NYX Tango with Bronzing Powder - Confessions of a Tanaholic - Review and Swatches

Hi all my lovely readers, 

I've just come back so the little hiatus from blogging is over now for me and it's back to business as per usual! :) 

Today I will be blogging about an affordable bronzing powder from NYX Tango with Bronzing Powder Range. I bought the Confessions of a Tanaholic which is one of the best-selling bronzers from the range. I bought this bronzer from Cherry Culture for $7.50 USD (25% off) which is still going on now, CLICK HERE to visit the page. Shipping was less then $15 AUD for a very large order and took around 3-4 weeks to arrive to Australia (sales always take time to sort, package and deliver)!

Bronzer is a basic and staple part of most of my make up looks today. I think bronzer works well with every skin tone, even if you're already tanned, as it slims and defines and contours your face. I love the look of a good contour of people, I love how contour can be fierce and defined as well as natural with emphasis on the natural shadows of your face. It can be changed to suit each and every face and person and is just a great product for every make up user to own.

I love the packaging for this bronzer. 

The following pictures do not have any filter for a more accurate representation of the product!

Confessions of a Tanaholic features a wheel which contains three differing shades of bronzer and a middle section which is a highlighter/shimmer powder. The idea is to swirl your brush around whichever colours you prefer (focusing on the ones which you want the most, e.g. focusing on the outer wheel and avoiding the shimmer center for a matte bronzer), to get a custom colour suited for you.

Unfortunately this does not always work out that way. This compact is very small and requires a small brush and no matter what brush I use (even with my best kabuki brushes), the pigmentation of this bronzer is very light. It is very difficult to get a good amount of colour onto your skin with this product as the pigmentation is very low (it's not like it is in the pan!). Whilst this trait was reassuring to me when I first started using bronzer (as it is literally impossible to overdo your bronzer with this), it's incredibly annoying and troublesome to work with now that I've developed my skills with applying and using bronzers. :(

Underneath the powder is a compartment for the brush.

I do not use the brush which is included with the bronzer, it's too soft and flexible and nowhere near dense enough to pick up the required product for pigmentation to show up on the skin!

Ignore the 15, I wrote that there to remind me to throw it out by 2015!

I have yet to try to apply this bronzer wet, as wet applications allow pigment and product to be collected better and applied onto the skin.

Swatch of the powder (all the colours mixed together) on my light to medium skin tone.

I had to swirl my fingers in the pan about 3-4 times to get this level of swatch pigmentation, that much product for this little pigmentation means that there is a high risk of chalkiness or cake face! So just be careful if you're using this product for the pigmentation. There are much better bronzers on the market but to be fair, the better bronzers are easily 5-10 times the price of this bronzer.

In conclusion, whilst the pigmentation of this bronzer is lacking, the price and packaging are nothing to complain about. It is a good way to introduce and begin with experimenting with bronzers and it would suit very light skin tones well. I personally will not buy this bronzer again, but I am glad that I had it to lean on when I was first beginning with the product.

Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog entry, I hope this has helped out someone with their choices on the market. Please subscribe/comment/favourite/bookmark if you have the time, all feedback is much appreciated. Please keep in mind that these reviews are my own opinion and others experiences may differ from mine. :)


Stay Beautiful! xx

L.A. Colors Auto Lipliner Review and Swatches

Okay this time the lateness of this entry is not due to any fault of my own: my internet literally decided to kill itself during boxing day. There was nothing I or anyone in my family could do to repair it and uploading remotely was impossible - trust me, I tried. :(

Here's yesterdays' post:

Every person (male or female), anything and anyone who is starting off with make up or has been into make up for a while, should know and own the simple, humble miracle which is lip liner! Lip liners (are supposed to) prevent leaking of lip colour by providing a good base, line the lips for different looks, intensify/change any lip colour which is layered over the top of lined lips, prevent feathering of the lips, and compliment a wide variety of make up looks and skin tones!

