Hawaii Haul: Cosmetics, Skin Care, Candles

My Mum and Grandmother recently took a trip together to Honolulu, Hawaii. So of course, I saved up some money and sent my Mum off with a long list of beauty products to buy for me! I picked a few high-end products because they are much more affordable in the USA compared to Australia. I can't wait to try these products out and see if they live up to my expectations. Let me know if you've tried and tested any of these products, or if you'd like a specific review on a particular product. 

 

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Chantecaille Just Skin Anti-Smog Tinted Mositurizer SPF 15,  Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Emerveille, Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer, MAC Eyeshadow in Nylon, MAC Eyeshadow in Dazzlelight, MAC Eyeshadow in Jest, MAC Lip Pencil in Redd, MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo, NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna, NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base 

L’Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara, Maybelline Full 'N Soft Waterproof Mascara, Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara, Benefit They're Real Mascara  

Maui Babe Browning Lotion, Jergens Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer, 2x Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid, Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner, Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Whitestrips, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Smooth Operator Kit (2x Ultra Repair Cream, Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask, Ultra Repair Lip Therapy)

Bath & Body Works: Frosted Cupcake 3-Wick Candle, Vanilla Bean Noel Candle, Peach Bellini Candle, PocketBac Hand Sanitizers 

November Empties

• 2 x Skinvitals H-Revive Cloth Facial Treatment Mask - These are not as good as My Beauty Diary sheet masks, but they are readily available at Priceline. 
• 2 x Skinvitals Eye Brighten Cloth Eye Treatment Mask
• Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream - I enjoyed using this sample as this cream left my skin feeling hydrated and smooth - I can see why this is a popular product from Keihl's.
• Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser
• Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner 
• Bioré Ultra Nose Strip 
• Say it with Scent Green Tea Hand & Body Lotion 
• Caron Laboratories Bump eRaiser Medi Paste - This is a fantastic product I discovered thanks to Lust Have It. It helps to get rid of bumps and ingrown hairs created by shaving.
• Cetaphil Moisturising Cream - A staple moisturiser that I love!
• Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defence SPF30+ Daily Facial Moisturiser - I found this moisturiser didn't absorb into my skin very easily and didn't feel moisturising enough, but I do like the fact that it has SPF 30, making it ideal for summer.  
• 2 x Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion 
• Crest 3D White Vivid Whitestrips 
• L'Occitane Soothing Concentrated Mask 
• Mask in a Cup - I like the unique packaging of this facial mask, it's a clever product which would make a nice gift for a beauty-loving friend!
• Rexona Women Hypo-Allergenic Anti-Perspirant Deodorant
• Philosophy Purity One-Step Facial Cleanser - I can't believe I finished this huge bottle of cleanser! I really like this cleanser from Philosophy and it works great with my Clarisonic Mia. They stock Philosophy now in David Jones, so if you can get your hands on a sample I'd recommend trying this out!
• MorrocanOil Moisture Repair Conditioner - A great conditioner, I just wish it wasn't so expensive!
• Redken Iron Silk 07 Ultra Straightening Spray - I wouldn't recommend this heat protectant as I didn't like how it left my hair feeling.
• Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs 
• Evo Soap Dodger Body Wash
• Puretopia Glowingly Smooth Body Polish - A great find thanks to the Priceline Skincare Goodie Bag. I've been looking for this as I want to repurchase it but can't find it anywhere :(
• Yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes 
• Almay Oil-Free Makeup Eraser Sticks - These handy little cotton tips make cleaning up eye makeup a breeze! Great for fixing up liquid liner and eyeshadow. Perfect for travelling! 

My Spring Makeup

Just a quick post on the makeup I've been loving and wearing most days this Spring. This look is quick and easy and takes me no time at all. I use a tinted moisturiser instead of a foundation to keep the look natural and appropriate for day time. Also, I apply an SPF under my makeup - this is very important!

