Review: Makeupforever Pro Finish

MakeupForever ProFinish Powder

Where to buy: Sephora

I have been using my Mac Mineralised Skin Finish in Light for years now. However, ever since my friend introduced me to this little guy, I haven't looked back.

So what's so good about it?

For me, I primarily use powders to set my makeup or on lazy days when I just don't bother with liquid foundations. Hence, I love powders that require minimal effort. This product is certainly that. It provides medium but buildable coverage, has a buttery texture, last a whole day, controls oiliness on the Tzone and sets my liquid foundation so it loses that sticky feel (I hate that feeling). Another added bonus is that it has beautiful packaging and is decently priced (note I'm comparing this against Australian makeup prices). 

So what don't I like about this product?

Well for starters, it's not easily accessible in Australia so I usually pick it up overseas. Also as much as I love the medium coverage, it does feel a little heavy on the skin and with a few layers it will start to cake up. The other thing I have noticed is that it seems to run out quickly too... though it may be because I use it almost every day, I can start to see the pan and I've only had it for a few months. Eep!

Overall rating:

Packaging - 5/5 (lightweight and sleek)

Quality - 4.5/5 (it feels a little heavy) 

Price - 4/5 (compared to Aussie prices)

Review: Illuminating Powders (Hourglass, Guerlain and Givenchy)

Lit from within.

As you would probably know from my prior blog posts, I have been crazy obsessed with illuminated and glowing skin. This inspired me to go to my collection to find products that I rely on to provide me with this all-over-the face or cheekbone glow.

I have limited this post to the following three items (I apologise that they are mainly high end), which I can use as a highlighter or all over. I always use a big fluffy brush (like the Zoeva 106 Powder brush) when I use the product for all over the face, or a simple angled blush brush when I apply it as a highlighter. They are very versatile items and I would recommend each of them.

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

I still remember when this product was released in the USA. I was a bit sad that I wasn't able to obtain it, but when my friend told me he was heading to the States, I immediately requested if he could do me a little favour (thanks E!!) and bring this back. Just a side note, that for those of you in Australia, this product is available at Mecca.

Sephora states that this is "A trio of our best-selling Ambient Lighting Powders. Powders capture, diffuse and soften the way light is reflected on skin, brighten the appearance, and conceal imperfections, pores and wrinkles. Unlike traditional finishing powders that use opaque pigments, Ambient utilizes Photoluminescent Technology—micron-size, soft-focus particles that refract light and create transparent coverage. The powders can be applied individually or layered to imbue skin with a multidimensional glow. Universal powders make them suitable for every skin tone, and they can be worn for day and night."

I do not disagree with their statement as this palette is my favourite out of the three. While it is cheaper (weight vs dollars) to get a single powder, I opted to purchase this trio to sample each colour range. The feel of the product is quite soft and it provides a smooth finish to the face. I've listed our the colours and how I use them below

• Dim Light: A neutral peach beige powder. It is meant to blurs imperfections and also can be used to highlight the skin. It has a balance of warm and cool tones. I use this product all over my face. The finish is beautifully luminous skin that lasts throughout the day. It does not make me look like a glitter ball and it really hides any issues I may be having.
• Incandescent Light: A pearly powder. I use this as a highlighter on my cheekbones, bridge of my nose and on my cupid's bow. This colour is exclusive to the palette and it meant to brightens the complexion.
• Radiant Light: This is the darkest shade and the one I like to use on my cheeks for a golden beige glow. It provides an added touch of warmth to my skin and it perfect for the summer time.

2. Guerlain Meteorites - Teint Beige (Medium)

Guerlain states the following: "This legendary powder offers dreamed-of radiance to every woman. Pink to refresh the complexion, green to diminish redness, white for a brighter complexion, mauve to catch the light, gold and pearl to add a perfect touch of radiance to the face... The alchemy of pearls infuses the skin with new light, translucency and original purity. "

I've reviewed this product on Instagram before, so here is the snippet and my thoughts:

These are silky little balls of powder that provide a beautiful glow to finish off any makeup look. There are several shades of balls within each of the different sets, all of which work together to brighten the complexion and add a touch of radiance to the skin. I use this product all over the face to provide a nice glowing sheen to the skin or on my cheekbones when I want added dimension on the face. Note that the product does not contain much coverage but the end effect does last all day.

