OPI Holland Collection

In February this year, OPI came out with Holland Collection which featured 12 colors.  Apart from some real quirky names it had beautiful and varied range of hues and texture. I got a chance to try 5 of the shades.

•     I Don’t Give a Rotterdam!

            

         Its a pale blue with lots of shimmer. I found the application to be little patchy with 2 coats, maybe 3 would be okay.

•     A Roll in the Hague

        

 Its a bright orange color with cream finish. I love this color for the simple fact that, one look at it and             I feel happy instantly.

•     Peddle Faster Suzi.

            The color is lavender with shimmer. Even though they have shimmer in them , they apply with ease.

•     Thanks A WindMillion. 

           Its a sage green with cream finish.

•     Kiss Me on My Tulip.

           

              Its a bright pink with a cream finish.

             For me , the winner is 'A Roll in the Hague'. I think its one of those colors which are very bright without being into your face.

Price : $19.95 AUD
Availability : Myer, David Jones, Adore Beauty

Disclaimer: Product provided by PR for consideration, but it has no bearing on my views.

MeMeMe Cosmetics

Isn't it great when a brand you have read about finally hits your shore !! I had read great deal about MeMeMe Cosmetics and was always keen to try them. So, when I got to try them, I jumped right away.

One item which intrigued me was the Shimmer Stack. I have used Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick and was keen to see if there was any difference.I got a chance to try Shimmer Stack in Pink.

One thing which I could see right away was absence of shimmer overload. And its a good thing. I always had a gripe with Bobbi Brown that the shimmer particles were real big and made my pores look huge. But, this has just the right amount giving a very soft glow, when swirled and applied. I just love the color( soft coral ) and it stays on for 2 - 3 hours. Even though the color fades the glow remains.

I also tried 'Spirited' from their Catwalk Nail Collection. Its a pastel peach and applies streak free, with a gloss finish. A perfect color for summer.

Price : The Shimmer Stack retails for $ 27.95 AUD
           Nail paint is for $12.95 AUD
Availability: These are available online mememecosmetics

Disclaimer: Product provided by PR for consideration, but it has no bearing on my views.

SAX Eye Delight Eyeshadow Palette

The SAX website describes this as

"Perfect! Fresh, heavenly eyes can be achieved in minutes with sax’s “eye delight” eyeshadow palette. Contour, blend and highlight with silky smooth powders which glide effortlessly on to eyelids, for breathtaking beautiful eyes."

The packaging of the product is similar to NARS rubberized case. The best is that it comes with a huge mirror, a great bonus and perfect to do your makeup on go.

The colors are leaning towards neutral and they apply beautifully. I won't say much, but if you like neutrals and need to take one palette, this is your baby.

I have also posted an EOTD with this palette.

Availibitly : Terrywhite Pharmacy, Online
Price: RRP $19.95 AUD

Disclaimer: Product provided by PR for consideration, but it has no bearing on my views.

Chanel D'Ombre

Thanks to Jen from myfunnyvalentineblog I had a huge lemming for Chanel Illusion D'ombre. I so wanted this that I would have dreams of buying it. And I decided on the color based on a post about Frieda Pinto's makeup where the makeup artist had used Ebloui.
Do you see a pattern ? Reading fabulous blogs can be injurious to your wallet.

Now on to the actual product.

Packaging :

It comes packaged in a jar with a small slanted tip brush. The brush is quite handy and be actually used with the shadows.

 

Color : 

Its a deep burgundy color with multicolored shimmer particles in it. It reminded me of MAC Cranberry although with more brown in it.

Texture :

In the jar, it feels like sponge and when swatched its like a cream eyeshadow.

Performance:

I wore it both all over lid and as an eyeliner.
There was no creasing or flaking experienced even after 6 hours wear.

Would I Recommend It : Yes, definitely. If you want something easy to work with and do quick eye makeup, this is your product. The only sticking point is the price.


Availability : Myer, DJ, Chanel Boutique
RRP : $49 AUD

Update : Since I wrote this post as a draft couple of months ago, I have bought 2 more from this range. I will be posting swatches of them soon.

Face Of Australia : Barbados Collection

Face of Australia (FOA) can be trusted to bring fabulous makeup at very reasonable price. And with Barbados collection it has proved again.

Its a collection which FOA has come up with collaboration of MBBE (Melbourne Beauty Blogger Event). The collection has 8 nail paints and they are Toluene free, Formaldehyde free, Dibutyl Phthalate free.

I got a chance to try 4 nail paints from this collection. They were part of the goody bag from MBBE 2011. The formula is streak free and gives opacity in 2 coats except for Another Daiquiri Please.

Calypso Gold

 Its white with lots of gold shimmer in it.

Bright Lights, Pink City

Its pink with golden shimmer. I loved this so much that I was reluctant to remove it and swatch the remaining collection

Another Daquiri Please

This is a beautiful coral with gold shimmer. The only problem was the visible nail line after 2 coats

Lets Go Scuba Diving

Now, for me this is the winner of the collection. An awesome bluish green with loads of golden shimmer in it. I loved it so much that I wore it again on my wedding anniversary.
The collection is so pretty with great quality that I plan to get more once they hit the stores

Availability : Priceline, Big W
Price: $4.95 AUD

Disclaimer: Product was provided as part of MBBE 2011 goody bag, but it has no bearing on my views.

Holiday Haul Part One

What is a holiday if there is no haul ..I am mean you need to have something more than holiday pictures..isn't it :-))  I personally look forward to buying from duty free shops to avoid paying ridiculous Australians RRPs.

**Post is picture heavy**

The first part of haul will comprise of all things I bought from duty free shops( in Delhi, Singapore). I have more to share but other parts will come as I unpack the bags ( yes, I have been that busy !!)

The first item is Guerlain Rouge G lipstick. I have to thank my younger sister for this. She bought #6 from this range( from Delhi Duty Free) and recommended me to check it out. I bought #8 ( Gisele) which she had chosen earlier.
Quoting from my memory I bought this for $ 45 USD .
I love everything about this lipstick, from packaging, to color and texture. I know this isn't the last lipstick from this range.

  

 

I picked up this Bobbi Brown Rich Color lipstick in Pink Peony. Its creamy and is opaque in one swipe. The lipstick wears off leaving a stain which I like.

 

I can never buy Dior Addict lipstick without thinking about Tara from keepingupwithme . I read about these first on her blog. I picked Nude(333) from this range. Its a beautiful lipstick, moisturizing, good pigmentation and lovely texture. In Australia this retails for $48 AUD while I picked it for $29 USD. No wonder, Australians prefer to buy from overseas.

I also picked Chanel Levres Scintillantes (131, Mica) and Rouge Allure Extrait De Gloss (57, Insolence). I love how they feel on my lips. Mica has beautiful reflecting shimmer which looks awesome on lips. Its not sticky and is non drying. I was really surprised by Insolence, since it managed to show up on my pigmented lips.

Chanel Insolence

Chanel Insolence

Chanel Insolence

Chanel Insolence Lip Swatch

Chanel Mica

Chanel Mica

Chanel Mica

You remember how I raved about chanel vitalumiere satin foundation, so how could I go past buying it if I was getting it for $48 USD ( from memory its 80 AUD here). And when I am getting a foundation then I need a great coverage concealer, isn't it *shifty eyes*. So next up was Estee Lauder Double wear Concealer in Medium.

            EL Concealer          Chanel Vitalumiere Satin