SPOTLIGHT: My Everyday Makeup Essentials...

Hi lovelies! Was sitting at my bench getting ready for the day, and paused for a mo' to take a look at everything I used. Sure I change my foundation, blush, lipstick and eye shadows from one day to the next, but there are certain products and tools that I reach for every time I create my face, regardless of the colour scheme I've chosen. The process varies slightly for weekends (unless I'm going out, which is rare) - I usually skip a few items as I don't feel the need to be ready for a close-up at the supermarket, just decent lol. One of the items below is a recent acquisition (a gift!) that I wanted to let you know is brilliant, so here's a rundown of my daily makeup essentials (be prepared for a LONG post ha ha), and how and when I use them...

The IT Cosmetics - Your Skin But Better CC Cream goes on my face every day as my primer, regardless of the activities I have planned. It's a 50+ sunscreen with lots of benefits, and my full review of it is HERE...

To apply any foundation, I use this Chi Chi dome brush - have had it for almost 12 months, and it's not shed a single hair in that time. I use this dome type because it's soft and yet densely packed, and is the kind recommended by Wayne Goss as the best way to push foundation into enlarged pores to make them less visible, and I have a lot of those..

Next I add concealer, and I swear by IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (review HERE). I have both light and medium shades, but tend to use the medium most of the time under my eyes, around my nose, and along my top lip as I have a couple of pesky freckles that I need to hide. I also apply this down the centre of my nose as part of my contouring technique because it doesn't budge throughout the day. The brush is an unidentifiable one I've had for years...

One of the major breakthroughs in the quality of my LOTD photos came when I started reverse-outlining my lips with this nifty little CROP Natural Concealer Pencil * in the light shade - stops the lipstick bleed, and gives me a crisp clean line. I don't use this on weekends as I take a break from snapping my pout (I'll mark the products I omit on Saturday/Sunday with an asterisk *)...

I've had a lot more success with contouring my nose since I switched to this Australis AC On Tour Contouring & Highlighting Kit - Cool Tone. Powder has a tendency to darken my huge pores making them far more obvious, but if I blend the cream (from the almost empty pan in bottom right of the photo) either side of my nose, I end up with a reasonably undetectable illusion of a thinner and smaller schnozz. As you can see I rarely use any of the other colours in the kit, but they're there if I need them. The brush is a soft angled one from MUA Cosmetics..

Before adding anything further, I press Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder all over my face (with special attention to my nose) with a velour powder puff. I have a ton of these puffs as I wash them every few days, and most of them are unbranded. This finishing powder sets my makeup for the day and controls shine...

My brows are sparse, blonde and barely visible. It's not an age thing, it's the way they've been all my life, so I draw them on every day. My favourite brow pencil is the Models Prefer Luxury Powder Brow Liner * in the Light shade. It's a cream to powder pencil that's cheap as chips, and gives me the most natural looking finish, and doesn't look plastered down. The light shade is a warm blonde, but for days when I wear cool toned makeup, I use the Crop Natural Eyebrow Pencil * in the shade Blonde. The brush at the top of the pic is an unbranded one, but I love it because the bristles are soft and flexible (the Crop brush on the cap is too small and stiff)...

For my powder blushes, I have three brushes - one each for pinks/mauves, oranges/reds/corals, and a third for anything outside those families, like purple. I store them in their sleeves and clean them every two weeks or so. The clear plastic handled one is unmarked, the black is by MUA Cosmetics, and the silver one is from BH Cosmetics. I've had all of these for years and they've never shed, so I see no need to replace them with anything fancier...

I apply my bronzer (Crop Natural Mineral Pressed Bronzer in shade Solaire) after my blush. This goes below the blush area as a contour and along my jawline. I've since bought a few other bronzers to try as I only ever use the bottom right pan of this palette, but it sure is the perfect shade The kabuki brush is by Nude by Nature, and only a recent acquisition as my Artiste one started shedding. So far so good! I also use this brush to blend where the bronzer and blush join, as well as tone down any excess blush colour if I've been a bit too heavy handed...

