Beauty Swap with Sophie from Born to Buy

So, a long, long time ago now, I did a swap with the simply stunning Sophie from Born to Buy. It's true, I am the ABSOLUTE worst Blogger in the history of Bloggers. My life has been pretty complicated in 2013, so my promised post has been too long in the making. I am so, so sorry Sophie! I hope that you all jump over and check out her incredible blog to help me make up for being utterly useless!! On the plus side, my post is atleast making it's appearance in the same year.... so we're all good... right???

Well, now that's out of the way, let's get stuck in to all the goodies Sophie sent me. To say she spoilt me is an understatement. She has impeccable taste and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world when her delivery rocked up at my door. Opening the package revealed a paradise of pink parcels; each treasure individually wrapped and accompanied by a personalised note. How thoughtful can one person be?! Such a rare gem!

The first goodie i uncovered was a Lush Therapy Massage Bar. Now being a Lush virgin I was really excited to try this product out and begin my love affair with Lush. Not only is this massage bar relaxing and soothing, it leaves my skin feeling silky smooth and smells utterly devine. Needless to say I am now a frequent Lush-er, it's my new nirvana.

Next up is the ably named Physicians Formula: Sexy Booster Sexy Glow Glossy Stain in the colour Red. This is just delicious; it is a gorgeous shade of red and lasts all night long. Stay tuned for my comparison between this little baby and my YSL Glossy Stain.

They say great minds think alike, and that was certainly the case when both Sophie and I purchased each other Soap and Glory Hand Food. I had been eyeing this off for myself for quite some time and purchasing it for the swap did little to quench my desire.  With shea butter, macadamia oil and marshmallow you simply can't go wrong, and I couldn't contain my excitement when I discovered this little bottle of goodness in my hot little hands at long last.

Lippy Girl Organic Lipstick in the colour Gob Smacked is a striking pink colour and it reminds me of the pink all the cool girls wore in the old movies I grew up watching - cue Grease, Back to the Future, The Breakfast Club etc etc. The formula is creamy and feels incredible on my lips, and it's organic!! What more could a girl want?

Max Factor Lash Extension Effect: Extreme Lengthening Mascara is one of Sophie's faves which has been discontinued. Let me just say I am so glad that she sent me one of her back ups because this stuff is beyond amazing! It leaves my lashes looking long, luscious and hallelujah it doesn't clump up when I apply coat after coat. The only problem is... what do I do when I run out?? #mustmakeitlast

Let's just take a minute to appreciate the pure genius that is perfume samples! Sophie, how did you know my weakness for such things! So handy to keep in your bag, I never leave home without one, or six! I am loving the T-Swift sent and I can't even begin to describe my adoration for Viva La Juicy! Now to decide if I add them to my never ending perfume wish list???

I told Sophie that I really wanted to get a few more coloured eye liners and boy did she deliver!! The Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl in the colour 007: Turquoise is out of the world. It is the most gorgeous shade, almost a metallic blue-green, and don't even get me started on the the formulation of these babies... So pigmented, so soft, glides on like a dream... Yes, Sophie, you did start an obsession. I now own about 4 i believe... Whoops!!!

Sophie also sent me the Bourjois Paris Smoky Effet liner in colour 72: Dark Purple. Now while it is not as smooth as my beloved Rimmel, it is still an exceptional liner and probably my most favourite coloured eye liner EVER. I have used this a lot in creating that perfect smokey eye. My favourite part of this liner you ask? The smudge brush. This brush changed my life. I adore it and i actually keep this liner in with my brushes because I reach for it so frequently. Let's be honest, who doesn't love a good smudge, especially if you stuff up a winged liner look!

I'll be honest, I screamed with excitement when I saw these!! Yes, I am one of those people who loves a good shampoo and conditioner sample. And I'll tell you why. I travel, a lot, and there's nothing better than chucking a few samples in a zip lock bag. Travelling with containers of shampoo and conditioner is a nightmare, and I can't even talk about those cheap and nasty hotel provided things - sure the bottles are cute, but that's where it ends! After a lot of travel in the past 12 months, my stocks were getting low, so thank you Sophie for replenishing my supplies. My curls are eternally grateful!

