Review: Benefit Lollitint Lip & Cheek Stain

Hello Lolli! Our Candy-orchid tint treats lips and cheeks to a "pop" of dreamy sweetness. It's the flirtiest flush you can get from a bottle... and it's smudge-proof, smooch-proof colour lasts from A.M to P.M. Talk about stain power!

I love Benefit products. I love the packaging, the cute names, but most of all I love that the products themselves are great quality. I'm not gonna lie, I get excited every time I hear that they're releasing something new - and whenever I visit the Benefit counter at Smith and Caugheys, I have to physically refrain myself from breaking out the credit card and buying everything in sight!

Since I'm already a big fan of Benetint, I was pretty thrilled to get Lollitint at the launch last month. Lollitint is the new "candy-orchid" tint and is a bit different in texture from Benetint. It is more of a gel-like consistency, which I actually prefer as I find it a bit easier to apply.

The colour is seriously gorgeous, it's a beautiful blue-toned pink that seems to be super flattering on everyone! I kid you not, every blogger was wearing this at the launch - and it suited all of us, even though we all have completely different skin tones. That's a winner in my books.

When applying to the cheeks, it's vital to do one cheek at a time. All you do is dot the colour on, and blend with a brush or your fingers - this stuff sets pretty quickly, and does not budge! Would be great for a night out, as it won't fade at all.
Don't do what I did and get so sunburnt that your face starts peeling and goes all dry though, as this can stick to those dry/peeling patches on your cheeks. Nothing that a good moisturise beforehand wouldn't fix!

Even though I absolutely love it on the cheeks, my favourite way to wear it is on my lips. The colour is absolutely beautiful! I have nothing else like it in my collection, and certainly don't have anything else that lasts as long as this does. Even after eating and drinking, I still had to literally scrub it off at the end of the day!
When first applied on the lips, it tingles a little until it dries. I would compare the feeling to that of a lip plumper - I actually like it! Once dry, you can't feel it on at all - I kept forgetting I was wearing it until I caught sight of my reflection.

The best thing though is it didn't actually dry my lips out at all, which is something that most lip products do and is why I always have a love/hate relationship with them.

Here's a photo of me wearing it on both the lips and the cheeks:

I love it so much! I would recommend it to anyone who is after a lip and cheek product that will last all day, without budging. It is available at Smith and Caugheys in New Zealand from 15th February and retails for $57 NZD

Thanks for viewing!
oxo

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Review: Bobbi Brown Lipsticks

Bright, shiny and new - our much-loved Sheer Lip Colors get a polished update, now in a limited edition silver tube. This lightweight formula delivers an effortless wash of color plus nourishing shine (and pairs perfectly with the season's luminous looks).
Luxurious butters and oils improve the overall condition of lips, instantly and over time. Glides on smoothly and evenly for hours of feather-free wear.

I kind of have a bit of a love/hate relationship with lipstick. I love to wear it, and love the look of it. But more often than not, I hate the feeling of it! 
This is because I get really dry/chapped lips pretty much year round and almost every lipstick I try dries them out even more. It's really irritating!

But I have to say, this Sheer Lip Color lipstick feels so nice! It's formulated with Shea Butter, Murumuru Butter and Apricot Kernel Oils which rejuvenate and nourish the lips, all while actually improving the condition of lips overtime. It glides on super smooth, and doesn't seem to dry out my lips at all, leaving them feeling soft and moisturised.

The colour I have is Pink Gold from the Nude Glow Collection and it is a light shimmery gold. Normally I don't like shimmer in lipsticks, but this actually looks quite beautiful on. The first time I wore it I got asked what I was wearing about 6 times, I kid you not! That hardly ever happens with my lipsticks! 

Here's a swatch and closeup:

And here's a photo of me wearing it:

Now onto the new Shimmer Lip Color...

Bobbi Brown's iconic Lip Color is now available in new shades that combine high-shine emollients and light-reflective pearls for something completely fresh. Don't think metallic or frost - the effect is sheer and multi-dimensional. The lightweight yet moisturising formula glides effortlessly and evenly onto lips, leaving a thin veil of light-reflecting colour that  lasts for hours without feathering or drying.
Each shade is formulated with a unique blend of pearls for an effect that's intensely reflective yet soft and wearable; individual pearls have a smooth, flat shape and reflective, mirror-like quality.

Like I said above, I normally don't like shimmer in lipsticks - but there is something about these that is just gorgeous. Instead of looking chunky and glittery, these just have the most gorgeous shine. 

