Christmasy Mani Monday

Hi Ladies

Happy Monday, I should be in Krabi, Thailand by now :)

For this Mani I used Sinful in 'Snow Me White', Nicole by OPI's 'Rainbow In The S-kylie' (part of the Kardashian Collection) and LA Girl 3D Effects in 'Sparkle Ruby'

Have a safe and happy festive season Ladies!

Catrice and Essence 2015 Preview

Hi Ladies

Once again I have an exciting preview of things to come in 2015 from Essence and Catrice

First up, my top picks from Catrice

Velvet Matt Smokey Eyes Pencil

The three new eye pencils with an integrated brush applicator create various styles in the nearly-black shades violet-black, khaki and night blue. The smooth and supple texture can be blended easily with the brush and the semi-matt finish gives everyday looks a whole new charm. Available in three colours. I do love me a smokey eye!

Made To Stay Inside Eye Khôl Kajal 

The new Khôl Kajal is an eyeliner pencil specially developed for the waterline. With its deep-black, waterproof texture, expressive and long-lasting results are easy to achieve. The soft pencil can be kept in shape with the help of an integrated sharpener. Opthalmologically tested. Available in one shade. I feel naked when I haven't lined my waterline, so this is really really exciting!

Lash Boost – Lash Growth Eyeliner Pen

The deep-black texture of the Lash Growth Eyeliner Pen contains active ingredients that promote lash growth – so this Eyeliner Pen ensures additional length as well as perfect eyeliner looks! Test results confirm 9% growth after just four weeks of daily application. The practical pen-shape and flock applicator allow an easy as well as accurate application. How awesome does this sound!

Illuminating Blush

The Illuminating Blush combines two different colour-intensities with a subtle shimmer and a light pearl. This accentuates the cheekbones as well as giving your complexion definition and a soft glow. Available in a total of three colours. I neeeed these, all three!

Kabuki Brush

The professional kabuki brush made of thick, synthetic bristles smoothly applies loose or pressed powder and bronzer. The soft, synthetic bristles feel wonderfully pleasant as they glide across your skin. I haven't tried any brushes from Catrice, and a girl can never have enough brushes, right?

And now my top picks from Essence

Lip Candies

This new gloss pampers the lips with valuable aloe vera so that they feel wonderfully soft and supple. Beautiful pastel shades including beige, apricot and purple offer a subtle touch of colour and a shiny finish. Available in a total of seven colours. These look pretty cute!

Pure NUDE Powder

The new pure NUDE powder skillfully unites a matte texture with soft shimmer pigments to give your complexion a gorgeous matte finish with a subtle glow effect. The velvety-soft, baked powder texture offers a natural, light coverage. Available in a total of four shades for various skin types. These look very similiar to MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, a possible dupe by Essence?

 Sun Club 2-in-1 Bronzing Powder

The new Sun Club Bronzing Powder conjures-up a light tan on your face and neckline. The powder is available in two versions: the lighter, matte version of the bronzer is combined with pink blush for a fresh and radiant complexion while the darker, matte bronzer is combined with a highlighter for gorgeous, shimmering accents.Once again, I neeeeed both of these! Similiar to the Stila Countless Colour Pigments, although those are for eyes.

How to Make Your Face Glow Make-up Box

A subtle shimmering highlighter, a bronzing powder with a shimmer and a pink blush – the box unites the ideal products for a perfect look. Thanks to the integrated applicator and the styling card with step-by-step instructions, it’s easy to create a radiant look. I really hope we get these here in SA!

Shading Powder

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of this yet, but believe me you need it!

The combination of a shimmering highlighter and matte bronzing powder is ideal for emphasizing the contours of your face. The fabulous, light-reflecting pigments in the highlighter ensure an absolute wow-effect. The shading powder creates a radiant look with perfect contours. Available in a total of

two shades – for lighter and darker skin types. I love highlighting and contouring, and I hope this will be available soon in SA.

And that is it Ladies!

We leave tomorrow for my long awaited holiday to Thailand and Malaysia, so posts are likely to be few and far between, but I will try schedule a couple before I leave.

Happy Festive Season! See you in the New Year!

Shop My Stash- Blushed and Glowing

Hi Ladies

Today on Shop My Stash I have two Maybelline Mineral Blushes and a Physicians Formula Highlighter!

