REVIEW: MODELS PREFER BEAUTY TO GO CREAM AND COMPACT BLUSH

Yesterday , while I was out and about, I stopped by at Priceline to see if they had a particular product that I was looking for. They didn't yet have the thing that I eventually came home and bought from their online store, but they did have a little stand of Models Prefer sets that were reduced in price, and I managed to pick up some bargains!

One of those bargains was this amazing little blush set, called Beauty to go cream and compact blush, which contains two similarly toned blushes, one in cream form, and the other a powder!

The one that I got is a lovely peach-toned set, and I can really see myself using them to death.

The cream blush is called Tickled Pink, it's very smooth and luxurious-feeling, and blends out beautifully. The pigment is strong, so building it up from a very light touch would be the way to go with it, I think, unless you're a fan of the scarlet fever look.

The powder is called Desk to Date, and I can see how just a light brush of this on your cheeks would be the perfect daytime look, with the option to amp it up a little later for a glam night time "date" look.

The swatches here on my arm are Cream blush in Tickled Pink at the top and Compact blush in Desk to Date at the bottom.


 These little sets are well worth a look. Models Prefer is exclusive to Priceline and Priceline Pharmacy, and is available nation-wide.

Trendsday: Pink blush

It's spring here in Australia, and I'm seeing lots of lovely springtime makeup looks around, most of which include some shade of pink cheek. This is perfect for me, because I am a pink blush lover and have all the shades of pink to show you!

For a pink cheek to work, it's best to use the blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upward towards your ear, and not really focus it under the cheekbone. Pink tends to work well as a highlighting colour, and using it in a contour area will just leave you looking a little clownlike.

The other trick to pink blush is to keep it light, especially in spring and summer. We want to keep the look fresh. Also, be aware of your natural skintones. For some people, a pink blush just isn't going to look nice, and they should stick to more bronze-y shades. It's all about finding what looks best on your skin, not just about following a trend no matter how silly it looks on an individual.

One gorgeous little secret weapon I have in my collection is a little bottle of MAC lustre drops in Pink Rebel. It's gorgeous as a highlighter and gives a subtle wash of pink with it. I use this regularly along the top of my cheekbones, just above the blush, for an added dimension.

Thursday Reviews: Australis Rush Hour Palette.

 In amongst my discount makeup haul the other day, I picked up this awesome Australis Cosmetics Rush Hour "Pinks on the go" Palette. It has everything you need to create colour on your face in one handy little compact. First, let me apologize for the state of my brows. Next Monday's how-to is DIY eyebrow waxing, and I'm leaving them just a little longer than I usually would, especially when I know they are going to be photographed!

So, let's have a look at this palette. It has a handy lip brush and sponge tip applicator included in the packaging, but you'll have to carry a blush brush along with your mascara for this one. Still, with everything else you need already in the compact, it takes up almost no space even in a handbag! The blush is a soft, creamy peach-pink, perfect for most skintones that would suit the rest of the palette. Then we have a quad of eyeshadows, which I've used all of in my makeup look below.

There is a very light, shimmery ice-pink, which I've used up to the brow bone, a dusty pink which I've used over the entire lid and blended in just above the crease, an almost-plum hue which looks lovely over the entire lid, and a brown, which I've used into my outer corners for a bit of depth. Overall, I think it's created quite a good look. To that, I added my usual combination of gel liner and pencil liner, and a super volumizing mascara, and I was all done with the eyes.

I applied the blush sparingly, as I don't like to go out all rouged-up, but it's definitely a product that you could build up if you wanted to create a more intense colour.

The tonings of this palette suit my complexion perfectly, so I'm really happy with my purchase.

Then it was onto the lips for a finishing touch. There are 2 lip glosses, in nude-pink tones, and a lipstick in this dusty pink colour that I've used in the makeup look. It went on really smoothly, and has lasted through eating and drinking several hours after I applied it. The bonus of it is that if I do need to reapply, it's all right there in my handbag, brush and all!

I'm really pleased with this palette. It's definitely something I'll use "on the go", as the name suggests, as well as at home on a regular basis. And here's the best part...the RRP on this little gem is $12.95... yes, that's not a typo. All Australis products retail for less than $20, a fact that they are very proud of. It means that everyone can afford great quality, animal friendly products from a well established (25 years!!!!) company with a great name.

Well done, Australis!