April Goals Summary + May: A Month of Samples!

It's May already! A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month, no returns. Let's see how I did with my April Goals ......

Neighbourhood cat 'Panda' :)

Write A Media Kit ~ NO
I feel, at this point, I will never get this done. Every spare minute I get to spend on my blog is used writing posts or taking and editing photos. Not to mention advertising posts, otherwise what's the point of writing them? I'm losing hope, but I want this done and out of the way. 

Clean Out MakeUp Organiser ~ YES!
So proud! My makeup organiser looks so much better and I can find products toot sweet. Thank you, self!

Join Affiliate Programs ~ NO
See above explanation for why I didn't get my Media Kit done. Sad face!

Get Quotes For Bathroom Renovation ~ YES!
This was an arduous yet necessary process that sucked from start to finish, but it's done. On to the next step. Yay! (That was a sarcastic yay).

SUMMARY - I accomplished two out of four set goals, so either the glass is half full or half empty, depending on the way you look at it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have something exciting planned for May! I'm easily excited, so keep that in mind as I introduce...

MAY: A MONTH OF SAMPLES!

You know how I'm always collecting free samples? Check out past posts A Spot Of Shopping and Free Samples? You Beauty! for proof. Well, guess what? They build up!

I've set myself a challenge! In May, I'll be working my way through this massive lot of sample sachets and mini-sized products, trying to use up as many as I can. Fingers crossed my skin doesn't break out from the influx of different brands I'll be slapping on it. I'll be making notes along the way to keep track of which samples may be worth picking up in the full size, and will report back in a future blog post on those products that blew my mind with their sheer awesomeness!

Wish me luck!

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Does your sample stash look like this?

Max The Unicorn Mother's Day Gift Guide!

Mother's Day is fast approaching, Sunday May 8 for those of us who aren't super organised! I normally have a lovely, relaxing day with my family, with lunch out and most important of all, no housework or cooking. Who am I kidding, I never cook on the weekends anyway!

I love helping hubby buy a lovely beauty gift for his Mum, usually taking advantage of a department store Gift With Purchase offer (they are the greatest). I must say, hubby has really stepped up his game, because I've been on the receiving end of some magnificent presents lately!

I've put together a little Gift Guide, in case your struggling for gift ideas. It's quite pamper-heavy, because that's the way I roll. I hope this inspires you and helps you find a Mother's Day present your loved one will cherish. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mums out there, I hope you have a truly beautiful day with your family!

Natura Siberica Oblepikha Shower Gel*
I fell in love with Natura Siberica Oblepikha And Honey Body Scrub and raved about it here, then I was lucky enough to be sent the matching Shower Gel to try as well, and it didn't disappoint! The fragrance of the scrub and gel is so beautiful, kind of like an orange and mango smoothie! There's a ton of beneficial properties in the sea-buckthorn (Altai Oblepikha) ingredient (check out my linked Review of the scrub for more information); suffice to say this gel is energising, uplifting and a real winner. This is a beauty that Mum will want on display because the packaging is just that pretty!

Available in Chemist Warehouse and at Natura Siberica online.

Benefit Cheekathon, photo via Adore Beauty

Benefit Cheekathon
I'm not going to lie. I literally just bought this from Adore Beauty yesterday. They were sold out when I went into Myer, so I thought I better step on it, especially since this is a Limited Edition release! If you're a fan of Benefit, you'll know their Box O Powders normally set you back $51 each. This gorgeous set of five (yes, five) selected Benefit powders only costs $98, so you are basically getting three for free. And they are full size! This is extremely good value for money. Contained within the set, along with a powder brush is Dandelion, Hoola, Dallas, CORALista and Rockateur. Mum can blush, bronze and admire the pretty packaging to her hearts content with Cheekathon. Can't wait for mine to arrive!

Benefit Cheekathon is still available online at Adore Beauty.

Urban Rituelle Soaps*
Even though I received these bars of soap in my Bloggers United goodie bag at the Adelaide event, I'm no stranger to this brand! A while back I went through quite the UR phase, buying their gorgeous vegetable soaps in Guava, Honeysuckle, Grapefruit, Green Tea, Lime Splice and Mango. These Botanical Soaps are huge bars (200g) and come in beautiful packaging. As with all Urban Rituelle soaps, they leave you with lovely soft, clean skin and a smile on your face! The brown one (in the brown packaging) is infused with natural vanilla, lavender and geranium essential oils and the pale yellow soap (in the green packaging) contains natural lemongrass, lemon myrtle, grapefruit and eucalyptus essential oils, so it's very fresh and fruity. Highly recommended for an indulgent addition to Mum's shower routine!

