Baviphat - Sugar Girl Candy Lip Gloss

I have been a little M.I.A recently and feeling a little guilty about it, so I'm back to blog another day.

 

Recently, I've been into lip products (again) and purchased two "Sugar Girl Candy" lip glosses by Korean brand Baviphat. From what the sales assistant told me Baviphat has a good reputation but more so for their masks and facial creams. Let' give them a go I say!



 

 

Blueberry #5 & Apricot #6

Purchased from - Blush Cosmetics on Sussex St, Sydney (also located in World Square).

Cost - I can't remember how much each one cost... however yesstyle.com.au is selling them for AU$11-12 each. I'm pretty sure I paid more like... AU$18-20 each for mine.

Size - I can't find how much product this has by looking at the packaging or the actual product itself... if you can see it then, yay. It's basically the size of a chupa chup.

Verdict - I don't mind this lip gloss. The blueberry one is a glittery gloss that's quite transparent while packing in a glittery shine (sorry pic above is a little out of focus). The apricot gloss is just a flat gloss (no glitter) and appears clear and glossy. I love the smell of the blueberry one (smells like... that fake blueberry pen smell, if you know what I mean). I'm not a huge fan of the applicator though. It's essentially a thin, plastic stick. It would have been better as a lip brush or maybe even a lip sponge.

Last thoughts - Like all glosses, this one will stay on until you start eating or drinking it off. These glosses are also very transparent, unlike say MAC Dazzelglass or even Missha glosses. I think these are quite cute and I really only purchased them because they look like chupa chups! I'll use them, however I probably wouldn't re-purchase.

For more info on Baviphat click on the below link:
baviphat

Laters,
Ivy

The Body Shop Lily Cole - Shimmer Cubes (no. 24)

I previously completed a review on The Body Shop's Lily Cole Lip and Cheek dome, and I'll admit that I did in fact go back to the store and purchase the Lily Cole Shimmer Cubes which is palette number 24.

Price - AU$40.95
Stores - there are many stores located in Australia, check out The Body Shop Store Locator
Amount of product - 4x 3.5 g (0.12oz)
Colours - Starting top left going clockwise you have Think Pink, Live Lilac, Go Violet and Tint it Pink.

Verdict -
I tried this out the other day and I'm impressed with the amount of product you receive.

What's also quite nice about this is that each of the colours are in their own clear plastic containers! Very handy if you want to just take two colours with you in your make up bag.

As the name suggests, they are a shimmer eye shadow. Application is smooth and I used my eye shadow brushes to apply. The colours blend quite nicely too, which means you could use just this palette on its own. I used Think Pink all over my lid and then applied Live Lilac on the outer half of the lid. I use Go Violet on the lash line (both top and bottom) and on the outer v. I used a fluffy brush to blend out the outer v. Tint it Pink was used on the ball of the lid and a touch on the brow bone to highlight.

Note, if you're looking for really strong vibrant colour, then you probably won't be happy with this product. The cubes are not highly pigmented as you apply the product to your lids. Also, if you forget to use an eye lid primer you will end up with creases. Bummer - I was a victim of this.
Overall - I really like the packaging and the colours work well together. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to buy any more shimmer cubes in the future only because I prefer my Coastal Scents 88 shimmer palette. As the name says there are 88 shimmer colours that last all day, are highly pigmented and do not crease.


For more info check out The Body Shop - Lily Cole Shimmer Cubes

Laters,
Ivy

Lancome event - Michelle Phan + Glamour Eyes Kit

Guess who was in town (Sydney) on 2nd August? That's right, Michelle Phan!

Where? Myer Sydney (ground floor) corner of George and Market Sts.
When? 5.30pm!

Michelle was in the store to promote Lancome and take photos with several eager fans before flying to Melbourne for a Lancome Master Class the next day.

I arrived at Myer Sydney at 6pm to a packed store full of Michelle fans. All you had to do to have your photo with Michelle was to purchase a Lancome eye sets. I bought the one with Michelle on the box - Glamour Eye Set (AU$89), however other sets were also available which were cheaper. I figured, I'm here to see Michelle, so I might as well buy the kit with her on it.

So once you purchased a Lancome set, you received a wrist band and joined a queue to have your photo taken! I had a 40 minute wait before I had my photo taken. You got to say hi to Michelle and then smile with her for a photo. She looked beautiful and was probably a little tired after already having 40 minutes worth of photos with people. It was really cool through to meet her since I am a huge fan of hers.

You then waited for a few seconds and they provided you with a
photo. They also had staff there who could take photo of you from your phone which was also cool.

