The Balm: Down Boy Blush | Swatch + Review.

Hello beautiful people of the internet! It is that time of the week again, yes you guessed it: REVIEW TIME! 

This weeks product is the new blush I picked up from The Balm Cosmetics at David Jones. Now I am a bit of a newbie to The Balm so I thought I would dip my toes in to their waters and start with this blush and their much loved Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter (which you will be hearing about in a separate post shortly!).

So, about this blush. First looks of it is a cool-based pink tone with a matte finish. Which in my opinion is the perfect shade for winter! After first applying this blush I learn that a little goes a long way as this product is highly pigmented. The formula is very smooth and blendable and very high quality in my opinion.

This product gets a big thumbs up from me and I would love to try more of the blushes from The Balm some day (maybe when my bank account permits). Now on to the swatches:

Down Boy Blush 

Full face of makeup wearing Down Boy Blush

What's shade should I try next?!

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-Katerina xxx.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour Kit | Review + Swatches

Hello again my beauties and welcome back to my blog! In today's post I will be showing and discussing all thing "Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour Kit" (boy that's a mouthful) related.

So to start off I picked up this little baby from anastasia.net for $40US + $18US (I think, can't quite remember) shipping to Australia, and since I have picked it up I have noticed that it is actually pretty hard to come by because it sells out so quickly. Well let me tell you there is a reason why it sells out so often, that is because it is AMAZING. 

Top Left to Right: Vanilla, Banana, Sand

Bottom Left to Right: Java, Fawn, Havanna

Left to Right: Vanilla (sheer and very similar to my skintone which is why its hard to see), Banana, Sand, Java, Fawn, Havanna 

The powders glide on so smooth and are a dream to blend. The shades are perfect for highlighting and contouring nearly every skin colour (with the exception of darker skintones, sorry girls.). The bronzers are matte and look so natural on the skin, not too orange and not to dirty looking! The three highlight colours are equally as beautiful with two (Vanilla and Banana) being matte (which I use to set under my eyes and the center of my face) and Sand being a shimmer which looks gorgeous on top of the cheekbones. 

I have used this palette on myself and multiple clients (all with different skintones) and each time the results amaze me and I plan on using this palette for as long as Anastasia keeps it around! I highly recommend this palette to everyone, especially makeup artists who need a few different shades in their kit!

Left: Just Foundation

Right: Foundation + Just the Contour Kit

As you can tell from the photo it makes such a difference to the face and photographs beautifully. What are your thoughts on this product?

Don't forget to check out my other social media pages and follow me:

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-Katerina xxx.

March Favourites | 2014

Well it's that time of the month again were we reflect on all the wonderful products we have been using the past month and decide which make the cut into "Monthly Favourites". Here are a few products I have been loving in the month of March!

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Maybelline Color Tattoo "Barely Branded"

Bourjois Blush 16 Rose

L'Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour Kit

Maybelline Colour Tattoo "Barely Branded":

I have been loving this as an eyeshadow base this month! If you have watched my latest YouTube tutorial (see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVAmvqozVmc) you'll have seen just how awesome and pigmented eyeshadows become with this baby! I also love that it keeps the colour on ALL DAY/NIGHT with no signs of fading.

Bourjois Blush 16 Rose:

Now I think this is more of a peachy tone than a rose tone but I am not Bourjois and therefore I didn't name this blush. Either way it is a gorgeous warm shade that would suit all complexions. This is my favourite blush Bourjois has to offer and I love the cute little pot it comes in!

L'Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation:

If I didn't think it would be boring I would have this in EVERY MONTHLY FAVOURITE POST! This is my favourite drugstore foundation to date. I love the high coverage, the satin finish, how easily it applies, I really just love everything about this foundation. If you are after a new drugstore foundation, seriously check this baby out.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette:

This is a great everyday natural palette. I think its great for anyone who doesn't wear a lot of colour or anyone new to makeup, it's just a really wonderful BASIC palette and the eyeshadows have a great formula and a very pigmented.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour Kit:

Now I will be honest with you, when this first arrived at my doorstep I was a little iffy about this product and when I first had a play with it I thought it was a little "blah" and not living up the hype. Boy was I wrong. After using this on several of my makeup clients, and myself, I am now in love and this baby is never leaving my side. It suited all of our skin tones perfectly, has the perfect shades that aren't too "muddy" or too orange and just blends out like a dream. This product is going to be in my kit for as long as they keep making it guys. I definitely recommend picking one up. 

And that is it for this months favourites. What do you guys think?

Don't forget to check out my other social media pages and follow me:

INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/katerina_beauty_blog

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/KaterinaBeautyBlog

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-Katerina xxx.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo's by Eyestudio | Swatches + Review

Hello my beautiful readers! 

First off let me apologise for only having five of these wonderful babies, however I did buy these with my own money and I'm blowing my budget enough as it is! So my opinion of these products will solely be based on the colours I have as they are the ones I have used.

Now if you watch my YouTube videos (especially my makeup tutorials, my channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/user/KaterinaBeautyBlog ) you will know that I absolutely LOVE these cream eyeshadows especially when used as a makeup base.

Don't get me wrong, if you're a one shade lid kinda gal these are fantastic however I like to go all out here when it comes to eyeshadow colours and these create the perfect crease-free base that keeps me eyeshadow in place all day/night.

Left to Right: 45 Bold Gold, 70 Barely Branded, 05 Too Cool, 50 Edgy Emerald, 20 Painted Purple.

