Ulta3 Nail Polishes: Spring Collection!

Hey guys! I just wanted to do this little post for you. I just came back from running some errands and stopped off at the shopping centre to pick up some last minute Father's Day essentials. As i was leaving I decided to stop by Terry White Chemists because i read that they stocked the Bioderma H2O make up remover and i really wanted a full size bottle after receiving a sample in one of the Lust Have It! boxes. But to my disappointed, they didnt have any.. Oh well!
Anyways, the point of this post is when i was leaving, there was a big Ulta3 stand of makeup and nail polishes which i thought was interesting and near it was this stand:

Click on image for larger view

How pretty! This is from their spring collection named "Pretty in Pastels". I just loved every single colour and have been looking for pastel nail polishes for awhile now in the lead up to spring. As you can see there are 6 colours available and all of them are just gorgeous. They also had this promotion where if you spent $10 on ANY Ulta3 product, that is, makeup, nail polish etc, then you would receive a free tote bag which is pictured there also. The nail polishes retailed for $2, what a bargain. I don't actually own any Ulta3 nail polish so I have no idea about the quality but for $2 each I decided to give it a go. I also wanted the tote so i picked up 5 out of the 6 pastel colours.

 

L-R: Lilac Bloom, Orange Blossom, Pale Dahlia, Soft Hydrangea & Corsican Rose

 

I just can't get over how pretty these colours look in the bottle, if i hadnt just done my nails last night i would have tried these by now! I'm especially loving the mint green and pastel blue. If you guys want to see swatches of these, let me know and i'll have them up by the weekend!

So that's my post, just wanted to share this with you guys and if you're interested in picking any up, let me know! I wanna know what you think :)
x

Prize Pack from Lancome

Today I was just chilling at home, doing my assignments when the post man rang my doorbell and held out a package for me. It had slipped my mind but last month when Michelle Phan came for Lancome I had won a competition on the Lancome facebook page to participate in a Google hangout live chat with Michelle and also won a gift pack valued over $300 of Lancome products. I was so excited when opening the package, which mind you, was beautifully wrapped and i regret not taking a photo of what it looked like when it arrived. But it's okay, the products make up for it!

Top of the box has the logo of the Lancome rose

The box was very study and looked so elegant. It was wrapped with sparkling silver ribbon too!

The contents! :D

All the beautiful products

The products I received were the Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara, Rouge in Love lipstick in 340B, Vernis in Love nail polish in 179M, Genifique 30ml and Blush Subtil Rose in #40 Rose Rouge.
I am absolutely ecstatic to have received these products as I do love Lancome products however can't bring myself to always be buying new products. It's more of a splurge for me when i do so now i have 5 new products to try out before having to make that trip to the counter :)
I was also planning to get the Doll Lash mascara because I had a 2ml sample that I love but tried not to use for fear of it running out and $52 for a mascara is not really my thing as i prefer to spend more on face products such as foundation or skincare. So i'm really happy to have the full size. Also, I had intended to try the Genifique but again, the price tag was a little on the expensive side so i was holding off it, but now, no need!

If you guys would like any reviews, let me know and i'll make a note to fulfill that request. I might do a review on the Genifique though and let you know if there are any results!

x

Bellabox AUGUST 2012

Today I finally received the August edition of the Bellabox. This month's theme is GO GREEN where they aim to take a more natural approach to beauty. This is what I received in my box:

Overview of what I received

Wotnot Facial Wipes

Pack of 25 RRP: $7.95
What you get: FULL SIZE

These wipes are made with 100% natural fibres and enriched with certified organic aloe vera, sweet almond oil and rosehip oil and can be used to remove make up and refresh skin. Also, they're 100% biodegradable! amazing! I actually just used these wipes 5 minutes before writing this post. I needed to take my make up off so i thought now is better than ever to test them out. Now, i don't ever use wipes mainly because I dont own any and I just generally use my make up remover on a cotton pad and take my make up off that way. But wow, after using these wipes I am completely in awe. It felt so soft and moisurising on my skin and did well with removing my make up. I was wearing my Revlon Colourstay Whipped Foundation and it just came right off. This is the only product that I've tried so far from Bellabox that makes me actually want to purchase another pack once I've finished. I'm really loving these wipes.

