ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS - BEAUTY EXPRESS FOR BROWS & EYES

I've become a wee bit obsessed with Anastasia Beverly Hills this year. As you've probably seen, ABH products are ALL OVER INSTAGRAM. It's unavoidable. Purchasing her products is unavoidable. Well, that's what I tell my partner.

My ABH wishlist continues to grow as the brand continues to release new products. Eyebrow kits, contour kits, glow palettes, liquid lipsticks, lip glosses, eyeshadow palettes, and teeny tiny scissors - what doesn't this brand have!

At the very beginning of 2016 I threw away my Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil, and made my way over to Hairhouse Warehouse to make my ABH dreams come true!  I ended up walking out  of the store with the Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes. The only issues with buying from Hairhouse Warehouse was that I wasn't able to test the brow colours to make sure it was similar to my own eyebrow colour. Naturally, I winged it and I managed to get the right colour. I love it when my recklessness pays off.

DISCLAIMER: So I've been using this product everyday for months now, and naturally I've hit pan on just about everything. Please note that the pictures featured in this blog post are not my own.

'Maintain perfectly-shaped brows with Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express'.

Packaging

ABH is known for having sleek back packaging with rose gold accents. I'm all about this colour combo! 

The Beauty Express Kit has a soft cardboard slip cover which is easily removed. The cardboard slip outlines the colour of the brow product and the products inside.

The actual kit packaging is a sturdier form of cardboard with an crocodile-like feel to the external packing. It's pretty cool and makes for easier gripping for girls on the go. Cutouts have been included inside the packaging to allow for storage of the tools provided, and a mirror has been added to the inside of the upper lid. 

The kit a contains a brow wax, a brow powder duo, an eye-shadow, a highlighter, eyebrow stencils and an angled brush to allow for easy application. And just in case that isn't enough the kit also comes with instructions, from Anastasia herself, on how to use the product.

'A travel-friendly brow kit that's perfect for on-the-go touch-ups'.

Shades & Textures

The Beauty Express Kit comes in one of two eyebrow shades: blonde or brunette. Sorry darkhaired beauty, but this kit has not as yet to be catered to for you.

Formula & Pigmentation

Pigmentation is not a problem here! When both the brow wax and brow powder are used in combination you should be able to achieve as much or as little coverage as you desire. 

I found all of the products in this kit easy to use and apply to achieve my everyday look. As for mistakes, I made plenty! However this product is very easy to manipulate and correct if you've overdrawn your brows and accidentally filled them in too heavy.

Mini Tutorial

Some of you are probably sitting at home right now, wondering 'How am I supposed to use this thing?'. Let me break it down for you. If you have really well defined brows you can skip past the stencils. Honestly, I never ever use the stencils. I'd rather have my brows waxed by a professional and then fill them in with my Beauty Express kit. You can either follow the instructions provided with the packaging or have a go using the product yourself if you're comfortable, otherwise I'll post a mini-tutorial below.

If you don't have well defined brows and you're interested in using the stencils, it's quite simple. Sift through the stencils provided and try to match them up with your eyebrow shape as best as possible. If you're eyebrows are sparse, this is a good opportunity to find a shape that compliments your faical features It's important to brush through your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush before beginning, settling them in place. Once you have the stencil that you desire, hold it against your eyebrow firmly whilst you apply the brow wax to the exposed stencil area. Still holding the stencil in place, take your angled brush and begin applying desired colour of brow powder from your duo, using small brush strokes to create the look of natural looking brow hair.

When applying the brow powder I like to begin by going over the outer edges of my eyebrows to give them distinct definition. Think of it as tracing. From there I prefer to take my brow brush and comb the excess brow powder through the rest of my brow hairs, and blend my traced lines in to try and soften my eyebrows.

The eyeshadow and highlighter provided in the Beauty Express Kit can then be used as desired on the eyelids, inner corners of the eyes and brow bone. Personally, I like to use the highlighter on all of my small features such as my cupids bow and nose as well as my brow bone.

That's all there is to it! You should be looking fabulous now.

I think that this particular product is perfect for travelling! It's small and compact, so it won't take up much room in your suitcase. Bonus, you won't need to pack a highlighter or eye-shadow as you can use the highlighter provided and eyeshadow for an everyday natural look.

Affordability & Retailers

Anastasia Beverly Hills products can be bought directly ABH or Sephora. 

