More Essence......

I know, right, more Essence! 

One of my local Pricelines had chucked some different Limited Editions in to their clearance bin the other day, and i managed to grab some.  I originally went in to buy some of the current edition (Dark Romance), so ended up getting more than planned.   FYI Dark Romance seems to be flying off the shelves, if you are at all interested i'd hurry up, i'm on the hunt for 1 of the lipsticks, and so far the Pricelines i have been to are sold out.

What i originally went in for.  I managed to grab the Velvet Mousse Blush in 01 Painted Love and the Lipstick in 02 Painted Love (there's a darker red available in both).  The packaging is beautiful, the blush has a lovely lace pattern around the bottom of the tub, and the black is matte black.  Both feel sturdy as with all Essence makeup.  These are both a pretty red, the blush almost looks like a watermelon colour, and lipstick is a pinky-red.  The blush is extremely pigmented, but blends out easily (you only need the smallest amount, though).  The lipstick is the same quality as all my Essence lipsticks, nicely pigmented and non drying.  Both are unscented.

I can't wait to give this blush a proper go.  It feels amazing on my hand, very soft and light.  The lipstick will also get a workout, it's the perfect red for me.  By memory the Blush retails for $4.50, the lipstick for $3.50.

Velvet mousse blush both blended out and unblended, lipstick

2 of my clearance items, Metal Glam Blush in 01 Glam-me and Lipgloss in 03 Glam-me.  The blush is a gorgeous shimmery coral blush that is a nice smooth liquid (unscented, easy to use so on so forth).  The lipgloss is a champagne-y coloured sheer lipgloss, blackberry scented and easy to use. 

Metal Glam was one of the LE's i wasn't overly fussed about when it first came out, but these are both lovely products.

Blush and Lipgloss

Finally 2 more nail polishes.  Cherry Blossom Girl nail polish in 04 It's Peach Not Cherry, and Season of Extremes in 04 Just The Nude Of Us.  The Cherry Blossom Girl is a gorgeous Peach cream, Season of Extremes is a double ended nail polish, one end is a nude cream, the other is a transparent bluey-green shimmer (these are designed to be worn separately or together, to create your own look).

There you go!  Hopefully the priceline i'm heading to today has the final piece of the Dark Romance piece i'm looking for!

My New Earrings

Morning all!

I'm taking a slightly different path this morning, and discussing my brand new earrings.  Now, they aren't normal earrings, I have stretched ears (only very slightly, they still look like normal piercings when out), and i bought some new hangies from my favourite body jewellery store a few weeks ago.  They turned up earlier this week, and i want to show them off!!

Firstly I'll tell you about this amazing online store.  It's called Body Art Forms, and they sell almost any body jewellery your heart desires.  They have a great range of economy body jewellery, a range of higher end jewellery, and they have a preorder system, where you can order jewellery to your specifications from top brands (places like Anatometal, Industrial Strength and Neometal).  Along with all this there is a great messageboard, where you can get advice from other BAF shoppers about problems, piercings and jewellery.  They ship internationally, which is great, and shipping costs are reasonable.  what more could you want?

Any way, a few weeks ago a grab bag popped up in the clearance section, and i managed to grab one in my size (There are still a few left at 6g, but none of the others).  3 pairs of organic hangies for US$15.95, most hangies sell for $20+, so even if only 1 pair was to my liking, i was still saving money (oh, it came down cheaper!  I've bought enough to get a 10% saving off my purchases, and i had $2 store credit).  Plus i wanted a pair of big CBRs for a project i want to start.  All up, including postage, my total was US$22.88!  Bargain!  2 weeks after i ordered my parcel was here on my doorstep.

Here's what i received-

 These are gorgeous on.  They're Golden horn (i think), and as you can see from the crappy photo below, they are an amber colour in light (with a gorgeous darker stripe through them).  Golden horn hangies sell for more than $30 normally on BAF, so these make the entire bag worthwhile (none of the styles are still available on BAF, they're all old designs).

