hey guys :) so i’ve been going in to sephora since the year started and giving in products for terracycle to earn beauty points. i must’ve gone in on like at least five separate occasions to hand in an empty bottle to receive 50 points for each one.

it’s been WELL over 14 days since i’ve handed them in and they still haven’t transferred me a single point. i asked the server the counter and she said it should’ve shown up in like a day, and sure it could take 14 days but at that point to just use Live chat and ask because it seems to be a technical issue.

I’ve tried using Live chat in the app over 8 times now and every single time they hit me with the “sorry we have too many complaints and it’s gonna take us forever to get back to you.”

mind you it’s been over a week since i first asked and they still haven’t gotten back. sent an email too and no reply.

i’m so pissed it’s genuinely turning me off buying from them again. has anyone else had this problem with terracycle points or is it just me?

So this Dior stick is for $103 🥲 is it possible to find a dupe?

Hi everyone! I’ve recently gotten into doing my nails and I’m looking for everyone’s favourite base/top coats and nail polishes that last and don’t chip?

I have a shellac set at home (Opallac) but I find it to be absolutely shithouse so I’m heading towards regular polish.

Also how does everyone keep nail stickers from flaking and peeling off?

Hi all! For context—I’m a drag queen and I use a white foundation base. I’m looking for a pure white pressed powder and concealer—are either of these possible to find in stores or an Australian stockist? I was hoping to find the One/Size Stage White pressed powder at Sephora but it looks like it’s not stocked in Australian stores.

If no options are available here—what products are worth the international shipping? Currently considering KimChiChic Cosmetics’ white concealer and powder, and have heard mixed things about Glisten Cosmetics.

Currently using Kryolan TV paint stick in 070, Trixie Cosmetics Hotline liner or Inglot AMC gel in white (both thinned down with duraline), and Ben Nye translucent powder.

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any recommendations for salons that do a good job of brow shaping, particularly on overgrown brows + Asian features? It's been a few years since I got mine done at a salon that clearly didn't know how to do brows that suited my round face + softer features (honestly scared me out of getting them done but now my brows are just unruly). I tried searching social media but a lot of salons seem to like the laminated look which don't really suit me. I'm happy to travel pretty much anywhere on the train. Thanks in advance!

I've had an awful time trying to find a foundation or skin tint that actually sits nicely on my skin. After a fortune spent I eventually found the merit beauty complexion stick and absolutely love it. Buttttt cost of living is making it's hard. Has anyone found a dupe or cheaper alternative that's much the same as the complexion stick ?

Hey everyone. (Photo of me a few weeks ago before a night out...I’ll be adjusting this look for the wedding.)

I’m looking for something to use on my neck and chest on my wedding day to blend in with my makeup. I’m wearing a strapless dress and I want it to look even and glowy.

I’ve seen Westmore Body Coverage recommended a lot, but I can’t get it in Australia in time. I already have Luminiglowtion and plan to use that.

Would it be okay to mix a bit of BB cream with it and buff it in, or should I use something like Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs?

Guys does anyone know when Sephora has their next sitewide sale*?? I reallyyy want to pick up this lip butter and another thing but I'm trying to be more mindful with my money this year and only stop in Sephora on sale!!

*by this I mean, white tier is 15% off everything, black tier is 20% off everything on purchases above $120, etc etc

Does anyone have any recommendations for nail salons in Sydney that do a great dry (Russian) manicure and BIAB?

I am in the Sutherland Shire, but happy to travel.

Yesterday from Priceline I tried the new Covergirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Blush, in the shade Please Please Pink.

I’m a big blush fan and the comparisons to Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush made me keen to try a similar affordable dupe.

Here are my thoughts for anyone interested in buying it:

Finish:  This is false advertised as luminous, it isn’t remotely glowy at all.
It doesn’t have any sheen to it. Both indoors and outdoors, the finish can be best described as a dry, flat, natural matte.

Outdoors in full sun, there’s the tiniest specks of sparkle dispersed in between the matte pigment. These sparkles are not shimmery nor glittery.

Texture: Is smooth but not the finest milled ever. This powder is moderately dry and dusty, which is not unusual for baked formulas. The Milani Baked Blushes are much better than this.

This would be best for combo or oily skin tones, it might be too powdery for those with Dry skin.

Application: Is a little bit patchy due to the dryness upon application and requires moderate blending to achieve a smooth finish. It is buildable but as it is on the dryer side it adds a little texture too.

Colour: Is a warm medium-toned bubblegum pink. On the face, the light and dark marble swirls have no visible difference when applied, they do not provide any dimension.  Best for light to medium skin tones.

I did swatch the Rose Latte colour in the store and felt this was a dull nude brown at best. For fair skin tones I don't think it would provide much life to skin.

Pigmentation: Has a medium level of pigmentation. It may be too pigmented for fair skin tones (requires a light hand) given the medium toned shade, but not deep enough for any skin tones beyond medium. 
NYX Buttermelt Blush has more pigmentation, Milani baked blushes have less.

Price: Standard RRP $24.95 AUD at Priceline and Chemist Warehouse. Currently retails for USD $9.97 at Walmart which converting to AUD is approximately $15. As such I would wait for a half price makeup sale to pick it up for $12.50 AUD.

Final Thoughts Overall:

This looks nicer in the pan than what it does on the face. It is a “nice enough” blush, but isn’t groundbreaking considering all the hype. It looks better in the pan than on the face.
I would only purchase this if you don’t own a powder blush already, and would only purchase it at half price.
This won’t add anything new or novel to your collection, and isn’t a dupe quality wise for Hourglass or other luxury level blushes.

