My experience at Rare Earth Hair Prahran

I'd never really been someone who splurged on hair cuts or anything hair related really- a quick and cheap $15 cut from a hairdresser who yells across the salon in various Asian languages would be what I settle on once a year. As of late, my flat and lacking in volume hair has been rather boring and I just wanted some volume! What great timing that I was offered a complimentary style-cut and blow wave from Rare Earth Hair Prahran (Melbourne), I was so excited!

How stylish do these chairs look?

After university one day, I popped down to the salon not knowing what to expect. What a huge change from the hair salons I am used to going to! It was beautifully furnished and had a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. The staff were extremely friendly and I met the owner Donna and a lovely lady Amy who was going to do my hair that day. On welcoming I was offered a choice of complimentary drinks which I thought was so nice- all the little things count!

 Before we get started, Amy gives me a head, neck and shoulder massage and uses a really calming aromatic oil- I was too relaxed to remember what it smelled like! My hair was washed and treated with AVEDA products which are naturally derived, and smelled amazing- I nearly fell asleep during it all! I haven't felt so pampered before, and definitely very different to my other salon experiences where they would start snipping before you're even sure of what you want!

 I asked for some more volume to my hair and for the length to be shortened- I find that shorter hair suits me better. Amy decided to do a layered hairstyle called the "Rockstar" that she learnt in Italy on me. I was looking forward to seeing the results!

I'm not sure what I am laughing hysterically about in the picture above, but it was nice chatting to Amy and finding out she was from Chicago in the US! A very nice blowdry and a few touch ups later, the whole experience was finished and I was so happy with the result. I have been so used to being so dissatisfied with my hair post haircut (all they want to do at budget places is to get it over and done with so they can move onto their next client!). My hair was so soft afterwards, and it was more bouncy and voluminised- just what I wanted. Unfortunately my "after" pictures at the salon didn't turn out very well, but I do have a picture from last night of my hair. And yes, please excuse that I am on public transport in both the pictures!

Before

After

 It was such a great experience and I loved every second of it! If you are around Melbourne and want to have a try at Rare Earth Hair, it is in Prahran which is very easy to get to from the city. New clients can take advantage of a $20 voucher to use on their first visit too which is a great offer. After this visit, I don't think I could ever go back to my budget haircuts anymore and nevertheless, I'll be happy to return!

What experiences have you had at hair salons?

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Review: Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil

The day has come where I have decided to splurge on an eyebrow pencil! I have been in an eyebrow rut for sometime now- I have been trying to find the perfect brow products but I just never seemed to find anything that worked. My Essence Eyebrow Designer in Brown was a complete wrong colour match, and this the problem with every other drugstore brow pencil you can name- all the brown shades had a red undertone which looked odd with my hair. A stint with the MUA Brow Kit was also a wrong colour match, as much as I wanted to like the kit. After all this, I decided to look around for more higher end brands- Shiseido was an option but I found their pencils too soft, and Clarins had a great formula but didn't have a colour that worked for me. However when I heard about the Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil, I just couldn't resist and now it is in my hands!

Shu Uemura Hard Formula H9 Eyebrow Pencil in Stone Gray

The Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil is unique- the first thing you notice is the strange tip! It is carved into the shape of a Japanese sword, and because of this shape, it makes it so easy and simple to use. The angle is perfect and follows the shape of the brows very well. The only qualm is that it is difficult to sharpen at home (especially because of its hard lead), but the great thing is you can take it into any Shu Uemura counter and they can sharpen it for you free of charge.

Shaped like a Japanese sword

Even though going to a store to get the pencil sharpened may sound like a hassle, the Hard Formula H9 is what it is called- a hard formula. This makes it last so long and it doesn't wear down fast. I have read reviews where people have had their pencil sharpened every 2-3 months, and that is with using it everyday- so it definitely lasts. Just to add as well, this pencil has so much product, and the length of it is 17.5cm which is definitely longer than your regular brow pencils. Another advantage of a hard formula is that you will have a natural looking brow that isn't too dark looking. The special thing about the Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil is that it only releases the colour pigment when it interacts with the oils in the brow hairs, so trying to swatch it on bare skin proves to be difficult.

