Violet Box (July 2013)

Violet Box is a fairly new beauty subscription service (A$22.95 per box/month) which launched in Australia in June 2013 and since it's inauguration there has been positive reception in terms of product variety and practicality. I received an e-mail notification on Thursday the 18th of July, stating that my July Violet Box was ready to be dispatched and on Monday the 22nd of July I received my box!

I was super duper excited to reveal the contents in the July box as I am always eager to try new beauty products! I received the same sleek matte black Violet Box with the Violet box logo at one corner as the June box, however, this time I received a stylish flip top box with magnetic closure. I love the style of this Violet Box as it allows the box to be opened and closed easily.

Violet Box July 2013 edition

ModelCo Shine Ultra Lip Gloss (A$18/ - full size received)

The shade I received is a shimmering pink shade which has a watermelon scent. I'm not a fan of those watermelon-like scents, though the finish of this gloss is nice as it is non-sticky and leaves my lips looking smooth and glossy! 

Aphelia Peony 9+5 Advanced Beautifying Eye Creme (A$69/15ml - 5mL sample received)

I am a huge fan of eye creme! I've heard of Aphelia Peony, though I never had the chance to try their range of skincare products. The creme feels uber-hydrating and a little goes a loooong way!

Catalina Geo Long and Deep Mascara (A$31.50/7g + refill - full set received)

I've read so may RAVE reviews on this Catalina Geo Long and Deep Mascara that I was ecstatic to see a full sized tube + refill! This mascara defines while lengthens my lashes and the great thing is that it dries relatively quick! This mascara is definitely one of my favourite mascaras to date!

Adorn Cosmetics Eye Create Intensive Shadow in Jasper and Eye Create Matte Shadow in Quartz (A$15/1.5g - sample pot received)

Adorn Cosmetics Eye Create Intensive Shadow in Jasper (left) and Eye Create Matte Shadow in Quartz (right).

These loose eye shadows by Adorn are incredibly beautiful! The photos seriously do not do it justice! The shades Jasper (Shimmery golden shade) and Quartz (Matte dark brown shade) are complementary shades to achieve a sultry smoky eye or just a gorgeous when worn alone. Adorn Eye Create loose eye shadows are natural, non-toxic and Australian-made!

Adorn Cosmetics Eye Create Intensive Shadow in Jasper (left) and Eye Create Matte Shadow in Quartz (right).

St Tropez Bronzing Mousse (A$39.95/120ml, A$59.95/240ml - 50ml received)

My skin is quite fair and tanning products are not my forte. I will probably give this Bronzing Mousse a try as St Tropez is quite the popular brand for tanning solutions. 

Overall, I am very satisfied and pleased with the July edition of Violet Box! My Violet Box contained two full-sized products (Lipgloss and Mascara) and 4 deluxe samples (Eye creme, Eye shadow and Bronzing mousse), which is a great selection that I'm sure there would be at least two products that the majority of subscribers will put to good use. 

Are you a subscriber to Violet Box? 

What are your thoughts on the second Violet Box that has launched?

xx Rose

*Products were provided for consideration only. These reviews are 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Violet Box and did not receive remuneration to post these product reviews.  

My Quest for Soft Fluttery Lashes

My line up of mascaras

My quest to achieve soft and fluttery natural looking lashes has opened doors to a range of drugstore to high-end beauty brands. I love wearing mascara to enhance my lashes, however, one thing I dislike about mascara is the difficulty in removing them. I tend to lose my lashes every time I try to remove mascara and so I only wear mascara occasionally during the week. My ideal mascara would have the ability of effectively separate my lashes whilst providing longer and fully defined lashes. The following is a review of my experience with a range of mascaras that are either new to the market or are long-time favourites:

Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara

Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir (A$55/6g): To achieve fluttery, soft and natural looking lashes with elongation and definition, Chanel Inimitable Mascara is my pick, hands down! The sleek tube with a narrow brush head applicator evenly separates and coats the lashes without any clumping what-so-ever. The mascara holds the curl and dries quickly, so I don’t end up with residual mascara below my eyes. Given that this mascara is not waterproof I am utterly amazed that it does not smudge at all. Chanel Inimitable mascara lasts all day and is very easy to remove under warm water. I highly recommend this mascara if you’re looking for naturally fluttery lashes.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara (A$52/6.5ml): Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara is the first scented mascara I have ever used. The relatively soft scent of roses is a really nice characteristic of this mascara. I was a little weary about using this mascara as I have sensitive eyes, which sometimes go watery when applying particular mascaras, however, I took the plunge to test this mascara and I am happy that my eyes did not irritate. The brush applicator is in the shape of a cone and this makes application easy and ensures every single lash is nicely coated. Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara adds a good amount of length to my lashes and provides a clump-free result with no panda eyes, however, it just doesn’t hold the curl as long as Chanel Inimitable.  Hence, I always apply as little as possible so I don’t weigh my lashes. Overall, I really like the effect of Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara as it opens up my eyes and my lashes look very natural.

Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara

Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening mascara (A$48/6ml): BobbiBrown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening mascara worked very well to create great coverage to provide thicker and longer lashes. I am really mesmerised as to how well this mascara separates my lashes whilst thickening each lash nicely from root to tip without looking clumpy or uneven. It doesn’t give me extremely dramatic lashes, however, it does do a great job in providing long lasting flirty fluttery lashes.

Clinique High Lengths Mascara

Clinique High Lengths Mascara (A$38/7ml): Clinique High Lengths mascara comes in a white tube and the brush applicator is a curved bright green comb. I like the fact that the comb always picks up sufficient product for application. The comb works magnificently well to separate each lash and coat each lash to create a soft and natural effects to the lashes. My lashes do appear beautifully longer and I really love the flutteryness of my long lashes. No clumping and no smudges! Clinique High Lengths mascara is a great mascara for everyday wear and the separating ability of the comb works a charm! 

ModelCo Fibre Lash Brush on False Lashes

ModelCo Fibre Lash Brush on False Lashes (A$48): ModelCo Fibre Lash Brush on Flase Lashes Mascara is a dual end mascara with ‘black extension mascara’ in one end and ‘lash fibres’ on the other end. The ModelCo Lash Fibre mascara in the photo is a sample-sized version that I received as a gwp from a magazine. To apply, the extension mascara is used first so that the lash fibres adhere to the lashes and then a second coat of extension mascara goes on to give lashes extreme length and definition. I really love the look of my lashes and very surprised as to how long they look. ModelCo Lash Fibre mascara provides a dramatic intense look to the lashes and it doesn’t smudge at all! I highly recommend this mascara if you want dramatic lashes.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara in shade Ultra Black Organics (A$24.95/7.5g)*: PhysiciansFormula Organic Wear mascara stands out very well among my long line of black tubed mascaras! The bright green leaf design of the mascara reflects on the fact that the formula is made using 100% natural ingredients. The mascara is formulated with OrganiSoy to moisturise and nourish the lashes and Eco-Olive to protect the lashes from the harsh environmental elements. The brush applicator of this mascara is really huge and does seem a little difficult to reach lashes in the corners of the eyes, however, the trick is to use the very tip of the brush to make application easy.  This mascara holds the curl very well and a few strokes to the lashes doesn't weight them down, however, I noticed this mascara does transfer slightly to the bottom of my eyes. Being non-waterproof, I guess this is expected anyway.

Overall, there are a few favourites of mine that I have mentioned and ultimately my ideal mascara is Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara for soft and naturally looking fluttery lashes and I have to give ModelCo Fibre Lash Brush on False Lashes as my go-to mascara for dramatic and intense looking lashes.

Which mascara is your holy grail?

xx Rose 

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

Cleo Magazine + FREE ModelCo eye shadow trio!!

For all Cleo magazine readers and/or ModelCo fanatics out there, the August issue of Cleo (Australia) comes with a FREE ModelCo eye shadow trio worth $39! 

There are three shades to choose from: Smokey Eye, Bronzed Goddess and Island Fever.

Head out to your nearest Coles/Woolworths/Newsagent to grab your copy of Cleo (with Cameron Diaz on the cover)!

Each compact is packaged in a slim-line compact with inbuilt mirror and a dual ended eye shadow applicator. 



Smokey Eye: Mykonos (icy pearl sheen), Shanghai (smokey gunmetal) and Arabia (intense matte black)





Island Fever: Costa Rica(neutral beige sheen), Positano (shimmering tropical turquoise) and Tahiti(matte midnight navy)





Bronzed Goddess: Maldives (pale vanilla shimmer), St Barts (frosted rose gold) and Jamaica (deep bronze sheen)