Alternatively, you can also make last minute Anastasia Beverly Hills purchases at your nearest Hairhouse Warehouse. Unfortunately, with my most recent purchase I was informed by staff at Hairhouse Warehouse that they will soon no longer be stocking ABH, as the company are supposedly pulling away from all retailers and intend on only selling directly to consumers. So get in quick while they still have stock!

Final Verdict

For me, this product is great as a one time buy. It's pretty good value, considering the stencils themselves retail for a pretty penny. Separately, each of these items can be expensive so I'm recommending the Beauty Express Kit particularly for first timers or frequent travellers as it is small, compact, has instructions on the packaging and comes with five amazing products. And you get to keep the brush forever once you're finished with the product. Amazing!

Stay Updated

New product reviews are uploaded every Saturday.

Follow us on Instagram! instagram.com/beautyreporterb

- B xo

HOURGLASS - VEIL MINERAL PRIMER

The online beauty communities that I am a part of are in love with the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Beauties around the world, including one of my besties, absolutely swear by it! I've been on a primer journey these past twelve months, trying various primers in search of my own personal holy grail. Alas, I'm yet to find it so I figured I'd give Hourglass a go. 

The Veil Mineral Primer is a promoted as a oil free, weightless and multi-purpose mineral-based primer that claims to neutralise redness and rosacea, minimise wrinkles and fine lines, and create a uniform smooth matte base for a flawless makeup application. The Veil Mineral Primer works by absorbing excess oils and minimises the appearance of pores by distributing light to help soften and blur the look of the skins imperfections. And just in case that wasn't enough, it's main purpose is to extend the durability of your foundation and/or powder.  No pressure. 

'This satin-finish, oil-free mineral primer creates a porcelain-smooth complexion, that will give your foundation longevity like no other whilst minimising shine and protecting against sun damage' - Mecca

Packaging

I adore this packaging. No one uses brown's anymore and it's such a pity because Hourglass have nailed it. As you can see, I purchased the smallest primer bottle available because I wasn't one-hundred percent sold on the product at the time of purchase. Regardless, the brown reflective cardboard packaging with that beautiful gold font is a 10/10. I love beautiful packaging. 

The 8.95ml bottle is a small pump bottle and makes the perfect travel companion. I, myself took this bottle over to Africa recently because of it's small size. 

'Existing at the revolutionary intersection of science, beauty and luxury, Hourglass is acclaimed for its breakthrough formulations, technological innovations, and unwavering commitment to reinvention. This state-of-the-art brand is distinguished by sensorial textures, modern colour collections, and sleek custom packaging' - Hourglass.

Formula & Pigmentation

The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer has a really unique texture. The product when dispensed is a white serum and has a smooth non-greasy silicone feel to it. It applied easily to my skin and quickly absorbed. 

I didn't find that it did a whole lot when it came to covering up redness, and in the future I would probably use a green stick in conjunction with this primer. 

'This lightweight mineral primer melts into the skin, restoring moisture and imparting a silky-smooth finish' - Mecca

Ingredients & Accolades

The Mineral Veil Primer does not contain:

-Parabens

-Sulfates

-Phthalates

-Nanoparticles

-Synthetic Dye

-Gluten

-Fragrance

-Oil

In 2014, 2015 and 2016 the Veil Mineral Primer won the InStyle Best Beauty Buy award. You can't argue with that! Furthermore the Veil Mineral Primer is vegan and is considered to be waterproof. 

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer has an SPF 15 rating offering protection from UVA/UVB rays, and claims to use naturally-derived titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

And for you babes with sensitive skin, Hourglass recommend their Veil Mineral Primer for babes prone to sensitivity.

'It helps to visible diminish the appearance of large pores and fine lines, and preps the skin for even makeup application while extending its durability, meaning less touch-ups' - Mecca

Affordability & Retailers

One word: overpriced. Whether this product works for you or not, I think we can all agree that the markup on this primer is ridiciolous. Thankfully, Hourglass have several sizes to choose from which allows first-timers and babes on a budget to purchase this product without having to spend the big bucks.

