Beauty Haul & My Bad Experience With Look Fantastic

Yay! HAUL TIME!

Eyes:

• Urban Decay Basics Palette (~$34AUD from Look Fantastic)
• For a friend so obviously no swatches. I will definitely be picking one up for myself though!
• Jordana Easy Liner for Eyes in Eggplant (dark purple) and Suede (mid tone brown) ($1.99 from Cherry Culture)
• They're a retractable pencil liner.
• Urban Decay 24/7 Double Ended Duo (~$24AUD from Look Fantastic)
• Shades are Sabbath, Stash, Corrupt and Zero. I LOVE my 24/7 pencil liner in Pervasion so these should be just as good.
• Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara (sample)
• Free gift with purchase. Wand is similar to Benefit's They're Real but rather large. Don't know if I'm a fan.

Cheeks:

• NARS Fall 2013 Blush Palettes ($69 from Mecca Cosmetica)
• See more photos and swatches on a previous post here.  
• Milani Baked Blushes in Berry Amore, Bellissimo Bronze, Rose D'oro ($6.99 from Cherry Culture)
• Ooo these are nice.. I'm wearing them all as eyeshadows as I type this. I think I will pick some more up.
• NYX Powder Blush in Taupe  ($5.50 from Cherry Culture))
• Don't know why it took me so long to pick this one up, it comes so highly recommended.

Lips:

• NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam and Antwerp ($5.50 from Cherry Culture)
• My second purchase of these - THEY'RE AMAZING! These are my favourite lip product and that's saying something.
• NYX Extreme Lip Cream in Pinky Nude ($5.50 from Cherry Culture)
• Shiny and sticky are the first impressions of the swatch. Hope it wasn't a waste of money.
• Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Tawny and Sedona Red ($1.99 from Cherry Culture)
• I've seen Carlibel55 use these a lot and they are really nice!

Complexion:

• Benefit Porefessional (~$41AUD from Look Fantastic)
• A really nice silicone based primer. A must have!
• Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (~$30AUD from Look Fantastic)
• hhmmmm.. hmmmm.... We'll see if this works!

Now onto the low point of my haul. I purchased quite a few of these items from Look Fantastic at a pretty good deal with free gifts. My original order never arrived after a month. I reordered and whilst the items all indeed came the free gifts did not. I was pretty annoyed as the ONLY reason I shopped with this company is because of the the free gifts. When I contacted them they declined to offer me a discount code for next time or reimbursement. Very disappointing and I doubt I will be shopping again. I will stick to my trusted and true Beauty Bay.

Daily Makeup Look: Testing Out Some L'Oreal

Products used:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Lemon Drop, LORAC Pro Palette, L'Oreal Base Magique Primer, L'Oreal True Match in W1 Golden Ivory, Rimmel Natural Bronzer, L'Oreal Ndude Magique BB Blush, L'Oreal Infallible 2 Step Lipstick in Stay Framboise, Rimmel Scandal Eyes Show Off Mascara, L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara.

LORAC Black, Espresso, Garnet, Sable, Cream. L'Oreal lipstick, L'Oreal blush, Rimmel bronzer, L'Oreal True Match, L'Oreal primer, Too Faced Shadow Insurance

NARS Fall 2013 Blush Palettes Photos & Swatches

A Mecca Cosmetica bag can only mean one thing.. High end products that have burnt a whole in my purse!

I blogged about the NARS Fall 2013 Blush Palettes a couple months ago and I've been on the lookout for them in Australia ever since. THANK GOD Mecca got these in because I have been seriously lusting after these. They're surprisingly $69AUD each, I thought they'd be a bit more as they're $49 in the States. My boyfriend picked them up for me on Sunday the 20th October which is the date that Mecca said they'd be released.

NARS Adult Content Blush Palette

Top left: Zen (Neutral beige)

Top right: Miss Liberty (Soft, shimmering peach)

Bottom left: Desire (Bright pink)

Bottom right: Deep Throat (A flirty, sheer peach with golden shimmer)

Killing Me Softly

Top left: Gilda (Perfect coral with a hint of red)
Top right: Albatross (Luminous glow)
Bottom left: Outlaw (A soft rose tone with golden shimmer)

Bottom right: Orgasm (Peachy pink with golden shimmer)

NARS Adult Content

NARS Killing Me Softly

 I was really surprised by the size of these palettes. I don't know - everything looks bigger in the pictures! I thought they would be larger than an average sized NARS blush but they're not. I've included a picture with A Revlon Lip Butter and a NYX round lipstick. Can you spot the false lash cut off? Yeah - I was doing makeup for a music video shoot and it must've fallen into the lipstick compartment of the kit haha.

