Top coat pretty much makes or breaks the manicure, quite literally. My freshly applied polish always looks so vulnerable without the added layer of glossiness (or matte) to seal it in. So that is why I bought this particular top coat, because I had forgotten to bring one on my last Hong Kong trip (cause let's be honest, I'd rather spend the night painting my nails than socialising with human beings in a foreign country). I was just looking for a cheap alternative for the trip and this costed me less than AUD$5.

Packaging

I had to mention the packaging because it's so classy, sleek and sturdy. It comes in a black box with the 3CE logo on the front and a description of the colour on the back. It is also sealed for hygiene purposes (yay!). The glass and slightly grippy cap make it feel like a high-end product. It twists off directly to reveal the brush. BUT once you get to about halfway through the product, it becomes difficult to get enough product on the brush. So I have to resort to tipping the bottle sideways and essentially fish for the polish, which can become a bit of a pain especially with the unwieldy square shape.

Application

I love the 3CE brush. It is thin enough to precisely push the product around and thick enough so that you can cover the entire nail in 3 (or 5 for the thumb) strokes. However, the rectangular cap wasn't my best friend, as the shape is a little difficult to grip comfortably.

Formula

The application might be marvellous but I definitely cannot say the same for the formula. It's a bit of a temperamental top coat, with an insanely long drying time. It's not marketed as a fast-dry top coat but a normal layer needs around 5-10 minutes to become dry to touch and over an hour to become fully dry. I definitely do not recommend this if you are an impatient person or have better things to do than to not use your hands for over an hour. It's also not a good idea to paint your nails with this top coat before going to bed or it'll be wrinkle-galore when you get up in the morning. Even hours after I paint my nails, I still manage to get fingerprint marks indented into the manicure ...

However, after careful application and sufficient drying time, it has an amazing shine and also levels out any lumps and bumps. If I apply a thin/medium layer, the finish probably lasts for about 24-28 hours before giving into the forces of nature. For some inexplicable reason, the colour dulls and the polish becomes scarred and dented over the next few days. This happens to every single polish I use from whichever brand, even those from 3CE. It never lasts for over a week without me feeling grossed out by the state of my nails. BUT, if you pile a heavy layer on top and manage to wait for the century it takes to dry, it will give an AMAZING freshly painted kind of shine for the next week. This top coat also seems to be good at preventing chipping. I've only ever had tip wear, but never large chunks peeling off my nails.

Final Thoughts

I will continue to use this bottle until the end, but it's not something I will purchase again. It gives my manicure a lovely shine and levels like a dream, but I honestly wreck half my nails every time because I can't sit still for the hour it takes to dry.

Rating - 5/10
Repurchase - No

Thanks for reading !!

[REVIEW] Sana: Nameraka Honpo Isoflavone Soy Milk Cream

This little gem is a very popular and raved-about skincare item from the Japanese market. I finally managed to get my hands on a jar on my travels and have been using it daily for a few months now. It contains soy milk isoflavone, which boasts moisturising properties that will give you 'mochi-hada' (mochi-like) skin. From my basic understanding of Japanese and the aid of Google Translate, it seems that this cream acts like a mask to lock in moisture and will promise you plump, soft skin.

Cost: Around $10AUD (So cheap!)

Packaging

I don't ever usually have too much to complain about when it comes to Asian skincare/cosmetics packaging and this cream fits that bill. It is housed in a sturdy white plastic container with the label attached around the outside. Unfortunately, the entire label is in Japanese, which made it difficult to actually identify the product when I was shopping in Japan. There is 50mL of cream (yay for travelling), which will last a good couple of months. It doesn't come with its own spatula, so I just clean my hands thoroughly before use or you can always use another spatula.

Application

I always use this moisturiser as the last step in my skincare routine. I started using this cream when it was still warm in Sydney, so it was exclusively a night-time product, but I have since switched it to day time use as well as the colder months arrived. The cream is white and has a thick, gel-like consistency, which is very easy to work with. I only need around two pea-sized amounts to cover my entire face and neck, and the thicker texture makes it easy to add in a mini facial massage too.

