Disney's The Lion King Musical - Outfit of the Day

Hi guys!
Welcome to my very first outfit of the day!
I was a bit hesitant posting outfits of the day as I don't think I really have a certain style or anything but since I went to the theatre today with my best friend and her family to watch 'The Lion King' musical, I decided why not?

Now I don't know about you but at least when I've gone to a theatre before (Capitol Theatre in Sydney) people tend to dress a bit nicer, not super fancy but no jeans, so I opted for a nice dress with some tights and boots! Casual yet nice which I think is perfect especially since the weather is being so bipolar as of late.

I'm in love with this dress, they have it in black with different coloured flowers as well but the red one just caught my attention, especially with the blue flower!
I really like the cut of this dress and the sleeves are ruffled which looks really feminine and pretty.


Dress: Kmart 
Tights: Kmart
Boots: Big W

I'm absoloutly in love with these boots, Big W is selling some really nice ankle boots for $10 so if you have one near you go check them out! Great Autumn/Winter must haves.

I was really fortunate to go to watch 'The Lion King' musical, I had really wanted to go but couldn't get tickets, they were pretty pricey. I absolutely love musicals and have been addicted since watching 'Wicked' while I was in high school, so when my best friend messaged me to let me know she had an extra tickets and if I'd like to come I obviously said Yes! Yes, Yes, YES! haha

That being said, I'd like to thank her once again for taking me! thank you chummy!

Let me tell you now, this musical was AMAZING, the entire set up was wonderful, the cast was super talented and amazing and with all the stage props and changes you could really see how hard they all worked. I was thoroughly entertained and I really wish I could watch it again. If you get the chance, please go watch it, you won't regret it.

xo Sam

Kmart & Priceline Haul

So I've purchased quite a few things over the past month and I decided to share what I got with you all!

So recently Kmart had removed their Make up/Beauty section and had put up Coming soon posters and after doing some digging I found out that they were re-vamping their make up section due to all the stealing and because they were adding new brands to their stock! 

So of course I was intrigued...So while on the hunt for some new gym shoes I decided to just stop by and see if they were done re-vamping and yes! they were!
But first, here's a peek at the clothing items I picked up;

I needed as I mentioned before, a pair of new gym shoes, so that was where I headed to first. Kmart has been advertising all their sports clothing and items as of late so they had tons to choose from but I settled on these black and baby blue sneakers as I wanted something that would match anything I was wearing.

I also needed a new pair of going out flats so while in the shoes section I also picked up this pair of cute brown flats with a zipper design, how cute are they? 

I also needed some new socks to go along with my sneakers so I picked up a pack of 3 socks for $2, if you haven't tried Kmarts $2 socks I reccomend you do! they're great for everyday use, they come in a variety of patterns and they're super cheap!

Here's a close up of the shoes;

Now onto the extremely exciting news!
Kmart now stocks 'elf' (eyes, lips, face)! yes that's right Aussies! we can now purchase 'elf' at Kmart, so of course I purchased just a couple of things just to try them out as I've never tried it before.

I picked up a flat shader brush (eyeshadow brush) from the regular brush line for $3 (they also sell the 'pro' line for $8) I have tried this brush out and find its not as soft as other brushes I own but it is great for packing on colour and for $3 you can't complain.
Also on the list was the 'Long-lasting Lustrous Gel Eyeshadow' in the colour 'Soiree', a beautiful copper colour, perfect for winter! I've yet to try this out but keep an eye out! I do think it will crease without an eyeshadow on top but we shall see!
The last 'elf' product I got was the 'All over color stick in 'Pink Lemonade'. It can be used on the lips or cheeks and is a pretty shimmery pink. I have tried this out on my hand and it smells sooo good! Just like lemonade! which I guess is why it's named Pink Lemonade? haha Genuis right here!

I also got a Lipstick from the 'Lips & Tips' brand in Wildberry! It's a beautiful purply pink that looks stunning, the lipstick isn't drying at all, although I wouldn't say it's 'moisturising' either. I have gotten compliments when I wore this out to work so that's a plus! and for $4 it's great for those of you just starting out with lipstick.

