Clearance Junkie Confessions | Collective Haul | iHerb, Coles, Priceline, Big W etc,.

I don't know what it is about my local town, like if it's bad economy or what but I seem to find the best stuff, on clearance mostly, all the time.

This on top of the awesome sales places like Big W and Priceline have, it's crazy!

And my mate has brought the term "clearance junkie" to my attention.
This is a scarily accurate term for what I do.
That and "Goo Hoarding", thank you Jenna Marbles.

I'll start with the more normal purchases I made the last few days.

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iHerb

I mentioned these in a post below, and received them today, hooray for fast shipping!

I finally have a set of Real Techniques brushes, I hear so much about them, finally made the jump.

I made the mistake of trying to clean my room and quickly checking to see if I had any mail :P
These got here pretty fast, I ordered them last Wednesday or Tuesday.

Via Instagram

They're really soft! I love dual fibre brushes, they just do that much better of a job of blending in things like foundation, although admittingly I have only used the E.L.F Cosmetics dual fibre stippling brushes so far, but I do love them dearly :D

If you are interested in either the Real Techniques brushes or just iHerb.com, click the link above and check it out :P
(I have a unique referral code: BTN231
Gets you $10 off your first purchase of $40 and over, or $5 for an order below $40
Best deal on top of already decent priced brushes!)

They also included a free Lip Balm with my order, I chose Vanilla one :)
And they randomly also included a friggin cool stylus, I know that's a bit lame but look at it!
It plugs into your headphone socket for easy storage
(but seems a bit annoying at the same time)
Aaaaand I realised after fiddling with it, the top unscrews revealing a pen!


I'm too easily amused... I need sleep.

This particular purchase I was both proud of and worried about, as I said above, because my local Coles have a huge basket at the front of the store with hundreds of the new CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Polishes, all for $2.50c each.

Maybe they didn't sell as well?

Eitherway, I picked up 6, because why not, you can never have enough nail polishes :P
Will include colours later today.

NOTE: Will include colours later today

Smallest purchase at Priceline I have made in a while, they need a Priceline Anonymous...

Essence Lip Base, Loreal Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow, Models Prefer Thirst Stop Mask.

Loreal Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow

Essence Lip Base: This looked interesting, it's meant to be used for pigments but I might look it up and see if it's any good for prolonging my lipstick I seem to eat/talk off.

Loreal Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow: This is the most bizarre Lipstick/gloss I have ever seen! It's see through??
It's supposed to change the PH on your lips and actually change the colour of your lips?

"Holy shit I need that, science" - Jenna Marbles

I need to look it up and have a proper look, but it seems like it's a discontinued product, so I'm not sure how good it will be.

Models Prefer Thirst Stop Mask: Models Prefer is currently having a half off BB Creams and Cleansers atm, so I thought why not, can never have enough masks?

Also from Coles:

Swisse is currently reduced to clear/on clearance at my local Coles and also my local chemist.
I'm quite concerned, as has anyone noticed that a lot of the great full sized products in our Beauty Boxes are then discontinued?
The Toni & Guy Hair Glue we got in the June Box that we were estatic over was subsequently discountinued in both of my local Safeways and also Coles, but not Big W.

The plot thickens.

Swisse Body Scrub ($3.50c???)


Big W currently has a $4 off sale for both Rimmel and Maybelline, no idea how long for, as it doesn't say it on the tags
(grr)
But I love these! I have the regular non metal ones, and had to have them :)
And for $7.50(ish), whew!

Barely Branded, Silver Strike

Maybelline Colour Tattoos Metal

I'm also a gun at finding the weirdest shit:
See: disposable toothbrush
Well, Alrighty then.

Also picked up some purple mascara from BYS at (ugh) a variety store.
I love my weird shit though, and those shops are the bomb.

Just realised it looks bent at the top.
Good quality.

Also received some free samples in the mail.

Libra was having a free sample offer for the Hotties.
We got these in the July Bellabox as well, it always worries me when we receive free samples in our boxes at the same time we can get them for free through other means.

The Clear Shampoo and Conditioner pissed me off, as it took up most of my July Bellabox, and in that packaging is a link to enter a competition, through which you then get another sample set of the shampoo and conditioner... I would have preferred to just get a flyer for the competition, and received a sample for a product I would have loved more, as I already use this brand, and it's cheap.

Come on Bellabox.

