The story of a box

Now for the most part I'm squeamish about showing off PR packages, because  - I don't know. Feels a bit tacky. That said, I am putting on my tacky-hat because this made me lol for reals and I figure that's always worth sharing. First things first: A rather handsome red box.

A wise choice. Anything that can be reused as small items (cough cough eyeshadows cough) storage will win high points with this particular audience. And inside?

Oho, I know Cedel. They of the handsome mono-colored aerosols. Doesn't explain whats in the rest of this rather large box, though.

BAHA. An alarm clock and a hammer (rubber, Frank is rather attached to it) along with Cedel's new Blow Dry Faster heat protectant spray. And though you can't see it clearly, that pinstripe behind them is a fabric colored slab of foam like a tiny Barbie mattress. No seriously, I would have killed for one of these in my Barbie years.

Good work, Cedel, you got my attention and made me giggle like a loon. I've now accidentally managed to amass both this, the Dry Shampoo and the Dry Conditioner, so I predict a proper Cedel post in the future.

My sweet tooth's a-tinglin - Face of Australia 's Sheer Gloss lip crayons!

And with these sweet treats by way of Face of Australia I may soon be knee deep in tooth decay. Wait - that doesn't sound nearly as positive as I'd hoped.

Interestingly these look to be direct Clinique Chubby Stick competitors - The last two lots of lip crayons I looked at, Australis and Models Prefer, were both unashamedly lipstick pencils and NOT tinted balms. All the Cliniques were named after fruits. All these FOA Sheer Gloss Lip Crayons are named after desserts. I will happily admit which one I tend to gravitate towards.

The shades are Macaron, Cupcake and Sundae. Pray observe: Macaron.

This is absolutely in my ballpark, first off the bat. I had to layer it quite thickly to get the above result, though I suspect that now it's been broken in it will get more pigmented. It feels lovely and slippery on the lips without being sticky, and the effect is really lovely. There's a smell/taste that I'm not sure I like, but I didn't notice it with the other two so either a.) Macaron has something extra in it or b.) I just got used to it. Most likely B.

Cupcake:

A pale pink is pretty much never on my face, and I struggled to get this one to read on me. Paler lipped girls might have more luck. Regardless, feels lovely and went on very smooth. If you like your baby-pinks, then definitely worth a look.

Sundae:

I'll admit I never expect much from a lip product that on first sight all I can think is BROWN. And it really doesn't read brown on my lips! It does this wonderful alchemical magickery with your lips and you end up with a colour that reminds me of Burts Bees Lip Shimmer in Fig. It's a very subtle, mature darker tint and I really like it! Wasn't expecting that.

So how do they go against the Chubby Sticks? I'll admit I think CC's have the edge in packaging, what with all the metal and the heft. But in terms of the product itself - extremely similar. Extremely. There's no obvious dupes, so really it comes down to personal preference with the color. I am going to wear the crap out of Macaron, it is Completely my jam.

These don't seem to have appeared in Perth yet, but by all accounts the East Coast has them about the place. They are sold as the three-pack for $14.95 - which is insanely good. Do try, because I'm confident everyone will have at least one great looking match in there and it's a hella cheap gamble.

Provided for review!

Model's Prefer Eye Primer and Corrector Pen - catering for oilylidded shaky-handed types

Oh man. Blogging is so hard right now. There's a little icon in the corner of my screen with DIABLO written under it and I just-can't-pull-myself-away.

However I make an effort for Models Prefer, because they've done good by me. Everything I've ever gotten of theirs has been great (though I will admit to not liking the double ended coloured brushes - how do they feel so different from the normal type?), so I had high expectations from this pair.

The primer is an opaque, slightly pink cream that applies with a wind up sponge dispersing thingy and dries as a solid colour. Very easy to apply, though it does seem to produce a fair bit of product at once which resulted in me dabbing the sponge onto my lid once and using my finger to spread it out more evenly. You need the tiniest smidgen - it goes very far.

