Essence all about greys eye shadow palette review

I've been going through my stash of eye shadow palettes and I think I may have to go on a spending ban on at least eye shadows because lets just say I have a lot! we'll see if the spending ban actually happens though. Today's post is about a relatively new palette, and its a small, travel friendly size that packs a punch. The all about greys palette by Essence cosmetics is one of my favourite palettes for every day use, because it can take me from day to night and it has an amazing range of shades and finishes to suit everyone's needs. Plus being very affordable, its on trend with the colours and and affordability as well.

The all about greys palette is one of my favourites because the black eye shadow is not only matte but really intense as well. Which is rare I believe for a drugstore eyeshadow palette to have such a decent black within it. The packaging is your typical transparent, acrylic pan that holds 8 eye shadows within it, so I think 8 shades are a great number because it gives you the right amount of colours to create a huge array of looks with.  You get 9.5 grams of product in total, which I think is quite a bit for the compact packaging.

 I picked up mine from Target where I get most of my Essence products from, if you haven't tried their new eye shadow formula you really should, they have upped their game and are addictive once you start with them!

So the colours, you get 8 of course starting at the lightest you get a really pretty highlighty white colour that has a little bit of shimmer, underneath that is almost a skin colour, light a light beige that is a fantastic transition colour Then you go through the greys and into the really nice dark greys and blacks that makes the palette so interesting instead of just being a dull grey palette.

 The formulation of the eye shadows is much better than what I used to know Essence eye shadows to be, apart from the single eye shadows, I believe these shades would suit a lot of different skin tones and be wearable for so many occasions. As always the swatches were done on no primer, and on one swipe so clearly they are pigmented.

What do you guys think of these palettes? got any favourites? will you be trying them?

hugs Jess
xx

5 beauty lessons I've learned through blogging

Hi lovelies! today I've taken an idea from FluerDanielle a lovely blog I read, and today she posted about 10 lessons she's learned through blogging and wearing make up. I'm similar to her, I actually never used to wear a lot of make up, if any. Maybe some lip gloss and bronzer but that was about all in my routine. But these days my skill set has grown with make up, and I enjoy shopping for make up and playing with new products, but along the way I have learned a few tricks that surprised me because obviously before make up, it was all new to me! But instead of 10 I'm only doing 5!

01. Skin care, Skin care, Skin care! 

I used to be just a soap and water girl, and would always complain about why my skin was dry and flaky. Then when learning about skin care, I over did it on the exfoliating (it can be done) and ended up breaking capillaries and having blotchy skin. But now I've gotten to know my skin, and my routine and it makes all the difference! even if I don't always tone the skin, I always apply moisturiser!

02. Lipstick and lip liners 
I used to never wear lip liners, and hated how my lipstick looked! it was so uneven, and unclean around the edges. I find if I'm wearing a bold lip a lip liner is a must these days, not only does it wear longer but it actually helps applying.

03. Brands are just brands
Whilst it is good to splurge occasionally just know that brands are just brands, they lure you in with their packaging and promises but in the end drugstore can work just the same or better as a high end product! I try not to get fomo these days over it because being in Australia and my budget just doesn't lend to getting many high end products.

04. Let your skin breathe 
I go for days on end without wearing make up and my skin has really cleared up lately! I know that make up doesn't cause acne however I do like to let it breathe, a day or two without make up is like a holiday.

05. Look after your stash 
there's no point in buying make up or brushes no matter the quality if its just going to lay around collecting dust, have it somewhere accessible and easy to find!

hope you enjoyed this post, let me know in the comments below!

hugs Jess

Favourite jewel toned lipsticks for Fall

who doesn't love jewels? well I love anything jewel toned, and at the moment the other side of the world is heading into Fall I thought I would share some of my favourite fall time lippies! but they are actually still appropriate to wear all year round.

 Some are highend, one being the Estee lauder pure colour range, some were gifts, such as the Sonia Kashuk one.

