EOTD: L'Oreal Color Infallible Emerald Lame...

Gee my blogging has taken a bit of a beating this month - what with work nightmares, storm interruptions and moving house, writing up my precious posts has been pushed way down the list. The new home is also in a bit of a state with boxes everywhere, and furniture still being shifted around daily to find just the right spots. So I'll have to make this quick and then dig through the bags and crates to find something to wear tomorrow!

But there's always time for an EOTD - I found enough of my makeup to put together this look for my return to work, and when in doubt or in need of a boost, I go with the colours of nature, and that of course includes green ♥  My base was essence Longlasting Eye Pencil in I Have A Green, and then I packed on a fair whack of L'Oreal Color Iinfallible Emerald Lame all over the top lid - a beautiful intense olivey green with gold shimmer...

For the crease and underneath I used Sleek Fern from the V2 Matte palette, and my waterline scored essence kajal pencil in the shade Teddy - this is terrific for adding a wee bit more definition and contrast, it goes on nice and evenly, and it's not dark enough to take me into goth-land lol...

The lighting here is also quite different, so I'll be fiddling around with different globes and back lights over the next few days until I can capture the colours correctly again. Hard to believe May is almost here, and with it the last month of Autumn, but that also means another EOTM giveaway very soon ♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Maybelline COLORdrama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils...

Well now this has been one of the more challenging weeks in my life - got hammered by the storm on Monday and lost all power and phone connectivity for 3 days, right in the middle of preparing for a house move! Still it was nothing compared to what some poor folk have had to endure - prayers and rapid recovery wishes to all who were affected by Stormageddon ♥

But I just couldn't let another day go by without writing up a rave review of these fabulous new COLORdrama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils from Maybelline. I haven't been this excited about a lip product since they brought out their ColorElixir glosses (not that long ago), but these little babies have my heart pounding (and my lips smacking) even faster. In my beauty book, they're simply PERFECT! Cheaps as chips, stunning colour selection, unbelievably intense pigmentation, gorgeous sheen (I can't wear matte lipsticks - I look like I'm dying), they're super convenient to carry around, and what's really interesting is that I find they rarely need sharpening(?)...

I started with the four pictured below after swatching and falling head over heels in love with them in Chemist Warehouse - Fuchsia Desire, Pink So Chic, Light It Up and In With Coral, after which I was OBSESSED with acquiring the entire set...

Here they are (not-so-expertly) swatched onto bare lips in my morning rush to get ready...

The pigmentation is astonishing, they're non-drying, unbelievably easy to work with, deliciously creamy and they glide on without dragging - I normally apply lipliner with any lipstick, but it's not required with these little darlings. On me they don't bleed, not even the deeper hues...

And here are the other six (spent an entire Saturday hunting them down lol) - Berry Much, Fab Orange, Minimalist, Nude Perfection, Love My Pink & Red Essential. I have my fingers and toes crossed that MNY brings out some more shades in the range - I would buy any additional hues in a heartbeat ♥ ♥ ♥

Just ADORE these crayons - they have such a flatteringly soft sheen, and the darker ones especially have an incredibly long lip-life. I've found with other deep lipstick shades, they look patchy after a meal and I'm usually left with a ridiculous looking outline that's sadly in need of restoration, but these gems stay put and keep looking glamorous throughout the day...

I bought most of these on special for under $7, but even at full price (around $10), they are sensational value. Maybelline can seemingly do no wrong with their lip products of late (congrats!), and we're reaping the benefits ♥

Have you tried any of these Colordrama pencils? Which shade is your favourite? Mine is Red Essential - it's the perfect red for moi!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Last post until I get settled in my new abode, and hopefully with a more reliable internet connection...
P.P.S. I've finally gotten around to joining in the fun of Ingrid's Makeup Monday Madness share - do take a look at her marvellous blog, and why not come along for the ride every Monday too ♥

REVIEW: Urban Rituelle Botanical Infusions...

What gal (or Mum) doesn't adore lavishing their bod with beautifully fragranced and enriching products hey? You know, the ones that not only smell like they were made in heaven, but also provide essential nutrients to keep the skin in the best condition possible? Well my previous passion for Urban Rituelle's range has hit a new high after receiving this ever so pretty pouch of Botanical Infusions from the UR team ♥

The quilted zipper bag contains Botanical Perfume, Organic Hand Cream and Botanical Soap, all lovingly scented with vanilla, lavender and geranium essential oils. Such a treat for the senses - an inspired blend that's both calming and enlivening, soothing and refreshing, relaxing and revitalising. My nose can detect all three main ingredients - the lavender and geranium tend to steal the spotlight from the vanilla, but overall it's a masterful pot pourri of flowers and spice...

