Saturday 27 February 2010

Great competion at Addicted 2 Lip Balm

Addicted 2 Lip Balm are running a great competition on their Facebook page. All you have to do to enter is tell them what your favorite lip balm is and why you love it. It's open internationally and if you win you'll get all of the amazing products in the picture below. There are two days left to enter so get your entries in now.


Friday 26 February 2010

February Empties


Rexona Sport Women deodorant
Natural Instinct natural cream facial cleanser
Fantasy perfume
ModelCo Illusion lip pencil
Lancome Virtuose mascara
Clinique full potential lips
Elf plumping lip glaze
Laura Mericer eye kohl
Ecocentrip lipcare lip balm

Olay ProX eye restoration complex
Purestuf Kissable Mint lip balm
Vrindavan Organic Peppermint lip balm
Make-up remover pads
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation 
Clarins Advanced Extra Firming Eye Contour Serum
The Body Collection Sparkling bath bubbler
Designer Brands Mango Body Butter

Wednesday 24 February 2010

Designer Brands Mango Body Butter

Mango Body Butter is another one of the products that Designer Brands sent me to review.
 
The first thing I noticed about Mango Body Butter is the beautiful scent. It smells like fresh, ripe mango's. There's nothing artificial about the scent, it's a true fresh mango scent. I've never found a body butter with such a true fresh scent. As beautiful as it is once the body butter has been applied the scent fades quickly and is not overpowering. The scent alone was enough to win me over.

 
Designer Brands says: Mango Body Butter is made with natural mango seed and coconut oil to help repair and soften skin. Mango seed contains high levels of vitamin c and can aid in repairing dry and damaged skin. Create immediate and long lasting softness whilst nourishing and hydrating your skin.
  
You know I love the scent so now we'll talk about the body butter. It's great. It has a medium thick consistency as you would expect from a body butter. However, unlike a lot of other body butters I've used it is non sticky and absorbs quickly. I find Mango Body Butter to be very moisturising. When I use it my skin immediately feels soft and moisturised. After using this twice daily for a week my dry flaky legs were soft and smooth with no hint of dryness.  

Would I buy it? Yes, it smells beautiful and makes my skin feel lovely and soft.

Ingredients: aqua, cyclomethicone, mangifera indica extract, cocos nucifera oil, capyrylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, dimethicone, polysorbate 60, c13-14 isoparrain, parfum, peg 100 stearate, prunus armeniaca kernel oil, theobrama cacao butter, phenoxyethanol, laureth-7, isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, disodium edta, bht, benzyl benzoate, limonene, ci 19140, ci 14700.

Monday 22 February 2010

Project Ten Pan Update

Project Ten Pan is going quite slowly for me this time around. I've managed to finish off one lip gloss so I suppose that's a good start. I'm almost finished a Becca lipstick, hopefully I'll finish that off in the next few weeks. Not sure what will be next though as I don't have any more lip products that are near the end. I suppose I'll just have to keep on plugging away at them.

I gave up trying to buy Baby Sparks Dazzleglass locally. Every time I try to buy it they are out of stock and I've been on a waiting list since the beginning of December. So instead of waiting I bought it from ACW. It cost me around $20 (AUD) including postage. If I bought it locally it would have cost me $42 (AUD). 


I've decided to include lip pencils in this P10P. I didn't include them originally as I didn't think I'd finish any, but I've managed to finish one so I'm going to count it. I've also thrown away a gloss that's gone off so I'm going to count that too. That makes my total three so far. 

The gloss I finished was Clinique Full Potential in Play-Full Plump. The gloss I threw away was ELF plumping Lip Glaze and the pencil I finished was ModelCo Illusion. 

Saturday 20 February 2010

20/02/10 Link Love

Rae from theNotice shares her skincare secret to flawless, pore-free skin.

Phyrra gives you an exclusive interview with Fyrinnae Cosmetics in February's Indie Spotlight.

Betty's first video eye tutorial: Dragon Fruit Eye Look is now up at Betty Girl Makeup. It's her first tutorial and she's wicked excited!

Arianne at Glitter Geek is absolutely smitten over her new drugstore superhero -- Aveeno Hand Cream.

Krasey Beauty takes New York Fashion Week by storm, and goes backstage with L.A.M.B, MAC, CND, and MoroccanOil.

Lisa Kate attempts her first Konadicure...please help her!

Jellyminx goes shopping again and again and again and again!!

Sarah at I Heart Cosmetics hunted high and low, and finally managed to purchase the Estee Lauder and Michael Kors Very Hollywood Collection.

Thought you found your HG red lipstick? So did Hell Candy Make Up until she discovered this oh so glamorous lippie!

