I've got mail! Online Haul

I placed orders on three different online sites and wanted to share with you guys not only my haulage but my experience of shopping with them as well. I'll be comparing each online shopping experience including shipping costs and how long I had to wait until my order arrived!

Firstly, I have had the Tanya Burr lip glosses on my wish list for a long time, especially when she launched heaps of new shades. I was browsing feelunique.com when I came across a deal of 2 for 3 on Tanya Burr's range! I immediately placed an order for the shades I Found Nemo, Lunch Date and Picnic in the Park. These glosses are $13.49 which I definitely found to be good value. The glosses are creamy, pigmented and long lasting. The only thing I don't like about these glosses is the scent which is a sweet, candy like scent that is WAY too strong for my liking.

My shopping experience with feelunique.com was definitely positive! I received my order just under two weeks from when I placed it. Shipping is free for all orders over $20 so you'll likely be able to get free shipping on your order otherwise shipping is only $3. Overall I will definitely shop on Feel Unique again especially as I've noticed they often have sales and discounts.

My second order was placed on beautybay.com, another UK online beauty site. I've know about Beauty Bay for a while, particularly as a convenient way for Aussies to get their hands on Urban Decay. I noticed they now stock Zoeva and after wanting to fill a few gaps in my brush collection I placed an order for the 101 Luxe Face Definer and 105 Luxe Highlight brushes. (please excuse my dirty brushes I couldn't help myself!)

Shipping is free from beautybay.com for all orders over $20 or just $3.80 - comparable to the great deal offered by Feel Unique. The only problem I had with ordering was that I couldn't pay with Paypal. I know as a reputable online store I don't really have to worry about security but I do prefer using Paypal. I also found that my order took almost four weeks to arrive. After the two week mark when I started to get a little anxious I noticed that there is a mention on the shipping page that parcels are often delayed to Australian addresses because they get intercepted at customs - my package was definitely opened!

Zoeva brushes are also easily accessible from website Luxola which I have heard a lot about from Youtubers. When I found out they had a 25% off code for Zoeva and Sigma brushes I jumped on the chance to order the Pink Elements Complete Eye Set which I have honestly been lusting over forever. Seeing one of my favourite Youtubers Sharon Farrell use these gorgeous pink brushes I just HAD to jump at the chance to get the set at an amazing price.

Luxola is a Singapore based site but is also great for Aussies as you can shop in AUD$ which is always handy. Shipping is free for all orders over $40 which is fantastic, although not quite as good as the deal offered by both beautybay.com and feelunique.com. Orders under $40 will set you back $15 for shipping. Another positive of shopping at Luxola is that you can pay with Paypal which is definitely my preferred way of paying online. However, Luxola doesn't ship to PO Boxes and my usual delivery address is a PO Box. Whilst this is a little annoying I ended up choosing to ship to my mum's work address. I received my order in less than two weeks! Definitely the fastest arrival of my orders.

Overall all my online shopping experiences were very positive! I love the range of brands available on each site and the option free shipping for such a low minimum purchase. Just note that Beauty Bay shipping could take a long time!

What have you ordered online recently?

xx Cat

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Worth the Hype? Beauty Blender

If you've never used a Beauty Blender before you must be thinking:
"There better be something magical about a sponge that costs $20!"

I understand you. $20 for tiny pink sponge is beyond any comprehension of 'reasonable' but I have to admit that I just bought my second beauty blender - yes it is worth the hype (and the price tag).

There is indeed something magical about the BB. If you usually apply foundation using brushes or your fingers, you may have had difficulties with obvious brush strokes or the mess that comes with having makeup all over your hands. Applying foundation with the BB blends in everything so smoothly resulting in a flawless, airbrushed finish.

How does it work?
First, start by saturating the sponge in water. Squeeze your BB so it can absorb as much water as possible - once damp the BB will be about twice it's original size. Then towel dry your sponge so it is ready to use. Dip your BB into foundation and bounce the BB over your face to blend in your makeup!

The beauty blender will work with most foundations and is particularly great for applying thicker foundations as it allows you build coverage in thin layers. I would probably steer clear of using the BB with really thin formulas, for example the L'Oreal Nude Magique or Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid, as the sponge will absorb a lot of the product.

Definitely a thumbs up from me!

Beauty Blender will be available soon at Sephora in Sydney but you can pick up the cult favourite at a number of online boutiques.

Is the beauty blender part of your everyday routine?

xx Catherine

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My First Tattoo

I recently made a little risk. Sparked by a little creativity and something else I can't really explain, I decided to get a tattoo. I wanted to share with you my experience because it was really exciting and also as a bit of advice for other tattoo virgins thinking about getting inked!

Why?

I'm not one to believe that an individual's actions or choices need to be justified to anyone else. So if you want to get a tattoo, why not? For me, it was as simple as wanting a cool piece of art on my body.

What does it mean?

My tattoo was inspired by my love for the Shakespearian drama Hamlet (nerdy, I know). For me, it reveals the power of the mind and infinite possibilities of the imagination. Also how cool is it that hundreds of years later we can pick up Hamlet and find meaning within it for our own life, revealing the power of the theatre.

"Oh God, I could be bound in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams." Act 2, Scene 2

Did it hurt?

