Sunday Manicure

After the brightness of last week's coral, Lady Cavanagh decided to darken up this week and painted her nails with China Glaze's 'Coconut Kiss'.

Its a deep metallic purple with a plummy feel that's more prominent in different lighting conditions. The picture below is with flash which was strangely more true to the actual colour than when photographed with no flash.  The final finish has a really nice shine to it, so much so that you don't really need a top coat to add any extra gloss.

It seems that whenever Lady Cavanagh puts on China Glaze polish she'll put on one coast and be really disappointed with the finish (think clumpy and streaky) yet after the second coat it fixes itself right up and you're left with an even, full colour that lasts really well.

Nars Eyeshadow Duo - Caravaggio

This was Lady Cavanagh's first fore in Nars products so naturally she started with a purple!

This duo is made up of an intense purple and a bright fuchsia which the Nars website describes as "azalea pink" and "iridescent violet". The Nars website also says that the duos are created with colours that can be worn together but unless applied with a very light hand the bright colours of Caravaggio are probably best worn separately.

The swatch pic to the left doesn't really capture the slight shimmer in the shades and makes them look a bit more matte than they actually are.  In real life they come across a lot more like they look in the pan.

Like all Nars eyeshadows (and blushes) the colours blend well and can be sheered out for a less intesnse look or built up for something more dramatic.  There's also minial fallout so if you use these with a primer you'll have vivid colour the whole day through.

Bellabox - December

With the late arrival of November's Glossybox its only been 2 weeks since Lady Cavanangh last received a sample box and then December's Bellabox and Lust Have It packs arrived on the same day - hooray for early Chrismas pressies!

This month's Bellabox included 4 full sized products which was very exciting.  I hadn't heard of any of the brands this month's; its always great to try out new items you've never seen before.

Here's a run down and review of what came in this month's box...

Savoir Faire: Concealer Pack (full size)
 - Very creamy and easy to apply, a little goes a long way
 - Use the lighter colour for under your eyes and the darker one for blemishes or pigmentation you want to cover up
 - The powder on the bottom can be used to set the concealer or as a finishing powder for your whole face



Ozotic Elytra nail polish: # 530 (full size)
- Duo/trio(?) chrome that is a glitter polish with gold, red and purple in it
- Recommended over a black base but can be worn alone.
- The glitter is very fine and well mixed meaning that when you apply a second coat you're not wiping off the one you've just applied!


Elemis: Pro Collagen Quartz Lift Mask (5ml)
- Always hard to tell how effective something is from one use. This applied well and left my skin feeling smooth and clean


Kosmea: Rose Water Spray (full size)
 - Packaging says 'cooling and soothing' which it certainly is. Feels great when first applied, just wish the cooling feeling would've stuck around a bit longer.
-Very calming rose scent, perfect for when you're rushing about doing your Christmas shopping and need a 'pick-me-up'
- Lady Cavanagh has never really used a hydrating spray before and didn't think it'd be something she'd really use but was then quite surprised to find herself regularly reaching for it.  A very pleasing beauty discovery!


Eylure: Naturalite Intense Lash - 140 (1 pair of lashes)
 - Quite bold and probably better for use when you want to go 'all out' with your look.

Highlight of this month's box was the Savoir Fair concealer, the packaging was great and application easy and effective.  Great work by Bellabox providing so many full sized products in this month's box too!

Orofluido Hair Elixir

Lady Cavanagh received a sample of this in her November BellaBox but loves it so much she decided it deserved it's own post!

What is it: Basically its an oil that you apply to damp or dry hair to give you silky, fly-away-free hair that's well moisturised and 'nourished'.  Its quite similar to the 'It product' MorrocanOil but made with different oils (its also a bit cheaper too).

How to use it: You only need the tiniest amount (about the size of a 5c piece) which you put onto your hands, rub your palms together and then work your way through your hair.  Whether you use it on damp or dry hair will give you different results.  Lady Cavanagh has found the best results are from using it on damp, towel dried hair, blown dry with the hair dryer as it really seems to get into the hair shaft.

How much does it cost?: You can get it in 50ml or 100ml bottles (glass bottles so be careful you don't drop it).  The 50ml is AU$26.95 and the 100ml $44.95.  There is a promotion at the moment though where you can get a 100ml bottle as well as a 250ml hair mask for $49.95 (guess which one Lady Cavanagh got...)