The product comes in a SUPER luxurious tubs that look stunning on any vanity (I'm such a sucker for packaging). The box is made of metal, with a fully detachable lid that has beautiful flower print on top. It also comes with a soft powder puff, which to be honest... I don't use. The powder has a delicate floral smell, which I personally love, but if you are sensitive to fragrance keep this in mind.

Another thing to note is that if you don't like tiny hints of shimmer on the skin, this may not be for you as for some, it may accentuate pores. Also, the balls may drive some ppl crazy because they have the tendency to bounce everywhere if they manage to escape! Other than that, I think its a lovely finishing powder that works great on my skin. Would def recommend!

3. Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder #2

This product is amazing for my complexion and I can always depend on it when I want some extra 'oomph' to the skin. The powder certainly mattifies the skin, but at the same time it provides a glow. When you touch the product for the first time, you can immediately tell that it is finely milled and extremely light. After application, your skin will feel very velvety soft. However, I don't use it everyday and when I do apply it, it is purely used for highlighting. Why? I like the effect better, especially because it contains smaller bits of sparkle.

The colour that I purchased does not provide any coverage and also has the least shimmer out of all of them. Upon swatching the others, I noticed that some of them contained a LOT of sparkle that was very evident in the sunlight. Hence, if you are looking to pick one up, please test it out otherwise you may run the risk of looking like a disco ball if you are not careful.

The packaging is also a close contender of the Guerlain meterorites. The Givenchy comes in a square plastic box and has a faux leather cap. Each powder is split up into 4 smaller compartments, which contain the different shades of powder. It is a very compact case that is able to fit into any vanity quite swiftly. There is also a powder puff just under the lid, which is super soft. Like the Guerlain, I don't really use it.

Have I answered all your questions? If not, ask away!

What do you guys think of these products?

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup)

Review: Highlighters

Highlighting Maniac:

Who doesn't love a good glow to the cheekbones?

To be honest, about 5 years ago I didn't really understand the purpose of a highlighter. To me, it was just an unnecessary step in the makeup routine . It wasn't until about 3 years ago when I purchased my first liquid highlighter (Stila Illuminating Tinter Moisturiser). From the day I started using that product, my highlighting world got turned upside down. It finally clicked... how could I have neglected these wonderful products all my life? 

Since then, I've become a highlighting fanatic. I have also finally realised the wonders it can do for a persons face and the dimensions it can add. A while ago, I posted up the following photo on my blog. This picture was taken of some of the highlighters in my collection. Today's post will be a quick review over each of these items.

1. The Balm - Mary Loumanizer 

This is the latest addition to my collection. It wasn't until I watched Lauren Curtis' video on Youtube (when she used it as an eyeshadow) that I paid attention to the product. Boy have I been missing out. As you can tell In the photo above, this product provides more of a golden toned glow. With a smooth and buttery texture, it provides an intense/pigmented level of sheen on the cheekbones (or wherever you choose to put it). While it has a hint of shimmer, I can say from experience that it will not make you look like a disco ball. The shimmer in mine is quite fine and on the skin it looks like an illuminating glow. This would suit those of you with a neutral to warm undertone... but if you are looking for a similar product with a pink undertone, check out Cindy Loumanizer (this is next on my list given it shares my name haha). The lasting power is quite decent (in fact it lasts an 8 hour day on my skin), its super easy to blend and the packaging is quite cute and sturdy.

2. Nars - Albatross Highlighter

This highlighter is probably the whitest out of all of them and contains a hint of a yellow. First off, I'll start by saying that I love Nars products and this item is no different. For me the product works and would be great for those with paler warm/netural toned skin. The product itself is blendable and the lasting powder is quite nice (again it lasts throughout the day). However, there are a few things to bare in mind including the following:

• It has shimmer in it, so if you are not light-handed you may look like Edward Cullen
• It is not as buttery smooth as some of the others
• It has a tendency to emphasise pores and fine lines, so please keep this in mind
• The packaging is beautiful however it gets dirty so easily. While it is meant to be black, mine has turned an odd grey colour. Not very appealing.

3. Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder - Candlelight

O-M-G. Firstly, thank you to those of you on Instagram who enabled me to buy this. Haha. I have no regrets. Kevyn Aucoin products are hyped up and for a good reason. This product provides a beautiful champagne glow to the cheeks that makes my cheeks look luminous for hours and hours. It is very finely milled, making it super soft and blendable. However, like the Nars Albatross, this product does contain some shimmer. While I haven't had any issues with it, I have heard from various reviews that it can tend to emphasize fine lines and pores so if this is a concern for you, you may want to reconsider. The product is on the pricey end, but if you don't mind the splurge... why not?

