Ulta3 Autumn/Winter 2012 Nailpolish Collection

Details of the Autumn/Winter 2012 collection have been released! It's called 'Molten Metallics', and it looks fab.

The collection comprises of the following colours:

• Copper
• Shiraz
• Jade
• Cocoa
• Antique Gold
• Enchanted
• Burnt Orange

For those who haven't heard of Ulta3 (where have you been!?) these nailpolishes are great because they cost around $2 each (some places charge slightly more, eg $2.25 - I think this is the new rrp anyway). The quality used to be better when they were made in Australia (they are now made overseas, and sometimes the brushes are a bit wonky) but they're still great quality for the price. They're such a cheap pick me up - cheaper than a cup of coffee!

I personally will not be buying many of these for now, because I bought most of their Spring/Summer collection and haven't even tried most of them yet! (FAIL...) It is hard to resist when you stumble across a tub of them, and for a limited time they are also being stocked at some Coles stores! 

My pick out of this collection has to be 'Cocoa', which looks delicious:

Ulta3 is stocked at Terry White Chemists, Blooms the Chemist, Good Price Pharmacy and other selected pharmacies. Phone 1800 181 040 for stockist enquiries.

A similar brand, which is from the same distributors as Ulta3 is N.Y.C Color. NYC Color seems to be made in the same factory as Ulta3, and has the same colours under different names.

Here is an Ulta3 colour guide, complete with examples of nails painted in each colour (it doesn't include the A/W12 collection yet). Here is a list matching Ulta3 and NYC Color nailpolishes by name and colour.

Makeup Review: Maybelline Gel Eyeliner

This whole blogging thing is very educational. In addition to sorting out the myriad of thoughts in my own head, I am learning that you can tap into the experiences and recommendations of others via Google Friend Connect.

In my 30 before 30 list, I stated that I want to do a makeup course. This is sorely needed, because on a day to day basis I wear hardly any makeup and when I do wear it, I don't think I get the best out of it. I have improved over the years, and my makeup collection has steadily expanded, but I still feel completely useless at making my face look beautiful.

I have never even used a primer. There, I said it - I have committed a beauty sin. So I am deciding whether to buy:

Benefits Porefessional

or

Clinique instant perfection pore minimizer

They both have pretty good reviews, and cost around the same amount for a little tube. My plan of attack is to check to see whether I can steal a Clinique tube from my Mother, who is the lover of all things Clinique. If not, I'll rethink.

I also really wanted to try Maybelline's new gel eyeliner. Reviews say that it is easy to apply, even for beginners. I have improved at eyeliner over the years, but I am a lot better at doing a smudgy smokey eye than a clean crisp corporate eye. And now that I work in an office, the latter has become a necessity.

Here is a photo of the application on my eye (bottom only):

Verdict: The above was done in a massive rush (it took about a minute to do both eyes, maybe less) and it still looks okay. As a result, I'd have to say I'm quite happy with the brush that comes with this gel and its ease of application. NB: You definitely need to wash or at least wipe off the brush between uses. I found it a lot worse on the second application the next day because it had dried product on it. I haven't worked out what the best way to remove the product between uses is. If you are a beginner, buying an even finer brush that is better quality would be helpful, but I found the one it comes with to be fine as a starting point.

For a waterproof eyeliner, I think it has very good staying power. By the end of the day, the line had hardly dissipated. I didn't remove it properly before bed and I didn't wake up with panda eyes, the line was still intact (albeit faded).  I therefore found it to be smudge proof and waterproof, however if you want to use this on your water line (as a kohl pencil) then you are wasting your time - it comes right off there. Make sure your skin is clean and dry before application. If you have oily skin, you will probably still need to use a primer.

The colour is vivid, I did not need to layer it on more than once. It glided on easily, has great staying power, is very affordable (and excellent quality for the price) and is so much easier to apply than liquid eyeliner (but gives a similar well-defined line).

I would go as far as saying that it is now my favourite eyeliner and supplants the previous entry in that category on my must-have list of makeup basics!

Hooray for peer reviews and affordable, well made makeup products!

UPDATE (5 Feb 2012):
I am very impressed with the staying power of this eyeliner. It needs some time to dry but once it has, it stays. Last night I got home at about 4am and used a makeup wipe to remove my eyeshadow (mild makeup wipes have a very limited effect on this eyeliner). I then went to sleep and this is my eyes on waking up:

Very impressive - no panda eyes. In fact, I went out without even needing to re-apply or tidy it up.

Favourite Beauty Products

Here are some of my favs.

Favourite cleanser:

ASAP daily facial cleanser with AHA. I started using this product on my beautician's recommendation. At first I wasn't convinced, and at $45 for a bottle this stuff doesn't appear to be cheap. However, a little bit goes a long way so it actually works out to be a bargain. It's a glycolic facial cleanser so has active ingredients to break down dead skin cells etc. The best thing about it is that it's strong enough to use as your primary makeup removal product (but I'd recommend cleansing twice if you're also removing makeup). It's 100% Aussie owned and made, which warms my patriotic little heart!

Favourite face moisturiser:

Natio Daily Protection Face Moisturiser SPF 15. This has quite an interesting and strong smell, so it wouldn't be for everyone. I like the smell, the feel and the way my skin responds - no break outs. It also has SPF 15 which is a prerequisite for me.

Best body moisturiser:

Palmers Cocoa Butter. This stuff is cheap and smells delicious. I buy huge pump bottles and slather it on after a shower. It's a bargain product that does an excellent job.

Favourite haircare product:

Delva Solarcare Leave in Moisturiser. Nothing comes close to this product - it leaves hair looking and feeling shiny, healthy and soft. Other products claim to do it, but this is the only product I'd rave about.

Favourite hair styling product:

Fudge Urban Instant Smoothie. Now this one isn't a miracle worker, and I don't like it's coconut smell all that much... but it does de-frizz my hair on a daily basis without making it look and feel oily. I have yet to find another product that de-frizzes without making my hair into an oil slick.

Best eyeliner:

Lancome Le Stylo Eyeliner Pen. I'm not sure if you can get this in Australia, I bought mine overseas (x3, and I keep buying). It glides on easily and stays on well. Plus you can use the back of it for smudging, which is handy.

 Favourite eyeshadow:

Dior. Yep, I think Dior's eyeshadows are the best. Better than Mac. They glide on beautifully, stay on well and look stunning.

Most versatile and useful makeup product:

MAC pigment in copper sparkle. This one is great because I use it as a very vibrant eyeshadow, and it's also useful as a bronzer to highlight the cheekbones (and it makes you look more tanned).

Favourite blush:

Bloom cosmetics in Rosebud. This has gold undertones, and really suits my complexion. I have heard many girls rave about Nars Orgasm blush and this is apparently a very similar, cheaper product.

My current foundation:

Revlon Colorstay Active (this is discontinued, so when I finish my current bottle I'll have to try a new foundation). I like a foundation that goes on easily with my fingertips if I don't have a brush or sponge handy.

So, those are my must have beauty items at the moment :-) Is there anything I'm missing out on? 

I have not yet found an amazing:

-Body exfoliate scrub

-Face mask

-Lipcare product (and before you suggest Lucas Pawpaw ointment, I don't like lip glosses that I have to spread with my fingers!)