Last Minute Stocking Fillers from Lush

Not Long Now!

Ok so you have a few days until Christmas and Oh No! you forgot the stockings! Here are a few stocking stuffers from Lush that you can quickly snap up in the last minute. 

Santa Baby Lip Tint: A Cola flavoured lip tint in a gorgeous cherry colour. Just the thing to remind you of Christmas.

Celebrate Body Lotion: You cant go wrong with a hydrating body lotion, especially one that smells of citrus and cognac. 

Rose jam Shower Gel: Sweet treats go around a lot at Christmas time, especially Turkish Delight. This shower Gel has a Rose scent to it and makes you smell just like a yummy Turkish delight.

Gold Fun: This is a mouldable showergel, bubble bath, shampoo and play dough! This has the same scent as Honey I washed the Kids and is the perfect gift for those 'kids' in the family.

Snow Fairy: A pink and Sparkly shower gel is perfect for those girly girls who love the scent of sweet candy. This will leave you sparlkling for hours afterwards.

I hope these $$$ savvy tips helped you in those last minute Christmas dashes.

Have Fun!

Renee x

Christmas Without Pork - A Vegetarian Alternative

Ideas and Pictures

I have decided that I am going to forgo the Ham and Turkey this year and have my first vegetarian Christmas, My brother has recently become a vegetarian this past year so at least I will have someone to cook for as well as myself. But what shall I cook?

For salads I will make my mums Broccoli salad, Like this one:

1 Head of Broccoli florets cut up into pieces
1/2 Red onion diced
1/2 cup of currants
1/2 cup of Mayonays
2 T White Vinegar
2 T honey
1/4 Cup of roasted sunflower seed kernels
salt and pepper to taste

In large mixing bowl combine broccoli, onion and currants. In seperate small bowl combine mayonays, vinegar, honey and salt and pepper. Pour the dressing ver the salad and stir gently to coat. Sprinkle with Sunflower seed kernels. Cover and set in refrigerate untill ready to serve.

Vegetable skewers for the BBQ:

Any vegetable you like can be clopped up into 2sm chunks and put onto a scewer. Vegetables that love being BBqd are eggplant, capsican, zuccini, mushrooms. and onion
Make sure you soak the woden scewers in water for 15 minutes to prevent burning them.
Mix together your favorite marinade. A really nice one is oil, vinegar, mustard, hiney, salt, pepper garlic and oregano.
Cut vegetables into large even sized cuncks. 
Stick vegetables on scewers, in any order you wish.
Place on hot grill and baste with dressing untill cooked.

Corn on the cob cooked on the BBQ:

Preheat BBQ to a medium heat. Brush corn with olive oil and place corn on heat and turn frequently for approx 10 minutes. When cooked take corn off heat and season with salt and pepper.

 Potato Bake:

I love the Maggie based potato bake, it is always so yummy. Sometimes I will use a bit of sweet potato in there too. 

Vegetarian Sausage Rolls:

I hope you liked the collection of recipes here!

Have Fun!

Renee x

All the recipes have been linked to original site.

Ombrello Hair Acessories

Something For Everyone.

Bobby pins and elastic bands can get a bit boring. When I want t mix things up I like to grab a hair accessory. That's where Ombrello* come in. The are simple to use and incredibly versatile for day to night wear. 

This curved and floral printed clip is perfect for a simple and neat half-up, half-down style.

This oval snakeskin print clip looks great holding up a messy and chic bun.

This triangle pearl and diamonte clip gives a side swept style a sophisticated edge.

What's your favourite clip?

Have Fun!

Renee x

*This product was sent to me for consideration, however my opinions are 100% genuine and honest.

NP Set Lip Paint

Yay or Nay?

I love Christmas time for many reasons. I wont list them all but one of them, (especially for a beauty blogger) is gift sets that come out at this time of year. Target only has a couple of cruelty free brands in their beauty department to my disappointment, but I did spot the NP Set Lip Paint and thought I would like to try it out. There are four lip paints ranging from brown to bright pink and also a clear gloss is added in case we like to glam it up. 
Firstly the packaging is silver, sturdy and stunning. I love the sleek line and the heaviness if the tube, it is really pleasing to the eye. 
I got home and almost immediately tore into the packaging to experience these lip paints. Unfortunately I am finding it really hard to like any of these colours. I feel like they have chosen the least desirable colour hues and popped them in a packet and called them 'on -trend'.
The texture to one of the colours Lourve is almost impossible to work with as it comes out streaky no matter how many times I blotted and waited for each layer to dry. 
The colours did not stay on after eating or drinking- I'm not sure they are designed to- but thankfully the rest of the colours are easy enough to work with and re apply quickly.

