January 2016 Beauty Favourites

Well it is that time of the month...errrr I mean, time to talk about our favourite products for the month of January! And today I would like to share with you a few of my favourite products that I have been loving. Lets get into it shall we?

First up lets talk foundations. I have been loving the MAC Prolongwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation in NW25. A great long wearing foundation with great coverage. Smooths nicely onto the skin and blends well. Stands up well to heat and humidity and definitely seems to be waterproof - it has been like 40°C for 2 weeks straight here in Adelaide so the foundation has certainly been put to the test! 

Another foundation I have been enjoying is the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation. I use this one for everyday wear, going to work or just running errands. This is great for when you want a lighter coverage, however it can be built up for a fuller coverage if desired.

Next up lets talk concealers. Like almost every other beauty guru, blogger, vlogger, youtuber, instagrammer etc. I have been obsessed with the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Such a great concealer, I would have to say my all time favourite. Great for blemishes and using under the eyes to brighten and conceal dark circles. I use the shade vanilla. Love the doe foot applicator too, makes for a nice clean application. I need to get to a Nars counter pronto to pick up some more!

A close second is the Maybelline Fit Me concealer. I wouldn't say this is a dupe for Nars other than the packaging looking similar, but still a nice concealer nonetheless. I use this one pretty much every day when I am going to work or just running out the door. I has a light more fluid consistency than Nars and needs to be layered to build up a good coverage, but still great for everyday. And as you can see, I need to get some more of this too!

The powders I have been loving this month are the Australis Fresh and Flawless Press Powders and the Kat Von D Lock-it Tattoo Pressed Powder. The Australis ones are oldies but goodies. They have been around for ages and they are awesome. They are so smooth and silky to apply and give a full coverage without looking chalky. I have the shades Darkest Brown and Medium Tan. I believe they have just released a whole new bunch of shades too! 

The Kat Von D powder is a gorgeous product. A great full coverage powder that mattify and helps foundation to stay all day. It is very smooth and makes the skin look flawless. They have an awesome shade range to choose from I have the shade Light 45

My selection of bronzer for this month was tricky, but I went with the Chanel Soilel Tan De Chanel. It is a beautiful cream product which blends nicely into the skin to give a lovely natural sun kissed look. Use a synthetic brush to buff into the cheeks and into the hairline for a natural glow. I use this to put colour back into my face, not necessarily to contour with. Maybe not great if you are really fair as it may be too orange, but great on my skin when I want some colour

Ahhhh time for blush...my favourite product. This month, without a doubt, my favourite blush is MAC Melba. This is a matte blush with no shimmer. A gorgeous peachy coral colour that looks great on all skin tones. If you are fair, apply lightly to the apples of the cheeks, would also look great on darker skins. Love it!

The Too Faced Heart Blush is another one I have been enjoying lately. I don't often reach for this product (I think I originally bought it for the packaging...don't judge!) but it is actually a really nice product. I use this more of a highlight and tend to layer it over the top of another blush to give a lovely sheen. This is a very shimmery product!

As a separete highlight I have been reaching for the Stila Kitten highlighter duo. Such a cute little compact which contains 2 highlighting shades, one is slightly more pink for fairer skins and one is more bronze for darker more tan skins. Both are stunning!

Model Co Lash and Line is hands down my favourite mascara. I would come close to saying my favourite mascara of all time, and i have used A LOT of mascaras! This one makes my lashes so long and wispy without going clumpy or crispy. It lasts all day without smudging and is nice and easy to remove at the end of the day.

Finally, nail polish. Essie is winning in the nail polish department for me. Such a huge range of colours to choose from with such cute names! I love the constancy, it is nice and thin which makes it easy to apply several coats without getting gluggy and applying too thick to the nails. I think the staying power is pretty good, my nail polish lasting a good week before starting to look worn. I have been loving the shades Muchi Muchi and Tart Deco.

We have come to the end of my January favourites. Please give some of these products a try and let me kwow if you love them as much as I do! Check out my youtube channel for a full run down on these products

Love Kerin

x

My Everyday Makeup Products

Hello!

