The Winner of the wonderful World Cup Giveaway from Romwe.com was ...
kingabojanska @ hotmail . com
Congratulations!!! :D
Also, just a quick note to let you all know that Romwehas a sale on right now with savings up to 75%, also if your order is over $60, you can get extra 15% off til 31st July.
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
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.
Hair
extensions are wonderful accessories for us girls, they can give you that extra
bit of confidence on that special night out knowing your hair looks fuller and
longer. They can make that simple braid/plait look like something very
special!!!
Last year I
was sent a set of hair extensions that I did a little review on and that I wore
quite a lot, of course over the summer months it’s a little impractical to wear
extra hair as it’s so hot and humid where I live but now that the cooler
weather is here again I’m loving extensions.
I was recently
asked if I wanted to try out some ‘salon’ extensions that were only available
through hairdressing salons and were top quality and it got me to thinking what
is the difference in clip in extensions???
So I’m going
to be talking about a few different sets of extensions and telling you the
difference in price, weight and quality that I personally found and hopefully
if you’re looking to buy some yourself it may be of some help.
These sets are
all advertised as being 100% human Remy hair. The main points to consider when
buying extensions online is the length of the hair and also the weight,
obviously 90grams of hair is going to be almost half the weight of the 160gram
sets. The pieces are not going to be anywhere near as thick as the heavier sets.
You should decide
whether you want the extensions for length or fullness, and decide on what
colour closely matches your own hair if you want a seamless look. If you are
wanting to dye your extensions then always try to buy a shade lighter than what
you want. It’s much easier to dye hair darker than lighter.
When
something is advertised as Remy hair it just means it is the ‘highest quality’
human hair whether it’s from brazil, india, china or wherever, it’s the highest
grade for that hair. You can easily
curl, straighten, dye, braid and style remy human hair just like the hair on
your head. The hair is a full cuticle hair that all runs in the same direction
(from cuticle to tip).
Having a
sturdy clip on your extensions is very good, you don’t want those clips flipping
the wrong way or being too obvious on your head so the colour of the clip is
important too, try to get them to match the colour of the hair extensions.
Clips should be securely sewn on on at least three sides. Sometimes after many
uses these stitches can come undone and it is a simple thing to sew them on
again.
When you
hear the word ‘weft’ being thrown around, think of the 'weft' as being a curtain of hair sewn together at the top so when weft is referred to it means is how many layers of
hair are on the extension piece (not to be confused with how many clips are on the piece). A double weft would be two layers of hair, a
quad weft would be four layers. Be sure if the extensions are more than one
weft that they are not positioned directly on top of each other which would
make a thick band. They should ideally be placed above each other in a ‘step’
pattern which would make the band thicker but flatter against your head.
22" clip in extensions in #4 (medium reddish brown) they cost approx $110 last year but I think they sell for $99 now.
These
extensions have been through a lot of use, they’ve been styled in lots of ways,
washed numerous times and even dyed and they still look pretty good. I never
actually liked the clips on these ones as they are silver and not attached very
well and now that I’ve seen different types of banding I don’t really like this
banding either. You should check with
the website to see if they have changed their clips. These extensions are a ‘double
weft’ extension sewn directly on top of each other which means they have a bit
of a ridge when they are on.
15” clip in
extensions in colour #2 – 90grams - $49.95 (on sale) – they come packaged in
plastic bag
These were
quite a surprise when I received them, they are much smaller than what I
expected and very light, the ends seam to look a little ‘scruffy’ too. To be
honest I’m not sure why you would really want such a lightweight set, I know if
you have fine hair a lighter set is required than normal but these just seem a
little too thin to me although if you are someone with very fine and short hair
they may work very well. These are ‘single weft’ extensions.
