Rimmel London Provocalips Review and Swatch

I was very kindly sent the Rimmel London Provocalips 16HR Kiss Proof Lip Colors to trial.

How it works

• Two steps to this product. 
• You can untwist the tube at both ends. There is a doe-foot applicator on each end. 
• You apply the Step 1 Intense Colour first. Then you apply Step 2 Lock & Shine. 
• Comes in a total of 8 colours. 
• Tip: wait 30 seconds before applying Step 2 to allow Step 1 to set first. I find that the colour lasts longer that way. 

From top to bottom: 110 Dare to Pink, 700 Skinny Dipping, 200 I'll Call You, 310 Little Mix, 500 Kiss Me You Fool, 730 Make Your Move, 230 Kiss Fatal, 550 Play With Fire

My thoughts on the product

• It is highly pigmented. 
• There is no stickiness to the texture (like you get with lip glosses). 
• Once it sets, it's basically touch dry. Hence their claim of it being "kiss proof". 
• It will only come off when you eat or if you have dry flaking lips. Otherwise, it has excellent staying power. I've tested it up to 8 hours and only had to reapply once because I ate. 
• It's neither hydrating nor drying. 
• You'll have to use makeup remover to take this stuff off because a wipe ain't gonna do the trick. 
• The recommended RRP is AUD17.95. Relatively affordable. Makes a great stocking filler this Christmas! 

Now here are photos of me with each lip colour on. I only applied one coat so that you judge how pigmented it is with one swipe. 

110 Dare to Pink - This is a pretty pale pink colour.

700 Skinny Dipping - This seems to be the perfect nude for me! What an apt name, it made my lips look naked.

200 I'll Call You- This is my least favourite colour of the lot. It's a standard safe pink colour. A bit boring for me.

310 Little Minx - I really like pinks that pop so this one was really right up my alley.

500 Kiss Me You Fool - Whoops! You can tell that I overdrew my lips (it was intentional)! Love the name. I'd like to wear this on a date and if my date wear to compliment me on my lip colour, I'd say "Thanks! It's called Kiss Me You Fool!"

730 Make Your Move - I absolutely love this colour! It has an "English rose" feel to it that I can't explain. I think it's an excellent all around colour. I think most people find it boring but I love this like I love Celestial from the Apocalips Lip Lacquer range.

230 Kiss Fatal - This is my first purple toned lip colour and I must admit that I really like it. It has a very grunge-y element it.

550 Play With Fire - This is a pretty standard dark red colour that will suit almost anyone. 

Have you tried Rimmel London's Provocalips 16HR Kiss Proof Lip Colour? If so, what are your thoughts? Even if you haven't, what are your expectations? 

Arbonne Makeup Primer Review

Arbonne Makeup Primer 
Claims: "Visually diminishes the appearance of fine lines and pores, creating a canvas for flawless makeup application."
RRP: AUD51
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Review: I thought I liked the Benefit Porefessional primer. Now, I am in love with this primer. If you thought Porefessional was good, this is many times better. It really smooths out my skin, creating the perfect base for foundation. I have paired this primer with my L'Oreal Lumi Magique foundation and they're a match made in heaven! My skin looked flawless and more importantly, it stayed that way for hours. On one occasion, I was at a party where the bar area of stuffy and the dance floor was packed with people and was quite hot (in the temperature sense!). Even in my semi-drunken state, I could tell that my face makeup was very much intact when I got home at 1am in the morning.

Let's take a moment to admire the excellent packaging this product comes in. It comes with a pump, which is wonderful in terms of hygiene. The plastic bottle itself is sturdy and looks sleek and "professional" (for the lack of a better word to describe its appeal).

This is not a full pump. It's to show you the consistency.

One pump is plenty to cover your entire face. My gripe with Porefessional is that when you apply it, it does not spread. It sticks to the first area you touched. With the Arbonne Makeup Primer, you can smooth and spread it all over your face evenly and to your hearts desire. To me, that's an important quality for a primer because it then enables the foundation to be applied smoothly and evenly, thus given the appearance of flawlessness.

I am thoroughly enjoying this primer. I will be repurchasing it when I run out but I believe it will be a while away since such small amounts go a long way each time! If you're interested in this product you can check it out here.