There be lemmings-a-plenty when Lipglossiping shows off NARS Purple Rain this week!
Tarte ReCreate Anti-Aging Foundation just so happens to be the answer to Prime Beauty's prayers.
Melovemakeup shows how gorgeous the eyeshadow in the Trucco Angelface Palette is - duochrome heaven!

Say bye bye to dark circles and hello to bright eyes with Liparazzi!

Maggie gets electrified by L'Oreal HiP's Black Shock.

This week on Get Lippie, Louise goes a little bananas at the makers of "Chemical Free" products and hopes she'll be forgiven.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed gets super excited by Chanel's new Fast Track Orient Extreme mini collection!


Interested in joining the Beauty Blog Link Love network? Check out this information page and give us a shout!
 

Friday 19 February 2010

Jane Sungloss EyeZing Eye Shadow

  
I'm sure I've mentioned before that Jane Sungloss eye shadow is my favorite eye shadow. I loved it from the first time I used it a few years ago. As I can't buy it here I was using it sparingly for a while but as you can see it's nearly all finished so I've been using it every day for the last few months. 
  
Now that I'm nearly finished with it I've been searching high and low for a colour to replace it and I can't find anything. I've been to MAC, Bobbi Brown, Kit, Inglot and Estee Lauder as I figured they were the brands most likely to have something similar but they don't.
 
The reason that I love Sungloss so much is because it's so versatile. It's perfect as a pretty, shimmery wash of colour on days when I want to look polished but don't have a lot of time. It's great as a base under other colours, it's great as a crease colour and it looks lovely layered lightly over matte colours to give them a bit of sparkle.

The other reason I love Sungloss is because it has a little bit of shimmer but it's subtle. I find that some shimmery eye shadows make my eyelids look crepey, but I don't have that problem with Sungloss.

 
On top of all that it doesn't crease or fade and looks as good at the end of the day as it did when I first applied it.

Unfortunately for Australians Jane products aren't available here.

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Olay Professional Pro-X Anti-Ageing Starter Protocol Kit



Olay is about to release an Anti-Ageing Starter Protocol Kit, which if you've been watching tv or reading magazines you'd already know. The kit contains an SPF 15 day cream, a night cream and an eye cream. I was lucky enough to receive the kit as part of my second Primped VIP package. 



Here's what Olay has to say about each product.
Age Protection Lotion with SPF 15 is professionally designed to help boost skin's antioxidant power at the skin's surface and hydrates to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps shield skin from harmful UVA/UVB exposure. 


Wrinkle Smoothing Cream is professionally designed to help smooth uneven texture and strengthen skin's surface with moisture, combating the look of fine lines and wrinkles.


Eye Restoration complex is professionally designed to help restore the eye area by improving the look of dark circles and reducing the look of puffiness and crow's feet.
To allow a proper test I haven't used any other skin care products (other than cleanser) since I got this kit.

In order to see if the eye cream had any effects on my dark circles I took a photo the day I first started using the eye cream and another photo after I'd been using it for six weeks. Be warned, the photos you are about to see are not pretty, they are me without any make-up on.



Looking at the photo's you can judge for yourself how effective the eye cream was. I think it had a slight effect on my dark circles but not a dramatic effect. I also think there was slight improvement in the fine lines around my eyes. I'd be interested to see how my skin looks after using this eye cream for three months.


Overall I really like this kit. I found all of the products lovely to use.  I can't say that I noticed a dramatic difference in the condition of my skin however I did notice that my skin felt soft, smooth, hydrated and irritation free. I'm not sure if the products will be available to purchase individually but I'm hoping they will be so that items can be replaced as they ran out. 

The day cream is light and hydrating. It keeps my dry/combination skin hydrated all day without any oiliness. Using this my skin felt soft and smooth. It absorbs quickly and is fine to use under make-up. I've been using this for six weeks and still haven't finished it.

The eye cream is also light and hydrating. It isn't greasy and absorbs quickly. I could apply this and then put make-up on within a few minutes. I'm often sensitive to eye creams but didn't have any irritation problems at all. The eye cream lasted me six weeks with twice daily use.

The night cream is lovely. It's richer than the day cream and takes a little longer to sink in. When I use this I wake up with skin that feels soft and smoothed. I've been using this for six weeks and still have about a third of the tub left.
 

Olay Professional Anti-Ageing Starter Protocol Kit sells for $99.99 (AUD).


Would I buy it? Yes. It's a great kit that contains everything you need to keep your skin in good condition. 


