REVIEW: Glasshouse Fragrances - Beverly Hills Pink Lemonade...

Being a fragrance fanatic, making sure my home smells welcoming, fresh and clean is high on my list of absolute musts. For me choosing the right scent for the household is as important as the perfume I select to adorn my bod every day, and I decided that a new house deserved a new scent. After much sniffing and sampling at David Jones and a local pharmacy, I chose this delectable cocktail from Glasshouse Fragrances - Beverly Hills Pink Lemonade...

The pink packaging doesn't go with my decor at all, but I was so enraptured with the blend of grapefruit, cherry and lemon, I had to have it ♥. Fresh, playful and invigorating, this scent is perfect for my new abode, which for once isn't surrounded or overshadowed by enormous trees, and natural light floods into just about every room. I wanted to build on this bonus of bountiful sunlight by choosing a scent that made me feel like opening up and letting in even more of the joys of life, and Pink Lemonade literally bubbles over with fun ♥...

The diffuser is a generous 250ml, and with the liquid being triple strength, I find I only have to flip the reeds once a week, fortnightly in hot weather. It's by far the most potent diffuser I've ever tried - it costs a little more (RRP $42.95) but so worth it for the wide area it permeates ♥..

I already knew how enriching the hand wash formula was as a few months ago I purchased Manhattan - Little Black Dress, which is a gorgeously sexy scent (I bought it to match the bathroom decor), but it lacked the particularly summery zing I was after. Since adding Pink Lemonade to my vanity bench, I find myself grinning like a loon every time I wash my hands lol ♥...

For those of you with skin sensitivities, it does contain SLS, but I find it super moisturising, and my hands feel and smell so fresh after washing. The bottle is huge (500ml $24.95), solid as a rock, and the sturdy pump dispenses just the right quantity in one squirt. The ingredients list includes rose hip and argan oils, there are no parabens or animal derived products, and woo hoo, this Aussie company doesn't test on animals ♥...

I've only bought the mini candle so far (RRP $18.95), but am working the 350g one (RRP $42,95) and even the GIANT 700g (RRP $79.95) size into the budget. These are stunning candles that burn cleanly, leave no residue in the glass jar, and the scent lingers forever even when it's not lit ♥... 

They are by far the most fragrant candles I've ever come across. I find some other brands have a not so pleasant background or "under-scent" which spoils the effect for me - I guess it's the type of wax that makes the difference. I also have one of these in Rio De Janeiro, which is Passionfruit and Lime - it was my favourite until I discovered Pink Lemonade ♥...

There's also a hand creme in the range which is next on my list. The website offers free shipping over $50, and I took advantage of the 10% discount that comes when you sign up for their newsletter. Gosh there is such a wide variety of equally delish fragrances, and I expect that once we get towards the end of Autumn and the beginning of Winter, I'll probably change to something earthy, or even the Violet & Patchouli. But for now it's Beverly Hills all the way baby! ♥♥♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Linking to Ingrid's ever popular Monday Makeup Madness Linkup Party - come see the best of the blogs ♥...

EOTD's & Giveaway!...

Was absolutely staggered when I looked back and found that the last EOTD I posted was in August last year! Had lots of issues that needed my full attention round about that time, but they're pretty much all sorted now (the move closer to Sydney was a biggie), so it's time to resume where I left off with uploading some eye looks ♥ I've been posting some fairly regularly on Instagram, but it's not an every day occurrence like it was before - I'm still catching up with years of lost sleep, and haven't been allowing sufficient time in the mornings to do my eye makeup perfectly enough for closeups, plus the fact that age is taking its toll, and there are some days when my eyes are just too wrinkly (boo!). Anyways, I'll still be uploading the better ones from time to time, starting with the selection below. And to celebrate, there's a fun giveaway at the bottom of the page ♥...

For this first look I used MBA Cosmetics Deep Sea - love this as it's matte, perfect as a base, and for lining the crease. As I age I'm finding a whole bunch of things are losing definition, so these days I often have to draw the boundary lines. While I'll always have a crease where the lid meets the hood, the inner part of the lid seems to be blurring into the rest of my eye area, so a dark matte shadow and a fine angled brush is the way to go. I topped the matte blue with Colourpop Too Shy - a stunning metallic shadow. On the waterline is Eye of Horus Teal Malachite Goddess Pencil, and on my lips is NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Run The World ♥ For a bit of fun I've started including my shoes in the jewellery/outfit photos!...

