Currently Roadtesting: New Skincare

I am the biggest "Phase Girl" you will ever meet! I am the type to obsess over lipstick, and thus only purchase lip products for a two month period, and then decide to obsess over shoes (and the pattern continues). It seems my brain in completely incapable of focussing on more than one product type at any given time. Enter: MY SKINCARE PHASE!

I would say, I have an obsessive skincare moment about once a year, where I overhaul my current skincare routine, and review what is working and what could be swapped out for a new product. My mum started me on a basic three step skincare routine back when I was around 11. I never had problem skin, in fact I have been incredibly lucky as far as skin goes, but I thank my mum (and my "Ten-O-Six" thee step program) every day for instilling good skincare habits early on.

I have been currently obsessed with Caroline Hiron's blog. She is an absolute wealth of information on skin and is incredibly honest, which I love. Her BeautyMouth blog has really inspired me to amp up my current skincare routine, and introduce a few new processes and products to really achieve as much as I can from my skin.

With that little intro out of the way, here are the products I am currently testing to see whether they deserve a rightful place in my beauty cabinet.

Hydraluron by Indeed Labs
My main skincare concern is dull lacklustre skin and also preventative anti ageing. This product is a pure hyarulonic acid treatment, which I have been using morning and night after I cleanse. Hyarulonic Acid is a hydrating acid, which is great keeping the skin super hydrated which in turn will help in minimising fine lines.

Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm by Emma Hardie
I have been intrigued by cleaning balms for some time now, with all of the hype surrounding the Eve Lom Cleanser. This Emma Hardie cleanser, does not contain any nasties such as mineral oil (I am looking at YOU Eve Lom!) and the texture really helps to cut through all of the product on your skin. I plan on using this as a first cleanse in the evening.

Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask by Origins
Upon my recent trip to The States, I was stalking the Korres Sleeping Mask in every Sephora I saw, with no avail. I did however stumble across this baby, which is half the price of the Korres one. Win! I love the idea of sleeping with a mask on, and I also think this will be AMAZING on planes, where I find my skin becomes very dehydrated (as everyone's does I suppose). PS this is smells absolutely delicious. Fruity, yummy, deliciousness.

Anthelios XL 50+ Exteme Fluid by La Roche-Posay
I recently discovered that moisturisers with SPF contain predominately SPF, and minimal, anti ageing, hydrating and whatever else benefits. Apparently SPF takes up a lot of "space" (?) in a moisturiser, so all of the other ingredients are very minimal and are probably not having an effect. I have thus decided to apply a separate moisturiser and SPF. This is my new SPF. It is lightweight and doesn't give you a grey mask. Also, did you realise that the 15+ SPF in your moisturiser only lasts 1.5 hours? I don't know about you but I am not reapplying my SPF thoughout the day on my face. That would involve foundation smearing, in which I will say a very firm NO to.

Beauty Elixir by Caudelie
This seems like a bit of a "fluff" product, but I am intrigued all the same. The Beauty Elixir is kind of a toning mist which helps the skin glow. It can be applied before or after makeup, and throughout the day. I am all for the glow, in case you haven't noticed, and really cannot get enough of the divine botanical "spa" scent of this product.

I will possibly review these products in upcoming posts as I use them more and really form a proper opinion.



Jen xox

Hit or Miss: Cult Status Vol 2

Today is part two in my Cult Product series, where I review much loved items in the beauty community and share my experiences good and bad. Today's round up I have had mostly positive experiences with. Please remember these are just my opinions, and if something does not work for me, it doesn't mean it does not work. These are all best selling items I am reviewing over this series so they are all clearly working for a lot of people. 

 

Sigma Brushes
Sigma brushes were originally released with the same numbering system as Mac. This was helpful as it made it really easy to compare like brushes across the Mac and Sigma lines. Sigma have since developed their own numbering system, I suppose to try and create a distinct stand alone brand image for themselves. I originally purchased a basic eye kit from Sigma, and it did serve me well at the time, but I really was lacking a few key brushes. I ended up purchasing the Mr Bunny Kit, which has a range of face and eye brushes made with the Sigmax technology. From my research, Sigmax is an exclusive synthetic filament developed by Sigma, which is said to create a more flawless high definition finish to the makeup application. I actually can notice a big difference between my Mr Bunny brushes versus my original eye kit, which is really just a little meh in comparison. I cannot explain exactly what it is, but I just find that the Mr Bunny brushes are softer, hold their shape much more, and blend better. All Sigma brushes are synthetic so they are great to use if you are Vegan or just looking for a more affordable alternative to Mac brushes. The synthetic filaments also lend themselves well to the application of cream products. Natural fibres are hollow and tend to suck in the product so you are not receiving the most economical application.

Do I Recommend? I recommend the brushes with Sigmax technology. I would personally skip the other brushes as there are definitely better quality alternatives out there.

NYX Mega Shine Lip Glosses
At circa $5-$6 these glosses seem like a no brainer right? If you are looking for a juicy lip gloss with a sheer lip tint, at a bargain price, then look no further! I will be honest, I actually prefer these glosses to my Mac Dazzleglass and Lip Gelees which I have spoken about previously. The formula is not at all sticky and is of surprising quality for the pricepoint. The pigmentation is sheer but is lovely on top of a lipstick. There are a few glittery glosses in the range, but I prefer the non glitters. My favourites are Nude Pink and Nude Peach. The taste is the only real potential issue with this gloss. I personally do not mind it- it taste like Cherry Starburst which I love! But I have heard a lot of negative reviews on the taste so it really isn't for everyone.

