Red Paw Paw June 2014

Look what rocked up on my doorstep in the nick of time!

Red Paw Paw is a new box on the Aussie market (this is box #2).  For $5 a month (if you do a survey, $10 just for the box) you get a box of grocery items.  They include a lot of Aussie products (this month they were the adriano zumbo, gravox, white wings, goulburn valley, SPC and uncle toby's).  I did a big write up on the ins and outs for last months box, but lets just say this month didn't disappoint.

White Wings Cafe Creations Apple and Cinnamon Pancakes-RRP $5.36-full size
Adriano Zumbo Choc Raspberry Macarons-RRP $8.76-full size
Ovaltine Cold Crunch-RRP $5.15-full size
Azera Coffee-RRP $10.74-full size

(i just realised i included the azera in 2 photos, there was only 1 tin in the box)
Uncle Toby's Quick Oats Sachets-RRP $5.38 (4 sachets $1.79)-sample size
Gravox Finishing Sauce-RRP $3.80-full size

Goulburn Valley Peaches in Coconut Water-RRP $2.14-full size
SPC Numb3r-ghetti-RRP $4.29 (1 tin $1.07)-sample size
Uncle Toby's Crunchy Triangles (Master T had these as soon as the box opened)-RRP $4.30 (1 packet $0.43)-sample size

Total=$39.24

For $5 investment these boxes are amazing value, and there is nothing in the box that our family won't use.  Definitely great value, although shipping times are a bit off this month.

Did you manage to get a June RPP?  What did you think?

*RRP from Woolworths online shopping bar Gravox from Coles online.  Box paid for by me.

Beauty Brand Spotlight-Essence Cosmetics Part 2

Morning all!

This is part 2 of my focus on Essence Cosmetics.  This is about the nail polishes and other miscellaneous items.

I've found Essence does great nail polishes.  There are some misses (i've found 1 or 2 that are streaky and don't last for long), but normally i know i'll love anything i pick up from the brand.  They have a range of effects and they try to keep up with the latest trends.  Limited Editions (LE) can get repetitive at times (same colours) but the regular range (RR) have a great range of colours and styles.  Any way, i'll let you make up your own mind.

Essence Gel Nails At Home Kit - I won't go in to too much detail, as i've already reviewed it.  However it's quick, easy, and you can use any Essence nail polish with it. 

Snow White (LE) 08 Grumpy - Lilac with silver glitter
                             07 Bashfull - Forest green with gold micro glitter
                             06 Sleepy - Pale bluey-green with a purpley shimmer
                             02 Grumpy -Royal Blue
                             04 Happy - Bright Yellow
                             03 Prince Charming - Large blue and small iridescent glitter topper

Me and My Ice Cream (LE) 02 Always in my Mint - Mint shimmer
Home Sweet Home (LE) 01 Caramel Cheese Cake -Tangerine
50's Girls Reloaded (LE) 04 Love Me Tender -Silvery-white metallic
                                          05 You're a Heartbreaker - blue-grey with silver shimmer
You Rock! (LE) 02 Love, Peace and Purple - maroony-purple with purple shimmer
Blossoms Etc.... (LE) 04 Bloom-a-loom - light purple with purple shimmer

Vampire's Love (LE) 01 Old Gold Buffy - Black with gold glitter
                                   04 The Dawn Is Broken - grey with silver glitter
Breaking Dawn (LE) 04 Edward's Love - Black with silver glitter                      
Beauty Beats (LE) 01 Baby, Baby, Ooh! - Purple with purple shimmer
                                02 I'm Backstage - Aqua with aqua shimmer
                                03 As Long as You Love Me - Grey with silver shimmer
Season Of Extremes (LE) 05 Nude or What? - Purple-grey
                                            07 Nude Rules! - Brown
Rebels (LE) 01 Punk Royal - grey 'topper' with black hexies

