Thank You and Happy New Year to Everyone

As 2013 nears its end, I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to my loyal readers for sticking by my blog, and thank you to all the Companies and PR for the products, news contents, help and support in 2013.


2013 has been the first full calendar year for the Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter, and thanks to you all, it has grown tremendously, and I couldn't have done it without you all – and I have loved every step of the journey. I can’t wait to share 2014 with you all – together I know we can make 2014 an amazing year! 

I hope you will all have a safe and happy 2014.

Take care,

Karina xx

 

 

Product Review: Best Budget Beauty Buys - December 2013

It has been a while since I did my last Best Beauty Budget Buys – I have simply been busy. Insanely busy. Having a baby, selling your house and looking for a new one has just taken up a lot of my time lately, so I have been a little side tracked. Anyway, here my most recent suggestions for Best Beauty Budget Buys;

Palmolive Heavenly Hands Foaming Hand Wash*

 

Since Palmolive launched the foaming hand washes in 2012 I have been in love with these. With just a single pump, the liquid transfers into a soft creamy form, that gently washes the hands, without drying them out, and leaving behind a gorgeous scent. And now two new additions have just been launched; Jasmine and Passionfruit. Both smell absolutely amazing and are suitable for the whole family, while the Passionfruit version is also antibacterial, specifically formulated to kill germs, so it is perfect to keep by the kitchen sink.

RRP $3.29 (250mL Pump), and RRP $5.49 (500mL Refill) - available from supermarkets and selected pharmacies.

 

Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment Shaver*

 

Summer is upon us, so it’s time to bare the legs, which also means time to defuzz… And for that, the new Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment Shaver is perfect. The shaver has four blades for a close shave, so you don’t have to shave quite as often, and it has a strip with coconut and almond milk at the end of the blade which means that you don’t have to use shave gel, soap or body wash when shaving, which is great as I always run out of my shaving gel, and dry shaving is not a good idea!

The Coconut Milk and Almond Oil strip lathers up when used on wet skin, leaving the skin moisturised and incredibly soft afterwards. The shaver comes with two replacement blades and also a nifty little holder so you can keep it in the shower.

 

Garnier Fructis Nutri-Repair 3 Miraculous Oil

 

The last few years I’ve become addicted to hair oils. I use them daily. But some hair oils can be rather expensive – but not this relatively new baby from Garnier. The oil is enriched with argan oil and promises to condition and repair dry, damaged and dull hair, and provide protection from heat styling. I use this oil after I wash my hair to add moisture, after I’ve styled it to get rid of any frizz, and on days I don’t wash it to give my hair added shine. It has a lovely fruity scent, and it very concentrated, just 2-3 pumps is all it takes in my long thick hair, so the generous 150ml bottle will last you a long time. An absolute bargain!

RRP: $11.95 (150ml) – available from Priceline, select pharmacies, and supermarkets

 

Colour Theory Lipgloss*

 

Colour Theory is a new brand that has been developed with four simple and low price points, $4, $6, $8 and $10. This lipgloss in the colour Strawberry Sorbet is a pale pink colour that is perfect to use on its own for a casual day time look or it can be used on top of your lipstick as a finishing touch.

It has a nice glossy finish with lovely subtle golden shimmers throughout, yet without being over the top shimmery. It is easy to apply and has a nice moisturising feeling on the lips, without being sticky or tacky. It is available in 8 beautiful shades, and come at an absolute bargain price!

RRP: $8 (3ml) – Available from Amcal and Guardian Pharmacies 

*These products were kindly provided for consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

So there you go, these are my most recent suggestions Best Budget Beauty Buys? Have you tried any of these products? Or keen to?

 

Product Review: Violet Box – December Review

I thought that I’d received the last beauty box for the year, but I was wrong as yesterday my postie brought me the lovely surprise of another one, so here are my thoughts on the December edition of the *The Violet Box;

What They Say:

"Violet Box brands promises to every month include 4-6 premium beauty and lifestyle samples from well-known and trusted Australian beauty brands as well as exciting new International brands, one in particular is a revolutionary product currently trending in New York and has been featured in Vogue and on the Today Show!"

 

RRP: You can subscribe to Violet Box for:

• 1 month – $22.95
• 3 months - $66.00
• 6 months - $130.00
• 12 months - $250.00

 

What I Say:

As usual, the December edition of the Violet Box comes in a narrower sized black matte box, which closes with a magnetic closure and a purple ribbon. I love the simplicity of the black boxes, and find them very useful to store other items such as jewellery, makeup samples and other knickknacks.

