Go for Bronze

So I'm guessing most have heard of the cult cream bronzer by Chanel called Soleil Tan de Chanel. Well Bourjois (who also owns Chanel), released their own version of a cream bronzer, calling it Bronzing Primer, in a similar single universal shade and apparently, this sits as quite the dupe. 

You can either use this product as a bronzing primer (as obviously suggested in the name), for a nice all overglow underneath your makeup, or on top of your foundation for a more "bronzier" look. Personally, I can't see how it stacks up against the Chanel one because I don't own it, but from what I've heard, it's quite a thick cream and ridiculously pigmented, but just luxurious. Bourjois, being quite the price drop, it's not as pigmented as I was hoping, but the texture is very desirable as an almost mousse-like consistency. The downside of that, however, is that when I apply it over my foundation in the contour area, it almost blends right away to nothing. 

left to right, without flash: heavy swatch, blended swatch

With Flash

This little product can perk up your face a bit and give it a healthy glow, but nothing quite like what an actual bronzer would give you. It's a very natural pigmentation without being muddy or too orange and easy-to-use, but perhaps might work better on lighter skin-tones, lighter than my NC25-30 face. But if you're on the lookout for a quick-and-easy cream bronzer to give your face a very natural glow (emphasis on very), then this might work out for you to add a slight definition. You really can't go overboard when using this.

Shiro Cosmetics Haul

Why, internet forums. Why would you introduce me to the world of indie makeup. Although, at the same time I'm pretty chuffed that indie make up exists. Usually in the form of loose powders, indie makeup is damn affordable and so much variety, a lot of unique colours including shimmery eyeshadows and duochromes. After not very much deliberation, I decided to dip my toe in the pool starting off in the Shiro Cosmetics end. 

Shiro Cosmetics is an indie makeup company started by a girl named Caitlin who, from what I've heard, is absolutely lovely and so nice. All of their products are handmade, vegan and cruelty-free; the cool thing about Shiro and what helped me to hit checkout is that their collections are all geeky and mostly named after internet memes. How could I not purchase Master Ball or Nyan Cat what with them being such beautiful shades and cutely named? Overall, I ended up getting nine loose pigments, one setting powder and two lip products, or as Shiro calls them Intertubes. I was also lucky enough to get two more sample size products in baggies and two pieces of candy!

left to right: smashing, nyan cat

Intertube in Smashing

Described as a pinky-purpley-smashingness, fit for mermaids and dugongs. I could not agree more. It's a slight mauve colour that is moderately opaque and with a slight nice sheen.

Intertube in Nyan Cat

Described as a pink rose with gold shimmer. I don't really see the shimmer much in this, and have worn this one on my lips too and have not noticed it, but it's a nice bright but natural colour, with the same nice sheen as Smashing. Maybe a little sheen-ier.

Finishing Powder in Fatality

Pure white, transparent when applied. I didn't swatch this one (sorry) as I figured transparent, but for the record, it smells very nice. A faint smell, but I nice smell I wouldn't mind having on my face.

left to right, with flash: I like shorts, baker's boy, the wandering wizard, epona, everything is bears, when the thrush knocks. All applied with a wet eyeshadow brush.

Without Flash

I Like Shorts (Super Effective Collection)
Described as a soft velvety brown base with strong gold shimmer; lip safe. A little bit more velvety than a chocolate brown, this doesn't have too much shimmer, but it's obvious enough to perk up your eyes and blends in very well with the brown base.

Baker's Boy (Tributes Collection)
Described as a shimmery light golden brown with blue sparks; lip safe. This is a bit more pink than I expected, almost like a champagne colour.

The Wandering Wizard (There and Back Again: A Hobbit Collection)
Described as a pale matte blue-toned grey; not lip safe. Not quite as matte as I was expected and a lot more blue. This is more a grey-toned blue rather than the other way around and has a bit of lustre to it too.

Epona (Legends Collection)
Described as a soft velvety brown with a misty cream overlay; lip safe. Gorgeous cool toned brown colour and very much a velvet shade in terms of texture.

Everything is Bears 
I can't seem to find the page I added this from, but I remember that this eyeshadow was not in a collection. It has a tad bit more red than I expected but it's not too rusty. Has quite a lot of shimmer too.

When the Thrush Knocks (There and Back Again: A Hobbit Collection)
Described as late afternoon sunlight: soft coppery yellow-gold with light shimmer; lip safe. Soo gold, almost a shimmery ochre colour and is darker in shade than I was expecting.

left to right, with flash: master ball, farewell wherever you fare, huntress. All applied with a wet eyeshadow brush.

Without Flash

Master Ball (Super Effective Collection)
Described as shimmery red-toned purple; lip safe. I got this one in a baggie cause I wasn't sure I was going to use non-neutral pigments; this is bit more purple than I was expecting, but still such a pretty colour. I might tone it down a bit with a matte black shadow when applying.

Farewell Wherever You Fare (There and Back Again: A Hobbit Collection)
Described as cold, stoney greyed brown with light shimmer; lip safe. One of the free samples that I received, smooth metallic bronze. I'm quite glad I got this shade, it has quite a bit of shimmer, but I guess that depends on application.