• After moisturising, I apply Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock (I bought this from the US and it's not available in Australia, but Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock is also good.) 
• Next I apply a spritz of MAC Fix+ to hydrate and refresh my skin.
• To help my makeup stay put during the hotter weather I use Laura Mercier Primer as a base.
• I then apply a pea sized amount of Laura Mericer Tinted Moisturiser (I use the shade Nude) and dot it over my face, blending it in with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush. 
• Next, I apply Garnier Anti-Dark Circles Roll-On under my eyes and blend it in with my ring finger (I alternate this with Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer.
• I use Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer on any blemishes.
• I keep my face from looking shiny as the day wears on, by lightly dusting Maybelline Dream Matte Powder over my face, focusing on my T-zone with my Real Techniques Powder Brush.
• I then apply Benefit Dandelion to the apples of my cheeks with a Real Techniques Blush Brush.
• Then, I curl my eyelashes with my MAC Eyelash Curler (not pictured) and apply Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara.
• Finally, I spritz my face with MAC Fix+ again to set my makeup and I'm done! 

Haul: Kiehl's, Aesop, Haircare, MAC

Kiehl's Creme de Corps, Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15, Superbly Smoothing Argan Shampoo, Ultra Facial Cleanser, Ultra Facial Toner, Superbly Smoothing Argan Conditioner, Creme with Silk Groom, Ultra Facial Cream, Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

From Kiehl's I picked up their cult product Creme de Corps as I've heard it's a great body lotion, as well as the Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15, which I though would be a good lighter moisturiser to use in summer. I couldn't believe how generous the store assistant was with samples, everything else was given to me to try out! It really impressed me as receiving samples is a great way to try out products from a brand to see what you like. I liked the Ultra Facial samples and I'd consider looking into this skincare line in the future. 

Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque, Control, Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque

Over at Aesop I picked up the much raved about Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque - and it hasn't disappointed! I really like this masque as a purifying mask as it helps with blemishes but doesn't dry my skin out.  I also picked up Control, which is a blemish gel that you apply and leave overnight. This helps mildy, but I haven't been wowed with this product so far. Whenever I go to Aesop I always get a sample sachet or two. This time I received two samples of the Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque, which was nice to try but I think I prefer the Parsley Seed. Also, the full-size packaging is in a pot as opposed to a tube which isn't as convenient. 

Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Shampoo, Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Conditioner, Matrix Biolage Hydrathérapie, Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner, Bun Maker

I picked up a few hair care products from Hairhouse Warehouse. First up was a Joico pack which consisted of 500mL pump bottles of the K-Pak shampoo and conditioner. This was a great deal and is one of my favourite lines, so I picked this up as it was good value. Next, I picked up a Biolage shampoo as my hairdresser uses this on me and I wanted to try it out properly. This is my current shampoo and I love the scent it leaves in my hair and it leaves my hair feeling hydrated. I also grabbed a new leave in conditioner to try out - and this one from Healthy Sexy Hair was recommended by Amarixe so I though I'd try it out - it smells nice and works okay but it's not my favourite so I'll be looking for something else when I finish up this bottle. Finally I picked up a donut bun maker - which I've tried out but haven't actually worn out yet! 

First Aid Beauty Smooth Shave Cream, Glassshouse Montego Bay Candle

From David Jones, I purchased a travel size shave cream from First Aid Beauty. I've found it hard to find small sized shaving creams at the pharmacy so I picked up this little mini to use when travelling. It sounds like it will be great for my sensitive skin. I also bought a new Glasshouse candle for summer, this one is Coconut Lime and it smells truly fabulous, reminding me of a tropical holiday!

MAC Vegas Volt Amplified Lipstick

Over at MAC I traded in 6 containers and received a new lipstick through their Back to Mac recycling program. I chose Vegas Volt which is a lovely bright orange coral, and I really love it, especially because I didn't have to pay for it!

Lust Have It: November 2012

ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend Mascara, Davroe Colour Senses Ends Repair, Face of Australia Purifying Cleansing Wipes, Lomasi Pomegranate Body Creme, Star&Rose Tweezers

This months Lust Have It box was an improvement from the October box. It was nice to receive a full-sized mascara valued at $28, I hope this offering from ModelCo works well. Once again a Davroe hair product was included, which is a hair care brand that has popped up in numerous boxes, so I wasn't too excited about receiving this. A full-sized packet of makeup remover wipes isn't too interesting - a bit of boring product. It would have been better to have included a makeup product from this brand. The Lomasi body creme smells really lovely and I do like trying out body lotions, so I'm happy with this sample. Finally the tweezers are cute, but I already have a pair so I don't really need two.

Although this months box is an improvement, it could have been much better. Hopefully Lust Have It keeps working at improving their boxes and the Christmas box will be great. The card mentions that this is the last coloured makeup bag and that next month there will be new packing. Hopefully the new packaging is appealing and also reusable.