WOW Sophie, you have out done yourself. I truly love everything you have sent me and I have discovered some new faves for sure! Thank you so much for taking the time to send me such a thoughtful gift. You are truly a remarkable person and I look up to you more than you could ever know. If you'd like to see what I sent Sophie, check out her post here.

Thanks so much for reading, feel free to follow me on Bloglovin... We all know it's more addictive than Twitter, Facebook and Instagram combined...

Until next time, much love my darlings...

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Illamasqua Australia Rave

Being a Beauty Lover, I am always keen to discover new brands and products which could potentially change my life. Today, after hearing bits and pieces, I decided to check out the Illamasqua Counter at my local Myer. And let me tell you I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY!! I was inspired to blog a little about my experience and fill you guys in.... 

I was greeted by a beautiful girl called Victoria who was so friendly and helpful. She asked me if I had tried Illamasqua before and when I revealed my newbie status she was almost excited to share the brand with me.  She was more than happy to discuss the brand with me and tell me all about the fabulous products they have on offer. Also, and this is super, super exciting, she immediately gave me a voucher for two complimentary make-up transformations!!! This was just as an introduction to the brand, so that I could see the products in action... WOW!!! Now that's customer service!

Some of you may know that late last year Illamasqua stepped up to the plate in the fight for a fair price for beauty in Australia. Beauty products are ridiculously expensive in Australia, particularly in comparison with the rest of the world. Illamasqua has taken a stand against this by lowering their prices by 35% across the board! By doing so us Aussie pay essentially the same price as our friends in the UK. Finally, a company that cares about its customers and their needs! I am so impressed by this and I feel that Illamasqua deserves our support. In my opinion, if Illamasqua can demonstrate that it is viable for cosmetics companies to lower the RRP here in the land down under, then other companies may follow suit. Which means less hunting around online to find the products I want, at a price that wont completely break the bank. So, with that said, I strongly urge you to support Illamasqua in some way, shape or form and maybe, just maybe, some other brands will lower their prices too.

Anyway, moving right along.... I checked out a few of their products, but being a little poor at the moment I only picked up one. I grabbed their Cream Blusher in Dixie... and Oh Em Geee I am in LOVE!!! It is phenomenal. I am so impressed by it! It is so, so soft and creamy, out of this world pigmentation and it blends like a dream. Seriously, I literally dipped my finger in once, tapped it on to my cheeks and blended it out to cover my entire cheek. The tiniest amount goes the longest way. I am speechless! Truly an impressive product and I NEED more ASAP!!! 

I am really excited by Illamasqua as a brand and as a company. I am looking forward to exploring them more and sharing my experiences with you all. I will definitely be taking advantage of the complimentary make-up transformation and I will be sure to let you all know how it goes. If you have an Illamasqua counter nearby I highly recommend that you stop by and check out this awesome brand. In the mean time do check out my Illamasqua Australia Rave Video and subscribe to My Channel so you can keep up to date with my discoveries. 

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Since starting this blog I have given a lot of thought to what I want to do with it and what I hope to share with you all. I truly love writing this blog and I find so much joy in it. I want to be able to give a little something back to you all. Being a beauty lover, it is a given that I am also a bit of a beauty collector... I wanted to utilise this in someway so that I could share with you all my thoughts and opinions on a few of the products out there.

I have decided to create a series of in-depth reviews on various products; I am calling them "Day2Night Impressions". Essentially, I will vlog and blog about my experiences with particular products over a full day of wear. You will join me from the initial application to the end of the day, giving you a first hand view of the products in use. I want to be able to provide you all with an insight in to the products, as well as sharing with you all my views. 

I have decided to start by testing some foundations. I feel that foundations can be rather tricky to purchase; it's really difficult to get a good impression of the product from a simple swatch. Hopefully these Day2Night impressions will help make the selection process a little easier. 

I have done a quick introduction video which explains it a little more and reveals the first few foundations that I will be testing!! 

