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I am reviewing the manicare facial cleansing brush as a member of the BH trial team. The brush is compact with a slight curved handle to nicely fit in your hand. The bristles are lovely and soft. To use I would dispense my regular amount of facial wash onto the tip of the brush bristles and gentle work into the face for around 1 minute. It does feel nice to cleanse your face this way however I found it was just a step in my beauty regime that I would often pass as I found it a bit unnatural compared to washing my face with my hands. But never fear I did give it a good run to test out for all you beauties. I did find that using this gadget made cleansing off makeup and dirt really easy and effective and helped me maintain a clear complexion. However, I think this little tool might be hard to maintain and keep clean even when following care instructions as it is still living in the damp warm environment of the shower (which is where I do all my cleansing ect). Therefore, it could possibly end up quite dirty and be a source for breakouts if not looked after properly. Other tips would be not to use it too frequently –once a day at night-time max; don't share and don't use in combination with other face exfoliants.

I've never tried a Lancome foundation before and I am thankful I was given the opportunity to trial Tient Visionare as this is a truly beautiful foundation that I may have otherwise overlooked. I am happy to say that this is the best foundation I have ever tried and it has given me the most perfect flawless natural coverage so I couldn't be happier! The foundation is best applied using a standard paddle foundation brush or duo fibre brush. I use one to two small pumps of product for my entire face. After a month of daily use I still have over ¾ of a bottle left so this product goes a long way and I think this will last at least another 6 months yet. The foundation provides a good medium to almost full coverage yet still looks natural with a satin/dewy finish. After applying the foundation, then gently dot the concealer where needed using my ring finger and blend in. The concealer is very waxy in consistency so I found it is best applied using clean fingers so the product gets warmed up first for easier blending What I really like about TV is that this product combines skincare and foundation, very handy if you love versatile all-in-one products! One of my favourite aspects of this foundation is the higher SPF factor of 20. This essentially eliminates the need for me to apply my SPF 30+moisturiser before foundation and wait for it to absorb into my skin, therefore saving me heaps of time in the morning!!! With respect to noticeable skin improvements I have noticed an improvement in the clarity of my complexion, and reduced pore size since using TV, but as I started using Estee Lauder ARN serum at night-time since February I cannot contribute these improvements to the foundation alone. However, this is a beautiful foundation and will definitely buy over and over again. This is the most prefect foundation and it really does “tick all the boxes” for me as I mentioned in my earlier review. I would happily recommend this to anyone looking for a natural and comfortable wearing foundation.

I am really excited to be trialling this product, from the first week of use it has performed very well and I absolutely love it!! Lancome Teint Visionare is a foundation and concealer duo. The packaging is both practical and beautiful. The top of the bottle is a concealer pot with a mirror which screws onto the pump bottle foundation underneath. Very handy and compact for those of us on-the go and great to have in your handbag! The foundation formula is based on Lancome's famous Visionnaire serum, combining skincare and makeup this product is designed to heal the skin, smooth the skin surface and fade imperfections and pigmentation, as well as reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Awesome! The foundation contains SPF 20 so great for daytime wear. There is no noticeable scent which I love as I have sensitive skin, and I prefer my makeup/skincare to be fragrance free The foundation formula is very nice, really lightweight but giving good medium coverage and a natural satin-like finish. . It blends beautifully and is fells really comfortable and smooth on the skin. The concealer is very creamy and covers well, it is the perfect concealer for everyday use and will cover blemishes, redness and moderate under eye darkness without feeling or looking caked on. However, if you have really dark undereye circles the concealer might not provide enough coverage. It wears quite well and will last a full day's wear (about 6-7 hours).In summertime I think I will need to set it with powder still. I also found it did not sink into the fine lines around my eyes so this product would suit mature skin too. I think this is a really excellent foundation that many people will love. Obviously, the major downside is the high-end price point. A good thing about Lancome products is that prices in Australia are not excessively marked up and generally match prices with those overseas.
… but if you can afford it then I would definitely give it a try. If it is a stretch in your budget try asking for a free sample first and then wait until a GWP promotion to purchase the full size if you are happy with it.