This is what was in the December Violet Box…

 

The first thing I saw when I opened the box was a little note with an apology saying that unfortunately the planned Jelly Pong Pong Wide Awake Palette that was supposed to have been included on the box, and which was mentioned on the product card, unfortunately had been damaged during the transit. Consequently the palette will be included in the January box instead, and as a replacement Violet Box has included two Sweetpea & Fay eyeshadows worth $17 each.

Looking at the description and image of the Jelly Pong Pong Wide Awake Palette I am quite sad that it is not included, as it looks amazing – but unfortunately these things happen, and I think it is great that Violet Box has managed to find a replacement without delaying the box. Besides, it gives everyone something to look forward to in next month’s box!

Sweetpea & Fay eyeshadows x 2 – Full Size (RRP: $17 each)

 

I have never heard of this brand before, so I certainly don’t mind the addition of these in the box, and to receive two full sized shadows is very generous. I got the colour UFO Sightings and Tom Foolery, which are a dark violet and a dark dusky pink respectively, so these colours work perfectly together.

Unfortunately I am a little conservative and mainly use nude and brown eyeshadows, so I will not get a lot of use from these, but regardless I will look forward to testing them out. But of course ideally I would have received these in some more neutral and for me, more wearable shades.

 

Crabtree & Evelyn Pomegranate Hand Therapy – Full Size (RRP: $10/25g)

I already have one of these, and I absolutely love it. It lives in my nappy bag, the cream is very moisturising and absorbs quickly into the hands without leaving them feel greasy, and the gorgeous pomegranate scent is such a nice and refreshing scent to use after changing a stinky nappy – so although it is not new to me, I loved the addition of this hand cream in the box, so I have a backup for when I run out.

Sweetpea & Fay J’Adore Les Levres "I Love Lips" – Full Size (RRP: $12.95/10g)

 

This claims to be a liquid lipstick from Sweetpea & Fay – and when I first saw it I thought that this is not a lipstick, that is a lipgloss, but as soon as I tested it on my hands, I understood, it really is a liquid lipstick. It is quite thick, and consequently it is a little difficult to squeeze out of the tube, but once out, the sweet smelling lipstick is so creamy and pigmented, although a tiny coat will also just leave the lips with a lovely stain. I got the colour Paper Cut, which is a dark pink, and lovely colour – so I cannot wait to give this a proper test!

Evo The Therapist Calming Shampoo and Conditioner – Samples,50ml each (RRP: $29.95/300ml each)

 

This shampoo and conditioner is intended for dry, frizzy and colour treated hair, so they are perfect for my hair that I just had coloured two weeks ago. The small bottles are cute, and perfect to bring on a weekend away, and they smell gorgeous so I can’t wait to try them. In saying that, EVO shampoo and conditioners have also been included in a previous beauty box that I have received, so as such these are not exciting me as much as if I’d never received these before – so I would have preferred to try another product from EVO, such as a treatment or styling product.

 

Hello Fresh $30 voucher

 

This is a voucher for a company that delivers all the groceries you need to prepare specific meals for the family according to specific recipes which are also included. This is a fantastic idea, you don’t have to spend the time going to the supermarket and the veggie shop, and you get to try out some new meals you otherwise probably wouldn’t, so I really like this idea, and will be trying this out early in the New Year. However, I already received one of these discount vouchers in a previous beauty box, and as you can only use one voucher per household, I unfortunately won’t be able to use this one as well – but I plan to pass it onto a friend, who hopefully will find it interesting and useful.

The box contains four full sized products, the two Sweetpea & Fay eyeshades, the lipstick and the Crabtree & Evelyn hand cream, with a combined value of $56, so all in all good value. And in addition to that  there are also the EVO shampoo and conditioner samples and the Hello Fresh voucher.

As mentioned above, I personally won’t get a lot of use from the eyeshadows, but still the combined value of the hand cream (which I would likely have repurchased), and the lipstick, still makes the box great value for me, and worth the $22.95.

*Product was kindly provided for consideration, and has reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

What do you think of the products of the December Violet Box? Did you get this months’ box too? What did you think? And if not, would you consider subscribing?

And of course, as always, if you’d like to see an in-depth review of any of products in the box, leave me a comment below..

 

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a wonderful Xmas, and a very happy and safe New Year. I hope that the Jolly man in the red suit is kind to you.

 

 

 

Product Review: Lust Have It – December Box

It is that time of month again. The time when the monthly beauty boxes arrives. This morning I woke to the lovely surprise of finding the *December Lust Have It Box by my front door, and here are my thoughts on its contents;

 

 

 

What They Say:

"Lust Have It boxes regularly contains products worth $60+ for only $19.95/month! Monthly box filled with 5 to 6 premium beauty samples. Delivered to your home or work each month for you to try."

