Broke By Payday: 2016

Review: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick

23:04

I really wanted to love this foundation. This is the first stick foundation I've tried and because of it's claims to be a full coverage, long-wearing foundation stick for the flawless, ultra-perfected complexion you've always dreamed of, I had high expectations. And because of the price, because the price is crazy. But I had seen good reviews, I knew Hourglass is a brand renowned for its quality and being a luxury brand I thought I was going to find a new 'holy grail' foundation.

Hourglass also claims this foundation is waterproof, lasts 12 hours, has the coverage of a concealer with the fluidity of a foundation and the weightlessness of a powder with undetectable full coverage.

The foundation applied beautifully and definitely looked flawless, without feeling or looking too heavy. However after only 2 hours of wear I already started looking shiny, and the foundation had already begun to melt around my nose, slightly fade off my chin and just look a lot less 'natural'. I already felt oily and began to think the claims of lasting 12 hours and having a weightless coverage were going to be easily and rapidly disproven.

When you compare it to other foundation stick prices, Hourglass seems to be the most expensive version with the least amount of product... but you actually need much more product than Hourglass suggests to get that "undetectable" full coverage. When applying, the foundation glides on so easily and smoothly and you don't need an excessive amount, just more than what they recommend... Or maybe I'm just too full on.. But it is a lovely, creamy, pigmented formula.

Though it looks beautiful in person and in photography to begin with, no matter which powder I tried setting with, the foundation still transferred and still came off in an unflattering, patchy manner.

Towards the end of the wear the foundation begun to cling in a really unattractive way to my dry patches/breakouts, separate on my chin further and in between my brows too, sink further into my pores and around my nose, and look really oily and slide around my cheeks especially.

If you can get a sample I highly recommend doing so before committing to this foundation, as since it's release in Australia I've seen a number of reviews similar to mine (my favourite, very in depth review that I've read and has a very similar opinion to mine comes from here). I really wanted to love this foundation and for it to work for me, but unfortunately I'm just not a fan of looking like shit after only a few hours of sitting at home...

Pictures of wear below (very unedited, please look past my imperfections and focus on how the foundation looks!). Feel free to message me if you want to hear any more!

First applied - 2 hours wear - 10 hours wear

10 hours wear (mmm super flattering photo)

beauty

modemap.net: why you need to bookmark it!

22:21

beauty

My Makeup Brush Set Review

23:13

You would have seen all over instagram the weird "toothbrush" looking make up brushes, and if you're like me you would be interested to try them and see what all the fuss was about.

I ordered (with my own money) the 10 piece oval brush set from the My Brush Set website on the 14th of May 2016. Despite the promise on their website of "Fast Delivery! 3-4 Days" the brushes were not even shipped until the 23rd of June. It was then that I decided to email the company about my disappointment in paying USD$20 for shipping that was beyond unsatisfactory. They responded to every email I sent them with the same (I assume) copy and pasted statement that they did not refund shipping costs but thanked me for my support. Finally my brushes arrived on the 4th of July. Over seven weeks after I ordered. I'm sure you can tell I was not impressed at all by this company and their "customer service". If you have a look on their instagram at the comments on some of their photos you will find I am not alone in my dissatisfaction.

If you don't mind waiting half your life for the brushes to arrive and want to know if I think they're worth the price keep reading. I don't recommend this brand at all after my experience but if you want to look for another cheap set on eBay or similar I'm sure they will be of similar quality.

To add to my disappointment, one of my brushes even arrived looking like a bum crack (and who wants to be wiping a bum across their face?).

The reason I wanted to try this style of brush but in a cheap version was to decide whether I would get use out of a more expensive brand's oval brush such as the MAC and Artis styles. From the 10 brushes in the set I purchased, I would realistically only get use out of, at most, 5 of the brushes. I don't find the eye brushes anything I would ever get use out of.

When it comes down to it, I like the second biggest brush for blending foundation - it blends so fast and easily but I still like to quickly bounce my damp beauty blender over the top afterwards to achieve a more flawless look. The other face brushes are good for applying cream products but I found once I tried to blend with the brushes my foundation was moving around and looking a little patchy. I wouldn't use these brushes for powder products, as I just don't think they do as good of a job as regular brushes.

The brushes are nice and soft and although a little flimsy, they don't feel like they'll snap too easily. I think if you're looking to try something similar you should try eBay for sets (and I'd just start with 1-5 of the bigger face brushes).

