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Koni
(438 posts)
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Benefit Benetint. After using it for 5 months I still hated it but 2 years later I have to have it in my makeup stash (wish it wasn't so pricey!?). I still feel it requires a bit of effort which was one of the pain points but I have a better appreciation for tints today - which reminds me I need to update my review.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I thought I had a fair idea of the number of products going out for trial but good golly I was clearly off. I can't even begin to process that BR has given away more than a quarter of a million dollars worth of vault products - unbelievable.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Oh no! I use the peel-off sheets - such a bummer they didn't work out for you :-(
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I use a lint roller from Countdown to clean the packaging of my NARS blushes / highlighters - works like a charm.
Unfortunately it doesn't work so well on WHITE rubberised packaging so my lipstick cases from the MAC x Toledo collection look like a vintage off-white that even isopropyl alcohol can't fix.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Like you I'm interested in what other products she'll be coming out with :-)
I wasn't expecting vitamins considering her channel content but she's big on working from the inside out right? Ultimately I wasn't convinced after watching the launch video and reading through the website especially because there were no before or after shots of results. Nonetheless I'm looking forward to seeing reviews on the product.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Yes and no - depends where you go :-) The place I go to:
$150 - Short hair
$170 - Long hair
It's cheaper than getting my hair permanently straightened and less damaging.
There are others who do it for less but you need to leave in for days. And then you have those who charge $650-$800 for the exact same treatment (they probably mix it in 9ct gold bowls and chuck in real gold flecks - ridiculous).
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Hahahaha oh gosh that would be quite the change from bright white to dark blue Maree - I'm sure it looks rad nonetheless!!
The keratin application varies between salons. The one I go to:
1. Wash hair
2. Blow dry
3. Saturate hair in the treatment for 20-30mins
4. Blow dry (with treatment still in hair)
It takes an hour and you should have smooth frizz-free hair for up to 2-3 months.
I've been to other places where you need to keep the treatment in for 3 days before washing it out so it really depends where you go :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Heeelllooo Shaz :-)
These all smell divine, high quality and leave my hair in good condition. I have keratin treated hair so I base my haircare around that (i.e. sulfate free):
Sulfate-free
1. Pureology Hydrate
2. Davroe Smooth Senses
When I can see my keratin fading:
3. L'Occitane Repairing Shampoo
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Koni
(438 posts)
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If I need to get lashes done I go to Phoenix Cosmetics. They're efficient, reasonably priced and you don't have to worry about them scrimping on the number of lashes per eye. Happy lash hunting!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I like The Ordinary products they're a great price point and they get the job done. I have sensitive skin so I used the products sparingly and initially they performed really well but over time (2 months) they broke me out. I only buy the High Adherence primer now. I'll be reviewing 2 of them this weekend :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Ohhhhh it's very tempting Imoshen but I already own one of the Champagne Splits that has it. I don't need the full size (I'll continue to repeat that until I believe it haha).
Mumof3munchkins I mainly buy Natasha Denona, Charlotte Tilbury, Wayne Goss and The Ordinary :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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That's a great bag Imoshen - it's almost a full face of products!!! I've signed up for the Lucky Bag again I love not knowing what I'm getting. Having said that Beautylish and BBBE are the only places I trust with those surprises.
This year I received:
Jouer Skinny Dip eyeshadow palette
Becca Highlighter in Prosecco Pop
Inglot Cream eyeshadow
OCC Liquid Lipstick
Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Bag
Wayne Goss Brush 12
Hylamide Blur Primer
Since I bought this for myself I have to rehome 2 of the same item types for the makeup items I keep as part of my declutter journey. After analysing my collection (i.e. putting on my big girl pants) I'm only keeping the last 2 items which I'm happy about because I know I'll use them.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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17 candles that's impressive!! I burn mine at every chance I get. Ever since BR introduced me to Purple Orchid Soy Candles 2 years ago that's all I buy. If they had a store in Auckland I'd be stocking up for sure.
Ohhhh yes Tanny_Girl I'm definitely not short of makeup brush holders thanks to Purple Orchid. They're so flipping easy to clean I actually look forward to it haha!
I'm on the alphabet project pan this year so I have quite a range of products to get through - my biggest challenge will be the duo compacts.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Beauty goals
1.Skincare, skincare and skincare
2.Let go of winged liner
3.Pan any 2 duo compacts
4.Build on eyeshadow technique
NBR goals
1.Begin renovation journey (i.e. quotes waahhhhh)
2.Touch base with 3 different friends/relatives each month
3.Reduce sugar intake
4.Read more educational articles
You've all mentioned great goals - go hard lovelies!!!!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Happy New Year lovelies - here's to many more great reviews, articles, posts and photos xx
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Koni
(438 posts)
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2017 HITS:
Ardency Inn pressed pigment - Royal
Davroe Haircare
A'Kin Rosehip Oil
Maybelline Tattoo Gel Brow Tint
Fenty Gloss Bomb
2017 MISSES:
Jeffree Star Highlighters
Urban Decay Highlighter - Aura
IT Cosmetics Tightline Mascara Primer
The Ordinary Coverage Foundation
Jouer Lip Topper - Skinny Dip
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Woohooo congrats on your first Beautylish haul! I love both The Ordinary and Inglot brands. I did a wee shop from Beatylish this morning too by picking up the Lucky Bag.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Thank you BR for all that you do to make it an exciting time! I always look forward to seeing the buzz around the BR universe around this time and what people have managed to haul. Thank you again and happy weekend all x
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Lisa-Lou I love the Blistex Conditioning Lip Balm just hate dipping my fingers into the tub. I'm currently using the Best Damn Beauty Lip Mask and I love it! It keeps my lips feeling smooth and plump.