I usually love Revlon lip products but the Ultimate Suede lipstick was a flop for me. The lipstick is housed in a clear acrylic tube with the bottom of the tube displaying the colour of the lipstick shade and very true to colour of the actual lipstick. I like this aspect of the packing as it makes it easy to select the shade you want at a glance. The clear acrylic packing is very sleek but also looks a little cheap and it's a little hard to get the cap off (You really need to out some muscle into it). A good thing about this I suppose is that you need not worry about the lid coming loose in your bag. My lid cracked and I only dropped it about 20cm onto the face of my iphone so I was not very happy about that. The colour range is very excellent with 20 shades available. I received the shade 095 “Finale” which is a very wearable orange based red. It is not a bright red at all and quite appropriate for daytime or work wear. The lipstick is VERY pigmented but it also tends to stain the skin. On initial application the lipstick goes on very smoothly, has a nice glossy finish and feels comfortable on the lips. However after a few minutes the lipstick dries down to a semi-matte finish and this is where I lost the love for this product. The product dries down to a powdery like texture but remains sticky/tacky and did not comfortable on the lips. The longer I wore the lipstick the more drier my lips started to feel. I thought that my lips must have been dry the first time this happened so I applied a balm the next time and this resulted in a patchy application and finish. I have tried the lipstick since with lipliner underneath, a gloss over the top but it still ended up with an overall drying feeling as the day went on. On that note the actual wear of lipstick is great, it will last at least six hours with eating and drinking and does not transfer. However as said the lipstick becomes more unflattering and uncomfortable as the day progresses. Although I did think the shade of this lipstick was beautiful and I did like the semi-matte finish initially the hydration factor was not there and I could not stand having something so drying on my lips all day.

I was naughty before Christmas and picked up one of the 2012 Clinique Holiday sets called Whole Lotta Colour. This set contains five mini Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balms in the shades Richer Raisin, Curvy Candy, Chunky Cherry, Super Strawberry, and Oversized Orange. This Whole Lotta Colour Chubby Stick Gift Set will make a great gift for others (or yourself :P), especially for those who have been wanting to try out the Chubby Sticks since you get to try more colours before investing in a full size one. I would definitely recommend picking one up if still available or keeping an eye out for them for the next holiday season. Now onto the products themselves....
The Clinique chubby sticks are excellent for those whole love sheer lip colours. I really like the way these Chubby Sticks looks and feel on the lips. The colour payoff is sheer but the colour does show up and is different for each of the different shades. This product wears for around 2 hours. This product also fades quite nicely and doesn't leave lips looking patchy. The texture is very smooth, it is non-scented applies very evenly and effortlessly onto the lips. The formula is quite light and is not heavy or greasy at all and it is very comfortable to wear. This product is moisturising so it should suit those with dry lips, however I do think that it would not be a comparable replacement for a good lip balm if your lips are super dry or chapped, so I would apply a balm first if this is the case.

Packaging - The packaging is great. Quite different from your standard mascara tube, and the silver chrome and geometric shape makes it look more expensive and luxurious. The brush is a standard cylinder shape that tapers toward the end. It is made with synthetic fibres and the brush itself is easy to hold. Product - I have mixed feelings about this formula. When first opened I had to scrape the brush a little on the sides as there was excess product but now it has dried up a little I am really liking the formula. This mascara lengthens and curls and if you only use one (or two thin) coats it won't clump. It does not smudge or flake during the day and it not a problem to remove using eye makeup remover. As this is a “dramatic” mascara it is not really for a natural everyday look. That being said it is not the full false lash effect mascara that it claims to be. It sits somewhere in the middle between natural and full on dramatic Value - For the $25 price point, I think it is a bit expensive for what it is, wait until it is on sale!

