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      Makeup

      Top 10 Best Drugstore Makeup Products

      I am so excited to finally reveal to you my list of best drugstore makeup products! These are the ultimate drugstore gems for me, it just baffles me how cheap most of these are!

      So, here are my picks for the 10 best drugstore makeup products in my world!

      Update: My favorites have actually changed, but these products are still some of my top favorite drugstore picks! For my updated favorites, check out the list of related posts below, or click on the following link:

      Top 5 Best Affordable Makeup (Priceline Australia)

      Related posts: Top 5 Best Affordable MakeupDrugstore Makeup Starter Kit, Current Australian Drugstore Makeup Favorites, NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams Review, Revlon ColorBurst Balms Review.

      Read more

      Makeup

      Review: Hourglass Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette

      After weeks of playing around with this, I can finally write up a review on yet another highly coveted product from Hourglass, the Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette. I actually purchased two, but my mom wanted to take the other one (I forgot the name), so I’m left with this Obscura one although I honestly prefer the one my mom took! LOL.
      Hourglass Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette Review
      Hourglass Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette

      Anyways…

      Shades: Obscura is a warm, earth toned palette so the main color theme here is brown.

      Check out the swatches below.

      Hourglass Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette Review
      Hourglass Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette

      From left to right, the colors are:

      1. A satin-matte cream. Perfect for the inner corners and the browbone.

      2. A matte smokey brown. This had the worst color payoff as I will explain later.

      3. A shimmery-metallic rose gold with copper-bronze tones. Absolutely gorgeous all-over-lid shade.

      4. A satin coffee brown, much redder than the second shade.

      5. A metallic cool bronze, the only cool-toned shade in the palette.

      Texture: The texture is, of course, powder and although they are very soft and finely milled, they are disappointingly dry, over-powdery and dusty. They make the biggest mess when applied with a brush. If you apply these shadows after doing your face makeup, then you might need to re-do most of it!

      Just take a look at how crazy powdery and dusty this is:

      Hourglass Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette Review
      Eww…
      Hourglass Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette Review

      The most annoying part is that the shadows are not in individual pans, they are all fused together, placed immediately side by side in a rectangular pan, which is undeniably beautiful but…


      Take a look at this:

      Hourglass Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette Review

      Look at how the powder from the second color, a dark brown, migrates on to the lightest shade on the left?

      Every single time I pick up some of that dark brown color, powder will get on to the cream shade and it’s difficult to clean up! So, although they’re beautiful to look at, it really is a pain to work with. So instead of using a brush to pick up the colors, I’ve just been using my fingers to pat the color on my lids, and once they set I blend them out with a blending brush.



      Color Payoff: Taking into account the hefty price tag, the color payoff is quite mediocre.

      The middle shade, described as the “rose gold” has the best pigmentation and smoothness of them all.

      However, the second shade from the left, the dark brown, is very patchy upon application. It also barely stuck on to the skin despite my greatest efforts to pat the color on to the lids with my finger. It all seemed to fly away in the blending process.

      The satin coffee brown shade was also a pain to work with because it didn’t adhere to the skin well.

      Hourglass Obscura Modernist Eyeshadow Palette Review
      It just won’t stick!

      Everything else were just meh.

      Longevity: All colors lasted for more than 5-6 hours without primer, which is pretty impressive, given they were so difficult to work with.

      Price: I purchased them at Mecca Cosmetica for AU$76 each, equivalent to about US$60. It retails for US$58 pre-tax at Sephora, and about US$63 after tax, so the prices are actually similar.

      Final Verdict: Although the palette is a pain to work with, after a huge amount of effort, I could still make it work and the results are honestly beautiful. It’s not too over-the-top shimmery, it’s not too can-be-barely-seen sheer. It’s a brown, earth-toned palette with a finish that is a perfect balance between satin, semi-sheer, luminous and matte.

