NEW Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Maiden

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Maiden (A$22/7ml) is an admirable warm peach that is part of Illamasqua's 2013 Christmas Collection. Maiden is a lovely simple everyday shade for those of you who love nude lip colours. The non-sticky formula appears quite opaque, however, it applies on semi-sheer to suit any kind of makeup look. The shade is more of a nude peach shade, so you could layer this shade over lipstick or apply the formula on its own. The scent of the formula is quite strong, though very pleasant - reminds me of those love heart candies! My scent does linger for a short while on my lips, so no one would think I've been consuming a bunch of lollies all day!

Do you love wearing coral/peach lip colour?

xx Rose

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

NEW Philips VisaPure Facial Cleansing Brush + Giveaway!

The latest beauty gadget to launch in Australia is the Philips VisaPure daily facial cleansing brush (VisaPure A$199, replacement brush heads A$19.95)! The sleek slender pink exterior is absolutely gorgeous and I love how easy it is to handle this brush to cleanse my skin! I've always been intrigued about these facial cleansing brushes as there have been quite a few devices popping up here and there when the much raved about Clarisonic made extreme headlines in the beauty blogosphere. This is the first time I've used a facial cleansing brush and boy oh boy was I blown away!  

The Philips VisaPure works to cleanse and clarify the skin without stripping the the elasticity of skin. The VisaPure is cordless/wireless and you could use this cleansing brush in front of the sink, in the shower or in the bathtub. I prefer to use the VisaPure while in the shower. The The VisaPure accompanies two different types of brush heads to cater for sensitive (pink/white bristles) and normal (white bristles) skin types. The bristles of both brush heads are incredibly soft to touch and gentle to my skin! My skin is sensitive and using the brush head which caters for normal skin (white bristles) suits perfectly well. 

To use the VisaPure, just moisten the brush head with warm water and apply a liquid cleanser directly to the brush head. I've found that liquid cleansers, rather than foam cleanser, work best with the VisaPure as the spinning motion of the brush head works best to exfoliate rather than to allow foam cleansers to foam up. 

The VisaPure operates under two different cleansing speeds for either a gentle or deep cleanse. The VisaPure takes about 6 hours to fully charge and can operate for 30 minutes. There are three 20 second intervals in which the VisaPure operates with a 0.5 second break in between, so each cleansing session takes only 1 minute to accomplish. The three cycles of cleansing allows you to cleanse one cheek at a time followed by cleansing the T-zone. This is such a clever function, as you would be able to cleanse parts of the face evenly. To clean the brush head, just run warm water through the brush and then invert the VisaPure on its stand ready for the next use.

I've been using the VisaPure once daily (even though it is recommended for use twice daily) and my skin feels well exfoliated, smooth and thoroughly clarified. The VisaPure allows efficient cleansing to areas of the face which, such as the corners of my nose and along the forehead. I love how mess-free and simple the VisaPure is to operate and love that it helps to deeply cleanse my skin to effectively remove residues on my skin.

The lovely PR team at Philips have kindly offered me an additional Philips VisaPure to give away to one very lucky reader! To enter this giveaway, simply submit your entry in the Rafflecopter widget below. Giveaway is only open to Australian residents. Giveaway opens from 1st to 14th December 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you use a facial cleansing brush to cleanse your skin?

xx Rose

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

NEW Illamasqua Snow Glitter Nail Varnish in Blizzard

Illamasqua Snow Glitter Nail Varnish in Blizzard (A$22/15ml) is one of my favourite beauties that is part of the limited edition Illamasqua Christmas Collection. I absolutely adore the white speckled snow glitter scattered in clear nail varnish. The formula is relatively dense and the snow glitters are abundant, so you don't need to spend so much time fishing for the glitters for even distribution across the nail bed. The formula dries up super quick and you could apply Blizzard over any shade of nail varnish to enhance the glitter effect. Double thumbs up for this oh so pretty snow glitter formula!

Are you planning on creating some festive nail art this Christmas season?

