SPOTLIGHT: February Empties!...

Welcome to my February Empties post! Yes I know, I know, it's April already, but that's how things turned out last month with my work commitments. Still have a few critical things going on, but they should be over in the next week or two, and I can get on with my blogging...and my March Empties post lol. Feb wasn't a big month, but the sheet mask discoveries continued, and I'm ECSTATIC that I managed to finish off two of the micellar waters left over from the series. I promised myself I wouldn't try any more till I've cleared at least one more bottle, but that shouldn't take long...

Natural Secrets Goatsmilk Moisturising Hand Cream (80ml, RRP $6.99)
Already reviewed HERE, love this hand cream ♥...
Repurchase?
Yes, will always have a tube on my bedside table, or in my handbag ♥...

Alpha-H Liquid Gold (100ml, RRP $59.95)

This AMAZING stuff has featured in a couple of my empties posts already, but I figured it was worth mentioning again so that you can see that despite my general fickleness with skincare, there are some things which I absolutely keep using over and over again. I reckon this magical liquid keeps my complexion as radiant and youthful as possible via an external product application. I use it every second night, and at least once a week I leave it to work it's magic entirely unaided by anything else...

Repurchase?
This is one product I'll always have on my bench - I buy from Adore Beauty as they regularly have it on special. Back in August last year, I picked up the 200ml supersize for $69.95 ♥...

Avène Micellar Lotion (200ml, RRP $30.95)

Reviewed in Part 7 of my Micellar Magic Series (HERE). This is one of the nicest micellars around, pity it's so expensive...

Repurchase?

Yep I will (once I get through some more of the backlog) - this lotion will be perfect for those cold winter nights when I don't feel like doing the whole face flannel washing thingy. This seems to remove just about all my makeup, and yet it's SO gentle ♥...

Lacura Micellar 3 in 1 Cleansing Water (250ml, RRP $7.95)

This one starred in Part 6 (HERE) - excellent value, and very effective...

Repurchase?
Would if I could - it's not stocked permanently at Aldi,  but when I see it again, I'll buy several ♥...

Nature's Way Mega B Executive Stress (200 tablets, RRP $21.99) 

I credit these vitamin tabs with keeping me afloat for the last 6 months. Particularly towards the end of last year when I was trying to find a house closer to my workplace, and I needed  extra vitamin support due to accumulated lack of sleep and major job stresses...

Repurchase?

There's already another on the shelf to help me "maintain an even strain" ♥...

Hylamide SubQ Eyes Advanced Serum (15ml, RRP $49.99)

Well now, I'm going to be very cautious in my remarks here because it took me a while to get the dosage of this product right. I don't want to sound like a goose, but I swear the first 10 times (10!) I used it, I dispensed way too much liquid, and had to do the unthinkable and scoop it back into the bottle. I kept telling myself that one drop was too much, and yet that's what I ended up with each time. Doh! It has the most extraordinary amount of slip, so you really only need what's on the outside of the dropper lol. Anyways, I got it right in the end, and I think this serum is pretty darn good. Other gals have said it's their miracle product, and while I haven't seen anything that makes me want to climb up onto the roof and shout about it, it certainly has potential. I've also been massaging it into the vertical lines between my brows and above my top lip, and they are all less noticeable, crows feet are also diminished. My hoods are a little firmer too, and the fine lines on the fleshy part aren't as obvious. It doesn't do anything for my eye bags, but as I always say, nothing will except surgery ♥...

Repurchase?

Onto my second bottle, will buy another once that's done - for sure ♥...

Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under Eye Patches (3 pairs, 18g, RRP $9.99)

This is the third appearance of these patches in my Empties series - guess what, they're going to be in EVERY MONTH! ♥...

Repurchase?

No need to ask, it's a done deal ♥...

Skin Republic Bubble Purifying + Charcoal Face Mask Sheet (20ml, RRP $7.99)

This was by far the most fun I've had with a face mask EVER. In case you missed it, here's my very scary Instagram piccie of the event...

First up, if  you have pets or small children, then stay in your bathroom until you're done - you will be unrecognisable and may frighten those dear to you. BUT, by the time it's bubbled and tingled to the point pictured above (15 minutes), you will have crystal clear glowing skin when you remove it. The fabric is black and you rub the packet before you open it to activate the bubbles. Then apply the mask like any other, watch the foam start to emerge, and you feel a tickling sensation as it oxygenates your complexion. Awesome! ♥...

Repurchase?

Already have - not all stores stock it (I found it at Chemist Warehouse), but keep looking, it's worth it ♥...

LonVitalite Collagen Crystal Eye Mask (RRP $32 for 6 pairs)

These patches came in my third Marie Claire Ageless parcel just over 12 months ago. No eye-dea why I waited so long to give them a go, but hey it finally happened, and I love them. Unlike the Skin Republic ones, these are very very thin, like matte Glad Wrap, but because they are so thin, they stay on all night. Lots of liquid, perfect shape, super hydrating, and I do believe my under eye area looked firmer and fresher in the morning. Definitely getting more of these ♥...

Repurchase?

