Born To Buy Lip Balms Are Here!

I have been struggling all morning with the little terror of a bub because she has grabbed one of my favourite products recently and I wanted to take a pic for this post.

Well, I did grab it back off her eventually but then I realised that the label was a little wrecked. Mainly because it smelled so good when I first received it that I pretty much opened it right away and started using it. Then I popped it in my bag as my take along product. Plus the baby seems to have some strong attraction to it (probably because of its sweet scent) and keeps digging it out (i.e. wrecking it).

Anyway, it's ok that I can't take a photo myself because I'll just use the nice stock image which will give it the full glory it deserves.

This is what I'm talking about...

The Born To Buy Lip Balms are here!

These Born To Buy lip balms are my blogger friend Sophie's very own lip balm line. This young lady inspires me so. She's about to turn 21 with a huge party planned and is a successful blogger and now, has her own balm line. We need to give her a big round of applause. I insist!

I bought Watermelody and the first thing which I have already repeated over and over again is that it came in the sweetest smelling envelope ever. I could smell it before I even opened it. 

This Born To Buy lip balm is also the softest one I ever had. And coming from someone who has 4 Burt's Bees lip balms, 2 tubes of Kiehls, 1 tube of Neutrogena Naturals, a couple of Carmex-es (all at once, I'm talking)... this Born To Buy one was really quite impressive. I still like the others in their own ways but just saying! 

Besides the heavenly scent, soft texture, it also tastes pretty damn good. I have a habit of wanting to taste my lip balms. And I can't be blamed, especially when the lip balms I own say "Cranberry" or "Mango" etc etc. They do smell like that, but they don't taste like that (they don't taste bad but there usually is just no taste). This Born To Buy one is actually really nice tasting and even sweet.

I know the tasting isn't the main point of the lip balm so I will restrain myself from talking more about it. Hydration-wise, this balm definitely does not fail my high expectations. Very moisturising and gentle on my lips. 

Sophie has very kindly offered my readers a 20% discount code. All you have to do is enter MAKEMEUP before you check out your order. This code ends on 30th June, Midnight (Perth time) so make sure you get your orders in before then!

So if you want to have a sweet smelling, effective lip balm that actually tastes good (so important, right?), make sure you buy Sophie's lip balms here .

 

*This product was purchased by me. Sophie was very kind to offer me one for trialling purposes but I wanted to support her by purchasing it when her shop was up. You should too! Young ladies with so much drive and passion inspire me and deserve all the support they can get. Despite being a big fan + friend of Sophie's, my opinions here are genuine and uninfluenced still. SWEAR! Read the other reviews of her lip balm and you'll see.

Filling in the Silence

Hi everyone!
I have had no IBOT post this week and no FFS Friday posts for the last couple of weeks. VERY BAD, isn't it?

I do ask for your patience and I'm sure you would understand. Sick husband, sick buby, sick self plus work and other projects on my hands. I would love to blog regularly again so please pardon me while I get my fizzled brain right (and busy myself with wiping snot from a cranky baby).

[On hindsight, the last I blogged was 4 days ago. What is my world coming to that I feel a need to explain when I haven't blogged in only 4 days? Definitely smells like an online addiction....]

Meanwhile, I am more active on Facebook & Twitter because it's easier to chat in fewer words at the moment due to my sore throat (it's a joke?)! So please do join me there and chat with me x

Also, remember to join in the 50 Shades of Chocolate Giveaway
ending tomorrow :)

Probably much sooner than I'm thinking!
The truth is, given how my life usually works, I will probably have a blog post up in the next couple of days lol. So I'm not making out like I'm on a blogging break or anything. Just thought I'd come on here and fill in the silence a little.

A random joke... just because. I like to have a little laugh as often as possible :)


Raining today in the Hunter so keep warm, keep safe everyone & please don't wear thongs and believe you won't slip (like my silly husband does). Happy Hump Day!

A very Lush Haul

I have been so late with a whole bunch of haul posts. I also haven't managed to do a post on my birthday buys and that was way back in March now. I made some orders from the US and got my Converse XX-Hi tops that I always wanted (At my age with 2 kids, I'm still allowed to wear them...right?) and a bunch of Sephora goodies including NARS, Tarte (which I always wanted to try thanks to Abigail) and I can't even remember what else.

Anyway, I did a recent haul and yes, it had to be a Lush one!

I recently started using Ultrabland and I was so impressed with how it seriously changed my skin upon the first try. I have generally normal to dry skin and when you get up close, you can see my pores (no biggie I know, just saying!) My skin looks ok from afar but I have never ever had that flawless, glowing skin... when you come near.

I got my mum to try it and she too was seriously impressed. She made my dad try it. I made my husband try it. And picture this, we were walking around for the next couple of days constantly commenting on each other's complexion. "Wow your skin looks so smooth and I can barely see your pores! That Ultrabland really works!!"