The highlighter is a really pretty glowy highlighter, but I hate the brush applicator, it feels so rough, and I wish the highlighter just came in a tub. I end up opening the bottle and using it straight from the bottle, instead of scratching my face! I always mess some of the highlighter, since it isn't meant to be used this way, so I am trying to find a suitable container to transfer the powder into, any ideas? 

Next up are the two Maybelline blushes in 'Gentle Pink' and 'True Peach', I love that these are loose blush powders, I don't have many of them, and I love the lovely blushing look it gives. However, I have way too many blushes, so these are going to my Blogsale HERE. I have used each of them twice.

One more working day for me Ladies before we jet off!

Valentino Inspired Shoesday!

Happy Shoesday Ladies!

Today's shoes are Valentino inspired, and are from the trusty Woolworths. The heel isn't super high, which I like. The one thing I don't like, is the toe is extremely pointy, like witchy pointy. But other than that I really like these heels...

Happy Reconciliation Day!

Mani Monday- Black and Gold

Happy Monday Ladies

This time next week I will be in Thailand and then shortly after in Malaysia, I will try schedule a couple of posts for while I am gone.

For today's mani I used Essie in Licorice, which is a perfect glossy black. I have tried many black polishes and this is definitely the best.

I used Catrice Luxury Lacquers in Stars and Stories over the black for my accent nail. I did a bit of a thick coat and then used a toothpick to make random lines through it. Quite artsy looking I think.

Have a lovely week ladies!

Essence New Launches In Store Now!

Ladies, do I have some good news for you!

A couple of the products I previewed from Essence HERE and HERE are now in store, and I have some swatches to share.

First up, the cream to powder blush and highlighter. Unfortunately I could only find the one blush, so I am missing the pink one, but I will hunt it down! (R54)

From top to bottom

Soo Blush in 'Sweet as a Peach' this is an apricot orange colour blush, it is really pretty.

Soo Glow in 'Bright up Your Life' a light pink toned highlighter

Soo Glow in 'Look on the Bright Side' a more warm toned champagne highlighter

These blend effortlessly, I love the cream to powder finish, and they are definitely worth the buy!

Next up, the Effect Eyeshadow and Gel Eyeliner

The eyeliner in 'Black Blaze' is highly pigmented, and long lasting, you will need to remove it with makeup remover, a cleanser alone won't do the job. This comes in a couple of different colours, and I highly recommend it. It was quite hard to get hold of the black, but was worth the search. (R35)

These liquid effect eyeshadows are stunning, and they are surprisingly long lasting! Look at the colours! They are a bit expensive for Essence, but just look at the swatches, totally worth it! (R60)

From top to bottom

Egypt's Treasure, China's Groove and UK's Stonehenge. 

These are perfect for the festive season!

Unfortunately, I didn't find all of these in one place, it did take a fair amount of searching. 

Check out Clicks, Dischem, SPREE and KALAHARI

Happy Shopping Ladies!

The Test Box

Ladies, as you probably know, I have a love/hate relationship with subscription boxes.

I love a monthly surprise and I love trying out new products

I hate getting sachets of products, I hate getting a selection of products that are not worth it, I hate getting products I have already received in previous boxes, and I hate late delivery!

Well, there is a new box in town, and it looks rather promising- THE TEST BOX!

The Test Box offers sample sizes (not sachets), of PROFESSIONAL products, not products you will find at your local grocery store. The idea is to educate customers about professional brands, to allow you to smell, feel and see results before you actually purchase a product.

The subscription box will only be launching in March 2015, and I cannot wait, for more details click HERE. 

In the meantime though, The Test Box have launched their Bespoke Festive Boxes!

There are still some boxes available, check it out HERE, go on, you deserve it. The box will only contain full retail size professional products! 

Thank you to The Test Box for the above box, those sample sizes are perfect for our overseas trip next week!

November Favourites!

Hi Ladies

I have finally gotten around to posting my monthly favourites, better late than never, right!

Rubybox Fresh In A Flash Brush Cleaner. 

You need this, it is the best brush cleaner I have tried, better than some other more expensive options too! I have even stocked up on this, I currently have 5 back ups, for when this one is finished. Do yourself a favour and try it out. 

Rimmel Wonder'Full Mascara

This is an amazing mascara, it gives great volume and length without clumping, and the best part is, it is enriched with Argan Oil, yes Argan Oil! So, your lashes are getting treated while looking fabulous!

