Eyeliner

Review: Liquid/Gel Eyeliner

Liquid eyeliner - it's a love/hate relationship. It's not the easiest thing to use, and does require some practice. But with a good liner, you can get that beautiful cat eye you are looking for.

I have been using liquid eyeliners for years now, and trust me, I have had some amazing ones, and some absolute shockers. Below is a simple review of some of the ones I have tried.

NARS Stylo Liquid Eyeliner

NARS let me down with this one. This is a successor to a previous liquid eyeliner they had which got really terrible reviews. This is an improvement to their last, but still not quite there. I bought this from Mecca and it cost around $40.

What I liked about it:
 - It is pretty easy to use
 - The felt tip is soft on your eyes
 - The flow is relatively consistent.

What I didn't like about it, and why I wouldn't buy this again:
 - Smudges easily
 - It is not long lasting. You will end up wearing it on your eyebrows and everywhere else
 - Its not quite 'black', despite buying the black colour.
 - Due to the above you obsessively try and re-line over it, which interestingly enough, takes off what you put on previously. This is also not good if you are inexperienced with applying liquid liner.
 - The felt tip gets blunt making it near impossible to do any sleek thin lines, or properly do winged cat eyes.

Stila 'Stay all Day' Liquid Eyeliner

I'm still not too sure about this one, but this is probably because it blew up on me. Like the NARS, it is a felt tip, but its end is a lot thinner than NARS (which makes for better application/thinner lines/more precise etc). I bought this when I was over in Hawaii from Sephora for about $25 USD.

What I liked about it:
 - Felt tip make for soft application
 - Nice consistent flow
 - Nice intense black colour
 - Long lasting
 - Thin, pointy tip makes it great for winged eyeliner
 - Fairly good for beginners as it is really easy to use.

What I didn't like about it:
 - It can start to dry out after a few weeks of use. This is what I mean when I said it exploded on me. I assumed that I had run out of the product, so i gave it a little shake, took the lid off, and boom, product everywhere. Moral or the story...1.) don't shake it, 2.) don't be fooled, there is still more in there. Straight in the bin.
 - It is possibly TOO long lasting. This is almost waterproof, which means you need to scrub a bit to get it off or use a really good eye make up remover. Can be harsh on the sensitive eye area.

MAC Liquid Eye Liner

Disappointing. I seem to have a bad streak with testing out MAC products. Unlike the two above, this is not a pen, rather a pot with a screw top lid with a tapered applicator. Paid around $30 for this.

What I liked about this product:
 - ... I will get back to you

What I didn't like and why I will not buy again:
 - Small tub and minimal product
 - Product goes on uneven
 - Product looks charcoal even when it says its meant to be black
 - Not that easily to use
 - The tapered applicator is SHARP and PAINFUL
 - Some days this product made my eyelids feel like they were burning
 - Product goes clumpy with time

Bourjois Clubbing Liner

This is just a simple drugstore brand, but they have some pretty funky and innovative products. This is no exception. This is a long tub with a screw top applicator. The applicator itself are bristles. Its part of their 'clubbing' range, which pretty much just means that it is long lasting, and 'tried and tested on girls who have worn it out clubbing and it stays on perfectly all night'. They have some pretty vibrant colours too. I paid around $20AUD for this.

What I liked about this product:
 - Product is an intense black, no need to go over it several times
 - They give you quite a bit of product
 - Long lasting, but unlike the Stila, it comes off easier when you wash your face
 - Does not smudge
 - Its cheap

What I didn't like about the product:
 - It is not very easy to use. The bristles on the applicator are relatively long and end straight (not tapered) which makes it difficult to do wings. The bristles can also separate and flick little speckles of product if you aren't careful. The bristles can also be sharp.
 - Went clumpy after a while (but it was probably time to chuck it out anyway).

Maybelline Stiletto Liner

I was actually surprised with this one - it's pretty good. It is a felt tip which is tapered on one side. Soft application, good consistency of product. And you can get it anywhere being Maybelline. I paid around $15 AUD for this.

What I liked about it:
 - Easy to use
 - Soft on your eyes
 - Tapered allows for more precise lines, which can be hard with felt tips
 - Nice colour
 - Relatively good staying power

What I didn't like:
 - Relatively good staying power (lol)
 - Not that much product

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner

Bought this after using the Stiletto Eyeliner for a while expecting it to be great, given its a pen and it has an even thinner tapered applicator. Argh, don't even bother with this one. No product comes out of it. Any that does, you are dragging it across your eye and it is patchy, and definitely not user friendly. It also comes out charcoal instead of black. you have to push extra hard to get it to let out any product, then it just pools up in certain areas. What a mess.

