Violet Voss Flamingo Palette – swatches and first impressions

Hello to my lovely readers!

When I first saw the promo images for the new Violet Voss Flamingo eyeshadow palette I knew it had to be mine. I have heard really great things about the brand and the colours really grabbed my attention. Plus, it is flamingo themed and I LOVE flamingos – I even have a tattoo of one!

I pre-ordered the palette from Discount Beauty Boutique on a Sunday, a few days prior to its release. I received a shipping notification the very next day. It turns out the stock had arrived early and the wonderful Samantha at DBB hustled to get all of the orders out ahead of schedule! I could hardly believe when my order arrived on the Tuesday. A huge shout out to DBB for the amazing customer service. They are a woman-owned small online business operating from the Gold Coast, and I just love supporting local and of course supporting women!  Definitely check out the site if you haven’t already as they stock a bunch of awesome brands.

The palette retails for $69AUD, and contains 36 grams of product in total.  Violet Voss are a cruelty free brand.  The palette contains 10 matte shades (Flamingos, Oceanfront, Beach Ball, Watermelon, Lemonade, Popsicle, Sunbathe, Sand, Sandals and Sunnies), seven foil shades (Donut, Bikini, Tidal Wave, Pineapple, Surf, Island and Pinwheel), two topper shades (Flip Flops and Seashell) and one satin shade (Coral).

My first impressions upon swatching the shadow are extremely positive. The colours are very vibrant and the formula is super buttery and smooth, especially the foiled shades.  As always, swatch photos are taken in natural light on my Samsung Galaxy S8 with zero editing other than adding the shade names.

I have only had the chance to use the palette on my eyes once so far but I am really impressed with how it performed. I used a brush for the mattes and a combo of a brush and my fingers for the shimmers with great results. The shadows blended brilliantly and still looked great after 12 hours of wear.

If you are like me and love experimenting with colour and bright eye looks, this palette is definitely one I would recommend. It has a great mix of mattes and shimmers and I can see myself being able to create lots of different looks with it in the future. Make sure you are following me on Instagram, where I post makeup looks and mini reviews, because I can tell this palette will feature a lot!

Have you tried any Violet Voss palettes or any other super bright shadows? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

I will be back in the next week or so with a long-overdue update on my Project Pan. Hope to see you then!

Love,
Sarah xx

Not Another Colourpop Haul!

If you’ve been following my blog or Instagram for a while now, you would be well aware of the fact that I am OBSESSED with Colourpop. They are one of my favourite makeup brands and tick all the boxes – affordable, quality products and cruelty free! Plus they ship to Australia for a very reasonable price (or free, in fact, if you order as much as I do), which is an added bonus, as all of my Aussies out there will know of the struggle of getting our hands on certain products.

Colourpop released their “Meet Me in the Desert” collection a few months ago to line up with festival season in the US, and came out with 14 brand new Ultra Satin Lips and 24 new shades in their Pressed Powder Shadows. Naturally, I had to try out this new range for myself (as well as a few extra products), so without further ado, here is what I picked up!

Project Pan – 19 by 2019

Welcome to 2018 everybody!

I’m not big on resolutions, but something I do want to focus on in the new year is to be more conscious of my spending, particularly when it comes to makeup and beauty products.  With the creation of Bigg Beauty last year, I found myself justifying a lot more unnecessary purchases, resulting in a lot of the amazing products in my collection being overlooked.

I’ve decided to jump on board with many of my Instagram buddies and do a Project Pan this year.  I’m aiming to finish (or at least make significant progress on) 19 products by 2019, and track my progress to keep myself accountable.

Read on to see which products I’ll be working through this year and why I have chosen them!

Get Delicious with Skinolicious, the original oat, honey and corn scrub

Hi everyone!

I hope you have all had a great week and are looking forward to a relaxing weekend.  Work has really kicked my butt this week, so I’m looking forward to a cruisy weekend and catching up with some friends.

Recently, I was lucky enough to have the lovely crew at Skinolicious send me a package of their face scrub to review.  This will be the first full review of a product I’ve written for the blog, so please bear with me!

Skinolicious are a new company on the scene and have created an all-natural face scrub with lots of skin-friendly ingredients.  Based in Perth, Western Australia, the scrub contains food-grade ingredients of fresh lemons, oats, honey and coconut oil, with corn acting as the exfoliant – which is a great alternative to nasty microbeads which we all know are awful for the environment!  The scrub is 100% biodegradable, and Skinolicious are firmly against animal testing.

