Daily Face #2

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation 103 True Ivory,
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer 10 Light,
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder 003 Peach Glow, Max Factor High Definition Mascara Rich Black, Maybelline Colour Tattoo Bad to the Bronze, Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick 103, Elf Cream Blush Heart Breaker.

I've been wearing some pretty minimal, quick to apply make up recently due to being very busy with Uni work! Here's some of the products I've been enjoying and is pretty much all I've reached for, for the past week or so.

Although I didn't think to highly of it to start with, Rimmel's Match Perfection Foundation has pleasantly surprised me. It's medium coverage, easily blendable and really does develop to match your skin tone. It has a very dewy finish which for oil skin gals like myself isn't great, but it's nothing a bit of Rimmel's Matte Powder can't fix! I then cover up any imperfections with Maybelline's Fit Me concealer. I keep eyes simple with a quick swipe of Maybelline's 24 hour cream shadow in Bad to the Bronze and a slick of Maxfactor's High Defintion mascara. My favourite lip product of the moment is this one by Kate Moss and Rimmel, a lovely matte, rosy pink colour, think your lips but better and slightly pinker! I finish off with a bit of Elf's cream blush stippled onto the cheeks, it's not the most long lasting product but I love the nautral glow it gives me!

There's some of my favourite products at the moment, I'd love to hear some of yours!

Maybelline Colour Tattoo

35 Tough as Taupe- 45 Bold Gold- 25 Bad to the Bronze

Cream products seem to be having a bit of a 'moment' in the beauty blogging world as of late, with blushes and eye shadows claiming the most popularity. I was excited to get involved in the 'cream trend' so on a recent trip to Priceline (where Maybelline products where on a 3 for 2 offer), I couldn't resist picking up some of these Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadows. These were all the buzz towards the end of last year/beginning of these year, so yes, I am a bit late! But I thought I would still share my thoughts with you, as these are quite the drugstore gem.



Tough as Taupe

Bold Gold

Bad to the Bronze

 As you can see from the pictures above, I picked up three shades; Tough as Taupe- a dark matte taupe, Bold Gold- a glittery light gold and Bad to the Bronze- a shimmery light brown. I really like all these shades and think they are great as either a base or just a sweep of colour for those lazy days. I like to apply these with my finger, as I find the warmth makes them easier to work with. I simply swirl my finger around in the pot then pat onto my eyelid and blend.

These are super easy to apply but I do find you have to work quite fast because they dry really quickly. On application they are creamy and smooth but once dry, they become quite tacky and don't really budge.  They last really well- not sure about 24 hours as I never leave my make up on for that long, but they definitely last all day. They don't crease and aren't at all heavy on the eyelids.

I've been loving wearing Tough as Taupe blended all over the lid as it really helps define the eye but still looks natural given its matte finish. Bad to the Bronze is great for all over the lids too if you're looking for a bit more shimmer, and Bold Gold I prefer to use as a base for powder shadows. It leaves a nice smooth canvas for powder to be applied to.

 

I've really enjoyed using these cream eyeshadows and would definitely recommend checking them out before splurging on a high end alternative! They are currently $11.95 at Priceline and on a 3 for 2 offer.

 

Have you tried these eyeshadows? Do you love them like I do, or is there another brands version that you prefer? I'd love to hear your thoughts!



Wishlist #3: Beauty Reads

As much as I love reading blogs and watching YouTube videos, I still find myself wanting more beauty in my life! There are some beauty books and magazines I've been after for quite some time now so I thought I would share them with you all. Let me know if you've read any and which ones you recommend!

Allure Magazine

I always find myself flicking straight to the beauty sections in magazines like Cosmopolitan and wishing there was more there! If you're like me, then consider this gap in the magazine world sorted. Allure magazine is produced in America and based purely on beauty. It's one of the first of its kind and I can't wait to get my hands on it. It can be quite pricey getting a hard copy (available on Newsstand here) but you can get an electronic copy from Zinio here, for only a fraction of the price. Money and space saving in one!

