Thursday 31 May 2012

Bioré Release Steam Activated Cleanser


I've been using the Bioré Release Steam Activated Cleanser every day for a few days now, and I'm in love with it! If you know me, you know I'm in love with scrubs and cleansers, and my shower is full of them!

This cleanser is really thick and creamy, and the smell is so beautiful! Every time I use it, I can smell the gorgeous green tea scent and I am taken away to another world! What I really like about this one is that it doesn't lather up too much and isn't overly soapy, like some cleansers can be. It's soft and creamy instead, it almost feels as though you're putting moisturiser on your face!

Once you massage it into your skin, you begin to feel a pleasant tingle, which to me always means - it's working! Usually I use soap and then a cleanser, but I've been using the cleanser by itself and it has made such a difference to my skin! It removes all the excess oil (and there is a lot of excess!) but keeps my skin smooth and supple!

Afterwards, it made me feel unbelievably clean! No tightness that dry skin usually gets after a good cleanse, but no oily residue which can sometimes be left behind by soapy products. Just clean and fresh! I've been using this in my shower every night and it's so relaxing, but doesn't make me sleepy (that's what my night serum is for!) which is a great thing if you're using it in the morning instead.

I would definitely repurchase this beauty, and at $10.99, it's a pretty fair price. You only need one pump to get enough product, so this will last me a long time! So far so good, I'm really pleased with the results, and I'm looking forward to clear and clean skin!

Have you tried this cleanser before?

This product was provided to me for consideration. :)

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Wednesday 30 May 2012

Swisspers Nail Polish Remover Pads



After a suggestion from my friend, I decided to give the Swisspers Nail Polish Remover Pads a go! She really wants to try them, but she wants a review first! So she came to me! Aw, I'm touched!

I picked up this box from my local Coles for $4.99. I took it home, opened the box, and guess what - empty. That's right. For those of you who read my blog, you'll know I've had a similar experience with an Ulta3 nail polish, which led to me receiving three gorgeous colours from the lovely people over at the Heat Group. I must be cursed! I took it back to the store and received a replacement (even though they were so suspicious. But hey, I would be too) and brought it home to try it! 
I did tell Swisspers, but unfortunately no response. I fear it may have been a thief in the store rather than a Swisspers problem though.



Silly me realised the box was a lot heavier with an actual pot inside, I just somehow thought the pads would be in the box. Not sure what I was thinking there! At first I thought 36 sounded like a bit of a rip off, but when I opened the pot, I realised 36 was actually a lot! They were all stacked up, soaking, waiting to be used! They smelt like the usual nail polish remover, not too strong. I was happy they were acetone free, too!


This is one of the pads. Good sized, very wet! A little bit tricky to use with your hands, as it makes your hands wet. They say no mess - which I guess is good if you're a spiller when it comes to the acetone bottle, but this is a little bit messy too! I'm not complaining though, it's definitely a bit easier than using a bunch of cotton balls!


This was the result after a few nails. It worked surprisingly well, but did take me a little bit longer than it usually would using cotton balls. 



This was the end result. Two hands, 10 nails in total! By the end it did get a bit dry, as expected, but did the job wonderfully! Like I said, it did take a bit longer than it would using cotton balls, but I was wearing shatter over normal nail polish, which always takes a little longer to remove. I also ended up using the same pad for my toe nails. I was wearing glitter, and it removed it well enough with no residue.

So overall, I think these are a great idea, especially for travel or in your handbag. I'll be using them for those purposes, but when I'm at home I'll probably stick to the cotton ball and polish remover, so I don't waste these beauties for when I really need them! Final verdict? I'd repurchase them, it's a nifty little product!


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Tuesday 29 May 2012

Weekend Haul





So the weekend is over which means it's time for me to show you my weekend Haul! Not a lot, but still so much money! Four lovely products (would have been five but oh well... read below!) I get to show off!


Firstly on Friday afternoon I went to Melbourne CBD with some friends, and talked myself into going into Mecca - just to browse. Of course I walked out with the new Too Faced Summer Eye palette, for a whopping $59.95 - as this pretty thing is not yet available on Beautybay.com! I just couldn't help myself! 


I also picked up a Kit Nail Strips set in "Lace It Up!" I've never actually tried these before, but I have been desperately lusting over the lace pattern, so I knew I had to try this! This set contains 20 nail strips, which means you can wear these twice, and at only $9.95, I was pleased!


I also received the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual in the post on Monday! I was very pleased as I ordered it Thursday night, it came so fast! I ordered this little beauty from Booktopia.com.au, for only $23.95! I opted for the cheaper option, as instead of buying hardback, I purchased paperback. The shipping was also fairly cheap, so it ended up costing me $30 altogether, less than the hardback copy!



On Friday I also received my package from Sigma. I took the plunge and purchased the Limited Edition Paris Palette! This palette is actually huge! I expected it to be tiny and hand-sized, but it was actually bigger and contained two brushes, an eye brush and a blush brush! I was so pleased!

I also ordered the Essentials Kit in "Make Me Blush" however somehow my order must have been  mixed up, and I was sent the travel set instead, much to my disappointment. I was planning on gifting the set, however since I'll have to buy a new present in the mean time, the set will become mine! I guess I am happy about that, as I already have the Essentials Kit in black and it's just gorgeous, I'd love it in pink too! At least, when they fix the problem.


