Wednesday 30 November 2016

Ebay Brushes

I've been buying a few brushes off ebay lately. At first I was hesitant because I can only use synthetic fibre brushes, but took the plunge because they usually cost less than five dollars.
I hadn't even considered buying brushes from ebay until I read a blog post showing the brushes that were available. I'm so glad I read that post!

I've bought five brushes and they've all been amazing. Ebay is now my favourite place to buy makeup brushes. Today I'm showing you four of the brushes that I've bought (only because I've misplaced the other one).
The first two brushes I purchased from txin-wholesale and the second two are from L and Y.

The txin-wholesale brushes came from China and took around four weeks to arrive, so don't get worried when they take ages. 


L and Y are Melbourne based and they have a great range of brushes. Most of them are $10 or less and they offer free shipping.

All of the brushes are excellent quality, the bristles are dense, they don't shed and they wash well.

Out of them all the L and Y Full Coverage Face Brush (the one with the cream handle) is my favourite. It's the perfect foundation brush that works well with cream and powder foundations. I've ordered a second one so that I can use one for cream foundation and one for powder foundation. 

Have you bought brushes from ebay? What sellers do you recommend?

Tuesday 29 November 2016

Gifting made easy - Part Two


Today I bring you another super easy gift idea. Audra James. You can't go wrong with a gift from Audra. If you haven't heard of Audra James you don't know what you're missing out on. Audra is an Aromatherapist who custom makes the most amazing products I've ever used. If you want a bespoke perfume or skin care product, Audra is the person to talk to. If you need a remedy for stress, nausea, energy or any number of other things, get it touch with Audra. You'd think that a bespoke product would be expensive but they aren't. 

A bespoke perfume costs $165. In my opinion that's very cheap for a custom blended scent. I had one made a few years ago and it smelled like heaven. It was the perfect scent for me, everything I hoped for and more.

Audra also has a range of ready made products available. Her cleansing balm is the nicest cleansing balm I've ever used and her facial oils are amazing. 
I'm currently using a bespoke face oil from Audra. I put it on at night and when I wake up the next morning my skin feels so soft and smooth.

If you're stuck for a gift, buy a bespoke product and the person you're buying for will get exactly what they want!

If you are in Brisbane you can book a facial, skin consultation or a workshop with Audra. 

Note - I have no affiliation with Audra, I'm just a long time fan of her products.

Monday 28 November 2016

Gifting made easy

This time of year is so crazy for those of us who aren't organised. Unlike my BFF I haven't even started my christmas shopping. My BFF finished her christmas shopping in September! She does it every year, often she'll start her christmas shopping in January when all the sales are on. One of these years I'll manage the same feat, but until that day, I have the next best thing. Gift shopping made easy. 

Here's the answer - Natural Supply Co.

The Natural Supply Co has a range of beautiful gifts and they arrive all wrapped up, looking pretty and ready to put under the tree, perfect!

Look how pretty the packaging is
There's something for everyone at Natural Supply Co, from eco cups to skincare, makeup, perfume and lots of goodies for the men in your life. If you aren't sure what to get I have a few suggestions.

Hello Brows - Who doesn't want lovely thick brows? I know I do. If you know someone with sparse brows, this is the ideal gift.

Inika Lip Gloss set - Great for your bff or as a Kris Kringle present.

Only Good hand wash - A nice hand wash is always a good gift. 

Grown Alchemist lip balm - Luxe lip balms make a good stocking stuffer.

Inika Lip and Cheek cream - This would be a good gift for someone who travels regularly as it's a multi use product.

Bite Beauty lip crayon - You can't go wrong with Bite Beauty, all their products are amazing. 

Inika Discovery kit - This is the ideal kit for someone looking to get started with mineral makeup.

If you're one of those people who have left things to the very last minute, Natural Supply Co also offer gift vouchers. Even better, they also have afterpay, so if the credit card has taken a beating you can spread your payments out over eight weeks. 

Note:This is not a sponsored post, I just love NSC.

Sunday 27 November 2016

Thoughts of the week

1. After an unintended hiatus I'm back! I've spent the last three weeks with vertigo, it wasn't fun. I didn't know how debilitating vertigo is. For a week I couldn't get out of bed, for two weeks I couldn't drive. Luckily for me a chiropractor and neuro physio fixed me. Also luckily Mum has been here for the last two weeks looking after me and the boys. 