USPA Wheatgrass Solar Energy Leave in Serum

150ml RRP: $32
What you Get: 30ml

This is a leave in serum that utilises the unique properties of wheatgrass, silicone, glycerine and essential oils to preserve and protect colour treated hair.
I honestly don't care too much for this, I was actually really hoping for the foot pumice that I saw other people had received because my feet are in desperate need of care. But oh well, I may try this one day but I am really lazy when it comes to hair maintenance.

LUK Beautifood Lip Nourish

3g RRP $24.95
What you Get: FULL SIZE

This is a lip nourish that is made from a 100% natural, edible and food active recipe. The flavour i got was Tangerine and Vanilla.  Upon looking at it, the colour is horrible and definitely not something i would ever pick up. However when swatched, it applies very sheer and the brown hardly shows up. I haven't applied it onto my lips yet so I can't comment on whether it is moisturising but there is a scent to it that does smell like it's description of tangerine and vanilla.

LUSH Ro's Argan Body Conditioner

225g RRP: $29.95
What you Get: 45g

This is described as a conditioner that is to be used just like a conditioner but instead for your body. The smell is incredibly strong as usual with LUSH products in my opinion and smells strongly of a floral scent with a bit of lemon. I tried this product on my arm and it did feel incredibly soft and moisturising however I am very sensitive to smell and after a while I had a headache because of the fragrance so i had to wipe it off. That is not to say the product isn't good though, the smell issue is just my personal problem but I've heard a lot of people are really enjoying this product!

Be in Awe Skincare

Clearing Serum:
50ml RRP: $69.00
What you Get: 5ml

Calming Serum:
50ml RRP: $79.00
What you Get: 3ml x2 = 6ml

These are described as perfect for itchy skin conditions and for use after skin irritation treatments. I suffer from neither of these so it probably won't be too useful so maybe i'll end up giving it away. I dont usually like to change my skincare especially if what i'm doing is already working for me, I dont like risking a breakout lol

Phytocare Daily C

30 satchets x 3.7g RRP: $17.80
What you Get: 1000mg x 2 satchets

This is Vitamin C powder, individually packaged containing a mix of essential nutrients that are free of sugar and with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. It aims to make you feel good on the inside and out. It'll probably come in handy with my late night uni cramming and full time work as well as i'm feeling a little run down these days. I'll keep these on hand for an all-nighter session.

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion

 

225g RRP: $29.95
What you Get: 29ml

Aveeno moisurisers contain natural colloidal oatmeal to moisturise and protect skin, providing 24 hours relief from nasty dryness, scaling and chapping. It is non greasy, absorbs quickly, non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) and also contains no added fragrance.
Basically, just another moisturiser but with it's cute travel size, i'll probably throw this into my handbag where it'll be most useful while im out.

So that's all that I received in this months Bellabox. I did read around on what other people received and i have to say I was really really hoping to receive the Eyes of Horus liquid liner. I wanted that more than any of the products as i use liquid liner in a pen form on a daily basis but much to my dismay I didnt receive it.. I always seem to not receive the things i really want so maybe next month I should lay off the stalking of blogs to find out what's in the month's box lol. All in all, this month I'm a bit half half, i'm not completely disappointed but not overly impressed either. I do however, love the wipes so the box isn't a waste for me.

What did you receive? was there something you really wanted but didn't get either? let me know :)

MYER Melbourne Masterclass with Michelle Phan!

