December Addiction - Mirenesse Crystal Colour Drops Hydrating Mineral Powders

Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and have great plans to bring in the New Year. Sorry I have been absent a bit lately but hubby has had the week off so we've had some much needed family time which meant blogging had to take a back seat unfortunately. He also rebuilt my laptop during the week (the benefit of living with a Network Engineer) to try and make it run better for me so hopefully I'll have no more issues for a while.

Anyway, today I just had to talk about a product that I have been using non-stop over the past month which is my Mirenesse Crystal Colour Drops Hydrating Mineral Powders.

This is a great multi-use palette which contains a contouring shade, a highlight shade and two blush shades.

It's a huge competitor to my beloved Napoleon Perdis Ultimate Contour Palette which I was obsessed with for a little while, but this one just manages to stay in front by having the extra blush shade.

These powders are lovely and soft and blend perfectly. They are extremely pigmented which means a light hand is needed, especially for the rosy shade and the contouring shade. I am in love with the peachy shade as it is the perfect shade of blush for my pale skintone when I'm after a natural look.

These also make great eyeshadows if you're in a hurry as they don't crease or disappear but last the entire day on the face.

I love multi use palettes like this because they just make life so much easier and are great for travelling.

This palette usually retails for $59.95 but Mirenesse is having a 35% off sale at the moment so you could score it for around $39 if you're quick.

Has anyone else tried this great product yet?

Michelle xx

Nails of the Week - Ulta3 Nail Colour in Enchanted

This is a very decieving polish. In the bottle it looks like a really pretty dark green with a holographic effect through it. Unfortunately this doesn't translate at all onto the nail and it ends up looking more like a gunmetal grey in most light than green which was a little disappointing.

I received this shade a little while ago in one of the monthly beauty sample boxes but have only just gotten around to trying it out over the last couple of weeks.

It's a very thick polish to apply and you need to wait a good amount of time between coats or it will bubble like crazy. It's definitely not a polish you would apply last minute for a special occassion. You really need to plan ahead to wear this one.

I really wish this polish looked the same on the nail as it does in the bottle. It would be a really lovely shade if it did.

The polish itself lasted only around three days before chipping too which was a shame.


I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas tomorrow and that you all get spoilt rotten :-)

Michelle xx

Models Prefer Intense Moisture Deep Comfort Moisturiser

Being a long-time fan of Models Prefer makeup products I was super excited when I found out that they have now released a new skincare line.

I was lucky enough to receive the Intense Moisture Deep Comforting Moisturiser to try and have been using it for quite a while now and I can truthfully say that I really like it.

Intense Moisture is a rich emulsion suitable as a night cream for every skin type, or as an all day moisturiser for dry skin.

It contains the innovative MP aquaFLEX system which restores the skin's natural aquaporins that regulate hydration levels and promote collagen synthesis, for maximum skin moisture and a youthful complexion.

The formula is also enriched with MP Comfort, a mix of active ingredients that help improve long term moisture levels and soothe sensitive skin.

It comes in a sturdy, thick, square plastic jar with a screw top lid and is a really nice looking product to have sitting in the bathroom.

It's a very thick and rich white cream with a floral scent that is so subtle it's almost practically undetectable.

I've been using this cream at night every second day in between using my Skin Doctors No More Pores Night Treatment and find that it absorbs nice and quickly without leaving my face feeling greasy. It's a bit too thick for me to use as a day cream this time of year (summer in Australia) but would most likely be a great skin saviour in winter when dry patches seem to always rear their head.

I don't get any breakouts from using this cream and definitely feel no irritation after use. My skin feels extremely moisturised and lovely and soft after application and keeps this softness until morning.

I'm really interested in trying more from this new skincare range now.

Have you tried anything from the new Models Prefer skincare range yet?

Michelle xx

 

*** This product was provided for consideration but my opinions are always my own*** 

EOTD Featuring Savoir Faire Limited Edition Kit in 'Winter'



I couldn't help but start playing with my new Savoir Faire kit as soon as at arrived in my December Bellabox and this is one of the first looks I created and am really loving. It's a very subtle smokey eye using the burgundy and rust shades in the kit as the main look.

