Mani Monday! Revlon Bohemian

Happy Monday Ladies

Today I am using another Revlon Polish I received in a recent press drop. This is called Bohemian, and it is a stunning metallic, mermaid blue/green. It has a slight shimmer to it, and it is so pigmented, that one coat does it all!

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Mani Monday- Pretty in Pink

Happy Monday Ladies!

A cold and dreary one in JHB today. I received an awesome press pack from Revlon recently, which included the new Airbrush Effect Foundation, as well as the new Prime and Anti Shine Balm (reviews coming soon) and some other goodies, including nail polish! You know how much I love nail polish!

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Mani Monday with Morgan Taylor's Midnight Masquerade

Happy Monday Ladies

I recently received a stunning press drop from Morgan Taylor which included two colours from their new winter collection 'Midnight Masquerade' which you can read all about HERE. I received 'Flirting with the Phantom' and 'Vixen in a Mask'.

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Morgan Taylor Winter Collection- Midnight Masquerade Preview

Hi Ladies

I have some exciting news for you today! Morgan Taylor's Winter Collection 'Midnight Masquerade' is launching tomorrow!

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AVON Liner and Mascara Reviews!

Hi Ladies

I received these two AVON beauties from Beauty Bulletin. If you would like to review the newest products and bring out your inner beauty blogger, you should consider joining this online community HERE.

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March Favourites!

Finally I am getting down to my March Favourites!

I have a big mix of products that I loved in March.

Blistex DCT, best lip balm ever! Moisturising, soothing and sun protection in one! You can read more about this product, as well as see how it compares to other lippies in My Beauty Diaries, HERE

Ren Instant Firming Beauty Shot* I love this shot of moisture and plumpness, you can read my full review HERE, definitely worth checking out!

Kandy Kane Flat Top Face Brush, step aside Zoeva, this brush is AMAZING! Affordable and great quality, this is my absolute favourite face brush. No streaks and a flawless finish. Check out the website HERE if you would like one for yourself. I bought mine for only R100!

Revlon HD Lipstick in Marigold*, I love this colour and texture, not to mention the heavenly scent, for swatches and more information read my full review HERE.

Revlon Bronze Glow Highlighting Palette is a really pretty palette, similiar to the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks. I like to swirl my brush around and apply to my face, it can be used as a blush, bronzer or even a highlighter if you use the top brick alone. This is a great multi-tasker, and I love it. I also have the Peach Glow Palette which is too light for me, so it is on my blogsale HERE if you are interested. 

Essence Metal Glam Highlighter in Gold Digger, I really love this product, I find myself reaching for this even more often than my MAC Soft and Gentle! Essence definitely surprises me time and time again!

Gerard Cosmetics BB Plus Illumination, I love this, I mix it with my foundation for a light luminous look, or I use it after foundation to highlight above my cheekbones and on the bridge of my nose. This product is like liquid gold, literally. This was part of my Birthday Giveaway Prize, and is definitely the star of the show!

* Press Samples

Mani Monday- Autumn time!

Happy Monday Ladies!

I attended the Essie Launch recently, and walked away with a fabulous goodie box, which you can read about HERE.

The new Autumn Collection was included, as well as The Winter and Bridal Collections. 

Below is a roundup of the amazing Autumn Collection.

L-R) Style Cartel, Take it Outside, The Perfect Cover Up, Dress to Kilt, Fall in Line and Partner in Crime. 

For today's mani I used The Perfect Cover Up, which is a grey/green/blue/teal colour, Essie describes it as a 'Powerful Peacock Teal'. It is incredibly glossy and pigmented, and one coat works perfectly, although I used two thin coats. I also used Jiggle Hi, Jiggle Lo from the Winter Collection which is a molten gold. I love this combination, subtle and elegant and perfect for the upcoming cold weather.

The Autumn Collection will be available this month!

Have a good week Ladies!

In other news, the winner of my Birthday Giveaway is Stephanie Graves!

Essie Launch and New Collections!

Hi Ladies

Last week a bunch of bloggers and beauty editors attended the Essie Launch. The day was filled with fun and food, bingo, mani stations and a candy bar! We heard about all the new collections coming out, and they are stunning, if I had to choose a favourite collection, it would be winter! 

