Hi guys! It's been a little while since my last post but I often get asked on my thoughts on various foundations so I thought I'd write a post all about my favourite foundations! I love changing up my foundations all the time and love having a variety of different levels of coverage. My skin is definitely on the oilier side so I tend to gravitate towards more matiffying foundations. I've included a range of different foundations from sheer and light coverage all the way up to more full coverage options. So let's dive straight into it!




Sheer - Light Coverage

Garnier BB Cream Oil Free
I've been wearing this foundation for years and it's fantastic if you want to have a little bit of coverage without feeling like you're wearing any makeup. This particular BB Cream is great for oily or combination skin. It's also non-comedogenic and helps to minimise the appearance of pores and imperfections. One tube last me ages and it's also a great price point of $16 and is often on sale! It's available at Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and most supermarkets.


Kosas Tinted Face Oil
Initially I was quite skeptical to try this foundation as I usually shy away from oil based products due to my oily skin however I love it! It's a super lightweight foundation with a really nice velvety natural finish. It is quite a different texture to what I'm used to and it applies best using the fingers. It's also infused with six active botanical oils for a luminous yet skin-loving coverage. The pigments in the foundation are also self-adjusting for the perfect colour match. It's a massive yes to this foundation! It's available at Mecca Cosmetica for $64.


The Ordinary Serum Foundation 
This foundation is another great option for those days where you want a bit of coverage with wearing much makeup.  Similarly to the other lightweight foundations, it's quite a liquid, runny consistency and takes a bit of time to blend into the skin to avoid any streaks. The finish is really nice and natural and it lasts well throughout the day. It's available at Myer for $12.70.



Medium Coverage

Too Faced Peach Perfect Foundation
This foundation is a dream for oily-skin! It provides 14 hour matte, comfortable medium coverage and doesn't separate during the day. It goes on really well and blends into the skin effortlessly. If you're a fan of scents, it also has a lovely subtle peach and fig scent. This foundation has a great shade range and I definitely recommend checking it out. I can't say enough great things about this foundation, I love it! It's available at Mecca Maxima for $55.


Beauty Blender Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation
The cult favourite makeup sponge brand now has their own foundation! The finish of this foundation is a beautiful velveteen matte finish that looks lovely on all skin types and ages. It contains Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate the skin and White Birch Extract to soothe and brighten the skin. The shade range now includes 40 shades with a variety of undertones. The bottle of this foundation is so clever, it pumps out onto the flat front and you can dip your brush or beauty blender directly into it! This foundation is available at Sephora for $60.


Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation
This lightweight foundation refines pores and mattifies while giving the skin a nice, natural finish. It's non-comedogenic and perfect for normal to oily skin. The shade range is extensive with 40 shades and it's a fantastic everyday foundation. It's available at Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and most supermarkets for $21.95.


Bourjois Healthy Mix Anti-Fatigue Foundation
This foundation is fantastic because it looks like my skin but better. It hydrates the skin with vitamin C, E and B5 to boost natural radiance and provides an anti-fatigue effect. It feels lightweight on the skin and lasts all throughout the day. It's easy to apply and blends out well and also hydrates the skin with a Hyaluronic Acid derivative to provide 24 hour hydration. It's also suitable for all skin types and  available at Priceline for $30.


It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Oil-Free Matte
This CC Cream has a cult following and I can definitely understand why! It has a moisturiser, mattifying primer, dark spot corrector, anti-ageing serum, SPF 40+, pore minimiser all in the one product and is perfect to use everyday. I really like the way my skin looks while using this CC cream and you only need one pump for the whole face! Love, love, love! It's available at Sephora for $61.


Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation
This foundation is a sweat-resistant and waterproof medium coverage formula that looks very natural on the skin. It has a ultra-buildable coverage that has a natural and luminous finish for all skin types. It applies really nicely on the skin and lasts well throughout the day. It comes in a wide range of shades and undertones and it's available at Sephora for $70.




