Saturday 27 July 2013

Natural No Makeup Look

So today is a Sunday. And Sunday is pretty much my only day off as I work full time 5 days a week and I also work a second job on Saturdays. Because this is my only day off this is usually my lazy day. And especially in cold Canberra winter, all I want to do is snuggle up in a blanket all day and just relax. 
However, today I had some visitors coming over, so I couldn't just snuggle up all day long.
Eventually I had to get ready and look at least presentable. 

My skin is usually quite good but today it was looking a bit blotchy and uneven so I decided to apply a bit of makeup, but very minimal. I wanted to go for a natural, "no makeup" look. 


I didn't use too many products since it was a very minimal natural makeup. For the eyes I only applied a couple of coats of mascara.

For my face, I used the following products:
  • Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Natural Beige
  • MUA Bronzed Perfection Bronzer
  • MAC Lilicent Blushcreme (Cream Blush)
The whole look took me around 5 minutes so it's a really quick look if you want to go out with minimal  and natural makeup. 

Friday 26 July 2013

First Giveaway! - Giveaway CLOSED - WINNER ANNOUNCED

So my blog has been active for a year now, but I only started blogging actively in the last 6 - 7 months.

Anyway, I wanted to do a giveaway to reward my followers.

The giveaway will be a package of 3 products:


  • Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream (http://www.antipodesnature.com/shop-skincare,shop,8,1,12.html) 
  • Elixia Tinted Multi V Moisturiser SPF 12
  • Sarah Jessica Parker Endless Perfume



Because I've been trying to get into more organic skincare I wanted to give away natural skincare products free of parabens and nasties.

Now to enter the giveaway you need to comment below answering the following question: "Are you currently using any organic or natural skin care/makeup? If so, why did you decide to go the organic natural way?"

You will also need to follow me via Google Friend Connect or BlogLovin and include in your comment your GFC or Blog Lovin name.

The competition will be open for 2 weeks and will close at 5pm on Friday 9th August and winners will be drawn at random.

I will announce the winner on the following Sunday. You will need to contact me within 48 hours after the announcement. 

NOTE: This giveaway is only open to Australian residents.

GIVEAWAY is now closed. Winner will be announced this Sunday 10 August. Keep watching to see if you are a winner.

----

So the winner has been drawn. I decided to draw the winner by putting everyone's name on a piece of paper, folding them and putting them in a bowl.



I was filming the draw and was putting the bowl on the floor and then my dog Mac decided that it's a good idea to eat the papers! I had to get it off him and I thought I might as well choose the winner that way... so... the winner is.......



Jess J

Congratulations!! 



The Liebster Blog Award




Thank you for the lovely Mary from "Made in Marcelle" who nominated me for the Liebster Award.

I actually haven't heard of this award until Mary tagged me. So naturally I explored the world wide web to learn more about it, however I couldn't really find the origins of it. But what I found was "Liebster" translates into english as "Dearest". The purpose of the Liebster Blog Award is to tag or recognise bloggers with less than 200 followers. The bloggers who are tagged then pass it on to other bloggers that they think should be recognised and there are several rules that comes with this award,

The rules of the Liebster Blog Award are:

  • You must link back the person who nominated you
  • You must answer 10 Liebster questions given to you by the nominee before you
  • You must pick 10 bloggers to be nominated for the award with under 200 followers
  • You must come up with 10 questions for your nominees to answer
  • You us go to their blogs and notify your nominees
So here are the 10 Liebster Questions from Mary:

1. 5 things you cannot live without (doesn't have to be beauty related): 

  • My family, which include my 2 gorgeous dogs Jaffa and Mac;
  • My friends; 
  • Water and food of course! 
  • Money; and 
  • My phone




2. How do you choose what beauty products that you buy?

I choose the beauty products I buy from either previous experience, recommendation from friends, reading reviews from other bloggers and Beauty Heaven reviews and forums. I always try to research products before I buy and especially with skin care now, I try to use ones with all organic or natural ingredients that doesn't contain nasties.

3.  What is your worst habit that you would like to change?

I think one bad habit that I would like to change is eating too much sweets and chocolate. I am trying to not eat too much but I just get cravings for something sweet every day!



4. How has the beauty world changed your life?

I think it has made me feel more confident about myself.

5. If you can only leave the house wearing only one product, what would it be?

Oooh this is a hard question. I had to think hard and long about this....  and I had trouble deciding.

If it's only 1 skin care product it would be a moisturiser with SPF. If it is makeup it would be mascara.

6. If you were to blog about something else, what would it be?

Photography. This is my other passion/hobby. I actually do a bit of photography on the side. I have a website "Ina J Photography" but no blog so this may be an option in the future!