(Eyeshadow shades from left to right: Top row - Devout, Kinetic, Immortal & Bottom Row - Spicy, Liberating, Vivacious)

 

For this look I used the shade 'Kinetic' on the outer 'V', then applied some 'Spicy' to the inner half of the lid. I then used the shade 'Devout' to blend out the other two shades up over the crease and towards the brow bone.
Then just because I was being lazy and couldn't be bothered reaching for anything else, I applied the shade 'Immortal' along the top and lower lashes like an eyeliner.
I finished it all off with my Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara in Black.

This to me is a nice subtle way to dip your toe in a smokey eye without going too extreme. To make this a bit more night time appropriate I'd add more of the burgundy Kinetic shade to darken the outer 'V' a bit more and amp up the black liner a bit.

This is a lovely kit and the eyeshadows are very pigmented and so easy to blend. I can't wait to try some more looks and am especially keen to try 'Vivacious' next.

Has anyone else tried Savoir Faire eyeshadows before?

Michelle xx



December Bellabox

Sorry for posting this so late. This week has been crazy for me and I didn't even receive my Bellabox delivery until Wednesday anyway. It really irks me that almost the whole country seems to get theirs delivered days before I do. I don't even live in what you would call a remote area!

Anyway, on to the good stuff. This months box is quite awesome in the fact that there is a full size expensive makeup item in there in the form of a Savoir Faire Limited Edition Kit. Bellabox seem to have gone all out for their Christmas box which is great. I can't help but wonder if they over-ordered these in the first place for their online shop and just couldn't seem to get rid of them so they decided to just give them away but I'm still very happy about it none the less.

Here is what I got in the box this month:

1) Savoir Faire Limited Edition Makeup Kit in 'Winter' (RRP $110.00) - This kit contains 6 eyeshadows, a blush, eyeliner, mascara and lipgloss. It also contains 6 'how-to' guides on makeup looks to try using the kit (I was mystified as to where the guides were and managed to find them tucked up inside a little pocket behind the mirror). The eyeshadows seem extremely pigmented so I just can't wait to try them. The lipgloss is a dark brown/burgundy shade which I might not get much wear out of on it's own but it might be ok when layered.

2) Allegra Rhodes Hand and Nail Cream (5ml sample, RRP $32.95 for 175ml) - I got this in the scent Sweet Apple and Grapefruit which smells absolutely devine. Hand cream is something that never goes to waste in my house.

3) John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme (30ml sample, RRP $16.99 for 113gm) - I recently reviewed this as I received it in another box a little while ago and I love it. I'm so glad to have received some more.

4) EmerginC Multi Fruit Cleanser and Earth Hydrating Phytelene Cream (3ml samples of each, RRP $55.00 for 240ml cleanser and $109.00 for 50ml cream) - I have really liked all the other EmerginC products I have previously received and tried so hopefully these ones will be just as good.

5) Compeed Blister Patch (1 x patch, RRP $11.95 for a pack) - My days of getting blisters are luckily over as I don't really have a need to wear fancy shoes too often anymore since I gave up the corporate world when I had my little man. It might come in handy one day though.

So that's the Bellabox for the month of December. I'm extremely pleased with this box and can't believe that everyone got one of the Savoir Faire kits included. It's certainly a great way to end the year.

What do you think of the box this month?

Michelle xx

The Procrastination Period is Over!

Ok, peeps, so I have finally had enough of the constant struggle it has become to try and lose my pregnancy weight so I have taken a huge step in the right direction to get things moving.

Today I joined the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation and am super duper excited about what is in store for me over the next few months (and I have to admit a little bit scared too!)

The Michelle Bridges 12WBT is a little bit like an online version of The Biggest Loser. You get meals plans, workout plans and are in charge of sticking to your program to achieve the best outcome that you can at the end of the 12 weeks.

There are also weekly video lessons from Michelle herself plus forum chats and prizes for completing different challenges.

The main motivation for me is definitely to feel better about myself, feel healthier, and of course to get back into the huge amount of old clothes that haven't seen the light of day since I got pregnant and had my little man.

The program has a warm-up stage that has just started where you are supposed to do some mini challenges, introduce yourself and meet your fellow 'team' mates on the forums. Then there's a pre-season which runs for four weeks where you are set more challenges which are meant to get you in the right frame of mind and feeling ready for the intensity of the 12 week program that follows.

