Empties #1

The time comes every few months were we accumulate all our empty bottles and reminisce about the hits (and the misses) of our beauty regimens in the past few months. This time I've managed to accumulate 3 body washes - as I have a horrible habit of opening new body washes and giving them a try before I've even gone through half of what I've already opened. I apologise in advance for the number of "IT SMELLS SO GOOD!!" in this post, because let's face it.. who isn't a sucker for pretty smelling things? (Sorry for the length of the post! I tried to cut down where possible!)

Soap & Glory 'Clean On Me' Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel ($12.95 at Kit Cosmetics)

Since the arrival of Soap & Glory at Kit Cosmetics I've been a fan of many of many of their products, they're usually reasonably priced and all smell so damn good.. I bought this shower gel on the recommendation of Zoella and other YTers last year and it lasted me a good few months. The bottle notes that it has a 'natural mandarin peel extract', which you can certainly smell in the gel as it gave it an extra freshness to the scent. The gel left my skin feeling fresh, moisturised and smelling good! The bottle also claims that the gel has 'built in body lotion' something which I appreciated, but someone who does have more dry skin may still need to. I would definitely repurchase this product!

Clinique 'Clarifying Lotion Clarifiante 2' Dry Combination ($52)

The first thing I noticed about this product is that it has a VERY strong alcoholic scent, which made me worried that it would be too harsh and drying on my skin. However, after several uses of the product I found more dirt was visibly coming off on my cotton pad and my skin feeling more fresh (and not dry) after use. The product claims to be a 'non-drying exfoliator' which 'uncovers skin that's vibrant, glowing', while it did tend to tighten my pores, I didn't really see too much action in terms of an exfoliator. While the product is expensive, the size of the bottle (400mL) means that it will last for a long time. I'm not sure if I would repurchase this toner, I guess I'll have to see how my skins goes without it!

The Body Shop 'Cranberry Joy' Shower Gel

As a part of TBS Christmas sets, this shower gel also came with a body butter (WHICH SMELLS AMAZING) and I can't explain the smell of this gel without thinking of Christmas, because that's what it smells like. The gel also reminds me of Raspberry Drops (the ones you can get from the lollie store at Sovereign Hill - anybody?), but even now as I write this post I can't help but pause to open the bottle and smell it, thank god i still have the body butter left! As with all TBS shower gels, this gel lathered up wonderfully and left my skin smelling and feeling great. I feel a repurchase of this coming on for Christmas 2014!! Has anybody else tried any of the TBS Christmas sets? 

Dove 'Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser' [DISCONTINUED]

I bought this cleanser on a whim a few months ago when it was on special at Coles for around $6 and upon googling it recently, have found out that Dove has discontinued this product! Although I probably wouldn't repurchase this cleanser anyway. While the cleanser was  gentle on my skin and didn't appear to irritate my skin, I found the beads in the cleanser to be too small to exfoliate my skin at all. 

Lush 'Ponche' Shower Gel ($7.95 for 100g) 

What initially drew me to this shower gel was the unique 'shot of tequila' in it (inspired by traditional Mexican Christmas punch) and after smelling it I was sold! The bottle says that the gel contains 'freshly squeezed orange juice, plum and cinnamon infusions, a good shot of tequila', which makes the fragrance very light and tangy with an evident punch from the tequila. It's nothing like I've used before but I absolutely love its scent! It may not be for everyone because of the tanginess, but it's worth a whiff if you're ever at Lush! The gel lathers really well on the skin and the scent manages to stay on your skin well after you have left the shower. It didn't irritate my skin at all and on the packaging it even says its like 'your own little party in the shower' - which does ring some truth. I would repurchase this shower gel.

Have any of these products made their way into your favourites or empties?

 x

NYX in Australia - Soft Matte Lip Cream Review w/ Swatches

The recent release of NYX in Australia via Target has been met by much excitement by those in the Australian beauty world. Finally! Another much loved international brand has made its way onto Aussie shores - while not at the same fraction of the price as it is sold in the US, products still range between $8.95 and $21.95, similar to Australis with all their products being marketed as under $20.

I remember my first visit to a NYX counter came about a month or two after it had landed in Australia as I was waiting to go - and spend, after I had finished all my final year exams. Who knows, maybe my anticipated visit was what kept me going.