(Kmart now stocks; ELF, Lips & Tips, Face of Australia, Australis, Maybelline, Revlon, Starlet, Rimmel and Covergirl, there might be a few more brands but those are the main ones)

The next item I made a beeline for was lashes! I really needed some new lashes and thank goodness I checked! Kmart always sold lashes but never this great! They've got two new brands, 'Lashes' which i believe is by the Kmart brand and 'Lashstudio'. What I really like about these lashes is the 'invisibleband' which makes it so much easier when applying and blending lashes into your own.
These retail for $4.50 for the 'Lashes' and $6 for the 'Lashstudio', I also picked up an eyelash glue to test out against my duo and Ardell lash glue. (The 'Lashes' brand bring it's own lash glue inside the packet.)
I also picked up a nail polish from the Kmart brand, unfortunately it doesn't have a name but it's a beautiful deep burgundy, it almost looks black on the nails. I've been wearing this colour a lot on my nails this month so be sure to look out for this polish in my March Favourites!

After Kmart I of course stepped into Priceline and picked up just a couple things;

First up was these two Montagne Jeunesse face masks (masque). I love these when I'm in need of a quick face mask and when I want to try something new. I have used both now and actually repurchased the 'Break-out Mask' as my skin has been acting up lately. This was my first time using a 'Sauna' mask and I must say I really enjoyed the warm feeling, it was a bit weird at first but it was definitely relaxing, I recommend it for when you've had a particularly bad day and just need to relax and kick back!
The 'Break-out Mask' is my new favourite mask, it has two parts to it, the top section of the packet is a moisturiser and the bottom is the actual mask. You apply the mask first and then once you've rinsed it off you apply the moisturiser, and your skin will feel amazing and thank you! It really soothed my break outs and made my skin look and feel a whole lot better than it did beforehand. If you have acne prone skin, PLEASE try this out!

I also picked up a new black eyeliner pencil. This time I decided to try on the 'essence' 'STAYS no matter what waterproof eyepencil'. It's a standard liner, I don't find that it's particularly waterproof nor black but it does the job.

And finally while Priceline had their 40% off all cosmetics I picked up a Model Co. Highlighting powder (the pink one, I believe there's also a gold one) which is stunning, I've used this both as a highlighter and eyeshadow and I am really enjoying this, however I advise against using this during the day on your cheeks and it will make you look like someones dumped glitter on your face.

Lastly I picked up a 'Savvy' lipstick in the colour 'plum'. I haven't tried this lipstick yet so I can't give any details but it looks pretty in the tube.

And that's all folks! hope you enjoyed reading about my purchases, let me know if you've tried any of the products mentioned or what you think in the comments!

xo Sam

Maybelline - VOLUM' EXPRESS the Falsies Mascara Review

Mascara is that one product that just makes your eyes pop, no matter what eye colour or skin colour; you can be bare faced with just some mascara and look amazing or you can have a full  face of make up and pile on the mascara and make your lashes look dramatic and smouldering. ( Just make sure you don't turn your lashes into 'Spider lashes')

Mascara is one of those products that run out fast, it SHOULD be changed every 3 months. Let's be honest though, I don't always change out my personal mascara on time, especially if I'm loving the mascara, I want to use every single bit of product. I'm a firm believer in that you do not have to pay 30 dollars or more for a high end mascara (don't get me wrong, there are amazing high end mascaras, but if I'm replacing it every 3 months I'd rather splurge on another product, e.g. foundation). 

