Saturday 31 January 2015

January Favourites

Hey Readers,
I hope this post finds you well!! We are not only saying good bye to January but hello to February this weekend and yes it has gone by quickly but as it has been a month of ups and downs for me personally.  I am very happy to be starting a fresh new month so soon. Due to everything that has happened I really don't have a lot of favourites this month as I have been sticking with what I know works, I haven't really had a chance to properly try all of the new items I have picked up, nor have I shopped my stash as much as I should have. So a few of this month I am including for a second time, the rest products I keep coming back to and don't think I have spoken about before!!




Bourjois Happy Light Foundation in the shade 52 Light Beige 

Usually I prefer a fuller coverage foundation that is mattifying and long lasting. So initially I did not really like this foundation and hence it didn't get much use. But in an effort to sort my foundation collection I pulled this back out at the end of last year. Happy Light is a light to medium coverage foundation that gives a dewy finish. But the main reason I am loving this one is how light it feels on the skin and given the heat we've been having in QLD its been so much nicer to wear that other foundations so it has fast become my go to. It is also extremely easy to apply and has such a smooth finish. Setting with powder straight away means I get more of a matte finish and longevity. So now I am really enjoying this one and will definitely keep it in the collection. 




Chi Chi Super BB Cream in the shade Medium 

I have spoken about this many times so you already know just how much I love this BB. The easy to apply medium coverage BB has been another go to in this hot weather particularly when a day out in the sun is on the cards. With 30 plus sunscreen factor included it means my makeup is done in one simple step. It wears well even with my combination skin. 





Ponds Clear Balance Oil Control Skin Mattifying Facial Foam 
I pulled this out at the end of last year after it  had been in the to be tried draw since some time last year when Priceline had 40% off skin care. While I wanted to put a full review into another edition of my no time to shine posts I really wanted to include it now as I hadn't truly realised just how much it had impressed!! During December I was house sitting for a friend despite the fact that I could have taken a few products (I always have multiple cleansers and scrubs on the go) from my shower, I chose instead to take my usual travel wet pack. It was the day I came home and picked up this tube that I realised just how much I missed this cleanser. The product itself is soft, creamy, its mixed with a small amount of exfoliating beads that massage the skin and it foams and cleans well. My skin feels so good afterwards and as an added bonus it definitely helps control my oily T zone!!! 




Dove Go Fresh Moisturising Body Wash in the scent Cucumber and Green tea
This has been another surprise this month. I originally bought two of these when they where on special at target I prefer the pomegranate citrus scent but picked this one up knowing I would want something different when I finished the bottle but also with the knowledge that the other half would use if I wasn't fussed!!! So while wasn't so excited to be opening from the first use I was pleasantly surprised by this. I don't usually really like cucumber scented products but this scent is really light, the shower gel itself is soft, foams well and you only need one pump for your whole body its a really great formula and I have been enjoying it.




NYX Dream Catcher Palette Golden Horizons
As I said in my recent purchases post I have been using this since just before Christmas and it fast became a favourite. So this month it was my first pick when I had to travel to Sydney. Its just such as easy palette to work with. The shadows themselves are soft, have good pigmentation and they blend well. The shimmers in the palette have a fine glitter in them so are not overly glittery and fallout is minimal, the mattes are pigmented easy to work with soft and not chalky. I really love either pairing the two light matte browns together on the lid and in the crease then using the dark matte brown as an eyeliner which makes a great work appropriate look. Or just one of the shimmer shadows all over the lid and eyeliner so I am ready and good to go in minutes!!! 





So that ends my favourites for January, I hope you enjoyed this post and that your January has gone well. Until my next post Happy Reading and Happy Shopping

Everlynne.









  

Saturday 24 January 2015

Sunday Special- Products I Regret Buying

Hey Readers, 
I hope this post finds you well!!! Today Sunday Special is something a bit different to my usual posts but one that I wish to start putting on my blog. As you know every month (almost!!) I put up a review of all my favourite products for that month.  While I rather enjoy writing these posts as it gives me an opportunity to tell you what I am loving, products that do a great job as well as giving a small review. In an effort to keep my blog predominately positive. I never tell you about the products that don't work for me or products that don't really do what they should and while I don't want to bring a lot of negativity to this blog I also believe in things being balanced, at the same time I also have been desperately  wanting to tell you about these products so you don't go and waste your dollars on them or if you are desperate to buy them regardless you are fully informed with pros and cons before you do. So this post today will be all the products that I regret buying during 2014. 