Overall, this has caused me to basically break my budget for a while now. I'm going to try and plan a No Spend June, but we'll see how long that lasts. I just can't resist a sale!

So, hope you liked my little haul! Have you tried any of these gorgeous products?

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Monday 28 May 2012

Bioré Restore Skin Boosting Night Serum


So over the weekend I decided to try Bioré Restore Skin Boosting Night Serum!

I was extremely happy to try this for two reasons! One; I've never tried Bioré before, so I was really excited! Two; I'm currently lacking a night serum as I've stopped using my Egyptian Magic Cream as it's too heavy during the cold weather!

I used this the first night, and straight away the scent hit me! The scent was so heavy and relaxing, definitely something to put on your skin just before bed! I found it really soothing.

The serum itself however was extremely light, and melted into my skin very quickly and easily, with no residue whatsoever! It wasn't greasy at all, which is a big plus for me as my skin is already naturally oily! It instantly moisturised and soothed my skin. (I'm also very pleased this is oil-free!)


I have very sensitive skin so I was a bit wary of using it, thinking it may cause me to break out a little bit. But after using it now for a few nights, I've had nothing but clear, moisturised, non-oily skin in the morning skin (yay!), so I'm very happy!

This is also really great value, while even though such a little bottle will set you back $19.95, one tiny little pump will provide you more than enough product for your face and neck area, so it will definitely last me a long time! The pump is also an added bonus as it protects from any bacteria or germs getting in!

So overall, I will definitely be using this from now on, and I'm pretty sure I've decided to make this one of my skin care staples! I'll definitely repurchase this once I've finished off this bottle! My skin is smooth, refreshed, hydrated without being oily, and overall feeling wonderful! Definitely a winner!

So have you tried Bioré Restore Skin Boosting Night Serum or any other 
Bioré products, and if so what do you think?

This product was sent to me for consideration. :)

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Friday 25 May 2012

NOTD: Face Of Australia Let's Go Scuba Diving


I just wanted to share with you my NOTD today! I'm wearing Face of Australia Barbados Collection in "Let's Go Scuba Diving." I was instantly attracted to this colour because the green colour is so rich with just a touch of glimmer!

I ended up buying the whole set from this collection as I just thought all of the colours were so beautiful, but this one is probably my favourite!





I've already posted about another colour from this range; Blue Me Away, which has to be my other favourite!

So go and check them out, these little beauties are only $4.95 and they are limited edition, so hurry!


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Daiso Cheek


Yet another Daiso review, yay! Unlike the Daiso Liquid Eyeliner, there weren't a lot of options for blush, but when I saw this cute Daiso Cheek in Pink, I couldn't help myself! I love the pink colour as a blush, but I think I would use the lighter peach colour as a finishing powder, as it wouldn't make much of an effect on my pale face!


The set comes with a cute little brush that I will never use! It will be handy for travel, though! I like the design of the case and the design on the actual make-up, it's very pretty and unique! 


This is me after using the pink blush. It wasn't highly pigmented and went on fairly light the first go, so the more you apply the more deeper the colour grows, of course. This was after maybe two applications, so it wasn't too bad at all. I prefer my blush on the subtle side, but for those ladies who like them a bit more exciting, it can be done using this blush!

Overall I think it's a cute idea. There are far better blushes out there that I would probably opt to before heading for this one, but this is good nonetheless. It is something that I might just throw into my handbag and use for touch-ups during the day, as the blush is always the first thing to fade on me! It's subtle enough that you can reapply without looking like a clown!

So what do you think of Daiso make-up? Or do you have another blush you can't live without?


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Thursday 24 May 2012

Daiso Liquid Eyeliner


As you all know, last weekend I had to pleasure of shopping at Daiso! I'd heard so many good things about the Daiso Liquid Eyeliner, so I really couldn't go past getting it, especially at only $2.80! There were a couple of different styles, so I just picked one at random, and ended up with this one!


I thought the design on the front was rather cute, I like that it's simple. The design of the bottle is pretty standard, so there isn't really much to talk about!



I found the brush a bit strange at first glance. It's almost like a paint brush, instead of the usual pointed brush you get with other branded eyeliner. I thought to myself: this surely can't be good! It also looks as though there is far too much product on the brush, and it's a bit daunting!




This was my first attempt. I actually truly love how it turned out. The brush is surprisingly easy to use, and it does feel a bit like "painting" your eyelid, but in a good way! At first, the colour is not overly rich, but the product dries extremely quickly so I just reapplied straight away and ended up with a beautiful deep black. 


 Another attempt, this time in creating a longer, thinner wing look. I was a bit hesitant about how the brush might handle this, but it actually did a super job! I thought that maybe there would be too much product on the brush, but it actually wipes off really easily and you end up with the perfect amount.



Yet another attempt at trying a smaller, thicker wing. I really love how the wing turned out, I didn't put a lot of effort in to the rest of the liner as you can probably see, as I was only testing the wing, but I think it worked out beautifully.

This would probably have to be one of the best liquid eyeliners I've ever tried! The product is super easy to apply and dries in lightening fast speed. The first time I road tested this, I wore it for a total of 16 hours; from home time to work time and home again, and it did not smudge ONCE. That was certainly a lovely surprise. So all in all, the Daiso Liquid Eyeliner is a really brilliant eyeliner, doesn't smudge, goes on beautifully and the brush is very versatile. I would definitely buy this again, and I plan on! For $2.80, I still can hardly believe it!

