Review: Liz Earle

The Liz Earle products from the U.K have been widely talked about in the beauty blogosphere. Always one to try new face products and skincare lines, I quickly ordered these online and soon enough they were on their way to me to Australia. Shipping was quick, and I got a small travel size pack plus a free Brightening Treatment Mask too.

What Is It? I got the skincare essentials Dry/Sensitive range. It’s made up of three products – a cream cleanser, a toner and a moisturiser (dry/sensitive). It also comes with a Muslin Cloth which is used to polish the skin after cleansing.

What’s In It? This trio of products all contain naturally active ingredients. The cleanser contains cocoa butter which helps softens skin, and eucalyptus oil, rosemary and chamomile which soothes and purifies skin. The toner contains aloe vera and cucumber helping your skin feel refreshed. It also has essential oils such as rose-scented geranium, lavender and sweet orange which just smells absolutely amazing. The moisturiser contains avocado oil, borage oil and echinacea which nourishes the skin, and Vitamin E which helps protect the skin.

How To Use It? Rub a coin size amount of the cleanser onto your face using both fingers. This can be applied straight onto your dry face. Massage in, collecting all the dirt, makeup and oil on your face. Wet the Muslin Cloth with warm water and gently wipe all over to get rid of cleanser. Rinse face with warm water then pat dry. Next use the toner, and wipe all over face, then follow up with the moisturizer. I do this morning and night.

How Much Is It? I paid 50 pounds (approximately $90 Aus). This is quite exy but it is for 3 full size products, a travel kit, a free brightening mask and shipping. I’ve been using this twice a day for 2 months and still have A LOT of product left. You can get them here.

Why I love it? Good daily skincare routine products are important for me. It’s hard to find a 3-step program that work, and work well together. The scent of all three products are divine. It’s so refreshing and revives the spirits. I almost feel like I’m giving myself a mini facial when I’m massaging the cleanser into my skin. It feels so smooth and gentle. It fact, all products are gentle (nothing is abrasive, and nothing stings). It may not feel like it’s doing that much (because it really is that gentle) but, trust me, it is effective. You’re skin will feel cleansed, fresher, smoother and nourished. It’s only when you stop using it that you really can tell the difference. I also like it because it takes off all my makeup. I don’t even have to use a makeup remover before this! It’s just a good daily skincare line to use. I haven’t used a 3 step program all together like this, stuck with it and loved it since I bought Pevonia a while back. I would like to revisit Pevonia just so I can refresh and compare it but for now, these Liz Earle work just fine and I highly recommend.

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Easter Tags

Uh, would you believe me if I told you this was meant to be posted 2 Sundays ago? Probably! Staying up late to get this done so it’s out before Easter. I wanted to do a few more illustrations but dang it, I ran out of time! And something’s better than nothing. If you like them, download them at the end of this post.

I really hope you like them! Still experimenting with watercolours, gouache and painting. Click the button below to download the PDF.

1. Scissors
2. Hole puncher
3. Twine, string or ribbon
4. At home printer and cardstock

You will need a PDF reader (Adobe Reader) to view the file. Please have the latest most updated PDF software installed. It’s free to download off the internet.
Make sure your ink levels on your printer are okay. Set it to print high quality prints. DO NOT have the print settings on ‘scale to fit’ and make sure the ‘constrain proportions’ or print with exact measurements are checked otherwise the size will differ.

All free printables from Mockeri are for personal, non-commercial, non-profit use only. Users are prohibited from the selling of any kind of the PDF files – for web, advertising, etc; as well as using the designs of the PDF files as their own. Sharing these photos on Pinterest is allowable as long as you credit and link back to this post. If you would like to share this on your site, please link it back to this post instead of directly linking it to the downloadable link. Thank you.

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Introducing… (drum roll please) Rossy!

Cutest doggy… EVER! I might be a little bit bias here but come on… look at that face!

So a few weeks ago, my husband and I brought this little cheeky bugger home! Since purchasing our first house back in December, I knew it was only a matter of time before we were looking at bringing home a four legged fury friend. I’ve always wanted a German Shepherd ever since my parents brought home my family dog Toby, from Paddy’s Market (back when they had a pet store). Turns out Toby wasn’t quite a purebred (what did we expect when he only cost $90) but he has been THE MOST loyal companion ever since. He’s a gentle giant – big to look at, but a sook at heart.

