Empties #13

Hellloooo... is this thing on?! Long time no see peeps! I'm back from my longer-than-intended hiatus! The past month or so has been absolutely hectic for me and I seriously had no time to even think about blogging, let alone actually taking photos or sitting down and writing a post! I've been absolutely slammed with assessment (it's been my biggest first half of semester ever), not to mention it was my sister's wedding on the weekend! It was a very DIY wedding so the days leading up to the wedding were super busy setting up the decor and the venue (and then cleaning up after!). I did her makeup on the day - along with mine and my other sister as we were bridesmaids - which was quite stressful but still super amazing! I do plan on doing a post on the products I used because I was really happy with how it turned out - I'm just waiting until the professional photos come in! Anyway, I'm coming at you today with an overdue empties post. I was going to do this a few weeks ago but I realised I didn't actually have a lot of empties, but a lot of things were aaaalmost finished so I used those suckers up! I've got a lot of products to go through so I'll try and be as brief as possible!

Skincare // Current Cleansers

It's been a while since I've outlined any sort of skincare routine on the blog, so over the next few weeks I'll be going over all the skincare I use day and night! Now, I use a lot of cleansers. So much so that if I were to put these in my day/night routine posts, they would be so long! So, I'm dedicating an entire post to them. I'll be sharing with you the products that I use to remove my makeup, cleanse and exfoliate my skin!

Obsession 2015 Blogger Event

Hey guys! As you may have seen from Instagram and the like, this past weekend was the first beauty blogger event in Brisbane; Obsession 2015! I was extremely lucky to attend, and I thought I would do a post on my experience, and also the ma-HOO-ssive goody bag(s) we were fortunate enough to receive! Please don't take this as bragging, guys! I just thought it would be fun to share what we got, and if you spot anything in particular you would like to see reviewed, please let me know! I'm pretty much going on an unofficial spending ban because LAWD knows, I have enough skin/hair/bodycare to last me the next year + lel.

The Best of 2014 // Makeup

Kiddies, it's time for the big 'un. The pinnacle and summation of 2014, documented in makeup products. I didn't want to make this post too long, and really tried to pick the products I used and loved most throughout 2014. I also didn't want to repeat anything from 2013's favourites, so products like the Dolly Wink Eyebrow Powder or Lorac Pro Palette which I used and loved immensely, haven't been included. Speaking of 2013's faves, looking back, while a lot I still like, others I've completely ignored. Funny how opinions change! Also, APOLOGIES for the slightly grainy/off photos, the weather was shitty this day, and I had to edit the crap out of them! BUT anyways, I've done reviews for most of the products, so they'll be linked where applicable!

In the Glamazon

As you may know, through numerous mentions on the blog, I have terrible cheekbones. Not only are they not very prominent, but they're also quite low down on my face. Le sigh, I will forever be jealous of the glorious cheekbones owned by Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston. One product however that has been helping me achieve the cheekbones of your average joe (which is no mean feat in itself) is the Face of Australia GLAMAZON Contour & Highlight Kit in Leopardess. Reowrrr. 

L-R: Contour shade, Highlight shade

The packaging is a tad bulky, a bit thicker than need be, but there's no unnecessary brush or extra, wasted space. The compact clicks shut securely and even though leopard print can be quite tacky (IMO), I actually quite like it on this packaging. I think it's quite classy with the simple branding at the bottom. Not too shabs.

The powders themselves aren't too shabs either, and pretty amazing for a measly $9.95! Their texture is quite soft, but they don't kick up too much powder. The pigmentation varies between shades. The contour colour actually is rather pigmented, but not overly so which, when it comes to a contouring shade, is quite good! It's a little sheerer in a finger swatch but is much more potent when used with a brush. It's easy to build up to your desired opacity and due to it's slight sheerness it is easily blended, looking natural and effortless. The highlighter has a similar formula, if not slightly more pigmented. The shimmer isn't over the top, nor is it glittery or gritty. It gives a lovely glow, as a good highlighter should!