Phenomenal quality For the price of this brush set the quality of these brushes is phenomenal. This set contains 4 super-soft synthetic hair brushes with aluminium handles. (So both eco-friendly and cruelty free!!). The synthetic hairs are great because it means you can use them with liquid, cream and products making these brushes amazingly versatile. These brushes are so soft and do not shed. Additionally they dry really quickly, so they will be dry within a day of washing. The set contains 4 brushes :
1)Small detailer brush – Use for concealing, applying lipstick and applying eyeliner on the lower lash-line.
2)Pointed foundation brush – Use for liquid foundation or liquid highlighter/bronzers
3)Buffing brush – Use for both powder and liquid foundation, bronzer or blush
4)Contour brush – use for applying highlighter or for contouring
The case that these brushes come in is really smart- it can be either folded horizontally to make a stand for the brushes to sit in on the counter-top and vertically to make a secure case to travel with. The aluminium handles are lightweight so they feel very easy to use and manoeuvrer when handling. These brushes are as good quality of higher end brands and definitely worth buying.

Concealer with added skincare-great for blemishes I've recently purchased this concealer after seeing all the great reviews on youtube. This concealer claims to improve skin with its fruit therapy ingredients which include: Apricot for radiance; raspberry for micro-circulation; and melon for hydration. Naturally this concealer smells very fruity! I'm not a huge fan of the scent and I normally would not purchase anything like this as I usually react somewhat to perfumed products but this has been great so far in the 3 weeks I have been using it. This concealer has medium to full coverage and it is great for concealing blemishes as well as covering up any redness around the nose. This concealer covers really well and does not look cakey or thick (when using a small amount). However I've tried it under the eyes but it's a bit too thick and creamy and tends settle into fine making it look a bit dry. A little of this product goes a long way and I would only use a little bit as applying too much will lead to cake city (not the good kind). This concealer is fantastic for us combo/oily skin ladies as the formula is oil free and quick drying. The packaging of this concealer is simple but hygienic with the squeeze tube, which also allows you to control how much is dispensed. I apply using a concealer brush and blending out with finger taps. This is a great everyday concealer for covering blemishes and redness on combo/oily skin types.

The perfect pair This concealer kit comes with a lovely creamy concealer on one side and a sheer pressed powder on the other to make for concealing perfection. I had previously the old formulation of this concealer and I must say I am very happy with the new formulation, definitely an improvement. The formula of the concealer is more opaque and less creamy than the original so it goes a long way and won't crease under the eye. The powder is much less messy pressed so it's easier to use for touch ups and is much more travel friendly. I love the slim oval packaging of this concealer and a little mirror on the inside lid is super-handy. I love Bobbi Brown products so I purchased the corrector in addition to this concealer kit. As the corrector is pink based it is great for fixing up blue colourations that cause darkness under the eyes. I have very thin skin around my eyelid and naturally big but deep set eyes so under eye circles are a problem for me. For me this concealer kit pairs perfectly with the corrector. This is my favourite concealer for both under the eye and for covering blemishes. For under the eye I use the corrector first, then I apply my foundation and then apply the concealer over the top using a brush and blend by gently patting with my ring finger. I don't always use the powder but the powder is used to set the concealer for longer wear. For covering blemishes I simply dab a small dot on the spot and tap out to blend. I use the powder for covering up blemishes more so than for setting under the eye – the powder really stops the concealer from melting away during the day so the spot stays hidden!! This concealer is like magic, its blends beautifully, making me look fresh and awake as well as covering any blemishes. The only con about this concealer is that it is expensive but for me it's worth it.

Lasting Power!! These lip liners live up to their name and will extend the wear of your lipstick and help prevent feathering or bleeding. The shades I own are pink, rose, red & nude and these 4 colours match the majority of the lipstick shades I own. Plus the automatic winder makes it less messy than traditional pencils. I discovered that these liners are great for work. Usually by around 10am I have ended up eating most of my lipstick off with coffee/tea/snacks ect, so these really help extend the lip colour to lunchtime and beyond. I apply the lip liner by filling in my lips and blending it out with my finger before applying my lipstick or gloss over the top. It can however be a little dry to apply, but that is no problem and I simply apply a lip balm first and let that sink in for a few minutes (I do this anyway for lipsticks). I'm really happy I've found these lip pencils, they are fantastic!