Vacation Haul Part 2 - jewellery

I forgot to pack any jewellery for my vacay - big mistake!  It ended up being a great excuse to look out for some interesting pieces though. 

Weekend markets are always a treasure-trove when you're being "touristy" and I bought some pretty locally made jewellery at the Port Douglas Cotters Market ("Cotters Market" means the goods sold are made by the stallholder). 

I really loved this adjustable silver ring inlaid with turquoise & freshwater pearl and I bought the freshwater pearl earrings to match:

I also got these bangles from the market for a total $10AUD:

During our first week away I picked up these pieces at a clothing and accessories boutique in the sleepy beach-side town of Mission Beach:

I consider these as my souvenirs and I know I'll remember our holiday whenever I wear them.

Thanks for looking.

Vita :) 

Rokk 96: Silver Screen

Happy Wednesday to everyone - I've made it half-way through the working week and I'm surviving so far...

Here's one of the mani's I sported on holiday from my megahaul.  I bought three Rokk 96 polishes from Price Attack and I had to wear Silver Screen first because it screamed summer and water to me. Silver Screen is a glittery, shimmery metallic blue polish comprising loads of silver micro-glitter in a blue base.  The result is a blingy standout mani which looks amazing in bright sunlight.  I must admit I had a bit of trouble with the consistency of the polish when applying because it was a bit goopy and tended to drag, however the wear was outstanding and it did not budge until I was ready to take it off.

Full sun

Outdoors shade

Rokk 96 polishes retail at around $7.95AUD each.

That's all for now.

Vita :)

REVIEW: Products farewelled in September

Hi!

Apologies for this post being a little later than usual.

Here are my 8 latest empties to add to this year's tally.  It was all about skin care this month...

Skin and hand care

56) The Body Shop Moisture White Shiso Whitening Serum (30ml/1.0 fl.oz)

This serum was the first product I purchased from The Body Shop's recently released Moisture White range. I was happy enough with this to go ahead and buy the cleanser and moisturiser so I now have most of the skin care regime.  I use this every morning and most evenings in my never-ending quest for a clear, and bright complexion and it has faded some of my sunspots.  The wonder ingredient is Japanese Shiso, a herb said to be effective in reducing melanin activation under the skin and preventing excessive pigmentation and uneven skin tone.  

Pros:

• Absorbs quickly
• Plant-based ingredients including Japanese shiso and Community Trade aloe vera
• Pump dispenses exact amount of product for one application
• Price - reasonable at just over $50AUD per bottle

Cons:

• Doesn't have that usual luxurious feel of a serum
• Unusual fragrance but this fades quickly
• Small 30ml bottle so needs to be replaced after about a month

Would I buy this again?
Yes, I have as I'm continuing to use the Moisture White range.



57) Palmer's Shea Butter Concentrated Cream for Extra Dry Skin (60g/2.1 oz.)
This cream is super-rich and formulated for the extra dry areas of skin such as hands, elbows, knees and feet.  I love this cream because while it is thick it absorbs instantly into the skin and is effective at keeping my elbows and knees from looking flaky and dry. It's a wonder product and must-have for me and I took it away with me on vacation.


Pros:

• heavy moisturiser that absorbs instantly so there is not even a hint of greasiness
• effective moisture for patches of extra-dry skin
• pleasant fragrance
• contains Shea butter and Vitamin E
• not tested on animals
• Price - around $5AUD

Cons:

• I did finish this tube fairly quickly

Would I buy this again?
Yes.  A great value for money product.


58) Avon Anew Reversalist Renewal Serum (10ml sample tube)
I got this as a freebie a while ago with Prevention magazine (showing my age again :-/ ).  The Reversalist range is targeted at the over 40's with an emphasis on "reversing the look of wrinkles".  A sample wasn't going to give me long enough to see any visible results on lasting wrinkle reduction but it did instantly give me velvety smooth feeling skin.  This stuff is seductive because it feels so luxurious and smells divine.


Pros:

• Absorbs instantly, and is not greasy
• Skin feels smooth, soft & 'plump'
• Subtle fragrance

Cons:

• Price - around $75AUD for full-size product

Would I buy this?
I would consider buying a full sized bottle because it feels so good.


59) OPI Polish Remover (non-oily, moisturizing formula) 
My seventh bottle for the year.  Not surprising really.