The contour shade has surprisingly become a staple in my collection. The actual colour of it is pretty much perfect for creating a natural shadow. It's cool-toned, yet not overly so that it appears grey, or dirty looking (provided you don't overdo it). It's also not too dark, nor too light, so I think it would suit a variety of skintones, building it up gradually. When used just below the cheekbone it really mimics a natural shadow and brings out what little cheekbone I have! The highlighter is also quite a natural shade, for my skintone that is. It's a bit more of a beige-y champagne that's not too gold or garish, quite simply a pretty glow!

If you couldn't tell, I really love this little duo. Not only are the formulas impressive, but the shades are appropriate for many skintones and give off a lovely, natural effect. This kit was limited edition, however it's still listed on the website so you may be able to find it at Priceline, Kmart and other Face of Australia stockists!

Monthly Favourites // September 2014

Yes indeedy, it's the end of September, and that scares me. My university course preferences are officially in - there's no more running from my future (or lack thereof)! Pretty soon I'll be out of high school and forced to face the real world...and I ain't ready. So instead...let's talk favourites ay? I don't have too many this month, mainly because I haven't bought new makeup/stuff in ages (yay me) so I didn't have many new things to try. However, there are a few things here that I haven't mentioned on the blog before!

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
A full review of this is on the way, but as you can see, I've already hit pan on the stuff - say whaaat?! I'll be honest, I do feel like I'm going through this quite quickly, and I don't even use it every night. Most times I do use it, I double cleanse. I really like it and I guess you could say it's my first foray into proper balm cleansers. It removes makeup super well and definitely cleanses the skin - though I always do a double cleanse - with a face cloth. It thins out to a bit of an oily texture, however it doesn't leave the skin feeling oily at all. Meaning, it doesn't make my skin feel hydrated after, but it's definitely not dry at all. Regardless, a really awesome cleansing and makeup removing product!

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner*
Aah yep, this guy's making a return! Since I finished up my FAB Facial Radiance Pads, I've switched back to this chemically exfoliating toner. I can't say which I like better, they do pretty much the same thing. Clearer complexion, smoother skin texture and overall better looking skin is what this guy'll get you!

NAT. Vitamin C Serum*
My last post was a review on this so I won't ramble, but basically I've been using this everyday as my morning time serum and it's awesome. Super hydrating, sits well under makeup despite being an oil and I've definitely noticed a difference in my skin tone. Good stuff.

theBalm Balm Jovi Rockstar Face Palette
I've mentioned this product countless times on the blog, though mostly for the two cheek products. This month however, I've been enjoying the eyeshadows! As I mentioned, I went away for a week down to Melbourne and I took this palette with me (it's super compact and awesome for travel). The eyeshadows served me well. It contains a variety of different finishes (shimmer and matte) and shades (neutral and slight colours). The textures are pretty awesome too - pigmented and very easily blended.

Face of Australia GLAMAZON Contour & Highlight Kit in Leopardess 
Sadly this little duo was limited edition - there may still be a few floating around though! I was planning to do a review but it slipped my mind, do let me know if you'd still like to read it! Basically the contour shade in this is da bomb. Yes I just wrote da bomb. It's cool-toned, dark - but not too dark, smooth and blendable. It's also actually not too heavily pigmented, making it easy to apply just the right amount to get a lurvely shadow. Definitely my new favourite contouring shade, and I totally look like I have some cheekbone-age (sadly not Cumberbatch level). The highlighter is really pretty too!

Benefit They're Real Mascara
I finally got around to using my sample size on my trip to Melbs (I still have too many unopened AND opened mascaras...sigh) and must say, was initially unimpressed! The first time I used it, it smudged after two hours...TWO HOURS. That is a short amount of time my friends. However, on subsequent uses, I made sure to powder under my eyes well, and it lasted much better. It only smudged a little towards the end of the day. Anyways, I really like the brush - it grabs onto my (very few) lashes and does lengthen and give good volume. It even helps pump 'em up a bit even if I haven't curled my lashes, making them somewhat noticeable. Definitely one of the more 'dramatic' mascaras I've used and does quite a lot with my really sucky eyelashes.

