Bourjois Blush - Rose Frisson

I have always read posts praising the brand Bourjois, in particular their 'Healthy Mix Foundation' and blushes. When I was at Target the other day and all the blushes were on sale for $5, I knew I had to purchase my very first Bourjois product to fall in love with.

I almost instantly picked the shade I wanted (rather unusual for my indecisive self) and ran to the Price checker to double check that every shade was five bucks, not just the horrid left over, unloved deep brown shades. Sure enough I was in luck!

My first impressions of this blush was that it was tiny, really tiny. I love the pink packaging with the gold print, small and classy, but gosh it seems small. The little brush provided is, as most 'token' brushes are, useless. I think I could use it at a push, but it is much too fiddly and a strange shape. The mirror is also a waste of space - too small to show much more than my nose (not particularly helpful for applying blush!)

I love that instead of having an awful clasp that results in chipped nail polish when trying to open it, it has a magnetic strip that holds it shut. This is how all products should be!

I love the shade of this blush, which is a gorgeous pink that is not too shimmery, but does have an element of shimmer that gives it 'glow.' It is pigmented enough to make an obvious difference when applied, but not so much that it is impossible to wear without looking like a clown. I was concerned that it would be a little too light and bubblegum looking, but it is absolutely perfect!

The lasting power is pretty good, but by the end of the day I feel as though it has completely worn off. This really doesn't bother me as I usually have a bit of colour in my face at the end of the day anyway so I don't really need much blush.

So far so good right? Well here is the problem - this blush stinks. Literally.

Who forgot to mention that these blushes reek of roses? Every review I ever read about these was a huge rave post on the shade, lasting power, brand...no one told me it smelled like grannies? I don't think it is the actual scent that bothers me so much - it does smell like roses which of course is linked to the name. Roses can be pleasant at times. I think the problem is that the smell is so potent. As soon as you open it the odour is overwhelming. I love fragrances in makeup - lipstick that smell like lollies are a big tick in my books (Essence, I am talking about you!) but this is absurd.

I really, really like this blush but there are two things I fail to understand. 1. Why it smells so strong, and 2. Why they cost $20 in the first place. Maybe I am just being stingy, but $20 for a lower end blush (I consider everything in Priceline to be relatively low end, at least in comparison to Chanel, YSL and Clinique) that is pushing it. Perhaps if there was a bit more than 2.5g of product then it would be alright, but I think that is a bit much.

Despite the smell, I am a huge fan of this blush and I will willingly put up with the fragrance to wear it on a daily basis. In fact, this blush has been on my face everyday (which is not helpful for my project 1 pan, which I haven't forgotten about!) I give this 8/10.

Revlon Lip Butter - Sweet Tart

I did it, I finally bought a lip butter. After much deliberation and internal conflict I went out and purchased one of these insanely popular little things, for the sale (but still ridiculous) price of $15. I know that every man and his dog has blogged/swatched/raved about these but it's finally my turn and I am going to enjoy it! I feel like I have finally become a 'real' beauty blogger, after all, the first rule of beauty blogging is that one must own a lip butter (or ten).

I also know that every Australian man and his dog has complained about the Australian prices, but for good reason - $21.95 is absurd. Absurd! The first time I saw them in Australia it was at my local chemist and they tried to charge me $17.95 - I now realise this is cheaper than every other place. I was disgusted and decided not to buy any whatsoever...I wasn't going to spend that much on what is essentially a lip balm! I lasted quite a while but I've finally given in!

You have to understand that I have been drooling over these for months, so I was expecting a magical product that was perfect in every way. I spent years at the Revlon stand ensuring that I had picked my perfect colour, swatching the whole range on the back of my hand. After a while I decided that Sweet Tart was what I would probably get the most use out of. I did love Candy Apple but after a lecture from a friend of mine, she made me come to the realisation that I would rarely wear it. She's right of course, but I still think Candy Apple is a beautiful colour.

Sweet Tart is a warm toned pink, and it is really, really bright. The swatches are a little deceiving because on my lips it steals the show. I thought it would be a nice everyday colour, a little bit more pink and noticeable than my usual everyday colour but still neutral enough, but it's really not. I can dim it down a bit by applying and then blotting (thus making it more of a stain) but it's not the best way to do it. At first I was really quite disappointed with it, but I'm pleased to say I have really grown to like it, and now I love the shade.

It is really quite pigmented which is a good thing, however as the colour is so bright I may have liked it more had it not been so pigmented. It can most definitely be built up in layers which I am pleased about.

It has lasting power that I consider to be pretty good, once the initial layer wears off a slight stain is left behind. Eating and drinking kills the colour which is pretty common.

It is relatively moisturising, but after a long time is does get a little drying. This, like most lipsticks, can be fixed with another swipe to freshen it up. I think this product is correctly described as a lip butter. It has a glossy, juicy looking finish to it which I think is just lovely.

