OPI Nail Polish Haul

Here in Australia, OPI retails for about $20 - $25 per bottle at places like Myer & David Jones. Luckily, I have found a place close to me, that sells Authentic OPI for only $9.99!

I buy mine from the Giant Chemist. They don't always stock them, so whenever I'm there I will just take a look to see what ones they have. They only sell selected colours at random. Mostly being reds and pinks.

I went in today, with no intention to buy anything, but I had a feeling I would find something I liked. They usually stock them right at the front of the cosmetic section. I didn't see that this time so I kept on walking... and then I saw this:

What caught my I were colours that I don't usually find there. I ended up buying these 3,

Metallic 4 Life, Into the Night, Pink Friday

Metallic 4 Life & Into the Night were sitting right next to each other and I just visualized how good they would look together so I wanted needed them both. I dug a little deeper and found the perfect creamy, bubblegum pink I have been wanting for a long time. I thought to my self, "I bet this is Pink Friday" and it was. Ahhh I've been wanting it for so long!

It's definitely worth checking out if you are interested in buying OPI Nail Polishes, but don't want to pay the high price for them. I'm not too sure where else they have Giant Chemists in Australia. The Beauty Spot, also sells OPI from time to time for the same price too.

Here are some other OPI Nail Polishes that I have bought at the Giant Chemist in the past.

Lincoln Park After Dark, Lincoln Park at Midnight, Manicurist of Seville & La Paz-itively Hot

Wooden Shoe Like to Know?, Dulce De Leche, Tickle My France-y & Alpine Snow

Want a cheaper alternative to OPI? Check out my previous post http://thefashionandbeautybase.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/essence-nail-polish-swatches-review.html

xx

Essence Nail Polish Swatches & Review

I mentioned in my May Favourites, that I absolutely loved these Essence nail polishes, so I thought I would do a post including swatches of the Essence nail polishes I currently own.

Each swatch has 2 coats of nail polish on them. You can see in the photos that most of them are quite opaque and provide a nice, non streaky application.

What I like about them:

• They have a flat brush, similar to OPI
• The application is smooth and non-streaky
• They have a nice, creamy formula making them quite opaque
• They last a decent time before they start to chip (with top coat)
• The price - They only cost $2.75 here in Australia, available at Priceline & Target

They have a pretty decent colour selection. I mainly bought pastel colours because I already have so many bright, bold China Glaze nail polishes already.

125-Absolutely Blue

I love this colour!It looks like it could be a dupe for China Glaze's secret periwinkle, which I was actually going to order until I found this shade.

05 Cafe Ole

This has become my favourite/go to nude polish

149 Hello Marshmellow!

A pretty, soft lilac colour, with a hint of shimmer.

146 that's what I mint!

Finally, I have found the perfect mint green nail polish. Colour is on point and the application is perfect.

This colour is more to the mint/green side then what it shows in the photo.

142 grey-t to be here

I actually found this in the Priceline bargain bin for only $1. I really like this colour, I don't own anything like it. Unfortunately, I think it has been discontinued.

08 Peach & Cream

I wanted to love this one so much, Such a pretty colour from the bottle. Unfortuntely this one was quite watery or runny compared to the rest. It was harder to work with and after 2 coats, it was still quite sheer.

132 Break Through

The only dark polish I own from Essence, it's a nice bold purple.

These nail polishes are definitely worth checking out. I reach for them more then my China Glaze & OPI, and the price point is great. Very happy with the colours & application for most of the.

I also own the Essence Quick Dry top coat, which is pretty good as well.

I will most certainly be buying more, so I'll definitely post more swatches as I collect more. 

May Favourites

My favourites for this month were all new products that I have recently purchased in the past month or so. This is my first "Favourites" post and I feel like these were the items that I have been reaching for the most.

Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant & Clarisonic Mia 

I have been using the exfoliant in the mornings and Clarisonic Mia at night. Both of these items have helped by skin so much. I have been getting terrible breakouts lately, and unfortunately for me, my skin loves to mark my face with acne scars and post acne pigmentation. These have definitely helped me clear my dark spots and just improved the overall texture of my skin.

Where to buy them:

Gentle daily exfoliant - alpha-h.com.au, beautybay.com, fountaincosmetics.com.au (prices vary)

Clarisonic Mia: kissandmakeupny.com, skincarestore.com.au, Mecca Maxima stores, Myer

Essence Lip Liners

I LOVE these. I have never really used lip liners before. (I know right, I've been missing out). These glide on so smooth, and so very creamy. Since I have pigmented lips, they make look some of my sheer/nude lipsticks look 100x better. Very impressed.

Where to buy them: Target & Priceline ($1.75)

 Baby Lips

It's safe to say that I am obsessed with these! Especially because I got most of them for about $2. These make my dry lips so soft and hydrated. I like these better than my EOS lip balms!

Where to buy them: Chemists, Priceline, Target, K-mart, Big W & Supermarkets (retail for $3.95)

Revlon Colorstay Normal/Dry in Natural Tan

Nars Casino Bronzer

These are two of my new favourite complexion products that I have been loving lately. Thankfully, I can jusssttt get away with using the Natural Tan (I'm usually 360 Golden Caramel) in the Normal/Dry formula (it seems to run darker then the oily/combo which I would usually go for) I'm an nc42 and I can barely get away with buying drugstore foundations here in Australia :(. I love the finish of this product, It's very easy to work with unlike the previous formula and I love that it has a pump! It isn't as full of a coverage as the previous oily/combo formula but I quite like it. It is very easy to work with,

This month I have been using the NARS Casino Bronzer more so then NARS Laguna. I love laguna as well but I find with casino, since it is darked, I don't have to keep applying to get the nice contoured look whereas with laguna, since I have a more tan complexion, I find that I have to keep applying to get it to a nice visible colour. I will do a blog post comparing the two.

Where to buy them:

Revlon Colorstay: Big W, K-mart, Priceline, Target & Chemists ($34.95 - $39.95)

Essence Big Lash Curl Mascara

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner

This Mascara is great! It really does hold your curl as well as give you length and a bit of volume. It reminds me of the Maybelline Falsies, but compared to that, it defines/separates your lashes whereas the falsies can tend to clump. So I really like this mascara considering the Falsies is my all time favourite.

One of the beauty things I suck at is applying liquid liner. I know practice makes perfect but I never practice therefore I can never perfect it. This liner helped me so much. The fine, but not stiff felt tip applicator made it so easy to apply, very nice and precise (as it is called) very impressed with this one. I can now where liquid liner!

Essence Nail Polishes

These nail polishes are basically all I've been wearing this month. Ahhh they are amazing. As I've heard, the brush is comparable to the OPI brush. They apply so smooth and easy, not streaky at all. I wasn't expecting much from them because of the price but I can honestly say I like how the apply better then my China Glaze nail polishes. They also last a decent time as well, assuming you use a top coat. They also come in a variety of different colours which is also a plus.

Priceline & Target ($2.75)

Real Techniques Makeup Brushes

I have really been enjoying the Real Techniques brushes I purchased last month. They are so incredibly soft and they apply make-up so lovely. I have been particularly been enjoying the;

(L-R) Blush Brush which I have been using for my bronzer/contouring, Multi-purpose brush for applying brush and also the stippling brush for foundation.

Where to buy them:

iherb.com & Priceline

iHerb.com has them for half to a third of the price cheaper then Priceline eg single brushes will cose ($6 - $10) & Priceline has them for $20+ each. Then the brush sets are $17.99 & here $39.99 - $44.95.

If you shop with iHerb you can also use coupon code CNR668 to get $5 off your order or if you spend over $40 it's $10 off. Shipping is great too!

