SIMPLY ALIX

It is this absolutely stunning shade of pink which I love, I would say that it is a fantastic My Lips But Better colour for me, so there are no faults there! It looks a bit scary in the tube, but once applied it is this gorgeous light pink. The pigmentation of this is rather good for a tinted lip balm as well, it doesn't show up too sheer on me but it all depends on how much you layer it on; one swipe can leave a very sheer colour but a few applications makes the colour nice and rich :)

The formulation is super creamy, moisturising, light and non-greasy which is fantastic! However, the product itself doesn't last for too long, I would say maybe around an hour and a half if you aren't eating or drinking, so you have to cart it around with you to keep on applying if you're wearing it for the colour. The moisturising effect should last for a few hours though, so you would apply as per usual with any lip balm. But this shouldn't be an issue as the lip balm is small and compact and thus incredibly easy to take with you everywhere!

For some bizarre reason I love the packaging as well. I've read a few other reviews that say they hate the packaging which I can totally understand! Usually I'm not a big fan of deep brown packaging as I like my products to look quite girly and feminine, but I really like this in combination with the pink and white; to me it's quite rustic looking which I rather enjoy!

In my eyes, the outside cardboard tube is a bit unnecessary though! All you can do with it is bin it, so I don't see the real need for it to be there in the first place.

It does have a faint smell to it, which I didn't even notice until I had a purposeful whiff of it. I would say it smells slightly rosy and sweet. It's not very noticeable for me though so I don't mind it!

I must say that it is a little pricey for a tinted lip balm, this was around the $15 mark here in Australia (!!!), but I'm definitely glad I picked it up, as I know I will probably purchase another once it runs out (but I may have a looksie on ebay first...). I just love the moisturising effect and the colour! It leaves a nice healthy sheen to my lips and the colour is fabulous for any occasion; from going out to doing general chores around the house!

Yours truly with a few layers of Pink Blossom on! ^ However, please note that I'd had a pink lipstick on beforehand which stained my lips a little, so this is the colour exaggerated ever so slightly :)

As due to aforementioned points, I was incredibly hesitant to use this! I think it mostly had to do with the word "hydrating"... it always seems to conjure up a great fear inside of me! I did a wee bit of research online though, to find out that it had quite a good rating. Huzzah! This numbed my fears a little. And I'm on holidays from uni at the moment, so I could always stay indoors if all went disastrously wrong and I couldn't show myself in public (and then I could have Disney or Game of Thrones marathons! I know, such a hard life I lead).

And the verdict?

I. LOVE. IT!! Granted, I haven't tried any facial sunscreens before, so I don't have too much to compare it to, but all I can say is that it is such a pleasure to use!

It has a lightweight, non-sticky formula that soaks into the skin within seconds, and doesn't leave a greasy residue. In fact, it acts as a cross between a light moisturiser and a primer, as it leaves my face soft, smooth and supple, creating a very nice base for my makeup. My makeup has been applying to my face like a dream ever since I started using this product around 3 weeks ago! I should also mention that it leaves a semi-matte finish, which my oily skin likes immensely. 

I used to always have little rash-type thingies on my cheeks as well, which I always just accepted as a part of having uber sensitive skin. Since using To Save Face though, they have gone!! Only occasionally do I get a very small case of it, but this product has seriously diminished their appearance! And with no break-out issues either, this product has done nothing but improve my skin.

It also doesn't smell like your typical sunscreen, it has a rather lovely scent that isn't overpowering in the slightest. Plus, this is quite a decent-sized tube and a little bit goes a long way, so while this is a rather pricey sunscreen (I think it retails at $45 AUD), in my eyes, it is completely worth it!

I think the formulation of this sunscreen would also suit those with dry skin as well, it has that perfect moisturising level where all skin types can benefit!

Not to mention, there is no animal-testing involved when it comes to this product either, which is always great!

I would say that this has got to be one of the best products I have ever used (and that's saying a lot!). There are so many benefits to using this product. I love that it has such a high SPF rating as well, which is perfect for the harsh Australian sun! The only downfall I can find for this is that it can only be found in Australia and New Zealand, so for any non-Australian/New Zealand readers, next time you're in the vicinity, I say you find a Mecca Cosmetica and give it a whirl! :)

Thanks mum!

These earrings admittedly wouldn't have made it into my purchases if it wasn't for the fact they were part of the sale deal going on. The deal was you could pick any 3 items with a red tag and the overall cost would be $10 (See?! I couldn't resist!). I had managed to pick 2 sale items but I couldn't find any others that really stood out to me, except I knew that I thought these were pretty. I didn't think I'd get much use out of them, but they'd do. Now, a few hours later, I'm so glad I bought them! I think they're light and summery and colourful, and I can see myself getting some use out of them now!

I saw these and had to get them. They weren't part of the sale, but I can now say I have studs for all occasions :) And this lighting doesn't do them justice, because they are so shiny and sparkly!

These earrings just caught my eye instantly. How cool are they?! I imagine I could wear these for all kinds of occasions; from sitting in the sand by the beach with a cool gentle breeze ruffling them about to a fun girls night out! Plus if there was ever a sudden dusting emergency I would be set.

I thought this ring was so pretty! I must find myself a white blazer, I think this would go lovely paired with one. It's so feminine and twinkly and big. Love!

I am quite satisfied with these purchases, and overall it cost me just under $20 for all of these items, so I am a happy chappy!

Happy Saturday! :) xx

And? I loved it!! The pen had a flexible felt-tip end with just the right amount of ink, the colour was bold and black (and matte, which I like) and didn't smudge or budge an inch, even after hours of use. The very fine tip (0.5mm to be exact!) made doing winged eyeliner a piece of cake, and enabled even a perfectionist like me to get into all the nooks and crannies to create the perfect straight line. The packaging is solid, and the pen itself was light and comfortable to hold, so application was easy-peasy!

However, about 2 and a half months later of solid eyeliner usage, the felt tip did begin to dry up and so I set out on a quest to behold myself a new one.

Everywhere I went it was sold out!! Every Priceline, every chemist, every pharmacist, everywhere that I could find who sold Maybelline products had sold out completely. I was gobsmacked! I guess I wasn't the only one who seemed to love the product.

I began to give up looking for it in stores, and was contemplating buying it online. At this stage, I was using the semi-dried up Master Precise liner to outline my winged look, and then used L'Oreal Telescopic eyeliner to fill it in, I loved it that much!

And then I walked into Coles to grab some groceries in Brisbane a few days ago, where a small Maybelline collection caught my eye. I thought there was no harm in having a teensy weensy little look...

THERE WAS ONE LEFT! As you can imagine, I snatched the eyeliner up quick-smart and kept it very close and safe. I probably resembled Smeagol and his "Precious" from LOTR!

However, I have found that this second Master Precise eyeliner isn't quite as good as I remembered it to be. It's still fabulously easy to use and doesn't smudge, but the colour isn't quite as bold as I remembered. In fact, it comes out just a little bit sheer this time around. I find I have to go over it a few times in order to achieve a truly black colour. But? I still love it! I can still create the winged liner to my desired effect. For the price ($14.50 AUD) it is very much worth it in my eyes :)

Note: In this photo, I would like to acknowledge that yes, yes I am in my Pj's, and no, no I didn't realise it at the time. Obviously I like to make my debut appearance on my blog in style ;)