Lip Factory July 2014 Review

Hey Ladies,

Another amazing Lip Factory box has arrived. Yes, it actually arrived this month. I am still waiting on last month's box as it was returned to sender by Australia Post for some reason. Anyways,  I have opened and tried everything and I genuinely love everything in this months box. I am so excited to use everything I received but being an all about lips month and the anniversary box I will probably have to try one at a time haha.

So what did I get??????

8 Full Size products!!!! Happy Birthday Lip Factory.

1. Beauty Addicts Sweep Lips Gloss in shade Motivate Lilac and Express Ginger RRP $17 each 2x Full Size

I love lip gloss when its not sticky and these are a beautiful formula. They smell like vanilla and have just enough pigment. The lilac is a gorgeous light pink shade and the ginger is a gold sparkle once applied. They are a small tube but have the same amount of product as my others so im happy. I'm pretty sure everyone received the same colours this month but overall a good choice.

2. Eco-Lips Eco-Tints Tinted Lip Balm in shade Sugar Plum RRP $4.50 Full Size

 I loved the last lip balm I received from lip factory and it was packaged very similar to this. It gives very little colour payoff so don't be alarmed at how dark it is. Smells like mint and is cooling on your lips. It will be great in summer. I would definitely purchase again for the price.

3. Palladio Shadow and Liner Crayon in shade Champagne RRP $6 Full Size

Firstly I just want to mention that this colour is a frosted white not champagne as you can see in the swatch at the bottom. It is very intense and will make for a great inner corner eyeshadow or water line eyeliner. Id love to see the other colours they have as it is so soft and blendable.

4. Pari Beauty Eye Shadow in shade ES18 (My Little Pony) RRP $11 Full Size

So as I have mentioner before I tend to stick to natural browns when it comes to eyeshadow but this pink is the exception.  I love it and it is very pigmented without fallout. They have heaps of colours available on their website.  I may put an order in the future.

5. OFRA Lip Liner in shade Cherish RRP $13 Full Size

Great colour for a lip liner as I always receive the nude colours only problem being I don't have a lipstick this colour. What a shame, an excuse to go shopping. It is very smooth and quite a creamy formula but seems like it might wear off quite quickly as it wiped straight off with no effort.

6. Palladio Brow Fix in Clear RRP $6 Full Size

Who doesn't want to have the perfect brows?? I actually ran out of brow wax about 2 weeks ago so great timing. I havent used a pencil before but im open to trying new products. I will be interested to see how it goes. It is quite soft for anyone who may be interested.  It looks solid but would apply smoothly.

7. BONUS J Cat Wonder Lip Paint in shade "Always Late, Rabbit!" RRP $4.50 Full Size

Just when you think its the end of the line, their is a bonus product. Lip Factory,  I love you.  It is quite clearly a dupe for the OCC Lip Tar or the MAC LipMix but I dont even care. It smells like fresh mint and is SOOO pigmented. A little goes a long long long way.  It is a very different colour and I love the Alice in Wonderland reference.  As you can see in the swatch it is bold but very nice. A little bit sticky but that is to be expected. I am interested to see how it wears.

SWATCHES BELOW

Left to right: Lilac Beauty Addicts, Ginger Beauty Addicts, OFRA Lip Liner, Palladio Champagne Shadow Stick, Eco-Tint Lip-Tint, JCat Lip Paint and Pari Eyeshadow.

So a huge 8 products with an overall value of $79USD. I am so impressed and this makes up for the last two months hassles. If you arent subscribed already I couldn't find anything more to suggest but to give Lip Factory a go. They are my all time favourites.

What was your favorite product this month?

Did you get similar colours?

What do you think we might get next month?

Lots of love,

J   xxxxxx

Bellabox July 2014 Review

Hi Gorgeous People,

So just a quick update, after the last mix up with my May Lip Factory getting lost by Australia Post and the replacement not arriving till early July, my June Lip Factory tracking stated that it was returned to Sender. I contacted LF and they said they would send a replacement yesterday, now I have arrived home tonight and it was on my doorstep. I have sent them an email but i'd say they will already have sent it. So needless to say my June box will be reviewed next but I received Bellabox first, so its only right I review it first.

