Special beauty delivery!

It's like Christmas comes early when a surprise beauty package arrives - even more so when it's travelled from far, far away! I was very excited to receive a parcel from one of my special Canadian blogging friends, the ever awesome Liz aka the Beauty Reductionista! We are from different ends of the earth but somehow I feel Liz is one of my kindred spirits when it comes to beauty (and other random things like tea!) and I often resonate with her thoughtful posts.

So...this package travelled a long time, across the sea and finally arrived this week!  I didn't want to wait weeks until I shared this delivery with you (I'm heading off on an overseas holiday soon and won't have the weekend to take daylight pics) so I've quickly taken some artificially lit pics, which didn't turn out too badly actually.  Maybe I should stop complaining about the lack of daylight hours around here!

Cosmetics

Clockwise from top:

Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil (Moka Mirage) - This pencil is a lovely shimmery warm taupe shade and is meant to be a long wearing product.  Annabelle is a Canadian brand I've never tried so I'm pretty darn excited just to have the opportunity to try products from the range!

Benefit They're Real! Mascara - I know this mascara is Benefit's number 1 seller. I think I'll pack this travel sized version for my trip.

The Body Shop Flavoured Lip Gloss (Watermelon) - I love these scented glosses and Watermelon is a flattering shade worn alone or over a matching lip colour.

Annabelle Blushon powder blush (44) - This is a very flattering dusty matte pink.  It's such a lovely, well pigmented blush and I wore it today for a natural flush of health on my winter-bleached cheeks.  The texture of this blush is almost creamy to the touch so there's no fallout when applying. 

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer (Boho Gold) - I went wild when I laid my eyes on this LE beauty! Liz you know me so well when it comes to nail polish!  This is the multichrome colour of beetle wings.  Truly beautiful.  I just had to take a close-up of this:

Scents and softeners

Left to Right:

Bath & Bodyworks Warm Vanilla Sugar Shower Gel - I've read so much about this brand and this deliciously scented wash immediately went into my shower caddy.  I love the not too sweet, sort of caramel vanilla scent and the creamy lather - although I know I'm going to have to use this sparingly so it lasts.

Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude EDT -  This is indeed a very sensuous scent with some of my favourite basenotes, namely amber and vanilla.  It makes me crave summer.

Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil - A richly pomegranate scented balm which feels moisturising, but not slick or greasy.  This will be a handy purse companion for soothing winter-parched lips.

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - I'm always happy to receive a tin of this lemon curd scented delight.  It's one of my favourite cuticle treatments because it softens my cuticles without being oily - and the scent is downright delicious!

Once again - Thank you Liz! xo