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Monday 30 March 2015

March Favourites




Since it’s the end of March I thought I’d put together a little post on what skin care, makeup and hair care I’ve been obsessing over the past 31 days. Enjoy my beauts!





The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil
Suited for all skin types, this miracle oil is a product every person who wears makeup should have in their bathrooms. I’ve had mine since January and I’ve still got 1/3 of it left. All it takes is 1-2 pumps rubbed straight onto your makeup-covered face to melt off all that hard to budge makeup. Liquid liner, water proof mascara, long wear foundations and smudge proof lipsticks literally melt off in seconds right before your eyes. It takes a little getting used to rubbing oil onto your dry face that’s full of makeup, but after your first use you’ll be hooked. I guarantee it! Once you’ve rubbed the oil all over your face, add a tiny bit of water and it turns into a beautiful milky cleanser. You can then rinse it off, or like I prefer to do, remove it with a hot face cloth to add a little bit of exfoliation and make sure you’re not left with an oily residue. You can use this as your own do-it-all makeup remover and cleansing wonder product or follow it up with a second cleanser. I like to use Go-To’s Properly clean to ensure a really deep cleanse. Get straight onto this product people, there is a reason it’s a cult favourite.





Organic Care Colour Shield Shampoo and Conditioner
Little confession, I haven’t dyed my hair since the end of September last year. I’m naturally a darkish, dirty blonde so my regrowth has just blended straight into my last set of highlights. Because I haven’t dyed my hair in so long, the condition of my hair is actually really healthy, so there is no need for expensive hair prodz right now. My laziness from not dying my hair has carried onto not hunting down my favourite organic lavender shampoo and conditioner, so I’ve reverted to using the supermarket products that I used for years when I didn’t dye my hair every six weeks. I am actually pretty chuffed that I started using this again because I forgot how freaking amazing it is. For something that is so wallet friendly, I honestly don’t notice the difference between using this and the more expensive brands. Its also cruelty free, uses organic ingredients and sustainable packaging that’s environmentally friendly. I think I’ll be sticking with this duo again for years to come since my obsession has ignited again.





Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask
If you have me on Snapchat, you’ve probably seen snaps of me late at night wearing this mask. I use this once or twice a week and always see a dramatic difference in my skin. Many aestheticians used to not recommended it because it contained Equisetum, which is a plant commonly known as Horsetail that can be an irritant to the skin and Origins have now removed this ingredient. I’ve only ever used this product after the Horsetail was removed so I can’t say much on the difference between the two, but the current version of the mask is AH-MA-ZING. To apply you first have to hold a warm washcloth over your face to help open up the pores and then layer on the mask. The mask it self is very glossy and feels very cold to apply to the face. Once you’ve layered it on just kick back, watch an episode of Vanderpump Rules and wait for it to dry. Just a heads up though, as this mask dries it gets VERY cold, VERY quick. Your face will feel almost as if someone is holding ice up against it. Then once it dries, just wash it off. Well that’s what the packaging says, so here comes your second heads up. Don’t even attempt to try and rinse this off. Take 1-3 facewashers in with you to the bathroom and take it off by gently buffing it off with warm water and facewashers. It will take quite a while to remove, but all that work is seriously worth it. Your face will reap the benefits and will feel soothed and look noticeably clearer.





Napoleon Perdis Lipstick in Boudicca
This is the epitome of a babydoll pink shade. The formula is a little hard to work with because it will show even the slightest dry lip so make sure you have crazy moisturized lips before applying. But the colour is way too stunning to pass up and the packaging is just a gorgeous bonus!





Shu Uemura Supreme Matte Lipstick in 570 MOR
This lippie was a present from my Mum and I absolutely adore it. It is one of the brightest reds I’ve ever seen and goes on beautifully matte. Stunning colour. Long wearing. Striking. Beautiful. Good work Shu Uemura. If you want to feel like an old Hollywood goddess, ditch the MAC counter and head straight over to Shu Uemura and pick up this beaut.


