EOTM Bloggiversary Giveaway!...

They say time flies when you're having fun, so I must be having an absolute BALL because this month my little blog is three years old, and it only seems like last week that I took my first tentative steps into the blogosphere! I kinda knew I'd love this gig, but I wasn't expecting it to be the ONE THING that's kept me from losing the plot in my day job, nor did I realise what precious friendships would come my way. I'm so grateful to all you lovelies for your support and encouragement, so I'm giving one lucky follower the chance to win this mega pack of goodies. Most of the items are personal favourites of mine, and who knows, they might end up being yours too ♥

The prize consists of...

• Boxed set of 3 Maybelline Colordrama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils - Minimalist, In With Coral & Red Essential
• Nude by Nature Face Scrub
• Nude by Nature Daily Cleanser
• Nude by Nature Miracle Serum
• Katy Perry Killer Queen EDP - 50ml
• CROP Intense Moisture Hand Cream
• Mirenesse 24hr Brow Lift & Shape Mascara
• Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm (Showy) & Colorburst Lacquer Balm (Vivacious) (boxed)
• BotanicES Natural Caffeine Skincare Travel Pack - Body Creme, Face Creme & Eye Creme - all 15ml (boxed)
• Grace Cole White Nectarine & Pear Bath Soak, Bath & Shower Gel & Body Lotion - all 50ml (boxed)
• DB Cosmetics Colour Kisses Limited Edition Lipstick Collection (boxed) - 5 mini lipsticks in Nude, Blush, Hibiscus, Hot Pink & Deep Red 
• Hair & Me Hair Rejuventation Treatment
• Australis Take Me On Tour Contouring & Highlighting Kit (boxed) - no shade name, but it looks Light to Medium

I've reviewed most of the products in the above list, and included links to the posts. All items were purchased by me, are brand new and sealed - total prize value is approximately $330!

Please note this giveaway is open to Australian Residents Only.

Here's another pic of the loot...

So...is this appealing at all? If so, here's how to enter...

1. Nominate which of the August EOTD's is your favourite from the eight pictured below, and let me know in the comments section why you like it the most
2. Inside the Rafflecopter, guess which of the EOTD's is my personal favourite
3. Leave your email address inside the Rafflecopter so I can contact you if you win
4. Follow my blog one way or another from the many choices listed

Please note: if you don't leave a comment on this page, or enter in the Rafflecopter which EOTD you think is my favourite, you will NOT be included in the draw. The first entry that the 'copter pulls up with the correct answer will win the prize pack, one entry per person...

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This giveaway is now closed - check back later tonight to see who won!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you ALL so much for your kind words, and for entering ♥

My personal favourite for last month was...#5 ♥

Out of the 6 entrants who guessed correctly, random.org has chosen

 Kate W.

as the winner!

Congratulations beautiful! 

Please respond to the email I've sent you

by Thursday 29th September to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Kate has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. I'm linking this post to Ingrid's fun and informative Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - online at 6:30am ♥♥♥

CONFESSIONS: Of a Body Washaholic (Part 16) - Boutique by Grace Cole

Wow three months since my last post in this series! No, I'm not cured of my addiction, just been trying to use up my stash (to make room for more lol) and last month I did my seasonal swapover, which means that some that were almost finished have now been put away till Spring. But I sure haven't stopped looking, and I recently found these pretty-as Boutique Soothing Bath & Shower Gels by Grace Cole at Chemist Warehouse. They're a bit more upmarket than the other range I've tried from this UK company - there are eight varieties, although my CW only has five, but these two were the absolute standouts for me...

The packaging is elegant and classy - each bottle has either gold or silver trim, and a cute little tassel which I didn't want to remove because it's so pretty, but shower stall practicality prevailed. The bottles are sturdy and a generous 500ml for $5.99 (RRP). Almost impossible to photograph successfully though as the label on the back seems to show through at any angle - in short, a bloggers nightmare, but I've forgiven them because what's inside is so delish, and I'll get my revenge when I buy the handwashes, which also have this little adornment. For those with skin sensitivities, they do contain sodium laureth sulfate and benzyl alcohol, but on the plus side they are paraben free, and the company is against animal testing.

Wild Fig & Pink Cedar...with extracts of chamomile, honey & pink peony

This smells like red lollies to me, with a touch of tangy fruit - that's not a bad thing, it's actually absolutely delicious. A crisp, fresh fragrance for all year round, and especially if you want something zingy without being too intense. Literally makes my mouth water, and it's the most gorgeous pastel pink hue ♥ Contains chamomile & honey to soothe the skin - not the most moisturising shower gel on my shelf, but it's not drying either. All up I reckon it's great value for the price, and Chemist Warehouse has this range on special for $4.99 at the mo'...