Benefit Cosmetics Makeup Kit for a Flawless Fabulous You

Benefit's brought out a really interesting concept that I thought I would share. For the flat rate of $79 you can choose up to 4 products under the categories of complexion, eyes, cheeks and the free gift. These products come with a free makeup bag as well. There's a good variety of products for selection and it's a pretty good deal!

So if you average out the prices, you're looking at $20 per product which isn't bad. If you however choose the most expensive items from each category you will receive a better deal. The Hello Flawless foundation is $36, any of the liquid tint products are $30, Fakeup undereye concealer is $24 and a powder or cream eyeshadow is $20. That makes a total of $110 saving $31. 

What I recommend from Benefit:

What I'm thinking about getting: 

Check it out here on their American website. For any Aussie's wondering - you can get free shipping when spending over $120.

Inglot Makeup Lesson Review (Chadstone store)

There's a beautiful Inglot store at Chadstone on the lower level opposite Vans and Adidas. If you are a fellow makeup fiend this place will be too good to pass up on. Last week out of the blue I just walked past and saw this sign..

For quite some time I have wanted to get a makeup lesson as the girls working there always have such flawless makeup. I won't be saying who I had my makeup lesson from just for her privacy's sake. That and she has no idea I'm writing this!

So pretty... They've actually changed the displays now! So this is out of date.

With this kind of thing you're only ever going to get out what you put in. Asking questions and leading the session is in your best interest. I didn't use the lesson to discuss makeup application and techniques. Instead I used the 90 minutes to discuss Inglot products and what the makeup artist thinks would suit my skin type and complexion.

Disgustingly sneaky seflie.

The look we went for was heavy on the blush, burgundy on the lid (somehow looks purple in the photos?) and nude on the lips. I don't wear a nude lip very often and I also don't wear super heavy blush so it was an experience!

The $90 I paid is fully redeemable in products. If you want to see what I bought see my last post here.

My favourite product from Inglot are definitely their eyeshadows! Amazing, amazing, amazing! Also not a ridiculous mark up for here in Australia - $10 per eyeshadow pan. Please note that if you are an NC15 or lighter you will have no luck in finding a foundation match in Inglot. I was wearing the lightest shade and I still felt that it was a little dark.

Marocaine Pure Organic Argan Oil Review, Photos and Before & After

I was introduced to Marocaine Argan Oil earlier this year where they had a stall at the Suzuki Night Market. I originally purchased the Hair Serum which I completely fell in love with. About six weeks ago I went to repurchase another bottle and I also picked up the the pure organic argan oil in the same purchase. I bought online from the website and it only took two days to arrive by express post which was free!

I haven't posted about my skin care routine yet because it's still a work in progress but this particular product has quickly become an absolute must have for me! It contains 50ml of product and one bottle will probably last me 8 weeks of use. It is currently on sale for $44.95 but I will have a coupon code below! Marocaine argan oil is 100% pure argan oil with no additives or added ingredients. It is certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the European Union (EU). It's also a natural prime antioxidant, rich in omega 6 & 9, vitamin E and natural fatty acids.

 I use the oil twice daily to moisturise as my very last step in my skincare routine. It takes about 5 minutes to absorb into my skin and it gives my skin a very natural dewy finish. I am then free to apply my sunscreen for the day and then my makeup. My skin feels so soft after application and it truly has made a dramatic difference to my skin. To clarify I have acne prone, normal (I'm not particularly dry or oily), pale skin that is always slathered in sunscreen. So how much of a difference has this made to my skin? Well, I have lots of proof below!

 This photo was taken about 6 weeks ago in this post. My pimples were raised above the skin, they were red, incredibly angry and caused pain and embarrassment.

These photos were taken last week. Now I definitely still have pimples. BUT, they're not as angry as what they used to be. They're also not as raised above the skin and no longer painful.The rest of my skin is a lot softer and is generally in much better condition. My skin is glowing and has never felt better!

I usually use half a pump for my face and a little extra on my blemishes using the dropper.

