Colours of the Rainbow Tag

I have been seeing the  ~   Colours of the Rainbow Tag  ~  popping up everywhere and I have really enjoyed reading everyone's replies and seeing a few of their favourites.  I have just read the beautiful Abigail from Shrinking Wallet's tag and thought YES I am going to do this!!

The rules are easy;  basically you just pick some of your favourite products that match the colours of the rainbow and talk about them.

This rainbow was photographed in our backyard on the weekend, we all stood on the verandah oohing and aahing, it lit up the darkened sky and turned everything brilliant!

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RED

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Face of Australia  ~  Macaron  ~  Sheer Gloss lip crayon.  I don't wear a lot of red so this was a really hard one to come up with but I love this gloss on my lips.  It's the first red that looks good on me, stays put a long time and doesn't dry my lips out.

ORANGE

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This is elf's  ~   Coral   ~   a peachy orange mineral blush.  I usually wear pink but have discovered a coral tone suits me well,  I have really enjoyed this blush and reach for it quite a bit.  Comes in a sifter jar, you just tap a bit in the lid and swirl your blush brush through to apply.

YELLOW

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Mmmm yellow was a hard one but I finally found napoleon PERDIS ~ Gleamer.  I use it all the time to highlight around my eyes and face.  Has a lovely sheen to it with no glitter.

GREEN

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My favourite green would have to be this Guess bag, I get compliments on it whenever I use it.  Green on one side and Blue on the other.

BLUE

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My favourite blue would have to be  ~  Chocolate Frog  ~  from Indie Polish Maker Alanna Renee.  This is from her Magical World Collection and is inspired by the colours on the Harry Potter Chocolate Frog packaging.  You can find out more about Alanna's gorgeous polishes here.

INDIGO

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Indigo is a cross between violet & blue so I thought I would show you one of my favourite Urban Decay Palettes  ~  beauty with an edge  ~  this palette contains two gorgeous metallic shades

Gravity (violet)  ~  Evidence (blue)

PURPLE

STELLA ~  Captures the scent of a Rose in full bloom with a sensual base of Amber.   I once read that this first fragrance released by Stella McCartney was inspired by her mother's love of roses.   If I ask my boys to go choose a perfume for me to wear they invariably come back with this one, it's their favourite.  Smell plays such an important part in our memories, just the sniff of a sweet shop transports me back to my childhood, if there was ever a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for me, it would have been a sweet shop.  That heady lush aroma of sugar, big ole glass counters filled with colourful rows of bullseyes, liquorice, jubes and choc caramel cobbers and my favourites all day suckers (the ones that changed colours).  Just as the smell of Blue Grass by Elizabeth Arden will always remind me of my Nan, I think my boys will remember me too .  

PINK

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Pink isn't in the rainbow but it should be!!  It is my favourite colour and I thought it would be the easiest to choose but it's NOT because I have tons of Pink favourites.  Instead I thought I would show you the cute pink bunny makeup bag I like to keep in my handbag.

MULTICOLOURED

Top ~ normal light         Bottom ~  Day Lamp
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There is nothing more multi-coloured than a Palette and so I thought I would show you one of my favourites the  ~   pixi Early Bird  ~  this is a fantastic palette that contains just about everything you need to do your eyes and face  ~  blush, bronzer, highlighter and eye shadows.  It is really handy to take travelling because it folds up and packs flat, so no rattling around and no broken pans!

That's my Rainbow Tag, if you would like to do this consider yourself tagged!

Don't forget to leave a comment and a link so I can come read yours.

Jac x0x

Latest iHerb Haul

Thought I would share with you some of my latest haul from iHerb.  I am so impressed with this company who deliver to Australia in approx. 8 days and the shipping costs are cheaper than what I can get in Oz.



ONE WITH NATURE ROSE PETAL SOAP ~ $3.47 per 200g bar.  These soaps are made with Dead Sea Minerals and are 100% natural.  Contains a vegetable base, dead sea salts, natural fragrance, rose petals, aloe, shea butter and vitamin E.  Gorgeous smelling huge bar of soap, mildly exfoliating, super creamy lather and leaves your skin soft and smelling subtly of roses.  I liked this soap so much when I first tried it I went back and purchased more as soon as I got out the bath!  Available in a variety of fragrances you can find them here.

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The other bar I purchased was ONE WITH NATURE BLACKBERRY PEAR same great formula and has a wonderful tarte berry aroma.  These soaps would have to be the longest lasting soaps I have ever tried.

