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Have a wonderful Sunday!
Cheers xox
17/02/2013
❤ YouTube Giveaway! Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette ❤
Yay! Finally, time for a giveaway! For more details on how to enter, head on over to my YouTube channel! :D
15/02/2013
Beauty/Jewellery Haul: Harrods & shopTango2
Hey all! Super excited to share some beauty and jewellery items that I purchased over the last couple of weeks from Harrods and ShopTango2 for Autumn, so if you're interested, please stay tuned :)
Starting with the beauty items from Harrods, shipping was extremely reasonable (only took less than a week to arrive!) and cost £25 (which equates to around $38 AU) for delivery. Main reason I wanted to purchase items from there was because so far, they're the only online retailer I have found that ships Burberry Makeup to Australia (For example, a Lip Glow costs $45AU from say DJ's or Myer, and only costs roughly $27AU from Harrods - um, hello price difference).
So onto the haul.
First thing I picked up was the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Natural (£28.0)
This baby glides on really smooth, and feels very similar in consistency to the Mehron HD Cream Makeup. Will be eager to see if it is drying on my skin.
Next is the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturising Lip Colour Balm in Roomiest Rose (£16.00)
Love the pigmentation and the moisturizing properties this chubby stick has. I find Rose coloured lips look flattering on me, and looking forward to using this one during Autumn.
Next is the Burberry Lip Glow Coral No.22 (£18.50) which is part of the Spring 2013 Collection.
Love the colour and surprised with pigmentation. I find the Lip Glow's to not be overly glossy, and although this one appears shimmery, it's not over the top.
Next is the Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Dark Spice No. 5
This palette is specifically designed to target certain uses: the luminising base highlighter, two medium colours to add shape, and a dark intense colour for liner. The colour payoff is quite superb, and has a silky, silicone texture that glides on smoothly. Looking forward to using this during Autumn.
And last, but not least, we have the Chanel POUDRE SIGNÉE DE CHANEL Illuminating Powder (£46.00)
This is such a gorgeous illuminating powder, that is from the Chanel 2013 Spring Collection. It adds such a discreet sheen, which is basically what you want in a highlighter. The detailing etched onto the powder is ridiculously gorgeous, and looking forward to using this on my cheeks for that extra bit of glow (because ya'll know how I love to highlight :P)
So that was it for the Beauty portion. Onto Jewellery from shopTango2.
I just adore shopTango2, owned by the gorgeous Mel from MissTango2 (if you are not subscribed to her already - what's wrong with you?!). Packaging is always so perfectly presented, customer service is excellent, and shipping is always quick (usually 3 business days). I do admit, I am a bit of a stalker of her store, but don't tell her that ;)
Items purchased were:
Silver Chain Cross Long Necklace ($9.95)
Pearl and Filigree Heart Bracelet ($9.95)
Wing Rings in Gold and Silver ($9.95)
and I got a little extra gift included in the form of a heart shaped accessory! So cute!
And that's it, folks! Make sure to check out my accompanying video :)
Hope you're all well, take care. Cheerio xox
Starting with the beauty items from Harrods, shipping was extremely reasonable (only took less than a week to arrive!) and cost £25 (which equates to around $38 AU) for delivery. Main reason I wanted to purchase items from there was because so far, they're the only online retailer I have found that ships Burberry Makeup to Australia (For example, a Lip Glow costs $45AU from say DJ's or Myer, and only costs roughly $27AU from Harrods - um, hello price difference).
So onto the haul.
First thing I picked up was the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Natural (£28.0)
This baby glides on really smooth, and feels very similar in consistency to the Mehron HD Cream Makeup. Will be eager to see if it is drying on my skin.
Next is the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturising Lip Colour Balm in Roomiest Rose (£16.00)
Love the pigmentation and the moisturizing properties this chubby stick has. I find Rose coloured lips look flattering on me, and looking forward to using this one during Autumn.
Next is the Burberry Lip Glow Coral No.22 (£18.50) which is part of the Spring 2013 Collection.
Love the colour and surprised with pigmentation. I find the Lip Glow's to not be overly glossy, and although this one appears shimmery, it's not over the top.
Next is the Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Dark Spice No. 5
This palette is specifically designed to target certain uses: the luminising base highlighter, two medium colours to add shape, and a dark intense colour for liner. The colour payoff is quite superb, and has a silky, silicone texture that glides on smoothly. Looking forward to using this during Autumn.
And last, but not least, we have the Chanel POUDRE SIGNÉE DE CHANEL Illuminating Powder (£46.00)
This is such a gorgeous illuminating powder, that is from the Chanel 2013 Spring Collection. It adds such a discreet sheen, which is basically what you want in a highlighter. The detailing etched onto the powder is ridiculously gorgeous, and looking forward to using this on my cheeks for that extra bit of glow (because ya'll know how I love to highlight :P)
So that was it for the Beauty portion. Onto Jewellery from shopTango2.
I just adore shopTango2, owned by the gorgeous Mel from MissTango2 (if you are not subscribed to her already - what's wrong with you?!). Packaging is always so perfectly presented, customer service is excellent, and shipping is always quick (usually 3 business days). I do admit, I am a bit of a stalker of her store, but don't tell her that ;)
Items purchased were:
Silver Chain Cross Long Necklace ($9.95)
Pearl and Filigree Heart Bracelet ($9.95)
Wing Rings in Gold and Silver ($9.95)
and I got a little extra gift included in the form of a heart shaped accessory! So cute!
And that's it, folks! Make sure to check out my accompanying video :)
Hope you're all well, take care. Cheerio xox
09/02/2013
Week in "Pins": Brought to you by Pinterest. #1
To say I am slightly addicted to Pinterest, is a gross understatement. It's like Tumblr, without all the emo-ness of my dashboard. When I'm out and about, waiting, bored, or pretending to look busy on my phone, I am pretty much "pinning" anything and everything that remotely inspires me. Ironically, I pin mostly Fashion related pics.
So here's a wrap up of the things that have inspired my week.
1. My Style: Completely loving this getup right here. Sunnies + Hat = My Casual Day
2. Celebrity Style: Rachel Bilson. Enough said. And yep, I think in general, I have an obsession with Hats.
3. Home & Bedroom: Lots of White. Slowly getting my space the way I want it to, and White is a great neutral colour for me because i'm picky when it comes to interior, and at least with white, I can deal.
4. Road Less Travelled: Vienna, Austria. Saving to live here one day. In a cottage.
5. Glorious Food: Healthy Eating. I love it. And I am proud of the lifestyle changes i've made over the last few months, particularly related to food! Salivating at the Spicy Tuna Wrap Below.
What are your "pin-spirations"? Are you as addicted as I am?! If you're on Pinterest, let me know!
Til next time, cheers xox
So here's a wrap up of the things that have inspired my week.
1. My Style: Completely loving this getup right here. Sunnies + Hat = My Casual Day
2. Celebrity Style: Rachel Bilson. Enough said. And yep, I think in general, I have an obsession with Hats.
3. Home & Bedroom: Lots of White. Slowly getting my space the way I want it to, and White is a great neutral colour for me because i'm picky when it comes to interior, and at least with white, I can deal.
4. Road Less Travelled: Vienna, Austria. Saving to live here one day. In a cottage.
5. Glorious Food: Healthy Eating. I love it. And I am proud of the lifestyle changes i've made over the last few months, particularly related to food! Salivating at the Spicy Tuna Wrap Below.
What are your "pin-spirations"? Are you as addicted as I am?! If you're on Pinterest, let me know!
Til next time, cheers xox
03/02/2013
Maybelline Color Whispers by Color Sensational - Thoughts & Swatches
I'm sure you've heard about all the hype surrounding these babies, but admittedly, I hadn't heard too much of them until almost a month ago (so I live in a bubble...). Thankfully, I follow some US bloggers, so I wasn't too outdated with the newest of the newest, for once. If you haven't already guessed what i'm talking about, it is of course the Maybelline Color Whispers by Color Sensational. Once I heard about all the hype, I had to purchase these (yes, had to). Needless to say, I had not seen many reviews prior to my purchase, so I purchased these almost blindly, so to speak. Now that I have them, and have been road testing them, I'm going to share my thoughts, show some swatches, and reveal whether they're worth re-purchasing.
