Friday 25 May 2012

NOTD with Rimmel Fruities & Impress Nails!

I absolutely love Impress Nails and have used them twice now. I was so impressed (see what I did there) with how natural and professional they looked while being so so easy to use. I also really love the Rimmel London Fruities nail polish, as it goes on easily in two coats, has a really nice shiny finish and dries quickly too, and that's not even mentioning the fact that it smells like strawberry!!


 Another plus of the Impress Nails product is that they give you 24pcs in one pack. They say this is to allow you to find the right size for your fingers. I find that the majority of the sizes are good for my nails with some being good for one nail more then once. So I used the product initially and it lasted about a week before getting a little raggedy along with me changing a few of the nails out during the week. BUT I am still left with a few extras and wanted to use them! I choose to just use the patterned nails this time and will save the plain nails for another time.
I decided to do this design as at the moment my natural nails are quite strong and long. That allows me to use both the fake Impress Nails & my natural nails that I painted with my Rimmel London 025 Strawberry Fizz that smells like strawberries (well actually at first it smells like strawberries with a strong scent of nail polish. I found this out by giving a good sniff to the polish - not something I usually do to nail polish - and finding out the hard way! I suggest you wait a few hours before smelling yours! A day later its just the strawberry smell).

Have you used Impress Nails? What do you do with your extras?!

Thanks for reading & please don't forget to follow my blog and make my day :D
xoxox

Thursday 24 May 2012

Let's Get Organised!

Having not lived in the same place for longer then a year for the past four years (!) organisation is something that has always been a problem for me. Jewellery is one of those things that can be such a challenge when travelling and arriving at a new home. I am a out-of-sight-out-of-mind person when it comes to jewellery. I was using a stand up wire holder that looked like a mannequin hub to hold all of my necklaces & hanging earrings. My rings and stud earrings were just popped in a cute little heart shaped jar with a lid (given to me by my oldest friend Blayr!). Both the holder and jar are so cute, but were not working in the way I was using them.

Here's a picture of the stand in the way that I am using it now (on my desk with a mirror on it), so that you can get a better idea of what it looks like. It's adorable, but just not practical to stack a load of necklaces.


So I was online searching for a solution that would sort out my issue while here in Australia, but also help me stay organised when I move and be something that I can travel with! I saw this solution online and found a similar option in Aldi! I love Aldi and once again they pull through with a great dupe to other companies that offer similar options for much higher prices. It only cost me around $5.99 and I think its perfect!

It is double sided and the slots are clear and large enough to easily hold a bracelet and anything smaller and there are larger pockets at the bottom to hold bigger necklaces.

I didn't use a lot of method when putting everything into the little pockets but tried to put rings at the top, followed by earrings, bracelets and finally necklaces. I also have lots of more room to add more pieces to my collection!

Aldi doesn't regularly stock product and every store stocks different things, but I found a similar item on ebay here: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/80-POCKETS-HANGING-JEWELLERY-SCRAPBOOKING-CRAFT-ORGANIZER-storage-box-travel-/230788114986?pt=AU_Jewellery_Boxes_Supplies&hash=item35bc0b2a2a#ht_500wt_891  - its more expensive so if you are looking for the same as Aldi have a look around and see if you can get it there!!

Do you use a similar organiser? What is your jewellery organisation like?!

Clarisonic Mia

I recently bought a Clarisonic Mia (in Lavender :D)



What?

If you don't have a clue what this is (and I didn't just a few short months ago) I will explain & let Clarisonic do some explaining too! I would (and i've heard others) describe it as an electric toothbrush for your face. It'ss a tad on the expensive side, so it is certainly an investment in your skin. Essentially, it is a way to deeply cleanse your skin removing the oil, dirt, make-up and anything else that gets into your pores during the day. It vibrates and sonically pushes to the surface anything that is blocking your pores (You may go through a skin purging phase in the first week or two while the device works it's magic). 

I bought the Mia. This is the least expensive model they sell & after seeing and reading many reviews it is exactly what I was looking for. The biggest differences compared to the other models are; It only has one speed, you can only use it on your face, it is much smaller. For me, I just wanted it for my face and had heard that those with different models, rarely changed the speed anyway. I also love it's size!

Clarisonic claims: 
While cleansing is the first step in any skin care ritual, it is often overlooked. Typical manual cleansing can leave behind dirt and oil trapped in pores. This build-up can damage the appearance and health of your skin and keep your skin care products from working like they should.Used and recommended by spas and dermatologists, Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing Systems use a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to gently, yet thoroughly remove 6X more makeup and 2X more dirt and oil than cleansing with your hands alone. Cleaner skin is the first step toward healthier skin. And healthier skin is smoother, more radiant and more beautiful.

Where?

I bought my Mia on an Australian website called www.adorebeauty.com.au. I am so impressed with this website. They carry a lot of products that are not easy to find, are of excellent quality and at the same prices you'd find in store, BUT from the comfort of where ever your computer might be. They have great information on every brand and product and users can offer reviews about products they've tried (the website will then screen the review to make sure its appropriate). They also have online forums with a skin care specialist who is happy to answer your questions about anything skin related. She usually suggests products that the website sells, but thats not really a bad thing. 

