Sunday 28 October 2012

2012 Christmas Beauty Buys (part 1)

Christmas is near and there have been many exciting limited edition Christmas gift packs which have/will launch in the month of October. Christmas is all about spending quality time with family and friends and getting into the Christmas spirit of gift-giving to the people you love. To get you prepared for gift giving, I thought I'd share with you some wonderful beauty buys for Christmas 2012.


Glasshouse Fragrances Christmas 2012 candles.
L-R: Christmas Party, White Christmas and Night Before Christmas.

Glasshouse Fragrances have introduced three exquisite and indulgent limited edition scents for the Christmas holiday season: Christmas Party (sweet orange and nutmeg), White Christmas (cedar leaf and fruity clove) and Night Before Christmas (dancing sugar plums). These Glasshouse candles make the perfect gift as well as great decorations for the home to get into the festive season!

Glasshouse Fragrance Christmas candles are on counter now at David Jones, Peter Alexander, Adorne and selected gift stores nationally.

Cost: A$42.95 / 350g


L'Occitane Marvelous Flowers (left) and Magical Leaves (right) collection.

L'Occitane has launched two limited edition spell bounding Christmas collections: the Marvelous Flowers and Magical Leaves collection. The Marvelous Flowers collection is infused with rose absolute and peony extracts. Products in the Marvelous Flowers collection include the Body Cream (A$59/250ml), Hand Cream (A$12/30ml), Eau de Toilette in a stunning faceted glass bottle (A$60/75ml), Intense Eau de Toilette Roll-On Perfume (A$30/10ml), Shimmering Oil (A$39/75ml), Shower Gel (A$28/250ml) and Perfumed Soap (A$5/50g). With spell bounding fragrances and bath and body products to enjoy during the Christmas atmosphere. The Magical Leaves collection features extracts of verbena and hazel leaves. Products in the Magical Leaves collection include the Hand Cream (A$12/30ml), Eau de Toilette (A$2510ml), Exfoliating Shower Gel (A$28/200ml), Body Milk (A$39/250ml) and Perfumed Soap (A$5/50g).

L'Occitane Marvelous Flowers and Magical Leaves collection will be available 31st October 2012 at Myer, David Jones and L'Occitane boutiques.


Jurlique presents you their luxurious facial skincare and body products in a variety of value added packs. My favourites are: the Herbal Recovery Essentials (A$189, valued at A$271: full size Herbal Recovery Gel 100ml, Herbal Recovery Night Cream 50ml and Herbal Recovery Eye Cream 15ml) which features a concoction of botanical ingredients and antioxidants to smooth fine lines, even skin tone and provide glowing skin; Rose Moisture Plus Essentials (A$79, valued at A$114: full size Rosewater Balancing Mist 50ml, Moisturising Cleanser 100ml and Moisturising Cream 40ml) which contains high performance antioxidants to hydrate and protect the skin for a radiant complexion; and the Body Cream Trio consisting of three divine scents (A$39, valued at A$54: Rose, Jasmine and Body Enriching Body Cream) to give you beautiful soft and smooth skin.

Jurlique Christmas gift packs are on counter now at Myer, David Jones,  Jurlique boutiques and selected pharmacies nationally.


Which beauty gifts would you love to receive?

xx Rose



Friday 26 October 2012

Burberry Beauty Sheer Foundation

Burberry Beauty Sheer Foundation
Burberry Beauty Sheer Foundation (A$75/30ml) is my absolute HG foundation - no doubt about it! The Sheer Foundation line is available in 9 different shades and each shade is labelled as 'Trench', as in the famous Burberry Trench coat, follower by a number between 1 and 9 where 1 is the lightest and 9 is the darkest shade. My skin was matched to Trench No. 05 which is equivalent to MAC NC20. The packaging is just ah-mazing! The iconic Burberry check pattern is adorned on the cap and gives a luxurious and sophisticated look to the foundation bottle. The dispenses a small amount and I always end up using about 1 and a half pumps for each application. The bottle looks very bulky, though the bottle is made from a durable and lightweight plastic material - no more breakages when dropped.

