TOM FORD LIP COLOR

I finally did it. I bought my very first Tom Ford lipsticks! Woohoo!!
I've wanted these for the longest time now, but had my reservations because they are RIDICULOUSLY expensive here in Australia (and in general all over the world I believe). I'm still recovering from the damage this purchase had on my bank account, but I'm so happy to finally get my hands on these. Now let's get ready for some lipstick loving!

First off, let's appreciate the packaging because it is simply gorgeous. I love the bold clean lines on the edges and the clash of black with the gold. The weight of the encasing is slightly heavy, especially for a lipstick, but I feel this adds to the value of the product. The overall look is super luxurious, chic and timeless.

Jump for swatches!

MY TOP 5 DRUGSTORE LIPSTICKS

I'm not sure if I'm going to start a whole series with these 'top 5' posts (see my top 5 foundations here), but I knew from the very start that I just had to do a lipstick edition. It was WAY too hard to do an overall for everything in my lipstick stash, so I'm going to split it into 2 categories - drugstore and high end - be on the look out for the high end post to come soon! It still took me a lot of going back and forth to make up the list, but here goes!

Again, these are in no particular order.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Creme in 680 Temptress
I've worn this lipstick to death, mainly to work, it's such a great 'it-goes-with-everything' shade! Despite the creamy formula, which sits very comfortably on my lips, Temptress does not apply too opaque, so my natural lip colour seeps through ever so slightly. I'm not generally drawn to soft pink lipsticks, but this one blends in well with my skin tone, so it gets a lot of love from me!

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 027 Juicy Papaya
Continuing on with the Revlon love, is of course, the famous lip butters. I actually wasn't too drawn into the hype at the beginning, but have repeatedly reached for them overtime, much to my own surprise. It was a hard choice between Juicy Papaya and Tutti Frutti (because I love my corals and oranges), but Juicy Papaya wears a lot softer so it's something I can wear anytime of the week, and it goes with pretty much everything!

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MY ESSENTIAL MAKEUP BRUSHES

I've travelled quite a bit this year, and these brushes are the ones I seem to always have around with me - I know there's quite a few! I do switch it up between them when I'm at home, mainly because it means I don't have to wash each brush straightaway after every use. I think I have a good balance of less expensive to high end brushes, but I believe a good brush is worth a little investment as it should last years and years. What are some of your essential/favourite makeup brushes? ;)

(L-R: Sigma Flat Kabuki F80, Chanel Foundation Brush #6, Real Techniques Contour Brush, Sephora Pro Precision Blush Brush #73 and Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush #127)

Sigma Flat Kabuki F80 & Chanel Foundation Brush #6

My 2 favourite foundation brushes - and I refuse to pick between the two! :P I find the Sigma kabuki great for everyday use because it spreads liquid foundation very evenly and does not require a lot of strokes to blend the product into the skin. I grab the Chanel foundation brush when I need to build up coverage, and it's great for manoeuvring around intricate areas on the face. I haven't had much luck with flat foundation brushes up until this point, the application tends to be streaky (this may vary with different foundations) but the Chanel foundation brush is so densely packed that it blends product very easily. Like most foundation brushes, I recommend washing them very thoroughly - I use the Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove (which I know is a little excessive) but it gets the job done so much quicker!

Real Techniques Contour Brush

I've been quite impressed with Real Techniques, mainly with the brushes for the face, the bristles are really fine and they pick up makeup really well. I don't generally apply finishing powder all over my face, just around my t-zone and underneath the eyes, so this brush is the right size for getting the job done. Another great thing about Real Technique brushes is that they are a great choice for beginners or anyone who is on a budget.

Sephora Pro Precision Blush Brush #73

My go-to contour brush! The head of the brush is quite flat, so it is perfect for reaching in and around the hairline as well as the cheekbones. The bristles on this brush are probably the softest amongst the ones I've noted so far - which is really saying something about the quality of this brush. I really do wish Sephora was more readily available here down under, I would highly recommend checking out the Pro Series brushes.

Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush #127

I'm still new to Zooeva brushes, but have been loving them so far - especially the price tag! This brush is pretty much the same as the Sigma F40 (or any angled contour/cheek brush) which I also have in my collection, but I find the bristles on the Zoeva brush to be softer and more gentle on the skin. Both brushes actually pick up powder blushes/bronzers quite well, but I would opt for the Zoeva one!

Jump for the eye brushes!

URBAN DECAY REVOLUTION LIPSTICKS

Urban Decay is one of few makeup brands that holds a dear place in my heart. I've swooned over many of their product releases (I can't wait to get my hands on Naked 3), so when I saw these Revolution Lipsticks I knew I had to try them out. 

The sleek metal encasing of these lipsticks is a much needed upgrade from the original line - the little dagger on the ends annoyed the crap out of me! I really like the gunmetal exterior and the contrast of the purple once you lift the cap, I think UD is right on the money with the packaging of these, it's minimal and very modern. 

I picked up 2 shades out of the 22 that are available. I opted for more natural/everyday colours this time around, still going back and forth on the brighter options, let me know if you have any recommendations! ;)

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MY TOP 5 FOUNDATIONS

Finding the right foundation can be a big challenge. Despite reading into the reviews and doing the research, I find that I can never really predict how a product will wear on me until I've tested it out on my skin. I've been on a bit of a foundation kick lately - I've read through my fair share of 'favourites' and 'top 5s' in the blogging world, and as a result my stash has grown significantly in the last few months. 

I generally jump between various foundations depending on the condition of my skin and the weather, which means sometimes I will use up to 5 different foundations over the course of one week! It is an essential product in my makeup routine, so I thought I would share some of my absolute favorites in this post. I'm going to try to keep things short by pining it down to the key factors, but don't hesitate to leave a comment if you have any questions. Also, I would love to know what some of your current favourite foundations are! :D

In no particular order…

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation (53)
Coverage: Light to medium
Longevity: 6-7 hours
Shade Range: 5 shades available
SPF: None
Primer I use with this foundation: Various (It's worked with pretty much all my primers!)

My current favourite drugstore foundation. I usually reach for this when my skin is looking a little dry and tired - I find that it gives my skin the boost it needs without making my face too 'shiny', which is often the case for me when it comes to illuminating products. I do point out that this foundation is not the longest wearing product (I have combination skin), but it stays put for most of the workday, so it is a great choice for a day-to-day foundation.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation (5.5)
Coverage: Medium to full
Longevity: 9-10 hours
Shade Range: 26 shades available
SPF: None
Primer I use with this foundation: Illamasqua Hydra Veil

The wear of this foundation is fantastic, it lasts from day to night even around oilier areas of my face (mainly the T-zone area). The product blends seamlessly into the skin and is overall great to work with. This foundation can be easily built up to full coverage, but also wears quite natural if applied sparingly. Illamasqua Skin Base is a great choice for flash photography, it contains no SPF so there won't be any unwanted flash back.

Jump for more foundation love!