Wantable September Makeup Box

My first ever subscription box! Subscription boxes have really been popping up everywhere since Birchbox, now with even indie companies like Fortune Cookie Soap and Madd Style Cosmetics jumping on the bandwagon and putting out their own unique subscription box too. Wantable is also tad bit different, in that it is a high-end subscription box; you can select the makeup box, or subscribe for accessories or for lingerie too (and at the moment, they offer a halloween box!). You can choose to subscribe for US$36 dollars a month, or a one-off purchase (which is what I did) for US$40 and you receive 4 - 6 full-size products based on a pretty dang in-depth quiz. Seriously, the quiz was not just "oh hey, answer like two questions". No, you select what you like, dislike and what you love: you're more likely to receive what you love and never receive what you dislike and then the preferences continue. It gives you a bit of control and removes a bit of the daunting unknowing feeling that you might not like what you're going to get.

For my US$40 (+ a hefty US$9 for international shipping), about 12 days after I placed my order this beauty arrived at my door with 5 full-sized products and one sample, with an apparent total value of US$92, so I got almost double the value of the box back. While most beauty boxes have a box within the outside packaging, Wantable keeps it simple with just the one box and then bundles of foam inside to protect the products. I've never owned any of these brands before, and the only ones I've heard of is Cailyn and Lise Watier, but never been able to try any of them. Another benefit of subscription boxes allow you to test out products you normally wouldn't get or have access to.

Cailyn Cosmetics Gel Luxe (gelux) Eyebrow in Nutmeg - US$22

God, do I ever have an affinity for brow products. In my last post I purchased the brow color pen by ARTDECO and used it for the first time yesterday (first time using a brow pen) aaand the results were a bit iffy. The colour wasn't quite right and the tip of the pen was not quite thin enough either, but I made it work for the day. So I'm always glad to have a new brow product to try, searching for the perfect brow helper. This product seems a bit of a closer match in colour and the built in brush is really handy too. I thought this was going to be a lot softer applying, due to my only experience with brow gel products is really a Maybelline Colour Tattoo, but darn it if it wasn't more appropriate to be a hard formula. This is also meant to be waterproof and long-lasting, so here's hoping. 

Cailyn Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner in Silver Shimmer (3) - US$15

Wasn't actually too excited by this product when I first saw it in the box at all. The silver just looks like a colour I wouldn't reach for, despite the packaging being damn cute. And then I swatched it. And holy hell, did I change my tune quickly. This looks like granite, sort of a brown base with a fine silver reflect to it that makes you say "oh, hello". There's not really much else to say about this, as there really isn't anymore info on the box, but I'm glad I ended up pleased with this product too. 

Lise Watier Hydra Shine Lip Stain in Rose Classique - US$20

I originally thought this would apply like a balm or gloss with a doe foot applicator, but after trying to figure out how to twist the cap off and then going "oh screw it, let me just pull it". I was surprised to see a texta. I don't know how this will fare with me, it doesn't really look like a colour I'd be super into. The smell is hard to place, it's not unpleasant, but fruity and sweet and just a tad odd. We'll just have to see how this one goes.

Manna Kadar Blush in The Big "O" (332) - US$19

This blush looks super pretty and I was glad to see it in my subscription box. It's a peachy pink colour with gold shimmer, akin to that of NARS Orgasm, and wouldn't you know it. I flip over the packaging to see the name of the blush is "The Big "O"". Well, they're clearly going for a dupe. It looks a bit more pink in the heavier swatch, though, but it really is more peachy than it appears. I love the rounded packaging too, it feels sturdy, although maybe a tad bulky for travelling with.

MiA BelleZZa Matte Shadow in Coffee Bean - US$16

I love me some matte eyeshadows and this one did not disappoint either. The packaging is very minimal, with just a clear top with the brand name to show the pigment of the shadow contained. But it is really pigmented, pretty much the colour of a coffee bean, as the name implies. This shadow isn't chalky at all and applies really smooth, despite feeling quite dry when I swatched. Will definitely be using this to tightline. 

left to right: nutmeg, silver shimmer, rose classique, the big "o" heavy swatch, the big "o" blended swatch, coffee bean heavy swatch, coffee bean blended swatch

Really fond of 4/5 products? I'd say that's not bad at all. I maybe might make another purchase from Wantable, but, as it is, I don't know whether to plunge in and make a subscription. I was quite impressed though, considering this is my first beauty box, and knowing the disappointment some people receive, I think Wantable is good at alleviating any disappointment, what with their personalised selection and full-sizing of the products. Overall, quite pleased. Quite pleased indeed. Please no more addiction. 

