Saturday, September 27, 2014

Benefit They're Real Push-Up Liner


When I heard about the new Benefit Push Up liner releasing, it was one of those makeup products that hit number 1 on my wishlist instantly. Being an eyeliner junkie the thought that a gel liner in a pen form was the most exciting thing to have been invented, no more brush to wash and the struggles of dipping the brush in constantly. 
I was lucky enough to get this on my birthday from my brother which wasnt surprising as I kept pestering him about it and how amazing it is even though I never tried it before.
Yes, I am aware that Maybelline did come out with the first gel liner in pen form which I am super tempted to try as the Benefit Push-Up Liner wasnt exactly the "holy grail eyeliner" that I though it would be.



Firstly with the packaging, I am actually a big fan of! With a twist off lid its a lot more easier to open compared with the KPalette liner which requires me to use a crap load of pressure to remove and even if my fingers arent grippy or if they're covered in hand cream. the cap twists off nicely without much trouble.
The body is in similar shape with the They're Real Mascara which is also a nifty design to hold onto and also makes the liner look a whole lot appealing.
When you first open the lid there will be a plug/stopper thats in the tip which Im assuming is to prevent the liner from drying out too quick, but I was lazy in taking the stopper and putting it back in as it became too messy and annoying so I ended up just never plugging the tip and also losing it of course.



Im sure most of you know about the angled accuflex tip which is the main focus of this eyeliner. You twist the base and the gel liner comes out of the tip.
I found the tip to be surprisingly easy to use, its like using an angled eyeliner brush but smaller and controlled. 
I know there were definitely some problems with the tip such as twisting too much and having to wipe of the excess liner. Even when you close the lid and you open it back up the next day, sometimes 1-millimeters of eyeliner comes out (might not be the same if you left the stopper in) which is also a waste but the biggest problem was that you do sometimes have to twist extra liner out and wipe it on a tissue or the back of your hand when you use it the next day because there will be a layer of dried liner or at least not smooth compared to when it was freshly twisted out. but that could also be the problem of not leaving the stopper in. 


Benefit claims that this eyeliner doesnt smudge, budge and that its waterproof. which won me over along with many raves and positives reviews I saw on this liner.
I knew the ultimate test for the eyeliner would be during a school day which is usually the time when most of my eyeliners with either smudge and/or separate at the ends.
Sadly this eyeliner was probably the biggest pain in the butt, it smudged and transferred under my eyes and what made it worse was that this eyeliner actually a pain to remove so having to remove the black ring around my eyes took a lot of scrubbing and constant wiping. It wasnt even a hot day aswell, literally a cold winters day and the smudging was horrible. 
I tested this liner out on a work day which is pretty much either 3 or 5 hours of standing rarely any sweat seeps through and it still smudged on me but luckily it wasnt anything major.
After all the smudging I ditched this liner but then gave it a second change with the Too Face Shadow Insurance primer underneath and the smudging is massively reduced, though I find it to still smudge at the end of the day  but nothing too raccoon-ish.
Though I can say on the plus side that this is the most pigmented gel liner I have came across and also the smoothest. The application of this is definitely the fun part but there can be times when the accuflex tip drags on the skin and doesnt create a smooth line. 



I have been using olive oil to remove this liner and it does the job well. I would say that this eyeliner is water resistant but probably not so waterproof. I have tested this in the rain and there was no smudging whatsoever but I wouldnt trust it enough to go underwater with it.
It was a shame that this wasnt the holy grail eyeliner that I have still yet to find but Ill still be using this when Im going out for a short period of time, obviously using a primer underneath!

What's your thoughts on the Push-Up Liner?




Sunday, September 14, 2014

Mac Lovelorn || LOTD


I've been trying to get into lipsticks more as it is one of those products I hoard so Im trying my best to use them up. For my birthday my brother got me a MAC lipstick (with the help of his girlfriend ofc) and I was surprised that they picked a colour that I would use as an everyday lippie.