Multiple strokes of the pencil shows up very faint, the formula needs to react with the oils in the brow hairs to work

Bare eyebrows

Filled in with Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil

The results are amazing! The Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil gives such a natural look and Stone Gray 05 is a perfect match for my dark asian hair. Many people find that Seal Brown 02 works for them, but seeing as I don't plan to dye my hair any time soon, I decided that going for the grey shade would suit me better. The brow pencil is smudgeproof and long-lasting unlike all other brow products I have used! I am so pleased with this purchase and even though the initial investment of $34 was a little high, I can see this pencil lasting for more than a year and being a great staple in my makeup collection and I have no need for any other brow product!

What brow products do you use? What do you think of the Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil? 

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Review: Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+

The colder months are arriving soon, and even though it means hot chocolates, sitting in front of a fireplace (or in my case, a small electric heater) and snuggling up in bed- the harsh winds and cold weather really plays havoc with your skin. Having dry skin myself that tends to be tight and flaky at times, I really need a solution. I have been in love with rosehip oils since I first tried the Rose-Hip Vital Australian Certified Organic Cold Pressed Rosehip Oil and when it ran out, I decided to try the popular Trilogy rosehip oils. After contemplating whether I should buy the original Certified Organic Rosehip Oil or the advanced formula Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+, I decided on the latter. A few extra antioxidants won't hurt after all!

If you are a stranger to rosehip oil, you are missing out on a lot! Rosehip's potent oil is great for scars, stretch marks, ageing and dehydrated skin, and for making skin soft and supple. And for those afraid of an oil clogging up their pores and making them break out- rosehip oil doesn't do this! The Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ , retailing at $29.95, has super antioxidants lycopene and phytosterol in addition to the organic rosehip oil. Trilogy claims that it improves brightening, skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, elasticity and firmness- phew, what a whole lot of claims! I was quite excited to try this especially after reading all the benefits it will have on my skin.

First thing I noticed was that it didn't have any noticeable scent, which was a surprise as rosehip oil normally has a unique fragrance! After cleansing I usually apply a few drops on my damp skin, in particular the cheeks and chin, a tiny bit on my forehead and neck. I absolutely love it as it instantly makes my dry, tight skin feel moisturised and protected, as well as super soft. I allow the oil to sink into my skin and doesn't leave a greasy residue which is great! I finish my face routine by applying moisturiser and an eye cream on top for extra hydration.

I usually have flaky dry skin but after introducing rosehip oil to my routine it has improved dramatically! In terms of brightening and skintone, I haven't noticed much of a difference, however my skin has definitely been feeling firmer and softer. I think rosehip oil will be great for everyone and is quite inexpensive in comparison to facial serums on the market who offer the same benefits!

My only qualms about the Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ is that the oil sometimes leaks from the dropper, but I think I may have a faulty one as Trilogy has been known for producing great droppers. Besides that, this is an amazing treatment you can use on your face that is organic and free from chemicals, providing hydration and suppleness to the skin. I will happily repurchase this as it has been a life saviour for my skin.

Have you tried rosehip oil before? Which brands have you tried?

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Review: Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer and Eye Primer

I had never really been interested in trying makeup primers, even though I know they can really make a difference to how long your makeup lasts and how it looks. Perhaps it's because I don't know what primer to go for, as I only know a handful of brands which have affordable primers (I'm not willing to spend a lot on primer for some reason) or maybe it's due to laziness. However I've been lucky enough to receive these Revlon primers for free- the PhotoReady Perfecting Primer and PhotoReady Eye Primer and Brightener.

