Review: OPI Silver Shatter

^Above Photo: This is after 4 days of wear.

I've been curious about OPI Shatter polishes for a while & when I saw them on Catch Of The Day for a great price I decided to give them a go. I purchased Red, Silver & White.

Silver is definitely my favourite of the 3 as it seems to work the best for me.

How to use it?

At first I had problems getting this polish to shatter properly however I realised I wasn't giving the base coats enough time to dry, once I did that it worked well & I'm getting better every time I use it.

What does it look like?

The Silver Shatter has a beautiful glittery silver sparkle to it which looks better with a clear topcoat. It's really eye-catching & definitely gets noticed! When I first put it on it seemed to look like lumps of glitter, but I was using too much. The trick is to use a thin coat all over the nail.

I've tried it over a number of colours, but I find the best colour is an opaque black. A dark navy or purple would probably work just as well.

In the picture to the right I have:

2 x coats of Ulta3's Midnight (Black)
1 x thin coat of OPI's Silver Shatter
4 x coats (1 per day) of Ulta3's clear Non Chip Clear polish.

Verdict

I can't help looking at this nail polish, especially in the sun. It's amazing. I also get a LOT of compliments wherever I go. I will continue to use Silver Shatter & definitely recommend it!

Review: LUSH Porridge Soap

Porridge soap is a strange animal. I purchased it about 3 months ago & we've had an interesting relationship ever since!

Since purchasing my first LUSH soap (Vanilla In The Mist - I haven't reviewed this yet) I've been trying out a few different LUSH soaps & realised that I hadn't even smelt this one. Let me tell you, it was love at first sniff!

I asked the SA to cut me a great big chunk. I couldn't stop smelling the new package during my shopping trip!

Here's what LUSH says about Porridge soap.

"Start the day the Goldilocks way with a helping or three of porridge oats. Ideal for sensitive skin; irresistible to everyone else. Oats are soothing for the skin and will gently exfoliate, while orange juice is refreshing and naturally toning. Rise and shine with some delicious porridge."

How does it look & smell?

Porridge looks quite nondescript, maybe a little boring. Basically it's a light beige soap with little brown spots all through it which are pieces of pinhead oatmeal. The smell of this soap is amazing - mostly - let me explain that shortly.

The first sniff is intoxicating. The best way for me to describe it is a vanilla caramel concoction, dripping with maple syrup & treacle. None of these scents are actually in Porridge, one of the main ingredients is Orange juice!

Using Porridge

Porridge has a very soft feel & lathers well. Yes, it does contain SLS, which is why. It is also very moisturising - it contains coconut oil. Each use of this soap leaves my skin feeling soft & luxurious.

The pinhead oatmeal pieces help exfoliate skin quite well. I've read reviews about the oatmeal pieces being so hard that they've scratched peoples skin. That hasn't happened to me.

Speaking of the Oatmeal.... one thing that I have found is that after each use is I end up between 10 to 20 pieces or more at the bottom of the bathtub. They look like little bugs. :) This may be an issue to those who have drains that clog easily, therefore you may want to use a plug that captures them.

How to make Porridge last a little bit longer.

Porridge is quite soft & I find that it starts to melt when you touch it. For the same reason, you go through it a lot quicker than other soaps. I was shocked at the amount of "shrinkage" this soap has upon each use. I did a little research & found that people suggest you "cure" the soap to make it last longer. I had (luckily) already my large piece into smaller pieces & keep them in a plastic container. I took out a new piece & put it on top of the container to sit in the air for a few weeks. The longer the piece was out, the harder it became. The piece that I "cured" lasted a bit longer than the uncured peices, melting & shrinking a tiny bit less.

I also make sure I don't wet Porridge, instead I use it on already wet skin. After use, put this soap on a draining rack if you can. Sitting it in water will allow it to continue to melt. You will also get an oozing trail of brown goo coming out of the soap.

The Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde of Soap

Now, the strange thing is that whilst using Porridge, I found that the scent changed after a few uses. I was enjoying the intoxicating sweet scent when it suddenly turned into wet burnt toast. The smell wasn't very nice at all & I instantly regretted buying it. I put it on a rack to dry. The next time I went into the bathroom I smelt the soap again expecting the wet burnt toast smell, but it was back to the sweet maple syrup smell. How odd! I've smelt the "change" in scent a few more times after using Porridge but it's inconsistent. It doesn't happen every time I use it, just every now and again - so it's not enough to turn me off. Isn't that strange?

What are the Ingredients

Water (Aqua), Rapeseed Oil; Coconut Oil (Brassica napus; Cocos nucifera), Propylene Glycol, Pinhead Oatmeal (Avena sativa), Fresh Organic Orange Juice (Citrus Aurantium dulcis), Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Perfume, Labdanum Resinoid (Cistus labdaniferus), Sweet Wild Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis), Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, *Limonene

Conclusion

I really enjoy using Porridge & will most probably repurchase it when my current piece(s) run out. This will be quite a while since I have a few soaps on rotation. I heard on the grapevine that LUSH may be discontinuing Porridge so it's possible by the time I get through it, it will be gone anyway..

I recommend Porridge if you have dry & especially flakey skin. If you like sweet smells you will love using it - but keep in mind a possible change of scent (described above).

My rating: 7 out of 10

Summary:

Pros: Beautiful scent (mostly), Lathers well, exfoliates well.
Cons: Messy (Oatmeal pieces, it also oozes goo), melts easily, is used up quickly, the scent can change.

GWP: MOR Cosmetics @ Myer

Saw this little GWP & thought that someone might enjoy it! :-)

Spend $39.95 on the MOR Range at Myer & receive the following bonus products (valued at $72.80) with your purchase;

• Marshmallow Tote Bag
• Perfume Oil 9ml
• Hand Cream 50ml &
• Soapette 60g

Offer ends Sunday 25 September 2011

Review: NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils

I've been using the NYX Jumbo Pencils for a few months now, after seeing a few raves on YouTube. I was intrigued on how they can be used as a base to help your eyeshadows look better.

I purchased Milk (White) & Black Bean (Black) as I felt that these colours would be the most usable.

How I use NYX Jumbo Pencils as a base

I saw some demos on YouTube where the Jumbo Pencils are "drawn" on to make a solid colour. I tried this, and noticed that eyeshadow colours look even better layered on top of the solid Jumbo pencil colour, however the thicker you put these on your lids, the more prone it is to crease as it's like a thick waxy layer. Not a good look in the middle of the day! It works much better as a thin layer.

After trial & error I've found that the best way to use these is over a primer, I use Too Faced Shadow Insurance (TFSI). I dot the pencil lightly all over the lid (like leopard spots) then use my ring finger to gently blend the dots together.

I usually use Milk as a base for brighter colours (greens, oranges, light browns, golds etc) which helps make them true to colour (as they are in the pan). I use Black Bean as a base for dark colours, for the same reason.

I also use Milk as is a base for my highlight just under my brow too, which works well.

I haven't used the Jumbo pencils as an eyeliner so I can't comment on that.

I have noticed depotting tutorials on YouTube as well, which I will look at doing as this will save product, rather than using a pencil sharpener & lose some of the colour in shavings.

Cost

I purchased the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils for $5.95AU each. Much cheaper than using a gel eyeliner as a base (which is what I was originally looking at).

Verdict

I'm finding myself using these pencils more often now that they've become a staple to my daily makeup routine. They DO make eyeshadows look more vibrant & are easy to use when you get the hang of them. I use Milk more often than Black Bean, but only because I usually only wear lighter colours to work.

These pencils are hard to find in retail stores in Australia (apparently they are around but I've never seen them for sale) however are easily obtained online. Depotting these pencils may be tricky. I watched a few videos showing how to do it in a microwave but I've been putting it off. I think it's inevitable though as I know they will last a lot longer this way. I will write another post when I eventually get around to it!

My rating: 7.5 out of 10

Summary:
Pros: Cheap, easy to use, easy to store.
Cons: Using too much can crease on eyelids, hard to find in stores in Australia (but easy to find online)



Review: American Cream Conditioner by LUSH Cosmetics

A few months ago I purchased a small bottle of American Cream unsniffed on a whim (as you do!) as it was recommended to me. It contains Vanilla Absolute, my favourite scent!

This is what LUSH says about American Cream:-

"Double-strength conditioning cocktail. American Cream was inspired by a vision of 1950s US milk bars, bright red-leather-and-chrome, neon-lit cafes, where teenagers would meet and drink frothy, fruity milkshakes. Our creamy conditioner is what the girls would have used to make their hair soft before going out on a date, dressed up in their bobby socks and circular skirts. The scent of honey, vanilla, strawberries and oranges is so sexy and sweet that dates can’t stay away."

What does it smell like?

