This week's haul (with cheap Maybelline!)

Just a few bits and pieces here and there...

Chemist Warehouse

Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick

Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick

Seeing as Chemist Warehouse has 50% off Maybelline until the 11th of May, I felt obliged to visit! I was actually planning on buying some more of the Vivids Color Sensational Lipsticks, but after swatching the testers I realised the colours were too out there for me! I have Hot Plum which is suuuper gorgeous, but the others would probably look garish on me. 

Maybelline Mascara 

(RRP $19.95, sale price $9.95)

I actually have another one of these mascaras lying around, waiting to be used, but I figured I'd stock up while they're cheap. Does that make me a hoarder?

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 'Sloane's Plum'

(RRP $13.95, sale price $11.69)

Apparently Rimmel is a little bit cheaper too. On Instagram, I saw swatches of a Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in a shade called Dark Night Waterl-oops (what a name!) and I was instantly in love. It was a deep plum, perfect for winter, and it kind of looked like MAC's Rebel, which I do not own but would like to! Much to my dismay, I don't think Australia has this shade, I couldn't see it anywhere, but this colour seems pretty close. Check out some pictures here. Now I just need an excuse/occasion to wear a vampy lip shade. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 'Pink Peony'

(RRP $16.95, sale price $8.48)

I was wearing a peachy coral coloured top the other day and was at a loss when I realised I didn't have a colour that matched! So obviously I've dealt with that problem; this shade is a frosty shimmery peachy-pink colour that hopefully I'll be able to wear quite a bit.

Powder Perfect polishes

Shadow Hunter

Elation

Widow's Walk

I also placed an order with Powder Perfect and bought some pretty polishes! This is the first order I've placed with them and I'm very pleased so far. The polishes are very affordable too, around the $10 mark. Thanks to Lou over at The Beauty Vine for sharing the love via Instagram! I love when I discover amazing new brands/products through my favourite social media platform. 

The week is not over yet - will it bring any more goodies? I wonder! 

What have you been hauling lately?

April 2014 Empties

Another month, another bunch of empties. I haven't got a lot this month, probably because the last few months have cleared the cupboards a bit...

Dove Original Roll-On Deodorant
Clearasil Vitamins & Extracts Daily Wash
Blistex Raspberry Lemonade Lip Balm
Maybelline Cherry Baby Lips
Swisspers Cotton Pads

Dove Deodorant
This is a must-have for me, it's one of the few deodorants that don't make me super itchy, probably because of them moisturising cream. Have repurchased!

Clearasil Wash
I enjoyed using this, it was my second tube and it was a great wash, but I definitely prefer the scrub. I'm currently giving one of the scrubs away so check out my post! I probably won't repurchase the wash because I'm using the scrub at the moment, but I might come back to it in the future.

Blistex
This is simultaneously the best and worst lip balm I've used. It smells absolutely delicious, like those raspberry lemonade iceblocks and actually tastes nice too...but it is not very moisturising and protecting. It only gives a thin layer which wears away quickly and leaves my lips feeling drier than in the beginning. The stick also began to crumble after a while...so I won't repurchase this.

Baby Lips
Love this lip balm. I've gone through a few tubes and have a few sitting in my drawer from when there are sales on and I can pick them up for under $2. I really do think these are great, but I know opinions are very divided!

Swisspers
Yep, repurchased. The do the job and they do it well. Although the are a tad bit more expensive, I think they are worth it...I bought Coles cotton pads one time and NEVER AGAIN. They were so flimsy and fluffed up so easily. Lesson learnt!

And that's it from me this month. What have you been using up lately?

Haircare essentials

I did a post a little while back on my skincare routine, so I thought I'd share my main hair care products...

