Haul: Priceline 40% off.

Priceline recently had one of their famous 40% off sales. I had been eyeing off some stuff, and this was perfect timing to pick it up.

I only ever go into priceline with a list when these sales are on, otherwise there's the potential for things to get out of hand.

So I ended up getting:
- Revlon Colourstay cream foundation
- 3 Rimmel 'The One' lipsticks
- 4 Revlon Ultra HD Matte lipsticks
- 3 Essie nail colours
- Rimmel 'Brow this Way' brow powder kit.

And, I didn't pick this up in the sale, but I recently purchased the Nivea Men Post Shave Balm, after hearing for months about how great it is as a primer. I'm not convinced yet, but still testing it so we'll see.

Did you pick up anything in the Priceline sales? 




Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

Colour Theory Nails: Spring Collection*

As Sydney is finally starting to get some cooler weather, I'm holding on to thoughts of warmer days with this Spring Collection of nail colours from Colour Theory's SS range "Gelato Dreams"

These are bright, pastel nail colours, that will set you back $4 at any Guardian or AMCAL pharmacy. 

These are made in Australia, are formaldehyde free, are really fast-drying and fairly long lasting.  

L-R: Cool Capri, I Love Bubbelgum, Pistachio Party

These particular colours are a little on the thinner side consistency-wise (especially compared to some other Colour Theory colours I own), but build up to be nice and opaque with a few thin layers. 

I like the packaging of the nailpolish bottles, it reminds me a lot of the Australis nail packaging. The brush bristles are quite short and thin, so it is easier to paint on multiple thin layers, rather than one thick layer. 

The wear time is about three days before chips begin to show; I'm quite rough with my hands as well, so I feel this is pretty good wear time. 

The biggest win for this polish is definitely the price; at only $4 a bottle, you can afford to experiment with colours; and the best thing is, the formula doesn't feel like a "cheap" nailpolish. 

Disclaimer: These polishes were sent to me for editorial consideration by the lovely people at "Colour Theory". They have in no way influenced this review and all opinions are my own. See my disclaimer for further details. 

Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

Review: The Face Shop, Foot Mask

Now, if I'm honest, I really don't appreciate my feet enough. I put them through a lot, and they never complain. So when I saw this mask at the Face Shop, I thought it would be good to pick it up and treat my tootsies. 

All the instructions are in Korean, but they do provide some helpful pictures.

All of the liquid stays inside the mask, meaning you can pop on the "socks", and continue to walk around the house and do stuff without worrying about making a mess. 

The mask has a bit of a "chemical" scent to it - not offensive, but not great either. However, after they were on my feet (which is obviously a fair way away from my nose) I hardly noticed the scent. 

The moisturiser contained in the socks is quite a thin, watery consistency. I was a bit dubious at first - how could this be moisturising if it was so watery? 

I left the mask on for about 15-20 minutes, and when I took them off, I just rubbed the excess in. My feet were left feeling really moisturised, and really really soft. My callouses were still present (Which for foot protection, is a good thing I guess), but my actual feet just felt so nice. 

I can't remember how much the masks retail for, but they were pretty inexpensive, so I feel these are a good option for a cheap, effective at-home pampering session. 

Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

Shopping my stash: Ciate Nailpolish in Ivory Queen

Money's been a bit tight around here lately, which means I've been making a conscious effort to "shop my stash". I was looking for a nude polish to wear for work - although I love bright polish, sometimes I think it's just a bit more/ profesh to wear nude nails to court. 

I found this Ciate mini in "Ivory Queen" in my collection, and after trying it out, I've fallen in love. 

"Ivory Queen" is part of Ciate's "Complexion Collection", and is designed to suit all skin-tines. This particular colour is a warm pink and has the slighest shimmer - almost invisible, but adds a really nice sheen. 

This polish is a little bit streaky, and works best when applied with multiple, thin coats. It lasts fairly well, about a week (with top coat) before chipping. 

Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

Review: Innoxa Cover and Correct Cream Concealer Face Palette*

I was so thrilled to receive this in the goodie bag at the Bloggers United AU event I attended last year, as colour correcting helps give your base that flawless finish. 

The cream concealers are housed in a silver, plastic palette with a big mirror on the inside lid. The palette overall is a really nice size, it's not unnecessarily big, and being made out of plastic ensures it's lightweight. The palette closes shut with a snap closure. I love that the back of the palette contains information about what each colour corrects. 

These concealers are definitely creamy, and a little goes a long way - if you use too much product it will be a bit tricky to blend it in. I personally find the best way to use this product is with my fingertips, as the warmth from my skin helps almost "melt" the product into my skin. 

I always apply after primer and before foundation - that way I am really covering up the colour left behind by the concealer. 

This palette contains four colour correcters (yellow, green, lavender and apricot) and two concealers (light and dark). I personally don't get much use out of the concealers as they don't really match my skin tone, but the green and apricot colour correcters get a lot of use. 

(L - R: Yellow; used for neutralising purple under the eyes

Green; used to reduce redness and cover blemishes

Lavender; used to reduce yellow undertones) 

(L-R: Apricot: used to brighten complexion and the eye area

Light Concealer, Dark Concealer) 

Colour correcting is a bit daunting at first. Let's use colour correcting redness as an example: so you apply the green concealer wherever there's redness (for me, on my cheeks), but then you're left with a green tinge on your face; which is a bit scary and less than ideal. However, once you apply foundation over the top, your skin will be left looking flawless. 

Have you used colour correcters before? 

Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

What's in my Shower?

Since you can never have enough products in the shower to choose from, we have two shower caddies in ours. I prefer to have everything at eye level where I can see it (and thus will be more likely to use it), and I hate having things on the shower floor as they are more prone to get mouldy and gross. 

So... what is in my shower caddies? 

MooGoo Milk Wash* - (review here)
I love this product, it's really moisturising, creamy and basic - for those times where my eczema is playing up or my skin is just generally being shit, this will really calm my skin down. I love the handy pump bottle, meaning I never need to take it out of the caddie. 

J keeps his toothbrush and toothpaste in the shower - mine live next to the bathroom sink because I am not a fan of brushing my teeth in the shower... fun fact. 

Natura Siberica - Oblepikha Shower Gel*

I received this product at a bloggers beauty event a few months ago, and am so happy I discovered this brand. Their products are all organic, using natural ingredients sourced from Siberia. 

This shower gel promises "energizing freshness", and is beautifully fragranced. 

Joico Colour Endure Conditioner

I bought this just before we travelled to New Zealand, and de-canted it into a smaller bottle for my travels. I love that I really don't need a lot of this product for it to work (which is great as my hair is getting so long now, and hair products now get used up so much faster). This conditioner glides through my hair, de-tangles it, and leaves it feeling silky and smooth - after it's air-dried and I run a straightener through it, it's so sleek and beautiful. The product isn't thick and it doesn't weigh my hair down or leave any residue behind. 

Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle Razor*

I pretty much only use razors that have replaceable cartridges. This razor has 5 "curve-sensing" blades, and an electric bikini trimmer on the end. The razor takes 1 AAA battery (included) and is totally waterproof. Which is good, because I only ever shave in the shower. I think what I like most about this razor is the white dots around the razor head contains a water-activated moisturising serum, which moisturises your skin as you shave. I also think it's really convenient that the bottom of the razor has a little stand to prop it up when it's laying flat, preventing it from touching any surfaces. Although I keep mine on a wire rack, so that's not really that necessary for me. 

The waterproof trimmer works really well too, with trimmer guides to assist you in maintaining your desired style / length. 

I bought this shower caddie from Howard's Storage World, and it seriously stores so much stuff. It hangs over the edge of the shower, and it has a little hook which I hang my shower cap up on. I also like that it has room at the bottom for a squeegee - convenient storage as our shower is all glass doors.