Age Protection Lotion Ingredients: water, homosalate, glycerin, niacinamide, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, isopropyl lauroyl sarcosinate, octocrylene phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, nylon-12, dimethicone, isopropyl isostearate, triethanolamine, palmitoyl dipeptide-7, palmitoyl pnetapeptide-4, carnosine, panthenol, tocopheryl acetate, sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, isohezadecane, pentylene glycol, titanium dioxide, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, polysorbate 80, peg-100 stearate, methylparaben, carbomer, ethylparaben, propylparaben, cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, disodium edta, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, peg-4 dilaurate, peg-4 laurate, peg-4 decyl glucoside, lactic acid, ammonium polyacrylate, benzyl alcohol, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, dimethiconol, behenyl alcohol, stearic acid, bht.


Wrinkle Smoothing Cream Ingredients: water, glycerin, dimethicone, niacinamide, isohexadecane, isopropyl isostearate, dimethiconol, panthenol, tocopheryl acetate, palmitoyl dipeptide-7, carnosine, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, elastin, c13-14 isoparaffin, stearyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, peg-100 stearate, cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, cetyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, polymethylsilesquioxane, sucrose polycottonseedate, laureth-7, stearic acid, peg-4 dilaurate, peg-4 laurate, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, peg-4, decyl glucoside, titanium dioxide, tin oxide, lactic acid, citric acid, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, disodium edta, ammonium polyacrylate, mica.


Eye Restoration Complex Ingredients: water, cyclopentasiloxane, glycerin, niacinamide, dimethicone, polymethylsilsequioxane, isohexadecane, polyethylene, caffeine, isopropyl isostearate, behenyl alcohol, dimethicone crosspolymer, tocopheryl acetate, panthenol, palmitoyl dipeptide-7, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, carnosine, dimethiconol, stearyl alcohol, sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, peg-100 stearate, cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, cetyl alcohol, sucrose polycottonseedate, titanium dioxide, polysorbate 80, propylparaben, stearic acid, peg-4 dilaurate, peg-4 laurate, decyl glucoside, lactic acid, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, peg-4, citric acid, methylparaben, ethylparaben, ammonium polyacrylate, disodium edta. 

Monday 15 February 2010

Post and Shame Challenge Update

Behold! I have finished an eye pencil!!!!!

This challenge is tortuous. Finishing lip balms is easy. And not buying more lip balms is easy too as I have way too many and have tried almost all of the balms that are available to me (although now that I've discovered Addicted 2 Lip Balm the temptation is a little stronger).

Eye pencils are the tortuous part. Not buying them is easy, but finishing four eye pencils seems like an impossible task. Amazingly I've managed to finish one eye pencil (my Laura Mercier Black Turquoise eye kohl)  but it's going to take me months to finish another one. I can see this challenge taking me six months or more (which I'm sure is what evil Music intended).
If I was allowed to count eye pencils that I've given away then this challenge would be over as I just gave three eye pencils to one of my friends. She'd run out (can you imagine?) so I gave her three of mine that were brand new.

I've now finished six lip balms and thrown out another four making eight in total. I still have a whole pile of lip balms to finish to get down to a reasonable amount but at least I'm getting there. Who knows. By the time I've finished four eye pencils I might have less than twenty lip balms left, wouldn't that be amazing?

Friday 12 February 2010

My Collection January 2010

As this year is all about using things up (and because I'm bored at the moment), I decided to take photos of all the products that I want to use up this year. These are the products that I've got waiting to use, it doesn't include the products that I'm currently using. I'm hoping that in December when I take these photos again I'll be down to the ideal product levels that I posted about here

Face Moisturisers

 

  
Samples
  

Face Scrubs and Masks
   

Hair Care 
  

  


  

Body lotions and shower oil
  


Fake tans and bronzing gel
  
  
 Body butters and body sprays
  

Shower gels and body scrubs
 

 Hand cream and foot products
  

Deodorants
  

Cleansers and Face Masks
  

Anti aging products 
  

 Primers
  
 
 Products that I forgot to include in the other photos
 
 
 

Thursday 11 February 2010

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Blog Changes

You may have noticed that I've decided to run my blog a little differently this year. Instead of just posting product reviews I'll also be posting about upcoming and new products, application tips and things that have helped me, plus details of stores that I've discovered.

You've probably already noticed that I've finally figured out how to take and crop photos so I'll be including more photos in my posts. I've had my camera for two years but it didn't come with an instruction book so it was only when I was reading a blog post about how to take good pictures that I realised my little camera was capable of taking close up pictures.

I'm also hoping to be able to run more giveaways this year, so stay tuned for them. There will be another Perricone giveaway coming up very soon.

When I find a template I like I'll be changing the appearance of my blog too. I love the template I have now but it's time for a change.

