Some months I stick to using the same products, but in July and August I tried a LOT of new products. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you'll have already seen me rave about a lot of these. They've also been featured in a lot of MOTD (make up of the day) post as well as me just shouting out my love for them.
Here's what I've been reaching for and adoring over the last 2 months...
Make Up
Most mornings are hectic with me trying to get my 5 year old ready for school, so I like to reach for palettes because it means that I spend less time scrounging around and figuring out what to wear. Lately I've been adoring the Max Factor Masterpiece Nude Palette Contouring Eye Shadows in "Golden Nudes"* to create a neutral or smokey eye. Even though I prefer cooler tones, I'm really loving this golden palette. They have a nice mix of mattes and shimmers so I can create so many different looks with just a few shadows.
They also have another cooler palette that I want, but I'm having issues finding it as Max Factor is only selling mascaras in Priceline now and I don't have a Big W close to me.
I'm in love with the new Rimmel Kate Moss 15th Anniversary Lipsticks. The rose gold packaging is adorable and very Instagram worthy! I picked up the 3 red colours, which are beautiful. They also sell 3 nude shades in this collection. The formula is classic Rimmel. They're smooth, hydrating and long lasting. These are a must have!!
Another palette that I'm adoring is the TheBalm theBALM Voyage Travel Palette. This palette has eyeshdaows, highlighter, blush and a bronzer as well as 2 lip colours. It's the product that I reach for when I have 3 minutes to get ready. The colours are great and it's such a fun and cute palette. I also love that the cream lip/cheek colours are at the bottom of the palette that have a separate lid, so you don't end up getting shadow fallout in your lip pans.
I use The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Lightening Drops nearly everyday, but I normally forget to include it in my MOTD posts on Instagram and Facebook. Being pale means that 95% of foundations are too dark or orange for me, so these lightening drops have been a lifesaver for me!
This year, the drugstore have really upped their brush game. I've been enjoying using the Manicare x Liz Kelsh Brushes. My favourite brushes out of the range are the Stippling brush,* Foundation brush* and Smudge brush.* I really love using the stippling brush for powder products like blush, highlight and pressed powder as well as using it to apply mineral foundation powder. The foundation brush is my go to for applying concealer. I find the shape and the size of it works well underneath my eyes, especially if I'm fixing fall out from eyeshadow. And the smudge brush is incredible for my small eyes. I can use it to apply eyeshadow to my lid or I like to also use it to pack on shadow at the outer crease.
Manicare also have another brushes line called Artiste. They have 2 lines in the range, their core range and then the Artiste Professional Airbrush Collection. This range is similar to the Real Techniques Bold Metals range in the fact that they're softer, prettier and also pricier. They've been on my wishlist for so long and when I saw that they had a buy 2 get the 3rd free promo, I picked up the Soft Focus Blush Brush, Mega Powder/Bronzer Brush and the Airbrush Flawless Shadow Brush.
These brushes are INCREDIBLE. They blow the Real Techniques brushes out of the water. The Powder/Bronzer brush is my favourite. It feels so soft (like bunnies tickling your face) and the quality is amazing. This brush is one of the only brushes that rival my Marc Jacobs Bronzing Brush (which is over twice the price!). They're also just as soft and beautiful as my Hourglass brushes. I want to get the other 3 brushes in the range as well as a back up (or 2) of the bronzer brush!!!
Another amazing brush line that was released recently in Priceline was TBX. They're very similar to the Rae Morris brushes.... a little bit too similar that I'd be worried about a law suit!! These brushes are magnetic like the RM brushes are. I own a lot of the RM brushes and wasn't originally going to buy any of the TBX ones, but the sales assistant in Priceline convinced me into buying the TBX Fan Highlighter Brush. I instantly fell in love with it and the next day I went and bought the Stippling Brush. They're really soft and work well. They have rubber handles which don't look or feel as luxe as my RM brushes but I've still been really enjoying them.
Skincare
While I like trying out new products, it's sometimes nice to go back to tried and tested ones so I recently went back to using the Trilogy Age Proof Botanical Lightening Treatment. I've used it before and found that it made my skin look brighter and more radiant so I bought a new tube as winter has made my skin look dull.
Originally I didn't care when Mecca released their Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF 50+ Sunscreen. I had used their original version which was an SPF30 sunscreen and I found it underwhelming. It cost $30 and I honestly didn't notice it being any better than my $10 sunscreen. But I tried a sample of this in one of the Beauty Loop boxes and I instantly fell in love with it. It's lightweight, dries quickly and is high in SPF. I bought the full size once the sample finished and I adore using it every day.
I was recently introduced to a natural brand from New Zealand called Olive. They have some incredible products (which you would have seen A LOT of on my social media) but the Olive Brightening Face Moisturiser* is my favourite. It's a lightweight moisturiser that sits well underneath my make up. I use this both day and night and it's a wonderful product.
Hair
I normally try to embrace my curls and work with them instead of against them, but since receiving the ghd Platinum Serene Pearl Styler* I've been wearing my hair straight a lot. It's such a great straightener to use as it heats up quicker than the girls can say "MUMMMMM" and it leaves my hair feeling soft and silky. I also get 2 days of straight hair before it goes back to it's usual curl, which is a lot longer than previous straighteners that I've used.
I repurchased both the Agadir Argan Oil Moisture Masque and the
Grow Gorgeous Back Into The Roots 10 Minute Stimulating Scalp Masque last month when Priceline had their 50% off haircare sale. The Agadir mask is an amazing mask that leaves my hair feeling so soft and hydrated. I also find that when I use it, I don't have as many fly aways. The Grow Gorgeous mask is a pre-wash treatment that you apply to your scalp 10 minutes before washing your hair. It makes your head tingle and it stimulates your scalp to encourage hair growth. I adore this!!! I've really noticed a difference to my hair length since using this.
Earlier this year I attended the wonderful Bloggers United AU event in Adelaide. Davroe was one of the guest presenters and they generously gave us an amazing box of their products. I've been slowly going through the different shampoos and conditioners and have fallen in love with the Davroe Smooth Senses Shampoo* and Conditioner.* It leaves my hair feeling soft, hydrated and smooth.
What products can't you get enough of lately? What should I put on my wishlist??
Amy, XO
*I was kindly sent this for consideration. All thoughts and views are completely my own, and are always 100% honest. See my disclosure policy here.
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I've been seeing so many good reviews of those Maxfactor palettes, I need to check them out next time I'm in BigW although let's be honest I do not NEED any more palettes haha. Great post!
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