It's gorgeous! :-)

I found the scent a little strange at first, probably as I was expecting it to be mostly vanilla with a bit of strawberry mixed in. I hadn't really taken much notice of the advertising copy. All I heard was "VANILLA", which I am obsessed with. I woke up from my vanilla dream & read the description, the scent made more sense. Yes, you smell vanilla, but you also get a hint of strawberry, honey & a lot of orange. There's also another twist in the scent, which I'm guessing is the Lavender.

American Cream is very aromatic & one of the best smelling conditioners I've ever used. My favourite thing about it, is that the scent remains in the hair when it dries, & lasts until I wash my hair again! I love the whiffs of fragrance I smell during the day.

How does it perform?

To be honest, I was expecting a lot more from this conditioner considering that it's meant to be double strength. Don't get me wrong, it works well, but I find that I have to use a big blob of it to get the softness I want in my hair.

Considering the price (see below) I don't want to use too much each time. The bottle would be finished in no time! So what I do is, make sure I use a gentle shampoo - I usually pair it with LUSH's Curly Wurly which is quite conditioning on its own - & smooth on a small blob of American Cream just for the scent.

The bottle is similar to LUSH's other bottles, and one good thing is that it's clear so you can actually see how much you have left. I find that some of their bottles are black plastic which makes it hard to guess how much is left.

Cost

American Cream is quite pricey & costs more than drugstore conditioners. The best value size is the bigger bottle (500g). The prices are as follows:

100g $13.95
250g $23.50
500g $33.95

SLS in a Conditioner????

One thing that confused me is the addition of SLS. I know that this ingredient is in some shampoos (and others advertise the fact that they are SLS free) however I didn't realise that it was used in Conditioners too! I immediately looked at all my other conditioners - none of them had SLS. From my limited knowledge about chemicals, what I understand about this ingredient, it allows a shampoo to to sud/foam up. But why is it in a conditioner? If anyone can shed light on that, please let me know!

Verdict:

I do enjoy using American Cream but don't class it as a necessary product. As a conditioner, it doesn't perform better than any basic conditioners. The one thing I really love about American Cream is the scent, especially as it lasts until you wash your hair again. So I guess I'm using it as hair perfume. If the scent disappeared after washing, I wouldn't have even considered a re-purchase.

If you fall in love with the scent, it's more economical to purchase the big bottle. The small bottle is tiny & almost half the price of the biggest one.

I have to say, I'm not sure if I will repurchase American Cream when I run out of my 500g bottle, but I expect it to last a long time due to the fact that I just smooth a small amount on simply for the scent.

Pros & Cons Summary:

Pros: Scent, Clear bottle & simple packaging
Cons: Cost, Only a "double" conditioner if you use a lot, contains SLS?

My Rating: 7 out of 10 (all points for the scent)

Ingredients:

Honey Water (Aqua), Vanilla Pod Infusion (Vanilla planifolia), Propylene Glycol (Propylene Glycol), Fresh Organic Oranges (Citrus aurantium dulcis), Cetearyl Alcohol & Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Cetearyl Alcohol & Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), Fresh Strawberries (Fragaria vesca), Perfume (Perfume), Lanolin (Lanolin), Cetrimonium Bromide (Cetrimonium Bromide), Cetearyl Alcohol (Cetearyl Alcohol), Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia), Clary Sage Oil (Salvia sclarea), Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia), Benzoin Resinoid (Styrax tonkinensis pierre), Linalool (Linalool), Coumarin (Coumarin)

Review: LUSH Snow Fairy Shower Gel (& First Online Order)

After hearing so much about Snow Fairy Shower Gel, I decided to try a small bottle.

When the Lush Xmas In July Sale was originally on, Snow Fairy sold out the very same day, so I missed out. :(

A few days later however, Lush Australasia tweeted that they had more stock in. I had a free shipping code given to me when my local Lush closed down so I decided to take advantage of it & created an online order.

First Impressions of Lush Mail Order

Ordering was a little frustrating as I accidently typed in the wrong expiry date for my credit card. Instead of letting me go back & correct it, I had to start a new order all over again.

My products were delivered in 4 days, which is longer than what I'm used to, considering Lush are in Sydney too.

Snow Fairy Shower Gel

This is what Lush say about Snow Fairy:

Sparkly, candy floss pink, sweet-as-sugar shower gel for fruity, fluffy fairies. Only visiting for Christmas ! Lather all over your body (and your hair when you're in a hurry)

Snow Fairy is known as a seasonal/limited edition product, only sold during the Christmas period (November/December) & it seems, Xmas In July. This is fantastic marketing as it's very much in demand. I often see people mention online that they always "stock up" on many bottles to last until it's sold again.

If people are clambering over each other to get their hands on the "Fairy" it has to be good right??????

How Does It Smell?

I was already familiar with the Snow Fairy scent as I have the Snow Fairy Lip Tint. The Lip Tint has a lovely strong scent which appeals to my sweet tooth as it's very similar to Red Frog lollies.

The Snow Fairy Shower Gel is similar, especially when you "sniff" it from the bottle, however when you actually use it, it also has a strange chemical note which reminds me of paint. This surprised me as I haven't noticed any strange scents in their other products. I tried shaking it up to mix the product in case it had settled, to no avail.

Looking at the ingredients, it doesn't have any of the essential oils that some Lush products have, not even vanilla - it's just perfume & chemicals. No wonder it smells artificial. Considering the lack of expensive ingredients, Snow Fairy should be cheap to make, but Lush charges a lot for it anyway.

How Does It Clean?

It seems to clean & lather fine - just like drug store shower gels containing perfume & glycerine, nothing special. My skin doesn't seem to be any softer than drug store shower gels.

How Does It Look?

Snow Fairy is a nice shade of pink, but the only thing I really like about this gel is the pretty purple glitter. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to stay on your skin. This could be a good thing for some people, but being the one redeeming feature of Snow Fairy, I hoped that the glitter would stick around. It doesn't. :( It also settles at bottom of the bottle. To send the glitter back through the bottle, you have to store Snow Fairy upside down.

Verdict

The strange chemical note is a huge disappointment to me, as without that I would probably really enjoy using this gel, chemicals or not.

I will probably use the bottle up, as it wasn't cheap, but I won't be purchasing Snow Fairy Shower Gel again. Not even for the purple glitter. I will stick to my I Love... Raspberry & Blackberry or Strawberries & Milkshake Bubble Bath & Shower Gel which actually have virtually the same ingredients however are much cheaper, & smell so much better.

If you're reading about the Snow Fairy hype & want to try it, I would suggest going to a store at Christmas time to get a sample just in case you don't end up liking it.

My rating: 2 out of 10

David Jones Beauty Heritage Tote Deluxe Sampler

I was browsing David Jones yesterday & saw a new I Love... Cosmetics bubble bath in Lemons & Lime. I immediately took it over to the register as I love this brand (can't wait to use it!).

At the register the SA told me about their Deluxe Sampler for $19.95. I looked at what was in it & grabbed it right away. It has some really good things in it, a few which I had looked at in the past & thought about trying, but haven't gotten around to. It's a great opportunity to try new products PLUS the tote bag is very cute, big & zips up too - it will come in handy.

Hopefully you might be wanting to try some of these products, or wanting to stock up. If so, this is a great haul at a good price.

There seemed to be different coloured OPI nail polish (I got a beautiful, dark sparkly plum colour - but there were also other colours), as well as a choice between 4 products (see the blue writing below) so have a look at a few bags if you have a selection.

Here's some info:

DAVID JONES BEAUTY

HERITAGE TOTE DELUXE SAMPLER
$19.95 with any beauty purchase*

VALUED AT OVER $125
Contains 5 full size and 5 travel size beauty products.

Contents include:

David Jones Beauty Moisture Cream Lipstick SPF 15.4g
Aveda Dry Remidy Hair Care Trio 3 x 10ml
The Aromatherapy Co. Hand and Body Lotion 200ml
OPI Nail Lacquer 3.75ml
Nude By Nature Nude Oil 25ml
Burts Bees Honey Lip Balm 8.5g
Revlon Age Defying with DNA Advantage 10ml
Natio Mineral Pressed Powder 12g

Plus the following:

Gorgeous Cosmetics Lip Liner 1.15g & Crabtree & Evelyn Iris Hand Therapy 25ml

OR

Bloom Mini Lip Gloss & Al'chemy A'kin Leave In Conditioner 150ml

*Offer available on full-priced beauty including make-up, skincare, haircare, bath & body products and beauty accessories. While stocks last, one Haritage Tote per customer. Samples in Heritage Tote will vary.

