The Balance of Beauty

NOTD BYS Red Carpet

2011-02-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

So it turns out that being a Mum is pretty hard on your nails, so please excuse the condition of mine.

Today I am wearing the very beautiful BYS Red Carpet. This is the first time I have worn this polish and I am very impressed by the gorgeous vibrant red that seems to glow from within. I used two coats of polish but probably could have got away with one. The only downside to this polish is that it was a little thick which made application tricky but I should be able to fix that with a bit of polish thinner,

Not a great picture, it's early morning so I couldn't get a nice sunlight pic. It is a much brighter red in the sun.

I'm Back

2011-02-10T02:09:00.000-08:00

Sorry for taking such a long time to return to you, life has been rather hectic since my little bubby girl arrived. Now that she is a bit older I am going to get back into the blog.

stay tuned..............

China Glaze 2NITE

2010-05-24T00:24:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, pale blue holo goodness. I feel calm just looking at this polish. Love it! This is such a pretty colour even when you can't see the holo effect.

China Glaze Rodeo Fanatic

2010-05-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

Please excuse my poor little nubins, I broke my thumb nail and had to cut all the others down. In my post with ChG Gussied Up Green I was saying how much I loved the Rodeo Diva collection, here is another polish from that collection. I was sitting here starting at my nails (does anyone else do this?) and thought that this colour would make a perfect base for Nfu.Oh 52. I was right - they are a match made in heaven. I have included a picture of that combo at the end.

China Glaze Gussied Up Green

2010-05-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

I love this! It's one of my favourite greens. It is so rich and deep and just beautiful. China Glaze really outdid themselves with the Rodeo Diva collection and I ended up purchasing quite a few of them. After I applied this I had a thought that is would make a fantastic base for Nfu.Oh 55 so I have included a picture of that as well.

ChG Gussied Up Green - 2 Coats (sorry it's a bit blurry, it was the most colour accurate pic)

Two coats ChG Gussied Up Green with 1 coat Nfu.Oh 55

China Glaze Bridezilla

2010-05-14T20:21:00.000-07:00

I am really enjoying wearing this polish! China Glaze Bridezilla is a super pretty pale pink with glass flecked shimmer. This is what I wanted from OPI Princesses Rule but that one was just to glittery for me.

China Glaze Cords

2010-05-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

Hmmmmm, not really a great colour for me I don't think but I will keep it because I don't have anything else like it. I think this is one of those colours that would be perfect for a specific occasion or with a certain outfit but as an everyday colour it's just not for me. I had some serious issues with bubbles / dents / sheet marks so please excuse the rather lack luster photo - I don't think it was the fault of the polish, my application skills weren't great.

China Glaze Grape Juice

2010-05-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

I think my favourite type of finish is glass flecked so as you can imagine I really love China Glaze Grape Juice. It is a wonderful medium purple with lots of glass flecked shimmer. I had a bit of a play with this and added some Nfu.Oh 50 to it.

and a close up so you can see all the flakie goodness of Nfu.Oh 50

China Glaze Trophy Wife

2010-05-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

This is what I wanted OPI Cozu-Melted in the Sun to be. Unfortunately Cozu-Melted was a touch to warm for me. I am really loving China Claze Trophy Wife, it is a lovely light nude/pink shimmer without being too pale. I can see myself wearing this one quite often.

This last picture was taken with flash, the first two without flash.

ISQUEEN Ultramicro Aqua

2010-04-24T17:35:00.000-07:00

I have been focusing a bit on skincare since my baby was born and felt I had used this product enough to be able to share it with you. ISQUEEN Ultramicro Aqua is a very like gel cream type moisturiser, It is so light that generally I use it as a serum underneath a richer moisturiser but then my skin is a bit dry at the moment. If you had oily skin this would be fine on it's own.

I really like this product. It feels light and fresh without an overpowering scent and I think it really has improved my skins moisture levels by using it as a serum. I love that it comes in a pump bottle so I am not dipping my fingers into a pot of cream (I hate doing that!) The bottle is frosted glass and looks really nice. I purchased this from sasa.com and would definitely buy another bottle when this one runs out.

Cosline Flower Cheek Blush

2010-04-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

Another blush from my Gmarket blush haul. This time it's Cosline Flower Cheek in '2' Barbie Doll Pink. When I opened the packaging I thought that this blush was going to be way to strong for my pale skin but after trying it was pleasantly suprised. The colour is easy to apply lightly for a pretty flush or can be built up if your needing a bit more.

VOV Showcase Ball on Cheek

2010-04-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

By now you are probably picking up that I am a bit of a fan of the Korean brand VOV. They make some really great products and by shopping on Gmarket.co.kr you can pick them up for a fantastic price. The Showcase line of products is one of the newer things from VOV. I only have this one product but they have other things as well. I got the Showcase Ball on Cheek in '2' which gives a really nice sheer champagne coloured glow. Please note the container is pretty small - the pictures are a bit deceiving.

Caracosa Marble Blusher

2010-04-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple more blushes from my Gmarket haul. I purchased the colours 102 & 106. I really like both of these they give a lovely wash of glowing colour that is in my opinion nicer then Mac MSF's which can be glittery.

102, 106

Sasatinnie Nail Polish Haul

2010-04-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

In my last sasa.com order I picked up a few more Sasatinnie nail polishes. I am really happy with all of the colours I got - two of them even have flakies!

FCCHO005 (Chocolate Scented)

FCGL002 (this is my favourite - see the little flakies?)

FCGL003 (this one also has flakies)

FCPU002 (couldn't capture this properly - it has ultrafine hot pink and blue shimmer)

FCRAS002 (Raspberry Scented)

FCROS001 (Rose Scented)

VOV Casltedew Diacut Eyes Palette M601

2010-04-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

This palette is a great combination of neutral colours. The quality of the shadows is quite good and they apply quite smoothly leaving a silky shimmery finish.

The packaging is really pretty and the amount of each colour in the pan is quite decent. I think I paid around $15 for this palette and I would definitely say it is worth the money. This is the first Diacut Palette that I have purchased and I will seriously consider getting some of the other colours as well.

VOV Castledew Oversetting Gloss

2010-04-11T17:04:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you one of my very favourite products ever - VOV Castledew Oversetting Gloss. I love these glosses so much. They come in a very large range of colours, are really comfortable to wear, last a decent amount of time and the packaging is very pretty.

9, 17, 7, 12, 45, 44, 43, 28, 4, 31

Etude Jewelade Nail Polishes

2010-04-11T16:09:00.000-07:00

I have another couple of new additions to my nail polish collection, the very lovely Etude Jewelade RD102 & BR305. Got to post and run as my baby is a bit fussy this morning. Enjoy the pictures!

RD102

BR305

3W Clinic Color News Baked Multi Blusher

2010-04-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Here are another few products from my latest Gmarket purchase. 3W Clinic Color News Baked Multi Blusher's in 13, 16 & 21 (which I purchased to use as an eyeshadow)

This is 16 (on left) & 13 (on right)

Swatches of 16 (top) & 13 (bottom)

This is 21 - I'm going to use this as an eyeshadow

Swatches of 21, the black flecks are glitter that didn't photograph well

BYS Haul from fashionaddict.com.au

2010-04-04T00:30:00.000-07:00

Yay for parcels! my lovely parcel delivery man delivered this the day after we got home from hospital. I discovered an Aussie website selling pretty much the entire range of BYS products - fashionaddict.com.au . Sorry for the packaging dust all over the bottles.

And now for a close up -

Amethyst Metallic, Fushia Metallic, Peacock Metallic, Blue Sapphire Metallic

(picture taken with flash)

Fern, Shadow Puppets, Nocturnal

Red Carpet, Raspberry Sorbet, Hunter Green

Prorance Sunny Glam Blusher

2010-04-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

I received another Gmarket parcel the other day filled with mostly blushes. I will post the others as I get the time. The first one I am going to show you is one of my favourites of the bunch - Prorance Sunny Glam Blusher in the colour '2'. It is a lovely peachy pink shimmery blush with a nice fine texture and sheer finish. It looks really nice on my very pale skin. The packaging is very sturdy and looks very pretty.

