Vanity Corner

Recreate Yourself: ry.com.au*

2013-10-27T12:00:00.000+11:00

Recreate Yourself is an Australian based online beauty & haircare store offering products from a wide range of brands - Clarins, Benefit, Redken, and GHD just to name a few. It is always nice to discover Australian retailers because I hate waiting two weeks for deliveries. I was very excited when I was given the opportunity to try out their service as I was actually contemplating whether to spend or not! So here's a little bite more about the company :)

RY is based in Queensland and they actually have a salon in Burleigh Heads, if anyone is interested. They offer free shipping on all purchases over $99 (or flat rate of $6.95 for orders below $99) as well as two free samples with every order. RY does offer international shipping as well as in-store pickup if you're from Queensland. If you are unhappy with your purchase you have the option to return your product within 120 days :)

If you ever find a product at a cheaper price on a competitor's website they will price match it (see Terms and Conditions). There is also a Loyalty Program where for every $1 you spend you will receive 2 points and 200 points can be redeemed for $1. Essentially for every $100 you spend you can redeem $1 later, which isn't all that rewarding in my opinion.

So what about my order?

Date ordered: 16 / 10 / 13

Date despatched: 16 / 10 / 13

Date arrived: 18 / 10 / 13

I was very impressed with how quickly my order was processed and despatched, as well as how quickly it arrived. My order arrived undamaged with the products placed between scrunched up paper. Their website is really easy to navigate and the design is very simple; I love a website that is clean and simple since it makes browsing so much easier.

If you haven't seen on my Instagram, here is what I ordered:

Essie: Marshmallow - $15.95

Clarins: Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch - $34.21

Clarins: Instant Light Brush-On Perfector - $37.80

Redken: Diamond Oil Shatterproof Shine - $20.82

Total = $108.78

Also, my two free samples included were (not pictured):
Dermalogica: Exfoliating Body Scrub
Napolean Perdis: Auto Pilot Napolean Complex Skin Renewal Serum

The Redken product was actually recommended to me by the director of RY as I asked him if he could recommend me a product for my split ends. I absolutely can't wait to try these products out especially Clarins since my aunt kind of made me fall in love with the brand. The prices aren't significantly cheaper than retail price for the products I purchased but it may be different for other products.

Overall I am pleased with my shopping experience with RY, especially with their processing time. I would definitely purchase from them again in the future seeing as they are based in Australia and I wouldn't have to kill myself waiting for my parcels to arrive.

Have you heard of or purchased from Recreate Yourself before?

Hope you have a lovely Monday!

*Products were provided for consideration but chosen and partly paid for by me. All opinions in this post are 100% honest and unbiased.

My first Wantable Makeup Box: October!

2013-10-25T22:10:00.001+11:00

I have been bitten by the Wantable bug and joined the bandwagon. For those who haven't heard of Wantable before, they offer personalised beauty and fashion boxes for $36 per month or a one time box for $40 plus shipping where you will receive 4-5 full sized products! By completing a survey, you will be able to choose which products you want and don't want to receive which ensures you will hopefully love every product you receive. You also have the option to skip a box for a particular month if you don't want to receive a box.

As the company is based in America, shipping to Australia costs an extra $9. Unfortunately they currently only ship to the US, Canada and Australia. There are currently three boxes available to choose from: makeup box, accessories box, and intimates box.

Despite it being a bit more pricey, I honestly think you will receive your money's worth. I am so excited to share with everyone what I received because I haven't been this satisfied with a box in ages. Shipping does take a while but it is worth it in the end!

Manna Kadar: Lipstick in 506 Saucy - RRP $21
A gorgeous fuschia pink lipstick that applies on so smoothly on the lips. The shade is bright and bold with an amazing colour payoff. It has a glossy finish and feels moisturising on the lips as well! I love the simple matte black design as well since it looks very chic and I also hate getting fingerprints on things.

Michael Marcus: Nail Polish in Lookin' For Attention - RRP $15
How pretty does that colour look? So perfect for Summer and Spring! The geometrically shaped bottle is definitely something different and unique, which makes it look more awesome. Two coats of this will give you a nice opaque finish though I do find the formula a bit hard to work with. Michael Marcus Cosmetics nail polishes are also free of Toulene, Formaldehyde and DBP.

Japonesque: Angled Foundation Brush - RRP $25
For some reason I just wanted some new tools to add to my collection so I am happy to receive this angled foundation brush. It is made of synthetic bristles therefore feels really soft and makes it easier to clean. This literally reminds me of a paint brush. I'm not sure whether I'll actually like using it as I am in love with the Real Techniques buffing brush when applying bb creams and what not.

Beauty For Real: Miracle Mascara in Very Black - RRP $23
When it comes to mascaras I am quite picky with the finish. Recently I thought I found a potential HG mascara but I am freaking loving this as well! The packaging is quite innovative, featuring a side magnifying mirror as well as in-built light in the cap (say what?!). It lengthens and defines my short lashes so well and I have not experienced any clumping or flaking so far. I am actually like this more than the cult favourite Benefit They're Real Mascara right now but that's just from first impressions.

Lise Watier: Ombre Souffle Supreme Sample
I have never heard of an anti-ageing eyeshadow until today. There are only two sample shades to try and I received Sunrise Pach and Vert enchante. As the description says, this literally has a really light and creamy mousse texture that applying this feels like a dream. It is so shimmery and pretty to look at that I wish they sent a full sized product instead :(
EDIT: This creased within 2 hours on my oily eyelids without a primer, boooo. May try using a primer next time.

So that's all I received in my Wantable box this month! I absolutely loved everything I received and I might consider unsubscribing from my other subscriptions to fund for this.

Are you currently subscribed to Wantable? If not, what are your thoughts?

Okay I should really stop procrastinating. Have a lovely weekend ladies! :)

October Lust Have It - Spring Race Carnival Edition

2013-10-24T22:55:00.003+11:00

The arrival of the October LHI Women's box took me by surprise since my annual subscription ended already and I haven't resubscribed either! After emailing their customer service, apparently my last box was supposed to be the September box. However I did not receive that box last month so maybe this was to make up for it??? I'm not too sure and neither is LHI :/

This month LHI has changed the design of their boxes to match the design on their website. It's pretty much the same size except a tiny bit taller and still features the magnetic closure. Since I wasn't expecting this box, I honestly had no idea what was inside which made it a bit more exciting.

To start off I received information cards from Princess Skincare and Smitten Cosmetics, as well as vouchers from Le Tan, Naked Wines Australia, and The Iconic. Don't think I would take advantage of any of those aside from maybe The Iconic.

Le Tan: Wash Off
40ml sample - 100ml RRP $14.99
Beauty boxes really need to STOP including fake tan since I have a total of four unused bottles now. Just because we're approaching summer doesn't mean you should hop on the fake tan bandwagon. Anyways, you can spray on this product whenever you feel like a tan, dries in 60 seconds and is water resistant. At the end of the day you can use warm water, a cloth and some scrubbing to remove.

Smitten Cosmetics: Whipped Tinted Mousse Moisturiser
? sample - 30ml RRP $25
I received this in the shade Cappuccino which seems to match me perfectly and there is a total of 6 shades available. The product is formulated with 50% moisturiser and 50% foundation, has a matte finish with SPF 15 and medium coverage. First impressions - I am quite liking this so far! Not sure how it really performs though.

Evo: Ritual Salvation Care Shampoo and Conditioner
50ml samples each - 300ml RRP $25
This is recommended for colour-treated, weak and brittle hair which sounds perfect for me! I have never tried any Evo products before so I hope this works. Bonus points for not being sachet samples and providing both the shampoo and conditioner together. Not too sure about the description on the conditioner bottle though, hmmm...

Inika: Mineral Eyeshadow in Lemon Cream
Full size - 1.2g RRP $25
Not particularly a fan of loose powder since they're a bit messy to use but this is a gorgeous shimmery, golden yellow. Colour payoff is excellent and is supposed to last all day, which I doubt unless you use a primer.

Paula's Choice: Oil Blotting Papers
50 sheets? - 100 sheets RRP $10.50
In my opinion there is nothing special about oil blotting papers; they're not exactly a new product so I don't think it should have been included. Plus I would not spend $10.50 on this when you can purchase an alternative at a cheaper price.

Princess Skincare: Hyaluronic Acid Mask
Full size - One mask RRP $27.50; Box of 8 - RRP $167.20
Just woaahhhh... one mask for $27.50?! It better be pretty damn good considering a box of 8 is $167.20. This is ideal for dehydrated skin and those with wrinkles as it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and maintain skin elasticity.

I feel like there has been a few types of products in common between LHI and Bellabox recently, such as fake tan, face masks, shampoo and conditioner, and bb cream / tinted moisturiser. I don't think there was anything exciting in October's LHI and the main highlight for me was the tinted moisturiser.

What did you think of this month's box? What did you receive?

Anyways I should stop procrastinating and start studying! Enjoy the rest of your week ladies :)

Suvana Organic - Paw Paw & Honey Balm*

2013-10-23T15:33:00.001+11:00

Today I wanted to share with you a recent product I have been using, courtesy of Lucy from Plunketts. I am sure many of you are familiar with the Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment but how familiar are you with pawpaw ointments from other brands? I'm not and I know some of these ointments contain petroleum jelly which may or may not be a deal breaker.

Petroleum jelly can be found in many cosmetics since it is used to 'seal in' moisture in products and your skin but it doesn't actually have any healing properties. Because of this property, bacteria from wounds or cuts could also be sealed in if you use products such as pawpaw ointment containing petroleum jelly. I'm not an expert so I won't elaborate any further but do note that petroleum jelly is a residue of crude oil which is not a renewable resource nor environmentally friendly.

So what makes Suvana Organic's Paw Paw & Honey Balm more special?

