Thursday, February 18, 2016

Madam Glam

Morning Lovelies!!



Last November i was contacted by the beautiful Mihaela from Madam Glam, wondering if i'd be interested in reviewing some products from the brand.  I'm going to be completely honest, and say that i had never heard of them, but after a quick search i discovered an amazing website filled with absolutely gorgeous products.

Madam Glam is a makeup and nail polish brand from New York!  They do nail polishes, both gel and normal, plus a small range of makeup.  Everything is cruelty free (so never tested on animals) and the polishes are all 5 free.  They ship internationally, $8.95USD or free for orders over $80.

Mihaela and i had a bit of a chat about products, and what colours i normally go for, and i then promptly forgot about it.  So i was so surprised to receive a little parcel all the way from New York (i think it was more exciting as it was from New York!!).  The products themselves were individually bubble wrapped, with more bubble wrap in the box (they were in a little black box, then in the mailer).  Everything arrived in perfect condition, and i loved the amount of detail that went in to the packaging.  We all know how things can arrive when sent within Australia, so knowing that that amount of care is taken reassures me that anything i order will arrive in perfect condition.
I received 4 products, a blush, a lipstick, an eyeshadow and a nail polish.  I love that the 4 all suit, so a look can be created from these 4 products alone.
First and foremost, i have a Classic Matte Lipstick in Metro Red.  It's a gorgeous blue toned red, and isn't a matte matte (nor is it a satin, it's between the 2) which makes it extremely comfortable to wear.  It tugs a bit as you apply it, but i've found that with any matte lipstick.  It goes on slightly sheer, but is buildable, so you can go for a wash of colour, or a bold lip (you know me, i love a bold lip.  But i love that i can wear this anywhere).  After applying first thing in the morning i find i still have to remove my lipstick last thing of a night, although it does become more of a stain as the day wears on. 

The tube is a matte black oval tube, with the logo on the lid and the product name on a sticker on the base.  The size of the tube belies how much product it contains, an Essence lipstick contains less, but the tube is over 1cm bigger.  The size makes it perfect for carrying in your bag, plus i haven't had the matte black pick up any gunk (as matte black packing tends to).

They retail for $15.95USD, and they contain 4.5g of lipstick.
Then we have a Mineral eyeshadow in Razz Berry.  Now let me tell you all the things i love about this.

Firstly, i love this type of packaging for eyeshadows.  There's no searching for a brush, you don't end up with a heap of fallout, they're easy to store, they're easy to travel with.  I'm not a massive eyeshadow user, but i tend to reach for this type before anything else.  I am interested to see how accessible the product is when it's almost finished, though (i've had issues with this type of thing in the past, great to begin with, not so brilliant at the end).

Secondly, i love the colour.  I used to wear metallic purple shimmer powder as a young teen (and metallic purple lipstick, and glitter, and stars.............  I thought i looked gorgeous!), and this is a toned down, grown up version.  It's a gorgeous luminous lilac, with a bit of a sheen and some subtle shimmer.  It's not completely 'in your face', but it definitely appeals to 13 y/o Olivia (in a way that her almost 30 y/o self can get away with).

Now these little beauties are fragrance free, allergen free, paraben free, gluten (?) free, and they're mineral makeup.  They blend out beautifully for a sheer wash, or pack a punch when built up.  Again, if you're in to touching up throughout the day, the packaging is perfect for chucking in your handbag (unless it's my lipcolour i don't touch my makeup up during the day, but i know plenty of you do).

These babies sell for $17.95USD, and contain 1g of product.
Now this is the Just a Flirt nail polish.  If you have read this blog EVER, you know what i think of most nail polishes.  They just don't last on my nails!  OPI chips in less than 24 hours, if i get 24 hours out of any brand with out a chip i'm happy.  This i get 2-3 days before it chips, and even then they're so small i can get a few more days before i want it off.  Ah-Maz-Ing!!  Plus the formula.  It's lilac, finding a lilac nail polish that doesn't need a bazillion coats to look even is like finding a needle in a haystack.  This is beautiful in 2, and looks pretty good with 1.  I've pretty much been exclusively wearing this since it arrived, and i'm still not sick of it, plus it's been on Miss A's nails too.

Plus the bottle is wonderful.  Square bottles make storage so much easier.

Madam Glam nail polishes are $10.95USD each!


Last but not least, we have the Powder Blush in Sable.  I am going to be completely honest and tell you this scared the living daylights out of me when i first saw it.  It's so dark!!  I really didn't think i was going to be able to use it.  However, with a very light hand, and plenty of blending, i fell in love.  The Madam Glam blushes are matte, triple milled., and really highly pigmented.  All this meant that with a big fluffy brush i ended up with a beautiful soft flush.  Yes, it's a bit more work than a lighter blush, but no more than my brighter blushes. 

Plus check out that packaging!  I had a play with everything before i looked each one up, and the blush just seemed really bulky for the size of the pan.  So after a bit of investigating i discovered the brush.  And it's a lovely little brush, really soft and no loose hairs!  It works perfectly with the blush.  And with the mirror, it is, again, the perfect on-the-go companion.

The blushes are $15.99USD, and contain 3.1g of product.
Razz Berry eyeshadow, Metro Red lipstick, Sable blush
I really love each and every product i received.  They're all amazing quality, the packaging is to die for, and the products themselves can't be faulted.  I would love some more of the nail polishes and really want to try the gels.

