Sunday 22 February 2015

EOTD: Sleek Acid Purple and Blue...

Don't you just love sure bets? Nothing worse than putting in time and considerable effort into an eye look, only to have it disappoint because the colours or textures don't turn out quite as you planned. Thank goodness for my Sleek Acid palette! Hard for me to imagine a dud with this selection of shades and finishes - they are all so complementary to each other, the pigments never let me down (except for the yellow), and I can blend to my hearts content to make the exact hue I'm after ...


I have a huge soft spot for blue and purple together - they are side by side in the rainbow, which means that you have to try really hard to get them to NOT work lol... 


While these pigments are super intense, they're also "softenable" (not a real word, but who cares hey) to a more pastel finish. I patted down a light layer of these two colours over essence white kajal, and then blended the join with a fluffy brush. I usually apply shimmery shades on the inner third and matte on the outside, but interestingly, this is the reverse. On the waterline is essence Longlasting Eye Pencil in Coolest Chic - I used very little pressure so that it would come out as a soft lavender...


For cheeks, I used the purply pink from the bhcosmetics Glamorous 10 Color Palette (this will be the one I hit pan on first - love it!), and lips are Coral Colors lipstick with Maybelline Color Elixir gloss in Mauve Mystique over the top...



Take care of you,
kats xxx

Saturday 21 February 2015

CONFESSIONS: of a Scrubaholic (Part 4)...

Although I found one polish at the end of last year that suits my skin beautifully (by Ego QV Face, and reviewed here), my addiction to scrubs (or rather the collecting and trying out of scrubs ha ha), shows no signs of abating. Despite shower space being a premium, I don't think I'm ever going to get over my passion for variety - using the same product every single day is just way too boring in my personal beauty book, so here's the next lot I've been putting through their paces 


St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Green Tea Scrub
St. Ives scrubs have been part of my kit for almost a decade - in fact I've just found a beautyheaven review of the Fresh Skin Invigorating Apricot one I wrote back in 2008 (embarrassingly only three sentences, but you can tell I loved it). For value (around $10) and performance this range is hard to beat, and there's a good variety to choose from for various skin concerns. While I'm lucky to have very little facial redness, blackheads on my nose are forever looming on the horizon unless I keep a watchful eye on their formation. Using this twice a week though, I can keep them under control with (I believe) the Salicylic Acid content. The cream is such a pretty olive shade, and the green tea fragrance is light and refreshing. Just the right consistency, not too runny or too thick, the sloughing grains are super-fine and not even visible to the naked eye, yet its smoothing power is undeniable. The new packaging contains a nifty little "exfoliation meter" on the back of the pack (a bit like those bushfire hazard warning signs) indicating Gentle, Moderate or Deep, and this Green Tea Scrub is marked as Moderate. All St. Ives scrubs contain no parabens or sulfates, are hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested and non-comedogenic...


St. Ives Smooth & Hydrated Oatmeal Scrub & Mask
My skin seems to love anything oatmealy in the skin care department, and this combination scrub and mask from St. Ives is a keeper. Loving the fact that it's a gentle scrub, plus I can leave it on till I finish the rest of my ablutions, and my complexion receives the benefits of a soothing and hydrating mask, all while I'm showering - now that's a dual purpose that's practical as well as being a marvellous time-saver. Honestly this really is moisturising, and yet it has enough oomph to remove any dry flakes. The cream is the colour of oatmeal with tiny brown beads - the consistency is more liquid than the green tea one, but not runny enough to be a problem with it dripping through my fingers. And the fragrance is worthy of a special mention - subtle yet fresh, it's a beautiful floral that I find incredibly calming. Actually I'd LOVE a body wash that smells like this, and with the same skin softening and moisturising formula - hint hint St. Ives 

Palmer's Coca Butter Formula Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub

This purchase was actually a revisit - I stopped using this scrub almost two years ago for a couple of reasons. 1) I'm not keen on the fragrance - yes I know the scent of Palmer's Cocoa Butter products has a MASSIVE following, but it just doesn't appeal to me, never has, and after repurchasing this truly terrific scrub, nothing has changed from my perfume point of view. 2) I found it extraordinarily difficult to squeeze the cream from the tube - it used to be such a thick consistency, and I struggled every time, especially with wet fingers. The good thing this time around is that the formula seems to have been re-worked, and it's now far more liquid than before - but actually I think it's almost too liquid and I waste quite a bit. Sigh - oh well you can't please everybody hey? Performance-wise though, this is a great scrub - I'd classify it as heavy duty, and as such I only use it once a week. It contains lots of goodies like Vitamin E, Aloe Vera and Evening Primrose, and I do like the fact that the beads are actually cocoa beans, and not bits of plastic like some other brands... 

