SWATCH FEST: Lime Crime Palette D'Antoinette

Hello,

It has been a while since I posted my last Lime Crime swatch fest on the Aquataenia Palette. I do also aim to blog about the Alchemy and China Doll in the near future (promise!). Palette D'Antoinette (note: you can't really say it without putting a french accent on lol) is a palette of five shadows - four pastel matte and a sparkly pale silver.

Royal Flush: A bright matte mid-pink. Would be great as a blush!

Absinthe-Minded: A bright lime green. This is a really is a nice green that doesn't lean too blue or yellow.

Macarooned: A bright orange. Like royal flush, this would also be a great blush. It does lean a bit yellow, so just be careful if yellow tones make you look like you have jaundice!

Ribbonesque: A bright lilac purple. Such a beautiful colour! It is a blue, based purple and choc full of win!

Mercurious: Metallic Silver. The only won with sparkle and also choc full of win! (You can see the silver in action on my inner corners here).

I haven't used all of these colours yet (ok, just Mercurious) but I am seriously in love! They are such good value too with a palette setting you back AUD$36 (for 5 x 1.5gms of eyeshadow you seriously can't argue with that!).

Have you tried any of the Lime Crime palettes? Got a favourite?

Love,

Your PM x

POLISH FOR YOUR POLLEX: OPI Alcatraz... Rocks! (Review & Swatches)

Hello,

As the point of Polished Makeup was to bring you makeup AND polish, it's about time I actually blogged about some polish! I have picked up some fairly new OPI's of late, so they will make their way onto the blog in the coming weeks! 

I have been loving the textured polishes over the last little while (namely Zoya's Pixie Dust and OPI's Liquid Sand). At first I was not that enthused, but after actually trying some I was a changed woman - they are pretty awesome!

This post is on 'Alcatraz.. Rocks!' one of the Liquid Sand polishes from OPI's new San Fransisco release. It dries to a matte finish so you simply apply a base coat and two coats and away you go! (They are relatively quick drying too). You can use a top coat with these, but it does ruin the textured finish (they can look quite nice though from swatches I've seen getting around the internet!). If you follow me on instagram (@polishedmakeup) you would know that this pic has been pilfered from my account... I'm all about efficiency ;) haha.

The best way to describe Alcatraz... Rocks! is a navy/denim blue with purple and gold glitter, but there is also flecks of blue and green glitter. It's so glittery that my phone struggled to focus! It is a seriously interesting colour! The only thing I don't like, is that it's been released coming into the Australian Spring/Summer (because it's fall in the States), so it's not likely to get heaps of wear over the next few months! 

It's definitely a two-coat polish. It can look very patchy after one, but evens up perfectly with a second coat. I used OPI's Natural Nail Base Coat as my base coat. I got quite a few days wear before they started chipping - about 3-4 (which is good for me as my nails are pretty weak!). I find the textured polishes wear a lot better on me.

OPI retails in Australia for $19.95 and you can purchase them from selected David Jones and Myer Stores, as well as Salon Stockists.

Have you tried any liquid sand polishes? What are your thoughts?

Love,

Your PM x

SWATCH FEST: Even More OCC Loose Colour Concentrates!

Well, 

I've been at it again... Buying more things I don't need! lol

Lipstick Republic had a 20% off sale, so my arm was easily twisted to buy a few new goodies! (I mean really, did you expect anything less? lol).

I picked up three more OCC Loose Colour concentrates and Lime Crime's China Doll palette (A swatch fest of China Doll will come at a later date!).

I have previously swatched the rest of my Loose Colour Concentrate collection and you can view them here (11) and here (3)! Including these latest few, my collection sits at 17/35... so about half way! (and geez I feel like I'm running out of options! lol)

My three latest choices: Foxfire, Brasstacks and Jubilee!

L: Foxfire, R: Brasstacks, B: Jubilee

L-R: Jubilee, Foxfire, Brasstacks

Jubilee: A pale blue with a turquoise duo-chrome type shimmer. It is great for layering! When this arrived, I went 'oh dear what have I done?!'... But swatched, it's actually quite pretty!

Foxfire: A bright grassy-type green with silver shimmer undertone. I am surprised that I didn't pick this one up sooner being that I have a big love of greens.