Huntress (Tributes Collection)
Described as shimmering silver with a slight greenish cast and bright silver sparks; not lip safe. The other free sample; holy moley this is a pure silver colour. I don't see much of the greenish cast described, but maybe in different lighting. A shame this isn't lip safe cause it would look so nice as a foil.

And that's it! That's all I got! ... For now. Can't wait to use these pigments, probably more for going out cause they seem a bit more adventurous than what I wear for everyday; not usually one to dip into anything too reflective other than the occasional lustre, but I've started adding a bit more "light" into my routine. You can see that I'm even branching more out into pigments, considering my apprehension when I got my first pigment from an Illamasqua haul. There will definitely be more to come from these indie makeup posts (I'm currently waiting on another order from a different site, ooh, cheeky).

Real Techniques Brush Haul

You can never have too many brushes, and following that, I visited iHerb and got me some Real Techniques brushes! Now, don't be alarmed, despite publishing that Mac Haul post yesterday, I actually got these brushes quite a while before even the first purchase in that haul. And at a lovely discounted price in comparison to instore at Priceline. 

I love Real Techniques brushes. They are just such good quality, even comparable to high end brushes and maybe a third of the cost. The brushes have never steered me wrong, so I thought it would be wise to add more to my collection and retire some old cheaper brushes that are past their prime. So I picked up the Expert Face Brush, the Setting Brush and the Duo Fiber Collection.

These brushes are all a lot flatter than I was expecting, and the setting brush in particular was quite a bit smaller. But the expert face brush is wonderfully dense and I can see this being amazing for powder foundations and just blending foundation into the skin. I haven't yet decided what I can use the setting brush for, perhaps for a highlighter. I can see these brushes working well with both powder and liquid products.

I am very quite impressed with the Duo Fiber Collection so far. I'm pretty sure it's limited edition, so I would definitely recommend you grab your hands on this set before you miss out. In the collection is a face brush, a contour brush and an eye brush. Surprisingly, I actually use these brushes for their title purpose. The duo-fiber face brush applies powder perfectly and evenly; the duo-fiber contour brush contours so smoothly and with the perfect amount too and the eye brush I use as more of a blending brush and it diffuses eyeshadows with the loveliest smoke. I haven't even used these brushes for that long, but I can already see that these have made it into my favourite brushes.

Overall, all the hype that comes for the Real Techniques brushes are very much warranted. Such great quality, soft as anything and just apply product so amazingly, even for less-than-apt apply-ers of makeup like me! 

MAC collective baby haul

Oh, hello there tax rebate. Meet MAC. But not quite, cause although I went out and splurged on a matte blush (coppertone) and a limited edition Veluxe Pearl Fusion in Smokeluxe, I collected these items over the month, not being able to resist and justifying to myself that I needed it like with the Select Cover Up. Granted, I did not have a current concealer, and one was sorely needed for under the eyes. So, might as well hit one of my favourite brands. And of course, a fluffy blending brush like the 217 was needed to apply it. And what started this little collective haul was a "goodbye" email from MAC where the 234 split fibre brush was coming to the end of its limited edition.

Select Cover Up Concealer in NW30

As I stated earlier, I was in need of a concealer for under my eyes. It's just been getting a bit more noticeable lately as I have changed up my foundation to one that doesn't quite provide as much coverage. So I have never owned any base products by MAC bar for the Fix+ but that is more of a setting spray rather than priming spray. This liquid concealer is full coverage according to the lovely sales assistant that helped to colour match me, and it really did make a difference. 

Veluxe Pearl Fusion in Smokeluxe

I saw these online and saw other blogs such as Blushing Noir posting glorious swatches of these and I knew once I had enough money saved, this was going to make it into my collection. I originally asked my mother to purchase me Greenluxe while she was over in the States, where it is half price for the same palette over there, but these bad boys hit Australian shores and Smokeluxe was next on my list. And the cool thing about these, despite there being five complementing shades in each, is that they can be used wet or dry to have a softer look or a more punched up one.

Matte Blush in Coppertone

In my awkwardness of being so enamoured with the MAC sales assistants (they've always been so lovely to me!), I literally asked for a brown blush. And she led me straight away to what she thought was appropriate, so bless her. It was indeed very brown, but she could tell that I wanted it not quite a bronzer, but still matte, but maybe a bit more peachy? And this was the third shade she picked out and it was just what I wanted. Have not tried it on the face yet, but high hopes. As in, I hope I can pull of this peachy, brown blush.

Eyeshadow brushes in 217 and 234

Like I said, the 234 was limited edition, I think it was maybe in their Semi Precious collection? But don't take my word on it. The point is, the 234  lured me in, because it's not only a blending brush, but it also is a split fibre brush. So on one side is synthetic and the other side is natural fibres. Glorious, limited edition, all mine and my very first MAC brush in fact! And of course, the ever-famous 217. I knew the number of this brush just because I've coveted it for so long, but couldn't justify purchasing it for myself for some reason. But when the sales assistant said a fluffy blending brush was especially good for applying concealer, suddenly my reason was found and this was added to the family.

Left to right: NW30, Smokeluxe, Coppertone

Ah, MAC, you never let me down. So much selection and yet I'm still coveting more even with the amount that I have. I think I have it to be wiser to purchase a little bit at a time, so as not to get overwhelmed, and keep me contented until the next purchase. There's never something that I can't pick up from MAC each time I visit the counter, and I think a treat every now and then is good for the mind and soul.