The Trend | Lip Lacquers

It seems like a new company every month is launching their version of the lip lacquer that is very on trend at the moment. If I'm not mistaken, I think it started with YSL's Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains and it's baby sister L'Oreal's entry into the drugstore/chemist market made the whole trend much more readily available to a wider audience. Then with Rimmel's Apocalips, it's like glossy stain mania all around!

Seeing as I have a few from different brands, I thought I would do not so much a review but an overview of what I have in my collection. My first entry into the glossy stain market was a purchase of the YSL because at the time there was such a big amount of hype in the blogoshphere and YouTube arena that I thought, hey they look interesting.. There is very little difference between these and the later released version by L'Oreal except for maybe lasting time but seeing as they're under the same company umbrella, some similarities are to be expected. With these, they look best layered so the first coat appears fairly sheer and creates the stain and one or two more coats creates a beautiful opaque glossy stain that lasts for hours as well as pretty well through eating, drinking and talking.

Rimmel's Apocalips however, are more a one swipe, opaque jobby and aren't as staining as they YSL or L'Oreal. Apocalips have received a ridiculous amount of hype so I'm sure you're aware of their existence but it is definitely well deserved. These things are very good especially for a 'drugstore' product. Each time Priceline or ASOS is having a sale these are one of the first things I gravitate towards and add to my existing shades. They're just too easy to throw in your bag and pop on during the day or throughout the evening for a beautiful, glossy lip in 2 seconds. The applicators on all of these are similar doe foot applicators which make it easy to create a nice curve on the upper lip and get into the corners of the mouth. In fact, the L'Oreal and YSL are exactly the same.

Last of all is Lush's addition with their 'Fresh Handmade Colour' that can be used all over the face so as a blusher, eyeshadow or lip colour. The two shades I have, I've only ever used as lip colours and I bought them with that intention. The launch of these products came with that fun wheel that you and a Lush assistant spin with your eyes closed and you pick colours and those colours have meanings which are meant to be applicable to you and your personality (See, this is where companies get me with gimmicky launches and interactive things like this) So naturally I bought two of the shades which I found completely applicable to me and happened to love the colours as well. These too come with a doe foot applicator and, like Rimmel are opaque within one swipe and are foolproof to apply. They last for hours and because it's Lush are fairly natural and 100% cruelty free so extra thumbs up.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture no. 16, 21

L'Oreal Lip Shine Caresse (L-R)  no. 300, 402, 101

Rimmel Apocalips (L-R) - Big Bang,  Stellar,  Nova,  Luna, Nude Eclipse

Lush Handmade Colour- Decisive, Passionate

From these swatches you can see that in terms of one swipe payoff, Rimmel probably comes out trumps but in terms of lasting power and less transfer then the other three brands- L'Oreal, YSL and Lush would get my vote in that respect.

Follow me on Instagram- @beautylocale

Summer Face Savers

With Summer leaving us Aussies and heading for the North, I thought I'd share a few products that I've dubbed 'summer savers' for those icky humid days where everything tends to slide south on your face the minute you step out the door. In saying that our weather has been so up and down, I can't be sure I won't be needing these well into Autumn!

To start off- an SPF, essential for 30 degree + days in Sydney and everyday in general really. I like the Kiehl's SPF 50+++ that I've spoken about previously in a post or one that was recommended to me by my dermatologist- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 50+ . This leaves, as the name would suggest, a dry touch to the face not that tacky, creamy feeling that most general sunscreens leave which makes it perfect to apply makeup over the top of. 

Next essential for me would be a primer, no surprise I'm going to suggest the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer for an amazing all rounder that will help your makeup to adhere to your face longer. In warmer weather I want the least amount of makeup on my actual face, I don't want anything that's going to feel heavy and like it's blocking every single pore on my face so I like the Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation in Opal which has added SPF 35, it's hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic and fragrance-free. It is quick a thick fluid but you can easily sheer it out with your fingers. It doesn't have the best lasting power for me, especially when it's really hot and humid so I always set it using either the Clinique Blended Face Powder or Makeup Store Translucent Setting Powder . 

