It's the year of Subscription Beauty Boxes (it is at least for aZHianBeauty): January BellaBox

I wanted this year to be the year where I am brave. Brave enough to do things out of my comfort zone. Try out new things and try out new products.

Makeup wise I've found that the best way for this resolution to come forth was to subscribe to beauty boxes. 

It's a genius idea. You're offered deluxe samples to try out so you know what works and what doesn't, what you like and what you don't. Quiet often beauty box companies throw in full size products in your boxes so you're getting more than what you are paying for. 

There are wide ranges to choose from, but given that I'm in Australia I'm still on the hunt for the perfect box that gives me full beauty product variety...and those that are able to ship internationally. 

Now as a product junkie, I'm always happy to try out anything in the name of beauty. I believe for a product to be a winner, is if that product does what it says it will do (plump, define, erase, conceal you get the jist), has a variety of color options to tailor most and (sadly) an eye catching and pretty packaging. I say sadly because I've bought products before where I love the packaging but the product itself was a major failure.

Doing research...

After a couple of months (4), of seeing the monthly goodies put in there previous  boxes aswell as Facebook stalking their pages (fess up, we all do it), you pretty much get the idea of what you could be expecting. I also like to see the brands they are associated with and offer so I can see if there's a brand that I might be inclined to try before I buy.

Most beauty boxes contain deluxe size beauty samples and some full size makeup (most often a lipstick or lip gloss), so I had wanted to subscribe to a couple. The first one being Bellabox.  

Now, before I go into detail about what I got on my very first month of subscribing, Bellabox is an Australian beauty subscription box where you get 5+ beauty samples at an affordable price of $15 per month. I joined up early of january (this year) and took the "$10 for your first box coupon", also a week and a half before they were sending out shipping notifications. I received my box quiet promptly without a long waiting time. You also get tracking for your boxes which is a plus and the shipping is already included in the cost of the subscription (double plus).

I received my box last friday-17th of January (2014).

Introducing to you my first box...☺

Product card / contents in the box:

I've never tried Avene or La Clinica beauty products before and even though on the beauty profile (that you fill in about your skincare concerns/type etc) I entered that I have oily skin, the Avene products they gave me was catered for someone with dry skin 😒...

Hmmm...however since this is my first beauty sub box and as a product junkie I'm very happy with what I got. I got 2 full size product y'all!

I've tried the Model Co Fat Lash mascara. I gotta say, I'm liking it alot. It doesn't clump which is amazing. The mascara brush is a genius and its good at getting into hard to reach places of your lashes and it's lengthening effect is amazing. It's also volumizing and doesn't require much layers of coating either. 

I'm very much looking forward to next months box...but before that I'm looking forward to another beauty sub box that I've subscribed to; Lip Factory. 

If you'd like to subscribe to Bellabox or check out their site here.

I'm looking to subscribe to more, so if you know of any good ones or if you have any favorites and are subscribed to, comment below and let me know.

What do you think about these beauty sub boxes?

Till next time,

Z.

Crazy In Love with Chi Chi Creamy Matte Liquid Lipsticks

The very first makeup kit I ever got was when I was 5 years old. I remember how excited I felt seeing this shiny red bullet lipstick, Barbie pink nail polish and bright coloured eyeshadow palette. Running to the mirror I swiped the shiny red lipstick across my bottom lip, I’d seen my mom do this many times. But there was no red colour painted over my lip. I looked at the lipstick, it was plastic! I was gutted! The whole makeup set was just a toy.

I’m remembering this as I’m applying Chi Chi’s Creamy Matte Liquid Lipstick (Lady In Red) on my lips. I’m 28 now, old enough to know how to apply lipstick, to know what beauty product works, what doesn’t, what brands are winners and what brands are failures. When it comes to makeup I’m quite adventurous. I’ll try any colour or look at least once. It’s how you learn and see what works for you right? If you don’t try you will never know.

Living in Australia, we’re given a variety of cosmetic companies to take home with us. For some reason international brands are often the hottest, favoured and sought after, we often forget the gems we have in our backyard. As much as I love MAC, Urban Decay, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, NYX, Tarte and any other well known brands, be it high end or drug store that’s all tucked in our makeup drawers or dresser, I do still however like some homegrown Aussie cosmetic brands. Chi Chi Cosmetics, Model Co and Face of Australia are just some of the names that I’ve found that are on-trend like any other international companies. Chi Chi is my personal favourite. I’ve been a fan of theirs for several years now. More so, I am loving their new line of ‘Liquid Lipsticks’.

I was lucky enough to get 3 of the new liquid lipsticks for Christmas;

Crazy In Love

 

Va Va Va Voom

…and Lady In Red.

I love the ones I got, I want to collect them all!!

Chi Chi’s Creamy Matte Liquid Lipsticks are bold, opaque, highly pigmented, matte and of course creamy. Their packaging is just like their products, bold, vibrant and eye catching! Though Chi Chi says it’s a matte lipstick, it sits and dries with some shine so no need for a layer of lipgloss on top. The liquid lipstick is so opaque, a little does go a long way. You can customize the degree of opacity you want. For a sheer stained look, just pat a tiny amount of colour on your lips with your fingers, dab your lips over lightly with some tissue to even out the colour. Or if you prefer it bright, bold and like to utilize just how opaque this lipstick is then I would use the doe foot  for application on your lips. It’s long lasting and even when removed the lipstick still leaves a stain of colour. Also, Chi Chi’s Creamy Matte Liquid Lipsticks have a fruity, berry like scent.  

They retail at $16.95 (AUD) and come in 16 different shades to suit everyone.  Check out their website http://www.chichicosmetics.com/15-lips/85-creamy-matte-liquid-lips.html

Have you tried any Chi Chi products? If so, which ones do you like? 

Comment down below what other products you'd like to see me swatch/trial and review.

Z