Urban Rituelle soaps can be found here. 

Pink and Red Nail Polish
There's something so pretty about red and pink nail polishes! Although I love experimenting with colour (God only knows I've had blue, turquoise, orange, gold, black and green nails) if I want to feel amazing, I'll go for a pretty pink or a sexy red and #nailit. There are so many brands to choose from these days when it comes to nail polish. If you want to get Mum a few inexpensive ones to throw in with her gift, Ulta3 have an extensive range of colours available at selected chemists for only $2 - $2.50 each. I've selected a mid-range brand (Rimmel) and a higher end (but still reasonable, especially if you find them on sale!) brand, Essie. Both are great quality! Pictured are Strawberry Fizz and Cranberry Zest from the Rimmel I <3 Fruities range (bonus fruity scent when the product dries!) and Madison Ave-Hue and Jump In My Jumpsuit by Essie.

These nail polish brands are available at Priceline.

Lush Rose Bombshell Bath Bomb*
I was sent some goodies from the Limited Edition Lush Mother's Day range, including the delightful Rose Bombshell Bath Bomb. This bomb is a pure delight from start to finish, breaking away under hot running water to reveal rose petals that float atop the gorgeous pink-hued bath water. This is a floral indulgence that every Mum should experience and I'm definitely going in-store to pick up a few more before May 8! I've reviewed Rose Bombshell in my Lush Mother's Day range post here.

Available instore or online at Lush up until May 8.

Kmart Journals
This one's a bit different, but it may appeal to the stationery-loving Mum. Normally I get all my notebooks from Typo, but there was a Kmart Journal included in my goodie bag at the Bloggers United Event, and it made me realise Kmart are really upping their game! These two featured journals I later bought for myself. Aren't they cute? They have different textured covers and the coloured inner design is really great too. There were lots of different funky designs to choose from and at only $5 each, it's the perfect gift for someone who likes to jot down their thoughts!

Available in-store at Kmart, online has limited stock.

Bockers And Pony Choc-O-Lot Hamper, photo via Bockers And Pony

Bockers And Pony Hampers
What Mum wouldn't love to receive a Hamper on Mother's Day?! Bockers And Pony have a great range of hampers, whether it be for relaxing, pampering or indulging. Hampers range from around $80 to $430, so there's sure to be something suitable for any budget. My personal favourites (hint hint, hubby!) are the Treasure Hamper, Manhattan Hamper and the Choc-O-Lot Hamper. Yum!

Hampers available online at Bockers And Pony.

Glasshouse High Tea Candle, photo via Glasshouse Fragrances

Glasshouse Fragrances High Tea Candle
This Limited Edition candle, with a beautiful black tea, bergamot and cardamom fragrance is part of the Glasshouse Fragrances 'Pink Collection'. When you shop from the Pink Collection between 1 April - 8 May, Glasshouse will will donate 5% of the RRP less GST to the McGrath Foundation. So you'd be supporting a worthy cause with your beautifully packaged candle purchase. Win win!

This triple scented candle is available from Glasshouse Fragrances.

I'm linking up to the Fabulous And Fun Life Monday MakeUp Madness Linky Party!

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Disclaimer: Products marked * were provided for editorial consideration. Reviews are my honest opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post, links are for information purposes only. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

What's your favourite product from my Gift Guide?

Lush Mother's Day Range!

Mother's Day will be here before we know it (Sunday May 8th to be exact), so it's time to start thinking about a gift for your Mum, wife or even yourself if you're a Mum (there's nothing wrong with self-gifting. I do it all the time!). My husband and son always get me something lovely, and we get something beauty-related for my Mother-In-Law, too.

If you're a Lushie like me, you'll know Lush have released their Limited Edition Mother's Day range for 2016! It's available in-store and online from April 20 until May 8, which means you can check out the goodies now! I was kindly sent a few things from the range; let's have a look at some of the gorgeous creations for this year....

Rose Bombshell Bath Bomb*

'Drop a bombshell for a floral triplet of rose petals, rose absolute and rose oil. As it fizzes, the outer shell breaks away and magnificent petals burst out in a sweet haze of Sicilian lemon, floral geranium and Turkish rose oil and rose absolute'.