Welcome to my first blog post of 2016! I know it has been a while since I blogged (my bad!) but my New Year resolution (amongst many others!) is to up my blog game! 

So to get the ball rolling, here is a little snap shot of my go-to everyday make up products that I have been loving lately. 

MAC Pro-longwear Waterproof Foundation - NW25

MAC Soft & Gentle

Australis Fresh & Flawless - Medium Tan

Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Primer

MAC Blush - Melba

Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer

Chi-Chi Eyeshadow Palette - Matte

L'Oreal Brow Artist Gel

Chi Chi Brow Pomade - Medium Brown

Inglot Eyeshadow - 157 (coppery shade)

Inglot Eyeshadow - 158 (darker brown shade)

ModelCo Lash & Line Mascara

MAC Lipstick - Blankety 

Thanks for stopping by

Love Kerin

x

FOTD

Hi All,

Here is todays FOTD. Hope you are all having a great weekend :) 

Products Used:

Face:

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation #125

NARS Creamy Concealer Light 2 Vanilla

NYX Full Cover Concealer

Bare Minerals Under Eye Concealer Well Rested

MAC Studio Fix Powder NW25

NYX Bronzer in Tan

Ben Nye Powder Blush Vintage Rose

Brows:

Laura Mercier Brow Powder Duo Dark Blonde

Benefit Gimme Brow Light/Medium

Eyes:

Australis Eyeshadow Primer

MAC Paintpot in Painterly

Ben Nye Eyeshadow Vanilla

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - Venus (brow bone and inner corner)

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - Naked 2 (transition shade)

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - Faint & Crave (through crease and outer corner)

Sephora Eyeshadow # 91 Rio - lid

Sephora Eyeliner

Maybelline Hyper Glossy Eyeliner

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

Lips:

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter Creme Brûlée

NYX Butter Gloss Creme Brûlée 

Brushes Used:

Sigma F80 Kabuki

Sigma P80 Precision Flat Kabuki

MAC 224 

Ben Nye AB-8 Angled Brush

Sephora Kabuki 

Real Techniques Blush Brush

MAC 109

Ben Nye FDB-5 Large Flat Shader Brush

Sigma E35 Tapered Blending

Manicare Flat Shader Brush

MAC 217 Blending Brush 

David Jones Small Blending Brush

Thanks for stopping by

Love Kerin

xx

Favourite (drugstore) Products of the Month - November!

I can't believe that it is the end of November already! It is also exciting because it means Christmas is just around the corner - my favourite time of the year!

Ok, lets get into the post. Here are my favourite products from the drugstore for the month of November!

Enjoy!

I have small lips so I don’t tend to wear lipstick very often because I don’t think it suits me, but occasionally I like to add some colour to my lips rather than just wear a gloss. I have really been enjoying the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks. They have a glossy finish and feel really comfortable on the lips. They are nice and sheer and great if you are wanting a subtle wash of colour. I have been loving the shades 840 Honey Bare and 820 Pink Cognito

Another lip product which I have been liking this month is the Rimmel London Provocalips 16 Hour Kiss Proof Lip Colour. I have the shade Skinny Dipping. This is more pigmented and long wearing than the Revlon lipsticks. The idea is to apply the lip colour side of the applicator first, this sets to a matte finish, then apply the gloss/balm side of the wand. You could easily wear the colour on its own as a matte lipstick if you prefer. These are definitely kiss proof - yes, I have put it too the test :) The gloss does needs to be touched up throughout the day, but the colour is definitely long lasting, however I’m not sure if it would last 16 hours. I found it started to go a bit scummy on my lips after about 8 hours. My lips are generally pretty dry so that may have been a contributing factor

I am always on the hunt for foundations. They are probably my favourite makeup products to buy as I am all about a perfect base. I have recently discovered the Innoxa Renew Age Erase Serum Foundation. I have the shade Sand Beige which is a pretty good match for NW25 skin tone. What I really like about this foundation is that it is a serum foundation. I find it blends really well and feels nice and light on the skin. It is a medium coverage and sets to a matte finish which is great for my oily skin. I find this to be a great foundation for everyday use

I have been going through a battle with my eyebrows lately. Some day I love them, other days I hate them. On the days that I love them, I have used the Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about this product. I used it a couple of times and found the formula to be quite wet and would smudge easily. I also found the applicator a bit strange. But I persisted with it and now I love it. I have the shade Dark Brown which is a great match for my hair colour. I usually fill in my brows slightly with either a pencil or a powder then brush the brow gel through my brows to make the hairs stand out and give the illusion of more brow hairs.

