Lust Have It Women's Box - April 2014

Hello lovelies!

Welcome to my review on the April 2014 Lust Have It women's pack.

Ok, so I know we're in May, but May is in fact the month in which I received my April pack. LHI have recently changed their wording of their boxes from 'box' to 'pack', as they are now sending out our 'boxes' in cute little re-usable cosmetics bags.

This was my first LHI Women's pack, so let's jump straight in and see what I got this month!

Firstly, here is a picture of all the items together, including the cosmetics bag (which my 4 year old son has stolen for his own collection of sample moisturising creams that I don't want, and other little things he likes to collect!)

The first product is the Glamourflage Lip/Cheek Stain. Full size (8ml) RRP: $21.95.

Recently LHI have been giving their subscribers the chance to 'choose what they want in their packs'. This month (well, April) the choice was between this lip/cheek stain or the Glamourflage primer. Obviously I chose the lip/cheek stain. My mum did choose the primer, and she's been raving about it!

Um, look at this packaging. Just look at it. Just admire its beauty!!! How gorgeous is it?! ARGH! I love it! Although I haven't had the opportunity to use this product all day as of yet, I have given it a small test run and I must say I'm in LOVE!! The brush applicator is going to take a little getting used to, but I can see with some practice I'll get the hang of it! The colour is gorgeous and you only need a little to go a long way. It does take a little while to dry when you apply it to your lips, and it is a little bit sticky, but not as sticky as lip gloss! (I really dislike the stickiness of lip gloss!). I can't wait to wear this all day and test it's staying power!! In my line of work I'd just look silly turning up to work in a full face of makeup, so I don't wear it often, but I have tomorrow off so I might just have to, to use this!

Top: One swipe with applicator brush
Bottom: blended

The second product is the Claytime Australia Bronzer - 3 grams RRP: $29.95

Now, this has been the controversial product this month! And what a controversy it has caused!! If you are a member of LHI, you may remember in early April they advertised that every subscriber would be receiving a full size Claytime Australia bronzer valued at $29.95. What we in fact received was this 3gm size (the Claytime Australia website has the bronzer at 7gms). Suddenly, people flooded LHI's facebook page with questions as to why LHI advertised a full size when we obviously received a sample. LHI, in conjunction with Claytime Australia, released a statement today on their facebook page explaining what happened. You can click here to go to their facebook page to read the statement in full, however the basics of it states that this 3gm pot is a limited edition, made especially for LHI members and it will be available on the LHI online store for purchase, at the price of $29.95. There have been mixed responses to this review. Personally, I don't believe a word of it.

But enough of the controversy, and back to the bronzer. Firstly, I love the pot it's in. There's just something about this little acrylic square pots that I adore!! It's so cute and pretty!
I have not had the pleasure of learning exactly what to do with a bronzer as yet! But I'm learning! I really like the colour of this bronzer and I like the small shimmer it has to it. Some have suggested it would make a nice eyeshadow and I'm really keen to test it out as an eyeshadow. It seems to blend nicely when I swatched it on my hand, so I'm pretty excited to give this a a go (regardless of the controversy, yes I'm annoyed at the seemingly false advertising on LHI part, but what's done is done and I'm pretty excited to try this product. I can see how a little goes a long way and I know this will last me forever).

Next we have Aveeno daily moisturising lotion - 29ml sample size received RRP for 354ml full size $12.99 (on Priceline website).

I didn't like it. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.
(Who knows which movie I'm quoting here?? Hehe! You were definitely a teenage girl in the late 90's if you know! Lol).

I have received this sample before, in a LHI eco box. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. It's so sticky!! Moisturisers shouldn't be this sticky. It has no fragrance, but all it seemed to do was leave my hands sticky. I didn't feel it moisturised my skin at all. Not a fan is all I can say.




Next on the list, are the Wot Not Organic facial wipes (for oily skin). 5 wipes sample pack received. RRP for 25 wipes $7.95

Ok, so I've receive the pink facial wipes before, the ones for sensitive skin. I was so excited when I first received the pink ones as I have stupid, off this plant, sensitive skin on my face (not to mention it's as dry as the dessert!), but I HATED them!! I know there are a lot of you gorgeous gals out there who love and swear by these wipes, but I really dislike them. After I use one, my face feels like it's got an oily gross film over it. Ugh! I have to wash my face after I used them. I can't stand them. I'm using up the pack I have already opened for when I swatch make up on my hand, because I don't want to 'waste' my beautiful Simple brand facial wipes, that I love so dearly!
So considering these are 1) for oily skin and; 2) from a brand I've already tried and disliked, these won't be getting used by me. I know my mum has oily skin, so I'll see if she wants them....