Emily-Jane I'm going to have to check out the Pure Fiji Lip Balm once I finish my current one - it sounds delish!!
Alikat I finished the By Terry Baume de Rose lip balm in June - took me 6 months with everyday use. I'm so glad I received it in the Beautylish Lucky Bag because I don't think it's worth the money.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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My favourite is A'Kin Brightening Rosehip oil with Vitamin C. It has really helped with my overall skintone and helped to reduce the discoloration around my acne scars. I've only discovered it recently thanks to BR trials - I never would have purchased it otherwise because I've always hated the scent of rosehip.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Imoshen, I love Niaciamide too however I had to reduce from daily to weekly because my skin including the palms of my hands / finger tips started to react.
I tried AHA peel once every week for less than 10 mins then reduced to less than 5 mins but it was still too much for my skin. I find it works just great if I use it every 2 weeks.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I hate winter - why can't it be 30 degrees all year round. I love the sound of baking in winter though - all sorts of deliciousness there!
I've spent this weekend doing beauty inventory to see how far I've come in 6 months - I'm quite excited for December; I'm hoping I can reduce more by then.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Ohhh great thread! I'm all for mini / travel and deluxe size, the exception being lipstick hehe I find mini lipsticks annoying. Like Shaz, I prefer to buy the mini (if available) and then if I really like it I'll buy the full size. I really wish they'd come out with more mini highlighters like the size of Kevyn Aucoin highlighters - just more realistic to pan and takes up less space.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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After using The Ordinary for a few months on my oily sensitive skin I'm very happy with the products. It has helped to keep my skin clear (and no I haven't changed my eating habits or water intake - though I should really do myself a favour in this area).
Daily (already repurchased)
1. Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
2. High Adherence Silicone Primer
Weekly
3. Niacinamide 10% - Zinc 1%
Fortnightly (for less than 5 minutes due to sensitivity)
4. AHA 30% BHA 2% Peeling solution
Whoa 3 weeks for delivery!? That's quite long for Beautylish!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Woohooo great job Kim! Yes it definitely feels good - I feel like a huge weight is lifted once things are in order and I can see the stuff I have. Your girls must be loving it :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Ahhhh face palettes - I try to steer clear from them because I love my singles however like you, I also love the Ambient Lighting palette which I panned last year. I feel it really completes the makeup look.
The only face palette I have now which I really like is the Becca × Chrissy Teigen palette. Beautiful selection of shades and great for travel but why they would make the highlighter pans so much bigger than the blush and bronzer is beyond me.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Hi Macs can you please share Nat's response regarding how to find the salon reviews. I used it the other day to look up a salon before booking but like you I couldn't find it. So I just entered SALON REVIEWS into the search box and scrolled to the Articles section where it had the link so it's definitely still there but I'm sure there's an easier way to find it :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I seriously felt like I won the lottery with my purchase haha.
You get one point for every dollar you spend instore including sale items. The loyalty program unfortunately doesn't apply to online purchases which is a bummer for those that can't make it to the store (the variety is better instore by a mile). Once you reach 500 points you get $50 off. The points expire after a year. It took me 7 months to get 500 points and that was mainly made up of gift sets on sale.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I just bought L'Occitane shampoo and conditioner that I've been wanting since I tried the samples. It only cost me $9.40 thanks to my rewards points which got me $50 off - lucky because I'm not trying to pamper dead hair like that!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Thank goodness for the "My Reviews" page because I was struggling to remember what I had trialled! My favourite as well is the A'Kin Brightening Rosehip Oil with Vitamin C. I will always hate the smell but I'm happy to put up with it because there is a huge improvement in my overall skintone. I never would have tried this out if it wasn't for BR so thank you!!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I would be left feeling disappointed too with such a generic and uninformative response. You ordered this prior to the sale that's on right now so there's a backlog of queries/orders from back then? I hope you get your parcel soon!! I've ordered from them a number of times and the delivery times have been inconsistent but it doesn't bother me too much because I always flag overseas parcels as taking forever. However if I paid for express shipping I would be stalking that parcel right from the get-go!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Hahaha Kim we've all been there. Panning is just as good as beauty hauls in my opinion :-) My panning journey has been going well - with everyday use for the past 5 months I've completely panned 'hard-to-pan' makeup items - highlighters, eyeshadows and a duo blush/bronzer that seriously refused to just die! Even though I try to restrict my purchases, I really don't feel guilty about it because of how much I've panned (and rehomed).
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Great job on the changes!!
I really like how there's a vid for the Vault, Trial Teams and About Us segments; giving a quick rundown of each one (go Head Pixie!!). Like Kirsty I also like the quick links sidebar - it makes it easier to navigate to things that I would generally look for.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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The dual tips sound great, I got to keep an eye out for them!
