Welcome to another week and another post. This week I'm stripping it back to skincare. Masks are one of my favourite parts of my skincare routine as they offer so many benefits. I have been using this Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask for a few months now and want to share my thoughts with you all.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

Overview

This mask comes in two sizes, either 50ml which retails for $25 AUD or 100ml costing $39 AUD. Personally I think it makes sense to go with the 100ml since you get double the product without costing you double its price.

When visiting the MECCA site it states to:

Allow this intensely hydrating overnight mask to drink in your skin, restoring moisture, leaving it nourished and plump. Ideal for flights and late nights when your skin has been zapped of moisture.

 Plus it has a 4.7 star rating so immediately you know it must be good!

Formula & Scent

The consistency is like a thick moisturiser however it does not sit on your skin making it feel greasy or sticky at all. It sinks in almost immediately making your skin instantly feel more hydrated.

It has a strong citrus scent that continues to linger even once it has been applied to your face. Since I usually use this mask before bed I don't notice the scent however if I'm applying it during the day I can smell it.

Before purchasing this mask I read so many reviews, since my skin can be very sensitive, and one review that has always stuck with me and I agree with 100% is that this mask is like a tall glass of water for your skin.

My experience

By now you may be aware that I absolutely adore this face mask, it is honestly a Godsend for dry skin sufferers. If you find that you wake up with tight dry skin or suffer from dehydrated skin definitely try out a sample of this mask and I am sure you will fall in love!

The lovely lady at MECCA also suggested to apply this mask over my nightly moisturiser for added hydration and it works amazingly! Whenever I use this mask this way I have zero dry patches and I never wake up with tight, flakey (yuck!) skin.

I do however prefer applying this mask prior to makeup application. Personally this is how it works best for me as it plumps any fine lines and hydrates my dry patches like no moisturiser or oil could, making foundation go on a lot smoother.

The only downfall I have found is that very rarely it burns around my nose. This is where I have the most dryness and only occurs if I have been blowing my nose frequently. If you have a lot of dryness or really sensitive skin I suggest you try a sample of this mask first to make sure it will not irritate your skin.

I could go on about my love for this mask forever but this is officially the end of this weeks post. Thank you for reading and if you have dehydrated skin hopefully this product can help you out!

This mask also features in my flawless foundation routine. 

Multipurpose and compact products are my favourite. Not only do they make your makeup bag when travelling a lot lighter but they are so practical for every day use. I was after a blush, bronzer and highlight compact and read a lot of positive reviews on Urban Decay's Naked Flushed Palette so I decided to splurge.

Urban Decay Naked Flushed in Naked

This product retails for $52 AUD however you are getting three products in one. It also comes in three shades: streak for fairer skin tones, naked which was the 'original' and the one I own plus strip for deeper skin tones.

On the MECCA website it states

Flattering on all skin-tones, these versatile, three-in-one complexion palettes are dedicated to enhancing your skin's natural beauty and delivering a radiant, flushed glow.

Ingredients:

Packaging:

The powders are encased in a sturdy plastic casing which clips to close rather than being magnetic. The design is very similar to their Naked Basic Palettes and roughly a similar size.

Some people have complained that the powders are not actually separated from one another so if you are using a larger brush the shades can mix together. This has not been an issue for me and I actually prefer mixing the highlight and blush shades together to give a more luminous appearance. The three powders are divided into three uneven sections. The bronzer is the largest size followed by the blush and lastly the highlight. This makes perfect sense as you generally use more bronzer in comparison to highlighter.

Now let's take a look inside the cheek palette.

This image shows the sizes of the three products. My pan looks a little beaten up and used but I wanted to review this palette after using it for a period of time. Each shade can be sheered out or layered to appear more pigmented and intense. All shades blends very easily and I prefer how you can build up to your desired colour.

I have noticed that the blush in this trio is a little more powdery than the other two powders. The blush and bronzer are both on the sheer side however are still very pigmented. They give a nice sheen to the skin. If you do not like orange toned bronzer the palette in Naked will not be for you.

I will attach two images of arm swatches I did of the three shades. The first image was taken in the shade and the second was taken in direct sunlight.

Swatches taken in the shade

Swatches in direct sunlight

If you are just getting into bronzing, blush and highlighting I highly recommend picking up one of these cheek palettes from Urban Decay. You have all the three products in one place and the colours all suit one another which takes away from you trying to match up which blush and highlight should be paired together. You also have the option of choosing shades that are better suited to your skin tone. If you are on a budget Sleek or E.L.F make compacts like this at more affordable prices.

Being a uni student that often has to go out to placement and part-time work means I need my makeup routine to be fast and reliable enough to endure long hours. After countless 6am wake-ups I have finally got a quick routine down pat.
Click on the 😍 to be redirected to purchase any of the products mentioned!

I have dry skin so I always use a hydrating primer, I alternate between Face of Australia Face Base Primer (😍), Australis Original Primer (😍) and Becca Backlight Priming Filter (😍) depending on my skin that day. If my skin is really dry and dull I always use the Becca primer as it adds the most luminosity to my skin.

Next I either reach for my Chi Chi Super CC Cream (😍) or a foundation - usually NARS Sheer Glow (😍). Again this depends on how my skin is looking. I always skip concealer so if I need extra coverage I just add more of the foundation or cc cream to the areas that need it.

Since my skin is on the dryer side I skip powdering all together and I only set my under eyes with any powder that is closest to me. Depending on the time I woke up and if I can be bothered I will use my Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette (😍) since it is 3in1. I use it to bronze, highlight and add blush.

Last two steps are mascara and lips. On the daily I skip curling my lashes and straight away apply my mascara which currently is the Chi Chi 3D Magic Lash Mascara (😍). I am currently on the hunt for a new mascara so comment your favourites below!