Colour & Go (RR) 156 Me & My Lover - Red base with red and gold glitter sand effect
                                165 Here's My Number - Black base with silver and iridescent glitter sand effect
Show Your Feet (LE) 23 Underwater Love - Bright Blue
                                   25 Kiss Of The Mermaid - Watermelon
Ballerina Backstage (LE) 03 On Your Gracile Tiptoe - Melon
Season Of Extremes (LE) 02 Brightsmates - watermelon/orange glitter (made to be layered together)

Gel-look Topcoat (RR) - My favourite topcoat. 
Colour & Go (RR) 43 Where is The Party? - Iridescent Purple/green
                              106 Free Hugs - Baby pink
Effect Nail Polish (RR) 03 Glitz & Glam - Glitter topper-large and small pink hexies, fine iridescent glitter
Sun Club (LE) 05 BBC Golden Sands - Bronze metallic
French Glam (RR) 03 Pink Glam - French pink with silver glitter

Marble Mania (LE) Nail Art Kit - 2 cuticle sticks, 2 sponges and a fine brush, with instructions how to use the brush, do a sponge look and marbling.

Colours straight on

Colours to the side so you can see some of the glitters

As you can see, Essence do a huge range of coloura and styles, and you can find something to suit almost everyone.

Essence also bring out a few different things in Australia, like....

Perfume!  This came out with the Circus Circus LE, and is called (surprisingly) Circus Circus.  It's in a gorgeous bottle, with a beautiful maroon spray thingy (yep, very technical here), and is a very sweet, fruity perfume.  It was sold for $9.90 here, and for the price it is a great perfume (overseas there are more perfumes). 

There have also been handcreams here, which smelt beautiful and were non greasy.

So there you go, Essence as a whole.  A great budget brand, with something for everyone.

Beauty Brand Spotlight-Essence Cosmetics Part 1

Hi All!

I originally started this blog as a budget friendly beauty place, nothing overly high end, and discussing those brands that you always see but are too scared to try due to how cheap they are.  I've strayed from that, so i thought i'd focus on one such brand (warning, this is going to be a long and picture heavy post).

Essence cosmetics is a European brand which has a limited distribution here in Australia.  It's available at selected Targets and Pricelines (i'm yet to encounter one of either that doesn't stock the brand) and some smaller pharmacies/salons (if you're here in Canberra Bounce Pharmacy near the upper foodcourt in the Canberra Centre stock Essence).  They have a small regular range (RR) here (the stands overseas are huge compared to here), but they bring out Limited Editions (LE) during the year that supplement it (once LE are gone, though, they're gone).  Most items on the Essence stand retail for under $5 (and other than the Gel Nails At Home kits, i don't think i've seen anything over $10), which makes Essence a great brand for those who want the latest trends at low prices.

I've been buying Essence now for a few years, so i thought i'd show off my makeup stash so you can see for yourself the kind of brand Essence is (my Essence nail polish collection is a post all of it's own).

FACE

BB cream (RR) shade 02- This is the closest i've found here to the Korean BB creams.  It covers everything, leaving you with a flawless finish.  3 shades available, mine's 02 Natural (there is now a CC cream available as well)
Stay All Day Concealer (RR) shade 20 soft beige - for a cheap concealer this is lovely.  It doesn't do heaps for things like dark under eyes, but for general concealer it's great.

BB cream 02, concealer 20

Breaking Dawn Blush (LE) 01 Renesmee Red - I love this blush, but it is quite full on.  Very pigmented, and a little goes a long way.  It's my go-to winter blush.
Breaking Dawn Shimmer Powder (LE) 01 Bella's Secret - I use this as a face highlighter.  Again, pigmented and you only need a small amount (unless you want to look like one of the Cullens).  Both this and the blush are lovely and soft, and blend beautifully.
Beauty Beats Blush (LE) 01 Groupie at Heart - Another highly pigmented blush.  As with the above blush a little goes a long way, it's beautifully soft and is easy to use.  Both blushes need to be blended well to work, but do so easily.