Though it may seem a little "extra", my depotting spatula and paw palette make a big difference to me. I got both from Beautylish but I'm sure you can find the same items for cheap elsewhere.
These items allow me to have clean hands, to use product without contaminating it and a place to mix my cream products.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Hi Vienma, I personally recommend Lilash, it's the only one I've tried but I loved it. I haven't used it in awhile because it's too pricey but I know it works :-)
You can also check out other Lash Serums that BR lovelies have reviewed to see if any appeal to you. Hope you find something you like!!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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My panning journey has helped me to finally find my body lotion/oil staples so the following are a "must replace":
1. Soap & Glory Righteous Body Butter
2. Pure Fiji Body Lotion in Guava
3. Monoi Tiki Tahiti Oil in Tiare or Vanilla
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I love a good facial spray whether it's to tone or set :-)
My favourite beauty product at the moment is the Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing balm. Removing my face paint at the end of a long day has never felt better.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Ohh I'm excited for you Macs! I'm with you on that one - out of all the glow kits I wanted this one the most but after seeing swatches I think I'd only use 2 of the shades so I'll just make do by admiring you and Keri's kit :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Reviving this thread because I find that it helps me when I share it with the BR universe :-)
Anastasia Beverly Hills x Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit
I'm only interested in 2 shades - not enough to justify dropping $70.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Previously for a long time it was lipsticks and higlighters (and to an extent I'm still crazy about them). My current panning process has made me realise just how much I love facial sprays and how many I can easily go through. I love spraying my brush, makeup sponge - well anything really haha.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Amy it helps me a lot l, I feel like I spend more time shopping my stash than online buying stuff that I'll only love for a minute. I'm a tad excessive where I have a spreadsheet to track the cost of the items I've used up.
Silvene, I have 2 white storage containers (Kmart) 1 for empties and the other for MAC empties. They're next to my makeup station because they're opaque with lids so they're not an eyesore.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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It's exciting to me Trudi :-) I love seeing empties - it gives me hope haha and it inspires me to keep going.I'm on a major panning/declutter journey this year and I'll be posting my empties for the past 3 months this Friday. It's probably $700+ worth of empties (yeappp I'm on a mission). I kept the "trash" as motivation but I'm looking forward to throwing it out come Friday.So far I've found that:
1. I actually hate a lot of the samples I receive
2. I really love warm eyeshadows
3. I have a lot of useless "oil free" beauty items
4. Companies need to work on their lipgloss packaging so I can get to the bottom!?
Kirsty I've bought new items too in the past 3 months but only if I know that I'm not going to throw a tanty over rehoming items from my collection hehe.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I agree with Trudi, buy what you love without making price a factor. For me the two products that come to mind and that I've panned and repurchased:
Chanel - Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base
Natasha Denona - All Over Glow Shimmer Powder
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Congratulations to the BR lovelies on the panel!! Looking forward to reading your reviews on trial products xx
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Finishing up my Ecoya Sweet Pea and Jasmine that I got for Christmas before starting on my ultimate fav - Purple Orchid Soy candles, I just bought Passionfruit so I'm excited to see if it's just as good French Pear. I'm in need of new jars for my makeup brushes so really can't wait to get through them.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Spending less is always justified Amy haha x
I'm on a panning journey this year so it's easier for me to say no to pretty things. I stick to my rule of only purchasing a new item if I'm willing to part with 2 of the same items in my collection. I also find that better and prettier things keep coming out that I would want more than what I'm ummming and ahhhing over right now so I just hold off until I know it's worth the spend. This of course doesn't stop me from playing pretend with what Macs calls dream carts - always fun!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I love that BR are always looking for ways to improve!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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This is great Kirsty, I'm going to check out those types of videos tonight to further inspire me on this downsizing journey. I've bought 3 new highlighters in Jan / Feb and I had to rehome 6 highlighters (rule is 2 of the same product types per new item must go) so here's hoping these anti-haul vids help!
Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow Palette - I've read mixed reviews and the only product that will most likely show up on my skintone is the highlight. If I'm paying for a palette - every single colour better work on me!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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My eyes because they're hooded and my lips because I just love the look of full plump lips.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I agree with the other BR lovelies Macs (btw I LOVE your profile pic!). I live in Auckland and for our lousy version of summer I wear a primer (for oily skin), swap out my liquid for powder (reluctantly) and seal it in with a good dose of Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I wanted to highlight my sister's favourite beauty gift - the NZ Brands 2 beauty box (over the Pandora earrings I bought her)!! I was actually quite surprised because she's not the type to get excited over beauty products but she's stoked with her box. She already has a favourite and is set to purchase backups before heading back to Melbourne. *High five BR crew for putting together a fab box*
My favourite gift was hanging out with my first cousins after 15+ years apart.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I agree Kirsty! After reading Nat's article I took out a notepad and started recording my beauty inventory this morning. Within half an hour I regretted starting it haha but I pushed on until I took the last pic.
I've decided on the rule that for every beauty product I buy in 2017 that I must remove 2 of the same product type from my collection which will force me to really think about whether I love the item that much. I've excluded those that I find easy to pan (i.e. perfumes, foundations, face powders, moisturisers, makeup wipes and mascaras).