Last night i attended the MYER Melbourne's Michelle Phan Masterclass. It was definitely one of the more special nights I've had in a long time. It was held in the Myer Bourke Street Mural Hall which is one of the prettiest venues I've ever been in, the atmosphere was very classy and elegant and we were provided with Champagne, sparkling water and light finger foods. The event was supposed to start at 6pm but I dont think Michelle was introduced until about 6:30pm. She started by speaking a little about how she came to where she is today and provided some basic make up tips. I actually thought she would be doing some demonstrations with models however she didn't. After that, we were given a photo opportunity with Michelle and also the chance to walk around to different areas of the hall that were set up with Lancome's products. Overall, I think the event didn't even last for over an hour but apparently she had a flight to catch straight after so they were probably trying to fast track everything. Nonetheless, it was definitely a night to remember! I ended up picking up the limited edition Michelle makeup kit, which is actually really pretty! I didnt think i would like the palette after seeing it online but in person the colours are really gorgeous!

Michelle and I!

Champagne!

Michelle Phan!

  

My friend and I :)

Did anyone else attend? If you did, say hi! :) x

Review: Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation

I'm back with another review and this time it's for the new Revlon Colorstay Whipped foundation. I'd heard quite a bit about this foundation from other bloggers and predominantly Youtube and finally it's out in Australia! We are a little slow.. but better now than never is what they say right?
I bought mine in Big W on the way back to my car at QV so it wasn't on sale or anything but i spilled the cash anyway and for $33.00 it's hardly cheap. For those interested, MYER is having a one day sale tomorrow and there's going to be 25% off Revlon. (damn!)

So anyways, back to the foundation, I bought mine in the shade #250 Medium Beige 

You get 23.7ml of product in the jar and actually, speaking of the jar, it is quite heavy! I sure wouldn't want to drop this on the tile or anything because i can just picture it smashing into pieces and foundation flying everywhere. On the other hand, the packaging is quite expensive looking; simple but classy.

When you screw the top off, this is pretty much what you get. The foundation is almost like a watery consistency however it's thicker than liquid, if that makes any sense. I wouldn't go far as to say that it is 'whipped' because when i think of whipped, i think of mousse and this is nothing like that. It's more of a creme which.. is what it does say on the jar. So let's just go with whipped creme even though i don't particularly like the word whipped in there.

You don't get very much product and i would presume it's is quick to use up as it doesnt really go by the concept of "a little goes a long way". Another thing is that I find it difficult to get the product out because i dont like sticking my brush or fingers in there but it has to be done which is a downside.
I apply the foundation by scooping some out and placing it on the back of my hand and then using the Real Techniques stippling brush, just stipple it all over my face.

 Medium Beige is a perfect match for my skintone.

Blended out.

I would say the coverage is medium and possibly buildable to full. Upon applying it, it really accentuates all my lines, pores and dry patches but i let it settle for about 5-10 minutes and suddenly my faces appears completely flawless and matte. I don't usually like matte foundations but this just makes my skin appear so healthy and "HD". I've worn this foundation out all day today and i would say it's been about 8 hours and with no touch ups my skin still looks perfect. Even my bronzer and blush have stayed put and I could just go out again all night and wouldnt feel the need to do touch ups to my face make up. It really is amazing.
Revlon claims this foundation to last 24 hours but really.. who would wear it for that long and im curious to know if they actually tested that, arent you?

All in all, I'm really enjoying this foundation, my skin feels and looks silky smooth and I definitely don't regret it at all, looks like i'll be adding this as my go-to foundation!

Have you tried the whipped foundation or intend to? If you have any questions leave them down below! x

Review: Trilogy Rosehip Oil

I think I've found my new love! I saw this product a few weeks ago on a haul video on youtube and really didnt think anything of it. It looked interesting and i think i made a mental note to check it out but it wasn't until about 2 weeks ago i stumbled across it whilst browsing through Priceline. There was a sale for 20% off Trilogy products so i decided to buy it and possibly give it a ago. I was a bit skeptical as I dont generally like to add new products to my skincare routine especially when my skin is going fine and i have no reason to add anything to it just incase I get a crazy reaction and my skin doesn't forgive me.

