NEW Sigma ‘Extravaganza Face Kit’

18K Gold Brushes anyone?

Ok, now I know that this kit won’t be for everyone .... but ‘WOW’, isn’t it pretty :)

I think that this face kit would be great for the girl that has almost everything and is wanting some ‘luxury’ in her makeup bag. With four face brushes that have 18k gold plated ferrules and natural bristles they come together with a deluxe carry case which is perfect for travelling and they just scream LUXURY!!! :)

Brushes included:

F90 – Fan Brush

F92 – Blush Brush

F94 – Kabuki Brush

F95 – Powder Brush

Of course you will have to pay for these babies and that price is $210.00 which makes them a little out of reach for the average teenage girl wanting to buy a few good brushes, hehehe but something we can all dream about.

Visit Sigma Beauty HERE for great makeup brushes.

NEW Vegan Makeup Brushes - Sigma's 'Mr & Mrs Bunny' Kits

Many people prefer to use vegan products and makeup brushes are no exception. Sigma has now added to their family of 'Sigmax' brushes by bringing out the 'Mr & Mrs Bunny' Collection.  There are two kits, one is a Travel sized kit and the other a full sized Esential Kit. Mr kits are in the classic black colour and Mrs kits are in a pretty pastel blue with pink ferrules.

Brushes included in the Travel Kit are:

E30 - Pencil Brush

E40 - Tapered Blending Brush

E55 - Eye Shading Brush

E65 - Small Angle Brush

F30 - Large Powder Brush

F40 - Large Angled Contour Brush

F60 - Foundation Brush

Travel Kit sells for $59.00

Brushes included in the Essential Kit are:

E05 - Eyeliner Brush

E30 - Pencil Brush

E40 - Tapered Blending Brush

E55 - Eye Shading Brush

E60 - Large Shader Brush

E65 - Small Angle Brush

E70 - Medium Angle Brush

F30 - Large Powder Brush

F40 - Large Angled Contour Brush

F50 - Duo Fibre Brush

F60 - Foundation Brush

F70 - Concealer Brush

Essential Kit sells for $109.00

* All images are the property of SigmaBeauty

NEW 'Make Me Up' Travel Edition Brushes by Sigma Beauty

The next new product to be launched by Sigma Beauty is the 'Make Me Up' Travel Edition kit. You may remember the wonderful 'Make Me Up' kit that came out earlier this year that contained 12 full sized brushes in a multifunctional container? Well this is a 'Travel sized' edition of that.  

This kit has 7 fun sized brushes chosen from the 'Essentials Kit' and comes in four colour combinations - 'Make Me Blush' (Coral), 'Make Me Classy' (Black), 'Make Me Cool' (Aqua) and 'Make Me Crazy' (Purple).

Brushes included are:

E30 - Pencil Brush

E40 - Tapered Blending Brush

E55 - Eye Shading Brush

E65 - Small Angle Brush

F30 - Large Powder Brush

F40 - Large Angled Contour Brush

F60 - Foundation Brush

You know, I wasn't too sure if I would use travel sized brushes because I really love my original Sigma Brushes and take them wherever I go (just ask my friends, they love me for it, hehehe :)) but after trying out 'The Cities Collection' and enjoying the convenient lightweight size of them I think they are amazing, I find myself using them all the time at home and will definitely be taking them when I sleep away from now on :)

Travel sized brushes are designed to help keep weight down while traveling and they take up less room in your suitcase/bag, the handy container will protect the brushes from damage and also provide a convenient place to put them on arrival. They are also a great 'starting set' for young girls just getting in to makeup, they are easy to hold for small hands and have all the basic brushes you need and it's a super Christmas Gift idea.

Make Me Blush - Coral

Make Me Crazy - Purple

Make Me Classy - Black

Make Me Cool - Aqua

These great kits sell for $59.00 each and you can find all Sigma Brushes HERE

*  Photos property of 'Sigma Beauty'

NEW 'The Cities' Travel Collection Brushes by Sigma Beauty

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, Sigma Beauty are releasing some wonderful new products in the coming weeks and this series is the first to hit the store!! :) Sigma Beauty's Limited Edition Travel Collection is glamorous and fashionable and contains seven travel sized brushes from the 'Essential' and 'Premium' kits.

