31 Mar 2014

ulta haul!


Hey guys!

Boy, am I happy to FINALLY be bring you this post. I have been shaking with excitement for almost a month and half while waiting for this package to arrive. Of all stores I want in Australia, I want an Ulta Beauty. Seriously, imagine; drugstore and high end makeup, all conveniently in one store at US prices. Oh, it would make me oh so happy.

Unfortunately, my dream will probably never come true, and as such if I want to visit Ulta and get all up in its cosmetic goodness, I have to either go to the US again or use a shipping service in order to get a piece of the action. In this case, I went with the latter.

I used a shipping service for the first ever time called PriceUSA to order from Ulta. Basically, you write down what you want from your store of choice, and they have partners in the US who then purchase it for you, provide an American address and then send it on to Australia. Obviously, shipping is obscene, but I figured since I was saving so much money buying it from the US market, why not go a little crazy? So I did.

Nearly all the items I got in this haul are products that I have wanted forever, and have just never got around to buying (or refused to pay the Australian price, either or). These only arrived last week (if you follow me on Instagram, you may have already been privy to this), so I haven't had a chance to use all products, or form an opinion. Basically, I'll just be telling you what I brought in this haul and why I am too excited to use it.

Read on to see what I got! 


I got two palettes this time - the Lorac Pro Palette and the Stila In The Light Palette. How excited was I to receive these? Way too excited. So excited I couldn't even stop squealing when I opened them up, and I haven't even swatched them yet!

(I haven't swatched them as I will be doing a first impression of them, and a tutorial for both here on my blog. Lucky you ;) )



If you keep up on make up news, you would know that this palette is the be all end all for so many Youtubers and Bloggers alike. This has been on my wishlist forever, and I was actually so excited when I went to the US (it was the number 1 palette on my buy list), but unfortunately Sephora decided to discontinue it just in time for me to arrive. Thanks guys.

At the time that I was in the US, I was in New York and there was no Ulta in the immediate area that I had access to. As far as I know, this is the only place that the palette is available to be brought at the moment. Apart from their website, I guess. Oh, and it isn't available in Australia. At all. You're welcome.

The palette is actually really quite skinny. I don't know what I was expecting, but it is definitely thinner than I imagined. But, it is long, has a big mirror and it holds the most beautiful shadows; eight mattes and eight shimmers. It is just so pretty to look at. Plus it came with a sample size of one of their eyeshadow primers, which is a nice little bonus. Overall, really really really excited to use this and thanking the cosmetic gods above that I finally get to have this in my life.

This retails in Ulta for $42US, and as I said, it isn't available in Australia but it would equal around $50AU when it is converted.



Another cult favourite, the Stila In The Light palette has also been high on my wishlist. I think I forgot about it in the US because of all the excitement surrounding me at the time, but if I had been in my right frame of mind (i.e. not jet lagged), I have no doubt that I would already be owning this. Of course, I was drawn to this because it has Kitten in it, which looks to be as good as everyone says it is.

This looks like the perfect all occasion palette. It has both matte and shimmer shades that you can dress down or up depending on how you want to use it. I can honestly see this being as good for everyday use as it would be for a night out. So excited to use this and create some great looks!

I paid $39US from Ulta, and I know it is available in Sephora for the same price. For us Aussies, this is available from www.beautybay.com for $43.90AU, or in Mecca Cosmetica (in store or online) for $62AU.


I also got the Real Techniques Blush Brush and Miracle Complexion Sponge. I love the Real Techniques brushes, I really do. I have the Expert Face Brush and Powder Brush, and love both so much. The only problem is their price here in Australia. I was planning to make an order from iHerb, and I probably still will at some point, but I figured they cost the same in Ulta, so I may as well save myself more shipping costs and get the two of their products that I really wanted.

I have wanted the Blush Brush forever, I just see everyone using it to put their bronzer on and I've always been impressed with how it applies product. The sponge isn't available in Australia yet, but I love my Beauty Blender, and if this is just as good as that I won't be repurchasing it for sure!

I brought the Blush Brush for $8.99US, and the Miracle Complexion Sponge for $5.99US. The brush is available in Priceline for $22.99AU, or both are available from iHerb for the US prices.