Sooooooo.... What did I get????
Theme: American Beauty

1. YU-BE Moisturizing Skin Cream RRP $34.95 for 70g Sample Size 3ml

I have received two of these samples in swaps I have done previously. I did open one to try it and unfortunately I didn't like it. It smelt similar to bleach and I was not going to put that on my skin for obvious reasons. I have heard that other people like it so maybe I just got a bad sample but I won't be trying this one. I am a little confused as to why this was included as it clearly states on the card that it is from Japan and this is an American box and it is a very small sample so I'm sure if you actually wanted to try it that it would be disappointing only getting one possibly two uses out of it.

2. Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquer in shade "Lips are Dripping Honey" RRP $12.95 Full Size 15ml

This was one of the featured products this month and I was hoping that I didn't get it but I did and I am at least happy I got a colour I will use. It is a clear polis with large gold and silver glitters. I tested it over my gel polish and am pleased to say that it lasted the whole week until I took the polish of. It is very glittery and as you know from previous reviews I love glitter. Swatch below.

Also: Not sure why it is Nicole by OPI and packaging on the lid says Carrie Underwood? If you know why please let me know in the comments below.


3. Dermadoctor KP Duty Lotion RRP $49.00 for 113g Sample Size 30ml

So seeing this product I was a little underwhelmed thinking it was just another moisturizer sample and how many does a girl want to receive but I tried it and it is much better than a lot of moisturizers. It is more of a treatment, it is very oily and thick so would be great in winter to hydrate your dry skin. Mum used it this week and has put it in her handbag. She loves it and from my one use I did too. Would I repurchase, definitely!! It is worth every cent.

4. Designer Brands Lip Butter - Coconut RRP $4.99 Full Size 10ml

I have heard on facebook that a lot of peoples lip butter samples were off/no good but I opened mine and it is fine. It doesn't smell much lip coconut but it is not unpleasant. It is hydrating and smooth on the lips and a decent price. I probably wouldn't repurchase only because I prefer gloss over lip butter but it is a great sample.


5. Anastasia Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat RRP $39.00 for 5.3g Sample Size 3.2g

I am so confused by this product. It says it is to be applied over the top of your regular mascara to make it waterproof. Why would you not just use a waterproof mascara??? For $39.00 I can not understand why anyone would need this product. If it was a clear mascara I can understand that but to market and brand it as a "Clear Waterproof Topcoat" makes me wonder who they are marketing to. Either way I did use it and it is alright but smells very plastic almost like playdough?? I will not be repurchasing I will just buy waterproof mascara and wouldn't suggest you waste your money as it's nothing special unfortunately.


Bonus - StriVectin EV Get Even Brightening Serum RRP $89.00 for 50ml Sample Size 1ml

As everyone knows im not a fan of foil sachets and this is no exception. It's 1ml and I probably wont use it.

So the overall value this month is $57.75. Which is pretty good for Bellabox. The products this month were abit hit and miss but I did get 3 products I will use. Bellabox isn't really improving they are kind of always just scraping through. I am considering not continueing because I still after several months haven't had a box just blow me away like the other subscriptions have. Im still considering it.

What do you think?

Have you had an amazing Bellabox yet?

What is your opinion on the Mascara Topcoat?

Let me know ladies :)

Lots of Love

J xxxx

Violet Box July 2014 Review

Hey Beautiful Ladies,

I'm so sorry it has been so long but I have a lot of things going on at the moment as I am planning my trip to Cambodia/Thailand which is only 4 weeks away!!! I have also had the honour of organizing my sister's bachelorette party. So as you can imagine, around working full time, I have been very busy. But it is that wonderful time of the month when the beauty boxes start arriving and I have had two boxes sitting on my shelves unopened for a whole weekend.

So enough chit chat... I opened Violetbox first, as i'm sure you all do too. Following their Anniversary box last month I thought this month might be a bit of a step down because they had an AMAZING collection of goodies last month.

What did I get???

The box felt slightly empty this month but I am very happy with what I received.

1. Skin & Co Truffle Therapy Serum RRP $75.00 for 30ml Sample Size 5ml

This product is very exciting. Truffles are considered a luxury and often connected with food so I am looking forward to seeing their effects as a beauty product. The product card states to apply under your moisturizer over your face and neck to help hydrate your skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Whilst I don't have too many wrinkles being in my early 20's I do like to look after my skin and I am in full support of trying new things. The sample bottle states to apply twice daily which confuses me as to how much to apply as the sample is 1/6th of the full size and it is very small. I know a small amount of product goes a long way but I am interested to see how long the sample will last me.