What's on your nails today?

xx Rose

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

Laura Mercier Shimmer Effects Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Sugar Frost

Laura Mercier have recently launched their limited edition Christmas Collection in-store and one of the packs in this collection is the Laura Mercier Shimmer Effects Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection (A$45/ 4 x 1g). This luxurious pack contains four different shimmery shades (Pink Opal, Amethyst, Rosegold and Sugar Frost) that come in a cute miniature version of the full sized product - super handy to keep in my evening clutch bag! One of the many things I love about these Caviar Sticks is that they are a breeze to apply and completely mess-free! The texture is creamy and amazingly non-gritty. The shade Sugar Frost is an opulent shimmery pink beige which glides on butter-smooth and is highly pigmented. I love applying this gorgeous shade directly all over my eye lid and also on the inner corners of my eyes to add a beautiful spark to my eyes. Using a flat brush, I would sometimes apply a generous amount to my lower lash-line. The shade Sugar Frost is the perfect accompaniment to darker eye shadows to create a smoky eye effect. The soft and creamy texture makes this shade easy to blend to create an alluring gradient effect to the eyelids. The longevity is excellent as the formula stays put without creasing, smudging nor fading. I highly recommend these gorgeous Caviar Sticks and it definitely is worth checking out the Shimmer Effects Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection as it would make the perfect gift for beauty lovers or even yourself! Now, on to complete my collection of Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks! 

Laura Mercier Christmas Collection is exclusive and available at David Jones.

Which types of eye shadow formulas do you prefer?

xx Rose

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

Ultraceuticals Ultra Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF30+ (Hydrating)

This summer, Ultraceuticals has got you covered and protected with their Ultra Protective Daily Moisturiser range. Ultraceuticals Ultra Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF30+ (A$65/100ml) is available in three variants to cater for your skin concern: Hydrating (dry/normal skin), Mattifying (oily/normal skin) and Sheer Tint (all skin types). My skin is oily/normal and the Hydrating variant has quickly become my staple daytime moisturiser! I love skin care products which which are formulated with SPF30+ as I always feel rest assured that these formulas will provide my skin with a protective barrier so that I could have fun under the sun! Ultraceuticals Ultra Protective Daily Moisturiser (Hydrating) is a lovely opaque white lightweight moisturiser which absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving any residues. The non-whitening formula protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays to decelerate the aging of skin. The formula is a concoction of Shea Butter, Panthenol and Nicotinamide which helps to support the skin barrier, whilst adequately maintaining the natural hydration of skin. I usually use a small pea sized amount to cover my face and then proceed with applying my makeup. My skin feels well hydrated during the day and doesn't leave my skin appearing greasy nor oily. If you have dry/normal skin, this moisturiser would be right up your alley!

Ultraceuticals skin care products are available at leading skin clinics and David Jones stores.    

Which skin care products do you use to shield against the sun rays?

xx Rose

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

Ultraceuticals Ultra Brightening Serum

Ultraceuticals Ultra Brightening Serum (A$135/30ml) is one of Ultraceuticals most talked about formulations that aims to reduce mild to advanced hyperpigmentation (age spots, discolouration and uneven skin tone) to boost the clarity and luminosity of the complexion. The Ultra Brightening Serum is a potent concoction of brightening agents, pigment blockers and exfoliants including: Artocarpus Lakoocha and Bearberry Extracts to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, and AHAs and BHA to clarify and exfoliate the skin. The formula also contains Lactic, Citric and Salicylic acid to increase skin turnover, which helps to shed pigmentation across the surface layers of skin.

I've been trialling this serum for four weeks and due to the potency of this serum, I was advised to apply the serum once per day for about 1 week and then continue with a twice daily application from there onwards. The scent of this powerful serum is quite strong and slightly unpleasant for my sensitive nose, however, it does disappear after a couple of minutes. The pump is really convenient as one full pump dispenses about a 5 cent sized amount, which is sufficient to apply on my face. The serum has quite a thin consistency, so the best method to apply this serum is to gently dab and press the serum all over the face. Upon application, the serum absorbed into my skin quickly and my skin experienced a relaxing cooling sensation. I didn't notice any major changes to my skin texture, in terms of pigmentation and uneven skin tone, however I did notice that my complexion was beginning to appear brighter and clearer after about the 3 week mark. Thankfully, the formula, although quite potent, did not irritate my sensitive skin. I was quite hesitant to continue use of the Ultra brightening Serum due to its potency, though building up the application from applying once daily to twice daily helped my skin to adapt to the brightening agents. Ultra Brightening Serum is an effective formula for my skin and it's something my skin can't get enough of!

Ultraceuticals skin care products are available at leading skin clinics and David Jones stores.    

Have you tried using Ultraceutical skin care products before?

Does your skin suffer from hyperpigmentation?

