Collective Haul + mini reviews

Hello, my dear readers!

It's been a few weeks since I purchased a couple of things and I wanted to demonstrate them to you, and give you a little heads up about how the perform and if I like them or not. Since I do a lot of research beforehand, usually I'm not too disappointed with the items I end up buying.

Let's take a look:




For the sake of not making this post too long, I'll provide you pictures only of the items that demand swatching so you can get a clear view of the color, pigmentation etc.

Benefit Creaseless Cream eyeshadow in "Holy Smokes"

top row: no flash
bottom row: with flash

Beautiful dark taupe eyeshadow with shimmer which isn't too discernible during daytime. Because the formula is very creamy and blendable, you can wear a very light wash of this when you opt for a subtle look or you can layer it in order to create an opaque, vibrant wash of color for a perfect smokey eye. It can also be worn underneath a powder eyeshadow to achieve a unique, long-lasting finish. It really is creaseless and I have very oily eyelids so that must mean something.


Dior Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm

I talked about this in my previous post. This little gimmicky product is a soothing balm that reacts to your lips' ph balance only to create a beautiful, natural pink pout. The sheen from the balm is just enough: not too glossy, but not dry-looking either. It smells like mint and vanilla - yum! (The swatch on the right looks kinda bland, it's much more beautiful on the lips: check out my video here to see it action!)

Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Power Red, Corals Up, So Chic Pink & Cool Touch

These babies have proven to be drugstore treasures! All colors apply smoothly, have a creamy finish and are quite shiny on their own sans topcoat. I've tried them with crappy topcoat (not the Seche Vite pictured above) and the lasting power was amazing, in fact they might be the most long-lasting nail lacqueurs I've ever tried. And they have some tough competitors - Essie, OPI and the like. I need to have more of these, I'm definitely gonna buy me some more come Fall.

Jordana Easyliner for lips in "Tawny"

I saw this one being used in so many youtube videos that I succumbed and decided to try it out since it is so cheap. For some reason I expected the color to be lighter, more nude-beige than the rosewood which is the colour it actually comes off as. At first I was scared and thought "whoa that's way too dark" but when I tried it on my lips, the color kinda matched my natural lip color, so it's a great universal shade to re-shape your lips. Given that, it can be worn with a lot of lip colors - from nudes to reds. It turns out this one was a great purchase which I doubted at first. Don't judge too soon, girls! Give a product some time to see if you actually like it or not.

Milani Baked Blush in "Luminoso"

I'm so in love with this blush! It's the perfect summer shade. A light peachy-pink color that gives the nicest, healthiest glow to your cheeks. It's the ideal amount of color for a subdued, everyday summer look. It also makes you skip illuminator since it has some fine shimmer in it which is as subtle as you need it to be and won't leave you looking like a disco ball. The powder is very finely milled and applies like a dream.

Real Techniques Core Collection and Miracle Complexion sponge

Totally jumping on the bandwagon with these. This is a set of 4 brushes: a buffing brush, a contouring brush, a small detailer brush and a pointed foundation brush. I find myself reaching for the buffing brush and the detailer brush the most. The buffing brush really perfects the finish of your foundation, applies powder flawlessly and generally blends out whatever needs to be blended out in order to achieve an airbrushed look. The contouring brush is a tad smaller than what I would want my contouring brush to be, but is great for applying powder in smaller areas like under the eyes, nose, chin etc. The detailer brush is a brilliant multi-tasker. It conceals spots, applies lip product, smudges some eyeshadow on the lower lashline, highlights under the brow. The pointed foundation brush is okay, it works best in some more tough areas such as the sides of your nose, under eye area and generally smaller sections of your face where foundation needs to be perfected.

The Miracle Complexion sponge: oh em gee, how did I live before this baby, I have no idea. Dampen it, watch it bloat and pat your concealer in with it for the most natural looking result ever. Works great with foundation as well. Overall, you need this.

Now on to the rest:

Seche Vite Fast Dry Topcoat

I'm definitely not the first to talk about this nail care staple. There's not much to say: it's a miraculous topcoat that will increase your nail polish wear and will also make your nails ultra shiny. A must for those nail addicts!

NYX HD eyeshadow primer

Another fave in the beauty world, this primer is supposed to be a dupe for the Urban Decay primer potion. I haven't tried the latter so I don't know whether that's true or not, but what I can say is that this product is phenomenal. For those girls like me with extremely oily eyelids who need their eyeshadow to hold strong for several hours a day, this one's for you. The texture is slightly tacky but I suppose that's what helps your eyeshadow stick to your lids. The product is in a nude color which looks rather clear on the eyes so if you have any redness, darkness or veins you need to cover, make sure you apply some concealer on the lids beforehand or mix it in with the primer.

Ardell 'Natural' False Eyelashes in 110

These are some lashes I picked up cause they other ones I had, had lost their shape. I haven't tried these on yet, but I will keep you posted on how they look (maybe I'll feature them in a tutorial, so stay tuned!)

The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream

Not much to say about that one: it's a good, moisturizing hand cream with a nutty scent, very lightweight and easily absorbing. If you're in need of one, try it out and you won't miss.

The Body Shop nail block

This tool is a 4 in 1. Smooths, files, shines and removes ridges. Especially the shine surface is fantastic - it's like you've actually applied clear polish on your nails. This tool is essential to a nail kit.

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water

If you're not acquainted with these mineral water sprays - you should be. They do great things for you. A splash of moisture and freshness for those dry summer months  - heavenly! I also use this as part of my night skincare routine to prepare my face before cleansing. The emollient properties of the thermal water really soothe and soften the skin.


A few clothing pieces I recently got my hands on:

ZARA pants

ZARA Trafaluc top

H&M printed dress

 Here is the video where I talk you through each of these purchases!

xoxo,

A.