Some Travel Essentials

Last week, I went away for a couple of nights on a uni trip. It was all expenses paid which was even better! We had a coach the whole time and drove to various spots in the country. First stop was Tamworth, where we spent 2 days/nights and then 2 days/nights in Taree. I had a great time and learnt a lot of useful things. We also hit the pubs which was awesome. Anyway, here are a few things that I took along that were immensely useful...

 Mini sizes!

Hooray for sample sizes. The Pelactiv cleanser and Uriage Moisturiser are from Lust Have It boxes. The Pantene samples were from Pinch Me. And if you saw my review of the Garnier Micellar water, you'll know that I absolutely loved it. But it is a huge bottle, so I decided to splurge on a mini Bioderma. Best decision ever. Would anyone be interested in a Bioderma vs Garnier comparison?

Clinique Long Last Lipstick in 'Pink Moon'

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

MAC Powder Blush in 'Feeling'

I packed very light when it came to makeup. Other than essentials (mascara, eyeliner, concealer), these are the other bits I threw in. The foundation is excellent as it provides full coverage, but the main reason I took it was because it's a very light tube and it's made of plastic. Having a glass bottle of foundation smash in my suitcase would be a disaster. The blush is kind of a boring colour in pan, but it's very versatile and natural. It matched all my outfits which was good. And the lipstick is a pretty fuschia-pink which isn't super bright, but pretty enough to add some colour without going overboard. I only wore this at night time (I used it in a previous FOTD - check it out here). 

And those are the more interesting things that were packed in my suitcase. Do you prefer to take sample sizes for short trips away?

March 2014 Empties

I'm baaack! Let's have a look at my empties...

 Palmolive Rich Moisture Milk & Honey Shower Milk

Sally Hansen Nail Polish Remover

Wella SP Repair Mask

Clearasil Vitamin & Extracts Scrub

Palmolive Shower Milk

This is awesome! It smells so deliciously creamy and is pretty moisturising too. It says that you get 100+ washes out of this and I definitely agree. Great value for money. I'd like to repurchase it in the future.

SH Polish Remover

Does this surprise anyone??

Wella SP Mask

This is really good and smells insanely beautiful, but I feel like I can get similar results from cheaper hair masks. This isn't empty, but I've had it for over 2 years and the consistency has gone a little weird. Not repurchasing, because I have lots of other hair masks and they perform just as well at a cheaper price.

Clearasil Scrub

This scrub is really great and I've enjoyed using it. I would consider repurchasing maybe, but there is so many other skincare brands I want to try!

Wotnot Facial Wipes

Carmex Lip Balm

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Show Off Mascara

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Wotnot Wipes

This is a sample from Lust Have It, quite some time ago. They are pretty good wipes. Everyone raves about them, but to be honest, I don't use wipes a lot (mainly for when I am away from home) so I'm indifferent to the brand I use.

Carmex

I did like this initially, but then decided it was no good. It feels like a film that just sits on your lips, rather than actually absorbing and doing something. The menthol cooling effect is nice, but I know prolonged use of menthol does more harm than good to your lips by drying them out. Wouldn't repurchase.

Rimmel Mascara

BLEH this is so crap. It does practically nothing, and after a few hours it smudges and sits under your eyes. I'm glad I didn't pay for this (it came in a GWP box) because this is just awful. Needless to say, I am not repurchasing.

Seche Vite

You know the drill.

And those are my empties of the month! What have you been using up?

Quick update

Hi guys, sorry to disappoint but this isn't actually a proper post - just wanted to let you know that I'll be away in Tamworth/Taree for the week, basically it's a uni trip but hopefully we'll manage to sneak in some pub nights! I hope to resume my normal blogging schedule on the weekend.

Thanks lovelies! xx

FOTN: Friday night face

Friday night yaayy! Wait, no. When you are a poor Master's student, there are no 'yay' nights. My schedule is uni Monday - Friday, then work Saturday and Sunday. So when I have evening plans, I either wear very little makeup because I'm so over life, or I wear lots of random stuff because I'm over life and need a pick me up. Last night, I put in a tad bit more effort.

 Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette

Revlon Colorstay Foundation

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

MAC Girl About Town Lipstick

Sleek Blush by 3 in 'Sweet Cheeks

I'm not too happy that this new Colorstay that I bought has higher SPF in it and therefore makes me look a bit pale! Check out my post about it here. Although, I am still pretty happy with the coverage. For the eyes, I used the definer shade from the Wet n Wild palette in the crease and the crease shade over the lid - it actually looked pretty nice for a simple two shade look. But having hooded eyes makes it disappear anyway! I wanted something to stand out in this look, so why not go for a bold lippy - my fave, Girl About Town! I totally freaking adore this colour as you might already know. 

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend! Take care xx

Favourite Illuminators Tag

I rarely do favourites posts. I love a lot of things in my collection so I find it hard to pick a few solid favourites. I've seen this tag floating around on Instagram so  here is my take on it...

Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Illuminator in 'Angel Blush'

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator

Two of these, the FOA and NBN one probably won't surprise you at all if you've read some of my older posts. While I haven't reached for my FOA illuminators in some time (I have all 4!), Angel Blush was my first illuminator love because it's such a flattering, gorgeous colour. This was the illuminator that got me hooked!

I have a mini sized version of the Benefit illuminator (because I don't think I can ever finish a full sized bottle in my life). It's definitely a pearly shade, with hints of pink and gold. This one is what I chuck in my bag if I'm going away or even just for touch ups.

I've raved about the NBN illuminator before so I won't repeat myself (you can read my review here) but this is really pretty and I am super glad I found it!

Swatches (same order as products behind)

And those are my three faves. What illuminators are you loving at the moment?

Feel free to do this post if it interests you :)

RPR Haircare Review

RPR Hair Care is an Australian salon hair range that prides itself on using ingredients of high quality to produce amazing results. I was offered to trial some of their products and I was excited to try out a new brand. I have become a bit lazier with my hair as it gets longer and as my life gets busier, so it's nice to try out new things...

My Hydrating Shampoo*

My Hydrating Conditioner*

Both the shampoo and conditioner contain almond milk to nourish dry hair. My hair is naturally dry because it is thick and wavy, also I have neglected to get a trim for a while because I've been so busy. 

The bottles are quite attractive and sleek looking. I like that they have a push down lid because I always find flip top lids snap off. So I think the packaging is great! The only downfall is that the bottles do look quite the same, I do prefer shampoo & conditioner bottles to have minor differences, just so its easier to tell which is which. But this is just personal preference.

The shampoo is a clear yellow gel like formula that lathers up really easily. It has a mild soap smell which isn't over powering but is pleasant. It cleanses really well, without being at all stripping and drying.

Now I think the true hero is the conditioner. It is a thick white conditioner that smells divine - just like creamy almonds! I apply it through the lengths of my hair and leave for a few minutes. After washing out, my hair feels incredibly silky and at first I thought there was still conditioner left in it because it felt way too smooth to be true! After my hair was dry, it was shiny and soft. My waves also looked less frizzy and more defined than normal.

Repair My Hair Keratin Mask*

This is a hair mask, again suited towards dry hair. It is intended for use on damp hair, for about 10 minutes and then follow with conditioner. I actually left it in for about an hour before I washed it out, and I didn't follow with conditioner, because I wanted to see how this product worked on it's own specifically. It has a similar texture and consistency to the conditioner, but the smell is different. Aloe and coconut is an interesting combination, but I feel like it smells a bit more coconutty! I was pretty happy with the results after washing it out and I think this will make a great weekly treat for my hair.

Overall I'm very impressed with this range by RPR haircare. If you've got dry hair like me, I think these products are definitely worth giving a try!

*products were provided for consideration and have been reviewed in accordance with my disclosure policy

FOTN: Date Night

I was in Sydney for the weekend, here is what Saturday night looked like...

 Elf blush in Berry Merry

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in 'Hot Plum'

Models Prefer Shadow Pencil in 'Pop the Bubbly'

(eyeliner + mascara not included)

The lipstick is sooo pretty! I have been lusting after MAC's Flat Out Fabulous but I don't really like the retro matte formulas...this is a pretty similar colour (I'm not going to say its a dupe when I really can't compare) and it is like happiness in a tube. It's a hot pink meets plum colour. Really good staying power too. The choice of foundation is basically because I didn't want to be travelling with a glass bottle due to weight + breakage would be disastrous. It's not something I use very often, but using it for this FOTN made me realise that it has fantastic coverage and is a dream to work with! As for the eyeshadow pencil, I picked it up in my recent Priceline haul. It's very creamy and easy to apply and lasts quite well too. The colour is gorgeous. And the blush, it's something I've had for a while but it's definitely an old favourite.