What do you receive? A 5 palette eye shadow, full size artliner  in black and a small sized Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara in black.

I'm not a entirely convinced that the Artliner eye liner is the best on the market. I still believe that Clio Waterproof Brush Liner Kill Black is slightly better than this Lancome Artliner. Click on the above link to go to the review.



I love Hypnose mascara and always have. Doll Eyes is no exception. I have small eye lashes so this is perfect!

So, the eye shadow palette initially looks very shimmery. I was a little worried how this would look on. It also comes with an instructional flyer with a day look and a night look.

When I tried this for myself the finished look is very wearable for both day and night looks. I used the palette, Artliner and Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara. Unfortunately you may not be able to tell from the photos below.

Day Look:

Night Look:

In conclusion, I really wanted to get my photo with Michelle Phan so I happily purchased my Lancome Glamour Eye set. I love Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara and the eye shadow palette.

Go check out Michelle Phan at http://www.michellephan.com/

Laters,

Ivy

Skin Food - Black Sugar Mask

Yeh! Skin Food!

Who seriously doesn't love Skin Food! I for one have a soft spot for this Korean brand. Not all of their products are the best ever, but I like what the company stands for "food for your skin".

First impressions of packaging - nice and simple. Plastic tub with a white lid. Natural looking labels which is in line with the natural feel of the brand.

Purchased from - online at www.yesstyle.com.au, you could also purchase this from any store that sells Skin Food products eg. Blush Cosmetics http://www.blushcosmetics.com.au/ (however it's probably going to cost you around AU$30).

Price - AU$15.00 for 100g.

How to use - after cleansing, rub onto your face and leave for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Impressions - it smells like some kind of lemon cleaning product. It's not the greatest smell for a product that contains sugar (I thought it would smell sweet). As it's a sugar scrub it's very grainy, therefore it's a very rough scrub. If this is what you like and look for in a scrub then you'll love it. If not, then I'd stick to a scrub that contains beads of product rather than sugar granules as they aren't smooth and round. The sugar is all different shapes and sizes which creates that rough texture. I really like the way that the product melts on your face. When you've rinsed the mask off, your face is left feeling very smooth and full of moisture. It won't leave your face feeling dry at all.

Product pics -

How long will it last? For 100g it actually last quite a while. You would only need to do this once a week.

Would you buy this again? I'm into trying new products, so probably not. Also given the fact that it's not easily available at a good price in Australia (you have to order it online not to be ripped off). I do like it though, just not enough to buy it again.

For more information and to find out if there's a store in your country check out -
http://eng.theskinfood.com/
So sad that there isn't an actual store in Australia.

Laters,
Ivy

St Tropez - Self Tan Bronzing Lotion

Fake tan you say.... but not just any fake tan, it's St Tropez self tan!



It's a little cool in Sydney at the moment, and now that we're in the home stretch of winter I decided to review an oldie but a goodie. I've only ever tried two self tanners, the above St Tropez and Model Co Tan Mousse.

Key points for what I look for in a self tan -

1. I hate hate hate fake tan that smells like corn syrup! Yuk! You know that tell tale smell.

2. Tan that streaks. This can come down to the user though. If you don't apply your tan properly then yes, you will end up with a streaky, uneven, do it yourself look tan.

3. Orange fake tan! Some people like this and good for you, but I'm not a fan of looking like an Oompa Loompa.

4. A long lasting tan is a good tan. Again, this can come down to the user. If you don't exfoliate before then your tan won't last as long. If you don't moisturise then it also won't last as long as it might.

Having said all of the above, how does St Tropez Bronzing Lotion compare? Quite well. I think this brand has built a good name for itself because it works! It doesn't smell too much. It doesn't streak when applied correctly (I usually use a mitt to help buff in after using gloves to apply). You don't look like you've been dipped in orange paint (unless you apply a crazy amount of product but even then it's more of a darker chocolate base than orange). Finally, it lasts about a week before you need to top up.

Where to buy - you can purchase this at any good chemist, Priceline, Myer or David Jones store. You can also buy it directly from their website.

Cost - AU$39.95 for the 120ml bottle or AU$59.95 for the 240ml bottle.

Application tips - you can find tips on their website, but my best tips are...

1. Make sure you exfoliate before you apply.

2. Moisturise your knees, ankles and elbows (these areas will become super dark as the dry skin absorbs more product).

3. Wear gloves!

4. Make sure you shower 4 hours after you apply it. You could sleep overnight with the product on (let it dry first) but you may stain your sheets and if you sweat in your sleep you may end up with an uneven tan and stained sheets!





