2015 Boxing Day Haul - Illamasqua, Glasshouse Fragrances, OPI and more

This was the first year I'd ever taken advantage of the sales and gone shopping on boxing day. The first time, and the last.

My goodness how naive I was! I went into Rundle Mall excited about the bargains I was anticipating, only to find unbelievably long lines stretching out the doors of the shops, angry and hurried people pushing one another out of the way, and sales that many shop assistants told me started before Christmas and finished in February. What was I doing there?!

Nevertheless, I was in the mall and I figured I may as well make the most of it while I was there. To be honest whilst many sales were good, I don't think it was at all worth enduring the trauma to be a part of them! 

This is what I grabbed in the chaos!

Rubi Shoes Beach Towel

Black and white stripes are my thing at the moment, so when I spotted this towel for $5 down from $17 I couldn't resist. It's not super good quality but it was so cheap it doesn't really matter.

Illamasqua Velvet Blusher in Peaked
This is my first ever Illamasqua product so I am rather excited to use it! It was half price, down to $17.50 from $35.

Australis Pout Paste in Make me Blush
I've never tried any of the Pout Pastes so when this was on sale at Priceline for $4 I figured I couldn't go wrong.

Sally Hansen Double Duty Base and Top Coat
I'm sick of red polishes staining my nails so I hope this will help as a base coat. It was half price, down from $14.95 to $7.48.

2016 Diary from Typo

I rely on a diary for Uni and I am very specific about the layout and features. This one fit the bill and it was half price, so $8.50 down from $17. 

Le Tan Application Mitt
So I've never tried a hardcore self tan, only the gradual tan, but naturally I've acquired a shit ton over the years of beauty blogging. I'm going to be brave and give tanning a try since I am ghostly pale, and I heard an application mitt was a good start. I got it for $6.99 at Chemist Warehouse.

Rubi Shoes Sports Watch
When I was at the counter purchasing the towel the lady there convinced me to buy this white watch for $5, 50% off. What can I say, I'm easily persuaded.

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer 

I've wanted to dabble in the balm for so long but it really is quite expensive, considering I have a billion highlighters anyway. The Balm was 30% off at David Jones and I saw it as my chance to try the brand out. It ended up being $21.00 down from $30. Not bad, not bad.

'Sh' mug from Typo
I am a science nerd and this mug states "Sh. The element of shut your mouth." Nuff' said. It was $5, half price.

Glasshouse 350g candle in Tahaa Vanilla Candle
At $42.00 (and no sale) this was not exactly a bargain buy, but my god I've wanted this for so long and if I can't get it for myself at Christmas then when can I? It is easily the most delicious candle I've ever come across.

OPI All Stars 10 pack
In David Jones these were on sale for $22.47 down from $44.95. I'd already spent so much money this seemed like a good idea. There are some gorgeous colours and for OPI polishes it's pretty good value.

Cutex Nail polish remover

A boring purchase, but a necessity considering all of the polishes I'd acquired!

So all in all, I'm thrilled with my haul although I know I'll never be braving boxing day ever again. I think I'll wait for some less hyped up sales.

Priceline 40% off Haul and Skincare Bag

So as you all know, Priceline had a 40% off sale this week and I couldn't resist!

It had been a while since I last hauled some makeup and a lot of new and exciting things had come out since. Some of these purchases were planned, others impulse, however I don't regret a thing! All the prices listed below are what I paid with the 40% discount, so you can see I really did get some bargains!

Australis AC On Tour Palate - $10.11

This palate took the beauty world by storm and to be honest, it never really captured my interested however with 40% off I figured it would be worth giving it a go. 

Bourjois Aqua Blush in CocoriCorali - $13.80

I'd never heard a whisper about these but as soon as I spotted it I knew it was mine. I have no liquid blushes in my collection and this shade is absolutely beautiful. In summer I really don't wear a whole heap of makeup so this will be perfect for a light and natural bit of colour.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 02 - $14.40

I've only read positive things about this, and naturally as a lip product it is up my alley! I was totally smitten with this gorgeous shade too.

Essence Liquid lipstick in Show Off - $3.06

I didn't realise how similar a shade it was to the Bourjois one that I grabbed, but I guess that's the colour I'm craving at the moment. For such a good price I'm hoping these liquid lipsticks will impress.

Lanolips Makeup Bag and Lipsticks - $19.99I didn't realise until I got home that this wasn't actually a part of the 40% off sale, so $20 is the regular retail price. I've never tried Lanolips but I've been in desperate need of a moisturising lip product, ideally with a bit of colour, and these seemed to fit the bill. I love the two shades that were included too.