My last favourite for this month is a fashion item and it is this Chanel type inspired bag in which I actually bought from Kmart. I absolutely love this bag. It is like the perfect small side bag that I grab for all the time when I don't want to use a big handbag. It goes with everything, I love the gold hardware and quilted style. The material is actually pretty good. So far no problems and I have been using it alot! I believe it is also available in Beige, Green & Red. The best part is, it only costs $12! The green and red were also reduced to only $5 too.

That's it for my favourites this month. What are your favourites? I always enjoy trying new things & I definitely have really liked the things I have been buying lately!

Chemist Warehouse: Maybelline Haul

As I was flicking through my junk mail, I saw a little something that looked like this:

My Reaction: :O

So I'm sure we all now how expensive drugstore makeup is here in Australia. Not gonna lie, I was pretty excited so I went to a Chemist Warehouse the day that this sale started because I wanted to pick up a few Maybelline things I've been meaning to try. Like I said in my Priceline Haul, at 40% off I can still get these brands cheaper in America. But for Half Price, It's basically the same price, and I was actually going to order these items I bought.
I didn't go too crazy which was good. Here's what I bought:

I have been wanting to try these products for a while, especially the dark circle eraser, because ThatsHeart & a whole lot of other YouTubers seem to love it. But I just couldn't justify spending $18.95 on it.

• Master Shape Brow Pencil in Dark Brown: $13.95 down to $6.97
• Master Precise Liquid Liner in Blackest Black: $13.95 down to $6.97
• Instant Age Rewind Eraser, Dark Circles in Medium: $18.95 down to $9.48

I haven't had much practice with liquid liners as I don't usually wear them, but I wanted to start so I bought the Master Precise cause I liked how it's like a felt tip pen.

 I admit I didn't really need these but I love Baby Lips & I love Nail Polish, Need I say more?

• Baby Lips - Anti-Oxidant Berry: $3.95 down to $1.98
• Color Show Nail Lacquer: $5.95 down to $2.97

I picked up two Color Tattoos as I already own Bad to Bronze and I really liked the staying power.

These were $5.97 down from $11.95

• Pomegranate Punk
• Bold Gold

I'm happy with my purchases. It's a deal definitely worth checking out. Especially for things like Revlon and their Colorstay Foundations. 50% off makes a huge difference!

My Skincare Routine

Skin Overview:

• Oily/Combination ( Very oily in the T-zone)
• Enlarged Pores
• Acne Scarring
• Dark Under-eye circles

It took me a while to find a skin care line that worked for my skin. Alpha-H really changed everything for me. Their main active ingredient is Glycolic Acid (an AHA derived from Sugar Cane), which seemed to have worked better for my skin than Salicylic Acid.

I currently have 3 different types of Alpha-H cleansers at the moment, seeing as my skin is usually oily I usually us the Triple Action Cleanser, When I'm breaking out I'll use the Clear Skin Daily Face Wash and now that it's winter and my skin can get dry, I've also purchased the Balancing Cleanser which has a creamy consistency.

Day Time Routine:

• I cleanse my face with one of the above cleansers once, to freshen up my skin.
• I've recently been using and absolutely loving the Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant - the name basically sums it up. I love it so much I will do a review on it :)
• To hydrate my skin, I use the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Herbs & Rosewater. It is also a nice "wake me up" product to use in the mornings. 
• To help treat my dark circles and eye bags I have been using the Alpha-H Absolute Eye Complex. I'm liking it so far but haven't used it long enough to see results. 
• Now this is the most important step of anyone's skin care routine. It is very important to be using an SPF+ Moisturiser each day. Especially if you are using exfoliating your skin frequently, like my self, you want to protect it from the harsh UV rays that can further damage and age your skin.