Needless to say, I suck at Bingo, but both ladies from my table won and went away with a jar full of polishes, as well as Essie manis for a year, jealous much! The rest of us were moping around, stuffing our faces with candy, you know, the whole self pity scenario, until we saw the goodie boxes! Hellloooo Excitement! This is by far the best Goodie Bag I have ever received! I am not even gonna play it cool and say it's okay... It isn't okay, it is amazing!

The box includes fifteen polishes from the new collections, a base coat, a top coat and a flash drive. 

First up, Fall Collection, which will be available in April 2015.

The Winter Collection which will be available in July 2015. This isn't a typical winter collection, I love the colour range, bright and sparkly!

The Bridal Collection, which will be available in September 2015, exclusive to Clicks. Unfortunately I couldn't find an image for this, and I am waiting for Essie to send some images.

And lastly, the Base and Top Coats. We also received a book with all the shade details, as well as some some tutorials, which I will be sure to try, and obviously share with you!

I cannot wait to get painting! My next few Mani Mondays will clearly be filled with Essie! 

Revlon HD Lippies: Review and Swatches

Happy Friday Ladies

This week was quite a busy week, and I am so glad it is Friday! I attended the Essie Launch on Wednesday, which was really fun. The box of goodies we walked away with was ahhhmazing! More details on the launch, the new collections, as well as the amazing goodie box will be up next week!

A while ago I received a lovely bag of goodness from Revlon with a bunch of their new lip and nail launches. You can read about the new products and get all the deets HERE. Since I have already harped on about these products, I will keep this post short and sweet.

Revlon Ultra HD Lip Lacquer, I received 2 basic shades, HD Fire Opal (fiery red) and HD Tourmaline (bright barbie pink), the packaging is so glamorous and the colour is so rich and shiny, think liquid lipstick glossed over. I like that the colour is buildable, you can apply a little and blend in, or you can pile on the colour for a bright and beautiful look! These are really long lasting for a gloss, thanks to its thick formula, and when it finally does fade, it leaves a lovely stain. (R145)

Next up, Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick, I received 2 basic shades, HD Gladiolus (red) and HD Marigold (orange), these are full of pigment, long lasting, but not drying at all! They are in fact really moisturising and light on the lips, and could pass for an intense coloured lip balm. Aptly named after pretty flowers, with a scent of whipped vanilla and cream mango(not sure how that smells), but all I know is these lipsticks are the yummiest smelling lipsticks I have ever tried! Have you ever owned a lipstick that smells so yummy! (R145) 

From Left to Right: Gladiolus, Marigold, Fire Opal and Tourmaline.

Gladiolus: I am not a fan of the colour unfortunately, my mom loves it though!

Marigold: I love this colour! I think Orange really is the New Black to my lips!

Fire Opal: Love it, reminds me a bit of Stila Liquid Lipstick in Fiery, with gloss galore!

Tourmaline: If Barbie was real and wore a signature lipstick, this would be it! Build it up, blend it in, either way, just try it!

These are currently in store, but selling fast, especially the Lacquers in Fire Opal and Tourmaline. 

Have you tried these Ladies?

Also, don't forget my giveaway, it ends next week.

Have a lovely weekend!

REN Instant Firming Beauty Shot- Review

Hi Ladies

I have another amazing new release for you today, which will be available in store on Monday the 16th March.

I am a huge fan of REN Skincare, I love the unique scents of each range, the great quality ingredients  and the broad range which cater for every skin type. As well as their philosophy of CLEAN SKINCARE (scroll all the way down for all the nasties they DON'T have). I think a true test of brand love is whether you receive products from a brand to review, or whether you also buy the brand yourself. And REN is a brand that I buy on a regular basis and is core to my skincare routine. I am also very lucky to receive products from REN to review, such as this Beauty Shot!

Beauty Shot is a gel-serum that instantly firms, lifts and plumps the skin to leave it looking dramatically smoother, tighter and more youthful. A liquid matrix of Hyaluronans supercharges the skin with firming moisture and encourages elastin synthesis to firm and remodel the skin over time.

