Curious about Lipsense? So was I. It was not a brand I had heard of, but I thought it my duty as a Curious blogger to find out more. I mean, the answer to the dirty lipstick ring on the coffee cup conundrum? Of course I was curious!
I did not fall down this rabbit hole thinking that I would end up a distributor. Been there, done that, got numerous T-Shirts. I like variety in my cosmetics, despite what my blog might be called! Hence the disclaimer : Other Cosmetic Dalliances! After asking a few of the hard questions, I thought, why not?, drank the potion and opened the door to another Wonderland.
Now, everybody knows I am a die hard M.A.C girl, but I could see the sense in this product. Getting through meetings with no stained coffee cups and the remnants of lipstick stain looking like fruit punch mouth was not something I could ignore. Then there's the dollars and sense in the equation - if I only had to buy one tube of lipstick for every three or four of a regular tube? I would be Tweedledum not to sit up and pay attention.
Now are you curious? Head over to my Facebook page Curious Cosmetics where you can fall down the rabbit hole with me.
Pleasantly surprised to open up the MAC Cosmetics page in
iPad browser to find the huge new cosmetics collection, including the long
coveted Kabuki Magic dazzleshadow quad, now available for purchase in
Australia.
Tuesday, 28
February 2017. Around 1.30pm , MAC Myer Melbourne
Somewhat disappointed to find that the collection is not
available in store until Monday 6 March 2017.
Monday, 6 March
2017 1.00pm. Work Desk
Bubbles of excitement in the tummy whilst putting together
my wallet with MAC vouchers saved up from Christmas in anticipation of the
Kabuki Magic collection. Plus 10% off at Myer, what MAC enthusiast could ask
for more?
Monday, 6 March
2017 1.15pm, MAC Myer Melbourne
Terribly disappointed to discover that the shipment from
the warehouse has been delayed, and the collection will not be available until
tomorrow, or worse, Wednesday. MUA suggests checking with David Jones next
door. Unfortunately the little bubble of hope is rapidly popped. David Jones
Melbourne is not carrying the collection. At all.
Tuesday, 7 March
2017 1.05pm, Work Desk
Call placed to MAC Myer Melbourne to ascertain the
whereabouts of the Kabuki Magic Collection. Even more disappointing news that
the shipment is further delayed and may not be received until the end of the
week. Check 10% off voucher to make sure it doesn't expire at the end of the
week. It doesn't. One piece of good news I guess. And that I didn't make the trek
down to Bourke Street in the hot and stuffy tram and waste my time again.
Wednesday, 8 March 2017 1.30pm, MAC Myer Melbourne
I entered the Cosmetics department with trepidation and steeled myself for more bad news. I couldn't see any magic happening and was afraid my visit would again be futile. Until... I rounded the corner and there it was. I had found my magic and it was beautiful.
Finally the day came that I gathered my courage to pull out my coveted Nutcracker Sweet Pink kit, I mean, look at the lengths I had to go to get it, I didn't want a greasy fingertip near my crown jewel. But there is a time for everything and on Saturday the sun was out, the horsies were out, the puss was out and I decided to take my lipgloss kit out into the limelight.
This kit is everything and more. As I think I mentioned before, the kit is marketed as a mini, but the lipglosses are actually bigger than the standard size! I really shouldn't have told you that. Now I probably won't be able to get my hands on another. Yes, I am that selfish when it comes to makeup. Anyway, back to the subject at hand. There are 3 Cremesheen glasses and one Dazzleglass. The lightest colour I would probably use over a lippy but the others definitely stand their ground. They are vibrant, bold and packed with pigment. Come and take a further look down the rabbit hole with me...
Check out the awesome packaging!
Nutcracker Sweet Pink Lipgloss Kit
Nutcracker Sweet Pink Lipgloss Kit
L to R : Fashion Scoop, Rags to Riches, Charm, Twirling
Charm Cremesheen
Twirling Cremesheen Glass
Rags to Riches Dazzleglass
Fashion Scoop Cremesheen Glass
L to R: Fashion Scoop, Charm, Twirling, Twirling overlaid with Rags to Riches, Rags to Riches
Do you need any more convincing?? That's four lipglosses for the price of something like 1.5!! Plus, this on is online exclusive, so you won't find it in store.
