Beauty Bargain: e.l.f. Lip Lock Pencil

The number of times I've heard people wish for an invisible lip liner, and yet here it is! I am far too lazy to buy lip liners in every single colour so I've actually been going without for quite awhile. This was all fine and dandy until I got my lip tars so I went on the hunt for a quick fix.

Enter the e.l.f. Lip Lock Pencil. It is literally a clear liner which you apply around your lips to prevent bleeding from lipsticks. And it works! It creates an invisible barrier that the lipstick can't go past, meaning your lipstick (or gloss/tar/balm) stays perfect all day.

So as you can see, it's like a wax pencil. It does dull down quite quickly but I haven't had to sharpen it yet because it applies invisibly so you know, a think line doesn't really matter. 

I love the ease of it - you only need one application to make your lippie last all day. It's so convenient and so easy. It's also super cheap - I bought this online for $9.90NZD, and considering it replaces all lip liners, it's a small price to pay. I'm super impressed with how quality this is, especially considering my paste experiences with e.l.f. products Risk paid off, awh yeah. 

I highly recommend this - cheap, efficient, replaces the twenty different lip pencils you have for under $10. What's not to love?

xo Bridget

Review: MAC 'Girl About Town'

I am a total sucker for bright pink lipsticks and Girl About Town by MAC takes the cake in my collection. We all know and love the quality of MAC lipsticks and this lipstick is no exception. Amazing pigmentation, long lasting and it doesn't bleed - even without a lipliner. 

Girl About Town is a gorgeous dark bright pink (does that even make sense?) from their Amplified range. I would honestly believe that this would flatter all skin tones due to it being such a versatile pink, as you can see in the swatches. It isn't bright enough to wash you out, but it isn't a murky dark pink.

Here in New Zealand, MAC lippies retail for $40NZD each, which is insanely expensive but oh so worth it because of the high quality of these lipsticks. You really are getting what you pay for, the customer service at the MAC counter is amazing too. The ladies there always let me try on several lipsticks before eventually deciding on one. I almost never do this but due to mAC having such a wide colour range, how could I not? 

As you can see, pigmentation of Girl About Town is great. Even after 1 swatch it has full opaque colour and it lasts hours. It is quite matte but this can be remedied with a clear gloss, which amplifies the gorgeousness of the colour. 

Perhaps my favourite thing about this lipstick, besides the colour payoff, is the sheer longevity. It's not very often that you find a long wear lipstick that a) actually lasts and b) doesn't bleed/feather/make you look crazy after 6 hours of wear. I have never worn a lip liner with this lipstick and I often wear this to work, so that's 6 hours of constant talking, drinking and my lunch break. It always lasts, and it leaves a subtle stain on my lips too so that if it does wear off, I don't look crazy. 

I've been wearing this all winter but I also plan on continuing this all summer because it's such a versatile shade. It gives a pop of colour in the winter and in the summer it suits a tan (if you're lucky) or if you're like me, it makes you look alive!

This lipstick is well worth the amount it costs - from gorgeous colour to long lasting, it is my go to lipstick when I'm feeling down or want to sass around university like I own the place.

xo Bridget 

Review: OCC Concealer in Y0

I said on my Lipstick Republic haul post that I was so impressed with this that I'd do an individual review, so here it is! As you can see by the pot, I've used this a fair bit since I bought it and there's a reason why - this is the best concealer ever. In the whole wide world. From coverage, colour to longevity, it's perfect for those who want a concealer that goes the whole nine yards.

I bought this from the fantastic lipstickrepublic.com.au for the ridiculously cheap price of $20AUD. I initially added it in to get free shipping and I'm so glad I did! After I spotted it, I did some research and realised that this was a holy grail products for people with pigmentation, scarring and the like. I have aggressive scars on my cheeks and this covers them perfectly.

Their colour range is new to me, but I wish other companies would take a leaf out of OCC's book. They have five shades that come in red and yellow undertones, so there's one for every skin type. I chose Y0 (the lightest yellow shade) to combat the red tones on my face.

I apply this after primer with a kabuki brush and it applies like a dram - smooth, undetectable. I use very little product for maximum rewards, essentially. It's so natural looking too - I could easily get away with only wearing this concealer because it blends into my skin so well.

This was hard to swatch because my arm is insanely pale but it shows how yellow it is, I guess. Also, I have no idea why my arm looks like it was attacked with the blur tool - it wasn't, I promise! I don't photoshop my photos. I guess I shall appreciate that my arm photographs so flawlessly. But as you can see, it's quite thick when applied with fingers, so I'd recommend a brush, but you can see the great coverage that it gives.