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e.l.f. Wrinkle Refiner - clear - $2.99 ~ rich blend of wheat protein, horse chestnut, caffeine, edelweiss, chamomile, shea butter, mango and vitamins A & E, re-texurises skin and prevents further damage and premature ageing.  This is like a primer for problem areas that need a bit of extra moisturising, smoothing and plumping.  I found it easier to dab a little on and let it soak in prior to foundation, can be used during the day over makeup as needed.  Good for those under-eye creases, crows feet and smile lines, I found as it dries it tightens up your skin while leaving it moisturised.

iHerb sell a great range of e.l.f. products and you can find them here.

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GIOVANNI HOT CHOCOLATE SUGAR SCRUB $8.53 260G ~ if you love chocolate you are going to love this scrub it is just divine.  100% organic contains sugar and crushed cocoa beans, gently exfoliates your skin and leaves the most amazing aroma of chocolate.  This one is almost good enough to eat.  The price is fantastic and you can find out more about it here.  Left my skin feeling smooth and soft with a subtle smell of chocolate.  You don't need alot, I would recommend starting with about a teaspoon full and add more as you work around your body.

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BLUM NATURALS DAILY CLEANSING AND MAKEUP REMOVER TOWELETTES $5.55, 30 thick towels ~ what I like about these cleansing clothes is that they are all natural and use organic ingredients such as grape seed extract, chamomile, aloe, calendula and lemon oil.  The towelettes have a raised bumpy surface which helps exfoliate and remove every trace of makeup.  I didn't think I would ever find a product to match Wot Not Facial Wipes but these are every bit as good.   They don't sting sensitive skin or dry it out, I am really enjoying using these.  You can find out more about them here.

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HURRAW! BALM, NIGHT TREATMENT BLUE CHAMOMILE VANILLA LIP BALM $3.51, this is a repurchase for me.  All natural organic lip balm that you can apply at night for a super dose of moisturising goodness but I like to use it during the day too as I have very dry lips from being outside a great deal.  Contains Avocado, Argan, Rosehip and Meadowfoam Seed oils in a super thick balm which really stays on and does a wonderful job of moisturising your lips.  You can find out more here and see their range of lip balms here.

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EVERYDAY MINERALS JOJOBA BASE NATURAL IVORY $15.99 ~ I have been a fan of Everyday minerals for many years but stopped using their face products because they became too drying for my skin.  I thought I would try the new Jojoba base because I heard it was more moisturising for dry skin, I love it!!  I felt no drying at all and I am so excited that I can go back to using mineral face powder again.  Everyday Minerals is now available through iHerb and you can find their range of mineral powders and brushes here.

I just love iHerb and they offer quick cheap international shipping and I have never had a problem with them so recommend them highly.  All their products are high quality and you can find just about anything you need regarding health and beauty, their prices are very competitive and you would be hard pressed to find a better price especially if you are international.

Please don't forget to use this discount code TUW872 at the checkout for $5 to $10 off your first order.

Have you discovered iHerb?  Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

Jac x0x

E.L.F. Nail Polish @ iHerb

Today I want to share with you the E.L.F Nail Polishes I recently ordered from iHerb.  You can find the E.L.F. range here and if you are a first time customer please use this discount code TUW872 for up to $10 off your first order and iHerb DO ship internationally at great discount rates.

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Beautiful, vibrant,  very wearable shades, there is not one colour I don't like.

Beach Party Nail Polish Set

Coral Dream ~ Flirty Fuchsia ~ Smokin Hot

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Beautifully Bright Nail Polish Set

Party Peach ~ Yellow ~ Teal Blue

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Nice & Natural Nail Polish Set

Innocent ~ Nude ~ Smoky Brown

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Vacation Trio Nail Polish Set

Mint Cream ~ Lilac~ Punk Purple

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The shade I am wearing today.  CORAL DREAM ~ 2 coats.

Coral Dream
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All these sets are $2.99 each for three 6ml bottles of nail polish.  They apply very easily, quick drying formula and most shades only need one coat.  Polish contains 'active vitamin E' for stronger healthier nails.

iHerb stock a range of E.L.F products and there seems to be more every time I go back.  They sell out pretty quickly but there is information provided for when they will be back in stock.

Have you visitied iHerb recently, what do you think?

E.L.F Brushes and Nail Polish Collections

E.L.F. is now available at iHerb which I am very excited about because it means that we Aussie gals now have access to E.L.F. at US prices.

They don't carry everything unfortunately but if you want to purchase their brushes, eye palettes and nail polish collections give them a look.  I really hope that iHerb will extend their selection to include everything from the E.L.F. range.  You can find their products available at iHerb here.

If you are a first time customer please take advantage of this discount code TUW872 at the checkout for up to $10 off your first order.

