Beautyheaven Glosscars Markeplace Event 2019...

Despite all attempts by Transport for NSW to thwart my travel to beautyheaven HQ yesterday, thankfully I made it in time to attend my nominated session of the beautyheaven Glosscars Marketplace Event. As always, it was the best and most fun 45 minutes any self-respecting beauty blogger could hope to experience - lots of new products to discover and photograph, quick chats with old (and new) friends, and expert info from the glam, warm and welcoming Team BH staff ♥... 

This is an annual event that precedes the Glosscar Awards voting for products launched in the previous 12 months, and an opportunity for close-to-Sydney members to sample some of the nominees. I so look forward to this every year and count myself most fortunate to have received an invitation ♥...

The participating brands this year were Blessed by Nature, Bodecare, Handsome, Jane Iredale, Nude by Nature, Olay, Pump Haircare, Skin Nutrient and Skin Physics. Believe it or not, I'm familiar with only ONE of the products that were gifted (Nude by Nature Moisture Shine Lipstick), so I'm blissing out to have the following goodies to road test before voting begins next week ♥...

 Blessed By Nature Foaming Facial Cleanser...

Oh yum! Containing Lavender, Aloe Vera, Calendula & Chamomile, this cleanser will have your face makeup and grime free in a flash. I used it last night to take off all my beauty-party slap - smells divine, and my second cleanse with micellar water resulted in a cotton pad that was as clean-as-a-whistle. Super effective and non-drying, the formula contains no sulphates, alcohol or parabens, it's 100% vegan, not tested on animals, and the company is all-Australian owned. Score! ♥...

Bodecare Organic Egyptian Loofah...

The biggest loofah I've ever seen, let alone used! Also vegan, I gave my bod a good going over with this gem in the shower this morning, and I'm sold. It feels really nasty when dry - by that I mean hard and as scratchy as sandpaper, but as soon as you wet the sponge, it softens and becomes flexible while retaining enough firmness to give your skin a thorough and stimulating sloughing - a few weeks of this and I'll be loving my thighs again ♥...

Handsome Men's Skincare Facial Moisturiser...

As this moisturiser contains Organic Cedarwood, Bergamot, Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Rosehip and Vitamin E, the man of the house may not even get to try it lol! Only joking of course - I'll have to report on this at a later date, but I can tell you that it absorbs in seconds and smells like a herb garden after a spring rain. Also Aussie-made and not tested on animals - definitely a contender for a prize ♥...

Jane Iredale Triple Luxe Long Lasting Naturally Moist Lipstick...

Oh wow - this is my kind of lipstick! Smooth and creamy, full of moisturising goodness (Moringa, Avocado and Sunflower Seed Oils), vegan, cruelty-free, AND it lasts for hours. Where have you been all my life? I chose the shade Ella, which according to the information card we were given is a "deep rose brown", although in the artificial light I thought it was more of a plummy pink. I wore it today and the shade is incredibly flattering, the formula is exceptionally comfortable, and I didn't need to re-apply after breakfast. Adore! Instagram swatch will be up this week ♥...

 Nude by Nature Moisture Shine Lipstick...

I'm already a fan of Deep Plum and Garnet in this range, and the formula is a beauty. Delighted to have received Blush Pink for those days when I want a quiet but pretty nude. The Vitamin E, Kakadu Plum, Shea Butter & Jojoba Oil content keeps my lips moist and supple for hours. It's going to be a tough decision as to which of these two brands to vote for - I'm hoping there'll be two categories so I don't have to choose! ♥...

Pump Haircare Thickening Mask with Gotu Kola Extract...

So looking forward to trying this hair mask which has heaps going for it - sulphate free, contains Soy and Rice Protein, Olive Leaf, Gotu Kola (a scalp nourisher, I looked it up) & Horsetail extract and Argan Oil, cruelty-free, and it smells delicious enough to put on my face. Only needs to be left on for 10 minutes, but you can sleep in it too ♥...

Skin Nutrient Goat's Milk Magic Touch...