Formula

Alright, now we come to the breakdown of this product. The star ingredient, which the cream is creatively named for, are soy isoflavones. I did a little digging and found that isoflavones are almost exclusively sourced from the legume (or bean) family and have molecular similarities with human oestrogen. It's mainly an antioxidant, and protects against oxidative stress caused by UVB radiation. The use of topical isoflavones (aka phytoestrogen) in post-menopausal women (this was the study cohort) is also linked to anti-aging and production of dermal collagen, with improvement in facial dryness and increased hyaluronic acid for skin elasticity. So basically this ingredient seems like something incredible, which promises a ton of amazing effects with a couple of studies to back up these claims.

I did a quick search on cosDNA and came up with a list of ingredients. Unfortunately, it seems like many of the materials used are comedogenic or have an increased likelihood of clogging pores. The thick texture is very suggestive of this as it leaves a slight film-y feeling, almost like a sleeping mask would. In light of this, I probably would not suggest this product to those who have oily skin or are prone to acne. This is also probably not a good choice for those who have sensitive skin as it does contain fatty alcohols, which can be irritative.

Personally, I find that it does give me very soft and supple skin immediately after use but I'm not overly fond of the mask-like feeling on my face after application. It does seem to act as a moisture barrier, but it's not something that lasts beyond a few hours. I don't feel a marked improvement in my skin from using this moisturiser and all the skin softening effects seem to be quite temporary. I haven't experienced any of the effects that isoflavones advertise and my skin also dried out during the day (middle of a very cold winter in Sydney right now). It hasn't broken me out any more than usual, but I break out no more than once a month. I use it as a day cream, but I don't recommend it for day use if you wear foundation/bb cream as it would just 'sit' on top of the moisturiser and not blend particularly well.

Final Thoughts

This is a cheap, portable and no-fuss facial moisturiser, which does give you some temporary benefits. It's decent enough for the price you pay, but I'd only suggest using it at night or to relieve dryness. I wouldn't recommend this for those who have sensitive, oily/acne-prone skin and to patch-test first if you are of those skin types. I can kind of see where the hype comes from with the unique texture and the use of isoflavone, but it hasn't really amazed me at all.

Rating - 5/10
Repurchase - No.

Thanks for reading !!

A Vaniday Out

Vaniday is a website (available internationally), which basically makes booking your next beauty appointment so easy. As an added bonus, they've also got heaps of perks for members! We were lucky enough to be approached by Vaniday and we are going to take you through our experience.

First off was choosing from all of the different treatments on offer and there is SO MUCH to choose from. There's everything you need from top to toe, including hair, makeup, nails and even a wide selection for our male counterparts. It took lots of browsing and general difficulty trying to choose just one treatment but we both settled on a relaxation massage. All the Sydney options can be found right here (< clickity click). All the businesses list all their treatments with detailed descriptions with prices, making it really clear and simple to choose one that suits you. Booking it was incredibly easy with step-by-step instructions in massive font where you can choose the time and even the therapist if applicable. You can see all the available times and we managed to book an appointment together for the next day.

Unfortunately, our treatment day ended up being a bit bumpy. The massage parlour that we booked did not update their available times on the website and could not accomodate us. We had booked the day before our treatment and did not find this out until 15 minutes before we were due to start. Our hiccup was dealt with in a very professional manner with one of Vaniday's team and she managed to help us book a similar treatment at a different place. We had to pay more, but we were grateful for her help in calling around to different places and checking availabilities for the day. Super impressed!

