ILLAMASQUA NAIL POLISHES REVIEW + SWATCHES

Illamasqua has fast became one of my favourite brands over the past year. From their amazing blush duos to the vivid lipsticks I'm head over heels in love. When these three shades turned up on my door step I was delighted yet sceptical. After all, I am the girl who claims would never spend the money on high end nail varnishes.

kink | baptiste | grab

As sceptical as I was I couldn't wait to slap these on my nails and test them out. The first shade I worn was my favourite of the three 'grab'. Grab is a beautiful bright fuchsia with a cream finish and oh boy I adore it. It's my perfect pink shade for year round wear. Next up I braved Kink which is another cream finish but a dark green colour. It's not something I would usually be seen prancing around with on my nails but the deepness of the green makes it interesting. It's a good break from black whilst still being a deep shade on the nails. Lastly I road tested Baptiste which is a dark purple with shimmery running through. I particularly loved the glossy finish of the shimmery formulation.

All three shades are incredibly pigmented and opaque with one coat (as pictures show) I couldn't believe it! Not streaky at all and just generally a dream to apply. I'm not a huge fan of the square top which makes it can make it tricky to grip, especially if you have hands of an eight year old like me, but with practice it is easy enough to get down. As for wear with a top coat each shade lasted 4-5 days without chipping, that is fantastic for me poor peely nails.

So do I withdrawn my previous statement of high-end nail polishes not being worth the money? Yes.  I'd highly recommend these polishes if you've been contemplating the purchases or are wanting a good quality polish. I know I will be picking up some more shades when I'm next at the Illamasqua counter! 

Available from Myer RRP $22 each here

Note: Myer is currently having a sale on these polishes which brings them down to around $13 

Don't forget to enter my huge international giveaway! 

*product was provided for consideration - honesty as always! 

WEDNESDAY WONDERS: CONCEALERS

This is what I like to call my 'dream team' of concealers. Up till about two months ago I wasn't completely happy with the concealers I was using however this combination is aboustely perfect for what I need right now. I don't use all three on an everyday basis but I feel all I need is these three and that's it. I apply and blend all of these with a Real Techniques Contour brush which I do love but I feel as though I need to find something smaller to fit into my eye contour better.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch 

This is something I bought forever ago and never really gave it much of a chance. I have no idea what shade it is because it doesn't say on the tube but it seems to work well for me in highlighting the inner parts of my face. I find this is really easy to blend into the skin and does make under the eyes brighter. If you had major dark circles under the eyes perhaps a corrector prior to using this would be best but for me I can get away with just using this. This is my everyday under eye concealer if I'm not tired or wore out and on a night out I use this for highlighting the inner parts of my face along with contouring. This is just one of those affordable products I come back too. I have the YSL Touche Elcat and I honestly don't find them comparable they are two very different products. If you'd like to see a post comparing the two do let me know and I'll make sure to do that for you :) 

Available from Priceline RRP $17.95 here

Origins Plantscription Anti-aging Concealer 

I bought this because Lily Pebbles always raves about it and she is one blogger I really trust all of her recommendations. I sought it out and never looked back. This is something I will forever repurchase because it is so freaking amazing. Need a blemish concealed? This will do it. An under eye concealer? No worries. Highlighting your face? Yes! Previous to this concealer I felt as though I had three concealers I needed to take away with me but now if I'm travelling I pop this in my bag and away I go. It's a fantastic multi purpose concealer that is an all-in-one, highly pigmented and just a dream to blend. I have never had this crease on me or wear away during the day (I always set with a powder) and honestly if you're to buy one concealer out of these three it would be this one.

Available from Kit Cosmetics RRP $26.00 here 

Clarins Instant Concealer*

This is a new addition from Clarins that is aimed at neutralising any dark circles and last all day. This is extremely pigmented and high coverage but it isn't heavy at all, it actually feels quite light on the skin. If you follow me on twitter you will know I've been extremely busy with university and I've been unwell so for the past two weeks this has been what has been gracing my under eye area. I find it does neutralise any darkness and provide a flawless high coverage finish. It lasts super well and doesn't settle into fine line or cake up. I do set this with a powder and I've never had any problems. I think if you have super dark circles and have trouble with products caking up or settling into fine lines this one is a good one too try. It covers so well and brightens the area without that heavy feeling. A fantastic release from Clarins well worth keeping your eye out. 

Available on counter October 7th 

What are your favourite concealers?

Don't forget to enter my huge international giveaway! 

BELLABOX SEPTEMBER 2013

Oh Bellabox and Cleo didn't you spoil us this month?! 

Today I received a large package which I was really confused about, I ripped it open to find an array of things from Bellabox - they couldn't fit all of this months content into the usual packaging so they had to change it. Cheeky devils.