Belleville on the lips

From Left to Right: Clear, Belleville, Lourve, Pigalle, Saint Germain

Pros: Extremely Matte finish, as advertised. Packaging is beautiful.

Con: Some colours don't last very long and are very streaky.

Would I recommend them? They are not my thing. The colours are either too bright for everyday wear or really dull and they are missing the ever important red in between. Sorry but this one is a miss from me.

Have you tried these, what do you think?

Have Fun!

Renee x

*Review* Soleo Organics All Natural Suscreen

Natural Sunscreen

There is nothing worse than sunburn and in Australia if we are not careful it can happen very quickly and its very painful. So, in the Summer we are bombarded with the ' slip, slop,slap" propaganda. Slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat. That is all well and good especially since our sun is really harsh. A shirt and a hat is easy enough but I can't stand shopping for sunscreen. There are dozens and dozens of brands out there all promising the same amount of UV protection but how can one be better than the other and forget about trying to find one that wont make my skin break out in little red bumps.
I had the opportunity to try out the Soleo Organics All Natural Sunscreen 30+ recently. I'm impressed that this sunscreen is great for my whole family. I have a bit of a horror story with a 'baby 50+ sunscreen' that made my 18 month old daughter come out in a rash on her arms. This sunscreen is very gentle and I haven't heard any complaining from her which is fantastic. 
Not only is this sunscreen gentle but is wavers more toward the natural side of things and is missing those nasty Chemical UV Filters, titanium dioxide and Synthetic Preservatives.
This sunscreen does not have much of a scent and it doesn't leave a slick of oil on the skin either. Its very comfortable to wear and it doesn't dry of irritate my skin. The formulation is quiet thick and requires a bit of muscle to squeeze out of the tube, however this may be because it is more of like an invisible zinc and I find zinc very thick. This sunscreen also contains a bunch of ingredients that I recognise such as grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, chamomile flower extract and cucumber fruit extract which is always a good sign  to me.

So, do natural sunscreens give good sun protection? Yes, well this one did. I am happy to report sun protected skin and no more little red bumps for myself and bubs. What a gentle sunscreen this is! 

Have you tried a natural sunscreen yet?

Have Fun!

Renee x

* This product was sent to me for consideration, however my opinions are 100% honest and genuine

Spring Favorites 2014

Spring Winners

Spring has been and gone and so it's the time when I Like to share with you what I have been loving this season...

U Skin Solutions Moisturising Day Cream: I finished this moisturiser on its expiry date, which is such a relief because I don't like using skincare past its use by date. This is a moisturiser that I have really treasured because it has made my skin look so healthy and radiant. I have had no dry skin problems, no overly oily skin, and my skin tone has evened out since using this moisturiser. There isn't much scent to this but it is super light and just the right amount of hydration for my skin. I also have written a review on some of the U skin Solutions Skincare range here.

Blinc Mascara: I have been using this almost everyday this spring because I tend to play with makeup a bit more when the weather gets warmer. This mascara simply doesn't budge until you want it too. If I wipe my eyes, or get a bit teary ( Spring is the season for weddings remember), there is absolutely no smudging. This mascara creates a tube around the lashes so its not as harsh as some waterproof mascaras where you must scrub and scrub with alcohol makeup remover to get it off. No way! I just pop a cotton pad on my eyes with warm water then gently pull with my finger tips and they slide off! Remember I said gently. Read my review here.

Furless cosmetics blending brush: this blending brush is just the right thickness for my eyes. I have another but its too thick and then my eye-shadow just goes everywhere. I am also a really big fan of the long handle that this brush has, I feel that the longer the handle the softer my touch can be on my eyes. Furless Cosmetics do not use animal hair in their brushes so I am very comfortable using them. Read my review here.

Eco Minerals Kabuki Brush: Another Brush I have been reaching for is this Kabuki brush. In fact I have been using it for any face powder I own, weather it be loose powder or baked in a pan. Either way this brush has super soft bristles and doesn't feel abrasive to my skin in the slightest. I absolutely love the bamboo handle and the animal friendly bristles too. Eco Minerals review here.

Lush The Olive Branch Shower Gel: I am pretty sure that I mentioned this in my last seasons favourites but I am still not ready to give it up! Shower gels are so easy to use and this gives such a nice lather. I love that the scent is subtle enough to pop my favourite scented moisturiser on top without it smelling all mixed up.