4. MAC Beauty Powder - Too Chic

I picked this up at a CCO while I was in the USA, so I'm thinking that this might actually be a limited edition product (sorry!!). As you can see in the picture, out of the four, this highlighter has the most neutral to pinky undertone. This product comes in the classic MAC packaging that is compact and very travel friendly. There is quite a bit of product and on the cheeks, the highlighter does last a decent amount of time. On me, the end result is a nice glistening glow that is perfect for Spring and Summer. I also noted that the product contains quite a bit of fine shimmer (which emphasizes pores) and the texture feels a little harder than the other three.

Overall, which is my favourite?

My preference changes on a regular basis but as at now, I have been enjoying the Mary Loumanizer and the Kevyn Aucoin.

Do you guys have any other recommendations for highlighters? What are your favourites?

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup)

FOTD 5

Natural Makeup.

Some lovely followers of mine gave me some tips about rotating makeup to ensure that no makeup goes to waste. You know what I realised? It works!

When I was cleaning out my makeup last week I stumbled across some products that I used to use on a daily basis. Not sure about you guys, but for me sometimes re-discovering items is as exciting as a new haul.

The products are below:

1. Makeup Forever HD Powder

2. Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner

Both of these products have already been reviewed in previous posts, so take a look at those for my opinion. Note I'm STILL in the process of using up the Revlon eyeliner... it's taking ages!

3. Buxom Lipgloss (Naomi)

The Buxom range is definitely in my top 3 range of lipglosses. I purchased mine in one of the Christmas packs a while ago from Sephora. It came with 4 glosses for such an affordable price. Here is a quick overview:

• Provides a beautiful tingle that doesn't sting - it makes your lips feel so plump and full.
• It provides some lip colour but at the same time its not opaque
• Long-lasting
• Smooth on the lips
• Not stick
• Perfect product to add shine to the lips
• Smells a little funky to me

4. Wet n Wild MegaLast Lipstick (Rosebud)

Love this product. 

• Affordable
• Great colour pay off
• Long lasting, but because of this it tends to be drying (please use a lip balm)
• One of the few matte lipsticks out there
• Large range of colours
• Must purchase online as it's not readily available in Australia

5. YSL Faux Cils Mascara

Not sure quite how I feel about this product yet. l love the packing and think it is very chic, but I need to dry it out and test it a bit more before I can give a more accurate review. Currently it provides some length and definition but not as much as I hoped. I'll try it out a bit more and let you know my true opinion.

6. YSL Touche Eclat

Definitely tried and tested. If you watch youtube, are an avid follower on instagram or read beauty blogs, you are bound to already know the hype around this product. While I don't think this product is great for concealing, it's amazing for highlighting. It's super creamy, blendable and provides a beautiful dewy finish. I usually apply mine in the following areas of the face:

• Stripe down the bridge of my nose
• On my cheek bone
• Above the eyebrow
• A tiny bit on the inner corner of the eye
• On top of my cupids bow

7. Laneige Snow Radiant Blusher (Gold Prism)

Firstly... 5/5 for packaging because this is an absolute gem. It comes in a holographic compact, with a large mirror. There is decent weight to the packaging and overall it feels very sturdy. Laneige is a Korean brand that is more on the higher end price point. In regard to this particular line, there are three shades of the Snow Radiant Blusher:

1. A light pastel colour marble
2. A gold marble
3. A pink marble

I own all three of them but for today, I selected the gold. Now for the actual product... a little goes a long, long way! This product is very similar to MAC Mineralised Skin Finish. It has gold and light gold veining throughout the product and has the dome shaped appearance that most baked products embody. It is a shimmery product that is smooth and buttery to the touch. However, given the fact that there are little chunks of shimmer particles in this powder, if you have enlarged pores you may want to reconsider this product. I'd also recommend to tap off any excess product to provide a more even layer on the face. In terms of wear, this product lasts for a decent amount of time - it lasts approximately 5 hours before fading on my skin. This is a product that highlighter fanatics should test out. One issue for us Aussies is that it is difficult to get our hands on Laneige products - my parents actually picked up these products from Korean a few years back. You may want to check out Sasa.com or ebay to get your hands on these.

