Review: Butter London in Pink Ribbon Nail Lacquer

Gorgeous packaging. Cute name. Free from formaldehyde, toluene and DBP (Dibutyl phthalate for you chemistry nerds out there... okay... *sulks away*) which are chemicals that may cause cancer (called carcinogens). Enough of the chemistry talk, but what's there not to love about Butter London nail lacquers? I got this as a freebie from the October's issue of In Style magazine (I briefly mentioned this in the previous post) and was pretty excited to try it out!

Butter London Nail Lacquer in Pink Ribbon

I had trouble opening the lid, I twisted with all my might but it didn't work. But alas, I had a closer look at the lid and it says "Lift to open". Who would have thought a nail polish would have a pull up lid?

Oh dear, Mr Butter London is naked!

Little bird with a crown

On inspection the shade "Pink Ribbon" is a sheer peachy pink, quite a nice neutral colour for the nails. The formula was runny- I had to take the photo really quick before it dripped everywhere- and easy to apply. However, I was extremely disappointed with how the colour turned out. I knew it was going to be sheer, but not SO sheer that my nails appear not to be painted at all!

Do you see it? No? Neither do I! The only thing "Pink Ribbon" offers is a nice shine to the nails. Perhaps this is the only disappointing shade in the Butter London range as I have only heard of good things about these nail lacquers! The other shades they offer look quite gorgeous so I definitely won't give the Butter London a miss- I'll just blame it on Pink Ribbon.

Have you tried Butter London Nail Lacquers? Which shades do you have? What did you think of them?

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Review: Lucas Papaw Ointment vs. Coco Island Paw Paw Ointment

Greetings everyone! I haven't posted in a while, mainly because of exams. But now I am free (yay freedom for more than 3 months!) I can freely blog :) Today I will be doing a review on Lucas Papaw Ointment and Coco Island Pawpaw Ointment, and comparing the two.

The two are packaged similarly and are bright and stand out in a messy bag. The Lucas Papaw Ointment and Coco Island Pawpaw Ointment are both are Australian made which is great.  For those who have been living under a rock, they are multi purpose- pawpaw ointments can be used for chapped lips, dry skin, minor burns and wounds, chafing, relieving symptoms of eczema and dermatitis, sunburn, nappy rash (let's hope none of us get that...), cuts and insect bites- something that will be handy to carry around with you!

Lucas Papaw Ointment 25g RRP $5.99

• contains Carica Papaya 39mg/g Fresh Fermented Fruit
• antibacterial and antimicrobial properties
• has a tendency to "bubble" up, not a smooth consistency
• unique subtle smell (of the pawpaw)
• when used for dry lips, the ointment doesn't last very long
• also comes in larger sizes 75g and 200g tubs

Coco Island Pawpaw Ointment 25g RRP $4.99

• contains Carica Papaya fruit extract and Bioactive Manuka honey 16+
• tropical treatment that revives, smoothes and moisturises
• smooth consistency
• no scent
• ointment lasts longer than the Lucas Papaw Ointment when used for dry lips
• also comes in a 100g tube

As I was browsing the shelves of Priceline one day, I stumbled upon the Coco Island's Pawpaw Ointment which I was excited to try- mainly because of the added Manuka honey in the formula (Manuka honey is wonderful, it is an antibacterial too!). Let's say lucky I bought it! I loved the Lucas Papaw and have used it for years as it was so versatile, but the Coco Island has won me over. Its smooth consistency and it's ability to stay on the lips to keep them moisturised for longer definitely gave it an edge over Lucas Papaw. I also nabbed a deal from Priceline where it was $9.99 for the 100g tube and a bonus 25g tube! Definitely a great deal. I remember the days when Lucas Papaw used to be $4, but I guess its popularity has made the price go up! All in all, a pawpaw ointment is definitely an essential with all its uses, it will always be handy :)

Have you tried any of these pawpaw ointments before? 

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Review: Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Ah the famous Shu Uemura eyelash curler. It has a huge amount of amazing reviews and a reputation for being a fantastic eyelash curler, as well as being a cult classic. After having my eyelids pinched by cheap eyelash curlers (eek $2 ones), probably about more than a year ago I decided to purchase the Shu Uemura eyelash curler! I got it off eBay but I can't remember how much for- but it was a bargain. Did I have qualms about it being fake? Definitely. But the performance has been excellent and my doubts subsided. I'm not too sure how much the curler retails for in Australia though (maybe around $30?), if someone can enlighten me then I can include it here in the post!

 Anyone read Japanese? :P Designed and made in Japan!

Oops the rubber is a little dirty!

The Shu Uemura eyelash curler is designed best for Asian eyelids but this does not mean that it won't suit anyone else! The curler is curved more than conventional eyelash curlers and this is what minimises and prevents any pinching.