Brasstacks: Brasstacks is a great every-day dark chocolate brown with a gold shimmer. As the name implies, it does lean a touch brassy. This is another one I am surprised that I didn't end up with sooner.

As mentioned, I purchased my LCC's from Lipstick Republic (remember to use code 'RepublicVIBs' for 10% off!). The going rate is AUD$14 for 2.5gms (great value!)

Have you tried Loose Colour Concentrates? Got any favourite colours?

Love,

Your PM x

SWATCH FEST: Lime Crime 'Aquataenia' Palette

Good morning/afternoon/evening! (Please choose the applicable one for the time of day in your neck of the woods! lol)

As requested by some, I will be swatching my Lime Crime eyeshadow palettes (I now have them all which means yay for you and not yay for my hip pocket! lol). First cab of the rank is the Aquataenia palette!

I have only just recently started collecting the Lime Crime eyeshadow palettes (mostly because I have all their lipsticks and I am running out of products to buy!). I picked up the Aquataenia palette when I purchased Babette (because I'm not paying $12-odd dollars shipping for one lipstick... defeats the purpose!). I have always admired the palettes but thought that perhaps the colours were not entirely practical. Now that I am a bit more adventurous with colour (or that my inner collector has won... not sure), I think they are super cool! I will also post some looks that I've done using the palettes so that if they aren't something you'd normally go for you can see how they could be used!

Lime Crime's Aquataenia Palette

L-R: Nautilus Prime, Coral of the Story, Seahorse Discourse, Pearl-ple,  Atlanteal

Nautilus Prime: A deep (but vibrant) Royal Blue

Coral of the Story: A nice mid coral. This would also be a suitable blush.

Seahorse Discourse: A bright yellow based lime-green.

Pearl-ple: A mid lilac purple, it does not lean overly pink or blue based.

Atlanteal: A pale teal. Leans a bit more green in real life. 

I looooove the names. I am a sucker for a good pun! Nautilus Prime in particular gives me a good giggle! These are super pigmented and have a metallic shimmer/touch of sparkle. Though, do take care with the paler ones (i.e. Atlanteal) as they can kind of get lost against the darker colours (going back over it during application is key here - a primer also helps with this).

If you have read my Babette review, then you would have seen the look I did using Babette and the Aquataenia palette on my eyes (I will post it again for a bit of overkill  and because I was super happy with how it turned out! lol)

Aquataenia palette in action!

For this look I've used the blues and greens (Nautilus Prime, Atlanteal and Seahorse Discourse). I have also used Mercurious from the D'Antionette palette on the inner corner (swatches to come!).

The Aquataenia palette will set you back AUD$36 for 5 x 1.5gms pans of eyeshadow. (Pretty good value when you think that a MAC eyeshadow is AUD$33 for 1.5gms!)

This palette gets a big thumbs up from me!

Have you used the Aquataenia palette? Thoughts?

Love,

Your PM x

SWATCH FEST: Sleek Individual Blushes

Hello,

Time for another swatch fest - this time featuring Sleek Individual Blushes.

I have a lot of love for Sleek's products as they are awesome quality for the price point! They also have quite a bit of variety within their range!

I have four blushes to swatch for you out of the ten available on the Sleek website. These colours, to me, have the most universal appeal - quite a few of their colours have a real red streak (which I avoid like the plague! lol).

Top L-R: Pixie Pink, Sunrise
Bottom L-R: Life's A Peach, Rose Gold

L-R: Pixie Pink, Life's A Peach, Rose Gold, Sunrise

Pixie Pink: A matte mid-pink (it reminds me of Barbie! lol)

Life's A Peach: A matte peachy orange. This is a very soft colour and probably the least pigmented of this bunch (which in a way is good because it's harder to stuff up the application!),

Rose Gold: A deep rose pink with a golden shimmer. This has been labelled as a dupe for Nars' Orgasm (and you can read my dupe test about the two here!). It is a really nice, universally appealing, colour but be warned it is very shimmery so don't get too heavy handed with it!

Sunrise: A dark pink-tinged brown with a golden-yellow shimmer. This might be a bit dark for fellow pasty peeps - it doesn't fuss me too much because I'll give anything a crack, but if you're pale and trying it out, start with a very light hand! I can see this being a great colour for darker skin tones!