8. Nars S.. Appeal Blush

These names are so awkward when you try to blog. Haha. Anyway we all know my opinion on the Nars blushes. If you missed it - they are amazing. This colour is a nice light pink, perfect for those of us who have fair/pale skin. It compliments my neutral skin quite well and makes me look like I have naturally pink cheeks. The powder is silky smooth and the product lasts all day on my skin. I think I'll do a separate post on my Nars products. I LOVE the brand... I may even dare to say that it's my fav makeup range.

Hope that helps!

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup)

FOTD 4

Monday again?? Already? Is it me or is time actually flying?

I hope everyone had a wonderful start to the week (for me, I'm already drowning in piles of work but phew I found time to make a post). I thought I would start of this week with a new post about what's on my face. 

Today's combination is something that I only discovered recently, but it's something that is actually worth sharing. While I understand that the products are on the more expensive side, the end result is quite beautiful.

First off, in case you don't know, the weather in Australia is a little crazy at the moment. One day it may be freezing cold and the next, it might be sunny. Because of this variation in temperature, it has caused my skin to go completely insane and become super dry. In order to counteract my flaky skin and the constant feeling of tightness (I hate that feeling)... this little trio below is the perfect combination. Best of all, I've received compliments on how glowy and youthful my skin looks.

The products in today's post is as follows:

1. Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation

What can I say? It's a dry skin person's best friend. While it provides much needed moisture to my skin, it is a very thin formula that feels like virtually nothing on the skin.

Here are some of the things that I have noticed:

• Light to Medium coverage
• Light weight and liquidy
• Easy to blend
• Stunning packaging (glass bottle with a nice pump)
• Did not break me out
• Fragrance (those with sensitive skin should be careful)
• Not made for those with oily skin (otherwise make sure you blot throughout the day
• Doesn't have the greatest lasting powder (4-5 hours for me and it begins to fade)
• Colour range is slightly different depending on the country you are from
• Colour range tends to lean on the more pinky undertone side (however this one is a gem and works well for my neutral skin)
• Pricey ($55 AUD)

2. Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer (#2)

What a wonderful highlighter. I usually mix this in with my foundation, but given the natural illuminating effect that the Lancome foundation provides, there was no need. So instead, I applied this product to my cheekbones to provide a natural highlight to the face. 

Here are some of the things that I have noticed:

• Light weight
• Fluid/runny consistency
• Sheers out to a nice light yellow glow
• Stunning packaging (glass bottle with a nice pump)
• Fairly long-lasting (6 hours)
• Fine Glitter particles are in the product so for those of you suffering from enlarged pores, please bare this in mind and try it in store before you buy it (if you can)
• Did not break me out
• Great for those with light/pale and neutral undertones
• Pricey ($90 AUD)

3. La Mer Translucent Powder

First question I ask myself... where have you been all my life?

This is the MOST expensive makeup item I have EVER purchased in my life. So this begs the first question... would I repurchase? HECK YES! This product is absolutely amazing.

Why?

• Super, super finely milled
• Silky smooth texture
• Light-weight
• Makes the skin look radiant/dewy/illuminated which is quite different for a powder. The best thing about it is that it does not provide a flat matte look or a white cast 
• Virtually undetectable on the skin (i.e. does not make your skin look like you just applied translucent white powder)
• A little goes a long way (you'd hope so considering the amount that you have to pay)
• Beautiful packaging and comes with a soft powder puff
• Did not break me out or irritate my skin
• Pricey ($145 AUD)

This list doesn't do the product justice. I would highly recommend that you go to your closest La Mer counter and ask to apply the product to your face. Once you see the outcome, you won't look back.

If you want additional swatches or an in depth review, as always let me know.

Have a stunning week.

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup)

Makeup 101: Lipstick Storage

Lipstick Lover:

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. I spent most of my day cleaning and with my lovely boy. Whilst I was cleaning, I thought I would take a photo of my new lipstick tower. I purchased this a while ago from Aldi for $70. It was such a good deal that I bought two. Sad news is I think this is limited edition.

Anyway as you can see this tower is acrylic (very good quality) and stores all my Lipsticks, Lipgloss, lip balm and lip liners. It has four, quite sizeable, drawers and comes with a 12 slot lipstick holder up the top with various compartments.

Has anyone else got one of these? If so, take a picture and show me!

Have a great week ahead.

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup)

FOTD 3

Simple Saturdays.