Moving onto the eyes, I tightline the upper lashline with Eye of Horus Charcoal Obsidian Goddess Pencil. These pencils are my favourites, and you'll find no less than 30 search references to them in the right side-bar because I use just about all the colours every week. This one replaced the Smokey Black I bought originally as it's not quite so stark, but gives me the definition I consider essential for my eyes. At the end of a long long day, it's still exactly where I placed it. I've included the sharpener as well - I've often said it's the best one I've ever used, and that's still the case...

For my eye shadows, I use these two BH Cosmetics brushes  - they came in a huge set I bought years ago, and still perform like new. They're slim enough for exact placement, and even pick up Colourpop shadows beautifully. I have others of course, but these I use every time without fail. I clean them after every application with Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes...

And of course there's the always essential cotton buds. I'm fussy and only buy Johnson & Johnson ones as they don't leave any fluffy bits behind when I tidy up the waterline, and the dual ended cosmetic tips are by Swisspers. The paddle end I coat in concealer to clean up my hoods, and the pointy end is perfect for picking up stray mascara bits...

Another product that I've been using ever since it was released is the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner. I swear no other liner touches my lower lashline! It doesn't fade or smear or flake, and I smudge it a wee bit with eye shadow to soften the line...

These two look a bit scruffy, but that's because I've had them for years. The shadow is MAC Omega * - it's matte and I use it to add a teeny bit extra contour to my nose because it's just the best colour match. The brush is yet another one where the brand has rubbed off, but from memory it's by Models Prefer *. I keep the sleeve on it so that the bristles stay compact...

Gosh this is a long post - are you still here lol? The Rimmel Stay Matte powder is what I use to counteract shine on my hoods, and it's also what I apply during the day for anti-shine touchups, although usually only once or twice. I've had the Ecotools brush for over 5 years, but you'd never know as it still looks like new...

Absolutely LOVE this Eye of Horus Goddess Mascara. I only use this on weekends when I give my lashes a break from curling and several layers of waterproof mascara. This actually conditions my lashes, and the only reason I don't use it every day is because I need a mascara with fibres or else my lashes don't show up in the EOTD pics...

And now for the new product that I'm super excited about! Estée Lauder Little Black Primer *. It's a lash primer, which is something I've never given a thought to previously, and was sent to me by my darling friend Amy from Health & Beauty Girl ♥♥♥ You apply it just like a mascara, it colours the lashes ever so slightly, and it's waterproof. I stroke this on before curling my lashes, then apply my usual mascara over the top, and I can honestly say that the curl is EXACTLY the same at 11pm as it is at 6:30am. Amazing!

I've lost count of the number of eyelash curlers I've owned in the past, but this Shu Uemura * one beats them all hands down. Can't for the life of me figure out why as it looks the same as any other brand, but hey, the result is far superior every time...

And finally, my HG mascara (has been for years) - Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof *. Nothing gives me the length and volume I need like this baby. To avoid clumping from the fibres I rotate the brush as I'm stroking it on, and I usually apply at least two coats without letting it dry in between...

So there it is lovelies - SO many products to create my face, but then I do take photos just about every working day, and I find I can't do without the majority of these. I guess you could say that this is an entire page of can't-live-withouts ♥ Of course I've excluded foundation, lipliners, lipsticks, blush and eyeshadows, but if you're interested, I'll do some posts of my most regularly used ones from those categories in the coming weeks...

So how many cosmetic items do you use on a daily basis?

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Linking to the Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - it's the 100th edition, and likely to be an extra special one. Heaps of congrats to Ingrid on this winning series ♥... 

REVIEW: Urban Rituelle Wellness Cleansing Bars...

Regular readers will know that I'm a big big fan of Urban Rituelle products - have been for years. They're a beaut all-Aussie company, their range is made with concern for the environment, they never test on animals, and everything feels like it's been injected with a whole lotta love. I've only recently become super excited about natural soaps, and I was so happy when I heard that UR was adding these very special Wellness Cleansing Bars to their range, and jumped for joy when they sent me all six to sample and review ♥... 

