EOTD: Sugarpill Buttercupcake & NYX Green...

Last EOTD of the month so I'll make this a quickie - have lots of blogs to check out over at Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party before I hit the hay ♥ Dug deep into my drawers and found some old favourites. Sugarpill Buttercupcake, a stunning matte yellow gold, and a very soft foresty green from the NYX Bohemian Chic Nude Matte Collection - this is years old, but still has plenty of life left in it...

I stroked essence white kajal all over the top lid, patted the Buttercupcake along the lashline, and blended in the NYX forest green up to the crease. Waterline was Revlon Colourstay Eye Liner in Jade...

Foundation was Lancôme Teint Visionnaire, cheeks were Lacura Mineral Cream Blush in Soft Coral, and I added some Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light (where have you been all my life?). Lips were Mirenesse Lip Bomb #11 - loved this nude shade, but it was past its use by date and smelt funny, so I tossed it when I got home...

More looks coming in December - might even have a play with some Christmassy themes ♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Mirenesse Lip Bombs - Best in Beauty 2015...

The first of MANY reviews I'll be churning out starring the amazing goodies I received in my beautyheaven Best in Beauty 2015 prize pack ♥ Mirenesse Lip Bombs have been around since 2012, well at least that's when I first discovered them. At the time they were quite innovative, and of course lots of cosmetic companies have since released similar types of lip lacquers, but none have a formula quite like these babies...

My prize pack contained #24, and it was a very welcome addition to my collection, which you can see above. The formula is thick and super rich, very moisturising, and in the case of the deeper shades, leaves a welcome stain when the gloss wears off, which is usually after 2 or 3 hours, longer if you don't consume anything. For the scent sensitive, they do have a bit of an oil-like smell (probably due to the Botanical Oils & Vitamin E content) and a slight taste (supposed to be mint but I can never pick that up), but in both cases, it's very faint ...

Apart from the deliciously dense creaminess, the moisturising power, and the intensity of the pigmentation, the applicator is my absolute favourite of all time. It's a firm but flexible dumb-bell shape, very gentle on the lips, and by adjusting the angle, I find it super easy to create a crisp outline, and filling in is a breeze. I'm very particular when it comes to applicators, in fact I won't buy a gloss or lacquer if the tip is small. I can't bear ones that don't pick up much product - to me it's stingy and time-consuming. I enjoy lavishing lots of gloss onto my pucker, and this little furry tip delivers the goods like no other...

Mirenesse Lip Bombs are all numbered, so here we go with the swatches - I've included direct links to the bombs on their website so you can compare their online colours with mine...

#2

Very dark in the tube, but bright and sassy on the lips. Gorgeous GORGEOUS glossy orange-red ♥...

#3

This one arrived just the other day in my VIP pack - love the vividness of the blue-pink, right up my alley in fact ♥...

#4

Love this one too - a little less blue content than #3, and an exceptionally versatile bold and smile-inducing pink ♥...

#6

This one has a wee bit of orange content, so it's almost a coral - very flattering for my particular colouring ♥...

#8

Don't like this one at all - way too pale for me. I reckon it would suit maybe...Pamela Anderson? - having revisited this, I've binned it...

#12

This is a lovely nude, but once again it's too pale for me - the contrast with my bright red hair is just to stark, and I look like I've rushed out the door without finishing my makeup. Gone the way of #8...

#17

Adore this one - beautiful peachy hue that has a slight gold shimmer (the only one of my nine with a reflect). Suits my skin tone to a T ♥...

#23

Whoa! No I didn't choose this one - it came in another VIP pack. I haven't actually worn this outside the house, but I'll work up the courage next winter lol - fabulous deep deep berry hue...

#24

And the one that I received as part of my prize - beautyheaven couldn't have chosen a better shade for this little black duck (thank you so much!). It's bright but subtle, exceptionally pretty shade, and a definite favourite ♥...

The packaging is cute and fun, and I have only one complaint - the clear pointy lid has separated from the cap of four of my nine lip bombs. I glued three of them back on, but as you can see in the main picture above, it makes the whole thing look pretty crappy, and I even used clear glue. So I left the fourth one as is (below) - this minor defect doesn't affect the contents, just doesn't look quite as swanky...

