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

Totally missed last month's giveaway! Two prizes this month - both are boxed Chi Chi Viva La Diva Lipstick Collections and Swarovski jewellery sets from Lovisa, just different colour combinations...

All were purchased by me - here's a bit more detail...

Prize Pack #1 - "Bolds"

• Chi Chi Viva La Diva Lipstick Collection - Hot Mamma, Countess, Lady Bump & Glamazon
• Charcoal Swarovski stud earrings and pendant set

Prize Pack #2 - "Nudes"

• Chi Chi Viva La Diva Lipstick Collection - Game On, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Sex Bomb, Chekin In
• Pink Swarovski stud earrings and pendant set

The rules are simple but pretty strict - one entry per person, one prize per winner, and you must choose the pack you'd like to win at the time of entry.  None of this "oh I'd love to win either of them" caper lol...

This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!

To enter, nominate which of the June EOTD's is your favourite from the six 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...

The Rafflecopter will decide the winners, so please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions inside. Please note that leaving a comment, providing your email address inside the Rafflecopter, nominating which prize you'd like to win 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 - check back later tonight to see who won!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the following two winners!

Prize Pack #1 - Bolds : Sandhra J.

Prize Pack #2 - Nudes : Anna M.

Congratulations lovelies! 

Sandhra & Anna please respond to the emails I've sent you by 

Wednesday 31st August to claim your prizes :-)

Edit: Anna has claimed her prize ♥

Edit: Sandhra has claimed her prize ♥

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Take care of you,
kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Multicoloured Bling!

A quickie post to share another of my passions - bling-rings! And the sparklier the better ha ha. I used to buy cheapie ones from places like Lovisa or Colette, but found the gold or silver finish always came off after a few wears and they looked tatty, so these days I only go for Sterling Silver settings - my budget unfortunately doesn't stretch to anything gold. I also have a self-imposed limit of $50 per item so that I can maintain my makeup addiction (whoops!), but fortunately there are a few stores where I can indulge my love of finger ornaments, and stay within my budget. All the rings below were purchased from Goldmark sales over the last 12 months, and all were under $40...

I'm crazy in love with them - the stones are Swarovski crystals, they're so colourful and bright, and you know how I love to match my outfits ♥ I keep hoping they'll release a purple or emerald green variety (hint hint Goldmark!). They glimmer and gleam like mad, and so far none of the stones have fallen out - mind you I always remove them when washing my hands, so that helps keep them intact...

The RRP of these is $69.95, and the trick with Goldmark is to regularly check their displays - there's usually one corner of the front window where they put their "specials", and I just wait till they appear there on sale, and then pounce!

Sizes are limited, and I'm lucky all these fit on my middle finger, but sometimes they have a few to choose from. My local store always puts them into a pretty purple velvet pouch too - such a girlie treat, and makes me feel like a princess ♥

Happy Spring everyone!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

EOTD/REVIEW: MUA Purple #9...

Have I mentioned I'm a huge Makeup Academy ("MUA", UK company) eye shadow fan? Lol I'm sure I have, but it's time to rave on some more because in my opinion, this is close to being the most brilliant shadow in my kit - Pearl #9, a fabulous purple/blue duochrome. The pigmentation is astounding - so deep and rich, the texture is deliciously creamy, and it takes so little building to create the boldest, sassiest purple eye with a divine blue reflect :-)

Note: this eye shadow costs 1 pound, or converted to AUD, $1.85 - unbelievable! Of course there's heaps of other colours in the range, although not all are available all the time (while writing this I can see that this #9 is not listed - boo!). I have half a dozen or so of the pearls, and I featured the emerald (#6) back in November. They also make five matte shades for the same ridiculous price - I reckon they are as good as the ones made by theBalm, silky smooth and easy to blend, and I use #17 (biscuity beige) every single day to cover up the discolourations on my hoods, and to help make them appear a little less prominent. Sometimes I blend it with the brown (#19), and the charcoal (#20) is a favourite for in the crease to give some added definition.

Occasionally MUA has super duper sales e.g. 30% off with 20 pound minimum spend, and sometimes free postage, but even with $14 shipping, they are still one of the best value shadows on the planet. I've had mixed success with their other products, but their shadows are in a league of their own. The pearls can be used either wet or dry, and they last all day without creasing or fading. For this look I applied the purple dry on the top lid, and with a moist brush on the lower lashline - it's a bit hard to tell from these photos, but like most shimmer shadows, it turns out even more reflective when damp.

As a base I applied Face of Australia Budge Proof Gel Eyeliner in Pure Purple, and patted the MUA #9 over the top using a medium sized soft angled brush. Then I added a fine line of amethyst from the Mirenesse Pearl Crush Creaseless Shadows Baroque Pearls palette in the crease - I often do this with a matte to reduce the likelihood of the shimmery shadow transferring to my hoods. Along the lower lashline is MNY Master Precise Liquid Liner blended with #9, and on the waterline, Mirenesse Mineral Face Gel Colour in Aquamarine.

I created this look to go with another stunning jewellery set that my darling Dad gave me for my birthday - a Swarovski heart pendant with matching earrings. The deep purple crystal has a turquoise reflect in it that only shows up in certain lighting situations, and MUA #9 couldn't have been a more perfect match ♥

This will be my last blog post for 2013 - to all you wonderful folk who have supported my blogging baby steps over the last 3 months, I thank you with all my heart. I hope the next year keeps you and those dear to you happy, safe and healthy, and that you'll join me for a chat or two in 2014 ♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx