Christmas gift ideas for girls!

How's Christmas shopping coming along? Are you a last minute shopper or are you really organised and have everything you need already?

As we get into the last week, I thought I'd show you guys what I put together as Christmas gifts and just a couple of Christmas gift ideas.

Gift shopping is so stressful - I think I'm almost done! Hurray!

I did some shopping for my mum, originally set out to find a bag, but couldn't find something that I liked and was within my budget so I decided to put some things together. There's a good stocking stuffer as well as some other gifts that would go well under the tree. Though we don't have a tree anymore, I think it's still something that could be nicely wrapped up and given away. And although it isn't one big gift - multiple things mean that I spent time to think and search and each individual item :) So don't fret if you have trouble searching! Also keep reading to the end for some other gift ideas!

Diffuser - aroma co. Fushia and Tigerlily Diffuser - from Portmans

My mum loves anything scented - so I thought a diffuser would be a great. If you're purchasing for someone who does - this could be a great gift to put with something else.

Vue Kimono set of 4 stack cups

This was just so cute and irresistible. Unfortunately we don't stack our cups, but who's to say we can't? Lovely gift if you do and they all look great by themselves too!

 My beautiful book of Sudoku

I know this isn't anything fancy - but my mum loves sudoku at night and on train trips. I'll also admit that the cover of the book helped suck me in =P But nevertheless, I couldn't help but to help add this to her sudoku book collection.

Other gift ideas:

2014 Diary

This one pictured below is from Typo and of course is just one of their many designs - this is actually just the one that I bought because it suits exactly what I need. But another of my favourite places to purchase diaries is Kikki K. They're "weekly cute diary" is just too cute! Link here.

Below are a few gifts I found, but couldn't get my hands on the pictures - so click the links to see the pictures :)

Safe Keeper Box - to keep the small items in your handbag! - link here

Do you like to carry around a big bag? And do you find that you spend AGES trying to find jewellery, headphones and other small, loose items? This might actually be a great stocking stuffer. 

Aroma Co. Candle - 3 different scents; link here  

Just like the diffuser, but in the form of a candle - I need to get myself to a shop and pick one up for my mum!

Mix and Match some PJs:

Owl Boxers from Cotton On - link here Even if Owls aren't for you, click the link to see the variety of prints. They're so cute!

Long PJ pants from Cotton On - link here 

New, limited edition colours of Revlon Colourburst

One month of haitus later, I'm back! I'm so sorry for the wait guys, I've been so busy :(

I hope you guys are enjoying and busy preparing for the holiday season :)

I was shopping with my friend today and discovered two new colours of the Revlon Colourburst which, without a doubt surprised us.

 From left to right: Provocative, Invite Only

Invite Only

We were, however, quite relieved to know that these shades were very sheer, with a light tint of the colours that you see:

Invite Only

Provocative

Provocative would make a lovely colour for a white, wintery Christmas party, but might not be popular in Australia. Provocative is actually a lovely colour and I do really wish it was less sheer. It looks like it would be a little lighter than their lollipop if it was not made to be a sheer colour and I think it would have been quite nice. However, I'm not too sure about provocative though.

Let me know your thoughts and if you've tried these!

How to get to smooth hair

Sorry for the lack of updates! It's right in the middle of my exams right  now and there's also been some family things happening so it's been difficult to update!

When you wash your hair do you apply and wash your conditioner off immediately?

Did you know by applying conditioner and waiting about 3 minutes before washing it off, it'll leave your hair silky smooth? There's an amazing difference!

And in the mean time? Put your hair to the side or wrap it in a bun, clean your hands and go on with your shower routine - washing your face, body etc and just leave rinsing the conditioner off till the end!

Try it and see if you notice the difference! I picked up this trick a few years  ago when I went to America and met one of my cousins' friends who had amazingly smooth hair and asked what she used. She let me in on this secret. I will admit I sometimes forget, but it makes an amazing difference!

Also, I've decided I wouldn't do a monthly favourites since the products I've used are mostly ones I've mentioned before so that wouldn't be really interesting for you guys!

Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Weightlessness Nourishment Shampoo & Conditoner

So this was another one of the samples sent to me a couple of weeks ago. I was pretty glad that both the shampoo and conditioner was sent to me, so I could really try out what it was intended to do, without mixing it up with another brand/type of conditioner/shampoo and mistaking the results.


So the goal of this is for weightless hair. I must say, I did actually feel that this DID give me more weightless feeling hair after using it. I would say it's a great clarifying shampoo - but of course, I have a dry scalp with dandruff, so I can't completely switch. However, if you're someone who tends to use a lot of products throughout the week I think this would be great at the end of the week.

I also stopped using Pantene previously as I felt a lot more hair came off following using their conditioner, and I still felt this was the case with this one - although, a hair dresser has told me that conditioner don't cause hair fall outs. It's just silky so it moves hair that has already fallen out. So.. I'm not too sure what the deal is here.

I would probably still use this at the end of the week, or a big night where I've used quite a bit of product just to clean it all out. Really love this (except for the excess fall out), and if it wasn't for that and the fact that I need an anti-dandruff product, I'd probably use it more often!

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream

So as I said in my last post, I requested for this sample to be sent to me (Through a facebook competition) and I've tried it out and compared it to my Piera's BB Cream.

So the Maybelline Website says that this BB Cream has 8 benefits:

- 2% salicylic acid + vitamins
- Conceals imperfections
- Reduces blemishes
- Calms redness
- Oil free, non-greasy
- Minimises pores
- Adjusts to skin tone
- SPF 15

Credits: Product description taken from Maybelline.

It also says that it's for oily-combination skin. My skin is more to the dry side, but it was still a good product to try out. 

I'm not sure that it adjusted to my skin tone. I was sent "Medium-Light" Though, I did find that confusing because the colour was mentioned twice on the packet. Once was "Medium Light" and the second time "Medium". So I wasn't exactly sure what colour I was sent. Regardless, I thought I'd just see what it looked like on. 

It was perhaps a bit light for my face, but I was hoping it would adjust to my skin tone like it states. I checked the mirror in about 20 minutes (in my bathroom - where it was lit with natural sunlight), and it was still quite off. So I continued with my makeup routine (and wore relatively less, as I wanted to see how this would go).

It has a dewy finish and it did reduce the appearance of some pimples I have dying down, though of course, some more concealer is needed. This. I expected for a BB cream though.

About 4 hours later, I checked again and the colour did look much better. Although the SPF was probably wearing off soon and it was time for reapplication.

So.. I'm not too sure about whether I'll purchase this after sampling it. I do have a couple more packets to try. But I thought I would review it because I do like it, but I don't love it. It does a decent job - but perhaps with all the promotion I had my hopes up too high. I don't think the fact that I had dry skin affected it either, however, it might work better if you do have combination-oily skin. As this is what the product is targeted at.

I would say it would probably work better if you are have a lighter skin toned. I would probably classify myself as a light-medium skin tone. But perhaps I would be a more "medium" if I was to purchase this than a "light". I'm still confused to what colour I was sent.. haha.

If you've tried this, let me know your thoughts! Comments are always really appreciated :)

Samples Galore!

Just a very quick post today!

The postman didn't come yesterday - but I came home to lots of samples today (which I have requested - but I assure you these will not change my views) in my mail box today! Super excited to try them out and I will keep you guys posted!

I have:

1. Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream - I've been wondering about this!
2. John Frieda Full Repair Full Boday Shampoo & Conditioner
3. Pantene Aqua Light Shampoo & Conditioner

Can't wait to try these out :)

September Favourites

Is it really October already? Wow, I've been so swamped with uni work - it's crazy! I'm sorry for the lack of posts - I will try to post more!

Body:

Seacret body lotion in Vanilla and Coconut. I did a full review here. Ever since re-discovering this, originally re-using it as a handcream in the month I had began reusing it as a body lotion. Yes, the scent has really stopped bothering me!

