Category Archives: Product reviews

Urban Decay Naked Palette – vs – Chi Chi Nude Palette

The Urban Decay Naked Palette is a staple eyeshadow among many makeup artists for many reasons.  Consisting of 12 neutral colours, they suit any skin tone and can create so many different looks, from a bronze eye to a smokey grey – this palette is a must have for everyone!

 

The palette comes in a luxurious chocolate and gold velvet box with a beautiful eyeshadow brush.  You also get a travel-size primer potion which aids in maintaining a crease-free look all day. 

 

Naked Palette2

You can purchase the Urban Decay Naked Palette from Beauty Bay for $58.80 including delivery.  The 12 colours are listed on their website at http://www.beautybay.com/cosmetics/urbandecay/nakedpalette/

 

The colours are:

– Virgin eye shadow (Nude satin)

– Sin eye shadow (Champagne shimmer)

– Naked eye shadow (Buff Matte)

– Sidecar (Beige with glitter)

– Buck (Brown matte)

– Half baked (bronze shimmer)

– Smog (golden brown shimmer)

– Darkhorse (dark bronze shimmer)

– Toasted (Taupe shimmer)

– Hustle (Mocha shimmer)

– Creep (black with sparkle)

– Gunmetal (dark grey with sparkle)

 

Word on the street is that Chi Chi is selling a dupe of this palette for around one third of the price.  Curiosity got the better of me so I decided to purchase the palette from Myer for a bargain price of $19.95!!!  At first glance you can see why people are saying this is a dupe of the Naked palette – the colours look almost identical.  The main difference at first glance is the packaging – the Chi Chi palette is in a cheaper looking plastic palette with two double-sided sponge applicators rather than a brush.

 

naked palette

When I first used the Chi Chi palette I must admit I was surprisingly impressed – the eyeshadows went on really nicely and the pigment was pretty good!  It was definitely a little messier than the Naked Palette and I had a fair bit of fallout, but nothing that can't be whisked away with a brush.  The colours blended well together.  A tick of approval from me!!!

 

I took some colour swatches of the colours from each of the palettes to compare – you can see that there are a lot of similarities, but a few of the colours are a tad different, for example the "darkhorse" colour is a lot darker and pigmented in the Naked Palette, and "half baked" is more bronzy in the Naked Palette.

In natural light (on a gloomy day) TOP ROW IS THE NAKED PALETTE, BOTTOM ROW IS THE CHI CHI PALETTE:

 

naked chi chi 2

And under LED light:

 

naked chi chi

Overall, the Chi Chi is a great palette to have in ones personal makeup collection – I really like this palette and will continue to use it for personal use.  However, the Naked Palette is a bestseller for a reason – the quality is definitely more superior when comparing to the Chi Chi palette.  The shadows are a lot more pigmented and a little bit goes a long way.  So it's staying in my professional kit (no offence to Chi Chi!!!)

 

Rebekah Foxe
Makeup Artistry by Rebekah
www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au

Product review – Luscious Cosmetics

I was recently approached by Suzanne at Luscious Cosmetics about trialing and reviewing some of her new cosmetics range.

LUSCIOUS COSMETICS TM is an Australian owned Makeup Company designed by a professional makeup artist in a superior lab. Suzanne is a professional makeup artist in Sydney, as well as a mother of five children.

I was sent three beautiful products to trial:

The first being the Camera Ready Face Primer (RRP $50).

Luscious primer

Like other silicone primers, this primer will lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, providing grip and longevity to your foundation.  I loved the feel of this primer – and reminded me of other professional silicone primers I have used. A little goes a long way!  I recommend this primer to anyone looking for an Australian alternative to other overseas brands. I love to support Australian brands!!

 

The next product sample I was given was the Luscious Mousse Foundation (which retails for $48):

lusciousmousse

This is a BEAUTIFUL foundation – glides on like mousse, and sets like velvet on the skin with a beautiful finish.  I loved the feeling of this foundation.  It provides medium coverage too, which is great. Again, a little goes a long way with this product.