I do have a slight obsession with MAC lipsticks as the packaging wins me over, its famous slate grey and silver packing in the shape of a bullet  and its range of colours you can choose from. I now have 3 MAC lipsticks which Im hoping to extend someday soon.
Lovelorn is a lustre finish which is demi-sheer finish. I have a thing for applying my lipsticks on quite sheer, because I just love the natural look, Im also too much of a wuss to put on a lipstick at its full colour since I get paranoid when the lipstick starts to fade in the middle which always happens to me.


Swatched on the hands, you will automatically thing that this is a sheer baby pink lipstick but on the lips it is just one of those MLBB (my lips but better) lipsticks, but with a hint of pink.
I've been using this as my go-to lipstick, when im going out, work and sometimes school. 
I find that it starts to fade around the 3 hour mark but you cant notice it as it until you decide to reapply the lipstick and the colour comes back to life.
I find that if my lips arent exfoliated well, the colour will stick onto the dry patches but it wont be noticable compared to matte lipsticks. This lipstick sadly is a tad drying for me but a good lipbalm makes everything better.

Whats your go-to MLBB lippie?!






Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Sanitary Cuteness


After working at Woolies for over a year now, Im always noticing when new products are out on the shelves, which is whenever I serve a customer and I scan an unfamiliar item. 
Last month I noticed a couple of customers purchasing the Palmolive Hand Sanitisers, literally my first impression was "MINI PALMOLIVE BODY WASH?!!" but no, walking down to the beauty aisle of my Woolies, I later realised that it was a hand sanitiser and I obviously had to get it!
Im not going to go indepth as this is going to be a mini review, but this is just your typical hand sanitiser but with the most amazing scents. Seriously Palmolive makes the best smelling products, hands down, cant even get started on their Strawberry Smoother body wash!!


I bought the Raspberry scent first and the Fig & Coconut scent 2 weeks after because I just had to try the scent out, they costed around $4 at Woolies but they do sell it for $3 at MyChemist.
Starting with the Raspberry scent, it does have a soapy scent, mixed with a sweetness of raspberry, but it just reminds me of soap, but honestly I still loved it. Even the little purple beads inside made me want to use it 24/7 just because the curiousity of how the beads burst while you rub it into your hands.
The Fig & Coconut on the other hand smells like heaven. You will definitely smell the coconut in this but not so much the fig, it smells like Coconut and vanilla mixed in one, my favourite out of the two.
The scent of these bad boys, lingers on until you continuously wash your hands with soap or happen to wash the dishes without gloves on. Its the best when my hands are near my hand and I can smell the Fig & Coconut scent, makes me melt in my chair.
If you happen to pop down to MyChemist or Chemist Warehouse you do have to pick one up, its such a cute addition in the handbag and even the desk.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Mattify that Face! || Physicians Formula Super BB Powder


I was shopping at iHerb a few months back and found the Physicians Formula Super BB Powder, it had decent reviews on the iHerb website and the "BB" part of the name made me think that it was a BB cream in powder form so I automatically put it in the shopping cart. Using it for the first time was quite a disappointment, I was expecting at least a decent amount of coverage but for me it was just a powder. But compared to the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and all its hype, it definitely defeats it with its lasting power!


What I found interesting about this product was how it calls itself a sunscreen. It does contain SPF 30 which is a common thing in most BB creams (especially the Asian brands) but in a pressed powder?! Definitely a bonus. Though I would not recommend using this powder alone or without sunscreen for sun protection, especially in summer.
But aside for the SPF and protecting factor of this powder it does claim to have 10+ Beauty Benefits:
Smoothing
Perfecting
Protecting
Oil-Control
Pore Minimizing
Airbrushing
Line-Softening
Concealing
Setting
Long-Wearing
I would say that about half of the claims from the list is about right for me, smoothing, protecting (atleast I think it's doing well in the long run), oil-control, setting and long-wearing. Its pretty much everything I would look for in a powder!