This months box is a collaboration with Cleo Australia who helped put together this 'Spring Party Essentials' themed box. Bonus items that came along with this months box included a voucher for 25% Schick Hydro Silk at Woolworth's and a copy of this months Cleo magazine which is great! 

Elegant Touch Envy Wraps RRP $8.99 (fullsize) 

The design on these I'm not completely in love with and unsure if I'll keep or give to my younger sister. However, either way these will get used and considering these are fullsize and a nail product I'm happy to have received these. 

Manicare Glam Kelly Lashes RRP $11.95 (fullsize) 

A girl can never have enough fake eyelashes and I'm so happy to see these included as I've never tried the Manicare eyelash line but have always wandered about the quality. I'm a huge fan of Ardell lashes so it will be interesting to see how these measure up quality wise. 

Asap Pure Mineral Eye Pencil in Brown RRP $20.00 (fullsize) 

I love brown eyeliner and it's usually what I wear if I wear eyeliner during the day time. I have never tried out the Asap line so I'm interested to see how this performs because I'm pretty sure that Asap is fairly accessible. 

Schick Hydro Silk Razor RRP $9.99 (fullsize) 

I have one of these in my cupboard from another subscription service that I haven't used yet but I'm sure I will get use out of this in the future. I think this product is really fitting to the theme of the box which I think sometimes Bellabox does get wrong. 

Montagne Jeunesse Blemish Mud Mask RRP $3.99 

This is the only product that isn't full size in the whole box which I think is amazing! I will use this but from past experience I don't think that these masks do a whole lot for my skin. 

Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Spray RRP $14.95 (fullsize) 

This is the item I'm probably most excited for! I'm currently trialling products for my tanning series and I love the lotion version of this so I'm excited to give the spray a go as a different way of applying. Hopefully it isn't too messy! 

Footcare Gel Ball Of Foot Cushions RRP $8.99 (fullsize) 

I love that they've included these because I use them all the time! I haven't tried this particular brand or product so hopefully they work well and provide extra comfort in those not so comfortable shoes. Perfect prior to the spring race season.

Overall

It seems Bellabox and Cleo really know how to put together a fantastic box. I think that all the items are suited well to the theme of the box and nothing is out of place like past months. I'm really excited about how amazing this box is and I'll get use out of everything. Last month I was super impressed and this month I'm again, super impressed. Now Bellabox.. Can you make it three in a row? 

Bellabox supscription is $15 per month for more information click here. 

Don't forget to enter my huge international giveaway! 

SLEEK TRUE COLOUR LIPSTICKS REVIEW + SWATCHES

I posted a haul during the week (see here) and there was alot of interest in these new shade offerings from Sleek so I thought I'd do a quick post on my thoughts so far with swatches. 

The three colours I bought are Tangerine Scream, Plush and Dare. It's not secret I love me some lip colours and I'm a sucker for darker shades so that's how Plush and Dare ended up in my cart. As for Tangerine Scream I was inspired by this beautiful Hourglass product I've been wearing non-stop so I thought another orange edition to my collection would not go to waste. The packaging of these lipsticks is cute and compact. The black matte bullets are reminiscent of NARS packaging which we all known is easily marked and impossible to keep looking clean.

As for the shades the Tangerine Scream is a true orange shade with a sheen finish. It doesn't last as long as the other two matte shades but the punch of pigmentation it adds to the lips is worth reapplying after eating or drinking. Plush is a beautiful medium pink possibly raspberry shade with a matte finish. This one is probably my pick of the three because it is the most wearable for me. The last shade is Dare which again has a matte finish. This super vampy shade surprised me with the deep brown undertones however teamed with a red lip liner I can make the shade a little bit more to my taste so all is forgiven. 

For only $7.95 these lipsticks are super pigmented wear well and come is such a wide variety of shades and colours. I cannot recommend these enough especially for the super cheap price! 

Available from Lipstick Republic for $7.95 each 

Have you tried these lipsticks? 

Don't forget to enter my huge international giveaway! 

SKIN PHYSICS DERMA SONIC CLEANSING BRUSH REVIEW

A dupe for the Clarasonic?

 I think it's fantastic to see so many brands coming out with cheaper alternatives to the Clarasonic. I've been using the Derma Sonic is place of my beloved Clarasonic for the past month and have been impressed with the results. 

What you get in the kit:

- Charging dock for the brush

-Brush itself 

- Normal brush attachment

- Sensitive brush attachment

-  Body brush attachment 

- User manual 

What results are claimed: 

- Leaves skin feeling soft and looking smoother 

- Removes impurities to allow for optimal absorption and therefore superior results from the key skincare actives 

- Reduces oily areas, dry skin parches and blemishes 

- Minimises the appearance of visible pores 

I can say that I agree with the results it's claiming to do. I find my skin texture is soft and smoother when I use a cleansing brush and my products I apply following sink in alot better and are more effective. I do think that it helps balance oils for me but that is in conjunction with other products in my skin care routine. Reducing pore size is the only claim I personally haven't experienced a dramatic difference in. In saying that, it's the same with the Clarasonic as well. I noticed exactly the same results from using the Derma Sonic as too when I use the Clarasonic. 