UR always manages to come up with stunning packaging, and these soaps are no exception. Each one is sealed and boxed in bio-degradable and recyclable paper/cardboard, and the top flap of the box is colour-coded according to the contents. They're huge too - 150 grams of finely milled fragrant cleanser that's made from 100% naturally derived ingredients. As you can see in the list from the back of the box below, there's no less than six oils in every cake - whoa!..

So I'll start with one of my personal favourites - Blood Orange, Papaya & Mandarin. The blend of these three fruits is tangy and exotic, refreshing and revitalising. Good enough to eat in fact, and I can imagine this will be a huge hit with all members of the family - nothing contrived or fiddle-faddle about this mix, it's a pure unadulterated tropical delight ♥...

If you're a berry-lover, then you'll be entranced by this mingling of Guava, Cranberry & Goji Berries. The fragrance reminds me of a mouthwatering dessert - as a matter of fact, every time I hold the cake to my nose, I start salivating, that's how realistic and delish it is lol. You may have gathered, this is also one of my top picks ♥ All of these soaps are so enriching, and they lather like there's no tomorrow. Within seconds of water contact, you'll be rewarded with a super creamy and moisturising foam that will not only cleanse your skin, but add rich nutrients to it...

Next is probably the most potently scented variety of the six - Lemon Myrtle, Lemongrass & Muddled Mint. Does that sound fabulous or what? Well I reckon it's guaranteed to lift your spirits with its lemon zest and distinctively herbal tang. To me the fragrance is Mother Nature at her best - natural, organic, verdant, yes please ♥... 

Time to take a little pause from the heady scents - if you prefer your soap fragrance to be a little less intrusive, then the Coconut, Honey, Almond & Chia bar might be the one for you. This smells just as delightful as any of the others, but it's way more subtle. With coconut & honey in the blend, I was expecting something sweet, but it's more earthy, almost nutty with the vaguest whiff of licorice, well that's what my hooter picks up anyway. It's also the colour of milk chocolate, which I'm guessing comes primarily from the Chia seeds. I predict that fellas will love this ♥...

And what collection would be complete without a wee bit of rose - Rose Infused Coconut Water, Cucumber & Aloe. But this is not your standard girly romantic blend - imagine a sweet young rosebud in a zesty herb wrapper, crisp and fresh. There's a trace of coconut, and I can't say I can identify the cucumber or aloe, but I can imagine this being an invigorating start to any morning ♥...

And last we have the Grapefruit, Lemon, Pineapple & Celery - what a showstopper! Now this is zing, zing, and more zing - smells EXACTLY like freshly grated lemon rind, fabulously fruity and citrusy, and I do so love fruit fragrances in my bathroom. The pineapple nips any sourness in the bud, and the celery gives the lemon free reign to dazzle without any acidity - for lemon lovers, this is bliss all the way ♥...

Their catalogue is chock full of so many other delights, the photography is stunning, and if you're wondering what else to order, I can highly recommend their hand creams, organic lip balms and reed diffusers ♥...

Honestly, there's a flavour for everyone in this Wellness set. RRP is $11.95 and the bars seem just as densely packed as others I've tried from this brand, which means they'll last a long long time. UR regularly has specials, shipping is free for orders over $100, delivery is 3 days or less, and there's ALWAYS a free gift ♥...

Thank you Urban Rituelle for sharing the love, and congratulations on adding yet another top class product to your beautiful range ♥...

Which one of these scented soaps takes your fancy the most?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: February Empties!...

Welcome to my February Empties post! Yes I know, I know, it's April already, but that's how things turned out last month with my work commitments. Still have a few critical things going on, but they should be over in the next week or two, and I can get on with my blogging...and my March Empties post lol. Feb wasn't a big month, but the sheet mask discoveries continued, and I'm ECSTATIC that I managed to finish off two of the micellar waters left over from the series. I promised myself I wouldn't try any more till I've cleared at least one more bottle, but that shouldn't take long...

Natural Secrets Goatsmilk Moisturising Hand Cream (80ml, RRP $6.99)
Already reviewed HERE, love this hand cream ♥...
Repurchase?
Yes, will always have a tube on my bedside table, or in my handbag ♥...