Won't putting oil into my hair make it greasy?: As mentioned above, you only need a really small amount (trust me on this!) and it will leave your hair with that 'just left the salon' feeling.  If you get a bit over enthusiastic your hair will feel great the first day but get a bit greasy by the second day.  Lady Cavanagh has quite fine hair and this doesn't weigh it down or leave it with a 'I've got too much product in my hair' look.

One final thing...it smells great! A mixture of vanilla and amber it leaves your hair with a light scent that disappears fairly quickly and isn't really noticeable after you've dried your hair.

Thanks to Orofluido gone are the days when Lady Cavanagh's hair stays in a messy bun because she's ashamed of dry, brittle ends. Bring forth the shine!

Sunday Manicure

Lady Cavanagh's nails were looking terrible last week with the chipped remains of glittery burgundy lingering long after the office xmas party was over.  Sunday afternoon and time for a new colour!

This week it was NYX Girls' 'Dance in Havana' which is lovely bright coral that looks great when you wear blue and adds a pop of colour to a black ensemble.

Glossybox - November [First edition]

Lady Cavanagh was beginning to think November's edition of Glossybox wasn't going to arrive at all, but lo! The 28th and there is was - the first edition of Glossybox.  The first box for any new sampler service always has high expectation and the extra time this one took to arrive only increased that.  So - what was in it?

Below is a list of the items included as well as a quick review of each one:

Jurlique 'Purely Age-Defying Ultra Firm & Lift Cream - 5ml
 - Applies smoothly on the skin, nice scent

Essie: Summer Nail Colour 'Brazil' - 5ml
- Wonderful bright orange and applies nicely
- Essie have a brush that's quite a bit thinner that OPI's which makes applying polish to your smaller nails a lot easier

Bio-Oil - 60ml (Full size)
- Great for stretch marks, dry skin, scars - you name it!
- Takes me back to my teenage years when this was the product everybody owned. I haven't used it in quite a few years so I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted with it.
Mirenesse '3D Forever Gloss'  in 'Hello Kitten'- 14g (Full size)
 - Has quite a strong smell that's a bit like washing powder.  The scent is ok at first but gets a bit sickening after a while.
- The colour was a coraly-peach that was only so-so.  It needs to be applied really carefully or you're left with that 'I just ate pasta sauce' look around your mouth which is more slobby than sexy.
 - When Lady Cavanagh went to the Minenesse website to find out more about their products it was difficult to navigate and the prices were unclear - gave me no real faith in the product and no real desire to find out what else they had to offer etc.

Lily loves pearl [Polish Me] Rejuvenating Facial Exfoliant - 95ml (full size)
 - Great 'fresh' lemony-herbal scent
 - Has 'gentle polishing beads' which aren't too hard on the skin
 - Left the face feeling very clean and not 'stripped' the way some other exfoliators can.
Pink mini jellybeans
 - Yum!

Hits from this month's box are the Essie polish and the Lily Loves Pearl Exfoliator.  Misses was really just the lip gloss; fine to get as a sample but wouldn't repurchase.

Overall Verdict - Very impressive.  With four subscriber services now available to the ladies of Australia the pressure is on to come up with exciting and 'high end' samples each month.  GlossyBox did very well on their first outing with extra points for gorgeous and professional packaging and for including three full sized products also.

For people that love skin care or makeup these subscriber services are great way to try things out without having to commit to full sized purchases. The advantage also is that if a particular service isn't right for you, you can cancel whenever you like.  Needless to say Lady Cavanagh won't be cancelling her GlossyBox subscription any time soon!

Sunday Manicure

My boyfriend and I painted a wall in our apartment today and after having a brush in my hand all morning I thought I'd continue in the afternoon and paint my nails!

I've been really in the the 'ring finger manicure' lately and so today decided to paint my nails in colours that remind me of the Barbie dolls I used to play with when I was a kid...

Please excuse the nail polish that's
spilled out onto my fingers, I'm waiting
for it to dry before I clean off the excess...

For the ring finger I used NYX Girls 'Heather' and for the rest of my fingers I used NYX Girls 'Cranberry Red'.

Lust Have It - November

After what seemed like ages Lady Cavanagh's first Lust Have It sample box arrived!  As mentioned in a previous post Lady Cavanagh has signed up for two of the three main sample boxes currently operating in Australia and this was the first to arrive.

The box was a little smaller than Lady Cavanagh had expected but she needn't have worried as it was choc-full of goodies.  When you first open the box there's a card telling you about each of the products you'll be sampling this month but like others on the net I decided not to read it before I'd had a chance to explore the box.