I hope my honest review of these brushes helps. I'd like to also add I submitted a negative review of the brushes on their website and it never appeared (so I'm assuming they hide the bad). Unfortunately I didn't do deep enough research prior to ordering, and have since learnt that the company will refund you the brush cost once you post a positive review online, hence so many people only having good things to say (unless they actually do recommend them??). Regardless, I purchased these as a customer and should be treated the same as anyone who receives these brushes as part of an affiliation/collaboration (which I was also offered and accepted - as I thought I could use the second set in a giveaway - a month ago and the package has still not arrived).

If you're still interested and would like 10% off your My Makeup Brush Set order (disclaimer: I receive 20% if you follow the link) order from HERE.

Feel free to send me any questions, requests or comments feel free to comment here, on my instagram or email me (brokebypayday@outlook.com) xxx

beauty

Growing your Instagram

06:06

Often people are wanting to know the best ways to grow their Instagram following. Your account shouldn't be made in aspiration of gaining followers and/or free products. But if you do want to grow your following because you want to reach more people and share your passion then you're in it for the right reasons. I honestly was most excited about hitting 10,000 followers because I was excited for another giveaway that I had been planning for a month or so! I love being able to say thank you for the support I receive and love being able to make others excited about something I love. I'm so grateful for the love, likes and followers on my Instagram account and wish I could send every single person a thank you gift (but unfortunately, as my username suggests, I'm not made of money and tend to spend it too quickly). I know my account is still smaller than many but I thought I would share some ideas on how to grow your Instagram and reach more people.

My tips (or how I think I've got followers (not to sound up-myself, I'm just trying to help!)) would be -

Quality: use only good quality pictures. People don't tend to like grainy, low quality pictures. See my post on taking and editing better pictures.

Stay active: post at least once every three days, comment and like plenty of other similar pictures to the ones you put out. And by comment I don't mean leave an emoji love heart! Ask questions about the products, make statements if you own the same "oh I love my ... bronzer too!!" Etc. I try and post at least once a day, sometimes I'll post two or three times if I'm excited about things I want to share! If I miss a day I don't stress though, but I don't like to be absent from liking or commenting on others' posts.

Hashtags: you can use 30 per picture, use as close to 30 RELEVANT hashtags as you can!! Look through similar accounts and what hashtags they're using if you're unsure what to use. After you've posted go through some of the hashtags you've used and like and comment on similar pictures. This just helps to bring more attention to your page.

Credit: ALWAYS CREDIT THE OWNER OF PICTURES YOU POST THAT YOU DID NOT TAKE YOURSELF. It is good etiquette. If you don't know say source unknown, don't claim it as your own. Posting pics that aren't yours and claiming they are is a big pet hate of mine as I think it's very rude.

Inspiration: follow other accounts you like and use their pics as inspiration for yours! Don't copy them exactly, but put your own spin on them. Look at what you think works in their pictures but also what you think doesn't.

Theme: pick a theme and stick to it. It's hard to engage with followers who like beauty posts when you post an assortment of beauty, food, fashion, and fitness etc pictures... If I was to post fitness pictures I think my followers would be confused because they followed my account for the beauty pictures. This isn't a rule you must follow, if you want to post a bit of everything you go right ahead, its your account and you are free to post anything you like. This is just my suggestion (as are all my tips! You do you!)

Don't expect your followers to grow by thousands overnight. Don't expect people to follow you without you putting in any work. I spend a lot of time on Instagram because I feel just by being present I'm more likely to be noticed, and I believe every single follower is important. I hope I have helped if only just a little bit, and as always, feel free to message me if you have any questions! xx

beauty

Kylie Cosmetics v Colourpop

20:37

beauty

Review & Results: Petara Organic Lash & Brow Serum

22:33

beauty

My Skincare MVP's

22:35

There is nothing worse than hating your skin. I've hated my skin for many years and envied the girls who have clear, beautiful skin and walk around confidently with a bare face. Maybe my love for chocolate doesn't help my case, but I was unhappy with my skin until recently.

I was sent some products from Real-U Australia and noticed an incredibly pleasing difference in my skin. My spots cleared up, my skin felt softer and hydrated. My favourite product is the gentle foaming wash. I took it away with me recently and in my laziness (don't judge) it took me a week to unpack my toiletries bag fully. In my week without using the foaming wash my skin started breaking out a little and until I realised why, I was so confused. I've almost finished the foaming wash and I will definitely be purchasing a replacement as it is an essential in my skincare routine.