Check out my Daiso haul here, with more reviews to come!

So have you tried Daiso before? If so, what did you think? If not, do you have a favourite liquid eyeliner?


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Tuesday 22 May 2012

Australis Backstage Beauty Kit


A few weeks ago I was hunting around my local K-Mart when I noticed this little beauty hidden behind some old and broken "sale" items! It's the Australis Backstage Beauty Kit! I'm going to take a wild guess and say this was probably part of their limited edition range as there's no mention of it on their website, and I'd never seen it before that day. 

It comes in this handle little kit that's very easy for travelling, and it all tucks away nicely to make sure everything is secure. It also comes with a mirror, which is brilliant! 


It comes with 18 colours, three blushes, three lipstick colours and three lipgloss colours, two applicators and of course, the mirror! It's a really nifty little set the way it all folds into each other, and I was in love with all of the colours!

The 18 colours were taken from all different kinds of Australis palettes. I love the colours they chose. So bright and vibrant, whilst also adding a few more natural looking colours. I think the colours they chose really do fit in with their theme of "Backstage" as the colours seem really fitting for a fashion shoot or a runway walk! Very cute idea!


The blush colours; I am in love with! Especially the gold colour on the bottom. That is a colour I would never have tried before buying this set, and I really do love it! It's so unique and very flattering. The other colours are very simple but also very elegant, and if you work the colour in a bit deeper it can create a rather edgy look!
The lipstick and lipgloss colours are fairly average, but beautiful nonetheless. I like that they didn't include any strange colours that I may not ever wear, these colours are pretty standard choices, whilst also being interesting! I was a bit shocked there wasn't a nude colour in there, but the colours they chose were lovely regardless!

Overall I really love this set. It's cute, it's funky, it's really handy to throw in your purse if you know you're going from day make-up to night make-up without heading back home, this gives you heaps of options!

So well done Australis, another winner at only $15.00! Couldn't go past this without grabbing it!



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China Glaze Passion



I ordered the China Glaze nail polish in Passion a few weeks ago and finally received it in the post! At first, I thought it looked a bit flat, and was a little disappointed in it. But after applying it, I was actually really pleased!


Passion is a gorgeous metallic gold. It almost reminds me of MINX nails, it looks absolutely flawless on my nails and is so shiny and beautiful! It looks a lot brighter than in the bottle. 




In the above pictures I'm only wearing one coat! It's not at all sheer, and it is not streaky whatsoever! This is the first China Glaze polish I've ever used, so I was really happy with the outcome! I'm not sure where to even buy this in Australia, so I was really happy to get this on Ozsale for a much cheaper price!

Overall this has to be one of my favourite nail polishes of all time! It goes on so easily, dries extremely fast, and gives a beautiful tailored finish that looks extremely professional and not at all tacky. It's such a simple colour, but it really does make a splash!

Have you tried China Glaze Passion before, or do you have another colour you just can't live without?

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Monday 21 May 2012

Daiso Makeup Haul



If you're from Melbourne like I am, no doubt you've heard of the fabulous Daiso; a beautiful Japanese thrift store where everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) costs $2.80!

Luckily for me, my boyfriend's cousin lives directly across the road from Daiso! We visited him on the weekend, and so I was able to duck in and have a quick look around! I've heard that some of their makeup products are notoriously brilliant, so I couldn't go past such a bargain!

I was only in the store for a short time, but I managed to come out with six beautiful items! Let's go through what I picked up!



Daiso Brand Eyelashes
I was thrilled to discover that glue was included with this pair. (I didn't even think to check before I left the store!) I'm not really one for fake eyelashes, but if you can go past a whole wall of beautiful fake lashes without picking at least one pair you need, then you're crazy! I could have walked out with hundreds, but I settled on one beautiful pair that I'll save for a special occasion! At $2.80, I'm not complaining!



Daiso Brand Luxury Nail Jewelry 3D Pearl Hearts
How cute are these! White and pink pearl hearts with sealed backs, so they just stick on your nails (or anywhere else, I guess) automatically without glue! I had a hard time picking what nail art stickers I wanted, as there were so many gorgeous things to choose from. I thought I would go simple and so I picked this. 



Daiso Brand Nail Jewelry Parts - Black
I picked up the first cute packet thinking I'd keep it simple. I saw these and I knew I couldn't stay simple! These have a few different types of cute thinga-ma-bobs, but the cutest are the black roses! They had a few different colours, but I figured I'd stick with black! Can't wait to try these out. Sadly you need glue, and I didn't think to pick up any before I left. No matter, I'll manage!



Daiso Brand Liquid Eyeliner in Black
I've heard so many good reviews for this, and I couldn't wait to try it! There were a few different types of eyeliners but I settled on this one. Not sure why, it just seemed to reach out to me! 



Daiso Brand Long Lashing Eye Shadow in Purple
I wasn't too sure about these, but I figured why not! For that price, it's amazing! I loved the colours, and there were a few others, but I thought I'll try it out first and then maybe go back and buy hundreds more! 



