Quick Fix- Broken Powder Compact

One of the downsides to my job is having to take a lot of makeup with me when I travel. Usually, I don't wear much makeup (aside from maybe mascara & lipstick) unless I'm either at work or going on a night out.

 

I've been pretty fortunate so far, in that I haven't lost or broken too many of my cosmetic items on my travels. The most frequent 'breakage' I tend to suffer is the dreaded powder compact drop-and-shatter. Sadly for me, the latest occurrence was while opening a new compact. In my tired state, I dropped it, and the powder cake broke. Oops. What to do? Well, if you are like me you hate waste, the good news is it's not the end for your powder foundation.

 

On a previous trip to Hong Kong, I had picked up some beauty storage containers, including this cute powder jar and puff from Sasa for a couple of dollars.

 

 

So, if you have dropped your powder like me, but want to keep using, here's what you do.

 

1. Get a powder jar & sifter set (Most Asian beauty stores have these cheaply)

2. Scrape the broken powder from the compact into a small container or bowl.

3. Using a suitable tool, crush the powder cake evenly until it becomes loose powder.

4. Transfer into the container, tapping the sides to settle the powder evenly.

 

Voila, your annoying broken powder cake is now a portable loose powder that you can carry around for touch ups :)

 

Environmentally AND purse friendly!

 

Oh and step 5? Try not to drop your next powder compact... ;)

Made For Me!

Regular readers will know that I have a bit of a weakness for O.P.I. nail polish and all their cute names. I've got about ten now, all in different shades & I'm trying to wear them more.

Recently in a magazine I saw that their new range, which is the Germany Collection, has a shade with my name in it. Of course it's on my want list! :P

I looked for it in duty free during my recent Melbourne trip, but they don't have it yet. I could have bought it in Auckland, but why do that when I can wait til it's in DF and get 2 for the price of one? F1rst Duty Free in Aussie airports has a pretty much permanent promotion: 2 O.P.I. colours for $25 ($35NZD in NZ) and it's valid even for Shatter, Base and Topcoats. The 4-pack minis go for about $20-25 a box. Not bad, really!! I'm also keeping an eye out for the Skyfall James Bond collection since they have some nice metallics and sparkles in there. Do you have a favourite shade?

 

My next purchase "Unfor-Greta-Bly Blue" :)

Glorious...

A little something I've been using a lot lately is the cutely-packaged and sweet smelling "Hand Food" by British brand Soap & Glory.

I'd used other products from their range before (mainly bath stuff) but not the hand cream. This one was actually a present from Sarah of Temporary Secretary, sent as part of a 'care package' that she posted to me full of lots of cute things!

The tube I have is in the handy travel size, and it really lasts quite awhile. I've been using it on nearly every flight since I got it a few months ago and it's only just started to run out.

The pros are it doesn't feel too greasy and you don't need a lot to get the job done. Some people who are sensitive to fragrance might not like the smell but then again that's true of most of the S&G range. However I find fragrance to be a bonus in my job as not only will it function as a hand cream but also as a 'stink shield' in the event of a smelly cabin; just a dab under my nose can get me through the worst clouds made onboard with a smile! ;P

Previously Soap & Glory was only available in the UK but I have since seen it sold at Sephora in the US and also in various locations in Oz. For my Dubai peeps who don't travel, you can buy it at most Boots outlets. (Keep an eye out for the 3-for-2 specials to get extra bang for your buck!)

June Empty- Fa Silk & Magnolia

I didn't get through many empties in June, given that I was off from work a lot and not using as many products as normal. So I only have one empty for this post, which is Fa Shower Cream.

To be honest I hate paying a lot for shower gels/creams since generally they mostly do the same thing and often aren't as moisturising as they claim. This one fits the bill nicely since it doesn't cost a lot and has a nice fragrance. It's a 'Cream & Oil' so you don't need much to get a nice lather. It's not wimpy lather either, feels nice and soapy and takes awhile to wash off completely. The fragrance is 'Silk & Magnolia'. It's fairly strong and leaves traces after you shower, which I like. Doesn't clash too much with perfume though. This actually reminds me of the old Dove Cherry Blossom Shower Creme Oil which I used to use back home, but haven't seen here.

Overall I like this product and have bought it again, gives a nice smell, lathers well and doesn't set me back the earth like other brands here might.