And a swatch -

OPI Top Five

2010-03-31T22:14:00.000-07:00

It's the end of OPI month so here is my top five -

1 - Didgeridoo Your Nails? - My favourite colour of all time. It is the most perfect berry pink with shimmer and I just adore it. Here is a link to a post I did a very long time ago about this colour - OPI Didgeridoo Your Nails?

2 - I'm Not Really A Waitress - This is an absolute classic red shimmer and if you don't already have it you should seriously consider adding it to your collection. Sorry I don't have a picture of this one, you'll just have to trust me!

3 - Makes Men Blush - This is my perfect sheer nude polish. I don't know what I would do without it. Here is a link to a previous post - OPI Makes Men Blush

4 - Suzi Skis in the Pryenees Suede - Ok, so I love all of the Suedes but this would have to be my favourite of the bunch. It is a lovely graphite grey that looks awesome with a topcoat. I did a NOTD with this one early in the month if you want to check out a picture.

5 - Jade is the New Black - Who would have thought a creme would make it into my top five? This is just such a unique pretty colour that I can't help but love it.

Welcome to the world Charlotte

2010-03-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let you know I had my little girl Charlotte Tamara so I may be missing in action for a little bit on the blog.

NOTD OPI No Bees Please

2010-03-29T19:48:00.000-07:00

I really love OPI's sheer polishes but have really been neglecting them lately and as a result my nail are starting to get some pretty horrible stains. To give my nails a bit of a break from colour so they can recover from the staining I decided it was time to do a sheer mani. I have chosen to use OPI No Bees Please, a nice nude/pink sheer with hot pink micro shimmer. I think this polish looks best with two coats but I have used three today to help cover up the staining on my nails.

NOTD OPI Ink

2010-03-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling really lazy at the moment so sorry about the lack of clean up. I love this colour and I think it works well on my skintone but for some reason it just does not want to dry on me no matter what I try which means I end up with dents and marks, oh well, I will keep wearing it anyway in the hope that one day it will dry and look as perfectly pretty as it should.

Tiny Little China Glaze Haul

2010-03-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

Meet my three newest China Glaze polishes -

First we have Ruby Pumps, next is Sublte and last but not least is Passion in the Pacific

NOTD OPI We'll Always Have Paris Suede

2010-03-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Normally with the OPI Suedes I can get away with one coat but this needed two, that's not a big deal though as they dry so fast. First picture is without topcoat and the second is with topcoat.

NOTD Parlez-vous Opi?

2010-03-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the pre cleanup pics. I like this colour but had so many dramas with the application. I think I will add some thinner to this bottle before trying it again.

NOTD OPI Cozu-Melted in the Sun

2010-03-22T23:42:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty shimmery pinky peach colour but I think it may be a touch to warm toned for me.

Another Gmarket Haul

2010-03-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

You can find some really interesting polishes on Gmarket and I recently made an order for some brands that I had never seen before.

I am not sure what brand these are - the only thing on them in English says 'Inter Color Pretty Nail Flower' the colours are numbered and from left to right are 409, 611, 501 & 503.

The next two are from Korean brand VOV (who make some really lovely cosmetics) Once again they are numbered, the first is 1299 and the second is 1413a

I haven't swatched any of these yet but they all look quite pretty in the bottles (not sure about the chocolate coloured VOV though!)

NOTD OPI Have You Seen My Limo? PIC HEAVY

2010-03-19T03:55:00.000-07:00

I am not normally keen on polishes that have a green flash to them but in this particular polish it is so subtle that I don't mind it. Dark shades are not normally something I wear a lot of but I really like this one and I just LOVE the way it turned out when I added some Nfu.Oh 40 to it.

NOTD OPI You Don't Know Jacques Suede

2010-03-17T15:51:00.000-07:00

By now you all know of my love for the OPI Suedes so I won't go into all of that again. I would never normally wear a colour like this but I think I like it. Once again I have cheated by applying this over an old mani. above is without topcoat and below is with topcoat

UPDATE NOTD OPI Jade is the New Black with Nfu.Oh 87

2010-03-16T03:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I didn't last very long wearing this as it is, I had to add a little something. Here is OPI Jade is the New Black with one coat of Nfu.Oh 87 (I love my Nfu.Ohs!)

NOTD OPI Jade is the New Black

2010-03-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

I really quite like this. It's a lovely muted green creme which is a very unusual thing for me to wear (and I do feel self-conscious wearing it) I am very keen to add some sort of nail art to this but I will wait a day or two first to try and get myself used to wearing cremes. First picture is without flash, second picture is with flash.

Nfu.Oh Haul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-03-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

I am so in love with my Nfu.Oh's that I decided to take advantage of the sale happening over at vividnails.com.au and picked up a few more precious Nfu.Oh's. I have to say a big thank you to Vivid Nails, they have fantastic customer service and ship really fast. I couldn't be happier!

Let's start with the flakies -

041, 055, 037

050, 054, 052

And now the non-flakies -

024, 073, 104

NOTD OPI Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees Suede

2010-03-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

I cannot even begin to tell you have much I love this colour. I am so glad I bought it. I must admit that I cheated a little bit with this NOTD, I applied this polish over a previous manicure because I just couldn't be bothered taking the old one off and it was still in reasonable condition with no major chips. A wonderful thing about the suedes is that you can get away with cheating like this because they only need one coat to be opaque.
no topcoat

with topcoat

Small Suedes Haul

2010-03-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

Well I loved the other OPI Suedes I purchased so much that I decided I needed to get We'll Always Have Paris and Lincoln Park After Dark in suede as well (I'm really kicking myself for not getting Ink Suede as well)

Here they are -

Lincoln Park After Dark Suede, We'll Always Have Paris Suede

NOTD OPI Russian Navy Suede

2010-03-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

I am really loving the suede polishes from OPI and can see them getting a lot of use once my baby arrives and I don't have time to sit and do my nails as much.

The OPI Suedes only need one coat, dry almost instantly and look sensational. You can vary the look by adding a topcoat to make them nice a shiny. I prefer to wear them with a topcoat but am learning to appreciate the beauty of them when matte as well.
no topcoat used

with topcoat

NOTD OPI Done Out In Deco

2010-03-07T19:57:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I am venturing into cremes and it's a bit scary. I am very used to and comfortable with my shimmers but have recently seen some pictures of people wearing cremes that encouraged me to take to plunge. They seem so unforgiving though - stuff up application and it's like there is a big sign pointing to your mistake saying 'look here', bubbles show up much more easily and you need to be really precise with clean-up.

A lesson I have learnt from this manicure is 'TRUST THE POLISH' when I first started applying it I thought it was going to fail miserably, the polish was streaky. By the time I got back to the first nail to do my second coat the polish had self leveled somewhat and wasn't anywhere near as bad. Once the second coat was on everything was looking good and I stopped holding my breath.

Here is the end result and I am very happy with it. I don't know if it is the best colour for my skintone but it's pretty so I will continue to wear it.

NOTD OPI Queen of West Web-erly

2010-03-06T03:49:00.000-08:00

This polish has been sitting in my untried pile for a little while so I thought what better time to take it out and give it a go? I really enjoyed wearing this colour. It is a lovely wearable everyday shade.

Nail Stickers

2010-03-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to show you some nail stickers I got from ebay. I have never used nail stickers before ( I have used water decals before though and love them)

They look really cute! I will give you an update once I have tried them out.

OPI Suedes- Late to the party but glad I got here eventually!

2010-03-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

I know, I'm a bit behind with the OPI Suedes but matte polish just didn't appeal to me - until I saw a picture where a topcoat was used over a suede polish and well let's just say the rest is history.

I have started out by just getting 3 of the OPI Suedes but I do plan of getting the others in the near future.

