FOTD: Fancy Function!

Hello,

Last week I went to a function and I thought I would share the makeup look that I did for the occasion! (Sorry they are dodgy phone photos but you'll still get the idea!)

My dress was orange lace over beige so I didn't want to go too gun-ho with colour! I chose a co-ordinating bright lip because I like to be matchy like that! haha. The end result made me feel very glam!

I used the following products:

FACE

• Illamasqua Matte Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #6
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #1 (used for blending #6 foundation into my neck... I have a very pale neck!)
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• NARS Blush in Deep Throat
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Stereo Rose (on apples of cheeks only)
• Napoleon Perdis Contour Palette (brown contour only)

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Nude Beach (applied damp with MAC Fix+)
• Sleek i-Divine in Original (brown-y colours used)
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• MAC Pearlglide Eyeliner in Black Swan
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Vehement
• Lashes: Lash Republic's 'The Hunter'

LIPS

• MAC Lipstick in Ablaze

There you have it! I hope this serves as inspiration next time you are having a night out!
Love,

Your PM x

FOTD: Glam With Red Lips

Hello,

Another FOTD from last weekend here! I felt like going glam last sunday and wore a pretty dress to match! Once again, it's dodgy picture quality (thanks to the phone!).

I used the following products:

FACE

• Illamasqua Matte Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #6
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #1 (for blending into neck)
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Stereo Rose
• MAC Marilyn Monroe Blush in The Perfect Cheek
• Napoleon Perdis Contour Palette (brown contour only)

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Drama
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Celestine
• Napoleon Perdis Colour Disc in Queen of the Night
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Gaze used wet with Illamasqua Sealing Gel (I'm trying something new! lol)
• Lashes: Lash Republic's 'The Hunter'

LIPS

• MAC Lipstick in RiRi Woo 

The lippy is the LE Riri Hearts MAC Collaboration... I bought it because I got sucked in but I must say I was throughly impressed! The colour is really nice and it wore REALLY well and it didn't bleed! I am usually really clumsy with red lipstick but I didn't end up getting this one everywhere. It is a matte finish but it doesn't feel overly drying which is a huge plus! If you are Aussie, it's still available on the MAC website, otherwise, there is a second release in June (I think it is... actually that's quite soon!!).

Love,
Your PM x

SWATCH FEST: Illamasqua Precision Ink

Today's swatch fest will be on my collection of Illamasqua Precision Ink Liners.

The Illamasqua liners have received a lot of attention of late for their new 'Speckled Eye Liner' technique (if you are wondering what it's like you can view it here!). I haven't tried the speckles yet (though after looking at that tutorial I do want to get my hands on scribe...) but I have been keen on their Precision Ink for quite a while!

Precision Ink Outer Packaging

Precision Ink Brush

Their packaging is plain black with cream print (reasonably standard for Illamasqua). The brush is a semi-flexible (at the end) felt tip.


Precision Ink Swatches (L-R): Alchemy, Abyss, Havoc



Alchemy: A gold glitter. This one isn't fully opaque. Like wisdom (the current gold liner available), this one would be awesome paired with black. It would also make a nice take on the 'speckled eye-liner' trend! (Also, I didn't realise till I was halfway through writing this, but it seems you can't get it any more! Sorry!)

Abyss: A jet black. It's opaque too! (Some liquid liners are notorious for being a bit transparent!). One thing I like about it is that it has a sort of shiny finish (not wax floor shiny, but shiny enough to set it apart from any dark eye makeup you may be wearing).
Havoc: A dark purple. It's almost brown, and you'd probably be more inclined to call it brown over purple if you didn't actually know it was purple, but there is a definite purply tone in there. Dark enough to not look silly but it makes a nice change from black!

This has to be one of the best eyeliners I have come across. Ever. The formula is fabulous. It actually stays put! It won’t start running if you start running! YAY! (Other liners I’ve worn are much easier to smudge if you rub your eyes). Yes, I do find the brush a bit tedious at times, but that can easily be avoided (just dip your favourite eyeliner brush in instead!). The only downside to the formula is that it can be a bit stingy if you get it in the wrong spot (so if you have sensitive eyes be careful!).