In case you're not familiar with the Mirenesse brand, here's there deal. They're pretty much an online-only company, and in my opinion, the RRP of their products is outrageous. HOWEVER, if you become a VIP member, everything is half price every day, and shipping is free. VIP membership costs $25 per month, and for that you receive a pack every second month containing a surprise selection of  makeup and skincare items worth at least $50 (and usually full-sized) - you fill out a personal profile on their website, so the products you receive in the packs are suited to your colouring and skin type. It's actually a terrific way to try their products, and every month, I receive a $25 coupon to spend on any orders ♥ I've been a member for 5 years, and the majority of what they produce (and what I've received) is brilliant - like all companies they have their misses, but the quality is exceptionally high. They use natural ingredients, and are certified Cruelty Free.

Lip Bombs are $39, but if you're a VIP member, they're $19.50 - there are 32 colours to choose from!

Have you ever tried any Mirenesse products? They're often available free with magazines, especially their lip plumping glosses, which are also excellent and highly recommended...

Take care of you,

kats

P.S. It's time for another of Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - be sure to pay her website a visit from 6:30am ♥

REVIEW: Chi Chi "Meet The Girls" - Coconut & Lime...

Lucky last in the Chi Chi Meet The Girls (2) Fragrance collection, and another interesting one. I have to give kudos to whoever is coming up with these scent combinations - of course the possibilities are endless, but let's face it - some things go together, and some things don't, and I reckon the "nose" at Chi Chi is doing a pretty good job of formulating a whole bunch of fun and flirty fragrances that will appeal to what must be a massively wide audience...

Coconut & Lime

Ok so this little summery sweetheart sounded like a cocktail delight, and it sure is delish, but not quite as zingy as I'd hoped. I adore the smell of fresh cut limes, but not so crazy about coconut (which I LOVE to eat by the way), so I'm kinda in the middle with this one. Initially there's lots and LOTS of lime (yay!), but the zestiness fades pretty quickly, and the coconut starts to get the upper hand. There's a shift from being crisp and tangy and fruity to downright sugary sweet (probably best described as coconut fairy floss), which is still lovely, and especially appealing if you're a coconutophile. Being a fruit fragrance fan though, I'd just rather the lime content lasted a whole lot longer. After half an hour, the sugar floss content dissipates, and my nose picks up pure toasted coconut, and it stays that way for roughly another hour and a half. In short, if coconut is your thing, you'll be blissing out ♥

Well done Chi Chi! Fingers crossed there'll be more of these collections in the future. Of course I'm champing at the bit to see which ones from this latest set will be released in large bottles ♥ 

My faves from this set? Pink Grapefruit, Strawberry & Violet, and Warm Vanilla Sugar. Blueberry is up there too, but my heart well and truly belongs to Tutti Frutti - holey socks Batman, I would buy this by the bucket load!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

EOTD: bhcosmetics Wild At Heart Pink & Purple...

Well try as I might, the struggle to upload eight EOTD's every month has sadly become too great, so I'm having to bite the bullet and lower my goal to six - there's just not enough hours in a day, boo! I'm not one to back away from a challenge, or throw in the towel for that matter, but something has to give until I can re-work the demands of my day job, so here we go with November's number five...

This is such a super-pretty palette that I reach for fairly frequently - bhcosmetics Wild at Heart. The two pinks and the purple are stunners, and the most loved pans in this set of nine ♥

It will probably come as no surprise that I used essence white kajal for my base - if I want a pigment to really show what it's made of, then this is my go-to crayon. And for $2, you'd be hard pressed to find a greater bargain in the makeup world ♥ (Hint: apply in short feather strokes, smooth it down with your pinky to make it nice and even, and then push the shadow onto it). I pressed the brightest pink onto the inner corner, then added the deeper more magenta-ish shade up to the half-way mark, and finished off with the purple. A wee bit of blending with a soft fluffy brush and I was ready to spruce up the waterline - Chi Chi Beauty School Drop Out Waterproof Gel Eyeliner was my choice because it lasts for hours. For the crease I used SleekV2 matte Highness, and Noir on the lower lashline...