Cuponation
Y'all probably know by now that I am a bargain hunter, I shop dem sales and hold off buying things until they go on sale (I'm very stingy). I thought I'd mention a site I recently came across that basically puts together sales, deals and coupon codes in one place. The site is called Cuponation, and has offers on beauty places like Priceline and Beautybay, as well as heaps of other categories like fashion! It's super convenient and a site I'll be looking at to check for all the deals without having to rifle through individual sites/catalogues.

Broods

I do have a music favourite this month, and it is the brother-sister duo from New Zealand called Broods! They do have quite a Lorde-y feel to them (they have the same producer) but regardless, they've created some really awesome music. Like really awesome. I've been listening to them on repeat for the last month. They make for really great study music and seriously I'm still not sick of them. Some of my favourites are Evergreen, Superstar, Mother & Father, Never Gonna Change and Coattails - I know that's a lot, but seriously I love every song. Also I'm so sad that I won't be able to go to their concert here, since it's 18+, but HOW IRONIC because I'll be in New Zealand when they're here. 

September faves done and dusted - what have been your favourites this month?

*Products sent for consideration. 

This post contains some sponsored content. For more information, please read my Disclaimer.

Disappointing Products #2 // Lips

Sorry to put a damper on your day peeps, but I'm back at it with the disappointing products! You can check out the first installment here, but today, it's all about the lips. I didn't intend on featuring so many lip products, but it just so happens that because I have so many, I'm very easily disappointed! Like last time, there are a few hyped up products in here...but hear me out!

MAC Lip Conditioner

In my review of this, I pretty much detailed my dislike of it. To sum it up, I basically felt like this barely nourished my lips at all. I felt like I was constantly reapplying because it would sink in super quickly, but my lips didn't feel much more hydrated. To top it off, I'm fairly certain this gave me a lip rash!

EOS Lemon Drop with SPF 15

Now I really did love the Summer Fruit flavour when I used it, however there is just something off about the Lemon Drop one. It doesn't feel overly moisturising (it's okay), but the kicker is that it almost feels a bit gritty? Like the balm itself doesn't feel completely smooth, which is such a shame because this is the only one with SPF in! Also, not the hugest fan of the Sweet Mint one either.

Nuxe Reve de Miel

I've already done a full review of this so do have a read, I explain my disappointed-ness quite explicitly there! Basically I feel like the formula is very thick and doesn't actually absorb into the lips but more so sits on top and almost sets over the lips, creating a layer or film. Said film then needs to be scrubbed off the next morning. Annoying, and it didn't even make my lips feel uh-mazing.

Kit Cheek & Lip Tint

I didn't really have high hopes for this anyways (it was a hand-me-down from my sister), but especially on the lips - it really sucks. At first application, it looks pretty dece! Goes on well, gives a nice berry stained look. But then, it absorbs - like really quickly - and the colour pretty much disappears. I layer it and layer it, each time the colour gets patchy, sheer and eventually my lips shrivel up like a dry, pale sultana. Beautiful imagery, I know.

Face of Australia Lip Quench Moisturising Lipstick in Lychee Crush

My distaste of this lipstick has been well documented here on da blog. Let's sum it up - horrible scent, tastes foul, too creamy that it settles/bunches/looks uneven and the shade is too pale and pink for my skintone - making me look like I'm meant to be a participant of a zombie walk - you know the ones.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch

Oop - Alert! Alert! Hyped up product coming at ya! Kay, so these American/now UK Baby Lips have been so hyped up over the past few years, and I got my hands on a couple of them early last year - they featured in one of my early hauls (Wow - throwback!)! I've already given Cherry Me away - that one wasn't so bad. But Pink Punch is actually really pigmented for a tinted lip balm! Theoretically that sounds really good, but the formula is very creamy, meaning if you apply too much it can settle and gather, and if you rub your lips together, it seeps out of the lip line - yucky. The shade is a very hot, almost neon, cool-toned pink which totally clashes with my warm skin tone.