I love the scent of this product, I can't quite place it, but it smells heavenly! It is a gooey liquid that you apply to clean skin, before your moisturiser. What is great about this product is you can also apply it over your moisturiser or makeup throughout the day.  It comes with a handy dropper, and you only need two or three drops. I press the product into clean skin, and if I am applying over makeup I pat it on. You can immediately feel the plumpness and firmness. It applies a bit tacky and sticky, but is quickly absorbed. My skin feels a bit tight after applying it, but I like that effect, it feels like I just had a facelift. Besides the visible physical effects of this product, the skincare benefits are amazing! My skin feels plumped and hydrated, and the best part is this product is suitable for all skin types. I have been going through a course of chemical peels, and hydration is key. You can read about my post peel experience, as well as my experience with another range from REN HERE.

If you like the technical behind this effective product keep reading!

The Science

Instant Firming Beauty shot is formulated with a liquid matrix of Phycocolloids and two different Hyaluronans. The Hyaluronans work together to produce both short and long term improvements in skin firmness. Hyaluronan 1 acts as a cell messenger focused on improving cell cohesion leading to an instant tightening and lifting effect. Hyaluronan 2 works deeper down in conjunction with dermal fibroblasts to boost elastin synthesis and improve long term skin firmness.

The Result

Skin looks dramatically lifted, firmer and more youthful.

I can definitely attest to the results!

Beauty Shot retails for R450 until end April, as part of the launch, and R475 from 1 May 2015. The bottle is 30ml, and you literally only use two or three drops, making this product great value for money. Who needs filters and Beauty Face mode, when you can get all this from a bottle!

REN is available at selected Woolworths, Foschini and Edgars stores nationwide as well as on www.renskincare.co.za

REN is free from synthetic fragrance, mineral oil, petrolatum, sulfate detergents, synthetic colours, animal ingredients and parabens. 

In addition, REN products do not contain potential irritants including: glycols and diglycols (such as propylene glycol), PEG’s, PPGs, urea, D.E.A, T.E.A, PABA and other synthetic sunscreens, aliphatic alcohols/hydrocarbons, phthalates, fumarates, amines, alkanolamines, synthetic AHAs/BHAs, polyacrylamide, metacrylate, elastomer, poloxamer, styrene, vinyl, polyquaternium, synthetic chelating agents, nylon, nitriles, nitrates, nitrosamine releasers, bromates, fluor, aluminum and alumina et al.

REN Evercalm Range VS. Post Chemical Peel Issues

I don't have sensitive skin, and I definitely don't have redness issues. So when I received a press drop from REN which included three products from their Evercalm Range for sensitive skin, I pushed them to the side, and dived into the other products such as the REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial and the V-Cense Range. 

Enter my current skin issue: I have been going through a series of chemical peels, and after my last peel, a 50%  peel my skin was red, bumpy and itchy for a couple of days. I immediately sifted through my "To Review Stash", and found these three skin saviours!

REN Evercalm Anti-Redness Serum reduced my redness and irritation and was so soothing! It also addresses ageing, score! This product, formerly known as Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum protects, replenishes and visibly improves skin tone to keep sensitive skin looking younger for longer. I used this twice daily, and my skin had recovered in a couple of days. It retails for R620 for 30ml, and is well worth it if you suffer from sensitive irritated skin. I have been using the serum twice daily, and it definitely calmed my skin! The results according to REN are listed below:

Reduces inflammation, redness, and irritation.

Strengthens the capillary walls.

Boosts cell lifespan and hydration levels.

Protects cells, reduces UV induced inflammation and supports good bacteria.

Keeps skin looking younger for longer.

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream combined with the serum really helped my skin get back to normal after my 50% chemical peel. My skin was left soothed and hydrated, no redness or itchiness in sight! Formerly known as Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream, it is formulated to leave sensitive, reactive skin optimally hydrated, calmed, soothed and protected this moisturizer combats the feeling of chronic discomfort, redness and sensitivity that can lead to premature ageing and ensures skin glows with renewed health. It is R460 for 50ml and has an impressive list of benefits listed below:

Hydrates and replenishes.
Skin feels calmed and soothed.
Protects against free radicals and environmental aggression.
Combats the signs of premature ageing.
Trains skin to be less sensitive.

