Bellabox August, 2012 - Review :)

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted on my blog!!!! I'm not really sure how that happened but rest assured I'll be giving it plenty attention once again :)

Some of you may remember last year that I was subscribed to about four of the Australian Beauty Sample boxes, after many months of receiving some pretty wonderful things I decided that my poor little bedroom could no longer accommodate any more sample products :(


When Bellabox contacted me this month and asked me if I would like to review their August box and hold a Giveaway I was more than happy to say yes :D Unfortunately I only just received my box late on Friday so the Giveaway will now be postponed until September so keep a look out for that!!!

For those of you who may not be familiar with this sample box, it is a little box that you subscribe to and purchase for $15.00 per month and in return you will be sent 5 - 7 products (some full size) to try out.

Go Green

The August box was all about Green and Natural products, I'm pretty sure by now you would have to agree with me that this is the way to go when it comes to beauty products if you can.

So what did I have in my box you may ask :) I shall tell you .....

Firstly there was Ro's Argan Body Conditioner by Lush 45g - I really like this, it smells beautiful like most Lush products, it's said to smell of roses and lemon, I'm not quite sure if that's the smell I get but it smells lovely anyhow :) I've been using it on my legs and they feel silky soft which is great because the shorts are starting to come out now as the weather is warming up :) Love the little tin this comes in as it's very handy to just throw in your bag if your off to the beach!

Then we have the Eye of Horus Liquid Define Eyeliner, this is labelled as non-smudge and waterproof, I had this eye liner on for about 4-5 hours with really good results, it hadn't smudged at all so that's pretty good in my mind. This was a full sized product :)

USPA Organic Wild Thyme Foot Pumice - I haven't had a chance to try this one out yet but I will very soon, the smell is a little ... um ... not so nice so I haven't been eager to use it, hahaha but luckily my feet are far away from my nose so it shouldn't be too much of a problem when I do (I hope) :D

Next up was the Luk Beautifood Lip Nourish, this feels lovely and moisturising on the lips, mine is in the tan colour and once it's applied it's pretty natural looking (sheer). There wasn't any labelling on the tube but after reading up on it the reason was that it's not even in the shops yet!!! Wow, one of the first to try it that's nice :)

Then there was the Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion which worked very nicely on my arms, we all know after winter our skin can feel a little dry when you put the short sleeves on so moisturiser is a must to get it looking and feeling great, I have no problem with this product at all, and it's fragrance free which is a bonus :)

There were also sample sizes of the EmerginC skincare products which I haven't tried yet, it really is hard to get a good idea about skincare products from small sample sizes, to me you have to trial these products over a few weeks to see if they really work well for you. The packaging was pretty cute though :) More samples of the Daily C Vitamin Powder, there were a couple of sachets of this, I've tried this and it doesn't taste 'tragic' which is nice, hahaha .... If you like these types of drinks you would probably enjoy them a little more, they are sugar free with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives in them :)

and lastly, there was a bonus 'free with purchase' offer of a bottle of Bodhi Me Hand Wash to anyone who purchases from the Bellabox store in the month of August!!!

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Well there you have it, I must say it was nice to receive this little box again and it was also nice to try out some things I haven't tried before :)

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You can visit the Bellabox website HERE
and their Facebook Page HERE

Thank you Bellabox for sending me the August box, I really enjoyed my little samples!!!

Blush Amour Lipgloss Giveaway!! New online Store

Blush Amour is a cosmetic company that has been around for 10 years and to help launch their new online store, they are generously giving away a lovely ‘Lipgloss 2 in 1’ in Coral Shimmer to anyone who signs up for their Newsletter, just note that this is for Australia and New Zealanders only. The ‘Lipgloss 2 in 1’ comes in a sleek tube with a detachable cap at the top of the handle that hides a hidden lip pencil, so you can line your lips beautifully and then apply the gloss!! Coral Shimmer is a lovely peachy shade that is ideal for Autumn.

Subscribe to Blush Amour Cosmetics to receive
a free Lipgloss 2 in 1

To be completely honest with you, I’ve never heard of this brand before so I’m quite interested to sample their products, I’ve subscribed to their newsletter myself so that I can get my freebie ‘Lipgloss 2 in 1’  :D  hehe Go take a little look around their site, their products include categories such as nails, eyes, skin and lips and they are all very well priced.

This offer is valid until the 20^th April, 2012 (while stocks last) - http://www.blushamour.com.au/

March Bellabox Goodies

The Bellabox was a little different this month, packaged in a calico drawstring bag instead of it's usual brown cardboard box, this will probably come in handy for something but I've heard that it's a 'one off' thing so it will be back to the boxes next month.

March's box is about getting naked and letting your true self shine through, beauty wise that is, I don't wanna see anyone running around naked this month thank you ;D now let's have a little look at what was in the box.

Bellamer Eye Balm - sample pot
This is for tired eyes and supposed to help relax the skin around them, you apply a very small amount from the inner corner outwards (underneath) and let it sit for about 15 minutes to absorb and then wipe any excess away, great for night time use. I have used this once but it's a little too early to tell if it will make any difference.

The Eyelift Kit Eyelift Pots - 3 small pots
Apparently this is like a little facelift for your eyes, helps to conceal dark bags and circles when you need it. I'm looking forward to trying this one out and I'm really hoping it works too :D hahaha

U Little Beauty Natural Repair Hair Masque - 100mls
I've  tried this one out last night, the smell at first reminds me of 'glue' and is quite strong, not really very nice but once it's absorbed the smell seems to disappear. It actually made my hair appear fuller but I wasn't really wowed by it, maybe I'll use it a few times and see how it goes.