 

RRP: Lust Have It Box (monthly) RRP: $19.95, Eco Box (quarterly) RRP: $29.95 – but read on to find out how to get a discount on your first box..

Available from Lust Have It

 

What I Say:

As per previous months, this month’s Lust Have It box also comes in a box with a magnetic closure and the new white design with the pretty blue, pink, orange and red water colour floral design.

And here’s a rundown of the goodies in this month’s box:

 

 

Maybelline New York Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream – Full Size (RRP: $15.95/30ml)

 

 

These days I tend to wear more BB, CC creams and tinted moisturisers, so I am definitely happy about receiving this one in a full size. It has 8 benefits for the skin, and is lightweight and oil free, so perfect for my combination skin. I got the medium shade, which is perfect for my skin now that the sun has gently kissed my cheeks!

Maybelline New York Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream with 2% Salicylic Acid – Sample Sachet, 1ml - (RRP: $15.95/30ml)

I have already received one of these sachet samples from somewhere, and I quite liked it, especially now that it is summer, and my combination skin in general gets a little greasier, and also breaks out a little more frequently. In saying that, on a daily basis, I do not have that many breakouts, so I am quite happy to have received the full sized tube of the standard BB Cream instead.

 

Pelactiv Hydrating Cream Cleanser – Sample Size, 30ml (RRP: $43/150ml)

This Cream Cleanser is intended for normal to dry skin types, and as I have combination skin prone to breakouts, I would have preferred to receive the Foaming Cleanser for normal to oily skin types that I know is also an option in this month’s box. But Pelactiv is one of those brands that I have had on my wish list to try, so it certainly won’t go to waste. The 30ml sample tube is a generous size, so there’s sufficient cleanser to try it out several times.

 

Uriage Aquaprecis refreshing Gel-Cream – Sample size, 15ml (RRP: $49.95/40ml)

 

 

This gel moisturiser is intended for combination skin, and aims to moisturise for 24 hour, without making the skin feel greasy or drowned in moisture. This sounds like the perfect moisturiser for my skin during summer, so I can’t wait to test it out. Besides, Uriage is yet another brand that I’ve wanted to try, so again I’m very happy with the inclusion of this sample.

 

SunSense Anti-Ageing Face SPF30+ - Full Size (RRP: $20.95/100ml)

 

 

I have used the SunSense sunscreen products previous and in fact recently purchased a SPF for the body as I really like their products, so I am very stoked with this full sized face cream being included. I also love that it is a specific anti-ageing cream that helps to reduce wrinkles with aid from the included AHA’s, Vitamins E and B3. I also love that it is free from fragrance, PABA and lanolin, and that it has an oil-free base and is non-comedogenic so it hopefully won’t make my skin break out

 

Clairol Visible Repair Intensive Mask – Sample Size, 30ml (RRP: $13.95/200ml)

 

 

 

There were two different options of masks included in the boxes, one for coloured hair, or the one I got for dry hair. Considering I just had my hair coloured at the hair dresser a week ago, I would have preferred the one for coloured hair, but as my long hair is always a bit dry in the ends, it still won’t go to waste. I don’t remember ever trying any Clairol hair products either, so I do look forward to testing it out.

Finally, the box also included a voucher for $100 off a case of wine, so you can get a box for $100. This is a great offer to fill the wine rack, but as I am still breast feeding and hence still completely off the alcohol, I will not be making use of this offer.

As per previous boxes I love how the Lust Have It box contains a variety of different products, including skincare, makeup and hair and body care and this month also sunscreen, which couldn’t have been better timing, just in time for the holidays.

This month’s box includes two full sized products including the Maybelline BB Cream and the SunSense sunscreen, and the value of these two products are almost $37, so well above the $19.95 price tag for the box. In addition the box also contains some generous sample sizes of brands Pelactiv, Uriage and Clairol, neither of which I have tried, so all in all, I am yet again impressed with not only the selection of product, but also the value for money of this box. You’ve done it again Lust Have It!

Discount Offer

Have you signed up to any monthly beauty subscription boxes? Thinking of trying the Lust Have It Box and getting a selection of new beauty products to try delivered to your door every month?

Each month the Lust Have It box includes 5 or 6 hand-picked beauty samples worth $60+ delivered to your door for only $19.95/mth. Some of the brands you can expect to trial include: Benefit, Shiseido, Kerastase, Glasshouse and Laura Mercier to name a few. 

For more information, check out the Lust Have It website.