I personally am not a massive fan of the packaging, its bulky and not that travel friendly if you have a small makeup bag, and it also has that cheap feeling although it is sturdy as it has a lid that clicks in and opens up by pressing down a button on the bottom side. But there is a small flaw that just bothered me the first time I was opening it. When you fully flip open the lid after pressing the button, the middle compartment (where the powder lays) opens up so you have access to a mirror and a brush at the bottom (hence why its so bulky). But you have to hold down the middle compartment while opening the lid so it doesnt flip open with the lid...if that makes any sense. Its a small flaw to the packaging but Ive just gotten used to it so I dont have a problem with it now.


I found that with my normal Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, it lasted about 3 hours on a normal  school day before the oils of my face seeped through, But the BB Powder lasted a whole school day, no oils peeping through. I was impressed when I looked through the mirror in the car and my face was oil-free, best feeling ever haha!
But what I really love about this product is how it leaves my skin looking glowy rather than oily, it doesnt have the glow of what a highlighter or illuminator would give but it is a slight natural glow which you will notice after using this.
Though it may be the a con if you are looking for complete matte-ness or even dry skin, I find that it will emphasize the dryness but it doesnt stick onto dry patches or anything like that, you will just see the dehydration of the skin because of the glow.
I usually use this with my Ecotools powder brush over on top of my moisturizer or bb cream and works perfectly fine without any product underneath as well.
Would recommend this one for the combin/oily skinned peeps out there!

You can purchase this at iHerb here


Saturday, September 6, 2014

Beauty Blogger Tag!

I was tagged by the lovely Karyn from Rynspiration to do this tag! Thanks again :)
Everyone go check her blog out, she is fairly new to the bb world so go and give her some love.


GETTING TO KNOW YOU


3 random facts about yourself?
- I have a strange addiction to the colour yellow but I dont like wearing yellow clothes
- Im introverted once Im at home but extroverted when Im at school
- Im an eyeliner type of gal yet I have more lipsticks than liners!

Which country do you live in?
Australia!

What's the meaning behind the name of your blog?
Back in primary school one of my friends used to call me by saying my full name fast, it ended up sounding like "An-jelly" so I took that nickname idea and changed it to anjelleee which just looks a whole lot appealing.

Why did you start blogging?
I originally started because I wanted to keep track of all the makeup products I owned but it ended up not working well because I hoard a lot of products which dont get reviewed so now blogging is just a hobby for me.

MAKEUP


If you had to live off one foundation what would it be?
I dont actually use or own any foundations as Im more of a bb cream user. But if it were a bb cream I had to choose, it would be the Garnier BB Cream for oily/combo skin. Its light weight yet gives a natural coverage that im happy with!

What's the most expensive product you've ever bought?
I think it would be my Moroccan Oil for $50, I wouldnt say it was worth the price but it does the job in making my hair smooth.

Which product have you repurchased the most?
Both my Lucas Papaw Ointment and the Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm, both have done amazingly well in curing flaky lips overnight!

Smokey & Sexy, Girl Next Door or Bright and Bold?
I would say Girl Next Door with a mix of some boldness to it. I can never do a natural eye look because my winged liner usually takes it away but majority of my face makeup is natural,

Biggest blogger/youtuber inspiration?
Definitely Jenn Im and Zoella. Love their style and their makeup. I dont think I would've gotten into dark lippies if it wasnt for them!

Drugstore or high end?
I love them both!! All I worry about is the product quality. Some drugstore products overrule  higher-end products and vice versa so its a hard decision to pick one.

Bronzer or blush?
Bronzer no doubt about it, I can get away with no blush since my face goes pink through the day.


SKINCARE


How many times a day do you wash your face?
I always wash my face at night but if I end up waking up with a greasy face in the morning I will wash it in the morning as well.

Biggest skin struggle?
I have combination skin which is such a pain in the arse. I struggle with super oily skin in my t-zone but I have dry patches around my nose, forehead and some places around my cheeks. I also get the occasional pimples that usually pop up on my nose or forehead.

What's your favourite way to pamper your skin?
Love putting on a face mask! My current fav is the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, its that typical green mask you smother onto your face but it has this refreshing burning sensation when its drying up, it sounds terrifying but it just makes it feel like its doing something. It also helps reduce pimples which is a bonus!