Pure Fiji Coconut Hydrating body Lotion
I'm such a sucker for coconut, there's just something about the scent that gets me everytime, haha. I tried this one last night as well and it felt really nice on.

Yes to Carrots Liptint - Ready Red
This little liptint is all natural and made from fruits and veges :D It is very very tingly on your lips when you apply it and seems to have a 'minty' taste sensation, I really like it and would be interested to try others in this range.

Carman's Muslie Biscuit - bonus
I didn't like this, it was an interesting addition to the box but it really wasn't to my taste, my brother and sister didn't really like it either.


So that's the Bellabox for March, another interesting sample box with things I haven't tried before. I like how it contained products for the eyes as I think a lot of people would be interested in this, it seems to be a problem area for many :/

What's in my March Glossybox (AU)

March is all about being active with Glossybox this month and I can't agree more, with some cooler weather finally arriving after a very humid and hot late Summer I feel that I can finally get moving again, hahaha

So let's take a peek at what I got this month :)

Proactive Cleansing Bar - 150g - full size
This is a huge bar and probably something I won't use a lot but that doesn't mean it's useless to me, it's said to contain tiny micro-beads to help with exfoliation and I have a younger sister who is prone to breakouts and blemishes so I might just pass it along to her and see if it helps :) Not everyone is going to be happy with this in the box but I can honestly say I'm not that disappointed, it won't get wasted and it's a good full sized product for someone who has problems with their skin.

Eau Thermale - Avene Thermal Spring Water - 50ml - small full size
This is a gentle spray that is used to cleanse and relieve the skin both on the face or any inflamed area of the body (external), mainly used for sensitive skin. I tried this already and it felt quite nice on, of course my skin wasn't inflamed or anything so I won't really know how it works until then :) but on regular skin it's nice.

Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk - 50ml
Well it's nice to see a different brand of dry-shampoo :) I've given this a quick try and it appears to work like it should, the smell is a 'clean' smell, nothing overpowering which is good, it won't compete with perfumes etc. I will use this and find this a great addition to the box this month.

Nougat - Nurturing Hand Cream in Tuberose and Jasmine - sml sample size
This handcream actually feels really nice on and absorbs quite quickly, I'm not overly fond of the fragrance myself, it may suit an older person better but I would still use this of a night time in winter.

Thin Lizzy Concealer Cream in Oriental Doll - 7.5ml
I'm always happy to try new concealers so I was quite excited to see this in the box, I haven't heard of the brand before either. I gave it a try and it goes on smoothly, I'm not 'wowed' by it but it does work alright.

Power Balance Bracelet
I received this in 'glossybox' pink :D and I'm pretty happy to try it out too. Apparently this little silicone bracelet is meant to help you keep in balance, feel stronger and be more flexible, originally created for athletes by athletes. The little hologram discs help combat electromagnetic chaos to the body caused by mobile phones and computers etc. I'm going to be wearing this to see how it goes and if I feel any difference :D

Also enclosed was a $10.00 Gift Card if you spend $50.00 or more at 'Zanui.com.au' which is an online furniture and decor store, valid until 30 April, 2012.

All in all I wouldn't complain with my box this month, I have some interesting new products to try out that I haven't tried before and another storage box for my shelf :) hehehe

Skin 79 – mybbcream.com – Korean Cosmetics Review

I’ve had the Skin79 Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream Triple Function for quite some time now and really love using it so when I was asked by mybbcream.com if I would like to try out a couple more products from the Skin79 range I was very willing.

Photo property of Public Domain

What is BB Cream?

‘BB stands for "Blemish Balm" and originated from Germany where dermatologists initially used it to help laser surgery patients protect, soothe and regenerate their highly sensitive skin while also providing good coverage for post-laser scars and redness.’   ... extract

With pale flawless skin being such an asset in Asian countries, Korean Actresses found this miracle worker to their liking after having surgery and starting using it on a regular basis. Cosmetic companies took notice and started producing BBCreams for the general public. The public versions are aimed at those with sensitive and acne prone skin, giving coverage to dark blemishes and protection from the sun. You are getting both skincare and makeup in one.

A great reference when trying to choose the right BBCream for your skin type can be found here - http://www.mybbcream.com.au/index.php?route=common/qa02

Just follow the 2 simple steps.

The way to apply BB Cream is after you have cleansed and moisturized your face, apply the bb cream and then allow to sit for a bit, apply a little extra to the areas that might need more coverage. BB Cream will oxidize within about half an hour and take on the look of your own skin tone. In hotter weather you may get some shininess like you do with any other foundation but nothing a little blotting or powder can’t fix.

Skin79

See my review on the Hot Pink BBCream HERE

Mini BB Cream Travel Set

This set is a great way to sample BB Creams and also for those that are travelling and don’t want to take too much with them. This set contains 4 x 5 ml tubes of BB Cream in –

Hot Pink Super Plus BB Triple Function

VIP Gold Super Plus BB Triple Function

Diamond the Prestige

Diamond Luminous Pearl

Mini Travel Set $18.00

Diamond II All Day Sun Powder SPF 30

This product is very prettily packaged in a clear container with metallic pink lid and powder applicator fitted in the top, there is also a sifter to help control powder distribution. The sponge applicator is great for applying the powder to your face but I also use a brush to finish the job.

The powder appears to have a very slight pink colour and shimmer and it’s said to contain ‘Diamond Powder’ and ‘Blooming Jewel Complex’ with 5 jewels which help to make the skin luxurious, shiny and luminous.

I have been using this powder after applying all my makeup to ‘set it’. The powder is not too heavy and only has the slightest shimmer to it. It has added sun protection so that’s a plus, is whitening and anti-wrinkle :)

Although very pretty on top of my makeup trolley, it’s not something that I can carry around in my handbag.