So we made our way to the massage parlour (Andaman in Sydney) during the afternoon and entry was by a creepy looking set of stairs wedged between two shops. We climbed up and was greeted by one of the therapists in a Thai-inspired room playing soothing music. We booked to have our treatments together, so we had to wait for a second therapist to arrive. We were offered a nice steaming cup of barley tea before going in for our treatment. We decided to go for an hour long relaxing aroma oil massage, which was delivered professionally and loosened up all the stress over the last few weeks of intense uni/work hours.

Barley tea upon arrival.

Sneaky shot of Eliza with the interiors.

Final Thoughts:

Daisy's thoughts: This experience was my very first encounter with thai massages and Vaniday made the process very simple and easy to book. I liked that each Spa had its own reviews and ratings from people who'd visited before so there's a level of comfort knowing you're not going into something dodgy and might get kidnapped or something (if you do decide to trust street-side promoters etc.) My final thoughts are: thai massages do hurt a little. Having your butt massaged is slightly weird. I liked having my head and feet massaged and having massages are a great way to loosen up and relax. (Also broke a nail from the lady being too enthusiastic in soothing the knots in my fingers...)

Overall, Vaniday makes finding services fairly easy, as it has everything grouped nicely in one central location. The website is super easy to use and there are discounts available frequently once you sign up! We loved that there was little to no hassle and you can literally book treatments a couple hours before if you really wanted a pick-me-up after school or work. The biggest downside we found was that not all the salons will update their appointment books accurately on the site. This means that you may have to call the salon before your appointment to confirm in order to avoid disappointment.

You can easily register via this link for $25 off your first service!

[REVIEW] Scinic - Enjoy Perfect Sun Cream SPF50+

Sunscreen is the one step that I never forget in the mornings. It's incredibly important to me as I am particularly fair and tend to redden and burn easily. Besides offering protection from cancer and sunburn, sunscreen's UV blockage ability also helps to slow down ageing. I live in Australia (hello super strong UV) and spend A LOT of time driving, so naturally I gravitate towards a higher SPF and broad spectrum cover sunscreens. Keep in mind that a higher SPF doesn't mean that the sunscreen lasts longer, it's just a measure of how much UV is filtered e.g. SPF15 filters 93% while SPF30 filters out 97%. Don't forget to get sunscreen that covers both UV-A and UV-B !! So getting back to the review, I basically bought this sunscreen cause I was running out of my previous one and wanted to try something new.

Cost - I bought 2 for ~12AUD cause they were having a buy 1 get 1 free promotion cause I just can't resist.

Packaging

The packaging is super simple but functional. It's not super pretty, and the gradient yellow tube does look a little dated. However, the squeeze tube packaging is hygienic, durable and extremely travel friendly. The cap is twisted off easily and you can very precisely control the amount of product you need.

Formula

The sunscreen claims to be 'natural sun care derived from more than 60% natural ingredients', and is also waterproof which is a great bonus. Here is a list for all those who are interested. No comedogenic ingredients are used and there is an extensive list of natural extracts and oils as well. I also love the fact that it's broad spectrum and high SPF.

However, the texture of the sunscreen itself is somewhat thicker than I expected and it has a strong 'sunscreen smell' as well. I usually rub the cream between my palms and press it thoroughly all over my face, because it'd probably take a lot of sunscreen to get it all over my face via conventional spreading. I also wouldn't suggest flash photography after putting this product on as it will probably showcase a lovely ghost complexion.

Final Thoughts

It's a sunscreen, and that's basically it. A little expensive too, but I guess you do get better ingredients packed into it than the supermarket varieties. My expectations for Korean sunscreen is also particularly high because the market is so saturated and there are so many innovative products out there, so this sunscreen is a little lacklustre.

Rating - 5/10
Repurchase - No

Thanks for reading !!

[SWATCH] Pony Effect Nail Lacquer: Sea Salt

I'm sure that if you're familiar with Asian beauty, you would know who Pony is. She's one of the most famous Korean make-up artists and has released her own line of products including several gorgeously packaged nail polishes. I jumped at the chance to get my hands on some and Sea Salt was one that I picked up. The packaging of her polishes are AMAZING. The bottle is a hefty, smooth glass bottle with a rose-gold cap, housed in individual rose-gold boxes (that is shiny enough to almost be a mirror). Read on to find out if it's just as beautiful inside as it is outside!