If you find a good lip liner, it may do most/all of these things and more. There are liners which plump the lips, are highly moisturising, and more! *cue applause for this innovative product*

If you want some good quality and affordable lip liners to start or add to your growing collection, I very highly suggest L.A. Colors Auto Lipliners! These liners are incredibly soft and simply glide onto any surface smoothly. The colour payoff is amazing, the formula is smooth and prevents feathering, the packaging allows for precise application of the liner to a variety of lip shapes and sizes. :)

L.A. Colours Auto Lipliners which I own.

So I bought three of their lip liners in the following colours:
- AL565: Pinky
- AL561: Nude
- AL569: Fiery Red

From Cherry Culture for $2.50 USD each, there is a wide selection on the site and shipping was quite inexpensive to Australia for my large order! :) CLICK HERE to visit the exact page I used to purchase these lip liners.

Twist up function.

These liners have a twist up function so there's no sharpening needed to get a precise line. Remember that when you're using twist up products, not to twist up too much or the product might break off! I would twist to the level shown in the picture above or just a bit higher to prevent breakage. Although this all depends on the amount of pressure you use normally! :)

Swatches of the colours.

Let me start off by saying that these lip pencils are amazing; they glide on perfectly/very easily, are very pigmented and contain shea butter which conditions your lips to prevent feathering of any lip product you put on top. Personally, I love using Pinky to line and completely fill in my lips then putting on any pink gloss - these lip liners can be used by themselves if you want a matte-lip look as well!


I'm not a fan of the Nude colour, it's far to dark and with no pink undertones (like the Too Faced Perfect Nude pencil has - this by the way is my favourite nude lip liner of all time!). Nude lip colours are always tricky since every lip has a natural colour/pigmentation which is suited to the individual. Therefore, while this nude pencil did nothing but wash me out, it may suit other lips better.

I love wearing Pinky by itself, it's a beautiful light mauve pink colour which is just amazing and unique. I've gotten asked what lipstick I was wearing before with this liner on and some compliments so I'm very happy with this colour. It's difficult to describe but try it out! Hopefully you'll love this as much as I do - or maybe this is one of those "just me" things. ;)

Fiery Red is a deep and dark red colour with blue undertones. It's good for putting a bright red over the top to balance the look and creating ombre lip colours.

Anyways, thank you so much for checking out this post on my blog, all feedback is much appreciated and loved! Everything I review and bought with my own money so these are my honest opinions. Since they are my own opinions, they may not agree with someone else's. Make up is diverse, just like the people who use it - let's all have fun whilst sharing our experiences!



Stay Beautiful! xx

Elizabeth Arden Exceptional Lipstick Review and Swatches

Although I prefer lip stains over all types of lip products, I do own a fair amount of lip sticks. When I reach for a lipstick, it must be moisturising, pigmented (my lips feel suffocated and heavy if I have to layer lipstick on too much), and long-lasting (the best part of a lip-stain!).

Introducing the Elizabeth Arden Exceptional Lipstick Collection (I own two of the colours from this collection):

The two lipsticks from the Exceptional Elizabeth Arden collection which I own.

I received these two lipsticks when I purchased the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Set (contained an eyeshadow palette based on the Red Door fragrance, mini eyeliner, and some other things!) for around $70 AUD at Cosmo Cosmetics (in-store).

38 - Beauty (and swatch).

Beauty is a light plum colour with a matte finish. Despite the matte finish, it feels moisturising (although I recommend moisturising your lips before applying any lip product to it during make up application) and there has been no feathering of the colour. It is fairly pigmented - I usually layer on about 2-3 layers to achieve the intense colour which I want.

25 - Starlight (swatch to the left - the right swatch is Beauty).

I absolutely love this lipstick colour - Starlight! It was very unexpected but this lip colour is the perfect nude lip colour for me. It is an intensified version of my natural lip colour and is perfect for daily use. The finish is semi-matte and the formula is pigmented and moisturising. I adore this lipstick because it suits a wide range of looks for everyday use! :)

In conclusion, these lipsticks are inexpensive (when bought in a set/pack), and good quality. They aren't orgasmic or anything, but they do what a lipstick should do. Nothing revolutionary but great value for price that I paid. If you want a few good lipsticks, these may be the one for you! Please let me know if you have tried these lipsticks and your own opinions on them - I'd love to know! :)

These opinions are my own, so what works for me may not work for someone else and vice versa! I made this blog in the hope that some of these tips/reviews and swatches may help someone out there as well as for my own personal enjoyment (make up is a passion of mine!).