What I like is that the program is run over set periods during the year so everyone starts together and finishes at the same time. This will make me feel more motivated as I am travelling at the same pace as everyone else and will force me to monitor my progress against people in a similar situation to me so there will be no excuses!

Another factor that I love is that you can choose your excercise mode from either Outdoors, in the Gym or At Home. I am hoping that by doing the At Home mode I won't have any excuses because I'll be able to do the excercises at any time of the day or night around the little guy and my work in the comfort of my own home.

I am a little bit in shock that I just paid $199 to complete it though. I very, very rarely spend anything near that amount of money on myself these days and I think this will also end up being a huge motivation factor for me because I couldn't stand the thought of wasting that much money on something I'm not going to put my best efforts into.   

Anyway, I just wanted to share the start of my journey (mainly as another way to make me more accountable for what happens over the next couple of months) and will try and keep up with regular posts of how things are travelling along.

Go me!!



Has anyone else ever tried a program like this?

Michelle xx

New Mascara Love - Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara

I have to admit it. I'm a bit of a mascara hoarder and even if I don't do any other form of makeup on my face I refuse to leave the house without mascara on. I find that it just opens up the eyes and makes me look more awake, especially since I have quite small eyes.

Funnily enough, even though I have a secret obsession with mascara, this is the first one I think that I have ever actually reviewed properly on this blog. I really don't know why but will try and start to rectify that issue from this point on.

This brings me to my current mascara obsession, my Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara. I have received two of these over the past year in one monthly subscrption box or another and only just realised a couple of weeks ago that I hadn't yet tried either of them. Now that I've finally cracked one open I am so stoked that I have two because this is one of the best mascaras that I have ever used!

What the product claims:
'Bobbi's new gold standard for ultra-long, perfectly separated lashes. It's all about how the brush and formula work together: The bristles interlock with lashes like a zipper, so each individual lash is coated with rich, deep colour from root to tip. It's also curved to lift each hair like an eyelash curler. And since the formula contains elastic ingredients, it stays flexible between coats and won't flake.'

This is actually one of the most unusual mascara brushes that I have used before. It's very thin, which I love, and has very fine, stiff, rubber like teeth that grip your lashes like nothing else to give them a full coat in just one or two swipes.

In the below pictures I show a comparison between my lashes pre-mascara application and post with just one coat:

 

As you can see, the difference is astounding! The rubber bristles seperate and define each lash so well and never clumps or looks spider-webby (a pet hate of mine).

 

I have also tested this mascara in some extreme temperatures (think 37 degree day spent outside at a friend's birthday in the mountains where there was no air and it HAD to have been at least 5 degrees hotter underneath the god-awful BBQ area we were all cramped into!!) I can proudly say that there was not a lash out of place and not the slightest bit of droop or black making it's way down my face after a good few hours. Had I been wearing another mascara (I'm looking at you Lancome Hypnose!!) I'm sure I would have had terrible black splotches underneath the eye area in such an extreme test.

 

All in all I'm totally in love with this mascara and plan to use it almost exclusively during summer, especially when it's going to be a hot day.

 

Are there any other awesome mascaras you have been loving lately that I should know about?

 

Michelle xx

Say Goodbye To The Crispy - John Frieda Frizz-Ease Finishing Creme

One of my pet hates is crispy hair. Having curly hair I always find it so difficult to find products that I can use to define and manage my curls without them feeling like crunchy straw for the rest of the day or without them going limp and scraggly because a product has been too heavy for my fine hair and has weighed it down too much.

One of the best products I have actually found so far is the John Frieda Frizz-Ease Finishing Creme. I received a sample of this in one of my monthly sample box subscriptions quite a while ago and put it away in a bathroom draw and promptly forgot about it. I managed to come across it a couple of weeks ago and decided to give it a try and was surprisingly pleased with the results.

This creme claims to tame frizz and smooth frayed ends. It can be used on straight or curly hair and it is recommended to apply it to dry hair by rubbing a small amount into your palms and then distributing through the hair, concentrating on the ends.

I've been using it on my damp hair after showering to define my curls and stop them from turning into frizz city throughout the day. Here is what I end up with, nice and defined curls without that crispy feeling and without being weighed down:

 

Does anyone realise just how hard it is to take a photo of the back of your own head? IT IS HARD!

Anyway, I am really please with how this creme works and will most likely purchase it in full size as it's definitely one of the best products I have found for my hair so far.

