A little book about Bobbi & Katie

I love books, I fell first for Amelia Bedelia's unwitting hijinks and Angelina Ballerina's delicate moves. Almost 25 years later I've replaced paperbacks with my iPad and I know I don't read as much literary fiction as I should. 

Whether it be pictures, touch, your mother's voice or even makeup -- books help our imaginations to thrive, they also offer a few moments of pure bliss and escapism. Ultimately, it's up to you and the feverish pace you've chosen to gobble all of the words told from front to back.

I too want to know where the sidewalk ends and see all the places Harold was able to visit because of his purple crayon.

Bobbi & Katie might not be your traditional story, but its contents inside are certainly telling. 

Eyeshadows, Lip Pots and Eye Pencils, oh my!

If this book had a jacket, this is what it would say..

Created by Bobbi Brown and curated by Katie Holmes, Bobbi and Katie features possibilities, new opportunities, a chance to fall in love, a way to colour your world and eventually, you'll be intoxicated by the presence of such subtlety.

A must read! 

Bobbi & Katie swatches

A little bit closer now (from left to right): Pretty Powerful Pot Rouge, Raspberry Pot Rouge, Cream, Antique Rose, Stone & Black Cocoa; the last four are powder eyeshadows

eyeshadow swatches continued (from left to right): Pink Chiffon, Brown Sugar, Pink Quartz, Ballet Pink & Chocolate (eye pencil)

If you're a makeup newbie, a Bobbi-phile or appreciate softer colours, then I suggest you pick up your very own copy of Bobbi & Katie.

The pot rouges are multi-taskers -- perfect for painting your pout or for cheering up your cheeks. Flip back to the index and search for eyeshadows, you'll find three metallics, a shimmer, a sparkle and three basics listed there. Finally, neatly tucked in the spine is a sickly sweet Chocolate Eye Pencil.

Doing my best Joey Potter sideways smile

In the look above I'm wearing six of the eight eyeshadows (Pink Chiffon and Cream didn't make the final cut),  on my lips I'm wearing Pretty Powerful and last but not least, I applied Chocolate to my upper waterline (this technique is known as tightlining).

As for the rest of the look I'm wearing Benefit's Gimme Brow and Bobbi Brown's French Pink on my cheeks.

The colours are easy to use, last and will suit light and medium complexions.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for the Bobbi Brown's Bobbi & Katie Palette:

• $115.00 AUS / $68.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 9 out of 10 bags — Despite having to dig a bit deeper in my pockets, I'm glad I picked up Bobbi & Katie.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Jenny of My Funny Valentine may've convinced me to pick up Bobbi's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. Gotta go and brush up on my cat eye skills now.

Brow wow? Trying out Benefit's Gimme Brow

Lately I've been filling in my eyebrows with MAC's Mystery and locking them down with Lash Control's Clear Coat Control Mascara and Brow Fix (a heaven sent gem by way of Violet Box). But if I can expedite my morning makeup routine, that means I'll be able to catch a few more precious winks!

Benefit's Gimme Brow in light/medium

If you're not into a multi-step process then your best bet is to go check out Benefit's Gimme Brow.  Gimme Brow is a tinted gel that is applied with a built-in user-friendly miniature spooley brush -- the gel works by both laying colour down beneath your brow hairs and by plumping up the hairs that are there.

le petit spooley brush

Swatch of Light/Medium

Gimme Brow comes in two shades, light/medium (a grey putty) and medium/deep (dark brown). I snapped up the lighter of the two with little hesitation as stocks were dwindling pretty quickly. Looking back, I now see the error of my ways because light/medium is best suited for dark blondes and light haired brunettes. To be honest, it didn't really enhance what I already have, but at least it dried fast and kept my brows in place.

Next time I visit Benefit I'll definitely give medium/deep a spin.

Wearing Benefit's Gimme Brow

Most of us don't have Lilly Collins calibre eyebrows from years of misguided over-plucking, ahem; I encourage you to reclaim them by filling your brows in one way or another.

I take my brows seriously, just ask Romina. 

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for the Benefit's Gimme Brow:

• $32.00 AUS / $22.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 6 out of 10 bags — it didn't blow my mind, maybe I'll change my opinion when/if I try the darker shade.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Nothing else has really caught my eye.

How do you maintain your brows? 

Pretty in pink with Bobbi Brown's French Pink Blush Set

French Pink Set (Mini Face Blender brush not pictured)

I've always been a pink girl. Ballet slippers, lips, cheeks, nails, bedroom walls -- I'm pink through and through. And I don't think I've ever come across a shade of pink I didn't like.

Bobbi Brown's offering for Breast Cancer Awareness month is a cotton candy sweet blush and guess what, a portion of the money spent on this set will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Swatch of French Pink

Wearing French Pink

French Pink gives you a rosy, healthy flush. For a soft touch of pink, tread lightly, because French Pink can come on strong.  The delicacy of the texture allows for ease of use. 

I am smitten. 

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for the Bobbi Brown's French Pink Blush Set:

• $85.00 AUS / $45.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 10 out of 10 bags — the blush alone retails for $26.00 USD and the full-size brush costs $48.00 USD. This set is a steal.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• I splurged earlier this month and bought a shimmer brick. Whee!

Bring your under eye area back to life with Clarins Instant Concealer

Clarins Instant Concealer

I thought I had things in the bag with NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, turns out Clarins has brought their A game as well.

Clarins Instant Concealer banishes puffiness, quells dark circles and brings your eyes back to life, even if you only got two hours of sleep last night. 

How does Clarins Instant Concealer do this? Well, the aloe, caffeine and corrective colouring work in tandem to help revive, smooth and conceal what ails your under eye area.

Shade 02 - Medium

For me Shade 02 / Medium (pink beige) is a perfect match and works well at  neutralising the blue cast near the inner corners of my eyes. If 02 isn't for you, there are two other shades to choose from, 01 and 03, and for those living in the US, there's shade 04 as well.

My only gripe about Clarins Instant Concealer is the tube. The concealer escapes quickly and more often than not I get more product than I need or want -- I really hate wasting product. Clarins, please consider repackaging your Instant Concealer.

Wearing Shade 02

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for the Clarins Instant Concealer:

• $42.00 AUS / $30.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 8 out of 10 bags — a lovely perk me up for the eyes

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Their Crayon Khol Eye Pencil looks like a must-have!

*PR sample provided –  Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own