7. What is your opinion on plastic surgery?

I think it is unnecessary, especially for younger people. I know some want plastic surgery to boost their confidence better but I think there are other ways that can help boost self confidence. I do not consider myself the prettiest or the best looking and I am not perfect, but I don't think I need to have plastic surgery.

8. What was the hardest beauty thing that you had to learn to do properly?

The hardest beauty thing that I had to learn to do properly was contouring. I have now sort of mastered this technique.

9. What is your utmost HG (holy grail) product?

This is another hard question. I don't think I have one HG product but maybe a few under different categories. My current HG product for skincare is Botani Olive skin serum. It really hydrates my skin and keeps it soft and moisturised. 



10. What do you hope to see in your blog in the future?

In the future, I hope to see my blog develop, be recognised and known to more people and have more followers because I want to share what I love about all things beauty!

My 10 nominations:

Mushii's Cozy World - Laura
The beauty in life
Hissycat Krissy - Krissy
Eleni May Lifestyle - Eleni May
All her pretty little things - Sarah
Confessions of a beauty addict - Chels
Jasmine Cara
Hui the Yogini - Hui
Eyes for Makeup  - Sandy
Dolce Beauty - Maddi


My 10 question for the above nominees:

  1. Where do you think you'll be 2 years from now?
  2. What is your favourite makeup look?
  3. Do you have a bucket list, and if so, what are the top 5 or top 10 things on that bucket list?
  4. Where do you get your beauty inspiration from?
  5. Why did you start blogging and what do you love about it?
  6. List your top 5 countries or cities that you would love to visit?
  7. If you only had to choose to have only 2 products, skincare or makeup (or both), what would they be? 
  8. What is your guilty pleasure?
  9. What is your view on the perfect first date?
  10. What are the 5 most important things to you in your life (doesn't have to be beauty related)?
Wow, it's actually quite tough thinking about these 10 questions and also answering Mary's questions above but it was heaps of fun!

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Bomb Cosmetics Haul and Review!

So I have been bad once again. I was not going to buy any more things online but then I went on BeautyHeaven forums and there was a dedicated thread to Bomb Cosmetics. Of course I was curious as I have not heard of this brand before. So I followed this thread for a few days. Then I found out that Beauty Heaven members got a special offer (Free shipping and spend over $50 and get 6 free bath creamers and mallows) from GetDrenched.com.au, Bomb Cosmetics Australian stockist. I was more curious because I read really good reviews and raves about their products. So I gave in and decided to take up the offer.

So here is my first haul (Note "first" which meant I went back for more lol):


The products that I ordered were:

Because I spent just over $50, Bomb Cosmetics included 6 free bath creamers and mallows with my order.  I'm still trying to figure out what they all were but I could only identify a few of them. From top to bottom, left to right: 1. Lemon Express Bath Mallow;  4. Feel the Love Bath Creamer; 5. Blackberry Bath Creamer; 6. Crazy after dark Bath Blaster.

I also think the 3rd one on the top is Pearly King Bath Creamer because I have used that one because there were bits of pearls and juniper berries in my bath when I used it. I really loved Bomb Cosmetics bath creamers. They are full of beautiful essential oils, cocoa and shea butter and once you drop them in the warm bath it slowly releases its moisturising properties. The fragrance is subtle but still enough for you to smell the beautiful oils and relax as you bath in hot warm creamy water. Once I got out of the bath my skin felt so moisturised and soft. Prior to having a bath last weekend, I have not used my bath tub for years because I didn't have time and didn't think I enjoyed bath that much. However, after using Bomb Cosmetics bath creamers, I can't wait to jump in the bath tub again!

Now, on to the 3 products I ordered. 

First, the Skin Therapy solid butter bar. What can I say - this is an AMAZING product! I really love this nourishing solid butter bar. It might not be clear from the picture but I love that it has a ribbon attached to it so I can hang it in the shower. I apply this solid butter bar all over my body while I'm in the shower with the water running. As you apply it, the butter slowly melts onto the skin and you can see water beads run over the skin. This solid butter bar also contains small cranberry seed which just washes off as you apply it in the shower. This solid butter bar is very moisturising. My skin, especially my legs are really dry and in winter it gets even drier, flaky and scaly. However after using this butter bar my skin is moisturised all day long without the need of applying additional moisturiser. 

I purchased the Frankincese organic face treatment to add to my night time skin care routine. I have only just used it for 2 days so I can't comment much yet on it.  However I do love this product. It is organic and contains all natural ingredients. This face treatment is an oil treatment which is applied at night after cleansing. The treatment oil contains many kinds of oils including macadamia nut, evening primrose, frankincense, lavender and neroli oils. This treatment may be a bit too greasy for those with oily skin but perfect for those with dry skin. This oil really hydrates my dry skin leaving my skin soft, smooth and supple.

