Review: Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy

Who doesn't love freebies that come with magazines? When I found out that Women's Weekly magazine came with two Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy creams when purchased from Coles, I couldn't resist and had to give them a try! Valued at $24 for two 25g tubes, they were worth paying only $8 for- and I was lucky and received the Rosewater and Pomegranate Argan and Grapeseed creams- the others that were available were La Source and Citron.

Love the packaging

The Crabtree & Evelyn Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy is described as an intensive conditioning cream formulated with shea butter, macadamia nut oil and botanical ingredients which moisturise and soften hands, nails and cuticles. I was so excited to try these hand creams out as I had heard that Crabtree & Evelyn make excellent products so I was really happy that I could try these out for a great price. It couldn't come at a better time either, since I was looking into buying L'Occitane's Cherry Blossom hand cream which is very similar to Crabtree's Hand Therapy! The packaging between these are also very similar which I just love, and formulations are just beautiful.

I have tried many different hand creams, and I know what I like to look for in them- something that absorbs instantly and doesn't leave any residue or greasiness, as well as having a nice scent or being unscented. This literally removes most drugstore hand creams (except the QV Hand Cream which I love) as many of them are sticky and greasy which I absolutely hate. I try to love the Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula Hand Cream but it is just too thick and greasy- although it is amazing at softening my hands (I might do a review on it sometime!).

The Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy creams are excellent. Just like the L'Occitane hand cream formulations, it absorbs very well and doesn't leave any greasiness behind! I'm not a big fan of rose scented products but since the formula of the hand cream is so beautiful, I really can't complain. The Pomegranate Argan and Grapeseed is definitely my favourite, the scent is just lovely and refreshing. I love how the tubes are small and are a great size for the handbag- although I believe that you can only purchase it in the 50g tube or 250g pump.

Overall, I like these hand creams. Crabtree have done a great job for the packaging, which is luxurious looking; as well as having a formulation which sinks very well into the skin, moisturising the hands. Using these Hand Therapy creams along with my Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is just heaven to my hands!

Did you take advantage of this freebie with the magazine? Have you tried Crabtree & Evelyn Hand creams before?

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Review: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick

Sometimes a deal is just too good to ignore, even if it is for something we don't really need! Not only did I come across a "buy one get one free" offer for Revlon lip and nail products, I got my staff discount of 25% off on top of that! Needless to say, I walked out with two lovely lipsticks in hand at 63% off each (you don't get better than this for products that aren't discontinued!) from Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick range. After a long time swatching and admiring the amazing 48 different shades on offer, I decided to get Peach Me and Blushing Nude.

L-R: Peach Me, Blushing Nude

Shiny black packaging, so simple yet elegant

Before settling on Peach Me and Blushing Nude, the other shades I was contemplating on were Demure, Soft Suede, Teak Rose, Apricot Fantasy and Blushing Mauve (okay that listing was unnecessary but oh well...) but they all looked very similar to each other, moreso than the two I chose. If only I could afford to buy all these gorgeous shades!

Described as a lipstick enriched with moisturisers Aloe and Vitamin E which has a formula that seals in rich, luscious stay-true colour- I knew I wouldn't be disappointed with Revlon's Super Lustrous lipsticks. MakeupAlley averages reviews of a rating 4.3/5 which is amazing and on Beautyheaven a full 5 stars!

On application these lipsticks glided on like a charm, even with dry lips, and is much more moisturising than Rimmel's Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipstick which I reviewed here. Staying power is good, about a couple of hours too with eating and drinking in between. But what impresses me the most is the huge selection of shades on offer which are all absolutely gorgeous and appear flattering on me (perhaps not including Va Va Violent, a very scary and intimidating dark purple).

Peach Me

Blushing Nude

Yes, these two shades do look quite similar in the bullet but I swear they aren't! At least I didn't get the Soft Suede shade which is nearly identical to Blushing Nude. Peach Me has a pearl finish while Blushing Nude boasts a beautiful creme finish- and the pearl lipsticks do not look frosty or glittery at all which is amazing! I absolutely love the formulation of the Super Lustrous lipsticks as it is creamy with beautiful colour payoff!

L-R: Peach Me, Blushing Nude

Now you can see the difference between these shades! Peach Me is just like its name- a peachy orange shade that surprisingly looks more pink on the lips; and Blushing Nude a modest rosy pink that I convince myself that it doesn't look anything like my 07 in Rimmel's Kate Moss lipstick range... hehe.

I haven't really been a lipstick girl until quite recently, as I had never been able to find shades that flatter my skintone and lipsticks which have a lovely formulation- but the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick has changed this! Even after purchasing a Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter and reading many praises about it, I wasn't completely "wowed" with it. The Super Lustrous range just works and I think I might indulge in a few more shades...