Face-wise my foundation was DB Cosmetics Longwear 24 Hour, cheeks were Maybelline Pink Fever Master Glaze blush stick topped with essence Pink Flow Blush Up, and lips were W7 Liptember Pinks in the shade Cutie...

Wishing you all a relaxing and pleasure-filled weekend - TGIF ♥

Take care of you,
kats xxx

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

As you can tell, I'm not coping all that well with what seems to be an acceleration of time (!) so I'm sneaking in the November giveaway before it's December!

I try to include a wide range of goodies that will (at some stage) appeal to each and every one of my followers, so this time I'm giving away some naturally derived makeup products from CROP Natural Skincare - all dermatologically tested, no animal testing, suitable for sensitive skin and eyes, and minus a whole bunch of nasties...

Up for grabs are...

• Natural Mineral Eyeshadow Quad - Nude
• Natural Mineral Eyeshadow Quad - Smokey
• Natural Mineral Pressed Highlighter - Aura
• Natural Mineral Pressed Bronzer - Solaire
• Natural Eyeliner Pencil - Black Onyx

All packs are sealed, purchased recently by me, and as I shouldn't have any trouble posting these outside of Australia, entry is open Internationally!

To enter you have to nominate which of the October EOTD's is your favourite from the eight pictured below, let me know in the comments section why you like it the most, then follow the Rafflecopter entry instructions below. Please note: if you don't leave a comment, you will NOT be included in the draw...

The Rafflecopter will decide the winner, so please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions inside. 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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yay - random.org has chosen the beautiful Amy as the winner! 

Congratulations Amy ♥

Please respond to the email I've sent you by 

Midnight Thursday 10th December to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Amy has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,
kats xxx

REVIEW: Chi Chi "Meet The Girls" - Berries...

Decided to combine these two as there's a berry theme (although they are vastly different fragrances), and I couldn't resist putting two of my favourite colours together...

Purple and turquoise are just such complimentary hues hey - inspiration for an EOTD I'd say!

Berries & Cream

This is a fascinating fragrance - initially my nose definitely picks up some sort of berry, but I'm not so sure about the cream. Still there's certainly something sweet drizzled over the fruit - at first I can smell musk, but as it dries down, it's more like white chocolate. You may have gathered I'm struggling a little here (lol), but this is a difficult one to capture in words. The fruit fades away after a few minutes, and then all I can really smell is the chocolate - makes me think of one of those fondue fountains in which you melt a few bars of Cadbury, and then dip strawberries into it. Absolutely delish, and I can assure you I'm salivating like you wouldn't believe, but not my favourite kind of scent to wear, and would be more suitable for cooler weather. I reckon foodies will adore it though - I can still smell traces of it three hours later ♥

Blueberry

This one is more up my alley - opening note I swear is blue bubblegum! Sweet and fruity, this little gal is refreshing and fun, and after the initial spritz I'm reminded of those sour jelly snakes they sell in the supermarket. Totally different from anything else in the box, it starts out quite lollyish and immature, and then mellows into something far more grown up. The dry down reminds me of another (famous) fragrance, but I just can't put my finger on it. This has my mouth watering as well, and I think it would appeal especially to the young at heart. In all honesty, it smells more like sour cherries than blueberries to me, but I love it. Only lasts a few hours, but that suits me fine ♥

Only one left in the set (Coconut & Lime), and I promise to review it before we get much further into the party season...

Do either of these appeal to your scent senses?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW & EOTD: Kat Von D Monarch Palette...

It's common knowledge that I ADORE eye shadows, pretty much any kind, but I do have a particular passion for rainbow hues, and consequently my collection of earthy shades is somewhat limited. But every now and then, along comes a palette that isn't necessarily a riot of colour, and yet it totally blows me away. This Kat Von D Monarch palette is one such collection - it's mind-bogglingly stunning! It was a gift from a very VERY special friend, and there aren't enough thankyous that I could write to express my gratitude for bringing this beauty into my life ♥...

I've not owned anything KVD before - BIG mistake! This is quality all the way, from the beautiful and solid-state packaging, to the amazing triple-milled pigments inside...

There are pearls, mattes and subtle glitters, and the powder formula contains anti-oxidants, rose extract, and Vitamins A, C & E, AND it's all cruelty-free...