Botanical Perfume...
The perfume is cleverly packaged in a plastic pump spray bottle - this is a blessed innovation as I've already had one of my purse sprays topple over, roll off the vanity and smash into little shards on the tiled bathroom floor (sob...). First note is most definitely lavender, real lavender, which is an instant pick-me-up. The geranium starts to come through after a minute or so, and then they both snuggle down on a delicious bed of vanilla. The fragrance is pleasurably potent for around 3 hours, and leaves a creamy perfume caress on the skin for several more ♥

Botanical Soap

Regular readers will know of my passion for liquid hand and body washes, but I do still use soap every week (especially for shaving) and there's always a cake on the basin in case that's what visitors prefer. I can honestly say that the ONLY soaps in my bathroom are from Urban Rituelle - they lather like there's no tomorrow, and are enriched with Glycerin, Vitamin E, Shea and Cocoa Butters. Along with the vanilla, lavender and geranium oils, this botanical variety also contains Oat Bran. There's not even the remotest chance of this soap drying your skin - it's unbelievably creamy and I reckon it actually puts moisture back in. The cake is a massive 200gm, it's lightly scented with the same gorgeous fragrance, and will have your guests in raptures ♥

Organic Hand Cream
And now for the hand cream - another magnificently crafted concoction for paws that have seen better days. Love ALL UR hand creams (particularly crazy about the Equilibrium and Ginger Apple ones), but this little beauty is pretty close to taking over the top spot. My hands feel so incredibly soft and cared for after massaging in some of this magical formula. It's non greasy, and my skin is deliriously happy to drink in the Aloe Vera, Sweet Almond, Jojoba, Olive, Avocado & Rosehip oils it contains. Combined with Shea Butter and Vitamin E, it's an amazingly regenerative hand cream that protects while it heals and nourishes. Same delightful fragrance as the perfume, but more delicate and subtle ♥

And for those who like to know the whole score, here's the list of ingredients...

All up, a stunningly presented collection of beautifully fragrant and nourishing products - so kind to the skin, and your spirits will be transported out into a flower-filled meadow. I'm planning on ordering one of these for my Mum for Mother's Day - I have no doubt whatsoever that she will adore every item. This particular set is $39.95, but I've noticed there's another pack (with a smaller tube of hand cream and minus the pouch) on sale at the moment for $22 - total bargain! There's also a Lemon Grass, Lemon Myrtle, Grapefruit & Eucalyptus variety which sounds so wonderful, and I can't wait to try it ♥

Urban Rituelle use no artificial colours or fragrances in their products, no sulfates or parabens either, nor do they test on animals. Delivery is prompt, packaging is ever so pretty, and there's always a gift with every purchase ♥

Bless you Urban Rituelle - that's my "what'll I give my Mum?" gift dilemma sorted! Thank you so very much for the opportunity to sample more of your fabulous range, and to discover yet another new love ♥

What are you giving your Mum on Mother's Day, or if you're a mum, what would you like to receive? What's your favourite Urban Rituelle fragrance?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

EOTD: Maybelline Marsala?...

I haven't really even BEGUN to get into this Marsala Pantone Colour of the Year caper, which is surprising as I adore the shade, and well it kinda goes with my hair. So imagine my surprise when I did one of my usual day looks, and then discovered after checking out the photos that I might just have found the right shade already lurking in my kit!

Believe it or not, this is the deepest pinky red from the Maybelline Hyper Diamonds palette - the Berry one (BR-2). It's been around for years, and still available I believe, but I reckon it's pretty darn close to Marsala. Not even sure why I decided to pull out this old pan after so many moons, but I'm definitely glad I did ♥ I used a red base (Maybelline Colordrama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Red Essential!), and lined the waterline with essence kajal in the shade Teddy, a gorgeous brown metallic with a fair whack of pink in it, which complements this hue beautifully. For the crease I used a similar pinky brown shade from the NYX Bohemian Chic Nude Matte palette (another oldie but a goodie)...

Here's the whole look - cheeks are the first pan from the Sleek Flame Blush by 3 palette, and lips are the latest love of my makeup life, the aforementioned MNY Colordrama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Red Essential. I would never have believed a red could be so flattering to an old chooky like me, and the miracle of this new release is the formula - amazingly long-lasting, intense pigmentation, doesn't bleed (whoa!) plus it's moisturising as well. I'll be posting a review of these soon - I adore them so much I bought the whole set! They're not completely matte - they have a wee bit of sheen, but I added Color Elixir Gloss in Signature Scarlet for a little more pizazz...