Libra Hotties

Clear Shampoo and Conditioner

Don't get me wrong, I love Lust Have It and Bellabox, just sometimes I get disillusioned by things like receiving things that have either been out of date (BellaBox - Streetstar Gloss), or what currently seems to be discontinued (or might just be new packaging?).

It could just be my town, I'm not too sure.

Regardless, cheap stuff, yay!!

With love, 

Rik xx

Collective Haul | Priceline, Sportsgirl, Chemist Warehouse, Online Purcases, etc.

So I had the day off work and Uni, and decided to head to town to buy some basic items and also use my Priceline rewards voucher.

But as usual, that never goes to plan.

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My main reason to go to town was that I needed a new pair of flats, as one of mine is a bit worn out and you can never have enough flats.
It took me a few shops to find a pair that I liked, because I'm super picky with anything fashion related. This blog will definitely be more beauty than fashion, I can tell you now.

I wont bore you with the socks and underwear items I picked up yesterday, also I feel that's rather awkward to show, but I ended up getting the shoes from Trade Secret for $4 (Bargain!).
I also picked up a pair of knickers and a bra from Trade Secret, the latter I need to return as it was tagged wrong >.<
The bag I got is from Cotton On, on special for $10 with any purchase
I picked up 5 knickers for $30 to get the deal :D

Rubi Shoes/Cotton On, Pure Hype

I also went to Priceline, as I had an embarrassingly big payback voucher from Priceline, I was going to save it for when I'm in Sydney for IMATS (I am BEYOND excited), but Olay has recently brought out a new "Specialty Cleanser".
I've wanted the Clarisonic for a long time, as this is currently at an introductory price so I thought why not.

I also picked up a 2 pack of replacement heads which were also at an introductory price (saving a whole $1, yay? The actual cleanser was $3.50 off but my voucher paid for it so still pretty good savings), I also picked up a facial exfoliator from Models Prefer, as they are currently having a half of sale for cleansers.

Olay, ModelsPrefer

I don't know much about this cleanser yet, it did come with a 20ml sample of the Skin Renewal Cleanser, but I'm assuming it will be ok to use with other cleansers in the future.

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I almost forgot to go to Sportsgirl, I have been wanting the Glitter Envy Nail Polish for a while, after seeing Kat from Kitsch Snitch rave about it for weeks.

It's more beautiful in person and I may do a review on it soon. :D

I also picked up a new Lip Jam, I'm obsessed with these! I currently have 8 and that's probably way too many but they smell so delicious! They're only $5.95c, which is pretty decent for a 16g pot of Lip Balm. <3<3<3

I was also intrigued by the Nail Sprinkles, as I do like nail art and I got into a small conversation with the lovely sales assistant about them.
I love orange everything at the moment, so of course I chose the orange pot, can't wait to use it!

(If I can sit still long enough)

Sportsgirl

These next two items are online purchases/swaps.

The Face of Australia Nail Pastel Nail Polish I received in a swap (I swapped a Mascara), I haven't used it yet but it's a super pretty colour.

I don't why why I ever overlooked the polishes when they were around originally.

The Eyeliner I picked up off eBay, I had previously received a lipstick from Styli-Style, and was interested in trying other products from the brand. 

I chose blue as I'm into non traditional coloured eyeliner's at the moment.

However it doesn't give a highly pigmented pay off and feels scratchy, which is a bit concerning.

Face of Australia, Styli-Style

Next was Chemist Warehouse, not super exciting, they do have awesome sales I just don't really need anything (shocking, I know).

I love this brand, and my inner extreme couponer couldn't go past the $5 cash back offer.

Unfortunately the survey was over and I didn't get my $5 back.... boo.

Amele

My local pharmacy has quite a good selection of random beauty items, and I have been lusting after the Glasshouse Fragrances Marseille Gardenia Hand Cream after receiving a sample of it in one of my Lust Have It boxes months ago.

They do sell Glasshouse Fragrances in my town, but the full sized hand cream was $25, which is a bit pricey for a hand cream, one day my love one day...

In the meantime, the pharmacy close to my house (the name escapes me), stocks another brand called The Body Collection, which makes pretty similar products to both Glasshouse and The Body Shop.

I contemplated buying the hand cream from The Body Collection as it was $9.95c for pretty much the same thing.

I literally stood there for about 5 minutes, going back and forth between this $13.95c pack which included the and cream and a soap bar (I'm not a fan of soap but I can keep it for display purposes), or the other pack, which was $14.95c but included a Bath and Shower Gel, and a Hand & Body Lotion.