Wore it for work a few times, trying different eyeshadow combos to see what happened, and my ultimate judgement is this - it will keep your eyeshadow in place, no problem. However it's best used with matte shadows, since the primer finish itself is matte, and I found really shimmery shadows were a bit dulled by it. But damn, for mattes - perfect. It has a similar feel, look and weartime to Urban Decay's primer, which is the closest comparison I can think of. And for $9.95 a pop, that's a pretty sweet deal.

Okay! Corrector pen. I have been itching to try this out because it looks like oodles of fun. I have a nail corrector pen that I am dependant on, and I'm certainly a shady enough eyelinerer to think this corrector pen may well be the second coming of Christ in a pretty pink tube. Here's the field test - eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow and lipstick.

Wow. What a gross hand. The mascara made all my hand hairs black and uuugh god.

Anyhow, more to the point, the corrector pen performs wonderfully! There is of course some product drag (but I think physics alone is a good excuse for that) but I'm so impressed with what it cuts through. Especially that lipstick. It's a Barry M one and as I sit here now having washed all that off, I can still see the lipstick on my skin. Except for that little slice where the corrector pen went through. Is GOOD. Guys - think about all the crazy eyeliner I can attempt now I know I have an option for fixing. This changes everything!!

Again, the corrector is also 9.95 at Priceline - and I am so happy to have one! I'll admit I expect the nib will get filthy pretty fast and then god knows what, but it's a cheap product that performs wonderfully. A few extra nibs might have been nice, but I'm not going to have any qualms about just buying another one.

DISCLAIMER: Primer provided for review, Corrector bought by moi!

Femme Fatale Cosmetics - Australian and therefore understandably awesome

Yes, the titles insufferably smug. What of it?

Indie cosmetics make me happy. I love that the person I'm dealing with is the person who's mixing the product and I have the smallest seed of wistful envy that I will never have the balls to start a business for myself. So there's also a good deal of respect and the honest-to-god hope that it works out well for them (or continues to, as the case may be).

So that aside I'm introducing you to my latest Indie Cosmetics haul: courtesy of Femme Fatale Cosmetics, blessed with not only a fantastic business card, but an Australian home address. You don't see many Australian Indies around, my head hurts when I think about how nightmarish shipping must be for them.

I have here six samples - across the top: Rampage, Exorcism, Shooting Stars, and Genesis. Across the bottom: Heroic and Elitist.

Before all else these are big ol shimmerballs. No mellow mattes here, no sirree. And at least two have a holographic effect in there (I'm never sure that's the right word). Lets swatch so you know what on earth I'm talking about.

Apologies for the odd angle - was trying to catch the multicolored effect on the lavender and turquoise. From the top: Exorcism, Shooting Stars, Genesis, Heroic, Elitist, Rampage.

Absolute first thing I noticed is that in terms of application and texture, each shade is identical. I've come to assume indie products will have slightly different textures from shade to shade, depending on what colour agents have gone into it. Nope, not here. They swatch the same, they felt the same, and they washed off the same.
And in terms of payoff they're rather wonderful. Each swatch is one brushload, swiped once, and holy moly did I get a lot of colour for one sweep. Shooting Stars and Genesis, specifically, have chromey undertones and the affect is like the colours on a pretty mermaids tail. I adore it.

I need to bring special attention as well to Heroic, the pale goldish colour in the middle. It's a midpoint between champagne and a soft rose gold and it is breathtaking. That's top of my list for buying. It satisfies my need for metallics but occasional need to be lowkey. Golly. So pretty.

(Click for shop linkage)

I've poked around the site a fair bit, and I'd like to pull everyone's attention to the fact that Sophie (the Mistress of Femme Fatale) has priced her products in keeping with American indie pricing ($5.00 for full size, $1.10 for samples). This may not mean much to you fancy American ladies, but for us Australians? This is huge. It's like she understands how epically the Australian cosmetics market takes advantage of us and sympathises. And wisely opens herself up to an international market. Smart lady. Also her site has to be the cleanest, most functional and intuitive indie cosmetics shop I've seen. By a fairly big margin.