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Friday 27 March 2015

Bellabox March 2015



Does anyone else think the guy from the iiNet ad is incredibly good looking? I think it’s a combination of his accent/neatly kept beard/knitted jumper. It could also be the fact that I started writing this post at 3am while watching My Kitchen Rules and eating Easter eggs when the iiNet ad popped up. So if this post begins to ramble a bit I’m sorry, but I was probably on a bit of a sugar rush. ANYWAY, the March Bellabox was a goodin’, and despite #highlightergate I received a lot of products from different brands as well as quite a few bonuses and extras.  

Colour Theory Eye Pencil in Slate  
One more pencil to add to my ever-growing eye and lip pencil collection. Before beauty boxes I only had ONE pencil, and that was the MAC lip liner in Redd. Now it’s growing like weeds. Which I don’t mind, because like previously stated as long as colours don’t repeat, it’s good to have a nice selection. This pencil is nice, not the best, but its usable. The colour is also a strange brown/purple colour that leans more towards purple, so I don’t know how much everyday use I’ll get out of it, but it will be good to play around with. Colour Theory is a new-ish, German made cosmetics company that Rachael Finch is a representative of and is available only through Amcal and Guardian pharmacies. Full Size $4.00

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Creamy Cleanser & Makeup Remover
I’m excited to try this, as I’m always keen for cleansers that double as makeup removers. Like everyone else between the years of 2006 and 2009 I went through the Palmers Cocoa Butter phase. I was especially addicted to their chocolate mint lip balm, so much so that I had one at home, one in my high school locker, one in my pencil case and another in the pocket of my blazer that I always forgot to wear and got uniform infringements for. Like I cared though, this is coming from the girl who in year 12 thought ‘Krispy Kreme’ was a suitable enough excuse to write on the late slips in the admin office. I’m excited to try this cleanser and maybe relive my knee high sock private schoolgirl years (#ja’mieprivateschoolgirl). Just kidding, no one wants to relive high school, LIVE IN THE NOW PEOPLE. But I am pretty keen to see how this cleanser lives up to the makeup removers I’m using now. Deluxe Sample Size

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Perfecting Moisturizing Day Cream
This day cream contains SPF 15+ and is designed to “Hydrate, Balance and Protect” the skin through the use of cocoa. I’m a bit worried that this will be a bit rich and how my skin will go with this one, so I might have to use it on a day off. Deluxe Sample Size

SP Luxe Oil Reconstructive Elixir
I love a good hair treatment oil because you can just feel the results instantly. When I was full on platinum blonde back in 2012 I used all SP products and it helped keep my hair incredibly healthy. I kind of floated away from the products when I ditched the platinum a few months later, so I’m excited to give this treatment oil a try.  Sample Size

Klorane Brightening Shampoo with Chamomile  
Marketed to brighten and revive dull hair and enhance your colour, I’m intrigued by this chamomile shampoo. I use a chamomile oil makeup remover that I’m obsessed with, so I’m hoping this will be just as good. I also love receiving shampoo and conditioner samples because it’s something I always forget to buy until I jump in the shower. Sample Size


Bonus

Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Effect Makeup in Natural Beige  
Ugh. Please. Somebody tell me who actually has a beige skin tone? Because I’d like to meet them so I can give them all my foundation and concealer samples, and then also slap them in the face for getting all the foundation and concealer samples. The sample gives you enough of the product to suss out the formula without sending you a bottle of foundation that is completely the wrong shade for you *cough LustHaveIt cough *. The formula is nice and I’d actually like to go in store and see if there are any that match my good ‘ol Tassie Tan. Sample Size

Stabilo Neon Highlighter in Green  
Before the boxes were shipped this month, Bellabox posted on their Instagram that we would all be receiving a Stabilo highlighter in each of our boxes as part of a completion on highlighting our best features, and that it would not be replacing a beauty product but would just be an added little extra. When I saw it I kind of did a “LOL WOT” and then continued on eating my donuts and trying to lure the neighborhood cat I named “Ed Sheeran” into my house. As long as Bellabox were not going to start replacing beauty items with stationary, I didn’t really mind what they did. But lots of people did and there was a tiny shit storm that erupted for a little bit. But oh well, can’t please everyone, hey Bellabox? Anyway, I can’t really review this because it’s just a normal highlighter they’ve fancied up in new packaging. The accompanying beauty card this month features artwork done with highlighters, so that’s pretty cool. But you know, it’s a highlighter so there is nothing really new to report there. Full Size $1.60