The two face products that I got this time (like I needed more) was the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness and another L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation. The Bye Bye Redness was one of the main reasons (the other being the Lorac palette) that I really wanted to purchase from Ulta over other American beauty stores. I have spoken about my issues with redness and it is something that I am self conscious about. This is a neutralizing correcting crème specifically for redness. Say what? Of course I needed it.

The L'Oreal True Match Lumi is a favourite foundation of mine (I have three other bottles), but because my skin tone is usually all over the place as I self tan, I haven't been able to use them because they are not the right tone or colour for me at the moment. So I purchased this in W3, which does suit me when I am self tanned (yay!), so I can finally wear it! I really do love this foundation, it is perfect for everyday wear and just gives the right amount of dewiness without looking oily.

It Cosmetics is not available in Australia, online or otherwise (sorry..), but I paid $32US for it. The L'Oreal foundation was $12.99US, but retails for $33.95AU in most Australians retailers. You can see why I went overseas to purchase this newer bottle.



The last two products I brought were thanks to Jaclyn Hill. She empties my pockets faster than any marketing campaigns, seriously. These two beauties are the Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Golden Pink and the Maybelline Colour Elixir in Petal Plush.

I only own a couple of things from Tarte. As I was over in the US for Thanksgiving, their holiday sets were available in Sephora. I got two of the sets, one being the Off the Cuff Palette, which has four blushes and one bronzer. The other was their Lip Surgence Set which had eight lip surgences, four mattes and four lacquers. Thus beginning yet another love affair. Except, Tarte isn't available in Australia to my knowledge. Boo, hiss. But I love this lipstick, I have been using this non-stop since I received it. It is the perfect pink, a little sheer and so moisturising. Will definitely be purchasing more of these!

The Maybelline Colour Elixir is probably old news to the American market, but it hasn't even hit Australian shores yet. We haven't even got so much as a release date. So, of course I jumped at the chance to own one! I have only swatched this, and it looks beautiful! A lovely pink, and the lipgloss formula feels awesome. I don't feel any stickiness, and it looks like it has some staying power. This could change once I actually use it on my lips though.

I brought the Tarte lipstick for $16US (which is cheaper than most Australian drugstore lipsticks, just by the by), and the Maybelline Colour Elixir was $8.99US. Neither are available in Australia, so I cannot give you an Australian price, but I'm guessing once the Colour Elixir is released, it will retail for at least $15-16AU.



Oh! And look at the samples I got! How fantastic is this. How the freak did Ulta know I have wanted to try the Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation? And you wonder why I need an Ulta in my life forever. I got two little samples in that package, a sample size of the Lorac POREfection Primer and some Butter London Facial Wipes. I am seriously impressed with the generosity with samples from Ulta, I can use all of them and have even considered purchasing some of them before.

And that's it for my Ulta haul post! I will 100% be returning and purchasing more goodies from there - honestly the money we Aussies save is amazing, plus there are so many more products available to the US than there is to Australia. Who doesn't want a piece of that?!

Have you tried any of these products? Is there anything on your wishlist that you think should be on mine?

Until next time...

xxxx


in between blogging, you can find me here!



28 Mar 2014

march beauty favourites!


Hey guys!

It's that time of the month again! I look forward to this every month honestly, not just for me writing them but also for others to put their posts or videos up proclaiming those products that they have been obsessing over for the past month.

In February, I went overboard. I'll admit it. I was just so excited to finally be able to my own favourites post that I included nearly all the products that I had been using for the past six months. This months favourites is alot more modest. I only have seven products, both cosmetics and skincare, some of which I have spoken about on my blog and some I have spoken about exclusively on my Instagram (if you're not following me yet, get on that. I do do exclusive reviews to my social media networks that I don't do on my blog). 

Read on to see what products impressed me the most this month!

BEAUTY



1. Revlon Photoready Skinlights in 001 Bare Light
I have been loving this lately! I talked about this in my Priceline 40% off Cosmetics haul, where I also brought Pink Light as well. This is perfect because it just gives the most subtle luminous, radiant finish to my face. Instead of using it to highlight the high points of my face, which you'd normally use liquid highlighters, I have been mixing it in with my base of the day just to get that subtle glow. It's not obvious at all, it's just beautiful and dewy - I can see this being my best friend in winter!