What's your skincare routine like?
In the morning I wash my face if I need to, then I put on my moisturizer or sunscreen depending on the weather. At night I remove my makeup, wash my face again, put on my Hadalabo Moisturizer, use tea tree oil on small blemishes and then I use whatever lipbalm I grab. 

Are you confident to go out without makeup?
Yes, I remember back in the days I used to be so self conscious but I really dont care anymore. I only use makeup because I enjoy the whole application, its literally a hobby for me to do makeup. 

HAIR


Favourite hair product?
I would say dry shampoo(Any of the Batiste ones)! I have a super oily scalp which cannot last a day without a wash or it will look like I dipped my head in a pot of oil. So Dry Shampoo is a HG when I dont have the time to wash it especially if I come back home late.

First day hair or second day hair?
As I said before, cant do second day hair so first day hair! 

How many times have you dyed your  hair?
I've dyed my hair I think about 5-6 times . I'll be dying my hair part pink soon adn there will be a post on that one coming when its done!

FASHION


Neutrals or bright colours?
I love them both together! I dont like wearing all dark or all bright, they have to be mixed in together, I love adding a pop of colour whenever I wear blacks or whites.

Winter fashion or summer fashion?

I think I prefer summer fashion, I find that in winter Im always wearing thick long scarves and jackets which cover up whatever layers im wearing.

Jeans, shorts, skirts or dresses?
If jeggings count as jeans then I would say Jeans if not then shorts! I've stopped wearing jeans because of how uncomfortable they are, I find that when I take off my jeans at the end of the day its just the best feeling but if Im wearing leggings or comfortable pants then I'de be happy to wear then all day everyday!

I tag Weng, Candice and Fifi

Winter Warriors || August Favs


August will always be one of my unforgettable months considering that 1. My birthday is in August, 2. My last school camp was during August and 3. Winter starts to end.
As you may know, I went off to Ski Camp for 5 days, which was definitely a highlight to 2014. I celebrated my bday, skiied for the first time but I left with unbearably dry skin and a few odd blemishes. It pretty much ruined my skin, but I did find my top products that have finally battled out the struggles.


Lucas Papaw Ointment
This product is my holy grail of all time, it is one of the best lip products I own and love. It's a savior to chapped, flaky lips that I always have to deal with during the colder seasons. Sad to say that I didnt use this as often as I did in August as I've just been trying out different lipbalms which isnt even as good as this one.

*B.liv Spots Got Shot
As I said before, I did get a few blemishes popping around my face, Im guessing due to the "Time of month". I found that tea tree oil wasnt doing its job quick enough so I thought about trying this again. This product did not work for me in the past, but I tried a different way of applying this by just dabbing a small blob on my pimples and left it overnight and my pimples started to fade so much quicker. 

*Optiva Daily Protection Cream
I had quite low standard when I first got this, I thought it would just be another one of those moisturizers that just did nothing, boy was I wrong! I came back from camp with extremely dry patches on my cheeks and forehead and pretty much none of my moisturizers worked, I used this product as a last resort one night and it just cured my dry patches back to my normal skin.
Ive been using this everyday, in the morning now and it hydrates the face so well! Im not a big fan of how it leaves the skin looking greasy but I fix that up with some powder on my t-zone and it surprisingly doesnt make my face anymore oilier than it is.


Ophelia Makeup Rounds
As much as the quality of the swissper cotton rounds appeals to me, the price is just something that bothers me, for about $3-$4 for a pack. I found the Ophelia Makeup rounds for I think $1.25 at the time? And the quality is just so much better than many cheaper brands, it's super sturdy, doesn't break apart and no fluff comes out! 

Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion
I was using the Nivea body lotion for a while but the laziness in me kicked in and I just could not be bothered applying it before bed, so I started to use the Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion and it is such a  life saver of mine. It's not the best moisturizer if compared with actual body lotions, but it does make the dryness better than before.

What were your favs in the month of August?

Products marked with a * were sent to me for consideration