Nude by Nature Nude Face Scrub
As I often do, I've saved the best till last - this little gem is my current #1 fave  It also happens to be the very first Nude by Nature product I've ever tried, which is puzzling as the brand has been around for years (and so have I) although I don't remember seeing it in the supermarket until fairly recently, which may be the explanation. I so rarely get to Priceline these days, and every time I go into Chemist Warehouse, I get sidetracked at the perfume counter (oops!), so Coles or Woolies tends to be the place where I shop for my skincare basics, and I'm super excited that I can now pick up some of this range when I do my weekly grocery purchase.

Firstly I love the packaging - sure it's the same flip-top tube as most other brands, but there's something about the colours and the simplicity of the labelling that really appeals to me. Of course it's what's inside that counts, and that's what has really won my heart. The cream has a consistency and appearance more like a moisturiser - it's quite thick and shiny, yet it spreads effortlessly. If I've read the label right, the exfoliating beads are made from coconut husks, jojoba and walnuts, which soften as you add water and gently massage it into your skin. The rest of the ingredients are just as natural - Kakadu Plum, Quandong, Desert Lime, Avocado, Rose Hip and Jojoba oils, and NO parabens, preservatives, sulfates, artificial fragrance or petrochemicals, PLUS it's not tested on animals. With all those goodies, and no baddies, it's no wonder it smells divine - like freshly squeezed lemons and limes. Leaves my skin feeling so incredibly soft and smooth, and my complexion looks and feels like I've had a facial. Love it so very much - at $17.95 it's quite a bit more expensive than others on my shelf, but SO worth the extra $$$ for both the delightful experience and the impressive results  

In case you missed them, Part 1Part 2, Part 3...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

Wednesday 18 February 2015

EOTD: Sugarpill Elemental Chaos...

As promised, here's a far more solo-ish display of Sugarpill Elemental Chaos - a gorgeous blue-purple that my camera is still struggling to capture in all it's glory - I'll keep trying of course ♥ I'm beginning to think it's a lighting issue - taking a photo of it in the pan in my office brings out it's true hue, but my makeup lights can't seem to make up their mind as to whether it's more purple than blue, or blue than purple...sigh. 


Anyways you get an idea of just how lush and regal the colour is - this is over a base of pinky-purple Face of Australia Budge-Proof Gel Liner, which in hindsight, may have interfered with it's vibrancy. Also combining it with the deep green probably wasn't such a good idea, but hey, I'm making up this eye makeup caper as I go along ha ha!


The green in the crease is Fern from the SleekV2 matte palette, and on the waterline is essence LongLasting Eye Pencil in I Have a Green...


And here's the face that went with it - cheeks are the purply pink from the bhcosmetics Glamorous 10 Color Palette, lips are MUA Matte Lipstick in Lilac Belle, with Maybelline Color Elixir Gloss in Mauve Mystique slicked over the top...



Take care of you,
kats xxx

Monday 16 February 2015

CONFESSIONS: of a Body Washaholic (Part 9)...

Hello we're onto Part 9, and the remaining three body washes from the Part 8 photo, but I've snuck in an extra Imperial Leather one that isn't pictured in the group shot, only because I wasn't able to find it until last week. Not every supermarket carries the whole range, so you might have to scout around if you want to try all nine of them  



Chi Chi Peach & Mango Shower Gel...

Sadly this was a bit of a disappointment. I'm crazy about the Peach & Mango EDP - it's bold, bright and full of fruity fresh bravado, but this gel doesn't pack nearly the same punch as the perfume. It's gentle and cleanses effectively, but that's about all I can say about it. Smells nice enough, but I was hoping for something of the same calibre in the scent department. It's non-drying, but I don't find it particuarly moisturising either - oh well, I'll finish it up, but won't repurchase...


Lush Snow Fairy Limited Edition Shower Gel...


This little seasonal darling was recommended to me by I don't know how many friends and fellow blogger gal-pals, so I took advantage of the "Christmas in July" special release last year to add it to my collection (it's normally only available from November). As soon as I popped the cap I knew why it is so loved by so many - the scent is amazing, like the most delicious cherry/raspberry lolly you've ever tasted! An absolute delight to slather this yum-fest all over my body, my mix was put together by "Rafal", and has a recommended use-by date just over 12 months after manufacture. I do so appreciate knowing how long I've got before the ingredients lose their efficacy, not that there's any chance of a body wash lasting more than six months in my bathroom lol. 

