Products I've Used Up!

Boy, have I accumulated a lot of empties...

I am a terrible beauty blogger for two reasons: Number One, I never seem to get around to finishing all the posts I start; and Number Two: I suck at keeping my empties. Apparently I am some sort of compulsive recycler, who throws away products when they're empty instead of hoarding them like a crazy person (who writes about beauty on the internet). I have, however, managed to accumulate a few products to put into this 'Products I've Used Up' post. :-) They're not all beauty products, but I thought I would include some of the gym supplements I have used up as well, because the gym is such a huge part of my life, it seems appropriate.

Shall we start from the top? I recently used up a Michael Todd True Organics lemon toner. I really liked it, I think I would probably repurchase it in the future but it has been a tiny bit drying for my skin so I am currently using one from Chanel which is a little more gentle. Overall, though, I did enjoy this toner. I also used up my Clean & Clear Morning Burst brightening facial scrub with lemon and papaya. Uh, YUM! I loved the smell of this product, although I don't know if I would buy it again, just because I'm quite particular about my skincare and I don't feel like this product did that much for my skin. To the right, we have the Original Source lime shower gel that I liked at first, but I think I'm allergic to because it did give me some redness on my body after I used it. I like the smell of it but I did grow bored with it fairly quickly and I purchased it to share with my mum, although she never used it so I guess she didn't like it that much, either.

Next up, we have the two giant tubs of protein powder that I have recently used up. My supplement collection was starting to get out of control and I was buying all these new things but not using up the old ones, so I forced myself to use up my old protein powders before I opened my new ones. I used up a MusclePharm Combat protein in banana cream (om nom nom nom) and the espresso flavour of Horleys Ripped protein. They were pretty good, I can't complain about them. They tasted nice and helped me build some lean muscle, so I'm happy. :)

I also used up my ProSupps Aminolinx in the lemonade flavour and I cannot say enough good things about this product. If you guys are interested in some supplement reviews, please let me know because I would love to do them for you!

The number of bottles of fake tan here is deceptive. In reality, I have probably been through about five or six bottles of this stuff in the last few months. Le Tan instant tanning mousse in Deep Bronze is my favourite self tanner that I have ever used; and it is a lot more affordable than most of the other brands you can buy in Priceline. I find that I get at least a week out of one application and it's not streaky or orange at all, which I love. I can't wait for summer, so I can save some money by getting a real tan!

I used up a bottle of Witch Hazel, this is just a regular drugstore witch hazel toner but I have absolutely sworn by this product since high school when I had really bad skin. I will probably buy another one of these, considering one bottle lasts about six months and it only costs seven dollars.

I have also used up two perfumes, the first of which being Yves Saint Laurent Manifesto; and the second being Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere. I liked these perfumes, although I found that the scent of the YSL one changed not long after I bought it and stopped smelling as nice as before. I don't know if that's a common thing with that perfume, or if I just got a bad bottle, but it was disappointing since the perfume was quite expensive. I love Chanel No. 5, in any version, so I have no complaints about the Chanel bottle. :)

So, those are some of the products I've used up lately. I hope you enjoyed this post, I promise I have some new and exciting things that I'm working on and I will post those as soon as I can.

Thanks for reading! xoxo

Michael Todd True Organics skincare mini-haul

Hi guys! I haven't posted on this blog in a really long time, which is mostly due to the fact that I was without a computer for about four or five months. My laptop decided to die and I couldn't afford a new one at the time. It was an interesting experience, being without a computer- but that's a blog post for another day!

Today I'm going to be catching up on my drafts from before my laptop crashed and also making up for lost time by posting some new things as well, I hope you enjoy!

This post is one I had drafted a while before my computer crashed and burned; and that is my Michael Todd True Organics skincare mini haul. I say 'mini' because there are literally only two products that I purchased, and I received a few samples as well.

I had heard a lot about MTTO from other beauty gurus, mostly on YouTube and I thought the product line sounded great. I was a little nervous, as I always am, being the most sensitive-skinned person on the planet, probably, but I was very happy to discover that the products I decided to try were not irritating to my skin at all. :-) Winning!

The bubble wrap was almost as exciting as the products! I love bubble wrap. :-D

Organic Lemon Toner and Moisture Lite lotion.