With all that goodness going on, it's no wonder they blend effortlessly and seamlessly - sigh ♥...

Here are the swatches, two swipes over a bbcream...

I used two bases - essence white kajal on the inner third, and Chi Chi Lo Cal Chocolate Waterproof Gel Eyeliner on the remaining section. I pressed Wrath (orange) over the whole lid, deepened the outer third with Shadow Box (chocolate), and swiped Summerfly (gold) over the inner corner. I barely had to blend at all ♥

For a little bit of sparkle, I took the same brush I used for the gold, dipped it in the dark brown, and blended that over MNY Master Precise Liquid Liner along the lower lashline. Waterline is Chi Chi Lo Cal Chocolate...

Face is Mirenesse Liquid Silk Foundation, MNY Master Glaze Blush Stick in Coral Sheen on the cheeks with a dusting of BYS Coral Me In (pan #3), and lips were BOE Beauty Matte Lipstick in Primped...

This gorgeous palette retails for US$46 so it doesn't come cheap, and it's not yet available in Australia, but I'm so impressed I'm itching to try out some of her other products - hopefully Oz Sephora will soon stock the entire range (hint hint!)...

What was the last eye shadow palette that really wowed you?

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Can recommend paying a visit to Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - lots of beaut blogs are uploaded from 6.30am...

EOTD: DB Cosmetics Bold Blue...

Mondays are always a challenge for me - that whole get-back-into-the-routine thingy after two glorious days of freedom (and sleep!) takes a bit of doing, so I'm chasing the blues away with...some blues! I have an ancient palette ("Bold") by DB Cosmetics (way too old to include a pic) from a time long before I kept records of purchases (let's say circa 2012), and the shadows are just as pigmented and creamy as the day I found it in a discount chemist. In the beauty world, it's way past its use-by date, but I'm not tossing it yet...

This blue is actually almost a lapis in the pan, but I patted it down over Chi Chi Like A Virgin (white) gel liner, and it transformed into a turquoise. I added a swipe of pale aqua from the same palette along the top lashline for some contrast, and then racked my brains as to what to use on the waterline...

White was going to be too stark, I dismissed black as too boring, a contrasting shade would be OTT with this already vivid look, and all my blue liners were the wrong hue. Dilemma! But being the eternal experimentalist I am, I blended DB Cosmetics Deep Ocean Kohl pencil (dark blue) with the same Chi Chi white liner, and lo and behold, the colour turned out almost the same as the shadow - score!

I'm a total sucker for blues - they don't do my eye colour any favours, but when they're this bright, I reckon it doesn't matter a fig ♥

Do you have a palette that you simply CAN'T let go of?

Take care of you,
kats xxx

REVIEW: Chi Chi "Meet The Girls" - Vanillas...

Attention vanilla fragrance lovers! You're in for a real treat because there's two varieties of this delicious gourmand scent in the latest Chi Chi Meet The Girls Fragrance Collection. I'm reviewing both at the same time for two reasons - the comparison between the two is most interesting (one is subtle and the other is as subtle as a sledgehammer lol), and my blogging time keeps being eaten away by my work commitments, boo!

Anyways, before my phone demands my undivided attention yet again, here's my take on these two babes...

Warm Vanilla Sugar

Whoa! "Warm" is an understatement - on the contrary, my nose tells me a more appropriate label would be Sizzling Hot ha ha! This is one of the most potent fragrances I've ever tried - because of it's strength, I reckon gals with an undying passion for vanilla will be tripping with delight. This is a stayer too - the initial opening power-packed punch is sustained for hours and hours. It's SO strong, at first I didn't think I could wear it, but after a few teeny spritzes every other day for a week, I'm used to the wham-bam effect, and seriously in love. Lasting a good 5 hours, this is definitely not suitable for confined spaces or the scent-sensitive, in fact I'd recommend spraying it onto a finger (which you can later wash), and then dabbing it wherever you normally wear perfume. Amazing! And Chi Chi, whatever base ingredient it is that makes this particular one last would be a bonus inclusion for the other fragrances in the collection ♥...

