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.

How To Make Your Fragrance Last Longer (& fix other complaints)

I love my perfume & perusing fragrance reviews is a strange pastime of mine (well my SO seems to think so anyway). One thing I come across quite often are complains about different perfumes such as:-

• This perfume only lasts 5 minutes on me! 
• I love the (Top/Middle/Base) notes but something turns strange 
• This doesn't smell the same on me as it does on my friend/mother/aunt

There will always be fragrances &/or notes that you like, or don't like - this is personal taste - but some of the common complaints are due to the way it is worn & is usually fixable. Let me show you how!

BACKGROUND

I started (seriously) collecting perfume bout 4 years ago when I ran out of my signature scent & decided to broaden my horizon. It wasn't that I didn't like it any more, I just wanted to try something new. That one "new" fragrance turned into 2, and then 3, and then 4.... well you get the picture.

BAD EXPERIENCE - STRANGE NOTE?

One of my first few fragrances in my collection all those years ago was Insolence by Guerlain. I found & tested this on my skin at the department store. It worked well & I loved it. I realised that I had to have it (as you do!). Those of you who have experienced Insolence you will know that it is LOUD. It's a love it or hate it scent. I find it extremely complicated, sweet yet creamy & luxurious.

I found Insolence at a great price & eagerly purchased it. After wearing my new favourite a few times I found that occasionally it would take on a very odd, sharp "washing powder" note* that would irritate my nose to the point that I disliked it. This strange note was not present all the time so I knew it wasn't normal, but because of this I didn't wear it as much anymore.

*I've since found that a few fragrances develop the sharp washing powder note if the perfume is not worn correctly (see below). It seems to be a floral trait but I haven't tracked it down to any particular note.

BAD EXPERIENCE - 5 MINUTE SCENT!

So, around the same time as my Insolence experience, Summer came & as Insolence is definitely a Winter fragrance (big on the vanilla which can be overbearing in hot weather) I went looking for a new Summery scent.

I ended up getting Dior Addict 2 by Dior, which is a pretty fruity perfume which has a gorgeous BLAST of sparkling grapefruit in the top notes. I totally love it, but unfortunately it didn't seem to last long on my skin.

After reading a few reviews the general consensus was that Dior Addict 2 is a scent that "doesn't last long" & I've found that this seems to be an attribute of fruity fragrances that don't have a heavy base (such as vanilla, sandalwood or amber). Well, I loved the new fragrance & I wasn't about to write off a Dior!

So here is my solution!

HOW TO DO IT:

1. Shower & cleanse your skin with the cleanser of your choice (whether that be liquid cleanser, shower gel, even soap).
2. After your shower pat your skin dry, however keep your wrists & upper neck area slightly damp
3. Before dressing smooth a NON-SCENTED moisturiser into your wrists & upper neck. Don't over do it!
4. Dress & continue your morning routine & give the moisturiser a chance to sink into your skin for about 5 minutes
5. Spray your chosen fragrance on your wrists & neck.
6. That's it!

WHY DOES IT WORK?

Perfumes MUST HAVE a clean canvas for the true notes to come out - exactly as they are meant to smell.

Natural oils or dirt present on the skin will change the notes. This is why a fragrance might smell different on one person to the next.

Moisturiser (funnily enough) keeps the moisture in the skin which makes your perfume last longer.

