OPI Rose Petals + China Glaze Fairy Dust

I'm "romancing" my favorite nail polishes before they are put into storage. Good thing that nail polish has a long shelf life because there's heaps I've only worn once!

This is an old favorite which I wear to job interviews. I bought it online in the hope that it was a dupe for a gorgeous Testimo by Kanebo nail polish. A Japanese friend kindly gave me her bottle (already half empty) because I raved about the colour. I've revived the heck out of it with thinner because I love it so much. The bottle is a keepsake and I dare not use what's left!

While Rose Petals was'nt the perfect dupe, it's still a pretty dusty pink. It's the quintessential bridal french manicure pink. A little sheer as you can see. I applied two coats of Rose Petals and to jazz it up, I applied a coat of Fairy Dust. So sparkly and girly!

Modelco Wonderfull Lip Plumper and BYS Eyeshadows

The weather has'nt been great for the Christmas long weekend so I found mild amusement in David Jones and Kmart.

Check out the token shiny new things I got on sale! I bought Modelco's Wonderfull lip plumper for $18.20 AUD and two BYS metallic eyeshadows for $2.25 AUD.

It turns out the Modelco lip plumper works but not fantastically well. I took before-and-after pictures and the size of my lips looked exactly the same. I felt the tingling reaction straight away and it lasts for 10 minutes. My lips were softer and plumper but no different to using normal lip gloss. The only thing I noticed was that there were less fine lines and my lips were redder than normal. Atleast it smells nice and was'nt sticky. Lipfusion gives better results without the tingling.

The BYS eyeshadows were marked down to $1.50 each and even the checkout chick was surprised when they rang up as $2.25 for the both of them. Bargain!

China Glaze - Flying Dragon

I was inspired to try Flying Dragon from Skye's blog. It's a deep neon purple with tiny blue and red glitter. The name is fitting because it's exactly the colour I'd imagine for a mythical creature. It also reminds me of the children's character, Barney the dinosaur!

The formula is runnier than usual and is extremely streaky. It looked so strange, I took the first attempt off in the hope that it was just a bad fluke. This is three coats but I think four is needed to get it completely opaque. Bizarrely enough, it dries with a matt finish and you can hardly see the glitter. I was so disappointed but when I applied a top coat, it made a huge difference.

The top coat's shine brought out the colour intensity and the glitter becomes visible. This photo does not do the nail polish justice!

Edited to add: This was a pain to remove. The pesky glitter does'nt budge without abrasive treatment on the nails.

Morocco Royal Blue Gathered Top

The salesgirl at the op shop said that she had'nt seen me for a while. It's because I'm moving to London soon and so I'm trying not to buy clothes.

Still, I bought this slinky "Morocco" branded top for only $2.40 AUD. The gathered jersey is so gorgeous. It has an elasticised waist and can be worn with or without a belt. One problem though. Even though it's labeled as small, the neckline was so low, it drooped below the bust! What the?

I used sewing machine to take up the neckline and hand stitched the ends of the seams so it does'nt look like I had folded it up. (Which I did.)

Finally I have a reason to wear my gold vintage necklace and mesh belt. What do you think?

Ulta3 Spring Fling Nail Polish

This will be my last Ulta3 nail polish since I'm moving to the UK in January. Sadly I won't have the luggage space to bring many polishes with me.

Spring Fling is a pastel peach which sometimes can look pale neon. It can be worn as a daring nude for summer. Maybe this is a special edition colour because of the floral design of the bottle?

The colour reminds me of Sherbies, which are the chewy sherbet candies I'm addicted to.

Found this one particularly streaky. I usually apply 2 thick coats to disguise the varying density of colour. Still it dried quickly so it worked out well!

Lancome Virtuôse Black Carat Mascara

This is a deluxe sized freebie sample which I keep in my handbag.

While it takes some time to get used to the curved brush, once mastered, it separates lashes really well. Within two coats, I was clump free and my lashes were noticeably longer. I love it - its one of my favourite mascaras because it lives up to it's promises:

*Bold results with a deep glossy black colour.

*Easily removable. If I'm not applying a heavy coat, it can be removed with soap and warm water.

*Does a great job lengthening and separating lashes. It even curls them a little.

*The brush is perfectly designed for minimal clumping and separation.

*Mascara is build-able for brushing out perfect long lashes.

*Virtually smudgeproof-an optimistic promise but one which it satisfies. I get a few flecks of mascara transferred under my eyes but definitely no smudges.

*Lashes look and feel natural. No stiffness or "spiderlegs"!

