NOTD: China Glaze's Adore

Some Polishes don't need any words. This has been on my must-have list for ages - and now it is mine. All pictures are with 2 coats, no top coat and taken in natural light. Enjoy!

and yes that is a chip on my thumb lol.


Jac x

BUSY BUSY BUSY

 

image source

Hi Everyone.

I meant to get this up earlier this week but it just didn't happen. Unfortunately my real job is impacting on my blogging capacity as I need to complete 4 x  job applications for continuing my current role (and other vacancies at higher duties) within the next week. I've been doing this job for years so I just wish they would permanently fill it already - grrr. This is in addition to my usual job (which is busy at the best of times) and being the contact for another job vacancy too. All this means when I get home I am pretty much ready for bed so rather than beating myself up for not posting I'm going to give myself the next week off.

So thanks for your patience and just as a teaser - I have a heap of polish swatches ready to share, a couple of review+ giveaways and of course my promised 100+ GFC follower giveaway too.
 
I hope you all have a great week - I know mine will be busy but I'll be back in no time.


Jac x

Overview/Review of Aveeno's Ultra-Calming Skin Care Range.

I know I have mentioned before on here how much I love Emilynoel83 on YT - she is in fact responsible for me owning Milani blushes, Pallado herbal lip balms and for my original interest in the Aveeno Ultra-Calming skin care line. At the time I remember checking their Australian website to see if the range was available here, but alas it was not at the time.

Fast forward a few months and I was contacted by a PR rep for Aveeno following up on their generous inclusion of a Positively Radiant moisturizer in the Adelaide Beauty Conference goodie bag. I mentioned that I had tried the cleanser from this range and found it too active for my dry and sensitive skin so she kindly offered to send me the Ultra-Calming range to try instead. As you can imagine I was super-excited as Emilynoel83 (if I remember correctly) had used this when she developed dryness on her face.

I have now spent about 2 months with these products and wanted to share my thoughts. To make this review a bit quicker I'm just going to give a summary for each product and general overall comments for the range itself. This range consists of a cream cleanser, a foaming cleanser and a moisturiser with SPF 15 (yay!).

Firstly the packaging is lovely - the pump of the foaming cleanser and moisturiser worked perfectly and the cream cleanser was easy to squeeze out. I also had no issues with textures (the foaming cleanser feels like it is made of clouds) or smells as this is scent free as far as my nose could tell. Now this range includes the flower Feverfew. Aveeno claim that this flower is known for it's soothing properties and is one of nature's most powerful antioxidants. They also claim that "Formulations with Feverfew are clinically proven to visibly reduce the appearance of redness in as little as one week." With all that covered off let's see how I got on with using these products.

Let the hauling begin..

Sorry for the delay in posting this haul. Those who read my tweets already know I have been home with sore ribs this week caused by an ongoing viral infection that just does not want to leave my body. In the last month and a half I have had 9 days of personal leave (all with a medical certificate) and I AM STARTING TO FREAK OUT.

I hate not being a work (yes I am a geek), I hate being seen as a "sick" person and my independent streak gets all bitchy about that perception I can tell you. Thank god I have had all of these new pretties to keep me company - and to keep my mood mild (well for the most part it has been mild).

And so we begin our journey with a group order to MAC USA (cos there is no way I am paying AUD prices if I can help it) with Nessa and Michelle.

Products pictured from left clockwise:
* Paint Pot in Indianwood
* Cream colour base in Hush
* Eyeshadow in Brule
* Prep and Prime (Oh thank god I have this again)
* Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Gotta Dash!
* Lipstick in High Tea

You would not believe all the trouble Nessa had with this order so big big thanks to her for this one - she went above and beyond to satisfy our MAC cravings. Soon after that Priceline had a crazy special on Maybelline products - 3 face products for $30. I'm only human right?

Pictured above:
* Maybelline Super Stay 24 Makeup Foundation in Porcelain Ivory
* Maybelline fit me foundation in 115 (Ivory)
* Maybelline fit me concealer in 15 (Fair)
* Bourjois 10 hour sleep effect foundation in 71 (abricote clair)

I picked up the Bourjois foundation as my Healthy Mix foundation is almost finished finally - that stuff lasts for freakin' forever. To be honest I'm a bit meh with the new one but I have to give it a chance and it is common for me to hate a foundation the first couple of times I use it.

