Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Nail Polish Review and Swatches

The latest craze to hit Australia for nails is Gel Polish but without the use of a light to set it.

Revlon have had their Colorstay range with a gel like shine for a long time, but 2 or 3 months ago they released a new range to replace this.

Welcome Colorstay Gel Envy Polish

The formula is a two step process a colour with a built in base coat and then a separate top coat which adds a diamond like shine and strength to your nails. The top coat is a must without it the colour doesn't last as long and doesn't have the shine the top coat provides.

I have six shades from the 30 available so far and still deciding if I want more (I have a lot of nail polishes)

I love the brush, it's double barrel so with one application it can cover your whole nail. Colour wise I only needed 2 light coats to get the desired colour that is true on the bottle.

A closer look at the colour:

Wild Card

This is the perfect blue. Cobalt blue. Very popular shade and has sold out a few times in store.

All In

Is a dark blue but has a shimmer to it. In the light you will see purple, deep blue and a black hint through it

Full House

My favourite colour LOVE this shade!!! Perfect shade for Spring and Summer. The only thing is I did find this colour to stain my nails.

Winning Streak

WOW what a pretty lavender/ lilac shade. Only need 2 coats to achieve this shade. I think this is perfect for Spring

Casino Lights

When I first saw this shade I loved it, hadn't seen this shade of yellow, but because I am pale I dont like it as much on against my skin. Maybe if I am tanned it would look OK

Hot Hand

Pretty Pink. I personally don't like pink nail polish. I generally wear deep cooler tones but I loved this shade of pink. I thought of summer and would look pretty on my toes (I wear any shade on my toes) and it has hint of gold shimmer through it

This polish  is so easy to remove. You just need a normal nail polish. One with acetone does work better. 

For someone like me who works  in retail and with stock everyday finding a nail polish that would last a week without chipping and ruining my nails was really hard. Until this range. I can get 2 weeks out of my nails now before they start to look chipped and ugly.

So if you want to save some money from get shellac done atthe salon give Revlon Gel Envy a try.

Until next time xox

To keep up to date with me follow me on instagram: @claudaciousmakeup

Review and colour swatches Revlon Moisture Stain Lipsticks

I always get excited about new products especially when Revlon bring out new lipsticks. I'm a huge fan of their colorburst crayons and now they have bought out their new moisture stains.

Liquid lipsticks are very popular at the moment so many brands are doing them but I think Revlon are always the front runners when it comes to "drugstore" long lasting lipsticks. The Colorstay range has such a good reputation that everyone knows Colourstay lasts.

When I first saw these on social media earlier this year I instantly loved the packaging the black bold outlining around the case makes it stand out and sets them apart and they also lay flat (not that exciting, but makes it easy to photograph)

I think there is something to please everyone. Reds, Pinks, Corals, Nudes and even a brown and plum. They are so pigmented that even one coat on my lips gave a decent colour but once 2 coats are applied I get amazing bright colour and a really good coverage.

THE COLOURS:

Stockholm Chic: Copper bronze brown. The packaging makes you think it will be really shimmery as there is a gold shimmer on the outside but once one it has a gold/bronze reflect.

India Intrigue: Deep Pink looks more purple......Maybe a magenta colour would be more of a correct term

Parisian Passion: Purple/Burgundy kind of colour, Pretty dark vampy kind of colour

Barcelona Nights: Hot pink colour

Shanghai Sizzle: Bright Orange/red

Cannes Crush: Pretty bright coral colour

London Posh: Peachy nude with a gold shimmer tone

LA Exclusive: Light Pink

Rio Rush: Barbie Pink. Bright hot pink

Miami Fever: Bright Orange

 I love a lipstick to feel soft and moisturising and to be food proof. Which is why I love the Colorburst crayons but these are living up to their name. Once on they feel soft and moisturising. They feel more like a thick balm than a lipstick with a wet glossy finish and don't sticky. To get the best colour application apply two coats and press the product onto lips firmly with the doe-foot applicator. Its a great size and shape and the wider area lets me apply the lip colour to the wider areas of my lips easier and the tip is perfect for working around my cupids bow and corner.

At work I get lazy with reapplying lipstick I like to apply a lipstick in the morning before work, reapply at lunch and then again after work if I am going somewhere for drinks. And I can do this with these stains. I apply 2 coats before work, have a coffee, eat, drink water and talk to customers and by 10am the shine has worn off but I am still left with a nice stain one my lips.