2. Bourjois CC Cream in 32 Light Beige
Another Bourjois face product - can you tell I'm still obsessed? I got this also in my Priceline haul (click the link above to read that post) and I've been alternating between this and the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation since then. This is perfect for everyday wear, really lightweight but also a surprisingly good coverage! I would say it is an almost medium finish, that can be built up. It's also really moisturising as well. Mixed in with the Revlon Skinlights, it is perfection. The only sort of negative about this is that without a primer or powder it doesn't wear as well as I'd like, but I wear both usually anyway so its not a huge deal for me. But for those who usually skimp on those two products, you may want to invest in one of them in order to make this last!

3. Bourjois CC Eye Cream Concealer in Ivory
This is the concealer that goes hand in hand with the CC cream that also came from my Priceline haul. I don't know why it is called an eye cream, because it isn't, but it is a damn good concealer. I have it in the lighhtest shade to do some highlighting as well, and it covers all my dark circles while also hydrating my eye area (amazing, right?). Usually, I choose my Maybelline Age Rewind in Fair, but I think I might even like this better!

4. Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soliel Bronzer
Aside from my MAC MSF in Medium Deep, this is the bronzer I have been reaching for, usually when I want to contour. I actually spoke about this here in my Top Five Bronzers, if you would like to read a more thorough overview. I just love how beautiful the colour is because its very neutral, being neither too warm or too cool, which makes it super natural on my skin tone. Not to mention it smells like chocolate, yuuuum.

5. Hurraw! Balm in Chocolate
I spoke all about recieving my Hurraw! Balms here, and I mentioned at the time that I couldn't speak for the balms as I hadn't had them for long enough to form an opinion. Well, having exclusively used this flavour since recieving them, I am impressed! It smells like hazelnut gelato, and it is really moisturising! The only thing I had noticed about this is that they're not great to use at night - so my lips have been drying out. I've taken to using this during the day and my Nivea Lip Butter at night because it is heavier, and my lips are slowly getting back to normal. But, they are still great balms, it may be just because I obviously only apply once before I go to sleep and then when I wake up.

SKINCARE



6. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
This stuff is incredible - I've spoken about this here if you'd like to see a more indepth review. Really, I love using this to remove all of my makeup and even for when I don't have any makeup on as a cleanser - its just fantastic. It feels exactly like water, I don't need to rinse of any excess remover plus it makes my skin look AMAZING. Seriously, love this stuff and I'll continue to repurchase this forever.

7. Pearl Drops Whitening Toothpaste
This technically isn't skincare, but it's along the same lines. I haven't spoken about this at all - but I am someone who suffers from discoloured teeth. Having braces started it off, but drinking tea and coffee on an above frequent basis has kept them in that state. I've tried lots of different 'whitening' products to no avail - until trying this. I brought this on sale from Priceline, and it has done amazing things. My teeth really feel clean after using it and the fact that it whitens at the same time is just awesome. It claims to give you whiter teeth in just one week and it did! I've been using this all month, and my teeth have improved tremedously. I would recommend if you are looking for something that actually works try this - I did buy it on sale but I'm fairly certain it is inexpensive normally as well.

And that's it for this month! Hope you enjoyed my favourites! Please leave your favourites in the comments below - I'd love to hear what products you've been loving this month!

Click here to read my February Beauty Favourites!

Until next time...

xxxx


in between blogging, you can find me here!




27 Mar 2014

top five thursday: bronzers

Hey guys!

Today's blogpost is a little late - I apologise profusely! I have so much going on in my personal life at the moment, as well as university that my blog is suffering. Next week I plan to be right back on track though, so please bear with me!

It's that time of the week again - top five Thursday! This weeks edition will be based on my top five favourite bronzers. I have previously done a post all about my top five blushes, and considering I actually use bronzer more than blush, I though that it was time to share with you the ones that I use on a regular basis.

As someone who is really quite pale naturally, bronzer can be quite intimidating. It is hard to get that balance just right; most of the time it can be way too orange, and it is hard to find bronzers without that warm tone. The majority of these bronzers are high end (honestly, most drugstore bronzers have an orange tone), and I highly recommend them all despite their price tags. Most of them can be used when you are both tanned and pale (hurray), so they really are an investment if you are just looking after one that you can use no matter what skin tone you have.