I've already used this and would highly recommend picking one up if you're into roses and gorgeous floral scents. I loved it! The bathwater turned pink, there were rose petals floating on top and the smell was utterly delightful. If you're a fan of Lush RoseJam shower gel, this will be your cup of tea. Rose Bombshell is perfect for an indulgent, pampering, feminine bath experience. I had quite the relaxing bath, with my lit candles and door firmly shut (interruptions be gone). If only I'd brought a glass of wine!

Yummy Mummy Shower Cream*

'The mother of all shower creams, made with Fair Trade organic cocoa butter for blissful lathers and velvet-soft skin. This gloriously sweet blend of Brazilian orange and geranium oil is a sure-fire way to pack some pampering into your daily routine.'

Last year Lush released Yummy Mummy shower gel, this year we get the shower cream. The Creams are getting more popular I've noticed (I'm still working on my huge Lord Of Misrule cream from Christmas!). I probably still prefer the gel formula to the cream, however Yummy Mummy is luxuriously soft to use and translates to a beautiful pampering experience. The aroma is sweet and very floral; I get a huge geranium hit, so if you prefer fruity fragrances, this may not be up your alley. The lavender colour is really pretty and I appreciate how soft my skin feels after using this cream, but I can think of a lot of other Lush shower cleansers I'd reach for before this one.

Ladybird Bubble Bar*

'This friendly little ladybird wants to take you under its wing and run you a hot floral bath, filled with sweet geranium oil to aid relaxation. A little peppermint oil gives a menthol hint to this flowery mix, helping to revive and uplift your mind and body.'

How cute is this Ladybird!? I'm saving this special little bug for Mother's Day, because it will be wonderful to soak in a relaxing bath full of flowery-scented bubbles after my hard day of being taken out to lunch. LOL. This is also available in a cute-as-heck LadyBird Gift Set for Mother's Day, which contains Honey Bee bath bomb, Sunflower bubbles and Ladybird bubble bar. I can't wait to use this!

Rose Bombshell RRP $7.50
Yummy Mummy RRP $19.95 (250g)
Ladybird RRP $6.95
Available in-store or online April 20 - May 8, 2016.

I'm joining up with the Monday MakeUp Madness Linky at Fabulous And Fun Life!

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Disclaimer: Products marked * were provided for editorial consideration. Reviews are my honest opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

Have you got your Mother's Day gifts sorted?

WINNER ANNOUNCED + Discount Code: Vani-T Giveaway!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my Vani-T Giveaway! I had a fantastic response from you guys and I greatly appreciate the support! The prize up for grabs was a Vani-T Tanning pack plus a Mineral Lip Glaze, together valued at $114!

THE PRIZE!

~ Vani-T Bronzing Custard Gradual Tan (200ml)

~ Vani-T Brazilian Bronze 1 Hour Self-Tan Mousse (125 ml)

~ Vani-T Bronzing Mitt

~ Vani-T Mineral Lip Glaze in Goddess

Total Prize Value - $114.00

Rafflecopter has drawn the Winner, and it's a big CONGRATULATIONS to....

MICHELLE WAUGH!

Hope you love your Vani-T prize Michelle, it's a beauty! I'll be contacting you via email shortly.


Don't worry if you didn't win because

a) I have more Giveaways planned!

and 

b) I have a Discount Code for you! If you loved the Vani-T products from my Review/Giveaway post, feel free to use the code DCBLOG16 at Vani-T to receive $20 Off plus Free Delivery when you spend $75 or more! The code is valid for one month. Happy Shopping!

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Mecca Beauty Loop Level 1 Box!

Hi guys! I'm pretty excited, because today I'm blogging about the Mecca Beauty Loop Level 1 Box! This is my first ever box as part of Mecca's Beauty Loop program, because I only just reached the qualifying spend ($300 in a one year period) last month! I am officially a 'Beauty Discoverer'. LOL! I went in-store and picked this up yesterday, although you can order online and add it to your order, if you're eligible to receive one.

Now that I've reached Level 1 status, I'm eligible for four complimentary Beauty Loop sample boxes per year (this being the first) and complimentary makeup application for my Birthday. Let's take a look inside the box.....

Contents:
~ Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil mini bottle
~ Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser sachet
~ Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer sachet
~ Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer sachet

Also included is a card explaining each product, why Mecca love it and how to use it. Handy!

