Home Wall Decoration: Australia

Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Gorgeous Cosmetics Perfect Palette

Hi all,

Gorgeous Cosmetics is a brand that I discovered recently and have been trying to explore a little more. I'm the kind of person that likes to get to know a brand by trying a range of their products, in a short period of time (usually); this especially holds true when it is a brand that I am impressed with! I'll try not to overload you all though!

I swatched a few Gorgeous Cosmetics eyeshadow and blush shades whilst in store, but couldn't decide on what shades to take home - a common predicament for beauty bloggers I"m sure! So, I just picked up this pre-made palette instead. Sometimes I make good choices, this palette is a winner!

The Shades

Top Row: Buttercup, Golden Kiss, Gem & Fudge

Bottom Row: Nude, Peach Glow, Marshmellow & Cheeky

The top row are eyeshadows, and the bottom are blushes/highlighters.

What I Love

- The palette is very well put together, and gives you a good taste of the brand.

- Both the eyeshadow's and blushes are of great quality!

- Very pigmented, creamy and easily blendable.

- Long-lasting, even without a primer.

- I haven't seen any eyeshadow creasing with a primer.

- You get a large amount of product in each pan.

- I love the sleek packaging, I am a giant sucker for some good packaging!

What I Don't

- It's a little on the pricey side! Even more so if you buy the shadows individually.

- I believe this palette was limited edition, although most of the shades are still available.

Where to Buy: Gorgeous Cosmetics stores & online.

Price: $89.00

Swatches

Without Flash

Buttercup, Golden Kiss, Gem, Fudge

Nude, Peach Glow, Marshmellow, Cheeky

With Flash

It's pricey, yes, but it is also quite wonderful! I think that the depth of the neutral shades is great and have my eyes on their Everyday Palette. I can't help that I'm drawn to the 'boring'! If this palette doesn't tickle your fancy and you aren't ready to fess up the cash for it, I suggest trying a single shadow! They are quite lovely.

On another note, I have an exciting idea to run by all of you! But, I think that I will give it a post of its very own!

Hope you all have a great night! xx

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Kit Duo Cheek & Lip Crème in Turn It On

Hey all,

I know that I have apologised a few times to date, but sorry for the lack of posting in the past few days. Sadly, life sometimes gets in the way of blogging! At least I will be getting a large overtime bonus from work this week!

I have been on a bit of a Kit kick recently, and on a bit of a cream blush kick as well.

So, ta-dah!

What I Love

- Gorgeous colour combination that would suit any skin tone.

- Smooth and creamy product, that is not sticky at all.

- Highly pigmented and blends easily.

- Long lasting, especially when set with powder.

- I adore Kit packaging, absolutely adore it!

- For an added bonus, it is also made in Australia.

Where to Buy: Mecca Cosmetica, Myer and Online.

Price: $34.95

Swatches

Without Flash

With Flash

All I have to say is, it's so purrrrdy! Haha!

I haven't yet used it on my lips, as I have enough lipstick to get through as it is - but I am sure that it would work just swimmingly! They have another colour pair that I am eyeing off at the moment and I have a feeling that you will be seeing swatches of it very, very soon!

What is your favourite cream blush?

Hope you all are well! xx

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Stila Custom Color Blush in Self-Adjusting Coral

Hey all,

I have never been too sure about colour adjusting products. How do they do it? Do they even change that much between each person? I have always had my little suspicious. It's funny how we are always slightly suspicious of what we don't understand! Anyway, I'm not sure whether or not this Stila blush adjusts to my skin tone; but I do love the shade!

Shade

A gorgeous peach toned coral with slight shimmer.

What I Love

- Gorgeous colour, works wonders at brightening up my face.

- Smooth, creamy and highly pigmented.

- Easy to blend.

- I love how light it feels on my skin!

- Not too shimmery, and the shimmer fades alongside the colour (so you aren't left looking like a disco ball).

- I adore all Stila packaging.

Where to Buy: Mecca Cosmetica, Mecca Maxima.

Price: $32.00

Swatches

Without Flash

With Flash

Another very pretty coral blush! It's my new staple to compliment day-time looks and I think that it would suit all skin tones. I definitely want to try the Self-Adjusting Pink and Bronze - has anyone tried them?