For my American readers, you can purchase the product from here or contact a consultant here.

Have you ever tried Arbonne products before? 

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Review

Le Teint Touche Eclat
Claims: "Targets shadowy areas and highlights the contours of the face. With buildable coverage and free of opaque fillers, the perfecting texture evens the complexion and conceals imperfections, enhancing the skin’s natural beauty."
RRP: AUD78
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Review: This is probably the most expensive makeup item I own. Particularly in terms of it's value. I was lucky enough to pick this up at the Duty Free section of Changi Airport as I mentioned in this post. Okay, let's get the obvious out of the way first. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous yet simple. I don't expect any less from YSL. I love that it comes with a pump for you to dispense the product. Plus points for hygiene!

This is a light coverage foundation that can be built up to medium with more layers (I demonstrate how this foundation covers up a lot of my facial imperfections below). It is also very lightweight and I don't notice its presence throughout the day. The lasting power is not excellent but is greatly improved when paired with a primer. I like to apply Benefit's Porefessional primer before hand.

Bare and cleansed

Visible pigmentation 

Using one full pump 

Applied with fingers, blended out with a Beauty Blender sponge

Less visible pigmentation 

The shade I own is B30 and it's a very good match for my skin, particularly my neck. This foundation can cover most of my pigmentation very well. I usually only need very little concealer for one or two very dark spots and a bit more for under my eyes. To the naked eye, my skin looks practically flawless. Whether it makes my skin look radiant, I cannot tell because I don't see it when I look in the mirror. But sometimes, when I look back at photos, I feel like it does.

Would I repurchase this product when it runs out? I'm not sure. It's very pricey and I get the feeling that I'm not completely head over heels with this product. I mean, I love it but I can live without it. I'm gonna try other foundations first before I can definitively say this is the only one for me.

What's your favourite foundation? How much are you willing to spend for the perfect foundation for your skin? 

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Sticks Review & Swatches

Top to bottom: Bad Girl Bronze, Blamed Blue, Bulletproof Beige, Guilty Grey, Paranoid Purple, Witness White, Blackmail, Tempting Turquoise, and Gossip Green 

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Sticks 
Claims: "Designed to provide rich colour in one easy stroke. Creamy, crease-proof, and waterproof colour."
RRP: AUD12.95
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Review: Rimmel London has been churning out a lot of good products lately. I'll keep this simple and sweet since there are many other raving reviews out there. These eyeshadow pencils/crayons are very creamy and smooth. They are long-lasting and do not crease. This invention is a lazy/time-poor girl's dream. Application is so quick and easy. I usually apply a colour all over my lids and then apply a dark colour on the outer corners of my eyes. Then, using my clean ring finger, I blend all the colours to make it look cohesive. And Ta-da! You're done!

Going from left to right: Witness White, Blackmail, Guilty Grey, Paranoid Purple, Blamed Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Gossip Green, Bulletproof Beige, and Bad Girl Bronze 

I love how pigmented these eyeshadow sticks are. My favourite combination is the Beige and Bronze. Yes, I know it's safe and kinda boring. But I love the Blue too. It's such a beautiful and daring colour. There's only one thing that I must warn you about; because the pencils are so soft and creamy, they break quite easily. So there's no point in making them mega sharp. Keep it blunt. If you want more precision, just swipe some colour off the stick with a brush.

Please let me know if you'd like to see a tutorial of me using a couple of these eyeshadow sticks.


Do you use eyeshadow sticks? What do you think of them? 

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Lacquer Review + Swatches

Okay, there are so many reviews out there on the World Wide Web that you're probably sick of seeing, hearing and reading about it. I guess this product really took the world by storm. Anyhow, I'd like to contribute my two cents.

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Lacquer
Claims:  "Combines the colour of a lipstick and lacquer shine of a lip gloss. The creamy conditioning formula features pure colour pigments, leaving lips vibrant and glossy."
RRP: AUD15.95

Packaging: 5 out of 5
Review:  I am not a big fan of lip glosses because no matter what colour I choose, they don't show up on my lips. I might as well only buy and wear clear lipglosses. When Rimmel came up with these Lip Lacquers. I was overjoyed! These babies are seriously pigmented. Okay, well, maybe this isn't new invention. After all, YSL did come up with Glossy Stains first but there's a huge difference: Rimmel is a lot more affordable, especially if you live in Australia.