2. Sukin Skin Purifying Facial Mask RRP $15.00 for 100ml Sample Size 16ml

I have lots of Sukin products in my household including body lotions, shower wash and hand soap. They are always really great quality and very affordable. I like receiving brands I am familiar with from time to time and like that Sukin is easy to find. I am definitely going to repurchase this item in the future if I have a positive experience so I will try one mask and my mum wants to try the other so im sure she will raid my beauty boxes to find it. These are the kind of foil packets that I don't mind.

3. KMS California Hair Play Molding Paste RRP $33.00 for 100ml Sample Size 20ml

 So this product isn't very exciting for me because I have long hair and don't like to use gels or molding products, I much prefer hair spray or mousse. My brother however does use them and I have given him this one as a travel size to take with him overseas this month. It is scent free, a decent size sample and in his words "its alright."

4. LAQA & CO Sheer Lip Lube Pencil RRP $20.00 Full Size in shade Stranger Danger

 So this "Lip Lube" was the sneak peak this month and I got really excited when I seen it. There was 5 colours you could have received and I really wanted the coral colour Bee's Knees, but I am still really happy with this pink shade. It smells like mint and is very refreshing to wear. It looks very bright in the tube but as you can see in the swatch below it is just enough colour but still slightly sheer. It is very moisturizing to wear also.

5. Dr. Hauschka Lavender Sandalwood Calming Body Wash RRP $6.00 for 10ml Full Size

 I have never seen a body wash so small. It definitely is only 1-2 uses. I've never been a fan of Lavender or Sandalwood so I can't see myself like this product but I do like it's inclusion. I know a few people who would like to try something like this so I will be able to get rid of it no problem. I have heard good things about the brand so it probably is a great product.

6. So Susan Flutter Mascara RRP $32.00 Full Size

 So Susan has been in a couple of previous box subscriptions and each time I have missed out so it is nice to finally get to try one of their products. A few people have said that theirs was faulty when they opened it but mine is perfectly fine. I'm actually really surprised with the way it smells. So many mascaras have chemical smells or plastic smells but this one is not bad. It applies evenly and is quite nice. It states that it makes your lashes blacker, well i'd hope so, and that it separates lashes which is pretty true. I don't think I would pay $32 for it again but only because I have cheaper mascaras that are very comparable.

 So overall this month was 3 full size and 3 samples which is pretty good. The products are varied and its nice to get 2 make up items. Its a great way to follow up the anniversary month with an overall value of $79.50.

The sneak peak for next month is the Be a Bombshell Eyeshadow Quad which I am very excited about.

What did you think of this month?

Have you tried any of the items yet? How did they go?

Stay Safe

J      xox

Total Value $79.50

Memebox Colorbox #3 BLUE Review

Hey Beautyholics,

Another package arrived yesterday and it was Memebox's Blue Colorbox.

I had no idea what they would put in there I just knew I had to have it!!! They also had a Red and Orange box variation but I have plenty of  Red products already and I am not a fan of orange anything.

So the box cost me nothing except shipping and handling as I had 15 Memepoints saved.
So normally it would be $15 plus $6.99 shipping = $21.99 I paid $6.99

Enough chit chat... What did I get???

1. Ruahin Magic Lipstick in shade Blue 4g RRP $30

This is genuinely an amazing Lipstick. My mum has already tried to steal it. It looks very scary being so dark and blue but when you apply it to your lips it turns into a beautiful pastel purple (swatched at the bottom). I have no idea how it does it but either way I love it. On top of that the packaging is so cute. I am a sucker for cute packaging! It will make a great addition to my collection. Also I have to mention it does stain your lips. I woke up this morning with beautiful purple lips, not because it reached -1 degree celcius but because it has great staying power.
Would I repurchase for $30, probably not but i'm sure this will last a long time.