Big virtual hugs to those who had a not-so-great start to 2016 - here's hoping that you all had an incredible start to 2017!!
Happy belated new year BR lovelies xx
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Incase anyone is buying a Lucky Bag today, shipping is a little more just because they're Lucky Bags - it's $15USD (normal orders are $10). I had to reconfirm that with Live Chat because I don't recall shipping being different last year.
Happy holidays BR lovelies!!!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Gardenias, candles, trifle and moscato!!!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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You're welcome Tannygirl :-) last year it was released at 6am Dec 27th.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Shaz that's a great plan - you can't go wrong with Lush!
Renee, Keri's right it's going to be released 26th Dec so that will be the 27th Dec in NZ.
Tannygirl it's an additional USD10.00 for shipping.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Ringy, I don't know of any official list out there but if it helps I received the following brands in the Lucky Bag last year:
Wayne Goss
Kevyn Aucoin
IT Cosmetics
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Bioderma
Becca
Tannygirl they cost USD75.00.
Shaz unfortunately you can't include anything else with a Lucky Bag order so they don't qualify for the flexi payments.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I'd like to pick up the Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow palette, apparently Mecca Maxima will be releasing it on Jan 31st. However it's quite possible my chances are slim of getting one so perhaps like Renee and Keri I'll go with a Beautylish Lucky Bag - it was worth it last year - so hopefully they do it again.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Skittles lipbalm?!?! Does it taste delicious (yep of course I think about my stomach!)
Trudi I've been admiring the KVD lipstick Bauhau5 ever since you were rocking it - is the liquid lipstick version comfortable to wear?
For me, it'll be the Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham highlight in Modern Mercury.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Good morning BR lovelies!!! Colourpop is offering free international shipping again but this time until the end of the year. It's free for all orders $50.00 USD and above or a flat rate fee of $9.99 USD for orders below $50.00 USD.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Wooohooo congrats to the new superheros Bex, Macs and Amy!!! And of course to the rest of the BR lovelies (badge or not) who help to make BR what it is - a place we love to drop into xx
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Sadly I don't think they do at this stage but maybe in the future? Sephora NZ does "birthday offers" - on my birthday I received $NZD10.00 off my next purchase but it had to be over $NZD90.00.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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2015 loves
1.Natasha Denona Glowing Skin System
2.Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
2015 regrets
1.Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronzer/Highlight
2.Hourglass Veil Foundation and Primer
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Foundation and eyeshadow get the chop :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Thanks for sharing Shaz - I've checked it out and I should be smelling like gardenias some time this week (hopefully the chemistry is right). I'm a huge fan of fragrances and I'm stoked that this will be my first NZ made NATURAL perfume.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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*+*Big hugs*+* congratulations on reaching that milestone Lutece xx
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Natasha Denona All Over Glow Face/Body shimmer powder
Laura Mercier Face Illuminator
Becca Backlight Priming Filter
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I have oily skin and I agree with Tannygirl. If you want a subtle highlight without the typical shimmer than Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders (or palette) is a good option. It works on many skin tones and accomplishes the same results; a lit-from-within radiant glow :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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What's a BR thread without a Lush product :-) The last new product I opened was the Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips lipstick.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Are the reds and pinks your go-to shades Tannygirl?
I buy lippy knowing that I could possibly have a dupe considering how many I own. I've been on the hunt for my perfect nude for years so it's no surprise that I have a lot of that as well as plenty of pinky mauves because they're one of my favourite shades to wear.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I'm like Tannygirl - I set a number of reviews to reach before a particular time because it helps to push me when life gets a little busy.
In the past I've done 2 reviews a day for weeks to reach a particular goal, or 10+ reviews in 1-2 days so it varies with me but I only review when I have the right mindset (i.e. no waffling Koni).
I have less than 10 things left to review so I spend more time reading articles and reviews, adding to my list of things to buy and seeing what all you BR lovelies are up to in the Photowall and Forum :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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From past BR beauty boxes (other than the Skinfood Mud Masque), I agree with the other BR lovelies - hands down the BDB pencil. Still holding onto my last back up hehe so thanks Head Pixie for the link!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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The Skinfood Mud Masque (NZ Brands box). I received my first one from a past Beauty Box and it has been my favourite mud masque to date so I was stoked to receive a back up!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I rarely struggle to finish perfumes but I swear no matter how spritz happy I get with Estee Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge or Vera Wang's Lovestruck they never seem to go down. There's only a quarter left in each bottle but they've been that way for months!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Those look like great boxes - decisions, decisions!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I insist on buying big bars of chocolate despite never finishing one. I will eat two rows then buy a new big bar of choc, the same goes for lollies. Needless to say we're never short on sweets at home.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I've gone through the letter a few times and it's quite a change particularly for beauty lovers who enjoyed earning a point for every dollar on ALL beauty brands and fragrances. It's shocking that the only indication of this change on their website is "Farmers Club is changing - check back on the 4th of July" - wow.