Curved

Let's talk about the cheap eyelash curlers I have used before. Pinching was awful, and the curve definitely did not suit my eyes. When you attempt to "curl" the lashes, you have to apply pressure and the eyelashes  become kinky and very unnatural looking- it is obvious where the lashes have been curled at, shown by the kinks. Not only that- they had the tendency to pull out lashes, definitely not ideal! I got sick and tired of using a subpar curler, and after reading many amazing reviews for the Shu Uemura, I really wondered if it lived up to the hype. Here is what the website says it offers:

The emblematic, best-selling and award-winning shu uemura eyelash curler featuring enhanced design and upgraded features for ultimate precision that delivers the perfect curl.

• upgraded silicone pad in a new "mushroom" shape provides a protective, stay-put edge for improved safety and optimum curl.
• upgraded patented hinge with precise engineering applies perfect amount of pressure on eyelashes
• curved angle suits all eye shapes
• calculated shape and size of frame length and ergonomic handles ensure stability and control

What I like to do before using eyelash curlers is to heat them up a little by using my hairdryer. Before I curled my lashes I blasted the curler for about 4-5 seconds, tested the temperature on my hand then used it on the lashes. PLEASE don't immediately put the curler to your eyes without checking the temperature first as you might burn yourself! So here is a before and after shot (excuse the messy eyebrows- I got to do something about them....and the blurry shots, my phone isn't too good at close ups)

Before

After

The photos speak for themselves. WOW! Such a dramatic difference in my eyelashes. It was such a pleasure to use the curler- absolutely no pinching as the shape was perfect and I did not have to apply pressure at all, which I did with the cheaper curlers. The curl was smooth with no sign of kinkage (haha is that even a word?!). How well did the curl hold? Very very well. I actually took several attempts to take photos of my eye but they turned out super blurry- so instead of using the other eye (I don't know why) I decided to flatten out my eyelashes again to take a before shot but they were very stubborn! The curl held very well (I ended up curling my other eye's lashes in the end haha).

After using the curler for more than a year, it is still in excellent condition! And if I ever need to replace the pad, the curler comes with one replacement one. Overall, a delightful eyelash curler to use with wonderful results.

Who's tried the Shu Uemura curler? If not, which curlers do you use?

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Review: China Glaze Nail Strengthener & Growth Formula

My nails have always been in great condition- they never break or split, and aren't weak. However my index and thumb nails have been splitting a lot lately which is annoying the hell out of me! I think it might be because of me bumping my nails onto things and maybe from removing pesky staples from prescriptions at work....
Well anyways I went to Cosmetic Fragrance Direct at DFO the other day and found this little beauty! It was $10, and normally retails for $18.95 so I guess I did save a bit! It was an impulse buy, although I have heard great things about China Glaze nail polishes so I didn't think this strengthener would be any different :)

And as I always do, just a little description from its website:

Nail Strengthener & Growth Formula is vitamin and protein enriched to promote healthy nail growth

-Promotes the growth of healthy, beautiful nails in 8 weeks  

-Vitamin B and wheat protein strengthens and protects nails

-Protects against splitting and cracking

-Great after removal of acrylic nails

          -DBP & Toluene Free (contains Formaldehyde as a nail strengthener & hardener) 

 Lol the "formaldehyde" scares me... having dealt with it in labs at uni and having warnings about it being toxic if inhaled or consumed (not that I will be eating it anytime soon) but if you use it in a ventilated room I guess we will be fine! I've always wondered how nail strengtheners work and if they actually work. So I was eager to try this and see if my nails improved over time.

I have been applying this to my nails for a few days now and I am loving the sheen it is giving to my nails! It has improved the look of one of my split nails, and I can definitely feel an improvement in the hardness too especially in my "healthy" nails. Quite surprising results for something I didn't really believe in initially.

Do you use a nail strengthener? What brand is it and are you happy with its results?

Review: Rose-Hip Vital Australian Certified Organic Cold Pressed Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil! It's been all the hype lately and I have been very eager to try it. There are heaps of brands out there- Trilogy, Kosmea, Sukin, just to name a few. I've been meaning to buy the Trilogy one but when I was at work, there was a new order, and I found this! 30mL of organic rosehip goodness for RRP $19.99 (and $15 with my 25% discount at the pharmacy!). The Trilogy is only 20mL for the same price (although it's RRP everywhere else is $21.95 instead of $19.99). I was quite excited to give this a go!

 

 Such lovely packaging! If you read the claims, the product sounds absolutely amazing! Organic, cold pressed, and 100% rosehip oil. Definitely getting a tick in my books! Here is a little description from its website:

Rose-Hip Vital Australian Certified Organic Cold Pressed Rosehip Oil

Rose-Hip Vital Rosehip Oil is a 100% pure and natural Certified Organic skincare product, cold pressed from the seeds of the Rosehip (Rosa Canina) that helps to support healthy-looking skin for use on the face and body. Rose-Hip Vital Rosehip Oil is rich in naturally occurring vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids.

