About Me & Wellbeing Wednesday

The beautiful Megan from Beauty in the Sky and the amazing Priyanka from twinxNtrax forwarded this blog award to me, in which I have to share seven things about myself that you might not know! Thanks to the lovely ladies for thinking of me, I've made so many new friends from this whole blogging shenanigan and these two were among my favourite new friends I met during the Australia Beauty Bloggers Weekend!

The rules are to;
1. Thank the person who awarded it to you and give a link back to their blog.
2. Write 7 random facts about yourself
3. Then spread the love and award to 7 other bloggers.

1. I am a scaredy cat of the highest order. Flying sends me into tears, rollercoasters are out of the question and boat rides make me rock back and forth like a baby.
2. I am only 20 years old, but I feel and act a lot older. My parents go out more than I do!
3. My parents are Scottish and I've travelled there with them a few times when I was younger. I haven't been back for quite a while though, and I miss my family over there!
4.Despite loving beauty and everything related to it with a passion, I can never nail a 'perfect' look when I go out formally. I am terrible at smoky eyes and wish I could learn how to do them.
5. I crave savoury foods every time I drink a coffee, so rather than having 'coffee and cake' it's more likely I'll want a handful of rice crackers with my flat white.
6.Nail polish hardly lasts more than a day on my fingers:(
7. I asked my best friend Candice to come up with most of these because I couldn't think of anything!

I'd like to tag these ladies to share some random facts on their blogs!
Beautifully Glossy
Haute and Stylish
Ms Sparkle Arkle
Beauty by An Indian
Makeup and Macaroons
Don't They Know Who I Am?
Making Up For My Age

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I began taking part in Wellbeing Wednesday after reading Jess' post over at the belle lumiere Everyone involved attempts a group challenge as well as one we create ourselves, and puts $5 away if the goals are achieved by the end of the week. Next Wednesday, you will find out if I was successful in these goals!

(Photo taken with my iPhone at the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne)

Group challenge: is not known at the moment, but I will update as soon as I know!
Personal challenge: To hop onto the treadmill at least 4 times this week!
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Others participating are Jade, Claire, Rach, Jayme, Kimberley, Sabine and Annette.    

emmabovary xx

Korres Jasmine Lip Butter-Review and Swatches

You know those products that you hear so much about but end up a disappointment after the hype dies down? Not so with this baby! I have fallen madly in love with the Korres lip butter, and I let out a sigh every time it's smushy goodness hits my lips. Establised in Greece in 1996, the Korres brand is available through kit cosmetics and mecca cosmetica/maxima in Australia.

 The sturdy plastic pot of this lip butter has survived a drop on my bathroom floor, and because I have only used clean fingers when applying I have no fear of any pot-gloss related nasties forming. The lid for this shade is a pale dusty pink colour that I think is very attractive, and is a twist open style. It is lightweight because it is plastic, but I still find it a hardy enough design that is perfect for the thick formulation contained within.

The top has the brand name and shade in both Greek and English. This lip butter is marketed on the Korres website as:

As you can see in the above image, these lip butters are not clear but have a hint of tint to them. I found it so hard to get a good lip shot of this, so I am sad to say that I do not have one to share with you. I can tell you that Jasmine applies as a pale milky pink tint, a finish which I am generally not a fan of. To counter the milky nature of the shade, I run my finger over my lips once more after applying to really push the product in, and then I am left with a pleasant shade which looks like MLBB (my lips but better) You can see above how thick this baby is, and it really does melt into the lips with no effort whatsoever. With most lip products I own require warming up at time (cold mornings etc) but this never needs it.

What a beauty! Needless to say, the dip in the pot grows more and more every single day. I use it at the beginning of my morning routine to give it a chance to sink in, and I love that it's a little dose of aromatherapy every single time. I use it before bed also, and always wake up with soft and nourished lips in the morning. The Korres lip butter is petrolatum free and you can really feel the softness of the shea butter when using it.

A swatch of the Jasmine shade- please note, you shouldn't misjudge the softness of this and stick your clumsy fingers deep into it like I did. For $18.95 you get a little pot full of luxury for your lips, and I will be running back to Korres for another Jasmine or two when this runs out.

Have you tried the beautiful Korres lip butters?

What are your holy grail lip products?

emmabovary xx

Lasting Finish Lipsticks- Rimmel by Kate Moss

After checking out of life last week (all I did was work and sleep!) I am back and ready to blog my heart away!