Here's what's in this month's box as well as Lady Cavanagh's review of each one

 
RoC 'Complete Lift NEW Technology Daily Moisturiser' - 3 x 5ml

•  Creamy moisturiser that has a pleasant, non-overpowering scent that reminds me of getting a facial. 
•  As it has no SPF, Lady Cavanagh thought she'd try it out as a night moisturiser first off.  It applied very well and sunk easily into the skin. The next morning skin felt light and soft

Nude by Nature lip liner in 'Chique' - Full size

•  A little hard to apply - probably best used if you heat it up before use (with a lighter or similar) so it applies more smoothly
•  Looks ok on but definitely needs lipstick/coloured gloss if you're fair or you're left with a 'Late 90s' look that's not really in right now...

Lancôme 'Trésor Midnight Rose' perfume - 2 x 1.5ml

•  At first the this smell is quite sweet, like marshmallows, but after it has been on the skin for a while it developed a musky more 'sensual' feel (must be the 'mischievous femininity' they talk about on the card...)
• The scent is probably best for evening use as it didn't come off quite as 'upbeat and joyful' as the card describes.  The rest of the description (albeit carefully chosen advertising) are actually evocative of the scent.  This was kind of surprising as I'd always thought Lancôme made scents that were for older women but Lady Cavanagh thinks this one would be suitable from mid 20s- up.

Hawley International 'Miracle Shine 2 Step Miracle Nail Shiner - full size

Kérastase 'Nectar Thermique' - 5 x 10ml

•  I've never tried Kérastase before, having always been put off by the price. The brand was high on the 'must try' list though as it's a known favourite of Kate Middleton who always seems to have fabulous hair.
• The scent is quite nice and definitely has that 'salon feel' which is nice in a product you're using at home
• The instructions said to use a hazel nut sized amount but as it's a sample sachet I just used the whole thing.  It's designed for use on heat styled hair so rather than going to bed with wet hair as per usual I decided to blow dry it to see if the claims of 'creating ultimate softness' were true.
•  Results: gorgeous! My hair is pretty frazzled at the ends at the moment and this stuff smoothed it right out.  When I'm blow drying my hair I use a serum when I'm finished to give the hair some moisture as well as tame any fly-always; not required with Kérastrase Nectar, my hair really was left feeling silky smooth - and smelling like I'd just come from the salon - awesome!

Overall:
It was great to try out products that I normally wouldn't either because of the price point or because I didn't think they were really 'me'.  Of this month's samples, the two I'd most likely buy in full size would be the Kéerastase Necatr and the RoC moisturiser as they felt like something new that really suited me.

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying this but I already can't wait for next month's!

TBK Trading 'Absolutely Everything' kit

Lady Cavanagh was super excited today with the arrival of a purchase she has been mulling over for almost a year: The TKB Trading 'Absolutely Everything Kit for Making Colour Cosmetics'.

Before delving into the world of micas and pigments let me explain a little - TKB Trading is an American company that specialises in selling ingredients for 'make-it- yourself' makeup.  They have absolutely everything there for making your own cosmetics and they cater for individuals just dabbling right up to companies that buy in bulk and then sell the finished product under their own brand.

Being that it's an American company and shipping is quite pricey Lady Cavanagh decided to dive right in an get the 'Absolutely Everything' kit so if i I really love mixing my own makeup then I won't need to pay for shipping to get more supplies!  The kit includes everything you need for making blushes/bronzers/foundations and also comes with the book 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Natural Beauty Products'.  The great part is that the authors of the book get all their supplies from TKB so when writing up their recipes they refer to the TKB products by name.  Even better is that TKB responded by creating the 'Absolutely Everything' kit based on the book so the kit comes with all the ingredients and tools you need to make the recipes in chapters 8 (Making Mineral Makeup) and 9 (Blushes and Bronzers) - nice!  The book has instructions on virtually any cosmetics product you can think of as well as a whole chapter entitled 'For the eyes' which also uses products from TKB in the recipes.

So...what does the kit have in it? For a full listing head to the TKB website but in a nutshell it includes micas, pigments, powders to mix bases, dyes, jars, mixing/storage bags and tools. Micas and pigments are what (often) give mineral eyeshadows, blushes etc their colour.  As Lady Cavanagh is also interested in creating her own eyeshadows she ordered a sample pack of micas.  You can buy them individually or in differently sizes packs; Lady Cavanagh opted for 50.

