Review: Michael Kors Selma

I ordered this bag online, when Macy's had their 20% off friends and family sale. I got a pretty good deal on it which even included free shipping!

I first saw this bag when Rachel (checkinthemirror) posted her one, in white on instagram. Nikkiphilippi then got the black one, I loved it so much I knew I had to get my hands on one too!

Shipping to Australia took about 10 days in total, It was packaged nicely in a box, with all the plastic around it and it included a dust bag too.

I really needed a new black handbag, as all of mine were faulty in their own ways, so I thought it would be a good idea to invest in a good quality one. 

This bag is made of Saffiano Leather, it is extremely high quality and durable.

What I love about the bag:

• Classy Design, It will go with any basically anything. I love how it has a long strap, which can be more practical for carrying it in the crook of your arm and also it can give it a more casual look.
• It's a good size. Not too big, not too small. It fits all your essentials and it will also fit an iPad. (I'm only 5'2, so for me it's a good size) I use it on days when I don't need to carry my life around with me. The neverfull is good for that.
• It has internal pockets! One side has a zip pocket with two additional ones to hold your mobile etc, the other side also has two pockets. This makes organizing your bag so much easier. Big thumbs up to that!
• It has pegs on the bottom, for when you need to put your bag down, it won't ruin the beautiful leather.
• The long adjustable strap, makes this bag more versatile, I personally love long straps on my bags, so it makes it a good change from using my LV Speedy. 
• Because of the quality of the Saffiano Leather, it will always look nice and new.

I purchased it in the Black Saffiano Leather with Gold Hardware. It's available in a variety of colours, including tan, white, yellow, green, pink, navy. I've also seen that they have some duo toned ones too!

 Black intierior, monogramed with the MK logo

Pockets, It also features a clasp which you can put your keys on.

There's not many things I don't like this bag at all, Maybe that it's a little on the heavy side, but to me, that just shows that it's sturdy and well made.

Overall, I highly recommend this bag, very impressed with the quality. For the price it is extremely worth it. It is only a fraction of a Louis Vuitton bag, but still is high in quality and also has alot of features. Luckily, it is available at Macys and Bloomingdales, which always seem to have coupon codes!

This was also my first Michael Kors purchase and it has definitely made me want more. I'm eyeing the Michael Kors Hamilton in Saffiano Leather - Cadet. Mmm. But for now, I will continue to make the most out of this bag :)

Update: I have done a 2nd part to this review showing more photos & what I can fit inside. Post can be found through the link below:

Michael Kors Review Part 2: What's in my bag?

xx

Real Techniques Haul

I recently made an order with iherb.com, for some Real Techniques Brushes.

I had heard a lot of things about them, but I never really paid much attention with them when they first came out, as I was pretty content with my Sigma Brush kit and I also had the Sigmax brushes, and also some E.L.F ones.

After 2 years of using the same brushes, I thought it was time to add more to the collection, especially because I felt like my sigma ones were starting to feel scratchy, especially when I would apply blush or bronzer.

It took me 2 days and a lot of YouTube reviews on whether or not I wanted to go ahead and make the order, and also, which ones to buy.

I ordered on a Friday morning, paid $12 for DHL flat rate shipping, and I received them on Monday morning... Umm wow?

Anyway, Here's what I purchased,

 Travel Essentials kit $17.99

 Core Collection kit: $17.99

Blush Brush: $8.99, Stippling Brush: $9.99, Shading Brush: $5.99

All up it would have cost me $60.95 for the brushes. Iherb is great because they offer plenty of coupons for first time buyers. It's $5 off any orders under $40 or $10 off orders over $40. I paid $52.95 (+$12 DHL shipping, or you can choose $4 for standard) for all of the brushes.

I have a coupon for your first order: CNR688

Here are some close up pictures of the brushes

I can't really say much about the performance of the brushes yet, but I am very pleased with the shipping and service of iherb, and also the softness of the brushes is incredible.

Now, I want to pick up well, basically the rest of the brushes! :)

Priceline 40% off Sale: Savvy and Essence Haul

If you live in Australia, I'm sure you would have seen, heard or was a victim in buying makeup that we didn't need, at the Priceline 40% off cosmetics sale, which was on April 23 and 24.

I was pretty excited when I saw this sale because I haven't bought "drugstore" makeup in ages, especially in Australia. I have been using brands like Napoleon, MAC and Nars etc, as I have access to buying them in the America, for the same or even cheaper then our Drugstore prices here.