1. Nars Laguna Bronzer
A cult favourite by so many beauty addicts - this is my be all end all bronzer - seriously it's that good. I personally use this for contouring, because I find it the perfect shade for making my contour look natural. I've had this for ages as well - and still haven't hit pan. This does have little gold shimmers in it, but it doesn't translate to your skin at all. Seriously, it is expensive, but it is worth the money. Once I run out, I will for sure be replacing it. You can buy this in Australia at Mecca Cosmetica for $55AU.

2. Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soliel
Another favourite. Too Faced are seriously one of my favourite brands ever, I can't think of something that I have tried and not liked. This is one of the many bronzers that you can use when you are pale, as well as tanned, because it does have a slightly cool undertone. Not only that, it smells exactly like chocolate. Oh it's soooooo good! There are two shade options available with this bronzer - Milk Chocolate is the lighter of the shades and I would recommend it for lighter to medium skin tones. For those any darker, I would choose Chocolate Soliel, which is a couple of shades darker than Milk Chocolate. For us in Australia, this is available from Kit Cosmetics for $43.95AU.

3. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Medium Deep
Ok, so this is technically not a bronzer, but I use it as one. I typically use this every single day because it is just perfect to get a bit of dimension around my face without contouring. I use a big fluffy brush and swirl it around the product, and then lightly dust it where my contours would normally be. It does have a slight orange tone, so I wouldn't recommend this for paler skin tones. For those who have a medium skin tone, this is perfect. Because it is so finely milled as well, this powder never looks cakey or unnatural - on me I always find it look so flawless and airbrushed, as being completely natural. You can find this at any MAC counter, or on their online store, for $47AU.

4. Benefit's Hoola Bronzer
Another big favourite. This bronzer is THE perfect colour - like the Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soliel it is a neutral tone, so it goes with both pale and medium skin tones - I'd also hedge a guess and say that it goes with darker skin tones as well as a natural contour! Don't be fooled by the appearance of a really light powder. It honestly works on nearly all skin tones. Super impressive. This is expensive, but again, it is well worth the money and I highly recommend you give this a try above any other bronzers available on the drugstore market. You can buy this from Benefit counters in Myer for $51AU, or find it online. Be wary though, because this is an item that is faked a lot on online stores.

5. ELF Contouring Blush & Bronzer in St Lucia
This is the only drugstore bronzer I really use. It's supposedly a dupe for Nars Orgasm & Laguna duo. They are similar shades (the bronzers, not the blush), but the Elf one doesn't have the quality that Nars Laguna has. That said, it's a great option for those on a budget. It is good for contouring, it does have a neutral undertone, so it is suitable for paler skin tones (though I would recommend the bronzer above over this). Elf do have some really great products I have to say, for as cheap as they are they really are great quality. They're blushes are amazing, and I use their brushes quite frequently as well. This is available on BeautyJoint for $3.99AU, or you can go to an Australian Kmart as they are now selling Elf Cosmetics as well (unsure of price)!

And that's it for today's post, and my top five bronzers. Yes, the majority of them are high end but you really can't go wrong with them - as I said, I am quite pale naturally and I require a neutral tone bronzer for my counter to look as natural as possible. I am always on the lookout for a good drugstore bronzer to save some money, so please leave it down below if you have one!

Until next time loves...

xxxx

click here to read last weeks edition of top five Thursday



in between blogging, you can find me here!







26 Mar 2014

first impression: l'oreal false lash butterfly wings mascara

Hey guys!

When Priceline has a good deal, I tend to buy into it. Really who doesn't? It's not that I lack self control (jokes, I actually do), but seeing as the price of cosmetics is so high in Australia, when you see a good deal, you have to take it. Am I right, or am I right?

In this case, Priceline has both the L'Oreal Super Line Blockbuster (which is felt tip, not a kohl, as I initially thought) and the L'Oreal False Lash Butterfly Wings Mascara at 2 for $30AU. The liner by itself is $16.95, and the mascara also retails for a whopping $25.95AU each. I had initially talked myself out of buying the mascara during the 40% off cosmetics sale, because did I really need another mascara (no, I did not). But this was just such a good deal to get the two of them at a much cheaper price that I couldn't resist. Oops.

I personally think L'Oreal makes the best drugstore mascaras - they are just so expensive that I either buy them online or wait for a really good sale (which never happens, just by the by). So of course I wanted to try this out. I just didn't want to pay full price, because let's face it, there are so many cheaper products that I could buy with that $25.95. But, I am always intrigued by new mascaras, and always trying to find a cheaper alternative to my holy grail, the Dior Diorshow mascara.