I have no complaints about this box! I love my Hourglass lipstick and Ambient Lighting Powder so I'm keen to try the much-hyped Veil Mineral Primer. The Too Faced Shadow Insurance will be the perfect prep before I use my new Chocolate Bar palette (so far I've been applying it without primer). I've tried a few other Kate Somerville samples in the past and loved them, so I'm also keen to give the cleanser a go, and I haven't tried anything from Josie Maran before, so will be excited to trial a new-to-me brand!

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Disclaimer: I earned this Box by spending my own (and hubby's!) money at Mecca. Links are for information purposes only and are not affiliate links. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

Have you picked up your Beauty Loop Box yet? Are you happy with it?

My Microdermabrasion Experience!

When Essential Beauty emailed me offering a treatment of my choice recently, I amazingly thought long and hard about it (I know, what?). I'd never had a salon treatment before and actually hate people touching me, so it was way out of my comfort zone! After assessing the pros and cons I realized I would be an idiot to pass up the opportunity, plus I thought you guys may be interested in the Microdermabrasion* process too, given that this is predominantly a beauty blog. But first, let's talk customer service!

Customer Service
We all know how important this is; poor customer service can be a real deal-breaker, putting you off a business entirely. I experienced wonderful customer service from the get-go, even before Essential Beauty knew I'd be reviewing my experience. I made two phone calls to the Marion, SA store prior to my booking to ask a few questions that weren't covered by the online FAQ. Both times the staff member was friendly and helpful, reassuring me and allaying my fears. When I arrived to my appointment I spoke with Barbara, the store owner, and she was so lovely, chatty and relatable. Carol, the Store Manager and Therapist who performed my Microdermabrasion was an absolute delight. I feel so lucky I got her, as she guided me through the process expertly, was full of useful information and was so friendly. I'm definitely asking for Carol if I go back for more treatments in the future!

Benefits of Microdermabrasion
There were an array of treatments to choose from, but I picked Microdermabrasion because it seemed the most suitable to my skin and for what I wanted to achieve.

'Microdermabrasion is an advanced skin care innovation that delivers an exclusive blend of organic ingredients including lignin and cellulose to gently and non-invasively polish the skin. This polishing removes dry, damaged surface skin and stimulates collagen production and blood flow. The procedure gives the skin an overall fresh, healthy looking glow in 40 minutes. It is a non-surgical, effective “lunch hour” procedure.'

There are so many skin problems Microdermabrasion can improve, including fine lines and wrinkles, skin pigmentation, sun damage and age spots, blackheads and whiteheads, enlarged pores, acne scars and dull or congested skin. I saw this as a great all-rounder treatment that addresses multiple issues simultaneously, plus anything that can improve my fine lines and congested skin in the one session is very appealing to me.

My Experience
I was led to a dimly-lit room with a treatment bed and gentle, relaxing rainforest music playing, and was left to don a hairnet and lay down. All of this was a welcome oasis and quite a departure from the stresses of day to day life! I even forgot that I hate laying down in public. I was glad I didn't have to remove any clothes, because there's another thing that makes me uncomfortable. Yes, I have a lot of foibles! 

My Therapist placed eyepads over my eyes then removed my makeup (from under the eyes down, as that's where I wanted the treatment), using asap Gentle Cleansing Gel. I found this really enjoyable, because my face and neck got a little massage at the same time! All the products used were asap brand, because Essential Beauty stock this range throughout their stores. Being a beauty lover, I appreciated the chance to be introduced to a skincare brand I hadn't tried before, and after the treatment I was kindly given an array of asap samples to try for myself at home.

Carol checked my comfort level many times throughout the treatment and explained every step of the process to me, putting me at complete ease. I did stress a bit when the lights went on but that's needed so the Therapist can see what they are doing with the tool. I then had the Diamond Peel treatment, which is a type of Microdermabrasion where the skin is exfoliated using actual diamond chips to vacuum the skin away. The top layer of skin and the dead skin cells are removed to rejuvenate the skin and the skin's collagen levels and elasticity are increased as the epidermal cell structure is restored. This, basically, was the nitty-gritty of the procedure; the machine was somewhat loud and the process was not painful or uncomfortable, but certainly wasn't as relaxing as the massagey bit! I felt no discomfort as the diamond-tipped wand was run over my face, thankfully.