Lastly, REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk. The day of my peel my skin was super-sensitive, yet it still needed to be washed before bed time. I used this cleanser and it calmed my skin down completely. I would describe it as a rich creamy balm, I massage it onto my dry skin, and then add water, massage some more, and then rinse. It is so luxurious, and has a pleasant scent. Formerly known as Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk, this gentle cleansing milk leaves sensitive, delicate and reactive skin purified, calm and soothed. Its multi-action formula eliminates environmental aggressors, increases skin resistance and minimises the signs of chronic irritation and sensitivity that can lead to premature ageing. This cleanser is R325.00 for 150ml, and is so creamy so you only use a tiny amount, definitely worth it! REN definitely hits the mark with this one, creamy and gently while still cleansing really really well.

Gently removes dirt, pollution and make up.

Skin feels purified, calm and soothed.

Minimises the feeling of sensitivity.

Combats the signs of premature ageing.

There you have it Ladies, if you suffer from sensitive skin definitely give this range a try. The REN ladies at most stores are helpful and will give you samples to try before you purchase. REN is available at Woolworths, Foschini and Edgars Stores, as well as online HERE

By the way, if you would like to try the REN Flash Rinse (Believe me you do want to), you can get a free deluxe sample worth R94.00 with every online purchase. Click HERE for more details.

February Favourites!

Hi Ladies

It is that time again, another month is over, and that means monthly favourites obviously!

I have a big mix of products this time around, some old, some new, some skincare, some makeup, some bought and some press samples.

Let's start with my hero product of the month!

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation is amazing! Best R139.99 I have ever spent! It blends in perfectly, matches my skin tone perfectly, has a radiant finish and leaves no sign that I am actually wearing foundation. It has an SPF of 18, which is not much at all, but is just an added bonus, since I already wear sunscreen. It is only available in 6 shades, but luckily for me I found the perfect shade!

Next up, Essence My Base, Skin Perfecting Makeup Base. This is an orange primer, which I have started using under my eyes to counteract dark circles. It works amazingly well to brighten the area, and also leaves a great foundation to apply concealor to.

Dr. Gobac Exfoliating Masque*. I received this product to review a while ago, and I love it! You can read the full review HERE, but all I am saying is, go and get it!

Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Plum Pop is the perfect pink blush, and I think it would suit each and every skin tone. It looks really bright, but it is the perfect shade, it is also highly pigmented, so go slow. I featured this product in a Shop My Stash Post HERE. It has become a regular in my makeup routine, and is just sssooo pretty to look at too!

Catrice Camouflage Cream Concealor. I had always heard great things about this concealor, but I had never tried it out for myself. I finally threw it in my basket on a recent Dischem trip, and I am so mad at myself for not trying it earlier! I use this under my eyes, over the Essence My Base, and it works so well to disguise dark circles. It is creamy, and blends really well, and doesn't cake at all. The only issue is the limited shade range, sigh... 

LA Girl Endless Semi-Permanent Auto Eyeliner in Black Frost. LA Girl is a firm eyeliner and nail polish favourite for me, and is fast becoming a BB and foundation favourite too, for more info on a LA Girl foundation I have tested and reviewed, click HERE. They are affordable and great quality, and definitely worth a browse at Dischem. Anyways, back to the Eyeliner, as the name suggests, this liner is extremely long lasting, smudge proof, and even makeup remover proof! I am not sure what other colours this liner comes in, I am hoping there is a pitch black one! This is a black shimmer shade, it is not entirely black, slightly more of a charcoal shade, but has become my go to liner.

Essence Me and My Ice Cream Shimmer Pearls. I know this is a shimmer powder, which should probably be used as a highlighter, but I use it as a setting powder. It is not extremely pigmented, so a light dusting to set foundation gives an amazing glow to the skin. And I am All About That Glow! Oh, and it smells like sweets, what's not to love?