WHERE TO BUY: Available at pharmacies or Plunketts website for $7.95

INGREDIENTS:

The key ingredients here are paw paw, honey, cocoa butter, coconut oil and vitamin E and there are none of those ingredients deemed harmful. This is also a non-animal tested product.

PACKAGING: This comes in a bright yellow tube with 25g worth of product. It's very convenient to just pop in your bag if you're a lover of pawpaw ointment. If you're using this to apply on your lips, it's not hygienic as you do have to use your fingers but at least you don't have to dip your finger each time like you do with a tin/tub.

TEXTURE / SCENT: I haven't used this for anything besides moisturising my lips. Texture wise, I don't find it as oily as this other pawpaw ointment I've tried and it does not feel sticky either. I love that when I apply this, it sort of melts onto my lips and spreads so smoothly. However I'm not sure how oily or melted the product will be in warmer temperatures.

As for the scent, it's quite subtle and since I am probably the worst at describing scents... I would say a mixture of honey and vanilla. Also despite the presence of honey, unfortunately this product is tasteless :(

LONGEVITY: I find myself having to reapply very often, especially after a meal or something. At most it will last for about 3 hours on me since I'm always eating, drinking and in drier environments. However once it wears off, my lips do feel softer, smoother and a bit more nourished. I should note that sometimes I do find it a little drying on my lips afterwards so I opt for another lip product which I find is more hydrating for me, being the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments.

If you were to ask me if it is better than Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment, I won't be able to answer you because I have never tried it before. Overall I am very pleased with this product as a lip balm but you can also use it for other purposes such as soothing cracked nipples (hehe), protection from nappy rashes or any areas requiring more moisture.

Have you used this product before? What are your thoughts on cosmetics containing petroleum jelly?

On another note, I am so excited that it's almost the last week of uni! I can't wait til exams are over then live a sloth life for the next three months hehe. Have a beautiful week lovelies!

*Product was sent to me for review purposes however all opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.

October Wish List

2013-10-19T23:57:00.002+11:00

Hey ladies, sorry for being all deep and emotional in my previous post but it was something I wanted to get off my chest for so long. Reading your comments definitely made me feel so much better and I am so grateful for your support. I just wanted to say thank you for reading and for hearing me out. The topic isn't something I like to bring up or confide to my family or friends about; I'm the type of person who doesn't like to show my weakest points or let others see me cry. But enough of this emotional talk, lets get movingggg! ... but yeah, THANK YOU for being there for me! I love you :) <3

So moving on... I feel like I haven't posted a wish list in forever, probably since July. Since I came back from overseas there hasn't been much I've been interested in and if I was I would have purchased it already. As I am trying to save money for Melbourne and I just spent $240 for a music festival (Stereosonic) I am going on a spending ban until December! However here are some items I have been lusting for a while and recently!

MiraCurl by BaByliss Pro Perfect Curl

em cosmetics - Chiaroscuro

Ciate - Mini Mani Month

Lime Crime - Opaque Lipstick in Poisonberry

L'oreal Paris - Shine Caresse

Nyx - Soft Matte Lip Cream

Benefit Cosmetics - Countdown to Love Advent Calendar

Clarins - Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour

Marc Jacobs - Honey EDP

Lancome - DreamTone Serum

It sucks that most of these items are either not available in Australia and if it is it's super expensive :(

What's on your current wish list? Have you tried any of these products?

In other news, my exams are approaching in less than a month! I will try my best to blog as often as possible but the next two months will be pretty busy for me. It amazes me how people can sit down and pre-write several posts in one day.

Anyways, hope you're all having a fantastic weekend! ^_^

Gone but never forgotten

2013-10-17T02:52:00.001+11:00

One year ago on this day I was anticipating for my flight to China the next morning hoping to see you for one last time. It had been two or three months since I last saw you and I did not know that would have been my last. You left Australia hoping to receive better treatment and it was also your last wish of being able to visit your home country before your passing.

Everyone in the family had the opportunity to visit you, to be with you, to see you for one last time while you were in China except me. I was a day too late. Less than a day - one sleep and a nine hour plane ride too late. It saddens me the most that I was the only one in the family who didn't have that chance to see you. I don't think anyone would be able to understand. Strangely enough the night before I had a dream that I was at the hospital with you. Was I having some kind of revelation or was that my opportunity since I couldn't be there physically?

My biggest regret would be growing distant from you as I grew older and wanted my independence. I remember as a child you would walk me to and from school, make me honey lemon tea, and accompany me to my favourite shops even if it meant you waiting for a long time. You would even give me money so I could buy magazines to read even though you didn't have much. Growing up, never have I ever seen you lose your temper once; I don't know how that is even possible.

It's still incomprehensible how one year has gone by so quickly. I only hope not to repeat the same mistake in the future and wish to cherish every moment because I won't know what will be the last. I am just glad you are no longer suffering or in pain.

RIP Grandpa

October Bellabox: Celebration!

2013-10-15T22:21:00.001+11:00

This month's Bellabox came earlier than expected! Normally boxes are shipped on the 15th of each month, I think, however I received my tracking notification on the 10th! Pretty good I must say. The theme for October is Celebration, to celebrate Bellabox's 2nd birthday / anniversary, and they teamed up with TheyAllHateUs duos to help create the box. I was very excited to receive this as I would expect to receive some awesome goodies to help them celebrate. Unlike previous months, my Bellabox did not arrive in a box for the first time although the items would have fit perfectly inside.

There was one item (L'oreal Shine Caresse) I was really hoping to receive this month, which I did not unsurprisingly... Regardless, here are the products I received for October!

Nivea Visage: Light Moisturising Day Cream SPF15

7ml sample - 50ml RRP $12.99

I have accumulated so many moisturisers from beauty boxes therefore I don't need another one. Plus this could be easily purchased at Priceline.

La Roche-Posay: UVIDEA XL Melt-in BB Cream

3ml sample - 30ml RRP $28.95

Can't wait to try this bb cream from La Roche-Posay! I believe this is new in the Australian market so yay :) As Summer is approaching very soon, this might be an ideal bb cream as it is SPF 50 PA+++. Oh and it has also been tested on Asian sensitive skin therefore suitable for me! Double yay :D

Sinful Colors: Nail Enamel - 313 Pink Forever

Full size - RRP $4.95

I'm not particularly a pink lover but this is a gorgeous shade of pink with some purple undertones. I still haven't tried the other polish I received in my previous Bellabox so I don't know what the quality is like.

Beyonce: Heat EDT

2ml sample - 100ml RRP $39

If I didn't read what it was, I would have thought this was a lolly. I've always been curious how this fragrance smelt like and now I know, and also quite like. Please don't ask me what it smells like since I am terrible at describing scents...

Lonvitalite: 24K Gold Yulan Oil Face Mask

One mask - Box of 5 RRP $29

This mask contains pure whitening essence milk with ultrafine micro gold foils. It aims to promote micro circulation renewal and skin regeneration, in addition to moisturising and evening skin tone. I am very interested in trying this but I hope my face doesn't end up all glitter and sparkly...

Alfaparf: Semi Di Lino Diamond Shampoo & Diamond Mask

50ml samples - 250ml RRP $25 (Shampoo); 200ml RRP $29 (Mask)

I don't have normal hair... my hair is the complete opposite of normal: oily yet dry, colour treated, brittle and damaged. I'm also sick of receiving shampoo / conditioner samples in beauty boxes though I am glad this time they are not sachets. After reading other people's comments on the Bellabox Facebook page, it seems that several people did not receive the right type of product according to their beauty profile. Same situation goes for me.

Nuxe: Creme Prodigieuse - Nuit & Enrichie

2ml samples - 50ml RRP $49.95 & 40g RRP $44.95

These two sachet samples were bonus items, one is a morning moisturiser and the other is night. I don't think another moisturiser sample is necessary... Maybe an item more related to the theme would have been more appropriate as a bonus item.

To be honest, I felt there was a lack of connection to the theme this month and the products were a little underwhelming. There was no wow factor as a celebratory box and personally preferred last month's box more. There was only one full sized product and the rest were mini samples aside from the shampoo and hair mask.

EDIT: I just calculated the value of this box and it came to $31.29.... ummm, say what?! Some of these samples you could easily obtain for free. Not worth it.

What did you receive in your Bellabox this month? What are your thoughts?

Hope you ladies are having a wonderful week so far! ^__^

Nail polish swatches: Etude House & Duri

2013-10-12T23:21:00.000+11:00

It's been so long since I last posted anything nails related therefore today's post is nails related! Today I have for you swatches of the Etude House nail polishes I purchased from Gmarket and the two Duri polishes I received in my September Lust Have It.

Also, I apologise in advance if the photos are of poor quality. I was testing out the camera of my new phone and I was sort of a bit lazy to grab my dslr. For reference, I have applied two coats of each polish.

The first two shades are from Etude House's Rose Flowering Nails in #2 Velvet Rose. Both shades have a nice matte finish, dry relatively quickly and are already opaque after just one coat although I've applied two coats for this. The first shade is actually a deep burgundy red while the second shade is a dusty pink barely noticeable shimmer. In the nail pack, you also receive lace nail stickers however I find them annoying when applied as they fray easily and feel gross.
The next two features Etude House's Bling in the Sea Sparkling Nails in BBL601 Tear of Mermaid, by itself and over a black base. This is a beautiful glitter flakie which I find works best over a black base. Even though the finish looks a bit ugly in my photo, add a top coat and they could really look like a mermaid's tears - whatever that is! Under different lighting the flakie will look like a different colour. As I find with some of Etude House's clear base glitter polishes, the formula is a bit 'gloopy' but still very easy to work with.

Below is a photo of how Tear of Mermaid appears on a different coloured base.