And last, but not least we have Bioderma Atoderm Creme. 15ml sample received. RRP for 200ml $29.95

"An ultra-rich moisturising and restructuring daily barrier cream for dry and sensitive skins." Whoa, that's a big statement. Coming from someone who has very, very, very, very (x infinity) dry and sensitive skin, I'm hoping this is the little tube of ultimate miraculous wonder cream that I've been searching for my whole life! And it better be for the price being double what I pay now for my little miracle in a bottle (I have been using my daily cream now for years and years and it's the only one I've found in my 30 years on this planet that actually helps to soothe the dry itchiness and doesn't burn my face skin off!) I stood in my bathroom this morning looking at my normal daily moisturiser thinking to myself "I'm sure I got something recently that I really wanted to try.....what was that????" eventually I had to give up trying to remember or I was going to be late for work....but now I remember!! I will be trying this out over the next few days and will update on my thoughts!

So, there we have it. The ups and downs of a little bag of Lust Have It. Leaving aside the controversy surrounding the bronzer, I was happy with this bag. But probably because it was my first one and I was able to use the $5 off for my first bag code. I wouldn't have been annoyed if LHI had've corrected their error when they found out about the bronzer, and I'm sure a lot of people are in the same boat. But either way, I'm happy. But not sure if I'm happy enough to continue receiving these packs.........but I have heard rumours of a full size product that is supposed to be in the May packs that I'd love to get....so I really don't know what I'm going to do. Stay tuned I guess, to see if another review comes your way! Lol.

But, until then, stay smiling and let me know below what you thought of your LHI bag (and if you were bothered by the bronzer debacle or not??).

Love,

Me x

*Note - I paid for this box out of my own money. I was not paid or compensated in any way for this review. All opinions are my own, unbiased opinions.*

Violet Box - April 2014

Welcome to my review of the April (2014) edition of Violet Box!

In case you aren’t sure what Violet Box is, it is a monthly Australian beauty box subscription service. It costs $22.95 per month. You can use the code VIOLETBOX10 to get $10 off your first box!

Now, let’s get to the fun part - what I got in my April VB! :)

First, here is a photo of all the products together. As you can see, it was an excellent box this month!

Villainess Soaps Dulces En Fuego Whipped! body crème. Sample (not sure of how much).

Full size 170g $15.

Oh my goodness!!!! This stuff smells seriously amazing! I have tried their soap in this scent before, however this body crème is so much better! The description says; “Musky bitter chocolate sweetened with vanilla and touches of citrus then positively inflamed with black pepper and nutmeg. It has a heavy moisture content for your dry skin”. I can say I definitely smell chocolate! As soon as I opened it, I could tell the scent had to do with chocolate (before I even read the description!) It actually smells like a mixture of chocolate and nutmeg. It’s thick and very creamy! I love it! I will definitely be purchasing the full size product!

Bioderma Crealine H2O. Sample, 20ml.

Full size 100ml $19.95, 250ml $29.95, 500ml $39.95

The product card states: “a very gentle fragrance free micellar solution that cleanses impurities and removes make-up while respecting the skin’s natural balance.”

I haven’t given this a try yet. I actually needed some make-up remover last night and completely forgot I had this! Instead I used my ‘simple’ brand facial wipes (which I love). It’s true in that it has no fragrance at all (or maybe it’s just because all I can smell is that divine Villainess body crème on my hand! Lol). It just feels like water when I put a little on my other hand. Maybe it is just a little bottle of water?? Either way, I will be giving this a go for sure and will update on what I thought when I do!

Cedel Scented Hairspray, ‘Coconut Bay’ – Full size 100g $4.99

Wow!! Who knew you could get scented hairspray?? Not me! I’ve never liked the smell of normal hairspray, but I’ve put up with it for many years because....well, I didn’t think I had a choice! But I did always try and buy the one that had the least offending smell! That’s a thing of the past now! As I said above, I got ‘Coconut Bay’, and that’s exactly how it smells....like coconut! It’s like a fresh summer day in your hair! This is great now that we’re coming into winter! We’ll be able to relive the memories of summer, until we meet again!