My order just arrived and I purchased a set of twelve makeup brushes for $12 and a set of three mini nail polishes for $3.

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ESSENTIAL PROFESSIONAL COMPLETE BRUSH SET.  This brush set is great if you are just starting out or wanting to add to your collection.  At a dollar each they are a real bargain and the quality is surprisingly good.  I have owned a few ELF brushes that I have picked up along the way so was really excited to get the full set for only $12.

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Set includes;   Face - Blush/Bronzer - Lash comb/brush - Foundation - Blender (lge) - Definer - Lash Wand - Eyeshadow - Eyeliner - Blender (sml) - Lipliner and Concealer.

They are also selling their Studio range of brushes for $2.99 each and their eleven piece Studio Set for $29.99.

iHerb also sell the Real Techniques Brush Range and you can find out more about them here.


Mysterious Nail Polish Set.

Purple Dream - Metal Madness - Dark Navy

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Three 6ml bottles in a pack, there is a selection of colour packs available.  Quick-drying, I found the Purple dream was quite sheer and needed 2-3 coats to bring out the depth of colour.  Metal Madness and Dark Navy are very opaque and you could get away with one coat.  Drys quickly and contains Vitamin E for stronger healthier nails.  I think these are great value for a dollar each!

If you are a first time customer please use this discount code TUW872 at the checkout to receive up to $10 off your first order.  International postage starts at $4 and is very competitive.  For all my international sisters, iHerb do ship to most countries but I can only comment on my experience with them to Australia which has been excellent and I have never had any problems with customs.

Jac x0x

e.l.f. Hypershine Gloss Review

This review is for the Hypershine Collection Limited Edition.

(from the top) Au Naturale, Pageant Princess, Berry Cherry, Ruby Kiss and  Raspberry.
This collection includes a great selection of shades which would suit just about everyone.

I have a draw full of lip glosses and I am pretty fussy when it comes to gloss.  I like thick glosses that are a little bit tacky, I think they stay on longer and I am all for staying power.  Also my expectation is if the gloss comes in a certain shade it should appears as that colour on your lips, so many lipglosses look pretty in the tube but there is no payoff  on the lips.

I didn't have high hopes when I purchased this collection, I have only just started using e.l.f. products as they aren't readily available in Australia and we pay 3 times the price of our US sisters.  Being a budget product I don't usually find cheaper lip gloss to be much good.

Boy was I wrong!!

This formula delivers everything I look for, little or no fragrance and taste, it is thick, stays on the lips, doesn't feather and the colours are beautiful and glossy.  Makes my lips look very full and luscious, lasts a long time for a gloss and my lips feel moisturised.

This is a great pen to throw in your handbag, the brush applies smoothly, touch ups are a cinch because there is usually enough product left in the bristles to reapply, so no wastage.   The only problem I am having is getting used to how many twists I need because sometimes too much product comes out, if you hold the brush up to the light you can see the gloss, one or two twists is usually enough.

I have included a couple of photos of swatches, one in natural light and one with the flash.  I apologise for the quality, my camera isn't that good.  I swatched my 15 year old son's arm and while he was very interested in the process I don't think it is something he will readily admit to his friends.

natural

flash

 

(from left to right)  Au Naturale, Pageant Princess, Berry Cherry, Ruby Kiss and Raspberry.

I know that colours vary on different people so I can only comment how they appear on me.  As you can see from the photos the shades do change in the light.

Au Naturale - A frosty nude with an iridescent glow and some sparkle. 

Pageant Princess - Very pretty light pink with a mother of pearl sheen, fills your lips and make them look naturally very full.

Berry Cherry - This is very close to my own lip colour, appears very natural and slightly more pink on me than represented in the photo. 

Ruby Kiss - I am very pale and not usually one for highly pigmented shades but this shade is divine.  I love what this does for my lips, very luscious and full and just screams kiss me!

Raspberry - Another pigmented shade with glossy shimmer.  This is more a deep pink on me which I love.

I love all these shades, they are described as sheer on the e.l.f. site but I think they have just the right amount of pigment, the quality is fantastic and I feel they are very wearable for a multitude of looks day and night.

The only problem is deciding which one to wear, mmmmm.............

e.l.f. haul - first impressions

This blog is just my first impressions on my recent e.l.f. cosmetics purchase. I do not review products until I have used them for a while to get a real honest idea how they perform.

I recently purchased some items from the e.l.f. cosmetics Australia website because they had a 25% off celebration for reaching 1500 likes on their FB page.