Daiso Brand Cheek Blush in Pink
I thought this was really cute, and for such a small price, I couldn't go past it! I have blushes that cost over $10.00 that were absolute garbage, so if I can find a blush that costs me less than $3.00, I'll be happy!



So overall, I'm really happy with my Daiso haul! The nail art is just amazing and I know will be wonderful, and the makeup certainly looks promising, especially with all of the reviews I've read!
I can't wait to try all of these products, and I will certainly be reviewing a couple of these items, and I'm sure we'll be seeing a NOTD including some of those gorgeous nail art items!

So, what do you think of Daiso? 

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Endless Wardrobe




Everyone remember that gorgeous dress I raved about a little while ago? (Above.) Well, I just wanted to share a few other gems from their website!
I'm talking about Endless Wardrobe! It's an Australian based website that sells amazing pieces as well as some accessories. What's not to love about that?


Spotless Pearl


I purchased the above necklace, and it is just beautiful, I was so pleased. When it came to check-out, I also noticed that Endless Wardrobe has loyalty points, one point per dollar spent, which you can then redeem for your next purchase! That's an amazing deal if you ask me! 



Endless Wardrobe also has a number of "one size" items, which makes picking sizes a lot easier! Most of their one size items will fit sizes 6 - 10, which is a pretty broad spectrum. I found that the dress was a good fit, even though I'm a size 10 (sometimes 12 with some brands) so it wasn't at all too small!

Pure Heart


They also update with new items every single week, which means there will always be something new to browse through and lust after! They sell such a wide range of clothing from casual to formal, so there will always be something for you!
At the moment, Endless Wardrobe only sells their own designs, but they have plans to bring on some big name Aussie brands including Seduce, Bebe Sydney and Ladakh in the next couple of weeks! How exciting!

As an added bonus, they also have no time limit on returns which makes life a lot easier, and their returns policy is simple as pie!


So go and check them out right now! They've got amazing and beautiful - and affordable - clothing that is very difficult to resist!



*All photos taken from www.endlesswardrobe.com.au *
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Friday 18 May 2012

Maybelline Volum' Express Mascara - Limited Edition



I've seen a lot of hype about the Maybelline Volum' Express Mascara: "The One by One" and I've been really tempted to try it, but I just have too much mascara as it is! However, a few days ago when I was trolling around my local  Target looking for sales, I noticed this beauty on sale for only $13.00. How can I go wrong?

This mascara is part of a limited edition range introduced to promote Maybelline's official sponsorship of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Australia. I can't go past the gorgeous packaging, I love the corset design around the lid, it's so cute!




I wasn't at all shocked to see how big the applicator was, as the whole point of the "One by One" name of this is to suggest it coats each eye lash "one by one."

After trying it for a few days, I decided I really liked it. Although you in no way get the effect that is advertised (you rarely do) it is still a great mascara.  It's nothing overly special, but it did make my eyelashes look volumised and a good bit longer, so I was pleased. It's definitely something I would wear out on a date with the boyfriend because it really does make my eyes pop!

It was also easy to remove, however did not smudge, which is definitely a god thing too! Some mascaras, when you're removing them, can become really grainy and disgusting, which I hate, but this comes off smoothly and doesn't make your eyelashes feel washed out afterwards, like some other heavy mascaras.




So have you tried anything from the limited edition range designed to promote the sponsorship? 

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Ulta 3 Mini Haul



For those of you who read my blog regularly, you may have noticed my comment about the Ulta3 nail polish that I purchased from Coles. If you didn't, let me fill you in!

It was a late night Coles run with the boyfriend and we were just getting a couple of quick things for the weekend, when I passed a box filled with Ulta3 nail polishes for only $2.00 each. I spotted the most amazing colour "Candied Violet" and quickly threw it in the basket without thinking. When I brought it home to give it a try, I found that it was completely empty!

I was so upset, and I was a bit ashamed to go back to Coles to return it as I also assumed they would return my $2.00 and probably throw it back in the box so another unsuspecting lady may buy it.

I decided to contact both Coles and The Heat Group (who distribute Ulta3 in Australia) about this issue. Within 24 hours a lovely lady from The Heat Group  responded to me apologising for that, and offering to send me a replacement free of charge. I was really pleased with their quick response to my problem. (In other news, Coles did not respond for weeks and had nearly nothing to say about it.)

Unfortunately I discovered the colour I had chosen was now discontinued. I chose another colour I'd seen a lot of "Lagoon" and she promptly sent it out to me.

I was delighted to discover she had also added two other colours similar to Candied Violet, completely free!



Lagoon
A gorgeous lime green colour that I just can't wait to put on my nails!



Orchid
I was really pleased with this colour, as you can imagine. It's so beautiful, and I'm so grateful she chose beautiful colours to send me in place of the empty one!



Sweet Violet
I'd actually searched for this one in my local chemist and couldn't find it, so I'm really, really happy she sent this one off to me!


So overall I just wanted to share my experience with The Heat Group with you all. They are a really great company and obviously they hold customer service in very high regard. Their responses were so quick, so polite and they went out of their way to make the issue better. They could have replied to me just telling me to take it back to the place of purchase for a full refund, but instead they went that extra mile.

So all in all, Ulta3 is a brand I will continue to buy, not just because of their amazing products, but because of their amazing and very pleasant customer service! So thank you to Tara from the Heat Group who made all of that possible!