Review: Yes To Carrots Lip Butter

If you're like me, you've probably tried a lot of lip products to find the one that stops your lips from going dry. I must say, I do neglect my lips & sometimes they're so dry & flaky. It's not until I want to use a nice matte lipstick (which shows every flaw) that I regret being so mean to them!

I've been using Yes To Carrots Lip Butter's for about 4 years. This is one product that is very underrated, even by me. Sometimes they find their way to the back of the drawer, however I eventually go back to my Yes To Carrots Lip Butters. They're great to prevent dry lips - or in my case sometimes, to treat a dry lip emergency!

Here's what Yes To... says about them:

"A beautiful smile will brighten your face, but what brightens a beautiful smile? Your lips - soft, smooth and shining! Yes To Carrots USDA Organic Lip Butters conditions, invigorates, and revitalizes your lips, moisturizing to keep them the smoothest and softest they can be. With this purchase, you get all 5 flavors: carrot, berry, citrus, melon and mint. Now you'll never be without smooth, soft lips!

• All Natural Ingredients
• No Animal Testing
• Paraben, Petroleum & Phthalate Free"

The YTC Lip Butters feel very luxurious, & create a buttery, smooth feeling on my lips. This may be something some people wouldn't like, but I love it. They are not waxy whatsoever, and keep my lips very moisturised & hydrated - as long as I keep using them! I spend a lot of time outside in the wind so these really help prevent (or treat) windburn too.

I love that they're petroleum free as products that contain petroleum definitely dry my skin out. I layer it under my lipsticks every now and again (especially lip crayons & matte products) & find that this helps keep my lips soft & my lipstick smooth. The product lasts on your lips for a long time rather than disappearing like most balms. For example, if I put it on before going to sleep, my lips still feel moisturised & soft in the morning!

I also love that this product is in a tube that you wind up, rather than in a tub so it is much more hygienic.

Did I mention that these butters smell great? They DO have a tiny chemical taste but not as bad as some balms I have tried in the past. I try not to "eat" my lip products but inevitably you will get some in your mouth.

The "flavours" I have are: Mint, Melon, Berry, & Citrus (for some reason I have never bought Carrot). My favourites are Berry & Mint. I love the tingly feeling that Mint leaves on my lips! Slightly addictive!

The only Con I've found with this product is that a couple of the tubes I own have broken so that they wind up, but not down. I've learnt to make sure I only wind out a couple of millimetres at a time.**

** Edit: August, 2011: The other day I got sick of the broken Lip Butter not winding so I wound it all the way out, and then put it back (holding it with a clean tissue) to see if it would make any difference. Well, it's actually winding up and down now, so the little exercise worked? Don't ask me how, but I'm happy!

Something that you may want to keep in mind is that these do not have SPF, however I like this as I don't want to be continuously using a lip product that has sunscreen in it when I don't need it. If I do need it, I will put a product over the top that has SPF, so for me, it's a plus.

I definitely recommend that you try one of these lip butters. I will be repurchasing when my tubes run out! :-)

My rating: 9 out of 10

How To Fix A Lush Solid Perfume (Pushed All The Way Out)

I love my Vanillary solid, but one annoying thing about it is that unlike a lipstick, you do not twist it to extend the product - you push it out.  Lush is known to use minimal packaging so I guess it's cheaper as well as being better for the environment, however once you push it out there's no way to push it back in - or so I thought!

I hope this helps other people who may have found themselves in the same predicament.... if this is you (and you have happened to find this page in a Google search panic) scroll down directly to the fix - you can read my discovery story later.... I know the panic you're feeling! I did the same thing but couldn't find anything - which is why I want to share my little Solid Perfume fix!

My First Vanillary Solid

I love Vanillary perfume & when I was given a Vanillary Solid I knew I would love it. (Un)fortunately the previous owner found that she was allergic to it after her skin reacted. Who could say no to a free Vanillary?

Disinfection!

I'm a real germ-a-phobe so I never share my cosmetics - especially mascara, lipstick & eyeshadow (I know plenty of people who do & I think it's awful). I thought however that since the Solid was only used once it should be ok. But, to be on the safe side I wanted to disinfect the surface. Fussy I know, but that's just me!

So, I push out the stick of solid perfume as far as it goes. Can't be too careful right? I carefully wipe the top of the waxy solid with a tissue, & finish by spraying a fine mist of Isopropyl Alcohol on the product. I set it down to allow the alcohol to evaporate. Easy! Disinfection complete!

Oops... the Vanillary Solid won't go back in! :(

So, the alcohol evaporates & I'm left with a clean Vanillary Solid. Fantastic! I grab a tissue & start to push it back in &.... hang on.... instead of the solid moving into the tube it starts to soften with the heat of my fingers & smush the perfume. Uh oh! I stop before I break the Solid pausing to get another tissue, thinking it might shield the heat a bit.

I commence to push the solid down with the tissue & the same thing happens. Smush! I'm making it worse, turning the top into a mushroom! At this point I'm pretty unhappy & guess that my new Vanillary Solid may be a goner.

If only I had thought this might happen BEFORE I pushed the product all the way out.

So I sit it on the bench & decide to think this through.......... eventually a picture of a globe appears above my head & I run into the kitchen with my supposedly ruined Vanillary Solid.

How To Fix A Lush Solid Perfume (Pushed All The Way Out)

1. Get your extended Lush Solid Perfume. If you've pushed down with force & it's smushed, use a tissue to carefully mould the perfume back into a tube shape.
2. Put it in the freezer
3. Leave it in the freezer for about an hour
4. Your Solid will freeze & become hard for a short period of time.
5. Remove your Solid from the freezer.
6. Use a clean tissue to push the Solid back into the container. As it will be frozen it will slide down easily.
7. Before you screw the lid back on, put your solid in a clean, dry place for a few hours to give it a chance to "thaw". This will minimise condensation sticking around & let it dry thoroughly.
8. Once completely dry, put the lid back on, & put it away!

Disclaimer?

I guess I should say, follow these instructions at your own risk. I didn't pay for my Solid so I was willing to sacrifice it if the freezer method didn't work. The first "brainwave" I came up with was melting the product in the microwave in another container & let it set but heat is not a friend to perfume, hence why I elected to use the freezer method.

I've been using this Solid Perfume for months after putting it in the freezer. I have not seen ANY changes in the product after putting it in the freezer. The scent is exactly the same, as is the consistency. I am guessing that this would work for the other perfumes too. It worked for me so I hope it works for you too! If you're at your wits end what do you have to lose?

Lush Solid Perfume Tips:

• The screw on cap leaves very little room for the product, so make sure you only push the Solid out a a millimetre or two at most. This is enough to spread the product on your skin but not too much for it to smear itself all over the inside of the lid (quite annoying).
• Use your Lush Solid perfume on clean, moisturised skin. This will give you the cleanest notes & a scent that will last longer!
• Keep your Solid in a cool, dry & dark place to minimalise any chance of melting. It's a very fragile product!

Freelance Shoes - Wedge Boots & Sale.

I was walking past Freelance Shoes in the QVB yesterday when I saw that they were having a sale so I accidentally (heh heh) walked in.

They had a shelf where I saw these gorgeous wedge boots for $60. I couldn't resist them! They fit well, look great & are super comfortable - another reason I love wedges. They also have a slight fluffy lining inside which makes them even warmer.

If you're going past Freelance Shoes, I definitely recommend you go in & have a look - they had some fantastic boots on sale.

You can also view their sales stock from their website at freelanceshoes.com.au

Inglot 15% Off for Westfields Southland (Cheltenham)

You lucky ladies who have access to Westfield Southland have 15% off Inglot from June 20, to August 8. See more information below. Here is the Link to the original page. Enjoy! :-)

Special Offer - Inglot 15% Off

15% Off full-priced items. View this offer and more in the Little Book of Big Offers - pick up your FREE copy at Westfield Southland Concierge or access all offers on the new Westfield iPhone App. WIN a $1000 Westfield Gift Card!!! Present and redeem this special offer using your iPhone with the new Westfield iPhone App and go in the draw to WIN a $1,000 Westfield Gift Card! iPhone promotion Terms & Conditions available at Concierge or westfield.com.au/southland
 
Offer from: Mon, 20 Jun 11 to Mon, 8 Aug 11

Address: Westfields Southland, 1239 Nepean Hwy Cheltenham VIC 3192

Novo Shoes - 2 x Boot Haul

I spotted some boots outside Novo Shoes today & I had to go in to try them on!

These Military style boots (Lance) are very comfy so far, and more importantly will be keeping my feet & legs warm! On sale at $50 I couldn't resist them.

I then saw these gorgeous wedge gumboots (YES! I said gumboots). Aren't they gorgeous - the most fashionable gumboots I have ever seen. Who could say no? They were reduced to $39. Hopefully they'll inspire me to find lots of puddles to jump into! :D

POST NOTE: The Lance Military Style Boots lasted about 2 months before the sole of both  boots wore away.