Lastly, the Mandarin & Orange Cleansing Shower Butter isn't like your normal shower gel. The consistency is semi-solid, like butter but it is easily scoopable with your fingers. I only need to scoop a tiny amount and put it on my loofah and it foams really nicely. Now the fragrance wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting more citrusy smell but I found the fragrance was more like a room fragrance spray. Other than this I love everything else about the product. Because Get Drenched has such a wonderful customer service, the owners Paul & Liz have offered to provide me with another choice of cleansing shower butter. I decided to go with Pina Colada as I love the smell of pineapple and coconut. I will be reviewing this in another post.

So I am really happy with my order from GetDrenched.com.au. As I said the customer service is just amazing. Paul and Liz are very quick to respond to my emails and answered all my questions. I just love buying from GetDrenched because of the customer service and the amazing products that they offer. I am sure I will be making more purchases by the end of this month to take up their amazing offer.

Have you tried Bomb Cosmetics? 






Monday 15 July 2013

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask Review


So if you've seen my recent post on a haul from Mecca Cosmetica you would've seen that I had purchased the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask. I've been lusting for a hydrating mask and have been reading various reviews on various products. I had 2 on my final list which were this mask and the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Hydrating Overnight mask. After trying a sample of both mask I went ahead with the Origins because it is a really great mask and the Kiehl's one stung my skin around my nose a bit when I applied it.


I've got normal/dry skin but in winter it does tend to get drier because of inside heating in the office and home so I usually like to get extra hydration. My skin also tends to get dry and flaky around my nose. That is why I wanted to add Origins Drink Up Intensive mask to my routine.

The mask comes in a 100ml tube at a cost of AU$34. It does seems quite expensive but I think it's worth the cost as you only need just a bit more than pea size amount to apply all over the face. The packaging is quite simple, a bright green tube. I don't mind it being in a tube as it's more hygienic than having it in a jar (which is what the Kiehl's Hydrating Overnight masque is stored in).

The texture/formula of the mask is quite similar to that of a thick moisturiser. However it's not too thick so it is still easily spreadable all over the face. Applying the mask is very easy. You just need to squeeze a dollop of the mask and apply a thin layer all over the face. As you can see above, after around 5-10 minutes the mask absorbs into the skin and it looks like you are not wearing the mask at all. The instructions say that you can tissue off the excess if needed but I found that I didn't really need to do this. The mask absorbs quite quickly into my skin so I was not worried about it leaving any greasy residues on my pillow or my sheets.
As you apply the mask on the face it has quite a strong fruity scent, but I didn't mind this at all. Some may be put off by the smell so if you are interested in trying this, it may be best to try a sample.

So was the results good? I am definitely happy with the results this mask gave me. It really does hydrate  the skin. When I wake up in the morning, my skin feels so hydrated and plump. I also found that my skin has stopped flaking and drying around my nose. I now have used this for around 2 weeks and I can see an improvement in my skin and complexion. I have incorporated this into my night time routine twice a week and apply this mask after cleansing. If I need extra boost of hydration, I still apply my facial oils prior to applying the mask.

Overall I am very happy with this mask as it has given me great results. It may seem pricey but you do get quite a lot (100ml) and it does give a great hydrated skin so it's definitely worth the price.

Have you tried this mask before?

Sunday 14 July 2013

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner and Barry M Eyeshadow Pencil Review and Swatches

So for the last few months I've been looking to buy the nude Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof eyeliner. Unfortunately my local priceline did not stock this at all so I ended up purchasing this from ASOS. During the time of purchase they had 20% off so I also decided to buy a couple of extra items and I chose the Barry M eyeshadow pencil. I have never heard of the Barry M brand before until I saw them on ASOS... which is why I decided to give it a go.

So up for review today are:

  • 2 x Rimmel Scadaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Bronze and Nude
  • 2 x Barry M Eyeshadow Pencil in Gold Cream and Bronze

Top: Barry M Eyeshadow Pencil
Bottom: Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner

Top Left: Rimmel Eyeliner Nude      Top Right: Barry M Gold Cream
Bottom Left: Rimmel Eyeliner Bronze    Bottom Right: Barry M Bronze

So here are my thoughts on the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner. These pencils are really great. They have a creamy finish and the colours are very pigmented. Because they are creamy they apply really smoothly on the eyelids without tugging. They last really long too. On my upper lash line it lasts all day and on the bottom lash line and waterline it lasts around 4-5 hours before it starts fading slightly. It's really great to wear on its own as an eyeliner, but because it has a creamy finish you can apply it all over the lid as an eyeshadow base. I love using this eyeliner on the waterline because it is waterproof. The nude eyeliner is great to brighten the eyes by applying it along the waterline.