Before I actually opened this and use it, I wanted to do a first impression for you guys. These photos are from when I actually used this for the first time ever (I hadn't even taken it out of the box prior to this).


One thing I will say, is that I will never understand putting a mascara in a box to sell it. Unless you are going to put a freebie in there for me, what's the point? It's bulky and annoying, plus it really only held the mascara when it is big enough to hold three of them. Anyway, just an observation..



This is what the actually mascara tube looks like once you throw away the useless big ass box it comes in. It's silver with quite a futuristic design. Other than that, it is really quite simple and is average size when compared to other L'Oreal mascaras.



This is a close up of the brush. L'Oreal says that this is an asymmetrical brush for "... ease and precision of application, catching every lash and volumising even the shortest lashes.. No clumping." Big claims L'Oreal!

As you can see, the wand is curved (sort of like a wave), so I can see what they were going for. It's a plastic brush, which is something I'm not particularly fond of, and it also seems to goop a lot of product onto the brush. There's nothing wrong with that in theory, but I find that it really makes it difficult to separate my lashes when there is quite a lot of product on the wand.

Here are the photos of my lashes with and without the mascara:


Lashes without mascara


Lashes with one coat


Lashes with two coats


Comparison to my other mascara-less eye

I am actually pretty impressed with this mascara. I did have a little issue separating them, which is something I anticipated given how much product was on the brush, but I got there in the end. I love how it really fanned out my lashes, and even made my eyes look bigger! That, my friends, is a talented mascara.

I did find it to clump a little when putting on the second coat, which is why I didn't try for a third. But overall, I am happy with the mascara, and I will be using it more to really get a feel for it. I'm hoping it'll dry out a little now that it has been opened, which should solve the issue with separating my lashes. Hopefully..

This retails for $25.95AU normally (eek), but it is on sale at Priceline with the 2 for $30AU until tomorrow. If you think you'd like it, go and grab one while you still can!

Have you tried this mascara? What are your thoughts?

Until next time babes...

xxxx


in between blogging, you can find me here!




25 Mar 2014

the liebster award!






Hey guys!

Today's post is going to be a little different.. I was nominated by the lovely Ellie (can you find her blog here) for a Liebster Award! I don't know about you, but I always see these floating around on blogs and I think they are such fun. It's basically a way to promote newer bloggers and connect us all, which is a nice idea :)


The rules are... 

1. Answer the 11 questions given by the person who nominated you
2. Pick an additional 11 people to nominate with under 200 followers
3. Create a new list of 11 questions to ask those you have nominated
4. Inform your nominees of the award


1. Cream blush or powder blush?

I actually don't own any cream blushes! I'm not really a blush type of gal, due to my ability to blush quite naturally. But, I would have to go with powder blushes for this one.

2. Favourite genre of music? (You can pick more than one)

I wouldn't say I have a favourite genre - I have a very eclectic music taste. I really like a bit of everything. But I am partial to Biggie Smalls, Lorde, Haim, Ariana Grande.. You get the idea.


3. Favourite weather?

I love cold weather. I just love rugging up, wearing my comfy clothes and uggs. Big ol' cup of tea and good movies - that's where I'm at.

4. Favourite shop?

Ever? Too hard. If we're going to go with makeup, I guess it'd have to be Priceline - I literally spend so much money there. But, my favourite shop of all is ULTA. You have no idea how much I wish that that was here in Australia. Drugstore and High End makeup at US prices? For sure count me in.

5. Favourite mascara?

Dior's Diorshow Mascara - the original formula! I have a review on it here if you'd like to check it out

6. Scone - is it pronounced like 'thrown' or 'gone'? 

Um neither? Scone is pronounced like how you would say the 'Mon' part of Monday. That's the only way I can describe it haha

7. Which is the best Disney princess?

Ariel! I always wanted to be a mermaid.

8. Boots or Superdrug?

Don't have either in Australia!


9. Do you use fake tan?

Of course! I have to, as I don't normally tan naturally because it's really bad for my skin.
 
10. Liquid, gel, or kohl eyeliner?

I would choose kohl I think. I just use it more often.