Maybelline Lasting Drama GEL Eyeliner

I was really surprised with this - I really like it. I have always stayed away from gel pot eyeliner as I have always believed I am not coordinated enough to manage it. I am also really sceptical about the brush and how it would manage. One day I decided to give it a go, and I went with something that I had heard some good reviews about, but wasn't expensive, so I wouldn't feel bad chucking it out if I couldn't get it to work for me. I think I paid around $20 AUD.

What I like about it:
 - The brush is amazing. It is soft but at the same time does precise lines which you can make as thick or thin as you want
 - The colour is great. Once again you can make this as dark or as light as your want
 - Long lasting
 - Doesn't smudge
 - Its actually really easy to use

What I don't like about it:
 - People who are beginners may not be comfortable with the pot and brush
 - It's a little extra work having to have a tissue to remove excess product from the brush before application
 - You need to wash the brush, otherwise it gets dry and hard with old product and will poke out your eye.

I hope this gives other eyeliner obsessed beauty babes some help when you go to purchase your next liner. Let me know of any you have tried and loved!

 - Karene

Jeans!

My new favs: DL 1961 Emma Jeans

Cannot speak highly enough of these jeans.



They are so comfortable, and fit perfectly, giving you curves in all the right places. They have a higher percentage of elastine in them, so I guess you can kind of call them a jegging. But trust me, they just look like an awesome pair of jeans.

For any of you who have ever owned Citizens of Humanity Avedon Jeans, you will ADORE these. Firstly, they aren't as expensive (around $170 AUD compared to $240AUD for CoH). They are thicker. Much more fitted. Oh and unlike CoH, they don't stretch like crazy, and wash up really well. In the words of DL 1961, the Emma Jeans don't 'Sag, Bag or Loose their shape'

Seen on celebs like Kim Kardashian, Miranda Kerr and Jessica Alba.
Oh and the colours are fantastic. I want them all!

 

Buy your own at:
www.shopbop.com
www.revolveclothing.com

 - Karene x

NARS Foundation Review

NARS Sheer Matte Foundation

Let me say this simple and straight - this foundation is evil. It will absolutely destroy your skin, then come back for your first born.

One day I decided to venture out again into the scary world of foundations after being an avid and loyal user of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (which I will also review soon). Walked into Mecca Cosmetica, explaining that I want a matte foundation, with medium coverage. The SA straight away walked over to the NARS stand, grabbed this foudation and tested it on my face.

Wow - it looked great. Perfect colour match (the colour was Fiji). So... I bought it...it isn't cheap either...

...funny how everything always looks better when you are in the cosmetic store and have a professional applying the tester...

Got home, it still looked pretty good, so I began using it as my 'everyday wear' foundation.

Each day, I would wake up, put on my foundation, and go to work. Not even half way through my day, I would already start to notice this foundation separating. That's how bad the staying power of this is.

By the end of the day, it was completely disgusting. Any foundation that had not come off already, was patchy, caught in places you dont want it to. It dried out my skin, but at the same time, looked oily and shiny (what happened to 'Sheer Matte'?). Also, it oxidises like you would not believe - the colour turned from a perfect match, to nearly orange. I tried to combat this throughout the day by using blotting tissues, and dusting transluscent powder over my face at different intervals. It worked somewhat - enough for me to continue using it (it was too espensive for me to stop, and I had used too much to take it back).

Well I really should have taken all of the above as a sign to stop using it...because it gets worse...

Not only did it seriously dry my skin - it broke me out horribly. I do have acne-prone skin, but nothing like this before. I got pimples where I have never gotten pimples before (jaw line, chin). They weren't mild either; they were angry, red, and impossible to cover. For a supposedly 'oil free' foundation, this sure does not act like one.

Noticing what was happening I stopped using it and counted my losses. As soon as I got off it, my skin started returning to normal - slowly but surely.

DO NOT buy this product. Such a waste of money and has the potential to do some serious damage to the look of your skin!

That being said - I have heard some pretty great review about the NARS Sheer Glow foundation, which some of you may want to try. Not me though - I am too traumatised!!

 - Karene x

Fashion with a cause...

Fashion with a cause: TOMS shoes

TOMS is a brand loved by many - and its no surprise why. Not only do they make awesome casual canvas shoes, that are BEYOND comfortable, but also because of the amazing initiative they have to assist those less fortunate.


TOMS One for One Movement is an initiative where for every pair you buy, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need.

TOMS is also helping save and restore sight for people in need around the world through the purchases of TOMS Eyewear.