These also show up amber under light, but not as clearly as the first pair, so i think they might also be golden horn.  Styles like this are going for around the $25 mark, and they are cute on.  They show up black when worn.

These look to be wooden pinchers.  I'm not overly fussed on them, but they may come in handy some time.

These are the CBRs i grabbed in addition to the grab bag, if the project i have in mind works i'll show them off completed.

So, there you go!  My $15.95 grab bag ended up being worth $60-$80, and i got 2 pairs that i really like.  Score!

June Empties 2014

Late empties post (sorry).

 Last month was a ' use up all those half empty shampoo's/conditioners'  month.  I had a shower full of bottles, so it's nice to have the space back.

Protane moroccan argan oil shampoo-This is from Aldi.  I don't like it, it didn't seem to get right down to my scalp, and my hair didn't feel properly clean after using it (it looked dirty too quickly), plus in combination with the matching conditioner it was too heavy for my hair.  Hubby loves it though.
Pantene-I don't mind Pantene, i know a lot of people don't like it, though.  The ' normal'  stuff is from a box of haircare i was sent a couple of years ago, I prefer the Aqua Light (bought on sale at Priceline, a 3 piece pack for $4.99).
Andrew Collinge-Bah!  Didn't like, did nothing it claimed to, wouldn't touch the brand again.
EVO-i love this, but after looking up the prices online it is out of reach :( 
Aveda hair oil-OMG, I want the full size!  Non greasy, didn't weigh my hair down, and smelt amazing.  Such a tiny sample went a long way, too.
Loreal ever pure-There was only enough for 1 use in these, nice but would need a bigger sample to give it a good go.

Neostrata Illuminating serum-why do companies insist on such small samples?  I couldn't judge anything off this other than it didn't make me breakout.
Solace (i think) coconut and lime body wash-cheap and nasty.  Bought because it came with a gorgeous teddy bear at the after xmas sales. 
Hydropeptide samples-I won a travel kit off Beauty Diary, again they're all too small to tell anything really.
Kosmea Rose Hip Oil-I think i prefer Trilogy, but it was still nice.  The bottle is now full of Emu oil (hence it doesn't look empty)
Mirenesse Mascara-I've only used this once, but i hated it.  It didn't want to dry, it didn't do anything for my lashes, just really yuck.  It's going.

There you go, only a small empties post, although it's nice to see the back of some of the products.

Goulburn Trip Haul!

Hi all!  Long time no blog.

It's school holidays here, so Hubby and i thought we'd take the kidlets on an adventure.  We went by train to Goulburn for the day, and i couldn't help looking through the make up sections in a few shops.  Goulburn has pretty much the same shops as here, but of course clearance bins differ where ever you go.

My haul!  Most of it came from Target, which had a great clearance area.  I ended up grabbing 10 items (the 2 models prefer lip crayons were from Priceline, the 2 pack for $5), although there were plenty of other great items to be had.

Maybelline Color Show in 390 Audacious Asphalt-RRP $5.95-Paid 10c

This is a light grey cream nail polish, very pretty and the perfect basic grey.  I love all things grey, so i had to have this.

B Collection in Zurich-RRP $14.95-Paid 10c







This looks like a french manicure colour.  A translucent beige.

Sinful Colours in Calypso-RRP $4-Paid 10c


This was hard to photograph.  It's a dark green-blue cream.

Essence Show Your Feet LE in 22 Green Lagoon-RRP $3.95-Paid $1



Gorgeous turquoise green cream.  Not as opaque as the bottle claims, though.

Loreal Colour Riche in 112 Marrakech Sand-RRP $6.95-Paid 10c


Really pretty apricot cream.  My favourite of the lot.

Rimmel 60 Seconds in 460 Limealicious-RRP $7.95-Paid 10c


Footy Nail polish!  My team are known as the green machine, so this is perfect.  A bit streaky at 2 coats, but should be good with 3.