      So I’m giving this 3 buttons. I’m being nice here, I could just give it a 2 or 2.5, but I can’t deny my love for the design and packaging. And the fact that once you’re able to work with it, the end result is actually pretty nice.

      The lighting today is a bit wonky, so I will upload an eye selfie soon!

      Stay tuned, dolls! ‘Til next time!

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      Skincare

      Review: REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

      Hi, my loves! So sorry I’ve been a littttle MIA. Been swamped with makeup work, motherhood and Brown Bucketeer thingy majigs. But I’m back with another review! I actually wanted to review a few makeup products but decided to review this mask instead because it’s been my lifesaver these past few weeks. Plus, we recently just celebrated 15 years of REN Skincare!

      Yes, I’m talking about the cult-favorite REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, a rinse-off mask designed to “refresh and renew the complexion, reduce fine lines and improve skin tone and radiance.”

      REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask
      REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

      Let’s start off with my skin profile: I have dry combination skin, but since it’s very cold here my skin has been much drier than usual. Due to frequent travels, my skin has also been experiencing lots of breakouts, so I have hyperpigmentation issues.

      Texture & Scent: The texture of this mask is of a very thick, pasty jelly.

      REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask
      REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

      Once spread out, the consistency thins out and you will be able to see and feel slightly grainy textures, but they aren’t abrasive at all. Think of them as tiny balls of jelly!

      REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask
      REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

      Speaking of jelly, this smells like orange jelly. If you love citrus scents, you will enjoy having this on your face!

      Packaging: The packaging is a plastic bottle with a pump. It’s very hygienic because the opening of the pump has got a tiny cap too!

      REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask
      REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

      The issue with pumps is that we usually won’t be able to completely finish up the whole bottle because there would be leftover product that we simply can’t reach in to get, but the good thing about REN Skincare packaging is that the products are stored in a plastic bag inside the bottle. This ensures every single bit of product left will get sucked out!

      How fancy schmancy (and effective) is that!

      Product: Now, they did have a lot of claims about this product – were they all true?


      Personally, I found that this product is an excellent pick-me-up for days when my skin is dull because it has an immediate overall brightening and refreshing effect. (note: brightening is not whitening)

      Over a period of three weeks, using this once every three to four days, I was able to see visible fading of some of my worst acne marks/hyperpigmentation spots.

      I also had problems with congested skin around my nose and jaw area. They were tiny flesh-colored bumps, but they’re not pimples, they’re simply congested pores. I had a hard time removing these even with regular exfoliation and acne treatments, but this mask really helped accelerate the whole process. My skin texture has been much smoother ever since I’ve used this regularly for three consecutive weeks.

      So, all of their claims seem to be true, except for the “fine lines” claim – I personally don’t have lines yet (except laugh lines, which I’m not too worried about) so I can’t testify to that.

      Application Tips: This product does sting my skin, especially areas with active acne and open wounds. So if you have cystic acne or open wounds, you might have to avoid those areas. You can apply this on past acne marks because it really helps fade the dark spots left behind, but I don’t recommend applying it when your acne hasn’t healed yet as it will most likely sting and irritate it.

      If you have sensitive skin, make sure you do a patch test first!

      Final Verdict: So, all in all, I highly recommend this mask if you suffer from dull, bumpy, spotted skin. With regular use (once every three to four days) you would be able to see a difference. My skin was immediately brighter, smoother in texture (less bumps!) and my past acne marks are slowly, but surely, fading away.

      I give this 4.5/5 buttons!

      Have you ever tried this mask?
      Let me know if you loved it too, or if you know of any comparable alternatives!

      Skincare

      5 Essential Steps in Winter Foot Care

      Winter is right around the proverbial corner so it’s about time we break out our booties and boots! Not a big fan of cold weather, but I do love my boots!

      However, having our feet wrapped up in socks and shoes for too long can cause dry, cracked heels from lack of moisture and the warmth of being wrapped up (especially indoors with the heater on) may sometimes cause sweating and the emission of bad odour. Nothing is more revolting than taking your socks off at the end of the day to sweaty, moist, bad-smelling feet. Yuck!