Do I recommend? Yes, but do your research on the colours as they are not of equal quality. My recommendations are the Nude Pink, Nude Peach and Beige (which isn't beige at all!)

Benefit They're Real Mascara 
Did you know 1 of these mascaras is sold every 10 seconds apparently? Crazy right? I am a big fan of lengthening mascaras so I was very intrigued by Benefit's claims surrounding this product. 

According to a consumer panel survey conducted by Benefit
94% saw dramatic length and volume
90% saw base to tip curl
94% saw visible lift
100% saw long wearing results

Of course we can't all believe marketing hype and I usually quite skeptical of these kinds of claims. I mean, what mascara DOESN'T claim the above? I decided to try it for myself, being a big fan of Maybelline The Falsies at the time, I felt like they had big shoes to fill. The result? WOW! I have never had a mascara that curls, lengthens and volumises all in one, and it is the blackest of blacks. The formula is not too wet like The Falsies, and I do not find that I have any clumping issues. (I usually apply two coats). My favourite part about this product is that my lashes STAY CURLED. This is quite a feat considering my left side lashes are stubbornly straight  They're Real is hands down my H.G mascara. It is just a pity it is so pricey ($38 in Australia) If you purchase on the Benefit website, prices are in line with America, however you need to spend $120 to obtain free shipping, (not hard to do, but annoying if you only want mascara). 

Do I recommend? ummmmm duh!

Nars Blush in Orgasm 
This product needs no introduction, and I have in fact already spoken about this product in my Nars Swatch Post LINK. For a fuss free everyday cheek that suits everybody, peachy pink Orgasm is a good one to have in the collection for many looks, day, evening, summer, winter, the possibilities are endless. The pigmentation is great as is with all Nars blushes in my experience however,  there is quite a bit of shimmer to this blush, so if you are not one for goldy shimmer I would steer clear. I love this blush for low maintenance days and I find that I do not need to apply a highlighter when I use this product, as the shimmer lends itself enough glow for me with the shimmer particles, so it is also good if you want a minimalistic makeup collection. 

Do I recommend? Yes, especially if you are not a blush junkie and just want one blush to work across all looks. 

Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle 
My favourite highlighter to date! This peachy pink Mac wonder has attracted a lot of attention over the years, and for good reason. Sweeping this product on the high plains of one's face will instantly lift the complexion and give a healthy glow, without being too glittery or frosty. I also love sweeping this product across the eye in the summertime, for an easy fuss free eye look, on the days I am not in the mood to create a layered and contoured eye. Yes this product is pricey, but you definitely get your money's worth. In Australia this product is $55 and the States is $30, but the container holds 10 grams of product. I have been using my Soft and Gentle religiously for the past year and a bit, and I have barely made a dent in this pretty swirled dome shaped product. 

Do I recommend? Yes! This is my HG highlighter so far in my highlighter journey! 

Please feel free to share your experiences with these products in the comments section. I love hearing other peoples reviews and experiences good and bad. 


Jen xox

Fab Find! Affordable Nail Sprinkles

I have long lusted after the gorgeous Caviar Manicure and the like from Ciate, but just have not been able to bring myself to make the $35ish investment on such a fad. It was just last weekend my sister and I were torturing ourselves once again over whether or not we should try it out. Alas, our self control prevailed. (Well done self control). Later that day we wandered into Sportsgirl, which is a high street clothing chain for those of you non Australians. Perusing the makeup section, what did we come across? NAIL SPRINKLES! I am not going to lie, I was PEAKING! At $7.95 the price is absolutely right! The sprinkles come in both glitter (hello glitter accent nail!) and my favourite, beads, or nail caviar, just like Ciate!

The colour range is quite good also (LINK). I purchased the Black sprinkles and Rose Gold glitter, but the sprinkles also come in Neon, Pink, Silver and Multi (Nails that look like cupcakes? I will take it!). The range also extends to tiny metallic hearts which are adorable as well.

I also rate the packaging. The little plastic pots are just precious and there is plenty of room for nail dipping, so they are not just cute, but very functional.

I am fairly certain Sportsgirl ship worldwide so anyone can jump onboard this fab find! I know I will be going back this weekend to see if any other colours are in stock!

PS: Apologies for the very substandard image. My lighting and camera were just not working as one tonight. : (

Jen xox

Drugstore Foundation of the Moment

Rimmel have been knocking it out of the park lately with an array of new releases that I just cannot get enough of. The front runner of these is the Wake Me Up Foundation.

I have mentioned before, my main skin concern is dull lacklustre appearance, so the "anti-fatigue effect and radiant glow"claim really grabbed my attention there in Priceline. I am normally quite the drugstore foundation skeptic, and in my previous experience, this hesitance is well warranted. I am pleased to announce that this foundation has proved my theory wrong, and has thus become a drugstore favourite, and dare I say it, potential Holy Grail contender.

The coverage is light to medium, but absolutely buildable. I find it easy to apply with both foundation buffing brush and fingers, and the more I rub in the formula, the more amazing it becomes. This foundation finishes very natural as a radiant healthy glow which is perfect for day to day wear. There are tiny particles of shimmer throughout the formula, but honestly when I buff this into my skin, the shimmer goes away. I promise, you will not look like a disco ball!

I find this foundation has a reasonable longevity. I have an oily nose (thanks Dad), so this is really where I notice the foundation wearing off during the course of the day. I will often apply my Smashbox Photoready Primer prior to the Wake Me Up, which really gives a flawless finish paired together. I will finish off my base with my Mac Mineralise Skin Finish Natural in Medium. This combination, really helps to extend the wear of this foundation and this is my go to base look for everyday at the moment.