Not the nicest of thoughts/visuals but blotting is a must for me especially in hot weather, so Blotting Papers are a necessity for quick touch ups throughout the day. I picked up these Paul & Joe ones from ASOS but you can find them online or in Priceline type stores. A product that is definitely not a necessity but more a luxury that I still don't fully understand the purpose of- Avene Thermal Spring Water, I also have tried the La Roche Posay which is equally good at being purified water in a can, this product is just nice to spray over your face and body when it all just gets a bit too overwhelmingly hot. 

To finish off, a spritz of Urban Decay 'Chill' makeup setting spray all over the face which promises to regulate your temperature in some fancy scientific way, to lock everything in. A good lipbalm that protects your lips from the sun because burnt lips are not fun at all and voila, these are my summer face savers that I always turn to when I know it's going to be a warm day.  

Again, this seems a bit useless now that we're officially in Autumn but it's Summer in the North and really these products are great all year round for maintaining your makeup throughout the day.

Instagram- @beautylocale. Follow me for regular beauty, life and bits posts!

Korres | Sage & Salicylic Acid Cleansing Gel

From a young age, my parents always drilled into me the importance of protecting and caring for your skin especially from the sun (not that I always took note) but also a good skincare routine when I entered the glorious teenage years and was immediately hit with problematic skin. I think my Mum had similar issues and problem areas when she was my age so she always emphasised the importance of taking good care of your skin and having a routine. Alas, even as a youngin I was cleansing morning and night, moisturising and dabbing tea tree oil on those pesky spots. Now that I fund my own beauty habit, I've dabbled in a range of skincare and definitely see the importance of using the right products for your skin type and also spending a bit extra to get more worthwhile and when possible, natural products. Don't get me wrong, a cheap bottle of tea tree oil will forever remain in my bathroom cupboard and supermarket buys like Cetaphil, QV and Simple products are more than sufficient for many people. When possible though, I try to buy more natural products and avoid the usual- parabens, sulfates and mineral oils as well as fragrances that can just further irritate your skin. 

This post isn't meant to be all about my skincare routine but rather a review on my most recent cleanser purchase- the Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Regulating Gel ($25.50) although I got mine on offer for under $20. I was scrolling through the Beauty pages of ASOS and saw this, gave it a quick Google for any reviews, which seemed to be fairly positive so I thought why not give it a try? I quite like Korres products, I bought a few lip products when I was in Greece completely unaware it's in fact a Greek brand.. (duh) and more to the point I like that it has a long list of no nasties. My last cleanser was the Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser which I bought because it was soapless which I have been told can just strip your natural oils. I had no issues with it, I quite liked it but was happy to try something new. Prior to this was the tried and true Cetaphil Oily Skin cleanser but I found it left my skin feeling a bit tight after washing. However it did a good job and removed 99% of my makeup. 

Ok, enough rambling back to Korres- when I first used it I wet my face, rubbed it all over, stopped and literally said out loud "Oh no, I don't like that"in terms of the smell but it grew on me quite quickly and now I really like it. I use this for both morning and night, although at night I remove a good deal of my make up first using Bioderma then double cleanse with this. I use either the Simple toner or Lush Tea Tree Water  and very little remnants of make up remains. It doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry, I just feel fresh and clean. You only need a pea size amount and it gently lathers into more than enough for your face and neck. I haven't yet fully determined if it has reduced the oiliness of my skin in general but maybe with further use. For reference, my skin is combination/oily.

What they say- ' Regulating cleansing gel for oily skin prone to imperfections. Deep, purifying cleansing that removes traces of dirt, residue and oil without leaving skin feeling dry or tight. Ideal for everyday use on face and body. 90.1% Natural content.

What I say- 'Agreed. I Definitely recommend'.

Instagram- @beautylocale

               

 

The Wedding Face

Last week one of my beautiful friends, Michelle was attending a wedding and asked me to do her face for her. Of course I was more than happy to and she was also kind enough to let me photograph before and after and now she may be making future appearances on this blog
Her dress was a coral, lilac print and she wanted a purple toned eye to complement both her dress and lovely green eyes. For a Summer wedding I thought a nice soft purple eye would be appropriate and a few quick tweaks later on could take the look into the evening.