The products I decided to try were the Organic Lemon Toner and the Moisture Lite lotion. I picked these from the range for oily and blemished skin. My skin is not particularly oily, but I do tend to get breakouts. The main thing that sold me on the toner was the lemon scent and also that the description said the toner would be good for smoothing fine lines as well as healing blemish-prone skin. I do like the toner very much, although as I suspected, it has made my skin a little bit more dry. It can also increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, which hasn't been a problem as I have used it through autumn and winter but I may need to be careful coming in to spring and summer. I love the lemon smell and also the fact that it seems to really get all of the dirt and grime out of my pores. I use the toner by soaking a cotton pad and applying it all over my face. When I first began using it, I had only been using Witch Hazel for a long time (and I still swear by it), and I noticed straight away how dirty the cotton pad would be after I used the lemon toner. I was amazed by how much it actually manages to clean out from the skin!

I like the Moisture Lite lotion because it's a nice thin, gel-like consistency and it provides moisture for my skin without being greasy. It also smells a little like lemon cheesecake, which is something I heard a YouTuber say and that was probably the main reason I bought it! :-D

I have found the Moisture Lite lotion to be especially helpful when I have hormonal breakouts, which I tend to get on my cheeks and my chin around that time of month (sorry if that's TMI!). It still moisturises my skin but it helps to soothe the breakouts and ultimately to clear them up.

Samples! I love samples.

I received four very generous samples with my order, and I have tried almost all of them now except for the wild rose petal body wash, which I am saving for a camping trip where I won't want to bring a giant bottle of shower gel. I liked the Hydration Boost facial serum, although I found it a tiny bit too strong for my skin and I did experience a little bit of redness after using it. The Citrus Cream Moisturiser was amazing and I also liked the Cleanse and Tone all-in-one cleanser, makeup remover and toner. What a genius idea! I highly recommend that product to anybody who is travelling and wants to save space in their beauty bag!

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with Michael Todd True Organics. The shipping was super fast, the products are amazing; and I will definitely be repurchasing from this brand. :-)

Nordstrom Haul!

Hi guys! I am back with a little Nordstrom haul to share. :)


Recently I discovered that Nordstrom's online site ships to Australia. They don't ship everything, unfortunately, but they do ship a lot of major beauty brands and the prices are much more affordable than what we pay in Australia. The difference in price of a Dior mascara in America and in Australia is absolutely crazy, so I got to shopping and yesterday a little brown box arrived on my doorstep.

The only thing I don't like about buying from overseas is the shipping costs. I paid rather a lot of money to have my products shipped here; and while I understand that it is a long distance for postage, I do wish it was slightly more affordable, because I would have bought a heap more stuff.

But enough of that, on with the haul!


I started out with about 20 items in my cart, and edited down from there (which, for me, means shifting things from Cart to Wishlist, hehe). I ended up with four products, all of which I am super excited about.

eeeeeep!

 

 

So, from left to right: Christian Dior, Diorshow "New Look" mascara in 090 Black. Yves Saint Laurent Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils "Shocking" felt-tip eyeliner in Black. Yves Saint Laurent Rebel Nudes Glossy Stain in 110 Reckless Pink. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte lipstick in 7 Lingerie Pink.

 

 

I cannot even tell you guys how long I have waited for some of these products. It is ridiculous. The YSL eyeliner and Rebel Nude glossy stain are new to me and were slightly impulse purchases, but I have a story about both the Dior mascara and the YSL lipstick.

 

So, a pretty long time ago, I went to the Dior counter in Myer in search of a new mascara; and I was pretty much set on the Diorshow New Look. I am an enormous fan of the 1947 Dior New Look collections and pretty much anything Christian Dior and anything vintage, so I was excited about this mascara. But when I asked the lady at the counter, she pretty much did whatever she could to talk me out of it and talk me into a different mascara (the silver tube kind? I forget what it's called now). So I bought the one she recommended, but I never forgot about the New Look one. I generally don't get talked out of or into products anymore because as I've gotten older, I've gotten more sure of myself and assertive, but in this instance I was shopping with my mum and I didn't want to make trouble, I guess. So when I saw this mascara on the Nordstrom website for really affordable, I had to pick it up and I am so happy that I did. One of the things I love about online shopping is that you don't have to deal with sales associates who try to talk you out of things or into other things. Lol!