Full Coverage

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation 
This foundation is another savior for oily skin! It's definitely a mattifying foundation that's long wearing, sweat and waterproof. The foundation gives a really nice smooth, pore diffusing and shine free finish. The shade range is extensive with 50 shades and lots of different undertones. This foundation is also self setting, so it eliminates the need to set with powder. As it is self setting, it does dry fairly quickly upon application, so I recommend working in sections rather than applying the foundation all over and then blending it out. It's available at Sephora for $52.


YSL All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation
I love wearing this foundation when I'm going out somewhere fancy and it's just soo good. Again, it's fantastic for oily skin because it's long wearing, waterproof and a natural matte finish. It blurs pores and imperfections while being really comfortable on the skin. The shade range is more limited with 15 shades and is a higher price tag but I still love it so much.  It's available at YSL counters, Mecca Cosmetica and Sephora for $89.


Kat Von D Lock-It Liquid Foundation
I recently discovered this foundation and I really like it! The coverage is so full, it's crazy and it would definitely cover up any skin concerns and tattoos. The formula is quite thick so I like to use it sparingly and that works really well. This foundation is also cruelty free and vegan which can be difficult to find. This foundation is available at Sephora for $52.


W7 Very Vegan HD Foundation
If you're looking for a full coverage foundation, that's mattifying, long wearing and gives a flawless look that won't break the bank this is it! Initially,  I was a bit skeptical that it would be good but I am in love! It makes my skin look amazing and won't budge throughout the day at all. It is also vegan and is available at Chemist Warehouse for $9.95.


I hope you enjoyed this extensive run through of my favourite foundations so far and found it helpful! I really enjoyed writing this post and please let me know if you want more of these types of posts in the future.

Hi guys!

It's been a little while since I've posted on here and I'm excited to get back into it.

Today it's all about the JUNO & Co Microfibre Velvet Sponge. This sponge is relatively new to Australian stores as Mecca Maxima have only recently starting stocking it. So how is this sponge different? What's the hype about it? Is it any better than a Beauty Blender sponge? Well, lets dive right in.

Photo Credit: JUNO & Co Website

So if you haven't heard about it before, this makeup sponge claims to give a more natural, airbrushed foundation finish. It's unique as it's made with velvet-soft microfiber bristles and a slanted edge for controlled stippling. You can use it wet for liquid foundations, concealers and for contouring. You can also use it dry for powder products such as blushes, bronzers and highlighters.

The sponge itself is very lightweight and is quite fuzzy. It's unlike a foundation sponge I've ever used before. When dry, it's a similar size to a dry Beauty Blender sponge. When wet, it does definitely increase in size and still feels very lightweight.

Dry JUNO & Co sponge VS dry Beauty Blender

The shape of the sponge is quite different to any other I've used before. It has a flat bottom for more
ergonomic and natural looking all-over application and a tapered design to blend perfectly with the contours of the face. It feels very different on the face as opposed to a Beauty Blender sponge or even a Real Techniques sponge. It feels both firmer yet softer when using it on the face but works really well to blend foundation. I found that it maybe didn't fit as well into the inner corners of my eyes as well as a Beauty Blender but I think that this due to the different shape. I feel like I need to use it a few times before I get used to it but so far I really like it. 

The unique shape and texture of the sponge

It definitely doesn't soak up as much foundation as other makeup sponges I've used before and this is due to the dual layer technology. The outside layer is made of ultra-soft, non-abrasive microfiber material and the second layer is a traditional antimicrobial makeup blender. When these two layers work together, they create a fusion technology that provides the perfect blend using less product.

If you're comparing on price alone, then this one's going to be a winner! It retails for $9 at Mecca Maxima which is definitely kinder to your wallet than Beauty Blender which retails for $30 at Sephora. I actually found out recently that it's recommended to change your makeup sponge every three months which seems much more realistic if the sponge is $9 as opposed to $30.