Would I recommend this product, yes I would, especially to those who enjoy using BB Creams.

All Day Powder $32.00

Orange Super Plus Triple Functions BB Vital Cream

This is the newest addition to the Skin79 range, apparently it’s ‘upgraded’ with the addition of a higher sun and all round weather protection and added vitamins. This ‘Hot Orange’ bb cream has an SPF 50!!

I’ve been using it over the past week or so and have found no real difference from the ‘Hot Pink’ one apart from it does look a lot paler on my skin. It works well and I haven’t broken out more than usual but I personally prefer the ‘Hot Pink’ probably because I am a little tanned right now and want my face to blend better with the rest of my upper body area hehe but if you are wanting that 'pale porcelain skin' look then this is a good choice :)

The packaging is the same as the ‘Hot Pink’ but obviously ‘Hot Orange’ which is something I really like, I almost expect to smell citrus whenever I use it, hahaha. Because of the packaging I find there is little to no wastage and it just looks cool :D

Orange Super Plus $45.00

MyBBCream Korean Cosmetics

My BB Cream is an Australian based online Korean Cosmetics store that of course specialises in selling BB Creams and associated products.  They have a large selection of brands to choose from including skincare and some makeup. The service is professional and reliable. MyBBCream only ship online orders within Australia with a flat rate of $8.00 and there is free shipping with orders over $50.00 (Australia only)

From my personal experience, I have found other sites that sell BBCreams at a cheaper price than My BB Cream but that being said, they do not have as large a selection of BB Cream products and fast delivery within Australia. 'MyBBCream' have two Sydney Stores and one in Melbourne for that 'hands on' try before you buy experience :)

Where can you buy BB Creams - Price Comparison

My BB Cream – Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream  - $ 39.00 - HERE + $8.00 post (1-2 days delivery)

Hikosen Cara – Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream - $22.04 - HERE + $3.42 post (7-10 days delivery)

YesStyle – Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream - $20.52 - HERE + $9.99 (7-10 days delivery)

Hikosen Cara, Korean Makeup Review

I've always admired the lovely packaging of the Asian beauty products I've seen used so when I was given the opportunity to try some products from 'Hikosen Cara' I eagerly accepted :D :D


Hikosen Cara is a New Zealand based Korean online store that sells the cutest products, they don't just have cosmetics, but also the cutest cushions, backpacks and slippers :)


The products I received were as follows


Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream SPF 30 


I really like the feel of this BB Cream, it applies nicely and settles well on the skin, the colour is a great match for me and the coverage can be built to suit the individual. The packaging is great, pretty pink with gold touches. The only drawback to this product is the smell, I really do not like the smell which is a bit 'chemical' for me :( but other than that I do like the product.

FacePowder – Peripera ‘I Love Pact’ SPF40 – Shade 21


Not only is this product really pretty to look at with it's silver silver and black compact with rose coloured embossed pattern on top,  but it definitely is a great face powder. The compact contains a nice sized mirror and sponge applicator and the product comes with a refill which I absolutely love, what a great idea :)  The powder applies well and stays on for quite a long time. The colour I chose was well suited to me. I have no dislikes about this product.

Peripera Smile Fit Blusher – Shade 2 ‘Vanilla Pink’


Very nicely packaged with metallic rose lid embossed with white lace design and black base. This blusher appears to be quite pale but once applied it is simply beautiful, the brush that is in the compact is actually a wonderful quality which surprised me because you don't normally get that. I love this blush :)

Peripera Lip Makeup My Colour Lips - No. 13 'Mandarin Orange'


Haha how pretty is this lipstick!!! With it's pink clear lid that is embossed with a lace design and the metallic base that seems to have a 'pedestal' it is very over the top 'pretty' and the lid itself has a good 'snap' shut sound and feel :)  The lipstick is very creamy and of a great quality but unfortunately I think I chose the wrong colour for me so unless I mix it with another lip product I won't really get to use this a lot. 

Hikosen Cara

The online store itself has a nice variety of products, it's not huge but they haven't been around for that long. It's based in New Zealand which is great for New Zealanders but unfortunately, although it's close for us Australians, the currency conversion doesn't always work in our favour which is a downside to ordering online because you also have to include the postage costs, so be aware.


The customer service was very nice and the ordering process was very easy to understand and navigate. 


Check out my video using these products HERE :)

GLOSSYBOX Valentines Day Surprise!!!!!

Do you LOVE surprises? hehe I know I do so I've already ordered my February subscription of Glossybox which will be a very special edition, they are going to have a Valentine’s Day themed surprise – an extra gift that does not ordinarily come in a GLOSSYBOX and I'm excited to find out what it is :) Oh and of course for the beautiful bright PINK box it will come in just for Valentines ... hehehehe :D

Photo property of Glossybox :)

Nb:  If you're a guy and still wondering what you can get for your special lady for Valentines, why not get her a Glossybox or even a yearly subscription? I'm pretty sure it may put a smile on her face :D

January Sample Boxes - Australian

Photo property of Glossybox :)

LustHaveIt

Did not produce a sample box for January and notified all subscribers about this in December, they thought it would be better to let people recover from Christmas/New Year’s and will send the next box out in February. As I need to 'cull' my sample box buying each month, sadly I'm saying goodbye to 'LustHaveIt', not because there is anything wrong with it but I just feel the other boxes are more suited to my tastes :)

I Love This Box

January’s box brought with it five full sized products, as usual the box was packaged lovely and was all green and gold in honour of Australia Day, it arrived in the first half of the month in perfect condition complete with an Australian Flag love heart sticker  :D