Have you tried the Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks? What shades do you have?

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Review: Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

I'm so sick and tired of dealing with awful nails and cuticles lately- the condition of mine have been dry and uncomfortably sore. What is even worse is that my cuticles are dry to the point of peeling- yuck! At work I stumbled across the Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and had a quick try of the tester available and fell in love! I didn't buy it instantly but I did go home and did a little search online about this cuticle cream. Having won Beautyheaven's Best Nail Treatment in its Best in Beauty Awards 2012, and having many 5 star reviews to boast about, I knew that this little tin of lemon butter cream would be worth every cent of the $14.95 I paid.

Waxy consistency

Presented in a small vintage styled tin, its simple packaging is attractive and easy to use. I was greeted with a "lemon butter" fragrance as I opened it which reminded me of lemon cheesecake, which was quite refreshing! Despite being called a "cream", the product inside is quite firm and waxy, similar to a balm.

The Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is described as an intensive, natural treatment to nourish and moisturise the nails and cuticles, with a touch of lemon oil to make the nails smell incredible clean, healthy and beautiful. Vitamin E and rosemary leaf oil are to help condition the skin and assist with its repair while beeswax helps to seal in moisture, protecting the cuticles and nails from drying out. Sounds exactly like what I need!

100% natural, no animal testing and certified natural!

I've never had a good experience with a cuticle cream before- the only time I have used one was in a cheap nail kit I received as a Christmas gift some five or so years ago. It was a cream, and the scent was just overpowering and smelled of powder which was not pleasant! Needless to say I never used it again (it didn't even help with my cuticles). However the Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is a different story. Non-greasy, absorbs instantly into the skin and does exactly what it claims it does! Just the right amount of product is picked up after swiping the waxy product with my index finger, and is lovely to apply- not much is needed as it is quite concentrated. The discomfort I had with my peeling cuticles was relieved- I couldn't even achieve this with a very thick hand cream! Just after one day of applying this cuticle cream, my cuticles and surrounding nail bed have never looked and felt better!  Here is a before and after shot after just one application of the cuticle cream (please excuse the awkwardness of my hand):

 You can definitely see a difference, even after just one application! I am very happy with this purchase (I seem to be quite happy with my recent purchases as of yet which is good) and have to say, I didn't really expect much from this humble tin of lemon butteriness. It has been very enjoyable to apply and the refreshing lemon scent doesn't hurt either and my cuticles are in a much better condition now!

Have you tried the Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream before? How about other cuticle/nail creams?

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Review: Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick

When I come across reviews on a certain product over and over again, it makes me want it just that little bit more. I guess it is exactly how advertising works- the more you see something, the more familiar you are with it and the more likely you are going to purchase it! Well, this was the case with the Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick. After hearing so many great things about its formulation, longevity, finish, selection of shades and even its scent- I knew it was something I had to try. 

Lipstick in Shade 07

In  a bed of floral patterns! Haha

I picked this up with 50% off its full price, so it only cost around $6! To be honest, I wasn't intending to purchase this but being at half price was definitely the factor that swayed me to buying it. I love how its matte black packaging looks sleek and simple but doesn't feel too cheap either. It is definitely nothing super fancy, but it is quite nice- and I'm a sucker for nice packaging.

I had no clue what shade to choose, but I decided on Shade 07 after swatching a few different shades instore, however I was choosing between 07 and 14. Shade 14 was a little more nude/beige-like, so I decided against it, in the fear it would not be wearable on my lips! Shade 07 is a natural pink colour, leaning almost to a salmon pink in the bullet. Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipsticks are described as having a unique formula with "light-reflecting power" to add depth to your pout and having a lasting finish.

The shade looks slightly nude!

Application was a breeze, it was smooth to apply and I love its semi-matte formula! Matte formulas are much too drying on the lips and require the lips to have been prepped with exfoliation prior to application; and the shiny/sheen finished (haha what is the proper name for the lipsticks with finishes opposite to matte...) lipsticks are much too glossy on my lips and tend to exaggerate the yellowness of my teeth (sob!). Shade 07 was beautiful and perfect! It was a "my lips but better" shade which was a surprise! I didn't expect my lips to have been such a light shade but I am so happy with the colour choice. In terms of longevity, I didn't find it to last that long, maybe only a couple of hours at the maximum however it wasn't too much of a deal for me as I would happily apply this lovely lipstick!

I've taken a picture of a swatch I have done, but somehow I still can't manage to take beautiful photos of swatches like some people can- so have a look here at a much better version of 07, and a few other shades too!

