Petal to the Metal // Smashbox + Vlada Rosemantic Highlighter

If you're a beauty junkie, I'm sure you would have seen the STUNNING Smashbox + Vlada collection making the rounds. The packaging of this collection is absolutely beautiful, and I think the collection is just so well thought out. The rose and rose gold theme permeates through the colours of the products, the packaging and of course the stunning embossing (if that's what you call it) on the powders. The highlights especially called out to me (and they are completely sold out at Mecca - oops!) and they truly looked like a gorgeous collector's item! While I wasn't planning on getting anything for myself, a few of my lovely friends got me the Petal Metal Highlighter in Rosemantic for my birthday. I am so grateful - it's such a special item and one I'll certainly treasure! The duochrome shade Prismatic Petal also looked super unique, but upon closer inspection it was actually very glittery and almost had a green-ish shift to it. I'm glad my pals got me Rosemantic as it's much more wearable and one they knew I'd get use out of!

ColourPop Reviews #3

It kinda feels like Colourpop is the only makeup I'm buying right now - as evidenced by the fact that I just made another massive order last week. What can I say, I am loving them right now! Honestly they cannot be beat in terms of affordability, product quality and product range. They really do offer very good quality, trendy products in a huge range for very low prices. Not to mention the fact that they are constantly having sales and release a new product what seems like every other day. All of that combined means I just can't resist making orders all over the place! That being said, was I the only person to notice they increased the prices of the Ultra Mattes and Satins by 50c?? Petty I know, but dang Colourpop why u do. Anyway I made a couple of orders at the end of last year, and I've had enough play time to write some reviews! Check out my other Colourpop reviews here, here and here.

NARS Love Triangle // Hot Sand + Rita

Hey guys - I hope everyone is doing well as we ramp up for Christmas! I'm pretty hectic busy working those gruelling Christmas shopping shifts, and I still need to finish Christmas shopping myself (oops!). This will probably be my last post for..this year?? Maybe? I will be taking a bit of a break next week as I hang out with the fam, and we are going camping for a couple of days which should be fun! Today I'm reviewing a holiday release from this year, the NARS x Man Ray Love Triangle in Hot Sand and Rita. Unfortunately this is sold out online at Mecca - but neither of these are limited edition shades. The Audacious Lipstick in Rita is available permanently and Hot Sand is a highlighter shade that pops up pretty frequently. It seems to be available permanently in the US, but unfortunately not at Mecca!

Anastasia Beverly Hills x Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit

I know I am really late on the bandwagon for reviewing the Anastasia Beverly Hills Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit (I mean, everyone's long gone on the Fenty highlighter train by now!), but I did really want to do a full review on it! I do apologise for my lateness though, because it seems now that this highlighter palette is sold out almost everywhere...eek! I'm not completely sure what the status on it is, from what I heard - it's flip flopped from limited edition, to permanent, back to limited edition, and I'm really not sure if it's coming back! Part of the reason why I delayed this review for so long (besides my laziness) is because it took me a while to make my mind up about it! I do have some mixed thoughts...

Spring Strobing

I always seem to be a little late on the hottest trends, and the "colour shifty highlights" trend was no exception. Despite the fact that these might not be in fashion any more, I'm glad I waited out the hype to purchase the Zoeva Spring Spectrum Highlighting Palette. I was most wary of how "unwearable" colourful highlighters would be, but thankfully - Zoeva's palette is pretty wearable! It contains four shades, and from what I hear, is a really great, cheaper alternative to the Kat Von D Alchemist palette!

Flashin' Those Pearly Lights

Remember how I said I was content with my highlighter collection...? Whelp - here I am with a brand new one to add to the stash (aaaand I also got the Anastasia Beverly Hills x Nicole Guerriero palette haha :P )! To be fair though, my lovely friends Lucy and Jacinta (shoutouts!) gave this to me for my birthday, so it's really not my fault that they're feeding my addiction... The highlighter palette in question is the collaboration between Smashbox and Casey Holmes - the Spotlight Palette in Pearl. This wasn't one that really caught my attention very much, but I'm actually really liking it so big ups to ma mates. Also do ya like the title, pearly lights...pearly whites? Geddit?

In the Spotlight // Highlighters

I have another In the Spotlight post coming at you today, only this time we're literally in the spotlight as we take a look at my highlighter collection! It's about to get LOUIS LITT up in here! I've been meaning to do this post for a while and I think I'm pretty happy with my current collection. The Anastasia Beverly Hills x Nicole Glow Kit is calling my name though... but alas, here we are at the moment! I've tried to organise them by colour family for best comparison. I'll also try to be brief but we could be in for a long one!