Yes ma'am - they come in a pack of 6, and while they work out to be a couple of bucks more each than the SR ones, but I'm keen to see how they compare over time. There's another variety with added 24k gold for the same price, so I reckon they'll be the go ♥...

March Empties post is already in the pipeline, and will be up soon - promise!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Linking to Ingrid's Monday Madness Link Up Party - come join in the fun after 6:30 Monday morning ♥...

CONFESSIONS: Of a Body Washaholic (part 20) - Dove...

For many reasons I'm so glad I attended the Bloggers United AU Event last November. One big one was being reminded just how skin-loving Dove Body Washes are ♥ I was a fan of their Go Fresh Nectarine variety years ago, but they stopped making that particular flavour (well I couldn't/can't find it any more), and I moved on to explore the offerings from other brands. But at the event, we were gifted with a bottle of both the Aqua Moisture and Triple Moisturising varieties, and I loved them so much, I went out and bought the Cucumber & Green Tea one so I'd have a trio of hydrating heavyweights to look after my skin now that the cooler weather has arrived ♥...

Dove Go Fresh Fresh Touch Body Wash - Cucumber & Green Tea Scent

What a lovely fragrance this has - there's a delightful freshness to it, and despite cucumber always conjuring up a "cooling" mental image, this blend with the Green Tea will work beautifully for me all year round.  Whatever this Nutrium stuff is, it works a treat on dry skin. I haven't been able to figure out why it is that as soon as the temperature starts dropping below 20 degrees celsius, my bod starts demanding extra hydration - I wondered if it's because I start wearing long sleeved tops and camisoles, and there's some sort of friction thing happening, but more likely the pores shrink a bit and therefore don't produce as much natural oil (wish they'd shrink on my face lol!). Whatever the reason it's a fact that I have to switch my products once we get past March, and this pastel green body cleanser delivers the right amount of enriching juice to keep my skin supple and soft ♥...

Dove Aqua Moisture Nourishing Body Wash 

Love this one too - an unidentifiable florally scent that's refreshing without being overpowering, and it's such a pretty pale pearly aqua colour. I much prefer a body wash to produce a soft lather rather than lots of soapy bubbles, and this Aqua Moisture is creamy, calming and soothing.  Incidentally, all of these containers are easily manageable with wet hands, and the flip top cap snaps shut without leaking - when the contents are down to about one third, I always up-end the bottle in the shower caddy for quicker dispensing (the liquid is very thick), and none of these have ever leaked ♥...

Dove Triple Moisturising Nourishing Body Wash

I my beauty book, this Triple Moisturising variety is the jewel in Dove's crown of body washes. The clean powdery fragrance is an absolute delight, and the formula is so incredibly lush that I don't need a body moisturiser after showering with this gem. What I find particularly interesting is that while my skin feels like satin, it doesn't leave the floor of the shower feeling slippery or slimy. The plan was to hang onto this until the really cold weather when I need that extra boost of nourishment, but after trying it once, there was no hope of it going back into the cupboard for later. It's also terrific for when I'm shaving my legs, after which I ALWAYS need to moisturise, but not with this body wash. Now that's a time-saver as well as a skin-saver. It's actually no wonder this luscious shower treat gets a 5-star rating on beautyheaven, and has won two Best in Beauty Awards ♥...

The recommended retail price of these 375ml bottles is $7.36, but they're often on special at supermarkets, chemists and Priceline, plus they're also available in the giant 1 litre size (with pump) for $12.99. There's also an exfoliating one in the range which I'm keen to try...

So delighted to have discovered these three - this might just be the first Winter where I don't experience my usual snakeskin crack and peel, especially on my legs. Thank you again Dove and Bloggers United AU ♥

Take care of you,
kats xxx

REVIEW: Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lip Color...

Time for truthies - I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I heard that Revlon had released this new Ultra HD Gel Lip Color range ♥ I have no doubt I'm in the minority, but I'm hanging till this matte lip craze starts to loosen it's grip on the market. Oh I think it's a fabulous look for lots of gals, but for someone of my age whose lips end up looking like dried prunes, it's not so good. There's the comfort factor as well - my lips in their natural state are bone dry, and while I've found some matte formulas that are not quite so matte, and contain enough lubricant to keep my lips from literally sticking together, they are in the minority. So thank you Revlon for bringing out some non-matte ultra-moist lipsticks in stunning shades - I'm as happy as a clam, and even happier that I scored these for almost half price!...

I was SO  proud of my restraint at only buying four, but hey, I probably have enough lipsticks to open a shop lol. Absolutely adore the colours I chose - they are from left to right, Adobe, Vineyard, Dawn & Twilight. Beautifully moist, perfect pigmentation (not too sheer, not too dense), and the lippie tip is angled for easy outlining, although I always need a lip liner. The metallic tube finish is a pretty close match to the colour of the contents, ultra-thin and lightweight, (but a pain to photograph as they topple over at the flutter of an eyelash). There are 15 in the range, and six of them are the prettiest nudey pinks ♥...

Adobe

Vineyard

Dawn

Twilight

Being so moist, they don't last very long on the lips (which is why I only bought four), but the darker hues do leave a bit of a stain...