September & October Empties

I finished a huge number of empties over September and October that my basket was simply overflowing with containers that I was hoarding for this post! I also worked through a number of sample sachets - it's nice to try new products and great to get rid of the sachets that I'd been accumulating in my stash. 

Coles Nail Polish Remover Strengething Formula, Nivea Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream, Principessa Cattiva Diva Silky Hand Cream, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, SugarBaby The Heel Deal Soothing Foot Cream

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion, Vaseline Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter, Dove Silky Nourishment Body Cream, Appelles Body Booster Skin Lotion, Pure Fiji Hydrating Orange Blossom Body Lotion, Kosmea Replenishing Moisture Cream (this is actually meant for your face, but I used it as a body lotion), Malin + Goetz Neroli Hand + Body Lotion, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula, Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion, Subtle Energies Divine Passion Double Cream, L'Occitane Concentré De Lait

Dove Triple Moisturising Deeply Nourishing Body Wash, Gillette Satin Care Sensitive Skin Shave Gel, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Spray, Rexona Women Hypo-Allergenic Anti-Perspirant Deodorant, Rexona Women Clinical Protection Anti-Perspirant Deodorant, Rexona Women Cotton Fresh Anti-Perspirant Deodorant, Appelles Skin Detox Shower Gel

Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub, Avène Eau Thermale Spring Water, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock, Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner, My Beauty Diary Aloe Sheet Mask, My Beauty Diary Chocolate Truffle Sheet Mask, Skinvitals H-Revive Cloth Facial Treatment Mask, Skinvitals C-Brighten Cloth Facial Treatment Mask, Skinvitals Eye Lift Anti-Puffiness Anti-Wrinkle Firming Cloth Eye Treatment Mask, Bioré Ultra Nose Strips, Aesop Purifying Facial Cream Cleanser, Aesop Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque, Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque, Ahava Gentle Smoothing Facial Cleanser

Selsun Gold Dandruff Treatment Shampoo, Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Anti-Breakage Shampoo, MorocconOil Moisture Repair Shampoo, John Frieda Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-in Conditioning Spray, Klorane Dry Shampoo, John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Illuminating Shampoo & Conditioner, John Frieda Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Shampoo & Conditioner, Kiehl's Superbly Smoothing Argan Shampoo & Conditioner, Kérastase Nectar Thermique

There's too many products here to write individual reviews and I'm sure it would be an incredibly long and boring post. So I thought I'd list my favourite items from the empties above:

• Nivea Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream - This was a surprise favourite of the bunch. I have tried a lot of hand creams but this one left my hands feeling really soft and hydrated, without leaving a greasy residue. 
• Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion - I've talked about this before and I'm still loving it!
• Vaseline Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter - My first container of this body butter. I enjoyed this as it's thicker and more hydrating then the body lotion. However, you get a much smaller amount for the price.
• Dove Silky Nourishment Body Cream - A nice body cream with a thick and creamy formula, and clean scent. Left my skin feeling smooth and hydrated.
• Dove Triple Moisturising Deeply Nourishing Body Wash - A great body wash that doesn't leave your skin feeling stripped of moisture. It has a pleasant scent which isn't too strong. Lathers well with a loofah.
• Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion - A great basic moisturiser. I wouldn't pay the ridiculous Australian price of $74 for the 125mL bottle, but in the US it's only $25 for 125mL which seems like an absolute bargain!
• Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner - This was a generous sample size so I was able to try this out properly. I loved that it had a spray nozzle, which made it easy to apply. This left my skin feeling clean and refreshed. I haven't been using a toner with my current skin routine but I am thinking of picking up a full-size of this product. 
• My Beauty Diary Sheet Masks - Love these! Unfortunately these two were the last of my stash. I need to buy some more but wish they weren't so hard to find - I order mine from Sasa
• MorocconOil Moisture Repair Shampoo - This shampoo was really nice. I only needed a relatively small amount, as it lathered really nicely once applied. It left my hair feeling clean and nourished at the same time. I would repurchase this, but it is very expensive at $32.95 for a 250mL bottle.
• Klorane Dry Shampoo - Love this, my all-time favourite dry shampoo.
• Kérastase Nectar Thermique - I do like this, but I'm still unsure wheather to puchase a full-size bottle. This is a product that you apply after washing your hair, before blow-drying. I let my hair dry naturally most of the time to avoid heat damage. So I know it would take me forever to use a full bottle up.