Just for the fun of it, here are a couple of photos of the Peach Face compact, with an extra dimension skinfinish in Tutu and blush in At Dusk:
Top : Tutu (pale white peach) Bottom: At Dusk (warm rose)
Well, I think I owed it to you all to do another makeup tutorial after my last was lacking somewhat in the light department. Quite honestly, my Achilles heel is my vision. Or lack thereof. So I have hopefully been able to do this video a little more justice than the last. Note that I was aiming for 5 minutes, gave myself 6, then had a bit of a hiccup with my new products which pushed out my time a little....
What I am NOT using in this video
I am not using any of what I would have called 'frosting' when I was in my 20s, but now I call a necessity...
Prep & Prime Fix +
24hr eye base or paint pot
skin primer
lip primer
contouring powders
highlighting powders
concealers
correctors
multiple eyeshadows
multiple blushes
lip liner
lip gloss
That's a bit of a list... but I can say that out of all of those items, the one I will NOT forgo is the 24hr eye base. It is awesome and does exactly what I want it to do. Keeps it all in place, kinda like Spanx for the eyelids! If you buy one more product for your kit, this should be it!
Enjoy the video and take a look at the swatches at the end.
I hope you enjoy!
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Powder in Sweet Vision and Magic Dust Eyeshadow in Forward March
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Powder in Sweet Vision
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Powder in Sweet Vision
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Powder in Sweet Vision
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Powder in Sweet Vision
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Powder in Sweet Vision
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Eyeshadow in Forward March
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Eyeshadow in Forward March
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Eyeshadow in Forward March
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Magic Dust Eyeshadow in Forward March
Sweet Vision, very hard to capture, so much shimmerr!
Forward March - Also very hard to capture the true colour
Please subscribe - a girl needs a little love! Even if it is for my photobomber...
The postman just rang you bell with not one but TWO parcels from MAC, one of which has to be my Nutcracker Sweet purchases (yes, after my rant I did go there). My question to you, should I give myself a sneak peek or wait to open it with you all?
....Several hours later.....
I have no words. Well, none that are G rated. This video speaks for itself. Sit back and enjoy 'Cat to M.A.C to .....CRAP!'
Now are you angry too?!
The next day. . . . The saga continues
Stay tuned. This isn't over.
Emails between M.A.C Customer Service and Myself
Then I received a Tweet from MAC Customer Care!
You can probably imagine my response....
Where will this saga end!
Bitter Sweet Symphony
Well, all things must come to an end. I won't spoil it for you - watch and find out.
MAC Nutcracker Sweet had landed in Australia, and the collection, coupled with the inflated prices, has driven AllisonWonderland back to the Mad Hatter's table for a well deserved rant.
What do you think? Are the prices a result of the law of supply and demand or are we Aussies getting a rough deal? I feel like someone has put a mouse in my teapot.
Woo hoo! A REAL MAC gift with purchase! Spend AU$75 to receive your Rebeleyes gel eyeliner! Totally made my day. Better get it before it turns into a pumpkin!
Plus I have updates on the release of Spellbinder and Nutcracker Sweet Collections! Subterfuge at its best. Remember to follow me so I can keep 💜💛💚💙❤ you!
Christmas is just around the corner and the means....holiday collections! I am soooo excited about the MAC Nutcracker Sweet and Spellbinder collections but I can't seem to find an Australian release date anywhere! MAC, please put me out of my misery!
Care to share in my pain or make me drool over another collection? Don't keep itself to yourself, share with us all!
We have all experienced it. Spent the night out instead of going home and ending up sleeping on somebody's couch, only to remember a commitment that doesn't allow you enough time to swing by your place to shower, change and apply fresh makeup. Well, after watching this video, may you never be caught with your pants down again.