I’ve only used a little, and it seemed to have a good hold, but I wouldn’t say it’s ‘extra firm’ as stated on the can (that could be though because I don’t use a lot. Maybe if I sprayed a crap load in my hair, it would hold better. But I guess that’s the case with any product you use. If the can states ‘extra firm’ I wouldn’t expect to have to use a lot to get that). It’s nice to get the occasional waft of coconut throughout the day! Much better than a nose-full of normal hairspray smell!! This can should last me a while, as I don’t use hairspray that often, but when I run out I’ll definitely be buying more to keep in the cupboard! I might try one of the other scents ‘Oriental Blossom’ or ‘Raspberry Punch’.  Mmmmmm......

Be a Bombshell eyeliner – Espresso. Full size (3ml) $19.00

Espresso, just as it sounds, is brown. Honestly I was a little confused at first if they meant brown, or black. I have no idea why....maybe because I don’t drink coffee and I don’t wear eyeliner....so mix the two together, and you have me lost! Haha. I have organised a swap for this product though with another girl you did get black, so I won’t be using this one.

And last but definitely not least.....

Teeez Trend Cosmetics Chain of Stones Nail Polish. ‘Pretty in Pyrite’ Full size $15.00

This is the product everyone was excited to get! For those of us Aussies who subscribe to the American subscription box ‘Lip Factory’, we had been recently introduced to this brand through them. I have one of their lipsticks and their mascara. Their mascara is a favourite mascara of mine, and their lipstick is the most gorgeous shade of red I’ve even seen! But, back to the nail polish! As I said, this is in the colour ‘Pretty in Pyrite’. It’s like a gold glitter. I really liked this colour as it is very pretty, but then I saw the other colour some of the subscribers received and suddenly I was on a mission to find someone who wanted to swap with me! I did to find someone, and our nail polishes are now in transit to one another! Once I get the ‘melted copper’ nail polish, I will post a review!

In all, this was a fabulous box!! I really liked everything in it and I think it was great value for money! Three full size products (totalling $39.00) and two generous sized samples! If I had to pick a favourite product this month, I’d probably have to say the Villainess Whipped! body creme. However, I will have to wait until I receive the Teeez nail polish I’ve swapped for. Because that may become my favourite! I think this is my fourth VB and I have to say, I am yet to be disappointed! I have loved every box I've received! Even though VB is one of the more expensive of the beauty box subscriptions available in Oz, I would have to say they are definitely worth it! 

Do you subscribe to VB? What did you think of this month? I'd love to hear your comments or opinions below. (Not only of what you thought of VB, but also of my review! I've only just started and this is my first beauty box review! I'd love to know what you thought! :))

Love, 

Me x

*Note - I paid for this box out of my own money. I was not paid or compensated in any way for this review. All opinions are my own, unbiased opinions.*

My once in a lifetime..Up close and personal with Kato the tiger!

Hi!

Today, I had one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life. I had the exclusive privilege of getting up close and personal with Kato the tiger at Symbio Wildlife Park. 

Symbio Wildlife Park is near Wollongong in NSW. I had never been to this wildlife park before today. I was able to encounter this magnificent creature so close, because I won a competition through Symbio's facebook page for an "Exclusive behind the scenes encounter with a tiger". They don't normally do these kinds of things with the public. This was a once off experience. I was one of two lucky winners. 

I went to the park with my 4 year old son and my mum. We had such a great day! Symbio are renovating their park at the moment, which means some things are closed right now, but my mum, my son and I are planning to go back in a few months when everything is complete! It should look fantastic! They have all sorts of animals there, including; tigers, koalas, tasmanian devils, echidnas, kangaroos, cassowaries, ilamas, dingoes, meerkats.....and the list goes on!

Tigers have always been my favourite animal. For as long as I can remember. My bedroom walls were covered in tiger posters when I was growing up, and I was forever reading about them and trying to learn everything I could! 

Today, I was told that it's expected that by 2020 there will be none of these beautiful creatures left in the wild. This makes me profoundly sad. How could we, the human race, let this happen?? To any species?? It's revolting. We are the ones who put them in this dire situation and now, we are the only ones who can save them. 

Symbio have three tigers at their wildlife park. Two of which are part of the international breeding program, designed to try and sustain tigers for the next 100 years. In captivity at least. I fear it's almost to late to save them from extinction in the wild. 

Below are some photo's from my incredible, once in a lifetime experience! A huge thank you to Symbio Wildlife Park and a huge thank you to Kato, for being so sweet and such a gentleman. You are an amazingly beautiful tiger and it was truly an honour to have met you. I will remember you fondly for the rest of my life. 

Enjoy! xx

Kato