2. Dearberry Total Nail Laquer #33 Hawaiian Blue 10ml RRP $3

As you all know I'm not a fan of regular nail polish as I have a shellac / Gel polis kit. I have no idea how it will last but I have swatched it. That is one coat and it dried in under 2 minutes which is pretty good. I don't like regular polish because it is only nice for 1-2 days they you need to reapply so I will see how this one goes. It is a gorgeous blue though :)

3. L'Ocean Eyeshadow in shade L-62 Dark Blue Pearl 4g RRP $10

So I don't actually own any blue eyeshadow. I have always purchased very neutral colors and the occasional pink or purple. So this will be a nice addition. It isn't the most pigmented but has a great shimmer and glitter that blends so smoothly. It is named as being pearl but I can't see that in it at all. Over all a great inclusion for a blue themed box.

4. Tosowoong Gel Pencil Liner in shade 08 Aqua Deep Blue 1.2g RRP $10

After receiving lust have it and my BeautyJoint haul I have already received 4 eyeliners this month. I really don't mind because every single one is completely different. Of all of them this is actually my favourite. It is so soft an has soooooo much glitter in it. It is a deep Navy colour with blue glitter and as you can see claims to be long lasting and waterproof. It definitely is, I have scrubbed at it under water and it has not changed. It is smudgeproof and waterproof.
I would definitely buy this product again and want to find more colours in this brand.
If you know where I would love to know????

SWATCHES BELOW

Eyeliner, Eyeshadow, Magic Lipstick then Nail Polish.

So the Over All value of the box is $53.00 which is great. More than double what you would have paid. For me it is even better with the use of Memepoints its more than 7.5 times what I paid.

I will get use out of every product and I am not disappointed in anything.

Every Memebox I receive just gets better and better.

For anyone who is interested I would definitely suggest taking a look as they always have new themed boxes for hair, face and body and a mixture of all 3.

Feel free to use the referral link below to get $5 off orders.

http://us.memebox.com/memebox-global?acc=2bb232c0b13c774965ef8558f0fbd615

Also, if you got the Red or Orange I would love to know what you received??

Lots of Love

J    xoxox

BeautyJoint Haul July 2014

Hey gorgeous girls,

I am so happy to bring you my review on these products. I am an impulse buyer and this purchase was spare of the moment but one of my best.

I have been watching heaps of beauty related youtube videos as i'm sure you all do. Everyone raves about elf. I haven't tried it before and had to have some. So I looked at a few different websites online and decided on Beautyjoint.com because of the pricing, variety and cheap shipping to Australia.

So enough of that, What did I get????

I have to point out how great the packaging was. There is no chance anything could have broken, it was all individually wrapped in bubble wrap, then wrapped all together in bubble wrap, then put in a bubble wrap padded envelope and then put in another bubble wrap padded envelope. Well Done!! I have never seen anything like it.

 

So here is a quick look at the items I got. Total cost $72.07 AUD

 

 

1. e.l.f. Studio Make Up Mist & Set in shade Clear $3.99 (RRP$8.00)



 

So I have never used any brand of setting spray which makes this product even more exciting. It is a decent size and price. It is a pump spray pack that in my opinion disperses the product very unevenly. It is very liquidy so you definitely need to rub it in or spray from very far away. I swatched some of the products on my hand last night and used the setting spray over the top. I have been at work for 10hrs today and tonight the swatches are still perfect so it seems to have worked exactly how you would want it to. It contains Aloe, Green Tea, Cucumber and Vitamins A,C and E which are all things I love in my products so a big plus and it smells like cucumber so I'm very happy. Whilst I haven't tried it on my face all day from what I can see this will have to be a part of my makeup regime. Ladies I love this!!!

 

 

2. e.l.f. Studio Acne Fighting Foundation in Shade Porcelain $7.99  (RRP $12.00)

 

This product was the whole reason I wanted to finally give e.l.f. a try. I do not have issues with acne or scarring but I am very interested in the high coverage it provides as I do have redness on my cheeks. I chose the lightest colour porcelain as I am very pale. It is a yellow undertone whereas I would normally use a pink undertone but I have used my lightest powder foundation over the top and it is a great colour for me. It is very thick so a little product goes a very long way. It is great packaging so you have full control over how much product comes out as opposed to a pump pack where you have no control. It is full coverage and I look forward to using it for a week or so to get a real idea of how well it wears. I did buy 3 of them so hopefully it is good haha.

 

I have swatched, smoothed and blended below.

3. Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last Liquid Eye Liner Pencils in shades AQUA Stone and JADE Jewel $2.79 each (RRP $2.49USD)

I love coloured eyeliners and these are the softest, smoothest and most buttery formula I have ever used. I swatched as you can see below and they didn't budge. They state that they last 12 hrs so I will be testing that very soon. Loved the Aqua shade but Jade Jewel is much darker than it showed online. I will use it either way because I love the formula but I was looking forward to the bright green colour.

4. Milani Illuminating Face Powder in shade Amber Nectar $9.59 (RRP $9.49USD )

I hadn't heard anything about this product but I must admit it is very cute. As I mentioned earlier I am an impulse buyer and this one was definitely bought under impulse. It is gorgeous and so soft. It isn't as bright as you would think by looking at it. It is illuminating and not actually very pigmented which I do like. It has a very slight peach colour but will be great for highlighting. The packaging is amazing too.

5. Wet n Wild CoverAll in shade Fair $3.99 (RRP $3.49 USD )

This product was very disappointing. I read some great reviews but now I have it and I have swatched it is doesn't really do much. Upon first applying it to my hand it seemed like a great consistency for a concealer but as soon as you blend it, it disappears. I specifically put it over a freckle to see what the coverage was like and coverage is 0%. You wouldn't even know I had anything on my hand which is not why I wear concealer. Over all disappointing.

6. e.l.f. Studio Baked Bronzer in shade St Lucia $3.99 (RRP $8.00)

I love this colour. It is soft and subtle. I hate really brown bronzers as I have very fair skin, this colour is more of a warm orange. It has great colour pay off and a beautiful shimmer to it. I love baked eyeshadows, bronzers and blushes so I will get lots of use out of this. I still can' believe its so cheap. Decent bronzers are usually at least $15-20, e.l.f. is so affordable.

7. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge $7.49 (RRP $6.00USD)

While I now know I didn't get the greatest deal on this product I am just glad I decided to get it. I stopped using sponges ages ago and started using brushes. I have watched reviews and tutorials on this sponge and the beauty blender and I had to have one. I haven't used it yet but will be using it this weekend to see the difference. Also, i'm looking forward to seeing how it goes wet.
Any tips ladies? I'd love to hear how you use yours?

8. Wet n Wild Color Icon Glitter in shades Brass and Bleached $2.75 each (RRP $5.35 each)

I can never have too many glitters. Two very usable colours. They are a gel formula with big glitter chunks. I will have to do a tutorial soon. Great value and they have 8 different colours available.

9. e.l.f. Essential Eyelid Primer in shades Pearl and Sheer $1.99 each (RRP $3.00)

How have I lived my teen/adult life without these. They are gorgeous, im so happy with my colour choices. The Pearl is so beautifully iridescent and when I put eyeshadow on top it blended so well. The sheer is almost like a concealer for your eyelids. They aren't a thick consistency, instead it is very watery with great coverage. It is not sticky and they don't have that plastic smell some primers have.
Great price, I will 100% be repurchasing.

Over All I am so impressed. Shipping took just over a week from USA to Sydney Australia and cost $15.
The products are great quality and I am so excited to give them all a go over the next week.

Have you tried anything I bought? What did you think?

Do you have any must have beauty essentials I should try?

Whats your favourite?

Lots of Love

J  xxxx

Red Paw Paw June 2014 Review

Hey Girlies,

I have to start by apologizing, I did get last months box and had full intention of posting it but by the time I got to take pictures my family had already eaten half of the goodies. Also, I know this isn't beauty related but I just had to share it.

So we write off last month and start fresh with the June Paw Paw box. For anyone who doesn't already know the box is $5 if you are happy to complete a survey and $10 if you just want the box. The survey is about 3 questions per item so it takes about 5-10 minutes max. It is a monthly subscription and really great value. The only issue is that they have very selective areas that they will deliver to so double check their list if you are interested.

So what did I get???