For look #2, I went back to an old favourite - Sugarpill Midori, also a matte, and one of the prettiest emerald greens in my kit ♥...

For the base, and on the waterline, I used my latest fab discovery - Colourpop Creme Gel Liner in the shade Teaspoon, which was a perfect match. This is a brilliant liner - it's matte, lasts for many hours on the waterline, and doesn't irritate. As you can probably guess, I'll be buying more of these ♥. The lipstick I'm wearing is Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick - shade Keep It Coral. Very nice formula, but still a little drying on my lips ♥...

Look #3 was a trip down memory lane to my favourite deep blue eye shadows of all time - L'Oreal Infallible All Night Blue. There's nothing else I've found that compares with the pigment intensity, and the blacky blue base has a brighter blue sheen which catches the light beautifully...

On the waterline again is Eye of Horus Teal Malachite Goddess Pencil - about 3 layers including the shadow fallout, which is why it looks darker than in the first pic. The lipstick is one my darling friend Amy from healthandbeautygirl sent to me recently - it's a crayon made by The Beauty Crop, they call it a PJS Smoothie Stick, and the shade is Guava Nice Day. Super moisturising and super comfortable - absolutely love it, thanks again sweetie! ♥...

And for EOTD #4, I pulled out my Chi Chi Oasis palette, and used the matte black topped with the shimmery silver...

Waterline was Eye of Horus Charcoal Obsidian Goddess Pencil, lips were NYX High Voltage Lipstick in Rags to Riches. I picked this lippie up from Priceline for $5 as it's discontinued - I'm so sad as it's the prettiest shade ♥...

Now for the best part, the loot...

This giveaway is open Internationally!

I went through all my stocks and found quite a few doubles, some items I purchased on sale, plus some are my faves ♥ and I want to share the love. So instead of leaving them languishing in my drawers, I'm bundling them up for one lucky follower ♥... 

There's a wide variety of products in this pack for body, face, eyes & lips. with an RRP of around $200! Here are the details, from leftish to rightish:

• Manicare Mini Brush Kit (4 brushes)
• Mirenesse iCurl Heated Eyelash Curler
• Natural Secrets Goatsmilk Hand Cream ♥
• Skin Therapy Dragon's Blood Sculpting Serum ♥
• Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream ♥
• Maybelline Volum'Express Mega Plush Mascara (Very Black - waterproof)
• Designer Brands Smokey Eye Shadows palette (10 pans plus Eye Liner Pencil)
• Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser ♥
• Skin Republic Neck & Decolletage Repair Mask ♥
• Biore Self-Heating One Minute Mask
• Revlon Love Is On Gift Pack - 3 Matte Lip Balms (Passionate, Fiery, Elusive) + Mirror ♥
• Grace Cole Wild Fig & Cedar Gift pack - Body Lotion, Bath Soak & Bath & Shower Gel ♥
• Lacura Beauty Define Contour Palette

The usual rules apply - one entry per person, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter section, and leave a comment below that answers the question inside the copter.

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This giveaway is now closed - check back later tonight to see who won

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Mahdi M. as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Mahdi please respond to the email I've sent you by 

Wednesday 8th March to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Mahdi has claimed her prize

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Hope you'll join in the fun - best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Hooking up with Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - starts at 6:30am...

SPOTLIGHT: January Empties!...

Before I start I'm sending a quick but heartfelt shout out to all the bloggers who upload Empties (or Monthly Favourites) posts ♥ For me they are the most intensive and time consuming articles I do, I guess because there's virtually a review of every product, and that takes quite a bit of effort. So to all you lovelies who create these faithfully every month, I thank you! No better recommendation than a blogger who's actually finished using a product, and can therefore comment authoritatively on it's effectiveness or otherwise (well for them at least). At kats colourings, January was a bit of a "cloth mask month", and I'm thrilled to be letting you know about some of the ones I've discovered ♥...