10 pieces - 18”
Delux clip in extensions in ‘Melted Chocolate’ – 160grams - $165.99 – packaged
in plastic
I was quite
happy with this set, the larger piece is really nice and full, it’s called a
‘quad weft’, I can wear this piece just by itself and it makes quite a
difference. You can also purchase this piece alone for $55.99 which is a pretty
good idea. The band and clips on the larger piece are sturdy and strong with the wefts sewn in a stepped pattern and the
hair itself styles up beautifully. The smaller pieces have a smaller and less
sturdy band and are ‘double weft’ pieces sewn directly on top of each other. I have noticed that a couple of the clips have come unstitched in places already so I will have to restitch them.
Hairvenly
Extensions (Australian site so if you’re in Australia the postage would be much
quicker)
10 piece - 20”
Delux clip in extensions in ‘Dark Brown’ – 160grams - $159.00 – come packaged
in plastic
This is a
beautiful set of extensions, all pieces are solidly constructed and all have a
wide band, secure clips with silicon and with plenty of hair on each piece. I’ve worn these
quite a bit and they have styled up perfectly and have performed very well.
Hairvenly Extensions also has a YouTube channel which demonstrates how to care
for your extensions along with some great style ideas - HERE. These extensions are
also ‘double weft’ extensions sewn in the stepped pattern.
7 piece - 20”
luxury ‘ultimate volume’ clip in extensions - $425.00 – colour matched to your
hair
Available
from salons only – packaged in silk organza bag inside a thick cardboard
cylinder.
This set is
the first set I’ve owned of ‘salon quality’, I wasn’t really sure if there
would be much of a difference between this set and the last two sets I showed
you but even when I first opened them the quality and thickness in this set was
obvious. From the packaging to the actual performance and feel of these
extensions (they actually feel like satin) there really is a sense of luxury.
This set is also cut with a more blunt end rather than a natural layered end
which is great for those that want that look or want fullness right to the end
(which is great for braiding too) and because they are only available from
salons you could easily get them cut to suit your style while you’re in the
salon. All the pieces have a sturdy band and well placed clips with silicone
strips for extra girp. If you are someone who wants to wear extensions on a
long term basis it would be worthwhile to invest in something like these. You
can also get sets suitable for fine hair which are 5 piece sets. These
extensions are advertised as being ‘ethically’ obtained (so no poor Russian prisoner
had to give up their hair against their will!!) and they are ‘double drawn’
which means all the hair strands are the same length all the way down and they have been
thoroughly checked twice.
********************************
So overall,
are the salon extensions really worth the approximate $200.00 more than the
online extensions? Well they certainly are beautiful and seem to be of a
excellent quality and if you can afford to pay for that luxury then I say go
for it, if on the other hand you are a teenager with limited funds, I can quite
happily recommend the extensions from ‘My Fantasy Hair’ and ‘Hairvenly
Extensions’.
Putting in
extensions is quite easy once you’ve had a little practice and there are
hundreds of ‘how to’s’ on youtube to show you how, heck I even have a simple
one myself – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDH_QuaUxaM&feature=plcp :D
MyFantasyHair has a great slideshow that shows you where to place the pieces - http://www.myfantasyhair.com/Style_Guide.php Remember, you don’t need to
wear every piece in the set, I quite often just wear one or two of the larger
pieces, one parallel to the top of my ears and the other just above. The size of your head will also determine how many pieces are best for
you to wear.
Caring for
hair extensions is pretty easy, you need to remember that extensions do not
produce oil like your normal hair so they will dry out quicker. Simply giving
them plenty of loving care, especially when you wash them will keep them
looking healthy. Always apply a heat protector when you’re styling them with
anything heat related. Deep condition the ends occasionally too with argon/moroccan
oil or something similar.
It’s not
necessary to wash your extensions after every use, because they don’t have
natural oils they don’t actually collect as much dirt and dust but of course if
you use a lot of products in them they will need washing when you think they
need it. Normally after about 4 wears is
a good time to wash. When you wash them, use a gently shampoo for dry hair and
then condition them with a conditioner (leaving the conditioner on for about
5-10 minutes before rinsing) you can then use a deep conditioner if you like. Don’t vigorously scrunch the hair when
washing, just gently massage the shampoo in and then rinse out.