This moisturiser was a huge surprise - it looks like oatmeal coloured jelly, and I can see and feel teeny little pearly balls as I massage it in, but they dissolve almost immediately leaving my skin feeling crazy soft and hydrated. I treated myself to this last night and woke up to a super smooth and perfectly moisture-balanced complexion. This will be ideal for me for the coming cold season ♥...

 Skin Physics Advance Super Lift Hand & Nail Renewal Cream...

Well now, this just might be my new go-to anti-ageing hand cream. We saw some before and after photos of weathered, wrinkly and spotty hands transformed into smooth, even-toned and plumped paws - will let you know how this goes, but coming from Skin Physics, I'm supremely confident of some obvious improvement in my hands and nails. Contains SP15 and caviar! ♥...

Olay Regenerist Whip Active Moisturiser & Magnemasks Infusion Hydrating Sheet Mask...

The only presentation stand I forgot to photograph! There are three formulations in the Whip moisturiser, and predictably I chose the Regenerist flavour which is aimed at firming skin and reducing lines and wrinkles, all of which I need a lot of ha ha. I used this today under my makeup and it helped control the shine I normally experience in my T-zone, but my skin still feels hydrated now 12 hours later. I'm already a huge fan and regular user of the Rejuvenating Sheet Masks, so I opted for the Hydrating variety. These masks are one of the easiest to use as there's no fiddling around with backing sheets, the coverage is excellent, and they're one of the best face-fits on the market ♥...

Event Babe Gallery...

Why do I punish myself by having my photo taken with stunning women? Because they are all such gorgeous human beings, and who doesn't want to surround themselves with beautiful things!...

This is darling Leah aka Temporary Princess - don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like her?

And here's my dear pal Ingrid aka Fabulous and Fun Life - she's that magical blend of beauty and wisdom...

And this is the stunning Izzy from Team bh - isn't she gorgeous? I would kill for her skin...

And who knew there was a supermodel on the beautyheaven team? Well, her name is Sophie and she's a total doll - glam goals!

There were delicious snacks and drinks provided as well, and all up it was a fun and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Huge thank yous to beautyheaven and all the sponsors for the opportunity to try these terrific products. Best of luck to the nominees! 

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW: MAC Bold & Bad Lash Mascara - Glosscar Winner!...

Another of the gems that came my way at the recent Beautyheaven Glosscar Awards Marketplace Member Event. This MAC Bold & Bad Lash Mascara is a stunner in all departments - from the outrageously fabulous packaging to the two lash-lushing formulas in the dual-brush compartments...

Oh how gorgeous it is from the get-go! The main fat silver tube is covered in embossed graffiti made of a velour material - so funky, and to touch it is to love it lol ♥ There are two tubes with two different brushes and two different types of mascara. Unscrewing the black section reveals a solid stem with a generous and tapered brush - the product is the blackest black and designed to lengthen and bulk up the top lashes. I didn't find it did much for my length, but it coats effortlessly and sure makes my spindly lashes stand out without any hint of clumping - the brush separates the lashes brilliantly...

Under the red cap is a teeny weeny wand - honestly, the smallest and finest mascara brush I've ever seen, and it coats every lower lash you possess, even the invisible ones you didn't know you had ♥ The formula is different in that it is smudgeproof (bonus!) and for someone who blinks constantly, I'm very happy to report that it passed the kats under-eye-smudge-smear-flake test with flying colours...

I apply two coats from the red on the lower lashes and one coat of the black on the top. I then curl the top lashes and apply another coat of the black, and finish with a topcoat of smudgeproof - all set for the day, and yet it comes off with micellar water...

It's no wonder that it has, in fact, won a beautyheaven Glosscar Award 2018 for the best new mascara!

Thanks beautyheaven, and congratulations to MAC on this innovative mascara in a way WAY over-saturated market - a bold breath of fresh air! RRP is $42 - double what I usually spend, but if it's ever on special, I'm in ♥...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

Beautyheaven Glosscar Awards Marketplace Member Event...

Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure of attending one of the Beautyheaven Glosscar Awards Marketplace Member Event sessions at bh headquarters in the Sydney CBD ♥ The Beautyheaven Glosscar Awards are an annual affair, and members can vote for their favourite beauty products released in the previous 12 months. This Marketplace Event was a fabulous opportunity to learn about and experience some of the amazing products nominated this year, from MAC, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Beauty by Nicholas, L'Occitane, Essano & Proactiv ♥...

Image courtesy of beautyheaven.com

While we were only there for an hour, we were provided with some delicious refreshments, and there was time to take in everything on display, as well as catch up with some long-time member friends and the bh Team of lovelies. After missing out on a pic with the gorgeous Debbie Black from beautyheaven at the 10th Birthday Party Event last October, I made sure to hijack her this time around - she's a total doll! ♥...

There were seven beauty stations to visit, manned either by bh staff or sponsor representatives, and we were able to sample the products, ask questions, and were generously gifted with items from every stand. I've been a fan of the Beauty by Nicholas brand ever since discovering them at the previous bh event I attended last year and chose the only product from their range that I hadn't tried before - Omega Hydroxy Night Rejuvenation ♥...

I left it too late to take a photo of the Bobbi Brown stand before it was swamped (lol!), but all 20 colours of their Crushed Lip Colour lipsticks were on display and available to swatch, and you can imagine all us girls went to town on that opportunity! ♥... 

I chose the shade Watermelon, a stunning red with lots of pink, or is it pink with lots of red? Either way the formula is a wonder combination of long-lasting pigments and a matte finish that's comfortable to wear ♥...

At the Essano station, we learned about their Rosehip Clarifying Clay Masque, which I tried last night and it's brilliant! Delectable rose fragrance, the prettiest soft pink colour, and it left my skin glowing and deeply cleansed. Also gifted was their Clear Complexion Detoxifying Serum, which I also included in my Saturday night beauty routine, and will continue to use to help control my oily-T zone ♥...

The Estee Lauder experts were on hand to colour match us with their new Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup which includes SPF 25. They used one of those nifty electronic gadgets that they hold against areas of the face and neck in order to find the perfect match. We were gifted with a full-sized bottle of this delightful foundation, and my match was Ivory Beige 3N1, which I'll be road-testing tomorrow ♥...

Our lovely L'Occitane rep treated us to samples of the latest moisturisers, and we were so kindly gifted with their miraculous Shea Butter Intensive Hand Balm, and a bottle of Terre De Lumiere EDP. I'll be reviewing this separately, but let's just say that it's a crisp and spicy, sensual gourmand floral masterpiece! ♥...

Here's bh's stunning and ever so friendly Steph at the MAC stand, where we were introduced to the Bold & Bad Lash mascara. Of course, I'll be doing an in-depth review in the weeks ahead, but if the contents are as magnificent as the packaging, I'll be happy as a clam! The spectacular silver, red and black tube has two brushes, one each for top and bottom, and the bottom lash formula is smudge-proof - we shall see! ♥...

I've not tried any Proactiv products before - their speciality is troubled skin, and I only experience maybe one blemish in a year, but I am regularly dealing with blackheads on my nose, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to try their Blackhead Dissolving Gel. It's designed to shrink pores as well - my hooter has already had a treatment, and I'll report back to you soon. Incidentally, it smells divine ♥...

How beaut it was to play catch up with some of the other bh members, so many of whom are fellow beauty bloggers, like these two babes - Leah from Temporary Princess, and Marisa from Marisa Robinson Makeup Artist ♥♥♥...

And here's what was in my loot bag - I feel totally spoiled and so chuffed to have received so many delish products to try ♥...

 

If you're not already a beautyheaven member, I can assure you the rewards are amazing, and if you join now and vote, you can be in the running for one of 10 prize packs valued at around $1,000. I've been lucky enough to win two of these mammoth prize boxes in my 9 years as a member so I won't be entering the comp, but I WILL be voting for my fave products before the closing date of this Thursday 29th March...

Huge thankyous to the beautyheaven team (& sponsors) for this fun experience - you guys always put on the best show! ♥...

Take care of you,

kats xxx