Natural World Moroccan Argan Oil Moisture Repair Shampoo (Review here) 

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil (Review here) - I love this product, and have used it for years and years. Totally decadent, beautiful, luxurious. 

Skin Theory - Aloe Exfoliating Polish*

I try to exfoliate my skin regularly, so keeping an exfoliator in the bathroom assists with that. This is a manual exfoliation, using micro sea salt crystals. The product itself is quite creamy, and the salt dissolves so it's not scratchy on your skin. There's not really a scent to it, which is good. I love how clean and refreshed my skin feels after using this. 

Unfortunately the entire skin theory range is only available at Amcal chemists (unfortunately because I don't really have one conveniently located to me), but it is super cheap at $10.

Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel

This smells exactly like the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner, also from Lush. I love this shower gel. Smells incredible, and the scent lingers on your skin. 

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

Another product I've used for years and years, have done numerous reviews on, and has appeared quite a few times in my empties posts. I use this as a conditioner when my hair needs some extra love and attention (e.g. right after dyeing it). Leaves my hair feeling and looking healthy, silky smooth, beautiful. 

Milk&Co Face Cleanser* - Review here.

Rosehip Plus Organic Daily Cream Cleanser*

This is a fairly new product, launching in October 2015. I haven't really used many cream cleansers before, but I'm really liking this one. It's a bit heavy, which is awesome for when my skin is dehydrated or dry, but it doesn't really give you that "squeaky clean" feeling, so if that's your jam you may not love this. The thick cream though does help to dissolve your make-up, and I never get my make-up completely removed with gel or foaming cleansers alone. The product contains rosehip oil, jojoba and sea buckthorn. All products are Australian Certified Organic. I'm really impressed with this cleanser. It also smells incredible.

Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterisk (*) were provided for editorial consideration. No brand or PR company have influenced my opinion in any way, shape or form, and all opinions are my own. Links in the post are not affiliate links - I've just linked for your convenience! For further info check out my disclaimer.

Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

Review: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Nude Collection*

I received four out of five of the Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Nude Collection lipsticks in my goodie bag at the Bloggers United AU Sydney event last month, and have been wearing them almost exclusively since. 

There's a few different takes on the "nude" colour, meaning you should be able to find something that suits your skin tone. Rimmel claim these will give you 8 hours of wear. I have found that with a 10 hour workday, I've had to re-apply twice, maybe three times if you count after eating. 

The formulation of these is really nice; the colour is opaque, and you can build it up to a nice intensity. I have fairly pigmented lips, and don't have a problem with getting the colour to show. I find these lipsticks really moisturising, and they apply easily. 

The packaging is okay. Each tube is the same colour, and the colour is identified by a sticker on the base. The tube is made out of plastic, which does feel a little cheap, but this is a drugstore brand so that's to be expected. The lipstick itself winds up nicely, and the lid snaps on with a satisfying 'click'. I don't know if I'd trust the lid not to fall off if it was just thrown in my handbag though. 

Swatch time! From left to right - 40-42-43-48. 

40 is the lightest of all the shades, and is probably my least favourite. It's a cool-toned apricot-y nude. 

42 and 43 are both contenders for my favourite colour, I think they both suit me really well. 42 is a bit more pink, while 43 is a warm-toned apricot. 

48 is a bit dark to be considered nude with my skintone, but would suit darker skintones better. It's a warm-toned burgundy colour. 

top row: nude lips, 40. middle row: 43, 45. bottom row: 48. 

Overall, I really love these lipsticks. They have a great formula, are easy to apply, and I have got compliments each time I've worn them to work (which admittedly never really happens when I wear nude lipsticks). 

Disclaimer: These lipsticks were given to me in a goodie bag at a bloggers event I attended. This review has not been influenced in any way by Rimmel, and all opinions are my own. See my disclaimer for further details. 


Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

Lush Bathbomb and Bubble Bars Haul

I love taking baths - they're relaxing, and they ensure you get about an hour of just "me" time, to pamper yourself, read a book and zone out from the real world. 