I DO NOT recommend buying them, or any other products from Novo Shoes. I am very disappointed in the very poor quality. What a waste of money.

Novo Shoes have an online store at www.novoshoes.com.au - This link is directly to the online store, rather than the main page as it has music - makes browsing at work dangerous!

Review: LUSH Butterball Ballistic

As you've seen from previous posts, I've been trying out quite a few Lush products since finally getting past the smell to enter the store.

Since the weather in Sydney has become quite cold, I've been enjoying relaxing hot baths - trying out various bubble baths & of course, Lush Bath Bombs/Ballistics!

Butterball is the 3rd ballistic that I've tried. Here's what Lush has to say about it.

"The bouncing Butterball is chock with chips of cocoa butter to melt all over your hot body in warm water and smooth you all over like a master masseur. It will fizz joyously, scenting the water with sweet musk and vanilla and softening you up nicely."

The Scent
There isn't much to say about this. Butterball has a subtle scent, both in the ballistic & in the bath. It's a soft powdery smell which is pleasant however also non de-script (AKA boring) not my favourite Lush scent

In Action
In the water, Butterball is equally non de-script. It certainly has a lot of bubbles but not much else other than tiny brown blobs of cocoa butter that float on the top of the water. I do admit that my skin felt quite soft even before I finished my bath, however it also felt greasy & tacky. Not my favourite feeling. The bath also became quite slippery.

The Cost
Butterball is $6.50 for a 98g ballistic.

The Verdict
I find all of Lush Ballistics expensive for what they are, & not a beauty essential however some of them are worth purchasing every now and again for a treat. I also love the "theatrics" of some of the Lush Ballistics - a mix of pretty colours as well as the aromatic scent of essential oils. Unfortunately Butterball comes up a little short & I won't be repurchasing it. I can get my cocoa butter fix in better ways.

Don't get me wrong, Butterball is pleasant, but I just don't feel that it's worth it. So, I don't recommend it.

My Rating: 2 out of 10

Review: LUSH Curly Wurly Liquid Shampoo

On one of my last few visits to Lush I was given a sample of one of their liquid shampoos called Curly Wurly. I've never tried any of their shampoos before so it was quite interesting.

Here's what Lush says about it:

"Absolutely gorgeous, preservative-free coconut and vanilla shampoo to calm curls and tame tangles. Curly Wurly makes thick, unruly curls behave. It’s bursting with nutritious coconut and heaps of natural butters to help nurture dry hair and eliminate frizz. Use with Coolaulin conditioner for tamed tresses fragranced with coconut and vanilla."

Using Curly Wurly
Curly Wurly is marketed to people with Curly hair (hence the name). My hair is fine, straight with slight waves (when it wants). I find that despite not being the intended hair type it worked well for me.

The consistency of this shampoo is unlike any other - it's quite "mushy" with an odd beige orange colour with actual pieces of coconut mixed throughout. I've read of others having trouble washing these pieces out of their hair but I haven't had this issue at all & don't even spend extra time rinsing. The coconut just comes out. I'm guessing that people who actually have curly hair may be the leftover coconut victims.

One thing that surprised me is that I only have to use a tiny amount to get a good clean - I scoop about just over a pea size out of the container & then rub this between wet hands. Although the product lathers it's a tiny almost unnoticeable amount. I then rub it through my hair starting at the back.

The first time I used Curly Wurly I was quite sceptical. When you rub it through your hair it does not feel like its actually doing anything. It's not until the product is rinsed out that I felt my hair was cleaner, but also softer as if I had used a conditioner. Once dry my hair is very soft, shiny & manageable. I find that I don't actually need to use a conditioner when I use Curly Wurly.

The Scent
I have to say, the first time I smelt the product I was, well, not impressed. It has Absolute Vanilla oil (my favourite essential oil) as well as Coconut Oil (and pieces) but there's something that gives it a strange scent. Possibly the egg? It's not TOO off-putting to use it thankfully. My hair smells divine (a vanilla coconut scent of course) once it dries, so the strangeness in the unused product doesn't really matter

The Cost
Curly Wurly is $20.50AU for a 220g tub. This does seem quite steep but I imagine that it will last a long time with the amount I use. Being preservative free the product does expire, however the label indicates almost a year & 3 months until the end of life. It will be interesting to see if I run out before or still have some product left then.

The Verdict
I haven't finished my sample yet however I was pleased enough to go back to Lush & buy the full product. I still see a few more washes from my sample, but I hate to run out of things I like!

I really like using Curly Wurly so I see myself repurchasing it again when my tub runs out. Due to the coconut oil in the product I won't use this every time I shampoo as I don't want it to build up in my hair, so I alternate with my other products. I usually team Curly Wurly with Lush Cosmetics American Cream conditioner, just to add the American Cream scent.

I'd recommend that you ask for a sample to see how you like it, but just make sure you rinse it out well so you don't have coconut pieces stuck in your hair - particularly if you actually have Curly Wurly hair.

My Rating: 8.5 out of 10

EcoTools 15% Off @ Priceline until May 23rd

Heads up Aussie's! I just wanted to let you know that Priceline is having a 15% off sale on all EcoTools products until May 23rd! :-)

Enjoy!

Review: I Love... Bubble Baths!

Sydney has turned icy cold - Winter is definitely upon us! This means heaters, fluffy socks, electric blankets and...... bubble baths!

Wandering through Myer, I found a brand that I had never seen before called I Love... Cosmetics. Their products include lip balm, lip gloss, body butter & delicious bubble bath.

Here's what they say about their bubble bath/shower gels:

Pour me seductively under running water, wait for the bubbles to kick in, immerse yourself into the bath, relax (and that’s very important) and take pleasure in my tantalising aroma. Alternatively, squeeze me generously into the palm of your hand or onto a sponge, smother me all over your wet skin until I lather into a frenzy of rich fragrant bubbles then rinse me off when you’ve had enough.

The I Love... bubble bath comes in a few different scents, the one that immediately caught my attention was Strawberries & Milkshake which smells just like it sounds. It's reminiscent of The Body Shops Strawberry Body Butter + a lovely creamy milk scent.

I purchased 2 more of their bubble baths last week - Raspberry & Blackberry, and Mango & Papaya - and was given a free Strawberries & Milkshake Shimmer & Shine Lip Gloss. There was another scent - Coconut & Cream which is kind of nice, but there's just something about it that's strange so I didn't get that one.

I wasn't sure about Mango & Papaya, at first this scent is quite subtle both in the bottle & bath, but it's growing on me. Raspberry & Blackberry has the strongest scent of all three. I notice after my bath that it also gives the bathroom a lovely scent for a couple of hours after.

The bubbles are lovely & fluffy - just want you want, and have always lasted the entire bath. I feel a bit sad washing them down the drain. Raspberry & Blackberry has the darkest colour of all - a shimmery red, but once the product is broken up & turned into bubbles the water is clear.

After using all three, at the moment I think my favourite would be Raspberry & Blackberry because of the strong scent.

With my sensitive nose I detect a tiny chemical soapy scent that's similar to other bubble baths (including kids bubble baths). I'm guessing it's the agent that creates the bubbles (SLS?) but it's not really noticable unless you're purposefully smelling the bubbles.

All three bubble baths are great when used as a shower cream/gel too.

Last but not least, I do notice my skin is soft after my bath or shower - don't expect super moisturised skin but I was surprised it did anything at all.

Verdict:

The I Love... bubble baths are a wonderful way to wind down after a hard day at work. They don't contain any mind blowing ingredients (no shea butter or essential oils), but the product doesn't promise this. The scents are gorgeous & make for a delightful & relaxing bath. That's exactly what you get.

I'm interested in trying a couple of other scents that haven't seemed to have made their way to Australia yet - Vanilla & Ice Cream, and Chocolate & Oranges.

Price:

$11.50 for a 500ml bottle.

My Rating: 7.5 out of 10

25% Off MOR Cosmetics @ Myer (.. and discounted at David Jones?)

Just a heads up - MOR is currently 25% off @ Myer stores until (IIRC) 14/04/11.

Funnily enough, I went to David Jones after I found Myer was out of the Lychee Flower perfume oil I wanted.  It was a pleasant surprise at the checkout when I realised their price was 25% off as well! I did not notice this advertised anywhere?

I went back & got Snow Gardenia & Marshmallow perfume oils since they were so cheap.

So, if you can't find what you want @ Myer, pop over to DJ's - check the price with the SA first.

Coming soon! Inglot Australia Online, 20 Palettes, Empty Palettes & IMATS Sydney!

I've actually known about this for a couple of weeks but thought I should be spreading the news!