From Etude House's Dear My Party Nails we have PPK001 Prom Queen which is a glitter polish over a baby pink base. You will need at least two coats as the first coat is quite sheer. Although in my photo it looks a bit sheer even for two coats, it's actually more opaque in real life. There are glitters of all different colours and sizes so it literally looks like a part (or confetti) on your nails.
Next from Etude House's Ice Cream Nails collection is OR202 Sweet and Sour Peach which is a creamy peachy orange shade. I realised I don't have any orange shades in my collection so I decided to go with a pastel shade to start off and experiment whether I like oranges or not.
The next two shades are from Duri, which I received from my September Lust Have It. On the left we have 599 Call Me Maybe and on the right is 112S Pie in the Sky Green. Pie in the Sky Green is true to colour in the photo however Call Me Maybe is like a much brighter, more fluoro version of Sweet and Sour Peach. The formula for both is a bit runny for my liking but workable.

Do you own any of these polishes? Which one is your favourite?

That's all I have for today's post! I hope you ladies are having a lovely weekend so far :)

Gmarket Haul: more Korean goodies!

2013-10-08T22:51:00.000+11:00

This haul post has been way overdue and I know a number of you are very interested in what I purchased! For those who don't know, Gmarket is the Korean version of Ebay. They offer various types of products, such as clothing, shoes, beauty and stationary, at reasonable prices. I find that the only downside to them is they only offer express shipping via EMS, where shipping cost is calculated by weight hence can be somewhat costly. Also usually when you place your order, the weight is overestimated and additional costs are refunded back to your Gmarket account - not whichever payment method you chose. To make the most out of your Gmarket purchase, I recommend ordering with friends or either make a large order.

My order mainly consisted of beauty products from Etude House, Innisfree, Peri Pera, Mizon, a pair of shorts and pants, and a pair of wedges! I made two orders at separate times however I was able to combine shipping despite delaying my order being shipped by two or three days. In total my order weighed about 5.57kg and cost around $225 plus $52 shipping (oops...).

Date of first order placed: 25 / 08 / 13

Date of second order placed: 28 / 08 / 13

Order despatched: 31 / 08 / 13

Order arrived: 03 / 08 / 13

I didn't order that much. It's just half empty boxes!

To start off, I will share what I purchased from Etude House!

Ice Cream Nails - OR202 Sweet and Sour Peach RRP ~~￦2,000~~ ￦1,000

Bling in the Sea Sparkling Nails - BBL601 Tear of Mermaid RRP ~~￦2,500~~ ￦1,250

Dear my Part Nails - Prom Queen RRP ~~￦3,000~~ ￦1,500

Precious Mineral Any Cushion + Refill RRP ~~￦28,000~~ ￦25,000

Rosy Tint Lips - 08 After Blossom RRP ￦8,500

Rosy Tint Lips - 07 Tea Rose RRP ￦8,500

Rose Flowering Nails - #2 Velvet Rose RRP ￦6,000

Ice Shot Cool Band Freeze Foam RRP ~~￦11,000~~ ￦7,700

Drawing Show Creamy Pencil Color Pop RRP ~~￦22,000~~ ￦10,450

Dear Girls Cute Eyes Maker RRP ~~￦8,500~~ ￦5,950

Rose Drawing Show Creamy Pencil - PP501 Dust Purple RRP ￦6,000

And, from Etude Homme (not pictured):

3-in-1 Multi Fluid Toner RRP ~~￦13,000~~ ￦6,500

Moistful Multi-water Cream RRP ~~￦15,000~~ ￦7,500

Etude House was having an up to 50% off sale on their products and I simply couldn't resist placing an order. I initially wanted way more items but I felt a bit crazy considering I spent so much during that period already. Since Etude House offers samples with purchases in-store I was hoping to receive some samples with my order but I received zilch, which made me a teeny bit sad.

Moving on... I also made a small purchase from Innisfree as I've never used any of their products before and also heard about their new lip products release. If there are any Innisfree products you'd love to recommend, please share with me in the comments below!

Green Tea Mineral Mist + Olive Real Moisture Hand Cream RRP ~~￦17,000~~ ￦14,540

Glossy Lip Lacquer - #5 Deep Plum Burgandy RRP ￦8,000

Color Glow Lipstick - #3 Autumn Rose RRP ￦12,000

1 + 1 Jeju Sudachi Soothing Mask RRP ￦10,000

I was happy that I received some freebies (not pictured) with my Innisfree purchase :D I wanted to buy more from their new lip product range however they are a bit pricy and nothing was on sale.

Next up, from Mizon I purchased their highly raved about snail products!

All In One Snail Repair Cream RRP ~~￦38,000~~ ￦18,050

1 + 1 + 1 Snail Recovery Gel Cream RRP ~~￦19,800~~ ￦9,900

No samples from Mizon but I am really happy at the price I got them for.

The last brand I purchased from in my beauty haul is Peri Pera. I have never tried any of their products but I've read about some of their products and really like the cute packaging!

Miss Peri Kit RRP ~~￦20,000~~ ￦8,900

Before I finish this post, the wedges I purchased were originally ￦16,900 however I used a discount and bought them for ￦9,900! They are super comfortable, good quality and look so cute for summer. I've been lusting over heels lately however, because of my height, I don't want to tower over people :(

Photo from Gmarket

Sorry for the super length post but I really wanted to share with you what I purchased from Gmarket but never had the time to. Starting this week I'll be back at uni again but the majority of my assessments are finished, except for exams, so I think I'll be able to post more regularly. I have yet to find time to visit your blogs and I haven't forgotten about any of you so please don't hate me!

Have you purchased from Gmarket before or used any of these products?

If you have any questions about buying from Gmarket, I will try my best to answer them.

Anyways, have a beautiful week everyone! :)

Lust Have It: FaB Box - September

2013-10-06T15:11:00.000+11:00

Lust Have It recently unveiled their newest FaB boxes, where FaB stands for fashion & beauty, and which they deem to be "the most exclusive fashion and beauty box". They are available for $35 per month and aim to provide the latest and most on-trend fashion and beauty pieces. Each month you will receive 5-6 items in your box I believe, where three of them are fashion related.

Image from Lust Have It website

The first edition of the FaB boxes received mixed reviews and I'm a bit unsure as to how I feel about paying $35 per month if LHI keeps up like this. To find out what I received, if you haven't already, continue reading! :)

FaB Mint Green Watch RRP $29.95
I am loving the mint green shade with the rose gold detailing and I was quite surprised it fit nicely around my small wrist. The straps are made of silicon and the back is stainless steel. It operates on quartz movement, and makes the loudest ticking noise which is currently driving me cray cray. In terms of quality, this product would have to be my biggest disappointment. My watch arrived scratched already, which goes to show how easily it can be damaged, and the top and bottom pusher buttons don't even work (though I'm not too sure if they're supposed to) thus the three subdials cannot be adjusted. I also have to be careful when setting the time or else the crown will fall off... Oh and also, after reading Jac's blog, it's available on Ebay for one-tenth of the listed RRP.

UPDATE: LHI was nice enough to send me a replacement watch! No scratches on it, no ridiculously crazy ticking noise and crown (middle button) seems to be in tact. The other two buttons still don't work but I'm happy now that the new one is more silent :)

DURI Nail Enamel RRP $18 each, 15ml
Probably the most exciting products in the box, being the nail polish lover I am. I have never heard of this brand before and believe that $18 is quite unreasonable unless the quality is exceptionally well. The colours are perfect for Spring and I can't wait to try them! Hopefully they don't disappoint...

FaB Tassel Necklace RRP $19.95

The peachy coral colour is so pretty and goes so well with the gold however I don't think I can find myself wearing this. I'm not a fan of tassels and I cannot imagine how painful it would be trying to untangle this if it were to be tangled.

Lust Have It! Limited Edition Tote Bag RRP $12.95
To be honest I don't think a tote bag is 'fashion' worthy material, or at least to be included. It's simply a plain woven bag with a colourful design printed on, which feels very plastic-y. Anyone could make this with the right materials; heck I remember making a drawstring bag back in high school with a printed design. Oh and I'm sure many people would have enough tote bags already, let alone adding another one to their collection.

FaB Aztec Print Scarf RRP $24.95
The vibrant colours and aztec print of this scarf is so eye catching! It feels very soft and lightweight however it's way too long and wide for my liking as a scarf so I have no idea how I'm going to wear it. To get an idea on how big this actually is, it's bigger than my computer table :S

And that concludes the first edition of Lust Have It's FaB boxes. I'm probably part of the minority of those who weren't a fan of the box and wouldn't pay $35 for. Lets hope that their next box will be more successful as I would not mind paying an extra $5 and opt for Her Fashion Box instead for more and better products.

What are your thoughts on LHI's new FaB Box?

And for some of those in Australia, don't forget about daylight savings meaning set your clocks forward an hour! Hope you're having a lovely Sunday ladies ~

September Empties!

2013-10-04T21:06:00.000+10:00

Wow it's officially October, meaning less than three months til 2014! I can't wait until this month is over as it means no more uni (!), aside from exams, and I'm also heading down to Melbourne in exactly two months for a weekend getaway to celebrate my 21st. If you're from and have been to Melbourne, please recommend me some must-go places :)

Quite frankly, with my return to blogging, I don't know where to begin or what to post - I feel so unorganised. To keep things rolling I will start by doing another empties post; nothing much this month as I haven't been using many products but something is better than nothing :)

To start off with this month's list, we have...