 

My story with the YSL Rouge Volupte in 7 actually takes place at the same counter, with the same sales associate, but much later on. I had seen the colour in one of Elle Fowler's videos and I really, really wanted it. I checked the YSL website and saw it there, so I went in to Myer and asked for the colour 7, Lingerie Pink. The sales associate pretty much just stared at me for a moment and told me that there was no such colour. It doesn't exist, she was telling me. And when I told her that I had seen it with my own eyes, she wasn't having it. She was convinced that there has never been a #7. When I was back home in Melbourne about a month ago (stay tuned for my Melbourne haul, it is coming!), I asked a sales associate at another YSL counter if she had ever heard of it, and she told me she had, but that it was very difficult to buy. So while I was on the Nordstrom site, I thought I would have a look and, sure enough, there it was: #7, Lingerie Pink. So I think out of all the products I bought, this lipstick is the one I am most proud to have purchased.

 

Diorshow New Look, YSL Rebel Nudes Glossy Stain, Rouge Volupte 7, Shocking Faux Cils eyeliner.

So those are the products that I picked up from the Nordstrom website, I hope you enjoyed this post. Keep checking back to see my long-overdue Melbourne haul as well as some collective hauls I have planned, an updated skincare routine and some more bits and bobs!

xoxo

Beauty Products I Can't Live Without

How have I not blogged since November?? Life has been absolutely crazy lately, but I am back and I feel super-motivated to write at the moment, so here is a list of some of the beauty products I cannot live without.

Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Créme and Estée Lauder Advanced Time Zone moisturiser.

I use the Chanel one as a day cream and the Estée Lauder one as more of a night cream. I cannot live without these products because they are the best moisturisers I have ever used in my life and I can't imagine a time where I won't love these.

Label M Protein Spray.

I was first introduced to this product by a girl friend of mine who was, at the time, my hairdresser. Ever since then, I have absolutely loved it and sworn by it. I went a long time without it, because I could never find it anywhere. A few months ago I discovered it online and I was finally reunited with my love. This is the best protein-infused hair product I own and I am so glad I found it.

Chanel Mousse Exfoliante Pureté.

This has been my staple cleanser since I was about seventeen; and I am absolutely obsessed with it. I cannot live without this cleanser in my life. If I ever couldn't have it for some reason, I would literally be unable to live. My feelings about this cleanser go beyond love and into need. I need this like I need water and air. If you have never felt that way about a cleanser, I recommend you try Chanel, because you will fall in love with it.



A few more products I can't live without:

• Pond's Cold Cream
• DeLorenzo silver shampoo
• Lucas' Paw Paw ointment.
• Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat foundation
• Chanel No. 5
• Witch Hazel toner

I hope you enjoy this post, let me know in the comments if you have any requests for future blog posts, and in the meantime I am working on some pretty cool things, so stay tuned!

Love and light.
xoxo

November Empties/Products I've Used Up!

 

Hi everyone! Earlier in the month I decided that I would start doing some "Product Empties" posts. I love these on YouTube, so I am going to have a go at my own blog versions. I've been trying to make an effort to use up a bunch of products that I've had for quite a while. I have forgotten to take pictures of quite a few products before I threw away the packaging, but I will list them at the end.

 

So, without further ado, these are some of the products I have used up in November.

 

 

 

I used up my Christian Dior gentle toning lotion, which was kind of sad for me because I bought this while I was in Vegas (along with quite a few other products) and I absolutely love it. I'm not even sure if I can buy this in Australia, which is also really quite sad. I love that this is good for sensitive skin, because my skin really is very, very, very sensitive. It also has velvet and peony extract, which makes it smell really nice and feel really nice on my face. If I can find this product again, I will most definitely be repurchasing it.

 

I used up a lot of perfumes this month. I used up a bottle of Vera Wang, Princess, which I have had a few times now and I never get sick of it. I will probably repurchase this because I love it so much.

 

I also used up a bottle of Jimmy Choo EDP, which is a very interesting fragrance and I can never quite put my finger on what exactly it smells like. The small bottle at the bottom of the picture is a miniature Miss Dior Chérie, which I used up this month as well.

 

I used up my Chanel, Chance perfume this month. This is a lovely fragrance for spring, and I suppose it's quite fitting that I used it up on the second-last day of spring for the year.

 

I used up a full-sized Miss Dior Chérie this month, but I had to throw it away with a tiny bit left in it because it was starting to make my skin break out in a rash. :( I suspect that it was just getting a bit old, because I've never had a reaction to this perfume.

 

Another very sad moment for me this month was the day I used up the last of my Mango Temptation fragrance mist from Victoria's Secret. I LOVE this fragrance, and I have been using it so sparingly since I bought it in Vegas (in 2011). I was sad to see this go, because obviously we don't have Victoria's Secret in Australia. I guess I'll just have to go back again soon to stock up!