Next, my face was wiped, asap Soothing Gel was applied and I was again left to relax for five minutes with my rainforest buddies and the lights down. Yas! This was then removed and asap Ultimate Hydration was applied. I also remember Carol saying she had applied a product with a tint (which would have helped to even out my skintone and make me appear less scary, lol) but I can't recall the exact product.

Results
I experienced no redness immediately after the procedure, which was a huge plus! I was concerned I'd look like a beetroot with not a scrap of makeup to conceal this, but I needn't have worried. My skin had a healthy glow to it and felt super soft. Like baby's bum soft. It was explained to me that I may break out in the days following, and of course I did. I am prone to breakouts at the best of times, so I knew it would happen to me. This cleared up pretty quickly, though, and I was left with smooth, firmer-looking skin. My pores were definitely less noticeable as were my fine lines. My complexion overall, was more glowy than usual and my skin looked healthy. I'm impressed with the results and with any future Microdermabrasions, I'd be keen to include under my eyes, as I'd love to address the fine lines residing there. I wasn't sure if you could treat this area, but I checked and you can!

Location, Location, Location!
As mentioned earlier, I chose to have this treatment at the Marion store, located within the Westfield shopping complex. This was perfect for me as I only live 15 minutes away. As you can imagine, I know my local Westfield pretty damn well, so I knew exactly where Essential Beauty was located; conveniently right next to an exit to the car park! This is a major benefit if you don't like being seen in public without makeup or if you're worried your face will be red afterwards. I very much appreciated being able to leave the store, turn the corner and be out of sight within ten seconds, lol.

In Summary.....
Although I didn't experience redness afterwards, it's important to remember the sunscreen and best if you can skip makeup or just wear light mineral foundation for the next few days, so I'd suggest getting it done late on a Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning so you have the weekend to let your skin breathe. I really enjoyed my Essential Beauty experience, from start to finish, and I honestly can't fault it. I couldn't have asked for a better Therapist in Carol. She's so friendly, down to earth and reassuring, whilst still being completely professional. I felt completely at ease in her hands. For my first ever salon experience, I think it went remarkably well. I actually regret not treating myself to a salon experience earlier, and am considering returning for microdermabrasions once or twice a year, now that I know exactly what's involved and that I enjoy the experience and love the results!

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Disclaimer: *This treatment was provided in exchange for a review, however views expressed are my unbiased, honest opinion. Links in this post are for information purposes and are not affiliate links. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

Have you had any salon treatments and if so, how did it go?

Review/GIVEAWAY: Vani-T MakeUp & Tanning Products!

Vani-T: Eco-Glamour at its best

Hello, beauties! Today's post is all about Vani-T products. I was introduced to this South Australian company in February at the Bloggers United Event held at the Seawall Apartments in picturesque Glenelg. As soon as I entered the room and saw the gorgeous display of Vani-T products, I was immediately impressed, just from an aesthetics viewpoint. The packaging of these products was some of the most eye-catching and lovely I'd ever seen! Sparkly faux diamond jewels adorn the lipsticks and a pretty holographic design features across the range. I love anything that sparkles!

Vani-T are all about Eco-Glamour, a fusion of purity, ethics and glamour. A proudly Australian company, Vani-T products are natural and organic, rich in vitamins, minerals, active ingredients and botanical oils and contain no clay, talc, sulphates or parabens. None of the products are tested on animals. The CEO and Founder, Tania Walsh, is passionate about beauty and very conscious of creating ethical products that look good and are good for you. Keep reading, guys, because I have a Giveaway you won't want to miss!

I've been trialling some of the makeup products received in my Goodie Bag, the Lipstick in La Femme* and the Mineral Colour Crystals in Swiss Chocolate*, along with another lipstick I was kindly sent after the Event, in the shade Scandal*. You can see in my swatch photo the products are highly pigmented and the shades look so pretty!

Swatch time!

Both of the mineral lippies are very creamy and comfortable on the lips. The coconut oil, Vitamin E and aloe extract ingredients really provide a lot of hydration to the lips. And as mentioned earlier, the fake diamond encrusted lipstick casing is just stunning! This is the type of lipstick I'm proud to re-apply in public, because I want everyone to see my bling! Unfortunately Scandal has gone a little bit soft in the casing (perhaps due to the hydrating ingredients or maybe my handbag was in the sun?), so it's a good idea to only wind it up a little when applying. A Mecca Sales Assistant gave me the same tip when I bought an Hourglass lipstick, so I guess some lipsticks have a slightly softer and creamier formula.