How much was the kit? With the book it's US$155 ($149 without) and the 50 sample micas were US$62.50 ($1.30 each; they're $1.50 each if you buy them individually).  Shipping in the US is free if you spend over $100 but for international shoppers you have to place and order and then request a shipping quote.  The staff at TKB were very helpful and prompt and give you a few shipping options (with/without insurance etc) so you can work out what will work best for your budget.

Based on appearances alone Lady Cavanagh is very impressed so far.  When I've started making a few products I'll write more about how easy/hard it was and how to create them.

The door to a world of customised mineral cosmetics has just been opened and Lady Cavanagh's eyes are gleaming at the prospect...!

Milani Baked Blushes

Lady Cavanagh was after these blushes for quite a while so when they arrived anticipation was high.  Would they live up to the hype? Were they as pigmented a people claimed? How did they compare to Nars blushes?

Before talking about the product itself Lady Cavanagh must mention packaging which is in a word: awful. The plastic gold lid looks gaudy and retains smudgy fingerprints easily.  Below the blush itself is a superfluous brush that would've been good to apply blush with in the 80s (before blending was seemingly invented).  Because of the brush compartment below, the blush pan sits awkardly on top and is prone to flapping up and down. Overall it just feels cheap and wouldn't travel very well in a handbag.

That, thankfully is the main neagtive and the rest is champagne! The blushes are indeed very pigmented and finely milled so they blend out beautifully and a little certainly goes a  long way.  All of the shades Lady Cavanagh has tried are quite shimmery but these not need be avoided if you're not a huge shimmer fan as its quite easy to blend out, leaving you with a gorgeous 'flushed' look.

Lady Cavanagh has purchased 6 of the 9 available shades.

Luminoso, Dolce Pink, Fantastico Mauve (with flash)

Corallina, Rose D'oro, Red Vino

The swatches above were taken it natural light and unfortunately both pictures look a bit similar.  The look quite different of your cheeks though!

The other shades available are Berry Amore, Terra Sole and Bellisimo Bronze; the last 2 of which are more matte and shimmery bronzers, respectively.

Of these shades the most universal is 'Luminoso' which brightens the complexion of both pale and more olive/darker toned skin perfectly.  Its also a great one to use if you want a casual 'not too made up look' but can't bring yourself to leave the house without any makeup on!

'Fantastico Mauve' needs be applied sparingly if you're fair-skinned and Lady Cavanagh would recommend you practice applying this one with plenty of time to blend out any over-application.  This is not the shade you want to be hurriedly trying to wipe off your face as you're running late for the tram on the way to work (trust me, I know...!)

'Dolce Pink' is great for that 'fresh spring' look and has a great ability to make you feel pretty if you're having a bit of a dull day.

In terms of price, these blushes are a great deal. Cherry Culture has them for US$6.99 each and they really are the kind of product that will last for ages as you don't need to use much to create a great look.

The Milani blushes rate pretty well in terms of comparison to Nars.  The main difference is that Nars blushes seem to 'stick to the brush' more than the Milani blushes do, meaning that you're less likely to have product fallout in the pan.  For a lot of people Nars blushes represent the 'Holy Grail' of blushes but for the price and versatility Milani is a strong contender and definitely one of the best 'drugstore' brands available.

Overall Lady Cavanagh is highly impressed and for the price would recommend purchasing as many as your make-up drawer can handle!

Australian Birchbox is finally here!

Lady Cavanagh tonight decided to wipe the cobwebs off the keyboard and return to the blog.

Its been over 2 months since the voice of Lady Cavanagh called out into cyberspace, which is as much to do with laziness that cold weather brings about as it is to do with some other non-beauty related issues getting in the way.  That said, the return to the blog has finally come about so let's get into it!

The most exciting piece of beauty news this past week has been the discovery of the Australian version of the Birchbox.  And not only that but there are three companies offering a similar service with the promise of more to come!  For those of you not familiar with the Birchbox the concept is fairly simple - subscribers pay a monthly fee in return for a box of (typically high end) beauty samples; allowing you to try out different types of products as well as allowing the brands to be exposed to a wide range of people.  You can go online and complete surveys about the products you've tried in that month in return for 'loyalty points' which you can put towards purchasing full sized version of the products you've been trying.

Lady Cavangh often bemoaned the fact that Birchbox and similar services were only available in the States or Europe but now the concept has finally come to Oz!

The three main subscriber services that have started up so far are:

So far Lady Cavanagh has signed up to Bellabox and Lust have it as they seem to have the best brands.