Trilogy: Active Enzyme Cleansing Cream
I love the light and creamy texture of this cleanser and furthermore it did not irritate my skin at all. On the packaging is says "age proof" but I can't comment whether it actually is or not. I did not take note of whether my complexion was smoother and brighter after using this though.
Repurchase? No

Pure Fiji: Hydrating Body Lotion (Coconut)
Wasn't partcularly fond of the coconut scent although I did like how fast absorbing this was. On top of that there was no greasy feeling afterwards, which is always a bonus for me, and my skin felt moisturised enough.
Repurchase? No

Swisse: Body Wash
For some odd reason the scent reminds me of lemonade just a tiny bit. This body wash lathers well and it left my skin feeling moisturised and slippery smooth after every shower.
Repurchase? No

My Beauty Diary (我的美麗日記): Strawberry Yogurt Amino Acid Cleanser
MBD is a Taiwanese skincare brand famous for their cute and affordable face masks. This product took me forever to finish because I was always using it on and off... To start off, this cleanser contains tiny, tiny beads to help exfoliate (although I didn't feel anything...) and the texture is very foamy. It felt gentle on the skin and didn't dehydrate it at all. Two things that put me off the most were: (1) the scent - it smelt very artificial and nothing like strawberries; (2) the packaging - although a spatula was provided, a big no no!
Repurchase? No

Goldwell: Dual Senses Rich Repair Shampoo & Conditioner

Royal Moroccan: Moisturising Shampoo & Conditioner (Platinum Series)

I don't quite remember how my hair felt for each product though I did like using both of these. Nothing amazing I suppose but I was expecting more from the Royal Moroccan ones as it is made for dry and coloured hair. Of the two I remember I preferred Goldwell but I don't remember why! Oops.

Repurchase? No

Etude House: Gingko Lip Area Patch
In reality, when you apply this, it looks like you have a small beard going on. There was no noticeable scent nor was it dripped in essence although it did make my skin feel cooler or some sort of tingly sensation. It adhered really well although there was no noticeable brightening effect.
Repurchase? No

Tony Moly: Intense Care Snail Eye Mask
The area around my eyes were not exactly 'dry' to begin with so I don't think using this at the time was very effective. However it did actually feel relaxing to use and more hydrating, though the biggest problem for me was it did not adhere well and kept sliding off.
Repurchase? No

La Fresh: Waterproof Makeup Remover
The scent was somewhat herbal and reminded me of the Aveda Invati Shampoo & Conditioner. I didn't notice any huge difference between this and normal makeup removers, therefore finding it quite average. However the size of this wipe, which is made for eyes and lips, was huge.
Repurchase? No

Montagne Jeunesse: Passion Peel Off (Pomegranate & Passion Flower)
First of all the smell of this mask was a major turnoff for me which I don't know how to describe. And second of all, it was messy to use and a pain to remove if your hair gets caught. The only novelty of this is the mask dries up and you can peel it off when it's dry instead of rinsing it off.
Repurchase? No

Wotnot: Facial Wipes (not pictured)
My favourite facial wipes! I've mentioned about these face wipes several times and they are the best. A bit expensive so I want to look for some other alternatives that are just as good. Any recommendations?
Repurchase? Maybe

Lush: Snow Globe Soap (not pictured)
My favourite limited edition soap bar that is only available during Christmas (I think)! The citrusy scent smells so divine and pleasant to the nose. It's a shame it's not always available and I find that Lush soap bars dissolve faster than normal soap bars meaning more money spent :(
Repurchase? Maybe

I guess I won't be repurchasing any or most of the products from last month's empties. Once again I hope to finish more products next month and now to decide what I should post about next time :)

Have you tried any of these products?

Have a beautiful weekend everyone!

Blog Revamp + September Bellabox: Spring Party Essentials

2013-10-03T02:21:00.001+10:00

I'M BACKKK!!! Its been so long since I've last posted something or visited anyone's blog for that matter - please forgive me; I've missed reading everyone's blogs and mingling with you all :( ! I have finally finished the majority of my assessments for now and currently on my midsem break. However I still have two assessments to start on, due in less than a week, and with work in the way I can't seem to find the time to post :( Hopefully I can get back into my mojo (that's what I always say...) despite my inactiveness on most social media. Also, how do you like my new blog layout kudos to Kayla from Rockaboo Designs? :D I've been dying to show you guys for a long while but it took a little longer than expected but it's finally here!

With my return, I want to start off with this month's Bellabox! This month Bellabox has partnered with Cleo to bring us some spring party essentials. I love how the products in the September box is somewhat different, which is always a bonus because I am so sick of receiving moisturisers or cleansers every single month. One small issue that bugged me was trying to track my parcel; there was no signs of activity until about two days later in comparison to Auspost which is almost instant.

Lets find out what was in this month's box if you haven't seen already!

ASAP Pure Mineral Eye Pencil - Brown

Full size - RRP $20

I don't particularly like using pencil eyeliners as I prefer gel but I don't mind receiving this. I'm not too sure if I received this in the right shade though as it looks more grey-black than brown when swatched. I would have liked more if the formula was more creamy and pigmented. Aside from that, it contains antioxidants and Vitamin E which is great for people with sensitive skin or eyes.

Manicare Glam Kelly Lashes

Full size - 1 pair RRP $11.95

I don't use false lashes since I'm so n00b at applying them but they may come in handy one day! These pair of falsies have a criss-cross design where the lashes are longer towards the centre. My favourite type of falsies are the criss-cross ones simply because they look so natural and make the eyes appear bigger, yay! :)

Elegant Touch Envy Wraps - Candy Drops

Full size - 1 Pack: 18 wraps RRP $8.99

The colourful polkadot design is super cute however I'm not a fan of nail wraps because I don't find them very long lasting and the sizing tends to poorly fit my nails; I would prefer to paint my nails instead. However I might try these out because they look too cute to pass up.

UPDATE: This is how they look when applied! I find that there weren't many sizes to choose from so it was hard to choose the right size.

Footcare Gel Ball of Foot Cushions

Full size - 2 pairs RRP $8.99

If you don't wear heels regularly like me and suffer from aching feet from wearing heels, then these are great! I actually don't know wear my other ones are so I don't mind receiving these. Another option would simply be to bring a pair of foldable flats when you're out!

Montagne Jeunesse Blemish Mud Masque

5g sample - 10ml RRP $3.99

I don't have any blemishes nor do I have blemish-prone skin so I might give this away. Plus, I don't like using mud masks because I find them messy and prefer to use sheet masks. I wouldn't mind trying it out though.

Schick Hydro Silk Razor

Full size - RRP $9.99

I received this in one of the earlier boxes from Her Fashion Box and I love it! The blades are very sharp making shaving so easy and it also moisturises at the same time when in contact with water. The cartridges are disposable and can be purchased separately which is a bonus. Not sure if I really need another one but hey, having a back up doesn't hurt :P

Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Spray

Full size - 150ml RRP $14.95

My least favourite product out of the box. I already have two unused bottles of self tanning products and I don't really need another one... I don't even use fake tan but maybe I'll start? Quick question - would you ladies mind if I add in one of the bottles into a giveaway? I think someone else would get more use out of it instead of it lying around in my room.

Last but no least, a bonus October issue of Cleo mag was included! I haven't read any magazines in a while because I can't justify spending $7-8 on a magazine each month and most of the time it's the same thing every year.

So that's all for now! This was the only beauty box I received in September and I'm still patiently waiting to receive Lust Have It's new FAB box, which is probably at the post office right now as I write. I hope to mingle with you all properly very soon once I finish my last two assessments and when time permits! If any of you have Twitter, please follow me or tweet me if you already do if you want to chat! :) Anyways have a beautiful (long) weekend ladies!

Reminder + Update!

2013-09-12T13:46:00.001+10:00

Hey ladies! How are you all - good I hope? :)

Sorry I haven't been visiting your blogs, replying to comments or doing anything blogging related recently. Over the next two weeks I have so many uni assessments so I probably won't be able to post anything until then. My midsem break is also coming up so I hope to catch up on everything by then - my apologies in advance!

Also I recently reached over 400 followers on Bloglovin which is a BIG milestone for me, thank you everyone for your support until now! I am so grateful to meet so many lovely people since joining the blogosphere and I do hope there will be a chance to actually meet you in person some day :) Since I am currently on a spending ban and stressed with uni work, I plan on doing my own giveaway sometime later to celebrate this as I haven't done anything since my 100 followers giveaway. Stay tuned for that!

On another note, just a reminder that my HAIR2GO giveaway is ending this Saturday! Enter for your chance to win one of five vouchers - and you will also receive a free goodie pack when you redeem your voucher. If you haven't entered yet I highly recommend you do since HAIR2GO has some amazing products available for great deals.

My MOOTTA giveaway is also ending next Saturday so if you haven't already, enter now! If you love Korean products and anklets then this giveaway is for you. Besides, who doesn't love freebies?

So that's it from me for now. You can follow me on Twitter @vanitycornerx if you feel like chatting or to keep updated with what's happening in my life! Anyways, I shall talk to you ladies soon :)

Have a beautiful week!

Collective Beauty Indulgence

2013-09-06T18:00:00.000+10:00

In the last couple of weeks or so I've been making a few purchases here and there and I wanted to share with you what I purchased! If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you would probably know what some of these are, but if you don't... well why aren't you (?) and surprise! Sadly I haven't had the opportunity to use any of these products yet since I'm trying to use up all my other products first. Do you ever get these sudden urges of wanting to purchase something and when you do purchase it, they just end up being put aside because there are all these other products you need to finish? In addition to these mini purchases I also have two another big hauls I want to share with you guys.

First off, I will start with the items I purchased from Priceline. Recently Priceline had a 50% off sale off Maybelline products and I tried to take that opportunity to purchase the new Dream Pure BB Cream. As I don't have the time to go in-store, and they're usually out of stock anyways, I placed an order online. If you follow me on Twitter you would already know about my mini rant and disappointment with the customer service of Priceline, and how things were dealt.