I'm covered in sparkly faux diamond reflections!

Packaging is everything

Swiss Chocolate is from Vani-T's pearl mineral colour crystal range but they also have shimmer and matt finish powder eyeshadow products. In total, there are an impressive 40 shades to choose from! I'm glad I received Swiss Chocolate, because the shade is totes my cup of tea! I use a lot of nude, taupe, bronze and brown hues on my lids, because they suit my colouring and I can pull off a number of looks, through mixing and matching shades. I also find I complete a bronze/brown look a lot faster than when I muck around with a bolder colour! Having said that, I'm eyeing off Coral Reef Blue, Peacock Blue and Sparkle Rose, all of which look gorgeous (check them out here). I love using Swiss Chocolate in the outer corner and in the crease to create depth and elongate the eye. The pigment is fine and blends easily. You can also use them as eyeliners and damp for a more intense look, but I haven't tried that yet!

GIVEAWAY!

I'm not much of a self-tanner, so rather than let these products go to waste, I thought I'd give them away to a lucky Subscriber! I'm including a Mineral Lip Glaze* in the prize, so the winner can try something from Vani-T's beautiful makeup range, too. All of these products were gifted to me at the Bloggers United Event at the end of February and haven't been opened or used. I did photograph them though!

THE PRIZE!

~ Vani-T Bronzing Custard Gradual Tan (200ml)

~ Vani-T Brazilian Bronze 1 Hour Self-Tan Mousse (125 ml)

~ Vani-T Bronzing Mitt

~ Vani-T Mineral Lip Glaze in Goddess

Total Prize Value - $114.00

Enter to win this amazing prize!

It's easy to enter, just follow the prompts in the Rafflecopter widget below. Please note you must be a Max The Unicorn email subscriber and visit the Vani-T website to enter. There are optional tasks, each getting you more entries and thus chances to win. After subscribing, remember to click the link in your email to complete the subscription process, otherwise it doesn't count! Although optional, it would be greatly appreciated if you 'liked' Max The Unicorn and Vani-T Facebook pages. Have fun and Good Luck!

~ This giveaway is open to Australian residents only, and will run for one week, from 17/4/16 - 24/4/16.
~ The winner will be notified via email and given 3 days to reply, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.
~ Standard postage is included in the prize.
~ Winner must provide their Australian postal address for prize delivery.
~ Winner will be announced here on the blog and on the Max The Unicorn Facebook page.

I'm linking up to BeYOUty Bonanza the Fabulous And Fun Life Monday MakeUp Madness Linky Party!

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Disclaimer: Products marked* were provided for editorial consideration. Reviews are my honest opinion. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Lush Products!

I love it when Lush add new products to their existing range! There will be some exciting limited edition new releases for Mother's Day, which is fast approaching, but before that I thought I'd tell you about a few new products Lush kindly sent me to trial!

My favourite ever Lush products are their shower gels, jellies, soaps and bath bombs, so I was thrilled to open my box and see 93,000 Miles Shower Jelly*, Don't Rain On My Parade Shower Gel* and Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair Shower Gel*. These products are all unique in their own way, and definitely aren't the run of the mill beautifully fragranced Lush products you may be used to! Allow me to explain.....

93,000 Miles Shower Jelly*

'A song of ice and fire for after the sauna. Glide it over your body to be transported to Finnish woodlands abundant with pines'.

LOL, okay. I was expecting the wafting aroma of ..... well, pine trees, but instead I got a strong hit of something medicinal! Deep Heat, perhaps? This is a strange product! I'm used to Lush products smelling beautiful, and this definitely does not. On closer inspection, I saw the following words on the tub; 'perfect post workout to loosen up muscles and get rid of cramps' and 'this red wobbler is here for your aching muscles'. Normally I wouldn't be into this, but I happened to stuff up my back last week and it's been painful every day since. I've been rubbing this on my lower back and I think it has helped ease my pain slightly, although it's hard to be sure this was the cause. I'd describe it as a dark orange hued jelly that smells strongly of spices. It contains eucalyptus and peppermint infusions and cinnamon leaf oil to invigorate. And my best guess for the origins of the product name is a reference to running a marathon. It does mention completing a marathon on the 93,000 Miles tub, and this jelly is suitable for athletes, so let's go with that!

Don't Rain On My Parade Shower Gel*

'Don't tell me not to live, Just sit and putter.
Life's candy and the sun's A ball of butter.
Don't bring around a cloud To rain on my parade'.

