Mani Monday: Essie Island Hopping

 

Hi guys! I'm back with a quick Mani post today. I've gone off the glitters for now and have been wearing more neutral shades lately. I chose Island Hopping by Essie for an event I was going to, because I wanted a flattering, classic shade that would go with anything and look good in photos. This shade is a rich plum mauve that 'takes you anywhere you want to go. Villa today, spa tomorrow'. LOL how many of us are going from the villa to the spa I don't know... certainly not me! But anyway, it's a versatile shade, so it served its purpose and I like how it turned out.

Also, my nails are quite long at the moment, and I haven't had a major break in quite a while, so I'm happy with that, too. Fingers crossed I don't jinx myself haha.

Mani Monday: Multi-Colour Autumn/Winter Nails!

Hi guys! I haven't done anything remotely interesting with my nails in such a long time, so when I saw the below photo in CityMag, I was inspired to put together an Autumn/Winter Mani! I thought this look was amazing and really wanted to re-create it. So I went through my nail polish collection looking for suitable shades, and this is what I came up with. It's slightly different but has the same vibe. I hope you enjoy!

Inspiration......

Photo Credit: Jessica Clark

I saw this photo in this CityMag article about the stylish looks found on Moonta Street in Adelaide. These gorgeous nails belong to Sia Tam, who is currently studying business. I am in love with this look!


My Re-Creation....

The Polishes I Used.....

~ The Body Shop Colour Crush in Red My Mind
~ Furless Lacquer in Freak*
~ Essie mini in Cocktail Bling
~ Sally Hansen Color Therapy in Unwine'd*
~ OPI Lacquer mini (shade not on bottle)
~ Essie mini in Good To Go (Top Coat)

I used Red My Mind from The Body Shop on my thumb nails. This polish is beautiful! To me this appears more orange than red. I'm crushing on the shade and the deliciously smooth and easy to apply formula. I even asked The Body Shop about it but they haven't made nail polishes in years! I remember I picked this up in a discount bin for around $2!

On my pointer fingers is Freak* by Furless. I love this shade. A few years ago I was kindly sent a bunch of polishes from their grunge-themed line. They're edgy and cool, and I'm yet to get sick of them! I don't think they sell nail polish anymore but you should check out the Furless Instagram page for make-up looks that are out of this world!

On my middle fingers is Cocktail Bling by Essie. This impressed me with its lovely formula. I'm so glad I picked this because I'm not usually into grey, so it forced me to try something different. I really like it!

~ I applied two coats of every polish, followed by the top coat, by the way! ~

I used one of my all-time favourite shades, Unwine'd* from the Sally Hansen Color Therapy range on my ring fingernails. Hooley Dooley, is this a gorgeous colour! Absolutely perfect for Winter, too. I was originally sent this as a press sample but I've bought at least one, if not two, bottles since. I wrote about it in my May/June Beauty Faves and you can read more about the Color Therapy range in my blog post here. Highly recommended!

I used the little yellow mini from OPI on my pinky fingers, and although there's no shade name on the bottle I feel like this was from a discontinued Shrek Forever After mini pack I won (released 2010, thanks Google). Ugh this is so bad and lets down the whole look in my opinion. The formula is thin, uneven and streaky AF. Maybe because it's 9 years old? Oh well, they can't all be winners!

As a top coat I used Essie Good To Go. It produced a super shiny finish, but has the tendency to 'pull off' the colour on the nail, so I had to be very careful when applying to just do the bare minimum amount of strokes to get it on there.

What do you think of this look? Are you a fan?

You may be interested in Mid-Week Mani: Rimmel Be Red-y!

Linking up with Life This Week and Mummy Mondays

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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.

Would you rock this look? Have you ever been inspired to recreate something?

Priceline 40% Off Cosmetics Haul!

I don't even know where to begin with this. I had a rough wish list in my iPhone Notes and I got everything on that wish list and then some. LOL. Actually the only thing I didn't get were a few Bourjois Lip Velvets in shades other than the two I own, but after dropping an astonishing $160 (say WHAT?) I exited the store with my tail between my legs in shock and immediately forget about those lip velvets. I actually stopped and checked my receipt, for surely they had made a mistake, but no, everything was indeed discounted, I just vastly underestimated what my total would come to. 40% off is pretty much 50% off when you're as bad at maths as I, so I was just halving everything. Then I got sick of doing that and just stopped adding shit up in favour of putting pretty makeup in my basket, haha. Anyway, I was actually mortified that I spent $160 and felt sick for a good ten minutes afterwards. (During those ten minutes I went to the newsagent and dropped $10 on the latest Elle Magazine to get the free Benefit GWP, lol). Whilst at Priceline I also bought a few things for an upcoming Giveaway but I'm not posting them here, because I don't want to spoil the surprise!