1. Gravox Chargrilled Beef & Riverina Merlot Gravy 160g
Coles RRP $3.80    Woolworths doesn't stock it online. Approx $3.80 

A Premix Beef Gravy Sachet with Riviera Merlot. This product must be very new as Woolworths didn't stock it in their online store so I have taken an educated guess that it will be around the same price as Coles. I don't use beef gravy myself but my brother loves it and so does my mum so i'm sure this will be gone in the next week. I'll give you an update in my next months box on how they found it.,

2. Ovaltine Cold Crunch Malt Drink 320g
Coles RRP $5.27    Woolworths RRP $4.93

Ahhh Ovaltine... I have fond memories of eating ovaltines when I was younger and making hot chocolate with them. I wasn't aware that they had a new product but will be tasting this one very soon. I have a feeling it is going to be a similar product to Milo.

3. Uncle Tobys Crunchy Triangles 14g
Coles RRP $0.43    Woolworths RRP $0.43 ON SALE FOR $0.30 ($3.00 for 10 pack)

This is a single packet and is sold in 10 packs. They are biscuits with a chocolate filling. I can see that kids would love these. perfect for kids lunches and portion controlled. Quite an affordable kids snack.
They can be found in the muesli bar aisle.

4. White Wings Real Blueberry & Buttermilk Pancake Mix 370g
Coles RRP $5.50 ON SALE FOR $3.00    Woolworths RRP $5.36

This product is very exciting. I love baking and as easy as pancakes are to make from scratch I am a lazy butt and never make them. It is a part of their new range of Black Label Pancake mixes. I seen they have a chocolate chip mix and I think the other variety was plain buttermilk. I will make them and give you some picture in the next post. Definitely need some fresh blueberries to put on top.
The pack says that it makes 15.

5. SPC Spaghetti in Tomato & Cheese with Sneaky Veg sauce 220g
Coles RRP $1.21    Woolworths RRP $1.08

I love spaghetti on toast for a quick and easy breakfast. This is an original product with new packaging branded towards being 100% Aussie Made. I know I will use this. Maybe for breakfast tomorrow.

6. Goulburn Valley Australian Peaches in Coconut Water 170g
Coles RRP $2.17    Woolworths RRP $ 2.14

I really don't like peaches. I have never liked peaches. Lucky everybody else I know does. This is a new range Goulburn Valley have released in coconut water. I can imagine it would be a more refreshing snack as opposed to being in syrup. If my mum doesn't steal it I might give it to my partner. He loves peaches and coconut water so i'm sure he would love it.

7. Uncle Tobys Oats Quick Sachets Creamy Honey 4 x 35g
Coles RRP $1.80    Woolworths RRP $1.79

These are a staple for me when I am on early shift for work. I don't have time to eat breakfast at 5AM so I can take some to work and put them in my desk draw. I haven't tried the Honey Flavour so I will really enjoy them next week. Yummy :)

8. Adriano Zumbo Choc Raspberry Macaron Mix 335g
Coles RRP $8.79    Woolworths RRP $8.76

I am slightly obsessed with Adriano Zumbo since I seen him on the first season of Masterchef. I have made his macaron mix before in the salted caramel flavor and they worked very successfully. They are so nice but I found I made them abit small so you can be generous when piping it out. There are several secrets to making perfect macarons, so they are not really for beginner bakers unless you put some time into watching some Youtube videos first.
The first batch I made were ok but the second batch were AMAZING!! The pack gives great, easy to understand directions and made about 30 slightly undersized macarons. If you didn't get the box this month I still recommend giving them a go.
Here is a picture of my first attempt at the caramel ones:

9. Nescafe AZERA Smooth Coffee 85g
Coles RRP $10.99    Woolworths RRP $10.74

I don't drink coffee but I know how much my mum LOVES this coffee. She has always been a Blend 43 drinker and would never drink anything else. She received a sample of this at her work and has since bought a jar for home. Now she has another jar. She hasn't shut up about it all week so she will be glad to see she has some more. It is quite expensive but most coffee is these days. If you like Blend 43 maybe give it a go.


So I am very excited to see so many full sized products this month. Even though I don't like or wont use all of them, when you consider what you can get for $5 these days I have done Exceptionally well. Even if I only use the Macaron mix I have made my money back already. I will have about 2-3 weeks before I have to submit the survey so I have lots of time to try them. It's great value as you can see:
Coles Total Value $39.96
Woolworths Total Value $39.03

It is a great opportunity to try new things and chances are there is something for everyone in your household.

What are your thoughts?

Have you tried anything here yet?

Keep me posted

J   xxx