Overall I think this combination is pretty good and I was definitely happy with everything I used.

Thanks for reading xx

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Review

It's water. But it has mysterious magical powers? How can it be?

So this product is hyped up at the moment. I was not totally happy with my current makeup removers so I thought I would try it out. Plus, I don't own Bioderma and if this is supposedly a dupe, then yay for me.

The bottle is actually really big. Unfortunately mine has a broken lid but I can deal. It really is just like water, it feels like it when you use it and it has no scent at all. I'm finding that it is super effective for removing makeup, even mascara and eyeliner, although it does require a bit more effort. This is perfect for the lazy gal that doesn't want to have to use several different things to get makeup off. It really is an all in 1 product.

Now, I can't say whether it compares to Bioderma, but I am sure as hell impressed by this.

Let's look at how it performs...

So I have swatched lipgloss, blush, eyeshadow and liquid liner (top to bottom) and on the right hand side, I've used a cotton pad with a small amount of the water to wipe it away. I only did one swipe and you can see it's removed quite well.

But what about if I try some longer wearing products?

Here we have MAC's Ruby Woo lipstick and MAC's Girl About Town lipstick. Both last forever on the lips. Again, only one swipe and a decent amount comes off. With a bit more wiping, it all comes off eventually. Pretty awesome I'd say!

Overall I am super happy with this product. If you want a more affordable option than Bioderma, check this one out!

Have you tried this product?

Priceline Sale Haul

Yep so Priceline had 40% off cosmetics today and yesterday...I actually was pretty restrained, mostly because the shop was so packed and I wanted to get out quickly.

Sally Hansen Nail Polish Remover

Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 106

Sally Hansen Gem Crush in 'Lady Luck'

Models Prefer Eyeshadow Pencil in 'Pop the Bubbly'

Sally Hansen Nail Polish remover (RRP $5.45, sale price: $3.27)

This was the main reason for me going. I picked up the last two bottles. Gotta be stocked up at all times.

Rimmel Lipstick (RRP $12.95, sale price: $7.77)

I simply couldn't leave without picking up a lipstick. There were a lot of really gorgeous Rimmel colours I wanted to try, but the stands had been ravaged so there wasn't much left. 106 is a gorgeous raspberry colour and I can't wait to give it a go.

Sally Hansen Gem Crush (RRP $9.95, sale price: $5.97)

It's not a Priceline haul unless I buy nail polish. I absolutely adore the Gem Crush range, so why not add to my growing collection!

Models Prefer Shadow Pencil (RRP $9.99, sale price: $5.99)

I actually bought one of these last week, but haven't used it. I swatched it, but there wasn't any of this shade left, which was a shame because I loved the colour. I am glad it was in stock this time because I got it for a great price!

And that is my fairly modest haul. Did you pick anything up from the sale?

FOTN feat. Sleek

Here is a FOTN post from a casual BBQ on the weekend...I had a pretty rushed day with work and other things so I didn't have much time to get ready, so my hair is a bit afro-like!

 Sleek i-Divine Vintage Romance Palette

Rimmel Apocalips in 'Solstice'

Rimmel Scandaleyes Show Off Mascara

Sleek Blush in 'Rose Gold'

Yep, still sans foundation for now. I haven't included things like eyeliners because I use the same things in every FOTD/FOTN post so I don't want to repeat myself too much! The palette has great pigmentation but I rarely reach for it, I think its probably a bit too pink/purple toned for me! I used the third shade all over the lid because I was too rushed/lazy to do anything more fancy. As for the blush and the lipgloss, they are two of my solid go-to fave products. Now, the mascara is something that I have not been enjoying at all, but I only opened it two weeks ago so I have to keep using it a bit longer, otherwise its such a waste!

I wish that annoying scar would fade already!

A better look at the eyeshadow

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! Thanks for reading xx

Wet n' Wild Comfort Zone palette

I know there are hundreds of reviews out there of this palette. I considered not reviewing it, but lately I've been using it a bit so I feel it deserves some love from me...

I bought this palette from Ebay a few months ago for about $15 (including postage). I was surprised to find that it was much bigger than I thought it would be, all the reviews I had seen made it look smaller. There are some gorgeous shades in this palette and I've been using the left side a bit lately...even though it doesn't look it! The colours are super pigmented so you don't need to use much product.

Excuse the slightly messy swatches!