The Barry M eyeshadow pencils on the other hand didn't really work for me. I purchased it after reading great reviews on it on the web. Like Rimmel eyeliner, the colour is really nice and pigmented. The formula texture is also soft and creamy and applies really easily on the eyelid. However I found that this eyeshadow pencil creased after a couple of hours. Even after applying a powder eyeshadow over it still creases a bit. It may be because I've got really hooded eyelids which is annoying. So I am a bit disappointed but since it was only $6 each I think I will try to make it work. I may have to try it again by applying a couple of layers of powder eyeshadow over it.

So that's my thoughts on the Barry M eyeshadow pencils and Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeliner. Have you tried these products? Did you like them?

Friday 12 July 2013

Catchup Hauls - Mecca Cosmetica and ASOS

So here is another couple of hauls that I had done in the past month.

The first haul is from Mecca Cosmetica. Around mid to end June Mecca Cosmetica online had free shipping because it was Vogue Shopping Night. Usually free shipping doesn't really attract me since there were no other specials or discounts other than the free shipping but I have been eyeing the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. I have read tons of reviews about this mask and have tried a sample of it which I got when I visited Wellington, New Zealand. After trying the sample out (which gave me 2 uses) I really loved this mask. Plus after reading reviews and blogs on this mask for the last 2 months I really wanted to buy it. However there is no Origins stockist in Canberra. Even though there is a Mecca in Canberra, they do not stock any Origins products. So when the free shipping offer from Mecca Cosmetica online store came up I took the opportunity to purchase this mask...  and of course I ended up purchasing other things as well.

The other products that I purchased along with the Origins overnight mask were Soap and Glory body scrubs: the Breakfast Scrub and the Flake Away body scrub/polish, and I also got the Heel Genius. I got two scrubs because I couldn't decide which one I wanted so I ended up purchasing both of them. I will post a review and comparison of these 2 scrubs once I have used them a few times.

I purchased Heel Genius because I read some good reviews on it too and since Canberra winter is so dry I have really dry cracked heels and the Heel Genius definitely works and helps with my dry cracked feet.



My second haul was from ASOS. This was also products that I have been eyeing. Since ASOS had 20% off on Queen's birthday long weekend last month, I decided to make a small purchase. I have been eyeing the Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof eyeliner for a while...especially the nude one. I know Priceline stocks these but unfortunately my local Priceline do not stock the nude eyeliner. And because I was running out of my brown eyeliner, I also purchased the bronze Rimmel scandaleyes eyeliner.

Along with the eyeliners I also purchase Barry M Eyeshadow Pencils. I was actually tossing up between the Rimmel Eyeshadow pencils and the Barry M one but I ended up going with the Barry M... I can't remember why... and I am actually quite disappointed since they creased and didn't last long.. but I will post a review and swatches on all these pencils later on.


So these are my 2 hauls from the last month. I am happy with most of the products I purchased so far except for the Barry M eyeshadow pencils. Anyway I will post reviews on all the products in a separate post. Until then...... hope you have a great weekend!!

Thursday 11 July 2013

The Body Shop Haul & Review - Dreams Unlimited Body Butter and Eau de Parfum

So around a month ago during the Queens Birthday Long Weekend I went for a long weekend trip to Wellington, New Zealand. this was my second trip to Wellington. I just love this city! My main reason for visiting though was to visit my lil sister.

Anyway, during my trip I passed the Body Shop on Cuba Street and I saw that they had 60% off sale on some items. There were not much left but there were still a few range of products from lipgloss, a few makeup products, Cherry blossom perfume and the Dreams Unlimited body butter, body lotion and  perfume. At the end I purchased the Dreams Unlimited body butter and eau de parfum.


So on to the review!

The Dreams Unlimited Eau de Parfum features notes of citrus, green chilli, white flowers and cedarwood. I love the smell of this perfume as it is not strong or overpowering. I find the smell very sweet and also has a light floral smell. The fragrance lingers around for quite a long time which is great so you definitely don't need to apply this too often during the day.  It definitely complements the body butter and the two combined together makes the fragrance linger around for longer. The body butter comes in a tub like all the other body butters that the body shop sells. It's very moisturising and I only need to use a tiny amount. It also absorbs into the skin quite quickly. The fragrance of the body butter is the same as the perfume and again it's not strong or overpowering.

Overall I love the Dreams Unlimited range. The smell is really beautiful and sweet. It's definitely a great buy and at 60% off it was a bargain. The body butter only cost me NZ$15 and the perfume was around NZ$27.

I'm back!!

So I've been on a bit of a blogging hiatus since I was sick, and then I went away and then life got busy with working 2 jobs and all..

Anyway, I have missed posting on my blog so now I am back!

I will start again by posting hauls that I purchased last month so keep watching - the next post will be up very soon!