Nude by Nature Brush Kit - $17.97For such a wonderful price I couldn't go wrong with these brushes. Nude by Nature is a brand I always walk past, however these brushes are so soft, and I'm always in need of more eyeshadow brushes. I'm really looking forward to using these. 

Rimmel Oh My Gloss in Glossaholic - $8.37

I'd never seen these before and bit the bullet, chucking one in my basket without giving it much thought. I am in love with the shade I grabbed, a beautiful milky pink with no shimmer. It is unbelievably moisturising, in fact so far it ticks all the boxes for my perfect gloss. 

Luma Illuminating Highlighter in Pearl - $14.97

Once again, I'd never seen this brand let alone the product before, but of my gosh is it beautiful. I own no cream illuminators despite them being my absolute favourite product of late, so it was a no brainer to take this home with me. 

Face of Australia Kajal Eyeliner Stix in Horus - $3.47

To be honest I think these eyeliners look absolutely ridiculous, and once you start to use them up would be incredibly impractical, however the stunning bronze shade meant that fell for it. For $3.50 I don't mind if this ends up being rubbish.

So they were all the products I picked up in the sale, and because I ended up spending a heck of a lot, the lovely lady gave me the Skincare bag that has been a part of one of their other deals. I am so grateful to her as it is a really amazing bag!

Housed in a clear black bag with copper handles, it's not my favourite bag ever however the products inside are what take the cake! I'm sure there are a million other posts about this so I'll just list the products I received. Note that some of them I was able to choose with the vouchers that it comes with.

I've listed the prices for the full sized products where possible.

Models Prefer Tan Remove Exfoliate Double Sided Body Wipes
Physiogel Daily Moisture Therapy Intensive Cream - $15.99
Suntivity Hydrating Face Lotion SPF 30
A'kin Pure Radiance Rosehip Oil - $19.99
Swisse Micellar Makeup Remover - $10.99
Le Tan Jet Dry Bronze Instant Tan - $14.29
Proactiv Deep Cleansing Wash - $31.99
Australis Tinted Let's Go Steady Gradual Tan - $19.99
Skin Physics DNA Reset Ultimate Rejuvination Cream - $69.99
SugarBaby Sugar C-Rush Coconut and Raw Sugar Exfoliating Body Scrub - $14.99
Touch In SOL Pure Dew Water Drop BB Cream - $39.99
Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion - $14.99
NIP Fab Skin Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum (Sache) - $32.99
KLARA Reset Instant New Skin - $9.99
Skinny Tan Mini Mitt
Derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub - $29.99
Revo Lip Balm in Cherry
Nip Fab Skin Glycolic Fix - $34.99
Spot Medic - $9.99
Manuka Doctor Purified Bee Venom and Manuka Honey Skincare

Collective haul - Face of Australia, Essie, OPI and more

Over the last couple of month I've managed to acquire some wonderful stuff for some ridiculously good prices so I thought I'd share my bargains with you all...

Kmart has actually been my best friend in the beauty department lately. I purchased the Nivea Lip
Butter in Caramel Cream (and oh my gosh it smells divine!) for only two dollars. They're obviously no longer stocking Face of Australia which is a major disappointment however it did mean I was able to pick up three of their lipsticks, each for four dollars. I grabbed some seriously beautiful shades, my favourite being Forbidden Fruit and the other two including Power Surge and Pink Champagne.

When Priceline had their 40% off sale I actually didn't go too crazy but I did get two Australis products - an Australis concealer which I am so freaking disappointed with, and the brow tint which thankfully makes up for the crappy concealer. If any of you have actually tried the concealer let me know because it's probably one of the worst I've ever come across...

Essie has captured my heart with its amazing colour range and incredible formula so I was tempted with this beauty, Limo-scene. I adore the colour (which is why it made it into my March favourites) but sadly, as is often the case with white polishes, the formula isn't great.

Now that Priceline is stocking OPI polishes I've found myself souring the bins for good bargains. A lot of the shades they have a pretty unappealing but the shade Nomad's dream caught my eye. I don't usually go for the frosty kinds of polishes but this one is damn gorgeous. I also grabbed some hairspray, and the reason it is so exciting is because I've never owned hairspray in my whole life...I know right!

My favourite concealer is the Face of Australia stick concealer in natural so I had to repurchase it recently when I ran out, and while I was there I grabbed their illuminating stick in When in Rome which I highly recommend you look into because it's super pretty.

There is a Chemist's Warehouse near me and they always have really good deals, so I couldn't resist when I saw the highly raved about Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in my shade for only $9. I've been really impressed with it so far.