If you are in the market for a new liquid eyeliner (and your eyes aren’t super sensitive) then I definitely recommend you give this one a go!

This product also comes in white (Scribe), antiqued gold (Wisdom) and an opalescent nude (Glister).

It costs AUD$27 for 1.8mL (it is quite pricey when you think about how much you get but a little goes a long way!).

A nifty little trick is that the ink's can even be used as a nail art pen! (Awesome if you want to smash some nail art on the go!)

You can purchase Illamasqua Precision Ink (and other Illamasqua products) from www.illamasqua.com or in Australia from selected Myer counters or www.myer.com.au

Have you tried the Illamasqua Precision Ink?

Love,
Your PM x

NOTM: Bling-Tastic!

Well, not the rhinestone-sparkly bling-tastic you were probably expecting... More the bling that Kayne West and Jamie Foxx would be singing about... haha.

Anyway,

This is a quick-ish little post to share my current polished pollex's with you! Both of these polishes I had purchased a while ago and I had been yet to wear them (until now!)... The chosen ones are..:

L: Zoya Gilty 18K Top Coat and R: OPI DS Mystery

I think I'm a bit behind for the 18K top coat trend... It was all the rage about 6-8 months ago and you don't see much of it at the moment (probably becuase textured polish is the new thing!). I had also purchased DS Mystery at last years Salon Melbourne (for some reason I thought it was brown but looking at it again it's definitely purple! oops!). I thought it was time to give both of them a go!

The Finished Product!

As you can see, the 18K Top Coat looks very effective over the dark base. DS Mystery is a polish from the OPI Designer Series Range, designed to be more sparkly and special than standard OPI polishes! It is a darkened purple with a gold fleck. The gold fleck is much more visible in the bottle than on the nail (but that's ok!). I chose DS Mystery becuase of that gold fleck, I thought it would complement the 18K Top Coat nicely (and I think it does)! It looks really pretty in real life! The 18K Top Coat can be a little fiddly to get on (for me, it wanted to keep hiding in the bottle!) but you can make it work. This NOTM has two coats of OPI and two coats of Zoya. I also used Cult Nails' 'Get It On' base coat (1 coat) and 'Wicked Fast' top coat (2 coats).

You can purchase Zoya in Australia from Art of Beauty (www.zoya.com.au) and OPI from Myer and David Jones and other Authorised Stockists such as www.adorebeauty.com.au! (be very careful where you buy your OPI from, as like MAC they are notorious for rip-offs!). If you can't get your hands on the Zoya 18K top coat, OPI do one as well.

Happy polishing!
Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: MAC 'Viva Glam Nicki' vs Wet 'n' Wild 'Pinkerberry' vs Lime Crime 'Geradium'

Hello,

If you have been regularly following my blog, or you have stopped by before, you may have previously seen my Lime Crime 'Geradium' vs MAC 'Viva Glam Nicki' Dupe Test.

I promise I'm not running out of material, but I actually have a new player to compare to LC and MAC! WOOHOO! Since posting my first dupe test, I have heard word getting around that Wet 'n' Wild's Megalast Lip Colour in 'Pinkerbell' is a good dupe for VG. Lucky for me, I had it (and shame on me it was in my discard pile!) and I thought once again that I better see what the fuss is about...

If you have read my last dupe test, you will see some of the same information (luckily this ISN'T a university assignment and I can get away with cutting and pasting some of my own work! lol) BUT I will have NEW photos (yay!) and add a bit more info to help you make an informed decision!