Mecca has the following sizes available at the following prices:

- 8.95ml for $27.00 AUD

- 30ml for $79.00 AUD

- 57g for $108.00 AUD

Alternatively, you can purchase your primer directly from Hourglass in the following sizes available and for the following prices:

- 8.95ml for $19.00 USD

- 30ml for for $54.00 USD

- 57g for $75.00 USD

Final Verdict

I know this product works for lots of other girls, and it did do something for my combination oily skin however I still found my chin and upper lip to look patchy by the end of the day. For the amount of money that this product costs, I'd recommend that you try as many other primers as possible before resorting to purchasing this particular product or at least head to Mecca and pick yourself up a sample before committing to buy. On a positive note, the 8.95ml bottle goes quite a long way if you're not willing to fork out $108.00

Stay Updated

New product reviews are uploaded every Saturday in Australia, while Pro Tips are uploaded on the first Sunday of each month. 

Check us out on Instagram! biancajames__

- B xo

PRO TIP: COLOUR THEORY AND CHOOSING THE PERFECT EYESHADOW

Do you ever find yourself looking at eyeshadow palettes and eye-hadow pans and feeling overwhelmed by the colour choices?  Do you ever look at a beautiful shade that you're drawn to but that little voice in your head tells you that its "too bold' or that it "won't suit me". Unless you're the adventurous type, you've probably had these thoughts many times in your life. I know I have. Make-up can be overwhelming if you don't have a basic understanding or you're not flush with cash. And trust me, once you're addicted you're going to need lots of cash.

So to save you from sending money on products that run the risk of not suiting you, we're going to look at colour theory and how we can use this to determine what colours are going to make your eyes POP and save you from spending loads of money on products that may not work for you.

Complimentary Colours

Everything that we need to know about eyeshadows can be determined by the use of the colour wheel picture below. 

Complementary Colours are colours that are opposite to one another on the colour wheel. They create a beautiful visual contrast and bring out the inner strength of each other. The complimentary colour theory is guaranteed to make your eyes sparkle and pop.

Colour Wheel
In this example, purple and yellow are complimentary colours to one another.

For example: green or hazel eyes look great when they are accessorised with mauve and purple eye-shadows.

Urban Decay - Wende's Contraband.

'Deep End' and 'Fleek' and placed next to one another as they compliment each other and draw the consumers eye towards the palette and each other.

Analogous Colours

Analogous colours are those that are adjacent from each other on the colour wheel, These colours are often grouped into threes or more, as it assist with colour blending and transitioning. 

Colour Wheel
In this example the four blue colours selected (blue/violet, blue, green/blue, and green) are similar tones across two colours (blue & green).

The analogous colour theory is for those who are wanting to play it safe, and choose a colour palette similar to their eye-colour or the shades that they are already comfortable using. Using similar shades allows for themed looks.

You'll often find themed palettes, such as the Too Faced PB&J palette from a previous blog entry, use analogous colours to compliment one another an create a range of looks using similar shades.

 Too Faced - Peanut Butter & Jelly 

Pro Tip

Still confused? That's alright, it can be a little confusing at first so I've added a little bit of a basic guide below. 

Hazel ladies, do not worry! Depending on what colour is most prominent, you could use the colours for either green eyes or brown eyes. Some of you may even be lucky enough to use both!

Bonus Pro Tip

Still confused? Not to worry. For you, and everyone on the planet, I recommend the Urban Decay Naked Palette. It contains neutral shades to compliment every eye-colour, with plenty of transition shades. This is my everyday go to palette and you cannot go wrong with it! My review with all of the deetes will be up next Saturday. However if you have to have it now and can't wait, you can purchase your own UD - Naked Palette here.

Now you know everything that you need to know about choosing the perfect eye-shadow for you. Best of luck beauties!

- B xo

TOO FACED - MELTED CHOCOLATE LIQUIFIED LONG WEAR LIPSTICK

Want to change the world? There's nothing to it.

When I think of Chocolate, my mind goes straight to my favourite chocolate bar and then to my favourite movie, Willy Wonka (Yes, the one with Gene Wilder. As far as I'm concerned, there was never a remake). Arguably two of the greatest loves in my love. I am known for being a chocolate addict. If I could, I would live and breathe chocolate. I'd probably be made out of it too if I had my way. So imagine how excited, and restrained, I have been over the release of so many chocolate beauty products. Yes, I'm thinking of you, unattainable Chocolate Bar Palette.