In summary the Dream Pure BB Cream was listed as in stock on their website and that was the main reason why I placed an order, along with three other items to make up for shipping costs. The next day Priceline had tweeted that the bb cream was in stock again so I was positive I would be receiving it. Two days later I received an email saying it was out of stock as well as another item AFTER my order had been despatched. I made a complaint to Priceline's Facebook AND Twitter and asked if I could cancel my order since there was no point but they were utterly useless and simply told me to call customer service. After calling them, I was told I wouldn't be able to cancel my order but I could return it HOWEVER I would not be able to receive a full refund (including shipping) because I changed my mind. Regardless, Priceline STILL had the bb cream listed as in stock at that time and the next day which is so misleading! I did not want the remaining items simply because it wasn't worth it including shipping and I could have just bought the items in store. Am I being unreasonable here?

St Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub | Maybelline Colour Show Nail Lacquer in Orange Fix 220 and Blue Freeze 350 | Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

I purchased Orange Fix for $2.97 RRP $5.95 and Stay Matte Powder for $10.36 RRP $12.95 online and shipping costs $5.95 so essentially I paid more than the full priced combined, who wouldn't be angry?

Samples to make up for my OOS items? USELESS.

That will be all on my little rant about Priceline. Moving on...

My uncle recommended me to use Mane n Tail Shampoo and Conditioner while I was overseas as he was raving about how he recommended the products to his clients who were experiencing hair loss and after using this their hair grew back. Another name for this, or what I like to call, is horse shampoo (also for humans)! I was curious as to how well it performs so I purchased this on Ebay.

And finally, for the longest time, I have wanted to try Soap and Glory products since I am always reading positive reviews on people's blog. I didn't know which products I wanted to invest in first so I opted for the Soaper Heroes Gift Set. It contains five travel sized items and my bf was nice enough to buy it for me! This retails for $34.95 and you receive Clean On Me 75ml, Flake Away 50ml, Righteous Butter 50ml, Girligo 100ml, and Hand Food 50ml.

A while back I also won a giveaway hosted by Elisa and sponsored by Dramafever. I received my prize not too long ago and I was pleasantly surprised because I forgot about it. There were two Dramafever stickers, an iPhone5 acrylic phone case for you to decorate and a guilty pleasure box filled with the decorations and M&Ms! Unfortunately I don't own an iPhone5 but I think a customised phone case would be a nice gift :)

Have you used any of these products before?

Sorry for the super long post! I have two more hauls I want share with you - my Taobao and Gmarket hauls. Taobao might not be as interesting but I am positive you will be excited to see my Gmarket haul! :) I know I haven't posted many reviews recently though I really want to but I haven't been testing out many products recently. I am starting to get swarmed with all these uni assessments so life is pretty stressful right now and I also scored a job at Parramatta Daiso! :D

Anyways, have a lovely weekend ladies!

Don't forget to enter my HAIR2GO and MOOTTA giveaways!

August Empties

2013-09-04T18:04:00.003+10:00

Can you believe we're in September already?! I have no idea how this year has gone by so quickly. A new month means another bunch of products I have used up the previous month. In August I seem to have finished a number of hair product samples though no make up, unsurprisingly.

Continue reading to find out what I used up in the month of August!

Herbal Essence: Hello Hydration Shampoo (Hawaiin Coconut & Orchid Extracts)
Despite having a really nice tropical scent, I did not enjoy using this. It made my hair feel drier than normal, causing the ends to be all tangled. My hair didn't have that really soft and smooth texture that I look for in shampoo and conditioners.
Repurchase? No

ICON India: Shampoo and Conditioner
I reviewed these two products on my blog a while ago here. The scent was very exotic and full of spice, something different from the usual floral or fruity hair products. Using this made my hair feel so soft and smooth; I especially liked the conditioner and I noticed an improvement in the condition of my hair especially the ends.
Repurchase? Maybe in the future

John Frieda: Precision Foam Colour Conditioner
This conditioner is for colour treated hair to help seal in the colour. I have no idea if it does what it claims but my hair did feel soft and silky afterwards.
Repurchase? No

La Roche-Posay: Effaclar Duo - Corrective and Unclogging Anti-imperfection Care
I know this product has been a lot of people's favourite but I didn't notice anything different when I used this, mainly because it's such a tiny sample and I can't assess whether it did any good for me. However I like the lightweight, non greasy and non sticky formula, and it absorbed quickly.
Repuchase? Maybe, to find out how well it works

La Roche-Posay: Effaclar - Purifying Foaming Gel
I loved using this! It's a foaming gel cleanser for oily, sensitive skin and I found it to be quite mild and gentle to use. I didn't experience any irritation nor did it strip away all the oils and it cleansed really well. Oh, and my face felt soft and supple :) It does contain fragrance but I didn't find the scent to be overpowering, unlike Avene.
Repurchase? Yes, in the future! After I use up all these samples zzz

LUSH: Happy Happy Shower Gel
If you love zesty, citrusy scents then you will love the smell of this. It lathers well, makes me feel clean and doesn't give me that really smooth / slippery feeling that I'm not used to with some shower gels.
Repurchase? No

Aveda: Invati Exfoliating Shampoo & Thickening Conditioner
Aimed to reduce thinning hair and hair loss, which doesn't concern me. I don't understand how the exfoliating works and I did not notice any difference in the short term. Not too sure if this is just a placebo affect or how I slept but my hair looked more volumised. I wasn't a fan of the scent as it smelt very herbal maybe due to the ginseng and the texture was really runny compared to regular shampoos and conditioners.
Repurchase? No

Daiso: Cotton Puff 90cs
Some random cotton pads I bought from Daiso because it was $2.80 for two boxes!! Now who would be able to resist passing up that deal? Not me.
Repurchase? Yes, when I finish my second box!

Wotnot: Natural Organic Facial Wipes
Previously mentioned these before and I still think they are the best face wipes I've ever tried.
Repurchase? Temporarily no as I still have some left

Brazilian Butterfly: Body Wash & Body Scrub
I used both these products at the same time and my skin felt so moisturised and super smooth afterwards. The body wash smelt nice and lathered well, while the granules of the body scrub weren't too rough and exfoliated well.
Repurchase? No

Libra: Hotties Heat Patch
The heat patch literally looks like a pad... Anyways, when you remove the heat patch from the sachet it warms up within minutes requiring nothing but air. It literally stays warm for well over 8 hours and it helps reduce cramping. The back is adhesive so you can stick it wherever to keep that area warm without having to hold it when you move around.
Repurchase? Maybe not, it's not something I would need

Etude House: Callogen Eye Gel Patch
I wasn't paying attention to the effects when I used this so I didn't take notice of any differences before and after. However my eyes felt really relaxed.
Repurchase? Maybe

Rachel K: CC Cream Neutral
There was a lot of hype about this CC cream when LHI added sachet samples in our boxes. Despite the shade being a bit too light for me, it provided great coverage and it did oxidise a bit afterwards so it looked more natural. Staying power was great and the matte finish is a bonus for me.
Repurchase? No

Innisfree: Green Tea Seed Serum
I'm not too familiar as to what a good serum is since I only recently started getting my skincare routine together and haven't tested out any except for my Laneige one. Compared to Laneige, I found this to have a more runny consistency and felt watery when applied. It was very moisturising, absorbed quickly and it didn't give me that greasy feeling afterwards! I kind of wish the scent was a bit more like green tea as this was sort of perfume-y.
Repurchase? Maybe in the future!

How many products did you use up in August?

In the last couple of weeks (and months) I've accumulated a ridiculous amount of products from beauty boxes as well as my terrible online shopping addiction problem. Yesterday it hit me that I need to use up all these products ASAP as I have so many boxes of makeup and skincare products under my computer desk, on my table, in the bathroom and my vanity table. Do you share the same problem as me?!

Have a beautiful week everyone! :)

Don't forget to enter my HAIR2GO and MOOTTA giveaways!

MOOTTA Giveaway

2013-09-03T00:51:00.000+10:00

Hi ladies, how are we all? I was recently contacted by MOOTTA, a newly started fashion and beauty company based in Korea, and I am excited to share with you about them. The people at MOOTTA were also kind enough to sponsor a giveaway for my lovely readers - more details at the end of this post! I am sure you all know by know I am in love with Korean cosmetics but it doesn't stop here - I love shopping on Korean websites for new clothes and I used to be a major fan of Kpop.

MOOTTA aims to provide the latest Korean beauty and fashion products to international customers that cannot be bought elsewhere or are difficult to find. The range of beauty products offered isn't as extensive as other stores but they do have the best or cult favourite items recommended by Get It Beauty, a highly recognised Korean beauty program. As for the fashion products, they have the latest trends available at affordable prices and also more expensive designer items.

Occasionally they hold random giveaways on their blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so if you enjoy winning freebies be sure to follow them to stay updated! MOOTTA is also currently having a summer sale of up to 60% off, and they offer free shipping on every order over $50!

For this giveaway, MOOTTA has kindly offered one lucky winner the chance to win a selection of Innisfree It's Real face masks and an anklet! I am so happy to announce that this giveaway is open internationally! ^__^

To be eligible for the giveaway, you must complete all mandatory entries:

1. Follow Vanity Corner on Bloglovin

2. Sign up to MOOTTA newsletters

2. Like MOOTTA on Facebook

3. Follow MOOTTA on Twitter

The giveaway will end at 11.59PM on 21st September AEST and the winner will be randomly selected using Rafflecopter. The winner will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be reselected. Please note that I will be forwarding your personal details to MOOTTA and they will be shipping the prize directly to you; I bear no responsibility for lost or damaged parcels.

Rules:

- One email per person: anyone found cheating will have their entries deleted and banned

- No giveaway blogs / accounts / fake accounts

- Please receive permission from your parents before entering this giveaway if you are under 18

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Giveaway sponsored by MOOTTA. All opinions expressed have been written in my 100% honest and unbiased opinion, and I have not received any forms of compensation.