Let me know in the comments below what you think of this new project!! 

xo Lisa xo 

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My Makeup Collection & Storage

Some of you may recall my Beauty Bar Bliss blog post from late last year when I was toying with the idea of starting a blog. This new venture of mine has blossomed since then an grown beyond my wildest expectations. Thank you so much for making my dreams come true!! xxxxxx

I have just uploaded another video for you guys, this one features my Makeup Collection & Storage! My collection is not too fabulous, but it's growing and i absolutely love it!!! I hope you enjoy.....

Also, I just wanted to say that I am not intending to brag through this video. I feel very fortunate for what I have and my husband and I work very hard so that we can treat ourselves occasionally. 

If you have any questions about any part of my collection or storage, feel free to ask!!! 

xo Lisa xo 

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TAG - Summer Lovin'

YAY!! I was tagged in another video on YouTube!! How Exciting!!!

This tag is called the Summer Lovin' Tag! I was tagged by the lovely Ainsley from TheAinsleeyx. You can see her her video here.

You Can see my video above, or you can check out My Channel! I'd love it if you subscribed <3

AND GUESS WHAT.... 

TAG YOU'RE IT!!!

 I tag you all to do this video!! Here are the questions....

1. Top 3 Summer Beauty Must Haves

2. Perfect Summer Scent

3. Must have Summer accessory

4. Your summer nail polish colour

5. WYR swim at the beach or in a pool?

6. Over summer WYR give up late nights or sleep ins?

7. You are spending the day at the beach/pool do you wear makeup? (If yes what?)

8. Favourite summer holiday/vacation spot?

If you make videos please leave your Tag as a video response. If you don't comment below either here or on the video! I'd love to hear all of your answers!!

Thanks so much for reading!!

xo Lisa xo

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Essence Haul & First Impressions

The other day I did a little bit of 'Whoopsie' shopping at Priceline... But it totally wasn't my fault!! I had been seeing heaps of Aussie Gurus raving about some Essence Products and I just HAD to have them!! I am blaming this spending spree on my lovely friends DOMMsmiles, Jordy from Jordy's Beauty Spot and Sophie from Born To Buy, pop on over and check 'em out, tell them Lisa sent you <3

Here's a list of what I purchased.... 

Essence Eyeshadow in #58 Cappuccino, please! $3.25

Essence Stay All Day Long Lasting Eyeshadow in #09 For Fairies. $5.50

Essence Stay With Me Longlasting lipgloss in #08 Deep Rose $3.95

Essence Stay With Me Longlasting lipgloss in #02 My Favourite Milkshake $3.95

Essence Lip Liner in #11- In The Nude

Essence Gel Eyeliner in #01 Midnight in Paris $5.95

Essence Silky Touch Blush in #10 Adorable $4.95

Essence 50’s Girls Reloaded Eyeshadow Duo in #03 Come On Board Captain! $4.95

Essence 50’s Girls Reloaded Eyeshadow Duo in #01 I’m A Marine Girl $4.95

Essence 50’s Girls Reloaded Nail Polish in #04 Love Me Tender $3.50

Essence 50’s Girls Reloaded Eyepencil in #03 Love Me Tender $1.95

Essence 50’s Girls Reloaded Eyepencil in #01 You’re A Heartbreaker $1.95

Essence 50’s Girls Reloaded Eyepencil in #02 I’m A Marine Girl $1.95

Stay tuned for further reviews and impressions of these products!! 

I have posted a Video of my haul and my first impressions. Please check out my My Channel and I'd love it if you subscribed!! 

Until next time ...

xo Lisa xo 

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TAG: Six Products I Couldn't Live Without

Hey Guys!! Just a quick post to let you all know that I have posted a new video on My Channel.

It is my first ever TAG video!!! YAY!!! How Exciting!! I was tagged by the lovely Nikki at nikkev19. I definitely recommend checking her out! she's an absolute doll!!

I am working on a detailed blog about the Six Products I Couldn't Live without, so stay tuned for that!!!

What six products couldn't you live without???

xo Lisa xo

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Beauty Babble Featuring Ulta3 Lipsticks

Welcome to Beauty Babble... A series of blog posts featuring products I've tried and tested. I'll be giving you the 4-1-1; all the details you need on some of THE most talked about products.

