Mecca Cosmetica Jet Set Travel Bag

I first discovered the great invention that is a 'double-sided makeup bag' in a Lily Pebbles' video. After an online-hunt, I found the exact Omorovicza bag on Feel Unique. Unfortunately $150 is not in my budget, so imagine my excitement when I discovered the Mecca Cosmetica Jet Set Travel Bag.

The idea behind these 'double-sided makeup bags' (as I have dubbed it) is a clear panelled cosmetic bag with two compartments on opposite sides and a divider in between. It is transparent to meet regulations for taking liquids on a flight. From my measurements, the bag is about 22cm x 12cm with an overall depth of 9cm. The first compartment allows for larger products with a depth of 5cm, while the second compartment is for less bulky products at about a 3cm depth.

The Mecca Cosmetica Jet Set Travel Bag features black patent material with beautiful rose gold zips and detailing. The bag itself retails for AU$50, which is pricey for a beauty bag but is a great addition for beauty lovers who travel often. It would also make a beautiful gift.

I am looking forward to using this bag for my Melbourne trip next week. It is available for AU$50 online at Mecca Cosmetica (here) or you can ask at your local Mecca Maxima or Cosmetica (make sure to ask as it might be kept off the sale floor). Alternatively his bag also comes in a collection with a few Mecca Cosmetica travel skincare products for AU$110 which you can buy here.

Do you have any beauty or storage travel tips to share? To any Melbourne readers, I'd love some recommendations of places to see or where to eat in the CBD. Don't forget to follow @oniochalasiablog on Instagram to keep up with all things happening at https://instagram.com/oniochalasiablog/.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder and Modernist Eyeshadow Palette Review

I am a total bargain hunter at heart, something I'd never admit to my 'deal-hunting' mother. More recently, however, I have been buying a few more luxury beauty items, and it feels so good! 

Luxury cosmetics brand Hourglass, is a brand I have heard many International beauty bloggers rave about, and I can see why. Firstly, the packaging is gorgeous and the products, ranging from eyeshadows, to blush and highlighters, look like works of art. Using these luxurious products really makes you feel like a million bucks. 

The first Hourglass product that made its way into my possession is the Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light. I originally wanted to purchase the palette with three powders, but after swatching the shades, and not being a lover of anything shimmery on my face, I knew I would only use Dim Light. I did not upload any swatches of the product because it is really hard to capture the light, but I love using this powder to set my foundation as it gives my face a glowing and luminous effect without looking shimmery. The colour is described on the Hourglass website as; "A neutral peach beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights a radiant complexion with the perfect balance of warm and cool tones". This powder retails for AU$59.00, which is really pricey for a setting powder/ highlighter. In my honest opinion this product is not really worth that price tag, but if you have some extra cash and would like to treat yourself then it is something that's really nice to have. It does not make a drastic difference to a make-up look but rather subtly compliments your skin. 

The second product I picked up on a total whim when I headed to Mecca Maxima for a refund. I had 10 minutes before I started work and just grabbed the shades that appealed to me, of-course that would be neutrals. This is the newly released Hourglass Modernist Palette in Infinity, featuring five warm, neutral shadows. This is absolutely the most beautiful make up product I own, it retails at a whopping AU$76 (that's $15 an eyeshadow!!!). So is it worth it - I have read so many reviews online saying the eyeshadow doesn't blend well and has a lot of fall out, however that is not the experience I have had with this palette. I have worn this eyeshadow almost every day since making the purchase. My favourite look is to apply shadow #2 all over the lid, with shadow #4 and #5 in the crease (depending on how intense I want the look). I apply the beautiful shimmery shade #3 (which is my favourite out of them all) in the outer half/three quarters of my lid and use shadow #1 to highlight my inner corner and brow bone. I really cannot recommend this product enough!

So far I absolutely love Hourglass and their luxe products. I am very tempted to pick up a second Modernist Palette this pay day. And I'd like to eventually try their highly coveted Veil Mineral Primer. What are your thoughts on these products - worth the moola? 

What's On My Face ft. New Releases from Mecca Maxima

I have recently been getting into wearing more make up during the day, maybe because the really hot, humid Queensland weather is mostly over. I tried out three new products today, so I thought I'd share what I wore on my face! I went for a bronze look, with a nude lip (which I forgot to photograph). 

Primer - Garnier 5 Sec Perfect Blur (not pictured)

Foundation - Nars Luminous Weightless Foundation in Santa Fe (sample)*

Setting Powder - Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light*

Eyeshadow - Hourglass Modernist Palette in Infinity*

Under-Eye Concealer - L.A Girl Pro Conceal in Natural

Under-Eye Setting Powder - Australis Contour&Highlight Kit in Shade 2 (yellow undertone)

Eyebrow Pencil - Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium

Eyebrow Mascara - Maybelline Brow Drama in Dark Brown

Mascara - Maybelline Colossal Volume Mascara 

Bronzer - Australis Contour&Highlight Kit in Shade 6 (bottom right pictured in palette) 

Lips - Essence lip liner in In The Nude

*New products 

To see the make up on my face head to my Instagram @oniochalasiablog

Do you have any of these products - what are you're thoughts? 

Mecca Beauty Loop Reward

Today I picked up my second Beauty Loop box for 2014. I was pleasantly surprised this time, and definitely think the products are better than the previous box. I received the 'level 1' box which contained two decent sized samples and two sachet samples.

The first product I was excited to see is from NARS. It is a sample sized Satin Lip Pencil. I've previously used the matte lip pencils from NARS, which I love, so hopefully I'll like this one. The colour I got is in a nude-y/brown/pink colour (different to what the colour is showing in the photos). The lip pencil glides on smoothly and feels super nourishing. The next product is from Mecca Cosmetica's recently launched skincare line. I was excited to see a product from this line included, as I've been meaning to try it. In my box I got the Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF30 facial sunscreen. From a small swatch the sunscreen seemed thin and easily blend-able and did not have that gross sunscreen smell.

The box also included a sachet sample of the Dr Brandt BB cream and Kate Sommerville Corrective Eye Cream. I feel like sachets don't allow enough product to properly try it out and form an opinion, but I will give both of these a go. The BB cream apparently changes to different skin tones so that will be interesting to try out.

I'd love to see what you got in your beauty loop boxes!