Beauty Bay Haul

God I love returning home and seeing a package waiting for me that I didn't really expect. It's like having Christmas early! I don't quite remember what I was reading that struck me to look up more reviews on the Stila One Step Corrector, but darn it if I didn't end up searching for a site that sells it at a decent price too. Whereby I found beautybay.com, persuading me to shop there with their free shipping on all orders to Australia offer. I couldn't help but browse through what ARTDECO products they also offer, having heard a bit of the brand, but never previously found a store that sold it. Of course, I was enticed to get their Eye Brow Color Pen, I love brow products and lord knows mine need help. And being the person that I am, I thought that was a pretty small loot, just two products? Aw, go on, one more. And so I opted for the Glimmer Balm by This Works, again, another brand I have been interested in, never owning any of their products before.

Pretty much the majority (if not all) the reviews I read of the One Step Corrector were positive; while the colour correcting isn't too intense, this product apparently makes your skin smooth, matte and brightens too, with maybe a tad of evening out the skintone. I absolutely love primers, so I'm hoping this was a good investment. 

Of course, what is a face without the brows? I love brow products, cause damn, eyebrows are so important to any look, but lately I've been wanting a bit more definition, and so a brow pen by the German brand ARTDECO I thought was the way to go. I got it in the shade light brown (03), and it is quite a bit browner than the usual ashy tones I go for, but I think it will suit with my hair nicely.

And finally, I do love me some highlighter too. Apparently, the shimmer balm by This Works can be used on the lips, cheekbones, eyes, decollete, pretty much anywhere to give you that golden model glow, and the name of the brand clearly helps too. It's a tad bit greasy on first swipe, and a tad yellow also, but I have the feeling this will really give the glow that most people are looking for.

Besides my glorious products I carefully chose, beautybay also offers to upgrade your order to a "premium order", whereby if you pay about AU$2 more, they'll include some deluxe samples and mama loves some deluxe samples!

A shampoo from a brand I've never heard of, Anne Semonin, was one of my samples. It's the gentle mistletoe shampoo, and at first whiff, it was a bit strong simply because it's a scent I'm not too used to, but I can see this fragrancing their hair just enough to be pleasant. The other sample I received was the Time Technology cream Institut Esthederm. Have not heard of this brand either, but from what I gather from the big ass brochure that this sample was inside of, this cream makes "your skin sustainably younger", really just to enhance your complexion by brightening it and adding radiance. Well, I could dig that.

Admittedly, this order did take a relatively long while for it too arrive, especially considering I opted for free shipping, I was unable to track it, so that was a bummer. But everything arrived as it should, I got deluxe samples mystery style, and the site sold a number of brands, many of which I'm interested in. So placing an order in the future? Most likely.

Lust for Lush

How can I just get so deeply involved in researching beauty products when I'm meant to be preparing for a speech regarding the issues and threats in global environmental problems for the long-term future? I was actually looking up the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, as I saw Candice from Makeupbox posting on her blog about it, and if it wasn't that the creamy texture and pot packaging reminded me of the Colour Supplements by Lush. And off to the interwebs for reviews and the Lush website I went to scour for more details about the little pot of colour. Whereby, of course, I had to visit their page on make up - I've seen them in store and heard pretty good things about the quality and so, why not see what they have to offer? Darn it if I didn't come up with a wish list. Of course, I have decided (in my head for now) that I will use up a certain amount of products before I can go off and purchase these. But for now, it's nice to plan ahead and see what I might be after in the future.

Colour Supplement in Light Yellow
From reviews, I see that this is a pretty long-wearing product, possibly due to the tackiness. The coverage is about medium, although you can layer it for concealer, mix it in with foundation to change the consistency, or with moisturizer for a lighter coverage. It really seems like an all-in-one product, and for $15.50? Seems very doable. I'm pretty sure I'm (eventually) going to get this in the shade Light Yellow as that seems to be the optimal choice for NC25 skintones, and if you're unsure, you could always mix, but it seems to be the word to go lighter, either way, I heard this blends out effortlessly. 

Feeling Younger
Well, I'm pretty much young enough as it is, but lord if I didn't love face brighteners. From the review on the Lush website, apparently it's a beautiful universal highlighter and even helps to set makeup, brighten and also make your face baby soft. A win in my books.