And that's it! Again, thanks to Ellie for nominating me :)


Now I nominate:


Kirsty from Lipstick Addict
Rebecca from RebeccaRuhles
Amber from Amber Lorraine
Verity from A Day in the Life of Miss Verity Price
LipsticknLinguine
Jae from LushxKisses
Kate from Kate-Mariexo
Zhahara from aZHian Beauty
Ashii from Beauty for Thought
Yolanda from My Beautyy Tooth
Macy from Macy's Beauty Blog


My questions

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. Did anyone inspire you?
3. What do you hope to achieve with your blog?
4. What's better - gummy bears or mashed potato?
5. Favourite high end and drugstore foundation?
6. What are the products you would use everyday?
7. Is there any makeup product (i.e. foundation, blush, bronzer etc) that you could live without?
8. Favourite eyeshadow palette?
9. Where is the best place to buy makeup (can be online)?
10. If you had to pick one brand (can be high end or drugstore) that you could only use for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
11. How do you store your makeup?

And that's me done :) Thanks again to Ellie for nominating me!

Until next time....

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!




24 Mar 2014

review: garnier micellar water

Hey guys!

Oh lordy, I am so unorganised this week! Being a full time university student, working part time and also dedicating any spare time to my blog has really thrown my immune system out of whack. I have been struck down with the most awful cold (thanks flu season), and haven't been sleeping well at all. Coupled with still working and keeping up to date with my university work has been extremely taxing. But hopefully I'm back on track now! This post is just put up a little later than I'd like.

Today, I thought I would do a quick review of the Garnier Micellar Water. This is a product I have thoroughly been enjoying ever since I brought it, and it has so many rave reviews across the blogosphere as well! It's apparently comparable to the Bioderma Cleansing Water, but having never tried Bioderma, I am unable to comment on that. I thought having formed an opinion on this already, plus the fact that it is a relatively new product on the market, that it was a good time to throw my two cents in and let you know what I think of it.

Before purchasing this, I used to use the Garnier Clean Sensitive 2 in 1 Gentle Makeup Remover, which basically has the oil in it that you mix together to take off your makeup. I haven't found any makeup wipes that I can actually use with my skin (my skin has a reaction and breaks out to every wipe I have tried), so I usually pour some onto a Swissper Cotton Round and use it to take off all of my makeup, including my eyes. This may seen a little impractical and time consuming, but it just works the best for my skin. This is how I have been using the Garnier Micellar Water as well.


This is what the packaging looks like. It is really similar to the Bioderma packaging, with a clear bottle and pink accents. I personally think it is so cute, I love the colour pink and this just looks so nice on the counter in my bathroom. On the front of the packaging, it says that the Micellar Water is:

"Suitable for all skin types
Removes all make-up + Cleanses + Soothes
No Rinsing Needed
Face, Eyes, Lips
Perfume Free"

I have normal skin that leans a little dry, and as I said in the introduction I have been using this to remove all of my makeup. When I first used it, I honestly wasn't sure it was doing anything - until I looked at the cotton round and saw it caked with my foundation. It feels exactly like water - but removes like a makeup remover. I do find that I need three cotton rounds rather than two to completely remove all of my makeup, but that's not exactly a huge deal to me. I also find that I really don't need to rinse my face like I used to after I removed my makeup - this dries completely within seconds and there is no oily residue whatsoever.

I just find this makes my skin feel so tight and clean - not to mention making it look fantastic. I don't know about anyone else using this product, but seriously, my pimples and blackheads look smaller, and my skin just looks so clear and clean. I have taken to using this even when I don't have makeup to remove. I just use it as a normal cleanser before going in with my oils and serums.



I just wanted to include this photo as well to show how long this product lasts. I have been using this everyday for over a week now, plus my Mum has also been using it to take off her makeup. Keep in mind, I use three cotton rounds saturated in this stuff to take off my makeup, or one if I don't have makeup to remove. And that is all that has been used! Really not much at all, considering the last Garnier one I used to use would be gone in about a week and a half. This is also double the size (400mL) than the Garnier 2 in 1 Gentle Makeup Remover and only $3 more - can anyone say bargain? Because I sure can!

I am hooked on this stuff. I can see it becoming a staple in my skincare routine, especially as it is so affordable. It retails for $11.99AU in most Australian retailers, but I did find it on sale for $8AU. The Bioderma is $19.99AU for 100mL - and maybe I'll try it one day. If you have tried both, and prefer one or the other, please let me know down below in the comments!