Following MissTango2 on Instagram led me to discover Ulta3 Lip Sticks. She posted this amazing picture of the Ulta3 Stand at her local Terry White Chemist. Initially, I noticed the impressive colour selection. There were just so many colours to choose from! But then, after studying the photo, I saw something rather alarming. The price. The display advertised the lipsticks as being $2.95 each for the regular and $3.95 for the matte varieties. I was shocked and excited all at once; obviously I NEEDED to have them immediately.

Exploring the Ulta3 stand is like a dream come true. I went swatch crazy. The colours were all so amazing, it was almost impossible to choose. I ended up decided upon 5 shades that I feel in love with on first swatch. I know, very tame of me :)

L to R:
031 Misty Mauve, 034 Brown Sugar, 019 Forever Fawn, 026 Rosa, 040 Coral Reef

L to R:
031 Misty Mauve, 034 Brown Sugar, 019 Forever Fawn, 026 Rosa, 040 Coral Reef

All I can say is WOW!!! These lippys literally make me speechless. They are phenomenal!!!

The first thing that strikes you about these lippies is the packaging. Ulta3 has done an exceptional job. The bargain price certainly doesn't mean low quality, in fact the packaging of these lipsticks is among some of the best I've ever seen. What I really love is the fact that the colour is clearly visible. It makes it easy to store and even easier to select the colour you desire when reaching for it. I give Ulta3 a massive two thumbs up; they've clearly thought about the packaging and more importantly about their consumers and their needs.

I absolutely LOVE the colours I purchased. I have been wearing them non-stop since I got them in late December, 2012.

031 Misty Mauve is a beautiful deep pink tone matte lipstick. I have been thrashing this one and I am really enjoying it. The Matte formulation is not drying at all; it goes on the lips beautifully and has impressive staying power.

031 Misty Mauve

031 Misty Mauve

034 Brown Sugar is another matte shade. It's a gorgeous deep nude brown and once again the formula is so creamy and feels amazing on the lips. I have really loved this colour for night time looks, when I'm after something a little more natural.

034 Brown Sugar

034 Brown Sugar

019 Fawn Fever is lighter brown tone nude shade. I absolutely adore this lipstick. For me it is the perfect nude shade lipstick. It glides on effortlessly and gives the lips a stunning glow. I have been reaching for this quite frequently, I enjoy wearing it on a daily basis or when I've created a more dramatic eye.

019 Fawn Fever 

019 Fawn Fever 

026 Rosa is a deep brown-pink tone nude with a gorgeous sheen. It's lovely for giving your lips a touch of pink colour, while still maintaining the dignity of a nude and natural. It's a fabulous tone and works really nicely with a smokey eye.

026 Rosa

026 Rosa

040 Coral Reef is a stunning bright pink toned coral which gives your lips an amazing pop of colour. I love it for summer and I can see this being my go to shade of the season. This colour is so pigmented it's insane! I have been enjoying applying this colour to the lip, blotting, then applying a second coat to ensure the colour is long lasting.

040 Coral Reef

040 Coral Reef

Finally, let's talk formulation. It's gorgeous. All of the lipsticks, both matte and normal, are so very creamy and moisturising. they honestly feel so very luscious on you lips, making them ideal for all day wear. The colour pay off and pigmentation is a good as any lipstick I've used. All in all, an amazing product that is absolutely worth a look.

Overall, the Ulta3 lipsticks are a great way to add to you lipstick collection. There are wide range of colours to choose from, making them an excellent option when wanting to try out a new/unusual colour. Furthermore, at just $2.95 for the normal and $3.95 for Matte they are unbeatable in terms of value for money, you seriously can't go wrong. If you haven't already checked them out, I strongly suggest that you do.

Hit me up on Twitter @esteembeautyxo and let me know what you think of Beauty Babble and what products you would like to see featured throughout 2013.

xo Lisa xo 

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The New Love of My Life... theBalm: Balm-Jovi

First of all... So sorry I haven't been around the last few days. I finally returned back home from 9 weeks aways from home. I am so happy to be back home, but there is so much to do!! But I'm back now and I am planning to be a lot more focused now that life is returning to normal. So, please stay tuned!