To use: 

Allow for 20 seconds on forehead using circular motions, each cheek for 10 seconds and nose/chin for 20 seconds. I'm unsure as to whether or not this brush is meant to automatically shut off after a certain amount of time like the Clarasonic does but I personally haven't experienced it shutting off at all unless it was low on battery. This didn't really bother me because I use cleansing brushes regularly so I know when to move it onto the next part of my face. If you're a beginning just roughly counting in your head would be adequate and you can tell me when you need to move onto as you've used it more.

As I said previously you are provided for a total of three brush attachments in the initial kit which  I think is incredible! I think the inclusion of a sensitive attachment is especially note worthy if it is your first time trying out a cleansing brush because it allows you to start with the softer bristles and then build your way up to the normal brush head. Also the inclusion of a body brush means that this cleansing tool can go a step further and can be used on the body. I used this on my chest and shoulder area and although I don't have any negatives to report back I think I much prefer to only use a cleansing brush on my face. 

The Derma Sonic also allows you to change speeds on the facial settings and body cleansing mode which would be ideal if you're new to a cleansing brush product. For facial settings there are four different speeds which can be easily seen from the different lights on the handles. I used mine on normal during the trial of this product. For the body cleansing mode there are two settings a constant and pulse setting. 

As for the quality of the brush I think it is a fantastic product however I think I did have a faulty one as I experienced problems with battery life having to charge it every three days (which is every three uses as I used it once daily). I am fairly sure mine was faulty in that regard as I've seen other reviews that have spoken of no problems with battery life. 

Overall

If you're just starting out with a cleansing brush than I think this would be a great alternative to the Clarasonic as you have more options with speed and brushes with the initial kit. Also being an Australian skincare brand it's so much more accessibly for replacing brush heads and warranty reasons. As I said I'm almost certain mine was a faulty one in regards to battery life so I'm sure that if you were to purchase it would not be an issue at all. I think that you definitely get more bang for your buck with this kit, it's more accessible and I personally did not notice the difference between using this in place of my Clarasonic. If you're in the market for one it's definitely something to consider! 

RRP $119 can be bought directly off Skin Physics here

Have you tried any Clarasonic dupes? 

*product was provided for consideration- honesty as always 

HUGE DRUGSTORE GIFT PACK GIVEAWAY

Recently I reached 500 followers which is something I never thought was going to happen for More Than Adored. I love blogging and feel as though I've found something that I feel really passionate about and something I love doing. All of this is not possible without you! You and all my other beautiful readers make this all possible for me and I cannot thank you enough. So I thought I'd put together a big prize pack off all my favourite 'drugstore' products of the moment to thank you all for following, commenting and allowing me to do something I truly enjoy! 

All of these goodies have been purchased by me to say a huge thank you to all of you!

Prizes include:

- Ardell Glamour Lashes 101 Demi 

- Maybelline Hyper Glossy Liner 01 Black 

- Essence Sun Club Bronzer for lighter skin

- Jordana Twist and Shine Balm Stain in 07 

NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream 

- Face Of Australia Blush in Nutmeg 

- Wet N Wild Comfort Zone Palette 

Wet N Wild Silent Treatment Palette 

- Maybelline Colour Tattoo Metal in Inked Pink and Barely Branded 

- Jordana Fabuliner in Black 

- Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara 

- Essence Get Big! Lashes 

- Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Brightening 

-Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 107 

- Covergirl Lipstick in Spell Bound 

- NYX Lipgloss in Beige 

- Maybelline Color Whisper in Petal Rebel 

- Wet N Wild Matte Lipsticks in Sugar Plum Fairy, Cherry Picking + Pinkerbell 

- Milani Statement Lipstick in Fruit Punch 

- Essence Lipliners in In The Nude, Cute Pink + Satin Mauve 

-Covergirl Jumbo Gloss Stain in Watermelon Twist 

Also will include a make up bag that I've ordered but it hadn't arrived yet plus it'll be a surprise for the winner :) 

Rules:

- You must be 16+ or have a guardians permission to enter 

- This giveaway is open internationally and will run for a month (ends 18/10/13) 

- Please play by the rules, if you don't you will be banned from future giveaways 

- The winner will be draw by random via Rafflecopter and contacted shortly after the end of the giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 

WEDNESDAY WONDERS: DRY SHAMPOOS

 Dry shampoo is something most people use at some point. For me, it's a last resort when I've forgotten to wash my hair or don't have time. I don't use this for added volume or texture which some people do as I have other products to cover those needs. I really wanted to share my thoughts on the four that I've been using the past couple of months.

Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo is a cult favourite brand for dry shampoo and I find this extremely effective at absorbing oil. My favourite scent is this tropical one which is coconutty and delicious. I think the spray applicator is great and the powder is really easy to work into the hair once applied. I feel similarly about the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Nettle* this is probably my favourite of all of these because of the spray applicator. All you require is one spritz and a fair bit of product is dispensed which makes it quick and easy. I know that may not be for everyone but it's something I really enjoy. Both of these dry shampoos are more expensive being around $10-15 each but I find the amount you use is much less so it all evens out. 

The Girlz Only Dry Shampoo is a whole other story. The reason I'm featuring this product in my 'Wednesday Wonders' post is because IT IS only $2 a can and being a university student that price does appeal to me. However I find this to smell disgusting! I cannot stand the smell and it really lingers in your hair which I don't like. The product itself is good at absorbing oils, you do need to apply more than the others but for the price? I think it's a pretty effective dry shampoo if you can get past the smell. 

The last one I'm going to mention is the Polished London Cornwall Coconut Dry Shampoo. I got sent one of these a couple of months ago and I love it so much I stocked up during a recent Priceline sale. This a middle guy in regards to price retailing for about $5. It has a nice coconut scent and is on par with the Batiste and Klorane in regards to absorption and how easy it is to work into the hair. It's worth noting that they also do one for people with brown hair as well as blonde (which I'm yet to try). Really great product and I don't here many people talk about the brand so if you see it in Priceline it is worth picking up as it's cheap and does a great job :) 

Which one will I continue to repurchase? 

I will probably buy the Polished London ones again. I love the Batiste and Klorane but I find the Polished London just as effective and it's half the price. Although the Girlz Only is incredibly cheap at $2 I think the quality of the product does reflect that. 

What is your favourite dry shampoos to use? Do I need to try any others?

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical RRP $9.99 here (currently on sale for $7.99) 

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Nettle RRP $14.99 here 

Girlz Only Dry Shampoo RRP $2 available exclusively to Target 

Polished London Cornwall Coconut Dry Shampoo RRP $4.95 here  (currently $3.95 on sale) 

ROUND UP: SANCTUARY SPA 'DEEP CLEANSE FACIAL' LINE

You all know I'm a skin junkie and I was delighted when I found out the Sanctuary Spa was going to be sold in Australia. I've picked up so many goodies from the brand and have been really impressed by the spa like quality and overall I think the brand is a winner. Today I'm going to be reviewing three products from the 'Deep Cleanse Facial' line which I've been using for about two months. 

Exfoliating Pore Refiner* 

This is a scrub that I wasn't sure I was going to like when I first used it. It wasn't because of the quality of the product because it literally is one of the highest quality scrubs I've used but more because of the texture - it's very fine beads. I prefer to use a gritty scrub because I find that I feel so though I see better results however I gave it a fair trial. The instructions it says to use it three times a week but not on successive days which I did too begin with but now I use this every night and it works well with my skin. My skin is very congested throughout the T-zone particularly so I think that's why I can get away with using it once a day but I would advise following the instructions to begin with to see how your skin goes. This product as a milky consistency and I find I only have to use a very small amount too get results. It lathers well and feels heavenly against the skin. I have found that this has improved my skin texture amazingly! My skin is smoother and there has been a decrease in congestion since introducing this product.

Available from Priceline here for $15.99 (currently 20% off)

Pore Refiner Toner* 

It's not secret here on More Than Adored that I love a good toner. This toner I took more time to start using because I didn't like the spray application. I would prefer to pour product onto a cotton round to ensure my whole face is covered. I got over it and started spraying about five sprays onto a cotton round morning and night after cleansing. It's super gentle so no stinging or tight feeling at all which is a huge plus. This is such a relaxing toner that, especially at night, I can't see it every being out of my routine. It has a beautiful rose scent that isn't too strong but still is calming and makes the experience of this product so enjoyable. It claims too 'pore tighten' which could put some people off but honestly I've never experienced any discomfort or tightening sensation when applying but it does smooth over the skin quite well. 

Available from Priceline here for $15.99 (currently 20% off)

5 minute Thermal Detox Mask 

Because I enjoyed the products from this line that I was sent I went to Priceline to pick up some more for this review. I was sad to see only one other product from this line made it too my Priceline which was this mask. This mask is a very interesting one and I've never tried anything like it. You apply water to your face and then start applying this mask massaging in circular motions. This creates a lovely warm sensation against the skin which I really really like especially on a cool night. You then allow the mask too warm and then cool off on the skin and remove. I aboustely love the feeling of this mask and it feels like a real treat. There is no 'hardening' or 'setting' it just warms up then cools against the skin. I find this really helps with detoxifying the skin and leaving it feeling fresh and deeply cleansed.

