Lust Have It! The subscription service from Lustre Magazine in Australia!

I was totally surprised when I got an e-mail asking if I wanted to review a box from Lustre.  

We don't get a lot in NZ, and Australia is close enough to send us things on a semi regular basis.

This is my first (and hopefully not my last!) Lust Have It box.

Cutest bag ever!
Reminds me a little of Ipsy.

NOTE:  All prices are in Australian dollars.  This is a bag from across the Tasman, so I guess everyone can do their own conversions.

Orly nail separators and mini files.
$4.95 for toes, $1.65 for files.

Handy to have around.  Cheap and cheerful.

Teeez Trendy Cosmetics
Head Over Heels Nail Lacquer - Camine Craze
Full Size: $18 (7ml)

I didn't know what to expect when I opened this package.  The box was so cute, and the graphics are so intense. 

The polish itself has a rimmel/sally hansen-esque brush with an easy formula.  
Gorgeous colour.

La Roche Posay
Effaclar Duo
Full Size: $27.95 (40ml).  Sample: $2.09 (3ml)

The instructions on this confuse me.  The serum is meant to unclog pores and reduce imperfections in 30 days, yet it says "one application" and "apply morning and/or evening".  Does "once" mean "once per day"?  

I have some clogged pores that could benefit from this.

Nuxe 
Creme Nirvanesque
Full Size: $49.99 (50ml).  Sample: $2

Designed for "under 40 year old men and women to help with expression lines by relaxing and de-stressing".  I could use some skin relaxing.  

Creme Nirvanesque Contour des Yex (Eye contour)
Full Size: $44.99 (15ml).  Sample: $5.99 (2 ml)

This will reduce the dark circles under the eyes.  This I could very much use.

Voucher for HelloFresh.

I'm not in Australia, so I gave this away to a friend of mine.  He's a busy person who doesn't have time to go to the supermarket, so this is a neat test for him.

(Just ignore the fact I re-used the image for an identical item.  Technical difficulties.)

John Plunkett Glyco Peel
Full Size: $29.99 (15ml)

I gave the last one away, so I may as well try this one.  Meant to use it 2-3 times a week, and at night.  I'll give it a go.  I think  I have enough wrinkle stuff now to last me till I'm 40!




This was a great little starter box from Lust Have It.  

Thanks to Julia who e-mailed me and offered it up for review!  



[I'm meant to say this for legal reasons.  This box was offered to me for free as part of an affiliate program.  I am yet to receive the link that I need to add here, but please be aware that I didn't pay for this box.  It was given to me to review.  All photos are my own.]

June Violet Box

Here we are again with another BEAUTY BOX OF AWESOME!!

Violet box arrived on my doorstep, and sadly I've had to cancel this one too, but not because I didn't love it (it was pretty good for the price) but because my finances just couldn't stretch that far any more.

Pretty decent box this month.  

StyleSign Sleek Perfection
Full Size: $22.50 (100ml).  Sample: $4.50 (20ml)

This is for the people who use a lot of hair curlers, irons, dryers etc.  I don't use any of those things on any regular basis.  I might give this to my sister, who has a GHD.

Chella Brow Pencil
Full size: $22

I've used this a couple of times since getting it.  I've personally never used a brow product before, and I found this to be really natural looking and easy to use.  

Perfectly paired with the brow/eyelash gel from the last Violet Box.  

(Forgive me for the weird photo... my computer hates me at the moment.)

John Plunkett Wrinkle Cream
Full Size: $29.95 (50g).  Sample: $11.98 (20ml)

John Plunkett Glycolo Peel
Full Size: $29.95 (15ml)

Seeing as I am the horrible old age of 29, I haven't started to show wrinkles yet.  I gifted these to my Aunt instead.  

Be A Bombshell Eyeshadow Quad
Full Size: $22.50

Gorgeous colours.  They make the perfect neutral smoky eye effect.  

Quite a decent amount of pigment, even if my swatches are useless.  It's that dull winter sun.

The last few boxes have paired up really well in terms of eye products.

Red Carpet Kolour
Full Size: $54.95 (150ml).  Sample: Worthless.

I don't have any idea how large this sample is - it has no size.  At a guess, maybe 2ml.  

Its meant to be an all-over bronzer - not so much a fake tan, but more of a glow.

A sample this small isn't going to tell me much.





Good month for Violet Box. $90.93 value.  

I'll get good use of the eyeshadow, the brow pencil and possibly the hair spray.  

My Aunt got $40ish worth of wrinkle cream.

The only thing that I didn't really like was the very small foil packet.



Thanks Violet Box for a very short, but very loved time.  I will be sure to resubscribe when I have some money to spend.

Goodie Box May!

This is my final Goodiebox.  

I had to quit it due to uni - it just wasn't financially viable when I was getting better quality from Violet Box.

Ignore the marks on the card - I was using it for stamping when I had friends over.

Lipstick in a very pretty colour.  Its a blue-toned rose with a hint of duskiness.