I picked up some more bath bombs from Lush a few weeks ago - 

Twilight Bath Bomb: This is one of Lush's best-sellers, and I've read so many reviews on this one that I had to try it. The scent is really relaxing, so I'm hoping it will carry through and be a really relaxing bath. 

Sex Bomb: I've written about this bath bomb before, and I loved it so much the first time I used it that I just had to get another one. I love the colours this turns my bath, and I love how moisturised my skin is after using it. I also really love how good my bathroom smells. 

While in Lush I thought it would be a good idea to pick up some bubble-making bars, because as J says "baths aren't baths without bubbles". I think these are probably a bit better value than the bathbombs, because they can be used multiple times.

Pop in the Bath Bubble Bar: This has lemon, bergamont and mandarin, which sounds really refreshing and rejuvenating. 

Sunny Side Bubble Bar: I was partly attracted to this one because of how pretty it is, partly because of the citrus-y scent it gives off. 

I can't wait to hop into a bath and try these new ones out. 

What is your favourite Lush bath product?

Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

Haul and Mini Reviews: MooGoo Skincare*

Moogoo is a brand I have definitely spoken about before. I love their eczema and psoriasis cream for calming down eczema flare-ups in Winter. I love that they're Australian, use natural products, and are totally honest about every ingredient used in their products. 

Their products used to be a lot more difficult to find, only really being available at specialty chemists or on their website. Priceline now stock them though, making it so much easier to pick some up! 

I was really excited when Moogoo sent me a basket of some of their products to try out, and share with all of you! 

Skin Milk Udder Cream - this was the product that started it; packed with oils it helps to soothe and moisturise the skin. I've heard a lot of good things from people using this on their face, so I can't wait to get some more use out of it.

How Now Brown Cow Gradual Tanning Cream - I've only ever used Dove's gradual tanning lotions, and found them to leave me really streaky. The reviews I've read from this say it works in one go, so now that it's Summer I'm keen to give it a go. 

Milk Wash - I love, love, love this product! I keep this pump bottle in my shower, and apply it instead of shower gel/soap. My eczema flared up quite badly when we had that cold snap at the end of September, and to my surprise this really helped to restore moisture to my painful skin and soothe and calm the attack.

Fresh Cream Deodorant - aluminium free deodorant. It should be noted that this is not an anti-perspirant. Rather, this product works to kill off any odour-causing bacteria that live in your pits. Unlike any other deodorant I've used, this one has a really natural scent to it.

Shea Sorbet - this is an intense moisturising butter balm with lime essential oils. I love that this can be used anywhere; from cracked heels, dry elbows, to chapped lips. It is really thick, but does sink in relatively quickly, and th elime essential oils make it smell really good.

Cow Lick Lip Balm - This lip balm is made from all-edible ingredients, as 'what goes on the lips gets eaten'. This lip balm is packed with oils, making it really hydrating. It's not greasy, but does take a while to sink into the lips, making it perfect for before bed applications. 

3 Vitamins Eye Serum - This contains vitamins B5, C and E, and aims to improve the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation. The consistency of this product is quite watery, which is unlike any eye cream I've used before. The bottle also squirts out a little more than you need, so I applied some to dry patches around my nose. I was really happy when I woke up in the morning to find the dry patches healed up! 

Disclaimer: MooGoo very generously sent me these products to try out. They haven't influenced my opinion in any way, shape or form, and all opinions are my own. Links in the post are not affiliate links - I've just linked for your convenience! For further info check out my disclaimer. 


Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

My Essie Nailpolish Collection Part 1

 

Ever since Essie was introduced at Priceline, my collection has slowly grown. 

I really like Essie nailpolishes; they last well on my nails, there is a beautiful colour range, and when on sale, they're pretty reasonably priced.

I own a mix of pastels/muted colours and brights - in this post, I'll talk you through those colours.

