Mary-Lou Manizer

This is my all time favorite highlighter. This pressed powder has a golden, pearly finish which reflects the light and gives your skin a glowing, luminous look. It’s not too glittery and the powder is really fine- be careful of fallout with this one. It really compliments contouring and attracts attention to all the right spots. It can turn an everyday look into pure glamour!

It retails at David Jones for $34.95 but as you only need to use the tiniest amount of product it will last you a very long time.

This product has multiple uses. Here are some different placement options:

- cheekbones

- cupids bow

- brow bone

- collar bone

- eyelids (particularly inner corner)

A little of this highlighter goes a long way. Make sure you do your make-up in extremely good light to avoid over applying. I find applying with a stippling or fan brush is the best way because it gives you control over how much product you apply.

 Thanks for reading xx

My Top 6 Favourite Beauty Gurus on Youtube

I don't know about you guys but one of my favourite things to do is jump on Youtube and check out the new uploads for the day from my favourite beauty gurus. I have learnt so much from these guys and get so much enjoyment from watching their videos.

1. Shaaanxo 

Shannon from Shaaanxo is my all time favourite Youtuber. She is so talented and is always sharing different types of looks she has created. She has her own business XO Beauty which sells make-up brushes and false lashes designed my her.

https://www.youtube.com/user/shaaanxo

 2. Karissa Pukas

Coming in at a close second is Canadian Karissa. This girl has spunk! Karissa does a wide variety of videos ranging from tutorials, hauls, fashion look books, etc. She is also the owner of her very own company Social Eyes which sell a range of false lashes.

https://www.youtube.com/user/saturdaynightsalrite

 

 3. Chloe Morello

Chloe is a big name in the 'Beauty Guru' world. She uses a lot of high end quality products to create beautiful make-up looks. Her tutorials a really informative and she really knows her stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/user/ChloeMorello

4. Brittney Lee Saunders

Brittney by far is the funniest beauty guru on Youtube. She doesn't take things too seriously and adds a lot of comedy into her videos. Brittney posts a lot of different kinds of videos with beauty only being a portion of them. She uses a lot more affordable make-up brands in her tutorials.

https://www.youtube.com/user/beautybybrittneyx

 

5. Makeup Geek

Marlena was one of the first beauty gurus I ever watched on Youtube. She is such a talented make-up artist and has the biggest range of make-up tutorials. She is also the owner of the Makeup Geek cosmetic company who are well known for their incredible eyeshadows. Marlena not only has a lot of make-up related beauty advice but she has a lot of worldly advice to share.

https://www.youtube.com/user/MakeupGeekTV

6. Kandee Johnson

Kandee has so much personality and puts so much energy into her videos. She is by far the most talented make-up artist I have ever seen. She can work absolute magic and I love watching her transformation videos. This girl is an inspiration.

https://www.youtube.com/user/kandeejohnson

 

 I hope you enjoyed reading my list of favourite Youtubers. Let me know who your favourites are!

Thanks for reading xx

Kat Von D 'Monarch' Eyeshadow Palette

Originally know for her amazing tattoo artistry, Kat Von D created her self titled make-up brand back in 2008. On my recent visit to Sephora Sydney I stopped by the Kat Von D display and the 'Monarch' palette was the first item that made it's way into my shopping basket.

The 'Monarch' palette is one of two palettes in the Butterfly Effect Collection by Kat Von D, this one encasing more warm toned shades. The palette contains x9 eyeshadows, each extremely pigmented with high colour payoff. The triple milled powder is so pigmented that the darker shades can be a bit difficult to work with. Remember to start off with minimal product and build your colour up. It is very easy to go overboard!

There are endless possibilities with the colours in this palette. From neutral to dramatic there is literally colour options for everyone and every style.

Below I have listed the names and descriptions of all 9 shadows:

Entomology (matte cream)

Telepathy (pearl gold)

Tiny Death (glitter cream)
Wrath (deep pearl orange)

Papilio (pearl chocolate)

Summerfly (glitter gold)

Killing Jar (pearl copper)

Delaney (pearl silver)

Vanish (matte taupe)

Disintegration (pearl brown)

Shadow Box (matte chocolate)

Deadhead (matte black)

These shadows are long wearing and contain a number of ingredients to hydrate and protect your skin, including rose extract and vitamins A, C, and E. They contain no Parabens, Sulfates or Phthalates. It's great to see a brand incorporating skincare into their make-up.

