Did I hear the word, sale?

So today I went to the beach to soak up some of this amazing weather, and I don't know how it happened but I returned home with a new perfume. Seriously, how I manage to get myself into these situations is beyond me.

Anyway, I'm not complaining because it smells divine and the best part and reason for this post, it was on sale!

We are all friends here, right? So if I find a bargain too good to be true, I'm going to share the details - that's just the kind of gal I am.

The perfume in question is Juicy Couture's Viva La Juicy and the sale price you are dying to know is... $24.99 for 30ml! Cue gasps!

I've actually never owned a Juicy scent before, but my cousin is obsessed so I'd sniffed a few and tried them out whenever I was at her place.

To me, Juicy embodies all things girly and this scent is definitely no exception.

I don't want to confuse you in my attempt to describe the scent, so I'll let Juicy Couture get all technical for you...

"With top notes of wild berries and juicy mandarin gently tempered with honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. Underlying it all are warm tones of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and praline."

From that I would agree that the floral notes are warmed down with a hint of vanilla and caramel which I think takes this girly smell into a somewhat sophisticated level over the typical fruity, instant headache scents.

With a saving of $40 it's a winner in my eyes and can be found here.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend, wherever you are. I know I am.

ajarose 

Lest We Forget

A quick post tonight giving you sneak peak at how I'm spending Anzac Day.

I'm opting for a cup of tea, an Anzac biscuit and trialling my new REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask.

I've wanted to try this highly raved about mask for months and after my first application, it didn't disappoint. Keep your eyes out for a full review coming soon.

I hope you all had a lovely Anzac Day and of course, lest we forget.

ajarose xo

Beaut Brushes: Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman

It's pretty simple, brushes make or break your overall application of makeup. Just like an artist needs their tools, having the right, and more importantly quality brushes will not only help aid the application process but will also help your products to last longer, not to mention make the whole process a hell of a lot easier and faster.

If you dread applying makeup (we're talking the whole hog here - foundation, blush, bronzer, eyeshadow, liner, even lipstick) then I would ask you, what brushes are you using? Don't get me wrong fingers are one of the best tools you can use for applying makeup, but only if it is working for you. Sometimes the formulation of specific products need buffing into the skin, or stippling, or pressed - that's where handy dandy brushes come in to play.

There are lots and I mean, lots of brush lines on the market varying from very inexpensive to very expensive depending on the quality, design and what the bristles are made from. A line which I think deserves its own spotlight is Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman. Some of you might recognise this name, as Sam is one of the two Pixiwoo sisters on YouTube.

Naturally there was a lot of buzz around this line on YouTube and online, and I wanted to see if it lived up to all the hype.

Real Techniques is stocked in Priceline in Australia, and after checking it out I was so disappointed at the mark up price we were expected to pay here, we're talking over 50% what the the brushes sell for in America. This was just too insane for me, so I did a bit of beauty investigation work and found a site called iHerb.com that sells the line for the US RRP, which for the quality and softness of these beauties is fantastic.

I picked a few individual brushes up as well as the eye starter pack. I've been using these for a few months now and want to share my 3 top picks:

1. Perfected Blush Brush - This is the perfect brush for not only blush but power and even bronzer. Priceline $22.99 and iHerb - US$8.99

2. Perfected Setting Brush - This is designed for setting powder and is a great size for under the eye and around the nose. I actually use this for applying cream blush and also highlighting and it works a treat. Priceline $19.99 and iHerb US$7.99

3. Deluxe Crease Brush - This gem is such an all rounder, and definitely my favourite I picked up. Like the name suggests, it is perfect for blending colour into your crease and defining the socket. But as this brush is quite dense and compact, it makes it a dream for applying under eye concealer. Included in the eye starter pack (5 brushes) Priceline $39.99 and iHerb US$17.99

I also have a discount code for iHerb that I received after I made my order, it will score you $10 off any purchase over $40 or $5 off any purchase under $40! Enter VCW073 in the coupon section at the checkout.

In the end, it comes down to whatever makes the whole process easier for you. So experiment with your hands, with different types of brush hairs, densities and break out of the box for what the brush can be used for!

ajarose xo

Lipstick Lowdown: Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivids

Did you have your heart set on one of last years limited MAC Iris Apfel bright lippies but like a lot of people, missed out? That collection sent many into beauty stalker meltdown. It was like an obsession, getting your hands on one of those bad boys was all you could think of.

Luckily for me, I did manage to snag two of the gorgeous colours one of which was Pink Pigeon (the fastest selling colour), but since their extinction I've been using them sparingly.

Fast forward to 2013 and Maybelline have released the Colour Sensational Vivids Collection, featuring 8 hot shades that have some serious neon punch! The good news? There is totally a dupe for Pink Pigeon - cue sequels. 


(R to L) 902 Fuchsia Flash, 904 Vivid Rose, 910 Shocking Coral

Comparing swatches, Pink Pigeon is a little more matte, but Fuchsia Flash, the second pink in the range and my personal fav, is such a close colour match your lips will never know the difference.

Let's break this lipstick down shall we?