The products included in my Cosmetic First Aid Kit are as follows :
1. Clarins (sample size) Hydra Quench Rich Face Cream
2. Clarins Lip Balm Crayon in Soft Coffee
3. Dior 5 Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow mini palette
4. Estee Lauder Softsmudge eyeliner crayon in Black
5. M.A.C sample false lashes mascara in Extreme Black
6. Nurtimetics lip pencil in Watermelon
7. M.A.C Limited Edition Star Trek lipstick in Where No Man Has Gone Before (get it before its gone!)
8. M.A.C Blot Powder
9. Dr Bronner's Magic Soap. 1 soap for 18 uses (this came in a David Jones deluxe tote bag)
10. Perfume miniature or atomiser
What is in your cosmetic First Aid Kit?
Don't forget to follow me for the latest updates! That's the little button on the right hand side bar. A girl needs a little love.
We have all experienced it. Spent the night out instead of going home and ending up sleeping on somebody's couch, only to remember a commitment that doesn't allow you enough time to swing by your place to shower, change and apply fresh makeup. Well, after watching this video, may you never be caught with your pants down again.
The products included in my Cosmetic First Aid Kit are as follows :
1. Clarins (sample size) Hydra Quench Rich Face Cream
2. Clarins Lip Balm Crayon in Soft Coffee
3. Dior 5 Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow mini palette
4. Estee Lauder Softsmudge eyeliner crayon in Black
5. M.A.C sample false lashes mascara in Extreme Black
6. Nurtimetics lip pencil in Watermelon
7. M.A.C Limited Edition lipstick in Where No Man Has Gone Before (get it before its gone!
8. M.A.C Blot Powder
9. Dr Bronner's Magic Soap. 1 soap for 18 uses (this came in a David Jones deluxe tote bag)
10. Perfume miniature or atomiser
Well, I have finally pulled my finger out and put together a couple of videos on how I go about my daily work makeup routine. It has been separated into two parts, one for eyes and the other for face. I would like to say that I separated them in case you only care about one or the other, but if I had to be honest, it's because I'm not all that fast and also because I'm not high enough up the YouTube food chain to get more than 15 minutes in the spotlight. 15 MINUTES!!! For MAKEUP !!! Yes well, um, I like to take my time, and as my mother said to me a few weeks ago 'oh, so that's why your eye makeup always looks better than mine. You spend a lot of time on it! I just grab some blush and swipe it on'. I'm am trying to convince my mum to spend more time on her eyes because, frankly, it is akin to blasphemy to be born with an awesome eye structure and never work with it. It's like my kids having a French father and they can't be bothered learning French. I had to learn about makeup and spend time in uni and France to learn the language! OK, calm down or this will turn into a Mad Hatter type rant.
Without further ado, I present to you:
The Eyes Have It
and
Face Time
Products used (all M. A.C unless otherwise stated)
Strobe Cream (optional)
Prep & Prime Fix + (optional) before and after applying makeup
Nutrimetics brow pencil (optional)
Eyes
Prep + Prime 24 hour extend eye base (or paint pot if desired) using fingers or a small brush
Studio Careblend or other pressed powder to fix eye base with small brush
Vanilla all over eyelid to brow bone with a shader brush
Copperplate from corner to crease with an angled brush or a business card and pencil or tapered brush
Satin Taupe to blend crease (optional) using a tapered brush
Sweet Illusion or some subtle sparkles under brows (optional) using any type of shader brush
Gel Eye-liner in Blitz & Glitz using an angled brow brush or other eyeliner brush
Extended Play Gigablack Lash mascara
Face
Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation - use pea sized amount with fingers or brush if desired. Remember - you can always apply more but too much is a just a shame (in terms of it running down the drain...)
Studio Conceal and Correct Palette - Light (optional). Using a concealer brush, apply pink based shades to counteract any bluishness under eyes and set with pressed powder using a shader brush. Buff during the day if it settles into fine lines. Use lighter shade than your normal foundation shade as a highlighter along the cheekbone under corner of eyes and along the nose. The yellow based shades can be used to counteract redness or other marks you would like to conceal. To counteract the dark trenches under my eyes, this is the best concealer I have ever used.