It breaks it promises on volumizing lashes though. I get better results with Diorshow or Pupa's Diva Lashes. Also I found that it dries quickly which means a shorter life-span once opened. However this could be because of the small tube and it contains less product.

I still think this is a great mascara. It's worth a try if you want something new and effective!

Ulta3 Spring Fling, China Glaze Flying Dragon and Sportsgirl Nail Polishes

I've been buying nail polish again. It's an addiction. The summer pastel colours are simply begging to be purchased.

Here are my latest acquisitions. From left to right: Ulta3 Spring Fling (pastel peach), China Glaze Flying Dragon (neon purple with blue glitter), Sportsgirl Nail IT in Apple (mint green) and Storm (grey creme).

Can't wait to give these a try. Unfortunately after constantly wearing nail polish and a dud base coat, my nails have turned yellow. It looks like I have a terrible disease!

If anyone has any ideas on getting rid of the yellowness, I'm all ears. In the meantime, I'm giving my nails a break from nail polish for a few weeks.

Parachute Coconut Oil For Hair

Maybe it's a summer thing but I've been shedding alot lately. I hate brushing or even combing my hair with my fingers because strands drop everywhere!

I suffered hair loss last year. You could even see my scalp from the top of my head! I saw a dermatologist who recommended Rogaine and a hormone blocker. Suffered side effects from both so now I'm back to square one.

My hair is super fine, frizzy and dry. The drier it is, the curlier it gets. I even gave away my hair straightener because I did'nt want to damage my hair anymore.

A colleague suggested massaging my scalp with pure coconut oil to stimulate hair growth. Apparently it is a common for Indians and Polynesians to do this and they typically have thick hair.

So I bought a small bottle of Parachute Coconut Oil. The oil is 100% natural (edible in fact) and cheap from an Indian grocer. This 200ml bottle only cost $3.50 AUD.

Instructions on how to use coconut oil as a hair treatment:

1) Fill a small cup with roughly 50ml of oil, more if you have thick or long hair. You can also mix in some Jojoba oil or a few drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil as they also improve the condition of the hair.

2) Microwave the oil until it's hot as your skin can stand it.

3) Massage oil onto to dry hair starting from the roots to the scalp. Gently massage the scalp for 5 minutes. As you can see in the picture, the drops of oil next to the bottle is liquid so application is messy. You'll need to wear a plastic cape or be naked in the bathroom!

4) Wrap a plastic shopping bag over your hair and head. You can also use a shower cap but I prefer to recycle shopping bags. You can secure them with a peg or hairclip. Yes, you will need to do this in private, away from those who will make fun of you!

5) Leave in for 2-3 hours. Or wear it as an overnight treatment but cover your pillow with a towel just in case.

6) Shampoo out thoroughly. You might need to do this twice to ensure the oil is washed out. Conditioning is not necessary.

Make sure you don't comb/brush your hair until it's dry because I found my hair tangles easy while wet and more hair would fall out.

I noticed that it took longer for my hair to air-dry. Normally it's quick because my hair is so damaged and my bone-dry ends zaps up the moisture!

I was amazed by the results. My hair is softer, shinier and frizz free than ever before. Days later and it becomes even softer! Also my hair is wavy rather than curly now and believe it or not, is LESS greasy.

So guys, I highly recommend coconut oil for hair. It is also good as a cuticle oil or moisturiser. I will be doing this treatment once a week and will post in later to see how it works over time. Hopefully my hair will grow thicker!

NYX Black & White Eyeliner Pencils

I bought these NYX eyeliner pencils from a random cheapo store for $3 AUD each. The black pencil is extra long for a eyeliner so it was take forever to use up!

They apply smoothly without tugging at the eyelids. The texture is creamy soft and blends easily. Pigmentation is good. Lasting powder is OK, staying put for several hours. I have oily lids so I figure it's normal that some will transfer under the eyes within a few hours.

The white pencil is a godsend because I use it to make my eyes look bigger and more open. Awesome for when I haven't had enough sleep! I lightly apply it close to the inner corners and instantly it brightens up my eyes.

The black pencil could be blacker. However my biggest complaint is that it smudges a bit so I'll keep looking for the perfect black eyeliner.

I've paid more for worse quality eyeliners so I recommend giving NYX pencils a try. They do an excellent job for the price!

China Glaze - Entourage

I missed out on Chanel's Jade polish and being on the waiting list proved to be in vain. Apparently the unusual but highly coveted colour sold out before it went on display at Myer!

Lime and apple greens are my current nail polish lemmings. So unappropriate for the office, but it's summery and makes me happy.