On my last visit to Inglot I was told about a few exciting things coming up.

Here they are:

Purchase Inglot Palettes (without shadows) - This is great news as if you've currently got an older style Inglot palette (such as the Inglot 30) you will be able "upgrade" by being able to purchase empty magnetic palettes. You can not do this currently. We're talking the 2, 4, 5, 10 or 20 Square or Round Inglot palettes.

Another plus with this is being able to buy a palette to use specifically for travel - just transfer your favourite shadows into the smaller palette & take it with you. The 4 palette is is great for this - it fits in my little makeup bag!

New Inglot 20 Palette - You've probably seen the new 20 palettes on UK/US blogs, YouTube & mentioned on Twitter. It's the width of 2 x 10 palettes. This will be great to have all my favourite textures together in one place!

Inglot Australia Online - Yes Aussies! We will be able to purchase Inglot online! :D

IMATS Sydney, September 2011 - I saw this on the Inglot International site a few weeks ago, but they confirmed they'll have a stall at the International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (IMATS) in Sydney!

The ETA for the palettes & online store is currently early April. Fingers crossed!

I hope that everyone is as excited as I am! :D

The Perfume Connection: Tester Sale

Attention Aussie Perfume Lovers!

Just a quick post.... I snuck a peek @ The Perfume Connection the other day & saw they have a tester sale on again... but this time the prices are actually pretty reasonable - ranging from $5 to $40ish.

They are scents that they no longer sell (most seemed like Summer fragrances), however a lot of them were 100ml bottles that had hardly been touched. What a great way to try a new perfume & grab a bargain.

Now go sniff! :D

Another Inglot Haul

Inglot Haul

So, I stopped into Inglot today & left with more great goodies.

I got a few more Matte, Double Sparkle & AMC textures plus Pearl which is now my 2nd favourite Inglot texture (after Matte)

As usual Inglot's Customer Service was amazing & I'd like to thank Mel in the Chatswood store for her expertise & patience helping me choose the right colours. Sydney ladies, make sure you see her for all your Inglot needs! Thank you Mel!

 Here's what I got:

• 1 x 10 Square Palette
• 1 x 4 Square Palette
• 2 x Lipsticks (105 Coral Red & 420 Pink/Purple Matte)

My 2 x Inglot 10 Square Matte Palettes

The eyeshadow numbers I got were: 366M, 371M (Light Blue), 372M (Teal), 348M, 388M (Dark Blue), 491DS, 37AMC, 444P, 460DS, 439P, 404P, 420P (Sheer Silver Mauve), 422P, 55AMC - these are not in order, and not all are in the palettes you see above.

You may recognise some of the colours in the above photo from my last Inglot post. I added my previously purchased matte (overflow) eyeshadows to my new purchases to create a 2nd colourful 10 Square Matte palette, I guess I should have got 1 more as I had a leftover space which I used up with a purple double sparkle (PS: It's now a Yellow AMC/Matte).

I'm really stoked to have a neutral, & colourful matte palette - these two will get the most use out of all my shadows & are my go to palettes.

I put the rest of my purchases into the new 4 square palette & what was left over into my UNII palette.

Review: LUSH Vanilla Dee-Lite Body Lotion

I wandered into Lush wanting to get a Vanillary solid perfume to accompany my Vanillary EDT perfume but unfortunately they were out. :(


Browsing the store, I came across Vanilla Dee-Lite Body Lotion but it didn't seem very attractive, so I put it back, moving on. I ended up getting a Vanilla Fountain Bath Ballistic (can't wait to use it!) & 100g of the Vanilla In The Mist soap. The SA must have seen me looking at it, so at the checkout gave me a sample of Vanilla Dee-Lite to try at home with a paper offering 10% if I purchased it within a few days (how did she know? LOL)

I went onto the shopping centre & stopped at Inglot. On the way I smoothed a little of the body lotion on my arm. To my surprise it smelt amazing - totally different than it had smelt in the store & quite similar to Vanillary! I finished my shopping & on the way back made sure I detoured into Lush to grab a bottle (using the 10% off voucher)!

How Does It Feel?

Vanilla Dee-Lite glides on very smoothly & a little goes a long way. It has a silky creamy texture which leaves skin very soft. It's quite nourishing & moisturises my skin well. Oh! Also, it's not greasy whatsoever - thank goodness!

How Does It Smell?

This body lotion has the gorgeous Vanilla/Jasmin/Tonka scent that's used in Lush's Vanillary perfume, however it's a subtle version. It also has a soy type of edge to the smell (think soy milk). I'm guessing it's the Illipe butters.

It lasts all day on my skin & I get whiffs of it now and again. Lush also use absolute perfume oils for the three notes in this product which means it's great quality - not many companies use the real deal. This is why the scent lasts.

I usually do not use Vanilla Dee-Lite on it's own, but as a base when I wear Vanillary.

Price

Vanilla Dee-Lite is a little pricey at $29.95AU for a 250g bottle, I was a little taken aback when I first saw the price, however it does contain quality ingredients such as extra virgin coconut oil & as already mentioned above - absolute perfume oils (vanilla, tonka & jasmine) which are not cheap. As you don't need a lot of product I think it will last a long time

Verdict

I love the texture & definitely love the smell of Vanilla Dee-Lite. If you like vanilla or tonka, I recommend that you try this out. If you're like me & find it hard to smell anything inside Lush, make sure you put it on your skin & leave the store to see how you like it.

I love Vanilla Dee-Light & will definitely repurchase it when my bottle runs out. I find it to be the perfect accompaniment to LUSH Vanillary perfume.

So, the bottom line is, if you love vanilla, you must try this. If you love Vanillary, you must have this. If you love Vanillary but find it's a little too strong this is a great substitute - give it a go!

It' will be coming into Autumn soon so I am looking forward to using more Vanilla fragrances so this is perfect. I'll be using the Vanilla Dee-Lite under Vanillary for perfect scent layering!

My Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review: CND Solar Oil

Chatting to MsSherryBlossom on Twitter about nails this morning inspired me to blog about a product I've been using for about 5 years ---- Solar Oil.

I used to be an avid acrylic nail wearer a few years ago & learnt the benefits of using cuticle oil to keep your acrylic nails in good shape for longer as well as feeding your natural nails underneath. I stopped getting acrylics due to the cost of infills (up to $50 every 3 weeks). So the acrylics are gone, but I kept using Solar Oil.

Solar Oil is made by an American company called Creative Nail Design (aka CND) & is described as "A synergistic blend of naturally light oils and Vitamin E, designed to deeply penetrate and protect skin and nails."

The Solar Oil bottles have a brush just like a nail polish bottle. The 68ml version also includes a dropper.

Solar Oil definitely keeps my nails & cuticles moisturised. With regular use it also strengthens nails whilst keeping them flexible. Another huge benefit I found is that it stops my nails from peeling which was making them constantly break.

I try to make sure I use Solar Oil at least twice a day (in the morning & evening). I keep a pinkie bottle in my handbag, one at work & I have a 68ml bottle sitting on my computer desk so I can use it when browsing the WWW - especially blogs or forums.

The scent is quite subtle - Sweet Almond Oil. The oil absorbs remarkably quickly - it only takes a few minutes. I love the simple ritual of using Solar Oil, massaging it into your nails is quite relaxing

If I forget to use Solar Oil (which I have to say, is quite often if I'm super busy) I really notice how good it is. A few days after I stop my nails start to peel again, become prone to tearing & break easily.

How To Use Solar Oil

• Brush it onto your nails

• Gently massage the oil into each nail

• That's it!

Other Uses


To Dry Nail Polish - Solar Oil can help dry your nail polish - a couple of minutes after you put the colour on, put a drop at the base of each nail, and then gently smooth it onto the nail. It also helps get rid of extra polish on the skin if needed.

Dry Skin - It's also great with dry skin. I put a couple of drops on the back of my hands to use like hand cream. It's great on elbows or any other places where you may find your skin dry, including lips.

Burns, Bites, Scars - After reading that Solar Oil was sometimes used in burn units in hospitals, I started using it on small burns, such as blisters on my heels from new shoes, or to heal mosquito bites faster. I've also found that it can fade scars. I've just read that it has anti-inflammatory properties so this is no surprise.

Hair - I don't do it often, but I have rubbed Solar Oil through my hair, similar to how you would use Moroccan Oil (just a couple of drops).

There's probably another 101 uses for it too!

Solar Oil comes in 3.7ml (aka "pinkie" bottle), 15ml, 68ml, & a huge 108ml refil bottle. It can be quite pricey - 15ml for $24.95AU, however it does last a long time - even the smaller bottles. I purchased my 108ml refill bottle for $50 (at a beauty supply store) & I haven't even used half the bottle in 5 years.

