Harlow Friends. This blog is what I would describe as "serious beauty porn". I know, it sounds hardcore but why bother if otherwise? So you might have seen my mini vlog on Meccland 2018 on my Instagram account @teacupofmakeup - If not, why not? In any case, it is linked below.
I would describe Meccaland 2018 (I say 2018 as there are plans to do it again next year), as "SURREAL". I didn't know where to start! I was lucky to be invited down to Melbourne for the PR Preview (and holy moly, Mecca even paid for my airplane ticket, yes I must have done something very good in my past LiveS, stress on "S"). I also went again, primarily to film and photograph more visuals for my blog and instagram, on the Saturday. Did I enjoy it both ways (no dirty thoughts please)? Yes and Yes. I was fueled by cotton candy and it was magical.
Part of the products shown here were gifted, Honestly, I've forgotten which is which. I've also tried to include direct links to Mecca's website for each product. All photos show here with my watermark were photographed by me. I apologies in advance for the s%*t quality of the photos, I was in a ridiculously rare situation where I had to keep changing cameras.
Now let's get down to business. Here's that makeup/skincare porn, you've visited my website for!
SMASHBOX X VLADAMUA COLLAB: PETAL METAL
There are three highlighters in this collection. One is Holographic. The RRPA$61 per highlighter. OK, these are beyond beautiful. You need them and you need them NOW. They swatch beautifully and they are build-able. You can go from a natural glow to a full on "Instagram" shine. The formula is good and the packaging is just too pretty!
This collection is beyond amazing! The packaging, formula and performance of these are so beguiling that I really wanted the entire collection. There is a sense that these products were created with a lot of detail - just like Vlada MUAS style. This is a ""rose gold" heaven as well.
There are currently 3 highlighters. One prismatic one ("Prismatic Petal") and one golden one ("Gilded Rose") and one pink toned one ("Rosemantic").
In the photos above, last row from left to right: Rosemantic; Prismatic Petal; Gilded Rose. I very often do live swatches on my Instagram (@teacupofmakeup) and archive them under the Highlights "Swatches". I will be including all three in my upcoming International Giveaway.
Shop them at Mecca (click here).
There are also a number of lip products. I love the liquid lipstick formula of both the liquid lipstick and especially the Always on ones. There seem mostly to have a metallic finish but are also still very wearable (see swatches below). The ones I have are the 2 Always On ones and Be Legendary Liquid Lipstick. See below for swatches. All at RRPA$35 each.
Shop them at Mecca (click here and here).
From top to bottom: "Rose Magic" Be Legendary Liquid Lipstick; the Always on ones: "XO, Vlada" and "In Bloom".
How gorgeous are they!?
URBAN DECAY PETITE HEAT PALETTE
Leveraging off the success of the UD Heat Palette, this little baby is a lovely addition. You can shop it here. RRPA$47.
The packaging is seriously seductive.
I've enjoyed using the two older Basics palettes. The first one is warm toned and the UD Naked 2 Basics is cool toned. If you already have the two, this is a nice and handy addition. Small yet sturdy enough to chuck into your bag. Great for travel too.
The formula and format of these palettes are fairly consistent. Each palette has a satin/shimmer shade followed by mattes. Some people have noted they feel a bit dry, but I did not have the same perception. They all swatch and apply in pretty much the same way.
(swatches above NB = Naked Basics; NB2 = Naked Basics 2 and "NBH" = NB Petite Heat.
NARS WANTED AND DANGER CONTROL
It is sad to note that NARS is selling their products into China which stills require animal testing. I am philosophically against animal testing in general. However, I am not sure if NARS is selling their products bu funneling them through Hong Kong, which a lot of other brands do to avoid the requirement. I don't know. I just know that I have been a huge fan of NARS products since discovering them in 2010.
I've been waiting so long for these. I absolutely love the Wanted Eyeshadow palette!
There are two cheek palettes. Each have a highlighter in them.
The one on the left is Cheek Palette I and the one on the right is Cheek Palette II. You can shop them by clicking here.
They each retail for A$86
I can't say which one I prefer. I just know that I love them! Great shades for the eyes too.
The Wanted collection also includes three sets of the Lip Pigments. I think the formula is amazing and they last pretty much all day. They each retail for A$32. I bought all three sets and gave the Red one away. I'll be including these two (Warm Nudes and Cool Nudes) in my upcoming International Giveaway.
You can shop these by clicking here.
This is the new Danger Control palette. I LOVE IT! I'm guessing this is NAR's response to the popularity of prismatic everything. They have done such a good job with this palette. You can wear each eyeshadow shade separately or layered. For the moment, this palette is not yet available in Australia (hurray, means I can create some looks for you to see).
I especially like the rose gold and purple shades. Please note that the skin on my body is very dry and these eyeshadows are not dry at all.
TOO FACED LIFE'S A FESTIVAL COLLECTION
One of the most popular brand at Meccaland was the Too Faced one. It was such a fun stand. We could make boomerang videos. This was Unicorn everything PLUS prismatic goodness.
This is the Life's a Festival Palette which retails for A$61. This is a very fun palette with duo chromatic shades in matte and satin. The larger sized shade is like a topper which transforms the other shades in to glittery prismatic magic. The palette is quite cute. The cover is padded and feels like you are holding a bag. Each eyeshadow shade swatches well, all quite pigmented.
This cute little pouch with a deluxe sized Better than Sex and Eyeshadow primer was a gift with purchase. Total cuteness huh?
The collection also features Fairy Tears lip topper and La Creme Lipsticks. If you have the original Unicorn Tears lipstick, this is an extension on that. The collection also includes more lip toppers (really cool powder and cream highlighters and a glittery face mist and a cute rainbow coloured brush.
I love Too Faced's products, and so in conclusion, I'm loving the happy unicorn vibes of this collection.
MAC; STILA; HOURGLASS; CIATE; MECCA MAX
There were so many amazing brands at Meccaland. MAC was there too. We were gifted the very pretty Pink Lite Fix+. Just think of this as a shimmer shimmer mist of goodness. There is a gold version as well which is just as pretty.
You can shop them by clicking here.
They each retail for A$36.
Get your perfect brows from Billion Dollar Babes! I love their products but the staff at the BDB stand did not seem very engaged. I'm not sure why.
Show me a person who does not love Stila's liquid eyeshadows and I'll show you a liar. THEY ARE WONDERFUL! I'm slowly building up a collection.
This one is the specially designed for Meccaland. It is "Beauty Junkie", see the swatch below. There are 17 more shades of glitter and glow. Shop them by clicking here. They each retail for RRPA$35. I have a few and they are so pigmented that a little bit goes a long way.
Stila Glitter and Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in "Beauty Junkie"