BIONIKE DEFENCE COLOR PRETTY TOUCH COMPACT BLUSHER #TBT REVIEW

During a "Lockdown" clear out I came across the remains of what looked like this

blusher from BioNike

My original review dates back to February 2018 and this was my go to 

blusher for the Summer of 2017/2018 and I loved everything about this

product, the shade was so flattering and the price was a bonus to.

Sadly when it finished I moved onto other blushers to review and

never re-purchased, however it still one that I highly recommend and I

 included it in My Top 5 Make-up Products 2018

I do hope this product is still available and please remember that the prices below

 are from 2018, so therefore are not current

~~~~~~

I was in two minds as to whether I should devote a full blog post to this 

product or include it in a QPR {Quickie Product Review} post later this month.

I opted for a blog post for several reasons, but first let me give you a very brief 

overview of the BioNike brand.

BioNike is a brand of ICIM International, a leading Italian cosmetic company

 that was founded in Milano in the 1930s as a pharmaceutical company. 

BioNike is a word that originates from two Greek words:

    Bios = life e Nike = victory

Their products are free from a number of substances that the dermatological

 literature have identified as triggers for contact allergies, so their products are :

Preservative free/Perfume free/Gluten-free & Nickel-tested

and much more...

BioNike is an affordable pharmacy brand in Europe and available 
exclusively at Dischem stores and like me 
you may have passed the counter many times,
 but never really taken too much notice.

Dischem stock many well known European brands, that are somewhat 

unfamiliar to us here in SA.

This year I'm hoping to review more products from such brands enabling

me to broaden my brand horizons but yours to

I was kindly sent a parcel of products towards the end of last year and in 

amongst the selection was the

BioNike

  Defence Color Pretty Touch Compact Blusher

BioNike have an extensive range of make-up to choose from with a pretty

good selection of shades considering it's a skincare and make-up brand 

devoted to sensitive skins.

Having said that you don't have to have a sensitive skin to use these products

as I don't have, but I do enjoy their ethos of being "Free From".

This blusher comes in 4 shades and I was sent the 309 Marbre Rose.

This blusher is not only packaged in a lovely rose gold compact, but it houses

a decent mirror and on the whole has a good quality feel in the hand and it

doesn't come with the standard pathetic useless brush {one of my peeves}.

I have to admit the shade wasn't one that I would normally opt for, but

 it provided my cheeks with the perfect peachy soft glow

and I have reached for this blusher nearly everyday this summer.

It has an ultra-fine texture that offers a lightweight, yet buildable 

colour that enhances the cheekbones and illuminates at the same time.

It's super easy to blend and I would say that this blusher and even this shade 

is perfect for anyone that just wants to achieve a quick and easy

radiant, healthy looking blush on the cheeks.

This is now the second product that I have been super impressed with

from BioNike and just in case you haven't read about the other product 

then click on the Pink Link below to find out what it was and why it made

it onto My Top 3 Body Products 2017 list.

So next time you're in Dischem do yourself a favour 

and check out the BioNike products, as you may come across some affordable
 "gems".

BioNike

 Defence Color Pretty Touch Compact Blusher

5g

R

145

£

13.90

Let me know in the comments below if you have tried any BioNike products...

MY URBAN DECAY SALE HAUL {AUGUST 2020}

Monday is not a normal day for me to upload to my blog, but I had to let my fellow 

beauty lovers know about this great offer.

I just couldn't resist the "call to shop" when I received a notification of a

 previously unheard of

URBAN DECAY 

50 % Off 

Everything Sale 

(whilst stocks last) 

The sale runs from 22nd August until 31st August 2020

but hurry...

There are 4 URBAN DECAY stand alone stores around the country:

Gateway

Menlyn

V&A

Sandton City