The benefits of Rose-Hip Vital Rosehip Oil

• Reduces the appearance of stretchmarks & scars 
• Maintains skin hydration and softness
• Improves appearance of dry and sensitive skin
• Minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Promotes skin elasticity & texture
• Our formula

Rose-Hip Vital Rosehip Oil Contains 100% pure Australian Certified Organic Cold Pressed (Rosa Canina) Rosehip Oil. 

Cute little bottle :)

A nice easy to use dropper

 First thing I noticed was its scent. It isn't strong, but I didn't particularly like it. I've tried the Trilogy rosehip oils (the ordinary one and the one with antioxidants- hehe such pretty packaging!) and it didn't notice any scent so this is probably the only downfall to the Rose-Hip Vital rosehip oil.

One drop of rosehip oil goes a long way! It absorbed right into my skin which is great. Those worried about breaking out from the "oil" need not fear, as it doesn't cause acne or pimples at all, which I attribute to the natural oil. Definitely very happy with the product, apart from the subtle scent which I personally didn't like.

I've been testing and trying all sorts of different things on my dry and parched skin on my face, and I will make a post about it sometime! Stay tuned ;)

Any one interested in rosehip oil? Have you tried any of the other brands, and what did you think?

OPI Dulce De Leche nail polish

What an unexpected buy! I was out with a couple of friends to buy another friend some birthday presents when we stumbled on some OPI nail polishes. There has been so much hype over OPI, and I've always wondered, why? One of my friends said that it was one of the best nail polish brands there is, with incredible quality so I decided to try one. OPI retails for $19.95 which is a crazy amount, although it is not much more than say a Revlon nail polish which retails at $13.95 here in Australia. However we were at a My Beauty Spot and they were selling them for $10, There weren't too many colours to choose from but I decided to go for a nudish-pink colour, called Dulce de Leche.

Sorry for the picture being unfocused!

 As soon as I got home I tried it out, to see what the hype was about for OPI nail polishes. The brush was very nice, although the first time I applied it only my nails I picked up too much product. Application was smooth and easy, and it didn't turn out streaky like it would with the cheaper nail polishes. It dried very nicely as well and I love the colour!

Ahhh I love the colour! Pardon my dry cuticles and hands

Since I was too eager to try on the nail polish, I didn't bother with base and top coats. Even without them, the staying power on this nail polish was amazing! This photo was taken a few days after application and it has hardly chipped at all. This polish is definitely worth the $9 I paid for, but at $20 I'm not quite sure as it is quite an exorbitant amount for a mere nail polish. If I had put on a base and top coat, it would definitely last much longer. Comparing the OPI nail polish to the Revlon nail polish I have,  it definitely lasts much longer and the application is much nicer. 

What do you think of Dulce De Leche?

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Review: Avene Cicalfate Restorative Cream

My face had been becoming really tight, dry and itchy lately with red blotches- not a pretty sight. I might have had a little bit of ezcema on my face but I'm not too sure (I don't usually get ezcema though). I've been eyeing out for a good restorative, thick moisturiser for sensitive skin, so I stumbled upon the Avene Cicalfate Restorative Cream.

Touted as a technologically advanced cutaneous barrier cream to help soothe and restore damaged, dry, cracked and non-oozing atopic skin, it definitely sounded like something I needed. Avene also describes the Cicalfate Restorative Cream to have anti-bacterial properties to help improve the appearance  of cracked skin, and its famous Avène Thermal Spring Water to soothe irritation.

Sounded perfect for me, as my skin was super dry! I managed to purchase it for $9 with my friend's discount at her pharmacy (my pharmacy doesn't sell Avene, *sob*) but it retails at $11.95 for 40mL, which is very inexpensive considering the rest of the Avene range is quite pricey.

I really love the clean packaging of the Avene products. So after a shower, I gave it a go. It was very thick as expected because it was a restorative cream. Took a while for me to get it to sink into my skin, however when it did, WOW! My skin was truly moisturised, I think this is the most hydrating cream I have ever used! It didn't make my face feel tight after a few hours ( it kept the moisture in) and it was so gentle, as well as soothing the irritation my face had. Loved it! I read a bit more on the box, and it says it contains copper sulfate and zinc sulfate which synergistically (why is there a red wiggly line under this word? I swear it's spelt right!) work to promote and maintain a healthy skin environment.

This cream receives a score of 9.5/10. No fragrance, gentle on the skin and does what it claims. The only downside to the cream is  its extreme thickness which requires effort to rub into the skin. Despite this, I highly recommend it to those with dry, itchy skin- especially those who suffer from ezcema. All in all, a great $9 spent, no regrets at all. I will definitely try other Avene products.... once I manage to decide what product to get!

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My first post!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
One of my friends told me to start a blog, so here I am, starting one. I might make it mostly to do with beauty stuff :) So I might have to get used to using blogger (although it's probably not that hard). So please follow for beauty reviews and random ramblings!

Oh sorry for no introduction. My name is Karen, currently studying pharmacy and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I'm 20 years old (I definitely don't feel that old!) and I love beauty products (and also realised I have a LOT). So yeah, this will probably be one of the ways I will procrastinate from my studies! :D