Argan oil has been used by Moroccan women for centuries because of its naturally hydrating qualities. Use this argan oil on your skin for wrinkles, scars, dry skin, psoriasis, eczema and pimples. Argan oil will repair dry damaged har and split ends. This is a certified organic product.

Ingredients: 100% argania spinosa kernel oil (argan oil)

I have found my holy grail product for the last step of my skincare routine. I will continue to purchase argan oil from Marocaine as I like to support small Australian businesses as much as possible. The owner, Mariam, has been incredibly helpful and is contactable through email. She responds really quickly and I'm sure would be happy to answer any queries you may have. Check out their website here. She also packages her products really nicely. When I got my express post package (which was FREE) it was beautifully wrapped and included a brochure. By the way - I highly recommend the hair serum! Review will come soon as well.

Would you like a coupon code? Of course you would! Mariam has kindly given me a 33% off discount code which is valid until the 16th of October 2013. Make sure you enter the code: RachelRadel

Disclaimer: I have paid for all the products out of my own money and I will be making no commission from any sales made using the coupon code. That won't stop me from using my own and buying up big though! Haha

Quick Inglot Haul

I recently had a makeup lesson with Inglot which I will post about very soon. It cost me $90 and was fully redeemable in products. I am very lucky to live in Melbourne where there are 4 stores. If you want to see if one is near you, check here. Inglot is a fantastic brand and has an amazing freedom system unique to their brand which I would highly recommend checking out. So, what did I buy?

• Face Blush #22 - $22
• Sparkling Dust Face, Eyes, Body - $27
• Inglot eyeshadows in oh no, will have to update! $10 each
• Matte Collection AMC Lip Pencil #24 - $23
• 10S Eye Brush (not pictured) - $27

Sparkling Dust, Eyeshadow, Lip Pencil & Blush

I'm LOVING the lip pencil, such a perfect all over apply twice a day and you're good to go lip product. I am interested in purchasing further shades. The eyeshadows have already been slotted into one of my freedom products. Inglot eyeshadows are amazing and one of my favourite formulas (up there with Urban Decay and The Balm). The blush is a great contour shade for pale people like myself. I'm not 100% sold on the sparkling dust yet, my investigation will need to be done and I will be back with a review. Oh and before I forget - the brush is BEAUTIFUL! So nice for working precise shadow application in the socket.

The Balm Shady Lady Palette Volume 2 Review and Swatches

Ahhh The Balm... I am SO in love with this brand. I adore this really unique and quirky line of makeup. What also impresses me is that you can purchase this American brand at an afforable price from Australian retailer David Jones. There is a price markup but not as extravagant as other brands. You can also purchase online through their website and get it shipped to Australia.

 Today I will be reviewing the Shady Lady Volume 2. It retails for $39.95 in the States and I THINK $49.95 at David Jones Australia. There are three volumes total and they all have nine eyeshadows and a mirror.

'

Packaging wise I really like this palette and the mirror is a perfect size for makeup on the go. It closes shut tightly thanks to a magnet. It is cupboard so make sure to keep away from water! As you can see in the above photo Just This Once Jamie shadow has popped out slightly and it's been like that since I opened it. Obviously I have a faulty one but I'm going to call it special ;)

What I like about the selection of colours is that they're all incredibly wearable yet still have that pop of colour. It is possible to get a look using only this palette but I think it would be hard to travel with. I would recommend a neutral palette to accompany with it. 

Caught in the act Courtney, feisty Felicia, insane Jane, bossy Bobbi, makeout Mary, just this once Jamie, mischievous Marissa, tempting Tara & devilish Danielle

Courtney and Felicia are the only shades with visible specks of shimmer whilst the rest are all frost in finish. They perform beautifully all day long and are silky smooth that blend superbly. The Balm creates beautiful eyeshadows that are superior to most brands in formula. 

I really like this palette and would recommend it to all!

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Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation + Powder Review and Photos

The Nearly Naked Foundation is Revlon's latest liquid foundation product and if you watch Youtube you would have seen the ads EVERYWHERE! Seriously, on nearly every video I've watched Emma Stone pops up with her 15 second advert featuring this foundation. I wish there was an option to exit out as I've already purchased and their marketing has obviously already worked on me! I purchased the foundation and powder together for $30 from Chemist Warehouse about a month ago and have been using it a fair bit.