It must be noted that it hasn't been released in Australia yet, so for those in Australia, and NZ reading this: Don't be disheartened! Since I was impatient, I took to eBay to make my purchase. If you're interested in which eBay seller I purchased them from, I will share that near the end of the post.
Anyhow, I have seen many questions posted on the MNY Australia FB page asking of its release (I even sent them an email through their website to enquire), and they pretty much have said they do not have a release set for Australia any time soon (why are we always the last to get anything here) but as soon as they know, we'll be the first to hear it via their FB & Twitter. So I guess we have to stay tuned for the official release date. But in the meantime, if you are going to purchase them through eBay, or other means, then... keep on reading :D
First off, the Maybelline Color Whisper Lipsticks by Color Sensational have been compared a lot to the Revlon Lip Butters (which are a personal favourite of mine), and Loreal's Color Caresse lip sticks (which I haven't tried). With all these brands coming out with hybrid lipsticks, it was only a matter of time before Maybelline came out with their own version :) (Random side note: Revlon and Maybelline are both owned by Loreal...)
So what's the dealio with these new lipsticks? Maybelline are marketing them as "Pure color pigments suspended in a weightless gel. No heavy waxes or oils. Soft, sexy gel-color". Who can resist that?! Since I was and still am a fan of the Revlon Lip Butters, I didn't hesitate to give these a try, so naturally I bought five of them.
What you will notice first off is their sleek packaging. Compared to the Revlon Lip Butters, their packaging is slimmer, the clear casing is eye-catching, and the lipstick tubes are chic. From what I understand, the coloured casing is meant to represent the colour of the lipstick in the tube, as it doesn't have the swatch of the colour shown on the sticker like most lipsticks do. Speaking of colours, just like the Revlon Lip Butters, they're available in 20 shades - a really pretty palette of nudes, corals, peaches, pinks, and berry/plums. They also don't contain any glitters or shimmers in any of their shades, unlike some of the Revlon Lip Butters. Personally, I don't care too much for glitter or shimmer on my lips as they simply aren't flattering on me.
Colours I snatched up (shown in order of swatches below) were from L - R: A Plum Prospect (#100), Berry Ready (#85), One Size Fits Pearl (#55), Pin Up Peach (#30), & Lust for Blush (#25).
The swatches above are the colours shown with one application. You can build them up to an intensity you're comfortable with, depending on your preference. In any case, I think I covered all the basic colour shades on this one, as I wanted to try a bit of a variety from their palette selection.
In terms of how they apply on the lips? Beautifully, is my answer! Each one feels utterly smooth & lightweight, as if I am not actually wearing anything on my lips. In terms of staying power... very similar to the Revlon Lip Butters - not that long. Maybe a good 2 - 3 hrs, tops, especially depending on the shade (will elaborate a bit later).
Below, you will see how the colour appears on my lips. Keep in mind that my lips have some pigmentation in them already, and will look different on each individual, especially compared to the arm swatches above. Also, the appearance in colour is after 2-3 applications.
Honestly, I am pleasantly surprised with the colour pay off on all the shades, despite its sheerness. Personally, I am loving the fact they're sheer, so I can build up the colour. The lighter shades, really, are like a glamorized lip gloss. Adds a nice clean sheen like a lip balm, but obviously with more pigmentation. They last about 2 hours before you need to re-apply to gain back the colour, and they honestly feel light as a feather on my lips. With the darker shades (A Plum Prospect & Berry Ready), I noticed that they leave a subtle stain after the initial colour wears off. It's not a big deal, if you're into that kind of thing, and luckily for me, I am.
As for how they feel on my lips - they're sheer, less shiny; yet pigmented and highly moisturising. I like that they're buildable, and as sheer as they may be, they still have decent colour pay off with one application, but if you want it to look vibrant, then you can add a bit more until you're satisfied with the colour intensity. That in itself gives you bang for your buck - it's like you have a multifaceted lip product that you can manipulate to give you the shade you want. Brilliant!
