Budget Beauty Staple: Revlon Colourstay Foundation

 

If you’re anything like me, you’ve had countless attempts at foundations, the shades, types, benefits, whether it has just enough miracle unicorn dust to make your skin look passable and not like you’ve had a long night binge-watching Friends…

For me, the one that has stood out was the Revlon Colourstay Foundation in Combination/Oily. This was the first proper foundation I ever used as a young lass, well the first that ever matched perfectly.

My usual shade is Sand Beige which matches seamlessly when my skin is its normal pigment. When it turns a bit cooler and I stay inside more with a cup of tea and my Netflix account, my skin is a fraction too light for this shade and I have one in a shade lighter, Buff.

Top: Sand Beige Bottom: Buff

The application of this product is very smooth, never cakey, and makes even my wild combination skin look nice and evenly toned.  I only need one pump at a time to get a good medium coverage, enough to cover blemishes and prominent freckles, but light enough to look like a second skin. You have to work fast, as when this foundation sets it stays, supposedly 24 hours long according to the packaging.

I’ve been using this foundation for 4 years, and it never does me wrong. One 30ml bottle normally lasts me about 6 months, and at $25 a pop it’s a total bargain.

If you’re looking for a foundation that does the job you want, without the hit to your bank account, give this little gem a try today!

 

Holy Grail Palette: Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance

Can you pick my most used shades?

You’d have to be living under a rock with zero Wifi connection to not have heard about this legendary eyeshadow palette. Now let me tell you, I myself was reluctant to purchase it, simply because it was $59.80 in AUD  from Beautylish.

However, dear readers, if you learn one thing from me it should be this: it’s okay to splurge on expensive makeup if you know it’s going to last you a long time (of course also if you feel like it but okay for your bank account you feel me).

Despite my bank account copping a hit, I am 100% glad I purchased the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette. One thing you must know about me is that I love warm, neutral shades. I love autumn simply for the vibrant reds, oranges, yellows and browns and this palette is basically autumn in a palette.

 

The brush that is supplied with the palette is decent in its own regard, with a blending brush on one end and a base colour brush on the opposite end. I find myself using the blending brush for my transition shade simply because it doesn’t produce a heavy indent and leaves a natural, blended finish. The base colour shader is also good for applying a shimmery shade to the centre of the eyelid.

From a quick swatch, it’s easy to see how pigmented these eyeshadows are. And I don’t know about you, but a good pigment makes me so happy. (I may be guilty of showing the nearest person my swatches and yelling “LOOK AT THAT PIGMENT!”)

 

From Left to Right: Realgar, Warm Taupe, Venetian Red, Red Ochre, Primavera, Burnt Orange, Raw Sienna, Cyprus Umber, Love Letter, Antique Bronze, Buon Fresco, Vermeer, Golden Ochre, Tempera

The above image was a swatch of all the shades using no primer and one swipe. From this example alone, you can see how little product you need and how vibrant the colours are. There are so many possibilities from a simple everyday look to a bold cut crease and everything in between. I’m more a matte finish kind of girl, however, the shimmery shades in this palette are so luscious I find myself reaching to them as well.

You know how when you buy an eyeshadow palette there’s always a few shades that you just know you’ll never use but you buy it for that cute soft pink or red shade. When it comes to shades I am fussy as hell, and not one of these shades do I immediately think will be left intact.

However, I must say, my all time fave has to be Red Ochre, simply because I love a soft romantic eye look. This shade is so versatile, you can blend it out in the crease to your heart’s desire or use it as a base shade for a warm smokey eye.

And yes I’ve got to say it…

 

LOOK AT THAT PIGMENT!

I definitely recommend the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette as your next “treat yo self” purchase. You won’t be disappointed.

Catch you all later!

-Bec

Review: Time Balm Primer by theBalm

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned. (I wish theBalm is my favourite.) 

You’ve heard it all before folks, not to prime is a crime! All the beauty gurus aren’t wrong, a good primer can make all the difference in creating that fabulous, flawless skin.

A current favourite of mine is Time Balm from theBalm cosmetics. The formula is silky under the fingertips and is so lightweight it melts into the skin so nicely.

This product will make you want to touch your face all over after discovering it’s satysfyingly smooth texture.

I’ve always found that a little goes a long way, only a small drop is needed to cover the entire face evenly.

Price wise this one is a little on the steep side, at $34.95 AUD, however, it lasts for months. I purchased mine in February from myQT and I’m still using this bottle. If you are from Australia you can also purchase Time Balm from David Jones or myQT and other countries such as the United States can find it directly from theBalm’s website.

What is your favourite primer? Let me know, I’m keen to test some new products out.

Catch you later

-Bec

Ello ello!

I know, I know. Another beauty blog? Don’t we have a thousand too many of these?

Wrong, my dear reader.

For starters, every person who wishes to share their knowledge is awesome. We’ve all been guilty of being confused about new trends. A cut crease? Is that a type of sandwich? And low and behold, there’s a tutorial for that and soon I too can cut glass with my killer cut crease.

I hope to bring a new perspective to the beauty world, a no fuss, no BS approach to the ins and outs of all things beauty. I’ll advise you against my mistakes, like that time I spent a ridiculous amount of money on a foundation that had the consistency of lead paint (however there’s nothing wrong with a “treat yo self” moment and splurging on that full coverage foundation you can’t stop thinking about) and other fail stories. I’ll also give you some dupes from drugstore makeup brands so you can still afford to eat this week and have a highlight glowing to the gods.

So I hope you stick around and see how this all goes!

Catch you later

– Bec