I didn't know if the Hand & Body lotion was the same as the normal Hand Cream, as they have different ingredients, but I do prefer body wash over soaps.

I did end up going for the first pack, as I just want the Hand Cream and not a body cream, but I may pick up the second pack in the future.

Besides the packaging is just so pretty!

Gardenias are now my new favourite flower <3

The Body Collection

Gardenia Bloom

My next purchase could be a little bit controversial, and possibly naughty, as I bought these from one of those discount cosmetic shops that has opened up recently in my local town.

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I love the brand ModelCo, 90% of their products I do actually buy off their actual website, the rest I either get from Priceline or Myer.

I was however walking past yesterday and noticed that this store now stocks ModelCo, which I thought was a bit worrying.

I went into the store and had a look, and sure enough they have quite a few sets, including the Danni Minogue colour set (which I already have).

I did buy the lipstick duo shown below, selling for $6. (ModelCo is a rather high end brand)
I have never seen the LipDuos sold individually, nor have I seen one in orange, so I picked it up purely out of interest.

There is no sticker showing the lipstick name/colour on the base of the product, all I saw indicating any form of name was the word Grace.

Which I have not been able to find elsewhere.

I do want to point out that these kinds of stores are technically legal, and called "Grey Market" or "Parallel Import" stores, kind of like The Reject Shop.

But this store is not an official stockist, so it can be quite risky buying from these places, as you don't know how old the product is, or where it's from.
I've also seen MAC and Benefit for sale there so they could very well be fakes as well.

I have brought this to the attention of ModelCo via email (they gave me a coupon code too, as they know that I'm a loyal customer :P), and they said they will look into the matter, but I don't really know much else.

They mostly sell American brands you wouldn't normally find in Australia, so out of interest I picked up some Jordana lip pencils.

Some products I wouldn't go near, as they look super old and you can tell. 

They even have Mary-Kate and Ashley Cosmetics (I didn't know they had a line?)

I would be wary of these places and just steer clear, but really I don't know if it's a legitimate store or if something else is going on :/

ModelCo, Jordana.

With love,

Rik xx

Beauty Box Swaps #1 | Biotherm, Dermalogica, BedHead, Ella Bache, Dr Hauschka.

Every so often I will post what I have received from Beauty-Box Swaps.

This group is every make up/skin care hoarders dream!

If you have unwanted items from Beauty Box Subscription services, or by other means (DCC, GWP etc.) and eBay isn't working out for you, Beauty-Box Swaps is an easy way to swap with other Australians items like skin care or in my case, make up items, you can see if others will swap for items you would like instead.

I personally don't like to waste products, and I know others might like what I don't like, or won't use, and vice versa, so this group is a Godsend.

It can get a bit tricky when what is offered doesn't match your value of the items, so be careful and be clear with what you want.

Another issue that you need to be aware of is swapping an item for one that hasn't been shown clearly or at all, and especially when you don't know this person.

Not that you shouldn't trust anyone, just keep your wits about you.

It's also a good idea to state whether the product you are swapping has been opened, swatched or even used (though it's not a good idea to use items others have used, it's entirely up to you, depending on the product), basically just being clear as to what state the product is in; as if you were selling it on eBay or Gumtree and the like.

I haven't had any issues myself with other services, but I also didn't swap with anyone so I don't know from personal experience (thankfully).

Today I received a small lot of sample items from various brands, the wonderful woman even threw in an extra day cream for me :) (I threw in a hand cream I'd received in the LHI Winter Eco Box, smelt horrid but she likes it)

I swapped for an Australis lipstick, a Maybelline Lip Liner and the hand cream mentioned above).

In the past I've received high end face masks, a Baby Foot pack, Swisse Body Wash, Nail Polish and more sample items, the majority I've swapped for miscellaneous make up items.

So please check out this group and let me know what you think :D

NOTE: I am of course selling a heap of items that are also available for swap, pretty please check out my eBay page :D

With Love,

Rik xx

Real Techniques Brushes!!!

So I'm finally getting myself Real Techniques brushes :D

As they are $15ish each at Priceline, I went via iHerb.com, and bought 3 sets of brushes, $18 each (12 brushes total), which is a great deal.

Priceline (three sets): $124.97c

iHerb: $44.82 (including $10 off my first order over $40.)

Savings: AUD$80.15c

For anyone not familiar with iHerb.com, it's basically an online grocery store kind of thing.