How do you combat hyperpigmentation?

xx Rose

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

Ultraceuticals Mattifying Magic Christmas Gift Set

Christmas has finally arrived at Ultraceuticals! Ultraceuticals has made gift giving so easy with their range of value-packs to cater your skin and body. To view the range of Ultraceuticals Christmas Gift Sets available, please see my recent post here. I was recently gifted the Mattifying Magic Christmas Pack (A$99, valued at A$148) to trial and I've been loving every single product in this amazing pack! The contents of this pack include the Ultra Balancing Cleansing Gel (200ml), Ultra Hydrating Lotion (75ml) and Even Skintone Serum Mild (10ml).

Ultraceuticals Gentle Cleansing Gel makes my skin feel beautifully clean and fresh without stripping the natural oils of my skin. The silky smooth and slightly runny consistency of this pearlescent gel thoroughly removes traces of makeup and dirt and the scent reminds me of toffee lollies! The formula is packed full with antioxidants and natural ingredients including coconut oil, vitamin E and green tea, which all help to nourish and hydrate the skin. I love this concoction as I'm always on the lookout for ingredients in skin care products which help to improve skin texture and appearance. I have sensitive skin and I'm quite impressed that this Gentle Cleansing Gel was completely compatible with my skin type!

Even Skintone Serum Mild is quite a potent yet effective serum which helps to reduce the look of discoloration and pigmentation for a smoother, brighter and clarified complexion.  Initially, I only used this serum once every 2-3 days and after about 2 weeks I began using this once daily before hitting the hay. The transparent and thin consistency of this lightweight serum absorbs relatively quickly into my skin and it leaves a nice cooling sensation. The best way to apply this serum is to dispense a pearl-sized amount to my fingertips and gently press the serum onto the skin. The scent is quite strong for my sensitive nose, though thankfully the scent does dissipate after a short while. While this serum feels lovely on my skin, the formula didn't hydrate my skin as well as I expected. Applying a hydrating moisturiser is a must. My sensitive skin did not react negatively to this serum at all, so I was uber happy to continue trialling this serum. After about 3-4 weeks, I was feeling super pleased as my skin actually looked slightly brighter and clarified - perfect for this coming summer season!!

Ultraceuticals Ultra Hydrating Lotion is a super hydrating lotion which soothes, cools and hydrates my skin wonderfully well! The consistency of this lotion is very runny, so dispensing this product from a tube was a little uneasy as I would sometimes over-dispense! You really only need a 10 cent sized amount to moisturise all over the face. This lightweight lotion feels amazing on my skin as it just glides luxuriously against my skin and instantly hydrates my skin.  The formula absorbs quickly and leaves a nice matte finish. My skin looks and feels uber soft and smooth! I absolutely love how effective this Ultra Hydrating Lotion is! If you have sensitive/oily skin types, I would highly recommend this moisturiser!


Ultraceuticals Christmas Packs are available at leading skin clinics and David Jones stores. 
 

Have you tried any of these Ultraceutical skin care products before?

Which Ultraceuticals products do you love most?

xx Rose

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

NEW Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Lip Cheek Colour

The Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Lip Cheek Colours (A$29.95/3g) are the latest lip/cheek product by Mirenesse, which boasts 13 vibrant and beautiful shades. The concept of these retractable hybrid lip/cheek pens are quit similar to those lip crayons which have been launched by quite a few other brands. All you need to do is just pop the lid, twist the base and you're ready to apply. These Glossy Kiss Lip Cheek Colours are so easy to use as a lip and cheek product and they are also low maintenance too. 

I was kindly sent the shades #14 Perfect Kiss and #12 Last Kiss to take on a test drive and I am absolutely amazed with the quality of these formulas!

#14 Perfect Kiss is a lustrous pink/red with miniscule gold shimmers.

#12 Last Kiss is a bold brick red/brown with no shimmers.

L-R: #14 Perfect Kiss and #12 Last Kiss.

The formula of these Glossy Kiss Lip Cheek Colours are super moisturising and hydrating that I was utterly gobsmacked! These Glossy Kiss Lip Cheek Colours are formulated with Vitamin E and BB Mineral Pigments, so that the lips are well protected and maintained.

The formula is lightweight and also gives a full burst of colour and pigmentation to the lips and a beautiful natural flush of colour to the cheeks! The shade #14 Perfect Kiss is a very wearable shade that could be worn on both the lips and cheeks, however, the darker shade #12 Last Kiss is more suited for the lips.