Cost - RRP AUD$7-8

ALL PHOTOS HAVE:

• Innisfree Eco Base Coat
• Pony Effect Nail Lacquer - 3 coats of Sea Salt
• Poshe Super-Fast Drying Top Coat - 3 coats

Application

First of all, the brush is nice and flexible, giving you good control as you paint. It's probably similar to an Essie brush and fans out easily during application. But that is where the good part ends ... the formula on this one is a little bit of a disaster. The first coat goes on like a streaky, patchy mess, especially if you apply thin coats (which is what I tend to do). I applied the second coat a little thicker with a very light touch (the brush was barely touching the surface of my nail) and the coverage was better. However, it doesn't self level very well, so I had to apply everything as evenly as I could. I had to top everything off with a third coat because on some nails, the second coat wasn't quite even enough.

The last challenge was the top coat. This nail polish absolutely REFUSED to work with my top coat. I had to apply multiple layers of top coat because the polish kept shrinking around the sides, which never happens with any other polish that I have tried with my current top coat. Thus my cuticles in all the photos look like a war zone despite all my cleaning up efforts.

Colour + Finish

Sea Salt is a beautiful bright green leaning blue creme. It's like a Tiffany blue colour with a tad more green in it (I'm not sure your monitor would pick that up though). It is such a pretty colour and ALMOST worth the disastrous application, but it is definitely not unique. I'd probably recommend picking up China Glaze's For Audrey over this one, not just because of the better formulation, but due to the fact that Pony's nail polishes are a little more difficult to get your hands on outside of Korea. Otherwise, this colour would suit most skin tones and would be a nice change from your usual pinks and beiges without being too obnoxious.

Longevity + Removal

Most polish tends to last about a week on me with some minor tip wear. My mani started looking quite ugly 24 hours after application because the nail polish shrank a little more around the edges. Removal was like any other creme polish: fast and easy.

Rating: 5/10

Thank you for reading !

[REVIEW] Missha The Style: Beautiful Tint in Moisture Red

Give your lips both moisture and color with this Beautiful Tint Gloss.
The soft brush tip makes it easy to apply.
The ingredient, Xylitol, gives your lips a cool and refreshing feeling. (misshaus.com)

I can never say no to a good tint. I had actually picked up the pink one in the series years and years ago. I really liked the way the tint applied, so it was only natural for me to pick up the red and orange (which I will probably do a review about later on) versions. I tend to like using a lip product for a while before trying another one so I can form a stronger opinion about it, but obviously this means that I have a whole host of untried products (opened products also makes my germophobe side squirm). So I eventually got around to using this one after I lost my Etude House Cherry Tint, which was a similar if not dead-on dupe for this shade.

Cost - I bought mine in Korea for less than AUD10

Packaging

Korean packaging is KING OF ALL THE PACKAGING. This tint comes in a self-explanatory cardboard box that's chic and semi-reflective. The actual tint tube doesn't make you want to display it alongside your expensive alcohol, but it's sleek and functional. It's plastic and shiny - the cap is silver and the body reflects the colour inside the tube. The top twists open (has never come loose in my bag) and reveals a wand with a BRUSH applicator. It's thin, flexible and it makes my life easier.

Application & Formula

It's a BRUSH !! This flimsy-looking, unassuming applicator is absolutely fabulous. It allows for extremely precise application, which is great as this tint stains very easily (and you don't want it in the wrong places). It sets fairly quickly, so application must be rapid, but that is fairly easy to get used to. It definitely also has a cooling effect on the lips, not unlike mint formulations. I don't mind it, but it may be a bit of a turn off for some. Intensity can also be built up from a sheer wash of colour to a full on pink-red. You can pile on layers and this will still feel incredibly lightweight. I suggest a lip-scrub for those with dry lips and this isn't a super moisturising product but it doesn't make the lips feel like a desert. I get by without having to prep my lips beforehand, which is great as I don't have a lot of time to spend on making my face.

