SPOTLIGHT: First Quarter Fave LOTD's, Reds...

Ahhh red lipstick - so many fabulous variations in the market, and here's just a few of my treasures, both warm and cool tones. Hard to believe I hardly EVER wore red lipstick in my younger days (before I turned 50 lol) - thought it was too much, too flashy, and yet I didn't hesitate to slick on some purple or hot pink. Weird huh? It just goes to show how one's tastes (and perceptions) can change, as well as one's wardrobe - these days mine is probably 20% red, and I put together an outfit in this sassy hue almost every week...

David Jones Moisture Cream Lipstick - Teracotta

Chi Chi Viva La Diva Lipstick - Countess

Milani Lipstick - Cherry Crave

DB Colour Kisses Lipstick - Deep Red

Maybelline ColourBlur Pencil - Partner in Crimson

MBA Lipstick - Red Hot! 

Rubi Lipstick - Ruby Red

Maybelline Bold Matte Lipstick - MAT6

It never ceases to amaze me how a slick of red lippy can transform my mood, as well as my appearance - mind you I rarely wear it unless I've also slapped on the full monty face as well, but there's been days when I've left the house with only a fiery pout plus my sunnies, and I didn't have a care in the world. I reckon with red lips, you can get away with almost anything lol ♥

In case you missed them, you'll find nudes, bricks and bronzes HERE, and  corals, mauves & pinks HERE. 

Do you have a red lipstick in your kit that always makes you feel glam and confident?

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Come see some beaut blogs over at Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party at 6:30am ♥

EOTDs: MUA Cosmetics Teals...

About time I posted a teal theme hey - I do so love this hue, and thankfully, MUA Cosmetics features this pretty shade in quite a few of their collections, and of course, they're all different, which is I why I have to have so many palettes ha ha! Well that's my excuse anyway ♥ For this first look, I used the MUA Winter Forest Matte Collection, a palette I bought over 12 months ago - well two actually, one for me and one for a friend. I decided to let go of mine in one of my giveaways as I had quite a few of the hues in other sets, but the one I gave to my friend recently came back to me as she hardly ever used it...

Well I couldn't be happier about this return because I've fallen in love with it all over again and will be giving it a major workout this winter - how about those gorgeous caramels and greys? The lighter shadow I used is called Azure and the dark one, Aqua, and what a stunning couple they make...

I used Eye of Horus Teal Malachite Goddess Pencil as my base, which is why the Azure looks so deep and somewhat greener than in the pan. Using this crayon underneath gave both mattes a hint of sparkle so they didn't look completely flat, and I also used it on the waterline as well...

Face piccie was a horror as I still had the flu, so let's just move onto the jewellery - more turquoise than teal, but close enough...

This second look features aqua and purple from the MUA Poptastic palette. Used the same Eye of Horus Teal Malachite Goddess Pencil underneath, and on the waterline...

All the shadows in this palette are super shimmery, buttery and fabulously pigmented...

For my face I went back to my old HG foundation, Lancôme Teinte Visionnaire - it's such a perfect match for my skin tone, just wish it wasn't so darn expensive. Cheeks were a mix of Maybelline Master Glaze Stick Blush in Pink Fever and Real Purity Frosted Orchid Powder Blush. Lips were Makeup Revolution Make Me Magnificent...

And here are the accessories, featuring my fabulous new stretchy bracelet from Lovisa that matches one of my bling rings perfectly ♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Nude by Nature Daily Cleanser...

This unassuming tube of goodness will be appearing in my next empties post, but it's SO good, it deserves a review all its own - nude by nature Daily Cleanser. As regular readers are aware, I'm constantly experimenting with skin care products, but this cleanser has earned a permanent place in my routine for so many reasons, all of which I'll explain below. If you're into "natural", then you'll probably love this as much as I do ♥...

First of all, it's gentle yet amazingly effective - on most days (and always in Summer) I wear long wear foundation which, by its very nature, can be hard to shift, but this lightly foaming clear liquid removes every last bit. I always follow my cleanser with a micellar water, and regardless of the brand I use, the cotton pad always comes up clean as a whistle after I've washed my face with this beauty. In my book it has just the right amount of creamy foam, and the delicious natural lemon/lime fragrance (from Australian Desert Lime & Lemon Myrtle) is subtle yet refreshing. There's no tingling or tightness either during or after use, in fact I find it has a calming effect on those areas that are prone to redness, and my skin is left silky soft, spotlessly cleansed and lovingly hydrated...