It’s always
better to let your extensions air dry rather than using a hair dryer, you can
lay them on a clean towel to dry but I prefer to hang mine over the towel rail
over night. Using wide tooth combs and brushes or special loop brushes on them
is best but not when they are wet and you should NEVER sleep or swim in your
extensions. It’s best to store them in a clean dry place, I store mine in boxes
so they stay clean and out of the dust, some people like to hang them up.
So I hope
this post was of some use to you, here's my video :)
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!! Winner has been contacted
Thank you to everyone who entered this Giveaway :)
I'm so excited to be bringing you all another Giveaway from Romwe.com :) I really love this store and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone there :)
Once again this month one lucky winner will win $80.00 to spend at Romwe and not only that but they will also receive a pair of sunglasses too!!! The winner will get one of the four sunnies in the picture above, YAY!!!! and if you hadn't noticed, the sunnies I'm wearing in those photos are also from Romwe :D hehehe
So here's what you need to do to be in the running to win this fabulous prize, just head on over to Romwe and register then come back here and leave me a comment below and let me know your email address that you registered with at Romwe :) easy!! If you've registered at Romwe before then half the work is already done for you, haha
Good luck everyone :D
For those who want to do a little shopping right now, I have some discount codes for you ....
Coupon Code: RomweMotherDay1 - save $10 on purchase over $60 Coupon Code: RomweMotherDay2 - save $15 on purchase over $90 Coupon Code: RomweMotherDay3 - save $25 on purchase over $120
*Coupon codes can be used once with one order*
This giveaway ends 20th May, 2012.
Oh, and before I forget, I just want to mention that the clothes sell pretty quickly over there so if you see something you really love don't hesitate for too long because it may not be there a day or so later :/ I know this from experience!!! Some things may get restocked at a later date but not everything will, The lovely blue dress I wore in my Get Ready With Me #4 video sold out quite quickly and I only got it a couple of weeks ago o___O
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.
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.
*** 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 :/
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 :/
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.
** Thank you to everyone who entered this Giveaway, I will be drawing the winner and announcing it on my Blog in the next day or two) :)
Have you heard of a place called Romwe.com? If you haven't heard of them and you love fashion then you need to go take a little look.
Romwe are a fashion forward boutique who have been around for a couple of years and in that time have come from being a simple little vintage shop to a platform for high street fashion. Their turnover is very quick, if you see something you like you need to grab it because things move very fast on this site. Another great thing you'll find there is the free shipping WORLDWIDE!!
So, as a lot of you may know I'm in the midst of a 'love bubble' right now, completely and blissfully floating through life .... ahhhh :D So when Romwe suggested having a Giveaway to celebrate 'White Day' I was over the moon ...... and then once again on google looking up what White Day actually means? hahaha
I love it, apparently White Day is a day held exactly one month after Valentines Day in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Traditionally on Valentines the ladies give romantic gifts to their boyfriends but also gift their male co-workers sweet treats of chocolate. One month afterwards the boyfriends and males who received gifts for Valentines should (in good manners) return the favour and give gifts to the ladies <3 <3 <3
I never knew of this tradition but I love it, apparently it was originally called 'Marshmallow Day' hehehe which brings to mind the song by IU called 'Marshmallow" See it here (that's friggin adorable) :D
Anyway, back to the Giveaway and how to enter :)
One lucky follower of mine will win a beautiful accessory from Romwe together with an $80.00 gift certificate!!! I bet everyone loves White Day now <3 Oh, and it is International :D
All you have to do is register on the Romwe site and then leave me a comment on this post together with your email address (the same one you used to register at Romwe :D), now don't forget to come back and leave a comment because you can spend ages looking through all the gorgeous fashions they have, trust me, I know :P
The giveaway will close on 20th March, 2012 and one lucky winner will be picked at random :)
But the goodness doesn't stop there, Romwe also made some great coupon codes that you can use right now!!