 

 

And if you use my unique code LIFESTYLE at the checkout on the Lush Have It website, you are eligible for $5 off your first box from Lust Have It, and at the same time you’ll also be supporting Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter, as I will get a few dollars too if someone subscribes using this code.

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

What do you think of this month’s Lust Have It box? Are you a subscriber? Or are you maybe considering subscribing? Have you tried any of this month’s products?

 

 

Product Review: Sukin Wellness Body Oil

Once upon a time I avoided all oil skin care products. You see, I have combination skin, prone to breakouts, so the last think I wanted to add to my skin was more oil. But then I realised that most of these oils actually do not make the skin greasy, and since then I’ve been in love! Here are my thoughts on the Sukin Wellness Body Oil;               

 

What They Say:

"This 100% natural and luxurious blend of botanical oils helps to soothe the body and mind. Rose hip oil offers the skin instant hydration, promoting skin elasticity and radiance, while Marula seed oil is antioxidant rich to soothe skin and help improve skin texture. Soybean oil, rich in EFA's (essential fatty acids) for deep skin conditioning, along with calendula flower extract, rich in beta-carotene to soothe skin help regenerate damaged skin, leaving it soft & silky. This multi-use  body oil is ideal for massage or for use as a bath oil, post shaving or waxing and as a hand or foot treatment to soothe the skin, leaving no oily residue."

RRP: $19.95(100ml) – Available from Priceline, select pharmacies and Sukin Online

 

What I Say:

This Wellness Body Oil from Sukin contains among others Soybena Oil, Marula Seed Oil, Rose Hip Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, and claims to not only hydrate the skin, but also improve skin texture and help regenerate
damaged skin.

The oil is Australian own and made, and is free from all the chemical nasties including SLS, SLES, synthetic fragrances, detergents, propylene glycol, artificial colours, mineral oils, EDTA and parabens, as well as it is 100% vegan, 100% carbon neutral and not tested on animals. Massive bonus points all around!

 

 

The Body oil has a nice natural fruity scent of orange, no doubt coming from mandarin orange and tangerine peel oils included – and being a lover of anything citrus scented, this is a winner for me.

It comes in a brown glass bottle with a pump, which I really like as it makes it so easy to use, without getting too much oil. I also like the glass bottle, although it means that you have to be a little more careful not to drop it on the bathroom floor, as well as it is not very practical when travelling.

 

 

I simply apply a few sprays on my body after I come out of the shower while my skin is still damp, and smooth massage it in with my hands. And you can instantly feel its caring moisturising properties, as my skin is left so soft and smooth, and with a nice sheen and healthy glow. There is absolutely no greasiness to be felt on my skin. And the beautiful scent keeps lingering around for a while too, which I really love.

I also love that this body oil has multiple uses, as it can also be used as a massage oil, as a bath oil, as foot and hand treatment also caring for dry cuticles, - and after I’ve applied it to my body, I run my fingers through my hair, so my dry ends can also benefit from the moisturising properties.

And don’t be fooled and think the 100ml bottle is small compared to the usual 250-300ml body lotions, as the oil is very concentrated so it will last you just as long, which also makes the $19.95 price tag very reasonable.

What I Like:

• It comes in a pump bottle that is easy to use
• It is well priced
• It is very concentrated
• It absorbs quickly and leaves the skin soft and thoroughly and without feeling greasy
• It leaves the skin with a nice sheen and a healthy glow
• It has a nice gentle and natural orange scent

What I Don’t Like:

• While I do like the glass bottle, I also find it a little impractical, as with oily fingers there is an increased risk of dropping it on the bathroom floor.

Overall, this is such a lovely body oil, and I love everything from its scent, to how nice and soft it makes my skin feel and not to mention how glowingly healthy it looks. I will definitely be purchasing this again!

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever tried any of the products from Sukin? Do you use body oils? Which one would you recommend?

Xmas 2013 Giveaways

If you haven’t noticed already, Santa has been extremely kind this year, and has repeatedly visited the Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter Blog.

The prizes are absolutely amazing, so if you don’t want to miss out, you better make sure that you enter immediately, as some of these giveaways are closing very very soon..

 

 

 

But remember that you can only win one of these Xmas giveaways, so make sure you select carefully which one(s) you’d like to enter.

 

• Xmas Giveaway#1
• Xmas Giveaway#2
• Xmas Giveaway#3
• Xmas Giveaway#4
• Xmas Giveaway#5
• Xmas Giveaway#6

 
Good Luck Everyone!