Another reason I bought the Clarisonic from this website was that they offer a free gift with purchase of a replacement brush head. It is recommended that you replace these every 3 months and costs around $35, so I thought this was a great deal. What I didn't realise at the time was that you need to "add to basket" the free gift. So I was convinced that I had missed out and was pretty annoyed at myself. I sent an email to their support team and hadn't heard back for about 3 days and was honestly having second thoughts about the website. Then I was just browsing on the site again, when at the bottom of the screen popped up a little chat message saying "Can I help you with anything?". Basically I explained what happened and they were so helpful and friendly (and even apologetic for the delayed email response) and are sending me my free gift!

In Summary, I really really suggest checking this website out. Shipping is only $5 for standard and it came within 3 business days! They carry so many great products!


Why?

After quite a bit of research I decided that I really wanted to make a change in my skin. I am so fed up with my not so perfect skin. I have combination oily acne prone skin. I certainly don't have really bad acne and never had, but constantly get blemishes. I am rarely without one. I also have tried a lot of different skin care lines and rarely see huge changes that are lasting. I like to try products for an extended period of time, so I can give my skin a chance to see the benefits. I have spent a lot of money on expensive skin care that hasn't worked for me and thought that the Clarisonic would be something I could change without always having to spend more and more money to see if I can make a difference. Just forking out the money one time! (I should mention that this is because you can use any cleanser you want with the device! It does come with a sample of their cleanser, but I didn't try it as I don't want to mess with what I am currently using).

How?

I only started using mine on Tuesday (It's Friday). I have been using it only in the evenings and certainly have been seeing quite a few more blemishes. This was expected. I have really noticed a difference in my skin already. After cleansing my skin feels so soft and clean, usually a feeling I only get after exfoliating or using a mask. My lotions also sink into my skin a lot quicker. Although I do have blemishes at the moment, They are not typically what I am used to, almost looking like a removable of a blocked pore more then an inflammation of one. The new blemishes have already started to disappear and not leave a noticeable mark. Some previous blemishes that have left marks, are slowly losing colour as well. I love the feel of my skin and knowing that I am really getting my skin clear. 

I hope this helped if you are someone who has been thinking of getting this product. I also hope it opened up your eyes to those of you who hadn't heard of this before. I think its a great idea and makes a lot of sense. My skin seems to really like this fancy tool and I have high hopes for it. I will do another update in a few months time and hopefully have an equally glowing report.

You can find out more here: http://www.clarisonic.com/

Thanks so much for reading & please follow my blog and make my day :D


Saturday 19 May 2012

Review: Rimmel London Wake Me Up Foundation

I cannot contain how much I love the product I am about to review for you. There has been quite a lot of hype in the blogosphere about this product, which is why I wanted to try it out in the first place. I am speaking of (if the post's title didn't give it away ;) ) Rimmel London's Wake Me Up Foundation. 

I will start off with the great price! At $19.99AUD, this stuff is a real bargain! (not to mention that I just picked up another bottle at woolies today for a sale price of $15.99 :D) This foundation has a creamy silky consistency that glides on so nicely. It is very moisturizing and has a beautiful dewy finish. I would say it has medium coverage, but it is build-able if you are looking for more. I have applied this foundation with my fingers, with a brush and with a sponge and had great results with all. It's main difference from other products, and why I think it is so nice to wear, is a very fine shimmery quality. These shimmery bits are very hard to see and give you an illuminated look. I do like to finish with a powder, as I have combination oily skin, but for someone with dry skin, this foundation will really leave your skin looking healthy.

This is my before pictures with no make-up and with my Illamasqua Satin Primer:



This is with just the foundation applied:


This is my final look for a day out to watch some football:


Rimmel London Says: 

"Introducing new Wake Me Up Foundation from Rimmel London. Rimmel’s first liquid foundation that instantly reawakens skin with a healthy, radiant glow.
It’s time to wake up – the light, smooth texture glides on easily to give a 100% pore-less and flawless complexion. Spoil yourself with SPF 15 sun protection and illuminating radiance pearls for a natural glow. A peptide formulation helps increase your skin’s elasticity and a vitamin moisturizing complex also leaves you looking healthy and fresh. Your skin will bounce back to life – even if your body is thinking otherwise."I totally agree and love that this foundation also includes an SPF for added protection, a must have down here! This is a new favourite for me and I am so glad to have given it a go! I would really suggest you try this product if you are in the market for a foundation or even if you are just looking to try something new. 

You can find out more here:
UPDATE: You can also get this on asos.com and its cheaper and shipping is free! I would suggest checking out what colour you are in a store that carries the product and then buy it here: http://www.asos.com/au/Rimmel-London/Rimmel-London-Wake-Me-Up-Foundation/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2068539&cid=5020&Rf900=2206&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=Trueivory

Monday 14 May 2012

My TWO Weeks in Photo Booth Pictures!

Here is another look at my week in Photo Booth pictures but I didn't post this last week so here's two weeks worth!! I try and take a picture everyday but don't always succeed. These are a few pics of my hair and make-up and sometimes a bit of what I'm wearing :)










 Leave a comment and tell me which one is the best this week!