Today I had my car serviced in Bankstown so I visited ProNail while I was waiting.

I allowed myself one China Glaze nail polish as a souvenir and Entourage is the one I picked. Hope it goes OK with my darkening hands thanks to daily jogs. The green is deeper than Chanel's Jade but the distinctive hint of shimmer is there.

Will post a swatch soon!

Kiehl's Ultimate Hand Salve

This is my first review of the brand Kiehl's, thanks to the pamper pack I won.

The salve is creamy and thick so you only need a little bit. My 150ml (5.0 fl.oz.) tube will last for ages! It takes a few seconds for it to sink in but afterwards, my hands felt moisturised and soft. There is a faint smell of eucalyptus on application but it dissipates quickly.

Recognisable ingredients are shea butter, sesame seed oil, squalene, avacado oil, eucalyptus oil and aloe vera. It also contains dimethicone which I'm not that impressed on. Dimethicone makes the skin feel smoother but really, it's just a cosmetic effect.

The product is soothing, fast absorbed, deeply moisturises and does'nt leave your hands feeling greasy. It does an excellent job but I would'nt buy this when I run out because of the price tag. Plus, I like my handcreams to smell super-nice so using it is an even more of a treat!

Target Red Satin Bow Peeptoe Pumps

I had a housewarming party to attend to but had no shoes to wear with my new dress.

Went to "Tar-jay" and was surprised to see how fashionable the clothing was! There were lots of gorgeous floral print dresses and comfy casual clothes for cheap. In fact the ladies section looked like Primark!

Ladies shoes were 30% off. They had heaps of synthetic leather heels. I recalled my friend slapping me on the wrist for picking up a plastic bangle while shopping. She said: "Don't waste money on plastic because it looks cheap!"

So I scored these hot red satin heels for $28 AUD. Although they're high, they're comfy because of the concealed platform. Received lots of compliments at the party. Some people could'nt believe they came from Target!

These will come in handy for an upcoming work Christmas party and wedding reception.

Bold Print Tulip Dress and a Friday Night

My Friday night was actually spent at home. Exciting=not! I took out the sewing machine and tried to alter the dress to make it fit better.

Ended up undo-ing my work because I did a dud job. What a waste of time. :(

I wish I had a pair of Dior's Extreme Gladiator platform heels to wear with the dress. Are'nt these devine?

Bold Print Tulip Dress

During my lunch time walk, I discovered a clothing shop in the Hunter Connection of Wynyard. It's a basic shop that seemingly has no air-con and is packed to the rafters with cheap random clothes.

Amongst the crammed clothing racks, I found this cotton tulip dress for $10 AUD. It comes with a wide black satin belt.

I had to try it on due to the strict exchange policy. Felt like I was being cooked in the tiny changeroom, constructed only with railing and curtain.

It fits well so I paid and swiftly got out of there before I melted!

Book Sale - 5 books for $2 AUD

This is the second week where I could'nt find any clothes I liked at the Op Shop. However there was a good sale on books so here are my finds.

The Popularity Plan was for nostalgia. I read Sweet Dreams books when I was growing up. Had'nt seen these in a long time!

How To Get Rid Of The Smell Of Vintage

Remember this Faigen clutch from this post? I did'nt realise until it reeked up my clothes, how musty it was. It was gross and the smell sticks to anything it touches!

Wanted to throw it out but tried an experiment first.

With anything vintage, if it's washable (or disposable!), try washing it in hot water. Chances are the smell is caused by mildew. If the item is not washable, try sunning or airing out the item. You could use baking soda to absorb the smells or as the last resort, Fabreeze.

I washed the clutch in hot soapy water but noticed the smell was still there. So I soaked it in a white vinegar and hot water solution for an hour to kill any mildew spores. I rinsed with cold water and propped it up in a sunny spot. The residual vinegar smell disappears once it was dry.

And the result? The smell is gone! Hooray!

Tokidoki Pegaso Bag and Charms

The unicorn print is colourful and super kawaii! My favorite unicorn is the one taking a drink in the reflective puddle.

I lost one of the charms, a pink Caio Caio. To give Adios a companion, I removed a charm from another keyring and replaced it with the free Tokidoki cactus pup I received from Japan LA.

A close up of the two new friends. How cute are they?

Nail Paint by Barry M - Yellow

Bought this Barry M nail polish in Topshop last year. It was £3 and I was fascinated by this lurid colour. It's reminds me a yellow Volkswagen bug car!

It's a souvenir from London. I wanted to bring back something avant garde and not heavy for my suitcase.