The scent is a fresh citrusy fragrance, which I do not mind. I think Rimmel have added this as a part of the whole "wake me up" experience, given that citrus scents are energising. The packaging isn't too bacd. I like the glass bottle and the pump applicator, but the plastic lid doesn't blow me away. Alas, this is from the drugstore, I can't have everything for a $19.95 pricepoint!

The only downside to this product, which doesn't really affect me, is the colour range. While I do not expect a super vast spectrum of colours such that you would see of a high end brand, six colours is somewhat limiting for some. Luckily for me Shade 103 True Ivory is pretty much perfection.

Overall, I absolutely recommend this product. If I was given a blind test, I could easily have said this was a higher end product. It is THAT good. Aussie girls, keep an eye out for Chemist Warehouse and My Chemist, because I have caught this product on 50% sales at these stores a couple of times now, in which case I stock up!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation offers 30ml of product and contains an SPF of 15.


Jen xox

Michael Todd True Organic Skincare- A Review

You have no doubt noticed since the beginning of the year the internet has been littered with rave reviews on Michael Todd True Organics. There are two reasons for this: 1. is that a mass promotional activity was carried out, whereby every beauty guru out there was sent a selection of products. 2: apparently they are really THAT good. 

Wellllllllllll, a few months ago, sold on all of the reviews, I made a purchase from the website and eagerly awaited my products. And I waited, and waited and waited and after a month, I queried my case with customer service and they lovely rep I emailed, straight away, resent my order no problems at all. (Customer service is seriously the best asset a company can have!). Finally after around two months these products were in my hot little hands and I could not have been more excited.

For those of you who are not aware, Michael Todd is a beauty brand, whose focus is organic skincare. They have an array of products to suit all skincare types, at very keen pricepoints. There are also dozens of 20% coupon codes floating around Google-Land so you can save money on the already low prices. Not only, when I opened the box of goodies, I was shocked at the size of these products. The only way I can think to describe them is novelty sized....in a larger sense. The serum and eye cream in particular dwarfed my other treatments in the beauty cabinet, and the toner was only just tall enough to fit my shelf space. Win win? Well, after using these products for a few weeks, I had mixed feelings...

HIT!
Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfolient Scrub
I love a good scrub, and this is no exception.The consistency is very fine like sand almost, so it is low irritant. The best part is that it totally works! This scrub, which I like to rotate with my Lush Ocean Salt makes my skin baby soft and smooth. The scent is quite fruity, but it does not really do much for me. The fact that the entire Michael Todd line is organic was a major draw card for me, as I am trying to minimise, nasties such as parabens, sulfates and mineral oil.

Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut RBD) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Wax Beads, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Emulsifying Wax, Palm Stearic Acid, Walnut Shell Powder, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Limonum (Lemon) Essential Oil, Organic Carica Papaya (Green Papaya) Extract, Organic Ananas Comosus (Pineapple) Extract, Organic Carica Papaya (Papaya) Extract, Citrus Sinensis (Orange, Sweet) Essential Oil, Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Sodium Benzoate, Glucolactone, Pyrus Cydonia (Quince) Juice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Extract, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane), Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Puree, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid.

MEH...
Blue Green Algae Antibacterial Toner
I have quite clear skin as it is, so I really think this product did not blow me away as I did not really need it? I am usually quite skeptical on toners with my skin, as I have never really had much of a use for them. I purchased this one, as I read reviews, where people claimed that this did wonders for their skin even though it was already clear (much like me). Alas, I am back to not using a toner as once again, there seemed to be no effect. I want to send this to my sister, as I think she would really benefit from this product.

Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Leaf Juice, Ascophyllum Nodosum (Organic Kelp) Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos Aquae (Organic Blue Green Algae) Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Salix Nigra (Black Willowbark) Extract, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Sodium Chloride (Dead Sea Salt), Polysorbate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Essential Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Glucolactone, Citric Acid, Lavendula Angustifolia (Certifed Organic) Hydrosol.

MISS!
Intensive Organic Cream Eye Treatment
I was really disappointed with this product as I think it was broken when I received it. When I try to dispense the product, it seems to come out of every crevice imaginable, except for the hole it is supposed to, so that was already a huge inconvenience. In terms of the quality of the product, it is not really my preference.The consistency is quite thin and I personally prefer a thicker eye cream so I am not really a fan. The scent however, is just divine! It is that botanical scent, I like to call the "spa smell". I cannot get enough! Unfortunately this product just has not worked for me. 

Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Olea Europaea (Organic Olive) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Oil, Lavendula Angustifolia (Organic Lavender) Distillate, Emulsifying Wax, Palm Stearic Acid, Lavandula X Intermida ‘Super’ Extract, , Aspalathus Lineans (Organic Rooibos Tea) Tincture, , Oenotheris Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Punica Granatum (Organic Pomegranate) Tincture, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Hyaluronic Acid,Eyeliss® (3%), Haloxyl® (3%), Copper peptide GHK-Cu (Copper tripeptide-1), Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis (Organic Calendula) Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aqua (Blue Green Algae) Tincture, Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Citric Acid.

Hyraluronic Acid+C Antioxidant Moisturising Serum
I was attracted to this serum for two reasons, the first being that it contains super hydrating hyraluronic acid, and secondly, I love vitamin C enriched skincare to help brighten my sometimes lacklustre complexion. Once again I was a little underwhelmed by this product. The constancy,  like the eye cream was just a little thin for my liking and I found this product did not absorb as quickly as I would have liked. In addition, I can always tell the next morning, when I have used a serum the night before  but with this serum, the results just were not there. 