I popped into to my local UD store at Gateway on Saturday morning armed with

my shopping lists, so I thought I would share with you the products that I wanted replenishments

 of and some that I wanted to try for the first time.

I'm a huge fan of URBAN DECAY and have reviewed many of their products and even though they're a little pricey I have not been disappointed with any to date.

I have included all of these 4 products below, either in my Monthly Favourites post

or my annual Top 10 Make-up Products of 2018 or 2019, so that speaks volumes.

I will include the Pink Links to my full reviews below and hopefully it helps guide

you to know what's worth buying and what's not.

I've also popped in the normal retail price and then the less 50% price.

Above are the products that I'm excited to have re-purchased and whilst some are 

not yet finished and will go into a back up stash others have very recently finished.

L-R

HI-FI SHINE LIPGLOSS

This Mauve/Nude has been a favourite of mine and I do love me a good lip gloss, 

so I'm happy to have this back into my life as my previous one came

 to an end during lockdown.

The shade that suits me the best is BACKTALK, so if you want all the info

on this product then check out my original full review.

R310

R155

To read my full review

VICE LIPSTICK

I've been very happy with the texture of the Cream VICE LIPSTICK that I've been

using in the shade VIOLATE, however I do personally find the UD Lipsticks 

a bit of a minefield, as they have so many

shades and formulas to choose from, but if you like a more traditional 

lipstick then you cannot go wrong with the cream formulation.

R280

R140

To read my full review

ALL NIGHTER

SETTING SPRAY

This is URBAN DECAYS most iconic product and one that I didn't know I needed 

until I tried it and I think I'm on my 3rd one now,

so I was super excited to get a back-up of this must have product, especially

now as we're all wearing face masks, a couple of spritz's all over my face helps

to keep everything in place. 

R495

R247.50

To read my full review

BROW ENDOWED

BROW PRIMER+COLOUR

This was my most recent discovery from UD and it was part of their new

brow collection that launched back in September 2019 and again this product

was coming to an end, so I'm more than happy to add this product back into my

make-up collection.

The shade I bought was Taupe Trap and it's a perfect shade for my pale brows.

R400

R200

To read my full review

Whilst I had my list of products to re-purchase I also had a list of products

that I had been considering buying and how could I not take advantage of the

less 50% sale and tick them off my list.

L-R

PERVERSION MASCARA

Lipsticks and mascaras are my most 2 purchased make-up items and I've heard

lots about the UD PERVERSION MASCARA, so I thought it was time to put this

 lengthening & volumising mascara to the

 Beauty Shout Box test and what better time than when its 50% off.

I will be posting my review on this product sometime in September.

R370

R185

STAY NAKED

CORRECTING CONCEALER

Another product that I couldn't resist even though I have so many concealing

products, but how could I resist a concealer that promises to be:

Buildable

Stays 24hrs

Breathable

 Full Coverage

Flexible

Does Not Transfer

Real Skin Matte Finish

&

Waterproof

 I took the shade 30NN, so I hope it lives up to all of the above.

Again my full review will be up during September, once I've had a chance to

fully test.

R400

R200

VICE LIPSTICK

Now I did say I really enjoy the formulation of the VICE LIPSTICK,

so much so I've bought another one.It wasn't actually on my shopping list and the 

sales consultant suggested it to me. It was a shade that I had been looking for though

a sheer, natural, nude lipstick called shade Morning After, that can be worn over

 other lip shades or alone.

You've guessed it, check back in September, as I will include it in a QPR Post

R280

R140

MY TOP 10 MAKE-UP PRODUCTS 2019

For me 2019 was a busy year for make-up, so much so, that I've decided to 

increase my annual Top 5 to a Top 10 Make-Up Products post.

Despite having a mixed bag of brands, products and price points I highly recommend

all of these items below.

As always the Pink Links will take you to the full reviews