These blushes will set you back USD$5.99 for 8gms (is that seriously good value or what?!). You can buy them online from www.sleekmakeup.com. If you love Sleek blushes that much you can also buy them in a palette of three's! (Not quite these colours but similar!)

Have you tried Sleek blushes? Do you have any favourites?

Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: MAC Impassioned vs Maybelline Vivid Rose

Hello,

If you are a regular (or semi-regular) follower of the blog, you would have seen that I've posted swatches of my MAC Amplified Creme collection and in that post I thought of a good dupe test: MAC Impassioned vs Maybelline Vivid Rose!

MAC Impassioned (Left) and Maybelline Vivid Rose (Right)

MAC Impassioned (Left) and Maybelline Vivid Rose (Right)

The verdict: Not as close as I was expecting! 

While they are both pink-y, Impassioned is more red and a bit deeper in colour. Don't get me wrong, it's still vibrant, but nowhere near as vibrant as Vivid Rose (the camera doesn't show the brightness but it's seriously amazing!). I was honestly expecting these to be closer, as when I swatched the Maybelline Vivids, Vivid Rose had that real red streak! That being said, if you are makeup minimalist (which I am not), then you probably don't need both! I love Impassioned, but I also love Vivid Rose - I keep swooning over the colour and I really need to hurry up and wear it.

Are there any other dupe tests you would like to see on the blog? Let me know!

Love,

Your PM x

p.s. The PM is on facebook! www.facebook.com/PolishedMakeupBlog

SWATCH FEST: More OCC Loose Colour Concentrates

Hi guys and girls!

A while ago, I posted swatches of my OCC Loose Colour Concentrates collection. Today, I have a few more swatches to add!

I love these Loose Colour Concentrates because they are super pigmented and at a really attractive price point given the quality!

The latest three I've picked up are: Smote, Technoir and Overlook!

L-R: Smote, Technoir, Overlook

L-R: Smote, Technoir, Overlook

Smote: A deep beige with prominent silver shimmer. It's a bit like a dark version of Clove.

Technoir: A deep blue with a duo-chrome shimmer. The OCC website says 'Dark Navy/Blue Duo Chrome', but I personally wouldn't call it navy (it does look Navy in the pot but doesn't swatch so dark!). The shimmer is like a purple shift and flecks of gold are also visible. It reminds me of Illamasqua's Alluvium but with finer shimmer.

Overlook: A deep purple with a golden shimmer. It's kind of like an eggplant/aubergine colour.

OCC Loose Colour Concentrates will set you back AUD$14 for 2.5gms (told you they were awesome value!). You can purchase them from Lipstick Republic (and remember code 'RepublicVIBs' for 10% off!).

These are great colours for winter! Smote is a great neutral, I love Technoir because I am absolutely in love with Alluvium and Overlook is such a pretty and dramatic colour for winter!

Have you tried any LCC's? Which ones are your faves?

Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: Lime Crime Babette

Greetings!

For this edition of the dupe test, I will be seeking formidable comparisons for Lime Crime's Babette. I have already reviewed Babette and you can read what I think of it here! 

Anyway, Let's get straight into it:

The contenders!

Up for comparison:

- MAC Betty Bright

- Illamasqua Obey

- Lime Crime Coquette

- Illamasqua Sonnet

- Nars Lodhi

- OCC Lip Tar Hush

(L-R: Hush, Lodhi, Betty Bright, Sonnet, Obey, Babette, Coquette)

Let's compare:

- Hush: Browner than Babette

- Lodhi: Brighter and more red than Babette

- Betty Bright: Similar tone, but pinker than Babette

- Sonnet: Paler and more orange than Babette (also a matte finish)

- Obey: Similar tone but more Orange (also a matte finish)

- Coquette: Browner than Babette (this was here as a comparison!)

The Verdict: No real dupes here but Obey is probably the closest. If you want something similar but less bright, Hush could also be a suitable alternative. Not many Babette worthy dupes in my stash it seems! (Sorry!)

Note: Hush is very similar to Coquette but a bit more pink! If you mix both Coquette and Babette together, it brings up a similar colour to Hush!