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Thursday 31 May 2012

Bioré Release Steam Activated Cleanser


I've been using the Bioré Release Steam Activated Cleanser every day for a few days now, and I'm in love with it! If you know me, you know I'm in love with scrubs and cleansers, and my shower is full of them!

This cleanser is really thick and creamy, and the smell is so beautiful! Every time I use it, I can smell the gorgeous green tea scent and I am taken away to another world! What I really like about this one is that it doesn't lather up too much and isn't overly soapy, like some cleansers can be. It's soft and creamy instead, it almost feels as though you're putting moisturiser on your face!

Once you massage it into your skin, you begin to feel a pleasant tingle, which to me always means - it's working! Usually I use soap and then a cleanser, but I've been using the cleanser by itself and it has made such a difference to my skin! It removes all the excess oil (and there is a lot of excess!) but keeps my skin smooth and supple!

Afterwards, it made me feel unbelievably clean! No tightness that dry skin usually gets after a good cleanse, but no oily residue which can sometimes be left behind by soapy products. Just clean and fresh! I've been using this in my shower every night and it's so relaxing, but doesn't make me sleepy (that's what my night serum is for!) which is a great thing if you're using it in the morning instead.

I would definitely repurchase this beauty, and at $10.99, it's a pretty fair price. You only need one pump to get enough product, so this will last me a long time! So far so good, I'm really pleased with the results, and I'm looking forward to clear and clean skin!

Have you tried this cleanser before?

This product was provided to me for consideration. :)

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Swisspers Nail Polish Remover Pads



After a suggestion from my friend, I decided to give the Swisspers Nail Polish Remover Pads a go! She really wants to try them, but she wants a review first! So she came to me! Aw, I'm touched!

I picked up this box from my local Coles for $4.99. I took it home, opened the box, and guess what - empty. That's right. For those of you who read my blog, you'll know I've had a similar experience with an Ulta3 nail polish, which led to me receiving three gorgeous colours from the lovely people over at the Heat Group. I must be cursed! I took it back to the store and received a replacement (even though they were so suspicious. But hey, I would be too) and brought it home to try it! 
I did tell Swisspers, but unfortunately no response. I fear it may have been a thief in the store rather than a Swisspers problem though.



Silly me realised the box was a lot heavier with an actual pot inside, I just somehow thought the pads would be in the box. Not sure what I was thinking there! At first I thought 36 sounded like a bit of a rip off, but when I opened the pot, I realised 36 was actually a lot! They were all stacked up, soaking, waiting to be used! They smelt like the usual nail polish remover, not too strong. I was happy they were acetone free, too!


This is one of the pads. Good sized, very wet! A little bit tricky to use with your hands, as it makes your hands wet. They say no mess - which I guess is good if you're a spiller when it comes to the acetone bottle, but this is a little bit messy too! I'm not complaining though, it's definitely a bit easier than using a bunch of cotton balls!


This was the result after a few nails. It worked surprisingly well, but did take me a little bit longer than it usually would using cotton balls. 



This was the end result. Two hands, 10 nails in total! By the end it did get a bit dry, as expected, but did the job wonderfully! Like I said, it did take a bit longer than it would using cotton balls, but I was wearing shatter over normal nail polish, which always takes a little longer to remove. I also ended up using the same pad for my toe nails. I was wearing glitter, and it removed it well enough with no residue.

So overall, I think these are a great idea, especially for travel or in your handbag. I'll be using them for those purposes, but when I'm at home I'll probably stick to the cotton ball and polish remover, so I don't waste these beauties for when I really need them! Final verdict? I'd repurchase them, it's a nifty little product!


Tuesday 29 May 2012

Weekend Haul





So the weekend is over which means it's time for me to show you my weekend Haul! Not a lot, but still so much money! Four lovely products (would have been five but oh well... read below!) I get to show off!


Firstly on Friday afternoon I went to Melbourne CBD with some friends, and talked myself into going into Mecca - just to browse. Of course I walked out with the new Too Faced Summer Eye palette, for a whopping $59.95 - as this pretty thing is not yet available on Beautybay.com! I just couldn't help myself! 


I also picked up a Kit Nail Strips set in "Lace It Up!" I've never actually tried these before, but I have been desperately lusting over the lace pattern, so I knew I had to try this! This set contains 20 nail strips, which means you can wear these twice, and at only $9.95, I was pleased!


I also received the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual in the post on Monday! I was very pleased as I ordered it Thursday night, it came so fast! I ordered this little beauty from Booktopia.com.au, for only $23.95! I opted for the cheaper option, as instead of buying hardback, I purchased paperback. The shipping was also fairly cheap, so it ended up costing me $30 altogether, less than the hardback copy!



On Friday I also received my package from Sigma. I took the plunge and purchased the Limited Edition Paris Palette! This palette is actually huge! I expected it to be tiny and hand-sized, but it was actually bigger and contained two brushes, an eye brush and a blush brush! I was so pleased!

I also ordered the Essentials Kit in "Make Me Blush" however somehow my order must have been  mixed up, and I was sent the travel set instead, much to my disappointment. I was planning on gifting the set, however since I'll have to buy a new present in the mean time, the set will become mine! I guess I am happy about that, as I already have the Essentials Kit in black and it's just gorgeous, I'd love it in pink too! At least, when they fix the problem.