Here's a quick rundown of the brands each has signed up so far:

* Bellabox - obsessive compulsive cosmetics, panda pen, a'kin, givenchy, napoleon perdis

* Lust have it - opi, kérastase, lancôme, burt's bees, lush, dermalogica

* Glossybox - australis, calvin klein, bobbi brown, illamasqua, essie

The boxes are $14.95 or $15/month which includes postage.  They also recommend you get it delivered to your work address if possible as someone needs to sign for it - plus you don't want the agony of arriving home only to discover a card from the post office for a parcel you can't collect cos you're at work all day!

The boxes in Australia have only been going since August of this year but already Lady Cavanagh has seen ladies all over the internet salivating at the prospect of their next delivery.  The next Bellabox is due to ship around November 10th and Lust have it around the middle of the month - Lady Cavanagh can't wait!

Stay tuned for a review of the boxes contents when the finally arrive (this is of course if my boyfriend hasn't killed me first to stop my incessant whining "where's my bellabox?!")

Philosophy - "Great skin is in" set

Philosophy make a lot of different products but one of the areas in which they really excel is skincare. Each of their products are available individually but by far the best value is to get one of their skincare sets ('regimes') such as 'Great Skin is in'.

The 'Great Skin is in' set comes with 5 pieces and gives you a complete skincare routine for morning and night.  The sizes of the products are full size meaning one set will last you for a while and doesn't have that 'mini travel set' feel with bottles that don't pour properly and only last a week or so.

The box comes with instructions on when to use each of the products which is realy handy if you're just starting out with skincare and don't know off the top of your head when to apply retinol etc...


Cleanser: Purity made simple cleanser - 8 fl. oz. (237ml) Great non-foaming cleanser that can be used both morning and night.  Removes makeup and doesn't leave the skin with that 'dried out' feeling that a lot of cleansers can.  It works especially well with the Clarisonic Mia; you only need a 10c piece-sized amount.


Day moisturiser: Hope in a jar (in a tube) SPF 25 - 1 fl. oz. (30ml). Not too greasy and won't casue break outs; just be sure to leave it with enough time to 'soak in' to your skin before putting on makeup..  The only fault with this is if you wear it exercising - it will leave a 'yellow film' on your face which isn't great if you're heading out for lunch straight afterwards!



Serum: When Hope is not Enough - 1 fl. oz (30ml).  Fast absorbing, light and non-greasy.  It has a distinctive smell, rather like rosemary or some other strong herb and for this reason the serum is best applied before bed (although it can be worn under makeup during the day).  Its specific purpose it 'facial firming' which it does well, as well as put some moisture back into skin that feels affected by the elements.



Night moisturiser: Hope in a jar - 1 fl. oz. (30ml) Definitely not so thick it leaves you with that pore-clogging feeling.  Leaves your skin feeling refreshed in the morning.  Suitable for day wear too, just without the benefit of a SPF.


Night treatment: Help me (retinol) - 1.05 fl. oz. (30.5g). There's a whole list of benefits for this cream, chiefly the prevention of wrinkles.  If you're prone to break outs this is meant to help too but Lady Cavanagh wouldn't advise wearing it every night as it can sometimes cause them...

This set is available from Skin Store (www.skinstore.com) and is one of Philosophy's larger sets, of which they have about 10 different ones.  If you run out of one item before the others, individual products can also be purchased from Skin Store or StrawberryNet (www.strawberrynet.com)

Eyeko Haul!

Lady Cavanagh was perusing the Eyeko website a couple of weeks ago and decided purchasing a new 'Fat Balm' was in order.  But it's never just one item is it? And then before you know it you're approaching the 'free shipping threshold' and it seems foolish not to keep selecting items.

So, here we are, a fortnight later and Lady Cavanagh has received her order from Eyeko.

In this order was...
Fat Balm - Frosting: 'Lolly' pink that looks great on the cheeks. If you have a pale complexion it can look quite bright on the lips so perhaps pair with some nude gloss if you want to tone it down.  The scent is like 'tea biscuits' rather than frosting but is a very pleasant smell.
Fat Balm - Cherry: Darker red which can be work lightly for a more casual look or layered up for a nighttime pop of colour.  Smell is like Cherry lollies but not really noticeable when you're wearing it.
Eyeko Cream - Extra Glow: Suitable as a highlighter for cheeks and brow bones, its quite similar to Benefit's 'High Beam' but a thinner consistency.  Leaves a lovely shimmer on the skin.
Graffiti eyeliner pencil - Black (free gift with Ambassador code): Good staying power and a great place to start if you're not familiar with liquid liner and are keen to practice some killer lines across your lids.