TOMS website: http://www.toms.com/

 - Karene x

Melissa Shoes

Melissa shoes!

I bought my first pair of Melissa shoes!

For those of you that don't know, Melissa shoes are from Brazil, and really starting to take off and spread around the world. They are recognisable by their modern, plastic design and rich colours. Super funky! Melissa teams up with designers such as John Paul Gaultier and Jason Wu to come up with original pieces.

Some of you may have seen celebs like Katy Perry, Alessandra Ambrosio and Kate Moss wearing them, as well as many others:

When you hear plastic - you don't exactly think of comfort (well I don't anyway). I think of rubbing, sweating, smelling - yuck! But oh my...that is not the case with these bad boys. They are super flexible, pretty much molding to your foot. The heels are soft, and spongy on your foot, so it feels like you are walking on a cloud. The sandal straps are soft and do not rub. The closed toe shoes (heels, flats), have tiny little holes strategically placed to allow your foot to breathe. Oh, and hows this, the plastic is infused with a scent (kind of like bubblegum), so they smell amazing - even when you have had them for a while and worn them to death (so says a friend of mine anyway).

I just went with a simple navy sandal (which reminds me of when I was a little kid). It is pretty much a jelly sandal, but much more comfortable. Playing it safe...

Try some on...your feet will fall in love!

Melissa Australia: http://www.melissaaustralia.com.au/

 - Karene x

First Impressions: Stila #21 Brush

First Impressions: Stila #21 Brush

I heard RAVE reviews about this brush on Makeup Alley (if you have never used Makeup Alley, get on it!)... It is a rounded flat top brush, packed tightly with relatively short bristles. Even though it is dense, it is still super soft with a sturdy thick handle.

It's advertised as a 'Double Duty Cheek Contouring and Blush brush', but when I saw this, I thought it was definitely dense enough to be used as a flat foundation brush.

No. No no no no no. This brush does not like liquid foundation. It sheds like you would not believe, going all over my face and on the floor! I thought, 'hmmm maybe because it's new, and it is just shedding loose hairs'. Tried it again. Same thing happened. Horrible...

I was so disappointed. That's what I get for not following its directions of use.

So, I tried it as a loose powder brush. Presto - what do you know...no shedding. Still too early for me to really 'review' this, as I will still need to play around with it. I do believe it will be amazing for contouring due to how packed together the bristles are, so if you are looking for that sharp, structured, Kim Kardashian make up look, this is probably the brush for you. I will post pictures in my next review.

 - Karene x

Marc by Marc Jacobs Haul

Marc by Marc Jacobs Haul

Just a quickly, love love love my new Marc by Marc Jacobs items.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Blade Watch in Rose Gold and White face

Marc by Marc Jacobs Exploded Katie Turnlock bracelet in Rose Gold and 'Beach'

Marc by Marc Jacobs Rubber Turnlock bracelet in Black

For any of these items, plus heaps more Marc by Marc Jacobs, check out www.shopbop.com .

 - Karene x

Review: Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

Review: Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

Let me begin by saying that I got this product free (along with many other Clairns products that I will also review at some point) when I bought a Clarins foundation (ended up being amazing value). 

I've always seemed to just walk passed Clarins when I was in a department store, because in the back of my mind, I always seemed to think it was for an older generation - like my mums age; probably because I have fond thoughts of her using their products when I was a child. But let me just say - Clarins is totally under-rated. The cosmetics and skin care products they have are actually really funky and innovative. The Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch is no exception.

I am only in my early 20's, and unfortunately I am starting to form some fine expression lines on my forehead. This product is FANTASTIC for temporarily filling these in. Let me stress - this is only temporary, and purely cosmetic - it is not wrinkle or line treatment. You use it either underneath your make up, or on top (or even without any make up), sort of like you would use a primer. It fills in those fine lines, wrinkles, and pores, as well as smoothing out skin tone (which can also be great for acne scarring).

It comes in a little 15ml red jar (which is super cute), and smells devine. Also included is a little tiny spatula for those of us who have nails and don't want the product going underneath them. More importantly, a little goes a long way...

Sounds all too good to be true, right? Well check out the pics below and see how it worked on the fine line on the palms of my hands. You be the judge...

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

Will definitely purchase this once I run out of my current tub :)

- Karene x

Health & Fitness: Cellucor Super HD and T7

Stacking Cellucor Super HD and T7 Extreme

So, I have recently started going hard with the fitness buzz - gym almost everyday, and [trying] to eat healthier.