The bottle costs around $23 full price and is 20ml. So it's quite small but it would or at least should last you quite awhile. At first I was skeptical about using it even though i'd purchased it because i'd read mixed reviews online. whilst it worked well for some people, it also gave horrible reactions to others. But i decided to take the plunge and thank goodness I did because im sure this will forever be a staple in my skincare routine!
A little background on my skin is that I have very oily skin especially in the T-zone area. I work full time and usually by lunchtime and after my skin will just become shiny and oily no matter what primer i've used and I could blot all afternoon. I sort of just gave up on my self and accepted that this was how my face was always going to be. Not anymore.
Rosehip oil has balancing properties that can be used by anyone whether they have dry or oily skins, and it allows the skin to breathe, therefore all skin types can benefit from rosehip oil.
It can be used as a preventative measure and can also help reduce premature aging. Also, if you already suffer from things such as pigmentation, wrinkling etc, rosehip oil, applied daily can reverse the damage and make the skin appear healthier.

I apply two drops of rosehip oil onto my hand and dot it onto my face and gently rub it in twice a day, once in the morning and again at night onto a clean face. I then let my skin absorb the oil and I can instantly feel from within, my skin just feeling so much softer and healthier. The texture of my face has also gone a lot softer and so much smoother as well as evening out my skin tone. I used to have a lot of redness around my nose but that's clearing up as well. I really recommend Trilogy rosehip oil as I have completely fallen in love with it and can't see myself without it now. It really does make a difference and i'm only sorry that I didn't try it out sooner.

Have you guys tried rosehip oil before? If you have any questions, leave them down below and i'll try my best to answer! x

NEW from Kit Cosmetics: Blender Sphere

Hey guys, it's been awhile! I just wanted to share with you something I've picked up as recently as yesterday! So i was browsing through Myer when I came across the Kit Cosmetics section and stumbled across this as their new beauty tool. They call it the "blender sphere". I was really intrigued by this as I currently own, use and LOVE the original beauty blender and use it to apply my liquid foundation. So when i saw this i was instantly curious. First of all, the shape is completely different to the "egg" shape of the beauty blender.

When I look at it I think of it as the egg has been stretched out. I'm not too sure how i feel about it as i have this feeling it's just going to be difficult to stipple the foundation evenly over my face. Also I'm not sure and i forgot to ask whether this can be used wet and whether it expands, I really have no idea because I haven't had the chance to use it yet. It retails for $14.95 so I think it's reasonably priced. Definitely anything more and it would be pushing it a little.
On the packaging it has been described as "An ergonomic, 3D sponge to revolutionise your foundation application". I would like to hope so!

When comparing to the beauty blender, you can see that they are completely different in terms of shape (I guess you could say colour lol) and also in texture. If you have had the chance to feel the beauty blender, you'll find that it is quite soft and "squishy". The Blender Sphere however feels a lot more firm and less spongy so I'm curious as to whether it will distribute foundation nicely. And again, whether it will expand if i soak it under water first and if that will help the application more smoothly.

Has anyone else seen these around or tried it? If you want to know how it goes let me know and I'll keep you all updated!

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner

I was strolling though Target the other day looking for stockings and decided to check out the cosmetics section and to my surprise most of the brands were on sale. I was looking through Maybelline, I think it was 25% off all products and I've noticed the gel liners before but for the first time in a long time i finally found it in the shade "eggplant". I remember seeing this shade when they first came out along with the standard black and a brown i think. But after awhile when i decided i finally wanted one, i really wanted it in the eggplant - purple shade, but could not find it anywhere, i was certain it was discontinued or no longer stocked. So i was so excited when i found them in the Target Store on Bourke Street and at 25% off, even better! These retail for around $16 if i recall correctly and it went down to around $12. I did try to swatch it but my camera just wouldnt focus so unfortunately I can't show you what it looks like but it is gorgeous! It is a deep purple with very fine gold flexes. I didn't expect the shimmer but it's actually very pretty and after swatching it on my hand i ran my fingers over it trying to rub it off and it would not budge. No smudging - nothing. I'm definitely going back to pick up the black one.

