Palladio - BeChic Cosmetics at Dischem

BeChic cosmetics is part of the Palladio group which is exclusively sold in Dischem stores here in South Africa.  I walked into Dischem to find that there was a sale at the BeChic counter / stand.  If you buy 5 products, you only pay R100.  Or you could buy one product for a reduced price (less than the normal selling price)  It seems like they are discontinuing this brand.  I went onto the website and they are on the "closeouts" section on the web.  I think BeChic has always been overlooked as there was never any advertising done and no one knew that it was part of the Palladio group.

The range consists of eyeliners, lipliners, , mascaras, lipsticks, lipgloss, eyeshadows, blush and bronzers
Web address : http://www.palladiobeauty.com/collections/bechic

So I chose 5 products and paid R100 which is a bargain.  I had previously purchased an eyeshadow "white chocolate" from this brand which was good quality and had great pigmentation, better than some high end brands out there.  I often use this shade as a highlight colour on my browbone.  There are 23 eyeshadow colours to choose from.

So when I went back, this time I purchased 2 blushes (Brick Rose and Dusty Mauve) and one bronzer (Sun Tan)  The range consists of 7 blushes and 3 bronzers of which Sun Tan is the lightest one.  These blushes are soo pigmented that I had to use a very light hand, otherwise too much will be applied.

There are 21 very pigmented, gorgeous lipsticks in the range.  I purchased "CLS01 Roseberry Pearl"

The last product I chose to make up my 5 products was an eyeliner.  I could not decide between an eyeliner and a lipliner initially.

I know that there are lots of stock still left if you would like any of the products mentioned above.  They are very pigmented and value for money.  I would definitely recommend stocking up on these and buying back-ups for when you run out, since the price is reduced, as apposed to paying ridiculous prices for high end brands.

2True Cosmetics at Clicks Stores

2true was launched into Superdrug in the U.K in August 2006 and since then, the brand has sold over 13 Million products.
I have been reading blogs stating that 2True will be launched at Clicks but I could not find it in my local Clicks stores.  Last week I just happened to walk into the branch in Kensington in Durban North by accident and viola!  I was so thrilled, I phoned my friend immediately and asked her what she wanted from the range.

Clicks offer a fabulous special - Any 3 products for R84,99 or if you're only buying one thing it's a mere R34,99. So affordable right?  It works out better to buy three products at a time because that’s just over R28 a product.

Here is their web address, so you can decide beforehand what you would like to purchase:
http://www.2true.com/

Here is a list of products we purchased:
2true Fast Dry Colour Quick Nail Polish - shade 9
2true Glossywear Lipstick - Shade 5
2true Eyebrow Pencil
2true Twist ‘n’ Line Eye Definer - Shade 8
Lipsealer -2true Seal & Protect for Lip Colour x2
2true True Colour Blusher - Shade 1
2true Cheek ‘n’ Lip Tint - Shade 1 & 2
2true 3-in-1 Concealer - Shade 3

 I’m so glad we’re finally getting more decent budget brands, aside from Essence and Catrice. We really do need the variety and I hate that in the United States, Revlon and L’Oreal are viewed as ‘drug store’ brands, meaning they're supposed to the cheaper, inexpensive alternatives to beauty counter items, and yet we have to pay the same price for a Revlon nail polish as we would for an Essie one, which is a ‘salon’ brand. And many of L’Oreal’s mascaras, while fabulous, shouldn’t have to cost just a few rands less than one you could buy from the Clinique counter. So I  thrilled we're getting a few more wallet-friendly beauty goodies to play with.

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup

The Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup is a whipped creme formula foundation containing silk and botanicals that feels lightweight and comfortable with a soft, matte finish. This product is buildable to full coverage and claims to wear up to 24 hours. It is fragrance free and oil free. 12 Shades: Ivory, Buff, Sand Beige, Nude, Natural Beige, Medium Beige, Warm Golden, True Beige, Early Tan, Natural Tan, Rich Ginger, Caramel.

I have dry skin so I would not normally go for a foundation advertised as "matte"  I read makeupalley regularly and everyone was raving about this foundation.  Although South Africa always get new products a while after it has launched overseas, so I had to wait a while to get my hands on it.  And also worse, South Africa does not get all the shades when a product is launched.

The packaging is a large, heavy, bulky glass jar. I actually kinda like the visual appeal of it, as it reminds me of Chanel packaging.  But it's not ideal for travel.  For touch-ups, you can put a little scoop in a travel jar and keep it in your bag. 

The coverage is medium, which is buildable to a heavier medium. It leaves my face looking completely flawless. The finish is a bit matte at first, but then changes to a more natural satin finish.. I don't find a setting powder necessary although you may want to powder your T zone.

I feel the reason this foundation is so smooth is because of the silicone it contains.  The texture is different to any other foundation I have tried.  Although it says "whipped" it does not have that mouse feel at all.

I think it actually looks better as it wears throughout the day. After an hour or so, it seems to settle in and appear more natural. Despite not wearing setting powder some days, I don't get oily, and my face doesn't need any touching up mid-day.  

It washes off easily with a makeup wipe - it's not hard to remove like some other long-wearing foundations (Estee Double Wear for instance takes a little elbow grease to remove!)

Pros:
Feels very light on my skin
Provides a great medium to a medium-full coverage
Natural finish
Wears incredibly well throughout the day
Long-lasting
Controls oil very well
Doesn't irritate my skin
Contains salicylic acid - which supposed to lessen the chance of breakouts
Photographs well (contains no spf - this may be a con for some people, but I my skin reacts to chemical spf)

I use less as it spreads so well.