The colour I have is Berry Shimmer and it is a gorgeous neutral pink. These too are formulated with Shea Butter and Murumuru Butter, which leaves your lips feeling supple and conditioned. The colour payoff of this is actually pretty good considering that they are on the sheer side, and it really doesn't take much to get a nice opaque colour. 

It's not actually a shade that I would normally gravitate to, so it's taken me by surprise just how much I love this!
Here's a swatch and a close up:

And here's a photo of me wearing it:

Overall I am very impressed by both of these lipsticks. They feel great, more like a lip balm than a lipstick, and are both colours that I will get a lot of wear out of. These are both available now, at the Bobbi Brown store in Britomart.

Thanks for viewing!
oxo

Review: Antipodes Delight Hand & Body Cream

Escape the everyday with this high-performance creamy moisturiser with a sweet fragrance of vintage gardenia that will lift you to holiday dreams and make your spirit sing. Silky macadamia nut oil hydrates and leaves your skin cushiony smooth. Marigold flower oil helps soften the most parched areas, and revolutionary Vinanza Grape will free your skin from dryness. The perfect all-over cream for most skin conditions.

If you remember my review of the Gentle Grace Cream Cleanser, then you'll know that I pretty much fell in love with Antipodes products. They're one of those brands that you just have to like, because their products actually DO what they say they're going to.

Delight Hand & Body Cream came at the perfect time for me. In Summer, I tend to get really dry skin - most likely due to too much sun exposure (oops!) and sure enough, after attending the Kumeu Hot Rod Show my skin was in dire need of some hydration. 

My legs were peeling like crazy after getting sun burnt, and I'm not gonna lie.. it looked pretty bad. Dad even started making jokes about Leprosy. Thanks Dad. 

Nothing seemed to moisturise enough to actually make my legs look normal and smooth, and what did work lasted about an hour or so and then my legs went straight back to being dry, scaly and patchy.
Then I started using this. I'm not saying it worked miracles on my legs, because they are still peeling, but it certainly made a huge difference! My legs actually stayed moisturised almost all day and unlike some creams I've had in the past, this didn't irritate my skin at all.

As well as using it on my legs, I of course used it on my hands too and honestly, it's been one of the best hand creams I've ever used. My hands stay soft and smooth, even after washing them! I really love how quickly it absorbs too, it never leaves a greasy film on the skin. 

Surprisingly enough, even the smell doesn't bother me, and you know how I am with smells. It's a little strong when first applied, but dies down to a much more subtle scent once it settles in. It hasn't given me a headache, so you know that's a good sign!
The packaging is just gorgeous too, as you'd expect from Antipodes. They really know how to make products that look just as luxurious as they feel.

Overall, I really love this and would recommend it to anyone who's after a really good hand cream, that can double as a body cream. You can find it at Health 2000 both in store and online.

Thanks for viewing!
oxo

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Review: Lush Christmas Goodies

Stuck on what to get your loved ones for Christmas? If like me, you have decided to leave Christmas shopping 'til the last minute (despite your good intentions!), then I hope this review on a few Lush Christmas goodies helps you out!

It seems like a lot of people don't have baths these days. Everyone just has shower cubicles (like me) so to me, receiving a really nice shower gel is fantastic! Christmas time brings out all sorts of limited edition products from Lush, and one of these is Ponche shower gel.

 

Spanish for punch, this shower gel is inspired by the Mexican fruit punch made from seasonal fruits such as plums, oranges, cinnamon and vanilla. All ingredients that can help warm and stimulate the senses. Wash your hair and body with this fruity, softening shower gel and lift your spirits and get into party mode - there's even a dash of tequila to give it a little kick and some festive cheer!

This is one of the best smelling shower gels I have ever used. It's not overpowering, or too sweet, which I really like. It foams up really nicely and leaves your skin feeling fresh and clean. I also think it's pretty cool how it contains a little bit of tequila - perfect addition for this time of year! Hahaha

If you're lucky enough to have a bath (my boyfriend does, and I use it whenever I can!), then it's important to know this: Lush takes the simple act of relaxing in a bath, to a whole other level.
Seriously. Have you checked out their bath products? Well, the Christmas range is even better.

The first one I tried was Bombardino, which is one of their Bath Ballistics.

Bombardino shares it's name with a drink enjoyed in the Italian Alps and smells of rich lemon cheesecake.We've added cocoa butter to soften the skin; whilst Sicilian lemon oil and Fair Trade vanilla absolute (the first Fair Trade absolute in the world!) give your bath a sweet and delicious fragrance.

This smells pretty good, and the lemon scent comes out even more once you add it to the bath. It also dissolves quite slowly - it took over 2 minutes, which I actually thought was pretty cool! It really does look awesome as it fizzes around and colours the water a bright yellow. This may be a little off-putting to some, but I found it to be pretty awesome. Also leaves your skin feeling beautifully soft and smooth when you hop out of the bath - yay!