Burberry Beauty Sheer Foundation in Trench No.5
Burberry Beauty Sheer Foundation has a very unique scent which is subtle yet quite pleasant, however, the scent disappears after awhile. The lightweight formula has a relatively thick consistency, however, it melts into the skin and spreads very easily to give a flawless complexion with a radiant glow. I am amazed about the consistency as my first impressions was that the thick foundation would not spread easily, however, the formula does contain silicone derivatives which helps to provide a smooth and even finish to make the skin feel naked. The coverage is medium to heavy and conceals small blemishes, dark under eye circles and redness around the corners of my nose. Burberry Beauty Sheer Foundation is buildable, so you could either layer on more product using or foundation brush or use a sponge for heavier coverage. The formula feels very hydrating and comfortable on my skin. I especially love the longevity of Burberry Beauty Sheer Foundation as it sits well along my T-zone and does not fade during the day. Overall, I am very pleased with the results of Burberry Beauty Sheer Foundation, the scent, consistency, quality, hydrating properties, finish and longevity, and I will definitely find myself repurchasing once this foundation runs out.


 Have you used any Burberry Beauty products? Which is your HG foundation?

xx Rose

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Sisley Cleansing Milk with Sage



Sisley Cleansing Milk with Sage (A$120/250ml) is the most expensive cleanser I have ever purchased and I should add it was worth every dollar. Sisley Cleansing Milk contains the core ingredient of Sage extract and the cleanser is recommended for combination and oily skin types. The cleanser aims to purify the skin by deeply cleansing the skin to remove make-up, skin impurities and excess sebum. As with most milk cleansers, water is not required. I've never cleansed my skin without using water, so I was quite hesitant to use the product without water. The Sisley representative I spoke to mentioned that milk cleansers do not require water, since the formula is a milky and relatively thick (not too thick not too thin) lightweight fluid which can easily spread across the skin. To use Sisley Cleansing milk with Sage you just need to massage one full pump of fluid, which is about the same size of a 10 cent coin, directly onto your skin and then wipe it off using a cloth or facial tissue. I prefer to to use lukewarm water to rinse off the cleanser and residual makeup as it makes me feel very refreshed. I use Sisley Cleansing Milk with Sage as part of my nightly cleansing routine where I feel that my skin requires complete removal of all makeup and impurities from the city atmosphere. The scent of the formula is quite subtle and is purely indulgent, making me feel so revitalised. The texture of the formula feels very smooth and is extremely gentle on my skin. My skin feels soft and smooth after cleansing and I feel that my skin has become clearer and more 'glowy'. Each bottle contains a huge 250ml of product and each pump dispenses a small but adequate amount for each use, so this amazing beauty will last me a good few months!


What are your thoughts on Sisley Cleansing Milk with Sage? Do you think this cleanser will be suitable for your skin type? Have you tried any skincare products from Sisley?

xx Rose


Tuesday 23 October 2012

Grown Facial Exfoliant with Peppermint, Jojoba Micro Bead and Juniper Berry

Australian natural skincare brand Grown is one of the beauty brands that I absolutely adore, because of their wonderful concoctions of botantical ingredients that are so kind to the skin. I have reviewed the Grown Facial Serum with Borogo, Rosehip and Buckthorn Berry and Facial Moisturiser with Acai-Berry and Borago here and here. Recently, I discovered the Grown Facial Exfoliant with Peppermint, Jojoba Micro Bead and Juniper Berry (A$44.95/75ml) which I will review today.


Grown Facial Exfoliant is a non-abrasive, gentle facial exfoliant which helps to promote cell renewal and ensure sensitive skin feels smoother, clearer and more even-toned. I love the key ingredients of Peppermint which gives a beautiful cooling and rejuvenating sensation, Jojoba Micro Bead which helps to smooth, hydrate and moisturise dry patchy skin as well as Juniper Berry which helps to buff and exfoliate the skin surface while preserving the skins natural essential oils. The consistency of Grown Facial Exfoliant is a slightly thin white gel with very small amounts of exfoliating beads, so great if you have very sensitive skin. It is recommended that the exfoliator should be used 2 to 3 times per week. 