Coupon code: WhiteValentineDay1 $15 off on Purchase over $60
Coupon code: WhiteValentineDay2 $25 off on Purchase over $90
Coupon code: WhiteValentineDay3 $35 off on Purchase over $120
(Coupon codes finish on 15th March, 2012)
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 :)
This is just a little update on what's happening over at Sigma Beauty, Sigma has been hard at work updating their line of brushes etc. Their best selling Professional brush kit with it's 15 brushes now comes in a 'delux carrying case' rather than the brush roll it used to come in. This was something that was requested by many people when Sigma brought out their 'Extravaganza' range before Christmas ... thanks Sigma :)
This brush kit sells for $149.00 (including the case)
Kit holds 15 brushes securely
Smart looking new case :)
Another item Sigma has added to recently is their Cleansing and Polishing tool, originally it came with three different brush attachments, soft, medium and hard for exfoliating and polishing your skin. You can now buy three more attachments to compliment the kit that are designed to 'create the ultimate spa experience'. There is an extra soft brush, massager and a pumice stone which is great for your rough spots :) The full new kit is call 'Spa Solutions'.
I love my butterfly wall, it's dreamy and fun and adds that little something to an otherwise normal room I guess. It was also really really easy to do.
For Christmas I was given an iron wall art piece from Target, it was pretty but I couldn't figure out a way to make it work by itself, it just needed something extra? I tried handing it different ways but it still didn't look 'great'. Then the idea of butterflies came, inspired by a photo on the net from Gossip Girl (no, I don't watch this show) I really liked the look and feel of it although that one is done in metal and designed by the Artist 'Paul Villinski', I wasn't going to go cutting beer cans open in the name of my wall art, hehehe I wanted mine to look different as well because I wanted to incorporate the iron flower wall art.
So, by hanging the iron wall art from the top corner of my wall (thanks dad!! :)) I could work out a way to do the butterflies, I already had my fairy lights hanging so using this as a bit of a guide helped with the direction of the butterflies. I roughly sketched a quick design on paper and then found a butterfly outline I liked online (just google butterfly templates). By copy and pasting the butterfly into a word document I could re-size it how I wanted. My aim was to have three different sized butterflies with the biggest being no more than 10cm across.
Once I had my butterflies printed out and cut out then came the job of cutting them out of cardboard, depending how many '3D' butterflies you want, start with 5 of each size (you can always cut more later). I chose a very dark purple cardboard (like my curtains) and a patterened creamy/brown cardboard (it was double sided) and black cardboard for them. My sister Jessica helped with the cutting out, you will have to trace the different sized butterflies onto the cardboard sheets. My cardboard came from my mum's craft stash but you can get it from any scrapbooking shop, you will need the heavy card, not the large poster card.
cut out butterflies
Ok, butterflies all cut out :) Grab one of your butterflies and a lead pencil and, with your rough sketch close by, start tracing around the butterflies. REMEMBER the more random you place them the better they will look, butterflies are never flying around in an even group, they are always 'scattered' so resist the urge to space them evenly hehehehe every so often take a few steps back and have a look at your design, it looks nice to have a few overlapped occasionally. It's a good idea to have more butterflies at the centre (focal point) of your design and then less butterflies as they fly away, almost like they are 'taking off'. Be sure to mix up the sizes of your butterflies too.
rough sketch
draw butterfly on wall using cutout as a template
After you've traced all your butterflies, and you're happy with your design, it's time to paint. I chose black craft paint because my iron wall art was black, any colour will work it's up to you. It's a good idea to start at the upper left of your whole design if you are right handed and if you are left handed you should start at the upper right corner. This will prevent you dragging your arm over the wet butterflies as you work :) With a small paint brush, paint the edge of the butterfly first and then fill it in, this may look a little rough to start with but don't worry, you will be giving it a second coat of paint so you can fix up any little bits then. Once the first coat is dry, go over all the butterflies again.
a small paint brush
carefully paint edges first
fill in first coat of paint
once dry, add second coat of paint
Remember, if the weather is really hot the paint will dry quickly, even on your brush!!! hahaha Be sure the paint is not too runny because you don't want your butterflies 'running' :(
Butterflies all dry? Now it's time to add some dimension, this step is completely up to you, you may want to leave it with just the painted butterflies but because I had the iron wall art I wanted some balance.