      So, don’t neglect your feet’s needs just because you won’t be exposing them when you’re outdoors! Here are 5 essential steps in winter foot care you may need to look into this Southern-Hemisphere-winter to maintain healthy and gorgeous looking feet:

      1. Keep ’em moisturized with Vitamin E Cream

      This is one product you should have readily available at home. I love slathering this all over my feet after I shower, focusing on the heels.

      This Vitamin E cream from Enya is comparable to other moisturizers out there and is only $3.99 for a huge 1 kg bottle at My Chemist or Chemist Warehouse (sometimes even cheaper!), how crazy is that? Best thing is, it’s a multifunctional product which can be used as a moisturizer for the whole body, even as an alternative to shower gel and shaving cream!

      Another amazing this about this is that it does not leave a sticky or greasy film on the skin even though it’s really moisturizing. I raved about this here in my “Holy Grail: Beauty Products I Keep Repurchasing” post.

      2. Keep ’em fresh with Scholl Fresh Step

      I don’t know about you, but I struggle with sweaty feet during the winter because after hours of walking/sitting indoors in a heated room with my socks and boots on, my feet would sometimes be overheated, resulting in sweaty and smelly feet. I know. TMI. Sorry! 😀

      Well, this Scholl Fresh Step Anti-Perspirant is the answer to my prayers – it’s spray deodorant for your feet! It neutralizes odors and reduces wetness. I spray this on before putting my socks on, focusing on the sole where sweat is concentrated. This will keep your feet odor-free throughout the day and it’s designed for dry feet so it will also keep your feet moisturized!

      It’s also handy to have a peppermit spray (just mix water with a little bit of peppermint oil in a spray bottle) and spray it on your feet at the end of the day to soothe them!




      3. Keep ’em smooth with Honey & Brown Sugar

      Prevention is better than reparation, and exfoliation is a key step in preventing dry, cracked heels. So, exfoliate regularly! This DIY scrub is so easy, you have no excuse not to exfoliate this winter.

      Image courtesy of www.zliving.com

      My favorite DIY foot scrub is a simple mixture of honey and brown sugar, and lemon juice can optionally be added too. You can also use this scrub for other body parts!

      Honey is a great humectant and will retain moisture. Its antibacterial properties will also help heal cracked and dry skin on feet. Brown sugar is a soft but effective exfoliant (raw or white sugar can be too abrasive).

      You can also pour honey (and your favorite essential oils) into a bucket of warm water, stir it up, and soak your feet in it before you start scrubbing.

      Check out this post to find out how you can do this at home!



      4. Keep ’em soft with Oatmeal & Oil 

      Another favorite DIY foot care recipe of mine is a simple mixture of oatmeal and vegeteable oil. This is a foot mask, so you keep this on for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

      Image courtesy of www.blueosa.com

      Oatmeal is known to have skin healing and soothing properties, so massaging and masking your feet with it will help reduce flakiness and cracks.

      Simply mix it with vegetabable, jojoba or olive oil until it becomes pasty (you can even add honey!) and massage it all over your feet, focusing on the cracked areas. Then, I personally like wrapping up my feet in disposable pastic showercaps (you know, ones you get from hotel rooms!) and rest my feet up for a 10-15 minutes. Wrapping it up will really help your skin absorb the mask.


      5. Keep ’em protected with Scholl Blister Shield Plasters

      Another annoying thing about wearing shoes is getting blisters. If you tend to get blisters, or if you already have some, I highly recommend these Scholl Blister Shield Plasters. These don’t just protect the blister like a shield from friction and rubbing, it also keeps the area moisturized and may even assist the healing process.
      Each pack comes with 3 large and 2 small rubbery adhesive plasters. These lasted a few days on me, given I only shower lightly and don’t apply any creams or masks around the area.
      I also love the pack that it comes with – makes travelling with it so much easier!
      Have a warm, cozy winter my loves! Will be returning next week for more reviews for you all!
      Much love!
      Makeup

      Review: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Blushed Copper

      I’m so excited to review this beauty here: the limited edition Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in “Blushed Copper” – a fusion between the “soft shimmers of a luminizer and the subtle pigments of a blush”.