Last year however I was really struggling to find a good drugstore mascara, I was using the Lash Blast Waterproof (I accidentally had picked up waterproof and then just stuck to it) mascara from Covergirl but the brush was making it annoyingly hard to get all my lashes and my bottom lashes without getting a blob or dot on my skin, ruining my make up, but to be fair it was the only mascara that was giving me super dark and thick looking lashes. (Just a friendly note: The Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara Waterproof is ridiculously hard to get off, seriously, that stuff does not budge)

Towards the end of the year however I was getting bored using the same mascara and having to clean up all the mistakes, I was just about ready to throw in the towel and purchase the Benifit they're real! mascara when I did some digging and found a lot and I do mean A LOT of great reviews on the Maybelline Volum' Express the Falsies mascara so while the Chemist Warehouse was having a 2 for $20 deal on Maybelline mascaras and liners I picked up the Falsies in 'Black Drama' in the regular formula. I was really excited to try it and see if it would become my next favourite! The brush was different to any other mascaras that I had tried in the past, it has a sort of spoon shape, which I think is what gives your lashes that amazing curl. 

As soon as I tried it for the first time I could already see it was going to be amazing and I would continue using it! Before I get into any specifics let's see what Maybelline claims this mascara does.

Maybelline says;

Lash Glam goes extra Matte, extremely black 300% more Visible Lashes corner-to-corner, no gaps.

Why you'll love it:

The most dramatic lash fab volume!

-Patented Spoon brush reaches lashes from corner-to-corner, which Black Drama formula fills in every gap.

-Matte black lashes

-No Gaps from any angle

-Contact Lens safe and Ophthalmologist tested

-Washable (also available in waterproof formula)

For best results hold brush with spoon side upwards against lashes and sweep from root to tip. Repeat until desired look is achieved.

Now those are some pretty big claims, 300% more visible lashes? no gaps! and for me, a contact lens wearer, this product is safe and easy to remove! sounds great! right? 

One major problem with the Lash Blast apart from the massive brush was the fact that it did not budge, yes of course it's waterproof but I still expect to be able to remove the product from my lashes at the end of the day without pulling half of them off and irritating my eyes. It took quite a bit of work to get the Lash blast off, and for late nights sometimes I was just not bothered.

Here is a picture of my eye with absolutely no mascara:

Here is a picture of my eye with the Covergirl Lash Blast in Waterproof (Lashes not curled):

Here is a picture of my eye with the Maybelline the Falsies (Lashes not curled):

Here is a picture of my eye with the Covergirl Lash Blast in Waterproof with my Lashes curled:

Here is a picture of eye with the Maybelline the Falsies with my Lashes curled:

(you can see clumps in this picture! I would usually brush them out but for the sake of the review I left them, this is with two coats, no drying in between)

Since wearing the Falsies Mascara for about 3 and a half months I have gotten countless compliments on how great my lashes look (although I've never been asked if I'm wearing 'Falsies' aka False Lashes) which I think is great, they must really look good if I'm getting compliments right?

I like how dark it makes my lashes look and how long and thick, however sometimes I feel it can clump the lashes together but you can fix that with simply combing through your lashes with a disposable mascara wand. I like how I can get all of my lashes, including the ones right in my inner corner and outer corner, and even all my bottom lashes. 

I have worn this mascara all day with no flaking, but I did give it the ultimate test, I went dancing with some girlfriends while wearing this mascara and it was boiling hot, I was sweating and there was no air conditioning and it still looked great at the end of the night (12 hours later!) which is obviously a plus! 

Overall I think if you really like the dramatic lash look you should definitely give this mascara a go! I don't think it you get 300% more visible lashes but I do think it makes them look amazing!

5/5 from me!

xo Sam.

My Favourite Face Masks!

Face masks, I personally LOVE them, I am always walking around the house with one slathered on, scaring my parents and my brother (in fact I'm wearing one right now) . I sometimes think they're overlooked in the skincare area, not many people use them enough, and If I'm being honest, sometimes a face mask does more for my skin that my entire skin care regime! I am always reminding people to use at least one, once a week, it really brightens and refreshes your skin.
I have tried quite a couple of face masks over the years and I have found quite a few favourites that I use for different purposes! So today I thought I'd share some of them with you so that maybe you could try them out and who knows! maybe they will become a staple in your skincare products!
(Of course do a patch test before applying any of these masks all over your skin as certain ingredients can irritate the skin and you would not like to have an allergic reaction. Please also note that while these products may work amazingly for me, they may not do so for you, but that's okay! keep trying new masks until you find the one or ones that suit your skin!)