So in conclusion, this sponge is definitely a winner from me! It blends liquid foundation really well and is a great price. It soaks up less foundation and feels very soft on the skin. I'm a JUNO & Co Microfibre Velvet Sponge convert! It's available now from the JUNO & Co website and from Mecca Maxima online here and instore.

For as long as I can remember, I've always dreamed of having a place where I could sit and do my makeup and I decided to just take the leap and make it happen ! I took the time to do my research and I'm thrilled with the way it turned out !

For the desk, I got it all from IKEA. I bought two sets of the Alex 5-drawer ($120 each) and they have 2 shallow drawers at the top and 3 deeper drawers below. Compacts and lipsticks fit nicely in the shallow drawers and foundations and taller lip glosses fit in the larger drawers. To organise all my makeup inside the drawers, I bought drawer dividers from Daiso. The table top is the Linnmon table top ($49). This is the 1500x750mm size, it also comes in a 1200x600mm size. I also got the Alex add-on unit for some extra storage ($50). 


I got both the chair and cushion both from Target. The chair is a replica ghost chair ($59) and it's actually a lot sturdier than it looks. And I think the fluffy pink cushion ($20) just goes perfectly with it.


I'm probably the most excited about my new vanity mirror. I'd been looking at lots online and eventually found the perfect one by Vanity Chic Mirrors in Springvale VIC. Here's a link to their facebook page and their website should be launching later this month. If you live in Melbourne, this is the address for their showroom where you can go can see them in person (1667-1669 Centre Rd
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3171). They have heaps of different models and in comparison to other brands, these were far cheaper. This model was $369; this is in comparison to another brand where an almost identical mirror was $600.

I picked the frameless white model with 14 LED globes and touchscreen dimmer and on/off switch. At full strength, the globes are very bright and I love how you have the option of choosing what strength light you want.

Touchscreen Dimmer

 I picked the model that also has a double in-built powerpoint and USB charging station. It's a clever idea as you can plug in your hair straightener or blow-dryer or even charge your phone while you do your makeup.


I got these brush holders from IKEA for only $3 each. They're actually supposed to be a plant pot but they do the job nicely.


I love this arrangement so much ! I got the little terrarium from Freedom a while back and the acrylic lipstick holder is from eBay for about $7. The magnifying makeup mirror is from IKEA for $6.


I can't wait to sit down everyday to my new glam station and do my makeup ! It's a really practical yet pretty setup and it didn't break the bank.

I've heard some great things about Zoeva cosmetics and was super excited to give some of their products a go ! Zoeva cosmetics is a brand that focuses on the individual beauty of women and are internationally recoginsed for their colour cosmetics and their makeup brushes.





Cool Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette 
 
First up is the Cool Spectrum Eyeshaow Palette that is a lovely mixture of neutral shades and colourful shades. The packaging of the palette is really beautiful and it comes in a matte black sleeve with holographic accents.


Overall, the formula of the shadows are a nice texture and are quite pigmented. The shimmery shades were especially pigmented and buttery and were really easy to swatch. I found that the matte shades, the black and dark green shades a bit powdery and it was more difficult to get a more opaque swatch. My favourite shades are the shimmery copper shades which are just perfect for a warm, smokey eye. This eyeshadow palette retails for RRP $75.




Cream Eye Liner 

I haven't tried many cream eyeliners before but I really liked this one ! This cream eyeliner is in the shade called Baroque and is a lovely shimmery copper shade. When I swatched it with an angled eyeliner brush, it was really creamy and application was amazing ! It glided on like a dream. A little bit goes a long way and this little pot would last a very long time !





Graphic Lash Mascara  
I've tried heaps of different mascaras but I was really impressed by this one. It separates each lash while adding volume and length. It lasted all day without any smearing, smudging or flaking. The colour is black and you only need a few swipes. You could easily layer this mascara with multiple coats of this one or another brand. It's definitely going to become one of my staple mascaras. This mascara retails for RRP $25.