You can also get a product called Solar Balm but I have to say, it's not as good as Solar Oil, but that's another review.

Verdict

Solar Oil is one of my HG products & a must have in my world. I would definitely recommend picking up a little bottle & trying it out. As long as you use it every day you'll find yourself with healthier, stronger & well moisturised nails.

My Rating: 9 out of 10

Review: Simple Eye Make-Up Remover

Once I discovered Gel Eyeliners (Stila Smudge Pots & Inglot Matte Gel Eyeliners) & Mixing Mediums (Inglot's Duraline) I knew they were the best thing since sliced bread. They are so good as they stay on FOREVER.

I bought a sensitive eyemakeup remover by Innoxa which unfortunately did not do a very good job. Not only did it take too many cotton balls to remove the makeup & to my surprise I found that it stung my eyes & made them red, no matter how careful I was.

How's that for being a sensitive eye makeup remover!

So I went on the hunt for another one! I scouted the Internet for reviews & recommendations for a good eye makeup remover however there are so many different types I was a little overwhelmed.

Browsing through Priceline one day, I noticed a little bottle with a green lid - Simple Eye Make-up Remover - it was on sale for about $8. Next to it was the cutest little 50ml version which was also on sale for about $3.00. The bigger version was cheap, but I am sick of buying full sized products just to find that I don't like them so I thought the smaller bottle was a fantastic idea to see what it's like!

Using It

The bottle has screw off lid & inside a small whole, which makes it SO much easier to get the product either on a cotton ball, or cotton tip without having to tip the bottle upside down (and possibly contaminating the bottle) onto it, or accidently pouring too much out.

So what I do is, I pour a little onto a cotton ball, hold it on my eye for a couple of seconds, and then wipe the eye from lash to brow. I repeat the process for both eyes. Depending on the amount of makeup I have put on that day it may take one or two cotton balls per eye. I prefer using cotton balls as when I used cosmetic squares that they soaked up too much product.

Tip: For stubborn waterproof mascara I pour a little onto a cotton tip & run it along my lashes. The small hole/dispenser makes it perfect to get a drop or two on the tip.


Benefits of Simple Eye Make-Up Remover

What appealed to me about this product is that it is:

• Fragrance free - I don't like fragrance in face products
• No added Colour - who needs it to look pretty?
• Has Pro-Vitamin B5
• Oil Free so it's not greasy
• Removes Waterproof makeup - exactly what I've been using!

Verdict

Would I recommend this?

Yes, it does exactly what it says & my eyes don't sting* - bonus!

*The strange thing is, since using it I have noticed reviews on sites such as Make Up Alley, that some people report that it makes their eyes sting - these reviews were for a similar bottle by Simple, but it says "Conditioning" on it. I'm not sure if they've reformulated the product, or that this is a different version? My recommendation is to buy the  smaller 50ml bottle first so you can see what it's like before getting a full one.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, in fact, since using up my little bottle I have purchased a full one. I'm just over halfway through so I will have to remember to pick another one up in a few weeks!

My Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Inglot Matte Freedom System 10 Palette + 4 Extra

My Inglot Matte Palette (plus extras)

I went back to Inglot a couple of weeks ago with the intention of obtaining more mattes. I already had a handful of matte eyeshadows from my 30 palette, & another from a 5 palette I picked up at Christmas. I have been raving about them since.

Inglot's matte eyeshadows have fast become my favourite Inglot texture since getting my first palette. These mattes are the best I've ever used. They're silky, smooth & so easy to work with. I've been mainly using them for neutral looks so far.

On my matte hunt I picked up 7 more mattes (with a couple more AMC textures too) in a funky 10 Square magnetic palette. Using my 10% Off voucher (received with my December purchase) it was about $76AU.

I wanted to put all of my mattes together so, I took all the mattes out of the 30 palette & put them into the 10 palette with some of the new acquisitions. I have 4 extra mattes that will live inside my UNII Palette until I get another 10 palette.

Unfortunately in my rush I got one double of 392M :( but it's a nice colour so I will be using it eventually. The double will reside in a "spare palette" until I need it.

Here are the numbers:

Top Row: 373M White, 351M Cream, 352M Beige, 390M Grey/Brown, 361M Peach
Bottom Row: 360M Brown, 363M* Medium Brown, 378M Dark Brown, 376M Dark Grey, 362M Pink

4 Extras: 392M Medium Purple, 379M Dark Purple^, 384M Green, AMC63+ Black

*This particular eyeshadow was from a sale palette I purchased at Christmas time. I think it must be older stock as it doesn't have the number on the bottom - from swatches & pictures of Inglot Freedom eyeshadows I've seen online the closest I've found is 363M, so that's my guess.

+ Technically this eyeshadow is not deemed a matte texture, it's an AMC (Advanced Makeup Component) colour however it is definitely a matte black.

^Unfortunately the camera gave the 379M a bluish tinge, but it's definitely purple. Inglot have a purple/blue matte eyeshadow but I didn't get it as I don't think it would suit my eye colour..

Do you have any Inglot Mattes? What do you think of them?

The Perfume Connection 25% Off Online Purchases for Valentines Day (5th & 6th February)

Attn: Gentlemen - you MUST read this blog entry!

I received an email today from The Perfume Connection saying:

"perfumeconnection.com.au is offering 25% discount on your total amount purchased this weekend - the 5th & 6th February 2011. Don't miss out on this great offer and get that someone 'special' a new fragrance this Valentine's Day"

So Guys, grab your credit card, log on & purchase purchase purchase! Thank you!

Inglot Price Increase - UK & US. Is Australia next?

Inglot has increased their prices in their UK & US stores causing a huge uproar in the makeup community.

Inglot lovers, & potential buyers who have heard good reviews on this Polish brand have expressed their dismay at the price hike. The increase is already in place in UK stores & will take effect in the US stores on 7/2/2011. Inglot USA are using the same day to introduce their new Inglot 20 Eyeshadow Freedom System palette, already released in the UK.

Unfortunately for Inglot, a lot of people are saying that they will not purchase Inglot Freedom System palettes after the increase. In the US the cost of a 10 Square Eyeshadow palette is currently $50, however will increase to $80 on the 7th of February. This has made a lot of people upset & angry.

There is speculation that the price increase is due to the rise in the online popularity that Inglot have had over the last 3 months, especially on online communities such as YouTube.

The positive reviews Inglot have received (especially for their eyeshadows) have always been similar - that the brand is:

• Excellent quality
• Very pigmented &
• Cheap

Makeup lovers in the Internet community are saying that Inglot are cashing in on this popularity & selling out.

Inglot USA's official Twitter account tweeted that "The product is still extremely affordable, and lines prices do go up eventually. The quality of our product shows."

Yes, prices do rise eventually, but this is a huge hike. I'm guessing that their stores will be extremely busy for the next few days, but what will happen after this?

Will Inglot survive? Will they respond to the uproar?

Inglot In Australia

The Australian Inglot prices are not cheap, and have never been. They are above drug store brand makeup costs, however in my opinion the product is good enough to justify the amount of money spent. That is, if they don't raise our prices too.

If prices do go higher, Unfortunately I won't be purchasing Inglot anymore. This is really hard to say as I love this brand, their excellent customer service in their Sydney stores (especially Chatswood) & excellent products.

The makeup market in Australia a hugely saturated place, so much so that even cult brands such as Stila & Urban Decay have not made a mark here, and were removed from mainstream retail sale. I'm afraid that if Inglot raise their Australian prices, the same thing will happen to them here too.

The current costs for Inglot Freedom System Palettes in Australia are:

10 Square Eyeshadows = $85
 5 Square Eyeshadows = $50
 4 Square Eyeshadows = $40
 2 Square Eyeshadows = $28

Were the higher Australian prices a test to see if people would buy the product at a higher cost? Or, will Australia also see a price increase? Only time will tell.

Don't push yourself out of the market Inglot! Keep your prices as they are!

What do you think of the price increases? Have Inglot made a bad decision?

NB: As of 10/02/2011 Inglot USA have decided to postpone the price increase. Originally they moved it from 7/2/2011 to 14/2/2011 (yes, Valentines Day), however the latest news is that it will be May 2011.

It is suspected that this is due to the huge public uproar on Twitter & YouTube, which included UK makeup artist Wayne Goss speaking out about the increase (which had already happened in the UK).

Price Increases in Australia

Edit: as of April 2011, the Freedom Eyeshadow palette is now $95, an increase of $10. I do not have a listing of all product prices, but apparently the entire Freedom Palette range, as well as their other products will see an increase of a few dollars.


Another edit: As of July 2011, Inglot Australia have increased their prices for a second time in 3 months (the first was in April 2011).