Grown Facial Exfoliator feels lovely against my skin and the gel texture makes it very easy to gently massage the facial exfoliator for a deep and thorough cleanse, whilst buffing the skin. After rinsing the facial exfoliator using lukewarm water, my skin feels so smooth to touch and there was no feeling of tightness at all. My skin feels very comfortable, revitalised, smooth and nicely pampered! 


Which natural beauty brands are loving at the moment? Which natural based facial exfoliants do you enjoy using?

xx Rose


Product was provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Grown Botanical Beauty and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

Sunday 21 October 2012

Big Week of Beauty Event

The inaugural Big Week of Beauty will commence Monday 22 October to Sunday 28 October 2012 and will be filled with exclusive launches, VIP events, beauty bonuses and of course goody bags! The Big Week of Beauty ambassador and editor of Marie Claire magazine, Jackie Frank and beauty editors from participating magazines such as Bride to Be, Famous, InStyle, New Idea, Girlfriend and Women's Health, just to name a few, will be covering editorial pages and attend beauty workshops to provide you with expert beauty advice and get you up to date in beauty news. 

During the Big Week of Beauty, there will be exclusive beauty bonuses from retail stores such as Myer, David Jones (click here for full list of events) and Priceline. Beauty brands supporting the Big Week of Beauty include Burberry Beauty, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, MAC, Dermalogica, Clinique, Estee Lauder and lots more. To find exclusive offers from these brands, click here.

Enjoy!

xx Rose






Saturday 20 October 2012

NEW Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss


Sisley has launched a new collection of Phyto Lip Glosses (A$60/6ml) as part of the new Spring/Summer 2012 Colour Collection. Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss is a stunning collection of 7 ultra-shiny gloss colours which is shinier than the finish of lipstick and enriched with plant-based active ingredients to nourish, moisturise, repair and protect the lips. The shiny gloss finish is beautiful and the texture is ultra smooth that it is non-sticky!

The Phyto Lip GLoss is beautiful on the inside and out!

The 7 shades in the Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss Collection includes: #1 Nude, #2 Beige Rose, #3 Rose, #4 Fushia, #5 Bois de Rose, #6 Rouge and #7 Brun. 

L-R: Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss in #2 Beige Rose and #3 Rose.

The shades #2 Beige Rose (a soft pink with a hint of beige) and #3 Rose (a bright watermelon pink) are the lighter and brighter shades in the spectrum of shades available in the collection. The shades are fun and flirty with no shimmer at all.  

The packaging of the Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss is uber luxurious and sleek! The applicator is a very small brush on a wand which helps to make application so easy. 


This is the first time I have ever come across a lip gloss which not only provides ultra-shine, moisture and nourishment but also provides skincare benefits such as protection and repair to the lips - the most fragile skin on the body. 

The formula of Phyto Lip Gloss consists of Padina Pavonica extract which assists the production of natural Hyaluronic Acid in the body. Hyaluronic Acid is the key ingredient which helps to plump and soften the skin. Phyto Lip Gloss is also enriched with Phytosqualene (derived from olive oil), Rapeseed Oil (rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids) and Sunflower Oil to soften the lips and Shea Butter and Kokum Butter to soothe and repair the lips. The ingredient which protects the lips is natural Tocopherols and free radical Vitamin E. The scent of the formula is pleasant with fresh mint and tea leaves mmmm divine!

Swatch of Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss in #2 Beige Rose (left) and #3 Rose (right).

Are you a lip gloss or lipstick girl?

 xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Sisley and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

Thursday 18 October 2012

Aqua by Jimeale New York

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Aqua by Jimeale NY Blue Cosmetic Clutch, A$15
Aqua by Jimeale NY Pink Complete Cosmetic Clutch Bag, A$35
Aqua by Jimeale NY Green Small Clutch, A$10

Aqua by Jimeale NY Orange Toiletry Organiser, A$20

Aqua by Jimeale NY Hot Pink Weekender Bag, A$50


Aqua by Jimeale NY Gray Fold-Over Organiser, A$25

 When you’re planning on going to your friend’s place for a sleepover, travelling on holiday or even organising a road trip up north, Aqua by Jimeale New York will have you organised with their new range of stylish, bright and fun travel accessory bags available in a variety of different sizes and colours to suit your needs. Aqua by Jimeale NY was developed by Australian-born, New York designer and entrepreneur Jimeale Jorgenson and is sold exclusively at Target stores. The range of travel accessory bags are affordable, between A$10 and A$50, and the bags are made from durable, sturdy and wipe-off material to keep your contents safe and sound while travelling. My picks are the Fold-Over Organiser to carry all my beauty essentials and the Weekender Bag to carry some change of clothes for a business trip. 