Ok, I was really excited to receive these, I thought it was a pretty good deal, not only was it 25% off but if you spend over $30 you get free registered post. I received emails all the way about the status of my order, tracking advice and from order to delivery it took two working days, got to be happy with that.

I am opening these as I write so you get my first impressions.

What was in my order?

e.l.f. Studio Beauty-On-The-Go 3-Palette Storage Case

This storage palette holds up to three of their single Beauty-On-The-Go palettes, included is a single compact if you just want to carry one palette with you. Comes with a good size mirror in the lid, the entire compact measures 12.5cm by 17.5cm so its a handy size to travel with and have a good collection of shadows, blushes, highlighters and lipgloss. Has a great high end look about it and the quality is good considering the price, I don't think it will break easily like some cheaper compacts are liable to do.

The single compact that is included is just a smaller version, has a great full length mirror, measures 13cm x 4cm so will slip easily into your make up or hand bag.

I purchased this one more out of curiousity for the speckled shades.

Definitely darker shades for a dramatic night time look.

The left side of this palette is neutral browns with some variety on the right.

Each palette contains 10 eyeshadows, two lipglosses and one blush/bronzer/highlighter. Overall there is a good selection of shades, the three I purchased all contained blushes. I believe in the US you can purchase a selection of ten palettes but there are only four available on the aussie site, I didn't purchase 'Date Night' because it was all grey shades and one white. My first impression of the eyeshadow and blush is that they are highly pigmented and creamy to the touch, a good mix of matte, shimmer and glitter. The lipglosses are great, some very pigmented shades that go on more like lip stain and the 'party perfect' are more gloss and shine. I think you could have great fun with these palettes and all are very wearable from day to night looks. I like how everything is in one place, very handy for travel, the only thing that is missing is there is nowhere to put your brushes.

Studio Eye Transformer

I love the idea of this palette. Contains 4 opalescent eyeshadows in pastel shades of green, nude beige, pink and lavender. You can use them on their own or mix them with your other eye makeup to create new shades or just lighten a look that is too dark. This speaks to the artist inside me who just loves to dabble with colour. My first impression when I opened this is how sturdy the compact is, looks great, large mirror in the lid, contains four generous sized pans and has an eye shadow brush which is a miniature of their "C" brush. The pastel shades themselves are definitely opalescent, creamy and highly pigmented.

Studio Bronzers

I purchased these based on some youtube reviews I viewed and was really curious to try them myself. They are a mix of highlighter, blush and bronzer, so you can use each shade seperately or swirl you brush over the entire pan for an all over shade. The Cool Bronzer is matte for a more natural look and contains a highlighter, two bronzers and a blush. The Warm Bronzer contains 4 shimmering shades to make you glow, great for summer. My first impression again was how great these compacts look, contains a full sized mirror in the lid but no brush. A great variety of shades so you can mix and match, creamy and highly pigmented.

Essential Lips - Hypershine Collections Limited Edition

This is a pack of 5 of their Hypershine Lipglosses, you can purchase these separately. The shades are (from the top) Au Naturale, Pageant Princess, Berry Cherry, Ruby Kiss and Raspberry. Nice collection of shades, the lighter are sheer but good pigmentation in the last three. Brush applicator and the gloss is twisted up from the bottom of the pen, go slow with the twisting otherwise you end up with a glut of gloss. My first impression is I don't like the twisting action, gloss went everywhere but now I know what I am doing I will twist slowly. The brush applies well, the gloss is thick and stays put, didn't feather and bleed into my skin and appears glass like. I really love the 'Ruby Kiss' shade, its a beautiful highly pigmented red with a blue undertone (white teeth) which made my lips look extremey full and luscious, very kissable. Yes I like these lip pens, lid stays on tight so it won't come off in your bag and so far (2hr) long wearing.

Essentials Eyelid Primer - Sheer

I have heard good reviews about this primer and look forward to trying it. My first impression is it looks like a pretty standard container, I don't like reusable sponge tips anywhere near my eyes. I will apply this via a clean brush.

Essentials Blending Eye Brush

I needed a new blending brush so thought I would give this one a go, I have the eye shadow brush and I really like that so I hope this will be the same. Good value for budget brushes.

Overall I am pretty happy with my first purchase from the Aussie e.l.f. site. I know that we pay more here for the same products in the US but we seem to pay more for everything in Australia. I still think it was a pretty good deal with the 25% off and free postage and would look at purchasing from them again when they have a sale. They didn't have a couple of products that I wanted but that's OK they have gone on my wishlist for next time.

Again this is a haul review and once I have given all the products a good go I will be writing reviews for the ones I really like, so stay tuned.

Thanks for visiting.