Classic Eye Set 
If you're after some basic eye makeup brushes, then look no further than this set. This brush set contains 6 eye brushes and a beautiful clutch to store them in.
The 6 brushes that are included are the:

A personal favourite brush of mine from this set is the 227 Soft Definer. All of the brushes are super soft and blend shadows seamlessly. They're made from a mix a natural hairs and synthetic fibres but they also make a vegan brush range too. This brush set retails for RRP $81



Overall, I loved these Zoeva products and can't wait to try out some more in the future ! Their products are of a fantastic quality and quite reasonable in price. In Australia, Zoeva is available from Sephora Australia stores and online.

*These products were gifted to me and all thoughts expressed are my own.

NYX Professional Makeup have recently released a whole heap of new products and oh my goodness they are awesome ! Some of their new releases include the Cosmic Metals Lip Creams, Lip Lustre Glossy Lip Tints, Total Control Drop Foundation, No Filter Finishing Powder and a Highlight and Contour Palette. So let's get straight into it !



Cosmic Metals Lip Creams
These lip creams are definitely not for the fainthearted ! The colours are super pigmented, bright and sparkly. The colours include a hot pink, purples, blues, greys and a gold. For some colours, I found application a bit easier than others as some tended to be a bit patchy. The ones with the best application and coverage were Speed Of Light (a rose gold shade), Fuchsia Fusion (a hot pink shade) and Ultraviolet  (a dark purple shade). All of the formulas feel a bit tacky on the lip as they are a thicker formula. They have great shine and a really cool metallic/shimmer finish.

L-R: Speed Of Light, Fuchsia Fusion, Asteroid Aura, Ultraviolet, Electromagnetic, Dark Nebula, Galactic

L-R: Speed Of Light, Fuchsia Fusion, Asteroid Aura, Ultraviolet, Electromagnetic, Dark Nebula, Galactic

Lip Lustre Glossy Lip Tints
I really, really like these lip tints. I'm all for a lip product that's not drying, comfortable and lasts all day and these lip tints are just that. The colours are pigmented and go on really nicely. If you like really bright colours than there's heaps in this range for you. Personally, I'm into more nude shades so I'm planning on picking up the nude shades in the range too. I tried swatching the shades but they ended up staining my arm so much that it just didn't work haha. The texture of them is like a thicker gloss and they have a nice shine to them which you can matte slightly by blotting with a tissue.



Highlight and Contour Palette 
When this palette arrived, the top left shade was shattered and I was feeling a bit disappointed. But then I came across a method of fixing it with rubbing alcohol and voilà, it was as good as new. So the palette has eight shades: four light shades for highlighting and four dark shades for contouring. With the light shades, there's a shimmer, highlighter shade, a fair shade, a banana yellow shade and a peachy shade. With the dark shades, there are two warm shades and two cooler shades. I personally like to use cooler tones shades as my skin tone is quite light and this looks the most natural on me. The packaging of this palette is really nice and it's all hard plastic so this would be really great for traveling. Also, you can pop out each pan and move them around or replace them. Winning !



No Filter Finishing Powder
The texture of this powder is so nice ! It's a really fine, silky smooth, velvety texture and feels pretty weightless on the face. I like to use this power to set my makeup and it helps to make it last longer and keep my makeup matte. The powders come in heaps of shades for a flawless finish.



Total Control Drop Foundation 
I loove the packaging of this foundation ! The bottles are frosted and have a screw top with a dropper attached. The idea of this foundation is that you can adjust the coverage of the foundation using the dropper. For a lighter coverage foundation, you use a few drops or for a fuller coverage foundation, you use four or five drops. The foundation is really light weight and has a nice matte, velvety texture. The foundation comes in 24 shades ranging from very fair to deeper tones. One thing I love about NYX is that they make shades of makeup for people with darker skin tones. 
You can pick up all of these brand spanking new releases from Priceline either now or very soon ! This is the first time I've tried NYX and I was really impressed ! The products are pretty affordable and you get great value for your money. They have a great shade range and their products are super pigmented. Love, love love !