Once again, thank you all for taking the time out of your day to read my blog, much love to all of you! Any feedback/comments/suggestions you leave will definitely be taken into account and much loved and appreciated! :)


Stay Beautiful! xx

Revlon Lip Butters Review

The colour of a lipstick with the soothing, moisture of a lip balm - what a dream product! That's exactly what these Revlon Lip Butters claim to do. I've heard a lot of hype surrounding these lip butters but from the ones which I've seen from stores previously, there weren't very many which appealed to me. I eventually bought these when they started being sold in sets, I just couldn't justify spending the full RRP for products which I was not very interested in purchasing (despite all the hype).

So.. I got four.

Of course, I eventually caved when the sets came, and bought these which came in a pack from Myers some time in November 2012. *guilty face* Don't lie, I know you have some too...

080 - Strawberry Shortcake.

Strawberry Shortcake is a very light baby pink colour which I personally think would suit light skin tones amazingly!

This one took a while to grow on me, I try to avoid lip colours which are lighter then my skin tone because they make me feel and look washed out and sickly. I've found a way to wear this colour by using a darker pink lip pencil and filling in my lips (or applying a deep lip stain) and then applying this lip butter on top!

It's more moisturising than a lip stick, the colour pay off is actually quite decent (but not the same as a lipstick, like they claim - unless the lipstick is very sheer).

Bottom Swatch : Lollipop.

I wore this lip colour all day at Stereosonic this year and was very pleased about how easy it was to use. It's very pigmented and moistursing. The colour is a bold magenta pink with a glossy finish! The only issue I had was how quickly this product wore off my lips (within an hour or two - not eating!). Next festival, I'll definitely be using a more staining colour but it's still a lovely, vibrant colour for a day/night out! :)

Top Left Swatch : Peach Parfait.

I love anything that's peach but I do not like this lip butter at all. It has huge chunks of glitter in it. The glitters are so big that it feels as if you're applying a thin layer of lip expoliant! The glitter specks will end up around your mouth/on your face in a few hours - definitely not a good look. It looks like you're wearing really cheap, little-girl lipstick, very unpleasant feeling on the lips.

Definitely not the consistency of a lip balm and minus points for trying to imitate the satin texture of a lipstick with freaking glitter. I was most excited to try this one, the colour is definitely nice, but come on, are you even trying? If you had a different experience with this particular butter or any of the other lip butters, please let me know! Maybe I just got a really bad one!

Bottom Left Swatch : Sugar Plum.

This is a smooth muted deep plum colour with blue undertones. It's a nice winter colour but I can see it being used for spring/autumn as well! :)

The only issue if is the colour payoff, you have to layer one a few times to get the deep plum colours of a lipstick but it is very moisturising!

In conclusion, these lip butters are worth trying out but if you don't - there's really no big loss. Whatever you do - do not pay full price for these lip butters, you can buy them in sets from Myers (I think it was 3 for $29.95 AUD or something). Quite honestly, they're not worth the $25-29 AUD some retailers charge. There is not a substantial amount of product (a lot less then what you find in a full-sized lipstick or lipbalm) and whilst there are some real lovely jewels in this collection, it just didn't impress me that greatly to match the large amount of hype it received. This product is the result of some very good advertising. ;)

These opinions are my own, I'm sure that there must be some readers who absolutely love these lip butters but to me, it's better value to buy a moisturising lipstick. Better colour payoff, longer lasting, and a lot more product for roughly the same price!


Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, feedback is much loved and appreciated! Thank you all, you inspire me! :)


Stay Beautiful! xx

NYX Rouge Cream Blushes Review and Swatches

If you are looking to experiment with different types of blushes - cream blushes in particular - NYX Rouge Cream Blushes are a good and affordable starting point! Cream blushes are sometimes preferred over other types since they are highly blendable, highly pigmented, have long staying power, and look incredibly natural (even in direct sunlight - as opposed to some powder blushes which run the risk of looking chalky, or stains which risk streaking). There are pros and cons of every type of blush, everyone is different, so you may want to experiment with blushes which suit you best!