They do have E.L.F Cosmetics and other great brands, but I just wanted the Real Techniques brushes to start me off.

iHerb.com has a rewards program, giving me a unique referral code of BTN231, which will give first time buyers $10 off their first orders over $40, or $5 off their orders $40 and under.

With love,

Rik xx

Empties | July 2013

So I've finally decided to join the Blogger world, I've wanted to for a very long time but have never found time to, as I'm a full time Business student.

I thought I'd start with my empties for the month of July, 2013:

I don't go through much so I'm pretty proud of my achievements this month.

I'm also trying to use up the majority of my sample items, as I seem to accumulate too many.

#Hoarders

Fist up are larger items that I've used up

Clear Scalp Therapy Shampoo 350ml

I like this shampoo, it's fairly inexpensive and works really well with my curly mane. Not too exciting, but I was kind of annoyed at receiving it in my July Bellabox, as they included a card to enter a competition, which includes being sent another sample.

Repurchase: Already have.

TRESemme Travel sized Salon Finish Hair Spray 75g

With my job I need to keep my hair out of peoples food and drinks, and I have frizzy hair.

I loved this hair spray for a long time, as its travel/purse friendly and does keep my fly aways at bay, at least for a while.

I'm using up other travel sized hair sprays from beauty boxes etc., and seeing how I feel about the Toni & Guy one and then I'll see if I want to buy it in the future

Repurchase: Most likely

Schick Hydro Sensitive Shaving Cream 75ml

I received this one during O Weeks Market Day at my Uni, it was handed to me along with a free razor while I was bumming around.

It was pretty good, I'm not a fan of shaving creams as they dry out my skin, I prefer shaving with baby oil.

Repurchase: Already have, but might not in the future.

Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Shower Gel 100ml

The boyfriend bought this for me in one of those packs that come with perfumes.

I like the actual perfume, but wasn't sure about using it as a body wash, so I was happy to use it up.

It also broke at the top of it, so using it was kind of awkward by the end.

Repurchase: Probably not.

Libra Hotties 2 Pack

I did receive one of these in my July Bellabox, as I didn't mind at all as I do love these during unhappy cramp times.

These are usually on special, so I have a few in storage.

Repurchase: Already have.

Onto the smaller stuff and the rare make up items.

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation 115

I've had this for an embarrassing two years, I've finally used it up/decided it was pretty much empty

I love this foundation, but I have so many foundations I need to use up before I can get this again.

Repurchase: Yes, but not for a while.

Bedhead Shampoo and Conditioner samples

I received these in the April Lust Have It box, and I'm currently using up my shampoo and conditioner samples atm.

These weren't too exciting, it's hard to tell how I feel about a product after one use, but they did the job.

Bioderma Atoderm cream sample

This was nice, it lasted me a while, I'm not that fussed with fancy moisturisers so I'm not sure I will repurchase it.

Repurchase: Probably not.

Tiaki Day Cream sample

Same as above, I'm not super excited by fancy moisturisers but it was nice to have.

Repurchase: Probably not

Amele Intimate Freshen-Up Wipes 20 pack

I love the smell of these, they smell like Sunshine, Rainbows and lollipops.

Repurchase: Already have.

Furlesse Elevens 3 Day sample.

I don't now if they actually worked as I don't really have frown lines, and I was worried about having an allergic reaction (I'm allergic to most adhesives) but eh, no complaints.

Repurchase: Probably not.

Beauty Style Blue Eyeliner Pencil 

I used this to draw a fishy on my wrist for Talia Joy, but this pretty much just smooshed onto my skin and made a mess. It also smells like little kids make up, and kind of like crayons.

I'm not putting this near my eyes.

Repurchase: Aw hell naw.

ModelCo Fibrelash Mascara Duo

For those that don't know what Fibre mascara is, it's essentially false eyelashes in a bottle.

They do work pretty well.

I love ModelCo, but I'm a mascara hoarder, and these need to go.

I have another set so it's not too bad.

Repurchase: Not for a while.

Well that's my empties for the month, does anyone else feel accomplished when they actually use things up? I'm such a hoarder.

I'm also selling a heap of unused cosmetic items on eBay, if you are interested. 

I mostly have eye and lip products, and a few nail polishes and misc. items.

I also want to call attention to a Facebook group where you can swap unwanted Beauty Box or even other beauty items for better items: Beauty-Box Swaps

The woman who made it has made it as a Facebook page you have to add as a friend.

I've gotten fairly awesome stuff from the website so far :D

With love, 

Rik xx