Review: The Body Shop Radiance Highlighting Pearls

I am a huge shimmer fan. If it's shimmery or glittery in any way, I need to own it. I don't have much experience with beauty products from The Body Shop but their Radiance Highlighting Pearls definitely makes me want to venture out there a little bit more.

So this product is a series of small spheres in gorgeous pearlescent colours that when applied with a blush brush to the face (or even elsewhere on the body) leaves a gorgeous shimmer that contours in the right light, and leaves the face looking fresh and illuminated.

The pearls come in 3 colours - yellow, pink and a white pearl colour that leaves little pigmentation on the skin, but instead leaves a gorgeous shimmer. I love using this when it's a sunny day out to highlight my cheeks and nose, or to add flair to an otherwise neutral face.

As you can see, the pearls are quite pigmented but these colours don't show on the skin. I love the packaging (with a gorgeous gold lid and clear base so you can see the product inside) and how the pearls are loose, but I do wish that they were compact - they do run quite loose which can be irritating because they can get stuck in your brush.

This product is such good value for money. I bought this in store for $40NZD, so it's budget friendly, but the product will last a long time too. I usually do two or three swipes with the brush to pick up product so your money goes a long way.

I love how fresh faced this product is, it would work for every skin tone as it isn't drying, overly pigmented or frustrating to use. Even on dryer skin, the individual pearls feel almost hydrating, it's difficult to describe until you swatch them. Overall, I'm super impressed with this and am keen to try out their bronzing version.

xo Bridget

Review: NARS 'Nico' Highlighter/Blush

My first NARS product! And I am in love with it. I chose to go for a more subtle product to get the ball rolling and that one is 'Nico' -  more of a highlighter than a blush, it gives s subtle shimmer  and a tiny amount of colour, depending on your skin tone. Trust such a quality company to create the perfect shimmery champagne coloured blush that suits everyone -  I feel like this is the Orgasm of highlighters.

Anyway, I usually apply Nico as my final product, after powder and blush. I apply it to my cheekbones and the bridge of my nose to give a bit of contour and shimmer. In the sunlight, it gives a gorgeous bronzer-like radiance in the sense that it defines whatever part of your face you've applied it to. At nighttime, I apply it super heavily so in the artificial light, it appears as more of a shimmer.

As you can see, it is a classic nude/champagne colour. Because it has little pigmentation, it would suit all skin tones as a highlighter or an overall shimmer. The pigmentation isn't horribly dark on pale tones, and I doubt it would appear too light in dark tones because this product is less of a blush.

Swatching was difficult as it was hard to get a decent photo of it blended into my skin. You can see that even on my pale as a ghost arm, it still applies nice and evenly, no orange tones to make you look like you've abused the bronzer.

I love this product because I can use it for both day and night. It gives the perfect amount of shimmer that looks gorgeous in the natural light without being over the top. You can never apply too much of this product either, making it safe for all skin tones.

I bought this online for $40NZD, which was such a bargain. After using this, I definitely want to add a few more NARS blushes to my collection, the quality is just so spot on. The packaging is sturdy, so it'll last well in a handbag and you get plenty of product (4.5g/0.15oz) so it'll  be a while before I hit the pan. I've been using it nearly every day, and you can see that I've hardly made a dent in the pan. Such good quality and value for money - I'm honestly ashamed that it's taken me so long to get myself one of these.

xo Bridget