I have owned, tried and tested these blushes for the past few months so that I can give you my honest opinion on them. Cream blushes are very well-suited for people with dry/combination skin because of the moisturising benefits of this formula as opposed to powders and stains. I have oily/combination skin so I found that the best way to apply and use these blushes is to blot the blush after application and before blending! Then apply a setting/translucent powder over the top to set the blush. This way, the blush will not slide or leak onto other areas of the face and you will not get the dreaded oil-face! :(

NYX Rouge Cream Blushes that I own.

These blushes retail for $6.75 USD each but are currently on sale for $4.90 USD each. Since I bought these such a long time ago, I can't remember the exact price which I paid. I bought these from Cherry Culture which always has 15-25% off sales every few months! I paid around $15 AUD in shipping for my very large order. CLICK HERE to visit the page where I bought these blushes!

CB02 - Natural (sorry for the mess, I've used this blush more than once!)

CB02 - Natural (Back).

Natural is my most reached for blush colour. It reminds me of romantic dates and spring! It's a peachy light pink colour which would suit light to medium skin-tones very well. This blush is pigmented but subtle enough to not draw attention away from the rest of your make up!

CB01 - Rose Petal.

CB01 - Rose Petal (Back).

Rose Petal is a warm peach colour. It would suit literally any skin tone that I've tried this out on! It's an amazing colour, very subtle though but a perfect blush colour nonetheless. It gives the slight flushed appearance to the skin, if you want to try out a peach cream blush - this is the one for you! :)

If you have yet to try out peach/coral colours for blush, do it. Shhh, don't ask questions. You'll thank me later. ;) *creepy*

CB05 - Glow.

CB05 - Glow (Back).

Glow is a bright and intense deep pink colour. This colour seems to suit medium to dark skin tones, in my opinion. This colour is incredibly pigmented and the intensity of the colour will draw attention to the cheeks. I find that I rarely reach for this colour since it's difficult to use with natural looks, or most make up looks which emphasise the eyes or lips and not the cheeks. However, I'm still glad I have this blush in case I ever do feel like doing a bold cheek colour! :)

Natural (First), Rose Petal (Middle), Glow (Last) Swatches.

Blotting the blushes will remove the shine you can see in the image and prevent sliding of the colour. I find it easiest to apply these blushes with a stippling brush or a damp wedge sponge and a light hand! Blot with some blotting paper and blend out after blotting for the most natural look.

All these blushes are PETA Approved Cruelty Free and hypoallergenic. The packaging states that the recommended expirary date is 12 months from first use. Also I thought it'd be worth mentioning that these blushes do not dry out! The packaging is very airtight. :)

I hope this entry helped someone. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this entry, all readers are much loved and appreciated. Please bookmark/favourites/subscribe/follow this blog if you like it - it really makes me smile. :)

All feedback is very much appreciated! I always want to hear what you want to say! <3

All opinions are my own, make up is meant to change to suit you - just because I like it, doesn't always mean others will think the same. Respecting each others personal tastes is what makes life interesting! :)


Stay Beautiful! xx

Benefit Cabana Glama Kit Review

Time for yet another Benefit product review (I swear I'm close to finishing!) ;)

I felt like a tropical kit that represented summer, beaches and nice sun-kissed colours so I bought the Cabana Glama Kit from Benefit cosmetics! It comes with a little informational pamphlet which shows you different ways to use the products (I've thrown this away so I couldn't take a photo of it, sorry)!

The kit has a strong magnetic closure system and it's small enough to fit into any handbag!

These are the products inside the kit, the kit also has a mirror.

As you can see, I've been using all the products fairly regularly because I find that the colours and products included in this kit are perfect for an everyday spring/summer look. I look at this kit and think of lazy summer days and exciting summer nights.