Lust Have It: October 2012

Avène Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser, Avène Cleanance K Cream-Gel, Avène Cleanance Anti-Shine Regulating Lotion, Star & Rose White Bath Fizzer, Mask in a Cup, Waxaway Sensitive Wax Strips, NYX Girls Nail Polish in Mushroom Glitter

The Lust Have It box for October was honestly a fail. Once again there were more Avene samples, as well as a bath bomb, some wax strips and a nail polish in a shade I'm not to fond of. The only thing I was interested in trying was the Mask in a Cup as it looked like a fun and different product from a brand I'd never heard about. The last few boxes have been a bit of a let down. I hope they step it up for next months box, or I will consider unsubscribing. 

Spring Nail Polish Favourites

I went a little bit crazy on Ebay the other night buying a number of Essie polishes, so I thought I'd include some of my new polishes in a line up of the polishes I'll be wearing this Spring. I love wearing lighter pastels in the Springtime and Essie makes some of the very best. I'm loving mint green at the moment, as you can probably tell from the number of green polishes included. So here are the polishes I'll be wearing most this Spring...

Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in 100 Buttercup

Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet

Revlon Minted 

OPI Thanks a Windmillion

Essie Turquoise & Caicos 

Essie Absolutely Shore

Essie Mint Candy Apple

Essie Bikini So Teeny

OPI Rumple's Wiggin'

Essie A Crewed Interest

Essie Fear or Desire

Nail of the Day: Essie Bikini So Teeny

Today's NOTD post is Essie Bikini So Teeny from Essie's Summer 2012 Collection. First of all, I just love the name! Bikini So Teeny is a lovely light blue colour that has very subtle silver shimmer. I can't wait to wear this colour for Spring and Summer. I applied 3 coats of Bikini So Teeny to create a vibrant and opaque finish. I also used OPI Nail Envy as a base coat with Seche Vite Top Coat. 

Lust Have It: September 2012

Another month has flown by and as October draws near it's time for the September Lust Have It box. I received the "Fun and Flirty" version and here are the products included: 

Dermalogica PreCleanse 

Dermalogica Active Toner

Say It With Scent Green Tea Hand & Body Lotion

Davroe Ultimatum Non Aerosol Hairspray

Mirenesse Eclipse Age Defence SPF 15 Daily Face & Neck Mineral Balm (Clear)

Vouchers from Davroe, Mirenesse and Dermalogica

I'm excited for the Dermalogica samples in this month's box! I've read great things about Precleanse and I'm curious to see how well this removes makeup. I don't really use toner (currently I'm just using Avene Eau Thermal Spring Water) but I like that this has a spray nozzle and it smells really nice. I'm happy about these samples as Dermalogica is quite pricey so it's nice to be able to try these products out. 

I'd never heard of Say It With Scent before, so I'm interested to see how this lotion works. The packaging is nice and it's great that it is made in Australia. 

I havn't been impressed with Davroe before (I'm looking at you Tame Lemongrass Detangler) but this product sounds interesting so I'm willing to give it a go. I gave it a sniff and it smells like pure alcohol, so not sure what the rosemary does!

The Mirenesse Eclipse Age Defence SPF 15 Daily Face & Neck Mineral Balm in Clear sounds interesting, though I don't need anti-ageing products. The website claims it offers "anti-ageing benefits" and "protection from environmental exposure". It is supposed to be applied at the end of your skincare routine, before makeup. It basically sounds like a primer with SPF. But with an SPF of only 15 I would still need to apply a sunscreen beforehand. 

Finally, a few vouchers were included from Davroe, Mirenesse and Dermalogica. The Davroe voucher is for a free styling product of your choice. The Mirenesse voucher is for a free Cats Eyes Liner valued at $29.95. And the Dermalogica voucher is for a free facial treatment valued at $90 if you spend $50 or more. 

Overall I think this is quite a good box and I'm really pleased to see Dermalogica products included. But I am disappointed with the Mirenesse product as I don't need anti-ageing skincare. What do you think? Are you a Lust Have It subscriber?

July & August Empties & New In

Today's post is my empty products for the months of July and August. I was travelling for part of the month, so I used up a few travel sized and sample products while on holiday. I'm always attracted to miniature sized products as they look cute, but unfortunately they aren't good value for money! But here's a rundown on the products I finished and my thoughts about them...