The prices of the freedom palettes in Australian stores & Inglot Australia Online are now as follows:


20 Square Eyeshadows = Was $180, now $225 (inc palette)
10 Square Eyeshadows = Was $95, now $115 (inc palette)

 5 Square Eyeshadows = Was $50, now $60 (inc palette)
 4 Square Eyeshadows = Was $40, now $49 (inc palette)
 3 Square Eyeshadows = Was ?, Now $38 (inc palette)
 2 Square Eyeshadows = Was $28, now $27 (inc palette)

The Square eyeshadow refills are now $10 each, and the palettes are now purchased separately. According to Inglot, the advantage is that you do not have to fill an entire palette at the time of purchase - you can buy a few shadows now, & then add more to your palette whenever you like (whereas previously you had to fill the palette at time of purchase). This has made the palettes more expensive (e.g. the 10 palette was $85 in March, & is now $115).


The 40 palettes (inc The Power Of Matte palettes) are due to be released in Australia in August, by the above calculations the shadows will be $400 plus the cost of the palette (unknown at this time - if the 20 palette is $25, a good guess would be $30 or $35?). $430+ for a 40 palette???? Wow!




Price Increases in USA

It finally happened. The prices in the USA also increased at the same time & the prices there are now as follows:

The Square eyeshadow refills are now $5 each.

40 Square Eyeshadows = Was?, now $229 (inc palette) 
10 Square Eyeshadows = Was $50, now $60 (inc palette)

5 Square Eyeshadows = Was ?, now $33 (inc palette)
4 Square Eyeshadows = The USA don't seem to have the 4 palette at Inglot USA online
3 Square Eyeshadows = Was ?, Now $21 (inc palette)
2 Square Eyeshadows = Was ?, $15 (inc palette)


Even with the price rise in the USA, the 10 palette is $55 more in Australia  - almost twice the price, even though the Australian dollar is currently higher than the US dollar. Doesn't seem fair does it?

T2 - Just Cinnamon & Vanilla Slice Tea

I popped into T2 last week & found a lot of new teas that I hadn't seen before. T2 is an amazing experience for my olfactory senses. After a lot of sniffing (& taste testing), I settled on 2 new teas to try.

Just Cinnamon (100g)
Just Cinnamon is definitely my favourite of the two. T2 had this in chilled format to sample in the store & it was delicious, but I think I prefer it hot. It's exactly like the name - just cinnamon.No other flavours contaminate this simple, yet yummy tea. It's just the tiniest bit spicy (don't worry - it's really tiny) & is sweet. The longer you steep this tea, the sweeter it gets. It's a lovely sweet treat & I think it would be a good alternative to the sugar filled premade ice teas. Another positive is that it's also really fragrant - expect the room you're in to smell just like cinnamon.

$11.25/100g

My Rating: 9/10

Vanilla Slice (100g)
This one smells absolutely amazing. A fruity vanilla that you have to keep smelling - it's addictive. As a tea it's not so sweet. The fruit gives it a little bit of a tartness that I'm not loving however I'm going to try to get used to it. I may try putting a spoon of honey in the cup to see if that helps.

$13/100g

My Rating: 6/10

Urban Decay Naked Palette Email Update

The clever UD marketing team are at it again!

"PROBLEM:
We can't make 24/7 pencils fast enough to fill all the NAKED PALETTES our fans want!

SOLUTION:
We're replacing the pencil with a full-sized Good Karma Shadow Brush so we can keep giving you Naked. Yeah, it's a couple bucks more - $48 - but it's a $26 brush and really amazing!

We know everyone is crazy about Naked, so we thought we'd give you the insider info: We still have a few of the original Naked Palettes left, and are getting those out to the people who asked to be notified when Naked was in stock.

In a couple weeks, we'll receive a shipment of the Naked Palette with the Shadow Brush. When those come in, we'll notify the people on our "Naked List" first. We will sell the palettes on a first come, first serve basis, and we'll no longer keep a running list of people who want Naked.

Stores who sell Urban decay will get "new" Naked Palettes with the Shadow Brush soon after we receive them on UrbanDecay.com, so you can look out for them there, too! We'll keep making Naked with the Shadow Brush for a long time so if you don't get one right away don't worry. We're making them as quickly as we can, and will try to KEEP making them until everyone who wants one owns a Naked Palette.

XOXO
Your Friends at Urban Decay"

LUSH Cosmetics Mini Haul

I went into Lush Handmade Cosmetics for the 2nd time in my life today. I'd never wandered into this store before last year as the smell really put me off. The first time I dared venture in was just before Christmas. I tested the Vanillary perfume & loved the scent.

This week I heard about Vanillary being on sale for 50% off, so when I saw the store I thought it would be a good time to go in.

So, back to the mini haul, this is what I ended up with

• 2 x Vanillary EDP perfumes (30ml) - $22.47 each
  ^ Gorgeous perfume with Vanilla, Jasmine & Tonka Bean.
• 1 x Snowfairy Lip Tint (10g) - $4.75
  ^ smells just like raspberry frog lollies & has a slight pink tint.
• 1 x Light Yellow Colour Supplement sample
  ^ You can mix this with your moisturiser, or use it as a skin tint
• 1 x Dreamwash Shower Smoothie sample
  ^ Just had a whiff of it & GAWD does it stink or what! This is the "Lush store smell" I've been avoiding - its been passed to a friend to try.

I will do a review when I have more experience with the products.

Returns Experience with Kit Cosmetics

You may have seen on an earlier blog my purchase of the Too Faced Eye Shadow Insurance Policy Palette from Kit Cosmetics.

I also noted in the same blog my disappointment upon opening the package to find swatch marks on a couple of the eyeshadows. I was really disappointed as I was going to give the palette away as a gift for Christmas.

This was my very first purchase from Kit Cosmetics.

Due to the busy holiday period I did not get the chance to call Kit but made a comment on Twitter about the swatches. Kit Cosmetics saw my tweet & replied asking me to call them so they could fix it up. I was impressed by this & gave them a call.

I spoke to a CSR & told her about the swatch marks on the palette. She was apologetic & explained their return policy. She asked me if it was the $24.95 palette & I advised her that I didn't buy it at sale price, it was $49.95 (wish I'd waited but never mind, these things happen & it still seemed like a bargain - before I saw the finger marks). She asked me to post the complete palette to them so they could look at it, and send me a new palette back to them. I posted the tube of  TSII & the palette to Kit at my cost (probably about $6.50).

I hadn't heard from Kit Cosmetics for about a week when I sent them a message through their website. I received a reply back & they said they received the palette & upon inspection they found that the marks were due to pressing errors from the manufacturer, but they would express post a new palette anyway.

Now, I have purchased a lot of eyeshadows in my life, from high end, mid range & drug store brands however I've NEVER seen any "manufacturer faults" that look like swatches. I wish I'd kept a photo of the palette. I know that they were DEFINITELY swatch marks. They had the tell tale circular finger marks of someone swatching & testing at least two eyeshadows. I didn't reply.

I felt disgusted that I bought a product which was essentially 2nd hand. I've had eye issues & know the havoc that bacteria can cause to your eyes. There was no way that I would use eyeshadows that have been swatched let alone give it away to someone else.

So, I received the replacement palette last week & it looks untouched. Problem solved right?

What did I think of the returns procedure?

The woman I spoke to on the phone was nice, there's no problem with that. I sent them a "faulty" product & they sent me a new one, there's no problem with that. However I'm not terribly impressed that I had to go out of my way & spend extra money to post it to them at my own cost & no fault of my own.

I realise that companies probably get odd calls from people trying to scam them all the time, but for me I would not have taken the time or spent the money to send it back if I there was no reason to. Also, that brought the palette up to about $56.45 so my original "bargain" was disappearing.

I feel that Kit Cosmetics should have sent something extra to acknowledge my effort. Something worth $5? $2? A couple of samples? A 10% off your next purchase voucher? A $1 off your next purchase voucher? It wouldn't have mattered what the value of the "extra thing" was, it's the gesture of goodwill that counts. Even if they believe that the marks are "manufacturer marks".

You may think I'm after something for nothing, no, that's not it. It costs a lot of money to get new customers, but not a lot to keep current customers happy. Customer retention should be a priority

Because of this, this will be the first and the last time I will be purchasing anything from Kit Cosmetics. It's a shame because I love TFSI & will be repurchasing it, but not from them. I'll source another retail company, or even online store to get future tubes.

Last but not least I've learnt a new lesson - CHECK ALL PRODUCTS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STORE!

My Rating for Kit Cosmetics: 0 out of 10

Changes to the beloved Urban Decay Naked Palette

The internet is abuzz with the return of cult eye shadow product the Urban Decay Naked Palette.