At this stage I'm not very excited about their 'club points' or with any of the super deals or 'exclusive to club member' deals in the catalogue they sent. So I popped into Farmers this morning and bought a few beauty items to secure what will most likely be my last $20 voucher for a long time. The old rewards system was great while it lasted!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I use my Morphe brushes regularly and I really enjoy them. I actually bought them because of BR member Sarahbeautynz haha. I read a lot of reviews on the ones that I picked up from the Elite collection (E1, E3, E17), Gun Metal collection (G3,G6) and other (M439). They've been washed several times and I've had no shedding except a loose hair or two from the gun metal. I bought my lot from the Morphe website as well as Beauty Bliss NZ.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Yes it happened to me a few times, I just thought it was my laptop asking for an early demise. Her repost is working swell though :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Thank you for reposting - my laptop was about to meet its maker!
CONGRATULATIONS on an amazing milestone!! Is there anything you miss that BR used to have at the start of your BR journey but is no longer available on the website?
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Koni
(438 posts)
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It's a real nuisance to be honest - an expensive one too. My friends traveling to US either pick a few up for me or I use Shipito and consolidate it with other orders. Too Faced and Sephora don't ship direct to freight forwarders so I have to use assisted purchase where a Shipito rep will buy on my behalf (at an additional cost). I don't bother unless I'm getting multiple items to justify the cost.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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My favourites are their limited edition/seasonal ones:
Cherry Blossom & Tuberose
Sweet Fruits & Pink Champagne
Fresh Pine Needles
I received the Sweet Fruits & Pink Champagne diffuser as a GWP and honestly it's quite useless - I may as well shove the reeds up my nose to get a whiff of anything.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I can't wait to finally see some of the beauty pixies that make this all happen!! Head Pixie, I always thought you were a real pixie - glitter or not, your bubbly energy is magical!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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I find by allowing the negative voice to shape my decisions I actually make it my reality when really I want the opposite. Don't give it life - you want purple locks with your awesome ombre? Rock it!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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The giveaways were already epic enough but adding this to the mix if we get to 100K this week - truly amazing.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Get well soon Itsclearascrystal and here's hoping your littles make a speedy recovery Amy.
It's been a relaxing long weekend, today I went to grab a birthday cake for my aunty and somehow managed to come home with a bag full of lipstick holders.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Well I can reassure you, you didn't miss out on much other than seeing the texture on my face, guess that's why they call it a highlighter haha. On the photowall now AND you and anyone else interested can definitely pull this off - it's all in good fun xx
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Hahaha I love how you lovelies are helping me towards panning makeup :-) I tried half a face the other day after watching Mariya's YT vid just to see how it would look on my chocolate skin - erm lets say my application needs A LOT of work. Renee I stood outside and it looked UTTERLY HORRIBLE! I looked like an ashy tin man gone wrong.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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My dream BBBE would be one filled with luminous products - loose powder, pressed powder, cream, gel, mist....anything to light a room I'm sold.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Head Pixie mentioned in March that membership was heading towards the 30K mark; we're almost (or already are) 30K strong so BR have a difficult task every quarter having to choose heros and supers not to mention everything else they do to help make this place one we want to visit everyday. Badge or no badge I adore BR and the lovelies that help make it what it is.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Congratulations to everyone - loving the look of those sporting the purple badges too!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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It's finally here!! Thank you BR for such an awesome quarter, I really had a good time (no surprise there it's BR!). I can't wait to see the status changes now excuse me while I check out this online version of Tetris tiheeeee.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Hi Kim, when I first started getting them my skin felt and looked rejuvenated for a good month. It's a costly treatment particularly because the microdermabrasion part only takes a few minutes and the rest is just the facial. I find them relaxing, safe for my sensitive skin and allows me to make good use of my skincare products because I feel they actually penetrate the skin rather than just sit on the surface.
I've been getting them for almost a year and I no longer feel that I have to have them every month because the results seem to last longer (but will vary for each person) so I can easily push out the visits to every six weeks or 2 months. My device doesn't allow me to link but if you put the words "Caci Microdermabrasion" into the BR search box it'll bring up past BR threads that may hopefully help you :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Hi Antonia, I can't speak on the Olaplex however French Revolver, Style Counsel and Vivo Hair salons do balayage. The price for long locks is generally $250 upwards but I know that Vivo Hair does balayage deals from time to time. Regardless of which salon you go to, I'd be sure to ask about which balayage technique they do because it varies with each hair dresser just incase you're after a particular look. Hopefully you post a pic on the BR Photowall of your new do :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Congratulations Trudi!!! I really enjoyed seeing the next lip colour and now reading how far the lippies traveled within that time!!! Even though you don't need to buy more lippies what's next on your list ;-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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All you have to say is "highlighter" and the answer is yes hahaha.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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This happened to me and I spoke to the manager. I made it clear that it wasn't a complaint but that I would rather let her know to give them the opportunity to address it in a manner they saw fit. Turns out I wasn't the only one and it was sorted with an extra bit of training :-)
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Lol the Lush addiction amongst the BR lovelies is unbelievable, I don't know how you all keep up with the stuff they put out.
Highlighters, lipsticks and blushes.
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Celebs have little or no impact on my decision to buy a product. If they could actually convince me that it's a great product rather than just because they use it I'll look as youthful, beautiful etc then maybe I'd reconsider. It's a little hard to buy into when they have a glam squad behind them. Great thread!!!!