All ingredients are naturally derived - it contains NO parabens, NO sulfates, NO added fragrance and NO petrochemicals. What IS included in the formula is Pro Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Vitamin C (from Kakadu Plum), Quandong, Desert Lime & Witch Hazel. And if you're a lover of our furry friends, then be assured that Nude by Nature does not test on animals, and according to their website, they are PETA certified...

I'm so impressed, you'll be interested to know that once I've used up the other five (!) cleansers on my bench, I doubt I'll be trying many more brands. There's always something or other about a product that either bothers me or bores me, but I can't find one teeny thing to criticise about this cleanser, it's even available at Coles! (and on special right now for $13.45). RRP is $17.95 which I'm more than happy to part with on a regular basis for such a generous tube of goodness that's minus a whole heap of harmful skin irritants, plus the ingredients help protect against free radicals, as well as provide anti-ageing support. In short, it's perfect for my particular needs ♥...

I'm equally enamoured with their Face Scrub, and between the two, I'm keeping the blackheads on my nose under control without compromising the moisture requirements of my drier cheeks, and I'm comforted to know that my complexion is clean, clear and cared for. LOVE this cleanser! ♥♥♥

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Once again I'm joining in the fun of  Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Linky at 6:30am tomorrow - over the last year I've found lots more beaut blogs to follow, and made some new friends ♥

SPOTLIGHT: First Quarter Fave LOTD's, Corals, Mauves & Pinks...

So here's the next set of First Quarter Faves, and as you can see I buy a wide variety of brands, and they range in price from as little as $2. If a formula is too drying I usually toss it out, but occasionally I'll hang onto a particular lipstick purely because the colour is just so unique, and then add a little matching or clear gloss over the top to make it work (I'm not able to wear glosses on their own any more as my lips are too blotchy, and like my face, I need COVERAGE.) Honestly, there was a time in my life when I had only six lipsticks - a red, a pale pink, a bright pink, a coral, an orange and a nude. I'd blend them to make different hues, use them up right down to the base, and then carry around a lip brush to get the bit inside the bottom of the case. I wasn't necessarily being frugal (although I had a thing about waste), I didn't see the point of having any more than that in my kit, and I'd buy the same ones that I liked over and over again, rarely trying anything new - lol, how things have changed ♥

Colourpop LippieStix - Juicy

Australis Velour Lips Matte Lip Cream - mi-a-mee

Covergirl Lipstick - Ravish Raspberry

Covergirl Outlast Lipstick - Magnetic Mauve

Covergirl Lipstick - Tantalize

DB Colour Kisses Lipstick - Shocking Pink

LOL Lipstick - Think Pink

DB Longwear Lipstick - Shocking Pink

Milani Lipstick - Rose Amour

Australis Lipstick - Mash Up

Three more of these posts to go - reds, oranges and berries & purples. Hope you're having a brilliant weekend, and that you're managing to avoid all the nasty viruses that are around at the mo' ♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx

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

Been sick with the flu all week, so let's  have a giveaway! The year is flying by, and with Autumn well and truly here, I thought one of you lovelies might have a hankering to freshen up your makeup collection with some cooler season bits and bobs, so this month I've giving away some broody shadows together with two packs of bold lip products, all from Chi Chi ♥

Up for grabs are:

• Chi Chi Glamorous Dynamic Duo Eye Shadow Collection - Rich Gems & Smokeys palettes
• Chi Chi Viva La Diva Lipstick Collection - Hot Mamma, Countess, Lady Bump & Glamazon
• Chi Chi Creamy Matte Liquid Lipstick Collection - Socialite, Drama Queen & Lady in Red

All boxes are sealed and were purchased by me earlier this year at Myer.  Please note this giveaway is open to Australian Residents Only.

To enter you must nominate which of the March EOTD's is your favourite from the four 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 on this page, you will NOT be included in the draw...

When you enter, please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions inside. Leaving a comment on this page, 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

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Ingrid N. as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

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

Wednesday 27th April to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Ingrid has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: First Quarter Fave LOTD's, Nudes, Bricks and Bronzes...

At the end of last year I uploaded pics of my favourite LOTD's of 2015. But I figured it would be of more use to you gals if I did a little summary every quarter - that way if you spot a colour you think you'd love or might suit, you can watch out for it to be on special. Also it's almost IMPOSSIBLE for me to narrow down the ones I adore out of a whole 12 month's worth, so these are my picks for the year so far, culled from 80 possibles lol! I wear a pretty wide range of hues and textures, so here's hoping these help you find your HG ♥ I've sort of grouped them into colour families so you can compare - some are very similar with only subtle differences in the shade, and there'll be a mix of mattes, creams, pearls, lipsticks, lip paints and crayons...

