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!!!

Loosing My Brushes!!!! Sedona Lace 'Vortex' Brush Review

I love my makeup brushes, I really do!! I waited a long time to get makeup brushes and now that I have them I really appreciate them, so you can imagine that loosing some of them is pretty tragic :(

Some of you may know that I’ve been doing a Makeup Course which means that I was travelling to Brisbane with my bag of makeup goodies, I have a lovely Zuca Bag which holds everything nicely enough but my problem was my brushes, the brush belt I had just wasn’t cutting it, I’d roll all my brushes up in it after doing my work but when I came to get them again next time some of them had fallen out and found new homes amongst all my other stuff or they were just missing :( urghhhh!!!! So frustrating >:(

This is when I set about looking at a few sites in search of something better to store my brushes in. I still needed a brush belt and I didn’t want to be moving them out of one thing and into another all the time.  I watched a couple of youtube videos to see what was around and then came across something that just might work :D

The ‘Makeup Artist Brush Belt with Zipper’ by Sedona Lace looked like it just might do the job!! YAY

Photo property of Sedona Lace

I have a couple of makeup pallets from Sedona Lace which I find great, I have the 28Neutral Pallet (which I love) and the 10 Blush Pallet and I’ve reviewed them both earlier last year so when I realized they had this handy little brush belt I was very happy :) 

I decided on the ‘Vortex Professional  Makeup Brushes with Brush Belt’ because like I said, I’m missing a few of my brushes and they needed to be replaced, also, it’s good to have a nice supply of brushes in my professional kit.

The complete set of brushes with brush belt sells for $79.95

The brush belt alone is $19.95

The brush set alone is $69.95

The zippered brush belt is amazing, it keeps all my brushes safely in one place while I’m travelling and nothing falls out, it’s faux leather (of course) and has a really good sized adjustable belt. The zip goes all around three sides and keeps your brushes safely inside. I would have like the belt to be about an inch bigger just because I do have a lot of brushes (like most makeup artists) and maybe he belt could have adjusted more to fit smaller people better.

The brushes themselves I’ve been trying out for a few weeks now, I actually removed all my other brushes from my bedroom so that I would only use the Sedona Lace brushes and see how well they really worked. You can see that I’ve been using them in my last few videos.

I must say I was very happy with their performance, I only had a problem with the eyebrow brush being a little scratchy. My favourite brush would have to be the angled/bent liner brush, it makes applying eyeliner so much easier.

These brushes have had very little to no shedding. It’s common for most makeup brushes to shed a little when they are new and maybe the odd hair or two during their lifespan so the shedding on these brushes  was nothing out of the ordinary.

The kit comes with four (4) face brushes, eight (8) eye brushes and a lip brush. You can purchase it with or without the brush belt and I do think that they are great value for the money.

Brushes included

Jumbo Fan – FB01 – Face Brush

Tulip Contour – FB03 – Face Brush

Dome Contour – FB05 – Face Brush

Flat Top Buffer – FB07 – Face Brush

Universal Blender – EB09 – Eye Brush

Flat Synthetic – EB11 – Eye Brush

Synthetic Blender – EB13 – Eye Brush

Pointed Crease – EB15 – Eye Brush

Brow Spoolie Duo – EB17 – Eye Brush

Bent Liner – EB19 – Eye Brush

Detailed Shader – EB21 – Eye Brush

Angled Detail – EB23 – Eye Brush

Capped Lip Brush – LB25 – Lip Brush

Please remember that these are called ‘Professional’ brushes for a reason, they are not your basic brushes, this is not a kit you would probably buy for your first brush set but rather an ‘add-on’ brush set to complete your range of brushes.

The packaging was very secure, they arrived in a well padded box with the brushes in a nice organza bag. They also come with a pamphlet which explains what each brush is used for.

Here’s atutorial where I’m using all the brushes from the kit, there’s also a Giveaway to some lucky viewer for the ‘Vortex Professional Brush Kit with Zippered BrushBelt’ in this video which closes on 3rd August, 2012.