Today's face was purely inspired by simplicity (which may or may not have been due to laziness lol). I used basic products today to do a look that emphasised peachy glowing cheekbones.

So what products am I using today and what do I think of them?

1. Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturiser 

What a beautiful product. This is in the colour light. Ive used this product before and from my experience it's more like the feel of a foundation, if anything.  On my skin it also provides decent coverage (I'd say almost medium). It feels a little thick but once set I don't really notice it on the skin. So far so good!

2. Sephora Ultra Shine Lipgloss

One word... Underrated! This is such a lovely product that I haven't really heard anyone rave about. It's long lasting, not sticky and has some pigment to it (wouldn't call it opaque but it's not just a clear gloss either). I love this colour and for such an affordable price I would highly recommend everyone to try it!

3. Giorgio Armani Corrector

4. Prestige My Blackest Lashes

5. Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner

All of these three products I've already reviewed in previous posts. Take a look at them for my opinion :).

6. Revlon Bare it All Highlighter 

I've had this product for so long and haven't really used it in a while. I'm still undecided about it. The good points is that it's highly pigmented and provides a beautiful Peachy-gold glow to the cheeks. However, the dry texture doesn't really appeal to me and I don't think it's the best shade for my skin tone. I do also find that whilst it comes with a pump, the head tends to clog up at times if you aren't careful. I think I need to keep using it to give it a fair go but so far I'm not sure. 

Has anyone else tried it? Any tips on how to make it better?

Let me know if you want individual reviews.

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup) 

Makeup Haul 1

Who doesn't love a good makeup haul?

For those of you in love with makeup, you'd probably already know that L'Oréal tend to have friends and family event sales every so often. I was lucky enough to attend one recently and picked up the items below. I haven't tried them all yet but let me know if you want detailed reviews or swatches. I'm so excited to start using them!

1. Lancome single eyeshadow in Beige Nu

A matte colour that I picked up purely for a transition/blending shade. From a quick swatch in store, my initial impression was that the product is extremely buttery and pigmented. I also noted it was a perfect shade for girls with fair skin and a neutral/olive undertone.

2. Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation

I definitely don't need any more foundation so this was an impulse buy. As it's currently winter, this little sucker pulled me in from the get go because of the incredible luminosity that was beaming from the bottle. From a quick swatch at the store, you could clearly tell that the product is geared towards those with dry skin. It felt very moisturising and had a dewy finish (looking at the bottle you can see fine shimmer particles which contribute to a fine glow). Can't wait to try it.

3. Ysl Faux Cils Mascara

How could you pass up this opportunity to try such a hyped up item of makeup? I bought this because so many people rave about it. Let's see if this was a $20 well spent.

4. Biotherm Eye Makeup Remover

Who doesn't love freebies? The generous staff at the sale threw in a goody bag with heaps of biotherm products. I gave all of the other items to my mum but decided to keep this one and try it out.

5. Beautiful Australian Hairpin

Finally the hairpin... How beautiful is it?! I received it as a gift from a dear friend who paid Cairns a visit. What a perfect accessory! 

It's currently 2am so I think I'll hit the bed. Let me know if you would like detailed reviews. 

Good night!

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup) 

What's in my makeup bag?

What's in my makeup bag currently?

Australia is in Winter which means ones thing...  FREEZING temperatures. Whenever this time of year comes around I know my skin needs additional moisture and a little something extra to provide my skin with a subtle glow. I also really love bringing out my berry and plum colours during this season to compliment my naturally rosy cheeks.

Here are some of my staples:

1. Lucas Paw Paw Ointment

Always a must for my skin. I can use it on my lips and also as a base/primer (use a super thin layer). This product always calms my skin... Whether it's from a rash, breakout or if it's dry and flaky. I love it. I will admit though... It doesn't work as well as Carmex or my Shiseido water balm for my dry lips.

2. Mac Lipstick in Plumful

Whether it's a Mac lipstick or from the more affordable Wet n Wild range, as long as it's in this colour family, I'm super happy. I have neutral/olive toned skin that is quite fair... berry and plum colours seem to work well with my complexion so these colours are my number 1 selection.

3. Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Very Black

Cold mornings mean sleeping in and less effort when it comes to makeup. Since this mascara makes my lashes look insanely thick and long, I can skip Eyeliner and spend the additional 5 minutes snuggled up in bed.