Today, I bring you the new collection from Rimmel, in collaboration with the amazing Kate Moss! I had no idea this was about to be released in Australia, and was planning on roping my darling cousin who lives in the UK to get a hold of some of the lipsticks for me. On my lunch break last week, I found them at Priceline! This is their official description:

Rimmel London’s Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick consists of nine shades of lipstick inspired by Kate’s experience on the runway, in the studio and on the red carpet. The black packaging features Kate’s signature in red.

 #04 is a deep purple colour that swatched really glossy and opaque. I think it would be a beautiful shade for those bold enough to rock a purple lip.

#09 is a red that leans hot pink, and was also super opaque in swatches. Under the bright store lights this looked quite red until I swatched #11 next to it.

#11 seems to be a true red to my eye

#12 is a red that leans coral, I really liked the look of this one but didn't purchase it as I thought I had too many coral lipsticks. Beauty lover fail, 'too many' and 'coral' never belong in the same sentence, so I am regretting not buying this one.

#14 is a warm nude shade, that wasn't too 'concealer-like' despite being very opaque.

#15 is a weird one, it's a super frosty/shimmery mauve colour that applies sheer when compared the other shades in the collection. Not sure this would suit me, but an interesting shade nevertheless!

I was a good girl and only took home one, but swatched the 6 shades they had available at the time. I later visited another Priceline and saw they had all 9 shades available. Sad face.

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I chose #09 as I hardly wear my true red lipsticks, and rather than going for the coral like I probably should have I stepped out of my comfort zone and went for a pink toned red. I'm still unsure about it as it is quite a strong colour, but I wore it the other day and didn't mind it.

As you can see from this shot the shade definitely leans fuschia as opposed to a true red, and I think it's nice because it's different to anything I have. I do wish I had've bought the other pink shade from the collection, but I'm sure I'll pick it up next time. The formula of these is quite moisturising for a 'lasting finish' lipstick, but it does dry down to that typical feeling of a long last. I tend to keep a clear gloss at hand when it starts to feel a little tight, but compared to other long last formulas I have tried this one is much more comfortable to wear. I did find that this was a super smudgable sort of lipstick, I had to be careful when I had it on. For seasoned lipstick wearers, this may not be an issue, but I thought it was worth mentioning in case others aren't a fan of that. I adore the packaging, the red signature across the cap is a gorgeous touch and the tube itself feels sturdy enough to roll around in my handbag all day.

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Rimmel London’s Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick retails for an affordable $11.95 AUD and is available wherever you see a Rimmel stand;) I've only seen in Priceline stores thus far, so please let me know where else you see this collection (Australia & Overseas)

Spring has Sprung!

While the other side of the world is settling into fall trends, we here in Australia have stepped into spring! Living in Melbourne, I am used to experiencing four seasons in a single day, but still greet the beginning of a new season with a smile. I feel as though my makeup mindset is reinvigorated, and this is what I see as 'spring makeup' from within my collection.

 A palette of pastels and sweet shimmers have got me excited about makeup again! I've been loving healthily glossy lips and pink tones of every description.

*Revlon Minted nail polish is a sweet minty pastel green shade that I fell in love with at first sight. I'm planning on doing a mani with this under the new Pink Breast Cancer OPI shatter.

*Ulta3 Bo Peep is a sexy hot pink shade. I love the Ulta3 formulation and this is one of my favourite colours from them, I love it under a glitter polish.

*Kit Shop Loves Sunset featured in this mani, and is a muted yet bright coral orange shade designed by my favourite magazine Shop Til You Drop.

*Revlon's Super Lustrous balm in Peach Crystal smells amazing, and leaves a super subtle tint on my lips, and lots of glossy goodness. Review here

*MAC Dollymix blush is so scary in the pan, but I love it on cheek when I sheer it out enough. A nice pop of colour for everyday.

*Lanolips Sunshine is in my spring set despite being loved all year round. A super moisturising formula, this colour is amazing.

*Whole Lotta Honey is the last shade I would've chosen from the launch of Clinique's glossy crayon, the 'chubby stick', but when I won this I fell head over heels. It's the perfect MLBB (my lips but better) and it perfect to pair with a bright eye or cheek.