      This is part of the Shimmering Skin Perfector range, a range of pressed skin higlighter powders, but since it is limited edition it has a much nicer packaging and instead of having a flat surfaced pan just like the rest of the Shimmer Skin Perfector powders, the surface has a gorgeous crystal-like embossing.

      I can’t stop admiring this powder!

      I’ve been experimenting with this for over a month and love that it’s a balanced mixture of a blush, bronzer and highlighter, although it is more of a blush. Just think of it as a luminous bronze-colored blush!

      Color Payoff and Application

      Becca describes the color as a “warm copper infused with rose gold tones“. It has tiny shimmers and gives the skin a bronzed glow. They claim that this shade is sort of a combination between a luminizer and a subtle pigment of a blush.

      Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector “Blushed Copper” Swatches:
      blended (left) and heavy swatch (right).

      I find that it works really well on its own, and even on top of blush and bronzer to be used as a bronzing highlight. Yes, “bronzing highlight” as in… a skin highlighter, giving the skin that luminous sun-reflected glow, except it’s reddish bronze, not translucent or pearly white or champagne!

      Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector “Blushed Copper”:
      worn with blush and bronzer beneath (left) and without (right).

      These photos were taken in sunlight without flash.

      The following is the side of my cheek with only the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector without any other blush or bronzer beneath, so I applied two soft layers of it.

      Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector “Blushed Copper”:
      worn without blush and bronzer underneath.

      The following one, however, was only one layer because I had blush and bronzer underneath.

      Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector “Blushed Copper”:
      worn with blush and bronzer underneath.

      Unfortunately, the luminosity or the shimmer particles can’t be captured by my camera in this lighting – I think it would show only if flash was used. I’ll try next time!

      Application

      The intense pigmentation caught me by surprise – this somehow has the pigmentation of a wet eyeshadow when swatched! I had to be extra careful when applying this with a fluffy brush because, boy, does it get RED.

      Scary thing is, once you go wrong, it’s hard to fix. The shimmers and pigment won’t budge at all. I tried removing the excess with a soft cotton pad, it ended up looking patchy and ugly. Yuck!

      So I highly recommend using a small tapered highlighter brush, or even a fan brush if you’re going to use this as a highlight.

      If you’re going to use this on its own, use a flimsier brush as anything dense will intensify the opacity and too much of this won’t look good. This is a type of product where “less is more”.

      Finish

      When swatched heavily you can see the frosty finish it has, but on the skin, whilst still seeming a bit frosty, it has more of a subtle luminescent sheen to it. It does not accentuate pores when applied properly.

      Texture

      The texture is very smooth and buttery, and is easily blendable with the right tools.

      Longevity

      In terms of longevity, there are no differences between wearing it on its own or on top of another blush and bronzer. The pigment lasted for over ten hours, but the shimmers and luminosity faded by the sixth hour or so.

      Price

      This retails for US$38 in Sephora and is a limited edition product. Unfortunately, I don’t think this is available in Australia, but do let me know if it is!

      Overall

      Pros:
      Amazing pigmentation and finish
      Lasted over ten hours
      Can be used on its own or with other cheek products
      Stunning packaging and pan

      Cons:
      A bit tricky too apply
      Difficult to fix once overapplied

      Rating:



      I’m giving this a 4/5 because whilst it is very nice to have, I don’t think this is a must-have. You can still go the good ol’ blush + bronzer + highlighter route and get a similar result. This is just all those things combined in one. So, of course it’s nice to have although not a necessity.

      I personally would be able to live without this and if I missed out on this, I don’t think I’d regret it that much. However, the quality surely is impeccable and impressive.

      Until next time!