NYX Mega Shine Lip gloss in Beige

"Ahaha, worst name EVER. It's clearly PINK not beige!!!!" - Every beauty blogger ever. (had to do it). ANYways! I'm fairly certain I probably got a dud tube because mine is SO sticky and gloopy I can't stand to even apply it to my lips. It's terrible. However, when I swatch these glosses in store, they don't seem sticky at all! Plus everyone loves them for not being sticky....The shade is really pretty though. A very muted PINK shade. ;)

Rimmel Apocalips in Stellar and Celestial 

I've also mentioned a few times on the blog why I don't like these but pretty much, they are very glossy, VERY pigmented products that don't. set. down. So they stay wet on the lips, which leads to transfer central. Don't even try to eat with one of these suckers on. You will get it on your chin/teeth/general facial area. Oh, and the food you're eating.

MAC Lipglass in Frozen Lame

This was a limited edition shade, but my qualm isn't really with the shade itself. Though, it's really nothing special - pretty much clear with silver shimmer. Really though, I find the Lipglasses way too sticky for my liking, and for such an expensive price tag, not worth ma time.

Sorry if I was very rambly and hyper in this post lols, I finished my last exam for the term today (Tuesday when I'm writing this) and I'm finally freeeeee (until next term...)! So I'm feeling a little cray. Hope you guys liked this post though! Let me know your thoughts on these products! 

Haul // One Last Hurrah

Yup, I did some more shopping - oops. I went on one final shopping/movie trip for the holidays so I had to stock up on a few things before school started, and I stumbled upon some gems I'm really excited to share. I ended up seeing How to Train Your Dragon 2 (in case anyone cares), and it was adorable and sad, though I didn't cry (shocker there, amirite). Anyways, on with the rather small haul!

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

I finally picked this up! I've been wanting to try this for ages, but I was hesitant because it contains Shea Butter which is supposedly an irritant for acne prone skin. I've read my fair share of reviews though and no one seemed to have an issue, I've read only good things! This will be my first cleansing balm so I am very excited :D It was $26.95 so not the cheapest, but not crazy either.

Garnier Dark Spot Treatment Night Serum

This is a repurchase - I'm almost out of my current one. I wanted to try out another brightening serum but there actually weren't that many, and this one was on sale for $12.50 so I decided to pick it up again. I have to say I think it works, but with these kinds of products, it's always hard to tell! You can read my full review here.

Hurraw! Vanilla Bean Lip Balm

Shannon from Shaaanxo always raves about these and they actually sounded really nice. I spotted them at David Jones on clearance for $4.86 so I decided to grab one because I actually don't have any tube lip balms at the moment, and I wanted one for handbag/pencil case situation. I went for the safe choice of Vanilla Bean and it smells really lovely!

Face of Australia Contour & Highlight Kit in Leopardess

This is a limited edition kit that I normally wouldn't be drawn to (I already own the Sleek one), but what really enticed me was just how cool toned the contour shade was from swatches that I saw. It really looked like it would make an amazing contour product. Of course, it was sold out in my Priceline but I managed to nab it at Kmart. They were fully stocked, and my guess is because everything is in plastic so you can't even see the product let alone swatch it, which was probably a turnoff for most customers. Good for me though ;). The highlighter is really pretty too! It was only $9.25.

3 Concept Eyes Cream Blusher in Baby Peach

Woohooo, Asian cosmetics! My local-ish shopping centre is having major renos and heaps of new stores are opening, including a shop called W Cosmetics which basically stocks a ton of Asian brands, like a ton. The store is soooo nice too, the interiors are really nice, they have a manicure section at the back and like a sitting area, where my friends retired whilst I made my way around the store a bajillion times, swatching pretty much every product. Needless to say, the makeup geek within me was FREAKING OUT. They have brands like Etude House, Tony Moly, Shu Uemura, Jill Stuart, Dolly Wink, Clio, etc, etc. It was overwhelming to say the least. 

The 3CE section was adorable, I'd heard good things about the brand but no specifics. Their packaging is so nice, definitely reminds me of NARS but their price range is similar to L'oreal/Revlon which is exciting. The SA recommended their cream blushes which was one of the first things to catch my eye. The shade is a typical me colour but quite pastel-y and ethereal. The 20g tube only cost $16.95 which I thought was pretty good, this is legit going to last me forever! No doubt I'll be returning to this store, many, many times...