Now I know it seems really obvious, but I'm not including my current shampoo or conditioner. I am not loyal to any particular brand/formula/etc so I'm happy to use anything. I'm currently using the RPR Hydrating Shampoo* and Conditioner* which I have reviewed previously, if you were interested :)

STYLING

TIGI Bed Head Spoil Me Defrizz Spray

NAK Aromas Argan Oil Spray*

TRESemme Heat Protection Spray

Dove Nourishing Oil Care

TIGI Bed Head Spoil Me

This stuff is awesome. I've had this same can since 2011 and theres still heaps left. I use this after styling to tame the frizzies at the top of my hair. It's a very light spray that won't cause too much build up. It's got a light citrus scent to it. Definitely one of my most used haircare products.

NAK Aromas Argan Oil Spray*

I've done a review on this if you'd like to have a read. I spray this through the lengths of my hair to add a bit of extra shine and tame frizzies. I love the cherry scent! It's very light weight and the oil spray concept is a great idea. Perfect to use when you're in a hurry.

TRESemme Heat Protection Spray

I use this prior to straightening my hair. I've been using this for about 5 years now as it's super affordable and have been through many bottles of it! I don't straighten my hair too much so my hair is generally in good condition. I normally spray a few pumps through the lengths of my hair and wait for it to dry. It smells really nice too, like apples. 

Dove Nourishing Oil

On days when my hair seems particularly dry/frizzy, I use this instead of the NAK spray, or just when I want some extra shine. It's not too greasy which I like and a little goes a long way - I've had this for a while and my bottle still looks full! I think it's only around $10 so this is another great budget buy. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for an affordable hair oil. 

TREATMENT

Herbal Essences, Honey I'm Strong Shampoo

Organic Coconut Oil

Osmo Berber Oil Mask

Herbal Essences Shampoo

I know I said I wouldn't include shampoos, but I use this one specifically after using coconut oil in my hair. Reason being is that it's so cheap that it doesn't matter if I use tons of it to get the oil out. I think it's a really good shampoo and it smells delicious!

Coconut Oil

If you've never heard of coconut oil being used as a hair mask, I'm sorry, but you must live under a rock. Since I started using this a few years ago, the number of hair products I've needed to use has halved. This is the best thing I've used as a hair mask and it's all natural which is even better. I use it probably once a week, massaging it into my scalp and lengths, leave for a few hours then wash out. It gives me shiny, soft and healthy hair. When I started using this, my hair was dull and crappy from hair dye/bleach abuse and this has really restored it back to its original healthy self. Occasionally, I'll add a dash of olive oil with the coconut oil and that makes my hair SUPER shiny. Although, I don't do it often because olive oil is a lot greasier and takes more effort to remove. This is another affordable product, about $10 a jar which lasts me a year. 

Osmo Berber Mask

Another long time product, this is so good! Smells like heaven (like deliciously sweet argan oil) and does an excellent job at adding shine to my hair and making it super soft. I actually bought this from feelunique.com on a whim, just because it was cheap and sounded nice. Such a good decision. The best part is that it's a quick treatment that you can use instead of conditioner and you'll get so much moisture from just that one minute of leaving it in your hair before rinsing it out. I swap this for conditioner every now and again. 

DRY SHAMPOO/REFRESHERS

Batiste Cherry Dry Shampoo*

TRESemme Fresh Start Refreshing Mist

Batiste Dry Shampoo*

How did I ever survive without dry shampoo? This is an absolute essential for taking third day oil out of my hair and is great for when you haven't got time to wash your hair. I've also reviewed this product if you would like more info. 

TRESemme Fresh Start Mist

I'm not sure this is still around, but anyways, its not a dry shampoo, but more of a pleasant smelling spray to make your hair smell nice...no one will know you haven't washed your hair in days ;) 

So those are my main products, I do have plenty more floating around in my cupboard, but they don't get  used very often! Maybe I should do another product rotation to try and empty out  my cupboards a bit.

Do you use any of these products?

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

FOTN: Easter Sunday

Hello lovely readers, I hope you all had a great Easter break! I had a pretty relaxing weekend which felt great after being so busy for so long. Easter Sunday was a low-key day for me, but I went on a double date that night...

As always, only colour products included...(I use the same eyeliner/mascara etc that it would be boring to include them each time!)