Overall, this has caused me to basically break my budget for a while now. I'm going to try and plan a No Spend June, but we'll see how long that lasts. I just can't resist a sale!

So, hope you liked my little haul! Have you tried any of these gorgeous products?

Monday 28 May 2012

Bioré Restore Skin Boosting Night Serum


So over the weekend I decided to try Bioré Restore Skin Boosting Night Serum!

I was extremely happy to try this for two reasons! One; I've never tried Bioré before, so I was really excited! Two; I'm currently lacking a night serum as I've stopped using my Egyptian Magic Cream as it's too heavy during the cold weather!

I used this the first night, and straight away the scent hit me! The scent was so heavy and relaxing, definitely something to put on your skin just before bed! I found it really soothing.

The serum itself however was extremely light, and melted into my skin very quickly and easily, with no residue whatsoever! It wasn't greasy at all, which is a big plus for me as my skin is already naturally oily! It instantly moisturised and soothed my skin. (I'm also very pleased this is oil-free!)


I have very sensitive skin so I was a bit wary of using it, thinking it may cause me to break out a little bit. But after using it now for a few nights, I've had nothing but clear, moisturised, non-oily skin in the morning skin (yay!), so I'm very happy!

This is also really great value, while even though such a little bottle will set you back $19.95, one tiny little pump will provide you more than enough product for your face and neck area, so it will definitely last me a long time! The pump is also an added bonus as it protects from any bacteria or germs getting in!

So overall, I will definitely be using this from now on, and I'm pretty sure I've decided to make this one of my skin care staples! I'll definitely repurchase this once I've finished off this bottle! My skin is smooth, refreshed, hydrated without being oily, and overall feeling wonderful! Definitely a winner!

So have you tried Bioré Restore Skin Boosting Night Serum or any other 
Bioré products, and if so what do you think?

This product was sent to me for consideration. :)

Friday 25 May 2012

NOTD: Face Of Australia Let's Go Scuba Diving


I just wanted to share with you my NOTD today! I'm wearing Face of Australia Barbados Collection in "Let's Go Scuba Diving." I was instantly attracted to this colour because the green colour is so rich with just a touch of glimmer!

I ended up buying the whole set from this collection as I just thought all of the colours were so beautiful, but this one is probably my favourite!





I've already posted about another colour from this range; Blue Me Away, which has to be my other favourite!

So go and check them out, these little beauties are only $4.95 and they are limited edition, so hurry!


Daiso Cheek


Yet another Daiso review, yay! Unlike the Daiso Liquid Eyeliner, there weren't a lot of options for blush, but when I saw this cute Daiso Cheek in Pink, I couldn't help myself! I love the pink colour as a blush, but I think I would use the lighter peach colour as a finishing powder, as it wouldn't make much of an effect on my pale face!


The set comes with a cute little brush that I will never use! It will be handy for travel, though! I like the design of the case and the design on the actual make-up, it's very pretty and unique! 


This is me after using the pink blush. It wasn't highly pigmented and went on fairly light the first go, so the more you apply the more deeper the colour grows, of course. This was after maybe two applications, so it wasn't too bad at all. I prefer my blush on the subtle side, but for those ladies who like them a bit more exciting, it can be done using this blush!

Overall I think it's a cute idea. There are far better blushes out there that I would probably opt to before heading for this one, but this is good nonetheless. It is something that I might just throw into my handbag and use for touch-ups during the day, as the blush is always the first thing to fade on me! It's subtle enough that you can reapply without looking like a clown!

So what do you think of Daiso make-up? Or do you have another blush you can't live without?


Thursday 24 May 2012

Daiso Liquid Eyeliner


As you all know, last weekend I had to pleasure of shopping at Daiso! I'd heard so many good things about the Daiso Liquid Eyeliner, so I really couldn't go past getting it, especially at only $2.80! There were a couple of different styles, so I just picked one at random, and ended up with this one!


I thought the design on the front was rather cute, I like that it's simple. The design of the bottle is pretty standard, so there isn't really much to talk about!



I found the brush a bit strange at first glance. It's almost like a paint brush, instead of the usual pointed brush you get with other branded eyeliner. I thought to myself: this surely can't be good! It also looks as though there is far too much product on the brush, and it's a bit daunting!




This was my first attempt. I actually truly love how it turned out. The brush is surprisingly easy to use, and it does feel a bit like "painting" your eyelid, but in a good way! At first, the colour is not overly rich, but the product dries extremely quickly so I just reapplied straight away and ended up with a beautiful deep black. 


 Another attempt, this time in creating a longer, thinner wing look. I was a bit hesitant about how the brush might handle this, but it actually did a super job! I thought that maybe there would be too much product on the brush, but it actually wipes off really easily and you end up with the perfect amount.



Yet another attempt at trying a smaller, thicker wing. I really love how the wing turned out, I didn't put a lot of effort in to the rest of the liner as you can probably see, as I was only testing the wing, but I think it worked out beautifully.

This would probably have to be one of the best liquid eyeliners I've ever tried! The product is super easy to apply and dries in lightening fast speed. The first time I road tested this, I wore it for a total of 16 hours; from home time to work time and home again, and it did not smudge ONCE. That was certainly a lovely surprise. So all in all, the Daiso Liquid Eyeliner is a really brilliant eyeliner, doesn't smudge, goes on beautifully and the brush is very versatile. I would definitely buy this again, and I plan on! For $2.80, I still can hardly believe it!