Here's a quick clip of it in action:

The last thing I tried was the Magic Wand Bubble Bar.

Fairy princesses of all ages will love this great value re-usable bubble bar for up to ten bubble baths. Swish it around in the water for a skin softening, vanilla scented soak and a mound of candy bubbles. Then pop it on the side for use another time... just like magic!

This is definitely my favourite out of the bath products, it is so cool! I swished it around in the bath, and immediately you could start to see little bubbles forming. When I swirled my hand around after, it made more bubbles form. I wouldn't say it was really bubbly, but it was a nice amount considering I didn't use too much of it! I love how it's re-usable too, I feel like it makes it especially good value for money - not to mention it smells fantastic!

Here's a quick clip of it in action:

I hope this has given you a couple of Christmas gift ideas! Be sure to check out the whole Christmas range at your nearest Lush store, or check it out online. There is something for everyone!

Thanks for viewing!
oxo

Review: Oasis Beauty Tropical Fruit Smoothie

 

Tropical Fruit Smoothie combines 3 products into 1 - a physical exfoliator, enzymatic exfoliator and smoothing masque.

It is a powerful but gentle multipurpose product for smooth, glowing skin in no time at all.  Jojoba beads combined with papaya and pineapple exfoliate away rough skin.  Then let the natural clays work their magic...and voila!  Super smooth sexy skin.

Exfoliators and face masques quite often slip my mind. Maybe I’m just too lazy to use them. Who am I kidding? I KNOW I’m too lazy to use them. It’s terrible I know, but I always feel like I’m in a rush, so I constantly neglect them.
Then I sit here and wonder why my skin is so terrible. Honestly…

I love that Oasis Beauty decided to create a product that combined exfoliators and a face masque – this is perfect for me! Surprisingly enough, because this saves time – I actually have been using it twice a week without fail. 

The results are great! My skin has been looking better than ever! It’s so soft and smooth, the dry patches on my nose and forehead are 90% gone, and I haven’t had even the slightest irritation from using it. That’s pretty amazing, considering it actually feels a little more abrasive than exfoliators I have tried in the past.

To use it, I basically apply it all over my face like a masque and leave it to set for a few minutes. Then I gently massage it into the skin to exfoliate, before finally cleaning it off with warm water. I find this to be the best method for me, but if you prefer you can actually exfoliate first, then leave it on the face to set as a masque, before washing it off with water or a face cloth.

Overall, I am very impressed. My skin looks and feels great, and it’s the perfect way for me to actually remember to use masques and exfoliators.
As a side note: I love the fact there is no fragrance, colour or parabens! And its cruelty free! 

Check out this and all the other products from Oasis Beauty here.

Thanks for viewing!
oxo

Review: Senna Brow Book

Brow expert and Senna founder, Eugenia Weston, designed this super skinny, refillable magnetic palette as the ultimate pro tool to master perfect brows on everyone. 

I’m ashamed to admit it, but I neglected my eyebrows for years. And I really do mean years. I didn’t even get them shaped til I was like 20. That’s blasphemy! The only reason that I think I managed to get away with it for so long, is because my eyebrows are so sparse.

These days, I’m happy to tell you that I take much better care of them. Not only do I regularly pluck them, but I also fill them in religiously. When I realised how good they look when I maintain them, I never looked back!

I swear by my Senna Brow Book when it comes to filling in my brows. It has 9 colours in the palette, which makes finding your perfect match incredibly easy. It’s also great for someone like me who occasionally does freelancing, because there literally is a colour to suit everyone.

Left to right, top to bottom: Ash, Auburn, Platinum, Ebony, Taupe, Flaxen, Noir, Espresso, Brunette

As well as the actual brow colours, it also includes Browlite – which is a soft matte brow highlighter, and a Brow Pomade – which adds texture and fullness.

The colour I use is Brunette, and it is perrrfect. It looks so natural, that people don’t even realise that I’ve basically had to draw my eyebrows on. Hahaha. The pigmentation is great, which means you don’t have to spend ages building up the colour. 

The Browlite highlighter is alright (nothing too special!) and the Brow Pomade isn’t nearly as good as the Smashbox Brow Tech wax, so I rarely ever use it. 

Overall, I think this palette is great and would recommend it to anyone who has a hard time finding a good match for their brows, and it is especially awesome for makeup artists. I bought mine from Camera ReadyCosmetics, but you can also find it on the Senna website.

Thanks for viewing!
oxo