Rossy was born in a litter of 10! Yep, that’s not a typo! 10 pups! The breeder told us that they all just popped out like bullets! He was among 5 male short coat puppies. His dad is actually from Germany!

We’ve had him for about a month now and he’s SO smart and playful. He’s going to puppy school at the moment and his favourite thing to do is to train. He gets so happy and excited when you command him to do things and he pay you so much attention. He just LOVES pleasing you! I mean, what more could you ask for in a dog?

I reckon he’s going to be a big doggy too, just look at those paws! They’re pretty much the same size as my own palm. Since getting him a month ago, he’s grown by half his size and put on about 4kg. I really can’t believe how quickly he’s growing. Tyler and I went away for 4 days down to Melbourne for the Grand Prix while my sister pet sat him. When we returned it was like he was a totally different dog. He grew so much bigger… in just 4 days!

I love him to bits and can’t wait to see how he grows physically and as our family dog. He’s got such a sweet, loving, loyal nature already. I think he’s going to fit into our life just fine!

Will be doing more posts on Rossy later in his life and how he’s changed! Stay tuned.

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March Inspiration Board

Here is a collection I’ve put together that’s inspired me this month. I want those Wellington boots!

ONE I TWO I THREE I FOUR I FIVE I SIX

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Oodles of Doodles

Once in a while, I hone in on my artistic skills. Mind you, it’s been a LONG while, but I want to improve the amount of painting I do. I thought I’d give you guys a PEEK of the sketches floating around in my sketchbook. I aim to do this every month (we’ll see how long this really goes on for).

These flowers are painted in Gouache. Just me fiddling with the different colours and shapes of the flowers. I really like painting in Gouache even though I can never and will ever be able to spell it correctly without looking it up first. (Is that even how you spell it now?)

Some doodles of bunnies and winter in my sketchbook. Painted with pencils and black markers.

It inspires me when I read blogs that share what’s in their sketchbook. Hopefully this will help you (yes, you… hello there!) to be inspired as well.

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Fruit Tags and Wrapping

I think I have an obsession with designing tags. Here are a few fruit tags I actually designed at the end of last year but only got to finishing them a couple of weeks ago. I also have a cute fruit gift wrap printable too. If you like them, you can download them at the end of this post!

Cut them out and keep them around for when you need something gift wrapped and have left it to the last minute (like I always do)!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I had creating them!

To download the Fruit Tags, click on the link below.

To download the Fruit Wrapping, clink on the link below.

1. Scissors (and/or circle cutter for round tags)
2. Hole puncher
3. Twine, string or ribbon
4. At home printer and cardstock

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Review: Origins Drink Up Mask and Ginzing Eye Cream

I’ve read and heard quite a bit about Origins products. Two of the most talked about items (and also two that I’ve had my eye on for a while) would have to be their Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask and Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream. And in a nutshell, I absolutely L.O.V.E them.

Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

What Is It? Origin’s Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is an intense moisture mask that quenches your skin, prevents dehydration and reduces signs of premature aging.

What’s In It? This mask’s key ingredients for it’s amazing hydration power is Avocado and Apricot Kernel Oil. The Japanese Seaweed in it helps contain the moisture in the skin. It has a beautiful and delightful fruity slightly floral scent because it also contains mango butters, and some rose/flower water and extract. One more thing: it also has Hyaluronic Acid which is meant to be lovely to your skin as it’s a natural acid (we have it in our bodies) and it helps lubricate the skin’s connective tissue.

How To Use It? After a cleansed face at night, put this baby on. If you put serums or what not on as well, do that first. This mask goes on last. More is less with this product (I always tend to squeeze too much out). Let it sink in before going to sleep. You’re face will feel amazing in the morning. I use it twice a week, sometimes more.

How Much Is It? Oh Boy. $34 in Australia (you can get them at Mecca Cosmetica or try Amazon if you’re outside Oz).