REN V-Cense Revitalising Night Cream

I was sent a huge bag of goodies from REN a while ago, and I have been using the V-Cense day and night cream religiously, and I love the effect it had on my skin. My skin has never looked more radiant and clear. V-Cense, formally known as  the Frankincense range is an anti-ageing range, so, surely if it is anti-ageing it is for old people, right? Wrong! It is for people looking for all round better looking skin, it is specifically formulated to banish urban grey and to help skin combat signs of fatigue and first signs of ageing, tick, tick and tick. My skin is prone to clogged pores, and even though this is quite a rich hydrating cream, no clogged pores in sight. The cream still has the signature frankincense scent, which some might find a bit too heavy, but I personally love it. I will be doing a full review on this range soon.

Garnier Pure Active BB Cream

This is the perfect BB cream for anyone with troublesome skin, it is affordable, and the coverage is better than the original BB cream, just don't forget to use sun protection, since this doesn't have any.

Lastly, Catrice Beautifying Lip Smoothers

All I can say is you need to have these in your stash! For a full review click HERE and for a quick review click HERE

Thank you for reading ladies!

Shop My Stash! MAC, Sleek and Benefit

Hi Ladies

Today on Shop My Stash I have three amazing products!

First up this stunning ombre blush by MAC called Azalea Blossom. I was a bit skeptical at first, I mean half of it is purple, but after using it once, I haven't stopped, it is my favourite blush at the moment!

Next, Benefit Watt's Up, if there is one highlighter you need, this is it! It gives a soft glow, as if you are lit up from inside. 

Lastly, I have the Sleek Blush Palette in Lace, I have only tried two shades so far. I like the one on the right, however, the one in the middle seems a bit too shimmery for me. Will have to try all of the shades for a bit longer before I decide, so keep an eye out.

So, unfortunately nothing is going up on my blog sale this week ladies, but there are still some other goodies available, check it out HERE

And please check out the two new additions to the blog, Quickies HERE and the Gallery HERE

Thank you for reading!

Laser Cut Shoesday!

Happy Shoesday Ladies!

I am loving these heels! My boyfriend is a bit on the fence about them, but I am sure he will grow to love them, he does like that it is completely different to any other heel I own though.

Let's get down to the details, these heels are currently in store, and were R199.99, yes R199.99, from Jet! The top laser cut part is leather, and the bottom toe part is suede. 

These heels are perfect paired with a party dress for the silly season, I also love them with a pair of white skinny pants. 

Manicure Monday- Pink Punch!

Happy Monday

Today is a much better Monday than last week, thank goodness. I have never had such a bad day in my life.

Today's Mani Monday is called 'Pink Punch' by Models Own. It is a lumo pink, and has a really great formula. Opacity wise, it needs about three coats, which I am not a fan of, who has the time! I added studs on my ring finger, which is part of a set from LA Girl. 

Have a good week ladies!

Please check out the two new additions to the blog HERE and HERE

Dupe or No Dupe? Catrice Beautifying Lip Smoother VS Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector

Hi Ladies

Today I have a review/comparison of the Catrice Lip Smoothers and the Clarins Lip Perfectors. 

As soon as I heard about the Catrice Lippies, I knew they had to be mine! I did a preview of them a while ago HERE, and I am glad to announce, they are finally in store and for R62, they are definitely worth it!

The Beautifying Lip Smoother complements every natural make-up look: a subtle colour dispersion in pastel rosé and gentle nude shades with a glossy finish ensure a soft, well-groomed appearance. The Lip Smoother visibly evens out fine lines around your lips for flawless results. Its flock applicator and the practical tube packaging perfectly round off the concept. 

The applicator as you can see above, is exactly the same as the Clarins one, and the scent is pretty similiar too, a yummy sweet scent. The applicator is really easy to use, just squeeze lightly, the product comes out and apply. 

There are three different shades, from top to bottom, 010 Sweet Caramel 020 Apricot Cream and 030 Cake Pop. If I had to pick a favourite I would choose Cake Pop, the pink one! 

I love the slight colour and glossiness of them, as well as how long they last. They also do a really great job at moisturising lips, so, if you love a nude lip, do give these a try.

Below are swatches of the Clarins products, as you can see, they are pretty similiar. 

And so... Dupe or No Dupe?

Packaging- Dupe

Application- Dupe

Texture- Mostly a Dupe

Scent- Dupe

Efficacy- Dupe

Definite dupe in my opinion!

Until next time Ladies!