The colour reminds me of pink bubblegum, and the formula contains tiny little sparkles of blue glitter which you can see in the bottom of the bottle, but I didn't notice any on my body after cleansing. Overall it leaves my skin beaurifully soft and delicately fragranced. Highly recommended and loved by moi (♥), although compared to other gels, it costs a fortune ($16.95) for such a small bottle...


Imperial Leather Oriental Bloom (No. 24)  Body Wash...

It's pretty obvious I'm a massive Imperial Leather fan, so much so that I can't imagine NOT having at least two or three on my shower shelf at any given moment. This Cherry Blossom & Vanilla variety is the last one in the set that I've tried, and while it's a lovely balanced floral fragrance, it's not something I would go for all year round. It's very sweet, a tad too sweet for my nose, and there's a baby powder element to it which I normally love, but combined with the particular mix of flowers in this formula, it's just a wee bit too much for me to appreciate more than once every couple of weeks. Ingredients include cherry, red berries, rose, jasmine, sandalwood, vanilla and musk - sounds fabulous doesn't it, and I've no doubt there will be loads of lovelies who will adore it 


Urban Rituelle Hibiscus & Cranberry Bath & Shower Gel...

I raved about this gel back in November last year - at the time I hinted it might just be my #1 body wash of all time, and three months later, that's still the case. For value, scent appreciation and hydrating power, this is THE one for me. If I'm running late, I don't need to moisturise after showering because this formula is so enriching, my skin doesn't need anything additional to keep it supple and soft all day. The fragrance is so refreshing, and it's riddled with a whole stack of goodies from nature, PLUS it's super concentrated - the huge bottle is lasting me considerably longer than any of my others because such a small quantity is required for a deliciously lush lather. Simply divine 

The rest of the series is here...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

Sunday 15 February 2015

EOTD: Sleek Garden of Eden Pink and Green...

EOTD #2 using the gorgeous Sleek Garden of Eden palette - sigh...such a delicate pink with a truckload of shimmer content, buttery smooth, and lasts all day with minimal transfer. Reckon it makes my eyes look all dreamy 


Started as usual with a base of essence white kajal, and then blended the prettiest palest pink over the whole top lid. Then deepened the outer corner with the deeper matte pink that has the sparkles in it, and added the green underneath the lower lashline...


Pink and green is one of my favourite colour combinations - I'm crazy about watermelon tourmalines, and this to me is a paler version of what the mineral kingdom knows is a winning pairing of hues...


I lined the waterline with essence Longlasting Eye Pencil in I Have A Green, a darn near perfect match to the green shadow 


You've probably guessed you'll be seeing quite a few more looks from this palette in the weeks ahead - I'm going to have lots of fun with the deeper shades come Autumn 

Take care of you,
kats xxx

Saturday 14 February 2015

REVIEW: essence Waterproof Gel Eye Pencils...

My review of these crayons is way WAY overdue. I've been using (and loving) them for around six weeks, but something else has always leapt to the forefront in my blogging schedule. I have three of them - only one is labelled and that's the dark blue one, Around Midnight. But I looked up the others on the essence website - the teal is called Blue Lagoon, and the green is Urban Jungle...

They're the propelling type, which isn't my preference (I like my eye liners sharp!), but they do have other major merits - they are certainly waterproof, I mean, nothing will remove these suckers except waterproof makeup remover! This is an ABSOLUTE bonus for me - my eyes water at the drop of a hat, and it's a rare thing for me to find a liner that stays exactly where I place it (and with no shadow pressed over the top), so these score 10/10 for staying power...

Secondly the pigmentation is magnificent - bold and dense, and the colours are quite magical. So without further ado, here are the swatches...

In each case, the pic on the left is as drawn with a single stroke, and the one on the right is after taking a few photos, and then rubbing it around 10 times with my fingers. You'll see that with the exception of Blue Lagoon (which smeared and faded a wee bit), the only part that has smudged is where there was a little bit of extra pigment from my crummy drawing that hadn't quite set. You'll also note that my heart shapes improved as the swatching session progressed ha ha!

Urban Jungle
Blue Lagoon
Around Midnight
In summary they're all pretty stunning for $4.70 each, and although the teal isn't quite as potent or smudgeproof as the green and the deep blue, it still stayed put for the whole day. I do have one BIG word of warning though - do not, I repeat, DO NOT use these on your waterline. They clump into big globs that then start floating around in your eyeball - not pleasant at all!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY LOVELIES!

Take care of you,
kats xxx

Tuesday 10 February 2015

REVIEW/EOTD: Sleek Garden of Eden palette...

