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

Update - Lancome Genifique

Hi everyone,

This is an updated post on Lancome's Genifique serum.



So... as per a previous Lancome Haul blog I purchased a 20mL size of Genifique in a Mother's Day special pack where I received other Lancome products for a low price of AU$80.

If you missed out on buying the pack I noticed in Myer (George St store) that they still had these packs left!

The results............

I used the product twice a day after toning - morning and night. I used two pumps each time.

20mL lasted me... 1.5 months. Personally, I think it's quite expensive given how long it lasts. I think the going price in most Australian stores is AU$115 for 30mL.

What does it claim to do? The 'Youth Activator' will make skin at any age appear more youthful. It will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and supple which is meant to give you a more refined and even toned appearance. Instructions advised to apply morning and night before normal skin care. Yes I think the serum did in fact help with smoothing out my skin and helped with balancing out some slightly red patches I had on my cheeks. My cheeks are classed as 'normal' and I think this fact really helped the serum work its magic in making them appear more youthful. My t-zone is oily and because of this the serum had little to no impact. The oil in my skin naturally provides elasticity and therefore it is normally very youthful looking. I think if my t-zone was normal or dry the product would have had a greater effect. The other factor I have to take into consideration is that I'm in my late 20's. So, I like to think that I still look relatively young. My wrinkles are minimal and I ensure I'm drinking plenty of water every day to really help my skin and overall well being.

Verdict - I think if you have normal to dry skin, this will really help improve your skin. If you have more oily skin, then maybe try it as results are going to vary person to person, but I personally wouldn't buy it.

I think if my skin type every changes to more normal all over and I have cash to spend I'll re-purchase this product. At the moment, I'm happy with my skin and my weekly masks etc.

Laters,

Ivy

Stila - One Step Correct

I really like this one step corrector.

This is a one step corrector, "triple-swirled helix serum that instantly colour corrects, brightens, primes, and nourishes the skin. On top of the immediately gratifying benefits, the infusion of Stila's exclusive Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex—improves skintone, evens out the complexion, and helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles." (from the Sephora website www.sephora.com). This contains 30mL of product and it took me 3 months to use (using it 5 times a week).

Reasons why I like it:
- The packaging is really nice. I like how you can see the serum and the three correcting swirls. You can also see when you're running out as it's a pump and the inside bottom part moves up to the top as you keep using the product.
- It goes on smoothly, since it's a serum, as a nice base before foundation.
- I believe it does make a difference to my skin which is noticeable once I apply my foundation. It helps create a more flawless look.

Areas for improvement:
There aren't too many. If you expect this product to help conceal zits or if you have very red patches on your face then this product won't fix these problems and you should invest in an appropriate concealer. If you have some light uneven skin tone then you'll like this product. I'm not sure if it improved my skin tone in the long run as it claims.

Price: US$36.00. I bought this in Sephora in Hawaii when the AU$1 was something crazy like... US$1.10! So I was super happy. If you buy it here in Mecca (at Myer in Sydney CBD or the Mecca store at The Galleries Victoria just to name a few) you'll pay AU$58.00! Ah! It still amazes me how much we pay on make up here in Australia!

If this product was cheaper in Australia, I'd buy it again. However, it's not and sometimes I just can't be bothered to try and find a cheap one on eBay etc. I've also been told that on some websites, the products aren't genuine.

Laters,
Ivy

P.S - I am currently trying out some South Korean products I picked up from Alice's Diary (in World Square, ground floor near the Pitt St & Liverpool St exit). They sell a bunch of South Korean beauty products, make up and clothes.