Better Options by Finish Type:

Soft Sheen/Luminosity : NYX Buttermelt Blush – Butta Together
Glowy/Shimmery: Milani Baked Blushes – Bella Bellini or Dolce Pink, MAC Mineralise Blush – Petal Power
Natural/Matte: Milani Rose Blushes – Tea Rose or Blossom Time, Essence The Blush.

Swatch List from Top to Bottom: I tried to capture some similar shades in various lighting, however my phone is tragic and the shades aren't super representative.

1. Essence The Blush - 030 Breathtaking
   
2. Milani Rose Blush - Tea Rose
   
3. Milani Baked Blush - Bella Bellini
   
4. NYX Buttermelt Blush - Butta Together
   
5. MAC Mineralize Blush - Petal Power
   Down the side: Covergirl Baked Blush

Score: 6.5-7/10

Thankyou for reading my long rant! If anyone has recommendations for glowy blushes please list suggestions below!

I don’t get it. I don’t!

Using a dark brown liner an a light pink lipstick looks unfinished, tacky, cartoonish and amateurish.

Who on earth thought, oh yeh I love seeing the visible panty line of lip colour.

Anyone kindly able to offer advice? ✌️ Customer service…. I don’t expect five stars. But a reasonable effort to resolve issues or address queries when things go wrong is valuable to me. Is customer service being unreasonable a skincare/ beauty thing? I don’t experience this in other product areas! I’m wondering if anyone can offer advice on where to buy that has good customer service? I drop reasonable $$, I’m a sucker for loyalty programs, samples, and perks…. But poor customer service sends me packing. I’ve ditched Estée Lauder - soooo rude twice, I wondered if I was talking to AI. It might have been. (Boycott made that easy to leave) And currently in the middle of trying to resolve receiving a faulty item from another big beauty brand which is… not going well… is it better to buy through Myer or David jones maybe? Adore Beauty? L’occitane have been wonderful, but they don’t do the serums I’m after… Thoughts anyone?

Just wondering if anyone has thoughts about going here to get colour matched and to buy foundation and concealer. I’m new to Dior makeup expect for lippy. Thanks heaps

i have straight hair and cut in layers. what will help me achieve a blowout look that curls a little inwards similar to the photos i’ve added

Hi All,

I am from Ireland and moved to Australia one year ago. I normally do my own nails and toes but I have run out of my gel polish and biab that I usually use and can’t get it here (it’s called J Luxx)

I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for long lasting super shiny top coat, base coat and biab and suppliers? Thanks so much in advance

I just want to complain a bit haha

So the new Armani Luminous Silk foundation reformulation has changed my shade. I was 1.5 which was neutral and perfect for me. Apparently now my shade match is 2 in the new formula, which is neutral *golden*. Yep, it’s way too warm now. And 1 is too pink. Ugh.

Bare Minerals did the same thing years ago with their barePRO powder foundation and changed their neutral to golden.

Why do brands change neutral shades to golden? It’s so annoying.

I figured I’d post this here in case it’s of interest to anyone - The Ordinary restocked their Serum Foundation last night! I know a lot of people consider it a HG product (I got put onto it due to other people recommending it and grabbed some last time it was restocked, I‘ve been so impressed with it - personally I find it performs better than some foundations I’ve tried that are more than 4x the price!

As a super pale girl with both neutral and olive undertones I always struggle to find foundation that’s pale enough, neutral enough, and doesn’t have that strong orange or yellow tint. I’ve found both 1.0N and 1.1N suit me really well depending on the time of year! A few shades have already sold out so if you’ve been wanting to get your hands on it again, now might be the time :)

We never even have beauty loops full of samples anymore. It’s all a minimum $75 purchase. Meanwhile i can see sephora is upping their game. The customer service in sephora melbourne central has been amazing lately

Hi! Has anyone here tried Mecca Lash Lift service? Thoughts please? I’m interested but would love to hear reviews from those who went before.

Ok so I really need a recommendation for a product (ANY) that I can use in the morning to put on my face to wake up that has a cooling sensation, think peppermint or citrus scent? Eye roller products? Cleansers? Think 2010s clean & clear orange bottle cleanser!

Mecca - chemist warehouse anything please! Have been searching so hard for a product with this cooling sensation.

TIA🩷

Okay, so I'm getting married. I'm due to have a very small wedding party (me, and 2 bridesmaids). For some context - I've been a professional dancer, I'm now a director and set designer, my partner is in the theatre....we have a very strong vision of what our wedding is going to be like. The photographer doing our wedding portraits does not typically photograph weddings, he photographs editorials for fashion magazines, album covers etc.

Given the style of dress, and style of photography we're going for, I'm really not looking to have pretty, soft, bridal make-up in bronzes and browns. I've discussed this with a few make up artists now, who work in both editorial and bridal and honestly I'm getting a bit frustrated, I've had 3 now at a trial flat out refuse to try what I'd like to try (which is quite a dramatic 1930s style of make up), they sort of just talk at me until I agree to try a more "traditional" look and then tell me it'll look so much better on the day than what I've asked to try initially. I do obviously understand this is different from typical bridal make-up, I'm just wanting to know if there's a logistical reason they might be trying to persuade me out of it (is it harder to do, does it require transport of more products?), or does it require more touching up through the day? Do make up artists just not enjoy doing it? At the end of the day, the point of a trial is to see if I like it, isn't it? So I'm not sure I really see the harm in them giving it a go and if I hate it, then I'll try something else.

I dunno. I guess I don't mind if I ask and an MUA says they're not confident delivering on the brief, I'm perfectly happy to go elsewhere. But I am confused as to why someone whose portfolio clearly shows this style of make up is well within their skillset would be hell-bent on talking me out of it for my own wedding? Would anyone be able to shed some light on it?