Konjac 100% Natural Sponges - Review

As a teenager I've always got the odd spot or two on my face but after I started my makeup course I noticed that I was breaking out a little more than normal. I was applying and removing makeup from my face a lot more than what I usually would and I think that my skin was getting aggrevated from all the attention. I stopped wearing makeup in the mornings because I knew I would only have to remove it and more products would be applied to my face once I was at the Academy and then I'd have to remove that before heading home again, there's something about wearing zombie makeup in public that doesn't go down too well these days :/  I was cleaning my skin in the evenings like I always have but I was still breaking out!!!

So when I was asked if I would like to try out the Konjac Sponges from KUUKonjac.com I thought they might be interesting to try.


Within the first week of using a Konjac Sponge to clean my skin I noticed a difference to my face, it was clearing up a little and I had not broken out again either :D Over the next couple of weeks I've noticed a nice improvement in my skin and I've had heaps of products on my face with Assessments for my course, not just makeup but adhesives, latex etc so my skin has been through quite a lot but has not suffered as much as it was previously, YAY!!!

   

        

So what is a Konjac Sponge? Let me enlighten you a little :)

Konjac is a fibrous jelly like food made from a type of Southeast Asian root vegetable called 'Konnyaku', this jelly is then mixed with calcium hydroxide (lime) to make the sponge, Konjac has been used by the Japanese as a beauty treatment for over a century.

The sponges are very soft once wet and are all handmade. They are suitable for all ages and skin types and are great for babies. They are 100% natural, have no preservatives, colours or additives and are biodegradable.

They are said to stimulate blood circulation, cleanse, sooth and encourage new skin cell growth.

Ok so how do you use them?  Easy, just rinse the sponge and massage it until it absorbs the water, in a circular motion start cleaning your face with the rounded side. You can use it alone or add a little of your favourite cleanser. Once you've finished just rinse the sponge out a few times and gently squeeze any excess water out (do not wring) and then hang it up somewhere to dry. The sponge gets hard once it's completely dry so all you have to do is rinse it and start again the next day.

You can sterilise the sponge if it gets dirty by either boiling it for about 4 mins or putting it in the microwave. The sponge is supposed to last 2-3 months and once it's old you can just throw it in the compost or the garden.

There are four different sponges in store:

KUU Konjac Pure - suitable for all skin types - $7.95
KUU Konjac with French Red Clay - suitable for mature, dry or delicate skin types - $8.95
KUU Konjac with French Green Clay - suitable for oily to normal skin types - $8.95
KUU Konjac Baby - suitable for children and adults, square in shape for easy holding - $8.95

After using the sponge for a few weeks now I can honestly say I'm very happy with the results, my skin is still not blemish free yet but it hasn't had nearly as many nasty breakouts either so to me that's a giant plus and I will keep on using them!!! :D I would recommend these sponges to anyone who enjoys natural products on their face and for anyone looking for a good cleansing routine, especially if you have sensitive skin, remember you can use the sponge by itself so it makes them pretty economical too  :)

Luxurious Locks with Sebastian Professional

I'm such a sucker for hair care products and I can't seem to get enough of them, I love trying new potions and lotions and when they work really really well I'm in love with them :D

After trying out the Sebastian Professional 'Potion 9 Lite' and 'Volupt Spray' for a little while now I thought I'd write a post about what I think.

They both come in nice sleek, clean looking packaging which are easy enough to use, the 'Potion 9 Lite' in a white spray bottle with a small cap and the 'Volupt Spray' in a black spray bottle with a large cap, so they are easy enough to grab and not get confused. These two products are meant to add 'volume' and shine to your hair.

The Potion 9 Lite is designed for fine to medium hair, I fall in the medium category so it was right for me. This product is meant to be a styling potion and conditioner in one and to be used before blow drying your hair, you can use it all over your hair and you can also gently mist your hair with it any time just to add a little bit of a boost.

I found that this Potion worked well for me, it did what it was supposed to do but I wasn't exactly 'wowed' by it, but my hair did feel nice and soft and shiny after using it.

The 'Volupt Spray' is designed to make your hair soft while adding lots of volume, you just spray it on your dampened hair and work it through to the ends before blowdrying it as you normally would, the key is to make sure you 'shake' that bottle well to activate the special two part formula inside, allowing the product to work properly.