Of course, Priceline is always calling my name with good sales and in one of the million occasions that I set foot in the store, I managed to come out with a Models Prefer Lip Crayon in the shade Raspberry Ripple and an Essence lipstick in the shade Love Me. I'd never taken any notice of the Models Prefer lip crayons but for $2 it was a worthwhile purchase.

Last but not least is a totally unexpected purchase, a Sportsgirl lipstick. I have never ever owned any Sportsgirl makeup but have seen fairly positive reviews about their stuff. I was in Sportsgirl and I think something must have been mislabelled because I purchased their lipstick in the shade Doll Face for $0.98 and I really like the bold shade!

L-R: Raspberry Ripple, Forbidden Fruit, Power Surge, Pink Champagne, Doll Face, Love me

 So there you have it, my recent additions to my beauty stash. Let me know if there are any products in particular that you would like to see a review on. I've been really slack with my posting but I promise I'll try my best to write about anything you're particularly interested in!

L-R: Raspberry Ripple, Forbidden Fruit, Power Surge, Pink Champagne, Doll Face, Love me

Op shopping tips: The lowdown on SHOES

Brand: Nine West
Condition: Brand new, no original tag
Cost: $8

I am an avid Op-shopper. I would even go as far to say that I prefer to go Op-shopping than purchase things from 'real' shops. The clothes, jewellery and shoes that I always, without a doubt, get the most compliments on are those that I've purchased from Op-shops because they look just like any other piece of clothing except that you haven't seen every other person and their Grandma wearing it.

Although I am a complete convert of the magical Op-shop, I know that not everyone else is. It took me a while to realise this though, for I could just not understand why someone might be unsure about them. Shoes are one of those items that can make people feel a little bit funny about buying second hand so this post is to put your concerns at ease and encourage you to explore!

Brand: Luichiny
Condition: New, with $120 price tag
Cost: $7.99

First and foremost is the obvious concern: scungy feet that may have worn the shoe before you. There are a couple of reasons that this no longer bothers me (although at one point I had the same view). First of all, I disinfect all the shoes that I buy from Op-shops, just as I wash all the clothes that I buy too. By wiping down all the surfaces on the shoe there is no chance I can get any gross germs.
Additionally, when you think about going into a shoe shop, seeing a gorgeous pair of heels and then trying them on...how many people have done that before you?! What if they had some gross infection? Someone doesn't need to be wearing the shoes for an extended period of time to donate some of their germs to you so you are probably at as much risk (even more) from those shoes you tried on last time you went shopping which had bacteria from hundreds of feet that gave them a try.

The type of people who donate their shoes, in my opinion, a probably going to be okay. If they make the effort to go and donate them as opposed to putting them in the bin, they are probably going to be quite considerate about which feet have been in them. Furthermore every single pair of shoes that I've ever purchased from Op-shops (some of them you can see in the photo above) have been either brand new or barely worn. I've bought some shoes with the original price tags still attached!

So once you've got those worries out the way, I do have a few little rules that I stick to to make sure that my Op-shopping experience regarding shoes is as pleasant as possible.

Brand: Airflex
Condition: Second hand, barely worn
Cost: $11

1. Say no to canvas
This isn't a super strict rule (and if the shoes have the original price tag attached and have never been worn then ignore it completely) but I find that the canvas shoes usually donated are a little dirty and worn which you just don't want, and they can't be cleaned with disinfectant as easily. Unlike a pair of gorgeous Steve Madden heels (yep, I've seen them in the Op-shop before), canvas shoes brand new are inexpensive and it makes more sense to buy them brand new.

2. Don't get shoes so worn they are moulded to the past feet!
Very rarely do I actually see shoes that have been worn all that much, but if you're looking for a pair and you see that they've actually worn in to change shape according to the past foot's imprint, then it's best to stay away from them. Not only does it make them uncomfortable because they aren't able to mould to your shape, it's just not good for your feet.

3. Only buy shoes that fit!
Because you see all these gorgeous, expensive brand shoes for basically no price at all, it can be tempting to purchase shoes that are just a little bit too small, or just one size up. Don't do it! It's not worth the trouble of wearing ill fitting shoes just because they're beautiful and cheap! The beauty about Op-shopping is that even though you might have to leave on pair of shoes behind, you will be sure to find a gem in your size somewhere around the corner.

