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.