The colour fades throughout the day, especially with eating and drinking. Depending on how oily your food is, it may leave a nice stain behind.

The only complaint I have with this is that the formula is a little thin, so if you don't apply/spread it properly then you might get a patchy lip. Just gotta be quick or pile it on until its no longer patchy.

Colour

The colour itself is not a true red, but what I usually dub the 'Korean Red' which is basically a cool pink-leaning-red tone. Under certain lightings, it can almost pass as a hot pink. It's definitely a flattering colour that suits most skin types. It has the teeth-whitening and face-brightening effect, making you look effortlessly polished even with a simple eye look.

Final Thoughts

This tint certainly does it's job, and does it well. I have not tried the orange one yet, but this one is miles and miles ahead of the pink version in terms of pigmentation. Keep in mind that this isn't a true classic red, so if that's what you're looking for then I suggest that you skip this. Otherwise this is a great product and is my current everyday go to lip product.

Rating - 8/10
Repurchase - Yes

Thanks for reading !!

[REVIEW] Violet Voss "Holy Grail" Palette

Really sleek packaging! Comes with a full sized mirror

How gorgeous is "Cranberry Splash"?! "Wine N Dine" is a lovely deep burgundy also

It's really no wonder this is a social media fave 

What Violet Voss say:
“Violet Voss Cosmetics is proud to present 20 highly pigmented eye shadows in a variety of must have finishes. Our PRO eye shadows are made with the highest quality ingredients and formulated to allow for smooth blending.  The perfect go-to for any occasion to create your flawless sexy look.“

That feel when your eyeshadow and lips match... (Wearing Freshlook One-Day in Blue!)

•••

I don’t usually wear any eyeshadow on a day to day basis, but when I am feeling particularly adventurous or looking for that extra glam on the eyes there is no other palette I reach for other than Violet Voss’ “Holy Grail” palette. The colours in this palette all range towards the brown based/ reddish side of the spectrum and I feel that they work extremely well with Asian skin tones. The shadows are extremely pigmented and you really don’t need very much for a statement look. 

The colours I tend to go towards for a “normal” look are : Cool Beans, Teddy Bear and Brownie points 

but I especially love the shimmery burgundies and red shadows! Cranberry splash was the colour that made me say “You need this palette” in the first place and “On fleek” really is pretty on fleek. Those two are the ones I’m wearing in the above photo.

All in all, getting the Holy Grail will take a pretty big chunk out of your wallet, and it hurts just that little extra living in Australia when the shipping fee is even more expensive than the actual product but I’ve had no regrets. There are 20 decently sized colours in the palette, so if you calculate- it’s around $6 for a colour which is pretty okay in my opinion, especially for these gorgeous shades!

If you have the cash to spare, I would definitely recommend. But if you don’t, it’s not worth breaking the bank for :) Not a “must” have” but definitely a “nice to have”.

•••

Pigmentation : 10/10

Fall Out: 9/10 

Lasting power: 8/10 

Value: 8/10 

Packaging: 10/10 

Rating:  9/10 

Would buy again? One palette is enough for me! Colours are so pigmented they will last forever :)

$120 incl. Shipping to Aus 

[SWATCH] Butter London: Bluey

I saw a photo of this bottle somewhere and decided that I needed to own this beautiful, shimmery, bewitching blue polish. Butter London has always impressed me with their products, especially the shimmers and glitters and so I did not think twice before snapping this one up. It also doesn't help that I'm a sucker for anything blue and shiny.