Brand: New look
Condition: Brand new (no price tag)
Cost: $12

4. Make sure they are reasonably clean
This is probably an obvious one, but if they are caked in dirt or have clay stuck in their soles, don't bother with them. If they have a funny texture with a stain on them that you think you might be able to wash out, don't bother. There are so many good quality, well kept pairs of shoes out there to choose from that it's just not worth getting the grotty ones!

One more tip is that a reasonable price for a pair of heels, in my experience, is $8 to $12. Of course, it depends whether the shop is located in a more expensive suburb, city etc. but believe me, I am an experienced second hand shopped and all of the heels above I purchased within this price range, a pair brand new with the $120 price tag attached I bought for $7.95. Typically sandals are the cheapest (I bought a brand new pair of Haviana thongs for $2), followed by sneakers/canvas shoes, heels and then boots which can be up to $20. If the brand of shoe is more expensive then it could go up to $30

Brand: Target
Condition: Worn
Cost: $8

if they are really, really posh but anymore than that is crazy I think! For those of you Op-shoppers out there I would love to know how the prices are for you because these are all Adelaide prices and I know Adelaide in general is usually a bit cheaper than places like Sydney and Melbourne, let me know!

I hope this helped those of you out a little bit who were perhaps a little unsure about the whole ordeal. I love Op-shopping so much and all of my favourite pieces were sourced from an Op-shop, you should join the fun too!

New to my stash - NARS, NYX, Sally Hansen and more

I do this every year: despite the fact that Christmas is coming and gifts will be given, I can't resist bargains and end up acquiring all sorts of stuff in the lead up, hoping that I won't end up accidentally receiving something I've purchased as a gift!

Lately I've sourced a couple of beauty products that are new to my stash, some of which have already become solid favourites and others that are yet to be tried at all.

The first products I've added to my collection are two nail polishes, both polishes that I believe are quite festive. The Australis Nail Glitter Topcoat in the shade Eureka wasn't on sale (I know, I can't even believe I bought it!) but I wanted something to match my new clutch and this was absolutely perfect. Of course, as usual I am behind the trends but I've been enjoying wearing a glittery accent nail lately and this has been a favourite polish for the job.

Another nail polish that I now have is the Sally Hansen Lustre Shine polish in the shade Plume. I'd never even seen these polishes before but it was on sale for $5 and I grabbed it on a whim, totally sucked in by the gorgeous holographic (is that how you describe it?) nature.

Next I finally, after so damn long, bought a Rimmel London Apocolips lip lacquer in the shade Celestial, a gorgeous mid toned pink. This liquid lipstick is something I have taken a strong liking too, including the pigmentation, formula and packaging. I think I'll get around to a review on it some time in the new year, despite the fact that I'm probably the last person on Earth to have tried them.

Then I was at Target and noticed that they were having a 30% off sale on NYX products, a brand that I was so excited about when it first came to Australia yet haven't actually explored all that much. The two products I do own from NYX - a cream blush and matte lip cream - I love, and I knew a Jumbo eye pencil had to be next. I chose the shade Cashmere, a stunning pale gold shade that I know I will get so much use out of!

Of course it was then Essence that caught my eye and I grabbed one of their Silky Touch blushes in the shade Sweetheart that I'd read positive reviews on. So far I've been really enjoying the simplicity of the blush yet its beautiful pigmentation and colour. 

I was also so very lucky to win a giveaway on Abigail's blog, Shrinking Wallet, where one of the prizes I won was a NARS duo containing the infamous blush and bronzer, Orgasm and Laguna respectively. To say that I was excited is an absolute understatement, I was over the moon with joy. I still am, using the bronzer almost every day and the blush regularly. They are both perfect! 

I'm going to enjoy playing with my recent goodies very so much! If there is a particular review you would like to see, let me know! 

Collective Haul - Books, Boots and Beauty

I've not blogged for a while, and in that time I've managed to accumulate a couple of things here and there which I thought I'd share with you all.

Beginning with the beauty stuff, I was so lucky to win Angel's giveaway which was for the Clearasil Vitamins and Extracts Daily Wash. She was so generous to also include a Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips and the Maybelline Illegal Lengths mascara.

A while ago when Chemist Warehouse had 50% off cosmetics I snapped up two Maybelline colour tattoos as I was dying to try them out after seeing all the hype. I really wanted the Bronze shade but they had run out so I ended up purchasing Barely Branded and Bold Gold, both of which I have enjoyed using.

I was also at Target and saw that they were selling the Party Girlz (ugh that brand name makes me so uncomfortable!) dry conditioners for $1 and dry shampoo for $2 and I simply couldn't resist!

For fashion I made three purchases in Target because they were having a 50% off sale. I really needed some Winter shoes and fell in love with two pairs of boots. The black boots were only $20, down from $40 and the tan coloured boots were $24 down from $50.