Anywho... Today I wanted to share with you the new love of my life... Balm-Jovi by theBalm Cosmetics. I first heard about this little pocket rocket when my Top YouTuber of 2012, Jodik76 from Goo Roo Beauty, mentioned it in one of her amazing Collective Hauls. I was intrigued by the concept; a complete face solution in one handy, compact palette. As a frequent traveller, I am always on the look out for an easy solution that I can quickly reach for as I'm packing at the last minute.

Lucky for me, I managed to pick up this palette in the after christmas sales. I was walking through David Jones in Adelaide and I noticed a Clearance Bin... obviously I stopped and to my absolute delight there it was... Balm-Jovi on sale at a steal of a price, just $31.45!! How could I say no??? I rummaged through to find one in perfect condition, and I now have a new love in my life. I absolutely adore this palette, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great, versatile, high quality, value for money and unique face palette. Keep reading and I'll tell you why...

Let me break it down for you...


Presentation

The first thing that jumps out at you with this palette is the art work. It's such a clever design. Reminiscent of a Rock Concert Poster, your mind immediately filled with images of the music industry and the sounds of your favourite rock beats. Their attention to detail is second to none, right down to the clever play-on-words used throughout the entire palette. Now, I know that presentation doesn't make a palette, but I personally love that theBalm takes the time to design a product with such detail. It shows that they have pride in what they do and, more importantly, that they love what they do. They don't just pick a few colours and chuck them in a palette; there is a very thorough process at play, right from the initial concept idea through to the design and execution of their products.

As with all of theBalm products, the Balm-Jovi palette has a slip cover. I'm kind of 'meh' about these. They don't really make a huge difference to me; honestly, I could live without it, but I don't mind living with it. The palette cover is cleverly split in to two, with the top part opening to reveal the powder products and the bottom section protecting and separating the cream products. Both covers are magnetised and snap shut, which I love. Once again that adds to the transportability of the palette, so another big plus in my book! The palette also features a decently sized mirror which is in the shape of a love heart; A-dor-a-ble I know!!!! The bottom flap gives 4 look suggestions, which, in my opinion, is a nice touch.

Overall, for presentation I give this palette 5 stars. To be honest, It's hard to fault and theBalm should be very proud of their achievements.



Products

Eye Shadows 

Heavy Metal Collection - Shimmers 

Metal-ica is a beautiful snow-white colour which has a gorgeous sheen to it and almost a silver-ish shimmer. I love it as an inner corner colour; I find it is very blend-able and easy to work with. The only negative is that it can be slightly powdery, but if I just tap off the excess it's absolutely no problem at all, so kind of a moot point.

Iron Maid-In is probably one of my favourite eye shadows in the entire palette. It is a stunning neutral, almost nude colour with gold-ish undertones and sheen. Being a gold girl, I absolutely love this colour. I find it to be very versatile; I've been able to wear it all over the lid, in the inner corner, under the eye as an eye liner or even as a highlighter on the inner corner or the brow bone, depending on the look. The shadow itself is very buttery and is a pleasure to work with.

Lead Zeppelin looks lovely in the pan; a deep moss colour with gold shimmer. While its colour payoff is not the best, I still love this colour. I find that it works well and is very wearable. It looks nice all over the lid or as a crease colour. I enjoy the gold shimmer and I find that it works well will Iron Maid-In. It's brilliant as a transition colour to take a golden-glow day time look to a more dramatic night time eye.

Alice Copper is a sensational plum-burgandy colour. I love using it with my Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk. I recently used this colour in the crease to create a smokey plum coloured eye and it was absolutely gorgeous. In my opinion it is the perfect shade for those who love bright colours but are a little afraid to use them. It is a great shadow to work with and I find it blends seamlessly.