The packaging for the scrub is completely unique and unlike anything I have ever seen before.  Each package contains 14 super cute sachets of scrub, which remind me a bit of a sachet of hot chocolate!  Due to the food-grade ingredients, the scrub is stored in the freezer to keep it fresh.  Because the ingredients don’t freeze solid, you can use it on your face directly from the freezer which is really handy.  I got around three uses from each sachet, so at $24.95 a pack, it is great value!  I used one of these little Ikea clips to re-seal the sachet which worked perfectly.

The first thing that struck me when I opened the package was the amazing smell!  The scrub has a beautiful fresh lemony scent and really does smell good enough to eat.  Because the scrub is a very wet texture, I did find it a little messy to use on my face, so I would definitely recommend using it in the shower so it doesn’t go everywhere.  Due to the honey in the scrub, it needs to be rinsed with warm water to remove.

The scrub feels lovely and soft on the skin, with the corn granules gently buffing the skin as you rub it in.  I personally like the feeling of a harsher scrub (although this is probably not the best thing for my face!), so simply scrubbing a bit harder worked well for me.

After using Skinolicious I was blown away by how amazing my skin felt – it was the smoothest it has ever been after using an exfoliating scrub!  I have been using the scrub before my night skincare routine and found that my products soak into my skin beautifully after scrubbing.  My skin still feels really fresh and smooth the next morning.  Going forwards, I will definitely incorporate the scrub into my routine, and aim to use it 2 – 3 times a week.

I really love trying out new products, particularly those that are natural and ethical without costing the earth, and Skinolicious have created a fantastic scrub that ticks all the boxes.  I also get a real kick out of supporting small Aussie businesses, and I’ll absolutely be repurchasing once my supply runs out.  I’d have no hesitation in recommending Skinolicious if you are after a new addition to your skincare routine.

You can visit skinolicious.com.au for a load more information and to purchase this great product.  They offer free shipping Australia-wide which is an added bonus!

What are your favourite scrubs and exfoliating products, and are you keen to try out Skinolicious for yourself?  Let me know in the comments!

Love, Sarah xx

 

 

**I was gifted this product by Skinolicious, however all views expressed in my review are 100% my own!

Colourpop Haul – My Little Pony Collection, brushes and more!

As you may have already seen on my Instagram, I recently received a big ol’ order from Colourpop, so I thought I’d put together a quick post to show you what I got!  Colourpop are one of my favourite makeup brands.  They are cruelty free and super affordable, and I’m really excited to see them branch out into a much wider range of products.  I’ve done some conversions at the time of posting from USD to AUD so Aussie visitors to my page can get a rough idea of how much these items will set you back (spoiler alert – not much!)  I love reading and watching hauls so I hope you all enjoy this one!

My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette – $16USD, approx $21AUD
I’m a recent convert to Colourpop’s powder eyeshadows and this palette offers a great selection of shades which are quite different to anything else out there at the moment.  I’ve used it a few times already and the quality is fantastic, and the packaging is completely adorable!

Belle of the Ball Pressed Powder Shadow Palette – $12USD, approx $16AUD
I adore pink eyeshadows so this palette offered a perfect selection of the single shades.  There are a few different curated combinations of the single shadows available, so it is a great way to try out the product without becoming overewhelmed by all the different shades to choose from.  Buying in a palette is more economical, too!

From top to bottom:
My Little Pony Pressed Powder Highlighter in Trickles – $8USD, approx $10.50AUD
Blending Brush – $6USD, approx $8AUD
Pressed Powder Shadows in Poodle and Paper Tiger – $4USD each, approx $5.30AUD
Pressed Powder Highlighters in Here Kitty Kitty and Go Honey – $8USD each, approx $10.50 AUD
You can purchase the single shadows, highlighters and other products in the pan only, or in a com;pact for an extra $1USD.  I store mine in my a2o Lab Magnetic Palette – there are a bunch of different ones available here, and they are a fraction of the cost of a Z Palette.
My Little Pony Super Shock Shadow in Sunbeam – $5USD, approx $6.50AUD
Tapered Blending Brush – $6USD, approx $8AUD

From top to bottom:
My Little Pony Ultra Matte Lip in Pinwheel – $6USD, approx $8AUD
No Filter Concealer – $6USD, approx $8AUD
I bought shades 05 Fair and 10 Fair Neutral to try and I am really impressed so far!
Ultra Matte Lip in Bad Habit – $6USD, approx $8AUD
This is a bonus mini that was thrown in with a handwritten note apologising for the delay in delivery (which I didn’t really notice, but would have been due to the massive My Little Pony release).  How is that for customer service?
Precision Brown Pencil in Dope Taupe – $5USD, approx $6.50AUD

Crystal Setting Spray in Aventurine – $6USD, approx $8AUD
I haven’t actually heard a lot about this range of primer and setting sprays, but at such a good price I’m really looking forward to trying it out.  It also came in a glass bottle which was a nice, fancy surprise!