What I received this time around:

‘I Love This Box’ Angular Eye Shadow Brush

Linden Leaves Shower Creme 85ml

Olive by Langlois Flavoured Lip Balm - Strawberry

Revlon Nail Polish – Jelly 210

Revlon Luxurious Colour Eyeliner – White

The brush looks ok, it works ok too, I've been using it on the outer corner even though it's meant for the inner corner, hahaha and can you really have too many brushes?  It’s a new addition to my brush collection. The shower cream with ginseng and orange blossom probably isn’t my kind of scent, I think the smell is for an older woman and it reminds me a bit of my Nanan and I probably wouldn’t buy it. The lip balm is nice, it works well and smells cute. I love the nail polish, the colour I got is lovely, it’s a deep pink called ‘Jelly’ and I really do love it. In fact as soon as I opened the box and saw it I put it on, hahahaha ... this is something different for me because I don’t really do my nails very often. I like the eyeliner too, I don’t really need another white eyeliner but then again I do tend to ‘misplace’ things so it may come in handy.

I love to save and re-use these boxes because they look clean and are nice and sturdy and the perfect size to sit on my shelves on top of each other :) I’ve filled them with ‘Nail Art’, ‘Camera Stuff’ and ‘Dress Jewelry’ so far and just by labeling the front I can find things easy :D

Bellabox

This box arrived in the middle of the month but strangely when I opened the outer box my Bellabox didn’t have a lid on it???? Hahaha ..... very strange me thinks :P It’s funny how many times you can look inside the packaging to see if the lid is there but it isn’t, yet I kept looking ... hehe

On first inspection there didn’t seem to be a lot this month, a few sachets and not a lot else .... but then I looked closer and was pleasantly surprised, apart from perhaps the sunscreen samples which I’ll probably throw in my bag, I hadn’t tried anything in the box before and hadn’t heard of these brands before either!!  :) Now to me that’s a pretty good sample box because you actually get to ‘sample’ new things :D There were eight different products this month, two of them were full size.

So here’s what was inside

First Aid Beauty (FAB) Ultra Repair Cream – luxurious emollient and skin hydrator – sachet

Pangea Organics Lip Balm –Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange – full size

Soleo Sunscreen –All natural sunscreen – two sachets

Sparoma Organic Products – Pulse Point Aroma in Peppermint – works a little like aromatherapy – full size

Jesus Del Poza ‘Halloween Kiss’ – Perfume samples 2 x 1.5ml tubes

Violent Lips – Temporary Lip Applique – 1 sample

Herban Essentials Towlette– Lemon – For cleaning hands and killing germs

Qi Tea – Detox Green Tea and Green Tea & Ginkgo – 2 samples

I was happy with Bellabox once again, it’s nice to get perfume samples because it’s a great way to try scents that you may never think to try, this month they are nice but they don’t go ‘WOW’ to me.  The tea was a nice treat, I do like normal green tea so it was nice to sample some others. I know a lot of people don’t think of tea as a luxury sample but if it gets you to try something new then that’s pretty good. The Pulse Point Aroma will also be interesting to try, it’s supposed to help with clearing the head and relieving aches and pains so when and if that happens I’ll be ready!!! haha  :D

I can’t see myself using the lip appliqué in any hurry, I have seen them used on others, but I will keep it safe because you never know when you might need  red ‘fishnet lips’ right!! Hahahaha :D

Glossy Box

January’s Glossy box was actually gifted to me by Glossy Box which was really nice because I forgot to re-subscribe for January!!!! I generally use pre-paid visa cards for some of my subscriptions and online shopping but it ran out in December and with Christmas, New Year and my Birthday all happening I never got around to grabbing a new card :/

Nevertheless just because this box was gifted my opinions are still honest about the product and service.

Glossy Box has had a bit of a rough start here in Australia with a few bad reviews over the three months they’ve been running, remember they took over ‘Beauty Box’ back in October/November. I received the November box which I was very happy with, missed out on the December box like I stated before and now let's see what was in the January Glossy box.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex - 30ml (full size)
Nivea Rich Nourishing Body Moisturiser
Sheer Cover Nourishing Moisturiser
Sheer Cover Lip Gloss - Pink Praline (full size)
Mirenesse - Tight Liner Hydra Gel Eye Liner - Saphire Blue (full size)
Australia Day Temporary Tattoos (full size)

So I've been using the Estee Lauder Night Repair Complex over the past few days and I must say that I'm liking it, I use an Estee Lauder Moisturiser also so it must agree with my skin :) I haven't got to using the moisturisers yet so I can't really say much about them.

The Sheer Cover Lip Gloss is quite nice, it is very sheer so used over a lipstick is what I like to do, it's not very sticky so that's also good.

I really do like the Mirenesse Eye Liner, I've used it a couple of times now. I used it on Australia Day (which I'm pretty sure that's why we got Saphire Blue colour) along with the temporary Tattoos hahahah I put the Southern Cross on my cheekbone and put some of the other ones on my boyfriend for the day, great idea GlossyBox :D

I also like to save and re-use these boxes because they look clean and are nice and sturdy and sit on my shelves on top of each other :) I already used one to store larger ‘Dress Jewelry’ and I think I'll use this one for my extra ribbons when my vase has flowers in it :) Yeah, I put my ribbons in my tall vase when it's empty so that it looks all pretty :)

Maybelline 'Fit Me' Pressed Powder

I did a blog review on this powder a while ago, which you can find HERE and I have now done a video review which you can find HERE if you are interested :)

NEW Vegan Makeup Brushes - Sigma's 'Mr & Mrs Bunny' Kits

Many people prefer to use vegan products and makeup brushes are no exception. Sigma has now added to their family of 'Sigmax' brushes by bringing out the 'Mr & Mrs Bunny' Collection.  There are two kits, one is a Travel sized kit and the other a full sized Esential Kit. Mr kits are in the classic black colour and Mrs kits are in a pretty pastel blue with pink ferrules.