Wise (eyeshadow)
I adore the cute packaging of the eyeshadows and lipsticks and the one mascara they have too. Makes me feel like I'm purchasing from an apothecary. It seems like a khaki, almost olive colour, with a slight shimmer to it, but it dries down to a nice even finish. The doe-foot applicator also really helps with, well, application.

Sophisticated (eyeshadow)
I'm very much a fan of pink eyeshadows, and I'm only just getting into ways of applying them without making my eyes look swollen. This one is a slightest bit of an antique pink, though, so I'm hoping that'll it'll give that sophisticated look like the name implies. I like the look of the softer eyes, a bit more neutral with tad bit of colour but still soft and easy, and this is kind of the vibe I get from this shade.

Confident (lip colour)
Where would I be if I didn't add a lip colour into my wish list? And lord knows I could use some confidence. This is a vampy plum colour, that I adore especially since I'm starting to get more adventurous with my lip choices. I heard this lip lacquers apply really smoothly, don't dry out your lips AND last for a ridiculously long time. At the $24.95 price tag (same as the eyeshadows), it's a tiniest bit more than drugstore, but if the quality is worth it, and it's also vegan, I don't have many qualms with this one. 

A Crime to Look this Good?

Wish I could take credit for that title, but I can't; it was actually the title used for an article that covered the controversy surrounding Lime Crime indie cosmetics company. And surprisingly, as I was just browsing about the whole Lime Crime scandal, it, of course, tempted me to go to their site where I, unfortunately, fell in love with two unusual shades: New Yolk City and Chinchilla. I, thereby, stopped reading the interesting articles and other posts and scoured the web for some swatches and also sites that had the cheapest price + delivery to Australia. Now, while I know that I probably shouldn't have bought in and supported their company, the shades were so unique and I've never before owned anything by Lime Crime, so I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt.

God, I love me some cute packaging.

New Yolk City and Chinchilla

I'm not even a big fan of unicorns, but won't this look so cute in my bag?

Oh, hello, you beauties

I'm pretty glad that I chose shades that varied from the usual popular pinks and reds. After making my purchase at Beginning Boutique, I started to read more about Lime Crime to make sure my purchase wasn't too hasty. What I've found is that the colours (in particular, chinchilla) that I chose were probably the better option, as a number of the other lipsticks (in particular Babette) don't actually show true to the lip swatches that are displayed on the Lime Crime website (one of their controversies being that they photoshop their swatches). But if you're going for a nice, say, a blue shade like No she didn't, then it's more likely that you'll end up with what you're expecting. 

left to right, no flash: New Yolk City, Chinchilla

With Flash

Sunlight

New Yolk City

A nice, clean, pastel yellow shade. I don't really know what drew me to this colour so much. Perhaps because I've never seen a yellow lipstick before, and I thought the bright, almost pastel-ness, of the shade would look interesting on my slightly tan NC25 skintone. And boy, it looked so clean and bright when I first tried it. You really can't say that these lipsticks are not pigmented or opaque; they are full strength colour for sure. What I will say, though, is that New Yolk City was a bit dry, but I'm chalking that up to the fact that it is a very opaque pastel-like colour. What I'm really hoping to do is to mix this lipstick with a couple others to give them a more yellow undertone and hopefully more wearable.

Chinchilla

I think this one may actually be a limited edition shade, it's not quite lavender, but not too grey either. Definitely an unusual hue, but it really gives you that pretty grungy vibe. This one applies a lot smoother than New Yolk City and makes me feel luxurious and high fashion when I put this baby on. When I was looking up swatches for this lipstick, one of my favourite bloggers, Candice had this same lipstick, and by god what I would do to look like her. So this lipstick was pretty much a no-brainer, besides the fact that I have nothing like this in my collection as well. I think it would look amazing in a duo-lip, kind of like that in the Paranormal collection by Illamasqua. 

This feels like a little rebellious purchase, what with me being such a poor student, and the unusualness of these shades. Thank god for free (express!) shipping and 10% discounts for students at Beginning Boutique, otherwise I probably would have held myself back a bit more. At least with halloween coming up (but not really, just youtubers are damn jumping the gun), I might get a bit more wear out of them. Either way, as my first Lime Crime purchase, it does feel pretty successful. Just make sure to do your research... On what colours you like.