Sleek Blush in 'Sunrise'

Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator

MAC Lipstick in 'Sweetie'

A relatively simple look overall. The blush is one that I've had for ages, but don't use much. I've just realised it's perfect for winter, it comes out as a brown-toned red with a hint of berry in it (does that even make sense?). It's very pigmented so you need to go easy with it. I love Sleek blushes, and I'm thinking about ordering a couple more. As for the illuminator, you all know it's one of my faves. The MAC lippy is a pretty wearable pink that's perfect for any occasion. It's hard to explain, but it's such a nice lipstick because it's so simple but flattering.

I apologise for the blurry photo!

This is my go-to look for more simple evenings. Cheekbones done, liquid eyeliner and lipstick.

I've included this photo so you can sort of see how the highlight looks - subtle but it's there. I really like it!

Thanks for reading lovelies xx

Skincare with Clearasil

This time last year, I honestly did not care much about skincare at all. I did all the basics, but that was about it. But I've found that reading blogs and communicating with other bloggers has really expanded my interest in skincare. Over the past year, I've come across a lot of new and exciting products. I'm going to share one of the with you - it's the Clearasil Vitamins & Extracts Daily Scrub*. Now, I've been sent this product to trial before, but I love it so much that I'm doing another post on it. 

When I was in my teens, I did not think that much of Clearasil, but times have changed. Want to know more? Then keep reading!

This scrub is a tube of delicious smelling, green scrubby goodness. It's quite thick and paste like, with small exfoliant beads, so you only need a small amount the size of a 20c piece. The beads aren't overly abrasive, so its perfect for every day use. I use this religiously every morning as I find it great for deep cleansing, and it's a great way to wake me up. It doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry, but I always moisturise anyway. I've been using this for many months (as this is my second tube) and my skin has been looking clear. I can't really think of any negatives, except that with the oncoming cooler months, the paste-like formula might become a bit more difficult to squeeze out, as the mouthpiece is quite small. 

Does this sound interesting to you? Well, you're in luck (if you're an Australian resident)! I've been sent an extra tube, so I have one up for grabs. I'll leave this giveaway open until the 1st of May, 12am Sydney time. I'll contact the winner by email and wait 48 hours for a response before redrawing. Also please note, my final exams are less than 3 weeks away, so it may take me a week or two before I can send it out! Thanks and good luck :)

*product was provided for consideration and has been reviewed in accordance with my disclosure policy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Foundation Rotation

Do you ever find yourself neglecting certain products, because you have too many of them and you just never get around to using them? I'm like that with foundations. I have about six and several BB creams, so some sit around collecting dust. I've decided that I'm going to try and use each one for a period of several weeks, just so they actually get used. Here are my recent picks...

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

Rimmel Stay Matte

I've used this in a previous FOTD if you want to see how it wears. This foundation is great because its so cheap but still delivers full coverage. The texture is thick and mousse-like, but still blends really easily. Wear time is good, but I find it can rub off pretty easily. As for matte-ness, it seems to maintain oil control well but I don't really have oily skin...so I'm not the best person to ask. I wore this for about two weeks in a row, as I took it on a week long trip away and kept using it for a while after.

Arbonne Foundation*

I have reviewed this previously. I wore this foundation every day during my two week placement. It's medium coverage, very light on the skin and easy to blend. It also lasts all day without a primer. I can't really fault this foundation on its performance, it gives a slightly dewy finish that lasts all day for a fresh faced look. The only drawback is the price, its about $55AUD, from memory.  

Rimmel Match Perfection

I did not like this foundation initially. It's very watery and runny. It also smells like shampoo. But with time, I have found myself liking it. It's great for light coverage to even out skin tone and it also gives a slight glow. It covers some redness, but it won't hide blemishes. My skin is generally pretty good so it's fine to use, but for bad skin days, this wouldn't be enough. Without a primer, the lasting power of this is not great - I'd say about 4-5 hours later, its worn off. I've been wearing this all week and probably will for a little while. Again, this foundation is relatively cheap (I bought it on sale, 50% off for $9!!) so I'm happy with it.