With a good double sided tape cut very thin to fit on the body of the butterfly, randomly place your cardboard butterflies throughout your art work, keep stepping back to have a look and when you're happy, STOP!!! You don't have to use them all :) Keep the left over butterflies and tape in a safe place so you can use them at a later date if you want to.
strong double sided tape
cut tape to fit back of butterfly's body, bend butterfly
store left overs safely :)
I hope this 'how to' was of some help and I hope your art work turns out beautifully!!!
This year I’m really starting to take more of an interest in fashion and styling so when I was asked to try out some clothes from ‘Goodnight Macaroon’ I was pretty excited :)
Crochet/Lace Shorts and Top from Goodnight Macaroon
‘Goodnight Macaroon’ is a fairly new ‘E-Boutique’ that is inspired by celebrity, blogger and street fashion trends. They cater for the budget conscious through to the seasoned spender and have a fairly regular turnover of new clothes.
What did I get?
I was able to choose some garments of my liking from the store which was quite easy to navigate.
Sweetheart Dress – I chose this dress in lilac and in a small size and can honestly say it is exactly as the online picture shows it. It’s very soft and flowing and is a nice fit. The only problem I had with this dress is that the shoulder straps were too long for me but that can happen when you purchase clothes that come in small, medium and large. It’s no big deal to take the straps up a little. All the seams were finished properly and met up and the gathering was even, the buttons were all fixed on securely.
This dress comes with a detachable collar piece which is a cute addition but I think I would have preferred it to be attached on the inside of the dress rather than the outside. I love the colour and think this dress is very pretty and easy to wear :)
Crochet Lace Shorts(high waisted) – I’ve seen these in pictures and was curious about them so thought they would be a fun addition to my wardrobe, I chose black because I’m just not too good with white bottoms, haha :D When I first put them on I wasn’t too sure if I liked them that much :/ but after about half hour wearing them I really liked them, it’s good to try new looks out :D I like how you can dress these shorts up with heels and not look ‘trampy’ and that they look just as good styled casually with flats! :)
Again, the shorts were true to the photo on the site, they fit nicely and would also fit the sizes stated in the description which is sizes 6 to 12 (although I think a 12 would be a tight fit). The seams were finished properly and straight and the elastic waist was made well.
Silky Satin Oversized Tee – I was pretty pleased with this when it arrived because I was half expecting to find loose threads and crooked seams because of the type of fabric it’s made from but apart from a slightly crooked overlocking seam on the inside (which does not affect the outside at all) it was really well finished. The colour on the site said ‘white’ but to me it is more a ‘winter white/cream’ colour. This top is made to be big and is a ‘one size’ garment but honestly I don’t think you would get the same effect on a size 12 figure as you would on a smaller size, I think it may hug a little too much at the hip. I will probably wear this top a lot because it will go with so many other things in my wardrobe, it’s loose and comfy and will dress up a pair of jeans instantly :)
Goognight Macaroon seems to cater more for sizes 6 – 12, you should always check the size charts when shopping online and don’t just presume that sizes will be the same for every country, if you still don’t know if something will fit you then contact the store and ask. The customer service was friendly and helpful and the postage took about a week and is $7.99 for regular post to Australia and $35 for express.
* I have noticed on their site that they are advertising FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE so maybe check this out if you place an order :)
There have been a few changes to the store over the past few months which make it more attractive and easier to look around so I think with time there will be more features and a greater selection of clothes to choose from.
You can see how I styled the shorts and top in my Video HERE and visit Goodnight Macaroon HERE :)
Goodnight Macaroon are offering 10% off discount code : Enter "CM10" at check out to redeem the discount
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.
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.
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 Creambut 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)
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