MY PERFUME RULES

• You MUST MUST MUST exfoliate your skin (wrists, neck, inner elbows, declorage) at least once every fortnight. Dead skin cells will hinder the true notes of the perfume coming out.
• Only put your perfume on CLEAN skin. After your shower is ideal. If you won't be showering make it a point to wash your skin with your favourite non-scented cleanser in the sink.
• Remember: if you can't smell your fragrance, it doesn't mean that other people don't smell it. Your nose may have become used to it. If you think your scent is disappearing ask a friend if they can still smell it. 9 times out of 10 they will be able to.
• DONT OVER SPRAY! Get to know which of your fragrances are strong & only need ONE full spray, or TWO small sprays (eg Insolence, Flowerbomb, Hypnotic Poison, Dior Addict) and which lighter perfumes may need full coverage (wrists, neck, declorage. Spraying more doesn't mean it will last longer, you'll just end up walking around smelling like you've marinated yourself in it. NEVER nice for others, even if it's the best fragrance ever.
• You DON'T have to buy the perfume lines moisturiser/mousse/oil/body shampoo/powder etc to "layer" the scent. If you're on a budget (or don't like throwing money away) just find an unscented moisturiser & cleanser. Personally I would rather spend the extra money on another fragrance!
• If you have a choice, purchase the EDP over the EDT. It is better quality. The only exception to this rule is if you prefer the smell of the EDT then that's what you'll be choosing. 99% of the time the EDP smells better than the EDT anyway.
• Before you buy - even if it's a great price - always test a potential new fragrance on your skin. Spray it using a store tester, continue your shopping & if you still like it after an hour (and you can't wait) go get it!

So, before you write off that purchase or gift as a dud, try this! If you still don't like the way it smells, it's not for you!

Aussie Retailers VS Aussie Shoppers - ONLINE SHOPPING BATTLE

The last couple of days has seen an interesting debate on news websites & news shows started by Australian retail store giants such as Myer, Harvey Norman, Target & David Jones.

They're stating that "jobs will be at risk" if the Australian Government does not impose a GST on overseas internet purchases. It seems that as Aussie shoppers take their purchases overseas they are creating an "uneven playing field".

It seems that the Internet has caused "problems" for retailers. It seems to me that it's given us more options & loosened the hold that our retail stores have on us.

I'm not a financial expert by any means but if Aussies can get the same product from overseas for a better price why wouldn't we?

I'm a girl who loves to buy local, & support my local economy, but if I can get the exact same product for $50 rather than paying $90 - INCLUDING postage - I'm going to buy overseas!

One of the big arguments I've heard is that, for example, some of the products we're looking at buying online are imported by the USA, UK & Australia - from Asia -  however the prices are sometimes double or more in Australia. Why is this? The goods have further to go? Aren't we closer to Asia than the USA? (The word Australasia comes to mind).

PERFECT EXAMPLE - COSMETICS


The perfect example for overpricing that we all know too well is Cosmetics & Fragrances.

Let's put two leading Australian & American makeup boutiques head to head:

meccacosmetica.com.au Too Faced Liquif-Eye Eye Transformer = $32.95 AU
sephora.com Too Faced Liquif-Eye Eye Transformer = $18 US



meccacosmetica.com.au Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer = $52.95 AU
sephora.com Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer = $36.95 US

meccacosmetica.com.au NARS Firming Foundation = $115 AU
sephora.com NARS Firming Foundation = $50 US

Sephora is not known as the cheapest cosmetics store in the USA so I'm sure you could find  these products even cheaper in the if you searched, but this alone shows how ramped up our prices are.

Okay maybe there are other costs that I as a consumer do not know about, but until Retailers lay all their cards on the table & tell us how they come to their prices (we all know that's not going to happen) what on earth we are meant to think? Either way I don't think the cost of importing the same product would be that much higher.

COME ON AUSSIE RETAILERS!

Wake up & smell the coffee. Times have changed. Not only are shoppers getting smarter.... Overseas retailers are cleverly AIMING their promotions toward us & enticing us to buy from them. Instead of winging about it, how about doing something about it & become competitive. Entice us back!

Give us a reason NOT to purchase overseas, because I'm sure you will find that we'd go directly to your store if the prices were not so obviously created out of greed & profit.

• YOU'RE the ones who need to create the "even playing field" & adapt to the retail climate.
• YOU'VE been on easy street for years now, how about rising to the challenge??????

Last but not least DON'T THREATEN US ABOUT AUSTRALIANS LOSING JOBS. YOUR profits are enormous & that's all you are concerned about. NOT JOBS.


That's my rant. :-)