Clarins - Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector

2013-08-31T11:00:00.000+10:00

After my 'Top 5 Favourite Lip Products' tag, a couple of you requested an in-depth review of the Clarins lip perfectors as I raved about how much I love these. When I hear the words "lip gloss", I associate the term with the words thick, sticky, and unnatural. And yet when I randomly decided to give these a go, none of those words associated with this lip gloss and I was in love. This product also goes by the name 'Eclat Minute' and I believe that is in French.

"A softly textured lip gel with a deliciously sweet scent and 3D shimmer. Experience the lusciously smooth, shiny and fuller lips you've always dreamed of. Sheer, but shaded enough to wear alone or complement your favourite lip shade."

How tempting does the description sound?
WHERE TO BUY: Clarins is available internationally, especially in department stores. In Australia I think they are around $26 but I'm not too sure since I received mine for free.

INGREDIENTS: Paraffinum Liquid/ Mineral Oil/ Huile Minerale, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Ozokerite, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)- Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/ Tetraisostearate, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Nylon-12, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Unsaponifiables, Irvingia Gabonensis Kernel Butter, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Parfum/Fragrance, Silica , Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Oryzanol, Tribehenin, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate- Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone , Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Isopropyl Titanium Tri-Isostearate, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Tocopherol, BHT; May Contain: Mica, CI 77891/ Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491/ CI 77492/ CI 77499/ Iron Oxides, CI 15850/Red 6/Red 7 Lake, CI 15985/ Yellow 6 Lake, CI 42090/ Blue 1 Lake, CI 75470/ Carmine, CI 19140/ Yellow 5 Lake, CI 45410/ Red 27/ Red 28 Lake, CI 73360 Red 30 Lake, CI 17200/ Red 33 Lake, CI 45370/ Orange 5

PACKAGING: The Lip Perfectors comes in a plastic squeezy tube with a screw top lid, each of different colour corresponding to its shade. There is 12ml worth of product and it is a great companion to bring around in your bag. The sponge tip applicator allows for easy application though I don't recommend overloading too much product on it as it does get absorbed a little bit.

TEXTURE & SCENT: I believe the description from Clarins is spot on. My favourite thing about the lip perfectors and what made me fall in love is the smooth, non-sticky texture that I normally experience with lip glosses. I could not stop pursing my lips together because they felt so smooth. It does not feel thick or heavy and my lips feel moisturised for hours. It has a nice glossy finish that doesn't appear unnatural to give your lips a more fuller appearance. As for the scent - it smells so nice and sweet it's indescribable but definitely not overpowering and does not linger.

SWATCHES: If you prefer vibrant or opaque lip products then I don't recommend this as they are very sheer. The colours don't show up as well if you have more pigmented lips like I do. All of them have shimmer but it's very subtle once you smooth it out. Rose Shimmer is a light milky baby pink shade while Nude Shimmer is a light peachy pink, though both look almost identical on my lips as they're not very opaque. My favourite is Candy Shimmer; the name speaks for itself - it's a lovely candy pink and appears more opaque than the other two. These are all so suitable for an everyday 'my lips but better' look and have been my go-to lip product lately.

LONGEVITY: If you are into long-lasting lip products then I don't recommend these. Without eating and drinking, these do keep your lips feeling nourished for a good 4 hours or so. However you definitely need to reapply after a meal as they transfer a bit (not ridiculously like Australis' Pout Pastes). If you don't mind having to reapply then definitely try these!

If you're not convinced about the quality of these from my description then you should try to pop by a Clarins store to see for yourself. I loathe using lip glosses for the reasons mentioned earlier so it's a big deal to me when I do find a lip gloss that I actually like.

Have you tried these Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors before?

Hope you enjoyed reading and have a beautiful week everyone! x

Don't forget to enter my HAIR2GO Giveaway for a chance to win one of five vouchers!

August Violet Box

2013-08-29T18:00:00.000+10:00

By now everyone would have received their boxes already but it would still be nice to share with you what was in this month's Violet Box! August will be the last month of my three-month subscription with Violet Box and I don't plan on resubscribing any time soon for financial reasons. However I have been thoroughly impressed with the content over the these three months! If you are interested in subscribing, each month is $22.95 and you will receive 4-6 deluxe sample size items :)

I didn't feature last month's box as I was overseas so I did receive it a bit late. It was a wonderful box and this month is no exception. Find out what I received in this month's box! :)

Jelly Pong Pong: 2-in-1 Shadow / Liner (Bronze)
Full size - RRP $19
How cool is the brand name?! Jelly Pong Pong!! I have never heard of this brand before but I am excited to try this product. The formula is very smooth and allows for smudging, and I think it would work much better as an eyeshadow rather than an eyeliner especially for those with oily eyelids like me. Bronze is also a very versatile shade to work with so yay!

Jelly Pong Pong: Lip Blush
Full size - RRP $22
A pencil / crayon looking lip stain with a twist-up packaging. Again the formula is really smooth and easily to apply though I don't find it that moisturising. This product is also very pigmented but you can also build up the colour for a more intense, vibrant look. However red lips isn't everything's thing as it can be hard to pull off and causes your teeth to look more yellow, eek.

How pretty is the packaging?

Dr Bragi: Age Management Moisturiser
5ml sample - 60ml RRP $179
Such an expensive moisturiser! The formula contains 'super active' marine enzymes and hyaluronic acid for added hydration. Dr Bragi has described it to be a versatile facial moisturiser (3-in-1; serum, moisturiser and eye cream) by reducing the signs of ageing from the effects of environmental stress, prevent the breakdown of collagen and support optimal cell function. There's a not saying if your skin feels sticky then you have used too much. When I tried this I didn't even use a lot but my face still felt sticky and greasy so I don't particularly like it as I have oily skin.

ghd: Style Heat Protection Spray
Full size - 120ml RRP $24
I know ghd straighteners are a cult favourite of everyone. I actually don't do anything to my hair so I most likely won't be using this but it might be handy one day. It's also very nice to have a full size version of this as well!

Goldwell Dualsenses: Rich Repair Cream Shampoo & Anti-Breakage Conditioner
10ml samples - 300ml RRP $24.95 each
Aaahh sachet samples... This duo is catered towards dry and stressed hair to help repair and prevent breakage. I probably have the worst split ends on this planet because the ends of my hair are so dry but ironically I find the roots to be too oily after a day. Did I mention that my uncle, who is a hair dresser, was so shocked at the amount of split ends I have that he said he would have to chop off a lot of my hair?

That is all for this month's Violet Box! I probably won't be using everything but there are a great selection of products and from brands I don't use. The boxes arrived a little later than usual but it was well worth the wait as I believe the Jelly Pong Pong products were from the UK!

Did you like the products in this month's Violet Box?

Hope you're having a fantastic week so far! :)

Be sure to enter my HAIR2GO Giveaway for a chance to win one of five vouchers!

HAIR 2 GO & Giveaway!

2013-08-28T12:00:00.000+10:00

Hey ladies! Today I have another website to introduce to everyone and I believe you will love it if you are all about hair products. If you remember my ICON India Haircare range post, you can now purchase them from HAIR 2 GO if you're interested in trying them :D

Now a little background about the company...

HAIR 2 GO is a Melbourne based company offering the latest haircare and beauty prices at one of the lowest, unbeatable prices on the market. They actually have five stores open, two which are located in Melbourne CBD, offering professional hair and beauty services so if you're from Melbourne or plan to go there, maybe you can go check them out! :) HAIR 2 GO recently opened their online store which is a fantastic way for those who can't readily purchase the products they have to offer.

I'm not a person who's familiar with a lot of brands but some notable brands I do recognise and they stock include China Glaze, Moroccan Oil, Redken, L'oreal, GHD, TIGI Haircare and many more! HAIR 2 GO also offers an Exclusive Membership deal for $99 - it may seem pricey as a one-off payment but this membership provides you with a "members only discount" of up to 75% off. Think about how much you will be saving in the long run if you make good use of the deal. Also, if you sign up for the membership you will also receive the ICON India Trio Pack which I was giving away before for free! If you're not sure whether you want to sign up they are also currently offering a trial membership. In addition, there is free shipping on orders over $99 (not sure about international orders though I know shipping will be more expensive).

Currently they are having some amazing offers such as
- China Glaze nail polishes for $8.95 (!!!)
- Paul Brown Hawaii Hapuna Argan Oil BOGOF
- 25% off selected Paul Brown Hawaii products
- Fathers Day Specials

The team at HAIR 2 GO are also an extremely generous bunch of people. They regularly offer various giveaways and competitions, and in addition to that they provide free goodies with every order. Who doesn't love freebies?

Adding on to that, HAIR 2 GO has kindly offered to give a $25 voucher to five of my lucky readers! HAIR 2 GO will also include a TENTASTIC Pack valued at $80 in each order for free! To participate in this giveaway, all you have to do is complete both mandatory entries:

1. Follow Vanity Corner via Bloglovin (must provide link)

2. Leave a comment with your name, email address and your Bloglovin url

Terms and Conditions

1. Minimum spend of $50 on each order to receive $25 off

2. Voucher expires 30/11/2013

3. Australian Residents only (unless you don't mind paying hefty shipping)

This giveaway will be held until the 14th September and five winners will be selected at random. The winners will be contacted via email and must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be reselected.

Good luck ladies!

* Disclaimer: Giveaway has been sponsored by HAIR 2 GO. I have not received any compensation and all opinions expressed are 100% honest, unbiased and have not been influenced in any way.

Holika Holika - Silky Baby Foot Mask Sheet

2013-08-27T17:00:00.000+10:00

When I was in Toronto I was super excited to see actual Korean store brands such as Holika Holika or Tony Moly. I didn't want to buy much because I was planning to go crazy in Hong Kong so on a whim I ended up purchasing the Silky Baby Foot Mask Sheet. This is not the peel-off foot mask, but simply softens and moisturises the foot. I didn't really take note of that when I purchased it as I thought it was maybe a better version of the peel off foot mask.

