Butter London's 'Yummy Mummy'

I recently discovered that my local Biome store (an eco store based in Brisbane) stocked Butter London nail polishes! For $22 AUD, it's not cheap, but it was almost impossible for me to find a legitimate site that shipped to Australia for less. Also, when I saw they had the shade I was after, which happens to be named 'Yummy Mummy' (interesting...), I kind of refused to leave without out it. Yummy Mummy is a light brown colour with a hint of shimmer. I'm usually not one for shimmery polishes, but with this one it's barely noticeable. I love it so much I've been wearing it for weeks now, so naturally I just had to blog about it. The packaging is amazing, it has a very luxurious look to it, and like other high end nail polishes, it has a cap that covers the brush, which I think this helps the varnish last longer. Butter London claim to be a '3 Free' company, their polishes contain no formaldehyde, no toluene, do DBP (dibutyl phthalate), colourants or carcinogens (basically every toxic chemical currently linked to cancer) and are animal cruelty free.

Lush Tea Tree Water

Since running out of my staple toner, I've decided to hold off on another haul , save a little money and use up some old toners  that have been lying around. This is one of them: Lush's Tea Tree Toner. This has been gathering dust for almost a year now and I had completely forgotten how much I liked this toner.

It definitely feels like a toner, I've become so used to Korean essences that I've forgotten what a toner is, but it doesn't leave the skin feeling tight and stripped. It's actually very refreshing. My skin drinks it up instantly. I sometimes get this really pleasant tingling sensation afterwards as well, which I think is the tea tree and juniper cleansing out the pores. The scent isn't overpowering either, it's very light and it doesn't linger, but I kind of wish it did. The only criticism I have is on the spray nozzle. It's more of a squirt than spray and if you're afraid of creating lines from scrunching up your face all the time I would probably recommend using the palms of your hands or a cotton pad.

Being an eco-friendly brand, Lush don't go overboard with ingredients. The main component to this toner is tea tree water (melaceusa alternifolia) an anti-inflammatory which helps soothe irritated skin and control oil. It also contains citrus grandis, an antioxidant, and juniper berry water which also helps fight infections and has been said to be an anti-aging remedy. Can't say I can complain about any of this.

Overall, there hasn't been a huge improvement in my skin, and I hadn't really expected it to. It's a toner after all, but my skin has definitely remained clearer. I still get little pimples, but I think this toner really helps attack and soothe problem areas before they get too out of hand, because none of them have really lasted more than a couple of days. Lush is on the pricier side, but this product is one of their most affordable toners. The 100g bottle only set me back $9.95, and it has lasted a really long time, like now that I think about it, over a year. I have been using it on and off though, but I still think it's great value for money. I definitely recommend this for people with oily, acne prone skin!

L'oreal's Butterfly Wing Mascara

L'Oreal False Lash Wings Mascara

After hearing Estee from Essie Button raving about this mascara I immediately added it to my wish list. This is just another case of 'the blogger made me do it.' It's a common problem in my life. I had no need for a new mascara but when I heard Priceline had an introductory offer on it for $18 my resolve crumbled.

I've always been impressed by L'Oreal Mascara's. I don't buy them often because they are expensive. They usually range from  $20-30 but sometimes you can get them for under $20 on sale (which is when I buy them).  The new butterfly wings mascara claims to add instant volume and length, giving a 'winged eye-look'. Here's a photo of the wand:

It definitely has an interesting shape. The top sides of the wand slant slightly, which helps catch those pesky small lashes that you always seem to miss. And then there are the arches at the bottom which help stretch out the outer corners. You can see this in the before and after shots:

Wow. Please excuse the post-assignment eyes.

I think this mascara really lives up to its claims. It's been a while since I've been excited about a mascara, and it's nice when you buy one that actually works. I've noticed a huge difference in the volume and length of my lashes when using this, and I love the curved winged look at the edges, it feels very classic and feminine.

Anyone else tried this mascara? What are your thoughts?

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers

From the left: #101 Celestial & #201 Solstice

So I might be a little late on this bandwagon, but in my defence it has taken a while for these to be released in Australia. When they were finally  released they didn't even have the shades I wanted (#foreveraustralian)! But I did end up purchasing these two: Solstice and Celestial. Solstice is a light purple shade and contains a hint of shimmer in it. Celestial, on the other hand, which is a lighter pink, has no shimmer. Solstice is my favourite out of the two, (why do I always deviate towards the darker shades?) I love the colour and the slight shimmer it gives.

The formulation itself is what you would expect from a lacquer. They will slip and slide all over the place if you're not careful, and need to be touched up frequently. However, they do pack in a lot of pigmentation, and have a beautiful high-shine finish. For me, it's the finish that nullifies the other drawbacks.

Have you tried the Apocalips? What are your thoughts on lip lacquers?