[Also, a quick happy birthday to Dan Smith from Bastille!!!  ❤]

The Lip Product Addict Tag

A few weeks ago I was tagged by the lovely Sheri to do the Lip Product Addict tag. If there's one thing that I know I am, it's a lip product addict! This tag was also created by two of my favourite youtubers - Estee and Amelia - so I really wanted to do it! Keep reading for my answers...

1. Favourite balm/treatment?

My favourite lip balm at the moment is probably the Nivea Lip Butter, this one is in the scent Vanilla & Macadamia which smells delicious. I really like this lip balm, for no particular reason other than I think it's pretty moisturising for every day and it helped out when I had itchy lips. It's not super intense though, so don't expect it to heal extremely chapped lips!

2. Best eye-catching red?

In all honesty, I really don't wear red lipstick often so I don't have many to choose from. One red that I do have that is pretty bright, relatively cool-toned as well is the Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturising Balm Stain in the shade Rock n Rouge. It's very pigmented for one of these balm stain types, it has a slight sheen to it and it does stain. Not much more I can say really!

3. Best luxury and best drugstore?

I actually didn't have a clear cut answer for this one, I don't have any crazy, ultimate, absolute favourites from either category, so I just chose two lipsticks that I really like. For drugstore, I chose the L'oreal Nutri-shine lipstick in the shade Pink Nude. The formula is similar to the Revlon Lip Butters, only better in my opinion. The colour is a really pretty nuded peachy-pink. For luxury, I chose the Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick in the shade Soft Amethyst. The formula of this lipstick is really nice - it's super pigmented, but quite moisturising and sits very comfortably on the lips. The colour is also beautiful - a super wearable purple. 

4. Best MAC lipstick?

I only have four to choose from, but I'd have to say the definite winner is MAC Morange. It's a beautiful striking red-toned orange, that is super wearable. It's bold and bright, with an amplified formula, so it is very pigmented yet not drying at all.

5. The most disappointing?

I'm going to steal Sheri's answer here, but hands down, Face of Australia Lip Quench lipstick in the shade Lychee Crush. Firstly, the colour is horrendous on my skintone. This shade was getting RAVES, and it swatched as a really pretty pale peachy-pink nude but on the lips, it made me look dead and washed out. Also, the formula is terrible. It's too creamy that it slips and slides and settles into lines and it smells terrible. The reason it looks like I've used my whole tube is because I tried to redeem it as a cream blush. It worked for a while, but it didn't last well on my cheeks. My second disappointing product is actually the Rimmel Apocalips. My review of these was probably a bit lenient but I had a bad burger-eating experience with the shade Stellar. Whilst eating it somehow got all over my face, like chin, teeth, burger - it was a mess. This was a good few hours after application too. These don't set down and stay sitting on top of the lips - easily transferable.

6. Liner - yes or no?

I'm gonna go with a straight no on this one. I just can't be bothered! I'd only ever use liner if I had a special occasion - wanted my lip to last extra long, etc, etc you know the gist. But I've really only used a liner once or twice! I do have a few of the Essence Lip Liners which I do really like - they're creamy and you could even use them on their own.

7. Best gloss?

I could have answered this with a few different products, but chose to stick to the NYX Butter Gloss of which I have in the shade Peaches and Cream. This gloss is so lovely! It feels balmy on the lips - a slight thickness but nothing sticky. Amazing pigmentation, smoothing gloss and delicious scent. What more could you ask for?

8. And something extra!

I decided to chuck in the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets, I acquired these recently and have been loving them. They are matte lip creams but don't dry like paint on the lips. They're matte but not at all drying, with a soft feel and staining effect, making them extremely long wearing. They do still transfer a little though. I have them in the shades Peach Club and Frambourjois.

