REVIEW & SWATCHES: Too Faced Soul Mates Blushing Bronzer (LIMITED EDITION)

ITEM: Too Faced Soul Mate Blushing Bronzer (U.S. link HERE)
RRP: $46 (Aust. Price) & $34 (U.S. Price)

Claims: Bronzer and Blush: the power couple of beauty. A duo made in makeup heaven to add warmth, contour and a pop of colour for the radiant look of true love. Soul Mates Blushing Bronzer combines a shimmering, sun-kissed bronze and a brightening pop of blush that can be used separately or blended together for a healthy beautiful glow. Carrie & Big: Light to medium bronzer with slight shimmer combined with the perfect pop of coral blush. Ross & Rachel: Medium to deep bronzer with slight shimmer combined with the perfect pop of pink blush. Gorgeous cominbation of blush and bronzer takes the guesswork out of creating the perfect, all-over, natural-looking finish. It is paraben free, gluten free, and vegan friendly.

When I first saw this product in Myer, I simply thought it was cute and was about to walk away. Since I had time to kill however, I decided to pick it up and just see what it looked like. I then flipped the product over and saw the names of the shades: Ross & Rachel; Carrie & Big. Then I was SOLD. Friends and Sex and the City. My two absolute favourites. How could I resist? So I kept my eye on these and made sure that I got them (before they're gone!)

ROUTINE: My Skincare Routine (Part 2)

So this is Part 2 of My Skincare Routine. Part 1 is linked HERE and covers my skin's dramatic journey & my general tips and tricks for everyone. In this instalment, I will tell you about the steps that I take & the specific products I use. Like I said in My Skincare Routine Part 1, I have dry skin but fret not, I will endeavour to include advice and recommendations for oily skin ladies out there!

ROUTINE: My Current Skincare Routine (PART 1)

It was requested for me to do a skincare routine, and I thought it was a great idea since I have come a very long way with my skin. However I realised incorporating everything would be SUCH a long post so I have split it into two! Part 1: My Skin's Journey and the Do's and Don'ts. Part 2: My specific routine and products.

Note: I have dry sensitive skin. However I have made sure to include tips, tricks and recommendations for my oily skinned ladies out there!

I was born with eczema and so I frequently had redness, dry patches, & flakes all over my skin. It was painful, itchy and unpleasant to look at. During high school (year 9-11) it became quite severe and permanent on my face. My forehead, in between my brows and my entire upper lip were always severely red, bumpy, textured and had huge dry patches. This would then cause around my nose area to also become quite red. My ear lobes were often bleeding and dry. Because this was during puberty (such sensitive years), it took a toll on my self-esteem and I became very self-conscious about my skin. I would frequently go to the bathroom just to splash water on my face (which would then bring my skin back to it's normal colour) and then I would moisturise. However within 15minutes my face would be red as a beetroot again. This all was physically painful as well. It stung like crazy and was extremely itchy.

SPEND OR SAVE?: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer vs Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

HIGH END ITEM: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (U.S. link and price HERE)
RRP: $35 (Price at MECCA)

DRUGSTORE ITEM: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (U.S. link and price HERE)
RRP: $14.95 (Price at Priceline)

I have decided to do another new series: SPEND OR SAVE? I will do comparisons between High-End products and Drugstore products to determine whether or not you should fork out the cash for the High-End product or if you should just save your dough and go for the drugstore product.

So to kick-start the series I decided to compare the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. Since the two are so often compared, I really put it to the test.

TOP 5: Nude Lip Products

I contemplated doing "Top 5 Lip Products" as my next Top 5 post. Then I couldn't really narrow it down to just 5 so I decided to do "Top 5 Nude Lip Products" because I am obsessed with nude lips so... narrowing that down to 5 will be hard enough.

As my Agave Lip Mask review post shows, I have very dry and chapped lips. As a result, I am very fussy when it comes to lip products. So the following are generally great for dry chapped lips. (Those that are a little more tricky I will point out).

QUICKIE: Too Faced Hangover Primer

ITEM: Too Faced Hangover Primer
RRP: $44 (Sydney Price) 

Claims: Hangover is a revolutionary makeup primer infused with coconut water, probiotics and skin revivers that work together to boost skin's radiance, promote elasticity and help hydrate while locking down makeup for fresher, longer and more flawless wear. 

Too Faced harnessed the science of hydration to create a creamy, penetrating primer that acts like an energy drink for the skin by replenishing moisture levels. It can be worn alone for a dewy, healthy looking finish or under bronzers, foundations and powders to create the perfect canvas. 

It will hydrate and brighten the skin, promote skin's elasticity and tone, soothe and smooth the skin, get all the priming benefits you love while looking like you received eight hours of sleep and drank your daily dose of H2O. It's vegan friendly and paraben free.

I bought the Too Faced Hangover Primer because of the all the positive reviews that I had heard about it. I have extremely dry and quite sensitive skin, so hearing how 'hydrating' this product was supposed to be excited me, but I was a bit sceptical about whether or not it would be effective. The only primer which was worked for me in the past was the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (but that costs an arm and a leg). So the following is a quick review on my overall thoughts and experience with the product.

QUICKIE: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

ITEM: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed (This link is to the Australian retailer. Link to Sephora is here.)
RRP: $60 (Sydney Sephora Price) 

Claims: Refined luminosity in any light. This formula features ultra-fine luminescent pearls that absorb, reflect and refract light so your natural glow is never lost. Unlike the traditional pressed powder method, which simply mixes and compresses dry ingredients, this unique process blends pigments with proprietary liquid binders, resulting in unparalleled, creamy application with balanced colour dispersion. This formula features multi-toned, ultra-fine pigment pearls that adjust to skin's natural undertones. Formulated without parabens.

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Shade: Moonstone

Quickies will be quick and concise reviews of products. To kick-start this series I decided to review the all too hyped Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Powder. The shade I purchased was Moonstone because I felt this was more suitable for my skin colour than the oh-so-popular Opal. (That... and Opal was sold out).