Does anyone know of any other great curly hair products that aren't crunchy? I'd love some to hear some other suggestions.

Michelle xx

Review: 4Me Nail Polish Remover Pads

I received these in one of the last monthly subscription boxes and just had to try them straight away as I have actually never tried nail polish remover pads before.

There is 30 pads in this cute little container and they are alcohol and acetone free.

I think these are a great idea as they are a lot less risky to use than regular remover for a clumsy person like me who is very prone to spills, and I also like the fact that I feel a bit safer using them when my little man is around too.

 

 

They seem to remove most polishes pretty effectively and one pad can do anywhere from two to four nails depending on how many coats I have on or how dark the polish is. Considering there is 30 pads in the pack that's not too bad and means they will last for at least 15 uses.

I only have two issues with these pads that I have to mention. The first one is that they can feel a little greasy when used and leave quite a lot of residue behind. This is obviously to help condition the nails during polish removal but it's just a bit too much and doesn't really sink in or evaporate for a very long time. This is nothing that a wipe with a tissue, wet wipe or a quick run of your fingers under some cold water can't fix but I still thought it worth a mention.

The second issue is that they seem to dry out a bit between uses. I've made sure that I close the cap as tight as I can but the first pad on the top when it is opened next always seems to be a bit drier than the rest. I've found that if I press them all down firmly prior to use this kind of squeezes the solution back into the top pads so this also isn't really so bad.

Overall I think I'd definitely buy these again as they really are a good, mess free option that would also be great for travelling.

Has anyone else used these before?

Michelle xx

November Empties

November was a HUGE empties month. I just seemed to go through products like there was no tomorrow. Anyway, here's a little about what I used up in November:

1) Pangea Organics Eye Cream & Facial Cream Samples - I took these in my toiletries case when we went to Melbourne last week as they took up no room which meant more room for other things :-) These were both lovely products and smelled absolutely gorgeous too. I would definitely repurchase these.

2) Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Face Mask sample - This was a nice mask but nothing too special.

3) Naked Tan Goddess Bronze - I actually really like this tanning product which technically isn't an 'empty' but it's gone a very intense dark brown almost black colour now so I'm not game enough to try using it anymore, hence it's getting chucked.

4) Mirenesse Eclipse Age Defence SPF15 Daily Face & Neck Mineral Balm - I really liked using this and used it as a primer before my makeup after moisturising. I saw a lot of mixed reviews about this balm but it seemed to work really well for me and made my skin feel like silk which I just loved. The tint is barely even noticeable though so if I repurchased I'd probably just get the regular one with no tint.

5)  John Frieda Frizz-Ease Curl Perfecting Spray - All this did to my curly hair was make it crunchy which is one of my pet hates with curl products. Why, oh why can't they make a curly hair product that doesn't make my hair feel crunchy??

6) Chloe Eau De Toilette sample - Not a huge fan of this perfume. It was a bit too sickly smelling for me and reminded me of something that my mother would get better wear out of then me.

7) Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment Mascara - I was very sad the day this mascara run out as it was on permanent use for a very long time once I discovered it. Oh well, I have since replaced it with another mascara that I can't get enough of which I will be reviewing very soon.

8) Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil - I loved the way this lip balm made my lips feel but was always a bit disgusted by the taste. It just wasn't for me.

9) Rich Skincare Gentle Polishing Scrub sample and Ultra Hydrating Day Cream - I absolutely love all the products I have tried from this brand and shed a little tear when the Day Cream ran out. This is something I will definitely be replacing in the future.

10) So...? Sinful Body Fragrance - Every time I put this on I felt like a teenager again. I quite like this scent and mainly wore it on my days at home when I didn't feel the need to wear a fancy scent.

11) Clinique Turnaround Concentrate sample - This sample was way too small to really notice much difference in my skin after using this product but overall it seemed nice and left my skin feeling quite soft which I like.

12) Estee Lauder Resilience Lift sample - Again, the sample was way too small to really get much out of using it but it also seemed nice.

13) Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush - I'm a bit of a latecomer when it comes to jumping on the dry shampoo bandwagon but now I'm there I'm definitely hooked. I seriously don't know how I ever lived without it.

14) The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Bath & Shower Gel - A present from hubby a while back along with some other The Body Shop goodies when I was having a particularly bad skin week. I loved the smell of this body wash and love the way it didn't dry out my skin at all after use.