Let's talk about Hydrating masks first, I have two favourites that I find do the job excellently, at least for my skin! Hydrating your skin is very important no matter what skin type you have, (that includes you! oily skinned people) it keeps your skin looking younger for longer, and plumper and makes your make up glide on better. Sometimes however, a moisturiser isn't enough, or maybe you just really want to pamper your skin for a special event, or if you've just got the time while you're watching your favourite show (teen wolf!) and that's when I like to use these;

Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Mask
Out of all my face masks, this is the simplest one, it doesn't do anything else but really hydrate and moisturise my skin. I find that after I use it my skin looks brighter and feels much softer, it's the sort of mask I recommend to everyone. On the package it says to leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes, I generally leave it for about 15 minutes, it feels very refreshing and cooling on the skin, it's also a nice baby pink colour. I picked it up for $10 dollars at the Chemist Warehouse, but I'm sure you could find it other places.

THIRST stop! hydrating and calming mask with MP aquaFLEX by Model Prefer
This is my favourite mask to go for when my skins having a rough day, it hydrates really well and I can leave it on for a pretty long while! it goes on white but dries clear and it doesn't set! it just feels really luxurious on the skin, sort of like a spa treatment! I definitely recommend this mask! but please do a patch test as I've heard of people saying this mask made their skin feel like it was burning, I have sensitive skin and didn't feel anything, however its always important to be cautious. It says on the package to leave it on for 15 minutes but I sometimes leave it on for longer if I'm busy.

Okay, let's talk LUSH! Their fresh face masks are my favourite things in the world! Seriously, if you want to indulge or splurge I suggest stopping by a Lush store, the sales assistants are always super nice and they're always there to lend a hand (and try the products on your hand!). I have tried 2 of the Lush Face masks but I am hoping to try them all, I don't currently have any however, as you know (or maybe not if you've never been to lush) their face masks have a shelf life of 3-4 weeks and they have to be kept in the fridge.

Lush BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask
Relaxing, reviving, mineral-rich mask, to cleanse, soften and beautify. Fresh nutritious seaweed, cleansing kaolin, antiseptic honey, calming aloe vera and rose absoloute makes this a great mask for everyone.
Sounds amazing, doesn't it? I really liked this mask, it was hydrating and was great for those days when you come home stressed and want to have a pamper evening and some time to yourself! It lived up to its claim and was just a pleasure to have on the skin, the only annoying bit was the pieces of seaweed were a tad bit big and annoying to wash off but other than that, AMAZING. Don't let the thought of seaweed put you off!
Note: Lush face masks on the whole are messy to get off and this one was no exception, I did find using a face cloth makes the whole process a bit easier and less messy.

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask
Avoid disasters with the power of blueberries! Fresh blueberries are rich in beneficial antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to reduce inflammation and act as a mild antiseptic. Soothing chamomile, Irish moss and almond oil work with the gentle cleansing action of calamine to save your skin. 
I loved this face mask, I'm prone to small breakouts and this mask was just heaven, I noticed the difference as soon as I washed it off, my acne was reduced in size and less red. It didn't aggravate my skin at all and left it super soft! It's an awesome blue colour as well, with little bits of blueberries but not too big that they feel uncomfortable. This mask sets really well, so much that I can't smile, it also lightens as it dries so you know exactly when to wash it off! On the note of washing, washing this particular mask off was a pain in the butt, be aware that if you don't rinse well as soon as you dry your face you'll notice blue powdery residue left on your skin, but I mean, since this mask is amazing it's kinda worth the extra hassle. Amazing for those of you with acne prone skin.
Lush Face masks are generally $17 and I can get about 6 uses out of each pot.

Congested skin? No problem. These are a few of my favourite masks for when my face is frustrated and annoyed and covered in acne. I sometimes put them all over my face, or sometimes I just put them on the spots that need it, either way, these are my miracle workers.