Ballet slippers:  this is apparently one of Essie's most famous shades, and was the first Essie polish I ever bought. I was so disappointed with this colour and it really put me off Essie for the longest time. The formula is thin and streaky, and it takes sooo many coats to build up any colour. I also think the colour is too pale for my skintone. 

Tea and Crumpets: this is a much nicer 'nude' colour, and is a bit of a frosted, golden-toned beige. I really like this colour for work. It's pretty sheer, and takes about 2-3 layers to become opaque. 

Chinchilly: I love this grey-slate colour. I think it's super flattering on almost every skintone and I get compliments every time I wear it. The formula isn't too runny, and two coats is all you need for the most perfect opaque-ness. This is also probably the perfect office colour. 

 Lilacism: Honestly, I am not really a fan of pastels. I think this is colour toes the line nicely between being pale and muted, but also being bright enough that it doesn't quite cross over to "baby purple". This is a thin formula, and takes about 3 thin coats to reach a nice colour on the nails.

Mint Candy Apple: This is another colour that always gets me compliments. J said it looks like the colour of a 60s bathroom. I say it's the perfect 'mint' colour. I love this shade. This colour only takes 2 thin coats to reach the desired opacity and colour on my nails, without being streaky.

 

(L-R: Ballet Slippers, Tea and Crumpets, Chinchilly, Lilacism, Mint Candy Apple)

What's your favourite Essie shade?

 

Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin

Micellar Water Review - Bioderma, Garnier, Sukin

It's taken a few years, but so many brands are now bringing out their own affordable versions of micellar water - that holy-grail, no-rinse cleansing liquid that melts make-up off your face, whilst still somehow being super gentle.

I've been a long-time lover of Bioderma's crealine H20 (now called Sensibio H20, or the sebium version for my oily-faced friends), and have many, many bottles on stand-by, lest I run out. But, as much as I love Bioderma, it is kind of expensive so I have been trialling some of the cheaper options on offer.

Garnier - Micellar Cleaning Water
RRP = $12.99 for 400mL ($3.25 / 100)

Garnier were the first brand to release a 'drugstore' version of micellar water, and it is remarkably cheap, at just $3.25/100mL. I'm personally really not a fan of this product.
I did not find it effective at removing make-up (particularly mascara and eye make-up), and I would have to go over the same area with at least two soaked cotton pads to remove all my make-up.

This product also really burned my eyes, and dried out my skin. I did use up a whole bottle, and it did come in handy for wiping swatches off my arm.
Overall rating: 2/5

Bioderma - Crealine / Sensibio H20
RRP = $39.99 for 500mL

The original micellar water! Bioderma is super expensive in Australia, coming in at $8/100mL. Unfortunately for my wallet, it's also my most favoured of the three micellar waters I've trialled.

I've reviewed this before on the blog, here. In a nutshell, Bioderma is gentle, doesn't sting my eyes, it doesn't dry out my skin, it doesn't smell like anything, and it is effective at removing my make-up. 
Overall rating: 4/5
 

Sukin Micellar Cleansing Water
RRP = $9.99 for 250mL

Sukin are an environmentally-responsible and vegan friendly brand, and their offering in the micellar water world is gentle, smells really good and is reasonably priced at $4/100mL. It's infused with cucumber and chamomile, which helps to soothe your skin.

This is probably the runner up of the three for me. It does a pretty good job of removing make-up, and it doesn't sting my eyes. It has got a very distinct scent though, which is a bit strange for a "water", and is something that may not agree with a few people.
This micellar water doesn't leave my face feeling as clean as Bioderma does though - it's almost as if a very thin film is left on my skin, and it takes ages for my skin to dry and feel normal.
Overall rating: 3/5

Final thoughts
I think everyone would like the Bioderma offering, except for the price. The good thing is, when Priceline have their 40% off skincare, you can get the 500mL version for prices that are comparable to what you would pay in Paris.
If your skin isn't sensitive and you don't wear eye-makeup then the Garnier version could suit you really well. If you don't mind scents in your products, then you would probably really like the Sukin version.





Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Bloglovin