Rimmel Match Perfection Light Perfecting Radiance Foundation SPF18 
 I had heard a lot of amazing reviews about this one with the only down side seeming to be that for an oily combo girl you wouldn't necessarily get a whole days wear out of it. Even though I prefer makeup that goes on at 7am and looks good till 7pm as an oily combo girl I usually find touch ups inevitable!! The first bottle I bought was in the shade 301 Warm Honey and from what I could gather  this would be a reasonable match for me!! I wore it roughly for a week and by the end of it while I had figured out that even with my oily combo skin it wears well at the same time the colour wasn't the right match for me the shade a little too warm I looked a little over tanned. So when Chemist Warehouse had 40% off Rimmel I pounced!! And bought another two (yes you read that correctly another two!!!) This time I chose the shades 400 Natural Beige and 303 True Nude now these were better shades, both wore well, great light feel on the skin, gliding, buildable without cakeness but after another week I realised that it didn't matter what shade I wore or what powder I set with I would end the day looking slightly orange!!!  Now I don't know if it is my combo oily skin or the heat here in Queensland but I just could not make this foundation work it was disappointing but rather than risk looking like a oompa loompa this foundation has sat at the back of the draw for a while. 





Revlon Powder Blush (Matte range) 
I did not even realise that Revlon had a matte blush range until I saw these in a favourites video on youtube and while that youtuber did say not all of the colours where great she still recommended a few shades that she felt where the pick of the bunch. I bought mine from ozsale.com.au when they came up as a part of a Revlon sale each blush was between $8-10 which for Revlon is not a bad deal!!! Now the blushes are soft to touch and swatched with a finger seem silky and resonably pigmented but the colour really doesn't come off on the skin they also don't pick up well on a brush its seems to take a lot of product just for a little colour on the cheeks!! For a more expensive brand I really expected a lot more!!! 




LA Colors 3D Blush Contour and 12 Color Eyeshadow Palette.
This is a brand that I hadn't heard much about before and as everything was going cheap($2-4) on ozsale.com.au I while picked up quite a few things from the range these two where really the ones that I was disappointed about the most!! I bought them as I was looking for compact and travel friendly makeup but sadly the quality just isn't there. The 3D Blush Contour palette is ok in the respect that the blush does go on well, seems pigmented and blendable but it just does not last, a few hours after application its like it was never there. The contour side takes a lot to build up and the highlight while matte does require a small brush to get into the pan easily. As for the eye shadows its much the same story construction of the palette makes it hard to get a shadow brush into the colours and you have to use a lot of shadow to get pigmentation and even if you build the colour they don't last even with a primer!!! 






Scunci No Damage Hair Elastics
During 2014 the hair bands I have used for ages not only got new packaging but also a new price but the quality just wasn't the same!! It was look for alternatives I stumbled upon these now this is a brand I have only really seen in Priceline and Target, reviews of other items from the brand seemed good and price a little bit more than I usually pay but I thought that would be reflected in the quality, I was wrong!!! While they are made of extreamly strong elastic it makes the bands quite hard to stretch, twist and loop around a pony tail or bun and when they do finally stretch I found more often than not it would cause either the two ends of the elastic to break or the and the outer casing would stretch giving way around the glue put in place to hold the band together essentially rendering them useless. I have no positives for these sadly so over all I just wouldn't bother!!! 




Fuss Free Naturals Natural Facial Cleansing Wipes with Citrus and Pineapple
A you know I love a good makeup wipe and after discovering the Milk exfoliating wipes earlier in 2014 I was very happy to see alternate versions to try on the market. These wipes claim the will remove makeup, water proof mascara, are non greasy and non drying they also have a textured side which is said to remove dirt and makeup as well as exfoliate. The wipes themselves smell nice and have a reasonable amount of makeup remover so they are not too dry or wet but over all they don't remove a good days makeup, they struggle to remove eyeliner and mascara. As for the exfoliation side it doesn't feel rough nor does it seem to help to remove makeup. I also found that over time even if you close the packet properly they wipes dry out before the packet is done. 