Thank you so much to both Mihaela and Madam Glam for the opportunity to review the brand, and for my lovely products.

For more information or to buy visit Madam Glam

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

David Jones Deluxe Sampler Tote-February 2016

Hey Lovelies!

I saw a blog post for these the other day, and i don't think my poor husband heard the end of it for the rest of the day.  I love these bags, and i missed the last one :(  There are 2 variants, the Pink and the Purple, after reading the reviews i went for the Pink (it had a product i preferred in it).
The bag!  Blah!  It now has yarn in it (i went to lincraft, not planning to buy anything, and walked away with 11 balls of yarn.  They had this amazing light grey cotton with glitter through it, at only $1.29 a ball.  I went to buy 10, and there were 11 there, so i bought them all.  Now to decide on a pattern.  Poor Husband just rolled his eyes, he's used to my crafty acquisitions.  There's been enough of them).
My purchase to qualify.  Have you ever seen me buy anything else?  The small size has gone up by $1, it's now $5.95 (i bought a big lavender before Christmas to qualify for free shipping on the DJ's website).
These 3 are in every bag.  An Ecoya Midnight Orchid Mini Botanic Jar Candle ($17.95-i love the scent), a Red Earth Colour Lock Nail Colour in Nebula ($18), and A Grown Alchemist Camellia and Geranium Hydrating Cream ($7.80-i've tried this from a previous DJ's tote, and love it.  Very happy to have another).
So Pretty!!

The rest of the items are exclusive to the Pink bag
Blinc Eyeliner ($0.25)-very, very wet.  Rubs off as promised, though.
Lanolips 101 Ointment Multipurpose Balm in Peach ($13.95)-the whole reason i got the Pink bag.  The purple bag had a Burts Bees lipbalm, i'm not a huge fan of their balms, and i absolutely love the Peach lanolips!
The eyeliner.  It's really black.
Red Earth Energising Daytime Moisturiser (Full size $40, the one in the bag is 30ml.  can't seem to find a size for the full size)
Antipodes Hosana H2O Skin-Plumping Serum ($16.33)
Weleda Skin Food ($4.99)
The Aromatherapy Company Naturals Orange and Jasmine Hand and Nail Cream ($17.95) This smells divine!
In Essence Aromatherapy Sleep Easy Pillow Mist ($2)-the second reason i wanted the Pink bag.  I love lavender oil on my pillow at night.

Plus vouchers for Red Earth (20%), Grown (20%), In Essence (25%), Weleda (30%) and Lanolips (BOGO-i plan on using this!).

Total= $99.22 (without including the red earth moisturiser).  So not too far off the supposed value of $130.

All in all i'm happy with the bag.  Most of the brands have been in previous bags, but only 1 repeat product, and not too many similar products (i've had bags that seem like they're all face moisturisers, body washes and body moisturisers), plus not a DJ's product to be seen (i don't necessarily dislike Dj's products, but when they're the main products in the bags it tends to annoy me).  Plus not an OPI polish to be seen!

To see what's in the Purple bag, check out The Beauty in Life





Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Lust Have It January 2016

Afternoon Lovelies!

I must apologise for the late review, i've been sick (just a nasty cold, but it's been fairly bad).  I've actually had my LHI bag since Monday last week (1/2), and i'm just sitting down to write this now.

Another apology for the terrible photos, it was a horrible, overcast day.
As you can just make out, one of the Skinyoga boxes had broken open.  Gorgeous packaging, but it's probably better posted in a box.
First and foremost i have my Sasy n Savy handcream that was missing from the December box.  And it's in Cherry Blossom!  Lovely handcream, absorbs really quickly, didn't leave any sort of residue, and smells beautiful.
Unani Micellar Water-$22.50-full size

This was the sneak peek.  It almost sounds like a toner, rather than a micellar water.  I don't tend to use much micellar water (i have 2 full sized Swisse ones here, unopened), but i'm interested if it's like a toner.
Hikari Blush-$21-full size 

I got the colour Sunkissed, described as a Warm peach with shimmer.  Warm Peach?  To me it's a sandy champagne-y colour, and isn't really a blush, it's more of a light bronzer or a highlighter.  But it's great for adding a bit of all over warmth to my face.  It's a lovely product, and i love the fact i didn't get something i already have 5-6 of (i may or may not own a few blushes, a lot the same kinds of colour).

Hikari Lip Crayon-$18-full sized

Mine's in Amour, a lovely blue based red.  I've seen 2 other colourways, and i prefer the one i got.  When swatched it feels really nice, and goes on smoothly.
SkinYoga Almond Orange Face Scrub and Sandalwood Saffron Face Mask-$24-deluxe sample

These are in really cute glass bottles, both are dry powders you mix with water.  Seems slightly silly to put them in bottles, for a couple of reasons.  If the contents happen to get a bit of steam or water they could prove to be impossible to get out, and glass in a bathroom?  In something you handle with wet hands?  Seems a bit silly.  Haven't tried them yet, so can't tell you much else, but they don't have a scent when dry.  I was expecting they would.
Hikari Pencil and Blush
All in all i'm really happy with my bag.  I'll use everything, eventually, and i love the colours.

Since it's been so long since i blogged, tell me what i've missed?  What do i need to know about?