New On Shelf: Australis, Face Of Australia, Models Prefer, Ulta3, Ardell

Hay yo! Another month, another post!

My pocket has been sooooo emptied from my dental fees and Christmas presents for the past weeks, that it's not funny. Urgh. I won't be joining you in this month's "I'd really like to see...", because just the slight thought of it.. is not good.

OK. I FORGOT. JUST AFTER 10 SECONDS OF WRITING THAT PARAGRAPH, I remembered I had won a $100 Priceline Gift Card from Every Little Polish (thanks Rose!) and also got my hands on Rimmel's latest lip range.

Actually no, those need to be saved for purchasing my mother's favourite Biore cleansers.. Forgot. (҂⌣̀_⌣́)

Face Of Australia Eye Lights Under Eye Concealer ($12.95/2 shades)
I've mentioned this twice, still trying to trial it for an in-depth review. FOA says, the click-pen highlighter "provides coverage for dark circles, uneven skin tone and fine lines. Also reflects light for a dewy and fresh look". 

Face Of Australia Lumi-tint ($12.95/4 shades)
YAY??? Something [extremely] different! Like tinted-highlighting sticks that can be used as a cream blush, highlighter, and the "darker shades can also be used for subtle contouring". Made to suit all skin tones, and sensitive skin types!

Ardell Lashes

Both items ($9.99) are of the same range, offering a slightly flared look. Permanently curled, weightless and waterproof. Suitable for those with "small, large, round, almond-shaped or deep-set eyes". 

We also have 3 additions (or launches) to the Natural Half Lash range, which is suitable for all eye shapes. Mainly enhances density along the outer edge of the lashline.

• Lash Accents 301 Black ($9.99)
• Lash Accents 318 Black ($9.99)
• Lash Accents 305 Black ($9.99)

Ulta3

I'm not sure when these products were launched, but.. Umm!!! I'll go through them quickly anyways, since most were made for the upcoming Christmas season.

Perfect Balance Foundation ($9.95/5 shades)

A lightweight, oil-free foundation that offers a glowing complexion and smooth finish. One layer for a sheer tint and build-up for a fuller coverage. 

Perfect Balance Primer ($8.95)

Creates a smooth base for foundation, and helps to ensure make-up stays put throughout the day! Also contains argan oil to hydrate the skin.

I've mentioned their Advent Calendar ($24.00) in my last #NOS post, but they also have other Christmas packs...

• Candy Cane ($12.95) contains some limited edition and some popular Ulta3 shades.
• Lip & Nail Pack ($4.00/6 sets) contains a nail polish and their Moisturising Lipstick.
• Colour Me Pretty Lipstick Crayon Pack ($12.00), a Christmas pack containing 3 lip shades.

Nails, Nails, Nails! ($10/7-pack or $20/15-pack), a twist on Santa's Ho-ho-ho! The gift pack contains a range of nail colours to suit every festive function. Pastel, fluros, glittery, shimmery -- all in here!

Watercolour Nail Art ($10/set of four or $2/ea) -- special effect colour tints that add a wash of transparent colour to the nails. To be applied as a tinted top coat over a white base polish. Would LOVE to see how this works...

Next brand!

Australis Bronzeyed Girl Eyeshadow Palette ($9.95)

Models Prefer Soft Touch Mineral Powder ($16.99/3 shades)
I've seen some beauties on Facebook raving about these, a cheap and efficient [baked] highlighting powder, although it's marked as a "finishing powder". Wot?

I really wanted these during the 40% Priceline sale! Raaar. Instant regret for not picking up one.


That's all! 

online survey

I don't know about you, but I'd love my hands on those MP Soft Touch Powders, FOA Lumi-tints and SEE how those Ulta3 Watercolour lacquers look on the nails!

Let me know if there are other products I've missed out on!

FIFA Nails: Brazil vs. Croatia

WHO FOLLOWED LAST NIGHT'S MATCH? 

Me!!!