So what do you think gals - can I get away with labelling this as Marsala?

Take care of you,
kats xxx

REVIEW & EOTDs: Chi Chi OMFG Palette...

Oh wow, sometimes I get REALLY lucky, and a cosmetic company brings out an eye shadow box that couldn't be more perfect for me - and that's what Chi Chi did with their OMFG palette. Stunningly bold and complementary hues, a couple of pastel shades, a mix of matte, shimmer and sparkly finishes, and all for around $20. One sweep of my eyes over this collection of glorious rainbow pans, and well, you know me, I had to have it ♥

This is what I lovingly call eye-candy. The bonus for me is that there are shades in this set that I don't have in my collection at all. Sure I have quite a few bold and bright palettes - some are neons, some focus on 2 or 3 variations of a similar hue, but as you can see OMFG has a wide range from the spectrum, all in a neat little box that reminds me of the xylophone I had when I was a kiddiewink...

I've swatched all the colours below over the top of a light layer of foundation. Top row was taken under my photography (white) light, and the bottom one is with a flash - not much difference in the intensity, which is always a good sign...

And here are some of the looks I've created already...

And you can be assured there's plenty more to come ♥

A fabulous palette - the colours blend like a dream and last all day, even longer when applied over the top of Chi Chi Waterproof Gel Eyeliners. Thanks Chi Chi ♥...

Take care of you,

kats xxx

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

Goodness me these months just fly by don't they? This time around are three goodies to make your Autumn eye looks absolutely sensational, all purchased by me. There's the MUA Winter Forest Matte Collection palette (sealed) - I actually bought this for myself, but the colours are very similar to ones in my kit, so far better that it goes to a good home ♥ There's also a boxed set of 10 Chi Chi Glamorous Gel Eyeliners - these I already have and they're brilliant (hoping to review them later this week), plus a sealed pack of Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam Waterproof mascara in black...

To enter just choose which of the March 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...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This giveaway is now closed

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yay - random.org has chosen the beautiful Mia H. as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Mia please respond to the email I've sent you by 

Friday 17th April to claim your prize :-)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,
kats xxx

EOTD: Blue and Wine...

This was my Easter Sunday lunch look - I've been hammering the blues a bit of late, but that seems to be the way with me. It's almost like I have to get a colour (temporarily) out of my system! Not really - even though this is yet another blue theme, I think you'll agree they all turn out differently, and this one included a threat I made good from a post the other night lol...

So here's what I used - MUA matte Midnight, one of my best ever investments ($1.95). I incorporate this shadow constantly - it's a fabulous deep tealy blue, and being matte, I can use it in my crease as well. I laid down a base of Chi Chi Waterproof Gel Liner in Dream Lover - I'm ever so impressed with these liners, they're 100% smudgeproof, and the colours are intense...

I patted the Midnight over the top to about the two thirds mark, and then applied the deepest pink from my Sleek Pink Sprint Blush (yes blush!) palette - Pinktini - on the outer third, and took it part the way along the lower lashline. It turned out as a gorgeous winey purple over the top of the blue gel base, and would you believe, it stayed put the whole day! Along the top lashline, I stroked another Chi Chi Gel Liner - Like a Virgin, which is white, but over the top of the blue, it ended up appearing as bright blue...

I also used the blue Dream Lover gel liner on the waterline - no irritation and it lasted pretty well for about 8 hours, woo hoo! I'll be reviewing (and swatching) these liners in a post very soon. Loving them to bits ♥

Hope your Easter was a special one ♥

Take care of you,
kats xxx

REVIEW: nude by nature - Nude Oil...

Let me introduce you to one of the most beautiful oils I've come across. I bought this at MegaSave Chemist because it LOOKED so fabulous, I read the label in the store and was amazed at the long list of natural ingredients, plus there was a gift with purchase at the time - done deal! I'd already fallen in love with the Nude Face Scrub back in February, and was delighted to find this oil has a similar delectable lemony-lime fragrance, but significantly more subtle. As far as oils go, it's a huge 60ml bottle - and having applied 3-4 drops to my face and neck morning and night for around 6 weeks, the level has dropped by only 1cm (I measured it!)...