 Night Time Routine:

• Firstly, If I've worn a full face of make-up that day, I will remover it with the Neutrogena Make-Up Remover Cleansing Wipes. I find these to be really effective and also moisturising.
• If I'm not wearing a lot of makeup I will usually just take it off with my Triple Action Cleanser which also takes off mascara. I will then go in for a second cleanse, using my Clarisonic Mia for a deep cleanse. The Clarisonic Mia is gentle enough to use twice a day, but since I use my Gentle Daily Exfoliant in the mornings, I will just leave the Clarisonic for at night.
• My night time toner is a more treated one as it contains Glycolic acid as well. If I have been really rough with my skin in terms of exfoliating and treating, I will just use the Facial Spray I use  in the morning instead, to give my skin it's hydration.
• Same as in the morning, I use my Absolute Eye Complex eye serum
• I use the Alpha-H Balancing Moisturiser at night which contains 10% Glycolic Acid.

Items I don't use on a daily basis

• Alpha-H Liquid Gold Perfecting Daywear - I mainly use this on days when I'm just at home, not wearing make-up or going out in the sun.
• I have 2 facial masks, again from Alpha-H. I use these once a week each. One contains glycolic acid (surprise surprise) and the other is a clay mask which contains Vitamin A. I like to use this one when I have breakouts or if I feel my skin is really clogged and I want to draw everything out.
• Micro Cleanse - an exfoliating scrub. I love this stuff, it contains 12% glycolic acid, it really does the job in exfoliating your skin and it smells good too. Since using the gentle daily exfoliant and Clarisonic Mia, I've sort of been giving myself a break for this. But it's definitely something I will be using for a long time.
• PMD Personal Microderm - I've had this for 2 years but since I was getting professional Microdermabrasions and Glycolic Peels, I stopped using it. I'm starting to use it again. It is really good to have at home for when you can't really spend much on treatments but still want a deeper exfoliating treatment.

And we're done. Wow, I use a lot of products. But that's what happens when you have had problematic skin and have studied Beauty Therapy! haha. I have definitely spent a lot on skin care, but it's worth it because it is so important to keep your skin healthy. Alpha-H has really worked for me. I have also worked with and used Dermalogica and Ultraceuticals, which are also great but just not my favourite.

These brands are pricey, but you really don't need to use that much at all. It will last you a long time as well as giving you results which is what we want. It's better to invest in some good skin care rather then to waste money on cheaper products that don't work - trust me, I've been there!

Let me know if there's anything you want to see a review on as I only gave a quick run down on the products cause I knew this would be long!

Collective Essence Haul

Ever since I hauled all those Essence products during the Priceline 40% off sale, I've been really loving and almost obsessing over Essence. I just love how good their products are, but at such a low price! So since then I've been buying a couple of items at a time over about 3 visits. And this is what I've picked up. Some of them are new items they came out with, and others I got for a very good price since they are discontinued stock :(

 NEW: Match 2 Cover Cream Concealer $4.25
You could say this is almost a dupe for the Bobbi Brown Concealers. They are really creamy, but only come in this one shade. A bit light for my NC42 skin, but it works well to brighten up my under eye circles.

 Single Eyeshadows: Block Buster - Matte ($1.83), Back to khaki - Metallic (marked down to $1.60, scanned at $1!), Copper Island -Shimmer (Scanned at $1 as well), Cappucino Please ($2.85)

Eyeshadow Quattro - Denim ($5.50), Stay all day eyeshadow - Jim-me Blue ($5.50 from Target :( whereas Priceline has them for $2 cause they are being discontinued!), NEW: Kajal Pencil - White ($1.75)

I purchased 3 of their new nail polish shades & one that is being discontinued

Absolutely Blue, Hello Marshmellow, That's what I mint! (All $2.85) & Grey-t to be here (Marked as $1.35, Scanned as $1!)

I'm very happy with my purchases, especially my nail polishes & marked down products. I found my $1 products in a Priceline bargain bin. I know not all stores have them but definitely check out your local Priceline to see if they have any Essence on clearance. Definitely worth your $1!.

I will do another post with Essence Nail Polish swatches and reviews soon too!

What are your favourite Essence products?

xx