* These products were sent to me from NYX Cosmetics with no requirements to review them. I chose to review these products and all the thoughts expressed throughout this post are my own.

A little while ago the amazing people at OPI Australia and COTY PR, invited me to the launch party of the brand new OPI Fiji collection ! The launch was at Bondi Beach in Sydney and I had an amazing time. I was able to preview the entire collection while sipping on cocktails and eating canapes; #heaven !



I got to meet so many amazing people ! L-R in the photo below is Shaz (@shazroseto), Maria (@so_nailicious), Kimberly (@nailedbyk) and Ashleigh (@missashleigh). If you don't follow these lovely ladies already, you're definitely missing out !



Ok so now for the collection. The collection consists of 12 shades that are inspired by the beautiful scenery of Fiji. The shades come in both the normal lacquer range and the Infinite Shine range. Also, the Infinite Shine range has been re-developed to provide longer wearing, high shine colour.


Getting Nadi On My Honeymoon
This is a beautiful light pink shade. It reminds me of Suzi Shops & Island Hops from the Hawaii collection. I had a little bit of trouble with patchiness but it looked pretty opaque after three coats.




Polly Want A Lacquer
I found this colour a bit hard to photograph accurately. It's a really pretty soft lilac shade that is cooler in tone. I didn't have any issues with formula with this shade and it was opaque in two coats.



 
Two-Timing The Zones
This shade is a very bright Barbie pink. It has a slight dusty tone to it but overall is a fun, young colour. The formula was a little but patchy but it wasn't too bad.




Living On The Bulla-vard!
I'd say that this shade is a brighter version of Cajun Shrimp. It's a really nice, bright colour that's just perfect for summer. Two thumbs up from me !




No Tan Lines
Hmm not too fond about this shade. It's sort of an apricot/mandarin colour and it just doesn't do anything for me. I feel it would look good on oliver or darker skin tones.




Exotic Birds Don't Tweet
Again, this shade isn't one I would choose to wear. For some reason, I just really am not a yellow person. But that aside, this shade is a bright yellow that would look fabulous on darker skin tones.




Is That A Spear In Your Pocket?
This shade is a really nice dark emerald colour. It reminds me of Stay Off The Lawn from the OPI Washington DC collection. The formula was fabulous, no complaints for this one.




Suzi Without A Paddle
As always, light blue shades will always be my top pick from a collection. This colour is soft, pastely and so pretty ! I did have some issue with the formula as it was a bit patchy and took a little while to level out. It was opaque in three coats.




Super Trop-i-cal-i-fiji-istic 
Not too sure how I feel about this one. It's a sheer shimmery blue and would look really pretty as a topper over another colour. To wear on its own though, it's a bit sheer for me. I did four coats and I still had a visible nail line.




Do You Sea What I Sea?
Love this shade ! It's a royal blue colour that went on like a dream. The formula is really creamy and wasn't patchy at all. Winner winner. 



 
Coconuts Over OPI
If you're a fan of nude polishes, you'll love this one. It's more of a grey/brown based nude but is sophisticated and elegant. It was a little bit patchy on the first but evened out after a second coat.




I Can Never Hut Up
This shade is really unusual and unique. It's a cool toned grey with a green/gold shimmer running through it. The formula on this one is pretty good and evens out well.




Overall, I really like this collection. Its all about beaches, sunshine, cocktails and fun ! And these shade names are just great ! My picks of the collection are Suzi Without A Paddle, Getting Nadi On My Honeymoon and Living On The Bulla-vard. This collection is available in both normal lacquer and Infinite Shine from Myer, David Jones and selected salons nationally.