I find the nude colours are not as long lasting and as the pinks, particularly the brighter ones. I found that as long as I am not eating or drinking, the product really stays put. If you're gonna eat or drink, expect to only reapply once. I am also happy to announce that these lip lacquers are not drying to the lips, which is something that I struggle with lipsticks. Another thing to note, the bright pinks are not for the faint-hearted. The colours are very fun and loud. Personally, I like it that way but you can tone it down my dabbing a bit of the product on the centre of your lips and spread it out with your ring finger. That way, you get a sheer finish.

I don't want to rave on and on about this product because I'm sure you would have heard enough of it if you've been watching Youtube beauty videos and reading beauty blogs for the past few months. Now, on to the swatches!


 Here's a photo of what my lips look like with nothing but a bit of lip balm on.

Pale girls, Phenomenon (beige-y nude) is perfect for you! Pair it with a dark smokey eye.

100 Phenomenon

100 Phenomenon

Nude lips for those with darker complexion? No problem! Nude Eclipse (brown-y nude) has you covered!

600 Nude Eclipse

600 Nude Eclipse

Stargazer (shimmery honey brown nude), I imagine would look great on people like Beyonce! Extra shimmer to look extra glam.

701 Stargazer

701 Stargazer

If you fancy yourself some berry-toned lip colour, Solstice is your girl!

201Solstice

201 Solstice

Ladies, if you're a fan of mauve-y pinks, give Celestial a try.

101 Celestial

101 Celestial

Want a taste of what it's like to be a princess? Put Nova (true girly pink) on. 

102 Nova

102 Nova

Pink, red and fuchsia got together and made the ultimate colour baby: Apocaliptic.

300 Apocaliptic

300 Apocaliptic

For a dose of red, give Stellar (reddish pink) a go! P.S. I don't know why my camera can't pick up the hint of pink in Stellar. Sorry!

501 Stellar

501 Stellar

I'm giving away four Apocalips Lip Lacquers! Check back in on Wednesday to find out what shades and how to enter. Also, I've created a Facebook page for this blog. Hooray! Finally! Feel free to drop by and say hello. I'd love to chat.

Have you tried these lip lacquers? Which is your favourite colour? I can't decide between Apocaliptic and Stellar.

Looking Naturally Pretty with Rimmel: Review & Swatches

I recently tested out three Rimmel London products. Read on for review, swatches and a how-to on achieving a "naturally pretty" look!

Rimmel London 9-in1 BB Cream SPF 25
Claims: It primes skin, moisturises, minimises the appearance of pores, helps protect against environmental damage, conceals, covers, smoothes, mattifies and brightens.
RRP: AUD$12.95
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Review: I truly am impressed with this BB cream. At first, I thought its claims of being able to 9 things was just a marketing gimmick but I quickly discovered that I was wrong. Its texture is very much similar to most primers and it has a matte finish. Most BB creams are light coverage. This one can be built to medium. I find its coverage so good that I don't apply any foundation or concealer over it.

This product makes my face look flawless. The only thing that doesn't completely work for me is that it's pink-based. I need a yellow-based version. Other than that, I'm very happy with this BB cream. It has simplified my makeup application process by a lot. It's the epitome of a multitasking product!

I know it doesn't appear very pink in this photo but when I apply it onto my face, the contrast is quite stark. I think this is a really good shade for many Caucasian women.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder
Claims: Goes on smooth to even out skintone. Offers a natural, matte finish.
RRP: AUD$12.95
Packaging: 4.5 out of 5
Review: Tanya Burr raves about this powder a lot. I've noticed that this is also a favourite amongst other Youtubers. I was really keen to test out this product and I'm happy to report that it is worth the hype. Well, first off, it's really affordable for a "hyped product". Secondly, it does what it says! My skin does not look like it has been powdered with this product. It helps keep foundation/BB cream on, making them last longer. My housemate tested this product out as well. She has oilier skin than I do. She also used a foundation that's poor at keeping oils at bay to test this product out. She was very impressed. This powder was able to keep oils from surfacing and made her foundation last longer.

