Saturday's sample: Bare Minerals' Stroke of Light in Luminous 2

Bare Minerals' Stroke of Light in Luminous 2 and the sample that got me hooked (for scale)

For the past month or so I thought an Oompa Loompa had sought refuge underneath my eyes. The orange hued mask concealing my under eye circles has been absolutely unbecoming, far more than the circles themselves.

My once loved concealer was failing me. Collecting at the inner corners of my eyes and not working in the, well, business of concealing things. Coincidentally, I picked up a sample of Bare Minerals' Stroke of Light in Luminous 2 in my Beauty Loop box from Mecca.

You see, being a makeup addict totally has its perks!

Hello, Bambi's calling. The forever handy doe foot applicator

Swatches of Stroke of Light in Luminous 2 unblended (left) and blended (right)

The miniature bottle of Stroke of Light has proven to be the little engine that could. While petite in stature it managed to deliver a healthy dose of bright eyed and bushy tailed. Because, you know, mornings are sort of my favourite time of day -- pfft!

Bare Minerals states:

"Immediately brighten the eye area and diffuse dark shadows (don't mind if I do!) while reducing the appearance of fine lines and dark circles over time. Apply on bare skin or over makeup."

Done and done!

When compared to NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, I've found Stroke of Light easier to blend and layer. Stroke of Light also stays put like an eager to please puppy fresh out of training.

In total there are four shades on offer as follows..

• Luminous 1 - fair in colour with pink undertones
• Luminous 2 - light in colour with yellow undertones
• Luminous 3 - tan in colour with neutral undertones (I found it to be more orange than tan)
• Luminous 4 - deep in colour with golden undertones (sight unseen); available over at Sephora, but not at Mecca Cosmetica

I sent the Oompa Loompas back to the factory due to their lack of productivity 

Laters, dark circles.

And to Mecca, thanks for featuring quality samples in your Beauty Loop boxes -- it's a nice incentive for being a frequent flier in addition to the box being a gateway drug and I mean it in the best way possible!

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Bare Minerals' Stroke of Light:

• $26.95 AUS / $22.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 9 out of 10 bags — Lovely and wicked affordable!

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Always, you know me!

Beauty in a tick: YSL's Gloss Volupte in Terriblement Fuchsia

YSL's Gloss Volupte in Terriblement Fuchsia

Lindsey Wixson I am not, but our lips do have a few things something in common.

They are full and lipsticks all over the world beg and plead for a bite at the apple. Or, at least that's my justification for whenever I pick up a new lippie.

The super cute lip shaped applicator

Swatch of 49 Terriblement Fuchsia

And on closer inspection..

Terriblement (translation: much or a lot in English) Fuchsia is a blindingly bright pink with an iridescent finish. The microscopic silver light reflecting particles help to make my lips appear wickedly full. The high watt gloss lasts for a little over an hour -- unfortunately, the glossiness will succumb in far less time if drinking and eating are involved.

The leftover sheen and hue remains true to the colour viewed in the tube for an additional four hours.  Touch ups are a must if you love the super drenched lip look.

Wearing Terriblement Fuchsia (iridescent)

For kicks, let's take another look at the other two finishes in YSL's Gloss Volupte range, Golden and Pure.

Wearing Grenade Pepite (golden)

Wearing Fuchsia Oran (pure)

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for YSL's Gloss Volupte:

• $49.00 AUS / $32.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 10 out of 10 bags — I am OBSESSED with Terriblement Fuchsia! Fruity scent and all.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Unfortunately, no. Girl's gotta save.

She loves me, she loves me not: Bobbi Brown's Lip Gloss in Petal

Bobbi Brown's Petal

Have you ever scanned the faces in the tram during your morning commute and wondered why the girl standing across from you took the time to put on makeup, but failed to complete the look by skipping her lips? I just don't get that -- even tinted chapstick would do. Alas.

For the mornings I don't feel like putting in a lot of effort, but still want to look somewhat alive I reach for soft pinks to enhance my pout.

Swatch of Bobbi Brown's Petal

Bobbi Brown's Petal (a brown based pink) goes on like honey to a piece of toast; it's a slick-y, sticky treat for the lips, at first. Avocado, Chamomile oils, Jojoba and Aloe extract with the subtlest hint of vanilla nourish the lips during the first few hours of wear. By hour four, call it lunchtime, Petal has all but disappeared and what remains is a nasty white line just on the inside of my lips. Ick. 

Here comes the less glamorous side of beauty. To combat things, I grab a super scratchy paper towel from the ladies room and scrape off the remnants of Petal and reapply my chapstick to keep my lips moisturised. 

Can I look beyond this odd phenomenon in exchange for a universally flattering pink hue that's easy enough to apply without a mirror in sight?

Wearing Petal on my lips and Clinique's Peach Pop on my cheeks

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Bobbi Brown's Lip Gloss in Petal:

• $44.00 AUS / $25.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 5 out of 10 bags — lip gloss, why can't we be friends?

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Not at the moment.

A peek at the cheeks: Clinique's Cheek Pop in Peach Pop

Clinique's Cheek Pop in Peach Pop

The Gerbera Daisy is perhaps my favourite flower. A handful of people can attest to this fact.

Spring is blooming in Clinique's world and there's a bouquet on offer for every gal.

Swatch of Peach Pop

Of the four colours available for the taking (Ginger, Peach, Berry and Plum), I picked Peach Pop -- it's really difficult not being pun-y here. Peach Pop is a coral pink infused with rose gold light reflecting particles. The rose gold is undetectable in the pan, but it comes to life as soon as the light dances across your cheeks.

Tickling the petals with your finger tips or blush brush pulls away enough colour to give your cheeks that just been pinched rosy hue. If you desire the colour as seen in the swatch above, simply brush on a tiny bit more. The finish was luminous and never appeared powdery.

At first glance: NARS Gilda (left) and Clinique's Peach Pop (right)

Comparison swatches from Left to Right: NARS Gilda, Clinique Peach Pop and NARS Orgasm

Peach Pop in the pan closely resembled Gilda, but upon seeing the colours side by side on the inside of my arm it is evident Gilda is a matte orange-y peach. Orgasm, however, is on the sheerer side and the gold shimmer is easily detected in both the pan and the swatch.

Wearing Peach Pop on my cheeks

Christine of Temptalia put together yet another amazing round-up of all four Clinique Cheek Pop colours. Her rave review of Peach Pop is what swayed me to put it on my must-buy list.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Clinique's Cheek Pop in Peach Pop:

• $40.00 AUS / $21.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 10 out of 10 bags — isn't it just the sweetest?!

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• If my budget allows, I might order the three remaining colours.