*I purchased the Clarins Cream Colours from a blog sale ages ago, and have only recently gotten use from them. I use them as layering shades underneath other shades to bring light to my eyes- they act in a similar way to the next product...

*Face of Australia, yet again, hits it out of the park. I have most of the shades in the Mini Mousse range (discontinued) and this is in my top 3 shades. Magic Mist is a neutral sort of minty green shade that is amazeballs under neutral shadows as well as greens.

*MAC Painpot in Chilled on Ice is from the Cham Pale collection, and is a crazily shimmery base that I use for bright eye looks. This looks great on it's own with a bright pink lip and a slick of black liquid liner. Since this is discontinued, I would suggest the Bare Study paint pot as a less shimmery but still beautiful substitution.

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ONTO THE SWATCHES!!

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Even though the weather has not been very 'spring-like' lately, I've been enjoying playing with these new textures and shades. Have any of you tried these products and have an opinion to share, or tips?

What looks do you lean towards in spring time?

emmabovary xx

(Please note that all items were purchased by me except for the Clinique Chubby Stick which I won from Clinique on Twitter and the Shop Loves Sunset polish which was free with coupon in conjunction with Shop Til You Drop and Kit Cosmetics.

All opinions are mine, honesty always. x)

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash

I was lucky enough to be invited a while ago to trial Neutrogena's Oil Free Acne Wash for BellaSugar for their Sugar Spotlight section. I have been using this facial wash almost exclusively for over 2 months now, so am confident that I am ready to share my thoughts on it. I am usually tentative with skin care reviews as I never want to be misleading, so trial for a while before forming soild opinions. I am now ready to tell everyone how amazing this product is.

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Here is what Neutrogena says about this product:

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash is a daily-use alcohol-free cleanser that penetrates deep into pores to help prevent blemishes by removing excess oil and surface build up. Contains Beta Hydroxy Acid (salicylic acid) to slough away dead surface skin to improve skin texture and tone. Helps fight pimples and prevent future breakouts. Oil free, clean rinsing formula leaves no pore-clogging residue. Dermatologist recommended.

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Here is what I say about it:

It's like smooshing orange jelly onto your mug. Does it get better than that? No, no it does not.

I use this after I've removed as much makeup as I can with my Face of Australia makeup remover (review here) and then use one pump of this over my entire face. I like to rub it in between my fingers before I put it on my face so I don't drop any jelly on the floor! It spreads really easily and creams up over the face, and feels calming on. I then rinse with water and go over with a wipe to make sure all residue is gone and no jelly remains on my face. I think this would be great for use in the shower, but I personally use it at the basin.

My face doesn't sting or feel tight after this, and though I generally always moisturise after it I will admit to forgetting to a few times and I'm happy to report that it doesn't dry out my dry skin, despite being oil free. I expected my existing blemishes to be dried out by something designed for acne prone skin, but this is not the case with this face wash.

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For the record, I have dry-ish skin with patches, am quite dehydrated and though I don't suffer from extreme acne, it's still the biggest problem for me. Prior to using this I had breakouts constantly inlcuding under the skin bumps and whiteheads, but since using I've been much happier with my face. My biggest problem right now is the scars left behind by previous breakouts! I skipped using this face wash for around 4 nights last week and lo and behold, broke out badly! So I recommend regular use to keep up the benefits of this.

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 If any of you have tried this I would love to hear other opinions. This is fast becoming my HG facial wash and I'm so thankful to Bella Sugar for showing me the light.

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Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash retails for a well-worth it $13.99 for 175ml, and is available from supermarkets and pharmacies and wherever else you buy your Neutrogena from :) The round-up of reviews is in the Sugar Spotlight on Bella Sugar here, and my initial review is there, too. 

(Please note that this product was sent to me by Bella Sugar for review purposes, but as always this has not affected my opinion of the product. Honest, always. x)

A Grey FOTD for a Grey Day

Yet another cloud-filled day on Saturday in Melbourne, and I had grey on my mind. Trying to take nice pictures of my IMATS and ABBW haul had me frustrated,so instead I snapped a few shots of the look I went with. I recently bought a cute grey Sportsgirl handbag, and I've been loving all shades of grey ever since.

A simple grey eye with pink lips and strong-ish brows (got them tinted at Benefit cosmetics over the ABBW weekend)

I really like the way the cool tones of the shadows go with a sweet pink lip. Usually when I wear a grey eye I go for a super baby pink shade on my lips, but I had just bought new warmer pink shades from Essence so chose them instead. Really liked the way it came out, felt like it was a a really pretty look for such a miserable day.