Why I Love It? Having dry sensitive skin, this is just the absolute best for my skin. The scent is divine, I haven’t ever smelled it before! And since it’s going on overnight, you’d want something with a nice smell on your face. The scent doesn’t linger though so don’t worry if you have sensitive noses. And it’s not a ‘headachey’ sort of scent either, it’s sort of relaxing (perfect for bedtime!). The cream is thick-ish, and although contains oils, it does not make me breakout. In fact, in the morning my skin just feels clearer, hydrated, smooth, balanced, and glow-y. Seriously guys, this is probably my favourite skincare product right now, I can’t say anything bad about it. You need this. Consider this giving you your official permission to GO BUY IT NOW!

Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream

What Is It? An eye cream which reduces puffiness, dark circles and bags under the eye area. It improves signs of fatigue by improving microcirculation, and providing anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits so the balance to the skin is restored.

What’s In It? The reason why this product brightens and depuffs so well is because it actually contains Caffeine from Coffee Bean. It also has Panax Ginseng and Magnolia Extract which refreshes and puts a little radiance to tired eyes.

How To Use It? Dab a little bit with your fingertip onto the under eye area, and keep dabbing until the product has fully sunk in.

How Much Is It? $45 at Mecca Cosmetica (Australia) or about $39 at Amazon or $30 in Sephora (US).

Why I Love It? I’ve used a few eye cream products in the past- Sukin, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, just to name a few and the Bobbi Brown eye cream was my fave out of the bunch and what I used before discovering this Origins one. Within a week of using Origins Ginzing Eye Cream I could already tell a difference. I think it may be because the product itself has little bits of shimmer iridescence to it. So it really does instantly brighten the eye area and makes it more radiant. My dark under eye circles have gone down too and overall just looks more illuminated and hydrated, and less fatigued. This is an amazing product, so if you are looking out for an eye cream – give this one a go!

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Erin Condren Personalised Life Planner

Okay so it’s February (actually the END of February) but so what? Better late than never right? I actually got this baby a couple of weeks ago (so technically the middle of February), and… Oh. My. Gosh. I absolutely love it.

Erin’s Condren’s Life Planners are great for just being really really organised. It’s got monthly planners, calendars, weekly spreads, to-do-lists, goals, notes, important contacts, numbers and addresses, a folder (for keeping receipts etc in), colourful stickers to highlight birthday and special events, a clear zip lock pocket with gift labels and to keep what ever else you want in it… and… it’s personalised!! See that name on the front of that pretty turquoise gold stamped cover? That’s me!

Not only is the front personalised with your name, but it comes with a few personalised gift labels too (handy if you forget to buy a card with your gift one day)!

You receive colourful stickers that say ‘Birthday’, ‘Concert’, ‘Vacation’ etc to mark it out in your planner and you also receive some blank ones to fill in yourself. I actually added my own personalised stickers for my own ‘special’ events (there is an option to add this to your order during checkout). My stickers say ‘Deadline’ (for when I need to know my work deadlines), ‘Bill Due’, ‘Mortgage Due’, ‘Post Blog’ and ‘Pay Day’. Yep! This planner will be used for organising my week according to my magazine work, blogging on my website, upcoming expenses and what meals I plan. I can also write my to-do-list for the week and ideas that come into my head in the notes section. Everything rolled into one! And that’s what I love about this planner! Seeing as I wanted to be more organised and dedicated with blogging and ideas, I wanted to give myself a blogging schedule, but I didn’t want to carry around another diary with me. Enter Erin Condren Life Planner!

I keep a sticky note pad in the clear pocket as well as some stickers to mark and decorate the week. It looks so pretty when it’s all filled in!

If you guys want to order yours just go to the Erin Condren website here. She offers international shipping too. Mine didn’t take very long at all (within 2 weeks? That’s good shipping to Australia)! P.S. The packaging is divine.

Let me know what you guys think, and if you already use the Life Planner, how much you like yours.

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Makeup for: Every Day

Wanna know what makeup I use every day? Here it is!

Foundation: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Skin Perfecting Makeup in #40 Beige. – $64.95
My favourite every day foundation. The fluid texture goes on smooth and it blends so naturally into the skin. It doesn’t feel cakey or that you have a tonne of makeup on. It’s also SPF+15. Shake first before applying. I apply this with the Experts Face Brush by Real Techniques but you could just apply with fingers.