**ALSO, if you live in Melbourne and get a chance, head down to Priceline as they're having some awesome sales on cosmetics until Monday 11th June.

Let me know if you go and what you bought, if anything :) x

Singapore Haul

Back in March I took a small vacation to Singapore with my bf. It was my first time there and I have to say, it was one of my favourite places I've traveled to. Singapore is so beautiful and clean. It reminded me very much of Melbourne except that they have a lot more greenery and it just feels a lot more fresh and open. I remember thinking that I could live there if I had all my friends and family with me, but since that's not the case, Melbourne will always be my home :)
So, as you do when you're overseas, I went a little crazy with the shopping and I had already planned to try pick up as many cosmetic products as I could, especially those that I can't purchase here because we simply don't have them. I probably didnt pick up as much as I could have but keep in mind i bought lots of other things such as clothes, shoes, bags etc. But i'll just show you guys the make up related products for the moment. If you guys want to see what else I picked up just let me know!
(click on images for larger view)

(an overview of the products I purchased)


I swear it felt like a lot while i was shopping but i was mildly disappointed when i got home and unpacked. i had this image in my mind that my suitcase was filled with beauty products but to my surprise, it was a lot smaller than what i had imagined lol.

I first came across this product back in 2009 when i was in Malaysia. Maybelline Angel Fit two-way foundation cake has been a favourite of mine ever since. I even had a friend bring back an extra two while on a trip to Thailand! What I love about this is how quick and easy it is to apply. i can just throw it into my bag and touch up during the day when i get oily. It may be a hit or miss for some but it does have very very fine shimmer in it which is ok for me. I use it on a daily basis on top of my BB cream and i feel that it just ties the look together. I'd say it is of medium coverage and feels very light. You have the option of applying it wet but funny enough i havent done that as yet, maybe i should huh? At the moment i have 5 back ups of this product, that's how much i love it!

While shopping around I really wanted to find a mascara I knew I couldn't find here. So on my last day I picked up this Unstoppable Curly Extension mascara by Maybelline. I actually don't mind this mascara. It adds length to my lashes and doesn't clump at all. However I don't think it holds curls for very long. Maybe 4 hours max. I didn't manage to buy a backup but i'm not too fussed as I'm sure i could pick up any mascara here and it'd be the same. No wow factor for me here.

I also managed to pick up a bunch of eyeliners. Two of them liquid pens and one gel liner. Nothing really special here except yes, if you're wondering and can recognise Ms Hyori Lee on the packet of the Clio eyeliner; I did only pick it up because of her image lol, advertising really works! No, but in all honesty, I do really like the Clio eyeliner liquid pen - I bought 3 packs and have already gone through one, the eyeliner allows for a smooth application and can last during my 9 hour day at work. As for the maybelline eyeliner - I havent had a chance to use that yet. Lastly, the gel liner - I'm really not a fan of. The consistency is quite thin and i find i have to do a few coats just to get a solid black line. Not only that, it's not long lasting at all. Pretty disappointing but luckily i didnt purchase a back up. Such a shame though, i really wanted to like it..

I had already been using MUFE HD Foundation prior to this as I had a friend bring a bottle back for me from the US. But that was a few years ago so obviously my shade had changed. This is in the colour #127. I really wished that Australia stocked MUFE products here, in Myer, Priceline or just anywhere! This is my HG foundation ever since I first started using it. It has the perfect coverage of medium to full depending on how much you use and definitely buildable. I apply it with a beauty blender and it really does just make my skin look so flawless and dewy - I always just feel I look so fresh and glowy everytime I use it. Unfortunately I didnt purchase back ups so I use this sparingly.

While I was in Sephora getting colour matched for the HD foundation, the SA applied this on top of the foundation and I just loved the result. My skin felt so soft and just set everything flawlessly. I was sold and although I don't think its a complete necessity in a makeup kit, more of a splurge - it does come in handy for special events as I find it controls my oily skin a lot better.