Not a big soccer follower, but there's something about watching soccer matches... Or maybe it's just me being satisfied with finding an excuse to justify staying up late/waking up in the earlier dawn hours.

It's a bit late for me to start any new kind of blogging series since the first game's already over and there will be another three matches from tonight through to tomorrow morning.... Meh. Who cares! Give FIFA inspired nails a go anyways!

...With the help of my sister of course! I've mentioned her here and there on this blog. She's a big nail fan, so we decided to get together and work on inspired nails for as many matches as we could.

I'll start off with my take on Croatia's inspired nails! Here it is....

Alright, I'd take it. It's not that good. Or in fact, it's not good at all. T^T Especially when it's put up against my sister's Brazil-inspired manicure.... It's like one came from heaven, and one came from hell!

Aww!! I really like what she did. The nail art and colour combo. Mine looks like a mess.... But Croatia's flag is very hard!

In case you're wondering, the nail polishes I used for my Croatia-inspired manicure is:

• Illamasqua Rubber Brights Nail Polish in Serenity | reviewed here >
• Ulta3 Nail Polish in Lily White
• Face Of Australia Pastels Nail Polish in Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy | featured here >
• Rimmel London Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Double Decker Red | featured here >
• Models Prefer Nail Polish in Little Black Dress
• Le'lan Vital High Gloss Top Coat

Gahhhh! I'll put in more effort next time!

Stay tuned for our next post!

X

Saturday's Swatches: Ulta3 Lip Paints

It's no biggie that I've been out of the beauty blogosphere lately. Therefore, not very updated with new products.

One of the most interesting launches that I've missed are these Lip Paints by Ulta3! I had no idea they had these (for a few months now, may I add) until I stumbled across a post about them as I scrolled down my blogging feed last Monday.

I squeaaaaaaaaaaled. I never thought they'd release a range like this, so it was very unexpected for me. Especially when they are known for their nail lacquers, rather than make-up range. 

These looked promising though. From the swatches I saw, they looked great in terms of pigmentation. Knowing that they are only $5.95 a pop, I thought, "why not?!". 

So here's what it looks like...

The range consists of 6 brighter shades, but I only picked two out of the six. The other shades looked great too, but just not for my sister and I :P Therefore, we settled with these two...

Expressive Fuchsia, Radical Red

However, since I was there, I thought I'd swatch the other shades too and share them here :P Don't judge me!!!

Expressive Fuchsia, Manic Mauve, Extreme Pink, Loud Purple, Radical Red, Electric Orange

At first swatch, they remind me much of Rimmel's Apocalips Lip Lacquers, but just not as thick. I hope these Ulta3 ones will settle down a bit though, and not glide around the lips too much like the Apocalips. 

Also, I'd love to own a light pink shade, but Extreme Pink in this range is just too cool-toned. It'll look very iffy on my skin, which was the reason why I skipped it. I also really like the look of Electric Orange, but I know I won't ever wear it anywhere! 

Loud Purple, is... very loud. Purples are nice, but this one looked very.... indescribably bold. On the packaging, Manic Mauve looked like a very pretty berry colour, but when swatched, I felt like it looked too brown and dull.... Eeek. 

Therefore, I ended up only picking 2 out of the 6!

If you are keen on these, head to Ulta3's Facebook Page, click their Store Locator and you'll be able to filter through stockists which has these lip paints. Just remember to let me know...

Which shades are you guys keen on?

Are you a fan of lip paints at all?

Ulta3 Lip Paints, $5.95, 6 shades, check their Facebook page for stockists.

Drugstore Cosmetics Launches for Australia -- May 2014

Hello wello, HAH! Not late for this month, how unexpected, right?

Skipping my uni work for this post, so of course it won't be late....! There are not many launches this month though... Sadly.

-----------------------

Ulta3 CC Cream ($8.95/2 shades)

BAM! Ulta3 with their newest product, a CC cream. Ulta3 has always been a well-loved brand for their nail polishes. Their make-up? Not so much. Strange (and a bit shocking) to know that they've introduced a CC Cream, as CC creams are generally new to the Aussie market. Wonder whether they'll nail (#punny yo) this one, or whether it would just be another CC tinted moisturiser?