Nectarine Blossom & Grapefruit...with extracts of Vitamin E, Honey & Mandarin

Of the two, this one has the edge for me - no lollies here, this is a delicate fruit and flower blend with a wee bit of zest. If it came in a perfume bottle, I'd buy it in a flash, that's how much I love the scent, and I'll certainly be buying the hand wash.. Fruit Extract is listed in the ingredients rather than specifically nectarine or grapefruit, but there's also a fair whack of mandarin orange, and that's what my nose picks up. Just plain lovely, and makes me feel super clean and refreshed - will repurchase for sure...

There's a heavenly looking lavender one in the range too, and I'll grab that next for those days when I need some serious de-stressing ♥

Take care of  you,
kats xxx

CONFESSIONS: of a Body Washaholic (Part 7)...

Yikes, up to Part 7 already? My discovery of the fabulous Imperial Leather body washes kinda slowed down the cycling of my collection, but I've caught up a bit now. These are the last of the ones from the Part 5 photo, so Part 8 will have a new "current collection" pic ♥. I reached the conclusion many moons ago that this particular fascination of mine is never EVER going to end, so you can count on this series being a regular feature on my blog...

Grace Cole Passionfruit & Guava Shower Gel...

Yumbo! If you want to kick-start your appetite first thing in the morning, then this is the body wash that'll do it - I find myself craving a platter of fresh fruit whenever I slather on this passion fruit and guava scented cleanser. Non-drying, costs less than $5, and if you want confirmation, the beautiful Hailey O MUA wrote a rave review about it back in November last year. Like Hailey, I'd rather the gel had a thicker consistency, and because it's such a delicate lavender shade, I'd prefer the tube to be clear so I could appreciate the pretty hue before it hits my flannel. Other than that, if you're a fruity fragrance fan, you won't be disappointed. I've only ever seen it at Chemist Warehouse, and they stock a bunch of other fragrance matched body products from Grace Cole too...

LUX Passionate Spell Fragranced Body Wash...

Divine colour, scintillatingly sensuous smell - the base notes are similar to the purple Magical Spell in this range. I waxed lyrical about that particular one back in Part 5, but this one is even more potent, like...wow! Can't say I can actually identify the Passion Fruit or Fiery Orange Rose content, but the combo is a winner. It's spicy and warming, exceptionally intoxicating, and because of that, right up there at the top of my list for the cooler months. More like a pricey oriental from a perfume house, my skin stays fragrant for a good couple of hours. Definitely NOT for anyone with scent sensitivities, my nose picks up some earthy vanilla and sandalwood too, so this might even be a hit with the guys...

Bit of a Soft Touch Jojoba, Peach and Vanilla Bean Extract Moisturising Body Wash...

I fondled this bottle in the supermarket on at least three separate occasions before I actually bought it  - loved the fragrance, and it was excellent value (around $8 for 500ml), but I thought the packaging was terribly ordinary. Yeah I know I'm fussy, but I want to love the look of what I'm reaching for in the shower, and this was all a bit bleah and uninspiring. But it just goes to show that you can never judge a body wash by its container - what's inside turned out to be quite stunning ♥ Can't smell any vanilla at all, but the peach is ultra refreshing, crisp and mouth wateringly fruity - in short it's an absolute delight, a resounding hit with all family members, and has amazing skin hydrating qualities. The label is highly informative and tells me it contains jojoba and antioxidants, and the added bonus is that it's SLS and PBA free. Despite its decidedly unglamorous appearance, I'll be trying more from this all-Australian range - it was voted Product of the Year in the Bodycare Category, based on Nielsen research...

Palmolive Naturals Moisturising Shower Cremes - Pomegranate, Kiwifruit, Mandarin...

Sadly these are no longer in production, but I stumbled across the whole set about a month ago in My Chemist for $5 each, and snapped them up because I have such a soft spot for all three. It was actually my rave review of these body washes that scored me a beautyheaven Glosscars prize way back in 2011! Highly recommended if you ever see them in a discount store...

Pomegranate

All of these shower creams are thick and lovingly moisturising, and squeeze from the bottom of the fat tubby bottles. The pomegranate one is unbelievably sweet, and conjures up a gourmet dessert of meringue with a colourful fruit coulis. The fragrance is 100% girly, and I find myself grinning like a loon while I'm showering - anything that puts me in such a happy mood gets my seal of approval...