For more information visit - http://www.sttropez.com.au/

Happy self tanning!

Laters,

Ivy

P.S - I was able to meet Michelle Phan tonight at Myer Sydney! Very exciting! If you don't know who I'm talking about check her our on YouTube or visit http://www.michellephan.com/! I also picked up her Lancome make up pack which includes an eye shadow palette, mini mascara, and artliner.

Beyond - Cleansing Lotion

What is this product you ask? I asked myself the same question as the product labels are all in Korean and I couldn't remember what the sales assistant told me in regards to 'how to use' or 'this product contains'. I had a look online and found the below.

Link below for information about this product:
http://www.beyond.co.kr/meet/product_view.jsp?pid=AHG01471&cid1=B

This is a 'washable cleansing' product.

Description -  This washable cleansing lotion can be used in conjunction with water, or on dry skin it is perfect for sensitive skin.

It contains ingredients such as - green tea, broccoli and other green ingredients to create a refreshing cleansing lotion.

How to use - You can use this on dry skin or you can wet your face first. Once the product is on your face massage and rinse with water. If you looking for a deep clean, gently wipe with a tissue after use. If you have make up you may need to double up on cleaning lotion without water (I'm not sure if I have captured the translation correctly).

Purchased from - Alice's Diary (World Square near the back of V Bar). Alice's Diary is a Korean store where they sell Korean make up, skin care and clothes. You can check out their website - http://www.morningpiggy.com/ContactUs.Asp

Price - AU$48.50 (ouch)

Size - 200mL

Packaging - came in a plain brown cardboard box. Easy to use pump dispenser.

Verdict - I think it's very expensive for what you get. I think it's a good product, but you would probably achieve the same results with Cetaphil cleanser from Priceline. It smells nice and fresh with a kind of herbal smell. The cleanser is not a foaming cleanser and is more of your sensitive cream type. You'll also need two pumps each time you go to wash your face. On average I use 6 pumps per day which means this product isn't going to last very long. I wash my face in the morning (applied to a wet face, massaged and then washed off) and at night (I apply two pumps to a dry face and then I wash it off and then repeat the process but on a wet face). I took me a while (1 week) to get use to use a non foaming cleanser as I'm just not use to them (same goes for Cetaphil) and it leaves your face feeling soft and doesn't have that skin tight shiny feeling (which I kind of like). Having said all of this, it is a great product and cleanses well and I think it has kept my face in balance (oily vs. dry).

Would I buy this again? No way. I think it's just far far far too expensive! I'm sure it's cheaper in Korea or on the net, but when this bottle if finished I won't be buying it again.

Laters,
Ivy

The Body Shop - Lily Cole Lip and Cheek Dome

Yeh! I'm so in love with cream based blush at the moment and The Body Shop has launched these limited edition Lily Cole Lip and Cheek Domes!

They come in two shades - "Pinch Me Pink" and "Crazy for Coral". Of course being me I bought both of them. They're limited edition?!?! That's right, I always get sucked in by that sort of promotion.

Cost - AU$28.95
I think this price is really quite good as the product will last quite a while. It's also not as expensive as brands such a Stila - will set you back AU$40 (I still love my Stila cream blush in coral as well!).

Location - everywhere! The Body Shop is just everywhere in Australia. All major cities have them and most suburban shopping centres have them as well. If not, check them out online at www.thebodyshop.com.au (picture above from the website).

How to use - you can apply the dome directly to the apples of your cheeks and/or lips and then blend with a brush or your fingers. I find it quite nice to use your fingers when blending on your cheeks as they warm up the product. You can really build up the product on your cheeks, but if you do apply too much all you need to do is apply some more foundation over the top. I recommend if you use this on your cheeks to apply it after your liquid foundation. If you want to set the product you can always lightly dust some translucent powder over the top otherwise you can just leave it. When this is applied to the lips, since it is quite matte, you may want to gloss it up a little. You can also add a shimmer to your cheeks if it's too matte by using either a cream or powder shimmer / highligher.


Verdict - truthfully it's been quite a while since I've even considered buying The Body Shop make up. They've come a long way since I was a teen and from the mini make over I received in the George St store today (the one near Market St) it appears that quite a few of their products have improved. They used a really nice liquid foundation on me as well as a nice bronzer and lip gloss.

I love this product. It's long lasting and so versatile. It goes on matte but you can always add a shimmer powder on top of cheeks, or gloss if using the product on your lips. The price is also quite reasonable. I think I'll regularly check out The Body Shop from now on!

Laters,
Ivy