Check out my Daiso haul here, with more reviews to come!

So have you tried Daiso before? If so, what did you think? If not, do you have a favourite liquid eyeliner?


Tuesday 22 May 2012

Australis Backstage Beauty Kit


A few weeks ago I was hunting around my local K-Mart when I noticed this little beauty hidden behind some old and broken "sale" items! It's the Australis Backstage Beauty Kit! I'm going to take a wild guess and say this was probably part of their limited edition range as there's no mention of it on their website, and I'd never seen it before that day. 

It comes in this handle little kit that's very easy for travelling, and it all tucks away nicely to make sure everything is secure. It also comes with a mirror, which is brilliant! 


It comes with 18 colours, three blushes, three lipstick colours and three lipgloss colours, two applicators and of course, the mirror! It's a really nifty little set the way it all folds into each other, and I was in love with all of the colours!

The 18 colours were taken from all different kinds of Australis palettes. I love the colours they chose. So bright and vibrant, whilst also adding a few more natural looking colours. I think the colours they chose really do fit in with their theme of "Backstage" as the colours seem really fitting for a fashion shoot or a runway walk! Very cute idea!


The blush colours; I am in love with! Especially the gold colour on the bottom. That is a colour I would never have tried before buying this set, and I really do love it! It's so unique and very flattering. The other colours are very simple but also very elegant, and if you work the colour in a bit deeper it can create a rather edgy look!
The lipstick and lipgloss colours are fairly average, but beautiful nonetheless. I like that they didn't include any strange colours that I may not ever wear, these colours are pretty standard choices, whilst also being interesting! I was a bit shocked there wasn't a nude colour in there, but the colours they chose were lovely regardless!

Overall I really love this set. It's cute, it's funky, it's really handy to throw in your purse if you know you're going from day make-up to night make-up without heading back home, this gives you heaps of options!

So well done Australis, another winner at only $15.00! Couldn't go past this without grabbing it!



China Glaze Passion



I ordered the China Glaze nail polish in Passion a few weeks ago and finally received it in the post! At first, I thought it looked a bit flat, and was a little disappointed in it. But after applying it, I was actually really pleased!


Passion is a gorgeous metallic gold. It almost reminds me of MINX nails, it looks absolutely flawless on my nails and is so shiny and beautiful! It looks a lot brighter than in the bottle. 




In the above pictures I'm only wearing one coat! It's not at all sheer, and it is not streaky whatsoever! This is the first China Glaze polish I've ever used, so I was really happy with the outcome! I'm not sure where to even buy this in Australia, so I was really happy to get this on Ozsale for a much cheaper price!

Overall this has to be one of my favourite nail polishes of all time! It goes on so easily, dries extremely fast, and gives a beautiful tailored finish that looks extremely professional and not at all tacky. It's such a simple colour, but it really does make a splash!

Have you tried China Glaze Passion before, or do you have another colour you just can't live without?

Monday 21 May 2012

Daiso Makeup Haul



If you're from Melbourne like I am, no doubt you've heard of the fabulous Daiso; a beautiful Japanese thrift store where everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) costs $2.80!

Luckily for me, my boyfriend's cousin lives directly across the road from Daiso! We visited him on the weekend, and so I was able to duck in and have a quick look around! I've heard that some of their makeup products are notoriously brilliant, so I couldn't go past such a bargain!

I was only in the store for a short time, but I managed to come out with six beautiful items! Let's go through what I picked up!



Daiso Brand Eyelashes
I was thrilled to discover that glue was included with this pair. (I didn't even think to check before I left the store!) I'm not really one for fake eyelashes, but if you can go past a whole wall of beautiful fake lashes without picking at least one pair you need, then you're crazy! I could have walked out with hundreds, but I settled on one beautiful pair that I'll save for a special occasion! At $2.80, I'm not complaining!



Daiso Brand Luxury Nail Jewelry 3D Pearl Hearts
How cute are these! White and pink pearl hearts with sealed backs, so they just stick on your nails (or anywhere else, I guess) automatically without glue! I had a hard time picking what nail art stickers I wanted, as there were so many gorgeous things to choose from. I thought I would go simple and so I picked this. 



Daiso Brand Nail Jewelry Parts - Black
I picked up the first cute packet thinking I'd keep it simple. I saw these and I knew I couldn't stay simple! These have a few different types of cute thinga-ma-bobs, but the cutest are the black roses! They had a few different colours, but I figured I'd stick with black! Can't wait to try these out. Sadly you need glue, and I didn't think to pick up any before I left. No matter, I'll manage!



Daiso Brand Liquid Eyeliner in Black
I've heard so many good reviews for this, and I couldn't wait to try it! There were a few different types of eyeliners but I settled on this one. Not sure why, it just seemed to reach out to me! 



Daiso Brand Long Lashing Eye Shadow in Purple
I wasn't too sure about these, but I figured why not! For that price, it's amazing! I loved the colours, and there were a few others, but I thought I'll try it out first and then maybe go back and buy hundreds more! 



