Want It Wednesday: XO(eco) Lunch Kit

I thought I might start a weekly thread, the "Want it Wednesday". This is where I will post about what I want, and maybe post later if I get it. Some of the future posts will be about things that I would love (want, not need), but can't afford, or can't get shipped to Australia, cause hey, nobody wants to ever send anything here!

I am in love with the Lauren Conrad XO(eco) Lunch Kit. Containing a cute lunchbox, reusable drink tumbler and hand towel. It comes in 2 patterns, black and cream tuxedo stripes, or green birds on a wire.

As someone who brings their lunch into work daily, I love the idea of a reusable lunch box, and the tumbler is too cute! I would love it to sit on my desk daily. I would probably want 2 or 3!

It is designed by Lauren Conrad for Blue Avocado, a company who have dedicated themselves to using recyclable materials to reduce environmental waste and inspire change.

There's nothing wrong with being environmentally conscious, and this would be a great way to promote recycling and upcycling.

If anyone would like to spoil me, here's where you can buy it (in green!): Blue Avocado.

x E

The Cost of My Face

Taken from posts that Monnie & Neena did, I thought I would complete the cost of my face. I'm not huge on wearing makeup, as I find it makes my face feel dirty. To be honest, I'm quite happy with my Clinique 3 Step of Wash-Tone-Moisturise! On the occasions I do get up early or am getting ready to go out, this is what I wear.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion $74
Smashbox Photo Finish Oil-Free Primer $32.50*
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium $47
Urban Decay Naked Palette $55
Nars Blush in Orgasm $33*
Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner in Java $28.95
Rimmel Volume Flash The Max Mascara in Ultra Black $16.51
Napoleon Perdis Lip Lacquer in Pink Patina $23

And lastly my daily staple, Maybelline Baby Lips (not pictured) in Anti-Oxidant Berry $4.21

*bought cheaper online

Total = $314.71

Oops, I didn't realise I had spent so much on makeup! To be honest, I had been lusting after the MAC, Nars and UD products for a long time and after having a bit of a mental breakdown one week, treated myself one expensive weekend. One this is for sure, the quality is definitely better than what I was using previously. The Skinfinish Mineralize powder foundation is so gentle on my skin, and doesn't make my skin flare up like my previous L'Oreal mineral foundation did. I find the Nars blush can be a bit much for day wear, due to the glitter in it. But all in all, I am really happy with my "face"!

On a last note, I find that the Dermalogica Gentle Eye Makeup Remover is the best thing to use on all my face to remove makeup. I also incorporate the use of my Clarisonic Mia (post found here) for that extra clean feeling.

My Mia arrived!

My Clarisonic Mia 2 arrived today while I was at work. I ordered last Sunday, a day before a public holiday (Saturday in the US). It arrived today! It came to my desk via a colleague, I was so stoked to see it!

It's smaller and prettier than I expected. I was bummed to see "International Charger" means American only...

On the plus side, free samples! A Clarisonic face wash sample and some moisturiser from the company that sells the Mia 2.

Here are the pics of me opening it (or packing it up, if the photos are shown in reverse!). Will edit with a review when I get a travel adapter tomorrow.

 
EDIT: I have used it, with the remaining battery life (I was never one for instruction manuals!). My skin feels amazing! I got a bit of reddening, but that's expected with my sensitive skin and all. I used the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap, and while not applying liberally enough, I think it was a good amount for my skin.

Using it was super easy. It gives a buzz every 10 seconds, which is good as the manual tells you to focus for 20 seconds on your forehead, 20 on your chin and 10 seconds on each cheek. My skin looked and felt clearer straight after using it. Then I realised I'd forgotten my nose. My nose with the huge pores and black heads - gross! So I thought I'd use the second setting. WOW! While it didn't remove all the blackheads, it did such a good job! I finished off by patting my skin semi-dry, using my Clarifying Moisture Lotion 2 and finishing with Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion. It glided onto my skin sooo smoothly, it was almost like silk.

Colour me converted!

Clarisonic Mia 2

After reading how my favourite bloggers (and the Internet in general) were falling in love with the Clarisonic Mia, I thought, wow my skin isn't in the best shape. I do have a Clinique 3 step, and love it. I have considered peels or microdermabrasion, but with sensitive skin, I don't want to chanve inflammation and red, raw angry skin.

So, off I went, researching prices (and colours!!). Started off with the usual Aussie sites. Til I realised I would pay $149 no matter where I shopped. One department store offered the colour I wanted, but I don't appreciate feeling pressured into buying something at only one retailer.

Then I googled it. OMG! 10 colours to choose from, including 1 in animal print? So instead of a choice of 3, the internet is spoiling me! And it was US$119... Wait a minute. That's cheaper than here. You know why? The Clarisonic Mia 2 has just been released for US$149.

So, I visited an Australian department store, to which I had some gift vouchers. I went to one of their bigger stores. And there was nothing. How disappointing? Why would I then buy it on their online store and pay $10 for postage. I sat on it a bit longer, until this morning. I found a site in the US, which gave me $20, then $20 for shipping. This will now cost me $139 for the Clarisonic Mia 2 in Island Coral (yay!) with postage to Australia. I am so stoked! Now that I've ordered on a Sunday, I have to wait for it, but I am happy to do so, for a bargain! Will post more when I receive it!!!

Now if only I could get this excited over dieting...

Presents for me!!

So I just received all my beautiful OPI polishes, wow - did I buy a few!! Love these polishes, and at $7 each with free postage from Hawaii, who could say no? Colour names to come later :)

Le Creuset

First world problems! The cherry red or the cobalt blue Le Creuset???

House-y stuff!

So, once all the house basics are bought, one can then purchase frivolous things such as Tinkerbell Christmas tree stars, seafood plates and cake serving sets for their future wedding!

Post-Christmas Sales

So in the spirit of online shopping and sales (or, how items sourced overseas are cheaper), package 1 of 2 arrived from Amazon UK today. Bought on the 26th of December, received on the 3rd of January with free shipping, this parcel has travelled through Europe, the US and Australia to get to me!

Can't wait to add these to my collections :D