One of the good (or bad if you are my bank account) things about the Adelaide Beauty Conference was getting reintroduced to brands I had ignored for a while - most notably - Australis. I'm not sure what Australis did to make me lose interest in them but for years I have walked straight past their displays without a second glance. Enter the ABC goodie bag with their HD blush and eyeshadow  palette (which I will get around to showing you as they look great) and my interest was peaked again. Off to Priceline I trekked again:

Pictured above:
* Ready Set Go Finishing Powder in True Translucent
* Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in Mambo (love this so much)
* Lash TLC Mascara in Blackest Black

Then the following week Priceline had another special on Australis and I went back in - specifically to get an eyeshadow product which I will explain fully when I show this stuff in more detail but I also got a free mascara (yes another one lol).

Pictured above:
* Paparazzi Perfect HD eyeshadow in Snap Attack
* Mint Condition Lip Gloss in Meow with your mind (OMG love this too)
* Freebie mascara: Voluptulash Mascara in Blackest Black.

While on one of these missions to Priceline I also decided to check out some Burt's Bees products, a Cetaphil cleanser (the lovely PR people sent me one for oily skin that is destined for Noodle Arms so I picked up one for me to try instead), and a Revlon lipstain in Dawn (I'm not sure about this yet, the colour seems to go on uneven).
I wont list these below as you can see the details in the picture and yay for me for such a clear picture with my new camera.

I know what you are thinking - wow that was a good haul - but what made you think it was over lovely readers? Yes I had one more spending spree to complete and that was for a little brand called Palladio that I have been mulling over ever since EmilyNoel83 mentioned them a year(?) ago. The place I found that had the best range that also shipped to Australia was the Makeup Geek Shop - and as I am a big fan of Marlana I was happy to buy from there:

Pictured above:
* Rice Powder in Translucent
* Herbal Foundation Primer
* Herbal Tinted Lip Balm in Golden Pink
* Herbal Tinted Lip Balm in Cotton Candy

Now I'd love to say it all finished there but I've been home alone for a week and I have more parcels coming. I also picked up some more skincare (check out my empties post if you need to know why) and a Face of Australia foundation a couple of days ago. I blame FOA though for having a foundation light enough for me with SPF15 for less than $12 - I was clearly provoked there!

Now if there is anything you would like me to prioritise for review and or swatching just leave a request below.

Hope you all have a great weekend
Jac x

Empties August - September 2011

I was so lazy last month (and back logged with reviews) that I didn't post an empties or a favourites post. I am so over writing reviews (mostly cos I think I am rubbish at them) that I decided to do something else for a while. So this week I have hauls, NOTDs and this empties post -ahhhhh back in my comfort zone again.

I think I'll do my giveaway at the end of this week - there have been numerous giveaways going on (I won 2 lol) so figured I would wait a bit before doing mine, I hope you don't mind. Anyway blabber, blabber, blabber let's get on with the empties shall we? 

Dr Lewinn's Synergise Anti-ageing Facial Scrub
This was given to me by Dee after she had reviewed it for Beauty Heaven I believe (she'll correct me in the comments if I am wrong). I loved the product itself which had a lovely apple scent and is available exclusively in Coles in Australia. My only compliant is the texture of the tube - it's semi-NARS packaging in texture and towards the end it became very difficult to get the product out. I'm undecided if I would buy this again. I attempted to see the price on the Coles website - but that site is sh*t and wouldn't let me see products without signing up. Not happening Coles. 

Body Shop Earth Lovers Shower gel in Cucumber and Mint
I loved it - I've reviewed it on here already so let's move on. Definitely would buy again.

Sukin Creamy Cleanser
Loved this as well and also reviewed on here.  I will buy this again.

Lush Smitten hand cream
I've also reviewed this one but I think from memory it has been discontinued. Great hand cream for dry skin. You will be missed.