Before I started using my Real-U products I sent my friend a picture of my makeup-free face wearing just a new lipstick I'd purchased that she wanted to see. She replied saying how she was jealous of my skin to which I sent her the picture on the left (below) telling her she was crazy. The picture on the right (the after) was taken less than one month after using all of the Real-U products. What's left was mainly scaring (don't pop your pimples kids!!) but it is a face I am confident to walk around with without makeup on.

Recently I purchased a few products from the Manuka Doctor ApiClear skincare range (thanks to Shaaanxo (if you don't watch her YouTube yet you need to start!)). I've added into my skincare routine (and now I can't go without them) the purifying facial peel, the purifying facial scrub and the moisturising lotion. I prefer to wear this moisturiser during the day under makeup and the Real-U moisturiser at night to bed. The facial peel is a fun (well I love it) mask that clears dead skin cells and purifies your pores. I find the scrub a gentle yet effective exfoliator that leaves my skin smooth.

On days I've worn makeup I always cleanse my skin with my Real-U cleanser and my Clarasonic as it is much more effective in actually getting into my pores and effectively cleaning my skin of every last bit of makeup. I love to double cleanse to make sure my skin is perfectly clean and always start with Palmer's facial cleansing oil which even removes waterproof mascara.

On days I haven't worn make up I still cleanse my skin but I have started doing so with my Lune beauty sponge. My skin has never been softer since using the activated charcoal infused sponge!

On my pimples my holy grail spot treatment would be the Marion Badescu drying lotion. It works wonders overnight, and I always always see a difference.

Before this post is a novel I'll finish here, but if you'd like to hear about my lip care (especially post matte liquid lipstick), favourite face masks or a review on what I've been using to grow my eyelashes let me know! If you have any questions feel free to contact me. xo

beauty

The Instagram Process...

21:17

I'm not going to sit here and pretend I'm an expert, or that I know it all. I know my pictures aren't all perfect and my Instagram feed isn't even close to some of the ones I obsess over (@thehanihanii, @clairee.lin, @dugongss, @anythingbut_basic). BUT I have learnt a lot whilst growing my account and I have been encouraged to share some of my tips and tricks.

I take all my photos on my iPhone 6 using the square photo frame so that my pictures are already cropped when I go to edit them. I turn the grid option on and try to take my pictures as straight as possible (but I'm not the greatest at this - sorry to anyone with OCD haha).

I always take my photos on either my marble pasty board or my faux marble side table [similar here] in natural lighting with minimal shadows (either inside in front of the window or outside when the sun isn't harsh). I think lighting is really important in taking a good picture and you need to work out when and where the lighting is best for you.

Another important tip that is probably the simplest thing you can do that will make a big impact on your picture quality would be to wipe your camera lens clean before you take your picture. Plenty of people forget how much dirt and dust can cover your camera lens (especially if you're using your phone).

Once I'm happy with my shot (I will always take plenty of angles and options... which is probably why my camera roll has over 21 thousand photos...) I tend to edit my pictures in either the Instagram app, Enlight, Facetune and Aviary. Instagram is my preferred app to edit brightness, contrast, saturation, warmth, highlights and shadows. I only ever slightly adjust these as I like to keep my pictures looking as natural as possible.

Enlight would be my favourite to adjust the brightness of the background of my pictures as there is a duo filter option where I'm able to only apply the changes to selected areas. There is also a heal tool which allows me to fix any imperfections.

For pictures of my face (as apposed to my flatlays) I like using facetune to edit blemishes and uneven skin tone. Facetune is also great for enhancing certain details and smoothing out other areas. It also has a whitening tool which is great for whitening your teeth. Aviary is essentially the same as facetune but without the sharpen tool (I just like having plenty of options).

Lastly (and I only recently) I watermark my pictures with the Ezy Watermark Lite app.

My final tips would be:
- Before packing up your flatlay/cleaning your face of makeup (or whatever you're taking pictures of) look through your camera roll. Is there a perfect picture or do you need to adjust your angle/products/lighting?
- Before posting, ask yourself "if I was scrolling through my instagram feed, would I like this picture?"
- Hashtag your life away. You can use up to 30. Use all 30 (or at least get close). I do this in the first comment and not in the caption of my pictures.
- If you are taking a picture with products, make sure you wipe them clean. There's nothing worse than grubby packaging to ruin a beautiful photo.

Feel free to message me with any questions, I will try and help as much as I can... but as I said, I'm not an expert!