So let's get cracking!:

Product stats:

WEIGHT
WNW: 3.3 gramsMAC: 3.0 grams
LC: 3.5 grams

PRICE
WNW: AUD$6.95 (you could possibly find it cheaper from a US based site)

MAC: AUD $36 (MAC is notorious for having product rip offs! Please don't risk it and buy from a genuine and authorised retailer!)
LC: AUD $21 (when purchased from an Australian Retailer, or US$16 from LC direct)

SMELLWNW: What smell?
MAC: YUM
LC: YUMWet 'n' Wild doesn't have a scent but MAC and LC are vanilla scented.

This time, WNW is miles ahead in value! Only $6.95 and you get 3.3 grams of product! Quite reasonable! A good thing to remind you of is that MAC Viva Glam products donate the whole sale price (that's all of the sale not wholesale lol) to those living with/affected by HIV/AIDS. Neat. Also worth noting, while the Wet 'n' Wild doesn't have a scent. I don't think this is such a bad thing! While the vanilla scent of LC/MAC is nice, strong scents do my head in and I won't wear the product no matter how pretty I think it is! So while it doesn't make WNW overly exciting, it's not necessarily a down side.

(L-R: WNW Pinkerbell, MAC Viva Glam Nicki and LC Geradium)

(L-R: WNW Pinkerbell, MAC Viva Glam Nicki and LC Geradium)

 As you can see, you can barely tell them apart in the tube (but of course that doesn't always tell the full story!). Swatched on the hand, you can see subtle differences amongst them. LC is definitely darker and is also a bit more red toned than the others. At this point, WNW and MAC are the closest. Usually when I do a dupe test, I colour in half my hand putting the products here, there and everywhere to make sure I can accurately and honestly report what I see. Today you get my scribbles (products are marked):



To summarise:
- LC is more red (and darker than MAC and WNW)
- WNW is more yellow than MAC but approx the same colour intensity
- MAC has more pink undertones than LC and WNW

FINAL VERDICT: NOT DUPES! (JUST...)

Some people probably would say that they are dupes but I am picky and would say they are different. Either way, they are all good substitutes for one another!

Which do you need? Well, you probably don't need them all (but if you're a collector you could buy them all and be comforted by the fact they are SLIGHTLY different! lol). Which one you choose is entirely up to you, your budget, and what colour would suit you best!
Which should you get? Value wise, WNW is the clear winner. However, LC is Vegan friendly and MAC supports charity so ultimately the decision is yours! :)

WHERE DID I BUY MINE?

WNW: www.crushcosmetics.com.au (a great site for international makeup brands!)

MAC: www.maccosmetics.com.au (I live too far away from a MAC Counter!)
LC: www.limecrimemakeup.com (I bought mine the day it came out! lol)

Until next time,
Happy dupe spotting!
Love,

Your PM x

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Lodhi

Hello,

Time again for another instalment of 'Under the Microscope' (if you want to read previous editions of UTM, there is a label link on the right side bar).

Today my focus will be on the new(ish) NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Lodhi. I have already reviewed Luxembourg, which I loved (and hence I caved and bought two more... oopy!)

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Lodhi

Lodhi Swatched

Lodhi is a mid-toned bright coral (it is a bit brighter in real life than in the photo!). It packs quite a decent punch! It reminds me of MAC's Betty Bright on steroids! haha. It's not as red as most corals (well when I picture coral I do picture a tiny bit more red), but it's definitely a nice peachy coral!

Lodhi (left) vs MAC Betty Bright (right)

Ok so curiosity got the better of me and I swatched it next to MAC's Betty Bright to see if I was close! Lodhi is definitely the 'steroids' version but Betty Bright is just a teensy bit more pink (which makes Lodhi look extra red in this picture... funny how that happens!).

Lodhi wore well, but not as well as Luxembourg (I must say I was expecting better from it!). Though, it sort of makes sense as Lodhi doesn't really have the same level of pigmentation that Luxembourg does! After 3-4 hours there was a bit of fading (my lips went a bit patchy but that's because they are still a bit dry). That being said, the Satin Lip Pencils are really nice to wear. They are smooth and creamy to apply and don't feel like they are sucking all the moisture out of your lips! They are definitely one of the better lip colours to try out if you suffer from dry lips! (You still need to scrub up before wearing though!).