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Koni
(438 posts)
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Lip pencil and matte lipstick combos for me. Ahhhh Lutece I get sooo agitated with lipglosses on a windy day!!!
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My hair stylist recommended these products to me when I started getting Keratin treatment last December. The recommendation was based on the state of my hair and what I wanted to achieve with my hair care regime. I have had my hair chemically straightened, dyed (highlighted, balayage) and to top it off - regular use of hair straigteners so it's fair to say that my hair was frizzled, frazzled and nearing it's time.
I really enjoy the way it leaves my hair feeling soft, manageable and healthy. I feel that it doesn't strip the life (or what little of it I have left) in my hair. It's easier for me to run my hands through my hair and I can easily put it up without having to deal with this mop of a mess that I had prior to last year. When I straighten my hair I notice that there is more of a healthy soft shine. No hair care has ever felt as nourishing as these two products.
I wash my hair twice a week and my bottles have lasted me almost 8 months because I've stuck to my hairstylist's advice. Shampoo hair twice, first shampoo use a 50c size amount to get rid of the days' worth of product build-up and oil (you may not see any lather during this time). Second shampoo in a 20c size amount to actually "wash" your hair (you should see a nice lather of goodness). Lastly my favorite part the conditioner - ahhhhhhh massage in a 20c size amount but I prefer the 50c size (oh yes I'm living on the edge)!
The only issues I have with this is that it leaves my hair "fluffy" sometimes and the price. When the Keratin starts to wear off I notice my hair is "fluffier" than usual but it's nothing to cry about. I bought my products from my salon; Style Counsel (Epsom, Auckland) and if I remember correctly it was roughly $50-$60 for both - well worth it if you stick to the "coin" amounts because at the end of the day that's all you really need.
Tips: Shampoo hair twice - 50c size amount and then go in with a 20c size amount. Finish off with a 50c size amount of the conditioner.
I love this night cream! I received it in the BBBE Cruelty Free edition (seriously that particular beauty box is just full of goodness!) and going on 2 months of use with probably 40ml left (of the 75ml – yes I’m a tad too generous with the product).
Now admittedly I wasn’t a huge fan of the semi-sweet natural (almost cheap) scent but I figure because it doesn’t have the usual nice smelling chemicals that I would just have to make do and now it smells pleasant. I wish it came with a flip-top as I hate having to screw on lids but once you see how it performs all these minor things are just pedantic.
It has a fluid consistency that you need to work into the skin but its lightweight. I love to apply a lot where my face feels sticky but give it a minute or two and it’ll dry down nicely and I feel like I’m left with a nice lightweight mask.
I generally roll my eyes when companies name their products with words like “regenerative” but I kid you not this cream is working hard at night. It has given me a smoother complexion (it’s not flawless but it’s noticeably different) and my skin tone has gone up a notch.
As much as I love to give all the credit to this product, I do use a combination of skincare products but I have really started to see the difference with the addition of this night cream.
I had no clue this product was pricey (I probably would have not applied so much!) but it's worth every penny. I recall using a sample sachet 2 years ago and that’s really not enough to make a call on whether this is good or not. If you’re able to get hold of a couple of sachets I’m pretty sure you may find a gem.
I’m not a suitable candidate for microblading and this product is the next best thing for me. I’ve been using it for 4 months and I absolutely love it. My sister bought me the Dark Brown shade from Australia for $AUD25 which I thought was utterly ridiculous for 5ml but aside from a few clumps of product here and there it’s still going strong.
What I love about this product is that I have 3-4 days of freedom from filling my brows and that my brows actually look good! Of course they look nothing like microbladed brows but they look natural, nicely shaped and is a fraction of the cost of the treatment.
When I first used the product I used a brown eyeliner to lightly outline the shape of my brows. The colour of the product looks black and in certain lighting you can see the brown but just be mindful it does come off as more of a darker brown/black which is perfect for me.
The consistency reminds me of semi-thick PVA glue and just like the glue it’s easy to wipe off if you make a mistake. Don't allow it to sit too long or you’ll end up with the tint in an area you don’t want. The applicator is a small synthetic brush which is saturated with product so ensure to wipe off the excess.
When applying the product for the first couple of times it felt awkward not using an angled brush to shape my brows but follow the natural way your brows grow so that the brush is not going against them. Ideally you want to be “glueing” (while shaping) your brows down.
I start applying the product in the centre (mainly out of habit) because I want most of the pigment in that area before moving to the other areas. You need to have enough product on your brows so that you can ideally peel it off in one go. I then wait for 15-20 minutes and then peel the product off starting from the end of my brows and c’est voilà beautifully shaped brows for the next 3 days.
The tint is darkest on Day 1 and each time you wash your face you'll notice the pigment lift. My brows fade evenly so it's not like anyone is going to notice that you have brows one day and the next they're gone. By the 4th or 5th day I can either fill my brows in or reapply the product.
If I’m not happy with my attempt then I can always fill it in with powder until it fades but I’ve only had to do that once over the 4 months. I no longer need to outline my brows and it takes me less than 2 minutes to apply. I would highly recommend this product for those who enjoy having some freedom from filling in their brows for a few days.
