Moden Makeup

In an attempt to make some of my skincare reviews more succinct for you I thought I'd introduce this series. We get loads of questions asking for our recommendations...and we get it, we're looking for the best bang for our buck too. But with skincare, it's really a trial-and-error thing on a very personal level. We could only hope to point you in the right direction.
Let's start with cleansers; just normal cleansers. Not makeup removers. Not exfoliators.  My advice: save. Exceptions: people with extremely sensitive skin.
I've said before that cleansers don't stay on our face long so we really shouldn't break the bank on them. That said, I watch out for ones that are heavily fragranced and contain a lot of alcohol because we don't want anything that will completely strip the skin. Yes, even us oily skin people need to leave a lil sumting sumting bout dereso. Skincare Boss Caroline Hirons says straight up that cleansers shouldn't foam. Other resources…

For the first time ever we linked a giveaway to a milestone. You can look back at our previous contests and see that things usually happened pretty routinely. Why? We love to shop! ...and shopping for others is always more fun 😁 All that to say, this one is very special because you made it happen. Thank you for taking the time to read what we share and then sharing with your beauty loving friends.

On to the good stuff...

Prize A


Kat Von D MetalMatte Eyeshadow PaletteLust Lashes 'Vanity' and 'Giselle'M.A.C mini lipsticks 'No Faux Pas' and 'Relentlessly Red'M.A.C Powder Blush 'Adobe Brick'M.A.C x Mariah Carey Extra Dimension Skinfinish 'My Mimi'Inglot AMC Brow Liner Gel '11'No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip LinerUrban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (travel size) 'Zero'M.A.C x Star Trek Frost Lipstick 'Kling-It-On'Ardell Dual Lash ApplicatorM.A.C x Mariah Carey Lipglass 'Rainbow Interlude'M.A.C Pro Longwear Paint Po…

If you're beauty fanatics like we are you know the Sephora Spring sale runs from April 18 - 24 for VIB Rouge members (code: ROUGESPRING). VIBs can shop the sale from April 19 - 24 (code: VIBSPRING). Both tiers get 15% off. Beauty Insiders get 10% off with the code: BISPRING from April 20 to 23. Before the Fall sale I told you about a few things I was hoping to purchase. I didn't buy everything on my wish list and I don't think I will this time either.

For sure I'm restocking the Shiseido Facial Cotton; doan mind dem carr up de price by 50¢

All images are from Sephora.com.

Son & Park Beauty Water - $30USD

I've seen a few rave reviews about this and they got me interested. Y'all know I stay trying out toners.


Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser - $26USD

I tried I sample of this and I am impressed! This comes highly recommended by Stephanie Nicole too.

Cane + Austin Prime & Protect Mattifying Primer with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 - $56USD

Another YouTuber …

This is a unique post because for the first time in my blogging history, I didn't buy any of these products. ColourPop is not a brand that I'm particularly interested in. Yes, the prices are inexpensive but I never got on the hype-wagon. I have purchased and tried their Lippie Stix and Lippie Pencils but they're nothing to write home about. That's only my opinion though; and I'm sure you've seen a plethora of reviews and posts praising the brand. Meh.

Heidi and The Mistress have made this post possible. Both of them rave about the Ultra Satin formula; I guess they threw in two other finishes so I could give them a try.


The Ultra Satin formula is easy to apply - and remove. It's a comfortable formula and thus I gotta agree with the hype there. The jury is still out with regards to metallic lips...I'm kinda still shocked that these are once again 'a thing'. 'Mug Shot' is a nice neutral though so it's not like you'll appear to have f…

Since the original post in 2014, this line has become extensive. As I mentioned recently, it seems like a lot of brands under the Estee Lauder umbrella are expanding their lipstick formula offerings. The original Pure Color Envy line now features 51 shades - up from 26. In addition, there are: Matte (nine shades), Hi-Lustre (35 shades), Ombre (three options), Shine (10 shades), Vinyl LipColor (five shades), Liquid Lip Potion (14 shades), Sculpting Lacquer (eight shades), Sculpting Gloss (20 shades - 'Reckless Bloom' is great!), a Lip Volumizer and a Lip Balm.

The plan was to get a little bit of everything and do an overview of the entire Pure Color Envy line. #beautybloggeridealism Then I catch myself and realised that I: a) can't afford that, and b) these brands forever springing new products/shades on yuh. I literally can't keep up. But as the old adage goes: start where you are with what you have.

So here's the update...

Of all the lipstick options mentioned I&#…

Well this is awkward. Imagine I come to wax poetic about these liquid lipsticks only to discover that the company like it shut shop. Sigh. This beauty blogging ting really is all about timing.

Anyhow...as we're here.

This was a total #YouTubeMadeMeBuyIt purchase. Eshani raved about these and from her description I figured it was something I would like to try.


The more liquid lipsticks I test the more I realise that I prefer comfort to longevity. Yeah yeah; it sounds real good in theory to never have to reapply your lipstick but if looking like I eat some bad food is the trade off it ain't worth it bih.

These seemed very similar to the ones from Pretty Zombie Cosmetics. Even the product packaging; difference being these have gold caps whereas Pretty Zombie uses silver caps. Lonely Planet did one better though and gave us exterior box packaging.

I also appreciate that each product was further individually sealed in plastic. At the time I purchased these from their then Etsy Sho…

Ah the plight of the beauty blogger...plan to talk about a lipstick range and what does the company do? Release a crap tonne more shades. Sigh.

Well before Kat Von D expanded her Everlasting Liquid Lipstick range to an amazing 43 shades, I was gifted L.U.V by Heidi. That was the hot colour at the time and I was very happy to try the formula. I was still new to this liquid lipstick thing and these ones were being raved about all across social media. Now that we're inundated with so many options from so many companies, the Everlasting formula is still a favourite of many. As I said, with that impressive shade range there's bound to be a favourite colour for everyone.

The formula dries to a complete matte finish. Some people can't stand that and some love it so it really is a matter of preference. It's not a mousse texture like the ones from Pretty Zombie Cosmetics therefore they'll be less instances of transfer. I've found that opacity varies by shade.


'Lolit…