Collection: Highlighters

With a couple of highlighters in my collection, I thought I would compare them all. This turned out to be a great excerise as it showed me their similarities and differences, perfect to keep in mind next time I do my face. 

I am going to go from cheapest to most expensive. Let me know what you think! 

I have fair skin (I use MAC NW13) so my "reviews" are based on my skin tone. Please keep in consideration your own skin tone, preferences and skin type - just because it looks like this on me, doesn't mean the same for you! Makeup is fun, experiment with it! 

My highlighter collection swatches (natural light) 

My highlighter collection (with flash)

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Firstly: Face of Australia in Glamazon 

This product comes with a bronzer and highlight, is cool toned and suits my fair skin. I believe I purchased this for around the ten dollar mark - making it a bargain! 

The highlighter is warmer than the bronzer and has a sparkle (as opposed to a glow). Comparing this to the next "drugstore" highlighter, this gives more wow. In the past I've turned to this when I am wearing less coverage and want a more subtle highlight. 

Secondly: Rimmel London in Coral Glow

My favourite thing about this is the blush. In terms of the highlight, it is extremely subtle.

With flash it barely registers. Again, a highlighter for low coverage makeup looks. So natural, it's natural. Additionally, the contour is too warm for my skin, but the blush is lovely. For around fifteen dollars, it is comparable to Face of the Australia Glamazon - but I prefer the Glamazon. 

Now to my latest and stand out: Sleek Makeup Highlighting Palette in Solice.

Retailing for around the twenty dollar mark this one wins my value for money. Good price, great pigmentation. For this I only focused on the two right highlights: Hemisphere and Equinox.

I love the choice of both. They are extremely pigmented, blend-able and can be mixed with any other highlighter to make a custom colour. These are intense highlighters. I tend to use Equinox more often. 

Next is the Instagram famous Mary-Lou Manizer by The Balm 

I find Mary-Lou the perfect in between highlighter. It sits colourwise between Becca's Champagne Pop and Moonstone. I prefer to wear this during the day and it is easy to blend. I feel like this is a fail safe option for a nice day out. 

Finally, Becca's Champagne Pop and Moonstone 

The most expensive of the bunch, Moonstone is my most used and Champgane Pop is my least used!

Moonstone is my favourite of all my highlighters. It's fail safe, build-able highlight that complements my skin. It is a holy grail product, even with the price tag.

Champgane Pop was more of a "impulse" purchase the last time I was at Sephora. I prefer to keep it for evenings, however did wear it during the day which turned out to be the day I got my passport photo done, and it looked natural! I do however think one Becca highlighter is probably enough, however I do want my hands on pearl (I'll pass on opal). 

As you can see in the above photo, these four are the most similar. However they do all have their little differences. The biggest being that the "drugstore" highlighters wear a lot quicker than the "high end". 

Below is with flash for another comparison:

Ah - look at Moonstone! You win Moonstone! 😍 

That's the end of my long highlighter post. It was great to go through my collection and compare them all. Let me know what your favourite highlighters are, 

here or on Instagram. 

X

Review: Rimmel London 'The Only 1' Lipstick

Rimmel have launched a new range of lipsticks. These lipsticks are called 'The Only 1' and is "set to change lipstick history". They are marketed as a unique multi-tasker, claiming intense, high-impact shades, ultra-comfortable & weightless feel, and moisturising. 

I was sent six shades - here are the swatches. 

First up, I like the packaging. Sleek, names on the bottom and great design. From the swatches on my arm, you can see that they are highly pigmented and instantly feel very moisturing. 

Now, onto the lips! In the following I have swatches each shade onto my lips and there are no filters on the following images. 

#810 One-of-a-kind

A nice deeper red, but not unique. I would say most makeup enthusiastis have this shade. This shade felt nice and moisturising. These lipsticks do need a lippencil however, as the formular is quiet soft and it is difficult to creat clean lines. I would even suggests a lip brush too. 

#710 Easy does it

This shade has almost a frost finish and is the least pigmented of the group. I did however like the colour, and it suited my fair skin tone. A safe option. 

#620 Call me crazy 

A lovely bright orange that photographs lovely. However it did make my teeth look slightly yellow. Great pigment, even coverage. Fun. 

#610 Cheeky coral 

Disappointed in this one. Streaky and tacky, it instantly bleed into my lips. Not great in a moisturing lippy. I like this colour but its formular let me down. 

#500 Revolution red 

Nice red. I love reds. I liked this. That is all. 

#300 Listen up

This was also a pretty colour with a similar formular to cheeky coral - not great. Streaky. It is also misleading if you could not swatch as it looks red! 

Overall - these are first impressions. I will be giving some (not all of these) colours another go over the weekend. While the formular is moisturising and pigmented, it is very soft. Even today, during swatching the heat got to them and one broke off. I like Rimmel and their affordability, they make some awesome lip products, some of my favourites (apocalips, provocalips)! However, I preferred their previous nude range. With the claim "the only 1 lipstick" I can safely say this will not be the one for me. 

Review: Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation and Fix & Protect Makeup Primer

I am always excited to try Rimmel London's products. Their range this year has included some great quality products with a matching price. 

Last week I tried their latest releases: Match Perfection Foundation and Fix & Protect Primer.

First off, primer. 

This primer is nice and refreshing. A little runny, but it was 40 degrees on Friday, so that may of affected its consistency. 

The packaging could be improved. While I like the pink and white, the plastic feels flimsy.