2. All of a sudden it's got hot. Well technically it's not that hot, only low 30's and high 20's but after the cold winter we've had it feels so hot!

3. The year is almost over! How did that happen. I can't believe it's nearly December. 

4. For me this time of year is when I really feel like self gifting. There are so many gorgeous christmas sets available and I want them all.

5. I'm in clear out mode again. I started clearing out just before I got sick so everything went on hold, but now that I'm back on deck the de-cluttering will continue. 

Friday 11 November 2016

FFS Friday - Spinning

I'm writing this post from my bed where I've been stuck all week. The first few days it was quite nice to get some rest but now I'm just bored.

I've got vertigo caused by fluid on my middle ear. I've been having ear problems for a few months now and it's culminated in a bad case of vertigo.

What's with getting sick in the middle of the night? I woke up in the early hours of Monday morning with the room spinning and my eyes rolling uncontrolably.

Every time I moved my head the room would spin and my eyes would go crazy.

To add to the fun I started vomiting. 

I googled vertigo and made myself a Dr's appointment. Isn't it great being able to make a Dr's appointment in the middle of the night!

I vomited the whole way to the Dr's surgery and ended up being taken out of there in a wheelchair because I couldn't walk without falling over.

The Dr told me it could last anywhere from three days to three weeks. FFS!

Tiger goes back to work Sunday and I'm still bedridden. I'm hoping mum will come down to help me otherwise I'm in a lot of trouble!

Have you had vertigo? How long did it last?

Monday 7 November 2016

The Foundation Files - MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation

Today I'm introducing you to my holy grail summer foundation MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation. I got a sample of it last summer, tested it out and bought a full sized tube the next day. I wore it the whole time I was in hot, humid Bali and it didn't budge, you can't get a much better test than that!



I either apply with my fingers or with my L and Y Full Coverage Face brush. (I have a full review of this brush coming soon. I bought it from ebay, it's amazing).

Naked face
I'm normally a NC20 in MAC foundations, however the Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation runs light, so I'm a NC25, as you can see in the photos it's a perfect match. 

One layer applied with L and Y Full Coverage Face brush

My stunned, half asleep morning derp face
I'm not sure why they call this a nourishing foundation, I don't find it overly nourishing, however I have fairly dry skin. Whilst it's not hydrating, it isn't dryin like some matte foundations can be. The coverage is medium to full, matte without being flat. 

It lasts all day without any fading, even in very hot, humid conditions. Due to the coverage level and staying power Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation doesn't need to be set with powder. 

If you are searching for a full coverage foundation that gives a long lasting, flawless finish, look no further.

Have you tried MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation? 
What's your holy grail summer foundation?


Sunday 6 November 2016

Thoughts of the week

1. Eljay is so funny. He says do you know what? but pronounces it "you do not?" Hehehe.

2. Perspective is a funny thing. I was at the school assembly last week with a friend. The school principal said something and we both took it totally differently. I thought what he said was positive and she thought what he said was negative. 

3. Tiger is talking about moving again. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm all for selling everything and running away. He's not talking about that, he's talking about relocating. I'm undecided.

4. Wednesday I told Tiger that I want to throw out everything in the house. He loves the idea. Look out junk, I'm coming for you!

5. The weather has warmed up alarmingly. We've gone from cold days in the low teens to warm days in the high 20's. It's amazing how hot 27 feels after such a cold winter. 

6. I am now one of those people who has two coffees a day.  

Friday 4 November 2016

FFS Friday - Waxing lyrically

I can't believe I forgot to tell you about my epic waxing disaster a few weeks ago. It was prime FFS Friday fodder.

The weather had started to warm up and I'd decided that this summer I'd wax my legs. Instead of being clever and waxing whilst Tiger was home, I decided to have a go at it when he was away. Kids and wax aren't a good mix.

I also decided it'd be a good time to colour my hair. It wasn't.

I have the Veet Easy Wax Electric Roll On Kit which is brilliant, it makes waxing easy and mess free.

I had an old wax tube that I forgot to throw out and a new one. I got out what I thought was the new one (it wasn't) and warmed it up. 

Thankfully I had the forethought not to put my hair dye in at the same time as I was waxing my legs, that would have been a total disaster. 

