Stila One-Step Correct Review

I previously picked up the Stila One-Step Correct Skin Tone Correcting, Brightening Serum (as hauled in this post) and have been trying it out for the past couple weeks, I think it's due for an update and a review. 

Now, this primer is, as the name implies, an all-in-one colour-correcting primer. It has green to counteract redness, pink to counteract blue tones and lavender to brighten the skin. It's also a silicone based serum, so it will help to minimize the look of pores, fine lines and wrinkles and also will help to control oil.

Why do my hands look so filthy old. One little dollop of the primer.

Spread out to a weird green colour. You can see that it's silicone based due to the texture.

Smoothed out, not quite covering but a bit of brightening.

I've been using this practically everyday since I got it, and while the effect is pretty okay, it feels very smooth on the skin, but the colour-correcting powers aren't quite there. I didn't really see it helping to make my makeup stay any longer (maybe a smidgen more), but it does help with application, and brightens the skin slightly beforehand. On the positive side too, it doesn't feel heavy at all on the skin, unlike some other silicone primers.

If you're looking for a colour-correcting primer, this probably wouldn't do the job. But, if you're looking for a primer to help ease application of makeup, i.e. to smooth your face and a small bit of evening out skin tone, this would be adequate. It also has a satin finish, not quite matte in my opinion, but it does look very natural and helps you to look pulled together. 


I purchased this from BeautyBay (no longer on the site) for £23.44 (30mL). Also available at Mecca for AU$58.00.

L'oreal EverSleek Precious Oil Treatment Review

After running out of all of my numerous hair serums and oils, I asked the hubby to pop out to the local Priceline and pick me one up, with my only instruction being "I like oils more than serums... Maybe something by L'oreal?". He came back with a new L'oreal hair oil, the EverSleek Precious Oil Treatment with Argan Oil from Morocco. Well, if anyone hasn't already heard the benefits of argan oil for the hair, it is a very good hydrator and repairer for dry, damaged hair, all the while making it sleek, shiny and smooth.

Already being impressed with a number of the new products that L'oreal has been releasing as of late, this one had high hopes for me. The packaging itself is more of their high-street range, being that it's a plastic-y bottle with a plastic-y pump. It would fair well for travelling though, as it won't shatter, but I've always had trouble with products leeking and am scared that might be the case with this. I'm not too sure of the cost, as the boyfriend wouldn't let me pay him back for it, but it's a nice 115mL bottle, so it should last me a couple of months. Unless I love it, then maybe a bit less, as what happened with my previous L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Hair Oils. Yes, more than one.

The oil itself is very yellow, not too much of a scent to it, and maybe slightly thicker than regular oils, but really no where as thick as a serum. And the verdict after using this for about two or three weeks now? I love it. It's actually one of the best oils I've ever tried to be honest, and that beats out my high-end Bumble and Bumble Hair dresser oil. You only need about two pumps to cover your hair (as opposed to the regular 4-6 pumps I use for other oils) and it absorbs it so well. Though it should be noted that it doesn't absorb quite as well on dry hair, as it is meant for damp/wet hair. Considering that I don't use conditioner anymore, just after shower care, this really holds up very well and makes my hair so soft too. 

Really quite pleased with this product, even a little shocked when I first tried it at how well it worked, even on my damaged, heavily dyed hair. My hair feels the healthiest it's been for a long while now. 

Get glossy get stained

Ah the allure of a gloss, in combination with the lasting power of a stain. Aptly named, the YSL glossy stains are slowly becoming my new favourite thing. They recently recent some new shades (with apparently a slightly different formula) and so, as I don't have a super wearable nude/neutral shade at my disposal, well this seemed like a good opportunity to have my first real dip into the YSL cosmetics world. I picked up one from their original set of colours in Mauve Pigmente (4), and one of the Rebel Nudes in Beige Anarchiste (106). 