The shades are gorgeously pigmented and creamy. There is a little bit of fall out but nothing too bad. They last really well with or without a primer (sometimes I forget/am in a rush) and I'm super impressed by the quality overall. The colours are right up  my alley too, especially the definer shade on the right. It's so unique and pretty.

I'd definitely recommend this palette to anyone who wants great quality shadows for a budget price, especially if you're a neutrals fan. Comfort Zone and I are destined to have a long and prosperous future together.

Do you have this palette? What are your thoughts about it? 

A trick of the light?

I repurchased a new bottle of Revlon Colorstay off Ebay because I wanted the old formula, not the new pump version. I ordered the same shade...is it just me or does it look different?!

The new one is on the right. I ordered it from a UK seller...the shade looks a bit different, or am I just being crazy? And the text doesn't quite line up. Also I noticed that my old Colorstay still smells the same as it first did (like paint!), whereas the new one has no smell.

So my question is: are there slight variations in each country? I honestly thought they would all be the exact same thing. Or maybe it has something to do with batch variations. Either way, I'm not so keen to throw out my old bottle now...

What do you guys think?

Priceline Haul

I can actually go hauling again now. Here is my haul from yesterday...

Face of Australia Carnivale Nail Polish in 'Between the Flags'

Models Prefer Shadow Pencil in 'Down to Earth'

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Maybelline Colossal Volum Express

Closer look at the polish and shadow pencil

Face of Australia Polish RRP $5.95
I have one of these textured polishes and I adore it. While I don't wear red very often, I think this might be nice to try out.

Models Prefer Shadow Pencil $9.99
I actually haven't tried anything by MP but I hear great reviews. So I thought I'd go for something that I don't have - eyeshadow in pencil form is completely new to me! The only other colour that was left was a nice champagne colour which I was initially drawn to, but I feel like this colour is more wearable on a daily basis.

Garnier Micellar Water RRP $11.99
This is the talk of the town at the moment. I picked it up as an afterthought as I was headed over to the counter, and when I got home I realised the lid was cracked pretty badly! I can't really be bothered getting it changed because I picked up the last one and the store I went to is out of my way. It is still usable though. From first impressions, it seems to be pretty good, but...it sort of just seems like water! Maybe it will grow on me a bit more with time.

Maybelline Mascara $19.95
Holy crapballs I've never spent so much on mascara in my life. I have heard really great things about this one so I guess I can splurge a little. I am excited to give it a go. I have a couple of mascaras lined up for 'night time wear', so this one will be my daytime one. The one I am currently using for daily wear is AWFUL! It does almost nothing and just smudges under my eyes after a few hours. It's the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Show Off mascara that I got in a GWP box. Glad I didn't pay for it!

And that is my haul for the week. Stay tuned, I think Priceline might have a sale coming up so keep an eye out for more hauls ;)

Have you tried any of these products?

Notable mani's of February 2014

Welcome to my second installment of mani's of the month. Catch up on January's post if you would like to :) If you are following me on Instagram then you need no introduction. If you're new here, basically I treat my nails like a canvas and I like to paint pretty things on them as much as possible :)

A zig zag mani, inspiration courtesy of Pinterest. I actually didn't like it very much because I felt the silver-grey dulled it down too much. Maybe if I had used a bright pink instead. Other than that, I'm happy with how the zig zags came out.

L-R

Australis Nail Colour in 'Aqua'

Australis Nail Colour in 'Peek-a-boo'

Ulta3 in 'Lily White'

Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine in 'Lustrous'

Revlon in 'Silver Screen'

A Valentine's Day mani! I have already done a post about this mani and how it was done, so to avoid repetition I won't say too much but feel free to check out the post :)

Again, something I saw on Pinterest. I absolutely adored this mani! The pale pink is such a pretty colour, and the stripes look really awesome too. 

L-R

Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine in 'Lustrous'

Revlon Colorstay in 'Sequin'

Ulta3 in 'Lily White'

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in 'First Blush'

No special nail art here, but this colour is the brighest pink I have ever seen. It is literally fluro highlighter pink. I got so many compliments while I was wearing it!

Ulta3 in 'Fruit Tingle'

Pinterest strikes again! I used a fine brush and a LOT of patience to do the design for this. Well worth it though. 

L-R

Face of Australia Carnival in 'Ferris Wheel'

Ulta3 'Lily White'

And that's it for the month! Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this post :) xx