I'm really impressed with these pretty little one coat wonders. They dry almost instantly and the colours are amazing.

These are the colours I got - You Don't Know Jacques!, Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees and Russian Navy (this is the order they are in for the picture) LOVE THEM ALL.

Just to let you know

2010-03-03T18:10:00.000-08:00

Due to the fact that my baby is due very soon (2nd April) I have scheduled some posts for March and will try and get some done for April as well. I just wanted to let you know so that if you see posts appearing it does not necessarily mean that I am available to respond to comments. I promise I won't be ignoring anyone.

Please cross your fingers for me, I am very ready for this baby to make an appearance and hope she doesn't decide to take to long!

First NOTD for March - OPI Brand New Skates

2010-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

I purchased this polish last month but due to focusing on Zoya's I hadn't had a chance to try it. I do like this polish but I am not in love with it and don't know if I'll be getting much use of of it. I need to use four coats with this one. The first picture is taken with flash the second without.

New Members of my OPI Family

2010-03-01T16:02:00.000-08:00

I have never been much of a creme polish fan. Give me shimmer any day! I thought I really should give some cremes a go though so I picked up a few in my last transdesign.com order.

I got Jade is the New Black, Parlez-vous OPI? and Done Out in Deco (this is the order they are in for the picture). They look really pretty and I can't wait to try them out.

Nail Decals - I love them!

2010-02-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

When I ordered my last lot of nail wheels off ebay I noticed the seller had a pack of 10 different sheets of water decals so I decided to add them to my order. I have used water decals in the past but have found it hard to find nice ones so haven't used them for a while. I really like these ones though and am seriously considering buying some more. They are so easy to use, just add a drop of water to the backing paper and use tweezers to slide the decal off the paper and onto your nail, apply topcoat and your done!

Here's a few pictures

I had already cut a decal out of this one when I took the pictures so this is just part of the sheet.

My Top Five Zoya's

2010-02-27T18:10:00.000-08:00

I thought it might be a nice way to finish the month by posting my favourite Zoya Polishes. I think I will be this with each months brand.

1. Blair - I know I didn't do a NOTD with this colour but I had so many untrieds to get through. Blair is a beautiful deep glowing red and even though I have a lot of reds this one is my absolute favourite. It's not only one of my favourite Zoya's, it's one of my favourite polishes of all time.

2. Yasmeen - Simply a stunning purple, not much more I can say.

3. Aria - I love the glass flecked shimmer in this one, it's a lovely pink for my skintone.

4. Anthea - Nice soft red with golden shimmer, different to anything else I own.

5. Drew - Beautiful muted berry pink with subtle shimmer, a great go to colour for me when nothing else is working.

Konad Plates

2010-02-26T15:46:00.000-08:00

I recently made an order through ocnailart.com for some Konad Stamping plates, I love Konad but I'm not very good at it! hopefully I will get the hang of using them soon so that I can share some designs with you in my NOTD's. I have a heap of plates - both Konad and also some fauxnads (from ebay). I really don't need any more considering how infrequently I use them - but they are just so cute! I can't help myself.

Here are some pictures of my most recent purchases-

M79

M78

M76

M75

M63

Last Zoya NOTD - Kotori

2010-02-25T17:27:00.000-08:00

The month is drawing to a close so I'm going to leave you with this one last Zoya NOTD.

Kotori is a very pretty colour but if you use anything less then 3 coats it's a sheer streaky patchy mess. That being said if you use at least three coats that shouldn't be a problem.

I'll be starting OPI Month in March, I'm very much looking forward to it and hope you are too!

NOTD Zoya Adina

2010-02-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

I don't like it, the purple base is to bruised looking and the green flash just seems to make this worse. If what I could see on my nails was like what the picture shows I wouldn't dislike it quite so much but unfortunately my camera has been very kind to this polish and has shown it in the best possible way - not true to life. In real life the purple is a touch deeper and the green flash is more vibrant.

NOTD Zoya Anthea

2010-02-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

This was one of my first Zoya polishes (along with Blair). It could have done with 3 coats but I was happy with 2 so left it there. The application on this one seems a bit smoother then some of my other Zoya's. It's a really pretty soft red with gold shimmer.

with flash

without flash

Sasatinnie Haul from Sasa.com

2010-02-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

I recently made an order on sasa.com for some Sasatinnie polishes, I had never hear of the brand before but they were only a bit over $2 each so I thought I'd give them a go. Most of these are quite sheer and will need three coats to be streak free and pretty.

FCW038

FCW034

FCW032

FCW020

FCW016

FCW009

FCW006

FCBU004

FCBB001

FCBB002

NOTD Zoya Isla

2010-02-16T20:37:00.000-08:00

This pretty little polish arrived in the mail today (along with Zoya Adina) I really love this colour, it's a bit lighter then one of my other Zoya favourites - Blair and has the same glowy feel to it. Sorry for all the bubbles, I am having real problems getting polishes not to bubble on me at the moment. Below I've included a bottle comparison pic of Isla and Blair. Isla is on the left, Blair on the right.

Valentines NOTD Zoya Drew

2010-02-13T15:22:00.000-08:00

No Flash

Flash

This is one of my favourite Zoya's. It's a lovely muted berry pink with subtle shimmer, it's a colour I can go to when I am having a bad nail day and know that it will look good.

NOTD Zoya Aria

2010-02-10T15:26:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I did this one a few days ago but haven't been feeling great so only got around to posting today. I absolutely love this colour!

NOTD Zoya Charlotte (WORST MANI EVER!)

2010-02-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to like this colour but on me it is just horrible. I though I would show you it anyway as not everyone has the same skintone as me and I think if it's a colour that would suit you then it would look incredibly pretty.

First picture is taken without flash, second picture has flash.

NOTD Zoya Yasmeen

2010-02-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

I love this colour so much, it would have to be one of my all time favourites. Hope you enjoy!

Zoya Mia topped with Nfu.Oh 47

2010-02-05T15:38:00.000-08:00

In the previous post I mentioned that I didn't know if I liked Zoya Mia or not. Well, I decided to jazz it up with two coats of Nfu.Oh 47 and am loving it now. Here are some pictures. It was really hard to capture the colour correctly, the last picture is the most colour accurate.

NOTD Zoya Mia

2010-02-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

Normally I either love a colour or hate it, I don't have trouble deciding if it's for me or not. Zoya Mia has me completely on the fence, I even asked my husband his opinion and got the same response from him. I'll let you be the judge.

Zoya Swatches

2010-02-03T01:44:00.000-08:00

I thought seeing as though this is Zoya month for me that I would share my Zoya nail wheel with you. Please keep in mind the wheel was made purely for my personal use and as such isn't as neat and pretty as it could be. I hope you find it useful - I took so long picking the colours I have based on pictures by other people so know how great it is to be able to see a variety.

It's very cloudy so the colours are showing slightly darker then real life.
L-R Yasmeen, Kotori, Jo, Akyra, Blair, Anthea, Evangeline, Aria, Drew, Mia, Felicity, Charlotte, Ellen

Nfu.Oh Haul from Vividnails

2010-02-02T18:50:00.000-08:00

On the weekend I stumbled across an Australian site that sells Nfu.Oh polishes and had some on sale for between $6.95 and $8.95 (AUD, OPI costs $20 retail here) I could not resist so placed an order which arrived today - it only took 3 days to make it into my hands!

These bottles are just gorgeous and I am really happy with all of the colours I ordered. Here are some bottle pics.

L-R 95, 113, 121, 92, 106, 47

L-R 125, 96, 124, 87, 122, 40

And now some swatches on a nail wheel, it's a really bad picture but it will give you an idea of the colours.

Weekend Haul

2010-02-02T02:11:00.000-08:00

On the weekend my wonderful husband took me to Cosmetics Plus (a cheap cosmetics store here in Australia) I was really keen to check out BYS nail polishes and I must say I was very impressed. They have a huge colour range, a variety of finishes and are really affordable. I haven't tried any other these other then to swatch them on a nail wheel so can't comment on the wearability as yet.