I knew it! I just knew this would be a fabulous palette. Well, with a name like Garden Of Eden, I had exceptionally high expectations, and apart from one dud pan, it truly is a palette from paradise 


Having said that, Sleek has very rarely disappointed me, if ever in fact - they sure know how to put together a stunning selection of hues and textures, with creamy formulas that defy fallout, and amazingly pigmented mattes...


So I just had to start with a green look now didn't I? It was the main reason why I bought this little box of delights - being a madly passionate green eye shadow lover it just had to be mine, and the pinks and other earthy shades were a bonus...


For this look I stuck with the basics so I could see what these pans were made of - essence white kajal for the base, with the above three greens blended effortlessly from inner to outer corner, pressed a smidgin of the dark green matte into the crease, and took the middle one under the lower lashline...



So onto the single-finger-swipe(*) swatches, over a BB Cream base. The pic of the palette was taken with a flash (the only way I could get the labels to show) but the swatches were captured under my mix of yellow and white makeup lights, so they're a lot more true-to-life...

Top row - the first four are all buttery shimmers, Forbidden is a matte with tiny sparkles, and Flora is a bold earthy red-brown matte...


Bottom row - the first two are mattes, Fig, Evergreen and Fauna are silky greens almost worth dying for, and Tree of Life is one of the most stunning mattes I've ever had the pleasure to own - it's simply WOW!

As you can see, the only disappointing pan is Adam's Apple, second from the left - a matte that's such a pretty and delicate lime hue, but doesn't have any oomph (* this is actually three swipes - couldn't see a thing with the first, and not much more with the second). But you know me, I'm determined to make it work somehow, so watch this space...


The EOTD I created yesterday starred a couple of the pinks - oh boy, you'll see them in all their gorgeousness later in the week...

I can sum up my feelings about this palette in one word - ADORE!

Take care of you,
kats xxx

Saturday 7 February 2015

EOTD: Come Play With Me - GOLD!...

Absolutely delighted that the beautiful Cathy over at SilverScreenBeautyQueens has joined in the fun of IndieAna's Come Play With Me series, and chosen the current theme - "Gold". And with the Oscars looming on the horizon, it was the perfect choice. I haven't featured gold in my eye looks all that much in the past, so this was a great excuse for me to put to the test the various ones I have in my kit. On it's own, I don't think gold does my particular colouring any favours (see below), but as an accent or feature combined with a rainbow hue, I just adore it!


This orangey gold shadow has been languishing in my collection for way too long (like quite a few others!) - it's from the Chi Chi Wake Me Up Before You Go Go palette, years old, and yet it's still wonderfully vibrant, creamy and rich...


And below is a selection of looks using different golds paired with two of my favourite shades, purple and green 

Both this pinky purple and the pale gold are from the MUA Poptastic palette. Totally in love with this barely-there gold - could probably use it as a cheek highlighter as well!



This is Sugarpill Midori over a base of Mirenesse Secret Weapon 24 Hr Eye Liner in Pure Gold - I also lined the top and bottom lashlines with it. A brilliant liquid liner, but keep it away from your waterline... 



And for this look I used the slightly darker and more yellowy gold from the MUA Poptastic palette, along with the fabulous Sugarpill Elemental Chaos - my camera just doesn't do this passionate purple the justice it deserves...


Cathy's gorgeously gold look is here...
Have a look at what the amazingly talented MUA Hailey put together here...
And check out Indie's ultra-glam creation here...

Do you "Go for Gold" in your eye looks?

Take care of you,
kats xxx

Friday 6 February 2015

EOTM: "Your Favourite January EOTD" Giveaway...

It's EOTM Giveaway time again! Decided to go with a Valentine's Day theme, and I'll only keep this one open till Tuesday next week so that I can send the prize off to the lucky winner to arrive as close as possible to the special day 


Up for grabs are 100g of Belgian strawberry filled Chocolate Hearts in a gorgeous red velvet box, which I've no doubt can be re-used once the contents have been inhaled ha ha! The use by date is 3rd December 2015...


There's also a Maybelline Color Elixir Lip Gloss in the shade Signature Scarlet, and a ColorSensational Lipstick in Are You Red-dy...

To enter just choose which of the January EOTD's is your favourite from the eight pictured below, let me know in the comments section why you like it the most, and then follow the Rafflecopter entry instructions below ...

The Rafflecopter will decide the winner, so please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions inside (Australian residents only). Please note that leaving a comment, providing your email address inside the Rafflecopter, AND following my blog one way or another from the many choices listed are MANDATORY for entry...
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This giveaway is now closed - check back later tonight to see who won!


Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Karen C as the winner.  
Congratulations gorgeous! 
Karen please respond to the email I've sent you by 
Thursday 12th February to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Karen has claimed her prize 
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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,
kats xxx