Where to get them (in Australia):

- Hush: lipstickrepublic.com.au (AUD$18 for 10ml)
- Lodhi: meccacosmetica.com.au (AUD$39 for 2.2gms)
- Betty Bright: This was a LE colour (sorry!)
- Sonnet: myer.com.au (AUD$25 for 4gms)
- Obey: myer.com.au (AUD$25 for 4gms)
- Coquette: lipstickrepublic.com.au (AUD$21 for 3.5gms)

Are there any dupe tests you would like to see on the blog?

Love,

Your PM x

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Lime Crime 'Babette' (Review & Swatches)

Hello,

The much anticipated newest lipstick from Lime Crime is out and I have given it a road test to present my findings to you! Yippee!

Babette is a pastel coral. It's a muted, pale colour.

Lime Crime - 'Babette'

Lime Crime - 'Babette'

As you can see from the swatch, it's nice and muted coral. Not really bright but not really deep! It has been marketed as 'Coquette's' pink cousin! I have swatched them side by side for you:

Lime Crime - 'Babette' (left) and 'Coquette' (right)

As you can see, they are somewhat related. Coquette is quite brown, but still has a pink tone (it reminds me of the colour of bandaids lol). Here is Babette in action:

Babette on the lips, Illamasqua Tremble blush, Lime Crime Aquataenea & D'Antoinette Palettes on the eyes!

The wear time was pretty decent considering it's a pale coloured lipstick! I applied it in the morning, and it had pretty much disappeared by the time I had finished my lunch (expected), but a lunchtime re-application saw a good four hours of wear out of it in the arvo! (could probably be longer but I got hungry! lol). I wore it without lip liner and did not notice any bleeding either.

Packaging is Lime Crime's standard purple unicorn tube (which I have no problem with... it works and it stands out in your handbag! woohoo!). As for fragrance, there wasn't one. This I am perplexed by as normally LC lippies have a vanilla-y scent but this had nothing. That being said, I'd rather no smell than a bad one! (However I am curious as to where it went! lol)

I would recommend this for paler skin tones. I know, personally, I tend to shy away from nudes because they make me feel pale and pasty (and like my lips have disappeared). This is a good alternative because it's got a pink undertone. It's still neutral enough to go with everything but has enough colour to give you a bit of life! It also looks great with Illamasqua's 'Tremble' blush (as seen in the action shot!). It's also a good option if you aren't overly confident for wearing bright colours.

Babette will set you back USD$15.99/AUD$21 for 3.5gms. (Great value considering it's such a quality product!). You can purchase LC from limecrimemakeup.com or in Australia from lipstickrepublic.com.au

This gets a big thumbs up from me!

Have you tried Babette? Thoughts?

Love,

Your PM x

p.s. You can view swatches of the rest of my Lime Crime lipstick collection here!

p.p.s. Stay tuned for a dupe test featuring Babette! Coming very soon! (i.e. As soon as I've published this I'll start it!)

SWATCH FEST: MAC Amplified/Amplified Creme Lipsticks

In this post I thought I would share with you my MAC Amplified Creme Collection. Amplified is my favourite MAC finish, hands down! If you ever want to invest in a MAC lippy, I do recommend trying an Amplified Creme. There are a huge range of colours (I have 12 I am swatching for you today) but they range from nude (safe) to bright (out there), so there is definitely something for every taste! The colour is intense and long lasting! Finish wise, they are satin-y-ish. Definitely not matte or glossy! They often leave a bit of a stain (which doesn't bother me but may bother you). With day-after-day wear they can suck the moisture out of your lips a little (due to all the pigments) - so prep well and balm them!

Lets get swatching!:

MAC Amplified Cremes

L-R: Violetta, Dark Side, Craving, Chatter Box, Haute Altitude, Saint Germain 

L-R: Girl About Town, Show Orchid, Full Fuschia, Impassioned, Morange, Neon Orange 

L-R: Violetta, Dark Side, Craving, Chatter Box, Haute Altitude, Saint Germain

Violetta: PRO. Bright violet with a slight blue shimmer.

Dark Side: A deep burgundy (a great choice for winter!)

Craving: A pinky plum colour (this is my favourite non-bright colour!)

Chatter Box: A mid-pink (red based)

Haute Altitude: LE. A dusty pink. It almost looks nude compared to these. (This was released with the Apres Chic collection and may be hard to come by now).