Here are the products I used:

Bourjois Healthymix Serum Foundation #52

NYX Powder Blush in Peach

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

Essence Quattro in Chic-ify (pale grey shade in bottom left hand corner)

Chi Chi EyeShadow Dust in Door Bitch

Shiro Cosmetics pigment in Magneton

Avon Ultra Luxury Eyeliner in Black

Clinique High Impact mascara

Nutrimetics Recharging Hydration Mist with Ruby 

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Buck (from Naked palette, for brows)

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I used the Essence shadow over the paint pot before playing around with Magneton over the lid, and added Door Bitch in the centre of the lid to add a bit of brightness to the eye. (Everytime I say/write/think about the name Door Bitch I giggle, cheers Chi Chi!)

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And for the lips...

Two brand new lip products from Essence!

The lip stain at the top is from the You Rock collection which has just hit Australia (which probably means it's old hat to those overseas) and is called Let me in Rose. It's one of two lipstains from the collection, and I will be showcasing these shortly because I am in love with them. The gloss at the bottom is from another collection also just released in Australia Blossoms etc... This gloss is called Flowerkissed, and I love the way it looks when paired with the lipstain.

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In keeping with the grey obsession, I painted my nails!

I used Sportsgirl 'It Nail' in Storm with Sephora for OPI in I'm Wired on the ring fingers to spark it up a bit. Next I'm going to pair a hot pink shade with the grey.

What colours are you obsessed with at the moment?

Have you used any of the products featured in this FOTD?

emmabovary xx

September Empties

Cannot believe it is already October! Getting so excited for the end of the year, it's something I look forward to each year and this time around it's extra special because I will be celebrating a big birthday amongst the xmas and new year cheer!

A rather mediocre lot of empties this time around, mostly shower goodies. My moisturiser and some of my makeup is almost empty so October should be a good month for making room in my collection. A collection which is almost bursting after ABBW!

On with the empties:

Botanical Creations body scrub in Lily & White Tea

My favourite scrub, I am so heartbroken about this range being discontinued from Priceline. This scent seems so luxe yet this was so affordable, at the end up it was only $1. I have a drawer full of back ups, thank goodness.

Essential Ingredients Vanilla & Coconut Body Wash

This was only $1 at my local supermarket, and though it wasn't as nice as some of my fancier shower prodz, it was definitely lovely considering its price. Would repurchase again.

Avon Naturals Body Wash in Sparkling Cherry Blossom

I used up a different variety of this in my August Empties, and this one was brought out when my friend Candice stayed the night. A cherry blossom fiend she is, we both agreed that this was nice but not really strong in scent. Foams up pretty well though and was nice to use, so will probably repurchase again come the xmas time sales with Avon.

Priceline Cotton Rounds

Those who wear makeup every day (moi) go through these by the boatload. At the moment I'm using a different brand as I found them on sale, but I definitely prefer the Priceline brand ones.

Derma Intensive 2in1 Facial Wipes

These were also $1 in my local supermarket, and I mainly used them for wiping off residue or swatches on my arm. Quite thin and I much prefer my Priceline brand wipes for all over the face. Would still buy these again though, they weren't bad.

Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey 1ml sample

I really enjoyed this during September, I adore little sample vials because they give me a chance to test something out before buying a whole bottle and hating it. I mentioned this in yesterdays post as one of the scents I adored during the month. I would consider buying a full size of this, but have a list of ones I'd like before it.

Scarlett by Cacharel 1.5ml sample

This was nice, but nothing that stood out or wowed me. It was given to me by the girls in Perfume Connection when I bought an aftershave for Chris, which was a nice gesture. Wouldn't buy a full size of it, it was nothing special to me.

Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo

I suffer from dandruff, and it really is the bane of my existence. I tried this out and was initially impressed, but after I tried a few other brands and came back to this, I was disappointed. After using it my hair feels squeaky in a negative way, and it did almost nothing for the dreaded flakies. Am still on the search for a good shampoo for my poor head, if anyone can recommend something I would be utterly grateful.

How much did you manage to get through in September?

emmabovary x

(I purchased all of these items with my own money, with the exception of the shower gel which was a gift from my Dad and the perfume samples which were free with purchase/gift bags. Always honest!)