So the other day, I headed over to my drugstore makeup stockists to pick up some discounted products after perusing catalogues online. It's time I infused my collection with some new assortment!
In this post, I'll be sharing with you the contents of my haul and a little review on the products, where applicable.
I bought from two sources, the
Chemist Warehouse and my local
Coles.
I concluded this haul with a purchase from
Ebay.
The haulage:
From the Chemist Warehouse, I picked up the new fragrance from Miss Spears,
Britney Spears Island Fantasy (EDT) in 100 mL for a very reasonable $24.99. I had no intention of purchasing this beforehand but after a few quick whiffs and getting the friend's approval, I added this to my basket.
This beautiful summer scent is a "fruity floral" and marks the first EDT from the brand. "A potion of succulent fruits and colourful blossoms, evoking warm sunshine, ocean breezes and glittering beaches" in a gorgeous gradient green - blue bottle encrusted with diamond - like gems.
Definitely a "mouthwatering mix of citrus cocktail, mandarin, clementine, watery melon and red fruits intertwines with refreshing floral notes of jasmine, freesia and violet. A surprising finish of soft musky undertones and sugar cane makes the tantalising aroma carefree, flirty and feminine, just like Britney". If the aforementioned description didn't perk your interest then this fragrance might not be the one for you. Similarly, if you're not a enthusiast of fruity floral fragrances (especially the fragrances associated with the
Fantasy line), then the same may be applicable to you.
I do find this fragrance a bit citrus-y sweet; it doesn't suit the Winter months (obviously). However, I do love spritzing this fragrance in my room just to elevate my spirits and of course, alleviate the winter blues. The name of the fragrance is most fitting; this will be great, applied in the summer months, especially when you're prancing at the beach.
I picked up three of the
Maybelline Color Show® nail lacquers for $2.99 each.
Initially there was a plethora of colours and shades present but I came in a week after the sale and I managed to pick up the colours seen in the above image:
Iced Queen (deep lavender),
Born With It (profoundly pale pink), and
Impeccable Greys (creamy dark grey) for the cooler months. I can't comment on the formula or the performance of the polishes, but I must pronounce that I experienced a tad of difficulty in opening the bottles due to its design. The lids are of similar measurements and design as the bottle! I am most accommodated to lids that differ to the design of the bottle - providing a "grip" enabling easy opening of the product.
(click to enlarge)
The last beauty product I picked up from the Chemist Warehouse is the
L'Oréal Elvive Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Serum. I couldn't resist this product, considering it was discounted at more than half priced ($5, RRP $10.99). I've finished this oil-based serum months ago and replaced with it
L'Oréal's
Elvive Extraordinary Oil. I prefer the fragrance in
Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Serum to the
Extraordinary Oil. Both work great on damp or dry hair - they both smooth the frizz (especially the ends) and inject a boost of nourishment to achieve healthy looking hair! I must comment I'm very partial to the packaging of the
Extraordinary Oil, a luxurious orange-brown glass bottle with a pump! I highly recommend both of these oils if you're seeking a cheaper alternative to those relatively expensive hair oils or a conditioning treatment for that frizz!
NB:
L'Oréal Elvive Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Serum contains argan oil whilst
L'Oréal Elvive Extraordinary Oil contains six precious flower oils.
After the passing of a few days, I made my way over to Coles - my destination for the weekly groceries. Whilst shopping there I discovered (with immense jubilance) the
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant nail glosses (two for $7 deal)! Initially, the double entendre-incorporated claim caught my attention, "Dare to go topless with our new nail polish formula that combines a base coat, high gloss colour, and a chip-resistant top coat in one simple step". Succumbing to my inner audacity, I picked up two polishes, a bit overwhelmed by the "challenge" of not using a top coat (or a base coat!).
The polishes I picked up are:
(We're going to go out for some Midnight Magic!)
(holding onto the handle of my frying pan!)
320 Midnight Magic - playful micro-glitters (blue, green, gold, purple) immersed in a beautiful charcoal base with a blue undertone. Upon application, this polish may produce a glittery or metallic effect depending on the lighting. This is definitely a favourite of mine! So far I'm loving it; you only need two generous coats for an opaque finish (I used three) to achieve the desired look. Love the pigmentation, formula and the finished look! Surprise, surprise, I did avoid getting those stained nails albeit I did not use a base coat! I highly recommend these "nail glosses"and I will be purchasing some more shades from this range in future.
295 Out of the Blue - a creamy bright blue shade! I haven't tried these on myself yet but this looks stunning on the sister's nails!
As well as shopping instore, I do shop via other methods. Some may classify me as an avid online shopper; such classification does possess verisimilitude.
One of my favourite places to shop online is the notorious Ebay!
I purchased the
L'Oréal Nude Magique BB Blush (Universal Rosy Blush) for around $12 AUD from a UK seller, after trying it out in Priceline (RRP $22.95). My initial thoughts when I first encountered this product was "why is this entitled as a BB blush?" I recognise BB as an abbreviation for "blemish balm" or "beauty balm" and is mostly associated with facial day creams. I hold the presumption that most will accept the purpose of applying BB creams are for its skincare benefits and coverage of blemishes. So naturally, I was intrigued by the title of this blush!
The blush comes in a really small tube (15 mL) but a small product goes a long way! Less is more!
Be surprised as this product dispenses out as a transparent silicone-based gel (with a hint of pink) that reacts with your skin to produce a perfectly suited rosy colour! Consequently, a nice healthy flush is achieved! For those who aren't interested in being recruited to join the circus, you don't have to fret if you apply too much stuff on! I've discovered that the product applied does reaches it's pigmentation threshold and further application can diminish and tone down the colour upon your skin! Perfect!
This product lasts quite a bit on my cheeks and I will definitely repurchase once finished using it (which won't be until a very long time!). Oh, and by the way, this product is definitely guilty by association; I don't think there are any skincare benefits with product usage (it's time to give the "BB" the boot!).
And that concludes my haul!
I hope you enjoyed this post! I would love to read your comments - on your thoughts on the products I featured; have you tried any of these products before? What was your experience like?
Don't be shy!
Oh, and apologies for the inconsistency in the photos produced. I hope you didn't mind them!
Until next time, have a great day everyone!