Available from Priceline here for $15.99 (currently 20% off)

All three of these products I cannot recommend enough. I find that they do have that little bit of luxurious spa feeling to them and for the price they are so worth the little treat for your skin. I think if you're having trouble with congested skin than this range will definitely help you - especially the scrub. It has reduced blackheads on my nose and I'm hoping with continued use they'll decrease more. I feel as though with all three products you're getting a unique experience and it's something a little different, at least for me it was, too what you usually would use for a scrub or mask or toner. I'm really impressed with this line and I hope that I can hunt down some other products from this line to try! 

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?

Also if you have any other product recommendations from this brand let me know in the comments :) 

COLLECTIVE HAUL

This haul is a collection of the products I've picked up over the past month. There has been some amazing deals so I've picked up a fair few goodies that I'm really excited about! If you see anything you'd like a further review on or swatches so do let me know in the comments :) 

I recently did a sneaky Lipstick Republic order to get my hands on some Sleek products. I've been dying to try out some products from the brand and when I seen that Lipstick Republic had some new shades of the Sleek True Colour Lipsticks that *new* tag got the better of me and I ordered Dare, Plush and Tangerine Scream. I'm yet to try these but swatched they're extremely pigmented so I'm excited to see how they wear. I also picked up a Sleek Pout Paint in the shade Port because so many UK readers always recommend these when I mention my love for lip stains. I wore this too work yesterday and although the pigmentation and colour is gorgeous it didn't last nearly as long as my other stains but I will further trial this bad boy and let you all know how it goes. 

I needed a new spot cleaner for my brushes and this Artiste Brush Cleaner was on sale for $14 at Priceline a boring purchase but a much needed one. I also picked up another tanning product for the series I'm currently putting together. This Le Tan Gradual Tan was super affordable so I'm excited to see how it performs. Hydraluron Moisture Booster is a product I've been dying to try out since Lily Pebbles first mentioned it over a year ago. Since it's now available in Priceline for an affordable price I decided that it was time to try! A total unnecessary purchase was this one from Beauty Expert. This Seascape Peppermint Lip Balm was reviewed by another blogger and sounded incredible. I couldn't resist having a lovely quality lip balm to pop on before bed so this was bought within seconds of reading the review. 

I was so glad to see that the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons didn't take too long to land in Australia. I wanted to pick up all shades however when I was purchasing them these two shades were the only ones left on the stand. Red Sunrise and Fuchsia Libre both are shades I've been wanting so I wasn't too disappointed about not picking up the two other shades. I've been loving these and they're so worth the blogger hype. Essence is discontinuing a bunch of their products and the already cheap products are further reduced. The Stay With Me Long-lasting Lipglosses are a favourite of Mel's from MissTango2 and I've been meaning to pick a couple up too try for a long time. When I heard that Essence were getting rid of them I thought I better get in quick to pick up some. I ended up picking all shades available as they were marked down to only $1.50! 

During the recent 50% Maybelline sale I picked up the Color Show Sequins in the shade Rose Bling. It's a fairly popular shade at the moment and it looks gorgeous on the nails. Again these Essence shades are some that are being discontinued Peaches & Cream, Iced Strawberry Cream, Hello Marshmallow Naughty and Pink, Cafe Ole and Aboustely Blue are the shades I found marked down to less sufficiently to about $1.50. 

I only picked up one base product during the Maybelline sale which was the Super Stay Make Up. I decided on the shade Porcelain Ivory which is a little pinker than what I usually wear but I wanted to try it out and see if it's comparable to the Revlon Colorstay which I adore. I love the consistency of the new Maybelline Color Tattoo Metals so I picked up the shade Inked in Pink which is a shade I wouldn't usually buy for myself but at 50% off I couldn't resist giving it a go. Lastly two single Essence Eyeshadows which are being discontinued one in Get Ready and the other in Greyhound both are shimmery and gorgeous swatched so I'm excited to play around with those.

So that's my collective haul from the past couple of weeks. I highly recommend checking out your local Essence stockists to see if you can pick up some of the discontinued products as they're so cheap and the colors that are being discontinued are stunning so it's worth having a look around to see if you can find some of them! 

As always if you'd like any reviews on any products mentioned let me know in the comments.

If you've tried any of these products let me know what you thought of them down below too :) 

I hope you're all having a lovely start to the week! 

ESSENCE ME & MY ICE CREAM COLLECTION

It's no secret that I love Essence. From their lipliners to nail polish the brand is affordable and amazing quality. When I heard the 'Me & My Ice Cream' collection was hitting the shelves I couldn't help but be super excited. I have a few bits from the collection that I thought I'd share my thoughts on so far because Essence collections fly off the shelves.