Looks slightly more darker and orange-like than in real life

Was the Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick worth all the great reviews? Definitely! I wasn't disappointed at all (which I usually am after reading lots of reviews) and love its formulation and shade selection. A great buy as well, especially if you take advantage of a 50% offer!

Have you tried the Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipsticks? What shades do you have and what do you think?

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Review: Korres Smoky Bronze Antioxidant Eye Collection

I swear I wasn't meant to write about Korres products in two posts in a row but I've been too lazy to take pictures of my other recent buys! One day as I was browsing through StrawberryNET I came across what I thought was a great deal- an eye collection by Korres which included two eyeshadows, a small tube of mascara and an eyeliner pencil. I kept telling myself that I did not need this collection but I convinced myself that $10 for 4 products was great value. So there it was, this Korres Smoky Bronze Antioxidant Eye Collection was in my shopping cart.

The Korres Smoky Bronze Antioxidant Eye Collection ft. my floral t-shirt :)

Sunflower and Evening Primrose Eyeshadow in Brun and Bronze Brown
The two eyeshadows in this collection were from the Sunflower and Evening Primrose range- a velvety, easy to apply pressed eyeshadow with sunflower and evening primrose oils that care for the delicate eye area. The two shades I got were Brun and Bronze Brown.

L-R: Brun, Bronze Brown

The retail price of these cute eyeshadows are $29.95 a pop in Australia, from kitcosmetics, so I must say I am very pleased with the price I paid for the eye collection with these in it! The photo above I have to admit is quite misleading, the colours of the eyeshadows are a little off and I tried my best to capture their true shade but it was difficult given the lighting- but both these shades appear much lighter than they actually are. The texture was nice, no fall out and easy to apply. In terms of pigmentation, they were just decent, nothing really amazing.

L-R: Bronze Brown, Brun

L-R: Brun, Bronze Brown single swatch- a better representation of the colours. Also forgive me for this bad photo, I am yet to master taking pictures of swatches!

The Brun shade actually worked well as an eyebrow filler, the colour was perfect for my eyebrows! I quite like Bronze Brown as it is a nice wearable, neutral shade. The formulation is nice, albeit I wouldn't spend $29.95 on them.

Provitamin B5 & Rice Bran Mascara 3.55mL in Black
I have far too many mascaras to be used but a small travel sized one will always entice me! Described as an easy-to-layer, creamy mascara for volume, extra length with provitamin B5 and rice bran to to strengthen the lashes and intensify the colour for a rich finish, who could resist? The full size of 9mL retails in kitcosmetics for $35.95.

Simple brush

To be honest I haven't tried this mascara yet as I have quite a few others to finish off first. I have a feeling it might not be anything special, but don't take my word for it until I try it.

Eyeliner Pencil in Black
Last item from the Antioxidant Eye Collection is the smooth cedar wood pencil. The key ingredients are 100% natural based, rich with herbs and vitamins with a lead diameter of 4mm. This surprisingly retails for $29.95 from kitcosmetics and I'm definitely face-palming at the ridiculously inflated Australian prices for cosmetics. From an instant look, I knew I wouldn't be too fond of this eyeliner- purely because traditional eyeliner pencils smudge like mad on me, no matter how much primer I put on beforehand and however much I surround it with concealer.

Simple black eyeliner pencil

After a trial, I indeed was right. Smudged like crazy and gave me panda eyes all day. Disappointing, and to think this eyeliner is retailing for basically $30 is insane! Application was terribly, dragged across my eyelid and pigmentation was mediocre. Nothing really good to say about this eyeliner. A much better option for a black eyeliner choice would be the Revlon's Grow Luscious Lash Liner which is absolutely creamy, super pigmented, doesn't smudge and retails for $23.95 which definitely can be cheaper if you buy it on offer.

Despite being on the fence about buying this Smoky Bronze Antioxidant Eye Collection, and the disappointing eyeliner pencil that was included, I am still quite satisfied with the purchase as the eyeshadows make the $10 I paid for (an otherwise quite expensive collection) worthwhile.

Have you tried any of these Korres products? Any tips that I can do to make the eyeliner pencil work?

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Review: Korres Lip Butters

I finally got my hands on the much coveted Korres Lip Butters about a month ago from StrawberryNET- a trio pack with the shades Mango, Pomegranate and Guava. After seeing many reviews praising these little pots of buttery goodness, I just had to have them!

Retailing for $18.95 in Australia, I definitely wasn't too eager to pay that much for one small pot of lip butter no matter how great people said it was. I had a look around, and considered the $11.90 price for each pot from asos. But luckily I did pick up a great offer from StrawberryNET and got these three for $18!