My lips are still coloured and by lunch time its has worn off slightly but I always like to reapply my lipstick after lunch so I look fresh. Working in a shop with air conditioning my lips are always prone to drying cracking but they contain vitamin E and aloe to help keep the lips moist.

I have so many lipstick. To be honest I think my collection would be almost around 100. But I don't wear most of them some are drying and others wear off. My Colorburst crayons are my holy grail lip colours but I can see these becoming another favourite.

Revlon continue to be my favourite "drugstore" brand for lipsticks 

Until next time
xox

PS to keep up to date with products I'm loving, wearing or different makeup looks

 you can find me on Instagram: @claudaciousmakeup
Facebook: www.facebook.com/claudaciousmake

How to Contour

Contouring can be tricky. knowing what products to use, how and where to use them. Contouring use to be for runway models, celebrities and fashion photo shoots, but these days contouring is used in many peoples daily makeup routine. So for those who are still confused about contouring let me explain briefly.

 Contouring is about creating shape to the face and enhancing your facial features. So by using a dark shade it will recede areas and make them look smaller (nose, forehead, double chin) and by using lighter shades it enhances them (cheekbones, centre of nose, under the eye) The whole reason makeup artists contour their clients is to achieve the "perfect" oval face.

Here is my guide to contouring

I start with a fresh cleansed face. Apply primer all over and then my chosen foundation.
The highlighting and contouring part is different for everyone there is no correct product to use. All I can suggest is use a product a few shades lighter for highlighting and a product a few shades darker for contouring.

I personally like to use Maybelline Fit Me concealers. They are easy to use and the colours are great for me.

I start with applying light concealer (I use shade 15 Fair) and I apply this under my eyes, on my cheekbones, down the centre of my nose, on my cupids bow and on the centre of my forehead and chin and blend.

Next I apply the darker concealer (30 Cafe) to the hollows of my cheeks, the sides of my chin, temples and my hairline and the side of my nose. Blend

For some people this is enough but I like to do more.

I apply Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls in Translucent pearl over my cheekbones and under my eyes.

Then I apply Revlon Matte Bronzer 035 Sun on the hollows of my cheeks. By doing this it adds shimmer to my cheekbones and highlights them more, especially when the light hits my face. The reason I like using a matte bronzer is because I am wanting my contouring to look natural.

Following the bronzer I then set my foundation and contouring with Face of Australia translucent loose powder and lightly dust my whole face with it. For my end look I kept it simple and went for a bronzed eye and bold lip as I wanted my base to be the focus.

Same makeup but lighting was different... sorry

hope you found this helpful. 

Until 

Picking the right foundation for YOU!!!!

As I work in a retail makeup store I have a lot of customers (and foundafriends) wanting new foundations but are unsure of what they want. So I have put together a list of foundations to suit everyone. From light coverage to full coverage. Keep reading to find the right foundation for you

LIGHT COVERAGE:

BB Cream: BB means Beauty Balm, a makeup product that's all in one. To put it simple its a tinted moisturiser with extra benefits.
I have a couple of BB creams and loved them when they became popular last year. But I  prefer to wear a full coverage foundation, but my top two would be:

Rimmel Matte BB Cream. I love wearing the Rimmel one as I love the finish. It is matte. Feels nice on without being sticky

In this picture I have used a sample size as I couldn't find my actual product.

Revlon's BB cream has the highest SPF in all drugstore BB's. So this is my go to product when I head to the beach.

BB is great if you want a light coverage, it will be perfect for weekends, school or the beach

LIGHT/MEDIUM COVERAGE:

Revlon Nearly Naked: A light weight foundation that looks natural on  and melts into your skin with a build able coverage. If you have freckles, pimples you will still see them. Your skin will look fresh and flawless without looking like you are wearing makeup. Its an oil free formula so its perfect for all skin types.

Maybelline Fit Me shine-Free Stick Foundation: Most stick foundations offer full coverage until this one. Its a gel stick foundation with the centre offering an anti shine formula. It's easy to apply and blend. The Fit me stick provides a light to medium build able coverage oil free and sets matte.

Both of these are great foundations for everyday use.


MEDIUM COVERAGE:

L'Oreal True Match: One of my top 5 foundations. I love the coverage it gives. Its medium yet build able. I can apply two light layers over my face and it will cover my freckles. It looks flawless on and doesn't crease and wears well all day. It has a low SPF aswell which makes it a perfect foundation to wear to avoid that "ghost" look while using a flash on cameras.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation: I think I wear this every Monday or the day after a late night. It reawakens my skin with an anti-fatigue glow. It gives a flawless yet natural finish and leaves a radiant glow.
This is a great product for tired fatigued skin.