Set foundation and concealer with a powder. I have used Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light with a large powder brush.
Contouring and Blush (optional) : Using the Contour and Sculpt Yourself Palette (refillable and really really good value), use an angled brush with the sculpting powder in Sculpt to create some cheekbones, buffing along the hollow of the cheekbone to line up with the corner of the eye. Next use a blush brush to create a soft flush along cheekbones, I have used Fleur Power and Sunbasque. To highlight between the cheekbone, eye and any other areas you would like to highlight, use an angled brush with Emphasize and buff along the top of the cheekbone, around the outside of the eye, forehead, nose and chin.
For a bit of a glow (optional), use your blush brush to apply an iridescent pressed powder (I used Sparkling Rose from the Fairie Whispers collection) over highlighted area above and along cheekbones to tie the whole look together.
Lips (totally up to you!)
Apply a lip balm or Prep & Prime Lip to hydrate and prepare lips. The Prep + Prime product is supposed to prevent feathering and and improve the appearance and longevity of lip products. Or so the SAs have told me.
Line lips with a lip pencil and fill in the lips to assist adherence of lip products. I have used a very old Nutrimetics pencil in Watermelon.
Apply your lipstick - I have used the new Liptensity Lipstick in Marsala.
I hope you enjoy the videos, if you have any questions, just submit below or on YouTube.
The new Victoria Beckham Estée Lauder collection has been launched! You too can bend it like Beckham if you have a lot of spare cash to splash to keep poor Posh in the manner to which she has become accustomed. Only thing, make sure you're looking for Kendall Jenner's mug when you try to find it at the shops... Something is rotten in the State of Denmark...
Keep you socks on! Actually, no, don't. You'll need them off to try this experiment. Cursed with the driest of dry skins and the many awful nicknames that go with that (I imagine a few more will come from this vlog), I decided to give Milky Feet a go. I never expected it to be so....awesome...and mesmerisingly disgusting. There. You have been warned. Enjoy!
Already tried Milky Feet? Good? Great? Bleh? Share your experience with me!
A quick and dirty overview of the new M.A.C Liptensity lipsticks which have just hit the shelves in Australia. I managed to snag mine in Marsala. Photos and swatches to come, in the meantime, here is a teaser...
M.A.C Liptensity in Marsala, so pigmented it needed just one swipe
M.A.C Liptensity in Marsala, with primer after 3 hours wear
M.A.C Liptensity in Marsala with primer after 3 hours wear
So you have seen the light and want to start using M.A.C? Take a journey with me through mistakes of makeup past whilst I went from Crap to M.A.C!
Feel free to make fun of my apparently very Aussie accent, my husband has. Quite personally, I thought I was channeling Kath and Kim...
Please leave me any comments or questions, and hit subscribe to catch my next video blog which should please all those who like new ways to care for their feet... or have an odd fascination for the somewhat gross. I'll leave it at that I think.
After so many months of white noise coming from this blog, for which I apologise, I bring to you my very first video blog! And again, you will have to excuse the white noise... and the lighting... or lack thereof.
Anyway, I love a challenge, and whilst we were visiting my sister about 1,000km away, she (re)gifted me with a Placenta Face Mask. Who was I to say no? I took the very squishy package home with me, whilst trying not to think too much about the squishy, and decided to give it a whirl this weekend after not having given my face a full treatment (at home, of course) for over a week. When I told my mum that I would be trying the Placenta Face Mask for my Blog, she was somewhat surprised. I mean, I don't do gross, I really don't do gross, but I will go the extra mile for cosmetics!
So strap yourselves in for the inaugural AllisonWonderland Video Blog featuring the Placenta Mask!
I sneakily slipped in some products that I recently purchased, not super glamorous, but really good base products. Please let me know if you would like to know more about them. Otherwise, enjoy the video!