Tips: 1.If you make a mistake, wipe off immediately with a clean angled brush or finger.
2.Over time you may notice clumps of product, ensure to remove those clumps so that the remaining product doesn’t cling to it and you will have a better idea of when it’s time to pick up a new one.
I was so excited to trial this thank you BR. Any help with the wrinkles is appreciated ;-)
It comes in a 30ml pump bottle. It's quite fancy. The consistency is a semi thick off white serum.
I have been trialing this product for almost three weeks. Morning and evening, I gently massage two pumps of serum in a small circular motion all over my face and neck.
It absorbs easily into my skin. Doesn't leave any sticky feeling which is great. I have definitely noticed a difference in my skin. Especially around my eyes where I had lots of sagging skin. It has visibly lifted it and my skin looks tighter too. I think I'm in love!
I would highly recommend and plan on purchasing this along with the Dragons Blood moisturiser too.
Tips: A small amount goes a long way. Apply before you moring/evening moisturiser.
This review was placed by a Trial Team member who was randomly selected to receive and review the product by Beauty Review. This review accurately reflects the individual's experience of the product and is not influenced by Beauty Review in any way.
Even though I've always admired this product I was never interested in buying it because I just find cream highlighters a bit too high maintenance for me. The ones I've used in the past tended to move during the day/night, had patchy application or emphasised the texture on my skin. I decided to try them again after I read BR member, TheBeautyContext's great review.
Now when I sampled it on my hand at Smith & Caughey's I wasn't entirely convinced with the almost non-existent golden highlight but BR members don't play when it comes to highlighters, I remembered the BR reviews I had read and bravely said goodbye to $57. Out of all of Benefit's packaging, this metallic mirrored lilac tube is by far my favourite! It has a round sponge tip at one end, used to soften and blend out the product and the other end we have the retractable highlight.
On my skin tone it's more of a soft golden peach hue which gives me a healthy radiant lit-from-within glow. It's not overly luminous but the more product you layer on the more intense the sheen on your face becomes and the more evident the fine shimmer. I love that I can layer this on top of my moisturiser and foundation without any pilling - even if I apply the highlight layers between doing other things. The cream-to-powder finish means it lasts longer on my oily skin than I would have expected had it just been a full cream highlighter - so a good 7 hours for me.
My only issue is that even though it's sheer and buildable you have to ensure you blend it out properly because if you're part of the chocolate club like myself it could potentially look ashy when in fact it's just a matter of taking a beauty blender or flat top brush to it. This is officially my favourite cream highlighter! I love to apply this onto my cheeks (yes like blush), then take it up to the high points and then follow up with blush and contour.
Tips: Swatching it on your hand won't do you any good, if you can get the Benefit team to apply it to your face then I highly recommend it because only then will you be able to see its full beauty.
I use a flat top kabuki brush to push the highlighter into my cheeks and high points. If necessary I go in with a makeup sponge to ensure that the product is fully blended into the skin.
With the recent vault this was one of my priority, must have items. Luckily I got it and when it arrived I sqweeeed with joy. Fiji Spice Queen have taken an already awesome thing and turned it into something even better, something I love to use every day.
The smell is nice, not something I'd usually go for. The mandarin citrussy smell is there, but then I'm guessing the ylang ylang is what's throwing me off. Both smells are quite subtle and not overpowering in anyway - once rubbed into the skin I barely notice it, and when it's in my hair its subtly perfumed but otherwise I don't notice it. I do notice the mandarin smell more, but it's still not in your face.
I've used this 3 ways so far, as a body oil, as a hair oil and as a hair mask. I love all three ways. It absorbs really quickly as a body oil, with no greasy residue or filmy feeling left on my skin. I can almost put my jeans on straight away as well, which, if you have a terrible moisturizer you know that this is a struggle! The oiled skin is left soft and hydrated and I quite like it more than my regular moisturizer.
As a hair oil I use it just in the tips and sometimes the left over oil on my hands tames the fly away hairs, which I like a lot better than hairspray. As a hair mask I left it overnight and shampooed it out the next day - my hair was gloriously soft, softer than usual, and slightly more tame.
For an oil I get that it's in a pump bottle, and over summer this will be super handy as the oil will pump out normally, but as it's still cold the oil is still solid and stays solid unless you melt it - for that reason I'd love this in a tub, so I don't have to melt it every time I want it! But otherwise this product is amazing and I'll definitely be repurchasing it.
Tips: To melt fast, put the bottle in a bowl of hot water. I did this while I had a 5 minute shower and the water melted it within that time!
I have a love/hate relationship with these glosses which I've been using for a year and I regret buying the collection. I made sure to read several reviews on beauty blogs and Youtube before buying so was surprised when I wasn't that impressed.
The packaging is bulky but the clear tube allows you to see the colours which is true to colour. The pigmentation is amazingly vibrant to the point that they're a bit too over the top to wear to the office for me (except maybe 2). I was hoping to soften the vibrancy by picking up minimal product and lightly layering it but then you look like you haven't finished your lips.
The texture is buttery and light weight, I love how they feel on my lips however they can be drying. I find that these are not glosses you can just walk out the door with a plain face because it'll look like you forgot the rest of your makeup.