Unfortunately the trend of yellow nail polish never took off.

The Melbourne Cup was on today and I did'nt have a crazy hat or tie to wear to work. So I painted my nails and they got everyone's attention!

I found this particular Barry M Nail Paint disappointing because it's thin and streaky. I applied three coats in this pic.

I like the design of the bottle so a collection can be stored using minimal storage space.

Barry M has a huge range of amazing colours. Will give the brand another go when I get back to London.

EDITED TO ADD-I removed this nail polish a few days later and it turned my nails yellow! I used base coat so not sure how it could have happened.

WON! Kiehl's Pamper Pack

It's funny how good deeds can come back to you.

A few weeks ago I found a $20 note on the street. I used the money to buy raffle tickets to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Had a stressful day that almost ended in tears. That was until I was told that I had won a Kiehl's pamper pack!

It was beautifully presented with the products nestled in rose pot purri.

It contains (from left to right):

Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

Creme de Corps

Amino Acid Shampoo

Lavender Foaming-Relaxing Bath with Sea Salts and Aloe Vera

Lip Balm SPF 15

Will review each product soon. (Except for the foaming bath and shampoo which goes to my sister).

The Kiehl's pamper pack had made my day!

Ulta3 Nail Polish - Envy

Envy is the colour to wear if I don't know what colour to wear.

It's a glamourous neutral that's chip-friendly. I do my nails once a week and it does'nt look too terrible by the end when the polish has shown wear and tear.

This nail polish is so pigmented, I could get away with one coat. Envy is a silvery brown glitter dust. Highly reflective with two coats and glossy top coat.

Ulta3 does it again with an amazing cheapie nail polish!

My Local Op Shop - Vinnies

As requested by mirandalefleur, this is a post on my favorite opportunity/thrift shop. This is where I find many of the items I've blogged.

My local Vinnies is on the main street of Auburn. It opened early this year with a tonne of stock and for months, every weekend had a 50% off sale. The shop has a healthy turnover of inventory and is air conditioned and tidy. The clothing racks are even grouped by colour.

Stacks of ladies shoes.

Found lots of great bargain reads here.

Every visit is a treasure hunt and I MUST leave with one item. I actually look forward to weekends so I can unwind here. The volunteer staff are friendly and dedicated so I like to show appreciation for their efforts.

Since my spending goes to charity, I can always splurge guilt-free here!

Lancome Genifique - Youth Activating Concentrate

Received a free luxury sample of Lancome's new anti-aging product, Genifique.

It came in a little glass bottle with a fancy dropper lid, trademark of the full sized product. Push the button on top to pick up or release the liquid.

The saleslady adamantly stated that "Genifique is not a serum. It's an activator".

What does that mean??? It certainly looks like a serum to me. Well apparently it activates your youth. (Oh boy, how I'd love to be 18 again!!!)

Here are the claims from the Lancome website:

See visibly younger skin in just 7 days.

Drop by drop, skin is infused with life.

Vibrant with youth, skin looks as if lit from within.

Skin's youthful quality returns: cushiony soft and velvety to the touch.

Skin's tone is astonishingly even; its texture dramatically refined.

Genifique is supposed to "boost genes' activity and stimulate the production of youth proteins."

Sounds incredible, doesn't it?

I'm testing it now and will post a review in a few weeks. Stay tuned for the results!

China Glaze - Fairy Dust

Aiyeeeeeeee! This picture does not do Fairy Dust justice. In real life it's dazzling and luminous!

You can't really see it but I've applied two coats. It's on top of Sussan Soft Orchid. The brilliant thing is that because the glitter is holographic and really fine. you can wear it over any nail polish to jazz it up!

The downsides are that it takes longer than usual to dry and it dries slightly matt. Would be convenient to use as a top coat if it had a wet shine finish.

Still I love it! Extends the use of all my nail polishes and it's just as enchanting as fairy dust!

Kamiseta Cotton Cardigan & Target Satin Top

Latest op shop finds:

Phillipino label Kamiseta cotton 3/4 length cardigan with cute trimmings and diamante buttons. $6 AUD.

Target Hot Options satin top which could be easily mistaken for Review. Gorgeous green floral print with velvet ties around the back. Tres cute! $1.50 AUD.

Sebastian Potion 9 - Wearable Treatment

Heard about Potion 9 in a Youtube video from Caffy. Like hers, my hair is fine and curly. She raves about this stuff so when I saw Sebastian products for half price, I had to try it!