 Either way they are all lovely to look at, wear, and use because of how pretty the colours are! the packaging on these are also quite nice.

 Two designer brands by db lipsticks are at the back, Revlon in the middle, Estee lauder on the right, and Sonia Kashuk on the left.

what are your favourite jewel tones this season?
Hugs Jess

5 favourites from last week Lorac, Thebalm, Australis, Sephora

Hello all! Who else is enjoying this Spring day in Australia? anyways I wanted to  share with you my fave products of last week I have been using!

I am sure you have all seen or heard of these products before! lately I've been loving the red lippie, extreme highlight, cream foundation, good lashes and a good contour.

 Thebalm Marylou maniser is my all time favourite highlight in all the world, and I'm totally smitten by it, it lives up to all my expectations and is stunning.

 I have finally gotten the hang of contouring! its taken me awhile to get used to the Australis contour kit, but now I know how to use it properly, I love it!

 The Lorac cream foundation is actually kinda wonderful, my perfect shade, being a more yellow undertone. It covers well and looks fantastic with a primed base.

For lips and eyes I have been loving the Sephora mascara, it creates great length, no clumps, and good volume without looking spidery or meh.The Physicians formula sexy booster lip stains is one of my faves! I love the colour and staying power too. I also have the matching blush.

What have your faves been?

hugs Jess

how to get brighter and whiter teeth for free!

Hello all, today I did an experiment and I made my own home made charcoal to see if charcoal really works to clean and whiten your teeth. I read that you can make water purifiers out of charcoal as well so I am making an educated guess that it is safe to use, probably activated charcoal is best but I'm being cheap.

 To make charcoal I used burnt some paper, and waited until it cooled. Mashed it up with a fork and then added a little bit of water.

 This was the before of how my teeth looked, not too crash hot as I am a coffee and wine addict haha.

 I swished it in my mouth for a good 15 minutes, similar to how you oil pull, swish it around like you would with mouthwash. I then washed my mouth out, and brushed my teeth.

 I'm actually surprised this worked! I can see a subtle difference in my teeth, they are brighter, a little bit whiter too. Being a natural diy that didn't cost me anything I was truly surprised.

have you guys tried this method? has it worked? what other diy's would you like to see?
Hugs Jess

my week in pictures!

more soaps that I think are just as good as lush! lushalikes! lush dupes soaps

Hi guys I have another post because my soap collection is growing, I have a supermarket near by that stocks the most gorgeous soaps, they are mostly organic, natural and skin loving soaps, and most don't test on animals and are super cheap.

 I got the Thursday plantation tea tree soap, the Colavita soap which is infused with olive oil, the Red seal propolis and honey soap and the lemon myrtle soap. I used today the red seal propolis and honey and the lemon myrtle soap.

 They are all under $5 each, seriously cheap and good value, I cut these in half because they are large bars.

 The lemon Myrtle one is amazing! its scent literally fills up my bathroom not only my nostrils but has left me feeling fresh and revitalised. The propolis and honey one I not only used on my face and body but I used it on my hair and I cannot believe the results.

 It's left my face feeling soft and loved, because I am very lazy at moisturising, and having dry skin I know I should. It's left my hair shiny and frizz free! basically like a hair mask without the effort!

The lemon myrtle oneis the top one, with the scrubbie bits in it, they feel gentle enough on my skin but I am used to the harder scrubs.

The honey propolis one is my favourite so far!
let me know your lush dupes?
hugs Jess

living with chronic pain part one

Hello my lovelies, I'm so sorry for not being around, I don't have a terribly exciting story that goes with the blogging break but basically life got in the way and I've been unwell. For someone who lives with chronic pain things can take a turn for the worse quite easily. I don't really like talking about it because I don't like to dwell on it, however I did want to write this post because I think it could educate some people on illnesses that don't really have a certain look to them and people think you look normal and healthy.

