Valentine’s Beauty Blog Swap.

When I heard about Miss Mystique's international beauty blogger swap idea for Valentine's Day, I jumped at the chance. I was matched with the lovely Ashley (aka Midnight Cowgirl) from The Fashion Planner, and I squealed in excitement when I found the package sitting on my desk yesterday morning (trust me, it made my Monday a good one, for once!)

Here's what she got me...

e.l.f Cosmetics 100 piece eyeshadow palette

e.l.f blotting sheets

e.l.f natural lash kit

ChapStick

assorted nail tools

The Body Shop nail files

hand painted nails made by Ashley herself (ridiculously cute!)

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Color in Everlasting Wine

hair ties

assorted samples

Jewelmint earrings 

I seriously feel so spoilt. I think Ashley figured out that I love 1) nail products, and 2) I like to play with makeup (especially eyeshadows).  I was completely floored when I opened the package and saw the 100 piece eyeshadow palette - I was so happy that I'm sure my workmates put me in the "crazy" category. This sadly also shows how expensive beauty and make up products are in Australia (there's no way all these goodies would total only $50 here).

So thank you to Miss Mystique for organising such a fabulous idea and organising the swap, and a big thank you to Ashley for sending just what this girl needs!

UPDATE: To see what I sent Ashley, go read her post here.

Lust-Haves: Arm Party.

Song of Style

superwowomg

Lindsey Belle

I've never been one for wearing much arm jewelry - my wrists are too small for most bangles to stay put, I've always chosen to spend my hard-earned (ha!) money on clothes over bracelets, and most of the time I wake up way past my alarm and am too pre-occupied with getting my ass out the door in record time to worry about dressing my arms. So I found it quite strange when I began lusting after all the "arm swag" pictures floating around in the fashion blogosphere, but I think it's time for me to join the party.

From top, left to right:
House of Harlow Aztec Bangles (assorted colours)
Witchery Wood Rondel Bracelet (set of 2)

ASOS Retro Skulls Friendship Bracelet Pack
Adidas Originals Plastic Watch

 MANIAMANIA The Source Bangle

Marc by Marc Jacobs studded-leather wrap bracelet

ASOS PREMIUM Spiked Cuff Multi Pack

Chan Luu Onyx Beaded Skull Five-Wrap Bracelet

ASOS Plug Cuff Bracelet


Lust.


p.s. A massive apology for the lack of postage in the past week - I've been down with a nasty cold (or as my doctor likes to say, an upper respiratory tract infection).

Lust-Haves: Marni for H&M.

You know how I was going to camp out for the Marni for H&M collection? Well, the pictures of the full collection have just been released, and if I needed any more convincing (I really don't), this would've done the trick. Here are some snippets...

See the full collection HERE.

I want .... everything. But since want > available funds, I will resort to getting mostly accessories, and a few tops. And a silk dress. And some pants. Maybe a jacket too. Oh no.

Lust.

Bits & Bobs.

Green jumpsuit with tags still attached & waiting to be worn.

Hosier Lane, Melbourne.

Waiting to be mailed.

New go-to lipstick.

Here's to the weekend. 

Lust-Haves: Shop 'til You Drop!

To borrow a phrase from the irrepressible Rachel Zoe, I've been "dying" at MAC Cosmetics' looks at the recent New York Fashion Week. The metallic eye and nude lip at Jason Wu? I die. The false lashes and bold lip at Erickson Beamon? I die. The rosy blush and pale pink lip at Doo.Ri? Dying all over the place.

I am growing a serious unrequited love relationship with MAC. Their exorbitant prices here in Ausland means that I have to either 1) buy their products overseas, or 2) only invest in their limited edition products. MAC's new hot-off-the-press collection is aptly named the Shop MAC collection - with its bold colours and playful vibe, I want everything!

Eye Shadow Quads

Left to right: Call Me Bubbles; Shop & Drop; Colour Added

Lipsticks

L-R: Innocence, Beware!; Watch Me Simmer; Naughty Saute; Quick Sizzle; Dish It Up; Runaway Red 

Kissable Lipcolours (lipglosses)

L-R: Enchantee; Woo Me; So Vain; Scan-delicious; Flaunting It

Cremeblend Blushes

L-R: Optimistic Orange; Florida; Restores Dazzle!

Images via MAC Cosmetics

Unfortunately this collection does not hit our fair shores until 27 February, so staring at the images will have to do for now!

Lust. 

Will You Be My Valentine?

Hey single ladies, don't let Valentine's Day get you down! Who needs a man when you have GlossyBox? They know you love beauty, they know you love receiving pretty looking things, and they don't cause you any emotional pain. The only "pain" it gave me was a slight embarrassment when I squealed at seeing the Valentine's Day GlossyBox being dropped off at my work desk. 

