CONFIRMED & UPDATED: Cruelty Free Brand Wet n Wild Selling In China?! || Rivet Licker

Cruelty Free Kitty broke the story that a Wet n Wild stand was found in Watsons Pharmacy in Shanghai, China.

Image description: wet n wild beauty display display in a pharmacy.
Image via Cruelty Free Kitty

Could Wet n Wild have entered China for real?

$17 BRUSH CLEANER FROM ALDI?! || Lacura Brush Cleaner & Dryer || #RivetReview

Brush cleaning has to be one of the worst things about being into makeup. Trying to find ways to minimize time spent cleaning and drying your brushes can be a nightmare. With the recent advent of a brand name brush cleaner, dupes quickly became available, costing around $60.

Enter Aldi, with their own beauty brand, Lacura, giving access to popular makeup and beauty tools at budget prices. But does it work?

THE DOWNFALL OF DECIEM || What about the products?! || #RivetReview

As things get more bizarre, I'm talking conspiracy theories and incomprehensible banter bizarre, with Deciem and its problematic founder, Brandon Truaxe, it's hard to tell what is going to happen with the brand. Brandon was ousted as CEO as of the 12th October 2018, after he stated that Deciem was going to cease operations for two months. With the Instagram account deactivated (reactivated as of 15th October) we don't know what is happening inside the brand, and whether this is just all an elaborate PR stunt or just somebody who has lost themselves to their mind.

Leading up to this, I have been trying to use up the stash I have left, and I said I would give my thoughts on the products, feelings aside for a person who publishes confidential emails, accuses his board of criminal activity, and calls customers 'idiots'. I'm not sure where the brand is going now, only time will tell, but I want to be confident that things turn around for the better.

OCCULT: EMPORIUM BEAUTY BOX MAY 2018 || Femme Fatale Cosmetics Bi-Monthly Indie Beauty Box || Rivet Licker

My second Femme Fatale Cosmetics Emporium Beauty Box finally arrived after a few issues with postage (Australia Post is THE WORST), and I was able to experience the spooky goodness that followed.

May 2018's box theme was the Occult, and gave rise to all sorts of wicked and delicious beauty treats and swatches!

MAGNETIC LASHES || Do they really work? MY EXPERIENCE! || #RivetReview

False lashes are the finishing touch to a makeup look. Most people use strip lashes, but some like to use accents and individuals. They can also be a very huge pain to apply, not to mention the disdain that comes with being allergic to the adhesives.

Welcome the magnetic lash – no glue needed. These magic lashes have two parts, one that goes on top, and one that goes underneath, which sandwich your natural lashes between magnets on the strips, but do they work or are they just a waste of time and money?

RIVET HACKS || 3 Ways To Use Microfibre Makeup Remover Cloths! || Rivet Licker

Ever since the original Makeup Eraser hit the market a few years ago, many dupes have become available through eBay, The Reject Shop, and other brands putting their names on them. The idea was that they remove makeup with just water, and yes, they do work, but I have found better ways to use them!

I've used my fair share of face towels in my time, but I feel the microfibre cloths are the best at removing things, and not just makeup. The latest innovation are the small disc shaped makeup removers marketed as Santé By Enjo, and Chloe Morello's Face Halo, offering environmentally friendly alternatives to disposable wipes.

Makeup Look Archive || APRIL 2017 || Rivet Licker

Here are the makeup looks I posted in April 2017.

Keep up with my latest makeup looks on Instagram!

Makeup Look Archive || MARCH 2017 || Rivet Licker

Here are the makeup looks I posted in March 2017.

Keep up with my latest makeup looks on Instagram!

Makeup Look Archive || JANUARY + FEBRUARY 2017 || Rivet Licker

I've been wanting to do a regular posting of my makeup looks here on the blog, but I figure, why not start with a small archive. I'll do them month by month, starting from January 2017, and there will be full details.

I post makeup looks on Instagram every week or so, depending on what life throws at me, and I try to be as creative as possible! I list all the products I use, including shade names (if applicable). I hope you enjoy the archives for now, I intend to roll out one a week until we reach the most recent looks, and there will be a post every month from July onwards!

Do These Makeup Tools REALLY Work? - TRENDING - #RivetReview

There are always some kind of "revolutionary" tools that become available, often sprouting as fads that fizzle out into oblivion, but some are successful and game-changing. We all know those little beauty hacks, such as using household items to do perfect winged liner; but then there are tools that are made specifically for the task, like the original Beauty Blender sponge – the most popular tool for applying foundation, based off the old faithful, disposable makeup triangles. 

In today's post, I will be testing out some tools I picked up that are meant to make applying (and removing) makeup easier. But do they *REALLY* work?

TESTING OUT MAKEUP FROM BRANDS I WOULD NEVER BUY! (Or Repurchase)

I only deal with cruelty free brands, so I omit a lot of brands on the basis of animal testing (such as for sales in China), but there are also brands that are cruelty free that have had enough drama to put me off ever buying/repurchasing or endorsing the products on my blog. I had been following the Oh Dear Doe Deere Tumblr (and forums) for a few years, and the amount of brands that come up as dodgy definitely put things into perspective.

I'm open.

I have purchased from some brands that have recently been under fire for dodgy practices, but I won't mention them because of their previously clean track record, but I have recently been gifted some products from questionable brands that I would never have otherwise purchased or accepted as PR samples. I'm here to set the story straight and test out these products behind the controversy for quality and hype factor.