This primer was okay. Cannot say it drastically prolonged the wear of the foundation. It was just an okay primer. I could take or leave it. There are so many better primers on the market that I reach for before this. 

Now the foundation, I liked! 

Firstly, it lasted on my face for the whole day in that 40+ degree weather. It felt nice and light, and evened out my complextion. It's great to see more choices for lighter skin, however with most of these lighter shades, you need to make sure to blend it out. I don't know what it is about fair shades, but they require a little more blending. 

Secondly, I love glass foundation bottles. While not sold on the blue, the glass  provides a higher end feel. Especially with the cap - nice touch. 

Again, Rimmel are making some great solid products. Will this replace my holy grail foundation? No. Do I like it? Yes! As a week day foundation, it's great! Especially the fact it lasted in the heat. 

Great work Rimmel! 

Rave Review: [A'kin] Sandalwood Body Wash

The lovely people at Stark Matthews sent this A'kin Body Wash for me to sample. I had heard of the brand previously but this was their first product I had ever tried. 

Cutting to the chase, I am enjoying this body wash. So much so, that most days of the week I reach for it over Lush's Rose Jam. 

Firstly, I really like the packaging. It complements all my shower caddy products. Is clean and simple. I love the colours, especially the green and maroon. It does conjures outback thoughts. But stylish, nice cabin retreat (as opposed to tent sitting, fly swatting camping). 

Secondly, smells lovely. Subtle. I do find it  relaxing in the sense it doesn't over power your senses when you larger up at the end of the day. Which for evening shower, I want to unwind. So thumbs up there. It also lathers nicely just using your hands. 

Thirdly, it's a great brand with an amazing ethos. Australian made and owned, cruelty free, vegan, and free from sulfates. It's just a good product all round. 

While this body wash would not have been the first thing I would have picked up from the shelf, I am pleasantly surprised. It's a great body wash. I definitely will keep my eye out for more of their skin care (when it's on sale) to try out. A great company with a solid product. 

Two thumbs up.  

Rave Review: Innoxa Cover & Correct Palette.

Very excited when I got the phone call from my local Priceline that Innoxa's new palette was in stock! Innoxa have released a Cover & Correct Cream Concealer Face Palette which preps your skin, ready for foundation. 

The palette includes 4 cream correctors and 2 cream concealers, with a large mirror on the inside. Dermatologically tested, with no parabens, Innoxa does not test on animals. 

The correctors are as follows:

Yellow - neutralise purple under eyes.

Green - reduce redness.

Lavender - reduce yellow undertones.

Apricot - brighten complextion. 

It also contains two concealers, which are warm in tone. Not great for my fair skin, but my main interest was in the correctors!

My opinion:

Packaging : I like that it's not a black palette! The silver is nice, fresh and clean. Product : The cream correctors are indeed creamy! They are soft and blend-able. They felt nice on my skin, and a little bit of product went a long way. 

It is obvious I like it, but why did I like it?

From the swatches above, you can see how pigmented the correctors are. These are the three I used; yellow for under the eyes, green for around my nose and any red areas, and apricot I used as a concealer/bright-ner.

I did look a little silly once all three were applied on my skin. While they blended, the colours did not fade. My initial thoughts were "yep, redness is definitely gone. But now, what about the green?"

I applied after primer but before foundation, using a beauty blender and concealer brush. But fear not, once I applied foundation, it was hello complextion perfection.

Applying my foundation over the top and onto my face like usual, using a beauty blender, the colours blended well and I had an even complextion once finished. So I would recommend the beauty blender over brushes when working with this palette. 

Overall I was very happy with the results.  

Rave Review Conclusion:

I loved it. I have a decent amount of redness, and a green based primer does not address or correct it enough (if at all really). This palette covered and concealed my redness as well as my under eye circles. 

Most importantly, it felt nice on my skin, nice and creamy, and did not cake when I set my foundation. Instant favourite. 

I give it 5 meow meow beenz #sixseasonsandamovie

Decent Dupe? Maybelline Lash Sensational Vs Benefit Roller Lash

My first post will be short and sweet. Is Maybeline's Lash Sensational a dupe for Benefit's Roller Lash? 

When I read about dupes I want to know two things: how similar is the dupe product to the original? and, what is the price difference? 

PRICE:

Roller Lash cost me $38AUD.

Lash Sensational was half price at coles and was around $13AUD (usually around $25).

- Maybelline won this round. While the more money I save on makeup can usually mean the more money I can spend on makeup, how the dupe compares is arguably the most important. 

PRODUCT:

Packaging: Roller Lash wins for me, hands down as I am a sucker for the retro look. 

Wand: Both rubber, how ever there is an excess of product from Maybelline. While the Maybelline has more product inside, that extra product is wasted wiping off the brush to use.

On My Face: No need use a lash curler for Benefit. Maybelline has slightly less of a curl. Benefit has the bigger curled impact, and I feel it makes my short lashes look longer. 

- Benefit is the better product. Look and feel, it wins. 

So is Maybelline Lash Sensational a dupe for Benefit's Roller Lash? 

My answer: no.

Benefit Roller Lash is my favourite mascara (I prefer it over their 'They're Real'). 

Maybeline's Lash Sensational is not a dupe (in my opinion) and not even a favourite 'drugstore' mascara of mine. 

If you wanted a cheaper alternative for mascara, Rimmel London make my favourite affordable mascaras (but that's a post for another day). 

Thanks for reading! 

Soft Blush Beauty 🌸