Classical Collection -  Mattes

Adagio is an amazing matte skin tone colour with a subtle pinkish undertone. It is a lovely brow bone or inner corner colour; I also enjoy using it on the inner third as, with it's buttery consistency, it blends like a dream! It's not even funny how much I've been using this colour since I got this palette.

Allegro is an impressive mid-tone matte brown which is similar to Buck by Urban Decay. I actually think I prefer Allegro as it has more of a gold undertone and therefore works nicely with gold-tone colours such as Iron Maid-In or Half Baked, which is my all time favourite and most worn eye shadow, period. I love Allegro as an all over the lid colour, in the crease or as a blending out colour. Let's be honest, you can never have too many matte browns...

Moderato is a deep purple-brown matte colour which is lovely for creating a deep brown smokey eye. It looks amazing in the outer corner or in the crease. Colour pay-off is not exceptional but it's very build-able, which I like; once again it means that I can work with it with confidence, slowly creating the deeper look I'm after.

Presto is an elegant deep reddish-brown with a similar colour payoff to Moderato. Fabulous in the outer corner, in the crease or all over if you're wanting a more dramatic look. In my opinion it's a very wearable colour; it looks more intense in the pan than it does on the lid. Love it.


Alternative Collection - Shimmers

Blink 1982 is a stunning mauve colour with the slightest gold shimmer, that is so amazingly beautiful on the lid. I have literally used this to bits already. I adore it. It looks dazzling all over the lid, in the crease, as a liner, in the inner, middle or outer third, pretty much any where you want to use it and how ever you want to use it. What a colour, what a texture, WOW, love it.. my pick of the palette.

The Stroke is a deep navy blue, almost black colour with a hint of blue shimmery glitter particles. Great for creating a smokey eye or for using as a liner; it has exceptional colour payoff and is an all round good quality shadow.

Rem is a spectacularly soft lilac colour which has the slightest sheen. I've really been enjoying this colour on the inner corner when using the purple tones in the palette to create a smokey eye. It's a great colour to work with and it's very blend-able. Watch out for fall out though; it is quite powdery. I tap it off on my hand before applying to the lid to avoid any messy situations.


Face

Disco Disco Solid Gold is my new favourite highlighter. Its a gorgeous gold tone luminizer which just gives the most sensational glow to the top of your cheek bones. It blends seamlessly and sits beautifully on the skin, not looking powdery or cakey. It is fabulous as an inner corner or brow bone highlight if you want to give those areas a glorious gold glow. It works well with my skin tone and is extremely pigmented, a definite winner and a new go-to product.

Pop! Pop! Don't You Want Me is the most pigmented blush I think I have ever used- you literally need the tiniest amount to give your cheeks a healthy, luscious glow. It blends well and easily buffs in the the skin. As with all Balm blushes it can also be used as an eye shadow, and I have really been enjoying it to add some warmth when blending out the crease.


Lips

Milly is the perfect nude lip colour. It provides just the right amount of pinkness to the lips while still maintaining the beauty of the natural lip. I have been wearing it endlessly; it has decent staying power, is extremely moisturising and give the lips a subtle glowing sheen.

Vanilly is a rock star worthy bright red; it has the same formulation as Milly, full of moisture and feels beautiful on the lips. In my opinion it looks very different swatched than in the pan, but still a great lip colour.

What I love most about these lip products is that you can layer them and create your own unique colour to perfectly match you look. Also, they are also usable as creme blushes. I am yet to try them out, but given their creamy consistency I am confident that they will blend nicely and look lovely on the cheeks.


The Final Cut

A definite winner for me! The whole palette is well thought out and executed. It is very versatile, there are so many different looks that you can create with this palette; the possibilities are endless. If you're a person who love makeup and enjoys playing around with different looks then you definitely need to check this palette out. Similarly, if you are looking for a great all-in-one solution then this baby is worth a look.  I can't recommend theBalm's Balm-Jovi Face Palette enough and I am actually thinking of grabbing a couple extra for presents for family and friends. At just over $30 at David Jones you can't go past this palette in terms of quality and value for money. 

Thanks so much for reading. If you enjoyed this blog please follow me, much more to come.. I'm just getting started!!

xo Lisa xo 

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