Extra Gift

Essie Nail Colour in Romper Room
I got an email just before my box arrived saying I was one of the lucky 4000 to receive an Essie Nail Polish as an added gift in this months box. Hooray! I love Essie, I think it’s a great polish brand with gorgeous colours and this one was drop dead gorgeous. Beautiful baby pink shade that reminds me of ballet slippers and fairy floss. Painted my nails with this immediately and it is a beautiful nude pink shade. Stunning. On another note, I don’t think I need to buy polish ever again while subscribed to Bellabox because this is my third or fourth Essie polish for them. I’m certainly not complaining, keep ‘em coming Bellabox! Full Size $16.95




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Tuesday 24 March 2015

Lust Have It February 2015



Oh Lust Have It, you have dug yourself into a hole a bit too deep. It is almost the end of March and we are only just receiving the Feb boxes. They are still a month behind and no one really knows when they will catch up and this month was very disappointing. Mismatched colours, late deliveries and no makeup bag. Instead it came in a postal box with some ripped tissue paper. Like usual their Facebook page is filled with complaints and photos of girls showing how bad the selected colours are. Even though this was comprised of 99% full sized products, most people (including me) were left pretty disappointed.


Ulta3 Plum Lip Liner
Even though I’ve received a lot of lip liners from various beauty bags over the year, I don't tire of receiving them as long as they are varied in colour. Lip liners are a product I can never really be bothered to go out and buy so when I receive one it's great to tuck it away for future use. Ulta3 is a kind of a cult "drug store" brand overseas so it's great to be able to give one of their products a try! Full Size $2.95


Natural Glamour Illuminating Foundation SPF 15 in Light
Personally I think that full size foundations should not be included in beauty boxes. Samples are ok, because if the colour is off you can still get a feel for the formula and it's not much of a waste. THIS WAS A WASTE. I was one of the very lucky few who received the light shade, as most received medium. The girls who received medium posted what it looked like on their skin to the Lust Have It Facebook page and it literally looks like they have dipped their faces in chocolate. I swatched the foundation on the back of my hand and the light shade was actually a bright orange. The formula felt and smelt like cheap foundation you would find for $3 in the clearance bin at your local pharmacy. The only saving grace is that it is cruelty free and contains SPF, but because of all the other factors is basically unusable. Full Size $29.95


Natural Glamour 2GLO Line Treatment Concealer in Medium
I had the exact same issues with this product as above. While it is great in theory, the execution is terrible. Instead of being orange on me, it is chocolate brown. One side is concealer, while the other side is a line treatment used under it. I won't be able to use this one at all due to the colour, but it is passable enough to be rehomed with a tan friend. Full Size $27.95


Designer Brands Liquid Eye Liner in Black
I feel like over the past year I have received A LOT of products from this brand, and while they have all been excellent, especially for the price, I think it's time to bring in some new brands to try. Never the less, this is your standard black liquid eyeliner and I will for sure use this when my others have run out as it's always good to have a back up! Full Size $8.99


Paula's Choice Skincare Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
This was the only product I was truly excited to receive this month. I'm such a fan of Paula's Choice, especially their Beautypedia that has educated me quite a lot on skin care. I'm also a fan of chemical exfoliants over physical ones, so this is definitely something I will be using on the regular. It is used by pouring onto a cotton pad and swiping over the skins to help with congestion, skin tone and reducing the appearance of fine lines. What a little winner. Sample Size




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Wednesday 4 March 2015

Real Techniques Haul: Where to Buy + Rant


I have had my self on a crazy strict budget since after Christmas. I decided to take a year off after I finished University to have a bit of a mental vacation, save some money, pay off my credit card and try to chip into my HECs a bit. After two months of not buying anything for myself that weren't essentials, I decided to treat myself a little bit when I had some money left over. 

Earlier last year I brought myself a lot of the Real Techniques by Samantha and Nicola Chapman brushes after seeing rave reviews of them all over YouTube. I did a bit of research online and saw that the brushes ranged from between $5-15 and to save on shipping I decided to pop down to my local Priceline to pick some up. Instead of getting the brushes, I got a rude shock. All the brushes were priced between $25-35 A BRUSH. FOR A SINGLE BRUSH. Now I know we are blessed to live in the wonderful far away country that is Australia, but a price hike like that is purely ridiculous. So I jumped back onto the Real Techniques website and ordered them on there for the American prices and only $20 shipping. Which does not seem a lot considering how inflated the Australian prices were per brush. I got the brushes two weeks later and absolutely LOVED them. Amazing quality for a wonderful price (just don't pick them up from Priceline) and I actually preferred them to my existing brushes from MAC and Bobbi Brown.

