MAC ATTACK

MAC isn't my favourite cosmetics brand, but it is one that continuously pops up throughout my makeup bag. Whenever I have to go somewhere that requires some fancy pants makeup, I always choose to get my makeup done at MAC because their makeup artists are just crazy wonderful magicians who really work their cosmetic magic on your face. So I thought I'd pop together a little blog post on my favourite products from the legendary cosmetic brand.

I am crazy terrible at false lashes. I can't put them on at all. I get the glue everywhere and the eyelashes always end up stuck on my fingers or halfway up my eyelids. I can also never cut them to the right length for my eyes, so when I get my makeup done at MAC, I always take the opportunity to get the lashes applied. That way they are cut to the perfect length and are a tiny bit easier to apply when I'm in my bathroom. After they are first applied you can get a couple more uses out of them but throw them away as soon as they look a bit mangled. 

This little compact is only $9 and it permanently lives in my handbag. One side is your average mirror and the other is super magnified, like the double sided cosmetic mirrors. This is so great to touch up tricky bits of your face like lip liners because it gives you a really great up close view. 

The Mineralize SkinFinish in Soft & Gentle is the most perfect champagne highlighter that adds the most beautiful glow all over your face. Most recently I wore this to my graduation and it just lasts all night. For an extra glowy finish, spray your powder brush with the MAC Fix+ spray after you have the highlighter on your brush and then apply to your face. It makes the highlighter so much more powerful and dewy looking. 

Left to Right; Studio Finish and Pro Longwear

The Studio Finish Concealer NW20 with SPF+ 35 is perfect for when you have something really intense you have to cover up. I'm talking giant pimples and bad discolouration. It is a really thick consistency and is great because it includes SPF and you can't have enough of that, because you can't find a concealer to cover up wrinkles can you? For days when you don't need an extreme amount of concealer the Pro Longwear Concealer in NW15 is perfect for foundation touch ups and light cover ups. It is also excellent to use over dark circles.

Left to Right; Redd and Magenta

I love love love the MAC lip pencils. They are probably my favourite products from MAC. They can be used as a traditional liner or all over the lips for an intense colour that WILL NOT BUDGE. It really won't, no matter what you do. They are all kinds of fantastic. 

The Espresso Matte Eyeshadow is the perfect shade for when your brows are not blonde but not brown either. This little pot of excellence is great for filling in brows or for a nice wash of colour over the eyelids. Multitasking products are the best products.

I have raved about this before and will never stop raving about it ok?! I've gone through many bottles and it is perfect to set or to refresh makeup whether you have dry or oily skin. It is just perfection. I have one in my car, handbag and in my bathroom. I can't get enough!

Rebel, Ruby Woo, Lady Danger and Viva Glam V

These are my four favourite lipsticks by MAC. I wore Rebel to my graduation and while it looks like a crazy dark gothic colour it comes out a beautiful magenta on the lips that matched my Ted Baker dress and Essie nail polish in Big Spender PERFECTLY. It's like these three brands teamed up to share a colour scheme. Ruby Woo is a classic darker shade of red that pretty much looks amazing on everyone. The shade gives you the classic old Hollywood pinup vibe; you can really see why it’s a best seller and the lipstick most worn by the beautiful Dita Von Teese. Lady Danger is my favourite daytime red because it is fun and punchy and the perfect mix of red and orange. Finally Viva Glam V is the perfect shimmery nude shade for ANY skin tone. It really looks amazing on anyone. It is super flattering. 

The Parcel by Marie Claire: Summer Edit

Not going to lie, I think this may be the best beauty subscription box I have ever received. The Summer Edit of The Parcel by Marie Claire was choc full of cult products and brands that I have wanted to try for a long time and have either been too lazy or poor from spending too much money on pancakes to give them a shot. It is also one of the best value for money boxes I have received, with many of the products being full sized. So go ahead, have a gander:

Elizabeth Arden Eight-Hour Cream

Eight Hour cream is one of those cult products that I have heard many things about but never actually tried. So I was pretty chuffed when I opened up The Parcel and found one inside. You can use it on your skin as a moisturiser, for cuticles, to heal cuts and bruises, mix in with your makeup for a dewier finish or dab on top as a highlighter. Sounds promising, and for a formula to remain unchanged for many decades, it must do wonders. Sample size

Philosophy Purity Cleanser

This is a 3-1-makeup cleanser for face and eyes. It smells beautiful and is apparently suitable to rub onto the eye area. I will give this ago tonight, and if you haven't heard from me, I’m probably blind from rubbing cleanser into my eyes and don't know how to log into social media without assistance from my guide dog. Nonetheless, I’m excited to finally try a product from the brand philosophy. Sample size 

Essie 'Fifth Avenue' Nail Polish

It's red, so this will be on regular rotation on my fingers and toes. I love red polish and was so happy to see this in the box when usually in other subscription services you get left with unflattering colours that obviously aren't selling at department stores. Full sized product valued at RRP $16.96