I absolutely love the high impact colour, which instantly transforms the lips to appear super glossy and sexy! The glossy finish is similar to that of lipstick and the great thing is that the formula is non-sticky and non-drying! Due to the high intensity of colour, you only need to dab the tiniest amount of product to the cheeks before thoroughly blending across the cheeks using a blush brush.

While drinking my morning dose of coffee, I did notice transfer of the lip formula onto my coffee cup, however, the formula does leave a lovely subtle stain to the lips. The formula lasts a good couple of hours on my lips, before a full touch-up is needed. With regards to the lasting power when applied as a cheek colour, the longevity was fantastic! Due to the balmy and hydrating formula, the soft flush of colour on my cheeks remained untouched during the entire day!

Mirenesse Glossy Kis Lip Cheek Colour in #14 Perfect Kiss and #12 Last Kiss.

Do you love using lip/cheek crayons?

Have you tried Mirenesse products before?

xx Rose

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

Violet Box (October 2013)

My October Violet Box arrived a little later than usual, but it was certainly well worth the wait! The Violet Box I received was actually smaller and more rectangular in shape than the previous subscription boxes.

This month's Violet Box was packed full to the brim with skin care and make-up products where 4 of the 5 products included were full-sized.

October Violet Box

John Plunkett Cosmeceuticals Super Wrinkle Cream (A$28.95/50g, 20ml sample received) isn't something I need right now, however, for those of you who are interested, this Intensive Night Nourishing Cream is enriched with Vitamin C and E to help skin recover and rejuvenate.

APIVITA Express Beauty with Orange face mask (A$7.90/2 sachets) is an indulgent and revitalising face mask which is packed full of goodness that I'm sure my skin will absolutely love! I am really looking forward to using this face mask before the Melbourne Cup festivities next week!

Oxyplex Pressed Powder (A$70/11.8g, full size received) in the shade Amber is a mineral makeup foundation powder. Although the shade Amber is too dark for my skin tone, I can definitely see this powder as a bronzer to contour my face. Oxyplex is a completely new brand to me, so I'm quite intrigued to see how this powder performs.

Savoir Faire Lipgloss in Bon Bon (A$25, full size received) is a gorgeous fuschia shade which is totally right up my alley! The lip gloss applies on relatively sheer with a tinge of pink and the the caramel toffee scent of this lipgloss smells uber delicious!

Be A Bombshell Eye Shadow in Halo (A$18, full size received) is such a versatile shimmery white shade. The texture of the powder is quite soft, creamy and applies on smooth. However, the eye shadow doesn't last very well, so applying an eye primer beforehand is a must.

I am extremely pleased and excited to reveal to contents of the October Violet Box as there was a nice selection of familiar and unfamiliar brands included. The products included in the October Violet Box will certainly have me feeling well pampered and prepared for the Spring Racing season!

Are you a Violet Box subscriber?

 Did you receive the same contents/shades as I did?

xx Rose

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

NEW Illamasqua Nail Polish in Swarm

The latest offering by Illamasqua is the spooky limited edition nail polish in Swarm (A$22/15ml), which is part of the Illamasqua Halloween Collection - the first ever Halloween Collection launched by Illamasqua! Swarm is described as a matte black speckled glitter with a clear jelly base. Swarm is quite similar to those speckled nail polishes that were a part of the Illamasqua I'm Perfection Collection. In the swatches below, I applied 1 generous coat of Swarm over Sally Hansen's Gray-t Escape (reviewed here). I love the mysterious look of Swarm as you could work this effect with any coloured base.

Have you painted your nails in prep for Halloween?

xx Rose

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

Ultraceuticals Christmas Gift Sets

I know that we’re still in October and Christmas is only 2 months away, but I just wanted to share these gorgeous Christmas packs from revolutionary Australian skin care brand Ultraceuticals. If you’re not sure what to gift your loved ones this Christmas, why not check out these fantastic value-packs and discover what Ultraceuticals has to offer! 

Ultraceuticals Hydrating Magic Set (available October)

The Ultraceuticals Hydrating Magic Set is packed full with super hydrators to calm, refresh and soothe dehydrated skin. Suitable for normal, dry and sensitive skin types, this magical set contains the following: Ultra Hydrating Milk Cleanser (200ml), Ultra Moisturiser Cream (75ml) and Ultra A Skin Perfecting Serum Mild (10ml), A$109 (valued at A$161).