I started with Benefit's Porefessional Primer around the nose and a bit down the T-zone and prepped her eyes using Urban Decay's Original Primer Potion. As a base I used Maybelline 24hr Eye Tattoo in Barely Branded seeing as these things last for hours and hours. For the most part of the eyes I used a L'Oreal trio in 405- Stay Ultra Violet, Tease from the Naked 2 palette through the crease, Bootycall as a brow highlight and a touch of this iridescent LA splash glitter on the inner third of the lid for an extra touch of glitz and glamour! A small cat eye using Maybelline gel liner, a few lashings of Jordana's Best Lash Extreme and finally L'Oreal infallible eyeshadow in Purple Obsession smudged into the bottom lash line.

Brows were done using Wet n Wild Brow kit, some subtle bronzing around the edges of the face with MAC Matte bronzing powder and Nars Amour blush on the cheeks for a gorgeous pink glow.

As Michelle is slightly more pale than I am, I used her own foundation which was Napoleon Perdis Advanced Mineral Makeup liquid foundation and set her whole face using the Camera Finish powder.

A spritz of Urban Decay 'Chill' setting spray and voila! She was ready.

All of the brushes used were either Real Techniques, Sigma or Bdellium. I know this is a very brief rundown but I wanted to share this anyway. Maybe in the future I'll do a more step by step but usually I just wing it and make it up as I go along!

Product Reviews | The Best of the Minis

When it comes to things that are miniature in size, I'm a complete sucker. Whether it's deluxe samples or products that come in a small size, I can't resist, they're just too cute! (An advertiser's dream right here..) I've been collecting some of the miniatures that I have either acquired or purchased with a future blogpost in mind to share my thoughts and maybe endorse a few purchases..

Let's start with Benefit's Porefessional ($53AUD) There's no denying this is a serious 'cult' product that receives glowing reviews and I was lucky enough to get this deluxe sample size as a freebie with a magazine I bought when I was in the UK. Surprisingly this size lasted me a good while seeing as you only need a small amount and a year later I purchased the full size, again whilst overseas. This product is great for filling in pores and giving you an all around smoother appearance. Not sure how much this does in terms of mattifying your t-zone though but I do enjoy using it as more of a targeted area primer.

Origin's Super Spot Remover ($19AUD) Not a sample size, just adorably small. This may seem pricey for a spot gel but man oh man is it worth spending a bit extra. This stuff is definitely my go-to when my skin is acting out, I just pop it on before I go to bed and in the morning my spots are definitely reduced in redness and size. This dries it out without making the skin around the area too dry and flakey. I think this may be my second or third bottle..

Kiehl's Ultra Face Cream (from $34AUD) and Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense (from $38USD) Both of these deluxe samples were gift with purchase of the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Serum as a little rejuvenating pack I think. For an oily skin gal like me, I think the Ultra Face Cream would be too heavy generally for everyday use but at one point my skin was looking quite dehydrated and flakey and this fixed it right up! Hasn't sold me enough to purchase the full size but a good product nonetheless and I scraped the mini jar dry. Daily UV Defense is still going strong and I put this on underneath my makeup when I know I'll be outdoors rather than inside at work all day. With an SPF of 50+++ it definitely has the tick of approval for Australia's hot, Summer days and I feel well and truly protected when wearing it.

Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (from $25AUD) Hourglass, can you do no wrong?! Honestly, every product of theirs that I've tried, I've loved. It is quickly becoming one of my favourite high-end brands and this was no exception. This sample size came with my purchase of the Ambient Lighting Powder Palette and when I bought it the lovely assistant at Mecca Cosmetica slyly pointed out the free gift and told me I'd love it. Yep, she wasn't wrong. This primer is silky, radiant and beautiful and definitely gives my makeup lasting power for a long day at work and keeps my oiliness at bay as well as smoothing out my pores and general textural issues. And yes, I may have treated myself to the full size of this last week but in my defence I did have a voucher from Christmas to ease the blow to the bank account.