A friend of mine referred me to the above Cellucor products, explaining they are a godsend to anyone who wants to be a machine at the gym and it aids in dropping the clicks. Of course, by recommendation, I went out and bought them.

Why don't I start by filling you in on how Cellucor explains each.

Super HD is described by Cellucor as a 'High Definition Fat Targeting and Sculpting Agent'. 'Super HD combines powerful fat-burning ingredients and potent nootropic compounds to deliver a powerful energy, focus, and 'feel-good' weight loss product'.

...whatever that all means. Below are the supp facts...

T7 Extreme is described as 'Fat Loss - Metabolism Support - Mood Enhancement', and 'promotes fat burning and weight loss without the stimulants'.

Supp facts below:

So in short, Super HD is a stimulant with A LOT of caffeine in it. T7 Extreme is not a stimulant but promotes an increase in metabolism with the White Willow Bark extract. This also means they are AMAZING stacked together.

And hey! What do you know - they aren't just placebo's in futuristic bottles! They actually work, and bodybuilding.com has actually given the Super HD awards for being the best fat burning supplement for 2012.

I feel a lot more energy when I am using this product, especially at the gym, where I can run faster for longer, and lift heavier with more reps. And you sweat like crazy when you work out (thats an understatement). The muscle is really starting to show, and I am losing the pudge, and I am only 2 weeks in. These two supplements are my holy grail for fitness at the moment.

So, how do I take them?

I take two of the Super HD as soon as I get out of bed (on an empty stomach) and about an hour later I take two of the T7 (on a full stomach). About 5-6 hours later, I will take another 1 Super HD, and an hour after that I will take another 1 T7.

You MUST make sure you take this product correctly and follow the direction's on the bottle. Also, drink A LOT of water with it. If you are caffeine sensitive, I would stay away from Super HD and stick with the T7, it is awesome in itself anyway. These are also appetite suppressants, so make sure you are still eating meals throughout the day.

I will keep you all updated through my progress :)

 - Karene x

Trending: Statement pieces

Trending: Coloured bags

Take a look at this little beauty I bought recently from Wayne by Wayne Cooper J ♥

Coloured bags are taking the world by storm. They are the perfect accessory to 'jazz' up any outfit - casual/work/evening - anything! Take a look at some of the below to get inspiration for your next purchase.

From left to right (starting at the top):

1. Tory Burch Robinson Textured tote

2. Skin Imagine Deluxe clutch

3. Paul's Boutique Maisy bag

4. Zatchels leather satchel



From left to right (starting at the top):

1. Paul's Boutique Victoria bag

2. Miu Miu Calf Leather tote

3. Marc by Marc Jacobs Natasha leather bag

4. Prada leather satchel

YSL lipstick - #13 Peach Passion

Review: Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick - #13 Peach Passion

One word - WOW.

I am not usually a lipstick person and tend to stick to my trusty lip balm/lipglosses. This is due to the fact I tend to have chronic 'dry-lip' syndrome. Also, you need to get a really good one that doesn't bleed (I'm way too lazy for lipliner) and rub off easily - and that can be pretty hit and miss.

I had eyed this lipstick for a long time before I decided to take the plunge and buy it. I won't lie, it is expensive for a lipstick, at $54 AUD (Mecca Cosmetica), but gosh is it worth it.

While their whole range of colours are gorgeous, I ended up buying #13 (Peach Passion), purely because we (Australia) are in Spring and going into Summer, and this colour is really trending right now, and gives a fresh look to your face. The texture is ah-maze-ing! It is really creamy and mousturizing, and even gives me, miss dry lips, a smooth finish (with only minimal visability of lines). Oh and it doesn't bleed (plus plus plus...TICK!). And the packaging is so sleek and classy.

The colour goes on really opaque, so you really don't need to use a lot of it to get the coverage and colour you need (see swatch below).

This colour may seem a little daring for some (especially those who have pretty pale skin), but the trick is just do what you would do with any other lipstick...blot! Use a tissue and blot until your desired colour. What also works is dusting a little bit of transluscent powder over your lips (not too much though) to dull out the colour. This can also help with the staying power of this lipstick. However, if you are looking for a YSL lipstick that is not so peachy, my next pick would be going for the #7 Lingerie Pink (which will probably be my next purchase).

The only downfall of this lipstick would be how long it lasts. For the price, I was half hoping for something that was a lot more longlasting wear. However, I find myself having to re-apply this throughout the day to keep the colour I want.

Apart from that, if you are looking for an amazing lipstick, I definitely recommend the YSL Rouge Volupte range! Every girls needs to have one of these golden bullets in their beauty collection.

 - Karene x