Cons:
Can sometimes be difficult to work with.  (I found using my fingers is the best application)
Color selection isn't the best for those with strong yellow undertones, and the darkest shade isn't very dark at all. Deep-dark skin tones won't be able to find a match.
Although the packaging is appealing, it's not very sanitary and it's not practical. It's way too heavy to travel with, and being that it's glass, you have to be careful not to drop it - especially on ceramic floor (disaster!)
The standard fluid ounces for the majority of foundations on the market is 1 oz. This foundation contains 0.8 oz. So Revlon is giving us  0.20 ounces short.

I chose the shade 200 Sand Beige (Mac NC25 for reference)

Essence Volumizing Lash Powder

In a previous blogpost I reviewed the Model Co Lash Brush On Lashes, which is awesome.  In this post I am reviewing the Essence Volumizing Lash Powder.  This is very inexpensive compared to the Model Co Fibre Lash and I wanted to see if it gave the same amazing results.

The packaging:
Whereas the Model Co version came in a mascara tube, the Essence is in a powder form stored in a container with a screw off lid.  It comes with a mascara spoolie for application purposes.

Application instructions:

1. Apply your favourite Essence mascara

2. Apply powder to lashes with the supplied brush before mascara has dried.

3. Use mascara for sealing.

My two cents:

Firstly I purchased the Essence Get Big! Volume Boost Volume Mascara to use with the lash powder as I did not want to experiment with one of my expensive mascaras just in case.

I know the packaging says "powder" but I was expecting "fibres".  This truly is a fine powder.  There is no way "not to make a mess everywhere" the first time you try this product as the fine powder goes everywhere.

I think this is because the container is filled / tightly packed with the powder and there is no space for the brush / spoolie to be inserted into the powder to pick up the product.

You really cant apply this when you are in a hurry and you need patience.  I was so used to the Model Co. Fibre Lash in a tube, I found the application somewhat difficult.but with practice it does get better and you will find a way to put it on to your satisfaction.

Tip:

After applying the second coat of mascara, be sure to wipe off the mascara wand with a makeup wife before closing the mascara tube.  The powder tends to thicken the mascara and dry it out.  My wiping the wand, the mascara stays clean and moist, ready for the next application.

I had a thought of maybe putting some of the powder into a mascara tube and make my own fibre lash mascara.  This may work and may eliminate the mess it makes when applying.the product.

Pros:

Inexpensive

Will last a very long time as there is a lot of product in the container

This product does work when applied properly.  I did see a big improvement after using this powder.

Cons:

Messy

Packaging is inconvenient

Overall I do like this products as it did lengthen my short lashes. I will purchase another mascara to use with this mascara as I feel the Essence  Volume Boost Volume Mascara was just okay. 

Model Co Fibre Lash - Brush On False Lashes

I have had this product for a while but have not done a review on it yet.  Since I have  short lashes which are barely visible, I am always on the lookout for an amazing mascara that will make my lashes stand out. I also have the low end version which is not even a third of the price (Essence Volumizing Lash Powder) which I will review in my next blog post.

I purchased Model Co Fibre Lash from Red Square in La Lucia Mall a while back.  It was pricey, but the free gift was soo worth it.  The sales assistant applied this on my lashes for me and I was so impressed that I purchased it on the spot!  I have received compliments about my lashes everytime I have used this product.  Even the pictures below do not do justice as to how volumized and lengthened your lashes will look after applying this product.

Here is what the packaging looks like:

This kit extends your own eyelashes to extreme lengths acting like instant false lash extensions. This innovative 3-phase system comes complete with 2 easy to use formulations; the Extention Mascara and the revolutionary brush-on Lash Fibres. After one application of the Extention Mascara , the Lash Fibres will adhere to your own lash follicles, building volume and length. Another coat of the lightweight Extention Mascara formula secures the Lash Fibres in place. The more you apply the more dramatic the result.

Why do I need this product?

Easy to use mascara kit that lengthens lashes like never before
Brush on Lash Extensions that adhere to the end of your own eyelashes
Instant results in three easy steps
Excellent value with approximately 40 uses per kit
Dramatic results
Water resistant and easily removed with normal make up remover.

Shade parade - Choose the right lipstick shade for your skin tone

Lipstick is the quickest way to change your look.  If you only have a minute or two to apply your make-up, a great shade of lipstick is an instant beauty fix.

Choosing the right lip color isn't as simple as it might seem.  The two most important factors to take into consideration when picking out a lipstick are skin tone and the size of your lips.  As a rule of thumb, people with thin lips should avoid dark colors, and people with full lips should avoid bright colors. Dark colors on thin lips can make them look even thinner, while bright colors on full lips can make them seem even fuller. Now, onto skin tone.

Light Skin Tone 

If you have fair skin, you want to stay away from anything that can make you look washed out - like browns and yellows.  Deep plum reds, berry and wine reds with a blue undertone will help accentuate your porcelain features.  Light medium browns or beiges with a pink undertone also work well.  You should steer clear of very bright, loud pink shades.

Medium Skin tone 

Those with a medium complexion should go for rich deep pinks, deep reds, rich caramels and medium browns with yellow or pink undertones.  Creamy coffee-coloured brown lipsticks are also a good choice.  Avoid very pale browns as they can make skin look ashy and washed out.  

Dark Skin Tone 

 Pink lipstick for dark skin is a trend that is not going away.  Try shades that have more of a red, purple or brown mixed in, rather than white.  Pink lipstick with a white toner added will make your lips look chalky.  If you're going to wear pink lipstick, soften the makeup on your eyes and cheeks.

Once you find the right shade of lipstick (and you might have to try a few), you can move over to the hair colour aisle and decide how you're getting the most out of your luscious locks.