dani the girl xo

Thursday, 18 December 2014

The Parcel - Summer Edit

The Parcel is one of the newest beauty subscription boxes to hit the market. Unlike most of the other subscription boxes out there, the Parcel comes out quarterly and all of the items in it are handpicked by the editors at Marie Claire.

For the summer edition of the Parcel, I decided to film an unboxing (I know, I know, I said I was going to be taking a break but hey, else can a beauty blogger do when a new subscription box lands on her doorstep>). This is the second Parcel that I have received and so far, I have been VERY impressed with the contents. You can check out my unboxing video here.

If you would like to sign up to the Parcel, click through to their website. I personally think that the Parcel would make a fantastic Christmas present, especially for all those who have left their Christmas shopping to the last minute. It's the gift that keeps on giving!

Dani xo

Tuesday, 16 December 2014

A Christmas Break

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Hello to all my lovely readers,

This is just a very quick post to say that KaBOOM! Cosmetics will be very quiet for the next few weeks as I'm taking a little break from blogging. I will be back in early January with more fabulous new content and fun new videos. That's not to say that I won't post the odd video now and again and my Instagram will probably be as busy as ever (I'm addicted, I seriously need help) but there will be no regular posts until early next year.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me so far in my first year of blogging, it really means more than you know! I've had a rollercoaster of a year and I'm looking forward to a well deserved break to recharge my batteries and prepare myself for all of the exciting new things that 2015 holds (and trust, me, they are going to be VERY exciting!).

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you all. If there's anything in particular you would like to see on KaBOOM! Cosmetics next year, please let me know. I'm going to leave you with some of my favourite photos from the blog this year.

Dani xo

Sunday, 14 December 2014

Random Beauty Favourites

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It's been a while since I did a decent beauty favourites post so I thought I'd break the drought with a Random Beauty Favourites video. You can check out the video here.

I've just spent a bit of time renovating my YouTube channel so please let me know what you think and don't forget to subscribe while you're there!

What have you been loving lately?

Dani xo

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Eau de Gaga

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You will have to bear with me for my first ever perfume review because I have trouble describing things like perfumes and wines, it’s a real problem! Conversations with me about wines usually go something like this:

Wine drinker: So what do you think of this wine? It’s got a great bouquet

Me: Bo-who?

Wine drinker: No, it’s great! Definite hint of raspberries and oak there, can you taste it?

Me: Yes…..wine….yes….. (slinks off into corner to drink vodka and soda un-harassed by wine connoisseurs)

So you’ll have to bear with me as I enlist the help of Google to come up with phrases better than “ummm …perfumey” to describe this new offering by Lady Gaga.

The Product – Eau de Gaga* $49.00 for 50ml or $69.00 for 75ml

The whole world and its mum knew about Lady Gaga’s first perfume release, Fame, but Eau de Gaga has been kept surprisingly quiet. I saw one ad on the side of the bus for it and actually assumed it was for a new album (yes, I am an elderly person who is out of touch with what the “hip” and “fly” young’uns are up to these days) until I got a press release for the new perfume. While I was waiting for my perfume to arrive, I watched this review by Kat from Kitsch Snitch that made me really REALLY excited to get my hands on it. It is absolutely nothing like Fame and it’s also absolutely nothing like any of the perfumes I usually like but I have to say, I really like it!

The packaging is much more like a higher end perfume than a typical celebrity (and let’s all admit it, drugstore type) fragrance. It’s very sleek and simple and the weight of the bottle in your hand just feels a like it’s a lot more expensive than it is. It would look very classy sitting in a modern bathroom or on a vanity table…or you could just shove it into your giant Box O’ Perfumes like me, whatevs!