The collection includes a cute little packet of Hand Wipes which I thought was a strange inclusion to a make up collection (is that just me) but these are so handy. They smell sweet and delicious and they're more moist than facial wipes so they're less drying on the hands. I'm hoping to find a couple of more packets to pick up as back ups. Another cute inclusion is some lip balms I have the flavour Ice Ice Baby which is my new obsession it smells so amazing and isn't too thick so it's perfect to apply under lipsticks. 

These two products are probably my favourite from the collection that I've tried. The Cream Blusher in Ice Bomb is incredible. A light peachy shade that gives a beautiful wash to the cheeks perfect for layering or just on it's own. It's got a smooth blendable consistency and has been on my cheeks daily since it's arrival. The other favourite is the Shimmer Pearls which are fantastic for a quick and easy highlight during the day. It's a subtle sheen to the skin - nothing glittery which makes it perfect for an everyday no brainer. 

Eyeshadows 02 Icylicious | 01 Cone Head | 03 Always in my Mint 

These last three I'm still on the fence about. Although they are subtly slightly different I think that essentially having three highlight type shades in one collection is a little boring. Although there is no denying each shade is pretty I don't find it necessary to have 3 highlight shades. They have more of a different sheen to them than displayed in the swatch photo and I do love each shade. I know I will use them and they are in no way bad quality I just wished they'd released more of a variety. 

Overall

The whole collection smells amazing and not too mention the adorable packaging! I wish that the released more cream blushers and maybe some lip products like glosses/stains. There is also some fantastic nail polishes I'm going to try to hunt down because the shades look so pretty. It's a great collection and I would highly recommend grabbing a few items if you get the chance too! 

Exclusive to Priceline 

Have you picked anything from this collection up yet? What's been your favourite?

*products provided for consideration - honesty as always. 

ARDELL BROW DEFINING KIT REVIEW

Brows are something that can be hard to get right. I know alot of beauty gurus and bloggers rave about products like the Anastasia Brow Wiz and expensive products like that. It makes it difficult for people who just can't afford that kind of product especially when a brow pencil is something that needs replacing quite frequently. However today I'm reviewing a fantastic quality product that is affordable. 

This Ardell Brow Defining Kit* is an affordable kit that comes with everything you need to get started at filling in your brows. A handy double-ended brush, a pencil wax and a palette. The palette includes a small travel size brush as well as a mini set of tweezers (not pictured). This set is $25 and I think it's such amazing value. I can't say I've used the mini tweezers or brush but the wax pencil I've been using instead of a brow gel and have been enjoying not having wet brows for a couple of minutes. I also have been keeping the brush in my handbag to brush through my brows if they start looking unruly. 

These shadows are extremely pigmented and creamy. They can be a little powdery when doing swatches but I don't see that as a problem because you use the tiniest bit of powder to fill in your brows. These shades don't suit my brows as I usually put a more ash cool tone colour through them however I have used the lighter brown through for a more dramatic brows and found it was really blendable and had a great finish. I have been loving the highlight shade as well as it provides a super pretty sheen to the brow bone and I think that for travelling this palette would be perfect!

If you usually use warmer browns then this is exactly what you need! It's amazing quality my only compliant is there isn't another cool tone kit which I'd love to see Ardell do because I feel like for blondes it is hard to find a good affordable palette. But if you're looking for an easy, everything you need kit and you have dark brows then this is for you!

What's your go-to brow product? 

Available from Priceline and pharmacies for $24.99 

*provided for consideration - honesty as always! 

TRASH TALK #8

Every time I post an empties I'm convinced it'll take me months to finish up enough products to do another yet here I am with another post with so many products to share with you! 

Ardell Magic Lash Growth Enhancer* 

This was sent to me for review however unfortunately it's extremely lumpy in consistency and thick so I'm pretty sure that I just happened to get a bad one. I'm interested to try out this product though so if I see it in store I'll pick up another. 

Would I repurchase? Yes too try. 

Bioderma Atoderm Creme 

This is from a sample box and it's for dry to very dry sensitive skin which is not at all my skin type however I did suffer from dry patches throughout this month so I did find some use for it. I liked it but it's not something I would repurchase because I don't suffer from dry patches enough to warrant it. 

Would I repurchase? No. 

Pevonia Exfoliating Cleanser 

This was also from a recent sample box and I did like using this. I think this would be a great morning time cleanser because it's so gentle yet does really cleanse the skin. I probably wouldn't buy it full size because my skin doesn't need a gentle exfoliating cleanser as I prefer to use more abrasive scrubs on my face. 

Would I repurchase? No. 

Rubi Fresh Body Cream* 

This was a little sample pot that was kindly gifted to me by Rubi Fresh and oh my it's incredible. If I didn't have 4 different moisturisers to use up I would be racing out to purchase this because it's so divine. It has a fresh citrusy mint scent and the consistency is whipped a light but still extremely hydrating. I have a full review on this coming up over the next two weeks. 