Australis Pretty Pastels 4-1 Palette 
Usually I would be raving about this brand and as a general rule I would recommend snapping up any limited edition palette that they bring out but overall this is a disappointing product from Australis. The palette includes a pressed powder, blush, bronzer and three eye shadows. Overall with this palette the pigmentation of the shadows, blush and bronzer is quite good but there is a lot of fall out. The shadows while easy to apply, are extremely glittery and the colours themselves are really lost beacuse of it. The bronzer while it looks like their much loved sunkissed bronzer of their permanent line is not only quite glittery but deeper in colour, and hard to blend out. As for the powder I really expected this to be simillar to the fresh and flawless but it lacks the coverage and it easily ends up cakey. This really isn't the high quality I usually expect from Australis and hence my least favourite product in this line. 






Lust Have It 
    *Rant Alert*
This box/bag/subscription service is probably the biggest fail of 2014 and given we have nearly finished the first month of 2015 and I have not received this months probably this year as well!!! If you have seen my Instagram you will know that I gave up writing about LHI in early 2014 as I was extremely unhappy with the service and the products,  I did always intend that I would go back to blogging regularly about this product but sadly it never got any better. I now fail to see how they can still call themselves a monthly subscription service when usually its six weeks plus between boxes (and I wont go into how many excuses they have come up with for late boxes), in regards to their customer service while most companies customer email turn around time is 24-48 hours theirs is roughly 3-4days. Also last year I was contacted twice by representatives from LHI. At first they wanted to send me a free box to trail as well as inviting me to become an affiliate. I will be honest and say that while flattered to have had my blog recognised. I turned down the affiliate offer as I wanted my blog to remain impartial given at the time I was still blogging about both LHI and BB. However I did take up the offer of a free box to use in a giveaway as I thought one of my readers may want to try. They agreed with my thoughts said I would get the box within a couple of weeks. The box never showed and I found out later it was never sent!! It was then many months after that when like many others I was having problems receiving the box of the subscription I paid for that I was contacted again (by a different person) this time for feedback. 

I gave my thoughts and experiences from both a blogger perspective and a paying customer. I was told everything was taken on board but clearly nothing has changed. I think the last straw was when I went to use my points to buy a few products I have enjoyed from LHI in the full size. It seems you can only use about 40% in points of your carts $$ total at any one time, limiting the amount of points able to be spent. Now if you read the fine print LHI state: a minimum cash purchase may apply to any transaction using reward points. Lust have it! shall determine the maximum number of points that can be used on each purchase and any minimum cash expenditure required, and indicate these to the customer prior to a purchase becoming final. If you compare this to the opposition all you have to have is a spend of $40 post the amount of points used.

 Now maybe because I have been subscribed since the begging I have too high expectation of the service or the products I receive. But this service used to be better, it used to feel like a special treat every month and I used to be excited about the box that was arriving. Sadly I no longer would recommend them any more. 


So that ends my regret purchases for 2014. I hope this post helps when you are choosing products in the future. Hopefully 2015 won't bring too many regrets purchases!! So until my next post Happy reading and Happy Shopping!!
  
Everlynne.





Friday 23 January 2015

Bellabox January and December Review

Hey Readers, 
I hope this post finds you well!! I am sorry that there was no post last week but due to illness in the family I was away from home and my laptop. To make up for it I have not only today post but also a Sunday special post for tomorrow!! I hope you enjoy them both!!
OK so new year and a my first Bellabox for 2015 has arrived some interesting goodies have come my way but before I get into those I will review the last box from 2014.

December Review
 Kora Organics By Miranda Kerr Purifying Day and Night Cream
I will be honest I have not been persistent enough with this one to really notice a difference. I  haven't used it everyday for the last month like I anticipated so I am unsure whether I will ever have Miranda's glowing skin, Despite that though I have used it enough to know that its not a bad product. I have enjoyed how easily it is absorbed and how light it is on the skin. Will try harder to use it more often.