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream* combined with the serum below really helped my skin get back to normal after my 50% chemical peel. My skin was left soothed and hydrated, no redness or itchiness in sight! Formerly known as Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream, it is formulated to leave sensitive, reactive skin optimally hydrated, calmed, soothed and protected this moisturizer combats the feeling of chronic discomfort, redness and sensitivity that can lead to premature ageing and ensures skin glows with renewed health.

REN Evercalm Anti-Redness Serum* reduced my redness and irritation and was so soothing! It also addresses ageing, score! This product, formerly known as Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum protects, replenishes and visibly improves skin tone to keep sensitive skin looking younger for longer. I used this twice daily, and my skin recovered in a couple of days.

Lastly, REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk*. The day of my peel my skin was super-sensitive, yet it still needed to be washed before bed time. I used this cleanser and it calmed my skin down completely. I would describe it as a rich creamy balm, I massage it onto my dry skin, and then add water, massage some more, and then rinse. It is so luxurious, and has a pleasant scent. Formerly known as Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk, this gentle cleansing milk leaves sensitive, delicate and reactive skin purified, calm and soothed. Its multi-action formula eliminates environmental aggressors, increases skin resistance and minimises the signs of chronic irritation and sensitivity that can lead to premature ageing.

By the way, if you would like to try the REN Flash Rinse (Believe me you do want to), you can get a free deluxe sample worth R94.00 with every online purchase. Click HERE for more details.

Have you tried any of these products Ladies?

*Press Samples

Sultry Mani Monday!

Happy Monday Ladies!

I am quite delayed today, as you can see. This weekend was extremely hectic, filled with birthday functions, family and a whole lot of food!

Anyways, back to the point, I received a press drop from Revlon recently, with a whole bunch of new goodies! You can check out my post on the new product launches HERE. 

I picked this purple blue shade called Sultry for Mani Monday, which is one of the limited edition shades, and is currently in store. The colour is stunning, it has a slight shimmer to it, and is highly pigmented. In person the colour is slightly darker and more purple. I blame the lack of light and presence of looming thunder clouds for the colour issue. Two coats is all you need. I found the formula was quite runny, which made me flood my nails a couple of times until I got the hang of it. I was quite surprised that even though it was quite runny, the colour was so pigmented. Because of the thin consistency it dries really fast, two coats were completely dry in less than 30 minutes! 

As for lasting power, I will have to get back to you on that, since I have only had this polish on for a couple of hours as I type this post!

This shade as well as 8 others are currently in store for R99.95. For more details about these and other new Revlon launches, click HERE

Here's to a calm week, my birthday week, and a giveaway week!

Dr Gobac Exfoliating Masque Review

Hi Ladies

No matter how many luminous foundations and highlighters you use, your face is never going to have that glowing look without a good diet and lifestyle, and a good exfoliator! Your skin is constantly shedding, and you need to get rid of all of those dead skin cells. Yes, it is gross, but true! 

This brings me to a Proudly South African product that landed on my beauty desk a while ago. There is nothing better than a local product, except a local product that is outstanding!

Dr Gobac Exfoliating Masque is a creamy masque that dissolves dead skin cells leaving you with fresh and renewed skin. It is very gentle yet effective, and my skin looks and feels healthier, plumper and more hydrated after use. 

What I love about enzyme exfoliators as opposed to granular ones is that they are less harsh, and they know when to stop. Enzyme exfoliators cannot over exfoliate, unlike our hands and a granular scrub, which could keep going until our skin is left torn, red and raw!

What I love about this particular product is that it is an enzyme exfoliating luxurious masque! Just smooth a thin layer on the face, close your eyes for 15-20 minutes, rinse off and voila! There is no need to massage or scrub or any sort of hard labour. This gentle, silky masque is formulated to exfoliate effectively, while nurturing and protecting the skin, leaving the skin feeling silky soft and smooth.

If you are still not convinced, keep reading for the science behind it!

It contains papain enzyme to effectively dissolve the dead keratinised layers of the epidermis. 

It also contains Vitamin E acetate which feeds the skin, improves elasticity and is a protective antioxidant

Retinyl Palmitate (a form of Vitamin A) and Palmitic Acid (a component of palm oil) are easily absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin, where they are converted to retinol to help control and stimulate the growth of epidermal cells, improve stability among the cells, and restore the epidermal architecture, while protecting the skin against infections.