All up I have to say I am a little disappointed with this product, although it's simply because I had such high expectations. I can't really understand why the Internet exploded when these came out, because they really aren't that good, but apparently everyone believes them to be the best product ever invented. I think it is the price that has killed their goodness here in Australia. For twenty two bucks you have every right to expect something magical, but this really doesn't deliver. I most definitely wouldn't purchase another at full price, but I'd go for Candy Apple or Strawberry Shortcake if they were on sale for ten dollars. I give this 7/10.

Essence Colour and Go Nail polish - Better late than Never

This is the first Essence polish I have ever purchased and I am mightily impressed! I was drawn to this gorgeous creamy red colour and for $2.55 there was no way I was going to go home without it.

As usual, I am disgusted with these photos because they really do not showcase the true beauty of this colour. If you mixed watermelon with strawberries and cherry, this would be the colour you would get. It's the most perfect cool red, creamy and delicious looking. There is no hint of orange and it is absolutely perfect. From that, I gather you now understand how much I love this polish? Good.

As the name (kind of) mentions, it is a fast drying polish. This is a big factor for me because I am so impatient with nail polish, I want to slap it on and get out the door.

One coat of this is what I consider to be enough, although if you hold your nails on the right angle you could argue that two would make a significant difference.

The formula is really lovely, a perfect consistency. It lasts for what I consider to be a really good amount of time. On my fingernails I went five days with minimal wear and tear (basically none) and then on the sixth day I suffered chipping on two nails.

The bottle that is comes in is absolutely tiny, but for me this is ideal as I struggle to get through polish. I rarely wear the stuff. For 5mL you have to pay $2.55, which I think is pretty good really. It's not as cheap as Ulta, but few polishes are.

I can't decide if I like the name of the polish yet. 'Better late than never' is a bit of a strange thing to call it, but it is unique I suppose.

Like all the Essence products, I love this Essence polish for the size, price, colour and quality. I give it 9 out of 10.

Chelsea's giveaway

Chelsea from Super Purdy is having a 100 follower giveaway! The prize is a good one, including brands like Avon, Ulta3, Redwin organics, CG, Revlon and Rimmel London.  Unfortunately it is only open to Australian residents. If you are interested check it out here.

Homemade lip balm, body scrub and face mask

I have always admired the people who give DIY products a go but could never get around to trying it out myself. I thought it would be too hard, too expensive and would take up too much time. Surprisingly, this is not the case. I made a lip balm, body scrub and face mask with ease at a really cheap cost. I felt like I was part of a Lush store!

Honey Lip Balm
1. Fill a saucepan halfway with water and place a bowl inside
2. In the bowl, put 1 tablespoon of Beeswax and a teaspoon of Almond oil.
3. Heat and stir until they are completely mixed together
4. Remove from heat and add one teaspoon of honey
5. Stir until the ingredients combine
6. Once warm, pour directly into container and leave to set
7. The mixture should set remarkably quickly and is ready for use

Body Scrub
1. Fill your container to the top with sea salt. If the sea salt is too grainy, you can grind it as desired.
2. Add a small amount of Sweet Almond Oil
3. Add your favourite smelling oil (I used Orange oil as I love the citrus smells, but lavender, peppermint or tea tree would be fine too)
4. Mix together and use accordingly.

Oatmeal Face Mask
1. Add 3 tablespoons of oatmeal into a bowl
2. Add three teaspoons of vegetable glycerin
3. Add three teaspoons of honey
4. Add three teaspoons of water
5. Combine all ingredients to make a thick paste and put in container
(This mask does not keep for very long. Leave on face for twenty minutes)

So far I love the Honey lip balm, although next time I might include a bit more honey. The sea salt body scrub is brilliant, and I absolutely love the fragrance. I haven't actually used the Oatmeal mask yet but I'll let you know how it goes. The lip balm pot cost $1 and the larger pots $1.50. Little pots like these are difficult to find, but I spotted these at a small soap/health food store. I encourage you to try making your own products because it is so much fun! I got the recipes from different books and websites and there are thousands more wonderful recipes out there, so you will be sure to find something that appeals to you.

The magic of compliments

I recently went on a road trip to see the relatives who live out in the country. Í always love leaving the city to take a relaxing trip to the country - it is truly remarkable how different the feeling is.

For instance, you cannot walk into a shop (which admittedly is the only shop in the town, the IGA) without ten people saying 'Hello, how are going, lovely day isn't it?" to you. And those people are strangers.

When going about with my grandparents, who have lived in the country for years, they get stopped at least ten times when simply walking up the main street. They cannot do anything quickly because they stop to chat to so many people about so many things. I personally love the feel, but it does get annoying when you aren't in the mood to chat about Laura's cousin's friend who just had twins and is going to come to the local playgroup next week, or Peter's sheep who escaped the top paddock and had to be rounded up by all the farmers of the region. Nevertheless, I still love the country feel.