Essie All in One Polish

I am not the best with my nails, this I will admit. For years I was a nail biter, but I was never one of those nippers that bit all the way down to the wick. I occasionally have acrylics on, but if I don't my nails are free range without a hint of polish. Though they could use some extra TLC. I've seen this in Priceline before and have been so tempted to pick it up but in the end decide not too because I’m not that fussy with my nails. But now I have my mitts on the 'All in One’, which is a base, coat, top coat and nail strengthener. Basically it is the Lauren Conrad of polish and does a bit of everything. Full sized product valued at $17.95

Jergens Ultra Healing Body Moisturiser 

If there were anything that could smell like a hug, it would be this. The smell is so pleasant and soothing and absorbs instantly into skin without feeling like a grease monkey. Go pick yourself up a tube.. or just go to a retailer and have a sniff. Full sized product valued at $5.99

Revlon Age Defying CC Cream

Just like a BB cream but one letter higher up the alphabet, the Revlon CC cream is a colour correcting cream designed to be a do it all makeup base that also covers signs of ageing, hyperpigmentation and dehydration. This unfortunately came to me in the shade ‘Medium’, which are about a bazillion (or a few bazillion if you want to be specific) shades dark for me. Will pass onto a lusciously tanned friend. Full sized product valued at $26.95

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream

This is the product I am the most excited to try. I love Estee Lauder and I’ve been eyeing this off at the counter whenever I pick up a new bottle of doublewear. But the cost is just too pricey ($95) to buy incase it is a dud. So hooray for small samples that I will be slathering on my eyes tonight after they are strained from staring at Julian McMahons naked body in Nip/Tuck for hours on end. Sample size

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Shampoo, Conditioner and Blow-out Spray

I have pretty thick hair with plenty of natural volume (thanks to my home dawgs double part and cowlick) but this little trio smell delish and I’m hoping for even higher volume in my hair so I can finally complete my metamorphosis into a hybrid of my heroes Dolly Parton and Fran Fine, so we will see how it plays out. Deluxe sample size

So if you have not already subscribed to The Parcel, do so right now because it features great brands and value for money!

5 Products: 4 Loves, 1 Dislike

ModelCo  - Daily Face

This is a little tube of wonders that I cannot rave enough about. The broad-spectrum wonder is cruelty free and contains no PEGs, sulfates, parabens, chemicals or mineral oils. It is slightly tinted in an extremely flattering shade, is wonderful at stopping the usual oil slick that sunscreen leaves on your face. Oh and it is also SPF50+. ModelCo Daily Face shields against both UVA and UVB rays and is very lightweight, unlike most sunscreens, which means it is also perfect to wear under makeup because it is just a perfect little multitasking gem. If I could pinch $25 out of everyone’s wallets just to buy them a tube of it I would. Great Australian brand with a great product ALL Aussies should be using to protect themselves from the dangerous sun. 

*This is also a friendly reminder to go get your skin checked out by a proper dermatologist with a specialty in skin cancers before these harsh summer rays hit. None of this going to a GP business, they are hopeless and not trained to see early developing melanomas. Go get yourself to a clinic stat! My personal preference is Sun Patrol Skin Cancer Clinic in Berwick, but if that is too far away for you, Google will gladly help you out!

Brazilian Butterfly - Delicate Body Lotion

As a keen waxer this lotion is my saviour against nasties like ingrown hairs. It also soothes dry skin, cuts and is infused with aloe vera and witch hazel to protect against waxing bumps. Personally I also find that it helps with the redness and swelling you experience after an appointment and it only needs to be applied once a day. There is no downside to this lovely lotion as it is non greasy and also able to be used by gals and guys who are undergoing laser hair removal. I haven't looked back since my waxer Steph recommended it to me months ago, she is such a gem!

I've almost used up all of my primer

Stila - One Step Correct

I loved my Napoleon Perdis primers but they betrayed me. After months of figuring out why I’m suddenly breaking out and discovering it must be a product I’m using, unfortunately I narrowed it down to my beloved primer. It’s ok, I rehomed it in a friends makeup bag, as she is one of those crazy witchcraft people who only get one pimple every 3 years. But much like the Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey Newlywed years (#neverforget) I quickly moved on. Oh boy am I glad I did because I stumbled onto this beaut when taking a leisurely stroll through Mecca.

Instead of using multiple primers to address multiple skin concerns this little gem does it all in one go for you. The primer consists of three individual primers, which are Green to reduce redness and conceal blemishes, Lavender to target sallow undertones and Peach to brighten and illuminate. When applied to skin it has a soothing and cooling feeling that feels so divine. It doesn’t feel heavy on your skin, yet it completely smoothes over pores and fine lines giving you a beautiful glowy and smooth complexion.  This does absolute wonders for your skin and even if the Napoleon Perdis primers didn’t make me break out like the before photo of a Proactiv ad, I would still prefer the Stila primer.