Cost: Dhs15 (About USD$4.10)

Gettin' Savvy

Good news, Priceline fans! (Why did I think of Professor Farnsworth just then?)

Anyway, if you are a Priceline addict like me, you'll be happy to know that the brand Savvy by DB is back in stock in stores. It disappeared off shelves last year, and I was sad it had gone until one of the store assistants told me that it was for re-branding and changing of packaging, not because it was being discontinued. (Which is what usually happens to products I like.)

Aside from work, I only wear lipstick occasionally. Usually it's nude or neutral tones rather than brights, though I have been experimenting with these lately as well. My first go-to shade was a Maybelline, but when it ran out and I bought a replacement in the US, I hated it because the texture was weird and it was so hard to put it on smoothly. It dragged at my lips and made them feel gross. Since I didn't buy it again I'm not sure if it was a one-off production error or if they had changed the formula.

Back to Savvy! I really like it as a range for basics, and to cheaply experiment with colour trends as everything in the range is under $15. Most things which are over $10 are brushes or kits. The makeup items are generally about $8 at the most for fancy eyeliners. I'd been using Savvy for work shades, but since the prices are so reasonable I decided to try out some colours I normally wouldn't.

My latest purchase is their standard lipstick in "Guava". It's slightly shimmery, peachy-pink leaning more toward the orange tones. Easy to put on and I love the colour; it really picks up my complexion and gives me a pop of colour. I'd always been shy of orange/peach tones because I always thought I had yellow undertones to my skin but to my surprise they actually really suit me. The day I bought it I got compliments from three shopgirls on it, so it's doing something right!

Now of course being a cut-price product it's not super glam like department store brands, but I really couldn't tell much difference between Savvy and say, Maybelline or Rimmel. The staying power isn't horrible but not super either, but I didn't expect that given it's not advertised as a long lasting. I do need to touch up if I drink out of a glass or eat something substantial but generally there is colour still left on my lips.

My only real gripe has been with past Savvy lipsticks; after some time in my handbag the lids have become loose and tended to fall off. Since this one has the new tube, I'll keep an eye out and see if it makes any difference.

For under $5 you really can't go wrong, especially if you love to try out colours you're unsure of. The range doesn't seem to get updated hugely often but the eye products do change enough that you'd find some variety. It's also good because you can find something you liked last season and want to buy again. Most girls would find at least one lipstick they like in the range, as there's some for all skin tones and range from neutrals to classic colours and neon brights.

Now if only I can work out how to stop my lipsticks breaking in the Dubai heat...! Feel free to post your tips below.

Savvy is available from Priceline stores, range may vary between locations. This product was purchased by me, all opinions and comments are my own.

Slow Day in Sydney

After all my grand plans to catch up on posts in Sydney, we have moved to a new hotel where sadly, there's no crew room with internet and no nearby McD's with free wifi for the cost of a cheeseburger ;)

I'm in my old haunt of Woolworth's using the internet cafe to catch up as there's only so much I can do using the browser on my 3DS or on my phone. So it's very timely that Skype have launched wifi for Skype, where at participating hotspots you can use your Skype credit to pay for time online with existing connections. Hop there's one near my new hotel.... :)

Unusually for me, I actually slept when I arrived. I intended only to sleep until the shops opened at 10, but ended up sleeping through until 2pm. Feeling very hungry I wandered to Pitt St mall where I was pretty sure that the Westfield there would be open. tucked into a cheese Kransky sausage & rustic potato wedges then browsed the shops. Sadly for me, Zara proved fruitless in my quest for the White Jacket in a medium (they told me last time I was here they'd get more size M, and if not then in a "few weeks") That was 3 weeks ago and now they tell me that they had no plans to get more in. Darn it! If I hadn't thought more sizes were coming in I would have just suffered with the size S. Oh well! If anyone has one and wants to sell it, drop me a line!

I dropped by Priceline to pick up a few things (mainly hair colour which was 50%- if you use L'Oreal Excellence Creme or the new Mousse one). The "Savvy by DB" stand is still sadly filled with all the unwanted shades of Orly nail laquer. Come back, Savvy, we miss you!!

Cruised by Dotti to eye off the dress I'd been wanting, but had disappeared from their online catalogue. Lucky I did, because it was on sale from $70 to $30. Score! I was in two minds between the size 10 and the 12, and while the 12 is a little big I figured I'd err on the side of caution as I'd rather it be too long than slightly too short for Dubai. There's always leggings of course but sometimes I like to wear just a dress. My penchant for dresses continues.