Is there anything else you'd like to see more or less of?

Monday 8 February 2010

Designer Brands Mineral Foundation


I'm not afraid to admit that I can be a bit of a make-up snob. Not that I have a problem with cheaper products but in the past I found the quality to be inferior. I'm starting to realise that things have changed and that you can get good quality cosmetics at a reasonable price.

Mineral Foundation is one of the products that I received in my package from Designer Brands. I really like this foundation, it's one that I'd purchase for myself. Its easy to apply and gives good, natural coverage. Unlike some mineral foundations it doesn't sink into my fine lines or make my pores look huge. It has a smoothing effect and makes my skin look smooth and flawless.


I received this in Medium which was a little too dark for me so after testing it twice I gave the foundation to a friend of mine to try out. Here's her feedback: On oily skin without primer it tends to slip a bit, but as a finishing powder over liquid foundation it's lovely. It makes my skin look really smooth and it's something I'd buy again. 


Designer Brands says: Talc Free, SPF 15. All the benefits of minerals in a powder that covers like a foundation. It's weightless, talc free and fragrance free formula contains gentle minerals, aloe vera, green tea extract and vitamins c and e to help skin look fresh and radiant all day. 

Designer Brands Mineral Foundation is a bargain at $14.99.

Ingredients: mica, petrolatum, ethyl palmitate, silica, squalane, cyclomethicone, dimethicone, propylparaben, methylparaben, vitamin e, aloe vera, vitamin c, green tea extract.
May contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides 77941, 77492, 77499.

Sunday 7 February 2010

Giveaway Alert


The lovely Christel over at MakeUpper is holding her first ever giveaway. You could win all of the lovely products shown above. The giveaway is open internationally. 

If you haven't checked out Christel's blog head over there now.

Saturday 6 February 2010

06/02/10 Link Love


Rae falls in love with an amazingly pigmented violet eyeshadow -- for under $5! -- and tries it on as a blush.


Jeweled Thumb gives you the deets regarding a brand new line that may be popping up at your CVS by the ever famous Salma Hayek!

<Feast your eyes on this two-parter from Lipglossiping and see what happened when IMATS rolled into London Town last weekend.

In her constant search for a flawless complexion, Beautyjunkielondon reviews the latest foundation launch from Maybelline.
Check out "The EOTD Series: Color of the week" at xLovelyMakeupx.

Vex in the City shares her experience of the 2010 London IMATS.

Sophie from Melovemakeup talks about her collection of Sleek Palettes.

Maggie gets her rave on with these Rimmel blushes!

Krasey Beauty whips out Essie's matte topcoat and lets the nail polish fun begin.

Hell Candy Make Up attended the London IMATS show last weekend. Check out the various MUAs looks from the show.

purple smoky eye with a pop tutorial from Lisa Kate at Sparkle is my Crack!

This week GlossQueen tells us how she loves her By Candlelight MSF.

Come discover 32 different nail colors in 32 days with Audrey.

This week at Get Lippie, Louise tries out a Kevyn Aucoin-influenced makeover.

Lisamarie at Beauty Crazed tests out eyerollers to see if they live up to the hype!

Friday 5 February 2010

Designer Brands Black Kohl

The people at Designer Brands recently sent me a very generous package of products to test, so watch out for the rest of the reviews coming up soon.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can be a bit of a make-up snob. Its not very often that I buy low end products and I have low expectations of them. When I tried out DB's Black Kohl I wasn't expecting a lot. I certainly wasn't expecting it to be soft and creamy with great pigment.  

Designer Brands says: Designer Brands Kohl Pencils glide on gently, allowing great eye definition or easy blending for sexy, smoky looks.
Choose from: charcoal, black, black/brown, deep ocean navy blue, violet purple, malachite deep green, silver.
If you are in search of the holy grail of makeup pencils– makeup artist quality at an everyday woman’s price – Designer Brands is sure to appeal.

As you can see in the picture below, the pencil is really long, a lot longer than the average eye pencil. It has a sharpener in the cap which I think is a brilliant idea.

I gave my Black Kohl to a friend to test out and she loved it. She said that it's easy to apply, has great colour, lasts all day without fading or smudging and is easy to remove. 


DB Kohls are a bargain at only $4.99. Click here for stockists.

Will I buy it myself? Yes, I'll definitely be buying more of these pencils. They're huge, soft and easy to apply. Plus, the colour is very rich and intense.

Ingredients: beeswax, iron oxide, black ozocerite wax, mineral oil, isopropyl palmitate, wool wax, carnauba wax, cocoa butter, shea butter, methylparaben, vitamin e, bht.