01 Renesmee Red, 01 Bella's Secret, 01 Groupie at Heart

Me and My Ice Cream Shimmer Pearls (LE) 01 I-CY U - These are like the Guerlain Pearls, multicoloured shimmery balls you swirl a big brush around and use.  They leave a lovely light highlighting shimmer, and smell divine (they are the only scented face product i have from Essence, everything else is unscented).
Cherry Blossom Girl Shimmering Body Powder (LE) 01 Hello Glitty - Ok, not a facial product.  This is a light peachy-gold shimmer powder, with a puff to apply it.  In comparison to everything else this comes in cardboard packaging, in keeping with the LE theme.
Tribal Summer Liquid Blush (LE) 01 Waka Waka - This is an odd product.  It appears very bright when first out of the tube, then smooths out to a sheer pink flush.  Like the other blushes, a little goes a long way.

01 I-CY U, 01 Hello Glitty, 01 Waka Waka

EYES

50's Girls Reloaded Eyeshadow (LE) 02 You're a Heartbreaker and 03 Come on Board Captain! - These are buttery soft, although i find the navy in 03 not quite as soft as the other 3 shades.  All shimmery shades, plus the packaging is to die for (the entire LE was beautifully packaged).
Metal Glam Eyeshadow (RR) 06 Miss Tangerine - I did a review of this when i first picked it up.  It's great if you want a sparkly hit, but hasn't got the best colour payoff.
Stay All Day Long Lasting Eyeshadow (RR) 05 Camp Rock - This is a mousse style eyeshadow.  Goes on smoothly, lasts for ages, and has a great colour payoff.

Top-06 Miss Tangerine, Middle-05 Camp Rock, Bottom-03 Come on board Captainx2/02 You're a Heartbreakerx2

Gel Eyeliner (RR) 02 London Baby and 05 Miami's Ink/Sun Club Gel Eyeliner (LE) 03 BBC All Night Blue - All the same, but one came out as a part of a LE.  These are amazing, the last forever and are so easy to use.  Seriously, if i wear these and am naughty enough to go to bed with removing them, my eyeliner is still in place next morning.

02 London Baby, 03 BBC All Night Blue, 05 Miami's Ink

Breaking Dawn Pigments (LE) 01 Jacob's Protection, 02 Alice Had a Vision-Again, 03 A Piece Of Forever, 04 Edwards Love - I know overseas Essence have a great range of pigments and products to use with them, sadly here we miss out.  These are lovely, but slightly hard to use.  They need a base to stick to, otherwise they end up everywhere.  Still, with patience, these are amazing.  01 is a Black shimmer, 02 is a dark purple shimmer, 03 is a gold shimmer with gold glitter and 04 is a dark grey shimmer with multicoloured glitter

03 A Piece Of Forever, 04 Edwards Love, 02 Alice Had A Vision-Again, 01 Jacob's Protection

Cherry Blossom Girl Highlighter (LE) 01 Konnichiwa Girls! - This is a pink based highlighter, in a pen with a brush applicator.  Easy to use in the inner corners of your eyes and other smaller areas.
Breaking Dawn Glitter Eyeliner (LE) 02 Jacob's Protection - Fine blue glitter eyeliner.  This isn't over the top, which most glitter eyeliners are, and doesn't irritate your eyes.

Metallic Eye Pencil (RR) 02 White Divine and 03 Iron Goddess - Gorgeous, soft eye pencils.  These go on smoothly, have a great colour payoff and are eays to use.
50's Girls Reloaded Eye Pencil (LE) 03 Love Me Tender - This is the same as the RR ones.  Smooth, highly pigmented and easy to use.

