A peek at the cheeks: Becca's Mineral Blush in Damselfly

Becca's Damselfly

Funny thing, but I've never been into entomology -- I think watching the first few minutes of The Silence of the Lambs at a very young age spoiled that particular interest. I did, however, look up what a damselfly is; think of a dragonfly just with different shaped wings and poor flying skills.

The inspiration for Becca's Mineral Blush stems from, perhaps, an interest in flora and fauna; this is my only working theory. 

Damselfly

Swatch of Damselfly

Damselfly is described as a "bright coral", but I get more orange, almost terracotta, than pink on my pale-ish skin.

Here's what Becca has to say about their Mineral Blush:

"Impart a soft halo of color onto the apples of your cheeks with this delicate powder that subtly reflects the light and casts a luminous glow. Formulated with a natural mineral complex and infused with antioxidant vitamins A, E, and C, this blush nourishes and conditions skin for a smooth, illuminated complexion." 

Becca's Mineral Blush range is extremely similar to NARS in terms of price point, texture, quality, colour build-ability and payoff. 

Wearing Damselfy on my cheeks

Damselfly gives you a peachy keen, fresh off the beach glow that lasts all day.

A top tip from Becca: "Layer over Beach Tint for added intensity."

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Becca's Mineral Blush in Damselfly:

• $50.00 AUS / $32.00 USD 

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 8 out of 10 bags — Pricey, but worth it.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Mineral Blush in both Gypsy and Flowerchild are my next two targets.

Take me back to Hawaii NARS Kauai

Poipu Beach at sunset

The warm setting sun tickled my frizzy hair as the waves lapped at my feet. The culmination of these feeling emanated from Kauai when I first cracked open the compact last week.

How can two colours conjure up memories from one of my top holidays? Look to the pan -- Gold Lame and Iridescent Smokey Orchid are akin to the sand, sun and surf.

Believe me, I could wax on poetically about NARS Kauai and Kaua'i, for that matter, for hours.

NARS Kauai

In order of importance, I bought this particular palette for:

• The colour combination - my hazel peepers really sparkle 
• The name

While I do love NARS' blush and lipstick formulas, the eyeshadow is something I've really had a love/hate relationship with.. love the colours, hate the quality. Then again, a makeup artist alluded to the fact Francois reformulated his eyeshadows.

And I now believe her!

Talk about pigmented! And this is post dry swatching

Swatches of NARS Kauai without flash

Swatches of NARS Kauai with flash

Look 1: Daytime

Gilded lids and a matte base for the smallest amount of added depth

Look 2: Nighttime 

Purple and gold unite

NARS Kauai's finely milled formula refuses to budge, crease, fade or fallout. Telling attributes of a high performing eyeshadow.

I have yet to try applying these wet, but it'll be the first thing I do this morning.

Can't afford a trip to Hawaii? NARS Kauai will most certainly transport you on the cheap.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for NARS Kauai Eyeshadow Duo:

• $55.00 AUS / $35.00 USD 

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 10 out of 10 bags — I could see myself hitting the pan very quickly. Time to buy a back-up! Scratch that! It's a permanent addition!!

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• NARS Matte Multiples should be launching in Australia on 1 April. Get at me, Laos.

Giddyup, Illamasqua's Blending Brush

Blending Brush

I've been toting around the MAC 217 for years and it's really starting to show its age. Chalk it up to getting wedged inside my makeup bag, as well as repeated use with very few baths between application.

Around my makeup mirror I don't practice what I preach.

Then fate stepped in a few weeks ago right around the same time I was considering buying a 217 back-up; Rebecca of Illamasqua introduced me to the Blending Brush.

Side by side comparison: MAC's 217 (bottom) and Illamasqua's Blending Brush (top)

It was love at first touch.

I heard, "now I'm going to blend out wah wa wha wha wha." In that moment Rebecca sounded like Charlie Brown's elementary school teacher.

The bristles are so silky soft to the point where it feels like each bristle (synthetic and cruelty-free) is skating across the eyelid. The blending brush also enjoys a good windshield wiper motion, patting, tapping and general all over sweeping.

In addition to its smooth moves, those aforementioned synthetic bristles refuse to absorb product. The 217 can be a real b*%@h to clean thanks to the creamy white goat hair bristles -- my OCD goes into overdrive whenever they get stained from product.

MAC 217 don't be offended when you're relegated to the back of the drawer from time to time.

Brushes are always an investment, ultimately choose what feels right (and works) on you.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Illamasqua's Blending Brush:

• $35.00 AUS / $32.50 USD 

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 9 out of 10 bags — Illamasqua's Blending brush is my little work horse.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• The Shattered Star Nail Varnish in Trilliant gave me pause.

A glimpse at the lips: Burberry's Lip Glow in Pink Sweet Pea No. 20

Pink Sweet Pea

In middle school Bath and Body Works was all the rage. If I close my eyes I can still smell the girls locker room -- it wreaked of Sun-Ripened Raspberry, Freesia and Sweet Pea. I often would choke from the popular girls' chosen scents; let's face it, I wasn't ready to be a girl-y girl at 13.

Seventeen years later bright lippies and perfume bottles now clutter my bathroom shelves.

Swatch of Pink Sweet Pea

Burberry's Lip Glow in Pink Sweet Pea is a bright fuchsia pink with shimmery blue undertones. The perfume scent is ever-present, yet is something I look past due to its far more appealing qualities..

• opaque coverage
• lasts for hours
• silky smooth and non-sticky

And it looks wicked awesome.

It's the lip gloss you never knew you always wanted. I'm looking at you, Diana.

Wearing Pink Sweet Pea

Pink Sweet Pea has been my go-to lippie companion. If I don't have it on me I suddenly feel like Linus sans blanket.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Burberry's Lip Glow in Pink Sweet Pea No. 20:

• $45.00 AUS / $27.00 USD (sadly, it's currently sold out on a handful of US online stores)

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 10 out of 10 bags — Considering I've been lusting after this for over a year, I must say it's exceeded my expectations. I am fully prepared to buy several back-ups.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• The Complete Eye Palette in Plum Pink No. 6 looks magical.