This.. this concealer is seriously the best concealer i have ever used. I'm using the colour Medium Beige and it is definitely a HG product for me. I'd previously heard about this brand before from beauty videos on youtube a few years back but only when i was in Sephora I came across it for the first time. I had the SA apply some under my eye on the dark circles and wow was I impressed. The texture is quite thick and very creamy. It blends amazingly and although i've read mixed reviews, I find that it doesnt crease at all on my skin. It can hide any blemishes and dark circles or red spots entirely and just blends so so well, I absolutely love this concealer! I'm a little sad i bought the smaller tube, I think its about 5ml but that already set me back something ridiculous like $45 so I couldnt bring myself to purchase the bigger tube. But no doubt i'll be on the hunt for it once i'm through with this one. I love it way too much.

Nothing too special here, you can actually buy the Duo eyelash glue from MAC here in Australia but they don't actually stock the dark tone one which is what i originally wanted. I dont wear false eyelashes too often but I really wanted to just have this in my collection.

Again, not a really exciting product. I do already own the original UD Primer Potion and I hadn't really intended to purchase a primer however I was randomly doing swatches and tests at the UD county and I just liked the thick consistency of the texture. I also liked that it was matte and how it manages to even out skintone. I always have a problem with creasing on my lids so i decided to purchase this and i'm glad i did. I use it whenever I'm wearing eyeshadow and I'm always impressed at how it holds my eyeshadow all night. If you're looking for a good eye primer and can get your hand on one of these then i definitely recommend it!

Yes yes I know.. I don't want to go into this too much cos i'm sure you girls have all read countless reviews on this gorgeous palette. Funnily enough I did not plan to purchase this AT ALL. I already own the original naked palette and honestly I didnt find this one too appealing. However while i was in Sephora I was curious and wanted to swatch the shadows but they didnt have them at the counter. I asked the SA and apparently the launch date was the day AFTER. i was there one day too early. However, I gave the story of how i was a tourist etc etc and somehow she spoke to her manager and he allowed me to have a palette early. Again, wasn't really planning to purchase it but i felt bad as the SA had gone out of her way to ask her boss to give me a palette one day early. It was so sweet of her so I succumbed and purchased it. I actually have not used all the shadows as yet. My favourite is snakebite though which has been the only shade i've used. I love it as an all over lid colour just blended out with black eyeliner. It's my quick go-to for night time. I love the pigmentation and the colour is just perfect for my skin tone. Again, i cant really comment on all the colours as I have not had a chance to go through them as yet.

This is MACs blush in Gingerly. I had previously seen this on a haul video on Youtube and held off purchasing it here as blushes sell for $41-$42 each which is crazzzzy! Although, in Singapore this did set me back I think $36 so it wasn't that much different but hey, i still saved something lol. This blush is the perfect rose colour on my skin. It's my everyday blush and very buildable. It gives the perfect 'flush' without it looking exaggerated. I feel that it looks very natural and just gives my skin the right amount of colour and blends naturally into my skin tone. Will definitely be repurchasing once i run out, even if i have to pay the inflated AUD prices.

(Left to Right: Strawberry Shortcake, Cherry Tart, Peach Parfait & Lollipop)

Before going to Singapore I had known about the imminent release of the Revlon Lip Butters in Australia and i was really curious to try them. I knew the prices would be inflated as usual so i made a mental note to suss them out in Singapore and to my delight they had already been released. So I picked up these four shades. Actually, in Singapore they only had a small selection of colours, i think about 9? I was surprised to see so many different shades over here but I havent bought anymore since. Out of the four I actually use Lollipop the most. It's a very bold deep pink/purple and because my eyes are always very plain with most days i'm just wearing black liner on the top lid - lollipop just completes the look and adds colour to my face. I do like the texture of the lip butters overall, very moisturizing and quite long lasting also. I dont think i'll be purchasing anymore though as i think 4 is enough lol.

So that's all for my Singapore cosmetics haul. Have you guys tried any of these products? What do you think? What do you wish you could try? let me know! x