L-R Plum Delight, Thank God It's Friday, La Di Da, Dark Teal, Kung Fu Blue, Mint Ice, Razzle Dazzle, Outer Space

L-R La Di Da, Mint Ice, Thank God It's Friday, Razzle Dazzle

L-R Outer Space, Kung Fu Blue, Plum Delight, Dark Teal

NOTD Zoya Jo

2010-02-02T01:26:00.000-08:00

I broke a nail this morning so had to cut all of my nails down :( Anyway on to the NOTD. I am really liking this colour. Unfortunately it has bubbled a little bit but I think that's more due to the base and top coats I'm using at the moment (Zoya Anchor and Armor)

It's been overcast the past few days so it was really hard to get a good picture. The colour is slightly dustier then what is appearing on my screen.

Hope you enjoy!

Sorry I've been gone so long

2010-01-31T18:33:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

My apologies for being gone for so long. I am back now and looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. I am currently 7 months pregnant so you may notice a bit of an absence in approx 2 months when I have my baby.

I'm on a real nail polish kick at the moment and have accumulated so many polishes that I didn't know where to start with actually using them! So my plan is to focus on a different brand per month. I will post my NOTD's using only the brand corresponding with the month. Normally I do my nails every 3-4 days so you can expect around two NOTD's per week

Feb - Zoya
March - OPI
April - My baby is due 2nd April so I am not making any plans for this month
May - China Glaze
June - Nfu.Oh
July - Sinful Colors
August - Orly
September - Misa
October - BYS
November - Sasa
December - Etude House

You can still expect to see the usual reviews, swatches, haul pics etc

REVIEW : Cleanse Your Soul Oil-Infused Body Wash

2009-03-06T15:52:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the long absence, I have been very busy lately.

Ok, so I've been using Cleanse Your Souls Oil-Infused Body Wash for a few months now and thought it was time to do a review. I really like this body wash! A lot of soaps and shower gels leave me with itchy dry skin. This one doesn't, it creates a lovely creamy lather that cleanses just enough without stripping the skin of all it's natural moisture.

You only need quite a small amount of this so it is very cost effective and the fact that you can get it in practically any scent you want just adds to the appeal. Judy from Cleanse Your Soul has some of the best customer service I have come across and I have returned to her shop many times and will continue to do so.

Sorry for the horrible picture, it was the best I could do on an overcast day!

Misa Bang Basecoat & Breakneck Topcoat

2008-10-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

I am on the never ending quest for the prefect base and top coat. I have tried sooooooo many I've lost count. In a moment of impluse I added Misa's BANG and BREAKNECK to a head2toebeauty order thinking, well it's cheap and they can't be any worse then the others.

They are actually better, I am really please with both.

Misa BANG Basecoat is a cloudy clear polish which goes on effortlessly and evens out the nail bed (which is important for me at the moment as I accidentally dropped a knife on my ring finer nail and it has a chip out of it half way down) My polish stays put when I wear this and tip wear seems to take longer to develop.

Misa BREAKNECK topcoat is just lovely, it is a lot thinner then some of the other fast drying topcoats on the market (I'm looking at you Poshe and Seche Vite) It doesn't cause bubbles (hmmm, Out the Door) and most importantly NO SHRINKAGE, sorry to yell but my number one hate of fast drying topcoats is that they shrink the tip of the polish and you get a horrible line of nail showing. Ok so BREAKNECK doesn't dry quite as quickly as the aforementioned brands but they are touch dry in about five mins and then completely dry in 15-20 mins dependng on the polish and how many coats are used. Another plus, no brush marks!

I can't say that these are a HG but they are the closest thing I've been able to find, I will continue my search but will have these sitting around as a backup.

OPI Makes Men Blush

2008-10-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

This unassuming little polish has very quickly worked it's way to HG status for me. I LOVE IT. The colour for me is a perfect pink/beige with just the right amount of opacity (it's not super sheer but not completely opaque.)

When first applying this is does go on a bit streaky but it self levels beautifully and your left with an awesome even glossy finish I love it at one coat but I think two coats is best.

This is my go to colour when I don't feel like having to concentrate or don't have much time. It takes about 5 mins to slap on and looks great!

Did I mention I love it?

Etude House Dear Darling Nails #25

2008-10-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

I am on a real nail polish kick at the moment so decided to order a few polishes in my most recent Gmarket order. The clear winner of the four I ordered is Etude House's Dear Darling Nails in the colour #25, it is a beautiful muted purple with lots and lots of shimmer.

When I applied the first coat I was a bit disappointed as it seemed quite sheer but the second coat evens everything out and adds depth, so I'm happy. I found it easy to apply this polish, the formula is quite thin and the layers dried quickly, I did still apply a fast drying top coat but the polish was pretty much dry by the time I did this.

Etude House Cute & Sexy Eyes Quad #5 Coffee Khaki

2008-10-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

I don't have any other Etude House Quads to compare this to but this one is just lovely, the colours are well pigmented and show up a little darker on the eyes then in my swatch pic.

The shadows are soft and silky (not as nice as Maquillage but still pretty good) and the colour goes on evenly and blends effortlessly. The colours are quite neutral and wearable.

Another Gmarket Haul

2008-10-26T17:40:00.000-07:00

So sorry for the lack of posts lately, I haven't been well and have been super busy with work and renovating our new house.

Just received a Gmarket parcel and thought I would share some pictures, reviews to follow

Aery Jo Palette

2008-09-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to show you a pic of the Aery Jo Palette I just received in the mail, the colours are really lovely - they have great dimension instead of just being a flat colour. Pigments seems to be sheer-medium. I will review more once I've had a chance to try it out

REVIEW: Etude Marbleade Eyeshadow #3

2008-09-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well, the packaging could look a bit nicer but it does the job and isn't to flimsy. The eyeshadow itself has a lovely feel and medium pigment - it could have done with a little more pigment but it's ok. The texture is nice and silky and it is comfortable to wear. I do find this shade makes me look a bit tired if I'm not careful with how I use it. This is a rather large eyeshadow and will ast for quite some time

Sorry for the lack of posts

2008-08-20T00:13:00.000-07:00

I haven't been feeling very well so haven't been posting reviews but I thought you might like to see some pics of products I will be reviewing in the near future

Etude Glassade Gloss #1 - very sheer red gloss (loving the Glassade glosses at the moment!)

Etude Glassade #4 (soooooo pretty!)

Etude Marbleade Eyeshadow #3

Laneige Snow Radiant Trio #03

REVIEW: Cosline Flower Cookie Blusher

2008-08-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

If your a fan of MAC's MSF then you'll love Cosline's Flower Cookie Blusher (how cute is the name?!) It is a gorgeous cake of swirly pink and rose goodness.

Let me start with the compact itself. I was surprised at how big and sturdy the packaging is, despit this it still looks elegant. The embossed pattern on the top really sets off the raised rose which has a pink diamontee in the center. The compact is a pale beigey pink that has an almost hot pink iridescent shimmer when the light hits it. It has a good quality decent sized mirror and a brush (which is a nice thought but the brush is slightly curved and I found it impossible to use to apply the blush)

I selected #02 Rose Marbling and I am very happy with this colour. It has great pigmentation so I do have to use a light hand. It is very shimmery which some people like, I'm not much a fan of super shimmery blushes though. I find after applying I can wipe over my cheeks with my fingers and this helps remove most of the shimmer leaving just a lovely glow on top of the rose coloured flush.

Overall I am very pleased with this blush, it looks pretty in the compact, smells lovely when you open the compact, and looks lovely on.

REVIEW: VOV Castledew Over Setting Gloss

2008-08-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

I now have two of these lovely glosses #9 & #31, both are fantastic. The applicator is a bit different to your normal gloss applicator it is in kind of a heart or leaf shape, it picks up a nice amount of gloss and spreads it evenly on your lips. I really like the formula of these glosses - it's not to heavy but not so light that it wears off in 2 mins. My lips feel comfortable with this on.