The results of this product speak for themselves!

The Masque is R399.00 for a 50ml tube, and is worth every cent. Because it has such a creamy texture it is so easy to spread, so you hardly need to use much, so it will last you a long time!

Dr. Gobac is available at selected spas and salons, Placecol outlets, Camelot Spas and Edgars stores. Click HERE to find a stockist near you.

Get rid of those skin cells now and allow your skin to glow through!

Revlon launches some fab new products!

Hi Ladies

I received this amazing press drop from Revlon, and I am super excited to share these new launches with you! I will do a full review with swatches soon, but I just wanted to give you all a heads up about the launches. 

All of the products mentioned below will be launching at the end of February.

First up, Revlon Ultra HD Lip Lacquer, a stunning bright shiny Lip Lacquer, perfect to finish off summer with a bang! These are available in 15 shades, 8 basic shades, and 7 limited edition shades. I received 2 basic shades, HD Fire Opal and HD Tourmaline, the packaging is so glamorous and the colour so rich and shiny. Definitely need to check these out ladies! (R145)

Next up, Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick, True Colour Clarity without the Heavy Feel. These wax-free vibrant lipsticks will be available in 20 bright and beautiful shades, 10 basic shades, and 10 limited edition shades, Aptly named after pretty flowers, with a scent of whipped vanilla and cream mango, these lipsticks stole my heart! I received 2 basic shades, HD Gladiolus and HD Marigold, and I will definitely need to get more of these! (R145)

Next up,  Revlon Transforming Effects Top Coats. These new Limited Edition Top Coats will transform your nails from drab to fab, and leave you with on trend nails. There will be 8 top coats available with different effects, including glazed, holographic, confetti and matte effects. I received the Cosmic Flakies and the Matte Top Coat, and I already have my nail looks planned. I love easy to use top coats, which can make any boring polish stand out! (R99.95)

Lastly, Revlon Nail Enamel, The 2015 Limited Edition Collection. There will be 9 new bold shades. I am a huge fan of Revlon polishes, I find them affordable and long lasting, as well as the great shade range! I received 2 polishes from this range, Provocative and Sultry, which are the two on the right hand side in the picture below, a stunning bright orange and a whimsical purple blue. (R99.95)

These products will be available at the end of February at leading pharmacies and department stores, basically everywhere.

Have a good weekend Ladies!

Mani Monday Jackpot!

Happy Monday Ladies

I received these polishes a while ago to review, and I only just got down to it now! 

For this mani I used Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Polish in Jackpot and the Diamond Top Coat. 

Here are my thoughts:

The colour is really pretty

Quick and easy to use, since the colour includes a base coat

Diamond Top Coat provides a glossy finish

Both colour and top coat dry quickly

Really easy and quick to remove

30 shades available

Long lasting, more than a week without a chip in sight, however the glossiness did fade

Overall I think this is a good buy, and I have a few shades on my wishlist, especially Wild Card!

These polishes retail for R110, and can be found almost everywhere :)

Have a good week ladies!

Manicure Monday- Essie Licorice

Happy Monday Ladies

For today's mani I used Essie in Licorice, which is my favourite glossy jet black polish. It dries quickly and is long lasting. This is without a top coat, and you can see just how glossy it is!

I used a Boho Marks tattoo on my ring finger as a midi ring design. I received these tattoos a while ago and I have really been enjoying using them.

Have a good week ladies!

January Favourites, A Fail and a haul!

Hi Ladies

I know I am rather late, but better late than never, right?

Unfortunately I missed my December faves since I was travelling, so I have quite a few products in this post for December and January.

Dirty Works Miracle Cream is a rich cream without being greasy or oily. It absorbs almost immediately and really helps my skin look radiant and healthy and feel soft and smooth. The best part of this product is the price, R99.95 for 50ml! I would highly recommend this product. I use this at night, since the summer days are so hot, but it doesn't specify whether it is a day and night cream, so it is a great all-rounder!

*Maybelline Babylips Intense Care. I usually use Carmex or Lip Sano on my lips, but for summer I decided to try this Babylips, and I am glad I did! Beside it being extremely hydrating, it also has spf protection! I didn't expect it to be as moisturising as my usuals, but it was, add the sun protection, and this is a huge hit!