I started waxing my legs and it all seemed okay at first, until I noticed that the wax was really sticky and it wasn't coming off very easily. 

You'd think at this point I would have realised that I'd used the old wax and swapped them over, but no, I didn't realise and continued on.

The wax was getting harder and harder to remove and I was being left with large patches of wax that I couldn't get off my legs.

Once I'd waxed one whole leg it finally clicked that I was using the old tube. Did I throw it away and get the new tube out? No, I kept on going. 

By the time I finished waxing both legs I had wax all over the place. It was really sticky so it was on the cabinet and bits were on the floor.

No worries I though, I'll just wash it all off in the shower. Easy.

I put my hair colour in and stood around awkwardly trying not to stick to things for 15 minutes until it was time to get in the shower.

Do you think the wax would come off with water? Nope. It didn't. 

Undeterred I tried washing it off with soap. That didn't work.

Next I tried using a flannel. That didn't work.

I tried shaving it off. That didn't work.

I tried scraping it off with my fingernail. That worked but it would have taken a week to get it all off that way.

Next I tried scrubbing it with a scrubbing brush. That didn't work.

No worries, exfoliating it off with body scrub will work. Or not.

No matter what I tried it wouldn't come off.

I had bits all over the shower floor, under my fingernails and stuck to every implement I'd used. It was a mess. 

After about 15 minutes I gave up, got out of the shower and read the instructions. They said that it would dissolve with oil so I got back in the shower and attacked my legs with oil. That did a pretty good job and I managed to get most of it off.

I still had bits and pieces on me but by this time I'd been in the bathroom for an hour and a half whilst the boys were unsupervised. That's never a good thing.

When I came out of my room I was faced with a mess. The lounge room was covered in toys, there was wet marks and sand all over the floor, a soaking wet dog and two wet and sandy boys. They'd decided to make mud puddles outside and when they'd finished the came inside soaking wet and sat on the couch. As you do.

By the time I got them all cleaned up it was lunch time.

I wore a long skirt so the wax patches on my legs weren't visible. When I got changed at the end of the day my legs were black where dirt had stuck to the wax.

You'd think I would have learned my lesson by then but I hadn't. The next day I tried waxing again. Glutton for punishment.

I decided I'd do my underarms. I'll give you all the tip, if you are thinking of waxing your pits, don't. You need two hands so that you can pull the skin tight with one hand and pull off the wax strip with the other hand.

When I pulled the wax strip no hair came off and I was left with an armpit covered in wax. I cut my losses and gave up.

Thankfully this time I knew the oil trick (and I wasn't using year old wax) so the wax came off easily in the shower. 

I still have bits of wax on my cleanser bottle and I keep finding it in random places like my on the top of my thong, hairbrush etc. How on earth it got stuck to my thong and hairbrush I'll never know.

You'd think this would put me off home waxing but it hasn't, I'm considering waxing my arms. No doubt that'll result in another FFS Friday post.

What's your funniest waxing disaster story? 

Wednesday 2 November 2016

October Empties and Tosses

I finished two perfumes this month! One was a travel size but still. I'm now getting down to a much better sized perfume collection. I have a lot to get through but I'm starting to consider giving some away as I just don't love them. I look at them and don't want to wear them because I don't love the scent. Watch out for a perfume cull post. 

AB Retexturizing Face Primer
Bliss Peeling Groovy Serum
Fresh Sake Perfume
John Frieda Volume Spray
Palmolive Hand Sanitiser
GlamGlow Power Cleanse
Alpha-H Liquid Gold
Antipodes Joyous Serum
Boss Jouer 
 
Philosophy Field of Flowers
L'Oreal EverCreme Shampoo and Conditioner
Garnier Beauty Oil Scrub
Nuxe Comforting Cleansing Milk - I loved this cleanser. It smells like roses and is very gentle.
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix

I culled again. Are you all getting sick of seeing the products I've culled? I'm being so fussy now, I cull more than I keep and I'm happy with that. When I get down to the collection size that I want I'll stop, but I'm not there yet so the culling continues.

These products were given away to friend who'll use them. I just don't use them so it's no point keeping them. A few were tossed due to age. 

Dishonourable mention goes the the Human and Kind Cleanser. I bought it from Priceline and it was off, the smell was disgusting. It went straight in the bin. What a waste of money.