I found that my hair was lovely and soft and very shiny and that my waves were enhanced but not overly 'volumised' as I was hoping for, I had images of huge '80's' hair but ended up with 'inspired 80's' hair : ) hehe  Overall I'm happy with this product but not overly impressed with the results.

Luminess Airbrush System - Review

I first received the Luminess Air System back in 2011, I was contacted by the store and asked if I would like to try it out and maybe do a review if I wanted, I initially agreed but then after a little thought sent an email and said I would prefer not to receive the product because this was not a product that was easily accessible to teenage girls, not something that they would purchase and use everyday!! I was told the kit was already on it's way.

Professional Airbrush System Priced at $309.95

When it arrived I was quite happy to try it out, in fact I was like a kid in a candy store, it really was so much fun to play with, I actually loved it and found it very easy to use but I still didn't feel right reviewing it because it is an expensive product and I don't like to just 'review' stuff on my channel. You see, I want to be a makeup artist so to me an Airbrush System is great, but to a someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on makeup it's not something they are going to be interested in ............. so that's why this review and 'how to' has taken so long to do.

Ok, my explanation out of the way .... hehehe :)
What are my thoughts on this system?

I do like this system but I cannot compare it to another system because this is the only one I've used. I did have to buy a 'converter' for the plug because Australia has a different electric plug to the us and other countries. The system itself is the 'Professional System' which has three different air flow speeds and came with four foundations, primer, blush, bronzer and glow/highlighter plus a water bottle. It comes with a instructional DVD and booklet (which wasn't really that helpful). I also received an eyeshadow pack to trial. When I received it, everything was packaged inside a large box and the compressor and nozzle were enclosed in a shiny silver pouch. My compressor is white but I think they have changed the colours now and perhaps their packaging.

I found the system very easy to use with a little practice, the range of foundation colours included was great if you are wanting to do other's makeup but if it's just for personal use I think you should have a choice of what foundations you receive.

The primer and highlighter work very well and I have no complaints, I actually love the highlighter they have.

The eyeshadow kits are another story, I have used them a few times and although they do look quite nice once appllied I find they crease very easily, now I'm not sure if it's the way I'm doing it or just the product so I'm not comfortable demonstrating it right now.

The blush is lovely but you really don't need to apply a lot, I applied more in my video than necessary just so it came up on camera but I would usually only use one drop very lightly.

I do wish they had a wider range of colours available for 'makeup/body art', now I think that would be really cool and would open up their market a lot more, also the tube leading from the compressor to the pen does slip off a bit now, this didn't happen when I first received it and is probably the only problem I've had with the system.

The nozzle is easy to keep clean with water sprayed through it and once you're finished you can gently wipe any excess out of the little funnel.

Available from Luminess Air - http://www.luminessair.com/

*** Please note, when I received this product the electrical plug was an American fitting so I had to purchase an adaptor for it to work. This may or may not have changed since then so if you are considering purchasing this or any system from overseas, please be sure to check.

Sorry about the blurry photo, something has happened to my camers lens :/

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 :/

GIVEAWAY (closed) - Cute Fashion Jewellery - Gofavor.com - Review

I have to admit I'd never heard of this store before so when I went to have a look around I was totally shocked at the prices they ask for their jewellery! Just looking around the site took for ever because they have a HUGE selection of necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and hair accessories.

Ok, I wasn't overly thrilled with the hair accessories so I stuck to the jewellry items. I do find that there are some things that I wouldn't buy, but there were also many pieces that I really liked, in fact probably too many, hahaha :D

You need to keep in mind that some things are not made to last a lifetime and that some things are made for a 'season', these jewellery pieces are just that, made for a season, they are fun costume pieces that are cheap and easy to buy which is excellent for young girls.

Ok, so what did I get?

I chose five items from the store, one necklace, two rings and two pairs of earrings.
Necklace - 'Charming Black Beads Choker' and cost $7.99
I do like the look of this necklace, it fits nicely and has some weight to it but it's not too heavy. There are a row of rhinestones along the chain which dresses it up a bit.  The only problem I found with this necklace is that the gaps between the balls are a little uneven in a couple of places (not that noticeable), if you are OCD then this is not a good choice for you :D but if you don't mind a tiny imperfection then it's fine.