Ultraceuticals Radiance Magic Set (available October)

The Ultraceuticals Radiance Magic Set contains all the skin care saviors you need to bring back the luminosity and clarity to your complexion. This set contains the following: Ultra Brightening Serum (10ml), Ultra C10 Firming Serum (30ml) and Ultra Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF30+ Hydrating (100ml), A$139 (valued at A$196).

Ultraceuticals Mattifying Magic Set (available October)

The Ultraceuticals Mattifying Magic Set is ideal for those who have oily skin types as the products in this set help to control and balance skin hydration, and brighten skintone. The products in this set include: Ultra Balancing Cleansing Gel (200ml), Ultra Hydrating Lotion (75ml) and Even Skintone Serum Mild (10ml), A$99 (valued at A$148).

Ultraceuticals Body Magic Set (available November)

The Ultraceuticals Body Magic Set contains body and hand care products to ensure silky smooth and ultra soft skin for the summer holiday season. This set contains: Ultra Gentle Exfoliating Gel (50ml), Ultra Revitalising Body Oil (100ml) and Ultra Rich Hand Cream (75ml), A$59 (valued at A$94.

Ultraceuticals Complexion Perfection Set (available November)

The Ultraceuticals Complexion Perfection Set is all you need for complete correction of skin in a matter of minutes! This set contains the Ultra Balancing Skin Mist (100ml), new Ultra CC Powder Pure Mineral Foundation (12g), Kabuki Brush and Cosmetic bag, A$118 (value A$176). I recently reviewed the beautiful Ultra CC Powder Pure Mineral Foundation here. 

Ultraceuticals Christmas Packs are available at leading skin clinics and David Jones stores. 

Do you fancy any of these skin care and body care Christmas packs?

Which of these packs do you like best?

xx Rose

NEW Sally Hansan Spring Racing Collection (limited edition)

I love the Spring Racing season, because it gives me the opportunity to wear pretty dresses, jewellery and of course an eye-catching fascinator! Recently, Sally Hansen launched their new range of limited edition Spring Racing Collection that consists of 7 new Complete Salon Manicure nail colours (A$14.95/14.7ml)! These pretty pastels and chic neutral shades will have you race-day-ready for the Spring Racing festivities!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Spring Racing Collection. L-R: Rose Outlook, Peach of Cake, Sheer Bliss, Tickle Me Pink, Gray-t Escape, Good to Grape and Barracuda.

 

The brush applicator was developed exclusively by Sally Hansen to accomplish precision every time you paint your nails. The tip of the brush is rounded so that you could coat your nails in 2-3 simple swipes and the body of the brush is flat, so that the formula could hug the contours of your nails and that way you could evenly coat the bed of your nails. Each brush is actually made with 800 tiny bristles and the brush is shorter than most other applicators for quick and easy pick up of the nail polish without overloading.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure is formulated with protecting shine enhancers for lasting shine and a satin smooth finish similar to that of gel nail formulas. Additionally, these shine enhancers also claim to provide maximum chip-resistance. The consistency of these formulas are somewhat thicker than most other nail polish formulas I have used and the pigmentation is excellent! One coat is sufficient for full opacity, however, I tend to apply two coats to extend the wear.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barracuda (L) and Gray-t Escape (R).

Today I will be reviewing two of the shades from the Spring Racing Collection and these are the popular and most talked about shade Barracuda and the trendy and chic shade Gray-t Escape. 

Barracuda is such a gorgeous pastel sky blue shade. This is the perfect pastel blue shade and it's a great shade to wear this Spring season!

Gray-t Escape is a sophisticated nude, which I believe suits all skin tones. I absolutely love love LOVE this nude number! I could wear this shade with any outfit and it would just make my paws look very luxe and elegant!

Melbourne Cup Day lands on Tuesday the 5^th of November this year and Sally Hansen is currently offering the chance to win tickets to the Spring Races! The prize includes return flights, accommodation for you and a friend $1500 spending money and much more! For more details, please see in-store or visit the Sally Hansen Australia Facebook page. Now this competition is definitely worth a shot!

Also, if you’ve ever wondered why Sally Hansen designed their range of Complete Salon Manicure bottles so chunky and bold, check out my recent post which explains why here.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Spring Racing Collection is available exclusively at Priceline and Priceline Pharmacies for a limited time. 

Are you going to the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival?
Which shade do you love most from the Sally Hansen Spring Racing Collection?

xx Rose 

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