1. Colour Payoff - These babies have intense colour payoff from being made with the purest of pigments. You only need one slick to achieve a bold, opaque and on-trend lip. 

2. Texture and Finish -  Due to the honey nectar used in the formula to create a creamy satin finish, this lipstick is a dream to apply keeping your lips smooth without drying out or caking. 

3. Staying Power - The staying power isn't the longest but it's usually one or the other when it comes to longevity and creamy texture, so take your pick. In saying that a quick touch up throughout the day or night and you'll be back on track.

4. Price - RRP $16.95 each

RR TIP - it depends where and when you buy these as I found mine for $7.95 at Chemist Warehouse on sale and Priceline currently have a 3 for 2 special so shop around! 

Overall these lipsticks are a great drugstore buy and a dream to wear, not to mention a bargain for their high quality, creamy texture and intense colour payoff.

ajarose xo

Extreme Closeup: Aesop Skincare

I've wanted to try the Aesop skin and body care line for a while now, always intrigued by their amazing looking concept stores and not mention their chic packaging! 

So I went in to my local store yesterday and spoke to the sales assistant about the idea behind Aesop and what their skincare is all about.

Established in Melbourne in 1987, Aesop is now available in over 60 stores internationally including some of the most major cities in the world including New York, Paris and Tokyo.

I learnt that their lines are specific to skin type and cater for a wide range outside of the dry or oily boxes, including combination and sensitive.

Aesop's most popular skincare line would the Parsley Seed, which I was told is due to the anti-oxidant research and ingredients used in each product in the line. The assistant explained this is the closest to an anti-ageing line Aesop have as the company does not want to create products that sell false hope to the customer.

Basically Aesop believe that nothing can turn back the clock but we can control how our skin moves forward - a skincare philosophy I believe truly makes sense.

So I left the store with a few samples that would target my dry, sensitive skin and so far these products are a sensory dream to use -

1. Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil - a gentle cleanser that lathers to a milk consistency with water targeted for dry, combination and sensitive skin.

2. B & Tea Balancing Toner - an alcohol free toner containing Provitamin B5 and anti-oxidant Green Tea to help refresh and add balance for all skin types, including sensitive.

3. Camella Nut Facial Hydrating Cream - a daily moisturising cream with nut and plant extracts to nourish and sooth dry, sensitive skin.

I would highly recommend paying a visit to an Aesop store if you are in the market for a new skincare regime that has a perfect balance of plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients with the greatest anti-oxidant properties. They are also more than happy to help and give you things to sample that would be beneficial for your specific skin type before committing to purchase.

I will do a follow up post on Aesop, my results after trialling these samples further and what, if anything, I decide to purchase or try next (who are we kidding, I've already fallen in love!). 

You can learn more about Aesop or shop online here.

ajarose xo

Inglot Freedom Palette: DIY Beauty Style

Inglot stores are not super easy to find, but lucky (or if you're my wallet, unlucky) for me there is a store at my local Westfield Shopping Centre. I'd never taken the plunge on having a proper look because I knew I'd spend countless hours (and dollars) in there.

But because I'm a crazy beauty addict, I'd read about and researched Inglot's Freedom System Palettes and couldn't resist checking it out any longer. 

Choosing from a wide range of colours and finishes, the Freedom System allows you to custom build your own dream eyeshadow, blush, lip, concealer or face powder palette - it's cosmetics shopping taken to another level!

I knew I wanted to create a neutral five pan eyeshadow palette (there are other sizes to choose from too) that would be great for everyday use, but I was still overwhelmed with the choice on offer.

In my research I'd read about how pigmented, creamy and luxurious these shadows were, but it wasn't until I started swatching them on the back of my hand that I understood how impeccable the quality of Inglot really is.

The sales assistant was really great and helped me work out shades that would all go together while creating multiple looks, this is what we came up with....

(R to L)

Pearl 395 - This was the one colour I knew I had to include, it's the perfect creamy pearl highlight. Use this under your brow bone, in your inner corner or even on the middle of the lid to bring light and balance to your look.

Shine 43 - A true shimmer gold, this would be one of my favourites I picked. I would wear this all over the lid by itself on lazy days but this is a staple to go with any look.

Matte 357 - I'm such a fun of shimmery shadows, but for a palette to be completely versatile you need to include a matte colour (I probably should have had x2 matte shades but couldn't resist the bling!). This will work great through the crease and softens the shimmer out when blending.

DS 609 - This beauty is one of the amazing double sparkle shades and when light hits this it's truly amazing. This will work so well all over the lid with the 357 in the crease, but used under the eye will create some drama for a night look.

AMC Shine 42 - Standing for 'Advanced Makeup Component' this is one of the newer shades on offer and again, has mega shine. This is the show-stopper folks, and will be used as the accent shade to give that pop!

The palettes are lightweight yet durable and as they are magnetic you can switch out colours to suit your needs, making this baby perfect for travelling.

It was so much fun creating this palette and I definitely recommend this fantastic service if you can get to an Inglot store, otherwise you can check out Inglot here.

The limits are actually endless, so happy creating!

ajarose xo