L-R: Rock n Rouge, Soft Amethyst, Pink Nude, Morange, Lychee Crush, Celestial, Stellar

L-R: Peaches and Cream, Satin Mauve, Cute Pink, In the Nude, Frambourjois, Peach Club

I hope you guys enjoyed reading my answers! I tag: Vanessa (though I don't peg you as a lip product addict, yolo imma tag you anyways), Cherie, Jen, Miss Louise, Yige, Candice, Monica & Linny and anyone else who would like to do it!

Monthly Favourites // June 2014

Howdy! Favourites time again! I'm currently enjoying mid-year school holidays, which are always good because we get three weeks instead of two, but they seem to be speeding by :P. The first half of June was stressful to say the least, I had five exams spread within a week and there was little sleep to be had, and much cramming to be done. Glad to say that's over, but not looking forward to next term which is shaping up to be even more stressful...aah Grade 12...fun times. Anyway, let's crack on to the faves!

The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter

I got this travel size for my birthday and was actually really excited for it! These body butters get a lot of love in the beauty community - I've only tried one before and wasn't overly impressed, but to be fair I think it was a bit old :/ haha. This one however, I have been really enjoying! I was 'eh' about the scent to begin with, but I must say it has grown on me immensely! I actually have no idea what Moringa smells like, but it's florally, fresh and almost a bit Jasmine-y. The butter itself is lighter feeling than I thought it would be, it's been moisturising my dry winter skin really well!

Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant +

Like I said, because it's Winter, my skin has actually gotten noticeably drier, and not just on my body! I've noticed my face is a little less oily and getting a tad drier in the cheek region. This Rose hip oil has been amazing for helping moisturise my skin! I simply mix four drops in with my nighttime moisturiser and I am set with moisturised, soft and plump skin when I wake up. I've also been adding a drop to my morning moisturiser some days and it doesn't make me more oily which is great!

Puretopia Hydrating & Soothing Facial Mist & Toner

Again with the drier skin, I've been really enjoying misting this after my regular toner some days. I find it really helps moisturise, soothe and refresh my skin. It feels really lovely and I'm abiding to Caroline Hirons' whole 'double toning' thing, not that I really care that much, but it does feel really nice and moisturising.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow palette

Huzzah! Didn't I predict it? Come holiday time, whenever I go out (albeit...not often (I have such an eventful life...)) I reach for some eyeshadow, and this has been the only palette I've been using! To be fair, it's only really because I want to experiment with the shades, test out the infamous UD formula, etc. A review post will be coming with my thoughts, and although I love the selection of shades and have been using them a bunch, I'm not sure that I've been blown away with it! 

Face of Australia Blush in the shade Nutmeg

I won this in a giveaway and initially was not really into it, I will admit, the formula leaves a bit left to be desired. It's a bit sheer and not overly soft or smooth. I have been loving it though, especially in combination with the Naked 3 palette and the lip product I'll talk about next. It's like the neutral rosy blushes I've come to love - a nothing-y shade on the cheek - but slightly more of the peachy-pink variety. It has a slight shimmer but it's not overly noticeable. It just adds a tiny flush of natural colour to the cheeks which is very complimentary to a stronger eye look.

Maybelline Colour Elixir in Caramel Infused

This shade is pretty much the perfect my lips but better, and it's rosy, warm tone goes perfectly with the Naked 3 palette. The formula itself is really lovely and lives up to the hype. Glossy, yet balmy with no stickiness and good colour payoff.

Rimmel Matte BB Cream in Medium

Technically I haven't used this tube yet, but I got a sample sachet which has lasted me a good few uses! I really like the finish of this, it's not entirely matte but doesn't have any sheen or dewiness to it. It looks really natural and the coverage is pretty good for a BB cream, light but slightly buildable. The colour is a little orangey looking which was a bit concerning, but it seems to blend out really well, and ends up being a pretty good match for me! Good things on the longevity front too.

Berry Brûlée

Hi guys! I have a lip product review for you all today. I'll be featuring one of the limited edition Face of Australia Glossy Lip Crayons. They have seven shades in total, of which I have Berry Brulee. These retail for a measly AUD$4.95 so definitely some of the cheapest lip crayons on the market right now! When FOA's first lip crayons came out in the pack of three, I remember every Aussie blogger bought them, me included (not that I was a blogger back then)! That pack was probably among the first beauty things I purchased, though I never really loved the shades it included. 