Rings
Vintage Flying Loveheart Band - $2.79
I like this ring and have had a few compliments on it already. It fits me really well and I have very tiny fingers and it's in that nice coppery colour.
Elegant Leaf Ring - $1.99
This is a design that caught my eye on tumblr, there are a few pictures going around with this ring so when I saw it on the site I grabbed it, and at only $1.99 why wouldn't I, I chose it in silver. This ring fits me very well and is comfortable to wear.
A note to take into account with the rings, I did notice that the sizes were quite small so be sure to check this if you are ordering :)

Earrings
Vintage Coppery Cross Drop Earrings -$3.99
These are very cute, they are light, casual and easy to wear, they are a nice size without being too big. The coppery finish is very 'in' right now too.
Celebrity Inspired Large Hoops with Rhinestones - $4.99
hahaha well these satisfied the 'girly girl' in me :D They are big and sparkly but they are not heavy at all. I have tiny ears so anything heavy drags them down and gives my lobes a weird look. I think these will be lots of fun on a night out.

The packaging was fairly simple, jewellry was in small plastic bags wrapped in bubble wrap (lots) and then more bubble wrap on top, this may be a problem if you order something very delicate as it may get bent if it's pushed down too hard, this was all in a small cardboard box. If you spend over $15.00 you get free shipping and for me it took two days to arrive in Australia !!! Gotta love that :D

THE GIVEAWAY (International) - Now Closed

Thank you to everyone who entered this little giveaway, winner will be announced and contacted within the next two days :D

So I have a little Giveaway, for anyone who would like to win the following three items, they are brand new and have not been opened :)

'Charming Black Beads Choker'
Vintage Coppery Cross Drop Earrings
Elegant Leaf Ring

just follow me on my blog and leave me a comment below together with your email so that I can get in touch with you if you win.

Winner will be announced in one week :D  Good Luck!!!

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

Remington Smart Sensor with Keratin Therapy Hair Straightener - Review

As some of you may know, I try not to use too much heat on my hair and I’ve had my faithful old hair straightener for about three and a half years now, it’s looking a bit worse for wear but it was still doing the job it was supposed to do for a ‘low end’ straightener. Well, I am now the proud owner of the ‘Smart Sensor with Keratin Therapy’ hair straightener by Remington. This is part of the new range from Remington due for release in March, 2012.

The new range is made up of

Smart Sensor with Keratin Therapy Hair Straightener

Keratin Therapy Tong

Keratin Therapy Dryer

Apparently all these Keratin products are meant to ‘reinstate shine, vibrance and health’ into our hair through the keratin infused plates! Wow :D I wasn’t really sure what this meant so I set about finding out :)

So, the hair is made up of dead cells along with the nails, skin and teeth, and keratin is a natural protein that serves as a protective coating to these cells. These cells are melded together and appear at different rates of toughness in different parts of the body like nails and teeth are much stronger than skin and hair but they all come from the same type of cells and it’s important to keep them strong and healthy to help protect the new cells under the skin.

The Smart Sensor with Keratin Therapy Hair Straightener has plates that are infused with Keratin and once the straightener heats up, the keratin is transferred to the hair and locked in. The keratin is said to last the lifetime of the straightener as well.

Not only does the straightener have ‘Keratin’ but it also has a smart sensor that will ‘sense’ the dryness level of your hair and adjust the heat accordingly. So if your hair is very dry on the ends, the heat setting will drop when you get to that area so that it doesn’t ‘fry’ your hair any more and which should help to prevent even more brittle ends that we all hate to see!! :) it will also re-adjust when it senses healthier hair again :) You could say it’s a little like a ‘body guard’ for your hair :D

This is a ‘professional’ grade straightener which means the heat settings are very high, you need to be careful to use the correct heat setting for your type of hair like you would with any heating tool.