I think this method of rotating foundations is a good way for me to use some of my less-used foundations. I'll probably switch to wearing some of my BB Creams (of which I have 5, 1 unopened though) so stay tuned! 

Do you try and rotate products too?

*product was provided for consideration and has been reviewed in accordance with my disclosure policy

FOTN: Holiday drinks

Happy Easter everyone! Hopefully you are all enjoying a few relaxing days off. I've got a week off uni (although many assignments to do...) but its nice to not have anything on! Last night I had a few drinks with a friend at the pub, here is what was on my face...

 Urban Decay Naked Palette

MAC Lipstick in 'Plumful'

Essence Metal Glam Highlighter in 'Gold Digger'

Elf Blush in 'Berry Merry'

Now seeing as every man and his dog knows what the Naked palette looks like, let me focus on the star performers of this FOTN...

Elf Blush in 'Berry Merry 

MAC Lipstick in 'Plumful'

Essence Metal Glam Highlighter in 'Gold Digger'

If you've seen my other FOTD/FOTN posts, you will have seen this blush before. It's such a gorgeous plum colour with golden sparkle. It's probably one of the cheapest but most used blushes in my collection. The MAC lipstick is a new addition to the collection and I know that this colour is adored by many in the blogging world. Initially I was like meh, but now I see why everyone loves it. It's a lovely deep plum colour that looks quite glossy and sheer, but can be built up. I suppose I mostly buy statement lip colours these days but this one is so pretty, without being in your face. I feel like I'll be wearing this one a lot! And finally, the Essence highlighter. This one is also a new purchase and actually my first Essence makeup product. It's safe to say I am extremely pleased with this. It looked like a dupe of the Balm's Mary-Lou Luminizer so I had to get it. I used a powder brush to gently pick up some powder and sweeped it across my cheekbones - it gives such a gorgeous glow! For more info about this gem, check out Basmah's post on her fave highlighters.

I feel like the flash has washed out some of the colours a bit, but you get the idea. I hate that it gets dark so early now, taking pics at night is difficult!

No flash - you can see the true colour of the lippy a bit better. On my lids, I've used smog from the Naked palette as an all over lid colour.

And finally...

The perfume of the night - I adore this perfume and wear it all the time! 

Thanks for reading! I hope you all have a lovely Easter weekend :) xx

Rainy Day

Finally, a day off after not having any days off for weeks! I had a pretty cruisey day of doing some uni work and also a bit of shopping.

On the face:

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

Sleek Blush in 'Rose Gold'

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 'Demure'

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner

Here's a FOTD with minimal makeup - yep, what I look like on a daily basis. 

Oh and I was wearing a new jumper today!

I think I should have gone a size smaller (but the last time I did that with Asos, it was a little TOO small). Hmm. I do enjoy buying clothes off Asos though. 

BUY ME

I rarely go outside without a spritz of perfume. This was today's pick. I loove this one, and the bottle is super pretty. 

So I did do a spot of shopping, this was the only beauty related item though...

Go home box, you're drunk

I'm determined to fade the mark left behind on my face from the spider bite. It's not that noticeable in pics but it's pretty evident in real life. I've been using a scar solution called Dermatix for 2 months and haven't really noticed much of a difference - maybe because its more suited to raised scars, whereas this scar is just discolouration. Has anyone used Bio Oil before? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

So that's it from me today. I apologise that the photos are not the best, it was horribly dark and rainy outside which makes it hard to take good photos.

Take care xx

Bioderma vs Garnier Micellar Water

It's the question of the month - is the Garnier Micellar Water as effective as the dearly beloved Bioderma? I previously did a post on the Garnier water and was so impressed by it that I bought a mini Bioderma to take on a week-long trip away.

To be honest, there is little difference between them.  They both have a very slight smell and exactly the same water-like consistency. I mean, if I were none the wiser, I'd think someone had just filled up a bottle of water at the tap.

Lets have a look at some pictures to see how they compare...

So, first I am going to try a couple of products that come off easily - blush, tinted lipbalm and BB cream. I'll compare how well each one removes the products.