Daiso Brand Cheek Blush in Pink
I thought this was really cute, and for such a small price, I couldn't go past it! I have blushes that cost over $10.00 that were absolute garbage, so if I can find a blush that costs me less than $3.00, I'll be happy!



So overall, I'm really happy with my Daiso haul! The nail art is just amazing and I know will be wonderful, and the makeup certainly looks promising, especially with all of the reviews I've read!
I can't wait to try all of these products, and I will certainly be reviewing a couple of these items, and I'm sure we'll be seeing a NOTD including some of those gorgeous nail art items!

So, what do you think of Daiso? 

Endless Wardrobe




Everyone remember that gorgeous dress I raved about a little while ago? (Above.) Well, I just wanted to share a few other gems from their website!
I'm talking about Endless Wardrobe! It's an Australian based website that sells amazing pieces as well as some accessories. What's not to love about that?


Spotless Pearl


I purchased the above necklace, and it is just beautiful, I was so pleased. When it came to check-out, I also noticed that Endless Wardrobe has loyalty points, one point per dollar spent, which you can then redeem for your next purchase! That's an amazing deal if you ask me! 



Endless Wardrobe also has a number of "one size" items, which makes picking sizes a lot easier! Most of their one size items will fit sizes 6 - 10, which is a pretty broad spectrum. I found that the dress was a good fit, even though I'm a size 10 (sometimes 12 with some brands) so it wasn't at all too small!

Pure Heart


They also update with new items every single week, which means there will always be something new to browse through and lust after! They sell such a wide range of clothing from casual to formal, so there will always be something for you!
At the moment, Endless Wardrobe only sells their own designs, but they have plans to bring on some big name Aussie brands including Seduce, Bebe Sydney and Ladakh in the next couple of weeks! How exciting!

As an added bonus, they also have no time limit on returns which makes life a lot easier, and their returns policy is simple as pie!


So go and check them out right now! They've got amazing and beautiful - and affordable - clothing that is very difficult to resist!



*All photos taken from www.endlesswardrobe.com.au *

Friday 18 May 2012

Maybelline Volum' Express Mascara - Limited Edition



I've seen a lot of hype about the Maybelline Volum' Express Mascara: "The One by One" and I've been really tempted to try it, but I just have too much mascara as it is! However, a few days ago when I was trolling around my local  Target looking for sales, I noticed this beauty on sale for only $13.00. How can I go wrong?

This mascara is part of a limited edition range introduced to promote Maybelline's official sponsorship of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Australia. I can't go past the gorgeous packaging, I love the corset design around the lid, it's so cute!




I wasn't at all shocked to see how big the applicator was, as the whole point of the "One by One" name of this is to suggest it coats each eye lash "one by one."

After trying it for a few days, I decided I really liked it. Although you in no way get the effect that is advertised (you rarely do) it is still a great mascara.  It's nothing overly special, but it did make my eyelashes look volumised and a good bit longer, so I was pleased. It's definitely something I would wear out on a date with the boyfriend because it really does make my eyes pop!

It was also easy to remove, however did not smudge, which is definitely a god thing too! Some mascaras, when you're removing them, can become really grainy and disgusting, which I hate, but this comes off smoothly and doesn't make your eyelashes feel washed out afterwards, like some other heavy mascaras.




So have you tried anything from the limited edition range designed to promote the sponsorship? 

Ulta 3 Mini Haul



For those of you who read my blog regularly, you may have noticed my comment about the Ulta3 nail polish that I purchased from Coles. If you didn't, let me fill you in!

It was a late night Coles run with the boyfriend and we were just getting a couple of quick things for the weekend, when I passed a box filled with Ulta3 nail polishes for only $2.00 each. I spotted the most amazing colour "Candied Violet" and quickly threw it in the basket without thinking. When I brought it home to give it a try, I found that it was completely empty!

I was so upset, and I was a bit ashamed to go back to Coles to return it as I also assumed they would return my $2.00 and probably throw it back in the box so another unsuspecting lady may buy it.

I decided to contact both Coles and The Heat Group (who distribute Ulta3 in Australia) about this issue. Within 24 hours a lovely lady from The Heat Group  responded to me apologising for that, and offering to send me a replacement free of charge. I was really pleased with their quick response to my problem. (In other news, Coles did not respond for weeks and had nearly nothing to say about it.)

Unfortunately I discovered the colour I had chosen was now discontinued. I chose another colour I'd seen a lot of "Lagoon" and she promptly sent it out to me.

I was delighted to discover she had also added two other colours similar to Candied Violet, completely free!



Lagoon
A gorgeous lime green colour that I just can't wait to put on my nails!



Orchid
I was really pleased with this colour, as you can imagine. It's so beautiful, and I'm so grateful she chose beautiful colours to send me in place of the empty one!



Sweet Violet
I'd actually searched for this one in my local chemist and couldn't find it, so I'm really, really happy she sent this one off to me!


So overall I just wanted to share my experience with The Heat Group with you all. They are a really great company and obviously they hold customer service in very high regard. Their responses were so quick, so polite and they went out of their way to make the issue better. They could have replied to me just telling me to take it back to the place of purchase for a full refund, but instead they went that extra mile.

So all in all, Ulta3 is a brand I will continue to buy, not just because of their amazing products, but because of their amazing and very pleasant customer service! So thank you to Tara from the Heat Group who made all of that possible!

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