 

 

Other Products I Used Up This Month (Not Pictured):

 

One tube of Lucas Paw Paw Ointment (essential product, will definitely repurchase)

A tube of Veet bladeless hair removal cream

Coconut body scrub from the Body Shop

One bottle of Brazil Nut shower cream from the Body Shop

One Chanel mascara, in black

 

 

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! I'm saving up for a video camera at the moment, so hopefully I'll be able to start making some YouTube videos to complement these blog posts as well. :-)

 

Love and Light,

 

xoxo

Christmas Haul!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

These are some of the bits and pieces I have picked up for this Christmas!

I am totally in love with these wristbands, I am going to be wearing a different one to work each day until Christmas. :-) These teddy bear earrings are super cute as well; and I absolutely adore my smiley snowman mug. I'm going to drink my coffee out of that on Christmas morning.

 

I may have gone a little crazy at Dusk, buying candles this past couple of weeks. But these were so yummy, I couldn't not pick them up! The candle on the left is called "Red Velvet Cake," and it really does smell exactly like a red velvet cake (funnily enough). I actually have this candle burning right now; and my entire bedroom smells like a yummy cake. I know it's not specifically a Christmas candle, but who doesn't love dessert smells?

 

The candle on the right is a Christmas candle with a double wick. It is gingerbread and orange peel. I adore the smell of this candle, and I really like that it's made from soy. I prefer to have soy candles, and this one smells absolutely amazing. It smells like freshly baked gingerbread. I haven't burned this one yet, because I'm saving it for Christmas. The packaging is really gorgeous as well, I love the purple jar and the beautiful patterns.

 

The next two things I bought were these candles, also from Dusk. I got Pink Butter Icing, which again is not a Christmas candle, but it smells like a patisserie and it's pink... Need I say more? Even though Christmastime is really hot here in Australia, I still like the idea of burning yummy candles to get into the Christmas spirit. I have burned this one quite a few times, and it's a really nice sweet fragrance, but not as strong as the Red Velvet Cake candle.

 

The last candle for this haul is a Christmas candle, called Candy Cane. This lovely candle also comes in the large size with a double wick, but on the particular day that I went shopping, I didn't have very much money so I settled for the smaller size. Knowing me, though, I will probably go back to get the large size because this candle smells very strongly of peppermint; and I LOVE peppermint. I haven't burned this one yet, because as I said, I'm waiting until it gets a bit closer to Christmas to burn my Christmas-specific candles, but I can't wait for my room to be filled with this amazing smell.

 

This is a tealight holder that I bought as a Christmas present for my mum. I saw it in Dusk on my trip there last week and loved it, so when I went back this week I decided to pick it up. It wasn't overly expensive, either, so I might get a couple more to give to her. It has a lovely pattern of reindeer, swirly trees and snowflakes, which I think my mum will really like.

 

 

 

I am proud to say that I have indeed finished my Christmas shopping, however I tend to pick up a few extra things for people in the lead up to Christmas. I do want to get something extra for my dad, I'm just having a really difficult time figuring out what. And I want to get a couple more things for my mum and my best friend. Again, I'm not sure what those things will be.

 

 

So that's what I've hauled so far for Christmastime, I hope you guys are having an amazing day/night wherever you are.

Love and Light.

xoxo

Outfit of the Day!

Hi guys!

I really liked my outfit today, so I thought I would do an Outfit of the Day post!

I have been getting so sick of wearing black all the time (at my jobs), so today I decided to put on a little red dress and feel a bit more summer-y. I curled my hair on Saturday and now it's Wednesday (I only wash my hair once a week... Don't judge me), so this is a very messy, undone hairstyle but I think that's okay. Nothing I'm wearing here was very expensive, apart from my makeup. It just goes to show that sometimes you can put together a really cute outfit on a small budget!

Outfit:

Dress: Kmart
Watch: Forever New
Shoes: Kmart (I'm sensing a theme here, hahaha)

Beauty Notes:

Nail Polish: Australis
Foundation: Yves Saint Laurent
Lip Gloss: Bonne Bell, Vanilla Frosting
Eyeshadow: Nars 'Isolde' duo
Mascara: Yves Saint Laurent, Noir Radical in black
Eyeliner: Napoleon Perdis kohl eyeliner in black
Bronzer: Nars, 'Laguna'
Tan: Kate Somerville tanning towellettes


I hope you guys enjoyed this OOTD, let me know in the comments if you would like to see more of these!

Love and Light

xoxo