SWATCHED

Sleek Blush in 'Sunrise'

Maybelline Colour Whisper in 'Lust for Blush'

Rimmel BB Cream

On the left hand side, I have used one swipe of the Garnier micellar water. Everything looks like it has been removed pretty well.

On the right hand side, I have used Bioderma (and left a little section in the middle to separate the two). Again, everything has been wiped down well! So they both effectively remove these types of products without much tugging, one swipe seems sufficient. 

Now let's move on to some more stubborn products...

SWATCHED

Maybelline Unstoppable Crayon Eyeliner

Face of Australia Liquid Liner

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in 'Lovesick'

MAC Lipstick in 'Girl About Town'

Again, on the left I have used one swipe of the Garnier water. Does a decent job with the lip products, not too great with the eye products though. It does require a bit of work to get eyeliner off I find. 

On the right, I have used one swipe of Bioderma. You can probably see it performs better than the Garnier water....the liquid liner has been removed a lot better, as have the lippies. 

With a little bit more wiping, you can manage to get everything off with the Garnier water. So while it appears that the Bioderma is slightly more efficient at removing longer-wearing products, you can still remove everything completely with the Garnier water too. The end result is the same, it just takes a bit more time to get there! 

So in conclusion...they are both very effective. The Garnier one is much cheaper and works pretty much just as well, but if you're devoted to Bioderma then by all means, stick with it. I think I'll definitely repurchase the Garnier one when I run out. 

What are your thoughts on these micellar waters?

This week's haul

I have been quite good with spending lately I think...being so busy means no time to spend money. Anyway, on my lunch break the other day, I popped into Big W...

Big W buys

Some of the jewellery was priced to clear. Now, I am actually quite lacking in the jewellery/accessory department...I have a lot of fancy stone jewellery (not bragging, just explaining a point) that my dad buys me when he goes overseas for work, which is great, but I generally don't have many occasions where I can actually get away with wearing it. So on a day to day basis, I'm usually very plain. Why not buy a few things that I can wear on casual days? I'm wearing the purple studs today and they're soo cute! Also the Lipsmackers kit was a total nostalgia buy. I used these exact flavours when I was young and adored them. I love strawberry lip balm!

And I also placed an order with Pretty Serious Cosmetics! Their indie nail polishes look stunning. I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of the polishes themselves, by the time I got home on Friday it was 5pm so I was lucky enough to snap this picture. No doubt you'll see pictures when I use the polishes! The box at the top is actually a loose eyeshadow, its a deep brown chocolate colour. It only cost me $2 (on sale) for 5g so it's an excellent price. Again, you'll probably encounter it in a post in the future.

And those are my little purchases from the week! What goodies have you been buying lately?

Benefit Do The Bright Thing Review

I often lust over Benefit products, but I don't actually own much at all. In fact, other than the samples of the mascara I've acquired through various beauty boxes etc, the only thing I've purchased is the Girl Meets Pearl highlighter. I would love to try more but the prices really put me off. So when I saw the 'Do The Bright Thing!' kit on Strawberry Net for $22 I had to snap it up. This deal is over now but I wanted to share with you a stand out product in this kit...

It's about the size of a small paperback book. So cute and portable!

Contents:

That Gal Brightening Face Primer

Dandelion Blush

High Beam Illuminator

Bad Gal Waterproof Eyeliner

They're Real Mascara

To be honest, 95% of the reason I bought this was for High Beam. While it's only the mini size, I don't think it's possible to ever finish up an illuminator so it doesn't really matter to me. The mascara is also a plus because I use it a lot, in most of my FOTD/FOTN posts actually! 

 So cute!

Swatches

Primer

Dandelion blush

High Beam

I haven't actually used the primer yet and I'm not totally sure how to use it. I'm wondering if it might leave me looking a bit pale. As for the blush, it shows up on me as a faint natural glow which can be built up. I feel it may not show up on darker skin tones. It swatches beautifully and feels silky so it can be built up without going chalky. And High Beam...OMG so pretty!! The applicator is a little unusual (nail polish brush) so I dab some onto my finger before applying. It is absolutely stunning.

