July 15, 2015

This duo does not disappoint: Victoria, Victoria Beckham for Nails Inc. Duo Collection

July 15, 2015/ Nicole McIntyre

Nails Inc Bamboo White (left) and Judo Red (right)

Favourite Spice Girl.

Lover of polished nails.

A nail polish formula that doesn't quit.

This stuff is seriously bottled magic and a lemming in the making. Let's start with the anatomy of the bottle -- removable false cap for looks (think Butter London), matte black and white porcelain exteriors for a sleeker look and feel, complete with viewfinder-like sides serving as windows into the souls of these two opposing nail colours.

These polarising brushes are chubby and contoured to speed the nail painting process along, and promote control to assist with staying inside the lines. Reduced clean up, FTW!

Typical drying time is to be expected, but the wait is so worth it. This polish lasts. By day four expect to see the unavoidable tip wear from shuffling paper about, typing and dish washing. And by day 7, nary a chip in sight.

The boxed packaging, while nice, is a bit of a gimmick to get you to spend more money. Originally I intended to have Scott purchase Bamboo White, but the Sephora gods in Sydney wouldn't have it -- Judo Red and Bamboo White were a package deal with an eye popping price tag of $60.00! Is this duo really worth it?

Yes. Individually, I suspect a LE bottle would set you back $27.50 at least. So, if you love all things Victoria, pale pink and coral red, scoop these up while you can.

Nails Inc is onto something with their revamped formula and packaging. Now, here's some food for though, NailKale. Anyone?

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Victoria, Victoria Beckham for Nails Inc. Duo Collection:

$60.00 AUS / $45.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

9 out of 10 bags — Next to CND's Vinylux, Nails Inc is hands down my second favourite nail polish brand.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

Pale Perfect.

May 24, 2015

Feeling nostalgic: MAC's Real Doll

May 24, 2015/ Nicole McIntyre

Wearing MAC's Real Doll while getting my best Barbie/Skipper/Stacie face on

*sets scene*

When: April 2007

En route to Vegas with the latest issue of In Style magazine -- these were the days when blogging pretty much only existed on Live Journal, Makeup and Beauty Blog wasn't yet a part of my life, and reading magazines was a necessity in order to learn about upcoming seasonal makeup releases.

Tucked in the last quarter of the magazine (somewhere between healthy recipe ideas and diet ads I undoubtedly flicked past) laid a makeup editorial featuring a model whose hair and skin were true glow-y perfection, and those lips, well, they were sporting MAC's Real Doll. As our Jet Blue flight flew 30,000 feet over Lake Michigan I earmarked the corner of the page, shut off my overhead light, and envisioned Real Doll adorning my very own lips.

News Flash, pervs: Get your mind out of the gutter!

My latest lemming eluded me. The hunt from Las Vegas' Town Square with P-Cakes and Grammy, all the way back to Braintree's South Shore Plaza left me weary, and eventually forced me to throw in the towel. In a last ditch effort I even went as far as calling the indexed telephone number for MAC in the back of In Style with the hope Real Doll would turn up somewhere, alas.

Eight years later and a world away from my humble beginnings, Real Doll popped back on the scene as part of the MAC is Beauty campaign. The lengthy wait didn't kill me, it only helped to fuel my obsession with makeup. This creamy baby pink/lilac lippie will forever hold my heart.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for MAC's Lipstick in Real Doll:

$36.00 AUS / $16.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

10 out of 10 bags — Despite my darkish features Real Doll refuses to wash my out complexion. Tho, it does little to brighten your teeth.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

Sadly Real Doll is limited edition. That said I better track down a back up, fast!

Love my dress? I know I do! I'm wearing Gorman's Wing It Dress. It's got pockets, it conceals the presence of food baby, and it's made in the softest corduroy.

January 09, 2015

A glimpse at the lips: MAC's lipstick in Lady Bug

January 09, 2015/ Nicole McIntyre

To date I've only come across a few beauty-related items that have never ceased to amaze me, and NARS' Flamenco was a lipstick to behold, cherish, and stop other women in their tracks to ask precisely, "what are you wearing on your lips?" My hopes of replacing such a special candied red were dashed when NARS stopped manufacturing Flamenco, or so I thought.

A few weeks ago I was tinkering about at my local MAC counter when my eyes haphazardly locked on Lady Bug, "a juiced yellow tomato" -- better yet, Flamenco's doppelgänger.

Lady Bug's boldness is tempered by its lustre finish -- sheer, and subtly glossy.

When I was a kid I wholeheartedly believed in the luck all lady bugs possessed. Here's hoping this tube comes with a bit of it.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for MAC's Lady Bug:

$36.00 AUS / $16.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

10 out of 10 bags — Wear it alone, or layer it over an even more intense red liner. <3

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

I recently built my own blush/eyeshadow palette during our Hawaiian holiday. I'll share my picks with you really soon.

December 14, 2014

Beauty in a tick: Becca's Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle in Raspberry/Opal

December 14, 2014/ Nicole McIntyre

A blush hybrid combining the pigmentation from Becca's Beach Tint, a glint of sparkle imparted by the Shimmering Skin Perfector and loads of pearls to give this blush its squishy-like consistency.

Swatch of Becca's Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle in Raspberry/Opal

This blush is scent-sational (smells like raspberries), and aims to be goof-proof in the application department for blush noobs and expert makeup mavens alike. Personally, I prefer to apply Becca's Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle with a proper blush brush as my fingers have a tendency to deposit too much product in random spots. Nobody likes a patchy/splotchy blush situation.

The soft wash of colour across my cheeks is natural and effortless. An easy like Sunday morning kind of thing.

There are five other shades available for your smelling pleasure if Raspberry/Opal doesn't really float your boat.