Moving on, I ended up buying the Too Faced Melted Chocolate Liquifed Lipstick in 'Chocolate Milkshake' as it put me over the limit for free postage at Mecca. Woo! Who doesn't love free postage? I'll admit, I'm a sucker for free postage. I'd been eyeing the Melted Chocolate range for a while, mostly because I've always been curious about the melted range due to a friend who is obsessed with them, and again because IT'S CHOCOLATE. Alright, I'll put my inner Augustus Gloop away for now.

Augustus understands the addiction

In summary, Lipstick + Chocolate + Bianca is a no brainer. I was bound to buy it sooner or later.

My May haul was saaaa good

The Melted Chocolate Collection claims to be made with real cocoa powder and is rich in antioxidants. I can confirm the cocoa powder for you right now. This product smells just like chocolate. It makes me want to eat chocolate when I smell it. The smell is so realistic that I completely believe that cocoa powder was used when making these lipsticks.

Let's start off my taking the packaging The packaging really is a true representation of the actual colour of the product. I'm always really impressed when that happens. And check out those gleams of gold. Perfect Packaging! A+ from me Too Faced.

If you've never used a Too Faced Lipstick stay tuned, otherwise scroll down to the next paragraph. The Liquified Liquid Lipsticks actually have an angled velvet tip, compared to traditional lipsticks and brushes. At first I was a bit unsure about how the tip would go and whether it would line my lips without making a mess. Ladies, put your minds at ease because this velvet tip is amazing to use. I found it to still be as precise as a brush and I've made absolutely no mistakes while using it. Again another A+ Too Faced for innovation.

'Chocolate Milkshake' smells amazing. Hands down. And the colour is so pigmented when applied. Warning to the wise though, you do not need a lot of product when you use this lipstick. A thin layer will get you the colour pay off that you need. In my experience, if you use a lot of product then you're more likely to find it transfers much easier and quicker.

This product is not food, water or kiss proof and will need to be reapplied as needed. But it sure is pretty as hell. Unfortunately, I find it disappointing that it doesn't meet any of my three criteria as the product has long wear in it's name. Maybe Too Faced and I have different ideas of long wear. I found this this product leaves a milky white line on my lower lip where my lips meet after a while and it's very visible. I've tried to find a way to correct this but nothing has worked so far. Again, if you're after a long wear lipstick then check out my previous post on Black Moon Cosmetics. You won't be disappointed.

The other massive disappointment that I had with this product is that if you apply the lid tightly as you would with any other lipstick or lipgloss, it actually causes spillage and overflow into the cap due to extra pressure from the cap onto the tube. I wish I had been forewarned about this so I could have prevented this lipstick overflowing into the cap. Sigh. I hate wasted product.

Other than that, this lipstick had the potential to be what my chocolate dreams are made of, but fell slightly short. I'll continue my search for the perfect chocolate cosmetics. If you're interested in trying this product out for yourself you can begin your very own chocolate collection here.

- B xo

LIME CRIME - VELVETINES

Good news everyone! Lime Crime is finally back in Australlia, with a partnership having been established between Lime Crime and Makeupnet.

There has been some controversy surrounding Lime Crime over the past few years, most famously the credit card hacking incident. I have a lot of friends who ceased their relationship with Lime Crime following this incident, and were too afraid to purchase unicorn goodies from the retailer via credit card or paypal for fear of their information being stolen by hackers. It was around this time that Lime Crime also severed all of their ties with their Australian retailers which left us babes high and dry, and fighting over Lime Crime sale items on sites such as PepperMayo and Princess Polly. Those were dark times.

Thankfully, it was announced a few weeks ago that Makeupnet would now be stocking all of the Lime Crime goodies here for us in Australia. Yay! Now we can shop freely with little fear of another hacking. So of course, that calls for a review of some of their much loves liquid lipsticks, known as the Velvetines.

My favourite Velvetine - 'Riot'

What I really like about the Velvetines, which only Jeffery Star Cosmetics has been able to match recently, is the colour diversity and Lime Crime's boldness to produce statement shades. Velvetines come in every colour of the rainbow! It's insane.

I am a big Velvetine lover. BIG. Just look at my stash.

I don't know if you've realised, but sometimes I get a bit carried away with my purchases and try to buy everything.

'Velvetines liquid matte lipstick dries to a touch-proof velvet finish'.

A very quick shout out to my biggest blog fan, who also happens to be my boyfriend. You know you've found a keeper when he buys you Velvetines for Christmas. 

Packaging

The packaging is super cute and the product smells really nice too.  The brush applicator is easy to use, and excess product can be wiped off back into the tube.

