NOTD: Butter London's Victorianna

If you saw my last NOTD featuring Butter London you may have been left with the impression of me being underwhelmed... and that is because I was. Yummy Mummy was both unoriginal and boring. Victorianna however is a different kettle of fish.

I thought I'd also show a bit more of the BL packaging too - as that was a surprise. You lift the lid off to reveal the "real" lid -

It's a little odd right? Anyway back to Victorianna. It's a gorgeous muted blue with silver shimmer and most pleasingly the shimmer does translate to the nail. All pictures shown were taken in natural outdoor light without flash.

Butter London polishes retail for $14 so my expectations are higher for them. In this case they definitely got there - Victorianna is gorgeous. Just looking at these pictures makes me want to go and put it on again.

Jac x

Review: SAX Perfect Veil Foundation SPF15

The last couple of months I have had a chance to try a couple of great inexpensive Australian foundations that include sunscreen and the first one I am sharing is Sax's Perfect Veil Foundation with SPF15. Sax cosmetics are located in pharmacies across Australia and if you haven't bumped into them before they have an extensive stockist listing on their website. So let's get on with the review shall we:

Packaging:
Unlike any other drugstore foundation I can think of this foundation comes in a glass bottle with a pump. Now I know as many people will hate the idea of glass that love it but for me it's a nice change. I love the pump and quite frankly I love Sax's packaging generally.

Smell:
This foundation has a distinctive scent - it's a little cocoa butter but nicer. Personally I like the scent but either way once the product is on I didn't the scent anymore. Whatever the scent is it's not fruity and for me THAT IS AWESOME.


Texture:
This is a thicker foundation. Please don't mistake what I am saying though, this is easily to apply and work into the skin but being that it has SPF included it's not runny like some foundations can be. I really like the texture of this foundation -including the finish it gives to my skin. This foundation is designed to give a sheer to medium coverage so don't expect it to cover all your skin crimes - but it certainly does the job on my skin.

Performance against its claims:
They say:

• Designed to create a natural finish with a sheer to medium coverage.
• Glides onto the skin.
• Infused with a powerful antioxidant rich vitamin E to rejuvenate the skin.

I say:

• Definitely provides a natural finish with good coverage.
• Very easy to apply and not sticky like some foundations with SPF can be.
• Sounds nice and certainly feels moisturising - not sure how I'd test that though.

Value for money:
This foundation retails for $19.95 AUD which makes it a mid range foundation for the drugstore crowd. I would say it's not the bargain of the year but certainly worth the money especially given that the SPF ingredients don't upset my skin (ie break me out).

Overall: A really nice quality foundation with SPF and I love being able to wave that Australian flag proudly where this company is concerned. I use the lightest shade Fair. I have enjoyed all of the Sax items I have tried and suggest you give them a go if you haven't already. (I am already eyeing off their nail polishes on their home page as we speak lol).

Jac x

Where am I?

Hi everyone :)

I just wanted to write a quick update to say all is well but I am very busy at work at the moment leading a project team that is due to deliver materials on the 2 March 2012. It was not my intention to take a break from blogging but I am just not finding time to write posts at the same time as running this project. So expect more posts from me from March onwards - and not much before then.

Mini Updates:

1. I am totally crushing on Burberry eyeshadows and have managed to acquire Rosewood and Pure Barely. I cannot wait for them to arrive because they look incredible.
2. I also am loving Zoya True collection but can only find it eBay (and I am so close to cracking).
3. I am using an Almay mascara for the first time ever and I really like it. AUD prices are shameful.
4. My secret shame is that I purchased Luscious Pink perfume by Mariah Carey AND I like it.
5.  The bathroom renovation is all but complete - and I can't wait to share some before and after pictures. We are just waiting for our shower screen and some fixtures to be installed and then it's all finished!
6. I am starting to get really excited about my US trip planned for October- this is really going to happen people :D
7. Work as I have said is keeping me mega busy but for the most part it's a pleasure. I am so lucky to love my job.
8. I've seen both The Iron Lady and The Descendants and I quite liked both. George's man-tan was a bit distracting but I got used to it.
9. I won another blog award - Thank you so much Gianna x
10. I still have a top 11 for 2011 post planned - not that anyone will care by March lol.

I hope that 2012 is treating you well and I can't wait to read all of your blog posts when I get back into the swing of blogging.

Jac x

I have been lucky enough to be nominated for a Liebster blog award from the lovely Michelle of My Little Space (a great blog name if you ask me). Please check out her blog (if you haven't already) and I have to say she has some great resolutions for 2012 some of which I might borrow for myself as well. 

I'm not one for having a trophy room but what I love about these awards that go around is the idea that someone out there is enjoying reading whatever I feel like blabbing on about. I also love reading and replying to comments people leave on my posts to let me know their thoughts and suggestions too.

"Liebster" is a German word which means dearest or beloved, but it can also mean favourite. The idea of the Liebster award is that it is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers, all in the spirit of fostering new connections and to bring attention to these brilliant blogs!

The rules are:

1. Thank your nominator/s and link back to their blog
2. Select and reveal your five chosen blogs with fewer than 200 followers
3. Advise your chosen blogs of their nomination via a comment on their blog
4. Copy and paste the award onto your own blog
5. Request your award nominees then forward it onto their own chosen bloggers

So here is my recommendation for 5 blogs with less than 200 followers (at least on GFC)

1. Michelle of Eat Paint Sniff Glue - she's just as lovely in real life as she is on her blog and has a true gift with words.
2. Su of My Perfume Diaries - I adore Su because she's completely amasing but if you like learning about perfume and hearing descriptions of scents that actually make sense then this blog will make you happy. And she did a killer makeup post today.
3. I have to say I was super excited that Julie of Me, my best and I was just under 200 followers as I adore her blog (even though her follower count should be 5x that). Anyway I have this lady to thank for nail polish enabling as well as finding my favourite moisturiser. She shares a little bit of everything and I find her blog infinitely fascinating.
4. Kirsten of Commander in Chic blows me away. I feel like she is half my age and I swear if she wants to she'll end up running this country with an amasing blog to boot. Plus what's not to love about a blog that shares its name with a great nail polish shade.... just saying.
5. Tammie of Fad Hamburger is seriously the best or should that be worst enabler I know. She also happens to have a great blog that showcases great swatches (I've just been enabled into buying Burberry's Rosewood). 

So there you have it. 5 blogs I think are awesome - but from my blog roll you can see I like so many more.

Thanks again to Michelle.

Jac x