Another of my favourite products to shop for is mascara. I find drug store mascaras to be a bit hit and miss so once I find one I like I tend to stick to it. My current favourite is the Maybelline Colossal Volum’ Express Cat Eyes mascara in the colour Glam Black. I really like the wand and how it is slightly curved so you can get right into the base of the lashes. I am not a fan of really big mascara wands because I find they can’t get all the lashes, but this smaller, curved wand is perfect for getting all lashes on both top and bottom. I really like the formula as its not too wet and not too dry and I find that it doesn't flake or smudge. It is a great volumizing mascara which adds length and drama to the lashes 

Sticking with the Maybelline trend, another favourite product this month has been the Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadows. I have been loving the shade Bad To The Bronze. This is a good dupe for Mac Paintpot in Constructivist but I find Constructivist to be slightly warmer. I like to wear these products on their own or as a base under eyeshadows. These are certainly long wearing but I do find they crease on my oily eyelids if I don’t wear a primer. I recommend the Australis eyeshadow primer :)

Finally, I have been loving the Models Prefer Colour Infusion Lip & Cheek Gel Tint in the shade Rouge Glow. I love blush, I think it completes a make up look and I really love to use a cheek stain/tint to get a really natural non-cakey finish. This is a gel formula which is really light and easy to blend into the skin. This can be applied with fingers, but I have found the best way to apply it is to dab it onto the cheeks with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush. It can be used either before or after foundation for a beautiful flushed, rosy cheek look. It also doubles as a lip stain which is a bonus :) 

What products have you been enjoying this month?

Love Kerin

xx

Top 6 Bronzers

The weather is beautiful in my part of Australia right now so I thought it would be the perfect time to share with you my top 6 favourite bronzers (it was originally going to be my top 5, but there were 2 I couldn’t choose between so now its top 6) I must apologise because most of these are high end bronzers, but fear not, I do intend on doing a post on my favourite drugstore bronzers too. So without further a do, I present to you, my top 6 bronzers for summer!

Nars Laguna

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer

The Balm Betty Lou Manizer 

Nyx Matte Bronzer

Innoxa BB Powder Bronzer

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel

Nars Laguna

This is a great bronzer which can be used to give the face an all over glow or also to contour. It is not matte, but it by no means shimmery. I would call it a satin finish. The colour is great, not too orange and not too dark. It can be used lightly for a subtle colour or you can build it up for a stronger contour or to bring warmth to the face

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer

This bronzer is one of the lighter bronzers I own. I love the packaging and the honeycomb pattern printed on the surface of the powder. This bronzer would be great for fairer skinned ladies. It does come in 3 shades, this is the darkest one. It looks great as a contour and also as an all over bronzer. It doesn’t come out too strong which makes it perfect if you have a lighter skin and are wanting a subtle bronzy look

The Balm Betty Lou Manizer

Once again, I love the packaging. This is a very shimmery, glowy bronzer. I only use this lightly dusted over the high points of my face when I want a really glowy, bronzed look. A little goes a long way with this one! Oily skinned girls such as myself might shy away from shimmery bronzers such as this one as they can enhance the appearance of pore and make the skin look oilier than it actually is, however if you use a light hand and only apply to the areas of the face you wish to highlight then you can definitely use this product. Shimmery bronzers can tend to look muddy or dirty if not buffed into the skin enough so be sure to blend, blend, blend!