I think by merely writing this post I have broken one of my very first rules of eye shadow purchasing... the pre-blended palette. But to be fair, this one is awesome and I couldn't resist. Over the past year I dallied with the thought of purchasing a x 9 palette, but I stuck to my guns. Until Tinashe came my way. I have absolutely no idea who Tinashe is, but apparently she is female musical visionary, which is why M.A.C teamed up with her to make a 'style your own signature look'. I was aimlessly trawling the M.A.C website when I saw exactly what I wanted. A palette with a mix of colours and textures, from light to dark, matte to pearl, and not one of them featured in my current collection! So I did it. I broke the rules and bought the Tinashe x 9 palette.
Limited Edition "Tinashe" x 9 Palette
Colours and Finishes Up Close
Lustre
Vulnerable: Soft Pearly Purple (Lustre)
Gleam : Barely Pinked Gold (Permanent)
'Smoothly pearlised; intensely frosted with a deluxe ultra-fine "conditioned" look finish'
Satin
Amethyst: Deep Purple with Pink Pearl
Revelry: Mauvey Purple Grey
'Pure colour in a satin-style finish. Provides a soft, subtle, non-frost, light-refractive sheen'
Frost
Midnight Sun :Simmering Mocha
'An iridescent shine that adds a highlight to any colour'
Quarry: Soft muted plumbrown (Permanent)
Matte
'Hi-colour pay-off in a no-shine matte finish'
Velvet
Black Water : Black with Gold Pearl
'Soft-look finish with high-colour intensity. Has a plush, velvety look and feel'
Veluxe Pearl
Flame : Mint Silver Shimmer
All Hands On Deck:Light Green Shimmer
'Super fine, richly pigmented shadow that is a luxe to apply. Shimmering metallic. High shine pearl finish'
Trial Run
In the car, no lighting
In office, fluorescent lighting
Gleam on lids, Quarry in crease, Revelry darken crease, Flame inner eyelid and brow bone.
The Wrap
I in no way regret this purchase. I have reached for this palette nearly every day since I opened it and been able to wear all of the colours as they blend so well together. I would say this is the very first palette I know I will really use. Most of the colours are limited edition, but I know I will add the permanents to my Pro-Palette... in fact I was eyeing off Gleam a long time ago.
If you like what you see, make sure you go online to nab your palette soon as it is an online exclusive and limited edition.
So I broke my own rules...well, all I can say is that rules are made to be broken and I had a lot of fun doing it!
I think it's no secret now that I have a penchant for a good Clarins GWP, I am just really disappointed with MYER that they seem to have left me off their mailing list so I had to go IN STORE to get this flyer and deliver an extremely tardy update on the latest Clarins Gift with Purchase! On behalf of my fellow GWP fans, I. AM. NOT. HAPPY. (if you're Aussie, I will add "JAN" to that statement).
Breathe in 8 counts, breathe out 8 counts. In through the nose, out through the mouth.
Now, are we all feeling better? Here goes...
As per usual, there are 6 staple items in this gift, being:
Extra Firming Body Lotion 100ml (RRP $75.00 / 125ml)
Toning Lotion with Iris 100ml (RRP $40.00 sorry, don't have the size !)
Beauty Flash Balm 30ml (RRP $60.00 / 50ml)
Your Choice of Skincare:
Multi-Active Night Cream - normal to dry skin 15ml (RRP $68.00 / 50ml)
Extra-Firming Night Cream - all skin types 15ml (RRP $115.00 / 50ml)
Super Restorative Day Cream - all skin types 15ml (sorry, don't have a size or price at Myer for this one)
The good news is that there is a relatively decent Clarins GWP at Myer at the moment. The bad news is... it's only available until 1 May 2016. As I am a Clarins GWP junkie, I have been weighing up whether or not to purchase a few extra products to get my hands on this goodie bag. Unfortunately there are two items I can't use due to my super dry skin, so I might have to hang out for the next. Then again, I can always give to those in need of Beauty Flash Balm... you know who you are...
My advice? If you are missing a few products, get yourself to the Clarins counter as soon as you can. I don't think I have ever wasted a Clarins GWP, they are always awesome value.