The small posietint is kept in my emergency make up travel bag in my car for last-minute make up looks/touch-ups. The Some Kind of Gorgeous is in the shade medium which is too dark for my skin tone but perfect for my little sister (so I always use it when I do her make up). I apply this cream foundation with a damp beauty blender and the finish is amazing (especially for dry skin types)! I am planning on buying the some kind of gorgeous in the shade "light" for myself after my current foundations finish and when the months get colder again.

There is a protective clear cover for the box.

There is a very considerably large amount of Hoola bronzer (definitely enough to contour your entire face for at least a month or more), to play around with! It's a good kit if you want to explore the look of this relatively well-known bronzer of yourself without buying the full-sized product. The brush is small and I don't use it at all, it stays stored in my spare brushes case.

Swatches of the satin eyeshadows. 

The eyeshadows are amazing but all satin colours with slight shimmer. They go on smoothly, blend easily, are crease-proof and do not budge once on your eyelid. The colours are versitile and can suit a variety of looks but to me, they are perfect for neutral make up looks.

I bought this kit from the Benefit website, it retails for $36.00 USD but I bought it on sale for $18.99 USD. CLICK HERE to visit the exact page I went to purchase this kit! I personally really enjoyed this kit but I had already owned most of the products in it. The stand out of this set was the foundation and the eyeshadows. Nonetheless, this kit would make an excellent gift for a person who is beginning to explore make up, wants to try out some popular Benefit products, or wants a summer kit full of make up essentials for neutral warm looks.  :)


Just an announcement! I've finally decided to develop a routine for my blog posts (because we all like guarantees) and am going to put out a blog post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from now on! Please bookmark, favourite or subscribe to this blog! Much love to all of my readers! :)

I think this is a better alternative to having 100 posts in one night when I feel highly motivated and no motivation for the next few months! ;)


Stay Beautiful! xx

TheBalm Betty-Lou Manizer and Mary-Lou Manizer Review

Where there is highlighter, there is bronzer (and I'd like to think vice versa!).

Oh look, more of TheBalm cosmetics! Why is no-one surprised? Betty-Lou Manizer is a shimmering bronzer and Mary-Lou Manizer is a shimmery satin gold highlighter.

Inside the Mary-Lou Manizer.

Close up Photo - No Flash.

Swatch of the Mary-Lou Manizer.

This is definitely a yellow/warmer toned base highlighter and although it is a powder, it does not feel drying on the skin at all. It's almost a transition between a cream and a powder so it's a bit risky to apply (risk of over-application!). I found the best way to apply this highlighter is using a light hand and a stippling brush!

This highlighter would suit any skin tone, it can be toned down for everyday casual looks and amped up for formal occasions. The best thing about this highlighter is: it does not budge. Similar to the high beam by Benefit, this highlighter will last all night through dancing and partying - even in Australian summer weather!

Inside the Betty-Lou Manizer.

Close up photo with no flash.

Swatches of the Mary-Lou Manizer (top) and the Betty-Lou Manizer (bottom).

I'm going to be completely honest, I much prefer matte bronzers simply because they look more natural and suitable for any occasion. However, this bronzer has completely changed that view! Although I'm still a massive fan of matte bronzers (I swear by it for natural contouring), shimmery bronzers are also very good. I wouldn't use a shimmery bronzer for a natural beauty look but for an evening out (especially if there will be a LOT of photos being taken), this particular bronzer is amazing!

In conclusion, while I reach for this bronzer a lot less then my matte bronzers, I would still repurchase if I ran out of Betty-Lou Manizer simply because it adds that "wow" effect in photos. I did not intend to buy this product, it came included in a set which I wanted purely for the value of it - but this bronzer has become my favourite item from that set!

I bought TheBalm's "Oh So Pretty" set which included the Betty-Lou Manizer for $48.96 USD from Feel Unique. You can visit the exact page by CLICKING HERE (non-sponsored link). Or you can just buy the Betty-Lou Manizer by itself from Bath&Unwind for $22.92 USD by CLICKING HERE (non-sponsored link).

I bought my Mary-Lou Manizer for $22.92 USD from Bath&Unwind. You can check it out by CLICKING HERE (non-sponsored link).