• Garnier Fructis Anti-Dandruff Shampoo - This wasn't the best anti-dandruff shampoo but it did smell better than others I've used before. It did an average job of getting rid of dandruff but I wasn't overly impressed. 
• Batiste Dry Shampoo Original 50mL - This dry shampoo works well and is convenient to use between washes. The small travel size is great for travelling or for your handbag, but doesn't actually last very long. I would repurchase this even though I do prefer Klorane's as the price is lower. 
• Batiste Dry Shampoo Blush 50mL - Works the same as the original but has a different scent. It's just a matter of preference but I prefer the original. 
• Davroe Tame Lemon Grass Detangler 50mL - I didn't like this product I received a sample of as it just didn't do anything in the way of detangling my hair. I wasn't a fan of the scent either so I definitely wouldn't purchase this product. 
• Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment 50mL - This is a sample sized product which I was interested in trying as I am a fan of the Joico K-Pak line. After the first few uses I wasn't sure about this as I didn't notice much of a difference in my hair. However, after leaving it on longer than the recommended 5 minutes, I found much better results. I'm unsure yet if I'll purchase this as I have a few conditioning treatments in my bathroom cupboard to use first!
• Evo The Therapist Calming Shampoo 50mL x2 - I liked the scent of this shampoo but found I needed to use more than usual to create a nice lather. Evo really needs to change the packaging of their samples as it's too hard to remove product from these!
• Evo The Therapist Calming Conditioner 50mL x2 - I preferred the conditioner to the shampoo as I found it hydrated my hair well. The scent was nice but again the packaging didn't work well. 
• Matrix Biolage Smoothing Shampoo 50mL & Conditioner 30mL - I liked the fruity scent of these two products and the shampoo lathered up well. The downside was that even with the conditioner my hair felt a little dry. I would consider purchasing shampoo and conditioner from the Matrix Biolage range but I would choose something other than the smoothing range. 
• Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Treatment - I took this with me travelling due to its small size and I easily get two uses from this. It's a great quick-fix treatment that I like to use when my hair is feeling dry.  

• MAC Fix+ - I love this product and will continue to repurchase it. I like to use this before I apply my makeup and also after powder if I find my skin starts to look 'cakey'. It's also lovely as a refreshing mist throughout the day. I love this for travelling as well and have the mini size which I take on the plane with me. 
• Benefit You Rebel Lite - This took quite a while to finish up as I wasn't happy with this product at all. The finish of You Rebel Lite left my skin looking oily and overly shiny. It gave very light coverage and didn't absorb into my skin well. Also, the metal packaging is awful. I found this product a disappointment and wouldn't repurchase it again. 
• Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Makeup - This was my first bottle of this foundation and I really liked it. This bottle was in the colour B20 which isn't as good a match as the BR22 but still worked well. I love the feel and finish of this foundation, it feels so light on the skin and leaves a lovely satin finish. 
• Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Mascara - This product dried up before I could finish it. It worked pretty well and I picked it up in the US so it was inexpensive. I liked how long it made my lashes but found it tended to clump after a second coat. I would consider repurchasing this due to its cheap price but there are other mascaras I'd like to try first. 
• Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm: Lemon & Chamomile - This is my favourite lip balm and my preferred flavour of the two I've tried along with Natural Mint. This leaves my lips feeling smooth and hydrated and has great staying power for a lip balm.
• Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! Eau de Parfum Spray x2 - I really like Marc Jacobs fragrances and Oh, Lola! is no exception. I love the fruity and floral scent. I'd definitely purchase this fragrance. 

• Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes: Night Calming - These are great makeup remover wipes and I like the night calming scent along with the original. 
• Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes - These face wipes are also nice. I like that they are unfragranced. I'd repurchase these again as they work well. 
• Cetaphil Moisturising Cream 100mL - I like to use the tube packaging of this moisturiser for my face as opposed to the larger tub. This works great for my dry/combination sensitive skin. I love that it's unscented and you only need a small amount as it's quite thick so great as a night moisturiser. I'll repurchase this again, I just wish they had a tube that was bigger as it runs out fairly quickly with regular use.
• Avene Eau Thermal Spring Water 50mL - This spray is great. It feels so refreshing on the skin and I like to apply it after I cleanse and before I moisturise in place of a toner. This small bottle isn't great value but it's perfect for travelling. 
• Swisspers 150 Cosmetic Squares - These are great and perfect for removing makeup with Bioderma and removing nail polish. They don't leave cotton fibres behind like cotton wool. I'll repurchase these again and again! 

