Clarisonic Mia 2 Review

Who likes smooth skin?

I do!

Well for me, this all begins with my Clarisonic.

I had serious doubts about this after hearing mixed reviews, but I decided to give it a go.

I did my research and so I will warn you of the things I was wary of when I first started using the Clarisonic.

1. Your skin WILL break out when you first start using it. This is called the purging stage, you are basically opening up all of your pores and allowing the dirt to come out, so you WILL have pimples.

The length of this purging stage will depend on person to person. Mine lasted about a week and wasn't all that bad.

2. Try really, really hard no to wear makeup when you first start using it. As I said, you are opening up all of your pores, don't clog them with makeup! Try starting this process when you have a week without important events!

3. Choose the right brush! My Clarisonic came with a brush for sensitive skin, which turned out to be perfect for me, but there are other options out there, take a look at them!

4. The cleanser that comes with the clarisonic is incredibly fragrant, so maybe try using the cleanser you currently use, so it is not such a shock to the skin. I use the Philosophy Purity cleanser.

My first reactions were that my skin felt so incredibly smooth after the first use, and you get that feeling every time you use it. (yay)

One of my favourite parts about the Clarisonic is the fact that I can use it in the shower. It makes it so convenient to use, even in a hurry.

All in all, if you have normal to dry skin like I do, I would definitely give it a go. It has become part of my every day skin routine.

Revlon Colourburst Balms Review and Swatches

Revlon Colourburst Balms definitely have their place amongst my makeup collection. They are the kind of lip product that I grab as I run out the door, or chuck in my handbag to brighten up my look on a rushed morning.

Not only are the easy to apply, but the formula is perfect for those days when you don't want anything really heavy on the lips. I suffer from really dry lips some weeks and these are perfect because they don't dry my lips out at all.

A lot of people don't like the feel of them on their lips because it is a minty/ cold feeling on the lips. I actually really like it because I feel like it's helping my lips. If you've ever used burts bees lip balm, you know the feeling!

Coquette: 110    Lacquer Balm

This colour is gorgeous for a subtle pink lip and is perfect for any time of the year. I love this colour with a heavy eye look when I want something softer on the lips, but still want a little colour.

Demure: 105    Lacquer Balm

This is one of my favourite colours in the whole colourburst range (or at least from the ones I have tried). This is my pick on a day when I'm not wearing makeup but still want something on my lips. It is a pink that is exactly the same colour as my lips with a glitter finish. It's also really good as a top coat over another lipstick that I want to add a little 'something' to.

Honey: 001    Lacquer Balm

This is my go-to 'my lips but better' product. I love this for an everyday colour. I wore it today with my fluro pink sweater. I went out for lunch with my boyfriend and it stayed on through drinks, meals and a quick peck on the cheek :)

Mischevious: 235    Matte Balm

This is one of the more disappointing shades out of the colours I have. When I swatched it in the store I thought it would be a bright orange, which I love for spring. On the lips it isn't as opaque as I would have liked but it is still great for a subtle orange lip.

Provocateur: 135    Lacquer Balm

This is perfect for a glossy red lip. Not super opaque but if you aren't into an extremely bright red during the day, but still want the red lip look, then this is your colour. It's a really easy red lip to wear as well. A great introduction to a red lipstick :)

Smitten: 030   Matte Balm

Again, my purple lip fetish comes into play. I love this for a matte purple lip. Not drying in the slightest which means that I can wear it at work all day. Woo!

Unapologetic: 210    Matte Balm

This colour is an amazing fluro coral which suits my skin tone perfectly. I am a lover of a bright lip on any day, which means that I will wear this day or night. Again, even though its matte it isn't in any way drying, which means I can wear it out to breakfast/lunch/dinner. Shades like these are perfect for me because I wear such a large amount of black that it helps to lift my look. 

Savvy Ultra Matte Lip Colour

Written By Elle

I am a sucker for all lip products. So when you tell me there is a new lip product that is ultra matte and only $7.99 from priceline I am definitely buying three!

The three shades I picked are (from left to right) Miss Monroe, Hollywood Baby and Icon.

I think out of all of them I was most excited to try Icon, because I seriously love purple lips at the moment.

These lip products are an awesome consistency. Even though they are mattifying, they aren't drying! Say whaaaat? I know.

Perfect for a vibrant lip on a night out! 

Hollywood Baby

I'm not too sure about this colour against my skin because it's almost a pale orange on the lips but I think this would look amazing on tanned skin. 

This formula seems a little different than the others.

Although it doesn't look it in the picture it kind of looks a bit streaky on the first application. But I think a few layers would make it a lot better.

Icon

The absolute perfect purple. With neutral eyes and my normal all black clothing choices, this lip colour is going to look incredible. A lot of purple lip products are really disappointing, and this is not one of them!