Aqua by Jimeale NY is available exclusively at Target and online here.


How do you organise your beauty essentials when travelling?

xx Rose

Monday 15 October 2012

Heart-base Manicure


I've been inspired by the latest of nail art designs that I decided to opt for the simple French manicure, however, instead of horizontal tips I painted two strips which meet at the centre like the base of a love heart. Also, I wanted neon tips, since neons are the hype of this season, so I chose a neon-red in Sunday by Bloom Cosmetics on a vibrant pink base which is called Cascade Cool by Essie. I purchased Cascade Cool when I was in Berlin (see my Travel Photo Diary here) and the shade is part of the Summer 2013 Essie collection, yet to be launched in Australia. The overall look is fun, vibrant and colorful, great for this Spring season.

Have you painted you nails using neon shades?

xx Rose

Friday 12 October 2012

DIY Makeup Organiser - Re-use your Glossyboxes



The Spring season is in full swing and during these last few days I've been sorting and organising my makeup and beauty products. The other day, I came across a DIY tutorial on Laura's blog where she made her own makeup organiser by re-using 4 of her old Glossybox boxes. I absolutely love the idea and it's such a great way to make better use out of these sturdy and cute Glossyboxes.

Glossybox Australia released their first box in November 2011 and unfortunately the company was short-lived and released their last Glossybox in April 2012. I have received all 6 Glossyboxes and 3 of the Glossyboxes have been used to hold my nail polishes and other bits and bobs. I thought I'd get a tiny bit creative and show you how to make a makeup organiser using only 3, rather than 4, empty Glossyboxes.

Things you will need:
  • 3 Glossyboxes
  • 2 x strong cardboard pieces (one 20.5 x 20.5 cm and the other 20.5 x 16.5 cm)
  • A long and sharp kitchen knife (it's a lot easier using a long blade rather than a small Stanley knife/scissors)
  • Hot glue gun (you can purchase one on eBay for a measly A$4)
  • Scissors and a pen to pierce holes into the drawer
  • Ruler
  • Ribbons for decoration (I used the pink ribbon which came with my Glossybox subscription)



First of all, use your kitchen knife a cut off one of the long edges of 2 Glossybox lids. The lids will be used to support the sides of your organiser. Keep the two long edges for later.


Using the 2 strong cardboard pieces (I surprisingly had these two cardboard pieces lying around and even though they are not the same size as specified in the above list, they still worked well to support the frame of the organiser), glue the edges to the the two Glossybox lids to create the frame. 

Next, glue-on the 3rd Glossybox lid right on top of the frame. To add further support, in case your drawers are filled to the brim with beauty products, glue on the two long edges at the back to hold the frame in place. 


Now, onto the drawers. I decided to decorate the drawers using the pink ribbon which came with my Glossybox subscription as it goes with the pink theme I was looking for. Use a ruler to mark the center of the drawer and then use a pen/scissors to pierce two holes for the ribbon. The length of each ribbon I used was 21 cm. You may want to start with at least 25 cm of the ribbon to tie a cute little bow with ease. I couldn't find where all my other Glossybox ribbons went off to, but luckily I had just enough.  

And.... voila! There you have it, your own Glossybox makeup organiser :)



Hope you enjoyed my little tutorial! What have you been using your Glossyboxes for?

xx Rose

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Spring Racing Fashion Ideas and Beauty Essentials

Spring Racing has finally arrived, so I thought I’d share with you some lovely Spring Racing fashion ideas and beauty essentials to bring you through the day looking gorgeous from AM to PM regardless of how many bubblies you've consumed!