Vanilla Spice

o me this one is a wee bit more spice than vanilla, but it's such a pretty little blend - delicate and refined, this will suit those lovelies who enjoy a far more understated foodie fragrance. Makes me think of Christmas, and all those yummy aromas that emanate from the kitchen when seasonal treats are on the stove, and in the oven. The cinnamon/clove content balances out the sweetness of the vanilla, and it remains (almost) the same from the initial spray to when it fades away just over an hour later (the shortest lifespan of all the fragrances I've tried so far in this collection), but what's left behind is a lovely soft powdery scent that is all woman ♥...

Are you a vanilla fragrance fan?

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Some beaut reads over at Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - blogs are uploaded from 6.30am...

SPOTLIGHT: Marie Claire Ageless Parcel...

I signed up for The Parcel Ageless Beauty box after reading a highly informative article over at Fabulous and Fun Life back in August. I'm not one to subscribe to beauty boxes as a rule, but after seeing what was inside, and at the bargain price of $20, my arm barely had to be twisted - I went straight to the website and paid up-front for four boxes. You can read all about the first one via Ingrid's excellent post (link above) - I haven't used all the products from box #1 as yet (severe case of beauty maniac's backlog), but will review the majority of them here once I'm done. I must admit I wondered if the quality and value would be maintained throughout the subscription period, but I needn't have given it a second thought as this second edition is even better than the first. It's now known as the marie claire Ageless Parcel, and while the price has increased slightly for new subscribers, the contents are even more impressive...

Alpha-H Liquid Gold - 50ml

This was the first item I spotted when I opened the box, and the one that started my heart pounding. I've used this before - scored a bottle via the beautyheaven beautorium two years ago, instantly fell in love with what it did for my skin, and then forgot all about! Thrilled to bits at this inclusion, and the chance to revive my love affair with this amazing liquid ♥...

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil - 7ml

Quite a mouthful of a name for such a tiny bottle, but it smells fantastic, and according to the leaflet, contains 99 percent oils of natural origin - can't wait to try this lightweight formula ♥...

Dr. Lewinn's Multi Moisture Balm - 15g

Just reading the ingredients list, I know I'm going to love this balm - almond, avocado and buriti oils. This last one I Googled because I'd never heard of it before - comes from the fruit of the (South American) moriche palm, and supposedly rich in anti-oxidants, and bright orange in colour (as is the balm).  From what I've tried of this little darling so far, I reckon it's going to be my new multi-tasking miracle skin healer ♥...

Jergens Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Moisturiser - 250ml

Not familiar with the brand, but this body moisturiser has a very pleasant scent, and seems to absorb very quickly - this big bottle should see me through the Summer ♥...

Narciso Rodriquez Narciso EDT - 0.13 fl.oz

Being the fragrance fanatic that I am, I LOVE that they included a perfume - it's only a small sample of EDT, but the fragrance is just SO beautiful, I'm writing to Santa in the hope of scoring the eau de parfum for Christmas (it's quite expensive). A floral woody musk - white gardenia, rose, musk, vetiver and cedar. Very very sensual ♥...

ProPlenish Marine Collagen - 2 x 3g sachets

This is a supplement that I think I need by the truckload - supposed to help replenish collagen levels to keep your skin glowing, and your nails and hair healthy. It's a 100% pure marine (from fish) collagen powder that you dissolve in the fluid of your choice. Doubt that I'll see any improvement from just two packs, but anything that enhances my health even for a day is a bonus ♥...

SK-II Facial Treatment Mask

Just one of these masks retails for $28, so I'm expecting a miracle - it's one of those sheet types that you leave on for 20 minutes, and it's saturated in "Pitera essence". Delighted to have the opportunity to try something that's way beyond my normal budget ♥...

What a fabulous box of skin treats, which I'll be sampling (and reviewing) in the coming weeks. I dug out my calculator, and worked out that the contents are valued at around $90. I reckon it's the best value beauty box in the marketplace, and I'm sending a massive thank you to Ingrid for bringing it to my attention - bless  you sweetheart!  ♥♥♥

New subscribers can purchase the Marie Claire Ageless Parcel as a one-off for $29.95, a seasonal subscription for $25 (four boxes per year), or there's an Annual deal for $90 (also four boxes per year).

Here's what was in the first box...

Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? Which one's your favourite?

Take care of  you,

kats xxx