Guidelines for heat and hair types

Very fine, fragile damaged hair – 300 – 340 deg F

Normal, easy to straighten hair – 375 deg F

Thick, difficult to straighten hair – 410 – 450 deg F

Features

·         Keratin infused ceramic plates

·         Heat sensor

·         Digital control

·         It has a swivel cord which makes styling that much easier

·         230 deg C, 450 deg F (highest heat)

·         Turbo boost to highest heat

·         30 second instant heat

·         ‘Safety Shut Off’ that will shut the straightener off after one hour of inactivity, I really like this :)

·         Hinge lock for easy storage

My thoughts :)

Well I think this straightener works very well, it does a lovely job of straightening and leaves the hair feeling silky soft and very shiny, you can also use it for curling your hair like you can any other straightener :) There is no smell or odour when using it and it is easy to use. The straightener is a shiny tan/beige colour on the top and matte black on the under side.

It's recommended retail price is $103.95 in Australia which isn't exactly the cheapest straightener around but also far from being the most expensive, it's a 'smart' product so that's what you're paying for.

Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope someone finds this post useful.

A Jewellery Review - cutey.co.uk

Dress or costume jewelry is so much fun, you don't really have to spend a fortune on it so you can enjoy more pieces to accessorise your outfits. 


Charm bracelets have been around for a long time now, they come in all different styles and range dramatically in prices, from the super cheap $2.00 flimsy variety to the expensive 'pandora' type. 

Cutey.co.uk sell the cutest style charm bracelets at their online store, they are very well made with what I call a 'snake' style chain. The beads are spaced with lovely little charms and spacers and the clasp itself looks like part of the bead/charm collection when the beads are next to it. The bracelets are a good weight without being too heavy and come in a nice range of styles and colours. They make a great addition to the current look of layering different styles of bracelets and bangles together but unfortunately only come in silver at the moment, I think other metals would be nice too.


They are generally priced between 10 - 20 pounds which is approximately $15 - $32 Aus, a reasonable price to pay for a charm bracelet and they have free shipping within the UK. These bracelets are also true to the photos on the site.


As a little comparison, my grandparents bought me a charm bracelet a couple of years ago from a resort they stayed at in Cairns, they were cute little hand painted beaded ones on silver chains, as you can see the clasp isn't that attractive or as strong and the variety just isn't there. That been said, I still love it because my grandparents gave it to me :)

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 :)

K-Gravel Texture Clay - Review

Photo property of AdoreBeauty

So my boyfriend was playing around with the idea of getting ‘dreads’ for something a little different and I suggested that I give him some ‘fake dreads’ first so he can get an idea of what they might look like :)

I've had the 'K-Gravel Texture Clay' for a few weeks now and have been wanting to try it on someone, my brothers both had their hair cut so my plans for them went out the window!! hahaha :/ So when Tom mentioned the dreadlocks to me I thought I could use the Clay.

I asked him to come walking with 'not so clean hair' and I set about styling his locks. I got about a finger nail amount in my palm and warmed it up so it was easier to work with, I then gathered up small sections of hair (around 2cm) at a time and worked the clay into it. I then twisted the hair from the scalp to the ends and then lightly teased it upwards to give it that ‘dreadie’ look ....... and it didn't work :( hahahha :D

I found the Texture Clay did not work well for this look, yes wax would do the job much better, I'm not sure if it was because of his hair being too short or it's just not 'that' sort of styling clay hahahaha however, I did set about styling it for him in a different way, I found it gave body and texture to his hair and did what it was 'meant' to do.

Please be aware that I am not a hairdresser and have never really had any experience styling boys hair hehehe :P So this is the front of his head and yes I think I may have used a bit too much product but that was from trying to do the dreadies earlier!!! hahaha

The clay is a good styler and does hold to the hair well with the inclusion of ‘pumice’ and it is easy to wash out at the end of the day (or rinse in the park heheheh :P). The smell is noticeable but not offensive. 

You can purchase this product in two sizes, either 25g for $12.95 or 100g for $31.95 from ‘adorebeauty.com’, it may also be available from selected hair salons in Australia.

I have a video on fake dreads on my own hair using different products that you can see HERE if you're interested.

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 :)