It's so potent I omitted my night cream from my routine while I was testing it simply because I didn't need it - my combination skin felt perfectly soft, supple, plump and most importantly, non-oily the next morning. My complexion looked smoother and the colour more even, and while I didn't notice any reduction in my wrinkles, overall my skin just looked healthier. During the day time, there was no increase in shine, and my makeup seemed to sit better. I've also been using it on my legs after shaving - not a trace of dry skin any more, and it absorbs so rapidly, even tight jeans aren't a struggle to pull on ♥

So here are some of the oils included in this very special brew: Rose Hip, Tamanu, Inca Inchi, Calendula, Chamomile, Lemon Myrtle and Sunflower. It's also rich in Vitamin A, E & C, and there are no parabens, preservatives, sulfates, petrochemicals or artificial fragrance. RRP is $19.95, and they don't test on animals either ♥

I've cut back to one facial application every second or third day as I'm currently testing out the Nude Miracle Serum (loving it so far), and that seems to be providing my skin with enough juice on it's own, but I'm still using the oil on my bod every week -  I have a few scars which I'm hoping will fade under the loving care of this precious mix. My only concern is that I might not get through the whole bottle before the 12 months "life" is up! The nude website is here...

Have you tried this wonderful oil?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

EOTD: Urban Decay Fishnet and Ransom...

For my first April EOTD, I decided to go with something soft and pretty, and perhaps not typically Autumnal, but that's me - I rarely stick by the rules as far as make up trends are concerned. Just as well or I'd probably have never started this blog - mind you I'd have a lot more spare cash in my wallet if I hadn't developed my passion for unusual eye looks (well unusual for my age at any rate), but I wouldn't want to have missed out on all the joy I've experienced with all my experimentation. So here we go with the Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box...

While Honey, Graffiti, Zero and Peace are phenomenally pigmented, the potency of (multichrome) Fishnet and Ransom have eluded me thus far. They look stunning in the pan, but do you think I can get their boldness to come out on my eyes? Boo! I've tried every base/primer in my kit, but they always turn out pale and a bit washed out (I probably need a UD primer!). Anyways, they never fail to look as pretty as a picture though ♥ 

Essence white kajal was my base, and I took the blue Ransom underneath the lower lashline as well. On the waterline is bhcosmetics Waterproof Eye Crayon in Sapphire...

Went the whole purple hog on this particular day - lips are Revlon Violet Frenzy topped with Maybelline Color Elixir Gloss in Hibiscus Haven, cheeks are the purpley pink from the bhcosmetics 10 Colour Glamorous Blush palette...

Happy Easter to all you gorgeous beauty bunnies ♥♥♥

Take care of you,
kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Rediscovering Powder Blushes (Part 4) - Sleek...

I've never disguised my passion for Sleek i-Divine eye shadow palettes, and I'm sure not going to hold back how I feel about their blushes either ♥ I bought these on sale at the end of last year, and once I'd opened them, I put them aside because to be honest, I thought the colours were just a wee bit too bold, even for me! But after wearing some of them this past week, I've realised my initial impression was misplaced - these are just so fabulously fresh and enlivening, I feel kinda dumb that I've had them locked away for all this time...

This first trio is called Flame, and the swatches below are over the top of a thin layer of foundation. The beauty of these pigments is that you can use as little or as much as you like, and if you think you've gone a bit overboard, a gentle buff with a clean kabuki brush will bring the intensity back to where you want it to be, without any unevenness...

Looking at the palette, I thought that the middle matte shade (Bon Fire) would be the boldest, but in fact that honour goes to the slightly shimmery one on the far right (Furnace). Oh what Autumn stunners they are! The first shade is called Molten, and will be perfect when I'm wearing apricot tonings. I paid $7.49 with free shipping, so I'm definitely a happy kat ♥

And here's the other - Pink Sprint. I'm lucky that I have an overall warm colouring, but I'm a bit of a mix of warm and cool as far as skin and eyes are concerned, so I can get away with pinky shades as well as orange. I'm wearing the third pan colour today, and it's ever so flattering...

These pinks are all mattes, which I prefer as I'd rather have the option of adding a little highlighter along the top of my cheekbones rather than have the gleaming happening all over. That middle one is going to be perfect for my magenta and purple looks, which I usually put together at least once a week. I might even try that first shade as an eye shadow - whoa!

From left to right the shade names are Pinktini, Pink Ice and Pink Parfait - don't they sound delicious?

I'm enraptured with these blushes, and will be buying more of these trios - there are 8 combos to choose from, and I have my eye on Sweet Cheeks for my next purchase when it's back in stock. If you're keen, be quick as both of the above palettes are still on sale for half price on their website here ♥

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. I've just added this review to Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness #6 Link Up Party - you'll find lots of other interesting blogger contributions there too ♥