02 White Divine, 03 Iron Goddess, 03 Love Me Tender, 02 Jacob's Protection, 01 Konnichiwa Girls!

LIPS

Beauty Beats Lipgloss (LE) 01 Groupie at Heart - As you can probably see, Essence tend to carry the same name through a LE for the same colours.  Makes it easy to find a matching set.  This is a lovely, highly pigmented gloss.  Smells of blackberries, and is non sticky
Breaking Dawn Lipgloss (LE) 01 Alice Had a Vision-Again and 02 Renesmee Red - These smell the same as the Beauty Beats one, and are also non sticky.  These however are a sheer gloss, a simple flush of colour.  These don't dry your lips out at all.

01 Groupie at Heart, 01 Alice Had a Vision-Again, 02 Renesmee Red

XXXL Longlasting Lipgloss (RR) 05 Velvet Rose and XXXL Shine Lipgloss (RR) 13 Rock On -  Longlasting Lipgloss is one of the newer products on Essence stands here. It's a matte lipgloss, is non drying, lasts ages and smells like toffee.  Shine Lipgloss has been around a bit longer, again is non drying, has a decent colour payoff, and smells like blackberries.  Both are great lipglosses, and the Shine version was one of my first introductions to Essence.

13 Rock on, 05 Velvet Rose

Cherry Blossom Girl Lipstick Pencil (LE) 01 Cherry Cherry Girl - A great lip crayon style lipstick.  Lasts for a decent amount of time, great colour payoff and easy to use.  I wish Essence would come out with more of these, i love a good lip crayon.
50's Girls Reloaded Lipstick (LE) 01 Back To The 50's - This lipstick started my love affair with red lips, it is just the most perfect red.  This is smooth, highly pigmented, leaves a stain on you lips so you don't have to constantly reapply, and has no discernible scent.  And i love the packaging.
Home Sweet Home Lip Maximizer (LE) 01 Mugs and Kisses - A lip plumper.  This is non sticky, doesn't sting your lips, and has a sweet lolly scent.
Glossy Lipbalm (RR) Cherry Brownie - This is a great tinted lipbalm.  Perfect for on the go, and does a great job moisturising your lips.

01 Cherry Cherry Girl, 01 Back To The 50's, 01 Mugs and Kisses, Cherry Brownie

Last, but not least

Essence Brushes-  These are great for a budget brush.  Stiffer then ELF brushes, but do a great job, and are only a couple of dollars each.




That is my Essence Makeup collection.  As you can see the majority of it is LE items, the one thing i hate about Essence is the fact that once a LE is gone, it doesn't come back, so if you love something you either stock up or run the risk of it running out.  Essence also have a habit of discontinuing items, so that something you loved is no longer available on shelves.  However because of the price you can afford to buy extras if there does happen to be a product you can't live without (plus it often turns up in the clearance section, and you can pick up pieces at rock bottom prices).

The packaging is consistant across the range, nice sturdy plastic that doesn't break easily.  The only thing i haven't tried is mascara, but from what i've read it isn't the best (happy to be corrected if someone thinks differently).  Otherwise Essence is a great budget range, with products to suit everyone, and they keep up with all the latest trends.

Have you tried Essence?  What do you think?

Mary Kay Lip Lacquer Review

Morning all!

The sun is just rising here, Master T had me up quite early.  But what better time to blog, before the rush of the day really hits.

Today i thought i'd review the Mary Kay Lip Lacquers that came in the May LHI box.  These were our choice item for the month, in either Pagoda Rose or Chai Latte, and i ended up with both due to a stuff up (was sent the wrong colour, and was then sent the right one).

The Lip Lacquers are packaged in a sturdy plastic jar (not my favourite lip product packaging in the world) and come with a retractable lip brush.  It feels nice in hand, though, not cheap and nasty, and the lids are easy to remove/replace.

The lip brush is ok, a bit tricky to work out how to keep the brush up at first (you need to use the lid to hold the brush up), but works well with the product and is the perfect size for using the lip lacquer on the go.  Without the inclusion of this i don't think this would be a viable product, you need a way to apply it, and this makes it possible (i know we probably all have a lip brush at home, but the size of this makes this product workable).