Mirenesse Power Lift Dermal Firming Face Mask (2 sheets, RRP $25, VIP $17.50)

So enjoyed this - it's in two pieces, one for the eye area and one for the lower half of the face. Key ingredients include Epidermal Growth Factor Peptide, Hyaluronate, Beta Glucan, Retinol. Collagen & Apple Stem Cells. Whoa! I've only heard of four of these, but it sure packs a hydrating and firming punch. Smells nice too and my face looked extra refreshed after removing the bits and massaging in the remaining essence...

Repurchase?

Seriously considering it - I haven't actually bought anything from Mirenesse for yonks, this came in one of my VIP packs (every second month) but I reckon I might indulge...

Rodial Dragon's Blood Eye Masks (8 sheets, RRP $52)

Oddly enough I've only used one of these so far, primarily because the sheets are impregnated with lots of liquid, so they're a bit messier than some other brands, and you have to lie still or else they slide out of place. They're also a somewhat odd shape with a pointy bit on the inner corner that I had trouble positioning, but I probably just need practice. And then by the time I figured out there was an extra piece of backing cloth, my hands were covered in the serum (like I said I need practice lol). Works out at just under $7 per experience, but I bought them for almost half price at Priceline. Immediate result was a firming and smoothing of the under eye area, didn't notice very much de-puffing, but I need to use them regularly...

Repurchase?

Not at this stage - these will last me a few months, but I do prefer the convenience of the Skin Republic ones, which are peel and stick, and I can sleep in them...

Skin Republic Neck & Decolletage Repair Mask (RRP $7.99)
OMG lovelies, if you could do one thing before the end of this furnace-like Sydney Summer, treat yourself to one of these masks! You kinda need to be undressed to use it (well from the boobs up anyways) as it's loaded with slippery lush serum, but it is so unbelievably cooling and refreshing, you'll want to do what I did and buy more stat! I swear the skin on my neck and chest looked toned, revitalised, firm and above all, lovingly cared for (♥) after I laid down for 20 minutes and basked in all the goodies the formula contains. Ingredients include collagen, CoQ10, rice bran, mulberry, liquorice, aloe & vitamin E. A truly pleasurable experience, and one I'm determined to repeat once a week ♥...
Repurchase?
I already have three waiting in my stash - so far I've only found them at Coles ♥...

Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under Eye Patch (3 pairs, $9.99)
I featured these in my December Empties post, but I'm including them again so you know how much I adore them, and have continued to use them, once a week, without fail. LOVE!
Repurchase?
You know the answer lol ♥...

Nivea In-Shower Rich Body Lotion Skin Conditioner - Very Dry Skin (400ml, RRP $7.99)

One of the benefits of moving house is that there's the high probability of a reassessment (and rediscovery) of the various products one has acquired and possibly forgotten over time. Found this at the back of the cupboard - can't remember why I put it there (almost empty) but most likely I wanted to review it (I usually leave some in the container as a reminder). Anyways I'm so glad I unearthed it as this is a saviour for my bod when my skin is extra dry, or if I've been testing out a not-so-moisturising body wash. Love the scent, love that when I dry myself off, my skin feels silky smooth, and any cracked or flaky bits have gone the way of the dodo ♥...
Repurchase?
That'll be a yes - I especially need this in winter when it's too cold to stand around naked slathering on lotions and/or creams ♥...

Eye of Horus Goddess Pencils - Scarab Sapphire & Smokey Black (12g, RRP $30)
Still entwined in a passionate love affair with these pencils. Until very recently, I haven't found anything to compare with them, and even then, my latest discovery (Colourpop Creme Gel) while long lasting, isn't riddled with nature's goodness like these babies. I ordered these in 2015, and lovingly reviewed them HERE, so they do last for ages - I use any one of the seven in my kit just about every day ♥...
Repurchase?
Back in July last year I was blessed with a win in the Eye of Horus monthly Instagram comp (my choice of $300 worth of products!) and I opted for the Charcoal Obsidian instead of the black - I'm getting a bit long in the tooth to be wearing black on my waterline, and this is a tad more subtle with tiny little sparkles that don't irritate in any way. I also chose the Scarab Sapphire again because it's just such a gorgeous blue. When these run out, I will DEFINITELY be repurchasing them ♥...