The packaging is pretty similar to your typical chubby-type lip crayon product. It has a twist up mechanism and the tube is the same colour as the product inside. My only complaint is that the lid doesn't snap shut, so I'm always afraid that it might slip off. It is pretty tight though.

The formula of these does vary slightly to the original trio. I find these a quite a bit more pigmented but with slightly more of a juicy translucency.The texture is pretty much the same, except that this one is slightly more glossy. It feels balmy and very thin on the lips and almost looks like a gloss with its juicy translucency. I absolutely adore the way it feels on my lips, it is quite a bit moisturising and smooths over any dryness and doesn't accentuate flakes! It is very comfortable to wear and feels very soft, plush and emollient, almost as if it has 'melted' into my lips.With this particular shade, I find the colour to be quite buildable and you can definitely achieve somewhat of a bold lip with it, or dab it into the lips for more of a stained effect.  I find the longevity of this product to be actually pretty good! I'm not sure if it is exclusive to this shade, but I actually found it to stain my lips slightly. The product wears off well and retains its emolliency so you can blend it into the lips throughout its wear. The product does wear off in the center of the lips (like most products) with eating and will need reapplying. With light eating or drinking it lasts very well.

Berry Brulee is a gorgeous medium berry-toned purple shade that is very wearable and a shade that I am in LOVE with! I think this shade would be appropriate for all seasons as it still has a brightness fit for the warmer months and obviously the berry tone is typical for Autumn and Winter. 

Considering how affordable these are, I definitely recommend grabbing them while you can! This has honestly become one of my favourite lippies as the formula is lovely and the colour is a stunner!

Have you picked up any of these lip crayons?

Collective Haul // January 2014

Hallo people! Today I have quite the large haul to share which I've accumulated throughout January and also the end of December. The after Christmas period is the best for sales, and y'all know I love a good sale. It's a long'un...

Of course I had to pick up a few nail polishes...

Essie Marshmallow 

I found this in the clearance bin at my local Myer for only $5! This is actually a shade that I've wanted for a while - a white jelly that would work really well in combination with a lot of different glitters for a jelly sandwich. They also had a few other shades but I decided I didn't need them :P

Sportsgirl Pink and Space Jam

These were both on clearance and came down to about $2 and $3 respectively. I've already done a NOTD with Pink here. 

Ulta3 Stop the Press

This is from Ulta 3's glitterati collection from July last year and I only happened across this polish at the end of December. This was the only one I wanted from the collection so I'm super glad I found it! It's a mix of black and white matte glitters which are starting to filter down finally into mainstream brands!

Skincare stuff...

Trilogy Rosapene Day & Night Collection (Limited Edition)

I found this in my Priceline for half price which brought it down to $18. Considering the Rosehip oil alone retails for something like $30, I thought this was an excellent deal! I'm also nearing the end of my Kosmea Rosehip Oil so I'm excited to try the Antioxidant +!

Sanctuary Spa Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser

I actually bought this full price :( ($20) haha, but I realised I was in desperate need of a new cleanser. I haven't heard an awful lot about this one (some good, some bad) but - please correct me if I'm wrong - it seems to be the only Hot Cloth Cleanser available in a drugstore setting. I didn't feel like ordering online again and I do like trying new products!

Sanctuary Spa Radiance Exfoliator

I purchased this in the Priceline 40% off skincare sale so it came down to $12. I haven't tried many face scrubs and none aimed specifically at radiance, so I decided to pick this up.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

Again purchased in the 40% off sale. This is my third tube so that should speak for itself!

On to the makeup!

Stila Under the Mistletoe palette

I've already reviewed this here and if you've read it you'll know I'm not too impressed with this palette. It was only $12 so I'm not too sad but I was caught up in a whirlwind of wanting to try some Stila products!