Shipping on the Eyeko website advises it may take up to 4 weeks for international orders but Lady Cavanagh's latest order took less than 2 weeks.

Where to buy stuff

Whilst Lady Cavanagh loves living in Australia she does often find herself daydreaming of Europe/America and the delight of walking through Sephora, basket in hand and credit card at the ready... Compounding the sadness at not being able to to do this as often as she would like is the frustration Lady Cavanagh experiences with the astronomical prices Australian retailers charge for the same products here.

Case in point - from Sephora the Nars Multiple sticks are US$39 yet at the Australian 'equivalent' Mecca they set you back a princely $79.  Lovely products yes, but Lady Cavanagh would much rather save her pennies for high tea than spent $79 on one item.

So...after much internet research here are the places Lady Cavanagh sources her beauty products from:

Kiss and Makeup - high end makeup, skincare
www.kissandmakeupny.com
Kiss and Makeup will also include at least one sample with all orders delivered.
Brands: Nars, Mario Badescu, Kiels, Clarisonic (including the increasingly popular Clarisonic Mia)
Shipping: US$9.95 Flat rate for international shipping, regardless of weight.  Mario Badescu products have a different shipping rate based on the value of products ordered.  The prices listed on the website are for US and international shipping and for orders between US$1-100 shipping is US$18
Delivery time: 2-3 weeks


Skin Store - skincare, makeup, hair care
http://www.skinstore.com/
Up until recently the best place to buy the Clarisonic range, they unfortunately no longer ship the brand to Australia.   Skin Store frequently has 15-20% off sales so if you're going to get something from here wait a week or so and a sale code will usually appear on the site.
Brands:  Sothys, BareMinerals, Kinerase, Philosophy (Great range of products including the skin care sets and makeup), plus many more
Shipping: Flat rate of US$14.95 charged for international orders, regardless of weight.
Delivery time: 2 weeks

Cherry Culture - 'drugstore' makeup
http://www.cherryculture.com/
Create a free account which will allow you to hold items in your shopping basket (they clear very quickly otherwise), calculate shipping and accumulate rewards points (250 points = $10 voucher)
Brands: NYX (Full range and quite often on sale and cheaper than the NYX official website, which doesn't ship to Australia anyway), Milani, Eyeko (most of their range except for the nail polishes), Jordana, plus many more
Shipping: International is based on weight but isn't a set formula. For example if you bought a couple of eye pencils you'd pay around US$10 for shipping but if you added another 6 items the total cost would only increase to around US$15.  The website has a shipping calculator but you need to create an account and sign in first.
Delivery time: 2 weeks or less


Strawberrynet - high end makeup, skincare, hair care, perfume
www.strawberrynet.com
Strawberrynet usually have a lot of 'left over stock' or discounted colours etc.  The products are all brand new and some are sold 'unboxed' for an even cheaper rate.  Great prices compared to what is available in Australia, it is well worth checking if Straweberrynet has something before hitting the shops.
You get a free gift with your first order as well as a % off depending on the number of items you have purchased.  For each subsequent order placed you also get a further discount (e.g. An extra 1% off on your 2nd order, up to 10% off for your 20th order).
Strawberrynet also has an ebay store which comes from the same warehouse (free shipping and delivery time) but has specials that aren't available on their website. Lady Cavanagh picked up 2 Benefit Crease-less Cream shadows for AUD$19 when one on the Strawberrynet website is AUD$17
Brands: Too many to mention but some well known ones include Nars, Benefit, Mac, Stila
Shipping: Free!
Delivery time: Less than a week

Nail etc - nail polish, nail and hand care, polish stands
http://www.nailetc.com/
Use discount code 'TW_10' to get 10% of your total order (pre-shipping)
Brands: OPI, China Glaze, Orly, Essie; as well as many other polish brands
Shipping: Varies depending on the number of bottles you get.  For 6-10 bottles international shipping is US$19.99
Delivery time: 2-3 weeks

Spa Look - skincare, makeup, hair care
http://www.spalook.com/
Brands: Very similar to Skin Store but they also carry Dermologica.
Shipping: Flat rate of US$14.95 charged for international orders, regardless of weight.
Delivery time: 2 weeks