Lush Ocean Salt facial scrub
I've gone through a few of these and I love using it in summer. This last tub was a little different - it was more blue. I'm a bit over Lush at the moment but I know I'll go crawling back in during summer because I always do.

Palmers Night Cream 
Lol how many times have I mentioned my love of this product? I'd be using it now except I am trying a moisturiser sent to me. Love it and will be buying this again. I think this is my second or third jar. 

L'oreal Gentle Make-up Remover for Eyes and Lips
I never used this on my lips. This is one of those shake it up eye makeup removers. It was gentle and it did effectively remove anything on my eyes. However when you turn it upside down to put some on your cotton pad it dribbles everywhere. Crappy form L'oreal. I'm already looking elsewhere for an effective eye makeup remover and I am trying the Neutrogena one included in the ABC goodie bag right now.

KMS Moistrepair restructuring therapy
Last time I had my hair done at Liquid Hair I picked up a KMS pack - that was probably a year ago now. This hair mask smells just incredible and always made my hair feel so soft. I did find that it weighed my hair down slightly but I think that is because my is so fine. I think KMS products are lovely and would recommend them to most people.

Well that finishes up what went out my door - next post is about some of the stuff that came in - HAULING!

Have an awesome week guys
Jac x

Review: Dolce by MOR hand and body wash in Sorbet

One of the items I immediately pulled out to try after the Adelaide Beauty Conference was Dolce by MOR's hand and body wash in Sorbet because once I smelt it I was never going to be able to leave it alone. They describe this as "a cocktail of lemon, lime and coconut blended with a delicious vanilla base" and I agree with my more basic description of YUUUUUUM! I've also found that the scent tends to stay on the skin for a while which is nice if you don't want to wear a perfume. On days where I have worn perfume, the scent does not interfere with it.

Those of you know have read my reviews know that unless packaging is bad or not up to scratch (yes I am thinking of you NARS Sheer Glow with your twist top bottle) I am not really fussed either way. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate when companies do go to the trouble of making their items look fabulous like MOR have with the Dolce range. I've put a PR picture below of the range so you can see how lovely the packaging is.

It's gorgeous right? The only issue for me is because the bottle is short and wide it doesn't fit in my shower caddy (but would be perfect if you were using it as a hand soap.

The product itself is clear and I tend to need between 6-10 pumps to lather my entire body (it is possible that you may not have as much "body" as I do and will use less of course). To compare it to my Body Shop one - I might use just slightly more  - as the pump size provided each time with this product is suitable for hand washing.

For those with dry skin, this doesn't appear to be a moisturising formula but I have not found it drying in anyway. In essence this is a lovely shower gel - definitely great for including as part of a gift given how gorgeous the packaging is.

Now when it came time to write the review I went online to MOR's website to see the price and stockists - and went into a complete panic when I could not find the product listed. So in desperation I completed  a website proforma contact form to ask it had been discontinued. I am happy to report this is still a current product and:

1. There are more products in the range which is stocked at Target in Australia.
2. They have a special running from the 6th to the 12th of October where if you "Buy any 2 Dolce by MOR Products and receive a BONUS Shimmering Puff". See it does pay to do your homework :)
3. There are actually 3 scents in the Dolce by MOR range - Sorbet (think Homer Simpson drooling over doughnuts), Honey and Pomegranate.
4. The Dolce range has its own website.

On a side note I have to say how lovely and helpful Breana from MOR was in answering all my questions. Thanks Breana! She even sent though the MOR product portfolio - my god I just want more! (no pun intended).

The Dolce by MOR range is available from Target in Australia and Farmers for those of you in New Zealand. The Hand and Body Wash is $14.95 for 350ml. Also available in each of the scents is hand and body lotion, hand cream, candle, lip candy and soap cake.

Have you tried anything from the Dolce by MOR range?

Disclaimer: I received this product as an attendee of the Adelaide Beauty Conference. As always my thoughts and opinions are my own.

Please note I have used PR images only in this post as I am still getting used to my new camera - did you see the pictures in my last post - craptacular!

And If you want to find out more about the sale I have attached the information sent to me below. There is also mention of a sale for NZ customers on the website (from what I can see).