I have always considered Revlon as a higher-end "drugstore" brand, and this is also reflected in their prices. Prices for makeup here in Australia are exorbitant, ridiculous, whatever you would like to call it! The Perfecting Primer and Eye Primer and Brightener retail for $29.95 and $24.95 respectively- which to all your fellow American bloggers may find crazy! I am so jealous at the inexpensive makeup overseas. Alright that is enough rambling for now!

Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer $29.95

A primer that applies on smoothly and effortlessly, this lightweight Perfecting Primer is described to create a perfect canvas for makeup, and softens the skin by reducing the appearance of pores and fine lines. Packaging wise, I like this primer- the glass bottle feels solid and of good quality, and the easy to dispense pump doesn't hurt either (as opposed to L'Oreal Paris' Base Magique Smoothing Primer which is in a jar which isn't a very hygienic way to use a primer!).

On first application I found this primer to be greasy, but only afterwards I realised it wasn't the primer itself- it was all the other products I had on; my rosehip oil, moisturiser and sunscreen! On another attempt, the primer melted into my skin which was amazing! I can't really comment on its minimising pores and fine lines capability as I don't have either of those! I couldn't really feel or see a significant difference between using it and not using it under foundation, however that isn't to say there wasn't a difference. It probably did make my foundation last longer, but I just didn't realise it. A nice product but doesn't really "wow" me, and as a result I don't use the Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer very often.

Revlon PhotoReady Eye Primer and Brightener $24.95

I've been using this eye primer daily, but seeing as I haven't used any other eye primers before, I don't have anything to compare it to! Claiming to be a perfect base for the eyelids, this PhotoReady Eye Primer and Brightener can be used to prime the eyelids and under the eye, as well as brighten anywhere on the face. The brush applicator makes the product easy to apply, although dispensing it is sometimes difficult- one twist isn't enough for any primer to come out, but a couple more makes too much come out! I personally like to apply it using my fingers as I find I can get more control over its application. Instead of eyeliner pencils dragging on my eye sans primer, the PhotoReady Eye Primer and Brightener allows eyeliner to glide on smoothly and effortlessly! Any eye makeup stays on for longer too, and eyeshadows look more vibrant. As a brightener, I'm not a fan. It doesn't really do much, and when it isn't blended out properly, it looks terrible. I would rather use other products as a highlighter- even a light coloured eyeshadow would work better! However as an eye primer, this is excellent!

L-R: Revlon PhotoReady Eye Primer and Brightener, Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer

L-R: Eyeshadow without primer, eyeshadow with Eye Primer, eyeshadow without primer, eyeshadow with Perfecting Primer

If you look carefully, you can tell there is a difference when applying the eyeshadow with and without primer! Both primers work amazingly under eyeshadow, and you can definitely tell that it looks more pigmented and vibrant. What I also love about these Revlon primers is that they are oil free, talc free, fragrance free and paraben free which will give you an extra peace of mind! Maybe I should give my Perfecting Primer another chance after all...

After I use up my PhotoReady Eye Primer and Brightener, I'm not sure what eye primer I will go for next. I've heard that Urban Decay has a great formulation for its primer, but I have no clue where to get it (in Australia) and how much it would cost! If anyone could help me with that it'll be much appreciated :)

Have you tried any of these Revlon primers? Do you use primers, and if so, which ones?

Bronzed Up!

Perhaps this post would have been better suited for when summer was starting instead of ending, but then I thought of all of you in the Northern Hemisphere who are approaching spring and summer- so I guess I am not completely out of sync! I dug out all the products I could think of that had to do with bronze, and yes, it's not a huge collection. And how is it that I do not have a powder bronzer in my makeup collection? I am looking at the Bourjois Delice de Soleil Bronzing Powder but any other suggestions are welcome. Anyways, here we have my bronze coloured products.

Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion, Bonne Bell Sunblush Bronze in Sunkissed Copper, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, Korres Sunflower & Evening Primrose Eyeshadow in Bronze Brown,  Australis 10 Hour Wear Pencil in Bombastic Bronze, L'oreal Studio Secrets Eye Pencil in 531 Brown, Clarins Crayon Yeux in 02 Brun

I'm very certain that the Bonne Bell Sunblush Bronze cream and L'Oreal Studio Secrets Eye Pencil are discontinued, hence it is hard to find much information on them now. I did get the Sunblush Bronze 8 years ago, so perhaps it shouldn't still be my collection... oh well. Moving onto the products themselves now.

L-R: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, Korres Sunflower & Evening Primrose Eyeshadow in Bronze Brown

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze $11.95
Not much needs to be said about this cult favourite eyeshadow cream gel. With a creamy and smooth texture, this is a beautiful everyday shade which applies nicely and stays on the eyelids. The colour is longlasting and intense and I absolutely love it. Quality is very high with a very affordable price, and these little jars of colour have even been dubbed as having a formulation comparable to MAC's Paint Pots. Definitely one of my favourite eye products.

Korres Sunflower & Evening Primrose Eyeshadow in Bronze Brown $29.95
I got this little cute eyeshadow from a part of my Korres Smoky Bronze Antioxidant Eye Collection which I reviewed here and bought for only $10 from StrawberryNET. Bronze Brown is a very wearable shade, and I absolutely love nude and brown eyeshadows (yes I am boring). Pigmentation is decent but nothing amazing, and does apply well. To the naked eye the Korres Eyeshadow and Maybelline Color Tattoo shades are very similar, but when swatched (see below) they are quite different.

Bonne Bell Sunblush Bronze in Sunkissed Copper $N/A
As I mentioned earlier, this is a very old product, roughly 8 years old. Since this was a product I didn't use very often, it still looks like it is in good condition! The packaging is quite practical, as it allows just the right amount of product to be dispensed out of the soft tube which is easy to squeeze. The bronzer cream is very pigmented, and a little goes a long way. This definitely has orange undertones so it is best used for a nice sunkissed look.

Top to bottom: Australis 10 Hour Wear Pencil in Bombastic Bronze, L'Oreal Studio Secrets Eye Pencil in 531 Brown, Clarins Crayon Yeux in 02 Brun

Australis 10 Hour Wear Pencil in Bombastic Bronze $9.95
One of my favourite eye pencils ever, I am so glad it is so accessible and affordable! I reviewed this here last year. Absolutely amazing texture, smooth and creamy and such a breeze to apply. Smudgeproof and stays on for the day! I love the colour as I'm not a huge fan of black eyeliner, and I find that brown and bronze shades are very natural looking. I find that its formulation and colour are extraordinarily similar to the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Bronze (oh what a mouthful!). The Australis pencil rivals my Clarins Crayon Yeux in Brun for my favourite eyeliner, yet at a fraction of its cost. My only qualm? That it runs out too quickly and needs to be sharpened regularly (mainly due to its creaminess).

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Eye Pencil in 531 Brown $N/A
I purchased this from a clearance bin at Priceline for $4. I wasn't sure what to expect from it but it did impress me with its colour. This is a very neutral and modest shade, I can even use it for a "no makeup" look as it is very subtle. Doesn't apply as smooth as the Australis pencil but does the job. Not very longlasting and does fade throughout the day.

Clarins Crayon Yeux in Brun $36
I got this eyeliner free from work so calm down, I didn't buy it for the exuberant $36! Creamy, pigmented and glides on beautifully- what could I not like? It is slightly less shimmery than the Australis 10 Hour Wear Pencil so it makes it perfect for everyday wear. It also doesn't run down as fast as the Australis, which is something you'd hope for, especially in a high end pencil. To be honest I don't use the foam end at all for smudging, but being a smudgeable pencil, it isn't smudgeproof like the Australis. Phew that was a lot of "smudge" in one sentence.