Brushes included in the Travel Kit are:

E30 - Pencil Brush

E40 - Tapered Blending Brush

E55 - Eye Shading Brush

E65 - Small Angle Brush

F30 - Large Powder Brush

F40 - Large Angled Contour Brush

F60 - Foundation Brush

Travel Kit sells for $59.00

Brushes included in the Essential Kit are:

E05 - Eyeliner Brush

E30 - Pencil Brush

E40 - Tapered Blending Brush

E55 - Eye Shading Brush

E60 - Large Shader Brush

E65 - Small Angle Brush

E70 - Medium Angle Brush

F30 - Large Powder Brush

F40 - Large Angled Contour Brush

F50 - Duo Fibre Brush

F60 - Foundation Brush

F70 - Concealer Brush

Essential Kit sells for $109.00

* All images are the property of SigmaBeauty

Maybelline 'Fit Me' Foundation and Pressed Powder

Recently I've been using the Maybelline 'Fit Me' range Foundation and Pressed Powder in shade 125.

Packaging:


Let's start with the packaging shall we, the foundation is packaged in a glass bottle that looks pretty sleek but I personally find it a bit difficult to get the right amount of foundation out, the formula is quite thin so I tend to tip too much out, a pump would have been a great inclusion for this foundation. The packaging on the pressed powder I found was great, it contains both a mirror and sponge applicator underneath the powder compartment and the lid is 'see through' so you can see what's in there :)

Foundation:

This is a sheer to medium coverage foundation that applies smoothly and I find it doesn't 'cake' over time. It's great for dry to normal skin types and even without using a primer it gives a lovely finish without accentuating large pores or inconsistencies. You can also build up the coverage by layering without it looking 'built up' and it will still feel lightweight. I find it blends really nicely and allows your skin to show through yet still be covered. You can apply it with your fingertips, brush or sponge and still get a nice finish.

There are quite a lot of shades to choose from, I find the shade I chose is a little dark for me right now so I may get the lighter shade as well, that way I can also mix the two shades for when my skin 'tans' a little in the summer. The foundation also contains an SPF 18 which is a great bonus :)


As with most foundations, if you have dry skin you should work on that first by moisturising before applying your foundation and if you have oily tendencies, perhaps a foundation geared towards your skin type would be a better purchase. I have a combination skin so I do find I get a little oily on my T-zone through the day but nothing a little powder can't fix and probably nothing more than I do with some other foundations, although it could be the humid weather we have been having lately too.

I do find that this foundation changes colour slightly in the beginning so if you can 'test' it and let it 'oxidize' for a while before purchasing that would be great so that you get the right shade. It doesn't change too dramatically on me but each person is different.

Pressed Powder:

I have no problems with the pressed powder, I've been using it quite a lot and have found it to be light and easy to use. It applies smoothly and evenly and is a great tool to use for my T-zone when it gets a little oily. As with the foundation, there is a great range of shades to choose from. I do prefer to use a brush with mine instead of the sponge as I like the finish better but the sponge is a good thing to have for touch ups when you're out and don't want to be carrying too much around with you.

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Overall, I think for the price you pay you are getting a pretty good product, these are not marketed as 'high end' or as 'full coverage' and will not suit everyone. Like anything, if you can try it before you buy it you shouldn't be disappointed. This is not my 'favourite' but it does the job :) The only downside would be the size of the product itself, I would have preferred it a little bit bigger.

** Unfortunately I couldn't take my own photos because my camera was being stubborn, the photos in this post are the property of Maybelline.com.au

HURRY!!! Black Friday Sales 25th November ...

So I quickly had a scan around and and found a few sites that were having great 'Black Friday' Sales.  If you're not sure what a 'Black Friday' Sale is then I'll quickly explain.  In the US, the day after Thanksgiving a lot of Stores have sales to start the 'Christmas Shopping' period and it's supposed to mark the time when retailers are starting to make a profit in their business, like being 'in the black'  :)

Here's a few I found:

Sigma Beauty -
Free Shipping Worldwide - 9am - 5pm CST only - 25th Nov, 2011- use Code BF2011


Camera Ready Cosmetics -
20% - 60% of the 'Sale Category' - starting on 24th November, 2011 - 6pm PCT


Cherry Culture -
20% off everything - use Code TGS20 - ends 27th November, 2011


Sedona Lace -
25% off entire order (over $15) - use Code Black25 - ends 25th November, 2011


Luminess Air -
Up to 83% off (while stocks last)




* This is a prescheduled post
* Please note that these dates are in US times

School Formal 2011 - One Week to go ...

I really can't believe all my studies for school are now over!!! I had my last Assessment on Friday WOOT WOO!!!! Now for the final week of school, if you can really call it that, I just have to tie things up, you know, return text books, laptop and long lost library books etc. I have my Graduation Ceremony on the Wednesday night, our final senior assembly on Thursday (which the Year 12's get to host) followed by an excursion and then just a safety talk and sign off on Friday morning :D :D :D then that's it!!!! :))))

So my Formal is on the Saturday night, 19th November to be exact which is honestly a stupid day to have it since Schoolies officially starts on the 19th!!!! Only our School Principal could have planned that :/

Hair:

This past week I managed to get the hair dye I was after, it was actually on special for $8.95 and was the last one in that colour (Darkest Chocolate No. 323). It was hiding in a different spot, someone else must have picked it up and put it back in the wrong spot so I thought they didn't have it!! So glad they did. I dyed my hair on Tuesday afternoon so that's something else to check off my list :)

I'm going to try to squeeze in a 'trim' before my Formal just to tidy the ends up.