Alpha-H Liquid Gold (100ml, RRP $59.95)

This AMAZING stuff has featured in a couple of my empties posts already, but I figured it was worth mentioning again so that you can see that despite my general fickleness with skincare, there are some things which I absolutely keep using over and over again. I reckon this magical liquid keeps my complexion as radiant and youthful as possible via an external product application. I use it every second night, and at least once a week I leave it to work it's magic entirely unaided by anything else...

Repurchase?
This is one product I'll always have on my bench - I buy from Adore Beauty as they regularly have it on special. Back in August last year, I picked up the 200ml supersize for $69.95 ♥...

Avène Micellar Lotion (200ml, RRP $30.95)

Reviewed in Part 7 of my Micellar Magic Series (HERE). This is one of the nicest micellars around, pity it's so expensive...

Repurchase?

Yep I will (once I get through some more of the backlog) - this lotion will be perfect for those cold winter nights when I don't feel like doing the whole face flannel washing thingy. This seems to remove just about all my makeup, and yet it's SO gentle ♥...

Lacura Micellar 3 in 1 Cleansing Water (250ml, RRP $7.95)

This one starred in Part 6 (HERE) - excellent value, and very effective...

Repurchase?
Would if I could - it's not stocked permanently at Aldi,  but when I see it again, I'll buy several ♥...

Nature's Way Mega B Executive Stress (200 tablets, RRP $21.99) 

I credit these vitamin tabs with keeping me afloat for the last 6 months. Particularly towards the end of last year when I was trying to find a house closer to my workplace, and I needed  extra vitamin support due to accumulated lack of sleep and major job stresses...

Repurchase?

There's already another on the shelf to help me "maintain an even strain" ♥...

Hylamide SubQ Eyes Advanced Serum (15ml, RRP $49.99)

Well now, I'm going to be very cautious in my remarks here because it took me a while to get the dosage of this product right. I don't want to sound like a goose, but I swear the first 10 times (10!) I used it, I dispensed way too much liquid, and had to do the unthinkable and scoop it back into the bottle. I kept telling myself that one drop was too much, and yet that's what I ended up with each time. Doh! It has the most extraordinary amount of slip, so you really only need what's on the outside of the dropper lol. Anyways, I got it right in the end, and I think this serum is pretty darn good. Other gals have said it's their miracle product, and while I haven't seen anything that makes me want to climb up onto the roof and shout about it, it certainly has potential. I've also been massaging it into the vertical lines between my brows and above my top lip, and they are all less noticeable, crows feet are also diminished. My hoods are a little firmer too, and the fine lines on the fleshy part aren't as obvious. It doesn't do anything for my eye bags, but as I always say, nothing will except surgery ♥...

Repurchase?

Onto my second bottle, will buy another once that's done - for sure ♥...

Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under Eye Patches (3 pairs, 18g, RRP $9.99)

This is the third appearance of these patches in my Empties series - guess what, they're going to be in EVERY MONTH! ♥...

Repurchase?

No need to ask, it's a done deal ♥...

Skin Republic Bubble Purifying + Charcoal Face Mask Sheet (20ml, RRP $7.99)

This was by far the most fun I've had with a face mask EVER. In case you missed it, here's my very scary Instagram piccie of the event...

First up, if  you have pets or small children, then stay in your bathroom until you're done - you will be unrecognisable and may frighten those dear to you. BUT, by the time it's bubbled and tingled to the point pictured above (15 minutes), you will have crystal clear glowing skin when you remove it. The fabric is black and you rub the packet before you open it to activate the bubbles. Then apply the mask like any other, watch the foam start to emerge, and you feel a tickling sensation as it oxygenates your complexion. Awesome! ♥...

Repurchase?

Already have - not all stores stock it (I found it at Chemist Warehouse), but keep looking, it's worth it ♥...