RRP is $24.95, but they're currently on special at Chemist Warehouse for $16 ♥...

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Adding this to Ingrid's Monday Madness Link Up Party - the page of fun blogs will be up just before sunrise ♥...

Bloggers United AU 2nd Birthday Bash at Lush!...

If you're an Aussie Blogger, and you haven't hooked up with Bloggers United AU yet, you're missing out on a whole heap of benefits, including invitations to fabulous events, like the one I attended on Saturday 11th March. To celebrate their 2nd Birthday, this powerful team of gorgeous gals (who incidentally are blogging experts and so generously offer their tried and tested advice) arranged a celebration at QVB Lush, and I jumped at the chance of wishing them a Happy Birthday, enjoying the unbelievably colourful and scented surroundings of Lush, and catching up with some of my beautiful blogging buddies ♥...

Absolutely tickled pink (and red, and green, and blue lol) to see my lovely friend Ingrid from Fabulous and Fun Life at the door. We first met at last year's November event, and it was so wonderful to see her again and have a chat. She's such a warm, wise, fun and friendly lady, and her blog content is world class ♥...

After exploring some of the sights and smells in this wonderland of scintillating scents, tantalising textures and riotous rainbow hues, we were warmly welcomed by the knowledgeable staff, and were treated to a guessing game of "what are the ingredients in the Cupcake Mask" (which I believe Ingrid won!). We then split into two groups, and watched in amazement as the Lush ladies made two of the top selling masks, right in front of our eyes. My group was observing the blending of the luscious ingredients that go into the Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask. Incidentally that vision of loveliness on the right in the pic below is Rachel from Rachel Beauty Style, one of the Sydney Bloggers United team, and an absolute delight to know ♥...

And here's the finished product we were given to take home - those purply blue bits are freshly crushed blueberries! There's also chamomile, rose, and almond oils included in the formula, plus calamine powder and this kinda weird Irish Moss gel. We were advised to keep the mask in the fridge (no preservatives), and I treated myself to it's cooling and calming effect earlier this week - it's especially effective if you're dealing with redness. My complexion is still feeling super smooth and soft, and I'm so looking forward to another dose of this brilliant concoction...

Another guest I was delighted to catch up with was the stunning Marisa from Marisa Robinson MUA - this gal knows her makeup craft inside and out, and if you're not following her blog, you're missing out on awesome makeup tutorials and brilliant reviews of just about any beauty product you can imagine ♥...

After the mask-making, we headed on over to the cosmetic section, and here's the Goddess that is Barbe the Babe from Fashionista in Suburbia ♥ getting herself all swatched with eyeliner, lip colour, concealer, highlighter etc. I had no idea Lush made makeup, and I was so impressed with the quality and pigmentation, I bought one of their Liquid Lipsticks - more on that later...

There was a whole range of yummy refreshments to nibble on, and all of us were gifted with a selection of Lush products, plus there was the extra special treat of choosing something (pretty much anything) we liked, and that went into the bag as well. Below is what I scored - all divine creams that I've been thoroughly enjoying sampling this week (reviews soon)...

My special gift was a no-brainer - I chose the Dark Angels Fresh Facial Cleanser, which is actually more of a scrub than a cleanser, but being pitch black and made from charcoal, rhassoul mud, black sugar and cold pressed avocado oil, there simply couldn't be another choice hey? Here's what it looks like in store...

...and here's what's inside my pot. It's dry and firm, and you pinch off a piece about the size of a pea, mix it with water in your palm till it's like a paste, and then massage it into your skin. Being black the drips are a bit messy, so I'm keeping this in the shower recess. It smells a bit like licorice, and oh, what it does for my face is a wonder - my skin felt like that of a newborn babe, complete with the healthy glow. LOVE!

And what a joy it was to spot the truly gorgeous face of Mel from Aussie Beauty Talk. This woman is a total doll, and I reckon I deserve a bravery medal for standing next to her radiant beauty for this picture. I've been following Mel's blog for a while now - she does the best, funniest, 100% natural videos in the business, and sometimes her cute-as bunny is in them too. I say again, a total doll ♥... 

Not content with the goody bag, there were a few other items I just had to take away with me on the night, and I was ecstatic we were able to make purchases. Below is what I bought - a cake of lavender, fennel & ginger Sugar Scrub, the absolutely fascinating Whoosh Shower Jelly, mouthwateringly berrylicious The Comforter Shower Cream, and the amazingly pigmented Liquid Lipstick in the shade Power Without Force...

And here is the lipstick on my pucker. Head over heels in love with the formula - creamy, smooth, non-drying, and I swear I reapplied it ONCE throughout the whole day. Hard to see in the pic, but it has the most gorgeous gold shimmer. Yes indeedy, I'll be getting more of these ♥...

What a fabulous night it was - I'm still on a high, and there are so many Lush products I want to try! Thank you Bloggers United and Lush for inviting me to this wonderful event ♥...  

Are you a Lush-aholic? What's your favourite product from their range?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Come on over to Ingrid's awesome Monday Makeup Madness Party any time after 6:30am ♥...