#9 has glitter particles and is very sparkly where as #31 has more of a pearl finish. I like them both but #9 is a bit harder to wear due to all the sparkle

#9 is a bright orange red with lots of glitter, it provides a sheer wash of colour .

#31 is a pearly pinky peach (slightly more peach then the picture shows) The colour in this is also quite sheer but very very pretty!

I love good parcel days!

2008-08-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

I had another couple of parcels turn up today. The first was a Nars Dolce Vita Lipgloss from ebay, it looks very promising. The second was a Gmarket order containing

- Cosline Flower Cookie Blusher in #2 Rose Marbling
- Etude Marbleade Eye Shadow #3
- Laneige Snow Radiant Eyes #03 Brown Gradation
- Etude Glassade #1 (I am loving these!)
- VOV Castledew Over Setting Gloss #31

REVIEW: Skin Food Aloe Vera Cream Cleanser

2008-08-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

The product : Skin Food Aloe Vera Cream Cleanser 130ml

What the packaging says (from the back of the tub) : A fresh cream cleanser with Aloe Extracts to soothe and hydrate the skin. Keeps the skin soft, calm and deeply cleansed.

What I think : I really really really like this cleanser. I normally stay away from cream cleansers as they are to thick and heavy and normally leave a horrible greasy residue. Well, this one doesn't do that. It is a lovely light refreshing cream that feels wonderful on the skin.

I love using this as a makeup remover because it removes everything so well and leaves my skin feeling hydrated and fresh. It does leave a little bit of a residue but this isn't to bad or to hard to rinse away.

Rating: 9/10

Good Mail Day - 2 parcels!

2008-08-03T23:27:00.000-07:00

When I got home from work today there was a card from the post office saying I had a parcel, so I walked up the road to the Post Office and it turned out that it was my Gmarket order, yay! By the time I had walked home the postman had been and left another parcel in my mail box - an order from Cleanse Your Soul, which is one of my favourite Bath & Body etailers.

Firstly the Gmarket parcel- I had ordered from two different sellers and I love how the parcels are consolidated so you only pay one lot of shipping. I also love that it was sent with EMS so I could track the parcel the whole way.

What did you get? I hear you ask. Well, I ordered the following
- Etude House Peach Cheek Blusher #1 Shy Pink
- Cathy Cat Colorist Glitz Ball Shadow 04 (which arrive damaged and was the wrong colour - I ordered 08 and received 04)
- Etude Glassade #4
- VOV Castledew Over Setting Gloss #9

I only made a fairly small order to start with because it was my first time using Gmarket. Overall verdict is that I would purchase from there again, the value for money is great. It is a very difficult site to navigate and you kind of have to click and hope but everything turned out well for me.

Now lets go on to the second parcel. I really love Cleanse Your Soul products, the tarts have great throw and last a long time, the scent choices are wonderful and my very favourite perfume is from there (Find Your Wings). I ordered

- Marshmallow Rainbows tart

-Green Planet tart
-Bikini Beach tart
-Disney Dreams tart
-Still of the Night tart
-Apricot Breeze tart
-Vanilla Parfait Foaming Sugar Scrub
-Peaches & Coconut Milk Foaming Sugar Scrub

I also received a Bamboo Teak tart and Cranberry Sprite Cake Yogurt Soap as freebies.

Gmarket - tips for anyone thinking of trying this site out

2008-07-31T16:45:00.000-07:00

Well, after days of frustration trying to figure out how to use this site I thought I might post some little things that I have discovered along the way which might make you life easier

1. use http://global.gmarket.co.kr/ , then at least some of the site will be in english
2. Internet explorer is best, I was using firefox to start with but it just doesn't work very well
3. you need to have pop ups enabled to complete the registration process (took me a few hours to figure this out.)

After a few days and a massive headache trying to figure this site out I have finally placed an order, the great thing after placing an order is the status updates which let you know whats happening.

If you have any other hints PLEASE let me know, I would greatly appreciate them

Goodbye Aunty

2008-07-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

Rest in peace my dear Aunty Phyllis, we will all miss you but we know you are much happier now. Thank you for all you have done for me.
Thank you for giving me an appreciation for beautiful things.
Thank you for making me feel that there was someone out there who understood why I love the things I do.
Thank you for loving me and making me feel special and important.
I am glad that you can now have your dignity back, I bet you've already had you hair and nails done - I hear that they have a great beauty salon in heaven.

R.I.P Phyllis Price who passed away 30th July 2008 at the age of 98

REVIEW: Etude House Super Aqua Sun Guard

2008-07-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

The product : Etude House Super Aqua Sun Guard SPF 35, 70 ml

What the packaging says (from the back of the tub) : Daily sun cream with light texture and freshness of seaweed extracts protects skin from the suns harmful rays.

What I think : I purchased this because the seller didn't have any of the Aqua Drop Sun Guard listed at the time. I have previously used a sample of the Aqua Drop Sun Guard and thought it was fantastic. The one that I ended up purchasing instead (Super Aqua Sun Guard) hasn't left me disappointed. Both sun creams are suitable for the face and body.

This sun cream is a touch lighter in consistency then your average sunscreen. It is more like putting on your everyday moisturizer, it doesn't leave that yucky greasy film on the skin that other sun creams do. I did the hand test by applying this to one hand and not the other, an hour later I felt my hands and the one with the sun cream felt soft and moisturized and smooth. It was noticeably different to the other hand.

I was a little surprised when I squeezed some product out of the tube the first time because it has a green tinge (I guess because of the seaweed extract) I was a little bit worried about it because green tinged products tend to leave me looking washed out. This did not cause any problems though, once it's rubbed in you can't tell.

All in all I'm very happy with this sun cream, it has a lovely light consistency. The smell is fresh and light and although you can detect that sunscreen smell it's not to bad. I spent less then $20 on this which I think it quite good because I was previously paying $45 for a 50ml tube of a different brand. I think when I need to repurchase it will be the Aqua Drop instead of the Super Aqua because that one has a very light consistency which I think will be better for the HOT Australian summer that I'll be experiencing in a few months time.

Rating: 9/10

REVIEW: Skin Food Rice Wash Off Mask

2008-07-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

The product : Skin Food Rice Mask Wash Off 100g

What the packaging says (from the back of the tub) : Rice not only gives plenty of moistures but also brightens your skin. This gentle rice mask feeling as real rice lifts of any excess dirt and oil leaving skin smooth and clear.

What I think : Let me first say the above was copied directly from the packaging in case you were wondering why it sounds a bit strange as you read it. Ok, onto the mask. I quite like this mask but I don't love it and I'm really undecided on whether or not I'll repurchase it. I don't imagine that the 100g tub will last very long, I have already used it three times and I'm already a third of the way through (and I used it reasonably sparingly)

This mask is realllllllllly gentle, and it's more of a scrub then a mask. The direction don't say that it should be left on the skin like a mask normally is but I leave it on for 5-10 mins anyway. If you are looking for a really gentle nurturing scrub then this may be the product for you. I however like my scrubs to be a bit more well, scrubby!

I really like the smell of this mask but it may be a little bit strong if your sensitive to smells. Once on this mask feels nice and comforting and doesn't make me sting or itch as most masks do. The mask has very gentle exfoliating parts, I normally massage it into my skin for a few minutes when I apply it and again just before I rinse it off.

I normally apply the mask just before stepping into the shower and I just use the water to rinse the mask off - no cloths or cleanser. This mask only leaves very minimal residue once rinsed off and I have found that this residue doesn't create any problems for me if I don't completely rinse it away. Another plus is that my skin doesn't feel at all dry or tight after rinsing the mask off.

I can't say that this mask makes a huge difference to my skin. I do get out of the shower and think my skin looks good but there isn't any real WOW factor to me. I think it would be great at times when my skin is traumatized by reactions from other products, sunburnt etc.