There are four different kits representing four different Cities.

London - with it's 18k gold ferrules (metal bits) and Chestnut coloured handles ($89)

Paris - having red ferrules and handles to represent the Romance of this City ($59)

Tokyo - in recognition of this trend setting City it has electrifying Pink handles and ferrules ($59)

New York - every stylish and sleek in black with silver ferrules ($59)

Each of these kits contains the following brushes:

E05 Eyeliner 

E35 Tapered Blending

E45 Small Tapered Blending

E60 Large Shader

F05 Small Contour

F15 Duo Fibre

F30 Large Powder

The brushes come in a functional travel sized container in the corresponding colour that also converts into two brush holders to keep you organised on your travels.

Visit Sigma Beauty for these and other great brushes and kits!! :)

LONDON

PARIS

TOKYO

NEW YORK

* this is a pre-scheduled post
* photos property of SigmaBeauty

Sneak Peek of 'NEW' Sigma products ...

Sigma always have something new up their sleeve and this time around it's more than one NEW thing!!! In fact there are quite a few new product releases about to take place over November and December. Some of them are in fact brand new releases and some are repackaged into more convenient sets.

As I haven't trialed or even seen these products in real life yet, I can only show you a few pictures of what's in store and update you as they are released for sale so if you're looking for something for Christmas for yourself or as a gift for someone special, you might want to consider Sigma for that special gift.

Also, a little birdie told me that there will be a 'Black Friday Sale' at Sigma, Black Friday is 24th November which is a day I will be away, so I'll arrange to have a post scheduled for this!!!

The Cities Collection (travel size)

Make Me Up Collection (Travel Edition)

The Bunny Collection (Vegan friendly)

The Extravaganza Face Kit (18k gold plated)

The Extravaganza Complete Kit (18k gold plated)

* All photos curtesy of 'SigmaBeauty'

GIVEAWAY - Sigma Beauty ...

I'm having a Giveaway on my YouTube Channel :D

For a chance to win either:

Your choice of two of the Bare, Flare and Dare eyeshadow pallets
$50.00 Gift Voucher
$20.00 Gift Voucher

From Sigma Beauty, just check out the video and follow the instructions!!!

This Giveaway closes on 1st November, 2011 (Australian time) and you can enter once a day.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! :)

NEW Sigmax Synthetic Collection!

Sigma have added to their range of synthetic brushes recently with five new brushes, it's always nice to hear there are more synthetic brushes abailable.  They have released one more large face brush and four small face brushes which you could almost say were miniatures of the larger ones.  I am in the process of trialing these new additions for a review which I will have on my Channel shortly.  In the meantime you can read what Sigma has to say about their new brushes below.

With its tapered design, the F86 is perfect for application of liquid, cream and powder products to precise areas on the face. The F86 is also an ideal contouring brush. It applies the perfect amount of product to the right areas for that flawless, sculpted look that every woman desires. This brush is revolutionary to the beauty industry and very unique in quality and design. It is the perfect addition to any makeup kit. The F86 will be sold individually for $16 or as part of the Synthetic Kabuki Kit (F80, F82, F84 and F86) sold for $56.

The new Synthetic Precision Kit contains the P80, P82, P84 and P86. The P80 is a small, flat top brush that is ideal to conceal blemishes, sun spots and small imperfections on the skin. It can be used to stipple concealer on defined areas, followed by precise application of setting powder.  The rounded P82 brush was designed to mimic your fingertips, making this brush ideal to apply eye shadow primers.  It can also be used for the precise application of highlight shades on the bridge of the nose, cheek bones and cupid’s bow. The small angled top of the P84 makes this brush perfect for precise contouring of the sides of the nose and contouring the hollows of the cheek bones. It can also be used to highlight the brow bone. Lastly, the unique tapered shape of the P86 brush is ideal for application of concealer under the eyes and in defined areas such as the sides of the nose, chin and around the mouth. This brush can also be used to perfectly apply concealer around the lips to prevent color bleeding. Each of these brushes will be sold individually for $14 or as the Synthetic Precision Kit (P80, P82, P84 and P86) for $49.