Still feeling in a shopping mood, I hit up Gloss Cosmetics (2x BYS blushes in Coral and Fierce Fuschia), Woolworths for groceries and stockings for work, and of course more chocolate. Violet Crumble block, I'm talking to you.

March Empty...

I've seen quite a lot of bloggers do posts about the empty jars & bottles of products they use up. I'd never bothered before but while cleaning out my bathroom recently I decided that I'd take a picture of the empties I found & do some posts about them.

This is a 'Premium Spa' Frangipani & Coconut Body Scrub which I bought from Priceline for $14.95.  I've actually been using this for about 3 years now. I know I've seen it for sale in a couple of other places, but not consistently, so Priceline would be your best bet. This is a large tub, but you can also get a travel-friendly size. When I'm next in Oz I plan to get the smaller size and refill it from my large tub to take when I go on work trips.

It's a nice consistency; not too rough but enough to do the job. It's thick enough and you can change it up if using in the shower depending on how wet your hands are when you apply. I tend to use this once or twice every week to two weeks, as a full body scrub- both with and without a brush.

The scent is gorgeous- I'm not usually a fan of coconut, or even strong frangipani smells on their own, but this combo is divine. It makes you feel like you're at the beach or just back from holidays.

The tub lasted ages- I brought the first one back with me shortly after moving to Dubai in 2010, and only bought a replacement tub last month. A little goes a long way- about a teaspoonful should be heaps for a leg/arm scrub, and a bit more if you like to use a lot.

Brand: Premium Spa

Jar Size: 500g/17.7oz

Verdict: Would purchase again. Great value scrub that lasts for ages.

(This review is my own opinion, product was purchased with my own money)

Product Review: Banila Hand Cream

On one of my trips to Korea, I ventured upon a cute cosmetics store called Banila Co. It was filled with the usual assortment of Asian cosmetics- bright blushes, an array of fruity smelling face creams, masks in sachets and an range of eye makeup in every colour of the rainbow.

One of my favourite finds was this hand cream, with the cute name of 'Give Me Your Hand'. I purchased the Redcurrant scent, but it also comes in two others which I can't recall at the moment.

Red-Currant Face Pack (Mask/Gel) & Hand Cream

The scent is amazing, and while the cream is slightly greasy feeling at first, if you control the amount used it sinks in very quickly and leaves hands quite soft. I would use this last, before trying to put on jewellery or other fiddly tasks. The scent is lovely but might be too sweet for some. It lasts awhile but not too long to be annoying. All in all I was very happy with this & would definitely buy it again. In fact, I bought the matching 'face pack' on my next visit.

How adorable is the packaging?

 

Sorry- ingredients are only listed in Korean

Currently listed for 8,000won (approx AUD$6.50 at current exchange rates) on the Banila Co website)

I'm not sure if they ship outside of Korea/Asia, but you could probably find this product in other online stores.

Dressing Table

I don't really have a "dressing table" as such- actually a desk & drawers in my room, but a few months back I bought a set of shelves for extra storage. Here's some of the things I have sitting on top to make it pretty :)

I like to display cute things in my room.

On the left I have (out of shot) an oil burner from the Body Shop & some of their fragrance oils. My favourite two are Strawberry & Satsuma, both hard to find in Oz. Next is my In Essence candle in 'Zanzibar', a very exotic African-inspired fragrance. I'd left this behind at home and regretted it, so brought it back with me when I went home on leave. These are normally about $40 but I got this one for $20 on clearance at Priceline.

Behind the candle are two ceramc birds I picked up in Turkey. One of my favourite colours is blue and I'd noticed a little theme starting to occur of both blue and birds, so I've been consciously adding to it since I noticed the little collection begin on its own. The framed picture is by Matou En Peluche, a Sydney based illustator who is also on Twitter. I love the whimsical designs & I've also got two of her Deco Girls which I'll post about later.

It's a little hard to see but under the picture is a small square porcelain box; this was bought in Shanghai & holds some small jewellery items. The Matryoshka doll is from my trip to Prague. My O.P.I. polishes already featured in another post; the box they are sitting on is a gorgeous game board purchased in Turkey which also deserves a post of its own. I had to haggle hard to get the price down but in the end I won, very happy with this purchase!