It's So Big Mascara
As you know I love mascara and this is a fairly good one. It does give great volume and I also find that I get good length as well. The only thing I don't love is that if you try a build the layers too quickly it does build excess product onto you lashes and one quite hot day here in QLD I did find it flaked a little. Overall though the wand allows for easy application and is slim enough to catch the bottom lashes as well.

Enbacci Pore Minimiser 
Not sure what I feel about this cream. Initially I was impressed at how light it was on the skin and that it absorbed well but on the whole the tea tree smell was a little over powering and I don't really feel my pores where reduced.

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash 
Was surprised by this one. Its a really face wash its gentle, foams well, cleanses and doesn't leave my skin feeling dry and tight. As an added bonus my face seems to have stayed quite clear. Very happy may buy the full size.

Kerestase Paris Nutrive Nectar Thermique 
As I said in my original post I do not heat style my hair and thus this one didn't get used eventually I will most likely gift it to some one that can use it!! 


So onto January's box now I have to say that BB did some big spoilers this month so I kinda knew some of the products that were coming having said that I am surprised that most of the products in those spoilers were included as I assumed with variation between boxes I would only get one or two. None the less they have included some great products.



Laqa and Co Lip Lube in the shade Beezlebub 
This cute metallic pink tube is the home to a light but almost berry toned pink glossy lipstick. Combining peppermint and shea butter this is an easy to apply pop of colour. While I am still unsure if a pink lip really suits me its a great inclusion and  I am happy to give this a try.





Exclusive Bellabox Makeup Pouch 
This little plastic zip topped pouch is another cute inclusion to the box. Blue with white polka dots just like the boxes we've come to know and love and able to fit those few important essentials inside. Its clear so you can see whats inside and small enough to add to any handbag!!! Its a nice change from the usual box and I think this will be a great addition to my bag this month!! 



SkinnyMint 28 Day Ultimate Teatox 
SkinnyMint is a 6 day (9 tea bags) sample pouch of this 2 steap teatox program. Said to help cleanse and energise it contains ingredients that are powerful antioxidants, nurtients and metabolism boosters. This looks like an interesting product but I am not a tea drinker though so not sure what I will do with this on maybe I will have to try them anyway!!



Wen by Chaz Dean Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner 
This cleansing conditioner is designed to hydrate and replenish hair. Moisturise, strengthen and add sheen. I have actually received this from BB before so I can already say its a decent product it really does leave your hair silky smooth so I am happy to use again.



Aveda Botanical Kinetics Purifying Gel Cleanser
A plant derived gel cleanser that says it will cleanse away impurities and help keep skin balanced. Not excited about this, products from Aveda samples really have been over done by beauty boxes of late and I am really over it, products are ok but I am starting to think they are just a filler product!! 



Dermal Therapy Heel Balm Platinum
This is the bonus product for BB this month and I have to say more interested to try this than I am to see the aveda sample!! This cream says it will help hydrate dry cracked heels and feet with results in just one day. Interested to try.



So that ends BB for January a great start for BB this year, interested to try most items and will give my review next month. Until then happy reading and happy shopping.

Everlynne. 



  




Saturday 10 January 2015

Recent Purchases!!!

Hey Readers, 
I hope this post finds you well and that your 2015 has started well. Today I am talking about a few of my most recent beauty and fashion purchases that I made just before 2014 ended. I picked up a few items that I am loving and wanted to share with you today.



Beauty Stuff!!!