MEDIUM/FULL COVERAGE:

Chi Chi Fabulous and Flawless: OMG I am loving this foundation at the moment. I bought this about two weeks ago and have pretty much been using it everyday. I love a foundation to cover my freckles and stay matte all day without having to powder my face several times a day. This foundation does both. I can wear this for over eight hours and it will stay on my face and I will be shine free. I am so glad I have found this foundation.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation: I use to wear this foundation for years before I became a MUA and before i started working in retail makeup store and branched out and tried others. Its still an old favourite of mine but I love others more these days. The formula has changed and I prefer the new formula. Colorstay is available in Normal/Dry and Combination/Oily. I wear the combination foundation. It wears all day with a lightweight feel and doesn't come off. I have worn it to the beach wasn't expecting to go swimming, but I did and it was still on in most parts of my face at the end of the day. Colorstay is oil free so it doesn't clog my pores

I hope you guys find this helpful when looking for new foundations
If you have any questionnd if you have any looks or products you want to know about feel free to contact me.

Instagram: @claudaciousmakeup
Facebook: Claudacious Makeup

Basic eye makeup for everyday

I have 2 looks for basic eye makeup for everyday. Depending on time and where I am going.

Look a) Maybelline eye tattoo in "bad to the bronze". This is the best cream eyeshadow I have ever come across. Its Smudge proof, water resistant, doesn't crease and I love this colour for daily wear. Plus it makes my blue eyes pop.

To apply just dab onto eye lid and lightly blend into crease. Thats it eyeshadow is done.

Look b) I use 2 matte eyeshadows from Chi Chi "To the moon and back" and "Enough is enough"
Apply "To the moon and back" all over lid and blend up into crease. On the outer corner and into the crease apply "Enough is enough". Once blended it will look like a soft smokey eye on the outer corner and blended from darkest shade on the outer corner to the lightest on the inner corner.

On both looks I will use the Revlon liquid pen eyeliner (gel liner if I have more time) I like that its easy to use. I feel more comfortable using it and get a better finish. It dries quickly on my eyes and it lasts all day.
On my lower lash line I will wear a black pencil eyeliner

Next is mascara. My current favourite is Lash Mania by Essence. It makes my lashes look so good, I really wasn't expecting much from a $4.95 mascara (I shouldn't judge a book by its cover)  it is clump free and I have worn it and cried and it hasn't given me panda eyes yet its not waterproof.

Last but not least.......(well I do mine before my eye makeup)  most important step BROWS
Brows work wonder. I never use to do mine and cringe  when I see old photos. But these days I love dark defined brows. I use the Essence brow stylist kit. This is perfect for beginners it comes with stencils so you can get perfect brows.

And thats my basic eye look for everyday hope you have enjoyed

Until next time xox

Claudia

New Revlon Blushes, Bronzers and Highlighters: First Impressions

I was so upset when Revlon discontinued their Photoready matte bronzer and was worried about the new bronzer and highlighter palettes they would replace it.
They have hit Priceline stores this week and the new palettes are stunning.

The new bronzer is matte and basically the whole palette is filled inside with product (Yay no wasted space) its highly pigmented as well so you will get sufficient product on the brush with one light tap of the brush on to the bronzer.

I was never a fan of the old blushes. I guess they weren't my colour of choice for a blush but these new shades will suit a lot of people from a light pink for fair toned skin, a deeper pink for darker tones and then there is a coral shade. I'm sure there is a shade for most people. They apply better to skin that has a foundation already applied then to natural bare skin.

Revlon have also released another cream blush......... I love a good cream blush. Revlon's old cream blushes were bright colours and looked lovely on, but they weren't for me. This new shade is a darker pink and looks beautiful on the skin.  I wore it today and it looked natural on, lasted all day and the colour stayed true.

Last but not least, the new highlight palettes.  The colours in these are so pretty.

Rose Glow Palette:
 The colours vary from pinks to rose golds. It has a slight shimmer but doesn't look that shimmery one. It looks more like a blush with various colours blended together.

Bronze Glow Palette:
This palette could be used for 2 purposes. The colours can be used alone and worn as eyeshadows, or blended all together they make a very nice shimmery bronzer. As i have fair skin I find the colours a bit to dark for me but I think they would look great on someone with medium to darker skin.

Peach Glow Palette:
Is a yellow based palette with soft yellow gold and bronze tones. This would be my favourite out of the three