Now fast-forward to last month when I have a little bit of extra cash and want to treat myself. I decided to buy more of the Real Techniques fabulous brushes so i jumped on to their website and filled my cart with ten items, only to click through to the check out and when clicking on the drop down box to select my country finding that Australia is no longer listed. Okay then. I'm currently sitting on my bed that is in the country of Australia, so I know it exists. I'm then re-directed to the Australian Real Techniques website. Hooray, I think to myself. Maybe we will get free shipping and American priced brushes. Nope. You can only buy the brushes off the Real Techniques Australia website for the Australian prices of $25-$30 a brush. What an absolute downer. 

Need not fear, I remember watching one of my favourite Aussie Youtubers MessyDownunder doing a haul of Real Techniques brushes that she got from online American pharmacy iHerb.com. When I went on iHerb I swear I heard angels singing. ALL the brushes were listed for American prices with SIX DOLLAR SHIPPING TO OUR FABULOUS COUNTRY. Plus with some further googling, I also found some pretty rad discount coupons for iHerb to get ten dollars off my first purchase. In the end I got all the brushes I was after, plus a discount and low shipping prices. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you are after Real Techniques brushes without the slap in the face of Australian inflation you can pick them right up from here. I'm still a couple of brushes short from having the complete set, so when I want to buy the remainder I will be straight back to iHerb.



Here is a look at what I got:




Miracle Complexion Sponge - $5.99

I currently have the Beauty Blender in the hot pink colour and it does an amazing job at applying makeup without giving that 'cake face' effect. The only downside to Beauty Blenders are that they are quite pricey, so when I saw that Real Techniques had created their own version I just had to have it. I can't wait to give this one a go. 





Setting Brush - $7.99

This brush is used to apply highlighting and other setting powders. I brought this to use with my MAC Skin Finish highlighting powder. 





Shading Brush - $5.99

Like a crease brush but for the overall blending out of eye shadows. Excited to give this one a whirl.





Retractable Kabuki, Retractable Bronzer and Retractable Lip Brushes - $9.99, $12.99 & $5.99

I was on a mission when I was buying these brushes. I was after these specifically to put in my car and handbag so I could have brushes to touch up face powders and lip products without them getting dirty. Because they are retractable with lids it makes them a lot more hygienic to carry on the go and great for touch ups. My favourite is the Kabuki brush, it is just seriously so many shades of amazing. I'm absolutely obsessed with it.





Powder Brush - $9.99

This was purchased as a replacement brush. I've read online that some people experienced shedding with some of their Real Techniques brushes and when I brought my first lot of them, none of them shed.. except for the powder brush. Oh boy did it shed bad, it was basically unusable. Then I asked a couple of my friends who had this brush and none of them had this issue, so I just assumed that I received a bit of a dodgy one. I think I did because this one has not shed a single hair, so I’m really glad I repurchased this and gave it another go because it's darn great.




Blush Brush - $8.99

Currently for blush I’m going between the Real Techniques Buffing Brush and the Eco Tools Blush Brush, both of those are doing an amazing job but I just HAD to pick this one up. The reviews are glowing, I can’t wait to try it out and for that price how could you not?




Lash and Brown Groomer - $5.99
I picked this one up because the main point of difference between this brush and others like it is that the mascara side is made of metal. The issue I’ve always had with these dual sided lash and brow groomers are that they are a bit flimsy, especially combing through clumpy mascara. Because this is metal it just combs through like a hot knife through butter. I've already given this one a try when I had a bit of a mascara accident and it works like a charm. 




Foundation Brush - $7.99

I already have quite a few different foundation applicators but I wanted to give this one are try. It's an angled cut brush and the bristles are quite thick so I’m excited to see how this compares with the Expert Face Brush that I’m currently using. There are different types of foundation formulas, so I that’s why I think it's a good idea to have a few options of foundation brushes.






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