So there you have it for the haul!  Please let me know in the comments if you would like more detailed reviews on any of the products.  Keep an eye on my Instagram for some swatches coming up too (if the sun ever comes out and gives me some decent lighting!)

I hope you enjoyed this post, and I’ll see you back here very soon

Sarah xx

Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette – First Impression and Swatches

I am the first to admit that I know next to nothing about the Instagram institution that is Huda Kattan, but as soon as I laid eyes on this palette I knew it had to be mine.

The Desert Dusk palette is the second eyeshadow palette released by Huda’s brand, Huda Beauty, following on from the hugely successful Rose Gold palette that was released last year.  I don’t own the Rose Gold palette because it didn’t particularly stand out to me at the time (but as I’m looking at it again now I don’t really know why – it’s stunning!).  Both of Huda’s palettes are available from Sephora here in Australia and Sephora online.  At $95, the Desert Dusk palette was quite a splurge, but based on my initial impressions alone, it has been worth every cent!

The palette consists of 18 shades inspired by “the soft warmth of the desert, rays of sunset light washing the sky and dunes”.  This includes eight mattes, six pearl/shimmers, three duo-chrome toppers and one glitter.  The toppers can be used alone or on top of other shades, and they catch the light and reflect beautifully.  One minor gripe I have is that the glitter shade is literally just a pan of glitter, so will require the use of a glitter glue, and the pan has gotten quite messy already.  In my opinion, the palette has every shade and finish you need for a complete eye look, with options for neutral base colours and warmer crease colours.  “Desert Sand” is a beautiful buttery neutral shade that I have been using as a base over primer, and “Musk”, “Eden” and “Amber” all work well in crease as transition shades.  The other more vibrant shades can be used to create depth, add a pop of colour or to highlight.

All of the shadows (bar the glitter) swatched well and are a lovely smooth texture.  The shades that I have used on my eyes (which I can’t actually remember at this point – forgive me!) applied easily and blended out well.  There was a little bit of fall out, but this will always happen when you’re dealing with super pigmented shadows.

The packaging is simple slimline sturdy cardboard which will make it great for travelling.  While some cardboard packaging can get a bit dirty and banged up, I don’t think it will be a big problem with this palette due to the dark colour theme and high-quality feel to it.  The front of the packaging features an absolutely STUNNING photo of Huda wearing shades from the palette and her signature lush lashes, and embossed gold text.  Some may be put off by Huda’s branding, but hey, I say work it girl!  Probably my favourite part of the packaging is the shield that protects the mirror from the shadows (if there is a correct name for this thing, please do let me know!)  Instead of a flimsy piece of plastic that you get in most palettes, it is very thick and sturdy, and again features Huda’s gorgeous eyes.

Now for the swatches!  The photos below were taken in natural light on my Samsung Galaxy S7, with the only editing to the background and of course adding the shade names.  The colours haven’t been altered at all.

As I have said, the palette was on the pricey side for me, but I have absolutely no regrets.  The shades are ones that I normally gravitate towards, and while I do have similar palettes and single shadows in my collection (like the BYS Peach Palette from my last blog post), the quality of the Desert Dusk palette is outstanding, and I can easily see this becoming my new favourite.

Have you tried this palette or any other Huda Beauty products?  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Thanks you all so much, as always, for following my little beauty project, and I will have some more content coming very soon!

Until next time,

Sarah xx

BYS Cosmetics Peach Palette – First Impression and Swatches

Hi everyone and welcome back to Bigg Beauty!

Just a quick one today as I was FINALLY able to get my hands on the BYS Cosmetics Peach Palette that I have seen a lot of on Instagram and Youtube, and I wanted to share my first impressions of the palette and some swatches. 

Birthday makeup haul and swatches

Hi Beauties!

It was my birthday last Sunday and I was very lucky to receive some gorgeous new makeup.  Below are some photos of the products as well as some swatches and my first impressions.  Enjoy!