Dove Summer Glow Beauty Body Lotion in Medium to Dark $6.95
Lastly, here is the Dove's offering for a gradual tan moisturiser. Easy to apply, smells a treat and gets the job done. Just make sure you exfoliate and don't pack on the lotion thickly... as you can get orange patches! Back in the day when gradual tan lotions were very popular, I remember the Johnson's Holiday Skin Lotion which was the leader in its market. I'm not sure what has happened to it, as a Google search doesn't bring much up. I haven't used this lotion in years, and don't plan to. Not sure what to do with it...

L-R swatches: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze, Korres Bronze Brown, Bonne Bell Sunblush Bronze, L'Oreal Studio Secrets Eye Pencil Brown, Clarins Crayon Yeux Brun and Australis Bombastic Bronze

After these swatches, I'm thinking that this post shouldn't even be called "Bronzed Up"! Oh well, too late now. Just look at Bad to the Bronze compared to Korres' Bronze Brown! What a huge difference. Bad to the Bronze looks more of a shimmery taupe than a bronze while the Korres is more true to a bronze. Bonne Bell's Sunblush Bronze in Sunkissed Copper is the most bronze out of everything else! See what I mean about its pigmentation? That was only a very tiny dollop of product too. L'Oreal's Eye Pencil is far from bronze, Clarin's Brown is less bronze than Australis' Bombastic Bronze and is less shimmery too, although it isn't perfectly depicted in this photo. In reality, Bombastic Bronze looks more appealing than Clarin's Brown when swatched.

Phew what a post, I don't usually do "long" posts due to laziness. But there you have it, my bronze products.

Have you tried any of these products before? What do you think?

Review: Avene Thermal Spring Water

As promised, here is a review of Avene's Thermal Spring Water, otherwise also known as Avène Eau Thermale (oh how I love the French language). A very simple product, but essentially it is water in a can with a multitude of uses and is suitable for sensitive skin types. 

The 50mL bottle is so small and cute- it can be easily carried around and used on the go

I've longed for this product for quite a long time but never really justified spending $10.95 for a 50mL can of water (other sizes include 150mL for $18.95 and 300mL for $23.95)! However thanks to Beautyheaven's Beautorium I managed to get a small can of the popular spring water.

I was going to go on about the history of Avene and why its spring water is so good, but instead of boring you with information you can easily Google, I'll get on to the review. Avene's Thermal Spring Water is sourced directly from the Avene Thermal springs and has a low mineral content, a neutral pH and a high proportion of precious trace elements such as silica. So that's all the facts listed down, but what does it actually do?

Great thing about the Thermal Spring Water is that it can comfort skin irritations (such as sunburn, eczema, itching, facial redness, razor burn or even after surgeries- which I assume mean facial cosmetic surgeries) as well as toning, and generally refreshing the face especially during hot days and while travelling. Having dry and irritated skin at times, I find that this spring water spray works a charm. The mist is beautiful, probably the best mist I've tried- don't you just hate ones that squirt at your face? It was extremely refreshing and a joy to use, and I found it perfect for these past hot days (37 degrees anyone?).

Despite it being quite a fun product to use and giving me a fresh pick-up when I need to, I do find the price of Avene Thermal Spring Water a little on the expensive side, especially for something that is "just" water. I would love to be able to compare prices and quality to another spring water spray though, but the only one I can think of from the top of my head is Evian's Facial Spray which I don't think is readily stocked here in Australia. Give me a bit of time, and I might eventually get my hands on a bottle (hooray for online shopping) and then I can compare.

Do you use Avene's Thermal Spring Water? Do you think it is actually worth its price?

Review: Revlon Nail Enamel in Popular

The first time I set my eyes on this beauty, I knew I had to get it. A pale pink with just the right amount of silver hexagonal glitters and minute shimmers dispersed throughout, Revlon 230 Popular is quite the pretty one. At $13.95 a bottle, it isn't cheap but I did manage to get this at half price!