I think Sebastian was reduced because they are repackaging their products. The Potion 9 I saw comes in flexible aluminum tubes which tears easily. I bought a travel sized tube (50g) for $9 AUD.

Sebastian calls Potion 9 a "wearable treatment" but considering that you're supposed to use it sparingly, the title is a bit of stretch! I like how it's silicone free. It contains 9 botanical extracts which claims to restore moisture, revitalize damage and rejuvenate hair. The product itself is an orange coloured non-sticky/greasy gel. Some makeupalley reviewers said it smells nice but I hardly notice a scent with mine.

After washing I use a small amount (no bigger than an Aussie 10c coin) to scrunch through wet hair. I'm prone to frizz so I dilute with a little water so hair doesn't stick to my hands. Must be careful not to use too much product otherwise my hair feels crunchy.

I'm convinced that Potion 9 is incredible. I let my hair dry naturally and get soft, defined and shiny curls. While it's a little pricey, it's worth it because of the noticeable difference! I'll buy this product over and over again.

Tokidoki Pegaso Nobile Bag

Introducing my latest acquisition-the Tokidoki Pegaso Nobile!

My love for this bag was born from a tweet of the lovely Christine. She found this bag plus a deal from JapanLA for a free Tokidoki cactus pup and free shipping.

The multi-coloured print is adorable, especially with the unicorns!

Unfortunately shipping was free for US orders only. We sent our bags to the one address to save on shipping and I picked up mine today. Whooo hoooo!

You're probably wondering why I photographed my bag with the wrapping still intact. I'm savoring it's new-ness. Missy's Em logic is that this builds anticipation for when it's unwrapped and thus adds to the satisfaction of the purchase!

Forecast Retro Tribal Print Skirt

Just before walking out of the Op shop empty-handed, I found this skirt from Forecast.

The colourful retro pattern is printed on silky soft cotton. Feels light and flowy as you walk. Problem was, the second button was missing. And there was no price tag.

The lovely salesgirl who serves me every week, ummed and ahhhed over a price. She was hesitating because she saw the missing button.

I interrupted her mumbling: "Er, did you say $1?"

She nodded reluctantly like it was an unreasonable amount. "Unfortunately that's the cheapest I can..."

"Done! I'll take it!" And I gave I her the cash.

Was'nt going to argue her there! She's a doll for trying to give me a good price even when her original price of $1 was a steal.

At home I found an spare tan button matching the print. Within minutes I switched with the waist button with the missing one. Skirt is as good as new!

Bloom Face Blotting Papers

Years ago my skin was super oily. I remember habitually swiping my face with my hand and ewwwww...

I've tried lots of different face blotter sheets and now alternate between Clean & Clear sheets and Bloom's Blotting Papers.

Bloom is most preferred because the packaging is darn pretty! The rice paper sheets are pale pink, lightly scented of roses and more "dainty sized". They are impregnated with very fine powder so it removes oil effectively without depositing powder on your face like Papier Poudre.

One downside is that the cardboard casing is not durable so unless you use the 50 sheets quickly, the packaging will get shabby in your handbag.

My skin has settled down so I only use these to blot my oily eyelids now. Good for keeping my glasses lenses smudge-free!

I buy Bloom's papers at the department stores. If I can't find them when I'm overseas, they are available online.

I must mention that Bloom's papers are more environmentally friendly than Clean & Clear. However I do get a twisted satisfaction out of seeing the opaque blue sheets turn transparent...

China Glaze - IDK

This is the first time I've used China Glaze nail polish and it's UNREAL!

The colour is mesmerising. Like a chameleon changing colours with the ambient light.

IDK is a satin lilac with a rainbow holographic sheen. During daytime indoors, it appears paler and not as iridescent as you see here. In broad daylight and bright artifical light, it's nothing short of incredible!

The product is well pigmented so I only applied two coats. At first I thought it was streaky but after making less strokes, each dissolved together for a seamless finish. How ingenious!

I could'nt wait to show this colour off. A bargain for such a high quality nail polish ($5 AUD).

So glad to have found China Glaze nail polishes!

Supre "Alice McCall" Skirt & Absolutely Essential Etiquette Book

I found this Supre high waisted skirt at the Op Shop. The design is out there but if Mischa Barton can pull it off, then surely I can too???

Regrettably on me, it looks like a "no-waisted" skirt! Not sure if I'll wear it now.

Also bought The Absolutely Essential Penguin Guide to Etiquette. (Actually not for penguins.) I mention this because I believe observing etiquette is part of beauty maintenance. This book is a humorously written modern day guide.

Both items were a steal for $2.50 AUD!