Review: MAC 217 Brush

So today I wanted to talk about the MAC 217 brush.

Gotta love that MAC logo

Let me start by just saying if you do not own this brush GO AND GET IT NOW! Seriously, this brush makes eyeshadow looks a breeze to master! 

Now I know that MAC brushes are pretty expensive. Here in Oz this brush retails for $37AUD. But I will tell you now you won't regret purchasing this brush (Although I would recommend you buy it from ACW, I got mine for $22USD when I was placing an order with them).

In all it's shining glory.

This brush is everything you want in an eyeshadow brush. It's soft, dense and has the perfect shape for both applying and blending out colours. I think the key to this brushes magic is that it is pinched at the base, which gives it that extra bit of density giving you more control but it widens to a fluffy top which is perfect for blending. 

Front View

Side View

Now I know that people say this is the one MAC brush you have to get and I didn't really buy into all that much I mean how can it be so different from all the others but it is! I haven't really seen another brush that is a good dupe for the 217. 

View from up top, you can see the density of this brush.

I own a lot of Sigma brushes and have heard that the supposed dupe from them is the E35 but as you can see in this photo, the shapes are completely different. It isn't pinched at the base and is more of a rounded shape. It is also quite a bit taller than the 217. Not much of a dupe at all. 

MAC on the left, Sigma on the right.

The only downside about the 217 is that it's white and we all know what that means....it is very hard to keep white! It stains, like any white brush and while you can get it quite clean it's never going to be that bright white like it is when you first buy it. 

Another great thing about this brush is that it doesn't shed. I have had it for quite a while now and it has gone through quite a few washes without shedding a hair. The Sigma brush on the other hand has shed a couple of hairs. Ever try getting a white brush hair out of your eye?? It's no fun trust me haha

If I haven't convinced you to buy this brush then I hope someone else can, trust me you need it. Even if you don't think you do. 

The MAC 217 brush is available at MAC stores or online at the MAC site. But if you don't want to pay the hefty aussie price tag I suggest getting it from All Cosmetics Wholesale. Here's the link to it. 

Do you own this brush? Do you think it's a must-have like me?

Hannah xox

Natural FOTD and EOTD

Hey guys,

Today is a very lazy day. Just a little bit of shopping and some house work on the agenda so I decided to go for a very natural look this morning.

Base:

L'Oreal Base Magique (review here)

Covergirl Trublend Foundation in Ivory 01

L'Oreal Touch Magique Illumination Concealer

MAC MSF Natural in Light/Medium

Australis Makeup Finishing Spritz

Cheeks;

Revlon Skinlights Skin Brightener 01 Natural Light as a highlighter

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder in 51

Australis Creme Colour in Flirtatious Pink

Eyes;

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Eye Primer

Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (inner corner and brow bone)

MAC Brule all over lid

MAC Blanc Type as brow bone highlight

MAC Patina in the crease

MAC Twinx in the outer corner

Models Prefer Jet Black Mascara (very light coating)

Lips;

Nars Chihuahua lipgloss

I like the natural look especially on days where I am not doing much but still want to wear makeup in case we decide to leave the house. 

Do you guys like natural looks? Or do you prefer dramatic all out looks? 

Hannah xoxo

Beauty Blog Hop!!

Hey guys,

Thought I'd get on the bandwagon and share the beauty blog love with this beauty blog hop!! I am a bit of a noob at this so I entered my blog post title where my blog name should be doh!! haha Oh well here it is anyway. Enjoy all these fabulous blogs and add your own!



Hannah xoxo

Product Review: L'Oreal Base Magique Face Primer

Sorry about the lack of posting this week I have been a bad beauty blogger!! 

Today's post is a review on a face primer I recently bought. It is the L'Oreal Base Magique Primer. 

This is the 3rd face primer that I have tested out. The other two are Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot and the Face of Australia Face Base 3 in 1 Primer SPF 15. I found those primers ok but I didn't really notice any difference in the time my makeup lasted, which is the main reason I was using a primer in the first place. So I kinda went a bit off primers after that. 

Then I purchased the L'Oreal Base Magique and boy have I changed my mind about primers. Applying this cream before I apply my foundation makes my foundation last twice as long as normal no joke!

This is a silicon-based primer so it feels very velvety on the skin and makes your skin feel extremely smooth. The other two primers I own aren't silicon based and I think that is why there weren't as effective as this one at keeping my makeup put. 

It is quite a thick consistency but if you rub it between your fingers first and then apply it doesn't feel as thick. You might think because of the thickness it would feel heavy on the skin but I don't find this is the case. I still use a moisturiser before applying this primer as it doesn't offer the skin much moisture.

See how rich and thick it is?