If you want to try out all of the synthetic must haves, the Synthetic Essential Kit is for you! This collection contains all eight face brushes specifically designed for a high definition, flawless makeup application. The shape, density and height of each brush were designed to complement the different areas and shapes of the face. The Synthetic Essential Kit has everything you need to achieve a perfect and flawless look!  It is now available from Sigma Beauty for $99.

GIVEAWAY - Sigma Premium Professional Brush Kit

Thanks so much to Sigma for providing the prize for this giveaway which is one complete 'Premium Professional Brush Kit with Roll' including 15 unique brushes which consist of 7 face brushes, 7 eye brushes and a lip brush in a faux leather brush roll. I would recommend the Sigma Premium Brush Kit for makeup enthusiasts that already have the 'basic' brushes. This kit normally sells for $149.00 (US) is currently on sale for $139.00 (US). For your chance to win one please be sure to watch my video

I like the Sigma brushes but I find some of them much more useful than others, my favs are the 'big fluff', 'lip brush' (L05), 'short shader' (E20) along with the 'Small Eye Liner' (E10).  This is a 'Professional' kit so I can't recommend it for people just starting out in makeup, it's more for 'enthusiasts' and those who may want to get into makeup as a profession.  I do find the face brushes shed a little when you first get them.  They do seem to wash well but I've only washed them once so far so time will tell.

I can't compare to other 'higher end' brushes as I haven't tried other brands.  This is my opinion as someone who has only really used the cheaper brands.

Sigma Brushes:   http://tinyurl.com/lilcammobrushes 

Cooler Weather Favs ...

So tomorrow is the start of Winter and it's been getting a little cooler .... I know I live in a warm climate, semi tropical to be exact but it still gets a little chilly every now and then and it's great to get all warm and cozy.

I've been loving my new travel mug from 'Typo' that I bought, it's so nice to have a warm drink on the way to school or work in the mornings.  I also bought some nice Jarrah coffee mixes to drink, my fav right now is 'Latte white choc-a-mocha' yuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmm!!!

Another thing I've been lovin lately is my 'blanket', hahahahaha yeah I know it's just a blanket but it's so comfy and I can snuggle up in the loungeroom and watch a good show, I had it for a couple of years so it's well loved and brings me lots of comfort  :)

I really really like the 'Wild Grape' loose eyeshadow from Noella Beauty Works, I've been using it for several days now and I'm very happy with it.

Some other makeup items I've been using and loving alot lately are my Australis Face Primer and Liquid Concealer Pen in light beige (44100), I find this pen very easy to use and the primer nice and light, both of these I got from Target.

Probably because of the season I've also found myself using my Sleek Face and Body Highlighter in Sun Goddess more often, it gives a nice colour to my face without looking fake or anything.

and of course I'm still in love with my new brushes from Sigma, my favs have to be the Duo Fibre F50 and the Round Top Kabuki F82 (synthetic face brush), by using these two brushes together I'm really liking the finish they give to my foundation.

I can't forget my lip balm, with the cooler weather comes dry lips and no one wants dry cracked lips any time of year so I've been using the 'Softlips Lip Protectant' in Gelato - Raspberry Sundae and also the 'Paradisa' Juicy Passionfruit Lip Butter. Both of these are easy to find, I bought the Softlips from Woolworths and the Paradisa from my local Chemist.

I recently received a 'Modiva Professional Curling Iron' which I've been playing around with and trialling over the past week and I'm quite impressed with the results so far.  It has a 25mm clipless barrell and comes with a heat protective glove so you don't burn yourself, can't wait to show you the curls this baby gives :)

Some new things in my life ...

Life has been treating me pretty good lately, as some of you may know I was featured in an article in the australian teen magazine 'Dolly' (June edition) which is out now. I feel so privileged to be there alongside Juicystar07 from USA and FleurdeForce from the UK.  Dolly has been my fav magazine forever and to actually be in it is like a dream come true, hang on a sec while I just scream .... AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

The fabulous staff at Dolly are sending me a framed copy of the article so when I get that I'll post a picture of it here for you all to see, then it goes straight up on my wall!!!! he he Oh and as a bonus, the June issue of Dolly comes with a Napoleon Perdis (NP) set which is both a mini mascara and a lipgloss pallet, what a great gift and that's not all, you also get a $5.00 of Target Voucher if you purchase NP products.