Ingredients
Rosa Damascena (Rose) Distillate, Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe Vera) Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), Emulsifying Wax, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam Seed) Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Organic Bilberry) Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Organic Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharinum (Organic Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Auranium Dulcis (Organic Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Organic Lemon) Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Organic Cranberry) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Phenoxyethanol, CoQ10, Beta Carotene (Pro Vitamin A), Retinol Palmitate (Vitamin A), Alpha Lipoic Acid (DL- Thioctic Acid), Dl-Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Daucus Carota (Carrot) Oil, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Rosa Damascena (Rose) Absolute, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Glucolactone, Citric Acid.

Despite my mixed success, I definitely recommend the scrub and I really like the brand's message in general in regards to the clean skincare at an affordable price. The above views as just my opinions and experiences, and everyone's skin is different. If anyone wants to try the products, the code I used was acnefree. This is not a affiliate link for myself, I found it on another blog, so it may be affiliated with somebody else.

Jen xox

A Hair Affair: Every Girl Needs One of These STAT!

So I finally did it. I bit the bullet and decided purchase some elastic ribbon hair ties that are suddenly everywhere. Upon a recent trip to Sephora a metallic pack of these bad boys caught my eye, and being the crazy magpie I am with an insatiable affinity for anything shiny,  I just couldn't pass them up.

I really do not understand how I took so long to purchase these. I am in L.O.V.E. Not only do they come in adorable colours (aren't we over the matching elastic to hair scenario anyway?), but they actually work, which surprised me somewhat. I will admit, I have the finest hair on earth, so I cannot speak for all of you beauties with lush thick locks, but these really did hold my hair to an unexpected degree. To be honest, lately I have found my standard little ring elastics have not been serving me well during gym classes or running, and I have been growing increasingly frustrated, having to constantly tie and retie my ponytail. The Ribbon Tie Elastics have a lot more elastic to make more loops around your do, so they hold up very well.

Another feature fine hair girls especially will appreciate, is that they do not break your hair! For years and years I used to train as a dancer, so my hair was constantly up in an ponytail or the likes and I found over time, especially after I went full time, I had a little halo of broken hairs when my hair was out from the harsh hair elastics, exactly in the genral area of where my ponytail would otherwise sit. Not happy! Luckily these little babies are much softer and kinder to your hair, and bonus point if you wear your hair up at night,  they will not give you that annoying ponytail bump when you wake up in the morning. Bless!

So I am sure you can gather for this spiel that I am a fan of ribbon tie elastics, and could not recomend them more. Yes they are more expensive (around $10 at Sephora), but highly highly worth it in my humble opinion. 

Jen xox

Popping My Back2Mac Cherry- Mini Reviews

Okay, so the statement that I am about to make may sound a little extreme...I am about to make my very first Back2Mac swap! Yes I know, I know this probably should have happened a long long time ago given my level of Mac addiction. What can I say, I buy all of my shadows in their pan form when I can and I just don't really use up my lipsticks at a rapid pace. I feel as though if I was an avid user of Mac foundations, I may accumulate products much more frequently but alas, I am a Back2Mac virgin. Before I take my items in for the swap, I thought I would share my thoughts on each products and whether I would repurchase etc. 

Dazzleglass in Sublime Shine
I was given a Mac Illustrated by Julie Verhoeven gift set by a colleague a year ago and one of the products inside was this Dazzleglass Shine Lipgloss. For starters, my colleague must know me better than I think because peachy corals are my kryptonite! I have more lip products in this colour family than I care to own up to. I find it to be the perfect everyday shade that matches the majority of my makeup looks. That being said, obviously I really enjoyed this product. The formula was really long lasting, and I found I was not constantly reapplying like some other lip products I own (Australis Mint Condition Lip Gloss I am looking at you). The pigment was quite sheer, so it works well over a lipstick, but the high gloss and sparkly formula lends itself well to working solo also. I really loved the packaging, it just felt...expensive! The little glass tube was well weighted and I also loved the tiny brush applicator. All in all, I loved this product, however I probably will not repurchase in a hurry. The Dazzleglasses hover around a $43 price point in Australia which is just crazy. If I pay that much for a gloss it needs to be LIFECHANGING, and for now my NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Nude Peach is serving my peach fetish just fine, 

Lip Gelee in Lou Be Lou
Would you believe this was given to me as a party favour at an engagement party? (!) Amazing right? Now THAT is one party favour I can get on board with, no poxy ceramic animals here peeps! This is actually the second Lip Gelee I have owned. The last one being back in my teenage years. I have to say, I like this product, but I am not in love and probably will not repurchase in a hurry. The formula is super smooth and glossy and the longevity is quite good. There is nothing really wrong with this gloss per say, I have just out grown it I suppose and found better glosses. I also prefer a doe foot applicator versus applying directly to my lips. I feel like I have more control, but that is just my personal preference. 

Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in NW20 
Hmmm so this foundation was.....fine. Just fine. I didn't love, nor did I hate it, but with foundations I am generally looking for that wow factor where your skin glows and life all just falls into place with the wave of a foundation brush. This really fell short. I really do not have a lot to say on this product other than it was just a little meh. I wont be repurchasing,. and I am put off Mac foundations as a result. I have found much better alternatives both high end and drug store. One thing I have to say is that I really dislike the packaging. It is a little pet peeve of mine when foundation comes in a glass bottle, because you never use it all up and then you feel wasteful. At least with my Napoleon China Doll I could cut the tube in half when it became empty. I don't know if it is weird, but I have such satisfaction from scraping every last morsel of product from a container. 

