

RIO-D

RIO-D is a neon orange-coral. The formula is just as fussy as the other neons, pictured is the best swatch I've managed to get in the year or so I've had this lipstick. Despite that, I really love the colour and I can't think of a dupe that quite straddles the line between neon orange and coral the way RIO-D does. RIO-D wears for six hours on me, is lightly drying and I experience some flaking over the course of wear.

*

MAL-I-BOO

Oh, MAL-I-BOO, how I wish I could love you! Sadly time has not improved my experience with this lipstick, it remains as chalky, streaky and clumpy as when I first tried it. It wears for six hours on me and like RIO-D, it flakes a little during wear. It's also drying.

*

SHANG-HI!

Be still my beating heart! SHANG-HI! is a vibrant plummy-fuchsia with rich, opaque pigmentation. It applies super smoothly without emphasising texture, almost giving a soft focus effect - unusual for a matte! SHANG-HI wears for five hours, isn't drying and leaves behind heavy pink staining.

*

TOK-I-O

TOK-I-O is the perfect grape purple with mostly opaque colour pay off. True purples are gradually becoming more readily available from mainstream brands, but Austalis definitely lead the charge on this one. It takes two and a bit layers to become opaque and is prone to clumping and emphasising uneven lip texture, so you'll need to work quickly to spread it evenly across the lips. It lasts for six hours on me and is moderately drying. I really love TOK-I-O, it sparked my love for purple lipstick in a big way!

*

DOO-BAI

DOO-BAI is a wonderfully opaque deep berry. It applies smoothly without accentuating texture and lasts for eight hours on me. I did find it to be a bit drying. Again, the close up appears a touch lighter than the makeup look, it is undeniably vampy, which I love.

What I liked:

• BAR-THA-LONA, RO-MA, DOO-BAI wore for eight hours
• MIL-A-NO, RIO-D, TOK-I-O, MAL-I-BOO & Rhi-Rhi-Wine-D wore for six hours
• SHANG-HI! wears for five hours
• SHANG-HI!, RO-MA, BUDA-PASH and BAR-THA-LONA aren't drying
• Most shades apply smoothly
• Sweet candy scent

What I didn't like:

• RO-MA, MAL-I-BOO, & RIO-D are streaky, thick and prone to clumping
• TOK-I-O is prone to clumping
• Rhi-Rhi-Wine-D, TOK-I-O, RIO-D, MAL-I-BOO, DOO-BAI and MIL-A-NO are a bit drying
• MIL-A-NO, RO-MA, MAL-I-BOO & RIO-D are difficult to layer
• RIO-D and MAL-I-BOO flake a little as they wear

Where to buy:

• Selected pharmacies (NZ)
• Farmers (NZ)
• Kmart (NZ & Australia)
• Big W, Priceline & selected pharmacies (Australia)
• Makeup.co.nz (NZ)
• Beautybliss (NZ)
• All Cosmetics Wholesale (International)

What do you think of these shades of Velourlips? Are you looking forward to the new ones?

X
Lani

*Provided for review

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August Empties

September 23, 2015, 4:24 am

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Purchased by me/Gifted

I'm hideously behind in sharing my August empties, but better late than never, right? August was short and sweet for empties, I finished off a few favourites and one product I've fallen out of love with over time.

• Skinlite Makeup Cleansing TissuesThese wipes pop up in Empties posts as often as I remember to photograph them! I've been using this brands since I was maybe 18 or 19 and they're great. They effectively remove most makeup, including waterproof mascara, without irritating my eyes or skin. Love that I can pick them up for between $3 and $4.50 at Kmart or The Warehouse too.
• L'Oreal Elvive Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Serum
  I believe this is the third bottle of this I've finished up and I have another one already open. I just love this stuff, it's cheap and cheerful and helps to smooth my hair and add shine without weighing it down.
• Natural World Moroccan Argan Oil
  Another favourite hair product! After emptying my original full size bottle and being unable to find another I was pretty heartbroken. Fortunately my friend Ami kindly sent me this mini and it's taken me a fair few months to polish it off. Uncle Bills, the store I bought my full size bottle from originally, finally got more of it in again - I bought two bottles :D It's a very light oil which makes my hair feel great and I love the smell too.
• MAC Select Cover-Up NW15
  It only took me five and a bit years, but I finally finished this concealer! To be fair, I went off it partway through last year and found new love with the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (and subsequently NARS Radiant Creamy), so I've had to force myself to use the last wee bits. It's an okay concealer, it works well for covering spots, but as the texture of the skin under my eyes changes as I get older (and my sleeping habits yo-yo alongside the moods of my children) I've found it less suited for undereye concealing. It's not forgiving of fine lines and doesn't do enough to hide dark circles for my needs, so I won't repurchase again.

What have you finished up lately?

X
Lani

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