The Revlon Nearly Naked Liquid Foundation comes in 12 shades and retails in Australia for $25.95. The glass bottle comes without a pump (urgghh) and has an SPF of 20. It has 30 ml (1 fluid ounce) of product. I would describe it as having a medium buildable coverage.  It doesn't cover all of my blemishes and I do have to go over it with a concealer. I will be reviewing the lightest shade which is 110 Ivory.

Please note: these photos were taken a month ago - my skin has greatly improved thanks to my new skincare routine which is coming soon!

Before without any makeup

Half on, half off

Both sides with foundation

No concealer

As you can see from the above photos it takes away nearly all of the redness and matches my neck really well. This is the lightest shade and I would say this is the MAC equivalent of the shade NC15. In terms of wear, it lasts all day with me and it will last a couple of hours longer with primer and powder. Please note, I have "normal" acne prone skin. What I like about this foundation is that it wears evenly and doesn't break down around the chin area (which is usually a problem for me).

The Revlon Nearly Naked Powder retails for $25.95 and contains 8 grams (0.28 ounces) of product. The packaging is bulky. I much prefer a more compacted design such as the MAC Studio Fix Powder and Australis Fresh and Flawless. This powder comes in 6 shades and I have 010 Fair. This powder is a shade darker than the Ivory foundation that I used and is noticeable upon application. Make sure to use with a light hand or you will have two different shades on your face. This powder does not cake up and feels lightweight on the skin. Think of this powder to add longevity to your foundation rather than adding coverage as it will not cover up any further blemishes or problem areas.

The packaging is bulky and features a small mirror (which is fairly useless). I don't care for the pillow like sponge applicator that is included as it's not sanitary nor practical. I think any powder/blush brush that you already have in your collection will suffice. The brush will kick up some product in the pan but is brushed away easily with a brush. What's also interesting to note is that I think it would be very easy to depot! Perfect for a Z Palette. 

Swatch

As always, I would recommend purchasing Revlon from Chemist Warehouse as they're always 15% off the RRP. I think a good price to pick these up on sale would be $20 or under. I doubt this product would be cheaper than $15 (if it goes down to $10 buy buy buy!). From a quick google, both powder and foundation retail for $10 in the States. 

Bottom line: I think the foundation is definitely worth picking up and I will be repurchasing as it is a good foundation with a medium coverage. The powder I'll use up but I won't be repurchasing.

Two Days In Daylesford at Ablac Studio

It's been too many days since a blog post! Unfortunately work got in the way. Fortunately I was also busy taking off for a couple of days to Daylesford! This post will be fairly picture heavy. 

My boyfriend D and I stayed at the Ablac Studio which was booked through Dayget. We paid $440 plus booking fee for two nights (Thursday + Friday). Yep, fairly steep for the "country" but from doing some digging around it seemed to be the going rate. I've got some pretttyyy pictures of the studio house below:

Oh yeah - outdoor tub!

A cute free little package - a REALLY nice touch with some great stuff inside.

The site was set on quite a few acres and these little guys were about 50 metres from where we were sleeping!

We took advantage of the reasonable kitchenette and made a couple of our own meals.

Not going to lie - it was a bit creepy bathing in pitch black!

The boyfriends great idea of adding Nerds into the pancakes (men...)

Overall we did enjoy our stay at the Ablac Studio. It wasn't perfect - the cooking utensils needed to be replaced and properly cleaned and there was also zero reception but it was a great getaway. It's absolutely surrounded by Australian bush and is located on a dirt road with a heck of a lot of pot holes but I think it all adds to the charm. The only deterrence would be the price.. In the future we will take advantage of some accommodation sales in Daylesford. Check in was 3pm and check out was 12pm which is very reasonable.

We went to quite a few places but I didn't get any photos of them (worst blogger ever) but I did get a couple of an AMAZING coffee place called Buffalo Girls Cafe. With a superb Urbanspoon rating of 97%  it was a must go for us and we went twice. The reviews speak for itself. The setting is casual, comfortable but still incredibly interesting with all the different furniture and decor. The owner is really friendly and had a really interesting background story - ask him about it! I just drank whatever he gave me and loved it. By the way - a coffee is $3!! Yep, $3! Pretty good compared to Melbourne CBD prices.

Oh Daylesford we will be back.. So many places to explore and only a 90 minute drive from Melbourne. A must go.

I am not affiliated with Dayget or Buffalo Girls Cafe. Everything was paid for out of our own money.