Goddamn that packaging

mauve pigmente, beige anarchiste

mauve pigmente

beige anarchiste

Really, who can go past YSL packaging? They really do have a reputation to uphold now and they keep up with it well. For such a colour like gold, it can be, in some circumstances, a bit tacky even though it's gold, but for YSL, it's just luxury. The glossy stains themselves are of a good weight, and a nice size too, not too small, yet just hefty enough to make it handy for application. The rectangular/cuboid prism shape makes it really handy to store too. I'm quite fond of the pointed doe foot applicator, it helps well with accuracy. The product itself applies a bit sticky on the lips, but it's quite comfortable to wear, and while there is definite gloss, it's not too reflective and you won't get that hair stuck on your lips effect. The stain is almost immediately apparent, but of course, eating and drinking will help to wear it away, but it is a nice natural looking stain.

left to right, without flash: mauve pigmente heavy, mauve pigmente blended, beige anarchiste heavy, beige anarchiste blended

With Flash

Natural Sunlight

Glossy Stain in Mauve Pigmente (4)
It looks a bit more wine coloured in the heavy swatch, but it really does make a mauve colored stain on your lips. While this is quite wearable, it would probably be more appropriate for Winter, or the rest of your face being relatively bare. It does apply a bit darker on my lips, but I think it's cause of the natural pigmentation I have, but it really is a nice mauve colour, that leans a tad bit red, and I'm generally not a fan of mauves on me. 

Glossy Stain Rebel Nude in Beige Anarchiste (106)
This one has a tad bit of gold shimmer, but it doesn't really translate on the lips. I can't stop wearing this one since I got it. It is a bit sheerer than the regular glossy stains, not just because of the shade I picked, but also comparing them when I swatched both types in store. The newer ones tend to have a bit of shimmer in them too, whereas the old ones are just the colour. This is the most natural stain on my lips, it just evens them out, maybe add a touch of a nude-y feel to it. The stain is still apparent, and lasts about the same, despite these ones being sheerer. I think I prefer the Rebel Nude range, which is strange because I usually love high pigmented lip products.

Overall, I'm very impressed with these. I love the natural stain it gives and the glossiness is not too glossy, but just enough to look fresh, youthful and professional. There appears to be quite a few shades in the Rebel Nude selection that intrigues me, so if you like a sheerer, more natural looking lip product, then this would be the way to go. 

RiRi hearts MAC fall mini haul collection part two

I was naughty, or maybe lucky. I was back in the city today, and figured, what the hey, might as well pop into David Jones. Aaand there I go with a couple purchases. But it could have been a sign, I didn't think that David Jones would be getting the RiRi <3 MAC collection (as I was told on the phone), and what do you know, they do, and they also had plenty of stock. So my eyes wandered over the selection again as it did when I first went into Myers to pick up the Nude lipstick and the Hibiscus Kiss duo. I still really wanted that Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Talk That Talk and I justified the RiRi Woo lipglass because, well, I've never had a lipglass before. I did decide not to get the Extended Play Lash mascara although I fell in love with the packaging, I figured I'd use it up too quickly and the brush is not one of my favoured designs. But, if it still happens to be in stock when I'm back in the city again on Monday, well, I guess that's just out of my hands.

Oh yeah, can't get enough of that rose gold and hot pink packaging. I mean, when I told my boyfriend about how much I wanted this collection, he was like "because of Rihanna?". Well, that too but mainly the packaging. Probably the reason why I wanted the mascara so bad is because, like the Pro Longwear Lip Pencil, the pink finish is matte, not reflective. 

left to right, without flash: RiRi Woo, Talk That Talk

With Flash

Mm-mm. I own the Ruby Woo lipstick that RiRi Woo was based on, so I decided that I didn't need the retro matte version and instead opted for the lipglass considering I've never had one too. It is super pigmented, a tad sticky but not goopy and the doe-foot wand really helps with application. I love the glossiness of it too with no sparkle. Hey Christmas time lipstick. Likewise, I've never owned a Pro Longwear Lip Pencil, I've tried MAC's regular lip liners and am quite fond of the smoothness of them too, and this one doesn't disappoint. Plus, it's supposed to last for fourteen hours! I'm having trouble even just washing the swatch off my arm. I saw swatches online and read a few things about the retro matte lipstick version of Talk That Talk and it looked a bit patchy in application; even talking to the sales assistant, she said that the lip pencil was better, and of course the last time is better too. 

I'd be lying to say I wasn't happy with my little haul from the RiRi <3 MAC collection, but to say I'm satisfied? Well, pretty much, actually. I won't be too chuffed if I don't get my hands on the mascara, but I really am quite pleased to have got the best (in my opinion) of the collection. I heard that the collection was restocked in the UK due to popular demand, so who knows, go check out your local MAC counters and maybe you might get lucky.