Product Review: Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

As we head towards summer my combination skin always gets greasier, and I am always struggling to get my foundation to stay put on the hot and humid days, so I am always on the lookout for a matte foundation to use this time of year. Here are my thoughts on the new *Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

 

What They Say:

"Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation is a lightweight mouse foundation with a matte finish. It contains lightweight mattifying powders to create a flawless, silken, shine-free finish that lasts all day, leaving skin looking fresh and naturally matte. The foundation incorporates gel emulsifiers that glide over the skin, blending seamlessly and evenly. It is housed in a slim tube that features a purple cap and the iconic Rimmel crown."
Available in eight shades.

RRP: $14.95 - Available from Priceline, Kmart, Target, Big W, Coles, supermarkets & selected pharmacies

What I Say:

The new Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation from Rimmel is a very light and airy mousse foundation, which I super easy to apply to the skin, blending very easily and leaves the skin natural and even looking, and with a powdery matte finish. I found it easy to use my fingers, but naturally got an even more even result when using a foundation brush.

It has a medium coverage, although you can build up the coverage slightly, though not too much, as you do risk that it will look a little cakey with an additional layer, so for darker pigmentation, larger blemishes and possible scarring, I do recommend using a concealer as well.

 

As promised Mousse Foundation really does stay put all day and controls shine so well, as not even my otherwise greasy t-zone area breaks into a shine all day!

The foundation comes in a slim tube with a purple lid, which makes it easy to use, and being a plastic tube as opposed to other foundations such as the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation, which comes in a glass bottle, does make it easier and lighter to carry in your makeup purse – not that touch-ups during the day is required!

 

What I Like:

• Easy to apply and blend
• It stays put all day
• It has a natural yet matte finish
• It is well priced

What I Don’t Like:

• Ideally I like a little more coverage than it offers

Overall, this foundation really does live up to its claims. It provides a natural looking matte finish that stays looking matte all day. If you have combination or oily skin, and are looking for a matte foundation at a reasonable price, then I highly recommend you try it.

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

What do you think of the Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation? Do you have problems getting a foundation to stay put and stay matte all day? What are you looking for in a foundation? And what is your preferred foundation?

 

Xmas 2013 Giveaway – #6

Santa is so kind this year, and keeps visiting the Beauty and Lifestyle Hunter blog.


I hope you’ve already checked Xmas giveaway #1, #2, #3 and #4 and #5 – if not, you should check them out immediately as these giveaways are ending soon, and as there are some amazing beauty products up for grabs, so you don’t want to miss out…  But remember that you can only win one of these Xmas giveaways, so make sure you select carefully which one(s) you’d like to enter.
over the next few days more giveaways will be coming up… so make sure you stop by every day the next couple of days… But remember that you can only win one of these Xmas giveaways, so make sure you select carefully which one(s) you’d like to enter.
 

Today, for the sixth Xmas Giveaway bhave has kindly sponsored a fantastic haircare pack, which consists of 1 x riot control oil (100ml), 1 x fresh ends (50ml), 1 x leave-in crème (170g), all presented in a hanging toiletry bag (Value $30) – the pack has a combined RRP of $156.85 (although currently sold for $99)

These products are so fantastic, so really don’t want to miss out. You can also check out my reviews of the products here:

bhave Riot Control

bhave Fresh Ends

bhave Leave in Crème

Or for more information on bhave and the products, visit bhave online.  

Entry is very easy, simply follow the prompts in the Raffle copter widget below.

Before you enter, keep in mind that there will be a few giveaways coming up in the next few days, and you can only win ONE of them, so if you happen to be the winner of this first giveaway, and your name is drawn again for subsequent Xmas giveaway, a new winner will automatically be drawn!

This giveaway is open to AUSTRALIA ONLY (so sorry to my international friends, I promise that I will do another international giveaway very soon.)

The giveaway begins today, the 10^th December 2013, and ends on the 24^th December 2013.

It is REQUIRED to follow The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter by either GFC or Bloglovin' (you’ll get extra entries if you follow me on both!), as well as it is REQUIRED that you post a comment below (and make sure that you include your GFC/Bloglovin' name with your blog comment, failure to follow these steps, and you will be disqualified.

You will be banned from future giveaways if you're only following my blog on GFC, Facebook, Bloglovin, or SheSaidBeauty, because of the giveaways on my blog and un-follow straight after.

Also remember that you can get extra entries as well by selecting more options in the Rafflecopter widget.

From contacted, the winner has 48 hours to respond with their address details. Failure to respond within this timeframe will result in a new winner being drawn.

Also note that bhave will send the prize directly to the lucky winner. Also note that I take no responsibility for lost, misdirected or damaged mail.

  
a Rafflecopter giveaway