This is a classic song from the 1964 musical Funny Girl, which sure beats the last time I tried to rhyme:

Wee In A Jar, so yellow and real.
Wee In A Jar, embarrassed's how I feel.
Wee In A Jar, handed from me to you.
Wee In A Jar, at least it's not poo.

Bahaha! Sorry, that probably required at least one warning. Anyhoo, onto Don't Rain On My Parade. This is a super fun to use, bright turquoise coloured, fairly thick shower gel that lathers up really well, resulting in lots of little aqua bubbles. As with all Lush shower gels, the result is soft, nourished, clean skin afterwards. My eight year old son loves using this one, because of the cheerful, vibrant colour. He is becoming quite the Lushie! I get a strong minty fragrance, which is weird because there's no mint in the ingredient list (obviously my nose is on drugs). Instead, Don't Rain On My Parade contains blueberry juice, violet leaf, Fair Trade vanilla infusion, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang oils. I love using this one during a morning shower (sometimes I do morning, sometimes I do night), because it has a very WAKE UP and be happy vibe to it, so it's a perfect start to the day!

Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair Shower Gel*

'Fresh guava and fig juices are squeezed into this enlivening shower gel for fragrant, glowing cleanses.'

Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair is a fruitier shower gel, given the fig and guava juices, however it also produces a big floral aroma and in fact, lavender is the overriding scent for me. It also contains jasmine and rose petal infusions, so there's quite a floral influence. I feel like this is a Unisex gel, as it comes off as somewhat masculine, in the same way The Olive Branch does for me. Again, another bright, bold, vibrant coloured gel, this time orange. These bright colours Lush are coming out with are really amping the fun element. I love it!

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Disclaimer: Products marked * were provided for editorial consideration. Reviews are my honest opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post, links are for information purposes. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

Do any of these shower products sound like your cup of tea?

My Priceline 40% Off MakeUp Haul!

I spent roughly $110 on makeup. Oops. Does that cover it? My husband gets this look on his face when I start fast-talking after one of these sales. It's basically very calm, yet wide-eyed (resigned, perhaps?) then he simply asks "how much?". Then I tell him and he shakes his head and we both laugh. LOL. Here's everything I bought in the Priceline 40% Off Cosmetics Sale!


Revlon Colorstay MakeUp (Combination/Oily) in Ivory
Covergirl Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation in Classic Ivory
Australis Fresh & Flawless Pressed Powder in Natural
Australis High Life Highlighting Powder
Face of Australia Colour Max Blush in O Peachy!
Models Prefer Radiance Collection Cream Palette
Models Prefer Eye Brightener
Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow in Bronze
Rimmel The Only One lipstick in Call Me Crazy
Maybelline ColorBlur Cream Matte Pencil in Orange Ya Glad
Maybelline Masterliner in Black

I'm so happy with this haul! I got a few back-ups of my staple items at bargain prices (Revlon Colorstay, Maybelline Masterliner - unfortunately my shade of Maybelline Fit Me Concealer was sold out, so I missed out there) and managed to pick up the exact shade of Max Factor Excess Shimmer I wanted (Bronze), after raving about the Copper coloured eyeshadow in my January Beauty Favourites.

My other goal was to buy some fun products that were new to me, and I did that with the Models Prefer Cream Palette, Covergirl Stay Luminous Foundation and Maybelline ColorBlur lip pencil! Also, I'm seriously deficient when it comes to blush, and have hit pan on my beloved Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush (reviewed here), so was thrilled to find the (very cheap!) FOA O Peachy blush.

And lastly, I am super happy with my new Rimmel The Only One lipstick in Call Me Crazy! Earlier this year I received six shades in this range to trial (you can read my Review here) and fell in love with the formula. When I read other bloggers reviews I also fell in love with the shade Call Me Crazy, and now it's finally mine! Check it out on my lips below....

Fun side-note: I was kind of shocked at the total, because my maths skillz are shit (and that's being generous) so all my in-store estimates involved simply halving the price. I figured 50% off would be pretty close to 40% off but I GUESS NOT. I actually added up everything on my iPhone afterwards just in case the cash register had got it wrong. LOL.

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I'm linking up to the Fabulous And Fun Life Monday MakeUp Madness Linky Party!

Did you pick anything up and if so what? If you have a Haul post from this sale, link it up in the comments!