Concealer: Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer in 40 Soft Beige – $14.95
Use the wand to conceal under your eyes. Then blend in with the same foundation brush or use fingers. Brightens up the eye area while also concealing dark circles.

Powder: Nars Pressed Powder in Desert – $39.95
This stuff lasts for ages. Trying to use it all up before trying another powder but I still like it. It’s finely milled leaving a smooth texture to your face and is also great for touching up during the day. I actually use the Blush Brush by Real Techniques to apply all over the face.

Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronzing Powder in 04 Deep Matte – $28.95
Newly discovered and a new favourite! I love everything about this bronzer – the packaging, the shape, the mirror, the look, the colour – it’s a great bronzer. It’s not shimmery or orange – it just leaves a really nice bronze colour to the cheeks. I got the darker shade because I tend to get a bit darker during summer and I can always blend it out. I use MAC’s 168 Large Angled Contour Brush to apply on the hollows of the cheeks.

Highlight: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle – $47
Lovely frosting finish onto the top parts of your cheeks. I use the Perfected Setting Brush by Real Techniques to apply.

Eye Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion – $33 (approx)
My lids tend to get a bit oily and shiny during the day so I love how this potion makes them look smooth and matte. I just use my finger to apply all over the lid and use a bit just under the eye for any smudging from my eyeliner.

Eyeshadows and Eyebrows: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
I use the colour ‘Faint’ to fill in my eyebrows using MAC’s 208 Angled Brow Brush. It’s the perfect shade for my eyebrows. Sometimes I’ll use ‘Naked 2′ all over my lids and ‘Venus’ as a brow highlight.

Eyeliner: Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal eyeliner in 001 Black – $9.95
My favourite eyeliner because it’s smooth, easy to apply, and waterproof. This means that it doesn’t smudge or fall down my face at the end of the day – which most other liners do to me! Line in the waterline and along the top lash line. Smudge in using the Angled Brow Brush.

Mascara: Maybelline Mega Plush Volum’ Express Mascara in Blackest Black – $19.95
A few coats of this and your lashes will look lengthened and voluminous. It doesn’t make your lashes heavy or clumpy, it makes them look fluttery. Make sure to use the tip of the wand to get all of your outer and inner lashes – it really makes a difference.

Bottom Lash Mascara: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara – $28
Since my very first time using this over a year ago, I don’t use anything else on my bottom lashes. I have very short bottom lashes so this mascara really defines those hairs and it also doesn’t smear. The wand is a small baby brush which really helps!

Lips: Maybelline Baby Lips Loves Color (SPF 16) in Berry Crush – $3.95
I usually just use a balm with a bit of colour for every day because my lips are doing so much throughout the day (eating, talking, eating, drinking and more eating) – I like to keep it moisturized. On the odd occasion I will use a lip product with colour, but that tends to go everywhere when I’m doing all that eating.

I hope you enjoyed my run down of what makeup I use on a daily basis! Might do more looks later on – like going on dates, travel, Valentine’s etc! If you have any other suggestions please comment below!

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Cheeky Valentine’s Day Cards

Two blog posts within a week? I’m already on a roll! But I had to post these up before Valentine’s Day even though it’s a bit late… well better late than never right?

For a different spin on things I’ve really been wanting to work on a collection of ‘cheeky’ cards. I think they’re different and a lot more entertaining than your normal greeting cards. And I’ve had a lot of fun brainstorming saucy ideas!

Download, print, cut, and write a personal note on the back. Give it to your partner and it’ll sure make them laugh! These cards fit inside a C6 Envelope.

There are two designs in this PDF. I really hope you enjoy them! And see? I’ve started painting again! It really was so much fun doing these and I’m so happy with how they turned out. Might even consider doing a print run on these in the future and selling them in my Etsy store! That would be so cool!

To download the cards, click the link below.

1. At home printer and cardstock
2. Scissors, guillotine or paper trimmer
3. C6 Envelope

All free printables from Mockeri are for personal, non-commercial, non-profit use only. Users are prohibited from selling or any kind of the PDF files – for web, advertising, etc; as well as using the designs of the PDF files as their own. Sharing these photos on Pinterest is allowable as long as you credit and link back to this post. If you would like to share this on your site, please link it back to this post instead of directly linking it to the downloadable link. Thank you.

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