Lipstick in Creme Cup 
I cannot say enough good things about this lipstick! Put it this way, I purchased this tube less than a year ago, and I have already finished. It is THAT good. I have heard mixed reviews in the beauty community regarding this colour. Some love it, some not so much. I am firmly on Team Love! In fact I would go as far as to say this is definitely in my Top 5 if not Top 3 Mac lipsticks. It is the prettiest pale nude pink colour. I find you can achieve that pale pink lip without looking washed out-at least on my skin tone (NW20). It is a great colour with a bold smokey eye especially, in fact this was one of my favourite ways to wear it. I also love it on a daily basis to wear on weekends and to work. The formula is of the Creme Sheen variety which is my favourite (together with Amplified) and I found the longevity was medium. I would repurchase this product over and over. 

Cranberry and Bronze Shadows 
I have to admit, this last one is cheating a little. I haven't used these shadows up, but Myer do not stock the pan form of the shadows and I had a gift card so I made the resolve purchase the full shadow and depot them when I was home. I do really like both of these shadows. Cranberry is unlike any shadow I own and is the most perfect shade of pinky red. I love smoking this shadow out for a smoky eye with a twist. Tanya Burr actually has a tutorial featuring this shadow blended with Club that I am just OBSESSED with. Check it out HERE. 

 Bronze is a great basic neutral metallic shade that every Mac addict needs in her collection. I find it to be a great autumnal shade and it pairs really well with Cranberry. 

So that is my rundown of used up products I am swapping out. I really like the initiative behind the Back2Mac program. It not only promotes recycling and being green, but it is not very often large companies really give back to their loyal customers (at least in my experience).

Jen xox

Leather Nails? Unleash Your Inner Catwoman...

Left to Right Nails Inc Leather Effect Polish in Clerkenwell, Dalston and Noho

 Over the last couple of months, I have been experimenting with some special effect nail polishes. With 90s nail art back with a vengeance  a few nail companies, have gone above and beyond to produce a new breed of nail polish which experiments with instant texture, (hello Ciate caviar and velvet manis). There has been one texture effect that I have been particularly intrigued by and that is Nail Inc's Leather Polishes. Now I will admit, I have quite the soft spot for leather. Give me a jacket, short, skirt, tank, dress, pant, bag or shoe and you can bet money that I will be wearing one of the aforementioned at any given time. At this point I am sure you are probably envisioning me as a creepy biker chick with tatts and piercings EVERYWHERE! I am really not, I just really love playing up textures in my ensembles, and my nails are no exception! 

After that love letter to leather, I am sure you can imagine my excitement when I learned that there were leather effect nail polishes available for sale. I quickly tracked these down (HERE) after reading about them on Fleur De Force's blog, and thus made my first purchase. I decided to pick up Noho (black) first since it is the most like leather although I was strongly tempted by the divine cream hue Clerkenwell, as images of the summertime danced through my head and the perfection of cream leather nails was almost too much for my self control. Alas, I resisted, and my Noho polish arrived only days later. Now, don't judge me, when I received this parcel at work, I IMMEDIATELY ripped it open as if it were Christmas day and I was 5 years old, and set to work painting my nails with my new polish. (yes I attracted a few odd looks, luckily working in fashion, I can semi get away with certain things). I found the brush a little clunky and large, making it difficult to work with, but after two coats I watched in amazement as my nails started to develop a pebbled effect! I wouldn't say, oh my god it's EXACTLY like leather, or anything, but the pebbled effect coupled with the matte finish definitely semi resembles leather, and nonetheless is kind of cool. I found the black wore really well also. I wore the polish for a week or so before it chipped. Being the WORST nail painter in the universe, to the point that even my partner complains about it, I love that the formula, while difficult to work with, covers a multitude of sins one the leather effect comes into play. 

Upon a recent trip to New York, I found myself in Sephora Fifth Ave and a nail stand caught my eye. Upon investigation, I discovered that they had the leather nail polish in Clerkenwell that I had obsessed over so much, but also it was in stock in a periwinkle shade Dalston! (I have an odd obsession with periwinkle at the moment, so this was too much to handle!). Without thinking twice, these two items were tossed into my shopping basket and I was on my way. 

I have since road tested both of these colours and wear tested them on separate occasions. Here are my findings, and my ultimate conclusion for the Nail Inc Leather Effect Nail Polishes broken down into a classic Pros and Cons list! 

Pros 
Noho wore really well 
Despite the clunky brush, the "effect" covered up most streakiness for Dalston and Noho
No need for top coat 
Two coats are you are done 

Cons 
I really do despise that brush. It is so hard to do a neat job, I end up being frustrated. 
Clerkenwell! It did not finish as well as the other two colours, the gritty texture attracted dirt, it chipped within a day or two, and it was streaky 
The packaging is super tacky. I really dislike the lid how they have  made it from vinyl to emphasise the fact that is is a "leather effect" product, (PS we get it already!) The colour of the lid clashes badly with the colour of the formula which makes it look cheap and the sticky tape used to seal the container, took off the vinyl on my periwinkle bottle so now it looks extra awful. 

Clerkenwell- As you can see the application is not smooth, it attracted staining and also chipped after one day

In conclusion, while I do like the Noho a lot and Dalston, while pretty, I could easily go without. I do not recommend Clerkenwell at all, and to be perfectly honest, my experience with it has put a bad taste in my mouth for the entire line now. It is reasonably inexpensive, so i think these polishes (ahem, Noho) are worth trying out if you want to mix it up, but they are definitely a novelty and I would not recommend investing heavily into the line like yours truly. In saying that however, I am very intrigued by the Holographic in Westbourne Park HERE and Concrete Effect in Monument HERE. Stay tuned...