Outfit:

I got to try on my complete outfit for the Formal and I'm happy to report that I'm very very happy with the overall look. It's fun and young and I really like the way it all came together, it makes me feel like an 'exotic princess' hahahaha :P So for a run down on how much this has cost me ...

Dress                                   $199.00 - I know COMPLETE BARGAIN!!!!!
Shoes                                  $111.00 - on sale
Bag                                         34.95 - on sale
Jewelry                                $  39.95 - Already had some of it
Hair Accessory                    $  20.00
Underwear                           $  40.00
Hair Dye                              $    8.95
Hair Appointment                 $  75.00
Car Hire                               $  52.00

Total                                    $580.85

I haven't included any makeup costs in this because the only real thing I bought specifically for my Formal was my Estee Lauder Foundation but I probably would have bought it eventually anyway.

I never set out to find things on 'Sale' or anything like that, I went to find something that I really liked. Formal shopping can  add up very quickly, even when you get things that are on sale it still gets expensive! I was very lucky to find my dress, we were prepared to pay more than that when we set out but we didn't have to. A few of the other girls in my year also said they ended up going with dresses that were much cheaper than they originally planned because 'they like them', and isn't that what it's all about in the end :)

When you plan your Formal it makes sense to spread the costs out so you don't have to pay for everything in one go.  If you start looking for your dress at least 3-4 months before the day then you will have time to find all your accessories etc and pay for them gradually. It's also nice to know you have your outfit ready and you can relax a little in that last week.

I guess my real luxury items were my shoes and getting my hair done on the day.

Makeup:

This week I cleaned all my makeup brushes, I had a little breakout last week which prompted me to do this :/

Nails:

Ok so this is still the one that is eluding me!! :( Maybe it's because I've never been allowed to paint my nails for school or anything that they are always the last to get attention.  So this week they are going to be pampered for sure, I don't have much on for school so there really is no excuse. Wish me luck!!! :)))

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Because I will be leaving for my Schoolies holiday very early Sunday morning, I will probably just post a picture of the final look on facebook and maybe on here before I leave for my Formal.  Once I come back from Schoolies I will put up a video.

School Formal 2011 - Two Week Countdown ...

With less than two weeks to go to my Formal I'm pleased to say I managed to cross a few things off my list from last week's post, YAY!!!

Dress:


As I said last week I have my dress already but I wanted to mention that if you do have your dress already or bought it months ago, it's a good idea to put it away where you can't see it all the time, I got my mum to look after mine so I didn't see it all the time, the reason for this is because after a while it may loose it's appeal because you see it a lot!  I've only seen mine about 3 times briefly since I got it home and will be trying it on this coming week with all my accessories etc just to make sure everything works! Then it will go away again until my Formal :) It may sound a strange thing to do but I don't want to fall 'out of love' with it.

Accessories:


This week I found the bracelets for my Formal, I already had two 'marilyn monroe' style bracelets which cost me about $20.00 but I wanted to add to them for a bit of variety and found a bundle of three that will work great, they are sparkly with gold accents, they cost $19.95.  I've decided to wear a pair of earrings I already had, they are a nice medium length large gems set in silver but they're not 'over the top' so they won't grab too much attention.

Shoes and Clutch:


After weeks of searching and trying shoes on I finally found a pair that will work well, Myer had some new stock in on Wednesday and luckily the pair I found are a great match.  They are 'Guess' brand, delicately glittered and very high!! :D ..... some walking practice will be in order before the big event :)  The shoes were initially $149.00 but they were on sale and I got them for $111.00 YAY!!

I also found my Clutch for the night, it's satin with sparkles down the centre which match with my 'marilyn monroe' bracelets nicely.  It's an 'Arabella' brand and the cost of the clutch was $34.95 down from $59.99 :) :)

Hair:


I've cut back on using heat on my hair as much as I can this week and using a 'Deep Conditioner' to keep it looking and feeling great.  I went to get my hair dye but they didn't have the right colour that I want so I will have to keep looking in different stores this coming week and find it, I really want it dyed by the end of the week :/

Nails:


Not much has been done to them as life keeps getting in the way and keeping me busy :/ I haven't broken any so that's a good thing :P

Skin:


I've drank a lot more water this past week and also more green tea.  I've had a little breakout on my chin which is a bit annoying but this is what happens sometimes so hopefully it will settle down again by Formal.

Tanning:


So I've decided to go 'natural' for Formal, after being burned last weekend and getting 'strap marks' I'm making an effort to apply lots of suncream and stay out of the sun as much as I can.  Wearing different styled tops when out walking will help too so that I don't get a definite line going where my tops are.

Makeup:


I've been practicing different methods of applying my foundation to get a 'flawless' finish this week.

Transport:


Our transport times were finally confirmed by the Company and everyone agrees on everything so that is good know.  There are about 14 of us travelling together to the Formal and we get the vehicle for one hour, should be good :D :D

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Lately I've noticed quite a bit more stress at school between friendships, with final testing coming up this week, formal arrangements to make, schoolies events to finalise and just generally finishing our education it's such a lot to think about but it's still important to take time out for ourselves in between everything else, no point in making yourself sick with worry and stress, I'm making sure I go for walks with my boyfriend and to socialise with my friends outside of school, it helps keep me relaxed and grounded which helps me to enjoy the end of my schooling :) :) :)  Remember to breathe!!!