I've also received the wonderful 'Premium Brush Kit' from Sigma, yep more brushes :D, it's huge with 15 brushes (all unique from the standard 12 brush kit) in a faux leather brush roll, I'll be trying these out for a few weeks before doing a review and GIVEAWAY for you all on my YouTube Channel.  Sooooo many brushes, I don't know how I managed without them for the past couple of years ..... hahahaha yes I do, but it's nice to have quality brushes now and I can't wait to give a set away to a lucky subscriber :)

Another surprise was on Friday, I received a lipstick I knew was being sent from 'Makeupnet' from the new 'Limecrime' range, it's called 'Coquette' and it's their Limited Edition opaque nude colour and to my delight and surprise there were other goodies enclosed in the parcel from their 'Medusa' range!!  So they sent me two mascaras in blue and purple (there are 4 in the range including green and black), a black eyeliner pencil, the most GORGEOUS pearlised Eye Dust called 'Studio 54' and two eyeshadows in 'Electro Purple' and 'Electro Black', this range is really affordable and funky and all the products in their store are Animal Cruelty Free and it's an Australian site so shipping is quick.


Thankyou makeupnet :)

 Limecrime lipstick in 'Coquette' - Limited Edition

Clean Makeup Brushes are Super Sweet!

Now I know a lot of people say you should clean your brushes every day or every other day but I really don't get the time to do that myself. I'm the only one who uses my brushes so they get cleaned when I get a chance, probably not quite as often as I should!

Well today, after working 8.5 hrs I came home to find my sister had cleaned them all for me, how sweet is that :D Last year over one of the holidays she had helped me clean them and learnt how I do it, boy I was so happy and I thought there might be a few girls out there that don't know how to clean their makeup brushes.

I don't use any fancy cleaners for my brushes, I just use a good shampoo to clean them (of course if you would prefer a proper cleaner or an antibacterial soap then use that). In a cup place a spoon of shampoo and then swirl your brush around in it, brush your brush onto your hand until all the dirt comes out, this may take a little while with foundation, lip and eyeliner brushes.

Rinse your brushes completely, gently pat them dry with a towel and let them dry with the brush end facing down if at all possible so that the water doesn't collect inside the handle (don't stand them on their bristles though). An easy method is to poke some holes in an old shoebox or any type of box that has some depth to it and put your brushes in that (recycling is always good). I use a small screwdriver to make some holes and then pushed the brushes through from the inside of the box giving a snug fit. For larger brushes use the screwdriver and then use a small brush to poke the hole and then an average size brush until you can fit the larger handle in the hole. Place an old towel or rag under the box to soak up any moisture.

Hope this helps someone out, happy cleaning :) xx

Sigma Brushes, Spring It and Sun Laboratories Reviews

A few Reviews that I made a video on, you can see it HERE

SIGMA HIGH DEFINITION FACE BRUSHES

I was sent these brushes by Sigma quite a long time ago and although they are great brushes I just find that I don’t really use them as much as I thought I would, the smallest would have to be my fav out of the three, the round top kabuki. Another great thing about these brushes is that they are synthetic which means animal cruelty free!

I know alot of people really like these types of brushes but I honestly find the flat foundation brushes easier to use or my fingers as these stippling ones tend to apply too much product for me. They are great for a special occasion where you may want a 'thicker finish' for your makeup or for photography/modelling. The contour brush is great if you do alot of contouring but again, I really don’t contour my face that much.

They were sent to me in a lovely organza bag and their postage took about two weeks to Australia. I have found them to be great quality and they have not shed at all and the size is really good and comfortable.

I guess the downside is that they are not available in Australia, you have to order online from Sigma but their service is excellent.

Sigmabeauty: http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=86583

SUN LABORATORIES - SELF TANNER

Sun Laboratories asked me to trial and review their Sunless Tanning lotion, Moisturiser/Maintainer and Body Polisher, being a pale person I jumped at the chance hahahaha.

Ok, I don’t normally go out and get a tan and this past Summer has been so wet that there wasn’t really much chance to get a tan especially now that I have a job so I thought it was a great idea.