Most of you aren't strangers to the Revlon Nail Enamels, but to those who are, you are missing out on the beautiful shade varieties on offer (55 of them!) with smooth formulations which can be available at drugstores (haha yes, I am using American terminology). Revlon claims that their formulations are smooth, chip resistant and give up to ten days worth of lasting colour and shine. The nail enamels also contain a "silk-protein shield" which helps even out the surface of the nail while smoothing away bubbles, streaks and brush marks.

This photo doesn't do any justice to this pretty glittery polish!

Such pretty glitters

Revlon 230 Popular applied smoothly and quite nicely. One coat is quite sheer so at least two coats are needed to be able to clearly see the light pink base colour. I was quite happy with the formulation as I've been disappointed before with another Revlon nail enamel I have, Blue Lagoon. It was streaky, had brush marks, was difficult to apply and took a long time to dry. I took the chance with 230 Popular and hoped that the formula was much better and I ended up happy with it. 

How do some people take such nice photos of their nails?
Mine looks awful!

This polish did chip after a few days which was expected (especially since it is a glitter!) but did not last the ten days it claimed. I adore this polish though- the combination of pale pink and the two different glitters make it so pretty and girly. Revlon have a couple of more other glitter shades too which look amazing too! Even though people have raved about how great Revlon Nail Enamels were, I wasn't too impressed especially after my encounter with the streaky formulation of Blue Lagoon. I still think that OPI make the best nail polishes by far- they have an extraordinary range of shades and glitters, as well as having fantastic formulations- shame that they cost $20 a pop here in Australia though! All in all, Revlon 230 Popular is a joy to wear and has a beautiful smooth finish.

What do you think of 230 Popular? Have you tried Revlon nail enamels before?

Beautyheaven Beautorium Feb 2013

When I heard there was going to be another Beautorium being held by Beautyheaven I was very excited especially after having gotten a few items from the first one last year! After some patience and waiting for a few weeks, I finally received all the products I got from the Beautorium.

Top to bottom, L-R: John Plunkett Multi Vitamin Moisturiser, John Plunkett Glyco Peel, Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant, Avene Thermal Spring Water, Sunsilk Straight Perfection Gloss Finish Serum Spray, Lady Jayne Bun Styl'r

The main thing I wanted from the Beautorium were the Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant which has won two awards from Beautyheaven and the Avene Thermal Spring Water which I have been wanting to try for so long but never gotten around to it (this has also won a Beautheaven award!). I have heard many comparisons between the Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant and Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant which is my favourite exfoliant product ever- so I am excited to see how the Alpha-H compares.

The John Plunkett products were add ons- they sounded quite good and I had never tried any of their products so I thought this would be a great opportunity to give them a go! Since I had some leftover points I decided to grab the Sunsilk Straight Perfection Gloss Finish Serum Spray which is from Sunsilk's new Co-Creations collection. The Lady Jayne Bun Styl'r kit was provided as a gift and thank you very much Beautyheaven! The only problem is that it is a size medium/large and is far too big for my thin hair :( The package also came with some Compeed samples- a blister patch and cold sore patch which aren't in any of these photos.

I will definitely review all these products soon once I've used them for a while and post my thoughts on them. Here is a list of all the things I received and their Australian retail prices too:

• Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant 50g $59.95
• John Plunkett Glyco Peel 15mL $28.95
• John Plunkett Multi Vitamin Moisturiser 60mL $28.95
• Avene Thermal Spring Water 50mL $10.95
• Sunsilk Co-Creations Straight Perfection Gloss Finish Serum Spray 120mL $7.49
• Lady Jayne Bun Styl'r M/L $ 9.99 

Very excited to try these all and thank you again Beautyheaven for such a wonderful event! 

Did you get anything from the Beautorium this time round? Or have you tried any of these products before?