Light Those Cheeks Up

Can't quite believe it's only a few days until Christmas but alas, here we are! While I didn't go ham with the holiday releases this year, one product that majorly stood out to me was the Smashbox Light It Up L.A. Lights Palette. This is my first product from Smashbox and it's definitely a brand I want to explore more (HEllooo Covershot eyeshadow palettes!). This palette contains nine face powders - a mix of blushes, highlighters and a bronzer - and is absolutely incredible value for money!  It contains almost 40g of product for a mere $57. That is like CRAZY good. Anyway - I'm here today to give you the full rundown on the palette! I probably left this a little late (sorry!) but maybe you guys need a last minute gift idea?? It seems to be out of stock online at the moment ( :( ) but you may still be able to find it instore at Mecca!

In The Spotlight // MAC Cosmetics

I'm resurrecting a somewhat "old" series today, and coming at you with a brand spotlight post! I haven't done one of these in a while and I'm not sure why because I still have a lot of brands in my collection that I need to go through and document! Anyway, today I'll be walking you through my MAC collection. MAC is probably the brand you think of when you think of makeup. It's arguably the brand with the widest range of products and shades, and one that I'm sure all of us have had an obsession with at some stage. It was only when I was pooling together my MAC products for this post that I realised I actually have quite a few of their products, but there are only a few that I use really often! Like most brands, there are products that I love and hate from them!

New In // Rimmel London

One of my favourite drugstore brands, Rimmel, has been on FIYAH lately with their new releases! The past couple of months has seen the launch of a new lipstick line, lip liner shades, cream shadow sticks, a tinted primer and a contour kit! I've been lucky enough to have been sent some of the new goodies and have been testing them out quite a bit! Keep reading to hear my thoughts...

Pop the Champers!

Apparently I've been feeling quite "pop-y" on the cheeks lately! Rather unintentional as I've been meaning to write this review for YONKS. I even questioned whether or not I should even write a review on this product since it's been SO hyped up and practically everyone and their mother already owns it. The product in question is, of course, the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop, a collaboration with Jaclyn Hill. I acquired this a few months ago from Sephora au as soon as it launched. I'd been hanging out for this highlighter pretty much since Jaclyn announced her collaboration. It created so much hype and instantly became THE hottest product of the year. I had hope then that it would be made permanent (so I could eventually get my hands on it) and as I predicted - it has been! (gotta keep milkin' that money makin' machine ayyy). Anyway, I'm sure you guys are all sick of hearing about this, and have long since moved onto newer, shinier highlighters, but I thought I'd throw in my two cents (or sixty dollars)!

One Shocking Moment

Holy wow Christmas is so soon and everyone's busting out their gift guides while I'm just here buying gifts for myself. wuuUTT WUUT. Anyway, I have to say the Holiday releases this year were pretty great, you can read about my picks here. I feel like the hype has sort of died down and hopefully everything hasn't sold out. I thought I would finally write up my review of the NARS x Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Studio Palette. Hopefully this review isn't redundant seeing as most people have seen/heard a bunch about this palette or...they own it, and you guys know I already love it but what da heck, this guy deserves a post all to himself!

The Little Black Book of Bronzers

I've come a long way since first getting into makeup three years ago, who woulda thought that me of all people would buy an entire palette dedicated to bronzers?!? I used to think that they were used to make you look more "tan", but I've since learned that bronzer can add so much dimension, warmth and LIFE to the face! I can't go a day without it now! Though, a whole palette of 'em still seems pretty excessive hey? Keep reading to find out my thoughts on the Too Faced The Little Black Book of Bronzers...

In the Spotlight // Crop's Cosmetics

Crop Natural Skincare* is a relatively new brand that came out with a small range of skincare a little while ago, and just recently launched their makeup line! Crop is a natural brand with no nasties like parabens, mineral oil, petrochemicals, etc. It's suitable for sensitive skin and doesn't test on animals! The whole ethos behind the brand is very admirable and you can read more about it on their website! I was very generously sent almost the whole range of makeup (thank you so much Crop!) and have been testing them out for the past few weeks. Before I get into the reviews, I do want to mention the packaging! It's lovely and minimal and looks quite classy - I'm into it. Oh and, unfortunately I couldn't really test the liquid foundation or brow pencil as they are the wrong shades for me! I will try and keep this post concise and I've split the products up into recommendations, 'eh' products and ones that I wouldn't recommend, so keep reading for my thoughts!