I am loving it so much, I'm really considering repurchasing another body lotion from the Seacret range - although like I had mentioned it is pricier than what I would normally spend on body lotions. I have a cousin who is coming to visit soon and am just so tempted to ask her to bring it over for me if I do order one. hmm.

Skin Care:

Clinique All about Eyes Eye cream


So this was my eye cream before I switched to Lacura's eye cream, which has worked well for me. I still had some left and one day decided I would pick it up and try finish it off. I totally forgot why I switched. I guess I just didn't think Aldi was bad. I ended up switching between the two throughout the week. Clinique was definitely more moisturising. It was thicker and hydrated more. In terms of dark circles and puffiness - I remember thinking Clinique did a decent job, but I was still bothered and hence I was open to switching. I will now keep comparing the two and keep you guys posted. But now I am tempted to repurchase as I am almost finished with my All about eyes! I am definitely starting to relove it!

Make up:

Loreal Paris Studio Secret's Professional Magic Perfecting Base

This has done wonders! My eyeliner has been smudging and I wasn't sure if it was the eyeliner or because I had oily eyelids (I didn't think my eyelids were oily) but I used this base - which goes on white and adds a little bit of 'pop' to the eye area, so it'd be great under an eyeshadow and there was no smudging on my eyeliner. I'm looking to change my eyeliner after I use it up - because it is shu umera.. haha and it's not terrible (just a little bit of smudging if I don't let it dry).

 

 I've realised the base keeps the eye liner on for much longer than it usually lasts (when I rub my eye) slightly. Definitely a favourite for this month! - I was actually sent a sample of this by request in a magazine. But it is definitely something I will purchase!

Lancome Absolut Voyage Make up Palette - Rose Edition



Note - this picture is the Blossom edition.
I will do an individual post regarding this palette. My mum picked up this palette in Duty Free on one of her trips a while back and the blush has kicked my Muji's away! One swipe goes a LONG way! It's also a handy little palette with many things on it - but I want to save more comments for when I do my proper post haha. It costs $99.29 (according to Amazon) and comes with: a lip pencil, eye pencil, compact powder, concealer, 6 eye shadows, 2 lip colours, 1 lip gloss, 1 mascara and some make up tools. I will give a full review and product specifications of the Rose edition - which unfortunately I was unable to find. I'm enjoying the palette a lot more, but the blush in particular, and will look into whether I can purchase the blush alone.

Revlon Colour Stay Eye Shadow Quad - Sterling Rose

So this actually hasn't worked well for me as an eyeshadow. However, I've found another use - it works really well as a brow powder!



So I'm really using the last two colours at the moment for my brows - depending on the look I want. I've heard the taupe works well for people with black hair - so I may even give the colour at the top a try too. But at the moment, that can be a base colour for an eyeshadow.

The quad is quite pigmented - what you'd want in an eyeshadow, but also  good for your brows if you're applying with a brush and spreads well too. It was definitely a good discovery!

Hair:

TRESemme Thermal Heat Protectant Spray

I'm sure you've all heard the rave about this before. I've used this since the bottle was all black but had stopped heat styling my hair for a couple of years and instead permed it twice - which inevitably dried it out. After now cutting it TOO short and needing to straighten it almost everyday, I'm back to being a loyal customer! :)



The nozzle is pretty amazing - you get a good amount of product with just one spray. I've tried other sprays in the past where you have to spray a lot just to get a good amount. With this product, you just move it through the areas which you will use heat because one spray will cover a large area and put a decent amount on. Just spray, spray spray and brush through. And you're ready! It makes getting ready so much faster too.

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Ok. So I didn't really try many new things this month in comparison to previous months. However, I am onto a new jar of Clinique Moisture Surge and if you haven't already heard me rave about it, you can read here. It is definitely my holy grail moisturiser - which I generally choose to use at night and under my BB cream (which you can read about in my July Favourites) if I need an extra kick of hydration for daytime.I even purchase the 75mL because I know I will use it all up and just love it so much.