4. Makeupforever Pro Finish in 120

As above but this provides nice coverage for my skin. I'll usually use my Mac Strobe Cream or my Still Illuminating tinted moisturiser under this to keep my face hydrated and dewy. But as I mentioned before, minimal effort means additional sleep. Haha.

5. Nars Albatross Highlighter

Glowing skin in winter is a must. Using this on my cheekbones provides the perfect finish to any makeup look.

I've had these key items in my makeup bag all winter. What are your go to products?

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup) 

FOTD 2

Black and White

"Don't define your world in black and white, because there is so much hiding amongst the grey."

Another day, another face of the day. Today's photo was clearly black and white inspired. Something about this theme just looks simple and classy. I honestly enjoy most of these items and used them within my look today (I excluded the foundation and lippie for the purposes of the theme but for those who wish to know I used Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NW20 and L'Oréal Caress Lip Stain in Milady today). 

Products in more detail:

1. Topshop Blush in Head Over Heels

This feels like one of those cream to powder blushes that apply so nicely on the apples of my cheek. It gives a demi matte finish which lasts approximately 5hours. The pigmentation is quite nice and it's a very creamy product upon application. 

2. Makeupforever HD Powder

Fantastic setting powder which mattifies the skin and looks good in videos... Just be sure that it's not used for flash photography or it may appear as a white cast in pics.

3. Illamaqua Skin Base Foundation (white)

Since I have super pale skin I love, love, love this product to lighten my foundations that are too dark for me. It's smooth and blends in well with any foundation. For all my fair skinned friends, I highly recommend doing this.

4. Mac Cosmetic Strobe Cream

I absolutely love this product to mix in with my foundations, especially in the winter. It provides my skin with a subtle glow and adds that little bit of moisture into my foundation to make it easier to blend into the skin during this harsh cold weather.

5. Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner 

I love the Revlon ColorStay range. However, I've definitely used eyeliners better than this one. To be honest, I'm just trying to use it all up (but this little bugger seems to never end). The reason it's not as good as other liquid liners is because it lacks pigmentation and does not last all day... In fact it lasts <5 hours on my eyes. I do like the tip though. It's quite sturdy so it's easy to control the width of the line.

6. Prestige My Blacked Lashes Mascara

This product has been raved about all over social media. Hence... I had really high hopes for it. Before I give you my opinion, I should say that I have sparse lashes that are medium in length. When I buy a mascara I look for a little volume, lots of length and definition. My first impression, which still holds, is that it doesn't work well for my lashes. While it adds a little bit of length, it doesn't add any volume and does not define my lashes. I'm trying to dry it out a bit now to see if it helps but no luck so far. Any tips??

7. Mac Beauty Powder Too Chic

I picked this up at a CCO whilst I was in New York so I'm not sure whether or not it's a limited edition. While it's labelled a beauty powder I use this as a highlighter. It's quite similar to Mary LouManizer by the Balm, but it's less buttery and the glitter chunks aren't as fine. I do love the beautiful glow it provides to my cheeks when I use it.

8. Nars Deep Throat Blush

What an awkward name. Haha. Anyway, I can't rave enough about how much I love Nars blushes. They are smooth, soft, pigmented and long lasting... They have it all! This colour is a rose pink which is suitable for those of us with fair skin. I have neutral undertones so I don't see why this shade wouldn't work with cool or warm toned guys and gals. While it has tiny particles of shimmer, it appears more matte on my cheeks, which means it doesn't accentuate any pores on my face. There is an incredible array of finishes and colours so definitely check them out!

Hope this helps. Let me know if you want more detailed reviews and swatches.

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup)

Review: Real Techniques (Part 1)

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman

We've seen them all over Youtube, magazines, and beauty blogs.. and for a darn good reason. For those of you who don't know, the one item I hoard when it comes to makeup is makeup brushes (possibly foundations too but that's for a later post :P). I'm always on the search for both high end and affordable brushes that perfectly compliment my makeup products to give the best finish possible.

I must say... these Real Techniques brushes are some of my favourite affordable brushes. They are made of synthetic hair, are labelled for easy use and for those that come in packs, come with a swift little brush stand.

Keep reading for more of my thoughts.

Overall: These brushes are super soft, durable, don't shed (at all) and have a great amount of density. Whilst I have not featured all the brushes in the photo above, my opinion is still the same for those not in the picture (will do a separate post).