So off my mum & I went to a Lush store.

We might have gone a little crazy but I can tell you, my mum wants to change her whole skin regime to Lush now.

I have tried many cleansers and different products obviously and most of them are really good. But this Ultrabland... I think is phenomenal and I don't ever want to go without it in my life. That is how amazing it has worked for me.

1. Enchanted Eye Cream
2. Grease Lightning Spot Treatment
3. Ultrabland Cleanser
4. Ultrabland Cleanser
5. Imperialis Facial Moisturiser
6. Eau Roma Water Toner
7. Skin Drink Facial Moisturiser
8. Ultrabalm Lip
9. Full of Grace Serum
10. Full of Grace Serum


Not all are mine (i wish!) and these add on to a bunch of Lush products that I already have sitting at home (some purchased, some gifted by Lush at the Lush Blogger Event)

I love Lush. I don't even have to proclaim it really.
And the nicest thing that most of you probably already know, Lush is fresh, handmade, against animal testing, made from fresh organic fruit + vegetables + essential oils + safe synthetics.

Are you a Lush fan too? :)

Win 50 Shades of Chocolate: Giveaway

I have never really been into cooking or recipe books. I definitely love food; but mostly the eating and not the cooking. It's very unfortunate but I haven't found the passion for cooking (at least not yet!). Recently though, the release of one very unique recipe book has sparked my interest!

50 Shades of Chocolate by chocolatier Claire Preen

I'll be honest, when this book arrived at my doorstep, it was my husband who answered the door & got to it first. I didn't know what had arrived but I heard him enthusiastically tearing at the package, followed by symphony of OOOOHHHHs!! and AHs!

This book is filled with everything chocolate. Learn how to make delicious, yummy chocolate desserts... or even make a Chocolate Bath Bomb or Facial Mask (I am so excited to try that out!). Or how to use Chocolate as a body oil. Or yes... use Chocolate for some couple games with plenty of suggestions!

Like I said, I'm not big on recipe books at all but this one sure is unique!

You can win 1 copy of 50 Shades of Chocolate (RRP: $14.95) and all you have to do is like their Facebook page!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway starts when this post is published and ends Midnight 14 June Friday.
Winner will be announced on Make Me Up Mandy's Facebook page and will be contacted via email. Please respond to email with your postal address within 24 hours if not another winner will be chosen. The winner's postal address will be forwarded to the relevant PR agency who will send the prize copy out. We cannot be held responsible for lost, misdirected or damaged mail. Only for Australian readers! Good luck!



*I received one copy of this unique Chocolate recipe book that my husband seems very excited about. Receiving a copy of this book has not influenced my opinions.

I RETURNED TO WORK... BUT I HAVE NO SMALL PRINT DISCLAIMER.

I have been reading a few blogs in the last few weeks on the topic of mothers returning to work. I can always relate with the missing of kids and the sudden enjoyment of mundane everyday chores on hindsight. One thing though that always lingered at the back of my mind was: the reason many mothers return to work.

I don't know if it's that nasty Mother's Guilt at play once again.. but many times, I hear mothers say: I didn't want to go back to work but I had to due to circumstances. And I miss my kids. I didn't want to do this.

I believe it's a genuine case for many mothers. And I can definitely empathize with that heartbreaking feeling of leaving our kids behind for lack of any other choice. I have had to do that before in the past.

The topic of mothers returning to work has deeply interested me in the last few weeks since I myself have taken a more significant step to returning to work.

But I just want to say... I have returned to work because... I want to. Because I wanted to indulge in my self. My own dreams. My own passions.  My own ambitions.

Is that selfish?

It makes me nervous to say that because I haven't actually heard many mums say that. Maybe for fear of judgement from fellow mums and being at the mercy of "don't you know your kids need you?!"  lectures.

Well, I believe my kids need me. And at barely 2 years old, I do not currently feel comfortable leave my baby at daycare every day.

But this is what I believe.

Image Source

I believe that it is up to myself to make a balanced arrangement, as best as I can with whatever I have.
I believe I can be a mother and still look after myself.

I do not believe condemnation for being selfish should be endowed upon a mother who chooses to even dare to indulge in herself for a second (much less have the silly guts to announce it).


Afterall, this is also what I believe:

These days, I wake up and jump out of bed with a sense of purpose and passion. I have so much more energy despite feeling physically tired at times, but you know what I mean.

And for that, I think I am actually a better parent.
I actually do more things in a comparatively lesser amount of time just because I'm filled with purpose and passion as I have allowed myself to indulge in my interest. I actually set aside more quality time with the baby when I take breaks from work compared to when I had a whole quantity of time with her in the past.