Swatches in sunlight

How pretty does High Beam look in the light? I'm so in love!!

Overall I am quite glad I bought this kit. It's a great way for me to try out some Benefit products. While I may not use all of them, I'm very pleased with some of the items (can you guess which one is my fave?) so I will enjoy this! Next on my list to try is a Benefit boxed blush...maybe Rockateur...I'll have to keep an eye out for any sales!

Thanks for reading xx

FOTD: Engagement party

So on the weekend I attended another engagement party. Everyone is getting engaged these days it seems! I must be at that age...eek. Anyway, I had very limited time to get ready because I had to work and the party started at lunchtime so I was pretty rushed.

MUA Undressed palette

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

Rimmel Apocalips in 'Solstice'

Elf Studio Blush in 'Berry Merry'

Sadly, because I was so hurried I didn't really get to take many decent photos on my camera. I took a few selfies on my phone in the car, one of which I posted on Instagram (but I cheated, because I put a filter on it). Here is what my face looked like:

My skin isn't looking too good right now (plus you can see the remnants of the spider bite), who would  have thought that doing 50 hour weeks would make you look crap?! Anyway, I was happy with how my eyes turned out - I used the 6th shade, the gold one on my lids. I opted for a fairly neutral lip colour because it was only a daytime event so going bright would  have been a bit overkill.

Hope you're all well xx

ps - if i'm absent for a while it means I'm struggling to post while dealing with my hectic schedule. Bear with me!

Ulta3 Lip Paints Review

Have you heard about these? No? I hadn't either, until I saw a post over at Lady Sapphire's blog about these little babies and I was head over heels! I think these are limited edition so that's an extra reason to need these. 

L-R

Expressive Fuschia

Manic Mauve

Radical Red

There are a few other shades in the collection (a bright pink, purple and orange) but these were the ones that appealed to me. At $5.95 each, it's hard to say no! They remind me of the Australis pout paints and similar products. Upon opening, they reveal a doe foot applicator which is actually quite small. I find this makes application pretty easy. There is an noticeable minty smell/taste at first, not dissimilar to the Revlon balm stains but it disappears after 10 minutes. All three are super pigmented with one swipe. They leave a glossy finish which doesn't really set, so it does transfer, but it eventually fades to a stain which lasts quite a while.

If I had to compare these to a product, I would say they are very similar to Rimmel's Apocalips in terms of amazing pigmentation, finish and longevity.

 Top to bottom

Radical Red

Expressive Fuschia

Manic Mauve

L-R

Manic Mauve

Expressive Fuschia

Radical Red

I have only swiped each of these once - how great is the pigmentation! Out of the three, Manic Mauve is definitely the most wearable - I find it to be a bit more neutral-pink toned on my lips. I actually have not worn the red one out yet (I need a red lipstick occasion) but it does seem pretty blue based and vibrant. 

If you're like me and can't resist bright lippies, I'd suggest you check these out :)

Notable Mani's of March 2014

I have had such a busy month that I haven't been doing many cool things with my nails. As I type this, my nails are sporting shellac from the Epic Nail Shellac Kit - I went away for a week and didn't want to have to worry about chipping. For the next few weeks, I'm on placement for uni + still working weekends so that leaves not much time for my nails :( anyway, I do have a few pictures...

I ordered a couple of Emily de Molly polishes...they are the bomb! I am totally in love with the glittery green one (although it is super hard to remove) and the holo is pretty cool too.

Emily de Molly polishes

Folklore

Moment of Impact

I saw this on Pinterest and had to give it a go! It would have been perfect for Valentine's Day. I got so many compliments on this which was awesome because it was such a simple design.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear 'Lust for Blush'

Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine in 'Lustrous'

Jordana Polish in 'Fascinated with Red'

And that's it for the month. I'm sorry it wasn't as exciting as previous months but life is getting in the way! Thanks for reading xx