 

The final product was the Flawless Finish Foundation (RRP $45).

liquid face makeup f wht

This is a lovely water-based liquid foundation which provides a light to medium coverage and is PERFECT for everyday wear.  I am currently wearing it as I type this post, and I've had it on for about 7 hours (2 hours of which was out in the sun).  It still looks great and it doesn't feel heavy on the skin at all.  A definite thumbs up from me!

 

Overall, the Luscious Cosmetics Brand has definitely proven to be something I would buy.  I love to support Australian industry and Suzanne is an absolute pleasure to deal with.

You can order online at http://www.beautylusciousandco.com.au/index.php/lusciouscosmetics

Or you can contact Suzanne at http://www.beautylusciousandco.com.au/index.php/contactus

 

You can also get your luscious products online via LUXOLA which is South-East Asia's largest beauty e-tailer!!!  You can buy it here http://www.luxola.com/au/brands/luscious

 

Rebekah Foxe

Makeup Artist

Makeup Artistry by Rebekah

www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au

Product review – BOURJOIS PARIS HEALTHY MIX FOND de TEINT

I decided to give the Bourjois Paris Healthy Mix foundation a go after seeing one of my favourite you-tube makeup artists, Zoe Karlis, recommend it in one of her recent videos.  The Video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JzKrWCNw5c

 

 Zoe is referring to my daughter "Sarah" at the start of this video – who is one of Zoe's biggest fans (and was totally stoked when she saw her mention her name!!!).

 

So last week I went into Priceline to pick up a bottle of the Bourjois Healthy Mix (at just $32), and to my surprise they had a free gift with each purchase – this cute little box containing a blush (golden rose), brush and mirror!!!! I love a FREEBIE!

 

bourjois

So the verdict? I love this medium coverage foundation, and now wear it every day.  It is SUPER silky and feels very light.  I love the way my skin looks in this foundation (and word on the street is that it's identical to the Chanel Vitalumiere, which has been discontinued!!!).

 

So a thumbs up from me!

 

Rebekah Foxe
Makeup Artistry by Rebekah
www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au

My top three favourite products! (Feb 2013)

I'm often asked by clients what my TOP THREE MUST HAVE'S are in my kit.  It is VERY hard to choose just THREE, but I shall choose my top three for this month??

EMBRYOLISSE Lait-Creme Concentre
This rich moisturiser is an amazing cleanser, moisturiser and primer and I use it on most of my client's prior to makeup application.

I only discovered it recently on recommendation and it is truly DELICIOUS!  Your skin just feels and LOOKS alive after it has been applied.

You can purchase it online at my favourite online makeup store, Makeup and Glow (Brisbane) – http://www.makeupandglow.com.au/Embryolisse-Lait-Creme-Concentre-Moisturiser-Large-Size-75ml-p-17674.html

SLEEK rose-gold blush

Another purchase from Makeup and Glow – http://www.makeupandglow.com.au/Sleek-Blush-p-17671.html 

This blush is DIVINE! My favourite colour is Rose Gold, which is apparently a dupe for Nars Orgasm.  It is so silky and smooth, with a light shimmer.  A little goes a long way!  And soooo cheap at only $10.95 you can afford to buy every colour!

CINEMA SECRETS HD foundation

No, I am not sponsored by Makeup and Glow this month (although it appears that way). But this product is my new must-have!

I use it alone as a foundation, placed over a liquid foundation, or used as a concealer.  It leaves a dewy finish, and feels light!!

I apply it with a damp beauty pod/blender after i've warmed it on the back of my hand, and the coverage is buildable so can be light, or heavier to cover blemishes and scars.  There is even a you-tube video available, showing how amazing the coverage is when concealing tattoo's!

Skin looks flawless in Cinema Secrets! And the awesome thing is, it comes in a little palette of 5 different colours, which makes it easier when mixing colours (I generally use 3 or 4 different colours of foundations on each of my clients).  A little also goes a long way and at $33 for a palette – it's quite a bargain for such a professional quality product.  Palette numbers 3 and 5 are the most popular shades.

You can buy it online at (surprise surprise) Makeup and Glow – http://www.makeupandglow.com.au/Cinema-Secrets-HD-Foundation-Palettes-p-17210.html 

All three products were used on Christine (picture below) last weekend.

Rebekah Foxe
Makeup Artistry by Rebekah
www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au