Ulta3 describes this to be, a complexion correction cream that helps to correct colour-related skin issues. Has a foundation-like coverage, and is buildable. Also protects the skin against sun damage.

Ulta3 Speckled Nail Polish ($3/6 shades)

This was released last month, and I believe, has already made a big hit on many beauty blogs. Limited edition collection which features fine black pepper particles and large matte glitter pieces on pastel-coloured bases. I really like the idea of this since trying by Illamasqua. Too bad I couldn't find it at my local Ulta3 stockists.. Bummer!

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Colour Vibrations Glitter Mania Collection ($6.95/8-9 shades)*

I'm actually not too sure how many shades are released in Australia for this collection, but the whole collection consists of 8-9 shades. The price, I've gathered from Chemist Warehouse's catalogue. They are $4.95 RIGHT NOW (save $1.96), so get them now on sale while you can!

What they look like, apparently.

"Pretty" would be an understatement to describe how they look. Gaaaaaahhhhhh. 

Physician's Formula

I've said last month, that it seems that PF is just continuously releasing similar products over and over again. Here's your quarterly doze, I guess...

• Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush ($21.95) -- A "perfect blend of complexion-boosting blush tones to brighten and enhance the skin tone" whilst adding a touch of radiant colour.
• Nude Wear Glowing Nude Powder ($29.95) -- Provides weightless coverage, and features a multi-coloured paeltte of nudes...... Not sure how I'm suppose to use this as a "powder" actually. Four shades of nudes o_o
• Nude Wear Glowing Nude Bronzer ($29.95) -- Features a "complexion boosting multi-coloured palette of bronze hues" for the most natural looking healthy bronze flow. 

Not sure about the products, I don't want to be too biased against them. Their prices are ridiculously high that I may as well remove their brand from these posts to be honest. Not very "drugstore", ya know?

Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin FakeOut Mascara ($24.95)

"Made from 100% natural origin lash extension fibers", whatever it means, this mascara is supposed to lengthen, amplify and curl the lashes for an "unbelievable 3D effect".

Lashes naturally appear thicker, longer and more lush and gorgeous for up to "24 hours".


Meh meh meh!!

• Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin CC Colour + Correction Cream ($25.95) -- CC cream with a "ground-breaking" formula that features 70% of organic ingredients. Corrects + cares for the skin, in a lightweight formula which blends effortlessly. Evens out the skin with radiance. Lasts all day.... they say.
• Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin CC Curl + Care Mascara ($24.95) -- What. The. Heck? CC mascara. Contains 70% organic ingredients, curls and volumises the lashes. All day wear. But still, what the heck? WHAT IS A CC MASCARA. 

NP Set Contour & Define Cream On The Go ($27/3 shades)

One of those products that is supposed to conceal and even out the skin tone, but added to that, NP Se describes that it's also suppose to "define and lift [our] natural contours". It's a lightweight cream formulated with some fancy vitamins and antioxidants. No idea why the packaging says C+D Cream though. 

Designer Brands

• Extend a Brow ($12.99/2 shades) -- Silly name, but the product doesn't seem too bad! It's a brush-on brow enhancer, with a "silky-fibre formula". Provides a fuller and more defined look.
• Quick Dry Nail Polish ($7.99/20 shades) -- A high gloss nail lacquer that touch dries in 30 seconds. Features a precision brush that ensures streak-free application. 

Great, that's all for this month's launches then!

Your thoughts on these products?

The Physician's Formula products don't interest me too much, so skipping right pass them. Definitely gonna hunt down Ulta3's Speckled Nail Collection though, and heading to Chemist Warehouse soon to check out sales on Sally Hansen's glitter-babies!

For anyone looking for Ulta3's Speckled Nail Collection, head to their Facebook page. Their store locator can filter limited edition products too! Super handy!!