Rating: 7 / 10

I tried to get a picture to show you the texture of the mask but it didn't turn out very well sorry, the product is pure white not cream as it appears in my photo (bad lighting!)

REVIEW: Skin Food Milk Mania Cleansing Foam

2008-07-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

I'm going to trial a new format for my reviews which will hopefully make them a bit easier to read.

The product : Skin Food Milk Mania Cleansing Foam 150ml

What the packaging says (from the back of the tube) : Milk has been used by a beauty as Cleopatra because it is rich in nourishing vitamins A & D plus skin softening proteins, lactic acid and lactose. It makes skin soft, smooth and purified. This cleanser is especially formulated for dry sensitive skin, but it can double as an ideal makeup remover for all skin conditions.

What I think : I have been using this cleanser for about two weeks now and I really like it. It is very gentle and doesn't strip my skin to much yet it still gives it a good clean.

I use less then a pea sized amount and it lathers up beautifully creating a fairly dense foam. This is a decent sized tube and I imagine that it will last me a long time before I have to repurchase which makes it fantastic value for money. From memory this cost less then $15.

This cleanser smells lovely and I really enjoy using it because of this, it is a fairly mild slightly sweet creamy scent that isn't overpowering.

My skin absolutely glows after I have used this cleanser, it looks clear and radiant and so much fresher. The condition of my skin has greatly improved as well, the texture of my skin appears finer and my pores are less noticeable.

Another great feature is that it is packaged in a soft plastic squeeze tube which makes it great for in the shower. You don't have to worry about it breaking if dropped and it's easy to use while having a shower.

It is rare to find a cleanser that is so gentle yet cleans so well. That being said it is not suitable for removing eye makeup, please don't use this near your eyes - it will sting, trust me! Also if you were wearing heavy makeup you may need to double cleanse but for your everyday type cleanser this is wonderful

Rating : 9 /10

Mail Day YAY! Another Ebay parcel

2008-07-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

I received a wonderful parcel in the mail today and thought it was time to share with you my favourite ebay store. This is the third time I have ordered from Sweet Violet's Giftshop.

Every time I have ordered a pretty pink parcel with a bow tied at the top has arrived within about a week. Even before I open the parcel I'm smiling because it looks so nice. I am always overwhelmed at the generosity of this seller, she includes tons of samples and not only that but they are actually samples that I'm keen to use not just what was lying around.

This seller also has really good communication and lets you know when your parcel has been sent. Everything is very professional and well packaged. I know that her prices are a little higher then some other sellers on ebay but I don't mind paying the extra because I have found Sweet Violets Giftshop to have the largest variety, which combined with the great customer service and generous samples makes this shop number one in my eyes.

Here is a picture of the samples that were included with my parcel today ( I only ordered two products both of which were under the $20 mark)

REVIEW: Skinlite Brightening Essence Mask

2008-07-22T21:16:00.001-07:00

Let me start by saying for the most part I don't like sheet masks. I find they never sit on my face properly and I feel uncomfortable when they are on. I do however love the idea behind sheet masks so I keep trying different ones out hoping I'll find one I like. Well, it's not this one.

I truly wanted to like this mask but It felt uncomfortable on and didn't make my skin look any brighter. My skin felt strange after having this on - like it was oily and dry all at the same time. About half an hour after using this mask I started to notice very small blister like blemishes on my skin. I do have slightly sensitive skin but I'm normally ok with most products. Maybe if your skin is able to handle stronger products this might be ok.

One positive is that I do like the packaging, it is fresh and cheerful. I'm glad I only ordered the single mask because I am not a fan of this one at all. Please let me know if you've tried this mask and what you thought of it. I would love to know if my reaction was just because of my skin type or whether other people experienced the same thing.

REVIEW: Missha Lucid Berry Lipgloss PK01

2008-07-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

This is my first ever Missha purchase and I must say I'm very pleased. I purchased this from ebay when it was on sale and if I remember correctly I paid about $10 for it.

The packaging does look a bit funny but it's a decent sized tube and the gloss itself is really nice. The colour I chose was PK01 which in the tubes looks a pinky peach but it basically clear on. It has a nice berry lolly (very sweet) scent.

This gloss has really good lasting power on me and I find that I don't need to wear a lipbalm underneath. It is a fairly sticky gloss but I don't mind because it is comfortable to wear, lasts a long time and looks nice!

I'm Back! YAY!

2008-07-20T20:42:00.001-07:00

Sorry for not having blogged anything the past couple of weeks, I have been recovering from surgery. I am feel much better now though and have lots of new things to write about. I received quite a few parcels in the mail last week so I'll slowly get through the products and let you know what I think.

Mini Review Skin79 Super+ BB Gold Label -UPDATED WITH PHOTO

2008-06-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

Firstly let me say a HUGE thank you to Kathi from Lotus Palace for her review of this cream which is what prompted me to purchase it. I know it's a little be early to be singing HG from the mountains but I really feel like I'm onto a winner here. I have been wearing this cream for the past two days and I'm loving it!

I initially thought it was going to be to dark for me but it seems to blend into my skin perfectly leaving me a nice even skin tone. Also I noticed that my pimples seemed a lot more soothed then before. I have been suffering from a lot more blemishes then normal due to all the medications I've been on and It's really been getting me down. When I washed my face last night after wearing this cream all of the blemishes were almost completely gone. This morning when I woke up my skin was dramatically improved - it was plumper and more hydrated and the blemishes were not noticeable, in fact all of the inflammation and infection is gone from them and all I'm left with is a few pink scars were they were.

I will keep you updated and also add some pictures when I can.

UPDATE 8 July - I got my camera cable back, yay! I have had surgery today so I'm not going to write much because I don't feel great. Still loving this cream!

Good Mail Day!

2008-06-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

I received two parcels in the mail today so you can expect some reviews in the near future. Unfortunately there are no pics at the moment because I left my camera cable at my cousins on the weekend and won't be able to get it back until next weekend!

First parcel - Skin79 Super+ BB Gold Label from ebay, the seller kindly included a sample tube which is great because I can test it out before opening the big bottle. I have just put some of this on and first impressions are very good. I will review in more details once I've tried it a few times

Second Parcel - from sasa.com, Baby Pink Lip Jelly (RASPBERRY), Casuelle Vitamin E Lip Booster Stick, Colour Zone Colour Zone Juicy Nourishing Lip Balm, Kanebo MEDIA Lip Gloss (RS-1), DOBEST 3 colours eye shadow palette (#03), SKINLITE Brightening Essence Mask & JUJU Cosmetics AQUAMOIST HA Face Mask. I haven't tried any of these yet but I'll let you know what I think when I do.

REVIEW: Shiseido Majolica Majorca Honey Pump Gloss PK384

2008-06-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

This is a really cute little gloss but when I say little I mean little. This gloss is about half the size I expected it to be but it was fairly inexpensive so I'm not overly upset. The colour PK384 is a lovely sheer peachy pink shimmer that I just love, it's great worn on it's own but also works well over lipstick.

I really like the texture of this gloss, it is thick and slightly tacky which means it lasts a long time on your lips. I often go for hours without having to touch up this gloss. I do find that it works best with some sort of lipbalm underneath because it doesn't really moisturise my lips.

I think this is a great little gloss and I will look at purchasing some of the other colours in future - I just wish they came in a bigger tube!

REVIEW: Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara

2008-06-25T21:51:00.000-07:00

I have fairly long lashes naturally so I don't normally buy lengthening mascaras. I gave this mascara a go because I found it cheap on ebay while looking for a everyday natural looking mascara. I have loved Maybelline mascaras for years now with Full 'N' Soft being my favourite so I was reasonably confident that I would like Define-A-Lash.