Four months of empties!

Hi Lovelies!

It has been quite a while since I have posted due to a very busy few months (which I’ll spare you all the boring details of), and this post in particular is well overdue.  I declared on my Instagram that I would do an empties review once a month and clearly that didn’t happen, but we’re here now, so let’s get right into it.

The Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream ($52.99) is one of the best moisturisers I have used.  It’s really hydrating without being too greasy, absorbs quickly and smells really good!  Antipodes are a New Zealand brand offering organic, cruelty-free products with a big focus on sustainability, so are well worth checking out if you’re in the market for some new skincare items.  They are on the pricey side for a “drugstore” brand so I always wait for the famous Priceline skincare sale to purchase.

I am sure you are all aware of the magical cleansing properties of the very-specifically named Detergent for Puff and Sponge from Daiso, but if you’re not, invest that $2.80 and find out for yourself.  I burn through these like crazy and always buy extras in case it is discontinued one day (a ghastly thought!)  Bonus shot of my sleeping puppies in the background of this shot.

Australis Fresh and Flawless Pressed Powder ($12.95) is another one of my staples.  It is my favourite everyday setting powder.  Does the job perfectly, cruelty free and really affordable.

This Batiste Hold Me Hairspray came in a Bella Box and I was really excited to try it as Batiste’s dry shampoo is so good.  I was really impressed with this product.  I have quite fine hair and since getting it cut super short, hairspray is a must to keep everything in place.  It holds well without feeling gross and sticky, and is definitely invisible in your hair like it claims – no weird crunchy film on your hair.  It also smells lovely!  I’ll definitely be purchasing this again.

I started using rosehip oil after hearing about all the good things it did for Crystal Conte.  This was the first one I purchased and it felt like it lasted forever.  I use it as the final step in my before-bed skincare routine and I have noticed a big improvement in my skin since I’ve been using it.  I can’t imagine rosehip oils from other brands being all that different but the Natural Instinct Rejuvenating Rosehip Oil is certified organic and vegan, and they are an Australian company so definitely a good option if you’re keen to try this product.

I picked up the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant tin on a whim going through the duty free checkout at the airport last May, and I am devastated that I have finally finished it because a quick Google tells me that it’s not actually that easy to find in Australia!  I find a lot of lip balms actually dry my lips out more but this one is the best I have ever used and I’m going to stock up if I ever find it again.  If anyone out there sees it anywhere please do let me know!

I can’t remember the last time I finished a fragrance!  Anais Anais L’Original by Cacharel is a little cheapie that I picked up from Priceline mostly because I thought the bottle was super cute, but I think the fragrance is beautiful!  My favourite scents are quite old-fashioned and “nanna-ish” and this one fit the bill perfectly.  I know fragrance is a very subjective thing so it’s not really something I can recommend without you trying for yourself, but this is one that I will definitely go back to, and it’s only $25 for a 30ml bottle.

I’m slowly working my way through the collection of masks that I have accumulated.  The Manuka Honey and Collagen sheet masks are Etude House, Broccoli sheet mask is TonyMoly and Blemish Mud is Montagne Jeunesse.  To be honest, I don’t think any of these masks did too much for my skin, but the sheet masks feel lovely, cool and moisturising so perfect to relax in on a Sunday.  In fact, I think I’m off to do another one now!

Have you tried any of these products?  I would love to hear your thoughts!  As always, let me know if there’s anything you would like me to talk about next, and I’ll see you back here next time.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Love, Sarah xx

The Passion Podject

Hey friends,

A quick post to let you know about a little thing I did a few weeks ago.  My good friend Scott has just launched a new podcast called The Passion Podject, and I was lucky enough to be the guinea pig first ever guest!

The aim is for Scott, a man of many interests but no one true passion, to talk to people about the one thing that they want to shout about from the rooftops, and how and why it became that one thing.  I of course jumped at the chance to discuss in-depth my obsession with all things makeup, and I had such a great time doing it.

The Passion Podject is available to listen to here, or you can find it where you normally get your podcasts from if you’re a podcast nut like me.

Warning – there are some swears and adult themes in the recording so I would advise listening at your discretion.

There are plenty more great guests lined up for the coming weeks so please feel free to show your support and subscribe.  You can also give the Podject’s Facebook page a like to stay updated.

A big thank you to Scott for having me ramble at him for over an hour about makeup.  I hope you enjoy the show, and I’ll see you back here very soon!

Love, Sarah ♥