60) Palmer's Skin Smoothing Lotion with Alpha/Beta Hydroxy & Shea butter
This is another one of my must-have skin care products from Palmer's and it's my second bottle for the year.  Click here for my original review.  I will definitely repurchase.

Cosmetics

61) MAC Cremesheen lipstick (Hot Gossip)

Another empty to go towards my next Back 2 MAC.  This was the perfect summery pink, subtle without being too bubblegummy.  For a swatch click here.

Fragrance

62) YSL elle  Eau de Parfum (50ml)

This is another favourite fragrance from YSL that I only wore on weekends and date nights.  This is a sexy heady fragrance containing notes of, "peony, vetiver, patchouli, woody notes, jasmine, pink berries, lychee and citron."  It's going on my Christmas wish list!

63) Tom Ford Azure Lime Eau de Parfum (1.5ml/0.05fl.oz sample)
I took this fresh citrus fragrance away with me on vacation and I somehow managed to get four wears out of it.  This initially smells quite masculine but smells divine after the dry-down.  This fragrance is made up of, "...vibrant citrus notes, sophisticated florals, warm woods, and sensual musk."  I've been seduced by this sample but at around $280AUD per 50ml bottle I'm going to have to sell my soul for it!

Until next time.

Vita :)

Vacation Haul Part 1 - just a few more bottles of polish :)

I always like collecting pretty things when I'm on vacation and my Queensland trip was no different.  This post is devoted solely to my nail polish hauling.  I was overwhelmed by all the pretty colours available and I didn't hold back...

Here's a quick look at the brands and shades:

rokk 96

Left to Right:
Mauve is Me
Silver Screen
I'll Be Frank


Orly & Milani

Left to Right:
 Entourage
Purple Crush
Oh Cabana Boy
Life's a Peach
Green With Envy
Brown-A-Licious



BYS & Revlon

Left to Right:
Beautifully Bare
High Impact Blue
Icicles (Snow globes collection)



OPI & BK

Left to Right:
Be a Dahlia Won't You
DS Temptation
Glitter Silver
Fine Glitter Fuschia
Blue Dark

I think it's safe to say that I'm well and truly set up for spring/summer!  I don't know what to wear first.  I know, I'm terrible...

Until next time.

Vita :)

Essence: Sundancer

Back home again and the weather in Melbourne is still cold :(

This swatch was done with a bit of wishful thinking on my part.  Sundancer is the last of my pre-holiday swatches.  Seriously, this is a colour I would not normally wear.  It's a screechingly bright lemon yellow creme and really doesn't suit my scary white hands.  With a tan maybe??

Outdoors shade

Full sun

On the plus side the coverage was fantastic in two coats.

Until next time - I have a vacation haul post (or two) planned!

Vita :)

Essence: You Belong to Me

Hi!  I've got a few minutes to put up another quick post.

Here's a pre nail break swatch.  Essence's You Belong to Me is another 'in-between' shade.  It appears as a cool icecreamy mint green in the bottle, however on the nail it sits somewhere between birds-egg blue and green.  This could almost pass for a dupe of China Glaze's For Audrey although this shade is a little paler.  Still gorgeous though - I'm a fan of these eggshell shades!

Outdoors shade

Full sun

It seems Essence is going to be a little harder to find for Australian girls.  I've noticed it's quietly disappeared from my usual Priceline haunts but it's still selling at selected Target stores for now.  I hope it sticks around.

Until next time.

Vita :)

Holiday mani: Revlon Top Speed - Guava Glam

Greetings to you all from Port Douglas, Far North Queensland!

I've got access to the internet (Woo hoo!) so that means I can squeeze in some *live* posting and catch up on your comments.  By the way, thanks for all the well wishes for my holiday.  I'll post some pix once I have a chance to upload and edit them.  It's nice to know you girls are all still there...

Now what did my nubbins wear to go on holiday?  I was in a huge hurry with packing - not just my own stuff but my family's - so I chose a Revlon Top Speed polish for a matching mani/pedi.  Guava is a creme polish which sits somewhere between coral and strawberry.  Summery and very versatile.  This mani/pedi lasted almost a week except for the toenail I scraped on the bottom of the pool! 

Please excuse the nubbins again.  I clipped my nails really short this time due to a break on my index finger and I didn't want to risk any further breaks so they all had to go! 

Sun

Outdoors shade

Hopefully it won't be not too long until my next post.

Vita :)