October 2019 Empties & Giveaway!...

Well, I guess it was only a matter of time before the Regulars in my Empties post far exceeded my never-tried-before products, and it happened big time in October, with only seven items that haven't appeared here before, and 19 that are recurring gems in my beauty routine. So perhaps I'm settling into a pattern of using trusted products rather than being overly adventurous? Nothing wrong with that of course as it means I've found a whole bunch of goodies that suit me to a T, but it may make these posts (well at least this one) a bit boring. But have no fear - I'll no doubt relent and give in to my passion for experimenting with new ranges, especially when it comes to skincare and fragrances ♥...

Body

Glow Lab Coconut & Spiced Fig Hand Wash (300ml, RRP $5)

Hard to decide if this is my favourite from the range, but it's close, and will definitely appear again here over the summer. So delicious, with the spiced fig a wee bit more dominant than the coconut, but perfect for the festive season when we're all thinking about fruit mince pies and other yummies. Love this NZ brand in general for the absence of chemical inclusions, and their no animal testing stance ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?
Absolutely ♥♥♥...

Plunketts Nutri-Synergy Working Hands Intensive Hand Cream (150g, RRP $11.95)

Thanks to beautyheaven, I scored a full-sized tube a long long time ago and it only just made the front line of the stash in the last few months.  Awesome hand cream, well actually a treatment, for when your paws are in very paw poor shape - this will sort out any dryness, cracks and redness from the second or third application. After that, the skin is building resilience and becoming smoother and softer by the day ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?
Ooh yes - I reckon I need a tube of this on standby, always ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Ecostore Vanilla & Coconut Body Wash - (400ml, RRP $8.99)
Natural Secrets Goatsmilk Moisturising Handwash (300ml, RRP $5.99)
Nutrimetics Nutri-Rich Shower Oil (200ml, RRP $42)
Oral-B 3D White Luxe Diamond Strong Toothpaste (96g, RRP $9.49)
Reach Dentotape (20m, RRP $2.99)
White Glo Charcoal Total Mouth Detox Whitening Mouthwash (500ml, RRP $6.99)

Face

L'Occitane Immortelle Overnight Reset Oil-In-Serum (30ml, RRP $90)

Holey guacemoley, where do I start with this gem. OK from somewhere or other I scored a 5ml sample of this fantabulous serum, and after using this teeny tiny quantity for a week, well, I just had to have more. Fortunately, my discovery coincided with an unusually generous tax return (from not working 4 months of last year) so I treated myself to two (yes two) bottles because I decided I couldn't possibly live without it, and I was right. It's pure heaven for my skin. I'll work on a dedicated post over the Christmas break as it truly deserves a place in the spotlight, and the bottle is so exquisite I need to spend some time on the photography so I can do it justice. For now, let's just say that it's like Mother Nature decided to put all her goodness into one jar, and then give L'Occitane the rights to sell it. Complexion bliss ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?
Putting a dollar coin away every day so I can buy the next bottle ♥♥♥...

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (48g, RRP $48.99)

I think this may just make the regulars list once I finish off my retinol night cream. My skin needs a break from the treatment over the Summer, and I'll probably go with this one for night, and the Whip one for daytime. It's really so good, I love the fragrance, and my skin always looks radiant and feels so loved after I massage it in ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?
Already have, picked it up for half price ♥♥♥...

John Plunkett Collagen Eye Lift Firming Eye Cream (15ml, RRP $39.95)

Can't remember where this came from - probably bh, but I certainly didn't buy it. A lovely eye cream that I decided to crack open (it's been in my drawer for ages) because my retinol one was causing the skin on my left hood to peel. No idea what's so special about the left one, but anyway, this cream fixed the problem after two applications. Nothing special, but nicely hydrating ♥...

Repurchase?
Maybe as a standby - I think there are more effective eye creams out there in this price range, well for my old eyes anyway ♥...