I find it's too much work to apply this product so that it doesn't bleed or move. Lipliners can only contain this product for so long so I find I have to check the mirror more often when I'm wearing this so I don't look like I've taken lessons from the Joker.
If I'm lucky I can get 2.5 hours without having to reapply/fix (without eating/drinking). But I guess that's typical of a gloss. I bought mine directly off of their website without any shipping issues.
Below are the shades and what they look like on me. I recommend these glosses to those who love vibrant colours and aren't about that natural lip.
Reds 1.Burning Love* - Vibrant red
Purples 2.Toxic* - Vampy purple 3.Purple Fusion - Blue based violet Pinks 4. Wild Child* - Fuschia 5. Attitude - Barbie pink (almost neon) 6. Cotton Candy - Bubble gum pink 7. Petals - White based pink
Other 8. Undressed* - Nude beige 9. Sunshine Kisses - Warm apricot (reminds me of Lime Crime's Cosmo Pop)
*My favourites
Tips: Use a lip liner and light lip balm before applying the gloss to help keep the gloss from moving and to hydrate the lips.
We all know YSL packaging is stunning but when it’s pricey you really want the product to be just as fantastic. For me, this isn’t worth the investment however I can’t say that I have found a dupe that is close to this in terms of the natural brightness it brings to the areas of my face. I have the shade 4.5 Luminous Sand which complements my MAC NC42-44 skintone nicely.
I like that it comes in pen form but sometimes I have an issue when my fingers are slippery from moisturiser/concealer/foundation. It can be tricky when trying to put the lid back on. Like any pen form product it’ll take a number of clicks until the product comes out for the first use but once it does it will only take a click or two going forward.
What I love about the product is that it’s lightweight, blendable and brightens the areas where I apply it. The first few times I wore this, I received compliments that I looked refreshed and this was the only thing that was different. It’s a bit on the average side of coverage because I can still see my dark circles coming through and it’s no match for my oily lids because the product is pretty much gone by lunch time even when set with powder.
I like wearing this with minimal makeup (i.e. no foundation) mainly under my eyes, bridge of my nose, forehead and chin because it looks as if I almost have a natural even skintone. I like this product however not enough to say that I would repurchase it. I’m positive I can find something that is more affordable with more product rather than just 2.5ml.
Tips: Since this is pricey I would recommend going into Farmers to be matched to the highlighter shade that suits you. I asked the beauty consultant to do one side of my face so I could really see the difference. I walked around the beauty area to ensure that what I saw in the mirror was still the same under different lighting.
I've always wanted to try Karen Murrell's lipsticks but I wasn't aware of where I could swatch them before deciding on a shade so I was over the moon to receive this in the BBBE this year. Now for me, fuchsia is an intense rich blend of pink magenta so when I saw the colour in the tube I was surprised that it was 100 shades lighter than I expected. It came across with little shock and looked more wearable than one would expect with a name like Fuchsia Shock.
I adore the effort put into the packaging of the lipsticks from the recyclable materials used to the coloured boxes that apparently reflect the shades hidden inside. The tube on the other hand is a little dull to be honest, it's a light weight matte black where the top half of the inside is a shiny black. I kind of wish they went with shiny right the way through because it could possibly have more appeal for those walking past the testers.
This lipstick goes on waxy and translates into a semi glossy finish. It smells like cinnamon and reminds me of a lighter version of Big Red chewing gum (delish!). The pigmentation is average - it's buildable but you need several swipes to achieve decent coverage. I believe this lipstick is good for those who are wanting to try bolder and brighter shades but are still not on board with full opacity.
I love that it's moisturising, it doesn't feather too much and there's little slip but the lasting power is below average with 2 hours wear and that's if I don't eat or drink. I can't see myself repurchasing any other shades from this brand.
Full price at Farmers this mirror costs $79.99, but quite often they have a 50% off sale. I got this mirror during one of those sales so it was only $39.99. I honestly couldn't live without this mirror (okay maybe not haha). But it is seriously amazing and it has significantly improved how I do my makeup since I've owned it.
This mirror has two sides, one with normal magnification and one with 7x magnification. You just spin the mirrors around to switch to the other side. Both mirrors are very clear. The first time I looked in the side with 7x magnification, I got quite a shock! I could literally see every individual hair and pore on my face. I now pluck my own brows because of how easy it is to do with this mirror, so it has saved me a good amount of money.
This mirror is battery operated. There was another similar mirror at Farmers that required you to plug it into the wall to turn the lights on, but I wanted one that was easy to move around. I've owned this mirror for over a year now and I use it pretty much everyday. I've only needed to replace the batteries once. The lights are bright enough to illuminate your face well, but not too bright that they hurt your eyes. The lights can either be on high, low, or off. I generally keep it on high because I find that the low setting is too dim. But it's good that they give you the option.
I take this mirror with me whenever I travel. I find it so difficult to do my makeup with a normal mirror now. The side with 7x magnification makes it really easy to do my eyeshadow, eyebrows, eyeliner, and lipstick. It helps me to ensure that my makeup looks flawless. I would recommend this mirror to anyone. If you don't own a mirror like this, you should buy this one. It makes it so much easier to apply makeup and it also makes it look even better!