~~~~~

Let's start with foundations, as that seems like a good place to begin, I

 discovered one at the beginning of the year and one towards the end.

L'ORÉAL 
INFAILLIBLE 24H FRESH WEAR
 FOUNDATION


L'Oréal have been a favourite of mine for foundations for many years and several 

have been featured on my Top lists in previous years.

This was a foundation that I bought in error, but it turned out to be a very good error.

L'Oréal just don't create any bad foundations and if it's a new affordable foundation you're looking for then look no further than the L'Oréal isle in the drugstore.

It offers a long wearing, full coverage, dewy, hydrated and fresh finish and has been

my go to on most days.

L'Oréal Infaillable 24H Fresh Wear Foundation

GIORGIO ARMANI
 LUMINOUS SILK FOUNDATION

 What started out as using a free 7 Day free sample of the led to me saying that I personally wouldn't pay R800 for a foundation eventually 

resulted in a purchase with a less 25% from one of the overseas online beauty sites.

The formula offers an extremely comfortable long wearing, 
weightless and luminous natural finish to the skin.
It honestly feels like silk on the skin and I couldn't fault it other than on price.

I also found that once my 7 day sample had finished I missed not having this 

foundation in my make-up routine, hence the purchase.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

~~~~~

There were two drugstore lipsticks that impressed me during 2019 and they have both been a constant throughout the year.

SORBET 

GET LIPPY 

MOISTURISING LIP COLOUR

This was a rather a surprise, as I had previously tried a foundation

from Sorbet which I included on my Top 3 Disappointing Products 2018 list.

However this just goes to show how one disappointing product from a brand,

thankfully doesn't make the whole brand disappointing.

GET LIPPY is a beautiful, easy to wear, natural looking soft pink and it's one of those shades that will always find a place in my Lipstick wardrobe.

 It glides over the lips and considering it's moisturising and nourishing formula its surprisingly long wearing.

Sorbet GET LIPPY Moisturising Lip Colour

L'ORÉAL

LES CHOCOLATS

ULTRA MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICK

Les Chocolates Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick has a melt-proof formula so you can

 forget your lip colour smudging or budging, for up to 12 hours,

 as once its on its going no where

The lightweight lip colour formula is comfortable to wear and doesn’t crack, crumble or flake. It really does stay on all day, it doesn't smudge, transfer or bleed and most importantly doesn't dry out your lips and best of all it's Chocolate scented...

L'Oréal Les Chocolats Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick

~~~~~

It wouldn't be a very good Top 10 list if i didn't include a mascara or two and these

both impressed me in 2019 and have both been repurchased

BENEFIT

BADGAL BANG

MASCARA

This has been my fave mascara of 2019

What I can confidently say about the BAD gal BANG! mascara is the following:
It can be layered easily
It creates Volume, Lift and Length
 Its smudge-proof
Water-resistant and flake-free
and I just love it...

Benefit BADgal Bang Mascara

CLARINS

WONDER PERFECT

4D MASCARA

This really is a do-it-all, all-in-one mascara that curls, defines, lengthens and volumizes for that bold wide-eyed look, hence the 4D name.

After the first coat of mascara I was hooked, its buildable, doesn't flake or smudge

however being a moist/wet kinda mascara and considering the curl and length it gives I did need to do a little cleaning up afterwards but it's worth it for the overall look and finish.

Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara 4D

~~~~~

Urban Decay remained one of my favourite brands throughout 2019 and three

products have made it onto my list and surprisingly one is a brow

product.

URBAN DECAY

BROW ENDOWED

Not being a huge brow person this was a quite an brow raising purchase

for me in 2019.

Brow Endowed is a double-ended tool that volumizes and sets brows in two easy steps:

 A primer fluffs and holds, while a tinted cream fills and shapes. 

The excellent long-lasting formula resists sweat and smudging for up to 24 hours.

It's surprisingly easy to use an I was amazed at how fluffier, fuller, tinted brows miraculously appeared.

Urban Decay Brow Endowed

URBAN DECAY

NAKED RELOADED

EYESHADOW PALETTE

If you're looking for a collection of flattering shades that will cover all your essential  nude/neutral/brown requirements plus a little extra, then this is the ultimate palette to have in your eyeshadow collection.

The selection includes soft mattes, satins, metallics and a little sparkly glitter is thrown in for good measure...

Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Palette

URBAN DECAY

ALL NIGHTER

MAKE-UP SETTING SPRAY

I was slightly sceptical of this make-up setting spray, as everyone was raving about it

and that makes me slightly nervous and all I can say is that it DID live up to all the hype, praise and awards bestowed on it.

There was no transfer, no fading, no settling into the lines and more importantly for me no melting, your make-up stays in place literally all day and all night if needed.

I soon learnt that this is one of those products that you didn't know you needed until you've tried it and I'm hooked.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

~~~~~

Last but not least here is my final product for this 2019 list

and I've included an Illuminizing pen for a special reason.

BIONIKE

DEFENCE COLOR 

LUMINIZER

The product has a fluid texture and is easy to apply with the click of the pen.

Having tried many similar products over many years

I wasn't prepared for the great concealing effect that it had on

the blue area towards the inner corner of my under eye.

(The blueness is always there, as its the capillaries that can be seen under the 

skin due to that areas skin covering being very thin) 

and I'm sure many of you can relate to this blue tinge and whilst it didn't cover 100%

(that's a very difficult ask from any product)

 it did an excellent job on me and that's why its been included in my list of Top 10 Make-Up Products 2019

Bionike Defence Colour Luminizer

~~~~~

I hope you have enjoyed reading what make-up products impressed me during 2019 and have led to several re-purchases in many cases.

I have also posted my other Top Lists

My Top 6 Hair and Body Products 2019

My Top 3 Most Disappointing Products 2019

Let me know in the comments below if you agree or disagree with any of my choices

 for 2019.