As for the cost and where you can get your hands on these? Since they're not available in Australia as yet, the next best thing would be online. I purchased mine through eBay from seller Surfinjunkie. They currently have 20% off the original price, so currently it retails for $7.58 AU. Shipping for an item is typically $6.19 AU but to get the most out of your purchase, you're best to buy in bulk to combine shipping costs, therefore it works out to be cheaper for you, and you save money. To give you an example, my order came to $37.89 AU and shipping cost me $4.80 AU - you can't beat that! Shipping time was reasonable - took roughly 2 and a half weeks to arrive from the US. But overall, it is at your discretion if you choose to buy these from eBay, and I suggest you do your own research for other options that may be more suitable for you. Or if you're unlike me, you can simply wait until they hit our shores! :P
For the final verdict - would I re-purchase these? You've probably already guessed, and you're right - absolutely! As much as it pains me to say; compared to the Revlon Lip Butters, my expectations have surpassed those of the lip butters (but only slightly). If I haven't already mentioned, the Revlon Lip Butters were my favourite lip product of 2012. With these, I find the Color Whispers to be much more lightweight, less oily and waxy, more moisturising and sheer to allow for colour build up. I am also quite fond of their colour range, and am eager to get the rest of the shades. Yep, that's right, because that's how much I love these!
I hope you found this helpful, and if you're considering getting these, let me know which colours you're interested in! And if you own these, what do you think of them?
Til next time, cheerio xo
It must be noted that it hasn't been released in Australia yet, so for those in Australia, and NZ reading this: Don't be disheartened! Since I was impatient, I took to eBay to make my purchase. If you're interested in which eBay seller I purchased them from, I will share that near the end of the post.
Anyhow, I have seen many questions posted on the MNY Australia FB page asking of its release (I even sent them an email through their website to enquire), and they pretty much have said they do not have a release set for Australia any time soon (why are we always the last to get anything here) but as soon as they know, we'll be the first to hear it via their FB & Twitter. So I guess we have to stay tuned for the official release date. But in the meantime, if you are going to purchase them through eBay, or other means, then... keep on reading :D
First off, the Maybelline Color Whisper Lipsticks by Color Sensational have been compared a lot to the Revlon Lip Butters (which are a personal favourite of mine), and Loreal's Color Caresse lip sticks (which I haven't tried). With all these brands coming out with hybrid lipsticks, it was only a matter of time before Maybelline came out with their own version :) (Random side note: Revlon and Maybelline are both owned by Loreal...)
So what's the dealio with these new lipsticks? Maybelline are marketing them as "Pure color pigments suspended in a weightless gel. No heavy waxes or oils. Soft, sexy gel-color". Who can resist that?! Since I was and still am a fan of the Revlon Lip Butters, I didn't hesitate to give these a try, so naturally I bought five of them.
What you will notice first off is their sleek packaging. Compared to the Revlon Lip Butters, their packaging is slimmer, the clear casing is eye-catching, and the lipstick tubes are chic. From what I understand, the coloured casing is meant to represent the colour of the lipstick in the tube, as it doesn't have the swatch of the colour shown on the sticker like most lipsticks do. Speaking of colours, just like the Revlon Lip Butters, they're available in 20 shades - a really pretty palette of nudes, corals, peaches, pinks, and berry/plums. They also don't contain any glitters or shimmers in any of their shades, unlike some of the Revlon Lip Butters. Personally, I don't care too much for glitter or shimmer on my lips as they simply aren't flattering on me.
Colours I snatched up (shown in order of swatches below) were from L - R: A Plum Prospect (#100), Berry Ready (#85), One Size Fits Pearl (#55), Pin Up Peach (#30), & Lust for Blush (#25).
The swatches above are the colours shown with one application. You can build them up to an intensity you're comfortable with, depending on your preference. In any case, I think I covered all the basic colour shades on this one, as I wanted to try a bit of a variety from their palette selection.
In terms of how they apply on the lips? Beautifully, is my answer! Each one feels utterly smooth & lightweight, as if I am not actually wearing anything on my lips. In terms of staying power... very similar to the Revlon Lip Butters - not that long. Maybe a good 2 - 3 hrs, tops, especially depending on the shade (will elaborate a bit later).