The only issue I have is that sometimes the tube appears to not have been completely filled. This is just the way the liquid lipstick moves around inside of the tube and is nothing to be concerned about.

'The first Velvetines lead the way in the hugely popular liquid to matte lipstick trend'. 

Shades & Textures

Lime Crime offers an amazing range of shades, and I only own a small potion of the Velvetines available. 

Have a look at what I mean:

L- R: Suedeberry, Pink Velvet & Utopia

L - R: Cashmere, Bleached & Faded

L - R: Shroom, Pumpkin, Riot, Wicked & Salem

And some swatches:

Formula & Pigmentation

The colour range that Lime Crime offers in the Velvetines range is remarkable, and pigmentation varies depending on the colour, Like all liquid lipsticks, you cannot re-apply liquid lipstick on top of pre-existing liquid lipstick as it will become very patchy and noticable. 

All Velvetines become matte once dried completely. You can add gloss, however this will kill off any staying power the Velvetines had. 

I do however have a few issues with the Velvetines. I find that they quick to dry, which means quick and precise application is a must! They are not food or water proof, and unfortunatly touch-ups end up looking blotchy. So you will need to completely re-apply after food and drink as the product starts does start to crumble and flake.

On a positive note, they are make-out proof which earns the boyfriend tick of approval.

'All of Lime Crimes products have been cruelty-free since its inception in 20008. While many of the products were also vegan from the very beginning. In 2012 Lime Crime reformulated the rest to meet vegan standards'.

Ingredients

Lime Crime does meet some crucial beauty standards that make us make-up lovers swoon. All Lime Crime products are vegan and animal cruelty free with is always a big plus. Unfortunatly their products do still contain parabens.

Affordability & Retailers

Velvetines currently retail for $29.00 AUD, or $20.00 USD. I like to keep my eye out for a sale, so I can purchase as many as possible or cash in on free postage deals. Since re-establishing distriution rights within Australia, Lime Crime products can be purchased from Pepper Mayo & MakeupNet as well as directly from Lime Crime.

Final Verdict

I think that if the Velvetine forumla were to improve, to avoid that crumble and flake feeling, then I would buy every colour under the sun and wear them daily. However due to their high maintenance, I find that these lippies are reserved more so for the weekends.

If you still haven't given Velvetines a go, please do so. The colour range just can't be beaten. Plus, who doesn't look good in a Velvetine. Check out #limecrimevelvetine on Instagram to see what I'm talking about.


- B xo

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS - CONTOUR CREAM KIT

Oh my wow! What have I been doing with my life up until this point. This is my new best friend, and her name is Cream Contour.

Anastasia Beverly Hills  - Cream Contour Kit in 'Fair'.

Again, what have I been doing with my life? About six months ago I decided to try contouring for the first time in my life. Why? After a discussion with a lovely MAC employee, we both agreed that there are sixteen year olds out there in the world who have skipped the awkward stage of blue eye-shadow and spider lashes, and gone straight to perfecting contouring. What the hell is with that? So I figured if a sixteen year old can do it, why can't I? 

And that's how my contouring adventure began. Skip ahead past having to buy a contour brush, asking friends for contouring advice, watching endless tutorials, buying powdered contours, and crying over how much I suck. After lots of practice, I finally started to get a bit better at this whole contouring thing. Around that time, the ABH brand blew up over Instagram and I was exposed to the wonderful world of the ABH cream contour. I knew that I had to have one.

'This best-selling palette sculpts and defines your features with six highly blendable shades - three for highlighting, three for contouring'.

Packaging

Let's take an up-close and personal look at the contour cream kit.

Contour Kit in 'Fair'

I love ABH packaging. The Contour Kit comes in a black cardboard case, which has the brand and product name labelled on the front of the packaging in rose gold lettering. The cardboard cases also identify what colour kit is inside. 

The actual product case is durable plastic packaging, with a clear plastic top, which also has the company logo printed in rose gold. The clear plastic top also allows you to view the product when the case is closed.

Best part? The pans are replacable! So when you run out of your favourite contouring shades you can order replacements and slip them straight in. Personally, I'm interested in taking out the shades that I don't use and putting in extra's of the shades that I do use.

Textures & Shades

The Contour Cream Kit comes in four different shades to suit different skin tones: Fair, Light, Medium & Deep.