Headbands: I have been wearing headbands around the house a lot recently. Most of the time I cant find bobby pins to keep my fringe away from my face, the rest of the time I just like the look of something different. The top one I got in the city in a store that sells Indian inspired clothing. The Purple head band I got from a local gift shop that sells an amazing brand called Natural Life and I absolutely love the style of clothes that they sell. This is really stretchy material and it is really comfortable. I'm hoping to get a few more because they feel very Renee.

I hope you enjoyed my list. What have you been loving this Spring?

Have Fun!

Renee x

Lush Joondalup VIP Event

That Lovely Lush...

On Thursday I attended an invitation only event at the new Lush in Joondalup. This was very exciting for me because I absolutely love the Lush products and what they stand for: freshness of ingredients, environmentally friendly packaging, ethical buying and their strict stance on animal testing. Firstly I was treated to a gorgeous pampering on my arms using the Ocean salt Cleanser which smells like coconuts and vodka, the exfoliating and softening effects can still be felt days after the treatment. Then Dirty Springwash Showergel gave my arm a refreshed and cooling feeling, finishing off with a light sprinkle of the First Snow Sparkling Dust leaving me with the scent of Orange oil and a beautiful shimmer.

My little pamper, this is the Ocean Salt Cleanser

I got a few products and samples so I will tell you about them, in no particular order (because they are all amazing!)

Ocean Salt Cleanser: I used this on my face tonight and I love the gentle scrub on my skin, it doesn't feel abrasive and it has a lovely creamy base when water is added. Did I mention that it smells fantastic too?

First Snow Sparkling Dust: This dust leaves A gorgeous white iridescent effect when lightly applied. I plan to use this on my collarbone and cheekbones when I go out to a special occasion.

Celebrate Body Lotion: This is a newbie to me. It smells the same as the First Snow Sparkling Dust so I think it would be great to layer so that the scent lasts all day (or night). A little heavier than a lotion but not quiet as thick as a body butter but is wonderfully moisturising just the same.

R&B Hair Moisturiser: Another newbie to me but I was told this is a cult favourite. Supposed to be softening to the hair and rebalance the scalp. I'm eager to give this a try and see what all the fuss is about, Ill be sure to let you know what I think.

Fair Trade Foot Lotion: This lotion is so cooling it makes my feet feel like they have been sitting in the fridge. Perfect for cooling off hot and bothered feet in Summer. And it's PINK!

Hsuan Wen Hua Hair Moisturiser: Wow! I used this as soon as I returned from the event and I may have to go back and purchase some. It made my hair feel so clean, so soft and so not frizzy. This is a pre-wash treatment, slap it on your hair, wait 20 mins then shampoo and condition like normal. I felt a significant difference on shine to my hair and I love it. Highly recommended.

Ro's Argan Body Conditioner: The lady who helped me practically threw this at me and said I have GOT to try this. I am very glad she did. I am a bit obsessive about hydrating my skin, I simply MUST moisturise or my skin feels dry and itchy all day. I used this tonight and I love how I can use this body conditioner in the shower, wait a minute , rinse it off and that's it. So wonderfully convenient. I love the 'just rose' smell to it as well because I love anything floral.

Sea Spray Hair Mist: Sea Spray seems to be the only hair product I use other than shampoo and conditioner. I think I just like the idea of having that beautiful beach tousled hair without actually getting sand all over me. I still have a tiny bit of salt spray left to use from another brand but I am really looking forward to trying this.

Lovely Jubblies Breast Cream: I bought a full size of this because after sampling it a year ago it has been on my wish list for a while. I love the unique scent of rose, lemongrass and ylang ylang that this buttery cream has. This cream is meant to tighten and firm the skin in the chest area which is perfect for me because I have been breast feeing for approximately 18 months now and I need to start looking after that area now.

Gorgeous Facial Moisturiser: Another item that has been on my wishlist for a couple of years and I have finally got it! I sampled this a while ago and my skin looks glowing afterwards. This moisturiser is amazing! It smells incredible, is as light as a feather and a little goes a long way. I feel like I have walked out of a day spa every time I use this. It was worth the wait!

It Started With A Kiss Lip Tint: I wore this today and I really like how I can apply the colour in a subtle tint or layer it on to make it look a lot brighter. This is kind of like a rosy pink with a slight shimmery finish. This creamy tint smells like red apples and white chocolate. This is something I will use quickly and want to repurchase.