Palmers Purifying Mask with Green Clay and Sweet Almond Oil
I feel like I'm saying I love all these masks and hey, this ones no exception. If it works, it works. This mask is just great at dealing with congested skin, it tightens, cools and sucks up all the oil and disgustingness that is congesting your skin. It comes in an easy to squeeze tube and goes on white, you can feel the tinglyness of the mask as it works to help your skin, this is another mask I'd say is good for all skin types. It's really gentle too so it would be great for those of you with super sensitive skin. You can pretty much get this mask everywhere and it's under $15 dollars so it's a great affordable mask.

Garnier Pure 3 in 1 Wash + Scrub + Mask
This is my go to spot treatment for those annoying pesky zits that just don't want to go away, it really helps in making them go away. I don't use this product for anything else so it lasts me quite a while, however I will occasionally apply it all over my face. Not much else to say, it works. The only thing is, if you have a really angry spot, be extra careful using this mask as it can aggravate it due to the small scrub particles, remove it gently with warm water and don't rub hard at your skin. Only use this mask if your acne prone, dry skin people beware, it has salicylic acid which can dry your skin out more.

There you have it, my top face masks, however I'd like to just mention a few others. If you can find Sheet masks, they're great! especially the hydrating ones, Olay has some great ones, or you can try Ebay or online stores. I also like heading to Priceline and picking up the packs of the Montague Jeunesse masks, they come in a huge variety and are great for pamper evenings or sleepovers with your girlfriends.

Here's a picture of myself wearing a face mask!

xoS

International Womens Day

Happy International Womens Day everyone!

This post is going to be short and sweet!

However I'd just like to remind you that everyone is special (including the male gender haha) but today is the day to celebrate women and how far we have come! 

Remember to love yourselves no matter what, because at the end of the day the one person who will always be there for you is YOU. Hating yourself will just make things difficult, so today embrace yourself, your flaws, the things you love about yourself and just accept yourself! 

And if that doesn't work remember you're a kick ass woman!

Dream, Live, Inspire!

Ps my other Tanya Burr Lip gloss came in the mail! I got 'Vampire Kiss' a gorgeous pigmented red, there's no need to even wear a red lipstick underneath! Once again, well done Tanya! 

Here's a picture of me wearing it last night before going and watching 'Vampire Academy'!

xoS

February Favs!

Hello!

It's that time of the month again! time for some favourites!

February seemed to fly past! I can't believe we're already in March! Seems like this year is going to fly by, it'll be 2015 before I even know it.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves now, lets take a look at what products I've loved this month;

(From left to right; Rimmel Salon Pro Kate Nail Varnish in 'Rock n Roll', Sally Hansen complete salon manicure in 'Plums the Word', Tanya Burr Lip gloss in 'Champagne Toast', Maybelline Master precise liquid liner, Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in '107', Maybelline The Falsies mascara, Nivea lip butter in 'Caramel cream')

I've really been loving nail polish in February, I stopped getting shellac nails and started painting my own and there's been two colours I've been wearing non stop which have been getting me into the Autumn/Winter season that has begun to hit Australia. Two colours that scream winter to me are reds and plums, they are basically all I wear on my nails other than a neutral colour every now and then. 

Rimmel has really been on the ball recently and I've been obsessing over their products but I have usually over looked their nail polishes but once I saw the beautiful rich red colour from their Kate moss line I couldn't help myself. The colour is called 'Rock n Roll' which I think suits the varnish perfectly, it's the kind of colour I'd imagine Demi Lovato wearing while rocking out. I think Rimmel did an amazing job with their polish as it look like gel polish while it's on and the brush is very similar to the Sally Hansen brush, (looks like a paddle) which I love as it makes painting your nails easier. It's definitely worth adding to your collection, I'm thinking about trying out some more! 