And just so you know? Heartbreaker and Winters Veil, her now discounted limited edition mini-collections are studded with World of Warcraft references. Sophie, you are my kind of lady. Do me a crazy flamboyant Kael'Thas eyeshadow and you may have a direct line to my bank account.

Okay, calm down, back to actual fact-y things. All her labels bear ingredients listings and vegan/non-vegan warnings. They also list if the particular colour is lip safe - Which is very non-lazy, many would just label it all non-lip safe if some were not. I can't say I've ever felt the urge to put an eyeshadow on my lips, but it certainly is ultra-inclusive to be considering those who, um, do.

All up? I have no fault to find. I really don't. I wish there was more, but by all accounts Sophie's tackling expansion in the future and golly good luck to her, because I'm going to be standing by and waiting. I will by buying (I'm thinking - right now) and can't wait to try some of the other stuff. BAM. Knocked it out of the park. For the love of god, go check it out. You won't be disappointed.

DISCLAIMER: Samples sent for review, but I think my level of dithering-idiot speaks rather loudly.

Things I should use but don't

We all have a collection of these. You KNOW that they're great, and you know that when you use them you go "why don't I use this it's great!!" and all that. I probably have more than most. Here's a few greatest hits.

Shu Uemura skin purifier
Why I own it: I think I was just desperate to try Shu Uemura anything. The counter in David Jones was brand spanking new and everything looked so beautiful! And it's tough to really know how it went - I remember it not being great, but I suspect a bit portion of that was me not removing my makeup correctly. I should try it again with the aid of my trust Dove foaming MU remover.

Why don't I use it: Clinique does it better. And oil cleansing still feels wiggy to me.

Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother
Why I own it: I adore, adore, ADORE the scent. And I find my skin hold scent mighty well, and even if it didn't, this is VERY perfumed.

Why don't I use it: Because if I do, my options are thus: wear the AE perfume and potentially completely overdo it, or wear no perfume whatsoever. And I find that - weird. Also I become immune to body lotion scent after about 60 seconds so I have no idea, six hours later, if I've lost all scent or not. Not having perfume is weird for me.

OPI Black Shatter
Why I own it: Oh cmon. I know you have some too.

Why don't I use it: Because a.) that trend is well and done, and b.) because it got gluggy and weird very fast. As in, about three months in. I find it very difficult to use now properly. I'm holding onto it in case I can thin in out like normal nail polish, but I know the formula's different so I'm wary.

POP Beauty Glow Belle
Why I own it: Christmas gift, from way back when I had very little interest in cosmetics and the logistics of an illuminating palette were beyond me.

Why don't I use it: Because the logistics of an illuminating palette are beyond me :( I really think if I expended some time and energy, this palette would be extremely useful. It does smell rather offputtingly like chalk, though.

Essence Vampire's Love blush gelee in Bloody Mary
Why I own it: Because Essence appear to be rather wonderful! And I'd read lots of BBloggers rundowns of the set and it seemed like quality. And I've seen lots of girls do wonderful things with it. I was relatively confident that it could only go well, and for a (roughly) $6 gamble, why wouldn't you?

Why I don't use it: I swatched it on my hand. The mark stayed put for a week. This makes me very nervous about putting it on my face. It has been suggested to me that this wouldn't be the case when being applied over foundation but - I'm easily frightened.

BYS Blusher in Coral
Why I own it: I heard good things. And as with a lot of BYS, it was filthy cheap. I even heard the phrase "Orgasm dupe" thrown about the place, which I don't entirely agree with.

Why I don't use it: I just have too much blush and it got regulated to a drawer. Completely undeserved. Also it's insanely pigmented and getting the tiniest little bit that I need can be difficult. Awesome blush. Shame on me.

Inglot AMC Eyeshadows in 23 and 70
Why I own it: It's Inglot. Seriously.

Why I don't use it: Because eyeshadow pots are hard work :( And in a similar vein to MAC's Copper Sparkle, even opening these babies is a precarious venture. Also I don't think my colour choices were great - that peacock blue/green is spectacular but too high voltage for most things, and I'm resigning myself to the fact that silver as an eyeshadow doesn't really work in my favor.