I'd wear this.

NYC Ultra Last LipWear
Full Size: $18 (3.4g)

Huh.  Another lip product.

This looks like it would be a gorgeous lip gloss, no?

Not so exciting when swatched.

It has a chemically sweet smell, and is some variety of berry.  I think if I got right down into the guts of it, the colour might mix better.  It's also really sticky, which won't work for me.

NYC Kiss Gloss
Full Size: $15.50 (9.4ml)

 More MOR!!

This has to be the 3rd MOR hand cream I've gotten in a decent size.  I'm not complaining.  This stuff smells AMAZING.  I think I would like more MOR.  

I like Argan oil.  I like the smell (it's very floral and relaxing).  I've been using it a lot at the moment because its winter and cold, and my hand creams are getting a really big workout.

MOR Correspondence Argan Oil Handcream
Full Size: $35 (75ml). Sample: $13.99 (30ml)

FOIL PACKETS!!!

And they're so small!

I'm not sure why you would give people foundation in a sample box.  There is no possible way of matching the right skin tone.  I would of loved a larger sample of the primer, and maybe a voucher for a colour matched sample of the foundation, because not everyone is a beige.

Dr Lewinn's Skin Perfect Primer & Foundation
Full Size: $45.90 (30ml).  Sample: $5.22 (4ml primer, 4ml foundation)

Makeup pads are useful.  Do they really belong in a sample box?  This is a waste of usable space in the box.  A sample pack of maybe 10 pads with a voucher would of been better.  

My photo failed.  So have a google image.

Swisspers Cotton Makeup Pads
Full Size: $5.69 (80 pads)

 And the most RANDOM item in a beauty sample box:

TAMPONS!!!

I will never use them.  This is a waste of space in a box.  A voucher for U products would of been a lot more useful.

U by Kotex Designer Series Tampons
Full Size: $5.50 (16 Tampons)




So.

Total cost to me:  $29.95.  Total "value": $63.90.

Total USE to me: $37.68.  

The lip gloss is too sticky for me to use on a daily basis.
I will never use the tampons.  
I will not use the primer/foundation (there is no way to really even tell if there is a good match from a 4ml sample).  I can walk into a high-end store and get a colour matched sample from every stand there for free, and the samples would be a lot more volume.

Thats $25+ worth of stuff just... going to waste.  That's a WHOLE ANOTHER BOX!!  

I would of loved:

• More Angel or Salon Sorbet.
• Something from Lush (lemony flutter, a face product (cleanser or scrub) or a soap/bath bomb)
• Eyeshadow in a shade other than brown.
• Something chocolate.
• A perfume roller-ball.
• VOUCHERS!  I can get far more value from a product company (like swisspers or U or Dr Lewinn's) if I can pick my remover/feminine product/makeup colour.

So Goodbye to Goodie Box.


Thanks for the last year or so of service - some have been good, some have been not so good.  
Once I get outta Uni, I'll see how you're going and maybe pick it up again.  

Violet Box May!!

I'm loving Violet box so far.

They guarantee $60 value in each box.

As weird as this seems: this felt really nice on.  It was a little drippy and cold, but it smelt good!

Timeless Truth Stem Cell Extract Mask
Full Size: $6

This has mixed reviews.  Some people love it, some people hate it.

Its a glossy finish, which seems weird for an eyeshadow stick.  Everyone who sees it thinks its a lipgloss.

I haven't worn it yet.

Its very sheer.  And very gel-like.  Lasting power?  Maybe over a primer it might last.

CK One Gloss Eyecolour
Full Size: $26.50

And to go with the gloss eyecolour...

Adorn eyeshadow.  

Not sure if this is just my sample, but its a lil... clunky?  It feels like cocoa powder.  It feels like it should have some talc or something in it to make it finer.  There is just something... a little oily?  

Swatch over the CK One eyecolour gloss and underneath just by itself.
You can see the clumpy bits on the gloss.

Adorn Cosmetics Eye Create Intensive Shadow.
Full Size: $15 (15g).  Sample: $2.50 (0.25g)

Argania Oil!  

This is the first time I've had the light version.  The smell is the same as the original, and the sample size is the same.  

I did try it, and it was a lot of a less-oily product.  My hair didn't seem to feel as greasy as it usually does with the normal Argania oils.

A nice addition to the handbag or the travel bag - at 5ml it's not going to annoy any customs officers, but it'll add a sleek shine and a gorgeous marshmellow scent to hair.

Argania Oil - Light
Full Size: $37 (100ml).  Sample: $1.85 (5ml)

I've never tried a clear mascara.  I'm hoping that I can do a magic-lashes trick and layer this on my eyes a few times then coat with normal mascara for a plumped up look.  

I like that you can control how much product is on the brush using the squeeze barrel.

The information says you can use it to seal in pigments in mascara and tame eyebrows.

Lash Control Clear Coat Mascara and Brow Fix
Full Size: $26.