Also, what are your thoughts on "self-adjusting" products? Does anyone know the science behind it?

Hope you all have a great night! xx

Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Australian Garden

What can I say about the day I went to the Australian Garden, but that it was unforgettable. I was prepared to be inspired by this "uniquely Australian garden", with its wildflowers and the arid landscape, and I was!

With the wind blowing and the glaring, bright sun in my eyes, taking photographs was an experiment in haphazard photography. My hat would be flapping over my forehead, and my sunglasses prevented me from having a good view of what I wanted to capture, and I had to walk far more than I had intended to. The reason for that will be revealed to you, as I take you on a tour of this very different botanic garden.

Lots of Shadow Shots to be found here. My shadow followed me everywhere!

The Red Sand Garden:
Stretched out in front of me, where I was standing on the viewing deck, was the iconic Red Sand Garden! Just as in the promotional pictures which I had seen, the garden is indeed unique. It was probably more luxuriant in springtime, but it has more character in autumn.

hoarse pleas for water

arid tears drip on parched land

green shoots claw out of red sand

for Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Rockpool Waterway:
I imagine that this was engineered to provide some irrigation for the arid landscape, but it was a soothing presence, in contrast to the dry surroundings.

precious legacy

man's sojourn on earth is brief

water ageless flows

for Haiku Heights

The Arid Garden:
It is planted with native bushes, which I couldn't begin to learn to identify, even with the labels, as they were unfamiliar to me. I could appreciate their shapes and textures, and took lots of photos, of which I shall share these favourites of mine:

Water-saving garden:
Even in a dry climate, you can have a garden with the right types of plants and water management.

The Home Garden:
I like the mock-up designs of home gardens - simple but effective to encourage people to use Australian native plants in their garden landscaping.

The Children's Garden:
Really good idea, using tree trunks to create a playground facility for kids to explore.

Leaving the Exhibition gardens, I actually went on a trek all around the Australian Garden, crossing the dry river bed...

...and seeing the fascinating forms of the Grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii.

And then, I had this 'great' idea of trekking to Trig Point, just to see the view from an elevated vantage point.

It says 200 metres to Trig Point, so off I went. That afternoon was a quiet day at the garden, as I had seen only one other visitor, apart from us. I was with my sister, and she had opted to wait for me at the cafe as I trotted off to get more photo opportunities.

On both sides of the track were bush land like in the photo above. It was so quiet, and I suddenly recalled reading a sign earlier on, with instructions as to what to do when we encounter a snake or snakes! The garden, I had read, was home to several species of snakes, and it would not be unusual to spot the venomous Copperhead and Tiger snakes sunning themselves on the tracks!!! It sounded that I would be deemed lucky if I could spot a sun-bathing venomous snake.

The acceptable mode of conduct, the notes read, was:

1. Do not approach the snake. (???)

2. Wait for the snake to move off the track. (I wouldn't wait. I'd say, Runnnnn, Rosie, runnnn!)

I didn't encounter any snakes on the way to Trig Point, but I practically ran there, praying that no right-minded snake would come out to sun itself in autumn. But the sun was shining that day, and it was a particularly hot afternoon. That thought sent shivers up my spine. So, it was a great relief when I got to the Point, and climbed up to where snakes would not be able to climb...or would they?

For a while, I forgot about slithery reptiles up on that circular construction, high above ground. There was a lone photographer up there, and she didn't look at all perturbed, or flustered. After taking some photos, I took my leave of that safe haven, and went down to the track. My only preoccupation was to look to the right and left of the track as I beat a hasty retreat. After some time, I realized that I had taken the wrong turn, when I caught sight of a sign that showed that I had almost travelled 700metres in the wrong direction. I had to turn back! More risks of coming across the sun-bather, oh no! Finally I reached familiar terrain. I saw the photographer I had met earlier heading my direction, and upon seeing me, she turned back to head for the exit. Could she have intended to look for me, thinking I had lost my way, and seeing that I was safe and sound, she went to her car at the car park? All in all, I must have covered 4 km that afternoon, half the time running away from nothing!