1. The Powder Brush

This brush applies powder perfectly. I use it for finishing my face with translucent powder or when I want light coverage from my powder foundation. The brush distributes the product in a thin and even layer, creating a flawless finish. When you pick up the brush, it has a nice weight to it and cleaning brushes is so much easier since the ferrule can't be easily drowned in water. Oh and did I mention that its super fluffy??

2. The Blush Brush

This has the same bounce as the powder brush but it is tapered. While it's meant to be used for blush, it's just too big for my face. I find bronzer and powder a better match for this brush. Because it's so fluffy, the products can be dispersed evenly across the face, reducing the chance of blotchy makeup.

3. The Multitasking Brush

Definitely the most versatile. While you can only purchase this in a pack, it's great for blush, bronzer and powder. It's the perfect little size for a range of uses.

4. The Contouring Brush

I use this almost every day... While you can only get it in a pack, the fact I bought two packs just for this brush proves how much I love it. It fits perfectly into the hollows of my cheek and manages to pick up just enough product so that I don't look like I have a line dark across my cheek. The size of the brush means it's easy to control and also provides great precision upon application. Highly recommend it.

5. The Setting Brush

Fits perfectly under the eyes to set my concealer. I also use it to blend out any contouring along the bridge of my nose or on the sides. It's quite small and manages to reach any nooks and crannies your bigger brushes may skip.

6. The Deluxe Crease Brush

I find this brush much too big for my crease but it's perfect for contouring my nose and for blending out my eyeshadow. I also use it for blending out undereye concealer... It provides a silky smooth finish. 

7. The Base Shadow Brush

It's a no fuss brush. Perfect for applying a sweep of colour (cream, powder or primer) across my eyelid. Simple and easy.

8. The Accent Brush

I really love this brush for detail work. It fits into the inner corners of the eyes, along the lashline and across the waterline. One of my favourite eye brushes.

The Verdict:

• Quality - 5/5
• Price - 4.5/5 (it loses half a point as in Australia the price is much higher)
• Packaging - 4/5 (a point is lost as the base of the larger brushes is quite bulky - I'd rather the brush fit in my makeup holder than stand on its own)

Do I recommend them? YES!

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup)

Face of the Day (FOTD 1)

My First Post:

What's on my face today?

1. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush 'Off the Cuff' Palette
Where to buy: Sephora (however this was Limited Edition)

• Amazing Pigmentation
• Great array of colours
• Long Lasting

2. Maybelline Eyeshadow Palette
Where to buy: MyBeautySpot Stands

• Some colours are quite pigmented, with others lacking (I'd say about 50:50)
• Colours are quite buttery and smooth
• Long Lasting if you use a primer (note that I didn't today)

3. YSL Glossy Stain
Where to buy: Myer, David Jones, YSL Stand Alone Stores

• Amazing pigmentation 
• Super moiturising
• Ok longevity (I'd say about 3-4 hours without reapplying)
• Application allows the product to glide on effortlessly

4. Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder (Medium)
Where to buy: Strawberrynet

• By far my Holy Grail sculpting powder 
• Cool-toned for a natural contour
• Long Lasting
• Pigmented
• Buttery soft

5. Giorgio Armani Corrector (orange)
Where to buy: Myer, David Jones

• So smooth and blends like a dream
• Long lasting
• Hides my undereye circles

6. Lancome Hypnose Mascara
Where to buy: Myer, David Jones

• I didn't like this product at the beginning, it wasn't until I dried it out that I saw the amazing effects it has on the lashes
• Provides volume and length
• This waterproof formula also holds the curl quite well
• It is a little difficult to get off, so make sure you have a good eye makeup remover

7. Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation
Where to buy: Myer, David Jones, Chanel Stand Alone stores

• Great product for normal skin
• Very blendable
• Satin finish
• Not the most long lasting, but still lasts a good 5-7 hours on my skin
• Medium coverage

8. Mac Studio Finish Concealer (NC30)
Where to buy: Myer, David Jones, Mac Stand Alone stores

• Shade is a bit dark for my skin but it works well for spot concealing UNDER foundation
• Blends in very well (note for the best effect apply and warm it up with your fingers)
• Full coverage
• Long Lasting

9. Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner
Where to buy: sasa.com

• My Holy Grail Eyeliner
• Super black
• Long lasting
• Precise tip
• Does not smear or smudge

I can do reviews on individual products in my upcoming posts.

Hope you're all having a beautiful day.

Love Cindy (Skindzmakeup)