NARS Satin Lip Pencils can be purchased in Australia from Mecca Cosmetica for AUD$39 (and you get 2.2gms of product).

Have you tried any of these pencils yet? What is your favourite lip colour?
My review of the other pencil in my collection (Yu) will be up in the near future!

Love,
Your PM x

FAVOURITES: My April Picks!

Hello,

Tonight I will share with you my favourite products for the month of April! I was tagged on Instagram to show my favourite products (if you are following me @polishedmakeup then you have already had a sneak peek!) so here they are!:



My April Favourites

Illamasqua Blush in Tremble

I love Illamasqua Blushes because they are a reasonable price point (AUD$28) and you get a reasonable amount (4.5gms). They have a great colour range (including a few bold ones!) and are also very pigmented but still easily blendable. Tremble is such a versatile colour. It is pink but you can get away with wearing it with peachy colours! It's also one that you can't overdo and does blend out nicely! I love Tremble so much that it made my post on my Top 5 Illamasqua Products! This is definitely one colour I reach for a lot!

MAC Blush in Mocha

This is another colour I reach for quite a bit, especially when I want more subdued blush (because it's a bit darker than Tremble). I don't own many MAC blushes but this one I am really happy with! It's like a nude/dusty pink (it's a bit like Illamasqua's Naked Rose for those Illamasqua fans playing along out there!). It's not bright but still quite flattering. Like Tremble, this is another one I love so much that it made my Top 5 MAC post!

OCC Loose Colour Concentrate in Wasabi

OCC's Loose Colour Concentrates have quickly earnt a place in my heart for their awesome colours and awesome value! (They are only AUD$14 for 2.5gms! Yes, $14!!! Awesome!). I have a nice little collection happening (I do plan to swatch it for you!) and one of my favourites at the moment is Wasabi! I am loving the bright Chatreuse/Lime Greens at the moment! (This will probably die off a bit in winter though lol). It's very pigmented and worn with a primer/base you get a bright colour that stays put for hours!

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Luxembourg

I had already given Luxembourg a review, which you can read here. I was throughly impressed with it, especially for something that's a satin finish (as matte's usually have the longer wear time!). The colour is also great! I thought it was a really deep pink, but silly me didn't realise that it was actually red until I swatched it with a bunch of other red lipsticks for a dupe test! Clever me! I highly recommend it if you are in the market for a new red/deep pink! (I had also ordered Lohdi and Yu, which have arrived! Review in the near future! I'll add it to the list...)

Lime Crime Velvetines in Suedeberry

I looooove Suedeberry. It really does have the velvet finish claimed and it STAYS PUT! I was also pleasantly suprised with Suedeberry's colour too... It's a coral! This makes me rather happy due to my fondness of corals! This is a great everyday colour too! I have already reviewed both Velvetines on my blog and you can read my thoughts on them here!

Illamasqua Lipstick in Eurydice

I am quite fond of Illamasqua lippies for their awesome colours and staying powder! They are matte and wear like a coat of armour on your lips! They barely budge! However, the downside to them is that they can feel quite drying on your lips... particularly if they aren't in the best condition! Any imperfections will show up so scrub up before wearing! Eurydice is a bright fuschia pink! This one is not for the faint of heart and really packs a punch!

OCC Lip Tar in Anime

I LOVE OCC Lip Tars because the colour is so intense and it only takes a tiny amount of colour for maximum effect! They feel light as a feather to wear too! (I do have quite a little collection and I will get around to swatching them for you soon!). The only downside (for me) is that becuase they are so light to wear I feel like I'm going to smear them all up my face! (that is mostly because I'm a clumsy pants!). Anime is a vibrant neon pink! It is so intense and amazing! However, it stays put really well when worn with Eurydice (both of these made the list because I wore them together and it was such an amazing combo!).