Below, you will see how the colour appears on my lips. Keep in mind that my lips have some pigmentation in them already, and will look different on each individual, especially compared to the arm swatches above. Also, the appearance in colour is after 2-3 applications.
A Plum Prospect (#100)
Personally, I think this adds a beautiful pop of colour that is wearable for day wear with any kind of look. It has a hint of purple undertones, but doesn't take away from the beautiful pinks that shine through.
Berry Ready (#85)
This colour adds such a beautiful shade of berry red that instantly glams up your whole face. If you're shy about wearing a bold red lip, this might be the one to try as it is sheer enough without losing pigmentation, but not overly bold that it scares even you. I love the slight blue undertones in this one, as it makes it wearable enough for any ocassion. My favourite look to pair this with is with a simple winged liner, and mascara - no eye shadow. Definitely one of my favourites, and a colour I will be sporting during the Autumn season.
One Size Fits Pearl (#55)
This simply is a clear lipstick, with a hint of sheen. I actually really like this as it compliments a bold eye, and again, very easy to wear on any occasion. It's a beautiful iridescent colour that shows slight pale pink undertones, and I think it would suit a variety of different skin tones.
Pin Up Peach (#30)
This is such a pretty colour, that reminds me a lot of Peach Parfait from the Revlon Lip Butter range, except... less pigmented. I love how this looks on my lips, as it has this beautiful coral undertone, and is a perfect everyday colour.
Lust for Blush (#25)
This colour is such a gorgeous colour, with definitive cool undertones that adds a pop of colour and shine to your lips. It's actually a colour I find surpisingly suits my skin tone, but I don't know... what do you guys think? It's beautiful and pearly, and I really like it.
Honestly, I am pleasantly surprised with the colour pay off on all the shades, despite its sheerness. Personally, I am loving the fact they're sheer, so I can build up the colour. The lighter shades, really, are like a glamorized lip gloss. Adds a nice clean sheen like a lip balm, but obviously with more pigmentation. They last about 2 hours before you need to re-apply to gain back the colour, and they honestly feel light as a feather on my lips. With the darker shades (A Plum Prospect & Berry Ready), I noticed that they leave a subtle stain after the initial colour wears off. It's not a big deal, if you're into that kind of thing, and luckily for me, I am.
As for how they feel on my lips - they're sheer, less shiny; yet pigmented and highly moisturising. I like that they're buildable, and as sheer as they may be, they still have decent colour pay off with one application, but if you want it to look vibrant, then you can add a bit more until you're satisfied with the colour intensity. That in itself gives you bang for your buck - it's like you have a multifaceted lip product that you can manipulate to give you the shade you want. Brilliant!
Colour shown above is A Plum Prospect - size of how much product you get from 11 oz/3g.
As for the cost and where you can get your hands on these? Since they're not available in Australia as yet, the next best thing would be online. I purchased mine through eBay from seller Surfinjunkie. They currently have 20% off the original price, so currently it retails for $7.58 AU. Shipping for an item is typically $6.19 AU but to get the most out of your purchase, you're best to buy in bulk to combine shipping costs, therefore it works out to be cheaper for you, and you save money. To give you an example, my order came to $37.89 AU and shipping cost me $4.80 AU - you can't beat that! Shipping time was reasonable - took roughly 2 and a half weeks to arrive from the US. But overall, it is at your discretion if you choose to buy these from eBay, and I suggest you do your own research for other options that may be more suitable for you. Or if you're unlike me, you can simply wait until they hit our shores! :P
For the final verdict - would I re-purchase these? You've probably already guessed, and you're right - absolutely! As much as it pains me to say; compared to the Revlon Lip Butters, my expectations have surpassed those of the lip butters (but only slightly). If I haven't already mentioned, the Revlon Lip Butters were my favourite lip product of 2012. With these, I find the Color Whispers to be much more lightweight, less oily and waxy, more moisturising and sheer to allow for colour build up. I am also quite fond of their colour range, and am eager to get the rest of the shades. Yep, that's right, because that's how much I love these!
I hope you found this helpful, and if you're considering getting these, let me know which colours you're interested in! And if you own these, what do you think of them?
Til next time, cheerio xo
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