Regulars

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes (Pack of 25, RRP $7.99) 
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover (112ml, RRP $10.89) 
Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence (40ml, RRP $39.99) 
Swisspers Make-up Pads (Pack of 80, RRP $3.79)

Face Masks

Regulars

Purederm Ginkgo Eye Puffiness Minimizing Patches (2 pairs, RRP $3)

Skin Republic 24K Gold Aquagel Under Eye Patch (2 pairs, RRP $12.99)

Skin Republic Volcanic Ash Mud Sheet Mask (RRP $12)

Fragrance

DKNY Be Delicious Intense EDP (100ml, RRP $110)

Adore this for summer - it's my third bottle, and won't be my last. Detailed review HERE ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?
Undoubtedly! FeelingSexy has it on special at the mo' for $64.95 ♥♥♥...

Hair

Goldwell Dualsenses Blondes & Highlights Anti-Yellow Shampoo (300ml, RRP $25.95)

My one my only toning shampoo. Once you've tried this you will stick to it like me - works brilliantly as an antidote to the dreaded yellows, and unlike EVERY other purple shampoo I've tried, it smells divine and leaves my hair silky soft. Even my Kerasilk master tells me I can use this fairly regularly without detriment to my quarterly treatment ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?
For as long as I'm on this ashy/silvery grey kick ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Schwarzkopf Live Colour Pastels - Cool Grey & Metallic - Lilac Chrome (RRP $5.49)

Makeup

ModelsPrefer Infinite Colour Eye Pencil - Lime Tart ($12.99)

I'm SO pi$$ed off because they've dropped this shade from the range - the PERFECT lime for Spring/Summer! Mind you I've had this for years and while I haven't actually finished it, it's just too old and dry to use any more. Pretty good staying power on the waterline, but I used it mainly for tightlining and as an eyeshadow base. Sob ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?
If only I could ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Australis HD Translucent Loose Setting Powder (RRP $16.95)
Eye of Horus Scarab Sapphire Goddess Pencil (1.2g, RRP $30)

Maybelline Total Temptation Brow Definer (RRP $17.95)

Giveaway

This month we have up for grabs...

• Australis HD Translucent Loose Setting Powder
• DKNY Be Delicious EDP - 30ml
• Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence
• Skin Republic Volcanic Ash Mud Sheet Mask

All items were purchased by me and the approximate value is $110.  The giveaway is open to...

Australian Residents Only! 

Here's how to enter...

1. Leave a blog post comment on this page that answers the question inside the Rafflecopter (please note: if you don't leave a comment on this page, you won't be included in the draw!) If you're unable to leave a comment for technical reasons, please email your answer to katshepsutt(at)gmail.com.
2. Leave your email address inside the Rafflecopter so I can contact you if you win
3. Follow my blog one way or another from the many choices listed
4. Only one entry per person, please read the T's & C's inside the Rafflecopter

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This giveaway is now closed  - check back later tonight to find out who won!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yay, the Rafflecopter is working again!

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

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Anne, please respond to the email I've sent you by midnight

Thursday 5th December to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Anne has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Sarah Jessica Parker Born Lovely EDP...

Just over a year ago I discovered Lovely, the first fragrance from Sarah Jessica Parker (review HERE) which had been on the market since 2005, so I decided to be a bit quicker off the blocks in discovering the daughter of this original scent, Born Lovely ♥...

As with the first, I found this at Chemist Warehouse for $9.99 for the 30ml bottle. This is actually a brilliant marketing strategy as the price is crazily affordable, the flacon is compact enough to fit in a handbag, and the presentation is as stunning as fragrances at least 4 or 5 times the price. The bottle is the same shape but instead of clear glass, it's a soft smoky grey with pink accents and a cute bow instead of a plain band around the neck. And while I loved the original look, this is even prettier ♥...

For me, the fragrance has some similarities to Lovely, no doubt due to the same mandarin top note and cedarwood base (see below), but my nose picks up more floral and fruit than wood in this version. Overall I would say it's aptly named as it's gentler, younger, simpler and more innocent than Lovely. Equally gorgeous and totally feminine, on my skin, it isn't obvious past a couple of hours, and yet at the end of the day, I still get little wafts of freshness that make this a treasure. I've no doubt if you enjoy Lovely, you will also want to find a place for Born Lovely in your collection ♥...

Lovely                              

Top Notes: Mandarin, bergamot, rosewood, lavender, apple martini

Middle Notes: Patchouli, paperwhites, orchid
Base Notes: Cedarwood, white amber, musks, woods             

Born Lovely

Top Notes: Mandarin, peony, cassis

Middle Notes: Freesia, honeysuckle, orange blossom

Base Notes: Patchouli, cedarwood, caramel

Light and fresh, this is an ideal fragrance for the transition from spring to summer, and well into the hot weather when I don't want anything too potent when I douse myself in a cooling spray. Nice one SJP!