What L'Oreal says it does;

"A unique blend of silicon oils and soft light powder create a sensational smoothing velvet formula to refine the skin. Smoothes wrinkles and fine lines. Perfectly hides pores. Skin Imperfections are corrected. Prolongs foundation wear and sets make-up." (Taken from the box)

What I believe it does;

• It definitely prolongs the wear of makeup. My makeup lasts a full day at work and then some when I have this underneath it. 
• Smoothes the skin. It does makes your skin feel a lot smoother and makes the foundation glide on better. It sinks into any imperfections such as fine lines and stops the makeup settling in them.
• It does to an extent correct skin imperfections. I mean it isn't going to magically make your skin look flawless but I find that it does help tone down my redness and any spots I have.

Swatched on my arm

The cons;

• For some people the fact that this is a silicon based primer might put them off. Frankly I don't know too much about the effects of silicon on the skin...except that Blake uses it at work and it never comes off his hands! This comes off just like any other makeup with some makeup remover.
• For the size I think it is a little pricey. This retails for $29.95AUD and only contains 15ml. I have been using this for a couple of weeks and there is already quite a large hole. 

See the very noticeable hole??

Would I re-purchase? 

Despite the price-tag I would re-purchase this, especially if there was a special on and it was discounted. Even if it wasn't I would still re-purchase to have for times when I need my makeup to last the distance. 

Where can you get it??

I purchased this in Priceline, however I assume it would be available in most places that stock L'Oreal products.

Have you guys tried this primer? Do you use a primer? What's your fave?

Hannah xoxo

August Faves!!

I can't believe that it is almost September already?? How fast has this year gone! So much has been happening lately with moving house, getting another puppy, renovating, exploring new career options it's been a bit insane. But throughout this month these were the products that kept me purrrty :) 

August Faves :)

This month has been a month of extremes for me in terms of makeup. I've either been going for a really natural look or I have been rocking a smokey eye. 

For days I felt like I needed a bit of darkness in my eyes I have been relying on my Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero and MAC's Woodwinked. 

Woodwinked, UD 24/7 liner in Zero, Napoleon Whole Lotta Lashes

These two paired together make a gorgeous smokey eye. What I do is smudge the liner over the lash lines (upper and lower) and out onto the lid. I then smudge Woodwinked over the top and line my waterlines. 

UD liner in Zero, Mac's Woodwinked

Top it all off with my mascara of the moment and another fave for August Napoleon's Whole Lotta Lash and you have a gorgeous smokey eye.

Napoleon Whole Lotta Lash - got this free in InStyle mag - SCORE!!

On days I wanted a bit more of a natural look I have been loving cream products. Nyx Jumbo eye pencils in Milk and Yogurt have been my go to for my natural eye. I place Milk in the inner corner and brow bone (and smudge it out) and yogurt on the lid (smudged out) for a nice natural looking eye.

Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils in Milk and Yogurt

I would then add my cream blush, still loving the Australis creme colours for this (review here).

L: Flirtatious Pink, R: Dusky Rose

And top it all off with a liquid illuminator on the cheekbones. This month I have been loving Revlon Skinlights (sadly discontinued) in 01 Natural Light.

Revlon Skinlights L: swatched heavily, R: blended

For some reason this month I have gone back to using my paddle foundation brush. I go through different stages in the way I apply foundation. Sometimes I use my Sigma F80 flat top kabuki, other times I will just use my fingers but lately I have been loving the regular old classic foundation brush to apply my foundation. It's quick, easy and looks good. 

Sigma Foundation Brush F60, Revlon Skinlights

My last fave is a bit of a random find. My hands get super dry and I usually always have hand cream on me but lately Blake's been stealing all of mine! (grrr) So one day at work I was wandering through IGA when this moisturiser caught my eye. 

Redwen's Organics Moisturiser in Orange & Bergamot

I use the Redwin Vitamin E cream and love it so I assume that is what drew me in. But then I smelt it and this stuff smells awesome. A mixture of oranges and well I have no idea what bergamot smells like but I guess it's that. (Like my description there...duh Hannah just read the name of it) Anyway it has been a lifesaver for my dry hands and it's not greasy, which I love and it doesn't contain any nasties!

So there you have it, my monthly faves :) Hope you enjoyed.

Let me know what your favourites were for this month

Hannah xox

Quick Tip: The Eraser

So the other day I attended a makeup basics class and we were taught this awesome trick that I wanted to share with you guys.

Have you ever created the perfect eye look only to have it buggered up when you get a dot of mascara on your eye? Or even worse a smear?? 

Well here is the solution..

Take a clean dry cotton bud and on the tip place a little bit of the product that is directly under that mascara. Then rub that tip of the cotton bud over the smear and watch it disappear!!

Seriously guys this works and has been such a lifesaver since I found out about it. This can also be applied to the face if you somehow manage to get something that's not supposed to be there on there. Just use the product directly under it to wipe it away like magic!

I hope this is useful to you guys in the future :) That is if you didn't already know about it.

Hannah xox

My sis stared a blog!!!

Hey guys,

Just wanted to tell you that my sister, Jess has started her very own blog!! Now it's not beauty related but it is about food (the next best thing!)

Check it out here.

She is a great cook and will no doubt have some amazing recipes on there!!

Hope you're all having a great night,

Hannah xox