FACE
Revlon Colorstay Makeup in Combination/Oily (110 Ivory) ~ repurchase of staple
L'Oreal Infallible Total Cover Longwear Foundation (10 Porcelain) ~ excited to try this hyped base!
Australis Fresh & Flawless Pressed Powder (Light Beige) ~ second purchase of this, love it!
Australis Banana Powder ~ will be using this under my eyes to brighten dark circles

NAILS/EYES
Australis Metallix Eyeshadow (Gold Gaga) ~ aah so pretty! If Guns n Roses wasn't sold out I would have got that too!
Essie Nail Lacquer (Play Date) ~ love this shade!
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel (244 Mauve-olous) ~ had to have it.
Essence Ultra Strong Nail Hardener Treatment (not pictured, oops) ~ cheap as chips and my nails need it.

LIPS
Natio Lip Colour (Flame) ~ I don't know why I got this, my mind was glazed over at this point.
Essence Lipliner (Honey Berry) ~ these are so cheap and so good!
Essence Lipliner (Femme Fatale) ~ as above
Maybelline Color Jolt (Orange Outburst) ~needed to try these newbies!
Maybelline Color Jolt (Berry Naughty) ~ this shade spoke to me (it said 'BUY ME!')
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (Amsterdam) ~ "Vincent Vega's in the house! Our man in Amsterdam!"
NYX Intense Butter Gloss 3 Piece Set (Pink Macaroon, Summer Fruit, Cherry Custard) ~ love these and had to add to my collection. So happy to see a trio pack!

That's it, excluding the stuff I bought for a Giveaway! Safe to say I went a little overboard. Did you exercise restraint, skip this sale or go bat-shit crazy like me? Let me know in the comments!

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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?

Manicure: Essie 'Bikini So Teeny'!

I'm beginning to see why beauty lovers rave about Essie nail lacquer! The formula is smooth and easy to apply and the colour range is really impressive. I fell in love with 'Bikini So Teeny' recently and had to have it! The pretty cornflower blue/pale lavender shade with shimmery particles is eye-catching, mood-lifting and the perfect way to add a cheery pop of colour to my mostly dark-coloured outfits. Bikini So Teeny was slightly streaky with the first coat, but only one additional coat was needed to achieve a smooth, even, opaque finish.

Essie: 'Daring meets darling in pretty yet provocative cornflower blue. This sparkling nail polish bares it all with a wink and a smile and no strings attached.'

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I'm adding this post to the Fabulous And Fun Life Monday Makeup Madness Linky Party!

What's your favourite Essie polish?

Mani: Essie Fifth Avenue Plus Gold Glitter!

Welcome to my latest mani! I wanted to try Fifth Avenue by Essie, which I recently acquired in the Priceline Beauty Bag offer (blogged at the link), because Essie is one brand I haven't had much experience with. I've paired it with Face It dense gold glitter polish in GL111 for a feature nail and used BYS Million Dollar Baby top coat, because the multi-sized gold glitter pieces tie in perfectly with the whole look!

I stuffed up and forgot to leave my ring fingernails bare, covering them in the orangey red lacquer. Oops! So I had to apply two coats of Face It GL111 over the top, and you can still see the red on the edges of those nails, but there's not much I can do about it! I'm happy I thought of a way to use a top coat that matched my theme, because normally I forego this step altogether out of sheer laziness. I'm impressed with the Essie formula; it's smooth and very easy to apply. This is only one coat of red Fifth Avenue!

One coat of Essie Fifth Avenue

Plus two coats of Face It gold polish on the ring finger

Plus one coat of BYS Million Dollar Baby top coat

You can see the red edges under the gold nail. Oops! LOL

Holding my new Lady Gaga Fame fragrance!

What nail polish have you been loving lately?

Essie Winter 2012 Mini-Cube Collection: 4 Polish Mani!

I was lucky enough to win the Essie 2012 Winter Collection, a set of four mini nail polishes that come packaged in a cute little cube. The shades are:


Size Matters (Ruby Red)
Bobbing For Baubles (Sapphire/Navy Blue)
Cocktail Bling (Pale Blue Grey)
Bangle Jangle (Lavender/Lilac)


My favourite shade is probably Size Matters because it's such a rich, deep, sexy red. Bobbing for Baubles wears as an extremely dark blue, at times looking almost black. Cocktail Bling and Bangle Jangle look lovely but they are quite similar, and I would have liked Bangle Jangle to have been a little darker.

L-R: Bobbing For Baubles, Cocktail Bling, Size Matters, Bangle Jangle

L-R: nails- Bobbing, Bangle Jangle, Size Matters, Cocktail Bling, Bobbing

What's your favourite shade from the collection?