School Formal 2011 - Three Week Countdown ...

My Year 12 School Formal is in three weeks time so to keep myself on track and maybe help a few others out there I thought I would do a 'Three Week Countdown' to the event :)  This is 'Week Three'

Dress:
I have my dress already picked out but if you don't, now is really the time to get that out of the way! When I picked mine I tried to wipe my mind of any 'pre-conceived' ideas and styles and just went for what was available.  Luckily for me the very first dress in the very first shop was IT!! :D I just loved it so there was no reason to keep looking, YAY!! I hope you find your perfect dress just as easy.

Accessories:
Picking accessories can be done at the same time as buying the dress but we all know that you don't always find what you're looking for.  I purchased some earrings, ring and bracelets but left the dress in the car when I did this and when I got home they just didn't look right with the gown :(

With three weeks to go and my mission is to try to find the perfect accessories for the night.  My dress is patterned and strapless so I'm going for some medium length dangly earrings, bracelet and ring and forgetting about a necklace as I want to draw attention to my face.  I can either go 'vintage' or 'semi-sparkly' with my dress and have about three colours that would work.  Luckily my dress has some extra long laces on it that reach the ground so I'm able to trim a sample of the end to pop in my handbag so I don't forget the colours when out shopping.  I also gave my date a sample this way for his suit/accessories.

Shoes and Clutch:
I still need to find the right shoes!!! This is probably the hardest job so far, I've looked at so many shoes in my area and none shout 'PERFECT' to me so I'm still looking and hoping for new stock.  I would really love to get them this week because that would give me time to 'play' in them around the house and break them in :)  I was also thinking a small clutch bag would be good on the night, one that will do the job but not draw a lot of attention as my dress is patterned so it's probably best to keep a clutch more simple. There's not a lot you need to take with you to Formal but here's a sampling of what to put in your clutch:

Lipstick/Lipgloss
Mirror
Powder
Eyeliner
Mobile Phone
Perfume
Small Camera

Hair:
I booked my hair appointment a couple of days ago, I thought it would be a nice treat and pamper session to have my hair done for the day.  I will be getting a trim this coming weekend to tidy it up and may be re-dyeing it 'darkest chocolate' so it doesn't look tired and dull. I haven't settled on the exact style yet but it will probably be an updo of some type :)

Nails:
Let's not forget about our nails!!! I tend to forget about these little things a lot but I'm making a real effort to have them looking nice for Formal.  I'll be keeping them well trimmed and filed and using my cuticle cream by Burts Bees to get them looking as nice as I can. I'm still deciding whether to get a new set of Gel Nails or not? I'll let you know :) Toe nails are just as important, if you're wearing a lovely pair of peep toes or sandals you want your toes looking cute so some pampering is recommended for toes too!!

Skin:
I've started to drink more water this week, the weather is warming up and I want my skin looking nice so water can be your best friend.  A once a week face mask should help out too.  Don't forget the skin on your shoulders, chest and back areas.  If you're wearing a strapless dress or even shoestring straps you're going to be showing off the skin in those areas so try a gentle exfoliating scrub on your back and shoulders once a week.  Don't use this on your chest as the skin here is quite gentle, a cleanser on this area would probably work better and don't forget your neck :)

Get someone to help you with your back and gently massage the scrub in for you.

Tanning:
To tan or not to tan??? Now may be the right time to think about your tan, if you want a fake self tan or spray tan and have never had one before at least you have three weeks to get it right, do not leave it for the week of the event!  For spray tans try to go to a quality salon, recommendations from friends are probably good for this one. Remember some self tanners can rub off in humidity (like sweating when you dance).

If you want a real tan, remember those tan lines!!!! They are not a good look in a strapless dress so be very careful not to get sun burned! :/

Makeup:
Start looking around for ideas for your makeup.  Book your makeup appointment now if you haven't already. I'm doing my own makeup for my formal as I feel comfortable about it and if you are too, start trying different looks now so that you know exactly what you want on the night, write down what you use in a book so that you don't forget and even take a photo up close so that you can look at it a couple of days later and see if you still like it and that it works well in photos.  Apparently a lot of the SPF foundations don't always turn out well on film/camera so test it out! :) :)

Transport:
By now hopefully you've arranged some sort of transport for the evening.  You will need a way of getting to the event and returning. There's a lot of ways you can arrive, helicopter :), motor cycle (watch that dress hahaha), Limo, Hummer, Carriage etc... Car hire can be a bit expensive if you go alone but if you book with a group of friends it will cut the costs down drastically and you can all arrive in style together, remember to allow and confirm time for photos before your formal if you want them.  Getting home or to an afterparty etc doesn't need to be as fancy, just be sure to have a safe and reliable ride to get you where you need to go and tell your parents or family exactly where you will be for safety's sake!!! You may want to change out of your formal clothes before partying on so they don't get ruined so arrange some extra clothes for this.

Ok, so this is like my 'Three Week's to Go' list of things to get organised, join me next week and see if I got them done and what still needs to be done!!!! :)

October Lust Have It and Beauty Boxes ...

October is almost over, where did it go????? So here's a quickie post on the October Lust Have It and Beauty Box (now known as Glossy Box) and what I like in them.

Lust Have It

This month we were treated to five products

1.  Genifique Youth Activator by Lancome x 2 Sample tubes

I'm trying out the 'Youth Activator' but it's not really a product I would buy just yet as I'm only young so I don't really think this is a product for me, may even give it to my mum.

2.  Cream Blush by Lime Lily Cosmetics, mine was in the colour 'Temptation'

I like this, the colour looks dark but once blended it works well and you can use it on your lips as well, bonus!!