The luxury that is Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation ($72AUD) This little tester is in the shade B30 which I was trialling along with B20. I have overcome my anxieties about approaching makeup counters for samples especially when I could be spending my pretty pennies on products that I end up not liking, which has happened all too often in the past! The lovely assistant at the David Jones Chanel counter helped to match me and suggested I try both B20 and B30 in natural light and see how they sat and oxidised on my skin throughout the day and wear. I thought I'd include this cute tester tube in this post purely for how adorable (and as it turned out, quite impractical) it is. Together with the Hourglass Primer, this is a winning duo and I decided to purchase the full size in shade B20 and then I can just use bronzer to warm it up when I need to.

Last but not least, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara ($28AUD) This may seem like a gimmick and a completely unnecessary product but when you've got it, you can definitely see its necessity. I was lucky enough to pick this up at the Estee Lauder and Companies corporate store for a steal so I could justify the purchase. The minuscule wand is the perfect size for separating your bottom lashes without looking unnatural or clumpy. The formula is also non-smudging and long-wearing which is a must in order to avoid the sleepy panda look.

That's my wrap up of some recent minis that I've loved and as you've seen have influenced future purchases. These companies know how to rope you in!

Millie x

The Cult Candle | Slatkin & Co.

Candles.  They're a must. All year round.

Those three sentences could really sum up this post but I will elaborate. You may be able to tell that I'm a big fan of candles and really any other lovely aroma-making things like reed diffusers. I'm very sensitive to smells and honestly if it doesn't smell good or even pleasant; be it a bedroom, physical environment or person, I'm a little hesitant. Some people seem to only like candles in Winter but I definitely don't discriminate. I do prefer particular scents throughout the year though, so now as it's Summer here in Australia I prefer more coconutty, fresh, tropical scents whereas in the cooler months I prefer spicy, rich and warm scents to make my room feel nice and cosy. The other day my friend walked into my room and said "It literally always smells amazing in here" and that was a lovely compliment because I want my room to be a nice, inviting place where my friends can feel comfortable. This may seem a little exaggerated for some but I just really like things to smell nice, ok..

The point of this post is to express my love for Slatkin & Co. candles. The range that every YouTuber and their dog raves about in hauls and burns in the background of their videos for added 'atmosphere'. As I live in Sydney, sadly we have no Bath & Body Works where I can purchase these but I bought my first mini one in Dubai Mall on a stopover and I have been lucky enough to find some on eBay at an elevated price I'm sure. Of the few I've tried, 'Tropical Spice' is my absolute favourite which I have repurchased many times now, is described as "an exotic blend of cinnamon bark, spiced rum and Tahitian vanilla. It's amaze. It's my go-to Summer candle and it is always received well.

Slatkin & Co. candles come in various sizes and at the moment I have the largest 3-wick size of Tropical Spice and it has lasted me well over a month with regular burning. The scent is very powerful and does linger once the candle is blown out and with a suggested 40-65 hour burning time it is pretty good value for money especially if you can buy them instore in the States.  I bought a few new scents last week which have just arrived from eBay and they're Spiced Cider, Coco Lobo and of course a small back up of Tropical Spice. All smaller sizes so not sure how long they'll last but it'll be good for trialling the new scents.

What are your favourite candle/scent brands?

Millie x

Follow me on Instagram! - @beautylocale. 

Christmas Beauty Wishlist 2013

With Christmas fast approaching, I thought I would put together a few of the beauty bits that I wouldn't mind receiving this Christmas. Beauty products are great for those girls (and boys) who like me, are beauty obsessed and love to try new things especially with so many companies bringing out amazing gift sets for the holiday seasons. Sadly, as I'm in Australia we don't get access to a lot of these like the glory of all glory sets that places like Sephora and UK stores stock however that doesn't mean we are left out completely.