Souff-laying at the Beach

Not gonna lie, I'm pretty proud of that title. APPRECIATE THE PUNNINESS. Aaaaanyway, back to the actual purpose of this post - I'm here to review the Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Soufflé in the shade Watermelon/Moonstone. This isn't the most hyped up product ever, but I'd definitely read and seen some really good reviews. That and, Becca is basically known for their cheek products! The product itself is quite unique, so keep reading to see how I went with it!

In the Spotlight // ColourPop

ColourPop has been the brand on everybody's lips right now (literally, and figuratively). They have gained so much traction being an affordable, fun and quirky brand with a wide range of products and colours. They are also on fire with new releases! I figured I would do a brand spotlight post on all the products I have from them (so far) as opposed to individual reviews. I suspect it will be a long post, so leggo!

That Cindy Glow

When it comes to cheek products, theBalm has it down. I'm a big lover of their blushes, and of course arguably their most popular product, Mary-Lou Manizer is my favourite highlighter. It only made sense that I pick up their latest Manizer release, Cindy-Lou. I mean, she's the slightly rosier sister of Mary, what's not to love?!

AC ON TOUR

I'm sure any fellow Australians would have read their fill on the Australis Contouring & Highlighting Kit by now! This bugger has been so popular, there's an Australia wide shortage on it. It isn't, however, limited edition, so if you want it, but you ain't got it, hang tight! This sucker caught everyone's attention due to its extreme likeness to the Anastasia Contour Kit which has gotten many a rave. Since Australis is much more affordable and accessible (as a brand), it's really the perfect alternative!

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!

Sheer Sheen

If there's one thing I love besides blush on the cheeks, it's a good highlight. Though, what much else goes on the cheeks? Haha, but I do love me some glow on the cheeks, mainly because I love looking a bit healthier and more dewy. I also barely have any cheekbones, so I'll take anything I can get to make 'them' more prominent! Today I've got the Arbonne Sheer Glow Highlighter*, one thing of which I can say for sure - it lives up to its name.

Top: No highlighter, Bottom: Highlighter

The highlighter is packaged in a slim, long tube with a nozzle. The nozzle makes it easy to control how much product you squeeze out.While I like the simple, sleek and clean branding and packaging, I feel like the packaging could feel more luxe to reflect its price ($56). Perhaps a bottle with a pump? 

The texture of this highlighter is quite thin and very lightweight feeling. The actual feel is a bit harder to describe. It's not creamy per se, but it does have a slippy, sheeny feel to it (if that makes sense). Before squeezing out the product, I'd recommend shaking the tube as I find it can separate a bit. Like I said, it lives up to its name. This product is very sheer. I hope you can tell the nature of this highlighter from the photos I've taken. When blended out fully-ish (last photo), you can see it doesn't give off a crazy amount of shimmer or sheen and that was using quite a liberal amount of product. Due to its sheerness, it doesn't multitask like a lot of other liquid highlighters. Where with others you could mix in with your foundation, or apply like a primer, with this one, it's much too sheer to really have much of an effect. The sheen is too subtle and is covered/overpowered by the foundation rendering it pointless. My favourite way of using this product is dotted and tapped onto the cheekbones with my fingers. I don't rub too much as I find tapping to glean the most shine from it while still blending it. That is what I love about its texture, it's so blendable and really looks seamless on the skin. You could also apply/blend with a stippling brush but then again it sheers it out.

Arbonne states that it suits all skintones and I would tend to agree, mainly because it's so sheer it doesn't give off much colour. You can see on my hand though that it gives off the slightest pinky-silver tinge. Like I said, there's really no shimmer or glitter to be found and really, it's just pure sheen. I think its redeeming quality is that it looks so natural and dewy and pretty. It really looks like you've got nothing on but that natural glow. I really do like using this on a lot of areas of my face: cheekbones, bridge of the nose, between the brows, chin. It's so subtly beautiful and natural looking which is why I think its sheerness can be forgiven.

Now this product ain't cheap, and it really depends on what sort of person you are. I only really use this for a singular purpose and while it fulfills that purpose beautifully, I'm not sure that I could justify that much money on a single product. It's definitely a nice-to-have item. If it's the au naturel glow you're after, and you can afford to splurge, then maybe this is the highlighter to check out!

*Product was sent for consideration.