Eyeko - exclusively Eyeko products
www.eyeko.com
All the Eyeko range is available here with the exception of their 'Tinted Cream' (which is available from Cherry Culture).  If you include an Eyeko ambassador code when checking out they will also send you a free gift (the gift changes regularly but the latest offering will be listed on their website).  The ambassador codes can be easily found through google.
Prices on the site can be switched between US$, GB£ or Euros €
Shipping: US$7.50 for international orders or free if you spend over US$55.
Delivery time: Less than 2 weeks

Nars Blushes

After catching wind of one of the most publicised blushes in the world, Nars' 'Orgasm' Lady Cavanagh decided to jump aboard the bandwagon and try it for herself.  Purchased in the same order was what is considered a 'sister shade' - Nars' 'Deep Throat'.

Both blushes are highly pigmented and very finely milled.  This means that a little goes a long way and they are super blendable, but also buildable depending on the type of look you're going for.  Another impressive quality is that when swiping your brush across the pan the blush itself doesn't become loose and spill out the sides.

'Orgasm' is the darker of the two with more of a reflective gold element.  Unfortunately neither blush photographs exactly as they look in the pan so it is hard to see the gold in the picture to the right.  Fairly similar to 'Orgasm' is Benefit's 'Coralista' which is still shimmery but not as gold.

 'Deep Throat' leans more towards a peachy-coral. Very versatile and the kind of blush you find yourself continuing to reach for even though you have other blushes at your disposal.

'Deep Throat' on the left &
 'Orgasm' on the right (no flash)

Many reviewers have compared both blushes and for people with fair skin the best way to separate the two would be to say that 'Deep Throat' is more suitable for everyday wear whereas 'Orgasm' is better for nighttime or in the summer months when you're a bit more tanned and want more of a dramatic look.







If you have a reddish complexion and feel a bit scared off by cheek colour, Nars blushes are a great place to start.  Because they can be applied so delicately they really leave you in control of how much blush you want to wear and don't suddenly leave you with a 'clown look' after just one swipe.  Especially when blended out both these shades give you a natural 'warm complexion'  which serves to complement your look rather than make your cheeks the main focus.

Nars can be purchased from strawberrynet but they have a pretty limited range and the prices aren't that much cheaper than when purchased from US sites.  Lady Cavanagh highly recommends Kiss and Makeup NY (www.kissandmakeupny.com) as they carry the full range and charge US RRP (US$27) compared to Australian RRP which is currently AUD$49 - scandalous!

OPI - Dating a Royal

Inspired by the Issa dress Kate Middleton wore when announcing her engagement 'Dating a Royal' is a deep blue matte polish.  When applying for the first time be sure to give the bottle a good shake and beware! After the first coat the polish looks streaky and blotchy, quite different from other OPI shades after one coat.  All is not lost however as after the second coat the colour transforms into a deep opaque with a surprisingly even coverage considering the appearance after the first coat.

The picture below doesn't really convey the colour as well as the picture of the bottle to the left; with the image below looking quite dark and navy and not the 'milky' blue that the colour really is.

Overall a very 'smart' colour it is perhaps more suited to wintertime. Whilst Lady Cavanagh doesn't have the Issa dress or the heir to the British throne she does however have a snappy new manicure that gleams like sapphires...

Mario Badescu

Ever see advertising campaigns aimed at different demographics and think 'how could those suckers fall for that?' but then been instantly attracted to a product and realised the same thing has happened to you? Such is the tale of Lady Cavanagh and Mario Badescu products...

It began innocently enough when Lady Cavangh received a free sample of Mario Badescu's Glycolic Eye Cream with her kissandmakeupny.com order. 'What is this?' she thought opening the small pot for the first time...fast forward a few months and Lady Cavanagh is a Mario devotee - here's why...

The products themselves are nothing remarkable to look at - simple packaging with plain names such as their popular 'Drying Lotion' for blemishes. What has made Mario Badescu a stand-out brand for Lady Cavanagh is, quite simply, they work.

In Lady Cavanagh's first order she purchased a cross section of products from across the range - below is a quick review of each...

Raspberry body scrub

Raspberry Body Scrub

As you can see from the picture below the product has a very natural look, with raspberry seeds immediately visible.  The smell, however, is not a strong as one would expect (but perhaps Lady Cavanagh has been spoilt by Philosophy's 'Raspberry Sorbet' body wash) and actually comes off a little artificial.