This is not to say that my kids failed to fill me with a sense of purpose and passion when my main title was a stay home mum. This is to say that I, as a person, have more to myself than being a mum. I have needs, passions, ambitions that step outside of motherhood. Motherhood gives me things so unique that I can't find elsewhere. But I am not only a mother. Now that my other needs are fulfilled, I feel more alive than ever.


So I am here to say, I have returned to work... but I have no small print disclaimer saying "only because I have to; I would never leave my child willingly". I have returned to work because I actually want to and I believe I can and I believe I should, for my self.

Linking up with Essentially Jess on this pensive Tuesday :)

MAY FAVOURITES FEATURING LUSH, NARS, MEMEME & BATISTE

So it's a brand new month again and it's time for my May Favourites! As the weather turns colder & drier, my beauty regime has definitely shifted towards full on hydration. My dry skin definitely needs that.

Lush Ultraland Facial Cleanser

This Lush Ultrabland Facial Cleanser has become my must-have ever since my very first use. I was so impressed with how my skin practically changed for the better with the very first use that I went out and bought 4 more as back-ups for myself and also to give to my mum and aunts. It is "a rich, soft, oily cleansing cream" for all skin types but I reckon it works ah-ma-zing for my dry skin! So nourishing that I want to just lap it all on as a moisturiser. I really need to do a proper review on this one.

Lush Eau Roma Water

I use my Lush Eau Roma Water to refresh my skin. It's a wonderfully gentle toner for dry to normal skin and is very hydrating in itself. It also helps with redness on my skin and it's definitely fast becoming my favourite toner.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Wild 

I have been using dry shampoos a lot and among the 3 different brands that I own, I keep coming back to Batiste. I'm not surprised that it's a favourite among beauty bloggers. Very effective in ridding the hair of oil & giving hair a good boost in volume with a nice scent to boot. I wish I started using dry shampoos when I was pregnant and suffered from very gross-looking, oily, dull, flat hair!

MeMeMe Boho Balm Cheek & Lip Tint in Coral Taupe

I have done a review on this Boho Balm a few months ago. It's always nice to rediscover products in my stash! Now that the weather is colder and drier, I love using this cream blush. I love how long it stays on without touching up and I definitely love the scent plus the the gorgeous coral & taupe colours. So beautiful!

NARS Blush Duo in Hungry Heart & Orgasm

This month, I'm loving my NARS blush duo. This was my very first NARS blush product that got me hooked and propelled me to an additional 2 more in my collection. I can't get enough of the gorgeous formula, the unique shades and the beautiful shimmer (in the shades that I own). I have been using Hungry Heart for highlighting and I have been reaching for it also because of the convenience of the duo packaging.

So these are my favourites for the month. Did you do a favourites post too? Feel free to link yours in the comments; I'd love to have a read!

RACINNE SKIN CARE AUSTRALIAN LAUNCH.. AND A GIVEAWAY FOR YOU!

This morning, I bring you some big exciting news: Canadian-born skin care range Racinne is launching in Australia! Racinne has seen international success and their new skin care range features the unique collaboration of cutting edge biotechnology and botanical stem cell cultivation spanning a whooping seven years in the making.

After reading up a little more about Racinne, this stood out to me:

I can't agree more about the emphasis on health and life itself. Cosmetics really isn't merely about artificially cover flaws up or feeding vanity. I really see it in a bigger picture of self-grooming, self-care and basically looking after ourselves. But more on the philo-heavy stuff another day...
 

So anyway, the truth is, Racinne is hosting a special breakfast event to officially unveil Racinne in Australia right now as this is being published. Yes, like right now. 8am to 9am. And what am I doing not being there? Well, I had to give this a miss for very good reason (though I would have loved to be there still)!


I will resist the urge to be grumpy about it.
And well, thankfully, Racinne has given me a reason to be comforted about not actually being there. They have kindly asked if I would like to host a Racinne giveaway for my readers! Excited? Well, the value of this giveaway lies just below $600. Stoked or what?!


Just look at this beauties:

Racinne Vanity Case (valued at $350)

Racinne Ultimate Hydra Perfection Range (valued at $247)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Remember to click on Terms & Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget to check out the important details, disclaimers, rules etc.
All entries will be verified. I will sit there for hours on end just to verify it all to make it fair for everyone. Play fair, don't cheat, don't try. Be good, be nice.
Open to Australia only - So sorry to my international readers x

Happy Aussie Launch to Racinne!

If you like the boring (but ok, important) details:

These products are sponsored by Racinne in celebration of their Australian launch. I have not received any Racinne products personally at this point yet and cannot attest to or review their products in detail. I will however, be receiving some Racinne products soon and will then proceed to review them in detail on a later date.

*And not forgetting, linking this post up with Essentially Jess for IBOT!


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