I also bought a summery T-shirt (even though it's going to be months and months before I can wear it) for $12. The photo isn't terribly good and does not do it justice but it is a flattering sheer floral collared shirt.

And then comes the books...my goodness have I gone crazy with books lately. I will say though, I only purchased one from a bookstore full priced and the rest were from second hand shops or libraries getting rid of old stock.

The second hand books
- The Piper's son by Melina Marchetta          Free
- The Kite runner by Khaled Hosseini           $3
- My sister's keeper by Jodi Picoult              $3
- Ursula by Eileen Naseby                           $3
- One foot wrong by Sofie Laguna                 $1
- Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut            $2
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman      $2
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen            $2
- Geisha by Liza Dalby                                 $2

The old library books
- A stolen life by Jaycee Dugard                                         $1
- What the birds see by Sonya Hartnett                              $1
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy                                     $0.50
- Room Temperature by Cath Kenneally                            $1
- Ursula Under by Ingrid Hill                                              $0.50

The bookstore book
- Running with scissors by Augusten Burroughs    $20

I think it is pretty obvious that I am such a book worm and am obsessed with collecting books. I am so thrilled that I am able to get some amazing books for such affordable prices. Often I struggle to find decent books in second hand stores but lately I have hit the jackpot.

I feel obliged to give a little warning to some of my readers - I have read some of the books (not all) and many of them aren't appropriate for younger readers. Running with scissors, One foot wrong and A stolen life are ones that I have read which are pretty full on and have disturbing elements within them that would impact any kind of reader, especially younger ones.

Well, that's my haul and I am so excited to play around with all my new things. If you have read any of these books I would love to hear your thoughts because there is nothing more exciting that chatting about books with other people!

Collective Haul - Fashion, Beauty & Jewellery

I'll get all the warnings out of the way - this post has about a billion pictures but they're pictures of pretty things!

I've acquired lots of things (from both my own purchases and gifts from others) over the past two months in the areas of fashion, jewellery and beauty and I thought I'd do a little massive haul.

Fashion
I was in the mood for dresses this month and when they're $15 dollars or so you really can't go wrong! I also found some absolute bargains in Ally Fashion and a gorgeous clutch in Colette. I needed new pyjamas and of course managed to buy a scarf on the way!

Temt floral dress - $15 down from $30
Temt blue dress - $20 down from $35
Temt Black and White Dress - $15 down from $30
Ally Fashion tank - $2.50 down from $10
Ally Fashion Jacket - $7.50 down from $30
Colette Clutch - $20
Rockmans Scarf - $5 down from $20
Kmart Pyjama pants - $3.50 each

Temt black and white dress

Temt floral dress (front)

Temt floral dress (back)

Temt blue dress

Ally Fashion Jacket

Ally Fashion Jacket

Colette Clutch

Scarf and pyjama pants

Beauty
Target is just magical for its beauty bargains! I picked up the Essence and Ulta polishes for an absolute steal, as well as the much raved about Loreal Colour Infalliable eyeshadow in Tender Caramel for only $2.10! Can you believe it? I then grabbed a candle (it's terrible, don't get it!) and FOA matte top coat from Priceline. In a different trip to Priceline I spotted the greatest bargain of all time - 2 Revlon lip butters and nail polishes for a total of $10 or $2.50 each! Essence was also calling out my name that day too...

Priceline Candle - $2 down from $5
FOA matte polish - $4.95
Essence Studio Nails Ultra Strong Nail Hardener - $2.75
Essence Quick Dry Top Coat - $1.45
Ulta3 Polish in Flashback Fuchsia - $1
Ulta3 Polish in Gold Rush Fever - $1
Loreal Paris Colour Infalliable Eyeshadow in Tender Caramel - $2.10 down from $20
Revlon Fascinate Gift Scent - $10 (products value $71.80)
Essence XXXL Shine lipgloss in 24 Just gorgeous - $1.50 down from $3
Essence Extra long lasting eyeliner pen - $2.50 down from $5
Invite Concentrated Vitamin E cream - $11.49
Bio Oil - $14.99

Jewellery
There were just too many bargains in the Jewellery stores so I picked up some pieces that I fell in love with.

MOSH (charity fundraiser) red ring - $2
MOSH (charity fundraiser) gold ring - $2
Equip Leaf bracelet - $3.75 down from $15
Equip Lace necklace - $3.75 down from $15
Colette White teardrop necklace - $5 down from $10
Colette Leaf earrings - $2.50 down from $5