Quick and easy moisturising foot mask sheet, in a sock form. Multiple flower and vegetable ingredients nourish the feet, which softens them from the inside out. Your feet will feel refreshened and moisturised after one use!

How successful was I with this version of Holika Holika's foot mask sheet?

WHERE TO BUY: W2Beauty, Ebay, Koreadepart, Holika Holika (USA)

INGREDIENTS: Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Mineral OIl, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Betaine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Extract, Trehalose, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chamomila Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, Honey Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Salicylic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Cytearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance

PACKAGING: There is only one pair of disposable plastic socks in the packet joined together in the middle. Inside the plastic socks there is an additional layer of fabric which is soaked with the essence. Since the socks are joined together, your hands won't get wet when you're removing the socks out of the packet! :)

TEXTURE & SCENT: The essence feels like what you would expect from a sheet face mask, nothing special. As for the scent, it smells like artificial flowers (???) and I don't particularly like it but luckily it's not overpowering when in use. Sorry but I am really terrible at describing scents :(

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash your feet cleanly and dry them

2. Divide foot mash sheet into two pieces along the dotted line; put your foot into the non-woven fabric wetted with essence and wear it

3. After wearing foot mask sheet, please massage your feet for the essence to be absorbed

4. After 15~20 minutes, remove foot mask sheet and tap remaining essence softly for absorption

RESULTS: Of course my feet felt really moisturised and hydrated right after soaking them for about half an hour (I lost track of time so I didn't follow the directions). It took a couple of minutes for my feet to dry and I don't think there was a dramatic difference though my feet did feel softer and smoother at the same time. However the effect is only temporarily - once I hit the shower (not instantly), the of essence washed off and my feet were back in their original state. Would I purchase this again? No.

Sadly I forgot to take the before and after photos but who wants to look at my feet anyways? :P

Have you tried any foot masks before? How was your experience?

I am still on the journey of looking for an excellent peel off foot mask! There is still one more which I received from one of my beauty boxes last month which I have yet to try. Lets hope it actually works when I get around to using it!

Have a wonderful week ladies! :)

TAG: My Top 5 Favourite Lip Products

2013-08-25T13:41:00.000+10:00

Before I went a bit MIA I was tagged by the lovely Renu from My Beauty Junction to do this tag. If you aren't following her already, I highly recommend you do because she posts some amazing content and is a great supporter & friend! This tag really got me thinking because I don't really have any favourite lip products in particular... or rather, I don't know and never thought about it! Normally I use whichever lip product I can find and only when I remember (which is rarely ever). To be honest, my collection of lip products isn't all that big so I don't have much to choose from which made it a bit hard!

So what are my top five favourite lip products? (in no particular order)

1. Nivea Lip Butter
Everyone should be familiar with this product by now as it was highly raved about, even before it hit Australian shelves. This little tin smells so wonderfully sweet and delicious quite true to their 'flavour'. You receive a decent amount (19ml) for a very affordable price. It has been my saviour this winter in preventing dry lips keeping it soft and supple, even my bf likes using it! The only downsides are it's not hygienic as you need to use your fingers to apply, and in warmer temperatures this melts like crazy so you have to be careful if you don't want your fingers going swimming.

2. Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector
My aunty from Canada gave me three of these and I initially underestimated them since I thought they would be like regular lip gloss. I could not be any more wrong because I LOVE using them now! From the sweet chocolatey scent, to the nourishing non-sticky non-thick formula, an added hint of shimmer and colour... umm, what isn't there to love?! The squeezy tube and sponge tip applicator makes it easier and more hygienic to apply. I am a big hater of lip glosses but this one won my heart!

3. Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter
Everyone should be familiar with these lip butters by now. Despite their short wear time (about three hours), I love the smooth buttery texture and how easily they are to apply. Much more hygienic than the Nivea Lip Butters with a wider selection of colours to choose from. I also love the quilted packaging design!

4. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments
I first discovered these when Sephora was offering a free mini duo as a birthday gift with any purchase. These are nourishing, contains spf15 and apply so smoothly on the lips. The citrusy lemon scent is pleasant to the nose and I find the texture to be soft and not as greasy. That being said, in warmer temperatures this does melt which makes it a lot harder to apply and possibly break the bullet. There are several shades available to add a subtle hint of colour. However these are quite pricey for a lip balm / treatment.

5. Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer
Another infamous lip product on the blogosphere. I reviewed them a while back so you can read about them if you're interested!

That was pretty hard for me cause I simply didn't know which products to choose! Each have their pros and cons in my opinion so it's hard to decide. I have been planning to do a full review of the first four products including swatches so let me know if there are any particular ones you want to read about :)

Have you tried any of these products before? What is your favourite lip product?

Feel free to do this tag if you wish! I love reading people's answers and if you do post one up, remember to link me so I can read ^^

PriceUSA.com & Eastbay haul

2013-08-23T21:16:00.003+10:00

Have you ever wanted to purchase something online only to find out they only ship within USA & America, or if they did ship internationally the fees would be unjustifiable? I experience this way too often however discovering PriceUSA has made life easier! This is my first time placing an order through PriceUSA whereas other times I've used HopShopGo but I found their service and shipping fees to be outrageous.

For those who haven't heard of PriceUSA, they were an Australian based company helping many Australians, as well as international customers, place orders on American websites on your behalf and ships your order to you at no extra cost i.e. no extra service costs but there are optional inspection fees etc. If you don't understand what I mean (since I'm terrible at explaining) I will go through the process of how I placed my order.

Placing an order on PriceUSA is relatively easy. All you do is click on 'Order' on the top right hand corner and it will bring up a form for you to fill in. Everything is pretty self explanatory apart from the 'International Shipping' option. If you don't know how much your order weights exactly, simply choose the estimate free shipping for me option or if you want express estimate fast shipping for me. For your order details, it is very important to include every single detail such as the item url, name, size, colour, price etc. to avoid them from ordering the wrong item. If you have any promo codes or vouchers you want to use, add this information in the 'extra details' box so they will know when they place your order.

Once you've placed your order, you will receive an email with a quote of the total estimated cost, which is subject to change, and to pay a deposit either via bank deposit or Paypal (incl. extra fees). After your deposit has been received, one of PriceUSA's partner will place the order for you and it will be sent directly to their address. When they have received the order, you will receive an email to inform you they've received it and to pay for the outstanding amount with the updated shipping total from them to you. As soon as they receive your deposit, you will receive another email letting you know your order has been shipped and all that's left for you is the waiting game!

As for my Eastbay order placed via PriceUSA, here are the dates for you to get a general idea:

Order placed on PriceUSA: 02 / 08 / 13

First payment & order placed on Eastbay: 03 / 08 / 13

Order despatched from Eastbay: 06 / 08 / 13

Second payment & order received by USA: 09 / 08 / 13

Order despatched from USA: 10 / 08 / 13

Order received by me: 23 / 08 / 13

If you don't mind playing the waiting game, then I highly recommend placing an order on PriceUSA because you save a substantial amount in shipping costs. My total cost for four items excluding shipping was US$88.96. If I placed my order directly on Eastbay, my total including shipping would have been $88.96 + $39.99 = US$128.95 or approx AUD$149.95. Outrageous shipping fees right?! However my total cost via PriceUSA was $88.96 + $2.22 (delivery protection) + $18.75 = US$109.93 or AUD$127.83. A $20 difference might not be much but it's good to be money savvy and if I were to purchase my items in Australia my total would have been close to $200.

All of my items were still in their individual plastic bags with price tags attached.

Nike Hero 3.5" Mesh Shorts - RRP ~~$24.99~~ $19.99

The perfect length shorts for working out in my opinion but I'm not that savvy. Material is very lightweight and provides ventilation to keep you cool during your workout. It has an elastic waistband with a drawstring, which I really need since a size S is still loose on me. I also love the the contrasting dark blue and neon green combination!

Nike Dri-Fit Low Rise Tempo Shorts - RRP ~~$31.99~~ $21.99

My favourite out of the bunch! It features a 3.5" inseam, mesh insets and DriFit microfibre material for added comfort and ventilation. There are two built in pockets at the back to fit your mp3 or something but they are a bit small (width of an iPhone 5). Like the shorts above, it has an elastic waistband with a drawstring and I am loving the two toned colour combination.

Adidas Originals Three Stripe Leggings - RRP ~~$29.99~~ $24.99

What let me down is how thin the material is. I was hoping for something thicker to prevent the outline of your panties being shown and somehow keep me warm as well in the cooler seasons. I don't find them as stretchy or comfortable compared to a pair of leggings I purchased from Supre's sporte range. The fitting is also a bit weird on me as I noticed the right leg is stretchier than the left when I where it as my left leg felt more restricted around the thighs. After further inspection I saw the width in material was noticeably different. I don't blame Eastbay for this and I was definitely expecting more from Adidas; not worth my money.

Moving Comfort Vixen High Impact A/B Sports Bra - RRP ~~$35.99~~ $21.99

I'm not used to wearing a sports bra so this felt really tight and uncomfortable to me. The racerback design provides ventilation and the moulded cups for support and shaping because our goodies can be quite bothersome while working out! Because of the tight fit I do find that it's a bit difficult to take off.

That's all I purchased from Eastbay and I would probably purchase from them again as the prices are considerably cheaper than Australia. Also I am very pleased with my experience with PriceUSA as they constantly update you in regards to your order and of course the cheaper shipping costs. I hope you found my post helpful and informative!

Have you purchased via PriceUSA before?

Hope you have a lovely weekend! x

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with PriceUSA and all goods and services have been paid at my own expense. All opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.