Below I have linked two Youtube videos from the Sephora channel which I thought might interest you. The first gives a really good insight to Kat's inspiration behind the palette and the second is a tutorial.

Introducing the Chrysalis & Monarch Palettes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4C8TN1RJSQ

The Monarch Eyeshadow Make-up Tutorial by Kat Von D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX3x3IrQPcU

Thanks for reading xx

Violet Box: March 2015

I had mixed feelings about this month's box. It would be great to see the boxes more personalised to each customer. There were a couple of products I really liked but two of my products were designed for mature skin. I would of preferred products more suited to my skin. I know that as I am in my mid twenties it is time to start thinking about prevention in regards to aging skin but as I am reviewing these products for you all, it is hard to review products that I am not going to see immediate results with.
I was really happy to see some make-up in the box- my favourite! I still think these boxes are great value for money and look forward to seeing what comes next month.

 1. Aspect Extreme C20
As this is an 'age defying' serum this is not something I would normally use on myself. I have heard quite mixed reviews about this serum, some people saying it is very harsh on the skin. I would definitely consult a skincare professional before using just based on what I have heard.

2. Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel
I absolutely love this cleanser. Bioderma is quick becoming one of my favourite skincare brands. This is another wonderful product from them. This cleanser is a gel formula that foams up once water is added. It leaves the skin feeling fresh and clean. I look forward to purchasing the full size of this product and using more Bioderma products in future.

3. Doucce Mineral Matte Lipstick (shade: 903)
This feels like a really high quality lipstick. It is a nice consistency and has strong pigment payoff. I found it to have good staying power, however this isn't a shade I would generally choose for myself. I think Doucce have done a great job with this product and the sleek, modern packaging compliments it well.

4. Doucce Lip Definer (shade: 456)
 This is quite a nice colour and compliments the above lipstick well. It does need to be warmed up quite a bit before application in order to not pull on the lips. This may partly be due to it being a matte lip product. I was excited to receive a lip liner in the box this month as I am always looking for lip liners to add to my collection.

5. Lonvitalite C8 Collagen Crystal Eye Mask

This is the first time I have ever used any kind of skincare product like this, and I loved it! As I don't have matured skin I didn't notice any difference as far as improvement in fine lines etc, but I did find it to be a lovely product to use. It was very cooling on the skin and it left my skin feeling hydrated and soft. I would be very interested to see this used on more mature skin.

I also received a 20% off voucher for Suki Skincare, if you read my review for last month's Violet Box you will know how impressed I was with my Suki sample.

I hope you enjoyed this month's review.

Thanks for reading xx

How to Cleanse Your Face Like a Pro!

If you are like me, before I studied Beauty Therapy I used to just slap on some cleanser in the shower and was done with it. I had no idea just how wrong I was doing it. We should all in fact be doing 3 cleanses per day. And no I am not talking about running to the bathroom during your lunch break to cleanse your face. Ideally you would do one cleanse in the morning and then two in the evening. Follow these simple instructions to achieve clean and glowing skin!

Step One: Remove your make-up

Soak x3 cotton pads in make-up remover. Place a cotton pad over eye area and hold for a few seconds to let the make-up remover dissolve your eye make-up. Gently wipe down and across, repeat until all eye make-up is removed. Repeat on other eye. Use your third cotton pad to remove any lip products you have on.

Step Two: First cleanse

Use either a pre cleansing solution (good for heavy make-up wearers) or your normal cleanser. Dampen face and then massage cleanser in circular motions all over face, neck and décolletage (top of chest). Make sure you circle upwards and you do not want to be dragging your skin downwards. Lastly rinse away the cleanser. This first cleanse removes any make-up, dirt and excess oil that is on the skin.

Step Three: Second cleanse

Apply cleanser to dampened skin and repeat cleansing technique as mentioned above. Because you have already done your first cleanse this time the cleanser really has the opportunity to work thoroughly and treat your skin.