Saint Germain: A bright baby pink.

L-R: Girl About Town, Show Orchid, Full Fuchsia, Impassioned, Morange, Neon Orange

Girl About Town: A bright fuchsia.

Show Orchid: PRO. A bright fuchsia with a blue-ish iridescence. This has got serious shine!

Full Fuchsia: PRO. A bright fuchsia. This is a teensy bit more red than Girl About Town - and has a tiny bit more shimmer.

Impassioned: A red toned fuchsia. Not as deep as GAT and FF. Reminds me of Maybelline's Vivid Rose (*note to self: dupe test!*)

Morange: A bright, clean orange. (this is my all-time fave!)

Neon Orange: LE/PRO. A bright red-toned orange. (This was released with the All About Orange collection and I believe it's usually a PRO colour)

NOTE: Pro Only colours can only be purchased from MAC Pro Stores (check the MAC website for your closest Pro store).

Other colours in the range are:

- Cosmo

- Fast Play

- Brick-o-la

- Vegas Volt

- Up the Amp

- Dubonnet

- Half-n-Half

- Blankety

(You can check the MAC website for descriptions)

MAC lipsticks retail for AUD$36 for 3.0gms. You can purchase from selected MAC/David Jones counters and online from www.maccosmetics.com.au!

Which is your favourite Amplified Creme?

Love,

Your PM x

p.s. If you follow me on Instagram (@polishedmakeup), you can see some of these amplified cremes in action!

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Bite Beauty Pastille Lipstick in Violet

Good evening! (or day - depending on when you read this!)

In this post I will be sharing my thoughts on the new Bite Beauty Pastille Lipsticks. These have been out in the US for a while but they have just started to surface here!

Bite Beauty pride themselves on producing 'food grade' cosmetics. This means they are safe to eat! (No parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances/dyes, petrochemicals or phthalates! YAY!). They also contain Reservatrol to fight free radicals (this is good!).

I managed to get my hands on Violet and Lilac (I found these colours the most appealing of the bunch - I love brights!).

Bite Beauty Pastille in Violet

This line is inspired by the French Pastille lollies. They are described as a 'Matte Creme' with a velvet finish. Bit of a contradiction because matte and velvet (in my opinion) are different finishes. When I think matte I think Illamasqua and MAC - no shine at all. Velvet is definitely more applicable. The colour is very intense like a matte lipstick, but it has a satin/velvet like shine. It's by no means glossy though!

Violet Pastille in action! (don't mind me looking half asleep!)

I am totally in love with this colour! It is so amazing and bright! (I did not expect it to be so bright actually!). I wanted to keep looking at myself to admire the colour! (is that vain? lol). It is super comfortable to wear too! Not drying at all! (This is fantastic, as most highly pigmented colours tend to suck the moisture out of your lips!). It's a great option if you are still after a bright colour but your lips are a bit under the weather! I did wear this with a lip liner (MAC's Heroine) because I wasn't in the mood for running lips! (Though from wear I tend to believe that it wouldn't be too bad!)

The packaging is simple - grey with a grippy outer. I quite like them because I don't feel like they are going to go flying out of my hands! They do have a fragrance, it's kind of a fruity type - it's a unique compared to any lipstick I've come across. If it was any stronger I would probably struggle to like it.

These are apparently limited edition (so if you are after any, get your hands on them while you can!). 

In Australia, at this stage you can get them from www.stylepatisserie.com. They will set you back AUD$36.95 for 3.7gms of product (reasonable value!).

This colour gets a big amazing thumbs up from me! (I haven't tried the Lilac yet but if it's half as good as this one it will still be awesome!). The other two colours available are: Lavender (sheer lavender) and Rosebud (pink/red).

Have you tried these? Or any other Bite Beauty products? What are your faves?

Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: Illamasqua 'Excite' vs Sleek 'Lace' Blush by 3!

Today's edition of the DUPE TEST is comparing Illamasqua 'Excite' and the Sleek 'Lace' palette.

Let's get straight into it!

Top: Sleek 'Lace'
Bottom: Illamasqua 'Excite'

In the pan, the blush on the right of the sleek pan is the closest to the Illamasqua blush. However it's not quite the same story swatched... 