Maybelline Fit Me concealer in shade Medium

I'm running semi-low on my concealer (I've hit considerable pan) so I thought I'd pick this concealer up. I've heard some pretty darn good things about it and it seems like everybody owns it! I payed full price ($15) for it which I'm pretty annoyed about as Maybelline goes on sale all the time but oh wells.

Benefit Go Tropi-coral Lip and Cheek kit

If you remember my wishlist, my friend bought this for me from America (thank you Yasmin!). It was about USD$30 (with tax) and actually, considering the dollar rate is actually pretty bad, I don't think I saved that much. It retails here in Australia for $40 so I probs could have bought it here but regardless I'm super happy to have it!

NYX Powder Blush in Terra Cotta

I was really excited to hear that NYX was rolling out into Targets around Aus but sadly my local Target isn't stocking it! I find that really annoying as it's pretty much a brand new Target...grrr. So anyways, I only managed to get to a stand recently. I bought this as I've heard about its similarities to NARS Lustre and also it's just a gorgeous shade! It retails for $9.95 which isn't too horrific.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr blush in Exposed

Another item Yas picked up for me. I had my heart set on either the Tarte blush palette from the holiday collection or the Stila convertible colour palette, but both were sold out. This guy was my next preference because I knew I had to try something from Tarte considering they are extremely hard to get a hold of in Aus. These blushes are raved about by anyone who has ever used them and Exposed is a popular shade that is different to my typical peachy-pinks!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in Shimmering Sand

I've seen this floating around in the clearance bin for a few months now, but finally picked it up upon seeing the $2 sticker on it. It actually rang up to a mere $1 at the till so even better! It's quite a moussey-liquid texture that is slightly glittery but overall a nice warm golden-tan shade.

Illamasqua Concealer in CC 325

I saw this at the Illamasqua counter in the sale section (which by the way had some amazing products for really good prices!) for only $6 so I decided to grab it. It's a deep brown shade that I thought I would use for cream contouring. So far, so very good, but I'll save the deets for a review!

Face of Australia Glossy Lip Crayon in Berry Brulee

After seeing a few swatches, I knew I wanted to pick up this shade from the limited edition collection of lip crayons. They retail for only $5 and Berry Brulee is a gorgeous wearable berry-purple. The formula is amazing too!

Revlon Living Lipstick in Blase Apricot

I saw - what I assume - was the whole line being clearanced at Myer for $6 a piece. I initially dismissed them on account of their old lady looking packaging, but this shade caught my eye. It's a really pretty pinky-peach with a lovely soft, creamy and pigmented formula.

Clarins Rouge Hydra Nude in Nude Caramel

I stumbled across this at Terry White for only $10. It has a formula akin to the Revlon Lip butters or L'oreal Nutri shine lipsticks. The shade is a peachy-brown nude that comes out slightly lighter that it appears in the tube.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp

Of course I had to buy this. I've heard a ton about these and this shade in particular. I'll save it all for a review! It retails for $12.95 which I thought was a bit steep...but girls gotta do...

I'm also very happy to have a Sephora bag. Teeheee :D

Non-beauty stuff!

Kikki.K Fun for Everyday set

This was reduced to $11 which is AWESOME for Kikki.K stuff! It's from the Christmas sets but the stuff inside is absolutely adorable. Inside is a notebook, cards and envelopes, two pens and two magnetic bookmarks.

Kikki.K Celebrate Today Iphone Case

If you sign up to be a Kikki.K member, you get a $10 voucher on your initial sign up and on your birthday. There's no minimum spend, only that they have to be full price. This case came down to $2.95 and I love the pastel, simple pattern. It also came with a screen protector which I was in dire need of haha.

Dusk Tropical Summer Mood Reed and Candle set

This set from Christmas was marked down to $12. I love the scent a lot. It's a fresh and crisp, slightly fruity but also sexy scent that is perfect for summer.

Phew! That was a long post! Props to you if you actually read it all! I'm planning on going on a spending ban as I'm really content with my collection right now, and I really don't desperately want anything (shocker) for now. I'm also starting to save up for a possible trip to New Zealand at the end of the year (fingers crossed!). It shouldn't be hard to stick to the ban as I'll be back at school anyway, leaving little time for shopping!