I did try this product a few times, if you take a look at the video ‘Meet My BFF – Behind the Scenes Photoshoot’ you will notice how ‘tanned’ I look there and Juanita even makes a funny comment about it. Well the product did work really well but unfortunately because I live in a semi-tropical climate we get a lot of humidity here which makes the product come off onto my clothes. I did email the company and explain what happened and they said to let it dry ... I tried again and yes I let it dry but it just isn’t good in my climate and I can't keep staining all my clothes. I’m sure in a cooler climate or when Autumn/Winter rolls around it will work much better and not rub off but to give an honest review I have to tell you what happened.

It’s easy to use, you just exfoliate your skin with this ‘Body Polisher/Exfoliator, the large brush is for your body, to get rid of any dry skin, there’s a pumice stone one for elbows and knees and heels and then there is the facial one ............... apply the tanning product evenly and remember to wash your hands immediately after applying because it will stain. Leave to dry at least 1 hr before going to bed etc and then you moisturise in the mornings with the special moisturiser. It gives a brown tan which is not too orange looking like some.

Oh and a bonus is that they are not tested on animals.

I just love the exfoliator/body polisher which they sent also, which is battery operated and I use it all the time in the shower and to cleanse my face in general, the first week I did notice I broke out a bit but I’m thinking that was just because it was deep cleaning my face, it’s all good now J so I would definitely recommend that.

If you want an easy to use Self Tanner and don't live in a humid climate check out their site: http://www.sunlabsonline.com/

SPRING IT - HAIR REMOVER

Yeah I know this is a bit of a touchy subject with a lot of girls but let's face it, if you have darker hair or darker features chances are as you get older you are going to get some 'facial fuzz' going on that you don't really like and I know of some 'blondes' who also get thicker 'fuzz' than they would like. I've been asked quite a few times about hair removal for the face over the past year or so and I've only ever used wax on my eyebrows (between them that is hahaha) so when I was asked if I would like to trial this product I got a little curious and thought I'd give it a go.

It's a simple device like a long spring that you simply bend into an upsidedown 'U' and roll up your face where your 'fuzz' is bothering you, cheeks, upper lip etc, simple as that and yes it actually does work!!! A great little invention that is easy to use and cost effective.

The sensation takes a little getting used to, it sort of hurts a little when you first try it but not too bad and nothing that you can't put up with. It's designed for your face and not your eyebrows so don't try shaping them with it ok :)

They also sent me a little pair of tweezers with a built in LED light which I find very useful for all sorts of stuff, I don't tweeze my brows but lets face it, tweezers have a lot of other uses too. They are very attractively packaged, much like a lipstick tube with a built in mirror as well.

You can check out my review on YouTube to see how the 'Spring It' works.

I was kindly sent these products by: http://www.myspringit.com/ at 'Beauty by Rachel'

Napoleon Perdis Eyeshadow Quad Review

RY Hair & Beauty sent me this lovely eyeshadow pallet and brush by 'Napoleon Perdis' to try out.

This pallet was limited edition for Christmas 2010 and as it was so popular it was sold out very quickly, unfortunately you wont be able to purchase this particular one anymore but you can get similar results from other pallets
http://www.ry.com.au/eye-shadow-prismatic-eyeshadow-quad-...

This pallet is just beautiful, the shadows are easy to apply and the pigments come on just how they look in the pallet. They blend really well and stay on. The only thing I dislike about this pallet is that it doesn't have a closure and 'snap' shut, there's just something about that final 'snap' to say it's closed that I like. It has pleasant packaging and comes with two double ended sponge applicators. I used this product in my 'Mystical Nympth Eyes' video.

The particular shades that are in the ocean quad are similar to these colours:
http://www.ry.com.au/napoleon-perdis-colour-disc-electric...
http://www.ry.com.au/napoleon-perdis-colour-disc-premium-...
http://www.ry.com.au/napoleon-perdis-colour-disc-angel-du...
http://www.ry.com.au/napoleon-perdis-colour-disc-blue-cru...

** This gorgeous pallet was sent to me by RY Hair & Beauty: http://www.ry.com.au/ an Australian online store that offers overnight delivery and other free shipping options.

Napoleon Perdis 'Tropical Heat -- Ocean Collection' (Quad)
Napoleon Perdis Flat Shader Brush -- 10b (love this brush)