Firstly lets start with the brush. I was surprised a how soft and flimsy the brush was. I didn't think there was any way it would have enough strength to coat my lashes. I was partly right, it does take a bit of work to get the lashes nicely coated but the result is really good so I don't mind taking the time to work with it.

This mascara does exactly what it says it will do. It defines and lengthens lashes. The formula is good and does flake of irritate my eyes. I did notice some minor smudging on my brow bone on a very humid day but normally I don't notice any smudging. Because it lengthens my lashes I do have a little bit of trouble with the formula transferring to my brow bone before it's dry. I have to be very careful to keep looking down for a few minutes after application which can be annoying when your in a hurry and have other things to do. I did find this mascara took a little bit longer to dry then other mascaras.

Overall I do like this mascara but I honestly don't know if I would repurchase it. It does do what is claims to and I don't have any major issues with it I just think that I like others like Cover Girls Lash Exact better. If you have short lashes then give this one a go, it's great for the price and in my opinion is much better then most high end mascaras out there.

Here are some pictures using this mascara - please note that I do not use a lash primer and I don't curl my lashes so this is straight on the lashes as they are.

REVIEW: Avon True Luminous Moisturising Makeup Base

2008-06-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

I have a problem with foundations oxidizing on my skin and turning orange, I always have to wear a base to stop this from happening. I have tried many many many different types of makeup bases both expensive and inexpensive. Some were good, some were just ok and some were plain bad! Nothing I have ever tried even comes close to Avon's True Luminous Makeup Base. I am already on my third tube of this beautiful little product and will repurchase again and again (In fact I have just ordered another 2 tubes from ebay.)

Firstly let me start by saying I find Avon a little bit hit and miss - some products are great and others not so great. I was very dubious when I first purchased this makeup base. Surely it would not work the miracle I was dreaming for when so many other more expensive brands have failed?

I have a love/hate relation ship with primers. I need them to stop my makeup going orange but I hate the way they feel on my skin and feel like I'm suffocating, then inevitably my skins breaks out after a few days use. Avon's base didn't do any of the above. It felt comfortable on, my skin seems to have a bit of extra glow even without foundation on and MAJOR plus - no breakouts! I love this product so much that sometimes I even wear it when I'm not wearing foundation because it makes my skin baby soft and seems to even out my skin tone just slightly making my skin look radiant. Another plus is that this primer does ball up like some others do.

Ok now to the drawbacks of this product. As much as I love it I need to point out a couple of little flaws -

#1 - the tube is to small, I go through a tube every couple of months. This means it's not as great value for money as it seems and it's annoying to have to reorder constantly.

#2 If you apply to much the base seems to draw to much moisture to the skin and your face feels clammy and sweaty as if the weather was really humid. This is easily avoided by not using to much. I use about a pea sized amount

#3 It can be hard to spread evenly. The first time I tried it I found it difficult to spread evenly over my face without applying to much. I have discovered that if I apply about it to my hands and warm it with my hands first it spreads better. Also I find it works best if you start by patting it over the different areas of your face and then blend with fingers.

I also want to let you know that this product does have a fragrance. I don't mind it but some people might find it annoying because it doesn't seem to fade and sticks around all day. I it a fairly mild scent and doesn't bother me most of the time but if I have headache I do notice it.

REVIEW: China Glaze imMATERIAL GURL Collection

2008-06-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

Quite some time ago I purchased three colours from the China Glaze imMATERIAL GURL collection as I was going through a phase of loving cremes. All the colours in this collection are cremes which makes a nice change from the usual shimmer and glitter out there. I must say that while I do like the colours for me they are really more toe colours, they just seem a bit to much on the hands for some reason. I do like the formula though, even though when applying it sometimes seems like it's going to be streaky it always evens up to a beautiful smooth finish with a lovely shine

<--------- Atelier Tulle is probably my favourite of the three, it is a muted dark pinky peach (hahaha that's a pretty vague description) I find that I can actually wear this one on my hands as long as my nails are relatively short.

--------->
Designer Satin is a muted magenta creme. It is a really really pretty colour but just to intense for wearing on the hands. This may be because I am very pale. I love this on toes and will get a lot of use out of it this way

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Mom's Chiffon is hard to explain, it's like a Barbie pink that is not quite as bright. I'm not really a fan of this colour, it just doesn't work for me. I can get it to work by using a sheer shimmery top coat but most days that is just to much trouble. I think it would be a much better colour for people with more tanned skin then me.

REVIEW: Becca Turkish Rose Creme Blush

2008-06-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

Becca's Turkish Rose Creme Blush was one of the first cream blushes I ever purchased. Looking at the tester in store didn't really wow me - it looked pretty boring.

The SA insisted that it would be prefect for my complexion (I am very pale) and I let her apply some so that I could try it out. Well, I have not looked back since. This blush gave me the perfect slightly coloured but still natural looking cheeks that I had been looking for.

My face is instantly brighter when I apply this blush. Because I am so pale I do have to be careful not to apply to much but this is the same for any blush I use. I love the cream texture, it feels comfortable on but isn't to greasy. I have been using this pot regularly for about 3 months and the above picture shows just how much I have left. I think this will last me a while.

If you are looking for a natural looking blush that is easy to apply then I would highly recommend Becca's Turkish Rose. I can't remember the exact price but I know it wasn't cheap. For me though it's great value for money because I love it, it makes me feel good when I wear it and you don't use much so it will last a long time.

BEAUTY CHALLENGE NUMBER 2 - Relax

2008-06-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Beauty Challenge #2, If you haven't already done #1 I suggest you go and do that one now and then come back to this one later.

When you are relaxed you smile more, your outlook on life is clearer and more positive and people notice that you look happier. This challenge will be easy for some but more difficult for others. It's about letting go for a bit and taking some time for yourself.

What you need -

an area of floor space to lie down (if you have hard floors put a couple of towels down so that it's not uncomfortable)
relaxing music (I suggest something classical, my favourites are Moonlight Sonata & Jupiter from the Planets. If you don't have classical music just use something that you enjoy listening to that isn't to fast and isn't sad)

Put the music on and lie on the floor face up making sure your back is straight.

Close your eyes and just listen to the music, it may take a couple of songs for you to completely relax, take as much or as little time as you want.

Try and concentrate on the music - If your having trouble with this pick what instruments are used, try and follow just one instrument

When your ready to stop just slowing open your eyes but stay lying down for a minute or so before you get up.

Notes: Please only do this if you feel comfortable doing so. Some people may have medical conditions which prevent them lying on the floor and some people may feel uneasy with the sense of letting go and detaching from what's going on around them. ONLY do this if you want to and remember that you can stop at any time if your not comfortable

REVIEW: Kose Visee Liquid Eyeliner BR300

2008-06-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

I love liquid eyeliners but some of them can be so messy and hard to apply in a straight line. I really like the Visee Liquid Eyeliner because it is in a click tube pen with a brush applicator. The brush is great for applying a nice straight line. I use my lashes as a guide and just run the pen along. Once the formula is dry it is budge proof. Sometimes I need to go over the line twice to build up the colour as it can go on a bit sheer. Also I find it best to twist a couple of times and then apply some liner to my hand and use it from there so that I can control the amount and not end up with globs of liner. The colour is a beautiful deep brown with shimmer.

One drawback is that if I rub my eyes this liner can start to flake, but if I can remember to leave my eyes alone then it's fine. Some liquid liners sting my eyes but I have not had any problems with this one. If your looking for a black liquid liner I would recommend the Kanebo Kate Super Sharp Liner but if you looking for a colour other then black I highly recommend the Visee. I will definitely be getting some of the other colours.

REVIEW: Shiseido Maquillage Eye Shadow Singles

2008-06-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

My favourite brand for eyeshadow singles in Maquillage, nothing beats the amazing silky soft texture and feel of these shadows. Colour payoff is good and can be adjusted easily - they can be applied as a sheer wash or built up for more intensity without having to cake the shadow on.

This first one is BL784 which is one of my favourites, it has a fantastic smooth texture and a shimmer finish (no glitter!) The colour is a very wearable medium blue with a hint of grey.