Lucky for me, I had already planned to go up to Brisbane on the Tuesday as Daiso was having their Grand Opening and having this happen on the same day was just perfect, as Brisbane city has 4 pricelines, not too far from each other.

They were all really affordable after the sale, Most of them being $1 - $3. I can't remember the exact prices. Sorry!

I only really had my mind on trying Essence as,

1. I had never tried them before
2. I have heard so many good things about them
3. Brands like Maybelline, Revlon and L'oreal, are still much cheaper in America

Enough with the Rambling and onto my haul!

I purchased 4 of their lip liners in the shades 11 in the nude, 04 Honey Bun, 07 Cute Pink and 10 Femme Fatale. These glide on so smooth and creamy. I am yet to try them out for a whole day. So far, I'm impressed.

I was planning on buying more of the Maybelline Color Tattoos, but for the price, I went with these instead. I was being good at first and only picked up 2, then went into another priceline and saw 3 more colours I wanted

Top Row: 08 The magic must go on, 09 For Fairies, 01 Coppy Right

Bottom Row: 02 Glammy goes to, 06 Rock Chic

Superfine liquid liner - Tried this, goes on and stays on good... maybe a little too good, I could barely get it off and it was coming off like a blue ink... Not sure How I feel about this.

Get BIG! lashes in Volume Curl and Volume Boost - LOVE the Volume curl. I like it as much as my favourite mascara - The Falsies, but in a different way. Picked it up because of DOMMsmiles. Love!

I bought 2 of the Quattro eyeshadows, 07 Over the Taupe (left) and 05 To die for (far right)

I always seem to buy 2 of the same shadow palettes if there is an option of buying one in brown and one in a smokey colour, I don't know why, but I just do.

I also picked up the single shadow in Cappuccino, Please! All the other colours were quite shimmery, and because I have both the Naked Palette and the Nars: and God created the women, I didn't really need anymore. (Kudos for my somewhat self control :P)

These were kind of an impulse buy. I didn't need them nor do I really use lip gloss anymore but I loved the colours.

L-R: 09 Hottest Pink, 03 Candy Bar and 01 Me & My Icecream

I had originally purchased the last 2 pictured, then at the end of the day I decided to just pick up the 1st one too, But now that I've swatch it, I regret it. It goes on too sheer. I do like the others though!

We're nearly done, I swear

 Essence quick dry top coat, Maybelline Eye makeup remover 

I bought 2 nail polishes. 132 Breakthrough (purple) & 05 Cafe Ole (Nude)

They didn't have many colours that I was interested in as I already have so many colours. These apply and glide on really well. Much like the OPI brushes. I will have to see the staying power though!

Lastly, I picked up 4 of the SAVVY Long lasting matte lipsticks;

Heyyyjune bought these and raved about them, So I thought I would give them a shot.

L-R: Morocco, San Fran, Maui & Bali.

I actually bought Bali 2 days before the sale and I absolutely loved the colour, application and the staying power. I was so impressed! I paid $5.50 for the one, which was a steal. But when the sale was on they were only $4.20 which is even better! I highly recommend these too, Thanks June!

So that concludes my somewhat lengthy Priceline Haul, Looking at it now, It looks like I bought heaps, but I only paid around $50 for the lot. Ohhh yeah ;)

I will have a play around with these and maybe do another post with swatches or reviews. We will see :)

xx

Welcome to The Fashion and Beauty Base

Hi everyone,

Welcome to my blog. I used to have a beauty blog years ago. But for some reason I stopped and completely forgot my log in details.

Since then, I have done a Statement of Attainment in Makeup Services and have completed my Diploma of Beauty Therapy, in which I received student of the month for.

YouTube was probably the main influence in my interest for Beauty as I've been watching it for 5 years, and I've been thinking on and off, whether I should start my own channel. Back then, there were barely and Australian YouTube 'Beauty Gurus'. Now I can see more and more popping up which is great!

My passion and interest for beauty since then has grown and I no longer work as a Beauty Therapist so I thought, What better way to express it even more, by starting up a new blog and sharing my thoughts with everyone.

I am a Shopaholic and also love Fashion, so I thought I would just join my two interests together in the one blog, and came up with The Fashion and Beauty Base. (It was extremely hard to think of a name that wasn't taken)

Now let's see if I can keep this up ;)

Thanks for dropping by :)
xx