OOOooooOOOOO.  

This looks exciting.

Because I'm doing a nail course, we have to learn all about the cuticles and the nails and all that lovely stuff.

I'm not entirely convinced that people know what "cuticle" actually is.  

The living skin at the base and sides of your nails:  Not cuticle.
The stuff that you scrap off gently because it grows WITH your nail:  Cuticle.

Either way, it contains keratin and silica.  

NS-5 Cuticle and Nail Complex
Full Size: $10



So there ya have it.  Another Violet Box for this month.

Total cost to me:  $29.95.  Total value:  $72.85.

I will use... pretty much everything I think at least once.  I'll use the clear coat on my brows and maybe my lashes if I want definition without the colour (I have pretty long lashes anyway).  I've already used the face mask.  The eyeshadow... might get used.  The gloss eyecolour I'll experiment with.

Yay for Violet Box!!

Nail School: Weeks 1 & 2

I started Nail School.  

To be exact:  National Qualification in Nail Technician Level 3.

Our first week was really fast and informative.  

We learnt parts of the nail, functions of the nail, and micro bacteria.  


We learnt the basics of massage, filing and cuticle work.


We started taking clients and sitting assessments. 


I haven't taken any pictures of the actual procedures, but I will add pictures of my study notes when I get a chance.

14 weeks to go!

This week coming we start on leg and foot massage and next week is pedicures.

Violet Box April

Finally a NEW subscription box!

This one comes all the way from Australia.

I'm sorry, I've lost the card for this one too.

BUT it did do what it said on the packet and was over the $60 value. 


Violet Box guarantees that each box is worth at LEAST $60.  We pay $29.95 per month for mostly full size products.

This is my first Violet box and it will NOT be my last!


On with the goods :)

Pretty box.  It's a magnetic closure with a purple ribbon tie.

A little bigger than a Sample Bar box, but smaller than a Goodie Box.

Bodyography mineral foundation in Amber.

This colour was far too dark for me, so if I can't re-sell it/pass it on, it'll be a very very expensive bronzer.  

Full size is $65.  Alone.  For this powder.  

If you want it, I'll consider offers. Email me or hit me up on facebook.

I have tried Avene before and loved it.  Happy to get this in my box.  
Can't remember the sample worth... $5 maybe?

This made me happy in the pants.  It's a lovely deep black mascara with a really gorgeous brush.  

And it comes with a refill.

It's also around $35.  

Lip gloss.  I think it was around $15.

I've had model co stuff before (an eyeliner that I gave away and a lip/cheek tint that prefers to tint my fingers instead of my lips).  

This lip gloss is very sheer, has a slight sweet scent/taste and is rather sticky.  Loving the mirror on the side though.  You could chuck this in your bag and apply ALL your makeup with the mirror.

I'm sure I've mentioned how much bronzing stuff we've gotten in the past from various boxes.  

It smells good, and it will probably do what it says on the box.  

Because we're coming into winter, I am not sure if I'll get to use it this season, but it can be added the collection and I'll have brown legs all summer!

MOR hand creams smell like fairy farts and unicorn sneezes.  Or something like that.

They are decadently MORish (see what I did there?) and these little samples are just not enough for me.  After getting full size of the Lychee and Marshmellow hand creams from the other two boxes, these two little samples left me longing.  They are both so amazing.

If you had to choose one:  Black current iris.



3 outta 6 items were full size, and with high values.  




YAY!!

Big 'ups' to Violet Box making its way to NZ.  

April Goodie Box!

Only a month late!   *flutters eyelashes*.

April Goodie Box!

I don't have the cards for it any more (another thing lost in the ether of my life) so take note of the products you like and google where to get them.

Or get them from Goodie Box.

Sponge!  To be honest, this came at just the right time.  I was on limited life left on my scrubber.  A month later and it's still going strong.  $9.99 from Farmers.

Biore stuff.  I tried the nose strip and it was WEIRD!!  I've never really done one before.  Did it work?  Maybe.  Its one of those strange things that you might not ever need.

When I run out of my current cleanser, I'll give this one a go.

Colour Club!  Oh how I love this brand.  I think my polish collection is mostly Colour Clubs.

Koo Koo Cachow!  (did I spell that right?)

It's a neon orange with a hint of tangerine.  It's not highligher orange but it is EXTREME.

I have this one already, so if you want it... you can have it!  Just pay for postage.  Email me or hit me up on facebook.  NZ only.  

I've had sebamed before and I didn't like it.  After taking the photo, these went straight to my flatmate.  I've tried some of the face wash before, and it left me feeling more oily than I began.

I'm yet to try this, but I'm excited!  

Cherry lip balm!  I've been using this at uni and it seems to be pretty decent.  It doesn't have a strong taste or a strong smell, and is only lightly tinted.  Keeps my mouth moist.



That was April's box.  I'm sorry I didn't have more, but yea... I've lost a lot of stuff recently.  They just happened to be things that got lost.