Contour Cream Kit in 'Fair'

'Use Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Cream Kit to sculpt, define and enhance bone structure and features'.

Formula & Pigmentation

Previous to using the Contour Cream Kit  had been a Contour Powder kind of gal. After trying this beauty, I'm never going back to powder. Wow, what have I been missing out on!

The highlighting an contouring creams are as smooth as butter and just as very easy to blend in. A lot of people assume that you need to be a pro to be able to use a cream contour successfully. Rest assured, you don't need to be pro level. I actually found using the cream contour a lot easier than the powder. Whilst the powder allows you to gradually build your contour, cream contour gives you the opportunity to blend it out if it's too dark and heavy. It should be noted that the contouring colours in the pans do become a lot softer once blended in.

I have been using this kit daily with all of my looks and it leaves me looking and feeling fabulous. 

'Emphasise eyes, cheekbones, nose and jawline with smooth, velvety formulas that impart a subtle, dewy sheen'.

Ingredients

The ABH Contour Cream Kit is free from:

• Parabens
• Sulfates
• Phthalates
  

Affordability & Retailers

Being as pale as I am comes with pro's and con's. CON: as I child I was constantly asked if I was feeling well because I looked really sick. Thanks teachers and peers, appreciate it. PRO: as an adult I am constantly being complimented on how beautiful my skin looks. CON: no one in Australia stocks the cream contour shade 'Fair'. 

Sephora and Hairhouse Warehouse are both stockists of all things ABH, so if you don't require the 'Fair' Contour kit, head to either of these websites. You'll find that the contour kit also retails for around $70.00 AUD.

Final Verdict

Simply, what it all comes down to is one single question: do you need this kit in your life? The answer is a BIG FAT YES!  No matter what your skill level or your age, it's never too late to learn to contour.

- B xo 

YOUNIQUE - MOONSTRUCK PRECISION LIP PENCILS

I never buy lip liners.  Okay so that's a  lie. I own about three or four. But I can never justify buying a lip liner when I could buy myself a lipstick instead.  Unless you're wearing a bold shade, do you really need a lip liner?

The answer is yes.

Like I said, I've never really felt the need to purchase lip liners.My experience with lip liners up until this point in my life is that they often don't work and my beautiful red lipstick which I spend ages applying to get it just right ends up bleeding. UGH! So for the past few years I haven't really bothered with them, and have tried alternative methods to keep my lipstick from bleeding which have been semi-successful.

I had seen some amazing videos on Youtube earlier this year which showed me how much lip liners had transformed since 2010. Having watched other reviewers thoughts on lip liners from various brands I thought it was time to re-enter the world of lip liners this year, so with my Younique winnings I went and added three new lip liners to my personal collection.

Moonstruck Precision Pencils from T - B: Pompous, Posh & Pouty

'All eyes will be on your lips after you line up with our long-wearing, waterproof, smudge-proof Precision Pencil that makes your lips pop'.

Packaging

My one complaint, which is minimal and shouldn't be taken too serious as I haven't bought a new lip liner since 2010, is that these lip liners aren't mechanical and I will need to sharpen them as I wear down the tip. But seriously, that's my only complaint and that's just about preference.

Shades & Textures

There are five colours in the entire Moonstruck Precision collection which include a range of pinks, purples and reds. Oh and my all time favourite, 'Pouty'. Who doesn't love a good nude?

From L - R: Perky, Primal, Pouty, Posh & Pompous

Formula & Pigmentation

When I initially received these beauties in the mail, I raced home and swatched them on my wrist. BIG MISTAKE. The staying power of these lip liners is incredible. I've seen videos where lip liner swatches haven't budged, even with the aid of make-up remover. These babes had e scrubbing my wrist that night to get them off. The staying power of these beauties has blown my mind. What have I been missing out on all of these years?

The Moonstruck Precision Pencils are beautifully creamy and easy to apply. 

Affordability & Retailers

Have you purchased your own Stiff Upper Lip and Moonstruck Precision Lip Pencils yet? Hop to it. Purchase direct from Younique or support an amazing local seller.

Final Verdict

As I've been writing this post I've been sipping on coffee and eating lunch. How has the lip liner held up? It's as if I haven't had any coffee goodness or lunch at all. Ladies, this is the kind of support that my bold lipsticks need! Also, may I add, Pouty is extremely comfortable and non-drying on my lips. I like this shade so much that I'm not even going to bother wearing a lipstick over the top. You know these lip liners are amazing when they become the only lip product that you need to wear!