Image source: Cooper St
Australian fashion label Cooper St has launched their brand new Gelato Dreams collection in this month of October featuring fun and elegant design dresses in pastel shades of purples, blues and pinks. I love the look of the new Gelato collection as Spring is the perfect season to wear pastel coloured dresses and floral detailed dresses!


Sometimes, I get a little adventurous with my hair during special events as my usual work hair is to look neat and tidy. Having a bad hair day during Spring Racing is one of the things you don’t what to happen! TONI&GUY have launched their new Hair Meet Wardrobe range which features an amazing array of hair styling products and treatments to keep your hair in top shape. I currently I'm loving the TONI&GUY Liquid Spritz and Shine Mousse* which I reviewed here


Lately, I’ve been using Grown Facial Moisturiser matte balancing formula with Acai-Berry and Borago* (A$59.95/40ml) together with my Grown Facial Serum* (A$59/25ml) (reviewed here) to ensure my combination/oily skin type stays balanced and adequately hydrated during the day. The scent of the Grown Moisturiser gives a pleasant natural botanical sense which dissipates awhile after application. The moisturiser does apply on a lot thicker than your typical lightweight moisturiser, however, after about 20 seconds the hydrating and somewhat sticky’ layer of the formula absorbs completely into the skin leaving my skin to appear matte and non-greasy. 

Keep your skin looking matte and beautiful throughout the day with Dermalogica MediBac Oil Free Matte with SPF30* (A$68.50/50ml). The formula is a white opaque cream which is lightweight and formulated without artificial fragrances and colours. Applied to the skin in place of a primer, Dermalogica MediBac helps to absorb excess skin oils developed during the day and maintain the balance of the skins natural oils to keep you looking shine-free. I have worn this formula during days that have been humid, sunny, raining and overcast and surprisingly only noticed a slight shine along the T-zone during a really humid and sunny day. The shine factor reduced dramatically when worn as a primer and gratefully gives longevity to my makeup.


Are you looking forward to Spring Racing?

xx Rose


*Product was provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with any beauty brand and did not receive remuneration to post this product review.

Images that are not my own were provided by PR.   




Monday 8 October 2012

Milan Fashion Week - Sam McKnight for Pantene at DSquared2 S/S '13




The DSquared2 S/S ‘13 Collection show at the Milan Fashion Week was inspired by the 90’s biker chic look with big and bold gold statement jewellery, raunchy hot leather skirts and hats and lace mini dresses. What better way to team this look with glossy super straight hair.


Sam McKnight, Global Stylist Ambassador for Pantene Pro-V - ‘At DSquared2 this season it was about replicating the look of the fashion icons of the 90’s and giving it a modern day twist.  The look we wanted to achieve was a light-hearted take on the decade through beautiful, healthy, glossy, super straight shiny hair.’

Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo
Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner
To get the look using a selection of Pantene Pro-V products, start with washing your hair using Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo* (A$7.99/350ml) and Conditioner* (A$7.99/350ml). The combination of the two products makes my hair feel thoroughly clean and silky smooth. The shampoo lathers up very well and this is a great quality in shampoo for my thick and long hair. The conditioner soaks into my hair very well to detangle and hydrate my hair. After blow-drying my freshly washed hair, my hair looks and feels great.

Pantene Pro-V Intensive Damage Repair Oil
When the hair is damp, apply Pantene Pro-V Intensive Damage Repair Oil* (A$9.99/30ml) to the ends to help nourish and strengthen dry/damaged hair. The scent of the formula is relatively strong, however, it didn’t linger for long. I apply a couple of drops of Intensive Damage Repair Oil to the ends of my hair every second day to protect my hair from split ends and to keep my hair well moisturised. It’s best to apply the product every second day as I found that my hair ended up looking too oily at the ends when applied on a daily basis. 

Pantene Pro-V All Day Smooth Creme
Next, use a hair straightener to straighten the hair by taking small sections of hair at a time. To finish, apply a small dollop of Pantene Pro-V All Day Smooth Light Weight Crème (A$6.99/90ml) to the hair to keep your hair looking sleek and shiny all day.


Which hair products are you using at the moment?

xx Rose 



*Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Pantene and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 
Images were provided by Pantene.