BYS Berries Eyeshadow Palette Swatches + #RivetReview

BYS have been around the budget makeup and accessories circuit for as long as I can remember. From what I remember as a kid growing up in the nineties, "Be YourSelf" started out with tubes of lip glosses and pretty hair clips being sold at Go-Lo and other discount stores. In more recent years, BYS has upped distribution and the quality of product, leading us to a beautiful little palette that may be a dupe for a much more expensive palette!

BYS Berries Palette

The recently released Berries eyeshadow palette has SOLD OUT at my local Kmart, and it looks like it's getting around the beauty communities. A $16 eyeshadow palette that is ALL THE RAGE? This must be something good!

Australis LIQUID ELIXIR Serum Foundation - #RivetReview

Australis are back at it with a new foundation formula, Liquid Elixir, the new way to get the NO MAKEUP look and feel!

Liquid Elixir Serum Foundation.

I've been using Australis products for as long as I can remember, and being able to regularly feature their products on my blog is a great privilege. They are a brand who give easy access to hot beauty trends with quality products and great prices. The new sheer cover Liquid Elixir Serum Foundation found itself on my desk this week, and it's something I am totally wanting to tell everybody about!

Favourite Budget Makeup Essentials - LOOK AMAZING AND SAVE!

Makeup can cost a pretty penny, but that doesn't say anything about the quality, does it? The budget and drugstore level brands are really stepping up to the hype with quality products for less! No, really!

Assortment of budget and drugstore products under $25 each..

Make yourself look amazing with my special favourite picks of makeup products where no single item is over $25AUD! Some of these are even dupes of your high end cult faves!

Summer Goth - Beauty & Fashion Essentials

Whoever said we needed to brood indoors when the temperature rises along with the UV index? I'm your stock standard alternative, black clad and existential goth girl (with a sun allergy - extra goth points for the Vampire hiss), but the outdoor world doesn't scare me; or at least areas in the shade don't! As some of you may already know, and a heads up for those that don't, I have an intolerance to sunlight (and other forms of UV emitting light sources) caused by having Lupus. I also lost pigmentation and the ability to tan (a far cry from the little olive brown kid I was). Surely enough, the goth lifestyle was my destiny - I used to express myself more when I was active in the scene, but I tend to keep things very casual these days.

Bright hair, black clothes, skin that looks darker than it really is.

I have curated a list of essential items to survive summer as a goth!

Finding My New Foundation- Part 3

Urban Decay had two foundations I was interested in trying, so I requested samples of both when I visited Mecca Maxima. Unfortunately, due to the weather change since Part 2, my skin is behaving slightly differently (i.e. I am sweating a lot), and sun exposure has really amped up my freckles and redness. I am currently wanting something full coverage that doesn't feel like an oil slick on my face.

Foundations applied only on cheek area.

In Part 3, I road test Urban Decay's Naked Skin and All-Nighter foundations. I picked the shade 0.5 in both formulas as they blend seamlessly to my neck, despite my face being darker.

Kat Von D Metal Matte Palette Swatches + #RivetReview

Kat Von D Beauty speaks to every cruelty free beauty addict out there, particularly those of us who stray from the norm. Where alternative subculture meets the demands of the beauty market, KvD offers an unapologetic array of products for EVERYBODY.

I definitely stray from the norm.

The Metal Matte LIMITED EDITION Eyeshadow Palette covers neutrals, brights and bolds, in 13 matte and 9 metallic finishes. Aside from the cool packaging with optical illusion text, designed by KvD herself, there are 22 pans of highly pigmented goodness.

AUSTRALIS TURNS 30! Swatches + NEW Products October/November 2016

As of October 2016, Australis Cosmetics has been an Australian icon for 30 years. In 1986, just under two years before my arrival, this fresh brand of cosmetics hit pharmacy shelves to appeal to the female youth of this land. This brand has always had affordable products and on trend colours, definitely appealing to me when I was a teen! (Who remembers those sticky lip glosses from around 2001, one similar in colour to Velourlips Tok-i-o, and a chocolate brown?)

Vintage perfume packaging and promotional material.

Last week, I received a PR package full of the new goodies; it brightened up what was a really bad week and I was also invited to be a guest at the 30th birthday celebration at the Ivy Penthouse where we were showered with great food and drink, great company, and a great presentation. Our goodie bags were packed to the brim with new releases that have already hit shelves, or will be available as of November. This means I have plenty of swatches to show! All products are accredited by Choose Cruelty Free (CCF) and many options are Vegan!

IT Cosmetics Bye-Bye Under Eye Illumination Concealer - #RivetReview

Foreword: Again, exams are getting the better of me, but as of the first week of November, posts shall be scheduled as normal; but I really owe my lovely readers a review, so be it!

IT Cosmetics Bye-Bye Under Eye Concealer already does two things, covers enough to not require a separate product to correct dark circles, and now, it does three things; COVERS, CORRECTS AND ILLUMINATES. It's like "8 hours sleep in a tube!"

Light + Medium

Having just been released in 2016, this concealer was featured in the goodie bags we received from the Sephora Exclusive Brands Showcase back in July.

Finding My New Foundation - Part 2

Finding the perfect match for a foundation doesn't just come down to colour, it comes down to formula. My skin is very dry, so a foundation that is Oil-Free is probably not going to cut it for me.

I thought I was impressed, but was I?

Here, I wear test the foundation I was dying to try when it launched, however the lightest shade (available in 2015) was still too dark, and since then, new colours had become available in the range here, including that match for my pasty neck!