 Max Factor Masterpiece in Stardust-RRP $19.95-Paid 10c

This is a bluey-silver eyeshadow.  I tested it on my hand yesterday, and then put gloves on over the top.  Hours later it hadn't budged.  Looking forward to giving it a proper go.

Australis Paparazzi Perfect Concealer in Light/Medium-RRP $11.95-Paid $1


I've read some good things about this.  It goes on lovely and smooth, and it's easy to regulate how much comes out of the tube.

Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in 13 Remember Amber-RRP $2.75-Paid 10c


This is a pretty butter yellow.  Have no idea when i'll get a chance to use it, but it's so smooth it'll be a dream to apply.

Loreal Nudes for Life lip liner in Belle Naturelle-RRP $31.59-Paid 10c


This has a sharpener in one end!  It's quite dark, but will make a perfect base under a too-light lipstick.

There you go!  $109.99 worth of cosmetics for $2.80.  It's mainly all older lines, but still is a great bargain.

Models Prefer Lip Crayons in Black Cherry and Raspberry Ripple.



These were a 2 pack, originally $9.95 but marked down to $5.  They're unscented and go on sheer.  They do apply nicely, but are hard to build on and would make a lovely day colour or on top of a lip stain.

Australis concealer, Masterpiece eyeshadow, Essence eye liner, Loreal Nudes for Life, Models Prefer raspberry ripple/black cherry

Maybelline colour show, B Collection, Loreal colour riche, Rimmel 60 seconds

Sinful Colours, Maybelline, Rimmel, Essence show your feet

There you go!  Everything listed for a grand total of $7.80!  Not too shabby at all.

What's your best bargain find?

My latest Haul!

Small haul post!

You've seen this, you've heard my rant.  'Nuff said

These also rocked up in the mail today.  The Alpha H is a win from Violet Box (emailed them Friday, had a tracking number that afternoon and here today, so arrived nice and quickly.  See why i said LHI couldn't have really sent that box wednesday, Aust. Post isn't running too slowly atm).  I love my Alpha H liquid gold mask, so can't wait to try this out.  The Aveda is a sample of their Smooth Infusion, from a facebook competiton.  It smells amazing!

And i went shopping yesterday.  Managed to pick up another Ulta3 Lip paint from a shop at DFO, this time in Manic Mauve, a much more wearable colour then the Expressive Fuschia.  The Essence Tribal Summer lipstick in 01 Na-rock is from an old limited edition, but is a gorgeous red and a great formulation (picked up at Target).

 Finally Priceline had my favourite Playboy body spray on special (Play it spicy, this is my third can, my first came in one of my first subscription boxes.  Goes to show that subscription boxes do work in getting brand out there), i keep this in my handbag at all times and absolutely love the scent (on special for $1.99).  They also had a box of the MNY makeup for 50c, i grabbed another of the lipbalms (265).  These are great lipbalms, they smell like Delta Biscuits (like an Oreo), and leave a faint colour/shimmer to your lips. 

Last thing from Priceline was a new Essence LE!  This one is called Dark Romance, and is the first time in a while i've wanted almost the entire collection.  I started it with a matte nail polish in 02 Red Romance, which is a gorgeous dark red colour, perfect for winter.

Ulta3 Manic Mauve, 01 Na-rock, 265 lipbalm

02 Red Romance

A small haul, but i plan on going back for more of the Essence LE, there are some gorgeous lipsticks, a great blush and a blue matte nail polish.

What new items have you discovered lately?

Lust Have It June 2014

Morning!

Look what finally rocked up, my 'June' Lust Have It 'box'.  Not much of a box, and it didn't rock up in June, despite supposedly being sent last wednesday.

Another crappy bag and another Hello Fresh 'exclusive voucher'.  Every man and his dog have these vouchers, so i don't know what's so 'exclusive' about them, and they work out to cost a bit even with the voucher.  Off to the bin it goes.