• David Jones Milk & Honey Body Wash - This is an average body wash. I like the scent and it lathers well but it leaves my skin feeling dry. 
• Ahava Dermud Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream - This is a nice hand cream and really moisturises my hands. The scent is a bit odd, but you get used to it. If you apply a samll amount it doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy which is great. 
• Sasy n Savy Rose Lavender Hand N Nail Repair Creme - This was a very small sample so I'm not so sure what I think about it. The scent was a bit strong for my liking but it seemed nice. 
• Rexona Women Anti-Perspirant Deoderant: Hypo-Allergenic - This is a great spray deodorant and it works well, I like it a lot. 
• Rexona Women Clinical Protection Anti-Perspirant Deoderant - This works great, you apply it at night and it really helps you to stay fresh throughout the day. 
• Dove Clinical Protection Anti-Perspirant Deoderant (Cucumber & Green Tea Scent) - This works in the same way as the Rexona version. I do prefer it as the scent is nicer, but otherwise I find they are very similar. 

• My Beauty Diary Aloe Sheet Mask - I love these! They feel so lovely on the skin and leave my skin feeling fresh and hydrated. 
• My Beauty Diary Chocolate Truffle Sheet Mask x2 - I love these too! They feel so nice and are perfect to use when you feel like pampering yourself. 
• SkinVitals EyeLift Cloth Eye Treatment Mask - These feel really nice under the eyes. The cooling essence feels really relaxing. I didn't see a noticeable difference in terms of reducing under eye bags, but they are nice for a treat. 
• Apivita Express Beauty Nourishing Mask with Cereals x2 - These masks were nice, I got 2 uses from each sachet. These are aptly names "Express" as you only leave the mask on for 10 minutes. They left my skin feeling soft and smooth. This product reminded me of the Lush Oatifix mask. The small size makes these perfect for travelling.
• Biore Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strip & Original Deep Cleansing Pore Strip - I like to use these once in a while to remove the nasty stuff blocked in my pores. 
• Kerastase Nectar Thermique - This is a nice product. It is a heat protectant that you apply to wet hair before blow drying. It smells really nice and also helps to detangle hair. I would consider purchasing this product but I try not to blow dry my hair if I can help it. 

And here are a few new things I've picked up recently... 

• Avene Eau Thermal Spring Water - I had to pick up another one of these because I love it! It feels so refreshing on the skin and will be great for the warmer months ahead...
• MAC Fix+ - Love this product and had to repurchase it after finishing up my last bottle! 
• Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs - This is a perfect for a night out when you need some colour on your legs but can't be bothered going through the process of fake tanning in advance. It washes easily off with body wash and loofah so you don't need to go through the hassle of exfoliating. 
• Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm: Grapefruit & Ginger, Black Tea & Blackberry, Vanilla & Lavender, Lemon & Chamomile - I went a bit crazy on StrawberryNet when I saw these were back in stock and picked up every flavour besides Natural Mint which I already have. I love this lip balm and it's nice to have a few so I can put one in my handbag, one on my bedside table and one with my makeup. 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know what you think of them! 

Lust Have It: August 2012

Here's the August Lust Have It box. I just received it today (the 21st) so for the second month the boxes arrived quite late. 

This month, the boxes were packaged differently, in a white box with a black ribbon, as opposed to the usual coloured bag. I thought the packaging was nice but I can imagine some would be disappointed not to receive the coloured bag. This special packaging was for to celebrate the 1st birthday of Lust Have It. 

The August box contained:

• tanGO Tan Removal Cloth ($29.95 $21.95)
• Tigi Rockaholic Rock Out Shine Blaster 100mL ($27.95)
• ModelCo Eyeliner ($26.00)
• Marc Jacobs DOT Perfume 1.2mL ($160.00 for 100mL)
• Appelles Skin Detox Shower Gel 30mL ($12.95 for 100mL)
• Appelles Body Booster Skin Lotion 30mL ($12.95 for 100mL)
• Appelles Body Bar Soap ($4.95) 

The tanGO Tan Removal Cloth included in this months box sounds interesting. The product claims to remove tan with just water, avoiding the need for exfoliating. I'm very curious to see how this works. The information incorrectly lists this product as the tanGO Tanning Glove when the actual product is the tanGO Tan Removal Cloth. Also, after checking the website the RRP is also listed incorrectly on the card as they sell it on their website for $21.95 (not $29.95 as listed). 