15) Garnier Mineral Deodorant - This is my go-to deodorant and it's always one I come back to after trying others as it never lets me down and doesn't clash with my perfume either which is a big winner.

16) You, Me & Every Body Sumptuous Skin Mousse for Dry Skin Relief - Sounds like it would be really moisturising for dry skin by the title right? Well, even though it was so much fun to use and a real novelty for my toddler, I just didn't felt moisturised enough after using this and sometimes applied it two or three times while still feeling a bit dry on my skin. A bit of a shame really....

So there you have it. My mega empties post for November.

Hope everyone has had a lovely week.

Michelle xx

Nails of the Week - Australis Nail Colour in Bombshell

I now have a new favourite polish and funnily enough it's a colour that I normally detest; Pink!!

Bombshell is one of those polishes that really make you look twice. It's such a super bright and eyecatching shade and I couldn't help but keep looking at my nails when I had it on.

This polish was virtually opaque in just one coat but I applied two just to make it that little bit stronger on the nails. Amazingly it lasted for almost a week without any chips too.

 

 

I usually have a fear of anything that is bright pink as it takes me back to my childhood where my mother literally saturated me in the colour because she just couldn't understand that I was more my father's daughter and preferred to be underneath cars and getting coated in grease rather than wearing pink ruffles and sipping tea with her.

BUT, I have to give credit where credit is due and that is with this shade because it is fricken awesome!

Has anyone else fallen in love with this shade too?

Michelle xx

November Addictions - Skin Doctors T-Zone Range

This month my skin went absolutely crazy for some reason. I'm really not sure why as I was using the same products for ages but my skin just decided to do a complete backflip from the nice and clear state it was in to being constantly covered in pimples and greasy as all hell.

So, I was so very grateful when at the beginning of the month I was asked to trial the new Skin Doctors T-Zone range by Beautyheaven as this trial definitely came at exactly the right time for me and I have been absolutely loving these products ever since receiving them.

The Skin Doctors T-Zone range consists of the Oil Control Cleanser, the No More Oil cream and the No More Pores night cream.

1) Oil Control Cleanser - This cleanser is the first step in the routine and is a paraben-free cleansing and balancing gel that deeply purifies pores and clears oily and combination skin to give you a perfect matte complexion. I really like this cleanser as it makes my skin feel super clean without any dryness or tight feeling which is something you'd expect from a product like this. It doesn't irritate my sometimes sensitive skin at all and is a very light gel which is easy to lather onto the face. This is probably my favourite product to use in the range.

(Oil Control Cleanser)

2) No More Oil cream - This is a dual action cream designed to help control oil production to reduce shine and to absorb excess oil to leave your skin flawless, matte and beautiful. I've been applying this cream every morning and night and it glides on nicely and absorbs into the skin really fast. I have actually noticed that my skin does seem to be a little less oilier than before and in this hot weather we have been having lately that is a miracle in itself. My makeup has even been lasting longer when using this too and I've found that it means I can skip the use of a primer most of the time if I don't feel like using one.

3) No More Pores Night Treatment - This cream is to help refine, unclog, shrink and tighten pores so your skin looks smooth, matte, even and flawless. The dual action formula firstly removes excess oil that causes enlarged pores and secondly helps to reduce pore size. This cream is to be applied at night after cleansing and prior to using the No More Oil cream and at first I was using it every night but then scaled it back to using it only every second night as I found that it was stinging my skin a little if used every night. Even without using the cream every night I have still noticed a definite reduction in the size of the pores on my cheeks and nose which were always quite large and I don't get anymore irritation with only using it every second night as well. On the in between nights I just use my regular night cream instead and still apply the No More Oil cream over the top of that.

(No More Pores Night Treatment)

 

Overall this is a great range to use if you have an oily t-zone and enlarged pores as there are definately noticeable effects after using it on a constant basis for a few weeks. I've always had a problem with my t-zone but then have dry areas on other parts of my face so it has been nice to feel like my skin has been a bit more even and normal for a change.

 

I would consider this a much nicer and less harsh alternative to the Proactiv range which I tried once a few years ago and honestly felt like I was immersing my face in acid every time I used it.

 

So that's what I have been loving this month.

 

What products have you been addicted to this month?

 

Michelle xx