Would I recommend these? Definitely, great for newbies to makeup and experts alike. If I had to pick just one I'd definitely go for 70 Barely Branded, it is the perfect shimmery beige shade that really brightens up your eye. 

Left to Right: 50 Edgy Emerald, 20 Painted Purple, 45 Bold Gold, 05 Too Cool, 70 Barely Branded.

What do you think of the Maybelline Colour Tattoos and which colour is worth getting next?!

-Katerina xxx

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Frank Body Scrub Review

Reading not your thing? Watch my YouTube video here:

However if reading is you thing, please continue.

After my (and surely every other Aussies') Instagram blew up with naked pictures of women covering their lady parts with a brown bag I thought I would check it out and let you all know if I think it is worth the hype WITHOUT the nudie pics, sorry guys. 

I am of course talking about the Frank Body Scrub. 

Frank is an Australian company producing (currently) two coffee exfoliating scrubs. I grabbed this one in "Original" however they do have a coconut and grapeseed scrub that I would love to get my hands on too in the near future.

Firstly I would like to say I admire Franks marketing tactics with their cheeky lingo and chilled out attitude, it really suits the target market and has had a great response! 

Frank claims to help clear up cellulite and stretch marks, now I do not have cellulite and haven't really noticed a difference in my stretch marks but what I can comment on with this scrub is the difference in the texture of my skin!

After using this your skin really does feel like a "babies bottom" from all the delicious essential oils nourishing your skin! I have pretty dry skin and suffer from psoriasis on various parts of my body and I have definitely noticed how much smoother and softer my skin has become! It does help to rid the flaky patches of my psoriasis (but not get rid of it sadly, but nothing in this world has so far) however I found it can be a little too harsh on my elbows (my worse psoriasis spot) and can leave them a bit raw if I scrub too much. 

Now on to the smell, I was expecting it to smell more like freshly ground coffee and whilst it does smell like coffee it does smell strongly of orange (due to the orange oil in it) which I am not really a fan of, now its not a BAD smell, it's just not up my alley.

Now is it really worth all this hype?

...YES! It really is a fantastic scrub and makes your skin feel AMAZING afterwards! 

Have you used this scrub? What were your thoughts?

-Katerina xxx

P.s. Two little tips for you, make sure you wash yourself afterwards otherwise you'll probably feel a little "buttered up" and make sure you use this close to the shower head as it gets EVERYWHERE!

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February Favourites | 2014

WHY YES I HAVE BEEN SUPER ACTIVE THIS WEEK THANKS FOR NOTICING! I thought I'd sneak in a "February Favourites" post before february is too far gone!

Now I haven't been trying out too many new products lately as I am supposed to be "saving" and "budgeting", two adult terms I am struggling to grasp. But from what I have been using this month these are a few things I kept reaching for time and time again.

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer 01 Ivory

Miss Dior Cherie Perfume

Benefit The POREfessional Primer

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Anastasia Beverley Hills Eyebrow Gel Clear

Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz Pencil Ebony

Lanolips Tinted Lipbalm

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer:

I was surprised by this little gem as I don't normally reach for any Rimmel face products! This lovely little concealer is great for highlighting/brightening and doesn't break the bank either.

Miss Dior Cherie Perfume:

One of my all time favourite scents. Sweet and floral without being too overpowering, perfect for living in the tropics!

Benefit The POREfesional Primer:

There is much hype behind this product so I don't need to tell you that it's great. But I will anyway. It is great.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer:

OH LORDY. I have found my holy grail bronzer. Perfect shade without being too ashy or too orange. Perfect for bronzing up my face or contouring, I am sticking with this product for life.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Eyebrow Gel and Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz Pencil:

I have finally found the perfect combination of products for the ultimate eyebrow. Great pencil colour, smooth texture, precise application, then kept in place ALL DAY with the gel.

Lanolips Tinted Lipbalm:

My go to lip product for lazy days (most days). Ultra hydrating and a pretty soft pink colour.

Did you have any stellar products this month? If so let me know and I'll try them out!

-Katerina xxx.

Check me out at:

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FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/KaterinaBeautyBlog

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MASSIVE Makeup Haul!

Greetings again lovely viewers! Now if you watch my YouTube videos (which you totally should by the way http://www.youtube.com/user/KaterinaBeautyBlog) you'll know I am super late at uploading this post as I got these roughly two weeks ago! But better late than never hey?

If still pictures and words are too much for you, check out the video of this haul here:

Products Pictured:

Sigma 45 Blending Brush

Sigma Lip Brush

Sigma Brow Power Duo Dark

Benefit PoreFessional Primer

Benefit Eyecream

Benefit That Girl Face Brightening Primer

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Benefit Erase Paste

Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour Kit

Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz Pencil Ebony

Anastasia Beverley Hills Clear Brow Gel

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Tattoo Barely Branded

Maybelline Colour Sensations Lipstick 902 Hot Plum

Maybelline 14 Hour Lipstick 05 Perpetual Peony 

Rimmel Lipstick 120 Cutting Edge

Rimmel Lipstick Kate Moss Collection 106

Rimmel Lipstick Kate Moss Collection 107

Another item that I couldn't photograph that I picked up is what I took the photograph with! My brand new Canon 70D! FYI I love it and it is amazing. I think we are soul mates.

What goodies have you picked up lately?

-Katerina xxx

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