Scent and appearance aside, when used in the shower or bath the product gives a real sense of 'cleansing and moisturizing'.  The raspberry seeds are what gives it the 'scrub' element but it's not harsh on the skin and if in need of strong exfoliation this probably isn't the product for you.

Glycolic Eye Cream

Lady Cavanagh read a few reviews on the different Mario Badescu eye creams on offer before committing to this one.  Descriptions of this product varied from 'suitable for mature skin' (not quite Lady Cavanagh) to 'the most moistursing eye cream'.  Nevertheless, it was this product which stated Lady Cavanagh's interest in Mario so she decided to give it a try.                                                                                                                                Its certainly not suitable for day-time; the product (even when applied sparingly) is quite thick and applies a little like a 'moisturised vaseline'.  Applied just before bed-time the Glycolic eye cream really works well to sooth and moisturise the under eye area and work out any fine lines from stress or dehydration.  As for it's success in preventing wrinkles, only time will tell...

Oil Free Moisturizer - SPF17

A great everyday moisturiser it only needs a couple of minutes to 'settle' before you can apply makeup over the top.  The oil-free element is great if you are prone to breakouts as sometimes using a suncream/moisturiser and then applying makeup can be too much for sensitvie skin. This doesn't clog pores and while not enough SPF for a full day in the sun, for days when you're mainly inside but still want to know you have some sun protection, this is perfect.

Enzyme Cleansing Gel

Works well to clean thoroughly and break down makeup.  You only need a small amount, which means a 20oz bottle will last for ages.  The smell does take some getting used to - sometimes it smells quite chemical and others 'intense cucumber'...

The Enzyme cleansing gel definitely leaves the skin feeling soft and cleansed but not tight like the skin has been stripped.  It has really helped with Lady Cavanagh's problematic skin around the chin area.

Drying Cream

Helps with inflammation and active or 'soon to arrive' pimples.  You use it by putting a cotton bud straight to the bottom of the bottle and then dotting the pink 'paste' onto your blemishes as the last step in your skincare routine at night.  There is a definite tingle when applied and going to bed covered in pink spots isn't the greatest look, however when used for a few days it really does help reduce inflammation and redness.  Try thinking of this product as a 'grown up Clearasil' - although this is called 'drying cream' it doesnt leave the whole skin area feeling 'chemically treated' the way clearasil and other prodcuts like it do.

Overall

Mario Badescu can be hard to come by in Australia, but is worth tracking down.  There seem to be a lot of mixed reviews online, either from people who swear by the brand or those that think its not 'natural & organic' enough. Ultimately it comes down to what works well with your skin type.  For Lady Cavanagh they are simple products that deliver on their promises and a range that she will certainly continue to use.

Eyeko Fat Balm - Strawberry

On a whim Lady Cavanagh decided to add Eyeko's Strawberry Fat Balm to her latest Cherry Culture order and she was not disappointed.  Promising both an lip and cheek tint this product does exactly that, at a very reasonable price too.

First though to the smell; its a very sickly sweet scent, more 'strawberry shisha' than actual field grown strawberries, its nevertheless not too overpowering or noticeable. 

Onto the product itself - when swatched on the hand it does look quite pale and does not do the Fat Balm justice when compared to the lovely colour it creates on the lips and cheeks.

Other reviewers have complained that the girth of the balm makes it hard to apply, but if put on with a steady hand you should be fine.  The Fat Balm's colour has a wonderful way of making you look like you have already have pink lips rather than like you've just applied a lip gloss or similar.  Lady Cavanagh likes to apply Lucas Pawpaw ointment over the top which completes the impression that she has a naturally pink pout without any outside assistance...  The Fat Balm can also be layered for more of a 'lipstick look' and has pretty good staying power but isn't so much of a 'stain' as Benefit's 'Benetint'.

When using the Fat Balm as a blush it is best to apply it sparingly and dot it across the apples of your cheeks before blending so as to avoid applying too much product.  When applying the Fat Balm as a blush and lip colour at the same time it gives a lovely 'flushed' look without appearing too artificial.

Overall Eyeko's Fat Balm is perfect for those days when you don't want to look too 'made up' but want to avoid people asking "Are you feeling ok?" (Answer: "Yes, this is just what I look like with no makeup on.  Yes I really am this pale...").  Its also great for middle of the day touch ups when your blush has faded a little, but being at work you don't necessarily want to bust out makeup brushes and a blush palette.

Lady Cavanagh was so impressed she has already ordered another two Fat Balms (in Cherry and Frosting).