Jen xox

Hit or Miss: Cult Status Vol 1

 I am going to start a little series which details my experiences with certain "cult" beauty items much coveted in the beauty community. If you are reading this blog, then you probably have heard many a "beauty guru" rave about the products I talk to in these posts. Please keep in mind, the views below are purely just my opinions and experiences. These products are highly coveted for a reason, if something really has not worked for me, it doesn't necessarily make it a bad product, it just means it is not for me. I hope some of my below explanations and recommendations are somewhat helpful. It seems that every other week there is a new "must have" item, and so much money can be wasted constantly chasing the latest and greatest. Some cult products have become an absolute staple in my routine, and some just sit in my vanity never to see the light of day. 

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Chi Chi Glamorous Nudes Palette

Urban Decay Naked Palette 1 and 2

These palettes are marketed to be the ultimate neutral palette. I have not heard of a single beauty buff out there who does not own at least one of these babies. The first palette is warm toned with rich neutral hues, and the second is cool toned with taupes etc. I have to admit, I was a little slow on the uptake with these palettes. Urban Decay is not available in Australia any more (thanks David Jones), and the hunt for this palette actually lead me to the discovery of my favourite online beauty mecca Beauty Bay. I only own the first palette currently and have been resisting the purchase of the second one for some time now, because I LOVE NAKED PALETTE! I hear you say, I own a lot of neutral shadows already, why invest $50 in MORE neutral shadows?" Well, in my opinion, if you own THAT many good quality neutrals  then I would skip this palette. However, if you are looking for a one stop shop for neutral shadows, containing predominately shimmer  but also some matte shades, which can take you from day to night, then this palette is for you! This is generally the only palette I travel with. I cannot speak for the second palette, but the first palette is quite lightweight. Much more portable than my clunky Mac 15 Shadow palettes. There is a reason this is the highest selling palette of all time. The shadows are the creamiest consistency and have great pigmentation and longevity. Even cheeky Australian brand Chi Chi have attempted an, ahem, "version" of this palette also (pictured) Similar no?? 

Would I recommend?? Absolutely, but you do not necessarily need both. Pick the palette you are more drawn to. If you like cool tones on your eyes, choose the Naked 2. If you are more of a warm toned beauty, then the Naked 1 is for you. 

Moroccan Oil 

This one have been around for some time now, and it still has a large following. I turned to Moroccan Oil years ago, when my hair suddenly appeared to be INCHES shorter seemingly overnight. Upon questioning my hair stylist at the time, she informed me that my hair was that damaged, the ends had all broken off, making my hair shorter. Gasp! So much for all of the growth progress I had made. She recommended Moroccan Oil to me to keep the ends in tip top shape. I hadn't heard of Moroccan Oil at the time. I think it was quite new on the market but since it's release, it has become such a buzz product in haircare it has inspired most brands to develop a version of argan oil for their own lines. My hair was never as healthy as when I was using this product, and despite the hefty price point, I couldn't recommend this product more highly. I have tried one other hair oil treatment on the market:  Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment, which I find really weighs down my fine hair. I have since found an alternate way to use this product so it works for me, but it is absolutely not a replacement for Moroccan Oil. 

Would I Recommend? Without hesitation 

                                   

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara
The Falsies mascara by Maybelline has accrued such a following since it's release, Maybelline have released additional versions of the formula such as The Falsies Black Drama and The Falsies Flared. Every beauty guru and her pony have sung the praises for this mascara and I have definitely been a convert for many years now. I stumbled upon this mascara when it was first released in Australia. Not really having a go to mascara at that point, I picked this one up thinking maybe it was a fibre mascara (hence "The Falsies"). Despite my misguided attraction to the product, I grew to love the way it made my lashes look so long and thick. I especially loved how this product curled my lashes without a lash curler ( I was lash curler-less for a time following an unfortunate incident, where my faulty lash curler pulled out half of my lash line!). I used this mascara religiously for years until I came across my HG Benefit They're Real. The only criticism I have for The Falsies is that the product is a little wet and tends to clump the lashes for the first week or two of use, which is annoying. However if you can manage to push past this phase, this is when the magic happens! If you like a thickening, lengthening and curling mascara the The Falsies is for you. 

Would I Recommend? If you cannot move past the "wet" formula, and do not really want to "break in" your mascara, I recommend Covergirl Clump Crusher or Benefit They're Real. To be perfectly honest, while I do love this product, there are mascaras out there that are just as amazing and are amazing from the moment you open the tube



Revlon Lip Butters 
I have to say, I was quite intrigued by the Revlon Lip Butters. With their balm-come-lipstick formula that promised  the moisturisation of a balm with the colour payoff of a lipstick, how could I not be? I will not lie, but I was also totally seduced by the adorable coloured translucent tubes and large array of colours in the range. In Australia, I thought the $19.95 ish price point was quite high, but I waited patiently for Priceline to put them on promotion before I excitedly walked up to the counter and made my first purchase. Strawberry Shortcake was the colour I decided on, not wanting to invest too heavily in the collection before trialling the product. It was Summer and this girly pink hue was simply perfect. I wore this lip butter religiously for a few days. The staying power was amazing and I found I really didn't have to reapply that often, which made it perfect for work. Then it happened...the last thing that I expected from a BALM type lipstick. My lips became SO dry and cracked it was horrendous. I decided to blame the weather, since EVERYBODY was obsessed with this product and talked non stop about how moisturising it is, including my very own sisters! I made a few more attempts to wear this product, but I continuously found that by the end of the day, that same icky dryness was rearing it's ugly head. With a heavy heart I resigned this product to the depths of my lip drawer, never to be reached for again. 