Nyx Golden Horizons Gift Pack

I stumbled upon this when Target were having 30% off in the previous weeks to Christmas. Sadly the sale did not include the gift pack but I picked it up as with the prices that Nyx go for here in Aus even with the 30% it still is expensive. The Golden Horizons gift pack includes pretty much a complete look all you need to do is add your favourite base. I was so excited when I picked this up I really have been wanting to try more nyx cosmetics and I thought this the perfect way!!! The main item in this pack is the Golden Horizons 10 colour eyeshadow palette. This palette is a mix of matte and shimmer colours that are predominantly neutral with a pop pf purple added for a bit of colour. All these shadows are extremely wearable and after using it a few times its really easy to put any look together the shadows are soft, pigmented and blend well. The mascara included is the Le Chick Flick water proof mascara this apparently is their smudge proof formula with a straight wand that delivers thick and dramatic lashes. I cannot wait to try I currently already have a few mascaras on the go but it definitely is on the list to be tried next!! Eyeliner included is the nyx black eye and eye brow pencil this is a quite dark black so while I may not be using it on my brows I am happy to use it as a liner. Have not tried yet but interested to see how it goes. The blush included is the shade Apricot which is a peachy pink and gold shimmer it gives the cheeks a beautiful glow. The lipstick included is from the extra creamy line in the shade Violet Ray this is a dark vampy purple which while a little darker than I usually wear trying it out its smooth to apply and comfortable on the lips perfect for a night out!! The gloss included is the butter gloss in the shade Tiramisu this is a neutral pink that is really wearable and for me is a great my lips but better shade again like the lip stick comfortable on the lips. The last item in this pack is a nyx branded black makeup bag which inside is quite large so will definitely be handy for carrying all my makeup goodies.





If you have seen my instagram you will have already seen these next items!!! The first item I purchased where from Daisio Japan if you aren't familliar with Daisio its pretty much like a $2 store selling everything from homewares, junk food items, gardening stuff, beauty, stationary the only difference everything is $2.80!!! Bargin!! I have never shopped in this store and was amazed at just how many different products are included. I was really excited to the beauty isle and while I can't give you great descriptions of all items given most of it is in Japanese I can give a brief overview of what I bought!! The eye shadow was one of the first items I picked up it was simply for the packaging!! I just love the jewel at the top!! This cute slim line shadow is a cream windup pen applicator that goes on smooth and is a light gold shade. The Mascara while in a brown tube is black and with a straight wand it says it will give lashes volume cannot wait to see how it goes. BB face cream this I picked up in a beige shade and I am not sure if it will be the right colour but I am really interested to see what a true Asian BB cream is like. Blush this is a multicolour blush that has two shimmer shades and two matte shades. These next items are from Priceline I couldn't help but pick up a few items in Priceline before their pink dot sale ended. From covergirl I picked up the Flamed out 2 in 1 shadow liner in the shade 350 melted caramel and the lashblast bombshell shine shadow in the shade 325 copper fling I have really been wanting travel friendly, quick and easy to apply shadows. As well as shadows that I can apply add liner, mascara and go. I am also hoping they will make for good shadow bases. From one of the new Essence trend edition Beach Cruisers I picked up the blush in the shade 01 I heart summer break this is one of their mutlicolour gradient blushes that has a gorgeous peach to pink spectrum it does have a slight shimmer as well. 







The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Africa Ximenia and Salt Scrub 

This was a complete impulse buy on my part. I used this scrub many years ago and loved it but being body shop and a part of their spa wisdom collection it was on the pricey side so I never repurchased. But I was in the body shop recently looking for a gift and just had to pick up the tester of this one, the smell is amazing!!! it was at this moment a sales person pointed out to me that there has been a price reduction from $49.95 to $37.95 I was sold!! This is a being a salt scrub it is better used on dry skin and while it is a little hard to spread at first as it warms up it does get easier it leaves your skin soft, smooth, feeling fabulous and smelling gorgeous. 



Amazing Face by Zoe Forster

This was a Christmas gift but I just had to include it. I have wanted a makeup inspired book for a while and have looked at this but have never picked it up but always put it on the Birthday and Christmas list and finally my other half bought it. Its a great book that gives many tips and tricks on makeup as well as going through skin care, body and hair its also quite and entertaining read.




Non Beauty Stuff
Mimco
Originally I had gone into Mimco wanting to look at their new packables range as I have been wanting a new overnight/weekender bag. The packable bag while great just wasn't going to be spacious enough for my needs so I went looking for another alternative. Now if your a fan of Mimco you will look at this and say but that's a baby bag!! Yes yes it is but the space inside, pockets on the inside and outside makes it the perfect weekender bag for me and I used this the day after I bought it and I have to say its my best buy yet!!






So that ends all the goodies I have bought before we said good bye to 2014. I cannot wait to share my future thoughts on this and if you wish to see a specific review on any of this please comment below or on my instagram!!! Until next post happy reading and happy shopping!!!

Everlynne.