Lips is another product that changes up daily. I will mention a few of my favourites at the moment:
😍 Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Chihuahua
😍 Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Midi
😍 Colourpop Lippie Stix in Lumiere
😍 Scout Cosmetics Mineral Lipstick in Awaken

Thank you for reading this weeks post and feel free to comment what your go-to makeup routine/products are!

Since I am transitioning my collection to one day being completely cruelty free I have been on the hunt for cruelty free dupes for my favourite products. Hopefully this post will help you if you're interested in using cruelty free alternatives too!

MAC Studio Fix Powder ➙ Australis Fresh and Flawless

Having dry/problematic skin makes it tough to find a powder that doesn't look too powdery but still offers a medium-full coverage. Luckily both these powders work virtually the same and the dupe is a lot more affordable! I do find that the MAC powder does give less of a "powdery" finish.

L'Oreal 24H-Matte ➙ Tarte Amazonian Clay

Tarte's Amazonian Clay foundation is a thicker and moussier consistency compared to L'Oreal however they're both matte and offer very full (buildable) coverage.

MAC Fix + ➙ Australis Makeup Finishing Spritz

Both set the powders on your face giving you more of a dewy finish. You can also use both to intensify any shadows.

Urban Decay Naked Palettes ➙ Chi Chi Palettes

Although Urban Decay are cruelty free their parents company is not. I am still on the fence whether I will continue purchasing their products however for a much more affordable and 100% cruelty free option Chi Chi have so many palette's so you will definitely find a match within their range!

Benefit Porefessional ➙ NYX Pore Filler

I have never owned Benefit's Porefessional however I have tried it out on my hand and compared it to my NYX primer. They had a similar feel and filled in the "pores" on my hand the exact same. There are also other blogposts online stating that these two are dupes. Cruelty free or not I highly recommend you try out the NYX primer first as it is much more affordable and works so well.

Stila Liquid Lipstick in Patina ➙ Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Clueless

I did an entire blogpost dedicated to comparing these two liquid lips so if you're interested in reading it click here. The two shades are very similar and wear for the same amount of time.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anna ➙ Colourpop Lippie Stix in Lumiere

NARS is another brand that is cruelty free however the parent company are not. Ever since the Audacious lipsticks were released I always wanted the shade Anna. One day when I went into Mecca I realised it was so similar to the shade I was wearing - Colourpop's Lumiere.

For a full list of brands that are cruelty free click here

There are so many foundations on the market and it can be a little overwhelming, especially if you're a beginner, to choose between powder, liquid or creams etc. I have put together this general guide to help you understand which type works best with each skin type or finish you desire.

Powder

Most suitable for: Oily skin

Description: This can either come in a pressed or loose form. Generally powder foundations give less coverage (pressed generally have fuller coverage!) and are often used to set a liquid foundation. However opting for a powder foundation results in natural coverage which is easy to apply daily.

How to apply: Use a kabuki or powder brush to apply.

Tips & Recommendations: 

• If you are after fuller coverage use powder foundation to set your liquid foundation
• Apply any liquid products prior to using powder
• Apply in circular motions to properly buff it into your skin - preventing a powdery appearance
• Set with a makeup setting spray to remove any powdery look your skin may have

Mousse

Most suitable for: Mature skin

Description: This foundation is whipped resulting in it being a smoother option for mature skin types. Since it is a mousse formula it generally does not settle into fine lines and covers most imperfections.

How to apply: Using your CLEAN fingertips or a buffing brush.

Tips & Recommendations: 

• Start from the centre of your face and work your way outwards
• Using a damp sponge can help add moisture into the foundation

Liquid

Most suitable for: Normal, oily, combination and dry skin

Description: Probably the most popular of them all; Liquid foundations comes in a variety of coverages and finishes so no matter what your skin type is you will be able to find a match. These foundations generally come in bottles with a pump or squeezy tubes. As mentioned previously they can come in different formulas so some may be thicker others will be thinner in consistency. As a general rule of thumb those with oily skin should use foundations with more of a matte finish in contrast to a dewy finish which is better suited for those with dryer skin.

How to apply: Liquid foundations can both be applied with a brush or beauty sponge.

Tips & Recommendations: 

• Use a synthetic brush to apply so less product is absorbed
• Wet the beauty sponge to get a more flawless and even coverage. This also reduces the amount of product the sponge will soak up and waste.
• Start from the centre of your face and work your way out.
• Set your liquid foundation with a translucent or coloured powder to ensure it will not move throughout the day. If you have really dry skin you may want to skip this.
• Purchase a foundation with NO SPF if you are taking photos with flash. SPF tends to cause a white cast on your face making your face not match your body in photos.

Cushion

Most suitable for: Dull, normal or dry skin

Description: Originally popular and used is Asian countries, cushion foundations are becoming very popular in the widespread beauty world. This foundation is a liquid housed in a cushion compact which is very practical for on the go!

How to apply: With the sponge they come with.

Tips & Recommendations: 

• Press/pat onto your skin
• Wash the sponge it comes with weekly as it can be a great home to bacteria build up (yuck!)

Cream

Most suitable for: Dry, combination or oily skin

Description: Cream foundations can either come in a pot or stick form and provide medium to full coverage. Cream pots usually incorporate moisturising benefits for those with dryer skin types however stick forms are better suited for oilier skin types as they are more drying.

How to apply: With a brush or beauty sponge (image above for reference)

Tips & Recommendations: 

• Use patting motions to apply
• Less is more - if you need more coverage build it up on those areas with thin layers
• Synthetic brushes work best
• You can apply powder to set this type of foundation if needed.

Hopefully this post was helpful and you have a better understanding of the different types of foundations and which one suits you best! Thank you for reading :)