Side note: When I posted a photo of this product on my Instagram, I had a lot of commenters from the US asking if this is available on the market there. I honestly don't know if it is, as I am from Australia and not up to date with most American releases. However, products are usually released in Australia six months or more after the US, so I can only assume that it is available there. I would recommend calling your local drugstore that supplies Garnier and go from there :)

Until next time my lovelies...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!



the beauty scenario tag!

Hey guys!

As I've said before, I loooove doing tags! I find them so personal, and love that you guys get to know more about me just by me answering these questions! I was tagged by the lovely Verity (you can find her blog here!), she has great beauty related posts and is definitely worth checking out!


Scenario 1 - You have to get rid of all of your foundations and you can only keep one high end and one drug store foundation, which ones do you keep? 

Oh, that's easy! For high end, I would keep my Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation (click here to read a short review) and for drugstore I would for sure be keeping my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (click here to read my rave review on this foundation!).



Scenario 2 - You go for an interview and the lady interviewing you has lipstick on her teeth do you approach the subject or ignore it completely?

No, I wouldn't. Honestly, I would feel terrible and it would reflect badly on me. Personally, I would only want to be told if it was a close friend, or my boyfriend, because otherwise I would feel a little humiliated and embarrassed.

Scenario 3 - Your not feeling yourself and need a pick me up, which lipstick do you put on to make yourself feel beautiful?

This is hard. I think I would choose MAC Flat Out Fabulous! It's just a beautiful, bright fuchsia pink and it definitely makes me feel better about myself.

Scenario 4 - You go back in time for a day to your teenage years, how would you do your hair and make-up differently? 

As a teen, I was more into my hair than I was makeup. I don't think I would change it to be perfectly honest, all the bad hair and makeup days were all part of being a teen! You have way too much to focus on then doing your hair or makeup on a daily basis. Besides, I had fun regardless of how I looked ;) and it taught me how to be comfortable and confident in my own skin before I really discovered makeup.

 I love that I got more into makeup in my late teens because I was able to really dedicate time to studying it, and practicing looks. Also, I have the money to really spend it on products that I love, whereas in my teens I would never have been able to afford it.

Scenario 5 - You ask your hairdresser for a shoulder length Pixie Lott haircut but they hear you wrong and give you a Pixie cut, Do you a) You smile and say thank you, leave and then call your mum hysterical b) Cry in the chair and things get awkward OR c) Complain to the manager and ask for a refund? 

Lets be honest, I probably wouldn't pay for it. And I would probably be midway to hysterical. But, in saying that, I would try not to be rude about it - unfortunately it's human error, sometimes things are heard wrong or don't go to plan. As well, if I didn't notice that she was clearly going above and beyond what I wanted, shame on me. But I for sure wouldn't pay as it isn't what I asked for or wanted. And then I would find a way to rock the hell out of that pixie cut until it got long enough for extensions :)


Scenario 6 - Your friend surprise you with a 4 day city break and you have one hour to pack, which do it all palette do you pack in your make up bag? 

I don't think I actually own a 'do it all' palette. But, eyeshadow palette wise, Urban Decay Naked Palette. Will always choose that baby!


Scenario 7 - Your house has been robbed, don't worry everyone is safe but your beauty stash has been raided...what is the product you really hope is safe?

One individual product? Are you kidding me! Do you know how much money, time and effort has gone into my beauty stash?! Um, if I really have to choose.. Probably my YSL lipsticks. I would be absolutely devastated if something happened to them. Plus, they cost a lot to replace.

Scenario 8 - Your friend borrows your make up and returns it in an awful condition do you a) just pretend you haven't noticed b) ask them to re purchase it or c) do the same to one of their's.

Probably just ask them to be more careful in the future - it'd have to be a really dang good friend for me to loan it to them in the first place anyway!


Hope you guys enjoyed this tag! As I said, I love doing these and passing them onto other great bloggers. Thanks so much Verity for tagging me!


Now I tag:

Dani from Lace&Lovexo
Kirsy from Lipstick Addict

And, of course, anyone else who would love to partake in this tag! Be sure to tag me if you do, I'd love to see your answers :)

Until next time...


xxxx


in between blogging, you can find me here!