Far right are some fragrances; a French perfume from Fragonard, Benefit 'Your Place or Mine Gina', Elle by YSL EDP, Miss Dior Cherie, a mini Lanvin and a Korean hand cream. I'm planning to post reviews about the Fragonard perfumes and the hand cream at a later date.

Finally at front is my cheap but super cute tree-print necklace. I love this to death & call it my "Lord of the Rings" necklace as it makes me think of the tree carving on the entrance to Moria. Hope you enjoyed some of the cute things that make me smile.

Have you bought anything lately, just because it was cute? Leave a comment & tell me what you got! :)

O.P.I. Lineup

6 so far with probably more to come!

On my recent trip home I finally succumbed again to the temptation of the '2 for $25' offer in the Aussie duty free stores. I usually wistfully gaze at the basket of colourful polishes as I walk by toting my crew bag, but never stop to buy any. Red is very high maintenance for work and I used to think it was too much hassle to change the colour for days off. However, I'm lately back into my love of all things colourful, shiny and cosmetic. I picked up two new polishes on my arrival (one for my sister) and then again on my way back to Dubai- how indulgent!!

The lineup as follows L-R:

#NL H19 "Passion" Nude Pink
#NL G01 "Aphrodite's Pink Nightie" Shimmery Light Pink
#NL B31 "Flashbulb Fuschia" Metallic/Shiny Hot Pink
#NL R53 "An Affair In Red Square" Metallic Deep Red
#NL R54 "Russian Navy" (A cult OPI Shade) Dark Shiny Blue
#NL Z21 "The Color to Watch" Shimmery Blue/Purple

I also purchased "Shatter" in Black for my sister, as she always wears dark nails & loves to try new things. I also have my eye on "Melon Of Troy" and "Blush Pink". I've tried other polishes, and several friends have recommended me to try Essie polishes, but I really love the range of colour that O.P.I. has. If I'm good and do the proper maintenance, the colour seems to last quite well. My job is quite hard on the hands so some chipping is inevitable. I really must practice some more as my DIY manicures just never look as good as the ones done by someone else.

Do you have a favourite polish/colour? Which do oyu love but never think you'd wear?

Beauty Goodies & Why So Expensive?

This afternoon when I woke up from my post-flight nap, I was in the mood to tidy up my room, and settled on cleaning out some of the bags stored in my closet which contain some of the stash of goodies I've picked up on my travels. I just love buying makeup & beauty items, but being the hoarder that I am, I hardly ever actually get around to using most of them. It's such a shame because there's some really great items out there.

Beauty haul!! :)

Being that I'm pretty much a novice at anything complicated when it comes to applying makeup, my current range is pretty limited and I don't really get too adventurous with my makeup. I decided that I will have a little giveaway soon of some products. Since I saw today that my blog has 41 followers, once it gets to 50 then I will have a giveaway. I have three lots of items planned for giveaways so there will certainly be more coming if I can get my blog revamped and a bit more interest in it.

In the photo above, the row of nail polishes at the bottom is a local brand I picked up in Bangkok called I-Hana. I hadn't seen them before so I took the chance to grab a few. The range of colours was amazing from glitter polishes to metallics and even matte pastels. Wish I'd thought to take a photo of the table setup as everything was in colour-spectrum order and it looked really cool! These six are marked for giveaways or gifts for friends but I will definitely be picking up some for myself next visit so I can try them for myself and see how good they are.

Other items in the photo include a Heroine Make (Japanese) mascara I've been wanting to try for ages, cute animal-shaped hand cream pots from Etude House (Korea), my regular CoverGirl foundation and Nivea moisturiser and my two newest O.P.I. polishes. I love that you can get 2 for $25 in duty free in Aussie airports, when normally they retail between $20-25 each in Australia.

I really do think that we pay far too much for makeup in Australia; I didn't know any better until I visited the US where I bought a NARS blush for $26, and my sister's MAC foundation for the same price. Both retail for well over $65 in Oz and I cannot find a decent reason why that should be the case! Importing products does not cost THAT much that things should cost double to triple the price in certain countries. Anyone know why this is the case, I'd love to find out! Luckily for me, I can travel often enough that I can stock up and save when I go to the US.

What foreign products do you love but don't buy because of the markup in Australia?