Would I recommend? Wellllllllllll not really, but everyone seems to think this lip butter is super moisturising so by all means give it a try. 

Maybelline Colour Tattoos
The Colour Tattoos from Maybelline have received a lot of love from the beauty community since their release. These cream shadow bases proved to be a great drugstore competitor for Mac's Paint Pots and a much better alternative to Stila's Smudge Pots (which I find dry out after a few weeks). They were released in a good range of colours including one neutral in a taupe as well as metallics (Hello Bold Gold and Bad to the Bronze) and a few colours in teal, ruby, violet and jade for more specialised eye looks. They have since released a few more shades which include a champagne hue, which I thought was strange that they missed in the first release since it is such a basic. I feel like they are still missing a good skin coloured neutral for your everyday looks. This is where the Mac Paint Pots are better in my opinion. The formulation for the Colour Tattoo Base is creamy and easy to apply and has a good longevity. I do find the Mac Paint Pots to have a smoother creamier constancy, but the Colour Tattoos are half the price and a really great product. 

Would I Recommend?  Yes, but I still prefer my Mac Paint Pot in Bare Study for everyday and basic eye looks since the consistency is so smooth and creamy and the skin coloured shade helps to even out your skin tone on your eyelids. Stock up in the Colour Tattoos in the brights and metallics. They are great to have on hand to amp up your eye look. Save your money on these specialised shades over the Paint Pots, the quality is great and they are much more affordable. 

So as I mentioned before, the above opinions are just based on my personal experiences. I am in no way saying you should or should not buy a product, but I think sometimes it is helpful to hear two sides to a story before making a decision. ( For the bad ones at least, although I gave most of the above a rave review so never mind! ). Stay tuned for more instalments in this series are I work my way through my vast collection of so-called "must have" products.

Jen xox

Hotel Beauty Products WORTH Taking Home

G

Like many a girl, I have always had a fascination with New York City. This intrigue was embedded long before the days of Sex and the City and Gossip Girl. I just always knew I had to visit and in a perfect scenario, live in the Big Apple. Unfortunately I still am yet to live in my beloved city, however I was blessed to take a long overdue holiday recently and thus ended up travelling through US and Mexico, which of course included, New York, New York baby!

With stars in my eyes, we landed in the great city and travelled to our hotel. Despite just stepping off a sleepless red eye flight, I was peppy as ever, eager to explore the fabled streets. Much to my dismay we spent that entire first day (and I mean at LEAST 6 hours!) sitting in a hotel lobby in Midtown, (of which said hotel will remain nameless) whilst the check in staff had my partner and I on standby waiting for our room (which we booked SIX MONTHS ago) to be cleaned. 

My high spirits were quickly dwindling as we sat wasting the day. Upon the fourth or fifth time that we checked whether or not the room was ready, we were met with the response, "I am so sorry Ma'am, but it looks like you cannot stay here tonight , as we have had an unforeseen emergency with our rooms". My blood boiled with the vague excuse and images of a crack den of a last minute substitute hotel swirled in my mind. This was NOT my New York fairytale! Holding back tears and ultimately deflated on such a wasted day, I half-heartedly listened as the staff member continued on, "We are going to send you to The Plaza tonight instead". My little 5 Star ears instantly pricked up, and excitement pumped through my body. Now THIS was my New York fairytale all tied up in a bow. Keeping the ultimate poker face towards the hotel staff (I couldn't look TOO excited now after everything they had put us through that day) I proceeded with a spring in my step to The Plaza Hotel.

Now, without sounding like a total snob, I have to admit that I definitely suffer from the syndrome of "Champagne Tastes on a Beer Budget", so you can forgive me when I say The Plaza is absolutely my kind of place! With the high ornate ceilings,  and marble everything, I was in absolute heaven. Our gigantic room did not disappoint either and I quickly made myself at home on the fluffy cloud of a bed (BEST nights sleep in my entire life) wearing my thickly weighted towelling hotel bath robe and delicately munching on the grapes from the fruit platter. So plush!

Usually with hotels (even the nicer ones), the complimentary products are hardly something to write home about, and quite often I steer clear of using them, apart from the occasional shower gel. The shampoo and conditioners are particularly cringe worthy, and all I can think about is how many nasty chemicals have been used to bulk up this product so the manufacture costs are kept low. As a child I used to delight in collecting hotel bath products and used to insist that my parents bring them back for me whenever they went on a business trip. Things have certainly changed now that is for sure! However upon taking a shower in that room at The Plaza,  I was over the moon to discover the complimentary products they supply are not just an actual brand (versus a "hotel branded" item), but they were in fact Caudelie! **Happy Dance**

For those who are not familiar, Caudelie is a French skincare brand who also have a range of haircare. You may know them for their Beauty Elixir, which is a favourite among a few key members of the beauty community. I have been keen to try their products for some time now, but they are not that widely available in Australia and I have not had the opportunity to trawl the interwebs looking for an online store who supplies their products. Hence, you can imagine my delight when four 60ml (2 fl oz) products basically landed in my lap!

The products were the Gentle Conditioning Shampoo, Gentle Conditioner, Fleur De Vigne Shower Gel and Nourishing Body Lotion. All four products are gently scented with a similar fragrance and smell absolutely DIVINE! I am not great with scents, but I would describe the scent are fresh floral. I also found that the scent lingers on the hair and body after use, but it does not overpower. These four products are also free of Parabens, Sulfates and Mineral Oil. TICK!