Have you tried this one yet?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2019...

Oh wow - after several agonising weeks' wait, my lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2019 finally arrived, and it's even more fantastic than I'd hoped. Interestingly, it's the only Advent Calendar I've ever bought and what a way to start! For $145, the contents are advertised as being worth over $750, and almost all of them are full-size. And having opened all the boxes, I definitely chose wisely for my first experience ♥...

Spoiler Alert - contents will be revealed! 

The presentation is absolutely gorgeous! The box is huge and really quite heavy, made of super sturdy cardboard in a deep blue with gold embellishments. I have to say I'm feeling a bit of a tease as this is currently listed as "sold out", but I'm posting all the goodies in case it might inspire you to put some pennies aside throughout the coming year so you can score one next Christmas - I sure as hell am! ♥... 

Each slide-out box contains a beauty item professionally wrapped in midnight blue tissue paper, with a cute little numbered card describing the product - it's all so so beautiful, so let's get on with the contents. This will be a picture heavy post without many words as I haven't tried any of the products yet, but you'll see my reviews as usual in the Empties posts going forward ♥...

#1 - Morphe 9A Always Golden Eyeshadow Palette*

A mix of matte and shimmer pans in beautiful warm shades - I have a couple of Morphe palettes in my kit and their pigmentation is excellent and the texture buttery smooth...

#2 - Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment

This styling cream promises strength, shine, smoothing, volume & condition - right up my alley!...

#3 - Caudalie Vinopure Clear Skin Purifying Toner

I haven't used a toner for years, but looking forward to trying this on my open pores...

#4 - Luxie Eye Makeup Brushes - 121 & 141

Excellent! Some nice new eyeshadow brushes never go astray...

#5 - Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Day Cream

Holey guacemoley - this cream sells for $196 at Mecca, and it promises to "...soften wrinkles, firm, tone and hydrate for visible results in 14 days."  Fingers crossed!

#6 - Illamasqua Nude Collection Lip Liner - Raw*

A little pale for me, but everything I've ever tried from Illamasqua has been fabulous...

#7 - Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Dry Oil

This is for both hair and body, and I can't wait to try it out...

#8 - Philip Kingsley Elasticizer hair mask

Ooh yes please, and I'll probably leave it on overnight instead of the recommended 20 minutes...

#9 - Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel

Perfect timing with the start of the warmer weather and my shift away from cleansing balms. This is non-foaming as well which makes it even more appealing...

#10 - First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

I'm hoping for mega-radiance from these pads, which contain lactic and glycolic acid, and pretty awesome reviews on Sephora...

#11 - Avant Skincare Moisture Surge Overnight Treatment

Crikey - this is the same quantity (and appears to be the same product) as the jar on the lookfantastic website that's priced at $156.40. I'll be saving this for special occasions lol!...

#12 - PRAI Throat & Decolletage Creme

How perfect is this for me? Whoop, whoop, whoop!...

#13 - Lord & Berry Eye Liner - Travel Black*

I have several lip crayons from this brand and they are brilliant - very creamy, long-lasting and beautifully pigmented...

#14 - Mellow Cosmetics Liquid Lip Paint - Tehran*

While this shade isn't all that appealing, the formula sounds like my kinda thing...

#15 - Rodial Dragon's Blood Lip Mask

Just what the doctor ordered for my shrivelled pout...

#16 - Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Bath & Shower Gel*

I'm positive this would smell totally divine, but it contains SLS so I'll be gifting this baby...

#17 - Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit + C Cream

One of the very few sample sizes in the box, I'll definitely use it on some of my pigmentation spots...

#18 - Neal's Yard Remedies Wild Rose Hand Cream

Can never have too many hand creams, and this sounds delish...

#19 - Bioeffect EGF Serum

This is the cutest bottle, and while it's only 5ml, it'll be plenty if all I need is 2-4 drops. The 15ml dropper bottle sells for $195 so I'm more than happy with $65-worth...

#20 - Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara - Black*

Oh wow, how interesting - my lashes could do with some caffeine!...