Kiwifruit

This one smells exactly like kiwi fruit, and has me salivating whenever I indulge in it. It has a sour zingy edge that instantly flags it as a summertime shower staple - on hot days I'm not interested in flowery or heady exotic fragrances. Instead I want something zesty and crisp that will make me feel refreshed, cool and clean - bingo!

Mandarin

A delightful blend of citrus and baby powder, and the most delicately perfumed of the three. Best summed up as a calming and comforting caress - a fave for lazy Sunday mornings when I want to stave off thinking about Monday. In short, a darn shame they stopped making it...

EDIT: I can't bear leading anyone astray, so I'm adding that after trying these a few times in the shower (they smelt fine from the bottle), they really are past their prime - they've lost the zingy freshness they had when they were first released. Bummer, as I miss them :-( 

And if you missed them, the rest of the series is here...
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

CONFESSIONS: of a Body Washaholic (Part 4)...

This is actually a double-confession - ermmm I went out and bought four more body washes, even though I'd only finished off one of my existing ones from Parts 1, 2 & 3. Gee wiz, I just couldn't help myself :-( At this stage this just HAS to be it for a while though because as you can imagine, there's simply NO room at the inn...

As a reminder, here's what was already bulging out of my shower caddys...

Ok now that I've fessed up, there's little point dwelling on past sins, so here's what tempted me...

Grace Cole Fruitworks Strawberry & Kiwi Shower Gel

Loving body washes as I do, I've been on a mission to find some new and interesting ones to add to my collection. Spotted this in Chemist Warehouse, and it had me at first sniff. I reckon it's a bargain for $4.99 and there's quite a few varieties in the range (along with other matching body products), but given the fact that my mouth waters at the first hint of strawberries and kiwi fruit, the other scent combos didn't really get a look-in this time around. It's made in England, paraben free, and I've not seen it for sale anywhere else. The clear berry coloured gel is quite runny so be careful when you pop the flip-top lid - I cup my flannel and squeeze a bit into the middle, then mash the edges together before slathering the fruity suds all over my bod. Non-drying and zingily refreshing, I'll be exploring the other yummy scents once I have some space lol (I'm almost certain there was a pink grapefruit one, so that'll be next...)

Radox Coconut Rush Body Wash

Oddly enough, in the past I've avoided coconut fragranced products - haven't a clue why, and actually after trying this beauty from Radox, I'm wondering what past experience could possibly have induced this silly scent-blockage, but whatever it is, I'm over it because I LOVE this stuff - the name alone makes me feel energised. The smell is very definitely coconut, but it's not overly sweet or cloying. The liquid is thick and pearly white, soap free, and according to the back of the big fat bottle, contains Sorbitol (third item listed in the ingredients) to moisturise, and that it does. Most definitely scoring a place on my "regulars' list, the 500ml bottle is available in supermarkets and pharmacies for just under $7, and there's also a giant 1 litre pump container for less than $10. A massive thank you to Gemma Sapphire for inspiring me get over my coconut phobia ♥

Lux Soft Touch Cherry Cream Body Wash

Oh now this is a pretty one - forget it fellas, this is a 100% girly fragrance, a blend of cherry blossom and baby powder ♥ You know I really should note down where I buy things as soon as I walk in the door - by the time I get around to reviewing, I'm struggling to remember the source, which is a pain when I want to find it again. Anyway my seniors brain is telling me The Reject Shop for around the $5 mark. A gorgeous pastel pink liquid that's thick and pearly, this body wash is said to contain Silk Protein Extract and Cherry Cream - well it sure makes my skin feel as smooth as silk, nicely hydrated, and the ultra-feminine fragrance lingers for a while without interfering with my perfume...

Palmer's Tropical Shea Butter Body Wash

If the smell of fruit salad and cream appeals to you, then I can highly recommend this body wash. It's the first Palmer's one I've tried, and like most of their products, the Shea Butter content delivers a rich boost of moisture with every squirt, without making my skin feel slippery or slimy. Can't see any fruit listed in the ingredients, but it does have a lovely tropical tang to it, and the consistency is nice and thick. Interestingly there's not one review of it on beautyheaven, but the Coconut flavour won a 2014 Glosscars. This 400ml bottle has only just appeared at my local Coles for $5.99, is sulfate & paraben free, and Palmer's are against animal testing....

Well I'm calling the Body Washaholic series a wrap for the time being, but you just KNOW I'll be doing a Part 5 in the not too distant future now don't you? Ha ha...

Take care of you,
kats xxx