I only had one issue with this product - the packaging. As you can see, after about two weeks, it broke. It still covers the bottom enough so it won't dry out but ugh, broken packaging sucks so much and I don't want to have to re-pot it because that's asking for disaster. It is quite brittle plastic, perhaps a glass jar would be better suited. I don't know how common this is, but be super careful with it. I wasn't throwing it around my room, or leaving it in my bag all day so I'm not sure why this happened, but there you go.

The positives outweigh the negatives, however, and I'd seriously give this a 9/10. I've used many 'industrial' concealer in my time but this one takes the cake. It applies matte with super amazing coverage and doesn't budge all day. All this in a tiny little (albeit broken) pot. For the price, it's also a bargain. Lipstick Republic were great to buy from, it arrived within a week of me ordering and everything was packaged safely. I highly recommend this for anyone with something they want to cover and who's on a budget - amazing brand, amazing price, amazing quality.

xo Bridget

Review: Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in 106

In all my makeup snobbery, I ended up sending my younger sister all my Rimmel lipsticks - except my Kate Moss ones. I absolutely love these. They are such amazing value for money, from the colour, the literal lasting finish and the smell! A delicious watermelon-esque fruity scent that is so refreshing. Who'd have ever thought I'd describe a lipstick scent like that, haha. But anyway, for anyone on a budget, this lipstick is the bomb. I own 3 all up but this one has been my go to lately.

Firstly, the colours throughout this whole range are fantastic. I've honestly never seen colours like them available before (from drugstore brands), they're so impressive. I fell in love with this colour - a pink berry colour. It swatched quite dark on my arm, but is far more pinky on the lips.

It also builds nicely, as you can see below. They also looks gorgeous with a clear gloss over the top, as they're matte. In spite of this, they aren't ridiculously matte, such as Ruby Woo. It doesn't drag across the lips, and I actually find it to be quite moisturising and long lasting.

I've also found that these don't bleed. Which is odd considering my other Rimmel lipsticks did, but this must be the mystical Kate Moss effect. I wear this colour to work quite often and I've never had issues with it bleeding and going all crazy, which is a blessing.

All in all, this lipstick, and the whole Kate Moss range, is amazing. Super great quality for price, long lasting, gorgeous colours. I believe I got these for $10NZD at Farmers when they first came out, Rimmel lipsticks usually retail for around $15NZD regularly which is still super cheap considering the quality. I highly recommend these - perfect for all year round too, which is perfect with Summer coming up here in the Southern Hemisphere.

xo Bridget

Review: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in Fair

I never ever thought I would be buying a BB cream ever. I just never though my skin would ever be good enough, but after numerous creams and pills, I can look in the mirror and not be horrified by what's looking back. In spite of me being so happy that I could buy a BB cream, I didn't want to go high end on this one, purely because I wasn't sure of the coverage, colour etc. I didn't want to get the Dr. Jart+ one online only to find the shade was all wrong, so I was really stuck with Maybelline due to their limited colour range and availability. 

Thankfully, their lightest colour (fair) was light enough for my skin tone. I am as pale as it gets, so this is saying something. If you're a darker girl though, I would try find a whole new brand together. Maybelline's colour range here in New Zealand doesn't really cater beyond anyone with a skin tone darker than 'white girl with a fake tan'.

But onto the product itself - I'm surprised, to say the least. It gives me good coverage! I always thought that BB creams were supposed to be the whole 'no makeup makeup' look but this gives me good enough coverage that I don't need to wear powder over the top. I'll admit that I still wear concealer underneath (my skin isn't quite there yet), so perhaps if you don't smother yourself in concealer, it'd be quite sheer but nonetheless, for a BB cream, it covers up just enough to keep my mind at ease. 

Here are the swatches. As you can see, it blends right into my translucent arm. I use a kabuki brush so I use less product and I find it disperses evenly, I've never had any issues so far with orange streaks. It applies evenly with a slight matte finish - not dewy like I was expecting. I like this though, I'm not a dewy girl, I find I just look greasy and generally gross.

My big issue with this is the packaging - it comes in a squeezy tube. I understand that it's a drug store brand but Maybelline is still good quality and for a product that is quite 'on the go', it's a shame it doesn't come in something more... useable? When I first applied with my fingers, it was absolutely ridiculous and is an experience I never want to relive. A lot of wasted product. If I were ever to take this on holiday with me, it's a product I'd expect not to need a brush for, but sadly, you will with this.