I am definitely keener than ever to purchase some items in the brand now after sampling the four products I mentioned before. I particularly enjoyed the Fleur De Vigne Shower Gel and will be hastily restocking this item when it runs out. I also enjoyed the shampoo and conditioner. While very gentle, I did find them quite nourishing and they certainly helped clear up the vast issues with dryness and frizz that my Tresemme travel sized products caused (we did not get along AT ALL!). I am also intrigued by the Caudelie Divine Scrub and Caudelie Divine Oil, so they will probably end up in my shopping cart as well. 

Please let me know if you have found any hotels or resorts in your travels which stock amazing complimentary products like The Plaza. I would love know ( and possibly stalk said hotels on my next adventure!)

Jen xox

Violet Box: Just Another Beauty Sub Box??

 Beauty subscription boxes are all the rage at the moment, with a new one popping up every few months it is hard to keep up. The newest box on Australian shores is the Violet Box. Priced a little higher than Bellabox ($14.95), the team at Violet Box charge $23.95 per month, and promise in return, high end samples. After a lack lustre few months with Lust Have It who is priced similarly, I decided to sign up just to see hwat the first couple of boxes would be like.

There was certainly a lot of intrigue surrounding this new box. The site had been collecting subscriptions for a few months before releasing the first box, yet refused to reveal any of their partners, so subscribers were basically signing up blind. I was quite reluctant at first. After all, I am reasonably happy with my Bellabox subscription and this one was $8 more per month. I decided to wait until the first box was released just so I could review the brand partners before signing up myself.Whist I was on holiday the last few weeks, my first box arrived (second Violet box release).

My first impressions were good. The box is a thick black cardboard with a purple ribbon, I thought it looked elegant despite the box being useless for storage ( I LOVE Bellabox for this purpose!). Upon opening the box, the items were nestled in purple tissue paper, so naturally I put the card explaining the products aside (no cheating!) and dove right in to the five items lying within the tissue.

The first product in the box is the ModelCo SHINE Ultra Lip Gloss ($18) which is a full sized product (Thankyou Violet Box!). I received the colour Striptease which in the packaging appears to be a shimmery peachy pink gloss, however upon swatching, this gloss is very sheer but will work well over lipsticks. It has a delicious fruity scent which I love and an adorable mirror on the side of the tube for easy application. The applicator itself is a spongy doe foot applicator. I can see myself getting along very well with this product! Sidenote: Is anyone else in Australia completely confused by ModelCo's brand image lately? They have always been reasonably high end sold in David Jones etc, but recently I have noticed their products being sold in Coles and Woolworths?? Are they repositioning? If anyone knows please enlighten me.

The next product I received is the Aphelia Peomy 9+5 Advanced Beautifying Eye Cream in a deluxe sample size. I am not familiar at all the with Aphelia line, but according to Violet Box this cream contains "mutivitamins and powerful antioxidents to fight fine lines and reduce puffy eyes and dark circles". This product is not really scented at all, it has that "cosmetic-y cream" scent if you know what I mean. I am open to trying out this cream although full price is steep at $69. I also noticed that this cream DOES contain a few parabens (hmmm....) and lately I have been trying to keep it fairly clean with my skin in that regard. The sample also came with a product code to receive $10 off when you purchase at their online store.

I received another full size product in the box, although this one is more like a two in one. Catalina Geo Long and Deep Mascara ($31.50). I say this product is a two in one, as I received a full sized mascara AND a refill! Hooray! Again I am not familiar with the Catalina line but the mascara appears to be water resistant and contains nourishing ingredients such as vitamin B5 and E to repair damage and hydrate. The wand itself has thick short bristles which taper off at the tip to help reach those pesky inner corner lashes. I am keen to try this product although I have a few mascaras on the go at the moment which I will endeavour to use up first.

Left to Right: Golden Quartz, Coral Pearl

Left to Right: Golden Quartz, Coral Pearl

The Adorn Cosmetics Eye Create Intensive Shadow shade and Eye Create Matte Shadow is the next product I received, which consisted of two sample pots of loose shadow. These loose shadows are non toxic and organic so perfect for girls who are looking for more natural makeup. I am not sure why it has "Matte" in the description, as the two shades I received Golden Quartz and Coral Pearl, are super super shimmery. If these are supposed to be matte shades then Adorn have failed miserably, however I suspect this is more of a typo in Violet Box's side. None the less, I really like the Golden Quartz shade. It is a very neutral mushroom kind of hue with lots of sparkles. The pigmentation isn't too bad either although not really groundbreaking. The Coral Pearl confuses me a little. For a start, this is kind of a goldy shade in the tub, not coral. Also, while shimmery like the Golden Quartz, the pigmentation is almost non existent. It is a very very sheer colour that I will probably use for shimmer purposes more so than shading etc.

The final product I am quite exited about, as it is a product I have been wanting to try for sometime but cannot justify the hefty price point. It is the St Tropez Bronzing Mousse! I am really not too sure how far this product will go considering the size of it versus skin surface area, but it might be good for a spot tan when I am just tanning my arms or my legs for instance. If I REALLY like this, I will consider maybe purchasing the full size given I am not as tanorexic as I used to be, it probably will last me some time. It has received so sooooooo much hype in the beauty community, I can't help but be curious!

All in all, while not overly familiar with a lot of the brands in this box, I am pleased overall being that I received 2-3 full sized products (2 x of the mascara with the refill). I think I will continue with the subscription next month and see how it goes.

Jen xox