Garnier BB Cream for combination/oily skin has good coverage without being heavy, so it is perfect for summer. I find it gives better coverage than the original one without being as rich. This is great for hot weather and gives a flawless finish.

MAC Archie's Girls Pearlmatte Face Powder in Flatter Me, a gold/peach highlighter with built in coral heart blushes! The highlighter is MAC Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl, and the blush is MAC Powder Blush in Foolish Me. I love the idea of having the highlighter and blush together, where you can either use them seperately or together. For a picture of the open product, click HERE

Caudalie Anti-wrinkle Fluid, a broad spectrum SPF 20 fluid with antioxidants to stop free radicals and visibly correct wrinkles. I love how lightweight this product is, it reminds me of La Mer sun protection fluid, but with added skin benefits. It is also way more affordable, and available HERE on Rubybox.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in 'Soft and Gentle' is a great highlighter, it gives a subtle lit from within glow, without too much shimmer. Love it and I highly recommend this! I use it with a fan brush to highlight above my cheek bones.

Clarins Gloss Prodige in Papaya, I am loving this, it isn't a very sticky gloss, but it is long lasting, and gives a subtle colour to the lips. It is moisturising too!

Sharon Osbourne Blush in Peaches and Cream, when I initially saw this blush I thought it was going to be way too light for me, but I actually love it! It is a very soft pink which gives a flushed and healthy look.

*Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50 is a broad-spectrum sunscreen which utilises lipid-rich Oleosome microspheres that boost sun protection (SPF50!) and antioxidants to help defend the skin. I took this on holiday with me, and it was a huge saviour! The humidity and heat in Thailand and Malaysia were enough to make any product melt away, but this waterproof product stayed put through all the sweating and swimming. I love that it can be used on face and body, so it means one less product to carry around! Dermalogica has this to say:

The formula includes a blend of essential oils to soothe irritation from UV exposure, while Hyaluronic Acid binds moisture to the skin without greasiness. This new product is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes and is a must-have for extreme sport enthusiasts who are frequently

practicing and attending sporting events outside. Protection 50 Sport SPF50 can be used for both face and body, making sunscreen protection easy for busy people on-the-go. 

Revlon CC Cream, I have had this product for less than a year, and I loved it. I even featured it in my June Favourites, HERE. I wanted to use it again recently, and the colour and texture has completely changed, it seems as if the spf part seperated, so it is really runny and has a white liquid layer as you can see above. Definitely a fail for me if a product has a shelf life of less than a year!

I went to Dischem a couple of days ago, and couldn't help myself. This body cream smells amazing and is affordable which is always a bonus. I finally gave in to the hype of Catrice Camouflage Cream! A new release from Catrice is the Multi Style Matte Eyeliner, it is so black and long lasting, I love it! And this brow palette from Eyelure looks promising with a brow wax, a dark brown powder, and a lighter powder to help shape the brows.

*Press Samples

Mani Monday- Neon Pink

Happy Monday Ladies

Last week I received these two polishes from Nails Inc, and I couldn't wait to use them, so here we are. 

Notting Hill Gate, a bright pink neon shade, and Porchester Square, an iconic greige shade. Yes, greige is a thing, beige + grey= greige, duh!

Porchester Square is not a hero shade for no reason, it is a perfect polish for those days when you don't know what polish to use, an elegant and classy polish, not to mention timeless! This is definitely a must have in your collection, I will do a Mani Monday post on this polish soon so you can see it in all its glory! I used this as a base for the neon pink, as I find most neons are quite sheer, and look best over a white or nude base.

Notting Hill Gate is a bright pink, which was less sheer than I expected it to be, it could have worked with no base and three coats, which is impressive for a neon. This is two thin coats, and it dried surprisingly fast. I think Porchester Square as a base sort of dulled the neon down a bit, since it is a bit of a dark nude, but I still love it! Next time I will try it with a white base, I am sure that will make it pop!

You can find Nails Inc at Edgars and Red Square stores, as well as Red Square Online HERE. These polishes sell for R115.

Have a good week 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!