OOTE!

I haven't done an outfit of the day or evening yet so I thought it was about time to try one out. 

This look was for a comedy show that I went to with my boyfriend. We went to a nice little cocktail bar before hand and then enjoyed a very fun evening compliments of Ross Noble.


I decided to go with a smokey eye and a nude lip. I used my smokey eye quad by Quo and Illamasqua nude lipstick Sonnet.  I just pulled back my hair because I thought my necklace and make-up were dramatic enough.

I wore a shirt I got from ASOS that is a beautiful fall colour and I love the fit of it. The colour-block necklace I wore is from Forever New. I loved the colours of the necklace with the colour of the shirt and the necklace really dressed the whole outfit up! I paired this with a simple black mini dress and black tights. I also wore simple black flats. I really loved wearing this outfit and thought it was dressy enough for our night out without going overboard! 


I couldn't find the same necklace online but their are lots of similar ones from the same store here: http://www.forevernew.com.au/Jewellery.aspx?s26#p=1&ipp=30&f=_v8-pv1-nAccessories-t1-c0__v26-pv8-nJewellery-t1-c0__v148-pv26-nNecklaces-t1-c13_&o=ALL

Hope you enjoyed this post and I'll be posting more OOTD & OOTE soon!
Thanks for Reading & Please Follow my Blog!
XOXOX

Sunday 13 May 2012

Priceline "The Take Home Hair Salon" Bag!

It’s that time again! Priceline is having their annual “The Take Home Hair Salon” bag. This is very similar to the beauty bag that they recently had on offer but obviously, this one includes specifically hair products.
This time around Priceline’s deal is for you to spend $40 dollars in store on any of the brands included in the bag, to receive the bag full of various hair care products valued at over $185 dollars!  The deal is on right now! It started on May 10 and continues until 21 May. From what I’ve heard these bags tend to sell out quite quickly! So get into Priceline soon so you don’t miss out.
If you aren’t quite sold on the deal yet, keep reading and I’ll try and convince you of what incredible value this deal is!


So first I had to spend $40 dollars in order to get the hair bag deal. I decided that I spend my money on products that I know for sure I will use and not just ones that I might think are nice to try. Plus, having a look on what was in the hair bag of goodies, it seemed like I’d be getting to try MANY various hair products anyway. I got four different products and spent $42 dollars doing it.

Al’chemy Mandarin Shampoo & Al’chemy Macadamia and wheat protein Conditioner: This is a higher end brand for a drugstore and it costs a bit more then most things you find in the drugstore too. It is free of a lot of the harmful chemicals found in other hair products and it smells realllly good! I have been looking for a change in my shampoo and condidtioner, and as someone who has never really cared what products I use for shampoo and conditioner, I thought it was about time I give these a go!

Klorane Dry Shampoo: I love dry shampoo and a couple of times this year have hoped I had some so I knew I needed to pick some up eventually. I hadn’t heard of this brand but hopefully its good. I have only tried one other dry shampoo so I don’t have a lot to compare it to, so I’ll just see if it has as good results as the last one had!

Scunci 14pc Hair Ties: This really could go without any explanation; I needed more hair ties. These looked good, they are thick, black and not too exciting.

Now I’ll let you in on what’s in the “Take Home Hair Salon” bag. This bag is so heavy! It has so much in it and a lot of things that I don’t think I would have bought myself which is nice to test out and compare to the products I use all the time.
 
  • Al’chemy Lavender & Anthyllis 24 Hour Intensive Moisture Leave-In Conditioner
  • Apivita Gentle Shampoo for Frequent use with Chamomile Honey
  • Cedel Dry Conditioner Mini
  • Wella Balsam Protection & Shine Conditioner x2
  • Edward Beale Pure Argan Oil
  • Lee Stafford Flat Iron Mist
  • Final Net Mini Hair Spray
  • John Frieda Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Shampoo for Curly Hair
  • John Frieda Hair Towel & John Frieda Mirror Compact (It said you were only to receive one of these, but I got both J)
  • John Frieda Root Awakening Health Boosting Leave-In Conditioner
  • Klorane Dry Shampoo Mini
  • Models Prefer Anti Static Carbon Tail Comb
  • Scunci Hair Clip
  • Elvive Treatment for coloured hair*
  • Napro Colour Shine Shampoo for coloured hair*
  • Revlon Coloursilk Hair Colour Voucher *
  • The bag is by Models Prefer and I think it’s a really great one! 
I love so much of the stuff that is in this bag and have already loved trying so much of it! I think its amazing value. Everyone needs more shampoo and conditioner and this bag gives you quite a supply!
*The only products I thought weren’t great for me were the colour protect and hair colour voucher. I think most people would be pleased with these but I don’t and don’t want to colour my hair! I gave these three products to my boyfriends mom and she was happy to have them!

There is still lots of time to head over to Priceline and get this deal yourself and I really think its worth it! 

Happy Shopping Readers!
XOXOX

ps. Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day and celebrated the women in your life that mean so much to you and if you are a mother, I hope you felt the love too!