This is VI627, another great colour. The colour payoff isn't quite as good with this shadow but it's still decent.

Above is RD748 which is not my favourite colour in the world but is ok on occasion. RD748 is a deep maroon with gold micro glitter.

GR747 is a lovely olive green with gold micro glitter

This is BR771 which is a warm medium brown with gold micro glitter. This colour is really pretty used wet as a liner.

BR628 does not have the fantastic texture of most other Maquillage shadows but the colour payoff is still good. This is a darker brown then BR771.

REVIEW: Sofina Aube Jewelry Shower Eyes EX02

2008-06-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

Firstly, sorry the pictures aren't real clear. I know my last review was for an Aube palette and I really should review something completely different but I wanted to share my favourite item of makeup with you. This quad does not look like much but let me tell you - it creates the most beautiful looks. EX02 was a limited edition release from Sofina Aube at around the time I started getting into Japanese cosmetics. The quad is made up of three powder shadows and one cream shadow (which is a translucent blue glitter).

When this first arrived I was disappointed, it was super glittery, the colours looked boring and when I swatched it I wasn't overly impressed with the texture. I actually was so disappointed that I put this up for swap on makeupalley.com. I decided to give it another shot and discovered that the glitter is just on the top of the powder shadows. Once the glitter is removed you are left with very smooth gorgeous shadows. The colours still looked quite boring though. I wasn't doing anything special that day so I did my makeup with the palette and then pretty much forgot about it. Later in the day my husband commented on how pretty my eyes looked. I quickly went and had a look in the mirror and WOW, he was right. The shadows had somehow melded with my skin making them look smooth and pretty - and seamlessly blended.

Another great thing about this quad is it's so versitle. You can create many different looks and the glitter cream can be used to add sparkle by applying it under or over the powders. Here is a couple of pics of different looks I've done with this palette.

REVIEW: Sofina Aube Impression Eyes 54 Purple

2008-06-19T17:32:00.000-07:00

I really love Sofina Aube Eyeshadow Palettes. In addition to this one I also have Impression Eyes 53 Pink and Jewelry Shower Eyes EX02. The actual palette is slightly more purple then in the picture. What I love about these palettes is how versatile they are, all the colours go together and you can do many different looks using the one palette. The texture of the eye shadows is great - they are nice and silky. Colour payoff is decent, you can apply the colours as a sheer wash but it's not hard to build the intensity. All the shadows blend beautifully and feel fantastic on - I sometimes forget I'm wearing eyeshadow because it's so comfortable.

Another thing I love about this particular palette is that while it is the purple it is still very wearable for everyday, the purple is quite understated. This palette would be great for someone wanting to branch out into purples.

Here is an EOTD using this palette. It is a little bit more purple in real life - my camera has washed out the colours a touch.

REVIEW : Kanebo Lavsucha Eye Color Select Quad PU-2

2008-06-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of Japanese cosmetics and have quite a few in my collection. One of my favourite brands is Kanebo's Lavshuca. They offer quite good quality for a very reasonable price, and they are just so cute! Japanese cosmetic packaging is adorable!

I do like the colours in this quad but for some reason the two purple shades look muddy and dull on my eyes. I am able to overcome this by using the very pretty beige and taupe shades but it does take a little bit of work to make this look nice on. In the palette all the colours are very pretty and it's a cute little palette to have sitting around.

I also find the two purple shades a little bit difficult to blend and the pigmentation is not great. The beige and taupe though are a completely different story and are lovely colours which are silky soft and have good pigmentation. The taupe is very glittery which can cause a bit of fallout over the course of the day. I think this quad is worth it just for the beige and taupe.

BEAUTY CHALLENGE NUMBER 1 - Mini Manicure

2008-06-16T23:17:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I will post a beauty challenge. These are challenges to help you feel beautiful. Today I am challenging you to give yourself a mini manicure. You don't have to have perfect hands or nails to do this.

What you need

Bowl of warm water
Towel
Hand Cream or Moisturiser (if you don't have these you can use Olive Oil)

1. Soak your hands in warm water for 5-10 mins. If you have any essential oils you can add a couple of drops to the water. Lavender is especially good because it will help you relax.
2. Gently pat hands dry with the towel.
3. Massage the cream or oil into your hands. Take your time with each hand. Work your way up each finger massaging in small circles. Pay particular attention to your cuticles.
4. Gently pat off any excess cream or oil with the towel.
5. Smile, you've just given yourself a mini manicure!

Notes: If you want after doing the steps above you can gently push back the cuticles, file your nails and polish them. If you are going to apply polish then it's a good idea to swipe each nail with some polish remover to remove the cream or oil residue from the nail.

The Balance of Beauty

NOTD BYS Red Carpet

I'm Back

China Glaze 2NITE

China Glaze Rodeo Fanatic

China Glaze Gussied Up Green

China Glaze Bridezilla

China Glaze Cords

China Glaze Grape Juice

China Glaze Trophy Wife

ISQUEEN Ultramicro Aqua

Cosline Flower Cheek Blush

VOV Showcase Ball on Cheek

Caracosa Marble Blusher

Sasatinnie Nail Polish Haul

VOV Casltedew Diacut Eyes Palette M601

VOV Castledew Oversetting Gloss

Etude Jewelade Nail Polishes

3W Clinic Color News Baked Multi Blusher

BYS Haul from fashionaddict.com.au

Prorance Sunny Glam Blusher

OPI Top Five

Welcome to the world Charlotte

NOTD OPI No Bees Please

NOTD OPI Ink

Tiny Little China Glaze Haul

NOTD OPI We'll Always Have Paris Suede

NOTD Parlez-vous Opi?

NOTD OPI Cozu-Melted in the Sun

Another Gmarket Haul

NOTD OPI Have You Seen My Limo? *PIC HEAVY*

NOTD OPI You Don't Know Jacques Suede

*UPDATE* NOTD OPI Jade is the New Black with Nfu.Oh 87

NOTD OPI Jade is the New Black

Nfu.Oh Haul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTD OPI Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees Suede

Small Suedes Haul

NOTD OPI Russian Navy Suede

NOTD OPI Done Out In Deco

NOTD OPI Queen of West Web-erly

Nail Stickers

OPI Suedes- Late to the party but glad I got here eventually!

Just to let you know

First NOTD for March - OPI Brand New Skates

New Members of my OPI Family

Nail Decals - I love them!

My Top Five Zoya's

Konad Plates

Last Zoya NOTD - Kotori

NOTD Zoya Adina

NOTD Zoya Anthea

Sasatinnie Haul from Sasa.com

NOTD Zoya Isla

Valentines NOTD Zoya Drew

NOTD Zoya Aria

NOTD Zoya Charlotte (WORST MANI EVER!)

NOTD Zoya Yasmeen

Zoya Mia topped with Nfu.Oh 47

NOTD Zoya Mia

Zoya Swatches

Nfu.Oh Haul from Vividnails

Weekend Haul

NOTD Zoya Jo

Sorry I've been gone so long

REVIEW : Cleanse Your Soul Oil-Infused Body Wash

Misa Bang Basecoat & Breakneck Topcoat

OPI Makes Men Blush

Etude House Dear Darling Nails #25

Etude House Cute & Sexy Eyes Quad #5 Coffee Khaki

Another Gmarket Haul

Aery Jo Palette

REVIEW: Etude Marbleade Eyeshadow #3

Sorry for the lack of posts

REVIEW: Cosline Flower Cookie Blusher

REVIEW: VOV Castledew Over Setting Gloss

I love good parcel days!

REVIEW: Skin Food Aloe Vera Cream Cleanser

Good Mail Day - 2 parcels!

Gmarket - tips for anyone thinking of trying this site out

Goodbye Aunty

NOTD OPI Have You Seen My Limo? PIC HEAVY

UPDATE NOTD OPI Jade is the New Black with Nfu.Oh 87