Step Four: Exfoliate (2-3 times per week)

How you use your exfoliator will depend on what type you are using (e.g. granular, enzymatic). If you are using a granular exfoliator you should generally apply to a dampened face and massage over the face and décolletage for about 1 minute. Don’t forget to massage in upward circular motions! Enzymatic exfoliators generally have specific instructions for use so be sure to check before applying.

Step Five: Facial Mask (2-3 times per week)

Apply face mask to face and décolletage area. Allow to set – leave on for the recommended time depending on the mask you are using. Be sure to check product instructions. Removing face masks is not the easiest thing to do particularly when they have set to your face like a cement sheet. To make the process quicker and easier, use two dampened facial sponges. Make sure one is wrung all the way out and the other damp. Wipe the more dampened one over and area and follow with dryer other one. This helps to remove the mask easily and avoid having to scrub and tug at the skin. You can also follow with a wet facewasher to make sure there is no product left on the skin.

Step Six: Apply toner

Soak a cotton pad in facial toner and apply all over face and décolletage.

Step Seven: Serums

Apply a few drops of your favourite serums and dab onto the areas you want to treat whether that be wrinkles and fine lines, pigmentation, sensitivity, etc. Remember not to overlap your serums.

Step Eight: Moisturise

Pretty self-explanatory! Look out for those SPF levels to be sure you are protecting yourself from the sun. If your moisturiser does not contain any SPF protection you may want to look into using a facial sunscreen as well.

I hope you found this helpful, thanks for reading xx

Violet Box: Feb 2015

What is Violet Box: Violet Box is a monthly subscription service where you receive a box each month containing a minimum of x5 beauty product samples. It is a great way to try out new products without spending a lot of money. Once you have tried the product if you would like to purchase the full size you can do so on the Violet Box website: www.violetbox.com.au or at: www.thebeautyoffice.com.au It is a great way to treat yourself!

I just received my first Violet Box subscription box this month and let me just say, I am impressed. If you are a fellow beauty product addict then you need this in your life!

Below I have listed all of the products that I received in the February 2015 box:

 

1. Natural World Moroccan Argan Oil

I put this in the ends of my hair while it was damp and then blow dried. It made my hair feel so soft and nourished. It really brought out the shine. I will definitely continue to use this product in my hair. The 25ml bottle I received will last for a while as you only need to use a little bit at a time. This is exactly what my heat damaged hair needed.

2. Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser

I love this! It is a lemongrass and chamomile infused facial cleanser/exfoliator in one. Once the sugar granules are massaged into the skin it turns into a creamy consistency. Not only does it leave your skin feeling amazingly smooth and clean but it smells like lemonade.  I like that all of the ingredients are natural and I will definitely be purchasing the full size product once I’m finished my sample jar. I only wish this product came in different packaging because I am not a fan of the dip-jar, it’s a bit unhygienic and who has time to worry about a spatula on a regular basis- lets be real. Regardless, I like it that much I am willing to put up with that... Full size of 120ml retails for $46.95.

3. Emite Make-up BB Highlighting Pen

I’m not going to lie- I did not like this product at all. It doesn’t blend easily and looks quite chalky. Considering this product retails for $32, I would of expected it to be of better quality.

  

 

4. Teeez Trend Cosmetics Easy on the Eyes Pencil

How have I never heard of this brand before?! This eye pencil is amazing. It is so creamy and pigmented and the colour is very long lasting. I would recommend perhaps setting with a black shadow as it does tend to smudge a little. I received the full size in Black De Luxe. I also thought the packaging was really cute. I am keen to try out more products from Teeez.

5. Pretty Woman Magnetix Nail Polish

This colour is absolutely stunning and the formula is perfection, however I am not a fan of the magnetic nail effect. It looks good on some people but I am not a fan of it on myself. If your into the magnetic nail polish phase then I am sure you would be very impressed with this one. It is quite effective and I had lots of fun playing around with it.

  I was also excited to receive a Furless Pro Stippling Brush PRO6F as a free gift. I have wanted to try these brushes for the longest time and am so impressed with the quality. It is so well made and so soft, everything you look for in a make-up brush. And even better, they are completely cruelty free. I am keen to try out more of their brushes and am definitely adding some of these brushes to my wish list.

Overall I was absolutely thrilled with my first Violet Box and look forward to my future subscription boxes.

Thanks for reading xx