The Scent

Now I am taking most of this next part from various online sources but Eau de Gagacontains white violet heart notes, sparkling lime top notes and base notes of leather. It is actually a unisex perfume (my boyfriend laughed for a looooong time when I told him that but each to their own) and I can see why it might appeal to both males and females. Although it does have a slightly more masculine feel with the leathery base notes (great band name don’t you think? The Leathery Base Notes?), the citrus and white violet keep it quite light. Unlike Fame, this is a much more robust and longer lasting scent and I can see myself wearing this quite frequently! A worded description along cannot describe how unique and unusual I find this perfume. So do us both a favour and go find some to sample and save us both that pain that is me trying to describe a perfume without sounding like an absolute wally!

Has Eau de Gaga caught your eye (or nose) yet?

Dani xo

*This product was provided as a PR sample but as always, my opinion is my own.

Monday, 8 December 2014

Top 5 Summer Essentials: Blog Swap

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Today is your lucky day folks because the lovely Angie from the maquillage has taken over KaBOOM! Cosmetics to let you in on her Top 5 Products for Summer! If you head over to the maquillage, you can find out what my Top 5 products are too. Now over to Angie:

Yep, Summer has officially arrived, and with my favourite season comes long sunny afternoons, Christmas and New Year fun, and a whole lot of attempting to stay cool when the temps really get cranking. Beauty-wise, it’s a time when I embrace a fuss free, fresh faced look, favouring multitasking products to ensure the least amount of makeup possible is on my face – all the less to sweat off! Let’s get into my Top 5 Summer Essentials…

pureTAN Pure Bronze Ultra Light Feel Facial Tanner, $19.95

First things first – achieving that bronzy summer glow, the non-baking-yourself-in-the-sun way. I apply this facial tanner to cleansed, exfoliated skin as the last step in my skincare routine the night before I want to look my bronzed best. The lotion is not at all heavy or sticky on the skin (crucial in summer), the formula is enriched with cold pressed coconut oil to nourish and hydrate, and the result is a natural, healthy glow – no getting tangoed around here. Oh, and bonus points for the scent. Delicious!

Alpha-H Multi-Perfecting Skin Tint $59.45

When the temps really hit the roof, the last thing I want to be doing is coating my skin in layers of base. The trick is finding a complexion all-rounder which is light-weight and long lasting no matter the temperature, but will also provide good coverage in the places you need it. Alpha-H’s Multi-Perfecting Skin Tint ticks all the boxes, and it’s a base I’ll be reaching for on a regular basis for the months ahead. The compact packaging makes it perfect for throwing in your beach bag, and the built in concealer and mirror in the lid are pretty handy as well.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, $34.00

While we’re on the topic of things not sliding off in the heat - when I want to know that the tricky eyeshadow look I spent 45 minutes in the morning isn’t going to disappear by lunchtime, I’ll pop a layer of this eyeshadow base on first. I can then be rest assured all that blending action ain’t going to waste any time soon. I’ve also been giving this prod a double use by applying it under my eyes before concealer, to keep those dark circles under wraps all day long.

NUDESTIX Eye Pencil in Stardust and Lip and Cheek Pencil in Whisper, $29.95 each

Yes I’m being cheeky here and sneaking in an extra fave, but I couldn’t help myself! NUDESTIX are a range of multi-purpose crayons new to Oz, and these two babies are utterly perfect for creating effortless, fresh makeup looks for the summer months ahead. The Eye Pencil in Stardust is a gorgeous shimmering champagne shade, which can be used all over the eyelid as a pearly wash, around the tear duct to brighten to give that wide-awake look, and as a highlight on the cheek and brow bones. The Lip and Cheek Pencil in Whisper is a beige-pink shade which blends out to a warm flush when used on the cheeks as a cream blush, and creates the perfect summer nude on the lips.

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer, $34.95

It was only after I shattered my last Cindy-Lou that I realised how often I use it, and the idea of not being able to reach for it during summer was a no-go. It’s just that good. The peachy gold tones work more as a blush rather than a highlighter on my fair (read: pale) skin, but it gives the type of healthy warm glow makes you look like you religiously eat your greens and get your full 8 hours. It often gets a double use as an all-over-and-go eyeshadow for when I’m running out the door, or on those lazy weekends when minimal effort is required. And I’m going to be all about those lazy weekends this summer!