Would I repurchase? YES.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Shampoo + Conditioner*

This is a newly launched range from the brand which is aimed to add volume. I really enjoyed this pair because neither built up but still managed to make my hair feel full and have a really nice texture too it. I would probably purchase the shampoo again because it's a gel consistency, lathers well and the roots is where I want more volume and stick with a more hydrating conditioner. 

Would I repurchase? Shampoo yes. Conditioner no. 

Toni & Guy Reconstruction Mask 

This is the very first mask I ever bought and this is my second tub. I love this stuff! I use this probably once a week in place of my normal conditioner and I find it gives my hair added moisturise, shine and detangles really well. I will say you need to be careful about the amount you use as it can weigh down your hair if you use too much but overall it's amazing. 

Would I repurchase? Once I finish up a few more hair masks. 

Compeed Blister Medium Patches 

I know these are really beauty related but I wanted to give them a shout out because they're incredible. These are like clear thick gel patches that I stick to the back of the heels and they stop you from getting blisters. These were a lifesaver when I was on placement because some of my shoes were rubbing so I picked these up and they stayed on all day really well. I know these are probably something everybody already knows about or uses but it's a discovery for me and I love them! 

Would I repurchase? Yes!

Clean & Clear Advantage Fast Clearing Spot Gel 

This is a great spot gel to bring out the gunk or too dry out a spot but it does leave that almost burnt skin in place of the spot which I think is actually worse than having a pimple.. For that reason it's not something I'd recommend. 

Would I repurchase? No. 

Smartskin Cleansing Wipes 

I am slowly getting through my backlog of wipes. I only use these too clean off swatches, my hands or wipe products down - never on my face anymore. 

Would I repurchase? Probabaly. 

Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash 

A holy grail product for me that I always have around. If my skin goes crazy this is what I come back too. It's such an amazing cleanser for really deep cleansing at night but you never ever ever feel stripped or tight. I would highly highly recommend this to people with oily/combination skin. 

Would I repurchase? YES. 

Seaweed Pore Cleansing Facial Exfoliator 

Another holy grail product for me. This is a fantastic scrub that is a little on the abrasive side but I wouldn't say it's harsh or stripping at all. It lathers really well and sometimes in the mornings I use this as my cleanser. It's just does a fantastic job and works with in conjunction with the cleanser from the range. 

Would I repurchase? YES. 

Aphelia Peony Eye Cream

This isn't finished but I couldn't get through it. This eye cream is thick and almost kind of sticky too apply which is something that I could work with. What I could not get past was how long it took to work into my skin. Around the eye area I don't want to have to rub and tug at my eyes too apply an eye cream but with this I did. I just couldn't get through it and I'm so disappointed because I had high hopes for the product as it's the first Aphelia product I've tried. 

Would I repurchase? No. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Show Off Mascara 

This mascara wasn't good. At first I liked it because it was a drier formula and stayed put well. The brush is similar to the one on Benefit They're Real and I liked that but after two weeks the mascara dried out even more and it was virtually useable because it would flake everywhere. I wouldn't recommend this mascara at all. 

Would I repurchase? No. 

Colgate Advanced Whitening Toothpaste 

I like the taste of this toothpaste and find it does help my teeth from turning yellow. I'd still like to find a whitening system to do a treatment with though so if anyone has any recommendations let me know in the comment :) 

Would I repurchase? Yes. 

Priceline Round Cotton Pads 

These are just the ones I last bought because they're cheaper than the Swisspers. I think that the Big W brand ones are still my favourite because these ones fell apart pretty easily. 

Would I repurchase? If on sale. 

Clearasil Vitamins & Extracts Scrub* 

I have a full review on this here. This really surprised me on how much I love it. It smells amazing and the consistency is a thick cream with beads in. I found this wasn't stripping at all and was actually pretty gentle to use on the skin which really surprised me because I have always associated Clearasil with stripping cleansers from my teenage years. It's nice to see Clearasil come out with such a fantastic product. 

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Another lot of beauty products done! I'm hoping to really finish up more products over the next couple of months in time for Christmas :) 

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of them?

*products provided for consideration honesty as always! 

TANNING AT HOME #1: PREPPING YOUR SKIN

When it comes to fake tanning it's something I have always cringed at and left to the experts for special occasions. But over the past few years my complexion has become quite fair. I love fair skin but my skin looks dull and lifeless when it's quite pale so earlier this year I decided to give at home fake tanning more of a go. 

That's how I got here and now the weather is warming up I thought it would be the perfect chance to start a tanning series. I am by no means an expert - this is just what I have found through trial and error works best for me. I hope this is helpful for people who are where I was 6 months ago and it gives you ideas of products or things to do when whipping out the tan. 