All products were purchased with my own money, I am not affiliated with any of the websites mentioned on this blog, and all websites have been checked to be official resellers of the brand! :)


Stay Beautiful! xx

Benefit Posietint Review

Let me start by showing you all my current Benefit Cosmetic collection:

To date: 29/11/2012!

I am currently awaiting another order to arrive from Benefit (should be within the next few days but shipping is very unpredictable during Christmas season - to be expected of course!). I will post a picture of that when it arrives here. :)

CLICK HERE to visit the official Benefit Cosmetics website (free shipping for orders over $125 AUD, free samples, legitimate, promotional offers, a lot cheaper then buying in Australia)!

The boxes/anything still in it's packaging are back-ups. I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to make up. But I'm sure you're worse, and that's okay with me. :)

Benefit Cosmetics - being one of my holy grail brands - contains a lot of products I use in my daily routine.

Benefit's PosieTint - Lip and Cheek Stain ($29.00 USD).

Bright blue-toned pink lip and cheek stain.

As you can see the applicator and bottle and similar and design and style as the High Beam by Benefit. However, the bottle is more plastic and not glass like the High Beam is. The pink works well on my skin tone when applied to my cheeks (I'm a light-medium, yellow-toned colour) but not so much on my lips unless I blend/mix it with some other lip products.

I love using stains on my cheeks because you can intensify the colour with a powder or even a cream blush and if that rubs off, the stain will remain on the cheek for hours to come! It works by being absorbed into the most superficial layer of the skin (easily exfoliated off during make up removal)!

A swatch of the Posietint once dried and blended out.

It is easy to blend out and control the colour intensity of the cheek tint once you become familiar with practice using the tint. It can be as pigmented and as subtle as you want. A bottle will definitely last you more than a year even if used daily, you only need two drops to be honest!

I definitely recommend this tint, it works well on most skin tones, easily blendable, will last a long time even if used daily, and looks amazingly natural in any lighting. It has a matte finish and can be layered with other types of blushes for different looks!

Stay Beautiful! xx

NP Set Jet Set Palette Review

Palettes can easily be expensive (especially the really good quality - near orgasmic - ones). Being a self-diagnosed make up snob by default nature, I was walking around Target one day and found this palette from NP Set. I swatched it just for the sake of it, expecting it to be chalky and laughable like the snob that I am (hey, at least I'm honest about it okay?). So imagine my surprise when it was good. And I mean, it was rrreeaaalllly good. Just a bit of background information about NP Set. Unlike Napoleon Perdis which can only be sold at Napoleon Perdis Stores, NP Set is a cheaper drugstore brand. Similar to Marc vs. Marc Jacobs.

Therefore, this drugstore palette - which retails for $39 AUD (I bought it on promotion and got a free NP lipstick) - is of amazing quality! I'm not even kidding, this relatively inexpensive palette is incredibly pigmented, the colours are smooth and easy to apply, and the shadows are creaseless. This palette has eyeshadows that are in the same league as my Urban Decay Naked Palettes and my TheBalm Palettes (Nude'Tude in particular)! And at a fraction of the price!

Jet Set Palette (Inside)

It features 18 highly pigmented non-chalky eyeshadows, 2 blushes, 1 highlighter and 1 bronzer. Underneath the NP Set flap there's a mini mirror, 4 lip glosses and some applicators. The applicators, lip glosses and blushes do not appeal to me greatly and they were to the mediocre standards that I've come to expect from most drugstore palettes but the majority of the 18 eyeshadows were a-maz-ing! *Emphasis on every syllable is required*

The palette is small enough to fit into your bag easily, not so much if you only use a purse though.

Swatches of all the colours, apologies for the mess - I was meant to be cleaning!

This image unfortunately does not do the shadows any justice. They are incredibly shimmery and there are a few matte shades as well included in the palette. The lighting the day I took this image was terrible (a lot of glare).

Anyways in conclusion, if you're looking for an inexpensive alternative for expensive high-end eyeshadow palettes, appreciate/need/want a neutral palette, or want a palette with plenty of colours and textures to play around with that wont break your bank; this palette is for you.

This palette made me realise that there are some real gems in drugstore brands. It doesn't have to be high-end to be good!

Stay Beautiful! xx