I've had people assume I'm a happy and outgoing person because that is the front I put on, I'm not faking it but its somewhat easier than having to be asked if I'm all right all the time. I've even had people act surprised when I've told them I have bipolar. So these illnesses that might seem like they aren't real to some, are in fact very real to those who suffer them. Its been a total learning curve for myself as well finding out what my body can handle, learning my triggers etc.

I believe that life happens for a reason, sometimes we can cope and sometimes we can't. Lately I haven't been coping that well. Recently been diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome and going through the rounds of doctors, and tests, and trying different medications have left me drained and not myself.

But things are improving, my great circle of friends have supported me, and I'm slowly picking myself back up. So I wanted to share with you some fun moments I have been able to have when feeling better.

 My friend Kiera trying the new vegemite cadburys flavoured limited edition chocolate today, I love this girl!

 Sally my bestie trying the chocolate today! I have a video on their reacitons it was hilarious
link here
link to the video of us eating the vegemite flavoured chocolate

 Treating myself to hot chips! they were so good!!

 my partners favourite dinner at the moment is homemade taco's, this is a shared platter. And I love making them.

 Seeing Royal night out with my girlfriend Angie, and saw this Minions sign thought it was so cute. Royal night out is a fantastic movie if you are into historical romances.

 When I've worked at the opshop and created a display of miniatures.

 I met my instagram friend Mel! and we're seeing each other again on Friday because she won tickets to the advance screening of Aloha and its hosted by Designer brands by db cosmetics company and we both get a $50 make up box worth of goodies!! so excited.

Video of meeting Mel my instagram friend can be found here
shopping at H&M meeting my instagram friend Mel

 outfit of the day hosted by my work All Sorts opportunity shop and this was pin up inspired look video can be found here pinup inspired outfit of the day video

 Mel and I were shopping at H&M and I was trying out hats

 Mel and me resting in the city

 Mel smelling the goodness at lush!

 I drank some good portwine!

Lush goodness!

So that's been my month basically. I'm going back to the doctors tomorrow to find out some results tomorrow. School has literally taken over at the moment and have been bombarded with school work and assignments. But I'm trying to get a balance in things. Keyword is trying.

So hopefully you'll see me being a bit more regular!! keep in contact, I'd love to see how you are going and you can find me
Instagram
Instagram
I post pics everyday!
Twitter
Twitter
Tumblr
I post most days
http://batvvlove.tumblr.com/

Lots of love
Hugs Jess

Priceline make up haul! first impressions and swatches

Hi all on this super cold day for us in Australia today! how are you? I do hope you are well! today whilst working at the opshop/charity shop I went to Priceline and did a bit of hauling! lol here are the products I bought. I didn't actually go in to buy much at all but they had a stand that was all priced at $1 and I bought an Australis nail polish, two models prefer eye shadow pencils, Savvy by db stick blush. I also decided to get the Maybelline big eyes double ended eye liner (I must admit I have slipped a little on the cruelty free items but not too badly) and I bought 3 pocket rock it packs including the blush set, lip gloss crayons and the concealer and powder set.

 So these 8 items are Maybelline big eyed eye liner, Models prefer eye shadow pencils in icon and mystique, savvy by db blush stick in petite pink, lip crayons in obsession and I don't know why but the baby pink one is nameless? weird. Concealer and powder duo in light  Pocket Rock it due blush set in glamorurama.

 The savvy by db blush stick in petite pink is a superb coral colour I just adore it and am so glad I got it, its on my wrist above the green models prefer eye shadow stick swatch and I've never used models prefer before but these are so creamy! then I have the lip balm glosses by savvy db in obsession and they are surprisingly pigmented and very balmy on the lips. Then the swatches included the blue eye shadow stick and the blush duo both very pigmented.

 concealer and powder swatches, surprisingly these are great colours for me, both yellow in undertone and the liquid concealer quite thick!

 lip crayon lip swatches

have you tried any of these yet?
hugs