Review: True NARS lip pencil set

 

I received my tax return the other week, and decided to use some of it to treat myself. I stumbled across this limited edition NARS lip pencil set in Mecca and it was love at first sight.

 

Firstly - that packaging. Oh me, oh my. 

The lip pencils come in a hard case with a slot for each of the three pencils. The graphic artwork on the top of the case is stunning, and there's a giant mirror on the inside. This set is so beautifully packaged up and would make a perfect gift. A jumbo size pencil sharpener is included in the set, which is really thoughtful of NARS - you won't have to bother yourself with picking one up since it's all included. 

Honestly, the packaging is absolutely stunning, but it's quite bulky so pretty impractical to take travelling or throw in your handbag. I think of it more as a collectible that looks beautiful on top of my vanity.

 

The set comes with two satin lip pencils and one velvet matte lip pencil.  All lip pencils are full sized.

Included in the set is Yu, Luxembourg (both in the permanent line), and limited edition Provocative Red.

Yu is a bright, fucshia pink. 

Luxembourg is watermelon red - probably my most favourite of the three pencils. 

Provocative Red - the matte in the set - is a deep, muted red.

 

The texture and staying power of these is well worth the money spent on them. All three are beautifully smooth and creamy, and apply like a dream. They don't dry my lips out, although they don't really moisturise my lips either. The two satin lip pencils make my lips look shiny and juicy.

Provocative red is really velvety (as the name would lead you to believe)

Each colour lasts 3.5 - 4 hours on the lips - they do stain a bit, which I think helps with the staying power quite significantly, but they don't come off in the middle leaving a ring of colour on the outside of your lips, like some staining lip colours do.

(L-R: Yu, Luxembourg, Provocative Red)

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What's in my travel make-up bag: Weekend Edition

A couple of weekends ago, J and I took a very quick trip down to Canberra, to help celebrate his mum's birthday. We literally weren't even in Canberra longer than 24 hours, but we were going to be going out for lunch so I did need to look somewhat nice.

I brought the bare necessities with me, basically whatever could fit into a tote bag.

 

Base: Australis Primer, the Original, Revlon Colourstay (not pictured) 

Face: NARS blush in Amour, Make Up Store microshadow in Meteor for highlight

Concealer: Maybelline Age Rewind and Revlon Photoready 

Eyes: Inglot four-pan eyeshadows (review here), MAC paint pot in painterly, Maybelline the falsies mascara, Kat Von D tattoo liner

Eyebrows: Australis Oh Hai Brow eyebrow kit

Brushes: Sigma P86, Sigma P84, Zoeva 122, Ecotools eyebrow brush, Make up Store 106, Zoeva 105, Sigma F80 (not pictured)

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Mini Mecca Haul: NARS blush and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

For my birthday, I got a couple of Westfield vouchers. I spent ages considering what to spend them on…and then it hit me. I would spend them on that gorgeous palette at Mecca that was super luxurious and beautiful, but also really expensive and not something I could justify buying myself. Luckily for me, Mecca also recently lowered their prices (hooray!) so clearly the universe was validating my decision.

Of course, I’m talking about the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. Much loved and raved about within the beauty community, and now it’s mine!

The palette has three gorgeous highlighting shades, Dim Light, Incandescent Light and Radiant Light, with the middle shade (Incandescent Light) being exclusive to the palette. 

These colours make the light bounce off your face in all the right places. I’ve found that lightly dusting my face with the left one gives me a good healthy looking glow when I’m feeling tired, I love the middle colour for a highlight on top of my cheekbones, just under the brow-bone, and down the middle of my nose, when contouring, and the right colour is beautiful layered over the top of bronzer. 

When applied with nice brushes, my face just looks so flawless with this palette. I am obsessed with the luxury packaging as well. This palette was worth every dollar, and I would totally re-purchase it with my own money. 

(R-L: Dim Light, Incandescent Light, Radiant Light)

I had a little money left over, so I also got a new NARS blush in Amour. This is matte, and quite a deep matte pink. I think this is probably more suited to darker skin tones as it is really pigmented. I make it work by using it with a really fluffy brush, so not too much product is picked up, and it is blended really well. Although this is such a deep colour, when blended well I think it looks quite natural and brings such a beautiful warmth to the skin. 

When was the last time you splurged on something high-end?