Prepping your skin 

This is probably the most vital part of at home tanning. If you prepare your skin well than it makes application much easier and smoother. Even if you're not too keen on at home tanning these steps are something that you should do before even stepping foot in the tanning booth at a salon. The two main things I suggest is exfoliate your whole body and also ensure your have your hair removal sorted prior. 

Doing your hair removal process prior to applying your tan of choice will prolong the life of your tan. If you're waxing then do that the day before as you need to allow time for the pores to close. If you're shaving than doing it just before. The less you have to shave when your tan is on the longer it will last. I personally like to use the Gillette Venus & Olay Razor* because it has the moisturising bars around the blades which after all the exfoliating is perfect. I was sent the one pictured however I've repurchased the heads because it is easy to use, allows for a close shave and added moisture. I've been converted since trying it. 

At the very least you should be using an exfoliating puff or these gloves just before application. If you can't stand these all over the body try your best to use these around your elbows, knees and wrists - anywhere you get dry patches. This is help take off any dry patches and allow for the tan to apply smooth rather than sticking to the dead skin sitting on top of the skin. These gloves are super cheap and you can pick them up from just about any supermarket or chemist. 

Now I am prone to dry skin on my legs so I find that in conjunction with the gloves I like to use an exfoliating scrub as well to ensure every last bit of dry skin is gone. I'm a bit of a nit-pick with this because I'm new too tanning I like to ensure that I can't stuff it up by not having a smooth base to work with. The first scrub is a really great DIY one I did a post over on Lipstick Republic on how to make it. This one is great at exfoliating but has coconut oil in so it adds moisture to the skin at the same time. It's also works great for removing tanning products too. The next one is Sanctuary Spa Body Scrub which isn't as abrasive and I use when I've been good at moisturising my skin or when I'm using a tanning product that is more gradual like a lotion. It does the job without being too harsh. The next is my favourite one Soap & Glory Flake Away Scrub which has been good too me the past few months. It smells incredible, adds a little moisturise back into the skin whilst still exfoliating the skin. The only down side is that you do need to use a fair bit for a full body exfoliate. 

If you have any suggestions for any type of post you'd like to see throughout this tanning series do let me know! I have already planned posts but I don't want to miss things that you guys want to see :) 

What are your favourite scrubs too use? 

Enter my latest giveaway

*item provided for consideration - honesty as always 

WEDNESDAY WONDERS: HAIR MASKS

I feel like I haven't blogged for weeks but it's only been two days how is that possible?! I'm currently on placement and I have been exhausted every day so blogging has taken a back seat. However today I'm taking 5 from all the theory to write a blog post on my three favourite hair treatments of the moment. 

Organix Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil 3 minute Miraculous Recovery* 

Organix is a brand I've never really tried and I'm unsure as to why because this mask has quickly become a staple. It's a super super hydrating mask that has argan oil and keratin to repair the hair but also add shine. I must say from first use I was tempted to use this in place of my normal conditioner because it left my hair feeling sooooo incredible however with this having keratin as a main ingredient that would only cause my hair to become more brittle. This is a fantastic mask to use every fortnight and I find I get the same results as a deep conditioning masks that I leave on for 20 minutes with this and it only requires 3 minutes of application which I love.

John Frieda Full Repair Hydrate + Rescue Deep Conditioner*

This product really confused me. It's marketed as a deep conditioner and is in a collection of products in the same 'full repair' line. I find this to be a rich conditioner without a doubt but I don't find it to be as 'treatment' like as it seems to be marketed. In saying that I use this in place of a normal conditioner and find that it works perfectly for my hair because it is so dry and damaged. I wouldn't recommend doing that unless you have dry hair as I think it could potentially weigh down your hair if you're using it daily like I have been. I love this also only needs 3-5 minutes to sink into the hair (I usually leave all conditioners for as long as I can in the shower) and I find it just adds so much moisturiser without feeling like it's building up in my hair. I would repurchase this with the intention of using it as a normal conditioner with extra moisturising elements but not as a once a week treatment. 

RRP $16.99 from here

Alchemy Intensive Moisture Vitamin Mask 

This is something I have pulled out too use up because it's been hanging around for soooo long! I find this is fantastic for all kinds of treatments. I have used in replace of my conditioner, left it in for 5 minutes, left it in for 30 minutes, applied to dry hair - everything and it seems to just work every single way. My favourite way to use this mask is it apply to clean dry hair all over and then rinse after a couple of hours. It leaves my hair so silky and soft! I can't say I've been finding the time to apply it in that way but it's definitely a fantastic way to use it. This is such a great all round mask if you're looking for one but are unsure what you want to get out of it. 

Recommend me some masks in the comments because I'm dying to find some more to try :) 

*products provided for consideration - honety as always