Three products from Appelles arrived in the August box. Having three products from the same brand is repetitive and I'd like to see greater brand variation in future boxes. I have never heard of this brand before, and after looking at their website it appears they are a very new brand. The shower gel and lotion both have a pleasant wild berry scent, and hopefully they perform well. I don't use bar soap that often so I am less impressed by the inclusion of a soap.

The Tigi Rockaholic Rock Out Shine Blaster is another full-size product included in the August pack. The information card claims it can "speed up drying time", be mixed with other styling products to  "soften up the hold factor and add shine", and "temporarily mask split ends". This product can by applied on damp or dry hair. I'm curious to see if this performs the functions it claims, as it basically just sounds like a hyped-up shine serum. 

Once again another perfume sample is included in a LHI box - Marc Jacobs DOT. At least this time it's only one! I found it funny that on the card the company gushed about how it was an "exclusive pre-release" as the product was yet hit stores. However, due to the boxes arriving towards the end of the month, the perfume had already made it into stores. Marc Jacobs DOT was released in Australia on August 13th! Although I like Marc Jacobs fragrances, I am truly sick of perfume samples being included. These can easily be sourced from department stores free of charge and the vials are so tiny with only 1.2mL of product. 

Finally, a full-size ModelCo black eyeliner was featured in the August box. I hardly use black pencil liner so I'm not excited by this product. I'm usually left disappointed with ModelCo makeup so I'm not thrilled with the inclusion of this product. 

Overall, I feel disappointed with this months box. As this was the 1st birthday box I was hoping to be happily surprised with some great products, which unfortunately was not the case. The only product I'm interested to try in the tanGO Tan Removal Cloth. The inclusion of yet another perfume sample and 3 products from the same brand is a let down. Lust Have It really needs to improve the content of their boxes and the delivery time or I will probably unsubscribe. 

What were your thoughts on the LHI August box? 

Are you disappointed with this months offerings? 

Let me know in a comment below... 

Lust Have It: July 2012

Sorry for the lack of posts this month! I've been on holidays in New Zealand. 

I'm surprised I made it home before my Lust Have It box had even arrived. Hopefully they arrive more promptly next month! This month the products came enclosed in a bright orange bag. 

The products for July were:

• Tigi Shine Junkie lip gloss in Java - full-size ($16.95)
• Pure Fiji Hydrating Body Lotion - Orange Blossom ($29.95 for 300mL)
• Matrix Biolage Deep Smoothing Shampoo - 50mL ($29.00 for 500mL)
• Matrix Biolage Deep Smoothing Conditioner - 30mL ($29.00 for 250mL)
• Avene Gentle Purifying Scrub - 5mL ($38.95 for 50mL)
• Avene Gentle Eye Make-up Remover - 25mL ($22.95 for 125mL)

The Tigi Shine Junkie lip gloss in the colour Java is the only full-size product included in this months box. I'm honestly a bit surprised with it as I associate Bed Head with haircare products and had no idea they also produced makeup. The colour is not something I'm drawn to as it is a nude-brown, so I will probably give this away. 

The next product is Pure Fiji Hydrating Body Lotion in Orange Blossom. This smells nice and is a great size for travelling so I'm sure I will use this up. 

I was happy to find Matrix Biolage Deep Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner in this months box. I love trying out haircare samples and these smell really nice and fruity. The sizes are quite good as well with 50mL for the shampoo and 30mL for the conditioner. 

Finally two products from Avene were included in the July box. The first is a 25mL bottle of the Gentle Eye Make-up Remover and the second is a tiny 5mL sample of the Gentle Purifying Scrub. I haven't tried much from this brand except for the Thermal Spring Water (which I love!) so I'm excited to see how these products go. 

Overall I'm quite pleased with the contents on this months box. It would be nice to see more variation in brands (as opposed to 2 products from Avene). There is a good variation of products with a makeup item, body lotion, hair care and skin care. I will happily use all these items except for the lipgloss as it is not a colour I feel compliments me. 

What did you think about the contents of this months Lust Have It box?