The Olive Branch Shower Gel: I love this shower gel, it has quiet an earthy scent but its not overpowering. I have been using this type of gel for a few months so I am glad that I got a top up because I am not ready to change yet.

Atomic Toothy Tabs: If you have been reading my blog for a while you would know how much I enjoy the toothy tabs. It's so nice to use a toothpaste that is not full of chemicals and doesn't test on animals. Atomic is my husbands favourite flavour, I also love the floral flavour of  Chou Chou- I Love You Toothy Tabs.

Tiny Hands: This is a solid hand moisturiser. I just rub it between my hands and the buttery bar melts a layer onto my skin. Because it is so thick it takes a few minutes to properly soak into my skin, so I use this straight before I go to bed. And of course this smells really nice, "pleasant' is the best way I can describe the combination of Vanilla, Chamomile and Marigold in this deeply moisturising bar.

Rose Jam Bubbleroon Bubble Bar: This bubble bar smells like a candy musk stick to me. It's Kind of sweet, kind of floral but very, very pink. I actually get more enjoyment using the bubble bars in my daughters bath and watching her play in the bubbles, than sitting in the bath myself. So I hope she likes the smell too.

Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds Bubble Bar: I think this bubble bar looks so cool. It's a combination of light blue and white swirled into a round bar. I thought this smelt very soothing and I like to keep a bath bar similar to this when bub has had a fussy day and I want to give her a relaxing bath.

Dream Steam Steam Tabs: Oh.My. Goodness. I am so excited to try this, but I really want to wait until I get a Lush mask from handing in my 5 empty pots and do a proper pamper facial. I'm supposed to pop a bit into hot water and then hover my face over the steam, this will open my pores and clean all that dirt and oil out of my skin.

Shampoo Bar Tin: I am alternating between two of the Lush shampoo bars and they are getting kind of gross where I am storing them in my bathroom cupboard. I bought these tins so I can keep them in tip top condition.

So that's the massive amount of Lush that I have been so lucky to try, I hope you have enjoyed reading this! Is there any particular Lush Product you would like me to review in more detail even a product that's not here ?

Have Fun!

Renee x

Models Prefer Lip Balm Gift Box

So Many Choices!

The other day I went into Priceline and spotted the Models Prefer Read My Lips Collection, At $20.00 for ten lip balms I thought that it was a great deal and there were so many colours included. A lot of them I have never used before, like purple. At the price of one High end lip gloss I ended up getting ten great quality lip balms and I am very happy with them! The colours range from bright coral to a perfect nude, with orange and blue based reds and pinks in-between. I think this would be a perfect Christmas present for those who are mad for makeup and you have a tight budget.

From Left to Right: Hokey Pokey, Popping Candy, Sweet Sorbet, Fizz Wizz, Soda Pop

Strawberry Soufle, Cherry Cola, Sour Grape, Rocky Road, Creme Brulee.

Hokey Pokey

Popping Candy

Sweet Sorbet

Fizz Wizz

Soda pop

Strawberry Soufle

Cherry Cola

Sour grape

Rocky Road

Creme brulee

 Surprisingly my two favorites are Creme Brulee (a glossy nude) and Sour Grape, (the subtle purple). Both seem to compliment my skin tone really well. I am excited to find new lip colours I like other than my usual pink.

Have Fun!

Renee x

Last days to enter my GIVEAWAY!

Face Of Australia Compact Foundation

Couldn't Help It...

Last week I found myself in Target finishing up my Christmas shopping ( very early I know), and wandered past the cosmetic section. I only stop at three stands because I know that they are cruelty free, e.l.f, Australis and Face of Australia. I picked up and under eye concealer from e.l.f and this gorgeous looking compact foundation from Face of Australia.
I don't need any more makeup really, but the clever people at Face of Australia has decided to make the packaging of this particular product absolutely irresistible. Well done marketing team. The actual product itself is also great. The colour I chose was Ivory, It has a yellowish undertone to it and I will have to be careful at how much I apply on my blue undertone skin. But even so, the shade still works well on my skin. The cream turns into the much desired powdery finish when applied to the skin and never feels greasy or looks oily. On my skin the foundation looks natural and easily hides any uneven skin tone (which I am prone to), and has a gorgeous velvety finish. 
I love the pretty lace design on the lid and I think it should be a permanent feature on the Face of Australia products, there is definitely a bit of a gap in the market for gorgeous looking packaging on Australian brands.

Have you tried this compact? What do you think of the design?

Have Fun!

Renee x