Cost - RRP AUD$19.95

ALL PHOTOS HAVE:

• Innisfree Eco Base Coat
• Butter London Bluey - 3 coats
• 3CE Nail Lacquer Top Coat

Application

Butter London's brush is thin and flexible, allowing fairly precise application without too much fuss. This polish's brush did not seem to pick up enough product to cover my nail in one go, so I found that the best way to apply the colour smoothly was to not wipe off any excess as I would normally.

In terms of application, it is a disappointingly sheer polish, so I suggest layering it over a similar shade of blue or white/black. It's very sheer and patchy with the first coat, so I ended up with 3 layers of polish and slight VNL (more noticeable in real life).

Colour & Finish

I'll say now that the photos are kinda deceiving. It shows the polish as being super gorgeous and multi-dimensional, but in real life it's not as sensational. In the bottle, there are shimmery green flecks mixed in with the blue, which almost disappear during application (unless you step into direct sunlight). So it looks more flat on the nail than what it looks like in the bottle. I definitely suggest top coat to bring out all the shine you can get.

Criticisms aside, this is a nice blue if you don't compare it to what the bottle projects. It's dark but wearable and suitable for many skin types. I wouldn't pin this one to be an office-safe colour as it is quite bright and bold.

Longevity & Removal

Nail polish lasts a decent amount of time on me, and of course none of the Butter London polishes have been a disappointment. Removal wasn't stain-free though, there was a slight blue tinge left over on my nails/fingers so I suggest being careful when scrubbing off the polish.

Rating: 6/10

Thank you for reading !

[REVIEW] Tony Moly Cats Wink Clear Pact in #02 (Clear Beige)

What they say:

“This powder foundation compact comes in the cutest cat design and to maintain oil control, help minimize the appearance of pores, and create a more even-toned complexion. Free from parabens, minerals, ethanol, tar and benzophenone, this foundation ensures you look purr-fect any time, any day.“

•••

Well of course I bought this for the packaging… what can you expect? It’s the perfect carry-on compact and it’s completely adorable. The product itself isn’t too bad either, but it’s not the best powder I’ve used. It does okay at making your complexion smooth and matte but if you have the slightest hint of dry and flaking skin then this really emphasises that. Would recommend if you have perfect smooth skin but is a tad oily/ have a little discolouration. Would not recommend if you’re acne prone/ have giant pores because this will really make them stand out and looking like you’ve got a nose full of little whiteheads. Other than that I feel like the cuteness of this compact overrides any flaws of the actual product because you can always replace the product with something else. Makes for a great little mirror to carry around.

•••

Product:  7/10 

Feel on face: 6/10 It’s a little drying

Scent: 7/10 (has a faint florally powder scent)

Packaging: 10/10 

Rating:  6.5/10 

Would buy again? Might try the #1 in Clear Skin

$14 at Tony Moly

[SWATCH] OPI DS: Reserve

What's not to love about a pink holographic OPI polish? DS Reserve debuted way back in 2008, but still at reasonable prices today (ahem DSORIGINAL). It's not as holographic as the really old DS polishes, but its still pretty and more unique compared to the normal cremes, shimmers and glitters that dominate OPI's lines.

Cost - RRP AUD$20-ish?

ALL PHOTOS HAVE:

• Innisfree Eco Base Coat
• OPI DS Reserve 3 thin coats

Application

I'm a fan of the Pro-wide brush because it makes it easy and quick to paint an even layer of polish on. DS Reserve was of a good consistency, extremely easy to apply and there was no cuticle flooding. I tend to paint thin coats because I have no patience to wait for my nails to dry. My first coat was very sheer and there was still visible nail line on my second coat, so I opted for a third coat for insurance but you could probably get away with two thicker coats.

Colour + Finish

The colour is a gorgeous rosy pink with a scattered holo. It's soft and feminine, but the sparkle gives it a little extra impact that you don't get with a simple creme polish. The pink is versatile enough to work with most skin tones and (hopefully) won't make your fingers look lobster-y. I reckon its a office-safe colour because it's subtle and muted enough to go largely unnoticed, until you stick your fingers into the sunlight (:.