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone From Beginner to Pro

This book looks great for learning about how to apply makeup, including techniques and also heaps of looks to try. Bobbi Brown has a very successful beauty line so I think there would be heaps to learn from this book!

Amazing Face- Zoe Foster

Zoe Foster has been a journalist for many magazines including Cosmopolitan and Harper's Bazaar, working as a Beauty editor for both, so she would be pretty clued up about all things beauty.  After flicking through her book in a book shop I really want to get my hands on it! It's got heaps of beauty tips and I love the lay it, it looks so reader friendly!

So there's a couple of the beauty reads I want to get my hands on in the very (very) near future. I'd love to here any recommendations you have for some more, so please leave them in the comments below, or tweet me (@annablush_)! 

 

Nudey Nails

Nude polishes seem to be all the rage at the moment, helping achieve that chic, polished and looked after look without being too offensive.  Along with nudes, high shine finishes are pretty damn popular at the moment, with the 'recent-ish' release of Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine range which seem to have taken over the UK beauty blogging world (when will Barry M be available in Australia!?). This has left me hunting a polish that fits into both trends, high in shine and naturally nude, and I think I may have found just the thing.

Introducing Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure polish in the shade 220 Cafe Au Lait. This range claims to be '7-in-1'; base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, salon-inspired colour, top coat, chip-resistance and a gel finish. These are some pretty big claims but I have to say, I'm very impressed. I found this polish super easy to apply (in the picture about I'm wearing 3 thin coats although you could probably get away with 2) and it didn't take very long to dry at all. I also really loved the finish, there's definitely no need to apply a top coat to achieve shine with this one.

Overall, I'm very impressed and can't wait to try out some different colours from this range. But for now, this is definitely my 'go to nude'!

Pamper Weekend #1

It's no secret that I love a bit of a pamper just as much as the next girl (if not more!). I love to take some time over the weekend to relax with my hair up in a mask- fuelled top knot and another mask slathered on my face. Here's the products I reached for this weekend. 

Tresemme Thermal Recovery Shampoo, S&G The Righteous Butter, EH Amazing Face, Tresemme Thermal Recovery Masque, Formula 10.0.6 Oil Absorbing Mud Mask, L'Oreal Hydrafresh Anti-Shine Icy Gel

Tresemme Thermal Recovery Shampoo
I've been using this for shampoo for quite awhile now. It smells good and leaves my hair feeling nice and soft. Not one to write home about, but it does the job!

Tresemme Thermal Recovery Masque
I've only used this one a few times but it hasn't really blown me away- I find that I need to use a lot to see a result. I use this on washed, wet hair, spreading it through the lengths of my hair, concentrating on the ends. I leave it in for about 15 minutes, piled up in a top knot. The packaging says to leave it on for 3-5 minutes, but I think it works better when left on that bit longer. I wouldn't say I like it as much as this mask by John Frieda, but I'll still use it all!

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm
Love, love, love this cleanser! I've done a full review, which you can see here, so I won't say too much but basically it leaves my skin feeling clean, fresh and plumped. I massage it in for about 2 minutes to give my face a deep cleanse before applying a mask.

Formula 10.0.6 Oil-Absorbing Mud Mask
I picked up two sachets of this mask recently for $1.99 to try out. They are a really generous size, almost too much for a single use. I'd definitely recommend picking up some of these before investing in the full size! This is a nice mask, it doesn't leave my skin feeling tight, like some clay based masks can, it is instead left feeling soft. Unfortunately I haven't noticed any long-term reductions in oil, which is a shame, but that could be because I've only used it twice! I leave it on for about 10 minutes before removing with warm water and a muslin cloth.

L'Oreal Hydrafresh
I picked this up in Hong Kong airport simply just to use up my left over Hong Kong money and I'm really glad I did. It's a really nice gel texture moisturiser that smooths really nicely over my skin. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated but in no way oily. I don't think it has much of an 'icy' effect, but it definitely feels fresh.

Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter
I love the smell of Soap and Glory products and this one is no exception. It's very sweet, so make sure to have a whiff before purchasing in case it's not quite your cup of tea! I use this all over and it leaves my skin feeling moisturised and smelling yummy. I also really like that it doesn't take very long to sink in- no sticky residue!

What are some of your favourite pamper time products? I'd love to hear about them!

And don't forget, Google Reader will be soon shutting down, so if you'd still like to follow me you can do so on Bloglovin'!

Review: L'Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil

 The newest trend in the hair world seems to be oils, first kicked off by Moroccan Oil and now filtering down into more purse friendly brands (luckily!) such as L'Oreal. They can be used as a pre-wash treatment, for a deep condition after washing but before styling or as a finishing touch for dried hair to enhance shine. So with so many hair oils on the market, how does L'Oreal's Extraordinary Oil stand up?

Starting with packaging. The sleek, all glass bottle feels much more luxurious than its £9.99/ $19.99 price tag which I like, but isn't really great for travel. The packaging is quite bulky for only 100ml of product, but I like the way it looks and feels so I'm happy! The pump is also really handy to make things not so messy. It's doing well so far.

So as much as I love the packaging, it's what's on the inside that counts right? Luckily it doesn't disappoint there either! I like to use this oil either on wet hair after washing it if I'm leaving it to dry naturally, or after styling to tame any frizz. It's nice and light meaning it doesn't weigh my hair down and doesn't leave it looking greasy. Just be sure to only apply to the lengths of your hair, as with all hair oils, avoid your roots! It smells quite pleasant on application but isn't a strong scent that sticks around. You only need a tiny amount, I use barely even a full pump, rub between my fingers and then smooth through the lengths of my hair. It leaves my hair glossy, shiny and frizz free!

Overall, it's a winner. I haven't ventured into high end hair oils and after this one, I don't think I will be. I've been using this for probably more than 3 months now, and I'm only a quarter of the way through- that seems pretty good to me! There's also a version for coloured hair which is great for those gals. 

Let me know if you've tried this hair oil and how you got on, or if you've got another one which is your favourite!

Wishlist #2

Some more products I've been lusting over, I very small collection compared to the full list!

1. Alpha- H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid: This one was big in the blogging world a little while back but wasn't really something I wanted to use on my skin at the time. But now, since it's calmed down a bit (thanks to Emma Hardie, see the post here), I think my skin needs something like this to help with the marks left behind by problematic pimples. It's basically a chemical exfoliator, which sounds scary I know, but I've read heaps of reviews shouting it's praise, so I really want to give it a go!

2. Hoola Box Bronzer by Benefit: I'm really seeking a nice matte bronzer and have heard that this is one of the best ones around! I also really want to give some Benefit products ago, so think this could be a nice starting point!

3. Jouer Matte Moisture Tint: I've been wanting to delve into the tinted moisturiser trend for quite some time now, but given my very oily skin type, I've never managed to find one that won't just make my skin look super oily. However, I think I may have found the product for me! I've heard great things about the brand Jouer, and this tinted moisturiser in particular. It's also on a special offer on Cult Beauty at the moment, so I might have to pick it up and bag myself a freebie too!

4. Origin's Out of Trouble Face Mask: Origin's is a bit of a holy grail skin care brand in the beauty world and this mask caught my eye. Origin's says it's aimed to 'sop up oily-shine, slough off sticky, dead cells and sweep away irksome debris'. Sounds like my kind of mask.

5. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Body Scrub: I'm a big fan of Palmer's moisturisers, and need a new body scrub so think I'll give this one a go. I've heard it smells super yummy too, so that's always a bonus! 

That's them all.. for now! I've noticed that in both my Wishlist posts I've featured a yummy smelling body scrub.. slight addiction maybe? I'd love to hear if you have any others you'd recommend!