My new job has meant that I'm now working in the city and sometimes a girl can't resist a cheeky window shop or swatch. One place that I seem to be gravitating to more and more is Mecca Cosmetica which is located in Myer as well as a freestanding store in the Galeries Victoria. Mecca Cosmetica if you are unfamiliar stocks beloved brands such as Nars, Hourglass, Stila and many many more. Their sister store Kit Cosmetics which is conveniently located very nearby stocks Smashbox, Too Faced, Korres, Soap & Glory and many many more. Mecca and Kit in particular are stocking some amazing sets at the moment suiting low and higher end budgets which would be amazing last minute gifts in the lead up to Christmas or for the people that you just don't know what to buy them!

Family and friends have been asking me what I would like for Christmas and as this year was my 21st and I was fortunate to receive some amazing gifts, I've found it a bit difficult to think of one thing that I would really love. In saying that there is always something beauty that I have my eye on. Here is a quick run down of my best picks!

NARS Velvet Lip Matte Pencil $39 - not in any particular shade, the pinks and reds both look stunning and I would get use out of any of their shades. I sadly missed out on the recent Guy Bourdin lip pencil set which apparently sold like hot cakes so if you were lucky enough to get your hands on one, I am quite jealous.

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder $66 - this is a serious luxury product in terms of price point and I haven't been able to bring myself to spend the money on it yet (*keyword yet) but I have a feeling that once my current MAC matte bronzer hits pan, this beauty will be my next choice. Following the rave reviews of every youtuber and blogger, I've definitely been sucked in by the hype.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation $90- again this product is on the list due to the incredible amount of hype it received online this year. I haven't been colour matched nor tested it because every time I went to a counter they had run out of the little pots to put the tester in so this is not a definite match for my skin type but it is a certainty on the 'To Try' list.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation $68- this I picked up a sample in the shade Sand  when I purchased a corrector and lipgloss recently. I've used Bobbi Brown foundations when I was younger and seemed to get on with them quite well and in terms of this particular formula I took recommendation from Anna of Vivianna Does Make Up. The shade matched me really well, was a good coverage and from memory I think I only had to touch up and re-powder once throughout the day which is pretty successful for my oily/combination skin.

Lush Sea Spray $12.50- being Summer here the tousled beach look is still very much in and it seems like almost every company is bringing out their version of a sea spray or some kind of texturising spray. I've tried the Kevin Murphy Hair Resort Spray which I did enjoy so I would like to compare the two especially as they are very different in price. Also I always love Lush products for their natural ingredients.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation $68- even though as I mentioned I have oilier skin, I've read many reviews on this foundation from girls who claim to have a similar type and they still rave about it. So I'm keen to head to the lovely girls at Mecca and get their opinion as well as colour matched.

Bobbi Brown Blush Brush $82- this amount of money for a makeup brush for just an everyday gal like me, I even question. However it is claimed to be amazing and award-winning which I believe due to its great tapered shape and production. Also, Estee from Essie Button raves about this brush and she is another lady who always sucks me in with her recommendations.

Sorry for the rambling, Christmas and new beauty bits is all very exciting for me and there are definitely more products on my mental wishlist but I will not bore you any longer. I am definitely wanting to head to a Dior counter in the next few days and check out their new products for the season, the packaging looks enough to entice me!

Millie x

Introductions

Helloooo blogosphere, 

So after much deliberation, I have decided to start myself a blog. This will be a place for me to share anything and everything when it comes to beauty and lifestyle. As a self-confessed makeup and beauty addict, I thought this to be the perfect way to share anything I think may be useful to anyone else as well as product reviews (as well as I'm sure lust/wishlists) and some lifestyle bits and bobs. 

To tell you a bit about myself, my name is Millie and I'm from Sydney in Australia. I have a passion for travel and languages and have always had a love for fashion, make up and all things creative. I'm currently studying but now that my semester is over I thought it was finally time to start this blog that I've been thinking about for months. As well as an avid YouTube watcher, I'm always trawling the many beauty blogs out there for new and exciting things. There is so much out there and so many amazing 'gurus' but I hope to share things that not everybody is aware of. Beauty is more than skin deep, it has the ability to liberate and give confidence; it is a way of expressing creativity. For the moment when I have no time to paint on paper, I choose to paint my face.  

Millie x