- B xo

URBAN DECAY X GWEN STEFANI - EYESHADOW PALETTE

If there is one thing that I have learnt about Gwen through the release of her UDXGWEN products it is that she ain't no Hollaback Girl.

I have been pretty pleased with the UDXGWEN collection as per my previous reviews. So today we'll be taking a look at the limited edition eye-shadow palette, which will finish up my reviews of the UDXGWEN collection.

'We partnered with Gwen to create her ultimate eyeshadow

collection. From her fifteen can't-live-whtout shades to the

 super-luxe case, Gwen designed and developed her perfect

palette.

Packaging

Like the rest of the collection, the cardboard packing is divine and has that beautiful white and gold 1920's art deco vibe.

Personally, I find the cardboard packaging breath-taking!

Each of the fifteen shades is displayed on the back of the cardboard packaging for all potential buyers to see. I really like how they've provided a little blurb about the palette. You can tell that a lot of thought and effort from both Urban Decay and Gwen went into this one.

Ugh, check out those nudes!

'Encased in a bespoke palette designed with black and while

 graphic prints and gold accents designed by Gwen'.

And that was just the slip! Onto the actual palette!

The palette carries on with that beautiful white and gold theme, also incorporating a splash of black and the Urban Decay labelling. It should be noted that this palette is really well made! This packaging is really sturdy and has some weight to it.

'Achieve Gwen's most iconic looks with this palette of neutrals and jewel toned shadows'.

Shades & Finishes

FIRST ROW, L-R: Blonde, Bathwater, Skimp, Steady, Punk
SECOND ROW, L-R: Baby, Anaheim, Stark, Zone, Serious
THIRD ROW, L-R: Pop, Harahuku, Danger, 1987, Blackout

The palette offers matte, sparkle and iridescent shades with a variety of nudes and pops of colour. Very much like Gwen's look. Here's the actual breakdown:

BLONDE - pale beige with irridescent shift

BATHWATER - pale beige with gold pearl

SKIMP - pale nude satin

STEADY - medium rose tone with metallic gold shift

PUNK - reddish brown matte

BABY - cool metallic rose

ANAHEIM - light taupe-brown matte

STARK - nude-pink sparkle 

ZONE - medium brown matte

SERIOUS - smoky grey with iridescent floating pearl

POP - pale cprral with iridescent sparkle

HARAJUKU - metallic blue-pink with iridescent micro-shimmer

DANGER - deep metallic royal blue with blue micro sparkle

1987 - bright metallic yellow-gold

BLACKOUT - blackest black matte

My absolute favourites, that I can't live without now that I've had them in my life, include: Baby, Anaheim, Stark, Pop, Steady, & Punk. Punk is this amazing earth red colour that blends so well. Punk, where have you been all my life? x

'Each eyeshadow in this palette feautures our Pigment 

Infusion System, the propietary blend of ingredients that

 gives each shades its velvety texture, rich colour, serious

 staying power and blendability'.

Formula & Pigmentation

Like all Urban Decay palettes, the colours are amazing and apply as smooth as butter. You can build the shades to be as light or dark as you wish, and they are great for blending. Honestly, this palette is my second favourite palette (Urban Decays Naked Palette being Number One, of course). I love a good nude palette, and this one was more than I could have dreamed of.

Affordability & Retailers

This palette was released at the end of 2015, and is currently still for sale as a limited edition piece. You can order yours here. The palette is a bit pricey, retailing at $95.00 AUD. However, Mecca do offer free postage for all orders over $75.00 AUD so I feel that that is a bit of a win. Honestly, I was at first unsure if I wanted to buy the palette, especially with it being so expensive, however my amazing boyfriend decided to buy it for me and told me to be "more impulsive". Ha! I bet he regrets saying that now.

Final Verdict

If you're after a nude palette with bright pops of colour, then this is for you! I'm currently building up the confidence to use Harajuku and Danger and use this palette to its full potential. This palette is so Gwen, and I love it. The nudes pair perfectly with her lipsticks and blushes. Honestly, I feel that anything is possible with this collection and the looks are endless. I feel that the pops of colour can be used to make a bold statements against all of the nudes.

I know it's pricey, but if you have the spare change then be "more impulsive" and treat yourself to this stunner. You won't regret it.


- B xo