L-R: Pomegranate, Guava, Mango

Described as a buttery lip balm that melts on the lips, the Korres Lip Butters offer a beautiful tinted finish,  hydration and a healthy shine. Each flavour has its own individual scent and colour which I love! The whole range includes Quince, Wild Rose, Jasmine, along with the three I have, Pomegranate, Guava and Mango.  My favourite from the trio I have are Mango and Guava, and then Pomegranate. This is probably mainly because of its butteriness- Mango and Guava seem to be much more thicker in texture and melt into the lips much better than the Pomegranate which I find quite strange! These lip butters definitely moisturise the lips well and lasts quite well. In terms of scent, Mango wins, but I quite love the scent of Guava too- it doesn't smell like guava, but a vanilla-like scent. Poor neglected Pomegranate! I absolutely love the cute packaging of the lip butters too- adorable little pots- although I agree with everyone else that it is not very hygienic to use (imagining dunking dirty fingers into it, ew!).

Mmm buttery, colourful goodness

Guava- smells like vanilla!

Mango- smells like mango! :P

The Pomegranate hadn't been touched yet in this photo!

In terms of colour pay off, I wasn't really expecting much and was not too fussed about it. Guava provides a creamy sheen to the lips; Mango, a beautiful coral colour; and Pomegranate, a pretty pink. I would have loved to have the Jasmine lip butter too (a sheer pink) but I think three of these lip butters are enough for now!

Overall, I am very happy with these Korres Lip Butters. They deliver creaminess and a nice sheen to the lips, while keeping them hydrated as well as smell amazing! It doesn't hurt that they are in cute little pots which are presented beautifully too. Another plus side is that Korres makes products which are environmentally friendly and have formulations based on natural ingredients. I was so impressed with these beautiful lip butters that I went and purchased the Korres Lip Butter Glazes which I will review soon, keep an eye out for it!

Have you tried the Korres Lip Butters? How about other products from the Korres range?

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Review: Australis 10 Hour Wear Pencil & Colour Inject Gloss

Australis products are definitely becoming more popular with quality that doesn't disappoint! Not long ago I was lucky enough to win a Colour Inject Gloss in Fandango from Australis and claimed the the "buy one get one free" offer from Priceline for my 10 Hour Wear Pencil in Bombastic Bronze. I was quite excited to try these products out as I've heard great things about it!

Australis 10 Hour Wear Pencil in Bombastic Bronze RRP $9.95
After hearing a few raves about this, especially from Mishelle from Mishelle's Sleepy Time I knew I had to get this eyeliner! Australis says it is a pencil that applies like a liquid eyeliner, waterproof and lasts for 10 hours. It comes in two other shades as as well, Aqua Attack and Grape Cake but I'm not adventurous enough to use such bright attention-seeking colours! I love how there is a bronze shade, I find that black eyeliner is too harsh for me.

Creamy formulation

Excuse the wonky swatch!

Thie beautiful eyeliner glides on so smoothly and its formulation is creamy and definitely didn't disappoint! There are very subtle shimmers which I like, giving it a bit of iridescence. So does it live up to its 10 hour wear? I used it without a primer for a whole day, and let's say I am impressed! No smudging and the liner stayed put, although there was very minor smudging on my bottom lash line but it wasn't much of an issue. The quality of the packaging feels great too except for its clear lid which makes it look a little cheap- and it would have won more points if didn't need to be sharpened. Despite that, this will definitely be a repurchase (glad I bought two of them!) as it has a superb formulation.

Australis Colour Inject Gloss in Fandango RRP $11.95
Thanks to Australis again for this lip gloss! I'm actually not a big fan of lip gloss as the shine and stickiness puts me off, as well as it somehow exaggerates the yellowness of my teeth (yuck). I've heard that Colour Inject Glosses have a nice colour pay off, as well as being nourishing, and containing and "injection" of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Sounds like a fun gloss!

Fandango is a bright coral colour which is great for summer! The first thing I noticed about the gloss was its delicious scent- Australis describes it as lychee but I find it quite fruity in general. Unfortunately for me the gloss was quite sticky and glossy, although it is meant to be glossy so I can't fault a gloss for being glossy!

Fuzzy applicator

Very glossy!

The colour was very pigmented which is impressive for a gloss. The swatch looks very bright but on my lips it was a little muted (my lip swatches did not turn out well and shouldn't be seen in public so I haven't posted a pic of it here). I quite like this coral shade and would be great for a night out.

Have you tried either the 10 Hour Wear Pencil or the Colour Inject Glosses from Australis? 

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