BDS Splendid Shining 4-Color Eyeshadow 
Why I own it: Asian bric-a-brac shop in Chinatown, Melbourne. Most things ( this included) had a thick layer of dust. Again, a cheap gamble, and I'm a sucker for a gold or a red-mahogany.

Why I don't use it: I own too much eyeshadow :( lives in a drawer, gets forgotten about. Which is a travesty, because it's got to have some of the richest colour payoff ever. If I ever thought I could find more of these palettes I would stockpile like a squirrel gathering nuts.


BYS Eyeshadow - Neons
Why I own it: Sigh. I own so much cheap makeup. Sometimes I get something wonderful. Sometimes I get burnt. It's the true mystery and marvel of life on this earth.

Why I don't use it: Work-appropriateness is technically an issue, though I doubt my colleagues would care. But after the third bogan made some breathtakingly intelligent remark about my orange eyelids I'd probably be fetching the makeup wipes. Worth noting: This palette really is fantastic. Looks like fluro zinc for your eyelids. If you like your eyemakeup a bit brave and different, you must go fetch this. It's about $5.00. Yep. I KNOW.

By all means, if you have any of these and would like to coach me on how to use the damn things, be my guest. I've regulated these to a basket on my desk in the hopes of activating some increased usage.

SMH cries me a river

So it was brought to my attention (cheers @Cclarebear ) that the Sydney Morning Herald - or more specifically, a writer of theirs called Andrew Hornery - felt a compelling need to insult the Australian blogging community thusly:

(Click image for full article, if you're a sucker for punishment)

Now I'll be the first to admit that Fashion blogging and Beauty blogging are not one and the same, and there appears to be surprisingly little overlap between the two. Regardless - I'm a little bemused by such obvious sour grapes. I suppose it must be difficult to be working in a dying medium, the poor cupcake.

Goldwell Colorglow IQ Deep Reflects leave in treatment

Products made for coloured hair can be a minefield. It usually implied "dry and damaged" which isn't always the case. I colour my hair, but it most certainly isn't dry, and thus a lot of damage repair products are too heavy. So it was with some trepidation that I undertook a roadtest of Goldwell's Colorglow IQ Deep Reflects Leave-in Treatment (or GWCGIQDRLIT for short).

Firstly of note is that it has one of those dual-layer oil suspensions happening (it's a little shaken up here) and it doesn't tell you if the bottle should be shaken before use. I assume so. Otherwise you'd get all of one mixture and not the portion sitting on top of it. This makes sense, yes? I think this is my first dual-layer formula so I'm understandably curious about how this works.

And the good news first - it is not too heavy. It's applied to towel dried hair before blowdrying, and I load a fair bit on (it's a little hard to tell when to stop with a spray on wet hair) and while the spray itself has a shampoo-ish fruity smell when sprayed it dissipates as soon as it hits the hair. My hair is light and sits well after it's dried and it stays decent-looking a little longer than it would if I used no treatment. Photos of my head and stuff:

Kindly excuse the Vegas background, Luke's playing card lady-set is still very much underway. 

Not a great "me" shot, but the most accurate hair shot. Also of major note: The dyed bit - the brightest bit - is a good deal brighter. I've had numerous people ask me if I've done my hair recently, which I had not. This was unexpectedly awesome for me, since I've been having issues getting my hair as blonde as I want it, and the above is pretty damn close to ideal (though I have been having recent yearning thoughts about Targaryen blonde hair. I imagine I'll chicken out, but still...).

The downside of this - and it isn't really a downside, just a reminder for me to be less lazy - is that no brightening happens at all to your undyed regrowth. So the colour difference becomes suddenly a good deal more drastic and regrowth thus more obvious. But that aside - I suddenly have a new tool in my arsenal when the absolute blondest blonde I can buy is still too dark!

Goldwell is available through Price Attack, Hairhouse Warehouse and through various salons across Australia. Color-tampering girls might do well to check this one out.

Provided for review!