My photos show the polish without a top coat, which was quite glossy but I would recommend adding a layer of top coat to bring out the gorgeous holo even more.

Longevity + Removal

Polish doesn't tend to chip and lasts about a week on my nails. This polish wasn't any different, even without top coat. Removal was smooth and easy, with no staining and my fingers didn't look like they were glitterbombed.

Rating: 9/10

Thank you for reading !

[FRAGRANCE REVIEW] Roses De Chloe

What they say:

“Roses de Chloé is an invitation to grace. Luminous and subtle, it inspires and evokes a unique facet of the signature Chloé rose, capturing the spirit of the Chloé woman. The fragrance exudes an immediate and incredible freshness, derived from the top note bergamot. This sensation is gradually joined by a heart of Damascena rose essence, modernized with a magnolia accord. The trail on the skin is of white musk and amber, the signature base of the Chloé house.“

•••

I can honestly say I’m a true & loyal Chloe fangirl. The first ever scent that I’d ever coveted (and owned) was the signature Chloe perfume- and that started me off on a whirlwind romance with perfumes. When I saw that Chloe launched Roses, I had to see if it lived up to my expectations of Chloe fragrances in general, and it didn’t disappoint. Roses de Chloe maintains that trademark Chloe aura, not too overpowering but enough to allow those around the wearer to ponder “what is that?” Roses is quite a bit softer than the original Chloe and it has a wonderfully not quite girl but not yet mature woman feel. Just right I think, for someone in their 20’s to 30’s. It’s light, soft and the rose makes it just that tad more feminine than the original. It’s not an overly complicated scent- it doesn’t really change much (on me, at least) as the day goes on- but it’s wonderful and allows for just that touch of floral romance to accompany you throughout your day.

I currently own around 30 different perfumes, and Roses is one of the fragrances I find myself reaching for the most. I don’t really have a signature scent anymore as I feel like my tastes are shifting as I mature but as you can see in the photo I’ve used a generous amount for a year! It’s a lovely gem to have in your collection- and I find that I really like Chloe’s take on a rosy fragrance better than other brands :)

One thing though: The bottle can get a little rusty and gross- so make sure you polish and clean it often if you want to keep it looking pretty on the vanity!

•••

Strength (Sillage):  6/10 (moderate) A faint trace at arms length

Longevity: 6/10 (moderate) I would say maybe 4-5 hours

Scent: 8.5/10 

Packaging: 9/10 

Rating:  8/10 

Would buy again? Let me get through one bottle first.

$140 for the 75ml in Myer

[SWATCH] Butter London: Two Fingered Salute

Sometimes I feel as though the market is completely saturated and polish creators are hard-pressed to produce something unique that doesn't look like an abomination (ahem OPI Pineapple's Have Peelings Too!). But then I get my grabby hands on Butter London's Two Fingered Salute, which was released a few years ago, and all is well again.

Cost - RRP AUD$19.95

ALL PHOTOS HAVE:

• Orly - Bonder
• Butter London - 3 coats of Two Fingered Salute
• 3CE Nail Lacquer - Top Coat

Application

Application was no fuss, but it did need 3 thin coats for me to be decently happy with the final product. Butter London's brush is thin and flexible, which allows for good application. I've had my ups and downs with different polishes, but this one was a good brush. The polish was very easy to apply and spread even with the glitter in it. It spread evenly, albeit sheerly due to the fact that I tend to apply thin coats.

Colour + Finish

This colour is absolutely unique. It's a beautiful muted sage green base with bronze flecks scattered throughout. I honestly have never seen a polish quite like it and I totally recommend that you check it out. It may clash a little with olive/yellow skin tones as it is such a warm colour, but I would personally advise you to maybe see it in person and colour match it to your skin. Due to it's muted tone, I think it would be a refreshing and gorgeous office-safe colour. It's a great way to test a different colour without looking like a unicorn peed all over your fingers.