Indeed Labs Eysilix (15ml, RRP $36.99)
I was kinda hoping for a mini miracle from this cream as it has pretty good reviews all round - used it twice a day and finished the tube, and although I didn't notice much improvement in my issues (crinkles & eye bags) I ordered another but haven't opened it as I'm trying out Hylamide SubQ Eyes Advanced Serum (which seems to be more effective). I'll certainly use up the second tube, but it didn't deliver any results that were noticeable in the six weeks of use. Also I have one word of warning - the cap is SO tiny and thin, it rolled off the basin and went down the drain at the end of week two, and none of my other caps fit it, so I had to improvise with wrapping a tissue around it. Wasn't all that effective as each time I went to use it, the first bit that squeezed out was dry and stiff - boo!...
Repurchase?
No - I'll keep searching for my HG eye cream...

L'Oreal Age Perfect Golden Age Rich Re-Densifying Night Cream (50ml, RRP $36.95)
Absolutely crazy about this cream - rave review HERE - love this whole range actually. I'm in the middle of trialing the Classic range at the mo' (also for beautyheaven) and while that night cream is gorgeous, it doesn't suit my skin quite as well as this beauty ♥♥♥...
Repurchase?
Sure have - the fornula is darn near perfect for my ageing needs ♥...

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser (177ml, RRP $14.99)
This cleanser is one of those that seemingly lasts FOREVER - it's taken me almost a year to get to the bottom of the bottle! From memory it came in a Priceline skin care goody bag. It's quite nice and very effective for foaming off long wear makeup, but there's something about the scent that bothers me - it's odd as the fragrance is fresh and tangy and not the least bit chemical, but I got bored with it after the second cleanse. No nasty inclusions (although it does contain SLS), it features willowbark, and one pump from the sturdy dispenser will get your face super clean without leaving your skin feeling stripped. Yeah, as I said nice, but for me a bit meh...
Repurchase?
Negative - there are many more that I prefer...

Thanks for reading lovelies, and here's hoping that February is treating you kindly ♥...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Hooking up with Ingrid's always awesome Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - come say hello after 6:30am...

REVIEW: Narciso Rodriquez EDP...

I have quite an extensive fragrance collection (ermmm 60+ at last count) because having choices is very important to me. I love each and every one in varying degrees - some are frivolous flirtations which may only last till the end of the bottle, some are passionate affairs that go on for a while, and then there are the long-time loves that I purchase over and over as I never want to be without them. But having tried Narciso by Narciso Rodriguez, I have a new category - "this is me". When I wear this EDP, I feel complete ♥...

My first encounter was with a 4ml phial that came in my first Marie Claire Ageless Parcel in November 2015, and it was love, true love. Well that was until I found out how much it cost ($160 for 90ml). Anyways, I put a purchase on the back burner, and decided to make the little glass tube last for as long as possible. Not long after that my gorgeous friend Christina told me this was her favourite fragrance (she calls it "sex in a bottle") and that from time to time I could probably find it on special. So I allowed myself the luxury of entertaining the thought that one day it would be mine, and then it happened - Priceline had the 50ml EDP on sale, and I had several vouchers saved up, so I granted my own wish ♥...

This is one of the most beautiful fragrances I've ever come across, and there's been quite a few in the 50 odd years of my perfume passion. It's potent and subtle at the same time, never in your face, but so ridiculously alluring it should be worn with awareness of the potential impact on those close to you. Musky, sensual, creamy, captivating, feminine, elegant, powdery, magnetic - it's all those things. The heart of musk embraces gardenia and Bulgarian rose on a woody base of vetiver, and both black and white cedar - in short it's a masterpiece, and I can't imagine anyone being able to resist the charms of this seductive cocktail ♥...

The bottle is minimalist and straight forward - chunky and heavy with no frills, it really gives no clue as to the pure female power it contains. I spritz it every night before bed. Beautiful from beginning to end, I am still enjoying its intimacy five hours later ♥...

The creator of this gem understands how women want to express themselves. My heart makes me reach for this every day, but my head says save it for special occasions. So far my heart is winning. This is totally wearable at any time of the night or day, any season, whenever you want to treat yourself to a floral woody musk that reminds you about your extra X chromosome. Actually I like Christina's description better - it's definitely sex in a bottle ♥...

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Sharing this article on Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - lots of beaut beauty related articles from bloggers all over the globe. Come take a peek Monday from around 6:30am ♥...

SPOTLIGHT: Last Quarter 2016 Fave LOTD's - Berries, Purples & Oranges...