The pots contain 4g of product.  There is really no scent to them (i think i can faintly smell mint, but otherwise nothing).  The lip lacquer isn't sticky, it applies smoothly and Pink Pagoda leaves a faint stain as it wears off.  There isn't a huge colour payoff from these, it goes on quite sheer, perfect for days when a bright lip just won't do, or over a matching liquid lipstick/stain/colour to bring them back to life (the lip lacquers remind me of tinted lipbalms i had before i was allowed any real makeup, right down to the packaging).  They don't hold up to much, but i don't expect anything more from this type of product.

Chai Latte and Pink Pagoda

All in all these are a lovely product, not quite a gloss but not quite lipstick.  They retail for $22 and are available from Mary Kay

Teeez Eve's Ready to Wear Lipstick Review

It is miserable outside today.  Perfect weather to be inside blogging :)

The Teeez Eve's Ready to Wear lipstick was one of the items in my May Violet Box.  I've been playing around with it for a month, and thought i'd write up a review.

As per every Teeez product i've received so far (between LHI and VB i'm up to 5), the packaging is amazing.  A gorgeous printed top and clear base, with the barrel of the lipstick in rose gold.  It feels nice and solid in your hand, is smooth getting the lipstick up, and the lid is secure without being hard to get on and off. 

Teeez claims this lipstick is highly moisturising, and it is!  Your lips don't feel dry at all when using this.  It goes on smoothly, it's much like using a lip balm, and it smells amazing (like berries).

That's where the great parts of the product end.  It doesn't last, it wears off very quickly and you're left with no colour.  It settles in to any dry areas on your lips, so if you dare have a flaky area this is going to cling there, and leave you with patchy looking lips.  Personally i've found this particular colour hard to work with (Paradise Pink), It is a lot lighter on then what it looks like swatched, and gave me that dead lips look (That isn't so much of a lipstick problem, it is just so opaque when applied that your natural lip colour doesn't show through.  A different colour would make all the difference).

I managed to make this work for me by applying a lip stain underneath (a covergirl Outlast Lipstain in 420 Sassy Mauve), which also helped the wear issue (i was always left with colour, and just applied the lipstick as needed).

Paradise pink layered with lipstain and paradise pink on it's own

I think this lipstick in another colour would be great, especially if a darker colour lasted longer.  However Paradise Pink can be made to work when layered with appropriate products.

Have you tried this?  What were your thoughts?

Strange Beautiful Nail Polish Review

Morning all!

Strange Beautiful is the nail polish received in the June VB, and the name sums it up.  Strange Beautiful is an American brand, and the concept behind the colours are things the creator has seen.  It started with a bright red typewriter, and there is a nail polish based on it.  Therefore there are no colour names, just a description on what they're based on.  They come in volumes, there are 3 volumes containing 8 colours each.  We received a little cube type version, with 2 colours (i'd almost say miniatures), a dusty rose colour and an orange red (i think the same type of cube is in the current ipsy bag).

Anyway, i tried it on the day i received my VB, 2 coats worth (no top or base coat).  The red applied beautiful, it went on smoothly and you could apply a thin, even coat easily.  The pink on the other hand is horrible.  It's gluggy, it dries so quickly you can't fix up any small mistakes (or blend 2 strokes in together), and because of this it is extremely hard to do a thin coat.  Colour payoff for both is great, you can get away with 1 coat of each, but a second means a completely opaque manicure.  Both dried quickly, and i didn't get a single smudge, plus they don't smell too bad and it doesn't linger.

1 coat

2 coats

Wear wise, the red after almost 3 days of wear only has minor chips, but the pink is almost completely off.  I feel the red with a proper base/top coat would look good for close to a week, however due to how thick you need to paint the pink it will never be a long lasting nail polish.

After 1 day of wear

After 3 days of wear

I love the red, i can see myself wearing it regularly, but i dont think much of the pink.  I'd be interested in trying more colours if they were the same formula as the red.

Have you tried Strange Beautiful?  What did you think?