Liquid Lipstick First Impressions

Hey beauties!

I am about a year behind on the liquid lipstick bandwagon because I have really dry lips and I never thought in a million years that I could pull them off. Recently I have decided to give them a go as more and more brands are coming out with them and I was keen to test out different formulas. 

So today I have a few to show you from various brands and my initial impressions of them.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Fig

In a word, Love. The formula is fab and the colour is just so easy to wear on a daily basis. It has a light and creamy consistency and it is not transfer proof. The finish is in between a matte and a gloss and it is very comfortable to wear.

Stila Stay All Day in Patina and Beso

My second purchase of liquid lipstick was Stila Stay All Day in Patina. Oh My Goodness. The colour is just the perfect mauvy rosy pink. The consistency is moussey and the product does transfer slightly. It wears on the inside of the lips very evenly and is not drying. 

After using Patina for a few weeks I bought a red, Beso. I tested Beso the other night and wore it to dinner. It wore even better than Patina in my opinion and is such a great red for a night out. 

Hourglass Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Canvas

This is a wonderful liquid lipstick, a touch more drying than the Stila and Too Faced but the colour is extremely versatile for daily wear. As it is a more dry formula, it doesn't transfer as much as Stila or Too Faced. 

Beauty Bakerie Lip Whip in Louvre Palace

The Beauty Bakerie Lip Whip is a product that I had such high hopes for, as it was touted to be long wearing and transfer free. I really wanted it to work but it is SO SO drying. I feel like it sucks the moisture out of my entire face and shows my lip lines like nothing else I have tried. This one is a pass for me, and this particular colour seems to be patchy and uneven. 

Dose of Colours Liquid Matte Lipstick in Pinky Promise, Stone, Merlot and Bare with Me

I recently received this in the mail and I can't really complain about these! The formula is quite comfortable to wear and wears evenly through a meal. Probably the best formula of the bunch, I am so glad to have picked up so many colours :)

A little tbsp of brilliance

HELLOOOO Everybody!!

We have been blessed with a ton of rain today so obviously I 1.) went to Port Beach for a swim, 2.) tried a new brunch place in Bayswater called tbsp and 3.) fell asleep on the couch after brunch watching The Magicians. Right-o. Productive weekend here I come...

tbsp has such good reviews online so my housemate and I were really excited to try it.

Firstly, the wait was massive. Between the start of the queue and us getting a table, I decided that I was getting two items on the menu. NOT PATIENT. SAH HUNGRY.

We were given menus as we were waiting outside so as soon we we had our table we ordered our brunch right away.
Damo picked the Quinoa Salad, while I went for the Congee, and the Beef Brisket. No asian fusion brunch is complete without some Matcha so we also ordered a Hot Matcha Latte and an Iced Matcha Latte with Matha Ice Cream. I like that they didn't give me strange looks when I ordered three dishes for two!

Hot Matcha Latte

My hot matcha latte was deliciously foamy and subtle in flavour. The only other place we go to for Matcha is Aliment (reviewed last week here), which offers a stronger matcha flavour with a dollop of honey at the bottom. I personally love both renditions - to me, picking one over the other is like being asked to pick your favourite child. WE DON'T DO THAT! >.< We love all Matcha. Matcha is the best. Matcha for Prime Minister.

Iced Matcha Latte with Matcha Ice Cream

The iced matcha latte was delicious too but the obvious star was the matcha ice cream on top. It's not overly creamy and has a good matcha flavour without being bitter. 

The Quinoa salad looks very average when it came out but it tastes better than it looks. It comes with beetroot, some greens, cherry tomatoes, poached egg, orange-miso, char broccoli and quinoa at the bottom. As this wasn't my dish I only tried the greens, the broccoli, and the quinoa. I think the orange-miso is so delicious and goes really well with the greens and the broccoli. The rest of the dish was a bit blah looking and Damo commented that it was a bit on the dry side. Maybe a bit more orange-miso sauce, tbsp?

The congee is served with confit chicken, chicken crackling, some pickles, and a poached egg. I love congee for breakfast and was expecting a deliciously smooth, flavourful rice porridge to start my day. Unfortunately the congee was a bit underdone (I personally don't like to see the shape of rice grains in my congee, maybe I'm just a little weirdo asian). There isn't enough flavour in the congee itself either. The chicken confit was meh (needs more seasoning). The cracking was delicious however, and so were the pickles! Not a total fail :)

Finally, we have the beef brisket. OH MY LORD. Insert all the good adjectives here for this most delicious breakfast item. Beef Brisket, two slow cooked eggs (#eggporn), caramelised onion, MAGIC SAUCE, and ciabatta loaf. There is nothing on this plate I don't love. The ciabatta toast is the perfect accompaniment to this meaty dish - and I especially like that the toast isn't a thick slice. When I talk about a great meat to bread ratio - this is what I mean!!

After all of that - would I rate this brunch cafe? Absolutely. I think you just need to know what to order. I would come back again for that Beef Brisket - It is absolutely worth the drive. The prices are reasonable and the serving sizes are also quite large.

Lots of Love

Cindy xx

Best Beauty Finds - Tested and Tried by Yours Truly!

Best Hair Products (for sun damaged, dry hair and babes with scalp conditions)

Hello babes.

I've watched my hair descend into this gross, dry mess over the summer due to the fact that I have been going to the beach most weeks (sometimes twice a week!) and not really taking care of it.

In a state of panic, I bought everything I thought I needed to resurrect it and I think I may have just done it folks!!

Oh, Hello Hair!! This is a hydrating mask that has been touted to cure dryness and also helps with dandruff that can be caused by scalp conditions including dry skin, sensitivity to hair products, as well as skin conditions such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and eczema. It's a natural remedy for all of these conditions and best of all - its an Australian owned business :)

Lea Journo has some of the best hair products on the market. I strongly recommend the Revive French Plum Oil for instant hydration (two to three drops for long locks) or an overnight hydration boost (10 drops or more all over - then wrap hair in a towel). I have also tried the shampoo and conditioner. #amazeballs #seriously #listentome

Best Body Products

Frank Coffee Scrubs have me addicted. It is seriously so good and I particularly love it after a hard workout (the Peppermint flavour is so soothing on sore/tired muscles).

I have tried the original (my favourite scent), Peppermint and the Cocoa. I am not a huge fan of the cocoa but the scrub itself seems to be more gentle and may be the perfect scrub for sensitive skinned babes!

In terms of the benefits that Frank claims to offer - I have seen a definite reduction in acne spots on my face, and also a reduction on the appearance of stretch marks. It has only been a month and I am hopeful that I will see further results with continued use!

So, here's the deal: You scrub, leave on for 5-10 minutes, and follow up with a beauty oil. Frank has their own body balm which is also coffee scented/based (but if you don't want to smell like ground coffee all day you can totally follow up with your normal body lotion or a different body oil!)

My favourite (ever) body moisturiser is the L'Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate is the best in the market. Lightweight, hydrating and doesn't leave a residue.

Once you go L'Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate, you can't go back. You've been warned, babes!

xoxo Cindy