Yes. I didn't expect it to hurt as much as it did, but I'm not sure if it was just because I'm a wuss or I had trouble staying relaxed and my heart rate stable. I was able to stay still though, but I was actually quite shocked at the pain. Obviously it depends on where you get your tattoo as well - I got mine on the inside of my arm.

How did I choose an artist/shop?

I got my tattoo done at LDF in Newtown by artist Jimmy Memento. Basically, I had driven past the LDF shop in Marrickville almost everyday for years on the way to school. When I started thinking about getting a tattoo I started following the shop's instagram account to get an idea of artists I liked, particularly as I had an idea but was open to ideas and artistic interpretation. I think the best way of finding an artist is to look on instagram. There are so many fantastic tattoo artists posting their work and it's easy to find other artists by searching hashtags and through posts by the stores themselves.

Jimmy's Instagram
LDF Instagram

Another piece of advice - I wasn't really sure how to make an appointment with an artist so check out their website or call the shop to ask what the process is. The artist I chose holds consult days where I got to discuss my design and book an appointment. Some artists are in high demand so you may have to wait a while, but it's definitely worth it!

Overall I am so so happy having got my first tattoo done. It hurt so much but I was also ridiculously excited and happy about the whole experience!

Let me know if you have any other questions :)

xx Cat

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Beauty Favourites: March 2015

March has been such an exciting month for me and I'm so excited to share with you some of my beauty favourites! As well as starting back at uni for the year I've also started a new beauty-full job which is absolutely a dream come true. In this post I'm sharing a lot of new products that I've never featured before on my blog both high end and drugstore!

I've been absolutely loving using the Duo Fibre Face Brush from Real Techniques for absolutely everything! It's such a versatile brush perfect for blending foundation, using powder, sculpting the cheeks or for both cream and powder blush. Definitely one you should add to your collection - I have two, one for powders and one for liquids/creams. Get the Duo Fibre Brush Set at iherb.

For foundation, I've been gravitating towards my Bourjois Healthy Mix which is absolutely gorgeous, leaving a natural satin finish. I reached for this foundation again as my skin has been a little dehydrated and being stuck in aircon all day meant I wasn't getting as oily throughout the day. However, I definitely do need to wear a primer underneath to get some extra wear time.

Speaking of primers, I can't go past the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. I've had a bit of a love affair with Hourglass products recently and I am continually impressed with the quality of their products. The Veil Mineral Primer is perfect for me as it neutralises redness extremely well and provides a beautiful smooth base for foundation. I also love using this under the eyes before I apply concealer to really add extra brightness. Overall such a fantastic product and so worth the money.

A new product that I tried during March which I absolutely fell in love with was the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush. These are new releases from Max Factor and have a striking resemblance to the Hourglass Ambient Blushes. The quality of these blushes are absolutely beautiful and they blend like a dream! I have been reaching for this blush over anything else because it gives a gorgeous sheen and looks absolutely seamless on the cheeks. Definitely a product to pick up - I loved them so much I grabbed all the shades! Also for cheeks I've rediscovered my Benefit Hoola Bronzer which was sitting a little unloved for a while but such a classic matte bronzer for contouring and warming up the face.

My go to look throughout March was definitely natural eyes and bold lips. I fell in love with the Tartlette Palette as soon as I knew it existed and having it in my hot little hands the first day it was released in Sephora was probably the most exciting makeup purchase I've ever made. The shadows are gorgeous - so pigment, soft and easy to blend and the shades are everything you could ever need for a neutral eye look. Without a doubt the best matte shadows I've ever used and honestly I love creating looks with just this palette but it is the best palette to have to accompany all your other shadows. I love wearing Caregiver all over the lid, Natural Beauty in the crease, Bombshell wet as a liner and Super Mom as a brow highlight - perfect neutral eye! Available at Sephora.

And to pair with that neutral eye - I wore bright pink lips constantly this month! The Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong is my go to for a long lasting, matte finish that is going to last all day. I also recently added to my collection the Bobbi Brown Artstick in Hot Berry which is basically the same gorgeous bright pink shade but is much smoother on the lips and leaves a satin finish and is also a little easier to apply. If you're looking for a bright pink lip definitely check out those two because they are universally flattering.

March has been the month of skincare discovery for me and I've completely switched up my routine with some really amazing results (a skincare routine is coming soon!).

The first couple of products I've been obsessed with are from Origins which is stocked at Kit Cosmetics and Mecca Maxima. My first favourite is the Checks and Balances Face Wash which is great for balancing out oiliness and dehydration in the skin which is exactly what I've been suffering with. It's so refreshing and my skin feels so soft and clean after using it. I've also been enjoying the Make a Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating Moisturiser which I put on in the morning. It is fabulous under makeup and injects so much moisture without feeling heavy at all - a new staple for me! I also love that Origins uses natural ingredients and is free from parabens - also they smell incredible!

My other skincare favourite has been the Maracuja Oil from Tarte which is absolutely heavenly. I love facial oils and this one is the best I've tried. I apply at night my patting it over my moisturiser and I have noticed such a difference in the brightness of my skin since using it. Available at Sephora.

I hope you have a wonderful April and enjoy the Easter break!

xx Cat

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