Crop Mineral Lipstick - Plum

DB Colour Kisses - Nude

BOE Professional Lipstick - Mousse

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick - Coffee Craze

LOL Lipstick - Bronze Age

MBA Lip Paint - Chic Brick

DB Moisturising Lipstick - Bronze

L'Oreal ColorRiche Lipstick - Cristal Cappuccino

Revlon SuperLustrous Lipstick - Sandstorm

MBA Lip Paint - Another Brick in the Wall

Milani Lipstick - Cinammon Spice

Nude By Nature Mineral Lipstick - Sassy

You may have gathered I'm not all that big on nudes, preferring bolder hues - the first four are pretty much all-year-rounders for me, whereas the bottom eight are my go-to's for Autumn/Winter ♥

Any of these take your fancy?...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Micellar Magic Part 2, Swisse & Sukin...

From Part 1, there seemed to be quite a bit of interest in the Swisse version of this magical face cleansing elixir, and I decided to pair it with Sukin, the other brand that uses non see-through packaging. For me, part of the pleasure of using micellar makeup remover is that I can see that it's colourless, and looks for all the world like water. But, I included these in my experiment as they are both excellent brands, so without further ado...

Swisse Micellar Makeup Remover - Micellar Water + Cucumber 300ml (RRP $10.95)

First up I'm quite impressed with Swisse products in general - their pricepoint is excellent, you can buy the range in supermarkets, they exclude the usual plethora of yucko chemicals, and they don't test on animals. Secondly, I made a major goof in my closing words of Part 1, saying that one particular "natural skincare" version contained peroxide and petrolatum. Sincere apologies if I scared anyone, but I TOTALLY misread the label on this bottle - those nasties are what Swisse leave out! Anyhoo, I quite like this interpretation. Cucumber extract is the first ingredient listed, and that usually means the highest content, but the fragrance is ever so faint. It does have an odd effect when using it though - once it hits the cotton pad, the scent intensifies and reminds me of a beach towel that's been left on the clothesline for a couple of days lol! Not unpleasant, but if you like your micellar water fragrance-free, then this might not be for you...

It's not colourless either - no doubt that's the cucumber content, although it doesn't bother me. Interestingly, when swiping the pad across my face, the product kind of foams up - nothing major, and at first I thought it was because I had some cleanser left on my skin, but it happens on bare skin too. Once again, not an issue for me, and it sure is super cooling and refreshing. Despite containing Benzyl Alcohol, it's not the least bit drying on my mature skin...

While I did find it effective for removing makeup, and certainly excellent as a second cleanse, I'm intrigued by the instructions on the bottle, recommending to "...follow with your recommended Swisse cleanser". I'm obviously using it the wrong way round!...

Sukin Micellar Cleansing Water - with Cucumber & Chamomile 250ml (RRP $9.95)

Very fond of Sukin products too - just adore their Hydrating Mist Toner. This micellar water smells almost identical to the Swisse one, but the fragrance is quite a bit stronger. Same level of effectiveness too - I haven't tried using any of these cleansers to remove waterproof eye makeup, but this one works really well on longwear foundation...

Same yellowish colour that's a bit more obvious on the pad, and it also foams up a little on the skin. To be honest, I can't detect much of a difference between this and the Swisse version, apart from the intensity of the fragrance (which incidentally hangs around for a while), although the ingredients are worlds apart. Go figure! Primary content is water followed by Aloe - I do find this a little drying though (it seems to contain two types of alcohol), but it doesn't make my face feel tight in any way. Again the recommendation is to follow with a regular cleanser!...

To their credit, the Sukin formula is free from lots of harsh chemicals, it's 100% vegan, they don't test on animals, and their manufacturing is 100% carbon neutral...

In summary, of the two I prefer the Swisse variety, although if we're talking true micellar waters, I don't believe either of them qualify, even though they seem to work very well. I might consider restocking the Swisse, but because of the intensity of the fragrance, I definitely wouldn't repurchase the Sukin one again...

So enjoying this discovery journey, hope you are too - Part 3 will be up soon!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party is on again tomorrow - your weekly blog fix begins at 6:30am ♥...