#21 - Delilah Cosmetics Eye Brow Pencil - Sable*

Such a pity this is way too dark for me...

#22 - lookfantastic Bubble T Limited Edition Bath Fizzies - Salted Caramel

Well, these should satisfy my sweet tooth...

#23 - Filorga Meso-Mask

You know of my passion for face masks - thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...

#24 - Sleek Makeup Highlighting Palette - Solstice*

The package was sealed so I didn't open it, but it looks stunning...

#25 - Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist Limited Edition

So looking forward to the delightful boost this will give me at the end of a hot humid day...

I haven't heard of half of these brands, but I'm busting to try them, and I tell you what with all this going on my face, body and hair over the next 12 months, I'll have no excuse to not look fantastic by the end the of the year ha ha. Overall I reckon this is the most unbelievable value and massive thanks to darling Ingrid from fabulous and fun life, without whom I would never have known it existed! ♥♥♥...

Even though I've already peeked inside every box, I've put everything back, and am planning to still play along with the tradition, and only open and try each product on the relevant day in December - incidentally any of the above products marked with an asterisk (*) are the ones that don't necessarily suit me, so watch this space in the weeks ahead as I might just have a special giveaway ♥...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

REVIEW: Urban Rituelle Seaside Story Hand & Body Lotions...

It's been way too long since I indulged my passion for any of the lovingly prepared Urban Rituelle products, and I'm counting my lucky stars that just recently, Team UR gifted me with their collection of exquisitely fragranced Seaside Story Hand & Body Lotions. And they arrived just in time for the warmer weather when my skin is in sore need of some preparation before breaking out the summery shorts and sleeveless tops ♥...

For as long as I can remember, Urban Rituelle has created a theme for each of their collections, and Seaside Story is aptly named indeed. Each one of these deliciously scented potions encapsulates an essence of a sea-and-sun lifestyle, and they are all captivatingly unique. The creamy formulation is both enriching and revitalising, leaving the skin ever so soft, and aglow with a healthy sheen. Absorbed in seconds, the skin-pampering ingredients include chamomile and cucumber, and three especially nourishing oils - argan, avocado and rosehip, all blended together with a caring concern that's palpable ♥...

Coconut & Lotus

I so need this fragrance in my collection! Lotus blooms drizzled with coconut milk. and the petals dusted with powdery musk. Well, that's what it smells like to me - beachy and sensual, with a hint of the tropics. There's also shea butter, macadamia, olive and wheat germ oils in the mix to keep skin supple and moisture-rich. Every summer-loving body needs this fragrant juice ♥...

Tiare Flowers

If you shower at night, you'll want to slather this on before you climb between the sheets. Heady white flowers blended with bergamot and ylang-ylang - mmmm, gardenia lovers, this is for you. Can a hand and body lotion be seductive? I think so ♥...

Mandarin Blossom

Us fruity-floral fragrance fiends have been well looked after with this gem - an absolute delight for the senses, it's the perfect balance of juicy fruits and sweet spring blossoms. with an added zing of crisp bergamot. This is for mornings when I want a little zest to get me started, and it's not too potent to interfere with whatever EDP I'm spritzing. I would say it's the prettiest and most delicate scent of the range ♥...

Sea Kiss

SO hard to pick a favourite, but I reckon this is it. I don't get to the beach much these days, but I don't need to any more - it's all here in a tube! Whoever came up with the name got it right. It's a little musky, a little salty, and a little peachy - I literally can't get enough of it. So fresh and clean, my skin smells like I've just emerged from the surf. I'll be coating myself in this after a long hot day (if there's any left!). Absolutely love it ♥...

UR presentation is always stunning, and these lotions are in 60ml recyclable plastic tubes with convenient flip top caps, and along with the box, each one has an original design and colour scheme that reflects the contents. They retail for $14.95, and there are matching soy candles and purse-size fragrance sprays... 

All Urban Rituelle products are never tested on animals and made in Australia by a team of creative individuals who so love what they do.  Yes I'm raving, but I can't help it when it comes to this brand - you can read some of my previous gushy reviews of products (that are still available), HERE, HERE & HERE...

Thank you thank you Urban Rituelle for this beautiful gift, and what perfect timing as I'm putting together my shopping list for Christmas for friends, family and ME - Santa, please take note!

Take care of you,

kats xxx