Top Three Swatches: Sleek 'Lace'
Bottom: Illamasqua 'Excite'

In the swatch, the blush on the left of the Sleek pan is closest to Excite. However, Excite is a touch redder. Though it is more intensely pigmented and this is where it could be getting the red hit.

The verdict: Pretty darn close!

Weight:

Illamasqua: 4.5gms

Sleek: 20gms over 3 colours

Price:

Illamasqua: AUD$28

Sleek: AUD$14.95

These are great colours for summer. I look at them now and screw my face up all "What was I thinking?!", but I was in love with orange blush in the warmer weather! (Lets face it, pink can be a bit ho hum after a while!)

Sleek is definitely a good buy, and you get three colours in one palette - great if want some variety! However, I do lean towards the Illamasqua one in terms of quality (the Sleek ones are a bit more chalky in comparison). So, even if you only want the one colour, the Illamasqua is still a good investment - it is very competitively priced compared to other  'high-end' blushes in the market!

Ulitmately, you need to weigh up what would be best for your needs!

Where to buy:

Illamasqua: From selected Myer counters in Australia, www.myer.com.au or www.illamasqua.com (they do ship internationally too!)

Sleek: Selected online Australian retailers such as www.lipstickrepublic.com.au or from www.sleek.com (if you're international).

Are there any dupes you would like to see compared on Polished Makeup? Drop me a line and I'll see if I can oblige!

Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: Pale/Baby Pink Lipsticks feat. Maybelline Pink Pop

Hello,

This edition of the Dupe Test features baby pink lipsticks. After posting my Maybelline Vivids Review, I have wanted to get to work on finding lippies that these bargain tubes of awesomeness are dupes for! So essentially, this post is a comparison of a bunch of lippies to Maybelline's Pink Pop to see which is close (and dupe worthy).

Baby (or pale) pink lippies aren't something that I am stopped in the street for. I generally turn to brighter coloured hues (fuschia pinks, purples and corals). Nonetheless, they are a good choice if you wear soft makeup and want to wear a lipstick that is more exciting than nude!

Lets get to it! Today's subjects:

- Melt 'Darling'

- Illamasqua 'Plunge'

- Maybelline 'Pink Pop' (of course!)

- MAC 'Saint Germain'

- Lime Crime 'Great Pink Planet'

- Coloured Raine 'Confection'

- OCC 'Lovecraft'

- OCC 'Digitalis'

These are all 'cool' pinks (i.e blue based pinks rather than yellow based pinks).

L-R: Melt Darling, Illamasqua Plunge, Maybelline Pink Pop, MAC Saint Germain,  Lime Crime Great Pink Planet, Coloured Raine Confection
OCC Lip Tars: Lovecraft (Top) and Digitalis (Bottom)

L-R: Digitalis, Lovecraft, Darling, Plunge, Pink Pop, Saint Germain,  Great Pink Planet, Confection
(Photo taken with flash)

In both photos, Pink Pop is 5th in from the left.

L-R: Digitalis, Lovecraft, Darling, Plunge, Pink Pop, Saint Germain,  Great Pink Planet, Confection
(Photo taken under a cool light)

- Digitalis: Paler and dirtier than PP.

- Lovecraft: The tiniest fraction purpler than PP, plus it has silver sparkle.

- Darling: Matte and more purple based than PP.

- Plunge: Paler and matte and marginally more yellow than PP.

- Saint Germain: Paler than PP but of similar tone.

- Great Pink Planet: Paler and grayer than PP.

- Confection: A bit deeper and marginally more purple than PP.

The verdict: No real dupes here (sorry!) BUT Lovecraft, Pink Pop and Confection would be suitable substitutes for one another (in other words you probably don't need them all). Either way, it's good to see some swatches!

Also note worthy: Great Pink Planet is a bit greyer than Saint Germain, but if you are trying to be a makeup minimalist you won't need both! (My personal pick of the two would be Saint Germain because it's brighter, but if you're budget conscious go for Great Pink Planet!).

Size & Cost:

- Melt 'Darling': USD$19 (can't find a weight) - note: they don't ship international anymore!

