Urban Decay hits Australia today, finally!

A smattering of my Urban Decay collection

Urban Decay's launch is nigh, we're talking less than a few hours to go, ladies! Now, I can't tell you about all things Urban Decay, but I'll certainly give you my two cents on what to grab immediately, what to consider, and what to walk away from.

Buy Now

Buy a palette, and make it a good one. My personal faves are Naked, Naked 3, and the Electric Pressed Pigment palette. For whatever reason Naked 2 has eluded me, but chances are I'll be changing that this weekend.

UD's Primer Potion in Enigma, because it looks like Mac's Painterly, except you don't have to faff about with a glass jar. Plus, 100% of the proceeds from this particular purchase goes directly to their foundation, The Ultraviolet Edge. I'd like to think I'm helping to educate another woman somewhere in this world, one tube at a time.

Because the lovely Lily Pebbles rates this stuff so highly, be sure to grab Urban Decay's Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer.

Think About It

During your visit go play with the Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss, this stuff is seriously like MLBB (my lips but better). The colour range may be whisper soft, yet they make for a no fuss, swipe and go sort of look. This particular gloss is never tacky, and always minty. Yum!

An item that's been on my radar is UD's Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Colour in Love Child. I first spied it the Shattered Face Case back in 2013, but I never nibbled. If Love Child is too muted for you, there are seven other colours to choose from. Also, be sure to swatch their Glide-On Lip Pencils.

Leave at Mecca Maxima

Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner was such a bomb for me -- application issues aplenty. While I revelled in the idea of glitter in a bottle, in execution it bombed, and not the glittery sort. 

Naked Basics is the annoying little sister to the larger Naked Palettes. This palette may be streamlined, but it's not without its faults. Chalky, lacklustre, blech. A definite skip. Surprisingly, I gave Naked Basics a positive review waaaay back in 2012, but for some reason I felt the need to purge this baby during a fall cleaning session last year.

Still can't make up your mind? Buy an all-inclusive palette such as Naked On the Run.

The only point of contention I'll throw out there is pricing. Let's discuss this topic once the UD high has worn off.

Finally, Mecca Maxima's been pretty coy about what will be on offer in store, but I'd put my money on the fact that you'll be able to shop the full range judging by the amount of PR pushing this launch. Happy shopping!

My pit stop at Sephora in Sydney, Australia

Sephora in Sydney 

Hello! Jeanne here, sorry for my absence, uni has been crazy this year. Anyways now that I'm done, I'm doing a bit of traveling on the east coast of Australia, and had the opportunity to visit Sydney's brand new Sephora! 

Sephora is located on the Pitt Street Mall, a bustling pedestrian mall in Sydney's CBD. I visited on 10 December, and they still had the queue-dividers up to help keep people lined up in an orderly fashion. When I walked past at around 2pm, there was a moderate queue of about 25 people, so I decided to come back later. It had calmed down a bit around 4pm and there were only 6 people in line, so I decided to join them. I didn't have to wait long, no more than 5 minutes, and I was in the store. The floor space is not very large, but there are two stories. Most of the makeup is located on the lower level, while skincare and the cash registers are on the upper level (there were some sales assistants with EFTPOS machines in a corner on the lower level, but I recommend going upstairs because near the cash registers is where the very tempting small/travel sized items are located!). Even though it was still pretty busy, the staff were friendly and efficient, and I never felt crowded, rushed, or uncomfortable.  

My mini Sephora haul

Since I am still traveling, I had to control myself and only picked up two small items (even though the OCC Lip Tar and Tarte Lipsurgence sets kept calling out to me!). I purchased Kat Von D's Lock-It Tattoo Concealer in Light 18 and a pack of Sephora's brand of Targeted Eye Makeup Remover Swabs. I have been on the hunt for years for an opaque, liquid, cruelty-free concealer and I hope Kat Von D's lives up to my expectations! The lovely lady at the cash register said that she loved it because it's highly pigmented, long-lasting and doesn't crease. I forgot to pack eye makeup remover with me and I haven't seen cotton swabs that contain eye makeup remover in them in Australia yet, fingers crossed that Sephora's brand don't sting my eyes!      

Kat Von D's Lock-It Concealer in Light 18

Sephora's Targeted Eye Makeup Remover Swabs

Have you been to Sydney's Sephora? What have you hauled?  

Get in line: Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon

Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayons from top to bottom: Intro(Vert), Plum(Age), Blacquer, Obey-Ge and Ro-Cocoa

In the lead up to Sephora's opening on the 5th of December in Sydney I'll be featuring some of my must-haves you seriously need to consider tossing in your cart upon darting across the threshold on day dot.

Marc Jacobs' Highliner Gel Eye Crayon, a never fade, long-lasting liner that you just can't quit. While it's not the sharpest tool in the shed with its sub-par built-in sharpener, a negative attribute I am willing to look past; its intense, true colour payoff and bombtastic performance is where it's at.

Highliner Gel Eye Crayon swatches from left to right: Intro(Vert), Plum(Age), Blacquer, Obey-Ge and Ro-Cocoa

In terms of application I prefer to tight line with Blacquer or Ro-Cocoa (reviewed here), highlight the inner corners of my eyes with Obey-ge and add a pop of colour along my upper lash line with Intro(Vert) or Plum(Age).

Other colours under serious consideration: Luna(Tic), Th(Ink) and Brown(Out).

In the States Marc Jacobs' Highliner Gel Crayon retails for $25 USD or you could shell out $45 USD for the Sky-Liner Seven Piece Petite Highliner Collection which features O(vert) (forest green), Brown(out) (bronze with shimmer), Th(ink) (deep navy), (Plum)age (vivid purple), Blacquer (black), Sunset (golden bronze shimmer) and Midnight in Paris (inky indigo blue).

Curious about the other brands available for your makeup hoarding ways? Elle has the complete list.

Here's hoping Sephora's pricing promise rings true.

#7daysoflipstick

Putting my lips to good use for a great cause

This week I'll be taking part in the #7daysoflipstick challenge as part of Look Good... Feel Better's Dream Week Campaign. Look Good... Feel Better supports and educates Australian women in the midst of cancer treatment. These intense treatments while beneficial, rob women of their hair (a crown jewel/security blanket for many, believe me) and torture their skin's health. Even on the darkest days, it might help a handful of women to experience some sense of normalcy by painting in their pout, fake glow-y skin, sport a new 'do or tie on a colourful silk scarf.

If you're an Instagram addict like yours truly, be sure to follow @bagfulofnotions (hey, that's me!). I'll be wearing a different colour lipstick every day this week, which just so happen to be chosen by my good sport of a husband, Scott. And if you're not into wearing lipstick, there are plenty of other ways to show your support.

Here's another wickedly, awesome bit..

During Dream Week $1 from every lipstick or lip gloss sold at David Jones and Myer stores nationwide will be donated to Look Good...Feel Better. 

Look Good... Feel Better is a beacon of hope for thousands of women. 

Pucker your pretty pout in solidarity and be sure to tag your posts with #7daysoflipstick during the week of 31 August - 6 September, 2014.

September is also Liptember, an initiative which raises awareness for women's mental health. Another 21 days filled with lipstick can't be so bad, amiright?

Mwah! 💄💋💋💋💋💋💋💋