LonVitalite Collagen Crystal Eye Mask (RRP $32 for 6 pairs)

These patches came in my third Marie Claire Ageless parcel just over 12 months ago. No eye-dea why I waited so long to give them a go, but hey it finally happened, and I love them. Unlike the Skin Republic ones, these are very very thin, like matte Glad Wrap, but because they are so thin, they stay on all night. Lots of liquid, perfect shape, super hydrating, and I do believe my under eye area looked firmer and fresher in the morning. Definitely getting more of these ♥...

Repurchase?

Yes ma'am - they come in a pack of 6, and while they work out to be a couple of bucks more each than the SR ones, but I'm keen to see how they compare over time. There's another variety with added 24k gold for the same price, so I reckon they'll be the go ♥...

March Empties post is already in the pipeline, and will be up soon - promise!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Linking to Ingrid's Monday Madness Link Up Party - come join in the fun after 6:30 Monday morning ♥...

CONFESSIONS: Of a Body Washaholic (part 20) - Dove...

For many reasons I'm so glad I attended the Bloggers United AU Event last November. One big one was being reminded just how skin-loving Dove Body Washes are ♥ I was a fan of their Go Fresh Nectarine variety years ago, but they stopped making that particular flavour (well I couldn't/can't find it any more), and I moved on to explore the offerings from other brands. But at the event, we were gifted with a bottle of both the Aqua Moisture and Triple Moisturising varieties, and I loved them so much, I went out and bought the Cucumber & Green Tea one so I'd have a trio of hydrating heavyweights to look after my skin now that the cooler weather has arrived ♥...

Dove Go Fresh Fresh Touch Body Wash - Cucumber & Green Tea Scent

What a lovely fragrance this has - there's a delightful freshness to it, and despite cucumber always conjuring up a "cooling" mental image, this blend with the Green Tea will work beautifully for me all year round.  Whatever this Nutrium stuff is, it works a treat on dry skin. I haven't been able to figure out why it is that as soon as the temperature starts dropping below 20 degrees celsius, my bod starts demanding extra hydration - I wondered if it's because I start wearing long sleeved tops and camisoles, and there's some sort of friction thing happening, but more likely the pores shrink a bit and therefore don't produce as much natural oil (wish they'd shrink on my face lol!). Whatever the reason it's a fact that I have to switch my products once we get past March, and this pastel green body cleanser delivers the right amount of enriching juice to keep my skin supple and soft ♥...

Dove Aqua Moisture Nourishing Body Wash 

Love this one too - an unidentifiable florally scent that's refreshing without being overpowering, and it's such a pretty pale pearly aqua colour. I much prefer a body wash to produce a soft lather rather than lots of soapy bubbles, and this Aqua Moisture is creamy, calming and soothing.  Incidentally, all of these containers are easily manageable with wet hands, and the flip top cap snaps shut without leaking - when the contents are down to about one third, I always up-end the bottle in the shower caddy for quicker dispensing (the liquid is very thick), and none of these have ever leaked ♥...

Dove Triple Moisturising Nourishing Body Wash

I my beauty book, this Triple Moisturising variety is the jewel in Dove's crown of body washes. The clean powdery fragrance is an absolute delight, and the formula is so incredibly lush that I don't need a body moisturiser after showering with this gem. What I find particularly interesting is that while my skin feels like satin, it doesn't leave the floor of the shower feeling slippery or slimy. The plan was to hang onto this until the really cold weather when I need that extra boost of nourishment, but after trying it once, there was no hope of it going back into the cupboard for later. It's also terrific for when I'm shaving my legs, after which I ALWAYS need to moisturise, but not with this body wash. Now that's a time-saver as well as a skin-saver. It's actually no wonder this luscious shower treat gets a 5-star rating on beautyheaven, and has won two Best in Beauty Awards ♥...

The recommended retail price of these 375ml bottles is $7.36, but they're often on special at supermarkets, chemists and Priceline, plus they're also available in the giant 1 litre size (with pump) for $12.99. There's also an exfoliating one in the range which I'm keen to try...

So delighted to have discovered these three - this might just be the first Winter where I don't experience my usual snakeskin crack and peel, especially on my legs. Thank you again Dove and Bloggers United AU ♥

Take care of you,
kats xxx