The picture of my lips makes it come off a little pinker than in real life. It definitely looks more like the swatch on my arm at the start of this review :)

Miss Monroe

I love this matte red! The formula is fantastic like the rest, but I think if you are after something similar that isn't going to transfer than I think the Australis Velour Lips are just as good. That will definitely still be my go to for a matte red lip.

The Balm: Blushes, Bronzers, Highlights & Translucent Powder

Written By Elle

If you are a sucker for packaging then there is a good chance you own something by The Balm.

Their packaging is retro 50's pinup inspired and my goodness are they cute.

Not only are their products so adorably packaged, but the products inside are AMAZING.

(In my humble opinion) ;)

The one downside to the packaging is that it does get quite dirty quite quickly, but it is easy to clean (bonus again?)

This post is going to review the collection of blushes, a highlighter, a bronzer and a translucent powder. 

I will include the prices that are listed on thebalm.com :)

So this is my little collection of The Balm products. Not the biggest. Not the smallest. Oh and I apologise in advance for my swatches, because GURL that is a heinous thing to do.

Mary-Lou Manizer

Definitely a holy grail product! I'm sure everyone has heard of this highlight, and as you can see from how much I have used, I love it too.

The only thing I wish was different about this highlight is that it is a little more gold than silver. Although it looks gold in the swatch, when it is applied to the face it can come off quite white/silver.

I am really pale (NW15) so I'm not sure how this would work on those with a darker complexion. But it is perfect on me and I use it every single day!

It not only works as a cheek highlight but is also the perfect inner corner eye highlight :)

Overall this product is extremely pigmented and definitely worth the splurge!

Price: $24.00

Sexy Mama

This is the cutest little translucent powder.

I wouldn’t use it for all over the face, purely because of how small the packaging is. But because of how small it is, it’s perfect for chucking in your purse with a small kabuki for those days when you are feeling a bit oily.

 I also always feel glamorous pulling it out of my purse as well, such a packaging sucker ;)

Price: $20.00

Hot Mama

This blush is not only the most intense blush I own, but the most glamorous and beautiful. It’s dark peachy colour with gold shimmer throughout. 

For every day wear I think it is a little intense, I generally like a bronzer, blush and highlight on my cheeks, but with this I use it on its own because it does all of those things for me.

It’s perfect for a night out and especially good when I am wearing a dark lipstick, because I am so pale, it helps to combat looking like a vampire.

A lot of people say it is a dupe for NARS ‘Orgasm’ So I swatched it next to it. As you can see the ‘Hot Mama’ is a lot more intense, I feel like ‘Orgasm’ is a lot more suitable for day wear.

I do however only have the stick version of ‘Orgasm’ so maybe the powder version is a lot more similar.

One negative for me, which is not really a negative, is how pigmented it is. I have to be so careful when applying this because my fair skin can’t take too much of this!

Price: $20.00

Cabana Boy

This is a beautiful dusty rose blush. It looks a little scary in the palette, but swatches absolutely beautifully. Thankfully it isn’t too pigmented, which is definitely not a negative when it comes to a colour like this because less is more. Especially on pale girls! Yay!

Price: $21.00

 Down Boy

Favourite packaging, Ever. Love. It.

A baby pink blush, I love this for every day because it adds just enough flush to my face. I especially love this blush when I am not wearing foundation because it isn’t too intense and it gives a really natural look.

 This swatch is a couple of layers just so you can see the colour. It definitely does not come off as dark on the skin. I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't want a really intense blush, but wants to add a slight bit of colour back into their face.

Price: $21.00


Frat Boy

This was the first blush I owned by The Balm. It's a really deep peach colour and is perfect for the summer. The only thing I don't like about this blush is that it becomes really powdery/granually when you put a brush over it, meaning it makes a mess. It definitely doesn't turn me off too much though because the colour is so perfect.

Price: $21.00

 Bahama Mama

This bronzer is the best contour shade I have found for my skin tone. I hate a lot of bronzers because they make my skin look like it's been attacked by mud. This provides just the right depth to contour with. It does not have any shimmer in it, which I know a lot of people hate when they use some bronzers. This a matte brown, which is perfectly pigmented so you can build it up for a more intense contour. I use this almost every time I do my makeup, hence the really dirt packaging!

 Price: $20.00

Put A Lid On It

This an eyelid primer. I purchased this because I really love The Balm eyeshadows and I thought their primer would be really good.
It's definitely not my fave! It helps to prevent the shadow from moving but it doesn't bring out the colours. I like my primers to help make the shadows more vibrant, so this product definitely dissapointed. I will stick to my NYX Jumbo eye pencil in milk.

Price: $18.00