I really like using this powder with the BB cream (above) because it is more yellow-toned, matching it to the rest of my body. The only reason I gave the packaging a 4.5 is the screw plastic cap. When I am in the hurry in the morning and my hands are covered in BB cream residue. It's a bit difficult to grab hold of the cap and unscrew. It would have been nice if they made it a flip top. But I think if they did, the price would have been compromised.

I hope you can see the swatch!

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner
Claims: Glides on easily and precisely for a flawless, defined line. Its soft and creamy formula also boasts rich pigments to make sure that colour is sleek and stays put.
RRP: AUD$9.95
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Review: In my opinion, this is the most luxe-looking "drugstore" eyeliner that I've ever come across so far. It's creamy and glides on smoothly as promised. It's not soft to the point where it breaks apart upon applying pressure. The Nude shade is the perfect waterline colour. I've tried white and pale pink eyeliners and they look fake on my waterline. This eyeliner subtly opens up my eyes but makes a huge difference to my entire appearance.

The one thing that it has not managed to achieve was to stay put on my waterline for more than an hour or two. It's okay though. It's understandable. Eyeliners fade very fast on my waterline. The only thing that has remotely stayed was a waterproof gel liner. I think I am so happy with the colour that it has compensated for the fact that it has poor lasting power on my waterline. I can't wait to get my hands on other colours and it try them on my lids.

Now, on to the mini tutorial! This is for those who are time poor in the morning.

1. Apply the BB cream all over your face and some down your neck with your hands.
2. Using a brush, apply the Stay Matte Powder onto your T-zone and pat some onto your cheeks last so that the powder is least concentrated there.
3. Curl your lashes.
4. Apply mascara if you have the time (I tend to be slow with this step).
5. Draw the Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Nude onto your waterline.
6. Apply some lip balm.

Done! You're out the door within 5 minutes looking naturally pretty!

Have you used any of these products? What do you think of it/them?

Stila Convertible Color in Lilium Swatches + Review

A lot has happened this week. I've been in med school for only a couple of weeks now and already I feel like I am drowning. I've thrown a house-warming tea party and also finally secured a fourth housemate for the place I am living. I only just got the chance to sit down and write a hopefully lovely review for you. Well, no one ever said life was or is easy. So here it goes.

Stila Convertible Color in Lilium  
Claims: A 2-in-1 compact with a sheer tint that adds an inherent glow to cheeks, and a fresh, radiant colour to lips.
RRP: USD$25 + tax
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Review: As you may recall from my USA haul post, I purchased the long-lusted Stila Convertible Color. I went with Lilium based on my mother's advice. Also, peachey pink was a colour that my makeup drawer had lacked. Although the packaging says that this product is for the lip and cheeks, I have been dabbing some onto my lids. It works as I base for my pink eyeshadows. Sometimes, I wear this product as my eyeshadow. In terms, of multi-tasking, this product receives two thumbs up from me.

The convertible color has a very smooth creamy texture that does not feel sticky. You can easily adjust the degree of pigmentation by applying/blending more or less of the product. Although you may choose to use a brush to apply this product, it is not essential. I have achieved great results with just the tips of my finger. My number one tip for this product is to blend, blend, blend! when using it on the cheeks for a more natural/subtle finish (also to avoid looking like a clown). 

The packaging is very light and sturdy. I also liked that it comes with a compact mirror. It makes this product the perfect travel companion. Its lasting power is not incredible but given my track record of rubbing my face with my hands, it may have contributed to its short life. I find that this product normally only lasts 3 to 5 hours on my cheeks. However, having said that, I have observed that it lasts a lot longer on my eyelids. So, remember, no rubbing!

  
Here's a swatch. 
  

Here's a photo of me without any makeup on. 

Here are photos of me with nothing but Stila Convertible Color in Lilium on. I've applied some lightly on my eyelids, cheeks and lips. 

 

I hope this review has been helpful. It is not necessarily a must-have product but I am very happy with it. So if you're after a multi-tasking cream product, feel free to consider one of Stila's Convertible Color.

Have you tried this product before and which colour was it? What do you think of it?