Anyway, the point of this story is the other day when my grandma and I were moseying about the Op-shop, I was stopped by two old ladies, probably about 80 or so years old, who grabbed the hem of my jumper and said "You look groovy!" Prior to this, I was feeling like a bushpig, no makeup, filthy hair and ridiculously tired, but after that little, rather interesting compliment, it gave me such confidence.

It can be scary giving compliments out in the city, or anywhere really. People, especially women, rarely respond well to them, and often doubt the sincerity of the comment. After all the effort you have taken to muster up the courage to comment on their hair/clothes/lipstick etc. you feel so bad about it all, but I think it is worth it, because if they are anything like me, it has made their day.

If giving compliments seems a bit to scary, try giving them out online. Beauty bloggers are friendly girls, I'm sure it would make their day if you wrote them a comment about how pretty they looks, or even how good their blog is.

I would love to know about some of the best compliments you have been given. Sometimes I think the ones given from strangers make you feel the best, because if a stranger has noticed it then it really must be good!

Girlz Only Dry Shampoo - Party Nights

This dry shampoo is terrible. Why? Because it encourages even more laziness in my beauty routine. Yep, this dry shampoo can squeeze another day out of my already filthy hair in the spray of a can. Another reason why it's terrible? Because it costs only $2 (last time I checked they were on sale at Target for $1.40) so I always have a spare can handy.

I going to say now that this review is probably not going to be as accurate as it could, simply because this is the first dry shampoo I have ever tried. I never felt compelled to purchase a Batiste one because I didn't want to pay such money to fix a problem that could be resolved by simply washing my hair. However, when you walk past these shiny cans of goodness in Target, you really don't have an option to resist.

My hair has natural tendencies to get really oily in the scalp and terribly dry at the ends, I guess that comes with having long hair. I wash it every second day, but since this product has come into my life it stretches to two days between washes way more often than it should.

Prior to trying this, my knowledge of dry shampoo was minimal. I knew that some made your hair go white, I knew that some were greasy and that some contained properties that could only be described as magical. I didn't realise how much I needed this product either!

This dry shampoo is very effective and does its job well. I don't really know how well because I have nothing to compare it to, but let's just go with well. It doesn't leave any white residue, it doesn't make my hair go crunchy and it doesn't look strange. I will admit, it isn't as good as if I just washed it and the greasiness of my hair is still questionable, but significantly better than without the dry shampoo.

I love the smell of this spray (it was my favourite out of the three different ones) and it's rather tempting to use it even when I don't have to, simply so I can make my hair smell nice.

I hate the packaging, but even more I hate the brand name. I don't know much about marketing and advertising, but I can guarantee more people would give this seemingly dodgy brand a chance if they just had a half decent name. Girlz only? Honestly? You could have at least spelt it correctly.
I do like this product, but as I said - sometimes it's worth to stop being lazy and just wash your hair. I would suggest you take this and guard it with your life when going on holidays, because it is then that you really appreciate the hair wash in a can.

I give this product 7 out of 10.

Sweetaholic Beauty's Giveaway!

Jasmine from Sweetaholic beauty is holding an amazing giveaway full of brilliant Aussie products. It is international so everyone can enter it if they wish! There are some brilliant prizes.

It is open for another 38 days, for those who are interested.

You can find the giveaway here.

Haul - Revlon, Face of Australia, Australis, Bourjois

I haven't had a decent beauty haul in what seems like ages. I went shopping with a friend of mine recently with every intention of purchasing a heck of a lot, and came back with some products I have been admiring for a long time.

First up was Myer, where the Revlon Lip Butters were on sale for $15. Whilst I still think it is a little excessive in price for what is essentially just a tinted lip balm, I knew I had to buy one. I had been selecting a shade for months now, swatching all the shades every time I went into a Priceline, and so I knew it would be Sweet Tart that would be coming home with me. Isn't it gorgeous?!

I then went running to Target where I bought three more exciting products. The Face of Australia lip crayons weren't on sale but I had to get them anyway. All three shades come in a pack for $15, which means that each crayon costs only five dollars! These have been compared to the ridiculously priced Clinique Chubby Sticks ($35) which I don't own, but I am interested in seeing how the Face of Australia ones turn out.

I then went past the Australis stand and noticed the Nudist palette for the lovely cheap price of $5! Weeks ago it was selling for $12 and then it went down to $10, but I am so glad that I bought it for five!

Last but not least I noticed the little Bourjois stand. Only the other day I read the blog Sleep and Water where I admired the beautiful post on the Bourjois blushes. To my delight, the blushes were on sale from $20 down to only $5. I ended up purchasing the shade Rose Frisson.

I will be posting reviews on all of these products, of course, in the upcoming month. Have you tried any of these products?

A new feature on my blog

I've been wanting to create a page recording all the poll results I have from this blog for a long time, and finally I think I have had enough polls to do it!

I love getting the opinions of others and finding out what people think about particular things. I am going to have polls about once a month and I would love for you to participate. It's so easy and all you need to do is just click!

I am then going to collate the results and publish them on my new page, Blog Poll Results.

I hope you all share your opinion, and feel free to request polls for the blog!