Yay the final instalment in this particular series! Is there no limit to the rainbow of colours that lip products come in? Fortunately for me it's endless - colour is such a big part of my life, and I ain't gonna waste precious advertising space by leaving my pucker all pale, so here are the Berries, Purples & Oranges...

Only one berry made the cut - I have more clothing in this fruity hue in my Winter wardrobe, so that explains it being solo. Have to give credit to Colourpop for what they produce for so little price - I'm still hoping their range will soon be available in Australia, the postage is killing me lol. The MBA Grape Crush is another regular in my fave LOTD posts - this pinky purple is just so flattering, and the perfect choice for anyone daring to be different, but who's not quite ready to get into REAL purple ♥...

Adore the almost ethereal quality of the Chi Chi Super Duper Dope - I can imagine a fairy princess wearing this. More lavender than purple, but I just had to include it hey. And how about the Colourpop So Wavy - I don't think you can get any more purple than this?!?! Holey guacemole, I had to take quite a few deep breaths before I stepped out the door! Received lots of compliments throughout the day though - only had to reapply it twice, and that was after breakfast (which I eat at work) and lunch. Yesssssssssss! ♥...

From memory this MBA Spiced Pumpkin has starred in more of my fave posts than any other lipstick - it's totally unique, totally gorgeous, and I will never EVER not have it in my collection. The Colourpop Mama is my latest truly madly deeply passion - oh wow, I was not expecting this to be so fabulous, nor did I realise how much I fancy burnt orange ♥...

These two are actually classified as reds, but they're way too orange in my book. Fine by me as I struggle to find nice bright and bold oranges that don't streak, and these more than meet my criteria as well as being lusciously creamy and dense. Both formulas are divinely hydrating, and there's not much to differentiate them colourwise apart from the Chi Chi Matte is a tad more glossy ♥...

Well that's a wrap lovelies! I'll be putting together a collage of my overall faves for 2016 very soon - so looking forward to seeing what is released this year. I'd better make some room ha ha ♥...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Last Quarter 2016 Fave LOTD's - Reds...

Oh boy oh boy oh boy - love posting my favourite reds! Just as difficult to choose as the pinks, and I tend to favour the warm toned ones, but they're all so juicy and vibrant and delish, so enough of the chatter kats...

This Colour Theory lipstick was a surprise - I have so little experience with this brand, but Siren is a real hottie. Very nice formula, and just enough orange content to keep things interesting. The Chi Chi one is perfect when you really want to include a wow factor in your day - despite it being a matte, there's gloss by the bucket load (fine by me!) and a stunner if ever there was one. Whoa! ♥...

The Seraphine Berry Tint came in one of my Lipmonthly bags (thanks again to Barbe the Babe for putting me onto this crowd) - given it's name I was expecting...a tint, but what I got was a fabulously dense and creamy liquid lipsmacker. Absolutely gorgeous hue and leaves a generous stain as it wears. And then of course we have the L'Oreal Bloody Mary, which is quite possibly my favourite red lipstick of all time. You have to wear it to understand how bold and sassy it is - it's just so unbelievably RED! ♥♥♥...

Love these two because they have a toe in the door of the cooler side of the spectrum, which makes them almost neutral reds. Hard to tell these two apart - they're terrific for slightly less adventurous spirits as they're not quite so in-your-face, and yet they still pack an almighty punch. It''s pretty obvious I love L'Oreal, and Place Vendome is super comfortable with a slightly more glossy finish. The Antipodes one is divine - it was a gift from darling Marisa from Marisa Robinson MUA. I had no idea that this brand made cosmetics, and when she found out, she so kindly sent me this baby. Thanks again gorgeous! Hungry Like the Wolf - don't you just love the name? ♥...

And finally some cooler ones which look so fabulous with the more muted tones of winter wardrobes. Both of these are borderline "berries", but I reckon there's enough fire in them to earn a place on the reds page. I prefer the greater moisture content of the Rimmel Retro Red, but kudos to Essence for contributing to the matte mayhem, and this colour is a beauty ♥...

Last in this series will be a combination of Berries, Purples & Oranges, and it will be up in the next few days...

Do you have a favourite red lippie? I'd be so delighted to know its name ♥...

Take care of you,

kats xxx