Payless Shoes Haul: Booties for Winter

So this week I am back at uni after a long three months holiday! And my last week was filled with so much drama and I figured I needed to spoil myself. The week was filled with the after math of the break up with my boyfriend, followed by my worst birthday ever the next day.


I've been eyeing a few shoes from Payless Shoes lately; some boots for winter to be exact! Has anyone noticed how the quality and the designs of Payless Shoes has improved so much over the past 1-2 years? Always a great thing, to have shoes that look good to be more affordable (especially when they go on sale)! =p


So here are the pictures of what I bought.

Ankle boots with fold over fur detailing. The whole inside is lined with fake fur.
MmmMmM.....Warmth...

I love how you can too it shin high booties!

 The shoes with better lighting. This pic probably represents the true colour the best.

Simply gorgeous =D

Some combat boots. A lot of people have these but I don't care.

I love the buckle on the side and the slightly washed out leather look
(although u can't really tell in this pic)

Although it may look like I spend a lot of molla, I didn't! These shoes were on sale (lucky me) and great new pieces for the coming winter. =]


Ava Over and Out
xoxo

xCLUSIVE OFFER: Buy Great Lash Mascara & receive a Shine Sensational Lip Gloss Free!!

While I was on www.instylemag.com.au I came across this coupon. Instyle magazine is also currently showcasing 101 best beauty buys in their February issue. It mentions many great quality products recommended by many makeup guru's on youtube. 

If you would like to receive this deal go to the following website to print out the coupon:

http://www.instylemag.com.au/e2Shop/Uploads/2973/2973.pdf

Offer ends 14th of March, 2011.

Instyle magazine also often has many special offers on beauty products so I would highly recommend buying the magazine or regularly visiting the website. =D

Ava Over & Out

xoxo

Coastal Scents Ultra Shimmer Palette Fake???

So I recently went on ebay to search for inexpensive Coastal Scents palettes and I was looking at the products that had popped up after searching "Coastal Scents Palettes." Majority of the products were listed around $30 per palette + postage and handling. Which I know is a pretty good price for a palette with that many colours, but I didn't really want to pay that much.

I had actually read somewhere online that if you type in the name of the palette you want but without the 'coastal scents' part in the search engine you will get the exact same palette for a cheaper price. 

Why are these ones cheaper?  Are they fakes?  Copy cats? 

So I did a little research and I found out that the cheaper palettes that are listed on ebay, are pretty much the coastal scents palettes the only difference is that it does not have the 'coastal scents' label on them (i.e. they are pretty much made from the same company, coastal scents just buys it from the same supplier and slaps their brand on it). They looked exactly the same and were only $15.00 exact with $0 postage and handling!! Although I was worried it was a hoax product and was scared that the shadow would not be very pigmented but it was! It was very very pigmented. 

Although I have never had first hand experience with a coastal scents palette so I cannot actually say whether or not they are directly comparable, I decided to do swatches for you all to see =D

Here is the picture of the Coastal Scents Ultra Shimmer Palette from the official Coastal Scents website:

Here are photos I took of the ebay (looks exactly the same huh? =p):

Here are swatches of the palette from ebay:

I also had worries that the eyeshadow would crack and break during transport, but it came out perfect. In fact the care taken into the packaging actually surprised me. Inside the palette it self had a clear plastic cover over the eyeshadows, and there was also bubble wrap in the inside. The palette was also securely taped on both sides and then inserted into a plastic sleeve. Two plates of foam were placed on both sides of the palette and then taped together, and placed in a bubble wrap envelop. 

If anyone is on a low budget but still would like to have an extensive eyeshadow range, this is my best recommendation to date. 

Ava Over & Out

xoxo

Sigma Complete Brush Kit - Pink *REVIEW*

I have been on the search for a good brush set for awhile, searching all the department stores and makeup stalls that I could come up with. It's sad to know now that there is nothing available in Australia that is of good quality for a decent price. From what I recall a Napoleon Perdis 12 Brush Set cost a good $500 with the brushes not exactly the softest I had ever felt, although the density was permissible. And the only lower end brushes which were really soft but with compromised density, the 'Professional' brushes from Priceline didn't come in a complete brush set. 

This lead me to go online. With all the hype about the SIGMA brand by youtube makeup gurus, it was the first place I went to. The brush set I chose only set me back $115AUD which I personally thought was a very good investment considering the other quotes I had been given, although I was still quite hesitant as my trust was in the guru's reviews and not personal impressions. 

Review:

Ordering from Australia, I did not really expect the company to put so much effort into the packaging of the product. BUT THEY DID!! AND first impression is fantastic. The packaging definitely gave it a quality and girly feel. I was worried with all the raining (during the floods) the product would get really damaged, but the package came in a yellow waterproof+bubble wrap envelop with another white envelop over the top - No chance of water damage at all! =p

As I opened the pink packaging I was confronted with a pink/grey brush kit roll - not what it had looked like on the website at all =\ I feel that if I had known the pink was such an ugly pink I would have went for the black instead...

The package also included a leaflet explaining the best uses for each type of brush, cleaning instructions and also a small gift from sigma for the purchase (I received a mini blending brush for travelling purposes).

Although the brush roll let me down the brushes definitely did not. Every review that I have read and watched from guru's has been correct to the word! The brushes are extremely soft and dense and is very comparable to the MAC brushes, only its a fraction of the price! (As smooth as a babies bottom!) I had never really realised how much difference the quality of the brush makes to the overall outcome of the makeup until I used these brushes.  Not only do the brushes make the outcome smoother, but it allows application to be a lot easier as well. (Forgot to mention the brushes also pick up product well too).

I would recommend this to anyone and everyone! Even if you are a beginner I would highly recommend trying your best to invest in sigma products. Quality makeup starts first with quality brushes! My only suggestion is not to choose the pink colour brush set. Other then that, the quality of the brushes is absolutely fantastic. 

For those interested, the product took about 1.5 weeks to come to Queensland, Australia. This surprised me as I received it just a few days after the major flooding occurred.

Ava Over & Out
xoxo

DIY: PAC MAN MURAL

So my room is kinda boring at the moment so I've been trying to find out ways to decorate it without spending too much money. This is the first idea that I came up with and it only set me back $17!!! How awesome is that?


I know there are stores that sell proper wall decals but nothing the size of my mural for the same price!


I must warn anyone who plans to do this though - I tested whether or not it would leave any residue on the wardrobe  by cutting out a small strip and sticking on the side of my wardrobe over night. When I peeled it off it did leave some residue! Which was a little bummer for me...but I decided I'd do it anyway! Just means I won't ever be taking it off =p (Not that I plan to anyway, because its just so freaken awesome! teehee)




Here is the link to the video if you'd like to see it:

Hope you guys enjoy it!

Over & Out!

Welcome to my Blog!

Hey Doods/Doodettes!


And welcome to my blog!


On here you will find make up tutorials, hauls, random blogs, DIY projects and heaps heaps more!


I thought I should start to document parts of my life. The things I do, the things I learn and the things I would like to share. To keep for the past (to document memories), the present and the future (to remind me of how life was).


I hope you guys enjoy it!


Over & Out