August Lust Have It - Celebration

2013-08-21T20:00:00.002+10:00

The second beauty box to arrive this month is Lust Have It, celebrating their second anniversary of starting the company. August also means that my annual subscription to Lust Have It ends so I won't be receiving anymore boxes as I don't plan on resubscribing. That being said, I did sign up to their new Fashion & Beauty (FaB) box at $35 per month to be launched in September! I had a hard time contemplating but I knew I would be kicking myself when I read other people's reviews.

I was very excited with the content of this month's box while reading the product card. Have a look at what I received this month! :)

Revlon - Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator
Full size - 30ml RRP $29.95
Received this in 200 Pink Light and it is a gorgeous baby pink shade full of shimmer! A little goes a long way and I would either use with as a highlighter or mixed with bb cream since it is that shimmery.

Revlon - Nearly Naked Makeup
4 x sachet samples - 30ml RRP $25.95
I was actually really excited when I saw this on the product card but was let down when I actually looked in my box. There are four sachets of different shades - Shell, True Beige, Natural Beige, and Natural Tan. I guess in this way people won't be complaining about receiving the wrong shade? :P

KMS - California Free Shape Shampoo and Conditioner
12ml sample - 300ml RRP $28.95
I only received a sachet sample of the shampoo and I'm not sure if I was supposed to receive a sample of the conditioner as well. I might sound like a broken record but isn't it better to receive both?! The 'FREESHAPE' range claims to increase manageability of your hair in prep for heat styling.

KMS - California Free Shape Hot Flex Spray
30ml sample - 200ml RRP $31.95
A styling spray that is apparently activated via heat / use of heat tools. Claims to be able to hold the shaping and elasticity until the next wash. I would have preferred to receive the volumising spray simply because I don't style my hair. Might give this a try anyways!

LUSH - Gorgeous Facial Moisturiser
10g sample - 45g RRP $74.95
Wow I would not have believed the full size product would cost $74.95 since I don't associate LUSH with that kind of price. I love LUSH products so I am hoping this will be another winner! Gorgeous is a protective vitamin filled, softening moisturiser with a combination of different organic fruit juices, and oils. However it does contain alcohol, perfume and two parabens.

Sinful Colours - Nail Enamel
Full size - 15ml RRP $4.95
Never tried nail polishes from this brand but yay, nail polish my favourite! Standard shade of red which I already have my in collection.

La Roche Posay - Thermal Spring Water
50g sample - 300ml RRP $21.95
I discovered this brand through the May Bellabox and I loved the samples I received, so I am even happier to see more products from this brand! Face mists are an excellent way to freshen up anytime, and this aims to soften and soothe the skin. It's very gentle, contains antioxidants, and made specifically for people with sensitive skin.

La Roche Posay - Lipikar Baume AP
15ml sample - 400ml RRP $37.95
This is a lipid-replenishing body balm with anti-irritation and anti-scratching properties over 24 hours. It's lightweight, fast absorbing and non-greasy which is everything I could ever ask for in a cream.

That's all I received for this month's Lust Have It! I was hoping there would be a special gift for VIP members as last year's August box contained an extra item for them. Overall a much better box than the previous months and I am very pleased! :)

What did you receive in your Lust Have It this month?

On another note if you love tea or Lipton, and you haven't seen my instagram or Facebook page, you can receive free samples of their Lipton Pyramid Teas - simply click here! I thought it would be a great idea to share with my readers since what's not to love about freebies? This is only available to Australian residents and I am in no way affiliated or have been sponsored by Lipton.

Have a lovely week beautifuls! :D

August Bellabox - Get Active!

2013-08-16T17:20:00.000+10:00

Last month I didn't review any of my July beauty subscription boxes as I thought it was already quite late into the month and I was quite busy. I still haven't had a proper chance to even look at what I received even now because I have so much clutter! I think this is a sign for me to cancel my subscriptions for now because I simply don't end up using everything and it's sort of a waste...

Anyways, this month's theme for Bellabox is all about getting active! I was very excited about the theme as I recently joined the gym so I was hoping there would be something relevant?

Photo of this month's product card

Wondering what I received for this month's box?

Wotnot - Facial Wipes Travel Size

5 wipe sample; 25 wipes RRP $7.95

I received the full sized wipes in the January Bellabox this year and I fell in love with them back then. I would have preferred to receive something different but I don't particularly mind. They are the softest facial wipes I have ever used, have never irritated my skin and great at removing makeup! Contains all the good natural ingredients such as aloe vera, rosehip, vitamin E and sweet almond oils!

ASAP - Ultimate Hydration

15ml sample; 50ml RRP $79

ASAP is a new brand partner of Bellabox and to introduce themselves, they provided this pretty expensive little sample of moisturiser! It claims to recover natural moisture, improve skin texture and eliminate fine lines with the help of AHA's, Vitamins A, B and C, and Antioxidants. This is a very promising moisturiser so I hope it works just as good as it sounds.

Synthesis - Certified Organic Replenish Elixir

5ml sample; 50ml RRP $150

Eeepp.. this is an even more expensive tiny little sample! The cleanser claims to freshen the skin and maintain a youthful appearance at the same time through its anti-ageing properties. It sounds similar to ASAP's moisturiser above, and it contains omega 3, 6, 7 and 9, and antioxidants.

L'oreal - Base Magique Primer

5ml sample; 15ml RRP $29.95

If you plan on wearing foundations and what not while exercising, it would be extremely important to use a good primer for your makeup to last longer through all the heat and sweat! It claims to have a light, mousse-like formula with soft powders and a matte finish to absorb sebum and reduce shine.

Sanctuary Spa - Skin Perfecting BB Cream (Medium to Dark)

Full size; 50ml RRP $29.99

I was actually hoping to receive the Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream for my oily skin. I gave this a try to see if it would match my skin tone but it's a bit dark and orange for me. Also I found it difficult to blend and looked sort of patchy and uneven in colour. I don't think I fail at blending in the bb cream that much but for now - dislike! The coverage isn't all that great either as my pores and redness were still visible.

John Frieda - Precision Foam Colour Intense After-Colour Conditioner

50ml sample; 150ml RRP $16.99

Of course after every gym or exercising session, everyone needs to shower and wash their hair! I still find it weird when beauty boxes only offer the conditioner because I would much rather prefer receiving both or just the shampoo as that's more essential. Not everyone has colour-treated hair but thankfully I do so I hope to have nice, silky hair!

Swisse - Recover Protein Bar (Choc, Banana & Cinnamon)

Full size; 30g RP $2.95

This was a gift as part of the 'Get Active!' theme. Bellabox also included one of these Swisse bars in the March edition though is was an energy one. Yay for free food?

So that's all for this month's box! I'm still not too sure about how I feel about this month's box as the majority were really tiny, expensive samples and I dislike the only full sized beauty product I received.

What did you receive in this month's Bellabox?

Hope you have a pleasant weekend! x

Nail polish swatches: Essie, OPI Etude House & Tony Moly!

2013-08-15T20:29:00.001+10:00

I feel absolutely terrible for not having blogged in over a week and I hope I haven't been forgotten about :( How have you wonderful ladies been? The main reasons for my disappearance would be due to uni (poor excuse) and getting caught up with Fashion King, a random Kdrama that I decided to watch. Initially I enjoyed watching it due to the fashion design storyline but like all Kdramas it got too cliche - girl loves boy, boy likes girl, second boy likes girl, second girl gets jealous... and the cycle continues for a couple of episodes. The final episode was also a terrible way to end the show and it left me utterly confused. Has anyone else watched Fashion King before, and please recommend me some nice recent shows to watch!

For the past week I have actually been meaning to post up swatches of the nail polishes from my beauty haul. I had all my bottles out, all the swatches done but I never got around to taking photos even though I would say to myself "I'll do it tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow...". Does that happen to you as well or am I simply that lazy? Well regardless, here I am to finally share them with you! :D

Essie - Mint Candy Apple | Essie - Big Spender | OPI - Polka.com

This was my first time trying out Essie polishes and I understand why people love them so much. The shades they offer are so pretty, formula is so easily to apply, and you only need one coat for it to be opaque! It's super creamy and also has a glossy finish. When I first laid eyes on OPI's Polka.com I knew I had to get it - the colour combination is so pretty and you can never get bored of glitter polishes with a clear base!

I didn't do any swatches of the white base but it is used to intensify the colour. It's not noticeable in my photos but on the yellow shade I added a top coat to try show you the difference in finish. Without a top coat, the finish is sort of matte but adding the top coat provided will make it glossy. The formula is a bit runny and sheer but two coats is enough to be opaque!

OPI - Can't Let Go | Etude House - PPP502 Halloween Day | Etude House - WH901 Cotton Candy Kiss

Applying Can't Let Go was the first time I have tried textured nail polish ever! The colour is super gorgeous but I might be bias in saying that since purple is my favourite colour. I'm still not entirely used to the texture since it reminds me of sand paper but not as rough... However it's easier to remove than glitter polishes (which amazes me!). I have not tried the Etude House glitter polishes yet but Cotton Candy Kiss looks super cute when swatched! What I dislike about it though is the glitters are quite sparse so I recommend trying to fish the glitters our before applying.

Tony Moly - Milkyway

Main reason why I bought this was because it looks like a dupe of Revlon's Whimsical and Deborah Lippman's Glitter in the Air! Unsurprisingly, it's super sheer and you need at least four coats for an opaque look. Luckily it doesn't feel thick or disgusting on the nails even after that many coats. Another alternative is to use a coloured base coat and apply this on top, which is what I've done on the right using Essie's Mint Candy Apply.

So that's all the nail polishes I gathered from my trip! I have two photos from my instagram of me wearing OPI's Can't Let Go and Tony Moly's Milkyway on my nails over in the sidebar if you want to have a look :)

Have you tried any of these nail polishes? Which one is your favourite?

Enjoy the rest of your week! xx