A product which I had always been interested in was the NYX 'Soft Matte Lip Cream' ($12.95) and upon seeing the range of colours, immediately picked out four which I found myself most drawn to.

Top - Bottom: San Paulo, Antwerp, Stockholm, Istanbul

THE VERDICT

What I really love about these lip creams is that you can easily build up the colour to a really opaque colour, or leave it as just a simple tint on the lips, I tend to apply them with a lighter hand and then darken them up if need be. They have a doe-foot applicator and easily apply on the lips like a cream, with a strong lasting-power of about 3-5 hours, (darker shades lasting a bit longer). The packaging is light-weight, making them very make up bag appropriate.

 There is a wide range of colours in the collection too, I'm definitely keen to try out the red colour (Monte Carlo)! I also love the cute idea of naming each of them by a city. My favourite at the moment would have to be 'Antwerp', which is a really pretty pinky-peach colour that is a perfect match with the Australian summer.

While I agree with that these lip creams can be rather drying on the lips, I've found applying a strong lip balm before applying my make up (I use the Nivea Lip Butter) and dabbing it off before i apply the lip cream is the best way to go.  

Another thing I really enjoy about these lip creams is that they can be used to go over a lipstick to mattify the look of the lipstick, I often use the colour "Stockholm' over Rimmel's 'Undressed' to complete the lipstick. The lip creams also have a strong sweet vanilla scent, something I don't mind but could deter others.

If you're a fan of matte lip products, or keen to test one out, this is definitely an affordable product to try!

___________________________________________

Since my first NYX purchase I've returned and picked up a couple of other goodies - some of which will be reviewed at a later date ;) I still have my eye on plenty of NYX products - such as the Jumbo lip pencil in 'Honey' and the eyeshadow palette in 'Caviar', but alas these purchases will have to come at a later date.

I and many others can only hope that the arrival of NYX in Australia will bring other internationally-loved drug store brands such as Sleek, MUA and Elf.

x

Gift Goodies

For any lover of beauty, it's a well known fact among their friends and family that they are a "make up connoisseur" of sorts and therefore come Christmas or birthday time is it not too uncommon to find much desired cosmetics making its way into stockings and hideous wrapping paper. For me, having a birthday reasonably close to Christmas has meant (fortunately) receiving products which I have been pining over, but have never been able to justify the price. 

Last Christmas (after several 'subtle' hints) I received the beautifully crafted Stila "In the Light" Palette from my older sister, words cannot describe the satisfaction I felt at my first swatches of the palette, particularly the much loved colour "Kitten".

For my birthday I also received an item which has been raved, reviewed and written about in the beauty world to death - yet still remains an iconic staple in many make up bags. That is, the Nars blush in Orgasm. My screams of excitement and repeating of the word 'orgasm!' was probably not met by the same delight by the waitress staff as the friends who gave it to me, but nevertheless the idea of owning such an iconic blush had me in a sense of euphoria for the rest of my birthday dinner. I think my friend who I often borrowed the blush off (after I recommended it) was also experiencing the same sense of satisfaction that I would no longer by scavenging off her for blush.

It's interesting to question whether such happiness at owning such products would be felt better - or worse, had I bought them myself. Would I be annoyed at spending such a hideous price (Orgasm is $45 in Australia and the Stila palette is $62 at Mecca Cosmetica) for such a magnificent item, or would I rejoice in the fact that I had worked hard to provide myself with such a luxurious product?

How about you? Do you wait till times of celebration to receive expensive products which you stalk tentaviely in the beauty world, or do you bite the bud and take the plunge to buy the product? 

x

P.S Leave me a comment if you'd like me to review either of the above products! I'd be very happy to do so! 

Well Hey There

Welcome to my blog! Yes another beauty-obsessed and cosmetic-loving freak has joined the blogosphere... My constant make-up talk with my friends has annoyed them to the point where I think its appropriate to turn my never-ending opinions to the internet world, where my thoughts and reviews will (hopefully) be slightly more appreciated!

Interested? Read more about me here

Not interested? Then stay tuned for upcoming content!

x

PS

Amongst discussions of the beauty world there could possibly be random pictures of my cat slipping its way into my posts...