Other than the packaging, I like it. I always wear it on short days at uni or on weekends when I'm not working and don't need my hardy Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation. I haven't yet noticed when this product starts to wear off because I often set it with powder which seems to make it stick around + I never ever touch my face which is a huge factor. Other, for $22.99NZD it's a good bargain. I definitely plan on toting this around with me on my summer holidays, but I have a feeling I might be buying a little pump bottle to transfer it into instead.

xo Bridget

Review: Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream

I finally bought a new night cream! After running out of my wonderful Yes To Carrots night cream, I was too poor/lazy to buy a new one so I was using my Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying moisturiser, which was all fine and dandy but it was winter and my face now has sad dry patches from not being moisturised. But onto the positives - I now own the love this little wonder which I shall be reviewing today.

I've never used an Aveeno products before. I always assumed it was just an upmarket supermarket brand so I never really paid any attention, despite it being endorsed by numerous celebrities and bloggers alike. It wasn't until I saw this that I decided to try it out. What sold me was that it claims to fade dark spots, pigmentation and all those horrible things that life throws on our faces alongside being an intensive moisturiser.

I am so impressed with this, so so impressed. Firstly, the smell - it's so fresh and delicious. After my nighttime shower, I slather this all over my face and I instantly feel refreshed and awake again. I an feel it hydrating my face via the scent it has. I find the texture to be a little odd, it's like a cream but a gel? I find it difficult to scoop out (it doesn't come with a scoop, shame on you Aveeno) because I have to use my fingers. This is perhaps my only gripe because as soon as it touches my face, I forget.

This product does what it says too. I never get pimples on my cheeks but literally about 2 months ago, I got one on each cheek which left the worst red marks ever, even though I left them well alone. I have smothering the pesky marks with blemish fade creams but after using this for a week, I've noticed a considerable difference. The red marks are both smaller and fading much faster. I really should read the ingredients to see what it is that's working because it's working well.

I do have a few minor issues with it. The box it comes in is overly large considering the size of the pot itself (I do not like faux false advertising when it comes to beauty products) and the odd consistency and lack of scoop-like thing is a little frustrating but the product itself works so well that it barely matters. I love how moisturising it is, all my little dry patches are disappearing, I love the smells, how well it works - I am just generally impressed and now I'm super keen to try more products.

I got this at Farmers for $24.99NZD, which is pretty good for a night cream. With products like this, I would normally prefer to buy higher end products but this is such a good deal and it delivers, so I'm super pleased that my budget didn't really restrict me this time around.

What is your best budget skin care find?

xo Bridget

Review: Chi Chi Metallic Eyeshadow Crayon Stick in 'Barbarella'

Happy September! As we welcome in the hopefully amazing Spring weather, I will be locked away in the library studying for my final exams, woohoo. But in the mean time, I have this wonderful eyeshadow stick by Chi Chi to keep me looking bright eyed and bushy tailed. I'm not a big eyeshadow person because I am almost always wearing a cat eye of some sort but this fits in perfectly with it - a nice swipe above my eyeliner and it instantly brightens my eyes. I am in love.

As you can see it, it s a simple crayon stick making it super easy to apply. As I said, I usually go for one swipe above my eyeliner and I'm done but this could easily be used in conjunction with many other eye products - for shimmer, colour, even as a liner itself (though it wouldn't be very defined due to the large tip). 

I wish I could somehow indicate further the sheer pigmentation and staying power of this product, but you'll have to believe me via the wonders of photography. 

1. Pigmentation - for a sheer colour, it's very opaque. The swatch on my arm was, from memory, only about 2 strokes with the crayon. Instant full colour. I was amazed and also scared by what this product bought to the table.

2. Longevity - this does not come off ever. I had 4 swatches of this on my hand after buying one (the other colours available were silver, gold and charcoal) and after washing my hands multiple times, I still had glitter covering my hand. It comes off my eyes fine with eye makeup remover but for people who don't use it, I can see you having trouble with just a makeup wipe. Also - it doesn't crease. I have yet to wear this with a primer but I doubt I'll ever need to.

Barbarella is quite a light gold, especially when compared to the more true gold in the line. I like how easily this can be dressed up or down and how it instantly brightens your eyes, similar to white eyeliner. When I apply it, I go from outer eye to inner eye due to how pigmented it is. If I apply inner to outer, I find to much product deposits there and it looks a bit tacky - after applying, I'll dap a little in my inner eye to still get colour there.

Overall, I'm super impressed with this and am super keen to try some more of Chi Chi's new eye products. I got this for $20NZD at Farmers but I can imagine there are places where it's much cheaper. I would highly recommend these for all skin tones too - none of the colours look too 'nude' or like they'd clash, they're all gorgeous shimmery neutrals. 

xo Bridget