There's never an understated way to share the accumulation of things - in this case beauty booty - but that's what I did this month and am sharing now. Through a combination of good luck, an eye for a good deal (and my birthday thrown in) I've been spoiled and spoiled myself pretty well. I've checked through my archives and I haven't done a bona fide haul post since February so I don't feel too obnoxious about it.
The freebies...
Red Earth Secret Potion Illuminating Skin Fluid (01 Pearl) - I won this via a Red Earth Twitter competition. I haven't tried it yet but the Red Earth site markets this as a multi-purpose illuminator suitable for face and body and the pretty pearl shade looks promising.
Tom Ford Sahara Noir EDP sample - This complimentary sample was given out when my husband purchased my boxed set of Tom Ford nail polish. It's an oriental-woody fragrance described as an "ode to incense". Sahara Noir conjures up very vague recollections of YSL's oriental Opium for me but this has a much sharper, woodier note to it. A friend spritzed this and remarked it smelt too cedary for her and she rather strongly disliked it. I still haven't made up my mind about this one but I can see it will polarise opinions.
MAC Matte Lipstick (Lady Danger) - This matte orange-red was My Back 2 MAC pick. While I was ultimately happy with my choice it disappoints me that we can no longer pick from the entire lipstick range for Back 2 MAC in Australia. I had to make my choice from a laminated card illustrating the best sellers (of which half the shades were sold out!) In principle: Grrrr! Snarl! @#%$!!
Tom Ford Lip Colour sample tube (Cherry Lush) - Another complimentary product my husband brought home from the TF counter. I love my TF lipsticks and was overwhelmed by the chicness of this little sample tube. I've been told Cherry Lush is a best-seller and after wearing it for the first time a few days ago (see my IG post here) I understand why. I just love the clear, vibrant blue-based red.
Benefit They're Real Mascara - I attended a Benefit event a few weeks ago arranged by one of my Melbourne blogger friends Nalini aka The Made Up Maiden. After viewing a brow shaping session (at the Benefit Brow Bar in Myer Melbourne) and a makeup demonstration using Benefit's newly released creaseless eyeshadow shades and their uber cute new Fine-one-one cheek and lip colour I walked away with a thousand lemmings. One of the lessons learned was They're Real mascara is Benefit's number 1 selling product and now I've received a complimentary tube to find out why for myself.
The good deals...
Real Techniques Core Collection - I put $26 worth of Priceline gift vouchers towards this brush set so I ended up $19 out of pocket - to put it into perspective these retail for a whopping $44.99 in Australia. My sole interest is the much raved about buffing brush and even if that is the only brush I end up using I'll still be happy for the price.
The Body Shop Body Butter duo (Macadamia) - I thought these duo tubs were a good concept with their dual body lotion/rich body cream combos but they're being discontinued! At 50% off I grabbed a tub for my winter-parched skin.
Revlon CustomEyes Shadow & Liner palette (Smoky Sexy) - Obviously a discontinued colour combination but I bought this wintry cool palette on a self-indulgent whim as part of a 2 for $10 deal together with the...
Rimmel Glam'Eyes Trio Eyeshadow palette (740 Fever) - I admit I wasn't impressed with a previous palette I bought from Rimmel's Glam'Eyes line but I was sucked in by the pretty lilac-pinks (and the price). Could be nice for spring I hope??
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (Blackberry 640) - I grabbed this gorgeous - but discontinued - cream burgundy shade for $7AUD. I don't understand why it's been discontinued??? This is THE perfect winter lip shade and apparently a dupe for MAC's Dubonnet. I'll view this as Revlon's loss but my gain.
I didn't have time to swatch for this post but here are the eye and lip colours viewed a little more closely:
L-R:
Rimmel - 740 Fever, Revlon - Smoky Sexy
Top - Bottom:
Revlon - Blackberry 640, MAC - Lady Danger, Tom Ford - Cherry Lush
If there's anything you want to see reviewed please let me know!
Until next time...
Woohoo, new goodies! I want to see how Lady Danger looks on you - it's always such a va va voom color!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I thought Lady Danger was a great colour to fend off the winter blues!
DeleteI'll wear it next weekend when I can get a good daylight picture. At the moment I'm leaving home when it's still dark to get to work and getting back just around dusk - and it's not officially winter yet! Wah!!
I need Blackberry! Real Rechniques, like everything, is so hideously overpriced in Australia :( But I adore the buffing brush - my fav forever.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading your raves about the buffing brush! Time to get out the liquid foundation and bb creams again :)
DeleteSo many goodies! I love the look of a new lipstick bullet. And nice pick with Lady Danger there. I get angry reading about MAC limitations over there, but apparently some European countries have it worse and don't even have B2MAC. I wonder why the rules vary.
ReplyDeleteWow, that really puts it in perspective. I didn't realize that some countries don't even participate in the Back 2 MAC program! I may just pull my head back in a little now...
DeleteThe AUS retail cost for the Real Techniques Core Collection is ridiculous! It would probably be cheaper for me to buy it here and ship it to you. Say the word if you want any of the other RT brushes, ok?
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to hear what you think of them. I have the buffing and contour brushes from that set. They are deliciously soft. I don't do much with the buffing brush though, as I don't wear foundation. I should figure out what else I can buff with it. :)
Ridiculous indeed! That's why I waited until I had enough in vouchers to bring down my out-of-pocket spend! I will let you know how I go with these - I'm usually wearing powder products myself but I thought I'd switch to creams and liquids for coverage this winter and decided I needed the right brush to do the job! Thanks for the generous offer too! xo
DeleteI hate it when they discontinue a great colour like Revlon's Blackberry - that oxblood colour is around everywhere, though, so it shouldn't be to hard to find a dupe. Revlon's own Violet Frenzy is a little cooler, but Maybelline's Plum Perfect is kind of close.
ReplyDeleteSometimes brands discontinue the most classic colours! True about the dupes though - good to know there are a few out there :)
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