GlossyBox does send different versions of its boxes to different subscribers, and I know there's been some controversy floating around the blogosphere about that. I guess that's the company's way of trying to give subscribers the best/most appropriate products to try for their beauty profile (and preferences). I'm intrigued to see what products other people have received! 

In the meantime, here's what I got:

There was also a $15 voucher for ActiveSkin (for purchases over $75), and a discount voucher for Proactiv's Ultimate System.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not as excited about this month's products as I would like to be. I'm definitely keen to try out the Face of Australia Mineral Lip Shine, and Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil, but the mere mention of Proactiv is scaring my poor old sensitive skin, and Carmex is a brand that I've moved on from a long time ago (though I will try this product out of curiosity!). 

So yes, no emotional pain was caused, but it didn't make me want to shout a declaration of love from the rooftops either. It was still a lovely Valentine's Day surprise for this single lady. 

GlossyBox subscriptions can be purchased on their Australian website for $14.95 a month. 

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration and review purposes. I am in no way affiliated with GlossyBox or its affiliate brands, nor do I receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions stated are 100% honest and my own. 

Lust-Haves: Overcast.

While there were splashes of colour at last week's SAG Awards red carpet, the dominant trend seemed to be grey. The likes of Octavia Spencer, Lea Michele, Naya Rivera, and even Meryl Streep joined the grey party. Despite the sombre connotations, I think this 'colour' oozes sophistication and class. Barring a few cardigans, sweatpants, and the odd pair of jeans, I don't actually have a lot of grey in my life. Time to change that!

Clockwise from top left:
Nicole Miller belt
Bobbi Brown Cool Party eye palette
Moschino Cheap Chic knit top
Clu silk tank (boo! sold out!)
Stolen Girlfriends Club grey & tan zip up skinny jeans

TOMS grey shoes

Mulberry shoulder messenger bag

Sabrina Dehoff statement bracelet Swarovski plate grey

Marc by Marc Jacobs star pave crystal ring

butter LONDON '3 Free' Nail Lacquer in Cream Tea


Lust.

Rose Hip Hip Hooray!

Being "afflicted" with sensitive skin means that I'm quite limited in the skin-care products I can go near. And because of this, I thought that exfoliants and I were destined to be strangers forever. 

Oh how wrong I was. It seems like Kosmea heard my skin's pleas and has come to the rescue. Kosmea is an Australian company specialising in natural skin-care - cleansers, exfoliants, serums, creams, what have you. What makes this brand so unique is their certified organic rose hip oil, aka Wendy's godsend. Made up of essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, rose hip oil is nature's "skin healer", perfect for sensitive, dry and scarred skin. 

Kosmea has bridged the gap between sensitive skin and exfoliants with its Daily Facial Exfoliant, by using ground rose hips as the gentle "peeling" agent - making sure that the skin is cleansed without being damaged! This exfoliant also has crush chamomile flowers to help soothe and calm the skin.

I was lucky enough to receive a 20g sample size of the Daily Facial Exfoliant with the January edition of GlossyBox, and I was itching (pun intended) to try it out as soon as I saw it. 

Full ingredients list (special mentions are bolded):

Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Kaolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Powder,

Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flowers,  Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), 

Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Rosa Eglentaria (Rose Hip) Oil,

Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, SesamumIndicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, 

Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Flower
Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, 

Syzygium Luehmanii (Lilly Pilly) Fruit Extract, Acronychia Acidula (Lemon Aspen) Fruit Extract, 

Davidsonia Pruriens (Davidson’s Plum) Fruit Extract, Citrus Glauca (Desert Lime) Fruit Extract, 

Santalum Acuminatum (Quandong) Fruit Extract, Acacia Victoriae (Wattle Seed) Fruit Extract, 

Rosa Eglentaria (Rose Hip) Seed Powder, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol,
Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol

This exfoliant has a really smooth texture - definitely not like most of exfoliants I've come across. I'm afraid I can't give a truly comprehensive review because over the 10 days that I used it, it made my skin feel like an extra clean baby's bottom (sorry for the imagery) WITHOUT drying my skin out, and that's enough for me to turn into a fan. Plus you can also use it as a mask by leaving it on for 10 or more minutes. I found that a peanut sized amount was enough for my face, but this is bound to be different for different people. The only warning I'd give is not to use it on extremely damaged skin such as cuts, open rashes and other wounds.

You can buy the 20g mini size for AU$9.95, or the full 125g tube for AU$39.95 online from the Kosmea website. It can also be found in Chemist's Warehouse and other selected pharmacies; please check here for stockists.

If you're a fellow sensitive skinned soul, this is definitely a product worth trying. 

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration and review purposes as part of the January GlossyBox. I am in no way affiliated with either GlossyBox or Kosmea, nor do I receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions stated are 100% honest and my own.