Sleek Blush by 3 in Lace

These are a bit on the powdery side, but for 20gms of blush for AUD$15 you really can't go wrong! The pigmentation is still really good considering! (Really good!). The Lace palette has a bright orange, a gold shimmery pink and a bright coral/red. You can (just!) see me sporting the middle one in my Anniversary Dinner FOTD! (I have swatched this on Instagram if you are interested).

Do you agree with my picks? What products are you loving at the moment?

Love,

Your PM x

FOTD: Anniversary Dinner

Hello,

It's been a busy ol' week for me (which is why it's been a bit light on with postings, so my apologies for that!). On Wednesday, the Fiance and I went out for a 4 year anniversary dinner! (no, the dinner didn't go for four years! haha... I wish!). I did a reasonably simple FOTD for the occasion but I was really happy with it and it was very much liked by the other half!

I used the following products:

FACE

• Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC15
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• Sleek Blush by 3 in Lace (Middle only)
• NARS Blush in Seduction

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Drama
• MAC Paint Pot in Blackground
• Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Alluvium
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Vehement
• Lashes: Ardell Beauties (I had previously washed/soaked them so they are a bit straighter than normal!)

LIPS

• MAC Mineralize Lipstick in Luxe Naturale

I went for a pale lip due to my bright/bold eyes (and also because I was less likely to end up with my lippy all over my face during dinner... It has happened with brighter colours!). The best part about it was that it was pretty quick to do! WOOHOO! (always keen for a bit of time saving!)

I hope this serves as a bit of inspiration when you are next getting ready for a night out!
Love,

Your PM x

PM'S TOP FIVE: FACE ESSENTIALS

Hello again,

Tonight is another installment of PM'S TOP FIVE (my previous editions have been on Illamasqua and MAC if you've missed them!). Tonight's focus is a quick round up of my five favourite face essentials - these are the things I consider a MUST when doing my daily makeup!

My favourite Face Essentials

Kryolan TV Paint Stick (I use colour NB1)

Formulated for TV usage, this product has fantastic coverage! Its main purpose is foundation but I actually use it as concealer, because it's one of the few things that actually does a decent job of covering my dark circles! I also use it on my eyes as a base for my eyeshadow, so it's going on to even colour! (not my splotchy eyeballs!).

(p.s. I have previously raved on about TV paint stick in my Bargain Makeup-ing Post!)

Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake (I use colour Vehement)

Filling in eyebrows is a must! It really finishes your face off and makes your overall look more polished! I simply use this eyebrow cake dry with an angled brush, but you can also use it with a sealer gel, wet, for added definition!

(p.s. This Eyebrow Cake has also made it to my top five Illamasqua... What a handy little thing it is!)

Kryolan Translucent Powder (TL1)

I use Translucent Powder over the TV paintstick to set the foundation when I do my eyes. However, It could also be used for an all-over powder (nice and versatile this one!). Translucent powders help to set your foundation without adding any extra colour to your face! If you struggle to find a good match for powder, translucent powder could be a good option for you!

Illamasqua Medium Pencil in Hex

I am in love with Hex pencil! It's a nude colour (like an actual pale nude, not every other makeup company's definition of nude lip liner... which is actually brown!). It's actually a really good match for my skin tone! (I definitely got lucky there!) Anyway, I use it around the edges of my lips to stop my lippy bleeding (and I use it instead of co-ordinating colour ones because a) I'm lazy, b) It goes with everything and c) I don't have to be accurate). You could even wear it alone for a nude lip if you wanted!

Mascara (I use Napoleon Perdis' Mesmer-Eyes Waterproof)

Mascara, no matter what brand you use, is a mascara is essential! Mascara helps to define your lashes and make you look more awake and with it! The one I use (NP Mesmer-Eyes) I like because it has a plastic comb-style brush, rather than one with heaps of bristles (and considering I frequently stab myself in the eye... I feel like I'm less likely to do damage with blunt plastic!)

I hope this helps next time you are looking for some face essentials!

Love,

Your PM x