It was a busy week here at Bagful with Scott's birthday (Happy Birthday!), the Salon Melbourne preview, muk's Spa Haircare launch and a wine tour. I think I may've worked somewhere in there as well. Whoa, I'm spent.
What did you get up to this week?
Today let's play $25,000 Pyramid -- I'll start. It's short, cylindrical in shape, similar to a pencil, can be used for colouring and it's meant to be worn on the face.
Any guesses?
Clinique's Chubby Stick Shadow Tiny for Eyes
Clinique recently released Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes and here's what they have to say about them -- "Sheer, creamy confection to jazz up your makeup routine—in 12 super-wearable shades. Layerable, long-wearing and versatile, too."
Fundamentally, Clinique's version is sound, but in practice it doesn't quite cut it for me. While I do love the ease of applying straight from the tube - it's like drinking from a bottle of soda or eating peanut butter straight out of the jar; I know it's wrong, I feel slightly selfish and I can't help but feel like something's missing.
This is how the three scenarios played out:
A. I need a makeup brush for refinement and blending.
B. The soda is flat, what a waste.
and
C. Graham crackers would've helped to make for an awesome combo.
Curvaceous Coal is a creamy grey with dark blue undertones (think of smoke pluming from a chimney) with the lightest touch of shimmer. The product applies easily, however I have a difficult time with honing in on the outer corners of my eyes due to the tip being too large for my short eyelids. Initially it looks as if I kept both eyes closed while applying Curvaceous Coal; grey blobs do not look cute, trust me. In order to get around this issue, I dabbed the smallest amount of colour on my lids and blended the colour out with MAC's 217.
Ideally, I wish I could've skipped this step, but it's a necessary step for me. My plans for quick and easy makeup pretty much went out the window.
Swatch of Curvaceous Coal without Flash
The goods...
The mehs...
Looking for a dupe?
Neutrogena's Crease Proof Eye Shadow retails for $8.49 USD and Rimmel London's joined the club too, but their version reminds me of NARS' Soft Touch Shadow Pencil.
The Bagful breakdown:
Total amount for Clinique's Chubby Stick Shadow Tint For Eyes in Curvaceous Coal 08:
Value for money spent (performance and quality):
Would another purchase be on the horizon?:
Quick one. Do you remember their eye shadow sticks from the late 90's? I think I owned a frosty pink and a deep plum.
Shut the shades, turn down the lights and draw yourself a bath. It's that "me time" you've been needing after a hard week at work. Time to get Nude in Private ;)
YSL's Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in Nude in Private
The finer details
Nude in Private swatch without flash
Nude in Private swatch with flash
Recently I've had a thing for softer, natural hues closer to my lips' natural colour -- Nude in Private seemed fitting. Rouge Volupte Shine is the newest lipstick range to hit counters; 19 shades beckon you, choose wisely as the first taste won't be your last. I can personally assure you of that.
The goods...
The mehs...
Bare lips
Wearing Nude in Private
If you can get beyond the minuses (they're not deal breakers!) then I think you'll be pleased as punch with this beautiful bullet.
The Bagful breakdown:
Total amount for YSL's Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in Nude in Private:
Value for money spent (performance and quality):
Would another purchase be on the horizon?:
Apologies for the quick review. Scott and I are heading off on a wine tour for his Birthday.
Happy Saturday :)
Word on the street is BYS has a few good things within their makeup range and most items sell for less than $10.00 AUS. Makeup is constantly evolving and the industry makes sure to keep up with the latest trends. However, it can sometimes come at a huge expense depending on your taste and the Joneses. In the States we have stores like Sally Beauty and beauty brands such as Wet & Wild, Milani and NYX, but here in Australia I've barely even begun to scratch the surface of beauty on a budget. I guess you could say I've been otherwise engaged ;)
BYS can be the guinea pig for this particular excursion.
BYS Quick Crackle in Big City Bright Lights
BYS Big City Bright Lights over Hello Darling's Tramonto
Crackle nail polish has never really appealed to me; it's novel, I guess, but not my sort of thing. The formula of BYS' Quick Crackle (RRP $4.95 AUS) is a bit jarring, because the consistency reminded me of curdled milk. It's almost as if the polish is attempting to separate on the brush itself. Big City Bright lights is a pretty hue of blue, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to purchase it.
Nail Enamel Duo in Twice as Nice
Step 1
Step 2
Now this is where the fun lies! BYS Nail Enamel Duos (RRP $4.95 AUS) are fast drying, easy to use (just make sure you open each shade right side up!) and bright. All I had to do was apply one coat of each colour -- in less than five minutes I was out the door and able to direct traffic :)
BYS Lipstick Colour Change in Mood Swings
Swatch of Mood Swings
BYS' Colour Change Lipstick in Mood Swings (RRP $3.95 AUS) is purple to the eye whilst hanging out in the tube, it applies clear and finally transforms into raspberry pink. A clever idea if you can get beyond the noxious flowery scent.
Out of the three items I tested, BYS' Nail Enamel Duo is the clear front-runner; definitely a dupe for Revlon's Nail Art Neon nail polish.
Like what you see? Visit fashionaddict.com.au to feed your makeup needs.
*PR sample provided – Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.
Nicole is a Melbourne (Australia) based beauty blogger who has a lifetime of experience admiring all things bright and beautiful in the world of fashion, makeup, handbags and more. She moved to Australia with her husband Scott in October of 2010 and has brought with her a passion for polka-dots, a mania for manicures, and a hankering for handbags. Bagful of Notions is dedicated to Nicole's adventures in these colourful worlds as she shares with you top beauty tips and delicious discoveries she's sure you'll enjoy!
A Melbourne-based beauty blogger and personal makeup shopper who considers herself as a local guinea pig, litmus tester, makeup cheater and your friend who will tell you when something is stuck between your teeth. Here's a toothpick.
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