Completely used up! That is how much I loved this face cream

Origins - GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturiser

You know how beauty advertising loves to splash around crazy words and promises in regards to products? I remember one L’Oreal ad where it promised an anti ageing product would change your DNA at some point. Don’t quote me on that though. If there were ever a product to attach crazy life changing advertising claims to, it would be this one. This just does wonders for your skin and is pretty much the best moisturiser I have ever used. For starters, it has the most insanely wonderful, divine, delicious citrus smell! If I could attach a jar of this to my face, like a food bag to a mule, I would. I wouldn’t even care about the looks I’d get in public because that is how much I’m obsessed with the smell of this.  Once applied to your skin it is so lightweight and refreshing and just perks up your skin.  Your complexion looks dewy and healthy and like you just stepped out of bikram yoga. But without the dehydration, tomato faced redness and hint of regret. It is also the perfect moisturiser to layer makeup products over and is just an all round A+.

DeLorenzo – Essential Treatments Oil Balance

DeLorenzo is also one of those excellent brands with a focus on earth friendliness by using natural ingredients, recyclable materials and excluding animal testing. Their ‘Oil Balance’ is marketed as a “pre-shampoo treatment that works to nourish dry and damaged hair” and I was eager to give this a go as my locks had been through the ringer a bit with too much heat styling. With most hair treatments I’ve tried I notice a difference instantly, but with this one I didn’t; and if anything my hair felt heavier and looked lackluster. This is to be sprayed onto dry hair pre shower and left to its own devices. Just a tip; if you do want to try it, spray it in the shower because the first time I used it by entire bathroom was covered in a thin layer of oil. The reasons I did not like this was because it was messy to use (by leaving a crime scene in my bathroom) , the smell was actually super foul and it did not deliver results. Sounded so great on paper but unfortunately like many things did not translate. If this were Tinder, I would definitely be swiping left. 

Hit Refresh: Best Makeup Removers

As much as I love wearing makeup, I equally love the feeling of taking it off and having the ability to rub my eyes without getting liquid liner everywhere. One thing I honestly can’t grasp is how people just wash off their makeup with a normal cleanser and then hit the hay. If I’m taking off my makeup, I do it thoroughly and then follow up with a double cleanse.

So here is my routine to guarantee every single swipe of lipstick and mascara is off that pretty face of yours:

Swisspers Organic Cotton Makeup Pads

100% Australian certified organic these are hypoallergenic, biodegradable and perfume, chlorine and dioxin free. They are the only makeup pads I have found that do not leave little stray fibers all over your face when removing makeup. Even the original Swisspers leave fibers EVERYWHERE, almost to the point where you feel like you need to wash your face again. They used to sell the Swisspers Organic in all supermarkets, but they’ve been taken off the shelves and the only place I can find them now is Chemist Warehouse, so happy hunting.

If taking off stubborn eye makeup, soak these babies in your choice of eye makeup remover, hold against your eye for 20 seconds and then gently wipe away the product. It is a gentle and effective way of removing eye makeup without pulling at the gentle skin under the eye which can lead to fine lines.

Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes

First I use the Simple wipes to wipe off as much product as I can. These are super gentle and do not contain alcohol, oil or perfumes which means that they remove makeup without irritating your skin with nasty ingredients. When I use these wipes on my face they make my skin feel cooled and refreshed, which is exactly what you want from your skin care. I stock up when these are regularly on sale (it is quite an often occurrence) and keep a packet in my bedside table when I’m a bit too lazy, tired or a few too many margaritas in to properly take off my makeup.

Bioderma Sensibo H20 Solution Micellaire

After the Simple facial wipes have taken off the bulk of my makeup, I quickly go over my face again with a cotton pad soaked in Bioderma to grab any left over pesky products like long wear foundation or lipstick. Like Simple, Bioderma Sensibo is soothing, calming and great for sensitive skin. I only started using it this year and the difference I have seen is amazing. I thought my makeup wipes and eye makeup remover took off every single scrap of makeup and looking at my face it did look like it was stripped bare. But a quick wipe of Bioderma and you will see how much sneaky product is actually left over, even when you think you’ve done an incredibly thorough job.

Clinique Take The Day Off

This is a Holy Grail eye makeup remover. It is pricey, but seriously worth it. A product that is allergy and ophthalmologist tested and 100% fragrance free, Take The Day Off is extremely gentle and effective. Even if you’re a klutz like me and get this in your eyes it does not sting at all. It gently removes eye and lip makeup and if you’re stuck in a pickle, can cleanse your whole face as well. What a little multi-tasking gem! It also smells amazing and leaves skin feeling incredibly soft. Just like a big ol' peach. 

Bonus

Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover

This is my backup eye makeup remover as it is cheap (at a quarter of the price of Clinique), easily found at supermarkets and pharmacies and does a pretty great job. The reason it is a back up for me is that I cannot stand the smell or the feel of it on my skin. But like I said, it does the job and is a nice budget buy. What it is amazing at though is cleaning my makeup brushes. It will get every single scrap of foundation, eyeshadow, concealer and powder off all my brushes and keeps them in wonderful shape. Followed with a quick wash in baby shampoo and your makeup brushes will never be cleaner.