Longevity + Removal

Polish tends to last decently well on me no matter what, and honestly I haven't had many issues with any nail polish, including this one. Removal was not super smooth, because the brassy flecks will take a little elbow grease to get off and if you're not careful, it will get all over your fingers.

Rating: 8/10

Thank you for reading ! 3 thin coats - easy to apply not very glossy - needs top coat medium to remove - brassy flecks dificult to remov e + all over fingers

[REVIEW] Holika Holika White Wine Therapy Sleeping Mask

White Wine Therapy Sleeping Mask

What they say:
“Whitening sleeping pack that makes your skin moist and bright with water drop moisture membrane of white wine .“

A+ packaging - indulge in some white wine without the side effects HAHA

Okay first off let me just tell you that the packaging is simply so appealing to me. It’s a wine barrel!!! And (not pictured) but the box that it comes in is an octagonal wine box shape too… aaaah cannot deal. Anyway, the smell of this product is pretty freaking amazing also. It’s kind of fruity, not too overwhelming when it dries and makes applying so fun, especially with a little spatula that it comes with. I chose the white wine version (Holika Holika also does a Red Wine mask, same visual concept) because I sometimes have pretty dull skin and I need that brightening effect- which I believe this product really achieves for me. Whenever I stop using it, there is a noticeable difference with my skin in the morning- less soft, less supple and less bright. 

I really do like this product, but if my skin is feeling raw(?) I don’t know if that’s the right word but anyhow- when I use this I get a tingly, slightly burning sensation. If you don’t like that feeling or if your skin is extra sensitive then I would recommend getting a sample and testing it out first. But other than that this is one of my favourite sleeping masks! I’ve also got the raved about Pumpkin mask but I’m waiting till I finish this first- then I’ll make a comparison :) 

Feel on the face :  8/10 - can get sticky when applying/ also that burning feeling (but won’t affect your sleep!)

Effectiveness: 9/10 

Scent: 8/10 

Packaging: 10/10 

Rating:  9/10 

Would buy again? YAS

Around $15 on eBay 

[SWATCH] Essie: Ballet Slippers

On my never-ending search for a pretty pink polish, I came across Essie's Ballet Slippers. It's been more difficult than I originally anticipated to find a decently opaque baby pink polish. Ballet Slippers seemed to be one of Essie's more popular colours and a staple in their collection, so naturally I had to go out and see for myself. Continue reading to find out if Essie's Ballet Slippers reached my expectations.

Cost - RRP AUD$16.95

ALL PHOTOS ARE IN INDIRECT SUNLIGHT AND HAVE:

• Orly - Bonder
• Essie - 4 coats of Ballet Slippers
• 3CE Nail Lacquer - Top Coat

Application

The Essie brush is thin and flexible, allowing for precise application. Ballet Slippers applies smoothly and self-levels well. I found that it was easier to apply in thinner coats and build up the opacity in that way. Overall, it applied fairly easily, as expected for a creme/jelly polish.

Colour + Finish

Ballet Slippers is a sheer creme/jelly baby pink polish, and that's all it was meant to be. It's a very flattering neutral, tending cool-toned pink that would work on most skin tones. It's a great colour for the office and would make the perfect pair with a white wedding dress.

The photos show a painstaking 4 layers with a thick coat of top coat to boot. My impatience whilst applying, meant that I didn't wait for each layer to dry completelt and so my nails became bubble central. It does dry glossy but top coat definitely gave it a better shine and kept the bubbles at bay. I recommend keeping Ballet Slippers as it was intended - a sheer polish. It's definitely not worth the blood, sweat and tears I went through to just obtain visible nail line.

Longevity + Removal

Polish tends to last around a week regardless of brand and Ballet Slippers was no exception. Removal wasn't difficult, but did take a little longer due to the four coats.

Rating: 6/10 as an opaque pink polish, but I would rate it a 9/10 sheer polish.