Nyx Matte Bronzer

This bronzer is actually quite affordable. I will probably include this in my favourite drugstore bronzers also. This bronzer is great for conturing. I also use it all over to add some warmth to my face. I have the shade 05 Deep Tan which is fine for my skin tone in summer. I really like the colour, its not orange and looks quite natural. This bronzers comes in a variety of different shades and finishes to suit all different skin types

Innoxa BB Powder Bronzer

This is an Australian brand who is fairly new to me. I have only used their skincare products before but never their makeup. I am quite impressed with this bronzer. It is very soft and smooth and glides nicely onto the skin. It initially appears quite powdery in the compact but actually feels nice and light and not powdery once applied. Again, a great colour which blends nicely to warm up the face or can also be used to contour

Chanel Soilel Tan De Chanel

This is the most expensive bronzer I own, however it has lasted me ages! This is a cream product which sets matte. Oily skins may not like the idea of a cream bronzer, however this has more of a dry, mousse-y texture and feels quite spongy in the container. The product does not feel wet or sticky when applied to the face and blends nicely. I like to apply this with a synthetic brush after foundation but before powder. The colour looks nice and natural when buffed into the skin.

So that is my top 6 bronzers for summer! What are some of your favourite bronzers?

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

Love Kerin

xx

Baby Shower!

On Sunday it was my sisters baby shower. She is due with her first baby in a few weeks time and I had the pleasure along with my mum and a friend to plan her baby shower.

It was a lovely day filled with friends, games, laughter, good food and lots and lots of gifts! The day started with hair and make up for the mum-to-be. Then after a few final preparations the guests arrived and the fun began! 

Games included: Celebrity Baby Names, Baby Animal Names, Guess The Size Of The Bump and Feel And Guess The Baby Objects.

Food included: Pinwheels, baby quiche, zucchini slice, sausage rolls, 'little boys', cold meats, dips, meatballs, cake, cupcakes, jelly-cakes and macaroons

A great day was had by all. Now we wait for the baby to come! Exciting times ahead!

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day

Lots of love

Kerin

xx  

Sephora Haul

Sephora Haul!

So on a recent business trip to LA I managed to stumble into Sephora. Conveniently, there was a Sephora about 2 minutes from my hotel which I happened to walk past every day so it was inevitable that I was going to end up in there at some point - not once, not twice, but 3 times. So many times in fact, that I managed to join their Beauty Insider program AND then get upgraded to their VIB program. I don’t really know what that means, but they gave away a bunch of samples to try and I received discounts at subsequent shopping trips so to me, it was worth it! 

For me, it is impossible to walk into that store and not walk out with a little bag of joy. We don't have Sephora here in Australia (YET! Our first store is opening in Sydney around Christmas time!) so you can imagine my excitement to get my hands on all of those products and brands which are so hard to come by here in Oz.  My bank account however, was not quite as excited, but hey, I was on holidays! I had been saving my pennies and had a list as long as my arm of all the products I wanted to pick up. A majority of the products I purchased are new to me. I have heard great reviews about them and wanted to try them for myself. Some products I have tried and loved and needed to repurchase. 

Anyway, I thought I would share with you a few of the products I got. 

Sephora Goodies! (Lorac Pro Palette from Ulta and a random MAC pro longwear concealer)

Clinique Take The Day Off cleansing balm

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Light 2 Vanilla

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Taupe

Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation Powder in N20

Bare Minerals Eye Brightner Concealer in Well-rested and Bare Minerals Matte Foundation in Fairly Light

Stila Stay All Day Foundation and Concealer Kit in 3 Light

Stila All Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten

Left to Right: Benefit Bigger Than BB Big Easy 03 Light/Medium, Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Peach Beach, Sephora Eyeshadow in No. 91 Rio

Left to Right: Stila One Strep Correcting/Brightening Serum, Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara, Hourglass Veil Primer, Sephora Waterproof Pencil in Blonde Ambition

Lorac Pro Palette (from Ulta)

Left to Right: Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray, Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in Naked Dolly, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC20 (MAC store)

Left to Right: Benefit Hoola Bronzer (mini sample), Benefit They're Real Mascara (mini sample), Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter (mini sample), Benefit Lollitint in Candy Orchid (mini sample), Benefit Porefessional (mini sample), Benefit Gimme Brow in light/medium (full size)

Ole Henriksen The Works Kit

What goodies have you purchased recently?

Thank you for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Lots of Love

Kerin
xx