BEFORE

Much to the annoyance of many makeup lovers who have read rave reviews about the Naked Palette, it has been widely unavailable. Any & all stock slowly released during this time was snapped up in retail stores or online shops quicker than you can say the word "Naked".

Urban Decay has a very smart marketing team!

It's been in such demand it's known worldwide - even in countries that it is not sold in. I've seen the Naked Palette sold on eBay Australia for prices such as $120AU plus postage! Urban Decay is no longer stocked in Australia so a lot of Urban Decay products sold to Aussies (such as the Naked Palette) have been based on positive online reviews alone - either in blogs, or on video sharing sites such as You Tube.

AFTER

In the last months of 2010 UD emailed those desperately awaiting the Naked Palette saying that it WAS a permanent product & that new stock should be seen in stores in January 2011.

Changes to the Urban Decay Naked Palette

So it's January & as promised, the Naked Palette seems to be making its way back into US stores such as Sephora HOWEVER with a couple of changes:

The 12 eyeshadow colours Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep & Gunmetal are still included, as well as the mini Primer Potion.

However, an Urban Decay Good Karma Shadow brush has replaced the much raved about double ended 24/7 liner in Zero (Black) & Whisky (Brown).

The Good Karma Shadow brush is described as "a flat, semi-soft brush which is cruelty free & professional quality".

Urban Decays' website description is as follows:

"It's your ultimate eyeshadow tool. Get an all-over sweep of color with the flat side of the brush, or use the fine, rounded tip for more precise shading. Thanks to the tight bristles, this multi-purpose brush picks up a little or a lot of shadow, so you can shade, blend and define. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a novice with her first set of brushes, this is one you'll want in your collection".

The RRP of the Good Karma Shadow Brush is $26 at the Urban Decay online store.

Last but not least, the second change to the UD Naked Palette is the price which has risen from $44US to $48US.

What do you think of the changes?
Do you think the value or appeal has decreased due to the removal of the eyeliner?

Is the palette now worth the price increase considering the change?
Have you used the Good Karma eyeshadow brush? Do you like it?

Perfume Review: lol ;-) by Lulu Castagnette

A few months ago I picked out a perfume named Les Petites Folies 00:10 by Lulu Castagnette. I liked it so much I recently got the "buddy" perfume Les Petites Folies 20:15 which is lovely too - gorgeous bottles!

I returned to try another Lulu Castagnette perfume however unfortunately the Sales Assistant could not find the tester. I didn't want to leave the store without testing SOMETHING so I asked to try the only other tester there which happened to be lol ;-).

I had seen this perfume in lists whilst browsing sites & had a small giggle. Who would buy a perfume with such a name unless it's for a novelty - which I'm not completely alien to. Certainly it's a teen perfume? I try not to judge scents like I have seen others do. However this is definitely one instance when I misjudged .


So the SA sprayed & handed the card to me. I sniffed & looked up at her in surprise. It was really nice! Pick me up off the floor!

How does it smell?
The top notes are a blast of Strawberry & Apple, which turns out to be a little like sherbet. The Florals (Rose & Iris) sneak in & soon after the Vanilla. Just when you think you have lol ;-) figured out, the Sandalwood & Patchouli join the crowd & turn it into a sophisticated gourmand (well I think so anyway).

I always test potential fragrances on my skin, so I asked the SA to spray my arm. After a while the scent turned from a fruity sherbet to a creamy delicious strawberry vanilla with just the right amount of sandalwood & patchouli to blend. It definitely grew on me as the afternoon progressed to evening & then morning. Morning?? Yes, it lasted on my skin, pillow & clothes. I got whiffs of it until I washed! It grew on me & I knew I wanted to lol ;-)

Sillage seems to be decent & it has approval from my SO (a very hard feat!!!).

PERFUME NOTES:
Top: Strawberry, Apple
Middle: Rose, Iris
Base: Vanilla, Sandalwood, Patchouli

What about the bottle?
The bottle seems to be a little Jean Paul Gaultier inspired with its curves. It's a cute pink & orange with an unusual "topless" pink see through lid. Can't say that it's extremely elegant looking, it reminds me a little of a deodorant, but it's nice to hold & easy to spray/distribute the perfume on your arm.

Would I recommend it?
Yes! .... but you'll need to like gourmand (foody) scents as it's very sweet & definitely smells like a fruity, creamy desert (with some sherbet thrown in). If this does not appeal to you - avoid it. If it does, try it out on your skin!


Verdict
Who would have thought a perfume called lol ;-) would be a really nice fragrance? Not me! But it is! I'm really happy with this scent & it will definitely be on my rotation. Although it seems to stand the heat, lol ;-) is probably a cooler weather fragrance. The Vanilla may be a little too much in the humidity.

Price
I bought a 100ml for $45 from The Perfume Connection. It's also available in 50ml for $22.95*

PS: A small heads up! If you're looking for this the "full" name is SMS lol ;-) but on the bottle it simply says lol ;-) - Lulu Castagnette seems to like to group fragrances into "headings" (?) such as SMS or Les Petite Folies which can be a little confusing if you're specifically looking for one of her fragrances on a listing or site without good search functions as this may be listed under S or L.

PPS: As of July 2011, you can pick up 100ml of SMS lol ;-) from The Perfume Connection, & The Perfume Shop for $14 a bottle. Apparently they're getting rid of the line & I definitely recommend you take advantage of that! :-) $14 for this perfume is a steal!

My Rating: 7 out of 10

*Edit July, 2011: Perfume Connection must be discontinuing the line, as I saw lol ;-) for $13 (50ml) grab a bottle as at this price, it's a steal!

UNII Palette

I finally received my UNII Palettes! I ordered a Pomegranate (Red/Pink) & Coal (Black - for a friend). Shipping time was quite good considering it was sent during the holiday season.

I won't give you a blow by blow review about the palette as there are plenty of those, but I will give you my thoughts.

First Impressions


I have to say my very first impression was, wow that's small. I saw other reviews mention this but didn't realise it was smaller than my palm to my finger tips.

The palette seems to be very well made however, & is quite sleek. As you probably know the UNII Palette has a clasp that keeps it closed & is easy to open. I haven't used it "on the road" yet, but it doesn't look like it could accidently open in your bag.

The pans & brush fit in perfectly. As you can see from the photo I've fit 8 x Inglot square eyeshadows in (2.7 grams each) & an EcoTools Eye Shadow brush in between. On the left bottom sideside is the powder half of my Smashbox BrowTech. The left top has a plastic thumb grip which you can move to whichever position you need. You don't have to use it if you don't have the room but it's a good idea as you have something to hold onto, rather than holding the palette precariously or accidently digging your nail(s) into an eyeshadow.

What I would use the UNII Palette for?

I wouldn't recommend the UNII Palette as a makeup storage solution as it's just too small, however it looks like it will be perfect for travel.

I can see that I will probably still need to use a separate makeup bag for brushes - unless I sacrifice some eyeshadows, which could probably happen if it is just an overnight trip.


Is it better than other small style palettes?

If you asked me a month ago, I would have said yes, but whilst waiting for the UNII Palette to arrive I bought a small Inglot Freedom palette (the older style) & started to use it to travel with makeup.

One thing that the small Inglot palette has over the UNII Palette is that it is smaller, thinner & lighter. It holds the same amount of Inglot shadows & also has a mirror. It doesn't have a clasp but it seems to close up tight.

The EcoTool brush you see above fits in the Inglot palette, but the thicker highlight EcoTool brush did not (the Inglot palette wouldn't close, but the UNII one did.

The other thing that the UNII Palette has over the Inglot palette is pizazz. What other palette comes in a pretty colour & looks like a little notebook? It's definitely adorable. :D

Also, if you're wondering, the UNII Palette is a LOT better than the SMH/ACW small magnetic palette - I wouldn't travel with that one. Too flimsy.

Please note: the bottom is not magnetised

One other thing I noticed is that the metal plate at the bottom is NOT magnetised.

UNII Cosmetics provides a square of magnet adhesive for you to cut & stick to the bottom of your pans. I don't want to stick the magnets under pans that are already magnetised, so I got around this by placing the supplied adhesive magnet sheet on the bottom - it's the exact dimensions of the palette. I placed my eyeshadow pans on that & voila. The magnets stick.

This seems to work but I'm a little apprehensive that the magnet square might move or fall out accidentally (remember I just sat it in the palette). If it falls out, it takes ALL of my shadows with it. I'm not game enough to hold it upside-down to test. I guess I'll have to see see how it goes.

Verdict


This verdict is only on first impressions as I haven't even had it for 24 hours, however I think the UNII Palette is really sleek & pretty. I really like the design & it will be my travel palette from now on. It looks like it will do a great job (as long as the "unstuck" magnet adhesive stays put).

I will do an update to let you know what I think once I've had more experience.