The second polish is from the Sally Hansen complete salon manicure line, it's called 'Plums the Word' which as you can probably guess from the name is a beautiful Plum colour. I really like this colour it's a bit unusual but it just looks amazing on the nails, it's plum but more of a grey plum so it sort of just goes with anything you have on. The brush on the complete salon manicure line is just great, as I mentioned above with the Rimmel polish which is very similar, it looks like a paddle which makes getting an even coat of polish easy peasy. A really good colour to add to your winter nail polishes if you don't already own it.

I've been going pretty simple on the eyes this last month just a winged eye liner and mascara and the two products which have helped me achieve the look I wanted were; the Maybelline the Falsies mascara, which if you haven't tried I really recommend it! I can't rave about it enough, I always get compliments on my lashes when I wear it, and the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid liner which is possibly the best liquid liner I've ever used. It's a felt tip liner and has a super fine tip so that you can do thin or thick lines. It makes doing a cat eye super simple and if you want to go super crazy and do some detail work around your eyes it's great for that too!

The last three products are for your lips (mwah!) and they're what I've been using on mine. 

Nivea recently came out with their very own lip butters which come in quite a couple scents, including a non scented one for those of you who have a reaction to scents. I picked up the caramel cream scent which just smells absolutely divine! I can't really explain the scent other than it's sort of what I imagine butter beer to taste like. I usually put this on before bed as it can give of a white cast on your lips if you use a bit too much, which is really the only downside as I find this very hydrating.

The next lip product is a gloss from the Tanya Burr line (Champagne Toast), which I have a full first impression review on my blog, check it out if you haven't already. It's just a beautiful gloss with a slight colour that just looks amazing and is not sticky at all. It's been on my lips constantly this month and I've gotten loads of compliments on it, did I mention it smells like strawberries and cream? Yum.

If I wasn't wearing my Tanya Burr Lipgloss I've been wearing my Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in '107'. A Beautiful deep wine red, which I think would suit many different skin tones, it's matte but not drying and just feels great on the lips. It also smells like lollies when you apply it which makes reapplying a dream. A great colour to have for this coming winter season!

So those were my Feb Favs! I hope you enjoyed reading about them.

Leave me a comment on your favourite products!

xoS

Mini Chemist Warehouse Haul

So today after work I stopped by the Chemist Warehouse just to have a browse and repurchase my favourite concealer (Rimmel Wake me up), but of course being the beauty junkie I am, I didnt leave with the thing I came for. 

(For those of you who aren't from Australia or have simply never heard of the Chemist Warehouse, it's basically a store that sells prescription medicine, make up, skincare, vitamins, protein powder, etc. at a discounted price.)

(yes I went outside and took this picture in the gloomy rainy weather)

So first up on the list of things I picked up was this 'Soin Du Visage - Byphasse - Solution Micellaire'

This brand I'm pretty sure is new to the Chemist Warehouse as I've never seen it before, It was in the isle that has all the acne treatment, Cetaphil, QV etc. Its a gentle make up remover that does not need to be washed off, it's supposed to be good for sensitive, dry or irritated skin. I think this just might be a dupe for the Bioderma, so I'm excited to try it out and see how it compares. This was $10 dollars for 500ml or 16.9 fl.oz (You can pick up Bioderma from Priceline now here in Australia but it's quite expensive.)

The next thing I picked up was these Paris Hilton lashes which I never even knew existed. They were around $5 dollars and there weren't that many different types at my Chemist Warehouse. I picked these up as they were the most natural ones they had (the others had glitter or were different colours). Just from my first impression they seem to be those plasticy lashes which I generally don't like as they tend to be difficult to get into shape. (I usually use Ardell or Red Cherry lashes).

I of course picked up my favourite concealer! I use the shade 'Soft Beige' if anyone is wondering.

And Lastly but not least I picked up my favourite face wipes! these are the only ones I like that don't drag across the skin and are soothing and gentle, even on my contact lens wearing eyes! They are also about $1 cheaper than the other swisspers wipes for some reason, but seriously check them out if you haven't.

xoS 

Ps keep a look out for my February favourites within the next few days!