Teeez Head over Heels Nail Polish-RRP $18-full size

The one exciting part of the entire box.  I got the colour Atomic Dragonfly, a gorgeous navy blue with a blue shimmer.  As per all Teeez products the packaging is amazing, and this polish claims to last 3 days without chipping, so i'm excited to try it out.

John Plunkett Glyco Peel-RRP $29.95-full size

Meh.  It's a night time exfoliant, i can't say i'm at all interested in this product, might have something to do with the prize i just won over at Violet Box.  Still, it's a repeat brand, and boring as bat-shite.

Orly Nail File and Toe Separators-RRP $1.65 and $4.95-full size

See that sticker on the nail file?  It says 'FREE with every 2 Orly mini polishes'.  Other boxes have that sticker on both items.  So these shouldn't even have a RRP, they're freebies.  And who the hell pays $4.95 for a set of toe separators?   LHI, adding GWP and telling us they're 'full sized products' to bump up the value of your box is not on.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, Nuxe Creme Nirvanesque face and eye cream

FFS, this takes the cake.  See the effaclar?  It's also in Bellabox this month, meaning that for the last 2 months LHI and BB have contained the same item.  And the Nuxe has been in previous VB, it isn't new, it isn't interesting.

So, realistically, in the Aussie subscription box market, there was not one new brand in this box.  It was supposedly 'worth the wait', yet other than the Teeez i'm not seeing anything worth waiting for, and it's worth less then i paid for the entire box.  Not only that, but shipping took forever, and whilst LHI will blame Australia Post for boxes not arriving, i had other items rock up in less time than this box took, which suggests to me that these weren't sent when stated, but we'll never know thanks to a lack of tracking numbers.

This is it for me with LHI atm, between the crap boxes that are turning up, the absolutely terrible customer service (i'm still waiting for a replacement of the lip tattoos from the FAB box, i've filled out everything properly and haven't received anything), and the apparent lack of transparency from the company i need a break.  For me to come back i would need a constant improvement in box contents, for customer service to lift their game, and for the company to stand up and accept when they stuff up and say 'sorry'.  Subscribers are being treated like mushrooms, and LHI are focusing more and more on their specialist boxes (namely FAB) to the detriment of the boxes that made them the company they are.

Sorry LHI, but Goodbye, and Thanks for all the fish. 

Update fromRed paw Paw regarding August boxes

Just had this email from Red Paw Paw, and thought it was worth reposting.

"Thank you for being a valued Redpawpaw subscriber and for your ongoing support!

We’re amazed at the interest and enthusiasm we have received from the 10,000 of you that have joined our community in just 2 months - and there are thousands more on the waiting list!

As a start up business we are proud to have helped thousands of families make Everyday Discoveries.

We want these discoveries to continue, so we’re working hard to bring you new products from the best brands. You can all help too by being part of our recently launched ‘Red Campaign’ on Facebook and tagging brands you would like to trial in the Redpawpaw box.

As a brand new business there are always a couple of teething issues.  In order to iron these out we have decided not to send a box in July and relaunch Redpawpaw in August! We will be taking this month to refine and improve Redpawpaw as well as recruiting more great brands to join our fantastic Redpawpaw community. We will continue to keep you updated as we go. Your feedback about our current delivery partner has been heard and we are making a change to ensure we can deliver the reliable and efficient service you deserve. We are also working on other changes to ensure we can continue to offer you the opportunity to discover new favourites and a community where you can share your opinions and suggestions.   WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? For our MONTHLY subscribers, there will be no payment on 1st July. The next payment will on 7th August. For our ANNUAL subscribers, you will get an extra month added to your subscription so you will still receive 12 boxes as part of your subscription.

The next Redpawpaw box will be delivered to all subscribers in mid August. 

We hope you will stay with us on this journey with us!"

So no August box, but hopefully back with a bigger and better box.