- Illamasqua 'Plunge': AUD$25 for 4gms

- Maybelline 'Pink Pop' (of course!) - AUD$16.95 for 4.2gms

- MAC 'Saint Germain' - AUD$36 for 3gms

- Lime Crime 'Great Pink Planet' - AUD$21 for 3.5gms

- Coloured Raine 'Confection' - USD$13 for 3.5gms

- OCC 'Lovecraft' - AUD$18 for 10ml

- OCC 'Digitalis' - AUD$18 for 10ml

I'm actually quite glad these are all a bit different!

Is there any dupe tests you would like to see? Let me know!

Love,

Your PM x

SWATCH FEST: OCC Loose Colour Concentrates!

Hello,

Tonight I have swatched (and therefore am blogging about) my OCC Loose Colour Concentrates collection!

OCC are probably most well known for their super pigmented (and awesome) Lip Tars (which I will swatch eventually!), but their Loose Colour Concentrates do not disappoint!

There is a whopping 35 colours in the collection, of which I only have 11 - but hopefully this helps a bit if you have been trolling the Internet looking for some swatches! (I do eventually aim to get more but I am trying to resist buying every cosmetic item I lay my eyes on at the moment!). Be warned: These are crazily pigmented! (Now would be a good time to take your socks off so they don't get knocked off by the impending awesomeness!)

Top L-R: Tryptych, Flicker, Glisten, Clove, Platonic, Ironic
Bottom L-R:  Static, Cavu Blue, Wasabi, Chlorophyll, Nori

Packaging is a clear screw-top jar and it does have a three-hole sifter inside (this is good if you are clumsy and end up throwing it around - you won't lose it all over the floor!).

L-R: Tryptych, Flicker, Glisten, Clove, Platonic, Ironic, Static, Cavu Blue, Wasabi, Chlorophyll, Nori

L-R: Tryptych, Flicker, Glisten, Clove, Platonic, Ironic

L-R:  Static, Cavu Blue, Wasabi, Chlorophyll, Nori

Here is a little run-down on the colours:

Tryptych: A regal metallic gold. It is a yellow based gold. I purchased it with the intention of using it in ombre lips. This will probably never touch my eyelids due to the yellow content! lol

Flicker: A pinky tinged beige with gold shimmer.

Glisten: A pinky based coral with gold shimmer.

Clove: A neutral/champagne beige. It is more brown than Flicker. This would be a good neutral eye pick!

Platonic: A pale pink. Surprisingly pretty on! Along with Clove, these would be great colours for bridal and/or everyday makeup.

Ironic: A metallic silver with a gold and purple shimmer. This is actually a surprisingly interesting colour! I thought it was just a metallic silver but I was wrong!

Static: A blue based purple with a blue shimmer.

Cavu Blue: A bright cyan blue. This one has got some punch!

Wasabi: A yellow tinged bright green. It's described as Chartreuse (but I always imagined that was more yellow!).

Chlorophyll: A bright mint green. OCC describe it as turquoise, but I always imagine turquoise as slightly bluer. Either way, super pretty! 

Nori: A darkened teal/sea green. A great colour in the winter months!

I swatched these colours on my bare (pasty) arm - if you wear them over a primer (such as NYX Eyeshadow Base) then you will end up with a more intense colour! (But as you can tell they are pretty intense already!). I also recommend something 'sticky' (like an eyeshadow base) particularly if you are going to press them onto your lid. They will last much longer! They do blend out without a problem though. I have used Nori in my crease (my lids were prepped with foundation and powder) and it blended out without a problem and stayed put very well! Cavu Blue, Wasabi, Chlorophyll and Nori are a tad more matte than the other colours (they still shimmer, but as you can tell from the photos it is not as apparent!).

My picks: Wasabi, Chlorophyll, Nori (can you tell I like greens?)

OCC Loose Colour Concentrates will set you back a very reasonable AUD$14 for 2.5gms (very generous and super good value!). You can buy OCC from Lipstick Republic (great to deal with and you can use code 'RepublicVIBs' for 10% off! Woohoo!).

Have you tried any of the Loose Colour Concentrates? Which are your favourites?

Love,

Your PM x

p.s. Wasabi has been featured on my blog in my April Favourites and I have worn Flicker in a FOTD! x
p.p.s. if you want to see some more colours in action, find me on Instagram (@polishedmakeup)