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BREAKING!! NARS: Narsissist Palette

Image taken from here

The NARS narsissist palette has been released in the UK, retailing for 55GBP.
Featuring 15 eyeshadows, this palette looks gorgeous!

I have no doubt that over the next few days reviews and swatches will start to come in...although without even looking at them I kind of already want this palette.

No news yet when and if it will be released in Australia. Here's hoping!



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Best of: The Products I LOVED in 2013

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Get ready with me!

Today I posted my first 'getting ready with me' video - a small insight into what I do to get ready in the morning before work.

I spent most of today editing the video and fighting with the voiceover timing, stopping only to do the dishes and fit in some Assassin's Creed. I was so pleased with it when I finished I uploaded it immediately to youtube only to find out I'd saved it in the wrong format, so it was lesser quality than I wanted. All good, right? I'll just re-save it.
Oh...

Wait...

What is this error message? What do you mean you have to restart the program? Okay I can do that.
So the program opens back up to a completely blank slate. I re-open the file... to exactly where I was at 9am this morning with it. All my hard work gone.

So I'm sorry, this is in not-so-great quality but that's better than not being there at all.
Let this be a lesson to you all to save your work regularly (and check it's in the right format when you do!)



Do computers hate you too? Or is it just me afflicted with this curse?




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October Favourites!!

Does anyone else think it is absolutely ridiculous that it is already November?
With the beginning of a new month comes the post about my favourite products from the month before!
So I give you... my October favourites!

1. NARS - Deep Throat
Every single time I tried to snap a photo of this, I just couldn't do it justice. This is a beautiful pink, shimmery blush that I wore literally every day in October. A little goes a long way with this, so I can see it lasting ages. I find the shimmer isn't overpowering and the colour lasts right to the end of the day - unlike some other blushes where they fade, leaving you with glittery cheeks. I apply it with my Real Techniques stippling brush.

2. Lush - 'You Snap the Whip' Body Butter
I only bought this one recently, but I love it so much I couldn't not include it! This body butter exfoliates and cleanses your skin really well with the use of coal and charcoal, but has cocoa butter and macadamia nut oil to soften your skin as well. It's super easy to use, and it smells like lollies. NOM.

3. Dermalogica Precleanse
I got this in the September Lust Have It box, and am in love with it! Basically, using dry hands, massage it into your dry face, rinse with warm water and it turns into a milky cream and breaks down all your make-up. I use it after I've removed my eye make-up, and before cleansing (hence, precleanse!) I have loved using this and am seriously considering spending the money on buying the full-sized when I run out of the sample. 



4. Davroe Hair Wellness non-aerosol hairspray
This was another sample from the same September Lust Have It box. I wasn't sure if I'd like it when I first got it, because of its non-aerosol-ly-ness.
However, I think I actually prefer it over aerosol hairsprays. It shoots out a really fine mist, so it's easy to set your hair quickly, and it doesn't shift the hair when you apply it.

5. Stila all over shimmer in Pink Shimmer
I bought this one on a midnight-online-shopping-whim about two months ago. This is the first highlighter I've owned so I'm still working it out. But I love applying it on the brow bone when I'm in a rush in the morning, and it brightens my eyes and perks me up a bit. It is quite shimmery, so haven't yet tried it on my cheekbones. Will do so soon, and report back pronto!

6. Maybelline the Falsies Volum' Express Flared
I am of the opinion that Maybelline make the best "drugstore brand" mascaras. I am yet to buy one from them that I haven't liked (okay I lied...I despised that one in the green and pink tube. I'm sure you know which one I mean. Don't pretend you didn't own it as a 15 year old.). Anyway, I find this adds heaps of volume and length to my lashes, without clumping. I don't use waterproof mascara because I hate how hard it is to get off, and I find this one quite difficult to remove.

8. The Body Shop - Hemp Foot Protector

I bought this quite a while ago now, and cannot express enough how much I love it. 

It's a super hydrating, really thick cream for your feet. Now, I know feet gross some people out, but they carry us around everywhere we go, so they need looking after too. I slather this on before bed, and after my shower and let it really soak in. Be careful putting it on and then walking around on tiles / floorboards though - it can make your feet slippery!

What were your favourites for this month?

Have you used any of the above products before? Do feet gross you out? I personally don't mind them...

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