3.  'Honey I washed the kids' soap by Lush

Love this!!  It smells so devine :D

4.  Collagen Orange Drink by Taut

This was a surprise to get in the box, I would never purchase this product myself but I guess some people would.  It's important to read instructions and contents before sampling things like this because you may be allergic.  This particular product contains 'shark cartilage' so anyone who has an allergic reaction to seafood should defs stay clear!

5.  The 'Resistance' Range by Kerastase x 6 sample sachets (2 of each)

These samples contained 2 each of 'Bain De Force Shampoo', Ciment Anti - Usure Treatment (Conditioner) and 'Ciment Thermique - Reconstructor Milk'.  It did take a bit to understand what the last two were exactly but that's no biggie.  Love these, especially the 'Reconstructor Milk' which I'm actually considering purchasing.

Beauty Box (now called Glossy Box)

Four samples were in this box along with a 'Beauty Treat'

1.  John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo and Conditioner

A good sized sample tube of each, I quite like the feel on these on my hair so there's no complaints here. There was also a $4.00 off voucher with any 'John Frieda' purchase from Priceline.

2.  Shiseido Sheer Matifying Compact Foundation

Firstly, this is just so CUTE!!! I love getting samples that look like this :D  Haven't really had a chance to trial it and it's not quite my colour so I'll let you know if I love it at a later stage. This also came with a complimentary 'make-over' voucher that can be redeemed from any Shiseido counter.

3.  Garnier Body Intensive - 7 Days x 2 sample sachets

A body lotion that's designed for dry skin, this product feels lovely on and does what it says.  No problems with this one :)

4.  Calvin Klein Frangrance - CK Shock for Her and for Him

We received two sample bottles of each, I can't say I was in love with these at all, unfortunately they are not my kind of scent but nice samples anyway.

Beauty Treat - Biotherm 'Aquasource Moisturiser'

This was a great sample size, I've been using this since I got it and am liking it a lot :D  This also came with a 'free sample' voucher redeemable from Myer which I will probably make use of next time I'm there :D

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So this month was pretty good for samples, there were only a couple of disappointments, mainly the orange drink and the youth activator (only because I'm young).  I will get both boxes again in November.

Beauty Box is now known as 'Glossy Box' which is an overseas sample box company so hopefully that experience will reflect in the contents of the Australian box, not that I've been disappointed yet.  So next month there will be no Beauty Box.

Bella Box also started up this month, I missed the first shipment of this one but will order the November box to see what it is like.

I Love This Box is another sample box starting in November so it should be an interesting month.

As I don't intend getting 4 boxes each month I will decide which of the first two boxes I intend to keep - Lust Have It or Beauty/Glossy Box.  I will then narrow my choices between 'Bella Box' and 'I Love This Box' over the following three months - sample city here I come hahaha!! :D

GIVEAWAY - Sigma Beauty ...

I'm having a Giveaway on my YouTube Channel :D

For a chance to win either:

Your choice of two of the Bare, Flare and Dare eyeshadow pallets
$50.00 Gift Voucher
$20.00 Gift Voucher

From Sigma Beauty, just check out the video and follow the instructions!!!

This Giveaway closes on 1st November, 2011 (Australian time) and you can enter once a day.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! :)

INAZ Cosmetics and How to use Loose Pigments

I was recently fortunate enough to receive a selection of INAZ Cosmetics eyeshadow pigments.  INAZ Cosmetics are known for their bold and vibrant colours and I must admit, I wasn't disappointed!! :D These pigments are beautiful to use and very pigmented :)

They have a beautiful array of colours to choose from both matte and shimmer and also sell blushes and primer. INAZ sell directly from their Facebook Page for the time being because they are still in the 'setting up' stages here in Australia.

Blush

Like any loose powders/pigments they can get a little messy but that's just the way things are, be patient and be careful and they work wonderfully.  There was a little 'scoop' enclosed with the package which I found helpful but I still would have preferred a 'sifter style' lid and there were some helpful instructions as well.

Yes you will need to use an eye primer with them as you do with any loose pigment/powder, INAZ do have a primer but I personally found this a little oily on my skin.

These pigments can be used with many mediums so you can have fun playing around with them for different purposes and to acheive different looks.  They are ideal for those that love bright colours and they are very reasonably priced.

INAZ AUSTRALIA SPRING PROMOTION...
10 grm pigment pots 3 for $45 (includes p&h)
20grm mineral blushes 2 for $50 (includes p&h)
2.5grm pigment pots 7 for $30 (includes p&h)


Check out their Facebook Page HERE 


Using Loose Pigments/Powders:
Pigments and Powders are not just for eyeshadows, they can be mixed with other mediums to make different things.  


Some mediums are Inglot's 'Duraline', MAC's 'Mixing Medium' or even make your own using one part glycerine to 3 parts water .... easy!!!


Here is a small list of things you can use them for.


Cream eyeshadow - mix with a drop or two of medium, mix with other colours to make an original colour
Eyeliner - mix with a drop of medium or even water to the right consistency
Blush - mix colours to make an original blush colour add a medium if youwant a cream base
Lipgloss - mix with a clear lipgloss or balm to make your own original colour
Hair Streaks - mix with hair wax and apply to your hair for a temporary effect
Mascara - mix with a clear mascara to make an original colour
Nailpolish - mix with a clear nail polish/varnish and shake really really well to make your own original colour
Tinted Moisturiser or Sunscreen - mix a bronze shade with your fav moisturiser or sun cream for a wonderful soft dewy look


So next time you grab for your pigments or powders, think of all the other possibilities you can use them for :)


I hope you found this post useful.